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[ { "asin": "0800732138", "rating": 4, "text": "The third book of The Daughters of Boston series. This one continues the O'Connor family saga with Elizabeth's story. I loved it.<br /><br />Elizabeth, younger sister to Faith and Charity was always the quiet bookworm. When her brother-in-law Collin goes into the printing business with his best friend, Elizabeth falls hard for John Brady. Elizabeth is the younger sister Brady never had, and they become good friends as Brady mentors Lizzie spiritually. But, as she grows up and becomes a beautiful, Godly young woman, Brady has a difficult time reconciling his feelings for her. When Brady's past comes between them, Lizzie wonders if she'll ever marry the man she loves.<br /><br />The entire O'Connor family returns in this novel. Faith and Charity are happily married to Collin and Mitch, and Charity is expecting, but hasn't abandoned some of her old tricks. Marcy and Patrick have their own crisis of faith and trust in their marriage.<br /><br />One of the things I have enjoyed about this series is that these characters are real. They struggle with their passions, they struggle with their faith, and they struggle in their relationships with each other. Julie Lessman has also explored the issue of pride and its downfall, and in a remarkable way.<br /><br />This one is a bit darker with the themes explored in regards to Brady's past. The passions are stronger and more descriptive, especially in regards to marriage relations. But, the point is clear: passion without marriage, and marriage without God, are weak imitations.", "timestamp": 1244782373000, "title": "Terrific" }, { "asin": "1434766411", "rating": 3, "text": "A terrific, thought-provoking book.<br /><br />Kate Davis can't move forward after her husband's sudden death. She refuses to go upstairs to their bedroom. She finds even the most mundane, normal activities difficult, and soon finds herself sleeping in the living room, forgetting to shower and unable to sleep. The fact that Kevin keeps talking to her, doesn't help. As Kate tries to figure out why she hears Kevin's voice, she finds herself running from an attempted exorcism by a disturbed pastor, participating in an eclectic group therapy, visiting a psychiatrist's office, and finally, admitted to a mental hospital.<br /><br />When she meets Jack, a non-traditional pastor of a grassroots church, she begins her return to finding her life again. But, when Kate discovers Kevin's hidden secret and confronts her own, buried memories, her tenuous hold on reality shatters.<br /><br />As Kate struggles to confront her grief, she wonders if she will ever find the peace she desperately craves, and the ability to gain a second chance at life.<br /><br />I enjoyed Kate's voice. I read the book in a day, I couldn't put it down! Bonnie Grove has captured grief, and takes you on an incredible journey as you walk through Kate's mind and life with her. As experiences unfold, you hurt for Kate and cheer for her at the same time.<br /><br />The novel is Christian, but the focus is not at all preachy. In fact, any real mention of Christianity doesn't come until you're well into the story. The themes of betrayal and abortion are mature, but dealt with in a realistic manner.<br /><br />An interesting, compelling story, and a terrific debut novel. I look forward to reading more from Bonnie.", "timestamp": 1245732541000, "title": "A terrific, thought-provoking book." }, { "asin": "143476785X", "rating": 2, "text": "Admittedly, I haven't read anything else by Kathy Herman, and this is the second in a trilogy. While it stands alone well, there are also many references to situations that I assume happened in the first novel.<br /><br />It wasn't a difficult book to read, it just wasn't one that I found to be incredible or enthralling. I liked it well enough, and while I know the author was going for drama and suspense, much of the story seemed far-fetched to me. I could see it as some episode of a law enforcement show, actually. I also had a hard time relating to Brill, the main character. That could be because I haven't read the first book, and knowing her history could certainly endear her to readers. Emily's voice and thoughts seemed too old for her age. I also found the subplot of Vanessa running off all the time and meeting the \"old man\" in the park a bit strange, although I realize why the author put it into the book and how it tied into the story. It just seemed awkward and the whole thing wrapped up too neatly.<br /><br />While I do think that, for the most part, some of the discussions between Vanessa and her parents regarding her pregnancy were realistic and accurate, I also found the story very preachy, to the point of lecturing.<br /><br />I think that this is a book fans of Kathy Herman and Brill Jessup will love. I liked it well enough, it just didn't do much for me. I do recommend reading the books in order. A third book will follow next year and be more focused on Ethan's story.", "timestamp": 1255462019000, "title": "Bit disappointing" }, { "asin": "0764206702", "rating": 3, "text": "An unconventional heroine and an unusual setting make for an interesting novel.<br /><br />I enjoyed the island/orchard setting. I'm not familiar with Pennsylvania and the Susquehanna River, and the setting was curious, but easily pictured. As far as characterization goes, I loved that Ellie wasn't a beautiful young woman, but a plain spinster with no prospects. What a refreshing heroine. However, I found Jackson too angry and often mean to Ellie as he jumped to erroneous conclusion after conclusion. Yes, both had their baggage, and I see the point of each needing to work through their issues so they could fall in love, but there were several times when I just wanted to shake some sense into them both.<br /><br />Ellie is the one with the common sense, wisdom and compassion for others and her inner beauty shines through and is what draws others to her. She struggles a bit with her own faith, but still moves forward, never giving up on God.<br /><br />I thought that the issues of adultery and death of a spouse were well handled, nothing heavy handed. Overall, an easy book to read. I enjoyed it, I didn't absolutely love it. It's light Christian fiction with some life lessons thrown in for good measure.<br /><br />Thanks to Bethany House for the opportunity to review this book.", "timestamp": 1275952692000, "title": "Light Christian fiction with life lessons thrown in for good measure" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 3, "text": "I wish we could give half stars, because this one would get 3.5.<br /><br />I will admit to being pleasantly surprised by this novel, as the cover was rather off-putting to me and reminds me of something published in the 1970s. However, the story captured me fairly quickly and I was intrigued. The four different viewpoints could have been distracting, but it was actually very refreshing and I felt it worked well.<br /><br />I enjoy stories that explore the Underground Railroad and this one was fascinating. With some twists and turns from family secrets to secret tunnels, it's not completely predictable. An easy, Christian read. I look forward to reading more from Melanie Dobson.", "timestamp": 1276119399000, "title": "Intriguing Christian novel." }, { "asin": "0764205137", "rating": 4, "text": "An enjoyable read. I was so glad that the original 16 war widows narrowed down to 5, which was a much more manageable number. The premise was a bit different and refreshing take on the mail-order bride scenario. These women had spunk and drive and weren't afraid to stand up to the sneaky land speculator who deceived them. They go off on their own and, together, establish themselves on joined land claims.<br /><br />As they ingratiate themselves into the community, they make friends and predictably, a few enemies. But, love conquers all.<br /><br />5 is much more manageable than 16 main characters, but when you add the supporting characters and love interests, it could be difficult to keep track of everyone. Stephanie Whitson does a great job of making it all work. These are likeable women and you really cheer for them to succeed. I found her take on the premise interesting.<br /><br />This is an easy enjoyable read, especially for those who love historical novels, and especially historical westerns. Light Christian.<br /><br />Thanks to Bethany House for the opportunity to review this book.", "timestamp": 1276616248000, "title": "Easy, enjoyable read." }, { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 3, "text": "A charming, light summer read. Lilly is a delightful young heroine who feels called by God to write stories. For a young woman of her class and privilege, however, means that working at all, let alone writing dime store novels is unacceptable. Lilly write anonymously, but when an unscrupulous gossip magazine threatens to reveal her identity, she's torn with what to do.<br /><br />An interesting commentary of the time: it's the late nineteenth century, and high society is summering at the coast. I have always found the rigid adherence to a strict code of conduct to be fascinating, especially when it is at the expense of people and friendship. Lilly longs for something other than a life of looking pretty and visiting with women in order to gossip and discuss others. Jack is a dashing, unlikely hero and, like Lilly, desires to do what God wants.<br /><br />A fine debut novel. Light, but not too fluffy. An enjoyable diversion and easily recommended. The first in a series, I look forward to the rest.<br /><br />Thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers for the opportunity to review this book.", "timestamp": 1277229824000, "title": "A fine debut novel." }, { "asin": "080073274X", "rating": 3, "text": "I first picked this one up and had a hard time getting into it. Rather than writing it off or forcing myself to read it, I did a preview instead of a review and set it aside for awhile. I'm glad I picked it up again.<br /><br />Mariette marries the man of her dreams, a man her parents don't approve of, but one with hopes and plans for a future. When Thayne's future turns out to be one that Mariette never dreamed of, she perseveres and ultimately finds herself and finds God.<br /><br />I enjoyed the southern, late 50's early 60's setting, and appreciated that Mariette's parents were so supportive and encouraging. This Fine Life was an absorbing story of one young woman's life and how it doesn't always go according to plan. However, like many of us, Mariette discovers that even the unexpected life can be fine and fulfilling.", "timestamp": 1280591177000, "title": "Absorbing story of how life doesn't always go according to plan" }, { "asin": "0307458997", "rating": 4, "text": "I found this to be a delightful little story. It was sweet: a sweet premise, a sweet shop, sweet characters and a sweet, charming bookstore. Love it! I will admit to not loving the sentence fragment style of writing, but the story itself was a bit enchanting. I liked Cora and Simon and I loved Sandy. What a sweetheart. Cora grew up in a very dysfunctional, non-Christian home and she struggles with integrating the worldly Christmas traditions with her Christian beliefs. I think this is something that many people struggle with: how to blend the materialistic Christmas trappings with the celebration of Christ's birth.<br /><br />I've seen reviews where people thought the magical and Christian elements didn't mix. I had no problems with it. Christmas itself is a magical time for me. It's a time of miracles, and celebrating our Savior's miraculous birth is the reason for the holiday itself. The Christmas season is a time when many people are focused on others and give of themselves and their time, talents, energy and money. You don't get much more Christian than that. Christmas is a time when children's eyes sparkle, people are a bit kinder, and yes, everything is magical.<br /><br />I loved the magical, wizard characters. Nothing about them took away the spirit of Christmas, or the Spirit of God itself from the story or the characters. They were funny and everything they did was to help other people find each other.<br /><br />I have other, more favorite Christmas stories. But, this is a sweet story, just like Christmas stories should be. It's a short, easy read and perfect for a cozy afternoon by the fire.", "timestamp": 1287674526000, "title": "A sweet, magical Christmas story" }, { "asin": "0764206710", "rating": 3, "text": "Delia Parr seems to like unconventional heroines and unusual settings! Hearts Awakening was that way, and so is Love's First Bloom. When Ruth Livingstone's father is accused of murdering a prostitute, he sends Ruth into hiding with the murdered woman's secret child. With journalists on her tail, Ruth integrates herself into a new community even as she awaits word of her father's trial.<br /><br />Like Hearts Awakening, this is a light Christian novel. Even with its theme of murder and reformed prostitutes, it's not heavy handed or preachy. With twists and turns and secrets, the book is nothing stellar, but still an enjoyable easy read.", "timestamp": 1287808677000, "title": "Enjoyable, easy read" }, { "asin": "0736930159", "rating": 2, "text": "Steph is symbolically left at the altar when her self-centered fiance doesn't show up to meet her when she arrives in town. Perfect shopkeeper Milly rescues Steph from humiliation gives her a sympathetic shoulder to cry on and a temporary job at the tea shop. Perfect innkeeper Kendall shows an interest and introduces Steph around town. She meets two nice sisters in need of a roommate and proceeds to get herself fired from every place she works outside of the tea shop.<br /><br />Add a bit of drama, an additional ex-fiancee and some misunderstandings and you have The Perfect Blend. Light on the Christian as Steph learns to stand up for herself and finds what it is she wants out of life. A light diversion. Nothing more. Fans of Trish Perry will love it. I didn't. I found myself annoyed and impatient for it to be finished. I never really connected with Steph and Rick and his mother were extreme caricatures and everyone else was one-dimensional.<br /><br />This appears to be the first in a new series, so we will be seeing more of Milly and her tea shop. Perhaps recurring characters will be fleshed out a bit in subsequent books. A bonus is the tea shop recipes included at the back of the book.", "timestamp": 1288223887000, "title": "A light diversion, nothing more" }, { "asin": "0800719255", "rating": 4, "text": "My first Christmas book of the season and it didn't disappoint! This was a lovely story of redemption and hope. People can be truly cruel, life isn't always pretty and, too often, doesn't go the way we plan.<br /><br />Lena Markham is one of those to whom life was cruel. Falsely imprisoned, she is released eight years later with a chance to start over. Finding herself in a small town, she meets a sweet woman who takes on the role of her guardian angel. When Lena is offered a job as Mrs. Santa, she begins to find hope.<br /><br />The story is Christian, with Lena learning that God is a loving, forgiving God, rather than the harsh, unyielding God her father raised her to know. When her past is exposed, Lena finds the strength to persevere and realizes that redemption is possible, that true friends stand by you, and that Christmas is a wonderful time of year.", "timestamp": 1289787515000, "title": "A lovely story of redemption and hope" }, { "asin": "0764208500", "rating": 3, "text": "I've seen such mixed reviews about this book and mine will probably be no different. I enjoyed the story, but I didn't love it. I found the ending lacking and really didn't understand the author ended it the way she did.<br /><br />Amy's voice is great, but the story is all over the board. I found myself wondering what the real purpose for writing it. Is it a story about a single women searching for her purpose and path in life? Is the focus Amy and Eli? Is the focus friendship or family relationships? The ring of truth to Amy suggests that it's partially autobiographical and that the author based Amy on herself. Which is fine, because I did like Amy. I never quite understood her attraction to Eli.<br /><br />Light on the Christian, this is an interesting commentary on the life of writers and wannabe writers. It's actually quite well written and the language is lyrical. I liked it, I didn't love it.", "timestamp": 1292625108000, "title": "Liked it, didn't love it." }, { "asin": "1609360257", "rating": 4, "text": "Esther must live with the consequences of a one-night stand. While she loves her daughter, she doesn't love her fiance and living with his parents is a nightmare. When a letter arrives that leads Esther to believe that Linus has been killed, she begins to correspond with the medic who cared for him. As Esther and Peter fall in love, they must face the realities of war and the knowledge that the secrets they keep from each other could separate them forever.<br /><br />This one kept me on my toes. I loved Esther and Peter. The story is historically rich, and I had no idea German POWs were housed in America during World War 2. A fascinating and entertaining story.", "timestamp": 1294941682000, "title": "A fascinating and entertaining story" }, { "asin": "1595545395", "rating": 4, "text": "This was, quite simply, a fun book to read. A bit far-fetched, but honestly laugh-out loud funny. It's a nice diversion. I didn't like Lucy right away, but she grew on me. I loved that her job involved working with at-risk girls who had graduated out of foster care. When her non-profit funding is cut, she finds herself accepting an unusual proposition. Can she commit to it and follow-through or will she finally listen to God and let her heart take over?<br /><br />While a classic chick-lit novel, it's not quite as light as one would think. The Christian overtones are strong and the lessons learned include forgiving ones self and turning your life over to God.<br /><br />Loved the characterizations and Julian, especially, was a total kick. Clare grew on me as well and I loved the interactions between the two. Predictable, but with a sweet ending, this is an enjoyable diversion and one that was fun to read.<br /><br />Minor peeve: While I loved the shout out to Science Fiction/Fantasy fans, and especially the reference to Doctor Who, I have to complain that real fans won't call it Dr. Who like it was used here, they use the whole word Doctor... and it would have been neat to have a real reference to show that Lucy really did know the show...such as which series/doctor was on the DVD set in her bag.<br /><br />Thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers for the opportunity to review this book.", "timestamp": 1296590064000, "title": "A fun read." }, { "asin": "1595547916", "rating": 3, "text": "A cute story, nothing stellar, but laugh out loud funny in parts and completely entertaining. Katie is spunky, Luc is charming, Dexter is completely unbelievable and Eileen is a kick. Predictable and implausible and in serious need of a good edit, this is still a light and entertaining read. True chick-lit, light on everything and a nice diversion. I read in in a couple of hours.<br /><br />This is the first Kristin Billerbeck story I've read and I can see myself reading some more, simply for the sheer entertainment value.<br /><br />Thanks to Audra Jennings of The B&B Media Group and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to review this novel.", "timestamp": 1297366157000, "title": "A cute story" }, { "asin": "0800734521", "rating": 3, "text": "This was a fascinating look at midwifery in the early 19th century, although it's about a woman who is a midwife, not midwifery itself. The story is historically rich, full of intrigue and mystery, unanswered questions and thieves in the night. It's a busy book with a lot going on and I found it sometimes hard to follow. But, I liked Tabitha and Dominick.<br /><br />It's not a book that stayed with me though. While writing this review a few weeks after I read it, I realized I needed to go back and skim the book to remind myself of what happened. Fans of historical fiction should enjoy it, however.", "timestamp": 1297445847000, "title": "Lady in the Mist" }, { "asin": "0800734076", "rating": 4, "text": "I wasn't sure what to think about a fictionalized version of the story of Job. To then have Job linked to Dinah, daughter of Jacob was even more interesting. But, it worked and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Job's story is told in a straight-forward manner. Nothing is embellished or exaggerated, but his reactions to his trials, the love he has for his wife are real and anguished. Dinah's story isn't a completely happy one and the account in the bible is minimal. This fictionalized version which continues Dinah's story and adds explanations and experiences is fantastic.<br /><br />Mesu Andrews completely captured the time and essence of the biblical world. Her descriptions are vivid and her characterizations were terrific. She shares, very clearly, in her notes how she came to place Dinah in Job's life, even though there is no biblical proof of it. Her references and research are extensive and well done.<br /><br />Through Job's faithfulness and devotion to the teachings of God, Dinah finally learns about forgiveness. This is a beautiful story of learning to accept and understand God's love for each of us.", "timestamp": 1300118401000, "title": "Fantastic" }, { "asin": "0764207563", "rating": 4, "text": "A fun story. I loved Adelaide. She's spunky and charming and an avid reader. The references to Jane Eyre and Jane Austen were terrific little additions to the story. A die-hard romantic, Adelaide searches for her storybook hero. She never expects to find him on a Texas sheep ranch.<br /><br />Gideon is a transplanted British lord. The third son, he must find his own way and prove his success to his parents. When he becomes guardian to an orphaned girl, he knows he must find a governess. Running from an embarrassing romantic fiasco, Adelaide sees the newspaper ad and applies for the job.<br /><br />Light, but not light-hearted, this is an engaging, delightful story. The characters are fantastic and fairly well developed, the engaging story has light Christian elements and a bit of drama.<br /><br />Perfect for an afternoon of escape.", "timestamp": 1300123663000, "title": "Perfect for an afternoon of escape" }, { "asin": "1595548017", "rating": 3, "text": "When I received this book, I thought it was going to be a silly romance novel because of the cover, but I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, it's a romance and it's about a rodeo cowboy. No, it's not silly. It's a story with surprising character depth. I did think the premise was a bit far-fetched with the idea that Abigail could save her family's magazine with one expose. But the characters are likeable and the story is entertaining.<br /><br />Abigail is truly torn because of a decision she must make, although she really brings it on herself. Wade is reticent about falling for her, even as he sees the bond that develops between Abigail and his daughter. Aunt Lucy is a kick, Abigail's mother is annoying. It's a light read, with Christian principles emphasized, but it's not preachy. Fans of Denise Hunter will definitely enjoy it.", "timestamp": 1302330151000, "title": "Entertaining romance" }, { "asin": "1595548769", "rating": 4, "text": "Like many, I have always loved the story of Esther and her faith and trust in God. I've tried to imagine what her life might have been like. Joan Wolf also imagined what Esther's life might have been like as she took Esther's account and created a beautiful love story. Esther comes alive in these pages as she struggles to find her place in the King's household. The love story that develops between Esther and King Asasuerus is tender and sweet. And Esther's struggle to reconcile her Jewish faith with her new life as a Persian queen is compelling.<br /><br />It's important to remember that this is a fictionalized account of Esther. In the author's note, Joan Wolf readily admits that she found it necessary to \"re-arrange some of the original material\". I realize that biblically the story is rather scarce on details, but \"re-arrange\" is a loose interpretation of what she has done here. She has not only re-arranged the story, she has left out significant events in Esther's biblical account. Some of her characterizations didn't fit with my own interpretations such as her portrayal of Mordecai, yet others exceeded them such as her portrayal of King Ahasuerus.<br /><br />However, if you can look beyond any issues you might find, A Reluctant Queen is a fascinating, moving interpretation about one of Christianity's most beloved heroines. I look forward to more biblical stories from Joan Wolf.", "timestamp": 1306907545000, "title": "Compelling, moving interpretation about one of Christianity's most beloved heroines" }, { "asin": "1595549242", "rating": 3, "text": "I've seen all kinds of rave reviews about Spring for Susannah and I had terrific hopes for it. This is not quite your typical mail-order bride scenario. Shy Susannah isn't sure what to expect when she accepts the offer to marry Jesse Mason and join him in Dakota territory. Raised to believe a woman should keep her thoughts and opinions to herself, she is unprepared to fall in love with a man who encourages her to be strong and to think for herself. Through trials and tragedies Susannah begins to blossom and it's wonderful to see her become a strong, independent woman.<br /><br />I did think it refreshing that the story had a more intimate, romantic element that isn't usually found in historical Christian novels. There was nothing overtly graphic or inappropriate, but there is clear indication that Jesse and Susannah are a married couple who are attracted to each other and who enjoy marital relations.<br /><br />I struggled with the story when Jesse suddenly leaves in search of work. Susannah comes into her own but the story kinds of shuffles along and I found the ending somewhat abrupt. Still, overall, an enjoyable, easy read and a good debut novel from an author who I think will only get better.", "timestamp": 1307339675000, "title": "An enjoyable, easy read" }, { "asin": "0800719964", "rating": 5, "text": "That the Amish people have strong families is well known. Why they have them is what fascinates so many people. Here, Suzanne Woods Fisher shares the secrets of Amish family life. Through Amish proverbs, personal stories and anecdotes, Suzanne shows us that everyone of us can incorporate Amish values in our own lives.<br /><br />As I read this little gem of a book, I thought that much of living life really is so simple. We tend to make it complicated. So much of the Amish way of life can be boiled down into one word: kindness. They are kind to each other, they care about each other, whether it be family, neighbor or even stranger. There is respect in these families and in their communities. I think a little more kindness would go a long way in making our own homes and communities happier and more successful.<br /><br />This is a book that I will read again and I will have a highlighter and pen with me so I can mark passages and jot down my thoughts. It's one of the best parenting books I think I've ever read.", "timestamp": 1313867205000, "title": "One of the best parenting books I think I've ever read" }, { "asin": "0764205978", "rating": 4, "text": "Silas and Elle parted under difficult circumstances and when they are thrown together again, years later, they discover the spark between them still burns bright. As the fire season rages in the Sierra Nevadas, Silas is brought in to lead a smoke jumping team and Elle is called upon to fly them into the forest. However, nothing quite goes as planned and when Silas has to bail out of the plane, Elle tries to make an emergency landing. Stuck in the Sierras as a fire rages nearby, they must try and find each other all while realizing the smoke jumping crew isn't there simply to fight the forest fire.<br /><br />Shawn's descriptions are vivid and bold. His familiarity with the locales and his personal experience as a firefighter/paramedic is apparent and make this story all the richer. Elle and Silas are terrific characters. I didn't want the story to end and I would love a sequel or at least have them show up in a future book. (Hint, hint!)<br /><br />I love the setting and references. I'm from the San Francisco Bay area: I know Oakland and San Mateo. I love the Sierra Nevadas and I now live in Idaho. And Star Trek Next Generation references? I am all over that!<br /><br />A thrilling, suspenseful novel full of action and just enough Christian romance.", "timestamp": 1314499072000, "title": "A thrilling, suspenseful novel" }, { "asin": "1595547851", "rating": 4, "text": "Ann Miller has always thought she wanted to marry Eli Bowen a sentimental young man prone to waxing poetic. With a father who occasionally travels as a circuit preacher and having raised her younger sisters after her mother died in childbirth, she doesn't know how she can leave her family. Then, when Ann travels to Pittsburgh with her family on her father's business, she is introduced to Will and observes that life can be very harsh and unfair to people. Yet, she is drawn to Will and wonders if their paths will ever cross again.<br /><br />With themes that include slavery and the Underground Railroad, indenture, abuse and cruel masters, this should be a heavy story. Fortunately, it's also tempered with good people who genuinely care for one another and who look out for those in need. The result is a fascinating story about the indomitable spirit and resilience of men and women who are able to rise above their adversity and discover courage, fortitude and hope.<br /><br />While I found the dialogue somewhat stilted and formal at times, I liked these characters, many of whom are based on real people and situations.<br /><br />Enthralling and suspenseful, Fairer than Morning is a terrific debut novel from a promising author. I look forward to the rest of the trilogy.", "timestamp": 1314653359000, "title": "Enthralling and suspenseful" }, { "asin": "0800733460", "rating": 4, "text": "Athena may be the head writer of a popular television show and her best friend a famous actress, but she still lives at home with her loud, loving Greek family and sleeps on Strawberry Shortcake sheets. When a new writer is brought in to help improve the show's ratings, Athena feels threatened. When she finds herself falling for Stephen, the creativity she is able to bring to her writing fails her and she uncertain of her future.<br /><br />Second in the Backstage Pass series, this is just another fun book from Janice Thompson. All your favorite characters from Stars Collide return and we get to meet Athena's loud, large and very loving Greek family. Janice not only gives us an entertaining story, she gives us a sweet story as well. When Stephen comes to LA, he brings with him a young daughter in need of love and attention. As Stephen and Athena's relationship grows, so does the relationship Brooke has with the Pappas family. The result is a tender look at what being part of a family really means.", "timestamp": 1317165466000, "title": "A delightful, sweet story" }, { "asin": "0764208330", "rating": 4, "text": "Eli and Priscilla want to be missionaries. He wants to go to the frontiers of Oregon and she to India. When the missionary board rejects their applications, they reluctantly marry in order to serve and Priscilla agrees to give up her quest for India and travel to Oregon with Eli.<br /><br />I will admit to finding the premise a bit implausible: that this man and woman who barely knew each other, would marry for convenience simply so they could be missionaries. But, the story was compelling and quickly drew me in. Priscilla and Eli were characters I grew to care about. Their travels from New York to Oregon by wagon train were difficult and arduous, but very true to life. Yet, as they journey, faith in God and a growing love and faith in each other shows them that anything is possible. I enjoyed reading their story and seeing the growth in themselves and their relationship.<br /><br />I also enjoyed the author's note that shared the true life inspiration for the novel. I liked, but didn't love Jody's first novel, The Preacher's Bride, but I thoroughly enjoyed The Doctor's Lady.", "timestamp": 1321506266000, "title": "Compelling and enjoyable" }, { "asin": "076420498X", "rating": 3, "text": "I like Lynn Austin and I love stories about bookish women. Wonderland Creek sounded fantastic and I was excited to read it. And while I did enjoy the story, it didn't quite live up to my expectation. I liked Alice for the most part, but I couldn't quite believe she was as clueless as she was made out to be. Reading a book during a funeral, simply because it was dull? I'm sorry. I love books, and I can guarantee that I usually have a book in my bag at all times. However, I would never, ever, pull it out during a funeral and read.<br /><br />Alice's adventure in Acorn, Kentucky brings many quirky characters into her life and I loved Mac and Lillie. She also finds herself having experiences she could never have imagined. Overall, the premise is a bit implausible, but it's also compelling and you want to finish the book to find out what really happens.<br /><br />I found the historical aspect of packhorse librarians fascinating. To make books available to those who lived away from town or in the back hollows of America is a relief program I could support.", "timestamp": 1322873910000, "title": "Enjoyable, but didn't quite live up to the expectation" }, { "asin": "0800734599", "rating": 4, "text": "I love stories about strong women and Summer of Promise delivers a charming one. Abigail plans on marrying a fellow teacher, but before her wedding, she travels to Wyoming to spend the summer with her sister Charlotte who is married and expecting her first child. The journey out west is an adventure itself with a robbery attack on her coach. A young soldier traveling on the same coach saves the day and once at Fort Laramie, Abigail finds herself often in the company of Ethan Bowles. She doesn't love the army life nor the rugged Wyoming countryside, but as she is drawn to Ethan, she wonders if she can ever go back to Vermont.<br /><br />Abigail must find out why her sister's life isn't as charmed as she once thought and as stagecoaches continue to be robbed and equipment goes missing from the fort, Ethan must not only discover who at the fort is the traitor, but what Abigail Harding will do with his heart. This is a delightful, compelling story with a strong heroine and an element of intrigue and one I thoroughly enjoyed.<br /><br />I haven't read Amanda Cabot before, but I'm so glad to know that this is the first in a series. I look forward to more.<br /><br />Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Thanks to the Baker Publishing Group for the opportunity to review this book.", "timestamp": 1327346837000, "title": "Delightful, compelling story" }, { "asin": "0800720075", "rating": 4, "text": "Growing up in a dysfunctional, abusive family, Alexia left home the day she graduated from high school. Ten years later, after an accident at work, she somewhat reluctantly takes some time off to see her mother and attend her high school reunion. Yet, once she arrives home, murder and mayhem follow her. Reunited with old friends,she finds herself attracted to the detective handling her case, a man she knew in high school.<br /><br />As she gets reacquainted with her mother, Alexia begins discovering answers to life long questions and learns that God does have a plan for her. And, as she realizes that the incident with her equipment failure might not be a complete accident and is related to the new events surrounding her arrival at home, Alexia must face the fact that someone is trying to kill her.<br /><br />I haven't read Lynette Eason before, but what a roller coaster. From beginning to end, this is one wild ride. I loved these characters. I enjoyed the tension and suspense and was surprised at the ending. The growth in Alexia from beginning to end as she comes to understand her mother and her childhood is touching. I am anxious for the next novel in the series and discovering the senator and how his life relates to Alexia and Serena.<br /><br />Thanks to the publisher for the chance to review this book.", "timestamp": 1329434161000, "title": "Terrific" }, { "asin": "0800720458", "rating": 5, "text": "Raised by a newspaper editor father, Adriane knows her own mind and struggles with a world that relegates women to the the society pages and not the editorial ones. Spunky and feisty, Adriane will do whatever it takes to get the story and get it ahead of the rival paper, even if that means dressing like a man and visiting the site of a serial killer's latest crime.<br /><br />When her path crosses that of Blake Garrett, new editor of that rival newspaper, sparks fly. Adriane is being forced to wed the son of a politician, and a man to whom her father is indebted. Attracted to Blake, Adriane must do what is right for her peace of mind as well as what may save her father's paper.<br /><br />Historically, this is a richly detailed account of life in pre-Civil War Kentucky with the clash of the immigrant Irish Catholics and the American Protestants. This was a period of history that I was unaware of before reading Words Spoken True and it fascinated me. Ann Gabhart has done her research well and the story is enthralling and well written with well developed characters. Adriane and Blake are terrific and I love the supporting cast as well: Duff and Beck were wonderful.<br /><br />I have enjoyed every Ann H. Gabhart book I've read, but this one is definitely my favorite so far. I'm glad to see her moving beyond the Shaker books.<br /><br />Available February 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Thanks to Baker Publishing for my review copy.", "timestamp": 1329801272000, "title": "Enthralling and well written" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 4, "text": "Widowed young, Carrie Daly has come out of mourning and finds herself falling for a charming newcomer. Griff was just passing through Hickory Ridge, trying to collect a debt, but once he meets Carrie, he decides to stay and accepts a job training a horse for an upcoming race. Carrie's brother has married a local widow with two young sons and when they move into Henry and Carrie's home, drama ensues, driving Carrie away and into town.<br /><br />The townspeople are judgmental and not welcoming of Griff, but Carrie is her own person and determined to find her own happiness. The horse racing aspect was interesting with references to what would have been the first race of the Kentucky Derby.<br /><br />I loved Carrie and her strength and spunk and determination. I hated, absolutely hated, Mary. I don't care that her life was difficult, she was a mean, angry shrew and the kind of person who would have been that way even if her life had been rosy. The dynamics between Carrie and Mary made for an interesting story and I did like the changes that took place in Mary's children. I think Carrie was a saint for what she put up with from her brother's wife out of love for him and Christian duty.<br /><br />Second in the Hickory Ridge series, Ada and Wyatt return as do other characters from Beyond All Measure, but the book stands alone well. Beauty for Ashes is definitely my favorite so far and I look forward to the next book which is about Sophie.", "timestamp": 1329802716000, "title": "Beauty for Ashes" }, { "asin": "076420839X", "rating": 5, "text": "The Bender family has survived a year in the wild Paradise Valley in Mexico. Now, joined by others of their faith who have made the long journey in search of religious freedom, they hope for a peace which is not to be found.<br /><br />Miriam finds herself falling in love with Domingo, their hired hand. Not Amish and not even Christian, she knows that her father will never approve of her relationship with him. She attempts to find happiness with an Amish man, but her heart belongs to someone else.<br /><br />When Rachel and her brother Aaron are attacked returning home from a trip, Rachel is kidnapped and Aaron left for dead. Jake and Domingo go after El Pantera and after rescuing Rachel, Domingo sacrifices his safety to let Rachel and Jake get away. When they return home without him, Miriam and Domingo's sister Kyra go after him.<br /><br />Wow. What a story and a refreshing look at the Amish faith from a vastly different perspective than one normally sees. I love these characters and I didn't want the book to end. I especially loved the part with Ada, where we get a glimpse into her heart and mind as she struggles to save her young nephew and return home after the attack that resulted in such tragedy. And Miriam is such a strong young woman, faced with difficult decisions. The exploration of love vs. faith and religion is brilliantly executed.<br /><br />I adored Paradise Valley, the first in this series and I anxiously awaited the release of The Captive Heart. I am thrilled to say that Dale Cramer has done it again. It's going to be a long wait until December for the third and final book in the trilogy.<br /><br />Thanks to Bethany House for my review copy.", "timestamp": 1330733452000, "title": "Brilliant. Amazing. Loved it." }, { "asin": "0800734378", "rating": 4, "text": "Struggling with the after effects of a dysfunctional childhood and believing she was abandoned by her mother, Patsy tries to project a perfect, happy front for her family. When her husband suggests a vacation to Florida, Patsy has no idea what events will unfold and how she must face her past.<br /><br />Told in flashbacks, Patsy's story is one that I didn't want to put down and I couldn't wait to see who Patsy sees again at the restaurant. It wasn't who I'd expected it to be. I loved Gilbert and I relished how the story unfolded and resolved.<br /><br />Like Chasing Sunsets, Waiting for Sunrise deals with some serious topics. Here, it's mental illness, abandonment and post-traumatic stress. But, it's not a heavy book. Rather, it's a moving story about family, faith and forgiveness. Completely enjoyable and easily recommended.<br /><br />Second in the Cedar Key series, the story stands alone just fine.<br /><br />Thanks to Baker Publishing for my review copy.", "timestamp": 1338505934000, "title": "A moving story about family, faith and forgiveness" }, { "asin": "0800720482", "rating": 4, "text": "With colorful descriptions, the biblical world of Mary Magdalene comes to life.<br /><br />Like many of our biblical heroes and heroines, little is known about Mary Magdalene and much of what has been perpetuated through the ages is speculation or inference, not fact. Diana Wallis Taylor has crafted a wonderful story about Mary, her life and how she came to travel with the Savior. Her life, as portrayed here, while it can't answer questions about Mary, is believable.<br /><br />In the book of Luke, we read that Jesus cast out \"seven devils\" from Mary and Diana gives a fantastic portrayal of Mary before that event took place. As word of Jesus and his ministry spreads, Mary's husband brings her to him, believing that he will heal her. A wonderful cast of supporting characters brings Mary's experience to life and it is both heartbreaking and tender to read.<br /><br />I particularly enjoyed Mary's interactions with the apostles and the portrayal of the last days of Jesus' ministry.<br /><br />Thanks to Baker Publishing for my review copy.", "timestamp": 1339783800000, "title": "Compelling" }, { "asin": "0800734556", "rating": 4, "text": "I've enjoyed everything I've read by Ann H. Gabhart. And The Gifted is just as terrific as Ann's previous Harmony Hill books. Jessamine is a spunky young woman dreaming of what might be outside Harmony Hill. When the opportunity to leave Harmony Hill is presented to her and when her lost past returns, Jessamine wonders if she will be able to live in the outside world.<br /><br />The Shaker religion is fascinating and once again, I appreciate Ann's fair portrayal of the Shaker life. While her heroines usually, eventually leave the Shaker life for the outside world, she is never critical of the Shakers. Rather, she is able to write about their faith respectfully, even as characters leave the Shaker world for something else.", "timestamp": 1341363789000, "title": "Enjoyable" }, { "asin": "0800734580", "rating": 4, "text": "Kelly Warren knows that her father's death wasn't a suicide, but she can't get anyone to listen. Detective Cole Warren isn't sure he wants to believe her until she ends up in the ER and he begins to realize that things aren't always coincidental. Together they embark on a quest to clear her father's name and bring his killer to justice. Along the way, they discover that life is better when they're a team, but someone is determined to keep them apart and end Kelly's life.<br /><br />To say I enjoy Irene Hannon's stories is a serious understatement. I have yet to read one that wasn't fantastic. She has a remarkable way with characterization and her stories are always thrilling adventures full of that perfect mix of suspense and romance.<br /><br />Third in the Guardians of Justice series, Irene Hannon doesn't disappoint. The story stands alone, but as always, it's a much richer story if the books are read in order.<br /><br />Available August 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.", "timestamp": 1344357700000, "title": "Doesn't disappoint" }, { "asin": "0800720040", "rating": 5, "text": "Set in Wyoming Territory in 1882, Celia Anderson is a young widow trying to make ends meet for herself and her infant daughter. Mark Williams is a man who has spent two years on horseback moving from town to town, looking for the father who abandoned him years before. When Mark walks into Celia's boarding house, he arrives in the midst of an emergency. Without hesitation, he steps in and together they work through her daughter's medical emergency. With winter settling in, Mark decides to stay in town, much to the dismay of two residents who believe themselves to be courting Celia.<br /><br />It's not long before Mark begins to find answers to his years of questioning and searching and it's only a matter of time before he and Celia must finally admit to themselves what their feelings for each other really are.<br /><br />I adored Celia and Mark. Truly, they were two remarkable people and their story was wonderful. I adored this charming little novella and I read it in one sitting. I literally didn't want to put it down. Christmas Roses is a delightful Christmas story, perfect for curling up with in front of a fire with a cup of cocoa.<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy for review from Baker Publishing.", "timestamp": 1351476049000, "title": "A delightful Christmas story" }, { "asin": "0800734602", "rating": 4, "text": "After her husband's death and learning that he was involved in less than scrupulous activities, Charlotte leaves Fort Laramie with her infant son and finds herself a new identity and new life. She wants nothing more than the ability to provide for her son. When she meets Barrett Landry, she is attracted to him even as she believes he will marry her good friend. When a man from her husband's past discovers her whereabouts, Charlotte's secrets collapse and she fears that Barrett won't accept her once he knows those secrets.<br /><br />Amanda Cabot has such a wonderful way with descriptions and strong, compelling characters. I loved Charlotte and Barrett. I loved how Charlotte learned that she needed to trust her family and friends and that she didn't need to accomplish everything on her own. This was a story I didn't want to put down.<br /><br />Second in the Westward Winds series, the story stands alone just fine, but I prefer to read series' in order. I look forward to the next two books and I was thrilled to learn at the end, that Gwen will get her own book as well.", "timestamp": 1356931393000, "title": "Delightful, compelling story" }, { "asin": "0800719891", "rating": 4, "text": "M.K. has to be one of my favorite Suzanne Woods Fisher characters. She is spunky, bright and a tad impulsive. Longing to see the world, she is frustrated when the school board and her step-mother Fern push her into becoming a substitute teacher. When new student Jenny Yoder comes to class, M.K. is curious about her and her older brother Chris, new arrivals in Stoney Ridge. Chris begins working for M.K's father and she finds herself drawn to him even as she is curious about his past and life. But, as answers start to come, her father steps in before M.K. and Chris can make their own decisions.<br /><br />With the arrival of Chris and Jenny Yoder to Stoney Ridge, Amos Lapp has to finally come to terms with a tragic accident that happened in the past. Whether he can or not will have a drastic effect on both M.K. and Chris. Suzanne has such a way with her characters and gets right into their souls. I love the Lapp family and Chris and Jenny were terrific. They are all simply fantastic characters. You feel for them, you care about them and you really want Jimmy Fisher to have some sense knocked into him! Seriously.<br /><br />The story can stand alone, but you really do learn a lot about M.K. in the previous books. This was a fitting conclusion to the Stoney Ridge series, although I would have loved an epilogue. I really don't want to say good-bye to the Lapp family!<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1357344463000, "title": "Fantastic end to the Stoney Ridge series" }, { "asin": "0800720393", "rating": 4, "text": "I really liked Charlotte when I met her in The Pursuit of Lucy Banning and I was excited to see that she had her own story. Charlotte wants nothing more than to be a good mother to her son, but life in service doesn't lend itself to motherhood. When the woman who has been caring for Henry leaves him at the Banning home, Charlotte can't admit that he's hers and must let the household believe he's an abandoned baby. A woman staying with the Banning family wants Henry for her own and when Charlotte's past interferes with her present, she believes that giving up Henry is the best thing.<br /><br />Charlotte is strong, brave and spunky. Her story isn't quite plausible, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I like Charlotte and I loved Archie. I hated Sarah and I really hope that hers isn't the next story in the series because she has no redeeming qualities and I can't imagine ever liking her.<br /><br />The historical setting is again terrific: the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, Chicago's affluent Prairie Avenue and the disparity between the privileged and the working class. Second in the Avenue of Dreams series, the book stands alone well but, as always, is richer if you've read the first one, The Pursuit of Lucy Banning.<br /><br />I received a copy for review from Revell. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1358905116000, "title": "Compelling historical novel" }, { "asin": "1621360210", "rating": 5, "text": "High school doesn't hold many good memories for Turner Caldwell. He was bullied and tormented and wanted nothing more than to leave those memories behind. When Cassandra Todd reappears in his life, those memories come back. But, Turner is a different man now and Cassandra is in trouble. Her high school jock husband, Brad, is abusive and she has left him, but he has resources to find her. Drawn to Cassandra and her son, Turner knows he can't turn away from her request for help. As they find themselves on the run from Brad, they discover a new friendship and special bond. But, if they survive, Turner wonders if there will be a future for them.<br /><br />I couldn't put this down. I loved it. The characters were terrific, the adventure and drama were suspenseful and kept me turning pages well into the night. Spousal abuse is becoming more common as a topic for writers and I thought Darrel did a fantastic job here as well as the longer-term effects of bullying. I'd love to see more of Turner and Cassandra and Justin. I really didn't want this book to end.<br /><br />I read Darrel's first book, The Anniversary Waltz and enjoyed it, so I was thrilled to see that he had a second one out. And, I loved this one even more than I did The Anniversary Waltz.<br /><br />I received a copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1362279499000, "title": "I didn't want this book to end" }, { "asin": "0764209809", "rating": 4, "text": "Jenny has always loved the quiet, simple things in life and has always been drawn to the Old Order Amish world. When she finally musters the courage to leave her wealthy family home and move to Hickory Hollow her Amish friend Marnie arranges for her to board with the Lapp family while goes through her time of proving. As Jenny finds herself becoming more and more Amish, Marnie finds herself drawn to outside teachings.<br /><br />I loved the premise of this book, that an Englischer wants to become Amish and I loved the way that Beverly portrays the opposite experiences of Marnie and Jenny. As always, I do not understand the concept or purpose of shunning, but I was pleased with how it was handled here and that the Bishop was actually a man who listened to others and softened his heart.<br /><br />Fourth in the Home to Hickory Hollow series, the story stands alone just fine and it was one I thoroughly enjoyed. I just love picking up a new Beverly Lewis book. With few exceptions, I always adore Beverly's books and characters and this one was terrific.<br /><br />I received a copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1389986308000, "title": "Terrific" }, { "asin": "0800721551", "rating": 4, "text": "When her father forced the family to relocate from Santa Cruz and the blue waters of the Pacific to Galveston Island, Texas and the brown waters of the Gulf, Cassia is not happy. Forced to work in her family's gyro sandwich shop, she wants nothing more than to arrange flowers. When she finds a job in a florist's shop, she takes it, even knowing that it will anger her father. Cassia's father, Babbas, has opened his sandwich shop across the street from Parma John's, the pizza place owned by the Italian Rossi family. Seized immediately by the desire to put the Rossi's out of business, and make the Greek gyro number one, Babbas forbids the family from having any contact with the Rossi family. Unfortunately, Cassia's new employer is a Rossi and she has just befriended Bella Neeley.<br /><br />When I see a book by Janice Thompson, I jump. I have never been disappointed. I adored A Bouquet of Love. It has all the makings of a fantastic Janice Thompson book, fantastic, spunky heroines, loud and interfering extended family, witty repartee and lots of love and laughter. Here, the Rossi's are back in force and the Pappas family is a match for their intensity.<br /><br />The final installment of the Weddings by Design series, the story can stand alone, but is all the better if you've read the others in the series. What is so fantastic is that Janice ties in the Weddings by Bella series and the Backstage Pass series as well. This is the perfect ending to all of them.<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1408455008000, "title": "Delightful" } ]

[ { "asin": "0800732138", "rating": 4, "text": "The third book of The Daughters of Boston series. This one continues the O'Connor family saga with Elizabeth's story. I loved it.<br /><br />Elizabeth, younger sister to Faith and Charity was always the quiet bookworm. When her brother-in-law Collin goes into the printing business with his best friend, Elizabeth falls hard for John Brady. Elizabeth is the younger sister Brady never had, and they become good friends as Brady mentors Lizzie spiritually. But, as she grows up and becomes a beautiful, Godly young woman, Brady has a difficult time reconciling his feelings for her. When Brady's past comes between them, Lizzie wonders if she'll ever marry the man she loves.<br /><br />The entire O'Connor family returns in this novel. Faith and Charity are happily married to Collin and Mitch, and Charity is expecting, but hasn't abandoned some of her old tricks. Marcy and Patrick have their own crisis of faith and trust in their marriage.<br /><br />One of the things I have enjoyed about this series is that these characters are real. They struggle with their passions, they struggle with their faith, and they struggle in their relationships with each other. Julie Lessman has also explored the issue of pride and its downfall, and in a remarkable way.<br /><br />This one is a bit darker with the themes explored in regards to Brady's past. The passions are stronger and more descriptive, especially in regards to marriage relations. But, the point is clear: passion without marriage, and marriage without God, are weak imitations.", "timestamp": 1244782373000, "title": "Terrific" }, { "asin": "1434766411", "rating": 3, "text": "A terrific, thought-provoking book.<br /><br />Kate Davis can't move forward after her husband's sudden death. She refuses to go upstairs to their bedroom. She finds even the most mundane, normal activities difficult, and soon finds herself sleeping in the living room, forgetting to shower and unable to sleep. The fact that Kevin keeps talking to her, doesn't help. As Kate tries to figure out why she hears Kevin's voice, she finds herself running from an attempted exorcism by a disturbed pastor, participating in an eclectic group therapy, visiting a psychiatrist's office, and finally, admitted to a mental hospital.<br /><br />When she meets Jack, a non-traditional pastor of a grassroots church, she begins her return to finding her life again. But, when Kate discovers Kevin's hidden secret and confronts her own, buried memories, her tenuous hold on reality shatters.<br /><br />As Kate struggles to confront her grief, she wonders if she will ever find the peace she desperately craves, and the ability to gain a second chance at life.<br /><br />I enjoyed Kate's voice. I read the book in a day, I couldn't put it down! Bonnie Grove has captured grief, and takes you on an incredible journey as you walk through Kate's mind and life with her. As experiences unfold, you hurt for Kate and cheer for her at the same time.<br /><br />The novel is Christian, but the focus is not at all preachy. In fact, any real mention of Christianity doesn't come until you're well into the story. The themes of betrayal and abortion are mature, but dealt with in a realistic manner.<br /><br />An interesting, compelling story, and a terrific debut novel. I look forward to reading more from Bonnie.", "timestamp": 1245732541000, "title": "A terrific, thought-provoking book." }, { "asin": "143476785X", "rating": 2, "text": "Admittedly, I haven't read anything else by Kathy Herman, and this is the second in a trilogy. While it stands alone well, there are also many references to situations that I assume happened in the first novel.<br /><br />It wasn't a difficult book to read, it just wasn't one that I found to be incredible or enthralling. I liked it well enough, and while I know the author was going for drama and suspense, much of the story seemed far-fetched to me. I could see it as some episode of a law enforcement show, actually. I also had a hard time relating to Brill, the main character. That could be because I haven't read the first book, and knowing her history could certainly endear her to readers. Emily's voice and thoughts seemed too old for her age. I also found the subplot of Vanessa running off all the time and meeting the \"old man\" in the park a bit strange, although I realize why the author put it into the book and how it tied into the story. It just seemed awkward and the whole thing wrapped up too neatly.<br /><br />While I do think that, for the most part, some of the discussions between Vanessa and her parents regarding her pregnancy were realistic and accurate, I also found the story very preachy, to the point of lecturing.<br /><br />I think that this is a book fans of Kathy Herman and Brill Jessup will love. I liked it well enough, it just didn't do much for me. I do recommend reading the books in order. A third book will follow next year and be more focused on Ethan's story.", "timestamp": 1255462019000, "title": "Bit disappointing" }, { "asin": "0764206702", "rating": 3, "text": "An unconventional heroine and an unusual setting make for an interesting novel.<br /><br />I enjoyed the island/orchard setting. I'm not familiar with Pennsylvania and the Susquehanna River, and the setting was curious, but easily pictured. As far as characterization goes, I loved that Ellie wasn't a beautiful young woman, but a plain spinster with no prospects. What a refreshing heroine. However, I found Jackson too angry and often mean to Ellie as he jumped to erroneous conclusion after conclusion. Yes, both had their baggage, and I see the point of each needing to work through their issues so they could fall in love, but there were several times when I just wanted to shake some sense into them both.<br /><br />Ellie is the one with the common sense, wisdom and compassion for others and her inner beauty shines through and is what draws others to her. She struggles a bit with her own faith, but still moves forward, never giving up on God.<br /><br />I thought that the issues of adultery and death of a spouse were well handled, nothing heavy handed. Overall, an easy book to read. I enjoyed it, I didn't absolutely love it. It's light Christian fiction with some life lessons thrown in for good measure.<br /><br />Thanks to Bethany House for the opportunity to review this book.", "timestamp": 1275952692000, "title": "Light Christian fiction with life lessons thrown in for good measure" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 3, "text": "I wish we could give half stars, because this one would get 3.5.<br /><br />I will admit to being pleasantly surprised by this novel, as the cover was rather off-putting to me and reminds me of something published in the 1970s. However, the story captured me fairly quickly and I was intrigued. The four different viewpoints could have been distracting, but it was actually very refreshing and I felt it worked well.<br /><br />I enjoy stories that explore the Underground Railroad and this one was fascinating. With some twists and turns from family secrets to secret tunnels, it's not completely predictable. An easy, Christian read. I look forward to reading more from Melanie Dobson.", "timestamp": 1276119399000, "title": "Intriguing Christian novel." }, { "asin": "0764205137", "rating": 4, "text": "An enjoyable read. I was so glad that the original 16 war widows narrowed down to 5, which was a much more manageable number. The premise was a bit different and refreshing take on the mail-order bride scenario. These women had spunk and drive and weren't afraid to stand up to the sneaky land speculator who deceived them. They go off on their own and, together, establish themselves on joined land claims.<br /><br />As they ingratiate themselves into the community, they make friends and predictably, a few enemies. But, love conquers all.<br /><br />5 is much more manageable than 16 main characters, but when you add the supporting characters and love interests, it could be difficult to keep track of everyone. Stephanie Whitson does a great job of making it all work. These are likeable women and you really cheer for them to succeed. I found her take on the premise interesting.<br /><br />This is an easy enjoyable read, especially for those who love historical novels, and especially historical westerns. Light Christian.<br /><br />Thanks to Bethany House for the opportunity to review this book.", "timestamp": 1276616248000, "title": "Easy, enjoyable read." }, { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 3, "text": "A charming, light summer read. Lilly is a delightful young heroine who feels called by God to write stories. For a young woman of her class and privilege, however, means that working at all, let alone writing dime store novels is unacceptable. Lilly write anonymously, but when an unscrupulous gossip magazine threatens to reveal her identity, she's torn with what to do.<br /><br />An interesting commentary of the time: it's the late nineteenth century, and high society is summering at the coast. I have always found the rigid adherence to a strict code of conduct to be fascinating, especially when it is at the expense of people and friendship. Lilly longs for something other than a life of looking pretty and visiting with women in order to gossip and discuss others. Jack is a dashing, unlikely hero and, like Lilly, desires to do what God wants.<br /><br />A fine debut novel. Light, but not too fluffy. An enjoyable diversion and easily recommended. The first in a series, I look forward to the rest.<br /><br />Thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers for the opportunity to review this book.", "timestamp": 1277229824000, "title": "A fine debut novel." }, { "asin": "080073274X", "rating": 3, "text": "I first picked this one up and had a hard time getting into it. Rather than writing it off or forcing myself to read it, I did a preview instead of a review and set it aside for awhile. I'm glad I picked it up again.<br /><br />Mariette marries the man of her dreams, a man her parents don't approve of, but one with hopes and plans for a future. When Thayne's future turns out to be one that Mariette never dreamed of, she perseveres and ultimately finds herself and finds God.<br /><br />I enjoyed the southern, late 50's early 60's setting, and appreciated that Mariette's parents were so supportive and encouraging. This Fine Life was an absorbing story of one young woman's life and how it doesn't always go according to plan. However, like many of us, Mariette discovers that even the unexpected life can be fine and fulfilling.", "timestamp": 1280591177000, "title": "Absorbing story of how life doesn't always go according to plan" }, { "asin": "0307458997", "rating": 4, "text": "I found this to be a delightful little story. It was sweet: a sweet premise, a sweet shop, sweet characters and a sweet, charming bookstore. Love it! I will admit to not loving the sentence fragment style of writing, but the story itself was a bit enchanting. I liked Cora and Simon and I loved Sandy. What a sweetheart. Cora grew up in a very dysfunctional, non-Christian home and she struggles with integrating the worldly Christmas traditions with her Christian beliefs. I think this is something that many people struggle with: how to blend the materialistic Christmas trappings with the celebration of Christ's birth.<br /><br />I've seen reviews where people thought the magical and Christian elements didn't mix. I had no problems with it. Christmas itself is a magical time for me. It's a time of miracles, and celebrating our Savior's miraculous birth is the reason for the holiday itself. The Christmas season is a time when many people are focused on others and give of themselves and their time, talents, energy and money. You don't get much more Christian than that. Christmas is a time when children's eyes sparkle, people are a bit kinder, and yes, everything is magical.<br /><br />I loved the magical, wizard characters. Nothing about them took away the spirit of Christmas, or the Spirit of God itself from the story or the characters. They were funny and everything they did was to help other people find each other.<br /><br />I have other, more favorite Christmas stories. But, this is a sweet story, just like Christmas stories should be. It's a short, easy read and perfect for a cozy afternoon by the fire.", "timestamp": 1287674526000, "title": "A sweet, magical Christmas story" }, { "asin": "0764206710", "rating": 3, "text": "Delia Parr seems to like unconventional heroines and unusual settings! Hearts Awakening was that way, and so is Love's First Bloom. When Ruth Livingstone's father is accused of murdering a prostitute, he sends Ruth into hiding with the murdered woman's secret child. With journalists on her tail, Ruth integrates herself into a new community even as she awaits word of her father's trial.<br /><br />Like Hearts Awakening, this is a light Christian novel. Even with its theme of murder and reformed prostitutes, it's not heavy handed or preachy. With twists and turns and secrets, the book is nothing stellar, but still an enjoyable easy read.", "timestamp": 1287808677000, "title": "Enjoyable, easy read" }, { "asin": "0736930159", "rating": 2, "text": "Steph is symbolically left at the altar when her self-centered fiance doesn't show up to meet her when she arrives in town. Perfect shopkeeper Milly rescues Steph from humiliation gives her a sympathetic shoulder to cry on and a temporary job at the tea shop. Perfect innkeeper Kendall shows an interest and introduces Steph around town. She meets two nice sisters in need of a roommate and proceeds to get herself fired from every place she works outside of the tea shop.<br /><br />Add a bit of drama, an additional ex-fiancee and some misunderstandings and you have The Perfect Blend. Light on the Christian as Steph learns to stand up for herself and finds what it is she wants out of life. A light diversion. Nothing more. Fans of Trish Perry will love it. I didn't. I found myself annoyed and impatient for it to be finished. I never really connected with Steph and Rick and his mother were extreme caricatures and everyone else was one-dimensional.<br /><br />This appears to be the first in a new series, so we will be seeing more of Milly and her tea shop. Perhaps recurring characters will be fleshed out a bit in subsequent books. A bonus is the tea shop recipes included at the back of the book.", "timestamp": 1288223887000, "title": "A light diversion, nothing more" }, { "asin": "0800719255", "rating": 4, "text": "My first Christmas book of the season and it didn't disappoint! This was a lovely story of redemption and hope. People can be truly cruel, life isn't always pretty and, too often, doesn't go the way we plan.<br /><br />Lena Markham is one of those to whom life was cruel. Falsely imprisoned, she is released eight years later with a chance to start over. Finding herself in a small town, she meets a sweet woman who takes on the role of her guardian angel. When Lena is offered a job as Mrs. Santa, she begins to find hope.<br /><br />The story is Christian, with Lena learning that God is a loving, forgiving God, rather than the harsh, unyielding God her father raised her to know. When her past is exposed, Lena finds the strength to persevere and realizes that redemption is possible, that true friends stand by you, and that Christmas is a wonderful time of year.", "timestamp": 1289787515000, "title": "A lovely story of redemption and hope" }, { "asin": "0764208500", "rating": 3, "text": "I've seen such mixed reviews about this book and mine will probably be no different. I enjoyed the story, but I didn't love it. I found the ending lacking and really didn't understand the author ended it the way she did.<br /><br />Amy's voice is great, but the story is all over the board. I found myself wondering what the real purpose for writing it. Is it a story about a single women searching for her purpose and path in life? Is the focus Amy and Eli? Is the focus friendship or family relationships? The ring of truth to Amy suggests that it's partially autobiographical and that the author based Amy on herself. Which is fine, because I did like Amy. I never quite understood her attraction to Eli.<br /><br />Light on the Christian, this is an interesting commentary on the life of writers and wannabe writers. It's actually quite well written and the language is lyrical. I liked it, I didn't love it.", "timestamp": 1292625108000, "title": "Liked it, didn't love it." }, { "asin": "1609360257", "rating": 4, "text": "Esther must live with the consequences of a one-night stand. While she loves her daughter, she doesn't love her fiance and living with his parents is a nightmare. When a letter arrives that leads Esther to believe that Linus has been killed, she begins to correspond with the medic who cared for him. As Esther and Peter fall in love, they must face the realities of war and the knowledge that the secrets they keep from each other could separate them forever.<br /><br />This one kept me on my toes. I loved Esther and Peter. The story is historically rich, and I had no idea German POWs were housed in America during World War 2. A fascinating and entertaining story.", "timestamp": 1294941682000, "title": "A fascinating and entertaining story" }, { "asin": "1595545395", "rating": 4, "text": "This was, quite simply, a fun book to read. A bit far-fetched, but honestly laugh-out loud funny. It's a nice diversion. I didn't like Lucy right away, but she grew on me. I loved that her job involved working with at-risk girls who had graduated out of foster care. When her non-profit funding is cut, she finds herself accepting an unusual proposition. Can she commit to it and follow-through or will she finally listen to God and let her heart take over?<br /><br />While a classic chick-lit novel, it's not quite as light as one would think. The Christian overtones are strong and the lessons learned include forgiving ones self and turning your life over to God.<br /><br />Loved the characterizations and Julian, especially, was a total kick. Clare grew on me as well and I loved the interactions between the two. Predictable, but with a sweet ending, this is an enjoyable diversion and one that was fun to read.<br /><br />Minor peeve: While I loved the shout out to Science Fiction/Fantasy fans, and especially the reference to Doctor Who, I have to complain that real fans won't call it Dr. Who like it was used here, they use the whole word Doctor... and it would have been neat to have a real reference to show that Lucy really did know the show...such as which series/doctor was on the DVD set in her bag.<br /><br />Thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers for the opportunity to review this book.", "timestamp": 1296590064000, "title": "A fun read." }, { "asin": "1595547916", "rating": 3, "text": "A cute story, nothing stellar, but laugh out loud funny in parts and completely entertaining. Katie is spunky, Luc is charming, Dexter is completely unbelievable and Eileen is a kick. Predictable and implausible and in serious need of a good edit, this is still a light and entertaining read. True chick-lit, light on everything and a nice diversion. I read in in a couple of hours.<br /><br />This is the first Kristin Billerbeck story I've read and I can see myself reading some more, simply for the sheer entertainment value.<br /><br />Thanks to Audra Jennings of The B&B Media Group and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to review this novel.", "timestamp": 1297366157000, "title": "A cute story" }, { "asin": "0800734521", "rating": 3, "text": "This was a fascinating look at midwifery in the early 19th century, although it's about a woman who is a midwife, not midwifery itself. The story is historically rich, full of intrigue and mystery, unanswered questions and thieves in the night. It's a busy book with a lot going on and I found it sometimes hard to follow. But, I liked Tabitha and Dominick.<br /><br />It's not a book that stayed with me though. While writing this review a few weeks after I read it, I realized I needed to go back and skim the book to remind myself of what happened. Fans of historical fiction should enjoy it, however.", "timestamp": 1297445847000, "title": "Lady in the Mist" }, { "asin": "0800734076", "rating": 4, "text": "I wasn't sure what to think about a fictionalized version of the story of Job. To then have Job linked to Dinah, daughter of Jacob was even more interesting. But, it worked and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Job's story is told in a straight-forward manner. Nothing is embellished or exaggerated, but his reactions to his trials, the love he has for his wife are real and anguished. Dinah's story isn't a completely happy one and the account in the bible is minimal. This fictionalized version which continues Dinah's story and adds explanations and experiences is fantastic.<br /><br />Mesu Andrews completely captured the time and essence of the biblical world. Her descriptions are vivid and her characterizations were terrific. She shares, very clearly, in her notes how she came to place Dinah in Job's life, even though there is no biblical proof of it. Her references and research are extensive and well done.<br /><br />Through Job's faithfulness and devotion to the teachings of God, Dinah finally learns about forgiveness. This is a beautiful story of learning to accept and understand God's love for each of us.", "timestamp": 1300118401000, "title": "Fantastic" }, { "asin": "0764207563", "rating": 4, "text": "A fun story. I loved Adelaide. She's spunky and charming and an avid reader. The references to Jane Eyre and Jane Austen were terrific little additions to the story. A die-hard romantic, Adelaide searches for her storybook hero. She never expects to find him on a Texas sheep ranch.<br /><br />Gideon is a transplanted British lord. The third son, he must find his own way and prove his success to his parents. When he becomes guardian to an orphaned girl, he knows he must find a governess. Running from an embarrassing romantic fiasco, Adelaide sees the newspaper ad and applies for the job.<br /><br />Light, but not light-hearted, this is an engaging, delightful story. The characters are fantastic and fairly well developed, the engaging story has light Christian elements and a bit of drama.<br /><br />Perfect for an afternoon of escape.", "timestamp": 1300123663000, "title": "Perfect for an afternoon of escape" }, { "asin": "1595548017", "rating": 3, "text": "When I received this book, I thought it was going to be a silly romance novel because of the cover, but I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, it's a romance and it's about a rodeo cowboy. No, it's not silly. It's a story with surprising character depth. I did think the premise was a bit far-fetched with the idea that Abigail could save her family's magazine with one expose. But the characters are likeable and the story is entertaining.<br /><br />Abigail is truly torn because of a decision she must make, although she really brings it on herself. Wade is reticent about falling for her, even as he sees the bond that develops between Abigail and his daughter. Aunt Lucy is a kick, Abigail's mother is annoying. It's a light read, with Christian principles emphasized, but it's not preachy. Fans of Denise Hunter will definitely enjoy it.", "timestamp": 1302330151000, "title": "Entertaining romance" }, { "asin": "1595548769", "rating": 4, "text": "Like many, I have always loved the story of Esther and her faith and trust in God. I've tried to imagine what her life might have been like. Joan Wolf also imagined what Esther's life might have been like as she took Esther's account and created a beautiful love story. Esther comes alive in these pages as she struggles to find her place in the King's household. The love story that develops between Esther and King Asasuerus is tender and sweet. And Esther's struggle to reconcile her Jewish faith with her new life as a Persian queen is compelling.<br /><br />It's important to remember that this is a fictionalized account of Esther. In the author's note, Joan Wolf readily admits that she found it necessary to \"re-arrange some of the original material\". I realize that biblically the story is rather scarce on details, but \"re-arrange\" is a loose interpretation of what she has done here. She has not only re-arranged the story, she has left out significant events in Esther's biblical account. Some of her characterizations didn't fit with my own interpretations such as her portrayal of Mordecai, yet others exceeded them such as her portrayal of King Ahasuerus.<br /><br />However, if you can look beyond any issues you might find, A Reluctant Queen is a fascinating, moving interpretation about one of Christianity's most beloved heroines. I look forward to more biblical stories from Joan Wolf.", "timestamp": 1306907545000, "title": "Compelling, moving interpretation about one of Christianity's most beloved heroines" }, { "asin": "1595549242", "rating": 3, "text": "I've seen all kinds of rave reviews about Spring for Susannah and I had terrific hopes for it. This is not quite your typical mail-order bride scenario. Shy Susannah isn't sure what to expect when she accepts the offer to marry Jesse Mason and join him in Dakota territory. Raised to believe a woman should keep her thoughts and opinions to herself, she is unprepared to fall in love with a man who encourages her to be strong and to think for herself. Through trials and tragedies Susannah begins to blossom and it's wonderful to see her become a strong, independent woman.<br /><br />I did think it refreshing that the story had a more intimate, romantic element that isn't usually found in historical Christian novels. There was nothing overtly graphic or inappropriate, but there is clear indication that Jesse and Susannah are a married couple who are attracted to each other and who enjoy marital relations.<br /><br />I struggled with the story when Jesse suddenly leaves in search of work. Susannah comes into her own but the story kinds of shuffles along and I found the ending somewhat abrupt. Still, overall, an enjoyable, easy read and a good debut novel from an author who I think will only get better.", "timestamp": 1307339675000, "title": "An enjoyable, easy read" }, { "asin": "0800719964", "rating": 5, "text": "That the Amish people have strong families is well known. Why they have them is what fascinates so many people. Here, Suzanne Woods Fisher shares the secrets of Amish family life. Through Amish proverbs, personal stories and anecdotes, Suzanne shows us that everyone of us can incorporate Amish values in our own lives.<br /><br />As I read this little gem of a book, I thought that much of living life really is so simple. We tend to make it complicated. So much of the Amish way of life can be boiled down into one word: kindness. They are kind to each other, they care about each other, whether it be family, neighbor or even stranger. There is respect in these families and in their communities. I think a little more kindness would go a long way in making our own homes and communities happier and more successful.<br /><br />This is a book that I will read again and I will have a highlighter and pen with me so I can mark passages and jot down my thoughts. It's one of the best parenting books I think I've ever read.", "timestamp": 1313867205000, "title": "One of the best parenting books I think I've ever read" }, { "asin": "0764205978", "rating": 4, "text": "Silas and Elle parted under difficult circumstances and when they are thrown together again, years later, they discover the spark between them still burns bright. As the fire season rages in the Sierra Nevadas, Silas is brought in to lead a smoke jumping team and Elle is called upon to fly them into the forest. However, nothing quite goes as planned and when Silas has to bail out of the plane, Elle tries to make an emergency landing. Stuck in the Sierras as a fire rages nearby, they must try and find each other all while realizing the smoke jumping crew isn't there simply to fight the forest fire.<br /><br />Shawn's descriptions are vivid and bold. His familiarity with the locales and his personal experience as a firefighter/paramedic is apparent and make this story all the richer. Elle and Silas are terrific characters. I didn't want the story to end and I would love a sequel or at least have them show up in a future book. (Hint, hint!)<br /><br />I love the setting and references. I'm from the San Francisco Bay area: I know Oakland and San Mateo. I love the Sierra Nevadas and I now live in Idaho. And Star Trek Next Generation references? I am all over that!<br /><br />A thrilling, suspenseful novel full of action and just enough Christian romance.", "timestamp": 1314499072000, "title": "A thrilling, suspenseful novel" }, { "asin": "1595547851", "rating": 4, "text": "Ann Miller has always thought she wanted to marry Eli Bowen a sentimental young man prone to waxing poetic. With a father who occasionally travels as a circuit preacher and having raised her younger sisters after her mother died in childbirth, she doesn't know how she can leave her family. Then, when Ann travels to Pittsburgh with her family on her father's business, she is introduced to Will and observes that life can be very harsh and unfair to people. Yet, she is drawn to Will and wonders if their paths will ever cross again.<br /><br />With themes that include slavery and the Underground Railroad, indenture, abuse and cruel masters, this should be a heavy story. Fortunately, it's also tempered with good people who genuinely care for one another and who look out for those in need. The result is a fascinating story about the indomitable spirit and resilience of men and women who are able to rise above their adversity and discover courage, fortitude and hope.<br /><br />While I found the dialogue somewhat stilted and formal at times, I liked these characters, many of whom are based on real people and situations.<br /><br />Enthralling and suspenseful, Fairer than Morning is a terrific debut novel from a promising author. I look forward to the rest of the trilogy.", "timestamp": 1314653359000, "title": "Enthralling and suspenseful" }, { "asin": "0800733460", "rating": 4, "text": "Athena may be the head writer of a popular television show and her best friend a famous actress, but she still lives at home with her loud, loving Greek family and sleeps on Strawberry Shortcake sheets. When a new writer is brought in to help improve the show's ratings, Athena feels threatened. When she finds herself falling for Stephen, the creativity she is able to bring to her writing fails her and she uncertain of her future.<br /><br />Second in the Backstage Pass series, this is just another fun book from Janice Thompson. All your favorite characters from Stars Collide return and we get to meet Athena's loud, large and very loving Greek family. Janice not only gives us an entertaining story, she gives us a sweet story as well. When Stephen comes to LA, he brings with him a young daughter in need of love and attention. As Stephen and Athena's relationship grows, so does the relationship Brooke has with the Pappas family. The result is a tender look at what being part of a family really means.", "timestamp": 1317165466000, "title": "A delightful, sweet story" }, { "asin": "0764208330", "rating": 4, "text": "Eli and Priscilla want to be missionaries. He wants to go to the frontiers of Oregon and she to India. When the missionary board rejects their applications, they reluctantly marry in order to serve and Priscilla agrees to give up her quest for India and travel to Oregon with Eli.<br /><br />I will admit to finding the premise a bit implausible: that this man and woman who barely knew each other, would marry for convenience simply so they could be missionaries. But, the story was compelling and quickly drew me in. Priscilla and Eli were characters I grew to care about. Their travels from New York to Oregon by wagon train were difficult and arduous, but very true to life. Yet, as they journey, faith in God and a growing love and faith in each other shows them that anything is possible. I enjoyed reading their story and seeing the growth in themselves and their relationship.<br /><br />I also enjoyed the author's note that shared the true life inspiration for the novel. I liked, but didn't love Jody's first novel, The Preacher's Bride, but I thoroughly enjoyed The Doctor's Lady.", "timestamp": 1321506266000, "title": "Compelling and enjoyable" }, { "asin": "076420498X", "rating": 3, "text": "I like Lynn Austin and I love stories about bookish women. Wonderland Creek sounded fantastic and I was excited to read it. And while I did enjoy the story, it didn't quite live up to my expectation. I liked Alice for the most part, but I couldn't quite believe she was as clueless as she was made out to be. Reading a book during a funeral, simply because it was dull? I'm sorry. I love books, and I can guarantee that I usually have a book in my bag at all times. However, I would never, ever, pull it out during a funeral and read.<br /><br />Alice's adventure in Acorn, Kentucky brings many quirky characters into her life and I loved Mac and Lillie. She also finds herself having experiences she could never have imagined. Overall, the premise is a bit implausible, but it's also compelling and you want to finish the book to find out what really happens.<br /><br />I found the historical aspect of packhorse librarians fascinating. To make books available to those who lived away from town or in the back hollows of America is a relief program I could support.", "timestamp": 1322873910000, "title": "Enjoyable, but didn't quite live up to the expectation" }, { "asin": "0800734599", "rating": 4, "text": "I love stories about strong women and Summer of Promise delivers a charming one. Abigail plans on marrying a fellow teacher, but before her wedding, she travels to Wyoming to spend the summer with her sister Charlotte who is married and expecting her first child. The journey out west is an adventure itself with a robbery attack on her coach. A young soldier traveling on the same coach saves the day and once at Fort Laramie, Abigail finds herself often in the company of Ethan Bowles. She doesn't love the army life nor the rugged Wyoming countryside, but as she is drawn to Ethan, she wonders if she can ever go back to Vermont.<br /><br />Abigail must find out why her sister's life isn't as charmed as she once thought and as stagecoaches continue to be robbed and equipment goes missing from the fort, Ethan must not only discover who at the fort is the traitor, but what Abigail Harding will do with his heart. This is a delightful, compelling story with a strong heroine and an element of intrigue and one I thoroughly enjoyed.<br /><br />I haven't read Amanda Cabot before, but I'm so glad to know that this is the first in a series. I look forward to more.<br /><br />Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Thanks to the Baker Publishing Group for the opportunity to review this book.", "timestamp": 1327346837000, "title": "Delightful, compelling story" }, { "asin": "0800720075", "rating": 4, "text": "Growing up in a dysfunctional, abusive family, Alexia left home the day she graduated from high school. Ten years later, after an accident at work, she somewhat reluctantly takes some time off to see her mother and attend her high school reunion. Yet, once she arrives home, murder and mayhem follow her. Reunited with old friends,she finds herself attracted to the detective handling her case, a man she knew in high school.<br /><br />As she gets reacquainted with her mother, Alexia begins discovering answers to life long questions and learns that God does have a plan for her. And, as she realizes that the incident with her equipment failure might not be a complete accident and is related to the new events surrounding her arrival at home, Alexia must face the fact that someone is trying to kill her.<br /><br />I haven't read Lynette Eason before, but what a roller coaster. From beginning to end, this is one wild ride. I loved these characters. I enjoyed the tension and suspense and was surprised at the ending. The growth in Alexia from beginning to end as she comes to understand her mother and her childhood is touching. I am anxious for the next novel in the series and discovering the senator and how his life relates to Alexia and Serena.<br /><br />Thanks to the publisher for the chance to review this book.", "timestamp": 1329434161000, "title": "Terrific" }, { "asin": "0800720458", "rating": 5, "text": "Raised by a newspaper editor father, Adriane knows her own mind and struggles with a world that relegates women to the the society pages and not the editorial ones. Spunky and feisty, Adriane will do whatever it takes to get the story and get it ahead of the rival paper, even if that means dressing like a man and visiting the site of a serial killer's latest crime.<br /><br />When her path crosses that of Blake Garrett, new editor of that rival newspaper, sparks fly. Adriane is being forced to wed the son of a politician, and a man to whom her father is indebted. Attracted to Blake, Adriane must do what is right for her peace of mind as well as what may save her father's paper.<br /><br />Historically, this is a richly detailed account of life in pre-Civil War Kentucky with the clash of the immigrant Irish Catholics and the American Protestants. This was a period of history that I was unaware of before reading Words Spoken True and it fascinated me. Ann Gabhart has done her research well and the story is enthralling and well written with well developed characters. Adriane and Blake are terrific and I love the supporting cast as well: Duff and Beck were wonderful.<br /><br />I have enjoyed every Ann H. Gabhart book I've read, but this one is definitely my favorite so far. I'm glad to see her moving beyond the Shaker books.<br /><br />Available February 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Thanks to Baker Publishing for my review copy.", "timestamp": 1329801272000, "title": "Enthralling and well written" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 4, "text": "Widowed young, Carrie Daly has come out of mourning and finds herself falling for a charming newcomer. Griff was just passing through Hickory Ridge, trying to collect a debt, but once he meets Carrie, he decides to stay and accepts a job training a horse for an upcoming race. Carrie's brother has married a local widow with two young sons and when they move into Henry and Carrie's home, drama ensues, driving Carrie away and into town.<br /><br />The townspeople are judgmental and not welcoming of Griff, but Carrie is her own person and determined to find her own happiness. The horse racing aspect was interesting with references to what would have been the first race of the Kentucky Derby.<br /><br />I loved Carrie and her strength and spunk and determination. I hated, absolutely hated, Mary. I don't care that her life was difficult, she was a mean, angry shrew and the kind of person who would have been that way even if her life had been rosy. The dynamics between Carrie and Mary made for an interesting story and I did like the changes that took place in Mary's children. I think Carrie was a saint for what she put up with from her brother's wife out of love for him and Christian duty.<br /><br />Second in the Hickory Ridge series, Ada and Wyatt return as do other characters from Beyond All Measure, but the book stands alone well. Beauty for Ashes is definitely my favorite so far and I look forward to the next book which is about Sophie.", "timestamp": 1329802716000, "title": "Beauty for Ashes" }, { "asin": "076420839X", "rating": 5, "text": "The Bender family has survived a year in the wild Paradise Valley in Mexico. Now, joined by others of their faith who have made the long journey in search of religious freedom, they hope for a peace which is not to be found.<br /><br />Miriam finds herself falling in love with Domingo, their hired hand. Not Amish and not even Christian, she knows that her father will never approve of her relationship with him. She attempts to find happiness with an Amish man, but her heart belongs to someone else.<br /><br />When Rachel and her brother Aaron are attacked returning home from a trip, Rachel is kidnapped and Aaron left for dead. Jake and Domingo go after El Pantera and after rescuing Rachel, Domingo sacrifices his safety to let Rachel and Jake get away. When they return home without him, Miriam and Domingo's sister Kyra go after him.<br /><br />Wow. What a story and a refreshing look at the Amish faith from a vastly different perspective than one normally sees. I love these characters and I didn't want the book to end. I especially loved the part with Ada, where we get a glimpse into her heart and mind as she struggles to save her young nephew and return home after the attack that resulted in such tragedy. And Miriam is such a strong young woman, faced with difficult decisions. The exploration of love vs. faith and religion is brilliantly executed.<br /><br />I adored Paradise Valley, the first in this series and I anxiously awaited the release of The Captive Heart. I am thrilled to say that Dale Cramer has done it again. It's going to be a long wait until December for the third and final book in the trilogy.<br /><br />Thanks to Bethany House for my review copy.", "timestamp": 1330733452000, "title": "Brilliant. Amazing. Loved it." }, { "asin": "0800734378", "rating": 4, "text": "Struggling with the after effects of a dysfunctional childhood and believing she was abandoned by her mother, Patsy tries to project a perfect, happy front for her family. When her husband suggests a vacation to Florida, Patsy has no idea what events will unfold and how she must face her past.<br /><br />Told in flashbacks, Patsy's story is one that I didn't want to put down and I couldn't wait to see who Patsy sees again at the restaurant. It wasn't who I'd expected it to be. I loved Gilbert and I relished how the story unfolded and resolved.<br /><br />Like Chasing Sunsets, Waiting for Sunrise deals with some serious topics. Here, it's mental illness, abandonment and post-traumatic stress. But, it's not a heavy book. Rather, it's a moving story about family, faith and forgiveness. Completely enjoyable and easily recommended.<br /><br />Second in the Cedar Key series, the story stands alone just fine.<br /><br />Thanks to Baker Publishing for my review copy.", "timestamp": 1338505934000, "title": "A moving story about family, faith and forgiveness" }, { "asin": "0800720482", "rating": 4, "text": "With colorful descriptions, the biblical world of Mary Magdalene comes to life.<br /><br />Like many of our biblical heroes and heroines, little is known about Mary Magdalene and much of what has been perpetuated through the ages is speculation or inference, not fact. Diana Wallis Taylor has crafted a wonderful story about Mary, her life and how she came to travel with the Savior. Her life, as portrayed here, while it can't answer questions about Mary, is believable.<br /><br />In the book of Luke, we read that Jesus cast out \"seven devils\" from Mary and Diana gives a fantastic portrayal of Mary before that event took place. As word of Jesus and his ministry spreads, Mary's husband brings her to him, believing that he will heal her. A wonderful cast of supporting characters brings Mary's experience to life and it is both heartbreaking and tender to read.<br /><br />I particularly enjoyed Mary's interactions with the apostles and the portrayal of the last days of Jesus' ministry.<br /><br />Thanks to Baker Publishing for my review copy.", "timestamp": 1339783800000, "title": "Compelling" }, { "asin": "0800734556", "rating": 4, "text": "I've enjoyed everything I've read by Ann H. Gabhart. And The Gifted is just as terrific as Ann's previous Harmony Hill books. Jessamine is a spunky young woman dreaming of what might be outside Harmony Hill. When the opportunity to leave Harmony Hill is presented to her and when her lost past returns, Jessamine wonders if she will be able to live in the outside world.<br /><br />The Shaker religion is fascinating and once again, I appreciate Ann's fair portrayal of the Shaker life. While her heroines usually, eventually leave the Shaker life for the outside world, she is never critical of the Shakers. Rather, she is able to write about their faith respectfully, even as characters leave the Shaker world for something else.", "timestamp": 1341363789000, "title": "Enjoyable" }, { "asin": "0800734580", "rating": 4, "text": "Kelly Warren knows that her father's death wasn't a suicide, but she can't get anyone to listen. Detective Cole Warren isn't sure he wants to believe her until she ends up in the ER and he begins to realize that things aren't always coincidental. Together they embark on a quest to clear her father's name and bring his killer to justice. Along the way, they discover that life is better when they're a team, but someone is determined to keep them apart and end Kelly's life.<br /><br />To say I enjoy Irene Hannon's stories is a serious understatement. I have yet to read one that wasn't fantastic. She has a remarkable way with characterization and her stories are always thrilling adventures full of that perfect mix of suspense and romance.<br /><br />Third in the Guardians of Justice series, Irene Hannon doesn't disappoint. The story stands alone, but as always, it's a much richer story if the books are read in order.<br /><br />Available August 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.", "timestamp": 1344357700000, "title": "Doesn't disappoint" }, { "asin": "0800720040", "rating": 5, "text": "Set in Wyoming Territory in 1882, Celia Anderson is a young widow trying to make ends meet for herself and her infant daughter. Mark Williams is a man who has spent two years on horseback moving from town to town, looking for the father who abandoned him years before. When Mark walks into Celia's boarding house, he arrives in the midst of an emergency. Without hesitation, he steps in and together they work through her daughter's medical emergency. With winter settling in, Mark decides to stay in town, much to the dismay of two residents who believe themselves to be courting Celia.<br /><br />It's not long before Mark begins to find answers to his years of questioning and searching and it's only a matter of time before he and Celia must finally admit to themselves what their feelings for each other really are.<br /><br />I adored Celia and Mark. Truly, they were two remarkable people and their story was wonderful. I adored this charming little novella and I read it in one sitting. I literally didn't want to put it down. Christmas Roses is a delightful Christmas story, perfect for curling up with in front of a fire with a cup of cocoa.<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy for review from Baker Publishing.", "timestamp": 1351476049000, "title": "A delightful Christmas story" }, { "asin": "0800734602", "rating": 4, "text": "After her husband's death and learning that he was involved in less than scrupulous activities, Charlotte leaves Fort Laramie with her infant son and finds herself a new identity and new life. She wants nothing more than the ability to provide for her son. When she meets Barrett Landry, she is attracted to him even as she believes he will marry her good friend. When a man from her husband's past discovers her whereabouts, Charlotte's secrets collapse and she fears that Barrett won't accept her once he knows those secrets.<br /><br />Amanda Cabot has such a wonderful way with descriptions and strong, compelling characters. I loved Charlotte and Barrett. I loved how Charlotte learned that she needed to trust her family and friends and that she didn't need to accomplish everything on her own. This was a story I didn't want to put down.<br /><br />Second in the Westward Winds series, the story stands alone just fine, but I prefer to read series' in order. I look forward to the next two books and I was thrilled to learn at the end, that Gwen will get her own book as well.", "timestamp": 1356931393000, "title": "Delightful, compelling story" }, { "asin": "0800719891", "rating": 4, "text": "M.K. has to be one of my favorite Suzanne Woods Fisher characters. She is spunky, bright and a tad impulsive. Longing to see the world, she is frustrated when the school board and her step-mother Fern push her into becoming a substitute teacher. When new student Jenny Yoder comes to class, M.K. is curious about her and her older brother Chris, new arrivals in Stoney Ridge. Chris begins working for M.K's father and she finds herself drawn to him even as she is curious about his past and life. But, as answers start to come, her father steps in before M.K. and Chris can make their own decisions.<br /><br />With the arrival of Chris and Jenny Yoder to Stoney Ridge, Amos Lapp has to finally come to terms with a tragic accident that happened in the past. Whether he can or not will have a drastic effect on both M.K. and Chris. Suzanne has such a way with her characters and gets right into their souls. I love the Lapp family and Chris and Jenny were terrific. They are all simply fantastic characters. You feel for them, you care about them and you really want Jimmy Fisher to have some sense knocked into him! Seriously.<br /><br />The story can stand alone, but you really do learn a lot about M.K. in the previous books. This was a fitting conclusion to the Stoney Ridge series, although I would have loved an epilogue. I really don't want to say good-bye to the Lapp family!<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1357344463000, "title": "Fantastic end to the Stoney Ridge series" }, { "asin": "0800720393", "rating": 4, "text": "I really liked Charlotte when I met her in The Pursuit of Lucy Banning and I was excited to see that she had her own story. Charlotte wants nothing more than to be a good mother to her son, but life in service doesn't lend itself to motherhood. When the woman who has been caring for Henry leaves him at the Banning home, Charlotte can't admit that he's hers and must let the household believe he's an abandoned baby. A woman staying with the Banning family wants Henry for her own and when Charlotte's past interferes with her present, she believes that giving up Henry is the best thing.<br /><br />Charlotte is strong, brave and spunky. Her story isn't quite plausible, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I like Charlotte and I loved Archie. I hated Sarah and I really hope that hers isn't the next story in the series because she has no redeeming qualities and I can't imagine ever liking her.<br /><br />The historical setting is again terrific: the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, Chicago's affluent Prairie Avenue and the disparity between the privileged and the working class. Second in the Avenue of Dreams series, the book stands alone well but, as always, is richer if you've read the first one, The Pursuit of Lucy Banning.<br /><br />I received a copy for review from Revell. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1358905116000, "title": "Compelling historical novel" }, { "asin": "1621360210", "rating": 5, "text": "High school doesn't hold many good memories for Turner Caldwell. He was bullied and tormented and wanted nothing more than to leave those memories behind. When Cassandra Todd reappears in his life, those memories come back. But, Turner is a different man now and Cassandra is in trouble. Her high school jock husband, Brad, is abusive and she has left him, but he has resources to find her. Drawn to Cassandra and her son, Turner knows he can't turn away from her request for help. As they find themselves on the run from Brad, they discover a new friendship and special bond. But, if they survive, Turner wonders if there will be a future for them.<br /><br />I couldn't put this down. I loved it. The characters were terrific, the adventure and drama were suspenseful and kept me turning pages well into the night. Spousal abuse is becoming more common as a topic for writers and I thought Darrel did a fantastic job here as well as the longer-term effects of bullying. I'd love to see more of Turner and Cassandra and Justin. I really didn't want this book to end.<br /><br />I read Darrel's first book, The Anniversary Waltz and enjoyed it, so I was thrilled to see that he had a second one out. And, I loved this one even more than I did The Anniversary Waltz.<br /><br />I received a copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1362279499000, "title": "I didn't want this book to end" }, { "asin": "0764209809", "rating": 4, "text": "Jenny has always loved the quiet, simple things in life and has always been drawn to the Old Order Amish world. When she finally musters the courage to leave her wealthy family home and move to Hickory Hollow her Amish friend Marnie arranges for her to board with the Lapp family while goes through her time of proving. As Jenny finds herself becoming more and more Amish, Marnie finds herself drawn to outside teachings.<br /><br />I loved the premise of this book, that an Englischer wants to become Amish and I loved the way that Beverly portrays the opposite experiences of Marnie and Jenny. As always, I do not understand the concept or purpose of shunning, but I was pleased with how it was handled here and that the Bishop was actually a man who listened to others and softened his heart.<br /><br />Fourth in the Home to Hickory Hollow series, the story stands alone just fine and it was one I thoroughly enjoyed. I just love picking up a new Beverly Lewis book. With few exceptions, I always adore Beverly's books and characters and this one was terrific.<br /><br />I received a copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1389986308000, "title": "Terrific" }, { "asin": "0800721551", "rating": 4, "text": "When her father forced the family to relocate from Santa Cruz and the blue waters of the Pacific to Galveston Island, Texas and the brown waters of the Gulf, Cassia is not happy. Forced to work in her family's gyro sandwich shop, she wants nothing more than to arrange flowers. When she finds a job in a florist's shop, she takes it, even knowing that it will anger her father. Cassia's father, Babbas, has opened his sandwich shop across the street from Parma John's, the pizza place owned by the Italian Rossi family. Seized immediately by the desire to put the Rossi's out of business, and make the Greek gyro number one, Babbas forbids the family from having any contact with the Rossi family. Unfortunately, Cassia's new employer is a Rossi and she has just befriended Bella Neeley.<br /><br />When I see a book by Janice Thompson, I jump. I have never been disappointed. I adored A Bouquet of Love. It has all the makings of a fantastic Janice Thompson book, fantastic, spunky heroines, loud and interfering extended family, witty repartee and lots of love and laughter. Here, the Rossi's are back in force and the Pappas family is a match for their intensity.<br /><br />The final installment of the Weddings by Design series, the story can stand alone, but is all the better if you've read the others in the series. What is so fantastic is that Janice ties in the Weddings by Bella series and the Backstage Pass series as well. This is the perfect ending to all of them.<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1408455008000, "title": "Delightful" }, { "asin": "0764212370", "rating": 4, "text": "Emma and her brother are shipwrecked at remote Presque Island on Lake Huron when their steamboat is attacked by pirates. Patrick Garratty has just lost his wife, and as keeper of the lighthouse is in need of someone to help care for his son. Penniless, Emma and Ryan must find work which Ryan is able to do. When that proves difficult for Emma, a well-meaning preacher steps in and suggests Emma and Patrick marry and be the solution to each others' dilemma.<br /><br />Emma suddenly finds herself married to a man she doesn't know. Having never learned how to cook or keep house and having no experience with children, she is thrust into a unique situation. As she and Patrick learn to live and work together, she discovers that he has secrets.<br /><br />Emma is sweet and wants so badly to please Patrick and be a good mother to Josiah. Patrick has worked hard to overcome his criminal past and begins falling in love with Emma.<br /><br />I found myself frustrated with the supporting cast, especially Bertha. What a seriously unlikable woman. I wanted to shake Emma for confiding in Bertha, but I also realized that Emma had no other woman with whom to be friends and even an antagonistic person like Bertha is welcome when there are no others.<br /><br />I've never been to Michigan and it still surprises me at the size of the Great Lakes. That they are big enough to need lighthouses is fascinating. Jody's gift for history is terrific. I love her author's notes at the end and the historical accuracy with which she tells her stories.<br /><br />When I know a new Jody Hedlund book is being published, I get a little giddy. I adored Love Unexpected.<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1420138432000, "title": "Loved it" } ]

[ { "asin": "0800732138", "rating": 4, "text": "The third book of The Daughters of Boston series. This one continues the O'Connor family saga with Elizabeth's story. I loved it.<br /><br />Elizabeth, younger sister to Faith and Charity was always the quiet bookworm. When her brother-in-law Collin goes into the printing business with his best friend, Elizabeth falls hard for John Brady. Elizabeth is the younger sister Brady never had, and they become good friends as Brady mentors Lizzie spiritually. But, as she grows up and becomes a beautiful, Godly young woman, Brady has a difficult time reconciling his feelings for her. When Brady's past comes between them, Lizzie wonders if she'll ever marry the man she loves.<br /><br />The entire O'Connor family returns in this novel. Faith and Charity are happily married to Collin and Mitch, and Charity is expecting, but hasn't abandoned some of her old tricks. Marcy and Patrick have their own crisis of faith and trust in their marriage.<br /><br />One of the things I have enjoyed about this series is that these characters are real. They struggle with their passions, they struggle with their faith, and they struggle in their relationships with each other. Julie Lessman has also explored the issue of pride and its downfall, and in a remarkable way.<br /><br />This one is a bit darker with the themes explored in regards to Brady's past. The passions are stronger and more descriptive, especially in regards to marriage relations. But, the point is clear: passion without marriage, and marriage without God, are weak imitations.", "timestamp": 1244782373000, "title": "Terrific" }, { "asin": "1434766411", "rating": 3, "text": "A terrific, thought-provoking book.<br /><br />Kate Davis can't move forward after her husband's sudden death. She refuses to go upstairs to their bedroom. She finds even the most mundane, normal activities difficult, and soon finds herself sleeping in the living room, forgetting to shower and unable to sleep. The fact that Kevin keeps talking to her, doesn't help. As Kate tries to figure out why she hears Kevin's voice, she finds herself running from an attempted exorcism by a disturbed pastor, participating in an eclectic group therapy, visiting a psychiatrist's office, and finally, admitted to a mental hospital.<br /><br />When she meets Jack, a non-traditional pastor of a grassroots church, she begins her return to finding her life again. But, when Kate discovers Kevin's hidden secret and confronts her own, buried memories, her tenuous hold on reality shatters.<br /><br />As Kate struggles to confront her grief, she wonders if she will ever find the peace she desperately craves, and the ability to gain a second chance at life.<br /><br />I enjoyed Kate's voice. I read the book in a day, I couldn't put it down! Bonnie Grove has captured grief, and takes you on an incredible journey as you walk through Kate's mind and life with her. As experiences unfold, you hurt for Kate and cheer for her at the same time.<br /><br />The novel is Christian, but the focus is not at all preachy. In fact, any real mention of Christianity doesn't come until you're well into the story. The themes of betrayal and abortion are mature, but dealt with in a realistic manner.<br /><br />An interesting, compelling story, and a terrific debut novel. I look forward to reading more from Bonnie.", "timestamp": 1245732541000, "title": "A terrific, thought-provoking book." }, { "asin": "143476785X", "rating": 2, "text": "Admittedly, I haven't read anything else by Kathy Herman, and this is the second in a trilogy. While it stands alone well, there are also many references to situations that I assume happened in the first novel.<br /><br />It wasn't a difficult book to read, it just wasn't one that I found to be incredible or enthralling. I liked it well enough, and while I know the author was going for drama and suspense, much of the story seemed far-fetched to me. I could see it as some episode of a law enforcement show, actually. I also had a hard time relating to Brill, the main character. That could be because I haven't read the first book, and knowing her history could certainly endear her to readers. Emily's voice and thoughts seemed too old for her age. I also found the subplot of Vanessa running off all the time and meeting the \"old man\" in the park a bit strange, although I realize why the author put it into the book and how it tied into the story. It just seemed awkward and the whole thing wrapped up too neatly.<br /><br />While I do think that, for the most part, some of the discussions between Vanessa and her parents regarding her pregnancy were realistic and accurate, I also found the story very preachy, to the point of lecturing.<br /><br />I think that this is a book fans of Kathy Herman and Brill Jessup will love. I liked it well enough, it just didn't do much for me. I do recommend reading the books in order. A third book will follow next year and be more focused on Ethan's story.", "timestamp": 1255462019000, "title": "Bit disappointing" }, { "asin": "0764206702", "rating": 3, "text": "An unconventional heroine and an unusual setting make for an interesting novel.<br /><br />I enjoyed the island/orchard setting. I'm not familiar with Pennsylvania and the Susquehanna River, and the setting was curious, but easily pictured. As far as characterization goes, I loved that Ellie wasn't a beautiful young woman, but a plain spinster with no prospects. What a refreshing heroine. However, I found Jackson too angry and often mean to Ellie as he jumped to erroneous conclusion after conclusion. Yes, both had their baggage, and I see the point of each needing to work through their issues so they could fall in love, but there were several times when I just wanted to shake some sense into them both.<br /><br />Ellie is the one with the common sense, wisdom and compassion for others and her inner beauty shines through and is what draws others to her. She struggles a bit with her own faith, but still moves forward, never giving up on God.<br /><br />I thought that the issues of adultery and death of a spouse were well handled, nothing heavy handed. Overall, an easy book to read. I enjoyed it, I didn't absolutely love it. It's light Christian fiction with some life lessons thrown in for good measure.<br /><br />Thanks to Bethany House for the opportunity to review this book.", "timestamp": 1275952692000, "title": "Light Christian fiction with life lessons thrown in for good measure" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 3, "text": "I wish we could give half stars, because this one would get 3.5.<br /><br />I will admit to being pleasantly surprised by this novel, as the cover was rather off-putting to me and reminds me of something published in the 1970s. However, the story captured me fairly quickly and I was intrigued. The four different viewpoints could have been distracting, but it was actually very refreshing and I felt it worked well.<br /><br />I enjoy stories that explore the Underground Railroad and this one was fascinating. With some twists and turns from family secrets to secret tunnels, it's not completely predictable. An easy, Christian read. I look forward to reading more from Melanie Dobson.", "timestamp": 1276119399000, "title": "Intriguing Christian novel." }, { "asin": "0764205137", "rating": 4, "text": "An enjoyable read. I was so glad that the original 16 war widows narrowed down to 5, which was a much more manageable number. The premise was a bit different and refreshing take on the mail-order bride scenario. These women had spunk and drive and weren't afraid to stand up to the sneaky land speculator who deceived them. They go off on their own and, together, establish themselves on joined land claims.<br /><br />As they ingratiate themselves into the community, they make friends and predictably, a few enemies. But, love conquers all.<br /><br />5 is much more manageable than 16 main characters, but when you add the supporting characters and love interests, it could be difficult to keep track of everyone. Stephanie Whitson does a great job of making it all work. These are likeable women and you really cheer for them to succeed. I found her take on the premise interesting.<br /><br />This is an easy enjoyable read, especially for those who love historical novels, and especially historical westerns. Light Christian.<br /><br />Thanks to Bethany House for the opportunity to review this book.", "timestamp": 1276616248000, "title": "Easy, enjoyable read." }, { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 3, "text": "A charming, light summer read. Lilly is a delightful young heroine who feels called by God to write stories. For a young woman of her class and privilege, however, means that working at all, let alone writing dime store novels is unacceptable. Lilly write anonymously, but when an unscrupulous gossip magazine threatens to reveal her identity, she's torn with what to do.<br /><br />An interesting commentary of the time: it's the late nineteenth century, and high society is summering at the coast. I have always found the rigid adherence to a strict code of conduct to be fascinating, especially when it is at the expense of people and friendship. Lilly longs for something other than a life of looking pretty and visiting with women in order to gossip and discuss others. Jack is a dashing, unlikely hero and, like Lilly, desires to do what God wants.<br /><br />A fine debut novel. Light, but not too fluffy. An enjoyable diversion and easily recommended. The first in a series, I look forward to the rest.<br /><br />Thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers for the opportunity to review this book.", "timestamp": 1277229824000, "title": "A fine debut novel." }, { "asin": "080073274X", "rating": 3, "text": "I first picked this one up and had a hard time getting into it. Rather than writing it off or forcing myself to read it, I did a preview instead of a review and set it aside for awhile. I'm glad I picked it up again.<br /><br />Mariette marries the man of her dreams, a man her parents don't approve of, but one with hopes and plans for a future. When Thayne's future turns out to be one that Mariette never dreamed of, she perseveres and ultimately finds herself and finds God.<br /><br />I enjoyed the southern, late 50's early 60's setting, and appreciated that Mariette's parents were so supportive and encouraging. This Fine Life was an absorbing story of one young woman's life and how it doesn't always go according to plan. However, like many of us, Mariette discovers that even the unexpected life can be fine and fulfilling.", "timestamp": 1280591177000, "title": "Absorbing story of how life doesn't always go according to plan" }, { "asin": "0307458997", "rating": 4, "text": "I found this to be a delightful little story. It was sweet: a sweet premise, a sweet shop, sweet characters and a sweet, charming bookstore. Love it! I will admit to not loving the sentence fragment style of writing, but the story itself was a bit enchanting. I liked Cora and Simon and I loved Sandy. What a sweetheart. Cora grew up in a very dysfunctional, non-Christian home and she struggles with integrating the worldly Christmas traditions with her Christian beliefs. I think this is something that many people struggle with: how to blend the materialistic Christmas trappings with the celebration of Christ's birth.<br /><br />I've seen reviews where people thought the magical and Christian elements didn't mix. I had no problems with it. Christmas itself is a magical time for me. It's a time of miracles, and celebrating our Savior's miraculous birth is the reason for the holiday itself. The Christmas season is a time when many people are focused on others and give of themselves and their time, talents, energy and money. You don't get much more Christian than that. Christmas is a time when children's eyes sparkle, people are a bit kinder, and yes, everything is magical.<br /><br />I loved the magical, wizard characters. Nothing about them took away the spirit of Christmas, or the Spirit of God itself from the story or the characters. They were funny and everything they did was to help other people find each other.<br /><br />I have other, more favorite Christmas stories. But, this is a sweet story, just like Christmas stories should be. It's a short, easy read and perfect for a cozy afternoon by the fire.", "timestamp": 1287674526000, "title": "A sweet, magical Christmas story" }, { "asin": "0764206710", "rating": 3, "text": "Delia Parr seems to like unconventional heroines and unusual settings! Hearts Awakening was that way, and so is Love's First Bloom. When Ruth Livingstone's father is accused of murdering a prostitute, he sends Ruth into hiding with the murdered woman's secret child. With journalists on her tail, Ruth integrates herself into a new community even as she awaits word of her father's trial.<br /><br />Like Hearts Awakening, this is a light Christian novel. Even with its theme of murder and reformed prostitutes, it's not heavy handed or preachy. With twists and turns and secrets, the book is nothing stellar, but still an enjoyable easy read.", "timestamp": 1287808677000, "title": "Enjoyable, easy read" }, { "asin": "0736930159", "rating": 2, "text": "Steph is symbolically left at the altar when her self-centered fiance doesn't show up to meet her when she arrives in town. Perfect shopkeeper Milly rescues Steph from humiliation gives her a sympathetic shoulder to cry on and a temporary job at the tea shop. Perfect innkeeper Kendall shows an interest and introduces Steph around town. She meets two nice sisters in need of a roommate and proceeds to get herself fired from every place she works outside of the tea shop.<br /><br />Add a bit of drama, an additional ex-fiancee and some misunderstandings and you have The Perfect Blend. Light on the Christian as Steph learns to stand up for herself and finds what it is she wants out of life. A light diversion. Nothing more. Fans of Trish Perry will love it. I didn't. I found myself annoyed and impatient for it to be finished. I never really connected with Steph and Rick and his mother were extreme caricatures and everyone else was one-dimensional.<br /><br />This appears to be the first in a new series, so we will be seeing more of Milly and her tea shop. Perhaps recurring characters will be fleshed out a bit in subsequent books. A bonus is the tea shop recipes included at the back of the book.", "timestamp": 1288223887000, "title": "A light diversion, nothing more" }, { "asin": "0800719255", "rating": 4, "text": "My first Christmas book of the season and it didn't disappoint! This was a lovely story of redemption and hope. People can be truly cruel, life isn't always pretty and, too often, doesn't go the way we plan.<br /><br />Lena Markham is one of those to whom life was cruel. Falsely imprisoned, she is released eight years later with a chance to start over. Finding herself in a small town, she meets a sweet woman who takes on the role of her guardian angel. When Lena is offered a job as Mrs. Santa, she begins to find hope.<br /><br />The story is Christian, with Lena learning that God is a loving, forgiving God, rather than the harsh, unyielding God her father raised her to know. When her past is exposed, Lena finds the strength to persevere and realizes that redemption is possible, that true friends stand by you, and that Christmas is a wonderful time of year.", "timestamp": 1289787515000, "title": "A lovely story of redemption and hope" }, { "asin": "0764208500", "rating": 3, "text": "I've seen such mixed reviews about this book and mine will probably be no different. I enjoyed the story, but I didn't love it. I found the ending lacking and really didn't understand the author ended it the way she did.<br /><br />Amy's voice is great, but the story is all over the board. I found myself wondering what the real purpose for writing it. Is it a story about a single women searching for her purpose and path in life? Is the focus Amy and Eli? Is the focus friendship or family relationships? The ring of truth to Amy suggests that it's partially autobiographical and that the author based Amy on herself. Which is fine, because I did like Amy. I never quite understood her attraction to Eli.<br /><br />Light on the Christian, this is an interesting commentary on the life of writers and wannabe writers. It's actually quite well written and the language is lyrical. I liked it, I didn't love it.", "timestamp": 1292625108000, "title": "Liked it, didn't love it." }, { "asin": "1609360257", "rating": 4, "text": "Esther must live with the consequences of a one-night stand. While she loves her daughter, she doesn't love her fiance and living with his parents is a nightmare. When a letter arrives that leads Esther to believe that Linus has been killed, she begins to correspond with the medic who cared for him. As Esther and Peter fall in love, they must face the realities of war and the knowledge that the secrets they keep from each other could separate them forever.<br /><br />This one kept me on my toes. I loved Esther and Peter. The story is historically rich, and I had no idea German POWs were housed in America during World War 2. A fascinating and entertaining story.", "timestamp": 1294941682000, "title": "A fascinating and entertaining story" }, { "asin": "1595545395", "rating": 4, "text": "This was, quite simply, a fun book to read. A bit far-fetched, but honestly laugh-out loud funny. It's a nice diversion. I didn't like Lucy right away, but she grew on me. I loved that her job involved working with at-risk girls who had graduated out of foster care. When her non-profit funding is cut, she finds herself accepting an unusual proposition. Can she commit to it and follow-through or will she finally listen to God and let her heart take over?<br /><br />While a classic chick-lit novel, it's not quite as light as one would think. The Christian overtones are strong and the lessons learned include forgiving ones self and turning your life over to God.<br /><br />Loved the characterizations and Julian, especially, was a total kick. Clare grew on me as well and I loved the interactions between the two. Predictable, but with a sweet ending, this is an enjoyable diversion and one that was fun to read.<br /><br />Minor peeve: While I loved the shout out to Science Fiction/Fantasy fans, and especially the reference to Doctor Who, I have to complain that real fans won't call it Dr. Who like it was used here, they use the whole word Doctor... and it would have been neat to have a real reference to show that Lucy really did know the show...such as which series/doctor was on the DVD set in her bag.<br /><br />Thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers for the opportunity to review this book.", "timestamp": 1296590064000, "title": "A fun read." }, { "asin": "1595547916", "rating": 3, "text": "A cute story, nothing stellar, but laugh out loud funny in parts and completely entertaining. Katie is spunky, Luc is charming, Dexter is completely unbelievable and Eileen is a kick. Predictable and implausible and in serious need of a good edit, this is still a light and entertaining read. True chick-lit, light on everything and a nice diversion. I read in in a couple of hours.<br /><br />This is the first Kristin Billerbeck story I've read and I can see myself reading some more, simply for the sheer entertainment value.<br /><br />Thanks to Audra Jennings of The B&B Media Group and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to review this novel.", "timestamp": 1297366157000, "title": "A cute story" }, { "asin": "0800734521", "rating": 3, "text": "This was a fascinating look at midwifery in the early 19th century, although it's about a woman who is a midwife, not midwifery itself. The story is historically rich, full of intrigue and mystery, unanswered questions and thieves in the night. It's a busy book with a lot going on and I found it sometimes hard to follow. But, I liked Tabitha and Dominick.<br /><br />It's not a book that stayed with me though. While writing this review a few weeks after I read it, I realized I needed to go back and skim the book to remind myself of what happened. Fans of historical fiction should enjoy it, however.", "timestamp": 1297445847000, "title": "Lady in the Mist" }, { "asin": "0800734076", "rating": 4, "text": "I wasn't sure what to think about a fictionalized version of the story of Job. To then have Job linked to Dinah, daughter of Jacob was even more interesting. But, it worked and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Job's story is told in a straight-forward manner. Nothing is embellished or exaggerated, but his reactions to his trials, the love he has for his wife are real and anguished. Dinah's story isn't a completely happy one and the account in the bible is minimal. This fictionalized version which continues Dinah's story and adds explanations and experiences is fantastic.<br /><br />Mesu Andrews completely captured the time and essence of the biblical world. Her descriptions are vivid and her characterizations were terrific. She shares, very clearly, in her notes how she came to place Dinah in Job's life, even though there is no biblical proof of it. Her references and research are extensive and well done.<br /><br />Through Job's faithfulness and devotion to the teachings of God, Dinah finally learns about forgiveness. This is a beautiful story of learning to accept and understand God's love for each of us.", "timestamp": 1300118401000, "title": "Fantastic" }, { "asin": "0764207563", "rating": 4, "text": "A fun story. I loved Adelaide. She's spunky and charming and an avid reader. The references to Jane Eyre and Jane Austen were terrific little additions to the story. A die-hard romantic, Adelaide searches for her storybook hero. She never expects to find him on a Texas sheep ranch.<br /><br />Gideon is a transplanted British lord. The third son, he must find his own way and prove his success to his parents. When he becomes guardian to an orphaned girl, he knows he must find a governess. Running from an embarrassing romantic fiasco, Adelaide sees the newspaper ad and applies for the job.<br /><br />Light, but not light-hearted, this is an engaging, delightful story. The characters are fantastic and fairly well developed, the engaging story has light Christian elements and a bit of drama.<br /><br />Perfect for an afternoon of escape.", "timestamp": 1300123663000, "title": "Perfect for an afternoon of escape" }, { "asin": "1595548017", "rating": 3, "text": "When I received this book, I thought it was going to be a silly romance novel because of the cover, but I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, it's a romance and it's about a rodeo cowboy. No, it's not silly. It's a story with surprising character depth. I did think the premise was a bit far-fetched with the idea that Abigail could save her family's magazine with one expose. But the characters are likeable and the story is entertaining.<br /><br />Abigail is truly torn because of a decision she must make, although she really brings it on herself. Wade is reticent about falling for her, even as he sees the bond that develops between Abigail and his daughter. Aunt Lucy is a kick, Abigail's mother is annoying. It's a light read, with Christian principles emphasized, but it's not preachy. Fans of Denise Hunter will definitely enjoy it.", "timestamp": 1302330151000, "title": "Entertaining romance" }, { "asin": "1595548769", "rating": 4, "text": "Like many, I have always loved the story of Esther and her faith and trust in God. I've tried to imagine what her life might have been like. Joan Wolf also imagined what Esther's life might have been like as she took Esther's account and created a beautiful love story. Esther comes alive in these pages as she struggles to find her place in the King's household. The love story that develops between Esther and King Asasuerus is tender and sweet. And Esther's struggle to reconcile her Jewish faith with her new life as a Persian queen is compelling.<br /><br />It's important to remember that this is a fictionalized account of Esther. In the author's note, Joan Wolf readily admits that she found it necessary to \"re-arrange some of the original material\". I realize that biblically the story is rather scarce on details, but \"re-arrange\" is a loose interpretation of what she has done here. She has not only re-arranged the story, she has left out significant events in Esther's biblical account. Some of her characterizations didn't fit with my own interpretations such as her portrayal of Mordecai, yet others exceeded them such as her portrayal of King Ahasuerus.<br /><br />However, if you can look beyond any issues you might find, A Reluctant Queen is a fascinating, moving interpretation about one of Christianity's most beloved heroines. I look forward to more biblical stories from Joan Wolf.", "timestamp": 1306907545000, "title": "Compelling, moving interpretation about one of Christianity's most beloved heroines" }, { "asin": "1595549242", "rating": 3, "text": "I've seen all kinds of rave reviews about Spring for Susannah and I had terrific hopes for it. This is not quite your typical mail-order bride scenario. Shy Susannah isn't sure what to expect when she accepts the offer to marry Jesse Mason and join him in Dakota territory. Raised to believe a woman should keep her thoughts and opinions to herself, she is unprepared to fall in love with a man who encourages her to be strong and to think for herself. Through trials and tragedies Susannah begins to blossom and it's wonderful to see her become a strong, independent woman.<br /><br />I did think it refreshing that the story had a more intimate, romantic element that isn't usually found in historical Christian novels. There was nothing overtly graphic or inappropriate, but there is clear indication that Jesse and Susannah are a married couple who are attracted to each other and who enjoy marital relations.<br /><br />I struggled with the story when Jesse suddenly leaves in search of work. Susannah comes into her own but the story kinds of shuffles along and I found the ending somewhat abrupt. Still, overall, an enjoyable, easy read and a good debut novel from an author who I think will only get better.", "timestamp": 1307339675000, "title": "An enjoyable, easy read" }, { "asin": "0800719964", "rating": 5, "text": "That the Amish people have strong families is well known. Why they have them is what fascinates so many people. Here, Suzanne Woods Fisher shares the secrets of Amish family life. Through Amish proverbs, personal stories and anecdotes, Suzanne shows us that everyone of us can incorporate Amish values in our own lives.<br /><br />As I read this little gem of a book, I thought that much of living life really is so simple. We tend to make it complicated. So much of the Amish way of life can be boiled down into one word: kindness. They are kind to each other, they care about each other, whether it be family, neighbor or even stranger. There is respect in these families and in their communities. I think a little more kindness would go a long way in making our own homes and communities happier and more successful.<br /><br />This is a book that I will read again and I will have a highlighter and pen with me so I can mark passages and jot down my thoughts. It's one of the best parenting books I think I've ever read.", "timestamp": 1313867205000, "title": "One of the best parenting books I think I've ever read" }, { "asin": "0764205978", "rating": 4, "text": "Silas and Elle parted under difficult circumstances and when they are thrown together again, years later, they discover the spark between them still burns bright. As the fire season rages in the Sierra Nevadas, Silas is brought in to lead a smoke jumping team and Elle is called upon to fly them into the forest. However, nothing quite goes as planned and when Silas has to bail out of the plane, Elle tries to make an emergency landing. Stuck in the Sierras as a fire rages nearby, they must try and find each other all while realizing the smoke jumping crew isn't there simply to fight the forest fire.<br /><br />Shawn's descriptions are vivid and bold. His familiarity with the locales and his personal experience as a firefighter/paramedic is apparent and make this story all the richer. Elle and Silas are terrific characters. I didn't want the story to end and I would love a sequel or at least have them show up in a future book. (Hint, hint!)<br /><br />I love the setting and references. I'm from the San Francisco Bay area: I know Oakland and San Mateo. I love the Sierra Nevadas and I now live in Idaho. And Star Trek Next Generation references? I am all over that!<br /><br />A thrilling, suspenseful novel full of action and just enough Christian romance.", "timestamp": 1314499072000, "title": "A thrilling, suspenseful novel" }, { "asin": "1595547851", "rating": 4, "text": "Ann Miller has always thought she wanted to marry Eli Bowen a sentimental young man prone to waxing poetic. With a father who occasionally travels as a circuit preacher and having raised her younger sisters after her mother died in childbirth, she doesn't know how she can leave her family. Then, when Ann travels to Pittsburgh with her family on her father's business, she is introduced to Will and observes that life can be very harsh and unfair to people. Yet, she is drawn to Will and wonders if their paths will ever cross again.<br /><br />With themes that include slavery and the Underground Railroad, indenture, abuse and cruel masters, this should be a heavy story. Fortunately, it's also tempered with good people who genuinely care for one another and who look out for those in need. The result is a fascinating story about the indomitable spirit and resilience of men and women who are able to rise above their adversity and discover courage, fortitude and hope.<br /><br />While I found the dialogue somewhat stilted and formal at times, I liked these characters, many of whom are based on real people and situations.<br /><br />Enthralling and suspenseful, Fairer than Morning is a terrific debut novel from a promising author. I look forward to the rest of the trilogy.", "timestamp": 1314653359000, "title": "Enthralling and suspenseful" }, { "asin": "0800733460", "rating": 4, "text": "Athena may be the head writer of a popular television show and her best friend a famous actress, but she still lives at home with her loud, loving Greek family and sleeps on Strawberry Shortcake sheets. When a new writer is brought in to help improve the show's ratings, Athena feels threatened. When she finds herself falling for Stephen, the creativity she is able to bring to her writing fails her and she uncertain of her future.<br /><br />Second in the Backstage Pass series, this is just another fun book from Janice Thompson. All your favorite characters from Stars Collide return and we get to meet Athena's loud, large and very loving Greek family. Janice not only gives us an entertaining story, she gives us a sweet story as well. When Stephen comes to LA, he brings with him a young daughter in need of love and attention. As Stephen and Athena's relationship grows, so does the relationship Brooke has with the Pappas family. The result is a tender look at what being part of a family really means.", "timestamp": 1317165466000, "title": "A delightful, sweet story" }, { "asin": "0764208330", "rating": 4, "text": "Eli and Priscilla want to be missionaries. He wants to go to the frontiers of Oregon and she to India. When the missionary board rejects their applications, they reluctantly marry in order to serve and Priscilla agrees to give up her quest for India and travel to Oregon with Eli.<br /><br />I will admit to finding the premise a bit implausible: that this man and woman who barely knew each other, would marry for convenience simply so they could be missionaries. But, the story was compelling and quickly drew me in. Priscilla and Eli were characters I grew to care about. Their travels from New York to Oregon by wagon train were difficult and arduous, but very true to life. Yet, as they journey, faith in God and a growing love and faith in each other shows them that anything is possible. I enjoyed reading their story and seeing the growth in themselves and their relationship.<br /><br />I also enjoyed the author's note that shared the true life inspiration for the novel. I liked, but didn't love Jody's first novel, The Preacher's Bride, but I thoroughly enjoyed The Doctor's Lady.", "timestamp": 1321506266000, "title": "Compelling and enjoyable" }, { "asin": "076420498X", "rating": 3, "text": "I like Lynn Austin and I love stories about bookish women. Wonderland Creek sounded fantastic and I was excited to read it. And while I did enjoy the story, it didn't quite live up to my expectation. I liked Alice for the most part, but I couldn't quite believe she was as clueless as she was made out to be. Reading a book during a funeral, simply because it was dull? I'm sorry. I love books, and I can guarantee that I usually have a book in my bag at all times. However, I would never, ever, pull it out during a funeral and read.<br /><br />Alice's adventure in Acorn, Kentucky brings many quirky characters into her life and I loved Mac and Lillie. She also finds herself having experiences she could never have imagined. Overall, the premise is a bit implausible, but it's also compelling and you want to finish the book to find out what really happens.<br /><br />I found the historical aspect of packhorse librarians fascinating. To make books available to those who lived away from town or in the back hollows of America is a relief program I could support.", "timestamp": 1322873910000, "title": "Enjoyable, but didn't quite live up to the expectation" }, { "asin": "0800734599", "rating": 4, "text": "I love stories about strong women and Summer of Promise delivers a charming one. Abigail plans on marrying a fellow teacher, but before her wedding, she travels to Wyoming to spend the summer with her sister Charlotte who is married and expecting her first child. The journey out west is an adventure itself with a robbery attack on her coach. A young soldier traveling on the same coach saves the day and once at Fort Laramie, Abigail finds herself often in the company of Ethan Bowles. She doesn't love the army life nor the rugged Wyoming countryside, but as she is drawn to Ethan, she wonders if she can ever go back to Vermont.<br /><br />Abigail must find out why her sister's life isn't as charmed as she once thought and as stagecoaches continue to be robbed and equipment goes missing from the fort, Ethan must not only discover who at the fort is the traitor, but what Abigail Harding will do with his heart. This is a delightful, compelling story with a strong heroine and an element of intrigue and one I thoroughly enjoyed.<br /><br />I haven't read Amanda Cabot before, but I'm so glad to know that this is the first in a series. I look forward to more.<br /><br />Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Thanks to the Baker Publishing Group for the opportunity to review this book.", "timestamp": 1327346837000, "title": "Delightful, compelling story" }, { "asin": "0800720075", "rating": 4, "text": "Growing up in a dysfunctional, abusive family, Alexia left home the day she graduated from high school. Ten years later, after an accident at work, she somewhat reluctantly takes some time off to see her mother and attend her high school reunion. Yet, once she arrives home, murder and mayhem follow her. Reunited with old friends,she finds herself attracted to the detective handling her case, a man she knew in high school.<br /><br />As she gets reacquainted with her mother, Alexia begins discovering answers to life long questions and learns that God does have a plan for her. And, as she realizes that the incident with her equipment failure might not be a complete accident and is related to the new events surrounding her arrival at home, Alexia must face the fact that someone is trying to kill her.<br /><br />I haven't read Lynette Eason before, but what a roller coaster. From beginning to end, this is one wild ride. I loved these characters. I enjoyed the tension and suspense and was surprised at the ending. The growth in Alexia from beginning to end as she comes to understand her mother and her childhood is touching. I am anxious for the next novel in the series and discovering the senator and how his life relates to Alexia and Serena.<br /><br />Thanks to the publisher for the chance to review this book.", "timestamp": 1329434161000, "title": "Terrific" }, { "asin": "0800720458", "rating": 5, "text": "Raised by a newspaper editor father, Adriane knows her own mind and struggles with a world that relegates women to the the society pages and not the editorial ones. Spunky and feisty, Adriane will do whatever it takes to get the story and get it ahead of the rival paper, even if that means dressing like a man and visiting the site of a serial killer's latest crime.<br /><br />When her path crosses that of Blake Garrett, new editor of that rival newspaper, sparks fly. Adriane is being forced to wed the son of a politician, and a man to whom her father is indebted. Attracted to Blake, Adriane must do what is right for her peace of mind as well as what may save her father's paper.<br /><br />Historically, this is a richly detailed account of life in pre-Civil War Kentucky with the clash of the immigrant Irish Catholics and the American Protestants. This was a period of history that I was unaware of before reading Words Spoken True and it fascinated me. Ann Gabhart has done her research well and the story is enthralling and well written with well developed characters. Adriane and Blake are terrific and I love the supporting cast as well: Duff and Beck were wonderful.<br /><br />I have enjoyed every Ann H. Gabhart book I've read, but this one is definitely my favorite so far. I'm glad to see her moving beyond the Shaker books.<br /><br />Available February 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Thanks to Baker Publishing for my review copy.", "timestamp": 1329801272000, "title": "Enthralling and well written" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 4, "text": "Widowed young, Carrie Daly has come out of mourning and finds herself falling for a charming newcomer. Griff was just passing through Hickory Ridge, trying to collect a debt, but once he meets Carrie, he decides to stay and accepts a job training a horse for an upcoming race. Carrie's brother has married a local widow with two young sons and when they move into Henry and Carrie's home, drama ensues, driving Carrie away and into town.<br /><br />The townspeople are judgmental and not welcoming of Griff, but Carrie is her own person and determined to find her own happiness. The horse racing aspect was interesting with references to what would have been the first race of the Kentucky Derby.<br /><br />I loved Carrie and her strength and spunk and determination. I hated, absolutely hated, Mary. I don't care that her life was difficult, she was a mean, angry shrew and the kind of person who would have been that way even if her life had been rosy. The dynamics between Carrie and Mary made for an interesting story and I did like the changes that took place in Mary's children. I think Carrie was a saint for what she put up with from her brother's wife out of love for him and Christian duty.<br /><br />Second in the Hickory Ridge series, Ada and Wyatt return as do other characters from Beyond All Measure, but the book stands alone well. Beauty for Ashes is definitely my favorite so far and I look forward to the next book which is about Sophie.", "timestamp": 1329802716000, "title": "Beauty for Ashes" }, { "asin": "076420839X", "rating": 5, "text": "The Bender family has survived a year in the wild Paradise Valley in Mexico. Now, joined by others of their faith who have made the long journey in search of religious freedom, they hope for a peace which is not to be found.<br /><br />Miriam finds herself falling in love with Domingo, their hired hand. Not Amish and not even Christian, she knows that her father will never approve of her relationship with him. She attempts to find happiness with an Amish man, but her heart belongs to someone else.<br /><br />When Rachel and her brother Aaron are attacked returning home from a trip, Rachel is kidnapped and Aaron left for dead. Jake and Domingo go after El Pantera and after rescuing Rachel, Domingo sacrifices his safety to let Rachel and Jake get away. When they return home without him, Miriam and Domingo's sister Kyra go after him.<br /><br />Wow. What a story and a refreshing look at the Amish faith from a vastly different perspective than one normally sees. I love these characters and I didn't want the book to end. I especially loved the part with Ada, where we get a glimpse into her heart and mind as she struggles to save her young nephew and return home after the attack that resulted in such tragedy. And Miriam is such a strong young woman, faced with difficult decisions. The exploration of love vs. faith and religion is brilliantly executed.<br /><br />I adored Paradise Valley, the first in this series and I anxiously awaited the release of The Captive Heart. I am thrilled to say that Dale Cramer has done it again. It's going to be a long wait until December for the third and final book in the trilogy.<br /><br />Thanks to Bethany House for my review copy.", "timestamp": 1330733452000, "title": "Brilliant. Amazing. Loved it." }, { "asin": "0800734378", "rating": 4, "text": "Struggling with the after effects of a dysfunctional childhood and believing she was abandoned by her mother, Patsy tries to project a perfect, happy front for her family. When her husband suggests a vacation to Florida, Patsy has no idea what events will unfold and how she must face her past.<br /><br />Told in flashbacks, Patsy's story is one that I didn't want to put down and I couldn't wait to see who Patsy sees again at the restaurant. It wasn't who I'd expected it to be. I loved Gilbert and I relished how the story unfolded and resolved.<br /><br />Like Chasing Sunsets, Waiting for Sunrise deals with some serious topics. Here, it's mental illness, abandonment and post-traumatic stress. But, it's not a heavy book. Rather, it's a moving story about family, faith and forgiveness. Completely enjoyable and easily recommended.<br /><br />Second in the Cedar Key series, the story stands alone just fine.<br /><br />Thanks to Baker Publishing for my review copy.", "timestamp": 1338505934000, "title": "A moving story about family, faith and forgiveness" }, { "asin": "0800720482", "rating": 4, "text": "With colorful descriptions, the biblical world of Mary Magdalene comes to life.<br /><br />Like many of our biblical heroes and heroines, little is known about Mary Magdalene and much of what has been perpetuated through the ages is speculation or inference, not fact. Diana Wallis Taylor has crafted a wonderful story about Mary, her life and how she came to travel with the Savior. Her life, as portrayed here, while it can't answer questions about Mary, is believable.<br /><br />In the book of Luke, we read that Jesus cast out \"seven devils\" from Mary and Diana gives a fantastic portrayal of Mary before that event took place. As word of Jesus and his ministry spreads, Mary's husband brings her to him, believing that he will heal her. A wonderful cast of supporting characters brings Mary's experience to life and it is both heartbreaking and tender to read.<br /><br />I particularly enjoyed Mary's interactions with the apostles and the portrayal of the last days of Jesus' ministry.<br /><br />Thanks to Baker Publishing for my review copy.", "timestamp": 1339783800000, "title": "Compelling" }, { "asin": "0800734556", "rating": 4, "text": "I've enjoyed everything I've read by Ann H. Gabhart. And The Gifted is just as terrific as Ann's previous Harmony Hill books. Jessamine is a spunky young woman dreaming of what might be outside Harmony Hill. When the opportunity to leave Harmony Hill is presented to her and when her lost past returns, Jessamine wonders if she will be able to live in the outside world.<br /><br />The Shaker religion is fascinating and once again, I appreciate Ann's fair portrayal of the Shaker life. While her heroines usually, eventually leave the Shaker life for the outside world, she is never critical of the Shakers. Rather, she is able to write about their faith respectfully, even as characters leave the Shaker world for something else.", "timestamp": 1341363789000, "title": "Enjoyable" }, { "asin": "0800734580", "rating": 4, "text": "Kelly Warren knows that her father's death wasn't a suicide, but she can't get anyone to listen. Detective Cole Warren isn't sure he wants to believe her until she ends up in the ER and he begins to realize that things aren't always coincidental. Together they embark on a quest to clear her father's name and bring his killer to justice. Along the way, they discover that life is better when they're a team, but someone is determined to keep them apart and end Kelly's life.<br /><br />To say I enjoy Irene Hannon's stories is a serious understatement. I have yet to read one that wasn't fantastic. She has a remarkable way with characterization and her stories are always thrilling adventures full of that perfect mix of suspense and romance.<br /><br />Third in the Guardians of Justice series, Irene Hannon doesn't disappoint. The story stands alone, but as always, it's a much richer story if the books are read in order.<br /><br />Available August 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.", "timestamp": 1344357700000, "title": "Doesn't disappoint" }, { "asin": "0800720040", "rating": 5, "text": "Set in Wyoming Territory in 1882, Celia Anderson is a young widow trying to make ends meet for herself and her infant daughter. Mark Williams is a man who has spent two years on horseback moving from town to town, looking for the father who abandoned him years before. When Mark walks into Celia's boarding house, he arrives in the midst of an emergency. Without hesitation, he steps in and together they work through her daughter's medical emergency. With winter settling in, Mark decides to stay in town, much to the dismay of two residents who believe themselves to be courting Celia.<br /><br />It's not long before Mark begins to find answers to his years of questioning and searching and it's only a matter of time before he and Celia must finally admit to themselves what their feelings for each other really are.<br /><br />I adored Celia and Mark. Truly, they were two remarkable people and their story was wonderful. I adored this charming little novella and I read it in one sitting. I literally didn't want to put it down. Christmas Roses is a delightful Christmas story, perfect for curling up with in front of a fire with a cup of cocoa.<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy for review from Baker Publishing.", "timestamp": 1351476049000, "title": "A delightful Christmas story" }, { "asin": "0800734602", "rating": 4, "text": "After her husband's death and learning that he was involved in less than scrupulous activities, Charlotte leaves Fort Laramie with her infant son and finds herself a new identity and new life. She wants nothing more than the ability to provide for her son. When she meets Barrett Landry, she is attracted to him even as she believes he will marry her good friend. When a man from her husband's past discovers her whereabouts, Charlotte's secrets collapse and she fears that Barrett won't accept her once he knows those secrets.<br /><br />Amanda Cabot has such a wonderful way with descriptions and strong, compelling characters. I loved Charlotte and Barrett. I loved how Charlotte learned that she needed to trust her family and friends and that she didn't need to accomplish everything on her own. This was a story I didn't want to put down.<br /><br />Second in the Westward Winds series, the story stands alone just fine, but I prefer to read series' in order. I look forward to the next two books and I was thrilled to learn at the end, that Gwen will get her own book as well.", "timestamp": 1356931393000, "title": "Delightful, compelling story" }, { "asin": "0800719891", "rating": 4, "text": "M.K. has to be one of my favorite Suzanne Woods Fisher characters. She is spunky, bright and a tad impulsive. Longing to see the world, she is frustrated when the school board and her step-mother Fern push her into becoming a substitute teacher. When new student Jenny Yoder comes to class, M.K. is curious about her and her older brother Chris, new arrivals in Stoney Ridge. Chris begins working for M.K's father and she finds herself drawn to him even as she is curious about his past and life. But, as answers start to come, her father steps in before M.K. and Chris can make their own decisions.<br /><br />With the arrival of Chris and Jenny Yoder to Stoney Ridge, Amos Lapp has to finally come to terms with a tragic accident that happened in the past. Whether he can or not will have a drastic effect on both M.K. and Chris. Suzanne has such a way with her characters and gets right into their souls. I love the Lapp family and Chris and Jenny were terrific. They are all simply fantastic characters. You feel for them, you care about them and you really want Jimmy Fisher to have some sense knocked into him! Seriously.<br /><br />The story can stand alone, but you really do learn a lot about M.K. in the previous books. This was a fitting conclusion to the Stoney Ridge series, although I would have loved an epilogue. I really don't want to say good-bye to the Lapp family!<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1357344463000, "title": "Fantastic end to the Stoney Ridge series" }, { "asin": "0800720393", "rating": 4, "text": "I really liked Charlotte when I met her in The Pursuit of Lucy Banning and I was excited to see that she had her own story. Charlotte wants nothing more than to be a good mother to her son, but life in service doesn't lend itself to motherhood. When the woman who has been caring for Henry leaves him at the Banning home, Charlotte can't admit that he's hers and must let the household believe he's an abandoned baby. A woman staying with the Banning family wants Henry for her own and when Charlotte's past interferes with her present, she believes that giving up Henry is the best thing.<br /><br />Charlotte is strong, brave and spunky. Her story isn't quite plausible, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I like Charlotte and I loved Archie. I hated Sarah and I really hope that hers isn't the next story in the series because she has no redeeming qualities and I can't imagine ever liking her.<br /><br />The historical setting is again terrific: the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, Chicago's affluent Prairie Avenue and the disparity between the privileged and the working class. Second in the Avenue of Dreams series, the book stands alone well but, as always, is richer if you've read the first one, The Pursuit of Lucy Banning.<br /><br />I received a copy for review from Revell. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1358905116000, "title": "Compelling historical novel" }, { "asin": "1621360210", "rating": 5, "text": "High school doesn't hold many good memories for Turner Caldwell. He was bullied and tormented and wanted nothing more than to leave those memories behind. When Cassandra Todd reappears in his life, those memories come back. But, Turner is a different man now and Cassandra is in trouble. Her high school jock husband, Brad, is abusive and she has left him, but he has resources to find her. Drawn to Cassandra and her son, Turner knows he can't turn away from her request for help. As they find themselves on the run from Brad, they discover a new friendship and special bond. But, if they survive, Turner wonders if there will be a future for them.<br /><br />I couldn't put this down. I loved it. The characters were terrific, the adventure and drama were suspenseful and kept me turning pages well into the night. Spousal abuse is becoming more common as a topic for writers and I thought Darrel did a fantastic job here as well as the longer-term effects of bullying. I'd love to see more of Turner and Cassandra and Justin. I really didn't want this book to end.<br /><br />I read Darrel's first book, The Anniversary Waltz and enjoyed it, so I was thrilled to see that he had a second one out. And, I loved this one even more than I did The Anniversary Waltz.<br /><br />I received a copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1362279499000, "title": "I didn't want this book to end" }, { "asin": "0764209809", "rating": 4, "text": "Jenny has always loved the quiet, simple things in life and has always been drawn to the Old Order Amish world. When she finally musters the courage to leave her wealthy family home and move to Hickory Hollow her Amish friend Marnie arranges for her to board with the Lapp family while goes through her time of proving. As Jenny finds herself becoming more and more Amish, Marnie finds herself drawn to outside teachings.<br /><br />I loved the premise of this book, that an Englischer wants to become Amish and I loved the way that Beverly portrays the opposite experiences of Marnie and Jenny. As always, I do not understand the concept or purpose of shunning, but I was pleased with how it was handled here and that the Bishop was actually a man who listened to others and softened his heart.<br /><br />Fourth in the Home to Hickory Hollow series, the story stands alone just fine and it was one I thoroughly enjoyed. I just love picking up a new Beverly Lewis book. With few exceptions, I always adore Beverly's books and characters and this one was terrific.<br /><br />I received a copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1389986308000, "title": "Terrific" }, { "asin": "0800721551", "rating": 4, "text": "When her father forced the family to relocate from Santa Cruz and the blue waters of the Pacific to Galveston Island, Texas and the brown waters of the Gulf, Cassia is not happy. Forced to work in her family's gyro sandwich shop, she wants nothing more than to arrange flowers. When she finds a job in a florist's shop, she takes it, even knowing that it will anger her father. Cassia's father, Babbas, has opened his sandwich shop across the street from Parma John's, the pizza place owned by the Italian Rossi family. Seized immediately by the desire to put the Rossi's out of business, and make the Greek gyro number one, Babbas forbids the family from having any contact with the Rossi family. Unfortunately, Cassia's new employer is a Rossi and she has just befriended Bella Neeley.<br /><br />When I see a book by Janice Thompson, I jump. I have never been disappointed. I adored A Bouquet of Love. It has all the makings of a fantastic Janice Thompson book, fantastic, spunky heroines, loud and interfering extended family, witty repartee and lots of love and laughter. Here, the Rossi's are back in force and the Pappas family is a match for their intensity.<br /><br />The final installment of the Weddings by Design series, the story can stand alone, but is all the better if you've read the others in the series. What is so fantastic is that Janice ties in the Weddings by Bella series and the Backstage Pass series as well. This is the perfect ending to all of them.<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1408455008000, "title": "Delightful" }, { "asin": "0764212370", "rating": 4, "text": "Emma and her brother are shipwrecked at remote Presque Island on Lake Huron when their steamboat is attacked by pirates. Patrick Garratty has just lost his wife, and as keeper of the lighthouse is in need of someone to help care for his son. Penniless, Emma and Ryan must find work which Ryan is able to do. When that proves difficult for Emma, a well-meaning preacher steps in and suggests Emma and Patrick marry and be the solution to each others' dilemma.<br /><br />Emma suddenly finds herself married to a man she doesn't know. Having never learned how to cook or keep house and having no experience with children, she is thrust into a unique situation. As she and Patrick learn to live and work together, she discovers that he has secrets.<br /><br />Emma is sweet and wants so badly to please Patrick and be a good mother to Josiah. Patrick has worked hard to overcome his criminal past and begins falling in love with Emma.<br /><br />I found myself frustrated with the supporting cast, especially Bertha. What a seriously unlikable woman. I wanted to shake Emma for confiding in Bertha, but I also realized that Emma had no other woman with whom to be friends and even an antagonistic person like Bertha is welcome when there are no others.<br /><br />I've never been to Michigan and it still surprises me at the size of the Great Lakes. That they are big enough to need lighthouses is fascinating. Jody's gift for history is terrific. I love her author's notes at the end and the historical accuracy with which she tells her stories.<br /><br />When I know a new Jody Hedlund book is being published, I get a little giddy. I adored Love Unexpected.<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1420138432000, "title": "Loved it" }, { "asin": "0310315549", "rating": 4, "text": "Several years previous, Prince Stephen of Brighton Kingdom secretly wed Corina del Rey and they shared a wonderful, but short time together before he deployed to war. After the death of friends who died protecting him, Stephen was overcome with grief and believing his marriage to have never been officially filed or valid, he pulls away from Corina. Corina has tried to move on with her life, but her twin brother died in the attack on Prince Stephen and she has always yearned for answers.<br /><br />When Prince Stephen discovers that his marriage is, in fact, still valid, he searches out Corina and the two must decide if they want it annulled. Corina refuses to sign the annulment papers until Stephen tells her about the circumstances surrounding her brother's death and he refuses to do so.<br /><br />The two realize they're still in love, but their differences of opinion regarding the circumstances of her brother's death may just be enough to separate them forever.<br /><br />This series is just, quite simply, fun. But, How to Catch a Prince tackles a bit more of a sober subject as it also deals with Prince Stephen's PTSD stemming from his war experiences. The story is Christian this one is a bit more heavy handed with the preaching, and there is also a bit of a magical realism to it with a couple of delightful guardian angels.<br /><br />The book can stand alone, but it is much better if you've read the series in order. I have loved the Royal Wedding series and I was glad to see this story return to Brighton Kingdom. I hope there is more than just this trilogy!<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1427151555000, "title": "Terrific" } ]

[ { "asin": "0800732138", "rating": 4, "text": "The third book of The Daughters of Boston series. This one continues the O'Connor family saga with Elizabeth's story. I loved it.<br /><br />Elizabeth, younger sister to Faith and Charity was always the quiet bookworm. When her brother-in-law Collin goes into the printing business with his best friend, Elizabeth falls hard for John Brady. Elizabeth is the younger sister Brady never had, and they become good friends as Brady mentors Lizzie spiritually. But, as she grows up and becomes a beautiful, Godly young woman, Brady has a difficult time reconciling his feelings for her. When Brady's past comes between them, Lizzie wonders if she'll ever marry the man she loves.<br /><br />The entire O'Connor family returns in this novel. Faith and Charity are happily married to Collin and Mitch, and Charity is expecting, but hasn't abandoned some of her old tricks. Marcy and Patrick have their own crisis of faith and trust in their marriage.<br /><br />One of the things I have enjoyed about this series is that these characters are real. They struggle with their passions, they struggle with their faith, and they struggle in their relationships with each other. Julie Lessman has also explored the issue of pride and its downfall, and in a remarkable way.<br /><br />This one is a bit darker with the themes explored in regards to Brady's past. The passions are stronger and more descriptive, especially in regards to marriage relations. But, the point is clear: passion without marriage, and marriage without God, are weak imitations.", "timestamp": 1244782373000, "title": "Terrific" }, { "asin": "1434766411", "rating": 3, "text": "A terrific, thought-provoking book.<br /><br />Kate Davis can't move forward after her husband's sudden death. She refuses to go upstairs to their bedroom. She finds even the most mundane, normal activities difficult, and soon finds herself sleeping in the living room, forgetting to shower and unable to sleep. The fact that Kevin keeps talking to her, doesn't help. As Kate tries to figure out why she hears Kevin's voice, she finds herself running from an attempted exorcism by a disturbed pastor, participating in an eclectic group therapy, visiting a psychiatrist's office, and finally, admitted to a mental hospital.<br /><br />When she meets Jack, a non-traditional pastor of a grassroots church, she begins her return to finding her life again. But, when Kate discovers Kevin's hidden secret and confronts her own, buried memories, her tenuous hold on reality shatters.<br /><br />As Kate struggles to confront her grief, she wonders if she will ever find the peace she desperately craves, and the ability to gain a second chance at life.<br /><br />I enjoyed Kate's voice. I read the book in a day, I couldn't put it down! Bonnie Grove has captured grief, and takes you on an incredible journey as you walk through Kate's mind and life with her. As experiences unfold, you hurt for Kate and cheer for her at the same time.<br /><br />The novel is Christian, but the focus is not at all preachy. In fact, any real mention of Christianity doesn't come until you're well into the story. The themes of betrayal and abortion are mature, but dealt with in a realistic manner.<br /><br />An interesting, compelling story, and a terrific debut novel. I look forward to reading more from Bonnie.", "timestamp": 1245732541000, "title": "A terrific, thought-provoking book." }, { "asin": "143476785X", "rating": 2, "text": "Admittedly, I haven't read anything else by Kathy Herman, and this is the second in a trilogy. While it stands alone well, there are also many references to situations that I assume happened in the first novel.<br /><br />It wasn't a difficult book to read, it just wasn't one that I found to be incredible or enthralling. I liked it well enough, and while I know the author was going for drama and suspense, much of the story seemed far-fetched to me. I could see it as some episode of a law enforcement show, actually. I also had a hard time relating to Brill, the main character. That could be because I haven't read the first book, and knowing her history could certainly endear her to readers. Emily's voice and thoughts seemed too old for her age. I also found the subplot of Vanessa running off all the time and meeting the \"old man\" in the park a bit strange, although I realize why the author put it into the book and how it tied into the story. It just seemed awkward and the whole thing wrapped up too neatly.<br /><br />While I do think that, for the most part, some of the discussions between Vanessa and her parents regarding her pregnancy were realistic and accurate, I also found the story very preachy, to the point of lecturing.<br /><br />I think that this is a book fans of Kathy Herman and Brill Jessup will love. I liked it well enough, it just didn't do much for me. I do recommend reading the books in order. A third book will follow next year and be more focused on Ethan's story.", "timestamp": 1255462019000, "title": "Bit disappointing" }, { "asin": "0764206702", "rating": 3, "text": "An unconventional heroine and an unusual setting make for an interesting novel.<br /><br />I enjoyed the island/orchard setting. I'm not familiar with Pennsylvania and the Susquehanna River, and the setting was curious, but easily pictured. As far as characterization goes, I loved that Ellie wasn't a beautiful young woman, but a plain spinster with no prospects. What a refreshing heroine. However, I found Jackson too angry and often mean to Ellie as he jumped to erroneous conclusion after conclusion. Yes, both had their baggage, and I see the point of each needing to work through their issues so they could fall in love, but there were several times when I just wanted to shake some sense into them both.<br /><br />Ellie is the one with the common sense, wisdom and compassion for others and her inner beauty shines through and is what draws others to her. She struggles a bit with her own faith, but still moves forward, never giving up on God.<br /><br />I thought that the issues of adultery and death of a spouse were well handled, nothing heavy handed. Overall, an easy book to read. I enjoyed it, I didn't absolutely love it. It's light Christian fiction with some life lessons thrown in for good measure.<br /><br />Thanks to Bethany House for the opportunity to review this book.", "timestamp": 1275952692000, "title": "Light Christian fiction with life lessons thrown in for good measure" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 3, "text": "I wish we could give half stars, because this one would get 3.5.<br /><br />I will admit to being pleasantly surprised by this novel, as the cover was rather off-putting to me and reminds me of something published in the 1970s. However, the story captured me fairly quickly and I was intrigued. The four different viewpoints could have been distracting, but it was actually very refreshing and I felt it worked well.<br /><br />I enjoy stories that explore the Underground Railroad and this one was fascinating. With some twists and turns from family secrets to secret tunnels, it's not completely predictable. An easy, Christian read. I look forward to reading more from Melanie Dobson.", "timestamp": 1276119399000, "title": "Intriguing Christian novel." }, { "asin": "0764205137", "rating": 4, "text": "An enjoyable read. I was so glad that the original 16 war widows narrowed down to 5, which was a much more manageable number. The premise was a bit different and refreshing take on the mail-order bride scenario. These women had spunk and drive and weren't afraid to stand up to the sneaky land speculator who deceived them. They go off on their own and, together, establish themselves on joined land claims.<br /><br />As they ingratiate themselves into the community, they make friends and predictably, a few enemies. But, love conquers all.<br /><br />5 is much more manageable than 16 main characters, but when you add the supporting characters and love interests, it could be difficult to keep track of everyone. Stephanie Whitson does a great job of making it all work. These are likeable women and you really cheer for them to succeed. I found her take on the premise interesting.<br /><br />This is an easy enjoyable read, especially for those who love historical novels, and especially historical westerns. Light Christian.<br /><br />Thanks to Bethany House for the opportunity to review this book.", "timestamp": 1276616248000, "title": "Easy, enjoyable read." }, { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 3, "text": "A charming, light summer read. Lilly is a delightful young heroine who feels called by God to write stories. For a young woman of her class and privilege, however, means that working at all, let alone writing dime store novels is unacceptable. Lilly write anonymously, but when an unscrupulous gossip magazine threatens to reveal her identity, she's torn with what to do.<br /><br />An interesting commentary of the time: it's the late nineteenth century, and high society is summering at the coast. I have always found the rigid adherence to a strict code of conduct to be fascinating, especially when it is at the expense of people and friendship. Lilly longs for something other than a life of looking pretty and visiting with women in order to gossip and discuss others. Jack is a dashing, unlikely hero and, like Lilly, desires to do what God wants.<br /><br />A fine debut novel. Light, but not too fluffy. An enjoyable diversion and easily recommended. The first in a series, I look forward to the rest.<br /><br />Thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers for the opportunity to review this book.", "timestamp": 1277229824000, "title": "A fine debut novel." }, { "asin": "080073274X", "rating": 3, "text": "I first picked this one up and had a hard time getting into it. Rather than writing it off or forcing myself to read it, I did a preview instead of a review and set it aside for awhile. I'm glad I picked it up again.<br /><br />Mariette marries the man of her dreams, a man her parents don't approve of, but one with hopes and plans for a future. When Thayne's future turns out to be one that Mariette never dreamed of, she perseveres and ultimately finds herself and finds God.<br /><br />I enjoyed the southern, late 50's early 60's setting, and appreciated that Mariette's parents were so supportive and encouraging. This Fine Life was an absorbing story of one young woman's life and how it doesn't always go according to plan. However, like many of us, Mariette discovers that even the unexpected life can be fine and fulfilling.", "timestamp": 1280591177000, "title": "Absorbing story of how life doesn't always go according to plan" }, { "asin": "0307458997", "rating": 4, "text": "I found this to be a delightful little story. It was sweet: a sweet premise, a sweet shop, sweet characters and a sweet, charming bookstore. Love it! I will admit to not loving the sentence fragment style of writing, but the story itself was a bit enchanting. I liked Cora and Simon and I loved Sandy. What a sweetheart. Cora grew up in a very dysfunctional, non-Christian home and she struggles with integrating the worldly Christmas traditions with her Christian beliefs. I think this is something that many people struggle with: how to blend the materialistic Christmas trappings with the celebration of Christ's birth.<br /><br />I've seen reviews where people thought the magical and Christian elements didn't mix. I had no problems with it. Christmas itself is a magical time for me. It's a time of miracles, and celebrating our Savior's miraculous birth is the reason for the holiday itself. The Christmas season is a time when many people are focused on others and give of themselves and their time, talents, energy and money. You don't get much more Christian than that. Christmas is a time when children's eyes sparkle, people are a bit kinder, and yes, everything is magical.<br /><br />I loved the magical, wizard characters. Nothing about them took away the spirit of Christmas, or the Spirit of God itself from the story or the characters. They were funny and everything they did was to help other people find each other.<br /><br />I have other, more favorite Christmas stories. But, this is a sweet story, just like Christmas stories should be. It's a short, easy read and perfect for a cozy afternoon by the fire.", "timestamp": 1287674526000, "title": "A sweet, magical Christmas story" }, { "asin": "0764206710", "rating": 3, "text": "Delia Parr seems to like unconventional heroines and unusual settings! Hearts Awakening was that way, and so is Love's First Bloom. When Ruth Livingstone's father is accused of murdering a prostitute, he sends Ruth into hiding with the murdered woman's secret child. With journalists on her tail, Ruth integrates herself into a new community even as she awaits word of her father's trial.<br /><br />Like Hearts Awakening, this is a light Christian novel. Even with its theme of murder and reformed prostitutes, it's not heavy handed or preachy. With twists and turns and secrets, the book is nothing stellar, but still an enjoyable easy read.", "timestamp": 1287808677000, "title": "Enjoyable, easy read" }, { "asin": "0736930159", "rating": 2, "text": "Steph is symbolically left at the altar when her self-centered fiance doesn't show up to meet her when she arrives in town. Perfect shopkeeper Milly rescues Steph from humiliation gives her a sympathetic shoulder to cry on and a temporary job at the tea shop. Perfect innkeeper Kendall shows an interest and introduces Steph around town. She meets two nice sisters in need of a roommate and proceeds to get herself fired from every place she works outside of the tea shop.<br /><br />Add a bit of drama, an additional ex-fiancee and some misunderstandings and you have The Perfect Blend. Light on the Christian as Steph learns to stand up for herself and finds what it is she wants out of life. A light diversion. Nothing more. Fans of Trish Perry will love it. I didn't. I found myself annoyed and impatient for it to be finished. I never really connected with Steph and Rick and his mother were extreme caricatures and everyone else was one-dimensional.<br /><br />This appears to be the first in a new series, so we will be seeing more of Milly and her tea shop. Perhaps recurring characters will be fleshed out a bit in subsequent books. A bonus is the tea shop recipes included at the back of the book.", "timestamp": 1288223887000, "title": "A light diversion, nothing more" }, { "asin": "0800719255", "rating": 4, "text": "My first Christmas book of the season and it didn't disappoint! This was a lovely story of redemption and hope. People can be truly cruel, life isn't always pretty and, too often, doesn't go the way we plan.<br /><br />Lena Markham is one of those to whom life was cruel. Falsely imprisoned, she is released eight years later with a chance to start over. Finding herself in a small town, she meets a sweet woman who takes on the role of her guardian angel. When Lena is offered a job as Mrs. Santa, she begins to find hope.<br /><br />The story is Christian, with Lena learning that God is a loving, forgiving God, rather than the harsh, unyielding God her father raised her to know. When her past is exposed, Lena finds the strength to persevere and realizes that redemption is possible, that true friends stand by you, and that Christmas is a wonderful time of year.", "timestamp": 1289787515000, "title": "A lovely story of redemption and hope" }, { "asin": "0764208500", "rating": 3, "text": "I've seen such mixed reviews about this book and mine will probably be no different. I enjoyed the story, but I didn't love it. I found the ending lacking and really didn't understand the author ended it the way she did.<br /><br />Amy's voice is great, but the story is all over the board. I found myself wondering what the real purpose for writing it. Is it a story about a single women searching for her purpose and path in life? Is the focus Amy and Eli? Is the focus friendship or family relationships? The ring of truth to Amy suggests that it's partially autobiographical and that the author based Amy on herself. Which is fine, because I did like Amy. I never quite understood her attraction to Eli.<br /><br />Light on the Christian, this is an interesting commentary on the life of writers and wannabe writers. It's actually quite well written and the language is lyrical. I liked it, I didn't love it.", "timestamp": 1292625108000, "title": "Liked it, didn't love it." }, { "asin": "1609360257", "rating": 4, "text": "Esther must live with the consequences of a one-night stand. While she loves her daughter, she doesn't love her fiance and living with his parents is a nightmare. When a letter arrives that leads Esther to believe that Linus has been killed, she begins to correspond with the medic who cared for him. As Esther and Peter fall in love, they must face the realities of war and the knowledge that the secrets they keep from each other could separate them forever.<br /><br />This one kept me on my toes. I loved Esther and Peter. The story is historically rich, and I had no idea German POWs were housed in America during World War 2. A fascinating and entertaining story.", "timestamp": 1294941682000, "title": "A fascinating and entertaining story" }, { "asin": "1595545395", "rating": 4, "text": "This was, quite simply, a fun book to read. A bit far-fetched, but honestly laugh-out loud funny. It's a nice diversion. I didn't like Lucy right away, but she grew on me. I loved that her job involved working with at-risk girls who had graduated out of foster care. When her non-profit funding is cut, she finds herself accepting an unusual proposition. Can she commit to it and follow-through or will she finally listen to God and let her heart take over?<br /><br />While a classic chick-lit novel, it's not quite as light as one would think. The Christian overtones are strong and the lessons learned include forgiving ones self and turning your life over to God.<br /><br />Loved the characterizations and Julian, especially, was a total kick. Clare grew on me as well and I loved the interactions between the two. Predictable, but with a sweet ending, this is an enjoyable diversion and one that was fun to read.<br /><br />Minor peeve: While I loved the shout out to Science Fiction/Fantasy fans, and especially the reference to Doctor Who, I have to complain that real fans won't call it Dr. Who like it was used here, they use the whole word Doctor... and it would have been neat to have a real reference to show that Lucy really did know the show...such as which series/doctor was on the DVD set in her bag.<br /><br />Thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers for the opportunity to review this book.", "timestamp": 1296590064000, "title": "A fun read." }, { "asin": "1595547916", "rating": 3, "text": "A cute story, nothing stellar, but laugh out loud funny in parts and completely entertaining. Katie is spunky, Luc is charming, Dexter is completely unbelievable and Eileen is a kick. Predictable and implausible and in serious need of a good edit, this is still a light and entertaining read. True chick-lit, light on everything and a nice diversion. I read in in a couple of hours.<br /><br />This is the first Kristin Billerbeck story I've read and I can see myself reading some more, simply for the sheer entertainment value.<br /><br />Thanks to Audra Jennings of The B&B Media Group and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to review this novel.", "timestamp": 1297366157000, "title": "A cute story" }, { "asin": "0800734521", "rating": 3, "text": "This was a fascinating look at midwifery in the early 19th century, although it's about a woman who is a midwife, not midwifery itself. The story is historically rich, full of intrigue and mystery, unanswered questions and thieves in the night. It's a busy book with a lot going on and I found it sometimes hard to follow. But, I liked Tabitha and Dominick.<br /><br />It's not a book that stayed with me though. While writing this review a few weeks after I read it, I realized I needed to go back and skim the book to remind myself of what happened. Fans of historical fiction should enjoy it, however.", "timestamp": 1297445847000, "title": "Lady in the Mist" }, { "asin": "0800734076", "rating": 4, "text": "I wasn't sure what to think about a fictionalized version of the story of Job. To then have Job linked to Dinah, daughter of Jacob was even more interesting. But, it worked and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Job's story is told in a straight-forward manner. Nothing is embellished or exaggerated, but his reactions to his trials, the love he has for his wife are real and anguished. Dinah's story isn't a completely happy one and the account in the bible is minimal. This fictionalized version which continues Dinah's story and adds explanations and experiences is fantastic.<br /><br />Mesu Andrews completely captured the time and essence of the biblical world. Her descriptions are vivid and her characterizations were terrific. She shares, very clearly, in her notes how she came to place Dinah in Job's life, even though there is no biblical proof of it. Her references and research are extensive and well done.<br /><br />Through Job's faithfulness and devotion to the teachings of God, Dinah finally learns about forgiveness. This is a beautiful story of learning to accept and understand God's love for each of us.", "timestamp": 1300118401000, "title": "Fantastic" }, { "asin": "0764207563", "rating": 4, "text": "A fun story. I loved Adelaide. She's spunky and charming and an avid reader. The references to Jane Eyre and Jane Austen were terrific little additions to the story. A die-hard romantic, Adelaide searches for her storybook hero. She never expects to find him on a Texas sheep ranch.<br /><br />Gideon is a transplanted British lord. The third son, he must find his own way and prove his success to his parents. When he becomes guardian to an orphaned girl, he knows he must find a governess. Running from an embarrassing romantic fiasco, Adelaide sees the newspaper ad and applies for the job.<br /><br />Light, but not light-hearted, this is an engaging, delightful story. The characters are fantastic and fairly well developed, the engaging story has light Christian elements and a bit of drama.<br /><br />Perfect for an afternoon of escape.", "timestamp": 1300123663000, "title": "Perfect for an afternoon of escape" }, { "asin": "1595548017", "rating": 3, "text": "When I received this book, I thought it was going to be a silly romance novel because of the cover, but I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, it's a romance and it's about a rodeo cowboy. No, it's not silly. It's a story with surprising character depth. I did think the premise was a bit far-fetched with the idea that Abigail could save her family's magazine with one expose. But the characters are likeable and the story is entertaining.<br /><br />Abigail is truly torn because of a decision she must make, although she really brings it on herself. Wade is reticent about falling for her, even as he sees the bond that develops between Abigail and his daughter. Aunt Lucy is a kick, Abigail's mother is annoying. It's a light read, with Christian principles emphasized, but it's not preachy. Fans of Denise Hunter will definitely enjoy it.", "timestamp": 1302330151000, "title": "Entertaining romance" }, { "asin": "1595548769", "rating": 4, "text": "Like many, I have always loved the story of Esther and her faith and trust in God. I've tried to imagine what her life might have been like. Joan Wolf also imagined what Esther's life might have been like as she took Esther's account and created a beautiful love story. Esther comes alive in these pages as she struggles to find her place in the King's household. The love story that develops between Esther and King Asasuerus is tender and sweet. And Esther's struggle to reconcile her Jewish faith with her new life as a Persian queen is compelling.<br /><br />It's important to remember that this is a fictionalized account of Esther. In the author's note, Joan Wolf readily admits that she found it necessary to \"re-arrange some of the original material\". I realize that biblically the story is rather scarce on details, but \"re-arrange\" is a loose interpretation of what she has done here. She has not only re-arranged the story, she has left out significant events in Esther's biblical account. Some of her characterizations didn't fit with my own interpretations such as her portrayal of Mordecai, yet others exceeded them such as her portrayal of King Ahasuerus.<br /><br />However, if you can look beyond any issues you might find, A Reluctant Queen is a fascinating, moving interpretation about one of Christianity's most beloved heroines. I look forward to more biblical stories from Joan Wolf.", "timestamp": 1306907545000, "title": "Compelling, moving interpretation about one of Christianity's most beloved heroines" }, { "asin": "1595549242", "rating": 3, "text": "I've seen all kinds of rave reviews about Spring for Susannah and I had terrific hopes for it. This is not quite your typical mail-order bride scenario. Shy Susannah isn't sure what to expect when she accepts the offer to marry Jesse Mason and join him in Dakota territory. Raised to believe a woman should keep her thoughts and opinions to herself, she is unprepared to fall in love with a man who encourages her to be strong and to think for herself. Through trials and tragedies Susannah begins to blossom and it's wonderful to see her become a strong, independent woman.<br /><br />I did think it refreshing that the story had a more intimate, romantic element that isn't usually found in historical Christian novels. There was nothing overtly graphic or inappropriate, but there is clear indication that Jesse and Susannah are a married couple who are attracted to each other and who enjoy marital relations.<br /><br />I struggled with the story when Jesse suddenly leaves in search of work. Susannah comes into her own but the story kinds of shuffles along and I found the ending somewhat abrupt. Still, overall, an enjoyable, easy read and a good debut novel from an author who I think will only get better.", "timestamp": 1307339675000, "title": "An enjoyable, easy read" }, { "asin": "0800719964", "rating": 5, "text": "That the Amish people have strong families is well known. Why they have them is what fascinates so many people. Here, Suzanne Woods Fisher shares the secrets of Amish family life. Through Amish proverbs, personal stories and anecdotes, Suzanne shows us that everyone of us can incorporate Amish values in our own lives.<br /><br />As I read this little gem of a book, I thought that much of living life really is so simple. We tend to make it complicated. So much of the Amish way of life can be boiled down into one word: kindness. They are kind to each other, they care about each other, whether it be family, neighbor or even stranger. There is respect in these families and in their communities. I think a little more kindness would go a long way in making our own homes and communities happier and more successful.<br /><br />This is a book that I will read again and I will have a highlighter and pen with me so I can mark passages and jot down my thoughts. It's one of the best parenting books I think I've ever read.", "timestamp": 1313867205000, "title": "One of the best parenting books I think I've ever read" }, { "asin": "0764205978", "rating": 4, "text": "Silas and Elle parted under difficult circumstances and when they are thrown together again, years later, they discover the spark between them still burns bright. As the fire season rages in the Sierra Nevadas, Silas is brought in to lead a smoke jumping team and Elle is called upon to fly them into the forest. However, nothing quite goes as planned and when Silas has to bail out of the plane, Elle tries to make an emergency landing. Stuck in the Sierras as a fire rages nearby, they must try and find each other all while realizing the smoke jumping crew isn't there simply to fight the forest fire.<br /><br />Shawn's descriptions are vivid and bold. His familiarity with the locales and his personal experience as a firefighter/paramedic is apparent and make this story all the richer. Elle and Silas are terrific characters. I didn't want the story to end and I would love a sequel or at least have them show up in a future book. (Hint, hint!)<br /><br />I love the setting and references. I'm from the San Francisco Bay area: I know Oakland and San Mateo. I love the Sierra Nevadas and I now live in Idaho. And Star Trek Next Generation references? I am all over that!<br /><br />A thrilling, suspenseful novel full of action and just enough Christian romance.", "timestamp": 1314499072000, "title": "A thrilling, suspenseful novel" }, { "asin": "1595547851", "rating": 4, "text": "Ann Miller has always thought she wanted to marry Eli Bowen a sentimental young man prone to waxing poetic. With a father who occasionally travels as a circuit preacher and having raised her younger sisters after her mother died in childbirth, she doesn't know how she can leave her family. Then, when Ann travels to Pittsburgh with her family on her father's business, she is introduced to Will and observes that life can be very harsh and unfair to people. Yet, she is drawn to Will and wonders if their paths will ever cross again.<br /><br />With themes that include slavery and the Underground Railroad, indenture, abuse and cruel masters, this should be a heavy story. Fortunately, it's also tempered with good people who genuinely care for one another and who look out for those in need. The result is a fascinating story about the indomitable spirit and resilience of men and women who are able to rise above their adversity and discover courage, fortitude and hope.<br /><br />While I found the dialogue somewhat stilted and formal at times, I liked these characters, many of whom are based on real people and situations.<br /><br />Enthralling and suspenseful, Fairer than Morning is a terrific debut novel from a promising author. I look forward to the rest of the trilogy.", "timestamp": 1314653359000, "title": "Enthralling and suspenseful" }, { "asin": "0800733460", "rating": 4, "text": "Athena may be the head writer of a popular television show and her best friend a famous actress, but she still lives at home with her loud, loving Greek family and sleeps on Strawberry Shortcake sheets. When a new writer is brought in to help improve the show's ratings, Athena feels threatened. When she finds herself falling for Stephen, the creativity she is able to bring to her writing fails her and she uncertain of her future.<br /><br />Second in the Backstage Pass series, this is just another fun book from Janice Thompson. All your favorite characters from Stars Collide return and we get to meet Athena's loud, large and very loving Greek family. Janice not only gives us an entertaining story, she gives us a sweet story as well. When Stephen comes to LA, he brings with him a young daughter in need of love and attention. As Stephen and Athena's relationship grows, so does the relationship Brooke has with the Pappas family. The result is a tender look at what being part of a family really means.", "timestamp": 1317165466000, "title": "A delightful, sweet story" }, { "asin": "0764208330", "rating": 4, "text": "Eli and Priscilla want to be missionaries. He wants to go to the frontiers of Oregon and she to India. When the missionary board rejects their applications, they reluctantly marry in order to serve and Priscilla agrees to give up her quest for India and travel to Oregon with Eli.<br /><br />I will admit to finding the premise a bit implausible: that this man and woman who barely knew each other, would marry for convenience simply so they could be missionaries. But, the story was compelling and quickly drew me in. Priscilla and Eli were characters I grew to care about. Their travels from New York to Oregon by wagon train were difficult and arduous, but very true to life. Yet, as they journey, faith in God and a growing love and faith in each other shows them that anything is possible. I enjoyed reading their story and seeing the growth in themselves and their relationship.<br /><br />I also enjoyed the author's note that shared the true life inspiration for the novel. I liked, but didn't love Jody's first novel, The Preacher's Bride, but I thoroughly enjoyed The Doctor's Lady.", "timestamp": 1321506266000, "title": "Compelling and enjoyable" }, { "asin": "076420498X", "rating": 3, "text": "I like Lynn Austin and I love stories about bookish women. Wonderland Creek sounded fantastic and I was excited to read it. And while I did enjoy the story, it didn't quite live up to my expectation. I liked Alice for the most part, but I couldn't quite believe she was as clueless as she was made out to be. Reading a book during a funeral, simply because it was dull? I'm sorry. I love books, and I can guarantee that I usually have a book in my bag at all times. However, I would never, ever, pull it out during a funeral and read.<br /><br />Alice's adventure in Acorn, Kentucky brings many quirky characters into her life and I loved Mac and Lillie. She also finds herself having experiences she could never have imagined. Overall, the premise is a bit implausible, but it's also compelling and you want to finish the book to find out what really happens.<br /><br />I found the historical aspect of packhorse librarians fascinating. To make books available to those who lived away from town or in the back hollows of America is a relief program I could support.", "timestamp": 1322873910000, "title": "Enjoyable, but didn't quite live up to the expectation" }, { "asin": "0800734599", "rating": 4, "text": "I love stories about strong women and Summer of Promise delivers a charming one. Abigail plans on marrying a fellow teacher, but before her wedding, she travels to Wyoming to spend the summer with her sister Charlotte who is married and expecting her first child. The journey out west is an adventure itself with a robbery attack on her coach. A young soldier traveling on the same coach saves the day and once at Fort Laramie, Abigail finds herself often in the company of Ethan Bowles. She doesn't love the army life nor the rugged Wyoming countryside, but as she is drawn to Ethan, she wonders if she can ever go back to Vermont.<br /><br />Abigail must find out why her sister's life isn't as charmed as she once thought and as stagecoaches continue to be robbed and equipment goes missing from the fort, Ethan must not only discover who at the fort is the traitor, but what Abigail Harding will do with his heart. This is a delightful, compelling story with a strong heroine and an element of intrigue and one I thoroughly enjoyed.<br /><br />I haven't read Amanda Cabot before, but I'm so glad to know that this is the first in a series. I look forward to more.<br /><br />Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Thanks to the Baker Publishing Group for the opportunity to review this book.", "timestamp": 1327346837000, "title": "Delightful, compelling story" }, { "asin": "0800720075", "rating": 4, "text": "Growing up in a dysfunctional, abusive family, Alexia left home the day she graduated from high school. Ten years later, after an accident at work, she somewhat reluctantly takes some time off to see her mother and attend her high school reunion. Yet, once she arrives home, murder and mayhem follow her. Reunited with old friends,she finds herself attracted to the detective handling her case, a man she knew in high school.<br /><br />As she gets reacquainted with her mother, Alexia begins discovering answers to life long questions and learns that God does have a plan for her. And, as she realizes that the incident with her equipment failure might not be a complete accident and is related to the new events surrounding her arrival at home, Alexia must face the fact that someone is trying to kill her.<br /><br />I haven't read Lynette Eason before, but what a roller coaster. From beginning to end, this is one wild ride. I loved these characters. I enjoyed the tension and suspense and was surprised at the ending. The growth in Alexia from beginning to end as she comes to understand her mother and her childhood is touching. I am anxious for the next novel in the series and discovering the senator and how his life relates to Alexia and Serena.<br /><br />Thanks to the publisher for the chance to review this book.", "timestamp": 1329434161000, "title": "Terrific" }, { "asin": "0800720458", "rating": 5, "text": "Raised by a newspaper editor father, Adriane knows her own mind and struggles with a world that relegates women to the the society pages and not the editorial ones. Spunky and feisty, Adriane will do whatever it takes to get the story and get it ahead of the rival paper, even if that means dressing like a man and visiting the site of a serial killer's latest crime.<br /><br />When her path crosses that of Blake Garrett, new editor of that rival newspaper, sparks fly. Adriane is being forced to wed the son of a politician, and a man to whom her father is indebted. Attracted to Blake, Adriane must do what is right for her peace of mind as well as what may save her father's paper.<br /><br />Historically, this is a richly detailed account of life in pre-Civil War Kentucky with the clash of the immigrant Irish Catholics and the American Protestants. This was a period of history that I was unaware of before reading Words Spoken True and it fascinated me. Ann Gabhart has done her research well and the story is enthralling and well written with well developed characters. Adriane and Blake are terrific and I love the supporting cast as well: Duff and Beck were wonderful.<br /><br />I have enjoyed every Ann H. Gabhart book I've read, but this one is definitely my favorite so far. I'm glad to see her moving beyond the Shaker books.<br /><br />Available February 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Thanks to Baker Publishing for my review copy.", "timestamp": 1329801272000, "title": "Enthralling and well written" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 4, "text": "Widowed young, Carrie Daly has come out of mourning and finds herself falling for a charming newcomer. Griff was just passing through Hickory Ridge, trying to collect a debt, but once he meets Carrie, he decides to stay and accepts a job training a horse for an upcoming race. Carrie's brother has married a local widow with two young sons and when they move into Henry and Carrie's home, drama ensues, driving Carrie away and into town.<br /><br />The townspeople are judgmental and not welcoming of Griff, but Carrie is her own person and determined to find her own happiness. The horse racing aspect was interesting with references to what would have been the first race of the Kentucky Derby.<br /><br />I loved Carrie and her strength and spunk and determination. I hated, absolutely hated, Mary. I don't care that her life was difficult, she was a mean, angry shrew and the kind of person who would have been that way even if her life had been rosy. The dynamics between Carrie and Mary made for an interesting story and I did like the changes that took place in Mary's children. I think Carrie was a saint for what she put up with from her brother's wife out of love for him and Christian duty.<br /><br />Second in the Hickory Ridge series, Ada and Wyatt return as do other characters from Beyond All Measure, but the book stands alone well. Beauty for Ashes is definitely my favorite so far and I look forward to the next book which is about Sophie.", "timestamp": 1329802716000, "title": "Beauty for Ashes" }, { "asin": "076420839X", "rating": 5, "text": "The Bender family has survived a year in the wild Paradise Valley in Mexico. Now, joined by others of their faith who have made the long journey in search of religious freedom, they hope for a peace which is not to be found.<br /><br />Miriam finds herself falling in love with Domingo, their hired hand. Not Amish and not even Christian, she knows that her father will never approve of her relationship with him. She attempts to find happiness with an Amish man, but her heart belongs to someone else.<br /><br />When Rachel and her brother Aaron are attacked returning home from a trip, Rachel is kidnapped and Aaron left for dead. Jake and Domingo go after El Pantera and after rescuing Rachel, Domingo sacrifices his safety to let Rachel and Jake get away. When they return home without him, Miriam and Domingo's sister Kyra go after him.<br /><br />Wow. What a story and a refreshing look at the Amish faith from a vastly different perspective than one normally sees. I love these characters and I didn't want the book to end. I especially loved the part with Ada, where we get a glimpse into her heart and mind as she struggles to save her young nephew and return home after the attack that resulted in such tragedy. And Miriam is such a strong young woman, faced with difficult decisions. The exploration of love vs. faith and religion is brilliantly executed.<br /><br />I adored Paradise Valley, the first in this series and I anxiously awaited the release of The Captive Heart. I am thrilled to say that Dale Cramer has done it again. It's going to be a long wait until December for the third and final book in the trilogy.<br /><br />Thanks to Bethany House for my review copy.", "timestamp": 1330733452000, "title": "Brilliant. Amazing. Loved it." }, { "asin": "0800734378", "rating": 4, "text": "Struggling with the after effects of a dysfunctional childhood and believing she was abandoned by her mother, Patsy tries to project a perfect, happy front for her family. When her husband suggests a vacation to Florida, Patsy has no idea what events will unfold and how she must face her past.<br /><br />Told in flashbacks, Patsy's story is one that I didn't want to put down and I couldn't wait to see who Patsy sees again at the restaurant. It wasn't who I'd expected it to be. I loved Gilbert and I relished how the story unfolded and resolved.<br /><br />Like Chasing Sunsets, Waiting for Sunrise deals with some serious topics. Here, it's mental illness, abandonment and post-traumatic stress. But, it's not a heavy book. Rather, it's a moving story about family, faith and forgiveness. Completely enjoyable and easily recommended.<br /><br />Second in the Cedar Key series, the story stands alone just fine.<br /><br />Thanks to Baker Publishing for my review copy.", "timestamp": 1338505934000, "title": "A moving story about family, faith and forgiveness" }, { "asin": "0800720482", "rating": 4, "text": "With colorful descriptions, the biblical world of Mary Magdalene comes to life.<br /><br />Like many of our biblical heroes and heroines, little is known about Mary Magdalene and much of what has been perpetuated through the ages is speculation or inference, not fact. Diana Wallis Taylor has crafted a wonderful story about Mary, her life and how she came to travel with the Savior. Her life, as portrayed here, while it can't answer questions about Mary, is believable.<br /><br />In the book of Luke, we read that Jesus cast out \"seven devils\" from Mary and Diana gives a fantastic portrayal of Mary before that event took place. As word of Jesus and his ministry spreads, Mary's husband brings her to him, believing that he will heal her. A wonderful cast of supporting characters brings Mary's experience to life and it is both heartbreaking and tender to read.<br /><br />I particularly enjoyed Mary's interactions with the apostles and the portrayal of the last days of Jesus' ministry.<br /><br />Thanks to Baker Publishing for my review copy.", "timestamp": 1339783800000, "title": "Compelling" }, { "asin": "0800734556", "rating": 4, "text": "I've enjoyed everything I've read by Ann H. Gabhart. And The Gifted is just as terrific as Ann's previous Harmony Hill books. Jessamine is a spunky young woman dreaming of what might be outside Harmony Hill. When the opportunity to leave Harmony Hill is presented to her and when her lost past returns, Jessamine wonders if she will be able to live in the outside world.<br /><br />The Shaker religion is fascinating and once again, I appreciate Ann's fair portrayal of the Shaker life. While her heroines usually, eventually leave the Shaker life for the outside world, she is never critical of the Shakers. Rather, she is able to write about their faith respectfully, even as characters leave the Shaker world for something else.", "timestamp": 1341363789000, "title": "Enjoyable" }, { "asin": "0800734580", "rating": 4, "text": "Kelly Warren knows that her father's death wasn't a suicide, but she can't get anyone to listen. Detective Cole Warren isn't sure he wants to believe her until she ends up in the ER and he begins to realize that things aren't always coincidental. Together they embark on a quest to clear her father's name and bring his killer to justice. Along the way, they discover that life is better when they're a team, but someone is determined to keep them apart and end Kelly's life.<br /><br />To say I enjoy Irene Hannon's stories is a serious understatement. I have yet to read one that wasn't fantastic. She has a remarkable way with characterization and her stories are always thrilling adventures full of that perfect mix of suspense and romance.<br /><br />Third in the Guardians of Justice series, Irene Hannon doesn't disappoint. The story stands alone, but as always, it's a much richer story if the books are read in order.<br /><br />Available August 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.", "timestamp": 1344357700000, "title": "Doesn't disappoint" }, { "asin": "0800720040", "rating": 5, "text": "Set in Wyoming Territory in 1882, Celia Anderson is a young widow trying to make ends meet for herself and her infant daughter. Mark Williams is a man who has spent two years on horseback moving from town to town, looking for the father who abandoned him years before. When Mark walks into Celia's boarding house, he arrives in the midst of an emergency. Without hesitation, he steps in and together they work through her daughter's medical emergency. With winter settling in, Mark decides to stay in town, much to the dismay of two residents who believe themselves to be courting Celia.<br /><br />It's not long before Mark begins to find answers to his years of questioning and searching and it's only a matter of time before he and Celia must finally admit to themselves what their feelings for each other really are.<br /><br />I adored Celia and Mark. Truly, they were two remarkable people and their story was wonderful. I adored this charming little novella and I read it in one sitting. I literally didn't want to put it down. Christmas Roses is a delightful Christmas story, perfect for curling up with in front of a fire with a cup of cocoa.<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy for review from Baker Publishing.", "timestamp": 1351476049000, "title": "A delightful Christmas story" }, { "asin": "0800734602", "rating": 4, "text": "After her husband's death and learning that he was involved in less than scrupulous activities, Charlotte leaves Fort Laramie with her infant son and finds herself a new identity and new life. She wants nothing more than the ability to provide for her son. When she meets Barrett Landry, she is attracted to him even as she believes he will marry her good friend. When a man from her husband's past discovers her whereabouts, Charlotte's secrets collapse and she fears that Barrett won't accept her once he knows those secrets.<br /><br />Amanda Cabot has such a wonderful way with descriptions and strong, compelling characters. I loved Charlotte and Barrett. I loved how Charlotte learned that she needed to trust her family and friends and that she didn't need to accomplish everything on her own. This was a story I didn't want to put down.<br /><br />Second in the Westward Winds series, the story stands alone just fine, but I prefer to read series' in order. I look forward to the next two books and I was thrilled to learn at the end, that Gwen will get her own book as well.", "timestamp": 1356931393000, "title": "Delightful, compelling story" }, { "asin": "0800719891", "rating": 4, "text": "M.K. has to be one of my favorite Suzanne Woods Fisher characters. She is spunky, bright and a tad impulsive. Longing to see the world, she is frustrated when the school board and her step-mother Fern push her into becoming a substitute teacher. When new student Jenny Yoder comes to class, M.K. is curious about her and her older brother Chris, new arrivals in Stoney Ridge. Chris begins working for M.K's father and she finds herself drawn to him even as she is curious about his past and life. But, as answers start to come, her father steps in before M.K. and Chris can make their own decisions.<br /><br />With the arrival of Chris and Jenny Yoder to Stoney Ridge, Amos Lapp has to finally come to terms with a tragic accident that happened in the past. Whether he can or not will have a drastic effect on both M.K. and Chris. Suzanne has such a way with her characters and gets right into their souls. I love the Lapp family and Chris and Jenny were terrific. They are all simply fantastic characters. You feel for them, you care about them and you really want Jimmy Fisher to have some sense knocked into him! Seriously.<br /><br />The story can stand alone, but you really do learn a lot about M.K. in the previous books. This was a fitting conclusion to the Stoney Ridge series, although I would have loved an epilogue. I really don't want to say good-bye to the Lapp family!<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1357344463000, "title": "Fantastic end to the Stoney Ridge series" }, { "asin": "0800720393", "rating": 4, "text": "I really liked Charlotte when I met her in The Pursuit of Lucy Banning and I was excited to see that she had her own story. Charlotte wants nothing more than to be a good mother to her son, but life in service doesn't lend itself to motherhood. When the woman who has been caring for Henry leaves him at the Banning home, Charlotte can't admit that he's hers and must let the household believe he's an abandoned baby. A woman staying with the Banning family wants Henry for her own and when Charlotte's past interferes with her present, she believes that giving up Henry is the best thing.<br /><br />Charlotte is strong, brave and spunky. Her story isn't quite plausible, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I like Charlotte and I loved Archie. I hated Sarah and I really hope that hers isn't the next story in the series because she has no redeeming qualities and I can't imagine ever liking her.<br /><br />The historical setting is again terrific: the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, Chicago's affluent Prairie Avenue and the disparity between the privileged and the working class. Second in the Avenue of Dreams series, the book stands alone well but, as always, is richer if you've read the first one, The Pursuit of Lucy Banning.<br /><br />I received a copy for review from Revell. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1358905116000, "title": "Compelling historical novel" }, { "asin": "1621360210", "rating": 5, "text": "High school doesn't hold many good memories for Turner Caldwell. He was bullied and tormented and wanted nothing more than to leave those memories behind. When Cassandra Todd reappears in his life, those memories come back. But, Turner is a different man now and Cassandra is in trouble. Her high school jock husband, Brad, is abusive and she has left him, but he has resources to find her. Drawn to Cassandra and her son, Turner knows he can't turn away from her request for help. As they find themselves on the run from Brad, they discover a new friendship and special bond. But, if they survive, Turner wonders if there will be a future for them.<br /><br />I couldn't put this down. I loved it. The characters were terrific, the adventure and drama were suspenseful and kept me turning pages well into the night. Spousal abuse is becoming more common as a topic for writers and I thought Darrel did a fantastic job here as well as the longer-term effects of bullying. I'd love to see more of Turner and Cassandra and Justin. I really didn't want this book to end.<br /><br />I read Darrel's first book, The Anniversary Waltz and enjoyed it, so I was thrilled to see that he had a second one out. And, I loved this one even more than I did The Anniversary Waltz.<br /><br />I received a copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1362279499000, "title": "I didn't want this book to end" }, { "asin": "0764209809", "rating": 4, "text": "Jenny has always loved the quiet, simple things in life and has always been drawn to the Old Order Amish world. When she finally musters the courage to leave her wealthy family home and move to Hickory Hollow her Amish friend Marnie arranges for her to board with the Lapp family while goes through her time of proving. As Jenny finds herself becoming more and more Amish, Marnie finds herself drawn to outside teachings.<br /><br />I loved the premise of this book, that an Englischer wants to become Amish and I loved the way that Beverly portrays the opposite experiences of Marnie and Jenny. As always, I do not understand the concept or purpose of shunning, but I was pleased with how it was handled here and that the Bishop was actually a man who listened to others and softened his heart.<br /><br />Fourth in the Home to Hickory Hollow series, the story stands alone just fine and it was one I thoroughly enjoyed. I just love picking up a new Beverly Lewis book. With few exceptions, I always adore Beverly's books and characters and this one was terrific.<br /><br />I received a copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1389986308000, "title": "Terrific" }, { "asin": "0800721551", "rating": 4, "text": "When her father forced the family to relocate from Santa Cruz and the blue waters of the Pacific to Galveston Island, Texas and the brown waters of the Gulf, Cassia is not happy. Forced to work in her family's gyro sandwich shop, she wants nothing more than to arrange flowers. When she finds a job in a florist's shop, she takes it, even knowing that it will anger her father. Cassia's father, Babbas, has opened his sandwich shop across the street from Parma John's, the pizza place owned by the Italian Rossi family. Seized immediately by the desire to put the Rossi's out of business, and make the Greek gyro number one, Babbas forbids the family from having any contact with the Rossi family. Unfortunately, Cassia's new employer is a Rossi and she has just befriended Bella Neeley.<br /><br />When I see a book by Janice Thompson, I jump. I have never been disappointed. I adored A Bouquet of Love. It has all the makings of a fantastic Janice Thompson book, fantastic, spunky heroines, loud and interfering extended family, witty repartee and lots of love and laughter. Here, the Rossi's are back in force and the Pappas family is a match for their intensity.<br /><br />The final installment of the Weddings by Design series, the story can stand alone, but is all the better if you've read the others in the series. What is so fantastic is that Janice ties in the Weddings by Bella series and the Backstage Pass series as well. This is the perfect ending to all of them.<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1408455008000, "title": "Delightful" }, { "asin": "0764212370", "rating": 4, "text": "Emma and her brother are shipwrecked at remote Presque Island on Lake Huron when their steamboat is attacked by pirates. Patrick Garratty has just lost his wife, and as keeper of the lighthouse is in need of someone to help care for his son. Penniless, Emma and Ryan must find work which Ryan is able to do. When that proves difficult for Emma, a well-meaning preacher steps in and suggests Emma and Patrick marry and be the solution to each others' dilemma.<br /><br />Emma suddenly finds herself married to a man she doesn't know. Having never learned how to cook or keep house and having no experience with children, she is thrust into a unique situation. As she and Patrick learn to live and work together, she discovers that he has secrets.<br /><br />Emma is sweet and wants so badly to please Patrick and be a good mother to Josiah. Patrick has worked hard to overcome his criminal past and begins falling in love with Emma.<br /><br />I found myself frustrated with the supporting cast, especially Bertha. What a seriously unlikable woman. I wanted to shake Emma for confiding in Bertha, but I also realized that Emma had no other woman with whom to be friends and even an antagonistic person like Bertha is welcome when there are no others.<br /><br />I've never been to Michigan and it still surprises me at the size of the Great Lakes. That they are big enough to need lighthouses is fascinating. Jody's gift for history is terrific. I love her author's notes at the end and the historical accuracy with which she tells her stories.<br /><br />When I know a new Jody Hedlund book is being published, I get a little giddy. I adored Love Unexpected.<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1420138432000, "title": "Loved it" }, { "asin": "0310315549", "rating": 4, "text": "Several years previous, Prince Stephen of Brighton Kingdom secretly wed Corina del Rey and they shared a wonderful, but short time together before he deployed to war. After the death of friends who died protecting him, Stephen was overcome with grief and believing his marriage to have never been officially filed or valid, he pulls away from Corina. Corina has tried to move on with her life, but her twin brother died in the attack on Prince Stephen and she has always yearned for answers.<br /><br />When Prince Stephen discovers that his marriage is, in fact, still valid, he searches out Corina and the two must decide if they want it annulled. Corina refuses to sign the annulment papers until Stephen tells her about the circumstances surrounding her brother's death and he refuses to do so.<br /><br />The two realize they're still in love, but their differences of opinion regarding the circumstances of her brother's death may just be enough to separate them forever.<br /><br />This series is just, quite simply, fun. But, How to Catch a Prince tackles a bit more of a sober subject as it also deals with Prince Stephen's PTSD stemming from his war experiences. The story is Christian this one is a bit more heavy handed with the preaching, and there is also a bit of a magical realism to it with a couple of delightful guardian angels.<br /><br />The book can stand alone, but it is much better if you've read the series in order. I have loved the Royal Wedding series and I was glad to see this story return to Brighton Kingdom. I hope there is more than just this trilogy!<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1427151555000, "title": "Terrific" }, { "asin": "1938499867", "rating": 5, "text": "This is a gorgeous little devotional. I think my favorite part is in the beginning, where Rose talks of tasting. You will never discover new recipes and new foods if you don't try them. The same is true with God and his goodness. If you don't try it, you'll never discover the wonderful blessings that await you.<br /><br />This would make a lovely gift. It's small and easily fits into my purse. The chapters are bite-sized with personal anecdotes and thoughts, suggested scripture reading, journaling, and prayer. All of which will help you draw closer to God and find joy in those every day moments of life.<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy for review. My opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1430334884000, "title": "A gorgeous little devotional" } ]

[ { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 5, "text": "In this debut novel by Cara Lynn James we are transported back in time to 1899. Back during the day to reach the age of 25 and to be unwed could quickly get you labeled an old maid.<br />Miss Lillian Westbrook finds herself in such a position, she is engaged but has never been married, and to top it off she has been writing dime novels under the pen name of Fannie Cole. To be a female and work and earn your own money just wasn't acceptable so she keeps it hidden from her family and friends.<br />When Jackson Grail, a former boyfriend purchases the publishing house that has been publishing Fanny Cole's novels and then becomes determined to find out just who Fannie is. Lilly has to make some choices to protect her family. Will she be able to keep her identity hidden? Will Jackson and Lilly finally get together?<br />I love reading historical fiction and this book didn't disappoint. Cara Lynn James does a great job of grabbing the readers attention and then keeps the story going at a fast pace. I look forward to reading the next in the Ladies of Summerhill novels.", "timestamp": 1276837436000, "title": "Love On a Dime" }, { "asin": "1404187804", "rating": 5, "text": "The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews is a pint sized gift book that packs a wallop of a message.<br />This book will take you no longer than 10 minutes to read, and is very eye appealing with its beautiful pictures and large font.<br />The resounding message is every single thing we do matters. That the cause and effect of the decisions we make do make a difference.<br />Mr. Andrews starts out by telling us the story of Joshua Chamberlain a Colonel in the Union Army, and how the decisions that Mr. Chamberlain made was like a ripple effect on the US, shaping the countries future.<br />This is a great little motivational read that would be a great gift for anyone who might be suffering from self esteem issues or anyone who you think needs to be reminded that Yes They Do Matter.<br />I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1283859316000, "title": "The Butterfly Effect" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "We only have one chance to live this life and we choose how to live it. Do we stick our heads in the sand and think that everything is ok or do we wake up and realize that as Christians we have the responsibility to make life better for others if we can?<br />This book quotes some staggering numbers, the number of poor, and hungry is something that's hard to imagine. Mr Lucado's book gives us a wake up call as to what we can do to make a change.<br />You don't have to be rich or even well off, instead of focusing on what you don't have to give, focus on what you can give. It's that average Joe that makes a difference, the little things that add up.<br />I really enjoyed his use of scripture throughout this book and liked how he started each chapter with a scripture verse and ended the chapters with another scripture and a prayer.<br />This is a very simply written book that can change your way of thinking, its very inspiring a book that you wont be able to put down and will continue to think about long after you finish it.<br />A very timely message that we all need to read, I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1284121246000, "title": "Outlive Your Life" }, { "asin": "1595540091", "rating": 4, "text": "The year is 1772, and Toma Nicolescu and his friend Alec Cardei have seen their fair share of battles while serving the empress of Russia, Catherine the Great. So when they are dispatched to Moldavia to protect the Cantemir family, a very influential family in Moldavia, until the empress could appoint a ruler for that country who would be loyal to Catherine the Great, they think it will be an easy job.<br />The Cantemir family consisted of Kesia and her twin daughters Lucine and Natasha. Both girls had been taught by their mothers to live as free spirits and basically do whatever felt good, but an unplanned pregnancy and the loss of a baby when Lucine was seventeen had sort of tempered her ways, but not Natasha, she basically is always looking for a good time. Alec known as a ladies man was immediately lusting after Natasha, and while Toma was warned by the empress not to become romantically involved,becomes drawn to Lucine, but keeps his feelings at bay until he feels that Lucine is being threatened by Vlad Van Valerik.<br />When Toma realizes is that Vlad and his entourage aren't what they seem, he knows he will do whatever it takes to save the woman he loves, no matter the cost.<br />I found this book to be very thought provoking, where the characters feelings are so real that you can feel the anguish that Toma felt as well as the evil emitting from Vlad. I really enjoyed how Mr. Dekker tied Vlad's history to the book of Genesis, I only wish he would have traced his history to Lilith instead of the Nephilim.<br />This isn't a clear cut christian novel but instead has so many more elements, it has that horror story element of blood drinking vampires, but it also reminds us of God's unconditional love for us, and how it took the blood of our Savior to save us all!<br /><br />An amazing read, that I won't soon forget.<br /><br />This is my first opportunity to read anything written by Mr. Dekker and I am now his newest fan!", "timestamp": 1284517251000, "title": "Not your typical vampire story!" }, { "asin": "0800733703", "rating": 5, "text": "Don't look Back by Lynette Eason was an edge of your seat thrill ride from beginning to end! A book filled with suspense, romance and a chilling storyline that grabs you and wont let go!<br /><br />Jamie Cash was the only person to survive the kidnapping and torture of the \"Hero\" a serial killer that she escaped from twelve years ago, with extensive therapy she is finally getting her life back on track, but when the \"Hero\" returns to finish the job he started, can FBI agent Dakota Richard protect her from this evil killer?<br /><br />I enjoyed seeing Jamie Cash's faith and trust in God even though she is facing circumstances that might test even the strongest faith, she instead finds solace in her faith giving her problems to God in prayer, actually I felt like it was her faith that kept her strong. Her character came off as very realistic, we saw true emotion from her such as anger and fear, feelings that I thought were perfectly normal for someone experiencing the horror she lived thru, and knowing she might wind up in the Hero's clutches again.<br /><br />FBI agent Dakota Richard is such a sweet guy, he really cared for Jamie, I loved watching their relationship blossom, and Jamie slowly finding comfort in him.He was determined to keep Jamie safe no matter what but could he really protect her?<br /><br />Even though this is the second story in the Women of Justice series it can easily be read as a stand alone work. So if your looking for a page turning drama with an evil killer who likes to get inside his victims heads, along with enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat, and read how someones faith can help them thru even the worst of times, with a sweet romance woven in, then you must read this book! But a word of warning once you start reading you wont be able to put this one down!<br /><br />Available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.\"<br /><br />Even though I was provided a review copy by Revell, thanks Donna, it in no way alters my opinion of this book!", "timestamp": 1287465039000, "title": "An on the edge of your seat story!!!" }, { "asin": "0307458997", "rating": 5, "text": "A lovely novella with a beautiful cover,a new to me author Donita K. Paul writes a charming story that will definitely put you in the holiday spirit.<br /><br />When Cora Crowder finds herself needing a book for an uncle's Christmas gift she heads into the Warner,Werner, Wizbotterdad book store. She has no idea that she will wind up on the receiving end of the stores matchmaking scheme to throw her and her boss Simon together.<br /><br />I loved this book, it had the right balance of romance, fantasy along with a great underlying spiritual message. The characters were fabulous, and I loved the cat.<br /><br />A delightful Christmas romance that will get you in the holiday spirit,and would be great read anytime of the year. I highly recommend this wonderful book!", "timestamp": 1287852118000, "title": "A Charming Story" }, { "asin": "0764208659", "rating": 3, "text": "I wasn't sure what to expect when this book first arrived for me to review. I had never heard of TobyMac before, I think he is popular among the younger audience, but I soon realized that each section in this book is named after a song that he released sometime earlier this year.<br /><br /> Each section consists of short stories, of how God has used people to change the world, some of the stories I had heard before and some were new to me. You will also find prayers and scriptures peppered through out this book that will further inspire and uplift you. Each section ends with a one minute remix and also a call to action prayer.<br /><br />This books resounding message is \"If we gotta start sometime, why not start now.\"If only we are willing to step out of our comfort zone and unite that we can make a difference and change the world.<br /><br />In the right hands this book could be life changing, I think it would be great especially for youth pastors, I think it would be useful in reaching the younger audience, with its hip look and the fact that TobyMac is someone that teens listen to. Overall I think anyone would enjoy reading these inspirational stories!<br /><br />Even though I was provided a copy of this book for review by Bethany House it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1288561993000, "title": "City On Our Knees" }, { "asin": "0800719255", "rating": 5, "text": "I must say that I am guilty of judging a book by its cover, when I saw the cover for Christmas at Harrington's I immediately felt like it was going to be an amazing Christmas story, on the cover you find yourself on a street of any small town in the USA, you have a smiling lady, dressed in a red coat peering into a store window with a display of a Christmas tree and toys snowflakes falling all around her, its just beautiful and depicts the holiday season perfectly.<br />In this story we are introduced to Lena Markham,its less than four weeks till Christmas and she has just been released from prison after serving and eight year sentence for a crime she didn't commit, she was set up by her husband to take the fall for something he did. She decides she wants a fresh start in a new town, so a social worker puts together a release package for her, finding a town to locate her to, setting her up with a place to live and a temporary job, and a bus trip to get her to get her there, while on the bus she meets an elderly lady, Moira who befriends her,telling Lena that she knows despite whatever happened in her past she is sure Lena is a good person. Once they get off the bus together in New Haven, MN she is introduced to Moira's son Sam, who is a lawyer. She soon realizes that the job that she anticipated isn't there, and the only job available is playing Mrs. Santa.<br />Can Lena find the new start in this town she hopes for, and can she keep her past a secret, and what about Sam, how does he play into all of this, you need to read this heartwarming story of second chances to find out!<br />While the story that unfolded inside the pages of this book wasn't exactly what I anticipated , it is exactly what the holiday season is all about, a perfect Christmas read filled with hope, inspiration and second chances.<br /><br />Even though I was provided a review copy of this book by Revell Publishing it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1289716420000, "title": "Christmas At Harrington's" }, { "asin": "1609360257", "rating": 4, "text": "World War II is just coming to an end but the war that is going on inside Esther Lange is unending!<br />She can't forgive herself for the night of passion she shared with Linus Hahn in the backseat of a borrowed car, they were both headed overseas to war, and it just happened. When that night turns into a daughter for them Esther is released from the Red Cross with no place to go. So she writes Linus, and his reply is for her to go to his hometown and stay with his parents, and that's what she has been doing for the last two years, living in their attic, raising her daughter and working at a hospital taking care of the war wounded.<br />Living with Linus' parents isn't easy, they are very hardened, feeling like she trapped their son. When she receives a letter indicating that Linus may have been killed in action, she isn't sure what to believe, but one thing she knows for sure is that she is relieved, she won't have to marry a man she doesn't love,and barely even knows. She really believes that she was no more than a one night stand for Linus as well, and it soon comes to light that Linus had a longstanding girlfriend who works in the same hospital as Esther,and she threatens to make Esther pay for stealing Linus away from her!<br />Since there has been no other information about Linus she starts corresponding with Peter Hess the medic who sent her the information about Linus. Soon they develop a friendship, and it starts to develop into something more, but when Peter's secret is exposed can they overcome it, and will Esther ever forgive herself for the mistake she made?<br />This was an amazing story, just when you thought things were working out the author throws a monkey wrench into it that take it in the opposite direction. The feelings are so strongly written in this book, that you are easily transported back to war time America. You can also feel the turmoil going on inside Esther, she judges herself so harshly for the mistake she made that night and is unwilling to see that she has already been forgiven by God, she just needs to accept it! Peter's story was one I kept thinking of long after I finished reading it, he was such a kind person, a victim of circumstances really, but he always kept his faith in God.The letters that passed between Peter and Esther were such a treat to read, I enjoyed seeing their friendship blossom.<br /><br />I found this book a real joy to read, the author does an amazing job of taking a work of fiction and weaving a bit of a history lesson in. While this was my first time reading anything from Susan May Warren, it certainly won't be my last!<br /><br />Even though I was provided a copy of this book by Litfuse it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1289881365000, "title": "Nightingale" }, { "asin": "0764207326", "rating": 4, "text": "Jackie Donovan is almost thirty. All she has ever wanted was to find a wonderful man to marry, and to purchase Bailey Place a B&B. She and her best friend Minnie visited it often when they were children, they both want to own it, but widower Minnie is working two jobs to support her son and Jackie works at a magazine writing articles about local business owners. When she meets the owner of Bailey House,Erikson Davis, she soon starts hoping her dreams might finally be coming true.<br /><br />While this story was a bit slow to start for me, once it picked up I became anxious to see how things would work out. The characters are very down to earth making them very easy to relate to, although I would say some of them were offbeat! I really enjoyed how Jackie's family was always trying to fix her up.<br />The author does an amazing job of describing the setting for this book, transporting you to the small town setting.<br />An added bonus are the wonderful sounding recipes included, which I definitely will be trying out!<br />If your in the mood for a sweet, but not sappy romance, with a little humor woven in, then give this book a try! For me not a great read, but overall I enjoyed the book and will be looking for more from this author..<br /><br />rating 3.5/5<br />Book provided by Bethany House for review.", "timestamp": 1295688005000, "title": "Hatteras Girl" }, { "asin": "0800732596", "rating": 5, "text": "Elise Stortsen, has some major changes happen. Her mom has landed a new job that moves Elise into a new school district, so instead of starting her junior year in her old school, where she wasn't very popular anyway, she will be going to Garfield High. She is just about to turn sixteen and having never been kissed hopes to change that by her birthday. When Asher, a popular boy in school starts showing an interest in Elise, she wonders if he might give her that first kiss.<br />Her first day of school goes great, Asher introduces her to the in-crowd, which includes Asher's girlfriend. So when Elise gets an email from Asher, she soon finds herself caught up in something that soon puts her reputation on the line, and jeopardizes her future, but it also makes her realize what is important, and in the process strengthens her faith in God!<br />I think this book is a must read for all teen girls. It deals with some pretty heavy subjects, but these are real life problems that are facing teens today.The character of Elise was very well written. She was very down to earth and easy to relate to. I totally understood the reactions of the characters in the story, and while Stacie did something wrong, she didn't do it with malicious intent, but there were still repercussions.<br />This book moved at a brisk pace and I felt the ending wrapped up the story nicely. There is a spiritual message woven throughout the book, but it isn't preachy or overwhelming.Whether your a teen or not, this book is well worth reading!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book for review, but it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1295814869000, "title": "A great read whether your a teen or not!" }, { "asin": "0800734564", "rating": 5, "text": "When U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor get a call that his next assignment will be to protect federal judge Elizabeth Michaels he is less than happy. His best friend Doug was married to her, and from the things Doug told him before his death, the marriage was very unhappy and it was Liz's fault. Doug said she was cold hearted and only her only focus was on her job. Can he put his feelings aside and do the assignment?<br />When Liz Michael's sister is shot in the back of the head, Liz believes her sisters abusive husband is to blame. Because she is a federal judge she needs to be protected by U.S. Marshals. When she realizes Jake will be the marshal assigned to keep her safe she wonders what her husband told him about her. As she and Jake spend time together one thing is for sure Jake is starting to realize that his opinion of Liz may be wrong. Did his friend Doug lie to him?<br />When it becomes evident that Liz may have been the shooters target, can Jake keep her safe, and figure out who is out to get her?<br />There is never a dull moment in this story! It grabs you from the first pages with the tragic shooting of Liz's sister, and how Liz's life is turned upside down while she is being protected from someone who may be out to kill her. Liz is very level headed, and almost always holds herself together but there are a few instances where that facade slips. Jake's character really stood out. He goes above and beyond where his job is concerned, and is devoted to his family.<br />A fantastic first book in Irene Hannon's new Guardians of Justice series. If this book is any indicator this series is going to be great!<br />Anyone who is a fan of light romance, mystery and suspense with a bit of a christian message woven in will enjoy this book.<br /><br />I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1296024023000, "title": "Fatal Judgement" }, { "asin": "0764206710", "rating": 3, "text": "Ruth Livingstone's life is turned upside down when her father is falsely accused of murdering a prostitute. Her father gives her the deceased woman's child and sends her to a small town to stay with a family he knows. That family thinks Ruth is a former prostitute, but they allow the town to believe she is a widow, with a small child. Her only solace is tending a once abandoned garden.<br /><br />Because of a mistake two years ago Asher \"Jake\" Tripp walked away from the \"Galaxy\", the newspaper he and his brother owned, the mistake he made almost caused the business to fail, but his brother Clifford had worked hard and the paper was once again thriving. Jake wants to return to the paper.Hoping to redeem himself in the eyes of his brother, he offers to take an assignment out of town, trying to track down Ruth Livingstone, who disappeared right before her fathers trial began. When he tracks Ruth to the town she is staying in, he takes residence as Jake Spenser, a handyman recovering from a broken back.<br /><br />Ruth and Jack both have plenty of secrets, but once they meet, and share time together, love slowly blooms, will their secrets keep the two apart, or will love be able to work everything out?<br /><br />For some reason I just didn't connect with this story, it actually took several weeks for me to read. I liked the historical aspect of the book, and while the storyline was ok, it just wasn't great. I couldn't really connect with any of the characters, I kept hoping we would get more of Ruth's back story, such as whether she left friends behind, or perhaps a boyfriend, she was in her twenties so she certainly must have had a life before she went into hiding with the child. This book was my first foray into reading anything written by Delia Parr, and while it didn't sweep me away, it wont dissuade me from reading more of her work.<br /><br />rating 2.5/5", "timestamp": 1296362439000, "title": "Love's First Bloom" }, { "asin": "0800734521", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Lady In The Mist\" takes place in 1809 in Seabourne VA. The protagonist Tabitha Eckles is a twenty-four year old midwife, the thing that makes Tabitha unusual is the fact that she isn't married. She learned her midwifery skills from her mother and grandmother, and once they died she continued to help her town , even though several people felt it wasn't right because she is unmarried. When a premature birthing results in the death of the mother and baby, she finds herself threatened at knife point, who could be threatening her? Could it have something to do with Dominick Cherrett a man she literally ran into on her way home after the birthing? Or does it have something to do with her job as a midwife?<br /><br />What a fascinating story! The author draws you into the story immediately. Tabitha's character is so easy to relate to. Her relationship with God has suffered because she feels that he has taken everyone that matters away from her, but she still has a tender-heart. Dominick was an interesting character as well, working as an indentured servant for the mayor, you know he has a few secrets. As he spends time with Tabitha, he soon loses his heart to her, something he didn't plan. I enjoyed the mystery and suspense woven into this historical romance. I also loved the cover of this book, it was very eye catching, so sometimes you can judge a book by its cover!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1297996914000, "title": "Lady In The Mist" }, { "asin": "143470212X", "rating": 5, "text": "Passport Through Darkness\" isn't your typical missionary workers story. Instead Kimberly Smith takes the reader on a journey around the world to Sudan and other war torn countries. She shares the atrocities that women and children face in these countries every day.<br /><br />Kimberly Smith was your average American woman, working in the corporate world, a wife, mother and a faithful church member, she was living a good life, but she felt as if something was missing, she longed to make her life matter. About that time her husband Milton started suggesting that they do something meaningful, something to make a difference in other peoples lives. One day as Milton browses thru a magazine in a waiting room he finds an article asking for missionaries to serve in Spain, ironically Milton had been a missionary in Spain back in the 80's, so with what I would consider a giant leap of faith, they were accepted by a missionary agency to work in Spain so they sold everything they had starting a new life journey in the missionary field. While in Spain the couple became aware of the plight of human trafficking, causing them to cofound Make Way Partners, which works to prevent human trafficking worldwide.<br /><br />I knew a bit of the plight in Sudan before reading this book, but this book brings it front and center, allowing you to see these victims as real people, while it is a hard to read the accounts that are shared in the story, it is a message that needs to be spread.<br /><br />Thanks to B&B Media for providing me a copy of this book for review.", "timestamp": 1299121982000, "title": "Passport Through Darkness" }, { "asin": "0764208500", "rating": 2, "text": "It has taken me forever to finish this book, I started reading it back in November and found myself putting it down for extended periods because it was a story that really didn't inspire me, I couldn't become interested in the characters, and just couldn't relate to the story.<br /><br />The protagonist in this story is an almost thirty year old who aspires to be a writer even quitting her job to return to school to get her masters degree. Because no one is buying her story, she gets numerous rejections, she is working part time as an English professor to pay the bills. Her roommate Zoe, seems to have no problem getting her story published in a magazine that has rejected Amy's.While Amy's character is overall a good person, she is constantly struggling with self doubt, feeling like things aren't working out the way she planned.<br /><br />While I didn't connect with the story,I wouldn't hesitate to read something else by Bethany Pierce. Her writing wasn't the problem, it was just that the book didn't click for me.<br /><br />Book provided by Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1299643226000, "title": "This book didn't inspire me" }, { "asin": "1854249746", "rating": 4, "text": "I must admit I am a huge fan of historical fiction especially mysteries and intrigue, but \"A Trail Of Ink\" by Mel Starr was my first foray into the midieval time period. I wasn't sure how I would like the time period but I actually loved it!<br /><br />This story is set in the town of Oxford England, where Hugh de Singleton is trying to solve the mystery of his friend John Wyclif's stolen books. Twenty-two books in all have been taken, and two of them are borrowed books from a friend of John's. The books were stolen right out of Master Wyclif's room while he was out to supper. Hugh is also interested in Kate Caxton, a stationer's daughter. So Hugh jumps into solving the mystery as he also tries to to win Kate's favor.<br /><br />While this story was a bit hard for me to get into in the beginning, it soon took off transporting me back to medieval England. The author rolls together mystery, suspense, and murder together to make the story a satisfying read. I did find myself turning to the glossary provided in the front of the book because of some of the words used during the time period. \"A Trail Of Ink\" is the third book in the chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon series, but can easily be read as a stand alone work, although I do wish I had read the first two books in the seriesThe ending provides a teaser for the next book in the series titled \"Unhallowed Ground\", which I look forward to reading.<br /><br />Book provided by Litfuse and the publisher for review.", "timestamp": 1299798789000, "title": "A Trail Of Ink" }, { "asin": "0800734076", "rating": 5, "text": "I can count on one hand the Biblical fiction novels that I have read, but I am really starting to like this genre. While the stories are works of fiction, the reader learns alot about the characters that the author is writing about. Realizing that \"Love Amid The Ashes\" was the story about Job and Dinah I found myself thinking about their stories in the Bible, while Job's story was one that I was pretty familiar with, a man who suffers many trials and tribulations but never waivers in his faith in God. Dinah on the other hand was someone I never thought alot about, I remember her story, as the daughter of Jacob and Leah, she was defiled by Shechem, who was later killed by her brothers. For me I never really thought about how Dinah's life might have been altered by the act.<br />I found this book something I really enjoyed reading. The author provides the reader with a genealogical chart at the beginning of the story, that helps keep the many characters straight. I liked the way that she opens each chapter with a Bible verse allowing me to relate the chapters to the verses. The author allows us to see these biblical characters with heart and feelings by drawing us into their stories. This debut novel will certainly be a hit for anyone who enjoys biblical fiction, but its also a good story for anyone who likes a compelling faith filled story.<br /><br />Available March 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.", "timestamp": 1301199627000, "title": "Love Amid The Ashes" }, { "asin": "1414339429", "rating": 5, "text": "When I picked up \"Journey To Riverbend\" I thought that it was probably going to be another historical fiction romance novel, but boy was I wrong. While there is a bit of romance between a few of the characters the author really gives us a true western novel filled with a hanging, an attempted stagecoach robbery, a kidnapping, a shootout and a posse searching for kidnappers. He rolls this together with a story about regrets and forgiveness, and faith in God.<br /><br />While Michael Archer couldn't save Ben Carstairs from being hanged for a crime he didn't commit, he is determined to try and fulfill Ben's dying wish, which was to make amends with his father Sam, to tell him that he forgave him for the way he treated him and return his mothers necklace.<br /><br />Michael makes the journey to Riverbend to deliver Ben's message to Sam but finds that Sam is out of town for business and will be gone for a few days. Michael decides to hang around until he returns, and he soon learns that Sam Carstairs is a ruthless man who has no use for God and uses people to get what he wants.While staying in Riverbend Michael meets Rachel Stone a young lady who has found refuge with the local preacher and his family. They feel drawn to each other but because of issues that haunt them from their past they are unsure that they are ready for a relationship, but that doesn't stop Michael from thinking about a future that might include a move to Riverbend.<br />Sam Carstairs has wronged several people in his past, doing whatever he could to obtain more wealth but when he is kidnapped the town doesn't hesitate to form a posse to try and find him. Michael decides to ride along hoping that he can help, will they find Sam before its to late?<br />What an interesting story, the characters in the story are well fleshed out. Rachel and Michael each have issues from their past that continue to dog them. Rachel is making great strides toward her future even though some of the townspeople won't let her forget her past. Michael was a strong caring compassionate character who was also dealing with demons from his past. While I really didn't like the character of Sam Carstairs by the end of the story I felt sorry for him. The ending of the story leaves me hoping that Mr. McLaughlin will write a sequel for this story!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1301205637000, "title": "I hope the author is writing a sequel for this one!" }, { "asin": "1595548017", "rating": 5, "text": "Abigail Jones works for her mothers magazine called the Viewpoint. Because of the stress of her job her mother encourages her to take some time off and go to Montana and check on her aunt Lucy. When she arrives Lucy is fine, but Wade, the cowboy who owns the ranch where Lucy lives needs a nanny for his daughter, and Abigail takes the job. Abigail knows Wade is hiding something and thinks it just might be a story that could save her mothers magazine. Of course feelings develop between Wade and Abigail, will she choose to go forward with the story which will expose Wade, or will she decide to protect the relationship that is blooming between them?<br /><br />Wow! The word for this one is fantastic. This is one of those stories that I just couldn't put down. The author weaves romance, a bit of mystery, and a nice christian message together to produce a story that begs to be read. Oh did I mention the hunky cowboy. The chemistry between the main characters was static, it just jumps off the page at you.<br />The imagery that the author paints with her words make you feel as if your right in the middle of Montana, how could you not love a place called Moose Creek! Readers of christian romance will surely enjoy this one, but this book would also appeal to fans of romance with a western setting.<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1303268262000, "title": "A Cowboy's Touch" }, { "asin": "0781403790", "rating": 5, "text": "While these books are reprints of books that were orginally printed back in the 1974, I somehow missed them growing up, but I am so glad that I had the chance to read them now. I consider them timeless classics that will certainly appeal to many, and should be on every little girls bookshelf. While the stories that grandma shares with her grand daughter are fun to read they are also educational, and provide the reader with little life lessons. The illustrations peppered throughout the book are cute and will capture the imagination of the young reader.<br /><br />These books would make a perfect gift for young readers, but I think anyone who likes to reminisce about the \"Good Old Days\" will certainly enjoy these books.<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of these books by B&B Media in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1303788390000, "title": "Perfect stories for young and old alike" }, { "asin": "1595547851", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Fairer Than Morning\" is a historical fiction novel set in the 1820's in Rushville Ohio and Pittsburgh PA.Ann Miller's boyfriend has just proposed to her. Eli Bowen is nineteen but Ann is only fifteen. She turns him down because she knows her father would never allow her to marry before she turns eighteen, because it is what her mother would have wished.Ann was only nine when her mother died, leaving Ann to become the mother figure for her two younger sisters Mabel and Susan. Her father is a saddler and also a circuit preacher which leaves Ann to be the caretaker of the children quite often. When Ann's father needs to attend business in Pittsburgh he allows the girls to go along. Where she meets Will, someone that she can't quit thinking about.<br /><br />Will Hanby signs up for five years of indentured service to Jacob Good so that he can learn to be a saddler. But Mr. Good is a cruel man who thinks nothing of abusing Will. When the abuse becomes to much Will makes a drastic decision that has him running to the Miller farm for refuge.<br />While this story is a historical fiction, it is actually based on real people, which had me anxious to read this story. The story drew me in from the first pages when a young girl at fifteen is being proposed to. The author easily draws you into the lives of the characters in the story, making you feel as if you are right there with them. Parts of this story were hard to read, the abuse that Will and the other slaves suffered was really heart wrenching.<br />This is the first book in The Saddler's Legacy Series, and I for one will be looking for the next book titled \"Sweeter Than Birdsong\" due out in Feb 2012.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1304306070000, "title": "Great new series" }, { "asin": "0800733711", "rating": 5, "text": "When Detectives Noah Lambert and Kit Kenyon are assigned to the murder case of Walter Davis a twenty nine year old man who was getting ready to graduate from Wofford Law College, there pretty sure it isn't a random killing and when the second body shows up, a young lady who attended the same college the pair realizes that there is a serial killer on the loose. As they try and find the killer, the killer has his own plans which includes one of the detectives. Will the pair be able to figure out who the killer is before its to late?<br /><br />This book takes off like a house on fire, with unstoppable twists and turns to keep you flipping the pages to figure out who the killer is, and for while I thought I knew who the killer might be, I really wasn't sure until the end of the story.<br />The characters in this novel are easy to connect with, Kit and Noah both have issues from their past, and Kit has let those issues keep her from God, but not so with Noah, he has a wonderful relationship with God. The relationship that develops between Noah and Kit was nice, and added to the story.<br /><br />While this book is the third book in the Women Of Justice series it can easily be read as a stand alone work because the author gives sufficient background so that you don't feel lost. If your a fan suspense/mystery novels that will keep you on the edge of your seat, that also weaves in a bit of inspiration and romance as well then you should certainly pick up this book, but I would suggest that you read the entire series, because the books are just that good!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1306640184000, "title": "A Killer Among Us" }, { "asin": "1595549242", "rating": 4, "text": "Spring For Susannah is set in the 1800's shortly after the civil war, but before the west was tame, when the Dakota's were still just a territory.<br />Susannah Underhill really felt as if she didn't have a choice, when she decides to become a mail order bride for her pastor's brother. She had been living a very comfortable life in Michigan until her parents die. When someone shows up at her home telling her that her father owed alot of money to the bank and even attacks her, the only thing for her to do is to become a mail order bride for her pastor's brother Jessie.<br />When she arrives at Fourth Siding in the Dakota territory, she meets her husband Jessie,a non-stop talker, totally opposite from Susannah. As she learns about Jessie she realizes what a kind considerate man he is, but can she let go of her insecurities and allow love to bloom?<br /><br />As a fan of historical fiction I found the book quite enjoyable.It was nice to see the character of Susannah grow from a timid person into someone that could take care of herself, and also find her way back to God. I felt like the secondary characters were well rounded and added to the story. I am always a sucker for dogs in a story and Jake was great. The author also adds a bit of humor to the story which worked well. The one negative to the story was the rushed ending. All in all a good debut novel from Catherine Richmond.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1306778746000, "title": "Nice debut novel" }, { "asin": "1595548114", "rating": 5, "text": "\"A Vision Of Lucy,\" is set in Rocky Creek Texas during 1882. The plot revolves around Lucy Fairbanks, a young lady who dreams of being a photographer but her father isn't crazy about the idea. She has badgered the owner of the newspaper and is finally told if she can get a shot of the elusive white mustang then her photos will be put in the paper, but its not easy getting a picture of a wild mustang so she shimmies up a tree and plans on waiting but when she falls out landing on top of a stagecoach about to be robbed, well its easy to see that she doesn't always have the best of luck.So she figures if she can get a picture of the town recluse David Wolf, also known as the Wild Man she still might have a shot at her newspaper job, but when she meets him feelings start to develop. Neither are really looking for love, but sometimes God has other plans!<br /><br />What a fun book this was. Lucy was always finding herself in such precarious spots, and if I might say so she was a bit clumsy. The author does a fantastic job of painting such vivid pictures of the situations she was in that I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. I love reading historical fiction where you feel as if you learn a bit while you read and in this story I felt like I learned a bit about early photography, which was quite interesting. This book is the third book in the Rocky Creek Romance series but can easily be read as a stand alone work. Fans of quick paced historical fiction with a nice inspirational message will certainly devour this one. Margaret Brownley is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1307659325000, "title": "A Vision Of Lucy" }, { "asin": "082543310X", "rating": 5, "text": "Whenever I read a historical fiction story that is based on true events I always love the fact that I am learning a bit about history that perhaps I might never really know alot about otherwise. With How Huge The Night the authors do an amazing job of weaving together fact and fiction, to transport us back to the days of WWII, seeing the events of the time thru the eyes of two teenagers Nina and Julian, while I knew at some point their stories would meld I wasn't sure how they would connect.<br /><br />The characters in this story are completely believable and it is very easy to imagine the things that they are going thru. Julian is your typical teenager, he isn't a man but neither is he really a boy. He isn't really happy that his family left their home in Paris to move to the farm in southern France with his grandfather, he is dealing with issues such as trying to fit in at school, not to mention trying to get along with Benjamin the Jewish boy who has also moved in with his grandfather.<br />As Nina's father is lying on his deathbed he makes Nina promise that she will take her brother and leave Austria.For me their parts of their story was heart wrenching, and I found myself praying that they would be all right.<br /><br />I found this to be a compelling story that has many lessons woven in. A coming of age story during a difficult time period where the characters display great courage faith and hope. While this book is geared toward young adults I would easily recommend it to older adults as well.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1308955795000, "title": "Compelling historical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800734653", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become a fan of Biblical fiction, and when one latches onto my imagination and allows me to see Biblical characters in a whole new way while staying true to what the Bible says then its a winner in my book. When I started reading the book of \"Martha,\" I kept thinking to myself Martha who, but once her brother Lazerus is mentioned, it started to fall into place for me, because who doesn't know the story of Lazerus being raised from the dead.<br /><br /> As the story unfolds Martha becomes a very real character with feelings and longings just like any other young lady. While she longs to marry, how could it ever happen, she stepped into the role of caretaker of her family when her mother died and took that responsibility very seriously, but that doesn't stop her from wishing for a husband and children of her own. I had hoped the relationship with Thaddeus would work out but it wasn't meant to be. Some of the most exciting parts of the story were when Jesus stayed with Martha and her family.<br />If you are like me and are unsure who Martha was once you read this book you will never forget her.I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, and if you have never read Biblical fiction then this quick read is the perfect book to introduce you to this exciting genre.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1309579648000, "title": "Martha" }, { "asin": "0800734238", "rating": 5, "text": "In \"Blue Skies Tomorrow\" the author weaves together a compelling story that transports the reader back to WWII, with characters that easily draw us in, allowing us to share in their strengths and struggles making their stories come to life.<br />Helen Carlisle's is supposed to be the grieving widow when her husband dies a war hero. She puts on a good face, but its becoming harder to do because she is carrying a secret about her husband and their marriage, which was far from happy, but she is determined to hide the truth.<br />Lt.Ray Novak grapples with feeling like a coward. His job is to train pilots to fly missions, but he has never been in combat himself. When the Army Air Forces decides to start using the returning combat pilots as instructors Ray finds himself transferred back home as a supply officer where he reconnects with his friend, recently widowed Helen Carlisle. Can the two find happiness together?<br />Helen was someone who was certainly scarred by her past.While the shame wasn't hers she carried it anyway.Helen's story caused my heart to ache for her, but the ending certainly was great! It was inspirational to see her character grow and change through out the story. I thought that Ray's character was wonderful, his love of God really shined through. If you enjoy historical fiction set during WWII with romance, drama and a wonderful inspirational message your going to enjoy this one. A great conclusion to a fantastic series. I can't wait to read more from this talented author!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.", "timestamp": 1314504547000, "title": "Historical fiction at its best" }, { "asin": "0764208055", "rating": 4, "text": "I love historical novels, and if they are set in the west then that's just an added bonus.In this one Yvonne Harris transports us back in time to August 1886 in El Paso Texas. Elizabeth Evans moves to Texas from Washington to look after her brother Lloyd and his daughter Ruthie after the death of his wife and newborn son, and in return he will teach her the newspaper business,but instead her brother is shot dead and Elizabeth is kidnapped by Mexican outlaws. When Jake Nelson, a Texas Ranger learns of the shooting and kidnapping he sets out to rescue Elizabeth.When he finds her there is an immediate attraction,but could a relationship ever work between the two?<br /><br />With plenty of page turning action from the beginning, this book is certainly a quick read.I enjoyed learning a bit about the Texas Rangers,and the time period in general, while reading a sweet romance. I liked main characters in this book. Both were dealing with issues from their past that caused them to guard their hearts. Jake's heart was broken by his fiance, and the death of Elizabeth's husband Carl, who was killed in the line of duty in the Army, caused her to fear getting involved with someone who might put their job first.<br /><br />I think anyone who enjoys a good historical fiction western,with romance and plenty of action will certainly enjoy this fast paced read, I know I did.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1315725865000, "title": "A River To Cross" }, { "asin": "0764205978", "rating": 5, "text": "This was a different sort of read for me. I don't ever remember reading a story about smoke jumpers, and actually I am not sure I knew what a smoke jumper was before reading this story. I knew there were firefighters who go in and fight the major forest fires, but I honestly didn't realize there were men who are dropped in to fight the fires by cutting down trees etc. So not only did I get an action packed story but I also learned something new which is always a bonus.<br />The main characters in this one are Silas Kent a smoke jumper and Elle Westmore a pilot who drops smoke jumpers into the heart of a fire. Silas and Elle have a history together, but parted ways. Their paths cross again when when she takes an assignment to fly a smoke jumping crew out of Redding, CA to the Desolation Complex in the Sierra Nevada's to battle a raging fire. Soon though they realize there is more going on in those mountains than just the fires, there is cache of gold and some of the men on the smoke jumping crew is on a mission to recover it!<br />What a fast paced read. Elle was someone who had alot on her plate. She has the responsibility of taking care of her five year old daughter Maddie, while doing a very demanding job. I thought the little twist about her short marriage to Maddie's father was quite interesting. Silas seemed to have grown quite a bit from being someone who ran from a serious relationship to wanting to take care of Elle.I really got hooked on the characters from the beginning pages and became anxious to see how things would work out.<br /> There is plenty of page turning action, with romance, suspense mystery and drama woven together with a christian message woven in to keep you reading until the final page.<br />While this is the first time I have ever read anything by Shawn Grady, it certainly wont be my last. I really enjoyed his writing style, his vivid descriptions and suspense filled story makes this book a real winner!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1315790719000, "title": "entertaining and educational" }, { "asin": "0800719956", "rating": 5, "text": "I have read a few of Suzanne Woods Fisher's stories set in Lancaster County, so I was anxious to read a Christmas story set in the area. It's the story of two families, an Amish family, The Riehl's and an English family the Fitzpatricks. Each family is struggling with major life issues and need a bit of reminding as to what is important in life.<br /><br />Mattie, Sol, and Danny Riehl have made a trip to the doctors office for a follow up because Mattie suffered a miscarriage a few weeks ago. While they have six year old Danny, Mattie has always dreamed of having a houseful of children but struggles with infertility. The situation has stolen Mattie's joy making her question why others can so easily have children but she can't. Jaime and C.J. Fitzpatrick have issues of their own. C.J. is a teacher, but also works with his dog Tucker as a search and rescue team. His marriage to his wife Jaime seems to be slowly raveling apart and he isn't sure what to do to fix it. Jaime's father left when she was young, and when he recently dropped back into her life, she became frantic to have his acceptance, add to this the fact that she lost her mother six months ago to a freak accident and suspicions that her husband is having an affair. She won't talk to C.J. and he is unsure how to reach her. When the couple runs an errand to the Riehl farm, they become stranded. Did God bring these two families together to help each other?<br /><br />I loved this story, I read it in about an hour and was anxious to see how things would turn out. The plot moved along well, and wasn't predictable like many of the Christmas stories I read. The characters are very realistic with the issues they are dealing with. I read alot of Amish stories and often the Amish seem a bit condescending where the English are concerned but not so in this story. The Riehl's were very open and accepting of the Fitzpatrick's, and not only that we see Mattie really struggle with the issues she is facing.I thought the story line with Mattie's cousin Zach really added to the main story, and Danny was such an inquisitive child. I love when an author adds a dog to the story, and Tucker and C.J.'s job as a SAR team was interesting and I enjoyed learning a bit about it.<br />If your looking for an inspirational Christmas story set in Amish country give this one a try, for me the only complaint I had was seeing it end.", "timestamp": 1316916196000, "title": "A Lancaster County Christmas" }, { "asin": "0446570869", "rating": 5, "text": "Susan Lambert is in the city of Prague because her beloved grandmothers funeral is being held there. Raised by her grandmother since the age of twelve when her parents were killed in a car accident, an accident that Susan had a feeling about, and that's the thing, Susan had always had a feeling of discernment. The ability to sense when something wasn't right and that was a feeling she got when she decided to visit St. Vitus Cathedral. Even though she was alone in the Cathedral she felt as if someone was there with her, and even glimpsed what she thought was a man. She sees the same man a few more times, and when her cousin Wendy decides to go partying with a stranger that oozes evil, she feels compelled to find her cousin and get her away from this man.The man that Susan glimpsed in the Cathedral,(Raphael) approaches Susan and offers to help her find Wendy, but in return he tells Susan he will need her help. Susan is soon introduced to things she would have never imagined, and learns that vampires do exist and Raphael is a vampire set to fight a war against an evil vampire who wants to rule the world.<br /><br />I love vampire fiction and I was quite excited to read a vampire tale that was woven into christian fiction. I enjoyed getting to know the characters especially Raphael. Thru flashbacks we learn why he was cursed to be a vampire. The way the author explains why some people become vampires was quite different from most vampire tales. Her take was that some people are so inherently evil that they are cursed as vampires thus living longer in the hopes that they will eventually learn their mistakes and accept God, which was something that Raphael was still struggling with even after 900 years. While Raphael is a vampire it was easy to sense a goodness in him, although when Susan's life was in jeopardy we certainly saw his dark side.The forbidden feel of the attraction between Susan and Raphael kept me turning the pages to see if a romance would develop.The secondary character of David added to the story for me, a reluctant hero, who was only in Prague for three months on a job assignment staying in the same hotel as Wendy and Susan, when he hears on of the women cry out he tries to help them and learns the hard way that vampires exist and soon finds himself being trained as a vampire slayer. The relationship between David and Wendy was sweet.<br />I really hated to see this book end, and left me wanting to read a sequel. I really can't wait to see how the relationship between Raphael and Susan goes. A vampire tale woven together with a christian theme, and a fight of good versus evil, the perfect October read! On a scale of one to five I would easily give this one a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1317783522000, "title": "In a word FANGTASTIC" }, { "asin": "0800733460", "rating": 5, "text": "Having enjoyed the first book in Janice Thompson's Backstage Pass series I was anxious to read this one. I must say I think this book just might be better than the first one, with returning characters from the first book as well as a few new ones, I found this book to be laugh out loud funny.<br />Athena Pappas has a pretty full life with her family and friends and even though the ratings have lagged a bit she still feels pretty secure in her job as head writer for the popular sit com Stars Collide. But when the producers decide to hire a comedian, Stephen Cosse to help bolster the ratings she suddenly wonders what will happen if he is a better writer, will her job be in jeopardy? When she meets him she feels an attraction, and soon not only is Stephen worming his way into her heart but so has his eleven year old daughter Brooke.Will they figure out that some of the best things in life don't follow a script, or will they guard their hearts against love?<br /><br />This was a sweet, funny story. It was easy to imagine the Athena's Greek family. I could easily understand why Stephen's daughter Brooke was drawn to the Pappas family, they are so warm and welcoming. I always love when a dog is included in a story and the introduction of Zeus, the Greek Domestic Dog was totally funny! It was great to see how Brooke and Zeus connected. The Greek food mentioned in this story really had my mouth watering, it sounded delicious!<br />If you enjoy reading contemporary christian romance with a great flare for humor then you certainly need to read this book, and while it is the second book in the series I feel like it could be read as a stand alone work, although I highly recommend reading the first book in the series as well.<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review*", "timestamp": 1318129897000, "title": "Laugh out loud funny" }, { "asin": "0764209418", "rating": 5, "text": "I became hooked on Patti Lacy's work after reading \"The Rhythm of Secrets\" and couldn't wait to read this book. Well all I can say it was worth the wait!<br />The authors writing style is captivating. Gloria Powell had always wanted a child, so after jumping thru hoops and cutting thru red tape she and her husband Andrew believe there is a baby waiting for them in China so they make the trip from Texas. When they arrive though the promised baby isn't there instead the child is a young girl, but Gloria isn't thwarted instead she knows its the child God intended for them to have. They take her home to Texas and rename her Joy, because she is the joy of their life. although she does become a bit rebellious in her teen years. Turns out Joy is actually Lily and Lily has a sister Kai who made a death bed promise to her mother in China to reclaim the sister that had been at the orphanage. Kai now works in the states and becomes determined to find her sister to not only full fill the wish she made to her mother, but also because there may be a genetic issue that could possibly affect Lily. What happens when Kai finds her sister, how will it affect Lily(Joy) and her adoptive family?<br /><br />This story was touching and inspiring. The author deals with foreign adoption a topic I haven't read a lot about,so it was a bit educational for me. She also touches on the topic of teen rebellion,where the teen is trying to figure out where she fits in the world to weave a rich story that had plenty of twists and turns and an ending that was quite satisfying. While Gloria smothered her daughter, I really could understand her motivations, Andrew seemed solid and really was understanding of all parties much like a pastor might be.I really couldn't help but think about Lily's biological mother.Each of the characters seemed so realistic I often forgot that I was reading a work of fiction.<br />If you enjoy a story filled with drama, suspense and family ties with a positive christian message woven in then your going to enjoy \"Reclaiming Lily.\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review purposes.", "timestamp": 1318178186000, "title": "Reclaiming Lily" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 5, "text": "Camden Bristow is feeling the effects of the economy. She is a free-lance photographer living in New York who finds herself without any job prospects or money. Being kicked out of her apartment with less than five hundred dollars left on her credit card she decides to return to the home where she spent many happy summers with her grandmother Rosalie even though its been years since she has spoken to her grandmother, but when she arrives in the tiny town of Etherton Ohio what she finds at the family mansion called Crescent Hill is that her grandmother has passed away and the mansion is falling into disrepair. Having no place else to go she stays at the family home anyway and quickly finds herself wondering if someone else isn't in the house. Camden has never believed in the rumors that ghosts haunt the mansion and when a few things start disappearing she is pretty sure someone is getting into the house, but how? Could it be true that there are underground tunnels that date back to slave days, and could Crescent Hill actually have been a stop on the Underground Railroad?<br /><br />I really enjoyed the historical aspect of this story as well as the mystery and intrigue that surrounded the history of the Bristow family.While Camden was the primary story I loved the secondary stories that went on and how they all came together at the end. The characters were very easy to connect with, especially Camden. Crescent Hill was the only place where she ever felt like she belonged. It was nice to see her grow and watch her priorities change as the book progressed. I also felt empathy for Alex, as he continued to carry the blame for not doing enough to save his sister and nephew. I thought the christian themes woven into the story was well done, especially the message of helping others. I also got a few laughs from reading about the antics of the Sprague children especially Hailey, that little girl had a wonderful imagination.<br />Overall if your looking for a contemporary story that is firmly rooted in the historical era of the underground railroad, that weaves mystery, suspense, a bit of romance with a nice inspirational story then your certainly in for a treat with this story. Recommended!<br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1319509649000, "title": "Refuge On Crescent Hill" }, { "asin": "0310330432", "rating": 4, "text": "A cozy mystery that involves Amish characters and a quilt shop, I just knew I was going to enjoy this book and boy was I right.<br />Callie Harper finds herself in Shipshewana after inheriting Daisy's Quilt Shop from her recently deceased aunt. She thinks she will just go for a few weeks and clear out her aunts things and sell the shop, but things don't go according to plan. When Deborah Yoder shows up at the shop with an armload of quilts, Callie learns that her aunt had an agreement with Deborah and two other Amish ladies to sell their quilts. Deborah soon convinces Callie that she should reopen the shop and take the quilts on consignment. When Callie decides to try her hand at auctioning the quilts on Ebay the Amish quilt makers quickly agree, but when Mr. Stakehorn the editor of the local paper writes a story suggesting that Callie might be taking advantage of the Amish quilting group Callie becomes furious and wants a retraction. When several people see Callie arguing with Mr. Stakehorn hours before he is found dead, Callie becomes a prime suspect. Deborah is certain her new friend could never commit murder, and when several other things start to happen in town the two put their heads together to try and figure out who the murderer might be.<br />This was a fast paced who-dun-it that really gave us several suspects. I liked how the story unfolded allowing the reader to see the friendship between Deborah and Callie grow. Callie was a character that was totally easy to relate to, I thought that it was interesting that snippets of her life was revealed in her aunts old journal. Callie was grieving not only for her aunt but for the loss of another loved one from a few years back. I thought the author allowed her to grow through out the story, it felt like she had finally found a place to call home. Deborah was different than most of the Amish characters that I read about, her husband seemed to allow her more freedom. She really looked out for her friends, and she and Callie really made a great investigative team. I always get excited when the author writes a dog into the story and in this one we had Max, a golden that Callie had inherited from her aunt Daisy. He was a comfort to Callie and turned out to be a hero.<br />This was one of those stories that when I started it I just couldn't put it down. The author's words really brought the scenes to life and there were several scenes that while tense also had humor woven in. There were plenty of twists and turns that made this a page turner for me, while I was a bit disappointed with the ending, overall I found it a great read and look forward to reading the next book in this series!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1320721019000, "title": "Anxious to read the next book in the series" }, { "asin": "1414348118", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Princess Stories\" allows young girls to learn about God's princesses in the Bible. Upon reading this book they will learn all about twenty-nine of the most prominent women of the Bible in a way that will surely capture their imagination and attention, and not only that the thirtieth story is about the reader,encouraging and reminding them that they are God's princess as well.<br />Each story starts out with a scripture verse and then gives the reader a short story about a woman in the Bible. Another Bible verse follows the story and then there are Princess Ponderings which consists of three questions for your princess to answer.The cover of this book, as well as the illustrations inside will certainly capture a youngsters eye. What a wonderful way to teach a daughter or grand-daughter about the women of the Bible. Because of the quality of this book, it would make a wonderful gift.<br />rating 5/5<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327284862000, "title": "What a wonderful way to teach young girls about the women of the Bible" }, { "asin": "0857210580", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the fourth installment of the Hugh de Singleton series and Hugh and Kate have been married for about three months when Thomas atte Bridge is found hanging from a tree. While the coroner wants to call it a suicide, the evidence points to foul play. Even though atte Bridge has had run ins with most of the townsfolk and is disliked by all Hugh is determined to figure out who the murderer is.<br />This book takes place in 1366 in England, and it's easy to see the author does an amazing job of researching the time period. Not only am I intrigued by the suspense and mystery of the story but I also enjoy reading about the medical procedures that took place during that time period, as well as medieval life in general. The food in particular that Hugh ate sounded quite different. I found the glossary included in the front of the book quite useful in understanding what was being said. I also enjoy the relationship between Hugh and Kate and look forward to reading more about these two characters.<br />This book is the fourth in the series and while the author provides a bit of background about the characters ,I recommend reading the series in order to get the in depth background on the reoccurring characters.<br /><br />rating 4/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327367469000, "title": "Great continuing series" }, { "asin": "0800720741", "rating": 4, "text": "This book is the first in a new series and if it is any indicator the series is going to be a must read for lovers of historical fiction!<br /><br />\"Where Wildflowers Bloom\" is set in the tiny town of Noble Springs Missouri. The civil war took Faith Lindberg's father, brother as well as Royal Baxter the man she promised her heart to before the war. Faith would like nothing better than to leave the memories of lost love ones behind and start over somewhere else, but her grandfather isn't so keen on leaving Noble Springs.Faith is surprised when Royal comes back to town, because she thought he was killed during the war. When Royal and Faith start courting, Faith's grandfather is less than pleased because he had hoped that Faith might develop feelings for Curt Saxon the young man who runs the livery and who has been helping Faith. Will Faith decide to stay in Noble Springs? Who will she choose?<br />I really enjoyed reading this book which allows us the flavor of the civil war because it takes place shortly after. The authors storytelling really pulled me in, with the richness of detail for the time period. The characters really came to life as well. I could easily understand why Faith wanted to leave Noble Springs. It was interesting to watch her character change and grow through out<br />the story. I also enjoyed Rosemary, who was a very good friend. I really enjoyed reading about the mercantile and all of the different goods that was stocked.<br />I think anyone who enjoys a very well written historical fiction with well drawn characters a fast moving plot with a sweet romance will certainly enjoy this story. I for one am anxious for the next book in the \"Sisters at Heart\" series.<br /><br />A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327813304000, "title": "Where Wildflowers Bloom" }, { "asin": "0800734599", "rating": 5, "text": "If your a fan of historical fiction where there is always plenty going on then your in for a real treat with \"Summer Of Promise\" by Amanda Cabot!<br /><br />This book draws the reader back in time to the summer of 1885. Abigail Harding's life was pretty well planned out, she lives in Vermont teaches school and plans to marry her beau.Letters from her sister Charlotte has her worried though so she decides to take a trip to Wyoming and spend the summer with her sister. Before she ever arrives a fellow passenger Lt. Ethan Bowles, saves her stagecoach from being robbed. Will she only spend the summer or does fate have something else in store for Abigail?<br />This is the first book in the exciting new historical fiction series \"Westward Winds.\" Abigail was such a wonderful character, she was a very brave ,level headed person, and from the beginning my heart wanted her and Ethan together.<br />While many historical romances are pretty predictable, not so with this book, the author provides a few twists and turns that really held my attention. While the ending was satisfying there were a few loose ends which leaves me anxious for the next book in the series!<br /><br />Amanda Cabot is an author who really knows how to bring historical fiction to life, with easy to relate to characters and a story line that grabbed my attention from the first page and kept me intrigued until the final sentence!<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*", "timestamp": 1328416370000, "title": "Great new historical fiction series" }, { "asin": "1595549153", "rating": 4, "text": "Lucy Marsh finds herself in dire straits and has to accept an offer to marry a man she doesn't know just to take care of her brother and sister. Thing is her parents are dead, she is out of money with no job and not sure what to do when she gets an offer she can't refuse, it's the offer to marry a man sight unseen. Nate Stanton, runs a ranch and has always hoped for a wife but the responsibilities of the ranch has given him little time to find one, so when his father arranges the marriage between him and Lucy and they are married by proxy things on the ranch will certainly never be the same. She shows up with her siblings and Nate wonders how long she will last on the ranch. How will things work out between these two?<br /><br />I really enjoyed the characters in this story. Lucy really had alot of responsibilities, but was really a very brave person. She married someone sight unseen to protect her brother and sister. While a marriage of convenience is a pretty common plot the thing that made this one different was that Nate didn't know that he was married until Lucy showed up on his doorstep. His first impressions seemed perfectly normal. I thought it was quite nice to see the relationship slowly bloom, and watch his opinion of Lucy change. I think anyone who enjoys historical fiction where there is a sweet romance, a nice inspirational message as well as a bit of mystery woven in will certainly enjoy this story.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1329360734000, "title": "enjoyable historical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800720075", "rating": 5, "text": "If your looking for a story filled with non stop action packed suspense then look no further than \"When The Smoke Clears\" the first book in the Deadly Reunions series! If this book is any indicator of what the series is going to be like I would say it is going to be one not to be missed!<br /><br />Alexia Allen is a firefighter, but when she is ordered to take some time off after an accident occurs that nearly takes her life. With her ten year reunion coming up she decides to recuperate at her mothers house so that she can attend. Seems like trouble has followed her though with a murder an arson occurring soon after she arrives in town. It appears someone may be setting her up, who is out to get her and why?<br /><br />The plot in this story is non-stop. There was never a down time for me with this one. I found myself totally immersed in the story after reading the prologue. I thought the characters in this story were very well developed and I really enjoyed the budding romance between Alexia and Detective Graham Hunter. The ending of this one leaves me anxious for the next book in the series.<br /><br />Overall anyone who enjoys romantic suspense will certainly love this story, be warned though it isn't easy to figure out who-dun-it with this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1329623138000, "title": "Action packed suspense" }, { "asin": "0800720458", "rating": 5, "text": "The year is 1855 and the setting is Louisville Ky. Adriane Darcy is a journalist for her father's newspaper The Tribune. Her father's newspaper has always been the best in Louisville, but things begin to change when Blake Garrett comes in to revive the failing Herald. It becomes sort of a competition to see who can crack a story first, so when someone starts killing women in the city Adriane wants to beat Blake to the story. Thing is she is starting to have feelings for Blake, but she is engaged to another. How will things work out for Adriane, and who is killing women in Lexington?<br /><br />I really fell in love with Ms. Gabhart's writing after reading her wonderful book titled \"Angel Sister\" so I was anxious to give this one a read. What I found was a historical fiction story that was really quite different. The beginning of the story was a bit slow to capture my attention but once it grabbed it, at about the eighth chapter, I found it a story that I didn't want to put down.I really enjoyed the characters of Adriane and Blake and thought the author did a great job of allowing them to develop through out the story. The character of Adriane was strong, but she also felt the pressure of wanting to do what her father expected of her. While this book is labeled a historical romance fiction the author actually weaves a bit of suspense and mystery into this one that really made this story stand out for me. There were a few twists that wrapped up the ending quite nicely. If your looking for something that's not your typical historical romance then your going to wan to give this story a try.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330232493000, "title": "not your typical historical romance" }, { "asin": "1603742573", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been fortunate enough to read all three books in the Amish of Seymour series and have become a Laura V. Hilton fan. She has the writing skills to easily transport the reader right into the heart of the stories that she is telling, allowing me to envision the characters, setting and drama so vividly it makes me feel as if I have been transported to another place.<br /><br />In \"Promised To Another\" we get the story of Annie Beiler and Joshua Esh. Annie is the local Amish schoolteacher, she is always excited about history and learning which often gets her in trouble and puts her teaching job in jeopardy, something she can't afford to lose. You see her steady beau Luke Schwartz jumped the fence to become English and no one else has even noticed her, or at least that's what she thinks. When Luke makes an unexpected appearance after a singing and offers to take her home she turns him down flat but her refuses to listen, that is until Joshua Esh steps in and offers her a ride home, a rider home with the other girl he is already taking home. While the men who came to Seymour from Pennsylvania came looking for wives Joshua didn't instead he came to see a different part of the world but has plans to return to PA. He has earned the reputation of a player because he is always taking a different Amish girl home after singings, but that doesn't stop Annie from noticing him.Thing is Luke has decided to join the church and marry Annie and doesn't want to take no for an answer. Is Josh really a player or does Annie have the wrong idea about him? Will Annie give in and do what Luke wants or will she realize that there just might be someone else for her after all.<br /><br />The beginning of this story started out a bit predictable but then the author started throwing in several different plot twists that had me changing my mind. I thought the characters in the story seemed very realistic, especially Annie. I could totally understand her love of history and wanting to share it with her pupils. I enjoyed getting to know the different sides of Annie, there was the Annie who stood strong when her beau left her, but we also got a glimpse of an insecure Annie wondering if she would ever have someone of her own, we also saw someone who had a zest for teaching and wanted to share her love of learning with her pupils even though the board members didn't always see things her way. I thought Josh was a good male lead, and while he kept a secret from Annie I still liked him. I liked the unconventional twist the relationship took toward the end of the story.<br /><br />If your a fan of Amish fiction then your going to want to read this story. Even though it's the third book in The Amish of Seymour series it can easily be read as a stand alone work although this series is so good that your going to want to read all three books. On a scale of one to five I would easily give this whole series a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330569380000, "title": "I am going to miss this series!" }, { "asin": "0800719859", "rating": 4, "text": "This book starts out in Williamsburg Virginia in October 1813. The only thing Phoebe Lee really wants to do is practice midwifery, so when her sister-in-law asks her to go to sea with her so that they can rescue her husband who is being held prisoner in England she refuses, after all the country is at war. She soon learns though that she has no choice when she finds herself aboard a ship, and not just any ship, but a British privateer.The captain of the ship Rafe Docherty wants one thing revenge and he thinks that Phoebe just might be able to help him. When he starts having feelings for Phoebe will his priorities change?<br /><br />I thought the author did an amazing job of making this story seem realistic to the time period. While most of the story takes place aboard ship there was still a richness of detail that I enjoyed, it was so hard for me to imagine a female let alone a pregnant female aboard a privateer ship but with amazing clarity the author pulls it off. While some of the language was a bit hard to follow although it did give the book a more authentic feel.I really enjoyed the relationship between the lead characters. Phoebe and Rafe both have issues from their past that they are dealing with, that added an extra layer to their building relationship.<br /><br />\"Hearts Safe Passage\" is the second book in The Midwives Series and while I actually read the first book I feel like this one could be read as a stand alone work. This book worked for me on so many levels, it's a historical romance fiction with strong characters, along with action, suspense, and mystery woven in. What made it a stand out story for me was learning about midwifery during the time period. Overall \"Heart's Safe Passage\" is another great book from Laurie Alice Eakes.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330835536000, "title": "Heart's Safe Passage" }, { "asin": "0764207865", "rating": 5, "text": "At the age of twenty-two Sadie Wagner was a woman, but she still hadn't found the freedom to do what she wanted most. After an accident where her step-father is injured she knows someone needs to help provide for the family and doesn't mind being the one to do it. When she receives a letter from her step cousin Sid who lives in Goldtree, Kansas telling her he has secured her a job clerking in a mercantile she thinks its an answer to a prayer, and something else that he mentions is that there is an opera house and since Sadie's dream is to sing she thinks it might just be her chance to provide for her family and sing at the same time. When she arrives in Goldtree, she soon meets the new sheriff, Thad McKane, whose real dream is to become a minister but takes the job of sheriff to ferret out the culprits responsible for bootlegging, because Kansas is a dry state. She soon realizes that the opera house isn't at all what she thought, and to complicate things even more Sid has feelings for her, but she is drawn to Thad. Can a romance survive between the sheriff and Sadie, even when he begins to suspect that she might be involved in the very crimes he has been hired to take care of?<br /><br />I was drawn to Sadie's character from the first pages of the book. Her goodness easily comes across in the story, and she didn't hesitate to help out her family. I could easily understand her homesickness.The secondary characters really made this book stand out. The Baxter twins and their brother Asa were often funny and oh so easy to visualize. I thought Sid the step-cousin was a bit different, his actions were odd although I sort of chalked it up to being jealous. While there were christian themes running thru the book they weren't overdone or preachy.<br />Overall, I really enjoyed this quick read, and found myself laughing on more than a few occasions. A great historical fiction/romance that is well worth reading!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1331357398000, "title": "great characters make this one a hit" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 5, "text": "While a pretty cover always draws me in (and this cover is beautiful) it takes a good story to keep me interested and that's just what I found in \"Beauty For Ashes.\"<br />The setting for this book is Hickory Ridge, Tennessee and the year is 1876. Carrie Daly finds herself living with her brother Henry in the family home in HIckory Ridge after her husband is killed during the civil war. Henry was the only family she had left and while life wasn't exciting, they had it better than most.Things were ok in the beginning but when Henry takes a wife things start to change. Her friend Nate wants to marry her, but she isn't sure of her feelings, and after she meets Griff Rutledge, a stranger who pulls her out of the way of a run away wagon she can't stop thinking about him. As they become friends the townsfolk wonder why Griff who is a spending time with Carrie, and you can bet Nate isn't happy about it either!<br /><br />The author hit a home run with this story on so many levels. First of all I really enjoy reading about the time period right after the civil war, and then the she is able to give us a glimpse of small town life during that time that really seems authentic. I also found the characters quite easy to relate to as well. I could understand why Carrie felt that she should leave the family home after her brother married. It was easy to see her struggle with allowing God to lead her, even though she read her Bible daily and prayed she often felt discouraged. As her character grew she started to understand that she needed to let God be in control. Griff was a good male lead, I always like when the characters are allowed to be flawed it makes them so much more relate able. While there is a Christian message woven into the story it is very well done and doesn't come off as preachy. Overall if your a fan of historical fiction with romance with interesting characters and a small town feel, that weaves in a nice Christian message run out and pick up a copy of this one, your not going to regret it!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1331357545000, "title": "Beauty for Ashes" }, { "asin": "0310722365", "rating": 5, "text": "The first thing I thought when I pulled this Bible out of the box was what a beautiful cover it had. The pink color and flowers is so feminine and girly that young ladies will just love it. The color of the text inside which is purple is something that I loved as well, and while the colors are very eye catching, its the many different features of this Bible that makes it perfect for young girls.<br /><br />The features include:<br />1. Dream Girl: A feature that will help young readers imagine themselves in some of the most familiar and amazing Bible stories.<br /><br />2. Bring It On! Are quizzes used to help the reader get to know themselves, this feature also points to Bible verses that will encourage the reader.<br /><br />3. OH, I Get It! The Bible is more than just stories, it is filled with information and this feature will share some of that information with questions.<br /><br />4. Book introductions: Highlights the main topics of each book of the Bible and applies them to the reader's life.<br /><br />5. Treasure This! Verses to help the reader keep God's word in their heart.<br /><br />6. Is There a little ___in You? The feature allows you to see different character traits of some of the great people in the Bible, and allows the reader to see if they might have some of those character traits themselves.<br /><br />7. In Your Own Words: Allows the reader to create a list of events to tell a Bible story in your their own words.<br /><br />While this Bible is geared towards young ladies nine and older, I actually enjoy reading it myself. It's bright and colorful and is chock full of useful information. Because it's a NIV version it's easy for young readers to understand. Overall I think any young girl would love a copy of this Bible and I think it would make a wonderful Easter gift.<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this Bible was provided in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1333421609000, "title": "Very eye catching Bible for tween girls" }, { "asin": "1595548874", "rating": 4, "text": "I must admit Beth Wiseman is one of my favorite Amish storytellers, so I was excited to read a non-Amish story by her. With \"Need You Now\" I must say she really knows how to deliver a contemporary story. With this story she not only delivers believable characters who are dealing with real life issues, but also a fast moving plot that deals with family drama that kept me reading.<br />To look at the Henderson family they seem to be a successful family that has it all together. Darlene is a stay at home mother to three teen children, her marriage seems good, her husband is about to be promoted and the family just purchased Darlene's grandparents farm and decide to move to the country. Peel away the layers though and we quickly see that the children are having problems adjusting,especially her daughter Grace who is harming herself, and Darlene is struggling with the fact that she no longer feels needed or heard. When she takes a job outside the home and another man starts to pay attention to her, could it put her marriage in jeopardy? How will things work out for this family? As their faith is tested will they be drawn closer together as a family or will they be pulled apart?<br />One of my favorite things about this story was the fact that we see the situation thru the eyes of several characters, allowing a different perspectives on the story. A story that drew me in from the beginning and kept me wondering how this family saga would work out. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1335236786000, "title": "Family Drama" }, { "asin": "140168680X", "rating": 4, "text": "Biblical fiction is fast becoming one of my favorite genres so I was excited to read \"Garden of Madness\" which tells the story of the Babylonian Princess Tiamet, the daughter of King Nebuchadnezzar, whose madness has had him living in the palace garden for the last seven years while his family kept his condition hidden from the public. When a murder takes place inside the palace Tia decides to try and figure out what is going on, and uncovers truths that she could never have imagined.<br />The author easily brings the characters to life in this story. Even though the book is a work of fiction her descriptions brings the scenes to life, and makes the characters so easy to connect with. I really enjoyed the interactions between Tia and her father, and loved that she stood by him when others didn't.The author provides several plot twists that kept me guessing. While there is a bit of romance woven into the story for me its the mystery and suspense as well as the way the author holds pretty close to the actual Biblical story that makes this book a real winner for me.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1335840992000, "title": "Great Biblical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800719719", "rating": 4, "text": "Historical romance is one of my favorite genres to read and when the author is able to weave in a few positive messages or historical facts that make me feel as if I am actually getting a bit of a history lesson well then that makes the book a must read for me, and that's just what we get in \"A Love Forbidden.\"<br /><br />The year is 1879 and the book is set in the Colorado Rockies , and gives us the story of twenty-one year old Shiloh Wainright and Jesse Blackwater .Shiloh has signed a contract to teach for the White River Indian Agency,and looks forward to teaching the Ute children white men's ways while helping them remember their own culture. She is in for a surprise when she reconnects with her childhood friend Jesse Blackwater. Soon their friendship threatens to turn into more, but things are complicated because Jesse is 1/2 Indian,.add to this the fact that Indians and whites are on the verge of battle, and you can't help but wonder if a relationship can ever work between these two.<br /><br />The author weaves a story that easily captured my attention. I have always found this time period in the west intriguing.The author deals with the time period where the US Government made promises to the Native Americans but didn't always keep them. Shiloh was a compassionate caring person,and Jesse seemed like someone who was caught between two worlds.I enjoyed watching the feelings grow between the two characters. While I enjoyed the characters for me it was the historical elements that made the book a real winner. The author describes the tensions that are going on between the Whites and Native Americans,and allows the reader to see the prejudices that took place during that time in history. Anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction that weaves together romance and an inspirational message will certainly want to check out this book. While this is the second book in the Heart Of The Rockies series I feel as if it can be read as a stand alone work.<br />rating 4/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1338091007000, "title": "Love Forbidden" }, { "asin": "0800734378", "rating": 4, "text": "Patsy Milstrap wishes she could leave her past in the past. Up until the age of thirteen she lived in a home with an abusive stepfather. One day though her mother realizes that Patsy needs to be sent away. She goes to live with a nice christian couple and begins a new life. She marries a wonderful man and has children and as much as she tries to forget her past for the sake of her family its a difficult thing to do. When a vacation in Florida has her facing someone from her past, she knows that she will have to deal with her past if she is ever going to have a future.<br />\"Waiting for Sunrise\" is the second book in the Cedar Key series but can easily be read as a stand alone work. The author weaves an emotional story that easily pulled me in from the beginning. As the story unfolds we get glimpses of Patsy's past allowing us to understand how she came to be the person she is. Patsy was a character that was so easy to connect with. Her painful past was difficult for her to deal with, she cant help but wonder why her mother would have given her away. Gilbert was a wonderful husband who would do anything to help Patsy.<br />The secondary story of her mother and brothers added to the overall plot. It was interesting to see how the abusive home life affected each person.A story that deals with some pretty tough subjects, but also reminds that sometimes the only way to have a future is to deal with your past.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1339907090000, "title": "emotionally charged" }, { "asin": "1416599959", "rating": 5, "text": "Deborah Raney is easily one of my favorite authors. Her stories are ones that I often think about for weeks after reading. She has a way of drawing me into a story, making me feel as if I personally know the characters, and that's just how I feel about the Hanover Falls series.<br /><br />Susan Marlowe is dealing with the pain of losing her husband in the Grove Street fire, but a secret that he was carrying comes to light, a secret that breaks her heart, and has her wondering if she really knew the man she was married to. How will she deal with the hurt?<br /><br />Even though this is the third book in a series, the story line still has the ability to provide a few twists and turns that kept me reading. There is still the mystery of who actually set the fire, as well as the emotional turmoil of losing loved ones, and trying to move on after such a tragedy. Susan is a commendable character. She is trying to keep the homeless shelter going, while dealing with the loss of her husband. When her son Davey not only drops out of college but also starts coming home drunk, she learns that he is carrying a painful secret, something that he knew about his father, her husband.<br /><br />\"After All\" is the third and final installment of the Hanover Falls Series, and while this book can be read as a stand alone work, the series is filled with such amazing characters that you really are going to want to read all three books. While I enjoyed the way the author wraps up this series, I really am going to miss my visits to Hanover Falls. I highly recommend this entire series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1339909458000, "title": "I'm going to miss this series" }, { "asin": "1595549978", "rating": 4, "text": "Hope Springs North Carolina is small town USA and is the setting for the latest contemporary novel by Kim Cash Tate. It tells the story of three women, Janelle Evans, Becca Anderson, and Stephanie London, cousins who find themselves headed home to Hope Springs for a Christmas time family reunion,and to spend time with the matriarch of the family their grandmother Geri. When they learn that Geri has a terminal illness they decide to stay in Hope Springs and help her. Spending time in this small town will change their lives forever.<br /><br />What a touching story. I do admit that there were plenty of characters to learn in the first several chapters and was glad that there was a family tree provided at the beginning of the book. Once I learned who everyone was and the issues that was going on it became a compelling story that I couldn't put down. The author creates authentic characters that are very easy to connect to.The small town feel of this book was wonderfully portrayed. One of my favorite characters in the story had to be Jeri, she was such a strong woman.<br />The author deals with several heavy subjects, but also gives several positive,uplifting messages as well. Overall a very well written story that provides a few twists and turns that kept me reading.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1340156416000, "title": "Hope Springs" }, { "asin": "0800720482", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become an avid reader of Biblical fiction and one of my favorite authors of this genre is Diana Wallis Taylor. She writes her stories in such a way that once you finish the book I always come away with a deeper understanding of not only the character that she writes about but also about the Bible verses that center around the character.<br /><br />Her latest book shines the spotlight on \"Mary Magdalene.\" We learn that she was an only child, her father a very successful boat builder. At the age of eleven her life changed dramatically when she is kidnapped.Her father pays the ransom to get her back, but after the incident Mary suffers from headaches,nightmares and seizures. While her loved ones sympathized with her, the people of her village shun her, fearing that she is crazy or worse. When they hear rumors that the Messiah is coming, a man named Jesus, the son of God,they wonder if it is true and if perhaps he will be able to help Mary.<br /><br />\"Mary Magdalene\" is another great fictional Biblical story from Diana Wallis Taylor. With her well crafted storytelling and attention to historical detail the author easily pulls me right into the story. The author writes with a clarity that brings the characters to life, and makes it easy to understand their stories. After reading this story I was propelled to dig out my Bible and read all that I could find about Mary Magdalene. Anyone who enjoys Biblical fiction is in for a real treat with this story. Recommended.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1340508191000, "title": "Fiction that brings Bible characters to life" }, { "asin": "0800734556", "rating": 5, "text": "\"The Gift\" by Ann Gabhart is the fifth installment in her Shaker Village series,and this book is just as great as all the others in the series I have read.<br /><br />Jessamine Brady is twenty, she moved to the Shaker Village at the age of ten after the death of her grandmother, and the one thing she remembered her grandmother encouraging her to do was follow her dreams. While she loves her Harmony Hill family she has always felt like she doesn't belong in the Shaker Village. When she meets Tristan Cooper someone from the outside world she finds herself at a crossroads, will she have the courage to step out into the world, or will she decide that her home is actually in Harmony Hill?<br /><br />I really enjoy when I have the ability to read a book and feel as if I am getting a bit of education to boot and that's just how I feel when I read Ann Gabhart's stories that are centered around the Shakers. She weaves together an intriguing story that always holds my attention while giving accurate glimpses of how it might have been to have lived as a Shaker.The author provides plenty of conflict, along with romance and a bit of suspense that certainly kept me reading. Add to the mix like-able characters and a historical setting making it a book that I couldn't resist. Recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1341919800000, "title": "The Gifted" }, { "asin": "1595547819", "rating": 4, "text": "Imagine finding out that a father you really never knew left you some valuable property, and imagine meeting half brothers and sisters whom you never knew existed thinking that you are trying to steal what rightfully belongs to them. Well that's just what happens to Libby Holladay the main character in Colleen Coble's newest novel \"Tidewater Inn.\"<br /><br />Libby and her best friend Nicole are co-owners of Holladay Renovations, a business that restores historical properties. Nicole not only handles the financial side of the business but also convinces potential clients to do business with them, meanwhile Libby takes care of the restoration. While researching a job on the Outer Banks Libby learns that she has actually inherited The Tidewater Inn along with property from a father whom she believed had died when she was five. Instead she learns her father has recently passed away leaving her the inheritance, and what's more she has half siblings that she never knew existed, siblings that are none to happy about her inheriting the inn. In addition to this earth shattering news, her business partner is kidnapped and Libby not only saw the whole thing but becomes a suspect in the crime. Can she prove her innocence, while trying to find Nicole, and what about the Tidewater Inn, will she be able to keep and restore it, or will she have to sell it, and will she ever be accepted by her new family?<br /><br />Interesting, well developed characters and a great plot made this a fast moving story for me. I found myself immediately drawn into the story, and wondered not only what Libby would do, but whether she would ever be accepted by a family she didn't know existed. Libby was a character that was easy to relate to and understand. If you enjoy a well written story filled with mystery, suspense, family drama,romance, and a nice spiritual message you just might enjoy this one, I know I did. Recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1341974234000, "title": "Tidewater Inn" }, { "asin": "0800734580", "rating": 5, "text": "Irene Hannon has become a go to author for me whenever I want to read a suspense filled mystery that also blends a christian message together with just enough clues to keep me turning the pages in anticipation right up until the end. I have enjoyed reading the Guardians of Justice series and while I looked forward to reading this book, I was sort of sad as well, because \"Lethal Legacy\" is the final book in the series.<br /><br />There are so many things that I enjoyed bout this book, but overall it's the author's style of writing that captivates me. She has an uncanny way of allowing us a glimpse inside the killers mind revealing what he is thinking while keeping us guessing as to who the killer might be, and the killer isn't always easy to figure out, but it always makes sense in the end. Since this book is the third and final book in the \"Guardian of Justice\" series while I believe that it can be read as a stand alone work I highly recommend that the entire series should be read in order to get the full scope of the story. If your a fan of suspense,mystery with a light romance, and a christian theme woven in your going to enjoy this series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1344787029000, "title": "Well written suspense" }, { "asin": "0764209132", "rating": 5, "text": "allie Kincaid and her eight month old son are headed out to find her husband Seth Kincaid, who just up and took off one day. When her stagecoach is waylaid by bandits and she finds herself in the middle of a shoot out, while she waits for the other passengers to go bring help back. Well help arrives in the form of her husband Seth, a husband who doesn't even remember that he has a wife, and never knew he had a son.<br /><br />This was such a quick read, I really fell in love with the characters and couldn't put the story down. Callie was a no nonsense type of person, who wanted to know why her husband up and left her, which was a very good question. I could easily forgive Seth though when we learn why he left her behind.Once he realizes he has a wife he is determined to do the right thing, although I could understand why Callie was guarding her heart this time around.<br /><br />Mary Connealy really knows how to write a story. As a fan of historical fiction, I really love being drawn back in time, and when there is romance, along with a good dose of humor well I am sold! I would say that \"Over The Edge' is the third book in the Kincaid Brides series, and while we do get a bit of background information it is best to read the entire series in order to fully understand the characters. Grantastic series, and I really hope the author continues with another book! Highly recommended.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1345430910000, "title": "Fun read" }, { "asin": "0764206176", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Taming The Wind\" takes pace in North Texas in 1868. Carissa Lowe has spent the last two years of her life trying to find peace in her heart. The nightmares and bad memories of Malcolm, her now deceased husband continues to haunt her. You see two years ago, she thought she new the man she married, instead he was on the run from the army, and decided to use her sister Laura and Clarissa to try and save himself, by taking them hostage, and then throwing them into the Gulf off the Corpus Christi coast. Fortunatly they were both saved, even though Malcolm wasn't. For Carissa though she no longer trusts her judgement where men are concerned, and has shied away from all men except for her brother-in-law, and the man who saved her Tyler Artherton, although she hasn't seen Tyler in the last two years because she has lived the last two years with her parents, and her baby daughter Gloria in Corpus Christi. When her parents decide to take a trip she decides to go spend the summer with Laura and her husband on their ranch.<br /><br />Tyler Artherton is staying on a friends ranch while he works out some issues of his own. He had never really stopped thinking about Carissa, and when he learns that she is staying on a neighboring ranch, he finds himself drawn to her and her daughter Gloria. Will Tyler and Carissa find happiness together or are there to many obstacles in the way? Will Carissa ever find the peace that she longs for?<br /><br />Even though \"Taming The Wind\" is the third book in Tracie Peterson's Land of the Lonestar series, I felt like the author gave enough background information so this book could be read as a stand alone work. This book takes place right after the civil war which easily drew me into the story because this is one of my favorite time periods to read about. The two main characters Carissa and Tyler were so easy to connect and emphathize with. I felt like Ms. Peterson did a very realistic job of allowing them to grow as the story progressed. I found the secondary characters really added to the overall story. I am a long time fan of Tracie Peterson and always look forward to reading whatever she writes, and this book certainly didn't disappoint. Fans of historical inspirational romances where the setting comes to life will certainly want to read this one, but since its part of a three book series why not read them all. Highly recommended!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1346817786000, "title": "Fans of historical inspirational romance will enjoy this one" }, { "asin": "1595548033", "rating": 4, "text": "Dylan Taylor is a smooth talking ladies man and Annie Wilkerson isn't interested. When Dylan's best horse, Braveheart, has a condition that has his vet suggesting he put the horse down, Dylan goes to Annie for help. Annie knows just about everything there is to know about horses. She writes a bi-weekly column in Montana Living today called \"Ask Avery\" which answers readers questions about equine problems. When Annie gets a call from her editor informing her that her column is being cut from the magazine, although she is offered another column, thing is its a column giving advice to the lovelorn. Annie has never been in love so how can she write an advice column? She decides to strike up a deal with Dylan, she will help his horse if he will help her with her column. As she gets to know the true Dylan she realizes he is different that she first assumed. Will Annie decide that some cowboys aren't so bad after all?<br /><br />Annie Wilkerson is someone you just can't help but like. She is looking out for her twenty year old sister Seirra,who by the way is raising four year old Ryder, works hard and is just a down to earth person, dealing with life's issues. She doesn't trust cowboys and I could certainly understand why. She wants safe and predictable in her life but that isn't what God has in mind for her. I enjoyed getting to know Dylan's character as well, both really had issues from their past that they needed to take care of. I found myself enjoying the twangy style of dialogue that popped up in the story, it really gave the book a real cowboy flavor for me.Another neat thing that I enjoyed about this story was how in the beginning each chapter opened with a bit of advice about horses, when Annie's job changed the chapters started opening up with bits of advice for the lovelorn.<br /><br />I really loved the town of Moose Creek and found \"The Trouble With Cowboys\" a delightful inspirational romantic read.Sometimes christian romance can come off a bit strong, but Denise Hunter really strikes a great balance with her writing. She provides a sweet romance that also weaves in a nice wholesome feeling to her stories, while also giving a few laughs.While this book is a part of a series the author writes it in such a way that it can be read as a stand alone work, but if you enjoy a great read, then your going to want to read the entire series.", "timestamp": 1349196283000, "title": "The Trouble With Cowboys" }, { "asin": "0800721322", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Life With Lily\" is such a delightful read. I found myself enjoying the many things that went on in young Lily Lapp's life. We first meet Lily as she and her younger brother Joseph are whisked off in the middle of the night to their grandparent's house, and we soon learn new baby Dannie has been born into the Lapp family. I found myself laughing at Lily's reaction as she first meets her new baby brother, not to mention the reaction she has to Freida Troyer who has come to help her mother for a few days after the birth of the baby. There are so many happenings around an Amish farm, from a barn raising to getting a new milk cow and even a trip to Kentucky to see the Lapp grandparents. One thing is for certain, life is never boring when you see things thru the eyes of Lily Lapp.<br /><br />I loved this book, once I started reading it I just couldn't put it down. I enjoyed meeting the Lapp family and was a bit surprise at where the final chapters led us. The illustrations are very well done, and further enhance the story. I really can't wait to read the next book in The Adventures of Lily Lapp series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1349581688000, "title": "Perfect for all ages" }, { "asin": "0800734173", "rating": 5, "text": "Seventeen year old Susannah Grace Kennedy made the move from Badger, Iowa to Boston after the death of her parents. She is going to be living with her aunt Eleanor, and has decided she wants to forget her \"good girl\" past, and even decides she wants to be called Annie. Her sister Maggie had sent her letters while in college raving about the hot spots in Boston, so Annie starts hanging out with a fast crowd, and making some choices that aren't so wise. When she meets Steven O'Connor her sister's former fiancee she falls hard for him. Thing is he doesn't know that Annie is actually Maggie's sister, and Steven really isn't interested anyway, or at least that's what he keeps telling himself. What will happen when he realizes who Annie really is?<br /><br />Another great story from Julie Lessman! I enjoyed connecting with the characters from the former books, and with that said, even though this is the third book in the Wind Of Change series it can easily be read as a stand alone work.<br />The thing that I enjoy about this series is the many subplots that go on within the book, and \"A Love Surrendered\" is no different. The main characters are Steven a prohibition agent with the government that is dealing with a broken heart, even though he was the one to break things off with Maggie he believes he is still in love with her. Annie seems like someone who is anxous to grow up.It was so nice to see both of the characters grow spiritually as the story progressed. The secondary stories really keep the plot moving along, and allow us to reconnect with the O'Connor family. Overall I have really enjoyed this series, it has everything that I enjoy reading. Historical fiction that brings the time period to life along with great characters, romance and a nice inspirational message who could ask for anything more?<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1350262108000, "title": "Fantastic series" }, { "asin": "0857212052", "rating": 4, "text": "Coming back to work after the death of his partner, Frank Campello finds himself paired with a new partner. Andy Polanski is an officer that has a reputation of being on to steer clear of, and unfortunately he is Frank's new partner.As the two investigate the brutal murder of a young girl, they quickly learn that there is more to the murder than meets the eye. As they continue to dig, the learn that an organized crime ring is involved and that ring has some friends in high places. Will they be able to solve the crimes and bring the criminals to justice.<br /><br />\"The Sons of Jude\" gave me a good look at how crime families operate, something I really don't think I have ever read about before.It was intesting to see how they can get thier footing in politics and then sort of run the show. This was a very well written suspense, thriller, that provided a few twists, and a satisfying ending. Normally I enjoy a fast paced read, however \"The Sons of Jude,\" moves along at at slower pace providing rich detail, that really allowed the story to build for me. Overall, I enjoyed reading this one, and the ending has me putting the next book in this series on my TBR list.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1350699592000, "title": "The Sons of Jude" }, { "asin": "0310330459", "rating": 5, "text": "To say that I love this series is an understatement. I feel like Ms. Chapman's storytelling just gets better and better. While I love the mystery that takes place in each of the Shipshewana Amish Mystery series, it's really the friendships that take place between the Amish and English characters that really sells me on the series.<br /><br />The Fall Crafters Fair which is Shipshewana's largest festival of the year, is in full swing, when a murder takes place in the parking lot of Daisy's Quilt Shop.With only one witness to the crime, it might not be so easy to solve. As things start to escalate Callie realizes that she just might be the intended target, it seems she has something the killer wants, but she isn't sure what it is! Thing is this killer isn't going to stop until he gets it, regardless of what he has to do. Can the police figure it out, or will it take Callie and her friends to solve this one?<br /><br />To say this book has a fast moving plot is an understatement! Once I started reading it, I couldn't wait to see what might happen! There were several suspenseful moments in the story, which pulled it right along. This book really has it all,in addition to the small town feel of the story, it has the Amish/Englisher friendship, a splash of romance,a nice mystery, a dog, baby, Amish children one of which is dealing with an illness that was new to me. Chicken Breast Disease was something I had never heard of but learned a bit about in this story.I always enjoy whenever a dog is included in a story and with this one we have Max. The author provides a satisfying ending, that wraps up the story nicely, I just hope that this book isn't the final one in the series.<br /><br />While this is the third book in the Shipshewana Amish Mystery series it can easily be read as a stand alone work, although if you're a fan of Amish fiction, cozy mysteries, or just a great read, you are certainly going to want to read the entire series. Each story is a good clean read, that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1351647118000, "title": "Great series" }, { "asin": "1603745068", "rating": 3, "text": "Kristi Lapp is a young Amish lady who is also a practicing midwife for her community. While on her way to an appointment she winds up in a buggy accident.Shane Zimmerman, her next door neighbor and local veterinarian happens by and finds her buggy and gets Kristi to the hospital. Because her parents are in Florida, Shane takes it upon himself to start visiting Kristi daily while she is in the hospital. He also decides to start taking care of Chinook, so that the dog can get the exercise he needs until Kristi recovers. Soon though Kristi starts having feelings for Shane, and he feels drawn to her as well. Of course when Kristi's dad comes home and forbids Shane from having anything else to do with Kristi because he is afraid she might leave the faith. How can an Amish midwife and an Englisher vet ever have a chance at love?<br /><br />I became a fan of Laura V. Hilton after reading her last series, The Amish of Seymour, and I like how some of the characters from that series was mentioned in this book. There were several things that I really liked about \"Healing Love\" but there were a few things that also fell a bit flat for me as well. So I am going to expound on the positive aspects first. The author captured my attention from the beginning pages. Kristi, a practicing Amish midwife has a buggy accident while on her way to visit a patient. Well that grabbed my attention, and then we are introduced to Shane Zimmeran, a promising character who has roots that harken back to the Amish but is now an Englisher. As Kristi's neighbor he gets her to the hospital, and then starts spending time with her. They are drawn to each other, but both know that a relationship is next to impossible. Seems though they find themselves together at every turn, as if fate is drawing them together. Shane's feelings about midwives really was understandable. I thought the secondary story of Shane's sister and her baby added to the overall effect of the story. I always enjoy whenever a dog is added to a story and with this one we have Chinook, Kristi's dog who loved Shane as well.<br /><br />The things that fell a bit flat for me was the complaining that Kristi often did about English food, I mean that sort of got old fast. I also felt like Kristi's dad, and uncle were a bit wishy washy when it came to trying to keep Kristi and Shane apart, and I was really shocked at the manner in which Ira threw Kristi out of the house. Overall, not my favorite Hilton read, but still good. I look forward to reading her next book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352261572000, "title": "Healing Love" }, { "asin": "0310335108", "rating": 4, "text": "It's been two years since Sarah Shetler's best friend Patty died in unexpectedly and since then Sarah has carried around a memory jar, and keeps her memories tucked inside so that she won't have to deal with her emotions.When she meets Jathan Schrock, an Amish bachelor with issues of his own, something changes. Can Jathan penetrate the walls that Sarah has built around her heart?<br /><br />Overall, I enjoyed this book. It dealt with loss, pain, friendship,and the wonderful inspirational message of allowing God to heal. While I enjoyed reading about Sarah and Patty's friendship, I found that the flashbacks of these memories sometimes broke the flow of the story and made it feel a bit choppy for me. It did seem very realistic that it took time for Sarah to heal, from her loss. Jathan is also dealing with issues that make both of the characters seem very realistic. It was so nice to see the characters grow and change as the story progressed.<br /><br />While this wasn't my favorite Tricia Goyer novel, I did enjoy it. There are discussion questions that would make this a great book club selection. The author also includes a glossary of words used by the Amish that is very helpful. I am anxious to read the next book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series.<br /><br />3.5/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352345899000, "title": "The Memory Jar" }, { "asin": "0736951512", "rating": 5, "text": "I am a true fan of Jerry Eicher. I have been reading his Amish fiction for quite some time and I normally never have a complaint about his work, well with \"Susanna's Christmas Wish\" my only complaint was that it didn't last long enough. The characters were great, the story line was perfect for my Christmas reading marathon, and while it was a short read that didn't last long enough for me. The author does provide well fleshed characters, and a nice plot that is short, sweet and satisfying!<br /><br />Mathew Yoder and Susanna Keim had been dating for two years, and were actually engaged when Mathew broke her heart when he decided to leave the Amish life. When Herman Wagler asks her to marry him she agrees even though she doesn't love him like she did Matthew, she is sure that in time she will. Problems start to arise when Herman announces that he doesn't celebrate Christmas the way Susanna's family does. Added to this Matthew is back in town. How will this affect the newly married couple, is their marriage able to withstand all the turmoil going on? Pick up \"Susanna's Christmas Wish\" and find out!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352779454000, "title": "Jerry Eicher is the king of Amish fiction!" }, { "asin": "0800720040", "rating": 5, "text": "The year is 1882, in the Wyoming Territory. After the death of her husband Josef, Celia Anderson is running a boarding house in the town of Easton to support her six month old Emma. Her friend Bertha keeps telling her it's time to find herself a new husband, but Celia has decided that she will only marry for love, and besides she stays very busy running her boarding house and babysitting young Aaron. Mark Williams has been looking for his father for two years,and his search has led him to Easton, to Celia's boarding house. As she gets to know Mark she sees the kind man that he is, but is he the right man for her, after all will he even stick around? While Mark feels drawn to Celia, will he stay in Easton?<br /><br />A short novella that was such a satisfying, quick read. I loved the characters, as well as the small town feel of the story. Celia and Mark were such good lead characters. She was strong, after all she had lost her husband, was trying to raise a daughter and run a boarding house, but the author allowed us to see another side of Celia, one who wanted to be loved and cherished. Mark was such a wonderful man, one I would consider a true gentleman. While he was carrying a bit of hurt from his past it didn't make him bitter. Strong secondary characters rounded out the story quite well, and I would love to see a story develop around Jacob, Arron's father, who had intentions of sending away for a mail order bride. Overall, a short, sweet, historical fiction that warmed my heart.<br /><br />A complementary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1353652395000, "title": "short,sweet, historical Christmas read" }, { "asin": "1401685676", "rating": 4, "text": "This book encompasses two of my favorite types of books Amish fiction and short stories. \"An Amish Kitchen\" is comprised of three short stories written by three of today's premiere Amish fiction authors.<br /><br />The first story is a \"Taste of Faith\" written by Kelly Long. Twenty year old Deborah Zook has been living with her grandmother Esther Zook since the age of five when her parents died of the flu. She has a love for tending flowers and herbs and her grandmother has the wish to see her trained in healing herbs, but more than that she wishes that her granddaughter would find a man and marry, and truthfully Fern wishes for someone as well. At the age of twenty-three Abram Fisher is a dyed in the wool bachelor, who never paid any attention to Fern, but when he needs Fern's help after his sister Mary becomes sunburned he begins to look at Fern in a different light. Will fate bring these two together?<br /><br />\"A Spoonful of Love\" by Amy Clipston is the story of Hannah King, who has been managing the Paradise Inn since her father had a stroke a year ago. When Stephen Esh comes to town looking for a place to stay he rents a room at the end. Could Stephen be the one Hannah has been hoping will come into her life? What about his past, why is he so far from home? Will he be able to let go of the past and embrace the future?<br /><br />\"A Recipe for Hope\"by Beth Wiseman is the story of Eve Bender. At the age of thirty-eight Eve Bender finds herself moving back home with her parents after a tree crashes into her farmhouse. Not only is she moving back home but she her husband and three teen age boys who are going thru rumspringa also will be moving in as well. Eve and her mother often didn't see eye to eye on things will spending two months under her parents roof allow them to heal the hurts from the past?<br /><br />I loved each of these stories, that gently remind of faith and family. My favorite story easily had to be \"A Recipe for Hope.\" I enjoyed the fact that Eve was a bit older and her sons added an interesting layer to the story.Her oldest son Leroy is eighteen and Amos and Elias are her twin sixteen year old boys. Amos also has a Chinese Water Dragon that provided a few funny moments.<br /><br />If you have never read Amish fiction this book is a delightful way to sample these three great authors. There is a glossary of \"Amish\" words included for newbie Amish fiction readers. The recipes which include some herbal treatments are just an added bonus. While each story is a tad predictable overall I enjoyed each of them, and would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good clean read with a splash of romance and an Amish cast of characters.<br /><br />Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1354680094000, "title": "An Amish Kitchen" }, { "asin": "0800719891", "rating": 5, "text": "I have loved the entire Stoney Ridge Seasons series and couldn't wait to read Mary Kate's story who happened to be one of my favorite characters in the series. All I can say is that Suzanne saved the best story for last!<br />At the age of nineteen Mary Kate also known as M.K. is still a bit irresponsible and full of mischief, but when one of her stunts has her running into the Amish teacher she is forced to grow up quick and take over the responsibilities of being the teacher. Will she take the job seriously? Well in the beginning M.K. doesn't do very well, but soon with the help of a former teacher things start to look up. Will M.K. ever really settle down, and do we really want her too! Added to this is an unexpected death, a mysterious stranger comes to town, along with that someone comes up missing, and you have a page turner filled with plenty of interesting happenings, that include a few unexpected twists!<br /><br />From the beginning paragraphs Ms. Fisher creates a story that's filled with a bit of mystery along with plenty of excitement for nineteen year old M.K. Lapp who had been longing for a bit of adventure. I just loved the words the author used to express the restlessness that M.K. felt. They allowed for such vivid scenes to play out in my head, I could just imagine M.K. feeling the need to spread her wings and fly to someplace that would seem more exciting than her tiny town!<br />I have read each book in this wonderful series, and for me each story just keeps getting better. I enjoyed meeting the new characters in the story, and loved reconnecting with the Lapp family, including Doozy the dog! Fans of Amish fiction will love this story, but anyone who enjoys a bit of mystery, romance and a story that will keep you glued to the pages then your going to want to read the entire series, and if you have never read anything by Ms. Fisher why not start with the Stoney Ridge Seasons, I promise you wont be disappointed. On a scale of one of one to five I would easily give this entire series a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1357271048000, "title": "The Lesson" }, { "asin": "0800719867", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Choices of the Heart\" is the third book in The Midwives series and takes place in Virginia in 1842. Esther Cherrett finds herself in the midst of something that forces her to head for the mountains of Virginia and take a job teaching, hoping that she can leave her problems behind. Instead she finds herself smack dab in the middle of a family feud between the Tollivers and the Brooks, added to that is the fact that Griff Tolliver as well as Zach Brooks wants to court her. Which one will win her heart, and does it really matter, especially when her past catches up with her? What will happen when the past she tried to outrun reaches the mountains?<br /><br />As a fan of historical fiction I have enjoyed this entire series. Ms. Eakes does a wonderful job of creating realistic characters that are very easy to connect with because of the issues that they are dealing with. Esther's character wants to run from her past, but learns that the past has a way of catching up with you anyway. It was interesting to see her character grow and change as the story progressed. Griff was determined to see the feud end between the families, which made him a stand out character for me. While I enjoyed the characters I also loved the way the author brought the region to life, the descriptions allowed me to envision the area as well as the time period. Overall the historical feel of the story along with a great plot that provided a few twists made this a great read. While this book could be read as a stand alone work, I recommend reading the entire series. If your a fan of historical romance, with an inspirational bent your going to enjoy \"Choices of the Heart.\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1358659590000, "title": "Choices of the Heart" }, { "asin": "0800734602", "rating": 5, "text": "Cheyenne Wyoming Territory is the setting for \"Waiting for Spring.\" It's 1886 and its been a year since Charlotte Harding's world was turned upside down, and she was forced to flee to Cheyenne so that she and her young son David might be safe. While she has made a new life and friends, even opening a dress shop, she still worried for the safety of her son. When she meets Barrett Landry, a wealthy rancher who has political aspirations they are drawn to each other, but he needs a wife with political connections and she can't risk her past being exposed, what will happen between them?<br /><br />Charlotte was such a nice character, a wonderful mother willing to do whatever she needed to do to protect her son. I so wanted things to work out for Charlotte. I enjoyed reading about her dress shop, as well as her interactions with her customers. There are several secondary characters that really propel this story along including Gwen Amos and her daughter Rose who was a great help to Charlotte. A great well rounded story, romance, with mystery,suspense as well as the historical setting made this book a real winner for me. To be honest I was drawn to this book because of it's beautiful cover, but the characters and story are what truly shine with this one. Amanda Cabot is easily one of my favorite historical fiction writers, and I look forward to reading the next book in the Westward Winds series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1358662438000, "title": "Waiting for the next book in this fantastic series" }, { "asin": "0800720393", "rating": 5, "text": "After a disastrous marriage Charlotte Farrow finds it necessary to flee her husband in order to keep not only herself but her newborn son safe as well. She becomes a maid for the Banning household, but one of the job requirements was that she be unmarried and without children, so she keeps her son a secret. When Mrs. Given, the lady that Charlotte has entrusted with her young son Henry, has a family emergency and needs to leave town she brings the baby to Charlotte at work. Charlotte finds herself in a dilemma, if she confesses she will certainly lose her job, but if she doesn't will she lose her son?<br /><br />While this book is the second in the Avenue of Dreams series I feel like it can be read as a stand alone work, although because the first book was quite engaging I would recommend reading it as well. This book picks up right were the last one left off. I found myself feeling empathy for Charlotte's dilemma, and couldn't imagine being in her position. Lose her job, or protect her son, and not only that there is the hopes of romance, but when or if the truth comes out will it be the end of her hopes for a new beginning? In addition to Charlotte's compelling story we get a very good glimpse the differences between the social classes during this time in history. Also we get a great historical glance of the Chicago's Worlds Fair. Overall, fans of historical fiction will certainly enjoy not only this book but the entire series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1359426815000, "title": "Historical fiction fans will enjoy this series" }, { "asin": "0800721330", "rating": 5, "text": "\"A New Home for Lily\" has Lily and her family moving to Pennsylvania to be closer to family. Things are really changing for young Lily. She no longer has her own bedroom, she finds herself in a new school with new children, added to that is the fact that there is a new baby in the house. She does have her faithful dolly Sally. While some changes seem a little intimidating some are chock full of fun. One things certain young Lily keeps her faithful dolly Sally close by for comfort! Will Lily adjust to all the changes going on? Read this wonderful book to be pulled along into young Lily's life where adventures abound, and the reader gets wonderful glimpses of Amish life.<br /><br />While this book is geared toward the younger reading set, I find it a totally refreshing read. I enjoy reading about the day to day Amish goings on, and the character of Lily is just wonderful. Life is full of adventure and never boring your Lily. A great read whether your eight or eighty. Young girls are going to enjoy Lily and her adventures while they learn about the Amish lifestyle. I can't recommend this series enough. On a scale of one to five it easily gets a six in my book!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1360552318000, "title": "A New Home for Lily" }, { "asin": "0800734300", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become a huge fan of Biblical fiction so to say I was excited to read \"Rebekah\" is sort of an understatement, because I remember reading her story in the book of Genesis.Well after reading Jill Eileen Smith's fictionalized account of her story, I know I will never forget Rebekah, because she brought the story to life making me feel as if I was right there as the events take place.The twins that she bore, and who she chose as her favorite. Ms. Smith allowed me to see Rebekah as a mother, not just another woman in the Bible. The author easily pulled me back into Bible days, with a richness in descriptions that brought the time and setting to life. I certainly enjoyed how the author incorporated scripture verses thru the story. Overall, fans of Biblical fiction will certainly want to read this one, but anyone who enjoys historical fiction with romance, where the characters just happen to be from the Bible will certainly want to read this memorable story. I can't wait to read the next book in this exciting series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361247483000, "title": "Rebekah" }, { "asin": "0800720733", "rating": 4, "text": "I love books that take place around the time of the Civil War so \"When the Heart Heals\" was a much anticipated read for me. This book takes place during 1867 in Noble Springs, Missouri. Rosemary Saxon was a nurse during the civil war, but with the war over she has to support herself somehow so she decides to work for Dr. Elijah Stewart the doctor in town.Rosemary believes in using herbal remedies and often gives out advice against which is something the doctor doesn't care for, which often causes them to butt heads on occasion. As they work together an attraction grows, but someone comes along that has Rosemary thinking she needs to leave town. Rosemary also finds herself having problems because of some advice that she has given to someone about herbs. How will things work out for Rosemary? Will she be accepted for who she is, and does she and Elijah work things out?<br /><br />While I felt like I ultimately knew how things would work out for the main characters it was such a wonderful story that gets me to that conclusion. I am such a fan of sweet romance,as well as strong women that don't often conform to what society thinks that they should be.The plot moves along at a good pace, and the author sprinkles a bit of suspense to make it more interesting. I love when we get a pet woven into a story and with this one we have Rosemary's dog Bodie. Overall, while I knew where this story was headed I certainly enjoyed the telling that gets us there. Fans of historical fiction who also enjoy a good clean read will certainly love this one. While this book is the second in the Sisters at Heart series it can easily be read as a stand alone work.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361697768000, "title": "When the Heart Heals" }, { "asin": "1596693584", "rating": 4, "text": "\"The Moses Quilt\" is a story that will capture the heart and provide you with a surprising yet satisfying ending!<br /><br />Mazie Hartford is a 24 year old whose life seems to be falling right into place, she recently finished college, and is set to take a job in the fall. Added to that her boyfriend Edward, a lawyer in his fathers firm has ask her to marry him. Thing is she has been dragging her feet, hesitant to say yes. Her great-grandmother moved in with Mazie and her mother five years ago, leaving the deep South for California. Now at the age of 93 her great-grandmother Mimi knows that her time left is coming to an end and wants to pass on a family heirloom to her namesake Mazie. The heirloom is a Moses quilt and along with the quilt is the telling of the history behind the quilt. Perhaps Mimi's story of family history will help Mazie make up her mind about her future.<br /><br />There are two stories going on in the pages of this book. The contemporary romance between Mazie and Edward, which happens to be an interracial relationship. The secondary story is the story behind the Moses Quilt, and that was truly the stand out story for me, because with Mimi's story we learn about Harriet Tubman. We learn where she came from, the cruel treatment she endured and ultimately why she was so adamant to see her people be free. I always enjoy getting a history lesson along with a fictional read and that's just what I found woven into the pages of \"The Moses Quilt.\" While the romance was ok it was Mimi and her story that made this book a real winner for me. A great way to learn a bit about African American History.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361744761000, "title": "History lesson was stand out for me" }, { "asin": "1621360210", "rating": 5, "text": "Cassandra Todd finds herself needing to leave her home in the middle of the night, her husband Brad is an abusive man, and while Cassandra was willing to take his beatings when he threatens to turn the abuse on their son Justin she knows it's time to leave. She heads to Lakewood, the town she grew up in hoping to cash in some bonds that her parents left her and then disappear When the bank transaction takes a bit longer than she anticipates she finds herself needing to spend a few days in town and checks into The Mountain View Motel. When hired men show up she finds herself needing the help of the motel handyman.<br />Turner Caldwell's high school years is something he has tried to put behind him. Bullied unmercifully by the jocks, especially Brad Duncan, who even gave him the nickname \"Pancake.\" Turner always had a crush on Cassandra Todd, but she was one of the popular crowd, a cheerleader. After being gone for seven years Cassandra shows up with her young son Justin and stays a few nights at the motel where Turner works, causing those old feelings and emotions to bubble to the surface. When she shows up at his door and tells him that she is running from her husband, who just happens to be Brad Duncan,and needs his help Turner finds himself in the midst of something that could possibly change his life forever.<br /><br />I found myself intrigued within the first few pages of this story. Cassandra finds herself needing to leave an abusive husband, and winds up going back to her home town. How ironic that the boy that was bullied in high school by her husband is the one she turns to for help. While I could empathize with Cassandra and her plight, I really felt for Turner and the memories that haunted him.I could understand why he was angry with God. In addition to the bullying he had experienced in high school, he had also lost a job he loved, his mother had died, and his father sort of abandoned him. Cassandra on the other hand held fast to her faith and felt like God was leading her.<br /><br />The author tackles two pretty tough subjects within the pages of this story, spousal abuse and bullying. Cassandra was willing to accept the abuse for herself, but refused to allow her husband to abuse her son. I thought the author really shined when it came to showcasing just how bullying can haunt someone for years. Overall I found this to be a very fast paced story laced with suspense, drama, along with several inspirational, motivational messages as well. Recommended!<br /><br />A review copy was provided by Glass Roads PR in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1362628135000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "080072089X", "rating": 3, "text": "\"Moonlight Masquerade\" is a Regency Romance set in London during 1813. Lady Celine Wexham was French born, but married an English Earl. Thing is her husband, was older,and not very nice. After his death she has money and wealth, which allows her to help those in need. Thing is the English government thinks that she may be a spy and sends Rees Phillips to work undercover as her butler to find out the truth.<br /><br />Regency romance isn't a genre that I normally read, so I was excited to try this one. While the story was really slow to pick up in the beginning, it did pick up, but never really held my attention. I hoped for a fast paced spy drama with romance woven in, but I was left wishing that there had been more romance between the two main characters. I did enjoy the historical aspects of the story, and thought that Rees was a very likable character. Overall, just a middle of the road read for me that didn't excite or inspire, I would say that if you enjoy a historical read, set during the regency era, you might enjoy this book. It just really wasn't my cup of tea.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1362959943000, "title": "Moonlight Masquerade" }, { "asin": "0764209914", "rating": 5, "text": "I found myself drawn into this story from the beginning. Molly Lovelace has always been treated like Daddy's little princess, and because everyone seemed to think that she was just a pretty female, who loved to shop, without a true thought in her head that's just how she acts. Her father has decided who he wants her to marry and doesn't plan on giving her a say in matters. Thing is she already has her heart set on someone, and that someone isn't who her father has in mind for her. He wants her to marry someone wealthy, such as Edward Pierrepont, but she can't get the cowboy Bailey Garner out of her heart. Will she go against her father, who does she ultimately choose?<br />I really enjoyed Regina Jenning's first novel, \"Sixty Acres and a Bride\" so I was totally anxious to read this one, and as a fan of historical romantic fiction this book certainly suited me to a tee! Once I got Molly's story I totally understood why she acted the way she did, after all her father Thomas had certain expectations of her. I also understood her feelings for Bailey, after all they had been childhood friends. I could just imagine the pressure that Bailey felt in finding a job so that he would be financially \"secure\" enough to support Molly in the way that she was accustomed. the on again off again twisty relationship between the pair kept me guessing as to how things might work out. I felt like the author created authentic characters for the time period For me though it was their spiritual development that really made the characters shine. I enjoyed seeing several of the characters from \"Sixty Acres and a Bride,\" but did feel like the author provided enough information that this could be read as a stand alone novel. Fans of historical romance with an inspirational slant will certainly enjoy this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1363743376000, "title": "Love In The Balance" }, { "asin": "1451574827", "rating": 4, "text": "\"The Gospel Centered Woman\" is a Bible study that not only discusses what God created his daughters to be, but how to achieve and live his plan without feeling oppressed but instead uplifted and exalted.<br /><br />This Bible study is broken down into three sections with the first section titled Created in God's Image which delves into what God create women to be, and how they are created to bear the image of God. This section also touches on the fall of man and woman. \"Section two titled Redeemed to Reflect God Once More\" touches on topics such as forgiving and being forgiven, finding contentment, and how the Gospel can unite women with Christ. Section three is titled \"Wisdom in the Tension\" and is geared at helping women navigate through daily life.<br /><br />Overall, I found this an easy to use Bible study and really appreciated how the author doesn't just give us her opinion but instead provides us with scripture that allows us to understand and read where she is coming from. I found it helpful that she includes a blank page at the end of each chapter so that we can take notes on what we have read. The discussion questions included would make this a great Bible study for women's groups. Many of the questions are geared to make the reader reflect not only on what they have read but also what they might be dealing with in their own lives. My only complaint is that I wish the questions would have been placed at the end of each chapter instead at the back of the book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1364435962000, "title": "The Gospel Centered Woman" }, { "asin": "0764207970", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Unrivaled\" takes place in St. Louis Missouri in 1910. Lucy Kendall's family owns the City Confectionery candy company, but it looks like that might change. Their company had struggled financially, but after Lucy's father has a heart attack, it looks like the answer might be to sell out, or at least that's what Lucy's mother wants to do. Lucy doesn't want to see that happen and begs her mother to reconsider. When her mother agrees to give Lucy a month to try and save the business by creating a new candy, there is one stipulation attached. Lucy must also go to the Veiled Prophet Ball, because Lucy's mother thinks it's well past time that Lucy find a husband and settle down. Lucy agrees but her plan is to unveil her new candy at the ball.<br /><br />Charlie Clarke's father left the family when he was only seven years old, so he had grown up hating his father, but not really knowing him. Now at the age of twenty-two after getting into a bit of trouble his mother contacts his father who offers him a job working for him in the Royal Taffy company in St. Louis. When he arrives in town he literally runs into Lucy, and she feels something too, but thing is neither one knows who the other is. Will the company rivalry keep the two apart, or ultimately bring them together?<br /><br />\"Unrivaled\" easily pulled me back in time, allowing for a unique glimpse of the candy making business during the early 1900's. We see the story unfold thru the eyes of two main characters. The author alternates between Lucy and Charlie's perspective, but does it in a smooth easy to follow way. Lucy sincerely wanted to keep the family business, even though during the time period women in business wasn't the norm. Thing is Lucy didn't seem to care how her actions affected others, although as the story progresses it is nice to see Lucy grow and change. I really could understand and empathize with Charlie more because he was struggling with issues from the past. There were a few secondary characters that really added to the story.<br /><br />Overall, I think my favorite parts of this story actually revolved around the candy making, I could just imagine Lucy as she was making taffy. I also got a few laughs when things didn't turn out quite right. If your a fan of historical fiction with romance, inspiration, along with a company rivalry and a bit of mystery woven into the mix then your in for a sweet treat with \"Unrivaled' by Siri Mitchell.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1364748712000, "title": "Unrivaled" }, { "asin": "1433671689", "rating": 5, "text": "Invisible\" takes place in Fort Bragg, CA and told with four unique voices. Dr. Miles Becker, who lost his wife Sarah to cancer, but before she died she made him promise her that he would move on, even suggesting someone for him to get to know. Ellyn DeMoss is a chef who runs her own restaurant She is very critical of herself because she is carrying several extra pounds.Sabina Jackson, is a counselor who says that she is taking a short sabbatical, but in truth she thinks that she is mildly depressed. There is more going on in Sabina's life than she is willing to admit. Twila Boaz had weight issues and was finally diagnosed with anorexia but now recovering she works with her mother at a health food store and uses tattoos in order to cover up her body, but also to express her feelings. Each of these characters lend their voice to \"Invisible\" and as their stories unfold, they blend together making for a remarkable tale with several powerful messages.<br /><br />I was afraid that this book might get confusing because it had four unique stories, but instead the voices and stories are so unique that it is easy to understand and follow along. While I found each characters story interesting, I have to say that Ellyn was the character that really resonated with me. Her poor self image and struggle with weight was something that is very relevant in today's society. Her inner voice that she named Earl, was very negative. Because she was so disappointed in herself she was certain that she was a disappointment to God as well. When the doctor shows an interest in her she can't imagine what he would see in her, even thinking there might be something wrong with him.<br />Overall, this was a story where the characters are struggling with issues that were very relatable, but more than that left the message of God's love and acceptance. Not a light fluffy read, instead the author crafts characters that are so easy to relate too, because each in their own way are struggling with things that are relevant in today's society. The discussion questions provided at the end of the story would make this a great group read. A story that will inspire and challenge, and maybe even motivate.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1365133412000, "title": "Invisible" }, { "asin": "0824932463", "rating": 5, "text": "Six months after the death of their mother Caroline Marris, along with her sisters Gracie Gold and Sam Carter plan a two week getaway to Nantucket a place their mother loved. While strolling on the beach they arrive at the Misty Harbor Inn, a place their mother dreamed of owning and are surprised at the condition of the old inn. The sisters decide to purchase the inn even though it will take a lot of work to get it ready to open. When they find some old postcards they are find themselves immersed in the mystery of Hannah Montague, the widow of the original owner. Can they figure out what happened to her?Will the sisters be able to get the inn open, and will this adventure draw them together or pull them apart?<br /><br />I loved the family feel of this novel. Each sister has their own unique personality giving this story a very realistic feel. Because the sisters are older I found myself easily relating to them. I could easily understand Gracie's reluctance at wanting to leave her home, but she also needed to reestablish a relationship with her sisters. In addition to the family drama going on they are renovating the inn and if that isn't enough there is an air of mystery about a former owner. \"Seaside Harmony\" is the first book in the Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn series and is the perfect way to escape for a few hours. I have always been a fan of Guideposts series and this one promises not to disappoint With elements of faith interwoven with family drama, a hint of mystery along with a splash of romance, I really look forward to my next visit to the Misty Harbor Inn.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1366945739000, "title": "Seaside Harmony" }, { "asin": "0824932471", "rating": 5, "text": "It's spring in Nantucket and the girls have been working all year to get the Inn in tip top shape to open and what better time to have the grand opening than while the town is celebrating with the Daffodil festival. We get to meet the guests , but more than that the mystery of the previous owner continues to unfold.<br /><br />The three sisters really make this a stand out series, it's so nice to see their relationships grow and change as the story progresses. I always enjoy whenever an animal is included in a story and we Max, Carolines cocker spaniel continues to make appearances in this story. I think the element of mystery that is woven into the story really adds to the storyline. I found the historical aspects of the mystery quite interesting. \"Sunflower Summer\" is the second book in the Postcards From Misty Harbor Inn series and I really think that to understand the story completely the books should be read in order. A wonderful setting, interesting characters along with elements of faith, and the mystery woven in really held my attention and has me anxious to read the next book in this series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1366946318000, "title": "Sunflower Summer" }, { "asin": "0800722256", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been a fan of Melody Carlson for years. She does a wonderful job of pulling me into whatever story she is writing, making me understand the characters and whatever they might be going thru.<br /><br />\"A Simple Song\" is the story of Katrina Yoder. She has always enjoyed singing, but in her Amish world it is a sin, and therefore it is forbidden.Katrina's friend Bekka has been watching a show called American Star and really thinks that Katrina should try out for the show. For Katrina though the reason to step out into the Englisher world is more complicated than that. Her father needs to have surgery, and \"American Star\" just might be the way that Katrina could win the money, and since she hasn't been baptized into the church yet, she will go while on her rumspringa. What will her parents and community say? Will they accept her back into the community, and if she wins the money will her parents accept it! Can an Amish girl stay true to her roots while thrust into the Englisher spotlight! Read this page turning story to find out!<br />I found \"A Simple Song,\" to be a nice, quick read that is filled with interesting characters that are easy to like. I could easily understand Katrina and the choices she made. I thought it was interesting how her grandfather encouraged singing at her grandmother's funeral. The reason that was revealed was touching and allowed me to further understand Katrina's story. I found the behind the scenes descriptions of \"American Star\" interesting, and while I kind of knew how things might work out it was still fun to see how Melody Carlson would allow things to work out! Overall, this fun little read, is great for teens but also a quick read for adults who enjoy Amish fiction as well.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1371435536000, "title": "Another great story from Melody Carlson" }, { "asin": "0764209663", "rating": 5, "text": "When an outlaw's daughter want's a preacher for her birthday, what's her outlaw daddy to do but have someone go out and kidnap,or preachernap,one for her! After all it's Joanna Robbins twenty-first birthday and she deserved something big, after all she is still grieving the loss of her mother.Truth is Jo has been praying for a preacher to come along and help revive their little community church, but she never imagined the lengths her father would go to to bring a preacher to her. When her father kidnaps Crockett Archer and brings him home for her birthday she knows she will have to let him go because he has other plans, but she can't help but hope he might decide to stay!<br />I found myself immediately drawn to this book because of the cover,and title,after all I couldn't imagine what \"Stealing The Preacher\" might entail, but I have to say it was the attention grabbing story that kept me turning the pages to see where and what would happen next! I found myself loving these characters and even understanding the reasoning of why Joanna's father did what he did! I loved the lively conversations that literally brings the story to life. I also enjoyed the historical feel of the story! Fans of historical fiction that enjoy stories that provide more than a few laughs along with several smiles, a lively cast of characters and a nice, inspirational romance will find themselves devouring \"Stealing The Preacher\" in one sitting, I know that I did! An unputdownable read for me!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1371527327000, "title": "Fun historical read" }, { "asin": "1433679302", "rating": 5, "text": "Daphne Ballinger's left her small town life in Appleton with high hopes of having a writing career in the Big Apple. Thing is it's thirteen years later, and she is finds herself stuck in a job that is far from what she hoped for, sharing the same apartment, and still heartsore from a relationship from ten years ago when a boyfriend burned her bad. When she gets a call from her father that her rather eccentric ninety-one year old aunt Dee passed away she goes home. She is soon surprised that her aunt left her sole beneficiary of everything that she owned, including a beautiful old Victorian, a vintage Corvette and plenty of money, there is just a couple of snafu's her aunt left some pretty specific requirements and Daphne has a year to fulfill her aunt's wishes. If she doesn't the house will be given to the \"Cat House\" the shelter where she adopted her beloved kitties Lucy and Ethel. As several secrets come to light about Aunt Dee Daphne learns things that she would have never guessed. Will Daphne leave New York behind and move back to Appleton, and if she does will she be able to meet the requirements of Dee's will?<br /><br />Melody Carlson is one of my all time favorite writers, her versatile writing skills, has taken me on several adventures and \"Lock, Stock, and Over a Barrel\" allows me to watch Daphne Ballinger go from someone who seemed unhappily stuck in her life to someone with choices if only she can embrace them. Daphne is a character that is so easy to relate to, she was someone that had hopes and dreams, but after years of the same old same old her life was in a rut! I enjoyed seeing the changes that precipitated in her life once she returned to Appleton. Plenty of secondary characters really stood out for me including Daphne's dad, his life was in transition as well, and the secrets that he learned about Aunt Dee was something that he took in stride.Even though Aunt Dee has passed away, her character played such an integral role in the plot, she seemed like a fun loving someone, who did have a few regrets and hoped to keep Daphne from making some of the same mistakes. Ms. Carlson's descriptions easily allowed me to feel the small town setting of the story, and the advice column reminded me of Dear Abby! While there is an inspirational bent to the story, it isn't overwhelming, and seemed perfectly plausible I will say the author certainly left me hanging with the ending, and I know I will keep wondering until the next installment how things will work out for Daphne! If you have never read anything by Ms. Carlson this book is the perfect time to start, or if you're like me and are a long time fan, you're not going to want to miss this one. I only hope readers don't have to wait long for the next installment in the Dear Daphne series!", "timestamp": 1372298844000, "title": "Can't wait to read book two in the series!" }, { "asin": "0800721381", "rating": 4, "text": "I have become a fan of Biblical historical fiction and \"Claudia\" is the story of a character in the Bible that is only mentioned once, but Diana Wallis Taylor doesn't let that stop her from creating a compelling story that not only brings the characters but Biblical times to life, a time when woman really had to make the best of the situations that they found themselves in.At the age of sixteen Claudia is married to Pontius Pilate , and truly loves her husband even though it was an arranged marriage.After the marriage they move to Judea where Claudia has a dream about Jesus and the role her husband will play in his crucifixion.The author certianly knew how to bring this timeperiod to life, I could just imagine the places that was described in the story. I also recognized a few Biblical characters woven into the story along with Claudia and her husband. It was nice to see a different side of Pontius Pilate, a side that only his wife Claudia saw.Even though a fictionalized story, the author makes the story believable by providing enough facts to give a sense of realism. Overall fans of historical fiction will enjoy this story, but if you enjoy historical fiction with a Biblical slant then this is a must read for you.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1372649884000, "title": "Claudia" }, { "asin": "0800721594", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Dolled Up to Die is the second book in the Cate Kinkaid mystery series and really can be read as a stand alone work, but honestly it's such a good cozy little mystery that you're probably going to want to go back and read the first book just because you're going to want more of these characters!<br /><br />When Cate Kinkaid was hired by her uncle Joe to work as an assistant investigator for Belmont Investigations he made it perfectly clear that they only handled routine investigations such as background checks, serving subpoenas and the like, thing is it seems murder cases keep cropping up in the town of Eugene, Oregon and Cate somehow finds herself in the middle of the action! The latest call is from a woman saying there has been a triple shooting, well how can Cate not help at the scene of a triple homicide especially when the caller might still be in danger. When she arrives on the scene though she does find three victims, and quickly discovers a fourth, thing is three of the gunshot victims are life sized dolls!<br /><br />\"Dolled Up to Die\" is one of those stories that you start reading and the next thing you know you are finished. The story moves along at such a fast pace that the pages just fly by. I love the character of Cate, she is a bumbling PI that provides more than a few laughs. She often talks to her fat cat Octavia, and is rescued more than once by her boyfriend Mitch. With several suspects the author doesn't make it easy to figure out who-dun-it with this one. Anyone who enjoys a fast paced cozy mystery with more than a few laughs and a bumbling heroine will certainly enjoy \"Dolled Up to Die!\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1374460138000, "title": "Fast paced cozy mystery" }, { "asin": "1595547827", "rating": 4, "text": "Amy Lange is grieving the loss of her brother Ben and really can't wrap her mind around the fact that it was an \"accident.\" When she receives an email stating that she might want to take a trip to Hope Island hinting that her brother Ben had secrets that actually led to his death, she decides to take the trip to Rosemary Cottage on Hope Island a place that is dear to her hoping to find solace and even thinking of moving her midwifery practice there. Mostly though she is hoping to find the answers she needs so that she can truly understand her brother's death.<br /><br />While this is the second book in the Hope Beach series by Colleen Coble it can easily be read as a stand alone work. I found myself swept into the story from the beginning pages when Gina, Curtis Ireland's sister is basically run down by a motorboat, thing is she recognized the person on the boat, but who was it? That along with wanting to know about Ben and what happened to him propelled me into this story to find the answers! Suspense filled with more than a few twists kept me turning the pages,and the romance was a nice bonus. Ms. Coble captured the beauty of the area that she writes about, allowing the setting to come to life for me. Overall, anyone who enjoys mystery/suspense with a sweet romance and a nice christian theme woven in will enjoy this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1374462505000, "title": "Rosemary Cottage" }, { "asin": "1433678209", "rating": 5, "text": "I was drawn to \"In Golden Splendor\" because I am always interested in a good historical read, and I got just what I hoped for with this novel. This story draws the reader back to the mid 1800's during the California Gold Rush.<br /><br />Seamus Handley's past was rife with disappointment, and he is haunted by a past that he just can't seem to overcome. How though did this Irishman wind up living in self exile in the Rocky Mountain Wilderness, where it seems that the lack of food might do him in. It seems though fate has something else in store for Seamus though when he finds a letter from a woman in San Francisco asking for help he has nothing to lose by heading to California. The journey he embarks on will test his mettle. Will Seamus find what he is looking for in California?<br /><br />Mr. Reynolds weaves together an epic historical tale that comes to life in the pages of this story. I found it easy to envision the journey that Seamus embarked on. Since I didn't read the first book in the story I was really interested in who Seamus was and what his background might have been. The author does a great job of providing enough information to make this a stand alone story. I became totally invested in Seamus' story wanting to know how it would end. Rich details, really brought the story to life for me, and wanting to know how things would work out for Seamus kept me reading. There were so many secondary characters that we meet on the journey that play unique roles in the story that kept it moving along. Overall, a rich historical read, blended with romance, suspense, and an inspirational message that reminds the reader of God's love. I enjoyed this book so much that I plan on going back to read the first book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1375675395000, "title": "An Epic Journey" }, { "asin": "0824932595", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Whispers On The Dock\" take readers back to Misty Harbor Inn allowing us to reconnect with the three sisters that run the Inn. With this installment the main focus is on the youngest sister Sam who enjoys baking, and hopes to enter the Summerfield baking contest. In addition to the baking contest there is the unique characters that check into the inn as well as the mystery that the three sisters are still trying to solve.<br /><br />What a wonderful, relaxing read each of the books in the series turned out to be. Even though it had been a couple of months since I read the first two books in the series it was so easy to fall right back into the storyline, because I felt like I was connecting with old friends. I thought the storyline revolving around Hannah Montague was really interesting, it was fun to see the clues unfold around this mystery. Overall, I found this book to be well written and the plot moves along well, I found the storyline relaxing and easy to read. This book is the third book in a series and really the first two books should be read to get the most from this one. Cozy mystery light is how I would describe this one, because there was a mystery but there really was much more than just the mystery going on in the story.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1378012226000, "title": "Return to Misty Harbor" }, { "asin": "0825442141", "rating": 5, "text": "Hope is often difficult to find when life throws curves our way that cause not only our heart to hurt but also damage our spirit. Instead we often close ourselves off and try and protect ourselves from further hurt, shutting off our heart in a sense to protect it. With \"Wounded Women of the Bible\" the author shares the stories of twelve different women of the Bible linking their stories with stories from today that allowed me to connect with the Biblical stories on a greater level,providing hope and encouragement reminding that we can overcome and become stronger with the help of God. I would have to say that my favorite female character in the Bible had to be Ruth, and the author's focus on her story had me thinking deeper about Ruth and what she really went thru. The author's easy to read, friendly feeling writing made this a stand out book for me. While I enjoyed reading the stories of the \"Wounded Women of the Bible\" I also found the personal stories that the authors share to be inspirational and encouraging. Overall, I think this book is a must read for women young and old, filled with inspiration and encouragement that remind the reader of God's strength and love. The study guide and discussion questions that are included make this a fantastic book for group study, personally myself I have been using the book like a Bible study, taking each chapter and turning it into a weeks worth of study and reflection.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1379190499000, "title": "Encouraging" }, { "asin": "1859857663", "rating": 5, "text": "Bumper Wipe Clean Activities book is chock full of fun things that focus on the Bible. A study book that will withstand quite a bit of use.A sturdy cover, with the wipe free pages makes this a book that will be reused often. There is a handy holder so the pen doesn't get lost from the book and the spiral binding makes it's easy for young hands to use. Bright colors and easy to read vocabulary might just light the spark of reading with your youngster. The simple activities are best suited for youngsters probably five and under, I think that perhaps an older child may find the activities a little to simplistic. Some of the activities include dot to dot, matching pairs, finding the hidden object, and mazes. I think this book would make a wonderful gift, perfect for taking along when you need to keep your youngster occupied. I would easily recommend this book to anyone looking for a sturdy book that because of the wipe free pages can be reused.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1379561007000, "title": "Good Value for a sturdy product" }, { "asin": "0800723074", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite types of books to read when I was a child was books filled jokes, so this one really brought back a lot of memories. I remembered a few of the jokes I read, and had more than a bit of fun reading the tongue twisters, something that I have never gotten good at! A book that it chock full of good, clean, jokes that is sure to tickle the funny bone, and have youngsters trying the jokes out on their friends. This book is basically like three books in one, with laugh out loud jokes for kids, zoolarious animal jokes for kids, and of course my favorite knock knock jokes, there are also tongue twisters but I was pleasantly surprised by the did you know tidbits that were filled with interesting fun facts. Many of these little facts were totally new to me! Certainly a book that will appeal to youngsters but it might also appeal to those of us that remember joke books as a kid, I know it brought back a few fond memories for me!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1390780300000, "title": "Funny with a few fun facts as well." }, { "asin": "0062204467", "rating": 5, "text": "A new series by Shelley Shepard Gray, boy I couldn't wait to dive into this one, and once I did I really couldn't put this book down until I finished it! I love books set in Sugarcreek, Ohio because it's a place I visit often so it's the familiar that really hooks me. With this book we get the story of Miriam Zehr and Albert (Junior) Beiler. Miriam longs to have a family of her own. Thing is she feels like the only way she will ever find a special someone is to leave Sugarcreek. When Junior Beiler seeks her out she is thrilled could it be that finally someone is interested in her?<br /><br />Such a delightful beginning to a promising new series. I loved these characters, and I found Miriam so easy to connect with. Who doesn't have problems with self image, and it's wonderful to see Amish portrayed as real people with real issues. Often writers create Amish characters that seem to perfect, but Ms. Gray always makes me feel like I could be reading about anyone, Amish or English because of the realism of her characters. I couldn't help but be drawn in wondering whether Miriam would ever find love, if Junior would realize what was right within his grasp. Plenty of secondary characters keeps the plot zipping along, making for a quick yet satisfying read! Hopeful is perfect for Amish fans, but anyone looking for a great read that just happens to be about the Amish will find Ms. Gray's writing easy to connect with, written with depth, but also a touching tenderness and there is a bit of mystery as well. Hopeful leaves me anxious to read the next book in the Return to Sugarcreek Series!", "timestamp": 1391708358000, "title": "I'm hooked on this new series" }, { "asin": "0800722264", "rating": 4, "text": "Melody Carlson is one of my favorite author's and My Amish Boyfriend is a real example of why she has achieved that position in my heart. She has the uncanny ability to produce a page turning read that also provides plenty of life lessons woven in. With My Amish Boyfriend we meet sixteen year old Shannon McNamara who thinks that she has her summer all planned, but when she arrives home from school her friendly neighbor who has been helping out with her sick mother informs her that she has been in contact with her mother's family in Ohio and plans are in place for them to go there. So instead of spending the summer in Indiana she finds her world turned upside down when they head to Ohio to meet family that she never new about. What adventures and life lessons are in store for Shannon? Pick up My Amish Boyfriend and find out!<br /><br />Ms. Carlson deals with several very real issues in this story, Shannon is living in a single parent home after the death of her father. Her mom worked full time until she got sick, and she really doesn't seem to be getting any better. Learning about a family that you never knew about is one thing but learning to deal with them on a daily basis is quite another, especially when they are Amish. I really liked the character of Shannon,and truly felt like her character developed well, except for the relationship that developed between her and Ezra. It felt rushed, I do get that she is sixteen and they during that age they fall in love at the drop of a hat, but it really felt rushed, and I was a bit surprised at Ezra as well. Overall, I liked the story, and enjoyed watching Shannon grow and change, especially as she learns about her family, Ms. Carlson allowed me to feel the emotions that Shannon felt. A story about faith and family, and the fact that life isn't always easy.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1393785146000, "title": "My Amish Boyfriend" }, { "asin": "1426752792", "rating": 5, "text": "I have really enjoyed reading each book in the&#34;Quilt Of Love&#34; series. What makes them unique is that each book is written by a different author,allowing us to sample each author's writing style. One thing is a constant though through each book and that's the fact that a quilt plays a part in each story. As someone who enjoys the Needlework art of quilting that in itself really drew me to the series, but the splendid writing of each author continues to bring me back for each new book.<br /><br /> In a Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare the Native American story line and the historical time frame really made this one of my favorite books in this series! Frankie Chasing Bear is a Lakota woman living in the 1950's whose grandmother taught her the art of quilting, but more than that she shared the heritage behind the Lakota Star quilt and the importance of keeping that heritage alive for generations to come. When Frankie's husband dies she leaves Pine Ridge, South Dakota moving to Arizona hoping for a better life for her ten year old son Harold, but will life be any easier there?<br /><br />A richly woven story that really brought not only the time period to life, but allowed me to feel as if I was getting a bit of a history lesson as I read the story. I could feel the turmoil that was a part of that time. My favorite character had to be Frankie, she was a young mother like any other wanting what was best for her young son. She was such a strong, brave character, who really wanted Harold, her son to know about his heritage. The author provides more than a few twists to keep the plot moving, and one of those twists is the character of Nick, who is dealing with his own issues. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction that revolves around Native Americans will be delighted with this story, but honestly it's a great read for anyone who enjoys a story about faith, family and quilts!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1394991200000, "title": "Quilt of Love" }, { "asin": "1414389752", "rating": 5, "text": "Wyoming during the spring of 1882 is where readers will find themselves transported as they read Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman. A story where the author's descriptive writing captures the feel of the old west while providing an intricately woven story that captured my imagination from the beginning paragraphs. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen with Mariah Malone. Her father confessed on his deathbed that he had purchased the Lazy M ranch, the family home with ill gotten gold that belonged to someone else. Mariah does the right thing by writing to the man, never imagining that someone would come along to claim the ranch, but that's just what happens. Slade Donovan comes to claim what belongs to his father, intending to take over the ranch, but will he?<br /><br />The main characters of Mariah and Slade are such well written characters, and the author easily pulled me into their story, making me want the best for them. Slade was one of my favorite characters, rough on the outside, but truly a gentle man. Plenty of secondary characters propel this plot along so that it never lags. Pam Hillman is a new to me author, but I enjoyed Claiming Mariah so much that I plan on checking out her other work. Fans of historical western fiction with romance, suspense, a splash of mystery that is sprinkled with humor and a faith based message will certainly enjoy this page turning read. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1397790648000, "title": "Claiming Mariah" }, { "asin": "0764210580", "rating": 4, "text": "A Sensible Arrangement is the story of Marty Dandridge Olson, a thirty-five year old childless widow of four years whose beloved husband was gored by a longhorn bull. Try as she might time hadn't lessened the pain so she hopes that answering an ad to marry Jake Wythe, a banker who lives in Colorado who is looking for a Texas bride. Jake Wythe hadn't really been lucky in love, his wife left him for another man, and then died a few months later, as a banker for Morgan Bank the board members feel that a man of his standing needs to be married. So he decides to place an ad, and gets an answer from Marty. Will leaving Texas help Marty heal from the pain of her past? Feelings start to develop between them, but one thing is standing in the way, Jake wants to return to Texas and Marty has no desire to return.<br /><br />Truly a unique twist on what I consider the mail-order bride genre. Normally the ad is placed by a farmer looking for a bride, but in this instance it's a banker, and the couple is a bit more mature, with more life experience. Neither one is expecting love, but sometimes love comes when one least expects it! Marty was spunky, the stagecoach scene really showcased her grit and determination,she did have one major flaw though, she was sometimes a bit reckless with the truth, but the author handled that issue in a very real and spiritual way.Jake is someone who is still dealing with past hurts from loves gone wrong. The feelings that develop between them was ok, but I found the historical aspects to be just as interesting. Several secondary characters really kept the plot moving along. A Sensible Arrangement is more than just another mail order bride tale, its light on romance, but provides a bit of mystery, humor and a faith based message along with enough loose ends which makes me anxious to read the next book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1398029386000, "title": "A Unique twist on the mail order bride genre" }, { "asin": "0310730538", "rating": 5, "text": "Alone Yet Not Alone by Tracy Leininger that sweeps readers back to the autumn of 1755 where we meet the Leininger family, German Immigrants who have come to America looking for a new life. They settle in the Blue Mountains of PA that overlook Penn's Creek. The family of six consists of Ma and Pa along with Christian,John, Barbara, and Regina. Their faith in God is strong, and they are very thankful for all their good fortune, which includes living peacefully among the Indians.With the French-Indian War brewing though things change dramatically and one afternoon two Indian braves barge into the cabin and kidnap Barbara who is twelve and Regina age nine. The girls are soon separated and taken far from home, but they never give up hope that someday they will be together again!<br /><br />What an amazing story of faith and family, and what makes this book even better is that it is based on a true story. The author does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life within the pages of this story. I became swept up in the saga that the girls faced, and often wondered how or if they would ever be reunited with their mother. The author's attention to detail made the various scenes pop off the pages, I could easily envision the settings, whether it was the cabin, or an Indian village, the richness of detail allowed me to feel as if I was part of the story instead of just reading it. A great read for young and old alike, especially anyone who enjoys history. An easy to read story that is certainly reminds readers of the importance of never wavering in your faith in knowing that God is always with us even in our darkest hour.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1398829524000, "title": "Rich in historical detail" }, { "asin": "1859855865", "rating": 5, "text": "The Candle Bible Handbook brings the Old and New Testaments of the Bible to life by combining visual as well as scriptural information about all sixty-six books of the Bible.There is an outline of each book along with frequently asked questions and plenty of interesting information that allows for a very good overview of each book of the Bible there are even study questions included for further thought. I found the illustrations to be top notch enhancing the subjects. I have actually been studying the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and the illustrations and information included was invaluable to me in helping me visualize the tabernacle. There is also a list of the promises in the Bible, along with important passages, important people and big ideas that will further enhance the usefulness of this wonderful reference book. While the book is geared toward 8-12 year old group it really is a perfect companion for those of any age that want's to familiarize themselves with the major elements of the Bible. Great for home study or any teaching forum for that matter, an invaluable tool that really brings the Bible to life a perfect building block for anyone wanting to study their Bible.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1399945301000, "title": "Great for any age" }, { "asin": "0800721608", "rating": 4, "text": "Cate Kinkaid has a knack for finding a mystery, and with Death Takes a Ride it's no different. She has no idea that she was going to be a witness to a robbery and shooting and the victim just might not make it. To complicate matters Cate is hired to investigate, but here's the deal, she isn't hired to investigate the shooting, instead she is looking for the owner of a particular motorcycle. Of course things rarely are what they seem, and Cate always finds herself up to her eyeballs in a who-dun-it!<br /><br />I always enjoy a good mystery and this series has certainly provided that. My only complaint was that I figured out the ending early, which was sort of a bummer. That said, I always enjoy the humor that is woven into the Cate Kinkaid Files, and I think Cate's character continues to get stronger with each installment. I love whenever animals are woven into a story and with this one we have a cat and dog! Overall this book is a good clean mystery that isn't so hard to solve, but still is well worth reading for anyone who loves a cozy mystery.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1406169950000, "title": "Death Takes A Ride" }, { "asin": "0800723562", "rating": 5, "text": "As an animal lover, especially dogs there was no way that I could look at this cover and not read the book! Henry is one of those dogs that just loves life, and well also one who seems to find his way into various situations that are often laugh out loud funny, and truly capture the essence of what it truly means to be owned by your dog. Such an easy to relate to story, this book had me reminiscing about my own canines and the puppy stage that caused more than a few mishaps in my own home. The author has a certain way with describing the antics of Henry that I could honestly visualize his various escapades! Anyone who has ever owned a dog will find this a must read, but honestly if you enjoy laughing out loud while reading you are certainly going to want to read Surviving Henry!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1408327687000, "title": "Laugh out loud funny read!" }, { "asin": "0800722884", "rating": 5, "text": "The one book in the Bible I always turn to whenever I need a little comfort is the book of Psalms so I was excited to find a book of devotions based on the book. In today's world it seems there are plenty of hard days, whether you're a stay at home mother or work outside the home. From the bad news that one is bombarded with daily on the evening news or trying to juggle the never ending list that I always seem to need to do , there are plenty of hard days to muddle thru. What Your Heart Needs for the Hard Days not only encourages, but also speaks to the heart providing a needed boost while also reminding that we are never alone! First I want to say I love the size, I would consider it a pocket book, one that will easily slip into a purse or briefcase. The bright cheerful colors used on the cover captures the eye making me want to explore what is inside. Each devotion starts with a scripture from the book of Psalms, then an devotion which touches on different issues that are easy to relate to, It wraps up with a prayer and a place for writing the users own thoughts, something that I find very useful. I love that there is a table of contents so that I can skip to the devotion that I feel I might need to read for the day. Whether you have time to do this as a daily or weekly devotional is up to you, but if you need encouragement and uplifting your going to find it within the pages of this cute little book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1410226203000, "title": "Lovely little devotional for the hard days" }, { "asin": "0800722094", "rating": 5, "text": "Suspense filled, page turning are just a few words that I would use to describe Nowhere To Turn by Lynette Eason.<br />When your married to an abusive husband the only thing to do is leave, but the danger is ramped up when your abusive husband is an FBI agent. When Danielle's husband is shot and killed you would think the worries would be over but honestly they just begin because her husband was into some shady business and now the people he dealt with wants something her husband had, and they are after her to get it!<br /><br />I think my favorite character in this one had to be eleven year old Simon. He was truly a brave young man, and my heart really went out to him. There are so many twists and turns with this story I found myself thinking I knew something only to be taken in the opposite direction. Ms. Eason has become one of my favorite authors because she is able to weave suspense, tension, mystery and drama together with romance to create a very well blended story that provides a plot that doesn't stop.The added bonus is that they are always good clean reads. While this is the second book in the Hidden Identity series it can be read as a stand alone work.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1411353727000, "title": "Edge of your seat page turner" }, { "asin": "0781409179", "rating": 5, "text": "The bright, colorful cover will certainly draw youngsters to this book, but it is the rhyming Bible stories,along with the stunning illustrations inside that are going to hold their attention as they learn about several of the most popular Bible stories. A compilation of twenty Bible stories that will certainly allow your youngster to learn about some of the Bibles most popular characters in rhyming story. I love that the author provides the location in the Bible for the scripture that each story is based on. A few of the stories include Adam and Eve, the story of Queen Esther, and Jonah and the Whale. While I did find a couple of discrepancies within the stories overall the author holds pretty true to the Bible. Overall I think Treasury of Bible Stories is a wonderful addition to any youngsters library, and would also work well for homeschooling or to use in Sunday School. A book that will certainly become a favorite with youth 4 thru 8, and I can easily imagine that even nine and ten year olds might want to read this one themselves. I found it a delightful read that would be perfect for gift giving.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1411955643000, "title": "Eye catching illustrations and rhyming verse make this one a winner" }, { "asin": "0825442052", "rating": 4, "text": "Youngsters are certainly going to enjoy guessing who as they embark on an adventure with Noah as he gatherers animals for the ark. This sturdy little board book is filled with colorful illustrations that will capture the eye and imagination as well. The rhyming story, which is written in easy to read words just might encourage your youngster to try and read along. The rhyming prose with an interactive question will get youngsters to try and guess just what animal is hiding behind the flap.Glossy pages allow for wiping off if something is spilled, the pages are sturdy and the flaps seem to stay in place when they are folded back up. A perfect little gift that surely will become a favorite, the book is geared toward 2-4 year olds and I would say that age range is pretty accurate. Overall a sturdy little storybook that shares the simplistic story that reveals a few of the animals that Noah had on the ark. One that will certainly keep a youngster entertained as they try and Guess Who is on Noah's Boat.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1414808003000, "title": "Guessing who can be lots of fun" }, { "asin": "B00KDN87CW", "rating": 5, "text": "Melody Carlson is one of my favorite authors because her writing covers such a wide variety of genres! With Trading Secrets we get the story of pen pals Micah Knight and Zack Miller, who just happens to be Amish. Thing is Micah is a girl but she never told Zack that, even though they have been sharing letters for several years. Now Micah has a chance to visit Zack on his Amish farm but how is he going to feel when he finds out that his pen pal is actually a female. .<br /><br />There were so many things that I enjoyed about this book.I can remember when I was assigned a pen pal and I think I was probably in the fifth or sixth grade,my pen pal was from England and his name was Adrian, funny story was that my teacher originally thought Adrian was a girl. Anyway back to Trading Secrets. I liked the setting of Ohio for the story, even though that's pretty typical for Amish fiction. It was the plan that Micah came up with that really got me interested, I couldn't help but wonder how she would pull it off, or even if she could. It was great that the storyline revolved around friendship, and how being honest is important. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and would love to see Ms. Carlson turn into a series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1417391561000, "title": "Another great story from Melody Carlson" }, { "asin": "0800722485", "rating": 5, "text": "At Home In Last Chance is the third book in the Place To Call Home a Series by Cathleen Armstrong. This installment pulls readers right back to Last Chance, New Mexico and tells the story of Kaitlyn Reed and Steven Braden. Kaitlyn has made plenty of mistakes in her life, and hopes to change a few when she returns to Last Chance. Steve also has a few things to prove to his family. When a relationship begins to develop between them will their past get in the way or will their hearts finally find a place to call home?<br /><br />I love the town of Last Chance and was drawn right back into the town and the lives of the characters. i have to admit I really didn't like the character of Kaitlyn in the previous book so I wasn't sure if I would enjoy her story. Well let me say the author totally changed my mind about the character and had me empathizing with her. I loved watching her character grow and change becoming who she needed to be. There is a sense of realism with this entire series that makes it very easy to relate too. I really enjoyed revisiting some of the characters from the previous books but honestly think that this book could be read without having read the other books because the author provides enough background information which allows the reader to connect with the town and characters. An emotionally charged story that grabbed my emotions and made me feel like I was reading about friends.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1422979298000, "title": "Great Series" }, { "asin": "0529103419", "rating": 4, "text": "While everyone around Sarah Montgomery is celebrating the end of the Civil War she finds her heart is broken, longing for Rand Campbell the man who never made it home. Ben Croftner has been coming to call for the past five months and while she knows she will never love him, her family wants her to marry him. Her father is very ill and wants her to take her younger brother and be settled with Ben, her brother Wade just wants to acquire land! Thing is Rand isn't dead, and when Sarah finds out she calls off her wedding, but Ben isn't easily thwarted and decides to take matters into his own hands. Can Sarah and Rand find their way back to each other, and what evilness will Ben try to accomplish in order to keep Sarah for his own?<br /><br />A Heart's Disguise easily pulled me in and wouldn't let go! A short read at only 90 pages there is plenty of life packed into so few pages! It was so easy to imagine Sarah Montgomery and the situation she was placed in. Heartbroken over losing the love of her life she only wanted to ease the mind of her father and appease her brother by marrying someone she didn't love, it seemed though that fate had another idea. Ms. Coble captures the time period right after the war where families were forced to go on even though they were grieving the loss of unreturned loved ones,but we also glimpse the time of celebration that the war was over!This short installment did what it set out to do, it left me wanting more of the story! Of course a sneak peek for A Heart's Obsession the next installment in the Journey of the Heart Series is included at the end. This series of books is taken from the previously published Wyoming Series. Overall fans of historical fiction that takes place right after the civil war will enjoy A Heart's Disguise, but honestly anyone who enjoys a story that blends faith, family and longing should also check it out!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1426467202000, "title": "The waiting for the next installment is the hardest part!" }, { "asin": "1938499867", "rating": 5, "text": "God, Me, And Sweet Iced Tea is like a refreshing sip of peace and tranquility in a sea of the turmoil that one often finds with everyday life. Rose Chandler provides just the right amount of content for her daily readings so that one can read them in just a few minutes but I guarantee you the uplifting messages will resonate with you through out the day. There are fifty-three devotions that share the authors successes but also her struggles, which is something that makes this a very easy devotional book to connect with. The author's faith is evident in each of her devotions, she shares her not only her love for God but also her ability to turn to him in for whatever she needs! Anyone looking for a way to reconnect with God, or perhaps just needing an uplifting way to start their day will certainly find that along with a sweet sense of peace and inspiration as they traverse the pages of God, Me and Sweet Iced Tea.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1430267146000, "title": "A sweet sip of inspiration" }, { "asin": "0718031652", "rating": 5, "text": "A Heart's Obsession is the second installment of The Journey of the Heart series and while a short read really packs plenty of story into a few pages. With this one Rand has headed out west and Sarah soon follows him, but when she arrives things aren't the same between her and Rand. With plenty of action and a non stop plot that really speeds by at a break neck pace this book is one that I just couldn't put down once I started reading it. Ms. Coble makes me feel as if I have stepped right into the lives of the characters, with descriptive writing the setting as well as the characters really come to life. If I had one complaint it's that when I reached the end I was left wanting more! Historical fiction fans especially fans of the time period right after the civil war when the west was becoming settled will find these books hard to put down. While the author provided enough background information with this one that one could probably read it as a stand alone I highly recommend reading the series in order to really get an in depth understanding of the relationships between the characters. Truly a book that leaves me anxiously anticipating the next installment in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1430268731000, "title": "Historical fiction fans will enjoy this series" }, { "asin": "0307731332", "rating": 5, "text": "Family secrets are something that will eventually find their way to light and with this series there are plenty of secrets! With this story Alexa has opened her bed and breakfast in her grandmother's former home, Of course starting a new business is filled with worries so when a young reporter wants to stay at the B and B for a long term stay she readily agrees, but if she knew what his assignment is would she have chosen to do so. With plenty of secrets and more than a few twists this story zooms along making it hard to put down. While the story is told from several points of view Ms. Sawyer transitions smoothly allowing for wonderful clarity . The characters are very well fleshed and easy to connect with. She has a wonderful way of blending faith into the mix of feelings allowing me to totally understand the struggles the characters face. While there are several unanswered questions When Grace Sings is a satisfying read that leaves me longing for the next book in the series!<br />After reading the first book in The Zimmerman Restoration Series I couldn't wait to start this one. This book continues right where the last one left off, saying that though I felt like the author provided enough background information that this one could be read without reading the first book in the series, although I highly recommend it as well. Anyone who enjoys family controversy where secrets abound, faith and a down to earth story where the characters really jump from the pages will enjoy When Grace Sings!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1432264520000, "title": "When Grace Sings" }, { "asin": "0529102781", "rating": 5, "text": "Reading anything by Kathleen Fuller is a guaranteed good read. She has a knack for creating easy to care for characters and as a fan of Amish fiction I feel like she is a top notch writer in the genre. I find it handy that she always provides a glossary for German words used within the story. A solidly written plot that easily pulled me in made this a very enjoyable book to read. Jeremiah Mullet left his Amish community to full fill his dream of becoming a vet, but now he has come back to fill for the vet who ultimately helped him out while he needs to recover from a broken leg. Of course in the process he reconnects with old friends. Anna Mae is one of those friends, she has actually been grappling with what to do with her life for the last several years, of course her mother thinks she should settle down and marry, but she isn't sure what course she wants to take for her life. As she reconnects with Jeremiah one can't help but wonder where the relationship might lead. What is in store for them, he is no longer Amish, so a romantic relationship is out of the question isn't it? What does God have in store for them?<br />This was a solidly written story allowing the pages to fly by. There is another couple in the story that also held my interest. Even though this book is part of a series it really can be read as a stand alone story. Fans of Amish fiction will be thrilled with A Faith Of Her Own, but honestly anyone who enjoys a faith based read with solidly written characters and a sweetly progressing story should give this one a try as well!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1432775145000, "title": "A Faith Of Her Own" }, { "asin": "0718031660", "rating": 5, "text": "I love this series and have been discussing it with a friend of mine and she totally agrees the only dislike is waiting for the next installment of the book, but anticipating what might come next makes it well worth the wait! Truthfully though I actually read the novel Where Leads The Heart the full length novel that this serial story are reprinted from. The saga between Rand and Sarah continue. It's obvious that Rand still loves Sarah but his fiancee is determined to marry him. Plenty of twists provide keep this story moving on at a brisk pace making for a quick historical read that really does leave the reader wanting more! Anyone who enjoys good clean historical fiction where the ending really isn't assured will certainly enjoy this entire series, and speaking of which The Journey of the Heart series should be read in order to understand the complexities of the characters. I really can't wait to read A Heart's Betrayal the next book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1433078037000, "title": "Short historical read" }, { "asin": "0310335884", "rating": 5, "text": "Aaron Ebersol is sort of like the prodigal son returned, you see he left the community of Paradise, Pa years earlier and really didn't keep in close contact with his family, even though his family tried. Now though his mother is sick and he goes home to be with her, thing is he isn't sure how he feels about being back, and more than that how he fits in now. He decides to stay at the Heart of Paradise B&B and soon finds himself developing feelings for Linda Zook. Can their growing friendship become more, can they forgive those that hurt them, but more than that can they forgive themselves?<br /><br />Amy Clipston creates in depth characters who face very real problems within the pages of A Simple Prayer. Those characters are paired together with a well written, easy to follow plot that isn't easy to put down.The conflicts within the story really kept me reading to find out what would ultimately happen.<br />I really enjoy reading Amy Clipston's work but somehow missed a couple of books in the Hearts Of The Lancaster Grand Hotel series but honestly this book is a great stand alone read because the author provides enough background information about the reoccurring characters that I immediately understood who they were. With that said I really hope to go back and read book two and three in the series! Fans of Amish fiction are going to love this story, but anyone looking for a well written story filled with well fleshed characters along with real life issues should give this book a try I really don't think you will be disappointed.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1434131253000, "title": "Great characters make this a stand out read" }, { "asin": "0529103435", "rating": 5, "text": "I have really enjoyed reading this series, and I think that this book A Heart's Betrayal just might be my favorite so far! When Emmie's husband is killed in an accident to say she is devastated is an understatement, but it's the life he never told her about that really shocks her to the core. She decides the only thing to do is to head west to join up with Sarah and Rand, knowing that she will never trust her heart to another again. It doesn't take long though for a kind soldier to begin to breach her defenses. Will she find the new life she is hoping for, and what sort of life will it be?<br /><br />Ms. Coble packs more than a few shocking twists within the pages of A Heart's Betrayal. Emmie's character is easy to relate to, and I couldn't imagine what life might throw at her next! I was rooting for Emmie to find some sort of happiness but couldn't help but wonder about the secret that she carried about her marriage,whether or not it would keep her from finding happiness. The ending leaves me quite anxious to read the next installment in the series! A page turning historical fiction read, that provides easy to like characters and a solid plot that moves along at a quick pace. I do recommend that this series be read in order to fully understand the backgrounds of the characters.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1435548684000, "title": "Quick read that leaves me wanting more!" }, { "asin": "140168596X", "rating": 5, "text": "Her Brother's Keeper by Beth Wiseman is the first book in Ms. Wiseman's newest series Amish Secrets, and judging by this book it's going to be one of her best series yet! Charlotte Dolinsky is an Englisher from Texas who is hurting over the loss of her brother Ethan. You see Ethan went to Pennsylvania to work in construction and then decided to convert to the Amish faith, and was even actually engaged to be married to Hannah King. Why then would he commit suicide? That's what Charlotte wants to know and so she devises a scheme where she disguises herself as a distant Amish cousin of the King family and heads to Pennsylvania to find the answers she is looking for. She is welcomed into the family and even becomes friends with Hannah, but will they continue to be her friend if they find out who she really is? What about her brother's death, what will she learn about his death?<br /><br />Her Brother's Keeper deals with a few tough subjects such as depression, child abuse and suicide, but does so in such a way that instead of feeling overwhelming and depressing it left me feeling inspired and uplifted as the story unfolded, especially as Charlotte began to find her way. Speaking of Charlotte it was fun to watch her become &#34;Mary&#34; because it was very realistic as well as humorous.I really liked the suspense/mystery of the story and found myself wondering just what happened to Ethan. Her Brother's Keeper drew me in from the beginning pages and made me feel like I had stepped into the life of these characters but that's what I have come to expect when I pick up a book by Beth Wiseman.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438035762000, "title": "First book in a new Amish series" }, { "asin": "0718031687", "rating": 4, "text": "With the latest installment of Journey of the Heart Emmie Croftner pushes Isaac Liddle away sacrificing her heart and feelings in order to keep her secret, thing is Isaac isn't about to give up that easily. On top of that Emmie makes a promise to a dear friend that my require that she marry another. Is there any hope that she and Isaac will ever have a future together?<br />I have certainly enjoyed each book in this series, so much so that I actually went back and read the books (The Wyoming Series) that this little series was taken from, because I was impatient to know the whole story. In my observation though I felt like the Journey of the Heart series was more polished, and by that I mean unnecessary descriptions and repetitive words were taken out. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction should give this mini series a chance, I will say that the books do have to be read in order to fully understand the characters. While parts of the story are a tad predictable that doesn't keep me from looking forward to the final book in the series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438307576000, "title": "Quick easy read" }, { "asin": "0764211706", "rating": 5, "text": "I became hooked on the Unexpected Bride series by Melissa Jagears after reading the first book in the series. There is something about a mail order bride story that just draws me in and Ms. Jagears provides just the right blending of drama, romance along with a great historical setting that really makes for a page turning read with a few twists that held my attention from the first page to the last. The characters in this story really come to life, allowing me not only connect but actually care about how their story would work out. I felt like that characters stories were a bit unique compared to other mail order bride stories I have read because they have both tried and failed with the mail order bride situation before. While A Bride at Last is the third book in the series it can easily be read as a stand alone work, actually I somehow missed the second book but that didn't stop me from being drawn in by this story. Anyone who enjoys a fast paced story with more than a few inspirational messages along with a sweetness that will draw you in and have you hoping for the best for the characters will enjoy this story, and if your a fan of the mail order bride genre like me then a Bride At Last will be a must read for you, I will caution once you start reading it you just might not be able to put it down.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438648764000, "title": "Held my attention from beginning to end !" }, { "asin": "1401690513", "rating": 4, "text": "Great characters and a fun, page turning read is what I found within the pages of Counting on a Cowboy. I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions with this story, but there were some poignant moments as well. While Ms. Clopton deals with a few tough issues, with the issue of Alzheimer's really being one that I could relate to, thing is she knows just when to provide a bit of humor to lighten the story. The characters were easy to relate to which pulled me right into the story.<br />If your looking for a good clean cowboy read that is more than just a sweet romance then Counting on a Cowboy by Debra Clopton just might fit the bill! While this book is part of the Four of Hearts Ranch Romance series it can easily be read as a stand alone work. Although the characters and setting has me thinking that I need to read the first book in the series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review", "timestamp": 1441673159000, "title": "Sweet read" }, { "asin": "1601426992", "rating": 4, "text": "always look forward to starting a new Amish series, especially when the author is Cindy Woodsmall, and with Ties That Bind we begin the Amish of Summer Grove Series. Ariana Brenneman grew up in the Old Order Amish and has always been quite content, sure she aspires to open a bakery in the town of Summer Grove, that is if she can get the money together to do it, but that's so she can help out with her family. It had been five years since Quill Schlabach had left the Amish community with a teen girl, and if truth be told Ariana hadn't really ever gotten over it, and now he is back, but can they rebuild their friendship? Thing is Quill has always had feelings for Ariana, but he also knows something that would change her life forever and he wants to help her any way he can even if only she will let him.<br /><br />I found myself struggling to get involved in this book and I think the reason might have been because there were so many characters and their stories to learn,that I felt like I was getting bounced back and forth to much. As the book progressed though I found myself being drawn into the story line. There was a few plot twists that provided just the right amount of ummph to make me want to read on and I am glad that I did! Overall, I didn't connect to this book right away but I am glad that I continued to read, because I have become hooked and can't wait to read the next book in the series!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1443990136000, "title": "Slow start but the story picked up for me" } ]

[ { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 5, "text": "In this debut novel by Cara Lynn James we are transported back in time to 1899. Back during the day to reach the age of 25 and to be unwed could quickly get you labeled an old maid.<br />Miss Lillian Westbrook finds herself in such a position, she is engaged but has never been married, and to top it off she has been writing dime novels under the pen name of Fannie Cole. To be a female and work and earn your own money just wasn't acceptable so she keeps it hidden from her family and friends.<br />When Jackson Grail, a former boyfriend purchases the publishing house that has been publishing Fanny Cole's novels and then becomes determined to find out just who Fannie is. Lilly has to make some choices to protect her family. Will she be able to keep her identity hidden? Will Jackson and Lilly finally get together?<br />I love reading historical fiction and this book didn't disappoint. Cara Lynn James does a great job of grabbing the readers attention and then keeps the story going at a fast pace. I look forward to reading the next in the Ladies of Summerhill novels.", "timestamp": 1276837436000, "title": "Love On a Dime" }, { "asin": "1404187804", "rating": 5, "text": "The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews is a pint sized gift book that packs a wallop of a message.<br />This book will take you no longer than 10 minutes to read, and is very eye appealing with its beautiful pictures and large font.<br />The resounding message is every single thing we do matters. That the cause and effect of the decisions we make do make a difference.<br />Mr. Andrews starts out by telling us the story of Joshua Chamberlain a Colonel in the Union Army, and how the decisions that Mr. Chamberlain made was like a ripple effect on the US, shaping the countries future.<br />This is a great little motivational read that would be a great gift for anyone who might be suffering from self esteem issues or anyone who you think needs to be reminded that Yes They Do Matter.<br />I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1283859316000, "title": "The Butterfly Effect" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "We only have one chance to live this life and we choose how to live it. Do we stick our heads in the sand and think that everything is ok or do we wake up and realize that as Christians we have the responsibility to make life better for others if we can?<br />This book quotes some staggering numbers, the number of poor, and hungry is something that's hard to imagine. Mr Lucado's book gives us a wake up call as to what we can do to make a change.<br />You don't have to be rich or even well off, instead of focusing on what you don't have to give, focus on what you can give. It's that average Joe that makes a difference, the little things that add up.<br />I really enjoyed his use of scripture throughout this book and liked how he started each chapter with a scripture verse and ended the chapters with another scripture and a prayer.<br />This is a very simply written book that can change your way of thinking, its very inspiring a book that you wont be able to put down and will continue to think about long after you finish it.<br />A very timely message that we all need to read, I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1284121246000, "title": "Outlive Your Life" }, { "asin": "1595540091", "rating": 4, "text": "The year is 1772, and Toma Nicolescu and his friend Alec Cardei have seen their fair share of battles while serving the empress of Russia, Catherine the Great. So when they are dispatched to Moldavia to protect the Cantemir family, a very influential family in Moldavia, until the empress could appoint a ruler for that country who would be loyal to Catherine the Great, they think it will be an easy job.<br />The Cantemir family consisted of Kesia and her twin daughters Lucine and Natasha. Both girls had been taught by their mothers to live as free spirits and basically do whatever felt good, but an unplanned pregnancy and the loss of a baby when Lucine was seventeen had sort of tempered her ways, but not Natasha, she basically is always looking for a good time. Alec known as a ladies man was immediately lusting after Natasha, and while Toma was warned by the empress not to become romantically involved,becomes drawn to Lucine, but keeps his feelings at bay until he feels that Lucine is being threatened by Vlad Van Valerik.<br />When Toma realizes is that Vlad and his entourage aren't what they seem, he knows he will do whatever it takes to save the woman he loves, no matter the cost.<br />I found this book to be very thought provoking, where the characters feelings are so real that you can feel the anguish that Toma felt as well as the evil emitting from Vlad. I really enjoyed how Mr. Dekker tied Vlad's history to the book of Genesis, I only wish he would have traced his history to Lilith instead of the Nephilim.<br />This isn't a clear cut christian novel but instead has so many more elements, it has that horror story element of blood drinking vampires, but it also reminds us of God's unconditional love for us, and how it took the blood of our Savior to save us all!<br /><br />An amazing read, that I won't soon forget.<br /><br />This is my first opportunity to read anything written by Mr. Dekker and I am now his newest fan!", "timestamp": 1284517251000, "title": "Not your typical vampire story!" }, { "asin": "0800733703", "rating": 5, "text": "Don't look Back by Lynette Eason was an edge of your seat thrill ride from beginning to end! A book filled with suspense, romance and a chilling storyline that grabs you and wont let go!<br /><br />Jamie Cash was the only person to survive the kidnapping and torture of the \"Hero\" a serial killer that she escaped from twelve years ago, with extensive therapy she is finally getting her life back on track, but when the \"Hero\" returns to finish the job he started, can FBI agent Dakota Richard protect her from this evil killer?<br /><br />I enjoyed seeing Jamie Cash's faith and trust in God even though she is facing circumstances that might test even the strongest faith, she instead finds solace in her faith giving her problems to God in prayer, actually I felt like it was her faith that kept her strong. Her character came off as very realistic, we saw true emotion from her such as anger and fear, feelings that I thought were perfectly normal for someone experiencing the horror she lived thru, and knowing she might wind up in the Hero's clutches again.<br /><br />FBI agent Dakota Richard is such a sweet guy, he really cared for Jamie, I loved watching their relationship blossom, and Jamie slowly finding comfort in him.He was determined to keep Jamie safe no matter what but could he really protect her?<br /><br />Even though this is the second story in the Women of Justice series it can easily be read as a stand alone work. So if your looking for a page turning drama with an evil killer who likes to get inside his victims heads, along with enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat, and read how someones faith can help them thru even the worst of times, with a sweet romance woven in, then you must read this book! But a word of warning once you start reading you wont be able to put this one down!<br /><br />Available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.\"<br /><br />Even though I was provided a review copy by Revell, thanks Donna, it in no way alters my opinion of this book!", "timestamp": 1287465039000, "title": "An on the edge of your seat story!!!" }, { "asin": "0307458997", "rating": 5, "text": "A lovely novella with a beautiful cover,a new to me author Donita K. Paul writes a charming story that will definitely put you in the holiday spirit.<br /><br />When Cora Crowder finds herself needing a book for an uncle's Christmas gift she heads into the Warner,Werner, Wizbotterdad book store. She has no idea that she will wind up on the receiving end of the stores matchmaking scheme to throw her and her boss Simon together.<br /><br />I loved this book, it had the right balance of romance, fantasy along with a great underlying spiritual message. The characters were fabulous, and I loved the cat.<br /><br />A delightful Christmas romance that will get you in the holiday spirit,and would be great read anytime of the year. I highly recommend this wonderful book!", "timestamp": 1287852118000, "title": "A Charming Story" }, { "asin": "0764208659", "rating": 3, "text": "I wasn't sure what to expect when this book first arrived for me to review. I had never heard of TobyMac before, I think he is popular among the younger audience, but I soon realized that each section in this book is named after a song that he released sometime earlier this year.<br /><br /> Each section consists of short stories, of how God has used people to change the world, some of the stories I had heard before and some were new to me. You will also find prayers and scriptures peppered through out this book that will further inspire and uplift you. Each section ends with a one minute remix and also a call to action prayer.<br /><br />This books resounding message is \"If we gotta start sometime, why not start now.\"If only we are willing to step out of our comfort zone and unite that we can make a difference and change the world.<br /><br />In the right hands this book could be life changing, I think it would be great especially for youth pastors, I think it would be useful in reaching the younger audience, with its hip look and the fact that TobyMac is someone that teens listen to. Overall I think anyone would enjoy reading these inspirational stories!<br /><br />Even though I was provided a copy of this book for review by Bethany House it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1288561993000, "title": "City On Our Knees" }, { "asin": "0800719255", "rating": 5, "text": "I must say that I am guilty of judging a book by its cover, when I saw the cover for Christmas at Harrington's I immediately felt like it was going to be an amazing Christmas story, on the cover you find yourself on a street of any small town in the USA, you have a smiling lady, dressed in a red coat peering into a store window with a display of a Christmas tree and toys snowflakes falling all around her, its just beautiful and depicts the holiday season perfectly.<br />In this story we are introduced to Lena Markham,its less than four weeks till Christmas and she has just been released from prison after serving and eight year sentence for a crime she didn't commit, she was set up by her husband to take the fall for something he did. She decides she wants a fresh start in a new town, so a social worker puts together a release package for her, finding a town to locate her to, setting her up with a place to live and a temporary job, and a bus trip to get her to get her there, while on the bus she meets an elderly lady, Moira who befriends her,telling Lena that she knows despite whatever happened in her past she is sure Lena is a good person. Once they get off the bus together in New Haven, MN she is introduced to Moira's son Sam, who is a lawyer. She soon realizes that the job that she anticipated isn't there, and the only job available is playing Mrs. Santa.<br />Can Lena find the new start in this town she hopes for, and can she keep her past a secret, and what about Sam, how does he play into all of this, you need to read this heartwarming story of second chances to find out!<br />While the story that unfolded inside the pages of this book wasn't exactly what I anticipated , it is exactly what the holiday season is all about, a perfect Christmas read filled with hope, inspiration and second chances.<br /><br />Even though I was provided a review copy of this book by Revell Publishing it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1289716420000, "title": "Christmas At Harrington's" }, { "asin": "1609360257", "rating": 4, "text": "World War II is just coming to an end but the war that is going on inside Esther Lange is unending!<br />She can't forgive herself for the night of passion she shared with Linus Hahn in the backseat of a borrowed car, they were both headed overseas to war, and it just happened. When that night turns into a daughter for them Esther is released from the Red Cross with no place to go. So she writes Linus, and his reply is for her to go to his hometown and stay with his parents, and that's what she has been doing for the last two years, living in their attic, raising her daughter and working at a hospital taking care of the war wounded.<br />Living with Linus' parents isn't easy, they are very hardened, feeling like she trapped their son. When she receives a letter indicating that Linus may have been killed in action, she isn't sure what to believe, but one thing she knows for sure is that she is relieved, she won't have to marry a man she doesn't love,and barely even knows. She really believes that she was no more than a one night stand for Linus as well, and it soon comes to light that Linus had a longstanding girlfriend who works in the same hospital as Esther,and she threatens to make Esther pay for stealing Linus away from her!<br />Since there has been no other information about Linus she starts corresponding with Peter Hess the medic who sent her the information about Linus. Soon they develop a friendship, and it starts to develop into something more, but when Peter's secret is exposed can they overcome it, and will Esther ever forgive herself for the mistake she made?<br />This was an amazing story, just when you thought things were working out the author throws a monkey wrench into it that take it in the opposite direction. The feelings are so strongly written in this book, that you are easily transported back to war time America. You can also feel the turmoil going on inside Esther, she judges herself so harshly for the mistake she made that night and is unwilling to see that she has already been forgiven by God, she just needs to accept it! Peter's story was one I kept thinking of long after I finished reading it, he was such a kind person, a victim of circumstances really, but he always kept his faith in God.The letters that passed between Peter and Esther were such a treat to read, I enjoyed seeing their friendship blossom.<br /><br />I found this book a real joy to read, the author does an amazing job of taking a work of fiction and weaving a bit of a history lesson in. While this was my first time reading anything from Susan May Warren, it certainly won't be my last!<br /><br />Even though I was provided a copy of this book by Litfuse it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1289881365000, "title": "Nightingale" }, { "asin": "0764207326", "rating": 4, "text": "Jackie Donovan is almost thirty. All she has ever wanted was to find a wonderful man to marry, and to purchase Bailey Place a B&B. She and her best friend Minnie visited it often when they were children, they both want to own it, but widower Minnie is working two jobs to support her son and Jackie works at a magazine writing articles about local business owners. When she meets the owner of Bailey House,Erikson Davis, she soon starts hoping her dreams might finally be coming true.<br /><br />While this story was a bit slow to start for me, once it picked up I became anxious to see how things would work out. The characters are very down to earth making them very easy to relate to, although I would say some of them were offbeat! I really enjoyed how Jackie's family was always trying to fix her up.<br />The author does an amazing job of describing the setting for this book, transporting you to the small town setting.<br />An added bonus are the wonderful sounding recipes included, which I definitely will be trying out!<br />If your in the mood for a sweet, but not sappy romance, with a little humor woven in, then give this book a try! For me not a great read, but overall I enjoyed the book and will be looking for more from this author..<br /><br />rating 3.5/5<br />Book provided by Bethany House for review.", "timestamp": 1295688005000, "title": "Hatteras Girl" }, { "asin": "0800732596", "rating": 5, "text": "Elise Stortsen, has some major changes happen. Her mom has landed a new job that moves Elise into a new school district, so instead of starting her junior year in her old school, where she wasn't very popular anyway, she will be going to Garfield High. She is just about to turn sixteen and having never been kissed hopes to change that by her birthday. When Asher, a popular boy in school starts showing an interest in Elise, she wonders if he might give her that first kiss.<br />Her first day of school goes great, Asher introduces her to the in-crowd, which includes Asher's girlfriend. So when Elise gets an email from Asher, she soon finds herself caught up in something that soon puts her reputation on the line, and jeopardizes her future, but it also makes her realize what is important, and in the process strengthens her faith in God!<br />I think this book is a must read for all teen girls. It deals with some pretty heavy subjects, but these are real life problems that are facing teens today.The character of Elise was very well written. She was very down to earth and easy to relate to. I totally understood the reactions of the characters in the story, and while Stacie did something wrong, she didn't do it with malicious intent, but there were still repercussions.<br />This book moved at a brisk pace and I felt the ending wrapped up the story nicely. There is a spiritual message woven throughout the book, but it isn't preachy or overwhelming.Whether your a teen or not, this book is well worth reading!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book for review, but it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1295814869000, "title": "A great read whether your a teen or not!" }, { "asin": "0800734564", "rating": 5, "text": "When U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor get a call that his next assignment will be to protect federal judge Elizabeth Michaels he is less than happy. His best friend Doug was married to her, and from the things Doug told him before his death, the marriage was very unhappy and it was Liz's fault. Doug said she was cold hearted and only her only focus was on her job. Can he put his feelings aside and do the assignment?<br />When Liz Michael's sister is shot in the back of the head, Liz believes her sisters abusive husband is to blame. Because she is a federal judge she needs to be protected by U.S. Marshals. When she realizes Jake will be the marshal assigned to keep her safe she wonders what her husband told him about her. As she and Jake spend time together one thing is for sure Jake is starting to realize that his opinion of Liz may be wrong. Did his friend Doug lie to him?<br />When it becomes evident that Liz may have been the shooters target, can Jake keep her safe, and figure out who is out to get her?<br />There is never a dull moment in this story! It grabs you from the first pages with the tragic shooting of Liz's sister, and how Liz's life is turned upside down while she is being protected from someone who may be out to kill her. Liz is very level headed, and almost always holds herself together but there are a few instances where that facade slips. Jake's character really stood out. He goes above and beyond where his job is concerned, and is devoted to his family.<br />A fantastic first book in Irene Hannon's new Guardians of Justice series. If this book is any indicator this series is going to be great!<br />Anyone who is a fan of light romance, mystery and suspense with a bit of a christian message woven in will enjoy this book.<br /><br />I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1296024023000, "title": "Fatal Judgement" }, { "asin": "0764206710", "rating": 3, "text": "Ruth Livingstone's life is turned upside down when her father is falsely accused of murdering a prostitute. Her father gives her the deceased woman's child and sends her to a small town to stay with a family he knows. That family thinks Ruth is a former prostitute, but they allow the town to believe she is a widow, with a small child. Her only solace is tending a once abandoned garden.<br /><br />Because of a mistake two years ago Asher \"Jake\" Tripp walked away from the \"Galaxy\", the newspaper he and his brother owned, the mistake he made almost caused the business to fail, but his brother Clifford had worked hard and the paper was once again thriving. Jake wants to return to the paper.Hoping to redeem himself in the eyes of his brother, he offers to take an assignment out of town, trying to track down Ruth Livingstone, who disappeared right before her fathers trial began. When he tracks Ruth to the town she is staying in, he takes residence as Jake Spenser, a handyman recovering from a broken back.<br /><br />Ruth and Jack both have plenty of secrets, but once they meet, and share time together, love slowly blooms, will their secrets keep the two apart, or will love be able to work everything out?<br /><br />For some reason I just didn't connect with this story, it actually took several weeks for me to read. I liked the historical aspect of the book, and while the storyline was ok, it just wasn't great. I couldn't really connect with any of the characters, I kept hoping we would get more of Ruth's back story, such as whether she left friends behind, or perhaps a boyfriend, she was in her twenties so she certainly must have had a life before she went into hiding with the child. This book was my first foray into reading anything written by Delia Parr, and while it didn't sweep me away, it wont dissuade me from reading more of her work.<br /><br />rating 2.5/5", "timestamp": 1296362439000, "title": "Love's First Bloom" }, { "asin": "0800734521", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Lady In The Mist\" takes place in 1809 in Seabourne VA. The protagonist Tabitha Eckles is a twenty-four year old midwife, the thing that makes Tabitha unusual is the fact that she isn't married. She learned her midwifery skills from her mother and grandmother, and once they died she continued to help her town , even though several people felt it wasn't right because she is unmarried. When a premature birthing results in the death of the mother and baby, she finds herself threatened at knife point, who could be threatening her? Could it have something to do with Dominick Cherrett a man she literally ran into on her way home after the birthing? Or does it have something to do with her job as a midwife?<br /><br />What a fascinating story! The author draws you into the story immediately. Tabitha's character is so easy to relate to. Her relationship with God has suffered because she feels that he has taken everyone that matters away from her, but she still has a tender-heart. Dominick was an interesting character as well, working as an indentured servant for the mayor, you know he has a few secrets. As he spends time with Tabitha, he soon loses his heart to her, something he didn't plan. I enjoyed the mystery and suspense woven into this historical romance. I also loved the cover of this book, it was very eye catching, so sometimes you can judge a book by its cover!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1297996914000, "title": "Lady In The Mist" }, { "asin": "143470212X", "rating": 5, "text": "Passport Through Darkness\" isn't your typical missionary workers story. Instead Kimberly Smith takes the reader on a journey around the world to Sudan and other war torn countries. She shares the atrocities that women and children face in these countries every day.<br /><br />Kimberly Smith was your average American woman, working in the corporate world, a wife, mother and a faithful church member, she was living a good life, but she felt as if something was missing, she longed to make her life matter. About that time her husband Milton started suggesting that they do something meaningful, something to make a difference in other peoples lives. One day as Milton browses thru a magazine in a waiting room he finds an article asking for missionaries to serve in Spain, ironically Milton had been a missionary in Spain back in the 80's, so with what I would consider a giant leap of faith, they were accepted by a missionary agency to work in Spain so they sold everything they had starting a new life journey in the missionary field. While in Spain the couple became aware of the plight of human trafficking, causing them to cofound Make Way Partners, which works to prevent human trafficking worldwide.<br /><br />I knew a bit of the plight in Sudan before reading this book, but this book brings it front and center, allowing you to see these victims as real people, while it is a hard to read the accounts that are shared in the story, it is a message that needs to be spread.<br /><br />Thanks to B&B Media for providing me a copy of this book for review.", "timestamp": 1299121982000, "title": "Passport Through Darkness" }, { "asin": "0764208500", "rating": 2, "text": "It has taken me forever to finish this book, I started reading it back in November and found myself putting it down for extended periods because it was a story that really didn't inspire me, I couldn't become interested in the characters, and just couldn't relate to the story.<br /><br />The protagonist in this story is an almost thirty year old who aspires to be a writer even quitting her job to return to school to get her masters degree. Because no one is buying her story, she gets numerous rejections, she is working part time as an English professor to pay the bills. Her roommate Zoe, seems to have no problem getting her story published in a magazine that has rejected Amy's.While Amy's character is overall a good person, she is constantly struggling with self doubt, feeling like things aren't working out the way she planned.<br /><br />While I didn't connect with the story,I wouldn't hesitate to read something else by Bethany Pierce. Her writing wasn't the problem, it was just that the book didn't click for me.<br /><br />Book provided by Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1299643226000, "title": "This book didn't inspire me" }, { "asin": "1854249746", "rating": 4, "text": "I must admit I am a huge fan of historical fiction especially mysteries and intrigue, but \"A Trail Of Ink\" by Mel Starr was my first foray into the midieval time period. I wasn't sure how I would like the time period but I actually loved it!<br /><br />This story is set in the town of Oxford England, where Hugh de Singleton is trying to solve the mystery of his friend John Wyclif's stolen books. Twenty-two books in all have been taken, and two of them are borrowed books from a friend of John's. The books were stolen right out of Master Wyclif's room while he was out to supper. Hugh is also interested in Kate Caxton, a stationer's daughter. So Hugh jumps into solving the mystery as he also tries to to win Kate's favor.<br /><br />While this story was a bit hard for me to get into in the beginning, it soon took off transporting me back to medieval England. The author rolls together mystery, suspense, and murder together to make the story a satisfying read. I did find myself turning to the glossary provided in the front of the book because of some of the words used during the time period. \"A Trail Of Ink\" is the third book in the chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon series, but can easily be read as a stand alone work, although I do wish I had read the first two books in the seriesThe ending provides a teaser for the next book in the series titled \"Unhallowed Ground\", which I look forward to reading.<br /><br />Book provided by Litfuse and the publisher for review.", "timestamp": 1299798789000, "title": "A Trail Of Ink" }, { "asin": "0800734076", "rating": 5, "text": "I can count on one hand the Biblical fiction novels that I have read, but I am really starting to like this genre. While the stories are works of fiction, the reader learns alot about the characters that the author is writing about. Realizing that \"Love Amid The Ashes\" was the story about Job and Dinah I found myself thinking about their stories in the Bible, while Job's story was one that I was pretty familiar with, a man who suffers many trials and tribulations but never waivers in his faith in God. Dinah on the other hand was someone I never thought alot about, I remember her story, as the daughter of Jacob and Leah, she was defiled by Shechem, who was later killed by her brothers. For me I never really thought about how Dinah's life might have been altered by the act.<br />I found this book something I really enjoyed reading. The author provides the reader with a genealogical chart at the beginning of the story, that helps keep the many characters straight. I liked the way that she opens each chapter with a Bible verse allowing me to relate the chapters to the verses. The author allows us to see these biblical characters with heart and feelings by drawing us into their stories. This debut novel will certainly be a hit for anyone who enjoys biblical fiction, but its also a good story for anyone who likes a compelling faith filled story.<br /><br />Available March 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.", "timestamp": 1301199627000, "title": "Love Amid The Ashes" }, { "asin": "1414339429", "rating": 5, "text": "When I picked up \"Journey To Riverbend\" I thought that it was probably going to be another historical fiction romance novel, but boy was I wrong. While there is a bit of romance between a few of the characters the author really gives us a true western novel filled with a hanging, an attempted stagecoach robbery, a kidnapping, a shootout and a posse searching for kidnappers. He rolls this together with a story about regrets and forgiveness, and faith in God.<br /><br />While Michael Archer couldn't save Ben Carstairs from being hanged for a crime he didn't commit, he is determined to try and fulfill Ben's dying wish, which was to make amends with his father Sam, to tell him that he forgave him for the way he treated him and return his mothers necklace.<br /><br />Michael makes the journey to Riverbend to deliver Ben's message to Sam but finds that Sam is out of town for business and will be gone for a few days. Michael decides to hang around until he returns, and he soon learns that Sam Carstairs is a ruthless man who has no use for God and uses people to get what he wants.While staying in Riverbend Michael meets Rachel Stone a young lady who has found refuge with the local preacher and his family. They feel drawn to each other but because of issues that haunt them from their past they are unsure that they are ready for a relationship, but that doesn't stop Michael from thinking about a future that might include a move to Riverbend.<br />Sam Carstairs has wronged several people in his past, doing whatever he could to obtain more wealth but when he is kidnapped the town doesn't hesitate to form a posse to try and find him. Michael decides to ride along hoping that he can help, will they find Sam before its to late?<br />What an interesting story, the characters in the story are well fleshed out. Rachel and Michael each have issues from their past that continue to dog them. Rachel is making great strides toward her future even though some of the townspeople won't let her forget her past. Michael was a strong caring compassionate character who was also dealing with demons from his past. While I really didn't like the character of Sam Carstairs by the end of the story I felt sorry for him. The ending of the story leaves me hoping that Mr. McLaughlin will write a sequel for this story!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1301205637000, "title": "I hope the author is writing a sequel for this one!" }, { "asin": "1595548017", "rating": 5, "text": "Abigail Jones works for her mothers magazine called the Viewpoint. Because of the stress of her job her mother encourages her to take some time off and go to Montana and check on her aunt Lucy. When she arrives Lucy is fine, but Wade, the cowboy who owns the ranch where Lucy lives needs a nanny for his daughter, and Abigail takes the job. Abigail knows Wade is hiding something and thinks it just might be a story that could save her mothers magazine. Of course feelings develop between Wade and Abigail, will she choose to go forward with the story which will expose Wade, or will she decide to protect the relationship that is blooming between them?<br /><br />Wow! The word for this one is fantastic. This is one of those stories that I just couldn't put down. The author weaves romance, a bit of mystery, and a nice christian message together to produce a story that begs to be read. Oh did I mention the hunky cowboy. The chemistry between the main characters was static, it just jumps off the page at you.<br />The imagery that the author paints with her words make you feel as if your right in the middle of Montana, how could you not love a place called Moose Creek! Readers of christian romance will surely enjoy this one, but this book would also appeal to fans of romance with a western setting.<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1303268262000, "title": "A Cowboy's Touch" }, { "asin": "0781403790", "rating": 5, "text": "While these books are reprints of books that were orginally printed back in the 1974, I somehow missed them growing up, but I am so glad that I had the chance to read them now. I consider them timeless classics that will certainly appeal to many, and should be on every little girls bookshelf. While the stories that grandma shares with her grand daughter are fun to read they are also educational, and provide the reader with little life lessons. The illustrations peppered throughout the book are cute and will capture the imagination of the young reader.<br /><br />These books would make a perfect gift for young readers, but I think anyone who likes to reminisce about the \"Good Old Days\" will certainly enjoy these books.<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of these books by B&B Media in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1303788390000, "title": "Perfect stories for young and old alike" }, { "asin": "1595547851", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Fairer Than Morning\" is a historical fiction novel set in the 1820's in Rushville Ohio and Pittsburgh PA.Ann Miller's boyfriend has just proposed to her. Eli Bowen is nineteen but Ann is only fifteen. She turns him down because she knows her father would never allow her to marry before she turns eighteen, because it is what her mother would have wished.Ann was only nine when her mother died, leaving Ann to become the mother figure for her two younger sisters Mabel and Susan. Her father is a saddler and also a circuit preacher which leaves Ann to be the caretaker of the children quite often. When Ann's father needs to attend business in Pittsburgh he allows the girls to go along. Where she meets Will, someone that she can't quit thinking about.<br /><br />Will Hanby signs up for five years of indentured service to Jacob Good so that he can learn to be a saddler. But Mr. Good is a cruel man who thinks nothing of abusing Will. When the abuse becomes to much Will makes a drastic decision that has him running to the Miller farm for refuge.<br />While this story is a historical fiction, it is actually based on real people, which had me anxious to read this story. The story drew me in from the first pages when a young girl at fifteen is being proposed to. The author easily draws you into the lives of the characters in the story, making you feel as if you are right there with them. Parts of this story were hard to read, the abuse that Will and the other slaves suffered was really heart wrenching.<br />This is the first book in The Saddler's Legacy Series, and I for one will be looking for the next book titled \"Sweeter Than Birdsong\" due out in Feb 2012.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1304306070000, "title": "Great new series" }, { "asin": "0800733711", "rating": 5, "text": "When Detectives Noah Lambert and Kit Kenyon are assigned to the murder case of Walter Davis a twenty nine year old man who was getting ready to graduate from Wofford Law College, there pretty sure it isn't a random killing and when the second body shows up, a young lady who attended the same college the pair realizes that there is a serial killer on the loose. As they try and find the killer, the killer has his own plans which includes one of the detectives. Will the pair be able to figure out who the killer is before its to late?<br /><br />This book takes off like a house on fire, with unstoppable twists and turns to keep you flipping the pages to figure out who the killer is, and for while I thought I knew who the killer might be, I really wasn't sure until the end of the story.<br />The characters in this novel are easy to connect with, Kit and Noah both have issues from their past, and Kit has let those issues keep her from God, but not so with Noah, he has a wonderful relationship with God. The relationship that develops between Noah and Kit was nice, and added to the story.<br /><br />While this book is the third book in the Women Of Justice series it can easily be read as a stand alone work because the author gives sufficient background so that you don't feel lost. If your a fan suspense/mystery novels that will keep you on the edge of your seat, that also weaves in a bit of inspiration and romance as well then you should certainly pick up this book, but I would suggest that you read the entire series, because the books are just that good!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1306640184000, "title": "A Killer Among Us" }, { "asin": "1595549242", "rating": 4, "text": "Spring For Susannah is set in the 1800's shortly after the civil war, but before the west was tame, when the Dakota's were still just a territory.<br />Susannah Underhill really felt as if she didn't have a choice, when she decides to become a mail order bride for her pastor's brother. She had been living a very comfortable life in Michigan until her parents die. When someone shows up at her home telling her that her father owed alot of money to the bank and even attacks her, the only thing for her to do is to become a mail order bride for her pastor's brother Jessie.<br />When she arrives at Fourth Siding in the Dakota territory, she meets her husband Jessie,a non-stop talker, totally opposite from Susannah. As she learns about Jessie she realizes what a kind considerate man he is, but can she let go of her insecurities and allow love to bloom?<br /><br />As a fan of historical fiction I found the book quite enjoyable.It was nice to see the character of Susannah grow from a timid person into someone that could take care of herself, and also find her way back to God. I felt like the secondary characters were well rounded and added to the story. I am always a sucker for dogs in a story and Jake was great. The author also adds a bit of humor to the story which worked well. The one negative to the story was the rushed ending. All in all a good debut novel from Catherine Richmond.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1306778746000, "title": "Nice debut novel" }, { "asin": "1595548114", "rating": 5, "text": "\"A Vision Of Lucy,\" is set in Rocky Creek Texas during 1882. The plot revolves around Lucy Fairbanks, a young lady who dreams of being a photographer but her father isn't crazy about the idea. She has badgered the owner of the newspaper and is finally told if she can get a shot of the elusive white mustang then her photos will be put in the paper, but its not easy getting a picture of a wild mustang so she shimmies up a tree and plans on waiting but when she falls out landing on top of a stagecoach about to be robbed, well its easy to see that she doesn't always have the best of luck.So she figures if she can get a picture of the town recluse David Wolf, also known as the Wild Man she still might have a shot at her newspaper job, but when she meets him feelings start to develop. Neither are really looking for love, but sometimes God has other plans!<br /><br />What a fun book this was. Lucy was always finding herself in such precarious spots, and if I might say so she was a bit clumsy. The author does a fantastic job of painting such vivid pictures of the situations she was in that I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. I love reading historical fiction where you feel as if you learn a bit while you read and in this story I felt like I learned a bit about early photography, which was quite interesting. This book is the third book in the Rocky Creek Romance series but can easily be read as a stand alone work. Fans of quick paced historical fiction with a nice inspirational message will certainly devour this one. Margaret Brownley is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1307659325000, "title": "A Vision Of Lucy" }, { "asin": "082543310X", "rating": 5, "text": "Whenever I read a historical fiction story that is based on true events I always love the fact that I am learning a bit about history that perhaps I might never really know alot about otherwise. With How Huge The Night the authors do an amazing job of weaving together fact and fiction, to transport us back to the days of WWII, seeing the events of the time thru the eyes of two teenagers Nina and Julian, while I knew at some point their stories would meld I wasn't sure how they would connect.<br /><br />The characters in this story are completely believable and it is very easy to imagine the things that they are going thru. Julian is your typical teenager, he isn't a man but neither is he really a boy. He isn't really happy that his family left their home in Paris to move to the farm in southern France with his grandfather, he is dealing with issues such as trying to fit in at school, not to mention trying to get along with Benjamin the Jewish boy who has also moved in with his grandfather.<br />As Nina's father is lying on his deathbed he makes Nina promise that she will take her brother and leave Austria.For me their parts of their story was heart wrenching, and I found myself praying that they would be all right.<br /><br />I found this to be a compelling story that has many lessons woven in. A coming of age story during a difficult time period where the characters display great courage faith and hope. While this book is geared toward young adults I would easily recommend it to older adults as well.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1308955795000, "title": "Compelling historical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800734653", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become a fan of Biblical fiction, and when one latches onto my imagination and allows me to see Biblical characters in a whole new way while staying true to what the Bible says then its a winner in my book. When I started reading the book of \"Martha,\" I kept thinking to myself Martha who, but once her brother Lazerus is mentioned, it started to fall into place for me, because who doesn't know the story of Lazerus being raised from the dead.<br /><br /> As the story unfolds Martha becomes a very real character with feelings and longings just like any other young lady. While she longs to marry, how could it ever happen, she stepped into the role of caretaker of her family when her mother died and took that responsibility very seriously, but that doesn't stop her from wishing for a husband and children of her own. I had hoped the relationship with Thaddeus would work out but it wasn't meant to be. Some of the most exciting parts of the story were when Jesus stayed with Martha and her family.<br />If you are like me and are unsure who Martha was once you read this book you will never forget her.I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, and if you have never read Biblical fiction then this quick read is the perfect book to introduce you to this exciting genre.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1309579648000, "title": "Martha" }, { "asin": "0800734238", "rating": 5, "text": "In \"Blue Skies Tomorrow\" the author weaves together a compelling story that transports the reader back to WWII, with characters that easily draw us in, allowing us to share in their strengths and struggles making their stories come to life.<br />Helen Carlisle's is supposed to be the grieving widow when her husband dies a war hero. She puts on a good face, but its becoming harder to do because she is carrying a secret about her husband and their marriage, which was far from happy, but she is determined to hide the truth.<br />Lt.Ray Novak grapples with feeling like a coward. His job is to train pilots to fly missions, but he has never been in combat himself. When the Army Air Forces decides to start using the returning combat pilots as instructors Ray finds himself transferred back home as a supply officer where he reconnects with his friend, recently widowed Helen Carlisle. Can the two find happiness together?<br />Helen was someone who was certainly scarred by her past.While the shame wasn't hers she carried it anyway.Helen's story caused my heart to ache for her, but the ending certainly was great! It was inspirational to see her character grow and change through out the story. I thought that Ray's character was wonderful, his love of God really shined through. If you enjoy historical fiction set during WWII with romance, drama and a wonderful inspirational message your going to enjoy this one. A great conclusion to a fantastic series. I can't wait to read more from this talented author!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.", "timestamp": 1314504547000, "title": "Historical fiction at its best" }, { "asin": "0764208055", "rating": 4, "text": "I love historical novels, and if they are set in the west then that's just an added bonus.In this one Yvonne Harris transports us back in time to August 1886 in El Paso Texas. Elizabeth Evans moves to Texas from Washington to look after her brother Lloyd and his daughter Ruthie after the death of his wife and newborn son, and in return he will teach her the newspaper business,but instead her brother is shot dead and Elizabeth is kidnapped by Mexican outlaws. When Jake Nelson, a Texas Ranger learns of the shooting and kidnapping he sets out to rescue Elizabeth.When he finds her there is an immediate attraction,but could a relationship ever work between the two?<br /><br />With plenty of page turning action from the beginning, this book is certainly a quick read.I enjoyed learning a bit about the Texas Rangers,and the time period in general, while reading a sweet romance. I liked main characters in this book. Both were dealing with issues from their past that caused them to guard their hearts. Jake's heart was broken by his fiance, and the death of Elizabeth's husband Carl, who was killed in the line of duty in the Army, caused her to fear getting involved with someone who might put their job first.<br /><br />I think anyone who enjoys a good historical fiction western,with romance and plenty of action will certainly enjoy this fast paced read, I know I did.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1315725865000, "title": "A River To Cross" }, { "asin": "0764205978", "rating": 5, "text": "This was a different sort of read for me. I don't ever remember reading a story about smoke jumpers, and actually I am not sure I knew what a smoke jumper was before reading this story. I knew there were firefighters who go in and fight the major forest fires, but I honestly didn't realize there were men who are dropped in to fight the fires by cutting down trees etc. So not only did I get an action packed story but I also learned something new which is always a bonus.<br />The main characters in this one are Silas Kent a smoke jumper and Elle Westmore a pilot who drops smoke jumpers into the heart of a fire. Silas and Elle have a history together, but parted ways. Their paths cross again when when she takes an assignment to fly a smoke jumping crew out of Redding, CA to the Desolation Complex in the Sierra Nevada's to battle a raging fire. Soon though they realize there is more going on in those mountains than just the fires, there is cache of gold and some of the men on the smoke jumping crew is on a mission to recover it!<br />What a fast paced read. Elle was someone who had alot on her plate. She has the responsibility of taking care of her five year old daughter Maddie, while doing a very demanding job. I thought the little twist about her short marriage to Maddie's father was quite interesting. Silas seemed to have grown quite a bit from being someone who ran from a serious relationship to wanting to take care of Elle.I really got hooked on the characters from the beginning pages and became anxious to see how things would work out.<br /> There is plenty of page turning action, with romance, suspense mystery and drama woven together with a christian message woven in to keep you reading until the final page.<br />While this is the first time I have ever read anything by Shawn Grady, it certainly wont be my last. I really enjoyed his writing style, his vivid descriptions and suspense filled story makes this book a real winner!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1315790719000, "title": "entertaining and educational" }, { "asin": "0800719956", "rating": 5, "text": "I have read a few of Suzanne Woods Fisher's stories set in Lancaster County, so I was anxious to read a Christmas story set in the area. It's the story of two families, an Amish family, The Riehl's and an English family the Fitzpatricks. Each family is struggling with major life issues and need a bit of reminding as to what is important in life.<br /><br />Mattie, Sol, and Danny Riehl have made a trip to the doctors office for a follow up because Mattie suffered a miscarriage a few weeks ago. While they have six year old Danny, Mattie has always dreamed of having a houseful of children but struggles with infertility. The situation has stolen Mattie's joy making her question why others can so easily have children but she can't. Jaime and C.J. Fitzpatrick have issues of their own. C.J. is a teacher, but also works with his dog Tucker as a search and rescue team. His marriage to his wife Jaime seems to be slowly raveling apart and he isn't sure what to do to fix it. Jaime's father left when she was young, and when he recently dropped back into her life, she became frantic to have his acceptance, add to this the fact that she lost her mother six months ago to a freak accident and suspicions that her husband is having an affair. She won't talk to C.J. and he is unsure how to reach her. When the couple runs an errand to the Riehl farm, they become stranded. Did God bring these two families together to help each other?<br /><br />I loved this story, I read it in about an hour and was anxious to see how things would turn out. The plot moved along well, and wasn't predictable like many of the Christmas stories I read. The characters are very realistic with the issues they are dealing with. I read alot of Amish stories and often the Amish seem a bit condescending where the English are concerned but not so in this story. The Riehl's were very open and accepting of the Fitzpatrick's, and not only that we see Mattie really struggle with the issues she is facing.I thought the story line with Mattie's cousin Zach really added to the main story, and Danny was such an inquisitive child. I love when an author adds a dog to the story, and Tucker and C.J.'s job as a SAR team was interesting and I enjoyed learning a bit about it.<br />If your looking for an inspirational Christmas story set in Amish country give this one a try, for me the only complaint I had was seeing it end.", "timestamp": 1316916196000, "title": "A Lancaster County Christmas" }, { "asin": "0446570869", "rating": 5, "text": "Susan Lambert is in the city of Prague because her beloved grandmothers funeral is being held there. Raised by her grandmother since the age of twelve when her parents were killed in a car accident, an accident that Susan had a feeling about, and that's the thing, Susan had always had a feeling of discernment. The ability to sense when something wasn't right and that was a feeling she got when she decided to visit St. Vitus Cathedral. Even though she was alone in the Cathedral she felt as if someone was there with her, and even glimpsed what she thought was a man. She sees the same man a few more times, and when her cousin Wendy decides to go partying with a stranger that oozes evil, she feels compelled to find her cousin and get her away from this man.The man that Susan glimpsed in the Cathedral,(Raphael) approaches Susan and offers to help her find Wendy, but in return he tells Susan he will need her help. Susan is soon introduced to things she would have never imagined, and learns that vampires do exist and Raphael is a vampire set to fight a war against an evil vampire who wants to rule the world.<br /><br />I love vampire fiction and I was quite excited to read a vampire tale that was woven into christian fiction. I enjoyed getting to know the characters especially Raphael. Thru flashbacks we learn why he was cursed to be a vampire. The way the author explains why some people become vampires was quite different from most vampire tales. Her take was that some people are so inherently evil that they are cursed as vampires thus living longer in the hopes that they will eventually learn their mistakes and accept God, which was something that Raphael was still struggling with even after 900 years. While Raphael is a vampire it was easy to sense a goodness in him, although when Susan's life was in jeopardy we certainly saw his dark side.The forbidden feel of the attraction between Susan and Raphael kept me turning the pages to see if a romance would develop.The secondary character of David added to the story for me, a reluctant hero, who was only in Prague for three months on a job assignment staying in the same hotel as Wendy and Susan, when he hears on of the women cry out he tries to help them and learns the hard way that vampires exist and soon finds himself being trained as a vampire slayer. The relationship between David and Wendy was sweet.<br />I really hated to see this book end, and left me wanting to read a sequel. I really can't wait to see how the relationship between Raphael and Susan goes. A vampire tale woven together with a christian theme, and a fight of good versus evil, the perfect October read! On a scale of one to five I would easily give this one a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1317783522000, "title": "In a word FANGTASTIC" }, { "asin": "0800733460", "rating": 5, "text": "Having enjoyed the first book in Janice Thompson's Backstage Pass series I was anxious to read this one. I must say I think this book just might be better than the first one, with returning characters from the first book as well as a few new ones, I found this book to be laugh out loud funny.<br />Athena Pappas has a pretty full life with her family and friends and even though the ratings have lagged a bit she still feels pretty secure in her job as head writer for the popular sit com Stars Collide. But when the producers decide to hire a comedian, Stephen Cosse to help bolster the ratings she suddenly wonders what will happen if he is a better writer, will her job be in jeopardy? When she meets him she feels an attraction, and soon not only is Stephen worming his way into her heart but so has his eleven year old daughter Brooke.Will they figure out that some of the best things in life don't follow a script, or will they guard their hearts against love?<br /><br />This was a sweet, funny story. It was easy to imagine the Athena's Greek family. I could easily understand why Stephen's daughter Brooke was drawn to the Pappas family, they are so warm and welcoming. I always love when a dog is included in a story and the introduction of Zeus, the Greek Domestic Dog was totally funny! It was great to see how Brooke and Zeus connected. The Greek food mentioned in this story really had my mouth watering, it sounded delicious!<br />If you enjoy reading contemporary christian romance with a great flare for humor then you certainly need to read this book, and while it is the second book in the series I feel like it could be read as a stand alone work, although I highly recommend reading the first book in the series as well.<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review*", "timestamp": 1318129897000, "title": "Laugh out loud funny" }, { "asin": "0764209418", "rating": 5, "text": "I became hooked on Patti Lacy's work after reading \"The Rhythm of Secrets\" and couldn't wait to read this book. Well all I can say it was worth the wait!<br />The authors writing style is captivating. Gloria Powell had always wanted a child, so after jumping thru hoops and cutting thru red tape she and her husband Andrew believe there is a baby waiting for them in China so they make the trip from Texas. When they arrive though the promised baby isn't there instead the child is a young girl, but Gloria isn't thwarted instead she knows its the child God intended for them to have. They take her home to Texas and rename her Joy, because she is the joy of their life. although she does become a bit rebellious in her teen years. Turns out Joy is actually Lily and Lily has a sister Kai who made a death bed promise to her mother in China to reclaim the sister that had been at the orphanage. Kai now works in the states and becomes determined to find her sister to not only full fill the wish she made to her mother, but also because there may be a genetic issue that could possibly affect Lily. What happens when Kai finds her sister, how will it affect Lily(Joy) and her adoptive family?<br /><br />This story was touching and inspiring. The author deals with foreign adoption a topic I haven't read a lot about,so it was a bit educational for me. She also touches on the topic of teen rebellion,where the teen is trying to figure out where she fits in the world to weave a rich story that had plenty of twists and turns and an ending that was quite satisfying. While Gloria smothered her daughter, I really could understand her motivations, Andrew seemed solid and really was understanding of all parties much like a pastor might be.I really couldn't help but think about Lily's biological mother.Each of the characters seemed so realistic I often forgot that I was reading a work of fiction.<br />If you enjoy a story filled with drama, suspense and family ties with a positive christian message woven in then your going to enjoy \"Reclaiming Lily.\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review purposes.", "timestamp": 1318178186000, "title": "Reclaiming Lily" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 5, "text": "Camden Bristow is feeling the effects of the economy. She is a free-lance photographer living in New York who finds herself without any job prospects or money. Being kicked out of her apartment with less than five hundred dollars left on her credit card she decides to return to the home where she spent many happy summers with her grandmother Rosalie even though its been years since she has spoken to her grandmother, but when she arrives in the tiny town of Etherton Ohio what she finds at the family mansion called Crescent Hill is that her grandmother has passed away and the mansion is falling into disrepair. Having no place else to go she stays at the family home anyway and quickly finds herself wondering if someone else isn't in the house. Camden has never believed in the rumors that ghosts haunt the mansion and when a few things start disappearing she is pretty sure someone is getting into the house, but how? Could it be true that there are underground tunnels that date back to slave days, and could Crescent Hill actually have been a stop on the Underground Railroad?<br /><br />I really enjoyed the historical aspect of this story as well as the mystery and intrigue that surrounded the history of the Bristow family.While Camden was the primary story I loved the secondary stories that went on and how they all came together at the end. The characters were very easy to connect with, especially Camden. Crescent Hill was the only place where she ever felt like she belonged. It was nice to see her grow and watch her priorities change as the book progressed. I also felt empathy for Alex, as he continued to carry the blame for not doing enough to save his sister and nephew. I thought the christian themes woven into the story was well done, especially the message of helping others. I also got a few laughs from reading about the antics of the Sprague children especially Hailey, that little girl had a wonderful imagination.<br />Overall if your looking for a contemporary story that is firmly rooted in the historical era of the underground railroad, that weaves mystery, suspense, a bit of romance with a nice inspirational story then your certainly in for a treat with this story. Recommended!<br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1319509649000, "title": "Refuge On Crescent Hill" }, { "asin": "0310330432", "rating": 4, "text": "A cozy mystery that involves Amish characters and a quilt shop, I just knew I was going to enjoy this book and boy was I right.<br />Callie Harper finds herself in Shipshewana after inheriting Daisy's Quilt Shop from her recently deceased aunt. She thinks she will just go for a few weeks and clear out her aunts things and sell the shop, but things don't go according to plan. When Deborah Yoder shows up at the shop with an armload of quilts, Callie learns that her aunt had an agreement with Deborah and two other Amish ladies to sell their quilts. Deborah soon convinces Callie that she should reopen the shop and take the quilts on consignment. When Callie decides to try her hand at auctioning the quilts on Ebay the Amish quilt makers quickly agree, but when Mr. Stakehorn the editor of the local paper writes a story suggesting that Callie might be taking advantage of the Amish quilting group Callie becomes furious and wants a retraction. When several people see Callie arguing with Mr. Stakehorn hours before he is found dead, Callie becomes a prime suspect. Deborah is certain her new friend could never commit murder, and when several other things start to happen in town the two put their heads together to try and figure out who the murderer might be.<br />This was a fast paced who-dun-it that really gave us several suspects. I liked how the story unfolded allowing the reader to see the friendship between Deborah and Callie grow. Callie was a character that was totally easy to relate to, I thought that it was interesting that snippets of her life was revealed in her aunts old journal. Callie was grieving not only for her aunt but for the loss of another loved one from a few years back. I thought the author allowed her to grow through out the story, it felt like she had finally found a place to call home. Deborah was different than most of the Amish characters that I read about, her husband seemed to allow her more freedom. She really looked out for her friends, and she and Callie really made a great investigative team. I always get excited when the author writes a dog into the story and in this one we had Max, a golden that Callie had inherited from her aunt Daisy. He was a comfort to Callie and turned out to be a hero.<br />This was one of those stories that when I started it I just couldn't put it down. The author's words really brought the scenes to life and there were several scenes that while tense also had humor woven in. There were plenty of twists and turns that made this a page turner for me, while I was a bit disappointed with the ending, overall I found it a great read and look forward to reading the next book in this series!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1320721019000, "title": "Anxious to read the next book in the series" }, { "asin": "1414348118", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Princess Stories\" allows young girls to learn about God's princesses in the Bible. Upon reading this book they will learn all about twenty-nine of the most prominent women of the Bible in a way that will surely capture their imagination and attention, and not only that the thirtieth story is about the reader,encouraging and reminding them that they are God's princess as well.<br />Each story starts out with a scripture verse and then gives the reader a short story about a woman in the Bible. Another Bible verse follows the story and then there are Princess Ponderings which consists of three questions for your princess to answer.The cover of this book, as well as the illustrations inside will certainly capture a youngsters eye. What a wonderful way to teach a daughter or grand-daughter about the women of the Bible. Because of the quality of this book, it would make a wonderful gift.<br />rating 5/5<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327284862000, "title": "What a wonderful way to teach young girls about the women of the Bible" }, { "asin": "0857210580", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the fourth installment of the Hugh de Singleton series and Hugh and Kate have been married for about three months when Thomas atte Bridge is found hanging from a tree. While the coroner wants to call it a suicide, the evidence points to foul play. Even though atte Bridge has had run ins with most of the townsfolk and is disliked by all Hugh is determined to figure out who the murderer is.<br />This book takes place in 1366 in England, and it's easy to see the author does an amazing job of researching the time period. Not only am I intrigued by the suspense and mystery of the story but I also enjoy reading about the medical procedures that took place during that time period, as well as medieval life in general. The food in particular that Hugh ate sounded quite different. I found the glossary included in the front of the book quite useful in understanding what was being said. I also enjoy the relationship between Hugh and Kate and look forward to reading more about these two characters.<br />This book is the fourth in the series and while the author provides a bit of background about the characters ,I recommend reading the series in order to get the in depth background on the reoccurring characters.<br /><br />rating 4/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327367469000, "title": "Great continuing series" }, { "asin": "0800720741", "rating": 4, "text": "This book is the first in a new series and if it is any indicator the series is going to be a must read for lovers of historical fiction!<br /><br />\"Where Wildflowers Bloom\" is set in the tiny town of Noble Springs Missouri. The civil war took Faith Lindberg's father, brother as well as Royal Baxter the man she promised her heart to before the war. Faith would like nothing better than to leave the memories of lost love ones behind and start over somewhere else, but her grandfather isn't so keen on leaving Noble Springs.Faith is surprised when Royal comes back to town, because she thought he was killed during the war. When Royal and Faith start courting, Faith's grandfather is less than pleased because he had hoped that Faith might develop feelings for Curt Saxon the young man who runs the livery and who has been helping Faith. Will Faith decide to stay in Noble Springs? Who will she choose?<br />I really enjoyed reading this book which allows us the flavor of the civil war because it takes place shortly after. The authors storytelling really pulled me in, with the richness of detail for the time period. The characters really came to life as well. I could easily understand why Faith wanted to leave Noble Springs. It was interesting to watch her character change and grow through out<br />the story. I also enjoyed Rosemary, who was a very good friend. I really enjoyed reading about the mercantile and all of the different goods that was stocked.<br />I think anyone who enjoys a very well written historical fiction with well drawn characters a fast moving plot with a sweet romance will certainly enjoy this story. I for one am anxious for the next book in the \"Sisters at Heart\" series.<br /><br />A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327813304000, "title": "Where Wildflowers Bloom" }, { "asin": "0800734599", "rating": 5, "text": "If your a fan of historical fiction where there is always plenty going on then your in for a real treat with \"Summer Of Promise\" by Amanda Cabot!<br /><br />This book draws the reader back in time to the summer of 1885. Abigail Harding's life was pretty well planned out, she lives in Vermont teaches school and plans to marry her beau.Letters from her sister Charlotte has her worried though so she decides to take a trip to Wyoming and spend the summer with her sister. Before she ever arrives a fellow passenger Lt. Ethan Bowles, saves her stagecoach from being robbed. Will she only spend the summer or does fate have something else in store for Abigail?<br />This is the first book in the exciting new historical fiction series \"Westward Winds.\" Abigail was such a wonderful character, she was a very brave ,level headed person, and from the beginning my heart wanted her and Ethan together.<br />While many historical romances are pretty predictable, not so with this book, the author provides a few twists and turns that really held my attention. While the ending was satisfying there were a few loose ends which leaves me anxious for the next book in the series!<br /><br />Amanda Cabot is an author who really knows how to bring historical fiction to life, with easy to relate to characters and a story line that grabbed my attention from the first page and kept me intrigued until the final sentence!<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*", "timestamp": 1328416370000, "title": "Great new historical fiction series" }, { "asin": "1595549153", "rating": 4, "text": "Lucy Marsh finds herself in dire straits and has to accept an offer to marry a man she doesn't know just to take care of her brother and sister. Thing is her parents are dead, she is out of money with no job and not sure what to do when she gets an offer she can't refuse, it's the offer to marry a man sight unseen. Nate Stanton, runs a ranch and has always hoped for a wife but the responsibilities of the ranch has given him little time to find one, so when his father arranges the marriage between him and Lucy and they are married by proxy things on the ranch will certainly never be the same. She shows up with her siblings and Nate wonders how long she will last on the ranch. How will things work out between these two?<br /><br />I really enjoyed the characters in this story. Lucy really had alot of responsibilities, but was really a very brave person. She married someone sight unseen to protect her brother and sister. While a marriage of convenience is a pretty common plot the thing that made this one different was that Nate didn't know that he was married until Lucy showed up on his doorstep. His first impressions seemed perfectly normal. I thought it was quite nice to see the relationship slowly bloom, and watch his opinion of Lucy change. I think anyone who enjoys historical fiction where there is a sweet romance, a nice inspirational message as well as a bit of mystery woven in will certainly enjoy this story.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1329360734000, "title": "enjoyable historical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800720075", "rating": 5, "text": "If your looking for a story filled with non stop action packed suspense then look no further than \"When The Smoke Clears\" the first book in the Deadly Reunions series! If this book is any indicator of what the series is going to be like I would say it is going to be one not to be missed!<br /><br />Alexia Allen is a firefighter, but when she is ordered to take some time off after an accident occurs that nearly takes her life. With her ten year reunion coming up she decides to recuperate at her mothers house so that she can attend. Seems like trouble has followed her though with a murder an arson occurring soon after she arrives in town. It appears someone may be setting her up, who is out to get her and why?<br /><br />The plot in this story is non-stop. There was never a down time for me with this one. I found myself totally immersed in the story after reading the prologue. I thought the characters in this story were very well developed and I really enjoyed the budding romance between Alexia and Detective Graham Hunter. The ending of this one leaves me anxious for the next book in the series.<br /><br />Overall anyone who enjoys romantic suspense will certainly love this story, be warned though it isn't easy to figure out who-dun-it with this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1329623138000, "title": "Action packed suspense" }, { "asin": "0800720458", "rating": 5, "text": "The year is 1855 and the setting is Louisville Ky. Adriane Darcy is a journalist for her father's newspaper The Tribune. Her father's newspaper has always been the best in Louisville, but things begin to change when Blake Garrett comes in to revive the failing Herald. It becomes sort of a competition to see who can crack a story first, so when someone starts killing women in the city Adriane wants to beat Blake to the story. Thing is she is starting to have feelings for Blake, but she is engaged to another. How will things work out for Adriane, and who is killing women in Lexington?<br /><br />I really fell in love with Ms. Gabhart's writing after reading her wonderful book titled \"Angel Sister\" so I was anxious to give this one a read. What I found was a historical fiction story that was really quite different. The beginning of the story was a bit slow to capture my attention but once it grabbed it, at about the eighth chapter, I found it a story that I didn't want to put down.I really enjoyed the characters of Adriane and Blake and thought the author did a great job of allowing them to develop through out the story. The character of Adriane was strong, but she also felt the pressure of wanting to do what her father expected of her. While this book is labeled a historical romance fiction the author actually weaves a bit of suspense and mystery into this one that really made this story stand out for me. There were a few twists that wrapped up the ending quite nicely. If your looking for something that's not your typical historical romance then your going to wan to give this story a try.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330232493000, "title": "not your typical historical romance" }, { "asin": "1603742573", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been fortunate enough to read all three books in the Amish of Seymour series and have become a Laura V. Hilton fan. She has the writing skills to easily transport the reader right into the heart of the stories that she is telling, allowing me to envision the characters, setting and drama so vividly it makes me feel as if I have been transported to another place.<br /><br />In \"Promised To Another\" we get the story of Annie Beiler and Joshua Esh. Annie is the local Amish schoolteacher, she is always excited about history and learning which often gets her in trouble and puts her teaching job in jeopardy, something she can't afford to lose. You see her steady beau Luke Schwartz jumped the fence to become English and no one else has even noticed her, or at least that's what she thinks. When Luke makes an unexpected appearance after a singing and offers to take her home she turns him down flat but her refuses to listen, that is until Joshua Esh steps in and offers her a ride home, a rider home with the other girl he is already taking home. While the men who came to Seymour from Pennsylvania came looking for wives Joshua didn't instead he came to see a different part of the world but has plans to return to PA. He has earned the reputation of a player because he is always taking a different Amish girl home after singings, but that doesn't stop Annie from noticing him.Thing is Luke has decided to join the church and marry Annie and doesn't want to take no for an answer. Is Josh really a player or does Annie have the wrong idea about him? Will Annie give in and do what Luke wants or will she realize that there just might be someone else for her after all.<br /><br />The beginning of this story started out a bit predictable but then the author started throwing in several different plot twists that had me changing my mind. I thought the characters in the story seemed very realistic, especially Annie. I could totally understand her love of history and wanting to share it with her pupils. I enjoyed getting to know the different sides of Annie, there was the Annie who stood strong when her beau left her, but we also got a glimpse of an insecure Annie wondering if she would ever have someone of her own, we also saw someone who had a zest for teaching and wanted to share her love of learning with her pupils even though the board members didn't always see things her way. I thought Josh was a good male lead, and while he kept a secret from Annie I still liked him. I liked the unconventional twist the relationship took toward the end of the story.<br /><br />If your a fan of Amish fiction then your going to want to read this story. Even though it's the third book in The Amish of Seymour series it can easily be read as a stand alone work although this series is so good that your going to want to read all three books. On a scale of one to five I would easily give this whole series a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330569380000, "title": "I am going to miss this series!" }, { "asin": "0800719859", "rating": 4, "text": "This book starts out in Williamsburg Virginia in October 1813. The only thing Phoebe Lee really wants to do is practice midwifery, so when her sister-in-law asks her to go to sea with her so that they can rescue her husband who is being held prisoner in England she refuses, after all the country is at war. She soon learns though that she has no choice when she finds herself aboard a ship, and not just any ship, but a British privateer.The captain of the ship Rafe Docherty wants one thing revenge and he thinks that Phoebe just might be able to help him. When he starts having feelings for Phoebe will his priorities change?<br /><br />I thought the author did an amazing job of making this story seem realistic to the time period. While most of the story takes place aboard ship there was still a richness of detail that I enjoyed, it was so hard for me to imagine a female let alone a pregnant female aboard a privateer ship but with amazing clarity the author pulls it off. While some of the language was a bit hard to follow although it did give the book a more authentic feel.I really enjoyed the relationship between the lead characters. Phoebe and Rafe both have issues from their past that they are dealing with, that added an extra layer to their building relationship.<br /><br />\"Hearts Safe Passage\" is the second book in The Midwives Series and while I actually read the first book I feel like this one could be read as a stand alone work. This book worked for me on so many levels, it's a historical romance fiction with strong characters, along with action, suspense, and mystery woven in. What made it a stand out story for me was learning about midwifery during the time period. Overall \"Heart's Safe Passage\" is another great book from Laurie Alice Eakes.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330835536000, "title": "Heart's Safe Passage" }, { "asin": "0764207865", "rating": 5, "text": "At the age of twenty-two Sadie Wagner was a woman, but she still hadn't found the freedom to do what she wanted most. After an accident where her step-father is injured she knows someone needs to help provide for the family and doesn't mind being the one to do it. When she receives a letter from her step cousin Sid who lives in Goldtree, Kansas telling her he has secured her a job clerking in a mercantile she thinks its an answer to a prayer, and something else that he mentions is that there is an opera house and since Sadie's dream is to sing she thinks it might just be her chance to provide for her family and sing at the same time. When she arrives in Goldtree, she soon meets the new sheriff, Thad McKane, whose real dream is to become a minister but takes the job of sheriff to ferret out the culprits responsible for bootlegging, because Kansas is a dry state. She soon realizes that the opera house isn't at all what she thought, and to complicate things even more Sid has feelings for her, but she is drawn to Thad. Can a romance survive between the sheriff and Sadie, even when he begins to suspect that she might be involved in the very crimes he has been hired to take care of?<br /><br />I was drawn to Sadie's character from the first pages of the book. Her goodness easily comes across in the story, and she didn't hesitate to help out her family. I could easily understand her homesickness.The secondary characters really made this book stand out. The Baxter twins and their brother Asa were often funny and oh so easy to visualize. I thought Sid the step-cousin was a bit different, his actions were odd although I sort of chalked it up to being jealous. While there were christian themes running thru the book they weren't overdone or preachy.<br />Overall, I really enjoyed this quick read, and found myself laughing on more than a few occasions. A great historical fiction/romance that is well worth reading!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1331357398000, "title": "great characters make this one a hit" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 5, "text": "While a pretty cover always draws me in (and this cover is beautiful) it takes a good story to keep me interested and that's just what I found in \"Beauty For Ashes.\"<br />The setting for this book is Hickory Ridge, Tennessee and the year is 1876. Carrie Daly finds herself living with her brother Henry in the family home in HIckory Ridge after her husband is killed during the civil war. Henry was the only family she had left and while life wasn't exciting, they had it better than most.Things were ok in the beginning but when Henry takes a wife things start to change. Her friend Nate wants to marry her, but she isn't sure of her feelings, and after she meets Griff Rutledge, a stranger who pulls her out of the way of a run away wagon she can't stop thinking about him. As they become friends the townsfolk wonder why Griff who is a spending time with Carrie, and you can bet Nate isn't happy about it either!<br /><br />The author hit a home run with this story on so many levels. First of all I really enjoy reading about the time period right after the civil war, and then the she is able to give us a glimpse of small town life during that time that really seems authentic. I also found the characters quite easy to relate to as well. I could understand why Carrie felt that she should leave the family home after her brother married. It was easy to see her struggle with allowing God to lead her, even though she read her Bible daily and prayed she often felt discouraged. As her character grew she started to understand that she needed to let God be in control. Griff was a good male lead, I always like when the characters are allowed to be flawed it makes them so much more relate able. While there is a Christian message woven into the story it is very well done and doesn't come off as preachy. Overall if your a fan of historical fiction with romance with interesting characters and a small town feel, that weaves in a nice Christian message run out and pick up a copy of this one, your not going to regret it!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1331357545000, "title": "Beauty for Ashes" }, { "asin": "0310722365", "rating": 5, "text": "The first thing I thought when I pulled this Bible out of the box was what a beautiful cover it had. The pink color and flowers is so feminine and girly that young ladies will just love it. The color of the text inside which is purple is something that I loved as well, and while the colors are very eye catching, its the many different features of this Bible that makes it perfect for young girls.<br /><br />The features include:<br />1. Dream Girl: A feature that will help young readers imagine themselves in some of the most familiar and amazing Bible stories.<br /><br />2. Bring It On! Are quizzes used to help the reader get to know themselves, this feature also points to Bible verses that will encourage the reader.<br /><br />3. OH, I Get It! The Bible is more than just stories, it is filled with information and this feature will share some of that information with questions.<br /><br />4. Book introductions: Highlights the main topics of each book of the Bible and applies them to the reader's life.<br /><br />5. Treasure This! Verses to help the reader keep God's word in their heart.<br /><br />6. Is There a little ___in You? The feature allows you to see different character traits of some of the great people in the Bible, and allows the reader to see if they might have some of those character traits themselves.<br /><br />7. In Your Own Words: Allows the reader to create a list of events to tell a Bible story in your their own words.<br /><br />While this Bible is geared towards young ladies nine and older, I actually enjoy reading it myself. It's bright and colorful and is chock full of useful information. Because it's a NIV version it's easy for young readers to understand. Overall I think any young girl would love a copy of this Bible and I think it would make a wonderful Easter gift.<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this Bible was provided in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1333421609000, "title": "Very eye catching Bible for tween girls" }, { "asin": "1595548874", "rating": 4, "text": "I must admit Beth Wiseman is one of my favorite Amish storytellers, so I was excited to read a non-Amish story by her. With \"Need You Now\" I must say she really knows how to deliver a contemporary story. With this story she not only delivers believable characters who are dealing with real life issues, but also a fast moving plot that deals with family drama that kept me reading.<br />To look at the Henderson family they seem to be a successful family that has it all together. Darlene is a stay at home mother to three teen children, her marriage seems good, her husband is about to be promoted and the family just purchased Darlene's grandparents farm and decide to move to the country. Peel away the layers though and we quickly see that the children are having problems adjusting,especially her daughter Grace who is harming herself, and Darlene is struggling with the fact that she no longer feels needed or heard. When she takes a job outside the home and another man starts to pay attention to her, could it put her marriage in jeopardy? How will things work out for this family? As their faith is tested will they be drawn closer together as a family or will they be pulled apart?<br />One of my favorite things about this story was the fact that we see the situation thru the eyes of several characters, allowing a different perspectives on the story. A story that drew me in from the beginning and kept me wondering how this family saga would work out. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1335236786000, "title": "Family Drama" }, { "asin": "140168680X", "rating": 4, "text": "Biblical fiction is fast becoming one of my favorite genres so I was excited to read \"Garden of Madness\" which tells the story of the Babylonian Princess Tiamet, the daughter of King Nebuchadnezzar, whose madness has had him living in the palace garden for the last seven years while his family kept his condition hidden from the public. When a murder takes place inside the palace Tia decides to try and figure out what is going on, and uncovers truths that she could never have imagined.<br />The author easily brings the characters to life in this story. Even though the book is a work of fiction her descriptions brings the scenes to life, and makes the characters so easy to connect with. I really enjoyed the interactions between Tia and her father, and loved that she stood by him when others didn't.The author provides several plot twists that kept me guessing. While there is a bit of romance woven into the story for me its the mystery and suspense as well as the way the author holds pretty close to the actual Biblical story that makes this book a real winner for me.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1335840992000, "title": "Great Biblical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800719719", "rating": 4, "text": "Historical romance is one of my favorite genres to read and when the author is able to weave in a few positive messages or historical facts that make me feel as if I am actually getting a bit of a history lesson well then that makes the book a must read for me, and that's just what we get in \"A Love Forbidden.\"<br /><br />The year is 1879 and the book is set in the Colorado Rockies , and gives us the story of twenty-one year old Shiloh Wainright and Jesse Blackwater .Shiloh has signed a contract to teach for the White River Indian Agency,and looks forward to teaching the Ute children white men's ways while helping them remember their own culture. She is in for a surprise when she reconnects with her childhood friend Jesse Blackwater. Soon their friendship threatens to turn into more, but things are complicated because Jesse is 1/2 Indian,.add to this the fact that Indians and whites are on the verge of battle, and you can't help but wonder if a relationship can ever work between these two.<br /><br />The author weaves a story that easily captured my attention. I have always found this time period in the west intriguing.The author deals with the time period where the US Government made promises to the Native Americans but didn't always keep them. Shiloh was a compassionate caring person,and Jesse seemed like someone who was caught between two worlds.I enjoyed watching the feelings grow between the two characters. While I enjoyed the characters for me it was the historical elements that made the book a real winner. The author describes the tensions that are going on between the Whites and Native Americans,and allows the reader to see the prejudices that took place during that time in history. Anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction that weaves together romance and an inspirational message will certainly want to check out this book. While this is the second book in the Heart Of The Rockies series I feel as if it can be read as a stand alone work.<br />rating 4/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1338091007000, "title": "Love Forbidden" }, { "asin": "0800734378", "rating": 4, "text": "Patsy Milstrap wishes she could leave her past in the past. Up until the age of thirteen she lived in a home with an abusive stepfather. One day though her mother realizes that Patsy needs to be sent away. She goes to live with a nice christian couple and begins a new life. She marries a wonderful man and has children and as much as she tries to forget her past for the sake of her family its a difficult thing to do. When a vacation in Florida has her facing someone from her past, she knows that she will have to deal with her past if she is ever going to have a future.<br />\"Waiting for Sunrise\" is the second book in the Cedar Key series but can easily be read as a stand alone work. The author weaves an emotional story that easily pulled me in from the beginning. As the story unfolds we get glimpses of Patsy's past allowing us to understand how she came to be the person she is. Patsy was a character that was so easy to connect with. Her painful past was difficult for her to deal with, she cant help but wonder why her mother would have given her away. Gilbert was a wonderful husband who would do anything to help Patsy.<br />The secondary story of her mother and brothers added to the overall plot. It was interesting to see how the abusive home life affected each person.A story that deals with some pretty tough subjects, but also reminds that sometimes the only way to have a future is to deal with your past.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1339907090000, "title": "emotionally charged" }, { "asin": "1416599959", "rating": 5, "text": "Deborah Raney is easily one of my favorite authors. Her stories are ones that I often think about for weeks after reading. She has a way of drawing me into a story, making me feel as if I personally know the characters, and that's just how I feel about the Hanover Falls series.<br /><br />Susan Marlowe is dealing with the pain of losing her husband in the Grove Street fire, but a secret that he was carrying comes to light, a secret that breaks her heart, and has her wondering if she really knew the man she was married to. How will she deal with the hurt?<br /><br />Even though this is the third book in a series, the story line still has the ability to provide a few twists and turns that kept me reading. There is still the mystery of who actually set the fire, as well as the emotional turmoil of losing loved ones, and trying to move on after such a tragedy. Susan is a commendable character. She is trying to keep the homeless shelter going, while dealing with the loss of her husband. When her son Davey not only drops out of college but also starts coming home drunk, she learns that he is carrying a painful secret, something that he knew about his father, her husband.<br /><br />\"After All\" is the third and final installment of the Hanover Falls Series, and while this book can be read as a stand alone work, the series is filled with such amazing characters that you really are going to want to read all three books. While I enjoyed the way the author wraps up this series, I really am going to miss my visits to Hanover Falls. I highly recommend this entire series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1339909458000, "title": "I'm going to miss this series" }, { "asin": "1595549978", "rating": 4, "text": "Hope Springs North Carolina is small town USA and is the setting for the latest contemporary novel by Kim Cash Tate. It tells the story of three women, Janelle Evans, Becca Anderson, and Stephanie London, cousins who find themselves headed home to Hope Springs for a Christmas time family reunion,and to spend time with the matriarch of the family their grandmother Geri. When they learn that Geri has a terminal illness they decide to stay in Hope Springs and help her. Spending time in this small town will change their lives forever.<br /><br />What a touching story. I do admit that there were plenty of characters to learn in the first several chapters and was glad that there was a family tree provided at the beginning of the book. Once I learned who everyone was and the issues that was going on it became a compelling story that I couldn't put down. The author creates authentic characters that are very easy to connect to.The small town feel of this book was wonderfully portrayed. One of my favorite characters in the story had to be Jeri, she was such a strong woman.<br />The author deals with several heavy subjects, but also gives several positive,uplifting messages as well. Overall a very well written story that provides a few twists and turns that kept me reading.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1340156416000, "title": "Hope Springs" }, { "asin": "0800720482", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become an avid reader of Biblical fiction and one of my favorite authors of this genre is Diana Wallis Taylor. She writes her stories in such a way that once you finish the book I always come away with a deeper understanding of not only the character that she writes about but also about the Bible verses that center around the character.<br /><br />Her latest book shines the spotlight on \"Mary Magdalene.\" We learn that she was an only child, her father a very successful boat builder. At the age of eleven her life changed dramatically when she is kidnapped.Her father pays the ransom to get her back, but after the incident Mary suffers from headaches,nightmares and seizures. While her loved ones sympathized with her, the people of her village shun her, fearing that she is crazy or worse. When they hear rumors that the Messiah is coming, a man named Jesus, the son of God,they wonder if it is true and if perhaps he will be able to help Mary.<br /><br />\"Mary Magdalene\" is another great fictional Biblical story from Diana Wallis Taylor. With her well crafted storytelling and attention to historical detail the author easily pulls me right into the story. The author writes with a clarity that brings the characters to life, and makes it easy to understand their stories. After reading this story I was propelled to dig out my Bible and read all that I could find about Mary Magdalene. Anyone who enjoys Biblical fiction is in for a real treat with this story. Recommended.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1340508191000, "title": "Fiction that brings Bible characters to life" }, { "asin": "0800734556", "rating": 5, "text": "\"The Gift\" by Ann Gabhart is the fifth installment in her Shaker Village series,and this book is just as great as all the others in the series I have read.<br /><br />Jessamine Brady is twenty, she moved to the Shaker Village at the age of ten after the death of her grandmother, and the one thing she remembered her grandmother encouraging her to do was follow her dreams. While she loves her Harmony Hill family she has always felt like she doesn't belong in the Shaker Village. When she meets Tristan Cooper someone from the outside world she finds herself at a crossroads, will she have the courage to step out into the world, or will she decide that her home is actually in Harmony Hill?<br /><br />I really enjoy when I have the ability to read a book and feel as if I am getting a bit of education to boot and that's just how I feel when I read Ann Gabhart's stories that are centered around the Shakers. She weaves together an intriguing story that always holds my attention while giving accurate glimpses of how it might have been to have lived as a Shaker.The author provides plenty of conflict, along with romance and a bit of suspense that certainly kept me reading. Add to the mix like-able characters and a historical setting making it a book that I couldn't resist. Recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1341919800000, "title": "The Gifted" }, { "asin": "1595547819", "rating": 4, "text": "Imagine finding out that a father you really never knew left you some valuable property, and imagine meeting half brothers and sisters whom you never knew existed thinking that you are trying to steal what rightfully belongs to them. Well that's just what happens to Libby Holladay the main character in Colleen Coble's newest novel \"Tidewater Inn.\"<br /><br />Libby and her best friend Nicole are co-owners of Holladay Renovations, a business that restores historical properties. Nicole not only handles the financial side of the business but also convinces potential clients to do business with them, meanwhile Libby takes care of the restoration. While researching a job on the Outer Banks Libby learns that she has actually inherited The Tidewater Inn along with property from a father whom she believed had died when she was five. Instead she learns her father has recently passed away leaving her the inheritance, and what's more she has half siblings that she never knew existed, siblings that are none to happy about her inheriting the inn. In addition to this earth shattering news, her business partner is kidnapped and Libby not only saw the whole thing but becomes a suspect in the crime. Can she prove her innocence, while trying to find Nicole, and what about the Tidewater Inn, will she be able to keep and restore it, or will she have to sell it, and will she ever be accepted by her new family?<br /><br />Interesting, well developed characters and a great plot made this a fast moving story for me. I found myself immediately drawn into the story, and wondered not only what Libby would do, but whether she would ever be accepted by a family she didn't know existed. Libby was a character that was easy to relate to and understand. If you enjoy a well written story filled with mystery, suspense, family drama,romance, and a nice spiritual message you just might enjoy this one, I know I did. Recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1341974234000, "title": "Tidewater Inn" }, { "asin": "0800734580", "rating": 5, "text": "Irene Hannon has become a go to author for me whenever I want to read a suspense filled mystery that also blends a christian message together with just enough clues to keep me turning the pages in anticipation right up until the end. I have enjoyed reading the Guardians of Justice series and while I looked forward to reading this book, I was sort of sad as well, because \"Lethal Legacy\" is the final book in the series.<br /><br />There are so many things that I enjoyed bout this book, but overall it's the author's style of writing that captivates me. She has an uncanny way of allowing us a glimpse inside the killers mind revealing what he is thinking while keeping us guessing as to who the killer might be, and the killer isn't always easy to figure out, but it always makes sense in the end. Since this book is the third and final book in the \"Guardian of Justice\" series while I believe that it can be read as a stand alone work I highly recommend that the entire series should be read in order to get the full scope of the story. If your a fan of suspense,mystery with a light romance, and a christian theme woven in your going to enjoy this series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1344787029000, "title": "Well written suspense" }, { "asin": "0764209132", "rating": 5, "text": "allie Kincaid and her eight month old son are headed out to find her husband Seth Kincaid, who just up and took off one day. When her stagecoach is waylaid by bandits and she finds herself in the middle of a shoot out, while she waits for the other passengers to go bring help back. Well help arrives in the form of her husband Seth, a husband who doesn't even remember that he has a wife, and never knew he had a son.<br /><br />This was such a quick read, I really fell in love with the characters and couldn't put the story down. Callie was a no nonsense type of person, who wanted to know why her husband up and left her, which was a very good question. I could easily forgive Seth though when we learn why he left her behind.Once he realizes he has a wife he is determined to do the right thing, although I could understand why Callie was guarding her heart this time around.<br /><br />Mary Connealy really knows how to write a story. As a fan of historical fiction, I really love being drawn back in time, and when there is romance, along with a good dose of humor well I am sold! I would say that \"Over The Edge' is the third book in the Kincaid Brides series, and while we do get a bit of background information it is best to read the entire series in order to fully understand the characters. Grantastic series, and I really hope the author continues with another book! Highly recommended.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1345430910000, "title": "Fun read" }, { "asin": "0764206176", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Taming The Wind\" takes pace in North Texas in 1868. Carissa Lowe has spent the last two years of her life trying to find peace in her heart. The nightmares and bad memories of Malcolm, her now deceased husband continues to haunt her. You see two years ago, she thought she new the man she married, instead he was on the run from the army, and decided to use her sister Laura and Clarissa to try and save himself, by taking them hostage, and then throwing them into the Gulf off the Corpus Christi coast. Fortunatly they were both saved, even though Malcolm wasn't. For Carissa though she no longer trusts her judgement where men are concerned, and has shied away from all men except for her brother-in-law, and the man who saved her Tyler Artherton, although she hasn't seen Tyler in the last two years because she has lived the last two years with her parents, and her baby daughter Gloria in Corpus Christi. When her parents decide to take a trip she decides to go spend the summer with Laura and her husband on their ranch.<br /><br />Tyler Artherton is staying on a friends ranch while he works out some issues of his own. He had never really stopped thinking about Carissa, and when he learns that she is staying on a neighboring ranch, he finds himself drawn to her and her daughter Gloria. Will Tyler and Carissa find happiness together or are there to many obstacles in the way? Will Carissa ever find the peace that she longs for?<br /><br />Even though \"Taming The Wind\" is the third book in Tracie Peterson's Land of the Lonestar series, I felt like the author gave enough background information so this book could be read as a stand alone work. This book takes place right after the civil war which easily drew me into the story because this is one of my favorite time periods to read about. The two main characters Carissa and Tyler were so easy to connect and emphathize with. I felt like Ms. Peterson did a very realistic job of allowing them to grow as the story progressed. I found the secondary characters really added to the overall story. I am a long time fan of Tracie Peterson and always look forward to reading whatever she writes, and this book certainly didn't disappoint. Fans of historical inspirational romances where the setting comes to life will certainly want to read this one, but since its part of a three book series why not read them all. Highly recommended!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1346817786000, "title": "Fans of historical inspirational romance will enjoy this one" }, { "asin": "1595548033", "rating": 4, "text": "Dylan Taylor is a smooth talking ladies man and Annie Wilkerson isn't interested. When Dylan's best horse, Braveheart, has a condition that has his vet suggesting he put the horse down, Dylan goes to Annie for help. Annie knows just about everything there is to know about horses. She writes a bi-weekly column in Montana Living today called \"Ask Avery\" which answers readers questions about equine problems. When Annie gets a call from her editor informing her that her column is being cut from the magazine, although she is offered another column, thing is its a column giving advice to the lovelorn. Annie has never been in love so how can she write an advice column? She decides to strike up a deal with Dylan, she will help his horse if he will help her with her column. As she gets to know the true Dylan she realizes he is different that she first assumed. Will Annie decide that some cowboys aren't so bad after all?<br /><br />Annie Wilkerson is someone you just can't help but like. She is looking out for her twenty year old sister Seirra,who by the way is raising four year old Ryder, works hard and is just a down to earth person, dealing with life's issues. She doesn't trust cowboys and I could certainly understand why. She wants safe and predictable in her life but that isn't what God has in mind for her. I enjoyed getting to know Dylan's character as well, both really had issues from their past that they needed to take care of. I found myself enjoying the twangy style of dialogue that popped up in the story, it really gave the book a real cowboy flavor for me.Another neat thing that I enjoyed about this story was how in the beginning each chapter opened with a bit of advice about horses, when Annie's job changed the chapters started opening up with bits of advice for the lovelorn.<br /><br />I really loved the town of Moose Creek and found \"The Trouble With Cowboys\" a delightful inspirational romantic read.Sometimes christian romance can come off a bit strong, but Denise Hunter really strikes a great balance with her writing. She provides a sweet romance that also weaves in a nice wholesome feeling to her stories, while also giving a few laughs.While this book is a part of a series the author writes it in such a way that it can be read as a stand alone work, but if you enjoy a great read, then your going to want to read the entire series.", "timestamp": 1349196283000, "title": "The Trouble With Cowboys" }, { "asin": "0800721322", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Life With Lily\" is such a delightful read. I found myself enjoying the many things that went on in young Lily Lapp's life. We first meet Lily as she and her younger brother Joseph are whisked off in the middle of the night to their grandparent's house, and we soon learn new baby Dannie has been born into the Lapp family. I found myself laughing at Lily's reaction as she first meets her new baby brother, not to mention the reaction she has to Freida Troyer who has come to help her mother for a few days after the birth of the baby. There are so many happenings around an Amish farm, from a barn raising to getting a new milk cow and even a trip to Kentucky to see the Lapp grandparents. One thing is for certain, life is never boring when you see things thru the eyes of Lily Lapp.<br /><br />I loved this book, once I started reading it I just couldn't put it down. I enjoyed meeting the Lapp family and was a bit surprise at where the final chapters led us. The illustrations are very well done, and further enhance the story. I really can't wait to read the next book in The Adventures of Lily Lapp series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1349581688000, "title": "Perfect for all ages" }, { "asin": "0800734173", "rating": 5, "text": "Seventeen year old Susannah Grace Kennedy made the move from Badger, Iowa to Boston after the death of her parents. She is going to be living with her aunt Eleanor, and has decided she wants to forget her \"good girl\" past, and even decides she wants to be called Annie. Her sister Maggie had sent her letters while in college raving about the hot spots in Boston, so Annie starts hanging out with a fast crowd, and making some choices that aren't so wise. When she meets Steven O'Connor her sister's former fiancee she falls hard for him. Thing is he doesn't know that Annie is actually Maggie's sister, and Steven really isn't interested anyway, or at least that's what he keeps telling himself. What will happen when he realizes who Annie really is?<br /><br />Another great story from Julie Lessman! I enjoyed connecting with the characters from the former books, and with that said, even though this is the third book in the Wind Of Change series it can easily be read as a stand alone work.<br />The thing that I enjoy about this series is the many subplots that go on within the book, and \"A Love Surrendered\" is no different. The main characters are Steven a prohibition agent with the government that is dealing with a broken heart, even though he was the one to break things off with Maggie he believes he is still in love with her. Annie seems like someone who is anxous to grow up.It was so nice to see both of the characters grow spiritually as the story progressed. The secondary stories really keep the plot moving along, and allow us to reconnect with the O'Connor family. Overall I have really enjoyed this series, it has everything that I enjoy reading. Historical fiction that brings the time period to life along with great characters, romance and a nice inspirational message who could ask for anything more?<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1350262108000, "title": "Fantastic series" }, { "asin": "0857212052", "rating": 4, "text": "Coming back to work after the death of his partner, Frank Campello finds himself paired with a new partner. Andy Polanski is an officer that has a reputation of being on to steer clear of, and unfortunately he is Frank's new partner.As the two investigate the brutal murder of a young girl, they quickly learn that there is more to the murder than meets the eye. As they continue to dig, the learn that an organized crime ring is involved and that ring has some friends in high places. Will they be able to solve the crimes and bring the criminals to justice.<br /><br />\"The Sons of Jude\" gave me a good look at how crime families operate, something I really don't think I have ever read about before.It was intesting to see how they can get thier footing in politics and then sort of run the show. This was a very well written suspense, thriller, that provided a few twists, and a satisfying ending. Normally I enjoy a fast paced read, however \"The Sons of Jude,\" moves along at at slower pace providing rich detail, that really allowed the story to build for me. Overall, I enjoyed reading this one, and the ending has me putting the next book in this series on my TBR list.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1350699592000, "title": "The Sons of Jude" }, { "asin": "0310330459", "rating": 5, "text": "To say that I love this series is an understatement. I feel like Ms. Chapman's storytelling just gets better and better. While I love the mystery that takes place in each of the Shipshewana Amish Mystery series, it's really the friendships that take place between the Amish and English characters that really sells me on the series.<br /><br />The Fall Crafters Fair which is Shipshewana's largest festival of the year, is in full swing, when a murder takes place in the parking lot of Daisy's Quilt Shop.With only one witness to the crime, it might not be so easy to solve. As things start to escalate Callie realizes that she just might be the intended target, it seems she has something the killer wants, but she isn't sure what it is! Thing is this killer isn't going to stop until he gets it, regardless of what he has to do. Can the police figure it out, or will it take Callie and her friends to solve this one?<br /><br />To say this book has a fast moving plot is an understatement! Once I started reading it, I couldn't wait to see what might happen! There were several suspenseful moments in the story, which pulled it right along. This book really has it all,in addition to the small town feel of the story, it has the Amish/Englisher friendship, a splash of romance,a nice mystery, a dog, baby, Amish children one of which is dealing with an illness that was new to me. Chicken Breast Disease was something I had never heard of but learned a bit about in this story.I always enjoy whenever a dog is included in a story and with this one we have Max. The author provides a satisfying ending, that wraps up the story nicely, I just hope that this book isn't the final one in the series.<br /><br />While this is the third book in the Shipshewana Amish Mystery series it can easily be read as a stand alone work, although if you're a fan of Amish fiction, cozy mysteries, or just a great read, you are certainly going to want to read the entire series. Each story is a good clean read, that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1351647118000, "title": "Great series" }, { "asin": "1603745068", "rating": 3, "text": "Kristi Lapp is a young Amish lady who is also a practicing midwife for her community. While on her way to an appointment she winds up in a buggy accident.Shane Zimmerman, her next door neighbor and local veterinarian happens by and finds her buggy and gets Kristi to the hospital. Because her parents are in Florida, Shane takes it upon himself to start visiting Kristi daily while she is in the hospital. He also decides to start taking care of Chinook, so that the dog can get the exercise he needs until Kristi recovers. Soon though Kristi starts having feelings for Shane, and he feels drawn to her as well. Of course when Kristi's dad comes home and forbids Shane from having anything else to do with Kristi because he is afraid she might leave the faith. How can an Amish midwife and an Englisher vet ever have a chance at love?<br /><br />I became a fan of Laura V. Hilton after reading her last series, The Amish of Seymour, and I like how some of the characters from that series was mentioned in this book. There were several things that I really liked about \"Healing Love\" but there were a few things that also fell a bit flat for me as well. So I am going to expound on the positive aspects first. The author captured my attention from the beginning pages. Kristi, a practicing Amish midwife has a buggy accident while on her way to visit a patient. Well that grabbed my attention, and then we are introduced to Shane Zimmeran, a promising character who has roots that harken back to the Amish but is now an Englisher. As Kristi's neighbor he gets her to the hospital, and then starts spending time with her. They are drawn to each other, but both know that a relationship is next to impossible. Seems though they find themselves together at every turn, as if fate is drawing them together. Shane's feelings about midwives really was understandable. I thought the secondary story of Shane's sister and her baby added to the overall effect of the story. I always enjoy whenever a dog is added to a story and with this one we have Chinook, Kristi's dog who loved Shane as well.<br /><br />The things that fell a bit flat for me was the complaining that Kristi often did about English food, I mean that sort of got old fast. I also felt like Kristi's dad, and uncle were a bit wishy washy when it came to trying to keep Kristi and Shane apart, and I was really shocked at the manner in which Ira threw Kristi out of the house. Overall, not my favorite Hilton read, but still good. I look forward to reading her next book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352261572000, "title": "Healing Love" }, { "asin": "0310335108", "rating": 4, "text": "It's been two years since Sarah Shetler's best friend Patty died in unexpectedly and since then Sarah has carried around a memory jar, and keeps her memories tucked inside so that she won't have to deal with her emotions.When she meets Jathan Schrock, an Amish bachelor with issues of his own, something changes. Can Jathan penetrate the walls that Sarah has built around her heart?<br /><br />Overall, I enjoyed this book. It dealt with loss, pain, friendship,and the wonderful inspirational message of allowing God to heal. While I enjoyed reading about Sarah and Patty's friendship, I found that the flashbacks of these memories sometimes broke the flow of the story and made it feel a bit choppy for me. It did seem very realistic that it took time for Sarah to heal, from her loss. Jathan is also dealing with issues that make both of the characters seem very realistic. It was so nice to see the characters grow and change as the story progressed.<br /><br />While this wasn't my favorite Tricia Goyer novel, I did enjoy it. There are discussion questions that would make this a great book club selection. The author also includes a glossary of words used by the Amish that is very helpful. I am anxious to read the next book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series.<br /><br />3.5/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352345899000, "title": "The Memory Jar" }, { "asin": "0736951512", "rating": 5, "text": "I am a true fan of Jerry Eicher. I have been reading his Amish fiction for quite some time and I normally never have a complaint about his work, well with \"Susanna's Christmas Wish\" my only complaint was that it didn't last long enough. The characters were great, the story line was perfect for my Christmas reading marathon, and while it was a short read that didn't last long enough for me. The author does provide well fleshed characters, and a nice plot that is short, sweet and satisfying!<br /><br />Mathew Yoder and Susanna Keim had been dating for two years, and were actually engaged when Mathew broke her heart when he decided to leave the Amish life. When Herman Wagler asks her to marry him she agrees even though she doesn't love him like she did Matthew, she is sure that in time she will. Problems start to arise when Herman announces that he doesn't celebrate Christmas the way Susanna's family does. Added to this Matthew is back in town. How will this affect the newly married couple, is their marriage able to withstand all the turmoil going on? Pick up \"Susanna's Christmas Wish\" and find out!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352779454000, "title": "Jerry Eicher is the king of Amish fiction!" }, { "asin": "0800720040", "rating": 5, "text": "The year is 1882, in the Wyoming Territory. After the death of her husband Josef, Celia Anderson is running a boarding house in the town of Easton to support her six month old Emma. Her friend Bertha keeps telling her it's time to find herself a new husband, but Celia has decided that she will only marry for love, and besides she stays very busy running her boarding house and babysitting young Aaron. Mark Williams has been looking for his father for two years,and his search has led him to Easton, to Celia's boarding house. As she gets to know Mark she sees the kind man that he is, but is he the right man for her, after all will he even stick around? While Mark feels drawn to Celia, will he stay in Easton?<br /><br />A short novella that was such a satisfying, quick read. I loved the characters, as well as the small town feel of the story. Celia and Mark were such good lead characters. She was strong, after all she had lost her husband, was trying to raise a daughter and run a boarding house, but the author allowed us to see another side of Celia, one who wanted to be loved and cherished. Mark was such a wonderful man, one I would consider a true gentleman. While he was carrying a bit of hurt from his past it didn't make him bitter. Strong secondary characters rounded out the story quite well, and I would love to see a story develop around Jacob, Arron's father, who had intentions of sending away for a mail order bride. Overall, a short, sweet, historical fiction that warmed my heart.<br /><br />A complementary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1353652395000, "title": "short,sweet, historical Christmas read" }, { "asin": "1401685676", "rating": 4, "text": "This book encompasses two of my favorite types of books Amish fiction and short stories. \"An Amish Kitchen\" is comprised of three short stories written by three of today's premiere Amish fiction authors.<br /><br />The first story is a \"Taste of Faith\" written by Kelly Long. Twenty year old Deborah Zook has been living with her grandmother Esther Zook since the age of five when her parents died of the flu. She has a love for tending flowers and herbs and her grandmother has the wish to see her trained in healing herbs, but more than that she wishes that her granddaughter would find a man and marry, and truthfully Fern wishes for someone as well. At the age of twenty-three Abram Fisher is a dyed in the wool bachelor, who never paid any attention to Fern, but when he needs Fern's help after his sister Mary becomes sunburned he begins to look at Fern in a different light. Will fate bring these two together?<br /><br />\"A Spoonful of Love\" by Amy Clipston is the story of Hannah King, who has been managing the Paradise Inn since her father had a stroke a year ago. When Stephen Esh comes to town looking for a place to stay he rents a room at the end. Could Stephen be the one Hannah has been hoping will come into her life? What about his past, why is he so far from home? Will he be able to let go of the past and embrace the future?<br /><br />\"A Recipe for Hope\"by Beth Wiseman is the story of Eve Bender. At the age of thirty-eight Eve Bender finds herself moving back home with her parents after a tree crashes into her farmhouse. Not only is she moving back home but she her husband and three teen age boys who are going thru rumspringa also will be moving in as well. Eve and her mother often didn't see eye to eye on things will spending two months under her parents roof allow them to heal the hurts from the past?<br /><br />I loved each of these stories, that gently remind of faith and family. My favorite story easily had to be \"A Recipe for Hope.\" I enjoyed the fact that Eve was a bit older and her sons added an interesting layer to the story.Her oldest son Leroy is eighteen and Amos and Elias are her twin sixteen year old boys. Amos also has a Chinese Water Dragon that provided a few funny moments.<br /><br />If you have never read Amish fiction this book is a delightful way to sample these three great authors. There is a glossary of \"Amish\" words included for newbie Amish fiction readers. The recipes which include some herbal treatments are just an added bonus. While each story is a tad predictable overall I enjoyed each of them, and would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good clean read with a splash of romance and an Amish cast of characters.<br /><br />Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1354680094000, "title": "An Amish Kitchen" }, { "asin": "0800719891", "rating": 5, "text": "I have loved the entire Stoney Ridge Seasons series and couldn't wait to read Mary Kate's story who happened to be one of my favorite characters in the series. All I can say is that Suzanne saved the best story for last!<br />At the age of nineteen Mary Kate also known as M.K. is still a bit irresponsible and full of mischief, but when one of her stunts has her running into the Amish teacher she is forced to grow up quick and take over the responsibilities of being the teacher. Will she take the job seriously? Well in the beginning M.K. doesn't do very well, but soon with the help of a former teacher things start to look up. Will M.K. ever really settle down, and do we really want her too! Added to this is an unexpected death, a mysterious stranger comes to town, along with that someone comes up missing, and you have a page turner filled with plenty of interesting happenings, that include a few unexpected twists!<br /><br />From the beginning paragraphs Ms. Fisher creates a story that's filled with a bit of mystery along with plenty of excitement for nineteen year old M.K. Lapp who had been longing for a bit of adventure. I just loved the words the author used to express the restlessness that M.K. felt. They allowed for such vivid scenes to play out in my head, I could just imagine M.K. feeling the need to spread her wings and fly to someplace that would seem more exciting than her tiny town!<br />I have read each book in this wonderful series, and for me each story just keeps getting better. I enjoyed meeting the new characters in the story, and loved reconnecting with the Lapp family, including Doozy the dog! Fans of Amish fiction will love this story, but anyone who enjoys a bit of mystery, romance and a story that will keep you glued to the pages then your going to want to read the entire series, and if you have never read anything by Ms. Fisher why not start with the Stoney Ridge Seasons, I promise you wont be disappointed. On a scale of one of one to five I would easily give this entire series a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1357271048000, "title": "The Lesson" }, { "asin": "0800719867", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Choices of the Heart\" is the third book in The Midwives series and takes place in Virginia in 1842. Esther Cherrett finds herself in the midst of something that forces her to head for the mountains of Virginia and take a job teaching, hoping that she can leave her problems behind. Instead she finds herself smack dab in the middle of a family feud between the Tollivers and the Brooks, added to that is the fact that Griff Tolliver as well as Zach Brooks wants to court her. Which one will win her heart, and does it really matter, especially when her past catches up with her? What will happen when the past she tried to outrun reaches the mountains?<br /><br />As a fan of historical fiction I have enjoyed this entire series. Ms. Eakes does a wonderful job of creating realistic characters that are very easy to connect with because of the issues that they are dealing with. Esther's character wants to run from her past, but learns that the past has a way of catching up with you anyway. It was interesting to see her character grow and change as the story progressed. Griff was determined to see the feud end between the families, which made him a stand out character for me. While I enjoyed the characters I also loved the way the author brought the region to life, the descriptions allowed me to envision the area as well as the time period. Overall the historical feel of the story along with a great plot that provided a few twists made this a great read. While this book could be read as a stand alone work, I recommend reading the entire series. If your a fan of historical romance, with an inspirational bent your going to enjoy \"Choices of the Heart.\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1358659590000, "title": "Choices of the Heart" }, { "asin": "0800734602", "rating": 5, "text": "Cheyenne Wyoming Territory is the setting for \"Waiting for Spring.\" It's 1886 and its been a year since Charlotte Harding's world was turned upside down, and she was forced to flee to Cheyenne so that she and her young son David might be safe. While she has made a new life and friends, even opening a dress shop, she still worried for the safety of her son. When she meets Barrett Landry, a wealthy rancher who has political aspirations they are drawn to each other, but he needs a wife with political connections and she can't risk her past being exposed, what will happen between them?<br /><br />Charlotte was such a nice character, a wonderful mother willing to do whatever she needed to do to protect her son. I so wanted things to work out for Charlotte. I enjoyed reading about her dress shop, as well as her interactions with her customers. There are several secondary characters that really propel this story along including Gwen Amos and her daughter Rose who was a great help to Charlotte. A great well rounded story, romance, with mystery,suspense as well as the historical setting made this book a real winner for me. To be honest I was drawn to this book because of it's beautiful cover, but the characters and story are what truly shine with this one. Amanda Cabot is easily one of my favorite historical fiction writers, and I look forward to reading the next book in the Westward Winds series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1358662438000, "title": "Waiting for the next book in this fantastic series" }, { "asin": "0800720393", "rating": 5, "text": "After a disastrous marriage Charlotte Farrow finds it necessary to flee her husband in order to keep not only herself but her newborn son safe as well. She becomes a maid for the Banning household, but one of the job requirements was that she be unmarried and without children, so she keeps her son a secret. When Mrs. Given, the lady that Charlotte has entrusted with her young son Henry, has a family emergency and needs to leave town she brings the baby to Charlotte at work. Charlotte finds herself in a dilemma, if she confesses she will certainly lose her job, but if she doesn't will she lose her son?<br /><br />While this book is the second in the Avenue of Dreams series I feel like it can be read as a stand alone work, although because the first book was quite engaging I would recommend reading it as well. This book picks up right were the last one left off. I found myself feeling empathy for Charlotte's dilemma, and couldn't imagine being in her position. Lose her job, or protect her son, and not only that there is the hopes of romance, but when or if the truth comes out will it be the end of her hopes for a new beginning? In addition to Charlotte's compelling story we get a very good glimpse the differences between the social classes during this time in history. Also we get a great historical glance of the Chicago's Worlds Fair. Overall, fans of historical fiction will certainly enjoy not only this book but the entire series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1359426815000, "title": "Historical fiction fans will enjoy this series" }, { "asin": "0800721330", "rating": 5, "text": "\"A New Home for Lily\" has Lily and her family moving to Pennsylvania to be closer to family. Things are really changing for young Lily. She no longer has her own bedroom, she finds herself in a new school with new children, added to that is the fact that there is a new baby in the house. She does have her faithful dolly Sally. While some changes seem a little intimidating some are chock full of fun. One things certain young Lily keeps her faithful dolly Sally close by for comfort! Will Lily adjust to all the changes going on? Read this wonderful book to be pulled along into young Lily's life where adventures abound, and the reader gets wonderful glimpses of Amish life.<br /><br />While this book is geared toward the younger reading set, I find it a totally refreshing read. I enjoy reading about the day to day Amish goings on, and the character of Lily is just wonderful. Life is full of adventure and never boring your Lily. A great read whether your eight or eighty. Young girls are going to enjoy Lily and her adventures while they learn about the Amish lifestyle. I can't recommend this series enough. On a scale of one to five it easily gets a six in my book!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1360552318000, "title": "A New Home for Lily" }, { "asin": "0800734300", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become a huge fan of Biblical fiction so to say I was excited to read \"Rebekah\" is sort of an understatement, because I remember reading her story in the book of Genesis.Well after reading Jill Eileen Smith's fictionalized account of her story, I know I will never forget Rebekah, because she brought the story to life making me feel as if I was right there as the events take place.The twins that she bore, and who she chose as her favorite. Ms. Smith allowed me to see Rebekah as a mother, not just another woman in the Bible. The author easily pulled me back into Bible days, with a richness in descriptions that brought the time and setting to life. I certainly enjoyed how the author incorporated scripture verses thru the story. Overall, fans of Biblical fiction will certainly want to read this one, but anyone who enjoys historical fiction with romance, where the characters just happen to be from the Bible will certainly want to read this memorable story. I can't wait to read the next book in this exciting series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361247483000, "title": "Rebekah" }, { "asin": "0800720733", "rating": 4, "text": "I love books that take place around the time of the Civil War so \"When the Heart Heals\" was a much anticipated read for me. This book takes place during 1867 in Noble Springs, Missouri. Rosemary Saxon was a nurse during the civil war, but with the war over she has to support herself somehow so she decides to work for Dr. Elijah Stewart the doctor in town.Rosemary believes in using herbal remedies and often gives out advice against which is something the doctor doesn't care for, which often causes them to butt heads on occasion. As they work together an attraction grows, but someone comes along that has Rosemary thinking she needs to leave town. Rosemary also finds herself having problems because of some advice that she has given to someone about herbs. How will things work out for Rosemary? Will she be accepted for who she is, and does she and Elijah work things out?<br /><br />While I felt like I ultimately knew how things would work out for the main characters it was such a wonderful story that gets me to that conclusion. I am such a fan of sweet romance,as well as strong women that don't often conform to what society thinks that they should be.The plot moves along at a good pace, and the author sprinkles a bit of suspense to make it more interesting. I love when we get a pet woven into a story and with this one we have Rosemary's dog Bodie. Overall, while I knew where this story was headed I certainly enjoyed the telling that gets us there. Fans of historical fiction who also enjoy a good clean read will certainly love this one. While this book is the second in the Sisters at Heart series it can easily be read as a stand alone work.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361697768000, "title": "When the Heart Heals" }, { "asin": "1596693584", "rating": 4, "text": "\"The Moses Quilt\" is a story that will capture the heart and provide you with a surprising yet satisfying ending!<br /><br />Mazie Hartford is a 24 year old whose life seems to be falling right into place, she recently finished college, and is set to take a job in the fall. Added to that her boyfriend Edward, a lawyer in his fathers firm has ask her to marry him. Thing is she has been dragging her feet, hesitant to say yes. Her great-grandmother moved in with Mazie and her mother five years ago, leaving the deep South for California. Now at the age of 93 her great-grandmother Mimi knows that her time left is coming to an end and wants to pass on a family heirloom to her namesake Mazie. The heirloom is a Moses quilt and along with the quilt is the telling of the history behind the quilt. Perhaps Mimi's story of family history will help Mazie make up her mind about her future.<br /><br />There are two stories going on in the pages of this book. The contemporary romance between Mazie and Edward, which happens to be an interracial relationship. The secondary story is the story behind the Moses Quilt, and that was truly the stand out story for me, because with Mimi's story we learn about Harriet Tubman. We learn where she came from, the cruel treatment she endured and ultimately why she was so adamant to see her people be free. I always enjoy getting a history lesson along with a fictional read and that's just what I found woven into the pages of \"The Moses Quilt.\" While the romance was ok it was Mimi and her story that made this book a real winner for me. A great way to learn a bit about African American History.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361744761000, "title": "History lesson was stand out for me" }, { "asin": "1621360210", "rating": 5, "text": "Cassandra Todd finds herself needing to leave her home in the middle of the night, her husband Brad is an abusive man, and while Cassandra was willing to take his beatings when he threatens to turn the abuse on their son Justin she knows it's time to leave. She heads to Lakewood, the town she grew up in hoping to cash in some bonds that her parents left her and then disappear When the bank transaction takes a bit longer than she anticipates she finds herself needing to spend a few days in town and checks into The Mountain View Motel. When hired men show up she finds herself needing the help of the motel handyman.<br />Turner Caldwell's high school years is something he has tried to put behind him. Bullied unmercifully by the jocks, especially Brad Duncan, who even gave him the nickname \"Pancake.\" Turner always had a crush on Cassandra Todd, but she was one of the popular crowd, a cheerleader. After being gone for seven years Cassandra shows up with her young son Justin and stays a few nights at the motel where Turner works, causing those old feelings and emotions to bubble to the surface. When she shows up at his door and tells him that she is running from her husband, who just happens to be Brad Duncan,and needs his help Turner finds himself in the midst of something that could possibly change his life forever.<br /><br />I found myself intrigued within the first few pages of this story. Cassandra finds herself needing to leave an abusive husband, and winds up going back to her home town. How ironic that the boy that was bullied in high school by her husband is the one she turns to for help. While I could empathize with Cassandra and her plight, I really felt for Turner and the memories that haunted him.I could understand why he was angry with God. In addition to the bullying he had experienced in high school, he had also lost a job he loved, his mother had died, and his father sort of abandoned him. Cassandra on the other hand held fast to her faith and felt like God was leading her.<br /><br />The author tackles two pretty tough subjects within the pages of this story, spousal abuse and bullying. Cassandra was willing to accept the abuse for herself, but refused to allow her husband to abuse her son. I thought the author really shined when it came to showcasing just how bullying can haunt someone for years. Overall I found this to be a very fast paced story laced with suspense, drama, along with several inspirational, motivational messages as well. Recommended!<br /><br />A review copy was provided by Glass Roads PR in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1362628135000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "080072089X", "rating": 3, "text": "\"Moonlight Masquerade\" is a Regency Romance set in London during 1813. Lady Celine Wexham was French born, but married an English Earl. Thing is her husband, was older,and not very nice. After his death she has money and wealth, which allows her to help those in need. Thing is the English government thinks that she may be a spy and sends Rees Phillips to work undercover as her butler to find out the truth.<br /><br />Regency romance isn't a genre that I normally read, so I was excited to try this one. While the story was really slow to pick up in the beginning, it did pick up, but never really held my attention. I hoped for a fast paced spy drama with romance woven in, but I was left wishing that there had been more romance between the two main characters. I did enjoy the historical aspects of the story, and thought that Rees was a very likable character. Overall, just a middle of the road read for me that didn't excite or inspire, I would say that if you enjoy a historical read, set during the regency era, you might enjoy this book. It just really wasn't my cup of tea.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1362959943000, "title": "Moonlight Masquerade" }, { "asin": "0764209914", "rating": 5, "text": "I found myself drawn into this story from the beginning. Molly Lovelace has always been treated like Daddy's little princess, and because everyone seemed to think that she was just a pretty female, who loved to shop, without a true thought in her head that's just how she acts. Her father has decided who he wants her to marry and doesn't plan on giving her a say in matters. Thing is she already has her heart set on someone, and that someone isn't who her father has in mind for her. He wants her to marry someone wealthy, such as Edward Pierrepont, but she can't get the cowboy Bailey Garner out of her heart. Will she go against her father, who does she ultimately choose?<br />I really enjoyed Regina Jenning's first novel, \"Sixty Acres and a Bride\" so I was totally anxious to read this one, and as a fan of historical romantic fiction this book certainly suited me to a tee! Once I got Molly's story I totally understood why she acted the way she did, after all her father Thomas had certain expectations of her. I also understood her feelings for Bailey, after all they had been childhood friends. I could just imagine the pressure that Bailey felt in finding a job so that he would be financially \"secure\" enough to support Molly in the way that she was accustomed. the on again off again twisty relationship between the pair kept me guessing as to how things might work out. I felt like the author created authentic characters for the time period For me though it was their spiritual development that really made the characters shine. I enjoyed seeing several of the characters from \"Sixty Acres and a Bride,\" but did feel like the author provided enough information that this could be read as a stand alone novel. Fans of historical romance with an inspirational slant will certainly enjoy this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1363743376000, "title": "Love In The Balance" }, { "asin": "1451574827", "rating": 4, "text": "\"The Gospel Centered Woman\" is a Bible study that not only discusses what God created his daughters to be, but how to achieve and live his plan without feeling oppressed but instead uplifted and exalted.<br /><br />This Bible study is broken down into three sections with the first section titled Created in God's Image which delves into what God create women to be, and how they are created to bear the image of God. This section also touches on the fall of man and woman. \"Section two titled Redeemed to Reflect God Once More\" touches on topics such as forgiving and being forgiven, finding contentment, and how the Gospel can unite women with Christ. Section three is titled \"Wisdom in the Tension\" and is geared at helping women navigate through daily life.<br /><br />Overall, I found this an easy to use Bible study and really appreciated how the author doesn't just give us her opinion but instead provides us with scripture that allows us to understand and read where she is coming from. I found it helpful that she includes a blank page at the end of each chapter so that we can take notes on what we have read. The discussion questions included would make this a great Bible study for women's groups. Many of the questions are geared to make the reader reflect not only on what they have read but also what they might be dealing with in their own lives. My only complaint is that I wish the questions would have been placed at the end of each chapter instead at the back of the book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1364435962000, "title": "The Gospel Centered Woman" }, { "asin": "0764207970", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Unrivaled\" takes place in St. Louis Missouri in 1910. Lucy Kendall's family owns the City Confectionery candy company, but it looks like that might change. Their company had struggled financially, but after Lucy's father has a heart attack, it looks like the answer might be to sell out, or at least that's what Lucy's mother wants to do. Lucy doesn't want to see that happen and begs her mother to reconsider. When her mother agrees to give Lucy a month to try and save the business by creating a new candy, there is one stipulation attached. Lucy must also go to the Veiled Prophet Ball, because Lucy's mother thinks it's well past time that Lucy find a husband and settle down. Lucy agrees but her plan is to unveil her new candy at the ball.<br /><br />Charlie Clarke's father left the family when he was only seven years old, so he had grown up hating his father, but not really knowing him. Now at the age of twenty-two after getting into a bit of trouble his mother contacts his father who offers him a job working for him in the Royal Taffy company in St. Louis. When he arrives in town he literally runs into Lucy, and she feels something too, but thing is neither one knows who the other is. Will the company rivalry keep the two apart, or ultimately bring them together?<br /><br />\"Unrivaled\" easily pulled me back in time, allowing for a unique glimpse of the candy making business during the early 1900's. We see the story unfold thru the eyes of two main characters. The author alternates between Lucy and Charlie's perspective, but does it in a smooth easy to follow way. Lucy sincerely wanted to keep the family business, even though during the time period women in business wasn't the norm. Thing is Lucy didn't seem to care how her actions affected others, although as the story progresses it is nice to see Lucy grow and change. I really could understand and empathize with Charlie more because he was struggling with issues from the past. There were a few secondary characters that really added to the story.<br /><br />Overall, I think my favorite parts of this story actually revolved around the candy making, I could just imagine Lucy as she was making taffy. I also got a few laughs when things didn't turn out quite right. If your a fan of historical fiction with romance, inspiration, along with a company rivalry and a bit of mystery woven into the mix then your in for a sweet treat with \"Unrivaled' by Siri Mitchell.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1364748712000, "title": "Unrivaled" }, { "asin": "1433671689", "rating": 5, "text": "Invisible\" takes place in Fort Bragg, CA and told with four unique voices. Dr. Miles Becker, who lost his wife Sarah to cancer, but before she died she made him promise her that he would move on, even suggesting someone for him to get to know. Ellyn DeMoss is a chef who runs her own restaurant She is very critical of herself because she is carrying several extra pounds.Sabina Jackson, is a counselor who says that she is taking a short sabbatical, but in truth she thinks that she is mildly depressed. There is more going on in Sabina's life than she is willing to admit. Twila Boaz had weight issues and was finally diagnosed with anorexia but now recovering she works with her mother at a health food store and uses tattoos in order to cover up her body, but also to express her feelings. Each of these characters lend their voice to \"Invisible\" and as their stories unfold, they blend together making for a remarkable tale with several powerful messages.<br /><br />I was afraid that this book might get confusing because it had four unique stories, but instead the voices and stories are so unique that it is easy to understand and follow along. While I found each characters story interesting, I have to say that Ellyn was the character that really resonated with me. Her poor self image and struggle with weight was something that is very relevant in today's society. Her inner voice that she named Earl, was very negative. Because she was so disappointed in herself she was certain that she was a disappointment to God as well. When the doctor shows an interest in her she can't imagine what he would see in her, even thinking there might be something wrong with him.<br />Overall, this was a story where the characters are struggling with issues that were very relatable, but more than that left the message of God's love and acceptance. Not a light fluffy read, instead the author crafts characters that are so easy to relate too, because each in their own way are struggling with things that are relevant in today's society. The discussion questions provided at the end of the story would make this a great group read. A story that will inspire and challenge, and maybe even motivate.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1365133412000, "title": "Invisible" }, { "asin": "0824932463", "rating": 5, "text": "Six months after the death of their mother Caroline Marris, along with her sisters Gracie Gold and Sam Carter plan a two week getaway to Nantucket a place their mother loved. While strolling on the beach they arrive at the Misty Harbor Inn, a place their mother dreamed of owning and are surprised at the condition of the old inn. The sisters decide to purchase the inn even though it will take a lot of work to get it ready to open. When they find some old postcards they are find themselves immersed in the mystery of Hannah Montague, the widow of the original owner. Can they figure out what happened to her?Will the sisters be able to get the inn open, and will this adventure draw them together or pull them apart?<br /><br />I loved the family feel of this novel. Each sister has their own unique personality giving this story a very realistic feel. Because the sisters are older I found myself easily relating to them. I could easily understand Gracie's reluctance at wanting to leave her home, but she also needed to reestablish a relationship with her sisters. In addition to the family drama going on they are renovating the inn and if that isn't enough there is an air of mystery about a former owner. \"Seaside Harmony\" is the first book in the Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn series and is the perfect way to escape for a few hours. I have always been a fan of Guideposts series and this one promises not to disappoint With elements of faith interwoven with family drama, a hint of mystery along with a splash of romance, I really look forward to my next visit to the Misty Harbor Inn.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1366945739000, "title": "Seaside Harmony" }, { "asin": "0824932471", "rating": 5, "text": "It's spring in Nantucket and the girls have been working all year to get the Inn in tip top shape to open and what better time to have the grand opening than while the town is celebrating with the Daffodil festival. We get to meet the guests , but more than that the mystery of the previous owner continues to unfold.<br /><br />The three sisters really make this a stand out series, it's so nice to see their relationships grow and change as the story progresses. I always enjoy whenever an animal is included in a story and we Max, Carolines cocker spaniel continues to make appearances in this story. I think the element of mystery that is woven into the story really adds to the storyline. I found the historical aspects of the mystery quite interesting. \"Sunflower Summer\" is the second book in the Postcards From Misty Harbor Inn series and I really think that to understand the story completely the books should be read in order. A wonderful setting, interesting characters along with elements of faith, and the mystery woven in really held my attention and has me anxious to read the next book in this series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1366946318000, "title": "Sunflower Summer" }, { "asin": "0800722256", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been a fan of Melody Carlson for years. She does a wonderful job of pulling me into whatever story she is writing, making me understand the characters and whatever they might be going thru.<br /><br />\"A Simple Song\" is the story of Katrina Yoder. She has always enjoyed singing, but in her Amish world it is a sin, and therefore it is forbidden.Katrina's friend Bekka has been watching a show called American Star and really thinks that Katrina should try out for the show. For Katrina though the reason to step out into the Englisher world is more complicated than that. Her father needs to have surgery, and \"American Star\" just might be the way that Katrina could win the money, and since she hasn't been baptized into the church yet, she will go while on her rumspringa. What will her parents and community say? Will they accept her back into the community, and if she wins the money will her parents accept it! Can an Amish girl stay true to her roots while thrust into the Englisher spotlight! Read this page turning story to find out!<br />I found \"A Simple Song,\" to be a nice, quick read that is filled with interesting characters that are easy to like. I could easily understand Katrina and the choices she made. I thought it was interesting how her grandfather encouraged singing at her grandmother's funeral. The reason that was revealed was touching and allowed me to further understand Katrina's story. I found the behind the scenes descriptions of \"American Star\" interesting, and while I kind of knew how things might work out it was still fun to see how Melody Carlson would allow things to work out! Overall, this fun little read, is great for teens but also a quick read for adults who enjoy Amish fiction as well.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1371435536000, "title": "Another great story from Melody Carlson" }, { "asin": "0764209663", "rating": 5, "text": "When an outlaw's daughter want's a preacher for her birthday, what's her outlaw daddy to do but have someone go out and kidnap,or preachernap,one for her! After all it's Joanna Robbins twenty-first birthday and she deserved something big, after all she is still grieving the loss of her mother.Truth is Jo has been praying for a preacher to come along and help revive their little community church, but she never imagined the lengths her father would go to to bring a preacher to her. When her father kidnaps Crockett Archer and brings him home for her birthday she knows she will have to let him go because he has other plans, but she can't help but hope he might decide to stay!<br />I found myself immediately drawn to this book because of the cover,and title,after all I couldn't imagine what \"Stealing The Preacher\" might entail, but I have to say it was the attention grabbing story that kept me turning the pages to see where and what would happen next! I found myself loving these characters and even understanding the reasoning of why Joanna's father did what he did! I loved the lively conversations that literally brings the story to life. I also enjoyed the historical feel of the story! Fans of historical fiction that enjoy stories that provide more than a few laughs along with several smiles, a lively cast of characters and a nice, inspirational romance will find themselves devouring \"Stealing The Preacher\" in one sitting, I know that I did! An unputdownable read for me!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1371527327000, "title": "Fun historical read" }, { "asin": "1433679302", "rating": 5, "text": "Daphne Ballinger's left her small town life in Appleton with high hopes of having a writing career in the Big Apple. Thing is it's thirteen years later, and she is finds herself stuck in a job that is far from what she hoped for, sharing the same apartment, and still heartsore from a relationship from ten years ago when a boyfriend burned her bad. When she gets a call from her father that her rather eccentric ninety-one year old aunt Dee passed away she goes home. She is soon surprised that her aunt left her sole beneficiary of everything that she owned, including a beautiful old Victorian, a vintage Corvette and plenty of money, there is just a couple of snafu's her aunt left some pretty specific requirements and Daphne has a year to fulfill her aunt's wishes. If she doesn't the house will be given to the \"Cat House\" the shelter where she adopted her beloved kitties Lucy and Ethel. As several secrets come to light about Aunt Dee Daphne learns things that she would have never guessed. Will Daphne leave New York behind and move back to Appleton, and if she does will she be able to meet the requirements of Dee's will?<br /><br />Melody Carlson is one of my all time favorite writers, her versatile writing skills, has taken me on several adventures and \"Lock, Stock, and Over a Barrel\" allows me to watch Daphne Ballinger go from someone who seemed unhappily stuck in her life to someone with choices if only she can embrace them. Daphne is a character that is so easy to relate to, she was someone that had hopes and dreams, but after years of the same old same old her life was in a rut! I enjoyed seeing the changes that precipitated in her life once she returned to Appleton. Plenty of secondary characters really stood out for me including Daphne's dad, his life was in transition as well, and the secrets that he learned about Aunt Dee was something that he took in stride.Even though Aunt Dee has passed away, her character played such an integral role in the plot, she seemed like a fun loving someone, who did have a few regrets and hoped to keep Daphne from making some of the same mistakes. Ms. Carlson's descriptions easily allowed me to feel the small town setting of the story, and the advice column reminded me of Dear Abby! While there is an inspirational bent to the story, it isn't overwhelming, and seemed perfectly plausible I will say the author certainly left me hanging with the ending, and I know I will keep wondering until the next installment how things will work out for Daphne! If you have never read anything by Ms. Carlson this book is the perfect time to start, or if you're like me and are a long time fan, you're not going to want to miss this one. I only hope readers don't have to wait long for the next installment in the Dear Daphne series!", "timestamp": 1372298844000, "title": "Can't wait to read book two in the series!" }, { "asin": "0800721381", "rating": 4, "text": "I have become a fan of Biblical historical fiction and \"Claudia\" is the story of a character in the Bible that is only mentioned once, but Diana Wallis Taylor doesn't let that stop her from creating a compelling story that not only brings the characters but Biblical times to life, a time when woman really had to make the best of the situations that they found themselves in.At the age of sixteen Claudia is married to Pontius Pilate , and truly loves her husband even though it was an arranged marriage.After the marriage they move to Judea where Claudia has a dream about Jesus and the role her husband will play in his crucifixion.The author certianly knew how to bring this timeperiod to life, I could just imagine the places that was described in the story. I also recognized a few Biblical characters woven into the story along with Claudia and her husband. It was nice to see a different side of Pontius Pilate, a side that only his wife Claudia saw.Even though a fictionalized story, the author makes the story believable by providing enough facts to give a sense of realism. Overall fans of historical fiction will enjoy this story, but if you enjoy historical fiction with a Biblical slant then this is a must read for you.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1372649884000, "title": "Claudia" }, { "asin": "0800721594", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Dolled Up to Die is the second book in the Cate Kinkaid mystery series and really can be read as a stand alone work, but honestly it's such a good cozy little mystery that you're probably going to want to go back and read the first book just because you're going to want more of these characters!<br /><br />When Cate Kinkaid was hired by her uncle Joe to work as an assistant investigator for Belmont Investigations he made it perfectly clear that they only handled routine investigations such as background checks, serving subpoenas and the like, thing is it seems murder cases keep cropping up in the town of Eugene, Oregon and Cate somehow finds herself in the middle of the action! The latest call is from a woman saying there has been a triple shooting, well how can Cate not help at the scene of a triple homicide especially when the caller might still be in danger. When she arrives on the scene though she does find three victims, and quickly discovers a fourth, thing is three of the gunshot victims are life sized dolls!<br /><br />\"Dolled Up to Die\" is one of those stories that you start reading and the next thing you know you are finished. The story moves along at such a fast pace that the pages just fly by. I love the character of Cate, she is a bumbling PI that provides more than a few laughs. She often talks to her fat cat Octavia, and is rescued more than once by her boyfriend Mitch. With several suspects the author doesn't make it easy to figure out who-dun-it with this one. Anyone who enjoys a fast paced cozy mystery with more than a few laughs and a bumbling heroine will certainly enjoy \"Dolled Up to Die!\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1374460138000, "title": "Fast paced cozy mystery" }, { "asin": "1595547827", "rating": 4, "text": "Amy Lange is grieving the loss of her brother Ben and really can't wrap her mind around the fact that it was an \"accident.\" When she receives an email stating that she might want to take a trip to Hope Island hinting that her brother Ben had secrets that actually led to his death, she decides to take the trip to Rosemary Cottage on Hope Island a place that is dear to her hoping to find solace and even thinking of moving her midwifery practice there. Mostly though she is hoping to find the answers she needs so that she can truly understand her brother's death.<br /><br />While this is the second book in the Hope Beach series by Colleen Coble it can easily be read as a stand alone work. I found myself swept into the story from the beginning pages when Gina, Curtis Ireland's sister is basically run down by a motorboat, thing is she recognized the person on the boat, but who was it? That along with wanting to know about Ben and what happened to him propelled me into this story to find the answers! Suspense filled with more than a few twists kept me turning the pages,and the romance was a nice bonus. Ms. Coble captured the beauty of the area that she writes about, allowing the setting to come to life for me. Overall, anyone who enjoys mystery/suspense with a sweet romance and a nice christian theme woven in will enjoy this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1374462505000, "title": "Rosemary Cottage" }, { "asin": "1433678209", "rating": 5, "text": "I was drawn to \"In Golden Splendor\" because I am always interested in a good historical read, and I got just what I hoped for with this novel. This story draws the reader back to the mid 1800's during the California Gold Rush.<br /><br />Seamus Handley's past was rife with disappointment, and he is haunted by a past that he just can't seem to overcome. How though did this Irishman wind up living in self exile in the Rocky Mountain Wilderness, where it seems that the lack of food might do him in. It seems though fate has something else in store for Seamus though when he finds a letter from a woman in San Francisco asking for help he has nothing to lose by heading to California. The journey he embarks on will test his mettle. Will Seamus find what he is looking for in California?<br /><br />Mr. Reynolds weaves together an epic historical tale that comes to life in the pages of this story. I found it easy to envision the journey that Seamus embarked on. Since I didn't read the first book in the story I was really interested in who Seamus was and what his background might have been. The author does a great job of providing enough information to make this a stand alone story. I became totally invested in Seamus' story wanting to know how it would end. Rich details, really brought the story to life for me, and wanting to know how things would work out for Seamus kept me reading. There were so many secondary characters that we meet on the journey that play unique roles in the story that kept it moving along. Overall, a rich historical read, blended with romance, suspense, and an inspirational message that reminds the reader of God's love. I enjoyed this book so much that I plan on going back to read the first book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1375675395000, "title": "An Epic Journey" }, { "asin": "0824932595", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Whispers On The Dock\" take readers back to Misty Harbor Inn allowing us to reconnect with the three sisters that run the Inn. With this installment the main focus is on the youngest sister Sam who enjoys baking, and hopes to enter the Summerfield baking contest. In addition to the baking contest there is the unique characters that check into the inn as well as the mystery that the three sisters are still trying to solve.<br /><br />What a wonderful, relaxing read each of the books in the series turned out to be. Even though it had been a couple of months since I read the first two books in the series it was so easy to fall right back into the storyline, because I felt like I was connecting with old friends. I thought the storyline revolving around Hannah Montague was really interesting, it was fun to see the clues unfold around this mystery. Overall, I found this book to be well written and the plot moves along well, I found the storyline relaxing and easy to read. This book is the third book in a series and really the first two books should be read to get the most from this one. Cozy mystery light is how I would describe this one, because there was a mystery but there really was much more than just the mystery going on in the story.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1378012226000, "title": "Return to Misty Harbor" }, { "asin": "0825442141", "rating": 5, "text": "Hope is often difficult to find when life throws curves our way that cause not only our heart to hurt but also damage our spirit. Instead we often close ourselves off and try and protect ourselves from further hurt, shutting off our heart in a sense to protect it. With \"Wounded Women of the Bible\" the author shares the stories of twelve different women of the Bible linking their stories with stories from today that allowed me to connect with the Biblical stories on a greater level,providing hope and encouragement reminding that we can overcome and become stronger with the help of God. I would have to say that my favorite female character in the Bible had to be Ruth, and the author's focus on her story had me thinking deeper about Ruth and what she really went thru. The author's easy to read, friendly feeling writing made this a stand out book for me. While I enjoyed reading the stories of the \"Wounded Women of the Bible\" I also found the personal stories that the authors share to be inspirational and encouraging. Overall, I think this book is a must read for women young and old, filled with inspiration and encouragement that remind the reader of God's strength and love. The study guide and discussion questions that are included make this a fantastic book for group study, personally myself I have been using the book like a Bible study, taking each chapter and turning it into a weeks worth of study and reflection.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1379190499000, "title": "Encouraging" }, { "asin": "1859857663", "rating": 5, "text": "Bumper Wipe Clean Activities book is chock full of fun things that focus on the Bible. A study book that will withstand quite a bit of use.A sturdy cover, with the wipe free pages makes this a book that will be reused often. There is a handy holder so the pen doesn't get lost from the book and the spiral binding makes it's easy for young hands to use. Bright colors and easy to read vocabulary might just light the spark of reading with your youngster. The simple activities are best suited for youngsters probably five and under, I think that perhaps an older child may find the activities a little to simplistic. Some of the activities include dot to dot, matching pairs, finding the hidden object, and mazes. I think this book would make a wonderful gift, perfect for taking along when you need to keep your youngster occupied. I would easily recommend this book to anyone looking for a sturdy book that because of the wipe free pages can be reused.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1379561007000, "title": "Good Value for a sturdy product" }, { "asin": "0800723074", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite types of books to read when I was a child was books filled jokes, so this one really brought back a lot of memories. I remembered a few of the jokes I read, and had more than a bit of fun reading the tongue twisters, something that I have never gotten good at! A book that it chock full of good, clean, jokes that is sure to tickle the funny bone, and have youngsters trying the jokes out on their friends. This book is basically like three books in one, with laugh out loud jokes for kids, zoolarious animal jokes for kids, and of course my favorite knock knock jokes, there are also tongue twisters but I was pleasantly surprised by the did you know tidbits that were filled with interesting fun facts. Many of these little facts were totally new to me! Certainly a book that will appeal to youngsters but it might also appeal to those of us that remember joke books as a kid, I know it brought back a few fond memories for me!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1390780300000, "title": "Funny with a few fun facts as well." }, { "asin": "0062204467", "rating": 5, "text": "A new series by Shelley Shepard Gray, boy I couldn't wait to dive into this one, and once I did I really couldn't put this book down until I finished it! I love books set in Sugarcreek, Ohio because it's a place I visit often so it's the familiar that really hooks me. With this book we get the story of Miriam Zehr and Albert (Junior) Beiler. Miriam longs to have a family of her own. Thing is she feels like the only way she will ever find a special someone is to leave Sugarcreek. When Junior Beiler seeks her out she is thrilled could it be that finally someone is interested in her?<br /><br />Such a delightful beginning to a promising new series. I loved these characters, and I found Miriam so easy to connect with. Who doesn't have problems with self image, and it's wonderful to see Amish portrayed as real people with real issues. Often writers create Amish characters that seem to perfect, but Ms. Gray always makes me feel like I could be reading about anyone, Amish or English because of the realism of her characters. I couldn't help but be drawn in wondering whether Miriam would ever find love, if Junior would realize what was right within his grasp. Plenty of secondary characters keeps the plot zipping along, making for a quick yet satisfying read! Hopeful is perfect for Amish fans, but anyone looking for a great read that just happens to be about the Amish will find Ms. Gray's writing easy to connect with, written with depth, but also a touching tenderness and there is a bit of mystery as well. Hopeful leaves me anxious to read the next book in the Return to Sugarcreek Series!", "timestamp": 1391708358000, "title": "I'm hooked on this new series" }, { "asin": "0800722264", "rating": 4, "text": "Melody Carlson is one of my favorite author's and My Amish Boyfriend is a real example of why she has achieved that position in my heart. She has the uncanny ability to produce a page turning read that also provides plenty of life lessons woven in. With My Amish Boyfriend we meet sixteen year old Shannon McNamara who thinks that she has her summer all planned, but when she arrives home from school her friendly neighbor who has been helping out with her sick mother informs her that she has been in contact with her mother's family in Ohio and plans are in place for them to go there. So instead of spending the summer in Indiana she finds her world turned upside down when they head to Ohio to meet family that she never new about. What adventures and life lessons are in store for Shannon? Pick up My Amish Boyfriend and find out!<br /><br />Ms. Carlson deals with several very real issues in this story, Shannon is living in a single parent home after the death of her father. Her mom worked full time until she got sick, and she really doesn't seem to be getting any better. Learning about a family that you never knew about is one thing but learning to deal with them on a daily basis is quite another, especially when they are Amish. I really liked the character of Shannon,and truly felt like her character developed well, except for the relationship that developed between her and Ezra. It felt rushed, I do get that she is sixteen and they during that age they fall in love at the drop of a hat, but it really felt rushed, and I was a bit surprised at Ezra as well. Overall, I liked the story, and enjoyed watching Shannon grow and change, especially as she learns about her family, Ms. Carlson allowed me to feel the emotions that Shannon felt. A story about faith and family, and the fact that life isn't always easy.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1393785146000, "title": "My Amish Boyfriend" }, { "asin": "1426752792", "rating": 5, "text": "I have really enjoyed reading each book in the&#34;Quilt Of Love&#34; series. What makes them unique is that each book is written by a different author,allowing us to sample each author's writing style. One thing is a constant though through each book and that's the fact that a quilt plays a part in each story. As someone who enjoys the Needlework art of quilting that in itself really drew me to the series, but the splendid writing of each author continues to bring me back for each new book.<br /><br /> In a Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare the Native American story line and the historical time frame really made this one of my favorite books in this series! Frankie Chasing Bear is a Lakota woman living in the 1950's whose grandmother taught her the art of quilting, but more than that she shared the heritage behind the Lakota Star quilt and the importance of keeping that heritage alive for generations to come. When Frankie's husband dies she leaves Pine Ridge, South Dakota moving to Arizona hoping for a better life for her ten year old son Harold, but will life be any easier there?<br /><br />A richly woven story that really brought not only the time period to life, but allowed me to feel as if I was getting a bit of a history lesson as I read the story. I could feel the turmoil that was a part of that time. My favorite character had to be Frankie, she was a young mother like any other wanting what was best for her young son. She was such a strong, brave character, who really wanted Harold, her son to know about his heritage. The author provides more than a few twists to keep the plot moving, and one of those twists is the character of Nick, who is dealing with his own issues. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction that revolves around Native Americans will be delighted with this story, but honestly it's a great read for anyone who enjoys a story about faith, family and quilts!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1394991200000, "title": "Quilt of Love" }, { "asin": "1414389752", "rating": 5, "text": "Wyoming during the spring of 1882 is where readers will find themselves transported as they read Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman. A story where the author's descriptive writing captures the feel of the old west while providing an intricately woven story that captured my imagination from the beginning paragraphs. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen with Mariah Malone. Her father confessed on his deathbed that he had purchased the Lazy M ranch, the family home with ill gotten gold that belonged to someone else. Mariah does the right thing by writing to the man, never imagining that someone would come along to claim the ranch, but that's just what happens. Slade Donovan comes to claim what belongs to his father, intending to take over the ranch, but will he?<br /><br />The main characters of Mariah and Slade are such well written characters, and the author easily pulled me into their story, making me want the best for them. Slade was one of my favorite characters, rough on the outside, but truly a gentle man. Plenty of secondary characters propel this plot along so that it never lags. Pam Hillman is a new to me author, but I enjoyed Claiming Mariah so much that I plan on checking out her other work. Fans of historical western fiction with romance, suspense, a splash of mystery that is sprinkled with humor and a faith based message will certainly enjoy this page turning read. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1397790648000, "title": "Claiming Mariah" }, { "asin": "0764210580", "rating": 4, "text": "A Sensible Arrangement is the story of Marty Dandridge Olson, a thirty-five year old childless widow of four years whose beloved husband was gored by a longhorn bull. Try as she might time hadn't lessened the pain so she hopes that answering an ad to marry Jake Wythe, a banker who lives in Colorado who is looking for a Texas bride. Jake Wythe hadn't really been lucky in love, his wife left him for another man, and then died a few months later, as a banker for Morgan Bank the board members feel that a man of his standing needs to be married. So he decides to place an ad, and gets an answer from Marty. Will leaving Texas help Marty heal from the pain of her past? Feelings start to develop between them, but one thing is standing in the way, Jake wants to return to Texas and Marty has no desire to return.<br /><br />Truly a unique twist on what I consider the mail-order bride genre. Normally the ad is placed by a farmer looking for a bride, but in this instance it's a banker, and the couple is a bit more mature, with more life experience. Neither one is expecting love, but sometimes love comes when one least expects it! Marty was spunky, the stagecoach scene really showcased her grit and determination,she did have one major flaw though, she was sometimes a bit reckless with the truth, but the author handled that issue in a very real and spiritual way.Jake is someone who is still dealing with past hurts from loves gone wrong. The feelings that develop between them was ok, but I found the historical aspects to be just as interesting. Several secondary characters really kept the plot moving along. A Sensible Arrangement is more than just another mail order bride tale, its light on romance, but provides a bit of mystery, humor and a faith based message along with enough loose ends which makes me anxious to read the next book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1398029386000, "title": "A Unique twist on the mail order bride genre" }, { "asin": "0310730538", "rating": 5, "text": "Alone Yet Not Alone by Tracy Leininger that sweeps readers back to the autumn of 1755 where we meet the Leininger family, German Immigrants who have come to America looking for a new life. They settle in the Blue Mountains of PA that overlook Penn's Creek. The family of six consists of Ma and Pa along with Christian,John, Barbara, and Regina. Their faith in God is strong, and they are very thankful for all their good fortune, which includes living peacefully among the Indians.With the French-Indian War brewing though things change dramatically and one afternoon two Indian braves barge into the cabin and kidnap Barbara who is twelve and Regina age nine. The girls are soon separated and taken far from home, but they never give up hope that someday they will be together again!<br /><br />What an amazing story of faith and family, and what makes this book even better is that it is based on a true story. The author does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life within the pages of this story. I became swept up in the saga that the girls faced, and often wondered how or if they would ever be reunited with their mother. The author's attention to detail made the various scenes pop off the pages, I could easily envision the settings, whether it was the cabin, or an Indian village, the richness of detail allowed me to feel as if I was part of the story instead of just reading it. A great read for young and old alike, especially anyone who enjoys history. An easy to read story that is certainly reminds readers of the importance of never wavering in your faith in knowing that God is always with us even in our darkest hour.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1398829524000, "title": "Rich in historical detail" }, { "asin": "1859855865", "rating": 5, "text": "The Candle Bible Handbook brings the Old and New Testaments of the Bible to life by combining visual as well as scriptural information about all sixty-six books of the Bible.There is an outline of each book along with frequently asked questions and plenty of interesting information that allows for a very good overview of each book of the Bible there are even study questions included for further thought. I found the illustrations to be top notch enhancing the subjects. I have actually been studying the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and the illustrations and information included was invaluable to me in helping me visualize the tabernacle. There is also a list of the promises in the Bible, along with important passages, important people and big ideas that will further enhance the usefulness of this wonderful reference book. While the book is geared toward 8-12 year old group it really is a perfect companion for those of any age that want's to familiarize themselves with the major elements of the Bible. Great for home study or any teaching forum for that matter, an invaluable tool that really brings the Bible to life a perfect building block for anyone wanting to study their Bible.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1399945301000, "title": "Great for any age" }, { "asin": "0800721608", "rating": 4, "text": "Cate Kinkaid has a knack for finding a mystery, and with Death Takes a Ride it's no different. She has no idea that she was going to be a witness to a robbery and shooting and the victim just might not make it. To complicate matters Cate is hired to investigate, but here's the deal, she isn't hired to investigate the shooting, instead she is looking for the owner of a particular motorcycle. Of course things rarely are what they seem, and Cate always finds herself up to her eyeballs in a who-dun-it!<br /><br />I always enjoy a good mystery and this series has certainly provided that. My only complaint was that I figured out the ending early, which was sort of a bummer. That said, I always enjoy the humor that is woven into the Cate Kinkaid Files, and I think Cate's character continues to get stronger with each installment. I love whenever animals are woven into a story and with this one we have a cat and dog! Overall this book is a good clean mystery that isn't so hard to solve, but still is well worth reading for anyone who loves a cozy mystery.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1406169950000, "title": "Death Takes A Ride" }, { "asin": "0800723562", "rating": 5, "text": "As an animal lover, especially dogs there was no way that I could look at this cover and not read the book! Henry is one of those dogs that just loves life, and well also one who seems to find his way into various situations that are often laugh out loud funny, and truly capture the essence of what it truly means to be owned by your dog. Such an easy to relate to story, this book had me reminiscing about my own canines and the puppy stage that caused more than a few mishaps in my own home. The author has a certain way with describing the antics of Henry that I could honestly visualize his various escapades! Anyone who has ever owned a dog will find this a must read, but honestly if you enjoy laughing out loud while reading you are certainly going to want to read Surviving Henry!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1408327687000, "title": "Laugh out loud funny read!" }, { "asin": "0800722884", "rating": 5, "text": "The one book in the Bible I always turn to whenever I need a little comfort is the book of Psalms so I was excited to find a book of devotions based on the book. In today's world it seems there are plenty of hard days, whether you're a stay at home mother or work outside the home. From the bad news that one is bombarded with daily on the evening news or trying to juggle the never ending list that I always seem to need to do , there are plenty of hard days to muddle thru. What Your Heart Needs for the Hard Days not only encourages, but also speaks to the heart providing a needed boost while also reminding that we are never alone! First I want to say I love the size, I would consider it a pocket book, one that will easily slip into a purse or briefcase. The bright cheerful colors used on the cover captures the eye making me want to explore what is inside. Each devotion starts with a scripture from the book of Psalms, then an devotion which touches on different issues that are easy to relate to, It wraps up with a prayer and a place for writing the users own thoughts, something that I find very useful. I love that there is a table of contents so that I can skip to the devotion that I feel I might need to read for the day. Whether you have time to do this as a daily or weekly devotional is up to you, but if you need encouragement and uplifting your going to find it within the pages of this cute little book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1410226203000, "title": "Lovely little devotional for the hard days" }, { "asin": "0800722094", "rating": 5, "text": "Suspense filled, page turning are just a few words that I would use to describe Nowhere To Turn by Lynette Eason.<br />When your married to an abusive husband the only thing to do is leave, but the danger is ramped up when your abusive husband is an FBI agent. When Danielle's husband is shot and killed you would think the worries would be over but honestly they just begin because her husband was into some shady business and now the people he dealt with wants something her husband had, and they are after her to get it!<br /><br />I think my favorite character in this one had to be eleven year old Simon. He was truly a brave young man, and my heart really went out to him. There are so many twists and turns with this story I found myself thinking I knew something only to be taken in the opposite direction. Ms. Eason has become one of my favorite authors because she is able to weave suspense, tension, mystery and drama together with romance to create a very well blended story that provides a plot that doesn't stop.The added bonus is that they are always good clean reads. While this is the second book in the Hidden Identity series it can be read as a stand alone work.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1411353727000, "title": "Edge of your seat page turner" }, { "asin": "0781409179", "rating": 5, "text": "The bright, colorful cover will certainly draw youngsters to this book, but it is the rhyming Bible stories,along with the stunning illustrations inside that are going to hold their attention as they learn about several of the most popular Bible stories. A compilation of twenty Bible stories that will certainly allow your youngster to learn about some of the Bibles most popular characters in rhyming story. I love that the author provides the location in the Bible for the scripture that each story is based on. A few of the stories include Adam and Eve, the story of Queen Esther, and Jonah and the Whale. While I did find a couple of discrepancies within the stories overall the author holds pretty true to the Bible. Overall I think Treasury of Bible Stories is a wonderful addition to any youngsters library, and would also work well for homeschooling or to use in Sunday School. A book that will certainly become a favorite with youth 4 thru 8, and I can easily imagine that even nine and ten year olds might want to read this one themselves. I found it a delightful read that would be perfect for gift giving.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1411955643000, "title": "Eye catching illustrations and rhyming verse make this one a winner" }, { "asin": "0825442052", "rating": 4, "text": "Youngsters are certainly going to enjoy guessing who as they embark on an adventure with Noah as he gatherers animals for the ark. This sturdy little board book is filled with colorful illustrations that will capture the eye and imagination as well. The rhyming story, which is written in easy to read words just might encourage your youngster to try and read along. The rhyming prose with an interactive question will get youngsters to try and guess just what animal is hiding behind the flap.Glossy pages allow for wiping off if something is spilled, the pages are sturdy and the flaps seem to stay in place when they are folded back up. A perfect little gift that surely will become a favorite, the book is geared toward 2-4 year olds and I would say that age range is pretty accurate. Overall a sturdy little storybook that shares the simplistic story that reveals a few of the animals that Noah had on the ark. One that will certainly keep a youngster entertained as they try and Guess Who is on Noah's Boat.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1414808003000, "title": "Guessing who can be lots of fun" }, { "asin": "B00KDN87CW", "rating": 5, "text": "Melody Carlson is one of my favorite authors because her writing covers such a wide variety of genres! With Trading Secrets we get the story of pen pals Micah Knight and Zack Miller, who just happens to be Amish. Thing is Micah is a girl but she never told Zack that, even though they have been sharing letters for several years. Now Micah has a chance to visit Zack on his Amish farm but how is he going to feel when he finds out that his pen pal is actually a female. .<br /><br />There were so many things that I enjoyed about this book.I can remember when I was assigned a pen pal and I think I was probably in the fifth or sixth grade,my pen pal was from England and his name was Adrian, funny story was that my teacher originally thought Adrian was a girl. Anyway back to Trading Secrets. I liked the setting of Ohio for the story, even though that's pretty typical for Amish fiction. It was the plan that Micah came up with that really got me interested, I couldn't help but wonder how she would pull it off, or even if she could. It was great that the storyline revolved around friendship, and how being honest is important. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and would love to see Ms. Carlson turn into a series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1417391561000, "title": "Another great story from Melody Carlson" }, { "asin": "0800722485", "rating": 5, "text": "At Home In Last Chance is the third book in the Place To Call Home a Series by Cathleen Armstrong. This installment pulls readers right back to Last Chance, New Mexico and tells the story of Kaitlyn Reed and Steven Braden. Kaitlyn has made plenty of mistakes in her life, and hopes to change a few when she returns to Last Chance. Steve also has a few things to prove to his family. When a relationship begins to develop between them will their past get in the way or will their hearts finally find a place to call home?<br /><br />I love the town of Last Chance and was drawn right back into the town and the lives of the characters. i have to admit I really didn't like the character of Kaitlyn in the previous book so I wasn't sure if I would enjoy her story. Well let me say the author totally changed my mind about the character and had me empathizing with her. I loved watching her character grow and change becoming who she needed to be. There is a sense of realism with this entire series that makes it very easy to relate too. I really enjoyed revisiting some of the characters from the previous books but honestly think that this book could be read without having read the other books because the author provides enough background information which allows the reader to connect with the town and characters. An emotionally charged story that grabbed my emotions and made me feel like I was reading about friends.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1422979298000, "title": "Great Series" }, { "asin": "0529103419", "rating": 4, "text": "While everyone around Sarah Montgomery is celebrating the end of the Civil War she finds her heart is broken, longing for Rand Campbell the man who never made it home. Ben Croftner has been coming to call for the past five months and while she knows she will never love him, her family wants her to marry him. Her father is very ill and wants her to take her younger brother and be settled with Ben, her brother Wade just wants to acquire land! Thing is Rand isn't dead, and when Sarah finds out she calls off her wedding, but Ben isn't easily thwarted and decides to take matters into his own hands. Can Sarah and Rand find their way back to each other, and what evilness will Ben try to accomplish in order to keep Sarah for his own?<br /><br />A Heart's Disguise easily pulled me in and wouldn't let go! A short read at only 90 pages there is plenty of life packed into so few pages! It was so easy to imagine Sarah Montgomery and the situation she was placed in. Heartbroken over losing the love of her life she only wanted to ease the mind of her father and appease her brother by marrying someone she didn't love, it seemed though that fate had another idea. Ms. Coble captures the time period right after the war where families were forced to go on even though they were grieving the loss of unreturned loved ones,but we also glimpse the time of celebration that the war was over!This short installment did what it set out to do, it left me wanting more of the story! Of course a sneak peek for A Heart's Obsession the next installment in the Journey of the Heart Series is included at the end. This series of books is taken from the previously published Wyoming Series. Overall fans of historical fiction that takes place right after the civil war will enjoy A Heart's Disguise, but honestly anyone who enjoys a story that blends faith, family and longing should also check it out!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1426467202000, "title": "The waiting for the next installment is the hardest part!" }, { "asin": "1938499867", "rating": 5, "text": "God, Me, And Sweet Iced Tea is like a refreshing sip of peace and tranquility in a sea of the turmoil that one often finds with everyday life. Rose Chandler provides just the right amount of content for her daily readings so that one can read them in just a few minutes but I guarantee you the uplifting messages will resonate with you through out the day. There are fifty-three devotions that share the authors successes but also her struggles, which is something that makes this a very easy devotional book to connect with. The author's faith is evident in each of her devotions, she shares her not only her love for God but also her ability to turn to him in for whatever she needs! Anyone looking for a way to reconnect with God, or perhaps just needing an uplifting way to start their day will certainly find that along with a sweet sense of peace and inspiration as they traverse the pages of God, Me and Sweet Iced Tea.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1430267146000, "title": "A sweet sip of inspiration" }, { "asin": "0718031652", "rating": 5, "text": "A Heart's Obsession is the second installment of The Journey of the Heart series and while a short read really packs plenty of story into a few pages. With this one Rand has headed out west and Sarah soon follows him, but when she arrives things aren't the same between her and Rand. With plenty of action and a non stop plot that really speeds by at a break neck pace this book is one that I just couldn't put down once I started reading it. Ms. Coble makes me feel as if I have stepped right into the lives of the characters, with descriptive writing the setting as well as the characters really come to life. If I had one complaint it's that when I reached the end I was left wanting more! Historical fiction fans especially fans of the time period right after the civil war when the west was becoming settled will find these books hard to put down. While the author provided enough background information with this one that one could probably read it as a stand alone I highly recommend reading the series in order to really get an in depth understanding of the relationships between the characters. Truly a book that leaves me anxiously anticipating the next installment in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1430268731000, "title": "Historical fiction fans will enjoy this series" }, { "asin": "0307731332", "rating": 5, "text": "Family secrets are something that will eventually find their way to light and with this series there are plenty of secrets! With this story Alexa has opened her bed and breakfast in her grandmother's former home, Of course starting a new business is filled with worries so when a young reporter wants to stay at the B and B for a long term stay she readily agrees, but if she knew what his assignment is would she have chosen to do so. With plenty of secrets and more than a few twists this story zooms along making it hard to put down. While the story is told from several points of view Ms. Sawyer transitions smoothly allowing for wonderful clarity . The characters are very well fleshed and easy to connect with. She has a wonderful way of blending faith into the mix of feelings allowing me to totally understand the struggles the characters face. While there are several unanswered questions When Grace Sings is a satisfying read that leaves me longing for the next book in the series!<br />After reading the first book in The Zimmerman Restoration Series I couldn't wait to start this one. This book continues right where the last one left off, saying that though I felt like the author provided enough background information that this one could be read without reading the first book in the series, although I highly recommend it as well. Anyone who enjoys family controversy where secrets abound, faith and a down to earth story where the characters really jump from the pages will enjoy When Grace Sings!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1432264520000, "title": "When Grace Sings" }, { "asin": "0529102781", "rating": 5, "text": "Reading anything by Kathleen Fuller is a guaranteed good read. She has a knack for creating easy to care for characters and as a fan of Amish fiction I feel like she is a top notch writer in the genre. I find it handy that she always provides a glossary for German words used within the story. A solidly written plot that easily pulled me in made this a very enjoyable book to read. Jeremiah Mullet left his Amish community to full fill his dream of becoming a vet, but now he has come back to fill for the vet who ultimately helped him out while he needs to recover from a broken leg. Of course in the process he reconnects with old friends. Anna Mae is one of those friends, she has actually been grappling with what to do with her life for the last several years, of course her mother thinks she should settle down and marry, but she isn't sure what course she wants to take for her life. As she reconnects with Jeremiah one can't help but wonder where the relationship might lead. What is in store for them, he is no longer Amish, so a romantic relationship is out of the question isn't it? What does God have in store for them?<br />This was a solidly written story allowing the pages to fly by. There is another couple in the story that also held my interest. Even though this book is part of a series it really can be read as a stand alone story. Fans of Amish fiction will be thrilled with A Faith Of Her Own, but honestly anyone who enjoys a faith based read with solidly written characters and a sweetly progressing story should give this one a try as well!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1432775145000, "title": "A Faith Of Her Own" }, { "asin": "0718031660", "rating": 5, "text": "I love this series and have been discussing it with a friend of mine and she totally agrees the only dislike is waiting for the next installment of the book, but anticipating what might come next makes it well worth the wait! Truthfully though I actually read the novel Where Leads The Heart the full length novel that this serial story are reprinted from. The saga between Rand and Sarah continue. It's obvious that Rand still loves Sarah but his fiancee is determined to marry him. Plenty of twists provide keep this story moving on at a brisk pace making for a quick historical read that really does leave the reader wanting more! Anyone who enjoys good clean historical fiction where the ending really isn't assured will certainly enjoy this entire series, and speaking of which The Journey of the Heart series should be read in order to understand the complexities of the characters. I really can't wait to read A Heart's Betrayal the next book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1433078037000, "title": "Short historical read" }, { "asin": "0310335884", "rating": 5, "text": "Aaron Ebersol is sort of like the prodigal son returned, you see he left the community of Paradise, Pa years earlier and really didn't keep in close contact with his family, even though his family tried. Now though his mother is sick and he goes home to be with her, thing is he isn't sure how he feels about being back, and more than that how he fits in now. He decides to stay at the Heart of Paradise B&B and soon finds himself developing feelings for Linda Zook. Can their growing friendship become more, can they forgive those that hurt them, but more than that can they forgive themselves?<br /><br />Amy Clipston creates in depth characters who face very real problems within the pages of A Simple Prayer. Those characters are paired together with a well written, easy to follow plot that isn't easy to put down.The conflicts within the story really kept me reading to find out what would ultimately happen.<br />I really enjoy reading Amy Clipston's work but somehow missed a couple of books in the Hearts Of The Lancaster Grand Hotel series but honestly this book is a great stand alone read because the author provides enough background information about the reoccurring characters that I immediately understood who they were. With that said I really hope to go back and read book two and three in the series! Fans of Amish fiction are going to love this story, but anyone looking for a well written story filled with well fleshed characters along with real life issues should give this book a try I really don't think you will be disappointed.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1434131253000, "title": "Great characters make this a stand out read" }, { "asin": "0529103435", "rating": 5, "text": "I have really enjoyed reading this series, and I think that this book A Heart's Betrayal just might be my favorite so far! When Emmie's husband is killed in an accident to say she is devastated is an understatement, but it's the life he never told her about that really shocks her to the core. She decides the only thing to do is to head west to join up with Sarah and Rand, knowing that she will never trust her heart to another again. It doesn't take long though for a kind soldier to begin to breach her defenses. Will she find the new life she is hoping for, and what sort of life will it be?<br /><br />Ms. Coble packs more than a few shocking twists within the pages of A Heart's Betrayal. Emmie's character is easy to relate to, and I couldn't imagine what life might throw at her next! I was rooting for Emmie to find some sort of happiness but couldn't help but wonder about the secret that she carried about her marriage,whether or not it would keep her from finding happiness. The ending leaves me quite anxious to read the next installment in the series! A page turning historical fiction read, that provides easy to like characters and a solid plot that moves along at a quick pace. I do recommend that this series be read in order to fully understand the backgrounds of the characters.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1435548684000, "title": "Quick read that leaves me wanting more!" }, { "asin": "140168596X", "rating": 5, "text": "Her Brother's Keeper by Beth Wiseman is the first book in Ms. Wiseman's newest series Amish Secrets, and judging by this book it's going to be one of her best series yet! Charlotte Dolinsky is an Englisher from Texas who is hurting over the loss of her brother Ethan. You see Ethan went to Pennsylvania to work in construction and then decided to convert to the Amish faith, and was even actually engaged to be married to Hannah King. Why then would he commit suicide? That's what Charlotte wants to know and so she devises a scheme where she disguises herself as a distant Amish cousin of the King family and heads to Pennsylvania to find the answers she is looking for. She is welcomed into the family and even becomes friends with Hannah, but will they continue to be her friend if they find out who she really is? What about her brother's death, what will she learn about his death?<br /><br />Her Brother's Keeper deals with a few tough subjects such as depression, child abuse and suicide, but does so in such a way that instead of feeling overwhelming and depressing it left me feeling inspired and uplifted as the story unfolded, especially as Charlotte began to find her way. Speaking of Charlotte it was fun to watch her become &#34;Mary&#34; because it was very realistic as well as humorous.I really liked the suspense/mystery of the story and found myself wondering just what happened to Ethan. Her Brother's Keeper drew me in from the beginning pages and made me feel like I had stepped into the life of these characters but that's what I have come to expect when I pick up a book by Beth Wiseman.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438035762000, "title": "First book in a new Amish series" }, { "asin": "0718031687", "rating": 4, "text": "With the latest installment of Journey of the Heart Emmie Croftner pushes Isaac Liddle away sacrificing her heart and feelings in order to keep her secret, thing is Isaac isn't about to give up that easily. On top of that Emmie makes a promise to a dear friend that my require that she marry another. Is there any hope that she and Isaac will ever have a future together?<br />I have certainly enjoyed each book in this series, so much so that I actually went back and read the books (The Wyoming Series) that this little series was taken from, because I was impatient to know the whole story. In my observation though I felt like the Journey of the Heart series was more polished, and by that I mean unnecessary descriptions and repetitive words were taken out. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction should give this mini series a chance, I will say that the books do have to be read in order to fully understand the characters. While parts of the story are a tad predictable that doesn't keep me from looking forward to the final book in the series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438307576000, "title": "Quick easy read" }, { "asin": "0764211706", "rating": 5, "text": "I became hooked on the Unexpected Bride series by Melissa Jagears after reading the first book in the series. There is something about a mail order bride story that just draws me in and Ms. Jagears provides just the right blending of drama, romance along with a great historical setting that really makes for a page turning read with a few twists that held my attention from the first page to the last. The characters in this story really come to life, allowing me not only connect but actually care about how their story would work out. I felt like that characters stories were a bit unique compared to other mail order bride stories I have read because they have both tried and failed with the mail order bride situation before. While A Bride at Last is the third book in the series it can easily be read as a stand alone work, actually I somehow missed the second book but that didn't stop me from being drawn in by this story. Anyone who enjoys a fast paced story with more than a few inspirational messages along with a sweetness that will draw you in and have you hoping for the best for the characters will enjoy this story, and if your a fan of the mail order bride genre like me then a Bride At Last will be a must read for you, I will caution once you start reading it you just might not be able to put it down.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438648764000, "title": "Held my attention from beginning to end !" }, { "asin": "1401690513", "rating": 4, "text": "Great characters and a fun, page turning read is what I found within the pages of Counting on a Cowboy. I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions with this story, but there were some poignant moments as well. While Ms. Clopton deals with a few tough issues, with the issue of Alzheimer's really being one that I could relate to, thing is she knows just when to provide a bit of humor to lighten the story. The characters were easy to relate to which pulled me right into the story.<br />If your looking for a good clean cowboy read that is more than just a sweet romance then Counting on a Cowboy by Debra Clopton just might fit the bill! While this book is part of the Four of Hearts Ranch Romance series it can easily be read as a stand alone work. Although the characters and setting has me thinking that I need to read the first book in the series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review", "timestamp": 1441673159000, "title": "Sweet read" }, { "asin": "1601426992", "rating": 4, "text": "always look forward to starting a new Amish series, especially when the author is Cindy Woodsmall, and with Ties That Bind we begin the Amish of Summer Grove Series. Ariana Brenneman grew up in the Old Order Amish and has always been quite content, sure she aspires to open a bakery in the town of Summer Grove, that is if she can get the money together to do it, but that's so she can help out with her family. It had been five years since Quill Schlabach had left the Amish community with a teen girl, and if truth be told Ariana hadn't really ever gotten over it, and now he is back, but can they rebuild their friendship? Thing is Quill has always had feelings for Ariana, but he also knows something that would change her life forever and he wants to help her any way he can even if only she will let him.<br /><br />I found myself struggling to get involved in this book and I think the reason might have been because there were so many characters and their stories to learn,that I felt like I was getting bounced back and forth to much. As the book progressed though I found myself being drawn into the story line. There was a few plot twists that provided just the right amount of ummph to make me want to read on and I am glad that I did! Overall, I didn't connect to this book right away but I am glad that I continued to read, because I have become hooked and can't wait to read the next book in the series!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1443990136000, "title": "Slow start but the story picked up for me" }, { "asin": "1617955876", "rating": 4, "text": "Katie Vale has just traveled half way across the country with her boyfriend to spend Christmas with his family. Within minutes of arriving, in front of all of his family he pops the question! Her answer isn't was what expected though, which might make for an uncomfortable Christmas. Why did she say no, and how can she stay for Christmas with his family now? Well she does, and the lessons she learns will change the way she thinks about family.<br /><br />A fast paced, heart touching story that pulled me right into t he midst of the Bender family. It was interesting to see the story unfold through the eyes of Katie, who really hasn't experienced a family like the Benders before. The characters in the family really propelled this novel along at break neck speed, never once did the plot lag, instead it moved along so fast that I found myself rereading some things just to catch what the author was trying to convey. I wondered from the beginning how life would work out for the main characters. The author begins the book with the marriage proposal and then takes the reader back to allow us to see what transpired, giving the story of the characters, making it easy to understand why Katie gave the answer she did. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen with Katie and Micah, and really felt like her staying with the family would be awkward, bu instead it made for a great story. My first Christmas read for the season, and I have to say it was a quick easy read that touches on faith, family relationships, love, loss and forgiveness. While there are a few poignant moments, there is enough humor to make you laugh, which helps to keep the story light. Well developed characters and a page turning, fast paced plot who could ask for anything more!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1445183799000, "title": "An Endless Christmas" } ]

[ { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 5, "text": "In this debut novel by Cara Lynn James we are transported back in time to 1899. Back during the day to reach the age of 25 and to be unwed could quickly get you labeled an old maid.<br />Miss Lillian Westbrook finds herself in such a position, she is engaged but has never been married, and to top it off she has been writing dime novels under the pen name of Fannie Cole. To be a female and work and earn your own money just wasn't acceptable so she keeps it hidden from her family and friends.<br />When Jackson Grail, a former boyfriend purchases the publishing house that has been publishing Fanny Cole's novels and then becomes determined to find out just who Fannie is. Lilly has to make some choices to protect her family. Will she be able to keep her identity hidden? Will Jackson and Lilly finally get together?<br />I love reading historical fiction and this book didn't disappoint. Cara Lynn James does a great job of grabbing the readers attention and then keeps the story going at a fast pace. I look forward to reading the next in the Ladies of Summerhill novels.", "timestamp": 1276837436000, "title": "Love On a Dime" }, { "asin": "1404187804", "rating": 5, "text": "The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews is a pint sized gift book that packs a wallop of a message.<br />This book will take you no longer than 10 minutes to read, and is very eye appealing with its beautiful pictures and large font.<br />The resounding message is every single thing we do matters. That the cause and effect of the decisions we make do make a difference.<br />Mr. Andrews starts out by telling us the story of Joshua Chamberlain a Colonel in the Union Army, and how the decisions that Mr. Chamberlain made was like a ripple effect on the US, shaping the countries future.<br />This is a great little motivational read that would be a great gift for anyone who might be suffering from self esteem issues or anyone who you think needs to be reminded that Yes They Do Matter.<br />I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1283859316000, "title": "The Butterfly Effect" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "We only have one chance to live this life and we choose how to live it. Do we stick our heads in the sand and think that everything is ok or do we wake up and realize that as Christians we have the responsibility to make life better for others if we can?<br />This book quotes some staggering numbers, the number of poor, and hungry is something that's hard to imagine. Mr Lucado's book gives us a wake up call as to what we can do to make a change.<br />You don't have to be rich or even well off, instead of focusing on what you don't have to give, focus on what you can give. It's that average Joe that makes a difference, the little things that add up.<br />I really enjoyed his use of scripture throughout this book and liked how he started each chapter with a scripture verse and ended the chapters with another scripture and a prayer.<br />This is a very simply written book that can change your way of thinking, its very inspiring a book that you wont be able to put down and will continue to think about long after you finish it.<br />A very timely message that we all need to read, I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1284121246000, "title": "Outlive Your Life" }, { "asin": "1595540091", "rating": 4, "text": "The year is 1772, and Toma Nicolescu and his friend Alec Cardei have seen their fair share of battles while serving the empress of Russia, Catherine the Great. So when they are dispatched to Moldavia to protect the Cantemir family, a very influential family in Moldavia, until the empress could appoint a ruler for that country who would be loyal to Catherine the Great, they think it will be an easy job.<br />The Cantemir family consisted of Kesia and her twin daughters Lucine and Natasha. Both girls had been taught by their mothers to live as free spirits and basically do whatever felt good, but an unplanned pregnancy and the loss of a baby when Lucine was seventeen had sort of tempered her ways, but not Natasha, she basically is always looking for a good time. Alec known as a ladies man was immediately lusting after Natasha, and while Toma was warned by the empress not to become romantically involved,becomes drawn to Lucine, but keeps his feelings at bay until he feels that Lucine is being threatened by Vlad Van Valerik.<br />When Toma realizes is that Vlad and his entourage aren't what they seem, he knows he will do whatever it takes to save the woman he loves, no matter the cost.<br />I found this book to be very thought provoking, where the characters feelings are so real that you can feel the anguish that Toma felt as well as the evil emitting from Vlad. I really enjoyed how Mr. Dekker tied Vlad's history to the book of Genesis, I only wish he would have traced his history to Lilith instead of the Nephilim.<br />This isn't a clear cut christian novel but instead has so many more elements, it has that horror story element of blood drinking vampires, but it also reminds us of God's unconditional love for us, and how it took the blood of our Savior to save us all!<br /><br />An amazing read, that I won't soon forget.<br /><br />This is my first opportunity to read anything written by Mr. Dekker and I am now his newest fan!", "timestamp": 1284517251000, "title": "Not your typical vampire story!" }, { "asin": "0800733703", "rating": 5, "text": "Don't look Back by Lynette Eason was an edge of your seat thrill ride from beginning to end! A book filled with suspense, romance and a chilling storyline that grabs you and wont let go!<br /><br />Jamie Cash was the only person to survive the kidnapping and torture of the \"Hero\" a serial killer that she escaped from twelve years ago, with extensive therapy she is finally getting her life back on track, but when the \"Hero\" returns to finish the job he started, can FBI agent Dakota Richard protect her from this evil killer?<br /><br />I enjoyed seeing Jamie Cash's faith and trust in God even though she is facing circumstances that might test even the strongest faith, she instead finds solace in her faith giving her problems to God in prayer, actually I felt like it was her faith that kept her strong. Her character came off as very realistic, we saw true emotion from her such as anger and fear, feelings that I thought were perfectly normal for someone experiencing the horror she lived thru, and knowing she might wind up in the Hero's clutches again.<br /><br />FBI agent Dakota Richard is such a sweet guy, he really cared for Jamie, I loved watching their relationship blossom, and Jamie slowly finding comfort in him.He was determined to keep Jamie safe no matter what but could he really protect her?<br /><br />Even though this is the second story in the Women of Justice series it can easily be read as a stand alone work. So if your looking for a page turning drama with an evil killer who likes to get inside his victims heads, along with enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat, and read how someones faith can help them thru even the worst of times, with a sweet romance woven in, then you must read this book! But a word of warning once you start reading you wont be able to put this one down!<br /><br />Available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.\"<br /><br />Even though I was provided a review copy by Revell, thanks Donna, it in no way alters my opinion of this book!", "timestamp": 1287465039000, "title": "An on the edge of your seat story!!!" }, { "asin": "0307458997", "rating": 5, "text": "A lovely novella with a beautiful cover,a new to me author Donita K. Paul writes a charming story that will definitely put you in the holiday spirit.<br /><br />When Cora Crowder finds herself needing a book for an uncle's Christmas gift she heads into the Warner,Werner, Wizbotterdad book store. She has no idea that she will wind up on the receiving end of the stores matchmaking scheme to throw her and her boss Simon together.<br /><br />I loved this book, it had the right balance of romance, fantasy along with a great underlying spiritual message. The characters were fabulous, and I loved the cat.<br /><br />A delightful Christmas romance that will get you in the holiday spirit,and would be great read anytime of the year. I highly recommend this wonderful book!", "timestamp": 1287852118000, "title": "A Charming Story" }, { "asin": "0764208659", "rating": 3, "text": "I wasn't sure what to expect when this book first arrived for me to review. I had never heard of TobyMac before, I think he is popular among the younger audience, but I soon realized that each section in this book is named after a song that he released sometime earlier this year.<br /><br /> Each section consists of short stories, of how God has used people to change the world, some of the stories I had heard before and some were new to me. You will also find prayers and scriptures peppered through out this book that will further inspire and uplift you. Each section ends with a one minute remix and also a call to action prayer.<br /><br />This books resounding message is \"If we gotta start sometime, why not start now.\"If only we are willing to step out of our comfort zone and unite that we can make a difference and change the world.<br /><br />In the right hands this book could be life changing, I think it would be great especially for youth pastors, I think it would be useful in reaching the younger audience, with its hip look and the fact that TobyMac is someone that teens listen to. Overall I think anyone would enjoy reading these inspirational stories!<br /><br />Even though I was provided a copy of this book for review by Bethany House it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1288561993000, "title": "City On Our Knees" }, { "asin": "0800719255", "rating": 5, "text": "I must say that I am guilty of judging a book by its cover, when I saw the cover for Christmas at Harrington's I immediately felt like it was going to be an amazing Christmas story, on the cover you find yourself on a street of any small town in the USA, you have a smiling lady, dressed in a red coat peering into a store window with a display of a Christmas tree and toys snowflakes falling all around her, its just beautiful and depicts the holiday season perfectly.<br />In this story we are introduced to Lena Markham,its less than four weeks till Christmas and she has just been released from prison after serving and eight year sentence for a crime she didn't commit, she was set up by her husband to take the fall for something he did. She decides she wants a fresh start in a new town, so a social worker puts together a release package for her, finding a town to locate her to, setting her up with a place to live and a temporary job, and a bus trip to get her to get her there, while on the bus she meets an elderly lady, Moira who befriends her,telling Lena that she knows despite whatever happened in her past she is sure Lena is a good person. Once they get off the bus together in New Haven, MN she is introduced to Moira's son Sam, who is a lawyer. She soon realizes that the job that she anticipated isn't there, and the only job available is playing Mrs. Santa.<br />Can Lena find the new start in this town she hopes for, and can she keep her past a secret, and what about Sam, how does he play into all of this, you need to read this heartwarming story of second chances to find out!<br />While the story that unfolded inside the pages of this book wasn't exactly what I anticipated , it is exactly what the holiday season is all about, a perfect Christmas read filled with hope, inspiration and second chances.<br /><br />Even though I was provided a review copy of this book by Revell Publishing it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1289716420000, "title": "Christmas At Harrington's" }, { "asin": "1609360257", "rating": 4, "text": "World War II is just coming to an end but the war that is going on inside Esther Lange is unending!<br />She can't forgive herself for the night of passion she shared with Linus Hahn in the backseat of a borrowed car, they were both headed overseas to war, and it just happened. When that night turns into a daughter for them Esther is released from the Red Cross with no place to go. So she writes Linus, and his reply is for her to go to his hometown and stay with his parents, and that's what she has been doing for the last two years, living in their attic, raising her daughter and working at a hospital taking care of the war wounded.<br />Living with Linus' parents isn't easy, they are very hardened, feeling like she trapped their son. When she receives a letter indicating that Linus may have been killed in action, she isn't sure what to believe, but one thing she knows for sure is that she is relieved, she won't have to marry a man she doesn't love,and barely even knows. She really believes that she was no more than a one night stand for Linus as well, and it soon comes to light that Linus had a longstanding girlfriend who works in the same hospital as Esther,and she threatens to make Esther pay for stealing Linus away from her!<br />Since there has been no other information about Linus she starts corresponding with Peter Hess the medic who sent her the information about Linus. Soon they develop a friendship, and it starts to develop into something more, but when Peter's secret is exposed can they overcome it, and will Esther ever forgive herself for the mistake she made?<br />This was an amazing story, just when you thought things were working out the author throws a monkey wrench into it that take it in the opposite direction. The feelings are so strongly written in this book, that you are easily transported back to war time America. You can also feel the turmoil going on inside Esther, she judges herself so harshly for the mistake she made that night and is unwilling to see that she has already been forgiven by God, she just needs to accept it! Peter's story was one I kept thinking of long after I finished reading it, he was such a kind person, a victim of circumstances really, but he always kept his faith in God.The letters that passed between Peter and Esther were such a treat to read, I enjoyed seeing their friendship blossom.<br /><br />I found this book a real joy to read, the author does an amazing job of taking a work of fiction and weaving a bit of a history lesson in. While this was my first time reading anything from Susan May Warren, it certainly won't be my last!<br /><br />Even though I was provided a copy of this book by Litfuse it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1289881365000, "title": "Nightingale" }, { "asin": "0764207326", "rating": 4, "text": "Jackie Donovan is almost thirty. All she has ever wanted was to find a wonderful man to marry, and to purchase Bailey Place a B&B. She and her best friend Minnie visited it often when they were children, they both want to own it, but widower Minnie is working two jobs to support her son and Jackie works at a magazine writing articles about local business owners. When she meets the owner of Bailey House,Erikson Davis, she soon starts hoping her dreams might finally be coming true.<br /><br />While this story was a bit slow to start for me, once it picked up I became anxious to see how things would work out. The characters are very down to earth making them very easy to relate to, although I would say some of them were offbeat! I really enjoyed how Jackie's family was always trying to fix her up.<br />The author does an amazing job of describing the setting for this book, transporting you to the small town setting.<br />An added bonus are the wonderful sounding recipes included, which I definitely will be trying out!<br />If your in the mood for a sweet, but not sappy romance, with a little humor woven in, then give this book a try! For me not a great read, but overall I enjoyed the book and will be looking for more from this author..<br /><br />rating 3.5/5<br />Book provided by Bethany House for review.", "timestamp": 1295688005000, "title": "Hatteras Girl" }, { "asin": "0800732596", "rating": 5, "text": "Elise Stortsen, has some major changes happen. Her mom has landed a new job that moves Elise into a new school district, so instead of starting her junior year in her old school, where she wasn't very popular anyway, she will be going to Garfield High. She is just about to turn sixteen and having never been kissed hopes to change that by her birthday. When Asher, a popular boy in school starts showing an interest in Elise, she wonders if he might give her that first kiss.<br />Her first day of school goes great, Asher introduces her to the in-crowd, which includes Asher's girlfriend. So when Elise gets an email from Asher, she soon finds herself caught up in something that soon puts her reputation on the line, and jeopardizes her future, but it also makes her realize what is important, and in the process strengthens her faith in God!<br />I think this book is a must read for all teen girls. It deals with some pretty heavy subjects, but these are real life problems that are facing teens today.The character of Elise was very well written. She was very down to earth and easy to relate to. I totally understood the reactions of the characters in the story, and while Stacie did something wrong, she didn't do it with malicious intent, but there were still repercussions.<br />This book moved at a brisk pace and I felt the ending wrapped up the story nicely. There is a spiritual message woven throughout the book, but it isn't preachy or overwhelming.Whether your a teen or not, this book is well worth reading!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book for review, but it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1295814869000, "title": "A great read whether your a teen or not!" }, { "asin": "0800734564", "rating": 5, "text": "When U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor get a call that his next assignment will be to protect federal judge Elizabeth Michaels he is less than happy. His best friend Doug was married to her, and from the things Doug told him before his death, the marriage was very unhappy and it was Liz's fault. Doug said she was cold hearted and only her only focus was on her job. Can he put his feelings aside and do the assignment?<br />When Liz Michael's sister is shot in the back of the head, Liz believes her sisters abusive husband is to blame. Because she is a federal judge she needs to be protected by U.S. Marshals. When she realizes Jake will be the marshal assigned to keep her safe she wonders what her husband told him about her. As she and Jake spend time together one thing is for sure Jake is starting to realize that his opinion of Liz may be wrong. Did his friend Doug lie to him?<br />When it becomes evident that Liz may have been the shooters target, can Jake keep her safe, and figure out who is out to get her?<br />There is never a dull moment in this story! It grabs you from the first pages with the tragic shooting of Liz's sister, and how Liz's life is turned upside down while she is being protected from someone who may be out to kill her. Liz is very level headed, and almost always holds herself together but there are a few instances where that facade slips. Jake's character really stood out. He goes above and beyond where his job is concerned, and is devoted to his family.<br />A fantastic first book in Irene Hannon's new Guardians of Justice series. If this book is any indicator this series is going to be great!<br />Anyone who is a fan of light romance, mystery and suspense with a bit of a christian message woven in will enjoy this book.<br /><br />I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1296024023000, "title": "Fatal Judgement" }, { "asin": "0764206710", "rating": 3, "text": "Ruth Livingstone's life is turned upside down when her father is falsely accused of murdering a prostitute. Her father gives her the deceased woman's child and sends her to a small town to stay with a family he knows. That family thinks Ruth is a former prostitute, but they allow the town to believe she is a widow, with a small child. Her only solace is tending a once abandoned garden.<br /><br />Because of a mistake two years ago Asher \"Jake\" Tripp walked away from the \"Galaxy\", the newspaper he and his brother owned, the mistake he made almost caused the business to fail, but his brother Clifford had worked hard and the paper was once again thriving. Jake wants to return to the paper.Hoping to redeem himself in the eyes of his brother, he offers to take an assignment out of town, trying to track down Ruth Livingstone, who disappeared right before her fathers trial began. When he tracks Ruth to the town she is staying in, he takes residence as Jake Spenser, a handyman recovering from a broken back.<br /><br />Ruth and Jack both have plenty of secrets, but once they meet, and share time together, love slowly blooms, will their secrets keep the two apart, or will love be able to work everything out?<br /><br />For some reason I just didn't connect with this story, it actually took several weeks for me to read. I liked the historical aspect of the book, and while the storyline was ok, it just wasn't great. I couldn't really connect with any of the characters, I kept hoping we would get more of Ruth's back story, such as whether she left friends behind, or perhaps a boyfriend, she was in her twenties so she certainly must have had a life before she went into hiding with the child. This book was my first foray into reading anything written by Delia Parr, and while it didn't sweep me away, it wont dissuade me from reading more of her work.<br /><br />rating 2.5/5", "timestamp": 1296362439000, "title": "Love's First Bloom" }, { "asin": "0800734521", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Lady In The Mist\" takes place in 1809 in Seabourne VA. The protagonist Tabitha Eckles is a twenty-four year old midwife, the thing that makes Tabitha unusual is the fact that she isn't married. She learned her midwifery skills from her mother and grandmother, and once they died she continued to help her town , even though several people felt it wasn't right because she is unmarried. When a premature birthing results in the death of the mother and baby, she finds herself threatened at knife point, who could be threatening her? Could it have something to do with Dominick Cherrett a man she literally ran into on her way home after the birthing? Or does it have something to do with her job as a midwife?<br /><br />What a fascinating story! The author draws you into the story immediately. Tabitha's character is so easy to relate to. Her relationship with God has suffered because she feels that he has taken everyone that matters away from her, but she still has a tender-heart. Dominick was an interesting character as well, working as an indentured servant for the mayor, you know he has a few secrets. As he spends time with Tabitha, he soon loses his heart to her, something he didn't plan. I enjoyed the mystery and suspense woven into this historical romance. I also loved the cover of this book, it was very eye catching, so sometimes you can judge a book by its cover!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1297996914000, "title": "Lady In The Mist" }, { "asin": "143470212X", "rating": 5, "text": "Passport Through Darkness\" isn't your typical missionary workers story. Instead Kimberly Smith takes the reader on a journey around the world to Sudan and other war torn countries. She shares the atrocities that women and children face in these countries every day.<br /><br />Kimberly Smith was your average American woman, working in the corporate world, a wife, mother and a faithful church member, she was living a good life, but she felt as if something was missing, she longed to make her life matter. About that time her husband Milton started suggesting that they do something meaningful, something to make a difference in other peoples lives. One day as Milton browses thru a magazine in a waiting room he finds an article asking for missionaries to serve in Spain, ironically Milton had been a missionary in Spain back in the 80's, so with what I would consider a giant leap of faith, they were accepted by a missionary agency to work in Spain so they sold everything they had starting a new life journey in the missionary field. While in Spain the couple became aware of the plight of human trafficking, causing them to cofound Make Way Partners, which works to prevent human trafficking worldwide.<br /><br />I knew a bit of the plight in Sudan before reading this book, but this book brings it front and center, allowing you to see these victims as real people, while it is a hard to read the accounts that are shared in the story, it is a message that needs to be spread.<br /><br />Thanks to B&B Media for providing me a copy of this book for review.", "timestamp": 1299121982000, "title": "Passport Through Darkness" }, { "asin": "0764208500", "rating": 2, "text": "It has taken me forever to finish this book, I started reading it back in November and found myself putting it down for extended periods because it was a story that really didn't inspire me, I couldn't become interested in the characters, and just couldn't relate to the story.<br /><br />The protagonist in this story is an almost thirty year old who aspires to be a writer even quitting her job to return to school to get her masters degree. Because no one is buying her story, she gets numerous rejections, she is working part time as an English professor to pay the bills. Her roommate Zoe, seems to have no problem getting her story published in a magazine that has rejected Amy's.While Amy's character is overall a good person, she is constantly struggling with self doubt, feeling like things aren't working out the way she planned.<br /><br />While I didn't connect with the story,I wouldn't hesitate to read something else by Bethany Pierce. Her writing wasn't the problem, it was just that the book didn't click for me.<br /><br />Book provided by Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1299643226000, "title": "This book didn't inspire me" }, { "asin": "1854249746", "rating": 4, "text": "I must admit I am a huge fan of historical fiction especially mysteries and intrigue, but \"A Trail Of Ink\" by Mel Starr was my first foray into the midieval time period. I wasn't sure how I would like the time period but I actually loved it!<br /><br />This story is set in the town of Oxford England, where Hugh de Singleton is trying to solve the mystery of his friend John Wyclif's stolen books. Twenty-two books in all have been taken, and two of them are borrowed books from a friend of John's. The books were stolen right out of Master Wyclif's room while he was out to supper. Hugh is also interested in Kate Caxton, a stationer's daughter. So Hugh jumps into solving the mystery as he also tries to to win Kate's favor.<br /><br />While this story was a bit hard for me to get into in the beginning, it soon took off transporting me back to medieval England. The author rolls together mystery, suspense, and murder together to make the story a satisfying read. I did find myself turning to the glossary provided in the front of the book because of some of the words used during the time period. \"A Trail Of Ink\" is the third book in the chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon series, but can easily be read as a stand alone work, although I do wish I had read the first two books in the seriesThe ending provides a teaser for the next book in the series titled \"Unhallowed Ground\", which I look forward to reading.<br /><br />Book provided by Litfuse and the publisher for review.", "timestamp": 1299798789000, "title": "A Trail Of Ink" }, { "asin": "0800734076", "rating": 5, "text": "I can count on one hand the Biblical fiction novels that I have read, but I am really starting to like this genre. While the stories are works of fiction, the reader learns alot about the characters that the author is writing about. Realizing that \"Love Amid The Ashes\" was the story about Job and Dinah I found myself thinking about their stories in the Bible, while Job's story was one that I was pretty familiar with, a man who suffers many trials and tribulations but never waivers in his faith in God. Dinah on the other hand was someone I never thought alot about, I remember her story, as the daughter of Jacob and Leah, she was defiled by Shechem, who was later killed by her brothers. For me I never really thought about how Dinah's life might have been altered by the act.<br />I found this book something I really enjoyed reading. The author provides the reader with a genealogical chart at the beginning of the story, that helps keep the many characters straight. I liked the way that she opens each chapter with a Bible verse allowing me to relate the chapters to the verses. The author allows us to see these biblical characters with heart and feelings by drawing us into their stories. This debut novel will certainly be a hit for anyone who enjoys biblical fiction, but its also a good story for anyone who likes a compelling faith filled story.<br /><br />Available March 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.", "timestamp": 1301199627000, "title": "Love Amid The Ashes" }, { "asin": "1414339429", "rating": 5, "text": "When I picked up \"Journey To Riverbend\" I thought that it was probably going to be another historical fiction romance novel, but boy was I wrong. While there is a bit of romance between a few of the characters the author really gives us a true western novel filled with a hanging, an attempted stagecoach robbery, a kidnapping, a shootout and a posse searching for kidnappers. He rolls this together with a story about regrets and forgiveness, and faith in God.<br /><br />While Michael Archer couldn't save Ben Carstairs from being hanged for a crime he didn't commit, he is determined to try and fulfill Ben's dying wish, which was to make amends with his father Sam, to tell him that he forgave him for the way he treated him and return his mothers necklace.<br /><br />Michael makes the journey to Riverbend to deliver Ben's message to Sam but finds that Sam is out of town for business and will be gone for a few days. Michael decides to hang around until he returns, and he soon learns that Sam Carstairs is a ruthless man who has no use for God and uses people to get what he wants.While staying in Riverbend Michael meets Rachel Stone a young lady who has found refuge with the local preacher and his family. They feel drawn to each other but because of issues that haunt them from their past they are unsure that they are ready for a relationship, but that doesn't stop Michael from thinking about a future that might include a move to Riverbend.<br />Sam Carstairs has wronged several people in his past, doing whatever he could to obtain more wealth but when he is kidnapped the town doesn't hesitate to form a posse to try and find him. Michael decides to ride along hoping that he can help, will they find Sam before its to late?<br />What an interesting story, the characters in the story are well fleshed out. Rachel and Michael each have issues from their past that continue to dog them. Rachel is making great strides toward her future even though some of the townspeople won't let her forget her past. Michael was a strong caring compassionate character who was also dealing with demons from his past. While I really didn't like the character of Sam Carstairs by the end of the story I felt sorry for him. The ending of the story leaves me hoping that Mr. McLaughlin will write a sequel for this story!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1301205637000, "title": "I hope the author is writing a sequel for this one!" }, { "asin": "1595548017", "rating": 5, "text": "Abigail Jones works for her mothers magazine called the Viewpoint. Because of the stress of her job her mother encourages her to take some time off and go to Montana and check on her aunt Lucy. When she arrives Lucy is fine, but Wade, the cowboy who owns the ranch where Lucy lives needs a nanny for his daughter, and Abigail takes the job. Abigail knows Wade is hiding something and thinks it just might be a story that could save her mothers magazine. Of course feelings develop between Wade and Abigail, will she choose to go forward with the story which will expose Wade, or will she decide to protect the relationship that is blooming between them?<br /><br />Wow! The word for this one is fantastic. This is one of those stories that I just couldn't put down. The author weaves romance, a bit of mystery, and a nice christian message together to produce a story that begs to be read. Oh did I mention the hunky cowboy. The chemistry between the main characters was static, it just jumps off the page at you.<br />The imagery that the author paints with her words make you feel as if your right in the middle of Montana, how could you not love a place called Moose Creek! Readers of christian romance will surely enjoy this one, but this book would also appeal to fans of romance with a western setting.<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1303268262000, "title": "A Cowboy's Touch" }, { "asin": "0781403790", "rating": 5, "text": "While these books are reprints of books that were orginally printed back in the 1974, I somehow missed them growing up, but I am so glad that I had the chance to read them now. I consider them timeless classics that will certainly appeal to many, and should be on every little girls bookshelf. While the stories that grandma shares with her grand daughter are fun to read they are also educational, and provide the reader with little life lessons. The illustrations peppered throughout the book are cute and will capture the imagination of the young reader.<br /><br />These books would make a perfect gift for young readers, but I think anyone who likes to reminisce about the \"Good Old Days\" will certainly enjoy these books.<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of these books by B&B Media in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1303788390000, "title": "Perfect stories for young and old alike" }, { "asin": "1595547851", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Fairer Than Morning\" is a historical fiction novel set in the 1820's in Rushville Ohio and Pittsburgh PA.Ann Miller's boyfriend has just proposed to her. Eli Bowen is nineteen but Ann is only fifteen. She turns him down because she knows her father would never allow her to marry before she turns eighteen, because it is what her mother would have wished.Ann was only nine when her mother died, leaving Ann to become the mother figure for her two younger sisters Mabel and Susan. Her father is a saddler and also a circuit preacher which leaves Ann to be the caretaker of the children quite often. When Ann's father needs to attend business in Pittsburgh he allows the girls to go along. Where she meets Will, someone that she can't quit thinking about.<br /><br />Will Hanby signs up for five years of indentured service to Jacob Good so that he can learn to be a saddler. But Mr. Good is a cruel man who thinks nothing of abusing Will. When the abuse becomes to much Will makes a drastic decision that has him running to the Miller farm for refuge.<br />While this story is a historical fiction, it is actually based on real people, which had me anxious to read this story. The story drew me in from the first pages when a young girl at fifteen is being proposed to. The author easily draws you into the lives of the characters in the story, making you feel as if you are right there with them. Parts of this story were hard to read, the abuse that Will and the other slaves suffered was really heart wrenching.<br />This is the first book in The Saddler's Legacy Series, and I for one will be looking for the next book titled \"Sweeter Than Birdsong\" due out in Feb 2012.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1304306070000, "title": "Great new series" }, { "asin": "0800733711", "rating": 5, "text": "When Detectives Noah Lambert and Kit Kenyon are assigned to the murder case of Walter Davis a twenty nine year old man who was getting ready to graduate from Wofford Law College, there pretty sure it isn't a random killing and when the second body shows up, a young lady who attended the same college the pair realizes that there is a serial killer on the loose. As they try and find the killer, the killer has his own plans which includes one of the detectives. Will the pair be able to figure out who the killer is before its to late?<br /><br />This book takes off like a house on fire, with unstoppable twists and turns to keep you flipping the pages to figure out who the killer is, and for while I thought I knew who the killer might be, I really wasn't sure until the end of the story.<br />The characters in this novel are easy to connect with, Kit and Noah both have issues from their past, and Kit has let those issues keep her from God, but not so with Noah, he has a wonderful relationship with God. The relationship that develops between Noah and Kit was nice, and added to the story.<br /><br />While this book is the third book in the Women Of Justice series it can easily be read as a stand alone work because the author gives sufficient background so that you don't feel lost. If your a fan suspense/mystery novels that will keep you on the edge of your seat, that also weaves in a bit of inspiration and romance as well then you should certainly pick up this book, but I would suggest that you read the entire series, because the books are just that good!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1306640184000, "title": "A Killer Among Us" }, { "asin": "1595549242", "rating": 4, "text": "Spring For Susannah is set in the 1800's shortly after the civil war, but before the west was tame, when the Dakota's were still just a territory.<br />Susannah Underhill really felt as if she didn't have a choice, when she decides to become a mail order bride for her pastor's brother. She had been living a very comfortable life in Michigan until her parents die. When someone shows up at her home telling her that her father owed alot of money to the bank and even attacks her, the only thing for her to do is to become a mail order bride for her pastor's brother Jessie.<br />When she arrives at Fourth Siding in the Dakota territory, she meets her husband Jessie,a non-stop talker, totally opposite from Susannah. As she learns about Jessie she realizes what a kind considerate man he is, but can she let go of her insecurities and allow love to bloom?<br /><br />As a fan of historical fiction I found the book quite enjoyable.It was nice to see the character of Susannah grow from a timid person into someone that could take care of herself, and also find her way back to God. I felt like the secondary characters were well rounded and added to the story. I am always a sucker for dogs in a story and Jake was great. The author also adds a bit of humor to the story which worked well. The one negative to the story was the rushed ending. All in all a good debut novel from Catherine Richmond.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1306778746000, "title": "Nice debut novel" }, { "asin": "1595548114", "rating": 5, "text": "\"A Vision Of Lucy,\" is set in Rocky Creek Texas during 1882. The plot revolves around Lucy Fairbanks, a young lady who dreams of being a photographer but her father isn't crazy about the idea. She has badgered the owner of the newspaper and is finally told if she can get a shot of the elusive white mustang then her photos will be put in the paper, but its not easy getting a picture of a wild mustang so she shimmies up a tree and plans on waiting but when she falls out landing on top of a stagecoach about to be robbed, well its easy to see that she doesn't always have the best of luck.So she figures if she can get a picture of the town recluse David Wolf, also known as the Wild Man she still might have a shot at her newspaper job, but when she meets him feelings start to develop. Neither are really looking for love, but sometimes God has other plans!<br /><br />What a fun book this was. Lucy was always finding herself in such precarious spots, and if I might say so she was a bit clumsy. The author does a fantastic job of painting such vivid pictures of the situations she was in that I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. I love reading historical fiction where you feel as if you learn a bit while you read and in this story I felt like I learned a bit about early photography, which was quite interesting. This book is the third book in the Rocky Creek Romance series but can easily be read as a stand alone work. Fans of quick paced historical fiction with a nice inspirational message will certainly devour this one. Margaret Brownley is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1307659325000, "title": "A Vision Of Lucy" }, { "asin": "082543310X", "rating": 5, "text": "Whenever I read a historical fiction story that is based on true events I always love the fact that I am learning a bit about history that perhaps I might never really know alot about otherwise. With How Huge The Night the authors do an amazing job of weaving together fact and fiction, to transport us back to the days of WWII, seeing the events of the time thru the eyes of two teenagers Nina and Julian, while I knew at some point their stories would meld I wasn't sure how they would connect.<br /><br />The characters in this story are completely believable and it is very easy to imagine the things that they are going thru. Julian is your typical teenager, he isn't a man but neither is he really a boy. He isn't really happy that his family left their home in Paris to move to the farm in southern France with his grandfather, he is dealing with issues such as trying to fit in at school, not to mention trying to get along with Benjamin the Jewish boy who has also moved in with his grandfather.<br />As Nina's father is lying on his deathbed he makes Nina promise that she will take her brother and leave Austria.For me their parts of their story was heart wrenching, and I found myself praying that they would be all right.<br /><br />I found this to be a compelling story that has many lessons woven in. A coming of age story during a difficult time period where the characters display great courage faith and hope. While this book is geared toward young adults I would easily recommend it to older adults as well.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1308955795000, "title": "Compelling historical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800734653", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become a fan of Biblical fiction, and when one latches onto my imagination and allows me to see Biblical characters in a whole new way while staying true to what the Bible says then its a winner in my book. When I started reading the book of \"Martha,\" I kept thinking to myself Martha who, but once her brother Lazerus is mentioned, it started to fall into place for me, because who doesn't know the story of Lazerus being raised from the dead.<br /><br /> As the story unfolds Martha becomes a very real character with feelings and longings just like any other young lady. While she longs to marry, how could it ever happen, she stepped into the role of caretaker of her family when her mother died and took that responsibility very seriously, but that doesn't stop her from wishing for a husband and children of her own. I had hoped the relationship with Thaddeus would work out but it wasn't meant to be. Some of the most exciting parts of the story were when Jesus stayed with Martha and her family.<br />If you are like me and are unsure who Martha was once you read this book you will never forget her.I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, and if you have never read Biblical fiction then this quick read is the perfect book to introduce you to this exciting genre.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1309579648000, "title": "Martha" }, { "asin": "0800734238", "rating": 5, "text": "In \"Blue Skies Tomorrow\" the author weaves together a compelling story that transports the reader back to WWII, with characters that easily draw us in, allowing us to share in their strengths and struggles making their stories come to life.<br />Helen Carlisle's is supposed to be the grieving widow when her husband dies a war hero. She puts on a good face, but its becoming harder to do because she is carrying a secret about her husband and their marriage, which was far from happy, but she is determined to hide the truth.<br />Lt.Ray Novak grapples with feeling like a coward. His job is to train pilots to fly missions, but he has never been in combat himself. When the Army Air Forces decides to start using the returning combat pilots as instructors Ray finds himself transferred back home as a supply officer where he reconnects with his friend, recently widowed Helen Carlisle. Can the two find happiness together?<br />Helen was someone who was certainly scarred by her past.While the shame wasn't hers she carried it anyway.Helen's story caused my heart to ache for her, but the ending certainly was great! It was inspirational to see her character grow and change through out the story. I thought that Ray's character was wonderful, his love of God really shined through. If you enjoy historical fiction set during WWII with romance, drama and a wonderful inspirational message your going to enjoy this one. A great conclusion to a fantastic series. I can't wait to read more from this talented author!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.", "timestamp": 1314504547000, "title": "Historical fiction at its best" }, { "asin": "0764208055", "rating": 4, "text": "I love historical novels, and if they are set in the west then that's just an added bonus.In this one Yvonne Harris transports us back in time to August 1886 in El Paso Texas. Elizabeth Evans moves to Texas from Washington to look after her brother Lloyd and his daughter Ruthie after the death of his wife and newborn son, and in return he will teach her the newspaper business,but instead her brother is shot dead and Elizabeth is kidnapped by Mexican outlaws. When Jake Nelson, a Texas Ranger learns of the shooting and kidnapping he sets out to rescue Elizabeth.When he finds her there is an immediate attraction,but could a relationship ever work between the two?<br /><br />With plenty of page turning action from the beginning, this book is certainly a quick read.I enjoyed learning a bit about the Texas Rangers,and the time period in general, while reading a sweet romance. I liked main characters in this book. Both were dealing with issues from their past that caused them to guard their hearts. Jake's heart was broken by his fiance, and the death of Elizabeth's husband Carl, who was killed in the line of duty in the Army, caused her to fear getting involved with someone who might put their job first.<br /><br />I think anyone who enjoys a good historical fiction western,with romance and plenty of action will certainly enjoy this fast paced read, I know I did.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1315725865000, "title": "A River To Cross" }, { "asin": "0764205978", "rating": 5, "text": "This was a different sort of read for me. I don't ever remember reading a story about smoke jumpers, and actually I am not sure I knew what a smoke jumper was before reading this story. I knew there were firefighters who go in and fight the major forest fires, but I honestly didn't realize there were men who are dropped in to fight the fires by cutting down trees etc. So not only did I get an action packed story but I also learned something new which is always a bonus.<br />The main characters in this one are Silas Kent a smoke jumper and Elle Westmore a pilot who drops smoke jumpers into the heart of a fire. Silas and Elle have a history together, but parted ways. Their paths cross again when when she takes an assignment to fly a smoke jumping crew out of Redding, CA to the Desolation Complex in the Sierra Nevada's to battle a raging fire. Soon though they realize there is more going on in those mountains than just the fires, there is cache of gold and some of the men on the smoke jumping crew is on a mission to recover it!<br />What a fast paced read. Elle was someone who had alot on her plate. She has the responsibility of taking care of her five year old daughter Maddie, while doing a very demanding job. I thought the little twist about her short marriage to Maddie's father was quite interesting. Silas seemed to have grown quite a bit from being someone who ran from a serious relationship to wanting to take care of Elle.I really got hooked on the characters from the beginning pages and became anxious to see how things would work out.<br /> There is plenty of page turning action, with romance, suspense mystery and drama woven together with a christian message woven in to keep you reading until the final page.<br />While this is the first time I have ever read anything by Shawn Grady, it certainly wont be my last. I really enjoyed his writing style, his vivid descriptions and suspense filled story makes this book a real winner!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1315790719000, "title": "entertaining and educational" }, { "asin": "0800719956", "rating": 5, "text": "I have read a few of Suzanne Woods Fisher's stories set in Lancaster County, so I was anxious to read a Christmas story set in the area. It's the story of two families, an Amish family, The Riehl's and an English family the Fitzpatricks. Each family is struggling with major life issues and need a bit of reminding as to what is important in life.<br /><br />Mattie, Sol, and Danny Riehl have made a trip to the doctors office for a follow up because Mattie suffered a miscarriage a few weeks ago. While they have six year old Danny, Mattie has always dreamed of having a houseful of children but struggles with infertility. The situation has stolen Mattie's joy making her question why others can so easily have children but she can't. Jaime and C.J. Fitzpatrick have issues of their own. C.J. is a teacher, but also works with his dog Tucker as a search and rescue team. His marriage to his wife Jaime seems to be slowly raveling apart and he isn't sure what to do to fix it. Jaime's father left when she was young, and when he recently dropped back into her life, she became frantic to have his acceptance, add to this the fact that she lost her mother six months ago to a freak accident and suspicions that her husband is having an affair. She won't talk to C.J. and he is unsure how to reach her. When the couple runs an errand to the Riehl farm, they become stranded. Did God bring these two families together to help each other?<br /><br />I loved this story, I read it in about an hour and was anxious to see how things would turn out. The plot moved along well, and wasn't predictable like many of the Christmas stories I read. The characters are very realistic with the issues they are dealing with. I read alot of Amish stories and often the Amish seem a bit condescending where the English are concerned but not so in this story. The Riehl's were very open and accepting of the Fitzpatrick's, and not only that we see Mattie really struggle with the issues she is facing.I thought the story line with Mattie's cousin Zach really added to the main story, and Danny was such an inquisitive child. I love when an author adds a dog to the story, and Tucker and C.J.'s job as a SAR team was interesting and I enjoyed learning a bit about it.<br />If your looking for an inspirational Christmas story set in Amish country give this one a try, for me the only complaint I had was seeing it end.", "timestamp": 1316916196000, "title": "A Lancaster County Christmas" }, { "asin": "0446570869", "rating": 5, "text": "Susan Lambert is in the city of Prague because her beloved grandmothers funeral is being held there. Raised by her grandmother since the age of twelve when her parents were killed in a car accident, an accident that Susan had a feeling about, and that's the thing, Susan had always had a feeling of discernment. The ability to sense when something wasn't right and that was a feeling she got when she decided to visit St. Vitus Cathedral. Even though she was alone in the Cathedral she felt as if someone was there with her, and even glimpsed what she thought was a man. She sees the same man a few more times, and when her cousin Wendy decides to go partying with a stranger that oozes evil, she feels compelled to find her cousin and get her away from this man.The man that Susan glimpsed in the Cathedral,(Raphael) approaches Susan and offers to help her find Wendy, but in return he tells Susan he will need her help. Susan is soon introduced to things she would have never imagined, and learns that vampires do exist and Raphael is a vampire set to fight a war against an evil vampire who wants to rule the world.<br /><br />I love vampire fiction and I was quite excited to read a vampire tale that was woven into christian fiction. I enjoyed getting to know the characters especially Raphael. Thru flashbacks we learn why he was cursed to be a vampire. The way the author explains why some people become vampires was quite different from most vampire tales. Her take was that some people are so inherently evil that they are cursed as vampires thus living longer in the hopes that they will eventually learn their mistakes and accept God, which was something that Raphael was still struggling with even after 900 years. While Raphael is a vampire it was easy to sense a goodness in him, although when Susan's life was in jeopardy we certainly saw his dark side.The forbidden feel of the attraction between Susan and Raphael kept me turning the pages to see if a romance would develop.The secondary character of David added to the story for me, a reluctant hero, who was only in Prague for three months on a job assignment staying in the same hotel as Wendy and Susan, when he hears on of the women cry out he tries to help them and learns the hard way that vampires exist and soon finds himself being trained as a vampire slayer. The relationship between David and Wendy was sweet.<br />I really hated to see this book end, and left me wanting to read a sequel. I really can't wait to see how the relationship between Raphael and Susan goes. A vampire tale woven together with a christian theme, and a fight of good versus evil, the perfect October read! On a scale of one to five I would easily give this one a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1317783522000, "title": "In a word FANGTASTIC" }, { "asin": "0800733460", "rating": 5, "text": "Having enjoyed the first book in Janice Thompson's Backstage Pass series I was anxious to read this one. I must say I think this book just might be better than the first one, with returning characters from the first book as well as a few new ones, I found this book to be laugh out loud funny.<br />Athena Pappas has a pretty full life with her family and friends and even though the ratings have lagged a bit she still feels pretty secure in her job as head writer for the popular sit com Stars Collide. But when the producers decide to hire a comedian, Stephen Cosse to help bolster the ratings she suddenly wonders what will happen if he is a better writer, will her job be in jeopardy? When she meets him she feels an attraction, and soon not only is Stephen worming his way into her heart but so has his eleven year old daughter Brooke.Will they figure out that some of the best things in life don't follow a script, or will they guard their hearts against love?<br /><br />This was a sweet, funny story. It was easy to imagine the Athena's Greek family. I could easily understand why Stephen's daughter Brooke was drawn to the Pappas family, they are so warm and welcoming. I always love when a dog is included in a story and the introduction of Zeus, the Greek Domestic Dog was totally funny! It was great to see how Brooke and Zeus connected. The Greek food mentioned in this story really had my mouth watering, it sounded delicious!<br />If you enjoy reading contemporary christian romance with a great flare for humor then you certainly need to read this book, and while it is the second book in the series I feel like it could be read as a stand alone work, although I highly recommend reading the first book in the series as well.<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review*", "timestamp": 1318129897000, "title": "Laugh out loud funny" }, { "asin": "0764209418", "rating": 5, "text": "I became hooked on Patti Lacy's work after reading \"The Rhythm of Secrets\" and couldn't wait to read this book. Well all I can say it was worth the wait!<br />The authors writing style is captivating. Gloria Powell had always wanted a child, so after jumping thru hoops and cutting thru red tape she and her husband Andrew believe there is a baby waiting for them in China so they make the trip from Texas. When they arrive though the promised baby isn't there instead the child is a young girl, but Gloria isn't thwarted instead she knows its the child God intended for them to have. They take her home to Texas and rename her Joy, because she is the joy of their life. although she does become a bit rebellious in her teen years. Turns out Joy is actually Lily and Lily has a sister Kai who made a death bed promise to her mother in China to reclaim the sister that had been at the orphanage. Kai now works in the states and becomes determined to find her sister to not only full fill the wish she made to her mother, but also because there may be a genetic issue that could possibly affect Lily. What happens when Kai finds her sister, how will it affect Lily(Joy) and her adoptive family?<br /><br />This story was touching and inspiring. The author deals with foreign adoption a topic I haven't read a lot about,so it was a bit educational for me. She also touches on the topic of teen rebellion,where the teen is trying to figure out where she fits in the world to weave a rich story that had plenty of twists and turns and an ending that was quite satisfying. While Gloria smothered her daughter, I really could understand her motivations, Andrew seemed solid and really was understanding of all parties much like a pastor might be.I really couldn't help but think about Lily's biological mother.Each of the characters seemed so realistic I often forgot that I was reading a work of fiction.<br />If you enjoy a story filled with drama, suspense and family ties with a positive christian message woven in then your going to enjoy \"Reclaiming Lily.\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review purposes.", "timestamp": 1318178186000, "title": "Reclaiming Lily" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 5, "text": "Camden Bristow is feeling the effects of the economy. She is a free-lance photographer living in New York who finds herself without any job prospects or money. Being kicked out of her apartment with less than five hundred dollars left on her credit card she decides to return to the home where she spent many happy summers with her grandmother Rosalie even though its been years since she has spoken to her grandmother, but when she arrives in the tiny town of Etherton Ohio what she finds at the family mansion called Crescent Hill is that her grandmother has passed away and the mansion is falling into disrepair. Having no place else to go she stays at the family home anyway and quickly finds herself wondering if someone else isn't in the house. Camden has never believed in the rumors that ghosts haunt the mansion and when a few things start disappearing she is pretty sure someone is getting into the house, but how? Could it be true that there are underground tunnels that date back to slave days, and could Crescent Hill actually have been a stop on the Underground Railroad?<br /><br />I really enjoyed the historical aspect of this story as well as the mystery and intrigue that surrounded the history of the Bristow family.While Camden was the primary story I loved the secondary stories that went on and how they all came together at the end. The characters were very easy to connect with, especially Camden. Crescent Hill was the only place where she ever felt like she belonged. It was nice to see her grow and watch her priorities change as the book progressed. I also felt empathy for Alex, as he continued to carry the blame for not doing enough to save his sister and nephew. I thought the christian themes woven into the story was well done, especially the message of helping others. I also got a few laughs from reading about the antics of the Sprague children especially Hailey, that little girl had a wonderful imagination.<br />Overall if your looking for a contemporary story that is firmly rooted in the historical era of the underground railroad, that weaves mystery, suspense, a bit of romance with a nice inspirational story then your certainly in for a treat with this story. Recommended!<br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1319509649000, "title": "Refuge On Crescent Hill" }, { "asin": "0310330432", "rating": 4, "text": "A cozy mystery that involves Amish characters and a quilt shop, I just knew I was going to enjoy this book and boy was I right.<br />Callie Harper finds herself in Shipshewana after inheriting Daisy's Quilt Shop from her recently deceased aunt. She thinks she will just go for a few weeks and clear out her aunts things and sell the shop, but things don't go according to plan. When Deborah Yoder shows up at the shop with an armload of quilts, Callie learns that her aunt had an agreement with Deborah and two other Amish ladies to sell their quilts. Deborah soon convinces Callie that she should reopen the shop and take the quilts on consignment. When Callie decides to try her hand at auctioning the quilts on Ebay the Amish quilt makers quickly agree, but when Mr. Stakehorn the editor of the local paper writes a story suggesting that Callie might be taking advantage of the Amish quilting group Callie becomes furious and wants a retraction. When several people see Callie arguing with Mr. Stakehorn hours before he is found dead, Callie becomes a prime suspect. Deborah is certain her new friend could never commit murder, and when several other things start to happen in town the two put their heads together to try and figure out who the murderer might be.<br />This was a fast paced who-dun-it that really gave us several suspects. I liked how the story unfolded allowing the reader to see the friendship between Deborah and Callie grow. Callie was a character that was totally easy to relate to, I thought that it was interesting that snippets of her life was revealed in her aunts old journal. Callie was grieving not only for her aunt but for the loss of another loved one from a few years back. I thought the author allowed her to grow through out the story, it felt like she had finally found a place to call home. Deborah was different than most of the Amish characters that I read about, her husband seemed to allow her more freedom. She really looked out for her friends, and she and Callie really made a great investigative team. I always get excited when the author writes a dog into the story and in this one we had Max, a golden that Callie had inherited from her aunt Daisy. He was a comfort to Callie and turned out to be a hero.<br />This was one of those stories that when I started it I just couldn't put it down. The author's words really brought the scenes to life and there were several scenes that while tense also had humor woven in. There were plenty of twists and turns that made this a page turner for me, while I was a bit disappointed with the ending, overall I found it a great read and look forward to reading the next book in this series!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1320721019000, "title": "Anxious to read the next book in the series" }, { "asin": "1414348118", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Princess Stories\" allows young girls to learn about God's princesses in the Bible. Upon reading this book they will learn all about twenty-nine of the most prominent women of the Bible in a way that will surely capture their imagination and attention, and not only that the thirtieth story is about the reader,encouraging and reminding them that they are God's princess as well.<br />Each story starts out with a scripture verse and then gives the reader a short story about a woman in the Bible. Another Bible verse follows the story and then there are Princess Ponderings which consists of three questions for your princess to answer.The cover of this book, as well as the illustrations inside will certainly capture a youngsters eye. What a wonderful way to teach a daughter or grand-daughter about the women of the Bible. Because of the quality of this book, it would make a wonderful gift.<br />rating 5/5<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327284862000, "title": "What a wonderful way to teach young girls about the women of the Bible" }, { "asin": "0857210580", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the fourth installment of the Hugh de Singleton series and Hugh and Kate have been married for about three months when Thomas atte Bridge is found hanging from a tree. While the coroner wants to call it a suicide, the evidence points to foul play. Even though atte Bridge has had run ins with most of the townsfolk and is disliked by all Hugh is determined to figure out who the murderer is.<br />This book takes place in 1366 in England, and it's easy to see the author does an amazing job of researching the time period. Not only am I intrigued by the suspense and mystery of the story but I also enjoy reading about the medical procedures that took place during that time period, as well as medieval life in general. The food in particular that Hugh ate sounded quite different. I found the glossary included in the front of the book quite useful in understanding what was being said. I also enjoy the relationship between Hugh and Kate and look forward to reading more about these two characters.<br />This book is the fourth in the series and while the author provides a bit of background about the characters ,I recommend reading the series in order to get the in depth background on the reoccurring characters.<br /><br />rating 4/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327367469000, "title": "Great continuing series" }, { "asin": "0800720741", "rating": 4, "text": "This book is the first in a new series and if it is any indicator the series is going to be a must read for lovers of historical fiction!<br /><br />\"Where Wildflowers Bloom\" is set in the tiny town of Noble Springs Missouri. The civil war took Faith Lindberg's father, brother as well as Royal Baxter the man she promised her heart to before the war. Faith would like nothing better than to leave the memories of lost love ones behind and start over somewhere else, but her grandfather isn't so keen on leaving Noble Springs.Faith is surprised when Royal comes back to town, because she thought he was killed during the war. When Royal and Faith start courting, Faith's grandfather is less than pleased because he had hoped that Faith might develop feelings for Curt Saxon the young man who runs the livery and who has been helping Faith. Will Faith decide to stay in Noble Springs? Who will she choose?<br />I really enjoyed reading this book which allows us the flavor of the civil war because it takes place shortly after. The authors storytelling really pulled me in, with the richness of detail for the time period. The characters really came to life as well. I could easily understand why Faith wanted to leave Noble Springs. It was interesting to watch her character change and grow through out<br />the story. I also enjoyed Rosemary, who was a very good friend. I really enjoyed reading about the mercantile and all of the different goods that was stocked.<br />I think anyone who enjoys a very well written historical fiction with well drawn characters a fast moving plot with a sweet romance will certainly enjoy this story. I for one am anxious for the next book in the \"Sisters at Heart\" series.<br /><br />A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327813304000, "title": "Where Wildflowers Bloom" }, { "asin": "0800734599", "rating": 5, "text": "If your a fan of historical fiction where there is always plenty going on then your in for a real treat with \"Summer Of Promise\" by Amanda Cabot!<br /><br />This book draws the reader back in time to the summer of 1885. Abigail Harding's life was pretty well planned out, she lives in Vermont teaches school and plans to marry her beau.Letters from her sister Charlotte has her worried though so she decides to take a trip to Wyoming and spend the summer with her sister. Before she ever arrives a fellow passenger Lt. Ethan Bowles, saves her stagecoach from being robbed. Will she only spend the summer or does fate have something else in store for Abigail?<br />This is the first book in the exciting new historical fiction series \"Westward Winds.\" Abigail was such a wonderful character, she was a very brave ,level headed person, and from the beginning my heart wanted her and Ethan together.<br />While many historical romances are pretty predictable, not so with this book, the author provides a few twists and turns that really held my attention. While the ending was satisfying there were a few loose ends which leaves me anxious for the next book in the series!<br /><br />Amanda Cabot is an author who really knows how to bring historical fiction to life, with easy to relate to characters and a story line that grabbed my attention from the first page and kept me intrigued until the final sentence!<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*", "timestamp": 1328416370000, "title": "Great new historical fiction series" }, { "asin": "1595549153", "rating": 4, "text": "Lucy Marsh finds herself in dire straits and has to accept an offer to marry a man she doesn't know just to take care of her brother and sister. Thing is her parents are dead, she is out of money with no job and not sure what to do when she gets an offer she can't refuse, it's the offer to marry a man sight unseen. Nate Stanton, runs a ranch and has always hoped for a wife but the responsibilities of the ranch has given him little time to find one, so when his father arranges the marriage between him and Lucy and they are married by proxy things on the ranch will certainly never be the same. She shows up with her siblings and Nate wonders how long she will last on the ranch. How will things work out between these two?<br /><br />I really enjoyed the characters in this story. Lucy really had alot of responsibilities, but was really a very brave person. She married someone sight unseen to protect her brother and sister. While a marriage of convenience is a pretty common plot the thing that made this one different was that Nate didn't know that he was married until Lucy showed up on his doorstep. His first impressions seemed perfectly normal. I thought it was quite nice to see the relationship slowly bloom, and watch his opinion of Lucy change. I think anyone who enjoys historical fiction where there is a sweet romance, a nice inspirational message as well as a bit of mystery woven in will certainly enjoy this story.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1329360734000, "title": "enjoyable historical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800720075", "rating": 5, "text": "If your looking for a story filled with non stop action packed suspense then look no further than \"When The Smoke Clears\" the first book in the Deadly Reunions series! If this book is any indicator of what the series is going to be like I would say it is going to be one not to be missed!<br /><br />Alexia Allen is a firefighter, but when she is ordered to take some time off after an accident occurs that nearly takes her life. With her ten year reunion coming up she decides to recuperate at her mothers house so that she can attend. Seems like trouble has followed her though with a murder an arson occurring soon after she arrives in town. It appears someone may be setting her up, who is out to get her and why?<br /><br />The plot in this story is non-stop. There was never a down time for me with this one. I found myself totally immersed in the story after reading the prologue. I thought the characters in this story were very well developed and I really enjoyed the budding romance between Alexia and Detective Graham Hunter. The ending of this one leaves me anxious for the next book in the series.<br /><br />Overall anyone who enjoys romantic suspense will certainly love this story, be warned though it isn't easy to figure out who-dun-it with this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1329623138000, "title": "Action packed suspense" }, { "asin": "0800720458", "rating": 5, "text": "The year is 1855 and the setting is Louisville Ky. Adriane Darcy is a journalist for her father's newspaper The Tribune. Her father's newspaper has always been the best in Louisville, but things begin to change when Blake Garrett comes in to revive the failing Herald. It becomes sort of a competition to see who can crack a story first, so when someone starts killing women in the city Adriane wants to beat Blake to the story. Thing is she is starting to have feelings for Blake, but she is engaged to another. How will things work out for Adriane, and who is killing women in Lexington?<br /><br />I really fell in love with Ms. Gabhart's writing after reading her wonderful book titled \"Angel Sister\" so I was anxious to give this one a read. What I found was a historical fiction story that was really quite different. The beginning of the story was a bit slow to capture my attention but once it grabbed it, at about the eighth chapter, I found it a story that I didn't want to put down.I really enjoyed the characters of Adriane and Blake and thought the author did a great job of allowing them to develop through out the story. The character of Adriane was strong, but she also felt the pressure of wanting to do what her father expected of her. While this book is labeled a historical romance fiction the author actually weaves a bit of suspense and mystery into this one that really made this story stand out for me. There were a few twists that wrapped up the ending quite nicely. If your looking for something that's not your typical historical romance then your going to wan to give this story a try.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330232493000, "title": "not your typical historical romance" }, { "asin": "1603742573", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been fortunate enough to read all three books in the Amish of Seymour series and have become a Laura V. Hilton fan. She has the writing skills to easily transport the reader right into the heart of the stories that she is telling, allowing me to envision the characters, setting and drama so vividly it makes me feel as if I have been transported to another place.<br /><br />In \"Promised To Another\" we get the story of Annie Beiler and Joshua Esh. Annie is the local Amish schoolteacher, she is always excited about history and learning which often gets her in trouble and puts her teaching job in jeopardy, something she can't afford to lose. You see her steady beau Luke Schwartz jumped the fence to become English and no one else has even noticed her, or at least that's what she thinks. When Luke makes an unexpected appearance after a singing and offers to take her home she turns him down flat but her refuses to listen, that is until Joshua Esh steps in and offers her a ride home, a rider home with the other girl he is already taking home. While the men who came to Seymour from Pennsylvania came looking for wives Joshua didn't instead he came to see a different part of the world but has plans to return to PA. He has earned the reputation of a player because he is always taking a different Amish girl home after singings, but that doesn't stop Annie from noticing him.Thing is Luke has decided to join the church and marry Annie and doesn't want to take no for an answer. Is Josh really a player or does Annie have the wrong idea about him? Will Annie give in and do what Luke wants or will she realize that there just might be someone else for her after all.<br /><br />The beginning of this story started out a bit predictable but then the author started throwing in several different plot twists that had me changing my mind. I thought the characters in the story seemed very realistic, especially Annie. I could totally understand her love of history and wanting to share it with her pupils. I enjoyed getting to know the different sides of Annie, there was the Annie who stood strong when her beau left her, but we also got a glimpse of an insecure Annie wondering if she would ever have someone of her own, we also saw someone who had a zest for teaching and wanted to share her love of learning with her pupils even though the board members didn't always see things her way. I thought Josh was a good male lead, and while he kept a secret from Annie I still liked him. I liked the unconventional twist the relationship took toward the end of the story.<br /><br />If your a fan of Amish fiction then your going to want to read this story. Even though it's the third book in The Amish of Seymour series it can easily be read as a stand alone work although this series is so good that your going to want to read all three books. On a scale of one to five I would easily give this whole series a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330569380000, "title": "I am going to miss this series!" }, { "asin": "0800719859", "rating": 4, "text": "This book starts out in Williamsburg Virginia in October 1813. The only thing Phoebe Lee really wants to do is practice midwifery, so when her sister-in-law asks her to go to sea with her so that they can rescue her husband who is being held prisoner in England she refuses, after all the country is at war. She soon learns though that she has no choice when she finds herself aboard a ship, and not just any ship, but a British privateer.The captain of the ship Rafe Docherty wants one thing revenge and he thinks that Phoebe just might be able to help him. When he starts having feelings for Phoebe will his priorities change?<br /><br />I thought the author did an amazing job of making this story seem realistic to the time period. While most of the story takes place aboard ship there was still a richness of detail that I enjoyed, it was so hard for me to imagine a female let alone a pregnant female aboard a privateer ship but with amazing clarity the author pulls it off. While some of the language was a bit hard to follow although it did give the book a more authentic feel.I really enjoyed the relationship between the lead characters. Phoebe and Rafe both have issues from their past that they are dealing with, that added an extra layer to their building relationship.<br /><br />\"Hearts Safe Passage\" is the second book in The Midwives Series and while I actually read the first book I feel like this one could be read as a stand alone work. This book worked for me on so many levels, it's a historical romance fiction with strong characters, along with action, suspense, and mystery woven in. What made it a stand out story for me was learning about midwifery during the time period. Overall \"Heart's Safe Passage\" is another great book from Laurie Alice Eakes.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330835536000, "title": "Heart's Safe Passage" }, { "asin": "0764207865", "rating": 5, "text": "At the age of twenty-two Sadie Wagner was a woman, but she still hadn't found the freedom to do what she wanted most. After an accident where her step-father is injured she knows someone needs to help provide for the family and doesn't mind being the one to do it. When she receives a letter from her step cousin Sid who lives in Goldtree, Kansas telling her he has secured her a job clerking in a mercantile she thinks its an answer to a prayer, and something else that he mentions is that there is an opera house and since Sadie's dream is to sing she thinks it might just be her chance to provide for her family and sing at the same time. When she arrives in Goldtree, she soon meets the new sheriff, Thad McKane, whose real dream is to become a minister but takes the job of sheriff to ferret out the culprits responsible for bootlegging, because Kansas is a dry state. She soon realizes that the opera house isn't at all what she thought, and to complicate things even more Sid has feelings for her, but she is drawn to Thad. Can a romance survive between the sheriff and Sadie, even when he begins to suspect that she might be involved in the very crimes he has been hired to take care of?<br /><br />I was drawn to Sadie's character from the first pages of the book. Her goodness easily comes across in the story, and she didn't hesitate to help out her family. I could easily understand her homesickness.The secondary characters really made this book stand out. The Baxter twins and their brother Asa were often funny and oh so easy to visualize. I thought Sid the step-cousin was a bit different, his actions were odd although I sort of chalked it up to being jealous. While there were christian themes running thru the book they weren't overdone or preachy.<br />Overall, I really enjoyed this quick read, and found myself laughing on more than a few occasions. A great historical fiction/romance that is well worth reading!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1331357398000, "title": "great characters make this one a hit" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 5, "text": "While a pretty cover always draws me in (and this cover is beautiful) it takes a good story to keep me interested and that's just what I found in \"Beauty For Ashes.\"<br />The setting for this book is Hickory Ridge, Tennessee and the year is 1876. Carrie Daly finds herself living with her brother Henry in the family home in HIckory Ridge after her husband is killed during the civil war. Henry was the only family she had left and while life wasn't exciting, they had it better than most.Things were ok in the beginning but when Henry takes a wife things start to change. Her friend Nate wants to marry her, but she isn't sure of her feelings, and after she meets Griff Rutledge, a stranger who pulls her out of the way of a run away wagon she can't stop thinking about him. As they become friends the townsfolk wonder why Griff who is a spending time with Carrie, and you can bet Nate isn't happy about it either!<br /><br />The author hit a home run with this story on so many levels. First of all I really enjoy reading about the time period right after the civil war, and then the she is able to give us a glimpse of small town life during that time that really seems authentic. I also found the characters quite easy to relate to as well. I could understand why Carrie felt that she should leave the family home after her brother married. It was easy to see her struggle with allowing God to lead her, even though she read her Bible daily and prayed she often felt discouraged. As her character grew she started to understand that she needed to let God be in control. Griff was a good male lead, I always like when the characters are allowed to be flawed it makes them so much more relate able. While there is a Christian message woven into the story it is very well done and doesn't come off as preachy. Overall if your a fan of historical fiction with romance with interesting characters and a small town feel, that weaves in a nice Christian message run out and pick up a copy of this one, your not going to regret it!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1331357545000, "title": "Beauty for Ashes" }, { "asin": "0310722365", "rating": 5, "text": "The first thing I thought when I pulled this Bible out of the box was what a beautiful cover it had. The pink color and flowers is so feminine and girly that young ladies will just love it. The color of the text inside which is purple is something that I loved as well, and while the colors are very eye catching, its the many different features of this Bible that makes it perfect for young girls.<br /><br />The features include:<br />1. Dream Girl: A feature that will help young readers imagine themselves in some of the most familiar and amazing Bible stories.<br /><br />2. Bring It On! Are quizzes used to help the reader get to know themselves, this feature also points to Bible verses that will encourage the reader.<br /><br />3. OH, I Get It! The Bible is more than just stories, it is filled with information and this feature will share some of that information with questions.<br /><br />4. Book introductions: Highlights the main topics of each book of the Bible and applies them to the reader's life.<br /><br />5. Treasure This! Verses to help the reader keep God's word in their heart.<br /><br />6. Is There a little ___in You? The feature allows you to see different character traits of some of the great people in the Bible, and allows the reader to see if they might have some of those character traits themselves.<br /><br />7. In Your Own Words: Allows the reader to create a list of events to tell a Bible story in your their own words.<br /><br />While this Bible is geared towards young ladies nine and older, I actually enjoy reading it myself. It's bright and colorful and is chock full of useful information. Because it's a NIV version it's easy for young readers to understand. Overall I think any young girl would love a copy of this Bible and I think it would make a wonderful Easter gift.<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this Bible was provided in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1333421609000, "title": "Very eye catching Bible for tween girls" }, { "asin": "1595548874", "rating": 4, "text": "I must admit Beth Wiseman is one of my favorite Amish storytellers, so I was excited to read a non-Amish story by her. With \"Need You Now\" I must say she really knows how to deliver a contemporary story. With this story she not only delivers believable characters who are dealing with real life issues, but also a fast moving plot that deals with family drama that kept me reading.<br />To look at the Henderson family they seem to be a successful family that has it all together. Darlene is a stay at home mother to three teen children, her marriage seems good, her husband is about to be promoted and the family just purchased Darlene's grandparents farm and decide to move to the country. Peel away the layers though and we quickly see that the children are having problems adjusting,especially her daughter Grace who is harming herself, and Darlene is struggling with the fact that she no longer feels needed or heard. When she takes a job outside the home and another man starts to pay attention to her, could it put her marriage in jeopardy? How will things work out for this family? As their faith is tested will they be drawn closer together as a family or will they be pulled apart?<br />One of my favorite things about this story was the fact that we see the situation thru the eyes of several characters, allowing a different perspectives on the story. A story that drew me in from the beginning and kept me wondering how this family saga would work out. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1335236786000, "title": "Family Drama" }, { "asin": "140168680X", "rating": 4, "text": "Biblical fiction is fast becoming one of my favorite genres so I was excited to read \"Garden of Madness\" which tells the story of the Babylonian Princess Tiamet, the daughter of King Nebuchadnezzar, whose madness has had him living in the palace garden for the last seven years while his family kept his condition hidden from the public. When a murder takes place inside the palace Tia decides to try and figure out what is going on, and uncovers truths that she could never have imagined.<br />The author easily brings the characters to life in this story. Even though the book is a work of fiction her descriptions brings the scenes to life, and makes the characters so easy to connect with. I really enjoyed the interactions between Tia and her father, and loved that she stood by him when others didn't.The author provides several plot twists that kept me guessing. While there is a bit of romance woven into the story for me its the mystery and suspense as well as the way the author holds pretty close to the actual Biblical story that makes this book a real winner for me.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1335840992000, "title": "Great Biblical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800719719", "rating": 4, "text": "Historical romance is one of my favorite genres to read and when the author is able to weave in a few positive messages or historical facts that make me feel as if I am actually getting a bit of a history lesson well then that makes the book a must read for me, and that's just what we get in \"A Love Forbidden.\"<br /><br />The year is 1879 and the book is set in the Colorado Rockies , and gives us the story of twenty-one year old Shiloh Wainright and Jesse Blackwater .Shiloh has signed a contract to teach for the White River Indian Agency,and looks forward to teaching the Ute children white men's ways while helping them remember their own culture. She is in for a surprise when she reconnects with her childhood friend Jesse Blackwater. Soon their friendship threatens to turn into more, but things are complicated because Jesse is 1/2 Indian,.add to this the fact that Indians and whites are on the verge of battle, and you can't help but wonder if a relationship can ever work between these two.<br /><br />The author weaves a story that easily captured my attention. I have always found this time period in the west intriguing.The author deals with the time period where the US Government made promises to the Native Americans but didn't always keep them. Shiloh was a compassionate caring person,and Jesse seemed like someone who was caught between two worlds.I enjoyed watching the feelings grow between the two characters. While I enjoyed the characters for me it was the historical elements that made the book a real winner. The author describes the tensions that are going on between the Whites and Native Americans,and allows the reader to see the prejudices that took place during that time in history. Anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction that weaves together romance and an inspirational message will certainly want to check out this book. While this is the second book in the Heart Of The Rockies series I feel as if it can be read as a stand alone work.<br />rating 4/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1338091007000, "title": "Love Forbidden" }, { "asin": "0800734378", "rating": 4, "text": "Patsy Milstrap wishes she could leave her past in the past. Up until the age of thirteen she lived in a home with an abusive stepfather. One day though her mother realizes that Patsy needs to be sent away. She goes to live with a nice christian couple and begins a new life. She marries a wonderful man and has children and as much as she tries to forget her past for the sake of her family its a difficult thing to do. When a vacation in Florida has her facing someone from her past, she knows that she will have to deal with her past if she is ever going to have a future.<br />\"Waiting for Sunrise\" is the second book in the Cedar Key series but can easily be read as a stand alone work. The author weaves an emotional story that easily pulled me in from the beginning. As the story unfolds we get glimpses of Patsy's past allowing us to understand how she came to be the person she is. Patsy was a character that was so easy to connect with. Her painful past was difficult for her to deal with, she cant help but wonder why her mother would have given her away. Gilbert was a wonderful husband who would do anything to help Patsy.<br />The secondary story of her mother and brothers added to the overall plot. It was interesting to see how the abusive home life affected each person.A story that deals with some pretty tough subjects, but also reminds that sometimes the only way to have a future is to deal with your past.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1339907090000, "title": "emotionally charged" }, { "asin": "1416599959", "rating": 5, "text": "Deborah Raney is easily one of my favorite authors. Her stories are ones that I often think about for weeks after reading. She has a way of drawing me into a story, making me feel as if I personally know the characters, and that's just how I feel about the Hanover Falls series.<br /><br />Susan Marlowe is dealing with the pain of losing her husband in the Grove Street fire, but a secret that he was carrying comes to light, a secret that breaks her heart, and has her wondering if she really knew the man she was married to. How will she deal with the hurt?<br /><br />Even though this is the third book in a series, the story line still has the ability to provide a few twists and turns that kept me reading. There is still the mystery of who actually set the fire, as well as the emotional turmoil of losing loved ones, and trying to move on after such a tragedy. Susan is a commendable character. She is trying to keep the homeless shelter going, while dealing with the loss of her husband. When her son Davey not only drops out of college but also starts coming home drunk, she learns that he is carrying a painful secret, something that he knew about his father, her husband.<br /><br />\"After All\" is the third and final installment of the Hanover Falls Series, and while this book can be read as a stand alone work, the series is filled with such amazing characters that you really are going to want to read all three books. While I enjoyed the way the author wraps up this series, I really am going to miss my visits to Hanover Falls. I highly recommend this entire series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1339909458000, "title": "I'm going to miss this series" }, { "asin": "1595549978", "rating": 4, "text": "Hope Springs North Carolina is small town USA and is the setting for the latest contemporary novel by Kim Cash Tate. It tells the story of three women, Janelle Evans, Becca Anderson, and Stephanie London, cousins who find themselves headed home to Hope Springs for a Christmas time family reunion,and to spend time with the matriarch of the family their grandmother Geri. When they learn that Geri has a terminal illness they decide to stay in Hope Springs and help her. Spending time in this small town will change their lives forever.<br /><br />What a touching story. I do admit that there were plenty of characters to learn in the first several chapters and was glad that there was a family tree provided at the beginning of the book. Once I learned who everyone was and the issues that was going on it became a compelling story that I couldn't put down. The author creates authentic characters that are very easy to connect to.The small town feel of this book was wonderfully portrayed. One of my favorite characters in the story had to be Jeri, she was such a strong woman.<br />The author deals with several heavy subjects, but also gives several positive,uplifting messages as well. Overall a very well written story that provides a few twists and turns that kept me reading.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1340156416000, "title": "Hope Springs" }, { "asin": "0800720482", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become an avid reader of Biblical fiction and one of my favorite authors of this genre is Diana Wallis Taylor. She writes her stories in such a way that once you finish the book I always come away with a deeper understanding of not only the character that she writes about but also about the Bible verses that center around the character.<br /><br />Her latest book shines the spotlight on \"Mary Magdalene.\" We learn that she was an only child, her father a very successful boat builder. At the age of eleven her life changed dramatically when she is kidnapped.Her father pays the ransom to get her back, but after the incident Mary suffers from headaches,nightmares and seizures. While her loved ones sympathized with her, the people of her village shun her, fearing that she is crazy or worse. When they hear rumors that the Messiah is coming, a man named Jesus, the son of God,they wonder if it is true and if perhaps he will be able to help Mary.<br /><br />\"Mary Magdalene\" is another great fictional Biblical story from Diana Wallis Taylor. With her well crafted storytelling and attention to historical detail the author easily pulls me right into the story. The author writes with a clarity that brings the characters to life, and makes it easy to understand their stories. After reading this story I was propelled to dig out my Bible and read all that I could find about Mary Magdalene. Anyone who enjoys Biblical fiction is in for a real treat with this story. Recommended.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1340508191000, "title": "Fiction that brings Bible characters to life" }, { "asin": "0800734556", "rating": 5, "text": "\"The Gift\" by Ann Gabhart is the fifth installment in her Shaker Village series,and this book is just as great as all the others in the series I have read.<br /><br />Jessamine Brady is twenty, she moved to the Shaker Village at the age of ten after the death of her grandmother, and the one thing she remembered her grandmother encouraging her to do was follow her dreams. While she loves her Harmony Hill family she has always felt like she doesn't belong in the Shaker Village. When she meets Tristan Cooper someone from the outside world she finds herself at a crossroads, will she have the courage to step out into the world, or will she decide that her home is actually in Harmony Hill?<br /><br />I really enjoy when I have the ability to read a book and feel as if I am getting a bit of education to boot and that's just how I feel when I read Ann Gabhart's stories that are centered around the Shakers. She weaves together an intriguing story that always holds my attention while giving accurate glimpses of how it might have been to have lived as a Shaker.The author provides plenty of conflict, along with romance and a bit of suspense that certainly kept me reading. Add to the mix like-able characters and a historical setting making it a book that I couldn't resist. Recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1341919800000, "title": "The Gifted" }, { "asin": "1595547819", "rating": 4, "text": "Imagine finding out that a father you really never knew left you some valuable property, and imagine meeting half brothers and sisters whom you never knew existed thinking that you are trying to steal what rightfully belongs to them. Well that's just what happens to Libby Holladay the main character in Colleen Coble's newest novel \"Tidewater Inn.\"<br /><br />Libby and her best friend Nicole are co-owners of Holladay Renovations, a business that restores historical properties. Nicole not only handles the financial side of the business but also convinces potential clients to do business with them, meanwhile Libby takes care of the restoration. While researching a job on the Outer Banks Libby learns that she has actually inherited The Tidewater Inn along with property from a father whom she believed had died when she was five. Instead she learns her father has recently passed away leaving her the inheritance, and what's more she has half siblings that she never knew existed, siblings that are none to happy about her inheriting the inn. In addition to this earth shattering news, her business partner is kidnapped and Libby not only saw the whole thing but becomes a suspect in the crime. Can she prove her innocence, while trying to find Nicole, and what about the Tidewater Inn, will she be able to keep and restore it, or will she have to sell it, and will she ever be accepted by her new family?<br /><br />Interesting, well developed characters and a great plot made this a fast moving story for me. I found myself immediately drawn into the story, and wondered not only what Libby would do, but whether she would ever be accepted by a family she didn't know existed. Libby was a character that was easy to relate to and understand. If you enjoy a well written story filled with mystery, suspense, family drama,romance, and a nice spiritual message you just might enjoy this one, I know I did. Recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1341974234000, "title": "Tidewater Inn" }, { "asin": "0800734580", "rating": 5, "text": "Irene Hannon has become a go to author for me whenever I want to read a suspense filled mystery that also blends a christian message together with just enough clues to keep me turning the pages in anticipation right up until the end. I have enjoyed reading the Guardians of Justice series and while I looked forward to reading this book, I was sort of sad as well, because \"Lethal Legacy\" is the final book in the series.<br /><br />There are so many things that I enjoyed bout this book, but overall it's the author's style of writing that captivates me. She has an uncanny way of allowing us a glimpse inside the killers mind revealing what he is thinking while keeping us guessing as to who the killer might be, and the killer isn't always easy to figure out, but it always makes sense in the end. Since this book is the third and final book in the \"Guardian of Justice\" series while I believe that it can be read as a stand alone work I highly recommend that the entire series should be read in order to get the full scope of the story. If your a fan of suspense,mystery with a light romance, and a christian theme woven in your going to enjoy this series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1344787029000, "title": "Well written suspense" }, { "asin": "0764209132", "rating": 5, "text": "allie Kincaid and her eight month old son are headed out to find her husband Seth Kincaid, who just up and took off one day. When her stagecoach is waylaid by bandits and she finds herself in the middle of a shoot out, while she waits for the other passengers to go bring help back. Well help arrives in the form of her husband Seth, a husband who doesn't even remember that he has a wife, and never knew he had a son.<br /><br />This was such a quick read, I really fell in love with the characters and couldn't put the story down. Callie was a no nonsense type of person, who wanted to know why her husband up and left her, which was a very good question. I could easily forgive Seth though when we learn why he left her behind.Once he realizes he has a wife he is determined to do the right thing, although I could understand why Callie was guarding her heart this time around.<br /><br />Mary Connealy really knows how to write a story. As a fan of historical fiction, I really love being drawn back in time, and when there is romance, along with a good dose of humor well I am sold! I would say that \"Over The Edge' is the third book in the Kincaid Brides series, and while we do get a bit of background information it is best to read the entire series in order to fully understand the characters. Grantastic series, and I really hope the author continues with another book! Highly recommended.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1345430910000, "title": "Fun read" }, { "asin": "0764206176", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Taming The Wind\" takes pace in North Texas in 1868. Carissa Lowe has spent the last two years of her life trying to find peace in her heart. The nightmares and bad memories of Malcolm, her now deceased husband continues to haunt her. You see two years ago, she thought she new the man she married, instead he was on the run from the army, and decided to use her sister Laura and Clarissa to try and save himself, by taking them hostage, and then throwing them into the Gulf off the Corpus Christi coast. Fortunatly they were both saved, even though Malcolm wasn't. For Carissa though she no longer trusts her judgement where men are concerned, and has shied away from all men except for her brother-in-law, and the man who saved her Tyler Artherton, although she hasn't seen Tyler in the last two years because she has lived the last two years with her parents, and her baby daughter Gloria in Corpus Christi. When her parents decide to take a trip she decides to go spend the summer with Laura and her husband on their ranch.<br /><br />Tyler Artherton is staying on a friends ranch while he works out some issues of his own. He had never really stopped thinking about Carissa, and when he learns that she is staying on a neighboring ranch, he finds himself drawn to her and her daughter Gloria. Will Tyler and Carissa find happiness together or are there to many obstacles in the way? Will Carissa ever find the peace that she longs for?<br /><br />Even though \"Taming The Wind\" is the third book in Tracie Peterson's Land of the Lonestar series, I felt like the author gave enough background information so this book could be read as a stand alone work. This book takes place right after the civil war which easily drew me into the story because this is one of my favorite time periods to read about. The two main characters Carissa and Tyler were so easy to connect and emphathize with. I felt like Ms. Peterson did a very realistic job of allowing them to grow as the story progressed. I found the secondary characters really added to the overall story. I am a long time fan of Tracie Peterson and always look forward to reading whatever she writes, and this book certainly didn't disappoint. Fans of historical inspirational romances where the setting comes to life will certainly want to read this one, but since its part of a three book series why not read them all. Highly recommended!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1346817786000, "title": "Fans of historical inspirational romance will enjoy this one" }, { "asin": "1595548033", "rating": 4, "text": "Dylan Taylor is a smooth talking ladies man and Annie Wilkerson isn't interested. When Dylan's best horse, Braveheart, has a condition that has his vet suggesting he put the horse down, Dylan goes to Annie for help. Annie knows just about everything there is to know about horses. She writes a bi-weekly column in Montana Living today called \"Ask Avery\" which answers readers questions about equine problems. When Annie gets a call from her editor informing her that her column is being cut from the magazine, although she is offered another column, thing is its a column giving advice to the lovelorn. Annie has never been in love so how can she write an advice column? She decides to strike up a deal with Dylan, she will help his horse if he will help her with her column. As she gets to know the true Dylan she realizes he is different that she first assumed. Will Annie decide that some cowboys aren't so bad after all?<br /><br />Annie Wilkerson is someone you just can't help but like. She is looking out for her twenty year old sister Seirra,who by the way is raising four year old Ryder, works hard and is just a down to earth person, dealing with life's issues. She doesn't trust cowboys and I could certainly understand why. She wants safe and predictable in her life but that isn't what God has in mind for her. I enjoyed getting to know Dylan's character as well, both really had issues from their past that they needed to take care of. I found myself enjoying the twangy style of dialogue that popped up in the story, it really gave the book a real cowboy flavor for me.Another neat thing that I enjoyed about this story was how in the beginning each chapter opened with a bit of advice about horses, when Annie's job changed the chapters started opening up with bits of advice for the lovelorn.<br /><br />I really loved the town of Moose Creek and found \"The Trouble With Cowboys\" a delightful inspirational romantic read.Sometimes christian romance can come off a bit strong, but Denise Hunter really strikes a great balance with her writing. She provides a sweet romance that also weaves in a nice wholesome feeling to her stories, while also giving a few laughs.While this book is a part of a series the author writes it in such a way that it can be read as a stand alone work, but if you enjoy a great read, then your going to want to read the entire series.", "timestamp": 1349196283000, "title": "The Trouble With Cowboys" }, { "asin": "0800721322", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Life With Lily\" is such a delightful read. I found myself enjoying the many things that went on in young Lily Lapp's life. We first meet Lily as she and her younger brother Joseph are whisked off in the middle of the night to their grandparent's house, and we soon learn new baby Dannie has been born into the Lapp family. I found myself laughing at Lily's reaction as she first meets her new baby brother, not to mention the reaction she has to Freida Troyer who has come to help her mother for a few days after the birth of the baby. There are so many happenings around an Amish farm, from a barn raising to getting a new milk cow and even a trip to Kentucky to see the Lapp grandparents. One thing is for certain, life is never boring when you see things thru the eyes of Lily Lapp.<br /><br />I loved this book, once I started reading it I just couldn't put it down. I enjoyed meeting the Lapp family and was a bit surprise at where the final chapters led us. The illustrations are very well done, and further enhance the story. I really can't wait to read the next book in The Adventures of Lily Lapp series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1349581688000, "title": "Perfect for all ages" }, { "asin": "0800734173", "rating": 5, "text": "Seventeen year old Susannah Grace Kennedy made the move from Badger, Iowa to Boston after the death of her parents. She is going to be living with her aunt Eleanor, and has decided she wants to forget her \"good girl\" past, and even decides she wants to be called Annie. Her sister Maggie had sent her letters while in college raving about the hot spots in Boston, so Annie starts hanging out with a fast crowd, and making some choices that aren't so wise. When she meets Steven O'Connor her sister's former fiancee she falls hard for him. Thing is he doesn't know that Annie is actually Maggie's sister, and Steven really isn't interested anyway, or at least that's what he keeps telling himself. What will happen when he realizes who Annie really is?<br /><br />Another great story from Julie Lessman! I enjoyed connecting with the characters from the former books, and with that said, even though this is the third book in the Wind Of Change series it can easily be read as a stand alone work.<br />The thing that I enjoy about this series is the many subplots that go on within the book, and \"A Love Surrendered\" is no different. The main characters are Steven a prohibition agent with the government that is dealing with a broken heart, even though he was the one to break things off with Maggie he believes he is still in love with her. Annie seems like someone who is anxous to grow up.It was so nice to see both of the characters grow spiritually as the story progressed. The secondary stories really keep the plot moving along, and allow us to reconnect with the O'Connor family. Overall I have really enjoyed this series, it has everything that I enjoy reading. Historical fiction that brings the time period to life along with great characters, romance and a nice inspirational message who could ask for anything more?<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1350262108000, "title": "Fantastic series" }, { "asin": "0857212052", "rating": 4, "text": "Coming back to work after the death of his partner, Frank Campello finds himself paired with a new partner. Andy Polanski is an officer that has a reputation of being on to steer clear of, and unfortunately he is Frank's new partner.As the two investigate the brutal murder of a young girl, they quickly learn that there is more to the murder than meets the eye. As they continue to dig, the learn that an organized crime ring is involved and that ring has some friends in high places. Will they be able to solve the crimes and bring the criminals to justice.<br /><br />\"The Sons of Jude\" gave me a good look at how crime families operate, something I really don't think I have ever read about before.It was intesting to see how they can get thier footing in politics and then sort of run the show. This was a very well written suspense, thriller, that provided a few twists, and a satisfying ending. Normally I enjoy a fast paced read, however \"The Sons of Jude,\" moves along at at slower pace providing rich detail, that really allowed the story to build for me. Overall, I enjoyed reading this one, and the ending has me putting the next book in this series on my TBR list.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1350699592000, "title": "The Sons of Jude" }, { "asin": "0310330459", "rating": 5, "text": "To say that I love this series is an understatement. I feel like Ms. Chapman's storytelling just gets better and better. While I love the mystery that takes place in each of the Shipshewana Amish Mystery series, it's really the friendships that take place between the Amish and English characters that really sells me on the series.<br /><br />The Fall Crafters Fair which is Shipshewana's largest festival of the year, is in full swing, when a murder takes place in the parking lot of Daisy's Quilt Shop.With only one witness to the crime, it might not be so easy to solve. As things start to escalate Callie realizes that she just might be the intended target, it seems she has something the killer wants, but she isn't sure what it is! Thing is this killer isn't going to stop until he gets it, regardless of what he has to do. Can the police figure it out, or will it take Callie and her friends to solve this one?<br /><br />To say this book has a fast moving plot is an understatement! Once I started reading it, I couldn't wait to see what might happen! There were several suspenseful moments in the story, which pulled it right along. This book really has it all,in addition to the small town feel of the story, it has the Amish/Englisher friendship, a splash of romance,a nice mystery, a dog, baby, Amish children one of which is dealing with an illness that was new to me. Chicken Breast Disease was something I had never heard of but learned a bit about in this story.I always enjoy whenever a dog is included in a story and with this one we have Max. The author provides a satisfying ending, that wraps up the story nicely, I just hope that this book isn't the final one in the series.<br /><br />While this is the third book in the Shipshewana Amish Mystery series it can easily be read as a stand alone work, although if you're a fan of Amish fiction, cozy mysteries, or just a great read, you are certainly going to want to read the entire series. Each story is a good clean read, that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1351647118000, "title": "Great series" }, { "asin": "1603745068", "rating": 3, "text": "Kristi Lapp is a young Amish lady who is also a practicing midwife for her community. While on her way to an appointment she winds up in a buggy accident.Shane Zimmerman, her next door neighbor and local veterinarian happens by and finds her buggy and gets Kristi to the hospital. Because her parents are in Florida, Shane takes it upon himself to start visiting Kristi daily while she is in the hospital. He also decides to start taking care of Chinook, so that the dog can get the exercise he needs until Kristi recovers. Soon though Kristi starts having feelings for Shane, and he feels drawn to her as well. Of course when Kristi's dad comes home and forbids Shane from having anything else to do with Kristi because he is afraid she might leave the faith. How can an Amish midwife and an Englisher vet ever have a chance at love?<br /><br />I became a fan of Laura V. Hilton after reading her last series, The Amish of Seymour, and I like how some of the characters from that series was mentioned in this book. There were several things that I really liked about \"Healing Love\" but there were a few things that also fell a bit flat for me as well. So I am going to expound on the positive aspects first. The author captured my attention from the beginning pages. Kristi, a practicing Amish midwife has a buggy accident while on her way to visit a patient. Well that grabbed my attention, and then we are introduced to Shane Zimmeran, a promising character who has roots that harken back to the Amish but is now an Englisher. As Kristi's neighbor he gets her to the hospital, and then starts spending time with her. They are drawn to each other, but both know that a relationship is next to impossible. Seems though they find themselves together at every turn, as if fate is drawing them together. Shane's feelings about midwives really was understandable. I thought the secondary story of Shane's sister and her baby added to the overall effect of the story. I always enjoy whenever a dog is added to a story and with this one we have Chinook, Kristi's dog who loved Shane as well.<br /><br />The things that fell a bit flat for me was the complaining that Kristi often did about English food, I mean that sort of got old fast. I also felt like Kristi's dad, and uncle were a bit wishy washy when it came to trying to keep Kristi and Shane apart, and I was really shocked at the manner in which Ira threw Kristi out of the house. Overall, not my favorite Hilton read, but still good. I look forward to reading her next book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352261572000, "title": "Healing Love" }, { "asin": "0310335108", "rating": 4, "text": "It's been two years since Sarah Shetler's best friend Patty died in unexpectedly and since then Sarah has carried around a memory jar, and keeps her memories tucked inside so that she won't have to deal with her emotions.When she meets Jathan Schrock, an Amish bachelor with issues of his own, something changes. Can Jathan penetrate the walls that Sarah has built around her heart?<br /><br />Overall, I enjoyed this book. It dealt with loss, pain, friendship,and the wonderful inspirational message of allowing God to heal. While I enjoyed reading about Sarah and Patty's friendship, I found that the flashbacks of these memories sometimes broke the flow of the story and made it feel a bit choppy for me. It did seem very realistic that it took time for Sarah to heal, from her loss. Jathan is also dealing with issues that make both of the characters seem very realistic. It was so nice to see the characters grow and change as the story progressed.<br /><br />While this wasn't my favorite Tricia Goyer novel, I did enjoy it. There are discussion questions that would make this a great book club selection. The author also includes a glossary of words used by the Amish that is very helpful. I am anxious to read the next book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series.<br /><br />3.5/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352345899000, "title": "The Memory Jar" }, { "asin": "0736951512", "rating": 5, "text": "I am a true fan of Jerry Eicher. I have been reading his Amish fiction for quite some time and I normally never have a complaint about his work, well with \"Susanna's Christmas Wish\" my only complaint was that it didn't last long enough. The characters were great, the story line was perfect for my Christmas reading marathon, and while it was a short read that didn't last long enough for me. The author does provide well fleshed characters, and a nice plot that is short, sweet and satisfying!<br /><br />Mathew Yoder and Susanna Keim had been dating for two years, and were actually engaged when Mathew broke her heart when he decided to leave the Amish life. When Herman Wagler asks her to marry him she agrees even though she doesn't love him like she did Matthew, she is sure that in time she will. Problems start to arise when Herman announces that he doesn't celebrate Christmas the way Susanna's family does. Added to this Matthew is back in town. How will this affect the newly married couple, is their marriage able to withstand all the turmoil going on? Pick up \"Susanna's Christmas Wish\" and find out!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352779454000, "title": "Jerry Eicher is the king of Amish fiction!" }, { "asin": "0800720040", "rating": 5, "text": "The year is 1882, in the Wyoming Territory. After the death of her husband Josef, Celia Anderson is running a boarding house in the town of Easton to support her six month old Emma. Her friend Bertha keeps telling her it's time to find herself a new husband, but Celia has decided that she will only marry for love, and besides she stays very busy running her boarding house and babysitting young Aaron. Mark Williams has been looking for his father for two years,and his search has led him to Easton, to Celia's boarding house. As she gets to know Mark she sees the kind man that he is, but is he the right man for her, after all will he even stick around? While Mark feels drawn to Celia, will he stay in Easton?<br /><br />A short novella that was such a satisfying, quick read. I loved the characters, as well as the small town feel of the story. Celia and Mark were such good lead characters. She was strong, after all she had lost her husband, was trying to raise a daughter and run a boarding house, but the author allowed us to see another side of Celia, one who wanted to be loved and cherished. Mark was such a wonderful man, one I would consider a true gentleman. While he was carrying a bit of hurt from his past it didn't make him bitter. Strong secondary characters rounded out the story quite well, and I would love to see a story develop around Jacob, Arron's father, who had intentions of sending away for a mail order bride. Overall, a short, sweet, historical fiction that warmed my heart.<br /><br />A complementary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1353652395000, "title": "short,sweet, historical Christmas read" }, { "asin": "1401685676", "rating": 4, "text": "This book encompasses two of my favorite types of books Amish fiction and short stories. \"An Amish Kitchen\" is comprised of three short stories written by three of today's premiere Amish fiction authors.<br /><br />The first story is a \"Taste of Faith\" written by Kelly Long. Twenty year old Deborah Zook has been living with her grandmother Esther Zook since the age of five when her parents died of the flu. She has a love for tending flowers and herbs and her grandmother has the wish to see her trained in healing herbs, but more than that she wishes that her granddaughter would find a man and marry, and truthfully Fern wishes for someone as well. At the age of twenty-three Abram Fisher is a dyed in the wool bachelor, who never paid any attention to Fern, but when he needs Fern's help after his sister Mary becomes sunburned he begins to look at Fern in a different light. Will fate bring these two together?<br /><br />\"A Spoonful of Love\" by Amy Clipston is the story of Hannah King, who has been managing the Paradise Inn since her father had a stroke a year ago. When Stephen Esh comes to town looking for a place to stay he rents a room at the end. Could Stephen be the one Hannah has been hoping will come into her life? What about his past, why is he so far from home? Will he be able to let go of the past and embrace the future?<br /><br />\"A Recipe for Hope\"by Beth Wiseman is the story of Eve Bender. At the age of thirty-eight Eve Bender finds herself moving back home with her parents after a tree crashes into her farmhouse. Not only is she moving back home but she her husband and three teen age boys who are going thru rumspringa also will be moving in as well. Eve and her mother often didn't see eye to eye on things will spending two months under her parents roof allow them to heal the hurts from the past?<br /><br />I loved each of these stories, that gently remind of faith and family. My favorite story easily had to be \"A Recipe for Hope.\" I enjoyed the fact that Eve was a bit older and her sons added an interesting layer to the story.Her oldest son Leroy is eighteen and Amos and Elias are her twin sixteen year old boys. Amos also has a Chinese Water Dragon that provided a few funny moments.<br /><br />If you have never read Amish fiction this book is a delightful way to sample these three great authors. There is a glossary of \"Amish\" words included for newbie Amish fiction readers. The recipes which include some herbal treatments are just an added bonus. While each story is a tad predictable overall I enjoyed each of them, and would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good clean read with a splash of romance and an Amish cast of characters.<br /><br />Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1354680094000, "title": "An Amish Kitchen" }, { "asin": "0800719891", "rating": 5, "text": "I have loved the entire Stoney Ridge Seasons series and couldn't wait to read Mary Kate's story who happened to be one of my favorite characters in the series. All I can say is that Suzanne saved the best story for last!<br />At the age of nineteen Mary Kate also known as M.K. is still a bit irresponsible and full of mischief, but when one of her stunts has her running into the Amish teacher she is forced to grow up quick and take over the responsibilities of being the teacher. Will she take the job seriously? Well in the beginning M.K. doesn't do very well, but soon with the help of a former teacher things start to look up. Will M.K. ever really settle down, and do we really want her too! Added to this is an unexpected death, a mysterious stranger comes to town, along with that someone comes up missing, and you have a page turner filled with plenty of interesting happenings, that include a few unexpected twists!<br /><br />From the beginning paragraphs Ms. Fisher creates a story that's filled with a bit of mystery along with plenty of excitement for nineteen year old M.K. Lapp who had been longing for a bit of adventure. I just loved the words the author used to express the restlessness that M.K. felt. They allowed for such vivid scenes to play out in my head, I could just imagine M.K. feeling the need to spread her wings and fly to someplace that would seem more exciting than her tiny town!<br />I have read each book in this wonderful series, and for me each story just keeps getting better. I enjoyed meeting the new characters in the story, and loved reconnecting with the Lapp family, including Doozy the dog! Fans of Amish fiction will love this story, but anyone who enjoys a bit of mystery, romance and a story that will keep you glued to the pages then your going to want to read the entire series, and if you have never read anything by Ms. Fisher why not start with the Stoney Ridge Seasons, I promise you wont be disappointed. On a scale of one of one to five I would easily give this entire series a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1357271048000, "title": "The Lesson" }, { "asin": "0800719867", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Choices of the Heart\" is the third book in The Midwives series and takes place in Virginia in 1842. Esther Cherrett finds herself in the midst of something that forces her to head for the mountains of Virginia and take a job teaching, hoping that she can leave her problems behind. Instead she finds herself smack dab in the middle of a family feud between the Tollivers and the Brooks, added to that is the fact that Griff Tolliver as well as Zach Brooks wants to court her. Which one will win her heart, and does it really matter, especially when her past catches up with her? What will happen when the past she tried to outrun reaches the mountains?<br /><br />As a fan of historical fiction I have enjoyed this entire series. Ms. Eakes does a wonderful job of creating realistic characters that are very easy to connect with because of the issues that they are dealing with. Esther's character wants to run from her past, but learns that the past has a way of catching up with you anyway. It was interesting to see her character grow and change as the story progressed. Griff was determined to see the feud end between the families, which made him a stand out character for me. While I enjoyed the characters I also loved the way the author brought the region to life, the descriptions allowed me to envision the area as well as the time period. Overall the historical feel of the story along with a great plot that provided a few twists made this a great read. While this book could be read as a stand alone work, I recommend reading the entire series. If your a fan of historical romance, with an inspirational bent your going to enjoy \"Choices of the Heart.\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1358659590000, "title": "Choices of the Heart" }, { "asin": "0800734602", "rating": 5, "text": "Cheyenne Wyoming Territory is the setting for \"Waiting for Spring.\" It's 1886 and its been a year since Charlotte Harding's world was turned upside down, and she was forced to flee to Cheyenne so that she and her young son David might be safe. While she has made a new life and friends, even opening a dress shop, she still worried for the safety of her son. When she meets Barrett Landry, a wealthy rancher who has political aspirations they are drawn to each other, but he needs a wife with political connections and she can't risk her past being exposed, what will happen between them?<br /><br />Charlotte was such a nice character, a wonderful mother willing to do whatever she needed to do to protect her son. I so wanted things to work out for Charlotte. I enjoyed reading about her dress shop, as well as her interactions with her customers. There are several secondary characters that really propel this story along including Gwen Amos and her daughter Rose who was a great help to Charlotte. A great well rounded story, romance, with mystery,suspense as well as the historical setting made this book a real winner for me. To be honest I was drawn to this book because of it's beautiful cover, but the characters and story are what truly shine with this one. Amanda Cabot is easily one of my favorite historical fiction writers, and I look forward to reading the next book in the Westward Winds series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1358662438000, "title": "Waiting for the next book in this fantastic series" }, { "asin": "0800720393", "rating": 5, "text": "After a disastrous marriage Charlotte Farrow finds it necessary to flee her husband in order to keep not only herself but her newborn son safe as well. She becomes a maid for the Banning household, but one of the job requirements was that she be unmarried and without children, so she keeps her son a secret. When Mrs. Given, the lady that Charlotte has entrusted with her young son Henry, has a family emergency and needs to leave town she brings the baby to Charlotte at work. Charlotte finds herself in a dilemma, if she confesses she will certainly lose her job, but if she doesn't will she lose her son?<br /><br />While this book is the second in the Avenue of Dreams series I feel like it can be read as a stand alone work, although because the first book was quite engaging I would recommend reading it as well. This book picks up right were the last one left off. I found myself feeling empathy for Charlotte's dilemma, and couldn't imagine being in her position. Lose her job, or protect her son, and not only that there is the hopes of romance, but when or if the truth comes out will it be the end of her hopes for a new beginning? In addition to Charlotte's compelling story we get a very good glimpse the differences between the social classes during this time in history. Also we get a great historical glance of the Chicago's Worlds Fair. Overall, fans of historical fiction will certainly enjoy not only this book but the entire series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1359426815000, "title": "Historical fiction fans will enjoy this series" }, { "asin": "0800721330", "rating": 5, "text": "\"A New Home for Lily\" has Lily and her family moving to Pennsylvania to be closer to family. Things are really changing for young Lily. She no longer has her own bedroom, she finds herself in a new school with new children, added to that is the fact that there is a new baby in the house. She does have her faithful dolly Sally. While some changes seem a little intimidating some are chock full of fun. One things certain young Lily keeps her faithful dolly Sally close by for comfort! Will Lily adjust to all the changes going on? Read this wonderful book to be pulled along into young Lily's life where adventures abound, and the reader gets wonderful glimpses of Amish life.<br /><br />While this book is geared toward the younger reading set, I find it a totally refreshing read. I enjoy reading about the day to day Amish goings on, and the character of Lily is just wonderful. Life is full of adventure and never boring your Lily. A great read whether your eight or eighty. Young girls are going to enjoy Lily and her adventures while they learn about the Amish lifestyle. I can't recommend this series enough. On a scale of one to five it easily gets a six in my book!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1360552318000, "title": "A New Home for Lily" }, { "asin": "0800734300", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become a huge fan of Biblical fiction so to say I was excited to read \"Rebekah\" is sort of an understatement, because I remember reading her story in the book of Genesis.Well after reading Jill Eileen Smith's fictionalized account of her story, I know I will never forget Rebekah, because she brought the story to life making me feel as if I was right there as the events take place.The twins that she bore, and who she chose as her favorite. Ms. Smith allowed me to see Rebekah as a mother, not just another woman in the Bible. The author easily pulled me back into Bible days, with a richness in descriptions that brought the time and setting to life. I certainly enjoyed how the author incorporated scripture verses thru the story. Overall, fans of Biblical fiction will certainly want to read this one, but anyone who enjoys historical fiction with romance, where the characters just happen to be from the Bible will certainly want to read this memorable story. I can't wait to read the next book in this exciting series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361247483000, "title": "Rebekah" }, { "asin": "0800720733", "rating": 4, "text": "I love books that take place around the time of the Civil War so \"When the Heart Heals\" was a much anticipated read for me. This book takes place during 1867 in Noble Springs, Missouri. Rosemary Saxon was a nurse during the civil war, but with the war over she has to support herself somehow so she decides to work for Dr. Elijah Stewart the doctor in town.Rosemary believes in using herbal remedies and often gives out advice against which is something the doctor doesn't care for, which often causes them to butt heads on occasion. As they work together an attraction grows, but someone comes along that has Rosemary thinking she needs to leave town. Rosemary also finds herself having problems because of some advice that she has given to someone about herbs. How will things work out for Rosemary? Will she be accepted for who she is, and does she and Elijah work things out?<br /><br />While I felt like I ultimately knew how things would work out for the main characters it was such a wonderful story that gets me to that conclusion. I am such a fan of sweet romance,as well as strong women that don't often conform to what society thinks that they should be.The plot moves along at a good pace, and the author sprinkles a bit of suspense to make it more interesting. I love when we get a pet woven into a story and with this one we have Rosemary's dog Bodie. Overall, while I knew where this story was headed I certainly enjoyed the telling that gets us there. Fans of historical fiction who also enjoy a good clean read will certainly love this one. While this book is the second in the Sisters at Heart series it can easily be read as a stand alone work.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361697768000, "title": "When the Heart Heals" }, { "asin": "1596693584", "rating": 4, "text": "\"The Moses Quilt\" is a story that will capture the heart and provide you with a surprising yet satisfying ending!<br /><br />Mazie Hartford is a 24 year old whose life seems to be falling right into place, she recently finished college, and is set to take a job in the fall. Added to that her boyfriend Edward, a lawyer in his fathers firm has ask her to marry him. Thing is she has been dragging her feet, hesitant to say yes. Her great-grandmother moved in with Mazie and her mother five years ago, leaving the deep South for California. Now at the age of 93 her great-grandmother Mimi knows that her time left is coming to an end and wants to pass on a family heirloom to her namesake Mazie. The heirloom is a Moses quilt and along with the quilt is the telling of the history behind the quilt. Perhaps Mimi's story of family history will help Mazie make up her mind about her future.<br /><br />There are two stories going on in the pages of this book. The contemporary romance between Mazie and Edward, which happens to be an interracial relationship. The secondary story is the story behind the Moses Quilt, and that was truly the stand out story for me, because with Mimi's story we learn about Harriet Tubman. We learn where she came from, the cruel treatment she endured and ultimately why she was so adamant to see her people be free. I always enjoy getting a history lesson along with a fictional read and that's just what I found woven into the pages of \"The Moses Quilt.\" While the romance was ok it was Mimi and her story that made this book a real winner for me. A great way to learn a bit about African American History.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361744761000, "title": "History lesson was stand out for me" }, { "asin": "1621360210", "rating": 5, "text": "Cassandra Todd finds herself needing to leave her home in the middle of the night, her husband Brad is an abusive man, and while Cassandra was willing to take his beatings when he threatens to turn the abuse on their son Justin she knows it's time to leave. She heads to Lakewood, the town she grew up in hoping to cash in some bonds that her parents left her and then disappear When the bank transaction takes a bit longer than she anticipates she finds herself needing to spend a few days in town and checks into The Mountain View Motel. When hired men show up she finds herself needing the help of the motel handyman.<br />Turner Caldwell's high school years is something he has tried to put behind him. Bullied unmercifully by the jocks, especially Brad Duncan, who even gave him the nickname \"Pancake.\" Turner always had a crush on Cassandra Todd, but she was one of the popular crowd, a cheerleader. After being gone for seven years Cassandra shows up with her young son Justin and stays a few nights at the motel where Turner works, causing those old feelings and emotions to bubble to the surface. When she shows up at his door and tells him that she is running from her husband, who just happens to be Brad Duncan,and needs his help Turner finds himself in the midst of something that could possibly change his life forever.<br /><br />I found myself intrigued within the first few pages of this story. Cassandra finds herself needing to leave an abusive husband, and winds up going back to her home town. How ironic that the boy that was bullied in high school by her husband is the one she turns to for help. While I could empathize with Cassandra and her plight, I really felt for Turner and the memories that haunted him.I could understand why he was angry with God. In addition to the bullying he had experienced in high school, he had also lost a job he loved, his mother had died, and his father sort of abandoned him. Cassandra on the other hand held fast to her faith and felt like God was leading her.<br /><br />The author tackles two pretty tough subjects within the pages of this story, spousal abuse and bullying. Cassandra was willing to accept the abuse for herself, but refused to allow her husband to abuse her son. I thought the author really shined when it came to showcasing just how bullying can haunt someone for years. Overall I found this to be a very fast paced story laced with suspense, drama, along with several inspirational, motivational messages as well. Recommended!<br /><br />A review copy was provided by Glass Roads PR in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1362628135000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "080072089X", "rating": 3, "text": "\"Moonlight Masquerade\" is a Regency Romance set in London during 1813. Lady Celine Wexham was French born, but married an English Earl. Thing is her husband, was older,and not very nice. After his death she has money and wealth, which allows her to help those in need. Thing is the English government thinks that she may be a spy and sends Rees Phillips to work undercover as her butler to find out the truth.<br /><br />Regency romance isn't a genre that I normally read, so I was excited to try this one. While the story was really slow to pick up in the beginning, it did pick up, but never really held my attention. I hoped for a fast paced spy drama with romance woven in, but I was left wishing that there had been more romance between the two main characters. I did enjoy the historical aspects of the story, and thought that Rees was a very likable character. Overall, just a middle of the road read for me that didn't excite or inspire, I would say that if you enjoy a historical read, set during the regency era, you might enjoy this book. It just really wasn't my cup of tea.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1362959943000, "title": "Moonlight Masquerade" }, { "asin": "0764209914", "rating": 5, "text": "I found myself drawn into this story from the beginning. Molly Lovelace has always been treated like Daddy's little princess, and because everyone seemed to think that she was just a pretty female, who loved to shop, without a true thought in her head that's just how she acts. Her father has decided who he wants her to marry and doesn't plan on giving her a say in matters. Thing is she already has her heart set on someone, and that someone isn't who her father has in mind for her. He wants her to marry someone wealthy, such as Edward Pierrepont, but she can't get the cowboy Bailey Garner out of her heart. Will she go against her father, who does she ultimately choose?<br />I really enjoyed Regina Jenning's first novel, \"Sixty Acres and a Bride\" so I was totally anxious to read this one, and as a fan of historical romantic fiction this book certainly suited me to a tee! Once I got Molly's story I totally understood why she acted the way she did, after all her father Thomas had certain expectations of her. I also understood her feelings for Bailey, after all they had been childhood friends. I could just imagine the pressure that Bailey felt in finding a job so that he would be financially \"secure\" enough to support Molly in the way that she was accustomed. the on again off again twisty relationship between the pair kept me guessing as to how things might work out. I felt like the author created authentic characters for the time period For me though it was their spiritual development that really made the characters shine. I enjoyed seeing several of the characters from \"Sixty Acres and a Bride,\" but did feel like the author provided enough information that this could be read as a stand alone novel. Fans of historical romance with an inspirational slant will certainly enjoy this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1363743376000, "title": "Love In The Balance" }, { "asin": "1451574827", "rating": 4, "text": "\"The Gospel Centered Woman\" is a Bible study that not only discusses what God created his daughters to be, but how to achieve and live his plan without feeling oppressed but instead uplifted and exalted.<br /><br />This Bible study is broken down into three sections with the first section titled Created in God's Image which delves into what God create women to be, and how they are created to bear the image of God. This section also touches on the fall of man and woman. \"Section two titled Redeemed to Reflect God Once More\" touches on topics such as forgiving and being forgiven, finding contentment, and how the Gospel can unite women with Christ. Section three is titled \"Wisdom in the Tension\" and is geared at helping women navigate through daily life.<br /><br />Overall, I found this an easy to use Bible study and really appreciated how the author doesn't just give us her opinion but instead provides us with scripture that allows us to understand and read where she is coming from. I found it helpful that she includes a blank page at the end of each chapter so that we can take notes on what we have read. The discussion questions included would make this a great Bible study for women's groups. Many of the questions are geared to make the reader reflect not only on what they have read but also what they might be dealing with in their own lives. My only complaint is that I wish the questions would have been placed at the end of each chapter instead at the back of the book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1364435962000, "title": "The Gospel Centered Woman" }, { "asin": "0764207970", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Unrivaled\" takes place in St. Louis Missouri in 1910. Lucy Kendall's family owns the City Confectionery candy company, but it looks like that might change. Their company had struggled financially, but after Lucy's father has a heart attack, it looks like the answer might be to sell out, or at least that's what Lucy's mother wants to do. Lucy doesn't want to see that happen and begs her mother to reconsider. When her mother agrees to give Lucy a month to try and save the business by creating a new candy, there is one stipulation attached. Lucy must also go to the Veiled Prophet Ball, because Lucy's mother thinks it's well past time that Lucy find a husband and settle down. Lucy agrees but her plan is to unveil her new candy at the ball.<br /><br />Charlie Clarke's father left the family when he was only seven years old, so he had grown up hating his father, but not really knowing him. Now at the age of twenty-two after getting into a bit of trouble his mother contacts his father who offers him a job working for him in the Royal Taffy company in St. Louis. When he arrives in town he literally runs into Lucy, and she feels something too, but thing is neither one knows who the other is. Will the company rivalry keep the two apart, or ultimately bring them together?<br /><br />\"Unrivaled\" easily pulled me back in time, allowing for a unique glimpse of the candy making business during the early 1900's. We see the story unfold thru the eyes of two main characters. The author alternates between Lucy and Charlie's perspective, but does it in a smooth easy to follow way. Lucy sincerely wanted to keep the family business, even though during the time period women in business wasn't the norm. Thing is Lucy didn't seem to care how her actions affected others, although as the story progresses it is nice to see Lucy grow and change. I really could understand and empathize with Charlie more because he was struggling with issues from the past. There were a few secondary characters that really added to the story.<br /><br />Overall, I think my favorite parts of this story actually revolved around the candy making, I could just imagine Lucy as she was making taffy. I also got a few laughs when things didn't turn out quite right. If your a fan of historical fiction with romance, inspiration, along with a company rivalry and a bit of mystery woven into the mix then your in for a sweet treat with \"Unrivaled' by Siri Mitchell.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1364748712000, "title": "Unrivaled" }, { "asin": "1433671689", "rating": 5, "text": "Invisible\" takes place in Fort Bragg, CA and told with four unique voices. Dr. Miles Becker, who lost his wife Sarah to cancer, but before she died she made him promise her that he would move on, even suggesting someone for him to get to know. Ellyn DeMoss is a chef who runs her own restaurant She is very critical of herself because she is carrying several extra pounds.Sabina Jackson, is a counselor who says that she is taking a short sabbatical, but in truth she thinks that she is mildly depressed. There is more going on in Sabina's life than she is willing to admit. Twila Boaz had weight issues and was finally diagnosed with anorexia but now recovering she works with her mother at a health food store and uses tattoos in order to cover up her body, but also to express her feelings. Each of these characters lend their voice to \"Invisible\" and as their stories unfold, they blend together making for a remarkable tale with several powerful messages.<br /><br />I was afraid that this book might get confusing because it had four unique stories, but instead the voices and stories are so unique that it is easy to understand and follow along. While I found each characters story interesting, I have to say that Ellyn was the character that really resonated with me. Her poor self image and struggle with weight was something that is very relevant in today's society. Her inner voice that she named Earl, was very negative. Because she was so disappointed in herself she was certain that she was a disappointment to God as well. When the doctor shows an interest in her she can't imagine what he would see in her, even thinking there might be something wrong with him.<br />Overall, this was a story where the characters are struggling with issues that were very relatable, but more than that left the message of God's love and acceptance. Not a light fluffy read, instead the author crafts characters that are so easy to relate too, because each in their own way are struggling with things that are relevant in today's society. The discussion questions provided at the end of the story would make this a great group read. A story that will inspire and challenge, and maybe even motivate.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1365133412000, "title": "Invisible" }, { "asin": "0824932463", "rating": 5, "text": "Six months after the death of their mother Caroline Marris, along with her sisters Gracie Gold and Sam Carter plan a two week getaway to Nantucket a place their mother loved. While strolling on the beach they arrive at the Misty Harbor Inn, a place their mother dreamed of owning and are surprised at the condition of the old inn. The sisters decide to purchase the inn even though it will take a lot of work to get it ready to open. When they find some old postcards they are find themselves immersed in the mystery of Hannah Montague, the widow of the original owner. Can they figure out what happened to her?Will the sisters be able to get the inn open, and will this adventure draw them together or pull them apart?<br /><br />I loved the family feel of this novel. Each sister has their own unique personality giving this story a very realistic feel. Because the sisters are older I found myself easily relating to them. I could easily understand Gracie's reluctance at wanting to leave her home, but she also needed to reestablish a relationship with her sisters. In addition to the family drama going on they are renovating the inn and if that isn't enough there is an air of mystery about a former owner. \"Seaside Harmony\" is the first book in the Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn series and is the perfect way to escape for a few hours. I have always been a fan of Guideposts series and this one promises not to disappoint With elements of faith interwoven with family drama, a hint of mystery along with a splash of romance, I really look forward to my next visit to the Misty Harbor Inn.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1366945739000, "title": "Seaside Harmony" }, { "asin": "0824932471", "rating": 5, "text": "It's spring in Nantucket and the girls have been working all year to get the Inn in tip top shape to open and what better time to have the grand opening than while the town is celebrating with the Daffodil festival. We get to meet the guests , but more than that the mystery of the previous owner continues to unfold.<br /><br />The three sisters really make this a stand out series, it's so nice to see their relationships grow and change as the story progresses. I always enjoy whenever an animal is included in a story and we Max, Carolines cocker spaniel continues to make appearances in this story. I think the element of mystery that is woven into the story really adds to the storyline. I found the historical aspects of the mystery quite interesting. \"Sunflower Summer\" is the second book in the Postcards From Misty Harbor Inn series and I really think that to understand the story completely the books should be read in order. A wonderful setting, interesting characters along with elements of faith, and the mystery woven in really held my attention and has me anxious to read the next book in this series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1366946318000, "title": "Sunflower Summer" }, { "asin": "0800722256", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been a fan of Melody Carlson for years. She does a wonderful job of pulling me into whatever story she is writing, making me understand the characters and whatever they might be going thru.<br /><br />\"A Simple Song\" is the story of Katrina Yoder. She has always enjoyed singing, but in her Amish world it is a sin, and therefore it is forbidden.Katrina's friend Bekka has been watching a show called American Star and really thinks that Katrina should try out for the show. For Katrina though the reason to step out into the Englisher world is more complicated than that. Her father needs to have surgery, and \"American Star\" just might be the way that Katrina could win the money, and since she hasn't been baptized into the church yet, she will go while on her rumspringa. What will her parents and community say? Will they accept her back into the community, and if she wins the money will her parents accept it! Can an Amish girl stay true to her roots while thrust into the Englisher spotlight! Read this page turning story to find out!<br />I found \"A Simple Song,\" to be a nice, quick read that is filled with interesting characters that are easy to like. I could easily understand Katrina and the choices she made. I thought it was interesting how her grandfather encouraged singing at her grandmother's funeral. The reason that was revealed was touching and allowed me to further understand Katrina's story. I found the behind the scenes descriptions of \"American Star\" interesting, and while I kind of knew how things might work out it was still fun to see how Melody Carlson would allow things to work out! Overall, this fun little read, is great for teens but also a quick read for adults who enjoy Amish fiction as well.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1371435536000, "title": "Another great story from Melody Carlson" }, { "asin": "0764209663", "rating": 5, "text": "When an outlaw's daughter want's a preacher for her birthday, what's her outlaw daddy to do but have someone go out and kidnap,or preachernap,one for her! After all it's Joanna Robbins twenty-first birthday and she deserved something big, after all she is still grieving the loss of her mother.Truth is Jo has been praying for a preacher to come along and help revive their little community church, but she never imagined the lengths her father would go to to bring a preacher to her. When her father kidnaps Crockett Archer and brings him home for her birthday she knows she will have to let him go because he has other plans, but she can't help but hope he might decide to stay!<br />I found myself immediately drawn to this book because of the cover,and title,after all I couldn't imagine what \"Stealing The Preacher\" might entail, but I have to say it was the attention grabbing story that kept me turning the pages to see where and what would happen next! I found myself loving these characters and even understanding the reasoning of why Joanna's father did what he did! I loved the lively conversations that literally brings the story to life. I also enjoyed the historical feel of the story! Fans of historical fiction that enjoy stories that provide more than a few laughs along with several smiles, a lively cast of characters and a nice, inspirational romance will find themselves devouring \"Stealing The Preacher\" in one sitting, I know that I did! An unputdownable read for me!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1371527327000, "title": "Fun historical read" }, { "asin": "1433679302", "rating": 5, "text": "Daphne Ballinger's left her small town life in Appleton with high hopes of having a writing career in the Big Apple. Thing is it's thirteen years later, and she is finds herself stuck in a job that is far from what she hoped for, sharing the same apartment, and still heartsore from a relationship from ten years ago when a boyfriend burned her bad. When she gets a call from her father that her rather eccentric ninety-one year old aunt Dee passed away she goes home. She is soon surprised that her aunt left her sole beneficiary of everything that she owned, including a beautiful old Victorian, a vintage Corvette and plenty of money, there is just a couple of snafu's her aunt left some pretty specific requirements and Daphne has a year to fulfill her aunt's wishes. If she doesn't the house will be given to the \"Cat House\" the shelter where she adopted her beloved kitties Lucy and Ethel. As several secrets come to light about Aunt Dee Daphne learns things that she would have never guessed. Will Daphne leave New York behind and move back to Appleton, and if she does will she be able to meet the requirements of Dee's will?<br /><br />Melody Carlson is one of my all time favorite writers, her versatile writing skills, has taken me on several adventures and \"Lock, Stock, and Over a Barrel\" allows me to watch Daphne Ballinger go from someone who seemed unhappily stuck in her life to someone with choices if only she can embrace them. Daphne is a character that is so easy to relate to, she was someone that had hopes and dreams, but after years of the same old same old her life was in a rut! I enjoyed seeing the changes that precipitated in her life once she returned to Appleton. Plenty of secondary characters really stood out for me including Daphne's dad, his life was in transition as well, and the secrets that he learned about Aunt Dee was something that he took in stride.Even though Aunt Dee has passed away, her character played such an integral role in the plot, she seemed like a fun loving someone, who did have a few regrets and hoped to keep Daphne from making some of the same mistakes. Ms. Carlson's descriptions easily allowed me to feel the small town setting of the story, and the advice column reminded me of Dear Abby! While there is an inspirational bent to the story, it isn't overwhelming, and seemed perfectly plausible I will say the author certainly left me hanging with the ending, and I know I will keep wondering until the next installment how things will work out for Daphne! If you have never read anything by Ms. Carlson this book is the perfect time to start, or if you're like me and are a long time fan, you're not going to want to miss this one. I only hope readers don't have to wait long for the next installment in the Dear Daphne series!", "timestamp": 1372298844000, "title": "Can't wait to read book two in the series!" }, { "asin": "0800721381", "rating": 4, "text": "I have become a fan of Biblical historical fiction and \"Claudia\" is the story of a character in the Bible that is only mentioned once, but Diana Wallis Taylor doesn't let that stop her from creating a compelling story that not only brings the characters but Biblical times to life, a time when woman really had to make the best of the situations that they found themselves in.At the age of sixteen Claudia is married to Pontius Pilate , and truly loves her husband even though it was an arranged marriage.After the marriage they move to Judea where Claudia has a dream about Jesus and the role her husband will play in his crucifixion.The author certianly knew how to bring this timeperiod to life, I could just imagine the places that was described in the story. I also recognized a few Biblical characters woven into the story along with Claudia and her husband. It was nice to see a different side of Pontius Pilate, a side that only his wife Claudia saw.Even though a fictionalized story, the author makes the story believable by providing enough facts to give a sense of realism. Overall fans of historical fiction will enjoy this story, but if you enjoy historical fiction with a Biblical slant then this is a must read for you.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1372649884000, "title": "Claudia" }, { "asin": "0800721594", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Dolled Up to Die is the second book in the Cate Kinkaid mystery series and really can be read as a stand alone work, but honestly it's such a good cozy little mystery that you're probably going to want to go back and read the first book just because you're going to want more of these characters!<br /><br />When Cate Kinkaid was hired by her uncle Joe to work as an assistant investigator for Belmont Investigations he made it perfectly clear that they only handled routine investigations such as background checks, serving subpoenas and the like, thing is it seems murder cases keep cropping up in the town of Eugene, Oregon and Cate somehow finds herself in the middle of the action! The latest call is from a woman saying there has been a triple shooting, well how can Cate not help at the scene of a triple homicide especially when the caller might still be in danger. When she arrives on the scene though she does find three victims, and quickly discovers a fourth, thing is three of the gunshot victims are life sized dolls!<br /><br />\"Dolled Up to Die\" is one of those stories that you start reading and the next thing you know you are finished. The story moves along at such a fast pace that the pages just fly by. I love the character of Cate, she is a bumbling PI that provides more than a few laughs. She often talks to her fat cat Octavia, and is rescued more than once by her boyfriend Mitch. With several suspects the author doesn't make it easy to figure out who-dun-it with this one. Anyone who enjoys a fast paced cozy mystery with more than a few laughs and a bumbling heroine will certainly enjoy \"Dolled Up to Die!\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1374460138000, "title": "Fast paced cozy mystery" }, { "asin": "1595547827", "rating": 4, "text": "Amy Lange is grieving the loss of her brother Ben and really can't wrap her mind around the fact that it was an \"accident.\" When she receives an email stating that she might want to take a trip to Hope Island hinting that her brother Ben had secrets that actually led to his death, she decides to take the trip to Rosemary Cottage on Hope Island a place that is dear to her hoping to find solace and even thinking of moving her midwifery practice there. Mostly though she is hoping to find the answers she needs so that she can truly understand her brother's death.<br /><br />While this is the second book in the Hope Beach series by Colleen Coble it can easily be read as a stand alone work. I found myself swept into the story from the beginning pages when Gina, Curtis Ireland's sister is basically run down by a motorboat, thing is she recognized the person on the boat, but who was it? That along with wanting to know about Ben and what happened to him propelled me into this story to find the answers! Suspense filled with more than a few twists kept me turning the pages,and the romance was a nice bonus. Ms. Coble captured the beauty of the area that she writes about, allowing the setting to come to life for me. Overall, anyone who enjoys mystery/suspense with a sweet romance and a nice christian theme woven in will enjoy this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1374462505000, "title": "Rosemary Cottage" }, { "asin": "1433678209", "rating": 5, "text": "I was drawn to \"In Golden Splendor\" because I am always interested in a good historical read, and I got just what I hoped for with this novel. This story draws the reader back to the mid 1800's during the California Gold Rush.<br /><br />Seamus Handley's past was rife with disappointment, and he is haunted by a past that he just can't seem to overcome. How though did this Irishman wind up living in self exile in the Rocky Mountain Wilderness, where it seems that the lack of food might do him in. It seems though fate has something else in store for Seamus though when he finds a letter from a woman in San Francisco asking for help he has nothing to lose by heading to California. The journey he embarks on will test his mettle. Will Seamus find what he is looking for in California?<br /><br />Mr. Reynolds weaves together an epic historical tale that comes to life in the pages of this story. I found it easy to envision the journey that Seamus embarked on. Since I didn't read the first book in the story I was really interested in who Seamus was and what his background might have been. The author does a great job of providing enough information to make this a stand alone story. I became totally invested in Seamus' story wanting to know how it would end. Rich details, really brought the story to life for me, and wanting to know how things would work out for Seamus kept me reading. There were so many secondary characters that we meet on the journey that play unique roles in the story that kept it moving along. Overall, a rich historical read, blended with romance, suspense, and an inspirational message that reminds the reader of God's love. I enjoyed this book so much that I plan on going back to read the first book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1375675395000, "title": "An Epic Journey" }, { "asin": "0824932595", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Whispers On The Dock\" take readers back to Misty Harbor Inn allowing us to reconnect with the three sisters that run the Inn. With this installment the main focus is on the youngest sister Sam who enjoys baking, and hopes to enter the Summerfield baking contest. In addition to the baking contest there is the unique characters that check into the inn as well as the mystery that the three sisters are still trying to solve.<br /><br />What a wonderful, relaxing read each of the books in the series turned out to be. Even though it had been a couple of months since I read the first two books in the series it was so easy to fall right back into the storyline, because I felt like I was connecting with old friends. I thought the storyline revolving around Hannah Montague was really interesting, it was fun to see the clues unfold around this mystery. Overall, I found this book to be well written and the plot moves along well, I found the storyline relaxing and easy to read. This book is the third book in a series and really the first two books should be read to get the most from this one. Cozy mystery light is how I would describe this one, because there was a mystery but there really was much more than just the mystery going on in the story.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1378012226000, "title": "Return to Misty Harbor" }, { "asin": "0825442141", "rating": 5, "text": "Hope is often difficult to find when life throws curves our way that cause not only our heart to hurt but also damage our spirit. Instead we often close ourselves off and try and protect ourselves from further hurt, shutting off our heart in a sense to protect it. With \"Wounded Women of the Bible\" the author shares the stories of twelve different women of the Bible linking their stories with stories from today that allowed me to connect with the Biblical stories on a greater level,providing hope and encouragement reminding that we can overcome and become stronger with the help of God. I would have to say that my favorite female character in the Bible had to be Ruth, and the author's focus on her story had me thinking deeper about Ruth and what she really went thru. The author's easy to read, friendly feeling writing made this a stand out book for me. While I enjoyed reading the stories of the \"Wounded Women of the Bible\" I also found the personal stories that the authors share to be inspirational and encouraging. Overall, I think this book is a must read for women young and old, filled with inspiration and encouragement that remind the reader of God's strength and love. The study guide and discussion questions that are included make this a fantastic book for group study, personally myself I have been using the book like a Bible study, taking each chapter and turning it into a weeks worth of study and reflection.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1379190499000, "title": "Encouraging" }, { "asin": "1859857663", "rating": 5, "text": "Bumper Wipe Clean Activities book is chock full of fun things that focus on the Bible. A study book that will withstand quite a bit of use.A sturdy cover, with the wipe free pages makes this a book that will be reused often. There is a handy holder so the pen doesn't get lost from the book and the spiral binding makes it's easy for young hands to use. Bright colors and easy to read vocabulary might just light the spark of reading with your youngster. The simple activities are best suited for youngsters probably five and under, I think that perhaps an older child may find the activities a little to simplistic. Some of the activities include dot to dot, matching pairs, finding the hidden object, and mazes. I think this book would make a wonderful gift, perfect for taking along when you need to keep your youngster occupied. I would easily recommend this book to anyone looking for a sturdy book that because of the wipe free pages can be reused.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1379561007000, "title": "Good Value for a sturdy product" }, { "asin": "0800723074", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite types of books to read when I was a child was books filled jokes, so this one really brought back a lot of memories. I remembered a few of the jokes I read, and had more than a bit of fun reading the tongue twisters, something that I have never gotten good at! A book that it chock full of good, clean, jokes that is sure to tickle the funny bone, and have youngsters trying the jokes out on their friends. This book is basically like three books in one, with laugh out loud jokes for kids, zoolarious animal jokes for kids, and of course my favorite knock knock jokes, there are also tongue twisters but I was pleasantly surprised by the did you know tidbits that were filled with interesting fun facts. Many of these little facts were totally new to me! Certainly a book that will appeal to youngsters but it might also appeal to those of us that remember joke books as a kid, I know it brought back a few fond memories for me!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1390780300000, "title": "Funny with a few fun facts as well." }, { "asin": "0062204467", "rating": 5, "text": "A new series by Shelley Shepard Gray, boy I couldn't wait to dive into this one, and once I did I really couldn't put this book down until I finished it! I love books set in Sugarcreek, Ohio because it's a place I visit often so it's the familiar that really hooks me. With this book we get the story of Miriam Zehr and Albert (Junior) Beiler. Miriam longs to have a family of her own. Thing is she feels like the only way she will ever find a special someone is to leave Sugarcreek. When Junior Beiler seeks her out she is thrilled could it be that finally someone is interested in her?<br /><br />Such a delightful beginning to a promising new series. I loved these characters, and I found Miriam so easy to connect with. Who doesn't have problems with self image, and it's wonderful to see Amish portrayed as real people with real issues. Often writers create Amish characters that seem to perfect, but Ms. Gray always makes me feel like I could be reading about anyone, Amish or English because of the realism of her characters. I couldn't help but be drawn in wondering whether Miriam would ever find love, if Junior would realize what was right within his grasp. Plenty of secondary characters keeps the plot zipping along, making for a quick yet satisfying read! Hopeful is perfect for Amish fans, but anyone looking for a great read that just happens to be about the Amish will find Ms. Gray's writing easy to connect with, written with depth, but also a touching tenderness and there is a bit of mystery as well. Hopeful leaves me anxious to read the next book in the Return to Sugarcreek Series!", "timestamp": 1391708358000, "title": "I'm hooked on this new series" }, { "asin": "0800722264", "rating": 4, "text": "Melody Carlson is one of my favorite author's and My Amish Boyfriend is a real example of why she has achieved that position in my heart. She has the uncanny ability to produce a page turning read that also provides plenty of life lessons woven in. With My Amish Boyfriend we meet sixteen year old Shannon McNamara who thinks that she has her summer all planned, but when she arrives home from school her friendly neighbor who has been helping out with her sick mother informs her that she has been in contact with her mother's family in Ohio and plans are in place for them to go there. So instead of spending the summer in Indiana she finds her world turned upside down when they head to Ohio to meet family that she never new about. What adventures and life lessons are in store for Shannon? Pick up My Amish Boyfriend and find out!<br /><br />Ms. Carlson deals with several very real issues in this story, Shannon is living in a single parent home after the death of her father. Her mom worked full time until she got sick, and she really doesn't seem to be getting any better. Learning about a family that you never knew about is one thing but learning to deal with them on a daily basis is quite another, especially when they are Amish. I really liked the character of Shannon,and truly felt like her character developed well, except for the relationship that developed between her and Ezra. It felt rushed, I do get that she is sixteen and they during that age they fall in love at the drop of a hat, but it really felt rushed, and I was a bit surprised at Ezra as well. Overall, I liked the story, and enjoyed watching Shannon grow and change, especially as she learns about her family, Ms. Carlson allowed me to feel the emotions that Shannon felt. A story about faith and family, and the fact that life isn't always easy.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1393785146000, "title": "My Amish Boyfriend" }, { "asin": "1426752792", "rating": 5, "text": "I have really enjoyed reading each book in the&#34;Quilt Of Love&#34; series. What makes them unique is that each book is written by a different author,allowing us to sample each author's writing style. One thing is a constant though through each book and that's the fact that a quilt plays a part in each story. As someone who enjoys the Needlework art of quilting that in itself really drew me to the series, but the splendid writing of each author continues to bring me back for each new book.<br /><br /> In a Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare the Native American story line and the historical time frame really made this one of my favorite books in this series! Frankie Chasing Bear is a Lakota woman living in the 1950's whose grandmother taught her the art of quilting, but more than that she shared the heritage behind the Lakota Star quilt and the importance of keeping that heritage alive for generations to come. When Frankie's husband dies she leaves Pine Ridge, South Dakota moving to Arizona hoping for a better life for her ten year old son Harold, but will life be any easier there?<br /><br />A richly woven story that really brought not only the time period to life, but allowed me to feel as if I was getting a bit of a history lesson as I read the story. I could feel the turmoil that was a part of that time. My favorite character had to be Frankie, she was a young mother like any other wanting what was best for her young son. She was such a strong, brave character, who really wanted Harold, her son to know about his heritage. The author provides more than a few twists to keep the plot moving, and one of those twists is the character of Nick, who is dealing with his own issues. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction that revolves around Native Americans will be delighted with this story, but honestly it's a great read for anyone who enjoys a story about faith, family and quilts!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1394991200000, "title": "Quilt of Love" }, { "asin": "1414389752", "rating": 5, "text": "Wyoming during the spring of 1882 is where readers will find themselves transported as they read Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman. A story where the author's descriptive writing captures the feel of the old west while providing an intricately woven story that captured my imagination from the beginning paragraphs. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen with Mariah Malone. Her father confessed on his deathbed that he had purchased the Lazy M ranch, the family home with ill gotten gold that belonged to someone else. Mariah does the right thing by writing to the man, never imagining that someone would come along to claim the ranch, but that's just what happens. Slade Donovan comes to claim what belongs to his father, intending to take over the ranch, but will he?<br /><br />The main characters of Mariah and Slade are such well written characters, and the author easily pulled me into their story, making me want the best for them. Slade was one of my favorite characters, rough on the outside, but truly a gentle man. Plenty of secondary characters propel this plot along so that it never lags. Pam Hillman is a new to me author, but I enjoyed Claiming Mariah so much that I plan on checking out her other work. Fans of historical western fiction with romance, suspense, a splash of mystery that is sprinkled with humor and a faith based message will certainly enjoy this page turning read. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1397790648000, "title": "Claiming Mariah" }, { "asin": "0764210580", "rating": 4, "text": "A Sensible Arrangement is the story of Marty Dandridge Olson, a thirty-five year old childless widow of four years whose beloved husband was gored by a longhorn bull. Try as she might time hadn't lessened the pain so she hopes that answering an ad to marry Jake Wythe, a banker who lives in Colorado who is looking for a Texas bride. Jake Wythe hadn't really been lucky in love, his wife left him for another man, and then died a few months later, as a banker for Morgan Bank the board members feel that a man of his standing needs to be married. So he decides to place an ad, and gets an answer from Marty. Will leaving Texas help Marty heal from the pain of her past? Feelings start to develop between them, but one thing is standing in the way, Jake wants to return to Texas and Marty has no desire to return.<br /><br />Truly a unique twist on what I consider the mail-order bride genre. Normally the ad is placed by a farmer looking for a bride, but in this instance it's a banker, and the couple is a bit more mature, with more life experience. Neither one is expecting love, but sometimes love comes when one least expects it! Marty was spunky, the stagecoach scene really showcased her grit and determination,she did have one major flaw though, she was sometimes a bit reckless with the truth, but the author handled that issue in a very real and spiritual way.Jake is someone who is still dealing with past hurts from loves gone wrong. The feelings that develop between them was ok, but I found the historical aspects to be just as interesting. Several secondary characters really kept the plot moving along. A Sensible Arrangement is more than just another mail order bride tale, its light on romance, but provides a bit of mystery, humor and a faith based message along with enough loose ends which makes me anxious to read the next book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1398029386000, "title": "A Unique twist on the mail order bride genre" }, { "asin": "0310730538", "rating": 5, "text": "Alone Yet Not Alone by Tracy Leininger that sweeps readers back to the autumn of 1755 where we meet the Leininger family, German Immigrants who have come to America looking for a new life. They settle in the Blue Mountains of PA that overlook Penn's Creek. The family of six consists of Ma and Pa along with Christian,John, Barbara, and Regina. Their faith in God is strong, and they are very thankful for all their good fortune, which includes living peacefully among the Indians.With the French-Indian War brewing though things change dramatically and one afternoon two Indian braves barge into the cabin and kidnap Barbara who is twelve and Regina age nine. The girls are soon separated and taken far from home, but they never give up hope that someday they will be together again!<br /><br />What an amazing story of faith and family, and what makes this book even better is that it is based on a true story. The author does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life within the pages of this story. I became swept up in the saga that the girls faced, and often wondered how or if they would ever be reunited with their mother. The author's attention to detail made the various scenes pop off the pages, I could easily envision the settings, whether it was the cabin, or an Indian village, the richness of detail allowed me to feel as if I was part of the story instead of just reading it. A great read for young and old alike, especially anyone who enjoys history. An easy to read story that is certainly reminds readers of the importance of never wavering in your faith in knowing that God is always with us even in our darkest hour.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1398829524000, "title": "Rich in historical detail" }, { "asin": "1859855865", "rating": 5, "text": "The Candle Bible Handbook brings the Old and New Testaments of the Bible to life by combining visual as well as scriptural information about all sixty-six books of the Bible.There is an outline of each book along with frequently asked questions and plenty of interesting information that allows for a very good overview of each book of the Bible there are even study questions included for further thought. I found the illustrations to be top notch enhancing the subjects. I have actually been studying the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and the illustrations and information included was invaluable to me in helping me visualize the tabernacle. There is also a list of the promises in the Bible, along with important passages, important people and big ideas that will further enhance the usefulness of this wonderful reference book. While the book is geared toward 8-12 year old group it really is a perfect companion for those of any age that want's to familiarize themselves with the major elements of the Bible. Great for home study or any teaching forum for that matter, an invaluable tool that really brings the Bible to life a perfect building block for anyone wanting to study their Bible.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1399945301000, "title": "Great for any age" }, { "asin": "0800721608", "rating": 4, "text": "Cate Kinkaid has a knack for finding a mystery, and with Death Takes a Ride it's no different. She has no idea that she was going to be a witness to a robbery and shooting and the victim just might not make it. To complicate matters Cate is hired to investigate, but here's the deal, she isn't hired to investigate the shooting, instead she is looking for the owner of a particular motorcycle. Of course things rarely are what they seem, and Cate always finds herself up to her eyeballs in a who-dun-it!<br /><br />I always enjoy a good mystery and this series has certainly provided that. My only complaint was that I figured out the ending early, which was sort of a bummer. That said, I always enjoy the humor that is woven into the Cate Kinkaid Files, and I think Cate's character continues to get stronger with each installment. I love whenever animals are woven into a story and with this one we have a cat and dog! Overall this book is a good clean mystery that isn't so hard to solve, but still is well worth reading for anyone who loves a cozy mystery.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1406169950000, "title": "Death Takes A Ride" }, { "asin": "0800723562", "rating": 5, "text": "As an animal lover, especially dogs there was no way that I could look at this cover and not read the book! Henry is one of those dogs that just loves life, and well also one who seems to find his way into various situations that are often laugh out loud funny, and truly capture the essence of what it truly means to be owned by your dog. Such an easy to relate to story, this book had me reminiscing about my own canines and the puppy stage that caused more than a few mishaps in my own home. The author has a certain way with describing the antics of Henry that I could honestly visualize his various escapades! Anyone who has ever owned a dog will find this a must read, but honestly if you enjoy laughing out loud while reading you are certainly going to want to read Surviving Henry!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1408327687000, "title": "Laugh out loud funny read!" }, { "asin": "0800722884", "rating": 5, "text": "The one book in the Bible I always turn to whenever I need a little comfort is the book of Psalms so I was excited to find a book of devotions based on the book. In today's world it seems there are plenty of hard days, whether you're a stay at home mother or work outside the home. From the bad news that one is bombarded with daily on the evening news or trying to juggle the never ending list that I always seem to need to do , there are plenty of hard days to muddle thru. What Your Heart Needs for the Hard Days not only encourages, but also speaks to the heart providing a needed boost while also reminding that we are never alone! First I want to say I love the size, I would consider it a pocket book, one that will easily slip into a purse or briefcase. The bright cheerful colors used on the cover captures the eye making me want to explore what is inside. Each devotion starts with a scripture from the book of Psalms, then an devotion which touches on different issues that are easy to relate to, It wraps up with a prayer and a place for writing the users own thoughts, something that I find very useful. I love that there is a table of contents so that I can skip to the devotion that I feel I might need to read for the day. Whether you have time to do this as a daily or weekly devotional is up to you, but if you need encouragement and uplifting your going to find it within the pages of this cute little book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1410226203000, "title": "Lovely little devotional for the hard days" }, { "asin": "0800722094", "rating": 5, "text": "Suspense filled, page turning are just a few words that I would use to describe Nowhere To Turn by Lynette Eason.<br />When your married to an abusive husband the only thing to do is leave, but the danger is ramped up when your abusive husband is an FBI agent. When Danielle's husband is shot and killed you would think the worries would be over but honestly they just begin because her husband was into some shady business and now the people he dealt with wants something her husband had, and they are after her to get it!<br /><br />I think my favorite character in this one had to be eleven year old Simon. He was truly a brave young man, and my heart really went out to him. There are so many twists and turns with this story I found myself thinking I knew something only to be taken in the opposite direction. Ms. Eason has become one of my favorite authors because she is able to weave suspense, tension, mystery and drama together with romance to create a very well blended story that provides a plot that doesn't stop.The added bonus is that they are always good clean reads. While this is the second book in the Hidden Identity series it can be read as a stand alone work.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1411353727000, "title": "Edge of your seat page turner" }, { "asin": "0781409179", "rating": 5, "text": "The bright, colorful cover will certainly draw youngsters to this book, but it is the rhyming Bible stories,along with the stunning illustrations inside that are going to hold their attention as they learn about several of the most popular Bible stories. A compilation of twenty Bible stories that will certainly allow your youngster to learn about some of the Bibles most popular characters in rhyming story. I love that the author provides the location in the Bible for the scripture that each story is based on. A few of the stories include Adam and Eve, the story of Queen Esther, and Jonah and the Whale. While I did find a couple of discrepancies within the stories overall the author holds pretty true to the Bible. Overall I think Treasury of Bible Stories is a wonderful addition to any youngsters library, and would also work well for homeschooling or to use in Sunday School. A book that will certainly become a favorite with youth 4 thru 8, and I can easily imagine that even nine and ten year olds might want to read this one themselves. I found it a delightful read that would be perfect for gift giving.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1411955643000, "title": "Eye catching illustrations and rhyming verse make this one a winner" }, { "asin": "0825442052", "rating": 4, "text": "Youngsters are certainly going to enjoy guessing who as they embark on an adventure with Noah as he gatherers animals for the ark. This sturdy little board book is filled with colorful illustrations that will capture the eye and imagination as well. The rhyming story, which is written in easy to read words just might encourage your youngster to try and read along. The rhyming prose with an interactive question will get youngsters to try and guess just what animal is hiding behind the flap.Glossy pages allow for wiping off if something is spilled, the pages are sturdy and the flaps seem to stay in place when they are folded back up. A perfect little gift that surely will become a favorite, the book is geared toward 2-4 year olds and I would say that age range is pretty accurate. Overall a sturdy little storybook that shares the simplistic story that reveals a few of the animals that Noah had on the ark. One that will certainly keep a youngster entertained as they try and Guess Who is on Noah's Boat.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1414808003000, "title": "Guessing who can be lots of fun" }, { "asin": "B00KDN87CW", "rating": 5, "text": "Melody Carlson is one of my favorite authors because her writing covers such a wide variety of genres! With Trading Secrets we get the story of pen pals Micah Knight and Zack Miller, who just happens to be Amish. Thing is Micah is a girl but she never told Zack that, even though they have been sharing letters for several years. Now Micah has a chance to visit Zack on his Amish farm but how is he going to feel when he finds out that his pen pal is actually a female. .<br /><br />There were so many things that I enjoyed about this book.I can remember when I was assigned a pen pal and I think I was probably in the fifth or sixth grade,my pen pal was from England and his name was Adrian, funny story was that my teacher originally thought Adrian was a girl. Anyway back to Trading Secrets. I liked the setting of Ohio for the story, even though that's pretty typical for Amish fiction. It was the plan that Micah came up with that really got me interested, I couldn't help but wonder how she would pull it off, or even if she could. It was great that the storyline revolved around friendship, and how being honest is important. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and would love to see Ms. Carlson turn into a series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1417391561000, "title": "Another great story from Melody Carlson" }, { "asin": "0800722485", "rating": 5, "text": "At Home In Last Chance is the third book in the Place To Call Home a Series by Cathleen Armstrong. This installment pulls readers right back to Last Chance, New Mexico and tells the story of Kaitlyn Reed and Steven Braden. Kaitlyn has made plenty of mistakes in her life, and hopes to change a few when she returns to Last Chance. Steve also has a few things to prove to his family. When a relationship begins to develop between them will their past get in the way or will their hearts finally find a place to call home?<br /><br />I love the town of Last Chance and was drawn right back into the town and the lives of the characters. i have to admit I really didn't like the character of Kaitlyn in the previous book so I wasn't sure if I would enjoy her story. Well let me say the author totally changed my mind about the character and had me empathizing with her. I loved watching her character grow and change becoming who she needed to be. There is a sense of realism with this entire series that makes it very easy to relate too. I really enjoyed revisiting some of the characters from the previous books but honestly think that this book could be read without having read the other books because the author provides enough background information which allows the reader to connect with the town and characters. An emotionally charged story that grabbed my emotions and made me feel like I was reading about friends.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1422979298000, "title": "Great Series" }, { "asin": "0529103419", "rating": 4, "text": "While everyone around Sarah Montgomery is celebrating the end of the Civil War she finds her heart is broken, longing for Rand Campbell the man who never made it home. Ben Croftner has been coming to call for the past five months and while she knows she will never love him, her family wants her to marry him. Her father is very ill and wants her to take her younger brother and be settled with Ben, her brother Wade just wants to acquire land! Thing is Rand isn't dead, and when Sarah finds out she calls off her wedding, but Ben isn't easily thwarted and decides to take matters into his own hands. Can Sarah and Rand find their way back to each other, and what evilness will Ben try to accomplish in order to keep Sarah for his own?<br /><br />A Heart's Disguise easily pulled me in and wouldn't let go! A short read at only 90 pages there is plenty of life packed into so few pages! It was so easy to imagine Sarah Montgomery and the situation she was placed in. Heartbroken over losing the love of her life she only wanted to ease the mind of her father and appease her brother by marrying someone she didn't love, it seemed though that fate had another idea. Ms. Coble captures the time period right after the war where families were forced to go on even though they were grieving the loss of unreturned loved ones,but we also glimpse the time of celebration that the war was over!This short installment did what it set out to do, it left me wanting more of the story! Of course a sneak peek for A Heart's Obsession the next installment in the Journey of the Heart Series is included at the end. This series of books is taken from the previously published Wyoming Series. Overall fans of historical fiction that takes place right after the civil war will enjoy A Heart's Disguise, but honestly anyone who enjoys a story that blends faith, family and longing should also check it out!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1426467202000, "title": "The waiting for the next installment is the hardest part!" }, { "asin": "1938499867", "rating": 5, "text": "God, Me, And Sweet Iced Tea is like a refreshing sip of peace and tranquility in a sea of the turmoil that one often finds with everyday life. Rose Chandler provides just the right amount of content for her daily readings so that one can read them in just a few minutes but I guarantee you the uplifting messages will resonate with you through out the day. There are fifty-three devotions that share the authors successes but also her struggles, which is something that makes this a very easy devotional book to connect with. The author's faith is evident in each of her devotions, she shares her not only her love for God but also her ability to turn to him in for whatever she needs! Anyone looking for a way to reconnect with God, or perhaps just needing an uplifting way to start their day will certainly find that along with a sweet sense of peace and inspiration as they traverse the pages of God, Me and Sweet Iced Tea.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1430267146000, "title": "A sweet sip of inspiration" }, { "asin": "0718031652", "rating": 5, "text": "A Heart's Obsession is the second installment of The Journey of the Heart series and while a short read really packs plenty of story into a few pages. With this one Rand has headed out west and Sarah soon follows him, but when she arrives things aren't the same between her and Rand. With plenty of action and a non stop plot that really speeds by at a break neck pace this book is one that I just couldn't put down once I started reading it. Ms. Coble makes me feel as if I have stepped right into the lives of the characters, with descriptive writing the setting as well as the characters really come to life. If I had one complaint it's that when I reached the end I was left wanting more! Historical fiction fans especially fans of the time period right after the civil war when the west was becoming settled will find these books hard to put down. While the author provided enough background information with this one that one could probably read it as a stand alone I highly recommend reading the series in order to really get an in depth understanding of the relationships between the characters. Truly a book that leaves me anxiously anticipating the next installment in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1430268731000, "title": "Historical fiction fans will enjoy this series" }, { "asin": "0307731332", "rating": 5, "text": "Family secrets are something that will eventually find their way to light and with this series there are plenty of secrets! With this story Alexa has opened her bed and breakfast in her grandmother's former home, Of course starting a new business is filled with worries so when a young reporter wants to stay at the B and B for a long term stay she readily agrees, but if she knew what his assignment is would she have chosen to do so. With plenty of secrets and more than a few twists this story zooms along making it hard to put down. While the story is told from several points of view Ms. Sawyer transitions smoothly allowing for wonderful clarity . The characters are very well fleshed and easy to connect with. She has a wonderful way of blending faith into the mix of feelings allowing me to totally understand the struggles the characters face. While there are several unanswered questions When Grace Sings is a satisfying read that leaves me longing for the next book in the series!<br />After reading the first book in The Zimmerman Restoration Series I couldn't wait to start this one. This book continues right where the last one left off, saying that though I felt like the author provided enough background information that this one could be read without reading the first book in the series, although I highly recommend it as well. Anyone who enjoys family controversy where secrets abound, faith and a down to earth story where the characters really jump from the pages will enjoy When Grace Sings!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1432264520000, "title": "When Grace Sings" }, { "asin": "0529102781", "rating": 5, "text": "Reading anything by Kathleen Fuller is a guaranteed good read. She has a knack for creating easy to care for characters and as a fan of Amish fiction I feel like she is a top notch writer in the genre. I find it handy that she always provides a glossary for German words used within the story. A solidly written plot that easily pulled me in made this a very enjoyable book to read. Jeremiah Mullet left his Amish community to full fill his dream of becoming a vet, but now he has come back to fill for the vet who ultimately helped him out while he needs to recover from a broken leg. Of course in the process he reconnects with old friends. Anna Mae is one of those friends, she has actually been grappling with what to do with her life for the last several years, of course her mother thinks she should settle down and marry, but she isn't sure what course she wants to take for her life. As she reconnects with Jeremiah one can't help but wonder where the relationship might lead. What is in store for them, he is no longer Amish, so a romantic relationship is out of the question isn't it? What does God have in store for them?<br />This was a solidly written story allowing the pages to fly by. There is another couple in the story that also held my interest. Even though this book is part of a series it really can be read as a stand alone story. Fans of Amish fiction will be thrilled with A Faith Of Her Own, but honestly anyone who enjoys a faith based read with solidly written characters and a sweetly progressing story should give this one a try as well!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1432775145000, "title": "A Faith Of Her Own" }, { "asin": "0718031660", "rating": 5, "text": "I love this series and have been discussing it with a friend of mine and she totally agrees the only dislike is waiting for the next installment of the book, but anticipating what might come next makes it well worth the wait! Truthfully though I actually read the novel Where Leads The Heart the full length novel that this serial story are reprinted from. The saga between Rand and Sarah continue. It's obvious that Rand still loves Sarah but his fiancee is determined to marry him. Plenty of twists provide keep this story moving on at a brisk pace making for a quick historical read that really does leave the reader wanting more! Anyone who enjoys good clean historical fiction where the ending really isn't assured will certainly enjoy this entire series, and speaking of which The Journey of the Heart series should be read in order to understand the complexities of the characters. I really can't wait to read A Heart's Betrayal the next book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1433078037000, "title": "Short historical read" }, { "asin": "0310335884", "rating": 5, "text": "Aaron Ebersol is sort of like the prodigal son returned, you see he left the community of Paradise, Pa years earlier and really didn't keep in close contact with his family, even though his family tried. Now though his mother is sick and he goes home to be with her, thing is he isn't sure how he feels about being back, and more than that how he fits in now. He decides to stay at the Heart of Paradise B&B and soon finds himself developing feelings for Linda Zook. Can their growing friendship become more, can they forgive those that hurt them, but more than that can they forgive themselves?<br /><br />Amy Clipston creates in depth characters who face very real problems within the pages of A Simple Prayer. Those characters are paired together with a well written, easy to follow plot that isn't easy to put down.The conflicts within the story really kept me reading to find out what would ultimately happen.<br />I really enjoy reading Amy Clipston's work but somehow missed a couple of books in the Hearts Of The Lancaster Grand Hotel series but honestly this book is a great stand alone read because the author provides enough background information about the reoccurring characters that I immediately understood who they were. With that said I really hope to go back and read book two and three in the series! Fans of Amish fiction are going to love this story, but anyone looking for a well written story filled with well fleshed characters along with real life issues should give this book a try I really don't think you will be disappointed.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1434131253000, "title": "Great characters make this a stand out read" }, { "asin": "0529103435", "rating": 5, "text": "I have really enjoyed reading this series, and I think that this book A Heart's Betrayal just might be my favorite so far! When Emmie's husband is killed in an accident to say she is devastated is an understatement, but it's the life he never told her about that really shocks her to the core. She decides the only thing to do is to head west to join up with Sarah and Rand, knowing that she will never trust her heart to another again. It doesn't take long though for a kind soldier to begin to breach her defenses. Will she find the new life she is hoping for, and what sort of life will it be?<br /><br />Ms. Coble packs more than a few shocking twists within the pages of A Heart's Betrayal. Emmie's character is easy to relate to, and I couldn't imagine what life might throw at her next! I was rooting for Emmie to find some sort of happiness but couldn't help but wonder about the secret that she carried about her marriage,whether or not it would keep her from finding happiness. The ending leaves me quite anxious to read the next installment in the series! A page turning historical fiction read, that provides easy to like characters and a solid plot that moves along at a quick pace. I do recommend that this series be read in order to fully understand the backgrounds of the characters.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1435548684000, "title": "Quick read that leaves me wanting more!" }, { "asin": "140168596X", "rating": 5, "text": "Her Brother's Keeper by Beth Wiseman is the first book in Ms. Wiseman's newest series Amish Secrets, and judging by this book it's going to be one of her best series yet! Charlotte Dolinsky is an Englisher from Texas who is hurting over the loss of her brother Ethan. You see Ethan went to Pennsylvania to work in construction and then decided to convert to the Amish faith, and was even actually engaged to be married to Hannah King. Why then would he commit suicide? That's what Charlotte wants to know and so she devises a scheme where she disguises herself as a distant Amish cousin of the King family and heads to Pennsylvania to find the answers she is looking for. She is welcomed into the family and even becomes friends with Hannah, but will they continue to be her friend if they find out who she really is? What about her brother's death, what will she learn about his death?<br /><br />Her Brother's Keeper deals with a few tough subjects such as depression, child abuse and suicide, but does so in such a way that instead of feeling overwhelming and depressing it left me feeling inspired and uplifted as the story unfolded, especially as Charlotte began to find her way. Speaking of Charlotte it was fun to watch her become &#34;Mary&#34; because it was very realistic as well as humorous.I really liked the suspense/mystery of the story and found myself wondering just what happened to Ethan. Her Brother's Keeper drew me in from the beginning pages and made me feel like I had stepped into the life of these characters but that's what I have come to expect when I pick up a book by Beth Wiseman.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438035762000, "title": "First book in a new Amish series" }, { "asin": "0718031687", "rating": 4, "text": "With the latest installment of Journey of the Heart Emmie Croftner pushes Isaac Liddle away sacrificing her heart and feelings in order to keep her secret, thing is Isaac isn't about to give up that easily. On top of that Emmie makes a promise to a dear friend that my require that she marry another. Is there any hope that she and Isaac will ever have a future together?<br />I have certainly enjoyed each book in this series, so much so that I actually went back and read the books (The Wyoming Series) that this little series was taken from, because I was impatient to know the whole story. In my observation though I felt like the Journey of the Heart series was more polished, and by that I mean unnecessary descriptions and repetitive words were taken out. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction should give this mini series a chance, I will say that the books do have to be read in order to fully understand the characters. While parts of the story are a tad predictable that doesn't keep me from looking forward to the final book in the series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438307576000, "title": "Quick easy read" }, { "asin": "0764211706", "rating": 5, "text": "I became hooked on the Unexpected Bride series by Melissa Jagears after reading the first book in the series. There is something about a mail order bride story that just draws me in and Ms. Jagears provides just the right blending of drama, romance along with a great historical setting that really makes for a page turning read with a few twists that held my attention from the first page to the last. The characters in this story really come to life, allowing me not only connect but actually care about how their story would work out. I felt like that characters stories were a bit unique compared to other mail order bride stories I have read because they have both tried and failed with the mail order bride situation before. While A Bride at Last is the third book in the series it can easily be read as a stand alone work, actually I somehow missed the second book but that didn't stop me from being drawn in by this story. Anyone who enjoys a fast paced story with more than a few inspirational messages along with a sweetness that will draw you in and have you hoping for the best for the characters will enjoy this story, and if your a fan of the mail order bride genre like me then a Bride At Last will be a must read for you, I will caution once you start reading it you just might not be able to put it down.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438648764000, "title": "Held my attention from beginning to end !" }, { "asin": "1401690513", "rating": 4, "text": "Great characters and a fun, page turning read is what I found within the pages of Counting on a Cowboy. I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions with this story, but there were some poignant moments as well. While Ms. Clopton deals with a few tough issues, with the issue of Alzheimer's really being one that I could relate to, thing is she knows just when to provide a bit of humor to lighten the story. The characters were easy to relate to which pulled me right into the story.<br />If your looking for a good clean cowboy read that is more than just a sweet romance then Counting on a Cowboy by Debra Clopton just might fit the bill! While this book is part of the Four of Hearts Ranch Romance series it can easily be read as a stand alone work. Although the characters and setting has me thinking that I need to read the first book in the series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review", "timestamp": 1441673159000, "title": "Sweet read" }, { "asin": "1601426992", "rating": 4, "text": "always look forward to starting a new Amish series, especially when the author is Cindy Woodsmall, and with Ties That Bind we begin the Amish of Summer Grove Series. Ariana Brenneman grew up in the Old Order Amish and has always been quite content, sure she aspires to open a bakery in the town of Summer Grove, that is if she can get the money together to do it, but that's so she can help out with her family. It had been five years since Quill Schlabach had left the Amish community with a teen girl, and if truth be told Ariana hadn't really ever gotten over it, and now he is back, but can they rebuild their friendship? Thing is Quill has always had feelings for Ariana, but he also knows something that would change her life forever and he wants to help her any way he can even if only she will let him.<br /><br />I found myself struggling to get involved in this book and I think the reason might have been because there were so many characters and their stories to learn,that I felt like I was getting bounced back and forth to much. As the book progressed though I found myself being drawn into the story line. There was a few plot twists that provided just the right amount of ummph to make me want to read on and I am glad that I did! Overall, I didn't connect to this book right away but I am glad that I continued to read, because I have become hooked and can't wait to read the next book in the series!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1443990136000, "title": "Slow start but the story picked up for me" }, { "asin": "1617955876", "rating": 4, "text": "Katie Vale has just traveled half way across the country with her boyfriend to spend Christmas with his family. Within minutes of arriving, in front of all of his family he pops the question! Her answer isn't was what expected though, which might make for an uncomfortable Christmas. Why did she say no, and how can she stay for Christmas with his family now? Well she does, and the lessons she learns will change the way she thinks about family.<br /><br />A fast paced, heart touching story that pulled me right into t he midst of the Bender family. It was interesting to see the story unfold through the eyes of Katie, who really hasn't experienced a family like the Benders before. The characters in the family really propelled this novel along at break neck speed, never once did the plot lag, instead it moved along so fast that I found myself rereading some things just to catch what the author was trying to convey. I wondered from the beginning how life would work out for the main characters. The author begins the book with the marriage proposal and then takes the reader back to allow us to see what transpired, giving the story of the characters, making it easy to understand why Katie gave the answer she did. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen with Katie and Micah, and really felt like her staying with the family would be awkward, bu instead it made for a great story. My first Christmas read for the season, and I have to say it was a quick easy read that touches on faith, family relationships, love, loss and forgiveness. While there are a few poignant moments, there is enough humor to make you laugh, which helps to keep the story light. Well developed characters and a page turning, fast paced plot who could ask for anything more!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1445183799000, "title": "An Endless Christmas" }, { "asin": "0824956478", "rating": 5, "text": "I love finding books that teach valuable lessons and The Sparkle Box does that and more. Not only will the story teach youngsters about the true meaning of Christmas, it just might encourage parents to start a new Christmas tradition with their children. This story really shares what the true meaning of Christmas is, and imparts the wonderful feeling we get when we do for others. The beautiful illustrations really bring the story to life, and The Sparkle Box on the cover is eye catching. Overall this book would make a wonderful gift, I can see it becoming a family tradition.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1449376117000, "title": "The real meaning of Christmas" } ]

[ { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 5, "text": "In this debut novel by Cara Lynn James we are transported back in time to 1899. Back during the day to reach the age of 25 and to be unwed could quickly get you labeled an old maid.<br />Miss Lillian Westbrook finds herself in such a position, she is engaged but has never been married, and to top it off she has been writing dime novels under the pen name of Fannie Cole. To be a female and work and earn your own money just wasn't acceptable so she keeps it hidden from her family and friends.<br />When Jackson Grail, a former boyfriend purchases the publishing house that has been publishing Fanny Cole's novels and then becomes determined to find out just who Fannie is. Lilly has to make some choices to protect her family. Will she be able to keep her identity hidden? Will Jackson and Lilly finally get together?<br />I love reading historical fiction and this book didn't disappoint. Cara Lynn James does a great job of grabbing the readers attention and then keeps the story going at a fast pace. I look forward to reading the next in the Ladies of Summerhill novels.", "timestamp": 1276837436000, "title": "Love On a Dime" }, { "asin": "1404187804", "rating": 5, "text": "The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews is a pint sized gift book that packs a wallop of a message.<br />This book will take you no longer than 10 minutes to read, and is very eye appealing with its beautiful pictures and large font.<br />The resounding message is every single thing we do matters. That the cause and effect of the decisions we make do make a difference.<br />Mr. Andrews starts out by telling us the story of Joshua Chamberlain a Colonel in the Union Army, and how the decisions that Mr. Chamberlain made was like a ripple effect on the US, shaping the countries future.<br />This is a great little motivational read that would be a great gift for anyone who might be suffering from self esteem issues or anyone who you think needs to be reminded that Yes They Do Matter.<br />I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1283859316000, "title": "The Butterfly Effect" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "We only have one chance to live this life and we choose how to live it. Do we stick our heads in the sand and think that everything is ok or do we wake up and realize that as Christians we have the responsibility to make life better for others if we can?<br />This book quotes some staggering numbers, the number of poor, and hungry is something that's hard to imagine. Mr Lucado's book gives us a wake up call as to what we can do to make a change.<br />You don't have to be rich or even well off, instead of focusing on what you don't have to give, focus on what you can give. It's that average Joe that makes a difference, the little things that add up.<br />I really enjoyed his use of scripture throughout this book and liked how he started each chapter with a scripture verse and ended the chapters with another scripture and a prayer.<br />This is a very simply written book that can change your way of thinking, its very inspiring a book that you wont be able to put down and will continue to think about long after you finish it.<br />A very timely message that we all need to read, I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1284121246000, "title": "Outlive Your Life" }, { "asin": "1595540091", "rating": 4, "text": "The year is 1772, and Toma Nicolescu and his friend Alec Cardei have seen their fair share of battles while serving the empress of Russia, Catherine the Great. So when they are dispatched to Moldavia to protect the Cantemir family, a very influential family in Moldavia, until the empress could appoint a ruler for that country who would be loyal to Catherine the Great, they think it will be an easy job.<br />The Cantemir family consisted of Kesia and her twin daughters Lucine and Natasha. Both girls had been taught by their mothers to live as free spirits and basically do whatever felt good, but an unplanned pregnancy and the loss of a baby when Lucine was seventeen had sort of tempered her ways, but not Natasha, she basically is always looking for a good time. Alec known as a ladies man was immediately lusting after Natasha, and while Toma was warned by the empress not to become romantically involved,becomes drawn to Lucine, but keeps his feelings at bay until he feels that Lucine is being threatened by Vlad Van Valerik.<br />When Toma realizes is that Vlad and his entourage aren't what they seem, he knows he will do whatever it takes to save the woman he loves, no matter the cost.<br />I found this book to be very thought provoking, where the characters feelings are so real that you can feel the anguish that Toma felt as well as the evil emitting from Vlad. I really enjoyed how Mr. Dekker tied Vlad's history to the book of Genesis, I only wish he would have traced his history to Lilith instead of the Nephilim.<br />This isn't a clear cut christian novel but instead has so many more elements, it has that horror story element of blood drinking vampires, but it also reminds us of God's unconditional love for us, and how it took the blood of our Savior to save us all!<br /><br />An amazing read, that I won't soon forget.<br /><br />This is my first opportunity to read anything written by Mr. Dekker and I am now his newest fan!", "timestamp": 1284517251000, "title": "Not your typical vampire story!" }, { "asin": "0800733703", "rating": 5, "text": "Don't look Back by Lynette Eason was an edge of your seat thrill ride from beginning to end! A book filled with suspense, romance and a chilling storyline that grabs you and wont let go!<br /><br />Jamie Cash was the only person to survive the kidnapping and torture of the \"Hero\" a serial killer that she escaped from twelve years ago, with extensive therapy she is finally getting her life back on track, but when the \"Hero\" returns to finish the job he started, can FBI agent Dakota Richard protect her from this evil killer?<br /><br />I enjoyed seeing Jamie Cash's faith and trust in God even though she is facing circumstances that might test even the strongest faith, she instead finds solace in her faith giving her problems to God in prayer, actually I felt like it was her faith that kept her strong. Her character came off as very realistic, we saw true emotion from her such as anger and fear, feelings that I thought were perfectly normal for someone experiencing the horror she lived thru, and knowing she might wind up in the Hero's clutches again.<br /><br />FBI agent Dakota Richard is such a sweet guy, he really cared for Jamie, I loved watching their relationship blossom, and Jamie slowly finding comfort in him.He was determined to keep Jamie safe no matter what but could he really protect her?<br /><br />Even though this is the second story in the Women of Justice series it can easily be read as a stand alone work. So if your looking for a page turning drama with an evil killer who likes to get inside his victims heads, along with enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat, and read how someones faith can help them thru even the worst of times, with a sweet romance woven in, then you must read this book! But a word of warning once you start reading you wont be able to put this one down!<br /><br />Available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.\"<br /><br />Even though I was provided a review copy by Revell, thanks Donna, it in no way alters my opinion of this book!", "timestamp": 1287465039000, "title": "An on the edge of your seat story!!!" }, { "asin": "0307458997", "rating": 5, "text": "A lovely novella with a beautiful cover,a new to me author Donita K. Paul writes a charming story that will definitely put you in the holiday spirit.<br /><br />When Cora Crowder finds herself needing a book for an uncle's Christmas gift she heads into the Warner,Werner, Wizbotterdad book store. She has no idea that she will wind up on the receiving end of the stores matchmaking scheme to throw her and her boss Simon together.<br /><br />I loved this book, it had the right balance of romance, fantasy along with a great underlying spiritual message. The characters were fabulous, and I loved the cat.<br /><br />A delightful Christmas romance that will get you in the holiday spirit,and would be great read anytime of the year. I highly recommend this wonderful book!", "timestamp": 1287852118000, "title": "A Charming Story" }, { "asin": "0764208659", "rating": 3, "text": "I wasn't sure what to expect when this book first arrived for me to review. I had never heard of TobyMac before, I think he is popular among the younger audience, but I soon realized that each section in this book is named after a song that he released sometime earlier this year.<br /><br /> Each section consists of short stories, of how God has used people to change the world, some of the stories I had heard before and some were new to me. You will also find prayers and scriptures peppered through out this book that will further inspire and uplift you. Each section ends with a one minute remix and also a call to action prayer.<br /><br />This books resounding message is \"If we gotta start sometime, why not start now.\"If only we are willing to step out of our comfort zone and unite that we can make a difference and change the world.<br /><br />In the right hands this book could be life changing, I think it would be great especially for youth pastors, I think it would be useful in reaching the younger audience, with its hip look and the fact that TobyMac is someone that teens listen to. Overall I think anyone would enjoy reading these inspirational stories!<br /><br />Even though I was provided a copy of this book for review by Bethany House it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1288561993000, "title": "City On Our Knees" }, { "asin": "0800719255", "rating": 5, "text": "I must say that I am guilty of judging a book by its cover, when I saw the cover for Christmas at Harrington's I immediately felt like it was going to be an amazing Christmas story, on the cover you find yourself on a street of any small town in the USA, you have a smiling lady, dressed in a red coat peering into a store window with a display of a Christmas tree and toys snowflakes falling all around her, its just beautiful and depicts the holiday season perfectly.<br />In this story we are introduced to Lena Markham,its less than four weeks till Christmas and she has just been released from prison after serving and eight year sentence for a crime she didn't commit, she was set up by her husband to take the fall for something he did. She decides she wants a fresh start in a new town, so a social worker puts together a release package for her, finding a town to locate her to, setting her up with a place to live and a temporary job, and a bus trip to get her to get her there, while on the bus she meets an elderly lady, Moira who befriends her,telling Lena that she knows despite whatever happened in her past she is sure Lena is a good person. Once they get off the bus together in New Haven, MN she is introduced to Moira's son Sam, who is a lawyer. She soon realizes that the job that she anticipated isn't there, and the only job available is playing Mrs. Santa.<br />Can Lena find the new start in this town she hopes for, and can she keep her past a secret, and what about Sam, how does he play into all of this, you need to read this heartwarming story of second chances to find out!<br />While the story that unfolded inside the pages of this book wasn't exactly what I anticipated , it is exactly what the holiday season is all about, a perfect Christmas read filled with hope, inspiration and second chances.<br /><br />Even though I was provided a review copy of this book by Revell Publishing it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1289716420000, "title": "Christmas At Harrington's" }, { "asin": "1609360257", "rating": 4, "text": "World War II is just coming to an end but the war that is going on inside Esther Lange is unending!<br />She can't forgive herself for the night of passion she shared with Linus Hahn in the backseat of a borrowed car, they were both headed overseas to war, and it just happened. When that night turns into a daughter for them Esther is released from the Red Cross with no place to go. So she writes Linus, and his reply is for her to go to his hometown and stay with his parents, and that's what she has been doing for the last two years, living in their attic, raising her daughter and working at a hospital taking care of the war wounded.<br />Living with Linus' parents isn't easy, they are very hardened, feeling like she trapped their son. When she receives a letter indicating that Linus may have been killed in action, she isn't sure what to believe, but one thing she knows for sure is that she is relieved, she won't have to marry a man she doesn't love,and barely even knows. She really believes that she was no more than a one night stand for Linus as well, and it soon comes to light that Linus had a longstanding girlfriend who works in the same hospital as Esther,and she threatens to make Esther pay for stealing Linus away from her!<br />Since there has been no other information about Linus she starts corresponding with Peter Hess the medic who sent her the information about Linus. Soon they develop a friendship, and it starts to develop into something more, but when Peter's secret is exposed can they overcome it, and will Esther ever forgive herself for the mistake she made?<br />This was an amazing story, just when you thought things were working out the author throws a monkey wrench into it that take it in the opposite direction. The feelings are so strongly written in this book, that you are easily transported back to war time America. You can also feel the turmoil going on inside Esther, she judges herself so harshly for the mistake she made that night and is unwilling to see that she has already been forgiven by God, she just needs to accept it! Peter's story was one I kept thinking of long after I finished reading it, he was such a kind person, a victim of circumstances really, but he always kept his faith in God.The letters that passed between Peter and Esther were such a treat to read, I enjoyed seeing their friendship blossom.<br /><br />I found this book a real joy to read, the author does an amazing job of taking a work of fiction and weaving a bit of a history lesson in. While this was my first time reading anything from Susan May Warren, it certainly won't be my last!<br /><br />Even though I was provided a copy of this book by Litfuse it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1289881365000, "title": "Nightingale" }, { "asin": "0764207326", "rating": 4, "text": "Jackie Donovan is almost thirty. All she has ever wanted was to find a wonderful man to marry, and to purchase Bailey Place a B&B. She and her best friend Minnie visited it often when they were children, they both want to own it, but widower Minnie is working two jobs to support her son and Jackie works at a magazine writing articles about local business owners. When she meets the owner of Bailey House,Erikson Davis, she soon starts hoping her dreams might finally be coming true.<br /><br />While this story was a bit slow to start for me, once it picked up I became anxious to see how things would work out. The characters are very down to earth making them very easy to relate to, although I would say some of them were offbeat! I really enjoyed how Jackie's family was always trying to fix her up.<br />The author does an amazing job of describing the setting for this book, transporting you to the small town setting.<br />An added bonus are the wonderful sounding recipes included, which I definitely will be trying out!<br />If your in the mood for a sweet, but not sappy romance, with a little humor woven in, then give this book a try! For me not a great read, but overall I enjoyed the book and will be looking for more from this author..<br /><br />rating 3.5/5<br />Book provided by Bethany House for review.", "timestamp": 1295688005000, "title": "Hatteras Girl" }, { "asin": "0800732596", "rating": 5, "text": "Elise Stortsen, has some major changes happen. Her mom has landed a new job that moves Elise into a new school district, so instead of starting her junior year in her old school, where she wasn't very popular anyway, she will be going to Garfield High. She is just about to turn sixteen and having never been kissed hopes to change that by her birthday. When Asher, a popular boy in school starts showing an interest in Elise, she wonders if he might give her that first kiss.<br />Her first day of school goes great, Asher introduces her to the in-crowd, which includes Asher's girlfriend. So when Elise gets an email from Asher, she soon finds herself caught up in something that soon puts her reputation on the line, and jeopardizes her future, but it also makes her realize what is important, and in the process strengthens her faith in God!<br />I think this book is a must read for all teen girls. It deals with some pretty heavy subjects, but these are real life problems that are facing teens today.The character of Elise was very well written. She was very down to earth and easy to relate to. I totally understood the reactions of the characters in the story, and while Stacie did something wrong, she didn't do it with malicious intent, but there were still repercussions.<br />This book moved at a brisk pace and I felt the ending wrapped up the story nicely. There is a spiritual message woven throughout the book, but it isn't preachy or overwhelming.Whether your a teen or not, this book is well worth reading!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book for review, but it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1295814869000, "title": "A great read whether your a teen or not!" }, { "asin": "0800734564", "rating": 5, "text": "When U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor get a call that his next assignment will be to protect federal judge Elizabeth Michaels he is less than happy. His best friend Doug was married to her, and from the things Doug told him before his death, the marriage was very unhappy and it was Liz's fault. Doug said she was cold hearted and only her only focus was on her job. Can he put his feelings aside and do the assignment?<br />When Liz Michael's sister is shot in the back of the head, Liz believes her sisters abusive husband is to blame. Because she is a federal judge she needs to be protected by U.S. Marshals. When she realizes Jake will be the marshal assigned to keep her safe she wonders what her husband told him about her. As she and Jake spend time together one thing is for sure Jake is starting to realize that his opinion of Liz may be wrong. Did his friend Doug lie to him?<br />When it becomes evident that Liz may have been the shooters target, can Jake keep her safe, and figure out who is out to get her?<br />There is never a dull moment in this story! It grabs you from the first pages with the tragic shooting of Liz's sister, and how Liz's life is turned upside down while she is being protected from someone who may be out to kill her. Liz is very level headed, and almost always holds herself together but there are a few instances where that facade slips. Jake's character really stood out. He goes above and beyond where his job is concerned, and is devoted to his family.<br />A fantastic first book in Irene Hannon's new Guardians of Justice series. If this book is any indicator this series is going to be great!<br />Anyone who is a fan of light romance, mystery and suspense with a bit of a christian message woven in will enjoy this book.<br /><br />I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1296024023000, "title": "Fatal Judgement" }, { "asin": "0764206710", "rating": 3, "text": "Ruth Livingstone's life is turned upside down when her father is falsely accused of murdering a prostitute. Her father gives her the deceased woman's child and sends her to a small town to stay with a family he knows. That family thinks Ruth is a former prostitute, but they allow the town to believe she is a widow, with a small child. Her only solace is tending a once abandoned garden.<br /><br />Because of a mistake two years ago Asher \"Jake\" Tripp walked away from the \"Galaxy\", the newspaper he and his brother owned, the mistake he made almost caused the business to fail, but his brother Clifford had worked hard and the paper was once again thriving. Jake wants to return to the paper.Hoping to redeem himself in the eyes of his brother, he offers to take an assignment out of town, trying to track down Ruth Livingstone, who disappeared right before her fathers trial began. When he tracks Ruth to the town she is staying in, he takes residence as Jake Spenser, a handyman recovering from a broken back.<br /><br />Ruth and Jack both have plenty of secrets, but once they meet, and share time together, love slowly blooms, will their secrets keep the two apart, or will love be able to work everything out?<br /><br />For some reason I just didn't connect with this story, it actually took several weeks for me to read. I liked the historical aspect of the book, and while the storyline was ok, it just wasn't great. I couldn't really connect with any of the characters, I kept hoping we would get more of Ruth's back story, such as whether she left friends behind, or perhaps a boyfriend, she was in her twenties so she certainly must have had a life before she went into hiding with the child. This book was my first foray into reading anything written by Delia Parr, and while it didn't sweep me away, it wont dissuade me from reading more of her work.<br /><br />rating 2.5/5", "timestamp": 1296362439000, "title": "Love's First Bloom" }, { "asin": "0800734521", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Lady In The Mist\" takes place in 1809 in Seabourne VA. The protagonist Tabitha Eckles is a twenty-four year old midwife, the thing that makes Tabitha unusual is the fact that she isn't married. She learned her midwifery skills from her mother and grandmother, and once they died she continued to help her town , even though several people felt it wasn't right because she is unmarried. When a premature birthing results in the death of the mother and baby, she finds herself threatened at knife point, who could be threatening her? Could it have something to do with Dominick Cherrett a man she literally ran into on her way home after the birthing? Or does it have something to do with her job as a midwife?<br /><br />What a fascinating story! The author draws you into the story immediately. Tabitha's character is so easy to relate to. Her relationship with God has suffered because she feels that he has taken everyone that matters away from her, but she still has a tender-heart. Dominick was an interesting character as well, working as an indentured servant for the mayor, you know he has a few secrets. As he spends time with Tabitha, he soon loses his heart to her, something he didn't plan. I enjoyed the mystery and suspense woven into this historical romance. I also loved the cover of this book, it was very eye catching, so sometimes you can judge a book by its cover!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1297996914000, "title": "Lady In The Mist" }, { "asin": "143470212X", "rating": 5, "text": "Passport Through Darkness\" isn't your typical missionary workers story. Instead Kimberly Smith takes the reader on a journey around the world to Sudan and other war torn countries. She shares the atrocities that women and children face in these countries every day.<br /><br />Kimberly Smith was your average American woman, working in the corporate world, a wife, mother and a faithful church member, she was living a good life, but she felt as if something was missing, she longed to make her life matter. About that time her husband Milton started suggesting that they do something meaningful, something to make a difference in other peoples lives. One day as Milton browses thru a magazine in a waiting room he finds an article asking for missionaries to serve in Spain, ironically Milton had been a missionary in Spain back in the 80's, so with what I would consider a giant leap of faith, they were accepted by a missionary agency to work in Spain so they sold everything they had starting a new life journey in the missionary field. While in Spain the couple became aware of the plight of human trafficking, causing them to cofound Make Way Partners, which works to prevent human trafficking worldwide.<br /><br />I knew a bit of the plight in Sudan before reading this book, but this book brings it front and center, allowing you to see these victims as real people, while it is a hard to read the accounts that are shared in the story, it is a message that needs to be spread.<br /><br />Thanks to B&B Media for providing me a copy of this book for review.", "timestamp": 1299121982000, "title": "Passport Through Darkness" }, { "asin": "0764208500", "rating": 2, "text": "It has taken me forever to finish this book, I started reading it back in November and found myself putting it down for extended periods because it was a story that really didn't inspire me, I couldn't become interested in the characters, and just couldn't relate to the story.<br /><br />The protagonist in this story is an almost thirty year old who aspires to be a writer even quitting her job to return to school to get her masters degree. Because no one is buying her story, she gets numerous rejections, she is working part time as an English professor to pay the bills. Her roommate Zoe, seems to have no problem getting her story published in a magazine that has rejected Amy's.While Amy's character is overall a good person, she is constantly struggling with self doubt, feeling like things aren't working out the way she planned.<br /><br />While I didn't connect with the story,I wouldn't hesitate to read something else by Bethany Pierce. Her writing wasn't the problem, it was just that the book didn't click for me.<br /><br />Book provided by Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1299643226000, "title": "This book didn't inspire me" }, { "asin": "1854249746", "rating": 4, "text": "I must admit I am a huge fan of historical fiction especially mysteries and intrigue, but \"A Trail Of Ink\" by Mel Starr was my first foray into the midieval time period. I wasn't sure how I would like the time period but I actually loved it!<br /><br />This story is set in the town of Oxford England, where Hugh de Singleton is trying to solve the mystery of his friend John Wyclif's stolen books. Twenty-two books in all have been taken, and two of them are borrowed books from a friend of John's. The books were stolen right out of Master Wyclif's room while he was out to supper. Hugh is also interested in Kate Caxton, a stationer's daughter. So Hugh jumps into solving the mystery as he also tries to to win Kate's favor.<br /><br />While this story was a bit hard for me to get into in the beginning, it soon took off transporting me back to medieval England. The author rolls together mystery, suspense, and murder together to make the story a satisfying read. I did find myself turning to the glossary provided in the front of the book because of some of the words used during the time period. \"A Trail Of Ink\" is the third book in the chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon series, but can easily be read as a stand alone work, although I do wish I had read the first two books in the seriesThe ending provides a teaser for the next book in the series titled \"Unhallowed Ground\", which I look forward to reading.<br /><br />Book provided by Litfuse and the publisher for review.", "timestamp": 1299798789000, "title": "A Trail Of Ink" }, { "asin": "0800734076", "rating": 5, "text": "I can count on one hand the Biblical fiction novels that I have read, but I am really starting to like this genre. While the stories are works of fiction, the reader learns alot about the characters that the author is writing about. Realizing that \"Love Amid The Ashes\" was the story about Job and Dinah I found myself thinking about their stories in the Bible, while Job's story was one that I was pretty familiar with, a man who suffers many trials and tribulations but never waivers in his faith in God. Dinah on the other hand was someone I never thought alot about, I remember her story, as the daughter of Jacob and Leah, she was defiled by Shechem, who was later killed by her brothers. For me I never really thought about how Dinah's life might have been altered by the act.<br />I found this book something I really enjoyed reading. The author provides the reader with a genealogical chart at the beginning of the story, that helps keep the many characters straight. I liked the way that she opens each chapter with a Bible verse allowing me to relate the chapters to the verses. The author allows us to see these biblical characters with heart and feelings by drawing us into their stories. This debut novel will certainly be a hit for anyone who enjoys biblical fiction, but its also a good story for anyone who likes a compelling faith filled story.<br /><br />Available March 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.", "timestamp": 1301199627000, "title": "Love Amid The Ashes" }, { "asin": "1414339429", "rating": 5, "text": "When I picked up \"Journey To Riverbend\" I thought that it was probably going to be another historical fiction romance novel, but boy was I wrong. While there is a bit of romance between a few of the characters the author really gives us a true western novel filled with a hanging, an attempted stagecoach robbery, a kidnapping, a shootout and a posse searching for kidnappers. He rolls this together with a story about regrets and forgiveness, and faith in God.<br /><br />While Michael Archer couldn't save Ben Carstairs from being hanged for a crime he didn't commit, he is determined to try and fulfill Ben's dying wish, which was to make amends with his father Sam, to tell him that he forgave him for the way he treated him and return his mothers necklace.<br /><br />Michael makes the journey to Riverbend to deliver Ben's message to Sam but finds that Sam is out of town for business and will be gone for a few days. Michael decides to hang around until he returns, and he soon learns that Sam Carstairs is a ruthless man who has no use for God and uses people to get what he wants.While staying in Riverbend Michael meets Rachel Stone a young lady who has found refuge with the local preacher and his family. They feel drawn to each other but because of issues that haunt them from their past they are unsure that they are ready for a relationship, but that doesn't stop Michael from thinking about a future that might include a move to Riverbend.<br />Sam Carstairs has wronged several people in his past, doing whatever he could to obtain more wealth but when he is kidnapped the town doesn't hesitate to form a posse to try and find him. Michael decides to ride along hoping that he can help, will they find Sam before its to late?<br />What an interesting story, the characters in the story are well fleshed out. Rachel and Michael each have issues from their past that continue to dog them. Rachel is making great strides toward her future even though some of the townspeople won't let her forget her past. Michael was a strong caring compassionate character who was also dealing with demons from his past. While I really didn't like the character of Sam Carstairs by the end of the story I felt sorry for him. The ending of the story leaves me hoping that Mr. McLaughlin will write a sequel for this story!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1301205637000, "title": "I hope the author is writing a sequel for this one!" }, { "asin": "1595548017", "rating": 5, "text": "Abigail Jones works for her mothers magazine called the Viewpoint. Because of the stress of her job her mother encourages her to take some time off and go to Montana and check on her aunt Lucy. When she arrives Lucy is fine, but Wade, the cowboy who owns the ranch where Lucy lives needs a nanny for his daughter, and Abigail takes the job. Abigail knows Wade is hiding something and thinks it just might be a story that could save her mothers magazine. Of course feelings develop between Wade and Abigail, will she choose to go forward with the story which will expose Wade, or will she decide to protect the relationship that is blooming between them?<br /><br />Wow! The word for this one is fantastic. This is one of those stories that I just couldn't put down. The author weaves romance, a bit of mystery, and a nice christian message together to produce a story that begs to be read. Oh did I mention the hunky cowboy. The chemistry between the main characters was static, it just jumps off the page at you.<br />The imagery that the author paints with her words make you feel as if your right in the middle of Montana, how could you not love a place called Moose Creek! Readers of christian romance will surely enjoy this one, but this book would also appeal to fans of romance with a western setting.<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1303268262000, "title": "A Cowboy's Touch" }, { "asin": "0781403790", "rating": 5, "text": "While these books are reprints of books that were orginally printed back in the 1974, I somehow missed them growing up, but I am so glad that I had the chance to read them now. I consider them timeless classics that will certainly appeal to many, and should be on every little girls bookshelf. While the stories that grandma shares with her grand daughter are fun to read they are also educational, and provide the reader with little life lessons. The illustrations peppered throughout the book are cute and will capture the imagination of the young reader.<br /><br />These books would make a perfect gift for young readers, but I think anyone who likes to reminisce about the \"Good Old Days\" will certainly enjoy these books.<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of these books by B&B Media in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1303788390000, "title": "Perfect stories for young and old alike" }, { "asin": "1595547851", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Fairer Than Morning\" is a historical fiction novel set in the 1820's in Rushville Ohio and Pittsburgh PA.Ann Miller's boyfriend has just proposed to her. Eli Bowen is nineteen but Ann is only fifteen. She turns him down because she knows her father would never allow her to marry before she turns eighteen, because it is what her mother would have wished.Ann was only nine when her mother died, leaving Ann to become the mother figure for her two younger sisters Mabel and Susan. Her father is a saddler and also a circuit preacher which leaves Ann to be the caretaker of the children quite often. When Ann's father needs to attend business in Pittsburgh he allows the girls to go along. Where she meets Will, someone that she can't quit thinking about.<br /><br />Will Hanby signs up for five years of indentured service to Jacob Good so that he can learn to be a saddler. But Mr. Good is a cruel man who thinks nothing of abusing Will. When the abuse becomes to much Will makes a drastic decision that has him running to the Miller farm for refuge.<br />While this story is a historical fiction, it is actually based on real people, which had me anxious to read this story. The story drew me in from the first pages when a young girl at fifteen is being proposed to. The author easily draws you into the lives of the characters in the story, making you feel as if you are right there with them. Parts of this story were hard to read, the abuse that Will and the other slaves suffered was really heart wrenching.<br />This is the first book in The Saddler's Legacy Series, and I for one will be looking for the next book titled \"Sweeter Than Birdsong\" due out in Feb 2012.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1304306070000, "title": "Great new series" }, { "asin": "0800733711", "rating": 5, "text": "When Detectives Noah Lambert and Kit Kenyon are assigned to the murder case of Walter Davis a twenty nine year old man who was getting ready to graduate from Wofford Law College, there pretty sure it isn't a random killing and when the second body shows up, a young lady who attended the same college the pair realizes that there is a serial killer on the loose. As they try and find the killer, the killer has his own plans which includes one of the detectives. Will the pair be able to figure out who the killer is before its to late?<br /><br />This book takes off like a house on fire, with unstoppable twists and turns to keep you flipping the pages to figure out who the killer is, and for while I thought I knew who the killer might be, I really wasn't sure until the end of the story.<br />The characters in this novel are easy to connect with, Kit and Noah both have issues from their past, and Kit has let those issues keep her from God, but not so with Noah, he has a wonderful relationship with God. The relationship that develops between Noah and Kit was nice, and added to the story.<br /><br />While this book is the third book in the Women Of Justice series it can easily be read as a stand alone work because the author gives sufficient background so that you don't feel lost. If your a fan suspense/mystery novels that will keep you on the edge of your seat, that also weaves in a bit of inspiration and romance as well then you should certainly pick up this book, but I would suggest that you read the entire series, because the books are just that good!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1306640184000, "title": "A Killer Among Us" }, { "asin": "1595549242", "rating": 4, "text": "Spring For Susannah is set in the 1800's shortly after the civil war, but before the west was tame, when the Dakota's were still just a territory.<br />Susannah Underhill really felt as if she didn't have a choice, when she decides to become a mail order bride for her pastor's brother. She had been living a very comfortable life in Michigan until her parents die. When someone shows up at her home telling her that her father owed alot of money to the bank and even attacks her, the only thing for her to do is to become a mail order bride for her pastor's brother Jessie.<br />When she arrives at Fourth Siding in the Dakota territory, she meets her husband Jessie,a non-stop talker, totally opposite from Susannah. As she learns about Jessie she realizes what a kind considerate man he is, but can she let go of her insecurities and allow love to bloom?<br /><br />As a fan of historical fiction I found the book quite enjoyable.It was nice to see the character of Susannah grow from a timid person into someone that could take care of herself, and also find her way back to God. I felt like the secondary characters were well rounded and added to the story. I am always a sucker for dogs in a story and Jake was great. The author also adds a bit of humor to the story which worked well. The one negative to the story was the rushed ending. All in all a good debut novel from Catherine Richmond.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1306778746000, "title": "Nice debut novel" }, { "asin": "1595548114", "rating": 5, "text": "\"A Vision Of Lucy,\" is set in Rocky Creek Texas during 1882. The plot revolves around Lucy Fairbanks, a young lady who dreams of being a photographer but her father isn't crazy about the idea. She has badgered the owner of the newspaper and is finally told if she can get a shot of the elusive white mustang then her photos will be put in the paper, but its not easy getting a picture of a wild mustang so she shimmies up a tree and plans on waiting but when she falls out landing on top of a stagecoach about to be robbed, well its easy to see that she doesn't always have the best of luck.So she figures if she can get a picture of the town recluse David Wolf, also known as the Wild Man she still might have a shot at her newspaper job, but when she meets him feelings start to develop. Neither are really looking for love, but sometimes God has other plans!<br /><br />What a fun book this was. Lucy was always finding herself in such precarious spots, and if I might say so she was a bit clumsy. The author does a fantastic job of painting such vivid pictures of the situations she was in that I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. I love reading historical fiction where you feel as if you learn a bit while you read and in this story I felt like I learned a bit about early photography, which was quite interesting. This book is the third book in the Rocky Creek Romance series but can easily be read as a stand alone work. Fans of quick paced historical fiction with a nice inspirational message will certainly devour this one. Margaret Brownley is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1307659325000, "title": "A Vision Of Lucy" }, { "asin": "082543310X", "rating": 5, "text": "Whenever I read a historical fiction story that is based on true events I always love the fact that I am learning a bit about history that perhaps I might never really know alot about otherwise. With How Huge The Night the authors do an amazing job of weaving together fact and fiction, to transport us back to the days of WWII, seeing the events of the time thru the eyes of two teenagers Nina and Julian, while I knew at some point their stories would meld I wasn't sure how they would connect.<br /><br />The characters in this story are completely believable and it is very easy to imagine the things that they are going thru. Julian is your typical teenager, he isn't a man but neither is he really a boy. He isn't really happy that his family left their home in Paris to move to the farm in southern France with his grandfather, he is dealing with issues such as trying to fit in at school, not to mention trying to get along with Benjamin the Jewish boy who has also moved in with his grandfather.<br />As Nina's father is lying on his deathbed he makes Nina promise that she will take her brother and leave Austria.For me their parts of their story was heart wrenching, and I found myself praying that they would be all right.<br /><br />I found this to be a compelling story that has many lessons woven in. A coming of age story during a difficult time period where the characters display great courage faith and hope. While this book is geared toward young adults I would easily recommend it to older adults as well.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1308955795000, "title": "Compelling historical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800734653", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become a fan of Biblical fiction, and when one latches onto my imagination and allows me to see Biblical characters in a whole new way while staying true to what the Bible says then its a winner in my book. When I started reading the book of \"Martha,\" I kept thinking to myself Martha who, but once her brother Lazerus is mentioned, it started to fall into place for me, because who doesn't know the story of Lazerus being raised from the dead.<br /><br /> As the story unfolds Martha becomes a very real character with feelings and longings just like any other young lady. While she longs to marry, how could it ever happen, she stepped into the role of caretaker of her family when her mother died and took that responsibility very seriously, but that doesn't stop her from wishing for a husband and children of her own. I had hoped the relationship with Thaddeus would work out but it wasn't meant to be. Some of the most exciting parts of the story were when Jesus stayed with Martha and her family.<br />If you are like me and are unsure who Martha was once you read this book you will never forget her.I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, and if you have never read Biblical fiction then this quick read is the perfect book to introduce you to this exciting genre.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1309579648000, "title": "Martha" }, { "asin": "0800734238", "rating": 5, "text": "In \"Blue Skies Tomorrow\" the author weaves together a compelling story that transports the reader back to WWII, with characters that easily draw us in, allowing us to share in their strengths and struggles making their stories come to life.<br />Helen Carlisle's is supposed to be the grieving widow when her husband dies a war hero. She puts on a good face, but its becoming harder to do because she is carrying a secret about her husband and their marriage, which was far from happy, but she is determined to hide the truth.<br />Lt.Ray Novak grapples with feeling like a coward. His job is to train pilots to fly missions, but he has never been in combat himself. When the Army Air Forces decides to start using the returning combat pilots as instructors Ray finds himself transferred back home as a supply officer where he reconnects with his friend, recently widowed Helen Carlisle. Can the two find happiness together?<br />Helen was someone who was certainly scarred by her past.While the shame wasn't hers she carried it anyway.Helen's story caused my heart to ache for her, but the ending certainly was great! It was inspirational to see her character grow and change through out the story. I thought that Ray's character was wonderful, his love of God really shined through. If you enjoy historical fiction set during WWII with romance, drama and a wonderful inspirational message your going to enjoy this one. A great conclusion to a fantastic series. I can't wait to read more from this talented author!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.", "timestamp": 1314504547000, "title": "Historical fiction at its best" }, { "asin": "0764208055", "rating": 4, "text": "I love historical novels, and if they are set in the west then that's just an added bonus.In this one Yvonne Harris transports us back in time to August 1886 in El Paso Texas. Elizabeth Evans moves to Texas from Washington to look after her brother Lloyd and his daughter Ruthie after the death of his wife and newborn son, and in return he will teach her the newspaper business,but instead her brother is shot dead and Elizabeth is kidnapped by Mexican outlaws. When Jake Nelson, a Texas Ranger learns of the shooting and kidnapping he sets out to rescue Elizabeth.When he finds her there is an immediate attraction,but could a relationship ever work between the two?<br /><br />With plenty of page turning action from the beginning, this book is certainly a quick read.I enjoyed learning a bit about the Texas Rangers,and the time period in general, while reading a sweet romance. I liked main characters in this book. Both were dealing with issues from their past that caused them to guard their hearts. Jake's heart was broken by his fiance, and the death of Elizabeth's husband Carl, who was killed in the line of duty in the Army, caused her to fear getting involved with someone who might put their job first.<br /><br />I think anyone who enjoys a good historical fiction western,with romance and plenty of action will certainly enjoy this fast paced read, I know I did.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1315725865000, "title": "A River To Cross" }, { "asin": "0764205978", "rating": 5, "text": "This was a different sort of read for me. I don't ever remember reading a story about smoke jumpers, and actually I am not sure I knew what a smoke jumper was before reading this story. I knew there were firefighters who go in and fight the major forest fires, but I honestly didn't realize there were men who are dropped in to fight the fires by cutting down trees etc. So not only did I get an action packed story but I also learned something new which is always a bonus.<br />The main characters in this one are Silas Kent a smoke jumper and Elle Westmore a pilot who drops smoke jumpers into the heart of a fire. Silas and Elle have a history together, but parted ways. Their paths cross again when when she takes an assignment to fly a smoke jumping crew out of Redding, CA to the Desolation Complex in the Sierra Nevada's to battle a raging fire. Soon though they realize there is more going on in those mountains than just the fires, there is cache of gold and some of the men on the smoke jumping crew is on a mission to recover it!<br />What a fast paced read. Elle was someone who had alot on her plate. She has the responsibility of taking care of her five year old daughter Maddie, while doing a very demanding job. I thought the little twist about her short marriage to Maddie's father was quite interesting. Silas seemed to have grown quite a bit from being someone who ran from a serious relationship to wanting to take care of Elle.I really got hooked on the characters from the beginning pages and became anxious to see how things would work out.<br /> There is plenty of page turning action, with romance, suspense mystery and drama woven together with a christian message woven in to keep you reading until the final page.<br />While this is the first time I have ever read anything by Shawn Grady, it certainly wont be my last. I really enjoyed his writing style, his vivid descriptions and suspense filled story makes this book a real winner!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1315790719000, "title": "entertaining and educational" }, { "asin": "0800719956", "rating": 5, "text": "I have read a few of Suzanne Woods Fisher's stories set in Lancaster County, so I was anxious to read a Christmas story set in the area. It's the story of two families, an Amish family, The Riehl's and an English family the Fitzpatricks. Each family is struggling with major life issues and need a bit of reminding as to what is important in life.<br /><br />Mattie, Sol, and Danny Riehl have made a trip to the doctors office for a follow up because Mattie suffered a miscarriage a few weeks ago. While they have six year old Danny, Mattie has always dreamed of having a houseful of children but struggles with infertility. The situation has stolen Mattie's joy making her question why others can so easily have children but she can't. Jaime and C.J. Fitzpatrick have issues of their own. C.J. is a teacher, but also works with his dog Tucker as a search and rescue team. His marriage to his wife Jaime seems to be slowly raveling apart and he isn't sure what to do to fix it. Jaime's father left when she was young, and when he recently dropped back into her life, she became frantic to have his acceptance, add to this the fact that she lost her mother six months ago to a freak accident and suspicions that her husband is having an affair. She won't talk to C.J. and he is unsure how to reach her. When the couple runs an errand to the Riehl farm, they become stranded. Did God bring these two families together to help each other?<br /><br />I loved this story, I read it in about an hour and was anxious to see how things would turn out. The plot moved along well, and wasn't predictable like many of the Christmas stories I read. The characters are very realistic with the issues they are dealing with. I read alot of Amish stories and often the Amish seem a bit condescending where the English are concerned but not so in this story. The Riehl's were very open and accepting of the Fitzpatrick's, and not only that we see Mattie really struggle with the issues she is facing.I thought the story line with Mattie's cousin Zach really added to the main story, and Danny was such an inquisitive child. I love when an author adds a dog to the story, and Tucker and C.J.'s job as a SAR team was interesting and I enjoyed learning a bit about it.<br />If your looking for an inspirational Christmas story set in Amish country give this one a try, for me the only complaint I had was seeing it end.", "timestamp": 1316916196000, "title": "A Lancaster County Christmas" }, { "asin": "0446570869", "rating": 5, "text": "Susan Lambert is in the city of Prague because her beloved grandmothers funeral is being held there. Raised by her grandmother since the age of twelve when her parents were killed in a car accident, an accident that Susan had a feeling about, and that's the thing, Susan had always had a feeling of discernment. The ability to sense when something wasn't right and that was a feeling she got when she decided to visit St. Vitus Cathedral. Even though she was alone in the Cathedral she felt as if someone was there with her, and even glimpsed what she thought was a man. She sees the same man a few more times, and when her cousin Wendy decides to go partying with a stranger that oozes evil, she feels compelled to find her cousin and get her away from this man.The man that Susan glimpsed in the Cathedral,(Raphael) approaches Susan and offers to help her find Wendy, but in return he tells Susan he will need her help. Susan is soon introduced to things she would have never imagined, and learns that vampires do exist and Raphael is a vampire set to fight a war against an evil vampire who wants to rule the world.<br /><br />I love vampire fiction and I was quite excited to read a vampire tale that was woven into christian fiction. I enjoyed getting to know the characters especially Raphael. Thru flashbacks we learn why he was cursed to be a vampire. The way the author explains why some people become vampires was quite different from most vampire tales. Her take was that some people are so inherently evil that they are cursed as vampires thus living longer in the hopes that they will eventually learn their mistakes and accept God, which was something that Raphael was still struggling with even after 900 years. While Raphael is a vampire it was easy to sense a goodness in him, although when Susan's life was in jeopardy we certainly saw his dark side.The forbidden feel of the attraction between Susan and Raphael kept me turning the pages to see if a romance would develop.The secondary character of David added to the story for me, a reluctant hero, who was only in Prague for three months on a job assignment staying in the same hotel as Wendy and Susan, when he hears on of the women cry out he tries to help them and learns the hard way that vampires exist and soon finds himself being trained as a vampire slayer. The relationship between David and Wendy was sweet.<br />I really hated to see this book end, and left me wanting to read a sequel. I really can't wait to see how the relationship between Raphael and Susan goes. A vampire tale woven together with a christian theme, and a fight of good versus evil, the perfect October read! On a scale of one to five I would easily give this one a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1317783522000, "title": "In a word FANGTASTIC" }, { "asin": "0800733460", "rating": 5, "text": "Having enjoyed the first book in Janice Thompson's Backstage Pass series I was anxious to read this one. I must say I think this book just might be better than the first one, with returning characters from the first book as well as a few new ones, I found this book to be laugh out loud funny.<br />Athena Pappas has a pretty full life with her family and friends and even though the ratings have lagged a bit she still feels pretty secure in her job as head writer for the popular sit com Stars Collide. But when the producers decide to hire a comedian, Stephen Cosse to help bolster the ratings she suddenly wonders what will happen if he is a better writer, will her job be in jeopardy? When she meets him she feels an attraction, and soon not only is Stephen worming his way into her heart but so has his eleven year old daughter Brooke.Will they figure out that some of the best things in life don't follow a script, or will they guard their hearts against love?<br /><br />This was a sweet, funny story. It was easy to imagine the Athena's Greek family. I could easily understand why Stephen's daughter Brooke was drawn to the Pappas family, they are so warm and welcoming. I always love when a dog is included in a story and the introduction of Zeus, the Greek Domestic Dog was totally funny! It was great to see how Brooke and Zeus connected. The Greek food mentioned in this story really had my mouth watering, it sounded delicious!<br />If you enjoy reading contemporary christian romance with a great flare for humor then you certainly need to read this book, and while it is the second book in the series I feel like it could be read as a stand alone work, although I highly recommend reading the first book in the series as well.<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review*", "timestamp": 1318129897000, "title": "Laugh out loud funny" }, { "asin": "0764209418", "rating": 5, "text": "I became hooked on Patti Lacy's work after reading \"The Rhythm of Secrets\" and couldn't wait to read this book. Well all I can say it was worth the wait!<br />The authors writing style is captivating. Gloria Powell had always wanted a child, so after jumping thru hoops and cutting thru red tape she and her husband Andrew believe there is a baby waiting for them in China so they make the trip from Texas. When they arrive though the promised baby isn't there instead the child is a young girl, but Gloria isn't thwarted instead she knows its the child God intended for them to have. They take her home to Texas and rename her Joy, because she is the joy of their life. although she does become a bit rebellious in her teen years. Turns out Joy is actually Lily and Lily has a sister Kai who made a death bed promise to her mother in China to reclaim the sister that had been at the orphanage. Kai now works in the states and becomes determined to find her sister to not only full fill the wish she made to her mother, but also because there may be a genetic issue that could possibly affect Lily. What happens when Kai finds her sister, how will it affect Lily(Joy) and her adoptive family?<br /><br />This story was touching and inspiring. The author deals with foreign adoption a topic I haven't read a lot about,so it was a bit educational for me. She also touches on the topic of teen rebellion,where the teen is trying to figure out where she fits in the world to weave a rich story that had plenty of twists and turns and an ending that was quite satisfying. While Gloria smothered her daughter, I really could understand her motivations, Andrew seemed solid and really was understanding of all parties much like a pastor might be.I really couldn't help but think about Lily's biological mother.Each of the characters seemed so realistic I often forgot that I was reading a work of fiction.<br />If you enjoy a story filled with drama, suspense and family ties with a positive christian message woven in then your going to enjoy \"Reclaiming Lily.\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review purposes.", "timestamp": 1318178186000, "title": "Reclaiming Lily" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 5, "text": "Camden Bristow is feeling the effects of the economy. She is a free-lance photographer living in New York who finds herself without any job prospects or money. Being kicked out of her apartment with less than five hundred dollars left on her credit card she decides to return to the home where she spent many happy summers with her grandmother Rosalie even though its been years since she has spoken to her grandmother, but when she arrives in the tiny town of Etherton Ohio what she finds at the family mansion called Crescent Hill is that her grandmother has passed away and the mansion is falling into disrepair. Having no place else to go she stays at the family home anyway and quickly finds herself wondering if someone else isn't in the house. Camden has never believed in the rumors that ghosts haunt the mansion and when a few things start disappearing she is pretty sure someone is getting into the house, but how? Could it be true that there are underground tunnels that date back to slave days, and could Crescent Hill actually have been a stop on the Underground Railroad?<br /><br />I really enjoyed the historical aspect of this story as well as the mystery and intrigue that surrounded the history of the Bristow family.While Camden was the primary story I loved the secondary stories that went on and how they all came together at the end. The characters were very easy to connect with, especially Camden. Crescent Hill was the only place where she ever felt like she belonged. It was nice to see her grow and watch her priorities change as the book progressed. I also felt empathy for Alex, as he continued to carry the blame for not doing enough to save his sister and nephew. I thought the christian themes woven into the story was well done, especially the message of helping others. I also got a few laughs from reading about the antics of the Sprague children especially Hailey, that little girl had a wonderful imagination.<br />Overall if your looking for a contemporary story that is firmly rooted in the historical era of the underground railroad, that weaves mystery, suspense, a bit of romance with a nice inspirational story then your certainly in for a treat with this story. Recommended!<br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1319509649000, "title": "Refuge On Crescent Hill" }, { "asin": "0310330432", "rating": 4, "text": "A cozy mystery that involves Amish characters and a quilt shop, I just knew I was going to enjoy this book and boy was I right.<br />Callie Harper finds herself in Shipshewana after inheriting Daisy's Quilt Shop from her recently deceased aunt. She thinks she will just go for a few weeks and clear out her aunts things and sell the shop, but things don't go according to plan. When Deborah Yoder shows up at the shop with an armload of quilts, Callie learns that her aunt had an agreement with Deborah and two other Amish ladies to sell their quilts. Deborah soon convinces Callie that she should reopen the shop and take the quilts on consignment. When Callie decides to try her hand at auctioning the quilts on Ebay the Amish quilt makers quickly agree, but when Mr. Stakehorn the editor of the local paper writes a story suggesting that Callie might be taking advantage of the Amish quilting group Callie becomes furious and wants a retraction. When several people see Callie arguing with Mr. Stakehorn hours before he is found dead, Callie becomes a prime suspect. Deborah is certain her new friend could never commit murder, and when several other things start to happen in town the two put their heads together to try and figure out who the murderer might be.<br />This was a fast paced who-dun-it that really gave us several suspects. I liked how the story unfolded allowing the reader to see the friendship between Deborah and Callie grow. Callie was a character that was totally easy to relate to, I thought that it was interesting that snippets of her life was revealed in her aunts old journal. Callie was grieving not only for her aunt but for the loss of another loved one from a few years back. I thought the author allowed her to grow through out the story, it felt like she had finally found a place to call home. Deborah was different than most of the Amish characters that I read about, her husband seemed to allow her more freedom. She really looked out for her friends, and she and Callie really made a great investigative team. I always get excited when the author writes a dog into the story and in this one we had Max, a golden that Callie had inherited from her aunt Daisy. He was a comfort to Callie and turned out to be a hero.<br />This was one of those stories that when I started it I just couldn't put it down. The author's words really brought the scenes to life and there were several scenes that while tense also had humor woven in. There were plenty of twists and turns that made this a page turner for me, while I was a bit disappointed with the ending, overall I found it a great read and look forward to reading the next book in this series!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1320721019000, "title": "Anxious to read the next book in the series" }, { "asin": "1414348118", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Princess Stories\" allows young girls to learn about God's princesses in the Bible. Upon reading this book they will learn all about twenty-nine of the most prominent women of the Bible in a way that will surely capture their imagination and attention, and not only that the thirtieth story is about the reader,encouraging and reminding them that they are God's princess as well.<br />Each story starts out with a scripture verse and then gives the reader a short story about a woman in the Bible. Another Bible verse follows the story and then there are Princess Ponderings which consists of three questions for your princess to answer.The cover of this book, as well as the illustrations inside will certainly capture a youngsters eye. What a wonderful way to teach a daughter or grand-daughter about the women of the Bible. Because of the quality of this book, it would make a wonderful gift.<br />rating 5/5<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327284862000, "title": "What a wonderful way to teach young girls about the women of the Bible" }, { "asin": "0857210580", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the fourth installment of the Hugh de Singleton series and Hugh and Kate have been married for about three months when Thomas atte Bridge is found hanging from a tree. While the coroner wants to call it a suicide, the evidence points to foul play. Even though atte Bridge has had run ins with most of the townsfolk and is disliked by all Hugh is determined to figure out who the murderer is.<br />This book takes place in 1366 in England, and it's easy to see the author does an amazing job of researching the time period. Not only am I intrigued by the suspense and mystery of the story but I also enjoy reading about the medical procedures that took place during that time period, as well as medieval life in general. The food in particular that Hugh ate sounded quite different. I found the glossary included in the front of the book quite useful in understanding what was being said. I also enjoy the relationship between Hugh and Kate and look forward to reading more about these two characters.<br />This book is the fourth in the series and while the author provides a bit of background about the characters ,I recommend reading the series in order to get the in depth background on the reoccurring characters.<br /><br />rating 4/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327367469000, "title": "Great continuing series" }, { "asin": "0800720741", "rating": 4, "text": "This book is the first in a new series and if it is any indicator the series is going to be a must read for lovers of historical fiction!<br /><br />\"Where Wildflowers Bloom\" is set in the tiny town of Noble Springs Missouri. The civil war took Faith Lindberg's father, brother as well as Royal Baxter the man she promised her heart to before the war. Faith would like nothing better than to leave the memories of lost love ones behind and start over somewhere else, but her grandfather isn't so keen on leaving Noble Springs.Faith is surprised when Royal comes back to town, because she thought he was killed during the war. When Royal and Faith start courting, Faith's grandfather is less than pleased because he had hoped that Faith might develop feelings for Curt Saxon the young man who runs the livery and who has been helping Faith. Will Faith decide to stay in Noble Springs? Who will she choose?<br />I really enjoyed reading this book which allows us the flavor of the civil war because it takes place shortly after. The authors storytelling really pulled me in, with the richness of detail for the time period. The characters really came to life as well. I could easily understand why Faith wanted to leave Noble Springs. It was interesting to watch her character change and grow through out<br />the story. I also enjoyed Rosemary, who was a very good friend. I really enjoyed reading about the mercantile and all of the different goods that was stocked.<br />I think anyone who enjoys a very well written historical fiction with well drawn characters a fast moving plot with a sweet romance will certainly enjoy this story. I for one am anxious for the next book in the \"Sisters at Heart\" series.<br /><br />A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327813304000, "title": "Where Wildflowers Bloom" }, { "asin": "0800734599", "rating": 5, "text": "If your a fan of historical fiction where there is always plenty going on then your in for a real treat with \"Summer Of Promise\" by Amanda Cabot!<br /><br />This book draws the reader back in time to the summer of 1885. Abigail Harding's life was pretty well planned out, she lives in Vermont teaches school and plans to marry her beau.Letters from her sister Charlotte has her worried though so she decides to take a trip to Wyoming and spend the summer with her sister. Before she ever arrives a fellow passenger Lt. Ethan Bowles, saves her stagecoach from being robbed. Will she only spend the summer or does fate have something else in store for Abigail?<br />This is the first book in the exciting new historical fiction series \"Westward Winds.\" Abigail was such a wonderful character, she was a very brave ,level headed person, and from the beginning my heart wanted her and Ethan together.<br />While many historical romances are pretty predictable, not so with this book, the author provides a few twists and turns that really held my attention. While the ending was satisfying there were a few loose ends which leaves me anxious for the next book in the series!<br /><br />Amanda Cabot is an author who really knows how to bring historical fiction to life, with easy to relate to characters and a story line that grabbed my attention from the first page and kept me intrigued until the final sentence!<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*", "timestamp": 1328416370000, "title": "Great new historical fiction series" }, { "asin": "1595549153", "rating": 4, "text": "Lucy Marsh finds herself in dire straits and has to accept an offer to marry a man she doesn't know just to take care of her brother and sister. Thing is her parents are dead, she is out of money with no job and not sure what to do when she gets an offer she can't refuse, it's the offer to marry a man sight unseen. Nate Stanton, runs a ranch and has always hoped for a wife but the responsibilities of the ranch has given him little time to find one, so when his father arranges the marriage between him and Lucy and they are married by proxy things on the ranch will certainly never be the same. She shows up with her siblings and Nate wonders how long she will last on the ranch. How will things work out between these two?<br /><br />I really enjoyed the characters in this story. Lucy really had alot of responsibilities, but was really a very brave person. She married someone sight unseen to protect her brother and sister. While a marriage of convenience is a pretty common plot the thing that made this one different was that Nate didn't know that he was married until Lucy showed up on his doorstep. His first impressions seemed perfectly normal. I thought it was quite nice to see the relationship slowly bloom, and watch his opinion of Lucy change. I think anyone who enjoys historical fiction where there is a sweet romance, a nice inspirational message as well as a bit of mystery woven in will certainly enjoy this story.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1329360734000, "title": "enjoyable historical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800720075", "rating": 5, "text": "If your looking for a story filled with non stop action packed suspense then look no further than \"When The Smoke Clears\" the first book in the Deadly Reunions series! If this book is any indicator of what the series is going to be like I would say it is going to be one not to be missed!<br /><br />Alexia Allen is a firefighter, but when she is ordered to take some time off after an accident occurs that nearly takes her life. With her ten year reunion coming up she decides to recuperate at her mothers house so that she can attend. Seems like trouble has followed her though with a murder an arson occurring soon after she arrives in town. It appears someone may be setting her up, who is out to get her and why?<br /><br />The plot in this story is non-stop. There was never a down time for me with this one. I found myself totally immersed in the story after reading the prologue. I thought the characters in this story were very well developed and I really enjoyed the budding romance between Alexia and Detective Graham Hunter. The ending of this one leaves me anxious for the next book in the series.<br /><br />Overall anyone who enjoys romantic suspense will certainly love this story, be warned though it isn't easy to figure out who-dun-it with this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1329623138000, "title": "Action packed suspense" }, { "asin": "0800720458", "rating": 5, "text": "The year is 1855 and the setting is Louisville Ky. Adriane Darcy is a journalist for her father's newspaper The Tribune. Her father's newspaper has always been the best in Louisville, but things begin to change when Blake Garrett comes in to revive the failing Herald. It becomes sort of a competition to see who can crack a story first, so when someone starts killing women in the city Adriane wants to beat Blake to the story. Thing is she is starting to have feelings for Blake, but she is engaged to another. How will things work out for Adriane, and who is killing women in Lexington?<br /><br />I really fell in love with Ms. Gabhart's writing after reading her wonderful book titled \"Angel Sister\" so I was anxious to give this one a read. What I found was a historical fiction story that was really quite different. The beginning of the story was a bit slow to capture my attention but once it grabbed it, at about the eighth chapter, I found it a story that I didn't want to put down.I really enjoyed the characters of Adriane and Blake and thought the author did a great job of allowing them to develop through out the story. The character of Adriane was strong, but she also felt the pressure of wanting to do what her father expected of her. While this book is labeled a historical romance fiction the author actually weaves a bit of suspense and mystery into this one that really made this story stand out for me. There were a few twists that wrapped up the ending quite nicely. If your looking for something that's not your typical historical romance then your going to wan to give this story a try.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330232493000, "title": "not your typical historical romance" }, { "asin": "1603742573", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been fortunate enough to read all three books in the Amish of Seymour series and have become a Laura V. Hilton fan. She has the writing skills to easily transport the reader right into the heart of the stories that she is telling, allowing me to envision the characters, setting and drama so vividly it makes me feel as if I have been transported to another place.<br /><br />In \"Promised To Another\" we get the story of Annie Beiler and Joshua Esh. Annie is the local Amish schoolteacher, she is always excited about history and learning which often gets her in trouble and puts her teaching job in jeopardy, something she can't afford to lose. You see her steady beau Luke Schwartz jumped the fence to become English and no one else has even noticed her, or at least that's what she thinks. When Luke makes an unexpected appearance after a singing and offers to take her home she turns him down flat but her refuses to listen, that is until Joshua Esh steps in and offers her a ride home, a rider home with the other girl he is already taking home. While the men who came to Seymour from Pennsylvania came looking for wives Joshua didn't instead he came to see a different part of the world but has plans to return to PA. He has earned the reputation of a player because he is always taking a different Amish girl home after singings, but that doesn't stop Annie from noticing him.Thing is Luke has decided to join the church and marry Annie and doesn't want to take no for an answer. Is Josh really a player or does Annie have the wrong idea about him? Will Annie give in and do what Luke wants or will she realize that there just might be someone else for her after all.<br /><br />The beginning of this story started out a bit predictable but then the author started throwing in several different plot twists that had me changing my mind. I thought the characters in the story seemed very realistic, especially Annie. I could totally understand her love of history and wanting to share it with her pupils. I enjoyed getting to know the different sides of Annie, there was the Annie who stood strong when her beau left her, but we also got a glimpse of an insecure Annie wondering if she would ever have someone of her own, we also saw someone who had a zest for teaching and wanted to share her love of learning with her pupils even though the board members didn't always see things her way. I thought Josh was a good male lead, and while he kept a secret from Annie I still liked him. I liked the unconventional twist the relationship took toward the end of the story.<br /><br />If your a fan of Amish fiction then your going to want to read this story. Even though it's the third book in The Amish of Seymour series it can easily be read as a stand alone work although this series is so good that your going to want to read all three books. On a scale of one to five I would easily give this whole series a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330569380000, "title": "I am going to miss this series!" }, { "asin": "0800719859", "rating": 4, "text": "This book starts out in Williamsburg Virginia in October 1813. The only thing Phoebe Lee really wants to do is practice midwifery, so when her sister-in-law asks her to go to sea with her so that they can rescue her husband who is being held prisoner in England she refuses, after all the country is at war. She soon learns though that she has no choice when she finds herself aboard a ship, and not just any ship, but a British privateer.The captain of the ship Rafe Docherty wants one thing revenge and he thinks that Phoebe just might be able to help him. When he starts having feelings for Phoebe will his priorities change?<br /><br />I thought the author did an amazing job of making this story seem realistic to the time period. While most of the story takes place aboard ship there was still a richness of detail that I enjoyed, it was so hard for me to imagine a female let alone a pregnant female aboard a privateer ship but with amazing clarity the author pulls it off. While some of the language was a bit hard to follow although it did give the book a more authentic feel.I really enjoyed the relationship between the lead characters. Phoebe and Rafe both have issues from their past that they are dealing with, that added an extra layer to their building relationship.<br /><br />\"Hearts Safe Passage\" is the second book in The Midwives Series and while I actually read the first book I feel like this one could be read as a stand alone work. This book worked for me on so many levels, it's a historical romance fiction with strong characters, along with action, suspense, and mystery woven in. What made it a stand out story for me was learning about midwifery during the time period. Overall \"Heart's Safe Passage\" is another great book from Laurie Alice Eakes.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330835536000, "title": "Heart's Safe Passage" }, { "asin": "0764207865", "rating": 5, "text": "At the age of twenty-two Sadie Wagner was a woman, but she still hadn't found the freedom to do what she wanted most. After an accident where her step-father is injured she knows someone needs to help provide for the family and doesn't mind being the one to do it. When she receives a letter from her step cousin Sid who lives in Goldtree, Kansas telling her he has secured her a job clerking in a mercantile she thinks its an answer to a prayer, and something else that he mentions is that there is an opera house and since Sadie's dream is to sing she thinks it might just be her chance to provide for her family and sing at the same time. When she arrives in Goldtree, she soon meets the new sheriff, Thad McKane, whose real dream is to become a minister but takes the job of sheriff to ferret out the culprits responsible for bootlegging, because Kansas is a dry state. She soon realizes that the opera house isn't at all what she thought, and to complicate things even more Sid has feelings for her, but she is drawn to Thad. Can a romance survive between the sheriff and Sadie, even when he begins to suspect that she might be involved in the very crimes he has been hired to take care of?<br /><br />I was drawn to Sadie's character from the first pages of the book. Her goodness easily comes across in the story, and she didn't hesitate to help out her family. I could easily understand her homesickness.The secondary characters really made this book stand out. The Baxter twins and their brother Asa were often funny and oh so easy to visualize. I thought Sid the step-cousin was a bit different, his actions were odd although I sort of chalked it up to being jealous. While there were christian themes running thru the book they weren't overdone or preachy.<br />Overall, I really enjoyed this quick read, and found myself laughing on more than a few occasions. A great historical fiction/romance that is well worth reading!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1331357398000, "title": "great characters make this one a hit" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 5, "text": "While a pretty cover always draws me in (and this cover is beautiful) it takes a good story to keep me interested and that's just what I found in \"Beauty For Ashes.\"<br />The setting for this book is Hickory Ridge, Tennessee and the year is 1876. Carrie Daly finds herself living with her brother Henry in the family home in HIckory Ridge after her husband is killed during the civil war. Henry was the only family she had left and while life wasn't exciting, they had it better than most.Things were ok in the beginning but when Henry takes a wife things start to change. Her friend Nate wants to marry her, but she isn't sure of her feelings, and after she meets Griff Rutledge, a stranger who pulls her out of the way of a run away wagon she can't stop thinking about him. As they become friends the townsfolk wonder why Griff who is a spending time with Carrie, and you can bet Nate isn't happy about it either!<br /><br />The author hit a home run with this story on so many levels. First of all I really enjoy reading about the time period right after the civil war, and then the she is able to give us a glimpse of small town life during that time that really seems authentic. I also found the characters quite easy to relate to as well. I could understand why Carrie felt that she should leave the family home after her brother married. It was easy to see her struggle with allowing God to lead her, even though she read her Bible daily and prayed she often felt discouraged. As her character grew she started to understand that she needed to let God be in control. Griff was a good male lead, I always like when the characters are allowed to be flawed it makes them so much more relate able. While there is a Christian message woven into the story it is very well done and doesn't come off as preachy. Overall if your a fan of historical fiction with romance with interesting characters and a small town feel, that weaves in a nice Christian message run out and pick up a copy of this one, your not going to regret it!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1331357545000, "title": "Beauty for Ashes" }, { "asin": "0310722365", "rating": 5, "text": "The first thing I thought when I pulled this Bible out of the box was what a beautiful cover it had. The pink color and flowers is so feminine and girly that young ladies will just love it. The color of the text inside which is purple is something that I loved as well, and while the colors are very eye catching, its the many different features of this Bible that makes it perfect for young girls.<br /><br />The features include:<br />1. Dream Girl: A feature that will help young readers imagine themselves in some of the most familiar and amazing Bible stories.<br /><br />2. Bring It On! Are quizzes used to help the reader get to know themselves, this feature also points to Bible verses that will encourage the reader.<br /><br />3. OH, I Get It! The Bible is more than just stories, it is filled with information and this feature will share some of that information with questions.<br /><br />4. Book introductions: Highlights the main topics of each book of the Bible and applies them to the reader's life.<br /><br />5. Treasure This! Verses to help the reader keep God's word in their heart.<br /><br />6. Is There a little ___in You? The feature allows you to see different character traits of some of the great people in the Bible, and allows the reader to see if they might have some of those character traits themselves.<br /><br />7. In Your Own Words: Allows the reader to create a list of events to tell a Bible story in your their own words.<br /><br />While this Bible is geared towards young ladies nine and older, I actually enjoy reading it myself. It's bright and colorful and is chock full of useful information. Because it's a NIV version it's easy for young readers to understand. Overall I think any young girl would love a copy of this Bible and I think it would make a wonderful Easter gift.<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this Bible was provided in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1333421609000, "title": "Very eye catching Bible for tween girls" }, { "asin": "1595548874", "rating": 4, "text": "I must admit Beth Wiseman is one of my favorite Amish storytellers, so I was excited to read a non-Amish story by her. With \"Need You Now\" I must say she really knows how to deliver a contemporary story. With this story she not only delivers believable characters who are dealing with real life issues, but also a fast moving plot that deals with family drama that kept me reading.<br />To look at the Henderson family they seem to be a successful family that has it all together. Darlene is a stay at home mother to three teen children, her marriage seems good, her husband is about to be promoted and the family just purchased Darlene's grandparents farm and decide to move to the country. Peel away the layers though and we quickly see that the children are having problems adjusting,especially her daughter Grace who is harming herself, and Darlene is struggling with the fact that she no longer feels needed or heard. When she takes a job outside the home and another man starts to pay attention to her, could it put her marriage in jeopardy? How will things work out for this family? As their faith is tested will they be drawn closer together as a family or will they be pulled apart?<br />One of my favorite things about this story was the fact that we see the situation thru the eyes of several characters, allowing a different perspectives on the story. A story that drew me in from the beginning and kept me wondering how this family saga would work out. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1335236786000, "title": "Family Drama" }, { "asin": "140168680X", "rating": 4, "text": "Biblical fiction is fast becoming one of my favorite genres so I was excited to read \"Garden of Madness\" which tells the story of the Babylonian Princess Tiamet, the daughter of King Nebuchadnezzar, whose madness has had him living in the palace garden for the last seven years while his family kept his condition hidden from the public. When a murder takes place inside the palace Tia decides to try and figure out what is going on, and uncovers truths that she could never have imagined.<br />The author easily brings the characters to life in this story. Even though the book is a work of fiction her descriptions brings the scenes to life, and makes the characters so easy to connect with. I really enjoyed the interactions between Tia and her father, and loved that she stood by him when others didn't.The author provides several plot twists that kept me guessing. While there is a bit of romance woven into the story for me its the mystery and suspense as well as the way the author holds pretty close to the actual Biblical story that makes this book a real winner for me.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1335840992000, "title": "Great Biblical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800719719", "rating": 4, "text": "Historical romance is one of my favorite genres to read and when the author is able to weave in a few positive messages or historical facts that make me feel as if I am actually getting a bit of a history lesson well then that makes the book a must read for me, and that's just what we get in \"A Love Forbidden.\"<br /><br />The year is 1879 and the book is set in the Colorado Rockies , and gives us the story of twenty-one year old Shiloh Wainright and Jesse Blackwater .Shiloh has signed a contract to teach for the White River Indian Agency,and looks forward to teaching the Ute children white men's ways while helping them remember their own culture. She is in for a surprise when she reconnects with her childhood friend Jesse Blackwater. Soon their friendship threatens to turn into more, but things are complicated because Jesse is 1/2 Indian,.add to this the fact that Indians and whites are on the verge of battle, and you can't help but wonder if a relationship can ever work between these two.<br /><br />The author weaves a story that easily captured my attention. I have always found this time period in the west intriguing.The author deals with the time period where the US Government made promises to the Native Americans but didn't always keep them. Shiloh was a compassionate caring person,and Jesse seemed like someone who was caught between two worlds.I enjoyed watching the feelings grow between the two characters. While I enjoyed the characters for me it was the historical elements that made the book a real winner. The author describes the tensions that are going on between the Whites and Native Americans,and allows the reader to see the prejudices that took place during that time in history. Anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction that weaves together romance and an inspirational message will certainly want to check out this book. While this is the second book in the Heart Of The Rockies series I feel as if it can be read as a stand alone work.<br />rating 4/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1338091007000, "title": "Love Forbidden" }, { "asin": "0800734378", "rating": 4, "text": "Patsy Milstrap wishes she could leave her past in the past. Up until the age of thirteen she lived in a home with an abusive stepfather. One day though her mother realizes that Patsy needs to be sent away. She goes to live with a nice christian couple and begins a new life. She marries a wonderful man and has children and as much as she tries to forget her past for the sake of her family its a difficult thing to do. When a vacation in Florida has her facing someone from her past, she knows that she will have to deal with her past if she is ever going to have a future.<br />\"Waiting for Sunrise\" is the second book in the Cedar Key series but can easily be read as a stand alone work. The author weaves an emotional story that easily pulled me in from the beginning. As the story unfolds we get glimpses of Patsy's past allowing us to understand how she came to be the person she is. Patsy was a character that was so easy to connect with. Her painful past was difficult for her to deal with, she cant help but wonder why her mother would have given her away. Gilbert was a wonderful husband who would do anything to help Patsy.<br />The secondary story of her mother and brothers added to the overall plot. It was interesting to see how the abusive home life affected each person.A story that deals with some pretty tough subjects, but also reminds that sometimes the only way to have a future is to deal with your past.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1339907090000, "title": "emotionally charged" }, { "asin": "1416599959", "rating": 5, "text": "Deborah Raney is easily one of my favorite authors. Her stories are ones that I often think about for weeks after reading. She has a way of drawing me into a story, making me feel as if I personally know the characters, and that's just how I feel about the Hanover Falls series.<br /><br />Susan Marlowe is dealing with the pain of losing her husband in the Grove Street fire, but a secret that he was carrying comes to light, a secret that breaks her heart, and has her wondering if she really knew the man she was married to. How will she deal with the hurt?<br /><br />Even though this is the third book in a series, the story line still has the ability to provide a few twists and turns that kept me reading. There is still the mystery of who actually set the fire, as well as the emotional turmoil of losing loved ones, and trying to move on after such a tragedy. Susan is a commendable character. She is trying to keep the homeless shelter going, while dealing with the loss of her husband. When her son Davey not only drops out of college but also starts coming home drunk, she learns that he is carrying a painful secret, something that he knew about his father, her husband.<br /><br />\"After All\" is the third and final installment of the Hanover Falls Series, and while this book can be read as a stand alone work, the series is filled with such amazing characters that you really are going to want to read all three books. While I enjoyed the way the author wraps up this series, I really am going to miss my visits to Hanover Falls. I highly recommend this entire series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1339909458000, "title": "I'm going to miss this series" }, { "asin": "1595549978", "rating": 4, "text": "Hope Springs North Carolina is small town USA and is the setting for the latest contemporary novel by Kim Cash Tate. It tells the story of three women, Janelle Evans, Becca Anderson, and Stephanie London, cousins who find themselves headed home to Hope Springs for a Christmas time family reunion,and to spend time with the matriarch of the family their grandmother Geri. When they learn that Geri has a terminal illness they decide to stay in Hope Springs and help her. Spending time in this small town will change their lives forever.<br /><br />What a touching story. I do admit that there were plenty of characters to learn in the first several chapters and was glad that there was a family tree provided at the beginning of the book. Once I learned who everyone was and the issues that was going on it became a compelling story that I couldn't put down. The author creates authentic characters that are very easy to connect to.The small town feel of this book was wonderfully portrayed. One of my favorite characters in the story had to be Jeri, she was such a strong woman.<br />The author deals with several heavy subjects, but also gives several positive,uplifting messages as well. Overall a very well written story that provides a few twists and turns that kept me reading.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1340156416000, "title": "Hope Springs" }, { "asin": "0800720482", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become an avid reader of Biblical fiction and one of my favorite authors of this genre is Diana Wallis Taylor. She writes her stories in such a way that once you finish the book I always come away with a deeper understanding of not only the character that she writes about but also about the Bible verses that center around the character.<br /><br />Her latest book shines the spotlight on \"Mary Magdalene.\" We learn that she was an only child, her father a very successful boat builder. At the age of eleven her life changed dramatically when she is kidnapped.Her father pays the ransom to get her back, but after the incident Mary suffers from headaches,nightmares and seizures. While her loved ones sympathized with her, the people of her village shun her, fearing that she is crazy or worse. When they hear rumors that the Messiah is coming, a man named Jesus, the son of God,they wonder if it is true and if perhaps he will be able to help Mary.<br /><br />\"Mary Magdalene\" is another great fictional Biblical story from Diana Wallis Taylor. With her well crafted storytelling and attention to historical detail the author easily pulls me right into the story. The author writes with a clarity that brings the characters to life, and makes it easy to understand their stories. After reading this story I was propelled to dig out my Bible and read all that I could find about Mary Magdalene. Anyone who enjoys Biblical fiction is in for a real treat with this story. Recommended.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1340508191000, "title": "Fiction that brings Bible characters to life" }, { "asin": "0800734556", "rating": 5, "text": "\"The Gift\" by Ann Gabhart is the fifth installment in her Shaker Village series,and this book is just as great as all the others in the series I have read.<br /><br />Jessamine Brady is twenty, she moved to the Shaker Village at the age of ten after the death of her grandmother, and the one thing she remembered her grandmother encouraging her to do was follow her dreams. While she loves her Harmony Hill family she has always felt like she doesn't belong in the Shaker Village. When she meets Tristan Cooper someone from the outside world she finds herself at a crossroads, will she have the courage to step out into the world, or will she decide that her home is actually in Harmony Hill?<br /><br />I really enjoy when I have the ability to read a book and feel as if I am getting a bit of education to boot and that's just how I feel when I read Ann Gabhart's stories that are centered around the Shakers. She weaves together an intriguing story that always holds my attention while giving accurate glimpses of how it might have been to have lived as a Shaker.The author provides plenty of conflict, along with romance and a bit of suspense that certainly kept me reading. Add to the mix like-able characters and a historical setting making it a book that I couldn't resist. Recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1341919800000, "title": "The Gifted" }, { "asin": "1595547819", "rating": 4, "text": "Imagine finding out that a father you really never knew left you some valuable property, and imagine meeting half brothers and sisters whom you never knew existed thinking that you are trying to steal what rightfully belongs to them. Well that's just what happens to Libby Holladay the main character in Colleen Coble's newest novel \"Tidewater Inn.\"<br /><br />Libby and her best friend Nicole are co-owners of Holladay Renovations, a business that restores historical properties. Nicole not only handles the financial side of the business but also convinces potential clients to do business with them, meanwhile Libby takes care of the restoration. While researching a job on the Outer Banks Libby learns that she has actually inherited The Tidewater Inn along with property from a father whom she believed had died when she was five. Instead she learns her father has recently passed away leaving her the inheritance, and what's more she has half siblings that she never knew existed, siblings that are none to happy about her inheriting the inn. In addition to this earth shattering news, her business partner is kidnapped and Libby not only saw the whole thing but becomes a suspect in the crime. Can she prove her innocence, while trying to find Nicole, and what about the Tidewater Inn, will she be able to keep and restore it, or will she have to sell it, and will she ever be accepted by her new family?<br /><br />Interesting, well developed characters and a great plot made this a fast moving story for me. I found myself immediately drawn into the story, and wondered not only what Libby would do, but whether she would ever be accepted by a family she didn't know existed. Libby was a character that was easy to relate to and understand. If you enjoy a well written story filled with mystery, suspense, family drama,romance, and a nice spiritual message you just might enjoy this one, I know I did. Recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1341974234000, "title": "Tidewater Inn" }, { "asin": "0800734580", "rating": 5, "text": "Irene Hannon has become a go to author for me whenever I want to read a suspense filled mystery that also blends a christian message together with just enough clues to keep me turning the pages in anticipation right up until the end. I have enjoyed reading the Guardians of Justice series and while I looked forward to reading this book, I was sort of sad as well, because \"Lethal Legacy\" is the final book in the series.<br /><br />There are so many things that I enjoyed bout this book, but overall it's the author's style of writing that captivates me. She has an uncanny way of allowing us a glimpse inside the killers mind revealing what he is thinking while keeping us guessing as to who the killer might be, and the killer isn't always easy to figure out, but it always makes sense in the end. Since this book is the third and final book in the \"Guardian of Justice\" series while I believe that it can be read as a stand alone work I highly recommend that the entire series should be read in order to get the full scope of the story. If your a fan of suspense,mystery with a light romance, and a christian theme woven in your going to enjoy this series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1344787029000, "title": "Well written suspense" }, { "asin": "0764209132", "rating": 5, "text": "allie Kincaid and her eight month old son are headed out to find her husband Seth Kincaid, who just up and took off one day. When her stagecoach is waylaid by bandits and she finds herself in the middle of a shoot out, while she waits for the other passengers to go bring help back. Well help arrives in the form of her husband Seth, a husband who doesn't even remember that he has a wife, and never knew he had a son.<br /><br />This was such a quick read, I really fell in love with the characters and couldn't put the story down. Callie was a no nonsense type of person, who wanted to know why her husband up and left her, which was a very good question. I could easily forgive Seth though when we learn why he left her behind.Once he realizes he has a wife he is determined to do the right thing, although I could understand why Callie was guarding her heart this time around.<br /><br />Mary Connealy really knows how to write a story. As a fan of historical fiction, I really love being drawn back in time, and when there is romance, along with a good dose of humor well I am sold! I would say that \"Over The Edge' is the third book in the Kincaid Brides series, and while we do get a bit of background information it is best to read the entire series in order to fully understand the characters. Grantastic series, and I really hope the author continues with another book! Highly recommended.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1345430910000, "title": "Fun read" }, { "asin": "0764206176", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Taming The Wind\" takes pace in North Texas in 1868. Carissa Lowe has spent the last two years of her life trying to find peace in her heart. The nightmares and bad memories of Malcolm, her now deceased husband continues to haunt her. You see two years ago, she thought she new the man she married, instead he was on the run from the army, and decided to use her sister Laura and Clarissa to try and save himself, by taking them hostage, and then throwing them into the Gulf off the Corpus Christi coast. Fortunatly they were both saved, even though Malcolm wasn't. For Carissa though she no longer trusts her judgement where men are concerned, and has shied away from all men except for her brother-in-law, and the man who saved her Tyler Artherton, although she hasn't seen Tyler in the last two years because she has lived the last two years with her parents, and her baby daughter Gloria in Corpus Christi. When her parents decide to take a trip she decides to go spend the summer with Laura and her husband on their ranch.<br /><br />Tyler Artherton is staying on a friends ranch while he works out some issues of his own. He had never really stopped thinking about Carissa, and when he learns that she is staying on a neighboring ranch, he finds himself drawn to her and her daughter Gloria. Will Tyler and Carissa find happiness together or are there to many obstacles in the way? Will Carissa ever find the peace that she longs for?<br /><br />Even though \"Taming The Wind\" is the third book in Tracie Peterson's Land of the Lonestar series, I felt like the author gave enough background information so this book could be read as a stand alone work. This book takes place right after the civil war which easily drew me into the story because this is one of my favorite time periods to read about. The two main characters Carissa and Tyler were so easy to connect and emphathize with. I felt like Ms. Peterson did a very realistic job of allowing them to grow as the story progressed. I found the secondary characters really added to the overall story. I am a long time fan of Tracie Peterson and always look forward to reading whatever she writes, and this book certainly didn't disappoint. Fans of historical inspirational romances where the setting comes to life will certainly want to read this one, but since its part of a three book series why not read them all. Highly recommended!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1346817786000, "title": "Fans of historical inspirational romance will enjoy this one" }, { "asin": "1595548033", "rating": 4, "text": "Dylan Taylor is a smooth talking ladies man and Annie Wilkerson isn't interested. When Dylan's best horse, Braveheart, has a condition that has his vet suggesting he put the horse down, Dylan goes to Annie for help. Annie knows just about everything there is to know about horses. She writes a bi-weekly column in Montana Living today called \"Ask Avery\" which answers readers questions about equine problems. When Annie gets a call from her editor informing her that her column is being cut from the magazine, although she is offered another column, thing is its a column giving advice to the lovelorn. Annie has never been in love so how can she write an advice column? She decides to strike up a deal with Dylan, she will help his horse if he will help her with her column. As she gets to know the true Dylan she realizes he is different that she first assumed. Will Annie decide that some cowboys aren't so bad after all?<br /><br />Annie Wilkerson is someone you just can't help but like. She is looking out for her twenty year old sister Seirra,who by the way is raising four year old Ryder, works hard and is just a down to earth person, dealing with life's issues. She doesn't trust cowboys and I could certainly understand why. She wants safe and predictable in her life but that isn't what God has in mind for her. I enjoyed getting to know Dylan's character as well, both really had issues from their past that they needed to take care of. I found myself enjoying the twangy style of dialogue that popped up in the story, it really gave the book a real cowboy flavor for me.Another neat thing that I enjoyed about this story was how in the beginning each chapter opened with a bit of advice about horses, when Annie's job changed the chapters started opening up with bits of advice for the lovelorn.<br /><br />I really loved the town of Moose Creek and found \"The Trouble With Cowboys\" a delightful inspirational romantic read.Sometimes christian romance can come off a bit strong, but Denise Hunter really strikes a great balance with her writing. She provides a sweet romance that also weaves in a nice wholesome feeling to her stories, while also giving a few laughs.While this book is a part of a series the author writes it in such a way that it can be read as a stand alone work, but if you enjoy a great read, then your going to want to read the entire series.", "timestamp": 1349196283000, "title": "The Trouble With Cowboys" }, { "asin": "0800721322", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Life With Lily\" is such a delightful read. I found myself enjoying the many things that went on in young Lily Lapp's life. We first meet Lily as she and her younger brother Joseph are whisked off in the middle of the night to their grandparent's house, and we soon learn new baby Dannie has been born into the Lapp family. I found myself laughing at Lily's reaction as she first meets her new baby brother, not to mention the reaction she has to Freida Troyer who has come to help her mother for a few days after the birth of the baby. There are so many happenings around an Amish farm, from a barn raising to getting a new milk cow and even a trip to Kentucky to see the Lapp grandparents. One thing is for certain, life is never boring when you see things thru the eyes of Lily Lapp.<br /><br />I loved this book, once I started reading it I just couldn't put it down. I enjoyed meeting the Lapp family and was a bit surprise at where the final chapters led us. The illustrations are very well done, and further enhance the story. I really can't wait to read the next book in The Adventures of Lily Lapp series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1349581688000, "title": "Perfect for all ages" }, { "asin": "0800734173", "rating": 5, "text": "Seventeen year old Susannah Grace Kennedy made the move from Badger, Iowa to Boston after the death of her parents. She is going to be living with her aunt Eleanor, and has decided she wants to forget her \"good girl\" past, and even decides she wants to be called Annie. Her sister Maggie had sent her letters while in college raving about the hot spots in Boston, so Annie starts hanging out with a fast crowd, and making some choices that aren't so wise. When she meets Steven O'Connor her sister's former fiancee she falls hard for him. Thing is he doesn't know that Annie is actually Maggie's sister, and Steven really isn't interested anyway, or at least that's what he keeps telling himself. What will happen when he realizes who Annie really is?<br /><br />Another great story from Julie Lessman! I enjoyed connecting with the characters from the former books, and with that said, even though this is the third book in the Wind Of Change series it can easily be read as a stand alone work.<br />The thing that I enjoy about this series is the many subplots that go on within the book, and \"A Love Surrendered\" is no different. The main characters are Steven a prohibition agent with the government that is dealing with a broken heart, even though he was the one to break things off with Maggie he believes he is still in love with her. Annie seems like someone who is anxous to grow up.It was so nice to see both of the characters grow spiritually as the story progressed. The secondary stories really keep the plot moving along, and allow us to reconnect with the O'Connor family. Overall I have really enjoyed this series, it has everything that I enjoy reading. Historical fiction that brings the time period to life along with great characters, romance and a nice inspirational message who could ask for anything more?<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1350262108000, "title": "Fantastic series" }, { "asin": "0857212052", "rating": 4, "text": "Coming back to work after the death of his partner, Frank Campello finds himself paired with a new partner. Andy Polanski is an officer that has a reputation of being on to steer clear of, and unfortunately he is Frank's new partner.As the two investigate the brutal murder of a young girl, they quickly learn that there is more to the murder than meets the eye. As they continue to dig, the learn that an organized crime ring is involved and that ring has some friends in high places. Will they be able to solve the crimes and bring the criminals to justice.<br /><br />\"The Sons of Jude\" gave me a good look at how crime families operate, something I really don't think I have ever read about before.It was intesting to see how they can get thier footing in politics and then sort of run the show. This was a very well written suspense, thriller, that provided a few twists, and a satisfying ending. Normally I enjoy a fast paced read, however \"The Sons of Jude,\" moves along at at slower pace providing rich detail, that really allowed the story to build for me. Overall, I enjoyed reading this one, and the ending has me putting the next book in this series on my TBR list.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1350699592000, "title": "The Sons of Jude" }, { "asin": "0310330459", "rating": 5, "text": "To say that I love this series is an understatement. I feel like Ms. Chapman's storytelling just gets better and better. While I love the mystery that takes place in each of the Shipshewana Amish Mystery series, it's really the friendships that take place between the Amish and English characters that really sells me on the series.<br /><br />The Fall Crafters Fair which is Shipshewana's largest festival of the year, is in full swing, when a murder takes place in the parking lot of Daisy's Quilt Shop.With only one witness to the crime, it might not be so easy to solve. As things start to escalate Callie realizes that she just might be the intended target, it seems she has something the killer wants, but she isn't sure what it is! Thing is this killer isn't going to stop until he gets it, regardless of what he has to do. Can the police figure it out, or will it take Callie and her friends to solve this one?<br /><br />To say this book has a fast moving plot is an understatement! Once I started reading it, I couldn't wait to see what might happen! There were several suspenseful moments in the story, which pulled it right along. This book really has it all,in addition to the small town feel of the story, it has the Amish/Englisher friendship, a splash of romance,a nice mystery, a dog, baby, Amish children one of which is dealing with an illness that was new to me. Chicken Breast Disease was something I had never heard of but learned a bit about in this story.I always enjoy whenever a dog is included in a story and with this one we have Max. The author provides a satisfying ending, that wraps up the story nicely, I just hope that this book isn't the final one in the series.<br /><br />While this is the third book in the Shipshewana Amish Mystery series it can easily be read as a stand alone work, although if you're a fan of Amish fiction, cozy mysteries, or just a great read, you are certainly going to want to read the entire series. Each story is a good clean read, that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1351647118000, "title": "Great series" }, { "asin": "1603745068", "rating": 3, "text": "Kristi Lapp is a young Amish lady who is also a practicing midwife for her community. While on her way to an appointment she winds up in a buggy accident.Shane Zimmerman, her next door neighbor and local veterinarian happens by and finds her buggy and gets Kristi to the hospital. Because her parents are in Florida, Shane takes it upon himself to start visiting Kristi daily while she is in the hospital. He also decides to start taking care of Chinook, so that the dog can get the exercise he needs until Kristi recovers. Soon though Kristi starts having feelings for Shane, and he feels drawn to her as well. Of course when Kristi's dad comes home and forbids Shane from having anything else to do with Kristi because he is afraid she might leave the faith. How can an Amish midwife and an Englisher vet ever have a chance at love?<br /><br />I became a fan of Laura V. Hilton after reading her last series, The Amish of Seymour, and I like how some of the characters from that series was mentioned in this book. There were several things that I really liked about \"Healing Love\" but there were a few things that also fell a bit flat for me as well. So I am going to expound on the positive aspects first. The author captured my attention from the beginning pages. Kristi, a practicing Amish midwife has a buggy accident while on her way to visit a patient. Well that grabbed my attention, and then we are introduced to Shane Zimmeran, a promising character who has roots that harken back to the Amish but is now an Englisher. As Kristi's neighbor he gets her to the hospital, and then starts spending time with her. They are drawn to each other, but both know that a relationship is next to impossible. Seems though they find themselves together at every turn, as if fate is drawing them together. Shane's feelings about midwives really was understandable. I thought the secondary story of Shane's sister and her baby added to the overall effect of the story. I always enjoy whenever a dog is added to a story and with this one we have Chinook, Kristi's dog who loved Shane as well.<br /><br />The things that fell a bit flat for me was the complaining that Kristi often did about English food, I mean that sort of got old fast. I also felt like Kristi's dad, and uncle were a bit wishy washy when it came to trying to keep Kristi and Shane apart, and I was really shocked at the manner in which Ira threw Kristi out of the house. Overall, not my favorite Hilton read, but still good. I look forward to reading her next book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352261572000, "title": "Healing Love" }, { "asin": "0310335108", "rating": 4, "text": "It's been two years since Sarah Shetler's best friend Patty died in unexpectedly and since then Sarah has carried around a memory jar, and keeps her memories tucked inside so that she won't have to deal with her emotions.When she meets Jathan Schrock, an Amish bachelor with issues of his own, something changes. Can Jathan penetrate the walls that Sarah has built around her heart?<br /><br />Overall, I enjoyed this book. It dealt with loss, pain, friendship,and the wonderful inspirational message of allowing God to heal. While I enjoyed reading about Sarah and Patty's friendship, I found that the flashbacks of these memories sometimes broke the flow of the story and made it feel a bit choppy for me. It did seem very realistic that it took time for Sarah to heal, from her loss. Jathan is also dealing with issues that make both of the characters seem very realistic. It was so nice to see the characters grow and change as the story progressed.<br /><br />While this wasn't my favorite Tricia Goyer novel, I did enjoy it. There are discussion questions that would make this a great book club selection. The author also includes a glossary of words used by the Amish that is very helpful. I am anxious to read the next book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series.<br /><br />3.5/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352345899000, "title": "The Memory Jar" }, { "asin": "0736951512", "rating": 5, "text": "I am a true fan of Jerry Eicher. I have been reading his Amish fiction for quite some time and I normally never have a complaint about his work, well with \"Susanna's Christmas Wish\" my only complaint was that it didn't last long enough. The characters were great, the story line was perfect for my Christmas reading marathon, and while it was a short read that didn't last long enough for me. The author does provide well fleshed characters, and a nice plot that is short, sweet and satisfying!<br /><br />Mathew Yoder and Susanna Keim had been dating for two years, and were actually engaged when Mathew broke her heart when he decided to leave the Amish life. When Herman Wagler asks her to marry him she agrees even though she doesn't love him like she did Matthew, she is sure that in time she will. Problems start to arise when Herman announces that he doesn't celebrate Christmas the way Susanna's family does. Added to this Matthew is back in town. How will this affect the newly married couple, is their marriage able to withstand all the turmoil going on? Pick up \"Susanna's Christmas Wish\" and find out!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352779454000, "title": "Jerry Eicher is the king of Amish fiction!" }, { "asin": "0800720040", "rating": 5, "text": "The year is 1882, in the Wyoming Territory. After the death of her husband Josef, Celia Anderson is running a boarding house in the town of Easton to support her six month old Emma. Her friend Bertha keeps telling her it's time to find herself a new husband, but Celia has decided that she will only marry for love, and besides she stays very busy running her boarding house and babysitting young Aaron. Mark Williams has been looking for his father for two years,and his search has led him to Easton, to Celia's boarding house. As she gets to know Mark she sees the kind man that he is, but is he the right man for her, after all will he even stick around? While Mark feels drawn to Celia, will he stay in Easton?<br /><br />A short novella that was such a satisfying, quick read. I loved the characters, as well as the small town feel of the story. Celia and Mark were such good lead characters. She was strong, after all she had lost her husband, was trying to raise a daughter and run a boarding house, but the author allowed us to see another side of Celia, one who wanted to be loved and cherished. Mark was such a wonderful man, one I would consider a true gentleman. While he was carrying a bit of hurt from his past it didn't make him bitter. Strong secondary characters rounded out the story quite well, and I would love to see a story develop around Jacob, Arron's father, who had intentions of sending away for a mail order bride. Overall, a short, sweet, historical fiction that warmed my heart.<br /><br />A complementary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1353652395000, "title": "short,sweet, historical Christmas read" }, { "asin": "1401685676", "rating": 4, "text": "This book encompasses two of my favorite types of books Amish fiction and short stories. \"An Amish Kitchen\" is comprised of three short stories written by three of today's premiere Amish fiction authors.<br /><br />The first story is a \"Taste of Faith\" written by Kelly Long. Twenty year old Deborah Zook has been living with her grandmother Esther Zook since the age of five when her parents died of the flu. She has a love for tending flowers and herbs and her grandmother has the wish to see her trained in healing herbs, but more than that she wishes that her granddaughter would find a man and marry, and truthfully Fern wishes for someone as well. At the age of twenty-three Abram Fisher is a dyed in the wool bachelor, who never paid any attention to Fern, but when he needs Fern's help after his sister Mary becomes sunburned he begins to look at Fern in a different light. Will fate bring these two together?<br /><br />\"A Spoonful of Love\" by Amy Clipston is the story of Hannah King, who has been managing the Paradise Inn since her father had a stroke a year ago. When Stephen Esh comes to town looking for a place to stay he rents a room at the end. Could Stephen be the one Hannah has been hoping will come into her life? What about his past, why is he so far from home? Will he be able to let go of the past and embrace the future?<br /><br />\"A Recipe for Hope\"by Beth Wiseman is the story of Eve Bender. At the age of thirty-eight Eve Bender finds herself moving back home with her parents after a tree crashes into her farmhouse. Not only is she moving back home but she her husband and three teen age boys who are going thru rumspringa also will be moving in as well. Eve and her mother often didn't see eye to eye on things will spending two months under her parents roof allow them to heal the hurts from the past?<br /><br />I loved each of these stories, that gently remind of faith and family. My favorite story easily had to be \"A Recipe for Hope.\" I enjoyed the fact that Eve was a bit older and her sons added an interesting layer to the story.Her oldest son Leroy is eighteen and Amos and Elias are her twin sixteen year old boys. Amos also has a Chinese Water Dragon that provided a few funny moments.<br /><br />If you have never read Amish fiction this book is a delightful way to sample these three great authors. There is a glossary of \"Amish\" words included for newbie Amish fiction readers. The recipes which include some herbal treatments are just an added bonus. While each story is a tad predictable overall I enjoyed each of them, and would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good clean read with a splash of romance and an Amish cast of characters.<br /><br />Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1354680094000, "title": "An Amish Kitchen" }, { "asin": "0800719891", "rating": 5, "text": "I have loved the entire Stoney Ridge Seasons series and couldn't wait to read Mary Kate's story who happened to be one of my favorite characters in the series. All I can say is that Suzanne saved the best story for last!<br />At the age of nineteen Mary Kate also known as M.K. is still a bit irresponsible and full of mischief, but when one of her stunts has her running into the Amish teacher she is forced to grow up quick and take over the responsibilities of being the teacher. Will she take the job seriously? Well in the beginning M.K. doesn't do very well, but soon with the help of a former teacher things start to look up. Will M.K. ever really settle down, and do we really want her too! Added to this is an unexpected death, a mysterious stranger comes to town, along with that someone comes up missing, and you have a page turner filled with plenty of interesting happenings, that include a few unexpected twists!<br /><br />From the beginning paragraphs Ms. Fisher creates a story that's filled with a bit of mystery along with plenty of excitement for nineteen year old M.K. Lapp who had been longing for a bit of adventure. I just loved the words the author used to express the restlessness that M.K. felt. They allowed for such vivid scenes to play out in my head, I could just imagine M.K. feeling the need to spread her wings and fly to someplace that would seem more exciting than her tiny town!<br />I have read each book in this wonderful series, and for me each story just keeps getting better. I enjoyed meeting the new characters in the story, and loved reconnecting with the Lapp family, including Doozy the dog! Fans of Amish fiction will love this story, but anyone who enjoys a bit of mystery, romance and a story that will keep you glued to the pages then your going to want to read the entire series, and if you have never read anything by Ms. Fisher why not start with the Stoney Ridge Seasons, I promise you wont be disappointed. On a scale of one of one to five I would easily give this entire series a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1357271048000, "title": "The Lesson" }, { "asin": "0800719867", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Choices of the Heart\" is the third book in The Midwives series and takes place in Virginia in 1842. Esther Cherrett finds herself in the midst of something that forces her to head for the mountains of Virginia and take a job teaching, hoping that she can leave her problems behind. Instead she finds herself smack dab in the middle of a family feud between the Tollivers and the Brooks, added to that is the fact that Griff Tolliver as well as Zach Brooks wants to court her. Which one will win her heart, and does it really matter, especially when her past catches up with her? What will happen when the past she tried to outrun reaches the mountains?<br /><br />As a fan of historical fiction I have enjoyed this entire series. Ms. Eakes does a wonderful job of creating realistic characters that are very easy to connect with because of the issues that they are dealing with. Esther's character wants to run from her past, but learns that the past has a way of catching up with you anyway. It was interesting to see her character grow and change as the story progressed. Griff was determined to see the feud end between the families, which made him a stand out character for me. While I enjoyed the characters I also loved the way the author brought the region to life, the descriptions allowed me to envision the area as well as the time period. Overall the historical feel of the story along with a great plot that provided a few twists made this a great read. While this book could be read as a stand alone work, I recommend reading the entire series. If your a fan of historical romance, with an inspirational bent your going to enjoy \"Choices of the Heart.\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1358659590000, "title": "Choices of the Heart" }, { "asin": "0800734602", "rating": 5, "text": "Cheyenne Wyoming Territory is the setting for \"Waiting for Spring.\" It's 1886 and its been a year since Charlotte Harding's world was turned upside down, and she was forced to flee to Cheyenne so that she and her young son David might be safe. While she has made a new life and friends, even opening a dress shop, she still worried for the safety of her son. When she meets Barrett Landry, a wealthy rancher who has political aspirations they are drawn to each other, but he needs a wife with political connections and she can't risk her past being exposed, what will happen between them?<br /><br />Charlotte was such a nice character, a wonderful mother willing to do whatever she needed to do to protect her son. I so wanted things to work out for Charlotte. I enjoyed reading about her dress shop, as well as her interactions with her customers. There are several secondary characters that really propel this story along including Gwen Amos and her daughter Rose who was a great help to Charlotte. A great well rounded story, romance, with mystery,suspense as well as the historical setting made this book a real winner for me. To be honest I was drawn to this book because of it's beautiful cover, but the characters and story are what truly shine with this one. Amanda Cabot is easily one of my favorite historical fiction writers, and I look forward to reading the next book in the Westward Winds series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1358662438000, "title": "Waiting for the next book in this fantastic series" }, { "asin": "0800720393", "rating": 5, "text": "After a disastrous marriage Charlotte Farrow finds it necessary to flee her husband in order to keep not only herself but her newborn son safe as well. She becomes a maid for the Banning household, but one of the job requirements was that she be unmarried and without children, so she keeps her son a secret. When Mrs. Given, the lady that Charlotte has entrusted with her young son Henry, has a family emergency and needs to leave town she brings the baby to Charlotte at work. Charlotte finds herself in a dilemma, if she confesses she will certainly lose her job, but if she doesn't will she lose her son?<br /><br />While this book is the second in the Avenue of Dreams series I feel like it can be read as a stand alone work, although because the first book was quite engaging I would recommend reading it as well. This book picks up right were the last one left off. I found myself feeling empathy for Charlotte's dilemma, and couldn't imagine being in her position. Lose her job, or protect her son, and not only that there is the hopes of romance, but when or if the truth comes out will it be the end of her hopes for a new beginning? In addition to Charlotte's compelling story we get a very good glimpse the differences between the social classes during this time in history. Also we get a great historical glance of the Chicago's Worlds Fair. Overall, fans of historical fiction will certainly enjoy not only this book but the entire series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1359426815000, "title": "Historical fiction fans will enjoy this series" }, { "asin": "0800721330", "rating": 5, "text": "\"A New Home for Lily\" has Lily and her family moving to Pennsylvania to be closer to family. Things are really changing for young Lily. She no longer has her own bedroom, she finds herself in a new school with new children, added to that is the fact that there is a new baby in the house. She does have her faithful dolly Sally. While some changes seem a little intimidating some are chock full of fun. One things certain young Lily keeps her faithful dolly Sally close by for comfort! Will Lily adjust to all the changes going on? Read this wonderful book to be pulled along into young Lily's life where adventures abound, and the reader gets wonderful glimpses of Amish life.<br /><br />While this book is geared toward the younger reading set, I find it a totally refreshing read. I enjoy reading about the day to day Amish goings on, and the character of Lily is just wonderful. Life is full of adventure and never boring your Lily. A great read whether your eight or eighty. Young girls are going to enjoy Lily and her adventures while they learn about the Amish lifestyle. I can't recommend this series enough. On a scale of one to five it easily gets a six in my book!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1360552318000, "title": "A New Home for Lily" }, { "asin": "0800734300", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become a huge fan of Biblical fiction so to say I was excited to read \"Rebekah\" is sort of an understatement, because I remember reading her story in the book of Genesis.Well after reading Jill Eileen Smith's fictionalized account of her story, I know I will never forget Rebekah, because she brought the story to life making me feel as if I was right there as the events take place.The twins that she bore, and who she chose as her favorite. Ms. Smith allowed me to see Rebekah as a mother, not just another woman in the Bible. The author easily pulled me back into Bible days, with a richness in descriptions that brought the time and setting to life. I certainly enjoyed how the author incorporated scripture verses thru the story. Overall, fans of Biblical fiction will certainly want to read this one, but anyone who enjoys historical fiction with romance, where the characters just happen to be from the Bible will certainly want to read this memorable story. I can't wait to read the next book in this exciting series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361247483000, "title": "Rebekah" }, { "asin": "0800720733", "rating": 4, "text": "I love books that take place around the time of the Civil War so \"When the Heart Heals\" was a much anticipated read for me. This book takes place during 1867 in Noble Springs, Missouri. Rosemary Saxon was a nurse during the civil war, but with the war over she has to support herself somehow so she decides to work for Dr. Elijah Stewart the doctor in town.Rosemary believes in using herbal remedies and often gives out advice against which is something the doctor doesn't care for, which often causes them to butt heads on occasion. As they work together an attraction grows, but someone comes along that has Rosemary thinking she needs to leave town. Rosemary also finds herself having problems because of some advice that she has given to someone about herbs. How will things work out for Rosemary? Will she be accepted for who she is, and does she and Elijah work things out?<br /><br />While I felt like I ultimately knew how things would work out for the main characters it was such a wonderful story that gets me to that conclusion. I am such a fan of sweet romance,as well as strong women that don't often conform to what society thinks that they should be.The plot moves along at a good pace, and the author sprinkles a bit of suspense to make it more interesting. I love when we get a pet woven into a story and with this one we have Rosemary's dog Bodie. Overall, while I knew where this story was headed I certainly enjoyed the telling that gets us there. Fans of historical fiction who also enjoy a good clean read will certainly love this one. While this book is the second in the Sisters at Heart series it can easily be read as a stand alone work.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361697768000, "title": "When the Heart Heals" }, { "asin": "1596693584", "rating": 4, "text": "\"The Moses Quilt\" is a story that will capture the heart and provide you with a surprising yet satisfying ending!<br /><br />Mazie Hartford is a 24 year old whose life seems to be falling right into place, she recently finished college, and is set to take a job in the fall. Added to that her boyfriend Edward, a lawyer in his fathers firm has ask her to marry him. Thing is she has been dragging her feet, hesitant to say yes. Her great-grandmother moved in with Mazie and her mother five years ago, leaving the deep South for California. Now at the age of 93 her great-grandmother Mimi knows that her time left is coming to an end and wants to pass on a family heirloom to her namesake Mazie. The heirloom is a Moses quilt and along with the quilt is the telling of the history behind the quilt. Perhaps Mimi's story of family history will help Mazie make up her mind about her future.<br /><br />There are two stories going on in the pages of this book. The contemporary romance between Mazie and Edward, which happens to be an interracial relationship. The secondary story is the story behind the Moses Quilt, and that was truly the stand out story for me, because with Mimi's story we learn about Harriet Tubman. We learn where she came from, the cruel treatment she endured and ultimately why she was so adamant to see her people be free. I always enjoy getting a history lesson along with a fictional read and that's just what I found woven into the pages of \"The Moses Quilt.\" While the romance was ok it was Mimi and her story that made this book a real winner for me. A great way to learn a bit about African American History.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361744761000, "title": "History lesson was stand out for me" }, { "asin": "1621360210", "rating": 5, "text": "Cassandra Todd finds herself needing to leave her home in the middle of the night, her husband Brad is an abusive man, and while Cassandra was willing to take his beatings when he threatens to turn the abuse on their son Justin she knows it's time to leave. She heads to Lakewood, the town she grew up in hoping to cash in some bonds that her parents left her and then disappear When the bank transaction takes a bit longer than she anticipates she finds herself needing to spend a few days in town and checks into The Mountain View Motel. When hired men show up she finds herself needing the help of the motel handyman.<br />Turner Caldwell's high school years is something he has tried to put behind him. Bullied unmercifully by the jocks, especially Brad Duncan, who even gave him the nickname \"Pancake.\" Turner always had a crush on Cassandra Todd, but she was one of the popular crowd, a cheerleader. After being gone for seven years Cassandra shows up with her young son Justin and stays a few nights at the motel where Turner works, causing those old feelings and emotions to bubble to the surface. When she shows up at his door and tells him that she is running from her husband, who just happens to be Brad Duncan,and needs his help Turner finds himself in the midst of something that could possibly change his life forever.<br /><br />I found myself intrigued within the first few pages of this story. Cassandra finds herself needing to leave an abusive husband, and winds up going back to her home town. How ironic that the boy that was bullied in high school by her husband is the one she turns to for help. While I could empathize with Cassandra and her plight, I really felt for Turner and the memories that haunted him.I could understand why he was angry with God. In addition to the bullying he had experienced in high school, he had also lost a job he loved, his mother had died, and his father sort of abandoned him. Cassandra on the other hand held fast to her faith and felt like God was leading her.<br /><br />The author tackles two pretty tough subjects within the pages of this story, spousal abuse and bullying. Cassandra was willing to accept the abuse for herself, but refused to allow her husband to abuse her son. I thought the author really shined when it came to showcasing just how bullying can haunt someone for years. Overall I found this to be a very fast paced story laced with suspense, drama, along with several inspirational, motivational messages as well. Recommended!<br /><br />A review copy was provided by Glass Roads PR in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1362628135000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "080072089X", "rating": 3, "text": "\"Moonlight Masquerade\" is a Regency Romance set in London during 1813. Lady Celine Wexham was French born, but married an English Earl. Thing is her husband, was older,and not very nice. After his death she has money and wealth, which allows her to help those in need. Thing is the English government thinks that she may be a spy and sends Rees Phillips to work undercover as her butler to find out the truth.<br /><br />Regency romance isn't a genre that I normally read, so I was excited to try this one. While the story was really slow to pick up in the beginning, it did pick up, but never really held my attention. I hoped for a fast paced spy drama with romance woven in, but I was left wishing that there had been more romance between the two main characters. I did enjoy the historical aspects of the story, and thought that Rees was a very likable character. Overall, just a middle of the road read for me that didn't excite or inspire, I would say that if you enjoy a historical read, set during the regency era, you might enjoy this book. It just really wasn't my cup of tea.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1362959943000, "title": "Moonlight Masquerade" }, { "asin": "0764209914", "rating": 5, "text": "I found myself drawn into this story from the beginning. Molly Lovelace has always been treated like Daddy's little princess, and because everyone seemed to think that she was just a pretty female, who loved to shop, without a true thought in her head that's just how she acts. Her father has decided who he wants her to marry and doesn't plan on giving her a say in matters. Thing is she already has her heart set on someone, and that someone isn't who her father has in mind for her. He wants her to marry someone wealthy, such as Edward Pierrepont, but she can't get the cowboy Bailey Garner out of her heart. Will she go against her father, who does she ultimately choose?<br />I really enjoyed Regina Jenning's first novel, \"Sixty Acres and a Bride\" so I was totally anxious to read this one, and as a fan of historical romantic fiction this book certainly suited me to a tee! Once I got Molly's story I totally understood why she acted the way she did, after all her father Thomas had certain expectations of her. I also understood her feelings for Bailey, after all they had been childhood friends. I could just imagine the pressure that Bailey felt in finding a job so that he would be financially \"secure\" enough to support Molly in the way that she was accustomed. the on again off again twisty relationship between the pair kept me guessing as to how things might work out. I felt like the author created authentic characters for the time period For me though it was their spiritual development that really made the characters shine. I enjoyed seeing several of the characters from \"Sixty Acres and a Bride,\" but did feel like the author provided enough information that this could be read as a stand alone novel. Fans of historical romance with an inspirational slant will certainly enjoy this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1363743376000, "title": "Love In The Balance" }, { "asin": "1451574827", "rating": 4, "text": "\"The Gospel Centered Woman\" is a Bible study that not only discusses what God created his daughters to be, but how to achieve and live his plan without feeling oppressed but instead uplifted and exalted.<br /><br />This Bible study is broken down into three sections with the first section titled Created in God's Image which delves into what God create women to be, and how they are created to bear the image of God. This section also touches on the fall of man and woman. \"Section two titled Redeemed to Reflect God Once More\" touches on topics such as forgiving and being forgiven, finding contentment, and how the Gospel can unite women with Christ. Section three is titled \"Wisdom in the Tension\" and is geared at helping women navigate through daily life.<br /><br />Overall, I found this an easy to use Bible study and really appreciated how the author doesn't just give us her opinion but instead provides us with scripture that allows us to understand and read where she is coming from. I found it helpful that she includes a blank page at the end of each chapter so that we can take notes on what we have read. The discussion questions included would make this a great Bible study for women's groups. Many of the questions are geared to make the reader reflect not only on what they have read but also what they might be dealing with in their own lives. My only complaint is that I wish the questions would have been placed at the end of each chapter instead at the back of the book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1364435962000, "title": "The Gospel Centered Woman" }, { "asin": "0764207970", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Unrivaled\" takes place in St. Louis Missouri in 1910. Lucy Kendall's family owns the City Confectionery candy company, but it looks like that might change. Their company had struggled financially, but after Lucy's father has a heart attack, it looks like the answer might be to sell out, or at least that's what Lucy's mother wants to do. Lucy doesn't want to see that happen and begs her mother to reconsider. When her mother agrees to give Lucy a month to try and save the business by creating a new candy, there is one stipulation attached. Lucy must also go to the Veiled Prophet Ball, because Lucy's mother thinks it's well past time that Lucy find a husband and settle down. Lucy agrees but her plan is to unveil her new candy at the ball.<br /><br />Charlie Clarke's father left the family when he was only seven years old, so he had grown up hating his father, but not really knowing him. Now at the age of twenty-two after getting into a bit of trouble his mother contacts his father who offers him a job working for him in the Royal Taffy company in St. Louis. When he arrives in town he literally runs into Lucy, and she feels something too, but thing is neither one knows who the other is. Will the company rivalry keep the two apart, or ultimately bring them together?<br /><br />\"Unrivaled\" easily pulled me back in time, allowing for a unique glimpse of the candy making business during the early 1900's. We see the story unfold thru the eyes of two main characters. The author alternates between Lucy and Charlie's perspective, but does it in a smooth easy to follow way. Lucy sincerely wanted to keep the family business, even though during the time period women in business wasn't the norm. Thing is Lucy didn't seem to care how her actions affected others, although as the story progresses it is nice to see Lucy grow and change. I really could understand and empathize with Charlie more because he was struggling with issues from the past. There were a few secondary characters that really added to the story.<br /><br />Overall, I think my favorite parts of this story actually revolved around the candy making, I could just imagine Lucy as she was making taffy. I also got a few laughs when things didn't turn out quite right. If your a fan of historical fiction with romance, inspiration, along with a company rivalry and a bit of mystery woven into the mix then your in for a sweet treat with \"Unrivaled' by Siri Mitchell.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1364748712000, "title": "Unrivaled" }, { "asin": "1433671689", "rating": 5, "text": "Invisible\" takes place in Fort Bragg, CA and told with four unique voices. Dr. Miles Becker, who lost his wife Sarah to cancer, but before she died she made him promise her that he would move on, even suggesting someone for him to get to know. Ellyn DeMoss is a chef who runs her own restaurant She is very critical of herself because she is carrying several extra pounds.Sabina Jackson, is a counselor who says that she is taking a short sabbatical, but in truth she thinks that she is mildly depressed. There is more going on in Sabina's life than she is willing to admit. Twila Boaz had weight issues and was finally diagnosed with anorexia but now recovering she works with her mother at a health food store and uses tattoos in order to cover up her body, but also to express her feelings. Each of these characters lend their voice to \"Invisible\" and as their stories unfold, they blend together making for a remarkable tale with several powerful messages.<br /><br />I was afraid that this book might get confusing because it had four unique stories, but instead the voices and stories are so unique that it is easy to understand and follow along. While I found each characters story interesting, I have to say that Ellyn was the character that really resonated with me. Her poor self image and struggle with weight was something that is very relevant in today's society. Her inner voice that she named Earl, was very negative. Because she was so disappointed in herself she was certain that she was a disappointment to God as well. When the doctor shows an interest in her she can't imagine what he would see in her, even thinking there might be something wrong with him.<br />Overall, this was a story where the characters are struggling with issues that were very relatable, but more than that left the message of God's love and acceptance. Not a light fluffy read, instead the author crafts characters that are so easy to relate too, because each in their own way are struggling with things that are relevant in today's society. The discussion questions provided at the end of the story would make this a great group read. A story that will inspire and challenge, and maybe even motivate.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1365133412000, "title": "Invisible" }, { "asin": "0824932463", "rating": 5, "text": "Six months after the death of their mother Caroline Marris, along with her sisters Gracie Gold and Sam Carter plan a two week getaway to Nantucket a place their mother loved. While strolling on the beach they arrive at the Misty Harbor Inn, a place their mother dreamed of owning and are surprised at the condition of the old inn. The sisters decide to purchase the inn even though it will take a lot of work to get it ready to open. When they find some old postcards they are find themselves immersed in the mystery of Hannah Montague, the widow of the original owner. Can they figure out what happened to her?Will the sisters be able to get the inn open, and will this adventure draw them together or pull them apart?<br /><br />I loved the family feel of this novel. Each sister has their own unique personality giving this story a very realistic feel. Because the sisters are older I found myself easily relating to them. I could easily understand Gracie's reluctance at wanting to leave her home, but she also needed to reestablish a relationship with her sisters. In addition to the family drama going on they are renovating the inn and if that isn't enough there is an air of mystery about a former owner. \"Seaside Harmony\" is the first book in the Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn series and is the perfect way to escape for a few hours. I have always been a fan of Guideposts series and this one promises not to disappoint With elements of faith interwoven with family drama, a hint of mystery along with a splash of romance, I really look forward to my next visit to the Misty Harbor Inn.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1366945739000, "title": "Seaside Harmony" }, { "asin": "0824932471", "rating": 5, "text": "It's spring in Nantucket and the girls have been working all year to get the Inn in tip top shape to open and what better time to have the grand opening than while the town is celebrating with the Daffodil festival. We get to meet the guests , but more than that the mystery of the previous owner continues to unfold.<br /><br />The three sisters really make this a stand out series, it's so nice to see their relationships grow and change as the story progresses. I always enjoy whenever an animal is included in a story and we Max, Carolines cocker spaniel continues to make appearances in this story. I think the element of mystery that is woven into the story really adds to the storyline. I found the historical aspects of the mystery quite interesting. \"Sunflower Summer\" is the second book in the Postcards From Misty Harbor Inn series and I really think that to understand the story completely the books should be read in order. A wonderful setting, interesting characters along with elements of faith, and the mystery woven in really held my attention and has me anxious to read the next book in this series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1366946318000, "title": "Sunflower Summer" }, { "asin": "0800722256", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been a fan of Melody Carlson for years. She does a wonderful job of pulling me into whatever story she is writing, making me understand the characters and whatever they might be going thru.<br /><br />\"A Simple Song\" is the story of Katrina Yoder. She has always enjoyed singing, but in her Amish world it is a sin, and therefore it is forbidden.Katrina's friend Bekka has been watching a show called American Star and really thinks that Katrina should try out for the show. For Katrina though the reason to step out into the Englisher world is more complicated than that. Her father needs to have surgery, and \"American Star\" just might be the way that Katrina could win the money, and since she hasn't been baptized into the church yet, she will go while on her rumspringa. What will her parents and community say? Will they accept her back into the community, and if she wins the money will her parents accept it! Can an Amish girl stay true to her roots while thrust into the Englisher spotlight! Read this page turning story to find out!<br />I found \"A Simple Song,\" to be a nice, quick read that is filled with interesting characters that are easy to like. I could easily understand Katrina and the choices she made. I thought it was interesting how her grandfather encouraged singing at her grandmother's funeral. The reason that was revealed was touching and allowed me to further understand Katrina's story. I found the behind the scenes descriptions of \"American Star\" interesting, and while I kind of knew how things might work out it was still fun to see how Melody Carlson would allow things to work out! Overall, this fun little read, is great for teens but also a quick read for adults who enjoy Amish fiction as well.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1371435536000, "title": "Another great story from Melody Carlson" }, { "asin": "0764209663", "rating": 5, "text": "When an outlaw's daughter want's a preacher for her birthday, what's her outlaw daddy to do but have someone go out and kidnap,or preachernap,one for her! After all it's Joanna Robbins twenty-first birthday and she deserved something big, after all she is still grieving the loss of her mother.Truth is Jo has been praying for a preacher to come along and help revive their little community church, but she never imagined the lengths her father would go to to bring a preacher to her. When her father kidnaps Crockett Archer and brings him home for her birthday she knows she will have to let him go because he has other plans, but she can't help but hope he might decide to stay!<br />I found myself immediately drawn to this book because of the cover,and title,after all I couldn't imagine what \"Stealing The Preacher\" might entail, but I have to say it was the attention grabbing story that kept me turning the pages to see where and what would happen next! I found myself loving these characters and even understanding the reasoning of why Joanna's father did what he did! I loved the lively conversations that literally brings the story to life. I also enjoyed the historical feel of the story! Fans of historical fiction that enjoy stories that provide more than a few laughs along with several smiles, a lively cast of characters and a nice, inspirational romance will find themselves devouring \"Stealing The Preacher\" in one sitting, I know that I did! An unputdownable read for me!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1371527327000, "title": "Fun historical read" }, { "asin": "1433679302", "rating": 5, "text": "Daphne Ballinger's left her small town life in Appleton with high hopes of having a writing career in the Big Apple. Thing is it's thirteen years later, and she is finds herself stuck in a job that is far from what she hoped for, sharing the same apartment, and still heartsore from a relationship from ten years ago when a boyfriend burned her bad. When she gets a call from her father that her rather eccentric ninety-one year old aunt Dee passed away she goes home. She is soon surprised that her aunt left her sole beneficiary of everything that she owned, including a beautiful old Victorian, a vintage Corvette and plenty of money, there is just a couple of snafu's her aunt left some pretty specific requirements and Daphne has a year to fulfill her aunt's wishes. If she doesn't the house will be given to the \"Cat House\" the shelter where she adopted her beloved kitties Lucy and Ethel. As several secrets come to light about Aunt Dee Daphne learns things that she would have never guessed. Will Daphne leave New York behind and move back to Appleton, and if she does will she be able to meet the requirements of Dee's will?<br /><br />Melody Carlson is one of my all time favorite writers, her versatile writing skills, has taken me on several adventures and \"Lock, Stock, and Over a Barrel\" allows me to watch Daphne Ballinger go from someone who seemed unhappily stuck in her life to someone with choices if only she can embrace them. Daphne is a character that is so easy to relate to, she was someone that had hopes and dreams, but after years of the same old same old her life was in a rut! I enjoyed seeing the changes that precipitated in her life once she returned to Appleton. Plenty of secondary characters really stood out for me including Daphne's dad, his life was in transition as well, and the secrets that he learned about Aunt Dee was something that he took in stride.Even though Aunt Dee has passed away, her character played such an integral role in the plot, she seemed like a fun loving someone, who did have a few regrets and hoped to keep Daphne from making some of the same mistakes. Ms. Carlson's descriptions easily allowed me to feel the small town setting of the story, and the advice column reminded me of Dear Abby! While there is an inspirational bent to the story, it isn't overwhelming, and seemed perfectly plausible I will say the author certainly left me hanging with the ending, and I know I will keep wondering until the next installment how things will work out for Daphne! If you have never read anything by Ms. Carlson this book is the perfect time to start, or if you're like me and are a long time fan, you're not going to want to miss this one. I only hope readers don't have to wait long for the next installment in the Dear Daphne series!", "timestamp": 1372298844000, "title": "Can't wait to read book two in the series!" }, { "asin": "0800721381", "rating": 4, "text": "I have become a fan of Biblical historical fiction and \"Claudia\" is the story of a character in the Bible that is only mentioned once, but Diana Wallis Taylor doesn't let that stop her from creating a compelling story that not only brings the characters but Biblical times to life, a time when woman really had to make the best of the situations that they found themselves in.At the age of sixteen Claudia is married to Pontius Pilate , and truly loves her husband even though it was an arranged marriage.After the marriage they move to Judea where Claudia has a dream about Jesus and the role her husband will play in his crucifixion.The author certianly knew how to bring this timeperiod to life, I could just imagine the places that was described in the story. I also recognized a few Biblical characters woven into the story along with Claudia and her husband. It was nice to see a different side of Pontius Pilate, a side that only his wife Claudia saw.Even though a fictionalized story, the author makes the story believable by providing enough facts to give a sense of realism. Overall fans of historical fiction will enjoy this story, but if you enjoy historical fiction with a Biblical slant then this is a must read for you.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1372649884000, "title": "Claudia" }, { "asin": "0800721594", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Dolled Up to Die is the second book in the Cate Kinkaid mystery series and really can be read as a stand alone work, but honestly it's such a good cozy little mystery that you're probably going to want to go back and read the first book just because you're going to want more of these characters!<br /><br />When Cate Kinkaid was hired by her uncle Joe to work as an assistant investigator for Belmont Investigations he made it perfectly clear that they only handled routine investigations such as background checks, serving subpoenas and the like, thing is it seems murder cases keep cropping up in the town of Eugene, Oregon and Cate somehow finds herself in the middle of the action! The latest call is from a woman saying there has been a triple shooting, well how can Cate not help at the scene of a triple homicide especially when the caller might still be in danger. When she arrives on the scene though she does find three victims, and quickly discovers a fourth, thing is three of the gunshot victims are life sized dolls!<br /><br />\"Dolled Up to Die\" is one of those stories that you start reading and the next thing you know you are finished. The story moves along at such a fast pace that the pages just fly by. I love the character of Cate, she is a bumbling PI that provides more than a few laughs. She often talks to her fat cat Octavia, and is rescued more than once by her boyfriend Mitch. With several suspects the author doesn't make it easy to figure out who-dun-it with this one. Anyone who enjoys a fast paced cozy mystery with more than a few laughs and a bumbling heroine will certainly enjoy \"Dolled Up to Die!\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1374460138000, "title": "Fast paced cozy mystery" }, { "asin": "1595547827", "rating": 4, "text": "Amy Lange is grieving the loss of her brother Ben and really can't wrap her mind around the fact that it was an \"accident.\" When she receives an email stating that she might want to take a trip to Hope Island hinting that her brother Ben had secrets that actually led to his death, she decides to take the trip to Rosemary Cottage on Hope Island a place that is dear to her hoping to find solace and even thinking of moving her midwifery practice there. Mostly though she is hoping to find the answers she needs so that she can truly understand her brother's death.<br /><br />While this is the second book in the Hope Beach series by Colleen Coble it can easily be read as a stand alone work. I found myself swept into the story from the beginning pages when Gina, Curtis Ireland's sister is basically run down by a motorboat, thing is she recognized the person on the boat, but who was it? That along with wanting to know about Ben and what happened to him propelled me into this story to find the answers! Suspense filled with more than a few twists kept me turning the pages,and the romance was a nice bonus. Ms. Coble captured the beauty of the area that she writes about, allowing the setting to come to life for me. Overall, anyone who enjoys mystery/suspense with a sweet romance and a nice christian theme woven in will enjoy this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1374462505000, "title": "Rosemary Cottage" }, { "asin": "1433678209", "rating": 5, "text": "I was drawn to \"In Golden Splendor\" because I am always interested in a good historical read, and I got just what I hoped for with this novel. This story draws the reader back to the mid 1800's during the California Gold Rush.<br /><br />Seamus Handley's past was rife with disappointment, and he is haunted by a past that he just can't seem to overcome. How though did this Irishman wind up living in self exile in the Rocky Mountain Wilderness, where it seems that the lack of food might do him in. It seems though fate has something else in store for Seamus though when he finds a letter from a woman in San Francisco asking for help he has nothing to lose by heading to California. The journey he embarks on will test his mettle. Will Seamus find what he is looking for in California?<br /><br />Mr. Reynolds weaves together an epic historical tale that comes to life in the pages of this story. I found it easy to envision the journey that Seamus embarked on. Since I didn't read the first book in the story I was really interested in who Seamus was and what his background might have been. The author does a great job of providing enough information to make this a stand alone story. I became totally invested in Seamus' story wanting to know how it would end. Rich details, really brought the story to life for me, and wanting to know how things would work out for Seamus kept me reading. There were so many secondary characters that we meet on the journey that play unique roles in the story that kept it moving along. Overall, a rich historical read, blended with romance, suspense, and an inspirational message that reminds the reader of God's love. I enjoyed this book so much that I plan on going back to read the first book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1375675395000, "title": "An Epic Journey" }, { "asin": "0824932595", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Whispers On The Dock\" take readers back to Misty Harbor Inn allowing us to reconnect with the three sisters that run the Inn. With this installment the main focus is on the youngest sister Sam who enjoys baking, and hopes to enter the Summerfield baking contest. In addition to the baking contest there is the unique characters that check into the inn as well as the mystery that the three sisters are still trying to solve.<br /><br />What a wonderful, relaxing read each of the books in the series turned out to be. Even though it had been a couple of months since I read the first two books in the series it was so easy to fall right back into the storyline, because I felt like I was connecting with old friends. I thought the storyline revolving around Hannah Montague was really interesting, it was fun to see the clues unfold around this mystery. Overall, I found this book to be well written and the plot moves along well, I found the storyline relaxing and easy to read. This book is the third book in a series and really the first two books should be read to get the most from this one. Cozy mystery light is how I would describe this one, because there was a mystery but there really was much more than just the mystery going on in the story.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1378012226000, "title": "Return to Misty Harbor" }, { "asin": "0825442141", "rating": 5, "text": "Hope is often difficult to find when life throws curves our way that cause not only our heart to hurt but also damage our spirit. Instead we often close ourselves off and try and protect ourselves from further hurt, shutting off our heart in a sense to protect it. With \"Wounded Women of the Bible\" the author shares the stories of twelve different women of the Bible linking their stories with stories from today that allowed me to connect with the Biblical stories on a greater level,providing hope and encouragement reminding that we can overcome and become stronger with the help of God. I would have to say that my favorite female character in the Bible had to be Ruth, and the author's focus on her story had me thinking deeper about Ruth and what she really went thru. The author's easy to read, friendly feeling writing made this a stand out book for me. While I enjoyed reading the stories of the \"Wounded Women of the Bible\" I also found the personal stories that the authors share to be inspirational and encouraging. Overall, I think this book is a must read for women young and old, filled with inspiration and encouragement that remind the reader of God's strength and love. The study guide and discussion questions that are included make this a fantastic book for group study, personally myself I have been using the book like a Bible study, taking each chapter and turning it into a weeks worth of study and reflection.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1379190499000, "title": "Encouraging" }, { "asin": "1859857663", "rating": 5, "text": "Bumper Wipe Clean Activities book is chock full of fun things that focus on the Bible. A study book that will withstand quite a bit of use.A sturdy cover, with the wipe free pages makes this a book that will be reused often. There is a handy holder so the pen doesn't get lost from the book and the spiral binding makes it's easy for young hands to use. Bright colors and easy to read vocabulary might just light the spark of reading with your youngster. The simple activities are best suited for youngsters probably five and under, I think that perhaps an older child may find the activities a little to simplistic. Some of the activities include dot to dot, matching pairs, finding the hidden object, and mazes. I think this book would make a wonderful gift, perfect for taking along when you need to keep your youngster occupied. I would easily recommend this book to anyone looking for a sturdy book that because of the wipe free pages can be reused.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1379561007000, "title": "Good Value for a sturdy product" }, { "asin": "0800723074", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite types of books to read when I was a child was books filled jokes, so this one really brought back a lot of memories. I remembered a few of the jokes I read, and had more than a bit of fun reading the tongue twisters, something that I have never gotten good at! A book that it chock full of good, clean, jokes that is sure to tickle the funny bone, and have youngsters trying the jokes out on their friends. This book is basically like three books in one, with laugh out loud jokes for kids, zoolarious animal jokes for kids, and of course my favorite knock knock jokes, there are also tongue twisters but I was pleasantly surprised by the did you know tidbits that were filled with interesting fun facts. Many of these little facts were totally new to me! Certainly a book that will appeal to youngsters but it might also appeal to those of us that remember joke books as a kid, I know it brought back a few fond memories for me!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1390780300000, "title": "Funny with a few fun facts as well." }, { "asin": "0062204467", "rating": 5, "text": "A new series by Shelley Shepard Gray, boy I couldn't wait to dive into this one, and once I did I really couldn't put this book down until I finished it! I love books set in Sugarcreek, Ohio because it's a place I visit often so it's the familiar that really hooks me. With this book we get the story of Miriam Zehr and Albert (Junior) Beiler. Miriam longs to have a family of her own. Thing is she feels like the only way she will ever find a special someone is to leave Sugarcreek. When Junior Beiler seeks her out she is thrilled could it be that finally someone is interested in her?<br /><br />Such a delightful beginning to a promising new series. I loved these characters, and I found Miriam so easy to connect with. Who doesn't have problems with self image, and it's wonderful to see Amish portrayed as real people with real issues. Often writers create Amish characters that seem to perfect, but Ms. Gray always makes me feel like I could be reading about anyone, Amish or English because of the realism of her characters. I couldn't help but be drawn in wondering whether Miriam would ever find love, if Junior would realize what was right within his grasp. Plenty of secondary characters keeps the plot zipping along, making for a quick yet satisfying read! Hopeful is perfect for Amish fans, but anyone looking for a great read that just happens to be about the Amish will find Ms. Gray's writing easy to connect with, written with depth, but also a touching tenderness and there is a bit of mystery as well. Hopeful leaves me anxious to read the next book in the Return to Sugarcreek Series!", "timestamp": 1391708358000, "title": "I'm hooked on this new series" }, { "asin": "0800722264", "rating": 4, "text": "Melody Carlson is one of my favorite author's and My Amish Boyfriend is a real example of why she has achieved that position in my heart. She has the uncanny ability to produce a page turning read that also provides plenty of life lessons woven in. With My Amish Boyfriend we meet sixteen year old Shannon McNamara who thinks that she has her summer all planned, but when she arrives home from school her friendly neighbor who has been helping out with her sick mother informs her that she has been in contact with her mother's family in Ohio and plans are in place for them to go there. So instead of spending the summer in Indiana she finds her world turned upside down when they head to Ohio to meet family that she never new about. What adventures and life lessons are in store for Shannon? Pick up My Amish Boyfriend and find out!<br /><br />Ms. Carlson deals with several very real issues in this story, Shannon is living in a single parent home after the death of her father. Her mom worked full time until she got sick, and she really doesn't seem to be getting any better. Learning about a family that you never knew about is one thing but learning to deal with them on a daily basis is quite another, especially when they are Amish. I really liked the character of Shannon,and truly felt like her character developed well, except for the relationship that developed between her and Ezra. It felt rushed, I do get that she is sixteen and they during that age they fall in love at the drop of a hat, but it really felt rushed, and I was a bit surprised at Ezra as well. Overall, I liked the story, and enjoyed watching Shannon grow and change, especially as she learns about her family, Ms. Carlson allowed me to feel the emotions that Shannon felt. A story about faith and family, and the fact that life isn't always easy.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1393785146000, "title": "My Amish Boyfriend" }, { "asin": "1426752792", "rating": 5, "text": "I have really enjoyed reading each book in the&#34;Quilt Of Love&#34; series. What makes them unique is that each book is written by a different author,allowing us to sample each author's writing style. One thing is a constant though through each book and that's the fact that a quilt plays a part in each story. As someone who enjoys the Needlework art of quilting that in itself really drew me to the series, but the splendid writing of each author continues to bring me back for each new book.<br /><br /> In a Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare the Native American story line and the historical time frame really made this one of my favorite books in this series! Frankie Chasing Bear is a Lakota woman living in the 1950's whose grandmother taught her the art of quilting, but more than that she shared the heritage behind the Lakota Star quilt and the importance of keeping that heritage alive for generations to come. When Frankie's husband dies she leaves Pine Ridge, South Dakota moving to Arizona hoping for a better life for her ten year old son Harold, but will life be any easier there?<br /><br />A richly woven story that really brought not only the time period to life, but allowed me to feel as if I was getting a bit of a history lesson as I read the story. I could feel the turmoil that was a part of that time. My favorite character had to be Frankie, she was a young mother like any other wanting what was best for her young son. She was such a strong, brave character, who really wanted Harold, her son to know about his heritage. The author provides more than a few twists to keep the plot moving, and one of those twists is the character of Nick, who is dealing with his own issues. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction that revolves around Native Americans will be delighted with this story, but honestly it's a great read for anyone who enjoys a story about faith, family and quilts!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1394991200000, "title": "Quilt of Love" }, { "asin": "1414389752", "rating": 5, "text": "Wyoming during the spring of 1882 is where readers will find themselves transported as they read Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman. A story where the author's descriptive writing captures the feel of the old west while providing an intricately woven story that captured my imagination from the beginning paragraphs. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen with Mariah Malone. Her father confessed on his deathbed that he had purchased the Lazy M ranch, the family home with ill gotten gold that belonged to someone else. Mariah does the right thing by writing to the man, never imagining that someone would come along to claim the ranch, but that's just what happens. Slade Donovan comes to claim what belongs to his father, intending to take over the ranch, but will he?<br /><br />The main characters of Mariah and Slade are such well written characters, and the author easily pulled me into their story, making me want the best for them. Slade was one of my favorite characters, rough on the outside, but truly a gentle man. Plenty of secondary characters propel this plot along so that it never lags. Pam Hillman is a new to me author, but I enjoyed Claiming Mariah so much that I plan on checking out her other work. Fans of historical western fiction with romance, suspense, a splash of mystery that is sprinkled with humor and a faith based message will certainly enjoy this page turning read. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1397790648000, "title": "Claiming Mariah" }, { "asin": "0764210580", "rating": 4, "text": "A Sensible Arrangement is the story of Marty Dandridge Olson, a thirty-five year old childless widow of four years whose beloved husband was gored by a longhorn bull. Try as she might time hadn't lessened the pain so she hopes that answering an ad to marry Jake Wythe, a banker who lives in Colorado who is looking for a Texas bride. Jake Wythe hadn't really been lucky in love, his wife left him for another man, and then died a few months later, as a banker for Morgan Bank the board members feel that a man of his standing needs to be married. So he decides to place an ad, and gets an answer from Marty. Will leaving Texas help Marty heal from the pain of her past? Feelings start to develop between them, but one thing is standing in the way, Jake wants to return to Texas and Marty has no desire to return.<br /><br />Truly a unique twist on what I consider the mail-order bride genre. Normally the ad is placed by a farmer looking for a bride, but in this instance it's a banker, and the couple is a bit more mature, with more life experience. Neither one is expecting love, but sometimes love comes when one least expects it! Marty was spunky, the stagecoach scene really showcased her grit and determination,she did have one major flaw though, she was sometimes a bit reckless with the truth, but the author handled that issue in a very real and spiritual way.Jake is someone who is still dealing with past hurts from loves gone wrong. The feelings that develop between them was ok, but I found the historical aspects to be just as interesting. Several secondary characters really kept the plot moving along. A Sensible Arrangement is more than just another mail order bride tale, its light on romance, but provides a bit of mystery, humor and a faith based message along with enough loose ends which makes me anxious to read the next book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1398029386000, "title": "A Unique twist on the mail order bride genre" }, { "asin": "0310730538", "rating": 5, "text": "Alone Yet Not Alone by Tracy Leininger that sweeps readers back to the autumn of 1755 where we meet the Leininger family, German Immigrants who have come to America looking for a new life. They settle in the Blue Mountains of PA that overlook Penn's Creek. The family of six consists of Ma and Pa along with Christian,John, Barbara, and Regina. Their faith in God is strong, and they are very thankful for all their good fortune, which includes living peacefully among the Indians.With the French-Indian War brewing though things change dramatically and one afternoon two Indian braves barge into the cabin and kidnap Barbara who is twelve and Regina age nine. The girls are soon separated and taken far from home, but they never give up hope that someday they will be together again!<br /><br />What an amazing story of faith and family, and what makes this book even better is that it is based on a true story. The author does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life within the pages of this story. I became swept up in the saga that the girls faced, and often wondered how or if they would ever be reunited with their mother. The author's attention to detail made the various scenes pop off the pages, I could easily envision the settings, whether it was the cabin, or an Indian village, the richness of detail allowed me to feel as if I was part of the story instead of just reading it. A great read for young and old alike, especially anyone who enjoys history. An easy to read story that is certainly reminds readers of the importance of never wavering in your faith in knowing that God is always with us even in our darkest hour.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1398829524000, "title": "Rich in historical detail" }, { "asin": "1859855865", "rating": 5, "text": "The Candle Bible Handbook brings the Old and New Testaments of the Bible to life by combining visual as well as scriptural information about all sixty-six books of the Bible.There is an outline of each book along with frequently asked questions and plenty of interesting information that allows for a very good overview of each book of the Bible there are even study questions included for further thought. I found the illustrations to be top notch enhancing the subjects. I have actually been studying the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and the illustrations and information included was invaluable to me in helping me visualize the tabernacle. There is also a list of the promises in the Bible, along with important passages, important people and big ideas that will further enhance the usefulness of this wonderful reference book. While the book is geared toward 8-12 year old group it really is a perfect companion for those of any age that want's to familiarize themselves with the major elements of the Bible. Great for home study or any teaching forum for that matter, an invaluable tool that really brings the Bible to life a perfect building block for anyone wanting to study their Bible.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1399945301000, "title": "Great for any age" }, { "asin": "0800721608", "rating": 4, "text": "Cate Kinkaid has a knack for finding a mystery, and with Death Takes a Ride it's no different. She has no idea that she was going to be a witness to a robbery and shooting and the victim just might not make it. To complicate matters Cate is hired to investigate, but here's the deal, she isn't hired to investigate the shooting, instead she is looking for the owner of a particular motorcycle. Of course things rarely are what they seem, and Cate always finds herself up to her eyeballs in a who-dun-it!<br /><br />I always enjoy a good mystery and this series has certainly provided that. My only complaint was that I figured out the ending early, which was sort of a bummer. That said, I always enjoy the humor that is woven into the Cate Kinkaid Files, and I think Cate's character continues to get stronger with each installment. I love whenever animals are woven into a story and with this one we have a cat and dog! Overall this book is a good clean mystery that isn't so hard to solve, but still is well worth reading for anyone who loves a cozy mystery.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1406169950000, "title": "Death Takes A Ride" }, { "asin": "0800723562", "rating": 5, "text": "As an animal lover, especially dogs there was no way that I could look at this cover and not read the book! Henry is one of those dogs that just loves life, and well also one who seems to find his way into various situations that are often laugh out loud funny, and truly capture the essence of what it truly means to be owned by your dog. Such an easy to relate to story, this book had me reminiscing about my own canines and the puppy stage that caused more than a few mishaps in my own home. The author has a certain way with describing the antics of Henry that I could honestly visualize his various escapades! Anyone who has ever owned a dog will find this a must read, but honestly if you enjoy laughing out loud while reading you are certainly going to want to read Surviving Henry!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1408327687000, "title": "Laugh out loud funny read!" }, { "asin": "0800722884", "rating": 5, "text": "The one book in the Bible I always turn to whenever I need a little comfort is the book of Psalms so I was excited to find a book of devotions based on the book. In today's world it seems there are plenty of hard days, whether you're a stay at home mother or work outside the home. From the bad news that one is bombarded with daily on the evening news or trying to juggle the never ending list that I always seem to need to do , there are plenty of hard days to muddle thru. What Your Heart Needs for the Hard Days not only encourages, but also speaks to the heart providing a needed boost while also reminding that we are never alone! First I want to say I love the size, I would consider it a pocket book, one that will easily slip into a purse or briefcase. The bright cheerful colors used on the cover captures the eye making me want to explore what is inside. Each devotion starts with a scripture from the book of Psalms, then an devotion which touches on different issues that are easy to relate to, It wraps up with a prayer and a place for writing the users own thoughts, something that I find very useful. I love that there is a table of contents so that I can skip to the devotion that I feel I might need to read for the day. Whether you have time to do this as a daily or weekly devotional is up to you, but if you need encouragement and uplifting your going to find it within the pages of this cute little book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1410226203000, "title": "Lovely little devotional for the hard days" }, { "asin": "0800722094", "rating": 5, "text": "Suspense filled, page turning are just a few words that I would use to describe Nowhere To Turn by Lynette Eason.<br />When your married to an abusive husband the only thing to do is leave, but the danger is ramped up when your abusive husband is an FBI agent. When Danielle's husband is shot and killed you would think the worries would be over but honestly they just begin because her husband was into some shady business and now the people he dealt with wants something her husband had, and they are after her to get it!<br /><br />I think my favorite character in this one had to be eleven year old Simon. He was truly a brave young man, and my heart really went out to him. There are so many twists and turns with this story I found myself thinking I knew something only to be taken in the opposite direction. Ms. Eason has become one of my favorite authors because she is able to weave suspense, tension, mystery and drama together with romance to create a very well blended story that provides a plot that doesn't stop.The added bonus is that they are always good clean reads. While this is the second book in the Hidden Identity series it can be read as a stand alone work.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1411353727000, "title": "Edge of your seat page turner" }, { "asin": "0781409179", "rating": 5, "text": "The bright, colorful cover will certainly draw youngsters to this book, but it is the rhyming Bible stories,along with the stunning illustrations inside that are going to hold their attention as they learn about several of the most popular Bible stories. A compilation of twenty Bible stories that will certainly allow your youngster to learn about some of the Bibles most popular characters in rhyming story. I love that the author provides the location in the Bible for the scripture that each story is based on. A few of the stories include Adam and Eve, the story of Queen Esther, and Jonah and the Whale. While I did find a couple of discrepancies within the stories overall the author holds pretty true to the Bible. Overall I think Treasury of Bible Stories is a wonderful addition to any youngsters library, and would also work well for homeschooling or to use in Sunday School. A book that will certainly become a favorite with youth 4 thru 8, and I can easily imagine that even nine and ten year olds might want to read this one themselves. I found it a delightful read that would be perfect for gift giving.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1411955643000, "title": "Eye catching illustrations and rhyming verse make this one a winner" }, { "asin": "0825442052", "rating": 4, "text": "Youngsters are certainly going to enjoy guessing who as they embark on an adventure with Noah as he gatherers animals for the ark. This sturdy little board book is filled with colorful illustrations that will capture the eye and imagination as well. The rhyming story, which is written in easy to read words just might encourage your youngster to try and read along. The rhyming prose with an interactive question will get youngsters to try and guess just what animal is hiding behind the flap.Glossy pages allow for wiping off if something is spilled, the pages are sturdy and the flaps seem to stay in place when they are folded back up. A perfect little gift that surely will become a favorite, the book is geared toward 2-4 year olds and I would say that age range is pretty accurate. Overall a sturdy little storybook that shares the simplistic story that reveals a few of the animals that Noah had on the ark. One that will certainly keep a youngster entertained as they try and Guess Who is on Noah's Boat.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1414808003000, "title": "Guessing who can be lots of fun" }, { "asin": "B00KDN87CW", "rating": 5, "text": "Melody Carlson is one of my favorite authors because her writing covers such a wide variety of genres! With Trading Secrets we get the story of pen pals Micah Knight and Zack Miller, who just happens to be Amish. Thing is Micah is a girl but she never told Zack that, even though they have been sharing letters for several years. Now Micah has a chance to visit Zack on his Amish farm but how is he going to feel when he finds out that his pen pal is actually a female. .<br /><br />There were so many things that I enjoyed about this book.I can remember when I was assigned a pen pal and I think I was probably in the fifth or sixth grade,my pen pal was from England and his name was Adrian, funny story was that my teacher originally thought Adrian was a girl. Anyway back to Trading Secrets. I liked the setting of Ohio for the story, even though that's pretty typical for Amish fiction. It was the plan that Micah came up with that really got me interested, I couldn't help but wonder how she would pull it off, or even if she could. It was great that the storyline revolved around friendship, and how being honest is important. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and would love to see Ms. Carlson turn into a series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1417391561000, "title": "Another great story from Melody Carlson" }, { "asin": "0800722485", "rating": 5, "text": "At Home In Last Chance is the third book in the Place To Call Home a Series by Cathleen Armstrong. This installment pulls readers right back to Last Chance, New Mexico and tells the story of Kaitlyn Reed and Steven Braden. Kaitlyn has made plenty of mistakes in her life, and hopes to change a few when she returns to Last Chance. Steve also has a few things to prove to his family. When a relationship begins to develop between them will their past get in the way or will their hearts finally find a place to call home?<br /><br />I love the town of Last Chance and was drawn right back into the town and the lives of the characters. i have to admit I really didn't like the character of Kaitlyn in the previous book so I wasn't sure if I would enjoy her story. Well let me say the author totally changed my mind about the character and had me empathizing with her. I loved watching her character grow and change becoming who she needed to be. There is a sense of realism with this entire series that makes it very easy to relate too. I really enjoyed revisiting some of the characters from the previous books but honestly think that this book could be read without having read the other books because the author provides enough background information which allows the reader to connect with the town and characters. An emotionally charged story that grabbed my emotions and made me feel like I was reading about friends.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1422979298000, "title": "Great Series" }, { "asin": "0529103419", "rating": 4, "text": "While everyone around Sarah Montgomery is celebrating the end of the Civil War she finds her heart is broken, longing for Rand Campbell the man who never made it home. Ben Croftner has been coming to call for the past five months and while she knows she will never love him, her family wants her to marry him. Her father is very ill and wants her to take her younger brother and be settled with Ben, her brother Wade just wants to acquire land! Thing is Rand isn't dead, and when Sarah finds out she calls off her wedding, but Ben isn't easily thwarted and decides to take matters into his own hands. Can Sarah and Rand find their way back to each other, and what evilness will Ben try to accomplish in order to keep Sarah for his own?<br /><br />A Heart's Disguise easily pulled me in and wouldn't let go! A short read at only 90 pages there is plenty of life packed into so few pages! It was so easy to imagine Sarah Montgomery and the situation she was placed in. Heartbroken over losing the love of her life she only wanted to ease the mind of her father and appease her brother by marrying someone she didn't love, it seemed though that fate had another idea. Ms. Coble captures the time period right after the war where families were forced to go on even though they were grieving the loss of unreturned loved ones,but we also glimpse the time of celebration that the war was over!This short installment did what it set out to do, it left me wanting more of the story! Of course a sneak peek for A Heart's Obsession the next installment in the Journey of the Heart Series is included at the end. This series of books is taken from the previously published Wyoming Series. Overall fans of historical fiction that takes place right after the civil war will enjoy A Heart's Disguise, but honestly anyone who enjoys a story that blends faith, family and longing should also check it out!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1426467202000, "title": "The waiting for the next installment is the hardest part!" }, { "asin": "1938499867", "rating": 5, "text": "God, Me, And Sweet Iced Tea is like a refreshing sip of peace and tranquility in a sea of the turmoil that one often finds with everyday life. Rose Chandler provides just the right amount of content for her daily readings so that one can read them in just a few minutes but I guarantee you the uplifting messages will resonate with you through out the day. There are fifty-three devotions that share the authors successes but also her struggles, which is something that makes this a very easy devotional book to connect with. The author's faith is evident in each of her devotions, she shares her not only her love for God but also her ability to turn to him in for whatever she needs! Anyone looking for a way to reconnect with God, or perhaps just needing an uplifting way to start their day will certainly find that along with a sweet sense of peace and inspiration as they traverse the pages of God, Me and Sweet Iced Tea.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1430267146000, "title": "A sweet sip of inspiration" }, { "asin": "0718031652", "rating": 5, "text": "A Heart's Obsession is the second installment of The Journey of the Heart series and while a short read really packs plenty of story into a few pages. With this one Rand has headed out west and Sarah soon follows him, but when she arrives things aren't the same between her and Rand. With plenty of action and a non stop plot that really speeds by at a break neck pace this book is one that I just couldn't put down once I started reading it. Ms. Coble makes me feel as if I have stepped right into the lives of the characters, with descriptive writing the setting as well as the characters really come to life. If I had one complaint it's that when I reached the end I was left wanting more! Historical fiction fans especially fans of the time period right after the civil war when the west was becoming settled will find these books hard to put down. While the author provided enough background information with this one that one could probably read it as a stand alone I highly recommend reading the series in order to really get an in depth understanding of the relationships between the characters. Truly a book that leaves me anxiously anticipating the next installment in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1430268731000, "title": "Historical fiction fans will enjoy this series" }, { "asin": "0307731332", "rating": 5, "text": "Family secrets are something that will eventually find their way to light and with this series there are plenty of secrets! With this story Alexa has opened her bed and breakfast in her grandmother's former home, Of course starting a new business is filled with worries so when a young reporter wants to stay at the B and B for a long term stay she readily agrees, but if she knew what his assignment is would she have chosen to do so. With plenty of secrets and more than a few twists this story zooms along making it hard to put down. While the story is told from several points of view Ms. Sawyer transitions smoothly allowing for wonderful clarity . The characters are very well fleshed and easy to connect with. She has a wonderful way of blending faith into the mix of feelings allowing me to totally understand the struggles the characters face. While there are several unanswered questions When Grace Sings is a satisfying read that leaves me longing for the next book in the series!<br />After reading the first book in The Zimmerman Restoration Series I couldn't wait to start this one. This book continues right where the last one left off, saying that though I felt like the author provided enough background information that this one could be read without reading the first book in the series, although I highly recommend it as well. Anyone who enjoys family controversy where secrets abound, faith and a down to earth story where the characters really jump from the pages will enjoy When Grace Sings!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1432264520000, "title": "When Grace Sings" }, { "asin": "0529102781", "rating": 5, "text": "Reading anything by Kathleen Fuller is a guaranteed good read. She has a knack for creating easy to care for characters and as a fan of Amish fiction I feel like she is a top notch writer in the genre. I find it handy that she always provides a glossary for German words used within the story. A solidly written plot that easily pulled me in made this a very enjoyable book to read. Jeremiah Mullet left his Amish community to full fill his dream of becoming a vet, but now he has come back to fill for the vet who ultimately helped him out while he needs to recover from a broken leg. Of course in the process he reconnects with old friends. Anna Mae is one of those friends, she has actually been grappling with what to do with her life for the last several years, of course her mother thinks she should settle down and marry, but she isn't sure what course she wants to take for her life. As she reconnects with Jeremiah one can't help but wonder where the relationship might lead. What is in store for them, he is no longer Amish, so a romantic relationship is out of the question isn't it? What does God have in store for them?<br />This was a solidly written story allowing the pages to fly by. There is another couple in the story that also held my interest. Even though this book is part of a series it really can be read as a stand alone story. Fans of Amish fiction will be thrilled with A Faith Of Her Own, but honestly anyone who enjoys a faith based read with solidly written characters and a sweetly progressing story should give this one a try as well!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1432775145000, "title": "A Faith Of Her Own" }, { "asin": "0718031660", "rating": 5, "text": "I love this series and have been discussing it with a friend of mine and she totally agrees the only dislike is waiting for the next installment of the book, but anticipating what might come next makes it well worth the wait! Truthfully though I actually read the novel Where Leads The Heart the full length novel that this serial story are reprinted from. The saga between Rand and Sarah continue. It's obvious that Rand still loves Sarah but his fiancee is determined to marry him. Plenty of twists provide keep this story moving on at a brisk pace making for a quick historical read that really does leave the reader wanting more! Anyone who enjoys good clean historical fiction where the ending really isn't assured will certainly enjoy this entire series, and speaking of which The Journey of the Heart series should be read in order to understand the complexities of the characters. I really can't wait to read A Heart's Betrayal the next book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1433078037000, "title": "Short historical read" }, { "asin": "0310335884", "rating": 5, "text": "Aaron Ebersol is sort of like the prodigal son returned, you see he left the community of Paradise, Pa years earlier and really didn't keep in close contact with his family, even though his family tried. Now though his mother is sick and he goes home to be with her, thing is he isn't sure how he feels about being back, and more than that how he fits in now. He decides to stay at the Heart of Paradise B&B and soon finds himself developing feelings for Linda Zook. Can their growing friendship become more, can they forgive those that hurt them, but more than that can they forgive themselves?<br /><br />Amy Clipston creates in depth characters who face very real problems within the pages of A Simple Prayer. Those characters are paired together with a well written, easy to follow plot that isn't easy to put down.The conflicts within the story really kept me reading to find out what would ultimately happen.<br />I really enjoy reading Amy Clipston's work but somehow missed a couple of books in the Hearts Of The Lancaster Grand Hotel series but honestly this book is a great stand alone read because the author provides enough background information about the reoccurring characters that I immediately understood who they were. With that said I really hope to go back and read book two and three in the series! Fans of Amish fiction are going to love this story, but anyone looking for a well written story filled with well fleshed characters along with real life issues should give this book a try I really don't think you will be disappointed.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1434131253000, "title": "Great characters make this a stand out read" }, { "asin": "0529103435", "rating": 5, "text": "I have really enjoyed reading this series, and I think that this book A Heart's Betrayal just might be my favorite so far! When Emmie's husband is killed in an accident to say she is devastated is an understatement, but it's the life he never told her about that really shocks her to the core. She decides the only thing to do is to head west to join up with Sarah and Rand, knowing that she will never trust her heart to another again. It doesn't take long though for a kind soldier to begin to breach her defenses. Will she find the new life she is hoping for, and what sort of life will it be?<br /><br />Ms. Coble packs more than a few shocking twists within the pages of A Heart's Betrayal. Emmie's character is easy to relate to, and I couldn't imagine what life might throw at her next! I was rooting for Emmie to find some sort of happiness but couldn't help but wonder about the secret that she carried about her marriage,whether or not it would keep her from finding happiness. The ending leaves me quite anxious to read the next installment in the series! A page turning historical fiction read, that provides easy to like characters and a solid plot that moves along at a quick pace. I do recommend that this series be read in order to fully understand the backgrounds of the characters.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1435548684000, "title": "Quick read that leaves me wanting more!" }, { "asin": "140168596X", "rating": 5, "text": "Her Brother's Keeper by Beth Wiseman is the first book in Ms. Wiseman's newest series Amish Secrets, and judging by this book it's going to be one of her best series yet! Charlotte Dolinsky is an Englisher from Texas who is hurting over the loss of her brother Ethan. You see Ethan went to Pennsylvania to work in construction and then decided to convert to the Amish faith, and was even actually engaged to be married to Hannah King. Why then would he commit suicide? That's what Charlotte wants to know and so she devises a scheme where she disguises herself as a distant Amish cousin of the King family and heads to Pennsylvania to find the answers she is looking for. She is welcomed into the family and even becomes friends with Hannah, but will they continue to be her friend if they find out who she really is? What about her brother's death, what will she learn about his death?<br /><br />Her Brother's Keeper deals with a few tough subjects such as depression, child abuse and suicide, but does so in such a way that instead of feeling overwhelming and depressing it left me feeling inspired and uplifted as the story unfolded, especially as Charlotte began to find her way. Speaking of Charlotte it was fun to watch her become &#34;Mary&#34; because it was very realistic as well as humorous.I really liked the suspense/mystery of the story and found myself wondering just what happened to Ethan. Her Brother's Keeper drew me in from the beginning pages and made me feel like I had stepped into the life of these characters but that's what I have come to expect when I pick up a book by Beth Wiseman.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438035762000, "title": "First book in a new Amish series" }, { "asin": "0718031687", "rating": 4, "text": "With the latest installment of Journey of the Heart Emmie Croftner pushes Isaac Liddle away sacrificing her heart and feelings in order to keep her secret, thing is Isaac isn't about to give up that easily. On top of that Emmie makes a promise to a dear friend that my require that she marry another. Is there any hope that she and Isaac will ever have a future together?<br />I have certainly enjoyed each book in this series, so much so that I actually went back and read the books (The Wyoming Series) that this little series was taken from, because I was impatient to know the whole story. In my observation though I felt like the Journey of the Heart series was more polished, and by that I mean unnecessary descriptions and repetitive words were taken out. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction should give this mini series a chance, I will say that the books do have to be read in order to fully understand the characters. While parts of the story are a tad predictable that doesn't keep me from looking forward to the final book in the series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438307576000, "title": "Quick easy read" }, { "asin": "0764211706", "rating": 5, "text": "I became hooked on the Unexpected Bride series by Melissa Jagears after reading the first book in the series. There is something about a mail order bride story that just draws me in and Ms. Jagears provides just the right blending of drama, romance along with a great historical setting that really makes for a page turning read with a few twists that held my attention from the first page to the last. The characters in this story really come to life, allowing me not only connect but actually care about how their story would work out. I felt like that characters stories were a bit unique compared to other mail order bride stories I have read because they have both tried and failed with the mail order bride situation before. While A Bride at Last is the third book in the series it can easily be read as a stand alone work, actually I somehow missed the second book but that didn't stop me from being drawn in by this story. Anyone who enjoys a fast paced story with more than a few inspirational messages along with a sweetness that will draw you in and have you hoping for the best for the characters will enjoy this story, and if your a fan of the mail order bride genre like me then a Bride At Last will be a must read for you, I will caution once you start reading it you just might not be able to put it down.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438648764000, "title": "Held my attention from beginning to end !" }, { "asin": "1401690513", "rating": 4, "text": "Great characters and a fun, page turning read is what I found within the pages of Counting on a Cowboy. I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions with this story, but there were some poignant moments as well. While Ms. Clopton deals with a few tough issues, with the issue of Alzheimer's really being one that I could relate to, thing is she knows just when to provide a bit of humor to lighten the story. The characters were easy to relate to which pulled me right into the story.<br />If your looking for a good clean cowboy read that is more than just a sweet romance then Counting on a Cowboy by Debra Clopton just might fit the bill! While this book is part of the Four of Hearts Ranch Romance series it can easily be read as a stand alone work. Although the characters and setting has me thinking that I need to read the first book in the series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review", "timestamp": 1441673159000, "title": "Sweet read" }, { "asin": "1601426992", "rating": 4, "text": "always look forward to starting a new Amish series, especially when the author is Cindy Woodsmall, and with Ties That Bind we begin the Amish of Summer Grove Series. Ariana Brenneman grew up in the Old Order Amish and has always been quite content, sure she aspires to open a bakery in the town of Summer Grove, that is if she can get the money together to do it, but that's so she can help out with her family. It had been five years since Quill Schlabach had left the Amish community with a teen girl, and if truth be told Ariana hadn't really ever gotten over it, and now he is back, but can they rebuild their friendship? Thing is Quill has always had feelings for Ariana, but he also knows something that would change her life forever and he wants to help her any way he can even if only she will let him.<br /><br />I found myself struggling to get involved in this book and I think the reason might have been because there were so many characters and their stories to learn,that I felt like I was getting bounced back and forth to much. As the book progressed though I found myself being drawn into the story line. There was a few plot twists that provided just the right amount of ummph to make me want to read on and I am glad that I did! Overall, I didn't connect to this book right away but I am glad that I continued to read, because I have become hooked and can't wait to read the next book in the series!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1443990136000, "title": "Slow start but the story picked up for me" }, { "asin": "1617955876", "rating": 4, "text": "Katie Vale has just traveled half way across the country with her boyfriend to spend Christmas with his family. Within minutes of arriving, in front of all of his family he pops the question! Her answer isn't was what expected though, which might make for an uncomfortable Christmas. Why did she say no, and how can she stay for Christmas with his family now? Well she does, and the lessons she learns will change the way she thinks about family.<br /><br />A fast paced, heart touching story that pulled me right into t he midst of the Bender family. It was interesting to see the story unfold through the eyes of Katie, who really hasn't experienced a family like the Benders before. The characters in the family really propelled this novel along at break neck speed, never once did the plot lag, instead it moved along so fast that I found myself rereading some things just to catch what the author was trying to convey. I wondered from the beginning how life would work out for the main characters. The author begins the book with the marriage proposal and then takes the reader back to allow us to see what transpired, giving the story of the characters, making it easy to understand why Katie gave the answer she did. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen with Katie and Micah, and really felt like her staying with the family would be awkward, bu instead it made for a great story. My first Christmas read for the season, and I have to say it was a quick easy read that touches on faith, family relationships, love, loss and forgiveness. While there are a few poignant moments, there is enough humor to make you laugh, which helps to keep the story light. Well developed characters and a page turning, fast paced plot who could ask for anything more!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1445183799000, "title": "An Endless Christmas" }, { "asin": "0824956478", "rating": 5, "text": "I love finding books that teach valuable lessons and The Sparkle Box does that and more. Not only will the story teach youngsters about the true meaning of Christmas, it just might encourage parents to start a new Christmas tradition with their children. This story really shares what the true meaning of Christmas is, and imparts the wonderful feeling we get when we do for others. The beautiful illustrations really bring the story to life, and The Sparkle Box on the cover is eye catching. Overall this book would make a wonderful gift, I can see it becoming a family tradition.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1449376117000, "title": "The real meaning of Christmas" }, { "asin": "0764211412", "rating": 5, "text": "I love historical romance and when there is humor woven into the plot well it makes the story even better! At Love's Bidding by Regina Jennings is an easy to slip into read that easily transported me into the heart of the story, and the characters. It was easy to connect with Miranda and the way that she handles the issues that her grandfather is facing was fantastic, she was so respectful and loving even when he made mistakes. Miranda was an easy to like character and the relationship that develops between her and Wyatt while a bit predictable was still enjoyable. Interesting characters and a small town setting that allowed me read about something new to me, which was an auction house made this book a quick read. Anyone who enjoys humor with their historical romance along with a faith based message will certainly enjoy reading this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1451874046000, "title": "Fast paced" } ]

[ { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 5, "text": "In this debut novel by Cara Lynn James we are transported back in time to 1899. Back during the day to reach the age of 25 and to be unwed could quickly get you labeled an old maid.<br />Miss Lillian Westbrook finds herself in such a position, she is engaged but has never been married, and to top it off she has been writing dime novels under the pen name of Fannie Cole. To be a female and work and earn your own money just wasn't acceptable so she keeps it hidden from her family and friends.<br />When Jackson Grail, a former boyfriend purchases the publishing house that has been publishing Fanny Cole's novels and then becomes determined to find out just who Fannie is. Lilly has to make some choices to protect her family. Will she be able to keep her identity hidden? Will Jackson and Lilly finally get together?<br />I love reading historical fiction and this book didn't disappoint. Cara Lynn James does a great job of grabbing the readers attention and then keeps the story going at a fast pace. I look forward to reading the next in the Ladies of Summerhill novels.", "timestamp": 1276837436000, "title": "Love On a Dime" }, { "asin": "1404187804", "rating": 5, "text": "The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews is a pint sized gift book that packs a wallop of a message.<br />This book will take you no longer than 10 minutes to read, and is very eye appealing with its beautiful pictures and large font.<br />The resounding message is every single thing we do matters. That the cause and effect of the decisions we make do make a difference.<br />Mr. Andrews starts out by telling us the story of Joshua Chamberlain a Colonel in the Union Army, and how the decisions that Mr. Chamberlain made was like a ripple effect on the US, shaping the countries future.<br />This is a great little motivational read that would be a great gift for anyone who might be suffering from self esteem issues or anyone who you think needs to be reminded that Yes They Do Matter.<br />I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1283859316000, "title": "The Butterfly Effect" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "We only have one chance to live this life and we choose how to live it. Do we stick our heads in the sand and think that everything is ok or do we wake up and realize that as Christians we have the responsibility to make life better for others if we can?<br />This book quotes some staggering numbers, the number of poor, and hungry is something that's hard to imagine. Mr Lucado's book gives us a wake up call as to what we can do to make a change.<br />You don't have to be rich or even well off, instead of focusing on what you don't have to give, focus on what you can give. It's that average Joe that makes a difference, the little things that add up.<br />I really enjoyed his use of scripture throughout this book and liked how he started each chapter with a scripture verse and ended the chapters with another scripture and a prayer.<br />This is a very simply written book that can change your way of thinking, its very inspiring a book that you wont be able to put down and will continue to think about long after you finish it.<br />A very timely message that we all need to read, I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1284121246000, "title": "Outlive Your Life" }, { "asin": "1595540091", "rating": 4, "text": "The year is 1772, and Toma Nicolescu and his friend Alec Cardei have seen their fair share of battles while serving the empress of Russia, Catherine the Great. So when they are dispatched to Moldavia to protect the Cantemir family, a very influential family in Moldavia, until the empress could appoint a ruler for that country who would be loyal to Catherine the Great, they think it will be an easy job.<br />The Cantemir family consisted of Kesia and her twin daughters Lucine and Natasha. Both girls had been taught by their mothers to live as free spirits and basically do whatever felt good, but an unplanned pregnancy and the loss of a baby when Lucine was seventeen had sort of tempered her ways, but not Natasha, she basically is always looking for a good time. Alec known as a ladies man was immediately lusting after Natasha, and while Toma was warned by the empress not to become romantically involved,becomes drawn to Lucine, but keeps his feelings at bay until he feels that Lucine is being threatened by Vlad Van Valerik.<br />When Toma realizes is that Vlad and his entourage aren't what they seem, he knows he will do whatever it takes to save the woman he loves, no matter the cost.<br />I found this book to be very thought provoking, where the characters feelings are so real that you can feel the anguish that Toma felt as well as the evil emitting from Vlad. I really enjoyed how Mr. Dekker tied Vlad's history to the book of Genesis, I only wish he would have traced his history to Lilith instead of the Nephilim.<br />This isn't a clear cut christian novel but instead has so many more elements, it has that horror story element of blood drinking vampires, but it also reminds us of God's unconditional love for us, and how it took the blood of our Savior to save us all!<br /><br />An amazing read, that I won't soon forget.<br /><br />This is my first opportunity to read anything written by Mr. Dekker and I am now his newest fan!", "timestamp": 1284517251000, "title": "Not your typical vampire story!" }, { "asin": "0800733703", "rating": 5, "text": "Don't look Back by Lynette Eason was an edge of your seat thrill ride from beginning to end! A book filled with suspense, romance and a chilling storyline that grabs you and wont let go!<br /><br />Jamie Cash was the only person to survive the kidnapping and torture of the \"Hero\" a serial killer that she escaped from twelve years ago, with extensive therapy she is finally getting her life back on track, but when the \"Hero\" returns to finish the job he started, can FBI agent Dakota Richard protect her from this evil killer?<br /><br />I enjoyed seeing Jamie Cash's faith and trust in God even though she is facing circumstances that might test even the strongest faith, she instead finds solace in her faith giving her problems to God in prayer, actually I felt like it was her faith that kept her strong. Her character came off as very realistic, we saw true emotion from her such as anger and fear, feelings that I thought were perfectly normal for someone experiencing the horror she lived thru, and knowing she might wind up in the Hero's clutches again.<br /><br />FBI agent Dakota Richard is such a sweet guy, he really cared for Jamie, I loved watching their relationship blossom, and Jamie slowly finding comfort in him.He was determined to keep Jamie safe no matter what but could he really protect her?<br /><br />Even though this is the second story in the Women of Justice series it can easily be read as a stand alone work. So if your looking for a page turning drama with an evil killer who likes to get inside his victims heads, along with enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat, and read how someones faith can help them thru even the worst of times, with a sweet romance woven in, then you must read this book! But a word of warning once you start reading you wont be able to put this one down!<br /><br />Available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.\"<br /><br />Even though I was provided a review copy by Revell, thanks Donna, it in no way alters my opinion of this book!", "timestamp": 1287465039000, "title": "An on the edge of your seat story!!!" }, { "asin": "0307458997", "rating": 5, "text": "A lovely novella with a beautiful cover,a new to me author Donita K. Paul writes a charming story that will definitely put you in the holiday spirit.<br /><br />When Cora Crowder finds herself needing a book for an uncle's Christmas gift she heads into the Warner,Werner, Wizbotterdad book store. She has no idea that she will wind up on the receiving end of the stores matchmaking scheme to throw her and her boss Simon together.<br /><br />I loved this book, it had the right balance of romance, fantasy along with a great underlying spiritual message. The characters were fabulous, and I loved the cat.<br /><br />A delightful Christmas romance that will get you in the holiday spirit,and would be great read anytime of the year. I highly recommend this wonderful book!", "timestamp": 1287852118000, "title": "A Charming Story" }, { "asin": "0764208659", "rating": 3, "text": "I wasn't sure what to expect when this book first arrived for me to review. I had never heard of TobyMac before, I think he is popular among the younger audience, but I soon realized that each section in this book is named after a song that he released sometime earlier this year.<br /><br /> Each section consists of short stories, of how God has used people to change the world, some of the stories I had heard before and some were new to me. You will also find prayers and scriptures peppered through out this book that will further inspire and uplift you. Each section ends with a one minute remix and also a call to action prayer.<br /><br />This books resounding message is \"If we gotta start sometime, why not start now.\"If only we are willing to step out of our comfort zone and unite that we can make a difference and change the world.<br /><br />In the right hands this book could be life changing, I think it would be great especially for youth pastors, I think it would be useful in reaching the younger audience, with its hip look and the fact that TobyMac is someone that teens listen to. Overall I think anyone would enjoy reading these inspirational stories!<br /><br />Even though I was provided a copy of this book for review by Bethany House it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1288561993000, "title": "City On Our Knees" }, { "asin": "0800719255", "rating": 5, "text": "I must say that I am guilty of judging a book by its cover, when I saw the cover for Christmas at Harrington's I immediately felt like it was going to be an amazing Christmas story, on the cover you find yourself on a street of any small town in the USA, you have a smiling lady, dressed in a red coat peering into a store window with a display of a Christmas tree and toys snowflakes falling all around her, its just beautiful and depicts the holiday season perfectly.<br />In this story we are introduced to Lena Markham,its less than four weeks till Christmas and she has just been released from prison after serving and eight year sentence for a crime she didn't commit, she was set up by her husband to take the fall for something he did. She decides she wants a fresh start in a new town, so a social worker puts together a release package for her, finding a town to locate her to, setting her up with a place to live and a temporary job, and a bus trip to get her to get her there, while on the bus she meets an elderly lady, Moira who befriends her,telling Lena that she knows despite whatever happened in her past she is sure Lena is a good person. Once they get off the bus together in New Haven, MN she is introduced to Moira's son Sam, who is a lawyer. She soon realizes that the job that she anticipated isn't there, and the only job available is playing Mrs. Santa.<br />Can Lena find the new start in this town she hopes for, and can she keep her past a secret, and what about Sam, how does he play into all of this, you need to read this heartwarming story of second chances to find out!<br />While the story that unfolded inside the pages of this book wasn't exactly what I anticipated , it is exactly what the holiday season is all about, a perfect Christmas read filled with hope, inspiration and second chances.<br /><br />Even though I was provided a review copy of this book by Revell Publishing it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1289716420000, "title": "Christmas At Harrington's" }, { "asin": "1609360257", "rating": 4, "text": "World War II is just coming to an end but the war that is going on inside Esther Lange is unending!<br />She can't forgive herself for the night of passion she shared with Linus Hahn in the backseat of a borrowed car, they were both headed overseas to war, and it just happened. When that night turns into a daughter for them Esther is released from the Red Cross with no place to go. So she writes Linus, and his reply is for her to go to his hometown and stay with his parents, and that's what she has been doing for the last two years, living in their attic, raising her daughter and working at a hospital taking care of the war wounded.<br />Living with Linus' parents isn't easy, they are very hardened, feeling like she trapped their son. When she receives a letter indicating that Linus may have been killed in action, she isn't sure what to believe, but one thing she knows for sure is that she is relieved, she won't have to marry a man she doesn't love,and barely even knows. She really believes that she was no more than a one night stand for Linus as well, and it soon comes to light that Linus had a longstanding girlfriend who works in the same hospital as Esther,and she threatens to make Esther pay for stealing Linus away from her!<br />Since there has been no other information about Linus she starts corresponding with Peter Hess the medic who sent her the information about Linus. Soon they develop a friendship, and it starts to develop into something more, but when Peter's secret is exposed can they overcome it, and will Esther ever forgive herself for the mistake she made?<br />This was an amazing story, just when you thought things were working out the author throws a monkey wrench into it that take it in the opposite direction. The feelings are so strongly written in this book, that you are easily transported back to war time America. You can also feel the turmoil going on inside Esther, she judges herself so harshly for the mistake she made that night and is unwilling to see that she has already been forgiven by God, she just needs to accept it! Peter's story was one I kept thinking of long after I finished reading it, he was such a kind person, a victim of circumstances really, but he always kept his faith in God.The letters that passed between Peter and Esther were such a treat to read, I enjoyed seeing their friendship blossom.<br /><br />I found this book a real joy to read, the author does an amazing job of taking a work of fiction and weaving a bit of a history lesson in. While this was my first time reading anything from Susan May Warren, it certainly won't be my last!<br /><br />Even though I was provided a copy of this book by Litfuse it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1289881365000, "title": "Nightingale" }, { "asin": "0764207326", "rating": 4, "text": "Jackie Donovan is almost thirty. All she has ever wanted was to find a wonderful man to marry, and to purchase Bailey Place a B&B. She and her best friend Minnie visited it often when they were children, they both want to own it, but widower Minnie is working two jobs to support her son and Jackie works at a magazine writing articles about local business owners. When she meets the owner of Bailey House,Erikson Davis, she soon starts hoping her dreams might finally be coming true.<br /><br />While this story was a bit slow to start for me, once it picked up I became anxious to see how things would work out. The characters are very down to earth making them very easy to relate to, although I would say some of them were offbeat! I really enjoyed how Jackie's family was always trying to fix her up.<br />The author does an amazing job of describing the setting for this book, transporting you to the small town setting.<br />An added bonus are the wonderful sounding recipes included, which I definitely will be trying out!<br />If your in the mood for a sweet, but not sappy romance, with a little humor woven in, then give this book a try! For me not a great read, but overall I enjoyed the book and will be looking for more from this author..<br /><br />rating 3.5/5<br />Book provided by Bethany House for review.", "timestamp": 1295688005000, "title": "Hatteras Girl" }, { "asin": "0800732596", "rating": 5, "text": "Elise Stortsen, has some major changes happen. Her mom has landed a new job that moves Elise into a new school district, so instead of starting her junior year in her old school, where she wasn't very popular anyway, she will be going to Garfield High. She is just about to turn sixteen and having never been kissed hopes to change that by her birthday. When Asher, a popular boy in school starts showing an interest in Elise, she wonders if he might give her that first kiss.<br />Her first day of school goes great, Asher introduces her to the in-crowd, which includes Asher's girlfriend. So when Elise gets an email from Asher, she soon finds herself caught up in something that soon puts her reputation on the line, and jeopardizes her future, but it also makes her realize what is important, and in the process strengthens her faith in God!<br />I think this book is a must read for all teen girls. It deals with some pretty heavy subjects, but these are real life problems that are facing teens today.The character of Elise was very well written. She was very down to earth and easy to relate to. I totally understood the reactions of the characters in the story, and while Stacie did something wrong, she didn't do it with malicious intent, but there were still repercussions.<br />This book moved at a brisk pace and I felt the ending wrapped up the story nicely. There is a spiritual message woven throughout the book, but it isn't preachy or overwhelming.Whether your a teen or not, this book is well worth reading!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book for review, but it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1295814869000, "title": "A great read whether your a teen or not!" }, { "asin": "0800734564", "rating": 5, "text": "When U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor get a call that his next assignment will be to protect federal judge Elizabeth Michaels he is less than happy. His best friend Doug was married to her, and from the things Doug told him before his death, the marriage was very unhappy and it was Liz's fault. Doug said she was cold hearted and only her only focus was on her job. Can he put his feelings aside and do the assignment?<br />When Liz Michael's sister is shot in the back of the head, Liz believes her sisters abusive husband is to blame. Because she is a federal judge she needs to be protected by U.S. Marshals. When she realizes Jake will be the marshal assigned to keep her safe she wonders what her husband told him about her. As she and Jake spend time together one thing is for sure Jake is starting to realize that his opinion of Liz may be wrong. Did his friend Doug lie to him?<br />When it becomes evident that Liz may have been the shooters target, can Jake keep her safe, and figure out who is out to get her?<br />There is never a dull moment in this story! It grabs you from the first pages with the tragic shooting of Liz's sister, and how Liz's life is turned upside down while she is being protected from someone who may be out to kill her. Liz is very level headed, and almost always holds herself together but there are a few instances where that facade slips. Jake's character really stood out. He goes above and beyond where his job is concerned, and is devoted to his family.<br />A fantastic first book in Irene Hannon's new Guardians of Justice series. If this book is any indicator this series is going to be great!<br />Anyone who is a fan of light romance, mystery and suspense with a bit of a christian message woven in will enjoy this book.<br /><br />I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1296024023000, "title": "Fatal Judgement" }, { "asin": "0764206710", "rating": 3, "text": "Ruth Livingstone's life is turned upside down when her father is falsely accused of murdering a prostitute. Her father gives her the deceased woman's child and sends her to a small town to stay with a family he knows. That family thinks Ruth is a former prostitute, but they allow the town to believe she is a widow, with a small child. Her only solace is tending a once abandoned garden.<br /><br />Because of a mistake two years ago Asher \"Jake\" Tripp walked away from the \"Galaxy\", the newspaper he and his brother owned, the mistake he made almost caused the business to fail, but his brother Clifford had worked hard and the paper was once again thriving. Jake wants to return to the paper.Hoping to redeem himself in the eyes of his brother, he offers to take an assignment out of town, trying to track down Ruth Livingstone, who disappeared right before her fathers trial began. When he tracks Ruth to the town she is staying in, he takes residence as Jake Spenser, a handyman recovering from a broken back.<br /><br />Ruth and Jack both have plenty of secrets, but once they meet, and share time together, love slowly blooms, will their secrets keep the two apart, or will love be able to work everything out?<br /><br />For some reason I just didn't connect with this story, it actually took several weeks for me to read. I liked the historical aspect of the book, and while the storyline was ok, it just wasn't great. I couldn't really connect with any of the characters, I kept hoping we would get more of Ruth's back story, such as whether she left friends behind, or perhaps a boyfriend, she was in her twenties so she certainly must have had a life before she went into hiding with the child. This book was my first foray into reading anything written by Delia Parr, and while it didn't sweep me away, it wont dissuade me from reading more of her work.<br /><br />rating 2.5/5", "timestamp": 1296362439000, "title": "Love's First Bloom" }, { "asin": "0800734521", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Lady In The Mist\" takes place in 1809 in Seabourne VA. The protagonist Tabitha Eckles is a twenty-four year old midwife, the thing that makes Tabitha unusual is the fact that she isn't married. She learned her midwifery skills from her mother and grandmother, and once they died she continued to help her town , even though several people felt it wasn't right because she is unmarried. When a premature birthing results in the death of the mother and baby, she finds herself threatened at knife point, who could be threatening her? Could it have something to do with Dominick Cherrett a man she literally ran into on her way home after the birthing? Or does it have something to do with her job as a midwife?<br /><br />What a fascinating story! The author draws you into the story immediately. Tabitha's character is so easy to relate to. Her relationship with God has suffered because she feels that he has taken everyone that matters away from her, but she still has a tender-heart. Dominick was an interesting character as well, working as an indentured servant for the mayor, you know he has a few secrets. As he spends time with Tabitha, he soon loses his heart to her, something he didn't plan. I enjoyed the mystery and suspense woven into this historical romance. I also loved the cover of this book, it was very eye catching, so sometimes you can judge a book by its cover!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1297996914000, "title": "Lady In The Mist" }, { "asin": "143470212X", "rating": 5, "text": "Passport Through Darkness\" isn't your typical missionary workers story. Instead Kimberly Smith takes the reader on a journey around the world to Sudan and other war torn countries. She shares the atrocities that women and children face in these countries every day.<br /><br />Kimberly Smith was your average American woman, working in the corporate world, a wife, mother and a faithful church member, she was living a good life, but she felt as if something was missing, she longed to make her life matter. About that time her husband Milton started suggesting that they do something meaningful, something to make a difference in other peoples lives. One day as Milton browses thru a magazine in a waiting room he finds an article asking for missionaries to serve in Spain, ironically Milton had been a missionary in Spain back in the 80's, so with what I would consider a giant leap of faith, they were accepted by a missionary agency to work in Spain so they sold everything they had starting a new life journey in the missionary field. While in Spain the couple became aware of the plight of human trafficking, causing them to cofound Make Way Partners, which works to prevent human trafficking worldwide.<br /><br />I knew a bit of the plight in Sudan before reading this book, but this book brings it front and center, allowing you to see these victims as real people, while it is a hard to read the accounts that are shared in the story, it is a message that needs to be spread.<br /><br />Thanks to B&B Media for providing me a copy of this book for review.", "timestamp": 1299121982000, "title": "Passport Through Darkness" }, { "asin": "0764208500", "rating": 2, "text": "It has taken me forever to finish this book, I started reading it back in November and found myself putting it down for extended periods because it was a story that really didn't inspire me, I couldn't become interested in the characters, and just couldn't relate to the story.<br /><br />The protagonist in this story is an almost thirty year old who aspires to be a writer even quitting her job to return to school to get her masters degree. Because no one is buying her story, she gets numerous rejections, she is working part time as an English professor to pay the bills. Her roommate Zoe, seems to have no problem getting her story published in a magazine that has rejected Amy's.While Amy's character is overall a good person, she is constantly struggling with self doubt, feeling like things aren't working out the way she planned.<br /><br />While I didn't connect with the story,I wouldn't hesitate to read something else by Bethany Pierce. Her writing wasn't the problem, it was just that the book didn't click for me.<br /><br />Book provided by Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1299643226000, "title": "This book didn't inspire me" }, { "asin": "1854249746", "rating": 4, "text": "I must admit I am a huge fan of historical fiction especially mysteries and intrigue, but \"A Trail Of Ink\" by Mel Starr was my first foray into the midieval time period. I wasn't sure how I would like the time period but I actually loved it!<br /><br />This story is set in the town of Oxford England, where Hugh de Singleton is trying to solve the mystery of his friend John Wyclif's stolen books. Twenty-two books in all have been taken, and two of them are borrowed books from a friend of John's. The books were stolen right out of Master Wyclif's room while he was out to supper. Hugh is also interested in Kate Caxton, a stationer's daughter. So Hugh jumps into solving the mystery as he also tries to to win Kate's favor.<br /><br />While this story was a bit hard for me to get into in the beginning, it soon took off transporting me back to medieval England. The author rolls together mystery, suspense, and murder together to make the story a satisfying read. I did find myself turning to the glossary provided in the front of the book because of some of the words used during the time period. \"A Trail Of Ink\" is the third book in the chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon series, but can easily be read as a stand alone work, although I do wish I had read the first two books in the seriesThe ending provides a teaser for the next book in the series titled \"Unhallowed Ground\", which I look forward to reading.<br /><br />Book provided by Litfuse and the publisher for review.", "timestamp": 1299798789000, "title": "A Trail Of Ink" }, { "asin": "0800734076", "rating": 5, "text": "I can count on one hand the Biblical fiction novels that I have read, but I am really starting to like this genre. While the stories are works of fiction, the reader learns alot about the characters that the author is writing about. Realizing that \"Love Amid The Ashes\" was the story about Job and Dinah I found myself thinking about their stories in the Bible, while Job's story was one that I was pretty familiar with, a man who suffers many trials and tribulations but never waivers in his faith in God. Dinah on the other hand was someone I never thought alot about, I remember her story, as the daughter of Jacob and Leah, she was defiled by Shechem, who was later killed by her brothers. For me I never really thought about how Dinah's life might have been altered by the act.<br />I found this book something I really enjoyed reading. The author provides the reader with a genealogical chart at the beginning of the story, that helps keep the many characters straight. I liked the way that she opens each chapter with a Bible verse allowing me to relate the chapters to the verses. The author allows us to see these biblical characters with heart and feelings by drawing us into their stories. This debut novel will certainly be a hit for anyone who enjoys biblical fiction, but its also a good story for anyone who likes a compelling faith filled story.<br /><br />Available March 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.", "timestamp": 1301199627000, "title": "Love Amid The Ashes" }, { "asin": "1414339429", "rating": 5, "text": "When I picked up \"Journey To Riverbend\" I thought that it was probably going to be another historical fiction romance novel, but boy was I wrong. While there is a bit of romance between a few of the characters the author really gives us a true western novel filled with a hanging, an attempted stagecoach robbery, a kidnapping, a shootout and a posse searching for kidnappers. He rolls this together with a story about regrets and forgiveness, and faith in God.<br /><br />While Michael Archer couldn't save Ben Carstairs from being hanged for a crime he didn't commit, he is determined to try and fulfill Ben's dying wish, which was to make amends with his father Sam, to tell him that he forgave him for the way he treated him and return his mothers necklace.<br /><br />Michael makes the journey to Riverbend to deliver Ben's message to Sam but finds that Sam is out of town for business and will be gone for a few days. Michael decides to hang around until he returns, and he soon learns that Sam Carstairs is a ruthless man who has no use for God and uses people to get what he wants.While staying in Riverbend Michael meets Rachel Stone a young lady who has found refuge with the local preacher and his family. They feel drawn to each other but because of issues that haunt them from their past they are unsure that they are ready for a relationship, but that doesn't stop Michael from thinking about a future that might include a move to Riverbend.<br />Sam Carstairs has wronged several people in his past, doing whatever he could to obtain more wealth but when he is kidnapped the town doesn't hesitate to form a posse to try and find him. Michael decides to ride along hoping that he can help, will they find Sam before its to late?<br />What an interesting story, the characters in the story are well fleshed out. Rachel and Michael each have issues from their past that continue to dog them. Rachel is making great strides toward her future even though some of the townspeople won't let her forget her past. Michael was a strong caring compassionate character who was also dealing with demons from his past. While I really didn't like the character of Sam Carstairs by the end of the story I felt sorry for him. The ending of the story leaves me hoping that Mr. McLaughlin will write a sequel for this story!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1301205637000, "title": "I hope the author is writing a sequel for this one!" }, { "asin": "1595548017", "rating": 5, "text": "Abigail Jones works for her mothers magazine called the Viewpoint. Because of the stress of her job her mother encourages her to take some time off and go to Montana and check on her aunt Lucy. When she arrives Lucy is fine, but Wade, the cowboy who owns the ranch where Lucy lives needs a nanny for his daughter, and Abigail takes the job. Abigail knows Wade is hiding something and thinks it just might be a story that could save her mothers magazine. Of course feelings develop between Wade and Abigail, will she choose to go forward with the story which will expose Wade, or will she decide to protect the relationship that is blooming between them?<br /><br />Wow! The word for this one is fantastic. This is one of those stories that I just couldn't put down. The author weaves romance, a bit of mystery, and a nice christian message together to produce a story that begs to be read. Oh did I mention the hunky cowboy. The chemistry between the main characters was static, it just jumps off the page at you.<br />The imagery that the author paints with her words make you feel as if your right in the middle of Montana, how could you not love a place called Moose Creek! Readers of christian romance will surely enjoy this one, but this book would also appeal to fans of romance with a western setting.<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1303268262000, "title": "A Cowboy's Touch" }, { "asin": "0781403790", "rating": 5, "text": "While these books are reprints of books that were orginally printed back in the 1974, I somehow missed them growing up, but I am so glad that I had the chance to read them now. I consider them timeless classics that will certainly appeal to many, and should be on every little girls bookshelf. While the stories that grandma shares with her grand daughter are fun to read they are also educational, and provide the reader with little life lessons. The illustrations peppered throughout the book are cute and will capture the imagination of the young reader.<br /><br />These books would make a perfect gift for young readers, but I think anyone who likes to reminisce about the \"Good Old Days\" will certainly enjoy these books.<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of these books by B&B Media in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1303788390000, "title": "Perfect stories for young and old alike" }, { "asin": "1595547851", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Fairer Than Morning\" is a historical fiction novel set in the 1820's in Rushville Ohio and Pittsburgh PA.Ann Miller's boyfriend has just proposed to her. Eli Bowen is nineteen but Ann is only fifteen. She turns him down because she knows her father would never allow her to marry before she turns eighteen, because it is what her mother would have wished.Ann was only nine when her mother died, leaving Ann to become the mother figure for her two younger sisters Mabel and Susan. Her father is a saddler and also a circuit preacher which leaves Ann to be the caretaker of the children quite often. When Ann's father needs to attend business in Pittsburgh he allows the girls to go along. Where she meets Will, someone that she can't quit thinking about.<br /><br />Will Hanby signs up for five years of indentured service to Jacob Good so that he can learn to be a saddler. But Mr. Good is a cruel man who thinks nothing of abusing Will. When the abuse becomes to much Will makes a drastic decision that has him running to the Miller farm for refuge.<br />While this story is a historical fiction, it is actually based on real people, which had me anxious to read this story. The story drew me in from the first pages when a young girl at fifteen is being proposed to. The author easily draws you into the lives of the characters in the story, making you feel as if you are right there with them. Parts of this story were hard to read, the abuse that Will and the other slaves suffered was really heart wrenching.<br />This is the first book in The Saddler's Legacy Series, and I for one will be looking for the next book titled \"Sweeter Than Birdsong\" due out in Feb 2012.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1304306070000, "title": "Great new series" }, { "asin": "0800733711", "rating": 5, "text": "When Detectives Noah Lambert and Kit Kenyon are assigned to the murder case of Walter Davis a twenty nine year old man who was getting ready to graduate from Wofford Law College, there pretty sure it isn't a random killing and when the second body shows up, a young lady who attended the same college the pair realizes that there is a serial killer on the loose. As they try and find the killer, the killer has his own plans which includes one of the detectives. Will the pair be able to figure out who the killer is before its to late?<br /><br />This book takes off like a house on fire, with unstoppable twists and turns to keep you flipping the pages to figure out who the killer is, and for while I thought I knew who the killer might be, I really wasn't sure until the end of the story.<br />The characters in this novel are easy to connect with, Kit and Noah both have issues from their past, and Kit has let those issues keep her from God, but not so with Noah, he has a wonderful relationship with God. The relationship that develops between Noah and Kit was nice, and added to the story.<br /><br />While this book is the third book in the Women Of Justice series it can easily be read as a stand alone work because the author gives sufficient background so that you don't feel lost. If your a fan suspense/mystery novels that will keep you on the edge of your seat, that also weaves in a bit of inspiration and romance as well then you should certainly pick up this book, but I would suggest that you read the entire series, because the books are just that good!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1306640184000, "title": "A Killer Among Us" }, { "asin": "1595549242", "rating": 4, "text": "Spring For Susannah is set in the 1800's shortly after the civil war, but before the west was tame, when the Dakota's were still just a territory.<br />Susannah Underhill really felt as if she didn't have a choice, when she decides to become a mail order bride for her pastor's brother. She had been living a very comfortable life in Michigan until her parents die. When someone shows up at her home telling her that her father owed alot of money to the bank and even attacks her, the only thing for her to do is to become a mail order bride for her pastor's brother Jessie.<br />When she arrives at Fourth Siding in the Dakota territory, she meets her husband Jessie,a non-stop talker, totally opposite from Susannah. As she learns about Jessie she realizes what a kind considerate man he is, but can she let go of her insecurities and allow love to bloom?<br /><br />As a fan of historical fiction I found the book quite enjoyable.It was nice to see the character of Susannah grow from a timid person into someone that could take care of herself, and also find her way back to God. I felt like the secondary characters were well rounded and added to the story. I am always a sucker for dogs in a story and Jake was great. The author also adds a bit of humor to the story which worked well. The one negative to the story was the rushed ending. All in all a good debut novel from Catherine Richmond.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1306778746000, "title": "Nice debut novel" }, { "asin": "1595548114", "rating": 5, "text": "\"A Vision Of Lucy,\" is set in Rocky Creek Texas during 1882. The plot revolves around Lucy Fairbanks, a young lady who dreams of being a photographer but her father isn't crazy about the idea. She has badgered the owner of the newspaper and is finally told if she can get a shot of the elusive white mustang then her photos will be put in the paper, but its not easy getting a picture of a wild mustang so she shimmies up a tree and plans on waiting but when she falls out landing on top of a stagecoach about to be robbed, well its easy to see that she doesn't always have the best of luck.So she figures if she can get a picture of the town recluse David Wolf, also known as the Wild Man she still might have a shot at her newspaper job, but when she meets him feelings start to develop. Neither are really looking for love, but sometimes God has other plans!<br /><br />What a fun book this was. Lucy was always finding herself in such precarious spots, and if I might say so she was a bit clumsy. The author does a fantastic job of painting such vivid pictures of the situations she was in that I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. I love reading historical fiction where you feel as if you learn a bit while you read and in this story I felt like I learned a bit about early photography, which was quite interesting. This book is the third book in the Rocky Creek Romance series but can easily be read as a stand alone work. Fans of quick paced historical fiction with a nice inspirational message will certainly devour this one. Margaret Brownley is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1307659325000, "title": "A Vision Of Lucy" }, { "asin": "082543310X", "rating": 5, "text": "Whenever I read a historical fiction story that is based on true events I always love the fact that I am learning a bit about history that perhaps I might never really know alot about otherwise. With How Huge The Night the authors do an amazing job of weaving together fact and fiction, to transport us back to the days of WWII, seeing the events of the time thru the eyes of two teenagers Nina and Julian, while I knew at some point their stories would meld I wasn't sure how they would connect.<br /><br />The characters in this story are completely believable and it is very easy to imagine the things that they are going thru. Julian is your typical teenager, he isn't a man but neither is he really a boy. He isn't really happy that his family left their home in Paris to move to the farm in southern France with his grandfather, he is dealing with issues such as trying to fit in at school, not to mention trying to get along with Benjamin the Jewish boy who has also moved in with his grandfather.<br />As Nina's father is lying on his deathbed he makes Nina promise that she will take her brother and leave Austria.For me their parts of their story was heart wrenching, and I found myself praying that they would be all right.<br /><br />I found this to be a compelling story that has many lessons woven in. A coming of age story during a difficult time period where the characters display great courage faith and hope. While this book is geared toward young adults I would easily recommend it to older adults as well.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1308955795000, "title": "Compelling historical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800734653", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become a fan of Biblical fiction, and when one latches onto my imagination and allows me to see Biblical characters in a whole new way while staying true to what the Bible says then its a winner in my book. When I started reading the book of \"Martha,\" I kept thinking to myself Martha who, but once her brother Lazerus is mentioned, it started to fall into place for me, because who doesn't know the story of Lazerus being raised from the dead.<br /><br /> As the story unfolds Martha becomes a very real character with feelings and longings just like any other young lady. While she longs to marry, how could it ever happen, she stepped into the role of caretaker of her family when her mother died and took that responsibility very seriously, but that doesn't stop her from wishing for a husband and children of her own. I had hoped the relationship with Thaddeus would work out but it wasn't meant to be. Some of the most exciting parts of the story were when Jesus stayed with Martha and her family.<br />If you are like me and are unsure who Martha was once you read this book you will never forget her.I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, and if you have never read Biblical fiction then this quick read is the perfect book to introduce you to this exciting genre.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1309579648000, "title": "Martha" }, { "asin": "0800734238", "rating": 5, "text": "In \"Blue Skies Tomorrow\" the author weaves together a compelling story that transports the reader back to WWII, with characters that easily draw us in, allowing us to share in their strengths and struggles making their stories come to life.<br />Helen Carlisle's is supposed to be the grieving widow when her husband dies a war hero. She puts on a good face, but its becoming harder to do because she is carrying a secret about her husband and their marriage, which was far from happy, but she is determined to hide the truth.<br />Lt.Ray Novak grapples with feeling like a coward. His job is to train pilots to fly missions, but he has never been in combat himself. When the Army Air Forces decides to start using the returning combat pilots as instructors Ray finds himself transferred back home as a supply officer where he reconnects with his friend, recently widowed Helen Carlisle. Can the two find happiness together?<br />Helen was someone who was certainly scarred by her past.While the shame wasn't hers she carried it anyway.Helen's story caused my heart to ache for her, but the ending certainly was great! It was inspirational to see her character grow and change through out the story. I thought that Ray's character was wonderful, his love of God really shined through. If you enjoy historical fiction set during WWII with romance, drama and a wonderful inspirational message your going to enjoy this one. A great conclusion to a fantastic series. I can't wait to read more from this talented author!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.", "timestamp": 1314504547000, "title": "Historical fiction at its best" }, { "asin": "0764208055", "rating": 4, "text": "I love historical novels, and if they are set in the west then that's just an added bonus.In this one Yvonne Harris transports us back in time to August 1886 in El Paso Texas. Elizabeth Evans moves to Texas from Washington to look after her brother Lloyd and his daughter Ruthie after the death of his wife and newborn son, and in return he will teach her the newspaper business,but instead her brother is shot dead and Elizabeth is kidnapped by Mexican outlaws. When Jake Nelson, a Texas Ranger learns of the shooting and kidnapping he sets out to rescue Elizabeth.When he finds her there is an immediate attraction,but could a relationship ever work between the two?<br /><br />With plenty of page turning action from the beginning, this book is certainly a quick read.I enjoyed learning a bit about the Texas Rangers,and the time period in general, while reading a sweet romance. I liked main characters in this book. Both were dealing with issues from their past that caused them to guard their hearts. Jake's heart was broken by his fiance, and the death of Elizabeth's husband Carl, who was killed in the line of duty in the Army, caused her to fear getting involved with someone who might put their job first.<br /><br />I think anyone who enjoys a good historical fiction western,with romance and plenty of action will certainly enjoy this fast paced read, I know I did.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1315725865000, "title": "A River To Cross" }, { "asin": "0764205978", "rating": 5, "text": "This was a different sort of read for me. I don't ever remember reading a story about smoke jumpers, and actually I am not sure I knew what a smoke jumper was before reading this story. I knew there were firefighters who go in and fight the major forest fires, but I honestly didn't realize there were men who are dropped in to fight the fires by cutting down trees etc. So not only did I get an action packed story but I also learned something new which is always a bonus.<br />The main characters in this one are Silas Kent a smoke jumper and Elle Westmore a pilot who drops smoke jumpers into the heart of a fire. Silas and Elle have a history together, but parted ways. Their paths cross again when when she takes an assignment to fly a smoke jumping crew out of Redding, CA to the Desolation Complex in the Sierra Nevada's to battle a raging fire. Soon though they realize there is more going on in those mountains than just the fires, there is cache of gold and some of the men on the smoke jumping crew is on a mission to recover it!<br />What a fast paced read. Elle was someone who had alot on her plate. She has the responsibility of taking care of her five year old daughter Maddie, while doing a very demanding job. I thought the little twist about her short marriage to Maddie's father was quite interesting. Silas seemed to have grown quite a bit from being someone who ran from a serious relationship to wanting to take care of Elle.I really got hooked on the characters from the beginning pages and became anxious to see how things would work out.<br /> There is plenty of page turning action, with romance, suspense mystery and drama woven together with a christian message woven in to keep you reading until the final page.<br />While this is the first time I have ever read anything by Shawn Grady, it certainly wont be my last. I really enjoyed his writing style, his vivid descriptions and suspense filled story makes this book a real winner!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1315790719000, "title": "entertaining and educational" }, { "asin": "0800719956", "rating": 5, "text": "I have read a few of Suzanne Woods Fisher's stories set in Lancaster County, so I was anxious to read a Christmas story set in the area. It's the story of two families, an Amish family, The Riehl's and an English family the Fitzpatricks. Each family is struggling with major life issues and need a bit of reminding as to what is important in life.<br /><br />Mattie, Sol, and Danny Riehl have made a trip to the doctors office for a follow up because Mattie suffered a miscarriage a few weeks ago. While they have six year old Danny, Mattie has always dreamed of having a houseful of children but struggles with infertility. The situation has stolen Mattie's joy making her question why others can so easily have children but she can't. Jaime and C.J. Fitzpatrick have issues of their own. C.J. is a teacher, but also works with his dog Tucker as a search and rescue team. His marriage to his wife Jaime seems to be slowly raveling apart and he isn't sure what to do to fix it. Jaime's father left when she was young, and when he recently dropped back into her life, she became frantic to have his acceptance, add to this the fact that she lost her mother six months ago to a freak accident and suspicions that her husband is having an affair. She won't talk to C.J. and he is unsure how to reach her. When the couple runs an errand to the Riehl farm, they become stranded. Did God bring these two families together to help each other?<br /><br />I loved this story, I read it in about an hour and was anxious to see how things would turn out. The plot moved along well, and wasn't predictable like many of the Christmas stories I read. The characters are very realistic with the issues they are dealing with. I read alot of Amish stories and often the Amish seem a bit condescending where the English are concerned but not so in this story. The Riehl's were very open and accepting of the Fitzpatrick's, and not only that we see Mattie really struggle with the issues she is facing.I thought the story line with Mattie's cousin Zach really added to the main story, and Danny was such an inquisitive child. I love when an author adds a dog to the story, and Tucker and C.J.'s job as a SAR team was interesting and I enjoyed learning a bit about it.<br />If your looking for an inspirational Christmas story set in Amish country give this one a try, for me the only complaint I had was seeing it end.", "timestamp": 1316916196000, "title": "A Lancaster County Christmas" }, { "asin": "0446570869", "rating": 5, "text": "Susan Lambert is in the city of Prague because her beloved grandmothers funeral is being held there. Raised by her grandmother since the age of twelve when her parents were killed in a car accident, an accident that Susan had a feeling about, and that's the thing, Susan had always had a feeling of discernment. The ability to sense when something wasn't right and that was a feeling she got when she decided to visit St. Vitus Cathedral. Even though she was alone in the Cathedral she felt as if someone was there with her, and even glimpsed what she thought was a man. She sees the same man a few more times, and when her cousin Wendy decides to go partying with a stranger that oozes evil, she feels compelled to find her cousin and get her away from this man.The man that Susan glimpsed in the Cathedral,(Raphael) approaches Susan and offers to help her find Wendy, but in return he tells Susan he will need her help. Susan is soon introduced to things she would have never imagined, and learns that vampires do exist and Raphael is a vampire set to fight a war against an evil vampire who wants to rule the world.<br /><br />I love vampire fiction and I was quite excited to read a vampire tale that was woven into christian fiction. I enjoyed getting to know the characters especially Raphael. Thru flashbacks we learn why he was cursed to be a vampire. The way the author explains why some people become vampires was quite different from most vampire tales. Her take was that some people are so inherently evil that they are cursed as vampires thus living longer in the hopes that they will eventually learn their mistakes and accept God, which was something that Raphael was still struggling with even after 900 years. While Raphael is a vampire it was easy to sense a goodness in him, although when Susan's life was in jeopardy we certainly saw his dark side.The forbidden feel of the attraction between Susan and Raphael kept me turning the pages to see if a romance would develop.The secondary character of David added to the story for me, a reluctant hero, who was only in Prague for three months on a job assignment staying in the same hotel as Wendy and Susan, when he hears on of the women cry out he tries to help them and learns the hard way that vampires exist and soon finds himself being trained as a vampire slayer. The relationship between David and Wendy was sweet.<br />I really hated to see this book end, and left me wanting to read a sequel. I really can't wait to see how the relationship between Raphael and Susan goes. A vampire tale woven together with a christian theme, and a fight of good versus evil, the perfect October read! On a scale of one to five I would easily give this one a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1317783522000, "title": "In a word FANGTASTIC" }, { "asin": "0800733460", "rating": 5, "text": "Having enjoyed the first book in Janice Thompson's Backstage Pass series I was anxious to read this one. I must say I think this book just might be better than the first one, with returning characters from the first book as well as a few new ones, I found this book to be laugh out loud funny.<br />Athena Pappas has a pretty full life with her family and friends and even though the ratings have lagged a bit she still feels pretty secure in her job as head writer for the popular sit com Stars Collide. But when the producers decide to hire a comedian, Stephen Cosse to help bolster the ratings she suddenly wonders what will happen if he is a better writer, will her job be in jeopardy? When she meets him she feels an attraction, and soon not only is Stephen worming his way into her heart but so has his eleven year old daughter Brooke.Will they figure out that some of the best things in life don't follow a script, or will they guard their hearts against love?<br /><br />This was a sweet, funny story. It was easy to imagine the Athena's Greek family. I could easily understand why Stephen's daughter Brooke was drawn to the Pappas family, they are so warm and welcoming. I always love when a dog is included in a story and the introduction of Zeus, the Greek Domestic Dog was totally funny! It was great to see how Brooke and Zeus connected. The Greek food mentioned in this story really had my mouth watering, it sounded delicious!<br />If you enjoy reading contemporary christian romance with a great flare for humor then you certainly need to read this book, and while it is the second book in the series I feel like it could be read as a stand alone work, although I highly recommend reading the first book in the series as well.<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review*", "timestamp": 1318129897000, "title": "Laugh out loud funny" }, { "asin": "0764209418", "rating": 5, "text": "I became hooked on Patti Lacy's work after reading \"The Rhythm of Secrets\" and couldn't wait to read this book. Well all I can say it was worth the wait!<br />The authors writing style is captivating. Gloria Powell had always wanted a child, so after jumping thru hoops and cutting thru red tape she and her husband Andrew believe there is a baby waiting for them in China so they make the trip from Texas. When they arrive though the promised baby isn't there instead the child is a young girl, but Gloria isn't thwarted instead she knows its the child God intended for them to have. They take her home to Texas and rename her Joy, because she is the joy of their life. although she does become a bit rebellious in her teen years. Turns out Joy is actually Lily and Lily has a sister Kai who made a death bed promise to her mother in China to reclaim the sister that had been at the orphanage. Kai now works in the states and becomes determined to find her sister to not only full fill the wish she made to her mother, but also because there may be a genetic issue that could possibly affect Lily. What happens when Kai finds her sister, how will it affect Lily(Joy) and her adoptive family?<br /><br />This story was touching and inspiring. The author deals with foreign adoption a topic I haven't read a lot about,so it was a bit educational for me. She also touches on the topic of teen rebellion,where the teen is trying to figure out where she fits in the world to weave a rich story that had plenty of twists and turns and an ending that was quite satisfying. While Gloria smothered her daughter, I really could understand her motivations, Andrew seemed solid and really was understanding of all parties much like a pastor might be.I really couldn't help but think about Lily's biological mother.Each of the characters seemed so realistic I often forgot that I was reading a work of fiction.<br />If you enjoy a story filled with drama, suspense and family ties with a positive christian message woven in then your going to enjoy \"Reclaiming Lily.\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review purposes.", "timestamp": 1318178186000, "title": "Reclaiming Lily" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 5, "text": "Camden Bristow is feeling the effects of the economy. She is a free-lance photographer living in New York who finds herself without any job prospects or money. Being kicked out of her apartment with less than five hundred dollars left on her credit card she decides to return to the home where she spent many happy summers with her grandmother Rosalie even though its been years since she has spoken to her grandmother, but when she arrives in the tiny town of Etherton Ohio what she finds at the family mansion called Crescent Hill is that her grandmother has passed away and the mansion is falling into disrepair. Having no place else to go she stays at the family home anyway and quickly finds herself wondering if someone else isn't in the house. Camden has never believed in the rumors that ghosts haunt the mansion and when a few things start disappearing she is pretty sure someone is getting into the house, but how? Could it be true that there are underground tunnels that date back to slave days, and could Crescent Hill actually have been a stop on the Underground Railroad?<br /><br />I really enjoyed the historical aspect of this story as well as the mystery and intrigue that surrounded the history of the Bristow family.While Camden was the primary story I loved the secondary stories that went on and how they all came together at the end. The characters were very easy to connect with, especially Camden. Crescent Hill was the only place where she ever felt like she belonged. It was nice to see her grow and watch her priorities change as the book progressed. I also felt empathy for Alex, as he continued to carry the blame for not doing enough to save his sister and nephew. I thought the christian themes woven into the story was well done, especially the message of helping others. I also got a few laughs from reading about the antics of the Sprague children especially Hailey, that little girl had a wonderful imagination.<br />Overall if your looking for a contemporary story that is firmly rooted in the historical era of the underground railroad, that weaves mystery, suspense, a bit of romance with a nice inspirational story then your certainly in for a treat with this story. Recommended!<br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1319509649000, "title": "Refuge On Crescent Hill" }, { "asin": "0310330432", "rating": 4, "text": "A cozy mystery that involves Amish characters and a quilt shop, I just knew I was going to enjoy this book and boy was I right.<br />Callie Harper finds herself in Shipshewana after inheriting Daisy's Quilt Shop from her recently deceased aunt. She thinks she will just go for a few weeks and clear out her aunts things and sell the shop, but things don't go according to plan. When Deborah Yoder shows up at the shop with an armload of quilts, Callie learns that her aunt had an agreement with Deborah and two other Amish ladies to sell their quilts. Deborah soon convinces Callie that she should reopen the shop and take the quilts on consignment. When Callie decides to try her hand at auctioning the quilts on Ebay the Amish quilt makers quickly agree, but when Mr. Stakehorn the editor of the local paper writes a story suggesting that Callie might be taking advantage of the Amish quilting group Callie becomes furious and wants a retraction. When several people see Callie arguing with Mr. Stakehorn hours before he is found dead, Callie becomes a prime suspect. Deborah is certain her new friend could never commit murder, and when several other things start to happen in town the two put their heads together to try and figure out who the murderer might be.<br />This was a fast paced who-dun-it that really gave us several suspects. I liked how the story unfolded allowing the reader to see the friendship between Deborah and Callie grow. Callie was a character that was totally easy to relate to, I thought that it was interesting that snippets of her life was revealed in her aunts old journal. Callie was grieving not only for her aunt but for the loss of another loved one from a few years back. I thought the author allowed her to grow through out the story, it felt like she had finally found a place to call home. Deborah was different than most of the Amish characters that I read about, her husband seemed to allow her more freedom. She really looked out for her friends, and she and Callie really made a great investigative team. I always get excited when the author writes a dog into the story and in this one we had Max, a golden that Callie had inherited from her aunt Daisy. He was a comfort to Callie and turned out to be a hero.<br />This was one of those stories that when I started it I just couldn't put it down. The author's words really brought the scenes to life and there were several scenes that while tense also had humor woven in. There were plenty of twists and turns that made this a page turner for me, while I was a bit disappointed with the ending, overall I found it a great read and look forward to reading the next book in this series!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1320721019000, "title": "Anxious to read the next book in the series" }, { "asin": "1414348118", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Princess Stories\" allows young girls to learn about God's princesses in the Bible. Upon reading this book they will learn all about twenty-nine of the most prominent women of the Bible in a way that will surely capture their imagination and attention, and not only that the thirtieth story is about the reader,encouraging and reminding them that they are God's princess as well.<br />Each story starts out with a scripture verse and then gives the reader a short story about a woman in the Bible. Another Bible verse follows the story and then there are Princess Ponderings which consists of three questions for your princess to answer.The cover of this book, as well as the illustrations inside will certainly capture a youngsters eye. What a wonderful way to teach a daughter or grand-daughter about the women of the Bible. Because of the quality of this book, it would make a wonderful gift.<br />rating 5/5<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327284862000, "title": "What a wonderful way to teach young girls about the women of the Bible" }, { "asin": "0857210580", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the fourth installment of the Hugh de Singleton series and Hugh and Kate have been married for about three months when Thomas atte Bridge is found hanging from a tree. While the coroner wants to call it a suicide, the evidence points to foul play. Even though atte Bridge has had run ins with most of the townsfolk and is disliked by all Hugh is determined to figure out who the murderer is.<br />This book takes place in 1366 in England, and it's easy to see the author does an amazing job of researching the time period. Not only am I intrigued by the suspense and mystery of the story but I also enjoy reading about the medical procedures that took place during that time period, as well as medieval life in general. The food in particular that Hugh ate sounded quite different. I found the glossary included in the front of the book quite useful in understanding what was being said. I also enjoy the relationship between Hugh and Kate and look forward to reading more about these two characters.<br />This book is the fourth in the series and while the author provides a bit of background about the characters ,I recommend reading the series in order to get the in depth background on the reoccurring characters.<br /><br />rating 4/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327367469000, "title": "Great continuing series" }, { "asin": "0800720741", "rating": 4, "text": "This book is the first in a new series and if it is any indicator the series is going to be a must read for lovers of historical fiction!<br /><br />\"Where Wildflowers Bloom\" is set in the tiny town of Noble Springs Missouri. The civil war took Faith Lindberg's father, brother as well as Royal Baxter the man she promised her heart to before the war. Faith would like nothing better than to leave the memories of lost love ones behind and start over somewhere else, but her grandfather isn't so keen on leaving Noble Springs.Faith is surprised when Royal comes back to town, because she thought he was killed during the war. When Royal and Faith start courting, Faith's grandfather is less than pleased because he had hoped that Faith might develop feelings for Curt Saxon the young man who runs the livery and who has been helping Faith. Will Faith decide to stay in Noble Springs? Who will she choose?<br />I really enjoyed reading this book which allows us the flavor of the civil war because it takes place shortly after. The authors storytelling really pulled me in, with the richness of detail for the time period. The characters really came to life as well. I could easily understand why Faith wanted to leave Noble Springs. It was interesting to watch her character change and grow through out<br />the story. I also enjoyed Rosemary, who was a very good friend. I really enjoyed reading about the mercantile and all of the different goods that was stocked.<br />I think anyone who enjoys a very well written historical fiction with well drawn characters a fast moving plot with a sweet romance will certainly enjoy this story. I for one am anxious for the next book in the \"Sisters at Heart\" series.<br /><br />A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327813304000, "title": "Where Wildflowers Bloom" }, { "asin": "0800734599", "rating": 5, "text": "If your a fan of historical fiction where there is always plenty going on then your in for a real treat with \"Summer Of Promise\" by Amanda Cabot!<br /><br />This book draws the reader back in time to the summer of 1885. Abigail Harding's life was pretty well planned out, she lives in Vermont teaches school and plans to marry her beau.Letters from her sister Charlotte has her worried though so she decides to take a trip to Wyoming and spend the summer with her sister. Before she ever arrives a fellow passenger Lt. Ethan Bowles, saves her stagecoach from being robbed. Will she only spend the summer or does fate have something else in store for Abigail?<br />This is the first book in the exciting new historical fiction series \"Westward Winds.\" Abigail was such a wonderful character, she was a very brave ,level headed person, and from the beginning my heart wanted her and Ethan together.<br />While many historical romances are pretty predictable, not so with this book, the author provides a few twists and turns that really held my attention. While the ending was satisfying there were a few loose ends which leaves me anxious for the next book in the series!<br /><br />Amanda Cabot is an author who really knows how to bring historical fiction to life, with easy to relate to characters and a story line that grabbed my attention from the first page and kept me intrigued until the final sentence!<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*", "timestamp": 1328416370000, "title": "Great new historical fiction series" }, { "asin": "1595549153", "rating": 4, "text": "Lucy Marsh finds herself in dire straits and has to accept an offer to marry a man she doesn't know just to take care of her brother and sister. Thing is her parents are dead, she is out of money with no job and not sure what to do when she gets an offer she can't refuse, it's the offer to marry a man sight unseen. Nate Stanton, runs a ranch and has always hoped for a wife but the responsibilities of the ranch has given him little time to find one, so when his father arranges the marriage between him and Lucy and they are married by proxy things on the ranch will certainly never be the same. She shows up with her siblings and Nate wonders how long she will last on the ranch. How will things work out between these two?<br /><br />I really enjoyed the characters in this story. Lucy really had alot of responsibilities, but was really a very brave person. She married someone sight unseen to protect her brother and sister. While a marriage of convenience is a pretty common plot the thing that made this one different was that Nate didn't know that he was married until Lucy showed up on his doorstep. His first impressions seemed perfectly normal. I thought it was quite nice to see the relationship slowly bloom, and watch his opinion of Lucy change. I think anyone who enjoys historical fiction where there is a sweet romance, a nice inspirational message as well as a bit of mystery woven in will certainly enjoy this story.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1329360734000, "title": "enjoyable historical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800720075", "rating": 5, "text": "If your looking for a story filled with non stop action packed suspense then look no further than \"When The Smoke Clears\" the first book in the Deadly Reunions series! If this book is any indicator of what the series is going to be like I would say it is going to be one not to be missed!<br /><br />Alexia Allen is a firefighter, but when she is ordered to take some time off after an accident occurs that nearly takes her life. With her ten year reunion coming up she decides to recuperate at her mothers house so that she can attend. Seems like trouble has followed her though with a murder an arson occurring soon after she arrives in town. It appears someone may be setting her up, who is out to get her and why?<br /><br />The plot in this story is non-stop. There was never a down time for me with this one. I found myself totally immersed in the story after reading the prologue. I thought the characters in this story were very well developed and I really enjoyed the budding romance between Alexia and Detective Graham Hunter. The ending of this one leaves me anxious for the next book in the series.<br /><br />Overall anyone who enjoys romantic suspense will certainly love this story, be warned though it isn't easy to figure out who-dun-it with this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1329623138000, "title": "Action packed suspense" }, { "asin": "0800720458", "rating": 5, "text": "The year is 1855 and the setting is Louisville Ky. Adriane Darcy is a journalist for her father's newspaper The Tribune. Her father's newspaper has always been the best in Louisville, but things begin to change when Blake Garrett comes in to revive the failing Herald. It becomes sort of a competition to see who can crack a story first, so when someone starts killing women in the city Adriane wants to beat Blake to the story. Thing is she is starting to have feelings for Blake, but she is engaged to another. How will things work out for Adriane, and who is killing women in Lexington?<br /><br />I really fell in love with Ms. Gabhart's writing after reading her wonderful book titled \"Angel Sister\" so I was anxious to give this one a read. What I found was a historical fiction story that was really quite different. The beginning of the story was a bit slow to capture my attention but once it grabbed it, at about the eighth chapter, I found it a story that I didn't want to put down.I really enjoyed the characters of Adriane and Blake and thought the author did a great job of allowing them to develop through out the story. The character of Adriane was strong, but she also felt the pressure of wanting to do what her father expected of her. While this book is labeled a historical romance fiction the author actually weaves a bit of suspense and mystery into this one that really made this story stand out for me. There were a few twists that wrapped up the ending quite nicely. If your looking for something that's not your typical historical romance then your going to wan to give this story a try.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330232493000, "title": "not your typical historical romance" }, { "asin": "1603742573", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been fortunate enough to read all three books in the Amish of Seymour series and have become a Laura V. Hilton fan. She has the writing skills to easily transport the reader right into the heart of the stories that she is telling, allowing me to envision the characters, setting and drama so vividly it makes me feel as if I have been transported to another place.<br /><br />In \"Promised To Another\" we get the story of Annie Beiler and Joshua Esh. Annie is the local Amish schoolteacher, she is always excited about history and learning which often gets her in trouble and puts her teaching job in jeopardy, something she can't afford to lose. You see her steady beau Luke Schwartz jumped the fence to become English and no one else has even noticed her, or at least that's what she thinks. When Luke makes an unexpected appearance after a singing and offers to take her home she turns him down flat but her refuses to listen, that is until Joshua Esh steps in and offers her a ride home, a rider home with the other girl he is already taking home. While the men who came to Seymour from Pennsylvania came looking for wives Joshua didn't instead he came to see a different part of the world but has plans to return to PA. He has earned the reputation of a player because he is always taking a different Amish girl home after singings, but that doesn't stop Annie from noticing him.Thing is Luke has decided to join the church and marry Annie and doesn't want to take no for an answer. Is Josh really a player or does Annie have the wrong idea about him? Will Annie give in and do what Luke wants or will she realize that there just might be someone else for her after all.<br /><br />The beginning of this story started out a bit predictable but then the author started throwing in several different plot twists that had me changing my mind. I thought the characters in the story seemed very realistic, especially Annie. I could totally understand her love of history and wanting to share it with her pupils. I enjoyed getting to know the different sides of Annie, there was the Annie who stood strong when her beau left her, but we also got a glimpse of an insecure Annie wondering if she would ever have someone of her own, we also saw someone who had a zest for teaching and wanted to share her love of learning with her pupils even though the board members didn't always see things her way. I thought Josh was a good male lead, and while he kept a secret from Annie I still liked him. I liked the unconventional twist the relationship took toward the end of the story.<br /><br />If your a fan of Amish fiction then your going to want to read this story. Even though it's the third book in The Amish of Seymour series it can easily be read as a stand alone work although this series is so good that your going to want to read all three books. On a scale of one to five I would easily give this whole series a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330569380000, "title": "I am going to miss this series!" }, { "asin": "0800719859", "rating": 4, "text": "This book starts out in Williamsburg Virginia in October 1813. The only thing Phoebe Lee really wants to do is practice midwifery, so when her sister-in-law asks her to go to sea with her so that they can rescue her husband who is being held prisoner in England she refuses, after all the country is at war. She soon learns though that she has no choice when she finds herself aboard a ship, and not just any ship, but a British privateer.The captain of the ship Rafe Docherty wants one thing revenge and he thinks that Phoebe just might be able to help him. When he starts having feelings for Phoebe will his priorities change?<br /><br />I thought the author did an amazing job of making this story seem realistic to the time period. While most of the story takes place aboard ship there was still a richness of detail that I enjoyed, it was so hard for me to imagine a female let alone a pregnant female aboard a privateer ship but with amazing clarity the author pulls it off. While some of the language was a bit hard to follow although it did give the book a more authentic feel.I really enjoyed the relationship between the lead characters. Phoebe and Rafe both have issues from their past that they are dealing with, that added an extra layer to their building relationship.<br /><br />\"Hearts Safe Passage\" is the second book in The Midwives Series and while I actually read the first book I feel like this one could be read as a stand alone work. This book worked for me on so many levels, it's a historical romance fiction with strong characters, along with action, suspense, and mystery woven in. What made it a stand out story for me was learning about midwifery during the time period. Overall \"Heart's Safe Passage\" is another great book from Laurie Alice Eakes.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330835536000, "title": "Heart's Safe Passage" }, { "asin": "0764207865", "rating": 5, "text": "At the age of twenty-two Sadie Wagner was a woman, but she still hadn't found the freedom to do what she wanted most. After an accident where her step-father is injured she knows someone needs to help provide for the family and doesn't mind being the one to do it. When she receives a letter from her step cousin Sid who lives in Goldtree, Kansas telling her he has secured her a job clerking in a mercantile she thinks its an answer to a prayer, and something else that he mentions is that there is an opera house and since Sadie's dream is to sing she thinks it might just be her chance to provide for her family and sing at the same time. When she arrives in Goldtree, she soon meets the new sheriff, Thad McKane, whose real dream is to become a minister but takes the job of sheriff to ferret out the culprits responsible for bootlegging, because Kansas is a dry state. She soon realizes that the opera house isn't at all what she thought, and to complicate things even more Sid has feelings for her, but she is drawn to Thad. Can a romance survive between the sheriff and Sadie, even when he begins to suspect that she might be involved in the very crimes he has been hired to take care of?<br /><br />I was drawn to Sadie's character from the first pages of the book. Her goodness easily comes across in the story, and she didn't hesitate to help out her family. I could easily understand her homesickness.The secondary characters really made this book stand out. The Baxter twins and their brother Asa were often funny and oh so easy to visualize. I thought Sid the step-cousin was a bit different, his actions were odd although I sort of chalked it up to being jealous. While there were christian themes running thru the book they weren't overdone or preachy.<br />Overall, I really enjoyed this quick read, and found myself laughing on more than a few occasions. A great historical fiction/romance that is well worth reading!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1331357398000, "title": "great characters make this one a hit" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 5, "text": "While a pretty cover always draws me in (and this cover is beautiful) it takes a good story to keep me interested and that's just what I found in \"Beauty For Ashes.\"<br />The setting for this book is Hickory Ridge, Tennessee and the year is 1876. Carrie Daly finds herself living with her brother Henry in the family home in HIckory Ridge after her husband is killed during the civil war. Henry was the only family she had left and while life wasn't exciting, they had it better than most.Things were ok in the beginning but when Henry takes a wife things start to change. Her friend Nate wants to marry her, but she isn't sure of her feelings, and after she meets Griff Rutledge, a stranger who pulls her out of the way of a run away wagon she can't stop thinking about him. As they become friends the townsfolk wonder why Griff who is a spending time with Carrie, and you can bet Nate isn't happy about it either!<br /><br />The author hit a home run with this story on so many levels. First of all I really enjoy reading about the time period right after the civil war, and then the she is able to give us a glimpse of small town life during that time that really seems authentic. I also found the characters quite easy to relate to as well. I could understand why Carrie felt that she should leave the family home after her brother married. It was easy to see her struggle with allowing God to lead her, even though she read her Bible daily and prayed she often felt discouraged. As her character grew she started to understand that she needed to let God be in control. Griff was a good male lead, I always like when the characters are allowed to be flawed it makes them so much more relate able. While there is a Christian message woven into the story it is very well done and doesn't come off as preachy. Overall if your a fan of historical fiction with romance with interesting characters and a small town feel, that weaves in a nice Christian message run out and pick up a copy of this one, your not going to regret it!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1331357545000, "title": "Beauty for Ashes" }, { "asin": "0310722365", "rating": 5, "text": "The first thing I thought when I pulled this Bible out of the box was what a beautiful cover it had. The pink color and flowers is so feminine and girly that young ladies will just love it. The color of the text inside which is purple is something that I loved as well, and while the colors are very eye catching, its the many different features of this Bible that makes it perfect for young girls.<br /><br />The features include:<br />1. Dream Girl: A feature that will help young readers imagine themselves in some of the most familiar and amazing Bible stories.<br /><br />2. Bring It On! Are quizzes used to help the reader get to know themselves, this feature also points to Bible verses that will encourage the reader.<br /><br />3. OH, I Get It! The Bible is more than just stories, it is filled with information and this feature will share some of that information with questions.<br /><br />4. Book introductions: Highlights the main topics of each book of the Bible and applies them to the reader's life.<br /><br />5. Treasure This! Verses to help the reader keep God's word in their heart.<br /><br />6. Is There a little ___in You? The feature allows you to see different character traits of some of the great people in the Bible, and allows the reader to see if they might have some of those character traits themselves.<br /><br />7. In Your Own Words: Allows the reader to create a list of events to tell a Bible story in your their own words.<br /><br />While this Bible is geared towards young ladies nine and older, I actually enjoy reading it myself. It's bright and colorful and is chock full of useful information. Because it's a NIV version it's easy for young readers to understand. Overall I think any young girl would love a copy of this Bible and I think it would make a wonderful Easter gift.<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this Bible was provided in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1333421609000, "title": "Very eye catching Bible for tween girls" }, { "asin": "1595548874", "rating": 4, "text": "I must admit Beth Wiseman is one of my favorite Amish storytellers, so I was excited to read a non-Amish story by her. With \"Need You Now\" I must say she really knows how to deliver a contemporary story. With this story she not only delivers believable characters who are dealing with real life issues, but also a fast moving plot that deals with family drama that kept me reading.<br />To look at the Henderson family they seem to be a successful family that has it all together. Darlene is a stay at home mother to three teen children, her marriage seems good, her husband is about to be promoted and the family just purchased Darlene's grandparents farm and decide to move to the country. Peel away the layers though and we quickly see that the children are having problems adjusting,especially her daughter Grace who is harming herself, and Darlene is struggling with the fact that she no longer feels needed or heard. When she takes a job outside the home and another man starts to pay attention to her, could it put her marriage in jeopardy? How will things work out for this family? As their faith is tested will they be drawn closer together as a family or will they be pulled apart?<br />One of my favorite things about this story was the fact that we see the situation thru the eyes of several characters, allowing a different perspectives on the story. A story that drew me in from the beginning and kept me wondering how this family saga would work out. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1335236786000, "title": "Family Drama" }, { "asin": "140168680X", "rating": 4, "text": "Biblical fiction is fast becoming one of my favorite genres so I was excited to read \"Garden of Madness\" which tells the story of the Babylonian Princess Tiamet, the daughter of King Nebuchadnezzar, whose madness has had him living in the palace garden for the last seven years while his family kept his condition hidden from the public. When a murder takes place inside the palace Tia decides to try and figure out what is going on, and uncovers truths that she could never have imagined.<br />The author easily brings the characters to life in this story. Even though the book is a work of fiction her descriptions brings the scenes to life, and makes the characters so easy to connect with. I really enjoyed the interactions between Tia and her father, and loved that she stood by him when others didn't.The author provides several plot twists that kept me guessing. While there is a bit of romance woven into the story for me its the mystery and suspense as well as the way the author holds pretty close to the actual Biblical story that makes this book a real winner for me.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1335840992000, "title": "Great Biblical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800719719", "rating": 4, "text": "Historical romance is one of my favorite genres to read and when the author is able to weave in a few positive messages or historical facts that make me feel as if I am actually getting a bit of a history lesson well then that makes the book a must read for me, and that's just what we get in \"A Love Forbidden.\"<br /><br />The year is 1879 and the book is set in the Colorado Rockies , and gives us the story of twenty-one year old Shiloh Wainright and Jesse Blackwater .Shiloh has signed a contract to teach for the White River Indian Agency,and looks forward to teaching the Ute children white men's ways while helping them remember their own culture. She is in for a surprise when she reconnects with her childhood friend Jesse Blackwater. Soon their friendship threatens to turn into more, but things are complicated because Jesse is 1/2 Indian,.add to this the fact that Indians and whites are on the verge of battle, and you can't help but wonder if a relationship can ever work between these two.<br /><br />The author weaves a story that easily captured my attention. I have always found this time period in the west intriguing.The author deals with the time period where the US Government made promises to the Native Americans but didn't always keep them. Shiloh was a compassionate caring person,and Jesse seemed like someone who was caught between two worlds.I enjoyed watching the feelings grow between the two characters. While I enjoyed the characters for me it was the historical elements that made the book a real winner. The author describes the tensions that are going on between the Whites and Native Americans,and allows the reader to see the prejudices that took place during that time in history. Anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction that weaves together romance and an inspirational message will certainly want to check out this book. While this is the second book in the Heart Of The Rockies series I feel as if it can be read as a stand alone work.<br />rating 4/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1338091007000, "title": "Love Forbidden" }, { "asin": "0800734378", "rating": 4, "text": "Patsy Milstrap wishes she could leave her past in the past. Up until the age of thirteen she lived in a home with an abusive stepfather. One day though her mother realizes that Patsy needs to be sent away. She goes to live with a nice christian couple and begins a new life. She marries a wonderful man and has children and as much as she tries to forget her past for the sake of her family its a difficult thing to do. When a vacation in Florida has her facing someone from her past, she knows that she will have to deal with her past if she is ever going to have a future.<br />\"Waiting for Sunrise\" is the second book in the Cedar Key series but can easily be read as a stand alone work. The author weaves an emotional story that easily pulled me in from the beginning. As the story unfolds we get glimpses of Patsy's past allowing us to understand how she came to be the person she is. Patsy was a character that was so easy to connect with. Her painful past was difficult for her to deal with, she cant help but wonder why her mother would have given her away. Gilbert was a wonderful husband who would do anything to help Patsy.<br />The secondary story of her mother and brothers added to the overall plot. It was interesting to see how the abusive home life affected each person.A story that deals with some pretty tough subjects, but also reminds that sometimes the only way to have a future is to deal with your past.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1339907090000, "title": "emotionally charged" }, { "asin": "1416599959", "rating": 5, "text": "Deborah Raney is easily one of my favorite authors. Her stories are ones that I often think about for weeks after reading. She has a way of drawing me into a story, making me feel as if I personally know the characters, and that's just how I feel about the Hanover Falls series.<br /><br />Susan Marlowe is dealing with the pain of losing her husband in the Grove Street fire, but a secret that he was carrying comes to light, a secret that breaks her heart, and has her wondering if she really knew the man she was married to. How will she deal with the hurt?<br /><br />Even though this is the third book in a series, the story line still has the ability to provide a few twists and turns that kept me reading. There is still the mystery of who actually set the fire, as well as the emotional turmoil of losing loved ones, and trying to move on after such a tragedy. Susan is a commendable character. She is trying to keep the homeless shelter going, while dealing with the loss of her husband. When her son Davey not only drops out of college but also starts coming home drunk, she learns that he is carrying a painful secret, something that he knew about his father, her husband.<br /><br />\"After All\" is the third and final installment of the Hanover Falls Series, and while this book can be read as a stand alone work, the series is filled with such amazing characters that you really are going to want to read all three books. While I enjoyed the way the author wraps up this series, I really am going to miss my visits to Hanover Falls. I highly recommend this entire series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1339909458000, "title": "I'm going to miss this series" }, { "asin": "1595549978", "rating": 4, "text": "Hope Springs North Carolina is small town USA and is the setting for the latest contemporary novel by Kim Cash Tate. It tells the story of three women, Janelle Evans, Becca Anderson, and Stephanie London, cousins who find themselves headed home to Hope Springs for a Christmas time family reunion,and to spend time with the matriarch of the family their grandmother Geri. When they learn that Geri has a terminal illness they decide to stay in Hope Springs and help her. Spending time in this small town will change their lives forever.<br /><br />What a touching story. I do admit that there were plenty of characters to learn in the first several chapters and was glad that there was a family tree provided at the beginning of the book. Once I learned who everyone was and the issues that was going on it became a compelling story that I couldn't put down. The author creates authentic characters that are very easy to connect to.The small town feel of this book was wonderfully portrayed. One of my favorite characters in the story had to be Jeri, she was such a strong woman.<br />The author deals with several heavy subjects, but also gives several positive,uplifting messages as well. Overall a very well written story that provides a few twists and turns that kept me reading.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1340156416000, "title": "Hope Springs" }, { "asin": "0800720482", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become an avid reader of Biblical fiction and one of my favorite authors of this genre is Diana Wallis Taylor. She writes her stories in such a way that once you finish the book I always come away with a deeper understanding of not only the character that she writes about but also about the Bible verses that center around the character.<br /><br />Her latest book shines the spotlight on \"Mary Magdalene.\" We learn that she was an only child, her father a very successful boat builder. At the age of eleven her life changed dramatically when she is kidnapped.Her father pays the ransom to get her back, but after the incident Mary suffers from headaches,nightmares and seizures. While her loved ones sympathized with her, the people of her village shun her, fearing that she is crazy or worse. When they hear rumors that the Messiah is coming, a man named Jesus, the son of God,they wonder if it is true and if perhaps he will be able to help Mary.<br /><br />\"Mary Magdalene\" is another great fictional Biblical story from Diana Wallis Taylor. With her well crafted storytelling and attention to historical detail the author easily pulls me right into the story. The author writes with a clarity that brings the characters to life, and makes it easy to understand their stories. After reading this story I was propelled to dig out my Bible and read all that I could find about Mary Magdalene. Anyone who enjoys Biblical fiction is in for a real treat with this story. Recommended.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1340508191000, "title": "Fiction that brings Bible characters to life" }, { "asin": "0800734556", "rating": 5, "text": "\"The Gift\" by Ann Gabhart is the fifth installment in her Shaker Village series,and this book is just as great as all the others in the series I have read.<br /><br />Jessamine Brady is twenty, she moved to the Shaker Village at the age of ten after the death of her grandmother, and the one thing she remembered her grandmother encouraging her to do was follow her dreams. While she loves her Harmony Hill family she has always felt like she doesn't belong in the Shaker Village. When she meets Tristan Cooper someone from the outside world she finds herself at a crossroads, will she have the courage to step out into the world, or will she decide that her home is actually in Harmony Hill?<br /><br />I really enjoy when I have the ability to read a book and feel as if I am getting a bit of education to boot and that's just how I feel when I read Ann Gabhart's stories that are centered around the Shakers. She weaves together an intriguing story that always holds my attention while giving accurate glimpses of how it might have been to have lived as a Shaker.The author provides plenty of conflict, along with romance and a bit of suspense that certainly kept me reading. Add to the mix like-able characters and a historical setting making it a book that I couldn't resist. Recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1341919800000, "title": "The Gifted" }, { "asin": "1595547819", "rating": 4, "text": "Imagine finding out that a father you really never knew left you some valuable property, and imagine meeting half brothers and sisters whom you never knew existed thinking that you are trying to steal what rightfully belongs to them. Well that's just what happens to Libby Holladay the main character in Colleen Coble's newest novel \"Tidewater Inn.\"<br /><br />Libby and her best friend Nicole are co-owners of Holladay Renovations, a business that restores historical properties. Nicole not only handles the financial side of the business but also convinces potential clients to do business with them, meanwhile Libby takes care of the restoration. While researching a job on the Outer Banks Libby learns that she has actually inherited The Tidewater Inn along with property from a father whom she believed had died when she was five. Instead she learns her father has recently passed away leaving her the inheritance, and what's more she has half siblings that she never knew existed, siblings that are none to happy about her inheriting the inn. In addition to this earth shattering news, her business partner is kidnapped and Libby not only saw the whole thing but becomes a suspect in the crime. Can she prove her innocence, while trying to find Nicole, and what about the Tidewater Inn, will she be able to keep and restore it, or will she have to sell it, and will she ever be accepted by her new family?<br /><br />Interesting, well developed characters and a great plot made this a fast moving story for me. I found myself immediately drawn into the story, and wondered not only what Libby would do, but whether she would ever be accepted by a family she didn't know existed. Libby was a character that was easy to relate to and understand. If you enjoy a well written story filled with mystery, suspense, family drama,romance, and a nice spiritual message you just might enjoy this one, I know I did. Recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1341974234000, "title": "Tidewater Inn" }, { "asin": "0800734580", "rating": 5, "text": "Irene Hannon has become a go to author for me whenever I want to read a suspense filled mystery that also blends a christian message together with just enough clues to keep me turning the pages in anticipation right up until the end. I have enjoyed reading the Guardians of Justice series and while I looked forward to reading this book, I was sort of sad as well, because \"Lethal Legacy\" is the final book in the series.<br /><br />There are so many things that I enjoyed bout this book, but overall it's the author's style of writing that captivates me. She has an uncanny way of allowing us a glimpse inside the killers mind revealing what he is thinking while keeping us guessing as to who the killer might be, and the killer isn't always easy to figure out, but it always makes sense in the end. Since this book is the third and final book in the \"Guardian of Justice\" series while I believe that it can be read as a stand alone work I highly recommend that the entire series should be read in order to get the full scope of the story. If your a fan of suspense,mystery with a light romance, and a christian theme woven in your going to enjoy this series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1344787029000, "title": "Well written suspense" }, { "asin": "0764209132", "rating": 5, "text": "allie Kincaid and her eight month old son are headed out to find her husband Seth Kincaid, who just up and took off one day. When her stagecoach is waylaid by bandits and she finds herself in the middle of a shoot out, while she waits for the other passengers to go bring help back. Well help arrives in the form of her husband Seth, a husband who doesn't even remember that he has a wife, and never knew he had a son.<br /><br />This was such a quick read, I really fell in love with the characters and couldn't put the story down. Callie was a no nonsense type of person, who wanted to know why her husband up and left her, which was a very good question. I could easily forgive Seth though when we learn why he left her behind.Once he realizes he has a wife he is determined to do the right thing, although I could understand why Callie was guarding her heart this time around.<br /><br />Mary Connealy really knows how to write a story. As a fan of historical fiction, I really love being drawn back in time, and when there is romance, along with a good dose of humor well I am sold! I would say that \"Over The Edge' is the third book in the Kincaid Brides series, and while we do get a bit of background information it is best to read the entire series in order to fully understand the characters. Grantastic series, and I really hope the author continues with another book! Highly recommended.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1345430910000, "title": "Fun read" }, { "asin": "0764206176", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Taming The Wind\" takes pace in North Texas in 1868. Carissa Lowe has spent the last two years of her life trying to find peace in her heart. The nightmares and bad memories of Malcolm, her now deceased husband continues to haunt her. You see two years ago, she thought she new the man she married, instead he was on the run from the army, and decided to use her sister Laura and Clarissa to try and save himself, by taking them hostage, and then throwing them into the Gulf off the Corpus Christi coast. Fortunatly they were both saved, even though Malcolm wasn't. For Carissa though she no longer trusts her judgement where men are concerned, and has shied away from all men except for her brother-in-law, and the man who saved her Tyler Artherton, although she hasn't seen Tyler in the last two years because she has lived the last two years with her parents, and her baby daughter Gloria in Corpus Christi. When her parents decide to take a trip she decides to go spend the summer with Laura and her husband on their ranch.<br /><br />Tyler Artherton is staying on a friends ranch while he works out some issues of his own. He had never really stopped thinking about Carissa, and when he learns that she is staying on a neighboring ranch, he finds himself drawn to her and her daughter Gloria. Will Tyler and Carissa find happiness together or are there to many obstacles in the way? Will Carissa ever find the peace that she longs for?<br /><br />Even though \"Taming The Wind\" is the third book in Tracie Peterson's Land of the Lonestar series, I felt like the author gave enough background information so this book could be read as a stand alone work. This book takes place right after the civil war which easily drew me into the story because this is one of my favorite time periods to read about. The two main characters Carissa and Tyler were so easy to connect and emphathize with. I felt like Ms. Peterson did a very realistic job of allowing them to grow as the story progressed. I found the secondary characters really added to the overall story. I am a long time fan of Tracie Peterson and always look forward to reading whatever she writes, and this book certainly didn't disappoint. Fans of historical inspirational romances where the setting comes to life will certainly want to read this one, but since its part of a three book series why not read them all. Highly recommended!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1346817786000, "title": "Fans of historical inspirational romance will enjoy this one" }, { "asin": "1595548033", "rating": 4, "text": "Dylan Taylor is a smooth talking ladies man and Annie Wilkerson isn't interested. When Dylan's best horse, Braveheart, has a condition that has his vet suggesting he put the horse down, Dylan goes to Annie for help. Annie knows just about everything there is to know about horses. She writes a bi-weekly column in Montana Living today called \"Ask Avery\" which answers readers questions about equine problems. When Annie gets a call from her editor informing her that her column is being cut from the magazine, although she is offered another column, thing is its a column giving advice to the lovelorn. Annie has never been in love so how can she write an advice column? She decides to strike up a deal with Dylan, she will help his horse if he will help her with her column. As she gets to know the true Dylan she realizes he is different that she first assumed. Will Annie decide that some cowboys aren't so bad after all?<br /><br />Annie Wilkerson is someone you just can't help but like. She is looking out for her twenty year old sister Seirra,who by the way is raising four year old Ryder, works hard and is just a down to earth person, dealing with life's issues. She doesn't trust cowboys and I could certainly understand why. She wants safe and predictable in her life but that isn't what God has in mind for her. I enjoyed getting to know Dylan's character as well, both really had issues from their past that they needed to take care of. I found myself enjoying the twangy style of dialogue that popped up in the story, it really gave the book a real cowboy flavor for me.Another neat thing that I enjoyed about this story was how in the beginning each chapter opened with a bit of advice about horses, when Annie's job changed the chapters started opening up with bits of advice for the lovelorn.<br /><br />I really loved the town of Moose Creek and found \"The Trouble With Cowboys\" a delightful inspirational romantic read.Sometimes christian romance can come off a bit strong, but Denise Hunter really strikes a great balance with her writing. She provides a sweet romance that also weaves in a nice wholesome feeling to her stories, while also giving a few laughs.While this book is a part of a series the author writes it in such a way that it can be read as a stand alone work, but if you enjoy a great read, then your going to want to read the entire series.", "timestamp": 1349196283000, "title": "The Trouble With Cowboys" }, { "asin": "0800721322", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Life With Lily\" is such a delightful read. I found myself enjoying the many things that went on in young Lily Lapp's life. We first meet Lily as she and her younger brother Joseph are whisked off in the middle of the night to their grandparent's house, and we soon learn new baby Dannie has been born into the Lapp family. I found myself laughing at Lily's reaction as she first meets her new baby brother, not to mention the reaction she has to Freida Troyer who has come to help her mother for a few days after the birth of the baby. There are so many happenings around an Amish farm, from a barn raising to getting a new milk cow and even a trip to Kentucky to see the Lapp grandparents. One thing is for certain, life is never boring when you see things thru the eyes of Lily Lapp.<br /><br />I loved this book, once I started reading it I just couldn't put it down. I enjoyed meeting the Lapp family and was a bit surprise at where the final chapters led us. The illustrations are very well done, and further enhance the story. I really can't wait to read the next book in The Adventures of Lily Lapp series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1349581688000, "title": "Perfect for all ages" }, { "asin": "0800734173", "rating": 5, "text": "Seventeen year old Susannah Grace Kennedy made the move from Badger, Iowa to Boston after the death of her parents. She is going to be living with her aunt Eleanor, and has decided she wants to forget her \"good girl\" past, and even decides she wants to be called Annie. Her sister Maggie had sent her letters while in college raving about the hot spots in Boston, so Annie starts hanging out with a fast crowd, and making some choices that aren't so wise. When she meets Steven O'Connor her sister's former fiancee she falls hard for him. Thing is he doesn't know that Annie is actually Maggie's sister, and Steven really isn't interested anyway, or at least that's what he keeps telling himself. What will happen when he realizes who Annie really is?<br /><br />Another great story from Julie Lessman! I enjoyed connecting with the characters from the former books, and with that said, even though this is the third book in the Wind Of Change series it can easily be read as a stand alone work.<br />The thing that I enjoy about this series is the many subplots that go on within the book, and \"A Love Surrendered\" is no different. The main characters are Steven a prohibition agent with the government that is dealing with a broken heart, even though he was the one to break things off with Maggie he believes he is still in love with her. Annie seems like someone who is anxous to grow up.It was so nice to see both of the characters grow spiritually as the story progressed. The secondary stories really keep the plot moving along, and allow us to reconnect with the O'Connor family. Overall I have really enjoyed this series, it has everything that I enjoy reading. Historical fiction that brings the time period to life along with great characters, romance and a nice inspirational message who could ask for anything more?<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1350262108000, "title": "Fantastic series" }, { "asin": "0857212052", "rating": 4, "text": "Coming back to work after the death of his partner, Frank Campello finds himself paired with a new partner. Andy Polanski is an officer that has a reputation of being on to steer clear of, and unfortunately he is Frank's new partner.As the two investigate the brutal murder of a young girl, they quickly learn that there is more to the murder than meets the eye. As they continue to dig, the learn that an organized crime ring is involved and that ring has some friends in high places. Will they be able to solve the crimes and bring the criminals to justice.<br /><br />\"The Sons of Jude\" gave me a good look at how crime families operate, something I really don't think I have ever read about before.It was intesting to see how they can get thier footing in politics and then sort of run the show. This was a very well written suspense, thriller, that provided a few twists, and a satisfying ending. Normally I enjoy a fast paced read, however \"The Sons of Jude,\" moves along at at slower pace providing rich detail, that really allowed the story to build for me. Overall, I enjoyed reading this one, and the ending has me putting the next book in this series on my TBR list.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1350699592000, "title": "The Sons of Jude" }, { "asin": "0310330459", "rating": 5, "text": "To say that I love this series is an understatement. I feel like Ms. Chapman's storytelling just gets better and better. While I love the mystery that takes place in each of the Shipshewana Amish Mystery series, it's really the friendships that take place between the Amish and English characters that really sells me on the series.<br /><br />The Fall Crafters Fair which is Shipshewana's largest festival of the year, is in full swing, when a murder takes place in the parking lot of Daisy's Quilt Shop.With only one witness to the crime, it might not be so easy to solve. As things start to escalate Callie realizes that she just might be the intended target, it seems she has something the killer wants, but she isn't sure what it is! Thing is this killer isn't going to stop until he gets it, regardless of what he has to do. Can the police figure it out, or will it take Callie and her friends to solve this one?<br /><br />To say this book has a fast moving plot is an understatement! Once I started reading it, I couldn't wait to see what might happen! There were several suspenseful moments in the story, which pulled it right along. This book really has it all,in addition to the small town feel of the story, it has the Amish/Englisher friendship, a splash of romance,a nice mystery, a dog, baby, Amish children one of which is dealing with an illness that was new to me. Chicken Breast Disease was something I had never heard of but learned a bit about in this story.I always enjoy whenever a dog is included in a story and with this one we have Max. The author provides a satisfying ending, that wraps up the story nicely, I just hope that this book isn't the final one in the series.<br /><br />While this is the third book in the Shipshewana Amish Mystery series it can easily be read as a stand alone work, although if you're a fan of Amish fiction, cozy mysteries, or just a great read, you are certainly going to want to read the entire series. Each story is a good clean read, that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1351647118000, "title": "Great series" }, { "asin": "1603745068", "rating": 3, "text": "Kristi Lapp is a young Amish lady who is also a practicing midwife for her community. While on her way to an appointment she winds up in a buggy accident.Shane Zimmerman, her next door neighbor and local veterinarian happens by and finds her buggy and gets Kristi to the hospital. Because her parents are in Florida, Shane takes it upon himself to start visiting Kristi daily while she is in the hospital. He also decides to start taking care of Chinook, so that the dog can get the exercise he needs until Kristi recovers. Soon though Kristi starts having feelings for Shane, and he feels drawn to her as well. Of course when Kristi's dad comes home and forbids Shane from having anything else to do with Kristi because he is afraid she might leave the faith. How can an Amish midwife and an Englisher vet ever have a chance at love?<br /><br />I became a fan of Laura V. Hilton after reading her last series, The Amish of Seymour, and I like how some of the characters from that series was mentioned in this book. There were several things that I really liked about \"Healing Love\" but there were a few things that also fell a bit flat for me as well. So I am going to expound on the positive aspects first. The author captured my attention from the beginning pages. Kristi, a practicing Amish midwife has a buggy accident while on her way to visit a patient. Well that grabbed my attention, and then we are introduced to Shane Zimmeran, a promising character who has roots that harken back to the Amish but is now an Englisher. As Kristi's neighbor he gets her to the hospital, and then starts spending time with her. They are drawn to each other, but both know that a relationship is next to impossible. Seems though they find themselves together at every turn, as if fate is drawing them together. Shane's feelings about midwives really was understandable. I thought the secondary story of Shane's sister and her baby added to the overall effect of the story. I always enjoy whenever a dog is added to a story and with this one we have Chinook, Kristi's dog who loved Shane as well.<br /><br />The things that fell a bit flat for me was the complaining that Kristi often did about English food, I mean that sort of got old fast. I also felt like Kristi's dad, and uncle were a bit wishy washy when it came to trying to keep Kristi and Shane apart, and I was really shocked at the manner in which Ira threw Kristi out of the house. Overall, not my favorite Hilton read, but still good. I look forward to reading her next book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352261572000, "title": "Healing Love" }, { "asin": "0310335108", "rating": 4, "text": "It's been two years since Sarah Shetler's best friend Patty died in unexpectedly and since then Sarah has carried around a memory jar, and keeps her memories tucked inside so that she won't have to deal with her emotions.When she meets Jathan Schrock, an Amish bachelor with issues of his own, something changes. Can Jathan penetrate the walls that Sarah has built around her heart?<br /><br />Overall, I enjoyed this book. It dealt with loss, pain, friendship,and the wonderful inspirational message of allowing God to heal. While I enjoyed reading about Sarah and Patty's friendship, I found that the flashbacks of these memories sometimes broke the flow of the story and made it feel a bit choppy for me. It did seem very realistic that it took time for Sarah to heal, from her loss. Jathan is also dealing with issues that make both of the characters seem very realistic. It was so nice to see the characters grow and change as the story progressed.<br /><br />While this wasn't my favorite Tricia Goyer novel, I did enjoy it. There are discussion questions that would make this a great book club selection. The author also includes a glossary of words used by the Amish that is very helpful. I am anxious to read the next book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series.<br /><br />3.5/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352345899000, "title": "The Memory Jar" }, { "asin": "0736951512", "rating": 5, "text": "I am a true fan of Jerry Eicher. I have been reading his Amish fiction for quite some time and I normally never have a complaint about his work, well with \"Susanna's Christmas Wish\" my only complaint was that it didn't last long enough. The characters were great, the story line was perfect for my Christmas reading marathon, and while it was a short read that didn't last long enough for me. The author does provide well fleshed characters, and a nice plot that is short, sweet and satisfying!<br /><br />Mathew Yoder and Susanna Keim had been dating for two years, and were actually engaged when Mathew broke her heart when he decided to leave the Amish life. When Herman Wagler asks her to marry him she agrees even though she doesn't love him like she did Matthew, she is sure that in time she will. Problems start to arise when Herman announces that he doesn't celebrate Christmas the way Susanna's family does. Added to this Matthew is back in town. How will this affect the newly married couple, is their marriage able to withstand all the turmoil going on? Pick up \"Susanna's Christmas Wish\" and find out!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352779454000, "title": "Jerry Eicher is the king of Amish fiction!" }, { "asin": "0800720040", "rating": 5, "text": "The year is 1882, in the Wyoming Territory. After the death of her husband Josef, Celia Anderson is running a boarding house in the town of Easton to support her six month old Emma. Her friend Bertha keeps telling her it's time to find herself a new husband, but Celia has decided that she will only marry for love, and besides she stays very busy running her boarding house and babysitting young Aaron. Mark Williams has been looking for his father for two years,and his search has led him to Easton, to Celia's boarding house. As she gets to know Mark she sees the kind man that he is, but is he the right man for her, after all will he even stick around? While Mark feels drawn to Celia, will he stay in Easton?<br /><br />A short novella that was such a satisfying, quick read. I loved the characters, as well as the small town feel of the story. Celia and Mark were such good lead characters. She was strong, after all she had lost her husband, was trying to raise a daughter and run a boarding house, but the author allowed us to see another side of Celia, one who wanted to be loved and cherished. Mark was such a wonderful man, one I would consider a true gentleman. While he was carrying a bit of hurt from his past it didn't make him bitter. Strong secondary characters rounded out the story quite well, and I would love to see a story develop around Jacob, Arron's father, who had intentions of sending away for a mail order bride. Overall, a short, sweet, historical fiction that warmed my heart.<br /><br />A complementary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1353652395000, "title": "short,sweet, historical Christmas read" }, { "asin": "1401685676", "rating": 4, "text": "This book encompasses two of my favorite types of books Amish fiction and short stories. \"An Amish Kitchen\" is comprised of three short stories written by three of today's premiere Amish fiction authors.<br /><br />The first story is a \"Taste of Faith\" written by Kelly Long. Twenty year old Deborah Zook has been living with her grandmother Esther Zook since the age of five when her parents died of the flu. She has a love for tending flowers and herbs and her grandmother has the wish to see her trained in healing herbs, but more than that she wishes that her granddaughter would find a man and marry, and truthfully Fern wishes for someone as well. At the age of twenty-three Abram Fisher is a dyed in the wool bachelor, who never paid any attention to Fern, but when he needs Fern's help after his sister Mary becomes sunburned he begins to look at Fern in a different light. Will fate bring these two together?<br /><br />\"A Spoonful of Love\" by Amy Clipston is the story of Hannah King, who has been managing the Paradise Inn since her father had a stroke a year ago. When Stephen Esh comes to town looking for a place to stay he rents a room at the end. Could Stephen be the one Hannah has been hoping will come into her life? What about his past, why is he so far from home? Will he be able to let go of the past and embrace the future?<br /><br />\"A Recipe for Hope\"by Beth Wiseman is the story of Eve Bender. At the age of thirty-eight Eve Bender finds herself moving back home with her parents after a tree crashes into her farmhouse. Not only is she moving back home but she her husband and three teen age boys who are going thru rumspringa also will be moving in as well. Eve and her mother often didn't see eye to eye on things will spending two months under her parents roof allow them to heal the hurts from the past?<br /><br />I loved each of these stories, that gently remind of faith and family. My favorite story easily had to be \"A Recipe for Hope.\" I enjoyed the fact that Eve was a bit older and her sons added an interesting layer to the story.Her oldest son Leroy is eighteen and Amos and Elias are her twin sixteen year old boys. Amos also has a Chinese Water Dragon that provided a few funny moments.<br /><br />If you have never read Amish fiction this book is a delightful way to sample these three great authors. There is a glossary of \"Amish\" words included for newbie Amish fiction readers. The recipes which include some herbal treatments are just an added bonus. While each story is a tad predictable overall I enjoyed each of them, and would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good clean read with a splash of romance and an Amish cast of characters.<br /><br />Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1354680094000, "title": "An Amish Kitchen" }, { "asin": "0800719891", "rating": 5, "text": "I have loved the entire Stoney Ridge Seasons series and couldn't wait to read Mary Kate's story who happened to be one of my favorite characters in the series. All I can say is that Suzanne saved the best story for last!<br />At the age of nineteen Mary Kate also known as M.K. is still a bit irresponsible and full of mischief, but when one of her stunts has her running into the Amish teacher she is forced to grow up quick and take over the responsibilities of being the teacher. Will she take the job seriously? Well in the beginning M.K. doesn't do very well, but soon with the help of a former teacher things start to look up. Will M.K. ever really settle down, and do we really want her too! Added to this is an unexpected death, a mysterious stranger comes to town, along with that someone comes up missing, and you have a page turner filled with plenty of interesting happenings, that include a few unexpected twists!<br /><br />From the beginning paragraphs Ms. Fisher creates a story that's filled with a bit of mystery along with plenty of excitement for nineteen year old M.K. Lapp who had been longing for a bit of adventure. I just loved the words the author used to express the restlessness that M.K. felt. They allowed for such vivid scenes to play out in my head, I could just imagine M.K. feeling the need to spread her wings and fly to someplace that would seem more exciting than her tiny town!<br />I have read each book in this wonderful series, and for me each story just keeps getting better. I enjoyed meeting the new characters in the story, and loved reconnecting with the Lapp family, including Doozy the dog! Fans of Amish fiction will love this story, but anyone who enjoys a bit of mystery, romance and a story that will keep you glued to the pages then your going to want to read the entire series, and if you have never read anything by Ms. Fisher why not start with the Stoney Ridge Seasons, I promise you wont be disappointed. On a scale of one of one to five I would easily give this entire series a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1357271048000, "title": "The Lesson" }, { "asin": "0800719867", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Choices of the Heart\" is the third book in The Midwives series and takes place in Virginia in 1842. Esther Cherrett finds herself in the midst of something that forces her to head for the mountains of Virginia and take a job teaching, hoping that she can leave her problems behind. Instead she finds herself smack dab in the middle of a family feud between the Tollivers and the Brooks, added to that is the fact that Griff Tolliver as well as Zach Brooks wants to court her. Which one will win her heart, and does it really matter, especially when her past catches up with her? What will happen when the past she tried to outrun reaches the mountains?<br /><br />As a fan of historical fiction I have enjoyed this entire series. Ms. Eakes does a wonderful job of creating realistic characters that are very easy to connect with because of the issues that they are dealing with. Esther's character wants to run from her past, but learns that the past has a way of catching up with you anyway. It was interesting to see her character grow and change as the story progressed. Griff was determined to see the feud end between the families, which made him a stand out character for me. While I enjoyed the characters I also loved the way the author brought the region to life, the descriptions allowed me to envision the area as well as the time period. Overall the historical feel of the story along with a great plot that provided a few twists made this a great read. While this book could be read as a stand alone work, I recommend reading the entire series. If your a fan of historical romance, with an inspirational bent your going to enjoy \"Choices of the Heart.\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1358659590000, "title": "Choices of the Heart" }, { "asin": "0800734602", "rating": 5, "text": "Cheyenne Wyoming Territory is the setting for \"Waiting for Spring.\" It's 1886 and its been a year since Charlotte Harding's world was turned upside down, and she was forced to flee to Cheyenne so that she and her young son David might be safe. While she has made a new life and friends, even opening a dress shop, she still worried for the safety of her son. When she meets Barrett Landry, a wealthy rancher who has political aspirations they are drawn to each other, but he needs a wife with political connections and she can't risk her past being exposed, what will happen between them?<br /><br />Charlotte was such a nice character, a wonderful mother willing to do whatever she needed to do to protect her son. I so wanted things to work out for Charlotte. I enjoyed reading about her dress shop, as well as her interactions with her customers. There are several secondary characters that really propel this story along including Gwen Amos and her daughter Rose who was a great help to Charlotte. A great well rounded story, romance, with mystery,suspense as well as the historical setting made this book a real winner for me. To be honest I was drawn to this book because of it's beautiful cover, but the characters and story are what truly shine with this one. Amanda Cabot is easily one of my favorite historical fiction writers, and I look forward to reading the next book in the Westward Winds series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1358662438000, "title": "Waiting for the next book in this fantastic series" }, { "asin": "0800720393", "rating": 5, "text": "After a disastrous marriage Charlotte Farrow finds it necessary to flee her husband in order to keep not only herself but her newborn son safe as well. She becomes a maid for the Banning household, but one of the job requirements was that she be unmarried and without children, so she keeps her son a secret. When Mrs. Given, the lady that Charlotte has entrusted with her young son Henry, has a family emergency and needs to leave town she brings the baby to Charlotte at work. Charlotte finds herself in a dilemma, if she confesses she will certainly lose her job, but if she doesn't will she lose her son?<br /><br />While this book is the second in the Avenue of Dreams series I feel like it can be read as a stand alone work, although because the first book was quite engaging I would recommend reading it as well. This book picks up right were the last one left off. I found myself feeling empathy for Charlotte's dilemma, and couldn't imagine being in her position. Lose her job, or protect her son, and not only that there is the hopes of romance, but when or if the truth comes out will it be the end of her hopes for a new beginning? In addition to Charlotte's compelling story we get a very good glimpse the differences between the social classes during this time in history. Also we get a great historical glance of the Chicago's Worlds Fair. Overall, fans of historical fiction will certainly enjoy not only this book but the entire series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1359426815000, "title": "Historical fiction fans will enjoy this series" }, { "asin": "0800721330", "rating": 5, "text": "\"A New Home for Lily\" has Lily and her family moving to Pennsylvania to be closer to family. Things are really changing for young Lily. She no longer has her own bedroom, she finds herself in a new school with new children, added to that is the fact that there is a new baby in the house. She does have her faithful dolly Sally. While some changes seem a little intimidating some are chock full of fun. One things certain young Lily keeps her faithful dolly Sally close by for comfort! Will Lily adjust to all the changes going on? Read this wonderful book to be pulled along into young Lily's life where adventures abound, and the reader gets wonderful glimpses of Amish life.<br /><br />While this book is geared toward the younger reading set, I find it a totally refreshing read. I enjoy reading about the day to day Amish goings on, and the character of Lily is just wonderful. Life is full of adventure and never boring your Lily. A great read whether your eight or eighty. Young girls are going to enjoy Lily and her adventures while they learn about the Amish lifestyle. I can't recommend this series enough. On a scale of one to five it easily gets a six in my book!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1360552318000, "title": "A New Home for Lily" }, { "asin": "0800734300", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become a huge fan of Biblical fiction so to say I was excited to read \"Rebekah\" is sort of an understatement, because I remember reading her story in the book of Genesis.Well after reading Jill Eileen Smith's fictionalized account of her story, I know I will never forget Rebekah, because she brought the story to life making me feel as if I was right there as the events take place.The twins that she bore, and who she chose as her favorite. Ms. Smith allowed me to see Rebekah as a mother, not just another woman in the Bible. The author easily pulled me back into Bible days, with a richness in descriptions that brought the time and setting to life. I certainly enjoyed how the author incorporated scripture verses thru the story. Overall, fans of Biblical fiction will certainly want to read this one, but anyone who enjoys historical fiction with romance, where the characters just happen to be from the Bible will certainly want to read this memorable story. I can't wait to read the next book in this exciting series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361247483000, "title": "Rebekah" }, { "asin": "0800720733", "rating": 4, "text": "I love books that take place around the time of the Civil War so \"When the Heart Heals\" was a much anticipated read for me. This book takes place during 1867 in Noble Springs, Missouri. Rosemary Saxon was a nurse during the civil war, but with the war over she has to support herself somehow so she decides to work for Dr. Elijah Stewart the doctor in town.Rosemary believes in using herbal remedies and often gives out advice against which is something the doctor doesn't care for, which often causes them to butt heads on occasion. As they work together an attraction grows, but someone comes along that has Rosemary thinking she needs to leave town. Rosemary also finds herself having problems because of some advice that she has given to someone about herbs. How will things work out for Rosemary? Will she be accepted for who she is, and does she and Elijah work things out?<br /><br />While I felt like I ultimately knew how things would work out for the main characters it was such a wonderful story that gets me to that conclusion. I am such a fan of sweet romance,as well as strong women that don't often conform to what society thinks that they should be.The plot moves along at a good pace, and the author sprinkles a bit of suspense to make it more interesting. I love when we get a pet woven into a story and with this one we have Rosemary's dog Bodie. Overall, while I knew where this story was headed I certainly enjoyed the telling that gets us there. Fans of historical fiction who also enjoy a good clean read will certainly love this one. While this book is the second in the Sisters at Heart series it can easily be read as a stand alone work.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361697768000, "title": "When the Heart Heals" }, { "asin": "1596693584", "rating": 4, "text": "\"The Moses Quilt\" is a story that will capture the heart and provide you with a surprising yet satisfying ending!<br /><br />Mazie Hartford is a 24 year old whose life seems to be falling right into place, she recently finished college, and is set to take a job in the fall. Added to that her boyfriend Edward, a lawyer in his fathers firm has ask her to marry him. Thing is she has been dragging her feet, hesitant to say yes. Her great-grandmother moved in with Mazie and her mother five years ago, leaving the deep South for California. Now at the age of 93 her great-grandmother Mimi knows that her time left is coming to an end and wants to pass on a family heirloom to her namesake Mazie. The heirloom is a Moses quilt and along with the quilt is the telling of the history behind the quilt. Perhaps Mimi's story of family history will help Mazie make up her mind about her future.<br /><br />There are two stories going on in the pages of this book. The contemporary romance between Mazie and Edward, which happens to be an interracial relationship. The secondary story is the story behind the Moses Quilt, and that was truly the stand out story for me, because with Mimi's story we learn about Harriet Tubman. We learn where she came from, the cruel treatment she endured and ultimately why she was so adamant to see her people be free. I always enjoy getting a history lesson along with a fictional read and that's just what I found woven into the pages of \"The Moses Quilt.\" While the romance was ok it was Mimi and her story that made this book a real winner for me. A great way to learn a bit about African American History.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361744761000, "title": "History lesson was stand out for me" }, { "asin": "1621360210", "rating": 5, "text": "Cassandra Todd finds herself needing to leave her home in the middle of the night, her husband Brad is an abusive man, and while Cassandra was willing to take his beatings when he threatens to turn the abuse on their son Justin she knows it's time to leave. She heads to Lakewood, the town she grew up in hoping to cash in some bonds that her parents left her and then disappear When the bank transaction takes a bit longer than she anticipates she finds herself needing to spend a few days in town and checks into The Mountain View Motel. When hired men show up she finds herself needing the help of the motel handyman.<br />Turner Caldwell's high school years is something he has tried to put behind him. Bullied unmercifully by the jocks, especially Brad Duncan, who even gave him the nickname \"Pancake.\" Turner always had a crush on Cassandra Todd, but she was one of the popular crowd, a cheerleader. After being gone for seven years Cassandra shows up with her young son Justin and stays a few nights at the motel where Turner works, causing those old feelings and emotions to bubble to the surface. When she shows up at his door and tells him that she is running from her husband, who just happens to be Brad Duncan,and needs his help Turner finds himself in the midst of something that could possibly change his life forever.<br /><br />I found myself intrigued within the first few pages of this story. Cassandra finds herself needing to leave an abusive husband, and winds up going back to her home town. How ironic that the boy that was bullied in high school by her husband is the one she turns to for help. While I could empathize with Cassandra and her plight, I really felt for Turner and the memories that haunted him.I could understand why he was angry with God. In addition to the bullying he had experienced in high school, he had also lost a job he loved, his mother had died, and his father sort of abandoned him. Cassandra on the other hand held fast to her faith and felt like God was leading her.<br /><br />The author tackles two pretty tough subjects within the pages of this story, spousal abuse and bullying. Cassandra was willing to accept the abuse for herself, but refused to allow her husband to abuse her son. I thought the author really shined when it came to showcasing just how bullying can haunt someone for years. Overall I found this to be a very fast paced story laced with suspense, drama, along with several inspirational, motivational messages as well. Recommended!<br /><br />A review copy was provided by Glass Roads PR in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1362628135000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "080072089X", "rating": 3, "text": "\"Moonlight Masquerade\" is a Regency Romance set in London during 1813. Lady Celine Wexham was French born, but married an English Earl. Thing is her husband, was older,and not very nice. After his death she has money and wealth, which allows her to help those in need. Thing is the English government thinks that she may be a spy and sends Rees Phillips to work undercover as her butler to find out the truth.<br /><br />Regency romance isn't a genre that I normally read, so I was excited to try this one. While the story was really slow to pick up in the beginning, it did pick up, but never really held my attention. I hoped for a fast paced spy drama with romance woven in, but I was left wishing that there had been more romance between the two main characters. I did enjoy the historical aspects of the story, and thought that Rees was a very likable character. Overall, just a middle of the road read for me that didn't excite or inspire, I would say that if you enjoy a historical read, set during the regency era, you might enjoy this book. It just really wasn't my cup of tea.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1362959943000, "title": "Moonlight Masquerade" }, { "asin": "0764209914", "rating": 5, "text": "I found myself drawn into this story from the beginning. Molly Lovelace has always been treated like Daddy's little princess, and because everyone seemed to think that she was just a pretty female, who loved to shop, without a true thought in her head that's just how she acts. Her father has decided who he wants her to marry and doesn't plan on giving her a say in matters. Thing is she already has her heart set on someone, and that someone isn't who her father has in mind for her. He wants her to marry someone wealthy, such as Edward Pierrepont, but she can't get the cowboy Bailey Garner out of her heart. Will she go against her father, who does she ultimately choose?<br />I really enjoyed Regina Jenning's first novel, \"Sixty Acres and a Bride\" so I was totally anxious to read this one, and as a fan of historical romantic fiction this book certainly suited me to a tee! Once I got Molly's story I totally understood why she acted the way she did, after all her father Thomas had certain expectations of her. I also understood her feelings for Bailey, after all they had been childhood friends. I could just imagine the pressure that Bailey felt in finding a job so that he would be financially \"secure\" enough to support Molly in the way that she was accustomed. the on again off again twisty relationship between the pair kept me guessing as to how things might work out. I felt like the author created authentic characters for the time period For me though it was their spiritual development that really made the characters shine. I enjoyed seeing several of the characters from \"Sixty Acres and a Bride,\" but did feel like the author provided enough information that this could be read as a stand alone novel. Fans of historical romance with an inspirational slant will certainly enjoy this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1363743376000, "title": "Love In The Balance" }, { "asin": "1451574827", "rating": 4, "text": "\"The Gospel Centered Woman\" is a Bible study that not only discusses what God created his daughters to be, but how to achieve and live his plan without feeling oppressed but instead uplifted and exalted.<br /><br />This Bible study is broken down into three sections with the first section titled Created in God's Image which delves into what God create women to be, and how they are created to bear the image of God. This section also touches on the fall of man and woman. \"Section two titled Redeemed to Reflect God Once More\" touches on topics such as forgiving and being forgiven, finding contentment, and how the Gospel can unite women with Christ. Section three is titled \"Wisdom in the Tension\" and is geared at helping women navigate through daily life.<br /><br />Overall, I found this an easy to use Bible study and really appreciated how the author doesn't just give us her opinion but instead provides us with scripture that allows us to understand and read where she is coming from. I found it helpful that she includes a blank page at the end of each chapter so that we can take notes on what we have read. The discussion questions included would make this a great Bible study for women's groups. Many of the questions are geared to make the reader reflect not only on what they have read but also what they might be dealing with in their own lives. My only complaint is that I wish the questions would have been placed at the end of each chapter instead at the back of the book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1364435962000, "title": "The Gospel Centered Woman" }, { "asin": "0764207970", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Unrivaled\" takes place in St. Louis Missouri in 1910. Lucy Kendall's family owns the City Confectionery candy company, but it looks like that might change. Their company had struggled financially, but after Lucy's father has a heart attack, it looks like the answer might be to sell out, or at least that's what Lucy's mother wants to do. Lucy doesn't want to see that happen and begs her mother to reconsider. When her mother agrees to give Lucy a month to try and save the business by creating a new candy, there is one stipulation attached. Lucy must also go to the Veiled Prophet Ball, because Lucy's mother thinks it's well past time that Lucy find a husband and settle down. Lucy agrees but her plan is to unveil her new candy at the ball.<br /><br />Charlie Clarke's father left the family when he was only seven years old, so he had grown up hating his father, but not really knowing him. Now at the age of twenty-two after getting into a bit of trouble his mother contacts his father who offers him a job working for him in the Royal Taffy company in St. Louis. When he arrives in town he literally runs into Lucy, and she feels something too, but thing is neither one knows who the other is. Will the company rivalry keep the two apart, or ultimately bring them together?<br /><br />\"Unrivaled\" easily pulled me back in time, allowing for a unique glimpse of the candy making business during the early 1900's. We see the story unfold thru the eyes of two main characters. The author alternates between Lucy and Charlie's perspective, but does it in a smooth easy to follow way. Lucy sincerely wanted to keep the family business, even though during the time period women in business wasn't the norm. Thing is Lucy didn't seem to care how her actions affected others, although as the story progresses it is nice to see Lucy grow and change. I really could understand and empathize with Charlie more because he was struggling with issues from the past. There were a few secondary characters that really added to the story.<br /><br />Overall, I think my favorite parts of this story actually revolved around the candy making, I could just imagine Lucy as she was making taffy. I also got a few laughs when things didn't turn out quite right. If your a fan of historical fiction with romance, inspiration, along with a company rivalry and a bit of mystery woven into the mix then your in for a sweet treat with \"Unrivaled' by Siri Mitchell.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1364748712000, "title": "Unrivaled" }, { "asin": "1433671689", "rating": 5, "text": "Invisible\" takes place in Fort Bragg, CA and told with four unique voices. Dr. Miles Becker, who lost his wife Sarah to cancer, but before she died she made him promise her that he would move on, even suggesting someone for him to get to know. Ellyn DeMoss is a chef who runs her own restaurant She is very critical of herself because she is carrying several extra pounds.Sabina Jackson, is a counselor who says that she is taking a short sabbatical, but in truth she thinks that she is mildly depressed. There is more going on in Sabina's life than she is willing to admit. Twila Boaz had weight issues and was finally diagnosed with anorexia but now recovering she works with her mother at a health food store and uses tattoos in order to cover up her body, but also to express her feelings. Each of these characters lend their voice to \"Invisible\" and as their stories unfold, they blend together making for a remarkable tale with several powerful messages.<br /><br />I was afraid that this book might get confusing because it had four unique stories, but instead the voices and stories are so unique that it is easy to understand and follow along. While I found each characters story interesting, I have to say that Ellyn was the character that really resonated with me. Her poor self image and struggle with weight was something that is very relevant in today's society. Her inner voice that she named Earl, was very negative. Because she was so disappointed in herself she was certain that she was a disappointment to God as well. When the doctor shows an interest in her she can't imagine what he would see in her, even thinking there might be something wrong with him.<br />Overall, this was a story where the characters are struggling with issues that were very relatable, but more than that left the message of God's love and acceptance. Not a light fluffy read, instead the author crafts characters that are so easy to relate too, because each in their own way are struggling with things that are relevant in today's society. The discussion questions provided at the end of the story would make this a great group read. A story that will inspire and challenge, and maybe even motivate.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1365133412000, "title": "Invisible" }, { "asin": "0824932463", "rating": 5, "text": "Six months after the death of their mother Caroline Marris, along with her sisters Gracie Gold and Sam Carter plan a two week getaway to Nantucket a place their mother loved. While strolling on the beach they arrive at the Misty Harbor Inn, a place their mother dreamed of owning and are surprised at the condition of the old inn. The sisters decide to purchase the inn even though it will take a lot of work to get it ready to open. When they find some old postcards they are find themselves immersed in the mystery of Hannah Montague, the widow of the original owner. Can they figure out what happened to her?Will the sisters be able to get the inn open, and will this adventure draw them together or pull them apart?<br /><br />I loved the family feel of this novel. Each sister has their own unique personality giving this story a very realistic feel. Because the sisters are older I found myself easily relating to them. I could easily understand Gracie's reluctance at wanting to leave her home, but she also needed to reestablish a relationship with her sisters. In addition to the family drama going on they are renovating the inn and if that isn't enough there is an air of mystery about a former owner. \"Seaside Harmony\" is the first book in the Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn series and is the perfect way to escape for a few hours. I have always been a fan of Guideposts series and this one promises not to disappoint With elements of faith interwoven with family drama, a hint of mystery along with a splash of romance, I really look forward to my next visit to the Misty Harbor Inn.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1366945739000, "title": "Seaside Harmony" }, { "asin": "0824932471", "rating": 5, "text": "It's spring in Nantucket and the girls have been working all year to get the Inn in tip top shape to open and what better time to have the grand opening than while the town is celebrating with the Daffodil festival. We get to meet the guests , but more than that the mystery of the previous owner continues to unfold.<br /><br />The three sisters really make this a stand out series, it's so nice to see their relationships grow and change as the story progresses. I always enjoy whenever an animal is included in a story and we Max, Carolines cocker spaniel continues to make appearances in this story. I think the element of mystery that is woven into the story really adds to the storyline. I found the historical aspects of the mystery quite interesting. \"Sunflower Summer\" is the second book in the Postcards From Misty Harbor Inn series and I really think that to understand the story completely the books should be read in order. A wonderful setting, interesting characters along with elements of faith, and the mystery woven in really held my attention and has me anxious to read the next book in this series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1366946318000, "title": "Sunflower Summer" }, { "asin": "0800722256", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been a fan of Melody Carlson for years. She does a wonderful job of pulling me into whatever story she is writing, making me understand the characters and whatever they might be going thru.<br /><br />\"A Simple Song\" is the story of Katrina Yoder. She has always enjoyed singing, but in her Amish world it is a sin, and therefore it is forbidden.Katrina's friend Bekka has been watching a show called American Star and really thinks that Katrina should try out for the show. For Katrina though the reason to step out into the Englisher world is more complicated than that. Her father needs to have surgery, and \"American Star\" just might be the way that Katrina could win the money, and since she hasn't been baptized into the church yet, she will go while on her rumspringa. What will her parents and community say? Will they accept her back into the community, and if she wins the money will her parents accept it! Can an Amish girl stay true to her roots while thrust into the Englisher spotlight! Read this page turning story to find out!<br />I found \"A Simple Song,\" to be a nice, quick read that is filled with interesting characters that are easy to like. I could easily understand Katrina and the choices she made. I thought it was interesting how her grandfather encouraged singing at her grandmother's funeral. The reason that was revealed was touching and allowed me to further understand Katrina's story. I found the behind the scenes descriptions of \"American Star\" interesting, and while I kind of knew how things might work out it was still fun to see how Melody Carlson would allow things to work out! Overall, this fun little read, is great for teens but also a quick read for adults who enjoy Amish fiction as well.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1371435536000, "title": "Another great story from Melody Carlson" }, { "asin": "0764209663", "rating": 5, "text": "When an outlaw's daughter want's a preacher for her birthday, what's her outlaw daddy to do but have someone go out and kidnap,or preachernap,one for her! After all it's Joanna Robbins twenty-first birthday and she deserved something big, after all she is still grieving the loss of her mother.Truth is Jo has been praying for a preacher to come along and help revive their little community church, but she never imagined the lengths her father would go to to bring a preacher to her. When her father kidnaps Crockett Archer and brings him home for her birthday she knows she will have to let him go because he has other plans, but she can't help but hope he might decide to stay!<br />I found myself immediately drawn to this book because of the cover,and title,after all I couldn't imagine what \"Stealing The Preacher\" might entail, but I have to say it was the attention grabbing story that kept me turning the pages to see where and what would happen next! I found myself loving these characters and even understanding the reasoning of why Joanna's father did what he did! I loved the lively conversations that literally brings the story to life. I also enjoyed the historical feel of the story! Fans of historical fiction that enjoy stories that provide more than a few laughs along with several smiles, a lively cast of characters and a nice, inspirational romance will find themselves devouring \"Stealing The Preacher\" in one sitting, I know that I did! An unputdownable read for me!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1371527327000, "title": "Fun historical read" }, { "asin": "1433679302", "rating": 5, "text": "Daphne Ballinger's left her small town life in Appleton with high hopes of having a writing career in the Big Apple. Thing is it's thirteen years later, and she is finds herself stuck in a job that is far from what she hoped for, sharing the same apartment, and still heartsore from a relationship from ten years ago when a boyfriend burned her bad. When she gets a call from her father that her rather eccentric ninety-one year old aunt Dee passed away she goes home. She is soon surprised that her aunt left her sole beneficiary of everything that she owned, including a beautiful old Victorian, a vintage Corvette and plenty of money, there is just a couple of snafu's her aunt left some pretty specific requirements and Daphne has a year to fulfill her aunt's wishes. If she doesn't the house will be given to the \"Cat House\" the shelter where she adopted her beloved kitties Lucy and Ethel. As several secrets come to light about Aunt Dee Daphne learns things that she would have never guessed. Will Daphne leave New York behind and move back to Appleton, and if she does will she be able to meet the requirements of Dee's will?<br /><br />Melody Carlson is one of my all time favorite writers, her versatile writing skills, has taken me on several adventures and \"Lock, Stock, and Over a Barrel\" allows me to watch Daphne Ballinger go from someone who seemed unhappily stuck in her life to someone with choices if only she can embrace them. Daphne is a character that is so easy to relate to, she was someone that had hopes and dreams, but after years of the same old same old her life was in a rut! I enjoyed seeing the changes that precipitated in her life once she returned to Appleton. Plenty of secondary characters really stood out for me including Daphne's dad, his life was in transition as well, and the secrets that he learned about Aunt Dee was something that he took in stride.Even though Aunt Dee has passed away, her character played such an integral role in the plot, she seemed like a fun loving someone, who did have a few regrets and hoped to keep Daphne from making some of the same mistakes. Ms. Carlson's descriptions easily allowed me to feel the small town setting of the story, and the advice column reminded me of Dear Abby! While there is an inspirational bent to the story, it isn't overwhelming, and seemed perfectly plausible I will say the author certainly left me hanging with the ending, and I know I will keep wondering until the next installment how things will work out for Daphne! If you have never read anything by Ms. Carlson this book is the perfect time to start, or if you're like me and are a long time fan, you're not going to want to miss this one. I only hope readers don't have to wait long for the next installment in the Dear Daphne series!", "timestamp": 1372298844000, "title": "Can't wait to read book two in the series!" }, { "asin": "0800721381", "rating": 4, "text": "I have become a fan of Biblical historical fiction and \"Claudia\" is the story of a character in the Bible that is only mentioned once, but Diana Wallis Taylor doesn't let that stop her from creating a compelling story that not only brings the characters but Biblical times to life, a time when woman really had to make the best of the situations that they found themselves in.At the age of sixteen Claudia is married to Pontius Pilate , and truly loves her husband even though it was an arranged marriage.After the marriage they move to Judea where Claudia has a dream about Jesus and the role her husband will play in his crucifixion.The author certianly knew how to bring this timeperiod to life, I could just imagine the places that was described in the story. I also recognized a few Biblical characters woven into the story along with Claudia and her husband. It was nice to see a different side of Pontius Pilate, a side that only his wife Claudia saw.Even though a fictionalized story, the author makes the story believable by providing enough facts to give a sense of realism. Overall fans of historical fiction will enjoy this story, but if you enjoy historical fiction with a Biblical slant then this is a must read for you.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1372649884000, "title": "Claudia" }, { "asin": "0800721594", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Dolled Up to Die is the second book in the Cate Kinkaid mystery series and really can be read as a stand alone work, but honestly it's such a good cozy little mystery that you're probably going to want to go back and read the first book just because you're going to want more of these characters!<br /><br />When Cate Kinkaid was hired by her uncle Joe to work as an assistant investigator for Belmont Investigations he made it perfectly clear that they only handled routine investigations such as background checks, serving subpoenas and the like, thing is it seems murder cases keep cropping up in the town of Eugene, Oregon and Cate somehow finds herself in the middle of the action! The latest call is from a woman saying there has been a triple shooting, well how can Cate not help at the scene of a triple homicide especially when the caller might still be in danger. When she arrives on the scene though she does find three victims, and quickly discovers a fourth, thing is three of the gunshot victims are life sized dolls!<br /><br />\"Dolled Up to Die\" is one of those stories that you start reading and the next thing you know you are finished. The story moves along at such a fast pace that the pages just fly by. I love the character of Cate, she is a bumbling PI that provides more than a few laughs. She often talks to her fat cat Octavia, and is rescued more than once by her boyfriend Mitch. With several suspects the author doesn't make it easy to figure out who-dun-it with this one. Anyone who enjoys a fast paced cozy mystery with more than a few laughs and a bumbling heroine will certainly enjoy \"Dolled Up to Die!\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1374460138000, "title": "Fast paced cozy mystery" }, { "asin": "1595547827", "rating": 4, "text": "Amy Lange is grieving the loss of her brother Ben and really can't wrap her mind around the fact that it was an \"accident.\" When she receives an email stating that she might want to take a trip to Hope Island hinting that her brother Ben had secrets that actually led to his death, she decides to take the trip to Rosemary Cottage on Hope Island a place that is dear to her hoping to find solace and even thinking of moving her midwifery practice there. Mostly though she is hoping to find the answers she needs so that she can truly understand her brother's death.<br /><br />While this is the second book in the Hope Beach series by Colleen Coble it can easily be read as a stand alone work. I found myself swept into the story from the beginning pages when Gina, Curtis Ireland's sister is basically run down by a motorboat, thing is she recognized the person on the boat, but who was it? That along with wanting to know about Ben and what happened to him propelled me into this story to find the answers! Suspense filled with more than a few twists kept me turning the pages,and the romance was a nice bonus. Ms. Coble captured the beauty of the area that she writes about, allowing the setting to come to life for me. Overall, anyone who enjoys mystery/suspense with a sweet romance and a nice christian theme woven in will enjoy this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1374462505000, "title": "Rosemary Cottage" }, { "asin": "1433678209", "rating": 5, "text": "I was drawn to \"In Golden Splendor\" because I am always interested in a good historical read, and I got just what I hoped for with this novel. This story draws the reader back to the mid 1800's during the California Gold Rush.<br /><br />Seamus Handley's past was rife with disappointment, and he is haunted by a past that he just can't seem to overcome. How though did this Irishman wind up living in self exile in the Rocky Mountain Wilderness, where it seems that the lack of food might do him in. It seems though fate has something else in store for Seamus though when he finds a letter from a woman in San Francisco asking for help he has nothing to lose by heading to California. The journey he embarks on will test his mettle. Will Seamus find what he is looking for in California?<br /><br />Mr. Reynolds weaves together an epic historical tale that comes to life in the pages of this story. I found it easy to envision the journey that Seamus embarked on. Since I didn't read the first book in the story I was really interested in who Seamus was and what his background might have been. The author does a great job of providing enough information to make this a stand alone story. I became totally invested in Seamus' story wanting to know how it would end. Rich details, really brought the story to life for me, and wanting to know how things would work out for Seamus kept me reading. There were so many secondary characters that we meet on the journey that play unique roles in the story that kept it moving along. Overall, a rich historical read, blended with romance, suspense, and an inspirational message that reminds the reader of God's love. I enjoyed this book so much that I plan on going back to read the first book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1375675395000, "title": "An Epic Journey" }, { "asin": "0824932595", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Whispers On The Dock\" take readers back to Misty Harbor Inn allowing us to reconnect with the three sisters that run the Inn. With this installment the main focus is on the youngest sister Sam who enjoys baking, and hopes to enter the Summerfield baking contest. In addition to the baking contest there is the unique characters that check into the inn as well as the mystery that the three sisters are still trying to solve.<br /><br />What a wonderful, relaxing read each of the books in the series turned out to be. Even though it had been a couple of months since I read the first two books in the series it was so easy to fall right back into the storyline, because I felt like I was connecting with old friends. I thought the storyline revolving around Hannah Montague was really interesting, it was fun to see the clues unfold around this mystery. Overall, I found this book to be well written and the plot moves along well, I found the storyline relaxing and easy to read. This book is the third book in a series and really the first two books should be read to get the most from this one. Cozy mystery light is how I would describe this one, because there was a mystery but there really was much more than just the mystery going on in the story.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1378012226000, "title": "Return to Misty Harbor" }, { "asin": "0825442141", "rating": 5, "text": "Hope is often difficult to find when life throws curves our way that cause not only our heart to hurt but also damage our spirit. Instead we often close ourselves off and try and protect ourselves from further hurt, shutting off our heart in a sense to protect it. With \"Wounded Women of the Bible\" the author shares the stories of twelve different women of the Bible linking their stories with stories from today that allowed me to connect with the Biblical stories on a greater level,providing hope and encouragement reminding that we can overcome and become stronger with the help of God. I would have to say that my favorite female character in the Bible had to be Ruth, and the author's focus on her story had me thinking deeper about Ruth and what she really went thru. The author's easy to read, friendly feeling writing made this a stand out book for me. While I enjoyed reading the stories of the \"Wounded Women of the Bible\" I also found the personal stories that the authors share to be inspirational and encouraging. Overall, I think this book is a must read for women young and old, filled with inspiration and encouragement that remind the reader of God's strength and love. The study guide and discussion questions that are included make this a fantastic book for group study, personally myself I have been using the book like a Bible study, taking each chapter and turning it into a weeks worth of study and reflection.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1379190499000, "title": "Encouraging" }, { "asin": "1859857663", "rating": 5, "text": "Bumper Wipe Clean Activities book is chock full of fun things that focus on the Bible. A study book that will withstand quite a bit of use.A sturdy cover, with the wipe free pages makes this a book that will be reused often. There is a handy holder so the pen doesn't get lost from the book and the spiral binding makes it's easy for young hands to use. Bright colors and easy to read vocabulary might just light the spark of reading with your youngster. The simple activities are best suited for youngsters probably five and under, I think that perhaps an older child may find the activities a little to simplistic. Some of the activities include dot to dot, matching pairs, finding the hidden object, and mazes. I think this book would make a wonderful gift, perfect for taking along when you need to keep your youngster occupied. I would easily recommend this book to anyone looking for a sturdy book that because of the wipe free pages can be reused.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1379561007000, "title": "Good Value for a sturdy product" }, { "asin": "0800723074", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite types of books to read when I was a child was books filled jokes, so this one really brought back a lot of memories. I remembered a few of the jokes I read, and had more than a bit of fun reading the tongue twisters, something that I have never gotten good at! A book that it chock full of good, clean, jokes that is sure to tickle the funny bone, and have youngsters trying the jokes out on their friends. This book is basically like three books in one, with laugh out loud jokes for kids, zoolarious animal jokes for kids, and of course my favorite knock knock jokes, there are also tongue twisters but I was pleasantly surprised by the did you know tidbits that were filled with interesting fun facts. Many of these little facts were totally new to me! Certainly a book that will appeal to youngsters but it might also appeal to those of us that remember joke books as a kid, I know it brought back a few fond memories for me!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1390780300000, "title": "Funny with a few fun facts as well." }, { "asin": "0062204467", "rating": 5, "text": "A new series by Shelley Shepard Gray, boy I couldn't wait to dive into this one, and once I did I really couldn't put this book down until I finished it! I love books set in Sugarcreek, Ohio because it's a place I visit often so it's the familiar that really hooks me. With this book we get the story of Miriam Zehr and Albert (Junior) Beiler. Miriam longs to have a family of her own. Thing is she feels like the only way she will ever find a special someone is to leave Sugarcreek. When Junior Beiler seeks her out she is thrilled could it be that finally someone is interested in her?<br /><br />Such a delightful beginning to a promising new series. I loved these characters, and I found Miriam so easy to connect with. Who doesn't have problems with self image, and it's wonderful to see Amish portrayed as real people with real issues. Often writers create Amish characters that seem to perfect, but Ms. Gray always makes me feel like I could be reading about anyone, Amish or English because of the realism of her characters. I couldn't help but be drawn in wondering whether Miriam would ever find love, if Junior would realize what was right within his grasp. Plenty of secondary characters keeps the plot zipping along, making for a quick yet satisfying read! Hopeful is perfect for Amish fans, but anyone looking for a great read that just happens to be about the Amish will find Ms. Gray's writing easy to connect with, written with depth, but also a touching tenderness and there is a bit of mystery as well. Hopeful leaves me anxious to read the next book in the Return to Sugarcreek Series!", "timestamp": 1391708358000, "title": "I'm hooked on this new series" }, { "asin": "0800722264", "rating": 4, "text": "Melody Carlson is one of my favorite author's and My Amish Boyfriend is a real example of why she has achieved that position in my heart. She has the uncanny ability to produce a page turning read that also provides plenty of life lessons woven in. With My Amish Boyfriend we meet sixteen year old Shannon McNamara who thinks that she has her summer all planned, but when she arrives home from school her friendly neighbor who has been helping out with her sick mother informs her that she has been in contact with her mother's family in Ohio and plans are in place for them to go there. So instead of spending the summer in Indiana she finds her world turned upside down when they head to Ohio to meet family that she never new about. What adventures and life lessons are in store for Shannon? Pick up My Amish Boyfriend and find out!<br /><br />Ms. Carlson deals with several very real issues in this story, Shannon is living in a single parent home after the death of her father. Her mom worked full time until she got sick, and she really doesn't seem to be getting any better. Learning about a family that you never knew about is one thing but learning to deal with them on a daily basis is quite another, especially when they are Amish. I really liked the character of Shannon,and truly felt like her character developed well, except for the relationship that developed between her and Ezra. It felt rushed, I do get that she is sixteen and they during that age they fall in love at the drop of a hat, but it really felt rushed, and I was a bit surprised at Ezra as well. Overall, I liked the story, and enjoyed watching Shannon grow and change, especially as she learns about her family, Ms. Carlson allowed me to feel the emotions that Shannon felt. A story about faith and family, and the fact that life isn't always easy.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1393785146000, "title": "My Amish Boyfriend" }, { "asin": "1426752792", "rating": 5, "text": "I have really enjoyed reading each book in the&#34;Quilt Of Love&#34; series. What makes them unique is that each book is written by a different author,allowing us to sample each author's writing style. One thing is a constant though through each book and that's the fact that a quilt plays a part in each story. As someone who enjoys the Needlework art of quilting that in itself really drew me to the series, but the splendid writing of each author continues to bring me back for each new book.<br /><br /> In a Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare the Native American story line and the historical time frame really made this one of my favorite books in this series! Frankie Chasing Bear is a Lakota woman living in the 1950's whose grandmother taught her the art of quilting, but more than that she shared the heritage behind the Lakota Star quilt and the importance of keeping that heritage alive for generations to come. When Frankie's husband dies she leaves Pine Ridge, South Dakota moving to Arizona hoping for a better life for her ten year old son Harold, but will life be any easier there?<br /><br />A richly woven story that really brought not only the time period to life, but allowed me to feel as if I was getting a bit of a history lesson as I read the story. I could feel the turmoil that was a part of that time. My favorite character had to be Frankie, she was a young mother like any other wanting what was best for her young son. She was such a strong, brave character, who really wanted Harold, her son to know about his heritage. The author provides more than a few twists to keep the plot moving, and one of those twists is the character of Nick, who is dealing with his own issues. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction that revolves around Native Americans will be delighted with this story, but honestly it's a great read for anyone who enjoys a story about faith, family and quilts!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1394991200000, "title": "Quilt of Love" }, { "asin": "1414389752", "rating": 5, "text": "Wyoming during the spring of 1882 is where readers will find themselves transported as they read Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman. A story where the author's descriptive writing captures the feel of the old west while providing an intricately woven story that captured my imagination from the beginning paragraphs. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen with Mariah Malone. Her father confessed on his deathbed that he had purchased the Lazy M ranch, the family home with ill gotten gold that belonged to someone else. Mariah does the right thing by writing to the man, never imagining that someone would come along to claim the ranch, but that's just what happens. Slade Donovan comes to claim what belongs to his father, intending to take over the ranch, but will he?<br /><br />The main characters of Mariah and Slade are such well written characters, and the author easily pulled me into their story, making me want the best for them. Slade was one of my favorite characters, rough on the outside, but truly a gentle man. Plenty of secondary characters propel this plot along so that it never lags. Pam Hillman is a new to me author, but I enjoyed Claiming Mariah so much that I plan on checking out her other work. Fans of historical western fiction with romance, suspense, a splash of mystery that is sprinkled with humor and a faith based message will certainly enjoy this page turning read. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1397790648000, "title": "Claiming Mariah" }, { "asin": "0764210580", "rating": 4, "text": "A Sensible Arrangement is the story of Marty Dandridge Olson, a thirty-five year old childless widow of four years whose beloved husband was gored by a longhorn bull. Try as she might time hadn't lessened the pain so she hopes that answering an ad to marry Jake Wythe, a banker who lives in Colorado who is looking for a Texas bride. Jake Wythe hadn't really been lucky in love, his wife left him for another man, and then died a few months later, as a banker for Morgan Bank the board members feel that a man of his standing needs to be married. So he decides to place an ad, and gets an answer from Marty. Will leaving Texas help Marty heal from the pain of her past? Feelings start to develop between them, but one thing is standing in the way, Jake wants to return to Texas and Marty has no desire to return.<br /><br />Truly a unique twist on what I consider the mail-order bride genre. Normally the ad is placed by a farmer looking for a bride, but in this instance it's a banker, and the couple is a bit more mature, with more life experience. Neither one is expecting love, but sometimes love comes when one least expects it! Marty was spunky, the stagecoach scene really showcased her grit and determination,she did have one major flaw though, she was sometimes a bit reckless with the truth, but the author handled that issue in a very real and spiritual way.Jake is someone who is still dealing with past hurts from loves gone wrong. The feelings that develop between them was ok, but I found the historical aspects to be just as interesting. Several secondary characters really kept the plot moving along. A Sensible Arrangement is more than just another mail order bride tale, its light on romance, but provides a bit of mystery, humor and a faith based message along with enough loose ends which makes me anxious to read the next book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1398029386000, "title": "A Unique twist on the mail order bride genre" }, { "asin": "0310730538", "rating": 5, "text": "Alone Yet Not Alone by Tracy Leininger that sweeps readers back to the autumn of 1755 where we meet the Leininger family, German Immigrants who have come to America looking for a new life. They settle in the Blue Mountains of PA that overlook Penn's Creek. The family of six consists of Ma and Pa along with Christian,John, Barbara, and Regina. Their faith in God is strong, and they are very thankful for all their good fortune, which includes living peacefully among the Indians.With the French-Indian War brewing though things change dramatically and one afternoon two Indian braves barge into the cabin and kidnap Barbara who is twelve and Regina age nine. The girls are soon separated and taken far from home, but they never give up hope that someday they will be together again!<br /><br />What an amazing story of faith and family, and what makes this book even better is that it is based on a true story. The author does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life within the pages of this story. I became swept up in the saga that the girls faced, and often wondered how or if they would ever be reunited with their mother. The author's attention to detail made the various scenes pop off the pages, I could easily envision the settings, whether it was the cabin, or an Indian village, the richness of detail allowed me to feel as if I was part of the story instead of just reading it. A great read for young and old alike, especially anyone who enjoys history. An easy to read story that is certainly reminds readers of the importance of never wavering in your faith in knowing that God is always with us even in our darkest hour.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1398829524000, "title": "Rich in historical detail" }, { "asin": "1859855865", "rating": 5, "text": "The Candle Bible Handbook brings the Old and New Testaments of the Bible to life by combining visual as well as scriptural information about all sixty-six books of the Bible.There is an outline of each book along with frequently asked questions and plenty of interesting information that allows for a very good overview of each book of the Bible there are even study questions included for further thought. I found the illustrations to be top notch enhancing the subjects. I have actually been studying the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and the illustrations and information included was invaluable to me in helping me visualize the tabernacle. There is also a list of the promises in the Bible, along with important passages, important people and big ideas that will further enhance the usefulness of this wonderful reference book. While the book is geared toward 8-12 year old group it really is a perfect companion for those of any age that want's to familiarize themselves with the major elements of the Bible. Great for home study or any teaching forum for that matter, an invaluable tool that really brings the Bible to life a perfect building block for anyone wanting to study their Bible.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1399945301000, "title": "Great for any age" }, { "asin": "0800721608", "rating": 4, "text": "Cate Kinkaid has a knack for finding a mystery, and with Death Takes a Ride it's no different. She has no idea that she was going to be a witness to a robbery and shooting and the victim just might not make it. To complicate matters Cate is hired to investigate, but here's the deal, she isn't hired to investigate the shooting, instead she is looking for the owner of a particular motorcycle. Of course things rarely are what they seem, and Cate always finds herself up to her eyeballs in a who-dun-it!<br /><br />I always enjoy a good mystery and this series has certainly provided that. My only complaint was that I figured out the ending early, which was sort of a bummer. That said, I always enjoy the humor that is woven into the Cate Kinkaid Files, and I think Cate's character continues to get stronger with each installment. I love whenever animals are woven into a story and with this one we have a cat and dog! Overall this book is a good clean mystery that isn't so hard to solve, but still is well worth reading for anyone who loves a cozy mystery.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1406169950000, "title": "Death Takes A Ride" }, { "asin": "0800723562", "rating": 5, "text": "As an animal lover, especially dogs there was no way that I could look at this cover and not read the book! Henry is one of those dogs that just loves life, and well also one who seems to find his way into various situations that are often laugh out loud funny, and truly capture the essence of what it truly means to be owned by your dog. Such an easy to relate to story, this book had me reminiscing about my own canines and the puppy stage that caused more than a few mishaps in my own home. The author has a certain way with describing the antics of Henry that I could honestly visualize his various escapades! Anyone who has ever owned a dog will find this a must read, but honestly if you enjoy laughing out loud while reading you are certainly going to want to read Surviving Henry!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1408327687000, "title": "Laugh out loud funny read!" }, { "asin": "0800722884", "rating": 5, "text": "The one book in the Bible I always turn to whenever I need a little comfort is the book of Psalms so I was excited to find a book of devotions based on the book. In today's world it seems there are plenty of hard days, whether you're a stay at home mother or work outside the home. From the bad news that one is bombarded with daily on the evening news or trying to juggle the never ending list that I always seem to need to do , there are plenty of hard days to muddle thru. What Your Heart Needs for the Hard Days not only encourages, but also speaks to the heart providing a needed boost while also reminding that we are never alone! First I want to say I love the size, I would consider it a pocket book, one that will easily slip into a purse or briefcase. The bright cheerful colors used on the cover captures the eye making me want to explore what is inside. Each devotion starts with a scripture from the book of Psalms, then an devotion which touches on different issues that are easy to relate to, It wraps up with a prayer and a place for writing the users own thoughts, something that I find very useful. I love that there is a table of contents so that I can skip to the devotion that I feel I might need to read for the day. Whether you have time to do this as a daily or weekly devotional is up to you, but if you need encouragement and uplifting your going to find it within the pages of this cute little book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1410226203000, "title": "Lovely little devotional for the hard days" }, { "asin": "0800722094", "rating": 5, "text": "Suspense filled, page turning are just a few words that I would use to describe Nowhere To Turn by Lynette Eason.<br />When your married to an abusive husband the only thing to do is leave, but the danger is ramped up when your abusive husband is an FBI agent. When Danielle's husband is shot and killed you would think the worries would be over but honestly they just begin because her husband was into some shady business and now the people he dealt with wants something her husband had, and they are after her to get it!<br /><br />I think my favorite character in this one had to be eleven year old Simon. He was truly a brave young man, and my heart really went out to him. There are so many twists and turns with this story I found myself thinking I knew something only to be taken in the opposite direction. Ms. Eason has become one of my favorite authors because she is able to weave suspense, tension, mystery and drama together with romance to create a very well blended story that provides a plot that doesn't stop.The added bonus is that they are always good clean reads. While this is the second book in the Hidden Identity series it can be read as a stand alone work.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1411353727000, "title": "Edge of your seat page turner" }, { "asin": "0781409179", "rating": 5, "text": "The bright, colorful cover will certainly draw youngsters to this book, but it is the rhyming Bible stories,along with the stunning illustrations inside that are going to hold their attention as they learn about several of the most popular Bible stories. A compilation of twenty Bible stories that will certainly allow your youngster to learn about some of the Bibles most popular characters in rhyming story. I love that the author provides the location in the Bible for the scripture that each story is based on. A few of the stories include Adam and Eve, the story of Queen Esther, and Jonah and the Whale. While I did find a couple of discrepancies within the stories overall the author holds pretty true to the Bible. Overall I think Treasury of Bible Stories is a wonderful addition to any youngsters library, and would also work well for homeschooling or to use in Sunday School. A book that will certainly become a favorite with youth 4 thru 8, and I can easily imagine that even nine and ten year olds might want to read this one themselves. I found it a delightful read that would be perfect for gift giving.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1411955643000, "title": "Eye catching illustrations and rhyming verse make this one a winner" }, { "asin": "0825442052", "rating": 4, "text": "Youngsters are certainly going to enjoy guessing who as they embark on an adventure with Noah as he gatherers animals for the ark. This sturdy little board book is filled with colorful illustrations that will capture the eye and imagination as well. The rhyming story, which is written in easy to read words just might encourage your youngster to try and read along. The rhyming prose with an interactive question will get youngsters to try and guess just what animal is hiding behind the flap.Glossy pages allow for wiping off if something is spilled, the pages are sturdy and the flaps seem to stay in place when they are folded back up. A perfect little gift that surely will become a favorite, the book is geared toward 2-4 year olds and I would say that age range is pretty accurate. Overall a sturdy little storybook that shares the simplistic story that reveals a few of the animals that Noah had on the ark. One that will certainly keep a youngster entertained as they try and Guess Who is on Noah's Boat.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1414808003000, "title": "Guessing who can be lots of fun" }, { "asin": "B00KDN87CW", "rating": 5, "text": "Melody Carlson is one of my favorite authors because her writing covers such a wide variety of genres! With Trading Secrets we get the story of pen pals Micah Knight and Zack Miller, who just happens to be Amish. Thing is Micah is a girl but she never told Zack that, even though they have been sharing letters for several years. Now Micah has a chance to visit Zack on his Amish farm but how is he going to feel when he finds out that his pen pal is actually a female. .<br /><br />There were so many things that I enjoyed about this book.I can remember when I was assigned a pen pal and I think I was probably in the fifth or sixth grade,my pen pal was from England and his name was Adrian, funny story was that my teacher originally thought Adrian was a girl. Anyway back to Trading Secrets. I liked the setting of Ohio for the story, even though that's pretty typical for Amish fiction. It was the plan that Micah came up with that really got me interested, I couldn't help but wonder how she would pull it off, or even if she could. It was great that the storyline revolved around friendship, and how being honest is important. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and would love to see Ms. Carlson turn into a series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1417391561000, "title": "Another great story from Melody Carlson" }, { "asin": "0800722485", "rating": 5, "text": "At Home In Last Chance is the third book in the Place To Call Home a Series by Cathleen Armstrong. This installment pulls readers right back to Last Chance, New Mexico and tells the story of Kaitlyn Reed and Steven Braden. Kaitlyn has made plenty of mistakes in her life, and hopes to change a few when she returns to Last Chance. Steve also has a few things to prove to his family. When a relationship begins to develop between them will their past get in the way or will their hearts finally find a place to call home?<br /><br />I love the town of Last Chance and was drawn right back into the town and the lives of the characters. i have to admit I really didn't like the character of Kaitlyn in the previous book so I wasn't sure if I would enjoy her story. Well let me say the author totally changed my mind about the character and had me empathizing with her. I loved watching her character grow and change becoming who she needed to be. There is a sense of realism with this entire series that makes it very easy to relate too. I really enjoyed revisiting some of the characters from the previous books but honestly think that this book could be read without having read the other books because the author provides enough background information which allows the reader to connect with the town and characters. An emotionally charged story that grabbed my emotions and made me feel like I was reading about friends.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1422979298000, "title": "Great Series" }, { "asin": "0529103419", "rating": 4, "text": "While everyone around Sarah Montgomery is celebrating the end of the Civil War she finds her heart is broken, longing for Rand Campbell the man who never made it home. Ben Croftner has been coming to call for the past five months and while she knows she will never love him, her family wants her to marry him. Her father is very ill and wants her to take her younger brother and be settled with Ben, her brother Wade just wants to acquire land! Thing is Rand isn't dead, and when Sarah finds out she calls off her wedding, but Ben isn't easily thwarted and decides to take matters into his own hands. Can Sarah and Rand find their way back to each other, and what evilness will Ben try to accomplish in order to keep Sarah for his own?<br /><br />A Heart's Disguise easily pulled me in and wouldn't let go! A short read at only 90 pages there is plenty of life packed into so few pages! It was so easy to imagine Sarah Montgomery and the situation she was placed in. Heartbroken over losing the love of her life she only wanted to ease the mind of her father and appease her brother by marrying someone she didn't love, it seemed though that fate had another idea. Ms. Coble captures the time period right after the war where families were forced to go on even though they were grieving the loss of unreturned loved ones,but we also glimpse the time of celebration that the war was over!This short installment did what it set out to do, it left me wanting more of the story! Of course a sneak peek for A Heart's Obsession the next installment in the Journey of the Heart Series is included at the end. This series of books is taken from the previously published Wyoming Series. Overall fans of historical fiction that takes place right after the civil war will enjoy A Heart's Disguise, but honestly anyone who enjoys a story that blends faith, family and longing should also check it out!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1426467202000, "title": "The waiting for the next installment is the hardest part!" }, { "asin": "1938499867", "rating": 5, "text": "God, Me, And Sweet Iced Tea is like a refreshing sip of peace and tranquility in a sea of the turmoil that one often finds with everyday life. Rose Chandler provides just the right amount of content for her daily readings so that one can read them in just a few minutes but I guarantee you the uplifting messages will resonate with you through out the day. There are fifty-three devotions that share the authors successes but also her struggles, which is something that makes this a very easy devotional book to connect with. The author's faith is evident in each of her devotions, she shares her not only her love for God but also her ability to turn to him in for whatever she needs! Anyone looking for a way to reconnect with God, or perhaps just needing an uplifting way to start their day will certainly find that along with a sweet sense of peace and inspiration as they traverse the pages of God, Me and Sweet Iced Tea.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1430267146000, "title": "A sweet sip of inspiration" }, { "asin": "0718031652", "rating": 5, "text": "A Heart's Obsession is the second installment of The Journey of the Heart series and while a short read really packs plenty of story into a few pages. With this one Rand has headed out west and Sarah soon follows him, but when she arrives things aren't the same between her and Rand. With plenty of action and a non stop plot that really speeds by at a break neck pace this book is one that I just couldn't put down once I started reading it. Ms. Coble makes me feel as if I have stepped right into the lives of the characters, with descriptive writing the setting as well as the characters really come to life. If I had one complaint it's that when I reached the end I was left wanting more! Historical fiction fans especially fans of the time period right after the civil war when the west was becoming settled will find these books hard to put down. While the author provided enough background information with this one that one could probably read it as a stand alone I highly recommend reading the series in order to really get an in depth understanding of the relationships between the characters. Truly a book that leaves me anxiously anticipating the next installment in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1430268731000, "title": "Historical fiction fans will enjoy this series" }, { "asin": "0307731332", "rating": 5, "text": "Family secrets are something that will eventually find their way to light and with this series there are plenty of secrets! With this story Alexa has opened her bed and breakfast in her grandmother's former home, Of course starting a new business is filled with worries so when a young reporter wants to stay at the B and B for a long term stay she readily agrees, but if she knew what his assignment is would she have chosen to do so. With plenty of secrets and more than a few twists this story zooms along making it hard to put down. While the story is told from several points of view Ms. Sawyer transitions smoothly allowing for wonderful clarity . The characters are very well fleshed and easy to connect with. She has a wonderful way of blending faith into the mix of feelings allowing me to totally understand the struggles the characters face. While there are several unanswered questions When Grace Sings is a satisfying read that leaves me longing for the next book in the series!<br />After reading the first book in The Zimmerman Restoration Series I couldn't wait to start this one. This book continues right where the last one left off, saying that though I felt like the author provided enough background information that this one could be read without reading the first book in the series, although I highly recommend it as well. Anyone who enjoys family controversy where secrets abound, faith and a down to earth story where the characters really jump from the pages will enjoy When Grace Sings!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1432264520000, "title": "When Grace Sings" }, { "asin": "0529102781", "rating": 5, "text": "Reading anything by Kathleen Fuller is a guaranteed good read. She has a knack for creating easy to care for characters and as a fan of Amish fiction I feel like she is a top notch writer in the genre. I find it handy that she always provides a glossary for German words used within the story. A solidly written plot that easily pulled me in made this a very enjoyable book to read. Jeremiah Mullet left his Amish community to full fill his dream of becoming a vet, but now he has come back to fill for the vet who ultimately helped him out while he needs to recover from a broken leg. Of course in the process he reconnects with old friends. Anna Mae is one of those friends, she has actually been grappling with what to do with her life for the last several years, of course her mother thinks she should settle down and marry, but she isn't sure what course she wants to take for her life. As she reconnects with Jeremiah one can't help but wonder where the relationship might lead. What is in store for them, he is no longer Amish, so a romantic relationship is out of the question isn't it? What does God have in store for them?<br />This was a solidly written story allowing the pages to fly by. There is another couple in the story that also held my interest. Even though this book is part of a series it really can be read as a stand alone story. Fans of Amish fiction will be thrilled with A Faith Of Her Own, but honestly anyone who enjoys a faith based read with solidly written characters and a sweetly progressing story should give this one a try as well!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1432775145000, "title": "A Faith Of Her Own" }, { "asin": "0718031660", "rating": 5, "text": "I love this series and have been discussing it with a friend of mine and she totally agrees the only dislike is waiting for the next installment of the book, but anticipating what might come next makes it well worth the wait! Truthfully though I actually read the novel Where Leads The Heart the full length novel that this serial story are reprinted from. The saga between Rand and Sarah continue. It's obvious that Rand still loves Sarah but his fiancee is determined to marry him. Plenty of twists provide keep this story moving on at a brisk pace making for a quick historical read that really does leave the reader wanting more! Anyone who enjoys good clean historical fiction where the ending really isn't assured will certainly enjoy this entire series, and speaking of which The Journey of the Heart series should be read in order to understand the complexities of the characters. I really can't wait to read A Heart's Betrayal the next book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1433078037000, "title": "Short historical read" }, { "asin": "0310335884", "rating": 5, "text": "Aaron Ebersol is sort of like the prodigal son returned, you see he left the community of Paradise, Pa years earlier and really didn't keep in close contact with his family, even though his family tried. Now though his mother is sick and he goes home to be with her, thing is he isn't sure how he feels about being back, and more than that how he fits in now. He decides to stay at the Heart of Paradise B&B and soon finds himself developing feelings for Linda Zook. Can their growing friendship become more, can they forgive those that hurt them, but more than that can they forgive themselves?<br /><br />Amy Clipston creates in depth characters who face very real problems within the pages of A Simple Prayer. Those characters are paired together with a well written, easy to follow plot that isn't easy to put down.The conflicts within the story really kept me reading to find out what would ultimately happen.<br />I really enjoy reading Amy Clipston's work but somehow missed a couple of books in the Hearts Of The Lancaster Grand Hotel series but honestly this book is a great stand alone read because the author provides enough background information about the reoccurring characters that I immediately understood who they were. With that said I really hope to go back and read book two and three in the series! Fans of Amish fiction are going to love this story, but anyone looking for a well written story filled with well fleshed characters along with real life issues should give this book a try I really don't think you will be disappointed.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1434131253000, "title": "Great characters make this a stand out read" }, { "asin": "0529103435", "rating": 5, "text": "I have really enjoyed reading this series, and I think that this book A Heart's Betrayal just might be my favorite so far! When Emmie's husband is killed in an accident to say she is devastated is an understatement, but it's the life he never told her about that really shocks her to the core. She decides the only thing to do is to head west to join up with Sarah and Rand, knowing that she will never trust her heart to another again. It doesn't take long though for a kind soldier to begin to breach her defenses. Will she find the new life she is hoping for, and what sort of life will it be?<br /><br />Ms. Coble packs more than a few shocking twists within the pages of A Heart's Betrayal. Emmie's character is easy to relate to, and I couldn't imagine what life might throw at her next! I was rooting for Emmie to find some sort of happiness but couldn't help but wonder about the secret that she carried about her marriage,whether or not it would keep her from finding happiness. The ending leaves me quite anxious to read the next installment in the series! A page turning historical fiction read, that provides easy to like characters and a solid plot that moves along at a quick pace. I do recommend that this series be read in order to fully understand the backgrounds of the characters.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1435548684000, "title": "Quick read that leaves me wanting more!" }, { "asin": "140168596X", "rating": 5, "text": "Her Brother's Keeper by Beth Wiseman is the first book in Ms. Wiseman's newest series Amish Secrets, and judging by this book it's going to be one of her best series yet! Charlotte Dolinsky is an Englisher from Texas who is hurting over the loss of her brother Ethan. You see Ethan went to Pennsylvania to work in construction and then decided to convert to the Amish faith, and was even actually engaged to be married to Hannah King. Why then would he commit suicide? That's what Charlotte wants to know and so she devises a scheme where she disguises herself as a distant Amish cousin of the King family and heads to Pennsylvania to find the answers she is looking for. She is welcomed into the family and even becomes friends with Hannah, but will they continue to be her friend if they find out who she really is? What about her brother's death, what will she learn about his death?<br /><br />Her Brother's Keeper deals with a few tough subjects such as depression, child abuse and suicide, but does so in such a way that instead of feeling overwhelming and depressing it left me feeling inspired and uplifted as the story unfolded, especially as Charlotte began to find her way. Speaking of Charlotte it was fun to watch her become &#34;Mary&#34; because it was very realistic as well as humorous.I really liked the suspense/mystery of the story and found myself wondering just what happened to Ethan. Her Brother's Keeper drew me in from the beginning pages and made me feel like I had stepped into the life of these characters but that's what I have come to expect when I pick up a book by Beth Wiseman.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438035762000, "title": "First book in a new Amish series" }, { "asin": "0718031687", "rating": 4, "text": "With the latest installment of Journey of the Heart Emmie Croftner pushes Isaac Liddle away sacrificing her heart and feelings in order to keep her secret, thing is Isaac isn't about to give up that easily. On top of that Emmie makes a promise to a dear friend that my require that she marry another. Is there any hope that she and Isaac will ever have a future together?<br />I have certainly enjoyed each book in this series, so much so that I actually went back and read the books (The Wyoming Series) that this little series was taken from, because I was impatient to know the whole story. In my observation though I felt like the Journey of the Heart series was more polished, and by that I mean unnecessary descriptions and repetitive words were taken out. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction should give this mini series a chance, I will say that the books do have to be read in order to fully understand the characters. While parts of the story are a tad predictable that doesn't keep me from looking forward to the final book in the series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438307576000, "title": "Quick easy read" }, { "asin": "0764211706", "rating": 5, "text": "I became hooked on the Unexpected Bride series by Melissa Jagears after reading the first book in the series. There is something about a mail order bride story that just draws me in and Ms. Jagears provides just the right blending of drama, romance along with a great historical setting that really makes for a page turning read with a few twists that held my attention from the first page to the last. The characters in this story really come to life, allowing me not only connect but actually care about how their story would work out. I felt like that characters stories were a bit unique compared to other mail order bride stories I have read because they have both tried and failed with the mail order bride situation before. While A Bride at Last is the third book in the series it can easily be read as a stand alone work, actually I somehow missed the second book but that didn't stop me from being drawn in by this story. Anyone who enjoys a fast paced story with more than a few inspirational messages along with a sweetness that will draw you in and have you hoping for the best for the characters will enjoy this story, and if your a fan of the mail order bride genre like me then a Bride At Last will be a must read for you, I will caution once you start reading it you just might not be able to put it down.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438648764000, "title": "Held my attention from beginning to end !" }, { "asin": "1401690513", "rating": 4, "text": "Great characters and a fun, page turning read is what I found within the pages of Counting on a Cowboy. I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions with this story, but there were some poignant moments as well. While Ms. Clopton deals with a few tough issues, with the issue of Alzheimer's really being one that I could relate to, thing is she knows just when to provide a bit of humor to lighten the story. The characters were easy to relate to which pulled me right into the story.<br />If your looking for a good clean cowboy read that is more than just a sweet romance then Counting on a Cowboy by Debra Clopton just might fit the bill! While this book is part of the Four of Hearts Ranch Romance series it can easily be read as a stand alone work. Although the characters and setting has me thinking that I need to read the first book in the series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review", "timestamp": 1441673159000, "title": "Sweet read" }, { "asin": "1601426992", "rating": 4, "text": "always look forward to starting a new Amish series, especially when the author is Cindy Woodsmall, and with Ties That Bind we begin the Amish of Summer Grove Series. Ariana Brenneman grew up in the Old Order Amish and has always been quite content, sure she aspires to open a bakery in the town of Summer Grove, that is if she can get the money together to do it, but that's so she can help out with her family. It had been five years since Quill Schlabach had left the Amish community with a teen girl, and if truth be told Ariana hadn't really ever gotten over it, and now he is back, but can they rebuild their friendship? Thing is Quill has always had feelings for Ariana, but he also knows something that would change her life forever and he wants to help her any way he can even if only she will let him.<br /><br />I found myself struggling to get involved in this book and I think the reason might have been because there were so many characters and their stories to learn,that I felt like I was getting bounced back and forth to much. As the book progressed though I found myself being drawn into the story line. There was a few plot twists that provided just the right amount of ummph to make me want to read on and I am glad that I did! Overall, I didn't connect to this book right away but I am glad that I continued to read, because I have become hooked and can't wait to read the next book in the series!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1443990136000, "title": "Slow start but the story picked up for me" }, { "asin": "1617955876", "rating": 4, "text": "Katie Vale has just traveled half way across the country with her boyfriend to spend Christmas with his family. Within minutes of arriving, in front of all of his family he pops the question! Her answer isn't was what expected though, which might make for an uncomfortable Christmas. Why did she say no, and how can she stay for Christmas with his family now? Well she does, and the lessons she learns will change the way she thinks about family.<br /><br />A fast paced, heart touching story that pulled me right into t he midst of the Bender family. It was interesting to see the story unfold through the eyes of Katie, who really hasn't experienced a family like the Benders before. The characters in the family really propelled this novel along at break neck speed, never once did the plot lag, instead it moved along so fast that I found myself rereading some things just to catch what the author was trying to convey. I wondered from the beginning how life would work out for the main characters. The author begins the book with the marriage proposal and then takes the reader back to allow us to see what transpired, giving the story of the characters, making it easy to understand why Katie gave the answer she did. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen with Katie and Micah, and really felt like her staying with the family would be awkward, bu instead it made for a great story. My first Christmas read for the season, and I have to say it was a quick easy read that touches on faith, family relationships, love, loss and forgiveness. While there are a few poignant moments, there is enough humor to make you laugh, which helps to keep the story light. Well developed characters and a page turning, fast paced plot who could ask for anything more!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1445183799000, "title": "An Endless Christmas" }, { "asin": "0824956478", "rating": 5, "text": "I love finding books that teach valuable lessons and The Sparkle Box does that and more. Not only will the story teach youngsters about the true meaning of Christmas, it just might encourage parents to start a new Christmas tradition with their children. This story really shares what the true meaning of Christmas is, and imparts the wonderful feeling we get when we do for others. The beautiful illustrations really bring the story to life, and The Sparkle Box on the cover is eye catching. Overall this book would make a wonderful gift, I can see it becoming a family tradition.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1449376117000, "title": "The real meaning of Christmas" }, { "asin": "0764211412", "rating": 5, "text": "I love historical romance and when there is humor woven into the plot well it makes the story even better! At Love's Bidding by Regina Jennings is an easy to slip into read that easily transported me into the heart of the story, and the characters. It was easy to connect with Miranda and the way that she handles the issues that her grandfather is facing was fantastic, she was so respectful and loving even when he made mistakes. Miranda was an easy to like character and the relationship that develops between her and Wyatt while a bit predictable was still enjoyable. Interesting characters and a small town setting that allowed me read about something new to me, which was an auction house made this book a quick read. Anyone who enjoys humor with their historical romance along with a faith based message will certainly enjoy reading this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1451874046000, "title": "Fast paced" }, { "asin": "031033344X", "rating": 4, "text": "Ashley Tolliver is continuing the tradition of midwifery, something that the women in her family have been practicing for several generations. She has always hoped to go back to medical school but for now her patients need her in this tiny Appalachian community where plenty of the new mothers are single and life can sometimes be messy. Births aren't always easy and one night while a teen mother is giving birth at Ashley's clinic she starts bleeding and needs medical care, but when she disappears with the baby Ashley can't help but wonder if the mother and baby survived and where they went. Hunter McDermott want's to find his birth mother which allows his life to intersect with Ashley in the hopes that she can help him figure out who his mother might be.<br /><br />There are two mysteries going on within the pages of this story, which makes for an interesting read, but honestly there are so many things that held my attention with this book. The setting of the Appalachian mountains was easy to imagine, from the rich descriptions one can easily imagine the people and places.Brooks Ridge is unique and the characters really seem real and their life situations really grab you. The mystery and suspense are make this a good story, but for me it's the characters and setting that kept me reading. I found myself thinking about a few of them long after I finished the final page.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1454282426000, "title": "Captivating read" } ]

[ { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 5, "text": "In this debut novel by Cara Lynn James we are transported back in time to 1899. Back during the day to reach the age of 25 and to be unwed could quickly get you labeled an old maid.<br />Miss Lillian Westbrook finds herself in such a position, she is engaged but has never been married, and to top it off she has been writing dime novels under the pen name of Fannie Cole. To be a female and work and earn your own money just wasn't acceptable so she keeps it hidden from her family and friends.<br />When Jackson Grail, a former boyfriend purchases the publishing house that has been publishing Fanny Cole's novels and then becomes determined to find out just who Fannie is. Lilly has to make some choices to protect her family. Will she be able to keep her identity hidden? Will Jackson and Lilly finally get together?<br />I love reading historical fiction and this book didn't disappoint. Cara Lynn James does a great job of grabbing the readers attention and then keeps the story going at a fast pace. I look forward to reading the next in the Ladies of Summerhill novels.", "timestamp": 1276837436000, "title": "Love On a Dime" }, { "asin": "1404187804", "rating": 5, "text": "The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews is a pint sized gift book that packs a wallop of a message.<br />This book will take you no longer than 10 minutes to read, and is very eye appealing with its beautiful pictures and large font.<br />The resounding message is every single thing we do matters. That the cause and effect of the decisions we make do make a difference.<br />Mr. Andrews starts out by telling us the story of Joshua Chamberlain a Colonel in the Union Army, and how the decisions that Mr. Chamberlain made was like a ripple effect on the US, shaping the countries future.<br />This is a great little motivational read that would be a great gift for anyone who might be suffering from self esteem issues or anyone who you think needs to be reminded that Yes They Do Matter.<br />I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1283859316000, "title": "The Butterfly Effect" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "We only have one chance to live this life and we choose how to live it. Do we stick our heads in the sand and think that everything is ok or do we wake up and realize that as Christians we have the responsibility to make life better for others if we can?<br />This book quotes some staggering numbers, the number of poor, and hungry is something that's hard to imagine. Mr Lucado's book gives us a wake up call as to what we can do to make a change.<br />You don't have to be rich or even well off, instead of focusing on what you don't have to give, focus on what you can give. It's that average Joe that makes a difference, the little things that add up.<br />I really enjoyed his use of scripture throughout this book and liked how he started each chapter with a scripture verse and ended the chapters with another scripture and a prayer.<br />This is a very simply written book that can change your way of thinking, its very inspiring a book that you wont be able to put down and will continue to think about long after you finish it.<br />A very timely message that we all need to read, I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1284121246000, "title": "Outlive Your Life" }, { "asin": "1595540091", "rating": 4, "text": "The year is 1772, and Toma Nicolescu and his friend Alec Cardei have seen their fair share of battles while serving the empress of Russia, Catherine the Great. So when they are dispatched to Moldavia to protect the Cantemir family, a very influential family in Moldavia, until the empress could appoint a ruler for that country who would be loyal to Catherine the Great, they think it will be an easy job.<br />The Cantemir family consisted of Kesia and her twin daughters Lucine and Natasha. Both girls had been taught by their mothers to live as free spirits and basically do whatever felt good, but an unplanned pregnancy and the loss of a baby when Lucine was seventeen had sort of tempered her ways, but not Natasha, she basically is always looking for a good time. Alec known as a ladies man was immediately lusting after Natasha, and while Toma was warned by the empress not to become romantically involved,becomes drawn to Lucine, but keeps his feelings at bay until he feels that Lucine is being threatened by Vlad Van Valerik.<br />When Toma realizes is that Vlad and his entourage aren't what they seem, he knows he will do whatever it takes to save the woman he loves, no matter the cost.<br />I found this book to be very thought provoking, where the characters feelings are so real that you can feel the anguish that Toma felt as well as the evil emitting from Vlad. I really enjoyed how Mr. Dekker tied Vlad's history to the book of Genesis, I only wish he would have traced his history to Lilith instead of the Nephilim.<br />This isn't a clear cut christian novel but instead has so many more elements, it has that horror story element of blood drinking vampires, but it also reminds us of God's unconditional love for us, and how it took the blood of our Savior to save us all!<br /><br />An amazing read, that I won't soon forget.<br /><br />This is my first opportunity to read anything written by Mr. Dekker and I am now his newest fan!", "timestamp": 1284517251000, "title": "Not your typical vampire story!" }, { "asin": "0800733703", "rating": 5, "text": "Don't look Back by Lynette Eason was an edge of your seat thrill ride from beginning to end! A book filled with suspense, romance and a chilling storyline that grabs you and wont let go!<br /><br />Jamie Cash was the only person to survive the kidnapping and torture of the \"Hero\" a serial killer that she escaped from twelve years ago, with extensive therapy she is finally getting her life back on track, but when the \"Hero\" returns to finish the job he started, can FBI agent Dakota Richard protect her from this evil killer?<br /><br />I enjoyed seeing Jamie Cash's faith and trust in God even though she is facing circumstances that might test even the strongest faith, she instead finds solace in her faith giving her problems to God in prayer, actually I felt like it was her faith that kept her strong. Her character came off as very realistic, we saw true emotion from her such as anger and fear, feelings that I thought were perfectly normal for someone experiencing the horror she lived thru, and knowing she might wind up in the Hero's clutches again.<br /><br />FBI agent Dakota Richard is such a sweet guy, he really cared for Jamie, I loved watching their relationship blossom, and Jamie slowly finding comfort in him.He was determined to keep Jamie safe no matter what but could he really protect her?<br /><br />Even though this is the second story in the Women of Justice series it can easily be read as a stand alone work. So if your looking for a page turning drama with an evil killer who likes to get inside his victims heads, along with enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat, and read how someones faith can help them thru even the worst of times, with a sweet romance woven in, then you must read this book! But a word of warning once you start reading you wont be able to put this one down!<br /><br />Available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.\"<br /><br />Even though I was provided a review copy by Revell, thanks Donna, it in no way alters my opinion of this book!", "timestamp": 1287465039000, "title": "An on the edge of your seat story!!!" }, { "asin": "0307458997", "rating": 5, "text": "A lovely novella with a beautiful cover,a new to me author Donita K. Paul writes a charming story that will definitely put you in the holiday spirit.<br /><br />When Cora Crowder finds herself needing a book for an uncle's Christmas gift she heads into the Warner,Werner, Wizbotterdad book store. She has no idea that she will wind up on the receiving end of the stores matchmaking scheme to throw her and her boss Simon together.<br /><br />I loved this book, it had the right balance of romance, fantasy along with a great underlying spiritual message. The characters were fabulous, and I loved the cat.<br /><br />A delightful Christmas romance that will get you in the holiday spirit,and would be great read anytime of the year. I highly recommend this wonderful book!", "timestamp": 1287852118000, "title": "A Charming Story" }, { "asin": "0764208659", "rating": 3, "text": "I wasn't sure what to expect when this book first arrived for me to review. I had never heard of TobyMac before, I think he is popular among the younger audience, but I soon realized that each section in this book is named after a song that he released sometime earlier this year.<br /><br /> Each section consists of short stories, of how God has used people to change the world, some of the stories I had heard before and some were new to me. You will also find prayers and scriptures peppered through out this book that will further inspire and uplift you. Each section ends with a one minute remix and also a call to action prayer.<br /><br />This books resounding message is \"If we gotta start sometime, why not start now.\"If only we are willing to step out of our comfort zone and unite that we can make a difference and change the world.<br /><br />In the right hands this book could be life changing, I think it would be great especially for youth pastors, I think it would be useful in reaching the younger audience, with its hip look and the fact that TobyMac is someone that teens listen to. Overall I think anyone would enjoy reading these inspirational stories!<br /><br />Even though I was provided a copy of this book for review by Bethany House it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1288561993000, "title": "City On Our Knees" }, { "asin": "0800719255", "rating": 5, "text": "I must say that I am guilty of judging a book by its cover, when I saw the cover for Christmas at Harrington's I immediately felt like it was going to be an amazing Christmas story, on the cover you find yourself on a street of any small town in the USA, you have a smiling lady, dressed in a red coat peering into a store window with a display of a Christmas tree and toys snowflakes falling all around her, its just beautiful and depicts the holiday season perfectly.<br />In this story we are introduced to Lena Markham,its less than four weeks till Christmas and she has just been released from prison after serving and eight year sentence for a crime she didn't commit, she was set up by her husband to take the fall for something he did. She decides she wants a fresh start in a new town, so a social worker puts together a release package for her, finding a town to locate her to, setting her up with a place to live and a temporary job, and a bus trip to get her to get her there, while on the bus she meets an elderly lady, Moira who befriends her,telling Lena that she knows despite whatever happened in her past she is sure Lena is a good person. Once they get off the bus together in New Haven, MN she is introduced to Moira's son Sam, who is a lawyer. She soon realizes that the job that she anticipated isn't there, and the only job available is playing Mrs. Santa.<br />Can Lena find the new start in this town she hopes for, and can she keep her past a secret, and what about Sam, how does he play into all of this, you need to read this heartwarming story of second chances to find out!<br />While the story that unfolded inside the pages of this book wasn't exactly what I anticipated , it is exactly what the holiday season is all about, a perfect Christmas read filled with hope, inspiration and second chances.<br /><br />Even though I was provided a review copy of this book by Revell Publishing it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1289716420000, "title": "Christmas At Harrington's" }, { "asin": "1609360257", "rating": 4, "text": "World War II is just coming to an end but the war that is going on inside Esther Lange is unending!<br />She can't forgive herself for the night of passion she shared with Linus Hahn in the backseat of a borrowed car, they were both headed overseas to war, and it just happened. When that night turns into a daughter for them Esther is released from the Red Cross with no place to go. So she writes Linus, and his reply is for her to go to his hometown and stay with his parents, and that's what she has been doing for the last two years, living in their attic, raising her daughter and working at a hospital taking care of the war wounded.<br />Living with Linus' parents isn't easy, they are very hardened, feeling like she trapped their son. When she receives a letter indicating that Linus may have been killed in action, she isn't sure what to believe, but one thing she knows for sure is that she is relieved, she won't have to marry a man she doesn't love,and barely even knows. She really believes that she was no more than a one night stand for Linus as well, and it soon comes to light that Linus had a longstanding girlfriend who works in the same hospital as Esther,and she threatens to make Esther pay for stealing Linus away from her!<br />Since there has been no other information about Linus she starts corresponding with Peter Hess the medic who sent her the information about Linus. Soon they develop a friendship, and it starts to develop into something more, but when Peter's secret is exposed can they overcome it, and will Esther ever forgive herself for the mistake she made?<br />This was an amazing story, just when you thought things were working out the author throws a monkey wrench into it that take it in the opposite direction. The feelings are so strongly written in this book, that you are easily transported back to war time America. You can also feel the turmoil going on inside Esther, she judges herself so harshly for the mistake she made that night and is unwilling to see that she has already been forgiven by God, she just needs to accept it! Peter's story was one I kept thinking of long after I finished reading it, he was such a kind person, a victim of circumstances really, but he always kept his faith in God.The letters that passed between Peter and Esther were such a treat to read, I enjoyed seeing their friendship blossom.<br /><br />I found this book a real joy to read, the author does an amazing job of taking a work of fiction and weaving a bit of a history lesson in. While this was my first time reading anything from Susan May Warren, it certainly won't be my last!<br /><br />Even though I was provided a copy of this book by Litfuse it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1289881365000, "title": "Nightingale" }, { "asin": "0764207326", "rating": 4, "text": "Jackie Donovan is almost thirty. All she has ever wanted was to find a wonderful man to marry, and to purchase Bailey Place a B&B. She and her best friend Minnie visited it often when they were children, they both want to own it, but widower Minnie is working two jobs to support her son and Jackie works at a magazine writing articles about local business owners. When she meets the owner of Bailey House,Erikson Davis, she soon starts hoping her dreams might finally be coming true.<br /><br />While this story was a bit slow to start for me, once it picked up I became anxious to see how things would work out. The characters are very down to earth making them very easy to relate to, although I would say some of them were offbeat! I really enjoyed how Jackie's family was always trying to fix her up.<br />The author does an amazing job of describing the setting for this book, transporting you to the small town setting.<br />An added bonus are the wonderful sounding recipes included, which I definitely will be trying out!<br />If your in the mood for a sweet, but not sappy romance, with a little humor woven in, then give this book a try! For me not a great read, but overall I enjoyed the book and will be looking for more from this author..<br /><br />rating 3.5/5<br />Book provided by Bethany House for review.", "timestamp": 1295688005000, "title": "Hatteras Girl" }, { "asin": "0800732596", "rating": 5, "text": "Elise Stortsen, has some major changes happen. Her mom has landed a new job that moves Elise into a new school district, so instead of starting her junior year in her old school, where she wasn't very popular anyway, she will be going to Garfield High. She is just about to turn sixteen and having never been kissed hopes to change that by her birthday. When Asher, a popular boy in school starts showing an interest in Elise, she wonders if he might give her that first kiss.<br />Her first day of school goes great, Asher introduces her to the in-crowd, which includes Asher's girlfriend. So when Elise gets an email from Asher, she soon finds herself caught up in something that soon puts her reputation on the line, and jeopardizes her future, but it also makes her realize what is important, and in the process strengthens her faith in God!<br />I think this book is a must read for all teen girls. It deals with some pretty heavy subjects, but these are real life problems that are facing teens today.The character of Elise was very well written. She was very down to earth and easy to relate to. I totally understood the reactions of the characters in the story, and while Stacie did something wrong, she didn't do it with malicious intent, but there were still repercussions.<br />This book moved at a brisk pace and I felt the ending wrapped up the story nicely. There is a spiritual message woven throughout the book, but it isn't preachy or overwhelming.Whether your a teen or not, this book is well worth reading!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book for review, but it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1295814869000, "title": "A great read whether your a teen or not!" }, { "asin": "0800734564", "rating": 5, "text": "When U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor get a call that his next assignment will be to protect federal judge Elizabeth Michaels he is less than happy. His best friend Doug was married to her, and from the things Doug told him before his death, the marriage was very unhappy and it was Liz's fault. Doug said she was cold hearted and only her only focus was on her job. Can he put his feelings aside and do the assignment?<br />When Liz Michael's sister is shot in the back of the head, Liz believes her sisters abusive husband is to blame. Because she is a federal judge she needs to be protected by U.S. Marshals. When she realizes Jake will be the marshal assigned to keep her safe she wonders what her husband told him about her. As she and Jake spend time together one thing is for sure Jake is starting to realize that his opinion of Liz may be wrong. Did his friend Doug lie to him?<br />When it becomes evident that Liz may have been the shooters target, can Jake keep her safe, and figure out who is out to get her?<br />There is never a dull moment in this story! It grabs you from the first pages with the tragic shooting of Liz's sister, and how Liz's life is turned upside down while she is being protected from someone who may be out to kill her. Liz is very level headed, and almost always holds herself together but there are a few instances where that facade slips. Jake's character really stood out. He goes above and beyond where his job is concerned, and is devoted to his family.<br />A fantastic first book in Irene Hannon's new Guardians of Justice series. If this book is any indicator this series is going to be great!<br />Anyone who is a fan of light romance, mystery and suspense with a bit of a christian message woven in will enjoy this book.<br /><br />I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1296024023000, "title": "Fatal Judgement" }, { "asin": "0764206710", "rating": 3, "text": "Ruth Livingstone's life is turned upside down when her father is falsely accused of murdering a prostitute. Her father gives her the deceased woman's child and sends her to a small town to stay with a family he knows. That family thinks Ruth is a former prostitute, but they allow the town to believe she is a widow, with a small child. Her only solace is tending a once abandoned garden.<br /><br />Because of a mistake two years ago Asher \"Jake\" Tripp walked away from the \"Galaxy\", the newspaper he and his brother owned, the mistake he made almost caused the business to fail, but his brother Clifford had worked hard and the paper was once again thriving. Jake wants to return to the paper.Hoping to redeem himself in the eyes of his brother, he offers to take an assignment out of town, trying to track down Ruth Livingstone, who disappeared right before her fathers trial began. When he tracks Ruth to the town she is staying in, he takes residence as Jake Spenser, a handyman recovering from a broken back.<br /><br />Ruth and Jack both have plenty of secrets, but once they meet, and share time together, love slowly blooms, will their secrets keep the two apart, or will love be able to work everything out?<br /><br />For some reason I just didn't connect with this story, it actually took several weeks for me to read. I liked the historical aspect of the book, and while the storyline was ok, it just wasn't great. I couldn't really connect with any of the characters, I kept hoping we would get more of Ruth's back story, such as whether she left friends behind, or perhaps a boyfriend, she was in her twenties so she certainly must have had a life before she went into hiding with the child. This book was my first foray into reading anything written by Delia Parr, and while it didn't sweep me away, it wont dissuade me from reading more of her work.<br /><br />rating 2.5/5", "timestamp": 1296362439000, "title": "Love's First Bloom" }, { "asin": "0800734521", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Lady In The Mist\" takes place in 1809 in Seabourne VA. The protagonist Tabitha Eckles is a twenty-four year old midwife, the thing that makes Tabitha unusual is the fact that she isn't married. She learned her midwifery skills from her mother and grandmother, and once they died she continued to help her town , even though several people felt it wasn't right because she is unmarried. When a premature birthing results in the death of the mother and baby, she finds herself threatened at knife point, who could be threatening her? Could it have something to do with Dominick Cherrett a man she literally ran into on her way home after the birthing? Or does it have something to do with her job as a midwife?<br /><br />What a fascinating story! The author draws you into the story immediately. Tabitha's character is so easy to relate to. Her relationship with God has suffered because she feels that he has taken everyone that matters away from her, but she still has a tender-heart. Dominick was an interesting character as well, working as an indentured servant for the mayor, you know he has a few secrets. As he spends time with Tabitha, he soon loses his heart to her, something he didn't plan. I enjoyed the mystery and suspense woven into this historical romance. I also loved the cover of this book, it was very eye catching, so sometimes you can judge a book by its cover!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1297996914000, "title": "Lady In The Mist" }, { "asin": "143470212X", "rating": 5, "text": "Passport Through Darkness\" isn't your typical missionary workers story. Instead Kimberly Smith takes the reader on a journey around the world to Sudan and other war torn countries. She shares the atrocities that women and children face in these countries every day.<br /><br />Kimberly Smith was your average American woman, working in the corporate world, a wife, mother and a faithful church member, she was living a good life, but she felt as if something was missing, she longed to make her life matter. About that time her husband Milton started suggesting that they do something meaningful, something to make a difference in other peoples lives. One day as Milton browses thru a magazine in a waiting room he finds an article asking for missionaries to serve in Spain, ironically Milton had been a missionary in Spain back in the 80's, so with what I would consider a giant leap of faith, they were accepted by a missionary agency to work in Spain so they sold everything they had starting a new life journey in the missionary field. While in Spain the couple became aware of the plight of human trafficking, causing them to cofound Make Way Partners, which works to prevent human trafficking worldwide.<br /><br />I knew a bit of the plight in Sudan before reading this book, but this book brings it front and center, allowing you to see these victims as real people, while it is a hard to read the accounts that are shared in the story, it is a message that needs to be spread.<br /><br />Thanks to B&B Media for providing me a copy of this book for review.", "timestamp": 1299121982000, "title": "Passport Through Darkness" }, { "asin": "0764208500", "rating": 2, "text": "It has taken me forever to finish this book, I started reading it back in November and found myself putting it down for extended periods because it was a story that really didn't inspire me, I couldn't become interested in the characters, and just couldn't relate to the story.<br /><br />The protagonist in this story is an almost thirty year old who aspires to be a writer even quitting her job to return to school to get her masters degree. Because no one is buying her story, she gets numerous rejections, she is working part time as an English professor to pay the bills. Her roommate Zoe, seems to have no problem getting her story published in a magazine that has rejected Amy's.While Amy's character is overall a good person, she is constantly struggling with self doubt, feeling like things aren't working out the way she planned.<br /><br />While I didn't connect with the story,I wouldn't hesitate to read something else by Bethany Pierce. Her writing wasn't the problem, it was just that the book didn't click for me.<br /><br />Book provided by Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1299643226000, "title": "This book didn't inspire me" }, { "asin": "1854249746", "rating": 4, "text": "I must admit I am a huge fan of historical fiction especially mysteries and intrigue, but \"A Trail Of Ink\" by Mel Starr was my first foray into the midieval time period. I wasn't sure how I would like the time period but I actually loved it!<br /><br />This story is set in the town of Oxford England, where Hugh de Singleton is trying to solve the mystery of his friend John Wyclif's stolen books. Twenty-two books in all have been taken, and two of them are borrowed books from a friend of John's. The books were stolen right out of Master Wyclif's room while he was out to supper. Hugh is also interested in Kate Caxton, a stationer's daughter. So Hugh jumps into solving the mystery as he also tries to to win Kate's favor.<br /><br />While this story was a bit hard for me to get into in the beginning, it soon took off transporting me back to medieval England. The author rolls together mystery, suspense, and murder together to make the story a satisfying read. I did find myself turning to the glossary provided in the front of the book because of some of the words used during the time period. \"A Trail Of Ink\" is the third book in the chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon series, but can easily be read as a stand alone work, although I do wish I had read the first two books in the seriesThe ending provides a teaser for the next book in the series titled \"Unhallowed Ground\", which I look forward to reading.<br /><br />Book provided by Litfuse and the publisher for review.", "timestamp": 1299798789000, "title": "A Trail Of Ink" }, { "asin": "0800734076", "rating": 5, "text": "I can count on one hand the Biblical fiction novels that I have read, but I am really starting to like this genre. While the stories are works of fiction, the reader learns alot about the characters that the author is writing about. Realizing that \"Love Amid The Ashes\" was the story about Job and Dinah I found myself thinking about their stories in the Bible, while Job's story was one that I was pretty familiar with, a man who suffers many trials and tribulations but never waivers in his faith in God. Dinah on the other hand was someone I never thought alot about, I remember her story, as the daughter of Jacob and Leah, she was defiled by Shechem, who was later killed by her brothers. For me I never really thought about how Dinah's life might have been altered by the act.<br />I found this book something I really enjoyed reading. The author provides the reader with a genealogical chart at the beginning of the story, that helps keep the many characters straight. I liked the way that she opens each chapter with a Bible verse allowing me to relate the chapters to the verses. The author allows us to see these biblical characters with heart and feelings by drawing us into their stories. This debut novel will certainly be a hit for anyone who enjoys biblical fiction, but its also a good story for anyone who likes a compelling faith filled story.<br /><br />Available March 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.", "timestamp": 1301199627000, "title": "Love Amid The Ashes" }, { "asin": "1414339429", "rating": 5, "text": "When I picked up \"Journey To Riverbend\" I thought that it was probably going to be another historical fiction romance novel, but boy was I wrong. While there is a bit of romance between a few of the characters the author really gives us a true western novel filled with a hanging, an attempted stagecoach robbery, a kidnapping, a shootout and a posse searching for kidnappers. He rolls this together with a story about regrets and forgiveness, and faith in God.<br /><br />While Michael Archer couldn't save Ben Carstairs from being hanged for a crime he didn't commit, he is determined to try and fulfill Ben's dying wish, which was to make amends with his father Sam, to tell him that he forgave him for the way he treated him and return his mothers necklace.<br /><br />Michael makes the journey to Riverbend to deliver Ben's message to Sam but finds that Sam is out of town for business and will be gone for a few days. Michael decides to hang around until he returns, and he soon learns that Sam Carstairs is a ruthless man who has no use for God and uses people to get what he wants.While staying in Riverbend Michael meets Rachel Stone a young lady who has found refuge with the local preacher and his family. They feel drawn to each other but because of issues that haunt them from their past they are unsure that they are ready for a relationship, but that doesn't stop Michael from thinking about a future that might include a move to Riverbend.<br />Sam Carstairs has wronged several people in his past, doing whatever he could to obtain more wealth but when he is kidnapped the town doesn't hesitate to form a posse to try and find him. Michael decides to ride along hoping that he can help, will they find Sam before its to late?<br />What an interesting story, the characters in the story are well fleshed out. Rachel and Michael each have issues from their past that continue to dog them. Rachel is making great strides toward her future even though some of the townspeople won't let her forget her past. Michael was a strong caring compassionate character who was also dealing with demons from his past. While I really didn't like the character of Sam Carstairs by the end of the story I felt sorry for him. The ending of the story leaves me hoping that Mr. McLaughlin will write a sequel for this story!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1301205637000, "title": "I hope the author is writing a sequel for this one!" }, { "asin": "1595548017", "rating": 5, "text": "Abigail Jones works for her mothers magazine called the Viewpoint. Because of the stress of her job her mother encourages her to take some time off and go to Montana and check on her aunt Lucy. When she arrives Lucy is fine, but Wade, the cowboy who owns the ranch where Lucy lives needs a nanny for his daughter, and Abigail takes the job. Abigail knows Wade is hiding something and thinks it just might be a story that could save her mothers magazine. Of course feelings develop between Wade and Abigail, will she choose to go forward with the story which will expose Wade, or will she decide to protect the relationship that is blooming between them?<br /><br />Wow! The word for this one is fantastic. This is one of those stories that I just couldn't put down. The author weaves romance, a bit of mystery, and a nice christian message together to produce a story that begs to be read. Oh did I mention the hunky cowboy. The chemistry between the main characters was static, it just jumps off the page at you.<br />The imagery that the author paints with her words make you feel as if your right in the middle of Montana, how could you not love a place called Moose Creek! Readers of christian romance will surely enjoy this one, but this book would also appeal to fans of romance with a western setting.<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1303268262000, "title": "A Cowboy's Touch" }, { "asin": "0781403790", "rating": 5, "text": "While these books are reprints of books that were orginally printed back in the 1974, I somehow missed them growing up, but I am so glad that I had the chance to read them now. I consider them timeless classics that will certainly appeal to many, and should be on every little girls bookshelf. While the stories that grandma shares with her grand daughter are fun to read they are also educational, and provide the reader with little life lessons. The illustrations peppered throughout the book are cute and will capture the imagination of the young reader.<br /><br />These books would make a perfect gift for young readers, but I think anyone who likes to reminisce about the \"Good Old Days\" will certainly enjoy these books.<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of these books by B&B Media in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1303788390000, "title": "Perfect stories for young and old alike" }, { "asin": "1595547851", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Fairer Than Morning\" is a historical fiction novel set in the 1820's in Rushville Ohio and Pittsburgh PA.Ann Miller's boyfriend has just proposed to her. Eli Bowen is nineteen but Ann is only fifteen. She turns him down because she knows her father would never allow her to marry before she turns eighteen, because it is what her mother would have wished.Ann was only nine when her mother died, leaving Ann to become the mother figure for her two younger sisters Mabel and Susan. Her father is a saddler and also a circuit preacher which leaves Ann to be the caretaker of the children quite often. When Ann's father needs to attend business in Pittsburgh he allows the girls to go along. Where she meets Will, someone that she can't quit thinking about.<br /><br />Will Hanby signs up for five years of indentured service to Jacob Good so that he can learn to be a saddler. But Mr. Good is a cruel man who thinks nothing of abusing Will. When the abuse becomes to much Will makes a drastic decision that has him running to the Miller farm for refuge.<br />While this story is a historical fiction, it is actually based on real people, which had me anxious to read this story. The story drew me in from the first pages when a young girl at fifteen is being proposed to. The author easily draws you into the lives of the characters in the story, making you feel as if you are right there with them. Parts of this story were hard to read, the abuse that Will and the other slaves suffered was really heart wrenching.<br />This is the first book in The Saddler's Legacy Series, and I for one will be looking for the next book titled \"Sweeter Than Birdsong\" due out in Feb 2012.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1304306070000, "title": "Great new series" }, { "asin": "0800733711", "rating": 5, "text": "When Detectives Noah Lambert and Kit Kenyon are assigned to the murder case of Walter Davis a twenty nine year old man who was getting ready to graduate from Wofford Law College, there pretty sure it isn't a random killing and when the second body shows up, a young lady who attended the same college the pair realizes that there is a serial killer on the loose. As they try and find the killer, the killer has his own plans which includes one of the detectives. Will the pair be able to figure out who the killer is before its to late?<br /><br />This book takes off like a house on fire, with unstoppable twists and turns to keep you flipping the pages to figure out who the killer is, and for while I thought I knew who the killer might be, I really wasn't sure until the end of the story.<br />The characters in this novel are easy to connect with, Kit and Noah both have issues from their past, and Kit has let those issues keep her from God, but not so with Noah, he has a wonderful relationship with God. The relationship that develops between Noah and Kit was nice, and added to the story.<br /><br />While this book is the third book in the Women Of Justice series it can easily be read as a stand alone work because the author gives sufficient background so that you don't feel lost. If your a fan suspense/mystery novels that will keep you on the edge of your seat, that also weaves in a bit of inspiration and romance as well then you should certainly pick up this book, but I would suggest that you read the entire series, because the books are just that good!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1306640184000, "title": "A Killer Among Us" }, { "asin": "1595549242", "rating": 4, "text": "Spring For Susannah is set in the 1800's shortly after the civil war, but before the west was tame, when the Dakota's were still just a territory.<br />Susannah Underhill really felt as if she didn't have a choice, when she decides to become a mail order bride for her pastor's brother. She had been living a very comfortable life in Michigan until her parents die. When someone shows up at her home telling her that her father owed alot of money to the bank and even attacks her, the only thing for her to do is to become a mail order bride for her pastor's brother Jessie.<br />When she arrives at Fourth Siding in the Dakota territory, she meets her husband Jessie,a non-stop talker, totally opposite from Susannah. As she learns about Jessie she realizes what a kind considerate man he is, but can she let go of her insecurities and allow love to bloom?<br /><br />As a fan of historical fiction I found the book quite enjoyable.It was nice to see the character of Susannah grow from a timid person into someone that could take care of herself, and also find her way back to God. I felt like the secondary characters were well rounded and added to the story. I am always a sucker for dogs in a story and Jake was great. The author also adds a bit of humor to the story which worked well. The one negative to the story was the rushed ending. All in all a good debut novel from Catherine Richmond.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1306778746000, "title": "Nice debut novel" }, { "asin": "1595548114", "rating": 5, "text": "\"A Vision Of Lucy,\" is set in Rocky Creek Texas during 1882. The plot revolves around Lucy Fairbanks, a young lady who dreams of being a photographer but her father isn't crazy about the idea. She has badgered the owner of the newspaper and is finally told if she can get a shot of the elusive white mustang then her photos will be put in the paper, but its not easy getting a picture of a wild mustang so she shimmies up a tree and plans on waiting but when she falls out landing on top of a stagecoach about to be robbed, well its easy to see that she doesn't always have the best of luck.So she figures if she can get a picture of the town recluse David Wolf, also known as the Wild Man she still might have a shot at her newspaper job, but when she meets him feelings start to develop. Neither are really looking for love, but sometimes God has other plans!<br /><br />What a fun book this was. Lucy was always finding herself in such precarious spots, and if I might say so she was a bit clumsy. The author does a fantastic job of painting such vivid pictures of the situations she was in that I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. I love reading historical fiction where you feel as if you learn a bit while you read and in this story I felt like I learned a bit about early photography, which was quite interesting. This book is the third book in the Rocky Creek Romance series but can easily be read as a stand alone work. Fans of quick paced historical fiction with a nice inspirational message will certainly devour this one. Margaret Brownley is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1307659325000, "title": "A Vision Of Lucy" }, { "asin": "082543310X", "rating": 5, "text": "Whenever I read a historical fiction story that is based on true events I always love the fact that I am learning a bit about history that perhaps I might never really know alot about otherwise. With How Huge The Night the authors do an amazing job of weaving together fact and fiction, to transport us back to the days of WWII, seeing the events of the time thru the eyes of two teenagers Nina and Julian, while I knew at some point their stories would meld I wasn't sure how they would connect.<br /><br />The characters in this story are completely believable and it is very easy to imagine the things that they are going thru. Julian is your typical teenager, he isn't a man but neither is he really a boy. He isn't really happy that his family left their home in Paris to move to the farm in southern France with his grandfather, he is dealing with issues such as trying to fit in at school, not to mention trying to get along with Benjamin the Jewish boy who has also moved in with his grandfather.<br />As Nina's father is lying on his deathbed he makes Nina promise that she will take her brother and leave Austria.For me their parts of their story was heart wrenching, and I found myself praying that they would be all right.<br /><br />I found this to be a compelling story that has many lessons woven in. A coming of age story during a difficult time period where the characters display great courage faith and hope. While this book is geared toward young adults I would easily recommend it to older adults as well.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1308955795000, "title": "Compelling historical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800734653", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become a fan of Biblical fiction, and when one latches onto my imagination and allows me to see Biblical characters in a whole new way while staying true to what the Bible says then its a winner in my book. When I started reading the book of \"Martha,\" I kept thinking to myself Martha who, but once her brother Lazerus is mentioned, it started to fall into place for me, because who doesn't know the story of Lazerus being raised from the dead.<br /><br /> As the story unfolds Martha becomes a very real character with feelings and longings just like any other young lady. While she longs to marry, how could it ever happen, she stepped into the role of caretaker of her family when her mother died and took that responsibility very seriously, but that doesn't stop her from wishing for a husband and children of her own. I had hoped the relationship with Thaddeus would work out but it wasn't meant to be. Some of the most exciting parts of the story were when Jesus stayed with Martha and her family.<br />If you are like me and are unsure who Martha was once you read this book you will never forget her.I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, and if you have never read Biblical fiction then this quick read is the perfect book to introduce you to this exciting genre.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1309579648000, "title": "Martha" }, { "asin": "0800734238", "rating": 5, "text": "In \"Blue Skies Tomorrow\" the author weaves together a compelling story that transports the reader back to WWII, with characters that easily draw us in, allowing us to share in their strengths and struggles making their stories come to life.<br />Helen Carlisle's is supposed to be the grieving widow when her husband dies a war hero. She puts on a good face, but its becoming harder to do because she is carrying a secret about her husband and their marriage, which was far from happy, but she is determined to hide the truth.<br />Lt.Ray Novak grapples with feeling like a coward. His job is to train pilots to fly missions, but he has never been in combat himself. When the Army Air Forces decides to start using the returning combat pilots as instructors Ray finds himself transferred back home as a supply officer where he reconnects with his friend, recently widowed Helen Carlisle. Can the two find happiness together?<br />Helen was someone who was certainly scarred by her past.While the shame wasn't hers she carried it anyway.Helen's story caused my heart to ache for her, but the ending certainly was great! It was inspirational to see her character grow and change through out the story. I thought that Ray's character was wonderful, his love of God really shined through. If you enjoy historical fiction set during WWII with romance, drama and a wonderful inspirational message your going to enjoy this one. A great conclusion to a fantastic series. I can't wait to read more from this talented author!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.", "timestamp": 1314504547000, "title": "Historical fiction at its best" }, { "asin": "0764208055", "rating": 4, "text": "I love historical novels, and if they are set in the west then that's just an added bonus.In this one Yvonne Harris transports us back in time to August 1886 in El Paso Texas. Elizabeth Evans moves to Texas from Washington to look after her brother Lloyd and his daughter Ruthie after the death of his wife and newborn son, and in return he will teach her the newspaper business,but instead her brother is shot dead and Elizabeth is kidnapped by Mexican outlaws. When Jake Nelson, a Texas Ranger learns of the shooting and kidnapping he sets out to rescue Elizabeth.When he finds her there is an immediate attraction,but could a relationship ever work between the two?<br /><br />With plenty of page turning action from the beginning, this book is certainly a quick read.I enjoyed learning a bit about the Texas Rangers,and the time period in general, while reading a sweet romance. I liked main characters in this book. Both were dealing with issues from their past that caused them to guard their hearts. Jake's heart was broken by his fiance, and the death of Elizabeth's husband Carl, who was killed in the line of duty in the Army, caused her to fear getting involved with someone who might put their job first.<br /><br />I think anyone who enjoys a good historical fiction western,with romance and plenty of action will certainly enjoy this fast paced read, I know I did.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1315725865000, "title": "A River To Cross" }, { "asin": "0764205978", "rating": 5, "text": "This was a different sort of read for me. I don't ever remember reading a story about smoke jumpers, and actually I am not sure I knew what a smoke jumper was before reading this story. I knew there were firefighters who go in and fight the major forest fires, but I honestly didn't realize there were men who are dropped in to fight the fires by cutting down trees etc. So not only did I get an action packed story but I also learned something new which is always a bonus.<br />The main characters in this one are Silas Kent a smoke jumper and Elle Westmore a pilot who drops smoke jumpers into the heart of a fire. Silas and Elle have a history together, but parted ways. Their paths cross again when when she takes an assignment to fly a smoke jumping crew out of Redding, CA to the Desolation Complex in the Sierra Nevada's to battle a raging fire. Soon though they realize there is more going on in those mountains than just the fires, there is cache of gold and some of the men on the smoke jumping crew is on a mission to recover it!<br />What a fast paced read. Elle was someone who had alot on her plate. She has the responsibility of taking care of her five year old daughter Maddie, while doing a very demanding job. I thought the little twist about her short marriage to Maddie's father was quite interesting. Silas seemed to have grown quite a bit from being someone who ran from a serious relationship to wanting to take care of Elle.I really got hooked on the characters from the beginning pages and became anxious to see how things would work out.<br /> There is plenty of page turning action, with romance, suspense mystery and drama woven together with a christian message woven in to keep you reading until the final page.<br />While this is the first time I have ever read anything by Shawn Grady, it certainly wont be my last. I really enjoyed his writing style, his vivid descriptions and suspense filled story makes this book a real winner!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1315790719000, "title": "entertaining and educational" }, { "asin": "0800719956", "rating": 5, "text": "I have read a few of Suzanne Woods Fisher's stories set in Lancaster County, so I was anxious to read a Christmas story set in the area. It's the story of two families, an Amish family, The Riehl's and an English family the Fitzpatricks. Each family is struggling with major life issues and need a bit of reminding as to what is important in life.<br /><br />Mattie, Sol, and Danny Riehl have made a trip to the doctors office for a follow up because Mattie suffered a miscarriage a few weeks ago. While they have six year old Danny, Mattie has always dreamed of having a houseful of children but struggles with infertility. The situation has stolen Mattie's joy making her question why others can so easily have children but she can't. Jaime and C.J. Fitzpatrick have issues of their own. C.J. is a teacher, but also works with his dog Tucker as a search and rescue team. His marriage to his wife Jaime seems to be slowly raveling apart and he isn't sure what to do to fix it. Jaime's father left when she was young, and when he recently dropped back into her life, she became frantic to have his acceptance, add to this the fact that she lost her mother six months ago to a freak accident and suspicions that her husband is having an affair. She won't talk to C.J. and he is unsure how to reach her. When the couple runs an errand to the Riehl farm, they become stranded. Did God bring these two families together to help each other?<br /><br />I loved this story, I read it in about an hour and was anxious to see how things would turn out. The plot moved along well, and wasn't predictable like many of the Christmas stories I read. The characters are very realistic with the issues they are dealing with. I read alot of Amish stories and often the Amish seem a bit condescending where the English are concerned but not so in this story. The Riehl's were very open and accepting of the Fitzpatrick's, and not only that we see Mattie really struggle with the issues she is facing.I thought the story line with Mattie's cousin Zach really added to the main story, and Danny was such an inquisitive child. I love when an author adds a dog to the story, and Tucker and C.J.'s job as a SAR team was interesting and I enjoyed learning a bit about it.<br />If your looking for an inspirational Christmas story set in Amish country give this one a try, for me the only complaint I had was seeing it end.", "timestamp": 1316916196000, "title": "A Lancaster County Christmas" }, { "asin": "0446570869", "rating": 5, "text": "Susan Lambert is in the city of Prague because her beloved grandmothers funeral is being held there. Raised by her grandmother since the age of twelve when her parents were killed in a car accident, an accident that Susan had a feeling about, and that's the thing, Susan had always had a feeling of discernment. The ability to sense when something wasn't right and that was a feeling she got when she decided to visit St. Vitus Cathedral. Even though she was alone in the Cathedral she felt as if someone was there with her, and even glimpsed what she thought was a man. She sees the same man a few more times, and when her cousin Wendy decides to go partying with a stranger that oozes evil, she feels compelled to find her cousin and get her away from this man.The man that Susan glimpsed in the Cathedral,(Raphael) approaches Susan and offers to help her find Wendy, but in return he tells Susan he will need her help. Susan is soon introduced to things she would have never imagined, and learns that vampires do exist and Raphael is a vampire set to fight a war against an evil vampire who wants to rule the world.<br /><br />I love vampire fiction and I was quite excited to read a vampire tale that was woven into christian fiction. I enjoyed getting to know the characters especially Raphael. Thru flashbacks we learn why he was cursed to be a vampire. The way the author explains why some people become vampires was quite different from most vampire tales. Her take was that some people are so inherently evil that they are cursed as vampires thus living longer in the hopes that they will eventually learn their mistakes and accept God, which was something that Raphael was still struggling with even after 900 years. While Raphael is a vampire it was easy to sense a goodness in him, although when Susan's life was in jeopardy we certainly saw his dark side.The forbidden feel of the attraction between Susan and Raphael kept me turning the pages to see if a romance would develop.The secondary character of David added to the story for me, a reluctant hero, who was only in Prague for three months on a job assignment staying in the same hotel as Wendy and Susan, when he hears on of the women cry out he tries to help them and learns the hard way that vampires exist and soon finds himself being trained as a vampire slayer. The relationship between David and Wendy was sweet.<br />I really hated to see this book end, and left me wanting to read a sequel. I really can't wait to see how the relationship between Raphael and Susan goes. A vampire tale woven together with a christian theme, and a fight of good versus evil, the perfect October read! On a scale of one to five I would easily give this one a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1317783522000, "title": "In a word FANGTASTIC" }, { "asin": "0800733460", "rating": 5, "text": "Having enjoyed the first book in Janice Thompson's Backstage Pass series I was anxious to read this one. I must say I think this book just might be better than the first one, with returning characters from the first book as well as a few new ones, I found this book to be laugh out loud funny.<br />Athena Pappas has a pretty full life with her family and friends and even though the ratings have lagged a bit she still feels pretty secure in her job as head writer for the popular sit com Stars Collide. But when the producers decide to hire a comedian, Stephen Cosse to help bolster the ratings she suddenly wonders what will happen if he is a better writer, will her job be in jeopardy? When she meets him she feels an attraction, and soon not only is Stephen worming his way into her heart but so has his eleven year old daughter Brooke.Will they figure out that some of the best things in life don't follow a script, or will they guard their hearts against love?<br /><br />This was a sweet, funny story. It was easy to imagine the Athena's Greek family. I could easily understand why Stephen's daughter Brooke was drawn to the Pappas family, they are so warm and welcoming. I always love when a dog is included in a story and the introduction of Zeus, the Greek Domestic Dog was totally funny! It was great to see how Brooke and Zeus connected. The Greek food mentioned in this story really had my mouth watering, it sounded delicious!<br />If you enjoy reading contemporary christian romance with a great flare for humor then you certainly need to read this book, and while it is the second book in the series I feel like it could be read as a stand alone work, although I highly recommend reading the first book in the series as well.<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review*", "timestamp": 1318129897000, "title": "Laugh out loud funny" }, { "asin": "0764209418", "rating": 5, "text": "I became hooked on Patti Lacy's work after reading \"The Rhythm of Secrets\" and couldn't wait to read this book. Well all I can say it was worth the wait!<br />The authors writing style is captivating. Gloria Powell had always wanted a child, so after jumping thru hoops and cutting thru red tape she and her husband Andrew believe there is a baby waiting for them in China so they make the trip from Texas. When they arrive though the promised baby isn't there instead the child is a young girl, but Gloria isn't thwarted instead she knows its the child God intended for them to have. They take her home to Texas and rename her Joy, because she is the joy of their life. although she does become a bit rebellious in her teen years. Turns out Joy is actually Lily and Lily has a sister Kai who made a death bed promise to her mother in China to reclaim the sister that had been at the orphanage. Kai now works in the states and becomes determined to find her sister to not only full fill the wish she made to her mother, but also because there may be a genetic issue that could possibly affect Lily. What happens when Kai finds her sister, how will it affect Lily(Joy) and her adoptive family?<br /><br />This story was touching and inspiring. The author deals with foreign adoption a topic I haven't read a lot about,so it was a bit educational for me. She also touches on the topic of teen rebellion,where the teen is trying to figure out where she fits in the world to weave a rich story that had plenty of twists and turns and an ending that was quite satisfying. While Gloria smothered her daughter, I really could understand her motivations, Andrew seemed solid and really was understanding of all parties much like a pastor might be.I really couldn't help but think about Lily's biological mother.Each of the characters seemed so realistic I often forgot that I was reading a work of fiction.<br />If you enjoy a story filled with drama, suspense and family ties with a positive christian message woven in then your going to enjoy \"Reclaiming Lily.\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review purposes.", "timestamp": 1318178186000, "title": "Reclaiming Lily" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 5, "text": "Camden Bristow is feeling the effects of the economy. She is a free-lance photographer living in New York who finds herself without any job prospects or money. Being kicked out of her apartment with less than five hundred dollars left on her credit card she decides to return to the home where she spent many happy summers with her grandmother Rosalie even though its been years since she has spoken to her grandmother, but when she arrives in the tiny town of Etherton Ohio what she finds at the family mansion called Crescent Hill is that her grandmother has passed away and the mansion is falling into disrepair. Having no place else to go she stays at the family home anyway and quickly finds herself wondering if someone else isn't in the house. Camden has never believed in the rumors that ghosts haunt the mansion and when a few things start disappearing she is pretty sure someone is getting into the house, but how? Could it be true that there are underground tunnels that date back to slave days, and could Crescent Hill actually have been a stop on the Underground Railroad?<br /><br />I really enjoyed the historical aspect of this story as well as the mystery and intrigue that surrounded the history of the Bristow family.While Camden was the primary story I loved the secondary stories that went on and how they all came together at the end. The characters were very easy to connect with, especially Camden. Crescent Hill was the only place where she ever felt like she belonged. It was nice to see her grow and watch her priorities change as the book progressed. I also felt empathy for Alex, as he continued to carry the blame for not doing enough to save his sister and nephew. I thought the christian themes woven into the story was well done, especially the message of helping others. I also got a few laughs from reading about the antics of the Sprague children especially Hailey, that little girl had a wonderful imagination.<br />Overall if your looking for a contemporary story that is firmly rooted in the historical era of the underground railroad, that weaves mystery, suspense, a bit of romance with a nice inspirational story then your certainly in for a treat with this story. Recommended!<br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1319509649000, "title": "Refuge On Crescent Hill" }, { "asin": "0310330432", "rating": 4, "text": "A cozy mystery that involves Amish characters and a quilt shop, I just knew I was going to enjoy this book and boy was I right.<br />Callie Harper finds herself in Shipshewana after inheriting Daisy's Quilt Shop from her recently deceased aunt. She thinks she will just go for a few weeks and clear out her aunts things and sell the shop, but things don't go according to plan. When Deborah Yoder shows up at the shop with an armload of quilts, Callie learns that her aunt had an agreement with Deborah and two other Amish ladies to sell their quilts. Deborah soon convinces Callie that she should reopen the shop and take the quilts on consignment. When Callie decides to try her hand at auctioning the quilts on Ebay the Amish quilt makers quickly agree, but when Mr. Stakehorn the editor of the local paper writes a story suggesting that Callie might be taking advantage of the Amish quilting group Callie becomes furious and wants a retraction. When several people see Callie arguing with Mr. Stakehorn hours before he is found dead, Callie becomes a prime suspect. Deborah is certain her new friend could never commit murder, and when several other things start to happen in town the two put their heads together to try and figure out who the murderer might be.<br />This was a fast paced who-dun-it that really gave us several suspects. I liked how the story unfolded allowing the reader to see the friendship between Deborah and Callie grow. Callie was a character that was totally easy to relate to, I thought that it was interesting that snippets of her life was revealed in her aunts old journal. Callie was grieving not only for her aunt but for the loss of another loved one from a few years back. I thought the author allowed her to grow through out the story, it felt like she had finally found a place to call home. Deborah was different than most of the Amish characters that I read about, her husband seemed to allow her more freedom. She really looked out for her friends, and she and Callie really made a great investigative team. I always get excited when the author writes a dog into the story and in this one we had Max, a golden that Callie had inherited from her aunt Daisy. He was a comfort to Callie and turned out to be a hero.<br />This was one of those stories that when I started it I just couldn't put it down. The author's words really brought the scenes to life and there were several scenes that while tense also had humor woven in. There were plenty of twists and turns that made this a page turner for me, while I was a bit disappointed with the ending, overall I found it a great read and look forward to reading the next book in this series!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1320721019000, "title": "Anxious to read the next book in the series" }, { "asin": "1414348118", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Princess Stories\" allows young girls to learn about God's princesses in the Bible. Upon reading this book they will learn all about twenty-nine of the most prominent women of the Bible in a way that will surely capture their imagination and attention, and not only that the thirtieth story is about the reader,encouraging and reminding them that they are God's princess as well.<br />Each story starts out with a scripture verse and then gives the reader a short story about a woman in the Bible. Another Bible verse follows the story and then there are Princess Ponderings which consists of three questions for your princess to answer.The cover of this book, as well as the illustrations inside will certainly capture a youngsters eye. What a wonderful way to teach a daughter or grand-daughter about the women of the Bible. Because of the quality of this book, it would make a wonderful gift.<br />rating 5/5<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327284862000, "title": "What a wonderful way to teach young girls about the women of the Bible" }, { "asin": "0857210580", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the fourth installment of the Hugh de Singleton series and Hugh and Kate have been married for about three months when Thomas atte Bridge is found hanging from a tree. While the coroner wants to call it a suicide, the evidence points to foul play. Even though atte Bridge has had run ins with most of the townsfolk and is disliked by all Hugh is determined to figure out who the murderer is.<br />This book takes place in 1366 in England, and it's easy to see the author does an amazing job of researching the time period. Not only am I intrigued by the suspense and mystery of the story but I also enjoy reading about the medical procedures that took place during that time period, as well as medieval life in general. The food in particular that Hugh ate sounded quite different. I found the glossary included in the front of the book quite useful in understanding what was being said. I also enjoy the relationship between Hugh and Kate and look forward to reading more about these two characters.<br />This book is the fourth in the series and while the author provides a bit of background about the characters ,I recommend reading the series in order to get the in depth background on the reoccurring characters.<br /><br />rating 4/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327367469000, "title": "Great continuing series" }, { "asin": "0800720741", "rating": 4, "text": "This book is the first in a new series and if it is any indicator the series is going to be a must read for lovers of historical fiction!<br /><br />\"Where Wildflowers Bloom\" is set in the tiny town of Noble Springs Missouri. The civil war took Faith Lindberg's father, brother as well as Royal Baxter the man she promised her heart to before the war. Faith would like nothing better than to leave the memories of lost love ones behind and start over somewhere else, but her grandfather isn't so keen on leaving Noble Springs.Faith is surprised when Royal comes back to town, because she thought he was killed during the war. When Royal and Faith start courting, Faith's grandfather is less than pleased because he had hoped that Faith might develop feelings for Curt Saxon the young man who runs the livery and who has been helping Faith. Will Faith decide to stay in Noble Springs? Who will she choose?<br />I really enjoyed reading this book which allows us the flavor of the civil war because it takes place shortly after. The authors storytelling really pulled me in, with the richness of detail for the time period. The characters really came to life as well. I could easily understand why Faith wanted to leave Noble Springs. It was interesting to watch her character change and grow through out<br />the story. I also enjoyed Rosemary, who was a very good friend. I really enjoyed reading about the mercantile and all of the different goods that was stocked.<br />I think anyone who enjoys a very well written historical fiction with well drawn characters a fast moving plot with a sweet romance will certainly enjoy this story. I for one am anxious for the next book in the \"Sisters at Heart\" series.<br /><br />A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327813304000, "title": "Where Wildflowers Bloom" }, { "asin": "0800734599", "rating": 5, "text": "If your a fan of historical fiction where there is always plenty going on then your in for a real treat with \"Summer Of Promise\" by Amanda Cabot!<br /><br />This book draws the reader back in time to the summer of 1885. Abigail Harding's life was pretty well planned out, she lives in Vermont teaches school and plans to marry her beau.Letters from her sister Charlotte has her worried though so she decides to take a trip to Wyoming and spend the summer with her sister. Before she ever arrives a fellow passenger Lt. Ethan Bowles, saves her stagecoach from being robbed. Will she only spend the summer or does fate have something else in store for Abigail?<br />This is the first book in the exciting new historical fiction series \"Westward Winds.\" Abigail was such a wonderful character, she was a very brave ,level headed person, and from the beginning my heart wanted her and Ethan together.<br />While many historical romances are pretty predictable, not so with this book, the author provides a few twists and turns that really held my attention. While the ending was satisfying there were a few loose ends which leaves me anxious for the next book in the series!<br /><br />Amanda Cabot is an author who really knows how to bring historical fiction to life, with easy to relate to characters and a story line that grabbed my attention from the first page and kept me intrigued until the final sentence!<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*", "timestamp": 1328416370000, "title": "Great new historical fiction series" }, { "asin": "1595549153", "rating": 4, "text": "Lucy Marsh finds herself in dire straits and has to accept an offer to marry a man she doesn't know just to take care of her brother and sister. Thing is her parents are dead, she is out of money with no job and not sure what to do when she gets an offer she can't refuse, it's the offer to marry a man sight unseen. Nate Stanton, runs a ranch and has always hoped for a wife but the responsibilities of the ranch has given him little time to find one, so when his father arranges the marriage between him and Lucy and they are married by proxy things on the ranch will certainly never be the same. She shows up with her siblings and Nate wonders how long she will last on the ranch. How will things work out between these two?<br /><br />I really enjoyed the characters in this story. Lucy really had alot of responsibilities, but was really a very brave person. She married someone sight unseen to protect her brother and sister. While a marriage of convenience is a pretty common plot the thing that made this one different was that Nate didn't know that he was married until Lucy showed up on his doorstep. His first impressions seemed perfectly normal. I thought it was quite nice to see the relationship slowly bloom, and watch his opinion of Lucy change. I think anyone who enjoys historical fiction where there is a sweet romance, a nice inspirational message as well as a bit of mystery woven in will certainly enjoy this story.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1329360734000, "title": "enjoyable historical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800720075", "rating": 5, "text": "If your looking for a story filled with non stop action packed suspense then look no further than \"When The Smoke Clears\" the first book in the Deadly Reunions series! If this book is any indicator of what the series is going to be like I would say it is going to be one not to be missed!<br /><br />Alexia Allen is a firefighter, but when she is ordered to take some time off after an accident occurs that nearly takes her life. With her ten year reunion coming up she decides to recuperate at her mothers house so that she can attend. Seems like trouble has followed her though with a murder an arson occurring soon after she arrives in town. It appears someone may be setting her up, who is out to get her and why?<br /><br />The plot in this story is non-stop. There was never a down time for me with this one. I found myself totally immersed in the story after reading the prologue. I thought the characters in this story were very well developed and I really enjoyed the budding romance between Alexia and Detective Graham Hunter. The ending of this one leaves me anxious for the next book in the series.<br /><br />Overall anyone who enjoys romantic suspense will certainly love this story, be warned though it isn't easy to figure out who-dun-it with this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1329623138000, "title": "Action packed suspense" }, { "asin": "0800720458", "rating": 5, "text": "The year is 1855 and the setting is Louisville Ky. Adriane Darcy is a journalist for her father's newspaper The Tribune. Her father's newspaper has always been the best in Louisville, but things begin to change when Blake Garrett comes in to revive the failing Herald. It becomes sort of a competition to see who can crack a story first, so when someone starts killing women in the city Adriane wants to beat Blake to the story. Thing is she is starting to have feelings for Blake, but she is engaged to another. How will things work out for Adriane, and who is killing women in Lexington?<br /><br />I really fell in love with Ms. Gabhart's writing after reading her wonderful book titled \"Angel Sister\" so I was anxious to give this one a read. What I found was a historical fiction story that was really quite different. The beginning of the story was a bit slow to capture my attention but once it grabbed it, at about the eighth chapter, I found it a story that I didn't want to put down.I really enjoyed the characters of Adriane and Blake and thought the author did a great job of allowing them to develop through out the story. The character of Adriane was strong, but she also felt the pressure of wanting to do what her father expected of her. While this book is labeled a historical romance fiction the author actually weaves a bit of suspense and mystery into this one that really made this story stand out for me. There were a few twists that wrapped up the ending quite nicely. If your looking for something that's not your typical historical romance then your going to wan to give this story a try.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330232493000, "title": "not your typical historical romance" }, { "asin": "1603742573", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been fortunate enough to read all three books in the Amish of Seymour series and have become a Laura V. Hilton fan. She has the writing skills to easily transport the reader right into the heart of the stories that she is telling, allowing me to envision the characters, setting and drama so vividly it makes me feel as if I have been transported to another place.<br /><br />In \"Promised To Another\" we get the story of Annie Beiler and Joshua Esh. Annie is the local Amish schoolteacher, she is always excited about history and learning which often gets her in trouble and puts her teaching job in jeopardy, something she can't afford to lose. You see her steady beau Luke Schwartz jumped the fence to become English and no one else has even noticed her, or at least that's what she thinks. When Luke makes an unexpected appearance after a singing and offers to take her home she turns him down flat but her refuses to listen, that is until Joshua Esh steps in and offers her a ride home, a rider home with the other girl he is already taking home. While the men who came to Seymour from Pennsylvania came looking for wives Joshua didn't instead he came to see a different part of the world but has plans to return to PA. He has earned the reputation of a player because he is always taking a different Amish girl home after singings, but that doesn't stop Annie from noticing him.Thing is Luke has decided to join the church and marry Annie and doesn't want to take no for an answer. Is Josh really a player or does Annie have the wrong idea about him? Will Annie give in and do what Luke wants or will she realize that there just might be someone else for her after all.<br /><br />The beginning of this story started out a bit predictable but then the author started throwing in several different plot twists that had me changing my mind. I thought the characters in the story seemed very realistic, especially Annie. I could totally understand her love of history and wanting to share it with her pupils. I enjoyed getting to know the different sides of Annie, there was the Annie who stood strong when her beau left her, but we also got a glimpse of an insecure Annie wondering if she would ever have someone of her own, we also saw someone who had a zest for teaching and wanted to share her love of learning with her pupils even though the board members didn't always see things her way. I thought Josh was a good male lead, and while he kept a secret from Annie I still liked him. I liked the unconventional twist the relationship took toward the end of the story.<br /><br />If your a fan of Amish fiction then your going to want to read this story. Even though it's the third book in The Amish of Seymour series it can easily be read as a stand alone work although this series is so good that your going to want to read all three books. On a scale of one to five I would easily give this whole series a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330569380000, "title": "I am going to miss this series!" }, { "asin": "0800719859", "rating": 4, "text": "This book starts out in Williamsburg Virginia in October 1813. The only thing Phoebe Lee really wants to do is practice midwifery, so when her sister-in-law asks her to go to sea with her so that they can rescue her husband who is being held prisoner in England she refuses, after all the country is at war. She soon learns though that she has no choice when she finds herself aboard a ship, and not just any ship, but a British privateer.The captain of the ship Rafe Docherty wants one thing revenge and he thinks that Phoebe just might be able to help him. When he starts having feelings for Phoebe will his priorities change?<br /><br />I thought the author did an amazing job of making this story seem realistic to the time period. While most of the story takes place aboard ship there was still a richness of detail that I enjoyed, it was so hard for me to imagine a female let alone a pregnant female aboard a privateer ship but with amazing clarity the author pulls it off. While some of the language was a bit hard to follow although it did give the book a more authentic feel.I really enjoyed the relationship between the lead characters. Phoebe and Rafe both have issues from their past that they are dealing with, that added an extra layer to their building relationship.<br /><br />\"Hearts Safe Passage\" is the second book in The Midwives Series and while I actually read the first book I feel like this one could be read as a stand alone work. This book worked for me on so many levels, it's a historical romance fiction with strong characters, along with action, suspense, and mystery woven in. What made it a stand out story for me was learning about midwifery during the time period. Overall \"Heart's Safe Passage\" is another great book from Laurie Alice Eakes.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330835536000, "title": "Heart's Safe Passage" }, { "asin": "0764207865", "rating": 5, "text": "At the age of twenty-two Sadie Wagner was a woman, but she still hadn't found the freedom to do what she wanted most. After an accident where her step-father is injured she knows someone needs to help provide for the family and doesn't mind being the one to do it. When she receives a letter from her step cousin Sid who lives in Goldtree, Kansas telling her he has secured her a job clerking in a mercantile she thinks its an answer to a prayer, and something else that he mentions is that there is an opera house and since Sadie's dream is to sing she thinks it might just be her chance to provide for her family and sing at the same time. When she arrives in Goldtree, she soon meets the new sheriff, Thad McKane, whose real dream is to become a minister but takes the job of sheriff to ferret out the culprits responsible for bootlegging, because Kansas is a dry state. She soon realizes that the opera house isn't at all what she thought, and to complicate things even more Sid has feelings for her, but she is drawn to Thad. Can a romance survive between the sheriff and Sadie, even when he begins to suspect that she might be involved in the very crimes he has been hired to take care of?<br /><br />I was drawn to Sadie's character from the first pages of the book. Her goodness easily comes across in the story, and she didn't hesitate to help out her family. I could easily understand her homesickness.The secondary characters really made this book stand out. The Baxter twins and their brother Asa were often funny and oh so easy to visualize. I thought Sid the step-cousin was a bit different, his actions were odd although I sort of chalked it up to being jealous. While there were christian themes running thru the book they weren't overdone or preachy.<br />Overall, I really enjoyed this quick read, and found myself laughing on more than a few occasions. A great historical fiction/romance that is well worth reading!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1331357398000, "title": "great characters make this one a hit" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 5, "text": "While a pretty cover always draws me in (and this cover is beautiful) it takes a good story to keep me interested and that's just what I found in \"Beauty For Ashes.\"<br />The setting for this book is Hickory Ridge, Tennessee and the year is 1876. Carrie Daly finds herself living with her brother Henry in the family home in HIckory Ridge after her husband is killed during the civil war. Henry was the only family she had left and while life wasn't exciting, they had it better than most.Things were ok in the beginning but when Henry takes a wife things start to change. Her friend Nate wants to marry her, but she isn't sure of her feelings, and after she meets Griff Rutledge, a stranger who pulls her out of the way of a run away wagon she can't stop thinking about him. As they become friends the townsfolk wonder why Griff who is a spending time with Carrie, and you can bet Nate isn't happy about it either!<br /><br />The author hit a home run with this story on so many levels. First of all I really enjoy reading about the time period right after the civil war, and then the she is able to give us a glimpse of small town life during that time that really seems authentic. I also found the characters quite easy to relate to as well. I could understand why Carrie felt that she should leave the family home after her brother married. It was easy to see her struggle with allowing God to lead her, even though she read her Bible daily and prayed she often felt discouraged. As her character grew she started to understand that she needed to let God be in control. Griff was a good male lead, I always like when the characters are allowed to be flawed it makes them so much more relate able. While there is a Christian message woven into the story it is very well done and doesn't come off as preachy. Overall if your a fan of historical fiction with romance with interesting characters and a small town feel, that weaves in a nice Christian message run out and pick up a copy of this one, your not going to regret it!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1331357545000, "title": "Beauty for Ashes" }, { "asin": "0310722365", "rating": 5, "text": "The first thing I thought when I pulled this Bible out of the box was what a beautiful cover it had. The pink color and flowers is so feminine and girly that young ladies will just love it. The color of the text inside which is purple is something that I loved as well, and while the colors are very eye catching, its the many different features of this Bible that makes it perfect for young girls.<br /><br />The features include:<br />1. Dream Girl: A feature that will help young readers imagine themselves in some of the most familiar and amazing Bible stories.<br /><br />2. Bring It On! Are quizzes used to help the reader get to know themselves, this feature also points to Bible verses that will encourage the reader.<br /><br />3. OH, I Get It! The Bible is more than just stories, it is filled with information and this feature will share some of that information with questions.<br /><br />4. Book introductions: Highlights the main topics of each book of the Bible and applies them to the reader's life.<br /><br />5. Treasure This! Verses to help the reader keep God's word in their heart.<br /><br />6. Is There a little ___in You? The feature allows you to see different character traits of some of the great people in the Bible, and allows the reader to see if they might have some of those character traits themselves.<br /><br />7. In Your Own Words: Allows the reader to create a list of events to tell a Bible story in your their own words.<br /><br />While this Bible is geared towards young ladies nine and older, I actually enjoy reading it myself. It's bright and colorful and is chock full of useful information. Because it's a NIV version it's easy for young readers to understand. Overall I think any young girl would love a copy of this Bible and I think it would make a wonderful Easter gift.<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this Bible was provided in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1333421609000, "title": "Very eye catching Bible for tween girls" }, { "asin": "1595548874", "rating": 4, "text": "I must admit Beth Wiseman is one of my favorite Amish storytellers, so I was excited to read a non-Amish story by her. With \"Need You Now\" I must say she really knows how to deliver a contemporary story. With this story she not only delivers believable characters who are dealing with real life issues, but also a fast moving plot that deals with family drama that kept me reading.<br />To look at the Henderson family they seem to be a successful family that has it all together. Darlene is a stay at home mother to three teen children, her marriage seems good, her husband is about to be promoted and the family just purchased Darlene's grandparents farm and decide to move to the country. Peel away the layers though and we quickly see that the children are having problems adjusting,especially her daughter Grace who is harming herself, and Darlene is struggling with the fact that she no longer feels needed or heard. When she takes a job outside the home and another man starts to pay attention to her, could it put her marriage in jeopardy? How will things work out for this family? As their faith is tested will they be drawn closer together as a family or will they be pulled apart?<br />One of my favorite things about this story was the fact that we see the situation thru the eyes of several characters, allowing a different perspectives on the story. A story that drew me in from the beginning and kept me wondering how this family saga would work out. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1335236786000, "title": "Family Drama" }, { "asin": "140168680X", "rating": 4, "text": "Biblical fiction is fast becoming one of my favorite genres so I was excited to read \"Garden of Madness\" which tells the story of the Babylonian Princess Tiamet, the daughter of King Nebuchadnezzar, whose madness has had him living in the palace garden for the last seven years while his family kept his condition hidden from the public. When a murder takes place inside the palace Tia decides to try and figure out what is going on, and uncovers truths that she could never have imagined.<br />The author easily brings the characters to life in this story. Even though the book is a work of fiction her descriptions brings the scenes to life, and makes the characters so easy to connect with. I really enjoyed the interactions between Tia and her father, and loved that she stood by him when others didn't.The author provides several plot twists that kept me guessing. While there is a bit of romance woven into the story for me its the mystery and suspense as well as the way the author holds pretty close to the actual Biblical story that makes this book a real winner for me.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1335840992000, "title": "Great Biblical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800719719", "rating": 4, "text": "Historical romance is one of my favorite genres to read and when the author is able to weave in a few positive messages or historical facts that make me feel as if I am actually getting a bit of a history lesson well then that makes the book a must read for me, and that's just what we get in \"A Love Forbidden.\"<br /><br />The year is 1879 and the book is set in the Colorado Rockies , and gives us the story of twenty-one year old Shiloh Wainright and Jesse Blackwater .Shiloh has signed a contract to teach for the White River Indian Agency,and looks forward to teaching the Ute children white men's ways while helping them remember their own culture. She is in for a surprise when she reconnects with her childhood friend Jesse Blackwater. Soon their friendship threatens to turn into more, but things are complicated because Jesse is 1/2 Indian,.add to this the fact that Indians and whites are on the verge of battle, and you can't help but wonder if a relationship can ever work between these two.<br /><br />The author weaves a story that easily captured my attention. I have always found this time period in the west intriguing.The author deals with the time period where the US Government made promises to the Native Americans but didn't always keep them. Shiloh was a compassionate caring person,and Jesse seemed like someone who was caught between two worlds.I enjoyed watching the feelings grow between the two characters. While I enjoyed the characters for me it was the historical elements that made the book a real winner. The author describes the tensions that are going on between the Whites and Native Americans,and allows the reader to see the prejudices that took place during that time in history. Anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction that weaves together romance and an inspirational message will certainly want to check out this book. While this is the second book in the Heart Of The Rockies series I feel as if it can be read as a stand alone work.<br />rating 4/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1338091007000, "title": "Love Forbidden" }, { "asin": "0800734378", "rating": 4, "text": "Patsy Milstrap wishes she could leave her past in the past. Up until the age of thirteen she lived in a home with an abusive stepfather. One day though her mother realizes that Patsy needs to be sent away. She goes to live with a nice christian couple and begins a new life. She marries a wonderful man and has children and as much as she tries to forget her past for the sake of her family its a difficult thing to do. When a vacation in Florida has her facing someone from her past, she knows that she will have to deal with her past if she is ever going to have a future.<br />\"Waiting for Sunrise\" is the second book in the Cedar Key series but can easily be read as a stand alone work. The author weaves an emotional story that easily pulled me in from the beginning. As the story unfolds we get glimpses of Patsy's past allowing us to understand how she came to be the person she is. Patsy was a character that was so easy to connect with. Her painful past was difficult for her to deal with, she cant help but wonder why her mother would have given her away. Gilbert was a wonderful husband who would do anything to help Patsy.<br />The secondary story of her mother and brothers added to the overall plot. It was interesting to see how the abusive home life affected each person.A story that deals with some pretty tough subjects, but also reminds that sometimes the only way to have a future is to deal with your past.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1339907090000, "title": "emotionally charged" }, { "asin": "1416599959", "rating": 5, "text": "Deborah Raney is easily one of my favorite authors. Her stories are ones that I often think about for weeks after reading. She has a way of drawing me into a story, making me feel as if I personally know the characters, and that's just how I feel about the Hanover Falls series.<br /><br />Susan Marlowe is dealing with the pain of losing her husband in the Grove Street fire, but a secret that he was carrying comes to light, a secret that breaks her heart, and has her wondering if she really knew the man she was married to. How will she deal with the hurt?<br /><br />Even though this is the third book in a series, the story line still has the ability to provide a few twists and turns that kept me reading. There is still the mystery of who actually set the fire, as well as the emotional turmoil of losing loved ones, and trying to move on after such a tragedy. Susan is a commendable character. She is trying to keep the homeless shelter going, while dealing with the loss of her husband. When her son Davey not only drops out of college but also starts coming home drunk, she learns that he is carrying a painful secret, something that he knew about his father, her husband.<br /><br />\"After All\" is the third and final installment of the Hanover Falls Series, and while this book can be read as a stand alone work, the series is filled with such amazing characters that you really are going to want to read all three books. While I enjoyed the way the author wraps up this series, I really am going to miss my visits to Hanover Falls. I highly recommend this entire series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1339909458000, "title": "I'm going to miss this series" }, { "asin": "1595549978", "rating": 4, "text": "Hope Springs North Carolina is small town USA and is the setting for the latest contemporary novel by Kim Cash Tate. It tells the story of three women, Janelle Evans, Becca Anderson, and Stephanie London, cousins who find themselves headed home to Hope Springs for a Christmas time family reunion,and to spend time with the matriarch of the family their grandmother Geri. When they learn that Geri has a terminal illness they decide to stay in Hope Springs and help her. Spending time in this small town will change their lives forever.<br /><br />What a touching story. I do admit that there were plenty of characters to learn in the first several chapters and was glad that there was a family tree provided at the beginning of the book. Once I learned who everyone was and the issues that was going on it became a compelling story that I couldn't put down. The author creates authentic characters that are very easy to connect to.The small town feel of this book was wonderfully portrayed. One of my favorite characters in the story had to be Jeri, she was such a strong woman.<br />The author deals with several heavy subjects, but also gives several positive,uplifting messages as well. Overall a very well written story that provides a few twists and turns that kept me reading.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1340156416000, "title": "Hope Springs" }, { "asin": "0800720482", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become an avid reader of Biblical fiction and one of my favorite authors of this genre is Diana Wallis Taylor. She writes her stories in such a way that once you finish the book I always come away with a deeper understanding of not only the character that she writes about but also about the Bible verses that center around the character.<br /><br />Her latest book shines the spotlight on \"Mary Magdalene.\" We learn that she was an only child, her father a very successful boat builder. At the age of eleven her life changed dramatically when she is kidnapped.Her father pays the ransom to get her back, but after the incident Mary suffers from headaches,nightmares and seizures. While her loved ones sympathized with her, the people of her village shun her, fearing that she is crazy or worse. When they hear rumors that the Messiah is coming, a man named Jesus, the son of God,they wonder if it is true and if perhaps he will be able to help Mary.<br /><br />\"Mary Magdalene\" is another great fictional Biblical story from Diana Wallis Taylor. With her well crafted storytelling and attention to historical detail the author easily pulls me right into the story. The author writes with a clarity that brings the characters to life, and makes it easy to understand their stories. After reading this story I was propelled to dig out my Bible and read all that I could find about Mary Magdalene. Anyone who enjoys Biblical fiction is in for a real treat with this story. Recommended.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1340508191000, "title": "Fiction that brings Bible characters to life" }, { "asin": "0800734556", "rating": 5, "text": "\"The Gift\" by Ann Gabhart is the fifth installment in her Shaker Village series,and this book is just as great as all the others in the series I have read.<br /><br />Jessamine Brady is twenty, she moved to the Shaker Village at the age of ten after the death of her grandmother, and the one thing she remembered her grandmother encouraging her to do was follow her dreams. While she loves her Harmony Hill family she has always felt like she doesn't belong in the Shaker Village. When she meets Tristan Cooper someone from the outside world she finds herself at a crossroads, will she have the courage to step out into the world, or will she decide that her home is actually in Harmony Hill?<br /><br />I really enjoy when I have the ability to read a book and feel as if I am getting a bit of education to boot and that's just how I feel when I read Ann Gabhart's stories that are centered around the Shakers. She weaves together an intriguing story that always holds my attention while giving accurate glimpses of how it might have been to have lived as a Shaker.The author provides plenty of conflict, along with romance and a bit of suspense that certainly kept me reading. Add to the mix like-able characters and a historical setting making it a book that I couldn't resist. Recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1341919800000, "title": "The Gifted" }, { "asin": "1595547819", "rating": 4, "text": "Imagine finding out that a father you really never knew left you some valuable property, and imagine meeting half brothers and sisters whom you never knew existed thinking that you are trying to steal what rightfully belongs to them. Well that's just what happens to Libby Holladay the main character in Colleen Coble's newest novel \"Tidewater Inn.\"<br /><br />Libby and her best friend Nicole are co-owners of Holladay Renovations, a business that restores historical properties. Nicole not only handles the financial side of the business but also convinces potential clients to do business with them, meanwhile Libby takes care of the restoration. While researching a job on the Outer Banks Libby learns that she has actually inherited The Tidewater Inn along with property from a father whom she believed had died when she was five. Instead she learns her father has recently passed away leaving her the inheritance, and what's more she has half siblings that she never knew existed, siblings that are none to happy about her inheriting the inn. In addition to this earth shattering news, her business partner is kidnapped and Libby not only saw the whole thing but becomes a suspect in the crime. Can she prove her innocence, while trying to find Nicole, and what about the Tidewater Inn, will she be able to keep and restore it, or will she have to sell it, and will she ever be accepted by her new family?<br /><br />Interesting, well developed characters and a great plot made this a fast moving story for me. I found myself immediately drawn into the story, and wondered not only what Libby would do, but whether she would ever be accepted by a family she didn't know existed. Libby was a character that was easy to relate to and understand. If you enjoy a well written story filled with mystery, suspense, family drama,romance, and a nice spiritual message you just might enjoy this one, I know I did. Recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1341974234000, "title": "Tidewater Inn" }, { "asin": "0800734580", "rating": 5, "text": "Irene Hannon has become a go to author for me whenever I want to read a suspense filled mystery that also blends a christian message together with just enough clues to keep me turning the pages in anticipation right up until the end. I have enjoyed reading the Guardians of Justice series and while I looked forward to reading this book, I was sort of sad as well, because \"Lethal Legacy\" is the final book in the series.<br /><br />There are so many things that I enjoyed bout this book, but overall it's the author's style of writing that captivates me. She has an uncanny way of allowing us a glimpse inside the killers mind revealing what he is thinking while keeping us guessing as to who the killer might be, and the killer isn't always easy to figure out, but it always makes sense in the end. Since this book is the third and final book in the \"Guardian of Justice\" series while I believe that it can be read as a stand alone work I highly recommend that the entire series should be read in order to get the full scope of the story. If your a fan of suspense,mystery with a light romance, and a christian theme woven in your going to enjoy this series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1344787029000, "title": "Well written suspense" }, { "asin": "0764209132", "rating": 5, "text": "allie Kincaid and her eight month old son are headed out to find her husband Seth Kincaid, who just up and took off one day. When her stagecoach is waylaid by bandits and she finds herself in the middle of a shoot out, while she waits for the other passengers to go bring help back. Well help arrives in the form of her husband Seth, a husband who doesn't even remember that he has a wife, and never knew he had a son.<br /><br />This was such a quick read, I really fell in love with the characters and couldn't put the story down. Callie was a no nonsense type of person, who wanted to know why her husband up and left her, which was a very good question. I could easily forgive Seth though when we learn why he left her behind.Once he realizes he has a wife he is determined to do the right thing, although I could understand why Callie was guarding her heart this time around.<br /><br />Mary Connealy really knows how to write a story. As a fan of historical fiction, I really love being drawn back in time, and when there is romance, along with a good dose of humor well I am sold! I would say that \"Over The Edge' is the third book in the Kincaid Brides series, and while we do get a bit of background information it is best to read the entire series in order to fully understand the characters. Grantastic series, and I really hope the author continues with another book! Highly recommended.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1345430910000, "title": "Fun read" }, { "asin": "0764206176", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Taming The Wind\" takes pace in North Texas in 1868. Carissa Lowe has spent the last two years of her life trying to find peace in her heart. The nightmares and bad memories of Malcolm, her now deceased husband continues to haunt her. You see two years ago, she thought she new the man she married, instead he was on the run from the army, and decided to use her sister Laura and Clarissa to try and save himself, by taking them hostage, and then throwing them into the Gulf off the Corpus Christi coast. Fortunatly they were both saved, even though Malcolm wasn't. For Carissa though she no longer trusts her judgement where men are concerned, and has shied away from all men except for her brother-in-law, and the man who saved her Tyler Artherton, although she hasn't seen Tyler in the last two years because she has lived the last two years with her parents, and her baby daughter Gloria in Corpus Christi. When her parents decide to take a trip she decides to go spend the summer with Laura and her husband on their ranch.<br /><br />Tyler Artherton is staying on a friends ranch while he works out some issues of his own. He had never really stopped thinking about Carissa, and when he learns that she is staying on a neighboring ranch, he finds himself drawn to her and her daughter Gloria. Will Tyler and Carissa find happiness together or are there to many obstacles in the way? Will Carissa ever find the peace that she longs for?<br /><br />Even though \"Taming The Wind\" is the third book in Tracie Peterson's Land of the Lonestar series, I felt like the author gave enough background information so this book could be read as a stand alone work. This book takes place right after the civil war which easily drew me into the story because this is one of my favorite time periods to read about. The two main characters Carissa and Tyler were so easy to connect and emphathize with. I felt like Ms. Peterson did a very realistic job of allowing them to grow as the story progressed. I found the secondary characters really added to the overall story. I am a long time fan of Tracie Peterson and always look forward to reading whatever she writes, and this book certainly didn't disappoint. Fans of historical inspirational romances where the setting comes to life will certainly want to read this one, but since its part of a three book series why not read them all. Highly recommended!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1346817786000, "title": "Fans of historical inspirational romance will enjoy this one" }, { "asin": "1595548033", "rating": 4, "text": "Dylan Taylor is a smooth talking ladies man and Annie Wilkerson isn't interested. When Dylan's best horse, Braveheart, has a condition that has his vet suggesting he put the horse down, Dylan goes to Annie for help. Annie knows just about everything there is to know about horses. She writes a bi-weekly column in Montana Living today called \"Ask Avery\" which answers readers questions about equine problems. When Annie gets a call from her editor informing her that her column is being cut from the magazine, although she is offered another column, thing is its a column giving advice to the lovelorn. Annie has never been in love so how can she write an advice column? She decides to strike up a deal with Dylan, she will help his horse if he will help her with her column. As she gets to know the true Dylan she realizes he is different that she first assumed. Will Annie decide that some cowboys aren't so bad after all?<br /><br />Annie Wilkerson is someone you just can't help but like. She is looking out for her twenty year old sister Seirra,who by the way is raising four year old Ryder, works hard and is just a down to earth person, dealing with life's issues. She doesn't trust cowboys and I could certainly understand why. She wants safe and predictable in her life but that isn't what God has in mind for her. I enjoyed getting to know Dylan's character as well, both really had issues from their past that they needed to take care of. I found myself enjoying the twangy style of dialogue that popped up in the story, it really gave the book a real cowboy flavor for me.Another neat thing that I enjoyed about this story was how in the beginning each chapter opened with a bit of advice about horses, when Annie's job changed the chapters started opening up with bits of advice for the lovelorn.<br /><br />I really loved the town of Moose Creek and found \"The Trouble With Cowboys\" a delightful inspirational romantic read.Sometimes christian romance can come off a bit strong, but Denise Hunter really strikes a great balance with her writing. She provides a sweet romance that also weaves in a nice wholesome feeling to her stories, while also giving a few laughs.While this book is a part of a series the author writes it in such a way that it can be read as a stand alone work, but if you enjoy a great read, then your going to want to read the entire series.", "timestamp": 1349196283000, "title": "The Trouble With Cowboys" }, { "asin": "0800721322", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Life With Lily\" is such a delightful read. I found myself enjoying the many things that went on in young Lily Lapp's life. We first meet Lily as she and her younger brother Joseph are whisked off in the middle of the night to their grandparent's house, and we soon learn new baby Dannie has been born into the Lapp family. I found myself laughing at Lily's reaction as she first meets her new baby brother, not to mention the reaction she has to Freida Troyer who has come to help her mother for a few days after the birth of the baby. There are so many happenings around an Amish farm, from a barn raising to getting a new milk cow and even a trip to Kentucky to see the Lapp grandparents. One thing is for certain, life is never boring when you see things thru the eyes of Lily Lapp.<br /><br />I loved this book, once I started reading it I just couldn't put it down. I enjoyed meeting the Lapp family and was a bit surprise at where the final chapters led us. The illustrations are very well done, and further enhance the story. I really can't wait to read the next book in The Adventures of Lily Lapp series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1349581688000, "title": "Perfect for all ages" }, { "asin": "0800734173", "rating": 5, "text": "Seventeen year old Susannah Grace Kennedy made the move from Badger, Iowa to Boston after the death of her parents. She is going to be living with her aunt Eleanor, and has decided she wants to forget her \"good girl\" past, and even decides she wants to be called Annie. Her sister Maggie had sent her letters while in college raving about the hot spots in Boston, so Annie starts hanging out with a fast crowd, and making some choices that aren't so wise. When she meets Steven O'Connor her sister's former fiancee she falls hard for him. Thing is he doesn't know that Annie is actually Maggie's sister, and Steven really isn't interested anyway, or at least that's what he keeps telling himself. What will happen when he realizes who Annie really is?<br /><br />Another great story from Julie Lessman! I enjoyed connecting with the characters from the former books, and with that said, even though this is the third book in the Wind Of Change series it can easily be read as a stand alone work.<br />The thing that I enjoy about this series is the many subplots that go on within the book, and \"A Love Surrendered\" is no different. The main characters are Steven a prohibition agent with the government that is dealing with a broken heart, even though he was the one to break things off with Maggie he believes he is still in love with her. Annie seems like someone who is anxous to grow up.It was so nice to see both of the characters grow spiritually as the story progressed. The secondary stories really keep the plot moving along, and allow us to reconnect with the O'Connor family. Overall I have really enjoyed this series, it has everything that I enjoy reading. Historical fiction that brings the time period to life along with great characters, romance and a nice inspirational message who could ask for anything more?<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1350262108000, "title": "Fantastic series" }, { "asin": "0857212052", "rating": 4, "text": "Coming back to work after the death of his partner, Frank Campello finds himself paired with a new partner. Andy Polanski is an officer that has a reputation of being on to steer clear of, and unfortunately he is Frank's new partner.As the two investigate the brutal murder of a young girl, they quickly learn that there is more to the murder than meets the eye. As they continue to dig, the learn that an organized crime ring is involved and that ring has some friends in high places. Will they be able to solve the crimes and bring the criminals to justice.<br /><br />\"The Sons of Jude\" gave me a good look at how crime families operate, something I really don't think I have ever read about before.It was intesting to see how they can get thier footing in politics and then sort of run the show. This was a very well written suspense, thriller, that provided a few twists, and a satisfying ending. Normally I enjoy a fast paced read, however \"The Sons of Jude,\" moves along at at slower pace providing rich detail, that really allowed the story to build for me. Overall, I enjoyed reading this one, and the ending has me putting the next book in this series on my TBR list.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1350699592000, "title": "The Sons of Jude" }, { "asin": "0310330459", "rating": 5, "text": "To say that I love this series is an understatement. I feel like Ms. Chapman's storytelling just gets better and better. While I love the mystery that takes place in each of the Shipshewana Amish Mystery series, it's really the friendships that take place between the Amish and English characters that really sells me on the series.<br /><br />The Fall Crafters Fair which is Shipshewana's largest festival of the year, is in full swing, when a murder takes place in the parking lot of Daisy's Quilt Shop.With only one witness to the crime, it might not be so easy to solve. As things start to escalate Callie realizes that she just might be the intended target, it seems she has something the killer wants, but she isn't sure what it is! Thing is this killer isn't going to stop until he gets it, regardless of what he has to do. Can the police figure it out, or will it take Callie and her friends to solve this one?<br /><br />To say this book has a fast moving plot is an understatement! Once I started reading it, I couldn't wait to see what might happen! There were several suspenseful moments in the story, which pulled it right along. This book really has it all,in addition to the small town feel of the story, it has the Amish/Englisher friendship, a splash of romance,a nice mystery, a dog, baby, Amish children one of which is dealing with an illness that was new to me. Chicken Breast Disease was something I had never heard of but learned a bit about in this story.I always enjoy whenever a dog is included in a story and with this one we have Max. The author provides a satisfying ending, that wraps up the story nicely, I just hope that this book isn't the final one in the series.<br /><br />While this is the third book in the Shipshewana Amish Mystery series it can easily be read as a stand alone work, although if you're a fan of Amish fiction, cozy mysteries, or just a great read, you are certainly going to want to read the entire series. Each story is a good clean read, that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1351647118000, "title": "Great series" }, { "asin": "1603745068", "rating": 3, "text": "Kristi Lapp is a young Amish lady who is also a practicing midwife for her community. While on her way to an appointment she winds up in a buggy accident.Shane Zimmerman, her next door neighbor and local veterinarian happens by and finds her buggy and gets Kristi to the hospital. Because her parents are in Florida, Shane takes it upon himself to start visiting Kristi daily while she is in the hospital. He also decides to start taking care of Chinook, so that the dog can get the exercise he needs until Kristi recovers. Soon though Kristi starts having feelings for Shane, and he feels drawn to her as well. Of course when Kristi's dad comes home and forbids Shane from having anything else to do with Kristi because he is afraid she might leave the faith. How can an Amish midwife and an Englisher vet ever have a chance at love?<br /><br />I became a fan of Laura V. Hilton after reading her last series, The Amish of Seymour, and I like how some of the characters from that series was mentioned in this book. There were several things that I really liked about \"Healing Love\" but there were a few things that also fell a bit flat for me as well. So I am going to expound on the positive aspects first. The author captured my attention from the beginning pages. Kristi, a practicing Amish midwife has a buggy accident while on her way to visit a patient. Well that grabbed my attention, and then we are introduced to Shane Zimmeran, a promising character who has roots that harken back to the Amish but is now an Englisher. As Kristi's neighbor he gets her to the hospital, and then starts spending time with her. They are drawn to each other, but both know that a relationship is next to impossible. Seems though they find themselves together at every turn, as if fate is drawing them together. Shane's feelings about midwives really was understandable. I thought the secondary story of Shane's sister and her baby added to the overall effect of the story. I always enjoy whenever a dog is added to a story and with this one we have Chinook, Kristi's dog who loved Shane as well.<br /><br />The things that fell a bit flat for me was the complaining that Kristi often did about English food, I mean that sort of got old fast. I also felt like Kristi's dad, and uncle were a bit wishy washy when it came to trying to keep Kristi and Shane apart, and I was really shocked at the manner in which Ira threw Kristi out of the house. Overall, not my favorite Hilton read, but still good. I look forward to reading her next book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352261572000, "title": "Healing Love" }, { "asin": "0310335108", "rating": 4, "text": "It's been two years since Sarah Shetler's best friend Patty died in unexpectedly and since then Sarah has carried around a memory jar, and keeps her memories tucked inside so that she won't have to deal with her emotions.When she meets Jathan Schrock, an Amish bachelor with issues of his own, something changes. Can Jathan penetrate the walls that Sarah has built around her heart?<br /><br />Overall, I enjoyed this book. It dealt with loss, pain, friendship,and the wonderful inspirational message of allowing God to heal. While I enjoyed reading about Sarah and Patty's friendship, I found that the flashbacks of these memories sometimes broke the flow of the story and made it feel a bit choppy for me. It did seem very realistic that it took time for Sarah to heal, from her loss. Jathan is also dealing with issues that make both of the characters seem very realistic. It was so nice to see the characters grow and change as the story progressed.<br /><br />While this wasn't my favorite Tricia Goyer novel, I did enjoy it. There are discussion questions that would make this a great book club selection. The author also includes a glossary of words used by the Amish that is very helpful. I am anxious to read the next book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series.<br /><br />3.5/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352345899000, "title": "The Memory Jar" }, { "asin": "0736951512", "rating": 5, "text": "I am a true fan of Jerry Eicher. I have been reading his Amish fiction for quite some time and I normally never have a complaint about his work, well with \"Susanna's Christmas Wish\" my only complaint was that it didn't last long enough. The characters were great, the story line was perfect for my Christmas reading marathon, and while it was a short read that didn't last long enough for me. The author does provide well fleshed characters, and a nice plot that is short, sweet and satisfying!<br /><br />Mathew Yoder and Susanna Keim had been dating for two years, and were actually engaged when Mathew broke her heart when he decided to leave the Amish life. When Herman Wagler asks her to marry him she agrees even though she doesn't love him like she did Matthew, she is sure that in time she will. Problems start to arise when Herman announces that he doesn't celebrate Christmas the way Susanna's family does. Added to this Matthew is back in town. How will this affect the newly married couple, is their marriage able to withstand all the turmoil going on? Pick up \"Susanna's Christmas Wish\" and find out!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352779454000, "title": "Jerry Eicher is the king of Amish fiction!" }, { "asin": "0800720040", "rating": 5, "text": "The year is 1882, in the Wyoming Territory. After the death of her husband Josef, Celia Anderson is running a boarding house in the town of Easton to support her six month old Emma. Her friend Bertha keeps telling her it's time to find herself a new husband, but Celia has decided that she will only marry for love, and besides she stays very busy running her boarding house and babysitting young Aaron. Mark Williams has been looking for his father for two years,and his search has led him to Easton, to Celia's boarding house. As she gets to know Mark she sees the kind man that he is, but is he the right man for her, after all will he even stick around? While Mark feels drawn to Celia, will he stay in Easton?<br /><br />A short novella that was such a satisfying, quick read. I loved the characters, as well as the small town feel of the story. Celia and Mark were such good lead characters. She was strong, after all she had lost her husband, was trying to raise a daughter and run a boarding house, but the author allowed us to see another side of Celia, one who wanted to be loved and cherished. Mark was such a wonderful man, one I would consider a true gentleman. While he was carrying a bit of hurt from his past it didn't make him bitter. Strong secondary characters rounded out the story quite well, and I would love to see a story develop around Jacob, Arron's father, who had intentions of sending away for a mail order bride. Overall, a short, sweet, historical fiction that warmed my heart.<br /><br />A complementary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1353652395000, "title": "short,sweet, historical Christmas read" }, { "asin": "1401685676", "rating": 4, "text": "This book encompasses two of my favorite types of books Amish fiction and short stories. \"An Amish Kitchen\" is comprised of three short stories written by three of today's premiere Amish fiction authors.<br /><br />The first story is a \"Taste of Faith\" written by Kelly Long. Twenty year old Deborah Zook has been living with her grandmother Esther Zook since the age of five when her parents died of the flu. She has a love for tending flowers and herbs and her grandmother has the wish to see her trained in healing herbs, but more than that she wishes that her granddaughter would find a man and marry, and truthfully Fern wishes for someone as well. At the age of twenty-three Abram Fisher is a dyed in the wool bachelor, who never paid any attention to Fern, but when he needs Fern's help after his sister Mary becomes sunburned he begins to look at Fern in a different light. Will fate bring these two together?<br /><br />\"A Spoonful of Love\" by Amy Clipston is the story of Hannah King, who has been managing the Paradise Inn since her father had a stroke a year ago. When Stephen Esh comes to town looking for a place to stay he rents a room at the end. Could Stephen be the one Hannah has been hoping will come into her life? What about his past, why is he so far from home? Will he be able to let go of the past and embrace the future?<br /><br />\"A Recipe for Hope\"by Beth Wiseman is the story of Eve Bender. At the age of thirty-eight Eve Bender finds herself moving back home with her parents after a tree crashes into her farmhouse. Not only is she moving back home but she her husband and three teen age boys who are going thru rumspringa also will be moving in as well. Eve and her mother often didn't see eye to eye on things will spending two months under her parents roof allow them to heal the hurts from the past?<br /><br />I loved each of these stories, that gently remind of faith and family. My favorite story easily had to be \"A Recipe for Hope.\" I enjoyed the fact that Eve was a bit older and her sons added an interesting layer to the story.Her oldest son Leroy is eighteen and Amos and Elias are her twin sixteen year old boys. Amos also has a Chinese Water Dragon that provided a few funny moments.<br /><br />If you have never read Amish fiction this book is a delightful way to sample these three great authors. There is a glossary of \"Amish\" words included for newbie Amish fiction readers. The recipes which include some herbal treatments are just an added bonus. While each story is a tad predictable overall I enjoyed each of them, and would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good clean read with a splash of romance and an Amish cast of characters.<br /><br />Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1354680094000, "title": "An Amish Kitchen" }, { "asin": "0800719891", "rating": 5, "text": "I have loved the entire Stoney Ridge Seasons series and couldn't wait to read Mary Kate's story who happened to be one of my favorite characters in the series. All I can say is that Suzanne saved the best story for last!<br />At the age of nineteen Mary Kate also known as M.K. is still a bit irresponsible and full of mischief, but when one of her stunts has her running into the Amish teacher she is forced to grow up quick and take over the responsibilities of being the teacher. Will she take the job seriously? Well in the beginning M.K. doesn't do very well, but soon with the help of a former teacher things start to look up. Will M.K. ever really settle down, and do we really want her too! Added to this is an unexpected death, a mysterious stranger comes to town, along with that someone comes up missing, and you have a page turner filled with plenty of interesting happenings, that include a few unexpected twists!<br /><br />From the beginning paragraphs Ms. Fisher creates a story that's filled with a bit of mystery along with plenty of excitement for nineteen year old M.K. Lapp who had been longing for a bit of adventure. I just loved the words the author used to express the restlessness that M.K. felt. They allowed for such vivid scenes to play out in my head, I could just imagine M.K. feeling the need to spread her wings and fly to someplace that would seem more exciting than her tiny town!<br />I have read each book in this wonderful series, and for me each story just keeps getting better. I enjoyed meeting the new characters in the story, and loved reconnecting with the Lapp family, including Doozy the dog! Fans of Amish fiction will love this story, but anyone who enjoys a bit of mystery, romance and a story that will keep you glued to the pages then your going to want to read the entire series, and if you have never read anything by Ms. Fisher why not start with the Stoney Ridge Seasons, I promise you wont be disappointed. On a scale of one of one to five I would easily give this entire series a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1357271048000, "title": "The Lesson" }, { "asin": "0800719867", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Choices of the Heart\" is the third book in The Midwives series and takes place in Virginia in 1842. Esther Cherrett finds herself in the midst of something that forces her to head for the mountains of Virginia and take a job teaching, hoping that she can leave her problems behind. Instead she finds herself smack dab in the middle of a family feud between the Tollivers and the Brooks, added to that is the fact that Griff Tolliver as well as Zach Brooks wants to court her. Which one will win her heart, and does it really matter, especially when her past catches up with her? What will happen when the past she tried to outrun reaches the mountains?<br /><br />As a fan of historical fiction I have enjoyed this entire series. Ms. Eakes does a wonderful job of creating realistic characters that are very easy to connect with because of the issues that they are dealing with. Esther's character wants to run from her past, but learns that the past has a way of catching up with you anyway. It was interesting to see her character grow and change as the story progressed. Griff was determined to see the feud end between the families, which made him a stand out character for me. While I enjoyed the characters I also loved the way the author brought the region to life, the descriptions allowed me to envision the area as well as the time period. Overall the historical feel of the story along with a great plot that provided a few twists made this a great read. While this book could be read as a stand alone work, I recommend reading the entire series. If your a fan of historical romance, with an inspirational bent your going to enjoy \"Choices of the Heart.\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1358659590000, "title": "Choices of the Heart" }, { "asin": "0800734602", "rating": 5, "text": "Cheyenne Wyoming Territory is the setting for \"Waiting for Spring.\" It's 1886 and its been a year since Charlotte Harding's world was turned upside down, and she was forced to flee to Cheyenne so that she and her young son David might be safe. While she has made a new life and friends, even opening a dress shop, she still worried for the safety of her son. When she meets Barrett Landry, a wealthy rancher who has political aspirations they are drawn to each other, but he needs a wife with political connections and she can't risk her past being exposed, what will happen between them?<br /><br />Charlotte was such a nice character, a wonderful mother willing to do whatever she needed to do to protect her son. I so wanted things to work out for Charlotte. I enjoyed reading about her dress shop, as well as her interactions with her customers. There are several secondary characters that really propel this story along including Gwen Amos and her daughter Rose who was a great help to Charlotte. A great well rounded story, romance, with mystery,suspense as well as the historical setting made this book a real winner for me. To be honest I was drawn to this book because of it's beautiful cover, but the characters and story are what truly shine with this one. Amanda Cabot is easily one of my favorite historical fiction writers, and I look forward to reading the next book in the Westward Winds series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1358662438000, "title": "Waiting for the next book in this fantastic series" }, { "asin": "0800720393", "rating": 5, "text": "After a disastrous marriage Charlotte Farrow finds it necessary to flee her husband in order to keep not only herself but her newborn son safe as well. She becomes a maid for the Banning household, but one of the job requirements was that she be unmarried and without children, so she keeps her son a secret. When Mrs. Given, the lady that Charlotte has entrusted with her young son Henry, has a family emergency and needs to leave town she brings the baby to Charlotte at work. Charlotte finds herself in a dilemma, if she confesses she will certainly lose her job, but if she doesn't will she lose her son?<br /><br />While this book is the second in the Avenue of Dreams series I feel like it can be read as a stand alone work, although because the first book was quite engaging I would recommend reading it as well. This book picks up right were the last one left off. I found myself feeling empathy for Charlotte's dilemma, and couldn't imagine being in her position. Lose her job, or protect her son, and not only that there is the hopes of romance, but when or if the truth comes out will it be the end of her hopes for a new beginning? In addition to Charlotte's compelling story we get a very good glimpse the differences between the social classes during this time in history. Also we get a great historical glance of the Chicago's Worlds Fair. Overall, fans of historical fiction will certainly enjoy not only this book but the entire series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1359426815000, "title": "Historical fiction fans will enjoy this series" }, { "asin": "0800721330", "rating": 5, "text": "\"A New Home for Lily\" has Lily and her family moving to Pennsylvania to be closer to family. Things are really changing for young Lily. She no longer has her own bedroom, she finds herself in a new school with new children, added to that is the fact that there is a new baby in the house. She does have her faithful dolly Sally. While some changes seem a little intimidating some are chock full of fun. One things certain young Lily keeps her faithful dolly Sally close by for comfort! Will Lily adjust to all the changes going on? Read this wonderful book to be pulled along into young Lily's life where adventures abound, and the reader gets wonderful glimpses of Amish life.<br /><br />While this book is geared toward the younger reading set, I find it a totally refreshing read. I enjoy reading about the day to day Amish goings on, and the character of Lily is just wonderful. Life is full of adventure and never boring your Lily. A great read whether your eight or eighty. Young girls are going to enjoy Lily and her adventures while they learn about the Amish lifestyle. I can't recommend this series enough. On a scale of one to five it easily gets a six in my book!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1360552318000, "title": "A New Home for Lily" }, { "asin": "0800734300", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become a huge fan of Biblical fiction so to say I was excited to read \"Rebekah\" is sort of an understatement, because I remember reading her story in the book of Genesis.Well after reading Jill Eileen Smith's fictionalized account of her story, I know I will never forget Rebekah, because she brought the story to life making me feel as if I was right there as the events take place.The twins that she bore, and who she chose as her favorite. Ms. Smith allowed me to see Rebekah as a mother, not just another woman in the Bible. The author easily pulled me back into Bible days, with a richness in descriptions that brought the time and setting to life. I certainly enjoyed how the author incorporated scripture verses thru the story. Overall, fans of Biblical fiction will certainly want to read this one, but anyone who enjoys historical fiction with romance, where the characters just happen to be from the Bible will certainly want to read this memorable story. I can't wait to read the next book in this exciting series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361247483000, "title": "Rebekah" }, { "asin": "0800720733", "rating": 4, "text": "I love books that take place around the time of the Civil War so \"When the Heart Heals\" was a much anticipated read for me. This book takes place during 1867 in Noble Springs, Missouri. Rosemary Saxon was a nurse during the civil war, but with the war over she has to support herself somehow so she decides to work for Dr. Elijah Stewart the doctor in town.Rosemary believes in using herbal remedies and often gives out advice against which is something the doctor doesn't care for, which often causes them to butt heads on occasion. As they work together an attraction grows, but someone comes along that has Rosemary thinking she needs to leave town. Rosemary also finds herself having problems because of some advice that she has given to someone about herbs. How will things work out for Rosemary? Will she be accepted for who she is, and does she and Elijah work things out?<br /><br />While I felt like I ultimately knew how things would work out for the main characters it was such a wonderful story that gets me to that conclusion. I am such a fan of sweet romance,as well as strong women that don't often conform to what society thinks that they should be.The plot moves along at a good pace, and the author sprinkles a bit of suspense to make it more interesting. I love when we get a pet woven into a story and with this one we have Rosemary's dog Bodie. Overall, while I knew where this story was headed I certainly enjoyed the telling that gets us there. Fans of historical fiction who also enjoy a good clean read will certainly love this one. While this book is the second in the Sisters at Heart series it can easily be read as a stand alone work.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361697768000, "title": "When the Heart Heals" }, { "asin": "1596693584", "rating": 4, "text": "\"The Moses Quilt\" is a story that will capture the heart and provide you with a surprising yet satisfying ending!<br /><br />Mazie Hartford is a 24 year old whose life seems to be falling right into place, she recently finished college, and is set to take a job in the fall. Added to that her boyfriend Edward, a lawyer in his fathers firm has ask her to marry him. Thing is she has been dragging her feet, hesitant to say yes. Her great-grandmother moved in with Mazie and her mother five years ago, leaving the deep South for California. Now at the age of 93 her great-grandmother Mimi knows that her time left is coming to an end and wants to pass on a family heirloom to her namesake Mazie. The heirloom is a Moses quilt and along with the quilt is the telling of the history behind the quilt. Perhaps Mimi's story of family history will help Mazie make up her mind about her future.<br /><br />There are two stories going on in the pages of this book. The contemporary romance between Mazie and Edward, which happens to be an interracial relationship. The secondary story is the story behind the Moses Quilt, and that was truly the stand out story for me, because with Mimi's story we learn about Harriet Tubman. We learn where she came from, the cruel treatment she endured and ultimately why she was so adamant to see her people be free. I always enjoy getting a history lesson along with a fictional read and that's just what I found woven into the pages of \"The Moses Quilt.\" While the romance was ok it was Mimi and her story that made this book a real winner for me. A great way to learn a bit about African American History.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361744761000, "title": "History lesson was stand out for me" }, { "asin": "1621360210", "rating": 5, "text": "Cassandra Todd finds herself needing to leave her home in the middle of the night, her husband Brad is an abusive man, and while Cassandra was willing to take his beatings when he threatens to turn the abuse on their son Justin she knows it's time to leave. She heads to Lakewood, the town she grew up in hoping to cash in some bonds that her parents left her and then disappear When the bank transaction takes a bit longer than she anticipates she finds herself needing to spend a few days in town and checks into The Mountain View Motel. When hired men show up she finds herself needing the help of the motel handyman.<br />Turner Caldwell's high school years is something he has tried to put behind him. Bullied unmercifully by the jocks, especially Brad Duncan, who even gave him the nickname \"Pancake.\" Turner always had a crush on Cassandra Todd, but she was one of the popular crowd, a cheerleader. After being gone for seven years Cassandra shows up with her young son Justin and stays a few nights at the motel where Turner works, causing those old feelings and emotions to bubble to the surface. When she shows up at his door and tells him that she is running from her husband, who just happens to be Brad Duncan,and needs his help Turner finds himself in the midst of something that could possibly change his life forever.<br /><br />I found myself intrigued within the first few pages of this story. Cassandra finds herself needing to leave an abusive husband, and winds up going back to her home town. How ironic that the boy that was bullied in high school by her husband is the one she turns to for help. While I could empathize with Cassandra and her plight, I really felt for Turner and the memories that haunted him.I could understand why he was angry with God. In addition to the bullying he had experienced in high school, he had also lost a job he loved, his mother had died, and his father sort of abandoned him. Cassandra on the other hand held fast to her faith and felt like God was leading her.<br /><br />The author tackles two pretty tough subjects within the pages of this story, spousal abuse and bullying. Cassandra was willing to accept the abuse for herself, but refused to allow her husband to abuse her son. I thought the author really shined when it came to showcasing just how bullying can haunt someone for years. Overall I found this to be a very fast paced story laced with suspense, drama, along with several inspirational, motivational messages as well. Recommended!<br /><br />A review copy was provided by Glass Roads PR in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1362628135000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "080072089X", "rating": 3, "text": "\"Moonlight Masquerade\" is a Regency Romance set in London during 1813. Lady Celine Wexham was French born, but married an English Earl. Thing is her husband, was older,and not very nice. After his death she has money and wealth, which allows her to help those in need. Thing is the English government thinks that she may be a spy and sends Rees Phillips to work undercover as her butler to find out the truth.<br /><br />Regency romance isn't a genre that I normally read, so I was excited to try this one. While the story was really slow to pick up in the beginning, it did pick up, but never really held my attention. I hoped for a fast paced spy drama with romance woven in, but I was left wishing that there had been more romance between the two main characters. I did enjoy the historical aspects of the story, and thought that Rees was a very likable character. Overall, just a middle of the road read for me that didn't excite or inspire, I would say that if you enjoy a historical read, set during the regency era, you might enjoy this book. It just really wasn't my cup of tea.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1362959943000, "title": "Moonlight Masquerade" }, { "asin": "0764209914", "rating": 5, "text": "I found myself drawn into this story from the beginning. Molly Lovelace has always been treated like Daddy's little princess, and because everyone seemed to think that she was just a pretty female, who loved to shop, without a true thought in her head that's just how she acts. Her father has decided who he wants her to marry and doesn't plan on giving her a say in matters. Thing is she already has her heart set on someone, and that someone isn't who her father has in mind for her. He wants her to marry someone wealthy, such as Edward Pierrepont, but she can't get the cowboy Bailey Garner out of her heart. Will she go against her father, who does she ultimately choose?<br />I really enjoyed Regina Jenning's first novel, \"Sixty Acres and a Bride\" so I was totally anxious to read this one, and as a fan of historical romantic fiction this book certainly suited me to a tee! Once I got Molly's story I totally understood why she acted the way she did, after all her father Thomas had certain expectations of her. I also understood her feelings for Bailey, after all they had been childhood friends. I could just imagine the pressure that Bailey felt in finding a job so that he would be financially \"secure\" enough to support Molly in the way that she was accustomed. the on again off again twisty relationship between the pair kept me guessing as to how things might work out. I felt like the author created authentic characters for the time period For me though it was their spiritual development that really made the characters shine. I enjoyed seeing several of the characters from \"Sixty Acres and a Bride,\" but did feel like the author provided enough information that this could be read as a stand alone novel. Fans of historical romance with an inspirational slant will certainly enjoy this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1363743376000, "title": "Love In The Balance" }, { "asin": "1451574827", "rating": 4, "text": "\"The Gospel Centered Woman\" is a Bible study that not only discusses what God created his daughters to be, but how to achieve and live his plan without feeling oppressed but instead uplifted and exalted.<br /><br />This Bible study is broken down into three sections with the first section titled Created in God's Image which delves into what God create women to be, and how they are created to bear the image of God. This section also touches on the fall of man and woman. \"Section two titled Redeemed to Reflect God Once More\" touches on topics such as forgiving and being forgiven, finding contentment, and how the Gospel can unite women with Christ. Section three is titled \"Wisdom in the Tension\" and is geared at helping women navigate through daily life.<br /><br />Overall, I found this an easy to use Bible study and really appreciated how the author doesn't just give us her opinion but instead provides us with scripture that allows us to understand and read where she is coming from. I found it helpful that she includes a blank page at the end of each chapter so that we can take notes on what we have read. The discussion questions included would make this a great Bible study for women's groups. Many of the questions are geared to make the reader reflect not only on what they have read but also what they might be dealing with in their own lives. My only complaint is that I wish the questions would have been placed at the end of each chapter instead at the back of the book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1364435962000, "title": "The Gospel Centered Woman" }, { "asin": "0764207970", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Unrivaled\" takes place in St. Louis Missouri in 1910. Lucy Kendall's family owns the City Confectionery candy company, but it looks like that might change. Their company had struggled financially, but after Lucy's father has a heart attack, it looks like the answer might be to sell out, or at least that's what Lucy's mother wants to do. Lucy doesn't want to see that happen and begs her mother to reconsider. When her mother agrees to give Lucy a month to try and save the business by creating a new candy, there is one stipulation attached. Lucy must also go to the Veiled Prophet Ball, because Lucy's mother thinks it's well past time that Lucy find a husband and settle down. Lucy agrees but her plan is to unveil her new candy at the ball.<br /><br />Charlie Clarke's father left the family when he was only seven years old, so he had grown up hating his father, but not really knowing him. Now at the age of twenty-two after getting into a bit of trouble his mother contacts his father who offers him a job working for him in the Royal Taffy company in St. Louis. When he arrives in town he literally runs into Lucy, and she feels something too, but thing is neither one knows who the other is. Will the company rivalry keep the two apart, or ultimately bring them together?<br /><br />\"Unrivaled\" easily pulled me back in time, allowing for a unique glimpse of the candy making business during the early 1900's. We see the story unfold thru the eyes of two main characters. The author alternates between Lucy and Charlie's perspective, but does it in a smooth easy to follow way. Lucy sincerely wanted to keep the family business, even though during the time period women in business wasn't the norm. Thing is Lucy didn't seem to care how her actions affected others, although as the story progresses it is nice to see Lucy grow and change. I really could understand and empathize with Charlie more because he was struggling with issues from the past. There were a few secondary characters that really added to the story.<br /><br />Overall, I think my favorite parts of this story actually revolved around the candy making, I could just imagine Lucy as she was making taffy. I also got a few laughs when things didn't turn out quite right. If your a fan of historical fiction with romance, inspiration, along with a company rivalry and a bit of mystery woven into the mix then your in for a sweet treat with \"Unrivaled' by Siri Mitchell.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1364748712000, "title": "Unrivaled" }, { "asin": "1433671689", "rating": 5, "text": "Invisible\" takes place in Fort Bragg, CA and told with four unique voices. Dr. Miles Becker, who lost his wife Sarah to cancer, but before she died she made him promise her that he would move on, even suggesting someone for him to get to know. Ellyn DeMoss is a chef who runs her own restaurant She is very critical of herself because she is carrying several extra pounds.Sabina Jackson, is a counselor who says that she is taking a short sabbatical, but in truth she thinks that she is mildly depressed. There is more going on in Sabina's life than she is willing to admit. Twila Boaz had weight issues and was finally diagnosed with anorexia but now recovering she works with her mother at a health food store and uses tattoos in order to cover up her body, but also to express her feelings. Each of these characters lend their voice to \"Invisible\" and as their stories unfold, they blend together making for a remarkable tale with several powerful messages.<br /><br />I was afraid that this book might get confusing because it had four unique stories, but instead the voices and stories are so unique that it is easy to understand and follow along. While I found each characters story interesting, I have to say that Ellyn was the character that really resonated with me. Her poor self image and struggle with weight was something that is very relevant in today's society. Her inner voice that she named Earl, was very negative. Because she was so disappointed in herself she was certain that she was a disappointment to God as well. When the doctor shows an interest in her she can't imagine what he would see in her, even thinking there might be something wrong with him.<br />Overall, this was a story where the characters are struggling with issues that were very relatable, but more than that left the message of God's love and acceptance. Not a light fluffy read, instead the author crafts characters that are so easy to relate too, because each in their own way are struggling with things that are relevant in today's society. The discussion questions provided at the end of the story would make this a great group read. A story that will inspire and challenge, and maybe even motivate.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1365133412000, "title": "Invisible" }, { "asin": "0824932463", "rating": 5, "text": "Six months after the death of their mother Caroline Marris, along with her sisters Gracie Gold and Sam Carter plan a two week getaway to Nantucket a place their mother loved. While strolling on the beach they arrive at the Misty Harbor Inn, a place their mother dreamed of owning and are surprised at the condition of the old inn. The sisters decide to purchase the inn even though it will take a lot of work to get it ready to open. When they find some old postcards they are find themselves immersed in the mystery of Hannah Montague, the widow of the original owner. Can they figure out what happened to her?Will the sisters be able to get the inn open, and will this adventure draw them together or pull them apart?<br /><br />I loved the family feel of this novel. Each sister has their own unique personality giving this story a very realistic feel. Because the sisters are older I found myself easily relating to them. I could easily understand Gracie's reluctance at wanting to leave her home, but she also needed to reestablish a relationship with her sisters. In addition to the family drama going on they are renovating the inn and if that isn't enough there is an air of mystery about a former owner. \"Seaside Harmony\" is the first book in the Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn series and is the perfect way to escape for a few hours. I have always been a fan of Guideposts series and this one promises not to disappoint With elements of faith interwoven with family drama, a hint of mystery along with a splash of romance, I really look forward to my next visit to the Misty Harbor Inn.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1366945739000, "title": "Seaside Harmony" }, { "asin": "0824932471", "rating": 5, "text": "It's spring in Nantucket and the girls have been working all year to get the Inn in tip top shape to open and what better time to have the grand opening than while the town is celebrating with the Daffodil festival. We get to meet the guests , but more than that the mystery of the previous owner continues to unfold.<br /><br />The three sisters really make this a stand out series, it's so nice to see their relationships grow and change as the story progresses. I always enjoy whenever an animal is included in a story and we Max, Carolines cocker spaniel continues to make appearances in this story. I think the element of mystery that is woven into the story really adds to the storyline. I found the historical aspects of the mystery quite interesting. \"Sunflower Summer\" is the second book in the Postcards From Misty Harbor Inn series and I really think that to understand the story completely the books should be read in order. A wonderful setting, interesting characters along with elements of faith, and the mystery woven in really held my attention and has me anxious to read the next book in this series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1366946318000, "title": "Sunflower Summer" }, { "asin": "0800722256", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been a fan of Melody Carlson for years. She does a wonderful job of pulling me into whatever story she is writing, making me understand the characters and whatever they might be going thru.<br /><br />\"A Simple Song\" is the story of Katrina Yoder. She has always enjoyed singing, but in her Amish world it is a sin, and therefore it is forbidden.Katrina's friend Bekka has been watching a show called American Star and really thinks that Katrina should try out for the show. For Katrina though the reason to step out into the Englisher world is more complicated than that. Her father needs to have surgery, and \"American Star\" just might be the way that Katrina could win the money, and since she hasn't been baptized into the church yet, she will go while on her rumspringa. What will her parents and community say? Will they accept her back into the community, and if she wins the money will her parents accept it! Can an Amish girl stay true to her roots while thrust into the Englisher spotlight! Read this page turning story to find out!<br />I found \"A Simple Song,\" to be a nice, quick read that is filled with interesting characters that are easy to like. I could easily understand Katrina and the choices she made. I thought it was interesting how her grandfather encouraged singing at her grandmother's funeral. The reason that was revealed was touching and allowed me to further understand Katrina's story. I found the behind the scenes descriptions of \"American Star\" interesting, and while I kind of knew how things might work out it was still fun to see how Melody Carlson would allow things to work out! Overall, this fun little read, is great for teens but also a quick read for adults who enjoy Amish fiction as well.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1371435536000, "title": "Another great story from Melody Carlson" }, { "asin": "0764209663", "rating": 5, "text": "When an outlaw's daughter want's a preacher for her birthday, what's her outlaw daddy to do but have someone go out and kidnap,or preachernap,one for her! After all it's Joanna Robbins twenty-first birthday and she deserved something big, after all she is still grieving the loss of her mother.Truth is Jo has been praying for a preacher to come along and help revive their little community church, but she never imagined the lengths her father would go to to bring a preacher to her. When her father kidnaps Crockett Archer and brings him home for her birthday she knows she will have to let him go because he has other plans, but she can't help but hope he might decide to stay!<br />I found myself immediately drawn to this book because of the cover,and title,after all I couldn't imagine what \"Stealing The Preacher\" might entail, but I have to say it was the attention grabbing story that kept me turning the pages to see where and what would happen next! I found myself loving these characters and even understanding the reasoning of why Joanna's father did what he did! I loved the lively conversations that literally brings the story to life. I also enjoyed the historical feel of the story! Fans of historical fiction that enjoy stories that provide more than a few laughs along with several smiles, a lively cast of characters and a nice, inspirational romance will find themselves devouring \"Stealing The Preacher\" in one sitting, I know that I did! An unputdownable read for me!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1371527327000, "title": "Fun historical read" }, { "asin": "1433679302", "rating": 5, "text": "Daphne Ballinger's left her small town life in Appleton with high hopes of having a writing career in the Big Apple. Thing is it's thirteen years later, and she is finds herself stuck in a job that is far from what she hoped for, sharing the same apartment, and still heartsore from a relationship from ten years ago when a boyfriend burned her bad. When she gets a call from her father that her rather eccentric ninety-one year old aunt Dee passed away she goes home. She is soon surprised that her aunt left her sole beneficiary of everything that she owned, including a beautiful old Victorian, a vintage Corvette and plenty of money, there is just a couple of snafu's her aunt left some pretty specific requirements and Daphne has a year to fulfill her aunt's wishes. If she doesn't the house will be given to the \"Cat House\" the shelter where she adopted her beloved kitties Lucy and Ethel. As several secrets come to light about Aunt Dee Daphne learns things that she would have never guessed. Will Daphne leave New York behind and move back to Appleton, and if she does will she be able to meet the requirements of Dee's will?<br /><br />Melody Carlson is one of my all time favorite writers, her versatile writing skills, has taken me on several adventures and \"Lock, Stock, and Over a Barrel\" allows me to watch Daphne Ballinger go from someone who seemed unhappily stuck in her life to someone with choices if only she can embrace them. Daphne is a character that is so easy to relate to, she was someone that had hopes and dreams, but after years of the same old same old her life was in a rut! I enjoyed seeing the changes that precipitated in her life once she returned to Appleton. Plenty of secondary characters really stood out for me including Daphne's dad, his life was in transition as well, and the secrets that he learned about Aunt Dee was something that he took in stride.Even though Aunt Dee has passed away, her character played such an integral role in the plot, she seemed like a fun loving someone, who did have a few regrets and hoped to keep Daphne from making some of the same mistakes. Ms. Carlson's descriptions easily allowed me to feel the small town setting of the story, and the advice column reminded me of Dear Abby! While there is an inspirational bent to the story, it isn't overwhelming, and seemed perfectly plausible I will say the author certainly left me hanging with the ending, and I know I will keep wondering until the next installment how things will work out for Daphne! If you have never read anything by Ms. Carlson this book is the perfect time to start, or if you're like me and are a long time fan, you're not going to want to miss this one. I only hope readers don't have to wait long for the next installment in the Dear Daphne series!", "timestamp": 1372298844000, "title": "Can't wait to read book two in the series!" }, { "asin": "0800721381", "rating": 4, "text": "I have become a fan of Biblical historical fiction and \"Claudia\" is the story of a character in the Bible that is only mentioned once, but Diana Wallis Taylor doesn't let that stop her from creating a compelling story that not only brings the characters but Biblical times to life, a time when woman really had to make the best of the situations that they found themselves in.At the age of sixteen Claudia is married to Pontius Pilate , and truly loves her husband even though it was an arranged marriage.After the marriage they move to Judea where Claudia has a dream about Jesus and the role her husband will play in his crucifixion.The author certianly knew how to bring this timeperiod to life, I could just imagine the places that was described in the story. I also recognized a few Biblical characters woven into the story along with Claudia and her husband. It was nice to see a different side of Pontius Pilate, a side that only his wife Claudia saw.Even though a fictionalized story, the author makes the story believable by providing enough facts to give a sense of realism. Overall fans of historical fiction will enjoy this story, but if you enjoy historical fiction with a Biblical slant then this is a must read for you.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1372649884000, "title": "Claudia" }, { "asin": "0800721594", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Dolled Up to Die is the second book in the Cate Kinkaid mystery series and really can be read as a stand alone work, but honestly it's such a good cozy little mystery that you're probably going to want to go back and read the first book just because you're going to want more of these characters!<br /><br />When Cate Kinkaid was hired by her uncle Joe to work as an assistant investigator for Belmont Investigations he made it perfectly clear that they only handled routine investigations such as background checks, serving subpoenas and the like, thing is it seems murder cases keep cropping up in the town of Eugene, Oregon and Cate somehow finds herself in the middle of the action! The latest call is from a woman saying there has been a triple shooting, well how can Cate not help at the scene of a triple homicide especially when the caller might still be in danger. When she arrives on the scene though she does find three victims, and quickly discovers a fourth, thing is three of the gunshot victims are life sized dolls!<br /><br />\"Dolled Up to Die\" is one of those stories that you start reading and the next thing you know you are finished. The story moves along at such a fast pace that the pages just fly by. I love the character of Cate, she is a bumbling PI that provides more than a few laughs. She often talks to her fat cat Octavia, and is rescued more than once by her boyfriend Mitch. With several suspects the author doesn't make it easy to figure out who-dun-it with this one. Anyone who enjoys a fast paced cozy mystery with more than a few laughs and a bumbling heroine will certainly enjoy \"Dolled Up to Die!\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1374460138000, "title": "Fast paced cozy mystery" }, { "asin": "1595547827", "rating": 4, "text": "Amy Lange is grieving the loss of her brother Ben and really can't wrap her mind around the fact that it was an \"accident.\" When she receives an email stating that she might want to take a trip to Hope Island hinting that her brother Ben had secrets that actually led to his death, she decides to take the trip to Rosemary Cottage on Hope Island a place that is dear to her hoping to find solace and even thinking of moving her midwifery practice there. Mostly though she is hoping to find the answers she needs so that she can truly understand her brother's death.<br /><br />While this is the second book in the Hope Beach series by Colleen Coble it can easily be read as a stand alone work. I found myself swept into the story from the beginning pages when Gina, Curtis Ireland's sister is basically run down by a motorboat, thing is she recognized the person on the boat, but who was it? That along with wanting to know about Ben and what happened to him propelled me into this story to find the answers! Suspense filled with more than a few twists kept me turning the pages,and the romance was a nice bonus. Ms. Coble captured the beauty of the area that she writes about, allowing the setting to come to life for me. Overall, anyone who enjoys mystery/suspense with a sweet romance and a nice christian theme woven in will enjoy this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1374462505000, "title": "Rosemary Cottage" }, { "asin": "1433678209", "rating": 5, "text": "I was drawn to \"In Golden Splendor\" because I am always interested in a good historical read, and I got just what I hoped for with this novel. This story draws the reader back to the mid 1800's during the California Gold Rush.<br /><br />Seamus Handley's past was rife with disappointment, and he is haunted by a past that he just can't seem to overcome. How though did this Irishman wind up living in self exile in the Rocky Mountain Wilderness, where it seems that the lack of food might do him in. It seems though fate has something else in store for Seamus though when he finds a letter from a woman in San Francisco asking for help he has nothing to lose by heading to California. The journey he embarks on will test his mettle. Will Seamus find what he is looking for in California?<br /><br />Mr. Reynolds weaves together an epic historical tale that comes to life in the pages of this story. I found it easy to envision the journey that Seamus embarked on. Since I didn't read the first book in the story I was really interested in who Seamus was and what his background might have been. The author does a great job of providing enough information to make this a stand alone story. I became totally invested in Seamus' story wanting to know how it would end. Rich details, really brought the story to life for me, and wanting to know how things would work out for Seamus kept me reading. There were so many secondary characters that we meet on the journey that play unique roles in the story that kept it moving along. Overall, a rich historical read, blended with romance, suspense, and an inspirational message that reminds the reader of God's love. I enjoyed this book so much that I plan on going back to read the first book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1375675395000, "title": "An Epic Journey" }, { "asin": "0824932595", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Whispers On The Dock\" take readers back to Misty Harbor Inn allowing us to reconnect with the three sisters that run the Inn. With this installment the main focus is on the youngest sister Sam who enjoys baking, and hopes to enter the Summerfield baking contest. In addition to the baking contest there is the unique characters that check into the inn as well as the mystery that the three sisters are still trying to solve.<br /><br />What a wonderful, relaxing read each of the books in the series turned out to be. Even though it had been a couple of months since I read the first two books in the series it was so easy to fall right back into the storyline, because I felt like I was connecting with old friends. I thought the storyline revolving around Hannah Montague was really interesting, it was fun to see the clues unfold around this mystery. Overall, I found this book to be well written and the plot moves along well, I found the storyline relaxing and easy to read. This book is the third book in a series and really the first two books should be read to get the most from this one. Cozy mystery light is how I would describe this one, because there was a mystery but there really was much more than just the mystery going on in the story.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1378012226000, "title": "Return to Misty Harbor" }, { "asin": "0825442141", "rating": 5, "text": "Hope is often difficult to find when life throws curves our way that cause not only our heart to hurt but also damage our spirit. Instead we often close ourselves off and try and protect ourselves from further hurt, shutting off our heart in a sense to protect it. With \"Wounded Women of the Bible\" the author shares the stories of twelve different women of the Bible linking their stories with stories from today that allowed me to connect with the Biblical stories on a greater level,providing hope and encouragement reminding that we can overcome and become stronger with the help of God. I would have to say that my favorite female character in the Bible had to be Ruth, and the author's focus on her story had me thinking deeper about Ruth and what she really went thru. The author's easy to read, friendly feeling writing made this a stand out book for me. While I enjoyed reading the stories of the \"Wounded Women of the Bible\" I also found the personal stories that the authors share to be inspirational and encouraging. Overall, I think this book is a must read for women young and old, filled with inspiration and encouragement that remind the reader of God's strength and love. The study guide and discussion questions that are included make this a fantastic book for group study, personally myself I have been using the book like a Bible study, taking each chapter and turning it into a weeks worth of study and reflection.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1379190499000, "title": "Encouraging" }, { "asin": "1859857663", "rating": 5, "text": "Bumper Wipe Clean Activities book is chock full of fun things that focus on the Bible. A study book that will withstand quite a bit of use.A sturdy cover, with the wipe free pages makes this a book that will be reused often. There is a handy holder so the pen doesn't get lost from the book and the spiral binding makes it's easy for young hands to use. Bright colors and easy to read vocabulary might just light the spark of reading with your youngster. The simple activities are best suited for youngsters probably five and under, I think that perhaps an older child may find the activities a little to simplistic. Some of the activities include dot to dot, matching pairs, finding the hidden object, and mazes. I think this book would make a wonderful gift, perfect for taking along when you need to keep your youngster occupied. I would easily recommend this book to anyone looking for a sturdy book that because of the wipe free pages can be reused.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1379561007000, "title": "Good Value for a sturdy product" }, { "asin": "0800723074", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite types of books to read when I was a child was books filled jokes, so this one really brought back a lot of memories. I remembered a few of the jokes I read, and had more than a bit of fun reading the tongue twisters, something that I have never gotten good at! A book that it chock full of good, clean, jokes that is sure to tickle the funny bone, and have youngsters trying the jokes out on their friends. This book is basically like three books in one, with laugh out loud jokes for kids, zoolarious animal jokes for kids, and of course my favorite knock knock jokes, there are also tongue twisters but I was pleasantly surprised by the did you know tidbits that were filled with interesting fun facts. Many of these little facts were totally new to me! Certainly a book that will appeal to youngsters but it might also appeal to those of us that remember joke books as a kid, I know it brought back a few fond memories for me!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1390780300000, "title": "Funny with a few fun facts as well." }, { "asin": "0062204467", "rating": 5, "text": "A new series by Shelley Shepard Gray, boy I couldn't wait to dive into this one, and once I did I really couldn't put this book down until I finished it! I love books set in Sugarcreek, Ohio because it's a place I visit often so it's the familiar that really hooks me. With this book we get the story of Miriam Zehr and Albert (Junior) Beiler. Miriam longs to have a family of her own. Thing is she feels like the only way she will ever find a special someone is to leave Sugarcreek. When Junior Beiler seeks her out she is thrilled could it be that finally someone is interested in her?<br /><br />Such a delightful beginning to a promising new series. I loved these characters, and I found Miriam so easy to connect with. Who doesn't have problems with self image, and it's wonderful to see Amish portrayed as real people with real issues. Often writers create Amish characters that seem to perfect, but Ms. Gray always makes me feel like I could be reading about anyone, Amish or English because of the realism of her characters. I couldn't help but be drawn in wondering whether Miriam would ever find love, if Junior would realize what was right within his grasp. Plenty of secondary characters keeps the plot zipping along, making for a quick yet satisfying read! Hopeful is perfect for Amish fans, but anyone looking for a great read that just happens to be about the Amish will find Ms. Gray's writing easy to connect with, written with depth, but also a touching tenderness and there is a bit of mystery as well. Hopeful leaves me anxious to read the next book in the Return to Sugarcreek Series!", "timestamp": 1391708358000, "title": "I'm hooked on this new series" }, { "asin": "0800722264", "rating": 4, "text": "Melody Carlson is one of my favorite author's and My Amish Boyfriend is a real example of why she has achieved that position in my heart. She has the uncanny ability to produce a page turning read that also provides plenty of life lessons woven in. With My Amish Boyfriend we meet sixteen year old Shannon McNamara who thinks that she has her summer all planned, but when she arrives home from school her friendly neighbor who has been helping out with her sick mother informs her that she has been in contact with her mother's family in Ohio and plans are in place for them to go there. So instead of spending the summer in Indiana she finds her world turned upside down when they head to Ohio to meet family that she never new about. What adventures and life lessons are in store for Shannon? Pick up My Amish Boyfriend and find out!<br /><br />Ms. Carlson deals with several very real issues in this story, Shannon is living in a single parent home after the death of her father. Her mom worked full time until she got sick, and she really doesn't seem to be getting any better. Learning about a family that you never knew about is one thing but learning to deal with them on a daily basis is quite another, especially when they are Amish. I really liked the character of Shannon,and truly felt like her character developed well, except for the relationship that developed between her and Ezra. It felt rushed, I do get that she is sixteen and they during that age they fall in love at the drop of a hat, but it really felt rushed, and I was a bit surprised at Ezra as well. Overall, I liked the story, and enjoyed watching Shannon grow and change, especially as she learns about her family, Ms. Carlson allowed me to feel the emotions that Shannon felt. A story about faith and family, and the fact that life isn't always easy.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1393785146000, "title": "My Amish Boyfriend" }, { "asin": "1426752792", "rating": 5, "text": "I have really enjoyed reading each book in the&#34;Quilt Of Love&#34; series. What makes them unique is that each book is written by a different author,allowing us to sample each author's writing style. One thing is a constant though through each book and that's the fact that a quilt plays a part in each story. As someone who enjoys the Needlework art of quilting that in itself really drew me to the series, but the splendid writing of each author continues to bring me back for each new book.<br /><br /> In a Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare the Native American story line and the historical time frame really made this one of my favorite books in this series! Frankie Chasing Bear is a Lakota woman living in the 1950's whose grandmother taught her the art of quilting, but more than that she shared the heritage behind the Lakota Star quilt and the importance of keeping that heritage alive for generations to come. When Frankie's husband dies she leaves Pine Ridge, South Dakota moving to Arizona hoping for a better life for her ten year old son Harold, but will life be any easier there?<br /><br />A richly woven story that really brought not only the time period to life, but allowed me to feel as if I was getting a bit of a history lesson as I read the story. I could feel the turmoil that was a part of that time. My favorite character had to be Frankie, she was a young mother like any other wanting what was best for her young son. She was such a strong, brave character, who really wanted Harold, her son to know about his heritage. The author provides more than a few twists to keep the plot moving, and one of those twists is the character of Nick, who is dealing with his own issues. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction that revolves around Native Americans will be delighted with this story, but honestly it's a great read for anyone who enjoys a story about faith, family and quilts!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1394991200000, "title": "Quilt of Love" }, { "asin": "1414389752", "rating": 5, "text": "Wyoming during the spring of 1882 is where readers will find themselves transported as they read Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman. A story where the author's descriptive writing captures the feel of the old west while providing an intricately woven story that captured my imagination from the beginning paragraphs. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen with Mariah Malone. Her father confessed on his deathbed that he had purchased the Lazy M ranch, the family home with ill gotten gold that belonged to someone else. Mariah does the right thing by writing to the man, never imagining that someone would come along to claim the ranch, but that's just what happens. Slade Donovan comes to claim what belongs to his father, intending to take over the ranch, but will he?<br /><br />The main characters of Mariah and Slade are such well written characters, and the author easily pulled me into their story, making me want the best for them. Slade was one of my favorite characters, rough on the outside, but truly a gentle man. Plenty of secondary characters propel this plot along so that it never lags. Pam Hillman is a new to me author, but I enjoyed Claiming Mariah so much that I plan on checking out her other work. Fans of historical western fiction with romance, suspense, a splash of mystery that is sprinkled with humor and a faith based message will certainly enjoy this page turning read. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1397790648000, "title": "Claiming Mariah" }, { "asin": "0764210580", "rating": 4, "text": "A Sensible Arrangement is the story of Marty Dandridge Olson, a thirty-five year old childless widow of four years whose beloved husband was gored by a longhorn bull. Try as she might time hadn't lessened the pain so she hopes that answering an ad to marry Jake Wythe, a banker who lives in Colorado who is looking for a Texas bride. Jake Wythe hadn't really been lucky in love, his wife left him for another man, and then died a few months later, as a banker for Morgan Bank the board members feel that a man of his standing needs to be married. So he decides to place an ad, and gets an answer from Marty. Will leaving Texas help Marty heal from the pain of her past? Feelings start to develop between them, but one thing is standing in the way, Jake wants to return to Texas and Marty has no desire to return.<br /><br />Truly a unique twist on what I consider the mail-order bride genre. Normally the ad is placed by a farmer looking for a bride, but in this instance it's a banker, and the couple is a bit more mature, with more life experience. Neither one is expecting love, but sometimes love comes when one least expects it! Marty was spunky, the stagecoach scene really showcased her grit and determination,she did have one major flaw though, she was sometimes a bit reckless with the truth, but the author handled that issue in a very real and spiritual way.Jake is someone who is still dealing with past hurts from loves gone wrong. The feelings that develop between them was ok, but I found the historical aspects to be just as interesting. Several secondary characters really kept the plot moving along. A Sensible Arrangement is more than just another mail order bride tale, its light on romance, but provides a bit of mystery, humor and a faith based message along with enough loose ends which makes me anxious to read the next book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1398029386000, "title": "A Unique twist on the mail order bride genre" }, { "asin": "0310730538", "rating": 5, "text": "Alone Yet Not Alone by Tracy Leininger that sweeps readers back to the autumn of 1755 where we meet the Leininger family, German Immigrants who have come to America looking for a new life. They settle in the Blue Mountains of PA that overlook Penn's Creek. The family of six consists of Ma and Pa along with Christian,John, Barbara, and Regina. Their faith in God is strong, and they are very thankful for all their good fortune, which includes living peacefully among the Indians.With the French-Indian War brewing though things change dramatically and one afternoon two Indian braves barge into the cabin and kidnap Barbara who is twelve and Regina age nine. The girls are soon separated and taken far from home, but they never give up hope that someday they will be together again!<br /><br />What an amazing story of faith and family, and what makes this book even better is that it is based on a true story. The author does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life within the pages of this story. I became swept up in the saga that the girls faced, and often wondered how or if they would ever be reunited with their mother. The author's attention to detail made the various scenes pop off the pages, I could easily envision the settings, whether it was the cabin, or an Indian village, the richness of detail allowed me to feel as if I was part of the story instead of just reading it. A great read for young and old alike, especially anyone who enjoys history. An easy to read story that is certainly reminds readers of the importance of never wavering in your faith in knowing that God is always with us even in our darkest hour.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1398829524000, "title": "Rich in historical detail" }, { "asin": "1859855865", "rating": 5, "text": "The Candle Bible Handbook brings the Old and New Testaments of the Bible to life by combining visual as well as scriptural information about all sixty-six books of the Bible.There is an outline of each book along with frequently asked questions and plenty of interesting information that allows for a very good overview of each book of the Bible there are even study questions included for further thought. I found the illustrations to be top notch enhancing the subjects. I have actually been studying the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and the illustrations and information included was invaluable to me in helping me visualize the tabernacle. There is also a list of the promises in the Bible, along with important passages, important people and big ideas that will further enhance the usefulness of this wonderful reference book. While the book is geared toward 8-12 year old group it really is a perfect companion for those of any age that want's to familiarize themselves with the major elements of the Bible. Great for home study or any teaching forum for that matter, an invaluable tool that really brings the Bible to life a perfect building block for anyone wanting to study their Bible.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1399945301000, "title": "Great for any age" }, { "asin": "0800721608", "rating": 4, "text": "Cate Kinkaid has a knack for finding a mystery, and with Death Takes a Ride it's no different. She has no idea that she was going to be a witness to a robbery and shooting and the victim just might not make it. To complicate matters Cate is hired to investigate, but here's the deal, she isn't hired to investigate the shooting, instead she is looking for the owner of a particular motorcycle. Of course things rarely are what they seem, and Cate always finds herself up to her eyeballs in a who-dun-it!<br /><br />I always enjoy a good mystery and this series has certainly provided that. My only complaint was that I figured out the ending early, which was sort of a bummer. That said, I always enjoy the humor that is woven into the Cate Kinkaid Files, and I think Cate's character continues to get stronger with each installment. I love whenever animals are woven into a story and with this one we have a cat and dog! Overall this book is a good clean mystery that isn't so hard to solve, but still is well worth reading for anyone who loves a cozy mystery.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1406169950000, "title": "Death Takes A Ride" }, { "asin": "0800723562", "rating": 5, "text": "As an animal lover, especially dogs there was no way that I could look at this cover and not read the book! Henry is one of those dogs that just loves life, and well also one who seems to find his way into various situations that are often laugh out loud funny, and truly capture the essence of what it truly means to be owned by your dog. Such an easy to relate to story, this book had me reminiscing about my own canines and the puppy stage that caused more than a few mishaps in my own home. The author has a certain way with describing the antics of Henry that I could honestly visualize his various escapades! Anyone who has ever owned a dog will find this a must read, but honestly if you enjoy laughing out loud while reading you are certainly going to want to read Surviving Henry!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1408327687000, "title": "Laugh out loud funny read!" }, { "asin": "0800722884", "rating": 5, "text": "The one book in the Bible I always turn to whenever I need a little comfort is the book of Psalms so I was excited to find a book of devotions based on the book. In today's world it seems there are plenty of hard days, whether you're a stay at home mother or work outside the home. From the bad news that one is bombarded with daily on the evening news or trying to juggle the never ending list that I always seem to need to do , there are plenty of hard days to muddle thru. What Your Heart Needs for the Hard Days not only encourages, but also speaks to the heart providing a needed boost while also reminding that we are never alone! First I want to say I love the size, I would consider it a pocket book, one that will easily slip into a purse or briefcase. The bright cheerful colors used on the cover captures the eye making me want to explore what is inside. Each devotion starts with a scripture from the book of Psalms, then an devotion which touches on different issues that are easy to relate to, It wraps up with a prayer and a place for writing the users own thoughts, something that I find very useful. I love that there is a table of contents so that I can skip to the devotion that I feel I might need to read for the day. Whether you have time to do this as a daily or weekly devotional is up to you, but if you need encouragement and uplifting your going to find it within the pages of this cute little book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1410226203000, "title": "Lovely little devotional for the hard days" }, { "asin": "0800722094", "rating": 5, "text": "Suspense filled, page turning are just a few words that I would use to describe Nowhere To Turn by Lynette Eason.<br />When your married to an abusive husband the only thing to do is leave, but the danger is ramped up when your abusive husband is an FBI agent. When Danielle's husband is shot and killed you would think the worries would be over but honestly they just begin because her husband was into some shady business and now the people he dealt with wants something her husband had, and they are after her to get it!<br /><br />I think my favorite character in this one had to be eleven year old Simon. He was truly a brave young man, and my heart really went out to him. There are so many twists and turns with this story I found myself thinking I knew something only to be taken in the opposite direction. Ms. Eason has become one of my favorite authors because she is able to weave suspense, tension, mystery and drama together with romance to create a very well blended story that provides a plot that doesn't stop.The added bonus is that they are always good clean reads. While this is the second book in the Hidden Identity series it can be read as a stand alone work.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1411353727000, "title": "Edge of your seat page turner" }, { "asin": "0781409179", "rating": 5, "text": "The bright, colorful cover will certainly draw youngsters to this book, but it is the rhyming Bible stories,along with the stunning illustrations inside that are going to hold their attention as they learn about several of the most popular Bible stories. A compilation of twenty Bible stories that will certainly allow your youngster to learn about some of the Bibles most popular characters in rhyming story. I love that the author provides the location in the Bible for the scripture that each story is based on. A few of the stories include Adam and Eve, the story of Queen Esther, and Jonah and the Whale. While I did find a couple of discrepancies within the stories overall the author holds pretty true to the Bible. Overall I think Treasury of Bible Stories is a wonderful addition to any youngsters library, and would also work well for homeschooling or to use in Sunday School. A book that will certainly become a favorite with youth 4 thru 8, and I can easily imagine that even nine and ten year olds might want to read this one themselves. I found it a delightful read that would be perfect for gift giving.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1411955643000, "title": "Eye catching illustrations and rhyming verse make this one a winner" }, { "asin": "0825442052", "rating": 4, "text": "Youngsters are certainly going to enjoy guessing who as they embark on an adventure with Noah as he gatherers animals for the ark. This sturdy little board book is filled with colorful illustrations that will capture the eye and imagination as well. The rhyming story, which is written in easy to read words just might encourage your youngster to try and read along. The rhyming prose with an interactive question will get youngsters to try and guess just what animal is hiding behind the flap.Glossy pages allow for wiping off if something is spilled, the pages are sturdy and the flaps seem to stay in place when they are folded back up. A perfect little gift that surely will become a favorite, the book is geared toward 2-4 year olds and I would say that age range is pretty accurate. Overall a sturdy little storybook that shares the simplistic story that reveals a few of the animals that Noah had on the ark. One that will certainly keep a youngster entertained as they try and Guess Who is on Noah's Boat.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1414808003000, "title": "Guessing who can be lots of fun" }, { "asin": "B00KDN87CW", "rating": 5, "text": "Melody Carlson is one of my favorite authors because her writing covers such a wide variety of genres! With Trading Secrets we get the story of pen pals Micah Knight and Zack Miller, who just happens to be Amish. Thing is Micah is a girl but she never told Zack that, even though they have been sharing letters for several years. Now Micah has a chance to visit Zack on his Amish farm but how is he going to feel when he finds out that his pen pal is actually a female. .<br /><br />There were so many things that I enjoyed about this book.I can remember when I was assigned a pen pal and I think I was probably in the fifth or sixth grade,my pen pal was from England and his name was Adrian, funny story was that my teacher originally thought Adrian was a girl. Anyway back to Trading Secrets. I liked the setting of Ohio for the story, even though that's pretty typical for Amish fiction. It was the plan that Micah came up with that really got me interested, I couldn't help but wonder how she would pull it off, or even if she could. It was great that the storyline revolved around friendship, and how being honest is important. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and would love to see Ms. Carlson turn into a series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1417391561000, "title": "Another great story from Melody Carlson" }, { "asin": "0800722485", "rating": 5, "text": "At Home In Last Chance is the third book in the Place To Call Home a Series by Cathleen Armstrong. This installment pulls readers right back to Last Chance, New Mexico and tells the story of Kaitlyn Reed and Steven Braden. Kaitlyn has made plenty of mistakes in her life, and hopes to change a few when she returns to Last Chance. Steve also has a few things to prove to his family. When a relationship begins to develop between them will their past get in the way or will their hearts finally find a place to call home?<br /><br />I love the town of Last Chance and was drawn right back into the town and the lives of the characters. i have to admit I really didn't like the character of Kaitlyn in the previous book so I wasn't sure if I would enjoy her story. Well let me say the author totally changed my mind about the character and had me empathizing with her. I loved watching her character grow and change becoming who she needed to be. There is a sense of realism with this entire series that makes it very easy to relate too. I really enjoyed revisiting some of the characters from the previous books but honestly think that this book could be read without having read the other books because the author provides enough background information which allows the reader to connect with the town and characters. An emotionally charged story that grabbed my emotions and made me feel like I was reading about friends.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1422979298000, "title": "Great Series" }, { "asin": "0529103419", "rating": 4, "text": "While everyone around Sarah Montgomery is celebrating the end of the Civil War she finds her heart is broken, longing for Rand Campbell the man who never made it home. Ben Croftner has been coming to call for the past five months and while she knows she will never love him, her family wants her to marry him. Her father is very ill and wants her to take her younger brother and be settled with Ben, her brother Wade just wants to acquire land! Thing is Rand isn't dead, and when Sarah finds out she calls off her wedding, but Ben isn't easily thwarted and decides to take matters into his own hands. Can Sarah and Rand find their way back to each other, and what evilness will Ben try to accomplish in order to keep Sarah for his own?<br /><br />A Heart's Disguise easily pulled me in and wouldn't let go! A short read at only 90 pages there is plenty of life packed into so few pages! It was so easy to imagine Sarah Montgomery and the situation she was placed in. Heartbroken over losing the love of her life she only wanted to ease the mind of her father and appease her brother by marrying someone she didn't love, it seemed though that fate had another idea. Ms. Coble captures the time period right after the war where families were forced to go on even though they were grieving the loss of unreturned loved ones,but we also glimpse the time of celebration that the war was over!This short installment did what it set out to do, it left me wanting more of the story! Of course a sneak peek for A Heart's Obsession the next installment in the Journey of the Heart Series is included at the end. This series of books is taken from the previously published Wyoming Series. Overall fans of historical fiction that takes place right after the civil war will enjoy A Heart's Disguise, but honestly anyone who enjoys a story that blends faith, family and longing should also check it out!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1426467202000, "title": "The waiting for the next installment is the hardest part!" }, { "asin": "1938499867", "rating": 5, "text": "God, Me, And Sweet Iced Tea is like a refreshing sip of peace and tranquility in a sea of the turmoil that one often finds with everyday life. Rose Chandler provides just the right amount of content for her daily readings so that one can read them in just a few minutes but I guarantee you the uplifting messages will resonate with you through out the day. There are fifty-three devotions that share the authors successes but also her struggles, which is something that makes this a very easy devotional book to connect with. The author's faith is evident in each of her devotions, she shares her not only her love for God but also her ability to turn to him in for whatever she needs! Anyone looking for a way to reconnect with God, or perhaps just needing an uplifting way to start their day will certainly find that along with a sweet sense of peace and inspiration as they traverse the pages of God, Me and Sweet Iced Tea.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1430267146000, "title": "A sweet sip of inspiration" }, { "asin": "0718031652", "rating": 5, "text": "A Heart's Obsession is the second installment of The Journey of the Heart series and while a short read really packs plenty of story into a few pages. With this one Rand has headed out west and Sarah soon follows him, but when she arrives things aren't the same between her and Rand. With plenty of action and a non stop plot that really speeds by at a break neck pace this book is one that I just couldn't put down once I started reading it. Ms. Coble makes me feel as if I have stepped right into the lives of the characters, with descriptive writing the setting as well as the characters really come to life. If I had one complaint it's that when I reached the end I was left wanting more! Historical fiction fans especially fans of the time period right after the civil war when the west was becoming settled will find these books hard to put down. While the author provided enough background information with this one that one could probably read it as a stand alone I highly recommend reading the series in order to really get an in depth understanding of the relationships between the characters. Truly a book that leaves me anxiously anticipating the next installment in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1430268731000, "title": "Historical fiction fans will enjoy this series" }, { "asin": "0307731332", "rating": 5, "text": "Family secrets are something that will eventually find their way to light and with this series there are plenty of secrets! With this story Alexa has opened her bed and breakfast in her grandmother's former home, Of course starting a new business is filled with worries so when a young reporter wants to stay at the B and B for a long term stay she readily agrees, but if she knew what his assignment is would she have chosen to do so. With plenty of secrets and more than a few twists this story zooms along making it hard to put down. While the story is told from several points of view Ms. Sawyer transitions smoothly allowing for wonderful clarity . The characters are very well fleshed and easy to connect with. She has a wonderful way of blending faith into the mix of feelings allowing me to totally understand the struggles the characters face. While there are several unanswered questions When Grace Sings is a satisfying read that leaves me longing for the next book in the series!<br />After reading the first book in The Zimmerman Restoration Series I couldn't wait to start this one. This book continues right where the last one left off, saying that though I felt like the author provided enough background information that this one could be read without reading the first book in the series, although I highly recommend it as well. Anyone who enjoys family controversy where secrets abound, faith and a down to earth story where the characters really jump from the pages will enjoy When Grace Sings!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1432264520000, "title": "When Grace Sings" }, { "asin": "0529102781", "rating": 5, "text": "Reading anything by Kathleen Fuller is a guaranteed good read. She has a knack for creating easy to care for characters and as a fan of Amish fiction I feel like she is a top notch writer in the genre. I find it handy that she always provides a glossary for German words used within the story. A solidly written plot that easily pulled me in made this a very enjoyable book to read. Jeremiah Mullet left his Amish community to full fill his dream of becoming a vet, but now he has come back to fill for the vet who ultimately helped him out while he needs to recover from a broken leg. Of course in the process he reconnects with old friends. Anna Mae is one of those friends, she has actually been grappling with what to do with her life for the last several years, of course her mother thinks she should settle down and marry, but she isn't sure what course she wants to take for her life. As she reconnects with Jeremiah one can't help but wonder where the relationship might lead. What is in store for them, he is no longer Amish, so a romantic relationship is out of the question isn't it? What does God have in store for them?<br />This was a solidly written story allowing the pages to fly by. There is another couple in the story that also held my interest. Even though this book is part of a series it really can be read as a stand alone story. Fans of Amish fiction will be thrilled with A Faith Of Her Own, but honestly anyone who enjoys a faith based read with solidly written characters and a sweetly progressing story should give this one a try as well!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1432775145000, "title": "A Faith Of Her Own" }, { "asin": "0718031660", "rating": 5, "text": "I love this series and have been discussing it with a friend of mine and she totally agrees the only dislike is waiting for the next installment of the book, but anticipating what might come next makes it well worth the wait! Truthfully though I actually read the novel Where Leads The Heart the full length novel that this serial story are reprinted from. The saga between Rand and Sarah continue. It's obvious that Rand still loves Sarah but his fiancee is determined to marry him. Plenty of twists provide keep this story moving on at a brisk pace making for a quick historical read that really does leave the reader wanting more! Anyone who enjoys good clean historical fiction where the ending really isn't assured will certainly enjoy this entire series, and speaking of which The Journey of the Heart series should be read in order to understand the complexities of the characters. I really can't wait to read A Heart's Betrayal the next book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1433078037000, "title": "Short historical read" }, { "asin": "0310335884", "rating": 5, "text": "Aaron Ebersol is sort of like the prodigal son returned, you see he left the community of Paradise, Pa years earlier and really didn't keep in close contact with his family, even though his family tried. Now though his mother is sick and he goes home to be with her, thing is he isn't sure how he feels about being back, and more than that how he fits in now. He decides to stay at the Heart of Paradise B&B and soon finds himself developing feelings for Linda Zook. Can their growing friendship become more, can they forgive those that hurt them, but more than that can they forgive themselves?<br /><br />Amy Clipston creates in depth characters who face very real problems within the pages of A Simple Prayer. Those characters are paired together with a well written, easy to follow plot that isn't easy to put down.The conflicts within the story really kept me reading to find out what would ultimately happen.<br />I really enjoy reading Amy Clipston's work but somehow missed a couple of books in the Hearts Of The Lancaster Grand Hotel series but honestly this book is a great stand alone read because the author provides enough background information about the reoccurring characters that I immediately understood who they were. With that said I really hope to go back and read book two and three in the series! Fans of Amish fiction are going to love this story, but anyone looking for a well written story filled with well fleshed characters along with real life issues should give this book a try I really don't think you will be disappointed.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1434131253000, "title": "Great characters make this a stand out read" }, { "asin": "0529103435", "rating": 5, "text": "I have really enjoyed reading this series, and I think that this book A Heart's Betrayal just might be my favorite so far! When Emmie's husband is killed in an accident to say she is devastated is an understatement, but it's the life he never told her about that really shocks her to the core. She decides the only thing to do is to head west to join up with Sarah and Rand, knowing that she will never trust her heart to another again. It doesn't take long though for a kind soldier to begin to breach her defenses. Will she find the new life she is hoping for, and what sort of life will it be?<br /><br />Ms. Coble packs more than a few shocking twists within the pages of A Heart's Betrayal. Emmie's character is easy to relate to, and I couldn't imagine what life might throw at her next! I was rooting for Emmie to find some sort of happiness but couldn't help but wonder about the secret that she carried about her marriage,whether or not it would keep her from finding happiness. The ending leaves me quite anxious to read the next installment in the series! A page turning historical fiction read, that provides easy to like characters and a solid plot that moves along at a quick pace. I do recommend that this series be read in order to fully understand the backgrounds of the characters.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1435548684000, "title": "Quick read that leaves me wanting more!" }, { "asin": "140168596X", "rating": 5, "text": "Her Brother's Keeper by Beth Wiseman is the first book in Ms. Wiseman's newest series Amish Secrets, and judging by this book it's going to be one of her best series yet! Charlotte Dolinsky is an Englisher from Texas who is hurting over the loss of her brother Ethan. You see Ethan went to Pennsylvania to work in construction and then decided to convert to the Amish faith, and was even actually engaged to be married to Hannah King. Why then would he commit suicide? That's what Charlotte wants to know and so she devises a scheme where she disguises herself as a distant Amish cousin of the King family and heads to Pennsylvania to find the answers she is looking for. She is welcomed into the family and even becomes friends with Hannah, but will they continue to be her friend if they find out who she really is? What about her brother's death, what will she learn about his death?<br /><br />Her Brother's Keeper deals with a few tough subjects such as depression, child abuse and suicide, but does so in such a way that instead of feeling overwhelming and depressing it left me feeling inspired and uplifted as the story unfolded, especially as Charlotte began to find her way. Speaking of Charlotte it was fun to watch her become &#34;Mary&#34; because it was very realistic as well as humorous.I really liked the suspense/mystery of the story and found myself wondering just what happened to Ethan. Her Brother's Keeper drew me in from the beginning pages and made me feel like I had stepped into the life of these characters but that's what I have come to expect when I pick up a book by Beth Wiseman.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438035762000, "title": "First book in a new Amish series" }, { "asin": "0718031687", "rating": 4, "text": "With the latest installment of Journey of the Heart Emmie Croftner pushes Isaac Liddle away sacrificing her heart and feelings in order to keep her secret, thing is Isaac isn't about to give up that easily. On top of that Emmie makes a promise to a dear friend that my require that she marry another. Is there any hope that she and Isaac will ever have a future together?<br />I have certainly enjoyed each book in this series, so much so that I actually went back and read the books (The Wyoming Series) that this little series was taken from, because I was impatient to know the whole story. In my observation though I felt like the Journey of the Heart series was more polished, and by that I mean unnecessary descriptions and repetitive words were taken out. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction should give this mini series a chance, I will say that the books do have to be read in order to fully understand the characters. While parts of the story are a tad predictable that doesn't keep me from looking forward to the final book in the series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438307576000, "title": "Quick easy read" }, { "asin": "0764211706", "rating": 5, "text": "I became hooked on the Unexpected Bride series by Melissa Jagears after reading the first book in the series. There is something about a mail order bride story that just draws me in and Ms. Jagears provides just the right blending of drama, romance along with a great historical setting that really makes for a page turning read with a few twists that held my attention from the first page to the last. The characters in this story really come to life, allowing me not only connect but actually care about how their story would work out. I felt like that characters stories were a bit unique compared to other mail order bride stories I have read because they have both tried and failed with the mail order bride situation before. While A Bride at Last is the third book in the series it can easily be read as a stand alone work, actually I somehow missed the second book but that didn't stop me from being drawn in by this story. Anyone who enjoys a fast paced story with more than a few inspirational messages along with a sweetness that will draw you in and have you hoping for the best for the characters will enjoy this story, and if your a fan of the mail order bride genre like me then a Bride At Last will be a must read for you, I will caution once you start reading it you just might not be able to put it down.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438648764000, "title": "Held my attention from beginning to end !" }, { "asin": "1401690513", "rating": 4, "text": "Great characters and a fun, page turning read is what I found within the pages of Counting on a Cowboy. I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions with this story, but there were some poignant moments as well. While Ms. Clopton deals with a few tough issues, with the issue of Alzheimer's really being one that I could relate to, thing is she knows just when to provide a bit of humor to lighten the story. The characters were easy to relate to which pulled me right into the story.<br />If your looking for a good clean cowboy read that is more than just a sweet romance then Counting on a Cowboy by Debra Clopton just might fit the bill! While this book is part of the Four of Hearts Ranch Romance series it can easily be read as a stand alone work. Although the characters and setting has me thinking that I need to read the first book in the series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review", "timestamp": 1441673159000, "title": "Sweet read" }, { "asin": "1601426992", "rating": 4, "text": "always look forward to starting a new Amish series, especially when the author is Cindy Woodsmall, and with Ties That Bind we begin the Amish of Summer Grove Series. Ariana Brenneman grew up in the Old Order Amish and has always been quite content, sure she aspires to open a bakery in the town of Summer Grove, that is if she can get the money together to do it, but that's so she can help out with her family. It had been five years since Quill Schlabach had left the Amish community with a teen girl, and if truth be told Ariana hadn't really ever gotten over it, and now he is back, but can they rebuild their friendship? Thing is Quill has always had feelings for Ariana, but he also knows something that would change her life forever and he wants to help her any way he can even if only she will let him.<br /><br />I found myself struggling to get involved in this book and I think the reason might have been because there were so many characters and their stories to learn,that I felt like I was getting bounced back and forth to much. As the book progressed though I found myself being drawn into the story line. There was a few plot twists that provided just the right amount of ummph to make me want to read on and I am glad that I did! Overall, I didn't connect to this book right away but I am glad that I continued to read, because I have become hooked and can't wait to read the next book in the series!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1443990136000, "title": "Slow start but the story picked up for me" }, { "asin": "1617955876", "rating": 4, "text": "Katie Vale has just traveled half way across the country with her boyfriend to spend Christmas with his family. Within minutes of arriving, in front of all of his family he pops the question! Her answer isn't was what expected though, which might make for an uncomfortable Christmas. Why did she say no, and how can she stay for Christmas with his family now? Well she does, and the lessons she learns will change the way she thinks about family.<br /><br />A fast paced, heart touching story that pulled me right into t he midst of the Bender family. It was interesting to see the story unfold through the eyes of Katie, who really hasn't experienced a family like the Benders before. The characters in the family really propelled this novel along at break neck speed, never once did the plot lag, instead it moved along so fast that I found myself rereading some things just to catch what the author was trying to convey. I wondered from the beginning how life would work out for the main characters. The author begins the book with the marriage proposal and then takes the reader back to allow us to see what transpired, giving the story of the characters, making it easy to understand why Katie gave the answer she did. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen with Katie and Micah, and really felt like her staying with the family would be awkward, bu instead it made for a great story. My first Christmas read for the season, and I have to say it was a quick easy read that touches on faith, family relationships, love, loss and forgiveness. While there are a few poignant moments, there is enough humor to make you laugh, which helps to keep the story light. Well developed characters and a page turning, fast paced plot who could ask for anything more!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1445183799000, "title": "An Endless Christmas" }, { "asin": "0824956478", "rating": 5, "text": "I love finding books that teach valuable lessons and The Sparkle Box does that and more. Not only will the story teach youngsters about the true meaning of Christmas, it just might encourage parents to start a new Christmas tradition with their children. This story really shares what the true meaning of Christmas is, and imparts the wonderful feeling we get when we do for others. The beautiful illustrations really bring the story to life, and The Sparkle Box on the cover is eye catching. Overall this book would make a wonderful gift, I can see it becoming a family tradition.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1449376117000, "title": "The real meaning of Christmas" }, { "asin": "0764211412", "rating": 5, "text": "I love historical romance and when there is humor woven into the plot well it makes the story even better! At Love's Bidding by Regina Jennings is an easy to slip into read that easily transported me into the heart of the story, and the characters. It was easy to connect with Miranda and the way that she handles the issues that her grandfather is facing was fantastic, she was so respectful and loving even when he made mistakes. Miranda was an easy to like character and the relationship that develops between her and Wyatt while a bit predictable was still enjoyable. Interesting characters and a small town setting that allowed me read about something new to me, which was an auction house made this book a quick read. Anyone who enjoys humor with their historical romance along with a faith based message will certainly enjoy reading this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1451874046000, "title": "Fast paced" }, { "asin": "031033344X", "rating": 4, "text": "Ashley Tolliver is continuing the tradition of midwifery, something that the women in her family have been practicing for several generations. She has always hoped to go back to medical school but for now her patients need her in this tiny Appalachian community where plenty of the new mothers are single and life can sometimes be messy. Births aren't always easy and one night while a teen mother is giving birth at Ashley's clinic she starts bleeding and needs medical care, but when she disappears with the baby Ashley can't help but wonder if the mother and baby survived and where they went. Hunter McDermott want's to find his birth mother which allows his life to intersect with Ashley in the hopes that she can help him figure out who his mother might be.<br /><br />There are two mysteries going on within the pages of this story, which makes for an interesting read, but honestly there are so many things that held my attention with this book. The setting of the Appalachian mountains was easy to imagine, from the rich descriptions one can easily imagine the people and places.Brooks Ridge is unique and the characters really seem real and their life situations really grab you. The mystery and suspense are make this a good story, but for me it's the characters and setting that kept me reading. I found myself thinking about a few of them long after I finished the final page.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1454282426000, "title": "Captivating read" }, { "asin": "031034199X", "rating": 5, "text": "I always look forward to starting a new Amish fiction series and when it's written by Amy Clipston I know it will be good and with The Forgotten Recipe I was right! Veronica Fisher was certain that her future included Seth Lapp, sometimes though things don't work out the way we think they will. When Seth life is cut short she is certain that she will never find love again, or even if she wants to. She decides instead to throw herself into opening and running a new bake stand using her grandmother's pie recipe. Jason Huyard is haunted by the tragedy that took Veronica's Seth, so he decides to go to her bake shop and soon becomes a regular customer. The pair becomes friends, and soon deeper feelings start to develop, thing is Jason has a secret that just might change the way Veronica feels about him. Can Veronica overcome her broken heart and find love again, and what will happen when Jason finally reveals the truth?<br /><br />The Forgotten Recipe is filled with easy to care for characters . I couldn't help but wonder how things would work out for the couple. It was nice to watch them grow and change, especially where Veronica was concerned. Her feelings where Jason were concerned were totally understandable, but I could also understand why Jason withheld information from her. The inspirational messages of hope, love and trust were well done. I really can't wait to read the next book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1454377081000, "title": "Promising new series" } ]

[ { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 5, "text": "In this debut novel by Cara Lynn James we are transported back in time to 1899. Back during the day to reach the age of 25 and to be unwed could quickly get you labeled an old maid.<br />Miss Lillian Westbrook finds herself in such a position, she is engaged but has never been married, and to top it off she has been writing dime novels under the pen name of Fannie Cole. To be a female and work and earn your own money just wasn't acceptable so she keeps it hidden from her family and friends.<br />When Jackson Grail, a former boyfriend purchases the publishing house that has been publishing Fanny Cole's novels and then becomes determined to find out just who Fannie is. Lilly has to make some choices to protect her family. Will she be able to keep her identity hidden? Will Jackson and Lilly finally get together?<br />I love reading historical fiction and this book didn't disappoint. Cara Lynn James does a great job of grabbing the readers attention and then keeps the story going at a fast pace. I look forward to reading the next in the Ladies of Summerhill novels.", "timestamp": 1276837436000, "title": "Love On a Dime" }, { "asin": "1404187804", "rating": 5, "text": "The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews is a pint sized gift book that packs a wallop of a message.<br />This book will take you no longer than 10 minutes to read, and is very eye appealing with its beautiful pictures and large font.<br />The resounding message is every single thing we do matters. That the cause and effect of the decisions we make do make a difference.<br />Mr. Andrews starts out by telling us the story of Joshua Chamberlain a Colonel in the Union Army, and how the decisions that Mr. Chamberlain made was like a ripple effect on the US, shaping the countries future.<br />This is a great little motivational read that would be a great gift for anyone who might be suffering from self esteem issues or anyone who you think needs to be reminded that Yes They Do Matter.<br />I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1283859316000, "title": "The Butterfly Effect" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "We only have one chance to live this life and we choose how to live it. Do we stick our heads in the sand and think that everything is ok or do we wake up and realize that as Christians we have the responsibility to make life better for others if we can?<br />This book quotes some staggering numbers, the number of poor, and hungry is something that's hard to imagine. Mr Lucado's book gives us a wake up call as to what we can do to make a change.<br />You don't have to be rich or even well off, instead of focusing on what you don't have to give, focus on what you can give. It's that average Joe that makes a difference, the little things that add up.<br />I really enjoyed his use of scripture throughout this book and liked how he started each chapter with a scripture verse and ended the chapters with another scripture and a prayer.<br />This is a very simply written book that can change your way of thinking, its very inspiring a book that you wont be able to put down and will continue to think about long after you finish it.<br />A very timely message that we all need to read, I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1284121246000, "title": "Outlive Your Life" }, { "asin": "1595540091", "rating": 4, "text": "The year is 1772, and Toma Nicolescu and his friend Alec Cardei have seen their fair share of battles while serving the empress of Russia, Catherine the Great. So when they are dispatched to Moldavia to protect the Cantemir family, a very influential family in Moldavia, until the empress could appoint a ruler for that country who would be loyal to Catherine the Great, they think it will be an easy job.<br />The Cantemir family consisted of Kesia and her twin daughters Lucine and Natasha. Both girls had been taught by their mothers to live as free spirits and basically do whatever felt good, but an unplanned pregnancy and the loss of a baby when Lucine was seventeen had sort of tempered her ways, but not Natasha, she basically is always looking for a good time. Alec known as a ladies man was immediately lusting after Natasha, and while Toma was warned by the empress not to become romantically involved,becomes drawn to Lucine, but keeps his feelings at bay until he feels that Lucine is being threatened by Vlad Van Valerik.<br />When Toma realizes is that Vlad and his entourage aren't what they seem, he knows he will do whatever it takes to save the woman he loves, no matter the cost.<br />I found this book to be very thought provoking, where the characters feelings are so real that you can feel the anguish that Toma felt as well as the evil emitting from Vlad. I really enjoyed how Mr. Dekker tied Vlad's history to the book of Genesis, I only wish he would have traced his history to Lilith instead of the Nephilim.<br />This isn't a clear cut christian novel but instead has so many more elements, it has that horror story element of blood drinking vampires, but it also reminds us of God's unconditional love for us, and how it took the blood of our Savior to save us all!<br /><br />An amazing read, that I won't soon forget.<br /><br />This is my first opportunity to read anything written by Mr. Dekker and I am now his newest fan!", "timestamp": 1284517251000, "title": "Not your typical vampire story!" }, { "asin": "0800733703", "rating": 5, "text": "Don't look Back by Lynette Eason was an edge of your seat thrill ride from beginning to end! A book filled with suspense, romance and a chilling storyline that grabs you and wont let go!<br /><br />Jamie Cash was the only person to survive the kidnapping and torture of the \"Hero\" a serial killer that she escaped from twelve years ago, with extensive therapy she is finally getting her life back on track, but when the \"Hero\" returns to finish the job he started, can FBI agent Dakota Richard protect her from this evil killer?<br /><br />I enjoyed seeing Jamie Cash's faith and trust in God even though she is facing circumstances that might test even the strongest faith, she instead finds solace in her faith giving her problems to God in prayer, actually I felt like it was her faith that kept her strong. Her character came off as very realistic, we saw true emotion from her such as anger and fear, feelings that I thought were perfectly normal for someone experiencing the horror she lived thru, and knowing she might wind up in the Hero's clutches again.<br /><br />FBI agent Dakota Richard is such a sweet guy, he really cared for Jamie, I loved watching their relationship blossom, and Jamie slowly finding comfort in him.He was determined to keep Jamie safe no matter what but could he really protect her?<br /><br />Even though this is the second story in the Women of Justice series it can easily be read as a stand alone work. So if your looking for a page turning drama with an evil killer who likes to get inside his victims heads, along with enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat, and read how someones faith can help them thru even the worst of times, with a sweet romance woven in, then you must read this book! But a word of warning once you start reading you wont be able to put this one down!<br /><br />Available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.\"<br /><br />Even though I was provided a review copy by Revell, thanks Donna, it in no way alters my opinion of this book!", "timestamp": 1287465039000, "title": "An on the edge of your seat story!!!" }, { "asin": "0307458997", "rating": 5, "text": "A lovely novella with a beautiful cover,a new to me author Donita K. Paul writes a charming story that will definitely put you in the holiday spirit.<br /><br />When Cora Crowder finds herself needing a book for an uncle's Christmas gift she heads into the Warner,Werner, Wizbotterdad book store. She has no idea that she will wind up on the receiving end of the stores matchmaking scheme to throw her and her boss Simon together.<br /><br />I loved this book, it had the right balance of romance, fantasy along with a great underlying spiritual message. The characters were fabulous, and I loved the cat.<br /><br />A delightful Christmas romance that will get you in the holiday spirit,and would be great read anytime of the year. I highly recommend this wonderful book!", "timestamp": 1287852118000, "title": "A Charming Story" }, { "asin": "0764208659", "rating": 3, "text": "I wasn't sure what to expect when this book first arrived for me to review. I had never heard of TobyMac before, I think he is popular among the younger audience, but I soon realized that each section in this book is named after a song that he released sometime earlier this year.<br /><br /> Each section consists of short stories, of how God has used people to change the world, some of the stories I had heard before and some were new to me. You will also find prayers and scriptures peppered through out this book that will further inspire and uplift you. Each section ends with a one minute remix and also a call to action prayer.<br /><br />This books resounding message is \"If we gotta start sometime, why not start now.\"If only we are willing to step out of our comfort zone and unite that we can make a difference and change the world.<br /><br />In the right hands this book could be life changing, I think it would be great especially for youth pastors, I think it would be useful in reaching the younger audience, with its hip look and the fact that TobyMac is someone that teens listen to. Overall I think anyone would enjoy reading these inspirational stories!<br /><br />Even though I was provided a copy of this book for review by Bethany House it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1288561993000, "title": "City On Our Knees" }, { "asin": "0800719255", "rating": 5, "text": "I must say that I am guilty of judging a book by its cover, when I saw the cover for Christmas at Harrington's I immediately felt like it was going to be an amazing Christmas story, on the cover you find yourself on a street of any small town in the USA, you have a smiling lady, dressed in a red coat peering into a store window with a display of a Christmas tree and toys snowflakes falling all around her, its just beautiful and depicts the holiday season perfectly.<br />In this story we are introduced to Lena Markham,its less than four weeks till Christmas and she has just been released from prison after serving and eight year sentence for a crime she didn't commit, she was set up by her husband to take the fall for something he did. She decides she wants a fresh start in a new town, so a social worker puts together a release package for her, finding a town to locate her to, setting her up with a place to live and a temporary job, and a bus trip to get her to get her there, while on the bus she meets an elderly lady, Moira who befriends her,telling Lena that she knows despite whatever happened in her past she is sure Lena is a good person. Once they get off the bus together in New Haven, MN she is introduced to Moira's son Sam, who is a lawyer. She soon realizes that the job that she anticipated isn't there, and the only job available is playing Mrs. Santa.<br />Can Lena find the new start in this town she hopes for, and can she keep her past a secret, and what about Sam, how does he play into all of this, you need to read this heartwarming story of second chances to find out!<br />While the story that unfolded inside the pages of this book wasn't exactly what I anticipated , it is exactly what the holiday season is all about, a perfect Christmas read filled with hope, inspiration and second chances.<br /><br />Even though I was provided a review copy of this book by Revell Publishing it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1289716420000, "title": "Christmas At Harrington's" }, { "asin": "1609360257", "rating": 4, "text": "World War II is just coming to an end but the war that is going on inside Esther Lange is unending!<br />She can't forgive herself for the night of passion she shared with Linus Hahn in the backseat of a borrowed car, they were both headed overseas to war, and it just happened. When that night turns into a daughter for them Esther is released from the Red Cross with no place to go. So she writes Linus, and his reply is for her to go to his hometown and stay with his parents, and that's what she has been doing for the last two years, living in their attic, raising her daughter and working at a hospital taking care of the war wounded.<br />Living with Linus' parents isn't easy, they are very hardened, feeling like she trapped their son. When she receives a letter indicating that Linus may have been killed in action, she isn't sure what to believe, but one thing she knows for sure is that she is relieved, she won't have to marry a man she doesn't love,and barely even knows. She really believes that she was no more than a one night stand for Linus as well, and it soon comes to light that Linus had a longstanding girlfriend who works in the same hospital as Esther,and she threatens to make Esther pay for stealing Linus away from her!<br />Since there has been no other information about Linus she starts corresponding with Peter Hess the medic who sent her the information about Linus. Soon they develop a friendship, and it starts to develop into something more, but when Peter's secret is exposed can they overcome it, and will Esther ever forgive herself for the mistake she made?<br />This was an amazing story, just when you thought things were working out the author throws a monkey wrench into it that take it in the opposite direction. The feelings are so strongly written in this book, that you are easily transported back to war time America. You can also feel the turmoil going on inside Esther, she judges herself so harshly for the mistake she made that night and is unwilling to see that she has already been forgiven by God, she just needs to accept it! Peter's story was one I kept thinking of long after I finished reading it, he was such a kind person, a victim of circumstances really, but he always kept his faith in God.The letters that passed between Peter and Esther were such a treat to read, I enjoyed seeing their friendship blossom.<br /><br />I found this book a real joy to read, the author does an amazing job of taking a work of fiction and weaving a bit of a history lesson in. While this was my first time reading anything from Susan May Warren, it certainly won't be my last!<br /><br />Even though I was provided a copy of this book by Litfuse it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1289881365000, "title": "Nightingale" }, { "asin": "0764207326", "rating": 4, "text": "Jackie Donovan is almost thirty. All she has ever wanted was to find a wonderful man to marry, and to purchase Bailey Place a B&B. She and her best friend Minnie visited it often when they were children, they both want to own it, but widower Minnie is working two jobs to support her son and Jackie works at a magazine writing articles about local business owners. When she meets the owner of Bailey House,Erikson Davis, she soon starts hoping her dreams might finally be coming true.<br /><br />While this story was a bit slow to start for me, once it picked up I became anxious to see how things would work out. The characters are very down to earth making them very easy to relate to, although I would say some of them were offbeat! I really enjoyed how Jackie's family was always trying to fix her up.<br />The author does an amazing job of describing the setting for this book, transporting you to the small town setting.<br />An added bonus are the wonderful sounding recipes included, which I definitely will be trying out!<br />If your in the mood for a sweet, but not sappy romance, with a little humor woven in, then give this book a try! For me not a great read, but overall I enjoyed the book and will be looking for more from this author..<br /><br />rating 3.5/5<br />Book provided by Bethany House for review.", "timestamp": 1295688005000, "title": "Hatteras Girl" }, { "asin": "0800732596", "rating": 5, "text": "Elise Stortsen, has some major changes happen. Her mom has landed a new job that moves Elise into a new school district, so instead of starting her junior year in her old school, where she wasn't very popular anyway, she will be going to Garfield High. She is just about to turn sixteen and having never been kissed hopes to change that by her birthday. When Asher, a popular boy in school starts showing an interest in Elise, she wonders if he might give her that first kiss.<br />Her first day of school goes great, Asher introduces her to the in-crowd, which includes Asher's girlfriend. So when Elise gets an email from Asher, she soon finds herself caught up in something that soon puts her reputation on the line, and jeopardizes her future, but it also makes her realize what is important, and in the process strengthens her faith in God!<br />I think this book is a must read for all teen girls. It deals with some pretty heavy subjects, but these are real life problems that are facing teens today.The character of Elise was very well written. She was very down to earth and easy to relate to. I totally understood the reactions of the characters in the story, and while Stacie did something wrong, she didn't do it with malicious intent, but there were still repercussions.<br />This book moved at a brisk pace and I felt the ending wrapped up the story nicely. There is a spiritual message woven throughout the book, but it isn't preachy or overwhelming.Whether your a teen or not, this book is well worth reading!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book for review, but it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1295814869000, "title": "A great read whether your a teen or not!" }, { "asin": "0800734564", "rating": 5, "text": "When U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor get a call that his next assignment will be to protect federal judge Elizabeth Michaels he is less than happy. His best friend Doug was married to her, and from the things Doug told him before his death, the marriage was very unhappy and it was Liz's fault. Doug said she was cold hearted and only her only focus was on her job. Can he put his feelings aside and do the assignment?<br />When Liz Michael's sister is shot in the back of the head, Liz believes her sisters abusive husband is to blame. Because she is a federal judge she needs to be protected by U.S. Marshals. When she realizes Jake will be the marshal assigned to keep her safe she wonders what her husband told him about her. As she and Jake spend time together one thing is for sure Jake is starting to realize that his opinion of Liz may be wrong. Did his friend Doug lie to him?<br />When it becomes evident that Liz may have been the shooters target, can Jake keep her safe, and figure out who is out to get her?<br />There is never a dull moment in this story! It grabs you from the first pages with the tragic shooting of Liz's sister, and how Liz's life is turned upside down while she is being protected from someone who may be out to kill her. Liz is very level headed, and almost always holds herself together but there are a few instances where that facade slips. Jake's character really stood out. He goes above and beyond where his job is concerned, and is devoted to his family.<br />A fantastic first book in Irene Hannon's new Guardians of Justice series. If this book is any indicator this series is going to be great!<br />Anyone who is a fan of light romance, mystery and suspense with a bit of a christian message woven in will enjoy this book.<br /><br />I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1296024023000, "title": "Fatal Judgement" }, { "asin": "0764206710", "rating": 3, "text": "Ruth Livingstone's life is turned upside down when her father is falsely accused of murdering a prostitute. Her father gives her the deceased woman's child and sends her to a small town to stay with a family he knows. That family thinks Ruth is a former prostitute, but they allow the town to believe she is a widow, with a small child. Her only solace is tending a once abandoned garden.<br /><br />Because of a mistake two years ago Asher \"Jake\" Tripp walked away from the \"Galaxy\", the newspaper he and his brother owned, the mistake he made almost caused the business to fail, but his brother Clifford had worked hard and the paper was once again thriving. Jake wants to return to the paper.Hoping to redeem himself in the eyes of his brother, he offers to take an assignment out of town, trying to track down Ruth Livingstone, who disappeared right before her fathers trial began. When he tracks Ruth to the town she is staying in, he takes residence as Jake Spenser, a handyman recovering from a broken back.<br /><br />Ruth and Jack both have plenty of secrets, but once they meet, and share time together, love slowly blooms, will their secrets keep the two apart, or will love be able to work everything out?<br /><br />For some reason I just didn't connect with this story, it actually took several weeks for me to read. I liked the historical aspect of the book, and while the storyline was ok, it just wasn't great. I couldn't really connect with any of the characters, I kept hoping we would get more of Ruth's back story, such as whether she left friends behind, or perhaps a boyfriend, she was in her twenties so she certainly must have had a life before she went into hiding with the child. This book was my first foray into reading anything written by Delia Parr, and while it didn't sweep me away, it wont dissuade me from reading more of her work.<br /><br />rating 2.5/5", "timestamp": 1296362439000, "title": "Love's First Bloom" }, { "asin": "0800734521", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Lady In The Mist\" takes place in 1809 in Seabourne VA. The protagonist Tabitha Eckles is a twenty-four year old midwife, the thing that makes Tabitha unusual is the fact that she isn't married. She learned her midwifery skills from her mother and grandmother, and once they died she continued to help her town , even though several people felt it wasn't right because she is unmarried. When a premature birthing results in the death of the mother and baby, she finds herself threatened at knife point, who could be threatening her? Could it have something to do with Dominick Cherrett a man she literally ran into on her way home after the birthing? Or does it have something to do with her job as a midwife?<br /><br />What a fascinating story! The author draws you into the story immediately. Tabitha's character is so easy to relate to. Her relationship with God has suffered because she feels that he has taken everyone that matters away from her, but she still has a tender-heart. Dominick was an interesting character as well, working as an indentured servant for the mayor, you know he has a few secrets. As he spends time with Tabitha, he soon loses his heart to her, something he didn't plan. I enjoyed the mystery and suspense woven into this historical romance. I also loved the cover of this book, it was very eye catching, so sometimes you can judge a book by its cover!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1297996914000, "title": "Lady In The Mist" }, { "asin": "143470212X", "rating": 5, "text": "Passport Through Darkness\" isn't your typical missionary workers story. Instead Kimberly Smith takes the reader on a journey around the world to Sudan and other war torn countries. She shares the atrocities that women and children face in these countries every day.<br /><br />Kimberly Smith was your average American woman, working in the corporate world, a wife, mother and a faithful church member, she was living a good life, but she felt as if something was missing, she longed to make her life matter. About that time her husband Milton started suggesting that they do something meaningful, something to make a difference in other peoples lives. One day as Milton browses thru a magazine in a waiting room he finds an article asking for missionaries to serve in Spain, ironically Milton had been a missionary in Spain back in the 80's, so with what I would consider a giant leap of faith, they were accepted by a missionary agency to work in Spain so they sold everything they had starting a new life journey in the missionary field. While in Spain the couple became aware of the plight of human trafficking, causing them to cofound Make Way Partners, which works to prevent human trafficking worldwide.<br /><br />I knew a bit of the plight in Sudan before reading this book, but this book brings it front and center, allowing you to see these victims as real people, while it is a hard to read the accounts that are shared in the story, it is a message that needs to be spread.<br /><br />Thanks to B&B Media for providing me a copy of this book for review.", "timestamp": 1299121982000, "title": "Passport Through Darkness" }, { "asin": "0764208500", "rating": 2, "text": "It has taken me forever to finish this book, I started reading it back in November and found myself putting it down for extended periods because it was a story that really didn't inspire me, I couldn't become interested in the characters, and just couldn't relate to the story.<br /><br />The protagonist in this story is an almost thirty year old who aspires to be a writer even quitting her job to return to school to get her masters degree. Because no one is buying her story, she gets numerous rejections, she is working part time as an English professor to pay the bills. Her roommate Zoe, seems to have no problem getting her story published in a magazine that has rejected Amy's.While Amy's character is overall a good person, she is constantly struggling with self doubt, feeling like things aren't working out the way she planned.<br /><br />While I didn't connect with the story,I wouldn't hesitate to read something else by Bethany Pierce. Her writing wasn't the problem, it was just that the book didn't click for me.<br /><br />Book provided by Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1299643226000, "title": "This book didn't inspire me" }, { "asin": "1854249746", "rating": 4, "text": "I must admit I am a huge fan of historical fiction especially mysteries and intrigue, but \"A Trail Of Ink\" by Mel Starr was my first foray into the midieval time period. I wasn't sure how I would like the time period but I actually loved it!<br /><br />This story is set in the town of Oxford England, where Hugh de Singleton is trying to solve the mystery of his friend John Wyclif's stolen books. Twenty-two books in all have been taken, and two of them are borrowed books from a friend of John's. The books were stolen right out of Master Wyclif's room while he was out to supper. Hugh is also interested in Kate Caxton, a stationer's daughter. So Hugh jumps into solving the mystery as he also tries to to win Kate's favor.<br /><br />While this story was a bit hard for me to get into in the beginning, it soon took off transporting me back to medieval England. The author rolls together mystery, suspense, and murder together to make the story a satisfying read. I did find myself turning to the glossary provided in the front of the book because of some of the words used during the time period. \"A Trail Of Ink\" is the third book in the chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon series, but can easily be read as a stand alone work, although I do wish I had read the first two books in the seriesThe ending provides a teaser for the next book in the series titled \"Unhallowed Ground\", which I look forward to reading.<br /><br />Book provided by Litfuse and the publisher for review.", "timestamp": 1299798789000, "title": "A Trail Of Ink" }, { "asin": "0800734076", "rating": 5, "text": "I can count on one hand the Biblical fiction novels that I have read, but I am really starting to like this genre. While the stories are works of fiction, the reader learns alot about the characters that the author is writing about. Realizing that \"Love Amid The Ashes\" was the story about Job and Dinah I found myself thinking about their stories in the Bible, while Job's story was one that I was pretty familiar with, a man who suffers many trials and tribulations but never waivers in his faith in God. Dinah on the other hand was someone I never thought alot about, I remember her story, as the daughter of Jacob and Leah, she was defiled by Shechem, who was later killed by her brothers. For me I never really thought about how Dinah's life might have been altered by the act.<br />I found this book something I really enjoyed reading. The author provides the reader with a genealogical chart at the beginning of the story, that helps keep the many characters straight. I liked the way that she opens each chapter with a Bible verse allowing me to relate the chapters to the verses. The author allows us to see these biblical characters with heart and feelings by drawing us into their stories. This debut novel will certainly be a hit for anyone who enjoys biblical fiction, but its also a good story for anyone who likes a compelling faith filled story.<br /><br />Available March 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.", "timestamp": 1301199627000, "title": "Love Amid The Ashes" }, { "asin": "1414339429", "rating": 5, "text": "When I picked up \"Journey To Riverbend\" I thought that it was probably going to be another historical fiction romance novel, but boy was I wrong. While there is a bit of romance between a few of the characters the author really gives us a true western novel filled with a hanging, an attempted stagecoach robbery, a kidnapping, a shootout and a posse searching for kidnappers. He rolls this together with a story about regrets and forgiveness, and faith in God.<br /><br />While Michael Archer couldn't save Ben Carstairs from being hanged for a crime he didn't commit, he is determined to try and fulfill Ben's dying wish, which was to make amends with his father Sam, to tell him that he forgave him for the way he treated him and return his mothers necklace.<br /><br />Michael makes the journey to Riverbend to deliver Ben's message to Sam but finds that Sam is out of town for business and will be gone for a few days. Michael decides to hang around until he returns, and he soon learns that Sam Carstairs is a ruthless man who has no use for God and uses people to get what he wants.While staying in Riverbend Michael meets Rachel Stone a young lady who has found refuge with the local preacher and his family. They feel drawn to each other but because of issues that haunt them from their past they are unsure that they are ready for a relationship, but that doesn't stop Michael from thinking about a future that might include a move to Riverbend.<br />Sam Carstairs has wronged several people in his past, doing whatever he could to obtain more wealth but when he is kidnapped the town doesn't hesitate to form a posse to try and find him. Michael decides to ride along hoping that he can help, will they find Sam before its to late?<br />What an interesting story, the characters in the story are well fleshed out. Rachel and Michael each have issues from their past that continue to dog them. Rachel is making great strides toward her future even though some of the townspeople won't let her forget her past. Michael was a strong caring compassionate character who was also dealing with demons from his past. While I really didn't like the character of Sam Carstairs by the end of the story I felt sorry for him. The ending of the story leaves me hoping that Mr. McLaughlin will write a sequel for this story!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1301205637000, "title": "I hope the author is writing a sequel for this one!" }, { "asin": "1595548017", "rating": 5, "text": "Abigail Jones works for her mothers magazine called the Viewpoint. Because of the stress of her job her mother encourages her to take some time off and go to Montana and check on her aunt Lucy. When she arrives Lucy is fine, but Wade, the cowboy who owns the ranch where Lucy lives needs a nanny for his daughter, and Abigail takes the job. Abigail knows Wade is hiding something and thinks it just might be a story that could save her mothers magazine. Of course feelings develop between Wade and Abigail, will she choose to go forward with the story which will expose Wade, or will she decide to protect the relationship that is blooming between them?<br /><br />Wow! The word for this one is fantastic. This is one of those stories that I just couldn't put down. The author weaves romance, a bit of mystery, and a nice christian message together to produce a story that begs to be read. Oh did I mention the hunky cowboy. The chemistry between the main characters was static, it just jumps off the page at you.<br />The imagery that the author paints with her words make you feel as if your right in the middle of Montana, how could you not love a place called Moose Creek! Readers of christian romance will surely enjoy this one, but this book would also appeal to fans of romance with a western setting.<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1303268262000, "title": "A Cowboy's Touch" }, { "asin": "0781403790", "rating": 5, "text": "While these books are reprints of books that were orginally printed back in the 1974, I somehow missed them growing up, but I am so glad that I had the chance to read them now. I consider them timeless classics that will certainly appeal to many, and should be on every little girls bookshelf. While the stories that grandma shares with her grand daughter are fun to read they are also educational, and provide the reader with little life lessons. The illustrations peppered throughout the book are cute and will capture the imagination of the young reader.<br /><br />These books would make a perfect gift for young readers, but I think anyone who likes to reminisce about the \"Good Old Days\" will certainly enjoy these books.<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of these books by B&B Media in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1303788390000, "title": "Perfect stories for young and old alike" }, { "asin": "1595547851", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Fairer Than Morning\" is a historical fiction novel set in the 1820's in Rushville Ohio and Pittsburgh PA.Ann Miller's boyfriend has just proposed to her. Eli Bowen is nineteen but Ann is only fifteen. She turns him down because she knows her father would never allow her to marry before she turns eighteen, because it is what her mother would have wished.Ann was only nine when her mother died, leaving Ann to become the mother figure for her two younger sisters Mabel and Susan. Her father is a saddler and also a circuit preacher which leaves Ann to be the caretaker of the children quite often. When Ann's father needs to attend business in Pittsburgh he allows the girls to go along. Where she meets Will, someone that she can't quit thinking about.<br /><br />Will Hanby signs up for five years of indentured service to Jacob Good so that he can learn to be a saddler. But Mr. Good is a cruel man who thinks nothing of abusing Will. When the abuse becomes to much Will makes a drastic decision that has him running to the Miller farm for refuge.<br />While this story is a historical fiction, it is actually based on real people, which had me anxious to read this story. The story drew me in from the first pages when a young girl at fifteen is being proposed to. The author easily draws you into the lives of the characters in the story, making you feel as if you are right there with them. Parts of this story were hard to read, the abuse that Will and the other slaves suffered was really heart wrenching.<br />This is the first book in The Saddler's Legacy Series, and I for one will be looking for the next book titled \"Sweeter Than Birdsong\" due out in Feb 2012.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1304306070000, "title": "Great new series" }, { "asin": "0800733711", "rating": 5, "text": "When Detectives Noah Lambert and Kit Kenyon are assigned to the murder case of Walter Davis a twenty nine year old man who was getting ready to graduate from Wofford Law College, there pretty sure it isn't a random killing and when the second body shows up, a young lady who attended the same college the pair realizes that there is a serial killer on the loose. As they try and find the killer, the killer has his own plans which includes one of the detectives. Will the pair be able to figure out who the killer is before its to late?<br /><br />This book takes off like a house on fire, with unstoppable twists and turns to keep you flipping the pages to figure out who the killer is, and for while I thought I knew who the killer might be, I really wasn't sure until the end of the story.<br />The characters in this novel are easy to connect with, Kit and Noah both have issues from their past, and Kit has let those issues keep her from God, but not so with Noah, he has a wonderful relationship with God. The relationship that develops between Noah and Kit was nice, and added to the story.<br /><br />While this book is the third book in the Women Of Justice series it can easily be read as a stand alone work because the author gives sufficient background so that you don't feel lost. If your a fan suspense/mystery novels that will keep you on the edge of your seat, that also weaves in a bit of inspiration and romance as well then you should certainly pick up this book, but I would suggest that you read the entire series, because the books are just that good!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1306640184000, "title": "A Killer Among Us" }, { "asin": "1595549242", "rating": 4, "text": "Spring For Susannah is set in the 1800's shortly after the civil war, but before the west was tame, when the Dakota's were still just a territory.<br />Susannah Underhill really felt as if she didn't have a choice, when she decides to become a mail order bride for her pastor's brother. She had been living a very comfortable life in Michigan until her parents die. When someone shows up at her home telling her that her father owed alot of money to the bank and even attacks her, the only thing for her to do is to become a mail order bride for her pastor's brother Jessie.<br />When she arrives at Fourth Siding in the Dakota territory, she meets her husband Jessie,a non-stop talker, totally opposite from Susannah. As she learns about Jessie she realizes what a kind considerate man he is, but can she let go of her insecurities and allow love to bloom?<br /><br />As a fan of historical fiction I found the book quite enjoyable.It was nice to see the character of Susannah grow from a timid person into someone that could take care of herself, and also find her way back to God. I felt like the secondary characters were well rounded and added to the story. I am always a sucker for dogs in a story and Jake was great. The author also adds a bit of humor to the story which worked well. The one negative to the story was the rushed ending. All in all a good debut novel from Catherine Richmond.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1306778746000, "title": "Nice debut novel" }, { "asin": "1595548114", "rating": 5, "text": "\"A Vision Of Lucy,\" is set in Rocky Creek Texas during 1882. The plot revolves around Lucy Fairbanks, a young lady who dreams of being a photographer but her father isn't crazy about the idea. She has badgered the owner of the newspaper and is finally told if she can get a shot of the elusive white mustang then her photos will be put in the paper, but its not easy getting a picture of a wild mustang so she shimmies up a tree and plans on waiting but when she falls out landing on top of a stagecoach about to be robbed, well its easy to see that she doesn't always have the best of luck.So she figures if she can get a picture of the town recluse David Wolf, also known as the Wild Man she still might have a shot at her newspaper job, but when she meets him feelings start to develop. Neither are really looking for love, but sometimes God has other plans!<br /><br />What a fun book this was. Lucy was always finding herself in such precarious spots, and if I might say so she was a bit clumsy. The author does a fantastic job of painting such vivid pictures of the situations she was in that I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. I love reading historical fiction where you feel as if you learn a bit while you read and in this story I felt like I learned a bit about early photography, which was quite interesting. This book is the third book in the Rocky Creek Romance series but can easily be read as a stand alone work. Fans of quick paced historical fiction with a nice inspirational message will certainly devour this one. Margaret Brownley is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1307659325000, "title": "A Vision Of Lucy" }, { "asin": "082543310X", "rating": 5, "text": "Whenever I read a historical fiction story that is based on true events I always love the fact that I am learning a bit about history that perhaps I might never really know alot about otherwise. With How Huge The Night the authors do an amazing job of weaving together fact and fiction, to transport us back to the days of WWII, seeing the events of the time thru the eyes of two teenagers Nina and Julian, while I knew at some point their stories would meld I wasn't sure how they would connect.<br /><br />The characters in this story are completely believable and it is very easy to imagine the things that they are going thru. Julian is your typical teenager, he isn't a man but neither is he really a boy. He isn't really happy that his family left their home in Paris to move to the farm in southern France with his grandfather, he is dealing with issues such as trying to fit in at school, not to mention trying to get along with Benjamin the Jewish boy who has also moved in with his grandfather.<br />As Nina's father is lying on his deathbed he makes Nina promise that she will take her brother and leave Austria.For me their parts of their story was heart wrenching, and I found myself praying that they would be all right.<br /><br />I found this to be a compelling story that has many lessons woven in. A coming of age story during a difficult time period where the characters display great courage faith and hope. While this book is geared toward young adults I would easily recommend it to older adults as well.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1308955795000, "title": "Compelling historical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800734653", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become a fan of Biblical fiction, and when one latches onto my imagination and allows me to see Biblical characters in a whole new way while staying true to what the Bible says then its a winner in my book. When I started reading the book of \"Martha,\" I kept thinking to myself Martha who, but once her brother Lazerus is mentioned, it started to fall into place for me, because who doesn't know the story of Lazerus being raised from the dead.<br /><br /> As the story unfolds Martha becomes a very real character with feelings and longings just like any other young lady. While she longs to marry, how could it ever happen, she stepped into the role of caretaker of her family when her mother died and took that responsibility very seriously, but that doesn't stop her from wishing for a husband and children of her own. I had hoped the relationship with Thaddeus would work out but it wasn't meant to be. Some of the most exciting parts of the story were when Jesus stayed with Martha and her family.<br />If you are like me and are unsure who Martha was once you read this book you will never forget her.I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, and if you have never read Biblical fiction then this quick read is the perfect book to introduce you to this exciting genre.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1309579648000, "title": "Martha" }, { "asin": "0800734238", "rating": 5, "text": "In \"Blue Skies Tomorrow\" the author weaves together a compelling story that transports the reader back to WWII, with characters that easily draw us in, allowing us to share in their strengths and struggles making their stories come to life.<br />Helen Carlisle's is supposed to be the grieving widow when her husband dies a war hero. She puts on a good face, but its becoming harder to do because she is carrying a secret about her husband and their marriage, which was far from happy, but she is determined to hide the truth.<br />Lt.Ray Novak grapples with feeling like a coward. His job is to train pilots to fly missions, but he has never been in combat himself. When the Army Air Forces decides to start using the returning combat pilots as instructors Ray finds himself transferred back home as a supply officer where he reconnects with his friend, recently widowed Helen Carlisle. Can the two find happiness together?<br />Helen was someone who was certainly scarred by her past.While the shame wasn't hers she carried it anyway.Helen's story caused my heart to ache for her, but the ending certainly was great! It was inspirational to see her character grow and change through out the story. I thought that Ray's character was wonderful, his love of God really shined through. If you enjoy historical fiction set during WWII with romance, drama and a wonderful inspirational message your going to enjoy this one. A great conclusion to a fantastic series. I can't wait to read more from this talented author!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.", "timestamp": 1314504547000, "title": "Historical fiction at its best" }, { "asin": "0764208055", "rating": 4, "text": "I love historical novels, and if they are set in the west then that's just an added bonus.In this one Yvonne Harris transports us back in time to August 1886 in El Paso Texas. Elizabeth Evans moves to Texas from Washington to look after her brother Lloyd and his daughter Ruthie after the death of his wife and newborn son, and in return he will teach her the newspaper business,but instead her brother is shot dead and Elizabeth is kidnapped by Mexican outlaws. When Jake Nelson, a Texas Ranger learns of the shooting and kidnapping he sets out to rescue Elizabeth.When he finds her there is an immediate attraction,but could a relationship ever work between the two?<br /><br />With plenty of page turning action from the beginning, this book is certainly a quick read.I enjoyed learning a bit about the Texas Rangers,and the time period in general, while reading a sweet romance. I liked main characters in this book. Both were dealing with issues from their past that caused them to guard their hearts. Jake's heart was broken by his fiance, and the death of Elizabeth's husband Carl, who was killed in the line of duty in the Army, caused her to fear getting involved with someone who might put their job first.<br /><br />I think anyone who enjoys a good historical fiction western,with romance and plenty of action will certainly enjoy this fast paced read, I know I did.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1315725865000, "title": "A River To Cross" }, { "asin": "0764205978", "rating": 5, "text": "This was a different sort of read for me. I don't ever remember reading a story about smoke jumpers, and actually I am not sure I knew what a smoke jumper was before reading this story. I knew there were firefighters who go in and fight the major forest fires, but I honestly didn't realize there were men who are dropped in to fight the fires by cutting down trees etc. So not only did I get an action packed story but I also learned something new which is always a bonus.<br />The main characters in this one are Silas Kent a smoke jumper and Elle Westmore a pilot who drops smoke jumpers into the heart of a fire. Silas and Elle have a history together, but parted ways. Their paths cross again when when she takes an assignment to fly a smoke jumping crew out of Redding, CA to the Desolation Complex in the Sierra Nevada's to battle a raging fire. Soon though they realize there is more going on in those mountains than just the fires, there is cache of gold and some of the men on the smoke jumping crew is on a mission to recover it!<br />What a fast paced read. Elle was someone who had alot on her plate. She has the responsibility of taking care of her five year old daughter Maddie, while doing a very demanding job. I thought the little twist about her short marriage to Maddie's father was quite interesting. Silas seemed to have grown quite a bit from being someone who ran from a serious relationship to wanting to take care of Elle.I really got hooked on the characters from the beginning pages and became anxious to see how things would work out.<br /> There is plenty of page turning action, with romance, suspense mystery and drama woven together with a christian message woven in to keep you reading until the final page.<br />While this is the first time I have ever read anything by Shawn Grady, it certainly wont be my last. I really enjoyed his writing style, his vivid descriptions and suspense filled story makes this book a real winner!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1315790719000, "title": "entertaining and educational" }, { "asin": "0800719956", "rating": 5, "text": "I have read a few of Suzanne Woods Fisher's stories set in Lancaster County, so I was anxious to read a Christmas story set in the area. It's the story of two families, an Amish family, The Riehl's and an English family the Fitzpatricks. Each family is struggling with major life issues and need a bit of reminding as to what is important in life.<br /><br />Mattie, Sol, and Danny Riehl have made a trip to the doctors office for a follow up because Mattie suffered a miscarriage a few weeks ago. While they have six year old Danny, Mattie has always dreamed of having a houseful of children but struggles with infertility. The situation has stolen Mattie's joy making her question why others can so easily have children but she can't. Jaime and C.J. Fitzpatrick have issues of their own. C.J. is a teacher, but also works with his dog Tucker as a search and rescue team. His marriage to his wife Jaime seems to be slowly raveling apart and he isn't sure what to do to fix it. Jaime's father left when she was young, and when he recently dropped back into her life, she became frantic to have his acceptance, add to this the fact that she lost her mother six months ago to a freak accident and suspicions that her husband is having an affair. She won't talk to C.J. and he is unsure how to reach her. When the couple runs an errand to the Riehl farm, they become stranded. Did God bring these two families together to help each other?<br /><br />I loved this story, I read it in about an hour and was anxious to see how things would turn out. The plot moved along well, and wasn't predictable like many of the Christmas stories I read. The characters are very realistic with the issues they are dealing with. I read alot of Amish stories and often the Amish seem a bit condescending where the English are concerned but not so in this story. The Riehl's were very open and accepting of the Fitzpatrick's, and not only that we see Mattie really struggle with the issues she is facing.I thought the story line with Mattie's cousin Zach really added to the main story, and Danny was such an inquisitive child. I love when an author adds a dog to the story, and Tucker and C.J.'s job as a SAR team was interesting and I enjoyed learning a bit about it.<br />If your looking for an inspirational Christmas story set in Amish country give this one a try, for me the only complaint I had was seeing it end.", "timestamp": 1316916196000, "title": "A Lancaster County Christmas" }, { "asin": "0446570869", "rating": 5, "text": "Susan Lambert is in the city of Prague because her beloved grandmothers funeral is being held there. Raised by her grandmother since the age of twelve when her parents were killed in a car accident, an accident that Susan had a feeling about, and that's the thing, Susan had always had a feeling of discernment. The ability to sense when something wasn't right and that was a feeling she got when she decided to visit St. Vitus Cathedral. Even though she was alone in the Cathedral she felt as if someone was there with her, and even glimpsed what she thought was a man. She sees the same man a few more times, and when her cousin Wendy decides to go partying with a stranger that oozes evil, she feels compelled to find her cousin and get her away from this man.The man that Susan glimpsed in the Cathedral,(Raphael) approaches Susan and offers to help her find Wendy, but in return he tells Susan he will need her help. Susan is soon introduced to things she would have never imagined, and learns that vampires do exist and Raphael is a vampire set to fight a war against an evil vampire who wants to rule the world.<br /><br />I love vampire fiction and I was quite excited to read a vampire tale that was woven into christian fiction. I enjoyed getting to know the characters especially Raphael. Thru flashbacks we learn why he was cursed to be a vampire. The way the author explains why some people become vampires was quite different from most vampire tales. Her take was that some people are so inherently evil that they are cursed as vampires thus living longer in the hopes that they will eventually learn their mistakes and accept God, which was something that Raphael was still struggling with even after 900 years. While Raphael is a vampire it was easy to sense a goodness in him, although when Susan's life was in jeopardy we certainly saw his dark side.The forbidden feel of the attraction between Susan and Raphael kept me turning the pages to see if a romance would develop.The secondary character of David added to the story for me, a reluctant hero, who was only in Prague for three months on a job assignment staying in the same hotel as Wendy and Susan, when he hears on of the women cry out he tries to help them and learns the hard way that vampires exist and soon finds himself being trained as a vampire slayer. The relationship between David and Wendy was sweet.<br />I really hated to see this book end, and left me wanting to read a sequel. I really can't wait to see how the relationship between Raphael and Susan goes. A vampire tale woven together with a christian theme, and a fight of good versus evil, the perfect October read! On a scale of one to five I would easily give this one a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1317783522000, "title": "In a word FANGTASTIC" }, { "asin": "0800733460", "rating": 5, "text": "Having enjoyed the first book in Janice Thompson's Backstage Pass series I was anxious to read this one. I must say I think this book just might be better than the first one, with returning characters from the first book as well as a few new ones, I found this book to be laugh out loud funny.<br />Athena Pappas has a pretty full life with her family and friends and even though the ratings have lagged a bit she still feels pretty secure in her job as head writer for the popular sit com Stars Collide. But when the producers decide to hire a comedian, Stephen Cosse to help bolster the ratings she suddenly wonders what will happen if he is a better writer, will her job be in jeopardy? When she meets him she feels an attraction, and soon not only is Stephen worming his way into her heart but so has his eleven year old daughter Brooke.Will they figure out that some of the best things in life don't follow a script, or will they guard their hearts against love?<br /><br />This was a sweet, funny story. It was easy to imagine the Athena's Greek family. I could easily understand why Stephen's daughter Brooke was drawn to the Pappas family, they are so warm and welcoming. I always love when a dog is included in a story and the introduction of Zeus, the Greek Domestic Dog was totally funny! It was great to see how Brooke and Zeus connected. The Greek food mentioned in this story really had my mouth watering, it sounded delicious!<br />If you enjoy reading contemporary christian romance with a great flare for humor then you certainly need to read this book, and while it is the second book in the series I feel like it could be read as a stand alone work, although I highly recommend reading the first book in the series as well.<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review*", "timestamp": 1318129897000, "title": "Laugh out loud funny" }, { "asin": "0764209418", "rating": 5, "text": "I became hooked on Patti Lacy's work after reading \"The Rhythm of Secrets\" and couldn't wait to read this book. Well all I can say it was worth the wait!<br />The authors writing style is captivating. Gloria Powell had always wanted a child, so after jumping thru hoops and cutting thru red tape she and her husband Andrew believe there is a baby waiting for them in China so they make the trip from Texas. When they arrive though the promised baby isn't there instead the child is a young girl, but Gloria isn't thwarted instead she knows its the child God intended for them to have. They take her home to Texas and rename her Joy, because she is the joy of their life. although she does become a bit rebellious in her teen years. Turns out Joy is actually Lily and Lily has a sister Kai who made a death bed promise to her mother in China to reclaim the sister that had been at the orphanage. Kai now works in the states and becomes determined to find her sister to not only full fill the wish she made to her mother, but also because there may be a genetic issue that could possibly affect Lily. What happens when Kai finds her sister, how will it affect Lily(Joy) and her adoptive family?<br /><br />This story was touching and inspiring. The author deals with foreign adoption a topic I haven't read a lot about,so it was a bit educational for me. She also touches on the topic of teen rebellion,where the teen is trying to figure out where she fits in the world to weave a rich story that had plenty of twists and turns and an ending that was quite satisfying. While Gloria smothered her daughter, I really could understand her motivations, Andrew seemed solid and really was understanding of all parties much like a pastor might be.I really couldn't help but think about Lily's biological mother.Each of the characters seemed so realistic I often forgot that I was reading a work of fiction.<br />If you enjoy a story filled with drama, suspense and family ties with a positive christian message woven in then your going to enjoy \"Reclaiming Lily.\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review purposes.", "timestamp": 1318178186000, "title": "Reclaiming Lily" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 5, "text": "Camden Bristow is feeling the effects of the economy. She is a free-lance photographer living in New York who finds herself without any job prospects or money. Being kicked out of her apartment with less than five hundred dollars left on her credit card she decides to return to the home where she spent many happy summers with her grandmother Rosalie even though its been years since she has spoken to her grandmother, but when she arrives in the tiny town of Etherton Ohio what she finds at the family mansion called Crescent Hill is that her grandmother has passed away and the mansion is falling into disrepair. Having no place else to go she stays at the family home anyway and quickly finds herself wondering if someone else isn't in the house. Camden has never believed in the rumors that ghosts haunt the mansion and when a few things start disappearing she is pretty sure someone is getting into the house, but how? Could it be true that there are underground tunnels that date back to slave days, and could Crescent Hill actually have been a stop on the Underground Railroad?<br /><br />I really enjoyed the historical aspect of this story as well as the mystery and intrigue that surrounded the history of the Bristow family.While Camden was the primary story I loved the secondary stories that went on and how they all came together at the end. The characters were very easy to connect with, especially Camden. Crescent Hill was the only place where she ever felt like she belonged. It was nice to see her grow and watch her priorities change as the book progressed. I also felt empathy for Alex, as he continued to carry the blame for not doing enough to save his sister and nephew. I thought the christian themes woven into the story was well done, especially the message of helping others. I also got a few laughs from reading about the antics of the Sprague children especially Hailey, that little girl had a wonderful imagination.<br />Overall if your looking for a contemporary story that is firmly rooted in the historical era of the underground railroad, that weaves mystery, suspense, a bit of romance with a nice inspirational story then your certainly in for a treat with this story. Recommended!<br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1319509649000, "title": "Refuge On Crescent Hill" }, { "asin": "0310330432", "rating": 4, "text": "A cozy mystery that involves Amish characters and a quilt shop, I just knew I was going to enjoy this book and boy was I right.<br />Callie Harper finds herself in Shipshewana after inheriting Daisy's Quilt Shop from her recently deceased aunt. She thinks she will just go for a few weeks and clear out her aunts things and sell the shop, but things don't go according to plan. When Deborah Yoder shows up at the shop with an armload of quilts, Callie learns that her aunt had an agreement with Deborah and two other Amish ladies to sell their quilts. Deborah soon convinces Callie that she should reopen the shop and take the quilts on consignment. When Callie decides to try her hand at auctioning the quilts on Ebay the Amish quilt makers quickly agree, but when Mr. Stakehorn the editor of the local paper writes a story suggesting that Callie might be taking advantage of the Amish quilting group Callie becomes furious and wants a retraction. When several people see Callie arguing with Mr. Stakehorn hours before he is found dead, Callie becomes a prime suspect. Deborah is certain her new friend could never commit murder, and when several other things start to happen in town the two put their heads together to try and figure out who the murderer might be.<br />This was a fast paced who-dun-it that really gave us several suspects. I liked how the story unfolded allowing the reader to see the friendship between Deborah and Callie grow. Callie was a character that was totally easy to relate to, I thought that it was interesting that snippets of her life was revealed in her aunts old journal. Callie was grieving not only for her aunt but for the loss of another loved one from a few years back. I thought the author allowed her to grow through out the story, it felt like she had finally found a place to call home. Deborah was different than most of the Amish characters that I read about, her husband seemed to allow her more freedom. She really looked out for her friends, and she and Callie really made a great investigative team. I always get excited when the author writes a dog into the story and in this one we had Max, a golden that Callie had inherited from her aunt Daisy. He was a comfort to Callie and turned out to be a hero.<br />This was one of those stories that when I started it I just couldn't put it down. The author's words really brought the scenes to life and there were several scenes that while tense also had humor woven in. There were plenty of twists and turns that made this a page turner for me, while I was a bit disappointed with the ending, overall I found it a great read and look forward to reading the next book in this series!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1320721019000, "title": "Anxious to read the next book in the series" }, { "asin": "1414348118", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Princess Stories\" allows young girls to learn about God's princesses in the Bible. Upon reading this book they will learn all about twenty-nine of the most prominent women of the Bible in a way that will surely capture their imagination and attention, and not only that the thirtieth story is about the reader,encouraging and reminding them that they are God's princess as well.<br />Each story starts out with a scripture verse and then gives the reader a short story about a woman in the Bible. Another Bible verse follows the story and then there are Princess Ponderings which consists of three questions for your princess to answer.The cover of this book, as well as the illustrations inside will certainly capture a youngsters eye. What a wonderful way to teach a daughter or grand-daughter about the women of the Bible. Because of the quality of this book, it would make a wonderful gift.<br />rating 5/5<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327284862000, "title": "What a wonderful way to teach young girls about the women of the Bible" }, { "asin": "0857210580", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the fourth installment of the Hugh de Singleton series and Hugh and Kate have been married for about three months when Thomas atte Bridge is found hanging from a tree. While the coroner wants to call it a suicide, the evidence points to foul play. Even though atte Bridge has had run ins with most of the townsfolk and is disliked by all Hugh is determined to figure out who the murderer is.<br />This book takes place in 1366 in England, and it's easy to see the author does an amazing job of researching the time period. Not only am I intrigued by the suspense and mystery of the story but I also enjoy reading about the medical procedures that took place during that time period, as well as medieval life in general. The food in particular that Hugh ate sounded quite different. I found the glossary included in the front of the book quite useful in understanding what was being said. I also enjoy the relationship between Hugh and Kate and look forward to reading more about these two characters.<br />This book is the fourth in the series and while the author provides a bit of background about the characters ,I recommend reading the series in order to get the in depth background on the reoccurring characters.<br /><br />rating 4/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327367469000, "title": "Great continuing series" }, { "asin": "0800720741", "rating": 4, "text": "This book is the first in a new series and if it is any indicator the series is going to be a must read for lovers of historical fiction!<br /><br />\"Where Wildflowers Bloom\" is set in the tiny town of Noble Springs Missouri. The civil war took Faith Lindberg's father, brother as well as Royal Baxter the man she promised her heart to before the war. Faith would like nothing better than to leave the memories of lost love ones behind and start over somewhere else, but her grandfather isn't so keen on leaving Noble Springs.Faith is surprised when Royal comes back to town, because she thought he was killed during the war. When Royal and Faith start courting, Faith's grandfather is less than pleased because he had hoped that Faith might develop feelings for Curt Saxon the young man who runs the livery and who has been helping Faith. Will Faith decide to stay in Noble Springs? Who will she choose?<br />I really enjoyed reading this book which allows us the flavor of the civil war because it takes place shortly after. The authors storytelling really pulled me in, with the richness of detail for the time period. The characters really came to life as well. I could easily understand why Faith wanted to leave Noble Springs. It was interesting to watch her character change and grow through out<br />the story. I also enjoyed Rosemary, who was a very good friend. I really enjoyed reading about the mercantile and all of the different goods that was stocked.<br />I think anyone who enjoys a very well written historical fiction with well drawn characters a fast moving plot with a sweet romance will certainly enjoy this story. I for one am anxious for the next book in the \"Sisters at Heart\" series.<br /><br />A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327813304000, "title": "Where Wildflowers Bloom" }, { "asin": "0800734599", "rating": 5, "text": "If your a fan of historical fiction where there is always plenty going on then your in for a real treat with \"Summer Of Promise\" by Amanda Cabot!<br /><br />This book draws the reader back in time to the summer of 1885. Abigail Harding's life was pretty well planned out, she lives in Vermont teaches school and plans to marry her beau.Letters from her sister Charlotte has her worried though so she decides to take a trip to Wyoming and spend the summer with her sister. Before she ever arrives a fellow passenger Lt. Ethan Bowles, saves her stagecoach from being robbed. Will she only spend the summer or does fate have something else in store for Abigail?<br />This is the first book in the exciting new historical fiction series \"Westward Winds.\" Abigail was such a wonderful character, she was a very brave ,level headed person, and from the beginning my heart wanted her and Ethan together.<br />While many historical romances are pretty predictable, not so with this book, the author provides a few twists and turns that really held my attention. While the ending was satisfying there were a few loose ends which leaves me anxious for the next book in the series!<br /><br />Amanda Cabot is an author who really knows how to bring historical fiction to life, with easy to relate to characters and a story line that grabbed my attention from the first page and kept me intrigued until the final sentence!<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*", "timestamp": 1328416370000, "title": "Great new historical fiction series" }, { "asin": "1595549153", "rating": 4, "text": "Lucy Marsh finds herself in dire straits and has to accept an offer to marry a man she doesn't know just to take care of her brother and sister. Thing is her parents are dead, she is out of money with no job and not sure what to do when she gets an offer she can't refuse, it's the offer to marry a man sight unseen. Nate Stanton, runs a ranch and has always hoped for a wife but the responsibilities of the ranch has given him little time to find one, so when his father arranges the marriage between him and Lucy and they are married by proxy things on the ranch will certainly never be the same. She shows up with her siblings and Nate wonders how long she will last on the ranch. How will things work out between these two?<br /><br />I really enjoyed the characters in this story. Lucy really had alot of responsibilities, but was really a very brave person. She married someone sight unseen to protect her brother and sister. While a marriage of convenience is a pretty common plot the thing that made this one different was that Nate didn't know that he was married until Lucy showed up on his doorstep. His first impressions seemed perfectly normal. I thought it was quite nice to see the relationship slowly bloom, and watch his opinion of Lucy change. I think anyone who enjoys historical fiction where there is a sweet romance, a nice inspirational message as well as a bit of mystery woven in will certainly enjoy this story.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1329360734000, "title": "enjoyable historical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800720075", "rating": 5, "text": "If your looking for a story filled with non stop action packed suspense then look no further than \"When The Smoke Clears\" the first book in the Deadly Reunions series! If this book is any indicator of what the series is going to be like I would say it is going to be one not to be missed!<br /><br />Alexia Allen is a firefighter, but when she is ordered to take some time off after an accident occurs that nearly takes her life. With her ten year reunion coming up she decides to recuperate at her mothers house so that she can attend. Seems like trouble has followed her though with a murder an arson occurring soon after she arrives in town. It appears someone may be setting her up, who is out to get her and why?<br /><br />The plot in this story is non-stop. There was never a down time for me with this one. I found myself totally immersed in the story after reading the prologue. I thought the characters in this story were very well developed and I really enjoyed the budding romance between Alexia and Detective Graham Hunter. The ending of this one leaves me anxious for the next book in the series.<br /><br />Overall anyone who enjoys romantic suspense will certainly love this story, be warned though it isn't easy to figure out who-dun-it with this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1329623138000, "title": "Action packed suspense" }, { "asin": "0800720458", "rating": 5, "text": "The year is 1855 and the setting is Louisville Ky. Adriane Darcy is a journalist for her father's newspaper The Tribune. Her father's newspaper has always been the best in Louisville, but things begin to change when Blake Garrett comes in to revive the failing Herald. It becomes sort of a competition to see who can crack a story first, so when someone starts killing women in the city Adriane wants to beat Blake to the story. Thing is she is starting to have feelings for Blake, but she is engaged to another. How will things work out for Adriane, and who is killing women in Lexington?<br /><br />I really fell in love with Ms. Gabhart's writing after reading her wonderful book titled \"Angel Sister\" so I was anxious to give this one a read. What I found was a historical fiction story that was really quite different. The beginning of the story was a bit slow to capture my attention but once it grabbed it, at about the eighth chapter, I found it a story that I didn't want to put down.I really enjoyed the characters of Adriane and Blake and thought the author did a great job of allowing them to develop through out the story. The character of Adriane was strong, but she also felt the pressure of wanting to do what her father expected of her. While this book is labeled a historical romance fiction the author actually weaves a bit of suspense and mystery into this one that really made this story stand out for me. There were a few twists that wrapped up the ending quite nicely. If your looking for something that's not your typical historical romance then your going to wan to give this story a try.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330232493000, "title": "not your typical historical romance" }, { "asin": "1603742573", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been fortunate enough to read all three books in the Amish of Seymour series and have become a Laura V. Hilton fan. She has the writing skills to easily transport the reader right into the heart of the stories that she is telling, allowing me to envision the characters, setting and drama so vividly it makes me feel as if I have been transported to another place.<br /><br />In \"Promised To Another\" we get the story of Annie Beiler and Joshua Esh. Annie is the local Amish schoolteacher, she is always excited about history and learning which often gets her in trouble and puts her teaching job in jeopardy, something she can't afford to lose. You see her steady beau Luke Schwartz jumped the fence to become English and no one else has even noticed her, or at least that's what she thinks. When Luke makes an unexpected appearance after a singing and offers to take her home she turns him down flat but her refuses to listen, that is until Joshua Esh steps in and offers her a ride home, a rider home with the other girl he is already taking home. While the men who came to Seymour from Pennsylvania came looking for wives Joshua didn't instead he came to see a different part of the world but has plans to return to PA. He has earned the reputation of a player because he is always taking a different Amish girl home after singings, but that doesn't stop Annie from noticing him.Thing is Luke has decided to join the church and marry Annie and doesn't want to take no for an answer. Is Josh really a player or does Annie have the wrong idea about him? Will Annie give in and do what Luke wants or will she realize that there just might be someone else for her after all.<br /><br />The beginning of this story started out a bit predictable but then the author started throwing in several different plot twists that had me changing my mind. I thought the characters in the story seemed very realistic, especially Annie. I could totally understand her love of history and wanting to share it with her pupils. I enjoyed getting to know the different sides of Annie, there was the Annie who stood strong when her beau left her, but we also got a glimpse of an insecure Annie wondering if she would ever have someone of her own, we also saw someone who had a zest for teaching and wanted to share her love of learning with her pupils even though the board members didn't always see things her way. I thought Josh was a good male lead, and while he kept a secret from Annie I still liked him. I liked the unconventional twist the relationship took toward the end of the story.<br /><br />If your a fan of Amish fiction then your going to want to read this story. Even though it's the third book in The Amish of Seymour series it can easily be read as a stand alone work although this series is so good that your going to want to read all three books. On a scale of one to five I would easily give this whole series a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330569380000, "title": "I am going to miss this series!" }, { "asin": "0800719859", "rating": 4, "text": "This book starts out in Williamsburg Virginia in October 1813. The only thing Phoebe Lee really wants to do is practice midwifery, so when her sister-in-law asks her to go to sea with her so that they can rescue her husband who is being held prisoner in England she refuses, after all the country is at war. She soon learns though that she has no choice when she finds herself aboard a ship, and not just any ship, but a British privateer.The captain of the ship Rafe Docherty wants one thing revenge and he thinks that Phoebe just might be able to help him. When he starts having feelings for Phoebe will his priorities change?<br /><br />I thought the author did an amazing job of making this story seem realistic to the time period. While most of the story takes place aboard ship there was still a richness of detail that I enjoyed, it was so hard for me to imagine a female let alone a pregnant female aboard a privateer ship but with amazing clarity the author pulls it off. While some of the language was a bit hard to follow although it did give the book a more authentic feel.I really enjoyed the relationship between the lead characters. Phoebe and Rafe both have issues from their past that they are dealing with, that added an extra layer to their building relationship.<br /><br />\"Hearts Safe Passage\" is the second book in The Midwives Series and while I actually read the first book I feel like this one could be read as a stand alone work. This book worked for me on so many levels, it's a historical romance fiction with strong characters, along with action, suspense, and mystery woven in. What made it a stand out story for me was learning about midwifery during the time period. Overall \"Heart's Safe Passage\" is another great book from Laurie Alice Eakes.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330835536000, "title": "Heart's Safe Passage" }, { "asin": "0764207865", "rating": 5, "text": "At the age of twenty-two Sadie Wagner was a woman, but she still hadn't found the freedom to do what she wanted most. After an accident where her step-father is injured she knows someone needs to help provide for the family and doesn't mind being the one to do it. When she receives a letter from her step cousin Sid who lives in Goldtree, Kansas telling her he has secured her a job clerking in a mercantile she thinks its an answer to a prayer, and something else that he mentions is that there is an opera house and since Sadie's dream is to sing she thinks it might just be her chance to provide for her family and sing at the same time. When she arrives in Goldtree, she soon meets the new sheriff, Thad McKane, whose real dream is to become a minister but takes the job of sheriff to ferret out the culprits responsible for bootlegging, because Kansas is a dry state. She soon realizes that the opera house isn't at all what she thought, and to complicate things even more Sid has feelings for her, but she is drawn to Thad. Can a romance survive between the sheriff and Sadie, even when he begins to suspect that she might be involved in the very crimes he has been hired to take care of?<br /><br />I was drawn to Sadie's character from the first pages of the book. Her goodness easily comes across in the story, and she didn't hesitate to help out her family. I could easily understand her homesickness.The secondary characters really made this book stand out. The Baxter twins and their brother Asa were often funny and oh so easy to visualize. I thought Sid the step-cousin was a bit different, his actions were odd although I sort of chalked it up to being jealous. While there were christian themes running thru the book they weren't overdone or preachy.<br />Overall, I really enjoyed this quick read, and found myself laughing on more than a few occasions. A great historical fiction/romance that is well worth reading!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1331357398000, "title": "great characters make this one a hit" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 5, "text": "While a pretty cover always draws me in (and this cover is beautiful) it takes a good story to keep me interested and that's just what I found in \"Beauty For Ashes.\"<br />The setting for this book is Hickory Ridge, Tennessee and the year is 1876. Carrie Daly finds herself living with her brother Henry in the family home in HIckory Ridge after her husband is killed during the civil war. Henry was the only family she had left and while life wasn't exciting, they had it better than most.Things were ok in the beginning but when Henry takes a wife things start to change. Her friend Nate wants to marry her, but she isn't sure of her feelings, and after she meets Griff Rutledge, a stranger who pulls her out of the way of a run away wagon she can't stop thinking about him. As they become friends the townsfolk wonder why Griff who is a spending time with Carrie, and you can bet Nate isn't happy about it either!<br /><br />The author hit a home run with this story on so many levels. First of all I really enjoy reading about the time period right after the civil war, and then the she is able to give us a glimpse of small town life during that time that really seems authentic. I also found the characters quite easy to relate to as well. I could understand why Carrie felt that she should leave the family home after her brother married. It was easy to see her struggle with allowing God to lead her, even though she read her Bible daily and prayed she often felt discouraged. As her character grew she started to understand that she needed to let God be in control. Griff was a good male lead, I always like when the characters are allowed to be flawed it makes them so much more relate able. While there is a Christian message woven into the story it is very well done and doesn't come off as preachy. Overall if your a fan of historical fiction with romance with interesting characters and a small town feel, that weaves in a nice Christian message run out and pick up a copy of this one, your not going to regret it!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1331357545000, "title": "Beauty for Ashes" }, { "asin": "0310722365", "rating": 5, "text": "The first thing I thought when I pulled this Bible out of the box was what a beautiful cover it had. The pink color and flowers is so feminine and girly that young ladies will just love it. The color of the text inside which is purple is something that I loved as well, and while the colors are very eye catching, its the many different features of this Bible that makes it perfect for young girls.<br /><br />The features include:<br />1. Dream Girl: A feature that will help young readers imagine themselves in some of the most familiar and amazing Bible stories.<br /><br />2. Bring It On! Are quizzes used to help the reader get to know themselves, this feature also points to Bible verses that will encourage the reader.<br /><br />3. OH, I Get It! The Bible is more than just stories, it is filled with information and this feature will share some of that information with questions.<br /><br />4. Book introductions: Highlights the main topics of each book of the Bible and applies them to the reader's life.<br /><br />5. Treasure This! Verses to help the reader keep God's word in their heart.<br /><br />6. Is There a little ___in You? The feature allows you to see different character traits of some of the great people in the Bible, and allows the reader to see if they might have some of those character traits themselves.<br /><br />7. In Your Own Words: Allows the reader to create a list of events to tell a Bible story in your their own words.<br /><br />While this Bible is geared towards young ladies nine and older, I actually enjoy reading it myself. It's bright and colorful and is chock full of useful information. Because it's a NIV version it's easy for young readers to understand. Overall I think any young girl would love a copy of this Bible and I think it would make a wonderful Easter gift.<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this Bible was provided in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1333421609000, "title": "Very eye catching Bible for tween girls" }, { "asin": "1595548874", "rating": 4, "text": "I must admit Beth Wiseman is one of my favorite Amish storytellers, so I was excited to read a non-Amish story by her. With \"Need You Now\" I must say she really knows how to deliver a contemporary story. With this story she not only delivers believable characters who are dealing with real life issues, but also a fast moving plot that deals with family drama that kept me reading.<br />To look at the Henderson family they seem to be a successful family that has it all together. Darlene is a stay at home mother to three teen children, her marriage seems good, her husband is about to be promoted and the family just purchased Darlene's grandparents farm and decide to move to the country. Peel away the layers though and we quickly see that the children are having problems adjusting,especially her daughter Grace who is harming herself, and Darlene is struggling with the fact that she no longer feels needed or heard. When she takes a job outside the home and another man starts to pay attention to her, could it put her marriage in jeopardy? How will things work out for this family? As their faith is tested will they be drawn closer together as a family or will they be pulled apart?<br />One of my favorite things about this story was the fact that we see the situation thru the eyes of several characters, allowing a different perspectives on the story. A story that drew me in from the beginning and kept me wondering how this family saga would work out. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1335236786000, "title": "Family Drama" }, { "asin": "140168680X", "rating": 4, "text": "Biblical fiction is fast becoming one of my favorite genres so I was excited to read \"Garden of Madness\" which tells the story of the Babylonian Princess Tiamet, the daughter of King Nebuchadnezzar, whose madness has had him living in the palace garden for the last seven years while his family kept his condition hidden from the public. When a murder takes place inside the palace Tia decides to try and figure out what is going on, and uncovers truths that she could never have imagined.<br />The author easily brings the characters to life in this story. Even though the book is a work of fiction her descriptions brings the scenes to life, and makes the characters so easy to connect with. I really enjoyed the interactions between Tia and her father, and loved that she stood by him when others didn't.The author provides several plot twists that kept me guessing. While there is a bit of romance woven into the story for me its the mystery and suspense as well as the way the author holds pretty close to the actual Biblical story that makes this book a real winner for me.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1335840992000, "title": "Great Biblical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800719719", "rating": 4, "text": "Historical romance is one of my favorite genres to read and when the author is able to weave in a few positive messages or historical facts that make me feel as if I am actually getting a bit of a history lesson well then that makes the book a must read for me, and that's just what we get in \"A Love Forbidden.\"<br /><br />The year is 1879 and the book is set in the Colorado Rockies , and gives us the story of twenty-one year old Shiloh Wainright and Jesse Blackwater .Shiloh has signed a contract to teach for the White River Indian Agency,and looks forward to teaching the Ute children white men's ways while helping them remember their own culture. She is in for a surprise when she reconnects with her childhood friend Jesse Blackwater. Soon their friendship threatens to turn into more, but things are complicated because Jesse is 1/2 Indian,.add to this the fact that Indians and whites are on the verge of battle, and you can't help but wonder if a relationship can ever work between these two.<br /><br />The author weaves a story that easily captured my attention. I have always found this time period in the west intriguing.The author deals with the time period where the US Government made promises to the Native Americans but didn't always keep them. Shiloh was a compassionate caring person,and Jesse seemed like someone who was caught between two worlds.I enjoyed watching the feelings grow between the two characters. While I enjoyed the characters for me it was the historical elements that made the book a real winner. The author describes the tensions that are going on between the Whites and Native Americans,and allows the reader to see the prejudices that took place during that time in history. Anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction that weaves together romance and an inspirational message will certainly want to check out this book. While this is the second book in the Heart Of The Rockies series I feel as if it can be read as a stand alone work.<br />rating 4/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1338091007000, "title": "Love Forbidden" }, { "asin": "0800734378", "rating": 4, "text": "Patsy Milstrap wishes she could leave her past in the past. Up until the age of thirteen she lived in a home with an abusive stepfather. One day though her mother realizes that Patsy needs to be sent away. She goes to live with a nice christian couple and begins a new life. She marries a wonderful man and has children and as much as she tries to forget her past for the sake of her family its a difficult thing to do. When a vacation in Florida has her facing someone from her past, she knows that she will have to deal with her past if she is ever going to have a future.<br />\"Waiting for Sunrise\" is the second book in the Cedar Key series but can easily be read as a stand alone work. The author weaves an emotional story that easily pulled me in from the beginning. As the story unfolds we get glimpses of Patsy's past allowing us to understand how she came to be the person she is. Patsy was a character that was so easy to connect with. Her painful past was difficult for her to deal with, she cant help but wonder why her mother would have given her away. Gilbert was a wonderful husband who would do anything to help Patsy.<br />The secondary story of her mother and brothers added to the overall plot. It was interesting to see how the abusive home life affected each person.A story that deals with some pretty tough subjects, but also reminds that sometimes the only way to have a future is to deal with your past.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1339907090000, "title": "emotionally charged" }, { "asin": "1416599959", "rating": 5, "text": "Deborah Raney is easily one of my favorite authors. Her stories are ones that I often think about for weeks after reading. She has a way of drawing me into a story, making me feel as if I personally know the characters, and that's just how I feel about the Hanover Falls series.<br /><br />Susan Marlowe is dealing with the pain of losing her husband in the Grove Street fire, but a secret that he was carrying comes to light, a secret that breaks her heart, and has her wondering if she really knew the man she was married to. How will she deal with the hurt?<br /><br />Even though this is the third book in a series, the story line still has the ability to provide a few twists and turns that kept me reading. There is still the mystery of who actually set the fire, as well as the emotional turmoil of losing loved ones, and trying to move on after such a tragedy. Susan is a commendable character. She is trying to keep the homeless shelter going, while dealing with the loss of her husband. When her son Davey not only drops out of college but also starts coming home drunk, she learns that he is carrying a painful secret, something that he knew about his father, her husband.<br /><br />\"After All\" is the third and final installment of the Hanover Falls Series, and while this book can be read as a stand alone work, the series is filled with such amazing characters that you really are going to want to read all three books. While I enjoyed the way the author wraps up this series, I really am going to miss my visits to Hanover Falls. I highly recommend this entire series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1339909458000, "title": "I'm going to miss this series" }, { "asin": "1595549978", "rating": 4, "text": "Hope Springs North Carolina is small town USA and is the setting for the latest contemporary novel by Kim Cash Tate. It tells the story of three women, Janelle Evans, Becca Anderson, and Stephanie London, cousins who find themselves headed home to Hope Springs for a Christmas time family reunion,and to spend time with the matriarch of the family their grandmother Geri. When they learn that Geri has a terminal illness they decide to stay in Hope Springs and help her. Spending time in this small town will change their lives forever.<br /><br />What a touching story. I do admit that there were plenty of characters to learn in the first several chapters and was glad that there was a family tree provided at the beginning of the book. Once I learned who everyone was and the issues that was going on it became a compelling story that I couldn't put down. The author creates authentic characters that are very easy to connect to.The small town feel of this book was wonderfully portrayed. One of my favorite characters in the story had to be Jeri, she was such a strong woman.<br />The author deals with several heavy subjects, but also gives several positive,uplifting messages as well. Overall a very well written story that provides a few twists and turns that kept me reading.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1340156416000, "title": "Hope Springs" }, { "asin": "0800720482", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become an avid reader of Biblical fiction and one of my favorite authors of this genre is Diana Wallis Taylor. She writes her stories in such a way that once you finish the book I always come away with a deeper understanding of not only the character that she writes about but also about the Bible verses that center around the character.<br /><br />Her latest book shines the spotlight on \"Mary Magdalene.\" We learn that she was an only child, her father a very successful boat builder. At the age of eleven her life changed dramatically when she is kidnapped.Her father pays the ransom to get her back, but after the incident Mary suffers from headaches,nightmares and seizures. While her loved ones sympathized with her, the people of her village shun her, fearing that she is crazy or worse. When they hear rumors that the Messiah is coming, a man named Jesus, the son of God,they wonder if it is true and if perhaps he will be able to help Mary.<br /><br />\"Mary Magdalene\" is another great fictional Biblical story from Diana Wallis Taylor. With her well crafted storytelling and attention to historical detail the author easily pulls me right into the story. The author writes with a clarity that brings the characters to life, and makes it easy to understand their stories. After reading this story I was propelled to dig out my Bible and read all that I could find about Mary Magdalene. Anyone who enjoys Biblical fiction is in for a real treat with this story. Recommended.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1340508191000, "title": "Fiction that brings Bible characters to life" }, { "asin": "0800734556", "rating": 5, "text": "\"The Gift\" by Ann Gabhart is the fifth installment in her Shaker Village series,and this book is just as great as all the others in the series I have read.<br /><br />Jessamine Brady is twenty, she moved to the Shaker Village at the age of ten after the death of her grandmother, and the one thing she remembered her grandmother encouraging her to do was follow her dreams. While she loves her Harmony Hill family she has always felt like she doesn't belong in the Shaker Village. When she meets Tristan Cooper someone from the outside world she finds herself at a crossroads, will she have the courage to step out into the world, or will she decide that her home is actually in Harmony Hill?<br /><br />I really enjoy when I have the ability to read a book and feel as if I am getting a bit of education to boot and that's just how I feel when I read Ann Gabhart's stories that are centered around the Shakers. She weaves together an intriguing story that always holds my attention while giving accurate glimpses of how it might have been to have lived as a Shaker.The author provides plenty of conflict, along with romance and a bit of suspense that certainly kept me reading. Add to the mix like-able characters and a historical setting making it a book that I couldn't resist. Recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1341919800000, "title": "The Gifted" }, { "asin": "1595547819", "rating": 4, "text": "Imagine finding out that a father you really never knew left you some valuable property, and imagine meeting half brothers and sisters whom you never knew existed thinking that you are trying to steal what rightfully belongs to them. Well that's just what happens to Libby Holladay the main character in Colleen Coble's newest novel \"Tidewater Inn.\"<br /><br />Libby and her best friend Nicole are co-owners of Holladay Renovations, a business that restores historical properties. Nicole not only handles the financial side of the business but also convinces potential clients to do business with them, meanwhile Libby takes care of the restoration. While researching a job on the Outer Banks Libby learns that she has actually inherited The Tidewater Inn along with property from a father whom she believed had died when she was five. Instead she learns her father has recently passed away leaving her the inheritance, and what's more she has half siblings that she never knew existed, siblings that are none to happy about her inheriting the inn. In addition to this earth shattering news, her business partner is kidnapped and Libby not only saw the whole thing but becomes a suspect in the crime. Can she prove her innocence, while trying to find Nicole, and what about the Tidewater Inn, will she be able to keep and restore it, or will she have to sell it, and will she ever be accepted by her new family?<br /><br />Interesting, well developed characters and a great plot made this a fast moving story for me. I found myself immediately drawn into the story, and wondered not only what Libby would do, but whether she would ever be accepted by a family she didn't know existed. Libby was a character that was easy to relate to and understand. If you enjoy a well written story filled with mystery, suspense, family drama,romance, and a nice spiritual message you just might enjoy this one, I know I did. Recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1341974234000, "title": "Tidewater Inn" }, { "asin": "0800734580", "rating": 5, "text": "Irene Hannon has become a go to author for me whenever I want to read a suspense filled mystery that also blends a christian message together with just enough clues to keep me turning the pages in anticipation right up until the end. I have enjoyed reading the Guardians of Justice series and while I looked forward to reading this book, I was sort of sad as well, because \"Lethal Legacy\" is the final book in the series.<br /><br />There are so many things that I enjoyed bout this book, but overall it's the author's style of writing that captivates me. She has an uncanny way of allowing us a glimpse inside the killers mind revealing what he is thinking while keeping us guessing as to who the killer might be, and the killer isn't always easy to figure out, but it always makes sense in the end. Since this book is the third and final book in the \"Guardian of Justice\" series while I believe that it can be read as a stand alone work I highly recommend that the entire series should be read in order to get the full scope of the story. If your a fan of suspense,mystery with a light romance, and a christian theme woven in your going to enjoy this series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1344787029000, "title": "Well written suspense" }, { "asin": "0764209132", "rating": 5, "text": "allie Kincaid and her eight month old son are headed out to find her husband Seth Kincaid, who just up and took off one day. When her stagecoach is waylaid by bandits and she finds herself in the middle of a shoot out, while she waits for the other passengers to go bring help back. Well help arrives in the form of her husband Seth, a husband who doesn't even remember that he has a wife, and never knew he had a son.<br /><br />This was such a quick read, I really fell in love with the characters and couldn't put the story down. Callie was a no nonsense type of person, who wanted to know why her husband up and left her, which was a very good question. I could easily forgive Seth though when we learn why he left her behind.Once he realizes he has a wife he is determined to do the right thing, although I could understand why Callie was guarding her heart this time around.<br /><br />Mary Connealy really knows how to write a story. As a fan of historical fiction, I really love being drawn back in time, and when there is romance, along with a good dose of humor well I am sold! I would say that \"Over The Edge' is the third book in the Kincaid Brides series, and while we do get a bit of background information it is best to read the entire series in order to fully understand the characters. Grantastic series, and I really hope the author continues with another book! Highly recommended.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1345430910000, "title": "Fun read" }, { "asin": "0764206176", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Taming The Wind\" takes pace in North Texas in 1868. Carissa Lowe has spent the last two years of her life trying to find peace in her heart. The nightmares and bad memories of Malcolm, her now deceased husband continues to haunt her. You see two years ago, she thought she new the man she married, instead he was on the run from the army, and decided to use her sister Laura and Clarissa to try and save himself, by taking them hostage, and then throwing them into the Gulf off the Corpus Christi coast. Fortunatly they were both saved, even though Malcolm wasn't. For Carissa though she no longer trusts her judgement where men are concerned, and has shied away from all men except for her brother-in-law, and the man who saved her Tyler Artherton, although she hasn't seen Tyler in the last two years because she has lived the last two years with her parents, and her baby daughter Gloria in Corpus Christi. When her parents decide to take a trip she decides to go spend the summer with Laura and her husband on their ranch.<br /><br />Tyler Artherton is staying on a friends ranch while he works out some issues of his own. He had never really stopped thinking about Carissa, and when he learns that she is staying on a neighboring ranch, he finds himself drawn to her and her daughter Gloria. Will Tyler and Carissa find happiness together or are there to many obstacles in the way? Will Carissa ever find the peace that she longs for?<br /><br />Even though \"Taming The Wind\" is the third book in Tracie Peterson's Land of the Lonestar series, I felt like the author gave enough background information so this book could be read as a stand alone work. This book takes place right after the civil war which easily drew me into the story because this is one of my favorite time periods to read about. The two main characters Carissa and Tyler were so easy to connect and emphathize with. I felt like Ms. Peterson did a very realistic job of allowing them to grow as the story progressed. I found the secondary characters really added to the overall story. I am a long time fan of Tracie Peterson and always look forward to reading whatever she writes, and this book certainly didn't disappoint. Fans of historical inspirational romances where the setting comes to life will certainly want to read this one, but since its part of a three book series why not read them all. Highly recommended!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1346817786000, "title": "Fans of historical inspirational romance will enjoy this one" }, { "asin": "1595548033", "rating": 4, "text": "Dylan Taylor is a smooth talking ladies man and Annie Wilkerson isn't interested. When Dylan's best horse, Braveheart, has a condition that has his vet suggesting he put the horse down, Dylan goes to Annie for help. Annie knows just about everything there is to know about horses. She writes a bi-weekly column in Montana Living today called \"Ask Avery\" which answers readers questions about equine problems. When Annie gets a call from her editor informing her that her column is being cut from the magazine, although she is offered another column, thing is its a column giving advice to the lovelorn. Annie has never been in love so how can she write an advice column? She decides to strike up a deal with Dylan, she will help his horse if he will help her with her column. As she gets to know the true Dylan she realizes he is different that she first assumed. Will Annie decide that some cowboys aren't so bad after all?<br /><br />Annie Wilkerson is someone you just can't help but like. She is looking out for her twenty year old sister Seirra,who by the way is raising four year old Ryder, works hard and is just a down to earth person, dealing with life's issues. She doesn't trust cowboys and I could certainly understand why. She wants safe and predictable in her life but that isn't what God has in mind for her. I enjoyed getting to know Dylan's character as well, both really had issues from their past that they needed to take care of. I found myself enjoying the twangy style of dialogue that popped up in the story, it really gave the book a real cowboy flavor for me.Another neat thing that I enjoyed about this story was how in the beginning each chapter opened with a bit of advice about horses, when Annie's job changed the chapters started opening up with bits of advice for the lovelorn.<br /><br />I really loved the town of Moose Creek and found \"The Trouble With Cowboys\" a delightful inspirational romantic read.Sometimes christian romance can come off a bit strong, but Denise Hunter really strikes a great balance with her writing. She provides a sweet romance that also weaves in a nice wholesome feeling to her stories, while also giving a few laughs.While this book is a part of a series the author writes it in such a way that it can be read as a stand alone work, but if you enjoy a great read, then your going to want to read the entire series.", "timestamp": 1349196283000, "title": "The Trouble With Cowboys" }, { "asin": "0800721322", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Life With Lily\" is such a delightful read. I found myself enjoying the many things that went on in young Lily Lapp's life. We first meet Lily as she and her younger brother Joseph are whisked off in the middle of the night to their grandparent's house, and we soon learn new baby Dannie has been born into the Lapp family. I found myself laughing at Lily's reaction as she first meets her new baby brother, not to mention the reaction she has to Freida Troyer who has come to help her mother for a few days after the birth of the baby. There are so many happenings around an Amish farm, from a barn raising to getting a new milk cow and even a trip to Kentucky to see the Lapp grandparents. One thing is for certain, life is never boring when you see things thru the eyes of Lily Lapp.<br /><br />I loved this book, once I started reading it I just couldn't put it down. I enjoyed meeting the Lapp family and was a bit surprise at where the final chapters led us. The illustrations are very well done, and further enhance the story. I really can't wait to read the next book in The Adventures of Lily Lapp series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1349581688000, "title": "Perfect for all ages" }, { "asin": "0800734173", "rating": 5, "text": "Seventeen year old Susannah Grace Kennedy made the move from Badger, Iowa to Boston after the death of her parents. She is going to be living with her aunt Eleanor, and has decided she wants to forget her \"good girl\" past, and even decides she wants to be called Annie. Her sister Maggie had sent her letters while in college raving about the hot spots in Boston, so Annie starts hanging out with a fast crowd, and making some choices that aren't so wise. When she meets Steven O'Connor her sister's former fiancee she falls hard for him. Thing is he doesn't know that Annie is actually Maggie's sister, and Steven really isn't interested anyway, or at least that's what he keeps telling himself. What will happen when he realizes who Annie really is?<br /><br />Another great story from Julie Lessman! I enjoyed connecting with the characters from the former books, and with that said, even though this is the third book in the Wind Of Change series it can easily be read as a stand alone work.<br />The thing that I enjoy about this series is the many subplots that go on within the book, and \"A Love Surrendered\" is no different. The main characters are Steven a prohibition agent with the government that is dealing with a broken heart, even though he was the one to break things off with Maggie he believes he is still in love with her. Annie seems like someone who is anxous to grow up.It was so nice to see both of the characters grow spiritually as the story progressed. The secondary stories really keep the plot moving along, and allow us to reconnect with the O'Connor family. Overall I have really enjoyed this series, it has everything that I enjoy reading. Historical fiction that brings the time period to life along with great characters, romance and a nice inspirational message who could ask for anything more?<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1350262108000, "title": "Fantastic series" }, { "asin": "0857212052", "rating": 4, "text": "Coming back to work after the death of his partner, Frank Campello finds himself paired with a new partner. Andy Polanski is an officer that has a reputation of being on to steer clear of, and unfortunately he is Frank's new partner.As the two investigate the brutal murder of a young girl, they quickly learn that there is more to the murder than meets the eye. As they continue to dig, the learn that an organized crime ring is involved and that ring has some friends in high places. Will they be able to solve the crimes and bring the criminals to justice.<br /><br />\"The Sons of Jude\" gave me a good look at how crime families operate, something I really don't think I have ever read about before.It was intesting to see how they can get thier footing in politics and then sort of run the show. This was a very well written suspense, thriller, that provided a few twists, and a satisfying ending. Normally I enjoy a fast paced read, however \"The Sons of Jude,\" moves along at at slower pace providing rich detail, that really allowed the story to build for me. Overall, I enjoyed reading this one, and the ending has me putting the next book in this series on my TBR list.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1350699592000, "title": "The Sons of Jude" }, { "asin": "0310330459", "rating": 5, "text": "To say that I love this series is an understatement. I feel like Ms. Chapman's storytelling just gets better and better. While I love the mystery that takes place in each of the Shipshewana Amish Mystery series, it's really the friendships that take place between the Amish and English characters that really sells me on the series.<br /><br />The Fall Crafters Fair which is Shipshewana's largest festival of the year, is in full swing, when a murder takes place in the parking lot of Daisy's Quilt Shop.With only one witness to the crime, it might not be so easy to solve. As things start to escalate Callie realizes that she just might be the intended target, it seems she has something the killer wants, but she isn't sure what it is! Thing is this killer isn't going to stop until he gets it, regardless of what he has to do. Can the police figure it out, or will it take Callie and her friends to solve this one?<br /><br />To say this book has a fast moving plot is an understatement! Once I started reading it, I couldn't wait to see what might happen! There were several suspenseful moments in the story, which pulled it right along. This book really has it all,in addition to the small town feel of the story, it has the Amish/Englisher friendship, a splash of romance,a nice mystery, a dog, baby, Amish children one of which is dealing with an illness that was new to me. Chicken Breast Disease was something I had never heard of but learned a bit about in this story.I always enjoy whenever a dog is included in a story and with this one we have Max. The author provides a satisfying ending, that wraps up the story nicely, I just hope that this book isn't the final one in the series.<br /><br />While this is the third book in the Shipshewana Amish Mystery series it can easily be read as a stand alone work, although if you're a fan of Amish fiction, cozy mysteries, or just a great read, you are certainly going to want to read the entire series. Each story is a good clean read, that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1351647118000, "title": "Great series" }, { "asin": "1603745068", "rating": 3, "text": "Kristi Lapp is a young Amish lady who is also a practicing midwife for her community. While on her way to an appointment she winds up in a buggy accident.Shane Zimmerman, her next door neighbor and local veterinarian happens by and finds her buggy and gets Kristi to the hospital. Because her parents are in Florida, Shane takes it upon himself to start visiting Kristi daily while she is in the hospital. He also decides to start taking care of Chinook, so that the dog can get the exercise he needs until Kristi recovers. Soon though Kristi starts having feelings for Shane, and he feels drawn to her as well. Of course when Kristi's dad comes home and forbids Shane from having anything else to do with Kristi because he is afraid she might leave the faith. How can an Amish midwife and an Englisher vet ever have a chance at love?<br /><br />I became a fan of Laura V. Hilton after reading her last series, The Amish of Seymour, and I like how some of the characters from that series was mentioned in this book. There were several things that I really liked about \"Healing Love\" but there were a few things that also fell a bit flat for me as well. So I am going to expound on the positive aspects first. The author captured my attention from the beginning pages. Kristi, a practicing Amish midwife has a buggy accident while on her way to visit a patient. Well that grabbed my attention, and then we are introduced to Shane Zimmeran, a promising character who has roots that harken back to the Amish but is now an Englisher. As Kristi's neighbor he gets her to the hospital, and then starts spending time with her. They are drawn to each other, but both know that a relationship is next to impossible. Seems though they find themselves together at every turn, as if fate is drawing them together. Shane's feelings about midwives really was understandable. I thought the secondary story of Shane's sister and her baby added to the overall effect of the story. I always enjoy whenever a dog is added to a story and with this one we have Chinook, Kristi's dog who loved Shane as well.<br /><br />The things that fell a bit flat for me was the complaining that Kristi often did about English food, I mean that sort of got old fast. I also felt like Kristi's dad, and uncle were a bit wishy washy when it came to trying to keep Kristi and Shane apart, and I was really shocked at the manner in which Ira threw Kristi out of the house. Overall, not my favorite Hilton read, but still good. I look forward to reading her next book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352261572000, "title": "Healing Love" }, { "asin": "0310335108", "rating": 4, "text": "It's been two years since Sarah Shetler's best friend Patty died in unexpectedly and since then Sarah has carried around a memory jar, and keeps her memories tucked inside so that she won't have to deal with her emotions.When she meets Jathan Schrock, an Amish bachelor with issues of his own, something changes. Can Jathan penetrate the walls that Sarah has built around her heart?<br /><br />Overall, I enjoyed this book. It dealt with loss, pain, friendship,and the wonderful inspirational message of allowing God to heal. While I enjoyed reading about Sarah and Patty's friendship, I found that the flashbacks of these memories sometimes broke the flow of the story and made it feel a bit choppy for me. It did seem very realistic that it took time for Sarah to heal, from her loss. Jathan is also dealing with issues that make both of the characters seem very realistic. It was so nice to see the characters grow and change as the story progressed.<br /><br />While this wasn't my favorite Tricia Goyer novel, I did enjoy it. There are discussion questions that would make this a great book club selection. The author also includes a glossary of words used by the Amish that is very helpful. I am anxious to read the next book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series.<br /><br />3.5/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352345899000, "title": "The Memory Jar" }, { "asin": "0736951512", "rating": 5, "text": "I am a true fan of Jerry Eicher. I have been reading his Amish fiction for quite some time and I normally never have a complaint about his work, well with \"Susanna's Christmas Wish\" my only complaint was that it didn't last long enough. The characters were great, the story line was perfect for my Christmas reading marathon, and while it was a short read that didn't last long enough for me. The author does provide well fleshed characters, and a nice plot that is short, sweet and satisfying!<br /><br />Mathew Yoder and Susanna Keim had been dating for two years, and were actually engaged when Mathew broke her heart when he decided to leave the Amish life. When Herman Wagler asks her to marry him she agrees even though she doesn't love him like she did Matthew, she is sure that in time she will. Problems start to arise when Herman announces that he doesn't celebrate Christmas the way Susanna's family does. Added to this Matthew is back in town. How will this affect the newly married couple, is their marriage able to withstand all the turmoil going on? Pick up \"Susanna's Christmas Wish\" and find out!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352779454000, "title": "Jerry Eicher is the king of Amish fiction!" }, { "asin": "0800720040", "rating": 5, "text": "The year is 1882, in the Wyoming Territory. After the death of her husband Josef, Celia Anderson is running a boarding house in the town of Easton to support her six month old Emma. Her friend Bertha keeps telling her it's time to find herself a new husband, but Celia has decided that she will only marry for love, and besides she stays very busy running her boarding house and babysitting young Aaron. Mark Williams has been looking for his father for two years,and his search has led him to Easton, to Celia's boarding house. As she gets to know Mark she sees the kind man that he is, but is he the right man for her, after all will he even stick around? While Mark feels drawn to Celia, will he stay in Easton?<br /><br />A short novella that was such a satisfying, quick read. I loved the characters, as well as the small town feel of the story. Celia and Mark were such good lead characters. She was strong, after all she had lost her husband, was trying to raise a daughter and run a boarding house, but the author allowed us to see another side of Celia, one who wanted to be loved and cherished. Mark was such a wonderful man, one I would consider a true gentleman. While he was carrying a bit of hurt from his past it didn't make him bitter. Strong secondary characters rounded out the story quite well, and I would love to see a story develop around Jacob, Arron's father, who had intentions of sending away for a mail order bride. Overall, a short, sweet, historical fiction that warmed my heart.<br /><br />A complementary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1353652395000, "title": "short,sweet, historical Christmas read" }, { "asin": "1401685676", "rating": 4, "text": "This book encompasses two of my favorite types of books Amish fiction and short stories. \"An Amish Kitchen\" is comprised of three short stories written by three of today's premiere Amish fiction authors.<br /><br />The first story is a \"Taste of Faith\" written by Kelly Long. Twenty year old Deborah Zook has been living with her grandmother Esther Zook since the age of five when her parents died of the flu. She has a love for tending flowers and herbs and her grandmother has the wish to see her trained in healing herbs, but more than that she wishes that her granddaughter would find a man and marry, and truthfully Fern wishes for someone as well. At the age of twenty-three Abram Fisher is a dyed in the wool bachelor, who never paid any attention to Fern, but when he needs Fern's help after his sister Mary becomes sunburned he begins to look at Fern in a different light. Will fate bring these two together?<br /><br />\"A Spoonful of Love\" by Amy Clipston is the story of Hannah King, who has been managing the Paradise Inn since her father had a stroke a year ago. When Stephen Esh comes to town looking for a place to stay he rents a room at the end. Could Stephen be the one Hannah has been hoping will come into her life? What about his past, why is he so far from home? Will he be able to let go of the past and embrace the future?<br /><br />\"A Recipe for Hope\"by Beth Wiseman is the story of Eve Bender. At the age of thirty-eight Eve Bender finds herself moving back home with her parents after a tree crashes into her farmhouse. Not only is she moving back home but she her husband and three teen age boys who are going thru rumspringa also will be moving in as well. Eve and her mother often didn't see eye to eye on things will spending two months under her parents roof allow them to heal the hurts from the past?<br /><br />I loved each of these stories, that gently remind of faith and family. My favorite story easily had to be \"A Recipe for Hope.\" I enjoyed the fact that Eve was a bit older and her sons added an interesting layer to the story.Her oldest son Leroy is eighteen and Amos and Elias are her twin sixteen year old boys. Amos also has a Chinese Water Dragon that provided a few funny moments.<br /><br />If you have never read Amish fiction this book is a delightful way to sample these three great authors. There is a glossary of \"Amish\" words included for newbie Amish fiction readers. The recipes which include some herbal treatments are just an added bonus. While each story is a tad predictable overall I enjoyed each of them, and would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good clean read with a splash of romance and an Amish cast of characters.<br /><br />Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1354680094000, "title": "An Amish Kitchen" }, { "asin": "0800719891", "rating": 5, "text": "I have loved the entire Stoney Ridge Seasons series and couldn't wait to read Mary Kate's story who happened to be one of my favorite characters in the series. All I can say is that Suzanne saved the best story for last!<br />At the age of nineteen Mary Kate also known as M.K. is still a bit irresponsible and full of mischief, but when one of her stunts has her running into the Amish teacher she is forced to grow up quick and take over the responsibilities of being the teacher. Will she take the job seriously? Well in the beginning M.K. doesn't do very well, but soon with the help of a former teacher things start to look up. Will M.K. ever really settle down, and do we really want her too! Added to this is an unexpected death, a mysterious stranger comes to town, along with that someone comes up missing, and you have a page turner filled with plenty of interesting happenings, that include a few unexpected twists!<br /><br />From the beginning paragraphs Ms. Fisher creates a story that's filled with a bit of mystery along with plenty of excitement for nineteen year old M.K. Lapp who had been longing for a bit of adventure. I just loved the words the author used to express the restlessness that M.K. felt. They allowed for such vivid scenes to play out in my head, I could just imagine M.K. feeling the need to spread her wings and fly to someplace that would seem more exciting than her tiny town!<br />I have read each book in this wonderful series, and for me each story just keeps getting better. I enjoyed meeting the new characters in the story, and loved reconnecting with the Lapp family, including Doozy the dog! Fans of Amish fiction will love this story, but anyone who enjoys a bit of mystery, romance and a story that will keep you glued to the pages then your going to want to read the entire series, and if you have never read anything by Ms. Fisher why not start with the Stoney Ridge Seasons, I promise you wont be disappointed. On a scale of one of one to five I would easily give this entire series a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1357271048000, "title": "The Lesson" }, { "asin": "0800719867", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Choices of the Heart\" is the third book in The Midwives series and takes place in Virginia in 1842. Esther Cherrett finds herself in the midst of something that forces her to head for the mountains of Virginia and take a job teaching, hoping that she can leave her problems behind. Instead she finds herself smack dab in the middle of a family feud between the Tollivers and the Brooks, added to that is the fact that Griff Tolliver as well as Zach Brooks wants to court her. Which one will win her heart, and does it really matter, especially when her past catches up with her? What will happen when the past she tried to outrun reaches the mountains?<br /><br />As a fan of historical fiction I have enjoyed this entire series. Ms. Eakes does a wonderful job of creating realistic characters that are very easy to connect with because of the issues that they are dealing with. Esther's character wants to run from her past, but learns that the past has a way of catching up with you anyway. It was interesting to see her character grow and change as the story progressed. Griff was determined to see the feud end between the families, which made him a stand out character for me. While I enjoyed the characters I also loved the way the author brought the region to life, the descriptions allowed me to envision the area as well as the time period. Overall the historical feel of the story along with a great plot that provided a few twists made this a great read. While this book could be read as a stand alone work, I recommend reading the entire series. If your a fan of historical romance, with an inspirational bent your going to enjoy \"Choices of the Heart.\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1358659590000, "title": "Choices of the Heart" }, { "asin": "0800734602", "rating": 5, "text": "Cheyenne Wyoming Territory is the setting for \"Waiting for Spring.\" It's 1886 and its been a year since Charlotte Harding's world was turned upside down, and she was forced to flee to Cheyenne so that she and her young son David might be safe. While she has made a new life and friends, even opening a dress shop, she still worried for the safety of her son. When she meets Barrett Landry, a wealthy rancher who has political aspirations they are drawn to each other, but he needs a wife with political connections and she can't risk her past being exposed, what will happen between them?<br /><br />Charlotte was such a nice character, a wonderful mother willing to do whatever she needed to do to protect her son. I so wanted things to work out for Charlotte. I enjoyed reading about her dress shop, as well as her interactions with her customers. There are several secondary characters that really propel this story along including Gwen Amos and her daughter Rose who was a great help to Charlotte. A great well rounded story, romance, with mystery,suspense as well as the historical setting made this book a real winner for me. To be honest I was drawn to this book because of it's beautiful cover, but the characters and story are what truly shine with this one. Amanda Cabot is easily one of my favorite historical fiction writers, and I look forward to reading the next book in the Westward Winds series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1358662438000, "title": "Waiting for the next book in this fantastic series" }, { "asin": "0800720393", "rating": 5, "text": "After a disastrous marriage Charlotte Farrow finds it necessary to flee her husband in order to keep not only herself but her newborn son safe as well. She becomes a maid for the Banning household, but one of the job requirements was that she be unmarried and without children, so she keeps her son a secret. When Mrs. Given, the lady that Charlotte has entrusted with her young son Henry, has a family emergency and needs to leave town she brings the baby to Charlotte at work. Charlotte finds herself in a dilemma, if she confesses she will certainly lose her job, but if she doesn't will she lose her son?<br /><br />While this book is the second in the Avenue of Dreams series I feel like it can be read as a stand alone work, although because the first book was quite engaging I would recommend reading it as well. This book picks up right were the last one left off. I found myself feeling empathy for Charlotte's dilemma, and couldn't imagine being in her position. Lose her job, or protect her son, and not only that there is the hopes of romance, but when or if the truth comes out will it be the end of her hopes for a new beginning? In addition to Charlotte's compelling story we get a very good glimpse the differences between the social classes during this time in history. Also we get a great historical glance of the Chicago's Worlds Fair. Overall, fans of historical fiction will certainly enjoy not only this book but the entire series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1359426815000, "title": "Historical fiction fans will enjoy this series" }, { "asin": "0800721330", "rating": 5, "text": "\"A New Home for Lily\" has Lily and her family moving to Pennsylvania to be closer to family. Things are really changing for young Lily. She no longer has her own bedroom, she finds herself in a new school with new children, added to that is the fact that there is a new baby in the house. She does have her faithful dolly Sally. While some changes seem a little intimidating some are chock full of fun. One things certain young Lily keeps her faithful dolly Sally close by for comfort! Will Lily adjust to all the changes going on? Read this wonderful book to be pulled along into young Lily's life where adventures abound, and the reader gets wonderful glimpses of Amish life.<br /><br />While this book is geared toward the younger reading set, I find it a totally refreshing read. I enjoy reading about the day to day Amish goings on, and the character of Lily is just wonderful. Life is full of adventure and never boring your Lily. A great read whether your eight or eighty. Young girls are going to enjoy Lily and her adventures while they learn about the Amish lifestyle. I can't recommend this series enough. On a scale of one to five it easily gets a six in my book!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1360552318000, "title": "A New Home for Lily" }, { "asin": "0800734300", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become a huge fan of Biblical fiction so to say I was excited to read \"Rebekah\" is sort of an understatement, because I remember reading her story in the book of Genesis.Well after reading Jill Eileen Smith's fictionalized account of her story, I know I will never forget Rebekah, because she brought the story to life making me feel as if I was right there as the events take place.The twins that she bore, and who she chose as her favorite. Ms. Smith allowed me to see Rebekah as a mother, not just another woman in the Bible. The author easily pulled me back into Bible days, with a richness in descriptions that brought the time and setting to life. I certainly enjoyed how the author incorporated scripture verses thru the story. Overall, fans of Biblical fiction will certainly want to read this one, but anyone who enjoys historical fiction with romance, where the characters just happen to be from the Bible will certainly want to read this memorable story. I can't wait to read the next book in this exciting series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361247483000, "title": "Rebekah" }, { "asin": "0800720733", "rating": 4, "text": "I love books that take place around the time of the Civil War so \"When the Heart Heals\" was a much anticipated read for me. This book takes place during 1867 in Noble Springs, Missouri. Rosemary Saxon was a nurse during the civil war, but with the war over she has to support herself somehow so she decides to work for Dr. Elijah Stewart the doctor in town.Rosemary believes in using herbal remedies and often gives out advice against which is something the doctor doesn't care for, which often causes them to butt heads on occasion. As they work together an attraction grows, but someone comes along that has Rosemary thinking she needs to leave town. Rosemary also finds herself having problems because of some advice that she has given to someone about herbs. How will things work out for Rosemary? Will she be accepted for who she is, and does she and Elijah work things out?<br /><br />While I felt like I ultimately knew how things would work out for the main characters it was such a wonderful story that gets me to that conclusion. I am such a fan of sweet romance,as well as strong women that don't often conform to what society thinks that they should be.The plot moves along at a good pace, and the author sprinkles a bit of suspense to make it more interesting. I love when we get a pet woven into a story and with this one we have Rosemary's dog Bodie. Overall, while I knew where this story was headed I certainly enjoyed the telling that gets us there. Fans of historical fiction who also enjoy a good clean read will certainly love this one. While this book is the second in the Sisters at Heart series it can easily be read as a stand alone work.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361697768000, "title": "When the Heart Heals" }, { "asin": "1596693584", "rating": 4, "text": "\"The Moses Quilt\" is a story that will capture the heart and provide you with a surprising yet satisfying ending!<br /><br />Mazie Hartford is a 24 year old whose life seems to be falling right into place, she recently finished college, and is set to take a job in the fall. Added to that her boyfriend Edward, a lawyer in his fathers firm has ask her to marry him. Thing is she has been dragging her feet, hesitant to say yes. Her great-grandmother moved in with Mazie and her mother five years ago, leaving the deep South for California. Now at the age of 93 her great-grandmother Mimi knows that her time left is coming to an end and wants to pass on a family heirloom to her namesake Mazie. The heirloom is a Moses quilt and along with the quilt is the telling of the history behind the quilt. Perhaps Mimi's story of family history will help Mazie make up her mind about her future.<br /><br />There are two stories going on in the pages of this book. The contemporary romance between Mazie and Edward, which happens to be an interracial relationship. The secondary story is the story behind the Moses Quilt, and that was truly the stand out story for me, because with Mimi's story we learn about Harriet Tubman. We learn where she came from, the cruel treatment she endured and ultimately why she was so adamant to see her people be free. I always enjoy getting a history lesson along with a fictional read and that's just what I found woven into the pages of \"The Moses Quilt.\" While the romance was ok it was Mimi and her story that made this book a real winner for me. A great way to learn a bit about African American History.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361744761000, "title": "History lesson was stand out for me" }, { "asin": "1621360210", "rating": 5, "text": "Cassandra Todd finds herself needing to leave her home in the middle of the night, her husband Brad is an abusive man, and while Cassandra was willing to take his beatings when he threatens to turn the abuse on their son Justin she knows it's time to leave. She heads to Lakewood, the town she grew up in hoping to cash in some bonds that her parents left her and then disappear When the bank transaction takes a bit longer than she anticipates she finds herself needing to spend a few days in town and checks into The Mountain View Motel. When hired men show up she finds herself needing the help of the motel handyman.<br />Turner Caldwell's high school years is something he has tried to put behind him. Bullied unmercifully by the jocks, especially Brad Duncan, who even gave him the nickname \"Pancake.\" Turner always had a crush on Cassandra Todd, but she was one of the popular crowd, a cheerleader. After being gone for seven years Cassandra shows up with her young son Justin and stays a few nights at the motel where Turner works, causing those old feelings and emotions to bubble to the surface. When she shows up at his door and tells him that she is running from her husband, who just happens to be Brad Duncan,and needs his help Turner finds himself in the midst of something that could possibly change his life forever.<br /><br />I found myself intrigued within the first few pages of this story. Cassandra finds herself needing to leave an abusive husband, and winds up going back to her home town. How ironic that the boy that was bullied in high school by her husband is the one she turns to for help. While I could empathize with Cassandra and her plight, I really felt for Turner and the memories that haunted him.I could understand why he was angry with God. In addition to the bullying he had experienced in high school, he had also lost a job he loved, his mother had died, and his father sort of abandoned him. Cassandra on the other hand held fast to her faith and felt like God was leading her.<br /><br />The author tackles two pretty tough subjects within the pages of this story, spousal abuse and bullying. Cassandra was willing to accept the abuse for herself, but refused to allow her husband to abuse her son. I thought the author really shined when it came to showcasing just how bullying can haunt someone for years. Overall I found this to be a very fast paced story laced with suspense, drama, along with several inspirational, motivational messages as well. Recommended!<br /><br />A review copy was provided by Glass Roads PR in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1362628135000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "080072089X", "rating": 3, "text": "\"Moonlight Masquerade\" is a Regency Romance set in London during 1813. Lady Celine Wexham was French born, but married an English Earl. Thing is her husband, was older,and not very nice. After his death she has money and wealth, which allows her to help those in need. Thing is the English government thinks that she may be a spy and sends Rees Phillips to work undercover as her butler to find out the truth.<br /><br />Regency romance isn't a genre that I normally read, so I was excited to try this one. While the story was really slow to pick up in the beginning, it did pick up, but never really held my attention. I hoped for a fast paced spy drama with romance woven in, but I was left wishing that there had been more romance between the two main characters. I did enjoy the historical aspects of the story, and thought that Rees was a very likable character. Overall, just a middle of the road read for me that didn't excite or inspire, I would say that if you enjoy a historical read, set during the regency era, you might enjoy this book. It just really wasn't my cup of tea.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1362959943000, "title": "Moonlight Masquerade" }, { "asin": "0764209914", "rating": 5, "text": "I found myself drawn into this story from the beginning. Molly Lovelace has always been treated like Daddy's little princess, and because everyone seemed to think that she was just a pretty female, who loved to shop, without a true thought in her head that's just how she acts. Her father has decided who he wants her to marry and doesn't plan on giving her a say in matters. Thing is she already has her heart set on someone, and that someone isn't who her father has in mind for her. He wants her to marry someone wealthy, such as Edward Pierrepont, but she can't get the cowboy Bailey Garner out of her heart. Will she go against her father, who does she ultimately choose?<br />I really enjoyed Regina Jenning's first novel, \"Sixty Acres and a Bride\" so I was totally anxious to read this one, and as a fan of historical romantic fiction this book certainly suited me to a tee! Once I got Molly's story I totally understood why she acted the way she did, after all her father Thomas had certain expectations of her. I also understood her feelings for Bailey, after all they had been childhood friends. I could just imagine the pressure that Bailey felt in finding a job so that he would be financially \"secure\" enough to support Molly in the way that she was accustomed. the on again off again twisty relationship between the pair kept me guessing as to how things might work out. I felt like the author created authentic characters for the time period For me though it was their spiritual development that really made the characters shine. I enjoyed seeing several of the characters from \"Sixty Acres and a Bride,\" but did feel like the author provided enough information that this could be read as a stand alone novel. Fans of historical romance with an inspirational slant will certainly enjoy this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1363743376000, "title": "Love In The Balance" }, { "asin": "1451574827", "rating": 4, "text": "\"The Gospel Centered Woman\" is a Bible study that not only discusses what God created his daughters to be, but how to achieve and live his plan without feeling oppressed but instead uplifted and exalted.<br /><br />This Bible study is broken down into three sections with the first section titled Created in God's Image which delves into what God create women to be, and how they are created to bear the image of God. This section also touches on the fall of man and woman. \"Section two titled Redeemed to Reflect God Once More\" touches on topics such as forgiving and being forgiven, finding contentment, and how the Gospel can unite women with Christ. Section three is titled \"Wisdom in the Tension\" and is geared at helping women navigate through daily life.<br /><br />Overall, I found this an easy to use Bible study and really appreciated how the author doesn't just give us her opinion but instead provides us with scripture that allows us to understand and read where she is coming from. I found it helpful that she includes a blank page at the end of each chapter so that we can take notes on what we have read. The discussion questions included would make this a great Bible study for women's groups. Many of the questions are geared to make the reader reflect not only on what they have read but also what they might be dealing with in their own lives. My only complaint is that I wish the questions would have been placed at the end of each chapter instead at the back of the book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1364435962000, "title": "The Gospel Centered Woman" }, { "asin": "0764207970", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Unrivaled\" takes place in St. Louis Missouri in 1910. Lucy Kendall's family owns the City Confectionery candy company, but it looks like that might change. Their company had struggled financially, but after Lucy's father has a heart attack, it looks like the answer might be to sell out, or at least that's what Lucy's mother wants to do. Lucy doesn't want to see that happen and begs her mother to reconsider. When her mother agrees to give Lucy a month to try and save the business by creating a new candy, there is one stipulation attached. Lucy must also go to the Veiled Prophet Ball, because Lucy's mother thinks it's well past time that Lucy find a husband and settle down. Lucy agrees but her plan is to unveil her new candy at the ball.<br /><br />Charlie Clarke's father left the family when he was only seven years old, so he had grown up hating his father, but not really knowing him. Now at the age of twenty-two after getting into a bit of trouble his mother contacts his father who offers him a job working for him in the Royal Taffy company in St. Louis. When he arrives in town he literally runs into Lucy, and she feels something too, but thing is neither one knows who the other is. Will the company rivalry keep the two apart, or ultimately bring them together?<br /><br />\"Unrivaled\" easily pulled me back in time, allowing for a unique glimpse of the candy making business during the early 1900's. We see the story unfold thru the eyes of two main characters. The author alternates between Lucy and Charlie's perspective, but does it in a smooth easy to follow way. Lucy sincerely wanted to keep the family business, even though during the time period women in business wasn't the norm. Thing is Lucy didn't seem to care how her actions affected others, although as the story progresses it is nice to see Lucy grow and change. I really could understand and empathize with Charlie more because he was struggling with issues from the past. There were a few secondary characters that really added to the story.<br /><br />Overall, I think my favorite parts of this story actually revolved around the candy making, I could just imagine Lucy as she was making taffy. I also got a few laughs when things didn't turn out quite right. If your a fan of historical fiction with romance, inspiration, along with a company rivalry and a bit of mystery woven into the mix then your in for a sweet treat with \"Unrivaled' by Siri Mitchell.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1364748712000, "title": "Unrivaled" }, { "asin": "1433671689", "rating": 5, "text": "Invisible\" takes place in Fort Bragg, CA and told with four unique voices. Dr. Miles Becker, who lost his wife Sarah to cancer, but before she died she made him promise her that he would move on, even suggesting someone for him to get to know. Ellyn DeMoss is a chef who runs her own restaurant She is very critical of herself because she is carrying several extra pounds.Sabina Jackson, is a counselor who says that she is taking a short sabbatical, but in truth she thinks that she is mildly depressed. There is more going on in Sabina's life than she is willing to admit. Twila Boaz had weight issues and was finally diagnosed with anorexia but now recovering she works with her mother at a health food store and uses tattoos in order to cover up her body, but also to express her feelings. Each of these characters lend their voice to \"Invisible\" and as their stories unfold, they blend together making for a remarkable tale with several powerful messages.<br /><br />I was afraid that this book might get confusing because it had four unique stories, but instead the voices and stories are so unique that it is easy to understand and follow along. While I found each characters story interesting, I have to say that Ellyn was the character that really resonated with me. Her poor self image and struggle with weight was something that is very relevant in today's society. Her inner voice that she named Earl, was very negative. Because she was so disappointed in herself she was certain that she was a disappointment to God as well. When the doctor shows an interest in her she can't imagine what he would see in her, even thinking there might be something wrong with him.<br />Overall, this was a story where the characters are struggling with issues that were very relatable, but more than that left the message of God's love and acceptance. Not a light fluffy read, instead the author crafts characters that are so easy to relate too, because each in their own way are struggling with things that are relevant in today's society. The discussion questions provided at the end of the story would make this a great group read. A story that will inspire and challenge, and maybe even motivate.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1365133412000, "title": "Invisible" }, { "asin": "0824932463", "rating": 5, "text": "Six months after the death of their mother Caroline Marris, along with her sisters Gracie Gold and Sam Carter plan a two week getaway to Nantucket a place their mother loved. While strolling on the beach they arrive at the Misty Harbor Inn, a place their mother dreamed of owning and are surprised at the condition of the old inn. The sisters decide to purchase the inn even though it will take a lot of work to get it ready to open. When they find some old postcards they are find themselves immersed in the mystery of Hannah Montague, the widow of the original owner. Can they figure out what happened to her?Will the sisters be able to get the inn open, and will this adventure draw them together or pull them apart?<br /><br />I loved the family feel of this novel. Each sister has their own unique personality giving this story a very realistic feel. Because the sisters are older I found myself easily relating to them. I could easily understand Gracie's reluctance at wanting to leave her home, but she also needed to reestablish a relationship with her sisters. In addition to the family drama going on they are renovating the inn and if that isn't enough there is an air of mystery about a former owner. \"Seaside Harmony\" is the first book in the Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn series and is the perfect way to escape for a few hours. I have always been a fan of Guideposts series and this one promises not to disappoint With elements of faith interwoven with family drama, a hint of mystery along with a splash of romance, I really look forward to my next visit to the Misty Harbor Inn.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1366945739000, "title": "Seaside Harmony" }, { "asin": "0824932471", "rating": 5, "text": "It's spring in Nantucket and the girls have been working all year to get the Inn in tip top shape to open and what better time to have the grand opening than while the town is celebrating with the Daffodil festival. We get to meet the guests , but more than that the mystery of the previous owner continues to unfold.<br /><br />The three sisters really make this a stand out series, it's so nice to see their relationships grow and change as the story progresses. I always enjoy whenever an animal is included in a story and we Max, Carolines cocker spaniel continues to make appearances in this story. I think the element of mystery that is woven into the story really adds to the storyline. I found the historical aspects of the mystery quite interesting. \"Sunflower Summer\" is the second book in the Postcards From Misty Harbor Inn series and I really think that to understand the story completely the books should be read in order. A wonderful setting, interesting characters along with elements of faith, and the mystery woven in really held my attention and has me anxious to read the next book in this series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1366946318000, "title": "Sunflower Summer" }, { "asin": "0800722256", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been a fan of Melody Carlson for years. She does a wonderful job of pulling me into whatever story she is writing, making me understand the characters and whatever they might be going thru.<br /><br />\"A Simple Song\" is the story of Katrina Yoder. She has always enjoyed singing, but in her Amish world it is a sin, and therefore it is forbidden.Katrina's friend Bekka has been watching a show called American Star and really thinks that Katrina should try out for the show. For Katrina though the reason to step out into the Englisher world is more complicated than that. Her father needs to have surgery, and \"American Star\" just might be the way that Katrina could win the money, and since she hasn't been baptized into the church yet, she will go while on her rumspringa. What will her parents and community say? Will they accept her back into the community, and if she wins the money will her parents accept it! Can an Amish girl stay true to her roots while thrust into the Englisher spotlight! Read this page turning story to find out!<br />I found \"A Simple Song,\" to be a nice, quick read that is filled with interesting characters that are easy to like. I could easily understand Katrina and the choices she made. I thought it was interesting how her grandfather encouraged singing at her grandmother's funeral. The reason that was revealed was touching and allowed me to further understand Katrina's story. I found the behind the scenes descriptions of \"American Star\" interesting, and while I kind of knew how things might work out it was still fun to see how Melody Carlson would allow things to work out! Overall, this fun little read, is great for teens but also a quick read for adults who enjoy Amish fiction as well.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1371435536000, "title": "Another great story from Melody Carlson" }, { "asin": "0764209663", "rating": 5, "text": "When an outlaw's daughter want's a preacher for her birthday, what's her outlaw daddy to do but have someone go out and kidnap,or preachernap,one for her! After all it's Joanna Robbins twenty-first birthday and she deserved something big, after all she is still grieving the loss of her mother.Truth is Jo has been praying for a preacher to come along and help revive their little community church, but she never imagined the lengths her father would go to to bring a preacher to her. When her father kidnaps Crockett Archer and brings him home for her birthday she knows she will have to let him go because he has other plans, but she can't help but hope he might decide to stay!<br />I found myself immediately drawn to this book because of the cover,and title,after all I couldn't imagine what \"Stealing The Preacher\" might entail, but I have to say it was the attention grabbing story that kept me turning the pages to see where and what would happen next! I found myself loving these characters and even understanding the reasoning of why Joanna's father did what he did! I loved the lively conversations that literally brings the story to life. I also enjoyed the historical feel of the story! Fans of historical fiction that enjoy stories that provide more than a few laughs along with several smiles, a lively cast of characters and a nice, inspirational romance will find themselves devouring \"Stealing The Preacher\" in one sitting, I know that I did! An unputdownable read for me!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1371527327000, "title": "Fun historical read" }, { "asin": "1433679302", "rating": 5, "text": "Daphne Ballinger's left her small town life in Appleton with high hopes of having a writing career in the Big Apple. Thing is it's thirteen years later, and she is finds herself stuck in a job that is far from what she hoped for, sharing the same apartment, and still heartsore from a relationship from ten years ago when a boyfriend burned her bad. When she gets a call from her father that her rather eccentric ninety-one year old aunt Dee passed away she goes home. She is soon surprised that her aunt left her sole beneficiary of everything that she owned, including a beautiful old Victorian, a vintage Corvette and plenty of money, there is just a couple of snafu's her aunt left some pretty specific requirements and Daphne has a year to fulfill her aunt's wishes. If she doesn't the house will be given to the \"Cat House\" the shelter where she adopted her beloved kitties Lucy and Ethel. As several secrets come to light about Aunt Dee Daphne learns things that she would have never guessed. Will Daphne leave New York behind and move back to Appleton, and if she does will she be able to meet the requirements of Dee's will?<br /><br />Melody Carlson is one of my all time favorite writers, her versatile writing skills, has taken me on several adventures and \"Lock, Stock, and Over a Barrel\" allows me to watch Daphne Ballinger go from someone who seemed unhappily stuck in her life to someone with choices if only she can embrace them. Daphne is a character that is so easy to relate to, she was someone that had hopes and dreams, but after years of the same old same old her life was in a rut! I enjoyed seeing the changes that precipitated in her life once she returned to Appleton. Plenty of secondary characters really stood out for me including Daphne's dad, his life was in transition as well, and the secrets that he learned about Aunt Dee was something that he took in stride.Even though Aunt Dee has passed away, her character played such an integral role in the plot, she seemed like a fun loving someone, who did have a few regrets and hoped to keep Daphne from making some of the same mistakes. Ms. Carlson's descriptions easily allowed me to feel the small town setting of the story, and the advice column reminded me of Dear Abby! While there is an inspirational bent to the story, it isn't overwhelming, and seemed perfectly plausible I will say the author certainly left me hanging with the ending, and I know I will keep wondering until the next installment how things will work out for Daphne! If you have never read anything by Ms. Carlson this book is the perfect time to start, or if you're like me and are a long time fan, you're not going to want to miss this one. I only hope readers don't have to wait long for the next installment in the Dear Daphne series!", "timestamp": 1372298844000, "title": "Can't wait to read book two in the series!" }, { "asin": "0800721381", "rating": 4, "text": "I have become a fan of Biblical historical fiction and \"Claudia\" is the story of a character in the Bible that is only mentioned once, but Diana Wallis Taylor doesn't let that stop her from creating a compelling story that not only brings the characters but Biblical times to life, a time when woman really had to make the best of the situations that they found themselves in.At the age of sixteen Claudia is married to Pontius Pilate , and truly loves her husband even though it was an arranged marriage.After the marriage they move to Judea where Claudia has a dream about Jesus and the role her husband will play in his crucifixion.The author certianly knew how to bring this timeperiod to life, I could just imagine the places that was described in the story. I also recognized a few Biblical characters woven into the story along with Claudia and her husband. It was nice to see a different side of Pontius Pilate, a side that only his wife Claudia saw.Even though a fictionalized story, the author makes the story believable by providing enough facts to give a sense of realism. Overall fans of historical fiction will enjoy this story, but if you enjoy historical fiction with a Biblical slant then this is a must read for you.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1372649884000, "title": "Claudia" }, { "asin": "0800721594", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Dolled Up to Die is the second book in the Cate Kinkaid mystery series and really can be read as a stand alone work, but honestly it's such a good cozy little mystery that you're probably going to want to go back and read the first book just because you're going to want more of these characters!<br /><br />When Cate Kinkaid was hired by her uncle Joe to work as an assistant investigator for Belmont Investigations he made it perfectly clear that they only handled routine investigations such as background checks, serving subpoenas and the like, thing is it seems murder cases keep cropping up in the town of Eugene, Oregon and Cate somehow finds herself in the middle of the action! The latest call is from a woman saying there has been a triple shooting, well how can Cate not help at the scene of a triple homicide especially when the caller might still be in danger. When she arrives on the scene though she does find three victims, and quickly discovers a fourth, thing is three of the gunshot victims are life sized dolls!<br /><br />\"Dolled Up to Die\" is one of those stories that you start reading and the next thing you know you are finished. The story moves along at such a fast pace that the pages just fly by. I love the character of Cate, she is a bumbling PI that provides more than a few laughs. She often talks to her fat cat Octavia, and is rescued more than once by her boyfriend Mitch. With several suspects the author doesn't make it easy to figure out who-dun-it with this one. Anyone who enjoys a fast paced cozy mystery with more than a few laughs and a bumbling heroine will certainly enjoy \"Dolled Up to Die!\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1374460138000, "title": "Fast paced cozy mystery" }, { "asin": "1595547827", "rating": 4, "text": "Amy Lange is grieving the loss of her brother Ben and really can't wrap her mind around the fact that it was an \"accident.\" When she receives an email stating that she might want to take a trip to Hope Island hinting that her brother Ben had secrets that actually led to his death, she decides to take the trip to Rosemary Cottage on Hope Island a place that is dear to her hoping to find solace and even thinking of moving her midwifery practice there. Mostly though she is hoping to find the answers she needs so that she can truly understand her brother's death.<br /><br />While this is the second book in the Hope Beach series by Colleen Coble it can easily be read as a stand alone work. I found myself swept into the story from the beginning pages when Gina, Curtis Ireland's sister is basically run down by a motorboat, thing is she recognized the person on the boat, but who was it? That along with wanting to know about Ben and what happened to him propelled me into this story to find the answers! Suspense filled with more than a few twists kept me turning the pages,and the romance was a nice bonus. Ms. Coble captured the beauty of the area that she writes about, allowing the setting to come to life for me. Overall, anyone who enjoys mystery/suspense with a sweet romance and a nice christian theme woven in will enjoy this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1374462505000, "title": "Rosemary Cottage" }, { "asin": "1433678209", "rating": 5, "text": "I was drawn to \"In Golden Splendor\" because I am always interested in a good historical read, and I got just what I hoped for with this novel. This story draws the reader back to the mid 1800's during the California Gold Rush.<br /><br />Seamus Handley's past was rife with disappointment, and he is haunted by a past that he just can't seem to overcome. How though did this Irishman wind up living in self exile in the Rocky Mountain Wilderness, where it seems that the lack of food might do him in. It seems though fate has something else in store for Seamus though when he finds a letter from a woman in San Francisco asking for help he has nothing to lose by heading to California. The journey he embarks on will test his mettle. Will Seamus find what he is looking for in California?<br /><br />Mr. Reynolds weaves together an epic historical tale that comes to life in the pages of this story. I found it easy to envision the journey that Seamus embarked on. Since I didn't read the first book in the story I was really interested in who Seamus was and what his background might have been. The author does a great job of providing enough information to make this a stand alone story. I became totally invested in Seamus' story wanting to know how it would end. Rich details, really brought the story to life for me, and wanting to know how things would work out for Seamus kept me reading. There were so many secondary characters that we meet on the journey that play unique roles in the story that kept it moving along. Overall, a rich historical read, blended with romance, suspense, and an inspirational message that reminds the reader of God's love. I enjoyed this book so much that I plan on going back to read the first book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1375675395000, "title": "An Epic Journey" }, { "asin": "0824932595", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Whispers On The Dock\" take readers back to Misty Harbor Inn allowing us to reconnect with the three sisters that run the Inn. With this installment the main focus is on the youngest sister Sam who enjoys baking, and hopes to enter the Summerfield baking contest. In addition to the baking contest there is the unique characters that check into the inn as well as the mystery that the three sisters are still trying to solve.<br /><br />What a wonderful, relaxing read each of the books in the series turned out to be. Even though it had been a couple of months since I read the first two books in the series it was so easy to fall right back into the storyline, because I felt like I was connecting with old friends. I thought the storyline revolving around Hannah Montague was really interesting, it was fun to see the clues unfold around this mystery. Overall, I found this book to be well written and the plot moves along well, I found the storyline relaxing and easy to read. This book is the third book in a series and really the first two books should be read to get the most from this one. Cozy mystery light is how I would describe this one, because there was a mystery but there really was much more than just the mystery going on in the story.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1378012226000, "title": "Return to Misty Harbor" }, { "asin": "0825442141", "rating": 5, "text": "Hope is often difficult to find when life throws curves our way that cause not only our heart to hurt but also damage our spirit. Instead we often close ourselves off and try and protect ourselves from further hurt, shutting off our heart in a sense to protect it. With \"Wounded Women of the Bible\" the author shares the stories of twelve different women of the Bible linking their stories with stories from today that allowed me to connect with the Biblical stories on a greater level,providing hope and encouragement reminding that we can overcome and become stronger with the help of God. I would have to say that my favorite female character in the Bible had to be Ruth, and the author's focus on her story had me thinking deeper about Ruth and what she really went thru. The author's easy to read, friendly feeling writing made this a stand out book for me. While I enjoyed reading the stories of the \"Wounded Women of the Bible\" I also found the personal stories that the authors share to be inspirational and encouraging. Overall, I think this book is a must read for women young and old, filled with inspiration and encouragement that remind the reader of God's strength and love. The study guide and discussion questions that are included make this a fantastic book for group study, personally myself I have been using the book like a Bible study, taking each chapter and turning it into a weeks worth of study and reflection.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1379190499000, "title": "Encouraging" }, { "asin": "1859857663", "rating": 5, "text": "Bumper Wipe Clean Activities book is chock full of fun things that focus on the Bible. A study book that will withstand quite a bit of use.A sturdy cover, with the wipe free pages makes this a book that will be reused often. There is a handy holder so the pen doesn't get lost from the book and the spiral binding makes it's easy for young hands to use. Bright colors and easy to read vocabulary might just light the spark of reading with your youngster. The simple activities are best suited for youngsters probably five and under, I think that perhaps an older child may find the activities a little to simplistic. Some of the activities include dot to dot, matching pairs, finding the hidden object, and mazes. I think this book would make a wonderful gift, perfect for taking along when you need to keep your youngster occupied. I would easily recommend this book to anyone looking for a sturdy book that because of the wipe free pages can be reused.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1379561007000, "title": "Good Value for a sturdy product" }, { "asin": "0800723074", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite types of books to read when I was a child was books filled jokes, so this one really brought back a lot of memories. I remembered a few of the jokes I read, and had more than a bit of fun reading the tongue twisters, something that I have never gotten good at! A book that it chock full of good, clean, jokes that is sure to tickle the funny bone, and have youngsters trying the jokes out on their friends. This book is basically like three books in one, with laugh out loud jokes for kids, zoolarious animal jokes for kids, and of course my favorite knock knock jokes, there are also tongue twisters but I was pleasantly surprised by the did you know tidbits that were filled with interesting fun facts. Many of these little facts were totally new to me! Certainly a book that will appeal to youngsters but it might also appeal to those of us that remember joke books as a kid, I know it brought back a few fond memories for me!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1390780300000, "title": "Funny with a few fun facts as well." }, { "asin": "0062204467", "rating": 5, "text": "A new series by Shelley Shepard Gray, boy I couldn't wait to dive into this one, and once I did I really couldn't put this book down until I finished it! I love books set in Sugarcreek, Ohio because it's a place I visit often so it's the familiar that really hooks me. With this book we get the story of Miriam Zehr and Albert (Junior) Beiler. Miriam longs to have a family of her own. Thing is she feels like the only way she will ever find a special someone is to leave Sugarcreek. When Junior Beiler seeks her out she is thrilled could it be that finally someone is interested in her?<br /><br />Such a delightful beginning to a promising new series. I loved these characters, and I found Miriam so easy to connect with. Who doesn't have problems with self image, and it's wonderful to see Amish portrayed as real people with real issues. Often writers create Amish characters that seem to perfect, but Ms. Gray always makes me feel like I could be reading about anyone, Amish or English because of the realism of her characters. I couldn't help but be drawn in wondering whether Miriam would ever find love, if Junior would realize what was right within his grasp. Plenty of secondary characters keeps the plot zipping along, making for a quick yet satisfying read! Hopeful is perfect for Amish fans, but anyone looking for a great read that just happens to be about the Amish will find Ms. Gray's writing easy to connect with, written with depth, but also a touching tenderness and there is a bit of mystery as well. Hopeful leaves me anxious to read the next book in the Return to Sugarcreek Series!", "timestamp": 1391708358000, "title": "I'm hooked on this new series" }, { "asin": "0800722264", "rating": 4, "text": "Melody Carlson is one of my favorite author's and My Amish Boyfriend is a real example of why she has achieved that position in my heart. She has the uncanny ability to produce a page turning read that also provides plenty of life lessons woven in. With My Amish Boyfriend we meet sixteen year old Shannon McNamara who thinks that she has her summer all planned, but when she arrives home from school her friendly neighbor who has been helping out with her sick mother informs her that she has been in contact with her mother's family in Ohio and plans are in place for them to go there. So instead of spending the summer in Indiana she finds her world turned upside down when they head to Ohio to meet family that she never new about. What adventures and life lessons are in store for Shannon? Pick up My Amish Boyfriend and find out!<br /><br />Ms. Carlson deals with several very real issues in this story, Shannon is living in a single parent home after the death of her father. Her mom worked full time until she got sick, and she really doesn't seem to be getting any better. Learning about a family that you never knew about is one thing but learning to deal with them on a daily basis is quite another, especially when they are Amish. I really liked the character of Shannon,and truly felt like her character developed well, except for the relationship that developed between her and Ezra. It felt rushed, I do get that she is sixteen and they during that age they fall in love at the drop of a hat, but it really felt rushed, and I was a bit surprised at Ezra as well. Overall, I liked the story, and enjoyed watching Shannon grow and change, especially as she learns about her family, Ms. Carlson allowed me to feel the emotions that Shannon felt. A story about faith and family, and the fact that life isn't always easy.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1393785146000, "title": "My Amish Boyfriend" }, { "asin": "1426752792", "rating": 5, "text": "I have really enjoyed reading each book in the&#34;Quilt Of Love&#34; series. What makes them unique is that each book is written by a different author,allowing us to sample each author's writing style. One thing is a constant though through each book and that's the fact that a quilt plays a part in each story. As someone who enjoys the Needlework art of quilting that in itself really drew me to the series, but the splendid writing of each author continues to bring me back for each new book.<br /><br /> In a Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare the Native American story line and the historical time frame really made this one of my favorite books in this series! Frankie Chasing Bear is a Lakota woman living in the 1950's whose grandmother taught her the art of quilting, but more than that she shared the heritage behind the Lakota Star quilt and the importance of keeping that heritage alive for generations to come. When Frankie's husband dies she leaves Pine Ridge, South Dakota moving to Arizona hoping for a better life for her ten year old son Harold, but will life be any easier there?<br /><br />A richly woven story that really brought not only the time period to life, but allowed me to feel as if I was getting a bit of a history lesson as I read the story. I could feel the turmoil that was a part of that time. My favorite character had to be Frankie, she was a young mother like any other wanting what was best for her young son. She was such a strong, brave character, who really wanted Harold, her son to know about his heritage. The author provides more than a few twists to keep the plot moving, and one of those twists is the character of Nick, who is dealing with his own issues. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction that revolves around Native Americans will be delighted with this story, but honestly it's a great read for anyone who enjoys a story about faith, family and quilts!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1394991200000, "title": "Quilt of Love" }, { "asin": "1414389752", "rating": 5, "text": "Wyoming during the spring of 1882 is where readers will find themselves transported as they read Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman. A story where the author's descriptive writing captures the feel of the old west while providing an intricately woven story that captured my imagination from the beginning paragraphs. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen with Mariah Malone. Her father confessed on his deathbed that he had purchased the Lazy M ranch, the family home with ill gotten gold that belonged to someone else. Mariah does the right thing by writing to the man, never imagining that someone would come along to claim the ranch, but that's just what happens. Slade Donovan comes to claim what belongs to his father, intending to take over the ranch, but will he?<br /><br />The main characters of Mariah and Slade are such well written characters, and the author easily pulled me into their story, making me want the best for them. Slade was one of my favorite characters, rough on the outside, but truly a gentle man. Plenty of secondary characters propel this plot along so that it never lags. Pam Hillman is a new to me author, but I enjoyed Claiming Mariah so much that I plan on checking out her other work. Fans of historical western fiction with romance, suspense, a splash of mystery that is sprinkled with humor and a faith based message will certainly enjoy this page turning read. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1397790648000, "title": "Claiming Mariah" }, { "asin": "0764210580", "rating": 4, "text": "A Sensible Arrangement is the story of Marty Dandridge Olson, a thirty-five year old childless widow of four years whose beloved husband was gored by a longhorn bull. Try as she might time hadn't lessened the pain so she hopes that answering an ad to marry Jake Wythe, a banker who lives in Colorado who is looking for a Texas bride. Jake Wythe hadn't really been lucky in love, his wife left him for another man, and then died a few months later, as a banker for Morgan Bank the board members feel that a man of his standing needs to be married. So he decides to place an ad, and gets an answer from Marty. Will leaving Texas help Marty heal from the pain of her past? Feelings start to develop between them, but one thing is standing in the way, Jake wants to return to Texas and Marty has no desire to return.<br /><br />Truly a unique twist on what I consider the mail-order bride genre. Normally the ad is placed by a farmer looking for a bride, but in this instance it's a banker, and the couple is a bit more mature, with more life experience. Neither one is expecting love, but sometimes love comes when one least expects it! Marty was spunky, the stagecoach scene really showcased her grit and determination,she did have one major flaw though, she was sometimes a bit reckless with the truth, but the author handled that issue in a very real and spiritual way.Jake is someone who is still dealing with past hurts from loves gone wrong. The feelings that develop between them was ok, but I found the historical aspects to be just as interesting. Several secondary characters really kept the plot moving along. A Sensible Arrangement is more than just another mail order bride tale, its light on romance, but provides a bit of mystery, humor and a faith based message along with enough loose ends which makes me anxious to read the next book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1398029386000, "title": "A Unique twist on the mail order bride genre" }, { "asin": "0310730538", "rating": 5, "text": "Alone Yet Not Alone by Tracy Leininger that sweeps readers back to the autumn of 1755 where we meet the Leininger family, German Immigrants who have come to America looking for a new life. They settle in the Blue Mountains of PA that overlook Penn's Creek. The family of six consists of Ma and Pa along with Christian,John, Barbara, and Regina. Their faith in God is strong, and they are very thankful for all their good fortune, which includes living peacefully among the Indians.With the French-Indian War brewing though things change dramatically and one afternoon two Indian braves barge into the cabin and kidnap Barbara who is twelve and Regina age nine. The girls are soon separated and taken far from home, but they never give up hope that someday they will be together again!<br /><br />What an amazing story of faith and family, and what makes this book even better is that it is based on a true story. The author does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life within the pages of this story. I became swept up in the saga that the girls faced, and often wondered how or if they would ever be reunited with their mother. The author's attention to detail made the various scenes pop off the pages, I could easily envision the settings, whether it was the cabin, or an Indian village, the richness of detail allowed me to feel as if I was part of the story instead of just reading it. A great read for young and old alike, especially anyone who enjoys history. An easy to read story that is certainly reminds readers of the importance of never wavering in your faith in knowing that God is always with us even in our darkest hour.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1398829524000, "title": "Rich in historical detail" }, { "asin": "1859855865", "rating": 5, "text": "The Candle Bible Handbook brings the Old and New Testaments of the Bible to life by combining visual as well as scriptural information about all sixty-six books of the Bible.There is an outline of each book along with frequently asked questions and plenty of interesting information that allows for a very good overview of each book of the Bible there are even study questions included for further thought. I found the illustrations to be top notch enhancing the subjects. I have actually been studying the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and the illustrations and information included was invaluable to me in helping me visualize the tabernacle. There is also a list of the promises in the Bible, along with important passages, important people and big ideas that will further enhance the usefulness of this wonderful reference book. While the book is geared toward 8-12 year old group it really is a perfect companion for those of any age that want's to familiarize themselves with the major elements of the Bible. Great for home study or any teaching forum for that matter, an invaluable tool that really brings the Bible to life a perfect building block for anyone wanting to study their Bible.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1399945301000, "title": "Great for any age" }, { "asin": "0800721608", "rating": 4, "text": "Cate Kinkaid has a knack for finding a mystery, and with Death Takes a Ride it's no different. She has no idea that she was going to be a witness to a robbery and shooting and the victim just might not make it. To complicate matters Cate is hired to investigate, but here's the deal, she isn't hired to investigate the shooting, instead she is looking for the owner of a particular motorcycle. Of course things rarely are what they seem, and Cate always finds herself up to her eyeballs in a who-dun-it!<br /><br />I always enjoy a good mystery and this series has certainly provided that. My only complaint was that I figured out the ending early, which was sort of a bummer. That said, I always enjoy the humor that is woven into the Cate Kinkaid Files, and I think Cate's character continues to get stronger with each installment. I love whenever animals are woven into a story and with this one we have a cat and dog! Overall this book is a good clean mystery that isn't so hard to solve, but still is well worth reading for anyone who loves a cozy mystery.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1406169950000, "title": "Death Takes A Ride" }, { "asin": "0800723562", "rating": 5, "text": "As an animal lover, especially dogs there was no way that I could look at this cover and not read the book! Henry is one of those dogs that just loves life, and well also one who seems to find his way into various situations that are often laugh out loud funny, and truly capture the essence of what it truly means to be owned by your dog. Such an easy to relate to story, this book had me reminiscing about my own canines and the puppy stage that caused more than a few mishaps in my own home. The author has a certain way with describing the antics of Henry that I could honestly visualize his various escapades! Anyone who has ever owned a dog will find this a must read, but honestly if you enjoy laughing out loud while reading you are certainly going to want to read Surviving Henry!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1408327687000, "title": "Laugh out loud funny read!" }, { "asin": "0800722884", "rating": 5, "text": "The one book in the Bible I always turn to whenever I need a little comfort is the book of Psalms so I was excited to find a book of devotions based on the book. In today's world it seems there are plenty of hard days, whether you're a stay at home mother or work outside the home. From the bad news that one is bombarded with daily on the evening news or trying to juggle the never ending list that I always seem to need to do , there are plenty of hard days to muddle thru. What Your Heart Needs for the Hard Days not only encourages, but also speaks to the heart providing a needed boost while also reminding that we are never alone! First I want to say I love the size, I would consider it a pocket book, one that will easily slip into a purse or briefcase. The bright cheerful colors used on the cover captures the eye making me want to explore what is inside. Each devotion starts with a scripture from the book of Psalms, then an devotion which touches on different issues that are easy to relate to, It wraps up with a prayer and a place for writing the users own thoughts, something that I find very useful. I love that there is a table of contents so that I can skip to the devotion that I feel I might need to read for the day. Whether you have time to do this as a daily or weekly devotional is up to you, but if you need encouragement and uplifting your going to find it within the pages of this cute little book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1410226203000, "title": "Lovely little devotional for the hard days" }, { "asin": "0800722094", "rating": 5, "text": "Suspense filled, page turning are just a few words that I would use to describe Nowhere To Turn by Lynette Eason.<br />When your married to an abusive husband the only thing to do is leave, but the danger is ramped up when your abusive husband is an FBI agent. When Danielle's husband is shot and killed you would think the worries would be over but honestly they just begin because her husband was into some shady business and now the people he dealt with wants something her husband had, and they are after her to get it!<br /><br />I think my favorite character in this one had to be eleven year old Simon. He was truly a brave young man, and my heart really went out to him. There are so many twists and turns with this story I found myself thinking I knew something only to be taken in the opposite direction. Ms. Eason has become one of my favorite authors because she is able to weave suspense, tension, mystery and drama together with romance to create a very well blended story that provides a plot that doesn't stop.The added bonus is that they are always good clean reads. While this is the second book in the Hidden Identity series it can be read as a stand alone work.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1411353727000, "title": "Edge of your seat page turner" }, { "asin": "0781409179", "rating": 5, "text": "The bright, colorful cover will certainly draw youngsters to this book, but it is the rhyming Bible stories,along with the stunning illustrations inside that are going to hold their attention as they learn about several of the most popular Bible stories. A compilation of twenty Bible stories that will certainly allow your youngster to learn about some of the Bibles most popular characters in rhyming story. I love that the author provides the location in the Bible for the scripture that each story is based on. A few of the stories include Adam and Eve, the story of Queen Esther, and Jonah and the Whale. While I did find a couple of discrepancies within the stories overall the author holds pretty true to the Bible. Overall I think Treasury of Bible Stories is a wonderful addition to any youngsters library, and would also work well for homeschooling or to use in Sunday School. A book that will certainly become a favorite with youth 4 thru 8, and I can easily imagine that even nine and ten year olds might want to read this one themselves. I found it a delightful read that would be perfect for gift giving.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1411955643000, "title": "Eye catching illustrations and rhyming verse make this one a winner" }, { "asin": "0825442052", "rating": 4, "text": "Youngsters are certainly going to enjoy guessing who as they embark on an adventure with Noah as he gatherers animals for the ark. This sturdy little board book is filled with colorful illustrations that will capture the eye and imagination as well. The rhyming story, which is written in easy to read words just might encourage your youngster to try and read along. The rhyming prose with an interactive question will get youngsters to try and guess just what animal is hiding behind the flap.Glossy pages allow for wiping off if something is spilled, the pages are sturdy and the flaps seem to stay in place when they are folded back up. A perfect little gift that surely will become a favorite, the book is geared toward 2-4 year olds and I would say that age range is pretty accurate. Overall a sturdy little storybook that shares the simplistic story that reveals a few of the animals that Noah had on the ark. One that will certainly keep a youngster entertained as they try and Guess Who is on Noah's Boat.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1414808003000, "title": "Guessing who can be lots of fun" }, { "asin": "B00KDN87CW", "rating": 5, "text": "Melody Carlson is one of my favorite authors because her writing covers such a wide variety of genres! With Trading Secrets we get the story of pen pals Micah Knight and Zack Miller, who just happens to be Amish. Thing is Micah is a girl but she never told Zack that, even though they have been sharing letters for several years. Now Micah has a chance to visit Zack on his Amish farm but how is he going to feel when he finds out that his pen pal is actually a female. .<br /><br />There were so many things that I enjoyed about this book.I can remember when I was assigned a pen pal and I think I was probably in the fifth or sixth grade,my pen pal was from England and his name was Adrian, funny story was that my teacher originally thought Adrian was a girl. Anyway back to Trading Secrets. I liked the setting of Ohio for the story, even though that's pretty typical for Amish fiction. It was the plan that Micah came up with that really got me interested, I couldn't help but wonder how she would pull it off, or even if she could. It was great that the storyline revolved around friendship, and how being honest is important. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and would love to see Ms. Carlson turn into a series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1417391561000, "title": "Another great story from Melody Carlson" }, { "asin": "0800722485", "rating": 5, "text": "At Home In Last Chance is the third book in the Place To Call Home a Series by Cathleen Armstrong. This installment pulls readers right back to Last Chance, New Mexico and tells the story of Kaitlyn Reed and Steven Braden. Kaitlyn has made plenty of mistakes in her life, and hopes to change a few when she returns to Last Chance. Steve also has a few things to prove to his family. When a relationship begins to develop between them will their past get in the way or will their hearts finally find a place to call home?<br /><br />I love the town of Last Chance and was drawn right back into the town and the lives of the characters. i have to admit I really didn't like the character of Kaitlyn in the previous book so I wasn't sure if I would enjoy her story. Well let me say the author totally changed my mind about the character and had me empathizing with her. I loved watching her character grow and change becoming who she needed to be. There is a sense of realism with this entire series that makes it very easy to relate too. I really enjoyed revisiting some of the characters from the previous books but honestly think that this book could be read without having read the other books because the author provides enough background information which allows the reader to connect with the town and characters. An emotionally charged story that grabbed my emotions and made me feel like I was reading about friends.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1422979298000, "title": "Great Series" }, { "asin": "0529103419", "rating": 4, "text": "While everyone around Sarah Montgomery is celebrating the end of the Civil War she finds her heart is broken, longing for Rand Campbell the man who never made it home. Ben Croftner has been coming to call for the past five months and while she knows she will never love him, her family wants her to marry him. Her father is very ill and wants her to take her younger brother and be settled with Ben, her brother Wade just wants to acquire land! Thing is Rand isn't dead, and when Sarah finds out she calls off her wedding, but Ben isn't easily thwarted and decides to take matters into his own hands. Can Sarah and Rand find their way back to each other, and what evilness will Ben try to accomplish in order to keep Sarah for his own?<br /><br />A Heart's Disguise easily pulled me in and wouldn't let go! A short read at only 90 pages there is plenty of life packed into so few pages! It was so easy to imagine Sarah Montgomery and the situation she was placed in. Heartbroken over losing the love of her life she only wanted to ease the mind of her father and appease her brother by marrying someone she didn't love, it seemed though that fate had another idea. Ms. Coble captures the time period right after the war where families were forced to go on even though they were grieving the loss of unreturned loved ones,but we also glimpse the time of celebration that the war was over!This short installment did what it set out to do, it left me wanting more of the story! Of course a sneak peek for A Heart's Obsession the next installment in the Journey of the Heart Series is included at the end. This series of books is taken from the previously published Wyoming Series. Overall fans of historical fiction that takes place right after the civil war will enjoy A Heart's Disguise, but honestly anyone who enjoys a story that blends faith, family and longing should also check it out!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1426467202000, "title": "The waiting for the next installment is the hardest part!" }, { "asin": "1938499867", "rating": 5, "text": "God, Me, And Sweet Iced Tea is like a refreshing sip of peace and tranquility in a sea of the turmoil that one often finds with everyday life. Rose Chandler provides just the right amount of content for her daily readings so that one can read them in just a few minutes but I guarantee you the uplifting messages will resonate with you through out the day. There are fifty-three devotions that share the authors successes but also her struggles, which is something that makes this a very easy devotional book to connect with. The author's faith is evident in each of her devotions, she shares her not only her love for God but also her ability to turn to him in for whatever she needs! Anyone looking for a way to reconnect with God, or perhaps just needing an uplifting way to start their day will certainly find that along with a sweet sense of peace and inspiration as they traverse the pages of God, Me and Sweet Iced Tea.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1430267146000, "title": "A sweet sip of inspiration" }, { "asin": "0718031652", "rating": 5, "text": "A Heart's Obsession is the second installment of The Journey of the Heart series and while a short read really packs plenty of story into a few pages. With this one Rand has headed out west and Sarah soon follows him, but when she arrives things aren't the same between her and Rand. With plenty of action and a non stop plot that really speeds by at a break neck pace this book is one that I just couldn't put down once I started reading it. Ms. Coble makes me feel as if I have stepped right into the lives of the characters, with descriptive writing the setting as well as the characters really come to life. If I had one complaint it's that when I reached the end I was left wanting more! Historical fiction fans especially fans of the time period right after the civil war when the west was becoming settled will find these books hard to put down. While the author provided enough background information with this one that one could probably read it as a stand alone I highly recommend reading the series in order to really get an in depth understanding of the relationships between the characters. Truly a book that leaves me anxiously anticipating the next installment in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1430268731000, "title": "Historical fiction fans will enjoy this series" }, { "asin": "0307731332", "rating": 5, "text": "Family secrets are something that will eventually find their way to light and with this series there are plenty of secrets! With this story Alexa has opened her bed and breakfast in her grandmother's former home, Of course starting a new business is filled with worries so when a young reporter wants to stay at the B and B for a long term stay she readily agrees, but if she knew what his assignment is would she have chosen to do so. With plenty of secrets and more than a few twists this story zooms along making it hard to put down. While the story is told from several points of view Ms. Sawyer transitions smoothly allowing for wonderful clarity . The characters are very well fleshed and easy to connect with. She has a wonderful way of blending faith into the mix of feelings allowing me to totally understand the struggles the characters face. While there are several unanswered questions When Grace Sings is a satisfying read that leaves me longing for the next book in the series!<br />After reading the first book in The Zimmerman Restoration Series I couldn't wait to start this one. This book continues right where the last one left off, saying that though I felt like the author provided enough background information that this one could be read without reading the first book in the series, although I highly recommend it as well. Anyone who enjoys family controversy where secrets abound, faith and a down to earth story where the characters really jump from the pages will enjoy When Grace Sings!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1432264520000, "title": "When Grace Sings" }, { "asin": "0529102781", "rating": 5, "text": "Reading anything by Kathleen Fuller is a guaranteed good read. She has a knack for creating easy to care for characters and as a fan of Amish fiction I feel like she is a top notch writer in the genre. I find it handy that she always provides a glossary for German words used within the story. A solidly written plot that easily pulled me in made this a very enjoyable book to read. Jeremiah Mullet left his Amish community to full fill his dream of becoming a vet, but now he has come back to fill for the vet who ultimately helped him out while he needs to recover from a broken leg. Of course in the process he reconnects with old friends. Anna Mae is one of those friends, she has actually been grappling with what to do with her life for the last several years, of course her mother thinks she should settle down and marry, but she isn't sure what course she wants to take for her life. As she reconnects with Jeremiah one can't help but wonder where the relationship might lead. What is in store for them, he is no longer Amish, so a romantic relationship is out of the question isn't it? What does God have in store for them?<br />This was a solidly written story allowing the pages to fly by. There is another couple in the story that also held my interest. Even though this book is part of a series it really can be read as a stand alone story. Fans of Amish fiction will be thrilled with A Faith Of Her Own, but honestly anyone who enjoys a faith based read with solidly written characters and a sweetly progressing story should give this one a try as well!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1432775145000, "title": "A Faith Of Her Own" }, { "asin": "0718031660", "rating": 5, "text": "I love this series and have been discussing it with a friend of mine and she totally agrees the only dislike is waiting for the next installment of the book, but anticipating what might come next makes it well worth the wait! Truthfully though I actually read the novel Where Leads The Heart the full length novel that this serial story are reprinted from. The saga between Rand and Sarah continue. It's obvious that Rand still loves Sarah but his fiancee is determined to marry him. Plenty of twists provide keep this story moving on at a brisk pace making for a quick historical read that really does leave the reader wanting more! Anyone who enjoys good clean historical fiction where the ending really isn't assured will certainly enjoy this entire series, and speaking of which The Journey of the Heart series should be read in order to understand the complexities of the characters. I really can't wait to read A Heart's Betrayal the next book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1433078037000, "title": "Short historical read" }, { "asin": "0310335884", "rating": 5, "text": "Aaron Ebersol is sort of like the prodigal son returned, you see he left the community of Paradise, Pa years earlier and really didn't keep in close contact with his family, even though his family tried. Now though his mother is sick and he goes home to be with her, thing is he isn't sure how he feels about being back, and more than that how he fits in now. He decides to stay at the Heart of Paradise B&B and soon finds himself developing feelings for Linda Zook. Can their growing friendship become more, can they forgive those that hurt them, but more than that can they forgive themselves?<br /><br />Amy Clipston creates in depth characters who face very real problems within the pages of A Simple Prayer. Those characters are paired together with a well written, easy to follow plot that isn't easy to put down.The conflicts within the story really kept me reading to find out what would ultimately happen.<br />I really enjoy reading Amy Clipston's work but somehow missed a couple of books in the Hearts Of The Lancaster Grand Hotel series but honestly this book is a great stand alone read because the author provides enough background information about the reoccurring characters that I immediately understood who they were. With that said I really hope to go back and read book two and three in the series! Fans of Amish fiction are going to love this story, but anyone looking for a well written story filled with well fleshed characters along with real life issues should give this book a try I really don't think you will be disappointed.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1434131253000, "title": "Great characters make this a stand out read" }, { "asin": "0529103435", "rating": 5, "text": "I have really enjoyed reading this series, and I think that this book A Heart's Betrayal just might be my favorite so far! When Emmie's husband is killed in an accident to say she is devastated is an understatement, but it's the life he never told her about that really shocks her to the core. She decides the only thing to do is to head west to join up with Sarah and Rand, knowing that she will never trust her heart to another again. It doesn't take long though for a kind soldier to begin to breach her defenses. Will she find the new life she is hoping for, and what sort of life will it be?<br /><br />Ms. Coble packs more than a few shocking twists within the pages of A Heart's Betrayal. Emmie's character is easy to relate to, and I couldn't imagine what life might throw at her next! I was rooting for Emmie to find some sort of happiness but couldn't help but wonder about the secret that she carried about her marriage,whether or not it would keep her from finding happiness. The ending leaves me quite anxious to read the next installment in the series! A page turning historical fiction read, that provides easy to like characters and a solid plot that moves along at a quick pace. I do recommend that this series be read in order to fully understand the backgrounds of the characters.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1435548684000, "title": "Quick read that leaves me wanting more!" }, { "asin": "140168596X", "rating": 5, "text": "Her Brother's Keeper by Beth Wiseman is the first book in Ms. Wiseman's newest series Amish Secrets, and judging by this book it's going to be one of her best series yet! Charlotte Dolinsky is an Englisher from Texas who is hurting over the loss of her brother Ethan. You see Ethan went to Pennsylvania to work in construction and then decided to convert to the Amish faith, and was even actually engaged to be married to Hannah King. Why then would he commit suicide? That's what Charlotte wants to know and so she devises a scheme where she disguises herself as a distant Amish cousin of the King family and heads to Pennsylvania to find the answers she is looking for. She is welcomed into the family and even becomes friends with Hannah, but will they continue to be her friend if they find out who she really is? What about her brother's death, what will she learn about his death?<br /><br />Her Brother's Keeper deals with a few tough subjects such as depression, child abuse and suicide, but does so in such a way that instead of feeling overwhelming and depressing it left me feeling inspired and uplifted as the story unfolded, especially as Charlotte began to find her way. Speaking of Charlotte it was fun to watch her become &#34;Mary&#34; because it was very realistic as well as humorous.I really liked the suspense/mystery of the story and found myself wondering just what happened to Ethan. Her Brother's Keeper drew me in from the beginning pages and made me feel like I had stepped into the life of these characters but that's what I have come to expect when I pick up a book by Beth Wiseman.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438035762000, "title": "First book in a new Amish series" }, { "asin": "0718031687", "rating": 4, "text": "With the latest installment of Journey of the Heart Emmie Croftner pushes Isaac Liddle away sacrificing her heart and feelings in order to keep her secret, thing is Isaac isn't about to give up that easily. On top of that Emmie makes a promise to a dear friend that my require that she marry another. Is there any hope that she and Isaac will ever have a future together?<br />I have certainly enjoyed each book in this series, so much so that I actually went back and read the books (The Wyoming Series) that this little series was taken from, because I was impatient to know the whole story. In my observation though I felt like the Journey of the Heart series was more polished, and by that I mean unnecessary descriptions and repetitive words were taken out. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction should give this mini series a chance, I will say that the books do have to be read in order to fully understand the characters. While parts of the story are a tad predictable that doesn't keep me from looking forward to the final book in the series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438307576000, "title": "Quick easy read" }, { "asin": "0764211706", "rating": 5, "text": "I became hooked on the Unexpected Bride series by Melissa Jagears after reading the first book in the series. There is something about a mail order bride story that just draws me in and Ms. Jagears provides just the right blending of drama, romance along with a great historical setting that really makes for a page turning read with a few twists that held my attention from the first page to the last. The characters in this story really come to life, allowing me not only connect but actually care about how their story would work out. I felt like that characters stories were a bit unique compared to other mail order bride stories I have read because they have both tried and failed with the mail order bride situation before. While A Bride at Last is the third book in the series it can easily be read as a stand alone work, actually I somehow missed the second book but that didn't stop me from being drawn in by this story. Anyone who enjoys a fast paced story with more than a few inspirational messages along with a sweetness that will draw you in and have you hoping for the best for the characters will enjoy this story, and if your a fan of the mail order bride genre like me then a Bride At Last will be a must read for you, I will caution once you start reading it you just might not be able to put it down.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438648764000, "title": "Held my attention from beginning to end !" }, { "asin": "1401690513", "rating": 4, "text": "Great characters and a fun, page turning read is what I found within the pages of Counting on a Cowboy. I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions with this story, but there were some poignant moments as well. While Ms. Clopton deals with a few tough issues, with the issue of Alzheimer's really being one that I could relate to, thing is she knows just when to provide a bit of humor to lighten the story. The characters were easy to relate to which pulled me right into the story.<br />If your looking for a good clean cowboy read that is more than just a sweet romance then Counting on a Cowboy by Debra Clopton just might fit the bill! While this book is part of the Four of Hearts Ranch Romance series it can easily be read as a stand alone work. Although the characters and setting has me thinking that I need to read the first book in the series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review", "timestamp": 1441673159000, "title": "Sweet read" }, { "asin": "1601426992", "rating": 4, "text": "always look forward to starting a new Amish series, especially when the author is Cindy Woodsmall, and with Ties That Bind we begin the Amish of Summer Grove Series. Ariana Brenneman grew up in the Old Order Amish and has always been quite content, sure she aspires to open a bakery in the town of Summer Grove, that is if she can get the money together to do it, but that's so she can help out with her family. It had been five years since Quill Schlabach had left the Amish community with a teen girl, and if truth be told Ariana hadn't really ever gotten over it, and now he is back, but can they rebuild their friendship? Thing is Quill has always had feelings for Ariana, but he also knows something that would change her life forever and he wants to help her any way he can even if only she will let him.<br /><br />I found myself struggling to get involved in this book and I think the reason might have been because there were so many characters and their stories to learn,that I felt like I was getting bounced back and forth to much. As the book progressed though I found myself being drawn into the story line. There was a few plot twists that provided just the right amount of ummph to make me want to read on and I am glad that I did! Overall, I didn't connect to this book right away but I am glad that I continued to read, because I have become hooked and can't wait to read the next book in the series!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1443990136000, "title": "Slow start but the story picked up for me" }, { "asin": "1617955876", "rating": 4, "text": "Katie Vale has just traveled half way across the country with her boyfriend to spend Christmas with his family. Within minutes of arriving, in front of all of his family he pops the question! Her answer isn't was what expected though, which might make for an uncomfortable Christmas. Why did she say no, and how can she stay for Christmas with his family now? Well she does, and the lessons she learns will change the way she thinks about family.<br /><br />A fast paced, heart touching story that pulled me right into t he midst of the Bender family. It was interesting to see the story unfold through the eyes of Katie, who really hasn't experienced a family like the Benders before. The characters in the family really propelled this novel along at break neck speed, never once did the plot lag, instead it moved along so fast that I found myself rereading some things just to catch what the author was trying to convey. I wondered from the beginning how life would work out for the main characters. The author begins the book with the marriage proposal and then takes the reader back to allow us to see what transpired, giving the story of the characters, making it easy to understand why Katie gave the answer she did. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen with Katie and Micah, and really felt like her staying with the family would be awkward, bu instead it made for a great story. My first Christmas read for the season, and I have to say it was a quick easy read that touches on faith, family relationships, love, loss and forgiveness. While there are a few poignant moments, there is enough humor to make you laugh, which helps to keep the story light. Well developed characters and a page turning, fast paced plot who could ask for anything more!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1445183799000, "title": "An Endless Christmas" }, { "asin": "0824956478", "rating": 5, "text": "I love finding books that teach valuable lessons and The Sparkle Box does that and more. Not only will the story teach youngsters about the true meaning of Christmas, it just might encourage parents to start a new Christmas tradition with their children. This story really shares what the true meaning of Christmas is, and imparts the wonderful feeling we get when we do for others. The beautiful illustrations really bring the story to life, and The Sparkle Box on the cover is eye catching. Overall this book would make a wonderful gift, I can see it becoming a family tradition.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1449376117000, "title": "The real meaning of Christmas" }, { "asin": "0764211412", "rating": 5, "text": "I love historical romance and when there is humor woven into the plot well it makes the story even better! At Love's Bidding by Regina Jennings is an easy to slip into read that easily transported me into the heart of the story, and the characters. It was easy to connect with Miranda and the way that she handles the issues that her grandfather is facing was fantastic, she was so respectful and loving even when he made mistakes. Miranda was an easy to like character and the relationship that develops between her and Wyatt while a bit predictable was still enjoyable. Interesting characters and a small town setting that allowed me read about something new to me, which was an auction house made this book a quick read. Anyone who enjoys humor with their historical romance along with a faith based message will certainly enjoy reading this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1451874046000, "title": "Fast paced" }, { "asin": "031033344X", "rating": 4, "text": "Ashley Tolliver is continuing the tradition of midwifery, something that the women in her family have been practicing for several generations. She has always hoped to go back to medical school but for now her patients need her in this tiny Appalachian community where plenty of the new mothers are single and life can sometimes be messy. Births aren't always easy and one night while a teen mother is giving birth at Ashley's clinic she starts bleeding and needs medical care, but when she disappears with the baby Ashley can't help but wonder if the mother and baby survived and where they went. Hunter McDermott want's to find his birth mother which allows his life to intersect with Ashley in the hopes that she can help him figure out who his mother might be.<br /><br />There are two mysteries going on within the pages of this story, which makes for an interesting read, but honestly there are so many things that held my attention with this book. The setting of the Appalachian mountains was easy to imagine, from the rich descriptions one can easily imagine the people and places.Brooks Ridge is unique and the characters really seem real and their life situations really grab you. The mystery and suspense are make this a good story, but for me it's the characters and setting that kept me reading. I found myself thinking about a few of them long after I finished the final page.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1454282426000, "title": "Captivating read" }, { "asin": "031034199X", "rating": 5, "text": "I always look forward to starting a new Amish fiction series and when it's written by Amy Clipston I know it will be good and with The Forgotten Recipe I was right! Veronica Fisher was certain that her future included Seth Lapp, sometimes though things don't work out the way we think they will. When Seth life is cut short she is certain that she will never find love again, or even if she wants to. She decides instead to throw herself into opening and running a new bake stand using her grandmother's pie recipe. Jason Huyard is haunted by the tragedy that took Veronica's Seth, so he decides to go to her bake shop and soon becomes a regular customer. The pair becomes friends, and soon deeper feelings start to develop, thing is Jason has a secret that just might change the way Veronica feels about him. Can Veronica overcome her broken heart and find love again, and what will happen when Jason finally reveals the truth?<br /><br />The Forgotten Recipe is filled with easy to care for characters . I couldn't help but wonder how things would work out for the couple. It was nice to watch them grow and change, especially where Veronica was concerned. Her feelings where Jason were concerned were totally understandable, but I could also understand why Jason withheld information from her. The inspirational messages of hope, love and trust were well done. I really can't wait to read the next book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1454377081000, "title": "Promising new series" }, { "asin": "1617956120", "rating": 5, "text": "As someone who has several dear friends who are quilters My Mother's Quilts by Ramona Richards really spoke to me. First of all the beautiful cover is such a relaxing scene that sets the mood for devotional reading. Each devotion opens with a scripture verse and then shares a devotional based on conversations that she shared with her mother about quilts, something that her mother not only did as a hobby, but many of the women in her family also quilted. The devotional then wraps up with a prayer starter. What makes this devotional stand out more than any other that I have uses are the beautiful pictures that are woven through the text. From the family photos to the beautiful quilts the pictures truly set the mood for the devotionals. The author stitches together stories of love, faith and family to make a devotional that is very relatable to anyone looking for a refreshing yet spiritual devotional time with God. A beautiful devotional that is perfect for gift giving, whether you're a quilter or just enjoy quilts there are words of encouragement and inspiration woven into the pages of My Mother's Quilts that will bolster your spirit.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book is provided for review.", "timestamp": 1457663753000, "title": "My Mother's Quilts" } ]

[ { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 5, "text": "In this debut novel by Cara Lynn James we are transported back in time to 1899. Back during the day to reach the age of 25 and to be unwed could quickly get you labeled an old maid.<br />Miss Lillian Westbrook finds herself in such a position, she is engaged but has never been married, and to top it off she has been writing dime novels under the pen name of Fannie Cole. To be a female and work and earn your own money just wasn't acceptable so she keeps it hidden from her family and friends.<br />When Jackson Grail, a former boyfriend purchases the publishing house that has been publishing Fanny Cole's novels and then becomes determined to find out just who Fannie is. Lilly has to make some choices to protect her family. Will she be able to keep her identity hidden? Will Jackson and Lilly finally get together?<br />I love reading historical fiction and this book didn't disappoint. Cara Lynn James does a great job of grabbing the readers attention and then keeps the story going at a fast pace. I look forward to reading the next in the Ladies of Summerhill novels.", "timestamp": 1276837436000, "title": "Love On a Dime" }, { "asin": "1404187804", "rating": 5, "text": "The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews is a pint sized gift book that packs a wallop of a message.<br />This book will take you no longer than 10 minutes to read, and is very eye appealing with its beautiful pictures and large font.<br />The resounding message is every single thing we do matters. That the cause and effect of the decisions we make do make a difference.<br />Mr. Andrews starts out by telling us the story of Joshua Chamberlain a Colonel in the Union Army, and how the decisions that Mr. Chamberlain made was like a ripple effect on the US, shaping the countries future.<br />This is a great little motivational read that would be a great gift for anyone who might be suffering from self esteem issues or anyone who you think needs to be reminded that Yes They Do Matter.<br />I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1283859316000, "title": "The Butterfly Effect" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "We only have one chance to live this life and we choose how to live it. Do we stick our heads in the sand and think that everything is ok or do we wake up and realize that as Christians we have the responsibility to make life better for others if we can?<br />This book quotes some staggering numbers, the number of poor, and hungry is something that's hard to imagine. Mr Lucado's book gives us a wake up call as to what we can do to make a change.<br />You don't have to be rich or even well off, instead of focusing on what you don't have to give, focus on what you can give. It's that average Joe that makes a difference, the little things that add up.<br />I really enjoyed his use of scripture throughout this book and liked how he started each chapter with a scripture verse and ended the chapters with another scripture and a prayer.<br />This is a very simply written book that can change your way of thinking, its very inspiring a book that you wont be able to put down and will continue to think about long after you finish it.<br />A very timely message that we all need to read, I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1284121246000, "title": "Outlive Your Life" }, { "asin": "1595540091", "rating": 4, "text": "The year is 1772, and Toma Nicolescu and his friend Alec Cardei have seen their fair share of battles while serving the empress of Russia, Catherine the Great. So when they are dispatched to Moldavia to protect the Cantemir family, a very influential family in Moldavia, until the empress could appoint a ruler for that country who would be loyal to Catherine the Great, they think it will be an easy job.<br />The Cantemir family consisted of Kesia and her twin daughters Lucine and Natasha. Both girls had been taught by their mothers to live as free spirits and basically do whatever felt good, but an unplanned pregnancy and the loss of a baby when Lucine was seventeen had sort of tempered her ways, but not Natasha, she basically is always looking for a good time. Alec known as a ladies man was immediately lusting after Natasha, and while Toma was warned by the empress not to become romantically involved,becomes drawn to Lucine, but keeps his feelings at bay until he feels that Lucine is being threatened by Vlad Van Valerik.<br />When Toma realizes is that Vlad and his entourage aren't what they seem, he knows he will do whatever it takes to save the woman he loves, no matter the cost.<br />I found this book to be very thought provoking, where the characters feelings are so real that you can feel the anguish that Toma felt as well as the evil emitting from Vlad. I really enjoyed how Mr. Dekker tied Vlad's history to the book of Genesis, I only wish he would have traced his history to Lilith instead of the Nephilim.<br />This isn't a clear cut christian novel but instead has so many more elements, it has that horror story element of blood drinking vampires, but it also reminds us of God's unconditional love for us, and how it took the blood of our Savior to save us all!<br /><br />An amazing read, that I won't soon forget.<br /><br />This is my first opportunity to read anything written by Mr. Dekker and I am now his newest fan!", "timestamp": 1284517251000, "title": "Not your typical vampire story!" }, { "asin": "0800733703", "rating": 5, "text": "Don't look Back by Lynette Eason was an edge of your seat thrill ride from beginning to end! A book filled with suspense, romance and a chilling storyline that grabs you and wont let go!<br /><br />Jamie Cash was the only person to survive the kidnapping and torture of the \"Hero\" a serial killer that she escaped from twelve years ago, with extensive therapy she is finally getting her life back on track, but when the \"Hero\" returns to finish the job he started, can FBI agent Dakota Richard protect her from this evil killer?<br /><br />I enjoyed seeing Jamie Cash's faith and trust in God even though she is facing circumstances that might test even the strongest faith, she instead finds solace in her faith giving her problems to God in prayer, actually I felt like it was her faith that kept her strong. Her character came off as very realistic, we saw true emotion from her such as anger and fear, feelings that I thought were perfectly normal for someone experiencing the horror she lived thru, and knowing she might wind up in the Hero's clutches again.<br /><br />FBI agent Dakota Richard is such a sweet guy, he really cared for Jamie, I loved watching their relationship blossom, and Jamie slowly finding comfort in him.He was determined to keep Jamie safe no matter what but could he really protect her?<br /><br />Even though this is the second story in the Women of Justice series it can easily be read as a stand alone work. So if your looking for a page turning drama with an evil killer who likes to get inside his victims heads, along with enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat, and read how someones faith can help them thru even the worst of times, with a sweet romance woven in, then you must read this book! But a word of warning once you start reading you wont be able to put this one down!<br /><br />Available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.\"<br /><br />Even though I was provided a review copy by Revell, thanks Donna, it in no way alters my opinion of this book!", "timestamp": 1287465039000, "title": "An on the edge of your seat story!!!" }, { "asin": "0307458997", "rating": 5, "text": "A lovely novella with a beautiful cover,a new to me author Donita K. Paul writes a charming story that will definitely put you in the holiday spirit.<br /><br />When Cora Crowder finds herself needing a book for an uncle's Christmas gift she heads into the Warner,Werner, Wizbotterdad book store. She has no idea that she will wind up on the receiving end of the stores matchmaking scheme to throw her and her boss Simon together.<br /><br />I loved this book, it had the right balance of romance, fantasy along with a great underlying spiritual message. The characters were fabulous, and I loved the cat.<br /><br />A delightful Christmas romance that will get you in the holiday spirit,and would be great read anytime of the year. I highly recommend this wonderful book!", "timestamp": 1287852118000, "title": "A Charming Story" }, { "asin": "0764208659", "rating": 3, "text": "I wasn't sure what to expect when this book first arrived for me to review. I had never heard of TobyMac before, I think he is popular among the younger audience, but I soon realized that each section in this book is named after a song that he released sometime earlier this year.<br /><br /> Each section consists of short stories, of how God has used people to change the world, some of the stories I had heard before and some were new to me. You will also find prayers and scriptures peppered through out this book that will further inspire and uplift you. Each section ends with a one minute remix and also a call to action prayer.<br /><br />This books resounding message is \"If we gotta start sometime, why not start now.\"If only we are willing to step out of our comfort zone and unite that we can make a difference and change the world.<br /><br />In the right hands this book could be life changing, I think it would be great especially for youth pastors, I think it would be useful in reaching the younger audience, with its hip look and the fact that TobyMac is someone that teens listen to. Overall I think anyone would enjoy reading these inspirational stories!<br /><br />Even though I was provided a copy of this book for review by Bethany House it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1288561993000, "title": "City On Our Knees" }, { "asin": "0800719255", "rating": 5, "text": "I must say that I am guilty of judging a book by its cover, when I saw the cover for Christmas at Harrington's I immediately felt like it was going to be an amazing Christmas story, on the cover you find yourself on a street of any small town in the USA, you have a smiling lady, dressed in a red coat peering into a store window with a display of a Christmas tree and toys snowflakes falling all around her, its just beautiful and depicts the holiday season perfectly.<br />In this story we are introduced to Lena Markham,its less than four weeks till Christmas and she has just been released from prison after serving and eight year sentence for a crime she didn't commit, she was set up by her husband to take the fall for something he did. She decides she wants a fresh start in a new town, so a social worker puts together a release package for her, finding a town to locate her to, setting her up with a place to live and a temporary job, and a bus trip to get her to get her there, while on the bus she meets an elderly lady, Moira who befriends her,telling Lena that she knows despite whatever happened in her past she is sure Lena is a good person. Once they get off the bus together in New Haven, MN she is introduced to Moira's son Sam, who is a lawyer. She soon realizes that the job that she anticipated isn't there, and the only job available is playing Mrs. Santa.<br />Can Lena find the new start in this town she hopes for, and can she keep her past a secret, and what about Sam, how does he play into all of this, you need to read this heartwarming story of second chances to find out!<br />While the story that unfolded inside the pages of this book wasn't exactly what I anticipated , it is exactly what the holiday season is all about, a perfect Christmas read filled with hope, inspiration and second chances.<br /><br />Even though I was provided a review copy of this book by Revell Publishing it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1289716420000, "title": "Christmas At Harrington's" }, { "asin": "1609360257", "rating": 4, "text": "World War II is just coming to an end but the war that is going on inside Esther Lange is unending!<br />She can't forgive herself for the night of passion she shared with Linus Hahn in the backseat of a borrowed car, they were both headed overseas to war, and it just happened. When that night turns into a daughter for them Esther is released from the Red Cross with no place to go. So she writes Linus, and his reply is for her to go to his hometown and stay with his parents, and that's what she has been doing for the last two years, living in their attic, raising her daughter and working at a hospital taking care of the war wounded.<br />Living with Linus' parents isn't easy, they are very hardened, feeling like she trapped their son. When she receives a letter indicating that Linus may have been killed in action, she isn't sure what to believe, but one thing she knows for sure is that she is relieved, she won't have to marry a man she doesn't love,and barely even knows. She really believes that she was no more than a one night stand for Linus as well, and it soon comes to light that Linus had a longstanding girlfriend who works in the same hospital as Esther,and she threatens to make Esther pay for stealing Linus away from her!<br />Since there has been no other information about Linus she starts corresponding with Peter Hess the medic who sent her the information about Linus. Soon they develop a friendship, and it starts to develop into something more, but when Peter's secret is exposed can they overcome it, and will Esther ever forgive herself for the mistake she made?<br />This was an amazing story, just when you thought things were working out the author throws a monkey wrench into it that take it in the opposite direction. The feelings are so strongly written in this book, that you are easily transported back to war time America. You can also feel the turmoil going on inside Esther, she judges herself so harshly for the mistake she made that night and is unwilling to see that she has already been forgiven by God, she just needs to accept it! Peter's story was one I kept thinking of long after I finished reading it, he was such a kind person, a victim of circumstances really, but he always kept his faith in God.The letters that passed between Peter and Esther were such a treat to read, I enjoyed seeing their friendship blossom.<br /><br />I found this book a real joy to read, the author does an amazing job of taking a work of fiction and weaving a bit of a history lesson in. While this was my first time reading anything from Susan May Warren, it certainly won't be my last!<br /><br />Even though I was provided a copy of this book by Litfuse it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1289881365000, "title": "Nightingale" }, { "asin": "0764207326", "rating": 4, "text": "Jackie Donovan is almost thirty. All she has ever wanted was to find a wonderful man to marry, and to purchase Bailey Place a B&B. She and her best friend Minnie visited it often when they were children, they both want to own it, but widower Minnie is working two jobs to support her son and Jackie works at a magazine writing articles about local business owners. When she meets the owner of Bailey House,Erikson Davis, she soon starts hoping her dreams might finally be coming true.<br /><br />While this story was a bit slow to start for me, once it picked up I became anxious to see how things would work out. The characters are very down to earth making them very easy to relate to, although I would say some of them were offbeat! I really enjoyed how Jackie's family was always trying to fix her up.<br />The author does an amazing job of describing the setting for this book, transporting you to the small town setting.<br />An added bonus are the wonderful sounding recipes included, which I definitely will be trying out!<br />If your in the mood for a sweet, but not sappy romance, with a little humor woven in, then give this book a try! For me not a great read, but overall I enjoyed the book and will be looking for more from this author..<br /><br />rating 3.5/5<br />Book provided by Bethany House for review.", "timestamp": 1295688005000, "title": "Hatteras Girl" }, { "asin": "0800732596", "rating": 5, "text": "Elise Stortsen, has some major changes happen. Her mom has landed a new job that moves Elise into a new school district, so instead of starting her junior year in her old school, where she wasn't very popular anyway, she will be going to Garfield High. She is just about to turn sixteen and having never been kissed hopes to change that by her birthday. When Asher, a popular boy in school starts showing an interest in Elise, she wonders if he might give her that first kiss.<br />Her first day of school goes great, Asher introduces her to the in-crowd, which includes Asher's girlfriend. So when Elise gets an email from Asher, she soon finds herself caught up in something that soon puts her reputation on the line, and jeopardizes her future, but it also makes her realize what is important, and in the process strengthens her faith in God!<br />I think this book is a must read for all teen girls. It deals with some pretty heavy subjects, but these are real life problems that are facing teens today.The character of Elise was very well written. She was very down to earth and easy to relate to. I totally understood the reactions of the characters in the story, and while Stacie did something wrong, she didn't do it with malicious intent, but there were still repercussions.<br />This book moved at a brisk pace and I felt the ending wrapped up the story nicely. There is a spiritual message woven throughout the book, but it isn't preachy or overwhelming.Whether your a teen or not, this book is well worth reading!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book for review, but it in no way alters my opinion of this book.", "timestamp": 1295814869000, "title": "A great read whether your a teen or not!" }, { "asin": "0800734564", "rating": 5, "text": "When U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor get a call that his next assignment will be to protect federal judge Elizabeth Michaels he is less than happy. His best friend Doug was married to her, and from the things Doug told him before his death, the marriage was very unhappy and it was Liz's fault. Doug said she was cold hearted and only her only focus was on her job. Can he put his feelings aside and do the assignment?<br />When Liz Michael's sister is shot in the back of the head, Liz believes her sisters abusive husband is to blame. Because she is a federal judge she needs to be protected by U.S. Marshals. When she realizes Jake will be the marshal assigned to keep her safe she wonders what her husband told him about her. As she and Jake spend time together one thing is for sure Jake is starting to realize that his opinion of Liz may be wrong. Did his friend Doug lie to him?<br />When it becomes evident that Liz may have been the shooters target, can Jake keep her safe, and figure out who is out to get her?<br />There is never a dull moment in this story! It grabs you from the first pages with the tragic shooting of Liz's sister, and how Liz's life is turned upside down while she is being protected from someone who may be out to kill her. Liz is very level headed, and almost always holds herself together but there are a few instances where that facade slips. Jake's character really stood out. He goes above and beyond where his job is concerned, and is devoted to his family.<br />A fantastic first book in Irene Hannon's new Guardians of Justice series. If this book is any indicator this series is going to be great!<br />Anyone who is a fan of light romance, mystery and suspense with a bit of a christian message woven in will enjoy this book.<br /><br />I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1296024023000, "title": "Fatal Judgement" }, { "asin": "0764206710", "rating": 3, "text": "Ruth Livingstone's life is turned upside down when her father is falsely accused of murdering a prostitute. Her father gives her the deceased woman's child and sends her to a small town to stay with a family he knows. That family thinks Ruth is a former prostitute, but they allow the town to believe she is a widow, with a small child. Her only solace is tending a once abandoned garden.<br /><br />Because of a mistake two years ago Asher \"Jake\" Tripp walked away from the \"Galaxy\", the newspaper he and his brother owned, the mistake he made almost caused the business to fail, but his brother Clifford had worked hard and the paper was once again thriving. Jake wants to return to the paper.Hoping to redeem himself in the eyes of his brother, he offers to take an assignment out of town, trying to track down Ruth Livingstone, who disappeared right before her fathers trial began. When he tracks Ruth to the town she is staying in, he takes residence as Jake Spenser, a handyman recovering from a broken back.<br /><br />Ruth and Jack both have plenty of secrets, but once they meet, and share time together, love slowly blooms, will their secrets keep the two apart, or will love be able to work everything out?<br /><br />For some reason I just didn't connect with this story, it actually took several weeks for me to read. I liked the historical aspect of the book, and while the storyline was ok, it just wasn't great. I couldn't really connect with any of the characters, I kept hoping we would get more of Ruth's back story, such as whether she left friends behind, or perhaps a boyfriend, she was in her twenties so she certainly must have had a life before she went into hiding with the child. This book was my first foray into reading anything written by Delia Parr, and while it didn't sweep me away, it wont dissuade me from reading more of her work.<br /><br />rating 2.5/5", "timestamp": 1296362439000, "title": "Love's First Bloom" }, { "asin": "0800734521", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Lady In The Mist\" takes place in 1809 in Seabourne VA. The protagonist Tabitha Eckles is a twenty-four year old midwife, the thing that makes Tabitha unusual is the fact that she isn't married. She learned her midwifery skills from her mother and grandmother, and once they died she continued to help her town , even though several people felt it wasn't right because she is unmarried. When a premature birthing results in the death of the mother and baby, she finds herself threatened at knife point, who could be threatening her? Could it have something to do with Dominick Cherrett a man she literally ran into on her way home after the birthing? Or does it have something to do with her job as a midwife?<br /><br />What a fascinating story! The author draws you into the story immediately. Tabitha's character is so easy to relate to. Her relationship with God has suffered because she feels that he has taken everyone that matters away from her, but she still has a tender-heart. Dominick was an interesting character as well, working as an indentured servant for the mayor, you know he has a few secrets. As he spends time with Tabitha, he soon loses his heart to her, something he didn't plan. I enjoyed the mystery and suspense woven into this historical romance. I also loved the cover of this book, it was very eye catching, so sometimes you can judge a book by its cover!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1297996914000, "title": "Lady In The Mist" }, { "asin": "143470212X", "rating": 5, "text": "Passport Through Darkness\" isn't your typical missionary workers story. Instead Kimberly Smith takes the reader on a journey around the world to Sudan and other war torn countries. She shares the atrocities that women and children face in these countries every day.<br /><br />Kimberly Smith was your average American woman, working in the corporate world, a wife, mother and a faithful church member, she was living a good life, but she felt as if something was missing, she longed to make her life matter. About that time her husband Milton started suggesting that they do something meaningful, something to make a difference in other peoples lives. One day as Milton browses thru a magazine in a waiting room he finds an article asking for missionaries to serve in Spain, ironically Milton had been a missionary in Spain back in the 80's, so with what I would consider a giant leap of faith, they were accepted by a missionary agency to work in Spain so they sold everything they had starting a new life journey in the missionary field. While in Spain the couple became aware of the plight of human trafficking, causing them to cofound Make Way Partners, which works to prevent human trafficking worldwide.<br /><br />I knew a bit of the plight in Sudan before reading this book, but this book brings it front and center, allowing you to see these victims as real people, while it is a hard to read the accounts that are shared in the story, it is a message that needs to be spread.<br /><br />Thanks to B&B Media for providing me a copy of this book for review.", "timestamp": 1299121982000, "title": "Passport Through Darkness" }, { "asin": "0764208500", "rating": 2, "text": "It has taken me forever to finish this book, I started reading it back in November and found myself putting it down for extended periods because it was a story that really didn't inspire me, I couldn't become interested in the characters, and just couldn't relate to the story.<br /><br />The protagonist in this story is an almost thirty year old who aspires to be a writer even quitting her job to return to school to get her masters degree. Because no one is buying her story, she gets numerous rejections, she is working part time as an English professor to pay the bills. Her roommate Zoe, seems to have no problem getting her story published in a magazine that has rejected Amy's.While Amy's character is overall a good person, she is constantly struggling with self doubt, feeling like things aren't working out the way she planned.<br /><br />While I didn't connect with the story,I wouldn't hesitate to read something else by Bethany Pierce. Her writing wasn't the problem, it was just that the book didn't click for me.<br /><br />Book provided by Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1299643226000, "title": "This book didn't inspire me" }, { "asin": "1854249746", "rating": 4, "text": "I must admit I am a huge fan of historical fiction especially mysteries and intrigue, but \"A Trail Of Ink\" by Mel Starr was my first foray into the midieval time period. I wasn't sure how I would like the time period but I actually loved it!<br /><br />This story is set in the town of Oxford England, where Hugh de Singleton is trying to solve the mystery of his friend John Wyclif's stolen books. Twenty-two books in all have been taken, and two of them are borrowed books from a friend of John's. The books were stolen right out of Master Wyclif's room while he was out to supper. Hugh is also interested in Kate Caxton, a stationer's daughter. So Hugh jumps into solving the mystery as he also tries to to win Kate's favor.<br /><br />While this story was a bit hard for me to get into in the beginning, it soon took off transporting me back to medieval England. The author rolls together mystery, suspense, and murder together to make the story a satisfying read. I did find myself turning to the glossary provided in the front of the book because of some of the words used during the time period. \"A Trail Of Ink\" is the third book in the chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon series, but can easily be read as a stand alone work, although I do wish I had read the first two books in the seriesThe ending provides a teaser for the next book in the series titled \"Unhallowed Ground\", which I look forward to reading.<br /><br />Book provided by Litfuse and the publisher for review.", "timestamp": 1299798789000, "title": "A Trail Of Ink" }, { "asin": "0800734076", "rating": 5, "text": "I can count on one hand the Biblical fiction novels that I have read, but I am really starting to like this genre. While the stories are works of fiction, the reader learns alot about the characters that the author is writing about. Realizing that \"Love Amid The Ashes\" was the story about Job and Dinah I found myself thinking about their stories in the Bible, while Job's story was one that I was pretty familiar with, a man who suffers many trials and tribulations but never waivers in his faith in God. Dinah on the other hand was someone I never thought alot about, I remember her story, as the daughter of Jacob and Leah, she was defiled by Shechem, who was later killed by her brothers. For me I never really thought about how Dinah's life might have been altered by the act.<br />I found this book something I really enjoyed reading. The author provides the reader with a genealogical chart at the beginning of the story, that helps keep the many characters straight. I liked the way that she opens each chapter with a Bible verse allowing me to relate the chapters to the verses. The author allows us to see these biblical characters with heart and feelings by drawing us into their stories. This debut novel will certainly be a hit for anyone who enjoys biblical fiction, but its also a good story for anyone who likes a compelling faith filled story.<br /><br />Available March 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.", "timestamp": 1301199627000, "title": "Love Amid The Ashes" }, { "asin": "1414339429", "rating": 5, "text": "When I picked up \"Journey To Riverbend\" I thought that it was probably going to be another historical fiction romance novel, but boy was I wrong. While there is a bit of romance between a few of the characters the author really gives us a true western novel filled with a hanging, an attempted stagecoach robbery, a kidnapping, a shootout and a posse searching for kidnappers. He rolls this together with a story about regrets and forgiveness, and faith in God.<br /><br />While Michael Archer couldn't save Ben Carstairs from being hanged for a crime he didn't commit, he is determined to try and fulfill Ben's dying wish, which was to make amends with his father Sam, to tell him that he forgave him for the way he treated him and return his mothers necklace.<br /><br />Michael makes the journey to Riverbend to deliver Ben's message to Sam but finds that Sam is out of town for business and will be gone for a few days. Michael decides to hang around until he returns, and he soon learns that Sam Carstairs is a ruthless man who has no use for God and uses people to get what he wants.While staying in Riverbend Michael meets Rachel Stone a young lady who has found refuge with the local preacher and his family. They feel drawn to each other but because of issues that haunt them from their past they are unsure that they are ready for a relationship, but that doesn't stop Michael from thinking about a future that might include a move to Riverbend.<br />Sam Carstairs has wronged several people in his past, doing whatever he could to obtain more wealth but when he is kidnapped the town doesn't hesitate to form a posse to try and find him. Michael decides to ride along hoping that he can help, will they find Sam before its to late?<br />What an interesting story, the characters in the story are well fleshed out. Rachel and Michael each have issues from their past that continue to dog them. Rachel is making great strides toward her future even though some of the townspeople won't let her forget her past. Michael was a strong caring compassionate character who was also dealing with demons from his past. While I really didn't like the character of Sam Carstairs by the end of the story I felt sorry for him. The ending of the story leaves me hoping that Mr. McLaughlin will write a sequel for this story!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1301205637000, "title": "I hope the author is writing a sequel for this one!" }, { "asin": "1595548017", "rating": 5, "text": "Abigail Jones works for her mothers magazine called the Viewpoint. Because of the stress of her job her mother encourages her to take some time off and go to Montana and check on her aunt Lucy. When she arrives Lucy is fine, but Wade, the cowboy who owns the ranch where Lucy lives needs a nanny for his daughter, and Abigail takes the job. Abigail knows Wade is hiding something and thinks it just might be a story that could save her mothers magazine. Of course feelings develop between Wade and Abigail, will she choose to go forward with the story which will expose Wade, or will she decide to protect the relationship that is blooming between them?<br /><br />Wow! The word for this one is fantastic. This is one of those stories that I just couldn't put down. The author weaves romance, a bit of mystery, and a nice christian message together to produce a story that begs to be read. Oh did I mention the hunky cowboy. The chemistry between the main characters was static, it just jumps off the page at you.<br />The imagery that the author paints with her words make you feel as if your right in the middle of Montana, how could you not love a place called Moose Creek! Readers of christian romance will surely enjoy this one, but this book would also appeal to fans of romance with a western setting.<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1303268262000, "title": "A Cowboy's Touch" }, { "asin": "0781403790", "rating": 5, "text": "While these books are reprints of books that were orginally printed back in the 1974, I somehow missed them growing up, but I am so glad that I had the chance to read them now. I consider them timeless classics that will certainly appeal to many, and should be on every little girls bookshelf. While the stories that grandma shares with her grand daughter are fun to read they are also educational, and provide the reader with little life lessons. The illustrations peppered throughout the book are cute and will capture the imagination of the young reader.<br /><br />These books would make a perfect gift for young readers, but I think anyone who likes to reminisce about the \"Good Old Days\" will certainly enjoy these books.<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of these books by B&B Media in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1303788390000, "title": "Perfect stories for young and old alike" }, { "asin": "1595547851", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Fairer Than Morning\" is a historical fiction novel set in the 1820's in Rushville Ohio and Pittsburgh PA.Ann Miller's boyfriend has just proposed to her. Eli Bowen is nineteen but Ann is only fifteen. She turns him down because she knows her father would never allow her to marry before she turns eighteen, because it is what her mother would have wished.Ann was only nine when her mother died, leaving Ann to become the mother figure for her two younger sisters Mabel and Susan. Her father is a saddler and also a circuit preacher which leaves Ann to be the caretaker of the children quite often. When Ann's father needs to attend business in Pittsburgh he allows the girls to go along. Where she meets Will, someone that she can't quit thinking about.<br /><br />Will Hanby signs up for five years of indentured service to Jacob Good so that he can learn to be a saddler. But Mr. Good is a cruel man who thinks nothing of abusing Will. When the abuse becomes to much Will makes a drastic decision that has him running to the Miller farm for refuge.<br />While this story is a historical fiction, it is actually based on real people, which had me anxious to read this story. The story drew me in from the first pages when a young girl at fifteen is being proposed to. The author easily draws you into the lives of the characters in the story, making you feel as if you are right there with them. Parts of this story were hard to read, the abuse that Will and the other slaves suffered was really heart wrenching.<br />This is the first book in The Saddler's Legacy Series, and I for one will be looking for the next book titled \"Sweeter Than Birdsong\" due out in Feb 2012.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1304306070000, "title": "Great new series" }, { "asin": "0800733711", "rating": 5, "text": "When Detectives Noah Lambert and Kit Kenyon are assigned to the murder case of Walter Davis a twenty nine year old man who was getting ready to graduate from Wofford Law College, there pretty sure it isn't a random killing and when the second body shows up, a young lady who attended the same college the pair realizes that there is a serial killer on the loose. As they try and find the killer, the killer has his own plans which includes one of the detectives. Will the pair be able to figure out who the killer is before its to late?<br /><br />This book takes off like a house on fire, with unstoppable twists and turns to keep you flipping the pages to figure out who the killer is, and for while I thought I knew who the killer might be, I really wasn't sure until the end of the story.<br />The characters in this novel are easy to connect with, Kit and Noah both have issues from their past, and Kit has let those issues keep her from God, but not so with Noah, he has a wonderful relationship with God. The relationship that develops between Noah and Kit was nice, and added to the story.<br /><br />While this book is the third book in the Women Of Justice series it can easily be read as a stand alone work because the author gives sufficient background so that you don't feel lost. If your a fan suspense/mystery novels that will keep you on the edge of your seat, that also weaves in a bit of inspiration and romance as well then you should certainly pick up this book, but I would suggest that you read the entire series, because the books are just that good!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1306640184000, "title": "A Killer Among Us" }, { "asin": "1595549242", "rating": 4, "text": "Spring For Susannah is set in the 1800's shortly after the civil war, but before the west was tame, when the Dakota's were still just a territory.<br />Susannah Underhill really felt as if she didn't have a choice, when she decides to become a mail order bride for her pastor's brother. She had been living a very comfortable life in Michigan until her parents die. When someone shows up at her home telling her that her father owed alot of money to the bank and even attacks her, the only thing for her to do is to become a mail order bride for her pastor's brother Jessie.<br />When she arrives at Fourth Siding in the Dakota territory, she meets her husband Jessie,a non-stop talker, totally opposite from Susannah. As she learns about Jessie she realizes what a kind considerate man he is, but can she let go of her insecurities and allow love to bloom?<br /><br />As a fan of historical fiction I found the book quite enjoyable.It was nice to see the character of Susannah grow from a timid person into someone that could take care of herself, and also find her way back to God. I felt like the secondary characters were well rounded and added to the story. I am always a sucker for dogs in a story and Jake was great. The author also adds a bit of humor to the story which worked well. The one negative to the story was the rushed ending. All in all a good debut novel from Catherine Richmond.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1306778746000, "title": "Nice debut novel" }, { "asin": "1595548114", "rating": 5, "text": "\"A Vision Of Lucy,\" is set in Rocky Creek Texas during 1882. The plot revolves around Lucy Fairbanks, a young lady who dreams of being a photographer but her father isn't crazy about the idea. She has badgered the owner of the newspaper and is finally told if she can get a shot of the elusive white mustang then her photos will be put in the paper, but its not easy getting a picture of a wild mustang so she shimmies up a tree and plans on waiting but when she falls out landing on top of a stagecoach about to be robbed, well its easy to see that she doesn't always have the best of luck.So she figures if she can get a picture of the town recluse David Wolf, also known as the Wild Man she still might have a shot at her newspaper job, but when she meets him feelings start to develop. Neither are really looking for love, but sometimes God has other plans!<br /><br />What a fun book this was. Lucy was always finding herself in such precarious spots, and if I might say so she was a bit clumsy. The author does a fantastic job of painting such vivid pictures of the situations she was in that I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. I love reading historical fiction where you feel as if you learn a bit while you read and in this story I felt like I learned a bit about early photography, which was quite interesting. This book is the third book in the Rocky Creek Romance series but can easily be read as a stand alone work. Fans of quick paced historical fiction with a nice inspirational message will certainly devour this one. Margaret Brownley is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1307659325000, "title": "A Vision Of Lucy" }, { "asin": "082543310X", "rating": 5, "text": "Whenever I read a historical fiction story that is based on true events I always love the fact that I am learning a bit about history that perhaps I might never really know alot about otherwise. With How Huge The Night the authors do an amazing job of weaving together fact and fiction, to transport us back to the days of WWII, seeing the events of the time thru the eyes of two teenagers Nina and Julian, while I knew at some point their stories would meld I wasn't sure how they would connect.<br /><br />The characters in this story are completely believable and it is very easy to imagine the things that they are going thru. Julian is your typical teenager, he isn't a man but neither is he really a boy. He isn't really happy that his family left their home in Paris to move to the farm in southern France with his grandfather, he is dealing with issues such as trying to fit in at school, not to mention trying to get along with Benjamin the Jewish boy who has also moved in with his grandfather.<br />As Nina's father is lying on his deathbed he makes Nina promise that she will take her brother and leave Austria.For me their parts of their story was heart wrenching, and I found myself praying that they would be all right.<br /><br />I found this to be a compelling story that has many lessons woven in. A coming of age story during a difficult time period where the characters display great courage faith and hope. While this book is geared toward young adults I would easily recommend it to older adults as well.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1308955795000, "title": "Compelling historical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800734653", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become a fan of Biblical fiction, and when one latches onto my imagination and allows me to see Biblical characters in a whole new way while staying true to what the Bible says then its a winner in my book. When I started reading the book of \"Martha,\" I kept thinking to myself Martha who, but once her brother Lazerus is mentioned, it started to fall into place for me, because who doesn't know the story of Lazerus being raised from the dead.<br /><br /> As the story unfolds Martha becomes a very real character with feelings and longings just like any other young lady. While she longs to marry, how could it ever happen, she stepped into the role of caretaker of her family when her mother died and took that responsibility very seriously, but that doesn't stop her from wishing for a husband and children of her own. I had hoped the relationship with Thaddeus would work out but it wasn't meant to be. Some of the most exciting parts of the story were when Jesus stayed with Martha and her family.<br />If you are like me and are unsure who Martha was once you read this book you will never forget her.I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, and if you have never read Biblical fiction then this quick read is the perfect book to introduce you to this exciting genre.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1309579648000, "title": "Martha" }, { "asin": "0800734238", "rating": 5, "text": "In \"Blue Skies Tomorrow\" the author weaves together a compelling story that transports the reader back to WWII, with characters that easily draw us in, allowing us to share in their strengths and struggles making their stories come to life.<br />Helen Carlisle's is supposed to be the grieving widow when her husband dies a war hero. She puts on a good face, but its becoming harder to do because she is carrying a secret about her husband and their marriage, which was far from happy, but she is determined to hide the truth.<br />Lt.Ray Novak grapples with feeling like a coward. His job is to train pilots to fly missions, but he has never been in combat himself. When the Army Air Forces decides to start using the returning combat pilots as instructors Ray finds himself transferred back home as a supply officer where he reconnects with his friend, recently widowed Helen Carlisle. Can the two find happiness together?<br />Helen was someone who was certainly scarred by her past.While the shame wasn't hers she carried it anyway.Helen's story caused my heart to ache for her, but the ending certainly was great! It was inspirational to see her character grow and change through out the story. I thought that Ray's character was wonderful, his love of God really shined through. If you enjoy historical fiction set during WWII with romance, drama and a wonderful inspirational message your going to enjoy this one. A great conclusion to a fantastic series. I can't wait to read more from this talented author!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.", "timestamp": 1314504547000, "title": "Historical fiction at its best" }, { "asin": "0764208055", "rating": 4, "text": "I love historical novels, and if they are set in the west then that's just an added bonus.In this one Yvonne Harris transports us back in time to August 1886 in El Paso Texas. Elizabeth Evans moves to Texas from Washington to look after her brother Lloyd and his daughter Ruthie after the death of his wife and newborn son, and in return he will teach her the newspaper business,but instead her brother is shot dead and Elizabeth is kidnapped by Mexican outlaws. When Jake Nelson, a Texas Ranger learns of the shooting and kidnapping he sets out to rescue Elizabeth.When he finds her there is an immediate attraction,but could a relationship ever work between the two?<br /><br />With plenty of page turning action from the beginning, this book is certainly a quick read.I enjoyed learning a bit about the Texas Rangers,and the time period in general, while reading a sweet romance. I liked main characters in this book. Both were dealing with issues from their past that caused them to guard their hearts. Jake's heart was broken by his fiance, and the death of Elizabeth's husband Carl, who was killed in the line of duty in the Army, caused her to fear getting involved with someone who might put their job first.<br /><br />I think anyone who enjoys a good historical fiction western,with romance and plenty of action will certainly enjoy this fast paced read, I know I did.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1315725865000, "title": "A River To Cross" }, { "asin": "0764205978", "rating": 5, "text": "This was a different sort of read for me. I don't ever remember reading a story about smoke jumpers, and actually I am not sure I knew what a smoke jumper was before reading this story. I knew there were firefighters who go in and fight the major forest fires, but I honestly didn't realize there were men who are dropped in to fight the fires by cutting down trees etc. So not only did I get an action packed story but I also learned something new which is always a bonus.<br />The main characters in this one are Silas Kent a smoke jumper and Elle Westmore a pilot who drops smoke jumpers into the heart of a fire. Silas and Elle have a history together, but parted ways. Their paths cross again when when she takes an assignment to fly a smoke jumping crew out of Redding, CA to the Desolation Complex in the Sierra Nevada's to battle a raging fire. Soon though they realize there is more going on in those mountains than just the fires, there is cache of gold and some of the men on the smoke jumping crew is on a mission to recover it!<br />What a fast paced read. Elle was someone who had alot on her plate. She has the responsibility of taking care of her five year old daughter Maddie, while doing a very demanding job. I thought the little twist about her short marriage to Maddie's father was quite interesting. Silas seemed to have grown quite a bit from being someone who ran from a serious relationship to wanting to take care of Elle.I really got hooked on the characters from the beginning pages and became anxious to see how things would work out.<br /> There is plenty of page turning action, with romance, suspense mystery and drama woven together with a christian message woven in to keep you reading until the final page.<br />While this is the first time I have ever read anything by Shawn Grady, it certainly wont be my last. I really enjoyed his writing style, his vivid descriptions and suspense filled story makes this book a real winner!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1315790719000, "title": "entertaining and educational" }, { "asin": "0800719956", "rating": 5, "text": "I have read a few of Suzanne Woods Fisher's stories set in Lancaster County, so I was anxious to read a Christmas story set in the area. It's the story of two families, an Amish family, The Riehl's and an English family the Fitzpatricks. Each family is struggling with major life issues and need a bit of reminding as to what is important in life.<br /><br />Mattie, Sol, and Danny Riehl have made a trip to the doctors office for a follow up because Mattie suffered a miscarriage a few weeks ago. While they have six year old Danny, Mattie has always dreamed of having a houseful of children but struggles with infertility. The situation has stolen Mattie's joy making her question why others can so easily have children but she can't. Jaime and C.J. Fitzpatrick have issues of their own. C.J. is a teacher, but also works with his dog Tucker as a search and rescue team. His marriage to his wife Jaime seems to be slowly raveling apart and he isn't sure what to do to fix it. Jaime's father left when she was young, and when he recently dropped back into her life, she became frantic to have his acceptance, add to this the fact that she lost her mother six months ago to a freak accident and suspicions that her husband is having an affair. She won't talk to C.J. and he is unsure how to reach her. When the couple runs an errand to the Riehl farm, they become stranded. Did God bring these two families together to help each other?<br /><br />I loved this story, I read it in about an hour and was anxious to see how things would turn out. The plot moved along well, and wasn't predictable like many of the Christmas stories I read. The characters are very realistic with the issues they are dealing with. I read alot of Amish stories and often the Amish seem a bit condescending where the English are concerned but not so in this story. The Riehl's were very open and accepting of the Fitzpatrick's, and not only that we see Mattie really struggle with the issues she is facing.I thought the story line with Mattie's cousin Zach really added to the main story, and Danny was such an inquisitive child. I love when an author adds a dog to the story, and Tucker and C.J.'s job as a SAR team was interesting and I enjoyed learning a bit about it.<br />If your looking for an inspirational Christmas story set in Amish country give this one a try, for me the only complaint I had was seeing it end.", "timestamp": 1316916196000, "title": "A Lancaster County Christmas" }, { "asin": "0446570869", "rating": 5, "text": "Susan Lambert is in the city of Prague because her beloved grandmothers funeral is being held there. Raised by her grandmother since the age of twelve when her parents were killed in a car accident, an accident that Susan had a feeling about, and that's the thing, Susan had always had a feeling of discernment. The ability to sense when something wasn't right and that was a feeling she got when she decided to visit St. Vitus Cathedral. Even though she was alone in the Cathedral she felt as if someone was there with her, and even glimpsed what she thought was a man. She sees the same man a few more times, and when her cousin Wendy decides to go partying with a stranger that oozes evil, she feels compelled to find her cousin and get her away from this man.The man that Susan glimpsed in the Cathedral,(Raphael) approaches Susan and offers to help her find Wendy, but in return he tells Susan he will need her help. Susan is soon introduced to things she would have never imagined, and learns that vampires do exist and Raphael is a vampire set to fight a war against an evil vampire who wants to rule the world.<br /><br />I love vampire fiction and I was quite excited to read a vampire tale that was woven into christian fiction. I enjoyed getting to know the characters especially Raphael. Thru flashbacks we learn why he was cursed to be a vampire. The way the author explains why some people become vampires was quite different from most vampire tales. Her take was that some people are so inherently evil that they are cursed as vampires thus living longer in the hopes that they will eventually learn their mistakes and accept God, which was something that Raphael was still struggling with even after 900 years. While Raphael is a vampire it was easy to sense a goodness in him, although when Susan's life was in jeopardy we certainly saw his dark side.The forbidden feel of the attraction between Susan and Raphael kept me turning the pages to see if a romance would develop.The secondary character of David added to the story for me, a reluctant hero, who was only in Prague for three months on a job assignment staying in the same hotel as Wendy and Susan, when he hears on of the women cry out he tries to help them and learns the hard way that vampires exist and soon finds himself being trained as a vampire slayer. The relationship between David and Wendy was sweet.<br />I really hated to see this book end, and left me wanting to read a sequel. I really can't wait to see how the relationship between Raphael and Susan goes. A vampire tale woven together with a christian theme, and a fight of good versus evil, the perfect October read! On a scale of one to five I would easily give this one a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1317783522000, "title": "In a word FANGTASTIC" }, { "asin": "0800733460", "rating": 5, "text": "Having enjoyed the first book in Janice Thompson's Backstage Pass series I was anxious to read this one. I must say I think this book just might be better than the first one, with returning characters from the first book as well as a few new ones, I found this book to be laugh out loud funny.<br />Athena Pappas has a pretty full life with her family and friends and even though the ratings have lagged a bit she still feels pretty secure in her job as head writer for the popular sit com Stars Collide. But when the producers decide to hire a comedian, Stephen Cosse to help bolster the ratings she suddenly wonders what will happen if he is a better writer, will her job be in jeopardy? When she meets him she feels an attraction, and soon not only is Stephen worming his way into her heart but so has his eleven year old daughter Brooke.Will they figure out that some of the best things in life don't follow a script, or will they guard their hearts against love?<br /><br />This was a sweet, funny story. It was easy to imagine the Athena's Greek family. I could easily understand why Stephen's daughter Brooke was drawn to the Pappas family, they are so warm and welcoming. I always love when a dog is included in a story and the introduction of Zeus, the Greek Domestic Dog was totally funny! It was great to see how Brooke and Zeus connected. The Greek food mentioned in this story really had my mouth watering, it sounded delicious!<br />If you enjoy reading contemporary christian romance with a great flare for humor then you certainly need to read this book, and while it is the second book in the series I feel like it could be read as a stand alone work, although I highly recommend reading the first book in the series as well.<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review*", "timestamp": 1318129897000, "title": "Laugh out loud funny" }, { "asin": "0764209418", "rating": 5, "text": "I became hooked on Patti Lacy's work after reading \"The Rhythm of Secrets\" and couldn't wait to read this book. Well all I can say it was worth the wait!<br />The authors writing style is captivating. Gloria Powell had always wanted a child, so after jumping thru hoops and cutting thru red tape she and her husband Andrew believe there is a baby waiting for them in China so they make the trip from Texas. When they arrive though the promised baby isn't there instead the child is a young girl, but Gloria isn't thwarted instead she knows its the child God intended for them to have. They take her home to Texas and rename her Joy, because she is the joy of their life. although she does become a bit rebellious in her teen years. Turns out Joy is actually Lily and Lily has a sister Kai who made a death bed promise to her mother in China to reclaim the sister that had been at the orphanage. Kai now works in the states and becomes determined to find her sister to not only full fill the wish she made to her mother, but also because there may be a genetic issue that could possibly affect Lily. What happens when Kai finds her sister, how will it affect Lily(Joy) and her adoptive family?<br /><br />This story was touching and inspiring. The author deals with foreign adoption a topic I haven't read a lot about,so it was a bit educational for me. She also touches on the topic of teen rebellion,where the teen is trying to figure out where she fits in the world to weave a rich story that had plenty of twists and turns and an ending that was quite satisfying. While Gloria smothered her daughter, I really could understand her motivations, Andrew seemed solid and really was understanding of all parties much like a pastor might be.I really couldn't help but think about Lily's biological mother.Each of the characters seemed so realistic I often forgot that I was reading a work of fiction.<br />If you enjoy a story filled with drama, suspense and family ties with a positive christian message woven in then your going to enjoy \"Reclaiming Lily.\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review purposes.", "timestamp": 1318178186000, "title": "Reclaiming Lily" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 5, "text": "Camden Bristow is feeling the effects of the economy. She is a free-lance photographer living in New York who finds herself without any job prospects or money. Being kicked out of her apartment with less than five hundred dollars left on her credit card she decides to return to the home where she spent many happy summers with her grandmother Rosalie even though its been years since she has spoken to her grandmother, but when she arrives in the tiny town of Etherton Ohio what she finds at the family mansion called Crescent Hill is that her grandmother has passed away and the mansion is falling into disrepair. Having no place else to go she stays at the family home anyway and quickly finds herself wondering if someone else isn't in the house. Camden has never believed in the rumors that ghosts haunt the mansion and when a few things start disappearing she is pretty sure someone is getting into the house, but how? Could it be true that there are underground tunnels that date back to slave days, and could Crescent Hill actually have been a stop on the Underground Railroad?<br /><br />I really enjoyed the historical aspect of this story as well as the mystery and intrigue that surrounded the history of the Bristow family.While Camden was the primary story I loved the secondary stories that went on and how they all came together at the end. The characters were very easy to connect with, especially Camden. Crescent Hill was the only place where she ever felt like she belonged. It was nice to see her grow and watch her priorities change as the book progressed. I also felt empathy for Alex, as he continued to carry the blame for not doing enough to save his sister and nephew. I thought the christian themes woven into the story was well done, especially the message of helping others. I also got a few laughs from reading about the antics of the Sprague children especially Hailey, that little girl had a wonderful imagination.<br />Overall if your looking for a contemporary story that is firmly rooted in the historical era of the underground railroad, that weaves mystery, suspense, a bit of romance with a nice inspirational story then your certainly in for a treat with this story. Recommended!<br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1319509649000, "title": "Refuge On Crescent Hill" }, { "asin": "0310330432", "rating": 4, "text": "A cozy mystery that involves Amish characters and a quilt shop, I just knew I was going to enjoy this book and boy was I right.<br />Callie Harper finds herself in Shipshewana after inheriting Daisy's Quilt Shop from her recently deceased aunt. She thinks she will just go for a few weeks and clear out her aunts things and sell the shop, but things don't go according to plan. When Deborah Yoder shows up at the shop with an armload of quilts, Callie learns that her aunt had an agreement with Deborah and two other Amish ladies to sell their quilts. Deborah soon convinces Callie that she should reopen the shop and take the quilts on consignment. When Callie decides to try her hand at auctioning the quilts on Ebay the Amish quilt makers quickly agree, but when Mr. Stakehorn the editor of the local paper writes a story suggesting that Callie might be taking advantage of the Amish quilting group Callie becomes furious and wants a retraction. When several people see Callie arguing with Mr. Stakehorn hours before he is found dead, Callie becomes a prime suspect. Deborah is certain her new friend could never commit murder, and when several other things start to happen in town the two put their heads together to try and figure out who the murderer might be.<br />This was a fast paced who-dun-it that really gave us several suspects. I liked how the story unfolded allowing the reader to see the friendship between Deborah and Callie grow. Callie was a character that was totally easy to relate to, I thought that it was interesting that snippets of her life was revealed in her aunts old journal. Callie was grieving not only for her aunt but for the loss of another loved one from a few years back. I thought the author allowed her to grow through out the story, it felt like she had finally found a place to call home. Deborah was different than most of the Amish characters that I read about, her husband seemed to allow her more freedom. She really looked out for her friends, and she and Callie really made a great investigative team. I always get excited when the author writes a dog into the story and in this one we had Max, a golden that Callie had inherited from her aunt Daisy. He was a comfort to Callie and turned out to be a hero.<br />This was one of those stories that when I started it I just couldn't put it down. The author's words really brought the scenes to life and there were several scenes that while tense also had humor woven in. There were plenty of twists and turns that made this a page turner for me, while I was a bit disappointed with the ending, overall I found it a great read and look forward to reading the next book in this series!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1320721019000, "title": "Anxious to read the next book in the series" }, { "asin": "1414348118", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Princess Stories\" allows young girls to learn about God's princesses in the Bible. Upon reading this book they will learn all about twenty-nine of the most prominent women of the Bible in a way that will surely capture their imagination and attention, and not only that the thirtieth story is about the reader,encouraging and reminding them that they are God's princess as well.<br />Each story starts out with a scripture verse and then gives the reader a short story about a woman in the Bible. Another Bible verse follows the story and then there are Princess Ponderings which consists of three questions for your princess to answer.The cover of this book, as well as the illustrations inside will certainly capture a youngsters eye. What a wonderful way to teach a daughter or grand-daughter about the women of the Bible. Because of the quality of this book, it would make a wonderful gift.<br />rating 5/5<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327284862000, "title": "What a wonderful way to teach young girls about the women of the Bible" }, { "asin": "0857210580", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the fourth installment of the Hugh de Singleton series and Hugh and Kate have been married for about three months when Thomas atte Bridge is found hanging from a tree. While the coroner wants to call it a suicide, the evidence points to foul play. Even though atte Bridge has had run ins with most of the townsfolk and is disliked by all Hugh is determined to figure out who the murderer is.<br />This book takes place in 1366 in England, and it's easy to see the author does an amazing job of researching the time period. Not only am I intrigued by the suspense and mystery of the story but I also enjoy reading about the medical procedures that took place during that time period, as well as medieval life in general. The food in particular that Hugh ate sounded quite different. I found the glossary included in the front of the book quite useful in understanding what was being said. I also enjoy the relationship between Hugh and Kate and look forward to reading more about these two characters.<br />This book is the fourth in the series and while the author provides a bit of background about the characters ,I recommend reading the series in order to get the in depth background on the reoccurring characters.<br /><br />rating 4/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327367469000, "title": "Great continuing series" }, { "asin": "0800720741", "rating": 4, "text": "This book is the first in a new series and if it is any indicator the series is going to be a must read for lovers of historical fiction!<br /><br />\"Where Wildflowers Bloom\" is set in the tiny town of Noble Springs Missouri. The civil war took Faith Lindberg's father, brother as well as Royal Baxter the man she promised her heart to before the war. Faith would like nothing better than to leave the memories of lost love ones behind and start over somewhere else, but her grandfather isn't so keen on leaving Noble Springs.Faith is surprised when Royal comes back to town, because she thought he was killed during the war. When Royal and Faith start courting, Faith's grandfather is less than pleased because he had hoped that Faith might develop feelings for Curt Saxon the young man who runs the livery and who has been helping Faith. Will Faith decide to stay in Noble Springs? Who will she choose?<br />I really enjoyed reading this book which allows us the flavor of the civil war because it takes place shortly after. The authors storytelling really pulled me in, with the richness of detail for the time period. The characters really came to life as well. I could easily understand why Faith wanted to leave Noble Springs. It was interesting to watch her character change and grow through out<br />the story. I also enjoyed Rosemary, who was a very good friend. I really enjoyed reading about the mercantile and all of the different goods that was stocked.<br />I think anyone who enjoys a very well written historical fiction with well drawn characters a fast moving plot with a sweet romance will certainly enjoy this story. I for one am anxious for the next book in the \"Sisters at Heart\" series.<br /><br />A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1327813304000, "title": "Where Wildflowers Bloom" }, { "asin": "0800734599", "rating": 5, "text": "If your a fan of historical fiction where there is always plenty going on then your in for a real treat with \"Summer Of Promise\" by Amanda Cabot!<br /><br />This book draws the reader back in time to the summer of 1885. Abigail Harding's life was pretty well planned out, she lives in Vermont teaches school and plans to marry her beau.Letters from her sister Charlotte has her worried though so she decides to take a trip to Wyoming and spend the summer with her sister. Before she ever arrives a fellow passenger Lt. Ethan Bowles, saves her stagecoach from being robbed. Will she only spend the summer or does fate have something else in store for Abigail?<br />This is the first book in the exciting new historical fiction series \"Westward Winds.\" Abigail was such a wonderful character, she was a very brave ,level headed person, and from the beginning my heart wanted her and Ethan together.<br />While many historical romances are pretty predictable, not so with this book, the author provides a few twists and turns that really held my attention. While the ending was satisfying there were a few loose ends which leaves me anxious for the next book in the series!<br /><br />Amanda Cabot is an author who really knows how to bring historical fiction to life, with easy to relate to characters and a story line that grabbed my attention from the first page and kept me intrigued until the final sentence!<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*", "timestamp": 1328416370000, "title": "Great new historical fiction series" }, { "asin": "1595549153", "rating": 4, "text": "Lucy Marsh finds herself in dire straits and has to accept an offer to marry a man she doesn't know just to take care of her brother and sister. Thing is her parents are dead, she is out of money with no job and not sure what to do when she gets an offer she can't refuse, it's the offer to marry a man sight unseen. Nate Stanton, runs a ranch and has always hoped for a wife but the responsibilities of the ranch has given him little time to find one, so when his father arranges the marriage between him and Lucy and they are married by proxy things on the ranch will certainly never be the same. She shows up with her siblings and Nate wonders how long she will last on the ranch. How will things work out between these two?<br /><br />I really enjoyed the characters in this story. Lucy really had alot of responsibilities, but was really a very brave person. She married someone sight unseen to protect her brother and sister. While a marriage of convenience is a pretty common plot the thing that made this one different was that Nate didn't know that he was married until Lucy showed up on his doorstep. His first impressions seemed perfectly normal. I thought it was quite nice to see the relationship slowly bloom, and watch his opinion of Lucy change. I think anyone who enjoys historical fiction where there is a sweet romance, a nice inspirational message as well as a bit of mystery woven in will certainly enjoy this story.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1329360734000, "title": "enjoyable historical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800720075", "rating": 5, "text": "If your looking for a story filled with non stop action packed suspense then look no further than \"When The Smoke Clears\" the first book in the Deadly Reunions series! If this book is any indicator of what the series is going to be like I would say it is going to be one not to be missed!<br /><br />Alexia Allen is a firefighter, but when she is ordered to take some time off after an accident occurs that nearly takes her life. With her ten year reunion coming up she decides to recuperate at her mothers house so that she can attend. Seems like trouble has followed her though with a murder an arson occurring soon after she arrives in town. It appears someone may be setting her up, who is out to get her and why?<br /><br />The plot in this story is non-stop. There was never a down time for me with this one. I found myself totally immersed in the story after reading the prologue. I thought the characters in this story were very well developed and I really enjoyed the budding romance between Alexia and Detective Graham Hunter. The ending of this one leaves me anxious for the next book in the series.<br /><br />Overall anyone who enjoys romantic suspense will certainly love this story, be warned though it isn't easy to figure out who-dun-it with this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1329623138000, "title": "Action packed suspense" }, { "asin": "0800720458", "rating": 5, "text": "The year is 1855 and the setting is Louisville Ky. Adriane Darcy is a journalist for her father's newspaper The Tribune. Her father's newspaper has always been the best in Louisville, but things begin to change when Blake Garrett comes in to revive the failing Herald. It becomes sort of a competition to see who can crack a story first, so when someone starts killing women in the city Adriane wants to beat Blake to the story. Thing is she is starting to have feelings for Blake, but she is engaged to another. How will things work out for Adriane, and who is killing women in Lexington?<br /><br />I really fell in love with Ms. Gabhart's writing after reading her wonderful book titled \"Angel Sister\" so I was anxious to give this one a read. What I found was a historical fiction story that was really quite different. The beginning of the story was a bit slow to capture my attention but once it grabbed it, at about the eighth chapter, I found it a story that I didn't want to put down.I really enjoyed the characters of Adriane and Blake and thought the author did a great job of allowing them to develop through out the story. The character of Adriane was strong, but she also felt the pressure of wanting to do what her father expected of her. While this book is labeled a historical romance fiction the author actually weaves a bit of suspense and mystery into this one that really made this story stand out for me. There were a few twists that wrapped up the ending quite nicely. If your looking for something that's not your typical historical romance then your going to wan to give this story a try.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330232493000, "title": "not your typical historical romance" }, { "asin": "1603742573", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been fortunate enough to read all three books in the Amish of Seymour series and have become a Laura V. Hilton fan. She has the writing skills to easily transport the reader right into the heart of the stories that she is telling, allowing me to envision the characters, setting and drama so vividly it makes me feel as if I have been transported to another place.<br /><br />In \"Promised To Another\" we get the story of Annie Beiler and Joshua Esh. Annie is the local Amish schoolteacher, she is always excited about history and learning which often gets her in trouble and puts her teaching job in jeopardy, something she can't afford to lose. You see her steady beau Luke Schwartz jumped the fence to become English and no one else has even noticed her, or at least that's what she thinks. When Luke makes an unexpected appearance after a singing and offers to take her home she turns him down flat but her refuses to listen, that is until Joshua Esh steps in and offers her a ride home, a rider home with the other girl he is already taking home. While the men who came to Seymour from Pennsylvania came looking for wives Joshua didn't instead he came to see a different part of the world but has plans to return to PA. He has earned the reputation of a player because he is always taking a different Amish girl home after singings, but that doesn't stop Annie from noticing him.Thing is Luke has decided to join the church and marry Annie and doesn't want to take no for an answer. Is Josh really a player or does Annie have the wrong idea about him? Will Annie give in and do what Luke wants or will she realize that there just might be someone else for her after all.<br /><br />The beginning of this story started out a bit predictable but then the author started throwing in several different plot twists that had me changing my mind. I thought the characters in the story seemed very realistic, especially Annie. I could totally understand her love of history and wanting to share it with her pupils. I enjoyed getting to know the different sides of Annie, there was the Annie who stood strong when her beau left her, but we also got a glimpse of an insecure Annie wondering if she would ever have someone of her own, we also saw someone who had a zest for teaching and wanted to share her love of learning with her pupils even though the board members didn't always see things her way. I thought Josh was a good male lead, and while he kept a secret from Annie I still liked him. I liked the unconventional twist the relationship took toward the end of the story.<br /><br />If your a fan of Amish fiction then your going to want to read this story. Even though it's the third book in The Amish of Seymour series it can easily be read as a stand alone work although this series is so good that your going to want to read all three books. On a scale of one to five I would easily give this whole series a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330569380000, "title": "I am going to miss this series!" }, { "asin": "0800719859", "rating": 4, "text": "This book starts out in Williamsburg Virginia in October 1813. The only thing Phoebe Lee really wants to do is practice midwifery, so when her sister-in-law asks her to go to sea with her so that they can rescue her husband who is being held prisoner in England she refuses, after all the country is at war. She soon learns though that she has no choice when she finds herself aboard a ship, and not just any ship, but a British privateer.The captain of the ship Rafe Docherty wants one thing revenge and he thinks that Phoebe just might be able to help him. When he starts having feelings for Phoebe will his priorities change?<br /><br />I thought the author did an amazing job of making this story seem realistic to the time period. While most of the story takes place aboard ship there was still a richness of detail that I enjoyed, it was so hard for me to imagine a female let alone a pregnant female aboard a privateer ship but with amazing clarity the author pulls it off. While some of the language was a bit hard to follow although it did give the book a more authentic feel.I really enjoyed the relationship between the lead characters. Phoebe and Rafe both have issues from their past that they are dealing with, that added an extra layer to their building relationship.<br /><br />\"Hearts Safe Passage\" is the second book in The Midwives Series and while I actually read the first book I feel like this one could be read as a stand alone work. This book worked for me on so many levels, it's a historical romance fiction with strong characters, along with action, suspense, and mystery woven in. What made it a stand out story for me was learning about midwifery during the time period. Overall \"Heart's Safe Passage\" is another great book from Laurie Alice Eakes.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1330835536000, "title": "Heart's Safe Passage" }, { "asin": "0764207865", "rating": 5, "text": "At the age of twenty-two Sadie Wagner was a woman, but she still hadn't found the freedom to do what she wanted most. After an accident where her step-father is injured she knows someone needs to help provide for the family and doesn't mind being the one to do it. When she receives a letter from her step cousin Sid who lives in Goldtree, Kansas telling her he has secured her a job clerking in a mercantile she thinks its an answer to a prayer, and something else that he mentions is that there is an opera house and since Sadie's dream is to sing she thinks it might just be her chance to provide for her family and sing at the same time. When she arrives in Goldtree, she soon meets the new sheriff, Thad McKane, whose real dream is to become a minister but takes the job of sheriff to ferret out the culprits responsible for bootlegging, because Kansas is a dry state. She soon realizes that the opera house isn't at all what she thought, and to complicate things even more Sid has feelings for her, but she is drawn to Thad. Can a romance survive between the sheriff and Sadie, even when he begins to suspect that she might be involved in the very crimes he has been hired to take care of?<br /><br />I was drawn to Sadie's character from the first pages of the book. Her goodness easily comes across in the story, and she didn't hesitate to help out her family. I could easily understand her homesickness.The secondary characters really made this book stand out. The Baxter twins and their brother Asa were often funny and oh so easy to visualize. I thought Sid the step-cousin was a bit different, his actions were odd although I sort of chalked it up to being jealous. While there were christian themes running thru the book they weren't overdone or preachy.<br />Overall, I really enjoyed this quick read, and found myself laughing on more than a few occasions. A great historical fiction/romance that is well worth reading!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1331357398000, "title": "great characters make this one a hit" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 5, "text": "While a pretty cover always draws me in (and this cover is beautiful) it takes a good story to keep me interested and that's just what I found in \"Beauty For Ashes.\"<br />The setting for this book is Hickory Ridge, Tennessee and the year is 1876. Carrie Daly finds herself living with her brother Henry in the family home in HIckory Ridge after her husband is killed during the civil war. Henry was the only family she had left and while life wasn't exciting, they had it better than most.Things were ok in the beginning but when Henry takes a wife things start to change. Her friend Nate wants to marry her, but she isn't sure of her feelings, and after she meets Griff Rutledge, a stranger who pulls her out of the way of a run away wagon she can't stop thinking about him. As they become friends the townsfolk wonder why Griff who is a spending time with Carrie, and you can bet Nate isn't happy about it either!<br /><br />The author hit a home run with this story on so many levels. First of all I really enjoy reading about the time period right after the civil war, and then the she is able to give us a glimpse of small town life during that time that really seems authentic. I also found the characters quite easy to relate to as well. I could understand why Carrie felt that she should leave the family home after her brother married. It was easy to see her struggle with allowing God to lead her, even though she read her Bible daily and prayed she often felt discouraged. As her character grew she started to understand that she needed to let God be in control. Griff was a good male lead, I always like when the characters are allowed to be flawed it makes them so much more relate able. While there is a Christian message woven into the story it is very well done and doesn't come off as preachy. Overall if your a fan of historical fiction with romance with interesting characters and a small town feel, that weaves in a nice Christian message run out and pick up a copy of this one, your not going to regret it!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1331357545000, "title": "Beauty for Ashes" }, { "asin": "0310722365", "rating": 5, "text": "The first thing I thought when I pulled this Bible out of the box was what a beautiful cover it had. The pink color and flowers is so feminine and girly that young ladies will just love it. The color of the text inside which is purple is something that I loved as well, and while the colors are very eye catching, its the many different features of this Bible that makes it perfect for young girls.<br /><br />The features include:<br />1. Dream Girl: A feature that will help young readers imagine themselves in some of the most familiar and amazing Bible stories.<br /><br />2. Bring It On! Are quizzes used to help the reader get to know themselves, this feature also points to Bible verses that will encourage the reader.<br /><br />3. OH, I Get It! The Bible is more than just stories, it is filled with information and this feature will share some of that information with questions.<br /><br />4. Book introductions: Highlights the main topics of each book of the Bible and applies them to the reader's life.<br /><br />5. Treasure This! Verses to help the reader keep God's word in their heart.<br /><br />6. Is There a little ___in You? The feature allows you to see different character traits of some of the great people in the Bible, and allows the reader to see if they might have some of those character traits themselves.<br /><br />7. In Your Own Words: Allows the reader to create a list of events to tell a Bible story in your their own words.<br /><br />While this Bible is geared towards young ladies nine and older, I actually enjoy reading it myself. It's bright and colorful and is chock full of useful information. Because it's a NIV version it's easy for young readers to understand. Overall I think any young girl would love a copy of this Bible and I think it would make a wonderful Easter gift.<br /><br />*A complimentary copy of this Bible was provided in exchange for an honest review.*", "timestamp": 1333421609000, "title": "Very eye catching Bible for tween girls" }, { "asin": "1595548874", "rating": 4, "text": "I must admit Beth Wiseman is one of my favorite Amish storytellers, so I was excited to read a non-Amish story by her. With \"Need You Now\" I must say she really knows how to deliver a contemporary story. With this story she not only delivers believable characters who are dealing with real life issues, but also a fast moving plot that deals with family drama that kept me reading.<br />To look at the Henderson family they seem to be a successful family that has it all together. Darlene is a stay at home mother to three teen children, her marriage seems good, her husband is about to be promoted and the family just purchased Darlene's grandparents farm and decide to move to the country. Peel away the layers though and we quickly see that the children are having problems adjusting,especially her daughter Grace who is harming herself, and Darlene is struggling with the fact that she no longer feels needed or heard. When she takes a job outside the home and another man starts to pay attention to her, could it put her marriage in jeopardy? How will things work out for this family? As their faith is tested will they be drawn closer together as a family or will they be pulled apart?<br />One of my favorite things about this story was the fact that we see the situation thru the eyes of several characters, allowing a different perspectives on the story. A story that drew me in from the beginning and kept me wondering how this family saga would work out. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1335236786000, "title": "Family Drama" }, { "asin": "140168680X", "rating": 4, "text": "Biblical fiction is fast becoming one of my favorite genres so I was excited to read \"Garden of Madness\" which tells the story of the Babylonian Princess Tiamet, the daughter of King Nebuchadnezzar, whose madness has had him living in the palace garden for the last seven years while his family kept his condition hidden from the public. When a murder takes place inside the palace Tia decides to try and figure out what is going on, and uncovers truths that she could never have imagined.<br />The author easily brings the characters to life in this story. Even though the book is a work of fiction her descriptions brings the scenes to life, and makes the characters so easy to connect with. I really enjoyed the interactions between Tia and her father, and loved that she stood by him when others didn't.The author provides several plot twists that kept me guessing. While there is a bit of romance woven into the story for me its the mystery and suspense as well as the way the author holds pretty close to the actual Biblical story that makes this book a real winner for me.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1335840992000, "title": "Great Biblical fiction" }, { "asin": "0800719719", "rating": 4, "text": "Historical romance is one of my favorite genres to read and when the author is able to weave in a few positive messages or historical facts that make me feel as if I am actually getting a bit of a history lesson well then that makes the book a must read for me, and that's just what we get in \"A Love Forbidden.\"<br /><br />The year is 1879 and the book is set in the Colorado Rockies , and gives us the story of twenty-one year old Shiloh Wainright and Jesse Blackwater .Shiloh has signed a contract to teach for the White River Indian Agency,and looks forward to teaching the Ute children white men's ways while helping them remember their own culture. She is in for a surprise when she reconnects with her childhood friend Jesse Blackwater. Soon their friendship threatens to turn into more, but things are complicated because Jesse is 1/2 Indian,.add to this the fact that Indians and whites are on the verge of battle, and you can't help but wonder if a relationship can ever work between these two.<br /><br />The author weaves a story that easily captured my attention. I have always found this time period in the west intriguing.The author deals with the time period where the US Government made promises to the Native Americans but didn't always keep them. Shiloh was a compassionate caring person,and Jesse seemed like someone who was caught between two worlds.I enjoyed watching the feelings grow between the two characters. While I enjoyed the characters for me it was the historical elements that made the book a real winner. The author describes the tensions that are going on between the Whites and Native Americans,and allows the reader to see the prejudices that took place during that time in history. Anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction that weaves together romance and an inspirational message will certainly want to check out this book. While this is the second book in the Heart Of The Rockies series I feel as if it can be read as a stand alone work.<br />rating 4/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1338091007000, "title": "Love Forbidden" }, { "asin": "0800734378", "rating": 4, "text": "Patsy Milstrap wishes she could leave her past in the past. Up until the age of thirteen she lived in a home with an abusive stepfather. One day though her mother realizes that Patsy needs to be sent away. She goes to live with a nice christian couple and begins a new life. She marries a wonderful man and has children and as much as she tries to forget her past for the sake of her family its a difficult thing to do. When a vacation in Florida has her facing someone from her past, she knows that she will have to deal with her past if she is ever going to have a future.<br />\"Waiting for Sunrise\" is the second book in the Cedar Key series but can easily be read as a stand alone work. The author weaves an emotional story that easily pulled me in from the beginning. As the story unfolds we get glimpses of Patsy's past allowing us to understand how she came to be the person she is. Patsy was a character that was so easy to connect with. Her painful past was difficult for her to deal with, she cant help but wonder why her mother would have given her away. Gilbert was a wonderful husband who would do anything to help Patsy.<br />The secondary story of her mother and brothers added to the overall plot. It was interesting to see how the abusive home life affected each person.A story that deals with some pretty tough subjects, but also reminds that sometimes the only way to have a future is to deal with your past.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1339907090000, "title": "emotionally charged" }, { "asin": "1416599959", "rating": 5, "text": "Deborah Raney is easily one of my favorite authors. Her stories are ones that I often think about for weeks after reading. She has a way of drawing me into a story, making me feel as if I personally know the characters, and that's just how I feel about the Hanover Falls series.<br /><br />Susan Marlowe is dealing with the pain of losing her husband in the Grove Street fire, but a secret that he was carrying comes to light, a secret that breaks her heart, and has her wondering if she really knew the man she was married to. How will she deal with the hurt?<br /><br />Even though this is the third book in a series, the story line still has the ability to provide a few twists and turns that kept me reading. There is still the mystery of who actually set the fire, as well as the emotional turmoil of losing loved ones, and trying to move on after such a tragedy. Susan is a commendable character. She is trying to keep the homeless shelter going, while dealing with the loss of her husband. When her son Davey not only drops out of college but also starts coming home drunk, she learns that he is carrying a painful secret, something that he knew about his father, her husband.<br /><br />\"After All\" is the third and final installment of the Hanover Falls Series, and while this book can be read as a stand alone work, the series is filled with such amazing characters that you really are going to want to read all three books. While I enjoyed the way the author wraps up this series, I really am going to miss my visits to Hanover Falls. I highly recommend this entire series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1339909458000, "title": "I'm going to miss this series" }, { "asin": "1595549978", "rating": 4, "text": "Hope Springs North Carolina is small town USA and is the setting for the latest contemporary novel by Kim Cash Tate. It tells the story of three women, Janelle Evans, Becca Anderson, and Stephanie London, cousins who find themselves headed home to Hope Springs for a Christmas time family reunion,and to spend time with the matriarch of the family their grandmother Geri. When they learn that Geri has a terminal illness they decide to stay in Hope Springs and help her. Spending time in this small town will change their lives forever.<br /><br />What a touching story. I do admit that there were plenty of characters to learn in the first several chapters and was glad that there was a family tree provided at the beginning of the book. Once I learned who everyone was and the issues that was going on it became a compelling story that I couldn't put down. The author creates authentic characters that are very easy to connect to.The small town feel of this book was wonderfully portrayed. One of my favorite characters in the story had to be Jeri, she was such a strong woman.<br />The author deals with several heavy subjects, but also gives several positive,uplifting messages as well. Overall a very well written story that provides a few twists and turns that kept me reading.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1340156416000, "title": "Hope Springs" }, { "asin": "0800720482", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become an avid reader of Biblical fiction and one of my favorite authors of this genre is Diana Wallis Taylor. She writes her stories in such a way that once you finish the book I always come away with a deeper understanding of not only the character that she writes about but also about the Bible verses that center around the character.<br /><br />Her latest book shines the spotlight on \"Mary Magdalene.\" We learn that she was an only child, her father a very successful boat builder. At the age of eleven her life changed dramatically when she is kidnapped.Her father pays the ransom to get her back, but after the incident Mary suffers from headaches,nightmares and seizures. While her loved ones sympathized with her, the people of her village shun her, fearing that she is crazy or worse. When they hear rumors that the Messiah is coming, a man named Jesus, the son of God,they wonder if it is true and if perhaps he will be able to help Mary.<br /><br />\"Mary Magdalene\" is another great fictional Biblical story from Diana Wallis Taylor. With her well crafted storytelling and attention to historical detail the author easily pulls me right into the story. The author writes with a clarity that brings the characters to life, and makes it easy to understand their stories. After reading this story I was propelled to dig out my Bible and read all that I could find about Mary Magdalene. Anyone who enjoys Biblical fiction is in for a real treat with this story. Recommended.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1340508191000, "title": "Fiction that brings Bible characters to life" }, { "asin": "0800734556", "rating": 5, "text": "\"The Gift\" by Ann Gabhart is the fifth installment in her Shaker Village series,and this book is just as great as all the others in the series I have read.<br /><br />Jessamine Brady is twenty, she moved to the Shaker Village at the age of ten after the death of her grandmother, and the one thing she remembered her grandmother encouraging her to do was follow her dreams. While she loves her Harmony Hill family she has always felt like she doesn't belong in the Shaker Village. When she meets Tristan Cooper someone from the outside world she finds herself at a crossroads, will she have the courage to step out into the world, or will she decide that her home is actually in Harmony Hill?<br /><br />I really enjoy when I have the ability to read a book and feel as if I am getting a bit of education to boot and that's just how I feel when I read Ann Gabhart's stories that are centered around the Shakers. She weaves together an intriguing story that always holds my attention while giving accurate glimpses of how it might have been to have lived as a Shaker.The author provides plenty of conflict, along with romance and a bit of suspense that certainly kept me reading. Add to the mix like-able characters and a historical setting making it a book that I couldn't resist. Recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1341919800000, "title": "The Gifted" }, { "asin": "1595547819", "rating": 4, "text": "Imagine finding out that a father you really never knew left you some valuable property, and imagine meeting half brothers and sisters whom you never knew existed thinking that you are trying to steal what rightfully belongs to them. Well that's just what happens to Libby Holladay the main character in Colleen Coble's newest novel \"Tidewater Inn.\"<br /><br />Libby and her best friend Nicole are co-owners of Holladay Renovations, a business that restores historical properties. Nicole not only handles the financial side of the business but also convinces potential clients to do business with them, meanwhile Libby takes care of the restoration. While researching a job on the Outer Banks Libby learns that she has actually inherited The Tidewater Inn along with property from a father whom she believed had died when she was five. Instead she learns her father has recently passed away leaving her the inheritance, and what's more she has half siblings that she never knew existed, siblings that are none to happy about her inheriting the inn. In addition to this earth shattering news, her business partner is kidnapped and Libby not only saw the whole thing but becomes a suspect in the crime. Can she prove her innocence, while trying to find Nicole, and what about the Tidewater Inn, will she be able to keep and restore it, or will she have to sell it, and will she ever be accepted by her new family?<br /><br />Interesting, well developed characters and a great plot made this a fast moving story for me. I found myself immediately drawn into the story, and wondered not only what Libby would do, but whether she would ever be accepted by a family she didn't know existed. Libby was a character that was easy to relate to and understand. If you enjoy a well written story filled with mystery, suspense, family drama,romance, and a nice spiritual message you just might enjoy this one, I know I did. Recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1341974234000, "title": "Tidewater Inn" }, { "asin": "0800734580", "rating": 5, "text": "Irene Hannon has become a go to author for me whenever I want to read a suspense filled mystery that also blends a christian message together with just enough clues to keep me turning the pages in anticipation right up until the end. I have enjoyed reading the Guardians of Justice series and while I looked forward to reading this book, I was sort of sad as well, because \"Lethal Legacy\" is the final book in the series.<br /><br />There are so many things that I enjoyed bout this book, but overall it's the author's style of writing that captivates me. She has an uncanny way of allowing us a glimpse inside the killers mind revealing what he is thinking while keeping us guessing as to who the killer might be, and the killer isn't always easy to figure out, but it always makes sense in the end. Since this book is the third and final book in the \"Guardian of Justice\" series while I believe that it can be read as a stand alone work I highly recommend that the entire series should be read in order to get the full scope of the story. If your a fan of suspense,mystery with a light romance, and a christian theme woven in your going to enjoy this series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1344787029000, "title": "Well written suspense" }, { "asin": "0764209132", "rating": 5, "text": "allie Kincaid and her eight month old son are headed out to find her husband Seth Kincaid, who just up and took off one day. When her stagecoach is waylaid by bandits and she finds herself in the middle of a shoot out, while she waits for the other passengers to go bring help back. Well help arrives in the form of her husband Seth, a husband who doesn't even remember that he has a wife, and never knew he had a son.<br /><br />This was such a quick read, I really fell in love with the characters and couldn't put the story down. Callie was a no nonsense type of person, who wanted to know why her husband up and left her, which was a very good question. I could easily forgive Seth though when we learn why he left her behind.Once he realizes he has a wife he is determined to do the right thing, although I could understand why Callie was guarding her heart this time around.<br /><br />Mary Connealy really knows how to write a story. As a fan of historical fiction, I really love being drawn back in time, and when there is romance, along with a good dose of humor well I am sold! I would say that \"Over The Edge' is the third book in the Kincaid Brides series, and while we do get a bit of background information it is best to read the entire series in order to fully understand the characters. Grantastic series, and I really hope the author continues with another book! Highly recommended.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1345430910000, "title": "Fun read" }, { "asin": "0764206176", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Taming The Wind\" takes pace in North Texas in 1868. Carissa Lowe has spent the last two years of her life trying to find peace in her heart. The nightmares and bad memories of Malcolm, her now deceased husband continues to haunt her. You see two years ago, she thought she new the man she married, instead he was on the run from the army, and decided to use her sister Laura and Clarissa to try and save himself, by taking them hostage, and then throwing them into the Gulf off the Corpus Christi coast. Fortunatly they were both saved, even though Malcolm wasn't. For Carissa though she no longer trusts her judgement where men are concerned, and has shied away from all men except for her brother-in-law, and the man who saved her Tyler Artherton, although she hasn't seen Tyler in the last two years because she has lived the last two years with her parents, and her baby daughter Gloria in Corpus Christi. When her parents decide to take a trip she decides to go spend the summer with Laura and her husband on their ranch.<br /><br />Tyler Artherton is staying on a friends ranch while he works out some issues of his own. He had never really stopped thinking about Carissa, and when he learns that she is staying on a neighboring ranch, he finds himself drawn to her and her daughter Gloria. Will Tyler and Carissa find happiness together or are there to many obstacles in the way? Will Carissa ever find the peace that she longs for?<br /><br />Even though \"Taming The Wind\" is the third book in Tracie Peterson's Land of the Lonestar series, I felt like the author gave enough background information so this book could be read as a stand alone work. This book takes place right after the civil war which easily drew me into the story because this is one of my favorite time periods to read about. The two main characters Carissa and Tyler were so easy to connect and emphathize with. I felt like Ms. Peterson did a very realistic job of allowing them to grow as the story progressed. I found the secondary characters really added to the overall story. I am a long time fan of Tracie Peterson and always look forward to reading whatever she writes, and this book certainly didn't disappoint. Fans of historical inspirational romances where the setting comes to life will certainly want to read this one, but since its part of a three book series why not read them all. Highly recommended!<br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1346817786000, "title": "Fans of historical inspirational romance will enjoy this one" }, { "asin": "1595548033", "rating": 4, "text": "Dylan Taylor is a smooth talking ladies man and Annie Wilkerson isn't interested. When Dylan's best horse, Braveheart, has a condition that has his vet suggesting he put the horse down, Dylan goes to Annie for help. Annie knows just about everything there is to know about horses. She writes a bi-weekly column in Montana Living today called \"Ask Avery\" which answers readers questions about equine problems. When Annie gets a call from her editor informing her that her column is being cut from the magazine, although she is offered another column, thing is its a column giving advice to the lovelorn. Annie has never been in love so how can she write an advice column? She decides to strike up a deal with Dylan, she will help his horse if he will help her with her column. As she gets to know the true Dylan she realizes he is different that she first assumed. Will Annie decide that some cowboys aren't so bad after all?<br /><br />Annie Wilkerson is someone you just can't help but like. She is looking out for her twenty year old sister Seirra,who by the way is raising four year old Ryder, works hard and is just a down to earth person, dealing with life's issues. She doesn't trust cowboys and I could certainly understand why. She wants safe and predictable in her life but that isn't what God has in mind for her. I enjoyed getting to know Dylan's character as well, both really had issues from their past that they needed to take care of. I found myself enjoying the twangy style of dialogue that popped up in the story, it really gave the book a real cowboy flavor for me.Another neat thing that I enjoyed about this story was how in the beginning each chapter opened with a bit of advice about horses, when Annie's job changed the chapters started opening up with bits of advice for the lovelorn.<br /><br />I really loved the town of Moose Creek and found \"The Trouble With Cowboys\" a delightful inspirational romantic read.Sometimes christian romance can come off a bit strong, but Denise Hunter really strikes a great balance with her writing. She provides a sweet romance that also weaves in a nice wholesome feeling to her stories, while also giving a few laughs.While this book is a part of a series the author writes it in such a way that it can be read as a stand alone work, but if you enjoy a great read, then your going to want to read the entire series.", "timestamp": 1349196283000, "title": "The Trouble With Cowboys" }, { "asin": "0800721322", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Life With Lily\" is such a delightful read. I found myself enjoying the many things that went on in young Lily Lapp's life. We first meet Lily as she and her younger brother Joseph are whisked off in the middle of the night to their grandparent's house, and we soon learn new baby Dannie has been born into the Lapp family. I found myself laughing at Lily's reaction as she first meets her new baby brother, not to mention the reaction she has to Freida Troyer who has come to help her mother for a few days after the birth of the baby. There are so many happenings around an Amish farm, from a barn raising to getting a new milk cow and even a trip to Kentucky to see the Lapp grandparents. One thing is for certain, life is never boring when you see things thru the eyes of Lily Lapp.<br /><br />I loved this book, once I started reading it I just couldn't put it down. I enjoyed meeting the Lapp family and was a bit surprise at where the final chapters led us. The illustrations are very well done, and further enhance the story. I really can't wait to read the next book in The Adventures of Lily Lapp series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1349581688000, "title": "Perfect for all ages" }, { "asin": "0800734173", "rating": 5, "text": "Seventeen year old Susannah Grace Kennedy made the move from Badger, Iowa to Boston after the death of her parents. She is going to be living with her aunt Eleanor, and has decided she wants to forget her \"good girl\" past, and even decides she wants to be called Annie. Her sister Maggie had sent her letters while in college raving about the hot spots in Boston, so Annie starts hanging out with a fast crowd, and making some choices that aren't so wise. When she meets Steven O'Connor her sister's former fiancee she falls hard for him. Thing is he doesn't know that Annie is actually Maggie's sister, and Steven really isn't interested anyway, or at least that's what he keeps telling himself. What will happen when he realizes who Annie really is?<br /><br />Another great story from Julie Lessman! I enjoyed connecting with the characters from the former books, and with that said, even though this is the third book in the Wind Of Change series it can easily be read as a stand alone work.<br />The thing that I enjoy about this series is the many subplots that go on within the book, and \"A Love Surrendered\" is no different. The main characters are Steven a prohibition agent with the government that is dealing with a broken heart, even though he was the one to break things off with Maggie he believes he is still in love with her. Annie seems like someone who is anxous to grow up.It was so nice to see both of the characters grow spiritually as the story progressed. The secondary stories really keep the plot moving along, and allow us to reconnect with the O'Connor family. Overall I have really enjoyed this series, it has everything that I enjoy reading. Historical fiction that brings the time period to life along with great characters, romance and a nice inspirational message who could ask for anything more?<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1350262108000, "title": "Fantastic series" }, { "asin": "0857212052", "rating": 4, "text": "Coming back to work after the death of his partner, Frank Campello finds himself paired with a new partner. Andy Polanski is an officer that has a reputation of being on to steer clear of, and unfortunately he is Frank's new partner.As the two investigate the brutal murder of a young girl, they quickly learn that there is more to the murder than meets the eye. As they continue to dig, the learn that an organized crime ring is involved and that ring has some friends in high places. Will they be able to solve the crimes and bring the criminals to justice.<br /><br />\"The Sons of Jude\" gave me a good look at how crime families operate, something I really don't think I have ever read about before.It was intesting to see how they can get thier footing in politics and then sort of run the show. This was a very well written suspense, thriller, that provided a few twists, and a satisfying ending. Normally I enjoy a fast paced read, however \"The Sons of Jude,\" moves along at at slower pace providing rich detail, that really allowed the story to build for me. Overall, I enjoyed reading this one, and the ending has me putting the next book in this series on my TBR list.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1350699592000, "title": "The Sons of Jude" }, { "asin": "0310330459", "rating": 5, "text": "To say that I love this series is an understatement. I feel like Ms. Chapman's storytelling just gets better and better. While I love the mystery that takes place in each of the Shipshewana Amish Mystery series, it's really the friendships that take place between the Amish and English characters that really sells me on the series.<br /><br />The Fall Crafters Fair which is Shipshewana's largest festival of the year, is in full swing, when a murder takes place in the parking lot of Daisy's Quilt Shop.With only one witness to the crime, it might not be so easy to solve. As things start to escalate Callie realizes that she just might be the intended target, it seems she has something the killer wants, but she isn't sure what it is! Thing is this killer isn't going to stop until he gets it, regardless of what he has to do. Can the police figure it out, or will it take Callie and her friends to solve this one?<br /><br />To say this book has a fast moving plot is an understatement! Once I started reading it, I couldn't wait to see what might happen! There were several suspenseful moments in the story, which pulled it right along. This book really has it all,in addition to the small town feel of the story, it has the Amish/Englisher friendship, a splash of romance,a nice mystery, a dog, baby, Amish children one of which is dealing with an illness that was new to me. Chicken Breast Disease was something I had never heard of but learned a bit about in this story.I always enjoy whenever a dog is included in a story and with this one we have Max. The author provides a satisfying ending, that wraps up the story nicely, I just hope that this book isn't the final one in the series.<br /><br />While this is the third book in the Shipshewana Amish Mystery series it can easily be read as a stand alone work, although if you're a fan of Amish fiction, cozy mysteries, or just a great read, you are certainly going to want to read the entire series. Each story is a good clean read, that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1351647118000, "title": "Great series" }, { "asin": "1603745068", "rating": 3, "text": "Kristi Lapp is a young Amish lady who is also a practicing midwife for her community. While on her way to an appointment she winds up in a buggy accident.Shane Zimmerman, her next door neighbor and local veterinarian happens by and finds her buggy and gets Kristi to the hospital. Because her parents are in Florida, Shane takes it upon himself to start visiting Kristi daily while she is in the hospital. He also decides to start taking care of Chinook, so that the dog can get the exercise he needs until Kristi recovers. Soon though Kristi starts having feelings for Shane, and he feels drawn to her as well. Of course when Kristi's dad comes home and forbids Shane from having anything else to do with Kristi because he is afraid she might leave the faith. How can an Amish midwife and an Englisher vet ever have a chance at love?<br /><br />I became a fan of Laura V. Hilton after reading her last series, The Amish of Seymour, and I like how some of the characters from that series was mentioned in this book. There were several things that I really liked about \"Healing Love\" but there were a few things that also fell a bit flat for me as well. So I am going to expound on the positive aspects first. The author captured my attention from the beginning pages. Kristi, a practicing Amish midwife has a buggy accident while on her way to visit a patient. Well that grabbed my attention, and then we are introduced to Shane Zimmeran, a promising character who has roots that harken back to the Amish but is now an Englisher. As Kristi's neighbor he gets her to the hospital, and then starts spending time with her. They are drawn to each other, but both know that a relationship is next to impossible. Seems though they find themselves together at every turn, as if fate is drawing them together. Shane's feelings about midwives really was understandable. I thought the secondary story of Shane's sister and her baby added to the overall effect of the story. I always enjoy whenever a dog is added to a story and with this one we have Chinook, Kristi's dog who loved Shane as well.<br /><br />The things that fell a bit flat for me was the complaining that Kristi often did about English food, I mean that sort of got old fast. I also felt like Kristi's dad, and uncle were a bit wishy washy when it came to trying to keep Kristi and Shane apart, and I was really shocked at the manner in which Ira threw Kristi out of the house. Overall, not my favorite Hilton read, but still good. I look forward to reading her next book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352261572000, "title": "Healing Love" }, { "asin": "0310335108", "rating": 4, "text": "It's been two years since Sarah Shetler's best friend Patty died in unexpectedly and since then Sarah has carried around a memory jar, and keeps her memories tucked inside so that she won't have to deal with her emotions.When she meets Jathan Schrock, an Amish bachelor with issues of his own, something changes. Can Jathan penetrate the walls that Sarah has built around her heart?<br /><br />Overall, I enjoyed this book. It dealt with loss, pain, friendship,and the wonderful inspirational message of allowing God to heal. While I enjoyed reading about Sarah and Patty's friendship, I found that the flashbacks of these memories sometimes broke the flow of the story and made it feel a bit choppy for me. It did seem very realistic that it took time for Sarah to heal, from her loss. Jathan is also dealing with issues that make both of the characters seem very realistic. It was so nice to see the characters grow and change as the story progressed.<br /><br />While this wasn't my favorite Tricia Goyer novel, I did enjoy it. There are discussion questions that would make this a great book club selection. The author also includes a glossary of words used by the Amish that is very helpful. I am anxious to read the next book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series.<br /><br />3.5/5<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352345899000, "title": "The Memory Jar" }, { "asin": "0736951512", "rating": 5, "text": "I am a true fan of Jerry Eicher. I have been reading his Amish fiction for quite some time and I normally never have a complaint about his work, well with \"Susanna's Christmas Wish\" my only complaint was that it didn't last long enough. The characters were great, the story line was perfect for my Christmas reading marathon, and while it was a short read that didn't last long enough for me. The author does provide well fleshed characters, and a nice plot that is short, sweet and satisfying!<br /><br />Mathew Yoder and Susanna Keim had been dating for two years, and were actually engaged when Mathew broke her heart when he decided to leave the Amish life. When Herman Wagler asks her to marry him she agrees even though she doesn't love him like she did Matthew, she is sure that in time she will. Problems start to arise when Herman announces that he doesn't celebrate Christmas the way Susanna's family does. Added to this Matthew is back in town. How will this affect the newly married couple, is their marriage able to withstand all the turmoil going on? Pick up \"Susanna's Christmas Wish\" and find out!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1352779454000, "title": "Jerry Eicher is the king of Amish fiction!" }, { "asin": "0800720040", "rating": 5, "text": "The year is 1882, in the Wyoming Territory. After the death of her husband Josef, Celia Anderson is running a boarding house in the town of Easton to support her six month old Emma. Her friend Bertha keeps telling her it's time to find herself a new husband, but Celia has decided that she will only marry for love, and besides she stays very busy running her boarding house and babysitting young Aaron. Mark Williams has been looking for his father for two years,and his search has led him to Easton, to Celia's boarding house. As she gets to know Mark she sees the kind man that he is, but is he the right man for her, after all will he even stick around? While Mark feels drawn to Celia, will he stay in Easton?<br /><br />A short novella that was such a satisfying, quick read. I loved the characters, as well as the small town feel of the story. Celia and Mark were such good lead characters. She was strong, after all she had lost her husband, was trying to raise a daughter and run a boarding house, but the author allowed us to see another side of Celia, one who wanted to be loved and cherished. Mark was such a wonderful man, one I would consider a true gentleman. While he was carrying a bit of hurt from his past it didn't make him bitter. Strong secondary characters rounded out the story quite well, and I would love to see a story develop around Jacob, Arron's father, who had intentions of sending away for a mail order bride. Overall, a short, sweet, historical fiction that warmed my heart.<br /><br />A complementary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1353652395000, "title": "short,sweet, historical Christmas read" }, { "asin": "1401685676", "rating": 4, "text": "This book encompasses two of my favorite types of books Amish fiction and short stories. \"An Amish Kitchen\" is comprised of three short stories written by three of today's premiere Amish fiction authors.<br /><br />The first story is a \"Taste of Faith\" written by Kelly Long. Twenty year old Deborah Zook has been living with her grandmother Esther Zook since the age of five when her parents died of the flu. She has a love for tending flowers and herbs and her grandmother has the wish to see her trained in healing herbs, but more than that she wishes that her granddaughter would find a man and marry, and truthfully Fern wishes for someone as well. At the age of twenty-three Abram Fisher is a dyed in the wool bachelor, who never paid any attention to Fern, but when he needs Fern's help after his sister Mary becomes sunburned he begins to look at Fern in a different light. Will fate bring these two together?<br /><br />\"A Spoonful of Love\" by Amy Clipston is the story of Hannah King, who has been managing the Paradise Inn since her father had a stroke a year ago. When Stephen Esh comes to town looking for a place to stay he rents a room at the end. Could Stephen be the one Hannah has been hoping will come into her life? What about his past, why is he so far from home? Will he be able to let go of the past and embrace the future?<br /><br />\"A Recipe for Hope\"by Beth Wiseman is the story of Eve Bender. At the age of thirty-eight Eve Bender finds herself moving back home with her parents after a tree crashes into her farmhouse. Not only is she moving back home but she her husband and three teen age boys who are going thru rumspringa also will be moving in as well. Eve and her mother often didn't see eye to eye on things will spending two months under her parents roof allow them to heal the hurts from the past?<br /><br />I loved each of these stories, that gently remind of faith and family. My favorite story easily had to be \"A Recipe for Hope.\" I enjoyed the fact that Eve was a bit older and her sons added an interesting layer to the story.Her oldest son Leroy is eighteen and Amos and Elias are her twin sixteen year old boys. Amos also has a Chinese Water Dragon that provided a few funny moments.<br /><br />If you have never read Amish fiction this book is a delightful way to sample these three great authors. There is a glossary of \"Amish\" words included for newbie Amish fiction readers. The recipes which include some herbal treatments are just an added bonus. While each story is a tad predictable overall I enjoyed each of them, and would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good clean read with a splash of romance and an Amish cast of characters.<br /><br />Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1354680094000, "title": "An Amish Kitchen" }, { "asin": "0800719891", "rating": 5, "text": "I have loved the entire Stoney Ridge Seasons series and couldn't wait to read Mary Kate's story who happened to be one of my favorite characters in the series. All I can say is that Suzanne saved the best story for last!<br />At the age of nineteen Mary Kate also known as M.K. is still a bit irresponsible and full of mischief, but when one of her stunts has her running into the Amish teacher she is forced to grow up quick and take over the responsibilities of being the teacher. Will she take the job seriously? Well in the beginning M.K. doesn't do very well, but soon with the help of a former teacher things start to look up. Will M.K. ever really settle down, and do we really want her too! Added to this is an unexpected death, a mysterious stranger comes to town, along with that someone comes up missing, and you have a page turner filled with plenty of interesting happenings, that include a few unexpected twists!<br /><br />From the beginning paragraphs Ms. Fisher creates a story that's filled with a bit of mystery along with plenty of excitement for nineteen year old M.K. Lapp who had been longing for a bit of adventure. I just loved the words the author used to express the restlessness that M.K. felt. They allowed for such vivid scenes to play out in my head, I could just imagine M.K. feeling the need to spread her wings and fly to someplace that would seem more exciting than her tiny town!<br />I have read each book in this wonderful series, and for me each story just keeps getting better. I enjoyed meeting the new characters in the story, and loved reconnecting with the Lapp family, including Doozy the dog! Fans of Amish fiction will love this story, but anyone who enjoys a bit of mystery, romance and a story that will keep you glued to the pages then your going to want to read the entire series, and if you have never read anything by Ms. Fisher why not start with the Stoney Ridge Seasons, I promise you wont be disappointed. On a scale of one of one to five I would easily give this entire series a six because it's just that good!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1357271048000, "title": "The Lesson" }, { "asin": "0800719867", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Choices of the Heart\" is the third book in The Midwives series and takes place in Virginia in 1842. Esther Cherrett finds herself in the midst of something that forces her to head for the mountains of Virginia and take a job teaching, hoping that she can leave her problems behind. Instead she finds herself smack dab in the middle of a family feud between the Tollivers and the Brooks, added to that is the fact that Griff Tolliver as well as Zach Brooks wants to court her. Which one will win her heart, and does it really matter, especially when her past catches up with her? What will happen when the past she tried to outrun reaches the mountains?<br /><br />As a fan of historical fiction I have enjoyed this entire series. Ms. Eakes does a wonderful job of creating realistic characters that are very easy to connect with because of the issues that they are dealing with. Esther's character wants to run from her past, but learns that the past has a way of catching up with you anyway. It was interesting to see her character grow and change as the story progressed. Griff was determined to see the feud end between the families, which made him a stand out character for me. While I enjoyed the characters I also loved the way the author brought the region to life, the descriptions allowed me to envision the area as well as the time period. Overall the historical feel of the story along with a great plot that provided a few twists made this a great read. While this book could be read as a stand alone work, I recommend reading the entire series. If your a fan of historical romance, with an inspirational bent your going to enjoy \"Choices of the Heart.\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1358659590000, "title": "Choices of the Heart" }, { "asin": "0800734602", "rating": 5, "text": "Cheyenne Wyoming Territory is the setting for \"Waiting for Spring.\" It's 1886 and its been a year since Charlotte Harding's world was turned upside down, and she was forced to flee to Cheyenne so that she and her young son David might be safe. While she has made a new life and friends, even opening a dress shop, she still worried for the safety of her son. When she meets Barrett Landry, a wealthy rancher who has political aspirations they are drawn to each other, but he needs a wife with political connections and she can't risk her past being exposed, what will happen between them?<br /><br />Charlotte was such a nice character, a wonderful mother willing to do whatever she needed to do to protect her son. I so wanted things to work out for Charlotte. I enjoyed reading about her dress shop, as well as her interactions with her customers. There are several secondary characters that really propel this story along including Gwen Amos and her daughter Rose who was a great help to Charlotte. A great well rounded story, romance, with mystery,suspense as well as the historical setting made this book a real winner for me. To be honest I was drawn to this book because of it's beautiful cover, but the characters and story are what truly shine with this one. Amanda Cabot is easily one of my favorite historical fiction writers, and I look forward to reading the next book in the Westward Winds series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1358662438000, "title": "Waiting for the next book in this fantastic series" }, { "asin": "0800720393", "rating": 5, "text": "After a disastrous marriage Charlotte Farrow finds it necessary to flee her husband in order to keep not only herself but her newborn son safe as well. She becomes a maid for the Banning household, but one of the job requirements was that she be unmarried and without children, so she keeps her son a secret. When Mrs. Given, the lady that Charlotte has entrusted with her young son Henry, has a family emergency and needs to leave town she brings the baby to Charlotte at work. Charlotte finds herself in a dilemma, if she confesses she will certainly lose her job, but if she doesn't will she lose her son?<br /><br />While this book is the second in the Avenue of Dreams series I feel like it can be read as a stand alone work, although because the first book was quite engaging I would recommend reading it as well. This book picks up right were the last one left off. I found myself feeling empathy for Charlotte's dilemma, and couldn't imagine being in her position. Lose her job, or protect her son, and not only that there is the hopes of romance, but when or if the truth comes out will it be the end of her hopes for a new beginning? In addition to Charlotte's compelling story we get a very good glimpse the differences between the social classes during this time in history. Also we get a great historical glance of the Chicago's Worlds Fair. Overall, fans of historical fiction will certainly enjoy not only this book but the entire series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1359426815000, "title": "Historical fiction fans will enjoy this series" }, { "asin": "0800721330", "rating": 5, "text": "\"A New Home for Lily\" has Lily and her family moving to Pennsylvania to be closer to family. Things are really changing for young Lily. She no longer has her own bedroom, she finds herself in a new school with new children, added to that is the fact that there is a new baby in the house. She does have her faithful dolly Sally. While some changes seem a little intimidating some are chock full of fun. One things certain young Lily keeps her faithful dolly Sally close by for comfort! Will Lily adjust to all the changes going on? Read this wonderful book to be pulled along into young Lily's life where adventures abound, and the reader gets wonderful glimpses of Amish life.<br /><br />While this book is geared toward the younger reading set, I find it a totally refreshing read. I enjoy reading about the day to day Amish goings on, and the character of Lily is just wonderful. Life is full of adventure and never boring your Lily. A great read whether your eight or eighty. Young girls are going to enjoy Lily and her adventures while they learn about the Amish lifestyle. I can't recommend this series enough. On a scale of one to five it easily gets a six in my book!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1360552318000, "title": "A New Home for Lily" }, { "asin": "0800734300", "rating": 5, "text": "I have become a huge fan of Biblical fiction so to say I was excited to read \"Rebekah\" is sort of an understatement, because I remember reading her story in the book of Genesis.Well after reading Jill Eileen Smith's fictionalized account of her story, I know I will never forget Rebekah, because she brought the story to life making me feel as if I was right there as the events take place.The twins that she bore, and who she chose as her favorite. Ms. Smith allowed me to see Rebekah as a mother, not just another woman in the Bible. The author easily pulled me back into Bible days, with a richness in descriptions that brought the time and setting to life. I certainly enjoyed how the author incorporated scripture verses thru the story. Overall, fans of Biblical fiction will certainly want to read this one, but anyone who enjoys historical fiction with romance, where the characters just happen to be from the Bible will certainly want to read this memorable story. I can't wait to read the next book in this exciting series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361247483000, "title": "Rebekah" }, { "asin": "0800720733", "rating": 4, "text": "I love books that take place around the time of the Civil War so \"When the Heart Heals\" was a much anticipated read for me. This book takes place during 1867 in Noble Springs, Missouri. Rosemary Saxon was a nurse during the civil war, but with the war over she has to support herself somehow so she decides to work for Dr. Elijah Stewart the doctor in town.Rosemary believes in using herbal remedies and often gives out advice against which is something the doctor doesn't care for, which often causes them to butt heads on occasion. As they work together an attraction grows, but someone comes along that has Rosemary thinking she needs to leave town. Rosemary also finds herself having problems because of some advice that she has given to someone about herbs. How will things work out for Rosemary? Will she be accepted for who she is, and does she and Elijah work things out?<br /><br />While I felt like I ultimately knew how things would work out for the main characters it was such a wonderful story that gets me to that conclusion. I am such a fan of sweet romance,as well as strong women that don't often conform to what society thinks that they should be.The plot moves along at a good pace, and the author sprinkles a bit of suspense to make it more interesting. I love when we get a pet woven into a story and with this one we have Rosemary's dog Bodie. Overall, while I knew where this story was headed I certainly enjoyed the telling that gets us there. Fans of historical fiction who also enjoy a good clean read will certainly love this one. While this book is the second in the Sisters at Heart series it can easily be read as a stand alone work.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361697768000, "title": "When the Heart Heals" }, { "asin": "1596693584", "rating": 4, "text": "\"The Moses Quilt\" is a story that will capture the heart and provide you with a surprising yet satisfying ending!<br /><br />Mazie Hartford is a 24 year old whose life seems to be falling right into place, she recently finished college, and is set to take a job in the fall. Added to that her boyfriend Edward, a lawyer in his fathers firm has ask her to marry him. Thing is she has been dragging her feet, hesitant to say yes. Her great-grandmother moved in with Mazie and her mother five years ago, leaving the deep South for California. Now at the age of 93 her great-grandmother Mimi knows that her time left is coming to an end and wants to pass on a family heirloom to her namesake Mazie. The heirloom is a Moses quilt and along with the quilt is the telling of the history behind the quilt. Perhaps Mimi's story of family history will help Mazie make up her mind about her future.<br /><br />There are two stories going on in the pages of this book. The contemporary romance between Mazie and Edward, which happens to be an interracial relationship. The secondary story is the story behind the Moses Quilt, and that was truly the stand out story for me, because with Mimi's story we learn about Harriet Tubman. We learn where she came from, the cruel treatment she endured and ultimately why she was so adamant to see her people be free. I always enjoy getting a history lesson along with a fictional read and that's just what I found woven into the pages of \"The Moses Quilt.\" While the romance was ok it was Mimi and her story that made this book a real winner for me. A great way to learn a bit about African American History.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1361744761000, "title": "History lesson was stand out for me" }, { "asin": "1621360210", "rating": 5, "text": "Cassandra Todd finds herself needing to leave her home in the middle of the night, her husband Brad is an abusive man, and while Cassandra was willing to take his beatings when he threatens to turn the abuse on their son Justin she knows it's time to leave. She heads to Lakewood, the town she grew up in hoping to cash in some bonds that her parents left her and then disappear When the bank transaction takes a bit longer than she anticipates she finds herself needing to spend a few days in town and checks into The Mountain View Motel. When hired men show up she finds herself needing the help of the motel handyman.<br />Turner Caldwell's high school years is something he has tried to put behind him. Bullied unmercifully by the jocks, especially Brad Duncan, who even gave him the nickname \"Pancake.\" Turner always had a crush on Cassandra Todd, but she was one of the popular crowd, a cheerleader. After being gone for seven years Cassandra shows up with her young son Justin and stays a few nights at the motel where Turner works, causing those old feelings and emotions to bubble to the surface. When she shows up at his door and tells him that she is running from her husband, who just happens to be Brad Duncan,and needs his help Turner finds himself in the midst of something that could possibly change his life forever.<br /><br />I found myself intrigued within the first few pages of this story. Cassandra finds herself needing to leave an abusive husband, and winds up going back to her home town. How ironic that the boy that was bullied in high school by her husband is the one she turns to for help. While I could empathize with Cassandra and her plight, I really felt for Turner and the memories that haunted him.I could understand why he was angry with God. In addition to the bullying he had experienced in high school, he had also lost a job he loved, his mother had died, and his father sort of abandoned him. Cassandra on the other hand held fast to her faith and felt like God was leading her.<br /><br />The author tackles two pretty tough subjects within the pages of this story, spousal abuse and bullying. Cassandra was willing to accept the abuse for herself, but refused to allow her husband to abuse her son. I thought the author really shined when it came to showcasing just how bullying can haunt someone for years. Overall I found this to be a very fast paced story laced with suspense, drama, along with several inspirational, motivational messages as well. Recommended!<br /><br />A review copy was provided by Glass Roads PR in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1362628135000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "080072089X", "rating": 3, "text": "\"Moonlight Masquerade\" is a Regency Romance set in London during 1813. Lady Celine Wexham was French born, but married an English Earl. Thing is her husband, was older,and not very nice. After his death she has money and wealth, which allows her to help those in need. Thing is the English government thinks that she may be a spy and sends Rees Phillips to work undercover as her butler to find out the truth.<br /><br />Regency romance isn't a genre that I normally read, so I was excited to try this one. While the story was really slow to pick up in the beginning, it did pick up, but never really held my attention. I hoped for a fast paced spy drama with romance woven in, but I was left wishing that there had been more romance between the two main characters. I did enjoy the historical aspects of the story, and thought that Rees was a very likable character. Overall, just a middle of the road read for me that didn't excite or inspire, I would say that if you enjoy a historical read, set during the regency era, you might enjoy this book. It just really wasn't my cup of tea.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1362959943000, "title": "Moonlight Masquerade" }, { "asin": "0764209914", "rating": 5, "text": "I found myself drawn into this story from the beginning. Molly Lovelace has always been treated like Daddy's little princess, and because everyone seemed to think that she was just a pretty female, who loved to shop, without a true thought in her head that's just how she acts. Her father has decided who he wants her to marry and doesn't plan on giving her a say in matters. Thing is she already has her heart set on someone, and that someone isn't who her father has in mind for her. He wants her to marry someone wealthy, such as Edward Pierrepont, but she can't get the cowboy Bailey Garner out of her heart. Will she go against her father, who does she ultimately choose?<br />I really enjoyed Regina Jenning's first novel, \"Sixty Acres and a Bride\" so I was totally anxious to read this one, and as a fan of historical romantic fiction this book certainly suited me to a tee! Once I got Molly's story I totally understood why she acted the way she did, after all her father Thomas had certain expectations of her. I also understood her feelings for Bailey, after all they had been childhood friends. I could just imagine the pressure that Bailey felt in finding a job so that he would be financially \"secure\" enough to support Molly in the way that she was accustomed. the on again off again twisty relationship between the pair kept me guessing as to how things might work out. I felt like the author created authentic characters for the time period For me though it was their spiritual development that really made the characters shine. I enjoyed seeing several of the characters from \"Sixty Acres and a Bride,\" but did feel like the author provided enough information that this could be read as a stand alone novel. Fans of historical romance with an inspirational slant will certainly enjoy this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1363743376000, "title": "Love In The Balance" }, { "asin": "1451574827", "rating": 4, "text": "\"The Gospel Centered Woman\" is a Bible study that not only discusses what God created his daughters to be, but how to achieve and live his plan without feeling oppressed but instead uplifted and exalted.<br /><br />This Bible study is broken down into three sections with the first section titled Created in God's Image which delves into what God create women to be, and how they are created to bear the image of God. This section also touches on the fall of man and woman. \"Section two titled Redeemed to Reflect God Once More\" touches on topics such as forgiving and being forgiven, finding contentment, and how the Gospel can unite women with Christ. Section three is titled \"Wisdom in the Tension\" and is geared at helping women navigate through daily life.<br /><br />Overall, I found this an easy to use Bible study and really appreciated how the author doesn't just give us her opinion but instead provides us with scripture that allows us to understand and read where she is coming from. I found it helpful that she includes a blank page at the end of each chapter so that we can take notes on what we have read. The discussion questions included would make this a great Bible study for women's groups. Many of the questions are geared to make the reader reflect not only on what they have read but also what they might be dealing with in their own lives. My only complaint is that I wish the questions would have been placed at the end of each chapter instead at the back of the book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1364435962000, "title": "The Gospel Centered Woman" }, { "asin": "0764207970", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Unrivaled\" takes place in St. Louis Missouri in 1910. Lucy Kendall's family owns the City Confectionery candy company, but it looks like that might change. Their company had struggled financially, but after Lucy's father has a heart attack, it looks like the answer might be to sell out, or at least that's what Lucy's mother wants to do. Lucy doesn't want to see that happen and begs her mother to reconsider. When her mother agrees to give Lucy a month to try and save the business by creating a new candy, there is one stipulation attached. Lucy must also go to the Veiled Prophet Ball, because Lucy's mother thinks it's well past time that Lucy find a husband and settle down. Lucy agrees but her plan is to unveil her new candy at the ball.<br /><br />Charlie Clarke's father left the family when he was only seven years old, so he had grown up hating his father, but not really knowing him. Now at the age of twenty-two after getting into a bit of trouble his mother contacts his father who offers him a job working for him in the Royal Taffy company in St. Louis. When he arrives in town he literally runs into Lucy, and she feels something too, but thing is neither one knows who the other is. Will the company rivalry keep the two apart, or ultimately bring them together?<br /><br />\"Unrivaled\" easily pulled me back in time, allowing for a unique glimpse of the candy making business during the early 1900's. We see the story unfold thru the eyes of two main characters. The author alternates between Lucy and Charlie's perspective, but does it in a smooth easy to follow way. Lucy sincerely wanted to keep the family business, even though during the time period women in business wasn't the norm. Thing is Lucy didn't seem to care how her actions affected others, although as the story progresses it is nice to see Lucy grow and change. I really could understand and empathize with Charlie more because he was struggling with issues from the past. There were a few secondary characters that really added to the story.<br /><br />Overall, I think my favorite parts of this story actually revolved around the candy making, I could just imagine Lucy as she was making taffy. I also got a few laughs when things didn't turn out quite right. If your a fan of historical fiction with romance, inspiration, along with a company rivalry and a bit of mystery woven into the mix then your in for a sweet treat with \"Unrivaled' by Siri Mitchell.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1364748712000, "title": "Unrivaled" }, { "asin": "1433671689", "rating": 5, "text": "Invisible\" takes place in Fort Bragg, CA and told with four unique voices. Dr. Miles Becker, who lost his wife Sarah to cancer, but before she died she made him promise her that he would move on, even suggesting someone for him to get to know. Ellyn DeMoss is a chef who runs her own restaurant She is very critical of herself because she is carrying several extra pounds.Sabina Jackson, is a counselor who says that she is taking a short sabbatical, but in truth she thinks that she is mildly depressed. There is more going on in Sabina's life than she is willing to admit. Twila Boaz had weight issues and was finally diagnosed with anorexia but now recovering she works with her mother at a health food store and uses tattoos in order to cover up her body, but also to express her feelings. Each of these characters lend their voice to \"Invisible\" and as their stories unfold, they blend together making for a remarkable tale with several powerful messages.<br /><br />I was afraid that this book might get confusing because it had four unique stories, but instead the voices and stories are so unique that it is easy to understand and follow along. While I found each characters story interesting, I have to say that Ellyn was the character that really resonated with me. Her poor self image and struggle with weight was something that is very relevant in today's society. Her inner voice that she named Earl, was very negative. Because she was so disappointed in herself she was certain that she was a disappointment to God as well. When the doctor shows an interest in her she can't imagine what he would see in her, even thinking there might be something wrong with him.<br />Overall, this was a story where the characters are struggling with issues that were very relatable, but more than that left the message of God's love and acceptance. Not a light fluffy read, instead the author crafts characters that are so easy to relate too, because each in their own way are struggling with things that are relevant in today's society. The discussion questions provided at the end of the story would make this a great group read. A story that will inspire and challenge, and maybe even motivate.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1365133412000, "title": "Invisible" }, { "asin": "0824932463", "rating": 5, "text": "Six months after the death of their mother Caroline Marris, along with her sisters Gracie Gold and Sam Carter plan a two week getaway to Nantucket a place their mother loved. While strolling on the beach they arrive at the Misty Harbor Inn, a place their mother dreamed of owning and are surprised at the condition of the old inn. The sisters decide to purchase the inn even though it will take a lot of work to get it ready to open. When they find some old postcards they are find themselves immersed in the mystery of Hannah Montague, the widow of the original owner. Can they figure out what happened to her?Will the sisters be able to get the inn open, and will this adventure draw them together or pull them apart?<br /><br />I loved the family feel of this novel. Each sister has their own unique personality giving this story a very realistic feel. Because the sisters are older I found myself easily relating to them. I could easily understand Gracie's reluctance at wanting to leave her home, but she also needed to reestablish a relationship with her sisters. In addition to the family drama going on they are renovating the inn and if that isn't enough there is an air of mystery about a former owner. \"Seaside Harmony\" is the first book in the Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn series and is the perfect way to escape for a few hours. I have always been a fan of Guideposts series and this one promises not to disappoint With elements of faith interwoven with family drama, a hint of mystery along with a splash of romance, I really look forward to my next visit to the Misty Harbor Inn.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1366945739000, "title": "Seaside Harmony" }, { "asin": "0824932471", "rating": 5, "text": "It's spring in Nantucket and the girls have been working all year to get the Inn in tip top shape to open and what better time to have the grand opening than while the town is celebrating with the Daffodil festival. We get to meet the guests , but more than that the mystery of the previous owner continues to unfold.<br /><br />The three sisters really make this a stand out series, it's so nice to see their relationships grow and change as the story progresses. I always enjoy whenever an animal is included in a story and we Max, Carolines cocker spaniel continues to make appearances in this story. I think the element of mystery that is woven into the story really adds to the storyline. I found the historical aspects of the mystery quite interesting. \"Sunflower Summer\" is the second book in the Postcards From Misty Harbor Inn series and I really think that to understand the story completely the books should be read in order. A wonderful setting, interesting characters along with elements of faith, and the mystery woven in really held my attention and has me anxious to read the next book in this series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1366946318000, "title": "Sunflower Summer" }, { "asin": "0800722256", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been a fan of Melody Carlson for years. She does a wonderful job of pulling me into whatever story she is writing, making me understand the characters and whatever they might be going thru.<br /><br />\"A Simple Song\" is the story of Katrina Yoder. She has always enjoyed singing, but in her Amish world it is a sin, and therefore it is forbidden.Katrina's friend Bekka has been watching a show called American Star and really thinks that Katrina should try out for the show. For Katrina though the reason to step out into the Englisher world is more complicated than that. Her father needs to have surgery, and \"American Star\" just might be the way that Katrina could win the money, and since she hasn't been baptized into the church yet, she will go while on her rumspringa. What will her parents and community say? Will they accept her back into the community, and if she wins the money will her parents accept it! Can an Amish girl stay true to her roots while thrust into the Englisher spotlight! Read this page turning story to find out!<br />I found \"A Simple Song,\" to be a nice, quick read that is filled with interesting characters that are easy to like. I could easily understand Katrina and the choices she made. I thought it was interesting how her grandfather encouraged singing at her grandmother's funeral. The reason that was revealed was touching and allowed me to further understand Katrina's story. I found the behind the scenes descriptions of \"American Star\" interesting, and while I kind of knew how things might work out it was still fun to see how Melody Carlson would allow things to work out! Overall, this fun little read, is great for teens but also a quick read for adults who enjoy Amish fiction as well.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1371435536000, "title": "Another great story from Melody Carlson" }, { "asin": "0764209663", "rating": 5, "text": "When an outlaw's daughter want's a preacher for her birthday, what's her outlaw daddy to do but have someone go out and kidnap,or preachernap,one for her! After all it's Joanna Robbins twenty-first birthday and she deserved something big, after all she is still grieving the loss of her mother.Truth is Jo has been praying for a preacher to come along and help revive their little community church, but she never imagined the lengths her father would go to to bring a preacher to her. When her father kidnaps Crockett Archer and brings him home for her birthday she knows she will have to let him go because he has other plans, but she can't help but hope he might decide to stay!<br />I found myself immediately drawn to this book because of the cover,and title,after all I couldn't imagine what \"Stealing The Preacher\" might entail, but I have to say it was the attention grabbing story that kept me turning the pages to see where and what would happen next! I found myself loving these characters and even understanding the reasoning of why Joanna's father did what he did! I loved the lively conversations that literally brings the story to life. I also enjoyed the historical feel of the story! Fans of historical fiction that enjoy stories that provide more than a few laughs along with several smiles, a lively cast of characters and a nice, inspirational romance will find themselves devouring \"Stealing The Preacher\" in one sitting, I know that I did! An unputdownable read for me!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1371527327000, "title": "Fun historical read" }, { "asin": "1433679302", "rating": 5, "text": "Daphne Ballinger's left her small town life in Appleton with high hopes of having a writing career in the Big Apple. Thing is it's thirteen years later, and she is finds herself stuck in a job that is far from what she hoped for, sharing the same apartment, and still heartsore from a relationship from ten years ago when a boyfriend burned her bad. When she gets a call from her father that her rather eccentric ninety-one year old aunt Dee passed away she goes home. She is soon surprised that her aunt left her sole beneficiary of everything that she owned, including a beautiful old Victorian, a vintage Corvette and plenty of money, there is just a couple of snafu's her aunt left some pretty specific requirements and Daphne has a year to fulfill her aunt's wishes. If she doesn't the house will be given to the \"Cat House\" the shelter where she adopted her beloved kitties Lucy and Ethel. As several secrets come to light about Aunt Dee Daphne learns things that she would have never guessed. Will Daphne leave New York behind and move back to Appleton, and if she does will she be able to meet the requirements of Dee's will?<br /><br />Melody Carlson is one of my all time favorite writers, her versatile writing skills, has taken me on several adventures and \"Lock, Stock, and Over a Barrel\" allows me to watch Daphne Ballinger go from someone who seemed unhappily stuck in her life to someone with choices if only she can embrace them. Daphne is a character that is so easy to relate to, she was someone that had hopes and dreams, but after years of the same old same old her life was in a rut! I enjoyed seeing the changes that precipitated in her life once she returned to Appleton. Plenty of secondary characters really stood out for me including Daphne's dad, his life was in transition as well, and the secrets that he learned about Aunt Dee was something that he took in stride.Even though Aunt Dee has passed away, her character played such an integral role in the plot, she seemed like a fun loving someone, who did have a few regrets and hoped to keep Daphne from making some of the same mistakes. Ms. Carlson's descriptions easily allowed me to feel the small town setting of the story, and the advice column reminded me of Dear Abby! While there is an inspirational bent to the story, it isn't overwhelming, and seemed perfectly plausible I will say the author certainly left me hanging with the ending, and I know I will keep wondering until the next installment how things will work out for Daphne! If you have never read anything by Ms. Carlson this book is the perfect time to start, or if you're like me and are a long time fan, you're not going to want to miss this one. I only hope readers don't have to wait long for the next installment in the Dear Daphne series!", "timestamp": 1372298844000, "title": "Can't wait to read book two in the series!" }, { "asin": "0800721381", "rating": 4, "text": "I have become a fan of Biblical historical fiction and \"Claudia\" is the story of a character in the Bible that is only mentioned once, but Diana Wallis Taylor doesn't let that stop her from creating a compelling story that not only brings the characters but Biblical times to life, a time when woman really had to make the best of the situations that they found themselves in.At the age of sixteen Claudia is married to Pontius Pilate , and truly loves her husband even though it was an arranged marriage.After the marriage they move to Judea where Claudia has a dream about Jesus and the role her husband will play in his crucifixion.The author certianly knew how to bring this timeperiod to life, I could just imagine the places that was described in the story. I also recognized a few Biblical characters woven into the story along with Claudia and her husband. It was nice to see a different side of Pontius Pilate, a side that only his wife Claudia saw.Even though a fictionalized story, the author makes the story believable by providing enough facts to give a sense of realism. Overall fans of historical fiction will enjoy this story, but if you enjoy historical fiction with a Biblical slant then this is a must read for you.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1372649884000, "title": "Claudia" }, { "asin": "0800721594", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Dolled Up to Die is the second book in the Cate Kinkaid mystery series and really can be read as a stand alone work, but honestly it's such a good cozy little mystery that you're probably going to want to go back and read the first book just because you're going to want more of these characters!<br /><br />When Cate Kinkaid was hired by her uncle Joe to work as an assistant investigator for Belmont Investigations he made it perfectly clear that they only handled routine investigations such as background checks, serving subpoenas and the like, thing is it seems murder cases keep cropping up in the town of Eugene, Oregon and Cate somehow finds herself in the middle of the action! The latest call is from a woman saying there has been a triple shooting, well how can Cate not help at the scene of a triple homicide especially when the caller might still be in danger. When she arrives on the scene though she does find three victims, and quickly discovers a fourth, thing is three of the gunshot victims are life sized dolls!<br /><br />\"Dolled Up to Die\" is one of those stories that you start reading and the next thing you know you are finished. The story moves along at such a fast pace that the pages just fly by. I love the character of Cate, she is a bumbling PI that provides more than a few laughs. She often talks to her fat cat Octavia, and is rescued more than once by her boyfriend Mitch. With several suspects the author doesn't make it easy to figure out who-dun-it with this one. Anyone who enjoys a fast paced cozy mystery with more than a few laughs and a bumbling heroine will certainly enjoy \"Dolled Up to Die!\"<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1374460138000, "title": "Fast paced cozy mystery" }, { "asin": "1595547827", "rating": 4, "text": "Amy Lange is grieving the loss of her brother Ben and really can't wrap her mind around the fact that it was an \"accident.\" When she receives an email stating that she might want to take a trip to Hope Island hinting that her brother Ben had secrets that actually led to his death, she decides to take the trip to Rosemary Cottage on Hope Island a place that is dear to her hoping to find solace and even thinking of moving her midwifery practice there. Mostly though she is hoping to find the answers she needs so that she can truly understand her brother's death.<br /><br />While this is the second book in the Hope Beach series by Colleen Coble it can easily be read as a stand alone work. I found myself swept into the story from the beginning pages when Gina, Curtis Ireland's sister is basically run down by a motorboat, thing is she recognized the person on the boat, but who was it? That along with wanting to know about Ben and what happened to him propelled me into this story to find the answers! Suspense filled with more than a few twists kept me turning the pages,and the romance was a nice bonus. Ms. Coble captured the beauty of the area that she writes about, allowing the setting to come to life for me. Overall, anyone who enjoys mystery/suspense with a sweet romance and a nice christian theme woven in will enjoy this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1374462505000, "title": "Rosemary Cottage" }, { "asin": "1433678209", "rating": 5, "text": "I was drawn to \"In Golden Splendor\" because I am always interested in a good historical read, and I got just what I hoped for with this novel. This story draws the reader back to the mid 1800's during the California Gold Rush.<br /><br />Seamus Handley's past was rife with disappointment, and he is haunted by a past that he just can't seem to overcome. How though did this Irishman wind up living in self exile in the Rocky Mountain Wilderness, where it seems that the lack of food might do him in. It seems though fate has something else in store for Seamus though when he finds a letter from a woman in San Francisco asking for help he has nothing to lose by heading to California. The journey he embarks on will test his mettle. Will Seamus find what he is looking for in California?<br /><br />Mr. Reynolds weaves together an epic historical tale that comes to life in the pages of this story. I found it easy to envision the journey that Seamus embarked on. Since I didn't read the first book in the story I was really interested in who Seamus was and what his background might have been. The author does a great job of providing enough information to make this a stand alone story. I became totally invested in Seamus' story wanting to know how it would end. Rich details, really brought the story to life for me, and wanting to know how things would work out for Seamus kept me reading. There were so many secondary characters that we meet on the journey that play unique roles in the story that kept it moving along. Overall, a rich historical read, blended with romance, suspense, and an inspirational message that reminds the reader of God's love. I enjoyed this book so much that I plan on going back to read the first book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1375675395000, "title": "An Epic Journey" }, { "asin": "0824932595", "rating": 4, "text": "\"Whispers On The Dock\" take readers back to Misty Harbor Inn allowing us to reconnect with the three sisters that run the Inn. With this installment the main focus is on the youngest sister Sam who enjoys baking, and hopes to enter the Summerfield baking contest. In addition to the baking contest there is the unique characters that check into the inn as well as the mystery that the three sisters are still trying to solve.<br /><br />What a wonderful, relaxing read each of the books in the series turned out to be. Even though it had been a couple of months since I read the first two books in the series it was so easy to fall right back into the storyline, because I felt like I was connecting with old friends. I thought the storyline revolving around Hannah Montague was really interesting, it was fun to see the clues unfold around this mystery. Overall, I found this book to be well written and the plot moves along well, I found the storyline relaxing and easy to read. This book is the third book in a series and really the first two books should be read to get the most from this one. Cozy mystery light is how I would describe this one, because there was a mystery but there really was much more than just the mystery going on in the story.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1378012226000, "title": "Return to Misty Harbor" }, { "asin": "0825442141", "rating": 5, "text": "Hope is often difficult to find when life throws curves our way that cause not only our heart to hurt but also damage our spirit. Instead we often close ourselves off and try and protect ourselves from further hurt, shutting off our heart in a sense to protect it. With \"Wounded Women of the Bible\" the author shares the stories of twelve different women of the Bible linking their stories with stories from today that allowed me to connect with the Biblical stories on a greater level,providing hope and encouragement reminding that we can overcome and become stronger with the help of God. I would have to say that my favorite female character in the Bible had to be Ruth, and the author's focus on her story had me thinking deeper about Ruth and what she really went thru. The author's easy to read, friendly feeling writing made this a stand out book for me. While I enjoyed reading the stories of the \"Wounded Women of the Bible\" I also found the personal stories that the authors share to be inspirational and encouraging. Overall, I think this book is a must read for women young and old, filled with inspiration and encouragement that remind the reader of God's strength and love. The study guide and discussion questions that are included make this a fantastic book for group study, personally myself I have been using the book like a Bible study, taking each chapter and turning it into a weeks worth of study and reflection.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1379190499000, "title": "Encouraging" }, { "asin": "1859857663", "rating": 5, "text": "Bumper Wipe Clean Activities book is chock full of fun things that focus on the Bible. A study book that will withstand quite a bit of use.A sturdy cover, with the wipe free pages makes this a book that will be reused often. There is a handy holder so the pen doesn't get lost from the book and the spiral binding makes it's easy for young hands to use. Bright colors and easy to read vocabulary might just light the spark of reading with your youngster. The simple activities are best suited for youngsters probably five and under, I think that perhaps an older child may find the activities a little to simplistic. Some of the activities include dot to dot, matching pairs, finding the hidden object, and mazes. I think this book would make a wonderful gift, perfect for taking along when you need to keep your youngster occupied. I would easily recommend this book to anyone looking for a sturdy book that because of the wipe free pages can be reused.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1379561007000, "title": "Good Value for a sturdy product" }, { "asin": "0800723074", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite types of books to read when I was a child was books filled jokes, so this one really brought back a lot of memories. I remembered a few of the jokes I read, and had more than a bit of fun reading the tongue twisters, something that I have never gotten good at! A book that it chock full of good, clean, jokes that is sure to tickle the funny bone, and have youngsters trying the jokes out on their friends. This book is basically like three books in one, with laugh out loud jokes for kids, zoolarious animal jokes for kids, and of course my favorite knock knock jokes, there are also tongue twisters but I was pleasantly surprised by the did you know tidbits that were filled with interesting fun facts. Many of these little facts were totally new to me! Certainly a book that will appeal to youngsters but it might also appeal to those of us that remember joke books as a kid, I know it brought back a few fond memories for me!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1390780300000, "title": "Funny with a few fun facts as well." }, { "asin": "0062204467", "rating": 5, "text": "A new series by Shelley Shepard Gray, boy I couldn't wait to dive into this one, and once I did I really couldn't put this book down until I finished it! I love books set in Sugarcreek, Ohio because it's a place I visit often so it's the familiar that really hooks me. With this book we get the story of Miriam Zehr and Albert (Junior) Beiler. Miriam longs to have a family of her own. Thing is she feels like the only way she will ever find a special someone is to leave Sugarcreek. When Junior Beiler seeks her out she is thrilled could it be that finally someone is interested in her?<br /><br />Such a delightful beginning to a promising new series. I loved these characters, and I found Miriam so easy to connect with. Who doesn't have problems with self image, and it's wonderful to see Amish portrayed as real people with real issues. Often writers create Amish characters that seem to perfect, but Ms. Gray always makes me feel like I could be reading about anyone, Amish or English because of the realism of her characters. I couldn't help but be drawn in wondering whether Miriam would ever find love, if Junior would realize what was right within his grasp. Plenty of secondary characters keeps the plot zipping along, making for a quick yet satisfying read! Hopeful is perfect for Amish fans, but anyone looking for a great read that just happens to be about the Amish will find Ms. Gray's writing easy to connect with, written with depth, but also a touching tenderness and there is a bit of mystery as well. Hopeful leaves me anxious to read the next book in the Return to Sugarcreek Series!", "timestamp": 1391708358000, "title": "I'm hooked on this new series" }, { "asin": "0800722264", "rating": 4, "text": "Melody Carlson is one of my favorite author's and My Amish Boyfriend is a real example of why she has achieved that position in my heart. She has the uncanny ability to produce a page turning read that also provides plenty of life lessons woven in. With My Amish Boyfriend we meet sixteen year old Shannon McNamara who thinks that she has her summer all planned, but when she arrives home from school her friendly neighbor who has been helping out with her sick mother informs her that she has been in contact with her mother's family in Ohio and plans are in place for them to go there. So instead of spending the summer in Indiana she finds her world turned upside down when they head to Ohio to meet family that she never new about. What adventures and life lessons are in store for Shannon? Pick up My Amish Boyfriend and find out!<br /><br />Ms. Carlson deals with several very real issues in this story, Shannon is living in a single parent home after the death of her father. Her mom worked full time until she got sick, and she really doesn't seem to be getting any better. Learning about a family that you never knew about is one thing but learning to deal with them on a daily basis is quite another, especially when they are Amish. I really liked the character of Shannon,and truly felt like her character developed well, except for the relationship that developed between her and Ezra. It felt rushed, I do get that she is sixteen and they during that age they fall in love at the drop of a hat, but it really felt rushed, and I was a bit surprised at Ezra as well. Overall, I liked the story, and enjoyed watching Shannon grow and change, especially as she learns about her family, Ms. Carlson allowed me to feel the emotions that Shannon felt. A story about faith and family, and the fact that life isn't always easy.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1393785146000, "title": "My Amish Boyfriend" }, { "asin": "1426752792", "rating": 5, "text": "I have really enjoyed reading each book in the&#34;Quilt Of Love&#34; series. What makes them unique is that each book is written by a different author,allowing us to sample each author's writing style. One thing is a constant though through each book and that's the fact that a quilt plays a part in each story. As someone who enjoys the Needlework art of quilting that in itself really drew me to the series, but the splendid writing of each author continues to bring me back for each new book.<br /><br /> In a Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare the Native American story line and the historical time frame really made this one of my favorite books in this series! Frankie Chasing Bear is a Lakota woman living in the 1950's whose grandmother taught her the art of quilting, but more than that she shared the heritage behind the Lakota Star quilt and the importance of keeping that heritage alive for generations to come. When Frankie's husband dies she leaves Pine Ridge, South Dakota moving to Arizona hoping for a better life for her ten year old son Harold, but will life be any easier there?<br /><br />A richly woven story that really brought not only the time period to life, but allowed me to feel as if I was getting a bit of a history lesson as I read the story. I could feel the turmoil that was a part of that time. My favorite character had to be Frankie, she was a young mother like any other wanting what was best for her young son. She was such a strong, brave character, who really wanted Harold, her son to know about his heritage. The author provides more than a few twists to keep the plot moving, and one of those twists is the character of Nick, who is dealing with his own issues. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction that revolves around Native Americans will be delighted with this story, but honestly it's a great read for anyone who enjoys a story about faith, family and quilts!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1394991200000, "title": "Quilt of Love" }, { "asin": "1414389752", "rating": 5, "text": "Wyoming during the spring of 1882 is where readers will find themselves transported as they read Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman. A story where the author's descriptive writing captures the feel of the old west while providing an intricately woven story that captured my imagination from the beginning paragraphs. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen with Mariah Malone. Her father confessed on his deathbed that he had purchased the Lazy M ranch, the family home with ill gotten gold that belonged to someone else. Mariah does the right thing by writing to the man, never imagining that someone would come along to claim the ranch, but that's just what happens. Slade Donovan comes to claim what belongs to his father, intending to take over the ranch, but will he?<br /><br />The main characters of Mariah and Slade are such well written characters, and the author easily pulled me into their story, making me want the best for them. Slade was one of my favorite characters, rough on the outside, but truly a gentle man. Plenty of secondary characters propel this plot along so that it never lags. Pam Hillman is a new to me author, but I enjoyed Claiming Mariah so much that I plan on checking out her other work. Fans of historical western fiction with romance, suspense, a splash of mystery that is sprinkled with humor and a faith based message will certainly enjoy this page turning read. Highly recommended!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1397790648000, "title": "Claiming Mariah" }, { "asin": "0764210580", "rating": 4, "text": "A Sensible Arrangement is the story of Marty Dandridge Olson, a thirty-five year old childless widow of four years whose beloved husband was gored by a longhorn bull. Try as she might time hadn't lessened the pain so she hopes that answering an ad to marry Jake Wythe, a banker who lives in Colorado who is looking for a Texas bride. Jake Wythe hadn't really been lucky in love, his wife left him for another man, and then died a few months later, as a banker for Morgan Bank the board members feel that a man of his standing needs to be married. So he decides to place an ad, and gets an answer from Marty. Will leaving Texas help Marty heal from the pain of her past? Feelings start to develop between them, but one thing is standing in the way, Jake wants to return to Texas and Marty has no desire to return.<br /><br />Truly a unique twist on what I consider the mail-order bride genre. Normally the ad is placed by a farmer looking for a bride, but in this instance it's a banker, and the couple is a bit more mature, with more life experience. Neither one is expecting love, but sometimes love comes when one least expects it! Marty was spunky, the stagecoach scene really showcased her grit and determination,she did have one major flaw though, she was sometimes a bit reckless with the truth, but the author handled that issue in a very real and spiritual way.Jake is someone who is still dealing with past hurts from loves gone wrong. The feelings that develop between them was ok, but I found the historical aspects to be just as interesting. Several secondary characters really kept the plot moving along. A Sensible Arrangement is more than just another mail order bride tale, its light on romance, but provides a bit of mystery, humor and a faith based message along with enough loose ends which makes me anxious to read the next book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1398029386000, "title": "A Unique twist on the mail order bride genre" }, { "asin": "0310730538", "rating": 5, "text": "Alone Yet Not Alone by Tracy Leininger that sweeps readers back to the autumn of 1755 where we meet the Leininger family, German Immigrants who have come to America looking for a new life. They settle in the Blue Mountains of PA that overlook Penn's Creek. The family of six consists of Ma and Pa along with Christian,John, Barbara, and Regina. Their faith in God is strong, and they are very thankful for all their good fortune, which includes living peacefully among the Indians.With the French-Indian War brewing though things change dramatically and one afternoon two Indian braves barge into the cabin and kidnap Barbara who is twelve and Regina age nine. The girls are soon separated and taken far from home, but they never give up hope that someday they will be together again!<br /><br />What an amazing story of faith and family, and what makes this book even better is that it is based on a true story. The author does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life within the pages of this story. I became swept up in the saga that the girls faced, and often wondered how or if they would ever be reunited with their mother. The author's attention to detail made the various scenes pop off the pages, I could easily envision the settings, whether it was the cabin, or an Indian village, the richness of detail allowed me to feel as if I was part of the story instead of just reading it. A great read for young and old alike, especially anyone who enjoys history. An easy to read story that is certainly reminds readers of the importance of never wavering in your faith in knowing that God is always with us even in our darkest hour.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1398829524000, "title": "Rich in historical detail" }, { "asin": "1859855865", "rating": 5, "text": "The Candle Bible Handbook brings the Old and New Testaments of the Bible to life by combining visual as well as scriptural information about all sixty-six books of the Bible.There is an outline of each book along with frequently asked questions and plenty of interesting information that allows for a very good overview of each book of the Bible there are even study questions included for further thought. I found the illustrations to be top notch enhancing the subjects. I have actually been studying the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and the illustrations and information included was invaluable to me in helping me visualize the tabernacle. There is also a list of the promises in the Bible, along with important passages, important people and big ideas that will further enhance the usefulness of this wonderful reference book. While the book is geared toward 8-12 year old group it really is a perfect companion for those of any age that want's to familiarize themselves with the major elements of the Bible. Great for home study or any teaching forum for that matter, an invaluable tool that really brings the Bible to life a perfect building block for anyone wanting to study their Bible.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1399945301000, "title": "Great for any age" }, { "asin": "0800721608", "rating": 4, "text": "Cate Kinkaid has a knack for finding a mystery, and with Death Takes a Ride it's no different. She has no idea that she was going to be a witness to a robbery and shooting and the victim just might not make it. To complicate matters Cate is hired to investigate, but here's the deal, she isn't hired to investigate the shooting, instead she is looking for the owner of a particular motorcycle. Of course things rarely are what they seem, and Cate always finds herself up to her eyeballs in a who-dun-it!<br /><br />I always enjoy a good mystery and this series has certainly provided that. My only complaint was that I figured out the ending early, which was sort of a bummer. That said, I always enjoy the humor that is woven into the Cate Kinkaid Files, and I think Cate's character continues to get stronger with each installment. I love whenever animals are woven into a story and with this one we have a cat and dog! Overall this book is a good clean mystery that isn't so hard to solve, but still is well worth reading for anyone who loves a cozy mystery.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1406169950000, "title": "Death Takes A Ride" }, { "asin": "0800723562", "rating": 5, "text": "As an animal lover, especially dogs there was no way that I could look at this cover and not read the book! Henry is one of those dogs that just loves life, and well also one who seems to find his way into various situations that are often laugh out loud funny, and truly capture the essence of what it truly means to be owned by your dog. Such an easy to relate to story, this book had me reminiscing about my own canines and the puppy stage that caused more than a few mishaps in my own home. The author has a certain way with describing the antics of Henry that I could honestly visualize his various escapades! Anyone who has ever owned a dog will find this a must read, but honestly if you enjoy laughing out loud while reading you are certainly going to want to read Surviving Henry!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1408327687000, "title": "Laugh out loud funny read!" }, { "asin": "0800722884", "rating": 5, "text": "The one book in the Bible I always turn to whenever I need a little comfort is the book of Psalms so I was excited to find a book of devotions based on the book. In today's world it seems there are plenty of hard days, whether you're a stay at home mother or work outside the home. From the bad news that one is bombarded with daily on the evening news or trying to juggle the never ending list that I always seem to need to do , there are plenty of hard days to muddle thru. What Your Heart Needs for the Hard Days not only encourages, but also speaks to the heart providing a needed boost while also reminding that we are never alone! First I want to say I love the size, I would consider it a pocket book, one that will easily slip into a purse or briefcase. The bright cheerful colors used on the cover captures the eye making me want to explore what is inside. Each devotion starts with a scripture from the book of Psalms, then an devotion which touches on different issues that are easy to relate to, It wraps up with a prayer and a place for writing the users own thoughts, something that I find very useful. I love that there is a table of contents so that I can skip to the devotion that I feel I might need to read for the day. Whether you have time to do this as a daily or weekly devotional is up to you, but if you need encouragement and uplifting your going to find it within the pages of this cute little book.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1410226203000, "title": "Lovely little devotional for the hard days" }, { "asin": "0800722094", "rating": 5, "text": "Suspense filled, page turning are just a few words that I would use to describe Nowhere To Turn by Lynette Eason.<br />When your married to an abusive husband the only thing to do is leave, but the danger is ramped up when your abusive husband is an FBI agent. When Danielle's husband is shot and killed you would think the worries would be over but honestly they just begin because her husband was into some shady business and now the people he dealt with wants something her husband had, and they are after her to get it!<br /><br />I think my favorite character in this one had to be eleven year old Simon. He was truly a brave young man, and my heart really went out to him. There are so many twists and turns with this story I found myself thinking I knew something only to be taken in the opposite direction. Ms. Eason has become one of my favorite authors because she is able to weave suspense, tension, mystery and drama together with romance to create a very well blended story that provides a plot that doesn't stop.The added bonus is that they are always good clean reads. While this is the second book in the Hidden Identity series it can be read as a stand alone work.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1411353727000, "title": "Edge of your seat page turner" }, { "asin": "0781409179", "rating": 5, "text": "The bright, colorful cover will certainly draw youngsters to this book, but it is the rhyming Bible stories,along with the stunning illustrations inside that are going to hold their attention as they learn about several of the most popular Bible stories. A compilation of twenty Bible stories that will certainly allow your youngster to learn about some of the Bibles most popular characters in rhyming story. I love that the author provides the location in the Bible for the scripture that each story is based on. A few of the stories include Adam and Eve, the story of Queen Esther, and Jonah and the Whale. While I did find a couple of discrepancies within the stories overall the author holds pretty true to the Bible. Overall I think Treasury of Bible Stories is a wonderful addition to any youngsters library, and would also work well for homeschooling or to use in Sunday School. A book that will certainly become a favorite with youth 4 thru 8, and I can easily imagine that even nine and ten year olds might want to read this one themselves. I found it a delightful read that would be perfect for gift giving.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1411955643000, "title": "Eye catching illustrations and rhyming verse make this one a winner" }, { "asin": "0825442052", "rating": 4, "text": "Youngsters are certainly going to enjoy guessing who as they embark on an adventure with Noah as he gatherers animals for the ark. This sturdy little board book is filled with colorful illustrations that will capture the eye and imagination as well. The rhyming story, which is written in easy to read words just might encourage your youngster to try and read along. The rhyming prose with an interactive question will get youngsters to try and guess just what animal is hiding behind the flap.Glossy pages allow for wiping off if something is spilled, the pages are sturdy and the flaps seem to stay in place when they are folded back up. A perfect little gift that surely will become a favorite, the book is geared toward 2-4 year olds and I would say that age range is pretty accurate. Overall a sturdy little storybook that shares the simplistic story that reveals a few of the animals that Noah had on the ark. One that will certainly keep a youngster entertained as they try and Guess Who is on Noah's Boat.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1414808003000, "title": "Guessing who can be lots of fun" }, { "asin": "B00KDN87CW", "rating": 5, "text": "Melody Carlson is one of my favorite authors because her writing covers such a wide variety of genres! With Trading Secrets we get the story of pen pals Micah Knight and Zack Miller, who just happens to be Amish. Thing is Micah is a girl but she never told Zack that, even though they have been sharing letters for several years. Now Micah has a chance to visit Zack on his Amish farm but how is he going to feel when he finds out that his pen pal is actually a female. .<br /><br />There were so many things that I enjoyed about this book.I can remember when I was assigned a pen pal and I think I was probably in the fifth or sixth grade,my pen pal was from England and his name was Adrian, funny story was that my teacher originally thought Adrian was a girl. Anyway back to Trading Secrets. I liked the setting of Ohio for the story, even though that's pretty typical for Amish fiction. It was the plan that Micah came up with that really got me interested, I couldn't help but wonder how she would pull it off, or even if she could. It was great that the storyline revolved around friendship, and how being honest is important. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and would love to see Ms. Carlson turn into a series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1417391561000, "title": "Another great story from Melody Carlson" }, { "asin": "0800722485", "rating": 5, "text": "At Home In Last Chance is the third book in the Place To Call Home a Series by Cathleen Armstrong. This installment pulls readers right back to Last Chance, New Mexico and tells the story of Kaitlyn Reed and Steven Braden. Kaitlyn has made plenty of mistakes in her life, and hopes to change a few when she returns to Last Chance. Steve also has a few things to prove to his family. When a relationship begins to develop between them will their past get in the way or will their hearts finally find a place to call home?<br /><br />I love the town of Last Chance and was drawn right back into the town and the lives of the characters. i have to admit I really didn't like the character of Kaitlyn in the previous book so I wasn't sure if I would enjoy her story. Well let me say the author totally changed my mind about the character and had me empathizing with her. I loved watching her character grow and change becoming who she needed to be. There is a sense of realism with this entire series that makes it very easy to relate too. I really enjoyed revisiting some of the characters from the previous books but honestly think that this book could be read without having read the other books because the author provides enough background information which allows the reader to connect with the town and characters. An emotionally charged story that grabbed my emotions and made me feel like I was reading about friends.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1422979298000, "title": "Great Series" }, { "asin": "0529103419", "rating": 4, "text": "While everyone around Sarah Montgomery is celebrating the end of the Civil War she finds her heart is broken, longing for Rand Campbell the man who never made it home. Ben Croftner has been coming to call for the past five months and while she knows she will never love him, her family wants her to marry him. Her father is very ill and wants her to take her younger brother and be settled with Ben, her brother Wade just wants to acquire land! Thing is Rand isn't dead, and when Sarah finds out she calls off her wedding, but Ben isn't easily thwarted and decides to take matters into his own hands. Can Sarah and Rand find their way back to each other, and what evilness will Ben try to accomplish in order to keep Sarah for his own?<br /><br />A Heart's Disguise easily pulled me in and wouldn't let go! A short read at only 90 pages there is plenty of life packed into so few pages! It was so easy to imagine Sarah Montgomery and the situation she was placed in. Heartbroken over losing the love of her life she only wanted to ease the mind of her father and appease her brother by marrying someone she didn't love, it seemed though that fate had another idea. Ms. Coble captures the time period right after the war where families were forced to go on even though they were grieving the loss of unreturned loved ones,but we also glimpse the time of celebration that the war was over!This short installment did what it set out to do, it left me wanting more of the story! Of course a sneak peek for A Heart's Obsession the next installment in the Journey of the Heart Series is included at the end. This series of books is taken from the previously published Wyoming Series. Overall fans of historical fiction that takes place right after the civil war will enjoy A Heart's Disguise, but honestly anyone who enjoys a story that blends faith, family and longing should also check it out!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1426467202000, "title": "The waiting for the next installment is the hardest part!" }, { "asin": "1938499867", "rating": 5, "text": "God, Me, And Sweet Iced Tea is like a refreshing sip of peace and tranquility in a sea of the turmoil that one often finds with everyday life. Rose Chandler provides just the right amount of content for her daily readings so that one can read them in just a few minutes but I guarantee you the uplifting messages will resonate with you through out the day. There are fifty-three devotions that share the authors successes but also her struggles, which is something that makes this a very easy devotional book to connect with. The author's faith is evident in each of her devotions, she shares her not only her love for God but also her ability to turn to him in for whatever she needs! Anyone looking for a way to reconnect with God, or perhaps just needing an uplifting way to start their day will certainly find that along with a sweet sense of peace and inspiration as they traverse the pages of God, Me and Sweet Iced Tea.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1430267146000, "title": "A sweet sip of inspiration" }, { "asin": "0718031652", "rating": 5, "text": "A Heart's Obsession is the second installment of The Journey of the Heart series and while a short read really packs plenty of story into a few pages. With this one Rand has headed out west and Sarah soon follows him, but when she arrives things aren't the same between her and Rand. With plenty of action and a non stop plot that really speeds by at a break neck pace this book is one that I just couldn't put down once I started reading it. Ms. Coble makes me feel as if I have stepped right into the lives of the characters, with descriptive writing the setting as well as the characters really come to life. If I had one complaint it's that when I reached the end I was left wanting more! Historical fiction fans especially fans of the time period right after the civil war when the west was becoming settled will find these books hard to put down. While the author provided enough background information with this one that one could probably read it as a stand alone I highly recommend reading the series in order to really get an in depth understanding of the relationships between the characters. Truly a book that leaves me anxiously anticipating the next installment in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1430268731000, "title": "Historical fiction fans will enjoy this series" }, { "asin": "0307731332", "rating": 5, "text": "Family secrets are something that will eventually find their way to light and with this series there are plenty of secrets! With this story Alexa has opened her bed and breakfast in her grandmother's former home, Of course starting a new business is filled with worries so when a young reporter wants to stay at the B and B for a long term stay she readily agrees, but if she knew what his assignment is would she have chosen to do so. With plenty of secrets and more than a few twists this story zooms along making it hard to put down. While the story is told from several points of view Ms. Sawyer transitions smoothly allowing for wonderful clarity . The characters are very well fleshed and easy to connect with. She has a wonderful way of blending faith into the mix of feelings allowing me to totally understand the struggles the characters face. While there are several unanswered questions When Grace Sings is a satisfying read that leaves me longing for the next book in the series!<br />After reading the first book in The Zimmerman Restoration Series I couldn't wait to start this one. This book continues right where the last one left off, saying that though I felt like the author provided enough background information that this one could be read without reading the first book in the series, although I highly recommend it as well. Anyone who enjoys family controversy where secrets abound, faith and a down to earth story where the characters really jump from the pages will enjoy When Grace Sings!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1432264520000, "title": "When Grace Sings" }, { "asin": "0529102781", "rating": 5, "text": "Reading anything by Kathleen Fuller is a guaranteed good read. She has a knack for creating easy to care for characters and as a fan of Amish fiction I feel like she is a top notch writer in the genre. I find it handy that she always provides a glossary for German words used within the story. A solidly written plot that easily pulled me in made this a very enjoyable book to read. Jeremiah Mullet left his Amish community to full fill his dream of becoming a vet, but now he has come back to fill for the vet who ultimately helped him out while he needs to recover from a broken leg. Of course in the process he reconnects with old friends. Anna Mae is one of those friends, she has actually been grappling with what to do with her life for the last several years, of course her mother thinks she should settle down and marry, but she isn't sure what course she wants to take for her life. As she reconnects with Jeremiah one can't help but wonder where the relationship might lead. What is in store for them, he is no longer Amish, so a romantic relationship is out of the question isn't it? What does God have in store for them?<br />This was a solidly written story allowing the pages to fly by. There is another couple in the story that also held my interest. Even though this book is part of a series it really can be read as a stand alone story. Fans of Amish fiction will be thrilled with A Faith Of Her Own, but honestly anyone who enjoys a faith based read with solidly written characters and a sweetly progressing story should give this one a try as well!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1432775145000, "title": "A Faith Of Her Own" }, { "asin": "0718031660", "rating": 5, "text": "I love this series and have been discussing it with a friend of mine and she totally agrees the only dislike is waiting for the next installment of the book, but anticipating what might come next makes it well worth the wait! Truthfully though I actually read the novel Where Leads The Heart the full length novel that this serial story are reprinted from. The saga between Rand and Sarah continue. It's obvious that Rand still loves Sarah but his fiancee is determined to marry him. Plenty of twists provide keep this story moving on at a brisk pace making for a quick historical read that really does leave the reader wanting more! Anyone who enjoys good clean historical fiction where the ending really isn't assured will certainly enjoy this entire series, and speaking of which The Journey of the Heart series should be read in order to understand the complexities of the characters. I really can't wait to read A Heart's Betrayal the next book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1433078037000, "title": "Short historical read" }, { "asin": "0310335884", "rating": 5, "text": "Aaron Ebersol is sort of like the prodigal son returned, you see he left the community of Paradise, Pa years earlier and really didn't keep in close contact with his family, even though his family tried. Now though his mother is sick and he goes home to be with her, thing is he isn't sure how he feels about being back, and more than that how he fits in now. He decides to stay at the Heart of Paradise B&B and soon finds himself developing feelings for Linda Zook. Can their growing friendship become more, can they forgive those that hurt them, but more than that can they forgive themselves?<br /><br />Amy Clipston creates in depth characters who face very real problems within the pages of A Simple Prayer. Those characters are paired together with a well written, easy to follow plot that isn't easy to put down.The conflicts within the story really kept me reading to find out what would ultimately happen.<br />I really enjoy reading Amy Clipston's work but somehow missed a couple of books in the Hearts Of The Lancaster Grand Hotel series but honestly this book is a great stand alone read because the author provides enough background information about the reoccurring characters that I immediately understood who they were. With that said I really hope to go back and read book two and three in the series! Fans of Amish fiction are going to love this story, but anyone looking for a well written story filled with well fleshed characters along with real life issues should give this book a try I really don't think you will be disappointed.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1434131253000, "title": "Great characters make this a stand out read" }, { "asin": "0529103435", "rating": 5, "text": "I have really enjoyed reading this series, and I think that this book A Heart's Betrayal just might be my favorite so far! When Emmie's husband is killed in an accident to say she is devastated is an understatement, but it's the life he never told her about that really shocks her to the core. She decides the only thing to do is to head west to join up with Sarah and Rand, knowing that she will never trust her heart to another again. It doesn't take long though for a kind soldier to begin to breach her defenses. Will she find the new life she is hoping for, and what sort of life will it be?<br /><br />Ms. Coble packs more than a few shocking twists within the pages of A Heart's Betrayal. Emmie's character is easy to relate to, and I couldn't imagine what life might throw at her next! I was rooting for Emmie to find some sort of happiness but couldn't help but wonder about the secret that she carried about her marriage,whether or not it would keep her from finding happiness. The ending leaves me quite anxious to read the next installment in the series! A page turning historical fiction read, that provides easy to like characters and a solid plot that moves along at a quick pace. I do recommend that this series be read in order to fully understand the backgrounds of the characters.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1435548684000, "title": "Quick read that leaves me wanting more!" }, { "asin": "140168596X", "rating": 5, "text": "Her Brother's Keeper by Beth Wiseman is the first book in Ms. Wiseman's newest series Amish Secrets, and judging by this book it's going to be one of her best series yet! Charlotte Dolinsky is an Englisher from Texas who is hurting over the loss of her brother Ethan. You see Ethan went to Pennsylvania to work in construction and then decided to convert to the Amish faith, and was even actually engaged to be married to Hannah King. Why then would he commit suicide? That's what Charlotte wants to know and so she devises a scheme where she disguises herself as a distant Amish cousin of the King family and heads to Pennsylvania to find the answers she is looking for. She is welcomed into the family and even becomes friends with Hannah, but will they continue to be her friend if they find out who she really is? What about her brother's death, what will she learn about his death?<br /><br />Her Brother's Keeper deals with a few tough subjects such as depression, child abuse and suicide, but does so in such a way that instead of feeling overwhelming and depressing it left me feeling inspired and uplifted as the story unfolded, especially as Charlotte began to find her way. Speaking of Charlotte it was fun to watch her become &#34;Mary&#34; because it was very realistic as well as humorous.I really liked the suspense/mystery of the story and found myself wondering just what happened to Ethan. Her Brother's Keeper drew me in from the beginning pages and made me feel like I had stepped into the life of these characters but that's what I have come to expect when I pick up a book by Beth Wiseman.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438035762000, "title": "First book in a new Amish series" }, { "asin": "0718031687", "rating": 4, "text": "With the latest installment of Journey of the Heart Emmie Croftner pushes Isaac Liddle away sacrificing her heart and feelings in order to keep her secret, thing is Isaac isn't about to give up that easily. On top of that Emmie makes a promise to a dear friend that my require that she marry another. Is there any hope that she and Isaac will ever have a future together?<br />I have certainly enjoyed each book in this series, so much so that I actually went back and read the books (The Wyoming Series) that this little series was taken from, because I was impatient to know the whole story. In my observation though I felt like the Journey of the Heart series was more polished, and by that I mean unnecessary descriptions and repetitive words were taken out. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction should give this mini series a chance, I will say that the books do have to be read in order to fully understand the characters. While parts of the story are a tad predictable that doesn't keep me from looking forward to the final book in the series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438307576000, "title": "Quick easy read" }, { "asin": "0764211706", "rating": 5, "text": "I became hooked on the Unexpected Bride series by Melissa Jagears after reading the first book in the series. There is something about a mail order bride story that just draws me in and Ms. Jagears provides just the right blending of drama, romance along with a great historical setting that really makes for a page turning read with a few twists that held my attention from the first page to the last. The characters in this story really come to life, allowing me not only connect but actually care about how their story would work out. I felt like that characters stories were a bit unique compared to other mail order bride stories I have read because they have both tried and failed with the mail order bride situation before. While A Bride at Last is the third book in the series it can easily be read as a stand alone work, actually I somehow missed the second book but that didn't stop me from being drawn in by this story. Anyone who enjoys a fast paced story with more than a few inspirational messages along with a sweetness that will draw you in and have you hoping for the best for the characters will enjoy this story, and if your a fan of the mail order bride genre like me then a Bride At Last will be a must read for you, I will caution once you start reading it you just might not be able to put it down.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1438648764000, "title": "Held my attention from beginning to end !" }, { "asin": "1401690513", "rating": 4, "text": "Great characters and a fun, page turning read is what I found within the pages of Counting on a Cowboy. I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions with this story, but there were some poignant moments as well. While Ms. Clopton deals with a few tough issues, with the issue of Alzheimer's really being one that I could relate to, thing is she knows just when to provide a bit of humor to lighten the story. The characters were easy to relate to which pulled me right into the story.<br />If your looking for a good clean cowboy read that is more than just a sweet romance then Counting on a Cowboy by Debra Clopton just might fit the bill! While this book is part of the Four of Hearts Ranch Romance series it can easily be read as a stand alone work. Although the characters and setting has me thinking that I need to read the first book in the series.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review", "timestamp": 1441673159000, "title": "Sweet read" }, { "asin": "1601426992", "rating": 4, "text": "always look forward to starting a new Amish series, especially when the author is Cindy Woodsmall, and with Ties That Bind we begin the Amish of Summer Grove Series. Ariana Brenneman grew up in the Old Order Amish and has always been quite content, sure she aspires to open a bakery in the town of Summer Grove, that is if she can get the money together to do it, but that's so she can help out with her family. It had been five years since Quill Schlabach had left the Amish community with a teen girl, and if truth be told Ariana hadn't really ever gotten over it, and now he is back, but can they rebuild their friendship? Thing is Quill has always had feelings for Ariana, but he also knows something that would change her life forever and he wants to help her any way he can even if only she will let him.<br /><br />I found myself struggling to get involved in this book and I think the reason might have been because there were so many characters and their stories to learn,that I felt like I was getting bounced back and forth to much. As the book progressed though I found myself being drawn into the story line. There was a few plot twists that provided just the right amount of ummph to make me want to read on and I am glad that I did! Overall, I didn't connect to this book right away but I am glad that I continued to read, because I have become hooked and can't wait to read the next book in the series!<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1443990136000, "title": "Slow start but the story picked up for me" }, { "asin": "1617955876", "rating": 4, "text": "Katie Vale has just traveled half way across the country with her boyfriend to spend Christmas with his family. Within minutes of arriving, in front of all of his family he pops the question! Her answer isn't was what expected though, which might make for an uncomfortable Christmas. Why did she say no, and how can she stay for Christmas with his family now? Well she does, and the lessons she learns will change the way she thinks about family.<br /><br />A fast paced, heart touching story that pulled me right into t he midst of the Bender family. It was interesting to see the story unfold through the eyes of Katie, who really hasn't experienced a family like the Benders before. The characters in the family really propelled this novel along at break neck speed, never once did the plot lag, instead it moved along so fast that I found myself rereading some things just to catch what the author was trying to convey. I wondered from the beginning how life would work out for the main characters. The author begins the book with the marriage proposal and then takes the reader back to allow us to see what transpired, giving the story of the characters, making it easy to understand why Katie gave the answer she did. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen with Katie and Micah, and really felt like her staying with the family would be awkward, bu instead it made for a great story. My first Christmas read for the season, and I have to say it was a quick easy read that touches on faith, family relationships, love, loss and forgiveness. While there are a few poignant moments, there is enough humor to make you laugh, which helps to keep the story light. Well developed characters and a page turning, fast paced plot who could ask for anything more!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1445183799000, "title": "An Endless Christmas" }, { "asin": "0824956478", "rating": 5, "text": "I love finding books that teach valuable lessons and The Sparkle Box does that and more. Not only will the story teach youngsters about the true meaning of Christmas, it just might encourage parents to start a new Christmas tradition with their children. This story really shares what the true meaning of Christmas is, and imparts the wonderful feeling we get when we do for others. The beautiful illustrations really bring the story to life, and The Sparkle Box on the cover is eye catching. Overall this book would make a wonderful gift, I can see it becoming a family tradition.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1449376117000, "title": "The real meaning of Christmas" }, { "asin": "0764211412", "rating": 5, "text": "I love historical romance and when there is humor woven into the plot well it makes the story even better! At Love's Bidding by Regina Jennings is an easy to slip into read that easily transported me into the heart of the story, and the characters. It was easy to connect with Miranda and the way that she handles the issues that her grandfather is facing was fantastic, she was so respectful and loving even when he made mistakes. Miranda was an easy to like character and the relationship that develops between her and Wyatt while a bit predictable was still enjoyable. Interesting characters and a small town setting that allowed me read about something new to me, which was an auction house made this book a quick read. Anyone who enjoys humor with their historical romance along with a faith based message will certainly enjoy reading this one.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1451874046000, "title": "Fast paced" }, { "asin": "031033344X", "rating": 4, "text": "Ashley Tolliver is continuing the tradition of midwifery, something that the women in her family have been practicing for several generations. She has always hoped to go back to medical school but for now her patients need her in this tiny Appalachian community where plenty of the new mothers are single and life can sometimes be messy. Births aren't always easy and one night while a teen mother is giving birth at Ashley's clinic she starts bleeding and needs medical care, but when she disappears with the baby Ashley can't help but wonder if the mother and baby survived and where they went. Hunter McDermott want's to find his birth mother which allows his life to intersect with Ashley in the hopes that she can help him figure out who his mother might be.<br /><br />There are two mysteries going on within the pages of this story, which makes for an interesting read, but honestly there are so many things that held my attention with this book. The setting of the Appalachian mountains was easy to imagine, from the rich descriptions one can easily imagine the people and places.Brooks Ridge is unique and the characters really seem real and their life situations really grab you. The mystery and suspense are make this a good story, but for me it's the characters and setting that kept me reading. I found myself thinking about a few of them long after I finished the final page.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1454282426000, "title": "Captivating read" }, { "asin": "031034199X", "rating": 5, "text": "I always look forward to starting a new Amish fiction series and when it's written by Amy Clipston I know it will be good and with The Forgotten Recipe I was right! Veronica Fisher was certain that her future included Seth Lapp, sometimes though things don't work out the way we think they will. When Seth life is cut short she is certain that she will never find love again, or even if she wants to. She decides instead to throw herself into opening and running a new bake stand using her grandmother's pie recipe. Jason Huyard is haunted by the tragedy that took Veronica's Seth, so he decides to go to her bake shop and soon becomes a regular customer. The pair becomes friends, and soon deeper feelings start to develop, thing is Jason has a secret that just might change the way Veronica feels about him. Can Veronica overcome her broken heart and find love again, and what will happen when Jason finally reveals the truth?<br /><br />The Forgotten Recipe is filled with easy to care for characters . I couldn't help but wonder how things would work out for the couple. It was nice to watch them grow and change, especially where Veronica was concerned. Her feelings where Jason were concerned were totally understandable, but I could also understand why Jason withheld information from her. The inspirational messages of hope, love and trust were well done. I really can't wait to read the next book in the series!<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1454377081000, "title": "Promising new series" }, { "asin": "1617956120", "rating": 5, "text": "As someone who has several dear friends who are quilters My Mother's Quilts by Ramona Richards really spoke to me. First of all the beautiful cover is such a relaxing scene that sets the mood for devotional reading. Each devotion opens with a scripture verse and then shares a devotional based on conversations that she shared with her mother about quilts, something that her mother not only did as a hobby, but many of the women in her family also quilted. The devotional then wraps up with a prayer starter. What makes this devotional stand out more than any other that I have uses are the beautiful pictures that are woven through the text. From the family photos to the beautiful quilts the pictures truly set the mood for the devotionals. The author stitches together stories of love, faith and family to make a devotional that is very relatable to anyone looking for a refreshing yet spiritual devotional time with God. A beautiful devotional that is perfect for gift giving, whether you're a quilter or just enjoy quilts there are words of encouragement and inspiration woven into the pages of My Mother's Quilts that will bolster your spirit.<br /><br />A complimentary copy of this book is provided for review.", "timestamp": 1457663753000, "title": "My Mother's Quilts" }, { "asin": "1401688314", "rating": 5, "text": "Mattie Deiner's story is full of emotional twists providing for a must read story. Mattie is a recently widowed Amish mother with two children. When one of her children becomes ill she does what anyone would do she takes him to the doctor but when that doctor thinks that she has been abusing the child Mattie finds herself dealing with Child Protective Services and the person handling her case is Bo Lambright. Can Bo figure out what is going on without getting his heart involved?<br /><br />I read a lot of Amish fiction and this one was a bit different, because Mattie finds herself being scrutinized by CPS which is an Englisher agency. Mattie's character was so easy to empathize with, the author made me feel like I was actually reading about a real person, it was easy to envision her heartaches and hurts, while I couldn't imagine being in her shoes but the author allowed me to feel as if I had stepped into them for the length of this story. It was interesting to see the differences between Amish and Englishers ideals and how that affected the way that many looked at Mattie. It was heart wrenching to see how Mattie was treated and it kept me hoping that all would work out in the end. While this is the third book in a series it can easily be read as a stand alone work. If you're looking for an Amish story that is so much more than an average romance this book is one that you should try.<br />A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.", "timestamp": 1462142439000, "title": "Not your average Amish romance" } ]

[ { "asin": "B01MQ2HAAJ", "rating": 5, "text": "Thank you Kendra and NetGalley for the early access! This was a great read. From start to finish, there's no stop in the action. More pieces of Mercy's separation from her family come to play with a few new revelations!", "timestamp": 1496756320000, "title": "Don't miss this one!" }, { "asin": "B01JGIOO2Q", "rating": 5, "text": "THIS! This book! Just wow! So Dark, gritty and many secrets. This is what I look for when I read suspense. Kept me guessing until almost the end. Thank you Loreth and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it!", "timestamp": 1497980501548, "title": "READ THIS BOOK!" }, { "asin": "B06ZZW7G42", "rating": 5, "text": "From start to finish this one packs a punch! Morgan is such a strong woman, single mother and seems to take the world on her shoulders. The suspense was riveting and kept you guessing until the end. Thank you NetGalley and Melinda for the galley!", "timestamp": 1506432775585, "title": "Another awesome book by Leigh!" }, { "asin": "B06Y5MTNMQ", "rating": 5, "text": "Sucks you in immediately, wishing you had all that Mercy carried in her car! Mercy finds herself smack in the middle of another murder. The suspense is non- stop, riveting, trying to figure out who murdered Olivia and why. Such a wonderful series! Thank you Netgalley and Kendra for the advance read", "timestamp": 1516105399058, "title": "Another masterpiece" }, { "asin": "B072QX6TG1", "rating": 5, "text": "Nonstop suspense from the first page, sucks you in immediately. This newest installment in Leigh’s series solves Lance’s family secret, among other secrets and suspense. Keeps you guessing until the end! Another great novel from Melinda! *thank you, Melinda and NetGalley for the advance read", "timestamp": 1520941421374, "title": "Amazing new title" }, { "asin": "B07C854RL5", "rating": 5, "text": "Thank you Kendra and NetGalley for the advance read. As always, any Elliot is full of intense drama and such an intricate storyline that keeps you guessing to the end. This recent installment in the Mercy Killpatrick is no different. The “prepping” lifestyle is very unfamiliar to me so it is very interesting to read about it. Can’t wait for the next one!", "timestamp": 1547569352270, "title": "Riveting" }, { "asin": "B07L6YKZHG", "rating": 5, "text": "Bravo, Debra!!<br />Outstanding!! Webb knows how to weave a tale so well so keep salivating for more! Love how her series are multi book that leaves you guessing and having to wait for the next installment. Chock full of horrors that left this horror lover wanting more!! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤", "timestamp": 1569798131569, "title": "Spooky til the end" }, { "asin": "B07GB2BVQP", "rating": 5, "text": "Another great add to the Widow’s Island series. Tessa and Logan’s romance heats up while there’s a murderer abreast the tiny island. All the while Tessa is dealing with her ailing mother. And the mystery of Tessa’s best friend and the discovery of her missing locket. Can’t wait for Kendra’s installment! Thank you Melinda, for the ARC ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️", "timestamp": 1571840703286, "title": "Stunning" }, { "asin": "B07G9YZTFF", "rating": 5, "text": "** spoiler alert ** This book went from suspenseful to dark within the first few moments. A mystery long cold is finally solved, reuniting Tessa, Samantha and Cate. The dual story writing between Elliot and Leigh is top notch and flows so well it’s hard to tell one’s style from the other. Fantastic read! Thank you to Kendra for the ARC ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️", "timestamp": 1572354785794, "title": "Fantastic!" } ]

[ { "asin": "B01MQ2HAAJ", "rating": 5, "text": "Thank you Kendra and NetGalley for the early access! This was a great read. From start to finish, there's no stop in the action. More pieces of Mercy's separation from her family come to play with a few new revelations!", "timestamp": 1496756320000, "title": "Don't miss this one!" }, { "asin": "B01JGIOO2Q", "rating": 5, "text": "THIS! This book! Just wow! So Dark, gritty and many secrets. This is what I look for when I read suspense. Kept me guessing until almost the end. Thank you Loreth and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it!", "timestamp": 1497980501548, "title": "READ THIS BOOK!" }, { "asin": "B06ZZW7G42", "rating": 5, "text": "From start to finish this one packs a punch! Morgan is such a strong woman, single mother and seems to take the world on her shoulders. The suspense was riveting and kept you guessing until the end. Thank you NetGalley and Melinda for the galley!", "timestamp": 1506432775585, "title": "Another awesome book by Leigh!" }, { "asin": "B06Y5MTNMQ", "rating": 5, "text": "Sucks you in immediately, wishing you had all that Mercy carried in her car! Mercy finds herself smack in the middle of another murder. The suspense is non- stop, riveting, trying to figure out who murdered Olivia and why. Such a wonderful series! Thank you Netgalley and Kendra for the advance read", "timestamp": 1516105399058, "title": "Another masterpiece" }, { "asin": "B072QX6TG1", "rating": 5, "text": "Nonstop suspense from the first page, sucks you in immediately. This newest installment in Leigh’s series solves Lance’s family secret, among other secrets and suspense. Keeps you guessing until the end! Another great novel from Melinda! *thank you, Melinda and NetGalley for the advance read", "timestamp": 1520941421374, "title": "Amazing new title" }, { "asin": "B07C854RL5", "rating": 5, "text": "Thank you Kendra and NetGalley for the advance read. As always, any Elliot is full of intense drama and such an intricate storyline that keeps you guessing to the end. This recent installment in the Mercy Killpatrick is no different. The “prepping” lifestyle is very unfamiliar to me so it is very interesting to read about it. Can’t wait for the next one!", "timestamp": 1547569352270, "title": "Riveting" }, { "asin": "B07L6YKZHG", "rating": 5, "text": "Bravo, Debra!!<br />Outstanding!! Webb knows how to weave a tale so well so keep salivating for more! Love how her series are multi book that leaves you guessing and having to wait for the next installment. Chock full of horrors that left this horror lover wanting more!! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤", "timestamp": 1569798131569, "title": "Spooky til the end" }, { "asin": "B07GB2BVQP", "rating": 5, "text": "Another great add to the Widow’s Island series. Tessa and Logan’s romance heats up while there’s a murderer abreast the tiny island. All the while Tessa is dealing with her ailing mother. And the mystery of Tessa’s best friend and the discovery of her missing locket. Can’t wait for Kendra’s installment! Thank you Melinda, for the ARC ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️", "timestamp": 1571840703286, "title": "Stunning" }, { "asin": "B07G9YZTFF", "rating": 5, "text": "** spoiler alert ** This book went from suspenseful to dark within the first few moments. A mystery long cold is finally solved, reuniting Tessa, Samantha and Cate. The dual story writing between Elliot and Leigh is top notch and flows so well it’s hard to tell one’s style from the other. Fantastic read! Thank you to Kendra for the ARC ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️", "timestamp": 1572354785794, "title": "Fantastic!" }, { "asin": "B0854143TD", "rating": 5, "text": "Fantastic read! I’m really liking Megan, more than the first novel. She has many secrets and slowly start finding more about what makes her tick. This novel has thrills and chills beginning to end! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC", "timestamp": 1590678722084, "title": "Chilling" } ]

[ { "asin": "B01MQ2HAAJ", "rating": 5, "text": "Thank you Kendra and NetGalley for the early access! This was a great read. From start to finish, there's no stop in the action. More pieces of Mercy's separation from her family come to play with a few new revelations!", "timestamp": 1496756320000, "title": "Don't miss this one!" }, { "asin": "B01JGIOO2Q", "rating": 5, "text": "THIS! This book! Just wow! So Dark, gritty and many secrets. This is what I look for when I read suspense. Kept me guessing until almost the end. Thank you Loreth and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it!", "timestamp": 1497980501548, "title": "READ THIS BOOK!" }, { "asin": "B06ZZW7G42", "rating": 5, "text": "From start to finish this one packs a punch! Morgan is such a strong woman, single mother and seems to take the world on her shoulders. The suspense was riveting and kept you guessing until the end. Thank you NetGalley and Melinda for the galley!", "timestamp": 1506432775585, "title": "Another awesome book by Leigh!" }, { "asin": "B06Y5MTNMQ", "rating": 5, "text": "Sucks you in immediately, wishing you had all that Mercy carried in her car! Mercy finds herself smack in the middle of another murder. The suspense is non- stop, riveting, trying to figure out who murdered Olivia and why. Such a wonderful series! Thank you Netgalley and Kendra for the advance read", "timestamp": 1516105399058, "title": "Another masterpiece" }, { "asin": "B072QX6TG1", "rating": 5, "text": "Nonstop suspense from the first page, sucks you in immediately. This newest installment in Leigh’s series solves Lance’s family secret, among other secrets and suspense. Keeps you guessing until the end! Another great novel from Melinda! *thank you, Melinda and NetGalley for the advance read", "timestamp": 1520941421374, "title": "Amazing new title" }, { "asin": "B07C854RL5", "rating": 5, "text": "Thank you Kendra and NetGalley for the advance read. As always, any Elliot is full of intense drama and such an intricate storyline that keeps you guessing to the end. This recent installment in the Mercy Killpatrick is no different. The “prepping” lifestyle is very unfamiliar to me so it is very interesting to read about it. Can’t wait for the next one!", "timestamp": 1547569352270, "title": "Riveting" }, { "asin": "B07L6YKZHG", "rating": 5, "text": "Bravo, Debra!!<br />Outstanding!! Webb knows how to weave a tale so well so keep salivating for more! Love how her series are multi book that leaves you guessing and having to wait for the next installment. Chock full of horrors that left this horror lover wanting more!! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤", "timestamp": 1569798131569, "title": "Spooky til the end" }, { "asin": "B07GB2BVQP", "rating": 5, "text": "Another great add to the Widow’s Island series. Tessa and Logan’s romance heats up while there’s a murderer abreast the tiny island. All the while Tessa is dealing with her ailing mother. And the mystery of Tessa’s best friend and the discovery of her missing locket. Can’t wait for Kendra’s installment! Thank you Melinda, for the ARC ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️", "timestamp": 1571840703286, "title": "Stunning" }, { "asin": "B07G9YZTFF", "rating": 5, "text": "** spoiler alert ** This book went from suspenseful to dark within the first few moments. A mystery long cold is finally solved, reuniting Tessa, Samantha and Cate. The dual story writing between Elliot and Leigh is top notch and flows so well it’s hard to tell one’s style from the other. Fantastic read! Thank you to Kendra for the ARC ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️", "timestamp": 1572354785794, "title": "Fantastic!" }, { "asin": "B0854143TD", "rating": 5, "text": "Fantastic read! I’m really liking Megan, more than the first novel. She has many secrets and slowly start finding more about what makes her tick. This novel has thrills and chills beginning to end! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC", "timestamp": 1590678722084, "title": "Chilling" }, { "asin": "B07XTD29GV", "rating": 5, "text": "This book was spectacular, as all of Leigh’s titles. Non stop thrills, as we try to decide if a young girl is fabricating a Murder. Loved how we touched base with Scarlet Falls and about appearance from Morgan Dane. *thank you Melinda and NetGalley for the ARC", "timestamp": 1600198873462, "title": "Phenomenal" } ]

[ { "asin": "B01MQ2HAAJ", "rating": 5, "text": "Thank you Kendra and NetGalley for the early access! This was a great read. From start to finish, there's no stop in the action. More pieces of Mercy's separation from her family come to play with a few new revelations!", "timestamp": 1496756320000, "title": "Don't miss this one!" }, { "asin": "B01JGIOO2Q", "rating": 5, "text": "THIS! This book! Just wow! So Dark, gritty and many secrets. This is what I look for when I read suspense. Kept me guessing until almost the end. Thank you Loreth and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it!", "timestamp": 1497980501548, "title": "READ THIS BOOK!" }, { "asin": "B06ZZW7G42", "rating": 5, "text": "From start to finish this one packs a punch! Morgan is such a strong woman, single mother and seems to take the world on her shoulders. The suspense was riveting and kept you guessing until the end. Thank you NetGalley and Melinda for the galley!", "timestamp": 1506432775585, "title": "Another awesome book by Leigh!" }, { "asin": "B06Y5MTNMQ", "rating": 5, "text": "Sucks you in immediately, wishing you had all that Mercy carried in her car! Mercy finds herself smack in the middle of another murder. The suspense is non- stop, riveting, trying to figure out who murdered Olivia and why. Such a wonderful series! Thank you Netgalley and Kendra for the advance read", "timestamp": 1516105399058, "title": "Another masterpiece" }, { "asin": "B072QX6TG1", "rating": 5, "text": "Nonstop suspense from the first page, sucks you in immediately. This newest installment in Leigh’s series solves Lance’s family secret, among other secrets and suspense. Keeps you guessing until the end! Another great novel from Melinda! *thank you, Melinda and NetGalley for the advance read", "timestamp": 1520941421374, "title": "Amazing new title" }, { "asin": "B07C854RL5", "rating": 5, "text": "Thank you Kendra and NetGalley for the advance read. As always, any Elliot is full of intense drama and such an intricate storyline that keeps you guessing to the end. This recent installment in the Mercy Killpatrick is no different. The “prepping” lifestyle is very unfamiliar to me so it is very interesting to read about it. Can’t wait for the next one!", "timestamp": 1547569352270, "title": "Riveting" }, { "asin": "B07L6YKZHG", "rating": 5, "text": "Bravo, Debra!!<br />Outstanding!! Webb knows how to weave a tale so well so keep salivating for more! Love how her series are multi book that leaves you guessing and having to wait for the next installment. Chock full of horrors that left this horror lover wanting more!! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤", "timestamp": 1569798131569, "title": "Spooky til the end" }, { "asin": "B07GB2BVQP", "rating": 5, "text": "Another great add to the Widow’s Island series. Tessa and Logan’s romance heats up while there’s a murderer abreast the tiny island. All the while Tessa is dealing with her ailing mother. And the mystery of Tessa’s best friend and the discovery of her missing locket. Can’t wait for Kendra’s installment! Thank you Melinda, for the ARC ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️", "timestamp": 1571840703286, "title": "Stunning" }, { "asin": "B07G9YZTFF", "rating": 5, "text": "** spoiler alert ** This book went from suspenseful to dark within the first few moments. A mystery long cold is finally solved, reuniting Tessa, Samantha and Cate. The dual story writing between Elliot and Leigh is top notch and flows so well it’s hard to tell one’s style from the other. Fantastic read! Thank you to Kendra for the ARC ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️", "timestamp": 1572354785794, "title": "Fantastic!" }, { "asin": "B0854143TD", "rating": 5, "text": "Fantastic read! I’m really liking Megan, more than the first novel. She has many secrets and slowly start finding more about what makes her tick. This novel has thrills and chills beginning to end! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC", "timestamp": 1590678722084, "title": "Chilling" }, { "asin": "B07XTD29GV", "rating": 5, "text": "This book was spectacular, as all of Leigh’s titles. Non stop thrills, as we try to decide if a young girl is fabricating a Murder. Loved how we touched base with Scarlet Falls and about appearance from Morgan Dane. *thank you Melinda and NetGalley for the ARC", "timestamp": 1600198873462, "title": "Phenomenal" }, { "asin": "B07TPS5JQZ", "rating": 5, "text": "Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh just have that chemistry that any novels they release just mesh perfectly! Love getting into a new series with some familiar faces! Fast paced and suspenseful! Thank you to the authors and NetGalley for ARC!", "timestamp": 1604540785609, "title": "Fantastic" } ]

[ { "asin": "B01MQ2HAAJ", "rating": 5, "text": "Thank you Kendra and NetGalley for the early access! This was a great read. From start to finish, there's no stop in the action. More pieces of Mercy's separation from her family come to play with a few new revelations!", "timestamp": 1496756320000, "title": "Don't miss this one!" }, { "asin": "B01JGIOO2Q", "rating": 5, "text": "THIS! This book! Just wow! So Dark, gritty and many secrets. This is what I look for when I read suspense. Kept me guessing until almost the end. Thank you Loreth and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it!", "timestamp": 1497980501548, "title": "READ THIS BOOK!" }, { "asin": "B06ZZW7G42", "rating": 5, "text": "From start to finish this one packs a punch! Morgan is such a strong woman, single mother and seems to take the world on her shoulders. The suspense was riveting and kept you guessing until the end. Thank you NetGalley and Melinda for the galley!", "timestamp": 1506432775585, "title": "Another awesome book by Leigh!" }, { "asin": "B06Y5MTNMQ", "rating": 5, "text": "Sucks you in immediately, wishing you had all that Mercy carried in her car! Mercy finds herself smack in the middle of another murder. The suspense is non- stop, riveting, trying to figure out who murdered Olivia and why. Such a wonderful series! Thank you Netgalley and Kendra for the advance read", "timestamp": 1516105399058, "title": "Another masterpiece" }, { "asin": "B072QX6TG1", "rating": 5, "text": "Nonstop suspense from the first page, sucks you in immediately. This newest installment in Leigh’s series solves Lance’s family secret, among other secrets and suspense. Keeps you guessing until the end! Another great novel from Melinda! *thank you, Melinda and NetGalley for the advance read", "timestamp": 1520941421374, "title": "Amazing new title" }, { "asin": "B07C854RL5", "rating": 5, "text": "Thank you Kendra and NetGalley for the advance read. As always, any Elliot is full of intense drama and such an intricate storyline that keeps you guessing to the end. This recent installment in the Mercy Killpatrick is no different. The “prepping” lifestyle is very unfamiliar to me so it is very interesting to read about it. Can’t wait for the next one!", "timestamp": 1547569352270, "title": "Riveting" }, { "asin": "B07L6YKZHG", "rating": 5, "text": "Bravo, Debra!!<br />Outstanding!! Webb knows how to weave a tale so well so keep salivating for more! Love how her series are multi book that leaves you guessing and having to wait for the next installment. Chock full of horrors that left this horror lover wanting more!! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤", "timestamp": 1569798131569, "title": "Spooky til the end" }, { "asin": "B07GB2BVQP", "rating": 5, "text": "Another great add to the Widow’s Island series. Tessa and Logan’s romance heats up while there’s a murderer abreast the tiny island. All the while Tessa is dealing with her ailing mother. And the mystery of Tessa’s best friend and the discovery of her missing locket. Can’t wait for Kendra’s installment! Thank you Melinda, for the ARC ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️", "timestamp": 1571840703286, "title": "Stunning" }, { "asin": "B07G9YZTFF", "rating": 5, "text": "** spoiler alert ** This book went from suspenseful to dark within the first few moments. A mystery long cold is finally solved, reuniting Tessa, Samantha and Cate. The dual story writing between Elliot and Leigh is top notch and flows so well it’s hard to tell one’s style from the other. Fantastic read! Thank you to Kendra for the ARC ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️", "timestamp": 1572354785794, "title": "Fantastic!" }, { "asin": "B0854143TD", "rating": 5, "text": "Fantastic read! I’m really liking Megan, more than the first novel. She has many secrets and slowly start finding more about what makes her tick. This novel has thrills and chills beginning to end! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC", "timestamp": 1590678722084, "title": "Chilling" }, { "asin": "B07XTD29GV", "rating": 5, "text": "This book was spectacular, as all of Leigh’s titles. Non stop thrills, as we try to decide if a young girl is fabricating a Murder. Loved how we touched base with Scarlet Falls and about appearance from Morgan Dane. *thank you Melinda and NetGalley for the ARC", "timestamp": 1600198873462, "title": "Phenomenal" }, { "asin": "B07TPS5JQZ", "rating": 5, "text": "Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh just have that chemistry that any novels they release just mesh perfectly! Love getting into a new series with some familiar faces! Fast paced and suspenseful! Thank you to the authors and NetGalley for ARC!", "timestamp": 1604540785609, "title": "Fantastic" }, { "asin": "B084MHZRGG", "rating": 4, "text": "I’ve been a fan of Burton for many years. Love the mix of romance and suspense she adds. Has the perfect flair. This one I pegged the villain pretty early on but I always enjoy when I sleuth it myself. Loved reading about fires and Joan and Ann’s decades’ long friendship and the rekindled romance of Joan and Gideon.", "timestamp": 1641533209439, "title": "Flaming hot" } ]

[ { "asin": "B01MQ2HAAJ", "rating": 5, "text": "Thank you Kendra and NetGalley for the early access! This was a great read. From start to finish, there's no stop in the action. More pieces of Mercy's separation from her family come to play with a few new revelations!", "timestamp": 1496756320000, "title": "Don't miss this one!" }, { "asin": "B01JGIOO2Q", "rating": 5, "text": "THIS! This book! Just wow! So Dark, gritty and many secrets. This is what I look for when I read suspense. Kept me guessing until almost the end. Thank you Loreth and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it!", "timestamp": 1497980501548, "title": "READ THIS BOOK!" }, { "asin": "B06ZZW7G42", "rating": 5, "text": "From start to finish this one packs a punch! Morgan is such a strong woman, single mother and seems to take the world on her shoulders. The suspense was riveting and kept you guessing until the end. Thank you NetGalley and Melinda for the galley!", "timestamp": 1506432775585, "title": "Another awesome book by Leigh!" }, { "asin": "B06Y5MTNMQ", "rating": 5, "text": "Sucks you in immediately, wishing you had all that Mercy carried in her car! Mercy finds herself smack in the middle of another murder. The suspense is non- stop, riveting, trying to figure out who murdered Olivia and why. Such a wonderful series! Thank you Netgalley and Kendra for the advance read", "timestamp": 1516105399058, "title": "Another masterpiece" }, { "asin": "B072QX6TG1", "rating": 5, "text": "Nonstop suspense from the first page, sucks you in immediately. This newest installment in Leigh’s series solves Lance’s family secret, among other secrets and suspense. Keeps you guessing until the end! Another great novel from Melinda! *thank you, Melinda and NetGalley for the advance read", "timestamp": 1520941421374, "title": "Amazing new title" }, { "asin": "B07C854RL5", "rating": 5, "text": "Thank you Kendra and NetGalley for the advance read. As always, any Elliot is full of intense drama and such an intricate storyline that keeps you guessing to the end. This recent installment in the Mercy Killpatrick is no different. The “prepping” lifestyle is very unfamiliar to me so it is very interesting to read about it. Can’t wait for the next one!", "timestamp": 1547569352270, "title": "Riveting" }, { "asin": "B07L6YKZHG", "rating": 5, "text": "Bravo, Debra!!<br />Outstanding!! Webb knows how to weave a tale so well so keep salivating for more! Love how her series are multi book that leaves you guessing and having to wait for the next installment. Chock full of horrors that left this horror lover wanting more!! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤", "timestamp": 1569798131569, "title": "Spooky til the end" }, { "asin": "B07GB2BVQP", "rating": 5, "text": "Another great add to the Widow’s Island series. Tessa and Logan’s romance heats up while there’s a murderer abreast the tiny island. All the while Tessa is dealing with her ailing mother. And the mystery of Tessa’s best friend and the discovery of her missing locket. Can’t wait for Kendra’s installment! Thank you Melinda, for the ARC ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️", "timestamp": 1571840703286, "title": "Stunning" }, { "asin": "B07G9YZTFF", "rating": 5, "text": "** spoiler alert ** This book went from suspenseful to dark within the first few moments. A mystery long cold is finally solved, reuniting Tessa, Samantha and Cate. The dual story writing between Elliot and Leigh is top notch and flows so well it’s hard to tell one’s style from the other. Fantastic read! Thank you to Kendra for the ARC ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️", "timestamp": 1572354785794, "title": "Fantastic!" }, { "asin": "B0854143TD", "rating": 5, "text": "Fantastic read! I’m really liking Megan, more than the first novel. She has many secrets and slowly start finding more about what makes her tick. This novel has thrills and chills beginning to end! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC", "timestamp": 1590678722084, "title": "Chilling" }, { "asin": "B07XTD29GV", "rating": 5, "text": "This book was spectacular, as all of Leigh’s titles. Non stop thrills, as we try to decide if a young girl is fabricating a Murder. Loved how we touched base with Scarlet Falls and about appearance from Morgan Dane. *thank you Melinda and NetGalley for the ARC", "timestamp": 1600198873462, "title": "Phenomenal" }, { "asin": "B07TPS5JQZ", "rating": 5, "text": "Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh just have that chemistry that any novels they release just mesh perfectly! Love getting into a new series with some familiar faces! Fast paced and suspenseful! Thank you to the authors and NetGalley for ARC!", "timestamp": 1604540785609, "title": "Fantastic" }, { "asin": "B084MHZRGG", "rating": 4, "text": "I’ve been a fan of Burton for many years. Love the mix of romance and suspense she adds. Has the perfect flair. This one I pegged the villain pretty early on but I always enjoy when I sleuth it myself. Loved reading about fires and Joan and Ann’s decades’ long friendship and the rekindled romance of Joan and Gideon.", "timestamp": 1641533209439, "title": "Flaming hot" }, { "asin": "B08R3GHK24", "rating": 5, "text": "Burton does it again! Gripping suspense, twists and turns and just enough clues that you think you have things figured out then nope, you don’t. I loved Jordan and her relationship with Avery, a recovering addict. Drug addiction was a large subject in this story. Jordan and Spencer’s story was subtle but fun also", "timestamp": 1655498364272, "title": "Thrilling" } ]

[ { "asin": "B01MQ2HAAJ", "rating": 5, "text": "Thank you Kendra and NetGalley for the early access! This was a great read. From start to finish, there's no stop in the action. More pieces of Mercy's separation from her family come to play with a few new revelations!", "timestamp": 1496756320000, "title": "Don't miss this one!" }, { "asin": "B01JGIOO2Q", "rating": 5, "text": "THIS! This book! Just wow! So Dark, gritty and many secrets. This is what I look for when I read suspense. Kept me guessing until almost the end. Thank you Loreth and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it!", "timestamp": 1497980501548, "title": "READ THIS BOOK!" }, { "asin": "B06ZZW7G42", "rating": 5, "text": "From start to finish this one packs a punch! Morgan is such a strong woman, single mother and seems to take the world on her shoulders. The suspense was riveting and kept you guessing until the end. Thank you NetGalley and Melinda for the galley!", "timestamp": 1506432775585, "title": "Another awesome book by Leigh!" }, { "asin": "B06Y5MTNMQ", "rating": 5, "text": "Sucks you in immediately, wishing you had all that Mercy carried in her car! Mercy finds herself smack in the middle of another murder. The suspense is non- stop, riveting, trying to figure out who murdered Olivia and why. Such a wonderful series! Thank you Netgalley and Kendra for the advance read", "timestamp": 1516105399058, "title": "Another masterpiece" }, { "asin": "B072QX6TG1", "rating": 5, "text": "Nonstop suspense from the first page, sucks you in immediately. This newest installment in Leigh’s series solves Lance’s family secret, among other secrets and suspense. Keeps you guessing until the end! Another great novel from Melinda! *thank you, Melinda and NetGalley for the advance read", "timestamp": 1520941421374, "title": "Amazing new title" }, { "asin": "B07C854RL5", "rating": 5, "text": "Thank you Kendra and NetGalley for the advance read. As always, any Elliot is full of intense drama and such an intricate storyline that keeps you guessing to the end. This recent installment in the Mercy Killpatrick is no different. The “prepping” lifestyle is very unfamiliar to me so it is very interesting to read about it. Can’t wait for the next one!", "timestamp": 1547569352270, "title": "Riveting" }, { "asin": "B07L6YKZHG", "rating": 5, "text": "Bravo, Debra!!<br />Outstanding!! Webb knows how to weave a tale so well so keep salivating for more! Love how her series are multi book that leaves you guessing and having to wait for the next installment. Chock full of horrors that left this horror lover wanting more!! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤", "timestamp": 1569798131569, "title": "Spooky til the end" }, { "asin": "B07GB2BVQP", "rating": 5, "text": "Another great add to the Widow’s Island series. Tessa and Logan’s romance heats up while there’s a murderer abreast the tiny island. All the while Tessa is dealing with her ailing mother. And the mystery of Tessa’s best friend and the discovery of her missing locket. Can’t wait for Kendra’s installment! Thank you Melinda, for the ARC ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️", "timestamp": 1571840703286, "title": "Stunning" }, { "asin": "B07G9YZTFF", "rating": 5, "text": "** spoiler alert ** This book went from suspenseful to dark within the first few moments. A mystery long cold is finally solved, reuniting Tessa, Samantha and Cate. The dual story writing between Elliot and Leigh is top notch and flows so well it’s hard to tell one’s style from the other. Fantastic read! Thank you to Kendra for the ARC ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️", "timestamp": 1572354785794, "title": "Fantastic!" }, { "asin": "B0854143TD", "rating": 5, "text": "Fantastic read! I’m really liking Megan, more than the first novel. She has many secrets and slowly start finding more about what makes her tick. This novel has thrills and chills beginning to end! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC", "timestamp": 1590678722084, "title": "Chilling" }, { "asin": "B07XTD29GV", "rating": 5, "text": "This book was spectacular, as all of Leigh’s titles. Non stop thrills, as we try to decide if a young girl is fabricating a Murder. Loved how we touched base with Scarlet Falls and about appearance from Morgan Dane. *thank you Melinda and NetGalley for the ARC", "timestamp": 1600198873462, "title": "Phenomenal" }, { "asin": "B07TPS5JQZ", "rating": 5, "text": "Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh just have that chemistry that any novels they release just mesh perfectly! Love getting into a new series with some familiar faces! Fast paced and suspenseful! Thank you to the authors and NetGalley for ARC!", "timestamp": 1604540785609, "title": "Fantastic" }, { "asin": "B084MHZRGG", "rating": 4, "text": "I’ve been a fan of Burton for many years. Love the mix of romance and suspense she adds. Has the perfect flair. This one I pegged the villain pretty early on but I always enjoy when I sleuth it myself. Loved reading about fires and Joan and Ann’s decades’ long friendship and the rekindled romance of Joan and Gideon.", "timestamp": 1641533209439, "title": "Flaming hot" }, { "asin": "B08R3GHK24", "rating": 5, "text": "Burton does it again! Gripping suspense, twists and turns and just enough clues that you think you have things figured out then nope, you don’t. I loved Jordan and her relationship with Avery, a recovering addict. Drug addiction was a large subject in this story. Jordan and Spencer’s story was subtle but fun also", "timestamp": 1655498364272, "title": "Thrilling" }, { "asin": "B09JNWGPCM", "rating": 5, "text": "Burton is a favorite of mine! Never disappoints. The Lies I Told was phenomenal. And definitely a step away from Mary’s MO. The book had a slow start but you know it was building up to some massive intricate story telling. I had a hard time liking ANY of the characters. Very dark story, with drug and alcohol abuse. Marisa was likable but wasn’t in her constant struggle with booze and her trying to piece moments prior to an accident and the murder of her twin, Clare. Is she crazy??? Her sister Brit was manipulative. Jack, David, JoJo, so unlikable. I had a hard time putting this one down. Incredible story telling!", "timestamp": 1663108098659, "title": "Slow Burn" } ]

[ { "asin": "B01MQ2HAAJ", "rating": 5, "text": "Thank you Kendra and NetGalley for the early access! This was a great read. From start to finish, there's no stop in the action. More pieces of Mercy's separation from her family come to play with a few new revelations!", "timestamp": 1496756320000, "title": "Don't miss this one!" }, { "asin": "B01JGIOO2Q", "rating": 5, "text": "THIS! This book! Just wow! So Dark, gritty and many secrets. This is what I look for when I read suspense. Kept me guessing until almost the end. Thank you Loreth and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it!", "timestamp": 1497980501548, "title": "READ THIS BOOK!" }, { "asin": "B06ZZW7G42", "rating": 5, "text": "From start to finish this one packs a punch! Morgan is such a strong woman, single mother and seems to take the world on her shoulders. The suspense was riveting and kept you guessing until the end. Thank you NetGalley and Melinda for the galley!", "timestamp": 1506432775585, "title": "Another awesome book by Leigh!" }, { "asin": "B06Y5MTNMQ", "rating": 5, "text": "Sucks you in immediately, wishing you had all that Mercy carried in her car! Mercy finds herself smack in the middle of another murder. The suspense is non- stop, riveting, trying to figure out who murdered Olivia and why. Such a wonderful series! Thank you Netgalley and Kendra for the advance read", "timestamp": 1516105399058, "title": "Another masterpiece" }, { "asin": "B072QX6TG1", "rating": 5, "text": "Nonstop suspense from the first page, sucks you in immediately. This newest installment in Leigh’s series solves Lance’s family secret, among other secrets and suspense. Keeps you guessing until the end! Another great novel from Melinda! *thank you, Melinda and NetGalley for the advance read", "timestamp": 1520941421374, "title": "Amazing new title" }, { "asin": "B07C854RL5", "rating": 5, "text": "Thank you Kendra and NetGalley for the advance read. As always, any Elliot is full of intense drama and such an intricate storyline that keeps you guessing to the end. This recent installment in the Mercy Killpatrick is no different. The “prepping” lifestyle is very unfamiliar to me so it is very interesting to read about it. Can’t wait for the next one!", "timestamp": 1547569352270, "title": "Riveting" }, { "asin": "B07L6YKZHG", "rating": 5, "text": "Bravo, Debra!!<br />Outstanding!! Webb knows how to weave a tale so well so keep salivating for more! Love how her series are multi book that leaves you guessing and having to wait for the next installment. Chock full of horrors that left this horror lover wanting more!! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤", "timestamp": 1569798131569, "title": "Spooky til the end" }, { "asin": "B07GB2BVQP", "rating": 5, "text": "Another great add to the Widow’s Island series. Tessa and Logan’s romance heats up while there’s a murderer abreast the tiny island. All the while Tessa is dealing with her ailing mother. And the mystery of Tessa’s best friend and the discovery of her missing locket. Can’t wait for Kendra’s installment! Thank you Melinda, for the ARC ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️", "timestamp": 1571840703286, "title": "Stunning" }, { "asin": "B07G9YZTFF", "rating": 5, "text": "** spoiler alert ** This book went from suspenseful to dark within the first few moments. A mystery long cold is finally solved, reuniting Tessa, Samantha and Cate. The dual story writing between Elliot and Leigh is top notch and flows so well it’s hard to tell one’s style from the other. Fantastic read! Thank you to Kendra for the ARC ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️", "timestamp": 1572354785794, "title": "Fantastic!" }, { "asin": "B0854143TD", "rating": 5, "text": "Fantastic read! I’m really liking Megan, more than the first novel. She has many secrets and slowly start finding more about what makes her tick. This novel has thrills and chills beginning to end! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC", "timestamp": 1590678722084, "title": "Chilling" }, { "asin": "B07XTD29GV", "rating": 5, "text": "This book was spectacular, as all of Leigh’s titles. Non stop thrills, as we try to decide if a young girl is fabricating a Murder. Loved how we touched base with Scarlet Falls and about appearance from Morgan Dane. *thank you Melinda and NetGalley for the ARC", "timestamp": 1600198873462, "title": "Phenomenal" }, { "asin": "B07TPS5JQZ", "rating": 5, "text": "Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh just have that chemistry that any novels they release just mesh perfectly! Love getting into a new series with some familiar faces! Fast paced and suspenseful! Thank you to the authors and NetGalley for ARC!", "timestamp": 1604540785609, "title": "Fantastic" }, { "asin": "B084MHZRGG", "rating": 4, "text": "I’ve been a fan of Burton for many years. Love the mix of romance and suspense she adds. Has the perfect flair. This one I pegged the villain pretty early on but I always enjoy when I sleuth it myself. Loved reading about fires and Joan and Ann’s decades’ long friendship and the rekindled romance of Joan and Gideon.", "timestamp": 1641533209439, "title": "Flaming hot" }, { "asin": "B08R3GHK24", "rating": 5, "text": "Burton does it again! Gripping suspense, twists and turns and just enough clues that you think you have things figured out then nope, you don’t. I loved Jordan and her relationship with Avery, a recovering addict. Drug addiction was a large subject in this story. Jordan and Spencer’s story was subtle but fun also", "timestamp": 1655498364272, "title": "Thrilling" }, { "asin": "B09JNWGPCM", "rating": 5, "text": "Burton is a favorite of mine! Never disappoints. The Lies I Told was phenomenal. And definitely a step away from Mary’s MO. The book had a slow start but you know it was building up to some massive intricate story telling. I had a hard time liking ANY of the characters. Very dark story, with drug and alcohol abuse. Marisa was likable but wasn’t in her constant struggle with booze and her trying to piece moments prior to an accident and the murder of her twin, Clare. Is she crazy??? Her sister Brit was manipulative. Jack, David, JoJo, so unlikable. I had a hard time putting this one down. Incredible story telling!", "timestamp": 1663108098659, "title": "Slow Burn" }, { "asin": "B0746L8G49", "rating": 4, "text": "Deadly Recall is the second in the Jessie Cole series. It almost had too many storylines and subplots going on. But they all did tie up nicely with full suspense. Still working on reporter Ben’s amnesiac past and Jessie was hired to find a stolen at birth baby. And then the other plot was a mourning father trying to get vengeance on an insurance company. The storylines were riveting and I can’t wait for more!", "timestamp": 1663876092221, "title": "Bloody good" } ]

[ { "asin": "0310335582", "rating": 5, "text": "I'll admit it - the Amish world has always intrigued me to some extent. I was born and raised in northeastern Ohio and there was a huge Amish community in nearby Holmes County, where we would head out on the weekends to taste their wares while hitting the garage sales and flea markets.<br /><br />Then, when I moved down to Sarasota, Florida, I was surprised to learn there was a large Amish community here as well, and I've taken the benefit of enjoying some fantastic food at &#34;Amish-style&#34; restaurants and I've driven down some streets that have tons of bicycles and women dressed modestly.<br /><br />I realize that I need apologize in advance when I say &#34;Amish&#34; because I never looked closely enough into each community to determine whether it was &#34;Amish,&#34; &#34;Mennonite&#34; or &#34;Anabaptist&#34;. I had heard the terms &#34;Amish&#34; and &#34;Mennonite&#34; before reading this book, but I can honestly say I've never heard of &#34;Anabaptist&#34;.<br /><br />In any event, The Plain Choice by Sherry Gore, is a short book - 179 pages. As I was reading it, I was thinking to myself that my auto accident story would probably fill just about the same amount of pages if I were to try and write a book about my life too. I will say this: while The Plain Choice is a short book comparing it to some of the novels I read, it was just enough pages to walk through Ms. Gore's life. I was very impressed by her honesty, and I loved that the book flowed in time rather than jumping back and forth.<br /><br />It is very clear that Ms. Gore is a very determined woman. Once she made up her mind to change the way she was living, she whole-heartedly took the leap into her new life. I appreciated that she was honest in sharing the part of her story that some people would keep hidden, the &#34;real&#34; Sherry Harris. She shares her childhood struggles growing up and feeling unloved and not a part of her father's life. She does not minimize poor choices or blame someone else for them. She makes it clear that she had removed God from her life. She was and still is an imperfect human living in an imperfect world.<br /><br />Ms. Gore's story teaches us that not all Amish-Mennonite's are removed from technology and modern conveniences too. It depends on the churches and communities as to how &#34;modern&#34; they become.<br /><br />The pinnacle point is when she immersed herself in baptism to her old life, and newness of life in Christ Jesus, and as an Amish-Mennonite. Sherry Gore is saved by grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. But there is more to this book. It is a call for all to realize God's love and forgiveness and that absolutely no one is beyond God's love and redemption.<br /><br />The next time I'm traveling around in Sarasota, I'll be sure to look for that cute Electra bike of hers and give her a &#34;shout out&#34; for this book! I truly appreciate that BookLookBloggers provided me with a paperback copy of this book without cost in exchange for my personal and honest opinion and unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1442604782000, "title": "and I've taken the benefit of enjoying some fantastic food at \"Amish-style\" restaurants and I've driven down some ..." }, { "asin": "1401689604", "rating": 4, "text": "The story line of this book is set in a resort mountain town of Evergreen, Colorado. Kate Whidby is an 11 year-old protector of the family and dreams of becoming a spy. She is caught in the middle of all her family members and grandparents. Her family operates The Harrison Lodge, a historic mountain resort, and has done so for many generations. She keeps her family members' secrets from others and the day after she’s witnessed her grandfather arguing with his best friend, the man is murdered.<br /><br />At the same time in Denver, a robbery gone wrong, a consequent murder, and a gang member set on revenge for the death of his son bring several mysterious people to the Harrison Lodge. In her desire to help others, Kate chooses to harbor a fugitive while trying to save her family at the same time.<br /><br />Readers are introduced to other families, from different walks of life - not only the homeless man who sees a robbery gone wrong, but we also see runaways living under a bridge and the gang member seeking revenge for the death of his son. We also meet Charlie, a boy who has lived on the streets, with no money, and an alcoholic father. After Charlie runs away and crashes a motorcycle in Evergreen, Colorado. Kate comes upon him and hides him in a secret cubby in one of the inn's cottages.<br /><br />There are a lot of different events going on at the beginning and you wonder how they are all going to come together. Once they all converge at The Harrison Lodge, it becomes much easier to follow the story and see where everything is going.<br /><br />The author, Erin Healy, takes various different storylines and skillfully weaves them together over the course of a weekend until they come to a head late Sunday afternoon at the hotel. While the beginning of the book starts a little slow, I think it has to so that the foundation is set out for each key character. We get to know the characters, their lives and their dreams. Once the &#34;action&#34; gets going, readers move through the theft, and then the robbery involving two of the main characters. We are drawn in very easily to the individuals and readers are compassionate to their situations as the book progresses.<br /><br />Ultimately, this book circles around ideas of family and forgiveness. Erin Healy shows us the dynamics of what makes a family work and what makes them fight for each other. I appreciated the depths that this story went to on a thought-provoking level. I found it to be a great read once I got over the hump of bringing the characters together. The book kept me hanging on until the very end to find the answers to some of the mysteries that came out while I was reading. I enjoyed the book and spent a lot of time flipping pages on the edge of my seat to see how things would turn out.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost as part of the Fiction Guild Team Challenge in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1444623127000, "title": "She keeps her family members' secrets from others and the day after she’s witnessed her grandfather arguing with his best friend" }, { "asin": "0824956478", "rating": 5, "text": "If you want to teach your children about Christmas - the real Christmas, The Sparkle Box: A Gift with the Power to Change Christmas by Jill Hardie is the book to get! It's for ages 4 to 8 and it's a perfect story for any child.<br /><br />Author Jill Hardie tells the story of Sam, who is so excited about Christmas! Sam is preparing his Christmas &#34;want&#34; list and he's excited about the upcoming holiday parties. At the same time, he is so curious about one very mysterious gift -- a sparkly box sitting on the mantel above the fireplace. Whenever Sam asked his mother about the box, she would tell him to wait, that she had a few more things to put in the box.<br /><br />In the midst of all of the Christmas festivities, Sam and his family bless other people with various acts of kindness, and all the while Sam waits impatiently to find out what is in the box. On Christmas morning, Sam finally gets to open the box, and he finds the slips of paper recording his family's good deeds. His parents explain to him that the things they are doing - the blessings they are providing others - are a gift for Jesus in honor of His birthday. Sam was confused as they had given the gifts to people, not Jesus. His mother explains that when we give to others we are giving to Him.a gift for Jesus -- for Jesus said that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Him.<br /><br />The Sparkle Box story is inspired by Matthew 25:40 &#34;Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.&#34; The book challenges us to put aside our wants for those in need. To think of others. Whether it be a material item like food, clothes or shelter. Or a spiritual need, such as praying with someone, lending a shoulder. Or maybe giving of your time to a neighbor or friend in need.<br /><br />This heartfelt story will inspire readers to adopt this faith-centered tradition in their own homes. The illustrations in The Sparkle Box are awesome and children are very engaged to the story. The Sparkle Box includes a glitter-coated fold-out Sparkle Box on the inside cover of the back. The book is absolutely gorgeous and is destined to become a children’s Christmas classic for years to come! You can start your own family tradition of giving gifts to the One who gave all to us! The Sparkle Box is definitely a &#34;must have&#34; book for anyone that has children or grandchildren!<br /><br />I was provided with a review copy of this book as a First Look Blogger for Worthy Publishing without cost in exchange for this, my honest review and unbiased opinion.", "timestamp": 1449065759000, "title": "It's for ages 4 to 8 and it's a perfect story for any child" }, { "asin": "031033344X", "rating": 5, "text": "My mom has been on a reading &#34;spree&#34; for the last year or two - ever since we helped her get an e-reader on Black Thursday. She will sit and read for four or five hours at a time - even if it is the middle of the night because hey, she's retired, and can take a nap all afternoon if she wants! When I received this book, The Mountain Midwife by Laurie Alice Eakes, I knew my mom would love the book and since I had quite a stack of books myself, I gladly shared with her in exchange for her honest review. Below you'll find my mom's review:<br /><br />The Mountain Midwife is a wonderful book that is the story of midwife Ashley Tolliver and it contains many twists and turns. I loved reading this book because the Appalachian setting. This book touched the areas of Virginia and parts of West Virginia which mean so much to me.<br /><br />The women in Ashley Tolliver family has been practicing the art of midwifery for many years in their small Appalachian mountain community. Ashley wants to further her education by attending medical school and leave behind the women that she serves. One of the women that Ashley helps deliver in her home is abducted while Ashley is trying to get her to the hospital because she is bleeding dangerously. Ashley now must find the woman and her newborn baby.<br /><br />After receiving a mysterious phone call from a woman claiming to be his mother, Hunter McDermott needs to track where this call came from and seeks the aid of the local midwife (Ashley Tolliver) in this mountain town hoping that she can help him find his family’s background.. Hunter McDermott learning that he is adopted now wants to meet his birth mother who says he has a brother and sister living in the Appalachian Mountains.<br /><br />Ashley is on her own mission to find the abducted mother and newborn baby and Hunter McDermott wants to know his family in the Appalachian Mountains. Will Ashley leave the place where her feet is firmly planted or will Hunter learn to love her Appalachian Mountains?<br /><br />The characters were complex, but at the same time, they were easy to relate to. The Mountain Midwife was definitely a page-turner, and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. There were a few times in the story that the characters had tough decisions to make, and it was refreshing to see that they always turned to God to help them with these tough decisions.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own (or well, in this case, my mother's).", "timestamp": 1453065273000, "title": "The characters were complex, but at the same time, they were easy to relate to." }, { "asin": "031034199X", "rating": 4, "text": "Most of you know that my mother absolutely LOVES Amish stories. She once told me that she enjoys Amish stories because they share about times that seem more &#34;simple&#34; and the priorities of the Amish are clear - faith and family. Because of the fact that my mom likes to read, and doesn't mind providing me with a book review when she's finished, we decided that if any opportunities come up for book reviews on Amish books, she would gladly read them and provide me with her review.<br /><br />Below is my mother, Gloria's review of The Forgotten Recipe (An Amish Heirloom Novel) by Amy Clipston:<br /><br />&#34;This is a story of two people touched by tragedy and both are unable to move forward with their lives until they confront their shared past. It is about love, trust and forgiveness.<br /><br />Veronica Fisher is devastated when her fiancé, Seth Lapp is killed in a tragic accident at work. Jason Huyard worked with Seth and they were best friends. Jason is having a hard time dealing with Seth's death and thinks a lot about Veronica because Seth talked about her all the time. Following the accident, Jason feels compelled to share his grief and condolences with Veronica, who loved his friend also.<br /><br />The forgotten recipe is a newly found, but old recipe stored in her mother's hope chest in the attic, which is for a raspberry pie that Veronica's grandmother used to make. Discovering this recipe, Veronica opens a bake stand in order to sell raspberry pies using her grandmother's recipe. Jason Huyard quickly becomes a regular customer but does not tell her that he knew Seth. Slowly, as he gets to know Veronica, Jason begins to fall in love with Veronica, which is the last thing he wants to do. Veronica is also hesitant to fall in love because of her promise to only love Seth. Jason visits the bake stand once a week for more than raspberry pies - they have something special!<br /><br />This story is about two strangers - one loses the man she's going to marry while the other loses his best friend. This a wonderful story that will leave you hanging at the end of the book. How will Veronica react when she finds out that she and Jason share a past? Jason has a secret - can it ruin their chance at happiness? Will Veronica trust Jason?&#34;<br /><br />If you want to read a story about love, loss and how one recipe brought two people together in ways they couldn't imagine, you'll probably want to read this book. As you can see, my mom isn't giving you spoilers either!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own (or well, in this case, my mother's).", "timestamp": 1453604712000, "title": "a story about love, loss and how one recipe brought two people together!" }, { "asin": "1401689752", "rating": 4, "text": "At the opening of the story, we learn that the main character Lucy Alling, is a rare book seller who works for Sid McKenna, one of the most respected antiques dealer and high end interior decorators in Chicago. Most of Lucy's work with Sid involves keeping the inventory and meeting customers, but Lucy loves to find old editions and then sell them at Sid's shop and she loves her job. Unfortunately, the origins and authenticity of some of the editions that Lucy &#34;finds&#34; are suspect and we learn that her morals are questionable and that she has taken a few liberties with the books she has acquired for the store and then sold.<br /><br />Lucy meets James, a handsome stranger and promising young attorney who buys two of her favorite books for family members. They become romantically involved once James shares that his attraction to Lucy is the main reason he even purchased the books to begin with. Lucy meets James' grandmother, Helen, a woman with terminal cancer who hires Lucy to be her companion on a trip to England where Helen must deal with her own secrets. Visiting some of the sites famous for the Brontë novels and the places where the Brontë sisters lived, a friendship is born and both Lucy and Helen realize that they must face their flaws and fix their wrongdoings.<br /><br />I had never heard of the Brontë sisters before this book, so I didn't know what the title actually meant until I read this book. I thought it was pretty amazing that when I took out a note pad and made a list, there were over 50 other books mentioned in the story of this book!<br /><br />The Brontë Plot explores what makes us who we are and asks if we can change. In my humble opinion, since this book was held out to be a Christian book, I was surprised that there wasn't very much spiritual emphasis as I would have liked, but the life truths were there. The Brontë Plot is about people facing their past to be able to move on into the future.<br /><br />“All real lives hold controversy, trials, mistakes, and regrets. What matters is what you do next.” ― Katherine Reay, The Brontë Plot<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1454551242000, "title": "There were over 50 other books mentioned in the story of this book!" }, { "asin": "0764211595", "rating": 4, "text": "I wasn't hadn't heard of Nancy Mehl before, so I wasn't familiar with her writing before so when this book became available for review, I wasn't sure what to expect. This particular book, Rising Darkness, is Nancy Mehl's third book in the Finding Sanctuary series. Obviously since I haven't heard of Ms. Mehl, so I haven't read the first two books but in all honesty, I had no trouble following along in this book, so I'd say it's definitely a &#34;stand alone&#34; book. I am betting though, that I missed some of the history of the town and of the people, which might have made this book have more depth to me.<br /><br />The main character, Sophie Wittenbaur, is a young lady who grew up in a conservative and strict Mennonite family. Sophie left her small town of Kingdom both in shame and regret and to leave her painful and abusive past behind. Sophie educates herself and chases her dream job of becoming an investigative reporter. While she tries to make a name for herself as a reporter, Sophie unintentionally lands in the middle of a possible lead on a murderer who escaped with millions of dollars. The past that Sophie has worked so hard to leave behind ends up right in front of her again as she travels to the fictional Mennonite town of Sanctuary, Missouri. she takes herself &#34;under cover&#34; posing as Emily McClure while she searches for information in Sanctuary.<br /><br />Sophie meets an old flame, Jonathon Wiese, who is now a pastor in Sanctuary. Jonathon soon discovers who Emily really is and begins helping Sophie discover the answer to this story she has been trying to crack. At the same time, Sophie begins to question her decision of turning away from God and blaming God for her childhood pain while Jonathon reminds her that God was carrying her at those times in her life. There are threats and dangers around every corner, and while Sophie doesn't fully trust Jonathon she realizes that she must let him save her life.<br /><br />Rising Darkness is clear in its message to readers that we can't hold on to our past and that we need to turn things over to God and trust that He will lead us. As I stated above, I haven't read the first two books in this series, but I'm thinking if they are as good as this one, I would recommend that you read them all. While I wasn't familiar with Ms. Mehl before, I can now say that this book was fast paced and the characters were well developed. I loved the story line and you are definitely left guessing about what to expect next. I thought it was a great book and I would recommend it to other readers.<br /><br />Thank you to Bethany House for the opportunity for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1454875189000, "title": "Sophie left her small town of Kingdom both in shame and regret and to leave her painful and abusive past behind" }, { "asin": "0310338492", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm not the type to steal credit when credit is due someone else, so let me tell you right now that the following review of this book, Whispers in the Reading Room is my mother's review:<br /><br />&#34;While both my daughter and I have read several of Shelley Shepard Gray's Amish series books, we did not know she wrote other types of books as well. In fact, I was actually surprised to see this book, Whispers in the Reading Room, was written by the same author, but was happy to give it a try nonetheless.<br /><br />The setting for this historic book is in the seedier part of Chicago where the crime rate is high shortly after the Chicago World Fair in 1893. At once this story transported me to Chicago with its life in the back alleys and was part of the great division between the upper and middle class society.<br /><br />Whispers in the Reading Room is a story about middle class librarian, Lydia Bancroft, and the unlikely friendship she finds herself with a mysterious debonair gentleman patron of her library who never checks a book out. Lydia herself was lonely, and as she is weighted down by the duty to secure a wealthy husband so she can meet her mother's needs, she is very anxious.<br /><br />At once you realize that Mr. Sebastian Marks is an elusive man with many secrets. She learns his name when their paths cross the night Lydia's fiancé takes her to the Hartman Hotel and begins to rough handle her. Sebastian Marks intervenes in a tense situation in Lydia's life and from that moment on Lydia’s new friend takes on the role of protector while showing her that her fiancé isn’t who she thinks he is. Lydia discovers that Sebastian lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.<br /><br />Sebastian himself is quite the mystery man pretending to be a gentleman, and Lydia is shocked to learn that he is the owner of a drinking and gambling establishment. Lydia insists on visiting the club one night and both she and Sebastian are suddenly suspects to a murder. She must determine who can she really trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian (who everyone fears) is actually everything she thinks he is.<br /><br />A mystery book is not the kind of book that I usually read, but once I started Whispers in the Reading Room I could not put it down. Whispers in the Reading Room was an excellent mystery/murder/romance for curling up reading on a raining day by the fireplace. Even though I hadn't read the first two books in this series, I fell in love with all the characters in this story and looking forward to a follow-up story. I will definitely have to go back and read the other Chicago World's Fair Mystery series books - Book #1, Secrets of Sloane House and Book #2, Deception on Sable Hill too!&#34;<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own - well, they are my mother's and for that, I am responsible.", "timestamp": 1457375561000, "title": "but was happy to give it a try nonetheless" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 5, "text": "The Wedding Chapel was the first book written by Rachel Hauck that I have read. At first, I didn't think I was going to care for this book; it seemed like there was just too much information. While I did think the story was interesting, I struggled with Ms. Hauck's telling of it. As the story progressed though - probably about halfway through the book - the story turned out to be a really good one.<br /><br />I feel that Rachel writes from her heart about real broken family struggles, and the drama that goes along with it. The Wedding Chapel is a complex story of interwoven lives, souls seeking peace, secrets, forgiveness, and second chances. The characters were real and I enjoyed their journey each went on within themselves.<br /><br />The Wedding Chapel reminds me of something like time-travel because the story moves back and forth from Heart's Bend, Tennessee in 1948 where it is a lost love story of Jimmy and Colette and then to flash forward to the present where it is a modern love story of Jack and Taylor in New York. Due to the style of this writing, the reader is following the two different couples on their journey of love.<br /><br />At the heart of this story is the wedding chapel, symbolizing hope and healing, while at the same time conveying that there is no time limit on love and second chances.I loved the location of the chapel and the romances of the four characters. This book is such a great love story and also has a hint of suspense regarding a secret one of the characters held. The Wedding Chapel is a book that I will remember.<br /><br />If you enjoy books about inspirational romance and learning how to depend on God to help see your blessings I would highly recommend this one. This book would make a really good book club reading book or as a Hallmark movie.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1457466051000, "title": "it seemed like there was just too much information" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 4, "text": "While I have come to learn that Terri Blackstock is a well known author, this was the first of her books I've ever read. If I Run is the first book in a series also named If I Run. I'm really glad I got in on the first book, so I'll be all set to read the rest in the series. Yes, I'll be reading the future books too.<br /><br />If I Run is written in first person and present tense and it is with two points of view – alternating between the two main characters – namely, Casey Cox and Dylan Roberts. This style of writing really builds up the tension in this story and it puts the reader right in the center of it all.<br /><br />Ms. Blackstock first introduces us to Casey as she is cleaning blood off her tennis shoes and packing up to skip town. Her DNA is all over a crime scene and she is a fugitive who is running for her life. Dylan is the man hired to look for Casey. Right from the start, readers aren’t really clear about Casey's guilt or innocence and this isn’t disclosed until we are pretty far into the story. It definitely kept the suspense going throughout the story, which for me, made for good reading.<br /><br />We learn that Casey is running from the real killers. She is smart and knows how to avoid the cops and as the story progresses, Dylan begins to think Casey cannot actually be the killer too.<br /><br />The author also works in a secondary plot, but I don’t want this to be a spoiler so I’ll just tell you it is an exciting side story that doesn’t distract readers from the main plot.<br /><br />If I Run is a well written book with well developed characters. This book is chalked full of unexpected twists and turns, which, added to the ongoing suspense of the story makes readers excited for the second installment to this series. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for that sequel!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1457475291000, "title": "I'm really glad I got in on the first book" }, { "asin": "0718037626", "rating": 4, "text": "I wasn't sure what to expect with the title of this book - The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell - but I took a chance anyway. The story still has me in shock so excuse me if this review is slightly garbled. The book held me from page one and is still resonating in my head.<br /><br />This story takes place pre-Katrina, in New Orleans. Our main character is Amanda, whose daughter, Ellie's best friend is Sarah. Amanda steps in as a chaperone on her daughter's sixth-grade Halloween field trip to the Big Easy. When Sarah is abducted, Amanda is guilt-ridden because she feels that she was supposed to be the one watching Sarah when she disappeared and she feels responsible.<br /><br />“We all have a feathered bone. It’s called hope. If we hang on to hope, if we don’t let anybody break us or make us forget who we are, then we will always be free.” Sarah<br /><br />Woven throughout this book is Sarah’s side of the story, which is told through her journal entries written so she can remember who she really is. She addresses her entries to a sparrow that comes to her window to visit. In those writings, the reality of Sarah's situation is is disclosed in a very sensitive way. The lessons that her parents taught her before her abduction allow her to stay remind herself of truth. Sarah's voice, through her journal entries, was full of simple, beautiful wisdom.<br /><br />For me this novel shared a very dark story of mental health, abuse and sexual exploitation. It was really deep but does show readers that life doesn't always go smooth and easy and that trials and fears attack us when we least expect them. Cantrell's characters are real and complex, the story is layered and the themes difficult. Amanda was a completely believable character even when she couldn't fix things. Sometimes her emotions were all over the place and the book overall is an emotional rollercoaster. I loved how faith played a big part for the characters too.<br /><br />The details of each character's storyline are so real that while reading, I almost felt like I was a part of the lives of these characters. This is one of those &#34;hard to put down&#34; kind of books, but when you finally do put the book down, you will continue to think about them all.<br /><br />“It is written to remind us all that we are loved, we have worth, and we are never alone.” Julie Cantrell<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1461453179000, "title": "Ellie's best friend is Sarah" }, { "asin": "0764212486", "rating": 5, "text": "This is a story about a twenty five year old unwed Lucy Flaud an Amish girl living in Lancaster County, PA. It begins with mystery and intrigue that will unravel in bits and pieces throughout this novel. As I read this story, I felt that had I known Lucy's past and her mistakes earlier on in the story, I might have enjoyed this novel more but since I didn't know, I felt that I rushed through the story just to find the answers.<br /><br />Lucy had done something in her past where she made a grave mistake. By holding on to her past, she is unable to let go of her sins by forgiving herself and asking God for forgiveness so she move forward. Somehow this mistake help create a strained relationship with her parents especially her father Christian.<br /><br />Trying to find redemption - or &#34;atonement&#34; for her past - Lucy fills every day volunteering at charitable organizations, helping her married sister with her children, and working at home helping her twin sisters and Mother. No matter how hard she works, she cannot fill the empty hole in her heart. I had a hard time understanding her relationship with her twin sisters. Lucy’s journey held lessons on love, faith and forgiveness as she found her way back to church. On her journey Lucy meets an elderly couple who met on a bridge to celebrate. While she listens to their story of love Lucy begins to heal.<br /><br />Lucy's father, Christian, starts attending a local grief support group where he meets, Englisher, Dale Wyeth. Dale seems to be looking for a more simple life and he owns a local hardware store. Through their friendship, Dale starts spending time around the Flaud farm, and Lucy begins to know Dale as they become friends. People are worried, though, that the friendship will lead to more and Lucy past will be revisited when they spot her riding in his truck<br /><br />Meeting Dale brings back all of the painful memories Lucy has avoided. She begins to help a homeless girl she has become friends with and in doing so, she begins to restore her broken relationship with God. This story was provoking and made me look inside myself at mistakes I’ve made in the past. Like Lucy, I had a hard time asking God for forgiveness and let go of my sins to find peace. This is an emotional story that Beverly Lewis tells so well and it is an excellent look at redemption and forgiveness. I enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />Thank you to the Bethany House Blogger Review Program for the opportunity for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1461842307000, "title": "I might have enjoyed this novel more but since I didn't know" }, { "asin": "0718033183", "rating": 4, "text": "This book is second in a series called the &#34;Amish of Birch Creek&#34; written by Kathleen Fuller. I did not read the first book but An Unbroken Heart can stand alone without having previously reading book one. I really enjoyed reading this story and put it down once. Kathleen Fuller makes the reader feel the emotions of love, fear, pain, and questions of self-worth and happiness. The main characters in this book are Joanna Schrock and Andrew Beiler.<br /><br />Joanna was arguing with her parents about wanting to marry Andrew while they were traveling in their buggy on the way to the apple orchard. Her mother was telling her that she was not yet ready for marriage. When a car hit their buggy, the collision caused her to lose both of her parents. Joanna herself suffered a broken pelvis and lacerations on her face which would take a long time to heal. Joanna had loved Andrew since she was twelve years old, since he had stood up for her when she was being bullied at school. Over the years, as they were dating her feelings for Andrew grew stronger and Joanna had shocked Andrew by proposing to him.<br /><br />In the rehabilitation center, Joanna suffered both physically with the pain from the accident and mentally, having learned that she had lost both parents. She felt so empty, alone and guilty. Andrew was upset about the accident and worried that he might be losing Joanna, so visited her and proposed. He could not picture his life without Joanna by his side. She accepted the proposal without the deep joy she had hoped for, and the plans began for their wedding. On the day of her wedding Joanna was unable to walk down the aisle. She then told Andrew she could not marry him as she knew she wasn't ready. God was talking to Joanna, telling her to be strong and courageous. Should she listen to God?<br /><br />In An Unbroken Heart, readers learn about Joanna’s sisters, Sadie and Abigail, and how they managed to run the family business after their parent’s death while at the same time handling Joanna’s recovery. It encourages readers to look at forgiveness in their own lives as Joanna’s met Cameron, the driver who caused the accident that killed her parents, and forgave him. As the characters become so real, you really want healing for those who are hurting, and you want to help them find their way back to God so they can be whole again - but it must be in line with God’s timing and not theirs.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1462317003000, "title": "I really enjoyed reading this story and put it down once" }, { "asin": "0718030923", "rating": 4, "text": "Sister Dear by Laura McNeill has a great cover and picture, which was just enough to pull me in. The story is about Allie, who is a mother convicted of a crime she swears she didn't commit. (Haven't we all heard that one before?) Anyway, after spending 10 years in jail, Allie returns to her small town hoping to pick up the pieces of her life and re-establish a relationship with her now 15-year old daughter. Allie struggles to fall in place, to fit back in living her former life with her family, with friends and at work. In order to try and reconnect and form a relationship with her daughter, Allie becomes determined to find out what really happened that tragic night and wants to clear her name.<br /><br />Sister Dear seemed to start off a little slow and I was little worried that I wasn't going to enjoy the book, but slowly the plot got going and just kept building and building until the very last page. I really enjoyed the writing style - sort of &#34;flashback&#34; style - going between 2006 and 2016 - through the eyes of various people, including Allie, Sheriff Gaines, Emma (Allie's sister) and Caroline (Allie's daughter). Using the multiple points of view and weaving back and forth through time, Sister Dear painted a haunting picture of lies, betrayals and deep dark secrets.<br /><br />The author, McNeill, definitely left me guessing about everyone's involvement in &#34;the incident,&#34; including Allie's own involvement. I loved the plot twists, and I will admit I didn't see them coming. It wasn't one of those predictable plots where you knew what was happening next, and I really appreciated that. I don't want to write a spoiler here, so I really can't go into too much of the story. Suffice it to say, it's worth reading Sister Dear to learn the whole story! On one of those 1 to 5 star ratings, with 5 being highest, I'd give this book a 4.2. I'll definitely be watching for future works of Laura McNeill and I'm going to head back and read her debut book, Center of Gravity too!<br /><br />I truly appreciate that BookLookBloggers provided me with a paperback copy of this book to read without cost in exchange for my personal and honest opinion and unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1462501469000, "title": "Sister Dear by Laura McNeill has a great cover and picture" }, { "asin": "1617956651", "rating": 5, "text": "What I found in this book was a beautiful book filled with hope. Hunting Hope is full of inspiring stories and gut-wrenching moments that share all of the promises that are possible to God's children. Nika Maples shares her heart, and her honesty and the end result is that her transparency is a very beautiful thing for readers. Ms. Maples' humor made me laugh and smile and her stories often made me emotional and teary, but it was her relationship with Jesus that really made me look at those areas of my own life that could really use some work.<br /><br />Accepting what we cannot change, while anticipating future blessings is the perfect definition of hope as Ms. Maples relates to readers. She leans on Scripture to back up every point she makes, helping readers see that the honest and true statements taken from God's Word. Ms. Maples' beautiful examples of God's compassion for us provides strength and hope to readers in their dark moments. Hunting Hope is easy to read and very well written in such a way that it allows readers to find the messages they need at the time they are needed.", "timestamp": 1463961972000, "title": "What I found in this book was a beautiful book filled with hope" }, { "asin": "1401688314", "rating": 5, "text": "A Dream of Miracles is the third book in The Amish Wonder series by Ruth Reid. The first book was A Miracle of Hope and the second book was A Woodland Miracle. Each of those books would probably have helped in creating the backdrop to the characters in this book, but nonetheless, my favorite Amish book reviewer, Gloria (aka Mom) says that this book can be read as a stand alone very nicely.<br /><br />This story takes place in a small community made up of Old Order Amish in Michigan. The two main characters Mattie Diener and Boaz (Bo) Lambright become so real that you think they are your best friends. Mattie is a young widowed woman with two young children, Nathan and 18-month old Amanda, to raise without her husband Andy, who is deceased. Mattie is having a rough time running a herb and honey business with the help of the community especially her next door bachelor neighbor Alvin.<br /><br />Mattie’s oldest child, Nathan, is three years old has been a sickly baby with several health issues since his birth. Nathan is ill and Mattie takes him to the doctor and her worse nightmare begins. Her regular doctor is not available and another doctor, Dr. Wellington, is filling his place but he knows nothing about the Amish. Nathan has a fever and blisters in his mouth and Dr. Wellington suspects’ abuse.<br /><br />The doctor has Mattie take Nathan to the hospital and calls Child Protective Services on her. She meets Boaz Lambright, a fast-rising social services investigator whose high-society mother doesn't seem to rest until she finds her son's &#34;Mrs. Right&#34;. He does not think there is any abuse and sets out to prove her innocence. Things keep happening and the plot continues to twist and turn, and all the while Mattie has your heart because of struggles she is going through. Bo was haunted by dreams with flashing from his current life into his past life.<br /><br />I love the twist that Bo experiences and I found it hard to actually put this book down because I wanted to find out the outcome. There is so much emotion in this story and both the characters and the plot are so powerful that it just carried me away with them. Toward the end of this story things are explained. I loved this story and I look forward to other books by Ruth Reid.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1464313791000, "title": "my favorite Amish book reviewer" }, { "asin": "1530040396", "rating": 4, "text": "My Father's House by Rose Chandler Johnson is about Lily Rose Cates, who has the perfect childhood that includes a fantastic relationship with her father. Her father adored her and she loved him so much. Lily's father unexpectedly passes away when Lily is sixteen and it leaves her to emotionally flounder throughout the rest of high school and into college.<br /><br />As Lily heads off to college, she sees her friends marrying off or falling in love. On a trip to New York City to meet up with her best friend, Lily meets Manuel Valenti. He seems charming and sophisticated and Lily is captivated by his attention. He sweeps her off her feet and promises her the world. She falls into a whirlwind romance and totally falls for him even though there are signals - warning signs - she fails (or chooses) to recognize. Even her wise Annie Ruth feels that Manny Lily brings him home to meet her family.<br /><br />Lily moves forward with marriage, but not surprisingly, soon afterward their marriage begins to fall apart. Her husband is a dark, abusive man and Lily soon realizes that she must make the hard choice of leaving Manny - of running from her husband - or possibly risk even more than the marriage. Once Lily gets away from her horrible marriage, Lily starts to take the necessary steps of healing her heart from her past and from her marriage so that she can move forward. We readers standby (and read on) as Lily slowly begins the process of healing and returning to her father's house.<br /><br />I felt that this story was written to remind us all that there is always hope, even in our darkest hours and our deepest pain. I loved Ms. Johnson's writing and this is one of those books you can definitely get caught up in, and if you're anything like me, you'll read it cover to cover in one sitting. (Pray that I make it through work tomorrow without falling asleep!!)<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1466009767000, "title": "who has the perfect childhood that includes a fantastic relationship with her father" }, { "asin": "0764212818", "rating": 5, "text": "Being part of the Bethany House Blogger Review Program, I get to read some very interesting books that I wouldn't necessarily have the opportunity to read. Sometimes I'm provided with books to read from authors I've never heard of, even though they are very popular in the literary world. Today's book, No Other Will Do, by Karen Witemeyer and this book falls into that category. Those of you who follow me regularly know that my mom loves Amish books. She also loves Western books and when I read her the back cover of this book over the phone, she jumped at the chance to read it and report in. Here's my mom's review:<br /><br />&#34;The setting for this story takes place in the old historical west. This Christian romance has it all - humor, action, murder, mystery and the suspense of a 'who done it'. No Other Will Do is very well written and has you hanging on every word to find out what is going to happen next. I truly enjoyed reading this novel in one day and did not put it down until the end,<br /><br />Emma Chandler and her suffragette aunts were strong, free spirited independent women who started a successful women’s colony in Harper’s Station, Texas to help women in need to make a fresh start with their lives. Unfortunately, there is someone who repeatedly wants to drive all the ladies out of colony. If only Emma knew what this dangerous crook wanted. She is forced to admit they might need a man to help and there is only one man that she really trusts to do the job.<br /><br />Malachi Shaw has known Emma since they were young. She saved his life when he was hiding out in her auntie’s barn after fighting in the streets and is cold, hungry, and no home. She ask her aunt if she could keep him. Now Malachi has earned respect by working on the railroad as an explosive expert. When he received Emma’s telegraph asking for his help, he left immediately to go to her keep a childhood promise be had made and try somehow to repay her for saving his life.<br /><br />The danger at the women’s colony continues and the threats are getting stronger and more dangerous. Should the women leave the colony for their safety? Should they stay and fight with Malachi help to catch the outlaws?&#34;<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the Bethany House Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1466987226000, "title": "I truly enjoyed reading this novel in one day and did not ..." }, { "asin": "1617956120", "rating": 4, "text": "My Mother's Quilts: Devotions on Love, Legacy, Family and Faith by Ramona Richards is an awesome devotional. While this book has lots of pictures of some beautiful quilts, it is way more than a quilt picture book. Each devotional itself shares the story of each individual quilt. It includes a sentence or two of a prayer starter, and then a Bible verse.<br /><br />While this is a book you will want to read in its entirety like I did, you will want to keep it close to you so that when you are reading your daily devotionals you can include this book as a devotional guide as well.<br /><br />As a baby, I received a quilt from my grandfather who passed before I was born. Every Christmas my mom would bring that quilt out and we would enjoy its beauty during the Christmas season, and then she would pack it up again until next year. When I found that exact quilt in this book, my heart swelled with such fond memories of that quilt!<br /><br />I received a copy of this devotional book without cost in exchange for this post from FlyByPromotions! Thank you FlyBy!!", "timestamp": 1466988793000, "title": "Devotions on Love, Legacy" }, { "asin": "1434708381", "rating": 4, "text": "Jilted is the third book in the Mended Hearts series, but can serve as a stand alone book on its own. I did not read the two prior books Jaded and Justified, and I feel that if I had read the first two it would have added to my enjoyment of Jilted.<br /><br />The story in Jilted takes place in a quiet small town of Trapp, Texas. As in most small towns, gossip and news spreads quickly. The memorable characters in this story are Lynda Turner and Clyde Felton. Lynda is doubtful that love and happiness will ever be hers until Clyde an old friend and an ex-convict shows interest in her and hope awakens. Lynda’s husband left her and young daughter Ruthie behind fifteen years ago.<br /><br />Lynda, struggling with depression, had withdrawn from the community and Clyde had to adjust when returning after time in prison to Trapp and face the community he left behind. Because these characters are older and had already missed so much of their lives, I wanted to help them Mrs. Denman told and wrote this story so well that you felt part of this little town and a friend to Lynda and Clyde.<br /><br />Lynda Turner has struggled with depression since her husband abandoned her and their young daughter fifteen years ago. Yet unexpected hope awakens when a local ex-convict shows interest. As long-hidden secrets resurface, Lynda must fight for her emotional stability and for a life where the shadow of shame is replaced by the light of love.<br /><br />Jilted tells of a woman who has lost the joy of living, a man determined to draw her back toward happiness, and a town that must---once and for all---leave the past where it belongs. It is a gentle reminder that all things can work together for good.<br /><br />As secrets which had been hidden for years comes out again Lynda must fight to keep her emotions stable, getting out of living in shame, and receive the love that her old friend Clyde is offering. This final secret is shocking.<br /><br />At the end of this book all ends are neatly tied up and I am sorry that my visit to Trapp, Texas has finished and I will miss Lynda and Clyde and all the others. I really enjoyed reading Jilted, and look forward to reading Jaded and Justified soon!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1467159685000, "title": "and I feel that if I had read the first two it would have added to my enjoyment of Jilted" }, { "asin": "0736966234", "rating": 5, "text": "Here's what I say: Before I can even talk about this book, I have to talk about the Bible verse on the front - one of my favorites! &#34;For I know the plansI have for you,&#34; declares the LORD, &#34;plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.&#34; Jeremiah 29:11.<br /><br />I knew it was going to be a great book just because of that in itself, and I wasn't wrong at all! First I will say this isn't the only book I've read of Dana Mentink's! She really knows how to write some pretty cool pups in her stories and I really enjoyed it in the other book I read. Funny stuff here! I read this book at my desk at work because (1) it was a smaller book and easy to carry; and (2) because I just couldn't wait to read it!<br /><br />Stephanie Pink - yes, her last name is Pink - don't you love it? Anyway, Stephanie Pink is the heroine of this book, and she's hooked on books - kind of like yours truly. She can't seem to go any period of time without reading a book or she gets anxious. She's an aspiring literary agent and had been dreaming of it since she read a book by Agnes Wharton as a kid. She is sent by her boss to pick up a manuscript by none other than Agnes Wharton - one that they'd been waiting for over 15 years. Tragically, when she meets Agnes, her dog, Sweetness, takes off and the story begins!<br /><br />At the same time, Stephanie is also like most girls and is in search of her &#34;happily ever after&#34;. Enter Rhett Hastings, a retired CEO, who stepped down from his job to take care of his sister after a bad accident where she suffered brain trauma. Before her accident, Rhett had treated her pretty bad and she had disowned him but of course, with the injury she doesn't recall that fact. Rhett feels that God is telling him to return to the orchard in Oregon where they had grown up. Of course, on his way there, he bumps into none other than Stephanie Pink.<br /><br />This is where the &#34;happily ever after &#34; may or may not kick in (no spoilers here). Rhett rescues Stephanie and Sweetness and even helps her get the dog to Washington! Both Rhett and Stephanie find themselves on a crazy journey that will definitely change their lives. And just like the author reveals at the beginning of the book, God has a plan for them (Jeremiah 29:11). Of course, they soon find out His plan isn't anything like their individual plans and His is way better! .<br /><br />I give this sweet little book 5 stars out of 5 for style of writing, flow of the storyline, the depth of the characters, and of course the hilarious dog!! I see Dana Mentink has the next book in the Love Unleashed series out in February of 2017, and I will be looking out for that book as well!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1471365525000, "title": "I give this sweet little book 5 stars out of 5" }, { "asin": "1501820079", "rating": 4, "text": "I always love books about dogs, and Service Tails: More Stories of Man's Best Hero by Ace Collins is no exception! Service Tails is a wonderful collection of great true stories that share both the love and loyalty of the owner and their dog, but also provide insight and inspiration.<br /><br />We learn about their extensive training and incredible service working together to provide owners with more self confidence with the assistance of their service dog. These dogs help create permanent and forever bonds with their owners that goes beyond their service, and provides readers with that &#34;heart connection&#34; by sharing their stories.<br /><br />Service Tails shares twelve stories of dogs who provide the commitment of duty and service to their owners, some saving lives and some providing an independent lifestyle to those unable to do so without the help of their service dog. The best part of these stories is the way it shares how owners and their dogs seem to become one as they work together to make life more enjoyable.<br /><br />If you are a dog owner and lover, then I recommend this book to you. This is one of those books to keep on your shelf so you can read again in the future. Service Tails would also make a fantastic gift for any dog lover in your life!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1472431817000, "title": "I always love books about dogs" }, { "asin": "0310339863", "rating": 4, "text": "The Saddle Maker’s Son is the third book in The Amish of Bee County series. I did not read the first two, but enjoyed this one as a stand alone. (I will admit, though, I think I would love to read books #1 and #2 just to see what I missed.)<br /><br />This is a romantic story of Rebekah Lantz, who lives in a small Amish community in Bee County Texas. She feels like her family does not trust her since her sister Leila left the Amish faith to marry Jesse Glick.<br /><br />Tobias Byler is an Amish man who has recently moved to Bee County along with his father, Levi and his nine siblings. As Levi is opening his new shop of making saddles and training horses he has an accident and the children are left to take care of themselves while he is in the hospital.<br /><br />Rebekah works as an assistant school teacher and has discovered two dirty and hungry runaway children The children hiding in the shed outside of the schoolhouse traveled across the border from El Salvador. It is discovered that the children traveled alone and were sent by their grandmother from El Salvador to Texas to hunt out their father, who is living in San Antonio.<br /><br />Rebekah also meets Tobias Byler and his father, Levi who brings the younger children to school. Will Rebekah turn Guadulupe (&#34;Lupe&#34;) and Diego over to the proper authorities? Will this small Amish community open their hearts and arms to these runaway children? It was interesting to read how illegal children immigrants are handled.<br /><br />There is attraction and friction between Rebekah and Tobias as they worked to help the children find their father. Does Tobias have feelings for Rebekah and cannot show it? There is also another romance going on with Rebekah’s aunt and Tobias’s father. This story has all the things that makes a wonderful love story and reminds us that God wants us to help each other.<br /><br />The Saddle Maker's Son is very well written story and I could not put it down until the last page. It was a beautiful story and one that I will remember.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1472434475000, "title": "but enjoyed this one as a stand alone" }, { "asin": "0310345391", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the first book in Shelley Shepard Gray’s &#34;Lone Star Hero&#34; series, I loved reading some of her other books such as the Whispers in the Reading Room.<br /><br />The Loyal Heart story takes place in the late 1800s in Galveston Texas right after the civil war ended, and its a story about Miranda Markham who is a war widow and is facing many troubles in Galveston. She lost her husband that she dearly loved and now has become an outcast in her hometown because someone is spreading rumors that her husband was a traitor.<br /><br />Phillip Markham, Lt. Truax, Caption Monroe, and Major Kelly were prisoners in a POW camp. This group of Confederate soldiers, who had been prisoners by the Union army, promised to take care of each other and their families after the war.<br /><br />Phillip Markham past away right before the war ended. He always spoke of the love that he and his wife Miranda shared. Robert Truax was sent to see how Miranda was doing to fulfill the promise that was made to Markham.<br /><br />Who is responsible making the town turn against Miranda and how are the rumors spreading that Phillip Markham was a traitor? Robert was the problem solver will he be able to take care of this?<br /><br />The Loyal Heart is a historical fiction book and provides for the reader a great mixture of mystery, suspense, action, history of the post-Civil war in the south, and a light romance. Shelley is a great storyteller and I enjoyed this book very much. Looking forward to reading more in this series.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own - well, they are my mother's and for that, I am responsible.", "timestamp": 1473218990000, "title": "I loved reading some of her other books such as the ..." }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "I will admit it - I get so excited every single time I see that Rachel Hauck has another book out. It ranks right up there with having a day off work - my day job, that is. I really think that if there was anyone I could ever point out and say &#34;yes, that woman follows God's calling for her&#34;, it would be Rachel Hauck. That being said, today's post is about Rachel Hauck's latest release, The Wedding Shop. The Wedding Shop is the third book in the &#34;wedding&#34; series, the others being The Wedding Chapel and the other,<br /><br />The Wedding Shop's setting is Heart's Bend, Tennessee, and this story is about a young woman named Haley Morgan who us home from the Air Force. She decides she will take over the town's old wedding shop that's been in the town for over 90 years. The building was run down and in need of many repairs, but Haley had a vision of what it once was. Even though it's been closed for so many years, Haley has a strong feeling that the place must be reopened.<br /><br />The storyline of The Wedding Shop goes back and forth between the 1930s through the 1950s and then the present day. While this book could be a &#34;stand alone&#34;, it is my understanding that some of the characters in this book were also included in Rachel's previous books.<br /><br />The entire book is awesome. Ms. Hauck draws readers in as she alternates the story between modern day Haley and past wedding shop owner Cora. Ms. Hauck has the fantastic ability to transport her readers back in time and make them actually feel like they are there. It was great to see the different perspectives of the characters and how their stories develop while moving between the two time periods. The message I received from this book was that we need to trust in God and do His will and he will provide.<br /><br />I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publisher, and I received a digital copy from NetGalley, both without cost, but in exchange for my opinion.", "timestamp": 1473984027000, "title": "The entire book is awesome." }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 4, "text": "I had never heard of Robert Whitlow before, but the man has written plenty of books. The cover of this book drew me in - sort of resembled a John Grisham book or something - and it made me curious. Another drawing factor to this book was the fact that it was a Christian suspense novel with a legal emphasis. Having worked in the legal field for over 30 years, I'm always interested in that category. Sprinkle it with a little suspense, and you've got me interested.<br /><br />The Witnesses follows young lawyer, Parker House as he begins working in a small North Carolina law firm. His job doesn't pay as much as his friends but he finds satisfaction in what he is learning and achieving as he learns the ropes of a law office and of his town. At the same time, Parker realizes that he is somehow able to see the future.<br /><br />While Parker uses his gift in the legal field, his grandfather, Frank (born Franz Haus), was forced to use the gift during World War II. This fact in itself results in the story going back and forth between these two time periods throughout the book.<br /><br />Parker's gift is starting to become obvious to others, which begins to make him more interesting to a more prestigious law firm. As he struggles with his career decisions and decisions surrounding a new romance, his grandfather is experiencing deep regret for his actions in WWII.<br /><br />The theme of The Witnesses seems to be how people can use (or misuse) God's gifts. While both Parker and his grandfather, Frank are good people, sometimes the use of their gift for evil is too tempting to hold back. Throughout the story, readers will see both of these men struggling with the use of their gift in a responsible manner and whether they will follow the Lord or not follow the Lord.<br /><br />This book would inspire anyone who is wavering about seeking forgiveness and making life changing decisions. If you have never read any of Robert Whitlow's other books, I'd suggest you start here like I did. The Witnesses is a book that seems to cross over those defined genre lines that include law, family, romance, friendship, mystery, suspense and even a little thriller.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1475082812000, "title": "Frank are good people, sometimes the use of their gift for ..." }, { "asin": "0800726413", "rating": 4, "text": "The storyline of When Love Arrives by Johnnie Alexander takes place in a town named Misty Willows. This book is the second in the Misty Willows series, and I had not yet read Where She Belongs, which is the first book, but based on some of the reviews I read, it would have been helpful to know the characters a little better before reading this book. Given the time, I would probably gone back and read Where She Belongs first.<br /><br />Dani Prescott lost her mother in a plane crash. It's the same plane crash that killed Brett Somers' parents. Why is that important? Because Brett is publicly blaming Dani's mother for the crash and ruining her reputation. Dani is hurt and wants to clear her mother's name so she sets out to get revenge against Brett. The story is told in alternating chapters from Brett and Dani's point of view. It's interesting reading this story from Brett's perspective.<br /><br />Brett is a handsome and rich &#34;ladies' man&#34; who is egotistical and pursues younger, blond, long-legged women. Dani accidently meets Brett in the parking lot of the hospital and he pursues her despite the fact that she doesn't meet his standard criteria. Unbeknownst to Brett, Dani is actually seeking revenge. Brett and Dani soon realize they have so many things in common and Dani starts to feel guilty about her original plan to bring Brett down.<br /><br />As Dani and Brett develop their friendship, readers get the sense of the changes Brett is making in his life, and his true desire to become a better person due to the fact that he has learned he has a son.<br /><br />Dani gets help from Brett and his family and her luck begins to change when she secures a new job and a new home surrounded by a great family. As we all know, a relationship built on lies is sure to fail, and Dani's secret plans come to light. These two have a lot to work out and it well worth reading to see where it does.<br /><br />The story is hard to put down and I loved seeing the changes in both of them. I felt that the author did a great job providing a very believable drama that included faith issues that readers will be able to identify with. Seeing how the characters had to reach the &#34;rock bottom&#34; in their lives before they were able to reach out for help from God proved to be a real struggle in the lives of so many people today. The author certainly has a gift for bringing a story to life and making the reader feel like they are right in the midst of it.<br /><br />The great news is that coming in Summer of 2017 there will be another book to this series - the third - and at the end of this book there was a little &#34;teaser&#34; for anyone interested. I hope I make time to go back and read the first book so that by the time the third is released I'll be up to speed on everyone's backgrounds!<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book from Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group for my honest review and was not required to give a positive review.", "timestamp": 1475092642000, "title": "The storyline of When Love Arrives by Johnnie Alexander takes place in a town ..." }, { "asin": "0718077911", "rating": 5, "text": "I had heard of Katherine Reay only after I had the opportunity to read her book, The Brontë Plot, back in February of this year. Because I thought that book was so great, when I heard about this book, A Portrait of Emily Price, I couldn't wait. Unfortunately, I have to say that when it arrived, I was already in the middle of another blog tour so this was placed on the back burner for a while. The book was released on November 1 of this year, so it's still a really new book so everyone can find their copies easily! I know you'll want to get your copy too, because A Portrait of Emily Price is a book full of awesomeness.<br /><br />The protagonist, Emily Price is an art restorer who dreams of becoming an original artist someday. She travels to Atlanta to restore a mural in a home damaged by fire. That’s where she meets Chef Benito &#34;Ben&#34; Vassallo, who is visiting Atlanta to reconnect with his brother and breathe new life into his aunt and uncle’s restaurant, Piccolo. Emily begins a &#34;whirlwind romance&#34; with Ben and falls in love with him while she works with him to improve the appearance of Piccolo. In a shocking move, she accepts Ben's marriage proposal, marries him and and follows him to Italy. Once arriving in Italy, Emily is enchanted with the country, but because of Emily’s need to “fix” what she thinks is broken things get complicated when she meets her new Italian family.<br /><br />The author does an excellent job of showing the relationship problems in families. I also think Katherine did a lovely job of describing Italy and, well &#34;painting a picture&#34; of the scenery for readers so descriptive that we feel a part of the story, especially in the driving scenes where we see hills and small towns, narrow driving lanes and arches that feel too small for the car to fit through. Breathtaking, for sure.<br /><br />If you're anything like me and you love romance stories that are realistic and don't fall under the fairytale-type of “happily ever after” story, A Portrait of Emily Price is definitely a book you'll want to read too!<br /><br />I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion and review. Thanks so much!", "timestamp": 1480539830000, "title": "Because I thought that book was so great, when I heard about this book" }, { "asin": "1401690300", "rating": 5, "text": "As part of the The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader program, I received a copy of Colleen Coble's new book, Twilight at Blueberry Barrens, which was a great read set on the beautiful coast of Folly Shoals, Maine. I'm getting ahead of myself here, but let me tell you the book had fantastic descriptions of the scenery and the characters were well written. The story itself included suspense, murders, romance, a wedding, an escaped prisoner, a hire for murder guy and even a crazy stalker. All of these stories within the book have us guessing and all were very nicely interwoven throughout the book. What more could you ask for in a story?<br /><br />Now that I put the cart in front of the horse, let me tell you a little more about the story: This is the third book in the Sunset Cove series and is connected to the first title, The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, because this book is about Kate Mason, who is Claire Dellamare’s twin sister. This book frequently refers back to the storyline in The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, so it would probably be helpful if you read the first book in the series to understand this one a little better. In all honesty, when I was reading the first book, The Inn at Ocean's Edge, I really wasn't a fan of the character, Claire, but in this book the author redeemed her character and made her someone more relatable to readers. It was also enjoyable learning more about Kate in this book.<br /><br />After successfully battling a life threatening illness, Kate Mason is restarting her life, while at the same time, she is confronted with a faceless enemy who could possibly be someone she knows well. She's in a difficult financial place so when she rents out a cottage for the summer plus she's given the opportunity to nanny a summer guest's young nieces, things might be looking better for Kate. The rental tenant is Drake Newham, who is a handsome and successful entrepreneur from Boston and is protecting his brother's two daughters. Drake has come to Maine in order to investigate his brother and sister-in-law's brutal deaths and it that his brother could have been killed because of his legal actions against a dangerous international crime leader, but Drake is discovering that Heath and Melissa's marriage was unstable, which makes local officials convinced theirs was a case of murder-suicide.<br /><br />Because I don't write spoilers, I can't tell you much more about this book other than to suggest that you buy the book for yourself and dig right in! The characters are likeable, the scenery fantastic and the tale very interesting. If you've read any of Colleen Coble's other books in other series, be warned that some of the other characters from other series make appearances in this book too, which is something I really enjoyed.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1481662354000, "title": "which was a great read set on the beautiful coast of Folly Shoals" }, { "asin": "0718083105", "rating": 4, "text": "&#34;This is a very intense read. The author writes in Afrikaans. Child of the River is the second book written by Irma Joubert that has been translated into English. The first was The Girl from the Train that I have not read. Both of her books are written in the same time period and the location of South Africa. You learn a lot of history when you read this book such as what was going on in Europe during WWII, history during the mid-1950 in South Africa with apartheid and segregation.<br /><br />This is a story about Persomis, the daughter of a sharecropper who comes from a dysfunctional home life. Her father is a drunk and beats his wife and children. Social workers step in and takes the younger siblings and send Persomis to a boarding school where her brother Gerbrand is attending. She works hard, made excellent grades and was allowed to attend the university where she earns a law degree.<br /><br />Irma Joubert weaves three story lines so well. First was Persomi growing up living dirt poor on the Fourie’s farm. Second, the apartheid laws and how they were applied to the families, and third, the love story between Persomi and Boelie.<br /><br />This is a well-written and very inspiring story. I loved the character Persomis especially her passion as she fought for the rights of minorities and the romance between Persomis and Boelie.<br /><br /> I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1481860451000, "title": "made excellent grades and was allowed to attend the university where ..." }, { "asin": "0718086422", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm sure I've said it before, but as part of the Fiction Guild Elite Reader program, I'm often given some pretty amazing books to read and share with my readers. Today's book is no different! It's one of those books I wouldn't have gone out and bought for myself because I wouldn't have known what I was missing!<br /><br />Of Stillness and Storm by Michèle Phoenix is about a missionary family living in Nepal. The story itself is told in two parts - it begins with Lauren, the narrator and wife of Sam, and her 13-year old son, Ryan, living with intermittent power in their home near Kathmandu. Sam leaves for weeks at a time to trek into remote tribes, while leaving Lauren and Sam alone. Lauren is finding ways to cope with the struggle, but Ryan starts feeling the effect of the struggling family.<br /><br />Lauren gets back in touch with a childhood friend who seems to remind her to fight for her son, as well as the woman and writer she used to be. I loved that Lauren seemed very human to readers. Her struggle is familiar to many Christians and while her story is fictional, it is very relatable. Lauren is able to discover that out of darkness and loss emerges a &#34;relentless, demanding, trustworthy, benevolent, and healing God.&#34;<br /><br />I saw a reviewer share a quote from a conversation Lauren has with Sam and I loved it:<br /><br />&#34;I tend to think that who we become because of our faith is more important than what we do to prove it.&#34;<br /><br />Of Stillness and Storm is a story that continues to linger long after its reading. The story is filled with relationships, both spiritual and physical, and it is such a well written book. With rawness and honesty, it plumbs the depths of commitment to family and God. The story is a fascinating view of the missionary life and the benefits and potential pitfalls that can result. This book is one of the most powerful works of fiction I've read in a while and I highly recommend it to others.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in this post are my own.", "timestamp": 1486694103000, "title": "\"I tend to think that who we become because of our faith is more important than what we do to prove it.\"" }, { "asin": "0718090225", "rating": 4, "text": "I received the book, The Angels' Share by James Markert because I'm a Fiction Guild Elite Reader book review blogger. It wouldn't be my normal book genre if I were out shopping for a book, but nonetheless, it was worth a read.<br /><br />The Angels' Share is a historical novel that is true to the times of the Prohibition and the Depression. William &#34;Willie&#34; McFee grew up in Twisted Tree, Kentucky. The McFee family is pretty well off financially even though the town itself is suffering the effects of the McFee family bourbon distillery being shut down by Prohibition. Willie's father, Barley doesn't seem to have any intent on reopening the distillery even though Willie is encouraging him to do so in order to achieve his dream of becoming a distiller as his grandfather had planned.<br /><br />Then a drifter named Asher Keating shows up and he seems to be able to fix people's problems. He dies and is buried in the Potter's Field near the McFee distillery. Gossip begins to circulate about Asher performing miracles. Asher's grave starts getting lots of visitors who are praying at the site, and some strange things begin to happen it the town. Willie starts to investigate the situation and he discovers facts about what his father did during the Prohibition and things about the death of his younger brother. Willie begins to write stories about what he is uncovering and gets them published in a Louisville newspaper, causing all kinds of things to happen.<br /><br />The characters in the book are well developed. The story is full of mystery and unanswered questions. The townspeople are representative of people caught in a difficult situation they cannot control. There are a lot of subplots in this storyline and they will definitely keep readers engrossed in this story.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in this post are my own.", "timestamp": 1489363184000, "title": "The McFee family is pretty well off financially even though the town itself is ..." }, { "asin": "006246910X", "rating": 5, "text": "I find that if the book is written by Shelley Shepard Gray I will enjoy reading it and Her Secret the first book in a new series The Amish of Hart County was no exception. An Amish love story with suspense throughout the book. The main characters Hannah and Isaac are so real that you feel part of their families.<br /><br />The story starts with Hannah Hilty and her family living in Berlin, Ohio in a big house that was comfortable and their family’s legacy. Hannah had been friends with an English man named Trent during her rumspringa. He had pursued her for the last two years and was now following her around and taking pictures of her. Hannah lives her life in fear of this stalker. She quits her job and stays home, only going out with her parents.<br /><br />The family moves from Berlin, Ohio to Munfordville, Kentucky to escape this dangerous man and to give Hannah a new start. Her brother, Ben, and sister, Jenny, blamed Hannah they had to leave their jobs and friends behind. Jenny played a big part in this story and caused Hannah more problems to handle. There are other underlying family secrets that made the family move. Hannah meets her neighbor Isaac Troyer and becomes friends with him. Trent followed the family to Kentucky and became bolder with his activities.<br /><br />I picked this book up and did not put it down until I read the last page. I am so looking forward to the next one in the series, His Guilt, that came out on July 4th, and then there will be two more to follow. I am so recommending this book to my friends!", "timestamp": 1499649149610, "title": "... book is written by Shelley Shepard Gray I will enjoy reading it and Her Secret the first book in ..." }, { "asin": "0718083784", "rating": 5, "text": "I'm a blogger with the Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, and I am very fortunate to be able to receive a lot of books that my mother and I love to read. Today's book, Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks was a first for me. I had never heard of Ms. Parks, and unfortunately, I didn't realize this was book 4 in a series. Nonetheless, to this reader, it wasn't an issue. I'm guessing that there was a plot carried throughout the other books that I may have missed, but I was able to read this book as a stand alone without feeling like I missed anything. In all likelihood, had I read books 1, 2 and 3, I would have had a more panoramic view of the story line.<br /><br />Gwen Marcey is a single mother of a teenage daughter and a cancer survivor, whose ex-husband is threatening to take their daughter away from her. While on a probationary period with her new job as a forensic artist with the Interagency Major Crime Unit (IMCU), Gwen learns about a case of a missing four-year old girl after the murder of her parents in Lapwai, Idaho.<br /><br />The Nez Perce Tribal Police in Lapwai, Idaho are looking for the killer. Because the case took place where she lived when she was little and sounded similar to her own background, Gwen requests being assigned to the case.<br /><br />This assignment causes Gwen to step right into a trap to bring her &#34;home&#34; and to a man who was hurt by her so many years ago. Gwen is in a situation that only God can get her out of. We readers watch as Gwen pieces together her past and present so that she can determine exactly who she really is.<br /><br />The journey to the truth proves to be a very hefty struggle as Gwen finds that many of the witnesses she relies on for information also have strong prejudices against Caucasian people. It takes little time for Gwen to see that she will need to tread very lightly while she's working with the descendants of people involved in these painful moments within Native history.<br /><br />As Gwen works this case, she begins having flashback memories from her own childhood. She begins to think that maybe what happened in her own past could be linked to what is going on in the case she is investigating. Gwen enlists the help of her best friend, Beth, and what they uncover leads them to believe the killer is someone Gwen knows and the killer seems to want Gwen to find out his or her true identity. As Gwen gets closer to the truth, more attempts on her life are made but she refuses to give up. Will her refusal end up costing Gwen her life?<br /><br />In a very spectacular fashion, author Carrie Stuart Parks has written the perfect example of a crime novel with complicated characters mixed with intrigue and suspense. Bravo Ms. Parks! I can't wait to go back and read books 1, 2 and 3 to fill in any blanks I don't even know I have!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1511743487851, "title": "and I am very fortunate to be able to receive a lot of books ..." }, { "asin": "0718082567", "rating": 4, "text": "Words from the Heart is the third book in the Amish Letters series by Kathleen Fuller. While this is the third book, each one can be read as a standalone. I loved the way the author updates readers on what happens to the people from the first two books<br /><br />This is a sweet love story with three main characters: Noah, Ivy, and Noah’s Aunt Cervilla (who was my mother's favorite character). This story begins with Ivy a young unmarried Amish woman so disappointed, feeling hurt and rejected as she is waiting over a year for promised letters from John King that never comes to finding old love letters when Ivy helped Noah clean out Aunt Cervilla’s attic which brought Noah and Ivy closer together in friendship.<br /><br />Ivy Yoder is hurting over her jilted love and is afraid that she will never find a husband in her community of Birch Creek, Ohio. Noah Schlabach is the great-nephew of Ivy’s elderly friend Cevilla Shalaback. He is an auctioneer from Iowa. Cevilla insists the two work together cleaning out her attic. She knows that Noah and Ivy are meant for each other.<br /><br />Not knowing what treasure are in the many boxes they sort through them slowly finding many doilies and old magazines, but in one of the boxes they found a packet of old letters written during the Korean War. The love letters are the story of two people (Bunny and CJ) who are in love.<br /><br />While working together and becoming good friends, Ivy has feelings for Noah, but afraid of getting hurt again. Noah is happy traveling as an auctioneer but knows something is missing in his life. Can Ivy get over the fear from her past to move forward and find love with Noah? Will Noah feel good enough for Ivy and stop his traveling? Does he want to live in her beloved community of Birch Creek?<br /><br />I truly enjoyed reading this book as I love anything written by Kathleen Fuller.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own, or in this case, my mom's.", "timestamp": 1525391757114, "title": "I loved the way the author updates readers on what happens ..." }, { "asin": "0310348080", "rating": 4, "text": "You will enjoy Beneath the Summer Sun without reading the first book, as it does serve as a stand alone. The three complex main characters are Jennie Troyer, Leo Graber, and Nathan Walker. All are facing problems of letting go of their past so that they can move forward with their lives.<br /><br />Jennie carries a secret about her husband, Atlee. The Amish do not divorce as they marry for life, so she told no one about her husband’s mental and physical abuse. Jennie’s husband died from a farming accident four years ago and left her with 7 children to raise on her own under the eyes of the church leaders.<br /><br />Jennie's son, Matthew was ten years old when Atlee died. He knew of the abuse his mother suffered at the hands of his father, and many times he was taken to the shed by his father for beatings. In truth, both Jennie and her son were relieved that Atlee had died. The Community knew something was wrong in her marriage, but not what it was. Jennie was a very likeable person and many had sympathy for her.<br /><br />When Jennie began getting used to life without a husband, two different men took interest in her, and Jennie knew that it was time to remarry. Matthew started sneaking out at night and became moody and rude, but he refused to tell Jennie what was bothering him. <br /><br />Both men who profess to love Jennie had good hearts. First, there is Jennie's childhood friend Amish, Leo Graber, who had been in love with Jennie from the time they were young and attending the same church. He felt so guilty over his father’s death that it prevented him from any social activities. He worked alone building furniture and did not have a happy life.<br /><br />Next, there was Mennonite, Nathan Walker, who was a traveling salesman unable to settle down in one place because he resented that his parents left him behind with relatives while they did mission work in other countries. He was seriously thinking of becoming Amish to be with Jennie. He wanted to settle down with Jennie in her hometown of Jamesport, Missouri.<br /><br />Will Jennie, Leo, Nathan, and Matthew be able to put the past behind them? Who will Jennie choose to love and care for her children? Will she able to trust another man? Atlee was sweet until they spoke their vows, can she believe the sweet words of either man? Three hearts try to discern God’s plan for the future—and find peace beneath the summer sun.<br /><br />Domestic abuse is addressed in this story with showing that faith, trust, forgiveness of yourself, and through the power of prayer we are able to overcome our past and move forward to a healthy, happy life. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time. Thank you Kelly Irvin for a wonderful story and I am looking forward to reading the third book in An Every Amish Season series, which is due out in August of this year, entitled Through the Autumn Air.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own, or in this case, my mom's.", "timestamp": 1525394120890, "title": "You will enjoy Beneath the Summer Sun without reading the first book" }, { "asin": "0718085973", "rating": 4, "text": "Thanks to my relationship with The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, I am very fortunate to receive and review books from various authors -- some I've heard of and some I have not. Today's post is about an author I've heard of, but I've never had an opportunity to read any of her books until now.<br /><br />As soon as I opened the book, You're Gonna Love Me by Robin Lee Hatcher, I was slightly disappointed to realize that this book was book is the sequel to Ms. Hatcher's previous book, You’ll Think of Me, but now that I've read it I can tell you that it can easily be read as a standalone.<br /><br />Samantha Winters returns to Thunder Creek, Idaho to care for her grandmother, Ruth. When she arrives at Ruth's hospital room, she can't even believe that Nick Chastain in there. She hasn't seen him for two years - ever since they broke up after dating for eight months. Because Nick was a daredevil and took too many risks with his life, and because Samantha's fears of his actions were too much to bear, they ended their relationship with harsh words and silence.<br /><br />Now Nick is there and he's recovering from an awful head injury that is causing him to suffer from memory loss and other side effects. Nick has returned to Thunder Creek to have a fresh start at life. Of course, when he sees Sam again, he's hopeful but not sure he deserves a second chance.<br />Sam and Nick's story slowly unfolds throughout You're Gonna Love Me. The author provides small flashbacks of their previous relationship so that readers understand the depth of the past hurts and fears each of them has entering into the reconnection of their relationship. It explains why both Sam and Nick are cautious this time - Sam isn't sure she can trust Nick again and Nick isn't sure of the future of his health and how fair it would be.<br /><br />As Nick and Sam reconnect, they face their fears head on while they both learn to accept each other and trust God. While Sam is trying to overcome her fears, Nick is reaching out to God trying to figure out which way his life is going. I loved how Sam's grandmother, Ruth provided them with some guidance and love in rebuilding their relationship back to friendship and ultimately love.<br />Ruth and her friends were be secondary characters in this book, but their support to the main characters was truly pivotal to the overall story. The author does a great job taking readers through all of the deep emotions and personal relationship issues in Sam and Nick's lives. Readers will be able to identify and relate to the life situations and though processes that this couple must go through in their story. The characters are realistic, the story line moves well, and it's an overall great romance!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1535589599249, "title": "The characters are realistic, the story line moves well, and it's an overall great romance!" }, { "asin": "0062469215", "rating": 4, "text": "Today's post is a book review on Her Fear by Shelley Shepard Gray. This is the fifth book in The Amish of Hart County series, and since we've been on board with this series since March of 2017, it was great to be included in this book too!<br /><br />First in the series was Her Secret released in March of 2017. The second book in the series was His Guilt in released in July of 2017, and the third book was The Gift released in November of 2017. The fourth book in the series was His Risk, which was released in March of 2018.<br /><br />Thank you Shelley Shepard Gray! While I have completely enjoyed this series, I have to say I really liked the fact that this one was not your average Amish book. While Her Fear can be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading the entire series.<br /><br />While Her Fear provides the traditional things we have come to love in an Amish story like romance and mystery, but it also included topics we usually don't see in Amish fiction novels. To be honest, Her Fear reminds us that Amish folks are just like English folks - they are not perfect people, and no one is perfect except God.<br /><br />Her Fear centers around Sadie Detweiler who becomes pregnant and is faced with an unexpected response to that pregnancy. As a result, her family sends her away to distant and extended family of a different sect of the Amish community. When she arrives, she learns that this family does many things so differently than her family.<br /><br />When Sadie arrives, the matriarch of the family, Verba, becomes mysteriously ill and later dies. An EMT that comes to the scene notices Sadie standing alone and quiet. Noah Freeman is that EMT and over time, Sadie grows attracted to him. Noah is an Amish EMT and I was a little surprised at this, so I looked it up and found out that the Amish do work as EMTs, firefighters and first responders. Anyway, Noah is different than all of the other Amish men Sadie has met; she's comfortable with him and she finds herself really liking him. The only thing holding Sadie back from being honest with her feelings is the fact that she is pregnant and she's not sure how Noah will react when he finds out.<br /><br />Verba later dies at the hospital and then two others die suspiciously, so Noah's boss wants him to dig around the Amish community for clues. He finds himself attracted to Sadie, and he sees her as vulnerable and fearful. Noah wants to help Sadie and wants to be there for her as he senses something going on in the house that Sadie is living in. Noah can’t help himself from thinking about Sadie, so he finds reasons just to check up on her.<br /><br />This book was such a super great read. Shelley Shepard Gray's writing is phenomenal (as always) and with the plot twists and turns, reading the book from cover to cover was very easy to do. Whether you've read the other books in the series or whether this would be your first, I definitely recommend Her Fear, and I can't wait for October, when His Promise is released!<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Collins Publishing and Thomas Nelson, in exchange for this post. A positive review was not required.", "timestamp": 1536540512496, "title": "Shelley Shepard Gray's writing is phenomenal (as always)!" }, { "asin": "0718085809", "rating": 4, "text": "Thanks to my relationship with The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, I have been very fortunate to be a part of reading and reviewing so many great books. Coincidentally, I had requested an advanced reader digital copy of this book on NetGalley through my book blogging relationship with them. While the request was pending, I received a paperback copy from Fiction Guild sent me! <br /><br />Today's book, The House at Saltwater Point is by Colleen Coble, an author whose books I've really come to love! The House at Saltwater Point is the second book in Colleen Coble's Lavender Point series. This book serves as a stand alone, but since I also read the first book in this series, The View from Rainshadow Bay, I was happy to catch up with the main characters from that book and to be introduced to Grayson and Ellie in this one.<br /><br />Ellie Blackshaw is a local house flipper, who joins forces with Coast Guard Investigator, Grayson Bradshaw, when Ellie's sister, Mac, disappears. The disappearance seems to be connected with the disappearance of a large shipment of cocaine from a local warehouse. Grayson is firmly resolved to prove that Mac was behind the cocaine theft, while Ellie is desperately trying to prove that Mac is innocent and still alive. What Ellie and Grayson discover is a whole lot more than what they bargained for and it becomes a race against time to keep things from turning deadly.<br /><br />This story captured me right from the start. There is lots of action and excitement to keep readers engaged throughout this story. As is usually the case with Ms. Coble's books, the characters are well written, interesting an unique. I can't wait to read the next book in this series -- I read somewhere that it may come out in January of 2019!<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I also received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review, but because this was another great book, I wanted to do so! The opinions I have expressed are my own!", "timestamp": 1539477059114, "title": "This story captured me right from the start." }, { "asin": "078522405X", "rating": 4, "text": "Indivisible by Travis Thrasher, is the novelization of the upcoming movie by David G. Evans. The synopsis is the same as the movie, obviously, so I'll just share my opinions:<br /><br />I loved the progress of the story line and the raw emotion shown by the characters made this a very strong story. I appreciated how the author used short chapters that made the story very easy and fast flowing. I'll be honest -- I read the book before I saw the movie, and it really caused me to be excited to see the movie!<br /><br />I liked how some of the chapters would switch to the present because it provided good emotional effects for some of the situations. I would say though, that this story wouldn't necessarily be good to share with some of your younger family members since there are some war scenes in the story (in movie version anyway).<br /><br />Through this story, readers are provided with the truths of how difficult it is for families to be separated for long periods of time and the dangers that our soldiers face. It also shares the difficulties the military has when they come back home after facing war and death and how it changes everyone. It makes me thank God everyday for the courage and strength of our military.<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy from Thomas Nelson through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I was not required to post a positive review, but have chosen to do so because this book was great! Thank you!!", "timestamp": 1540515511431, "title": "I loved the progress of the story line and the raw emotion shown" }, { "asin": "1624167470", "rating": 5, "text": "The author of today's book, The Hope Jar, is Wanda E. Brunstetter. This book is the first in a three-book series called The Prayer Jars. Back in 2015, I actually met her when she was doing a book signing event at the local Wal-Mart here in Sarasota, Florida. At that time, I was able to get my mother, Gloria an autographed copy of one of her favorite Amish books. Ever since that meeting in 2015, whenever the opportunity arises to read and review one of Ms. Brunstetter's books, I jump on it because my mother LOVES Amish stories. <br /><br />Gloria recently mentioned this book and said she couldn't wait to read it, so when I saw it available on NetGalley through my book blogging relationship with them, I requested it and was approved. Unfortunately, Gloria recently had eye surgery so she was unable to read this book after all. <br /><br />The Hope Jar blends both Amish and contemporary fiction together, unlike many of Ms. Brunstetter's other books, which are strictly Amish fiction. After I finished reading The Hope Jar, because it was such a great read, I've already requested the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader copy of the second book in the series, The Forgiving Jar, releasing in February of 2019. My mom really missed out on this one! I finished this book in just about the time it took one college football game to play on television. <br /><br />Mary Ruth and Willis Lapp are at the bus station looking for their long lost granddaughter, Sara Murray. Michelle is at the bus station and Mary Ruth and Willis mistakenly think Michelle is Sara. since Michelle's life is at a dead end, she decides to go along with the Lapps thinking and pretends to be their granddaughter just long enough for her to get her life under control<br /><br />While she is on the Lapps' farm, Michelle learns what it feels like to be truly cared for and loved, which is something she's never had in her life. Michelle never had a real family, having grown up in foster care, and no one ever took the time to really get to know her and love her. Michelle blossoms under the Lapps' love and she learns to love the simple life of the Amish. As she grows in this life, she starts to feel more and more guilty about the deception she is committing by living the life of Sara Murray instead of her own.<br /><br />I loved Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp, although I did feel like they were a bit naive in never asking Michelle for proof that she was their long lost granddaughter. Regardless, they really portrayed the Amish that we've come to learn about and love through Ms. Brunstetter's books - hardworking, faithful, loving and caring people. Their lesson on forgiveness was an example to readers of folks who follow the Word of God.<br /><br />The Hope Jar had a very good story line and it was truly an inspiring story. The characters great and readers were provided with a well thought out message. The Hope Jar have woven the tale of two young women who have experienced tragedy and are at a crossroads in their lives. <br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review but chose to since it was a great book! Thank you!", "timestamp": 1543091122534, "title": "The Hope Jar had a very good story line and was truly an inspiring story." }, { "asin": "0718083857", "rating": 4, "text": "Just about a year ago, I read and reviewed Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks. It was a great book, so when I received Formula of Deception from the Fiction Guild through my blogging relationship with them, I was happy. Because my TBR (to be read) stack was a little bigger than I wanted, I haven't had a chance to read this one until now even though it was published in July of this year.<br /><br />Protagonist, Murphy Andersen is hiding in rural Alaska on the run from a serial killer who is probably responsible for her twin sister’s disappearance might soon find her. <br /><br />She uses her artistic skills and fine sense of details and poses as a forensic artist, but she ends up finding herself in more danger than ever.<br /><br />Ms. Parks uses the interesting history of the Kodiak and Aleutian islands region around WWII, giving the story a very realistic feel making the story line even more thrilling.<br /><br />As I read more about Murphy’s character and as her history was revealed, I realized that I liked her character more and more. It became more clear to me as the story progressed that the author had some psychological elements in play, but I wasn't sure how that would pan out. The conversations with her dead sister that Murphy conducted in her head gave me a clue that there was something going on.<br /><br />I was completely engaged in the story line from the first page, and I thought for sure I could figure out the ending before the end of the book since I had experience in Ms. Parks' writing, but as it turned out, I wasn't prepared for how this book ended. This electrifying novel has twists and turns that will make readers awestruck when they discover how she fits it all together at the end.<br /><br />As an added plus, the author includes eight discussion questions to help get a book club discussion going, which is perfect for this fascinating read since it would definitely work well as a book club pick.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1543113513049, "title": "This electrifying novel has twists and turns that will make readers awestruck" }, { "asin": "0310348145", "rating": 4, "text": "Being a part of The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program provides with books to read (which I love to do) and the only requirement is that I have to share a report after I've read the book. As far as I'm concerned, it's a winning arrangement for me and my mother, who loves anything written about the Amish.<br /><br />Today's book is Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin, and it's the third book in the series, Every Amish Season. I've had the opportunity read the first book, Upon A Spring Breeze, and the second book, Beneath the Summer Sun by Kelly Irvin. (The fourth book, With Winter's First Frost, is being released in January, 2019, so you'll need to hurry and read this one!!)<br /><br />Mary Katherine is the mother of ten and it has been seven years since her husband, Moses died and she became a widow. She's full of energy and always ready to step in and help her friends around her Amish community. Her old school friend, Ezekiel Miller, offers Mary Katherine a position as a cook in his restaurant, The Purple Martin Café, named in honor of his late wife Lucy. She knows she should accept, but she doesn't really want to spend her time working in a kitchen. Mary Katherine's secret desire is to write and to own a bookstore with her English friend, but in the Amish community, the church elders want her to work in an Amish-owned store instead. <br /><br />Mary Katherine's oldest son is trying to convince her to move into his Dawdi house, but she is resistant. An English stranger breaks into Mary Katherine's house and proceeds to make himself a sandwich one autumn night. She doesn't call the sheriff, but instead she turns to Ezekiel for help. both Mary Katherine and Ezekiel realize that the stranger, Burke, needs help, so Ezekiel offers Burke a job at his restaurant.<br /><br />While this is book 3 of 4 in An Every Amish Season series, this book could be read as a stand-alone. I loved reading a story dealing with more mature characters and the challenges they faced. Ms. Irvin also added friendships between the Amish and the English that seemed very honest and were caring, respectful and realistic. <br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1544575510167, "title": "Ms. Irvin also added friendships between the Amish and the English that seemed very honest!" } ]

[ { "asin": "0310335582", "rating": 5, "text": "I'll admit it - the Amish world has always intrigued me to some extent. I was born and raised in northeastern Ohio and there was a huge Amish community in nearby Holmes County, where we would head out on the weekends to taste their wares while hitting the garage sales and flea markets.<br /><br />Then, when I moved down to Sarasota, Florida, I was surprised to learn there was a large Amish community here as well, and I've taken the benefit of enjoying some fantastic food at &#34;Amish-style&#34; restaurants and I've driven down some streets that have tons of bicycles and women dressed modestly.<br /><br />I realize that I need apologize in advance when I say &#34;Amish&#34; because I never looked closely enough into each community to determine whether it was &#34;Amish,&#34; &#34;Mennonite&#34; or &#34;Anabaptist&#34;. I had heard the terms &#34;Amish&#34; and &#34;Mennonite&#34; before reading this book, but I can honestly say I've never heard of &#34;Anabaptist&#34;.<br /><br />In any event, The Plain Choice by Sherry Gore, is a short book - 179 pages. As I was reading it, I was thinking to myself that my auto accident story would probably fill just about the same amount of pages if I were to try and write a book about my life too. I will say this: while The Plain Choice is a short book comparing it to some of the novels I read, it was just enough pages to walk through Ms. Gore's life. I was very impressed by her honesty, and I loved that the book flowed in time rather than jumping back and forth.<br /><br />It is very clear that Ms. Gore is a very determined woman. Once she made up her mind to change the way she was living, she whole-heartedly took the leap into her new life. I appreciated that she was honest in sharing the part of her story that some people would keep hidden, the &#34;real&#34; Sherry Harris. She shares her childhood struggles growing up and feeling unloved and not a part of her father's life. She does not minimize poor choices or blame someone else for them. She makes it clear that she had removed God from her life. She was and still is an imperfect human living in an imperfect world.<br /><br />Ms. Gore's story teaches us that not all Amish-Mennonite's are removed from technology and modern conveniences too. It depends on the churches and communities as to how &#34;modern&#34; they become.<br /><br />The pinnacle point is when she immersed herself in baptism to her old life, and newness of life in Christ Jesus, and as an Amish-Mennonite. Sherry Gore is saved by grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. But there is more to this book. It is a call for all to realize God's love and forgiveness and that absolutely no one is beyond God's love and redemption.<br /><br />The next time I'm traveling around in Sarasota, I'll be sure to look for that cute Electra bike of hers and give her a &#34;shout out&#34; for this book! I truly appreciate that BookLookBloggers provided me with a paperback copy of this book without cost in exchange for my personal and honest opinion and unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1442604782000, "title": "and I've taken the benefit of enjoying some fantastic food at \"Amish-style\" restaurants and I've driven down some ..." }, { "asin": "1401689604", "rating": 4, "text": "The story line of this book is set in a resort mountain town of Evergreen, Colorado. Kate Whidby is an 11 year-old protector of the family and dreams of becoming a spy. She is caught in the middle of all her family members and grandparents. Her family operates The Harrison Lodge, a historic mountain resort, and has done so for many generations. She keeps her family members' secrets from others and the day after she’s witnessed her grandfather arguing with his best friend, the man is murdered.<br /><br />At the same time in Denver, a robbery gone wrong, a consequent murder, and a gang member set on revenge for the death of his son bring several mysterious people to the Harrison Lodge. In her desire to help others, Kate chooses to harbor a fugitive while trying to save her family at the same time.<br /><br />Readers are introduced to other families, from different walks of life - not only the homeless man who sees a robbery gone wrong, but we also see runaways living under a bridge and the gang member seeking revenge for the death of his son. We also meet Charlie, a boy who has lived on the streets, with no money, and an alcoholic father. After Charlie runs away and crashes a motorcycle in Evergreen, Colorado. Kate comes upon him and hides him in a secret cubby in one of the inn's cottages.<br /><br />There are a lot of different events going on at the beginning and you wonder how they are all going to come together. Once they all converge at The Harrison Lodge, it becomes much easier to follow the story and see where everything is going.<br /><br />The author, Erin Healy, takes various different storylines and skillfully weaves them together over the course of a weekend until they come to a head late Sunday afternoon at the hotel. While the beginning of the book starts a little slow, I think it has to so that the foundation is set out for each key character. We get to know the characters, their lives and their dreams. Once the &#34;action&#34; gets going, readers move through the theft, and then the robbery involving two of the main characters. We are drawn in very easily to the individuals and readers are compassionate to their situations as the book progresses.<br /><br />Ultimately, this book circles around ideas of family and forgiveness. Erin Healy shows us the dynamics of what makes a family work and what makes them fight for each other. I appreciated the depths that this story went to on a thought-provoking level. I found it to be a great read once I got over the hump of bringing the characters together. The book kept me hanging on until the very end to find the answers to some of the mysteries that came out while I was reading. I enjoyed the book and spent a lot of time flipping pages on the edge of my seat to see how things would turn out.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost as part of the Fiction Guild Team Challenge in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1444623127000, "title": "She keeps her family members' secrets from others and the day after she’s witnessed her grandfather arguing with his best friend" }, { "asin": "0824956478", "rating": 5, "text": "If you want to teach your children about Christmas - the real Christmas, The Sparkle Box: A Gift with the Power to Change Christmas by Jill Hardie is the book to get! It's for ages 4 to 8 and it's a perfect story for any child.<br /><br />Author Jill Hardie tells the story of Sam, who is so excited about Christmas! Sam is preparing his Christmas &#34;want&#34; list and he's excited about the upcoming holiday parties. At the same time, he is so curious about one very mysterious gift -- a sparkly box sitting on the mantel above the fireplace. Whenever Sam asked his mother about the box, she would tell him to wait, that she had a few more things to put in the box.<br /><br />In the midst of all of the Christmas festivities, Sam and his family bless other people with various acts of kindness, and all the while Sam waits impatiently to find out what is in the box. On Christmas morning, Sam finally gets to open the box, and he finds the slips of paper recording his family's good deeds. His parents explain to him that the things they are doing - the blessings they are providing others - are a gift for Jesus in honor of His birthday. Sam was confused as they had given the gifts to people, not Jesus. His mother explains that when we give to others we are giving to Him.a gift for Jesus -- for Jesus said that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Him.<br /><br />The Sparkle Box story is inspired by Matthew 25:40 &#34;Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.&#34; The book challenges us to put aside our wants for those in need. To think of others. Whether it be a material item like food, clothes or shelter. Or a spiritual need, such as praying with someone, lending a shoulder. Or maybe giving of your time to a neighbor or friend in need.<br /><br />This heartfelt story will inspire readers to adopt this faith-centered tradition in their own homes. The illustrations in The Sparkle Box are awesome and children are very engaged to the story. The Sparkle Box includes a glitter-coated fold-out Sparkle Box on the inside cover of the back. The book is absolutely gorgeous and is destined to become a children’s Christmas classic for years to come! You can start your own family tradition of giving gifts to the One who gave all to us! The Sparkle Box is definitely a &#34;must have&#34; book for anyone that has children or grandchildren!<br /><br />I was provided with a review copy of this book as a First Look Blogger for Worthy Publishing without cost in exchange for this, my honest review and unbiased opinion.", "timestamp": 1449065759000, "title": "It's for ages 4 to 8 and it's a perfect story for any child" }, { "asin": "031033344X", "rating": 5, "text": "My mom has been on a reading &#34;spree&#34; for the last year or two - ever since we helped her get an e-reader on Black Thursday. She will sit and read for four or five hours at a time - even if it is the middle of the night because hey, she's retired, and can take a nap all afternoon if she wants! When I received this book, The Mountain Midwife by Laurie Alice Eakes, I knew my mom would love the book and since I had quite a stack of books myself, I gladly shared with her in exchange for her honest review. Below you'll find my mom's review:<br /><br />The Mountain Midwife is a wonderful book that is the story of midwife Ashley Tolliver and it contains many twists and turns. I loved reading this book because the Appalachian setting. This book touched the areas of Virginia and parts of West Virginia which mean so much to me.<br /><br />The women in Ashley Tolliver family has been practicing the art of midwifery for many years in their small Appalachian mountain community. Ashley wants to further her education by attending medical school and leave behind the women that she serves. One of the women that Ashley helps deliver in her home is abducted while Ashley is trying to get her to the hospital because she is bleeding dangerously. Ashley now must find the woman and her newborn baby.<br /><br />After receiving a mysterious phone call from a woman claiming to be his mother, Hunter McDermott needs to track where this call came from and seeks the aid of the local midwife (Ashley Tolliver) in this mountain town hoping that she can help him find his family’s background.. Hunter McDermott learning that he is adopted now wants to meet his birth mother who says he has a brother and sister living in the Appalachian Mountains.<br /><br />Ashley is on her own mission to find the abducted mother and newborn baby and Hunter McDermott wants to know his family in the Appalachian Mountains. Will Ashley leave the place where her feet is firmly planted or will Hunter learn to love her Appalachian Mountains?<br /><br />The characters were complex, but at the same time, they were easy to relate to. The Mountain Midwife was definitely a page-turner, and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. There were a few times in the story that the characters had tough decisions to make, and it was refreshing to see that they always turned to God to help them with these tough decisions.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own (or well, in this case, my mother's).", "timestamp": 1453065273000, "title": "The characters were complex, but at the same time, they were easy to relate to." }, { "asin": "031034199X", "rating": 4, "text": "Most of you know that my mother absolutely LOVES Amish stories. She once told me that she enjoys Amish stories because they share about times that seem more &#34;simple&#34; and the priorities of the Amish are clear - faith and family. Because of the fact that my mom likes to read, and doesn't mind providing me with a book review when she's finished, we decided that if any opportunities come up for book reviews on Amish books, she would gladly read them and provide me with her review.<br /><br />Below is my mother, Gloria's review of The Forgotten Recipe (An Amish Heirloom Novel) by Amy Clipston:<br /><br />&#34;This is a story of two people touched by tragedy and both are unable to move forward with their lives until they confront their shared past. It is about love, trust and forgiveness.<br /><br />Veronica Fisher is devastated when her fiancé, Seth Lapp is killed in a tragic accident at work. Jason Huyard worked with Seth and they were best friends. Jason is having a hard time dealing with Seth's death and thinks a lot about Veronica because Seth talked about her all the time. Following the accident, Jason feels compelled to share his grief and condolences with Veronica, who loved his friend also.<br /><br />The forgotten recipe is a newly found, but old recipe stored in her mother's hope chest in the attic, which is for a raspberry pie that Veronica's grandmother used to make. Discovering this recipe, Veronica opens a bake stand in order to sell raspberry pies using her grandmother's recipe. Jason Huyard quickly becomes a regular customer but does not tell her that he knew Seth. Slowly, as he gets to know Veronica, Jason begins to fall in love with Veronica, which is the last thing he wants to do. Veronica is also hesitant to fall in love because of her promise to only love Seth. Jason visits the bake stand once a week for more than raspberry pies - they have something special!<br /><br />This story is about two strangers - one loses the man she's going to marry while the other loses his best friend. This a wonderful story that will leave you hanging at the end of the book. How will Veronica react when she finds out that she and Jason share a past? Jason has a secret - can it ruin their chance at happiness? Will Veronica trust Jason?&#34;<br /><br />If you want to read a story about love, loss and how one recipe brought two people together in ways they couldn't imagine, you'll probably want to read this book. As you can see, my mom isn't giving you spoilers either!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own (or well, in this case, my mother's).", "timestamp": 1453604712000, "title": "a story about love, loss and how one recipe brought two people together!" }, { "asin": "1401689752", "rating": 4, "text": "At the opening of the story, we learn that the main character Lucy Alling, is a rare book seller who works for Sid McKenna, one of the most respected antiques dealer and high end interior decorators in Chicago. Most of Lucy's work with Sid involves keeping the inventory and meeting customers, but Lucy loves to find old editions and then sell them at Sid's shop and she loves her job. Unfortunately, the origins and authenticity of some of the editions that Lucy &#34;finds&#34; are suspect and we learn that her morals are questionable and that she has taken a few liberties with the books she has acquired for the store and then sold.<br /><br />Lucy meets James, a handsome stranger and promising young attorney who buys two of her favorite books for family members. They become romantically involved once James shares that his attraction to Lucy is the main reason he even purchased the books to begin with. Lucy meets James' grandmother, Helen, a woman with terminal cancer who hires Lucy to be her companion on a trip to England where Helen must deal with her own secrets. Visiting some of the sites famous for the Brontë novels and the places where the Brontë sisters lived, a friendship is born and both Lucy and Helen realize that they must face their flaws and fix their wrongdoings.<br /><br />I had never heard of the Brontë sisters before this book, so I didn't know what the title actually meant until I read this book. I thought it was pretty amazing that when I took out a note pad and made a list, there were over 50 other books mentioned in the story of this book!<br /><br />The Brontë Plot explores what makes us who we are and asks if we can change. In my humble opinion, since this book was held out to be a Christian book, I was surprised that there wasn't very much spiritual emphasis as I would have liked, but the life truths were there. The Brontë Plot is about people facing their past to be able to move on into the future.<br /><br />“All real lives hold controversy, trials, mistakes, and regrets. What matters is what you do next.” ― Katherine Reay, The Brontë Plot<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1454551242000, "title": "There were over 50 other books mentioned in the story of this book!" }, { "asin": "0764211595", "rating": 4, "text": "I wasn't hadn't heard of Nancy Mehl before, so I wasn't familiar with her writing before so when this book became available for review, I wasn't sure what to expect. This particular book, Rising Darkness, is Nancy Mehl's third book in the Finding Sanctuary series. Obviously since I haven't heard of Ms. Mehl, so I haven't read the first two books but in all honesty, I had no trouble following along in this book, so I'd say it's definitely a &#34;stand alone&#34; book. I am betting though, that I missed some of the history of the town and of the people, which might have made this book have more depth to me.<br /><br />The main character, Sophie Wittenbaur, is a young lady who grew up in a conservative and strict Mennonite family. Sophie left her small town of Kingdom both in shame and regret and to leave her painful and abusive past behind. Sophie educates herself and chases her dream job of becoming an investigative reporter. While she tries to make a name for herself as a reporter, Sophie unintentionally lands in the middle of a possible lead on a murderer who escaped with millions of dollars. The past that Sophie has worked so hard to leave behind ends up right in front of her again as she travels to the fictional Mennonite town of Sanctuary, Missouri. she takes herself &#34;under cover&#34; posing as Emily McClure while she searches for information in Sanctuary.<br /><br />Sophie meets an old flame, Jonathon Wiese, who is now a pastor in Sanctuary. Jonathon soon discovers who Emily really is and begins helping Sophie discover the answer to this story she has been trying to crack. At the same time, Sophie begins to question her decision of turning away from God and blaming God for her childhood pain while Jonathon reminds her that God was carrying her at those times in her life. There are threats and dangers around every corner, and while Sophie doesn't fully trust Jonathon she realizes that she must let him save her life.<br /><br />Rising Darkness is clear in its message to readers that we can't hold on to our past and that we need to turn things over to God and trust that He will lead us. As I stated above, I haven't read the first two books in this series, but I'm thinking if they are as good as this one, I would recommend that you read them all. While I wasn't familiar with Ms. Mehl before, I can now say that this book was fast paced and the characters were well developed. I loved the story line and you are definitely left guessing about what to expect next. I thought it was a great book and I would recommend it to other readers.<br /><br />Thank you to Bethany House for the opportunity for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1454875189000, "title": "Sophie left her small town of Kingdom both in shame and regret and to leave her painful and abusive past behind" }, { "asin": "0310338492", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm not the type to steal credit when credit is due someone else, so let me tell you right now that the following review of this book, Whispers in the Reading Room is my mother's review:<br /><br />&#34;While both my daughter and I have read several of Shelley Shepard Gray's Amish series books, we did not know she wrote other types of books as well. In fact, I was actually surprised to see this book, Whispers in the Reading Room, was written by the same author, but was happy to give it a try nonetheless.<br /><br />The setting for this historic book is in the seedier part of Chicago where the crime rate is high shortly after the Chicago World Fair in 1893. At once this story transported me to Chicago with its life in the back alleys and was part of the great division between the upper and middle class society.<br /><br />Whispers in the Reading Room is a story about middle class librarian, Lydia Bancroft, and the unlikely friendship she finds herself with a mysterious debonair gentleman patron of her library who never checks a book out. Lydia herself was lonely, and as she is weighted down by the duty to secure a wealthy husband so she can meet her mother's needs, she is very anxious.<br /><br />At once you realize that Mr. Sebastian Marks is an elusive man with many secrets. She learns his name when their paths cross the night Lydia's fiancé takes her to the Hartman Hotel and begins to rough handle her. Sebastian Marks intervenes in a tense situation in Lydia's life and from that moment on Lydia’s new friend takes on the role of protector while showing her that her fiancé isn’t who she thinks he is. Lydia discovers that Sebastian lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.<br /><br />Sebastian himself is quite the mystery man pretending to be a gentleman, and Lydia is shocked to learn that he is the owner of a drinking and gambling establishment. Lydia insists on visiting the club one night and both she and Sebastian are suddenly suspects to a murder. She must determine who can she really trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian (who everyone fears) is actually everything she thinks he is.<br /><br />A mystery book is not the kind of book that I usually read, but once I started Whispers in the Reading Room I could not put it down. Whispers in the Reading Room was an excellent mystery/murder/romance for curling up reading on a raining day by the fireplace. Even though I hadn't read the first two books in this series, I fell in love with all the characters in this story and looking forward to a follow-up story. I will definitely have to go back and read the other Chicago World's Fair Mystery series books - Book #1, Secrets of Sloane House and Book #2, Deception on Sable Hill too!&#34;<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own - well, they are my mother's and for that, I am responsible.", "timestamp": 1457375561000, "title": "but was happy to give it a try nonetheless" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 5, "text": "The Wedding Chapel was the first book written by Rachel Hauck that I have read. At first, I didn't think I was going to care for this book; it seemed like there was just too much information. While I did think the story was interesting, I struggled with Ms. Hauck's telling of it. As the story progressed though - probably about halfway through the book - the story turned out to be a really good one.<br /><br />I feel that Rachel writes from her heart about real broken family struggles, and the drama that goes along with it. The Wedding Chapel is a complex story of interwoven lives, souls seeking peace, secrets, forgiveness, and second chances. The characters were real and I enjoyed their journey each went on within themselves.<br /><br />The Wedding Chapel reminds me of something like time-travel because the story moves back and forth from Heart's Bend, Tennessee in 1948 where it is a lost love story of Jimmy and Colette and then to flash forward to the present where it is a modern love story of Jack and Taylor in New York. Due to the style of this writing, the reader is following the two different couples on their journey of love.<br /><br />At the heart of this story is the wedding chapel, symbolizing hope and healing, while at the same time conveying that there is no time limit on love and second chances.I loved the location of the chapel and the romances of the four characters. This book is such a great love story and also has a hint of suspense regarding a secret one of the characters held. The Wedding Chapel is a book that I will remember.<br /><br />If you enjoy books about inspirational romance and learning how to depend on God to help see your blessings I would highly recommend this one. This book would make a really good book club reading book or as a Hallmark movie.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1457466051000, "title": "it seemed like there was just too much information" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 4, "text": "While I have come to learn that Terri Blackstock is a well known author, this was the first of her books I've ever read. If I Run is the first book in a series also named If I Run. I'm really glad I got in on the first book, so I'll be all set to read the rest in the series. Yes, I'll be reading the future books too.<br /><br />If I Run is written in first person and present tense and it is with two points of view – alternating between the two main characters – namely, Casey Cox and Dylan Roberts. This style of writing really builds up the tension in this story and it puts the reader right in the center of it all.<br /><br />Ms. Blackstock first introduces us to Casey as she is cleaning blood off her tennis shoes and packing up to skip town. Her DNA is all over a crime scene and she is a fugitive who is running for her life. Dylan is the man hired to look for Casey. Right from the start, readers aren’t really clear about Casey's guilt or innocence and this isn’t disclosed until we are pretty far into the story. It definitely kept the suspense going throughout the story, which for me, made for good reading.<br /><br />We learn that Casey is running from the real killers. She is smart and knows how to avoid the cops and as the story progresses, Dylan begins to think Casey cannot actually be the killer too.<br /><br />The author also works in a secondary plot, but I don’t want this to be a spoiler so I’ll just tell you it is an exciting side story that doesn’t distract readers from the main plot.<br /><br />If I Run is a well written book with well developed characters. This book is chalked full of unexpected twists and turns, which, added to the ongoing suspense of the story makes readers excited for the second installment to this series. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for that sequel!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1457475291000, "title": "I'm really glad I got in on the first book" }, { "asin": "0718037626", "rating": 4, "text": "I wasn't sure what to expect with the title of this book - The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell - but I took a chance anyway. The story still has me in shock so excuse me if this review is slightly garbled. The book held me from page one and is still resonating in my head.<br /><br />This story takes place pre-Katrina, in New Orleans. Our main character is Amanda, whose daughter, Ellie's best friend is Sarah. Amanda steps in as a chaperone on her daughter's sixth-grade Halloween field trip to the Big Easy. When Sarah is abducted, Amanda is guilt-ridden because she feels that she was supposed to be the one watching Sarah when she disappeared and she feels responsible.<br /><br />“We all have a feathered bone. It’s called hope. If we hang on to hope, if we don’t let anybody break us or make us forget who we are, then we will always be free.” Sarah<br /><br />Woven throughout this book is Sarah’s side of the story, which is told through her journal entries written so she can remember who she really is. She addresses her entries to a sparrow that comes to her window to visit. In those writings, the reality of Sarah's situation is is disclosed in a very sensitive way. The lessons that her parents taught her before her abduction allow her to stay remind herself of truth. Sarah's voice, through her journal entries, was full of simple, beautiful wisdom.<br /><br />For me this novel shared a very dark story of mental health, abuse and sexual exploitation. It was really deep but does show readers that life doesn't always go smooth and easy and that trials and fears attack us when we least expect them. Cantrell's characters are real and complex, the story is layered and the themes difficult. Amanda was a completely believable character even when she couldn't fix things. Sometimes her emotions were all over the place and the book overall is an emotional rollercoaster. I loved how faith played a big part for the characters too.<br /><br />The details of each character's storyline are so real that while reading, I almost felt like I was a part of the lives of these characters. This is one of those &#34;hard to put down&#34; kind of books, but when you finally do put the book down, you will continue to think about them all.<br /><br />“It is written to remind us all that we are loved, we have worth, and we are never alone.” Julie Cantrell<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1461453179000, "title": "Ellie's best friend is Sarah" }, { "asin": "0764212486", "rating": 5, "text": "This is a story about a twenty five year old unwed Lucy Flaud an Amish girl living in Lancaster County, PA. It begins with mystery and intrigue that will unravel in bits and pieces throughout this novel. As I read this story, I felt that had I known Lucy's past and her mistakes earlier on in the story, I might have enjoyed this novel more but since I didn't know, I felt that I rushed through the story just to find the answers.<br /><br />Lucy had done something in her past where she made a grave mistake. By holding on to her past, she is unable to let go of her sins by forgiving herself and asking God for forgiveness so she move forward. Somehow this mistake help create a strained relationship with her parents especially her father Christian.<br /><br />Trying to find redemption - or &#34;atonement&#34; for her past - Lucy fills every day volunteering at charitable organizations, helping her married sister with her children, and working at home helping her twin sisters and Mother. No matter how hard she works, she cannot fill the empty hole in her heart. I had a hard time understanding her relationship with her twin sisters. Lucy’s journey held lessons on love, faith and forgiveness as she found her way back to church. On her journey Lucy meets an elderly couple who met on a bridge to celebrate. While she listens to their story of love Lucy begins to heal.<br /><br />Lucy's father, Christian, starts attending a local grief support group where he meets, Englisher, Dale Wyeth. Dale seems to be looking for a more simple life and he owns a local hardware store. Through their friendship, Dale starts spending time around the Flaud farm, and Lucy begins to know Dale as they become friends. People are worried, though, that the friendship will lead to more and Lucy past will be revisited when they spot her riding in his truck<br /><br />Meeting Dale brings back all of the painful memories Lucy has avoided. She begins to help a homeless girl she has become friends with and in doing so, she begins to restore her broken relationship with God. This story was provoking and made me look inside myself at mistakes I’ve made in the past. Like Lucy, I had a hard time asking God for forgiveness and let go of my sins to find peace. This is an emotional story that Beverly Lewis tells so well and it is an excellent look at redemption and forgiveness. I enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />Thank you to the Bethany House Blogger Review Program for the opportunity for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1461842307000, "title": "I might have enjoyed this novel more but since I didn't know" }, { "asin": "0718033183", "rating": 4, "text": "This book is second in a series called the &#34;Amish of Birch Creek&#34; written by Kathleen Fuller. I did not read the first book but An Unbroken Heart can stand alone without having previously reading book one. I really enjoyed reading this story and put it down once. Kathleen Fuller makes the reader feel the emotions of love, fear, pain, and questions of self-worth and happiness. The main characters in this book are Joanna Schrock and Andrew Beiler.<br /><br />Joanna was arguing with her parents about wanting to marry Andrew while they were traveling in their buggy on the way to the apple orchard. Her mother was telling her that she was not yet ready for marriage. When a car hit their buggy, the collision caused her to lose both of her parents. Joanna herself suffered a broken pelvis and lacerations on her face which would take a long time to heal. Joanna had loved Andrew since she was twelve years old, since he had stood up for her when she was being bullied at school. Over the years, as they were dating her feelings for Andrew grew stronger and Joanna had shocked Andrew by proposing to him.<br /><br />In the rehabilitation center, Joanna suffered both physically with the pain from the accident and mentally, having learned that she had lost both parents. She felt so empty, alone and guilty. Andrew was upset about the accident and worried that he might be losing Joanna, so visited her and proposed. He could not picture his life without Joanna by his side. She accepted the proposal without the deep joy she had hoped for, and the plans began for their wedding. On the day of her wedding Joanna was unable to walk down the aisle. She then told Andrew she could not marry him as she knew she wasn't ready. God was talking to Joanna, telling her to be strong and courageous. Should she listen to God?<br /><br />In An Unbroken Heart, readers learn about Joanna’s sisters, Sadie and Abigail, and how they managed to run the family business after their parent’s death while at the same time handling Joanna’s recovery. It encourages readers to look at forgiveness in their own lives as Joanna’s met Cameron, the driver who caused the accident that killed her parents, and forgave him. As the characters become so real, you really want healing for those who are hurting, and you want to help them find their way back to God so they can be whole again - but it must be in line with God’s timing and not theirs.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1462317003000, "title": "I really enjoyed reading this story and put it down once" }, { "asin": "0718030923", "rating": 4, "text": "Sister Dear by Laura McNeill has a great cover and picture, which was just enough to pull me in. The story is about Allie, who is a mother convicted of a crime she swears she didn't commit. (Haven't we all heard that one before?) Anyway, after spending 10 years in jail, Allie returns to her small town hoping to pick up the pieces of her life and re-establish a relationship with her now 15-year old daughter. Allie struggles to fall in place, to fit back in living her former life with her family, with friends and at work. In order to try and reconnect and form a relationship with her daughter, Allie becomes determined to find out what really happened that tragic night and wants to clear her name.<br /><br />Sister Dear seemed to start off a little slow and I was little worried that I wasn't going to enjoy the book, but slowly the plot got going and just kept building and building until the very last page. I really enjoyed the writing style - sort of &#34;flashback&#34; style - going between 2006 and 2016 - through the eyes of various people, including Allie, Sheriff Gaines, Emma (Allie's sister) and Caroline (Allie's daughter). Using the multiple points of view and weaving back and forth through time, Sister Dear painted a haunting picture of lies, betrayals and deep dark secrets.<br /><br />The author, McNeill, definitely left me guessing about everyone's involvement in &#34;the incident,&#34; including Allie's own involvement. I loved the plot twists, and I will admit I didn't see them coming. It wasn't one of those predictable plots where you knew what was happening next, and I really appreciated that. I don't want to write a spoiler here, so I really can't go into too much of the story. Suffice it to say, it's worth reading Sister Dear to learn the whole story! On one of those 1 to 5 star ratings, with 5 being highest, I'd give this book a 4.2. I'll definitely be watching for future works of Laura McNeill and I'm going to head back and read her debut book, Center of Gravity too!<br /><br />I truly appreciate that BookLookBloggers provided me with a paperback copy of this book to read without cost in exchange for my personal and honest opinion and unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1462501469000, "title": "Sister Dear by Laura McNeill has a great cover and picture" }, { "asin": "1617956651", "rating": 5, "text": "What I found in this book was a beautiful book filled with hope. Hunting Hope is full of inspiring stories and gut-wrenching moments that share all of the promises that are possible to God's children. Nika Maples shares her heart, and her honesty and the end result is that her transparency is a very beautiful thing for readers. Ms. Maples' humor made me laugh and smile and her stories often made me emotional and teary, but it was her relationship with Jesus that really made me look at those areas of my own life that could really use some work.<br /><br />Accepting what we cannot change, while anticipating future blessings is the perfect definition of hope as Ms. Maples relates to readers. She leans on Scripture to back up every point she makes, helping readers see that the honest and true statements taken from God's Word. Ms. Maples' beautiful examples of God's compassion for us provides strength and hope to readers in their dark moments. Hunting Hope is easy to read and very well written in such a way that it allows readers to find the messages they need at the time they are needed.", "timestamp": 1463961972000, "title": "What I found in this book was a beautiful book filled with hope" }, { "asin": "1401688314", "rating": 5, "text": "A Dream of Miracles is the third book in The Amish Wonder series by Ruth Reid. The first book was A Miracle of Hope and the second book was A Woodland Miracle. Each of those books would probably have helped in creating the backdrop to the characters in this book, but nonetheless, my favorite Amish book reviewer, Gloria (aka Mom) says that this book can be read as a stand alone very nicely.<br /><br />This story takes place in a small community made up of Old Order Amish in Michigan. The two main characters Mattie Diener and Boaz (Bo) Lambright become so real that you think they are your best friends. Mattie is a young widowed woman with two young children, Nathan and 18-month old Amanda, to raise without her husband Andy, who is deceased. Mattie is having a rough time running a herb and honey business with the help of the community especially her next door bachelor neighbor Alvin.<br /><br />Mattie’s oldest child, Nathan, is three years old has been a sickly baby with several health issues since his birth. Nathan is ill and Mattie takes him to the doctor and her worse nightmare begins. Her regular doctor is not available and another doctor, Dr. Wellington, is filling his place but he knows nothing about the Amish. Nathan has a fever and blisters in his mouth and Dr. Wellington suspects’ abuse.<br /><br />The doctor has Mattie take Nathan to the hospital and calls Child Protective Services on her. She meets Boaz Lambright, a fast-rising social services investigator whose high-society mother doesn't seem to rest until she finds her son's &#34;Mrs. Right&#34;. He does not think there is any abuse and sets out to prove her innocence. Things keep happening and the plot continues to twist and turn, and all the while Mattie has your heart because of struggles she is going through. Bo was haunted by dreams with flashing from his current life into his past life.<br /><br />I love the twist that Bo experiences and I found it hard to actually put this book down because I wanted to find out the outcome. There is so much emotion in this story and both the characters and the plot are so powerful that it just carried me away with them. Toward the end of this story things are explained. I loved this story and I look forward to other books by Ruth Reid.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1464313791000, "title": "my favorite Amish book reviewer" }, { "asin": "1530040396", "rating": 4, "text": "My Father's House by Rose Chandler Johnson is about Lily Rose Cates, who has the perfect childhood that includes a fantastic relationship with her father. Her father adored her and she loved him so much. Lily's father unexpectedly passes away when Lily is sixteen and it leaves her to emotionally flounder throughout the rest of high school and into college.<br /><br />As Lily heads off to college, she sees her friends marrying off or falling in love. On a trip to New York City to meet up with her best friend, Lily meets Manuel Valenti. He seems charming and sophisticated and Lily is captivated by his attention. He sweeps her off her feet and promises her the world. She falls into a whirlwind romance and totally falls for him even though there are signals - warning signs - she fails (or chooses) to recognize. Even her wise Annie Ruth feels that Manny Lily brings him home to meet her family.<br /><br />Lily moves forward with marriage, but not surprisingly, soon afterward their marriage begins to fall apart. Her husband is a dark, abusive man and Lily soon realizes that she must make the hard choice of leaving Manny - of running from her husband - or possibly risk even more than the marriage. Once Lily gets away from her horrible marriage, Lily starts to take the necessary steps of healing her heart from her past and from her marriage so that she can move forward. We readers standby (and read on) as Lily slowly begins the process of healing and returning to her father's house.<br /><br />I felt that this story was written to remind us all that there is always hope, even in our darkest hours and our deepest pain. I loved Ms. Johnson's writing and this is one of those books you can definitely get caught up in, and if you're anything like me, you'll read it cover to cover in one sitting. (Pray that I make it through work tomorrow without falling asleep!!)<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1466009767000, "title": "who has the perfect childhood that includes a fantastic relationship with her father" }, { "asin": "0764212818", "rating": 5, "text": "Being part of the Bethany House Blogger Review Program, I get to read some very interesting books that I wouldn't necessarily have the opportunity to read. Sometimes I'm provided with books to read from authors I've never heard of, even though they are very popular in the literary world. Today's book, No Other Will Do, by Karen Witemeyer and this book falls into that category. Those of you who follow me regularly know that my mom loves Amish books. She also loves Western books and when I read her the back cover of this book over the phone, she jumped at the chance to read it and report in. Here's my mom's review:<br /><br />&#34;The setting for this story takes place in the old historical west. This Christian romance has it all - humor, action, murder, mystery and the suspense of a 'who done it'. No Other Will Do is very well written and has you hanging on every word to find out what is going to happen next. I truly enjoyed reading this novel in one day and did not put it down until the end,<br /><br />Emma Chandler and her suffragette aunts were strong, free spirited independent women who started a successful women’s colony in Harper’s Station, Texas to help women in need to make a fresh start with their lives. Unfortunately, there is someone who repeatedly wants to drive all the ladies out of colony. If only Emma knew what this dangerous crook wanted. She is forced to admit they might need a man to help and there is only one man that she really trusts to do the job.<br /><br />Malachi Shaw has known Emma since they were young. She saved his life when he was hiding out in her auntie’s barn after fighting in the streets and is cold, hungry, and no home. She ask her aunt if she could keep him. Now Malachi has earned respect by working on the railroad as an explosive expert. When he received Emma’s telegraph asking for his help, he left immediately to go to her keep a childhood promise be had made and try somehow to repay her for saving his life.<br /><br />The danger at the women’s colony continues and the threats are getting stronger and more dangerous. Should the women leave the colony for their safety? Should they stay and fight with Malachi help to catch the outlaws?&#34;<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the Bethany House Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1466987226000, "title": "I truly enjoyed reading this novel in one day and did not ..." }, { "asin": "1617956120", "rating": 4, "text": "My Mother's Quilts: Devotions on Love, Legacy, Family and Faith by Ramona Richards is an awesome devotional. While this book has lots of pictures of some beautiful quilts, it is way more than a quilt picture book. Each devotional itself shares the story of each individual quilt. It includes a sentence or two of a prayer starter, and then a Bible verse.<br /><br />While this is a book you will want to read in its entirety like I did, you will want to keep it close to you so that when you are reading your daily devotionals you can include this book as a devotional guide as well.<br /><br />As a baby, I received a quilt from my grandfather who passed before I was born. Every Christmas my mom would bring that quilt out and we would enjoy its beauty during the Christmas season, and then she would pack it up again until next year. When I found that exact quilt in this book, my heart swelled with such fond memories of that quilt!<br /><br />I received a copy of this devotional book without cost in exchange for this post from FlyByPromotions! Thank you FlyBy!!", "timestamp": 1466988793000, "title": "Devotions on Love, Legacy" }, { "asin": "1434708381", "rating": 4, "text": "Jilted is the third book in the Mended Hearts series, but can serve as a stand alone book on its own. I did not read the two prior books Jaded and Justified, and I feel that if I had read the first two it would have added to my enjoyment of Jilted.<br /><br />The story in Jilted takes place in a quiet small town of Trapp, Texas. As in most small towns, gossip and news spreads quickly. The memorable characters in this story are Lynda Turner and Clyde Felton. Lynda is doubtful that love and happiness will ever be hers until Clyde an old friend and an ex-convict shows interest in her and hope awakens. Lynda’s husband left her and young daughter Ruthie behind fifteen years ago.<br /><br />Lynda, struggling with depression, had withdrawn from the community and Clyde had to adjust when returning after time in prison to Trapp and face the community he left behind. Because these characters are older and had already missed so much of their lives, I wanted to help them Mrs. Denman told and wrote this story so well that you felt part of this little town and a friend to Lynda and Clyde.<br /><br />Lynda Turner has struggled with depression since her husband abandoned her and their young daughter fifteen years ago. Yet unexpected hope awakens when a local ex-convict shows interest. As long-hidden secrets resurface, Lynda must fight for her emotional stability and for a life where the shadow of shame is replaced by the light of love.<br /><br />Jilted tells of a woman who has lost the joy of living, a man determined to draw her back toward happiness, and a town that must---once and for all---leave the past where it belongs. It is a gentle reminder that all things can work together for good.<br /><br />As secrets which had been hidden for years comes out again Lynda must fight to keep her emotions stable, getting out of living in shame, and receive the love that her old friend Clyde is offering. This final secret is shocking.<br /><br />At the end of this book all ends are neatly tied up and I am sorry that my visit to Trapp, Texas has finished and I will miss Lynda and Clyde and all the others. I really enjoyed reading Jilted, and look forward to reading Jaded and Justified soon!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1467159685000, "title": "and I feel that if I had read the first two it would have added to my enjoyment of Jilted" }, { "asin": "0736966234", "rating": 5, "text": "Here's what I say: Before I can even talk about this book, I have to talk about the Bible verse on the front - one of my favorites! &#34;For I know the plansI have for you,&#34; declares the LORD, &#34;plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.&#34; Jeremiah 29:11.<br /><br />I knew it was going to be a great book just because of that in itself, and I wasn't wrong at all! First I will say this isn't the only book I've read of Dana Mentink's! She really knows how to write some pretty cool pups in her stories and I really enjoyed it in the other book I read. Funny stuff here! I read this book at my desk at work because (1) it was a smaller book and easy to carry; and (2) because I just couldn't wait to read it!<br /><br />Stephanie Pink - yes, her last name is Pink - don't you love it? Anyway, Stephanie Pink is the heroine of this book, and she's hooked on books - kind of like yours truly. She can't seem to go any period of time without reading a book or she gets anxious. She's an aspiring literary agent and had been dreaming of it since she read a book by Agnes Wharton as a kid. She is sent by her boss to pick up a manuscript by none other than Agnes Wharton - one that they'd been waiting for over 15 years. Tragically, when she meets Agnes, her dog, Sweetness, takes off and the story begins!<br /><br />At the same time, Stephanie is also like most girls and is in search of her &#34;happily ever after&#34;. Enter Rhett Hastings, a retired CEO, who stepped down from his job to take care of his sister after a bad accident where she suffered brain trauma. Before her accident, Rhett had treated her pretty bad and she had disowned him but of course, with the injury she doesn't recall that fact. Rhett feels that God is telling him to return to the orchard in Oregon where they had grown up. Of course, on his way there, he bumps into none other than Stephanie Pink.<br /><br />This is where the &#34;happily ever after &#34; may or may not kick in (no spoilers here). Rhett rescues Stephanie and Sweetness and even helps her get the dog to Washington! Both Rhett and Stephanie find themselves on a crazy journey that will definitely change their lives. And just like the author reveals at the beginning of the book, God has a plan for them (Jeremiah 29:11). Of course, they soon find out His plan isn't anything like their individual plans and His is way better! .<br /><br />I give this sweet little book 5 stars out of 5 for style of writing, flow of the storyline, the depth of the characters, and of course the hilarious dog!! I see Dana Mentink has the next book in the Love Unleashed series out in February of 2017, and I will be looking out for that book as well!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1471365525000, "title": "I give this sweet little book 5 stars out of 5" }, { "asin": "1501820079", "rating": 4, "text": "I always love books about dogs, and Service Tails: More Stories of Man's Best Hero by Ace Collins is no exception! Service Tails is a wonderful collection of great true stories that share both the love and loyalty of the owner and their dog, but also provide insight and inspiration.<br /><br />We learn about their extensive training and incredible service working together to provide owners with more self confidence with the assistance of their service dog. These dogs help create permanent and forever bonds with their owners that goes beyond their service, and provides readers with that &#34;heart connection&#34; by sharing their stories.<br /><br />Service Tails shares twelve stories of dogs who provide the commitment of duty and service to their owners, some saving lives and some providing an independent lifestyle to those unable to do so without the help of their service dog. The best part of these stories is the way it shares how owners and their dogs seem to become one as they work together to make life more enjoyable.<br /><br />If you are a dog owner and lover, then I recommend this book to you. This is one of those books to keep on your shelf so you can read again in the future. Service Tails would also make a fantastic gift for any dog lover in your life!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1472431817000, "title": "I always love books about dogs" }, { "asin": "0310339863", "rating": 4, "text": "The Saddle Maker’s Son is the third book in The Amish of Bee County series. I did not read the first two, but enjoyed this one as a stand alone. (I will admit, though, I think I would love to read books #1 and #2 just to see what I missed.)<br /><br />This is a romantic story of Rebekah Lantz, who lives in a small Amish community in Bee County Texas. She feels like her family does not trust her since her sister Leila left the Amish faith to marry Jesse Glick.<br /><br />Tobias Byler is an Amish man who has recently moved to Bee County along with his father, Levi and his nine siblings. As Levi is opening his new shop of making saddles and training horses he has an accident and the children are left to take care of themselves while he is in the hospital.<br /><br />Rebekah works as an assistant school teacher and has discovered two dirty and hungry runaway children The children hiding in the shed outside of the schoolhouse traveled across the border from El Salvador. It is discovered that the children traveled alone and were sent by their grandmother from El Salvador to Texas to hunt out their father, who is living in San Antonio.<br /><br />Rebekah also meets Tobias Byler and his father, Levi who brings the younger children to school. Will Rebekah turn Guadulupe (&#34;Lupe&#34;) and Diego over to the proper authorities? Will this small Amish community open their hearts and arms to these runaway children? It was interesting to read how illegal children immigrants are handled.<br /><br />There is attraction and friction between Rebekah and Tobias as they worked to help the children find their father. Does Tobias have feelings for Rebekah and cannot show it? There is also another romance going on with Rebekah’s aunt and Tobias’s father. This story has all the things that makes a wonderful love story and reminds us that God wants us to help each other.<br /><br />The Saddle Maker's Son is very well written story and I could not put it down until the last page. It was a beautiful story and one that I will remember.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1472434475000, "title": "but enjoyed this one as a stand alone" }, { "asin": "0310345391", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the first book in Shelley Shepard Gray’s &#34;Lone Star Hero&#34; series, I loved reading some of her other books such as the Whispers in the Reading Room.<br /><br />The Loyal Heart story takes place in the late 1800s in Galveston Texas right after the civil war ended, and its a story about Miranda Markham who is a war widow and is facing many troubles in Galveston. She lost her husband that she dearly loved and now has become an outcast in her hometown because someone is spreading rumors that her husband was a traitor.<br /><br />Phillip Markham, Lt. Truax, Caption Monroe, and Major Kelly were prisoners in a POW camp. This group of Confederate soldiers, who had been prisoners by the Union army, promised to take care of each other and their families after the war.<br /><br />Phillip Markham past away right before the war ended. He always spoke of the love that he and his wife Miranda shared. Robert Truax was sent to see how Miranda was doing to fulfill the promise that was made to Markham.<br /><br />Who is responsible making the town turn against Miranda and how are the rumors spreading that Phillip Markham was a traitor? Robert was the problem solver will he be able to take care of this?<br /><br />The Loyal Heart is a historical fiction book and provides for the reader a great mixture of mystery, suspense, action, history of the post-Civil war in the south, and a light romance. Shelley is a great storyteller and I enjoyed this book very much. Looking forward to reading more in this series.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own - well, they are my mother's and for that, I am responsible.", "timestamp": 1473218990000, "title": "I loved reading some of her other books such as the ..." }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "I will admit it - I get so excited every single time I see that Rachel Hauck has another book out. It ranks right up there with having a day off work - my day job, that is. I really think that if there was anyone I could ever point out and say &#34;yes, that woman follows God's calling for her&#34;, it would be Rachel Hauck. That being said, today's post is about Rachel Hauck's latest release, The Wedding Shop. The Wedding Shop is the third book in the &#34;wedding&#34; series, the others being The Wedding Chapel and the other,<br /><br />The Wedding Shop's setting is Heart's Bend, Tennessee, and this story is about a young woman named Haley Morgan who us home from the Air Force. She decides she will take over the town's old wedding shop that's been in the town for over 90 years. The building was run down and in need of many repairs, but Haley had a vision of what it once was. Even though it's been closed for so many years, Haley has a strong feeling that the place must be reopened.<br /><br />The storyline of The Wedding Shop goes back and forth between the 1930s through the 1950s and then the present day. While this book could be a &#34;stand alone&#34;, it is my understanding that some of the characters in this book were also included in Rachel's previous books.<br /><br />The entire book is awesome. Ms. Hauck draws readers in as she alternates the story between modern day Haley and past wedding shop owner Cora. Ms. Hauck has the fantastic ability to transport her readers back in time and make them actually feel like they are there. It was great to see the different perspectives of the characters and how their stories develop while moving between the two time periods. The message I received from this book was that we need to trust in God and do His will and he will provide.<br /><br />I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publisher, and I received a digital copy from NetGalley, both without cost, but in exchange for my opinion.", "timestamp": 1473984027000, "title": "The entire book is awesome." }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 4, "text": "I had never heard of Robert Whitlow before, but the man has written plenty of books. The cover of this book drew me in - sort of resembled a John Grisham book or something - and it made me curious. Another drawing factor to this book was the fact that it was a Christian suspense novel with a legal emphasis. Having worked in the legal field for over 30 years, I'm always interested in that category. Sprinkle it with a little suspense, and you've got me interested.<br /><br />The Witnesses follows young lawyer, Parker House as he begins working in a small North Carolina law firm. His job doesn't pay as much as his friends but he finds satisfaction in what he is learning and achieving as he learns the ropes of a law office and of his town. At the same time, Parker realizes that he is somehow able to see the future.<br /><br />While Parker uses his gift in the legal field, his grandfather, Frank (born Franz Haus), was forced to use the gift during World War II. This fact in itself results in the story going back and forth between these two time periods throughout the book.<br /><br />Parker's gift is starting to become obvious to others, which begins to make him more interesting to a more prestigious law firm. As he struggles with his career decisions and decisions surrounding a new romance, his grandfather is experiencing deep regret for his actions in WWII.<br /><br />The theme of The Witnesses seems to be how people can use (or misuse) God's gifts. While both Parker and his grandfather, Frank are good people, sometimes the use of their gift for evil is too tempting to hold back. Throughout the story, readers will see both of these men struggling with the use of their gift in a responsible manner and whether they will follow the Lord or not follow the Lord.<br /><br />This book would inspire anyone who is wavering about seeking forgiveness and making life changing decisions. If you have never read any of Robert Whitlow's other books, I'd suggest you start here like I did. The Witnesses is a book that seems to cross over those defined genre lines that include law, family, romance, friendship, mystery, suspense and even a little thriller.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1475082812000, "title": "Frank are good people, sometimes the use of their gift for ..." }, { "asin": "0800726413", "rating": 4, "text": "The storyline of When Love Arrives by Johnnie Alexander takes place in a town named Misty Willows. This book is the second in the Misty Willows series, and I had not yet read Where She Belongs, which is the first book, but based on some of the reviews I read, it would have been helpful to know the characters a little better before reading this book. Given the time, I would probably gone back and read Where She Belongs first.<br /><br />Dani Prescott lost her mother in a plane crash. It's the same plane crash that killed Brett Somers' parents. Why is that important? Because Brett is publicly blaming Dani's mother for the crash and ruining her reputation. Dani is hurt and wants to clear her mother's name so she sets out to get revenge against Brett. The story is told in alternating chapters from Brett and Dani's point of view. It's interesting reading this story from Brett's perspective.<br /><br />Brett is a handsome and rich &#34;ladies' man&#34; who is egotistical and pursues younger, blond, long-legged women. Dani accidently meets Brett in the parking lot of the hospital and he pursues her despite the fact that she doesn't meet his standard criteria. Unbeknownst to Brett, Dani is actually seeking revenge. Brett and Dani soon realize they have so many things in common and Dani starts to feel guilty about her original plan to bring Brett down.<br /><br />As Dani and Brett develop their friendship, readers get the sense of the changes Brett is making in his life, and his true desire to become a better person due to the fact that he has learned he has a son.<br /><br />Dani gets help from Brett and his family and her luck begins to change when she secures a new job and a new home surrounded by a great family. As we all know, a relationship built on lies is sure to fail, and Dani's secret plans come to light. These two have a lot to work out and it well worth reading to see where it does.<br /><br />The story is hard to put down and I loved seeing the changes in both of them. I felt that the author did a great job providing a very believable drama that included faith issues that readers will be able to identify with. Seeing how the characters had to reach the &#34;rock bottom&#34; in their lives before they were able to reach out for help from God proved to be a real struggle in the lives of so many people today. The author certainly has a gift for bringing a story to life and making the reader feel like they are right in the midst of it.<br /><br />The great news is that coming in Summer of 2017 there will be another book to this series - the third - and at the end of this book there was a little &#34;teaser&#34; for anyone interested. I hope I make time to go back and read the first book so that by the time the third is released I'll be up to speed on everyone's backgrounds!<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book from Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group for my honest review and was not required to give a positive review.", "timestamp": 1475092642000, "title": "The storyline of When Love Arrives by Johnnie Alexander takes place in a town ..." }, { "asin": "0718077911", "rating": 5, "text": "I had heard of Katherine Reay only after I had the opportunity to read her book, The Brontë Plot, back in February of this year. Because I thought that book was so great, when I heard about this book, A Portrait of Emily Price, I couldn't wait. Unfortunately, I have to say that when it arrived, I was already in the middle of another blog tour so this was placed on the back burner for a while. The book was released on November 1 of this year, so it's still a really new book so everyone can find their copies easily! I know you'll want to get your copy too, because A Portrait of Emily Price is a book full of awesomeness.<br /><br />The protagonist, Emily Price is an art restorer who dreams of becoming an original artist someday. She travels to Atlanta to restore a mural in a home damaged by fire. That’s where she meets Chef Benito &#34;Ben&#34; Vassallo, who is visiting Atlanta to reconnect with his brother and breathe new life into his aunt and uncle’s restaurant, Piccolo. Emily begins a &#34;whirlwind romance&#34; with Ben and falls in love with him while she works with him to improve the appearance of Piccolo. In a shocking move, she accepts Ben's marriage proposal, marries him and and follows him to Italy. Once arriving in Italy, Emily is enchanted with the country, but because of Emily’s need to “fix” what she thinks is broken things get complicated when she meets her new Italian family.<br /><br />The author does an excellent job of showing the relationship problems in families. I also think Katherine did a lovely job of describing Italy and, well &#34;painting a picture&#34; of the scenery for readers so descriptive that we feel a part of the story, especially in the driving scenes where we see hills and small towns, narrow driving lanes and arches that feel too small for the car to fit through. Breathtaking, for sure.<br /><br />If you're anything like me and you love romance stories that are realistic and don't fall under the fairytale-type of “happily ever after” story, A Portrait of Emily Price is definitely a book you'll want to read too!<br /><br />I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion and review. Thanks so much!", "timestamp": 1480539830000, "title": "Because I thought that book was so great, when I heard about this book" }, { "asin": "1401690300", "rating": 5, "text": "As part of the The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader program, I received a copy of Colleen Coble's new book, Twilight at Blueberry Barrens, which was a great read set on the beautiful coast of Folly Shoals, Maine. I'm getting ahead of myself here, but let me tell you the book had fantastic descriptions of the scenery and the characters were well written. The story itself included suspense, murders, romance, a wedding, an escaped prisoner, a hire for murder guy and even a crazy stalker. All of these stories within the book have us guessing and all were very nicely interwoven throughout the book. What more could you ask for in a story?<br /><br />Now that I put the cart in front of the horse, let me tell you a little more about the story: This is the third book in the Sunset Cove series and is connected to the first title, The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, because this book is about Kate Mason, who is Claire Dellamare’s twin sister. This book frequently refers back to the storyline in The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, so it would probably be helpful if you read the first book in the series to understand this one a little better. In all honesty, when I was reading the first book, The Inn at Ocean's Edge, I really wasn't a fan of the character, Claire, but in this book the author redeemed her character and made her someone more relatable to readers. It was also enjoyable learning more about Kate in this book.<br /><br />After successfully battling a life threatening illness, Kate Mason is restarting her life, while at the same time, she is confronted with a faceless enemy who could possibly be someone she knows well. She's in a difficult financial place so when she rents out a cottage for the summer plus she's given the opportunity to nanny a summer guest's young nieces, things might be looking better for Kate. The rental tenant is Drake Newham, who is a handsome and successful entrepreneur from Boston and is protecting his brother's two daughters. Drake has come to Maine in order to investigate his brother and sister-in-law's brutal deaths and it that his brother could have been killed because of his legal actions against a dangerous international crime leader, but Drake is discovering that Heath and Melissa's marriage was unstable, which makes local officials convinced theirs was a case of murder-suicide.<br /><br />Because I don't write spoilers, I can't tell you much more about this book other than to suggest that you buy the book for yourself and dig right in! The characters are likeable, the scenery fantastic and the tale very interesting. If you've read any of Colleen Coble's other books in other series, be warned that some of the other characters from other series make appearances in this book too, which is something I really enjoyed.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1481662354000, "title": "which was a great read set on the beautiful coast of Folly Shoals" }, { "asin": "0718083105", "rating": 4, "text": "&#34;This is a very intense read. The author writes in Afrikaans. Child of the River is the second book written by Irma Joubert that has been translated into English. The first was The Girl from the Train that I have not read. Both of her books are written in the same time period and the location of South Africa. You learn a lot of history when you read this book such as what was going on in Europe during WWII, history during the mid-1950 in South Africa with apartheid and segregation.<br /><br />This is a story about Persomis, the daughter of a sharecropper who comes from a dysfunctional home life. Her father is a drunk and beats his wife and children. Social workers step in and takes the younger siblings and send Persomis to a boarding school where her brother Gerbrand is attending. She works hard, made excellent grades and was allowed to attend the university where she earns a law degree.<br /><br />Irma Joubert weaves three story lines so well. First was Persomi growing up living dirt poor on the Fourie’s farm. Second, the apartheid laws and how they were applied to the families, and third, the love story between Persomi and Boelie.<br /><br />This is a well-written and very inspiring story. I loved the character Persomis especially her passion as she fought for the rights of minorities and the romance between Persomis and Boelie.<br /><br /> I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1481860451000, "title": "made excellent grades and was allowed to attend the university where ..." }, { "asin": "0718086422", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm sure I've said it before, but as part of the Fiction Guild Elite Reader program, I'm often given some pretty amazing books to read and share with my readers. Today's book is no different! It's one of those books I wouldn't have gone out and bought for myself because I wouldn't have known what I was missing!<br /><br />Of Stillness and Storm by Michèle Phoenix is about a missionary family living in Nepal. The story itself is told in two parts - it begins with Lauren, the narrator and wife of Sam, and her 13-year old son, Ryan, living with intermittent power in their home near Kathmandu. Sam leaves for weeks at a time to trek into remote tribes, while leaving Lauren and Sam alone. Lauren is finding ways to cope with the struggle, but Ryan starts feeling the effect of the struggling family.<br /><br />Lauren gets back in touch with a childhood friend who seems to remind her to fight for her son, as well as the woman and writer she used to be. I loved that Lauren seemed very human to readers. Her struggle is familiar to many Christians and while her story is fictional, it is very relatable. Lauren is able to discover that out of darkness and loss emerges a &#34;relentless, demanding, trustworthy, benevolent, and healing God.&#34;<br /><br />I saw a reviewer share a quote from a conversation Lauren has with Sam and I loved it:<br /><br />&#34;I tend to think that who we become because of our faith is more important than what we do to prove it.&#34;<br /><br />Of Stillness and Storm is a story that continues to linger long after its reading. The story is filled with relationships, both spiritual and physical, and it is such a well written book. With rawness and honesty, it plumbs the depths of commitment to family and God. The story is a fascinating view of the missionary life and the benefits and potential pitfalls that can result. This book is one of the most powerful works of fiction I've read in a while and I highly recommend it to others.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in this post are my own.", "timestamp": 1486694103000, "title": "\"I tend to think that who we become because of our faith is more important than what we do to prove it.\"" }, { "asin": "0718090225", "rating": 4, "text": "I received the book, The Angels' Share by James Markert because I'm a Fiction Guild Elite Reader book review blogger. It wouldn't be my normal book genre if I were out shopping for a book, but nonetheless, it was worth a read.<br /><br />The Angels' Share is a historical novel that is true to the times of the Prohibition and the Depression. William &#34;Willie&#34; McFee grew up in Twisted Tree, Kentucky. The McFee family is pretty well off financially even though the town itself is suffering the effects of the McFee family bourbon distillery being shut down by Prohibition. Willie's father, Barley doesn't seem to have any intent on reopening the distillery even though Willie is encouraging him to do so in order to achieve his dream of becoming a distiller as his grandfather had planned.<br /><br />Then a drifter named Asher Keating shows up and he seems to be able to fix people's problems. He dies and is buried in the Potter's Field near the McFee distillery. Gossip begins to circulate about Asher performing miracles. Asher's grave starts getting lots of visitors who are praying at the site, and some strange things begin to happen it the town. Willie starts to investigate the situation and he discovers facts about what his father did during the Prohibition and things about the death of his younger brother. Willie begins to write stories about what he is uncovering and gets them published in a Louisville newspaper, causing all kinds of things to happen.<br /><br />The characters in the book are well developed. The story is full of mystery and unanswered questions. The townspeople are representative of people caught in a difficult situation they cannot control. There are a lot of subplots in this storyline and they will definitely keep readers engrossed in this story.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in this post are my own.", "timestamp": 1489363184000, "title": "The McFee family is pretty well off financially even though the town itself is ..." }, { "asin": "006246910X", "rating": 5, "text": "I find that if the book is written by Shelley Shepard Gray I will enjoy reading it and Her Secret the first book in a new series The Amish of Hart County was no exception. An Amish love story with suspense throughout the book. The main characters Hannah and Isaac are so real that you feel part of their families.<br /><br />The story starts with Hannah Hilty and her family living in Berlin, Ohio in a big house that was comfortable and their family’s legacy. Hannah had been friends with an English man named Trent during her rumspringa. He had pursued her for the last two years and was now following her around and taking pictures of her. Hannah lives her life in fear of this stalker. She quits her job and stays home, only going out with her parents.<br /><br />The family moves from Berlin, Ohio to Munfordville, Kentucky to escape this dangerous man and to give Hannah a new start. Her brother, Ben, and sister, Jenny, blamed Hannah they had to leave their jobs and friends behind. Jenny played a big part in this story and caused Hannah more problems to handle. There are other underlying family secrets that made the family move. Hannah meets her neighbor Isaac Troyer and becomes friends with him. Trent followed the family to Kentucky and became bolder with his activities.<br /><br />I picked this book up and did not put it down until I read the last page. I am so looking forward to the next one in the series, His Guilt, that came out on July 4th, and then there will be two more to follow. I am so recommending this book to my friends!", "timestamp": 1499649149610, "title": "... book is written by Shelley Shepard Gray I will enjoy reading it and Her Secret the first book in ..." }, { "asin": "0718083784", "rating": 5, "text": "I'm a blogger with the Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, and I am very fortunate to be able to receive a lot of books that my mother and I love to read. Today's book, Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks was a first for me. I had never heard of Ms. Parks, and unfortunately, I didn't realize this was book 4 in a series. Nonetheless, to this reader, it wasn't an issue. I'm guessing that there was a plot carried throughout the other books that I may have missed, but I was able to read this book as a stand alone without feeling like I missed anything. In all likelihood, had I read books 1, 2 and 3, I would have had a more panoramic view of the story line.<br /><br />Gwen Marcey is a single mother of a teenage daughter and a cancer survivor, whose ex-husband is threatening to take their daughter away from her. While on a probationary period with her new job as a forensic artist with the Interagency Major Crime Unit (IMCU), Gwen learns about a case of a missing four-year old girl after the murder of her parents in Lapwai, Idaho.<br /><br />The Nez Perce Tribal Police in Lapwai, Idaho are looking for the killer. Because the case took place where she lived when she was little and sounded similar to her own background, Gwen requests being assigned to the case.<br /><br />This assignment causes Gwen to step right into a trap to bring her &#34;home&#34; and to a man who was hurt by her so many years ago. Gwen is in a situation that only God can get her out of. We readers watch as Gwen pieces together her past and present so that she can determine exactly who she really is.<br /><br />The journey to the truth proves to be a very hefty struggle as Gwen finds that many of the witnesses she relies on for information also have strong prejudices against Caucasian people. It takes little time for Gwen to see that she will need to tread very lightly while she's working with the descendants of people involved in these painful moments within Native history.<br /><br />As Gwen works this case, she begins having flashback memories from her own childhood. She begins to think that maybe what happened in her own past could be linked to what is going on in the case she is investigating. Gwen enlists the help of her best friend, Beth, and what they uncover leads them to believe the killer is someone Gwen knows and the killer seems to want Gwen to find out his or her true identity. As Gwen gets closer to the truth, more attempts on her life are made but she refuses to give up. Will her refusal end up costing Gwen her life?<br /><br />In a very spectacular fashion, author Carrie Stuart Parks has written the perfect example of a crime novel with complicated characters mixed with intrigue and suspense. Bravo Ms. Parks! I can't wait to go back and read books 1, 2 and 3 to fill in any blanks I don't even know I have!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1511743487851, "title": "and I am very fortunate to be able to receive a lot of books ..." }, { "asin": "0718082567", "rating": 4, "text": "Words from the Heart is the third book in the Amish Letters series by Kathleen Fuller. While this is the third book, each one can be read as a standalone. I loved the way the author updates readers on what happens to the people from the first two books<br /><br />This is a sweet love story with three main characters: Noah, Ivy, and Noah’s Aunt Cervilla (who was my mother's favorite character). This story begins with Ivy a young unmarried Amish woman so disappointed, feeling hurt and rejected as she is waiting over a year for promised letters from John King that never comes to finding old love letters when Ivy helped Noah clean out Aunt Cervilla’s attic which brought Noah and Ivy closer together in friendship.<br /><br />Ivy Yoder is hurting over her jilted love and is afraid that she will never find a husband in her community of Birch Creek, Ohio. Noah Schlabach is the great-nephew of Ivy’s elderly friend Cevilla Shalaback. He is an auctioneer from Iowa. Cevilla insists the two work together cleaning out her attic. She knows that Noah and Ivy are meant for each other.<br /><br />Not knowing what treasure are in the many boxes they sort through them slowly finding many doilies and old magazines, but in one of the boxes they found a packet of old letters written during the Korean War. The love letters are the story of two people (Bunny and CJ) who are in love.<br /><br />While working together and becoming good friends, Ivy has feelings for Noah, but afraid of getting hurt again. Noah is happy traveling as an auctioneer but knows something is missing in his life. Can Ivy get over the fear from her past to move forward and find love with Noah? Will Noah feel good enough for Ivy and stop his traveling? Does he want to live in her beloved community of Birch Creek?<br /><br />I truly enjoyed reading this book as I love anything written by Kathleen Fuller.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own, or in this case, my mom's.", "timestamp": 1525391757114, "title": "I loved the way the author updates readers on what happens ..." }, { "asin": "0310348080", "rating": 4, "text": "You will enjoy Beneath the Summer Sun without reading the first book, as it does serve as a stand alone. The three complex main characters are Jennie Troyer, Leo Graber, and Nathan Walker. All are facing problems of letting go of their past so that they can move forward with their lives.<br /><br />Jennie carries a secret about her husband, Atlee. The Amish do not divorce as they marry for life, so she told no one about her husband’s mental and physical abuse. Jennie’s husband died from a farming accident four years ago and left her with 7 children to raise on her own under the eyes of the church leaders.<br /><br />Jennie's son, Matthew was ten years old when Atlee died. He knew of the abuse his mother suffered at the hands of his father, and many times he was taken to the shed by his father for beatings. In truth, both Jennie and her son were relieved that Atlee had died. The Community knew something was wrong in her marriage, but not what it was. Jennie was a very likeable person and many had sympathy for her.<br /><br />When Jennie began getting used to life without a husband, two different men took interest in her, and Jennie knew that it was time to remarry. Matthew started sneaking out at night and became moody and rude, but he refused to tell Jennie what was bothering him. <br /><br />Both men who profess to love Jennie had good hearts. First, there is Jennie's childhood friend Amish, Leo Graber, who had been in love with Jennie from the time they were young and attending the same church. He felt so guilty over his father’s death that it prevented him from any social activities. He worked alone building furniture and did not have a happy life.<br /><br />Next, there was Mennonite, Nathan Walker, who was a traveling salesman unable to settle down in one place because he resented that his parents left him behind with relatives while they did mission work in other countries. He was seriously thinking of becoming Amish to be with Jennie. He wanted to settle down with Jennie in her hometown of Jamesport, Missouri.<br /><br />Will Jennie, Leo, Nathan, and Matthew be able to put the past behind them? Who will Jennie choose to love and care for her children? Will she able to trust another man? Atlee was sweet until they spoke their vows, can she believe the sweet words of either man? Three hearts try to discern God’s plan for the future—and find peace beneath the summer sun.<br /><br />Domestic abuse is addressed in this story with showing that faith, trust, forgiveness of yourself, and through the power of prayer we are able to overcome our past and move forward to a healthy, happy life. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time. Thank you Kelly Irvin for a wonderful story and I am looking forward to reading the third book in An Every Amish Season series, which is due out in August of this year, entitled Through the Autumn Air.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own, or in this case, my mom's.", "timestamp": 1525394120890, "title": "You will enjoy Beneath the Summer Sun without reading the first book" }, { "asin": "0718085973", "rating": 4, "text": "Thanks to my relationship with The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, I am very fortunate to receive and review books from various authors -- some I've heard of and some I have not. Today's post is about an author I've heard of, but I've never had an opportunity to read any of her books until now.<br /><br />As soon as I opened the book, You're Gonna Love Me by Robin Lee Hatcher, I was slightly disappointed to realize that this book was book is the sequel to Ms. Hatcher's previous book, You’ll Think of Me, but now that I've read it I can tell you that it can easily be read as a standalone.<br /><br />Samantha Winters returns to Thunder Creek, Idaho to care for her grandmother, Ruth. When she arrives at Ruth's hospital room, she can't even believe that Nick Chastain in there. She hasn't seen him for two years - ever since they broke up after dating for eight months. Because Nick was a daredevil and took too many risks with his life, and because Samantha's fears of his actions were too much to bear, they ended their relationship with harsh words and silence.<br /><br />Now Nick is there and he's recovering from an awful head injury that is causing him to suffer from memory loss and other side effects. Nick has returned to Thunder Creek to have a fresh start at life. Of course, when he sees Sam again, he's hopeful but not sure he deserves a second chance.<br />Sam and Nick's story slowly unfolds throughout You're Gonna Love Me. The author provides small flashbacks of their previous relationship so that readers understand the depth of the past hurts and fears each of them has entering into the reconnection of their relationship. It explains why both Sam and Nick are cautious this time - Sam isn't sure she can trust Nick again and Nick isn't sure of the future of his health and how fair it would be.<br /><br />As Nick and Sam reconnect, they face their fears head on while they both learn to accept each other and trust God. While Sam is trying to overcome her fears, Nick is reaching out to God trying to figure out which way his life is going. I loved how Sam's grandmother, Ruth provided them with some guidance and love in rebuilding their relationship back to friendship and ultimately love.<br />Ruth and her friends were be secondary characters in this book, but their support to the main characters was truly pivotal to the overall story. The author does a great job taking readers through all of the deep emotions and personal relationship issues in Sam and Nick's lives. Readers will be able to identify and relate to the life situations and though processes that this couple must go through in their story. The characters are realistic, the story line moves well, and it's an overall great romance!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1535589599249, "title": "The characters are realistic, the story line moves well, and it's an overall great romance!" }, { "asin": "0062469215", "rating": 4, "text": "Today's post is a book review on Her Fear by Shelley Shepard Gray. This is the fifth book in The Amish of Hart County series, and since we've been on board with this series since March of 2017, it was great to be included in this book too!<br /><br />First in the series was Her Secret released in March of 2017. The second book in the series was His Guilt in released in July of 2017, and the third book was The Gift released in November of 2017. The fourth book in the series was His Risk, which was released in March of 2018.<br /><br />Thank you Shelley Shepard Gray! While I have completely enjoyed this series, I have to say I really liked the fact that this one was not your average Amish book. While Her Fear can be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading the entire series.<br /><br />While Her Fear provides the traditional things we have come to love in an Amish story like romance and mystery, but it also included topics we usually don't see in Amish fiction novels. To be honest, Her Fear reminds us that Amish folks are just like English folks - they are not perfect people, and no one is perfect except God.<br /><br />Her Fear centers around Sadie Detweiler who becomes pregnant and is faced with an unexpected response to that pregnancy. As a result, her family sends her away to distant and extended family of a different sect of the Amish community. When she arrives, she learns that this family does many things so differently than her family.<br /><br />When Sadie arrives, the matriarch of the family, Verba, becomes mysteriously ill and later dies. An EMT that comes to the scene notices Sadie standing alone and quiet. Noah Freeman is that EMT and over time, Sadie grows attracted to him. Noah is an Amish EMT and I was a little surprised at this, so I looked it up and found out that the Amish do work as EMTs, firefighters and first responders. Anyway, Noah is different than all of the other Amish men Sadie has met; she's comfortable with him and she finds herself really liking him. The only thing holding Sadie back from being honest with her feelings is the fact that she is pregnant and she's not sure how Noah will react when he finds out.<br /><br />Verba later dies at the hospital and then two others die suspiciously, so Noah's boss wants him to dig around the Amish community for clues. He finds himself attracted to Sadie, and he sees her as vulnerable and fearful. Noah wants to help Sadie and wants to be there for her as he senses something going on in the house that Sadie is living in. Noah can’t help himself from thinking about Sadie, so he finds reasons just to check up on her.<br /><br />This book was such a super great read. Shelley Shepard Gray's writing is phenomenal (as always) and with the plot twists and turns, reading the book from cover to cover was very easy to do. Whether you've read the other books in the series or whether this would be your first, I definitely recommend Her Fear, and I can't wait for October, when His Promise is released!<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Collins Publishing and Thomas Nelson, in exchange for this post. A positive review was not required.", "timestamp": 1536540512496, "title": "Shelley Shepard Gray's writing is phenomenal (as always)!" }, { "asin": "0718085809", "rating": 4, "text": "Thanks to my relationship with The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, I have been very fortunate to be a part of reading and reviewing so many great books. Coincidentally, I had requested an advanced reader digital copy of this book on NetGalley through my book blogging relationship with them. While the request was pending, I received a paperback copy from Fiction Guild sent me! <br /><br />Today's book, The House at Saltwater Point is by Colleen Coble, an author whose books I've really come to love! The House at Saltwater Point is the second book in Colleen Coble's Lavender Point series. This book serves as a stand alone, but since I also read the first book in this series, The View from Rainshadow Bay, I was happy to catch up with the main characters from that book and to be introduced to Grayson and Ellie in this one.<br /><br />Ellie Blackshaw is a local house flipper, who joins forces with Coast Guard Investigator, Grayson Bradshaw, when Ellie's sister, Mac, disappears. The disappearance seems to be connected with the disappearance of a large shipment of cocaine from a local warehouse. Grayson is firmly resolved to prove that Mac was behind the cocaine theft, while Ellie is desperately trying to prove that Mac is innocent and still alive. What Ellie and Grayson discover is a whole lot more than what they bargained for and it becomes a race against time to keep things from turning deadly.<br /><br />This story captured me right from the start. There is lots of action and excitement to keep readers engaged throughout this story. As is usually the case with Ms. Coble's books, the characters are well written, interesting an unique. I can't wait to read the next book in this series -- I read somewhere that it may come out in January of 2019!<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I also received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review, but because this was another great book, I wanted to do so! The opinions I have expressed are my own!", "timestamp": 1539477059114, "title": "This story captured me right from the start." }, { "asin": "078522405X", "rating": 4, "text": "Indivisible by Travis Thrasher, is the novelization of the upcoming movie by David G. Evans. The synopsis is the same as the movie, obviously, so I'll just share my opinions:<br /><br />I loved the progress of the story line and the raw emotion shown by the characters made this a very strong story. I appreciated how the author used short chapters that made the story very easy and fast flowing. I'll be honest -- I read the book before I saw the movie, and it really caused me to be excited to see the movie!<br /><br />I liked how some of the chapters would switch to the present because it provided good emotional effects for some of the situations. I would say though, that this story wouldn't necessarily be good to share with some of your younger family members since there are some war scenes in the story (in movie version anyway).<br /><br />Through this story, readers are provided with the truths of how difficult it is for families to be separated for long periods of time and the dangers that our soldiers face. It also shares the difficulties the military has when they come back home after facing war and death and how it changes everyone. It makes me thank God everyday for the courage and strength of our military.<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy from Thomas Nelson through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I was not required to post a positive review, but have chosen to do so because this book was great! Thank you!!", "timestamp": 1540515511431, "title": "I loved the progress of the story line and the raw emotion shown" }, { "asin": "1624167470", "rating": 5, "text": "The author of today's book, The Hope Jar, is Wanda E. Brunstetter. This book is the first in a three-book series called The Prayer Jars. Back in 2015, I actually met her when she was doing a book signing event at the local Wal-Mart here in Sarasota, Florida. At that time, I was able to get my mother, Gloria an autographed copy of one of her favorite Amish books. Ever since that meeting in 2015, whenever the opportunity arises to read and review one of Ms. Brunstetter's books, I jump on it because my mother LOVES Amish stories. <br /><br />Gloria recently mentioned this book and said she couldn't wait to read it, so when I saw it available on NetGalley through my book blogging relationship with them, I requested it and was approved. Unfortunately, Gloria recently had eye surgery so she was unable to read this book after all. <br /><br />The Hope Jar blends both Amish and contemporary fiction together, unlike many of Ms. Brunstetter's other books, which are strictly Amish fiction. After I finished reading The Hope Jar, because it was such a great read, I've already requested the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader copy of the second book in the series, The Forgiving Jar, releasing in February of 2019. My mom really missed out on this one! I finished this book in just about the time it took one college football game to play on television. <br /><br />Mary Ruth and Willis Lapp are at the bus station looking for their long lost granddaughter, Sara Murray. Michelle is at the bus station and Mary Ruth and Willis mistakenly think Michelle is Sara. since Michelle's life is at a dead end, she decides to go along with the Lapps thinking and pretends to be their granddaughter just long enough for her to get her life under control<br /><br />While she is on the Lapps' farm, Michelle learns what it feels like to be truly cared for and loved, which is something she's never had in her life. Michelle never had a real family, having grown up in foster care, and no one ever took the time to really get to know her and love her. Michelle blossoms under the Lapps' love and she learns to love the simple life of the Amish. As she grows in this life, she starts to feel more and more guilty about the deception she is committing by living the life of Sara Murray instead of her own.<br /><br />I loved Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp, although I did feel like they were a bit naive in never asking Michelle for proof that she was their long lost granddaughter. Regardless, they really portrayed the Amish that we've come to learn about and love through Ms. Brunstetter's books - hardworking, faithful, loving and caring people. Their lesson on forgiveness was an example to readers of folks who follow the Word of God.<br /><br />The Hope Jar had a very good story line and it was truly an inspiring story. The characters great and readers were provided with a well thought out message. The Hope Jar have woven the tale of two young women who have experienced tragedy and are at a crossroads in their lives. <br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review but chose to since it was a great book! Thank you!", "timestamp": 1543091122534, "title": "The Hope Jar had a very good story line and was truly an inspiring story." }, { "asin": "0718083857", "rating": 4, "text": "Just about a year ago, I read and reviewed Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks. It was a great book, so when I received Formula of Deception from the Fiction Guild through my blogging relationship with them, I was happy. Because my TBR (to be read) stack was a little bigger than I wanted, I haven't had a chance to read this one until now even though it was published in July of this year.<br /><br />Protagonist, Murphy Andersen is hiding in rural Alaska on the run from a serial killer who is probably responsible for her twin sister’s disappearance might soon find her. <br /><br />She uses her artistic skills and fine sense of details and poses as a forensic artist, but she ends up finding herself in more danger than ever.<br /><br />Ms. Parks uses the interesting history of the Kodiak and Aleutian islands region around WWII, giving the story a very realistic feel making the story line even more thrilling.<br /><br />As I read more about Murphy’s character and as her history was revealed, I realized that I liked her character more and more. It became more clear to me as the story progressed that the author had some psychological elements in play, but I wasn't sure how that would pan out. The conversations with her dead sister that Murphy conducted in her head gave me a clue that there was something going on.<br /><br />I was completely engaged in the story line from the first page, and I thought for sure I could figure out the ending before the end of the book since I had experience in Ms. Parks' writing, but as it turned out, I wasn't prepared for how this book ended. This electrifying novel has twists and turns that will make readers awestruck when they discover how she fits it all together at the end.<br /><br />As an added plus, the author includes eight discussion questions to help get a book club discussion going, which is perfect for this fascinating read since it would definitely work well as a book club pick.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1543113513049, "title": "This electrifying novel has twists and turns that will make readers awestruck" }, { "asin": "0310348145", "rating": 4, "text": "Being a part of The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program provides with books to read (which I love to do) and the only requirement is that I have to share a report after I've read the book. As far as I'm concerned, it's a winning arrangement for me and my mother, who loves anything written about the Amish.<br /><br />Today's book is Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin, and it's the third book in the series, Every Amish Season. I've had the opportunity read the first book, Upon A Spring Breeze, and the second book, Beneath the Summer Sun by Kelly Irvin. (The fourth book, With Winter's First Frost, is being released in January, 2019, so you'll need to hurry and read this one!!)<br /><br />Mary Katherine is the mother of ten and it has been seven years since her husband, Moses died and she became a widow. She's full of energy and always ready to step in and help her friends around her Amish community. Her old school friend, Ezekiel Miller, offers Mary Katherine a position as a cook in his restaurant, The Purple Martin Café, named in honor of his late wife Lucy. She knows she should accept, but she doesn't really want to spend her time working in a kitchen. Mary Katherine's secret desire is to write and to own a bookstore with her English friend, but in the Amish community, the church elders want her to work in an Amish-owned store instead. <br /><br />Mary Katherine's oldest son is trying to convince her to move into his Dawdi house, but she is resistant. An English stranger breaks into Mary Katherine's house and proceeds to make himself a sandwich one autumn night. She doesn't call the sheriff, but instead she turns to Ezekiel for help. both Mary Katherine and Ezekiel realize that the stranger, Burke, needs help, so Ezekiel offers Burke a job at his restaurant.<br /><br />While this is book 3 of 4 in An Every Amish Season series, this book could be read as a stand-alone. I loved reading a story dealing with more mature characters and the challenges they faced. Ms. Irvin also added friendships between the Amish and the English that seemed very honest and were caring, respectful and realistic. <br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1544575510167, "title": "Ms. Irvin also added friendships between the Amish and the English that seemed very honest!" }, { "asin": "1683700619", "rating": 4, "text": "Rating 4.5 Stars!<br />The story line of Reason to Breathe is set in Missouri, and the story is about the lives of three sisters, Phylicia, Phee and Brit. Readers move through their pain as they lose their mother, and in another way, they lose their father, Turner, as he runs off to Florida, leaving the sisters struggling emotionally. <br /><br />Because this is book 1 in the Chandler Sisters series, this book is Phylicia Chandler’s story, but I definitely loved the dynamic between all three of the three sisters. I felt that they were thrown into such an uncertain situation, while trying to work through their grief over their mother’s death. The story also weaves hope in and out throughout the story. <br /><br />The sisters are very likable and relatable characters, and I was quickly drawn into this story because it felt so honest and real. As I got to the end, I will admit I was super excited to learn that the other two sisters will also have a story to tell in the next books in the series. <br /><br />Ms. Raney is a fantastic author and I've never read a book that she's written that I haven't loved! Those readers who enjoy inspirational and contemporary romance will definitely want to pick up a copy of Reason to Breathe to read before the second book is released!!<br /><br />I was provided with a courtesy copy of this book as part of the Just Read Tour in exchange my post. A positive review was not required.", "timestamp": 1544579561088, "title": "I was super excited that the other two sisters will also have a story to tell!" } ]

[ { "asin": "0310335582", "rating": 5, "text": "I'll admit it - the Amish world has always intrigued me to some extent. I was born and raised in northeastern Ohio and there was a huge Amish community in nearby Holmes County, where we would head out on the weekends to taste their wares while hitting the garage sales and flea markets.<br /><br />Then, when I moved down to Sarasota, Florida, I was surprised to learn there was a large Amish community here as well, and I've taken the benefit of enjoying some fantastic food at &#34;Amish-style&#34; restaurants and I've driven down some streets that have tons of bicycles and women dressed modestly.<br /><br />I realize that I need apologize in advance when I say &#34;Amish&#34; because I never looked closely enough into each community to determine whether it was &#34;Amish,&#34; &#34;Mennonite&#34; or &#34;Anabaptist&#34;. I had heard the terms &#34;Amish&#34; and &#34;Mennonite&#34; before reading this book, but I can honestly say I've never heard of &#34;Anabaptist&#34;.<br /><br />In any event, The Plain Choice by Sherry Gore, is a short book - 179 pages. As I was reading it, I was thinking to myself that my auto accident story would probably fill just about the same amount of pages if I were to try and write a book about my life too. I will say this: while The Plain Choice is a short book comparing it to some of the novels I read, it was just enough pages to walk through Ms. Gore's life. I was very impressed by her honesty, and I loved that the book flowed in time rather than jumping back and forth.<br /><br />It is very clear that Ms. Gore is a very determined woman. Once she made up her mind to change the way she was living, she whole-heartedly took the leap into her new life. I appreciated that she was honest in sharing the part of her story that some people would keep hidden, the &#34;real&#34; Sherry Harris. She shares her childhood struggles growing up and feeling unloved and not a part of her father's life. She does not minimize poor choices or blame someone else for them. She makes it clear that she had removed God from her life. She was and still is an imperfect human living in an imperfect world.<br /><br />Ms. Gore's story teaches us that not all Amish-Mennonite's are removed from technology and modern conveniences too. It depends on the churches and communities as to how &#34;modern&#34; they become.<br /><br />The pinnacle point is when she immersed herself in baptism to her old life, and newness of life in Christ Jesus, and as an Amish-Mennonite. Sherry Gore is saved by grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. But there is more to this book. It is a call for all to realize God's love and forgiveness and that absolutely no one is beyond God's love and redemption.<br /><br />The next time I'm traveling around in Sarasota, I'll be sure to look for that cute Electra bike of hers and give her a &#34;shout out&#34; for this book! I truly appreciate that BookLookBloggers provided me with a paperback copy of this book without cost in exchange for my personal and honest opinion and unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1442604782000, "title": "and I've taken the benefit of enjoying some fantastic food at \"Amish-style\" restaurants and I've driven down some ..." }, { "asin": "1401689604", "rating": 4, "text": "The story line of this book is set in a resort mountain town of Evergreen, Colorado. Kate Whidby is an 11 year-old protector of the family and dreams of becoming a spy. She is caught in the middle of all her family members and grandparents. Her family operates The Harrison Lodge, a historic mountain resort, and has done so for many generations. She keeps her family members' secrets from others and the day after she’s witnessed her grandfather arguing with his best friend, the man is murdered.<br /><br />At the same time in Denver, a robbery gone wrong, a consequent murder, and a gang member set on revenge for the death of his son bring several mysterious people to the Harrison Lodge. In her desire to help others, Kate chooses to harbor a fugitive while trying to save her family at the same time.<br /><br />Readers are introduced to other families, from different walks of life - not only the homeless man who sees a robbery gone wrong, but we also see runaways living under a bridge and the gang member seeking revenge for the death of his son. We also meet Charlie, a boy who has lived on the streets, with no money, and an alcoholic father. After Charlie runs away and crashes a motorcycle in Evergreen, Colorado. Kate comes upon him and hides him in a secret cubby in one of the inn's cottages.<br /><br />There are a lot of different events going on at the beginning and you wonder how they are all going to come together. Once they all converge at The Harrison Lodge, it becomes much easier to follow the story and see where everything is going.<br /><br />The author, Erin Healy, takes various different storylines and skillfully weaves them together over the course of a weekend until they come to a head late Sunday afternoon at the hotel. While the beginning of the book starts a little slow, I think it has to so that the foundation is set out for each key character. We get to know the characters, their lives and their dreams. Once the &#34;action&#34; gets going, readers move through the theft, and then the robbery involving two of the main characters. We are drawn in very easily to the individuals and readers are compassionate to their situations as the book progresses.<br /><br />Ultimately, this book circles around ideas of family and forgiveness. Erin Healy shows us the dynamics of what makes a family work and what makes them fight for each other. I appreciated the depths that this story went to on a thought-provoking level. I found it to be a great read once I got over the hump of bringing the characters together. The book kept me hanging on until the very end to find the answers to some of the mysteries that came out while I was reading. I enjoyed the book and spent a lot of time flipping pages on the edge of my seat to see how things would turn out.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost as part of the Fiction Guild Team Challenge in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1444623127000, "title": "She keeps her family members' secrets from others and the day after she’s witnessed her grandfather arguing with his best friend" }, { "asin": "0824956478", "rating": 5, "text": "If you want to teach your children about Christmas - the real Christmas, The Sparkle Box: A Gift with the Power to Change Christmas by Jill Hardie is the book to get! It's for ages 4 to 8 and it's a perfect story for any child.<br /><br />Author Jill Hardie tells the story of Sam, who is so excited about Christmas! Sam is preparing his Christmas &#34;want&#34; list and he's excited about the upcoming holiday parties. At the same time, he is so curious about one very mysterious gift -- a sparkly box sitting on the mantel above the fireplace. Whenever Sam asked his mother about the box, she would tell him to wait, that she had a few more things to put in the box.<br /><br />In the midst of all of the Christmas festivities, Sam and his family bless other people with various acts of kindness, and all the while Sam waits impatiently to find out what is in the box. On Christmas morning, Sam finally gets to open the box, and he finds the slips of paper recording his family's good deeds. His parents explain to him that the things they are doing - the blessings they are providing others - are a gift for Jesus in honor of His birthday. Sam was confused as they had given the gifts to people, not Jesus. His mother explains that when we give to others we are giving to Him.a gift for Jesus -- for Jesus said that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Him.<br /><br />The Sparkle Box story is inspired by Matthew 25:40 &#34;Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.&#34; The book challenges us to put aside our wants for those in need. To think of others. Whether it be a material item like food, clothes or shelter. Or a spiritual need, such as praying with someone, lending a shoulder. Or maybe giving of your time to a neighbor or friend in need.<br /><br />This heartfelt story will inspire readers to adopt this faith-centered tradition in their own homes. The illustrations in The Sparkle Box are awesome and children are very engaged to the story. The Sparkle Box includes a glitter-coated fold-out Sparkle Box on the inside cover of the back. The book is absolutely gorgeous and is destined to become a children’s Christmas classic for years to come! You can start your own family tradition of giving gifts to the One who gave all to us! The Sparkle Box is definitely a &#34;must have&#34; book for anyone that has children or grandchildren!<br /><br />I was provided with a review copy of this book as a First Look Blogger for Worthy Publishing without cost in exchange for this, my honest review and unbiased opinion.", "timestamp": 1449065759000, "title": "It's for ages 4 to 8 and it's a perfect story for any child" }, { "asin": "031033344X", "rating": 5, "text": "My mom has been on a reading &#34;spree&#34; for the last year or two - ever since we helped her get an e-reader on Black Thursday. She will sit and read for four or five hours at a time - even if it is the middle of the night because hey, she's retired, and can take a nap all afternoon if she wants! When I received this book, The Mountain Midwife by Laurie Alice Eakes, I knew my mom would love the book and since I had quite a stack of books myself, I gladly shared with her in exchange for her honest review. Below you'll find my mom's review:<br /><br />The Mountain Midwife is a wonderful book that is the story of midwife Ashley Tolliver and it contains many twists and turns. I loved reading this book because the Appalachian setting. This book touched the areas of Virginia and parts of West Virginia which mean so much to me.<br /><br />The women in Ashley Tolliver family has been practicing the art of midwifery for many years in their small Appalachian mountain community. Ashley wants to further her education by attending medical school and leave behind the women that she serves. One of the women that Ashley helps deliver in her home is abducted while Ashley is trying to get her to the hospital because she is bleeding dangerously. Ashley now must find the woman and her newborn baby.<br /><br />After receiving a mysterious phone call from a woman claiming to be his mother, Hunter McDermott needs to track where this call came from and seeks the aid of the local midwife (Ashley Tolliver) in this mountain town hoping that she can help him find his family’s background.. Hunter McDermott learning that he is adopted now wants to meet his birth mother who says he has a brother and sister living in the Appalachian Mountains.<br /><br />Ashley is on her own mission to find the abducted mother and newborn baby and Hunter McDermott wants to know his family in the Appalachian Mountains. Will Ashley leave the place where her feet is firmly planted or will Hunter learn to love her Appalachian Mountains?<br /><br />The characters were complex, but at the same time, they were easy to relate to. The Mountain Midwife was definitely a page-turner, and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. There were a few times in the story that the characters had tough decisions to make, and it was refreshing to see that they always turned to God to help them with these tough decisions.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own (or well, in this case, my mother's).", "timestamp": 1453065273000, "title": "The characters were complex, but at the same time, they were easy to relate to." }, { "asin": "031034199X", "rating": 4, "text": "Most of you know that my mother absolutely LOVES Amish stories. She once told me that she enjoys Amish stories because they share about times that seem more &#34;simple&#34; and the priorities of the Amish are clear - faith and family. Because of the fact that my mom likes to read, and doesn't mind providing me with a book review when she's finished, we decided that if any opportunities come up for book reviews on Amish books, she would gladly read them and provide me with her review.<br /><br />Below is my mother, Gloria's review of The Forgotten Recipe (An Amish Heirloom Novel) by Amy Clipston:<br /><br />&#34;This is a story of two people touched by tragedy and both are unable to move forward with their lives until they confront their shared past. It is about love, trust and forgiveness.<br /><br />Veronica Fisher is devastated when her fiancé, Seth Lapp is killed in a tragic accident at work. Jason Huyard worked with Seth and they were best friends. Jason is having a hard time dealing with Seth's death and thinks a lot about Veronica because Seth talked about her all the time. Following the accident, Jason feels compelled to share his grief and condolences with Veronica, who loved his friend also.<br /><br />The forgotten recipe is a newly found, but old recipe stored in her mother's hope chest in the attic, which is for a raspberry pie that Veronica's grandmother used to make. Discovering this recipe, Veronica opens a bake stand in order to sell raspberry pies using her grandmother's recipe. Jason Huyard quickly becomes a regular customer but does not tell her that he knew Seth. Slowly, as he gets to know Veronica, Jason begins to fall in love with Veronica, which is the last thing he wants to do. Veronica is also hesitant to fall in love because of her promise to only love Seth. Jason visits the bake stand once a week for more than raspberry pies - they have something special!<br /><br />This story is about two strangers - one loses the man she's going to marry while the other loses his best friend. This a wonderful story that will leave you hanging at the end of the book. How will Veronica react when she finds out that she and Jason share a past? Jason has a secret - can it ruin their chance at happiness? Will Veronica trust Jason?&#34;<br /><br />If you want to read a story about love, loss and how one recipe brought two people together in ways they couldn't imagine, you'll probably want to read this book. As you can see, my mom isn't giving you spoilers either!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own (or well, in this case, my mother's).", "timestamp": 1453604712000, "title": "a story about love, loss and how one recipe brought two people together!" }, { "asin": "1401689752", "rating": 4, "text": "At the opening of the story, we learn that the main character Lucy Alling, is a rare book seller who works for Sid McKenna, one of the most respected antiques dealer and high end interior decorators in Chicago. Most of Lucy's work with Sid involves keeping the inventory and meeting customers, but Lucy loves to find old editions and then sell them at Sid's shop and she loves her job. Unfortunately, the origins and authenticity of some of the editions that Lucy &#34;finds&#34; are suspect and we learn that her morals are questionable and that she has taken a few liberties with the books she has acquired for the store and then sold.<br /><br />Lucy meets James, a handsome stranger and promising young attorney who buys two of her favorite books for family members. They become romantically involved once James shares that his attraction to Lucy is the main reason he even purchased the books to begin with. Lucy meets James' grandmother, Helen, a woman with terminal cancer who hires Lucy to be her companion on a trip to England where Helen must deal with her own secrets. Visiting some of the sites famous for the Brontë novels and the places where the Brontë sisters lived, a friendship is born and both Lucy and Helen realize that they must face their flaws and fix their wrongdoings.<br /><br />I had never heard of the Brontë sisters before this book, so I didn't know what the title actually meant until I read this book. I thought it was pretty amazing that when I took out a note pad and made a list, there were over 50 other books mentioned in the story of this book!<br /><br />The Brontë Plot explores what makes us who we are and asks if we can change. In my humble opinion, since this book was held out to be a Christian book, I was surprised that there wasn't very much spiritual emphasis as I would have liked, but the life truths were there. The Brontë Plot is about people facing their past to be able to move on into the future.<br /><br />“All real lives hold controversy, trials, mistakes, and regrets. What matters is what you do next.” ― Katherine Reay, The Brontë Plot<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1454551242000, "title": "There were over 50 other books mentioned in the story of this book!" }, { "asin": "0764211595", "rating": 4, "text": "I wasn't hadn't heard of Nancy Mehl before, so I wasn't familiar with her writing before so when this book became available for review, I wasn't sure what to expect. This particular book, Rising Darkness, is Nancy Mehl's third book in the Finding Sanctuary series. Obviously since I haven't heard of Ms. Mehl, so I haven't read the first two books but in all honesty, I had no trouble following along in this book, so I'd say it's definitely a &#34;stand alone&#34; book. I am betting though, that I missed some of the history of the town and of the people, which might have made this book have more depth to me.<br /><br />The main character, Sophie Wittenbaur, is a young lady who grew up in a conservative and strict Mennonite family. Sophie left her small town of Kingdom both in shame and regret and to leave her painful and abusive past behind. Sophie educates herself and chases her dream job of becoming an investigative reporter. While she tries to make a name for herself as a reporter, Sophie unintentionally lands in the middle of a possible lead on a murderer who escaped with millions of dollars. The past that Sophie has worked so hard to leave behind ends up right in front of her again as she travels to the fictional Mennonite town of Sanctuary, Missouri. she takes herself &#34;under cover&#34; posing as Emily McClure while she searches for information in Sanctuary.<br /><br />Sophie meets an old flame, Jonathon Wiese, who is now a pastor in Sanctuary. Jonathon soon discovers who Emily really is and begins helping Sophie discover the answer to this story she has been trying to crack. At the same time, Sophie begins to question her decision of turning away from God and blaming God for her childhood pain while Jonathon reminds her that God was carrying her at those times in her life. There are threats and dangers around every corner, and while Sophie doesn't fully trust Jonathon she realizes that she must let him save her life.<br /><br />Rising Darkness is clear in its message to readers that we can't hold on to our past and that we need to turn things over to God and trust that He will lead us. As I stated above, I haven't read the first two books in this series, but I'm thinking if they are as good as this one, I would recommend that you read them all. While I wasn't familiar with Ms. Mehl before, I can now say that this book was fast paced and the characters were well developed. I loved the story line and you are definitely left guessing about what to expect next. I thought it was a great book and I would recommend it to other readers.<br /><br />Thank you to Bethany House for the opportunity for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1454875189000, "title": "Sophie left her small town of Kingdom both in shame and regret and to leave her painful and abusive past behind" }, { "asin": "0310338492", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm not the type to steal credit when credit is due someone else, so let me tell you right now that the following review of this book, Whispers in the Reading Room is my mother's review:<br /><br />&#34;While both my daughter and I have read several of Shelley Shepard Gray's Amish series books, we did not know she wrote other types of books as well. In fact, I was actually surprised to see this book, Whispers in the Reading Room, was written by the same author, but was happy to give it a try nonetheless.<br /><br />The setting for this historic book is in the seedier part of Chicago where the crime rate is high shortly after the Chicago World Fair in 1893. At once this story transported me to Chicago with its life in the back alleys and was part of the great division between the upper and middle class society.<br /><br />Whispers in the Reading Room is a story about middle class librarian, Lydia Bancroft, and the unlikely friendship she finds herself with a mysterious debonair gentleman patron of her library who never checks a book out. Lydia herself was lonely, and as she is weighted down by the duty to secure a wealthy husband so she can meet her mother's needs, she is very anxious.<br /><br />At once you realize that Mr. Sebastian Marks is an elusive man with many secrets. She learns his name when their paths cross the night Lydia's fiancé takes her to the Hartman Hotel and begins to rough handle her. Sebastian Marks intervenes in a tense situation in Lydia's life and from that moment on Lydia’s new friend takes on the role of protector while showing her that her fiancé isn’t who she thinks he is. Lydia discovers that Sebastian lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.<br /><br />Sebastian himself is quite the mystery man pretending to be a gentleman, and Lydia is shocked to learn that he is the owner of a drinking and gambling establishment. Lydia insists on visiting the club one night and both she and Sebastian are suddenly suspects to a murder. She must determine who can she really trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian (who everyone fears) is actually everything she thinks he is.<br /><br />A mystery book is not the kind of book that I usually read, but once I started Whispers in the Reading Room I could not put it down. Whispers in the Reading Room was an excellent mystery/murder/romance for curling up reading on a raining day by the fireplace. Even though I hadn't read the first two books in this series, I fell in love with all the characters in this story and looking forward to a follow-up story. I will definitely have to go back and read the other Chicago World's Fair Mystery series books - Book #1, Secrets of Sloane House and Book #2, Deception on Sable Hill too!&#34;<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own - well, they are my mother's and for that, I am responsible.", "timestamp": 1457375561000, "title": "but was happy to give it a try nonetheless" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 5, "text": "The Wedding Chapel was the first book written by Rachel Hauck that I have read. At first, I didn't think I was going to care for this book; it seemed like there was just too much information. While I did think the story was interesting, I struggled with Ms. Hauck's telling of it. As the story progressed though - probably about halfway through the book - the story turned out to be a really good one.<br /><br />I feel that Rachel writes from her heart about real broken family struggles, and the drama that goes along with it. The Wedding Chapel is a complex story of interwoven lives, souls seeking peace, secrets, forgiveness, and second chances. The characters were real and I enjoyed their journey each went on within themselves.<br /><br />The Wedding Chapel reminds me of something like time-travel because the story moves back and forth from Heart's Bend, Tennessee in 1948 where it is a lost love story of Jimmy and Colette and then to flash forward to the present where it is a modern love story of Jack and Taylor in New York. Due to the style of this writing, the reader is following the two different couples on their journey of love.<br /><br />At the heart of this story is the wedding chapel, symbolizing hope and healing, while at the same time conveying that there is no time limit on love and second chances.I loved the location of the chapel and the romances of the four characters. This book is such a great love story and also has a hint of suspense regarding a secret one of the characters held. The Wedding Chapel is a book that I will remember.<br /><br />If you enjoy books about inspirational romance and learning how to depend on God to help see your blessings I would highly recommend this one. This book would make a really good book club reading book or as a Hallmark movie.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1457466051000, "title": "it seemed like there was just too much information" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 4, "text": "While I have come to learn that Terri Blackstock is a well known author, this was the first of her books I've ever read. If I Run is the first book in a series also named If I Run. I'm really glad I got in on the first book, so I'll be all set to read the rest in the series. Yes, I'll be reading the future books too.<br /><br />If I Run is written in first person and present tense and it is with two points of view – alternating between the two main characters – namely, Casey Cox and Dylan Roberts. This style of writing really builds up the tension in this story and it puts the reader right in the center of it all.<br /><br />Ms. Blackstock first introduces us to Casey as she is cleaning blood off her tennis shoes and packing up to skip town. Her DNA is all over a crime scene and she is a fugitive who is running for her life. Dylan is the man hired to look for Casey. Right from the start, readers aren’t really clear about Casey's guilt or innocence and this isn’t disclosed until we are pretty far into the story. It definitely kept the suspense going throughout the story, which for me, made for good reading.<br /><br />We learn that Casey is running from the real killers. She is smart and knows how to avoid the cops and as the story progresses, Dylan begins to think Casey cannot actually be the killer too.<br /><br />The author also works in a secondary plot, but I don’t want this to be a spoiler so I’ll just tell you it is an exciting side story that doesn’t distract readers from the main plot.<br /><br />If I Run is a well written book with well developed characters. This book is chalked full of unexpected twists and turns, which, added to the ongoing suspense of the story makes readers excited for the second installment to this series. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for that sequel!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1457475291000, "title": "I'm really glad I got in on the first book" }, { "asin": "0718037626", "rating": 4, "text": "I wasn't sure what to expect with the title of this book - The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell - but I took a chance anyway. The story still has me in shock so excuse me if this review is slightly garbled. The book held me from page one and is still resonating in my head.<br /><br />This story takes place pre-Katrina, in New Orleans. Our main character is Amanda, whose daughter, Ellie's best friend is Sarah. Amanda steps in as a chaperone on her daughter's sixth-grade Halloween field trip to the Big Easy. When Sarah is abducted, Amanda is guilt-ridden because she feels that she was supposed to be the one watching Sarah when she disappeared and she feels responsible.<br /><br />“We all have a feathered bone. It’s called hope. If we hang on to hope, if we don’t let anybody break us or make us forget who we are, then we will always be free.” Sarah<br /><br />Woven throughout this book is Sarah’s side of the story, which is told through her journal entries written so she can remember who she really is. She addresses her entries to a sparrow that comes to her window to visit. In those writings, the reality of Sarah's situation is is disclosed in a very sensitive way. The lessons that her parents taught her before her abduction allow her to stay remind herself of truth. Sarah's voice, through her journal entries, was full of simple, beautiful wisdom.<br /><br />For me this novel shared a very dark story of mental health, abuse and sexual exploitation. It was really deep but does show readers that life doesn't always go smooth and easy and that trials and fears attack us when we least expect them. Cantrell's characters are real and complex, the story is layered and the themes difficult. Amanda was a completely believable character even when she couldn't fix things. Sometimes her emotions were all over the place and the book overall is an emotional rollercoaster. I loved how faith played a big part for the characters too.<br /><br />The details of each character's storyline are so real that while reading, I almost felt like I was a part of the lives of these characters. This is one of those &#34;hard to put down&#34; kind of books, but when you finally do put the book down, you will continue to think about them all.<br /><br />“It is written to remind us all that we are loved, we have worth, and we are never alone.” Julie Cantrell<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1461453179000, "title": "Ellie's best friend is Sarah" }, { "asin": "0764212486", "rating": 5, "text": "This is a story about a twenty five year old unwed Lucy Flaud an Amish girl living in Lancaster County, PA. It begins with mystery and intrigue that will unravel in bits and pieces throughout this novel. As I read this story, I felt that had I known Lucy's past and her mistakes earlier on in the story, I might have enjoyed this novel more but since I didn't know, I felt that I rushed through the story just to find the answers.<br /><br />Lucy had done something in her past where she made a grave mistake. By holding on to her past, she is unable to let go of her sins by forgiving herself and asking God for forgiveness so she move forward. Somehow this mistake help create a strained relationship with her parents especially her father Christian.<br /><br />Trying to find redemption - or &#34;atonement&#34; for her past - Lucy fills every day volunteering at charitable organizations, helping her married sister with her children, and working at home helping her twin sisters and Mother. No matter how hard she works, she cannot fill the empty hole in her heart. I had a hard time understanding her relationship with her twin sisters. Lucy’s journey held lessons on love, faith and forgiveness as she found her way back to church. On her journey Lucy meets an elderly couple who met on a bridge to celebrate. While she listens to their story of love Lucy begins to heal.<br /><br />Lucy's father, Christian, starts attending a local grief support group where he meets, Englisher, Dale Wyeth. Dale seems to be looking for a more simple life and he owns a local hardware store. Through their friendship, Dale starts spending time around the Flaud farm, and Lucy begins to know Dale as they become friends. People are worried, though, that the friendship will lead to more and Lucy past will be revisited when they spot her riding in his truck<br /><br />Meeting Dale brings back all of the painful memories Lucy has avoided. She begins to help a homeless girl she has become friends with and in doing so, she begins to restore her broken relationship with God. This story was provoking and made me look inside myself at mistakes I’ve made in the past. Like Lucy, I had a hard time asking God for forgiveness and let go of my sins to find peace. This is an emotional story that Beverly Lewis tells so well and it is an excellent look at redemption and forgiveness. I enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />Thank you to the Bethany House Blogger Review Program for the opportunity for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1461842307000, "title": "I might have enjoyed this novel more but since I didn't know" }, { "asin": "0718033183", "rating": 4, "text": "This book is second in a series called the &#34;Amish of Birch Creek&#34; written by Kathleen Fuller. I did not read the first book but An Unbroken Heart can stand alone without having previously reading book one. I really enjoyed reading this story and put it down once. Kathleen Fuller makes the reader feel the emotions of love, fear, pain, and questions of self-worth and happiness. The main characters in this book are Joanna Schrock and Andrew Beiler.<br /><br />Joanna was arguing with her parents about wanting to marry Andrew while they were traveling in their buggy on the way to the apple orchard. Her mother was telling her that she was not yet ready for marriage. When a car hit their buggy, the collision caused her to lose both of her parents. Joanna herself suffered a broken pelvis and lacerations on her face which would take a long time to heal. Joanna had loved Andrew since she was twelve years old, since he had stood up for her when she was being bullied at school. Over the years, as they were dating her feelings for Andrew grew stronger and Joanna had shocked Andrew by proposing to him.<br /><br />In the rehabilitation center, Joanna suffered both physically with the pain from the accident and mentally, having learned that she had lost both parents. She felt so empty, alone and guilty. Andrew was upset about the accident and worried that he might be losing Joanna, so visited her and proposed. He could not picture his life without Joanna by his side. She accepted the proposal without the deep joy she had hoped for, and the plans began for their wedding. On the day of her wedding Joanna was unable to walk down the aisle. She then told Andrew she could not marry him as she knew she wasn't ready. God was talking to Joanna, telling her to be strong and courageous. Should she listen to God?<br /><br />In An Unbroken Heart, readers learn about Joanna’s sisters, Sadie and Abigail, and how they managed to run the family business after their parent’s death while at the same time handling Joanna’s recovery. It encourages readers to look at forgiveness in their own lives as Joanna’s met Cameron, the driver who caused the accident that killed her parents, and forgave him. As the characters become so real, you really want healing for those who are hurting, and you want to help them find their way back to God so they can be whole again - but it must be in line with God’s timing and not theirs.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1462317003000, "title": "I really enjoyed reading this story and put it down once" }, { "asin": "0718030923", "rating": 4, "text": "Sister Dear by Laura McNeill has a great cover and picture, which was just enough to pull me in. The story is about Allie, who is a mother convicted of a crime she swears she didn't commit. (Haven't we all heard that one before?) Anyway, after spending 10 years in jail, Allie returns to her small town hoping to pick up the pieces of her life and re-establish a relationship with her now 15-year old daughter. Allie struggles to fall in place, to fit back in living her former life with her family, with friends and at work. In order to try and reconnect and form a relationship with her daughter, Allie becomes determined to find out what really happened that tragic night and wants to clear her name.<br /><br />Sister Dear seemed to start off a little slow and I was little worried that I wasn't going to enjoy the book, but slowly the plot got going and just kept building and building until the very last page. I really enjoyed the writing style - sort of &#34;flashback&#34; style - going between 2006 and 2016 - through the eyes of various people, including Allie, Sheriff Gaines, Emma (Allie's sister) and Caroline (Allie's daughter). Using the multiple points of view and weaving back and forth through time, Sister Dear painted a haunting picture of lies, betrayals and deep dark secrets.<br /><br />The author, McNeill, definitely left me guessing about everyone's involvement in &#34;the incident,&#34; including Allie's own involvement. I loved the plot twists, and I will admit I didn't see them coming. It wasn't one of those predictable plots where you knew what was happening next, and I really appreciated that. I don't want to write a spoiler here, so I really can't go into too much of the story. Suffice it to say, it's worth reading Sister Dear to learn the whole story! On one of those 1 to 5 star ratings, with 5 being highest, I'd give this book a 4.2. I'll definitely be watching for future works of Laura McNeill and I'm going to head back and read her debut book, Center of Gravity too!<br /><br />I truly appreciate that BookLookBloggers provided me with a paperback copy of this book to read without cost in exchange for my personal and honest opinion and unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1462501469000, "title": "Sister Dear by Laura McNeill has a great cover and picture" }, { "asin": "1617956651", "rating": 5, "text": "What I found in this book was a beautiful book filled with hope. Hunting Hope is full of inspiring stories and gut-wrenching moments that share all of the promises that are possible to God's children. Nika Maples shares her heart, and her honesty and the end result is that her transparency is a very beautiful thing for readers. Ms. Maples' humor made me laugh and smile and her stories often made me emotional and teary, but it was her relationship with Jesus that really made me look at those areas of my own life that could really use some work.<br /><br />Accepting what we cannot change, while anticipating future blessings is the perfect definition of hope as Ms. Maples relates to readers. She leans on Scripture to back up every point she makes, helping readers see that the honest and true statements taken from God's Word. Ms. Maples' beautiful examples of God's compassion for us provides strength and hope to readers in their dark moments. Hunting Hope is easy to read and very well written in such a way that it allows readers to find the messages they need at the time they are needed.", "timestamp": 1463961972000, "title": "What I found in this book was a beautiful book filled with hope" }, { "asin": "1401688314", "rating": 5, "text": "A Dream of Miracles is the third book in The Amish Wonder series by Ruth Reid. The first book was A Miracle of Hope and the second book was A Woodland Miracle. Each of those books would probably have helped in creating the backdrop to the characters in this book, but nonetheless, my favorite Amish book reviewer, Gloria (aka Mom) says that this book can be read as a stand alone very nicely.<br /><br />This story takes place in a small community made up of Old Order Amish in Michigan. The two main characters Mattie Diener and Boaz (Bo) Lambright become so real that you think they are your best friends. Mattie is a young widowed woman with two young children, Nathan and 18-month old Amanda, to raise without her husband Andy, who is deceased. Mattie is having a rough time running a herb and honey business with the help of the community especially her next door bachelor neighbor Alvin.<br /><br />Mattie’s oldest child, Nathan, is three years old has been a sickly baby with several health issues since his birth. Nathan is ill and Mattie takes him to the doctor and her worse nightmare begins. Her regular doctor is not available and another doctor, Dr. Wellington, is filling his place but he knows nothing about the Amish. Nathan has a fever and blisters in his mouth and Dr. Wellington suspects’ abuse.<br /><br />The doctor has Mattie take Nathan to the hospital and calls Child Protective Services on her. She meets Boaz Lambright, a fast-rising social services investigator whose high-society mother doesn't seem to rest until she finds her son's &#34;Mrs. Right&#34;. He does not think there is any abuse and sets out to prove her innocence. Things keep happening and the plot continues to twist and turn, and all the while Mattie has your heart because of struggles she is going through. Bo was haunted by dreams with flashing from his current life into his past life.<br /><br />I love the twist that Bo experiences and I found it hard to actually put this book down because I wanted to find out the outcome. There is so much emotion in this story and both the characters and the plot are so powerful that it just carried me away with them. Toward the end of this story things are explained. I loved this story and I look forward to other books by Ruth Reid.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1464313791000, "title": "my favorite Amish book reviewer" }, { "asin": "1530040396", "rating": 4, "text": "My Father's House by Rose Chandler Johnson is about Lily Rose Cates, who has the perfect childhood that includes a fantastic relationship with her father. Her father adored her and she loved him so much. Lily's father unexpectedly passes away when Lily is sixteen and it leaves her to emotionally flounder throughout the rest of high school and into college.<br /><br />As Lily heads off to college, she sees her friends marrying off or falling in love. On a trip to New York City to meet up with her best friend, Lily meets Manuel Valenti. He seems charming and sophisticated and Lily is captivated by his attention. He sweeps her off her feet and promises her the world. She falls into a whirlwind romance and totally falls for him even though there are signals - warning signs - she fails (or chooses) to recognize. Even her wise Annie Ruth feels that Manny Lily brings him home to meet her family.<br /><br />Lily moves forward with marriage, but not surprisingly, soon afterward their marriage begins to fall apart. Her husband is a dark, abusive man and Lily soon realizes that she must make the hard choice of leaving Manny - of running from her husband - or possibly risk even more than the marriage. Once Lily gets away from her horrible marriage, Lily starts to take the necessary steps of healing her heart from her past and from her marriage so that she can move forward. We readers standby (and read on) as Lily slowly begins the process of healing and returning to her father's house.<br /><br />I felt that this story was written to remind us all that there is always hope, even in our darkest hours and our deepest pain. I loved Ms. Johnson's writing and this is one of those books you can definitely get caught up in, and if you're anything like me, you'll read it cover to cover in one sitting. (Pray that I make it through work tomorrow without falling asleep!!)<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1466009767000, "title": "who has the perfect childhood that includes a fantastic relationship with her father" }, { "asin": "0764212818", "rating": 5, "text": "Being part of the Bethany House Blogger Review Program, I get to read some very interesting books that I wouldn't necessarily have the opportunity to read. Sometimes I'm provided with books to read from authors I've never heard of, even though they are very popular in the literary world. Today's book, No Other Will Do, by Karen Witemeyer and this book falls into that category. Those of you who follow me regularly know that my mom loves Amish books. She also loves Western books and when I read her the back cover of this book over the phone, she jumped at the chance to read it and report in. Here's my mom's review:<br /><br />&#34;The setting for this story takes place in the old historical west. This Christian romance has it all - humor, action, murder, mystery and the suspense of a 'who done it'. No Other Will Do is very well written and has you hanging on every word to find out what is going to happen next. I truly enjoyed reading this novel in one day and did not put it down until the end,<br /><br />Emma Chandler and her suffragette aunts were strong, free spirited independent women who started a successful women’s colony in Harper’s Station, Texas to help women in need to make a fresh start with their lives. Unfortunately, there is someone who repeatedly wants to drive all the ladies out of colony. If only Emma knew what this dangerous crook wanted. She is forced to admit they might need a man to help and there is only one man that she really trusts to do the job.<br /><br />Malachi Shaw has known Emma since they were young. She saved his life when he was hiding out in her auntie’s barn after fighting in the streets and is cold, hungry, and no home. She ask her aunt if she could keep him. Now Malachi has earned respect by working on the railroad as an explosive expert. When he received Emma’s telegraph asking for his help, he left immediately to go to her keep a childhood promise be had made and try somehow to repay her for saving his life.<br /><br />The danger at the women’s colony continues and the threats are getting stronger and more dangerous. Should the women leave the colony for their safety? Should they stay and fight with Malachi help to catch the outlaws?&#34;<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the Bethany House Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1466987226000, "title": "I truly enjoyed reading this novel in one day and did not ..." }, { "asin": "1617956120", "rating": 4, "text": "My Mother's Quilts: Devotions on Love, Legacy, Family and Faith by Ramona Richards is an awesome devotional. While this book has lots of pictures of some beautiful quilts, it is way more than a quilt picture book. Each devotional itself shares the story of each individual quilt. It includes a sentence or two of a prayer starter, and then a Bible verse.<br /><br />While this is a book you will want to read in its entirety like I did, you will want to keep it close to you so that when you are reading your daily devotionals you can include this book as a devotional guide as well.<br /><br />As a baby, I received a quilt from my grandfather who passed before I was born. Every Christmas my mom would bring that quilt out and we would enjoy its beauty during the Christmas season, and then she would pack it up again until next year. When I found that exact quilt in this book, my heart swelled with such fond memories of that quilt!<br /><br />I received a copy of this devotional book without cost in exchange for this post from FlyByPromotions! Thank you FlyBy!!", "timestamp": 1466988793000, "title": "Devotions on Love, Legacy" }, { "asin": "1434708381", "rating": 4, "text": "Jilted is the third book in the Mended Hearts series, but can serve as a stand alone book on its own. I did not read the two prior books Jaded and Justified, and I feel that if I had read the first two it would have added to my enjoyment of Jilted.<br /><br />The story in Jilted takes place in a quiet small town of Trapp, Texas. As in most small towns, gossip and news spreads quickly. The memorable characters in this story are Lynda Turner and Clyde Felton. Lynda is doubtful that love and happiness will ever be hers until Clyde an old friend and an ex-convict shows interest in her and hope awakens. Lynda’s husband left her and young daughter Ruthie behind fifteen years ago.<br /><br />Lynda, struggling with depression, had withdrawn from the community and Clyde had to adjust when returning after time in prison to Trapp and face the community he left behind. Because these characters are older and had already missed so much of their lives, I wanted to help them Mrs. Denman told and wrote this story so well that you felt part of this little town and a friend to Lynda and Clyde.<br /><br />Lynda Turner has struggled with depression since her husband abandoned her and their young daughter fifteen years ago. Yet unexpected hope awakens when a local ex-convict shows interest. As long-hidden secrets resurface, Lynda must fight for her emotional stability and for a life where the shadow of shame is replaced by the light of love.<br /><br />Jilted tells of a woman who has lost the joy of living, a man determined to draw her back toward happiness, and a town that must---once and for all---leave the past where it belongs. It is a gentle reminder that all things can work together for good.<br /><br />As secrets which had been hidden for years comes out again Lynda must fight to keep her emotions stable, getting out of living in shame, and receive the love that her old friend Clyde is offering. This final secret is shocking.<br /><br />At the end of this book all ends are neatly tied up and I am sorry that my visit to Trapp, Texas has finished and I will miss Lynda and Clyde and all the others. I really enjoyed reading Jilted, and look forward to reading Jaded and Justified soon!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1467159685000, "title": "and I feel that if I had read the first two it would have added to my enjoyment of Jilted" }, { "asin": "0736966234", "rating": 5, "text": "Here's what I say: Before I can even talk about this book, I have to talk about the Bible verse on the front - one of my favorites! &#34;For I know the plansI have for you,&#34; declares the LORD, &#34;plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.&#34; Jeremiah 29:11.<br /><br />I knew it was going to be a great book just because of that in itself, and I wasn't wrong at all! First I will say this isn't the only book I've read of Dana Mentink's! She really knows how to write some pretty cool pups in her stories and I really enjoyed it in the other book I read. Funny stuff here! I read this book at my desk at work because (1) it was a smaller book and easy to carry; and (2) because I just couldn't wait to read it!<br /><br />Stephanie Pink - yes, her last name is Pink - don't you love it? Anyway, Stephanie Pink is the heroine of this book, and she's hooked on books - kind of like yours truly. She can't seem to go any period of time without reading a book or she gets anxious. She's an aspiring literary agent and had been dreaming of it since she read a book by Agnes Wharton as a kid. She is sent by her boss to pick up a manuscript by none other than Agnes Wharton - one that they'd been waiting for over 15 years. Tragically, when she meets Agnes, her dog, Sweetness, takes off and the story begins!<br /><br />At the same time, Stephanie is also like most girls and is in search of her &#34;happily ever after&#34;. Enter Rhett Hastings, a retired CEO, who stepped down from his job to take care of his sister after a bad accident where she suffered brain trauma. Before her accident, Rhett had treated her pretty bad and she had disowned him but of course, with the injury she doesn't recall that fact. Rhett feels that God is telling him to return to the orchard in Oregon where they had grown up. Of course, on his way there, he bumps into none other than Stephanie Pink.<br /><br />This is where the &#34;happily ever after &#34; may or may not kick in (no spoilers here). Rhett rescues Stephanie and Sweetness and even helps her get the dog to Washington! Both Rhett and Stephanie find themselves on a crazy journey that will definitely change their lives. And just like the author reveals at the beginning of the book, God has a plan for them (Jeremiah 29:11). Of course, they soon find out His plan isn't anything like their individual plans and His is way better! .<br /><br />I give this sweet little book 5 stars out of 5 for style of writing, flow of the storyline, the depth of the characters, and of course the hilarious dog!! I see Dana Mentink has the next book in the Love Unleashed series out in February of 2017, and I will be looking out for that book as well!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1471365525000, "title": "I give this sweet little book 5 stars out of 5" }, { "asin": "1501820079", "rating": 4, "text": "I always love books about dogs, and Service Tails: More Stories of Man's Best Hero by Ace Collins is no exception! Service Tails is a wonderful collection of great true stories that share both the love and loyalty of the owner and their dog, but also provide insight and inspiration.<br /><br />We learn about their extensive training and incredible service working together to provide owners with more self confidence with the assistance of their service dog. These dogs help create permanent and forever bonds with their owners that goes beyond their service, and provides readers with that &#34;heart connection&#34; by sharing their stories.<br /><br />Service Tails shares twelve stories of dogs who provide the commitment of duty and service to their owners, some saving lives and some providing an independent lifestyle to those unable to do so without the help of their service dog. The best part of these stories is the way it shares how owners and their dogs seem to become one as they work together to make life more enjoyable.<br /><br />If you are a dog owner and lover, then I recommend this book to you. This is one of those books to keep on your shelf so you can read again in the future. Service Tails would also make a fantastic gift for any dog lover in your life!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1472431817000, "title": "I always love books about dogs" }, { "asin": "0310339863", "rating": 4, "text": "The Saddle Maker’s Son is the third book in The Amish of Bee County series. I did not read the first two, but enjoyed this one as a stand alone. (I will admit, though, I think I would love to read books #1 and #2 just to see what I missed.)<br /><br />This is a romantic story of Rebekah Lantz, who lives in a small Amish community in Bee County Texas. She feels like her family does not trust her since her sister Leila left the Amish faith to marry Jesse Glick.<br /><br />Tobias Byler is an Amish man who has recently moved to Bee County along with his father, Levi and his nine siblings. As Levi is opening his new shop of making saddles and training horses he has an accident and the children are left to take care of themselves while he is in the hospital.<br /><br />Rebekah works as an assistant school teacher and has discovered two dirty and hungry runaway children The children hiding in the shed outside of the schoolhouse traveled across the border from El Salvador. It is discovered that the children traveled alone and were sent by their grandmother from El Salvador to Texas to hunt out their father, who is living in San Antonio.<br /><br />Rebekah also meets Tobias Byler and his father, Levi who brings the younger children to school. Will Rebekah turn Guadulupe (&#34;Lupe&#34;) and Diego over to the proper authorities? Will this small Amish community open their hearts and arms to these runaway children? It was interesting to read how illegal children immigrants are handled.<br /><br />There is attraction and friction between Rebekah and Tobias as they worked to help the children find their father. Does Tobias have feelings for Rebekah and cannot show it? There is also another romance going on with Rebekah’s aunt and Tobias’s father. This story has all the things that makes a wonderful love story and reminds us that God wants us to help each other.<br /><br />The Saddle Maker's Son is very well written story and I could not put it down until the last page. It was a beautiful story and one that I will remember.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1472434475000, "title": "but enjoyed this one as a stand alone" }, { "asin": "0310345391", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the first book in Shelley Shepard Gray’s &#34;Lone Star Hero&#34; series, I loved reading some of her other books such as the Whispers in the Reading Room.<br /><br />The Loyal Heart story takes place in the late 1800s in Galveston Texas right after the civil war ended, and its a story about Miranda Markham who is a war widow and is facing many troubles in Galveston. She lost her husband that she dearly loved and now has become an outcast in her hometown because someone is spreading rumors that her husband was a traitor.<br /><br />Phillip Markham, Lt. Truax, Caption Monroe, and Major Kelly were prisoners in a POW camp. This group of Confederate soldiers, who had been prisoners by the Union army, promised to take care of each other and their families after the war.<br /><br />Phillip Markham past away right before the war ended. He always spoke of the love that he and his wife Miranda shared. Robert Truax was sent to see how Miranda was doing to fulfill the promise that was made to Markham.<br /><br />Who is responsible making the town turn against Miranda and how are the rumors spreading that Phillip Markham was a traitor? Robert was the problem solver will he be able to take care of this?<br /><br />The Loyal Heart is a historical fiction book and provides for the reader a great mixture of mystery, suspense, action, history of the post-Civil war in the south, and a light romance. Shelley is a great storyteller and I enjoyed this book very much. Looking forward to reading more in this series.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own - well, they are my mother's and for that, I am responsible.", "timestamp": 1473218990000, "title": "I loved reading some of her other books such as the ..." }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "I will admit it - I get so excited every single time I see that Rachel Hauck has another book out. It ranks right up there with having a day off work - my day job, that is. I really think that if there was anyone I could ever point out and say &#34;yes, that woman follows God's calling for her&#34;, it would be Rachel Hauck. That being said, today's post is about Rachel Hauck's latest release, The Wedding Shop. The Wedding Shop is the third book in the &#34;wedding&#34; series, the others being The Wedding Chapel and the other,<br /><br />The Wedding Shop's setting is Heart's Bend, Tennessee, and this story is about a young woman named Haley Morgan who us home from the Air Force. She decides she will take over the town's old wedding shop that's been in the town for over 90 years. The building was run down and in need of many repairs, but Haley had a vision of what it once was. Even though it's been closed for so many years, Haley has a strong feeling that the place must be reopened.<br /><br />The storyline of The Wedding Shop goes back and forth between the 1930s through the 1950s and then the present day. While this book could be a &#34;stand alone&#34;, it is my understanding that some of the characters in this book were also included in Rachel's previous books.<br /><br />The entire book is awesome. Ms. Hauck draws readers in as she alternates the story between modern day Haley and past wedding shop owner Cora. Ms. Hauck has the fantastic ability to transport her readers back in time and make them actually feel like they are there. It was great to see the different perspectives of the characters and how their stories develop while moving between the two time periods. The message I received from this book was that we need to trust in God and do His will and he will provide.<br /><br />I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publisher, and I received a digital copy from NetGalley, both without cost, but in exchange for my opinion.", "timestamp": 1473984027000, "title": "The entire book is awesome." }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 4, "text": "I had never heard of Robert Whitlow before, but the man has written plenty of books. The cover of this book drew me in - sort of resembled a John Grisham book or something - and it made me curious. Another drawing factor to this book was the fact that it was a Christian suspense novel with a legal emphasis. Having worked in the legal field for over 30 years, I'm always interested in that category. Sprinkle it with a little suspense, and you've got me interested.<br /><br />The Witnesses follows young lawyer, Parker House as he begins working in a small North Carolina law firm. His job doesn't pay as much as his friends but he finds satisfaction in what he is learning and achieving as he learns the ropes of a law office and of his town. At the same time, Parker realizes that he is somehow able to see the future.<br /><br />While Parker uses his gift in the legal field, his grandfather, Frank (born Franz Haus), was forced to use the gift during World War II. This fact in itself results in the story going back and forth between these two time periods throughout the book.<br /><br />Parker's gift is starting to become obvious to others, which begins to make him more interesting to a more prestigious law firm. As he struggles with his career decisions and decisions surrounding a new romance, his grandfather is experiencing deep regret for his actions in WWII.<br /><br />The theme of The Witnesses seems to be how people can use (or misuse) God's gifts. While both Parker and his grandfather, Frank are good people, sometimes the use of their gift for evil is too tempting to hold back. Throughout the story, readers will see both of these men struggling with the use of their gift in a responsible manner and whether they will follow the Lord or not follow the Lord.<br /><br />This book would inspire anyone who is wavering about seeking forgiveness and making life changing decisions. If you have never read any of Robert Whitlow's other books, I'd suggest you start here like I did. The Witnesses is a book that seems to cross over those defined genre lines that include law, family, romance, friendship, mystery, suspense and even a little thriller.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1475082812000, "title": "Frank are good people, sometimes the use of their gift for ..." }, { "asin": "0800726413", "rating": 4, "text": "The storyline of When Love Arrives by Johnnie Alexander takes place in a town named Misty Willows. This book is the second in the Misty Willows series, and I had not yet read Where She Belongs, which is the first book, but based on some of the reviews I read, it would have been helpful to know the characters a little better before reading this book. Given the time, I would probably gone back and read Where She Belongs first.<br /><br />Dani Prescott lost her mother in a plane crash. It's the same plane crash that killed Brett Somers' parents. Why is that important? Because Brett is publicly blaming Dani's mother for the crash and ruining her reputation. Dani is hurt and wants to clear her mother's name so she sets out to get revenge against Brett. The story is told in alternating chapters from Brett and Dani's point of view. It's interesting reading this story from Brett's perspective.<br /><br />Brett is a handsome and rich &#34;ladies' man&#34; who is egotistical and pursues younger, blond, long-legged women. Dani accidently meets Brett in the parking lot of the hospital and he pursues her despite the fact that she doesn't meet his standard criteria. Unbeknownst to Brett, Dani is actually seeking revenge. Brett and Dani soon realize they have so many things in common and Dani starts to feel guilty about her original plan to bring Brett down.<br /><br />As Dani and Brett develop their friendship, readers get the sense of the changes Brett is making in his life, and his true desire to become a better person due to the fact that he has learned he has a son.<br /><br />Dani gets help from Brett and his family and her luck begins to change when she secures a new job and a new home surrounded by a great family. As we all know, a relationship built on lies is sure to fail, and Dani's secret plans come to light. These two have a lot to work out and it well worth reading to see where it does.<br /><br />The story is hard to put down and I loved seeing the changes in both of them. I felt that the author did a great job providing a very believable drama that included faith issues that readers will be able to identify with. Seeing how the characters had to reach the &#34;rock bottom&#34; in their lives before they were able to reach out for help from God proved to be a real struggle in the lives of so many people today. The author certainly has a gift for bringing a story to life and making the reader feel like they are right in the midst of it.<br /><br />The great news is that coming in Summer of 2017 there will be another book to this series - the third - and at the end of this book there was a little &#34;teaser&#34; for anyone interested. I hope I make time to go back and read the first book so that by the time the third is released I'll be up to speed on everyone's backgrounds!<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book from Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group for my honest review and was not required to give a positive review.", "timestamp": 1475092642000, "title": "The storyline of When Love Arrives by Johnnie Alexander takes place in a town ..." }, { "asin": "0718077911", "rating": 5, "text": "I had heard of Katherine Reay only after I had the opportunity to read her book, The Brontë Plot, back in February of this year. Because I thought that book was so great, when I heard about this book, A Portrait of Emily Price, I couldn't wait. Unfortunately, I have to say that when it arrived, I was already in the middle of another blog tour so this was placed on the back burner for a while. The book was released on November 1 of this year, so it's still a really new book so everyone can find their copies easily! I know you'll want to get your copy too, because A Portrait of Emily Price is a book full of awesomeness.<br /><br />The protagonist, Emily Price is an art restorer who dreams of becoming an original artist someday. She travels to Atlanta to restore a mural in a home damaged by fire. That’s where she meets Chef Benito &#34;Ben&#34; Vassallo, who is visiting Atlanta to reconnect with his brother and breathe new life into his aunt and uncle’s restaurant, Piccolo. Emily begins a &#34;whirlwind romance&#34; with Ben and falls in love with him while she works with him to improve the appearance of Piccolo. In a shocking move, she accepts Ben's marriage proposal, marries him and and follows him to Italy. Once arriving in Italy, Emily is enchanted with the country, but because of Emily’s need to “fix” what she thinks is broken things get complicated when she meets her new Italian family.<br /><br />The author does an excellent job of showing the relationship problems in families. I also think Katherine did a lovely job of describing Italy and, well &#34;painting a picture&#34; of the scenery for readers so descriptive that we feel a part of the story, especially in the driving scenes where we see hills and small towns, narrow driving lanes and arches that feel too small for the car to fit through. Breathtaking, for sure.<br /><br />If you're anything like me and you love romance stories that are realistic and don't fall under the fairytale-type of “happily ever after” story, A Portrait of Emily Price is definitely a book you'll want to read too!<br /><br />I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion and review. Thanks so much!", "timestamp": 1480539830000, "title": "Because I thought that book was so great, when I heard about this book" }, { "asin": "1401690300", "rating": 5, "text": "As part of the The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader program, I received a copy of Colleen Coble's new book, Twilight at Blueberry Barrens, which was a great read set on the beautiful coast of Folly Shoals, Maine. I'm getting ahead of myself here, but let me tell you the book had fantastic descriptions of the scenery and the characters were well written. The story itself included suspense, murders, romance, a wedding, an escaped prisoner, a hire for murder guy and even a crazy stalker. All of these stories within the book have us guessing and all were very nicely interwoven throughout the book. What more could you ask for in a story?<br /><br />Now that I put the cart in front of the horse, let me tell you a little more about the story: This is the third book in the Sunset Cove series and is connected to the first title, The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, because this book is about Kate Mason, who is Claire Dellamare’s twin sister. This book frequently refers back to the storyline in The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, so it would probably be helpful if you read the first book in the series to understand this one a little better. In all honesty, when I was reading the first book, The Inn at Ocean's Edge, I really wasn't a fan of the character, Claire, but in this book the author redeemed her character and made her someone more relatable to readers. It was also enjoyable learning more about Kate in this book.<br /><br />After successfully battling a life threatening illness, Kate Mason is restarting her life, while at the same time, she is confronted with a faceless enemy who could possibly be someone she knows well. She's in a difficult financial place so when she rents out a cottage for the summer plus she's given the opportunity to nanny a summer guest's young nieces, things might be looking better for Kate. The rental tenant is Drake Newham, who is a handsome and successful entrepreneur from Boston and is protecting his brother's two daughters. Drake has come to Maine in order to investigate his brother and sister-in-law's brutal deaths and it that his brother could have been killed because of his legal actions against a dangerous international crime leader, but Drake is discovering that Heath and Melissa's marriage was unstable, which makes local officials convinced theirs was a case of murder-suicide.<br /><br />Because I don't write spoilers, I can't tell you much more about this book other than to suggest that you buy the book for yourself and dig right in! The characters are likeable, the scenery fantastic and the tale very interesting. If you've read any of Colleen Coble's other books in other series, be warned that some of the other characters from other series make appearances in this book too, which is something I really enjoyed.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1481662354000, "title": "which was a great read set on the beautiful coast of Folly Shoals" }, { "asin": "0718083105", "rating": 4, "text": "&#34;This is a very intense read. The author writes in Afrikaans. Child of the River is the second book written by Irma Joubert that has been translated into English. The first was The Girl from the Train that I have not read. Both of her books are written in the same time period and the location of South Africa. You learn a lot of history when you read this book such as what was going on in Europe during WWII, history during the mid-1950 in South Africa with apartheid and segregation.<br /><br />This is a story about Persomis, the daughter of a sharecropper who comes from a dysfunctional home life. Her father is a drunk and beats his wife and children. Social workers step in and takes the younger siblings and send Persomis to a boarding school where her brother Gerbrand is attending. She works hard, made excellent grades and was allowed to attend the university where she earns a law degree.<br /><br />Irma Joubert weaves three story lines so well. First was Persomi growing up living dirt poor on the Fourie’s farm. Second, the apartheid laws and how they were applied to the families, and third, the love story between Persomi and Boelie.<br /><br />This is a well-written and very inspiring story. I loved the character Persomis especially her passion as she fought for the rights of minorities and the romance between Persomis and Boelie.<br /><br /> I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1481860451000, "title": "made excellent grades and was allowed to attend the university where ..." }, { "asin": "0718086422", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm sure I've said it before, but as part of the Fiction Guild Elite Reader program, I'm often given some pretty amazing books to read and share with my readers. Today's book is no different! It's one of those books I wouldn't have gone out and bought for myself because I wouldn't have known what I was missing!<br /><br />Of Stillness and Storm by Michèle Phoenix is about a missionary family living in Nepal. The story itself is told in two parts - it begins with Lauren, the narrator and wife of Sam, and her 13-year old son, Ryan, living with intermittent power in their home near Kathmandu. Sam leaves for weeks at a time to trek into remote tribes, while leaving Lauren and Sam alone. Lauren is finding ways to cope with the struggle, but Ryan starts feeling the effect of the struggling family.<br /><br />Lauren gets back in touch with a childhood friend who seems to remind her to fight for her son, as well as the woman and writer she used to be. I loved that Lauren seemed very human to readers. Her struggle is familiar to many Christians and while her story is fictional, it is very relatable. Lauren is able to discover that out of darkness and loss emerges a &#34;relentless, demanding, trustworthy, benevolent, and healing God.&#34;<br /><br />I saw a reviewer share a quote from a conversation Lauren has with Sam and I loved it:<br /><br />&#34;I tend to think that who we become because of our faith is more important than what we do to prove it.&#34;<br /><br />Of Stillness and Storm is a story that continues to linger long after its reading. The story is filled with relationships, both spiritual and physical, and it is such a well written book. With rawness and honesty, it plumbs the depths of commitment to family and God. The story is a fascinating view of the missionary life and the benefits and potential pitfalls that can result. This book is one of the most powerful works of fiction I've read in a while and I highly recommend it to others.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in this post are my own.", "timestamp": 1486694103000, "title": "\"I tend to think that who we become because of our faith is more important than what we do to prove it.\"" }, { "asin": "0718090225", "rating": 4, "text": "I received the book, The Angels' Share by James Markert because I'm a Fiction Guild Elite Reader book review blogger. It wouldn't be my normal book genre if I were out shopping for a book, but nonetheless, it was worth a read.<br /><br />The Angels' Share is a historical novel that is true to the times of the Prohibition and the Depression. William &#34;Willie&#34; McFee grew up in Twisted Tree, Kentucky. The McFee family is pretty well off financially even though the town itself is suffering the effects of the McFee family bourbon distillery being shut down by Prohibition. Willie's father, Barley doesn't seem to have any intent on reopening the distillery even though Willie is encouraging him to do so in order to achieve his dream of becoming a distiller as his grandfather had planned.<br /><br />Then a drifter named Asher Keating shows up and he seems to be able to fix people's problems. He dies and is buried in the Potter's Field near the McFee distillery. Gossip begins to circulate about Asher performing miracles. Asher's grave starts getting lots of visitors who are praying at the site, and some strange things begin to happen it the town. Willie starts to investigate the situation and he discovers facts about what his father did during the Prohibition and things about the death of his younger brother. Willie begins to write stories about what he is uncovering and gets them published in a Louisville newspaper, causing all kinds of things to happen.<br /><br />The characters in the book are well developed. The story is full of mystery and unanswered questions. The townspeople are representative of people caught in a difficult situation they cannot control. There are a lot of subplots in this storyline and they will definitely keep readers engrossed in this story.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in this post are my own.", "timestamp": 1489363184000, "title": "The McFee family is pretty well off financially even though the town itself is ..." }, { "asin": "006246910X", "rating": 5, "text": "I find that if the book is written by Shelley Shepard Gray I will enjoy reading it and Her Secret the first book in a new series The Amish of Hart County was no exception. An Amish love story with suspense throughout the book. The main characters Hannah and Isaac are so real that you feel part of their families.<br /><br />The story starts with Hannah Hilty and her family living in Berlin, Ohio in a big house that was comfortable and their family’s legacy. Hannah had been friends with an English man named Trent during her rumspringa. He had pursued her for the last two years and was now following her around and taking pictures of her. Hannah lives her life in fear of this stalker. She quits her job and stays home, only going out with her parents.<br /><br />The family moves from Berlin, Ohio to Munfordville, Kentucky to escape this dangerous man and to give Hannah a new start. Her brother, Ben, and sister, Jenny, blamed Hannah they had to leave their jobs and friends behind. Jenny played a big part in this story and caused Hannah more problems to handle. There are other underlying family secrets that made the family move. Hannah meets her neighbor Isaac Troyer and becomes friends with him. Trent followed the family to Kentucky and became bolder with his activities.<br /><br />I picked this book up and did not put it down until I read the last page. I am so looking forward to the next one in the series, His Guilt, that came out on July 4th, and then there will be two more to follow. I am so recommending this book to my friends!", "timestamp": 1499649149610, "title": "... book is written by Shelley Shepard Gray I will enjoy reading it and Her Secret the first book in ..." }, { "asin": "0718083784", "rating": 5, "text": "I'm a blogger with the Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, and I am very fortunate to be able to receive a lot of books that my mother and I love to read. Today's book, Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks was a first for me. I had never heard of Ms. Parks, and unfortunately, I didn't realize this was book 4 in a series. Nonetheless, to this reader, it wasn't an issue. I'm guessing that there was a plot carried throughout the other books that I may have missed, but I was able to read this book as a stand alone without feeling like I missed anything. In all likelihood, had I read books 1, 2 and 3, I would have had a more panoramic view of the story line.<br /><br />Gwen Marcey is a single mother of a teenage daughter and a cancer survivor, whose ex-husband is threatening to take their daughter away from her. While on a probationary period with her new job as a forensic artist with the Interagency Major Crime Unit (IMCU), Gwen learns about a case of a missing four-year old girl after the murder of her parents in Lapwai, Idaho.<br /><br />The Nez Perce Tribal Police in Lapwai, Idaho are looking for the killer. Because the case took place where she lived when she was little and sounded similar to her own background, Gwen requests being assigned to the case.<br /><br />This assignment causes Gwen to step right into a trap to bring her &#34;home&#34; and to a man who was hurt by her so many years ago. Gwen is in a situation that only God can get her out of. We readers watch as Gwen pieces together her past and present so that she can determine exactly who she really is.<br /><br />The journey to the truth proves to be a very hefty struggle as Gwen finds that many of the witnesses she relies on for information also have strong prejudices against Caucasian people. It takes little time for Gwen to see that she will need to tread very lightly while she's working with the descendants of people involved in these painful moments within Native history.<br /><br />As Gwen works this case, she begins having flashback memories from her own childhood. She begins to think that maybe what happened in her own past could be linked to what is going on in the case she is investigating. Gwen enlists the help of her best friend, Beth, and what they uncover leads them to believe the killer is someone Gwen knows and the killer seems to want Gwen to find out his or her true identity. As Gwen gets closer to the truth, more attempts on her life are made but she refuses to give up. Will her refusal end up costing Gwen her life?<br /><br />In a very spectacular fashion, author Carrie Stuart Parks has written the perfect example of a crime novel with complicated characters mixed with intrigue and suspense. Bravo Ms. Parks! I can't wait to go back and read books 1, 2 and 3 to fill in any blanks I don't even know I have!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1511743487851, "title": "and I am very fortunate to be able to receive a lot of books ..." }, { "asin": "0718082567", "rating": 4, "text": "Words from the Heart is the third book in the Amish Letters series by Kathleen Fuller. While this is the third book, each one can be read as a standalone. I loved the way the author updates readers on what happens to the people from the first two books<br /><br />This is a sweet love story with three main characters: Noah, Ivy, and Noah’s Aunt Cervilla (who was my mother's favorite character). This story begins with Ivy a young unmarried Amish woman so disappointed, feeling hurt and rejected as she is waiting over a year for promised letters from John King that never comes to finding old love letters when Ivy helped Noah clean out Aunt Cervilla’s attic which brought Noah and Ivy closer together in friendship.<br /><br />Ivy Yoder is hurting over her jilted love and is afraid that she will never find a husband in her community of Birch Creek, Ohio. Noah Schlabach is the great-nephew of Ivy’s elderly friend Cevilla Shalaback. He is an auctioneer from Iowa. Cevilla insists the two work together cleaning out her attic. She knows that Noah and Ivy are meant for each other.<br /><br />Not knowing what treasure are in the many boxes they sort through them slowly finding many doilies and old magazines, but in one of the boxes they found a packet of old letters written during the Korean War. The love letters are the story of two people (Bunny and CJ) who are in love.<br /><br />While working together and becoming good friends, Ivy has feelings for Noah, but afraid of getting hurt again. Noah is happy traveling as an auctioneer but knows something is missing in his life. Can Ivy get over the fear from her past to move forward and find love with Noah? Will Noah feel good enough for Ivy and stop his traveling? Does he want to live in her beloved community of Birch Creek?<br /><br />I truly enjoyed reading this book as I love anything written by Kathleen Fuller.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own, or in this case, my mom's.", "timestamp": 1525391757114, "title": "I loved the way the author updates readers on what happens ..." }, { "asin": "0310348080", "rating": 4, "text": "You will enjoy Beneath the Summer Sun without reading the first book, as it does serve as a stand alone. The three complex main characters are Jennie Troyer, Leo Graber, and Nathan Walker. All are facing problems of letting go of their past so that they can move forward with their lives.<br /><br />Jennie carries a secret about her husband, Atlee. The Amish do not divorce as they marry for life, so she told no one about her husband’s mental and physical abuse. Jennie’s husband died from a farming accident four years ago and left her with 7 children to raise on her own under the eyes of the church leaders.<br /><br />Jennie's son, Matthew was ten years old when Atlee died. He knew of the abuse his mother suffered at the hands of his father, and many times he was taken to the shed by his father for beatings. In truth, both Jennie and her son were relieved that Atlee had died. The Community knew something was wrong in her marriage, but not what it was. Jennie was a very likeable person and many had sympathy for her.<br /><br />When Jennie began getting used to life without a husband, two different men took interest in her, and Jennie knew that it was time to remarry. Matthew started sneaking out at night and became moody and rude, but he refused to tell Jennie what was bothering him. <br /><br />Both men who profess to love Jennie had good hearts. First, there is Jennie's childhood friend Amish, Leo Graber, who had been in love with Jennie from the time they were young and attending the same church. He felt so guilty over his father’s death that it prevented him from any social activities. He worked alone building furniture and did not have a happy life.<br /><br />Next, there was Mennonite, Nathan Walker, who was a traveling salesman unable to settle down in one place because he resented that his parents left him behind with relatives while they did mission work in other countries. He was seriously thinking of becoming Amish to be with Jennie. He wanted to settle down with Jennie in her hometown of Jamesport, Missouri.<br /><br />Will Jennie, Leo, Nathan, and Matthew be able to put the past behind them? Who will Jennie choose to love and care for her children? Will she able to trust another man? Atlee was sweet until they spoke their vows, can she believe the sweet words of either man? Three hearts try to discern God’s plan for the future—and find peace beneath the summer sun.<br /><br />Domestic abuse is addressed in this story with showing that faith, trust, forgiveness of yourself, and through the power of prayer we are able to overcome our past and move forward to a healthy, happy life. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time. Thank you Kelly Irvin for a wonderful story and I am looking forward to reading the third book in An Every Amish Season series, which is due out in August of this year, entitled Through the Autumn Air.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own, or in this case, my mom's.", "timestamp": 1525394120890, "title": "You will enjoy Beneath the Summer Sun without reading the first book" }, { "asin": "0718085973", "rating": 4, "text": "Thanks to my relationship with The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, I am very fortunate to receive and review books from various authors -- some I've heard of and some I have not. Today's post is about an author I've heard of, but I've never had an opportunity to read any of her books until now.<br /><br />As soon as I opened the book, You're Gonna Love Me by Robin Lee Hatcher, I was slightly disappointed to realize that this book was book is the sequel to Ms. Hatcher's previous book, You’ll Think of Me, but now that I've read it I can tell you that it can easily be read as a standalone.<br /><br />Samantha Winters returns to Thunder Creek, Idaho to care for her grandmother, Ruth. When she arrives at Ruth's hospital room, she can't even believe that Nick Chastain in there. She hasn't seen him for two years - ever since they broke up after dating for eight months. Because Nick was a daredevil and took too many risks with his life, and because Samantha's fears of his actions were too much to bear, they ended their relationship with harsh words and silence.<br /><br />Now Nick is there and he's recovering from an awful head injury that is causing him to suffer from memory loss and other side effects. Nick has returned to Thunder Creek to have a fresh start at life. Of course, when he sees Sam again, he's hopeful but not sure he deserves a second chance.<br />Sam and Nick's story slowly unfolds throughout You're Gonna Love Me. The author provides small flashbacks of their previous relationship so that readers understand the depth of the past hurts and fears each of them has entering into the reconnection of their relationship. It explains why both Sam and Nick are cautious this time - Sam isn't sure she can trust Nick again and Nick isn't sure of the future of his health and how fair it would be.<br /><br />As Nick and Sam reconnect, they face their fears head on while they both learn to accept each other and trust God. While Sam is trying to overcome her fears, Nick is reaching out to God trying to figure out which way his life is going. I loved how Sam's grandmother, Ruth provided them with some guidance and love in rebuilding their relationship back to friendship and ultimately love.<br />Ruth and her friends were be secondary characters in this book, but their support to the main characters was truly pivotal to the overall story. The author does a great job taking readers through all of the deep emotions and personal relationship issues in Sam and Nick's lives. Readers will be able to identify and relate to the life situations and though processes that this couple must go through in their story. The characters are realistic, the story line moves well, and it's an overall great romance!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1535589599249, "title": "The characters are realistic, the story line moves well, and it's an overall great romance!" }, { "asin": "0062469215", "rating": 4, "text": "Today's post is a book review on Her Fear by Shelley Shepard Gray. This is the fifth book in The Amish of Hart County series, and since we've been on board with this series since March of 2017, it was great to be included in this book too!<br /><br />First in the series was Her Secret released in March of 2017. The second book in the series was His Guilt in released in July of 2017, and the third book was The Gift released in November of 2017. The fourth book in the series was His Risk, which was released in March of 2018.<br /><br />Thank you Shelley Shepard Gray! While I have completely enjoyed this series, I have to say I really liked the fact that this one was not your average Amish book. While Her Fear can be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading the entire series.<br /><br />While Her Fear provides the traditional things we have come to love in an Amish story like romance and mystery, but it also included topics we usually don't see in Amish fiction novels. To be honest, Her Fear reminds us that Amish folks are just like English folks - they are not perfect people, and no one is perfect except God.<br /><br />Her Fear centers around Sadie Detweiler who becomes pregnant and is faced with an unexpected response to that pregnancy. As a result, her family sends her away to distant and extended family of a different sect of the Amish community. When she arrives, she learns that this family does many things so differently than her family.<br /><br />When Sadie arrives, the matriarch of the family, Verba, becomes mysteriously ill and later dies. An EMT that comes to the scene notices Sadie standing alone and quiet. Noah Freeman is that EMT and over time, Sadie grows attracted to him. Noah is an Amish EMT and I was a little surprised at this, so I looked it up and found out that the Amish do work as EMTs, firefighters and first responders. Anyway, Noah is different than all of the other Amish men Sadie has met; she's comfortable with him and she finds herself really liking him. The only thing holding Sadie back from being honest with her feelings is the fact that she is pregnant and she's not sure how Noah will react when he finds out.<br /><br />Verba later dies at the hospital and then two others die suspiciously, so Noah's boss wants him to dig around the Amish community for clues. He finds himself attracted to Sadie, and he sees her as vulnerable and fearful. Noah wants to help Sadie and wants to be there for her as he senses something going on in the house that Sadie is living in. Noah can’t help himself from thinking about Sadie, so he finds reasons just to check up on her.<br /><br />This book was such a super great read. Shelley Shepard Gray's writing is phenomenal (as always) and with the plot twists and turns, reading the book from cover to cover was very easy to do. Whether you've read the other books in the series or whether this would be your first, I definitely recommend Her Fear, and I can't wait for October, when His Promise is released!<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Collins Publishing and Thomas Nelson, in exchange for this post. A positive review was not required.", "timestamp": 1536540512496, "title": "Shelley Shepard Gray's writing is phenomenal (as always)!" }, { "asin": "0718085809", "rating": 4, "text": "Thanks to my relationship with The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, I have been very fortunate to be a part of reading and reviewing so many great books. Coincidentally, I had requested an advanced reader digital copy of this book on NetGalley through my book blogging relationship with them. While the request was pending, I received a paperback copy from Fiction Guild sent me! <br /><br />Today's book, The House at Saltwater Point is by Colleen Coble, an author whose books I've really come to love! The House at Saltwater Point is the second book in Colleen Coble's Lavender Point series. This book serves as a stand alone, but since I also read the first book in this series, The View from Rainshadow Bay, I was happy to catch up with the main characters from that book and to be introduced to Grayson and Ellie in this one.<br /><br />Ellie Blackshaw is a local house flipper, who joins forces with Coast Guard Investigator, Grayson Bradshaw, when Ellie's sister, Mac, disappears. The disappearance seems to be connected with the disappearance of a large shipment of cocaine from a local warehouse. Grayson is firmly resolved to prove that Mac was behind the cocaine theft, while Ellie is desperately trying to prove that Mac is innocent and still alive. What Ellie and Grayson discover is a whole lot more than what they bargained for and it becomes a race against time to keep things from turning deadly.<br /><br />This story captured me right from the start. There is lots of action and excitement to keep readers engaged throughout this story. As is usually the case with Ms. Coble's books, the characters are well written, interesting an unique. I can't wait to read the next book in this series -- I read somewhere that it may come out in January of 2019!<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I also received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review, but because this was another great book, I wanted to do so! The opinions I have expressed are my own!", "timestamp": 1539477059114, "title": "This story captured me right from the start." }, { "asin": "078522405X", "rating": 4, "text": "Indivisible by Travis Thrasher, is the novelization of the upcoming movie by David G. Evans. The synopsis is the same as the movie, obviously, so I'll just share my opinions:<br /><br />I loved the progress of the story line and the raw emotion shown by the characters made this a very strong story. I appreciated how the author used short chapters that made the story very easy and fast flowing. I'll be honest -- I read the book before I saw the movie, and it really caused me to be excited to see the movie!<br /><br />I liked how some of the chapters would switch to the present because it provided good emotional effects for some of the situations. I would say though, that this story wouldn't necessarily be good to share with some of your younger family members since there are some war scenes in the story (in movie version anyway).<br /><br />Through this story, readers are provided with the truths of how difficult it is for families to be separated for long periods of time and the dangers that our soldiers face. It also shares the difficulties the military has when they come back home after facing war and death and how it changes everyone. It makes me thank God everyday for the courage and strength of our military.<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy from Thomas Nelson through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I was not required to post a positive review, but have chosen to do so because this book was great! Thank you!!", "timestamp": 1540515511431, "title": "I loved the progress of the story line and the raw emotion shown" }, { "asin": "1624167470", "rating": 5, "text": "The author of today's book, The Hope Jar, is Wanda E. Brunstetter. This book is the first in a three-book series called The Prayer Jars. Back in 2015, I actually met her when she was doing a book signing event at the local Wal-Mart here in Sarasota, Florida. At that time, I was able to get my mother, Gloria an autographed copy of one of her favorite Amish books. Ever since that meeting in 2015, whenever the opportunity arises to read and review one of Ms. Brunstetter's books, I jump on it because my mother LOVES Amish stories. <br /><br />Gloria recently mentioned this book and said she couldn't wait to read it, so when I saw it available on NetGalley through my book blogging relationship with them, I requested it and was approved. Unfortunately, Gloria recently had eye surgery so she was unable to read this book after all. <br /><br />The Hope Jar blends both Amish and contemporary fiction together, unlike many of Ms. Brunstetter's other books, which are strictly Amish fiction. After I finished reading The Hope Jar, because it was such a great read, I've already requested the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader copy of the second book in the series, The Forgiving Jar, releasing in February of 2019. My mom really missed out on this one! I finished this book in just about the time it took one college football game to play on television. <br /><br />Mary Ruth and Willis Lapp are at the bus station looking for their long lost granddaughter, Sara Murray. Michelle is at the bus station and Mary Ruth and Willis mistakenly think Michelle is Sara. since Michelle's life is at a dead end, she decides to go along with the Lapps thinking and pretends to be their granddaughter just long enough for her to get her life under control<br /><br />While she is on the Lapps' farm, Michelle learns what it feels like to be truly cared for and loved, which is something she's never had in her life. Michelle never had a real family, having grown up in foster care, and no one ever took the time to really get to know her and love her. Michelle blossoms under the Lapps' love and she learns to love the simple life of the Amish. As she grows in this life, she starts to feel more and more guilty about the deception she is committing by living the life of Sara Murray instead of her own.<br /><br />I loved Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp, although I did feel like they were a bit naive in never asking Michelle for proof that she was their long lost granddaughter. Regardless, they really portrayed the Amish that we've come to learn about and love through Ms. Brunstetter's books - hardworking, faithful, loving and caring people. Their lesson on forgiveness was an example to readers of folks who follow the Word of God.<br /><br />The Hope Jar had a very good story line and it was truly an inspiring story. The characters great and readers were provided with a well thought out message. The Hope Jar have woven the tale of two young women who have experienced tragedy and are at a crossroads in their lives. <br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review but chose to since it was a great book! Thank you!", "timestamp": 1543091122534, "title": "The Hope Jar had a very good story line and was truly an inspiring story." }, { "asin": "0718083857", "rating": 4, "text": "Just about a year ago, I read and reviewed Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks. It was a great book, so when I received Formula of Deception from the Fiction Guild through my blogging relationship with them, I was happy. Because my TBR (to be read) stack was a little bigger than I wanted, I haven't had a chance to read this one until now even though it was published in July of this year.<br /><br />Protagonist, Murphy Andersen is hiding in rural Alaska on the run from a serial killer who is probably responsible for her twin sister’s disappearance might soon find her. <br /><br />She uses her artistic skills and fine sense of details and poses as a forensic artist, but she ends up finding herself in more danger than ever.<br /><br />Ms. Parks uses the interesting history of the Kodiak and Aleutian islands region around WWII, giving the story a very realistic feel making the story line even more thrilling.<br /><br />As I read more about Murphy’s character and as her history was revealed, I realized that I liked her character more and more. It became more clear to me as the story progressed that the author had some psychological elements in play, but I wasn't sure how that would pan out. The conversations with her dead sister that Murphy conducted in her head gave me a clue that there was something going on.<br /><br />I was completely engaged in the story line from the first page, and I thought for sure I could figure out the ending before the end of the book since I had experience in Ms. Parks' writing, but as it turned out, I wasn't prepared for how this book ended. This electrifying novel has twists and turns that will make readers awestruck when they discover how she fits it all together at the end.<br /><br />As an added plus, the author includes eight discussion questions to help get a book club discussion going, which is perfect for this fascinating read since it would definitely work well as a book club pick.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1543113513049, "title": "This electrifying novel has twists and turns that will make readers awestruck" }, { "asin": "0310348145", "rating": 4, "text": "Being a part of The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program provides with books to read (which I love to do) and the only requirement is that I have to share a report after I've read the book. As far as I'm concerned, it's a winning arrangement for me and my mother, who loves anything written about the Amish.<br /><br />Today's book is Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin, and it's the third book in the series, Every Amish Season. I've had the opportunity read the first book, Upon A Spring Breeze, and the second book, Beneath the Summer Sun by Kelly Irvin. (The fourth book, With Winter's First Frost, is being released in January, 2019, so you'll need to hurry and read this one!!)<br /><br />Mary Katherine is the mother of ten and it has been seven years since her husband, Moses died and she became a widow. She's full of energy and always ready to step in and help her friends around her Amish community. Her old school friend, Ezekiel Miller, offers Mary Katherine a position as a cook in his restaurant, The Purple Martin Café, named in honor of his late wife Lucy. She knows she should accept, but she doesn't really want to spend her time working in a kitchen. Mary Katherine's secret desire is to write and to own a bookstore with her English friend, but in the Amish community, the church elders want her to work in an Amish-owned store instead. <br /><br />Mary Katherine's oldest son is trying to convince her to move into his Dawdi house, but she is resistant. An English stranger breaks into Mary Katherine's house and proceeds to make himself a sandwich one autumn night. She doesn't call the sheriff, but instead she turns to Ezekiel for help. both Mary Katherine and Ezekiel realize that the stranger, Burke, needs help, so Ezekiel offers Burke a job at his restaurant.<br /><br />While this is book 3 of 4 in An Every Amish Season series, this book could be read as a stand-alone. I loved reading a story dealing with more mature characters and the challenges they faced. Ms. Irvin also added friendships between the Amish and the English that seemed very honest and were caring, respectful and realistic. <br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1544575510167, "title": "Ms. Irvin also added friendships between the Amish and the English that seemed very honest!" }, { "asin": "1683700619", "rating": 4, "text": "Rating 4.5 Stars!<br />The story line of Reason to Breathe is set in Missouri, and the story is about the lives of three sisters, Phylicia, Phee and Brit. Readers move through their pain as they lose their mother, and in another way, they lose their father, Turner, as he runs off to Florida, leaving the sisters struggling emotionally. <br /><br />Because this is book 1 in the Chandler Sisters series, this book is Phylicia Chandler’s story, but I definitely loved the dynamic between all three of the three sisters. I felt that they were thrown into such an uncertain situation, while trying to work through their grief over their mother’s death. The story also weaves hope in and out throughout the story. <br /><br />The sisters are very likable and relatable characters, and I was quickly drawn into this story because it felt so honest and real. As I got to the end, I will admit I was super excited to learn that the other two sisters will also have a story to tell in the next books in the series. <br /><br />Ms. Raney is a fantastic author and I've never read a book that she's written that I haven't loved! Those readers who enjoy inspirational and contemporary romance will definitely want to pick up a copy of Reason to Breathe to read before the second book is released!!<br /><br />I was provided with a courtesy copy of this book as part of the Just Read Tour in exchange my post. A positive review was not required.", "timestamp": 1544579561088, "title": "I was super excited that the other two sisters will also have a story to tell!" }, { "asin": "1683701496", "rating": 4, "text": "This story can truly renew your faith in humanity! Readers need be be warned: please make sure you read to the end for the epilogue, but be sure to have your tissues ready!<br /><br />This book and its story are great! I enjoyed it cover to cover, from beginning to end, and could barely be okay with it ending! It shares with readers the true meaning of Christmas. The author writes this story so that readers are put right in the middle of everything: the main character, Julia, an eleven-year-old girl, and a reclusive deaf man who has a gift of carving. I'll be honest, I think this movie is ready for Hallmark! I know it's a movie I would definitely watch!<br /><br />Thanks so much NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this story! It was great!", "timestamp": 1545535733908, "title": "This book and its story are great!" } ]

[ { "asin": "0310335582", "rating": 5, "text": "I'll admit it - the Amish world has always intrigued me to some extent. I was born and raised in northeastern Ohio and there was a huge Amish community in nearby Holmes County, where we would head out on the weekends to taste their wares while hitting the garage sales and flea markets.<br /><br />Then, when I moved down to Sarasota, Florida, I was surprised to learn there was a large Amish community here as well, and I've taken the benefit of enjoying some fantastic food at &#34;Amish-style&#34; restaurants and I've driven down some streets that have tons of bicycles and women dressed modestly.<br /><br />I realize that I need apologize in advance when I say &#34;Amish&#34; because I never looked closely enough into each community to determine whether it was &#34;Amish,&#34; &#34;Mennonite&#34; or &#34;Anabaptist&#34;. I had heard the terms &#34;Amish&#34; and &#34;Mennonite&#34; before reading this book, but I can honestly say I've never heard of &#34;Anabaptist&#34;.<br /><br />In any event, The Plain Choice by Sherry Gore, is a short book - 179 pages. As I was reading it, I was thinking to myself that my auto accident story would probably fill just about the same amount of pages if I were to try and write a book about my life too. I will say this: while The Plain Choice is a short book comparing it to some of the novels I read, it was just enough pages to walk through Ms. Gore's life. I was very impressed by her honesty, and I loved that the book flowed in time rather than jumping back and forth.<br /><br />It is very clear that Ms. Gore is a very determined woman. Once she made up her mind to change the way she was living, she whole-heartedly took the leap into her new life. I appreciated that she was honest in sharing the part of her story that some people would keep hidden, the &#34;real&#34; Sherry Harris. She shares her childhood struggles growing up and feeling unloved and not a part of her father's life. She does not minimize poor choices or blame someone else for them. She makes it clear that she had removed God from her life. She was and still is an imperfect human living in an imperfect world.<br /><br />Ms. Gore's story teaches us that not all Amish-Mennonite's are removed from technology and modern conveniences too. It depends on the churches and communities as to how &#34;modern&#34; they become.<br /><br />The pinnacle point is when she immersed herself in baptism to her old life, and newness of life in Christ Jesus, and as an Amish-Mennonite. Sherry Gore is saved by grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. But there is more to this book. It is a call for all to realize God's love and forgiveness and that absolutely no one is beyond God's love and redemption.<br /><br />The next time I'm traveling around in Sarasota, I'll be sure to look for that cute Electra bike of hers and give her a &#34;shout out&#34; for this book! I truly appreciate that BookLookBloggers provided me with a paperback copy of this book without cost in exchange for my personal and honest opinion and unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1442604782000, "title": "and I've taken the benefit of enjoying some fantastic food at \"Amish-style\" restaurants and I've driven down some ..." }, { "asin": "1401689604", "rating": 4, "text": "The story line of this book is set in a resort mountain town of Evergreen, Colorado. Kate Whidby is an 11 year-old protector of the family and dreams of becoming a spy. She is caught in the middle of all her family members and grandparents. Her family operates The Harrison Lodge, a historic mountain resort, and has done so for many generations. She keeps her family members' secrets from others and the day after she’s witnessed her grandfather arguing with his best friend, the man is murdered.<br /><br />At the same time in Denver, a robbery gone wrong, a consequent murder, and a gang member set on revenge for the death of his son bring several mysterious people to the Harrison Lodge. In her desire to help others, Kate chooses to harbor a fugitive while trying to save her family at the same time.<br /><br />Readers are introduced to other families, from different walks of life - not only the homeless man who sees a robbery gone wrong, but we also see runaways living under a bridge and the gang member seeking revenge for the death of his son. We also meet Charlie, a boy who has lived on the streets, with no money, and an alcoholic father. After Charlie runs away and crashes a motorcycle in Evergreen, Colorado. Kate comes upon him and hides him in a secret cubby in one of the inn's cottages.<br /><br />There are a lot of different events going on at the beginning and you wonder how they are all going to come together. Once they all converge at The Harrison Lodge, it becomes much easier to follow the story and see where everything is going.<br /><br />The author, Erin Healy, takes various different storylines and skillfully weaves them together over the course of a weekend until they come to a head late Sunday afternoon at the hotel. While the beginning of the book starts a little slow, I think it has to so that the foundation is set out for each key character. We get to know the characters, their lives and their dreams. Once the &#34;action&#34; gets going, readers move through the theft, and then the robbery involving two of the main characters. We are drawn in very easily to the individuals and readers are compassionate to their situations as the book progresses.<br /><br />Ultimately, this book circles around ideas of family and forgiveness. Erin Healy shows us the dynamics of what makes a family work and what makes them fight for each other. I appreciated the depths that this story went to on a thought-provoking level. I found it to be a great read once I got over the hump of bringing the characters together. The book kept me hanging on until the very end to find the answers to some of the mysteries that came out while I was reading. I enjoyed the book and spent a lot of time flipping pages on the edge of my seat to see how things would turn out.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost as part of the Fiction Guild Team Challenge in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1444623127000, "title": "She keeps her family members' secrets from others and the day after she’s witnessed her grandfather arguing with his best friend" }, { "asin": "0824956478", "rating": 5, "text": "If you want to teach your children about Christmas - the real Christmas, The Sparkle Box: A Gift with the Power to Change Christmas by Jill Hardie is the book to get! It's for ages 4 to 8 and it's a perfect story for any child.<br /><br />Author Jill Hardie tells the story of Sam, who is so excited about Christmas! Sam is preparing his Christmas &#34;want&#34; list and he's excited about the upcoming holiday parties. At the same time, he is so curious about one very mysterious gift -- a sparkly box sitting on the mantel above the fireplace. Whenever Sam asked his mother about the box, she would tell him to wait, that she had a few more things to put in the box.<br /><br />In the midst of all of the Christmas festivities, Sam and his family bless other people with various acts of kindness, and all the while Sam waits impatiently to find out what is in the box. On Christmas morning, Sam finally gets to open the box, and he finds the slips of paper recording his family's good deeds. His parents explain to him that the things they are doing - the blessings they are providing others - are a gift for Jesus in honor of His birthday. Sam was confused as they had given the gifts to people, not Jesus. His mother explains that when we give to others we are giving to Him.a gift for Jesus -- for Jesus said that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Him.<br /><br />The Sparkle Box story is inspired by Matthew 25:40 &#34;Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.&#34; The book challenges us to put aside our wants for those in need. To think of others. Whether it be a material item like food, clothes or shelter. Or a spiritual need, such as praying with someone, lending a shoulder. Or maybe giving of your time to a neighbor or friend in need.<br /><br />This heartfelt story will inspire readers to adopt this faith-centered tradition in their own homes. The illustrations in The Sparkle Box are awesome and children are very engaged to the story. The Sparkle Box includes a glitter-coated fold-out Sparkle Box on the inside cover of the back. The book is absolutely gorgeous and is destined to become a children’s Christmas classic for years to come! You can start your own family tradition of giving gifts to the One who gave all to us! The Sparkle Box is definitely a &#34;must have&#34; book for anyone that has children or grandchildren!<br /><br />I was provided with a review copy of this book as a First Look Blogger for Worthy Publishing without cost in exchange for this, my honest review and unbiased opinion.", "timestamp": 1449065759000, "title": "It's for ages 4 to 8 and it's a perfect story for any child" }, { "asin": "031033344X", "rating": 5, "text": "My mom has been on a reading &#34;spree&#34; for the last year or two - ever since we helped her get an e-reader on Black Thursday. She will sit and read for four or five hours at a time - even if it is the middle of the night because hey, she's retired, and can take a nap all afternoon if she wants! When I received this book, The Mountain Midwife by Laurie Alice Eakes, I knew my mom would love the book and since I had quite a stack of books myself, I gladly shared with her in exchange for her honest review. Below you'll find my mom's review:<br /><br />The Mountain Midwife is a wonderful book that is the story of midwife Ashley Tolliver and it contains many twists and turns. I loved reading this book because the Appalachian setting. This book touched the areas of Virginia and parts of West Virginia which mean so much to me.<br /><br />The women in Ashley Tolliver family has been practicing the art of midwifery for many years in their small Appalachian mountain community. Ashley wants to further her education by attending medical school and leave behind the women that she serves. One of the women that Ashley helps deliver in her home is abducted while Ashley is trying to get her to the hospital because she is bleeding dangerously. Ashley now must find the woman and her newborn baby.<br /><br />After receiving a mysterious phone call from a woman claiming to be his mother, Hunter McDermott needs to track where this call came from and seeks the aid of the local midwife (Ashley Tolliver) in this mountain town hoping that she can help him find his family’s background.. Hunter McDermott learning that he is adopted now wants to meet his birth mother who says he has a brother and sister living in the Appalachian Mountains.<br /><br />Ashley is on her own mission to find the abducted mother and newborn baby and Hunter McDermott wants to know his family in the Appalachian Mountains. Will Ashley leave the place where her feet is firmly planted or will Hunter learn to love her Appalachian Mountains?<br /><br />The characters were complex, but at the same time, they were easy to relate to. The Mountain Midwife was definitely a page-turner, and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. There were a few times in the story that the characters had tough decisions to make, and it was refreshing to see that they always turned to God to help them with these tough decisions.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own (or well, in this case, my mother's).", "timestamp": 1453065273000, "title": "The characters were complex, but at the same time, they were easy to relate to." }, { "asin": "031034199X", "rating": 4, "text": "Most of you know that my mother absolutely LOVES Amish stories. She once told me that she enjoys Amish stories because they share about times that seem more &#34;simple&#34; and the priorities of the Amish are clear - faith and family. Because of the fact that my mom likes to read, and doesn't mind providing me with a book review when she's finished, we decided that if any opportunities come up for book reviews on Amish books, she would gladly read them and provide me with her review.<br /><br />Below is my mother, Gloria's review of The Forgotten Recipe (An Amish Heirloom Novel) by Amy Clipston:<br /><br />&#34;This is a story of two people touched by tragedy and both are unable to move forward with their lives until they confront their shared past. It is about love, trust and forgiveness.<br /><br />Veronica Fisher is devastated when her fiancé, Seth Lapp is killed in a tragic accident at work. Jason Huyard worked with Seth and they were best friends. Jason is having a hard time dealing with Seth's death and thinks a lot about Veronica because Seth talked about her all the time. Following the accident, Jason feels compelled to share his grief and condolences with Veronica, who loved his friend also.<br /><br />The forgotten recipe is a newly found, but old recipe stored in her mother's hope chest in the attic, which is for a raspberry pie that Veronica's grandmother used to make. Discovering this recipe, Veronica opens a bake stand in order to sell raspberry pies using her grandmother's recipe. Jason Huyard quickly becomes a regular customer but does not tell her that he knew Seth. Slowly, as he gets to know Veronica, Jason begins to fall in love with Veronica, which is the last thing he wants to do. Veronica is also hesitant to fall in love because of her promise to only love Seth. Jason visits the bake stand once a week for more than raspberry pies - they have something special!<br /><br />This story is about two strangers - one loses the man she's going to marry while the other loses his best friend. This a wonderful story that will leave you hanging at the end of the book. How will Veronica react when she finds out that she and Jason share a past? Jason has a secret - can it ruin their chance at happiness? Will Veronica trust Jason?&#34;<br /><br />If you want to read a story about love, loss and how one recipe brought two people together in ways they couldn't imagine, you'll probably want to read this book. As you can see, my mom isn't giving you spoilers either!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own (or well, in this case, my mother's).", "timestamp": 1453604712000, "title": "a story about love, loss and how one recipe brought two people together!" }, { "asin": "1401689752", "rating": 4, "text": "At the opening of the story, we learn that the main character Lucy Alling, is a rare book seller who works for Sid McKenna, one of the most respected antiques dealer and high end interior decorators in Chicago. Most of Lucy's work with Sid involves keeping the inventory and meeting customers, but Lucy loves to find old editions and then sell them at Sid's shop and she loves her job. Unfortunately, the origins and authenticity of some of the editions that Lucy &#34;finds&#34; are suspect and we learn that her morals are questionable and that she has taken a few liberties with the books she has acquired for the store and then sold.<br /><br />Lucy meets James, a handsome stranger and promising young attorney who buys two of her favorite books for family members. They become romantically involved once James shares that his attraction to Lucy is the main reason he even purchased the books to begin with. Lucy meets James' grandmother, Helen, a woman with terminal cancer who hires Lucy to be her companion on a trip to England where Helen must deal with her own secrets. Visiting some of the sites famous for the Brontë novels and the places where the Brontë sisters lived, a friendship is born and both Lucy and Helen realize that they must face their flaws and fix their wrongdoings.<br /><br />I had never heard of the Brontë sisters before this book, so I didn't know what the title actually meant until I read this book. I thought it was pretty amazing that when I took out a note pad and made a list, there were over 50 other books mentioned in the story of this book!<br /><br />The Brontë Plot explores what makes us who we are and asks if we can change. In my humble opinion, since this book was held out to be a Christian book, I was surprised that there wasn't very much spiritual emphasis as I would have liked, but the life truths were there. The Brontë Plot is about people facing their past to be able to move on into the future.<br /><br />“All real lives hold controversy, trials, mistakes, and regrets. What matters is what you do next.” ― Katherine Reay, The Brontë Plot<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1454551242000, "title": "There were over 50 other books mentioned in the story of this book!" }, { "asin": "0764211595", "rating": 4, "text": "I wasn't hadn't heard of Nancy Mehl before, so I wasn't familiar with her writing before so when this book became available for review, I wasn't sure what to expect. This particular book, Rising Darkness, is Nancy Mehl's third book in the Finding Sanctuary series. Obviously since I haven't heard of Ms. Mehl, so I haven't read the first two books but in all honesty, I had no trouble following along in this book, so I'd say it's definitely a &#34;stand alone&#34; book. I am betting though, that I missed some of the history of the town and of the people, which might have made this book have more depth to me.<br /><br />The main character, Sophie Wittenbaur, is a young lady who grew up in a conservative and strict Mennonite family. Sophie left her small town of Kingdom both in shame and regret and to leave her painful and abusive past behind. Sophie educates herself and chases her dream job of becoming an investigative reporter. While she tries to make a name for herself as a reporter, Sophie unintentionally lands in the middle of a possible lead on a murderer who escaped with millions of dollars. The past that Sophie has worked so hard to leave behind ends up right in front of her again as she travels to the fictional Mennonite town of Sanctuary, Missouri. she takes herself &#34;under cover&#34; posing as Emily McClure while she searches for information in Sanctuary.<br /><br />Sophie meets an old flame, Jonathon Wiese, who is now a pastor in Sanctuary. Jonathon soon discovers who Emily really is and begins helping Sophie discover the answer to this story she has been trying to crack. At the same time, Sophie begins to question her decision of turning away from God and blaming God for her childhood pain while Jonathon reminds her that God was carrying her at those times in her life. There are threats and dangers around every corner, and while Sophie doesn't fully trust Jonathon she realizes that she must let him save her life.<br /><br />Rising Darkness is clear in its message to readers that we can't hold on to our past and that we need to turn things over to God and trust that He will lead us. As I stated above, I haven't read the first two books in this series, but I'm thinking if they are as good as this one, I would recommend that you read them all. While I wasn't familiar with Ms. Mehl before, I can now say that this book was fast paced and the characters were well developed. I loved the story line and you are definitely left guessing about what to expect next. I thought it was a great book and I would recommend it to other readers.<br /><br />Thank you to Bethany House for the opportunity for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1454875189000, "title": "Sophie left her small town of Kingdom both in shame and regret and to leave her painful and abusive past behind" }, { "asin": "0310338492", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm not the type to steal credit when credit is due someone else, so let me tell you right now that the following review of this book, Whispers in the Reading Room is my mother's review:<br /><br />&#34;While both my daughter and I have read several of Shelley Shepard Gray's Amish series books, we did not know she wrote other types of books as well. In fact, I was actually surprised to see this book, Whispers in the Reading Room, was written by the same author, but was happy to give it a try nonetheless.<br /><br />The setting for this historic book is in the seedier part of Chicago where the crime rate is high shortly after the Chicago World Fair in 1893. At once this story transported me to Chicago with its life in the back alleys and was part of the great division between the upper and middle class society.<br /><br />Whispers in the Reading Room is a story about middle class librarian, Lydia Bancroft, and the unlikely friendship she finds herself with a mysterious debonair gentleman patron of her library who never checks a book out. Lydia herself was lonely, and as she is weighted down by the duty to secure a wealthy husband so she can meet her mother's needs, she is very anxious.<br /><br />At once you realize that Mr. Sebastian Marks is an elusive man with many secrets. She learns his name when their paths cross the night Lydia's fiancé takes her to the Hartman Hotel and begins to rough handle her. Sebastian Marks intervenes in a tense situation in Lydia's life and from that moment on Lydia’s new friend takes on the role of protector while showing her that her fiancé isn’t who she thinks he is. Lydia discovers that Sebastian lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.<br /><br />Sebastian himself is quite the mystery man pretending to be a gentleman, and Lydia is shocked to learn that he is the owner of a drinking and gambling establishment. Lydia insists on visiting the club one night and both she and Sebastian are suddenly suspects to a murder. She must determine who can she really trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian (who everyone fears) is actually everything she thinks he is.<br /><br />A mystery book is not the kind of book that I usually read, but once I started Whispers in the Reading Room I could not put it down. Whispers in the Reading Room was an excellent mystery/murder/romance for curling up reading on a raining day by the fireplace. Even though I hadn't read the first two books in this series, I fell in love with all the characters in this story and looking forward to a follow-up story. I will definitely have to go back and read the other Chicago World's Fair Mystery series books - Book #1, Secrets of Sloane House and Book #2, Deception on Sable Hill too!&#34;<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own - well, they are my mother's and for that, I am responsible.", "timestamp": 1457375561000, "title": "but was happy to give it a try nonetheless" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 5, "text": "The Wedding Chapel was the first book written by Rachel Hauck that I have read. At first, I didn't think I was going to care for this book; it seemed like there was just too much information. While I did think the story was interesting, I struggled with Ms. Hauck's telling of it. As the story progressed though - probably about halfway through the book - the story turned out to be a really good one.<br /><br />I feel that Rachel writes from her heart about real broken family struggles, and the drama that goes along with it. The Wedding Chapel is a complex story of interwoven lives, souls seeking peace, secrets, forgiveness, and second chances. The characters were real and I enjoyed their journey each went on within themselves.<br /><br />The Wedding Chapel reminds me of something like time-travel because the story moves back and forth from Heart's Bend, Tennessee in 1948 where it is a lost love story of Jimmy and Colette and then to flash forward to the present where it is a modern love story of Jack and Taylor in New York. Due to the style of this writing, the reader is following the two different couples on their journey of love.<br /><br />At the heart of this story is the wedding chapel, symbolizing hope and healing, while at the same time conveying that there is no time limit on love and second chances.I loved the location of the chapel and the romances of the four characters. This book is such a great love story and also has a hint of suspense regarding a secret one of the characters held. The Wedding Chapel is a book that I will remember.<br /><br />If you enjoy books about inspirational romance and learning how to depend on God to help see your blessings I would highly recommend this one. This book would make a really good book club reading book or as a Hallmark movie.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1457466051000, "title": "it seemed like there was just too much information" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 4, "text": "While I have come to learn that Terri Blackstock is a well known author, this was the first of her books I've ever read. If I Run is the first book in a series also named If I Run. I'm really glad I got in on the first book, so I'll be all set to read the rest in the series. Yes, I'll be reading the future books too.<br /><br />If I Run is written in first person and present tense and it is with two points of view – alternating between the two main characters – namely, Casey Cox and Dylan Roberts. This style of writing really builds up the tension in this story and it puts the reader right in the center of it all.<br /><br />Ms. Blackstock first introduces us to Casey as she is cleaning blood off her tennis shoes and packing up to skip town. Her DNA is all over a crime scene and she is a fugitive who is running for her life. Dylan is the man hired to look for Casey. Right from the start, readers aren’t really clear about Casey's guilt or innocence and this isn’t disclosed until we are pretty far into the story. It definitely kept the suspense going throughout the story, which for me, made for good reading.<br /><br />We learn that Casey is running from the real killers. She is smart and knows how to avoid the cops and as the story progresses, Dylan begins to think Casey cannot actually be the killer too.<br /><br />The author also works in a secondary plot, but I don’t want this to be a spoiler so I’ll just tell you it is an exciting side story that doesn’t distract readers from the main plot.<br /><br />If I Run is a well written book with well developed characters. This book is chalked full of unexpected twists and turns, which, added to the ongoing suspense of the story makes readers excited for the second installment to this series. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for that sequel!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1457475291000, "title": "I'm really glad I got in on the first book" }, { "asin": "0718037626", "rating": 4, "text": "I wasn't sure what to expect with the title of this book - The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell - but I took a chance anyway. The story still has me in shock so excuse me if this review is slightly garbled. The book held me from page one and is still resonating in my head.<br /><br />This story takes place pre-Katrina, in New Orleans. Our main character is Amanda, whose daughter, Ellie's best friend is Sarah. Amanda steps in as a chaperone on her daughter's sixth-grade Halloween field trip to the Big Easy. When Sarah is abducted, Amanda is guilt-ridden because she feels that she was supposed to be the one watching Sarah when she disappeared and she feels responsible.<br /><br />“We all have a feathered bone. It’s called hope. If we hang on to hope, if we don’t let anybody break us or make us forget who we are, then we will always be free.” Sarah<br /><br />Woven throughout this book is Sarah’s side of the story, which is told through her journal entries written so she can remember who she really is. She addresses her entries to a sparrow that comes to her window to visit. In those writings, the reality of Sarah's situation is is disclosed in a very sensitive way. The lessons that her parents taught her before her abduction allow her to stay remind herself of truth. Sarah's voice, through her journal entries, was full of simple, beautiful wisdom.<br /><br />For me this novel shared a very dark story of mental health, abuse and sexual exploitation. It was really deep but does show readers that life doesn't always go smooth and easy and that trials and fears attack us when we least expect them. Cantrell's characters are real and complex, the story is layered and the themes difficult. Amanda was a completely believable character even when she couldn't fix things. Sometimes her emotions were all over the place and the book overall is an emotional rollercoaster. I loved how faith played a big part for the characters too.<br /><br />The details of each character's storyline are so real that while reading, I almost felt like I was a part of the lives of these characters. This is one of those &#34;hard to put down&#34; kind of books, but when you finally do put the book down, you will continue to think about them all.<br /><br />“It is written to remind us all that we are loved, we have worth, and we are never alone.” Julie Cantrell<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1461453179000, "title": "Ellie's best friend is Sarah" }, { "asin": "0764212486", "rating": 5, "text": "This is a story about a twenty five year old unwed Lucy Flaud an Amish girl living in Lancaster County, PA. It begins with mystery and intrigue that will unravel in bits and pieces throughout this novel. As I read this story, I felt that had I known Lucy's past and her mistakes earlier on in the story, I might have enjoyed this novel more but since I didn't know, I felt that I rushed through the story just to find the answers.<br /><br />Lucy had done something in her past where she made a grave mistake. By holding on to her past, she is unable to let go of her sins by forgiving herself and asking God for forgiveness so she move forward. Somehow this mistake help create a strained relationship with her parents especially her father Christian.<br /><br />Trying to find redemption - or &#34;atonement&#34; for her past - Lucy fills every day volunteering at charitable organizations, helping her married sister with her children, and working at home helping her twin sisters and Mother. No matter how hard she works, she cannot fill the empty hole in her heart. I had a hard time understanding her relationship with her twin sisters. Lucy’s journey held lessons on love, faith and forgiveness as she found her way back to church. On her journey Lucy meets an elderly couple who met on a bridge to celebrate. While she listens to their story of love Lucy begins to heal.<br /><br />Lucy's father, Christian, starts attending a local grief support group where he meets, Englisher, Dale Wyeth. Dale seems to be looking for a more simple life and he owns a local hardware store. Through their friendship, Dale starts spending time around the Flaud farm, and Lucy begins to know Dale as they become friends. People are worried, though, that the friendship will lead to more and Lucy past will be revisited when they spot her riding in his truck<br /><br />Meeting Dale brings back all of the painful memories Lucy has avoided. She begins to help a homeless girl she has become friends with and in doing so, she begins to restore her broken relationship with God. This story was provoking and made me look inside myself at mistakes I’ve made in the past. Like Lucy, I had a hard time asking God for forgiveness and let go of my sins to find peace. This is an emotional story that Beverly Lewis tells so well and it is an excellent look at redemption and forgiveness. I enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />Thank you to the Bethany House Blogger Review Program for the opportunity for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1461842307000, "title": "I might have enjoyed this novel more but since I didn't know" }, { "asin": "0718033183", "rating": 4, "text": "This book is second in a series called the &#34;Amish of Birch Creek&#34; written by Kathleen Fuller. I did not read the first book but An Unbroken Heart can stand alone without having previously reading book one. I really enjoyed reading this story and put it down once. Kathleen Fuller makes the reader feel the emotions of love, fear, pain, and questions of self-worth and happiness. The main characters in this book are Joanna Schrock and Andrew Beiler.<br /><br />Joanna was arguing with her parents about wanting to marry Andrew while they were traveling in their buggy on the way to the apple orchard. Her mother was telling her that she was not yet ready for marriage. When a car hit their buggy, the collision caused her to lose both of her parents. Joanna herself suffered a broken pelvis and lacerations on her face which would take a long time to heal. Joanna had loved Andrew since she was twelve years old, since he had stood up for her when she was being bullied at school. Over the years, as they were dating her feelings for Andrew grew stronger and Joanna had shocked Andrew by proposing to him.<br /><br />In the rehabilitation center, Joanna suffered both physically with the pain from the accident and mentally, having learned that she had lost both parents. She felt so empty, alone and guilty. Andrew was upset about the accident and worried that he might be losing Joanna, so visited her and proposed. He could not picture his life without Joanna by his side. She accepted the proposal without the deep joy she had hoped for, and the plans began for their wedding. On the day of her wedding Joanna was unable to walk down the aisle. She then told Andrew she could not marry him as she knew she wasn't ready. God was talking to Joanna, telling her to be strong and courageous. Should she listen to God?<br /><br />In An Unbroken Heart, readers learn about Joanna’s sisters, Sadie and Abigail, and how they managed to run the family business after their parent’s death while at the same time handling Joanna’s recovery. It encourages readers to look at forgiveness in their own lives as Joanna’s met Cameron, the driver who caused the accident that killed her parents, and forgave him. As the characters become so real, you really want healing for those who are hurting, and you want to help them find their way back to God so they can be whole again - but it must be in line with God’s timing and not theirs.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1462317003000, "title": "I really enjoyed reading this story and put it down once" }, { "asin": "0718030923", "rating": 4, "text": "Sister Dear by Laura McNeill has a great cover and picture, which was just enough to pull me in. The story is about Allie, who is a mother convicted of a crime she swears she didn't commit. (Haven't we all heard that one before?) Anyway, after spending 10 years in jail, Allie returns to her small town hoping to pick up the pieces of her life and re-establish a relationship with her now 15-year old daughter. Allie struggles to fall in place, to fit back in living her former life with her family, with friends and at work. In order to try and reconnect and form a relationship with her daughter, Allie becomes determined to find out what really happened that tragic night and wants to clear her name.<br /><br />Sister Dear seemed to start off a little slow and I was little worried that I wasn't going to enjoy the book, but slowly the plot got going and just kept building and building until the very last page. I really enjoyed the writing style - sort of &#34;flashback&#34; style - going between 2006 and 2016 - through the eyes of various people, including Allie, Sheriff Gaines, Emma (Allie's sister) and Caroline (Allie's daughter). Using the multiple points of view and weaving back and forth through time, Sister Dear painted a haunting picture of lies, betrayals and deep dark secrets.<br /><br />The author, McNeill, definitely left me guessing about everyone's involvement in &#34;the incident,&#34; including Allie's own involvement. I loved the plot twists, and I will admit I didn't see them coming. It wasn't one of those predictable plots where you knew what was happening next, and I really appreciated that. I don't want to write a spoiler here, so I really can't go into too much of the story. Suffice it to say, it's worth reading Sister Dear to learn the whole story! On one of those 1 to 5 star ratings, with 5 being highest, I'd give this book a 4.2. I'll definitely be watching for future works of Laura McNeill and I'm going to head back and read her debut book, Center of Gravity too!<br /><br />I truly appreciate that BookLookBloggers provided me with a paperback copy of this book to read without cost in exchange for my personal and honest opinion and unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1462501469000, "title": "Sister Dear by Laura McNeill has a great cover and picture" }, { "asin": "1617956651", "rating": 5, "text": "What I found in this book was a beautiful book filled with hope. Hunting Hope is full of inspiring stories and gut-wrenching moments that share all of the promises that are possible to God's children. Nika Maples shares her heart, and her honesty and the end result is that her transparency is a very beautiful thing for readers. Ms. Maples' humor made me laugh and smile and her stories often made me emotional and teary, but it was her relationship with Jesus that really made me look at those areas of my own life that could really use some work.<br /><br />Accepting what we cannot change, while anticipating future blessings is the perfect definition of hope as Ms. Maples relates to readers. She leans on Scripture to back up every point she makes, helping readers see that the honest and true statements taken from God's Word. Ms. Maples' beautiful examples of God's compassion for us provides strength and hope to readers in their dark moments. Hunting Hope is easy to read and very well written in such a way that it allows readers to find the messages they need at the time they are needed.", "timestamp": 1463961972000, "title": "What I found in this book was a beautiful book filled with hope" }, { "asin": "1401688314", "rating": 5, "text": "A Dream of Miracles is the third book in The Amish Wonder series by Ruth Reid. The first book was A Miracle of Hope and the second book was A Woodland Miracle. Each of those books would probably have helped in creating the backdrop to the characters in this book, but nonetheless, my favorite Amish book reviewer, Gloria (aka Mom) says that this book can be read as a stand alone very nicely.<br /><br />This story takes place in a small community made up of Old Order Amish in Michigan. The two main characters Mattie Diener and Boaz (Bo) Lambright become so real that you think they are your best friends. Mattie is a young widowed woman with two young children, Nathan and 18-month old Amanda, to raise without her husband Andy, who is deceased. Mattie is having a rough time running a herb and honey business with the help of the community especially her next door bachelor neighbor Alvin.<br /><br />Mattie’s oldest child, Nathan, is three years old has been a sickly baby with several health issues since his birth. Nathan is ill and Mattie takes him to the doctor and her worse nightmare begins. Her regular doctor is not available and another doctor, Dr. Wellington, is filling his place but he knows nothing about the Amish. Nathan has a fever and blisters in his mouth and Dr. Wellington suspects’ abuse.<br /><br />The doctor has Mattie take Nathan to the hospital and calls Child Protective Services on her. She meets Boaz Lambright, a fast-rising social services investigator whose high-society mother doesn't seem to rest until she finds her son's &#34;Mrs. Right&#34;. He does not think there is any abuse and sets out to prove her innocence. Things keep happening and the plot continues to twist and turn, and all the while Mattie has your heart because of struggles she is going through. Bo was haunted by dreams with flashing from his current life into his past life.<br /><br />I love the twist that Bo experiences and I found it hard to actually put this book down because I wanted to find out the outcome. There is so much emotion in this story and both the characters and the plot are so powerful that it just carried me away with them. Toward the end of this story things are explained. I loved this story and I look forward to other books by Ruth Reid.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1464313791000, "title": "my favorite Amish book reviewer" }, { "asin": "1530040396", "rating": 4, "text": "My Father's House by Rose Chandler Johnson is about Lily Rose Cates, who has the perfect childhood that includes a fantastic relationship with her father. Her father adored her and she loved him so much. Lily's father unexpectedly passes away when Lily is sixteen and it leaves her to emotionally flounder throughout the rest of high school and into college.<br /><br />As Lily heads off to college, she sees her friends marrying off or falling in love. On a trip to New York City to meet up with her best friend, Lily meets Manuel Valenti. He seems charming and sophisticated and Lily is captivated by his attention. He sweeps her off her feet and promises her the world. She falls into a whirlwind romance and totally falls for him even though there are signals - warning signs - she fails (or chooses) to recognize. Even her wise Annie Ruth feels that Manny Lily brings him home to meet her family.<br /><br />Lily moves forward with marriage, but not surprisingly, soon afterward their marriage begins to fall apart. Her husband is a dark, abusive man and Lily soon realizes that she must make the hard choice of leaving Manny - of running from her husband - or possibly risk even more than the marriage. Once Lily gets away from her horrible marriage, Lily starts to take the necessary steps of healing her heart from her past and from her marriage so that she can move forward. We readers standby (and read on) as Lily slowly begins the process of healing and returning to her father's house.<br /><br />I felt that this story was written to remind us all that there is always hope, even in our darkest hours and our deepest pain. I loved Ms. Johnson's writing and this is one of those books you can definitely get caught up in, and if you're anything like me, you'll read it cover to cover in one sitting. (Pray that I make it through work tomorrow without falling asleep!!)<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1466009767000, "title": "who has the perfect childhood that includes a fantastic relationship with her father" }, { "asin": "0764212818", "rating": 5, "text": "Being part of the Bethany House Blogger Review Program, I get to read some very interesting books that I wouldn't necessarily have the opportunity to read. Sometimes I'm provided with books to read from authors I've never heard of, even though they are very popular in the literary world. Today's book, No Other Will Do, by Karen Witemeyer and this book falls into that category. Those of you who follow me regularly know that my mom loves Amish books. She also loves Western books and when I read her the back cover of this book over the phone, she jumped at the chance to read it and report in. Here's my mom's review:<br /><br />&#34;The setting for this story takes place in the old historical west. This Christian romance has it all - humor, action, murder, mystery and the suspense of a 'who done it'. No Other Will Do is very well written and has you hanging on every word to find out what is going to happen next. I truly enjoyed reading this novel in one day and did not put it down until the end,<br /><br />Emma Chandler and her suffragette aunts were strong, free spirited independent women who started a successful women’s colony in Harper’s Station, Texas to help women in need to make a fresh start with their lives. Unfortunately, there is someone who repeatedly wants to drive all the ladies out of colony. If only Emma knew what this dangerous crook wanted. She is forced to admit they might need a man to help and there is only one man that she really trusts to do the job.<br /><br />Malachi Shaw has known Emma since they were young. She saved his life when he was hiding out in her auntie’s barn after fighting in the streets and is cold, hungry, and no home. She ask her aunt if she could keep him. Now Malachi has earned respect by working on the railroad as an explosive expert. When he received Emma’s telegraph asking for his help, he left immediately to go to her keep a childhood promise be had made and try somehow to repay her for saving his life.<br /><br />The danger at the women’s colony continues and the threats are getting stronger and more dangerous. Should the women leave the colony for their safety? Should they stay and fight with Malachi help to catch the outlaws?&#34;<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the Bethany House Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1466987226000, "title": "I truly enjoyed reading this novel in one day and did not ..." }, { "asin": "1617956120", "rating": 4, "text": "My Mother's Quilts: Devotions on Love, Legacy, Family and Faith by Ramona Richards is an awesome devotional. While this book has lots of pictures of some beautiful quilts, it is way more than a quilt picture book. Each devotional itself shares the story of each individual quilt. It includes a sentence or two of a prayer starter, and then a Bible verse.<br /><br />While this is a book you will want to read in its entirety like I did, you will want to keep it close to you so that when you are reading your daily devotionals you can include this book as a devotional guide as well.<br /><br />As a baby, I received a quilt from my grandfather who passed before I was born. Every Christmas my mom would bring that quilt out and we would enjoy its beauty during the Christmas season, and then she would pack it up again until next year. When I found that exact quilt in this book, my heart swelled with such fond memories of that quilt!<br /><br />I received a copy of this devotional book without cost in exchange for this post from FlyByPromotions! Thank you FlyBy!!", "timestamp": 1466988793000, "title": "Devotions on Love, Legacy" }, { "asin": "1434708381", "rating": 4, "text": "Jilted is the third book in the Mended Hearts series, but can serve as a stand alone book on its own. I did not read the two prior books Jaded and Justified, and I feel that if I had read the first two it would have added to my enjoyment of Jilted.<br /><br />The story in Jilted takes place in a quiet small town of Trapp, Texas. As in most small towns, gossip and news spreads quickly. The memorable characters in this story are Lynda Turner and Clyde Felton. Lynda is doubtful that love and happiness will ever be hers until Clyde an old friend and an ex-convict shows interest in her and hope awakens. Lynda’s husband left her and young daughter Ruthie behind fifteen years ago.<br /><br />Lynda, struggling with depression, had withdrawn from the community and Clyde had to adjust when returning after time in prison to Trapp and face the community he left behind. Because these characters are older and had already missed so much of their lives, I wanted to help them Mrs. Denman told and wrote this story so well that you felt part of this little town and a friend to Lynda and Clyde.<br /><br />Lynda Turner has struggled with depression since her husband abandoned her and their young daughter fifteen years ago. Yet unexpected hope awakens when a local ex-convict shows interest. As long-hidden secrets resurface, Lynda must fight for her emotional stability and for a life where the shadow of shame is replaced by the light of love.<br /><br />Jilted tells of a woman who has lost the joy of living, a man determined to draw her back toward happiness, and a town that must---once and for all---leave the past where it belongs. It is a gentle reminder that all things can work together for good.<br /><br />As secrets which had been hidden for years comes out again Lynda must fight to keep her emotions stable, getting out of living in shame, and receive the love that her old friend Clyde is offering. This final secret is shocking.<br /><br />At the end of this book all ends are neatly tied up and I am sorry that my visit to Trapp, Texas has finished and I will miss Lynda and Clyde and all the others. I really enjoyed reading Jilted, and look forward to reading Jaded and Justified soon!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1467159685000, "title": "and I feel that if I had read the first two it would have added to my enjoyment of Jilted" }, { "asin": "0736966234", "rating": 5, "text": "Here's what I say: Before I can even talk about this book, I have to talk about the Bible verse on the front - one of my favorites! &#34;For I know the plansI have for you,&#34; declares the LORD, &#34;plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.&#34; Jeremiah 29:11.<br /><br />I knew it was going to be a great book just because of that in itself, and I wasn't wrong at all! First I will say this isn't the only book I've read of Dana Mentink's! She really knows how to write some pretty cool pups in her stories and I really enjoyed it in the other book I read. Funny stuff here! I read this book at my desk at work because (1) it was a smaller book and easy to carry; and (2) because I just couldn't wait to read it!<br /><br />Stephanie Pink - yes, her last name is Pink - don't you love it? Anyway, Stephanie Pink is the heroine of this book, and she's hooked on books - kind of like yours truly. She can't seem to go any period of time without reading a book or she gets anxious. She's an aspiring literary agent and had been dreaming of it since she read a book by Agnes Wharton as a kid. She is sent by her boss to pick up a manuscript by none other than Agnes Wharton - one that they'd been waiting for over 15 years. Tragically, when she meets Agnes, her dog, Sweetness, takes off and the story begins!<br /><br />At the same time, Stephanie is also like most girls and is in search of her &#34;happily ever after&#34;. Enter Rhett Hastings, a retired CEO, who stepped down from his job to take care of his sister after a bad accident where she suffered brain trauma. Before her accident, Rhett had treated her pretty bad and she had disowned him but of course, with the injury she doesn't recall that fact. Rhett feels that God is telling him to return to the orchard in Oregon where they had grown up. Of course, on his way there, he bumps into none other than Stephanie Pink.<br /><br />This is where the &#34;happily ever after &#34; may or may not kick in (no spoilers here). Rhett rescues Stephanie and Sweetness and even helps her get the dog to Washington! Both Rhett and Stephanie find themselves on a crazy journey that will definitely change their lives. And just like the author reveals at the beginning of the book, God has a plan for them (Jeremiah 29:11). Of course, they soon find out His plan isn't anything like their individual plans and His is way better! .<br /><br />I give this sweet little book 5 stars out of 5 for style of writing, flow of the storyline, the depth of the characters, and of course the hilarious dog!! I see Dana Mentink has the next book in the Love Unleashed series out in February of 2017, and I will be looking out for that book as well!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1471365525000, "title": "I give this sweet little book 5 stars out of 5" }, { "asin": "1501820079", "rating": 4, "text": "I always love books about dogs, and Service Tails: More Stories of Man's Best Hero by Ace Collins is no exception! Service Tails is a wonderful collection of great true stories that share both the love and loyalty of the owner and their dog, but also provide insight and inspiration.<br /><br />We learn about their extensive training and incredible service working together to provide owners with more self confidence with the assistance of their service dog. These dogs help create permanent and forever bonds with their owners that goes beyond their service, and provides readers with that &#34;heart connection&#34; by sharing their stories.<br /><br />Service Tails shares twelve stories of dogs who provide the commitment of duty and service to their owners, some saving lives and some providing an independent lifestyle to those unable to do so without the help of their service dog. The best part of these stories is the way it shares how owners and their dogs seem to become one as they work together to make life more enjoyable.<br /><br />If you are a dog owner and lover, then I recommend this book to you. This is one of those books to keep on your shelf so you can read again in the future. Service Tails would also make a fantastic gift for any dog lover in your life!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1472431817000, "title": "I always love books about dogs" }, { "asin": "0310339863", "rating": 4, "text": "The Saddle Maker’s Son is the third book in The Amish of Bee County series. I did not read the first two, but enjoyed this one as a stand alone. (I will admit, though, I think I would love to read books #1 and #2 just to see what I missed.)<br /><br />This is a romantic story of Rebekah Lantz, who lives in a small Amish community in Bee County Texas. She feels like her family does not trust her since her sister Leila left the Amish faith to marry Jesse Glick.<br /><br />Tobias Byler is an Amish man who has recently moved to Bee County along with his father, Levi and his nine siblings. As Levi is opening his new shop of making saddles and training horses he has an accident and the children are left to take care of themselves while he is in the hospital.<br /><br />Rebekah works as an assistant school teacher and has discovered two dirty and hungry runaway children The children hiding in the shed outside of the schoolhouse traveled across the border from El Salvador. It is discovered that the children traveled alone and were sent by their grandmother from El Salvador to Texas to hunt out their father, who is living in San Antonio.<br /><br />Rebekah also meets Tobias Byler and his father, Levi who brings the younger children to school. Will Rebekah turn Guadulupe (&#34;Lupe&#34;) and Diego over to the proper authorities? Will this small Amish community open their hearts and arms to these runaway children? It was interesting to read how illegal children immigrants are handled.<br /><br />There is attraction and friction between Rebekah and Tobias as they worked to help the children find their father. Does Tobias have feelings for Rebekah and cannot show it? There is also another romance going on with Rebekah’s aunt and Tobias’s father. This story has all the things that makes a wonderful love story and reminds us that God wants us to help each other.<br /><br />The Saddle Maker's Son is very well written story and I could not put it down until the last page. It was a beautiful story and one that I will remember.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1472434475000, "title": "but enjoyed this one as a stand alone" }, { "asin": "0310345391", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the first book in Shelley Shepard Gray’s &#34;Lone Star Hero&#34; series, I loved reading some of her other books such as the Whispers in the Reading Room.<br /><br />The Loyal Heart story takes place in the late 1800s in Galveston Texas right after the civil war ended, and its a story about Miranda Markham who is a war widow and is facing many troubles in Galveston. She lost her husband that she dearly loved and now has become an outcast in her hometown because someone is spreading rumors that her husband was a traitor.<br /><br />Phillip Markham, Lt. Truax, Caption Monroe, and Major Kelly were prisoners in a POW camp. This group of Confederate soldiers, who had been prisoners by the Union army, promised to take care of each other and their families after the war.<br /><br />Phillip Markham past away right before the war ended. He always spoke of the love that he and his wife Miranda shared. Robert Truax was sent to see how Miranda was doing to fulfill the promise that was made to Markham.<br /><br />Who is responsible making the town turn against Miranda and how are the rumors spreading that Phillip Markham was a traitor? Robert was the problem solver will he be able to take care of this?<br /><br />The Loyal Heart is a historical fiction book and provides for the reader a great mixture of mystery, suspense, action, history of the post-Civil war in the south, and a light romance. Shelley is a great storyteller and I enjoyed this book very much. Looking forward to reading more in this series.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own - well, they are my mother's and for that, I am responsible.", "timestamp": 1473218990000, "title": "I loved reading some of her other books such as the ..." }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "I will admit it - I get so excited every single time I see that Rachel Hauck has another book out. It ranks right up there with having a day off work - my day job, that is. I really think that if there was anyone I could ever point out and say &#34;yes, that woman follows God's calling for her&#34;, it would be Rachel Hauck. That being said, today's post is about Rachel Hauck's latest release, The Wedding Shop. The Wedding Shop is the third book in the &#34;wedding&#34; series, the others being The Wedding Chapel and the other,<br /><br />The Wedding Shop's setting is Heart's Bend, Tennessee, and this story is about a young woman named Haley Morgan who us home from the Air Force. She decides she will take over the town's old wedding shop that's been in the town for over 90 years. The building was run down and in need of many repairs, but Haley had a vision of what it once was. Even though it's been closed for so many years, Haley has a strong feeling that the place must be reopened.<br /><br />The storyline of The Wedding Shop goes back and forth between the 1930s through the 1950s and then the present day. While this book could be a &#34;stand alone&#34;, it is my understanding that some of the characters in this book were also included in Rachel's previous books.<br /><br />The entire book is awesome. Ms. Hauck draws readers in as she alternates the story between modern day Haley and past wedding shop owner Cora. Ms. Hauck has the fantastic ability to transport her readers back in time and make them actually feel like they are there. It was great to see the different perspectives of the characters and how their stories develop while moving between the two time periods. The message I received from this book was that we need to trust in God and do His will and he will provide.<br /><br />I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publisher, and I received a digital copy from NetGalley, both without cost, but in exchange for my opinion.", "timestamp": 1473984027000, "title": "The entire book is awesome." }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 4, "text": "I had never heard of Robert Whitlow before, but the man has written plenty of books. The cover of this book drew me in - sort of resembled a John Grisham book or something - and it made me curious. Another drawing factor to this book was the fact that it was a Christian suspense novel with a legal emphasis. Having worked in the legal field for over 30 years, I'm always interested in that category. Sprinkle it with a little suspense, and you've got me interested.<br /><br />The Witnesses follows young lawyer, Parker House as he begins working in a small North Carolina law firm. His job doesn't pay as much as his friends but he finds satisfaction in what he is learning and achieving as he learns the ropes of a law office and of his town. At the same time, Parker realizes that he is somehow able to see the future.<br /><br />While Parker uses his gift in the legal field, his grandfather, Frank (born Franz Haus), was forced to use the gift during World War II. This fact in itself results in the story going back and forth between these two time periods throughout the book.<br /><br />Parker's gift is starting to become obvious to others, which begins to make him more interesting to a more prestigious law firm. As he struggles with his career decisions and decisions surrounding a new romance, his grandfather is experiencing deep regret for his actions in WWII.<br /><br />The theme of The Witnesses seems to be how people can use (or misuse) God's gifts. While both Parker and his grandfather, Frank are good people, sometimes the use of their gift for evil is too tempting to hold back. Throughout the story, readers will see both of these men struggling with the use of their gift in a responsible manner and whether they will follow the Lord or not follow the Lord.<br /><br />This book would inspire anyone who is wavering about seeking forgiveness and making life changing decisions. If you have never read any of Robert Whitlow's other books, I'd suggest you start here like I did. The Witnesses is a book that seems to cross over those defined genre lines that include law, family, romance, friendship, mystery, suspense and even a little thriller.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1475082812000, "title": "Frank are good people, sometimes the use of their gift for ..." }, { "asin": "0800726413", "rating": 4, "text": "The storyline of When Love Arrives by Johnnie Alexander takes place in a town named Misty Willows. This book is the second in the Misty Willows series, and I had not yet read Where She Belongs, which is the first book, but based on some of the reviews I read, it would have been helpful to know the characters a little better before reading this book. Given the time, I would probably gone back and read Where She Belongs first.<br /><br />Dani Prescott lost her mother in a plane crash. It's the same plane crash that killed Brett Somers' parents. Why is that important? Because Brett is publicly blaming Dani's mother for the crash and ruining her reputation. Dani is hurt and wants to clear her mother's name so she sets out to get revenge against Brett. The story is told in alternating chapters from Brett and Dani's point of view. It's interesting reading this story from Brett's perspective.<br /><br />Brett is a handsome and rich &#34;ladies' man&#34; who is egotistical and pursues younger, blond, long-legged women. Dani accidently meets Brett in the parking lot of the hospital and he pursues her despite the fact that she doesn't meet his standard criteria. Unbeknownst to Brett, Dani is actually seeking revenge. Brett and Dani soon realize they have so many things in common and Dani starts to feel guilty about her original plan to bring Brett down.<br /><br />As Dani and Brett develop their friendship, readers get the sense of the changes Brett is making in his life, and his true desire to become a better person due to the fact that he has learned he has a son.<br /><br />Dani gets help from Brett and his family and her luck begins to change when she secures a new job and a new home surrounded by a great family. As we all know, a relationship built on lies is sure to fail, and Dani's secret plans come to light. These two have a lot to work out and it well worth reading to see where it does.<br /><br />The story is hard to put down and I loved seeing the changes in both of them. I felt that the author did a great job providing a very believable drama that included faith issues that readers will be able to identify with. Seeing how the characters had to reach the &#34;rock bottom&#34; in their lives before they were able to reach out for help from God proved to be a real struggle in the lives of so many people today. The author certainly has a gift for bringing a story to life and making the reader feel like they are right in the midst of it.<br /><br />The great news is that coming in Summer of 2017 there will be another book to this series - the third - and at the end of this book there was a little &#34;teaser&#34; for anyone interested. I hope I make time to go back and read the first book so that by the time the third is released I'll be up to speed on everyone's backgrounds!<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book from Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group for my honest review and was not required to give a positive review.", "timestamp": 1475092642000, "title": "The storyline of When Love Arrives by Johnnie Alexander takes place in a town ..." }, { "asin": "0718077911", "rating": 5, "text": "I had heard of Katherine Reay only after I had the opportunity to read her book, The Brontë Plot, back in February of this year. Because I thought that book was so great, when I heard about this book, A Portrait of Emily Price, I couldn't wait. Unfortunately, I have to say that when it arrived, I was already in the middle of another blog tour so this was placed on the back burner for a while. The book was released on November 1 of this year, so it's still a really new book so everyone can find their copies easily! I know you'll want to get your copy too, because A Portrait of Emily Price is a book full of awesomeness.<br /><br />The protagonist, Emily Price is an art restorer who dreams of becoming an original artist someday. She travels to Atlanta to restore a mural in a home damaged by fire. That’s where she meets Chef Benito &#34;Ben&#34; Vassallo, who is visiting Atlanta to reconnect with his brother and breathe new life into his aunt and uncle’s restaurant, Piccolo. Emily begins a &#34;whirlwind romance&#34; with Ben and falls in love with him while she works with him to improve the appearance of Piccolo. In a shocking move, she accepts Ben's marriage proposal, marries him and and follows him to Italy. Once arriving in Italy, Emily is enchanted with the country, but because of Emily’s need to “fix” what she thinks is broken things get complicated when she meets her new Italian family.<br /><br />The author does an excellent job of showing the relationship problems in families. I also think Katherine did a lovely job of describing Italy and, well &#34;painting a picture&#34; of the scenery for readers so descriptive that we feel a part of the story, especially in the driving scenes where we see hills and small towns, narrow driving lanes and arches that feel too small for the car to fit through. Breathtaking, for sure.<br /><br />If you're anything like me and you love romance stories that are realistic and don't fall under the fairytale-type of “happily ever after” story, A Portrait of Emily Price is definitely a book you'll want to read too!<br /><br />I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion and review. Thanks so much!", "timestamp": 1480539830000, "title": "Because I thought that book was so great, when I heard about this book" }, { "asin": "1401690300", "rating": 5, "text": "As part of the The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader program, I received a copy of Colleen Coble's new book, Twilight at Blueberry Barrens, which was a great read set on the beautiful coast of Folly Shoals, Maine. I'm getting ahead of myself here, but let me tell you the book had fantastic descriptions of the scenery and the characters were well written. The story itself included suspense, murders, romance, a wedding, an escaped prisoner, a hire for murder guy and even a crazy stalker. All of these stories within the book have us guessing and all were very nicely interwoven throughout the book. What more could you ask for in a story?<br /><br />Now that I put the cart in front of the horse, let me tell you a little more about the story: This is the third book in the Sunset Cove series and is connected to the first title, The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, because this book is about Kate Mason, who is Claire Dellamare’s twin sister. This book frequently refers back to the storyline in The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, so it would probably be helpful if you read the first book in the series to understand this one a little better. In all honesty, when I was reading the first book, The Inn at Ocean's Edge, I really wasn't a fan of the character, Claire, but in this book the author redeemed her character and made her someone more relatable to readers. It was also enjoyable learning more about Kate in this book.<br /><br />After successfully battling a life threatening illness, Kate Mason is restarting her life, while at the same time, she is confronted with a faceless enemy who could possibly be someone she knows well. She's in a difficult financial place so when she rents out a cottage for the summer plus she's given the opportunity to nanny a summer guest's young nieces, things might be looking better for Kate. The rental tenant is Drake Newham, who is a handsome and successful entrepreneur from Boston and is protecting his brother's two daughters. Drake has come to Maine in order to investigate his brother and sister-in-law's brutal deaths and it that his brother could have been killed because of his legal actions against a dangerous international crime leader, but Drake is discovering that Heath and Melissa's marriage was unstable, which makes local officials convinced theirs was a case of murder-suicide.<br /><br />Because I don't write spoilers, I can't tell you much more about this book other than to suggest that you buy the book for yourself and dig right in! The characters are likeable, the scenery fantastic and the tale very interesting. If you've read any of Colleen Coble's other books in other series, be warned that some of the other characters from other series make appearances in this book too, which is something I really enjoyed.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1481662354000, "title": "which was a great read set on the beautiful coast of Folly Shoals" }, { "asin": "0718083105", "rating": 4, "text": "&#34;This is a very intense read. The author writes in Afrikaans. Child of the River is the second book written by Irma Joubert that has been translated into English. The first was The Girl from the Train that I have not read. Both of her books are written in the same time period and the location of South Africa. You learn a lot of history when you read this book such as what was going on in Europe during WWII, history during the mid-1950 in South Africa with apartheid and segregation.<br /><br />This is a story about Persomis, the daughter of a sharecropper who comes from a dysfunctional home life. Her father is a drunk and beats his wife and children. Social workers step in and takes the younger siblings and send Persomis to a boarding school where her brother Gerbrand is attending. She works hard, made excellent grades and was allowed to attend the university where she earns a law degree.<br /><br />Irma Joubert weaves three story lines so well. First was Persomi growing up living dirt poor on the Fourie’s farm. Second, the apartheid laws and how they were applied to the families, and third, the love story between Persomi and Boelie.<br /><br />This is a well-written and very inspiring story. I loved the character Persomis especially her passion as she fought for the rights of minorities and the romance between Persomis and Boelie.<br /><br /> I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1481860451000, "title": "made excellent grades and was allowed to attend the university where ..." }, { "asin": "0718086422", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm sure I've said it before, but as part of the Fiction Guild Elite Reader program, I'm often given some pretty amazing books to read and share with my readers. Today's book is no different! It's one of those books I wouldn't have gone out and bought for myself because I wouldn't have known what I was missing!<br /><br />Of Stillness and Storm by Michèle Phoenix is about a missionary family living in Nepal. The story itself is told in two parts - it begins with Lauren, the narrator and wife of Sam, and her 13-year old son, Ryan, living with intermittent power in their home near Kathmandu. Sam leaves for weeks at a time to trek into remote tribes, while leaving Lauren and Sam alone. Lauren is finding ways to cope with the struggle, but Ryan starts feeling the effect of the struggling family.<br /><br />Lauren gets back in touch with a childhood friend who seems to remind her to fight for her son, as well as the woman and writer she used to be. I loved that Lauren seemed very human to readers. Her struggle is familiar to many Christians and while her story is fictional, it is very relatable. Lauren is able to discover that out of darkness and loss emerges a &#34;relentless, demanding, trustworthy, benevolent, and healing God.&#34;<br /><br />I saw a reviewer share a quote from a conversation Lauren has with Sam and I loved it:<br /><br />&#34;I tend to think that who we become because of our faith is more important than what we do to prove it.&#34;<br /><br />Of Stillness and Storm is a story that continues to linger long after its reading. The story is filled with relationships, both spiritual and physical, and it is such a well written book. With rawness and honesty, it plumbs the depths of commitment to family and God. The story is a fascinating view of the missionary life and the benefits and potential pitfalls that can result. This book is one of the most powerful works of fiction I've read in a while and I highly recommend it to others.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in this post are my own.", "timestamp": 1486694103000, "title": "\"I tend to think that who we become because of our faith is more important than what we do to prove it.\"" }, { "asin": "0718090225", "rating": 4, "text": "I received the book, The Angels' Share by James Markert because I'm a Fiction Guild Elite Reader book review blogger. It wouldn't be my normal book genre if I were out shopping for a book, but nonetheless, it was worth a read.<br /><br />The Angels' Share is a historical novel that is true to the times of the Prohibition and the Depression. William &#34;Willie&#34; McFee grew up in Twisted Tree, Kentucky. The McFee family is pretty well off financially even though the town itself is suffering the effects of the McFee family bourbon distillery being shut down by Prohibition. Willie's father, Barley doesn't seem to have any intent on reopening the distillery even though Willie is encouraging him to do so in order to achieve his dream of becoming a distiller as his grandfather had planned.<br /><br />Then a drifter named Asher Keating shows up and he seems to be able to fix people's problems. He dies and is buried in the Potter's Field near the McFee distillery. Gossip begins to circulate about Asher performing miracles. Asher's grave starts getting lots of visitors who are praying at the site, and some strange things begin to happen it the town. Willie starts to investigate the situation and he discovers facts about what his father did during the Prohibition and things about the death of his younger brother. Willie begins to write stories about what he is uncovering and gets them published in a Louisville newspaper, causing all kinds of things to happen.<br /><br />The characters in the book are well developed. The story is full of mystery and unanswered questions. The townspeople are representative of people caught in a difficult situation they cannot control. There are a lot of subplots in this storyline and they will definitely keep readers engrossed in this story.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in this post are my own.", "timestamp": 1489363184000, "title": "The McFee family is pretty well off financially even though the town itself is ..." }, { "asin": "006246910X", "rating": 5, "text": "I find that if the book is written by Shelley Shepard Gray I will enjoy reading it and Her Secret the first book in a new series The Amish of Hart County was no exception. An Amish love story with suspense throughout the book. The main characters Hannah and Isaac are so real that you feel part of their families.<br /><br />The story starts with Hannah Hilty and her family living in Berlin, Ohio in a big house that was comfortable and their family’s legacy. Hannah had been friends with an English man named Trent during her rumspringa. He had pursued her for the last two years and was now following her around and taking pictures of her. Hannah lives her life in fear of this stalker. She quits her job and stays home, only going out with her parents.<br /><br />The family moves from Berlin, Ohio to Munfordville, Kentucky to escape this dangerous man and to give Hannah a new start. Her brother, Ben, and sister, Jenny, blamed Hannah they had to leave their jobs and friends behind. Jenny played a big part in this story and caused Hannah more problems to handle. There are other underlying family secrets that made the family move. Hannah meets her neighbor Isaac Troyer and becomes friends with him. Trent followed the family to Kentucky and became bolder with his activities.<br /><br />I picked this book up and did not put it down until I read the last page. I am so looking forward to the next one in the series, His Guilt, that came out on July 4th, and then there will be two more to follow. I am so recommending this book to my friends!", "timestamp": 1499649149610, "title": "... book is written by Shelley Shepard Gray I will enjoy reading it and Her Secret the first book in ..." }, { "asin": "0718083784", "rating": 5, "text": "I'm a blogger with the Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, and I am very fortunate to be able to receive a lot of books that my mother and I love to read. Today's book, Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks was a first for me. I had never heard of Ms. Parks, and unfortunately, I didn't realize this was book 4 in a series. Nonetheless, to this reader, it wasn't an issue. I'm guessing that there was a plot carried throughout the other books that I may have missed, but I was able to read this book as a stand alone without feeling like I missed anything. In all likelihood, had I read books 1, 2 and 3, I would have had a more panoramic view of the story line.<br /><br />Gwen Marcey is a single mother of a teenage daughter and a cancer survivor, whose ex-husband is threatening to take their daughter away from her. While on a probationary period with her new job as a forensic artist with the Interagency Major Crime Unit (IMCU), Gwen learns about a case of a missing four-year old girl after the murder of her parents in Lapwai, Idaho.<br /><br />The Nez Perce Tribal Police in Lapwai, Idaho are looking for the killer. Because the case took place where she lived when she was little and sounded similar to her own background, Gwen requests being assigned to the case.<br /><br />This assignment causes Gwen to step right into a trap to bring her &#34;home&#34; and to a man who was hurt by her so many years ago. Gwen is in a situation that only God can get her out of. We readers watch as Gwen pieces together her past and present so that she can determine exactly who she really is.<br /><br />The journey to the truth proves to be a very hefty struggle as Gwen finds that many of the witnesses she relies on for information also have strong prejudices against Caucasian people. It takes little time for Gwen to see that she will need to tread very lightly while she's working with the descendants of people involved in these painful moments within Native history.<br /><br />As Gwen works this case, she begins having flashback memories from her own childhood. She begins to think that maybe what happened in her own past could be linked to what is going on in the case she is investigating. Gwen enlists the help of her best friend, Beth, and what they uncover leads them to believe the killer is someone Gwen knows and the killer seems to want Gwen to find out his or her true identity. As Gwen gets closer to the truth, more attempts on her life are made but she refuses to give up. Will her refusal end up costing Gwen her life?<br /><br />In a very spectacular fashion, author Carrie Stuart Parks has written the perfect example of a crime novel with complicated characters mixed with intrigue and suspense. Bravo Ms. Parks! I can't wait to go back and read books 1, 2 and 3 to fill in any blanks I don't even know I have!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1511743487851, "title": "and I am very fortunate to be able to receive a lot of books ..." }, { "asin": "0718082567", "rating": 4, "text": "Words from the Heart is the third book in the Amish Letters series by Kathleen Fuller. While this is the third book, each one can be read as a standalone. I loved the way the author updates readers on what happens to the people from the first two books<br /><br />This is a sweet love story with three main characters: Noah, Ivy, and Noah’s Aunt Cervilla (who was my mother's favorite character). This story begins with Ivy a young unmarried Amish woman so disappointed, feeling hurt and rejected as she is waiting over a year for promised letters from John King that never comes to finding old love letters when Ivy helped Noah clean out Aunt Cervilla’s attic which brought Noah and Ivy closer together in friendship.<br /><br />Ivy Yoder is hurting over her jilted love and is afraid that she will never find a husband in her community of Birch Creek, Ohio. Noah Schlabach is the great-nephew of Ivy’s elderly friend Cevilla Shalaback. He is an auctioneer from Iowa. Cevilla insists the two work together cleaning out her attic. She knows that Noah and Ivy are meant for each other.<br /><br />Not knowing what treasure are in the many boxes they sort through them slowly finding many doilies and old magazines, but in one of the boxes they found a packet of old letters written during the Korean War. The love letters are the story of two people (Bunny and CJ) who are in love.<br /><br />While working together and becoming good friends, Ivy has feelings for Noah, but afraid of getting hurt again. Noah is happy traveling as an auctioneer but knows something is missing in his life. Can Ivy get over the fear from her past to move forward and find love with Noah? Will Noah feel good enough for Ivy and stop his traveling? Does he want to live in her beloved community of Birch Creek?<br /><br />I truly enjoyed reading this book as I love anything written by Kathleen Fuller.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own, or in this case, my mom's.", "timestamp": 1525391757114, "title": "I loved the way the author updates readers on what happens ..." }, { "asin": "0310348080", "rating": 4, "text": "You will enjoy Beneath the Summer Sun without reading the first book, as it does serve as a stand alone. The three complex main characters are Jennie Troyer, Leo Graber, and Nathan Walker. All are facing problems of letting go of their past so that they can move forward with their lives.<br /><br />Jennie carries a secret about her husband, Atlee. The Amish do not divorce as they marry for life, so she told no one about her husband’s mental and physical abuse. Jennie’s husband died from a farming accident four years ago and left her with 7 children to raise on her own under the eyes of the church leaders.<br /><br />Jennie's son, Matthew was ten years old when Atlee died. He knew of the abuse his mother suffered at the hands of his father, and many times he was taken to the shed by his father for beatings. In truth, both Jennie and her son were relieved that Atlee had died. The Community knew something was wrong in her marriage, but not what it was. Jennie was a very likeable person and many had sympathy for her.<br /><br />When Jennie began getting used to life without a husband, two different men took interest in her, and Jennie knew that it was time to remarry. Matthew started sneaking out at night and became moody and rude, but he refused to tell Jennie what was bothering him. <br /><br />Both men who profess to love Jennie had good hearts. First, there is Jennie's childhood friend Amish, Leo Graber, who had been in love with Jennie from the time they were young and attending the same church. He felt so guilty over his father’s death that it prevented him from any social activities. He worked alone building furniture and did not have a happy life.<br /><br />Next, there was Mennonite, Nathan Walker, who was a traveling salesman unable to settle down in one place because he resented that his parents left him behind with relatives while they did mission work in other countries. He was seriously thinking of becoming Amish to be with Jennie. He wanted to settle down with Jennie in her hometown of Jamesport, Missouri.<br /><br />Will Jennie, Leo, Nathan, and Matthew be able to put the past behind them? Who will Jennie choose to love and care for her children? Will she able to trust another man? Atlee was sweet until they spoke their vows, can she believe the sweet words of either man? Three hearts try to discern God’s plan for the future—and find peace beneath the summer sun.<br /><br />Domestic abuse is addressed in this story with showing that faith, trust, forgiveness of yourself, and through the power of prayer we are able to overcome our past and move forward to a healthy, happy life. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time. Thank you Kelly Irvin for a wonderful story and I am looking forward to reading the third book in An Every Amish Season series, which is due out in August of this year, entitled Through the Autumn Air.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own, or in this case, my mom's.", "timestamp": 1525394120890, "title": "You will enjoy Beneath the Summer Sun without reading the first book" }, { "asin": "0718085973", "rating": 4, "text": "Thanks to my relationship with The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, I am very fortunate to receive and review books from various authors -- some I've heard of and some I have not. Today's post is about an author I've heard of, but I've never had an opportunity to read any of her books until now.<br /><br />As soon as I opened the book, You're Gonna Love Me by Robin Lee Hatcher, I was slightly disappointed to realize that this book was book is the sequel to Ms. Hatcher's previous book, You’ll Think of Me, but now that I've read it I can tell you that it can easily be read as a standalone.<br /><br />Samantha Winters returns to Thunder Creek, Idaho to care for her grandmother, Ruth. When she arrives at Ruth's hospital room, she can't even believe that Nick Chastain in there. She hasn't seen him for two years - ever since they broke up after dating for eight months. Because Nick was a daredevil and took too many risks with his life, and because Samantha's fears of his actions were too much to bear, they ended their relationship with harsh words and silence.<br /><br />Now Nick is there and he's recovering from an awful head injury that is causing him to suffer from memory loss and other side effects. Nick has returned to Thunder Creek to have a fresh start at life. Of course, when he sees Sam again, he's hopeful but not sure he deserves a second chance.<br />Sam and Nick's story slowly unfolds throughout You're Gonna Love Me. The author provides small flashbacks of their previous relationship so that readers understand the depth of the past hurts and fears each of them has entering into the reconnection of their relationship. It explains why both Sam and Nick are cautious this time - Sam isn't sure she can trust Nick again and Nick isn't sure of the future of his health and how fair it would be.<br /><br />As Nick and Sam reconnect, they face their fears head on while they both learn to accept each other and trust God. While Sam is trying to overcome her fears, Nick is reaching out to God trying to figure out which way his life is going. I loved how Sam's grandmother, Ruth provided them with some guidance and love in rebuilding their relationship back to friendship and ultimately love.<br />Ruth and her friends were be secondary characters in this book, but their support to the main characters was truly pivotal to the overall story. The author does a great job taking readers through all of the deep emotions and personal relationship issues in Sam and Nick's lives. Readers will be able to identify and relate to the life situations and though processes that this couple must go through in their story. The characters are realistic, the story line moves well, and it's an overall great romance!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1535589599249, "title": "The characters are realistic, the story line moves well, and it's an overall great romance!" }, { "asin": "0062469215", "rating": 4, "text": "Today's post is a book review on Her Fear by Shelley Shepard Gray. This is the fifth book in The Amish of Hart County series, and since we've been on board with this series since March of 2017, it was great to be included in this book too!<br /><br />First in the series was Her Secret released in March of 2017. The second book in the series was His Guilt in released in July of 2017, and the third book was The Gift released in November of 2017. The fourth book in the series was His Risk, which was released in March of 2018.<br /><br />Thank you Shelley Shepard Gray! While I have completely enjoyed this series, I have to say I really liked the fact that this one was not your average Amish book. While Her Fear can be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading the entire series.<br /><br />While Her Fear provides the traditional things we have come to love in an Amish story like romance and mystery, but it also included topics we usually don't see in Amish fiction novels. To be honest, Her Fear reminds us that Amish folks are just like English folks - they are not perfect people, and no one is perfect except God.<br /><br />Her Fear centers around Sadie Detweiler who becomes pregnant and is faced with an unexpected response to that pregnancy. As a result, her family sends her away to distant and extended family of a different sect of the Amish community. When she arrives, she learns that this family does many things so differently than her family.<br /><br />When Sadie arrives, the matriarch of the family, Verba, becomes mysteriously ill and later dies. An EMT that comes to the scene notices Sadie standing alone and quiet. Noah Freeman is that EMT and over time, Sadie grows attracted to him. Noah is an Amish EMT and I was a little surprised at this, so I looked it up and found out that the Amish do work as EMTs, firefighters and first responders. Anyway, Noah is different than all of the other Amish men Sadie has met; she's comfortable with him and she finds herself really liking him. The only thing holding Sadie back from being honest with her feelings is the fact that she is pregnant and she's not sure how Noah will react when he finds out.<br /><br />Verba later dies at the hospital and then two others die suspiciously, so Noah's boss wants him to dig around the Amish community for clues. He finds himself attracted to Sadie, and he sees her as vulnerable and fearful. Noah wants to help Sadie and wants to be there for her as he senses something going on in the house that Sadie is living in. Noah can’t help himself from thinking about Sadie, so he finds reasons just to check up on her.<br /><br />This book was such a super great read. Shelley Shepard Gray's writing is phenomenal (as always) and with the plot twists and turns, reading the book from cover to cover was very easy to do. Whether you've read the other books in the series or whether this would be your first, I definitely recommend Her Fear, and I can't wait for October, when His Promise is released!<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Collins Publishing and Thomas Nelson, in exchange for this post. A positive review was not required.", "timestamp": 1536540512496, "title": "Shelley Shepard Gray's writing is phenomenal (as always)!" }, { "asin": "0718085809", "rating": 4, "text": "Thanks to my relationship with The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, I have been very fortunate to be a part of reading and reviewing so many great books. Coincidentally, I had requested an advanced reader digital copy of this book on NetGalley through my book blogging relationship with them. While the request was pending, I received a paperback copy from Fiction Guild sent me! <br /><br />Today's book, The House at Saltwater Point is by Colleen Coble, an author whose books I've really come to love! The House at Saltwater Point is the second book in Colleen Coble's Lavender Point series. This book serves as a stand alone, but since I also read the first book in this series, The View from Rainshadow Bay, I was happy to catch up with the main characters from that book and to be introduced to Grayson and Ellie in this one.<br /><br />Ellie Blackshaw is a local house flipper, who joins forces with Coast Guard Investigator, Grayson Bradshaw, when Ellie's sister, Mac, disappears. The disappearance seems to be connected with the disappearance of a large shipment of cocaine from a local warehouse. Grayson is firmly resolved to prove that Mac was behind the cocaine theft, while Ellie is desperately trying to prove that Mac is innocent and still alive. What Ellie and Grayson discover is a whole lot more than what they bargained for and it becomes a race against time to keep things from turning deadly.<br /><br />This story captured me right from the start. There is lots of action and excitement to keep readers engaged throughout this story. As is usually the case with Ms. Coble's books, the characters are well written, interesting an unique. I can't wait to read the next book in this series -- I read somewhere that it may come out in January of 2019!<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I also received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review, but because this was another great book, I wanted to do so! The opinions I have expressed are my own!", "timestamp": 1539477059114, "title": "This story captured me right from the start." }, { "asin": "078522405X", "rating": 4, "text": "Indivisible by Travis Thrasher, is the novelization of the upcoming movie by David G. Evans. The synopsis is the same as the movie, obviously, so I'll just share my opinions:<br /><br />I loved the progress of the story line and the raw emotion shown by the characters made this a very strong story. I appreciated how the author used short chapters that made the story very easy and fast flowing. I'll be honest -- I read the book before I saw the movie, and it really caused me to be excited to see the movie!<br /><br />I liked how some of the chapters would switch to the present because it provided good emotional effects for some of the situations. I would say though, that this story wouldn't necessarily be good to share with some of your younger family members since there are some war scenes in the story (in movie version anyway).<br /><br />Through this story, readers are provided with the truths of how difficult it is for families to be separated for long periods of time and the dangers that our soldiers face. It also shares the difficulties the military has when they come back home after facing war and death and how it changes everyone. It makes me thank God everyday for the courage and strength of our military.<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy from Thomas Nelson through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I was not required to post a positive review, but have chosen to do so because this book was great! Thank you!!", "timestamp": 1540515511431, "title": "I loved the progress of the story line and the raw emotion shown" }, { "asin": "1624167470", "rating": 5, "text": "The author of today's book, The Hope Jar, is Wanda E. Brunstetter. This book is the first in a three-book series called The Prayer Jars. Back in 2015, I actually met her when she was doing a book signing event at the local Wal-Mart here in Sarasota, Florida. At that time, I was able to get my mother, Gloria an autographed copy of one of her favorite Amish books. Ever since that meeting in 2015, whenever the opportunity arises to read and review one of Ms. Brunstetter's books, I jump on it because my mother LOVES Amish stories. <br /><br />Gloria recently mentioned this book and said she couldn't wait to read it, so when I saw it available on NetGalley through my book blogging relationship with them, I requested it and was approved. Unfortunately, Gloria recently had eye surgery so she was unable to read this book after all. <br /><br />The Hope Jar blends both Amish and contemporary fiction together, unlike many of Ms. Brunstetter's other books, which are strictly Amish fiction. After I finished reading The Hope Jar, because it was such a great read, I've already requested the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader copy of the second book in the series, The Forgiving Jar, releasing in February of 2019. My mom really missed out on this one! I finished this book in just about the time it took one college football game to play on television. <br /><br />Mary Ruth and Willis Lapp are at the bus station looking for their long lost granddaughter, Sara Murray. Michelle is at the bus station and Mary Ruth and Willis mistakenly think Michelle is Sara. since Michelle's life is at a dead end, she decides to go along with the Lapps thinking and pretends to be their granddaughter just long enough for her to get her life under control<br /><br />While she is on the Lapps' farm, Michelle learns what it feels like to be truly cared for and loved, which is something she's never had in her life. Michelle never had a real family, having grown up in foster care, and no one ever took the time to really get to know her and love her. Michelle blossoms under the Lapps' love and she learns to love the simple life of the Amish. As she grows in this life, she starts to feel more and more guilty about the deception she is committing by living the life of Sara Murray instead of her own.<br /><br />I loved Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp, although I did feel like they were a bit naive in never asking Michelle for proof that she was their long lost granddaughter. Regardless, they really portrayed the Amish that we've come to learn about and love through Ms. Brunstetter's books - hardworking, faithful, loving and caring people. Their lesson on forgiveness was an example to readers of folks who follow the Word of God.<br /><br />The Hope Jar had a very good story line and it was truly an inspiring story. The characters great and readers were provided with a well thought out message. The Hope Jar have woven the tale of two young women who have experienced tragedy and are at a crossroads in their lives. <br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review but chose to since it was a great book! Thank you!", "timestamp": 1543091122534, "title": "The Hope Jar had a very good story line and was truly an inspiring story." }, { "asin": "0718083857", "rating": 4, "text": "Just about a year ago, I read and reviewed Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks. It was a great book, so when I received Formula of Deception from the Fiction Guild through my blogging relationship with them, I was happy. Because my TBR (to be read) stack was a little bigger than I wanted, I haven't had a chance to read this one until now even though it was published in July of this year.<br /><br />Protagonist, Murphy Andersen is hiding in rural Alaska on the run from a serial killer who is probably responsible for her twin sister’s disappearance might soon find her. <br /><br />She uses her artistic skills and fine sense of details and poses as a forensic artist, but she ends up finding herself in more danger than ever.<br /><br />Ms. Parks uses the interesting history of the Kodiak and Aleutian islands region around WWII, giving the story a very realistic feel making the story line even more thrilling.<br /><br />As I read more about Murphy’s character and as her history was revealed, I realized that I liked her character more and more. It became more clear to me as the story progressed that the author had some psychological elements in play, but I wasn't sure how that would pan out. The conversations with her dead sister that Murphy conducted in her head gave me a clue that there was something going on.<br /><br />I was completely engaged in the story line from the first page, and I thought for sure I could figure out the ending before the end of the book since I had experience in Ms. Parks' writing, but as it turned out, I wasn't prepared for how this book ended. This electrifying novel has twists and turns that will make readers awestruck when they discover how she fits it all together at the end.<br /><br />As an added plus, the author includes eight discussion questions to help get a book club discussion going, which is perfect for this fascinating read since it would definitely work well as a book club pick.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1543113513049, "title": "This electrifying novel has twists and turns that will make readers awestruck" }, { "asin": "0310348145", "rating": 4, "text": "Being a part of The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program provides with books to read (which I love to do) and the only requirement is that I have to share a report after I've read the book. As far as I'm concerned, it's a winning arrangement for me and my mother, who loves anything written about the Amish.<br /><br />Today's book is Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin, and it's the third book in the series, Every Amish Season. I've had the opportunity read the first book, Upon A Spring Breeze, and the second book, Beneath the Summer Sun by Kelly Irvin. (The fourth book, With Winter's First Frost, is being released in January, 2019, so you'll need to hurry and read this one!!)<br /><br />Mary Katherine is the mother of ten and it has been seven years since her husband, Moses died and she became a widow. She's full of energy and always ready to step in and help her friends around her Amish community. Her old school friend, Ezekiel Miller, offers Mary Katherine a position as a cook in his restaurant, The Purple Martin Café, named in honor of his late wife Lucy. She knows she should accept, but she doesn't really want to spend her time working in a kitchen. Mary Katherine's secret desire is to write and to own a bookstore with her English friend, but in the Amish community, the church elders want her to work in an Amish-owned store instead. <br /><br />Mary Katherine's oldest son is trying to convince her to move into his Dawdi house, but she is resistant. An English stranger breaks into Mary Katherine's house and proceeds to make himself a sandwich one autumn night. She doesn't call the sheriff, but instead she turns to Ezekiel for help. both Mary Katherine and Ezekiel realize that the stranger, Burke, needs help, so Ezekiel offers Burke a job at his restaurant.<br /><br />While this is book 3 of 4 in An Every Amish Season series, this book could be read as a stand-alone. I loved reading a story dealing with more mature characters and the challenges they faced. Ms. Irvin also added friendships between the Amish and the English that seemed very honest and were caring, respectful and realistic. <br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1544575510167, "title": "Ms. Irvin also added friendships between the Amish and the English that seemed very honest!" }, { "asin": "1683700619", "rating": 4, "text": "Rating 4.5 Stars!<br />The story line of Reason to Breathe is set in Missouri, and the story is about the lives of three sisters, Phylicia, Phee and Brit. Readers move through their pain as they lose their mother, and in another way, they lose their father, Turner, as he runs off to Florida, leaving the sisters struggling emotionally. <br /><br />Because this is book 1 in the Chandler Sisters series, this book is Phylicia Chandler’s story, but I definitely loved the dynamic between all three of the three sisters. I felt that they were thrown into such an uncertain situation, while trying to work through their grief over their mother’s death. The story also weaves hope in and out throughout the story. <br /><br />The sisters are very likable and relatable characters, and I was quickly drawn into this story because it felt so honest and real. As I got to the end, I will admit I was super excited to learn that the other two sisters will also have a story to tell in the next books in the series. <br /><br />Ms. Raney is a fantastic author and I've never read a book that she's written that I haven't loved! Those readers who enjoy inspirational and contemporary romance will definitely want to pick up a copy of Reason to Breathe to read before the second book is released!!<br /><br />I was provided with a courtesy copy of this book as part of the Just Read Tour in exchange my post. A positive review was not required.", "timestamp": 1544579561088, "title": "I was super excited that the other two sisters will also have a story to tell!" }, { "asin": "1683701496", "rating": 4, "text": "This story can truly renew your faith in humanity! Readers need be be warned: please make sure you read to the end for the epilogue, but be sure to have your tissues ready!<br /><br />This book and its story are great! I enjoyed it cover to cover, from beginning to end, and could barely be okay with it ending! It shares with readers the true meaning of Christmas. The author writes this story so that readers are put right in the middle of everything: the main character, Julia, an eleven-year-old girl, and a reclusive deaf man who has a gift of carving. I'll be honest, I think this movie is ready for Hallmark! I know it's a movie I would definitely watch!<br /><br />Thanks so much NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this story! It was great!", "timestamp": 1545535733908, "title": "This book and its story are great!" }, { "asin": "0529118734", "rating": 4, "text": "Thanks to my relationship with The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, my mother and I have been lucky enough to be a part of reading and reviewing so many of Beth Wiseman's books! Today's post is about her latest book, Amish Celebrations: Four Novellas. Gloria (my mom) was originally planning to read and review this book for us, but because she hasn't healed enough from eye surgery and can't read yet, I was assigned the book:<br /><br />What I loved most about this collection of stories is that they are all written by one author. It makes the writing seamless from story to story. I liked that each story was written around a particular time of celebration - birthday, baptism, wedding and Christmas. <br /><br /> * In The Gift of Sisters, twins Hannah and Rachel both fall for a new guy in town, which makes for conflict between them. The story is great and I loved how Ms. Wiseman shows how lies can cause a friend or family member to question a person's reputation. She took a subject that all young women face and handled it with grace.<br /><br /> * In A New Beginning, you could tell right from the start that Noah was going to cause problems. When Noah experiences a bit of the English world, it causes him to forget about his fiance' Rebecca, and soon afterward the trouble follows. Ms. Wiseman shares how Noah struggles with his faith, as well as guilt, forgiveness and temptation. I loved the ending of this story and I also loved the very relatable characters.<br /><br /> ** In A Perfect Plan (also published in An Amish Wedding), Ms. Wiseman introduces us to Priscilla and Chester, a young couple about to be married. When things start to go wrong and they begin to face obstacles that had nothing to do with their love for each other, they both question if they are doing the right thing. Ms. Wiseman shows how we need to see that God's plan for us is bigger than our own and that we need to know that love will always endure.<br /><br /> * In A Christmas Miracle, Beth introduces us to Mary and Gabriel, who are a young couple with five small children finding it hard to cope with life’s challenges. They are doing the best they can but sometimes it's just too much for them. Mary feels like she just can't keep up and starts to doubt herself. I really loved how the Englisch couple, Bruce and Joan, came into Mary's life. To be honest, it's almost too hard to decide which couple made the most impact on the other, but I know they were all very blessed. The moral of this story is that it is okay to ask for help and to that help when it offered regardless of who is offering the help. This last novella doesn't show the Amish lifestyle superficially attractive way, but instead, it shows the strain of living under the rules of the Old Order.<br /><br />Amish Celebrations is a sweet celebration of stories. Each of the stories has its own unique twist and each one focuses on some kind of celebration. The stories are perfect for this time of year and the holiday season.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1545869561726, "title": "The stories are perfect for this time of year and the holiday season." } ]

[ { "asin": "0310335582", "rating": 5, "text": "I'll admit it - the Amish world has always intrigued me to some extent. I was born and raised in northeastern Ohio and there was a huge Amish community in nearby Holmes County, where we would head out on the weekends to taste their wares while hitting the garage sales and flea markets.<br /><br />Then, when I moved down to Sarasota, Florida, I was surprised to learn there was a large Amish community here as well, and I've taken the benefit of enjoying some fantastic food at &#34;Amish-style&#34; restaurants and I've driven down some streets that have tons of bicycles and women dressed modestly.<br /><br />I realize that I need apologize in advance when I say &#34;Amish&#34; because I never looked closely enough into each community to determine whether it was &#34;Amish,&#34; &#34;Mennonite&#34; or &#34;Anabaptist&#34;. I had heard the terms &#34;Amish&#34; and &#34;Mennonite&#34; before reading this book, but I can honestly say I've never heard of &#34;Anabaptist&#34;.<br /><br />In any event, The Plain Choice by Sherry Gore, is a short book - 179 pages. As I was reading it, I was thinking to myself that my auto accident story would probably fill just about the same amount of pages if I were to try and write a book about my life too. I will say this: while The Plain Choice is a short book comparing it to some of the novels I read, it was just enough pages to walk through Ms. Gore's life. I was very impressed by her honesty, and I loved that the book flowed in time rather than jumping back and forth.<br /><br />It is very clear that Ms. Gore is a very determined woman. Once she made up her mind to change the way she was living, she whole-heartedly took the leap into her new life. I appreciated that she was honest in sharing the part of her story that some people would keep hidden, the &#34;real&#34; Sherry Harris. She shares her childhood struggles growing up and feeling unloved and not a part of her father's life. She does not minimize poor choices or blame someone else for them. She makes it clear that she had removed God from her life. She was and still is an imperfect human living in an imperfect world.<br /><br />Ms. Gore's story teaches us that not all Amish-Mennonite's are removed from technology and modern conveniences too. It depends on the churches and communities as to how &#34;modern&#34; they become.<br /><br />The pinnacle point is when she immersed herself in baptism to her old life, and newness of life in Christ Jesus, and as an Amish-Mennonite. Sherry Gore is saved by grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. But there is more to this book. It is a call for all to realize God's love and forgiveness and that absolutely no one is beyond God's love and redemption.<br /><br />The next time I'm traveling around in Sarasota, I'll be sure to look for that cute Electra bike of hers and give her a &#34;shout out&#34; for this book! I truly appreciate that BookLookBloggers provided me with a paperback copy of this book without cost in exchange for my personal and honest opinion and unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1442604782000, "title": "and I've taken the benefit of enjoying some fantastic food at \"Amish-style\" restaurants and I've driven down some ..." }, { "asin": "1401689604", "rating": 4, "text": "The story line of this book is set in a resort mountain town of Evergreen, Colorado. Kate Whidby is an 11 year-old protector of the family and dreams of becoming a spy. She is caught in the middle of all her family members and grandparents. Her family operates The Harrison Lodge, a historic mountain resort, and has done so for many generations. She keeps her family members' secrets from others and the day after she’s witnessed her grandfather arguing with his best friend, the man is murdered.<br /><br />At the same time in Denver, a robbery gone wrong, a consequent murder, and a gang member set on revenge for the death of his son bring several mysterious people to the Harrison Lodge. In her desire to help others, Kate chooses to harbor a fugitive while trying to save her family at the same time.<br /><br />Readers are introduced to other families, from different walks of life - not only the homeless man who sees a robbery gone wrong, but we also see runaways living under a bridge and the gang member seeking revenge for the death of his son. We also meet Charlie, a boy who has lived on the streets, with no money, and an alcoholic father. After Charlie runs away and crashes a motorcycle in Evergreen, Colorado. Kate comes upon him and hides him in a secret cubby in one of the inn's cottages.<br /><br />There are a lot of different events going on at the beginning and you wonder how they are all going to come together. Once they all converge at The Harrison Lodge, it becomes much easier to follow the story and see where everything is going.<br /><br />The author, Erin Healy, takes various different storylines and skillfully weaves them together over the course of a weekend until they come to a head late Sunday afternoon at the hotel. While the beginning of the book starts a little slow, I think it has to so that the foundation is set out for each key character. We get to know the characters, their lives and their dreams. Once the &#34;action&#34; gets going, readers move through the theft, and then the robbery involving two of the main characters. We are drawn in very easily to the individuals and readers are compassionate to their situations as the book progresses.<br /><br />Ultimately, this book circles around ideas of family and forgiveness. Erin Healy shows us the dynamics of what makes a family work and what makes them fight for each other. I appreciated the depths that this story went to on a thought-provoking level. I found it to be a great read once I got over the hump of bringing the characters together. The book kept me hanging on until the very end to find the answers to some of the mysteries that came out while I was reading. I enjoyed the book and spent a lot of time flipping pages on the edge of my seat to see how things would turn out.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost as part of the Fiction Guild Team Challenge in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1444623127000, "title": "She keeps her family members' secrets from others and the day after she’s witnessed her grandfather arguing with his best friend" }, { "asin": "0824956478", "rating": 5, "text": "If you want to teach your children about Christmas - the real Christmas, The Sparkle Box: A Gift with the Power to Change Christmas by Jill Hardie is the book to get! It's for ages 4 to 8 and it's a perfect story for any child.<br /><br />Author Jill Hardie tells the story of Sam, who is so excited about Christmas! Sam is preparing his Christmas &#34;want&#34; list and he's excited about the upcoming holiday parties. At the same time, he is so curious about one very mysterious gift -- a sparkly box sitting on the mantel above the fireplace. Whenever Sam asked his mother about the box, she would tell him to wait, that she had a few more things to put in the box.<br /><br />In the midst of all of the Christmas festivities, Sam and his family bless other people with various acts of kindness, and all the while Sam waits impatiently to find out what is in the box. On Christmas morning, Sam finally gets to open the box, and he finds the slips of paper recording his family's good deeds. His parents explain to him that the things they are doing - the blessings they are providing others - are a gift for Jesus in honor of His birthday. Sam was confused as they had given the gifts to people, not Jesus. His mother explains that when we give to others we are giving to Him.a gift for Jesus -- for Jesus said that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Him.<br /><br />The Sparkle Box story is inspired by Matthew 25:40 &#34;Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.&#34; The book challenges us to put aside our wants for those in need. To think of others. Whether it be a material item like food, clothes or shelter. Or a spiritual need, such as praying with someone, lending a shoulder. Or maybe giving of your time to a neighbor or friend in need.<br /><br />This heartfelt story will inspire readers to adopt this faith-centered tradition in their own homes. The illustrations in The Sparkle Box are awesome and children are very engaged to the story. The Sparkle Box includes a glitter-coated fold-out Sparkle Box on the inside cover of the back. The book is absolutely gorgeous and is destined to become a children’s Christmas classic for years to come! You can start your own family tradition of giving gifts to the One who gave all to us! The Sparkle Box is definitely a &#34;must have&#34; book for anyone that has children or grandchildren!<br /><br />I was provided with a review copy of this book as a First Look Blogger for Worthy Publishing without cost in exchange for this, my honest review and unbiased opinion.", "timestamp": 1449065759000, "title": "It's for ages 4 to 8 and it's a perfect story for any child" }, { "asin": "031033344X", "rating": 5, "text": "My mom has been on a reading &#34;spree&#34; for the last year or two - ever since we helped her get an e-reader on Black Thursday. She will sit and read for four or five hours at a time - even if it is the middle of the night because hey, she's retired, and can take a nap all afternoon if she wants! When I received this book, The Mountain Midwife by Laurie Alice Eakes, I knew my mom would love the book and since I had quite a stack of books myself, I gladly shared with her in exchange for her honest review. Below you'll find my mom's review:<br /><br />The Mountain Midwife is a wonderful book that is the story of midwife Ashley Tolliver and it contains many twists and turns. I loved reading this book because the Appalachian setting. This book touched the areas of Virginia and parts of West Virginia which mean so much to me.<br /><br />The women in Ashley Tolliver family has been practicing the art of midwifery for many years in their small Appalachian mountain community. Ashley wants to further her education by attending medical school and leave behind the women that she serves. One of the women that Ashley helps deliver in her home is abducted while Ashley is trying to get her to the hospital because she is bleeding dangerously. Ashley now must find the woman and her newborn baby.<br /><br />After receiving a mysterious phone call from a woman claiming to be his mother, Hunter McDermott needs to track where this call came from and seeks the aid of the local midwife (Ashley Tolliver) in this mountain town hoping that she can help him find his family’s background.. Hunter McDermott learning that he is adopted now wants to meet his birth mother who says he has a brother and sister living in the Appalachian Mountains.<br /><br />Ashley is on her own mission to find the abducted mother and newborn baby and Hunter McDermott wants to know his family in the Appalachian Mountains. Will Ashley leave the place where her feet is firmly planted or will Hunter learn to love her Appalachian Mountains?<br /><br />The characters were complex, but at the same time, they were easy to relate to. The Mountain Midwife was definitely a page-turner, and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. There were a few times in the story that the characters had tough decisions to make, and it was refreshing to see that they always turned to God to help them with these tough decisions.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own (or well, in this case, my mother's).", "timestamp": 1453065273000, "title": "The characters were complex, but at the same time, they were easy to relate to." }, { "asin": "031034199X", "rating": 4, "text": "Most of you know that my mother absolutely LOVES Amish stories. She once told me that she enjoys Amish stories because they share about times that seem more &#34;simple&#34; and the priorities of the Amish are clear - faith and family. Because of the fact that my mom likes to read, and doesn't mind providing me with a book review when she's finished, we decided that if any opportunities come up for book reviews on Amish books, she would gladly read them and provide me with her review.<br /><br />Below is my mother, Gloria's review of The Forgotten Recipe (An Amish Heirloom Novel) by Amy Clipston:<br /><br />&#34;This is a story of two people touched by tragedy and both are unable to move forward with their lives until they confront their shared past. It is about love, trust and forgiveness.<br /><br />Veronica Fisher is devastated when her fiancé, Seth Lapp is killed in a tragic accident at work. Jason Huyard worked with Seth and they were best friends. Jason is having a hard time dealing with Seth's death and thinks a lot about Veronica because Seth talked about her all the time. Following the accident, Jason feels compelled to share his grief and condolences with Veronica, who loved his friend also.<br /><br />The forgotten recipe is a newly found, but old recipe stored in her mother's hope chest in the attic, which is for a raspberry pie that Veronica's grandmother used to make. Discovering this recipe, Veronica opens a bake stand in order to sell raspberry pies using her grandmother's recipe. Jason Huyard quickly becomes a regular customer but does not tell her that he knew Seth. Slowly, as he gets to know Veronica, Jason begins to fall in love with Veronica, which is the last thing he wants to do. Veronica is also hesitant to fall in love because of her promise to only love Seth. Jason visits the bake stand once a week for more than raspberry pies - they have something special!<br /><br />This story is about two strangers - one loses the man she's going to marry while the other loses his best friend. This a wonderful story that will leave you hanging at the end of the book. How will Veronica react when she finds out that she and Jason share a past? Jason has a secret - can it ruin their chance at happiness? Will Veronica trust Jason?&#34;<br /><br />If you want to read a story about love, loss and how one recipe brought two people together in ways they couldn't imagine, you'll probably want to read this book. As you can see, my mom isn't giving you spoilers either!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own (or well, in this case, my mother's).", "timestamp": 1453604712000, "title": "a story about love, loss and how one recipe brought two people together!" }, { "asin": "1401689752", "rating": 4, "text": "At the opening of the story, we learn that the main character Lucy Alling, is a rare book seller who works for Sid McKenna, one of the most respected antiques dealer and high end interior decorators in Chicago. Most of Lucy's work with Sid involves keeping the inventory and meeting customers, but Lucy loves to find old editions and then sell them at Sid's shop and she loves her job. Unfortunately, the origins and authenticity of some of the editions that Lucy &#34;finds&#34; are suspect and we learn that her morals are questionable and that she has taken a few liberties with the books she has acquired for the store and then sold.<br /><br />Lucy meets James, a handsome stranger and promising young attorney who buys two of her favorite books for family members. They become romantically involved once James shares that his attraction to Lucy is the main reason he even purchased the books to begin with. Lucy meets James' grandmother, Helen, a woman with terminal cancer who hires Lucy to be her companion on a trip to England where Helen must deal with her own secrets. Visiting some of the sites famous for the Brontë novels and the places where the Brontë sisters lived, a friendship is born and both Lucy and Helen realize that they must face their flaws and fix their wrongdoings.<br /><br />I had never heard of the Brontë sisters before this book, so I didn't know what the title actually meant until I read this book. I thought it was pretty amazing that when I took out a note pad and made a list, there were over 50 other books mentioned in the story of this book!<br /><br />The Brontë Plot explores what makes us who we are and asks if we can change. In my humble opinion, since this book was held out to be a Christian book, I was surprised that there wasn't very much spiritual emphasis as I would have liked, but the life truths were there. The Brontë Plot is about people facing their past to be able to move on into the future.<br /><br />“All real lives hold controversy, trials, mistakes, and regrets. What matters is what you do next.” ― Katherine Reay, The Brontë Plot<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1454551242000, "title": "There were over 50 other books mentioned in the story of this book!" }, { "asin": "0764211595", "rating": 4, "text": "I wasn't hadn't heard of Nancy Mehl before, so I wasn't familiar with her writing before so when this book became available for review, I wasn't sure what to expect. This particular book, Rising Darkness, is Nancy Mehl's third book in the Finding Sanctuary series. Obviously since I haven't heard of Ms. Mehl, so I haven't read the first two books but in all honesty, I had no trouble following along in this book, so I'd say it's definitely a &#34;stand alone&#34; book. I am betting though, that I missed some of the history of the town and of the people, which might have made this book have more depth to me.<br /><br />The main character, Sophie Wittenbaur, is a young lady who grew up in a conservative and strict Mennonite family. Sophie left her small town of Kingdom both in shame and regret and to leave her painful and abusive past behind. Sophie educates herself and chases her dream job of becoming an investigative reporter. While she tries to make a name for herself as a reporter, Sophie unintentionally lands in the middle of a possible lead on a murderer who escaped with millions of dollars. The past that Sophie has worked so hard to leave behind ends up right in front of her again as she travels to the fictional Mennonite town of Sanctuary, Missouri. she takes herself &#34;under cover&#34; posing as Emily McClure while she searches for information in Sanctuary.<br /><br />Sophie meets an old flame, Jonathon Wiese, who is now a pastor in Sanctuary. Jonathon soon discovers who Emily really is and begins helping Sophie discover the answer to this story she has been trying to crack. At the same time, Sophie begins to question her decision of turning away from God and blaming God for her childhood pain while Jonathon reminds her that God was carrying her at those times in her life. There are threats and dangers around every corner, and while Sophie doesn't fully trust Jonathon she realizes that she must let him save her life.<br /><br />Rising Darkness is clear in its message to readers that we can't hold on to our past and that we need to turn things over to God and trust that He will lead us. As I stated above, I haven't read the first two books in this series, but I'm thinking if they are as good as this one, I would recommend that you read them all. While I wasn't familiar with Ms. Mehl before, I can now say that this book was fast paced and the characters were well developed. I loved the story line and you are definitely left guessing about what to expect next. I thought it was a great book and I would recommend it to other readers.<br /><br />Thank you to Bethany House for the opportunity for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1454875189000, "title": "Sophie left her small town of Kingdom both in shame and regret and to leave her painful and abusive past behind" }, { "asin": "0310338492", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm not the type to steal credit when credit is due someone else, so let me tell you right now that the following review of this book, Whispers in the Reading Room is my mother's review:<br /><br />&#34;While both my daughter and I have read several of Shelley Shepard Gray's Amish series books, we did not know she wrote other types of books as well. In fact, I was actually surprised to see this book, Whispers in the Reading Room, was written by the same author, but was happy to give it a try nonetheless.<br /><br />The setting for this historic book is in the seedier part of Chicago where the crime rate is high shortly after the Chicago World Fair in 1893. At once this story transported me to Chicago with its life in the back alleys and was part of the great division between the upper and middle class society.<br /><br />Whispers in the Reading Room is a story about middle class librarian, Lydia Bancroft, and the unlikely friendship she finds herself with a mysterious debonair gentleman patron of her library who never checks a book out. Lydia herself was lonely, and as she is weighted down by the duty to secure a wealthy husband so she can meet her mother's needs, she is very anxious.<br /><br />At once you realize that Mr. Sebastian Marks is an elusive man with many secrets. She learns his name when their paths cross the night Lydia's fiancé takes her to the Hartman Hotel and begins to rough handle her. Sebastian Marks intervenes in a tense situation in Lydia's life and from that moment on Lydia’s new friend takes on the role of protector while showing her that her fiancé isn’t who she thinks he is. Lydia discovers that Sebastian lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.<br /><br />Sebastian himself is quite the mystery man pretending to be a gentleman, and Lydia is shocked to learn that he is the owner of a drinking and gambling establishment. Lydia insists on visiting the club one night and both she and Sebastian are suddenly suspects to a murder. She must determine who can she really trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian (who everyone fears) is actually everything she thinks he is.<br /><br />A mystery book is not the kind of book that I usually read, but once I started Whispers in the Reading Room I could not put it down. Whispers in the Reading Room was an excellent mystery/murder/romance for curling up reading on a raining day by the fireplace. Even though I hadn't read the first two books in this series, I fell in love with all the characters in this story and looking forward to a follow-up story. I will definitely have to go back and read the other Chicago World's Fair Mystery series books - Book #1, Secrets of Sloane House and Book #2, Deception on Sable Hill too!&#34;<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own - well, they are my mother's and for that, I am responsible.", "timestamp": 1457375561000, "title": "but was happy to give it a try nonetheless" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 5, "text": "The Wedding Chapel was the first book written by Rachel Hauck that I have read. At first, I didn't think I was going to care for this book; it seemed like there was just too much information. While I did think the story was interesting, I struggled with Ms. Hauck's telling of it. As the story progressed though - probably about halfway through the book - the story turned out to be a really good one.<br /><br />I feel that Rachel writes from her heart about real broken family struggles, and the drama that goes along with it. The Wedding Chapel is a complex story of interwoven lives, souls seeking peace, secrets, forgiveness, and second chances. The characters were real and I enjoyed their journey each went on within themselves.<br /><br />The Wedding Chapel reminds me of something like time-travel because the story moves back and forth from Heart's Bend, Tennessee in 1948 where it is a lost love story of Jimmy and Colette and then to flash forward to the present where it is a modern love story of Jack and Taylor in New York. Due to the style of this writing, the reader is following the two different couples on their journey of love.<br /><br />At the heart of this story is the wedding chapel, symbolizing hope and healing, while at the same time conveying that there is no time limit on love and second chances.I loved the location of the chapel and the romances of the four characters. This book is such a great love story and also has a hint of suspense regarding a secret one of the characters held. The Wedding Chapel is a book that I will remember.<br /><br />If you enjoy books about inspirational romance and learning how to depend on God to help see your blessings I would highly recommend this one. This book would make a really good book club reading book or as a Hallmark movie.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1457466051000, "title": "it seemed like there was just too much information" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 4, "text": "While I have come to learn that Terri Blackstock is a well known author, this was the first of her books I've ever read. If I Run is the first book in a series also named If I Run. I'm really glad I got in on the first book, so I'll be all set to read the rest in the series. Yes, I'll be reading the future books too.<br /><br />If I Run is written in first person and present tense and it is with two points of view – alternating between the two main characters – namely, Casey Cox and Dylan Roberts. This style of writing really builds up the tension in this story and it puts the reader right in the center of it all.<br /><br />Ms. Blackstock first introduces us to Casey as she is cleaning blood off her tennis shoes and packing up to skip town. Her DNA is all over a crime scene and she is a fugitive who is running for her life. Dylan is the man hired to look for Casey. Right from the start, readers aren’t really clear about Casey's guilt or innocence and this isn’t disclosed until we are pretty far into the story. It definitely kept the suspense going throughout the story, which for me, made for good reading.<br /><br />We learn that Casey is running from the real killers. She is smart and knows how to avoid the cops and as the story progresses, Dylan begins to think Casey cannot actually be the killer too.<br /><br />The author also works in a secondary plot, but I don’t want this to be a spoiler so I’ll just tell you it is an exciting side story that doesn’t distract readers from the main plot.<br /><br />If I Run is a well written book with well developed characters. This book is chalked full of unexpected twists and turns, which, added to the ongoing suspense of the story makes readers excited for the second installment to this series. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for that sequel!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1457475291000, "title": "I'm really glad I got in on the first book" }, { "asin": "0718037626", "rating": 4, "text": "I wasn't sure what to expect with the title of this book - The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell - but I took a chance anyway. The story still has me in shock so excuse me if this review is slightly garbled. The book held me from page one and is still resonating in my head.<br /><br />This story takes place pre-Katrina, in New Orleans. Our main character is Amanda, whose daughter, Ellie's best friend is Sarah. Amanda steps in as a chaperone on her daughter's sixth-grade Halloween field trip to the Big Easy. When Sarah is abducted, Amanda is guilt-ridden because she feels that she was supposed to be the one watching Sarah when she disappeared and she feels responsible.<br /><br />“We all have a feathered bone. It’s called hope. If we hang on to hope, if we don’t let anybody break us or make us forget who we are, then we will always be free.” Sarah<br /><br />Woven throughout this book is Sarah’s side of the story, which is told through her journal entries written so she can remember who she really is. She addresses her entries to a sparrow that comes to her window to visit. In those writings, the reality of Sarah's situation is is disclosed in a very sensitive way. The lessons that her parents taught her before her abduction allow her to stay remind herself of truth. Sarah's voice, through her journal entries, was full of simple, beautiful wisdom.<br /><br />For me this novel shared a very dark story of mental health, abuse and sexual exploitation. It was really deep but does show readers that life doesn't always go smooth and easy and that trials and fears attack us when we least expect them. Cantrell's characters are real and complex, the story is layered and the themes difficult. Amanda was a completely believable character even when she couldn't fix things. Sometimes her emotions were all over the place and the book overall is an emotional rollercoaster. I loved how faith played a big part for the characters too.<br /><br />The details of each character's storyline are so real that while reading, I almost felt like I was a part of the lives of these characters. This is one of those &#34;hard to put down&#34; kind of books, but when you finally do put the book down, you will continue to think about them all.<br /><br />“It is written to remind us all that we are loved, we have worth, and we are never alone.” Julie Cantrell<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1461453179000, "title": "Ellie's best friend is Sarah" }, { "asin": "0764212486", "rating": 5, "text": "This is a story about a twenty five year old unwed Lucy Flaud an Amish girl living in Lancaster County, PA. It begins with mystery and intrigue that will unravel in bits and pieces throughout this novel. As I read this story, I felt that had I known Lucy's past and her mistakes earlier on in the story, I might have enjoyed this novel more but since I didn't know, I felt that I rushed through the story just to find the answers.<br /><br />Lucy had done something in her past where she made a grave mistake. By holding on to her past, she is unable to let go of her sins by forgiving herself and asking God for forgiveness so she move forward. Somehow this mistake help create a strained relationship with her parents especially her father Christian.<br /><br />Trying to find redemption - or &#34;atonement&#34; for her past - Lucy fills every day volunteering at charitable organizations, helping her married sister with her children, and working at home helping her twin sisters and Mother. No matter how hard she works, she cannot fill the empty hole in her heart. I had a hard time understanding her relationship with her twin sisters. Lucy’s journey held lessons on love, faith and forgiveness as she found her way back to church. On her journey Lucy meets an elderly couple who met on a bridge to celebrate. While she listens to their story of love Lucy begins to heal.<br /><br />Lucy's father, Christian, starts attending a local grief support group where he meets, Englisher, Dale Wyeth. Dale seems to be looking for a more simple life and he owns a local hardware store. Through their friendship, Dale starts spending time around the Flaud farm, and Lucy begins to know Dale as they become friends. People are worried, though, that the friendship will lead to more and Lucy past will be revisited when they spot her riding in his truck<br /><br />Meeting Dale brings back all of the painful memories Lucy has avoided. She begins to help a homeless girl she has become friends with and in doing so, she begins to restore her broken relationship with God. This story was provoking and made me look inside myself at mistakes I’ve made in the past. Like Lucy, I had a hard time asking God for forgiveness and let go of my sins to find peace. This is an emotional story that Beverly Lewis tells so well and it is an excellent look at redemption and forgiveness. I enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />Thank you to the Bethany House Blogger Review Program for the opportunity for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1461842307000, "title": "I might have enjoyed this novel more but since I didn't know" }, { "asin": "0718033183", "rating": 4, "text": "This book is second in a series called the &#34;Amish of Birch Creek&#34; written by Kathleen Fuller. I did not read the first book but An Unbroken Heart can stand alone without having previously reading book one. I really enjoyed reading this story and put it down once. Kathleen Fuller makes the reader feel the emotions of love, fear, pain, and questions of self-worth and happiness. The main characters in this book are Joanna Schrock and Andrew Beiler.<br /><br />Joanna was arguing with her parents about wanting to marry Andrew while they were traveling in their buggy on the way to the apple orchard. Her mother was telling her that she was not yet ready for marriage. When a car hit their buggy, the collision caused her to lose both of her parents. Joanna herself suffered a broken pelvis and lacerations on her face which would take a long time to heal. Joanna had loved Andrew since she was twelve years old, since he had stood up for her when she was being bullied at school. Over the years, as they were dating her feelings for Andrew grew stronger and Joanna had shocked Andrew by proposing to him.<br /><br />In the rehabilitation center, Joanna suffered both physically with the pain from the accident and mentally, having learned that she had lost both parents. She felt so empty, alone and guilty. Andrew was upset about the accident and worried that he might be losing Joanna, so visited her and proposed. He could not picture his life without Joanna by his side. She accepted the proposal without the deep joy she had hoped for, and the plans began for their wedding. On the day of her wedding Joanna was unable to walk down the aisle. She then told Andrew she could not marry him as she knew she wasn't ready. God was talking to Joanna, telling her to be strong and courageous. Should she listen to God?<br /><br />In An Unbroken Heart, readers learn about Joanna’s sisters, Sadie and Abigail, and how they managed to run the family business after their parent’s death while at the same time handling Joanna’s recovery. It encourages readers to look at forgiveness in their own lives as Joanna’s met Cameron, the driver who caused the accident that killed her parents, and forgave him. As the characters become so real, you really want healing for those who are hurting, and you want to help them find their way back to God so they can be whole again - but it must be in line with God’s timing and not theirs.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1462317003000, "title": "I really enjoyed reading this story and put it down once" }, { "asin": "0718030923", "rating": 4, "text": "Sister Dear by Laura McNeill has a great cover and picture, which was just enough to pull me in. The story is about Allie, who is a mother convicted of a crime she swears she didn't commit. (Haven't we all heard that one before?) Anyway, after spending 10 years in jail, Allie returns to her small town hoping to pick up the pieces of her life and re-establish a relationship with her now 15-year old daughter. Allie struggles to fall in place, to fit back in living her former life with her family, with friends and at work. In order to try and reconnect and form a relationship with her daughter, Allie becomes determined to find out what really happened that tragic night and wants to clear her name.<br /><br />Sister Dear seemed to start off a little slow and I was little worried that I wasn't going to enjoy the book, but slowly the plot got going and just kept building and building until the very last page. I really enjoyed the writing style - sort of &#34;flashback&#34; style - going between 2006 and 2016 - through the eyes of various people, including Allie, Sheriff Gaines, Emma (Allie's sister) and Caroline (Allie's daughter). Using the multiple points of view and weaving back and forth through time, Sister Dear painted a haunting picture of lies, betrayals and deep dark secrets.<br /><br />The author, McNeill, definitely left me guessing about everyone's involvement in &#34;the incident,&#34; including Allie's own involvement. I loved the plot twists, and I will admit I didn't see them coming. It wasn't one of those predictable plots where you knew what was happening next, and I really appreciated that. I don't want to write a spoiler here, so I really can't go into too much of the story. Suffice it to say, it's worth reading Sister Dear to learn the whole story! On one of those 1 to 5 star ratings, with 5 being highest, I'd give this book a 4.2. I'll definitely be watching for future works of Laura McNeill and I'm going to head back and read her debut book, Center of Gravity too!<br /><br />I truly appreciate that BookLookBloggers provided me with a paperback copy of this book to read without cost in exchange for my personal and honest opinion and unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1462501469000, "title": "Sister Dear by Laura McNeill has a great cover and picture" }, { "asin": "1617956651", "rating": 5, "text": "What I found in this book was a beautiful book filled with hope. Hunting Hope is full of inspiring stories and gut-wrenching moments that share all of the promises that are possible to God's children. Nika Maples shares her heart, and her honesty and the end result is that her transparency is a very beautiful thing for readers. Ms. Maples' humor made me laugh and smile and her stories often made me emotional and teary, but it was her relationship with Jesus that really made me look at those areas of my own life that could really use some work.<br /><br />Accepting what we cannot change, while anticipating future blessings is the perfect definition of hope as Ms. Maples relates to readers. She leans on Scripture to back up every point she makes, helping readers see that the honest and true statements taken from God's Word. Ms. Maples' beautiful examples of God's compassion for us provides strength and hope to readers in their dark moments. Hunting Hope is easy to read and very well written in such a way that it allows readers to find the messages they need at the time they are needed.", "timestamp": 1463961972000, "title": "What I found in this book was a beautiful book filled with hope" }, { "asin": "1401688314", "rating": 5, "text": "A Dream of Miracles is the third book in The Amish Wonder series by Ruth Reid. The first book was A Miracle of Hope and the second book was A Woodland Miracle. Each of those books would probably have helped in creating the backdrop to the characters in this book, but nonetheless, my favorite Amish book reviewer, Gloria (aka Mom) says that this book can be read as a stand alone very nicely.<br /><br />This story takes place in a small community made up of Old Order Amish in Michigan. The two main characters Mattie Diener and Boaz (Bo) Lambright become so real that you think they are your best friends. Mattie is a young widowed woman with two young children, Nathan and 18-month old Amanda, to raise without her husband Andy, who is deceased. Mattie is having a rough time running a herb and honey business with the help of the community especially her next door bachelor neighbor Alvin.<br /><br />Mattie’s oldest child, Nathan, is three years old has been a sickly baby with several health issues since his birth. Nathan is ill and Mattie takes him to the doctor and her worse nightmare begins. Her regular doctor is not available and another doctor, Dr. Wellington, is filling his place but he knows nothing about the Amish. Nathan has a fever and blisters in his mouth and Dr. Wellington suspects’ abuse.<br /><br />The doctor has Mattie take Nathan to the hospital and calls Child Protective Services on her. She meets Boaz Lambright, a fast-rising social services investigator whose high-society mother doesn't seem to rest until she finds her son's &#34;Mrs. Right&#34;. He does not think there is any abuse and sets out to prove her innocence. Things keep happening and the plot continues to twist and turn, and all the while Mattie has your heart because of struggles she is going through. Bo was haunted by dreams with flashing from his current life into his past life.<br /><br />I love the twist that Bo experiences and I found it hard to actually put this book down because I wanted to find out the outcome. There is so much emotion in this story and both the characters and the plot are so powerful that it just carried me away with them. Toward the end of this story things are explained. I loved this story and I look forward to other books by Ruth Reid.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1464313791000, "title": "my favorite Amish book reviewer" }, { "asin": "1530040396", "rating": 4, "text": "My Father's House by Rose Chandler Johnson is about Lily Rose Cates, who has the perfect childhood that includes a fantastic relationship with her father. Her father adored her and she loved him so much. Lily's father unexpectedly passes away when Lily is sixteen and it leaves her to emotionally flounder throughout the rest of high school and into college.<br /><br />As Lily heads off to college, she sees her friends marrying off or falling in love. On a trip to New York City to meet up with her best friend, Lily meets Manuel Valenti. He seems charming and sophisticated and Lily is captivated by his attention. He sweeps her off her feet and promises her the world. She falls into a whirlwind romance and totally falls for him even though there are signals - warning signs - she fails (or chooses) to recognize. Even her wise Annie Ruth feels that Manny Lily brings him home to meet her family.<br /><br />Lily moves forward with marriage, but not surprisingly, soon afterward their marriage begins to fall apart. Her husband is a dark, abusive man and Lily soon realizes that she must make the hard choice of leaving Manny - of running from her husband - or possibly risk even more than the marriage. Once Lily gets away from her horrible marriage, Lily starts to take the necessary steps of healing her heart from her past and from her marriage so that she can move forward. We readers standby (and read on) as Lily slowly begins the process of healing and returning to her father's house.<br /><br />I felt that this story was written to remind us all that there is always hope, even in our darkest hours and our deepest pain. I loved Ms. Johnson's writing and this is one of those books you can definitely get caught up in, and if you're anything like me, you'll read it cover to cover in one sitting. (Pray that I make it through work tomorrow without falling asleep!!)<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1466009767000, "title": "who has the perfect childhood that includes a fantastic relationship with her father" }, { "asin": "0764212818", "rating": 5, "text": "Being part of the Bethany House Blogger Review Program, I get to read some very interesting books that I wouldn't necessarily have the opportunity to read. Sometimes I'm provided with books to read from authors I've never heard of, even though they are very popular in the literary world. Today's book, No Other Will Do, by Karen Witemeyer and this book falls into that category. Those of you who follow me regularly know that my mom loves Amish books. She also loves Western books and when I read her the back cover of this book over the phone, she jumped at the chance to read it and report in. Here's my mom's review:<br /><br />&#34;The setting for this story takes place in the old historical west. This Christian romance has it all - humor, action, murder, mystery and the suspense of a 'who done it'. No Other Will Do is very well written and has you hanging on every word to find out what is going to happen next. I truly enjoyed reading this novel in one day and did not put it down until the end,<br /><br />Emma Chandler and her suffragette aunts were strong, free spirited independent women who started a successful women’s colony in Harper’s Station, Texas to help women in need to make a fresh start with their lives. Unfortunately, there is someone who repeatedly wants to drive all the ladies out of colony. If only Emma knew what this dangerous crook wanted. She is forced to admit they might need a man to help and there is only one man that she really trusts to do the job.<br /><br />Malachi Shaw has known Emma since they were young. She saved his life when he was hiding out in her auntie’s barn after fighting in the streets and is cold, hungry, and no home. She ask her aunt if she could keep him. Now Malachi has earned respect by working on the railroad as an explosive expert. When he received Emma’s telegraph asking for his help, he left immediately to go to her keep a childhood promise be had made and try somehow to repay her for saving his life.<br /><br />The danger at the women’s colony continues and the threats are getting stronger and more dangerous. Should the women leave the colony for their safety? Should they stay and fight with Malachi help to catch the outlaws?&#34;<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the Bethany House Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1466987226000, "title": "I truly enjoyed reading this novel in one day and did not ..." }, { "asin": "1617956120", "rating": 4, "text": "My Mother's Quilts: Devotions on Love, Legacy, Family and Faith by Ramona Richards is an awesome devotional. While this book has lots of pictures of some beautiful quilts, it is way more than a quilt picture book. Each devotional itself shares the story of each individual quilt. It includes a sentence or two of a prayer starter, and then a Bible verse.<br /><br />While this is a book you will want to read in its entirety like I did, you will want to keep it close to you so that when you are reading your daily devotionals you can include this book as a devotional guide as well.<br /><br />As a baby, I received a quilt from my grandfather who passed before I was born. Every Christmas my mom would bring that quilt out and we would enjoy its beauty during the Christmas season, and then she would pack it up again until next year. When I found that exact quilt in this book, my heart swelled with such fond memories of that quilt!<br /><br />I received a copy of this devotional book without cost in exchange for this post from FlyByPromotions! Thank you FlyBy!!", "timestamp": 1466988793000, "title": "Devotions on Love, Legacy" }, { "asin": "1434708381", "rating": 4, "text": "Jilted is the third book in the Mended Hearts series, but can serve as a stand alone book on its own. I did not read the two prior books Jaded and Justified, and I feel that if I had read the first two it would have added to my enjoyment of Jilted.<br /><br />The story in Jilted takes place in a quiet small town of Trapp, Texas. As in most small towns, gossip and news spreads quickly. The memorable characters in this story are Lynda Turner and Clyde Felton. Lynda is doubtful that love and happiness will ever be hers until Clyde an old friend and an ex-convict shows interest in her and hope awakens. Lynda’s husband left her and young daughter Ruthie behind fifteen years ago.<br /><br />Lynda, struggling with depression, had withdrawn from the community and Clyde had to adjust when returning after time in prison to Trapp and face the community he left behind. Because these characters are older and had already missed so much of their lives, I wanted to help them Mrs. Denman told and wrote this story so well that you felt part of this little town and a friend to Lynda and Clyde.<br /><br />Lynda Turner has struggled with depression since her husband abandoned her and their young daughter fifteen years ago. Yet unexpected hope awakens when a local ex-convict shows interest. As long-hidden secrets resurface, Lynda must fight for her emotional stability and for a life where the shadow of shame is replaced by the light of love.<br /><br />Jilted tells of a woman who has lost the joy of living, a man determined to draw her back toward happiness, and a town that must---once and for all---leave the past where it belongs. It is a gentle reminder that all things can work together for good.<br /><br />As secrets which had been hidden for years comes out again Lynda must fight to keep her emotions stable, getting out of living in shame, and receive the love that her old friend Clyde is offering. This final secret is shocking.<br /><br />At the end of this book all ends are neatly tied up and I am sorry that my visit to Trapp, Texas has finished and I will miss Lynda and Clyde and all the others. I really enjoyed reading Jilted, and look forward to reading Jaded and Justified soon!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1467159685000, "title": "and I feel that if I had read the first two it would have added to my enjoyment of Jilted" }, { "asin": "0736966234", "rating": 5, "text": "Here's what I say: Before I can even talk about this book, I have to talk about the Bible verse on the front - one of my favorites! &#34;For I know the plansI have for you,&#34; declares the LORD, &#34;plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.&#34; Jeremiah 29:11.<br /><br />I knew it was going to be a great book just because of that in itself, and I wasn't wrong at all! First I will say this isn't the only book I've read of Dana Mentink's! She really knows how to write some pretty cool pups in her stories and I really enjoyed it in the other book I read. Funny stuff here! I read this book at my desk at work because (1) it was a smaller book and easy to carry; and (2) because I just couldn't wait to read it!<br /><br />Stephanie Pink - yes, her last name is Pink - don't you love it? Anyway, Stephanie Pink is the heroine of this book, and she's hooked on books - kind of like yours truly. She can't seem to go any period of time without reading a book or she gets anxious. She's an aspiring literary agent and had been dreaming of it since she read a book by Agnes Wharton as a kid. She is sent by her boss to pick up a manuscript by none other than Agnes Wharton - one that they'd been waiting for over 15 years. Tragically, when she meets Agnes, her dog, Sweetness, takes off and the story begins!<br /><br />At the same time, Stephanie is also like most girls and is in search of her &#34;happily ever after&#34;. Enter Rhett Hastings, a retired CEO, who stepped down from his job to take care of his sister after a bad accident where she suffered brain trauma. Before her accident, Rhett had treated her pretty bad and she had disowned him but of course, with the injury she doesn't recall that fact. Rhett feels that God is telling him to return to the orchard in Oregon where they had grown up. Of course, on his way there, he bumps into none other than Stephanie Pink.<br /><br />This is where the &#34;happily ever after &#34; may or may not kick in (no spoilers here). Rhett rescues Stephanie and Sweetness and even helps her get the dog to Washington! Both Rhett and Stephanie find themselves on a crazy journey that will definitely change their lives. And just like the author reveals at the beginning of the book, God has a plan for them (Jeremiah 29:11). Of course, they soon find out His plan isn't anything like their individual plans and His is way better! .<br /><br />I give this sweet little book 5 stars out of 5 for style of writing, flow of the storyline, the depth of the characters, and of course the hilarious dog!! I see Dana Mentink has the next book in the Love Unleashed series out in February of 2017, and I will be looking out for that book as well!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1471365525000, "title": "I give this sweet little book 5 stars out of 5" }, { "asin": "1501820079", "rating": 4, "text": "I always love books about dogs, and Service Tails: More Stories of Man's Best Hero by Ace Collins is no exception! Service Tails is a wonderful collection of great true stories that share both the love and loyalty of the owner and their dog, but also provide insight and inspiration.<br /><br />We learn about their extensive training and incredible service working together to provide owners with more self confidence with the assistance of their service dog. These dogs help create permanent and forever bonds with their owners that goes beyond their service, and provides readers with that &#34;heart connection&#34; by sharing their stories.<br /><br />Service Tails shares twelve stories of dogs who provide the commitment of duty and service to their owners, some saving lives and some providing an independent lifestyle to those unable to do so without the help of their service dog. The best part of these stories is the way it shares how owners and their dogs seem to become one as they work together to make life more enjoyable.<br /><br />If you are a dog owner and lover, then I recommend this book to you. This is one of those books to keep on your shelf so you can read again in the future. Service Tails would also make a fantastic gift for any dog lover in your life!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1472431817000, "title": "I always love books about dogs" }, { "asin": "0310339863", "rating": 4, "text": "The Saddle Maker’s Son is the third book in The Amish of Bee County series. I did not read the first two, but enjoyed this one as a stand alone. (I will admit, though, I think I would love to read books #1 and #2 just to see what I missed.)<br /><br />This is a romantic story of Rebekah Lantz, who lives in a small Amish community in Bee County Texas. She feels like her family does not trust her since her sister Leila left the Amish faith to marry Jesse Glick.<br /><br />Tobias Byler is an Amish man who has recently moved to Bee County along with his father, Levi and his nine siblings. As Levi is opening his new shop of making saddles and training horses he has an accident and the children are left to take care of themselves while he is in the hospital.<br /><br />Rebekah works as an assistant school teacher and has discovered two dirty and hungry runaway children The children hiding in the shed outside of the schoolhouse traveled across the border from El Salvador. It is discovered that the children traveled alone and were sent by their grandmother from El Salvador to Texas to hunt out their father, who is living in San Antonio.<br /><br />Rebekah also meets Tobias Byler and his father, Levi who brings the younger children to school. Will Rebekah turn Guadulupe (&#34;Lupe&#34;) and Diego over to the proper authorities? Will this small Amish community open their hearts and arms to these runaway children? It was interesting to read how illegal children immigrants are handled.<br /><br />There is attraction and friction between Rebekah and Tobias as they worked to help the children find their father. Does Tobias have feelings for Rebekah and cannot show it? There is also another romance going on with Rebekah’s aunt and Tobias’s father. This story has all the things that makes a wonderful love story and reminds us that God wants us to help each other.<br /><br />The Saddle Maker's Son is very well written story and I could not put it down until the last page. It was a beautiful story and one that I will remember.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1472434475000, "title": "but enjoyed this one as a stand alone" }, { "asin": "0310345391", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the first book in Shelley Shepard Gray’s &#34;Lone Star Hero&#34; series, I loved reading some of her other books such as the Whispers in the Reading Room.<br /><br />The Loyal Heart story takes place in the late 1800s in Galveston Texas right after the civil war ended, and its a story about Miranda Markham who is a war widow and is facing many troubles in Galveston. She lost her husband that she dearly loved and now has become an outcast in her hometown because someone is spreading rumors that her husband was a traitor.<br /><br />Phillip Markham, Lt. Truax, Caption Monroe, and Major Kelly were prisoners in a POW camp. This group of Confederate soldiers, who had been prisoners by the Union army, promised to take care of each other and their families after the war.<br /><br />Phillip Markham past away right before the war ended. He always spoke of the love that he and his wife Miranda shared. Robert Truax was sent to see how Miranda was doing to fulfill the promise that was made to Markham.<br /><br />Who is responsible making the town turn against Miranda and how are the rumors spreading that Phillip Markham was a traitor? Robert was the problem solver will he be able to take care of this?<br /><br />The Loyal Heart is a historical fiction book and provides for the reader a great mixture of mystery, suspense, action, history of the post-Civil war in the south, and a light romance. Shelley is a great storyteller and I enjoyed this book very much. Looking forward to reading more in this series.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own - well, they are my mother's and for that, I am responsible.", "timestamp": 1473218990000, "title": "I loved reading some of her other books such as the ..." }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "I will admit it - I get so excited every single time I see that Rachel Hauck has another book out. It ranks right up there with having a day off work - my day job, that is. I really think that if there was anyone I could ever point out and say &#34;yes, that woman follows God's calling for her&#34;, it would be Rachel Hauck. That being said, today's post is about Rachel Hauck's latest release, The Wedding Shop. The Wedding Shop is the third book in the &#34;wedding&#34; series, the others being The Wedding Chapel and the other,<br /><br />The Wedding Shop's setting is Heart's Bend, Tennessee, and this story is about a young woman named Haley Morgan who us home from the Air Force. She decides she will take over the town's old wedding shop that's been in the town for over 90 years. The building was run down and in need of many repairs, but Haley had a vision of what it once was. Even though it's been closed for so many years, Haley has a strong feeling that the place must be reopened.<br /><br />The storyline of The Wedding Shop goes back and forth between the 1930s through the 1950s and then the present day. While this book could be a &#34;stand alone&#34;, it is my understanding that some of the characters in this book were also included in Rachel's previous books.<br /><br />The entire book is awesome. Ms. Hauck draws readers in as she alternates the story between modern day Haley and past wedding shop owner Cora. Ms. Hauck has the fantastic ability to transport her readers back in time and make them actually feel like they are there. It was great to see the different perspectives of the characters and how their stories develop while moving between the two time periods. The message I received from this book was that we need to trust in God and do His will and he will provide.<br /><br />I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publisher, and I received a digital copy from NetGalley, both without cost, but in exchange for my opinion.", "timestamp": 1473984027000, "title": "The entire book is awesome." }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 4, "text": "I had never heard of Robert Whitlow before, but the man has written plenty of books. The cover of this book drew me in - sort of resembled a John Grisham book or something - and it made me curious. Another drawing factor to this book was the fact that it was a Christian suspense novel with a legal emphasis. Having worked in the legal field for over 30 years, I'm always interested in that category. Sprinkle it with a little suspense, and you've got me interested.<br /><br />The Witnesses follows young lawyer, Parker House as he begins working in a small North Carolina law firm. His job doesn't pay as much as his friends but he finds satisfaction in what he is learning and achieving as he learns the ropes of a law office and of his town. At the same time, Parker realizes that he is somehow able to see the future.<br /><br />While Parker uses his gift in the legal field, his grandfather, Frank (born Franz Haus), was forced to use the gift during World War II. This fact in itself results in the story going back and forth between these two time periods throughout the book.<br /><br />Parker's gift is starting to become obvious to others, which begins to make him more interesting to a more prestigious law firm. As he struggles with his career decisions and decisions surrounding a new romance, his grandfather is experiencing deep regret for his actions in WWII.<br /><br />The theme of The Witnesses seems to be how people can use (or misuse) God's gifts. While both Parker and his grandfather, Frank are good people, sometimes the use of their gift for evil is too tempting to hold back. Throughout the story, readers will see both of these men struggling with the use of their gift in a responsible manner and whether they will follow the Lord or not follow the Lord.<br /><br />This book would inspire anyone who is wavering about seeking forgiveness and making life changing decisions. If you have never read any of Robert Whitlow's other books, I'd suggest you start here like I did. The Witnesses is a book that seems to cross over those defined genre lines that include law, family, romance, friendship, mystery, suspense and even a little thriller.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1475082812000, "title": "Frank are good people, sometimes the use of their gift for ..." }, { "asin": "0800726413", "rating": 4, "text": "The storyline of When Love Arrives by Johnnie Alexander takes place in a town named Misty Willows. This book is the second in the Misty Willows series, and I had not yet read Where She Belongs, which is the first book, but based on some of the reviews I read, it would have been helpful to know the characters a little better before reading this book. Given the time, I would probably gone back and read Where She Belongs first.<br /><br />Dani Prescott lost her mother in a plane crash. It's the same plane crash that killed Brett Somers' parents. Why is that important? Because Brett is publicly blaming Dani's mother for the crash and ruining her reputation. Dani is hurt and wants to clear her mother's name so she sets out to get revenge against Brett. The story is told in alternating chapters from Brett and Dani's point of view. It's interesting reading this story from Brett's perspective.<br /><br />Brett is a handsome and rich &#34;ladies' man&#34; who is egotistical and pursues younger, blond, long-legged women. Dani accidently meets Brett in the parking lot of the hospital and he pursues her despite the fact that she doesn't meet his standard criteria. Unbeknownst to Brett, Dani is actually seeking revenge. Brett and Dani soon realize they have so many things in common and Dani starts to feel guilty about her original plan to bring Brett down.<br /><br />As Dani and Brett develop their friendship, readers get the sense of the changes Brett is making in his life, and his true desire to become a better person due to the fact that he has learned he has a son.<br /><br />Dani gets help from Brett and his family and her luck begins to change when she secures a new job and a new home surrounded by a great family. As we all know, a relationship built on lies is sure to fail, and Dani's secret plans come to light. These two have a lot to work out and it well worth reading to see where it does.<br /><br />The story is hard to put down and I loved seeing the changes in both of them. I felt that the author did a great job providing a very believable drama that included faith issues that readers will be able to identify with. Seeing how the characters had to reach the &#34;rock bottom&#34; in their lives before they were able to reach out for help from God proved to be a real struggle in the lives of so many people today. The author certainly has a gift for bringing a story to life and making the reader feel like they are right in the midst of it.<br /><br />The great news is that coming in Summer of 2017 there will be another book to this series - the third - and at the end of this book there was a little &#34;teaser&#34; for anyone interested. I hope I make time to go back and read the first book so that by the time the third is released I'll be up to speed on everyone's backgrounds!<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book from Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group for my honest review and was not required to give a positive review.", "timestamp": 1475092642000, "title": "The storyline of When Love Arrives by Johnnie Alexander takes place in a town ..." }, { "asin": "0718077911", "rating": 5, "text": "I had heard of Katherine Reay only after I had the opportunity to read her book, The Brontë Plot, back in February of this year. Because I thought that book was so great, when I heard about this book, A Portrait of Emily Price, I couldn't wait. Unfortunately, I have to say that when it arrived, I was already in the middle of another blog tour so this was placed on the back burner for a while. The book was released on November 1 of this year, so it's still a really new book so everyone can find their copies easily! I know you'll want to get your copy too, because A Portrait of Emily Price is a book full of awesomeness.<br /><br />The protagonist, Emily Price is an art restorer who dreams of becoming an original artist someday. She travels to Atlanta to restore a mural in a home damaged by fire. That’s where she meets Chef Benito &#34;Ben&#34; Vassallo, who is visiting Atlanta to reconnect with his brother and breathe new life into his aunt and uncle’s restaurant, Piccolo. Emily begins a &#34;whirlwind romance&#34; with Ben and falls in love with him while she works with him to improve the appearance of Piccolo. In a shocking move, she accepts Ben's marriage proposal, marries him and and follows him to Italy. Once arriving in Italy, Emily is enchanted with the country, but because of Emily’s need to “fix” what she thinks is broken things get complicated when she meets her new Italian family.<br /><br />The author does an excellent job of showing the relationship problems in families. I also think Katherine did a lovely job of describing Italy and, well &#34;painting a picture&#34; of the scenery for readers so descriptive that we feel a part of the story, especially in the driving scenes where we see hills and small towns, narrow driving lanes and arches that feel too small for the car to fit through. Breathtaking, for sure.<br /><br />If you're anything like me and you love romance stories that are realistic and don't fall under the fairytale-type of “happily ever after” story, A Portrait of Emily Price is definitely a book you'll want to read too!<br /><br />I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion and review. Thanks so much!", "timestamp": 1480539830000, "title": "Because I thought that book was so great, when I heard about this book" }, { "asin": "1401690300", "rating": 5, "text": "As part of the The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader program, I received a copy of Colleen Coble's new book, Twilight at Blueberry Barrens, which was a great read set on the beautiful coast of Folly Shoals, Maine. I'm getting ahead of myself here, but let me tell you the book had fantastic descriptions of the scenery and the characters were well written. The story itself included suspense, murders, romance, a wedding, an escaped prisoner, a hire for murder guy and even a crazy stalker. All of these stories within the book have us guessing and all were very nicely interwoven throughout the book. What more could you ask for in a story?<br /><br />Now that I put the cart in front of the horse, let me tell you a little more about the story: This is the third book in the Sunset Cove series and is connected to the first title, The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, because this book is about Kate Mason, who is Claire Dellamare’s twin sister. This book frequently refers back to the storyline in The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, so it would probably be helpful if you read the first book in the series to understand this one a little better. In all honesty, when I was reading the first book, The Inn at Ocean's Edge, I really wasn't a fan of the character, Claire, but in this book the author redeemed her character and made her someone more relatable to readers. It was also enjoyable learning more about Kate in this book.<br /><br />After successfully battling a life threatening illness, Kate Mason is restarting her life, while at the same time, she is confronted with a faceless enemy who could possibly be someone she knows well. She's in a difficult financial place so when she rents out a cottage for the summer plus she's given the opportunity to nanny a summer guest's young nieces, things might be looking better for Kate. The rental tenant is Drake Newham, who is a handsome and successful entrepreneur from Boston and is protecting his brother's two daughters. Drake has come to Maine in order to investigate his brother and sister-in-law's brutal deaths and it that his brother could have been killed because of his legal actions against a dangerous international crime leader, but Drake is discovering that Heath and Melissa's marriage was unstable, which makes local officials convinced theirs was a case of murder-suicide.<br /><br />Because I don't write spoilers, I can't tell you much more about this book other than to suggest that you buy the book for yourself and dig right in! The characters are likeable, the scenery fantastic and the tale very interesting. If you've read any of Colleen Coble's other books in other series, be warned that some of the other characters from other series make appearances in this book too, which is something I really enjoyed.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1481662354000, "title": "which was a great read set on the beautiful coast of Folly Shoals" }, { "asin": "0718083105", "rating": 4, "text": "&#34;This is a very intense read. The author writes in Afrikaans. Child of the River is the second book written by Irma Joubert that has been translated into English. The first was The Girl from the Train that I have not read. Both of her books are written in the same time period and the location of South Africa. You learn a lot of history when you read this book such as what was going on in Europe during WWII, history during the mid-1950 in South Africa with apartheid and segregation.<br /><br />This is a story about Persomis, the daughter of a sharecropper who comes from a dysfunctional home life. Her father is a drunk and beats his wife and children. Social workers step in and takes the younger siblings and send Persomis to a boarding school where her brother Gerbrand is attending. She works hard, made excellent grades and was allowed to attend the university where she earns a law degree.<br /><br />Irma Joubert weaves three story lines so well. First was Persomi growing up living dirt poor on the Fourie’s farm. Second, the apartheid laws and how they were applied to the families, and third, the love story between Persomi and Boelie.<br /><br />This is a well-written and very inspiring story. I loved the character Persomis especially her passion as she fought for the rights of minorities and the romance between Persomis and Boelie.<br /><br /> I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1481860451000, "title": "made excellent grades and was allowed to attend the university where ..." }, { "asin": "0718086422", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm sure I've said it before, but as part of the Fiction Guild Elite Reader program, I'm often given some pretty amazing books to read and share with my readers. Today's book is no different! It's one of those books I wouldn't have gone out and bought for myself because I wouldn't have known what I was missing!<br /><br />Of Stillness and Storm by Michèle Phoenix is about a missionary family living in Nepal. The story itself is told in two parts - it begins with Lauren, the narrator and wife of Sam, and her 13-year old son, Ryan, living with intermittent power in their home near Kathmandu. Sam leaves for weeks at a time to trek into remote tribes, while leaving Lauren and Sam alone. Lauren is finding ways to cope with the struggle, but Ryan starts feeling the effect of the struggling family.<br /><br />Lauren gets back in touch with a childhood friend who seems to remind her to fight for her son, as well as the woman and writer she used to be. I loved that Lauren seemed very human to readers. Her struggle is familiar to many Christians and while her story is fictional, it is very relatable. Lauren is able to discover that out of darkness and loss emerges a &#34;relentless, demanding, trustworthy, benevolent, and healing God.&#34;<br /><br />I saw a reviewer share a quote from a conversation Lauren has with Sam and I loved it:<br /><br />&#34;I tend to think that who we become because of our faith is more important than what we do to prove it.&#34;<br /><br />Of Stillness and Storm is a story that continues to linger long after its reading. The story is filled with relationships, both spiritual and physical, and it is such a well written book. With rawness and honesty, it plumbs the depths of commitment to family and God. The story is a fascinating view of the missionary life and the benefits and potential pitfalls that can result. This book is one of the most powerful works of fiction I've read in a while and I highly recommend it to others.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in this post are my own.", "timestamp": 1486694103000, "title": "\"I tend to think that who we become because of our faith is more important than what we do to prove it.\"" }, { "asin": "0718090225", "rating": 4, "text": "I received the book, The Angels' Share by James Markert because I'm a Fiction Guild Elite Reader book review blogger. It wouldn't be my normal book genre if I were out shopping for a book, but nonetheless, it was worth a read.<br /><br />The Angels' Share is a historical novel that is true to the times of the Prohibition and the Depression. William &#34;Willie&#34; McFee grew up in Twisted Tree, Kentucky. The McFee family is pretty well off financially even though the town itself is suffering the effects of the McFee family bourbon distillery being shut down by Prohibition. Willie's father, Barley doesn't seem to have any intent on reopening the distillery even though Willie is encouraging him to do so in order to achieve his dream of becoming a distiller as his grandfather had planned.<br /><br />Then a drifter named Asher Keating shows up and he seems to be able to fix people's problems. He dies and is buried in the Potter's Field near the McFee distillery. Gossip begins to circulate about Asher performing miracles. Asher's grave starts getting lots of visitors who are praying at the site, and some strange things begin to happen it the town. Willie starts to investigate the situation and he discovers facts about what his father did during the Prohibition and things about the death of his younger brother. Willie begins to write stories about what he is uncovering and gets them published in a Louisville newspaper, causing all kinds of things to happen.<br /><br />The characters in the book are well developed. The story is full of mystery and unanswered questions. The townspeople are representative of people caught in a difficult situation they cannot control. There are a lot of subplots in this storyline and they will definitely keep readers engrossed in this story.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in this post are my own.", "timestamp": 1489363184000, "title": "The McFee family is pretty well off financially even though the town itself is ..." }, { "asin": "006246910X", "rating": 5, "text": "I find that if the book is written by Shelley Shepard Gray I will enjoy reading it and Her Secret the first book in a new series The Amish of Hart County was no exception. An Amish love story with suspense throughout the book. The main characters Hannah and Isaac are so real that you feel part of their families.<br /><br />The story starts with Hannah Hilty and her family living in Berlin, Ohio in a big house that was comfortable and their family’s legacy. Hannah had been friends with an English man named Trent during her rumspringa. He had pursued her for the last two years and was now following her around and taking pictures of her. Hannah lives her life in fear of this stalker. She quits her job and stays home, only going out with her parents.<br /><br />The family moves from Berlin, Ohio to Munfordville, Kentucky to escape this dangerous man and to give Hannah a new start. Her brother, Ben, and sister, Jenny, blamed Hannah they had to leave their jobs and friends behind. Jenny played a big part in this story and caused Hannah more problems to handle. There are other underlying family secrets that made the family move. Hannah meets her neighbor Isaac Troyer and becomes friends with him. Trent followed the family to Kentucky and became bolder with his activities.<br /><br />I picked this book up and did not put it down until I read the last page. I am so looking forward to the next one in the series, His Guilt, that came out on July 4th, and then there will be two more to follow. I am so recommending this book to my friends!", "timestamp": 1499649149610, "title": "... book is written by Shelley Shepard Gray I will enjoy reading it and Her Secret the first book in ..." }, { "asin": "0718083784", "rating": 5, "text": "I'm a blogger with the Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, and I am very fortunate to be able to receive a lot of books that my mother and I love to read. Today's book, Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks was a first for me. I had never heard of Ms. Parks, and unfortunately, I didn't realize this was book 4 in a series. Nonetheless, to this reader, it wasn't an issue. I'm guessing that there was a plot carried throughout the other books that I may have missed, but I was able to read this book as a stand alone without feeling like I missed anything. In all likelihood, had I read books 1, 2 and 3, I would have had a more panoramic view of the story line.<br /><br />Gwen Marcey is a single mother of a teenage daughter and a cancer survivor, whose ex-husband is threatening to take their daughter away from her. While on a probationary period with her new job as a forensic artist with the Interagency Major Crime Unit (IMCU), Gwen learns about a case of a missing four-year old girl after the murder of her parents in Lapwai, Idaho.<br /><br />The Nez Perce Tribal Police in Lapwai, Idaho are looking for the killer. Because the case took place where she lived when she was little and sounded similar to her own background, Gwen requests being assigned to the case.<br /><br />This assignment causes Gwen to step right into a trap to bring her &#34;home&#34; and to a man who was hurt by her so many years ago. Gwen is in a situation that only God can get her out of. We readers watch as Gwen pieces together her past and present so that she can determine exactly who she really is.<br /><br />The journey to the truth proves to be a very hefty struggle as Gwen finds that many of the witnesses she relies on for information also have strong prejudices against Caucasian people. It takes little time for Gwen to see that she will need to tread very lightly while she's working with the descendants of people involved in these painful moments within Native history.<br /><br />As Gwen works this case, she begins having flashback memories from her own childhood. She begins to think that maybe what happened in her own past could be linked to what is going on in the case she is investigating. Gwen enlists the help of her best friend, Beth, and what they uncover leads them to believe the killer is someone Gwen knows and the killer seems to want Gwen to find out his or her true identity. As Gwen gets closer to the truth, more attempts on her life are made but she refuses to give up. Will her refusal end up costing Gwen her life?<br /><br />In a very spectacular fashion, author Carrie Stuart Parks has written the perfect example of a crime novel with complicated characters mixed with intrigue and suspense. Bravo Ms. Parks! I can't wait to go back and read books 1, 2 and 3 to fill in any blanks I don't even know I have!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1511743487851, "title": "and I am very fortunate to be able to receive a lot of books ..." }, { "asin": "0718082567", "rating": 4, "text": "Words from the Heart is the third book in the Amish Letters series by Kathleen Fuller. While this is the third book, each one can be read as a standalone. I loved the way the author updates readers on what happens to the people from the first two books<br /><br />This is a sweet love story with three main characters: Noah, Ivy, and Noah’s Aunt Cervilla (who was my mother's favorite character). This story begins with Ivy a young unmarried Amish woman so disappointed, feeling hurt and rejected as she is waiting over a year for promised letters from John King that never comes to finding old love letters when Ivy helped Noah clean out Aunt Cervilla’s attic which brought Noah and Ivy closer together in friendship.<br /><br />Ivy Yoder is hurting over her jilted love and is afraid that she will never find a husband in her community of Birch Creek, Ohio. Noah Schlabach is the great-nephew of Ivy’s elderly friend Cevilla Shalaback. He is an auctioneer from Iowa. Cevilla insists the two work together cleaning out her attic. She knows that Noah and Ivy are meant for each other.<br /><br />Not knowing what treasure are in the many boxes they sort through them slowly finding many doilies and old magazines, but in one of the boxes they found a packet of old letters written during the Korean War. The love letters are the story of two people (Bunny and CJ) who are in love.<br /><br />While working together and becoming good friends, Ivy has feelings for Noah, but afraid of getting hurt again. Noah is happy traveling as an auctioneer but knows something is missing in his life. Can Ivy get over the fear from her past to move forward and find love with Noah? Will Noah feel good enough for Ivy and stop his traveling? Does he want to live in her beloved community of Birch Creek?<br /><br />I truly enjoyed reading this book as I love anything written by Kathleen Fuller.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own, or in this case, my mom's.", "timestamp": 1525391757114, "title": "I loved the way the author updates readers on what happens ..." }, { "asin": "0310348080", "rating": 4, "text": "You will enjoy Beneath the Summer Sun without reading the first book, as it does serve as a stand alone. The three complex main characters are Jennie Troyer, Leo Graber, and Nathan Walker. All are facing problems of letting go of their past so that they can move forward with their lives.<br /><br />Jennie carries a secret about her husband, Atlee. The Amish do not divorce as they marry for life, so she told no one about her husband’s mental and physical abuse. Jennie’s husband died from a farming accident four years ago and left her with 7 children to raise on her own under the eyes of the church leaders.<br /><br />Jennie's son, Matthew was ten years old when Atlee died. He knew of the abuse his mother suffered at the hands of his father, and many times he was taken to the shed by his father for beatings. In truth, both Jennie and her son were relieved that Atlee had died. The Community knew something was wrong in her marriage, but not what it was. Jennie was a very likeable person and many had sympathy for her.<br /><br />When Jennie began getting used to life without a husband, two different men took interest in her, and Jennie knew that it was time to remarry. Matthew started sneaking out at night and became moody and rude, but he refused to tell Jennie what was bothering him. <br /><br />Both men who profess to love Jennie had good hearts. First, there is Jennie's childhood friend Amish, Leo Graber, who had been in love with Jennie from the time they were young and attending the same church. He felt so guilty over his father’s death that it prevented him from any social activities. He worked alone building furniture and did not have a happy life.<br /><br />Next, there was Mennonite, Nathan Walker, who was a traveling salesman unable to settle down in one place because he resented that his parents left him behind with relatives while they did mission work in other countries. He was seriously thinking of becoming Amish to be with Jennie. He wanted to settle down with Jennie in her hometown of Jamesport, Missouri.<br /><br />Will Jennie, Leo, Nathan, and Matthew be able to put the past behind them? Who will Jennie choose to love and care for her children? Will she able to trust another man? Atlee was sweet until they spoke their vows, can she believe the sweet words of either man? Three hearts try to discern God’s plan for the future—and find peace beneath the summer sun.<br /><br />Domestic abuse is addressed in this story with showing that faith, trust, forgiveness of yourself, and through the power of prayer we are able to overcome our past and move forward to a healthy, happy life. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time. Thank you Kelly Irvin for a wonderful story and I am looking forward to reading the third book in An Every Amish Season series, which is due out in August of this year, entitled Through the Autumn Air.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own, or in this case, my mom's.", "timestamp": 1525394120890, "title": "You will enjoy Beneath the Summer Sun without reading the first book" }, { "asin": "0718085973", "rating": 4, "text": "Thanks to my relationship with The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, I am very fortunate to receive and review books from various authors -- some I've heard of and some I have not. Today's post is about an author I've heard of, but I've never had an opportunity to read any of her books until now.<br /><br />As soon as I opened the book, You're Gonna Love Me by Robin Lee Hatcher, I was slightly disappointed to realize that this book was book is the sequel to Ms. Hatcher's previous book, You’ll Think of Me, but now that I've read it I can tell you that it can easily be read as a standalone.<br /><br />Samantha Winters returns to Thunder Creek, Idaho to care for her grandmother, Ruth. When she arrives at Ruth's hospital room, she can't even believe that Nick Chastain in there. She hasn't seen him for two years - ever since they broke up after dating for eight months. Because Nick was a daredevil and took too many risks with his life, and because Samantha's fears of his actions were too much to bear, they ended their relationship with harsh words and silence.<br /><br />Now Nick is there and he's recovering from an awful head injury that is causing him to suffer from memory loss and other side effects. Nick has returned to Thunder Creek to have a fresh start at life. Of course, when he sees Sam again, he's hopeful but not sure he deserves a second chance.<br />Sam and Nick's story slowly unfolds throughout You're Gonna Love Me. The author provides small flashbacks of their previous relationship so that readers understand the depth of the past hurts and fears each of them has entering into the reconnection of their relationship. It explains why both Sam and Nick are cautious this time - Sam isn't sure she can trust Nick again and Nick isn't sure of the future of his health and how fair it would be.<br /><br />As Nick and Sam reconnect, they face their fears head on while they both learn to accept each other and trust God. While Sam is trying to overcome her fears, Nick is reaching out to God trying to figure out which way his life is going. I loved how Sam's grandmother, Ruth provided them with some guidance and love in rebuilding their relationship back to friendship and ultimately love.<br />Ruth and her friends were be secondary characters in this book, but their support to the main characters was truly pivotal to the overall story. The author does a great job taking readers through all of the deep emotions and personal relationship issues in Sam and Nick's lives. Readers will be able to identify and relate to the life situations and though processes that this couple must go through in their story. The characters are realistic, the story line moves well, and it's an overall great romance!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1535589599249, "title": "The characters are realistic, the story line moves well, and it's an overall great romance!" }, { "asin": "0062469215", "rating": 4, "text": "Today's post is a book review on Her Fear by Shelley Shepard Gray. This is the fifth book in The Amish of Hart County series, and since we've been on board with this series since March of 2017, it was great to be included in this book too!<br /><br />First in the series was Her Secret released in March of 2017. The second book in the series was His Guilt in released in July of 2017, and the third book was The Gift released in November of 2017. The fourth book in the series was His Risk, which was released in March of 2018.<br /><br />Thank you Shelley Shepard Gray! While I have completely enjoyed this series, I have to say I really liked the fact that this one was not your average Amish book. While Her Fear can be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading the entire series.<br /><br />While Her Fear provides the traditional things we have come to love in an Amish story like romance and mystery, but it also included topics we usually don't see in Amish fiction novels. To be honest, Her Fear reminds us that Amish folks are just like English folks - they are not perfect people, and no one is perfect except God.<br /><br />Her Fear centers around Sadie Detweiler who becomes pregnant and is faced with an unexpected response to that pregnancy. As a result, her family sends her away to distant and extended family of a different sect of the Amish community. When she arrives, she learns that this family does many things so differently than her family.<br /><br />When Sadie arrives, the matriarch of the family, Verba, becomes mysteriously ill and later dies. An EMT that comes to the scene notices Sadie standing alone and quiet. Noah Freeman is that EMT and over time, Sadie grows attracted to him. Noah is an Amish EMT and I was a little surprised at this, so I looked it up and found out that the Amish do work as EMTs, firefighters and first responders. Anyway, Noah is different than all of the other Amish men Sadie has met; she's comfortable with him and she finds herself really liking him. The only thing holding Sadie back from being honest with her feelings is the fact that she is pregnant and she's not sure how Noah will react when he finds out.<br /><br />Verba later dies at the hospital and then two others die suspiciously, so Noah's boss wants him to dig around the Amish community for clues. He finds himself attracted to Sadie, and he sees her as vulnerable and fearful. Noah wants to help Sadie and wants to be there for her as he senses something going on in the house that Sadie is living in. Noah can’t help himself from thinking about Sadie, so he finds reasons just to check up on her.<br /><br />This book was such a super great read. Shelley Shepard Gray's writing is phenomenal (as always) and with the plot twists and turns, reading the book from cover to cover was very easy to do. Whether you've read the other books in the series or whether this would be your first, I definitely recommend Her Fear, and I can't wait for October, when His Promise is released!<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Collins Publishing and Thomas Nelson, in exchange for this post. A positive review was not required.", "timestamp": 1536540512496, "title": "Shelley Shepard Gray's writing is phenomenal (as always)!" }, { "asin": "0718085809", "rating": 4, "text": "Thanks to my relationship with The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, I have been very fortunate to be a part of reading and reviewing so many great books. Coincidentally, I had requested an advanced reader digital copy of this book on NetGalley through my book blogging relationship with them. While the request was pending, I received a paperback copy from Fiction Guild sent me! <br /><br />Today's book, The House at Saltwater Point is by Colleen Coble, an author whose books I've really come to love! The House at Saltwater Point is the second book in Colleen Coble's Lavender Point series. This book serves as a stand alone, but since I also read the first book in this series, The View from Rainshadow Bay, I was happy to catch up with the main characters from that book and to be introduced to Grayson and Ellie in this one.<br /><br />Ellie Blackshaw is a local house flipper, who joins forces with Coast Guard Investigator, Grayson Bradshaw, when Ellie's sister, Mac, disappears. The disappearance seems to be connected with the disappearance of a large shipment of cocaine from a local warehouse. Grayson is firmly resolved to prove that Mac was behind the cocaine theft, while Ellie is desperately trying to prove that Mac is innocent and still alive. What Ellie and Grayson discover is a whole lot more than what they bargained for and it becomes a race against time to keep things from turning deadly.<br /><br />This story captured me right from the start. There is lots of action and excitement to keep readers engaged throughout this story. As is usually the case with Ms. Coble's books, the characters are well written, interesting an unique. I can't wait to read the next book in this series -- I read somewhere that it may come out in January of 2019!<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I also received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review, but because this was another great book, I wanted to do so! The opinions I have expressed are my own!", "timestamp": 1539477059114, "title": "This story captured me right from the start." }, { "asin": "078522405X", "rating": 4, "text": "Indivisible by Travis Thrasher, is the novelization of the upcoming movie by David G. Evans. The synopsis is the same as the movie, obviously, so I'll just share my opinions:<br /><br />I loved the progress of the story line and the raw emotion shown by the characters made this a very strong story. I appreciated how the author used short chapters that made the story very easy and fast flowing. I'll be honest -- I read the book before I saw the movie, and it really caused me to be excited to see the movie!<br /><br />I liked how some of the chapters would switch to the present because it provided good emotional effects for some of the situations. I would say though, that this story wouldn't necessarily be good to share with some of your younger family members since there are some war scenes in the story (in movie version anyway).<br /><br />Through this story, readers are provided with the truths of how difficult it is for families to be separated for long periods of time and the dangers that our soldiers face. It also shares the difficulties the military has when they come back home after facing war and death and how it changes everyone. It makes me thank God everyday for the courage and strength of our military.<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy from Thomas Nelson through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I was not required to post a positive review, but have chosen to do so because this book was great! Thank you!!", "timestamp": 1540515511431, "title": "I loved the progress of the story line and the raw emotion shown" }, { "asin": "1624167470", "rating": 5, "text": "The author of today's book, The Hope Jar, is Wanda E. Brunstetter. This book is the first in a three-book series called The Prayer Jars. Back in 2015, I actually met her when she was doing a book signing event at the local Wal-Mart here in Sarasota, Florida. At that time, I was able to get my mother, Gloria an autographed copy of one of her favorite Amish books. Ever since that meeting in 2015, whenever the opportunity arises to read and review one of Ms. Brunstetter's books, I jump on it because my mother LOVES Amish stories. <br /><br />Gloria recently mentioned this book and said she couldn't wait to read it, so when I saw it available on NetGalley through my book blogging relationship with them, I requested it and was approved. Unfortunately, Gloria recently had eye surgery so she was unable to read this book after all. <br /><br />The Hope Jar blends both Amish and contemporary fiction together, unlike many of Ms. Brunstetter's other books, which are strictly Amish fiction. After I finished reading The Hope Jar, because it was such a great read, I've already requested the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader copy of the second book in the series, The Forgiving Jar, releasing in February of 2019. My mom really missed out on this one! I finished this book in just about the time it took one college football game to play on television. <br /><br />Mary Ruth and Willis Lapp are at the bus station looking for their long lost granddaughter, Sara Murray. Michelle is at the bus station and Mary Ruth and Willis mistakenly think Michelle is Sara. since Michelle's life is at a dead end, she decides to go along with the Lapps thinking and pretends to be their granddaughter just long enough for her to get her life under control<br /><br />While she is on the Lapps' farm, Michelle learns what it feels like to be truly cared for and loved, which is something she's never had in her life. Michelle never had a real family, having grown up in foster care, and no one ever took the time to really get to know her and love her. Michelle blossoms under the Lapps' love and she learns to love the simple life of the Amish. As she grows in this life, she starts to feel more and more guilty about the deception she is committing by living the life of Sara Murray instead of her own.<br /><br />I loved Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp, although I did feel like they were a bit naive in never asking Michelle for proof that she was their long lost granddaughter. Regardless, they really portrayed the Amish that we've come to learn about and love through Ms. Brunstetter's books - hardworking, faithful, loving and caring people. Their lesson on forgiveness was an example to readers of folks who follow the Word of God.<br /><br />The Hope Jar had a very good story line and it was truly an inspiring story. The characters great and readers were provided with a well thought out message. The Hope Jar have woven the tale of two young women who have experienced tragedy and are at a crossroads in their lives. <br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review but chose to since it was a great book! Thank you!", "timestamp": 1543091122534, "title": "The Hope Jar had a very good story line and was truly an inspiring story." }, { "asin": "0718083857", "rating": 4, "text": "Just about a year ago, I read and reviewed Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks. It was a great book, so when I received Formula of Deception from the Fiction Guild through my blogging relationship with them, I was happy. Because my TBR (to be read) stack was a little bigger than I wanted, I haven't had a chance to read this one until now even though it was published in July of this year.<br /><br />Protagonist, Murphy Andersen is hiding in rural Alaska on the run from a serial killer who is probably responsible for her twin sister’s disappearance might soon find her. <br /><br />She uses her artistic skills and fine sense of details and poses as a forensic artist, but she ends up finding herself in more danger than ever.<br /><br />Ms. Parks uses the interesting history of the Kodiak and Aleutian islands region around WWII, giving the story a very realistic feel making the story line even more thrilling.<br /><br />As I read more about Murphy’s character and as her history was revealed, I realized that I liked her character more and more. It became more clear to me as the story progressed that the author had some psychological elements in play, but I wasn't sure how that would pan out. The conversations with her dead sister that Murphy conducted in her head gave me a clue that there was something going on.<br /><br />I was completely engaged in the story line from the first page, and I thought for sure I could figure out the ending before the end of the book since I had experience in Ms. Parks' writing, but as it turned out, I wasn't prepared for how this book ended. This electrifying novel has twists and turns that will make readers awestruck when they discover how she fits it all together at the end.<br /><br />As an added plus, the author includes eight discussion questions to help get a book club discussion going, which is perfect for this fascinating read since it would definitely work well as a book club pick.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1543113513049, "title": "This electrifying novel has twists and turns that will make readers awestruck" }, { "asin": "0310348145", "rating": 4, "text": "Being a part of The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program provides with books to read (which I love to do) and the only requirement is that I have to share a report after I've read the book. As far as I'm concerned, it's a winning arrangement for me and my mother, who loves anything written about the Amish.<br /><br />Today's book is Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin, and it's the third book in the series, Every Amish Season. I've had the opportunity read the first book, Upon A Spring Breeze, and the second book, Beneath the Summer Sun by Kelly Irvin. (The fourth book, With Winter's First Frost, is being released in January, 2019, so you'll need to hurry and read this one!!)<br /><br />Mary Katherine is the mother of ten and it has been seven years since her husband, Moses died and she became a widow. She's full of energy and always ready to step in and help her friends around her Amish community. Her old school friend, Ezekiel Miller, offers Mary Katherine a position as a cook in his restaurant, The Purple Martin Café, named in honor of his late wife Lucy. She knows she should accept, but she doesn't really want to spend her time working in a kitchen. Mary Katherine's secret desire is to write and to own a bookstore with her English friend, but in the Amish community, the church elders want her to work in an Amish-owned store instead. <br /><br />Mary Katherine's oldest son is trying to convince her to move into his Dawdi house, but she is resistant. An English stranger breaks into Mary Katherine's house and proceeds to make himself a sandwich one autumn night. She doesn't call the sheriff, but instead she turns to Ezekiel for help. both Mary Katherine and Ezekiel realize that the stranger, Burke, needs help, so Ezekiel offers Burke a job at his restaurant.<br /><br />While this is book 3 of 4 in An Every Amish Season series, this book could be read as a stand-alone. I loved reading a story dealing with more mature characters and the challenges they faced. Ms. Irvin also added friendships between the Amish and the English that seemed very honest and were caring, respectful and realistic. <br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1544575510167, "title": "Ms. Irvin also added friendships between the Amish and the English that seemed very honest!" }, { "asin": "1683700619", "rating": 4, "text": "Rating 4.5 Stars!<br />The story line of Reason to Breathe is set in Missouri, and the story is about the lives of three sisters, Phylicia, Phee and Brit. Readers move through their pain as they lose their mother, and in another way, they lose their father, Turner, as he runs off to Florida, leaving the sisters struggling emotionally. <br /><br />Because this is book 1 in the Chandler Sisters series, this book is Phylicia Chandler’s story, but I definitely loved the dynamic between all three of the three sisters. I felt that they were thrown into such an uncertain situation, while trying to work through their grief over their mother’s death. The story also weaves hope in and out throughout the story. <br /><br />The sisters are very likable and relatable characters, and I was quickly drawn into this story because it felt so honest and real. As I got to the end, I will admit I was super excited to learn that the other two sisters will also have a story to tell in the next books in the series. <br /><br />Ms. Raney is a fantastic author and I've never read a book that she's written that I haven't loved! Those readers who enjoy inspirational and contemporary romance will definitely want to pick up a copy of Reason to Breathe to read before the second book is released!!<br /><br />I was provided with a courtesy copy of this book as part of the Just Read Tour in exchange my post. A positive review was not required.", "timestamp": 1544579561088, "title": "I was super excited that the other two sisters will also have a story to tell!" }, { "asin": "1683701496", "rating": 4, "text": "This story can truly renew your faith in humanity! Readers need be be warned: please make sure you read to the end for the epilogue, but be sure to have your tissues ready!<br /><br />This book and its story are great! I enjoyed it cover to cover, from beginning to end, and could barely be okay with it ending! It shares with readers the true meaning of Christmas. The author writes this story so that readers are put right in the middle of everything: the main character, Julia, an eleven-year-old girl, and a reclusive deaf man who has a gift of carving. I'll be honest, I think this movie is ready for Hallmark! I know it's a movie I would definitely watch!<br /><br />Thanks so much NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this story! It was great!", "timestamp": 1545535733908, "title": "This book and its story are great!" }, { "asin": "0529118734", "rating": 4, "text": "Thanks to my relationship with The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, my mother and I have been lucky enough to be a part of reading and reviewing so many of Beth Wiseman's books! Today's post is about her latest book, Amish Celebrations: Four Novellas. Gloria (my mom) was originally planning to read and review this book for us, but because she hasn't healed enough from eye surgery and can't read yet, I was assigned the book:<br /><br />What I loved most about this collection of stories is that they are all written by one author. It makes the writing seamless from story to story. I liked that each story was written around a particular time of celebration - birthday, baptism, wedding and Christmas. <br /><br /> * In The Gift of Sisters, twins Hannah and Rachel both fall for a new guy in town, which makes for conflict between them. The story is great and I loved how Ms. Wiseman shows how lies can cause a friend or family member to question a person's reputation. She took a subject that all young women face and handled it with grace.<br /><br /> * In A New Beginning, you could tell right from the start that Noah was going to cause problems. When Noah experiences a bit of the English world, it causes him to forget about his fiance' Rebecca, and soon afterward the trouble follows. Ms. Wiseman shares how Noah struggles with his faith, as well as guilt, forgiveness and temptation. I loved the ending of this story and I also loved the very relatable characters.<br /><br /> ** In A Perfect Plan (also published in An Amish Wedding), Ms. Wiseman introduces us to Priscilla and Chester, a young couple about to be married. When things start to go wrong and they begin to face obstacles that had nothing to do with their love for each other, they both question if they are doing the right thing. Ms. Wiseman shows how we need to see that God's plan for us is bigger than our own and that we need to know that love will always endure.<br /><br /> * In A Christmas Miracle, Beth introduces us to Mary and Gabriel, who are a young couple with five small children finding it hard to cope with life’s challenges. They are doing the best they can but sometimes it's just too much for them. Mary feels like she just can't keep up and starts to doubt herself. I really loved how the Englisch couple, Bruce and Joan, came into Mary's life. To be honest, it's almost too hard to decide which couple made the most impact on the other, but I know they were all very blessed. The moral of this story is that it is okay to ask for help and to that help when it offered regardless of who is offering the help. This last novella doesn't show the Amish lifestyle superficially attractive way, but instead, it shows the strain of living under the rules of the Old Order.<br /><br />Amish Celebrations is a sweet celebration of stories. Each of the stories has its own unique twist and each one focuses on some kind of celebration. The stories are perfect for this time of year and the holiday season.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1545869561726, "title": "The stories are perfect for this time of year and the holiday season." }, { "asin": "0785219269", "rating": 4, "text": "Rating 4.5 Stars!<br />I recently joined forces with the Read with Audra book blogging group, and today's post is part of a Blog Tour for the book, Who I Am with You by Robin Lee Hatcher. When I saw this book available, I knew I wanted to be part of the tour since my mother, Gloria and I both love so many of her previous books.<br /><br />Who I Am with You is the first book in Ms. Hatcher's Legacy of Faith series. Based on this book, I'll do a spoiler right here and tell you that I cannot wait for book 2 in this series! Now.... on to the book:<br /><br />Ridley and Jessica are a super fun couple, and I loved how they started off as friends and neighbors and then blossomed into being romantically interested in each other. Both Ridley and Jessica had their own trust issues because of recent betrayals they had both experienced. While the situations were different, they both had to work through their feelings in their own ways. I loved watching (reading) Jessica prepare her heart and home for the new baby.<br /><br />I won't lie, folks. there's a ton of grief in this book. My heart broke for Jessica because she had lost so much. She was grieving her physical loss and her emotional loss. It was nice to see her getting her life back together and that she had friends that were supportive. While Ridley's grief wasn't as difficult as Jessica's, he was still dealing with the parts of his life that he had lost. It was also great to see him be able to move forward after his hardships.<br /><br />Who I Am with You provided readers with a beautiful faith message and strong tones of forgiveness throughout the story, in both the present and the past stories. It was nice to see Andrew (from the past) jump into God’s word and apply it to his life despite extremely difficult times. It was clear that God called him to love and forgive.<br /><br />I really enjoyed traveling back and forth between the decades, and it was always fun traveling and returning. The transitions were very smooth and very easy to follow, which is always good in a dual timeline story. I highly recommend Who I Am with You -- it's a story you won’t want to put down. It was a very moving story, and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from Audra Jennings PR in exchange for my post. I was not required to post a positive review. Thank you!", "timestamp": 1548124227880, "title": "t was a very moving story, and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series." } ]

[ { "asin": "0310335582", "rating": 5, "text": "I'll admit it - the Amish world has always intrigued me to some extent. I was born and raised in northeastern Ohio and there was a huge Amish community in nearby Holmes County, where we would head out on the weekends to taste their wares while hitting the garage sales and flea markets.<br /><br />Then, when I moved down to Sarasota, Florida, I was surprised to learn there was a large Amish community here as well, and I've taken the benefit of enjoying some fantastic food at &#34;Amish-style&#34; restaurants and I've driven down some streets that have tons of bicycles and women dressed modestly.<br /><br />I realize that I need apologize in advance when I say &#34;Amish&#34; because I never looked closely enough into each community to determine whether it was &#34;Amish,&#34; &#34;Mennonite&#34; or &#34;Anabaptist&#34;. I had heard the terms &#34;Amish&#34; and &#34;Mennonite&#34; before reading this book, but I can honestly say I've never heard of &#34;Anabaptist&#34;.<br /><br />In any event, The Plain Choice by Sherry Gore, is a short book - 179 pages. As I was reading it, I was thinking to myself that my auto accident story would probably fill just about the same amount of pages if I were to try and write a book about my life too. I will say this: while The Plain Choice is a short book comparing it to some of the novels I read, it was just enough pages to walk through Ms. Gore's life. I was very impressed by her honesty, and I loved that the book flowed in time rather than jumping back and forth.<br /><br />It is very clear that Ms. Gore is a very determined woman. Once she made up her mind to change the way she was living, she whole-heartedly took the leap into her new life. I appreciated that she was honest in sharing the part of her story that some people would keep hidden, the &#34;real&#34; Sherry Harris. She shares her childhood struggles growing up and feeling unloved and not a part of her father's life. She does not minimize poor choices or blame someone else for them. She makes it clear that she had removed God from her life. She was and still is an imperfect human living in an imperfect world.<br /><br />Ms. Gore's story teaches us that not all Amish-Mennonite's are removed from technology and modern conveniences too. It depends on the churches and communities as to how &#34;modern&#34; they become.<br /><br />The pinnacle point is when she immersed herself in baptism to her old life, and newness of life in Christ Jesus, and as an Amish-Mennonite. Sherry Gore is saved by grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. But there is more to this book. It is a call for all to realize God's love and forgiveness and that absolutely no one is beyond God's love and redemption.<br /><br />The next time I'm traveling around in Sarasota, I'll be sure to look for that cute Electra bike of hers and give her a &#34;shout out&#34; for this book! I truly appreciate that BookLookBloggers provided me with a paperback copy of this book without cost in exchange for my personal and honest opinion and unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1442604782000, "title": "and I've taken the benefit of enjoying some fantastic food at \"Amish-style\" restaurants and I've driven down some ..." }, { "asin": "1401689604", "rating": 4, "text": "The story line of this book is set in a resort mountain town of Evergreen, Colorado. Kate Whidby is an 11 year-old protector of the family and dreams of becoming a spy. She is caught in the middle of all her family members and grandparents. Her family operates The Harrison Lodge, a historic mountain resort, and has done so for many generations. She keeps her family members' secrets from others and the day after she’s witnessed her grandfather arguing with his best friend, the man is murdered.<br /><br />At the same time in Denver, a robbery gone wrong, a consequent murder, and a gang member set on revenge for the death of his son bring several mysterious people to the Harrison Lodge. In her desire to help others, Kate chooses to harbor a fugitive while trying to save her family at the same time.<br /><br />Readers are introduced to other families, from different walks of life - not only the homeless man who sees a robbery gone wrong, but we also see runaways living under a bridge and the gang member seeking revenge for the death of his son. We also meet Charlie, a boy who has lived on the streets, with no money, and an alcoholic father. After Charlie runs away and crashes a motorcycle in Evergreen, Colorado. Kate comes upon him and hides him in a secret cubby in one of the inn's cottages.<br /><br />There are a lot of different events going on at the beginning and you wonder how they are all going to come together. Once they all converge at The Harrison Lodge, it becomes much easier to follow the story and see where everything is going.<br /><br />The author, Erin Healy, takes various different storylines and skillfully weaves them together over the course of a weekend until they come to a head late Sunday afternoon at the hotel. While the beginning of the book starts a little slow, I think it has to so that the foundation is set out for each key character. We get to know the characters, their lives and their dreams. Once the &#34;action&#34; gets going, readers move through the theft, and then the robbery involving two of the main characters. We are drawn in very easily to the individuals and readers are compassionate to their situations as the book progresses.<br /><br />Ultimately, this book circles around ideas of family and forgiveness. Erin Healy shows us the dynamics of what makes a family work and what makes them fight for each other. I appreciated the depths that this story went to on a thought-provoking level. I found it to be a great read once I got over the hump of bringing the characters together. The book kept me hanging on until the very end to find the answers to some of the mysteries that came out while I was reading. I enjoyed the book and spent a lot of time flipping pages on the edge of my seat to see how things would turn out.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost as part of the Fiction Guild Team Challenge in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1444623127000, "title": "She keeps her family members' secrets from others and the day after she’s witnessed her grandfather arguing with his best friend" }, { "asin": "0824956478", "rating": 5, "text": "If you want to teach your children about Christmas - the real Christmas, The Sparkle Box: A Gift with the Power to Change Christmas by Jill Hardie is the book to get! It's for ages 4 to 8 and it's a perfect story for any child.<br /><br />Author Jill Hardie tells the story of Sam, who is so excited about Christmas! Sam is preparing his Christmas &#34;want&#34; list and he's excited about the upcoming holiday parties. At the same time, he is so curious about one very mysterious gift -- a sparkly box sitting on the mantel above the fireplace. Whenever Sam asked his mother about the box, she would tell him to wait, that she had a few more things to put in the box.<br /><br />In the midst of all of the Christmas festivities, Sam and his family bless other people with various acts of kindness, and all the while Sam waits impatiently to find out what is in the box. On Christmas morning, Sam finally gets to open the box, and he finds the slips of paper recording his family's good deeds. His parents explain to him that the things they are doing - the blessings they are providing others - are a gift for Jesus in honor of His birthday. Sam was confused as they had given the gifts to people, not Jesus. His mother explains that when we give to others we are giving to Him.a gift for Jesus -- for Jesus said that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Him.<br /><br />The Sparkle Box story is inspired by Matthew 25:40 &#34;Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.&#34; The book challenges us to put aside our wants for those in need. To think of others. Whether it be a material item like food, clothes or shelter. Or a spiritual need, such as praying with someone, lending a shoulder. Or maybe giving of your time to a neighbor or friend in need.<br /><br />This heartfelt story will inspire readers to adopt this faith-centered tradition in their own homes. The illustrations in The Sparkle Box are awesome and children are very engaged to the story. The Sparkle Box includes a glitter-coated fold-out Sparkle Box on the inside cover of the back. The book is absolutely gorgeous and is destined to become a children’s Christmas classic for years to come! You can start your own family tradition of giving gifts to the One who gave all to us! The Sparkle Box is definitely a &#34;must have&#34; book for anyone that has children or grandchildren!<br /><br />I was provided with a review copy of this book as a First Look Blogger for Worthy Publishing without cost in exchange for this, my honest review and unbiased opinion.", "timestamp": 1449065759000, "title": "It's for ages 4 to 8 and it's a perfect story for any child" }, { "asin": "031033344X", "rating": 5, "text": "My mom has been on a reading &#34;spree&#34; for the last year or two - ever since we helped her get an e-reader on Black Thursday. She will sit and read for four or five hours at a time - even if it is the middle of the night because hey, she's retired, and can take a nap all afternoon if she wants! When I received this book, The Mountain Midwife by Laurie Alice Eakes, I knew my mom would love the book and since I had quite a stack of books myself, I gladly shared with her in exchange for her honest review. Below you'll find my mom's review:<br /><br />The Mountain Midwife is a wonderful book that is the story of midwife Ashley Tolliver and it contains many twists and turns. I loved reading this book because the Appalachian setting. This book touched the areas of Virginia and parts of West Virginia which mean so much to me.<br /><br />The women in Ashley Tolliver family has been practicing the art of midwifery for many years in their small Appalachian mountain community. Ashley wants to further her education by attending medical school and leave behind the women that she serves. One of the women that Ashley helps deliver in her home is abducted while Ashley is trying to get her to the hospital because she is bleeding dangerously. Ashley now must find the woman and her newborn baby.<br /><br />After receiving a mysterious phone call from a woman claiming to be his mother, Hunter McDermott needs to track where this call came from and seeks the aid of the local midwife (Ashley Tolliver) in this mountain town hoping that she can help him find his family’s background.. Hunter McDermott learning that he is adopted now wants to meet his birth mother who says he has a brother and sister living in the Appalachian Mountains.<br /><br />Ashley is on her own mission to find the abducted mother and newborn baby and Hunter McDermott wants to know his family in the Appalachian Mountains. Will Ashley leave the place where her feet is firmly planted or will Hunter learn to love her Appalachian Mountains?<br /><br />The characters were complex, but at the same time, they were easy to relate to. The Mountain Midwife was definitely a page-turner, and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. There were a few times in the story that the characters had tough decisions to make, and it was refreshing to see that they always turned to God to help them with these tough decisions.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own (or well, in this case, my mother's).", "timestamp": 1453065273000, "title": "The characters were complex, but at the same time, they were easy to relate to." }, { "asin": "031034199X", "rating": 4, "text": "Most of you know that my mother absolutely LOVES Amish stories. She once told me that she enjoys Amish stories because they share about times that seem more &#34;simple&#34; and the priorities of the Amish are clear - faith and family. Because of the fact that my mom likes to read, and doesn't mind providing me with a book review when she's finished, we decided that if any opportunities come up for book reviews on Amish books, she would gladly read them and provide me with her review.<br /><br />Below is my mother, Gloria's review of The Forgotten Recipe (An Amish Heirloom Novel) by Amy Clipston:<br /><br />&#34;This is a story of two people touched by tragedy and both are unable to move forward with their lives until they confront their shared past. It is about love, trust and forgiveness.<br /><br />Veronica Fisher is devastated when her fiancé, Seth Lapp is killed in a tragic accident at work. Jason Huyard worked with Seth and they were best friends. Jason is having a hard time dealing with Seth's death and thinks a lot about Veronica because Seth talked about her all the time. Following the accident, Jason feels compelled to share his grief and condolences with Veronica, who loved his friend also.<br /><br />The forgotten recipe is a newly found, but old recipe stored in her mother's hope chest in the attic, which is for a raspberry pie that Veronica's grandmother used to make. Discovering this recipe, Veronica opens a bake stand in order to sell raspberry pies using her grandmother's recipe. Jason Huyard quickly becomes a regular customer but does not tell her that he knew Seth. Slowly, as he gets to know Veronica, Jason begins to fall in love with Veronica, which is the last thing he wants to do. Veronica is also hesitant to fall in love because of her promise to only love Seth. Jason visits the bake stand once a week for more than raspberry pies - they have something special!<br /><br />This story is about two strangers - one loses the man she's going to marry while the other loses his best friend. This a wonderful story that will leave you hanging at the end of the book. How will Veronica react when she finds out that she and Jason share a past? Jason has a secret - can it ruin their chance at happiness? Will Veronica trust Jason?&#34;<br /><br />If you want to read a story about love, loss and how one recipe brought two people together in ways they couldn't imagine, you'll probably want to read this book. As you can see, my mom isn't giving you spoilers either!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own (or well, in this case, my mother's).", "timestamp": 1453604712000, "title": "a story about love, loss and how one recipe brought two people together!" }, { "asin": "1401689752", "rating": 4, "text": "At the opening of the story, we learn that the main character Lucy Alling, is a rare book seller who works for Sid McKenna, one of the most respected antiques dealer and high end interior decorators in Chicago. Most of Lucy's work with Sid involves keeping the inventory and meeting customers, but Lucy loves to find old editions and then sell them at Sid's shop and she loves her job. Unfortunately, the origins and authenticity of some of the editions that Lucy &#34;finds&#34; are suspect and we learn that her morals are questionable and that she has taken a few liberties with the books she has acquired for the store and then sold.<br /><br />Lucy meets James, a handsome stranger and promising young attorney who buys two of her favorite books for family members. They become romantically involved once James shares that his attraction to Lucy is the main reason he even purchased the books to begin with. Lucy meets James' grandmother, Helen, a woman with terminal cancer who hires Lucy to be her companion on a trip to England where Helen must deal with her own secrets. Visiting some of the sites famous for the Brontë novels and the places where the Brontë sisters lived, a friendship is born and both Lucy and Helen realize that they must face their flaws and fix their wrongdoings.<br /><br />I had never heard of the Brontë sisters before this book, so I didn't know what the title actually meant until I read this book. I thought it was pretty amazing that when I took out a note pad and made a list, there were over 50 other books mentioned in the story of this book!<br /><br />The Brontë Plot explores what makes us who we are and asks if we can change. In my humble opinion, since this book was held out to be a Christian book, I was surprised that there wasn't very much spiritual emphasis as I would have liked, but the life truths were there. The Brontë Plot is about people facing their past to be able to move on into the future.<br /><br />“All real lives hold controversy, trials, mistakes, and regrets. What matters is what you do next.” ― Katherine Reay, The Brontë Plot<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1454551242000, "title": "There were over 50 other books mentioned in the story of this book!" }, { "asin": "0764211595", "rating": 4, "text": "I wasn't hadn't heard of Nancy Mehl before, so I wasn't familiar with her writing before so when this book became available for review, I wasn't sure what to expect. This particular book, Rising Darkness, is Nancy Mehl's third book in the Finding Sanctuary series. Obviously since I haven't heard of Ms. Mehl, so I haven't read the first two books but in all honesty, I had no trouble following along in this book, so I'd say it's definitely a &#34;stand alone&#34; book. I am betting though, that I missed some of the history of the town and of the people, which might have made this book have more depth to me.<br /><br />The main character, Sophie Wittenbaur, is a young lady who grew up in a conservative and strict Mennonite family. Sophie left her small town of Kingdom both in shame and regret and to leave her painful and abusive past behind. Sophie educates herself and chases her dream job of becoming an investigative reporter. While she tries to make a name for herself as a reporter, Sophie unintentionally lands in the middle of a possible lead on a murderer who escaped with millions of dollars. The past that Sophie has worked so hard to leave behind ends up right in front of her again as she travels to the fictional Mennonite town of Sanctuary, Missouri. she takes herself &#34;under cover&#34; posing as Emily McClure while she searches for information in Sanctuary.<br /><br />Sophie meets an old flame, Jonathon Wiese, who is now a pastor in Sanctuary. Jonathon soon discovers who Emily really is and begins helping Sophie discover the answer to this story she has been trying to crack. At the same time, Sophie begins to question her decision of turning away from God and blaming God for her childhood pain while Jonathon reminds her that God was carrying her at those times in her life. There are threats and dangers around every corner, and while Sophie doesn't fully trust Jonathon she realizes that she must let him save her life.<br /><br />Rising Darkness is clear in its message to readers that we can't hold on to our past and that we need to turn things over to God and trust that He will lead us. As I stated above, I haven't read the first two books in this series, but I'm thinking if they are as good as this one, I would recommend that you read them all. While I wasn't familiar with Ms. Mehl before, I can now say that this book was fast paced and the characters were well developed. I loved the story line and you are definitely left guessing about what to expect next. I thought it was a great book and I would recommend it to other readers.<br /><br />Thank you to Bethany House for the opportunity for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1454875189000, "title": "Sophie left her small town of Kingdom both in shame and regret and to leave her painful and abusive past behind" }, { "asin": "0310338492", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm not the type to steal credit when credit is due someone else, so let me tell you right now that the following review of this book, Whispers in the Reading Room is my mother's review:<br /><br />&#34;While both my daughter and I have read several of Shelley Shepard Gray's Amish series books, we did not know she wrote other types of books as well. In fact, I was actually surprised to see this book, Whispers in the Reading Room, was written by the same author, but was happy to give it a try nonetheless.<br /><br />The setting for this historic book is in the seedier part of Chicago where the crime rate is high shortly after the Chicago World Fair in 1893. At once this story transported me to Chicago with its life in the back alleys and was part of the great division between the upper and middle class society.<br /><br />Whispers in the Reading Room is a story about middle class librarian, Lydia Bancroft, and the unlikely friendship she finds herself with a mysterious debonair gentleman patron of her library who never checks a book out. Lydia herself was lonely, and as she is weighted down by the duty to secure a wealthy husband so she can meet her mother's needs, she is very anxious.<br /><br />At once you realize that Mr. Sebastian Marks is an elusive man with many secrets. She learns his name when their paths cross the night Lydia's fiancé takes her to the Hartman Hotel and begins to rough handle her. Sebastian Marks intervenes in a tense situation in Lydia's life and from that moment on Lydia’s new friend takes on the role of protector while showing her that her fiancé isn’t who she thinks he is. Lydia discovers that Sebastian lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.<br /><br />Sebastian himself is quite the mystery man pretending to be a gentleman, and Lydia is shocked to learn that he is the owner of a drinking and gambling establishment. Lydia insists on visiting the club one night and both she and Sebastian are suddenly suspects to a murder. She must determine who can she really trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian (who everyone fears) is actually everything she thinks he is.<br /><br />A mystery book is not the kind of book that I usually read, but once I started Whispers in the Reading Room I could not put it down. Whispers in the Reading Room was an excellent mystery/murder/romance for curling up reading on a raining day by the fireplace. Even though I hadn't read the first two books in this series, I fell in love with all the characters in this story and looking forward to a follow-up story. I will definitely have to go back and read the other Chicago World's Fair Mystery series books - Book #1, Secrets of Sloane House and Book #2, Deception on Sable Hill too!&#34;<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own - well, they are my mother's and for that, I am responsible.", "timestamp": 1457375561000, "title": "but was happy to give it a try nonetheless" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 5, "text": "The Wedding Chapel was the first book written by Rachel Hauck that I have read. At first, I didn't think I was going to care for this book; it seemed like there was just too much information. While I did think the story was interesting, I struggled with Ms. Hauck's telling of it. As the story progressed though - probably about halfway through the book - the story turned out to be a really good one.<br /><br />I feel that Rachel writes from her heart about real broken family struggles, and the drama that goes along with it. The Wedding Chapel is a complex story of interwoven lives, souls seeking peace, secrets, forgiveness, and second chances. The characters were real and I enjoyed their journey each went on within themselves.<br /><br />The Wedding Chapel reminds me of something like time-travel because the story moves back and forth from Heart's Bend, Tennessee in 1948 where it is a lost love story of Jimmy and Colette and then to flash forward to the present where it is a modern love story of Jack and Taylor in New York. Due to the style of this writing, the reader is following the two different couples on their journey of love.<br /><br />At the heart of this story is the wedding chapel, symbolizing hope and healing, while at the same time conveying that there is no time limit on love and second chances.I loved the location of the chapel and the romances of the four characters. This book is such a great love story and also has a hint of suspense regarding a secret one of the characters held. The Wedding Chapel is a book that I will remember.<br /><br />If you enjoy books about inspirational romance and learning how to depend on God to help see your blessings I would highly recommend this one. This book would make a really good book club reading book or as a Hallmark movie.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1457466051000, "title": "it seemed like there was just too much information" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 4, "text": "While I have come to learn that Terri Blackstock is a well known author, this was the first of her books I've ever read. If I Run is the first book in a series also named If I Run. I'm really glad I got in on the first book, so I'll be all set to read the rest in the series. Yes, I'll be reading the future books too.<br /><br />If I Run is written in first person and present tense and it is with two points of view – alternating between the two main characters – namely, Casey Cox and Dylan Roberts. This style of writing really builds up the tension in this story and it puts the reader right in the center of it all.<br /><br />Ms. Blackstock first introduces us to Casey as she is cleaning blood off her tennis shoes and packing up to skip town. Her DNA is all over a crime scene and she is a fugitive who is running for her life. Dylan is the man hired to look for Casey. Right from the start, readers aren’t really clear about Casey's guilt or innocence and this isn’t disclosed until we are pretty far into the story. It definitely kept the suspense going throughout the story, which for me, made for good reading.<br /><br />We learn that Casey is running from the real killers. She is smart and knows how to avoid the cops and as the story progresses, Dylan begins to think Casey cannot actually be the killer too.<br /><br />The author also works in a secondary plot, but I don’t want this to be a spoiler so I’ll just tell you it is an exciting side story that doesn’t distract readers from the main plot.<br /><br />If I Run is a well written book with well developed characters. This book is chalked full of unexpected twists and turns, which, added to the ongoing suspense of the story makes readers excited for the second installment to this series. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for that sequel!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1457475291000, "title": "I'm really glad I got in on the first book" }, { "asin": "0718037626", "rating": 4, "text": "I wasn't sure what to expect with the title of this book - The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell - but I took a chance anyway. The story still has me in shock so excuse me if this review is slightly garbled. The book held me from page one and is still resonating in my head.<br /><br />This story takes place pre-Katrina, in New Orleans. Our main character is Amanda, whose daughter, Ellie's best friend is Sarah. Amanda steps in as a chaperone on her daughter's sixth-grade Halloween field trip to the Big Easy. When Sarah is abducted, Amanda is guilt-ridden because she feels that she was supposed to be the one watching Sarah when she disappeared and she feels responsible.<br /><br />“We all have a feathered bone. It’s called hope. If we hang on to hope, if we don’t let anybody break us or make us forget who we are, then we will always be free.” Sarah<br /><br />Woven throughout this book is Sarah’s side of the story, which is told through her journal entries written so she can remember who she really is. She addresses her entries to a sparrow that comes to her window to visit. In those writings, the reality of Sarah's situation is is disclosed in a very sensitive way. The lessons that her parents taught her before her abduction allow her to stay remind herself of truth. Sarah's voice, through her journal entries, was full of simple, beautiful wisdom.<br /><br />For me this novel shared a very dark story of mental health, abuse and sexual exploitation. It was really deep but does show readers that life doesn't always go smooth and easy and that trials and fears attack us when we least expect them. Cantrell's characters are real and complex, the story is layered and the themes difficult. Amanda was a completely believable character even when she couldn't fix things. Sometimes her emotions were all over the place and the book overall is an emotional rollercoaster. I loved how faith played a big part for the characters too.<br /><br />The details of each character's storyline are so real that while reading, I almost felt like I was a part of the lives of these characters. This is one of those &#34;hard to put down&#34; kind of books, but when you finally do put the book down, you will continue to think about them all.<br /><br />“It is written to remind us all that we are loved, we have worth, and we are never alone.” Julie Cantrell<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1461453179000, "title": "Ellie's best friend is Sarah" }, { "asin": "0764212486", "rating": 5, "text": "This is a story about a twenty five year old unwed Lucy Flaud an Amish girl living in Lancaster County, PA. It begins with mystery and intrigue that will unravel in bits and pieces throughout this novel. As I read this story, I felt that had I known Lucy's past and her mistakes earlier on in the story, I might have enjoyed this novel more but since I didn't know, I felt that I rushed through the story just to find the answers.<br /><br />Lucy had done something in her past where she made a grave mistake. By holding on to her past, she is unable to let go of her sins by forgiving herself and asking God for forgiveness so she move forward. Somehow this mistake help create a strained relationship with her parents especially her father Christian.<br /><br />Trying to find redemption - or &#34;atonement&#34; for her past - Lucy fills every day volunteering at charitable organizations, helping her married sister with her children, and working at home helping her twin sisters and Mother. No matter how hard she works, she cannot fill the empty hole in her heart. I had a hard time understanding her relationship with her twin sisters. Lucy’s journey held lessons on love, faith and forgiveness as she found her way back to church. On her journey Lucy meets an elderly couple who met on a bridge to celebrate. While she listens to their story of love Lucy begins to heal.<br /><br />Lucy's father, Christian, starts attending a local grief support group where he meets, Englisher, Dale Wyeth. Dale seems to be looking for a more simple life and he owns a local hardware store. Through their friendship, Dale starts spending time around the Flaud farm, and Lucy begins to know Dale as they become friends. People are worried, though, that the friendship will lead to more and Lucy past will be revisited when they spot her riding in his truck<br /><br />Meeting Dale brings back all of the painful memories Lucy has avoided. She begins to help a homeless girl she has become friends with and in doing so, she begins to restore her broken relationship with God. This story was provoking and made me look inside myself at mistakes I’ve made in the past. Like Lucy, I had a hard time asking God for forgiveness and let go of my sins to find peace. This is an emotional story that Beverly Lewis tells so well and it is an excellent look at redemption and forgiveness. I enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />Thank you to the Bethany House Blogger Review Program for the opportunity for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1461842307000, "title": "I might have enjoyed this novel more but since I didn't know" }, { "asin": "0718033183", "rating": 4, "text": "This book is second in a series called the &#34;Amish of Birch Creek&#34; written by Kathleen Fuller. I did not read the first book but An Unbroken Heart can stand alone without having previously reading book one. I really enjoyed reading this story and put it down once. Kathleen Fuller makes the reader feel the emotions of love, fear, pain, and questions of self-worth and happiness. The main characters in this book are Joanna Schrock and Andrew Beiler.<br /><br />Joanna was arguing with her parents about wanting to marry Andrew while they were traveling in their buggy on the way to the apple orchard. Her mother was telling her that she was not yet ready for marriage. When a car hit their buggy, the collision caused her to lose both of her parents. Joanna herself suffered a broken pelvis and lacerations on her face which would take a long time to heal. Joanna had loved Andrew since she was twelve years old, since he had stood up for her when she was being bullied at school. Over the years, as they were dating her feelings for Andrew grew stronger and Joanna had shocked Andrew by proposing to him.<br /><br />In the rehabilitation center, Joanna suffered both physically with the pain from the accident and mentally, having learned that she had lost both parents. She felt so empty, alone and guilty. Andrew was upset about the accident and worried that he might be losing Joanna, so visited her and proposed. He could not picture his life without Joanna by his side. She accepted the proposal without the deep joy she had hoped for, and the plans began for their wedding. On the day of her wedding Joanna was unable to walk down the aisle. She then told Andrew she could not marry him as she knew she wasn't ready. God was talking to Joanna, telling her to be strong and courageous. Should she listen to God?<br /><br />In An Unbroken Heart, readers learn about Joanna’s sisters, Sadie and Abigail, and how they managed to run the family business after their parent’s death while at the same time handling Joanna’s recovery. It encourages readers to look at forgiveness in their own lives as Joanna’s met Cameron, the driver who caused the accident that killed her parents, and forgave him. As the characters become so real, you really want healing for those who are hurting, and you want to help them find their way back to God so they can be whole again - but it must be in line with God’s timing and not theirs.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1462317003000, "title": "I really enjoyed reading this story and put it down once" }, { "asin": "0718030923", "rating": 4, "text": "Sister Dear by Laura McNeill has a great cover and picture, which was just enough to pull me in. The story is about Allie, who is a mother convicted of a crime she swears she didn't commit. (Haven't we all heard that one before?) Anyway, after spending 10 years in jail, Allie returns to her small town hoping to pick up the pieces of her life and re-establish a relationship with her now 15-year old daughter. Allie struggles to fall in place, to fit back in living her former life with her family, with friends and at work. In order to try and reconnect and form a relationship with her daughter, Allie becomes determined to find out what really happened that tragic night and wants to clear her name.<br /><br />Sister Dear seemed to start off a little slow and I was little worried that I wasn't going to enjoy the book, but slowly the plot got going and just kept building and building until the very last page. I really enjoyed the writing style - sort of &#34;flashback&#34; style - going between 2006 and 2016 - through the eyes of various people, including Allie, Sheriff Gaines, Emma (Allie's sister) and Caroline (Allie's daughter). Using the multiple points of view and weaving back and forth through time, Sister Dear painted a haunting picture of lies, betrayals and deep dark secrets.<br /><br />The author, McNeill, definitely left me guessing about everyone's involvement in &#34;the incident,&#34; including Allie's own involvement. I loved the plot twists, and I will admit I didn't see them coming. It wasn't one of those predictable plots where you knew what was happening next, and I really appreciated that. I don't want to write a spoiler here, so I really can't go into too much of the story. Suffice it to say, it's worth reading Sister Dear to learn the whole story! On one of those 1 to 5 star ratings, with 5 being highest, I'd give this book a 4.2. I'll definitely be watching for future works of Laura McNeill and I'm going to head back and read her debut book, Center of Gravity too!<br /><br />I truly appreciate that BookLookBloggers provided me with a paperback copy of this book to read without cost in exchange for my personal and honest opinion and unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1462501469000, "title": "Sister Dear by Laura McNeill has a great cover and picture" }, { "asin": "1617956651", "rating": 5, "text": "What I found in this book was a beautiful book filled with hope. Hunting Hope is full of inspiring stories and gut-wrenching moments that share all of the promises that are possible to God's children. Nika Maples shares her heart, and her honesty and the end result is that her transparency is a very beautiful thing for readers. Ms. Maples' humor made me laugh and smile and her stories often made me emotional and teary, but it was her relationship with Jesus that really made me look at those areas of my own life that could really use some work.<br /><br />Accepting what we cannot change, while anticipating future blessings is the perfect definition of hope as Ms. Maples relates to readers. She leans on Scripture to back up every point she makes, helping readers see that the honest and true statements taken from God's Word. Ms. Maples' beautiful examples of God's compassion for us provides strength and hope to readers in their dark moments. Hunting Hope is easy to read and very well written in such a way that it allows readers to find the messages they need at the time they are needed.", "timestamp": 1463961972000, "title": "What I found in this book was a beautiful book filled with hope" }, { "asin": "1401688314", "rating": 5, "text": "A Dream of Miracles is the third book in The Amish Wonder series by Ruth Reid. The first book was A Miracle of Hope and the second book was A Woodland Miracle. Each of those books would probably have helped in creating the backdrop to the characters in this book, but nonetheless, my favorite Amish book reviewer, Gloria (aka Mom) says that this book can be read as a stand alone very nicely.<br /><br />This story takes place in a small community made up of Old Order Amish in Michigan. The two main characters Mattie Diener and Boaz (Bo) Lambright become so real that you think they are your best friends. Mattie is a young widowed woman with two young children, Nathan and 18-month old Amanda, to raise without her husband Andy, who is deceased. Mattie is having a rough time running a herb and honey business with the help of the community especially her next door bachelor neighbor Alvin.<br /><br />Mattie’s oldest child, Nathan, is three years old has been a sickly baby with several health issues since his birth. Nathan is ill and Mattie takes him to the doctor and her worse nightmare begins. Her regular doctor is not available and another doctor, Dr. Wellington, is filling his place but he knows nothing about the Amish. Nathan has a fever and blisters in his mouth and Dr. Wellington suspects’ abuse.<br /><br />The doctor has Mattie take Nathan to the hospital and calls Child Protective Services on her. She meets Boaz Lambright, a fast-rising social services investigator whose high-society mother doesn't seem to rest until she finds her son's &#34;Mrs. Right&#34;. He does not think there is any abuse and sets out to prove her innocence. Things keep happening and the plot continues to twist and turn, and all the while Mattie has your heart because of struggles she is going through. Bo was haunted by dreams with flashing from his current life into his past life.<br /><br />I love the twist that Bo experiences and I found it hard to actually put this book down because I wanted to find out the outcome. There is so much emotion in this story and both the characters and the plot are so powerful that it just carried me away with them. Toward the end of this story things are explained. I loved this story and I look forward to other books by Ruth Reid.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1464313791000, "title": "my favorite Amish book reviewer" }, { "asin": "1530040396", "rating": 4, "text": "My Father's House by Rose Chandler Johnson is about Lily Rose Cates, who has the perfect childhood that includes a fantastic relationship with her father. Her father adored her and she loved him so much. Lily's father unexpectedly passes away when Lily is sixteen and it leaves her to emotionally flounder throughout the rest of high school and into college.<br /><br />As Lily heads off to college, she sees her friends marrying off or falling in love. On a trip to New York City to meet up with her best friend, Lily meets Manuel Valenti. He seems charming and sophisticated and Lily is captivated by his attention. He sweeps her off her feet and promises her the world. She falls into a whirlwind romance and totally falls for him even though there are signals - warning signs - she fails (or chooses) to recognize. Even her wise Annie Ruth feels that Manny Lily brings him home to meet her family.<br /><br />Lily moves forward with marriage, but not surprisingly, soon afterward their marriage begins to fall apart. Her husband is a dark, abusive man and Lily soon realizes that she must make the hard choice of leaving Manny - of running from her husband - or possibly risk even more than the marriage. Once Lily gets away from her horrible marriage, Lily starts to take the necessary steps of healing her heart from her past and from her marriage so that she can move forward. We readers standby (and read on) as Lily slowly begins the process of healing and returning to her father's house.<br /><br />I felt that this story was written to remind us all that there is always hope, even in our darkest hours and our deepest pain. I loved Ms. Johnson's writing and this is one of those books you can definitely get caught up in, and if you're anything like me, you'll read it cover to cover in one sitting. (Pray that I make it through work tomorrow without falling asleep!!)<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1466009767000, "title": "who has the perfect childhood that includes a fantastic relationship with her father" }, { "asin": "0764212818", "rating": 5, "text": "Being part of the Bethany House Blogger Review Program, I get to read some very interesting books that I wouldn't necessarily have the opportunity to read. Sometimes I'm provided with books to read from authors I've never heard of, even though they are very popular in the literary world. Today's book, No Other Will Do, by Karen Witemeyer and this book falls into that category. Those of you who follow me regularly know that my mom loves Amish books. She also loves Western books and when I read her the back cover of this book over the phone, she jumped at the chance to read it and report in. Here's my mom's review:<br /><br />&#34;The setting for this story takes place in the old historical west. This Christian romance has it all - humor, action, murder, mystery and the suspense of a 'who done it'. No Other Will Do is very well written and has you hanging on every word to find out what is going to happen next. I truly enjoyed reading this novel in one day and did not put it down until the end,<br /><br />Emma Chandler and her suffragette aunts were strong, free spirited independent women who started a successful women’s colony in Harper’s Station, Texas to help women in need to make a fresh start with their lives. Unfortunately, there is someone who repeatedly wants to drive all the ladies out of colony. If only Emma knew what this dangerous crook wanted. She is forced to admit they might need a man to help and there is only one man that she really trusts to do the job.<br /><br />Malachi Shaw has known Emma since they were young. She saved his life when he was hiding out in her auntie’s barn after fighting in the streets and is cold, hungry, and no home. She ask her aunt if she could keep him. Now Malachi has earned respect by working on the railroad as an explosive expert. When he received Emma’s telegraph asking for his help, he left immediately to go to her keep a childhood promise be had made and try somehow to repay her for saving his life.<br /><br />The danger at the women’s colony continues and the threats are getting stronger and more dangerous. Should the women leave the colony for their safety? Should they stay and fight with Malachi help to catch the outlaws?&#34;<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the Bethany House Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1466987226000, "title": "I truly enjoyed reading this novel in one day and did not ..." }, { "asin": "1617956120", "rating": 4, "text": "My Mother's Quilts: Devotions on Love, Legacy, Family and Faith by Ramona Richards is an awesome devotional. While this book has lots of pictures of some beautiful quilts, it is way more than a quilt picture book. Each devotional itself shares the story of each individual quilt. It includes a sentence or two of a prayer starter, and then a Bible verse.<br /><br />While this is a book you will want to read in its entirety like I did, you will want to keep it close to you so that when you are reading your daily devotionals you can include this book as a devotional guide as well.<br /><br />As a baby, I received a quilt from my grandfather who passed before I was born. Every Christmas my mom would bring that quilt out and we would enjoy its beauty during the Christmas season, and then she would pack it up again until next year. When I found that exact quilt in this book, my heart swelled with such fond memories of that quilt!<br /><br />I received a copy of this devotional book without cost in exchange for this post from FlyByPromotions! Thank you FlyBy!!", "timestamp": 1466988793000, "title": "Devotions on Love, Legacy" }, { "asin": "1434708381", "rating": 4, "text": "Jilted is the third book in the Mended Hearts series, but can serve as a stand alone book on its own. I did not read the two prior books Jaded and Justified, and I feel that if I had read the first two it would have added to my enjoyment of Jilted.<br /><br />The story in Jilted takes place in a quiet small town of Trapp, Texas. As in most small towns, gossip and news spreads quickly. The memorable characters in this story are Lynda Turner and Clyde Felton. Lynda is doubtful that love and happiness will ever be hers until Clyde an old friend and an ex-convict shows interest in her and hope awakens. Lynda’s husband left her and young daughter Ruthie behind fifteen years ago.<br /><br />Lynda, struggling with depression, had withdrawn from the community and Clyde had to adjust when returning after time in prison to Trapp and face the community he left behind. Because these characters are older and had already missed so much of their lives, I wanted to help them Mrs. Denman told and wrote this story so well that you felt part of this little town and a friend to Lynda and Clyde.<br /><br />Lynda Turner has struggled with depression since her husband abandoned her and their young daughter fifteen years ago. Yet unexpected hope awakens when a local ex-convict shows interest. As long-hidden secrets resurface, Lynda must fight for her emotional stability and for a life where the shadow of shame is replaced by the light of love.<br /><br />Jilted tells of a woman who has lost the joy of living, a man determined to draw her back toward happiness, and a town that must---once and for all---leave the past where it belongs. It is a gentle reminder that all things can work together for good.<br /><br />As secrets which had been hidden for years comes out again Lynda must fight to keep her emotions stable, getting out of living in shame, and receive the love that her old friend Clyde is offering. This final secret is shocking.<br /><br />At the end of this book all ends are neatly tied up and I am sorry that my visit to Trapp, Texas has finished and I will miss Lynda and Clyde and all the others. I really enjoyed reading Jilted, and look forward to reading Jaded and Justified soon!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1467159685000, "title": "and I feel that if I had read the first two it would have added to my enjoyment of Jilted" }, { "asin": "0736966234", "rating": 5, "text": "Here's what I say: Before I can even talk about this book, I have to talk about the Bible verse on the front - one of my favorites! &#34;For I know the plansI have for you,&#34; declares the LORD, &#34;plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.&#34; Jeremiah 29:11.<br /><br />I knew it was going to be a great book just because of that in itself, and I wasn't wrong at all! First I will say this isn't the only book I've read of Dana Mentink's! She really knows how to write some pretty cool pups in her stories and I really enjoyed it in the other book I read. Funny stuff here! I read this book at my desk at work because (1) it was a smaller book and easy to carry; and (2) because I just couldn't wait to read it!<br /><br />Stephanie Pink - yes, her last name is Pink - don't you love it? Anyway, Stephanie Pink is the heroine of this book, and she's hooked on books - kind of like yours truly. She can't seem to go any period of time without reading a book or she gets anxious. She's an aspiring literary agent and had been dreaming of it since she read a book by Agnes Wharton as a kid. She is sent by her boss to pick up a manuscript by none other than Agnes Wharton - one that they'd been waiting for over 15 years. Tragically, when she meets Agnes, her dog, Sweetness, takes off and the story begins!<br /><br />At the same time, Stephanie is also like most girls and is in search of her &#34;happily ever after&#34;. Enter Rhett Hastings, a retired CEO, who stepped down from his job to take care of his sister after a bad accident where she suffered brain trauma. Before her accident, Rhett had treated her pretty bad and she had disowned him but of course, with the injury she doesn't recall that fact. Rhett feels that God is telling him to return to the orchard in Oregon where they had grown up. Of course, on his way there, he bumps into none other than Stephanie Pink.<br /><br />This is where the &#34;happily ever after &#34; may or may not kick in (no spoilers here). Rhett rescues Stephanie and Sweetness and even helps her get the dog to Washington! Both Rhett and Stephanie find themselves on a crazy journey that will definitely change their lives. And just like the author reveals at the beginning of the book, God has a plan for them (Jeremiah 29:11). Of course, they soon find out His plan isn't anything like their individual plans and His is way better! .<br /><br />I give this sweet little book 5 stars out of 5 for style of writing, flow of the storyline, the depth of the characters, and of course the hilarious dog!! I see Dana Mentink has the next book in the Love Unleashed series out in February of 2017, and I will be looking out for that book as well!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1471365525000, "title": "I give this sweet little book 5 stars out of 5" }, { "asin": "1501820079", "rating": 4, "text": "I always love books about dogs, and Service Tails: More Stories of Man's Best Hero by Ace Collins is no exception! Service Tails is a wonderful collection of great true stories that share both the love and loyalty of the owner and their dog, but also provide insight and inspiration.<br /><br />We learn about their extensive training and incredible service working together to provide owners with more self confidence with the assistance of their service dog. These dogs help create permanent and forever bonds with their owners that goes beyond their service, and provides readers with that &#34;heart connection&#34; by sharing their stories.<br /><br />Service Tails shares twelve stories of dogs who provide the commitment of duty and service to their owners, some saving lives and some providing an independent lifestyle to those unable to do so without the help of their service dog. The best part of these stories is the way it shares how owners and their dogs seem to become one as they work together to make life more enjoyable.<br /><br />If you are a dog owner and lover, then I recommend this book to you. This is one of those books to keep on your shelf so you can read again in the future. Service Tails would also make a fantastic gift for any dog lover in your life!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1472431817000, "title": "I always love books about dogs" }, { "asin": "0310339863", "rating": 4, "text": "The Saddle Maker’s Son is the third book in The Amish of Bee County series. I did not read the first two, but enjoyed this one as a stand alone. (I will admit, though, I think I would love to read books #1 and #2 just to see what I missed.)<br /><br />This is a romantic story of Rebekah Lantz, who lives in a small Amish community in Bee County Texas. She feels like her family does not trust her since her sister Leila left the Amish faith to marry Jesse Glick.<br /><br />Tobias Byler is an Amish man who has recently moved to Bee County along with his father, Levi and his nine siblings. As Levi is opening his new shop of making saddles and training horses he has an accident and the children are left to take care of themselves while he is in the hospital.<br /><br />Rebekah works as an assistant school teacher and has discovered two dirty and hungry runaway children The children hiding in the shed outside of the schoolhouse traveled across the border from El Salvador. It is discovered that the children traveled alone and were sent by their grandmother from El Salvador to Texas to hunt out their father, who is living in San Antonio.<br /><br />Rebekah also meets Tobias Byler and his father, Levi who brings the younger children to school. Will Rebekah turn Guadulupe (&#34;Lupe&#34;) and Diego over to the proper authorities? Will this small Amish community open their hearts and arms to these runaway children? It was interesting to read how illegal children immigrants are handled.<br /><br />There is attraction and friction between Rebekah and Tobias as they worked to help the children find their father. Does Tobias have feelings for Rebekah and cannot show it? There is also another romance going on with Rebekah’s aunt and Tobias’s father. This story has all the things that makes a wonderful love story and reminds us that God wants us to help each other.<br /><br />The Saddle Maker's Son is very well written story and I could not put it down until the last page. It was a beautiful story and one that I will remember.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1472434475000, "title": "but enjoyed this one as a stand alone" }, { "asin": "0310345391", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the first book in Shelley Shepard Gray’s &#34;Lone Star Hero&#34; series, I loved reading some of her other books such as the Whispers in the Reading Room.<br /><br />The Loyal Heart story takes place in the late 1800s in Galveston Texas right after the civil war ended, and its a story about Miranda Markham who is a war widow and is facing many troubles in Galveston. She lost her husband that she dearly loved and now has become an outcast in her hometown because someone is spreading rumors that her husband was a traitor.<br /><br />Phillip Markham, Lt. Truax, Caption Monroe, and Major Kelly were prisoners in a POW camp. This group of Confederate soldiers, who had been prisoners by the Union army, promised to take care of each other and their families after the war.<br /><br />Phillip Markham past away right before the war ended. He always spoke of the love that he and his wife Miranda shared. Robert Truax was sent to see how Miranda was doing to fulfill the promise that was made to Markham.<br /><br />Who is responsible making the town turn against Miranda and how are the rumors spreading that Phillip Markham was a traitor? Robert was the problem solver will he be able to take care of this?<br /><br />The Loyal Heart is a historical fiction book and provides for the reader a great mixture of mystery, suspense, action, history of the post-Civil war in the south, and a light romance. Shelley is a great storyteller and I enjoyed this book very much. Looking forward to reading more in this series.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own - well, they are my mother's and for that, I am responsible.", "timestamp": 1473218990000, "title": "I loved reading some of her other books such as the ..." }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "I will admit it - I get so excited every single time I see that Rachel Hauck has another book out. It ranks right up there with having a day off work - my day job, that is. I really think that if there was anyone I could ever point out and say &#34;yes, that woman follows God's calling for her&#34;, it would be Rachel Hauck. That being said, today's post is about Rachel Hauck's latest release, The Wedding Shop. The Wedding Shop is the third book in the &#34;wedding&#34; series, the others being The Wedding Chapel and the other,<br /><br />The Wedding Shop's setting is Heart's Bend, Tennessee, and this story is about a young woman named Haley Morgan who us home from the Air Force. She decides she will take over the town's old wedding shop that's been in the town for over 90 years. The building was run down and in need of many repairs, but Haley had a vision of what it once was. Even though it's been closed for so many years, Haley has a strong feeling that the place must be reopened.<br /><br />The storyline of The Wedding Shop goes back and forth between the 1930s through the 1950s and then the present day. While this book could be a &#34;stand alone&#34;, it is my understanding that some of the characters in this book were also included in Rachel's previous books.<br /><br />The entire book is awesome. Ms. Hauck draws readers in as she alternates the story between modern day Haley and past wedding shop owner Cora. Ms. Hauck has the fantastic ability to transport her readers back in time and make them actually feel like they are there. It was great to see the different perspectives of the characters and how their stories develop while moving between the two time periods. The message I received from this book was that we need to trust in God and do His will and he will provide.<br /><br />I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publisher, and I received a digital copy from NetGalley, both without cost, but in exchange for my opinion.", "timestamp": 1473984027000, "title": "The entire book is awesome." }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 4, "text": "I had never heard of Robert Whitlow before, but the man has written plenty of books. The cover of this book drew me in - sort of resembled a John Grisham book or something - and it made me curious. Another drawing factor to this book was the fact that it was a Christian suspense novel with a legal emphasis. Having worked in the legal field for over 30 years, I'm always interested in that category. Sprinkle it with a little suspense, and you've got me interested.<br /><br />The Witnesses follows young lawyer, Parker House as he begins working in a small North Carolina law firm. His job doesn't pay as much as his friends but he finds satisfaction in what he is learning and achieving as he learns the ropes of a law office and of his town. At the same time, Parker realizes that he is somehow able to see the future.<br /><br />While Parker uses his gift in the legal field, his grandfather, Frank (born Franz Haus), was forced to use the gift during World War II. This fact in itself results in the story going back and forth between these two time periods throughout the book.<br /><br />Parker's gift is starting to become obvious to others, which begins to make him more interesting to a more prestigious law firm. As he struggles with his career decisions and decisions surrounding a new romance, his grandfather is experiencing deep regret for his actions in WWII.<br /><br />The theme of The Witnesses seems to be how people can use (or misuse) God's gifts. While both Parker and his grandfather, Frank are good people, sometimes the use of their gift for evil is too tempting to hold back. Throughout the story, readers will see both of these men struggling with the use of their gift in a responsible manner and whether they will follow the Lord or not follow the Lord.<br /><br />This book would inspire anyone who is wavering about seeking forgiveness and making life changing decisions. If you have never read any of Robert Whitlow's other books, I'd suggest you start here like I did. The Witnesses is a book that seems to cross over those defined genre lines that include law, family, romance, friendship, mystery, suspense and even a little thriller.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1475082812000, "title": "Frank are good people, sometimes the use of their gift for ..." }, { "asin": "0800726413", "rating": 4, "text": "The storyline of When Love Arrives by Johnnie Alexander takes place in a town named Misty Willows. This book is the second in the Misty Willows series, and I had not yet read Where She Belongs, which is the first book, but based on some of the reviews I read, it would have been helpful to know the characters a little better before reading this book. Given the time, I would probably gone back and read Where She Belongs first.<br /><br />Dani Prescott lost her mother in a plane crash. It's the same plane crash that killed Brett Somers' parents. Why is that important? Because Brett is publicly blaming Dani's mother for the crash and ruining her reputation. Dani is hurt and wants to clear her mother's name so she sets out to get revenge against Brett. The story is told in alternating chapters from Brett and Dani's point of view. It's interesting reading this story from Brett's perspective.<br /><br />Brett is a handsome and rich &#34;ladies' man&#34; who is egotistical and pursues younger, blond, long-legged women. Dani accidently meets Brett in the parking lot of the hospital and he pursues her despite the fact that she doesn't meet his standard criteria. Unbeknownst to Brett, Dani is actually seeking revenge. Brett and Dani soon realize they have so many things in common and Dani starts to feel guilty about her original plan to bring Brett down.<br /><br />As Dani and Brett develop their friendship, readers get the sense of the changes Brett is making in his life, and his true desire to become a better person due to the fact that he has learned he has a son.<br /><br />Dani gets help from Brett and his family and her luck begins to change when she secures a new job and a new home surrounded by a great family. As we all know, a relationship built on lies is sure to fail, and Dani's secret plans come to light. These two have a lot to work out and it well worth reading to see where it does.<br /><br />The story is hard to put down and I loved seeing the changes in both of them. I felt that the author did a great job providing a very believable drama that included faith issues that readers will be able to identify with. Seeing how the characters had to reach the &#34;rock bottom&#34; in their lives before they were able to reach out for help from God proved to be a real struggle in the lives of so many people today. The author certainly has a gift for bringing a story to life and making the reader feel like they are right in the midst of it.<br /><br />The great news is that coming in Summer of 2017 there will be another book to this series - the third - and at the end of this book there was a little &#34;teaser&#34; for anyone interested. I hope I make time to go back and read the first book so that by the time the third is released I'll be up to speed on everyone's backgrounds!<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book from Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group for my honest review and was not required to give a positive review.", "timestamp": 1475092642000, "title": "The storyline of When Love Arrives by Johnnie Alexander takes place in a town ..." }, { "asin": "0718077911", "rating": 5, "text": "I had heard of Katherine Reay only after I had the opportunity to read her book, The Brontë Plot, back in February of this year. Because I thought that book was so great, when I heard about this book, A Portrait of Emily Price, I couldn't wait. Unfortunately, I have to say that when it arrived, I was already in the middle of another blog tour so this was placed on the back burner for a while. The book was released on November 1 of this year, so it's still a really new book so everyone can find their copies easily! I know you'll want to get your copy too, because A Portrait of Emily Price is a book full of awesomeness.<br /><br />The protagonist, Emily Price is an art restorer who dreams of becoming an original artist someday. She travels to Atlanta to restore a mural in a home damaged by fire. That’s where she meets Chef Benito &#34;Ben&#34; Vassallo, who is visiting Atlanta to reconnect with his brother and breathe new life into his aunt and uncle’s restaurant, Piccolo. Emily begins a &#34;whirlwind romance&#34; with Ben and falls in love with him while she works with him to improve the appearance of Piccolo. In a shocking move, she accepts Ben's marriage proposal, marries him and and follows him to Italy. Once arriving in Italy, Emily is enchanted with the country, but because of Emily’s need to “fix” what she thinks is broken things get complicated when she meets her new Italian family.<br /><br />The author does an excellent job of showing the relationship problems in families. I also think Katherine did a lovely job of describing Italy and, well &#34;painting a picture&#34; of the scenery for readers so descriptive that we feel a part of the story, especially in the driving scenes where we see hills and small towns, narrow driving lanes and arches that feel too small for the car to fit through. Breathtaking, for sure.<br /><br />If you're anything like me and you love romance stories that are realistic and don't fall under the fairytale-type of “happily ever after” story, A Portrait of Emily Price is definitely a book you'll want to read too!<br /><br />I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion and review. Thanks so much!", "timestamp": 1480539830000, "title": "Because I thought that book was so great, when I heard about this book" }, { "asin": "1401690300", "rating": 5, "text": "As part of the The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader program, I received a copy of Colleen Coble's new book, Twilight at Blueberry Barrens, which was a great read set on the beautiful coast of Folly Shoals, Maine. I'm getting ahead of myself here, but let me tell you the book had fantastic descriptions of the scenery and the characters were well written. The story itself included suspense, murders, romance, a wedding, an escaped prisoner, a hire for murder guy and even a crazy stalker. All of these stories within the book have us guessing and all were very nicely interwoven throughout the book. What more could you ask for in a story?<br /><br />Now that I put the cart in front of the horse, let me tell you a little more about the story: This is the third book in the Sunset Cove series and is connected to the first title, The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, because this book is about Kate Mason, who is Claire Dellamare’s twin sister. This book frequently refers back to the storyline in The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, so it would probably be helpful if you read the first book in the series to understand this one a little better. In all honesty, when I was reading the first book, The Inn at Ocean's Edge, I really wasn't a fan of the character, Claire, but in this book the author redeemed her character and made her someone more relatable to readers. It was also enjoyable learning more about Kate in this book.<br /><br />After successfully battling a life threatening illness, Kate Mason is restarting her life, while at the same time, she is confronted with a faceless enemy who could possibly be someone she knows well. She's in a difficult financial place so when she rents out a cottage for the summer plus she's given the opportunity to nanny a summer guest's young nieces, things might be looking better for Kate. The rental tenant is Drake Newham, who is a handsome and successful entrepreneur from Boston and is protecting his brother's two daughters. Drake has come to Maine in order to investigate his brother and sister-in-law's brutal deaths and it that his brother could have been killed because of his legal actions against a dangerous international crime leader, but Drake is discovering that Heath and Melissa's marriage was unstable, which makes local officials convinced theirs was a case of murder-suicide.<br /><br />Because I don't write spoilers, I can't tell you much more about this book other than to suggest that you buy the book for yourself and dig right in! The characters are likeable, the scenery fantastic and the tale very interesting. If you've read any of Colleen Coble's other books in other series, be warned that some of the other characters from other series make appearances in this book too, which is something I really enjoyed.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1481662354000, "title": "which was a great read set on the beautiful coast of Folly Shoals" }, { "asin": "0718083105", "rating": 4, "text": "&#34;This is a very intense read. The author writes in Afrikaans. Child of the River is the second book written by Irma Joubert that has been translated into English. The first was The Girl from the Train that I have not read. Both of her books are written in the same time period and the location of South Africa. You learn a lot of history when you read this book such as what was going on in Europe during WWII, history during the mid-1950 in South Africa with apartheid and segregation.<br /><br />This is a story about Persomis, the daughter of a sharecropper who comes from a dysfunctional home life. Her father is a drunk and beats his wife and children. Social workers step in and takes the younger siblings and send Persomis to a boarding school where her brother Gerbrand is attending. She works hard, made excellent grades and was allowed to attend the university where she earns a law degree.<br /><br />Irma Joubert weaves three story lines so well. First was Persomi growing up living dirt poor on the Fourie’s farm. Second, the apartheid laws and how they were applied to the families, and third, the love story between Persomi and Boelie.<br /><br />This is a well-written and very inspiring story. I loved the character Persomis especially her passion as she fought for the rights of minorities and the romance between Persomis and Boelie.<br /><br /> I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1481860451000, "title": "made excellent grades and was allowed to attend the university where ..." }, { "asin": "0718086422", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm sure I've said it before, but as part of the Fiction Guild Elite Reader program, I'm often given some pretty amazing books to read and share with my readers. Today's book is no different! It's one of those books I wouldn't have gone out and bought for myself because I wouldn't have known what I was missing!<br /><br />Of Stillness and Storm by Michèle Phoenix is about a missionary family living in Nepal. The story itself is told in two parts - it begins with Lauren, the narrator and wife of Sam, and her 13-year old son, Ryan, living with intermittent power in their home near Kathmandu. Sam leaves for weeks at a time to trek into remote tribes, while leaving Lauren and Sam alone. Lauren is finding ways to cope with the struggle, but Ryan starts feeling the effect of the struggling family.<br /><br />Lauren gets back in touch with a childhood friend who seems to remind her to fight for her son, as well as the woman and writer she used to be. I loved that Lauren seemed very human to readers. Her struggle is familiar to many Christians and while her story is fictional, it is very relatable. Lauren is able to discover that out of darkness and loss emerges a &#34;relentless, demanding, trustworthy, benevolent, and healing God.&#34;<br /><br />I saw a reviewer share a quote from a conversation Lauren has with Sam and I loved it:<br /><br />&#34;I tend to think that who we become because of our faith is more important than what we do to prove it.&#34;<br /><br />Of Stillness and Storm is a story that continues to linger long after its reading. The story is filled with relationships, both spiritual and physical, and it is such a well written book. With rawness and honesty, it plumbs the depths of commitment to family and God. The story is a fascinating view of the missionary life and the benefits and potential pitfalls that can result. This book is one of the most powerful works of fiction I've read in a while and I highly recommend it to others.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in this post are my own.", "timestamp": 1486694103000, "title": "\"I tend to think that who we become because of our faith is more important than what we do to prove it.\"" }, { "asin": "0718090225", "rating": 4, "text": "I received the book, The Angels' Share by James Markert because I'm a Fiction Guild Elite Reader book review blogger. It wouldn't be my normal book genre if I were out shopping for a book, but nonetheless, it was worth a read.<br /><br />The Angels' Share is a historical novel that is true to the times of the Prohibition and the Depression. William &#34;Willie&#34; McFee grew up in Twisted Tree, Kentucky. The McFee family is pretty well off financially even though the town itself is suffering the effects of the McFee family bourbon distillery being shut down by Prohibition. Willie's father, Barley doesn't seem to have any intent on reopening the distillery even though Willie is encouraging him to do so in order to achieve his dream of becoming a distiller as his grandfather had planned.<br /><br />Then a drifter named Asher Keating shows up and he seems to be able to fix people's problems. He dies and is buried in the Potter's Field near the McFee distillery. Gossip begins to circulate about Asher performing miracles. Asher's grave starts getting lots of visitors who are praying at the site, and some strange things begin to happen it the town. Willie starts to investigate the situation and he discovers facts about what his father did during the Prohibition and things about the death of his younger brother. Willie begins to write stories about what he is uncovering and gets them published in a Louisville newspaper, causing all kinds of things to happen.<br /><br />The characters in the book are well developed. The story is full of mystery and unanswered questions. The townspeople are representative of people caught in a difficult situation they cannot control. There are a lot of subplots in this storyline and they will definitely keep readers engrossed in this story.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in this post are my own.", "timestamp": 1489363184000, "title": "The McFee family is pretty well off financially even though the town itself is ..." }, { "asin": "006246910X", "rating": 5, "text": "I find that if the book is written by Shelley Shepard Gray I will enjoy reading it and Her Secret the first book in a new series The Amish of Hart County was no exception. An Amish love story with suspense throughout the book. The main characters Hannah and Isaac are so real that you feel part of their families.<br /><br />The story starts with Hannah Hilty and her family living in Berlin, Ohio in a big house that was comfortable and their family’s legacy. Hannah had been friends with an English man named Trent during her rumspringa. He had pursued her for the last two years and was now following her around and taking pictures of her. Hannah lives her life in fear of this stalker. She quits her job and stays home, only going out with her parents.<br /><br />The family moves from Berlin, Ohio to Munfordville, Kentucky to escape this dangerous man and to give Hannah a new start. Her brother, Ben, and sister, Jenny, blamed Hannah they had to leave their jobs and friends behind. Jenny played a big part in this story and caused Hannah more problems to handle. There are other underlying family secrets that made the family move. Hannah meets her neighbor Isaac Troyer and becomes friends with him. Trent followed the family to Kentucky and became bolder with his activities.<br /><br />I picked this book up and did not put it down until I read the last page. I am so looking forward to the next one in the series, His Guilt, that came out on July 4th, and then there will be two more to follow. I am so recommending this book to my friends!", "timestamp": 1499649149610, "title": "... book is written by Shelley Shepard Gray I will enjoy reading it and Her Secret the first book in ..." }, { "asin": "0718083784", "rating": 5, "text": "I'm a blogger with the Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, and I am very fortunate to be able to receive a lot of books that my mother and I love to read. Today's book, Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks was a first for me. I had never heard of Ms. Parks, and unfortunately, I didn't realize this was book 4 in a series. Nonetheless, to this reader, it wasn't an issue. I'm guessing that there was a plot carried throughout the other books that I may have missed, but I was able to read this book as a stand alone without feeling like I missed anything. In all likelihood, had I read books 1, 2 and 3, I would have had a more panoramic view of the story line.<br /><br />Gwen Marcey is a single mother of a teenage daughter and a cancer survivor, whose ex-husband is threatening to take their daughter away from her. While on a probationary period with her new job as a forensic artist with the Interagency Major Crime Unit (IMCU), Gwen learns about a case of a missing four-year old girl after the murder of her parents in Lapwai, Idaho.<br /><br />The Nez Perce Tribal Police in Lapwai, Idaho are looking for the killer. Because the case took place where she lived when she was little and sounded similar to her own background, Gwen requests being assigned to the case.<br /><br />This assignment causes Gwen to step right into a trap to bring her &#34;home&#34; and to a man who was hurt by her so many years ago. Gwen is in a situation that only God can get her out of. We readers watch as Gwen pieces together her past and present so that she can determine exactly who she really is.<br /><br />The journey to the truth proves to be a very hefty struggle as Gwen finds that many of the witnesses she relies on for information also have strong prejudices against Caucasian people. It takes little time for Gwen to see that she will need to tread very lightly while she's working with the descendants of people involved in these painful moments within Native history.<br /><br />As Gwen works this case, she begins having flashback memories from her own childhood. She begins to think that maybe what happened in her own past could be linked to what is going on in the case she is investigating. Gwen enlists the help of her best friend, Beth, and what they uncover leads them to believe the killer is someone Gwen knows and the killer seems to want Gwen to find out his or her true identity. As Gwen gets closer to the truth, more attempts on her life are made but she refuses to give up. Will her refusal end up costing Gwen her life?<br /><br />In a very spectacular fashion, author Carrie Stuart Parks has written the perfect example of a crime novel with complicated characters mixed with intrigue and suspense. Bravo Ms. Parks! I can't wait to go back and read books 1, 2 and 3 to fill in any blanks I don't even know I have!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1511743487851, "title": "and I am very fortunate to be able to receive a lot of books ..." }, { "asin": "0718082567", "rating": 4, "text": "Words from the Heart is the third book in the Amish Letters series by Kathleen Fuller. While this is the third book, each one can be read as a standalone. I loved the way the author updates readers on what happens to the people from the first two books<br /><br />This is a sweet love story with three main characters: Noah, Ivy, and Noah’s Aunt Cervilla (who was my mother's favorite character). This story begins with Ivy a young unmarried Amish woman so disappointed, feeling hurt and rejected as she is waiting over a year for promised letters from John King that never comes to finding old love letters when Ivy helped Noah clean out Aunt Cervilla’s attic which brought Noah and Ivy closer together in friendship.<br /><br />Ivy Yoder is hurting over her jilted love and is afraid that she will never find a husband in her community of Birch Creek, Ohio. Noah Schlabach is the great-nephew of Ivy’s elderly friend Cevilla Shalaback. He is an auctioneer from Iowa. Cevilla insists the two work together cleaning out her attic. She knows that Noah and Ivy are meant for each other.<br /><br />Not knowing what treasure are in the many boxes they sort through them slowly finding many doilies and old magazines, but in one of the boxes they found a packet of old letters written during the Korean War. The love letters are the story of two people (Bunny and CJ) who are in love.<br /><br />While working together and becoming good friends, Ivy has feelings for Noah, but afraid of getting hurt again. Noah is happy traveling as an auctioneer but knows something is missing in his life. Can Ivy get over the fear from her past to move forward and find love with Noah? Will Noah feel good enough for Ivy and stop his traveling? Does he want to live in her beloved community of Birch Creek?<br /><br />I truly enjoyed reading this book as I love anything written by Kathleen Fuller.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own, or in this case, my mom's.", "timestamp": 1525391757114, "title": "I loved the way the author updates readers on what happens ..." }, { "asin": "0310348080", "rating": 4, "text": "You will enjoy Beneath the Summer Sun without reading the first book, as it does serve as a stand alone. The three complex main characters are Jennie Troyer, Leo Graber, and Nathan Walker. All are facing problems of letting go of their past so that they can move forward with their lives.<br /><br />Jennie carries a secret about her husband, Atlee. The Amish do not divorce as they marry for life, so she told no one about her husband’s mental and physical abuse. Jennie’s husband died from a farming accident four years ago and left her with 7 children to raise on her own under the eyes of the church leaders.<br /><br />Jennie's son, Matthew was ten years old when Atlee died. He knew of the abuse his mother suffered at the hands of his father, and many times he was taken to the shed by his father for beatings. In truth, both Jennie and her son were relieved that Atlee had died. The Community knew something was wrong in her marriage, but not what it was. Jennie was a very likeable person and many had sympathy for her.<br /><br />When Jennie began getting used to life without a husband, two different men took interest in her, and Jennie knew that it was time to remarry. Matthew started sneaking out at night and became moody and rude, but he refused to tell Jennie what was bothering him. <br /><br />Both men who profess to love Jennie had good hearts. First, there is Jennie's childhood friend Amish, Leo Graber, who had been in love with Jennie from the time they were young and attending the same church. He felt so guilty over his father’s death that it prevented him from any social activities. He worked alone building furniture and did not have a happy life.<br /><br />Next, there was Mennonite, Nathan Walker, who was a traveling salesman unable to settle down in one place because he resented that his parents left him behind with relatives while they did mission work in other countries. He was seriously thinking of becoming Amish to be with Jennie. He wanted to settle down with Jennie in her hometown of Jamesport, Missouri.<br /><br />Will Jennie, Leo, Nathan, and Matthew be able to put the past behind them? Who will Jennie choose to love and care for her children? Will she able to trust another man? Atlee was sweet until they spoke their vows, can she believe the sweet words of either man? Three hearts try to discern God’s plan for the future—and find peace beneath the summer sun.<br /><br />Domestic abuse is addressed in this story with showing that faith, trust, forgiveness of yourself, and through the power of prayer we are able to overcome our past and move forward to a healthy, happy life. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time. Thank you Kelly Irvin for a wonderful story and I am looking forward to reading the third book in An Every Amish Season series, which is due out in August of this year, entitled Through the Autumn Air.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own, or in this case, my mom's.", "timestamp": 1525394120890, "title": "You will enjoy Beneath the Summer Sun without reading the first book" }, { "asin": "0718085973", "rating": 4, "text": "Thanks to my relationship with The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, I am very fortunate to receive and review books from various authors -- some I've heard of and some I have not. Today's post is about an author I've heard of, but I've never had an opportunity to read any of her books until now.<br /><br />As soon as I opened the book, You're Gonna Love Me by Robin Lee Hatcher, I was slightly disappointed to realize that this book was book is the sequel to Ms. Hatcher's previous book, You’ll Think of Me, but now that I've read it I can tell you that it can easily be read as a standalone.<br /><br />Samantha Winters returns to Thunder Creek, Idaho to care for her grandmother, Ruth. When she arrives at Ruth's hospital room, she can't even believe that Nick Chastain in there. She hasn't seen him for two years - ever since they broke up after dating for eight months. Because Nick was a daredevil and took too many risks with his life, and because Samantha's fears of his actions were too much to bear, they ended their relationship with harsh words and silence.<br /><br />Now Nick is there and he's recovering from an awful head injury that is causing him to suffer from memory loss and other side effects. Nick has returned to Thunder Creek to have a fresh start at life. Of course, when he sees Sam again, he's hopeful but not sure he deserves a second chance.<br />Sam and Nick's story slowly unfolds throughout You're Gonna Love Me. The author provides small flashbacks of their previous relationship so that readers understand the depth of the past hurts and fears each of them has entering into the reconnection of their relationship. It explains why both Sam and Nick are cautious this time - Sam isn't sure she can trust Nick again and Nick isn't sure of the future of his health and how fair it would be.<br /><br />As Nick and Sam reconnect, they face their fears head on while they both learn to accept each other and trust God. While Sam is trying to overcome her fears, Nick is reaching out to God trying to figure out which way his life is going. I loved how Sam's grandmother, Ruth provided them with some guidance and love in rebuilding their relationship back to friendship and ultimately love.<br />Ruth and her friends were be secondary characters in this book, but their support to the main characters was truly pivotal to the overall story. The author does a great job taking readers through all of the deep emotions and personal relationship issues in Sam and Nick's lives. Readers will be able to identify and relate to the life situations and though processes that this couple must go through in their story. The characters are realistic, the story line moves well, and it's an overall great romance!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1535589599249, "title": "The characters are realistic, the story line moves well, and it's an overall great romance!" }, { "asin": "0062469215", "rating": 4, "text": "Today's post is a book review on Her Fear by Shelley Shepard Gray. This is the fifth book in The Amish of Hart County series, and since we've been on board with this series since March of 2017, it was great to be included in this book too!<br /><br />First in the series was Her Secret released in March of 2017. The second book in the series was His Guilt in released in July of 2017, and the third book was The Gift released in November of 2017. The fourth book in the series was His Risk, which was released in March of 2018.<br /><br />Thank you Shelley Shepard Gray! While I have completely enjoyed this series, I have to say I really liked the fact that this one was not your average Amish book. While Her Fear can be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading the entire series.<br /><br />While Her Fear provides the traditional things we have come to love in an Amish story like romance and mystery, but it also included topics we usually don't see in Amish fiction novels. To be honest, Her Fear reminds us that Amish folks are just like English folks - they are not perfect people, and no one is perfect except God.<br /><br />Her Fear centers around Sadie Detweiler who becomes pregnant and is faced with an unexpected response to that pregnancy. As a result, her family sends her away to distant and extended family of a different sect of the Amish community. When she arrives, she learns that this family does many things so differently than her family.<br /><br />When Sadie arrives, the matriarch of the family, Verba, becomes mysteriously ill and later dies. An EMT that comes to the scene notices Sadie standing alone and quiet. Noah Freeman is that EMT and over time, Sadie grows attracted to him. Noah is an Amish EMT and I was a little surprised at this, so I looked it up and found out that the Amish do work as EMTs, firefighters and first responders. Anyway, Noah is different than all of the other Amish men Sadie has met; she's comfortable with him and she finds herself really liking him. The only thing holding Sadie back from being honest with her feelings is the fact that she is pregnant and she's not sure how Noah will react when he finds out.<br /><br />Verba later dies at the hospital and then two others die suspiciously, so Noah's boss wants him to dig around the Amish community for clues. He finds himself attracted to Sadie, and he sees her as vulnerable and fearful. Noah wants to help Sadie and wants to be there for her as he senses something going on in the house that Sadie is living in. Noah can’t help himself from thinking about Sadie, so he finds reasons just to check up on her.<br /><br />This book was such a super great read. Shelley Shepard Gray's writing is phenomenal (as always) and with the plot twists and turns, reading the book from cover to cover was very easy to do. Whether you've read the other books in the series or whether this would be your first, I definitely recommend Her Fear, and I can't wait for October, when His Promise is released!<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Collins Publishing and Thomas Nelson, in exchange for this post. A positive review was not required.", "timestamp": 1536540512496, "title": "Shelley Shepard Gray's writing is phenomenal (as always)!" }, { "asin": "0718085809", "rating": 4, "text": "Thanks to my relationship with The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, I have been very fortunate to be a part of reading and reviewing so many great books. Coincidentally, I had requested an advanced reader digital copy of this book on NetGalley through my book blogging relationship with them. While the request was pending, I received a paperback copy from Fiction Guild sent me! <br /><br />Today's book, The House at Saltwater Point is by Colleen Coble, an author whose books I've really come to love! The House at Saltwater Point is the second book in Colleen Coble's Lavender Point series. This book serves as a stand alone, but since I also read the first book in this series, The View from Rainshadow Bay, I was happy to catch up with the main characters from that book and to be introduced to Grayson and Ellie in this one.<br /><br />Ellie Blackshaw is a local house flipper, who joins forces with Coast Guard Investigator, Grayson Bradshaw, when Ellie's sister, Mac, disappears. The disappearance seems to be connected with the disappearance of a large shipment of cocaine from a local warehouse. Grayson is firmly resolved to prove that Mac was behind the cocaine theft, while Ellie is desperately trying to prove that Mac is innocent and still alive. What Ellie and Grayson discover is a whole lot more than what they bargained for and it becomes a race against time to keep things from turning deadly.<br /><br />This story captured me right from the start. There is lots of action and excitement to keep readers engaged throughout this story. As is usually the case with Ms. Coble's books, the characters are well written, interesting an unique. I can't wait to read the next book in this series -- I read somewhere that it may come out in January of 2019!<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I also received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review, but because this was another great book, I wanted to do so! The opinions I have expressed are my own!", "timestamp": 1539477059114, "title": "This story captured me right from the start." }, { "asin": "078522405X", "rating": 4, "text": "Indivisible by Travis Thrasher, is the novelization of the upcoming movie by David G. Evans. The synopsis is the same as the movie, obviously, so I'll just share my opinions:<br /><br />I loved the progress of the story line and the raw emotion shown by the characters made this a very strong story. I appreciated how the author used short chapters that made the story very easy and fast flowing. I'll be honest -- I read the book before I saw the movie, and it really caused me to be excited to see the movie!<br /><br />I liked how some of the chapters would switch to the present because it provided good emotional effects for some of the situations. I would say though, that this story wouldn't necessarily be good to share with some of your younger family members since there are some war scenes in the story (in movie version anyway).<br /><br />Through this story, readers are provided with the truths of how difficult it is for families to be separated for long periods of time and the dangers that our soldiers face. It also shares the difficulties the military has when they come back home after facing war and death and how it changes everyone. It makes me thank God everyday for the courage and strength of our military.<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy from Thomas Nelson through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I was not required to post a positive review, but have chosen to do so because this book was great! Thank you!!", "timestamp": 1540515511431, "title": "I loved the progress of the story line and the raw emotion shown" }, { "asin": "1624167470", "rating": 5, "text": "The author of today's book, The Hope Jar, is Wanda E. Brunstetter. This book is the first in a three-book series called The Prayer Jars. Back in 2015, I actually met her when she was doing a book signing event at the local Wal-Mart here in Sarasota, Florida. At that time, I was able to get my mother, Gloria an autographed copy of one of her favorite Amish books. Ever since that meeting in 2015, whenever the opportunity arises to read and review one of Ms. Brunstetter's books, I jump on it because my mother LOVES Amish stories. <br /><br />Gloria recently mentioned this book and said she couldn't wait to read it, so when I saw it available on NetGalley through my book blogging relationship with them, I requested it and was approved. Unfortunately, Gloria recently had eye surgery so she was unable to read this book after all. <br /><br />The Hope Jar blends both Amish and contemporary fiction together, unlike many of Ms. Brunstetter's other books, which are strictly Amish fiction. After I finished reading The Hope Jar, because it was such a great read, I've already requested the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader copy of the second book in the series, The Forgiving Jar, releasing in February of 2019. My mom really missed out on this one! I finished this book in just about the time it took one college football game to play on television. <br /><br />Mary Ruth and Willis Lapp are at the bus station looking for their long lost granddaughter, Sara Murray. Michelle is at the bus station and Mary Ruth and Willis mistakenly think Michelle is Sara. since Michelle's life is at a dead end, she decides to go along with the Lapps thinking and pretends to be their granddaughter just long enough for her to get her life under control<br /><br />While she is on the Lapps' farm, Michelle learns what it feels like to be truly cared for and loved, which is something she's never had in her life. Michelle never had a real family, having grown up in foster care, and no one ever took the time to really get to know her and love her. Michelle blossoms under the Lapps' love and she learns to love the simple life of the Amish. As she grows in this life, she starts to feel more and more guilty about the deception she is committing by living the life of Sara Murray instead of her own.<br /><br />I loved Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp, although I did feel like they were a bit naive in never asking Michelle for proof that she was their long lost granddaughter. Regardless, they really portrayed the Amish that we've come to learn about and love through Ms. Brunstetter's books - hardworking, faithful, loving and caring people. Their lesson on forgiveness was an example to readers of folks who follow the Word of God.<br /><br />The Hope Jar had a very good story line and it was truly an inspiring story. The characters great and readers were provided with a well thought out message. The Hope Jar have woven the tale of two young women who have experienced tragedy and are at a crossroads in their lives. <br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review but chose to since it was a great book! Thank you!", "timestamp": 1543091122534, "title": "The Hope Jar had a very good story line and was truly an inspiring story." }, { "asin": "0718083857", "rating": 4, "text": "Just about a year ago, I read and reviewed Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks. It was a great book, so when I received Formula of Deception from the Fiction Guild through my blogging relationship with them, I was happy. Because my TBR (to be read) stack was a little bigger than I wanted, I haven't had a chance to read this one until now even though it was published in July of this year.<br /><br />Protagonist, Murphy Andersen is hiding in rural Alaska on the run from a serial killer who is probably responsible for her twin sister’s disappearance might soon find her. <br /><br />She uses her artistic skills and fine sense of details and poses as a forensic artist, but she ends up finding herself in more danger than ever.<br /><br />Ms. Parks uses the interesting history of the Kodiak and Aleutian islands region around WWII, giving the story a very realistic feel making the story line even more thrilling.<br /><br />As I read more about Murphy’s character and as her history was revealed, I realized that I liked her character more and more. It became more clear to me as the story progressed that the author had some psychological elements in play, but I wasn't sure how that would pan out. The conversations with her dead sister that Murphy conducted in her head gave me a clue that there was something going on.<br /><br />I was completely engaged in the story line from the first page, and I thought for sure I could figure out the ending before the end of the book since I had experience in Ms. Parks' writing, but as it turned out, I wasn't prepared for how this book ended. This electrifying novel has twists and turns that will make readers awestruck when they discover how she fits it all together at the end.<br /><br />As an added plus, the author includes eight discussion questions to help get a book club discussion going, which is perfect for this fascinating read since it would definitely work well as a book club pick.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1543113513049, "title": "This electrifying novel has twists and turns that will make readers awestruck" }, { "asin": "0310348145", "rating": 4, "text": "Being a part of The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program provides with books to read (which I love to do) and the only requirement is that I have to share a report after I've read the book. As far as I'm concerned, it's a winning arrangement for me and my mother, who loves anything written about the Amish.<br /><br />Today's book is Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin, and it's the third book in the series, Every Amish Season. I've had the opportunity read the first book, Upon A Spring Breeze, and the second book, Beneath the Summer Sun by Kelly Irvin. (The fourth book, With Winter's First Frost, is being released in January, 2019, so you'll need to hurry and read this one!!)<br /><br />Mary Katherine is the mother of ten and it has been seven years since her husband, Moses died and she became a widow. She's full of energy and always ready to step in and help her friends around her Amish community. Her old school friend, Ezekiel Miller, offers Mary Katherine a position as a cook in his restaurant, The Purple Martin Café, named in honor of his late wife Lucy. She knows she should accept, but she doesn't really want to spend her time working in a kitchen. Mary Katherine's secret desire is to write and to own a bookstore with her English friend, but in the Amish community, the church elders want her to work in an Amish-owned store instead. <br /><br />Mary Katherine's oldest son is trying to convince her to move into his Dawdi house, but she is resistant. An English stranger breaks into Mary Katherine's house and proceeds to make himself a sandwich one autumn night. She doesn't call the sheriff, but instead she turns to Ezekiel for help. both Mary Katherine and Ezekiel realize that the stranger, Burke, needs help, so Ezekiel offers Burke a job at his restaurant.<br /><br />While this is book 3 of 4 in An Every Amish Season series, this book could be read as a stand-alone. I loved reading a story dealing with more mature characters and the challenges they faced. Ms. Irvin also added friendships between the Amish and the English that seemed very honest and were caring, respectful and realistic. <br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1544575510167, "title": "Ms. Irvin also added friendships between the Amish and the English that seemed very honest!" }, { "asin": "1683700619", "rating": 4, "text": "Rating 4.5 Stars!<br />The story line of Reason to Breathe is set in Missouri, and the story is about the lives of three sisters, Phylicia, Phee and Brit. Readers move through their pain as they lose their mother, and in another way, they lose their father, Turner, as he runs off to Florida, leaving the sisters struggling emotionally. <br /><br />Because this is book 1 in the Chandler Sisters series, this book is Phylicia Chandler’s story, but I definitely loved the dynamic between all three of the three sisters. I felt that they were thrown into such an uncertain situation, while trying to work through their grief over their mother’s death. The story also weaves hope in and out throughout the story. <br /><br />The sisters are very likable and relatable characters, and I was quickly drawn into this story because it felt so honest and real. As I got to the end, I will admit I was super excited to learn that the other two sisters will also have a story to tell in the next books in the series. <br /><br />Ms. Raney is a fantastic author and I've never read a book that she's written that I haven't loved! Those readers who enjoy inspirational and contemporary romance will definitely want to pick up a copy of Reason to Breathe to read before the second book is released!!<br /><br />I was provided with a courtesy copy of this book as part of the Just Read Tour in exchange my post. A positive review was not required.", "timestamp": 1544579561088, "title": "I was super excited that the other two sisters will also have a story to tell!" }, { "asin": "1683701496", "rating": 4, "text": "This story can truly renew your faith in humanity! Readers need be be warned: please make sure you read to the end for the epilogue, but be sure to have your tissues ready!<br /><br />This book and its story are great! I enjoyed it cover to cover, from beginning to end, and could barely be okay with it ending! It shares with readers the true meaning of Christmas. The author writes this story so that readers are put right in the middle of everything: the main character, Julia, an eleven-year-old girl, and a reclusive deaf man who has a gift of carving. I'll be honest, I think this movie is ready for Hallmark! I know it's a movie I would definitely watch!<br /><br />Thanks so much NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this story! It was great!", "timestamp": 1545535733908, "title": "This book and its story are great!" }, { "asin": "0529118734", "rating": 4, "text": "Thanks to my relationship with The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, my mother and I have been lucky enough to be a part of reading and reviewing so many of Beth Wiseman's books! Today's post is about her latest book, Amish Celebrations: Four Novellas. Gloria (my mom) was originally planning to read and review this book for us, but because she hasn't healed enough from eye surgery and can't read yet, I was assigned the book:<br /><br />What I loved most about this collection of stories is that they are all written by one author. It makes the writing seamless from story to story. I liked that each story was written around a particular time of celebration - birthday, baptism, wedding and Christmas. <br /><br /> * In The Gift of Sisters, twins Hannah and Rachel both fall for a new guy in town, which makes for conflict between them. The story is great and I loved how Ms. Wiseman shows how lies can cause a friend or family member to question a person's reputation. She took a subject that all young women face and handled it with grace.<br /><br /> * In A New Beginning, you could tell right from the start that Noah was going to cause problems. When Noah experiences a bit of the English world, it causes him to forget about his fiance' Rebecca, and soon afterward the trouble follows. Ms. Wiseman shares how Noah struggles with his faith, as well as guilt, forgiveness and temptation. I loved the ending of this story and I also loved the very relatable characters.<br /><br /> ** In A Perfect Plan (also published in An Amish Wedding), Ms. Wiseman introduces us to Priscilla and Chester, a young couple about to be married. When things start to go wrong and they begin to face obstacles that had nothing to do with their love for each other, they both question if they are doing the right thing. Ms. Wiseman shows how we need to see that God's plan for us is bigger than our own and that we need to know that love will always endure.<br /><br /> * In A Christmas Miracle, Beth introduces us to Mary and Gabriel, who are a young couple with five small children finding it hard to cope with life’s challenges. They are doing the best they can but sometimes it's just too much for them. Mary feels like she just can't keep up and starts to doubt herself. I really loved how the Englisch couple, Bruce and Joan, came into Mary's life. To be honest, it's almost too hard to decide which couple made the most impact on the other, but I know they were all very blessed. The moral of this story is that it is okay to ask for help and to that help when it offered regardless of who is offering the help. This last novella doesn't show the Amish lifestyle superficially attractive way, but instead, it shows the strain of living under the rules of the Old Order.<br /><br />Amish Celebrations is a sweet celebration of stories. Each of the stories has its own unique twist and each one focuses on some kind of celebration. The stories are perfect for this time of year and the holiday season.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1545869561726, "title": "The stories are perfect for this time of year and the holiday season." }, { "asin": "0785219269", "rating": 4, "text": "Rating 4.5 Stars!<br />I recently joined forces with the Read with Audra book blogging group, and today's post is part of a Blog Tour for the book, Who I Am with You by Robin Lee Hatcher. When I saw this book available, I knew I wanted to be part of the tour since my mother, Gloria and I both love so many of her previous books.<br /><br />Who I Am with You is the first book in Ms. Hatcher's Legacy of Faith series. Based on this book, I'll do a spoiler right here and tell you that I cannot wait for book 2 in this series! Now.... on to the book:<br /><br />Ridley and Jessica are a super fun couple, and I loved how they started off as friends and neighbors and then blossomed into being romantically interested in each other. Both Ridley and Jessica had their own trust issues because of recent betrayals they had both experienced. While the situations were different, they both had to work through their feelings in their own ways. I loved watching (reading) Jessica prepare her heart and home for the new baby.<br /><br />I won't lie, folks. there's a ton of grief in this book. My heart broke for Jessica because she had lost so much. She was grieving her physical loss and her emotional loss. It was nice to see her getting her life back together and that she had friends that were supportive. While Ridley's grief wasn't as difficult as Jessica's, he was still dealing with the parts of his life that he had lost. It was also great to see him be able to move forward after his hardships.<br /><br />Who I Am with You provided readers with a beautiful faith message and strong tones of forgiveness throughout the story, in both the present and the past stories. It was nice to see Andrew (from the past) jump into God’s word and apply it to his life despite extremely difficult times. It was clear that God called him to love and forgive.<br /><br />I really enjoyed traveling back and forth between the decades, and it was always fun traveling and returning. The transitions were very smooth and very easy to follow, which is always good in a dual timeline story. I highly recommend Who I Am with You -- it's a story you won’t want to put down. It was a very moving story, and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from Audra Jennings PR in exchange for my post. I was not required to post a positive review. Thank you!", "timestamp": 1548124227880, "title": "t was a very moving story, and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series." }, { "asin": "0718085841", "rating": 4, "text": "Rating 4.5 Stars!<br /><br />As an avid reader, I have a very small list of my favorite authors. Today's book is by one of those authors: Secrets at Cedar Cabin by Colleen Coble is the third in her Lavender Tides series. I read the first book in this series, The View from Rainshadow Bay, and the second book, The House at Saltwater Point, so you know I've just been waiting for this book to be published since it's the end of this series. <br /><br />This book was another exciting installment of romance and suspense in the Lavender Tides series! This latest book ties up a few loose story plots from the previous two books, and fills in the story of Shauna's missing siblings that started in book one. I loved that all the characters from the other two books appeared in this book too.<br /><br />The back story is this: An earthquake hit the town of Lavender Tides, Washington and three children were separated from each other while they were at the grocery store with their mother. The earthquake sent their mom into labor and Olivia Fleming delivered the baby girl because she was a paramedic. Unfortunately, the baby's mother died during delivery. The oldest child was Shauna, whom readers met in the first book as she was raised by her father. Shauna found out years later that her brother was adopted by a family.<br /><br />In this story, Secrets at Cedar Cabin, readers meet the baby girl delivered during the earthquake, Bailey Fleming, who ended up being raised by the paramedic, Olivia Fleming. Olivia was murdered and she left Bailey some money and a note that she is in danger for her life as well. Bailey has a \"situation\" involving her rock star husband, Kyle Bearcraft, who seems to already be married to someone else. To keep her from telling her story with the media, Kyle gives Bailey the deed to a house in Lavender Tides, the Cedar Cabin. When someone tries to kill Bailey, she leaves Rock Harbor, Michigan and heads to Lavender Tides and to Cedar Cabin. <br /><br />Bailey is a great character in this story and once she arrives in Lavender Tides, she finds out more of her life has been a lie than she knew. She learns that her cabin has been used for human trafficking, which then brings FBI agent Lance Phoenix into her life. Lance has been working the case to try and rescue his sister, Ava, who was taken by the human trafficking ring when she ran away from home. Lance wonders if Bailey's story is even true when he crosses paths with her, and if she can somehow bring him in touch with his sister. <br /><br />I can't say whether or not this book would serve as a stand alone, having read the others before it. I would, though, recommend reading the first two in the series before beginning this one so that you can understand the backstory of all the characters and what is happening in their lives to bring them all to the point they find themselves in during this book. I was very pleased how all the loose ends from the entire series were tied up by the last page of this book!<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy from Thomas Nelson through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I was not required to write a positive review, but because this was another great book, I wanted to do so! The opinions I have expressed are my own!", "timestamp": 1550510526284, "title": "Great wrap up to the series!" } ]

[ { "asin": "0310335582", "rating": 5, "text": "I'll admit it - the Amish world has always intrigued me to some extent. I was born and raised in northeastern Ohio and there was a huge Amish community in nearby Holmes County, where we would head out on the weekends to taste their wares while hitting the garage sales and flea markets.<br /><br />Then, when I moved down to Sarasota, Florida, I was surprised to learn there was a large Amish community here as well, and I've taken the benefit of enjoying some fantastic food at &#34;Amish-style&#34; restaurants and I've driven down some streets that have tons of bicycles and women dressed modestly.<br /><br />I realize that I need apologize in advance when I say &#34;Amish&#34; because I never looked closely enough into each community to determine whether it was &#34;Amish,&#34; &#34;Mennonite&#34; or &#34;Anabaptist&#34;. I had heard the terms &#34;Amish&#34; and &#34;Mennonite&#34; before reading this book, but I can honestly say I've never heard of &#34;Anabaptist&#34;.<br /><br />In any event, The Plain Choice by Sherry Gore, is a short book - 179 pages. As I was reading it, I was thinking to myself that my auto accident story would probably fill just about the same amount of pages if I were to try and write a book about my life too. I will say this: while The Plain Choice is a short book comparing it to some of the novels I read, it was just enough pages to walk through Ms. Gore's life. I was very impressed by her honesty, and I loved that the book flowed in time rather than jumping back and forth.<br /><br />It is very clear that Ms. Gore is a very determined woman. Once she made up her mind to change the way she was living, she whole-heartedly took the leap into her new life. I appreciated that she was honest in sharing the part of her story that some people would keep hidden, the &#34;real&#34; Sherry Harris. She shares her childhood struggles growing up and feeling unloved and not a part of her father's life. She does not minimize poor choices or blame someone else for them. She makes it clear that she had removed God from her life. She was and still is an imperfect human living in an imperfect world.<br /><br />Ms. Gore's story teaches us that not all Amish-Mennonite's are removed from technology and modern conveniences too. It depends on the churches and communities as to how &#34;modern&#34; they become.<br /><br />The pinnacle point is when she immersed herself in baptism to her old life, and newness of life in Christ Jesus, and as an Amish-Mennonite. Sherry Gore is saved by grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. But there is more to this book. It is a call for all to realize God's love and forgiveness and that absolutely no one is beyond God's love and redemption.<br /><br />The next time I'm traveling around in Sarasota, I'll be sure to look for that cute Electra bike of hers and give her a &#34;shout out&#34; for this book! I truly appreciate that BookLookBloggers provided me with a paperback copy of this book without cost in exchange for my personal and honest opinion and unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1442604782000, "title": "and I've taken the benefit of enjoying some fantastic food at \"Amish-style\" restaurants and I've driven down some ..." }, { "asin": "1401689604", "rating": 4, "text": "The story line of this book is set in a resort mountain town of Evergreen, Colorado. Kate Whidby is an 11 year-old protector of the family and dreams of becoming a spy. She is caught in the middle of all her family members and grandparents. Her family operates The Harrison Lodge, a historic mountain resort, and has done so for many generations. She keeps her family members' secrets from others and the day after she’s witnessed her grandfather arguing with his best friend, the man is murdered.<br /><br />At the same time in Denver, a robbery gone wrong, a consequent murder, and a gang member set on revenge for the death of his son bring several mysterious people to the Harrison Lodge. In her desire to help others, Kate chooses to harbor a fugitive while trying to save her family at the same time.<br /><br />Readers are introduced to other families, from different walks of life - not only the homeless man who sees a robbery gone wrong, but we also see runaways living under a bridge and the gang member seeking revenge for the death of his son. We also meet Charlie, a boy who has lived on the streets, with no money, and an alcoholic father. After Charlie runs away and crashes a motorcycle in Evergreen, Colorado. Kate comes upon him and hides him in a secret cubby in one of the inn's cottages.<br /><br />There are a lot of different events going on at the beginning and you wonder how they are all going to come together. Once they all converge at The Harrison Lodge, it becomes much easier to follow the story and see where everything is going.<br /><br />The author, Erin Healy, takes various different storylines and skillfully weaves them together over the course of a weekend until they come to a head late Sunday afternoon at the hotel. While the beginning of the book starts a little slow, I think it has to so that the foundation is set out for each key character. We get to know the characters, their lives and their dreams. Once the &#34;action&#34; gets going, readers move through the theft, and then the robbery involving two of the main characters. We are drawn in very easily to the individuals and readers are compassionate to their situations as the book progresses.<br /><br />Ultimately, this book circles around ideas of family and forgiveness. Erin Healy shows us the dynamics of what makes a family work and what makes them fight for each other. I appreciated the depths that this story went to on a thought-provoking level. I found it to be a great read once I got over the hump of bringing the characters together. The book kept me hanging on until the very end to find the answers to some of the mysteries that came out while I was reading. I enjoyed the book and spent a lot of time flipping pages on the edge of my seat to see how things would turn out.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost as part of the Fiction Guild Team Challenge in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1444623127000, "title": "She keeps her family members' secrets from others and the day after she’s witnessed her grandfather arguing with his best friend" }, { "asin": "0824956478", "rating": 5, "text": "If you want to teach your children about Christmas - the real Christmas, The Sparkle Box: A Gift with the Power to Change Christmas by Jill Hardie is the book to get! It's for ages 4 to 8 and it's a perfect story for any child.<br /><br />Author Jill Hardie tells the story of Sam, who is so excited about Christmas! Sam is preparing his Christmas &#34;want&#34; list and he's excited about the upcoming holiday parties. At the same time, he is so curious about one very mysterious gift -- a sparkly box sitting on the mantel above the fireplace. Whenever Sam asked his mother about the box, she would tell him to wait, that she had a few more things to put in the box.<br /><br />In the midst of all of the Christmas festivities, Sam and his family bless other people with various acts of kindness, and all the while Sam waits impatiently to find out what is in the box. On Christmas morning, Sam finally gets to open the box, and he finds the slips of paper recording his family's good deeds. His parents explain to him that the things they are doing - the blessings they are providing others - are a gift for Jesus in honor of His birthday. Sam was confused as they had given the gifts to people, not Jesus. His mother explains that when we give to others we are giving to Him.a gift for Jesus -- for Jesus said that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Him.<br /><br />The Sparkle Box story is inspired by Matthew 25:40 &#34;Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.&#34; The book challenges us to put aside our wants for those in need. To think of others. Whether it be a material item like food, clothes or shelter. Or a spiritual need, such as praying with someone, lending a shoulder. Or maybe giving of your time to a neighbor or friend in need.<br /><br />This heartfelt story will inspire readers to adopt this faith-centered tradition in their own homes. The illustrations in The Sparkle Box are awesome and children are very engaged to the story. The Sparkle Box includes a glitter-coated fold-out Sparkle Box on the inside cover of the back. The book is absolutely gorgeous and is destined to become a children’s Christmas classic for years to come! You can start your own family tradition of giving gifts to the One who gave all to us! The Sparkle Box is definitely a &#34;must have&#34; book for anyone that has children or grandchildren!<br /><br />I was provided with a review copy of this book as a First Look Blogger for Worthy Publishing without cost in exchange for this, my honest review and unbiased opinion.", "timestamp": 1449065759000, "title": "It's for ages 4 to 8 and it's a perfect story for any child" }, { "asin": "031033344X", "rating": 5, "text": "My mom has been on a reading &#34;spree&#34; for the last year or two - ever since we helped her get an e-reader on Black Thursday. She will sit and read for four or five hours at a time - even if it is the middle of the night because hey, she's retired, and can take a nap all afternoon if she wants! When I received this book, The Mountain Midwife by Laurie Alice Eakes, I knew my mom would love the book and since I had quite a stack of books myself, I gladly shared with her in exchange for her honest review. Below you'll find my mom's review:<br /><br />The Mountain Midwife is a wonderful book that is the story of midwife Ashley Tolliver and it contains many twists and turns. I loved reading this book because the Appalachian setting. This book touched the areas of Virginia and parts of West Virginia which mean so much to me.<br /><br />The women in Ashley Tolliver family has been practicing the art of midwifery for many years in their small Appalachian mountain community. Ashley wants to further her education by attending medical school and leave behind the women that she serves. One of the women that Ashley helps deliver in her home is abducted while Ashley is trying to get her to the hospital because she is bleeding dangerously. Ashley now must find the woman and her newborn baby.<br /><br />After receiving a mysterious phone call from a woman claiming to be his mother, Hunter McDermott needs to track where this call came from and seeks the aid of the local midwife (Ashley Tolliver) in this mountain town hoping that she can help him find his family’s background.. Hunter McDermott learning that he is adopted now wants to meet his birth mother who says he has a brother and sister living in the Appalachian Mountains.<br /><br />Ashley is on her own mission to find the abducted mother and newborn baby and Hunter McDermott wants to know his family in the Appalachian Mountains. Will Ashley leave the place where her feet is firmly planted or will Hunter learn to love her Appalachian Mountains?<br /><br />The characters were complex, but at the same time, they were easy to relate to. The Mountain Midwife was definitely a page-turner, and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. There were a few times in the story that the characters had tough decisions to make, and it was refreshing to see that they always turned to God to help them with these tough decisions.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own (or well, in this case, my mother's).", "timestamp": 1453065273000, "title": "The characters were complex, but at the same time, they were easy to relate to." }, { "asin": "031034199X", "rating": 4, "text": "Most of you know that my mother absolutely LOVES Amish stories. She once told me that she enjoys Amish stories because they share about times that seem more &#34;simple&#34; and the priorities of the Amish are clear - faith and family. Because of the fact that my mom likes to read, and doesn't mind providing me with a book review when she's finished, we decided that if any opportunities come up for book reviews on Amish books, she would gladly read them and provide me with her review.<br /><br />Below is my mother, Gloria's review of The Forgotten Recipe (An Amish Heirloom Novel) by Amy Clipston:<br /><br />&#34;This is a story of two people touched by tragedy and both are unable to move forward with their lives until they confront their shared past. It is about love, trust and forgiveness.<br /><br />Veronica Fisher is devastated when her fiancé, Seth Lapp is killed in a tragic accident at work. Jason Huyard worked with Seth and they were best friends. Jason is having a hard time dealing with Seth's death and thinks a lot about Veronica because Seth talked about her all the time. Following the accident, Jason feels compelled to share his grief and condolences with Veronica, who loved his friend also.<br /><br />The forgotten recipe is a newly found, but old recipe stored in her mother's hope chest in the attic, which is for a raspberry pie that Veronica's grandmother used to make. Discovering this recipe, Veronica opens a bake stand in order to sell raspberry pies using her grandmother's recipe. Jason Huyard quickly becomes a regular customer but does not tell her that he knew Seth. Slowly, as he gets to know Veronica, Jason begins to fall in love with Veronica, which is the last thing he wants to do. Veronica is also hesitant to fall in love because of her promise to only love Seth. Jason visits the bake stand once a week for more than raspberry pies - they have something special!<br /><br />This story is about two strangers - one loses the man she's going to marry while the other loses his best friend. This a wonderful story that will leave you hanging at the end of the book. How will Veronica react when she finds out that she and Jason share a past? Jason has a secret - can it ruin their chance at happiness? Will Veronica trust Jason?&#34;<br /><br />If you want to read a story about love, loss and how one recipe brought two people together in ways they couldn't imagine, you'll probably want to read this book. As you can see, my mom isn't giving you spoilers either!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own (or well, in this case, my mother's).", "timestamp": 1453604712000, "title": "a story about love, loss and how one recipe brought two people together!" }, { "asin": "1401689752", "rating": 4, "text": "At the opening of the story, we learn that the main character Lucy Alling, is a rare book seller who works for Sid McKenna, one of the most respected antiques dealer and high end interior decorators in Chicago. Most of Lucy's work with Sid involves keeping the inventory and meeting customers, but Lucy loves to find old editions and then sell them at Sid's shop and she loves her job. Unfortunately, the origins and authenticity of some of the editions that Lucy &#34;finds&#34; are suspect and we learn that her morals are questionable and that she has taken a few liberties with the books she has acquired for the store and then sold.<br /><br />Lucy meets James, a handsome stranger and promising young attorney who buys two of her favorite books for family members. They become romantically involved once James shares that his attraction to Lucy is the main reason he even purchased the books to begin with. Lucy meets James' grandmother, Helen, a woman with terminal cancer who hires Lucy to be her companion on a trip to England where Helen must deal with her own secrets. Visiting some of the sites famous for the Brontë novels and the places where the Brontë sisters lived, a friendship is born and both Lucy and Helen realize that they must face their flaws and fix their wrongdoings.<br /><br />I had never heard of the Brontë sisters before this book, so I didn't know what the title actually meant until I read this book. I thought it was pretty amazing that when I took out a note pad and made a list, there were over 50 other books mentioned in the story of this book!<br /><br />The Brontë Plot explores what makes us who we are and asks if we can change. In my humble opinion, since this book was held out to be a Christian book, I was surprised that there wasn't very much spiritual emphasis as I would have liked, but the life truths were there. The Brontë Plot is about people facing their past to be able to move on into the future.<br /><br />“All real lives hold controversy, trials, mistakes, and regrets. What matters is what you do next.” ― Katherine Reay, The Brontë Plot<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1454551242000, "title": "There were over 50 other books mentioned in the story of this book!" }, { "asin": "0764211595", "rating": 4, "text": "I wasn't hadn't heard of Nancy Mehl before, so I wasn't familiar with her writing before so when this book became available for review, I wasn't sure what to expect. This particular book, Rising Darkness, is Nancy Mehl's third book in the Finding Sanctuary series. Obviously since I haven't heard of Ms. Mehl, so I haven't read the first two books but in all honesty, I had no trouble following along in this book, so I'd say it's definitely a &#34;stand alone&#34; book. I am betting though, that I missed some of the history of the town and of the people, which might have made this book have more depth to me.<br /><br />The main character, Sophie Wittenbaur, is a young lady who grew up in a conservative and strict Mennonite family. Sophie left her small town of Kingdom both in shame and regret and to leave her painful and abusive past behind. Sophie educates herself and chases her dream job of becoming an investigative reporter. While she tries to make a name for herself as a reporter, Sophie unintentionally lands in the middle of a possible lead on a murderer who escaped with millions of dollars. The past that Sophie has worked so hard to leave behind ends up right in front of her again as she travels to the fictional Mennonite town of Sanctuary, Missouri. she takes herself &#34;under cover&#34; posing as Emily McClure while she searches for information in Sanctuary.<br /><br />Sophie meets an old flame, Jonathon Wiese, who is now a pastor in Sanctuary. Jonathon soon discovers who Emily really is and begins helping Sophie discover the answer to this story she has been trying to crack. At the same time, Sophie begins to question her decision of turning away from God and blaming God for her childhood pain while Jonathon reminds her that God was carrying her at those times in her life. There are threats and dangers around every corner, and while Sophie doesn't fully trust Jonathon she realizes that she must let him save her life.<br /><br />Rising Darkness is clear in its message to readers that we can't hold on to our past and that we need to turn things over to God and trust that He will lead us. As I stated above, I haven't read the first two books in this series, but I'm thinking if they are as good as this one, I would recommend that you read them all. While I wasn't familiar with Ms. Mehl before, I can now say that this book was fast paced and the characters were well developed. I loved the story line and you are definitely left guessing about what to expect next. I thought it was a great book and I would recommend it to other readers.<br /><br />Thank you to Bethany House for the opportunity for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1454875189000, "title": "Sophie left her small town of Kingdom both in shame and regret and to leave her painful and abusive past behind" }, { "asin": "0310338492", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm not the type to steal credit when credit is due someone else, so let me tell you right now that the following review of this book, Whispers in the Reading Room is my mother's review:<br /><br />&#34;While both my daughter and I have read several of Shelley Shepard Gray's Amish series books, we did not know she wrote other types of books as well. In fact, I was actually surprised to see this book, Whispers in the Reading Room, was written by the same author, but was happy to give it a try nonetheless.<br /><br />The setting for this historic book is in the seedier part of Chicago where the crime rate is high shortly after the Chicago World Fair in 1893. At once this story transported me to Chicago with its life in the back alleys and was part of the great division between the upper and middle class society.<br /><br />Whispers in the Reading Room is a story about middle class librarian, Lydia Bancroft, and the unlikely friendship she finds herself with a mysterious debonair gentleman patron of her library who never checks a book out. Lydia herself was lonely, and as she is weighted down by the duty to secure a wealthy husband so she can meet her mother's needs, she is very anxious.<br /><br />At once you realize that Mr. Sebastian Marks is an elusive man with many secrets. She learns his name when their paths cross the night Lydia's fiancé takes her to the Hartman Hotel and begins to rough handle her. Sebastian Marks intervenes in a tense situation in Lydia's life and from that moment on Lydia’s new friend takes on the role of protector while showing her that her fiancé isn’t who she thinks he is. Lydia discovers that Sebastian lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.<br /><br />Sebastian himself is quite the mystery man pretending to be a gentleman, and Lydia is shocked to learn that he is the owner of a drinking and gambling establishment. Lydia insists on visiting the club one night and both she and Sebastian are suddenly suspects to a murder. She must determine who can she really trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian (who everyone fears) is actually everything she thinks he is.<br /><br />A mystery book is not the kind of book that I usually read, but once I started Whispers in the Reading Room I could not put it down. Whispers in the Reading Room was an excellent mystery/murder/romance for curling up reading on a raining day by the fireplace. Even though I hadn't read the first two books in this series, I fell in love with all the characters in this story and looking forward to a follow-up story. I will definitely have to go back and read the other Chicago World's Fair Mystery series books - Book #1, Secrets of Sloane House and Book #2, Deception on Sable Hill too!&#34;<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own - well, they are my mother's and for that, I am responsible.", "timestamp": 1457375561000, "title": "but was happy to give it a try nonetheless" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 5, "text": "The Wedding Chapel was the first book written by Rachel Hauck that I have read. At first, I didn't think I was going to care for this book; it seemed like there was just too much information. While I did think the story was interesting, I struggled with Ms. Hauck's telling of it. As the story progressed though - probably about halfway through the book - the story turned out to be a really good one.<br /><br />I feel that Rachel writes from her heart about real broken family struggles, and the drama that goes along with it. The Wedding Chapel is a complex story of interwoven lives, souls seeking peace, secrets, forgiveness, and second chances. The characters were real and I enjoyed their journey each went on within themselves.<br /><br />The Wedding Chapel reminds me of something like time-travel because the story moves back and forth from Heart's Bend, Tennessee in 1948 where it is a lost love story of Jimmy and Colette and then to flash forward to the present where it is a modern love story of Jack and Taylor in New York. Due to the style of this writing, the reader is following the two different couples on their journey of love.<br /><br />At the heart of this story is the wedding chapel, symbolizing hope and healing, while at the same time conveying that there is no time limit on love and second chances.I loved the location of the chapel and the romances of the four characters. This book is such a great love story and also has a hint of suspense regarding a secret one of the characters held. The Wedding Chapel is a book that I will remember.<br /><br />If you enjoy books about inspirational romance and learning how to depend on God to help see your blessings I would highly recommend this one. This book would make a really good book club reading book or as a Hallmark movie.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1457466051000, "title": "it seemed like there was just too much information" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 4, "text": "While I have come to learn that Terri Blackstock is a well known author, this was the first of her books I've ever read. If I Run is the first book in a series also named If I Run. I'm really glad I got in on the first book, so I'll be all set to read the rest in the series. Yes, I'll be reading the future books too.<br /><br />If I Run is written in first person and present tense and it is with two points of view – alternating between the two main characters – namely, Casey Cox and Dylan Roberts. This style of writing really builds up the tension in this story and it puts the reader right in the center of it all.<br /><br />Ms. Blackstock first introduces us to Casey as she is cleaning blood off her tennis shoes and packing up to skip town. Her DNA is all over a crime scene and she is a fugitive who is running for her life. Dylan is the man hired to look for Casey. Right from the start, readers aren’t really clear about Casey's guilt or innocence and this isn’t disclosed until we are pretty far into the story. It definitely kept the suspense going throughout the story, which for me, made for good reading.<br /><br />We learn that Casey is running from the real killers. She is smart and knows how to avoid the cops and as the story progresses, Dylan begins to think Casey cannot actually be the killer too.<br /><br />The author also works in a secondary plot, but I don’t want this to be a spoiler so I’ll just tell you it is an exciting side story that doesn’t distract readers from the main plot.<br /><br />If I Run is a well written book with well developed characters. This book is chalked full of unexpected twists and turns, which, added to the ongoing suspense of the story makes readers excited for the second installment to this series. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for that sequel!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1457475291000, "title": "I'm really glad I got in on the first book" }, { "asin": "0718037626", "rating": 4, "text": "I wasn't sure what to expect with the title of this book - The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell - but I took a chance anyway. The story still has me in shock so excuse me if this review is slightly garbled. The book held me from page one and is still resonating in my head.<br /><br />This story takes place pre-Katrina, in New Orleans. Our main character is Amanda, whose daughter, Ellie's best friend is Sarah. Amanda steps in as a chaperone on her daughter's sixth-grade Halloween field trip to the Big Easy. When Sarah is abducted, Amanda is guilt-ridden because she feels that she was supposed to be the one watching Sarah when she disappeared and she feels responsible.<br /><br />“We all have a feathered bone. It’s called hope. If we hang on to hope, if we don’t let anybody break us or make us forget who we are, then we will always be free.” Sarah<br /><br />Woven throughout this book is Sarah’s side of the story, which is told through her journal entries written so she can remember who she really is. She addresses her entries to a sparrow that comes to her window to visit. In those writings, the reality of Sarah's situation is is disclosed in a very sensitive way. The lessons that her parents taught her before her abduction allow her to stay remind herself of truth. Sarah's voice, through her journal entries, was full of simple, beautiful wisdom.<br /><br />For me this novel shared a very dark story of mental health, abuse and sexual exploitation. It was really deep but does show readers that life doesn't always go smooth and easy and that trials and fears attack us when we least expect them. Cantrell's characters are real and complex, the story is layered and the themes difficult. Amanda was a completely believable character even when she couldn't fix things. Sometimes her emotions were all over the place and the book overall is an emotional rollercoaster. I loved how faith played a big part for the characters too.<br /><br />The details of each character's storyline are so real that while reading, I almost felt like I was a part of the lives of these characters. This is one of those &#34;hard to put down&#34; kind of books, but when you finally do put the book down, you will continue to think about them all.<br /><br />“It is written to remind us all that we are loved, we have worth, and we are never alone.” Julie Cantrell<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1461453179000, "title": "Ellie's best friend is Sarah" }, { "asin": "0764212486", "rating": 5, "text": "This is a story about a twenty five year old unwed Lucy Flaud an Amish girl living in Lancaster County, PA. It begins with mystery and intrigue that will unravel in bits and pieces throughout this novel. As I read this story, I felt that had I known Lucy's past and her mistakes earlier on in the story, I might have enjoyed this novel more but since I didn't know, I felt that I rushed through the story just to find the answers.<br /><br />Lucy had done something in her past where she made a grave mistake. By holding on to her past, she is unable to let go of her sins by forgiving herself and asking God for forgiveness so she move forward. Somehow this mistake help create a strained relationship with her parents especially her father Christian.<br /><br />Trying to find redemption - or &#34;atonement&#34; for her past - Lucy fills every day volunteering at charitable organizations, helping her married sister with her children, and working at home helping her twin sisters and Mother. No matter how hard she works, she cannot fill the empty hole in her heart. I had a hard time understanding her relationship with her twin sisters. Lucy’s journey held lessons on love, faith and forgiveness as she found her way back to church. On her journey Lucy meets an elderly couple who met on a bridge to celebrate. While she listens to their story of love Lucy begins to heal.<br /><br />Lucy's father, Christian, starts attending a local grief support group where he meets, Englisher, Dale Wyeth. Dale seems to be looking for a more simple life and he owns a local hardware store. Through their friendship, Dale starts spending time around the Flaud farm, and Lucy begins to know Dale as they become friends. People are worried, though, that the friendship will lead to more and Lucy past will be revisited when they spot her riding in his truck<br /><br />Meeting Dale brings back all of the painful memories Lucy has avoided. She begins to help a homeless girl she has become friends with and in doing so, she begins to restore her broken relationship with God. This story was provoking and made me look inside myself at mistakes I’ve made in the past. Like Lucy, I had a hard time asking God for forgiveness and let go of my sins to find peace. This is an emotional story that Beverly Lewis tells so well and it is an excellent look at redemption and forgiveness. I enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />Thank you to the Bethany House Blogger Review Program for the opportunity for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1461842307000, "title": "I might have enjoyed this novel more but since I didn't know" }, { "asin": "0718033183", "rating": 4, "text": "This book is second in a series called the &#34;Amish of Birch Creek&#34; written by Kathleen Fuller. I did not read the first book but An Unbroken Heart can stand alone without having previously reading book one. I really enjoyed reading this story and put it down once. Kathleen Fuller makes the reader feel the emotions of love, fear, pain, and questions of self-worth and happiness. The main characters in this book are Joanna Schrock and Andrew Beiler.<br /><br />Joanna was arguing with her parents about wanting to marry Andrew while they were traveling in their buggy on the way to the apple orchard. Her mother was telling her that she was not yet ready for marriage. When a car hit their buggy, the collision caused her to lose both of her parents. Joanna herself suffered a broken pelvis and lacerations on her face which would take a long time to heal. Joanna had loved Andrew since she was twelve years old, since he had stood up for her when she was being bullied at school. Over the years, as they were dating her feelings for Andrew grew stronger and Joanna had shocked Andrew by proposing to him.<br /><br />In the rehabilitation center, Joanna suffered both physically with the pain from the accident and mentally, having learned that she had lost both parents. She felt so empty, alone and guilty. Andrew was upset about the accident and worried that he might be losing Joanna, so visited her and proposed. He could not picture his life without Joanna by his side. She accepted the proposal without the deep joy she had hoped for, and the plans began for their wedding. On the day of her wedding Joanna was unable to walk down the aisle. She then told Andrew she could not marry him as she knew she wasn't ready. God was talking to Joanna, telling her to be strong and courageous. Should she listen to God?<br /><br />In An Unbroken Heart, readers learn about Joanna’s sisters, Sadie and Abigail, and how they managed to run the family business after their parent’s death while at the same time handling Joanna’s recovery. It encourages readers to look at forgiveness in their own lives as Joanna’s met Cameron, the driver who caused the accident that killed her parents, and forgave him. As the characters become so real, you really want healing for those who are hurting, and you want to help them find their way back to God so they can be whole again - but it must be in line with God’s timing and not theirs.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1462317003000, "title": "I really enjoyed reading this story and put it down once" }, { "asin": "0718030923", "rating": 4, "text": "Sister Dear by Laura McNeill has a great cover and picture, which was just enough to pull me in. The story is about Allie, who is a mother convicted of a crime she swears she didn't commit. (Haven't we all heard that one before?) Anyway, after spending 10 years in jail, Allie returns to her small town hoping to pick up the pieces of her life and re-establish a relationship with her now 15-year old daughter. Allie struggles to fall in place, to fit back in living her former life with her family, with friends and at work. In order to try and reconnect and form a relationship with her daughter, Allie becomes determined to find out what really happened that tragic night and wants to clear her name.<br /><br />Sister Dear seemed to start off a little slow and I was little worried that I wasn't going to enjoy the book, but slowly the plot got going and just kept building and building until the very last page. I really enjoyed the writing style - sort of &#34;flashback&#34; style - going between 2006 and 2016 - through the eyes of various people, including Allie, Sheriff Gaines, Emma (Allie's sister) and Caroline (Allie's daughter). Using the multiple points of view and weaving back and forth through time, Sister Dear painted a haunting picture of lies, betrayals and deep dark secrets.<br /><br />The author, McNeill, definitely left me guessing about everyone's involvement in &#34;the incident,&#34; including Allie's own involvement. I loved the plot twists, and I will admit I didn't see them coming. It wasn't one of those predictable plots where you knew what was happening next, and I really appreciated that. I don't want to write a spoiler here, so I really can't go into too much of the story. Suffice it to say, it's worth reading Sister Dear to learn the whole story! On one of those 1 to 5 star ratings, with 5 being highest, I'd give this book a 4.2. I'll definitely be watching for future works of Laura McNeill and I'm going to head back and read her debut book, Center of Gravity too!<br /><br />I truly appreciate that BookLookBloggers provided me with a paperback copy of this book to read without cost in exchange for my personal and honest opinion and unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1462501469000, "title": "Sister Dear by Laura McNeill has a great cover and picture" }, { "asin": "1617956651", "rating": 5, "text": "What I found in this book was a beautiful book filled with hope. Hunting Hope is full of inspiring stories and gut-wrenching moments that share all of the promises that are possible to God's children. Nika Maples shares her heart, and her honesty and the end result is that her transparency is a very beautiful thing for readers. Ms. Maples' humor made me laugh and smile and her stories often made me emotional and teary, but it was her relationship with Jesus that really made me look at those areas of my own life that could really use some work.<br /><br />Accepting what we cannot change, while anticipating future blessings is the perfect definition of hope as Ms. Maples relates to readers. She leans on Scripture to back up every point she makes, helping readers see that the honest and true statements taken from God's Word. Ms. Maples' beautiful examples of God's compassion for us provides strength and hope to readers in their dark moments. Hunting Hope is easy to read and very well written in such a way that it allows readers to find the messages they need at the time they are needed.", "timestamp": 1463961972000, "title": "What I found in this book was a beautiful book filled with hope" }, { "asin": "1401688314", "rating": 5, "text": "A Dream of Miracles is the third book in The Amish Wonder series by Ruth Reid. The first book was A Miracle of Hope and the second book was A Woodland Miracle. Each of those books would probably have helped in creating the backdrop to the characters in this book, but nonetheless, my favorite Amish book reviewer, Gloria (aka Mom) says that this book can be read as a stand alone very nicely.<br /><br />This story takes place in a small community made up of Old Order Amish in Michigan. The two main characters Mattie Diener and Boaz (Bo) Lambright become so real that you think they are your best friends. Mattie is a young widowed woman with two young children, Nathan and 18-month old Amanda, to raise without her husband Andy, who is deceased. Mattie is having a rough time running a herb and honey business with the help of the community especially her next door bachelor neighbor Alvin.<br /><br />Mattie’s oldest child, Nathan, is three years old has been a sickly baby with several health issues since his birth. Nathan is ill and Mattie takes him to the doctor and her worse nightmare begins. Her regular doctor is not available and another doctor, Dr. Wellington, is filling his place but he knows nothing about the Amish. Nathan has a fever and blisters in his mouth and Dr. Wellington suspects’ abuse.<br /><br />The doctor has Mattie take Nathan to the hospital and calls Child Protective Services on her. She meets Boaz Lambright, a fast-rising social services investigator whose high-society mother doesn't seem to rest until she finds her son's &#34;Mrs. Right&#34;. He does not think there is any abuse and sets out to prove her innocence. Things keep happening and the plot continues to twist and turn, and all the while Mattie has your heart because of struggles she is going through. Bo was haunted by dreams with flashing from his current life into his past life.<br /><br />I love the twist that Bo experiences and I found it hard to actually put this book down because I wanted to find out the outcome. There is so much emotion in this story and both the characters and the plot are so powerful that it just carried me away with them. Toward the end of this story things are explained. I loved this story and I look forward to other books by Ruth Reid.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1464313791000, "title": "my favorite Amish book reviewer" }, { "asin": "1530040396", "rating": 4, "text": "My Father's House by Rose Chandler Johnson is about Lily Rose Cates, who has the perfect childhood that includes a fantastic relationship with her father. Her father adored her and she loved him so much. Lily's father unexpectedly passes away when Lily is sixteen and it leaves her to emotionally flounder throughout the rest of high school and into college.<br /><br />As Lily heads off to college, she sees her friends marrying off or falling in love. On a trip to New York City to meet up with her best friend, Lily meets Manuel Valenti. He seems charming and sophisticated and Lily is captivated by his attention. He sweeps her off her feet and promises her the world. She falls into a whirlwind romance and totally falls for him even though there are signals - warning signs - she fails (or chooses) to recognize. Even her wise Annie Ruth feels that Manny Lily brings him home to meet her family.<br /><br />Lily moves forward with marriage, but not surprisingly, soon afterward their marriage begins to fall apart. Her husband is a dark, abusive man and Lily soon realizes that she must make the hard choice of leaving Manny - of running from her husband - or possibly risk even more than the marriage. Once Lily gets away from her horrible marriage, Lily starts to take the necessary steps of healing her heart from her past and from her marriage so that she can move forward. We readers standby (and read on) as Lily slowly begins the process of healing and returning to her father's house.<br /><br />I felt that this story was written to remind us all that there is always hope, even in our darkest hours and our deepest pain. I loved Ms. Johnson's writing and this is one of those books you can definitely get caught up in, and if you're anything like me, you'll read it cover to cover in one sitting. (Pray that I make it through work tomorrow without falling asleep!!)<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1466009767000, "title": "who has the perfect childhood that includes a fantastic relationship with her father" }, { "asin": "0764212818", "rating": 5, "text": "Being part of the Bethany House Blogger Review Program, I get to read some very interesting books that I wouldn't necessarily have the opportunity to read. Sometimes I'm provided with books to read from authors I've never heard of, even though they are very popular in the literary world. Today's book, No Other Will Do, by Karen Witemeyer and this book falls into that category. Those of you who follow me regularly know that my mom loves Amish books. She also loves Western books and when I read her the back cover of this book over the phone, she jumped at the chance to read it and report in. Here's my mom's review:<br /><br />&#34;The setting for this story takes place in the old historical west. This Christian romance has it all - humor, action, murder, mystery and the suspense of a 'who done it'. No Other Will Do is very well written and has you hanging on every word to find out what is going to happen next. I truly enjoyed reading this novel in one day and did not put it down until the end,<br /><br />Emma Chandler and her suffragette aunts were strong, free spirited independent women who started a successful women’s colony in Harper’s Station, Texas to help women in need to make a fresh start with their lives. Unfortunately, there is someone who repeatedly wants to drive all the ladies out of colony. If only Emma knew what this dangerous crook wanted. She is forced to admit they might need a man to help and there is only one man that she really trusts to do the job.<br /><br />Malachi Shaw has known Emma since they were young. She saved his life when he was hiding out in her auntie’s barn after fighting in the streets and is cold, hungry, and no home. She ask her aunt if she could keep him. Now Malachi has earned respect by working on the railroad as an explosive expert. When he received Emma’s telegraph asking for his help, he left immediately to go to her keep a childhood promise be had made and try somehow to repay her for saving his life.<br /><br />The danger at the women’s colony continues and the threats are getting stronger and more dangerous. Should the women leave the colony for their safety? Should they stay and fight with Malachi help to catch the outlaws?&#34;<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the Bethany House Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1466987226000, "title": "I truly enjoyed reading this novel in one day and did not ..." }, { "asin": "1617956120", "rating": 4, "text": "My Mother's Quilts: Devotions on Love, Legacy, Family and Faith by Ramona Richards is an awesome devotional. While this book has lots of pictures of some beautiful quilts, it is way more than a quilt picture book. Each devotional itself shares the story of each individual quilt. It includes a sentence or two of a prayer starter, and then a Bible verse.<br /><br />While this is a book you will want to read in its entirety like I did, you will want to keep it close to you so that when you are reading your daily devotionals you can include this book as a devotional guide as well.<br /><br />As a baby, I received a quilt from my grandfather who passed before I was born. Every Christmas my mom would bring that quilt out and we would enjoy its beauty during the Christmas season, and then she would pack it up again until next year. When I found that exact quilt in this book, my heart swelled with such fond memories of that quilt!<br /><br />I received a copy of this devotional book without cost in exchange for this post from FlyByPromotions! Thank you FlyBy!!", "timestamp": 1466988793000, "title": "Devotions on Love, Legacy" }, { "asin": "1434708381", "rating": 4, "text": "Jilted is the third book in the Mended Hearts series, but can serve as a stand alone book on its own. I did not read the two prior books Jaded and Justified, and I feel that if I had read the first two it would have added to my enjoyment of Jilted.<br /><br />The story in Jilted takes place in a quiet small town of Trapp, Texas. As in most small towns, gossip and news spreads quickly. The memorable characters in this story are Lynda Turner and Clyde Felton. Lynda is doubtful that love and happiness will ever be hers until Clyde an old friend and an ex-convict shows interest in her and hope awakens. Lynda’s husband left her and young daughter Ruthie behind fifteen years ago.<br /><br />Lynda, struggling with depression, had withdrawn from the community and Clyde had to adjust when returning after time in prison to Trapp and face the community he left behind. Because these characters are older and had already missed so much of their lives, I wanted to help them Mrs. Denman told and wrote this story so well that you felt part of this little town and a friend to Lynda and Clyde.<br /><br />Lynda Turner has struggled with depression since her husband abandoned her and their young daughter fifteen years ago. Yet unexpected hope awakens when a local ex-convict shows interest. As long-hidden secrets resurface, Lynda must fight for her emotional stability and for a life where the shadow of shame is replaced by the light of love.<br /><br />Jilted tells of a woman who has lost the joy of living, a man determined to draw her back toward happiness, and a town that must---once and for all---leave the past where it belongs. It is a gentle reminder that all things can work together for good.<br /><br />As secrets which had been hidden for years comes out again Lynda must fight to keep her emotions stable, getting out of living in shame, and receive the love that her old friend Clyde is offering. This final secret is shocking.<br /><br />At the end of this book all ends are neatly tied up and I am sorry that my visit to Trapp, Texas has finished and I will miss Lynda and Clyde and all the others. I really enjoyed reading Jilted, and look forward to reading Jaded and Justified soon!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1467159685000, "title": "and I feel that if I had read the first two it would have added to my enjoyment of Jilted" }, { "asin": "0736966234", "rating": 5, "text": "Here's what I say: Before I can even talk about this book, I have to talk about the Bible verse on the front - one of my favorites! &#34;For I know the plansI have for you,&#34; declares the LORD, &#34;plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.&#34; Jeremiah 29:11.<br /><br />I knew it was going to be a great book just because of that in itself, and I wasn't wrong at all! First I will say this isn't the only book I've read of Dana Mentink's! She really knows how to write some pretty cool pups in her stories and I really enjoyed it in the other book I read. Funny stuff here! I read this book at my desk at work because (1) it was a smaller book and easy to carry; and (2) because I just couldn't wait to read it!<br /><br />Stephanie Pink - yes, her last name is Pink - don't you love it? Anyway, Stephanie Pink is the heroine of this book, and she's hooked on books - kind of like yours truly. She can't seem to go any period of time without reading a book or she gets anxious. She's an aspiring literary agent and had been dreaming of it since she read a book by Agnes Wharton as a kid. She is sent by her boss to pick up a manuscript by none other than Agnes Wharton - one that they'd been waiting for over 15 years. Tragically, when she meets Agnes, her dog, Sweetness, takes off and the story begins!<br /><br />At the same time, Stephanie is also like most girls and is in search of her &#34;happily ever after&#34;. Enter Rhett Hastings, a retired CEO, who stepped down from his job to take care of his sister after a bad accident where she suffered brain trauma. Before her accident, Rhett had treated her pretty bad and she had disowned him but of course, with the injury she doesn't recall that fact. Rhett feels that God is telling him to return to the orchard in Oregon where they had grown up. Of course, on his way there, he bumps into none other than Stephanie Pink.<br /><br />This is where the &#34;happily ever after &#34; may or may not kick in (no spoilers here). Rhett rescues Stephanie and Sweetness and even helps her get the dog to Washington! Both Rhett and Stephanie find themselves on a crazy journey that will definitely change their lives. And just like the author reveals at the beginning of the book, God has a plan for them (Jeremiah 29:11). Of course, they soon find out His plan isn't anything like their individual plans and His is way better! .<br /><br />I give this sweet little book 5 stars out of 5 for style of writing, flow of the storyline, the depth of the characters, and of course the hilarious dog!! I see Dana Mentink has the next book in the Love Unleashed series out in February of 2017, and I will be looking out for that book as well!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1471365525000, "title": "I give this sweet little book 5 stars out of 5" }, { "asin": "1501820079", "rating": 4, "text": "I always love books about dogs, and Service Tails: More Stories of Man's Best Hero by Ace Collins is no exception! Service Tails is a wonderful collection of great true stories that share both the love and loyalty of the owner and their dog, but also provide insight and inspiration.<br /><br />We learn about their extensive training and incredible service working together to provide owners with more self confidence with the assistance of their service dog. These dogs help create permanent and forever bonds with their owners that goes beyond their service, and provides readers with that &#34;heart connection&#34; by sharing their stories.<br /><br />Service Tails shares twelve stories of dogs who provide the commitment of duty and service to their owners, some saving lives and some providing an independent lifestyle to those unable to do so without the help of their service dog. The best part of these stories is the way it shares how owners and their dogs seem to become one as they work together to make life more enjoyable.<br /><br />If you are a dog owner and lover, then I recommend this book to you. This is one of those books to keep on your shelf so you can read again in the future. Service Tails would also make a fantastic gift for any dog lover in your life!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1472431817000, "title": "I always love books about dogs" }, { "asin": "0310339863", "rating": 4, "text": "The Saddle Maker’s Son is the third book in The Amish of Bee County series. I did not read the first two, but enjoyed this one as a stand alone. (I will admit, though, I think I would love to read books #1 and #2 just to see what I missed.)<br /><br />This is a romantic story of Rebekah Lantz, who lives in a small Amish community in Bee County Texas. She feels like her family does not trust her since her sister Leila left the Amish faith to marry Jesse Glick.<br /><br />Tobias Byler is an Amish man who has recently moved to Bee County along with his father, Levi and his nine siblings. As Levi is opening his new shop of making saddles and training horses he has an accident and the children are left to take care of themselves while he is in the hospital.<br /><br />Rebekah works as an assistant school teacher and has discovered two dirty and hungry runaway children The children hiding in the shed outside of the schoolhouse traveled across the border from El Salvador. It is discovered that the children traveled alone and were sent by their grandmother from El Salvador to Texas to hunt out their father, who is living in San Antonio.<br /><br />Rebekah also meets Tobias Byler and his father, Levi who brings the younger children to school. Will Rebekah turn Guadulupe (&#34;Lupe&#34;) and Diego over to the proper authorities? Will this small Amish community open their hearts and arms to these runaway children? It was interesting to read how illegal children immigrants are handled.<br /><br />There is attraction and friction between Rebekah and Tobias as they worked to help the children find their father. Does Tobias have feelings for Rebekah and cannot show it? There is also another romance going on with Rebekah’s aunt and Tobias’s father. This story has all the things that makes a wonderful love story and reminds us that God wants us to help each other.<br /><br />The Saddle Maker's Son is very well written story and I could not put it down until the last page. It was a beautiful story and one that I will remember.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1472434475000, "title": "but enjoyed this one as a stand alone" }, { "asin": "0310345391", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the first book in Shelley Shepard Gray’s &#34;Lone Star Hero&#34; series, I loved reading some of her other books such as the Whispers in the Reading Room.<br /><br />The Loyal Heart story takes place in the late 1800s in Galveston Texas right after the civil war ended, and its a story about Miranda Markham who is a war widow and is facing many troubles in Galveston. She lost her husband that she dearly loved and now has become an outcast in her hometown because someone is spreading rumors that her husband was a traitor.<br /><br />Phillip Markham, Lt. Truax, Caption Monroe, and Major Kelly were prisoners in a POW camp. This group of Confederate soldiers, who had been prisoners by the Union army, promised to take care of each other and their families after the war.<br /><br />Phillip Markham past away right before the war ended. He always spoke of the love that he and his wife Miranda shared. Robert Truax was sent to see how Miranda was doing to fulfill the promise that was made to Markham.<br /><br />Who is responsible making the town turn against Miranda and how are the rumors spreading that Phillip Markham was a traitor? Robert was the problem solver will he be able to take care of this?<br /><br />The Loyal Heart is a historical fiction book and provides for the reader a great mixture of mystery, suspense, action, history of the post-Civil war in the south, and a light romance. Shelley is a great storyteller and I enjoyed this book very much. Looking forward to reading more in this series.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own - well, they are my mother's and for that, I am responsible.", "timestamp": 1473218990000, "title": "I loved reading some of her other books such as the ..." }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "I will admit it - I get so excited every single time I see that Rachel Hauck has another book out. It ranks right up there with having a day off work - my day job, that is. I really think that if there was anyone I could ever point out and say &#34;yes, that woman follows God's calling for her&#34;, it would be Rachel Hauck. That being said, today's post is about Rachel Hauck's latest release, The Wedding Shop. The Wedding Shop is the third book in the &#34;wedding&#34; series, the others being The Wedding Chapel and the other,<br /><br />The Wedding Shop's setting is Heart's Bend, Tennessee, and this story is about a young woman named Haley Morgan who us home from the Air Force. She decides she will take over the town's old wedding shop that's been in the town for over 90 years. The building was run down and in need of many repairs, but Haley had a vision of what it once was. Even though it's been closed for so many years, Haley has a strong feeling that the place must be reopened.<br /><br />The storyline of The Wedding Shop goes back and forth between the 1930s through the 1950s and then the present day. While this book could be a &#34;stand alone&#34;, it is my understanding that some of the characters in this book were also included in Rachel's previous books.<br /><br />The entire book is awesome. Ms. Hauck draws readers in as she alternates the story between modern day Haley and past wedding shop owner Cora. Ms. Hauck has the fantastic ability to transport her readers back in time and make them actually feel like they are there. It was great to see the different perspectives of the characters and how their stories develop while moving between the two time periods. The message I received from this book was that we need to trust in God and do His will and he will provide.<br /><br />I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publisher, and I received a digital copy from NetGalley, both without cost, but in exchange for my opinion.", "timestamp": 1473984027000, "title": "The entire book is awesome." }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 4, "text": "I had never heard of Robert Whitlow before, but the man has written plenty of books. The cover of this book drew me in - sort of resembled a John Grisham book or something - and it made me curious. Another drawing factor to this book was the fact that it was a Christian suspense novel with a legal emphasis. Having worked in the legal field for over 30 years, I'm always interested in that category. Sprinkle it with a little suspense, and you've got me interested.<br /><br />The Witnesses follows young lawyer, Parker House as he begins working in a small North Carolina law firm. His job doesn't pay as much as his friends but he finds satisfaction in what he is learning and achieving as he learns the ropes of a law office and of his town. At the same time, Parker realizes that he is somehow able to see the future.<br /><br />While Parker uses his gift in the legal field, his grandfather, Frank (born Franz Haus), was forced to use the gift during World War II. This fact in itself results in the story going back and forth between these two time periods throughout the book.<br /><br />Parker's gift is starting to become obvious to others, which begins to make him more interesting to a more prestigious law firm. As he struggles with his career decisions and decisions surrounding a new romance, his grandfather is experiencing deep regret for his actions in WWII.<br /><br />The theme of The Witnesses seems to be how people can use (or misuse) God's gifts. While both Parker and his grandfather, Frank are good people, sometimes the use of their gift for evil is too tempting to hold back. Throughout the story, readers will see both of these men struggling with the use of their gift in a responsible manner and whether they will follow the Lord or not follow the Lord.<br /><br />This book would inspire anyone who is wavering about seeking forgiveness and making life changing decisions. If you have never read any of Robert Whitlow's other books, I'd suggest you start here like I did. The Witnesses is a book that seems to cross over those defined genre lines that include law, family, romance, friendship, mystery, suspense and even a little thriller.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1475082812000, "title": "Frank are good people, sometimes the use of their gift for ..." }, { "asin": "0800726413", "rating": 4, "text": "The storyline of When Love Arrives by Johnnie Alexander takes place in a town named Misty Willows. This book is the second in the Misty Willows series, and I had not yet read Where She Belongs, which is the first book, but based on some of the reviews I read, it would have been helpful to know the characters a little better before reading this book. Given the time, I would probably gone back and read Where She Belongs first.<br /><br />Dani Prescott lost her mother in a plane crash. It's the same plane crash that killed Brett Somers' parents. Why is that important? Because Brett is publicly blaming Dani's mother for the crash and ruining her reputation. Dani is hurt and wants to clear her mother's name so she sets out to get revenge against Brett. The story is told in alternating chapters from Brett and Dani's point of view. It's interesting reading this story from Brett's perspective.<br /><br />Brett is a handsome and rich &#34;ladies' man&#34; who is egotistical and pursues younger, blond, long-legged women. Dani accidently meets Brett in the parking lot of the hospital and he pursues her despite the fact that she doesn't meet his standard criteria. Unbeknownst to Brett, Dani is actually seeking revenge. Brett and Dani soon realize they have so many things in common and Dani starts to feel guilty about her original plan to bring Brett down.<br /><br />As Dani and Brett develop their friendship, readers get the sense of the changes Brett is making in his life, and his true desire to become a better person due to the fact that he has learned he has a son.<br /><br />Dani gets help from Brett and his family and her luck begins to change when she secures a new job and a new home surrounded by a great family. As we all know, a relationship built on lies is sure to fail, and Dani's secret plans come to light. These two have a lot to work out and it well worth reading to see where it does.<br /><br />The story is hard to put down and I loved seeing the changes in both of them. I felt that the author did a great job providing a very believable drama that included faith issues that readers will be able to identify with. Seeing how the characters had to reach the &#34;rock bottom&#34; in their lives before they were able to reach out for help from God proved to be a real struggle in the lives of so many people today. The author certainly has a gift for bringing a story to life and making the reader feel like they are right in the midst of it.<br /><br />The great news is that coming in Summer of 2017 there will be another book to this series - the third - and at the end of this book there was a little &#34;teaser&#34; for anyone interested. I hope I make time to go back and read the first book so that by the time the third is released I'll be up to speed on everyone's backgrounds!<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book from Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group for my honest review and was not required to give a positive review.", "timestamp": 1475092642000, "title": "The storyline of When Love Arrives by Johnnie Alexander takes place in a town ..." }, { "asin": "0718077911", "rating": 5, "text": "I had heard of Katherine Reay only after I had the opportunity to read her book, The Brontë Plot, back in February of this year. Because I thought that book was so great, when I heard about this book, A Portrait of Emily Price, I couldn't wait. Unfortunately, I have to say that when it arrived, I was already in the middle of another blog tour so this was placed on the back burner for a while. The book was released on November 1 of this year, so it's still a really new book so everyone can find their copies easily! I know you'll want to get your copy too, because A Portrait of Emily Price is a book full of awesomeness.<br /><br />The protagonist, Emily Price is an art restorer who dreams of becoming an original artist someday. She travels to Atlanta to restore a mural in a home damaged by fire. That’s where she meets Chef Benito &#34;Ben&#34; Vassallo, who is visiting Atlanta to reconnect with his brother and breathe new life into his aunt and uncle’s restaurant, Piccolo. Emily begins a &#34;whirlwind romance&#34; with Ben and falls in love with him while she works with him to improve the appearance of Piccolo. In a shocking move, she accepts Ben's marriage proposal, marries him and and follows him to Italy. Once arriving in Italy, Emily is enchanted with the country, but because of Emily’s need to “fix” what she thinks is broken things get complicated when she meets her new Italian family.<br /><br />The author does an excellent job of showing the relationship problems in families. I also think Katherine did a lovely job of describing Italy and, well &#34;painting a picture&#34; of the scenery for readers so descriptive that we feel a part of the story, especially in the driving scenes where we see hills and small towns, narrow driving lanes and arches that feel too small for the car to fit through. Breathtaking, for sure.<br /><br />If you're anything like me and you love romance stories that are realistic and don't fall under the fairytale-type of “happily ever after” story, A Portrait of Emily Price is definitely a book you'll want to read too!<br /><br />I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion and review. Thanks so much!", "timestamp": 1480539830000, "title": "Because I thought that book was so great, when I heard about this book" }, { "asin": "1401690300", "rating": 5, "text": "As part of the The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader program, I received a copy of Colleen Coble's new book, Twilight at Blueberry Barrens, which was a great read set on the beautiful coast of Folly Shoals, Maine. I'm getting ahead of myself here, but let me tell you the book had fantastic descriptions of the scenery and the characters were well written. The story itself included suspense, murders, romance, a wedding, an escaped prisoner, a hire for murder guy and even a crazy stalker. All of these stories within the book have us guessing and all were very nicely interwoven throughout the book. What more could you ask for in a story?<br /><br />Now that I put the cart in front of the horse, let me tell you a little more about the story: This is the third book in the Sunset Cove series and is connected to the first title, The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, because this book is about Kate Mason, who is Claire Dellamare’s twin sister. This book frequently refers back to the storyline in The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, so it would probably be helpful if you read the first book in the series to understand this one a little better. In all honesty, when I was reading the first book, The Inn at Ocean's Edge, I really wasn't a fan of the character, Claire, but in this book the author redeemed her character and made her someone more relatable to readers. It was also enjoyable learning more about Kate in this book.<br /><br />After successfully battling a life threatening illness, Kate Mason is restarting her life, while at the same time, she is confronted with a faceless enemy who could possibly be someone she knows well. She's in a difficult financial place so when she rents out a cottage for the summer plus she's given the opportunity to nanny a summer guest's young nieces, things might be looking better for Kate. The rental tenant is Drake Newham, who is a handsome and successful entrepreneur from Boston and is protecting his brother's two daughters. Drake has come to Maine in order to investigate his brother and sister-in-law's brutal deaths and it that his brother could have been killed because of his legal actions against a dangerous international crime leader, but Drake is discovering that Heath and Melissa's marriage was unstable, which makes local officials convinced theirs was a case of murder-suicide.<br /><br />Because I don't write spoilers, I can't tell you much more about this book other than to suggest that you buy the book for yourself and dig right in! The characters are likeable, the scenery fantastic and the tale very interesting. If you've read any of Colleen Coble's other books in other series, be warned that some of the other characters from other series make appearances in this book too, which is something I really enjoyed.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1481662354000, "title": "which was a great read set on the beautiful coast of Folly Shoals" }, { "asin": "0718083105", "rating": 4, "text": "&#34;This is a very intense read. The author writes in Afrikaans. Child of the River is the second book written by Irma Joubert that has been translated into English. The first was The Girl from the Train that I have not read. Both of her books are written in the same time period and the location of South Africa. You learn a lot of history when you read this book such as what was going on in Europe during WWII, history during the mid-1950 in South Africa with apartheid and segregation.<br /><br />This is a story about Persomis, the daughter of a sharecropper who comes from a dysfunctional home life. Her father is a drunk and beats his wife and children. Social workers step in and takes the younger siblings and send Persomis to a boarding school where her brother Gerbrand is attending. She works hard, made excellent grades and was allowed to attend the university where she earns a law degree.<br /><br />Irma Joubert weaves three story lines so well. First was Persomi growing up living dirt poor on the Fourie’s farm. Second, the apartheid laws and how they were applied to the families, and third, the love story between Persomi and Boelie.<br /><br />This is a well-written and very inspiring story. I loved the character Persomis especially her passion as she fought for the rights of minorities and the romance between Persomis and Boelie.<br /><br /> I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1481860451000, "title": "made excellent grades and was allowed to attend the university where ..." }, { "asin": "0718086422", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm sure I've said it before, but as part of the Fiction Guild Elite Reader program, I'm often given some pretty amazing books to read and share with my readers. Today's book is no different! It's one of those books I wouldn't have gone out and bought for myself because I wouldn't have known what I was missing!<br /><br />Of Stillness and Storm by Michèle Phoenix is about a missionary family living in Nepal. The story itself is told in two parts - it begins with Lauren, the narrator and wife of Sam, and her 13-year old son, Ryan, living with intermittent power in their home near Kathmandu. Sam leaves for weeks at a time to trek into remote tribes, while leaving Lauren and Sam alone. Lauren is finding ways to cope with the struggle, but Ryan starts feeling the effect of the struggling family.<br /><br />Lauren gets back in touch with a childhood friend who seems to remind her to fight for her son, as well as the woman and writer she used to be. I loved that Lauren seemed very human to readers. Her struggle is familiar to many Christians and while her story is fictional, it is very relatable. Lauren is able to discover that out of darkness and loss emerges a &#34;relentless, demanding, trustworthy, benevolent, and healing God.&#34;<br /><br />I saw a reviewer share a quote from a conversation Lauren has with Sam and I loved it:<br /><br />&#34;I tend to think that who we become because of our faith is more important than what we do to prove it.&#34;<br /><br />Of Stillness and Storm is a story that continues to linger long after its reading. The story is filled with relationships, both spiritual and physical, and it is such a well written book. With rawness and honesty, it plumbs the depths of commitment to family and God. The story is a fascinating view of the missionary life and the benefits and potential pitfalls that can result. This book is one of the most powerful works of fiction I've read in a while and I highly recommend it to others.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in this post are my own.", "timestamp": 1486694103000, "title": "\"I tend to think that who we become because of our faith is more important than what we do to prove it.\"" }, { "asin": "0718090225", "rating": 4, "text": "I received the book, The Angels' Share by James Markert because I'm a Fiction Guild Elite Reader book review blogger. It wouldn't be my normal book genre if I were out shopping for a book, but nonetheless, it was worth a read.<br /><br />The Angels' Share is a historical novel that is true to the times of the Prohibition and the Depression. William &#34;Willie&#34; McFee grew up in Twisted Tree, Kentucky. The McFee family is pretty well off financially even though the town itself is suffering the effects of the McFee family bourbon distillery being shut down by Prohibition. Willie's father, Barley doesn't seem to have any intent on reopening the distillery even though Willie is encouraging him to do so in order to achieve his dream of becoming a distiller as his grandfather had planned.<br /><br />Then a drifter named Asher Keating shows up and he seems to be able to fix people's problems. He dies and is buried in the Potter's Field near the McFee distillery. Gossip begins to circulate about Asher performing miracles. Asher's grave starts getting lots of visitors who are praying at the site, and some strange things begin to happen it the town. Willie starts to investigate the situation and he discovers facts about what his father did during the Prohibition and things about the death of his younger brother. Willie begins to write stories about what he is uncovering and gets them published in a Louisville newspaper, causing all kinds of things to happen.<br /><br />The characters in the book are well developed. The story is full of mystery and unanswered questions. The townspeople are representative of people caught in a difficult situation they cannot control. There are a lot of subplots in this storyline and they will definitely keep readers engrossed in this story.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in this post are my own.", "timestamp": 1489363184000, "title": "The McFee family is pretty well off financially even though the town itself is ..." }, { "asin": "006246910X", "rating": 5, "text": "I find that if the book is written by Shelley Shepard Gray I will enjoy reading it and Her Secret the first book in a new series The Amish of Hart County was no exception. An Amish love story with suspense throughout the book. The main characters Hannah and Isaac are so real that you feel part of their families.<br /><br />The story starts with Hannah Hilty and her family living in Berlin, Ohio in a big house that was comfortable and their family’s legacy. Hannah had been friends with an English man named Trent during her rumspringa. He had pursued her for the last two years and was now following her around and taking pictures of her. Hannah lives her life in fear of this stalker. She quits her job and stays home, only going out with her parents.<br /><br />The family moves from Berlin, Ohio to Munfordville, Kentucky to escape this dangerous man and to give Hannah a new start. Her brother, Ben, and sister, Jenny, blamed Hannah they had to leave their jobs and friends behind. Jenny played a big part in this story and caused Hannah more problems to handle. There are other underlying family secrets that made the family move. Hannah meets her neighbor Isaac Troyer and becomes friends with him. Trent followed the family to Kentucky and became bolder with his activities.<br /><br />I picked this book up and did not put it down until I read the last page. I am so looking forward to the next one in the series, His Guilt, that came out on July 4th, and then there will be two more to follow. I am so recommending this book to my friends!", "timestamp": 1499649149610, "title": "... book is written by Shelley Shepard Gray I will enjoy reading it and Her Secret the first book in ..." }, { "asin": "0718083784", "rating": 5, "text": "I'm a blogger with the Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, and I am very fortunate to be able to receive a lot of books that my mother and I love to read. Today's book, Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks was a first for me. I had never heard of Ms. Parks, and unfortunately, I didn't realize this was book 4 in a series. Nonetheless, to this reader, it wasn't an issue. I'm guessing that there was a plot carried throughout the other books that I may have missed, but I was able to read this book as a stand alone without feeling like I missed anything. In all likelihood, had I read books 1, 2 and 3, I would have had a more panoramic view of the story line.<br /><br />Gwen Marcey is a single mother of a teenage daughter and a cancer survivor, whose ex-husband is threatening to take their daughter away from her. While on a probationary period with her new job as a forensic artist with the Interagency Major Crime Unit (IMCU), Gwen learns about a case of a missing four-year old girl after the murder of her parents in Lapwai, Idaho.<br /><br />The Nez Perce Tribal Police in Lapwai, Idaho are looking for the killer. Because the case took place where she lived when she was little and sounded similar to her own background, Gwen requests being assigned to the case.<br /><br />This assignment causes Gwen to step right into a trap to bring her &#34;home&#34; and to a man who was hurt by her so many years ago. Gwen is in a situation that only God can get her out of. We readers watch as Gwen pieces together her past and present so that she can determine exactly who she really is.<br /><br />The journey to the truth proves to be a very hefty struggle as Gwen finds that many of the witnesses she relies on for information also have strong prejudices against Caucasian people. It takes little time for Gwen to see that she will need to tread very lightly while she's working with the descendants of people involved in these painful moments within Native history.<br /><br />As Gwen works this case, she begins having flashback memories from her own childhood. She begins to think that maybe what happened in her own past could be linked to what is going on in the case she is investigating. Gwen enlists the help of her best friend, Beth, and what they uncover leads them to believe the killer is someone Gwen knows and the killer seems to want Gwen to find out his or her true identity. As Gwen gets closer to the truth, more attempts on her life are made but she refuses to give up. Will her refusal end up costing Gwen her life?<br /><br />In a very spectacular fashion, author Carrie Stuart Parks has written the perfect example of a crime novel with complicated characters mixed with intrigue and suspense. Bravo Ms. Parks! I can't wait to go back and read books 1, 2 and 3 to fill in any blanks I don't even know I have!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1511743487851, "title": "and I am very fortunate to be able to receive a lot of books ..." }, { "asin": "0718082567", "rating": 4, "text": "Words from the Heart is the third book in the Amish Letters series by Kathleen Fuller. While this is the third book, each one can be read as a standalone. I loved the way the author updates readers on what happens to the people from the first two books<br /><br />This is a sweet love story with three main characters: Noah, Ivy, and Noah’s Aunt Cervilla (who was my mother's favorite character). This story begins with Ivy a young unmarried Amish woman so disappointed, feeling hurt and rejected as she is waiting over a year for promised letters from John King that never comes to finding old love letters when Ivy helped Noah clean out Aunt Cervilla’s attic which brought Noah and Ivy closer together in friendship.<br /><br />Ivy Yoder is hurting over her jilted love and is afraid that she will never find a husband in her community of Birch Creek, Ohio. Noah Schlabach is the great-nephew of Ivy’s elderly friend Cevilla Shalaback. He is an auctioneer from Iowa. Cevilla insists the two work together cleaning out her attic. She knows that Noah and Ivy are meant for each other.<br /><br />Not knowing what treasure are in the many boxes they sort through them slowly finding many doilies and old magazines, but in one of the boxes they found a packet of old letters written during the Korean War. The love letters are the story of two people (Bunny and CJ) who are in love.<br /><br />While working together and becoming good friends, Ivy has feelings for Noah, but afraid of getting hurt again. Noah is happy traveling as an auctioneer but knows something is missing in his life. Can Ivy get over the fear from her past to move forward and find love with Noah? Will Noah feel good enough for Ivy and stop his traveling? Does he want to live in her beloved community of Birch Creek?<br /><br />I truly enjoyed reading this book as I love anything written by Kathleen Fuller.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own, or in this case, my mom's.", "timestamp": 1525391757114, "title": "I loved the way the author updates readers on what happens ..." }, { "asin": "0310348080", "rating": 4, "text": "You will enjoy Beneath the Summer Sun without reading the first book, as it does serve as a stand alone. The three complex main characters are Jennie Troyer, Leo Graber, and Nathan Walker. All are facing problems of letting go of their past so that they can move forward with their lives.<br /><br />Jennie carries a secret about her husband, Atlee. The Amish do not divorce as they marry for life, so she told no one about her husband’s mental and physical abuse. Jennie’s husband died from a farming accident four years ago and left her with 7 children to raise on her own under the eyes of the church leaders.<br /><br />Jennie's son, Matthew was ten years old when Atlee died. He knew of the abuse his mother suffered at the hands of his father, and many times he was taken to the shed by his father for beatings. In truth, both Jennie and her son were relieved that Atlee had died. The Community knew something was wrong in her marriage, but not what it was. Jennie was a very likeable person and many had sympathy for her.<br /><br />When Jennie began getting used to life without a husband, two different men took interest in her, and Jennie knew that it was time to remarry. Matthew started sneaking out at night and became moody and rude, but he refused to tell Jennie what was bothering him. <br /><br />Both men who profess to love Jennie had good hearts. First, there is Jennie's childhood friend Amish, Leo Graber, who had been in love with Jennie from the time they were young and attending the same church. He felt so guilty over his father’s death that it prevented him from any social activities. He worked alone building furniture and did not have a happy life.<br /><br />Next, there was Mennonite, Nathan Walker, who was a traveling salesman unable to settle down in one place because he resented that his parents left him behind with relatives while they did mission work in other countries. He was seriously thinking of becoming Amish to be with Jennie. He wanted to settle down with Jennie in her hometown of Jamesport, Missouri.<br /><br />Will Jennie, Leo, Nathan, and Matthew be able to put the past behind them? Who will Jennie choose to love and care for her children? Will she able to trust another man? Atlee was sweet until they spoke their vows, can she believe the sweet words of either man? Three hearts try to discern God’s plan for the future—and find peace beneath the summer sun.<br /><br />Domestic abuse is addressed in this story with showing that faith, trust, forgiveness of yourself, and through the power of prayer we are able to overcome our past and move forward to a healthy, happy life. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time. Thank you Kelly Irvin for a wonderful story and I am looking forward to reading the third book in An Every Amish Season series, which is due out in August of this year, entitled Through the Autumn Air.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own, or in this case, my mom's.", "timestamp": 1525394120890, "title": "You will enjoy Beneath the Summer Sun without reading the first book" }, { "asin": "0718085973", "rating": 4, "text": "Thanks to my relationship with The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, I am very fortunate to receive and review books from various authors -- some I've heard of and some I have not. Today's post is about an author I've heard of, but I've never had an opportunity to read any of her books until now.<br /><br />As soon as I opened the book, You're Gonna Love Me by Robin Lee Hatcher, I was slightly disappointed to realize that this book was book is the sequel to Ms. Hatcher's previous book, You’ll Think of Me, but now that I've read it I can tell you that it can easily be read as a standalone.<br /><br />Samantha Winters returns to Thunder Creek, Idaho to care for her grandmother, Ruth. When she arrives at Ruth's hospital room, she can't even believe that Nick Chastain in there. She hasn't seen him for two years - ever since they broke up after dating for eight months. Because Nick was a daredevil and took too many risks with his life, and because Samantha's fears of his actions were too much to bear, they ended their relationship with harsh words and silence.<br /><br />Now Nick is there and he's recovering from an awful head injury that is causing him to suffer from memory loss and other side effects. Nick has returned to Thunder Creek to have a fresh start at life. Of course, when he sees Sam again, he's hopeful but not sure he deserves a second chance.<br />Sam and Nick's story slowly unfolds throughout You're Gonna Love Me. The author provides small flashbacks of their previous relationship so that readers understand the depth of the past hurts and fears each of them has entering into the reconnection of their relationship. It explains why both Sam and Nick are cautious this time - Sam isn't sure she can trust Nick again and Nick isn't sure of the future of his health and how fair it would be.<br /><br />As Nick and Sam reconnect, they face their fears head on while they both learn to accept each other and trust God. While Sam is trying to overcome her fears, Nick is reaching out to God trying to figure out which way his life is going. I loved how Sam's grandmother, Ruth provided them with some guidance and love in rebuilding their relationship back to friendship and ultimately love.<br />Ruth and her friends were be secondary characters in this book, but their support to the main characters was truly pivotal to the overall story. The author does a great job taking readers through all of the deep emotions and personal relationship issues in Sam and Nick's lives. Readers will be able to identify and relate to the life situations and though processes that this couple must go through in their story. The characters are realistic, the story line moves well, and it's an overall great romance!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1535589599249, "title": "The characters are realistic, the story line moves well, and it's an overall great romance!" }, { "asin": "0062469215", "rating": 4, "text": "Today's post is a book review on Her Fear by Shelley Shepard Gray. This is the fifth book in The Amish of Hart County series, and since we've been on board with this series since March of 2017, it was great to be included in this book too!<br /><br />First in the series was Her Secret released in March of 2017. The second book in the series was His Guilt in released in July of 2017, and the third book was The Gift released in November of 2017. The fourth book in the series was His Risk, which was released in March of 2018.<br /><br />Thank you Shelley Shepard Gray! While I have completely enjoyed this series, I have to say I really liked the fact that this one was not your average Amish book. While Her Fear can be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading the entire series.<br /><br />While Her Fear provides the traditional things we have come to love in an Amish story like romance and mystery, but it also included topics we usually don't see in Amish fiction novels. To be honest, Her Fear reminds us that Amish folks are just like English folks - they are not perfect people, and no one is perfect except God.<br /><br />Her Fear centers around Sadie Detweiler who becomes pregnant and is faced with an unexpected response to that pregnancy. As a result, her family sends her away to distant and extended family of a different sect of the Amish community. When she arrives, she learns that this family does many things so differently than her family.<br /><br />When Sadie arrives, the matriarch of the family, Verba, becomes mysteriously ill and later dies. An EMT that comes to the scene notices Sadie standing alone and quiet. Noah Freeman is that EMT and over time, Sadie grows attracted to him. Noah is an Amish EMT and I was a little surprised at this, so I looked it up and found out that the Amish do work as EMTs, firefighters and first responders. Anyway, Noah is different than all of the other Amish men Sadie has met; she's comfortable with him and she finds herself really liking him. The only thing holding Sadie back from being honest with her feelings is the fact that she is pregnant and she's not sure how Noah will react when he finds out.<br /><br />Verba later dies at the hospital and then two others die suspiciously, so Noah's boss wants him to dig around the Amish community for clues. He finds himself attracted to Sadie, and he sees her as vulnerable and fearful. Noah wants to help Sadie and wants to be there for her as he senses something going on in the house that Sadie is living in. Noah can’t help himself from thinking about Sadie, so he finds reasons just to check up on her.<br /><br />This book was such a super great read. Shelley Shepard Gray's writing is phenomenal (as always) and with the plot twists and turns, reading the book from cover to cover was very easy to do. Whether you've read the other books in the series or whether this would be your first, I definitely recommend Her Fear, and I can't wait for October, when His Promise is released!<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Collins Publishing and Thomas Nelson, in exchange for this post. A positive review was not required.", "timestamp": 1536540512496, "title": "Shelley Shepard Gray's writing is phenomenal (as always)!" }, { "asin": "0718085809", "rating": 4, "text": "Thanks to my relationship with The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, I have been very fortunate to be a part of reading and reviewing so many great books. Coincidentally, I had requested an advanced reader digital copy of this book on NetGalley through my book blogging relationship with them. While the request was pending, I received a paperback copy from Fiction Guild sent me! <br /><br />Today's book, The House at Saltwater Point is by Colleen Coble, an author whose books I've really come to love! The House at Saltwater Point is the second book in Colleen Coble's Lavender Point series. This book serves as a stand alone, but since I also read the first book in this series, The View from Rainshadow Bay, I was happy to catch up with the main characters from that book and to be introduced to Grayson and Ellie in this one.<br /><br />Ellie Blackshaw is a local house flipper, who joins forces with Coast Guard Investigator, Grayson Bradshaw, when Ellie's sister, Mac, disappears. The disappearance seems to be connected with the disappearance of a large shipment of cocaine from a local warehouse. Grayson is firmly resolved to prove that Mac was behind the cocaine theft, while Ellie is desperately trying to prove that Mac is innocent and still alive. What Ellie and Grayson discover is a whole lot more than what they bargained for and it becomes a race against time to keep things from turning deadly.<br /><br />This story captured me right from the start. There is lots of action and excitement to keep readers engaged throughout this story. As is usually the case with Ms. Coble's books, the characters are well written, interesting an unique. I can't wait to read the next book in this series -- I read somewhere that it may come out in January of 2019!<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I also received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review, but because this was another great book, I wanted to do so! The opinions I have expressed are my own!", "timestamp": 1539477059114, "title": "This story captured me right from the start." }, { "asin": "078522405X", "rating": 4, "text": "Indivisible by Travis Thrasher, is the novelization of the upcoming movie by David G. Evans. The synopsis is the same as the movie, obviously, so I'll just share my opinions:<br /><br />I loved the progress of the story line and the raw emotion shown by the characters made this a very strong story. I appreciated how the author used short chapters that made the story very easy and fast flowing. I'll be honest -- I read the book before I saw the movie, and it really caused me to be excited to see the movie!<br /><br />I liked how some of the chapters would switch to the present because it provided good emotional effects for some of the situations. I would say though, that this story wouldn't necessarily be good to share with some of your younger family members since there are some war scenes in the story (in movie version anyway).<br /><br />Through this story, readers are provided with the truths of how difficult it is for families to be separated for long periods of time and the dangers that our soldiers face. It also shares the difficulties the military has when they come back home after facing war and death and how it changes everyone. It makes me thank God everyday for the courage and strength of our military.<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy from Thomas Nelson through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I was not required to post a positive review, but have chosen to do so because this book was great! Thank you!!", "timestamp": 1540515511431, "title": "I loved the progress of the story line and the raw emotion shown" }, { "asin": "1624167470", "rating": 5, "text": "The author of today's book, The Hope Jar, is Wanda E. Brunstetter. This book is the first in a three-book series called The Prayer Jars. Back in 2015, I actually met her when she was doing a book signing event at the local Wal-Mart here in Sarasota, Florida. At that time, I was able to get my mother, Gloria an autographed copy of one of her favorite Amish books. Ever since that meeting in 2015, whenever the opportunity arises to read and review one of Ms. Brunstetter's books, I jump on it because my mother LOVES Amish stories. <br /><br />Gloria recently mentioned this book and said she couldn't wait to read it, so when I saw it available on NetGalley through my book blogging relationship with them, I requested it and was approved. Unfortunately, Gloria recently had eye surgery so she was unable to read this book after all. <br /><br />The Hope Jar blends both Amish and contemporary fiction together, unlike many of Ms. Brunstetter's other books, which are strictly Amish fiction. After I finished reading The Hope Jar, because it was such a great read, I've already requested the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader copy of the second book in the series, The Forgiving Jar, releasing in February of 2019. My mom really missed out on this one! I finished this book in just about the time it took one college football game to play on television. <br /><br />Mary Ruth and Willis Lapp are at the bus station looking for their long lost granddaughter, Sara Murray. Michelle is at the bus station and Mary Ruth and Willis mistakenly think Michelle is Sara. since Michelle's life is at a dead end, she decides to go along with the Lapps thinking and pretends to be their granddaughter just long enough for her to get her life under control<br /><br />While she is on the Lapps' farm, Michelle learns what it feels like to be truly cared for and loved, which is something she's never had in her life. Michelle never had a real family, having grown up in foster care, and no one ever took the time to really get to know her and love her. Michelle blossoms under the Lapps' love and she learns to love the simple life of the Amish. As she grows in this life, she starts to feel more and more guilty about the deception she is committing by living the life of Sara Murray instead of her own.<br /><br />I loved Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp, although I did feel like they were a bit naive in never asking Michelle for proof that she was their long lost granddaughter. Regardless, they really portrayed the Amish that we've come to learn about and love through Ms. Brunstetter's books - hardworking, faithful, loving and caring people. Their lesson on forgiveness was an example to readers of folks who follow the Word of God.<br /><br />The Hope Jar had a very good story line and it was truly an inspiring story. The characters great and readers were provided with a well thought out message. The Hope Jar have woven the tale of two young women who have experienced tragedy and are at a crossroads in their lives. <br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review but chose to since it was a great book! Thank you!", "timestamp": 1543091122534, "title": "The Hope Jar had a very good story line and was truly an inspiring story." }, { "asin": "0718083857", "rating": 4, "text": "Just about a year ago, I read and reviewed Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks. It was a great book, so when I received Formula of Deception from the Fiction Guild through my blogging relationship with them, I was happy. Because my TBR (to be read) stack was a little bigger than I wanted, I haven't had a chance to read this one until now even though it was published in July of this year.<br /><br />Protagonist, Murphy Andersen is hiding in rural Alaska on the run from a serial killer who is probably responsible for her twin sister’s disappearance might soon find her. <br /><br />She uses her artistic skills and fine sense of details and poses as a forensic artist, but she ends up finding herself in more danger than ever.<br /><br />Ms. Parks uses the interesting history of the Kodiak and Aleutian islands region around WWII, giving the story a very realistic feel making the story line even more thrilling.<br /><br />As I read more about Murphy’s character and as her history was revealed, I realized that I liked her character more and more. It became more clear to me as the story progressed that the author had some psychological elements in play, but I wasn't sure how that would pan out. The conversations with her dead sister that Murphy conducted in her head gave me a clue that there was something going on.<br /><br />I was completely engaged in the story line from the first page, and I thought for sure I could figure out the ending before the end of the book since I had experience in Ms. Parks' writing, but as it turned out, I wasn't prepared for how this book ended. This electrifying novel has twists and turns that will make readers awestruck when they discover how she fits it all together at the end.<br /><br />As an added plus, the author includes eight discussion questions to help get a book club discussion going, which is perfect for this fascinating read since it would definitely work well as a book club pick.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1543113513049, "title": "This electrifying novel has twists and turns that will make readers awestruck" }, { "asin": "0310348145", "rating": 4, "text": "Being a part of The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program provides with books to read (which I love to do) and the only requirement is that I have to share a report after I've read the book. As far as I'm concerned, it's a winning arrangement for me and my mother, who loves anything written about the Amish.<br /><br />Today's book is Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin, and it's the third book in the series, Every Amish Season. I've had the opportunity read the first book, Upon A Spring Breeze, and the second book, Beneath the Summer Sun by Kelly Irvin. (The fourth book, With Winter's First Frost, is being released in January, 2019, so you'll need to hurry and read this one!!)<br /><br />Mary Katherine is the mother of ten and it has been seven years since her husband, Moses died and she became a widow. She's full of energy and always ready to step in and help her friends around her Amish community. Her old school friend, Ezekiel Miller, offers Mary Katherine a position as a cook in his restaurant, The Purple Martin Café, named in honor of his late wife Lucy. She knows she should accept, but she doesn't really want to spend her time working in a kitchen. Mary Katherine's secret desire is to write and to own a bookstore with her English friend, but in the Amish community, the church elders want her to work in an Amish-owned store instead. <br /><br />Mary Katherine's oldest son is trying to convince her to move into his Dawdi house, but she is resistant. An English stranger breaks into Mary Katherine's house and proceeds to make himself a sandwich one autumn night. She doesn't call the sheriff, but instead she turns to Ezekiel for help. both Mary Katherine and Ezekiel realize that the stranger, Burke, needs help, so Ezekiel offers Burke a job at his restaurant.<br /><br />While this is book 3 of 4 in An Every Amish Season series, this book could be read as a stand-alone. I loved reading a story dealing with more mature characters and the challenges they faced. Ms. Irvin also added friendships between the Amish and the English that seemed very honest and were caring, respectful and realistic. <br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1544575510167, "title": "Ms. Irvin also added friendships between the Amish and the English that seemed very honest!" }, { "asin": "1683700619", "rating": 4, "text": "Rating 4.5 Stars!<br />The story line of Reason to Breathe is set in Missouri, and the story is about the lives of three sisters, Phylicia, Phee and Brit. Readers move through their pain as they lose their mother, and in another way, they lose their father, Turner, as he runs off to Florida, leaving the sisters struggling emotionally. <br /><br />Because this is book 1 in the Chandler Sisters series, this book is Phylicia Chandler’s story, but I definitely loved the dynamic between all three of the three sisters. I felt that they were thrown into such an uncertain situation, while trying to work through their grief over their mother’s death. The story also weaves hope in and out throughout the story. <br /><br />The sisters are very likable and relatable characters, and I was quickly drawn into this story because it felt so honest and real. As I got to the end, I will admit I was super excited to learn that the other two sisters will also have a story to tell in the next books in the series. <br /><br />Ms. Raney is a fantastic author and I've never read a book that she's written that I haven't loved! Those readers who enjoy inspirational and contemporary romance will definitely want to pick up a copy of Reason to Breathe to read before the second book is released!!<br /><br />I was provided with a courtesy copy of this book as part of the Just Read Tour in exchange my post. A positive review was not required.", "timestamp": 1544579561088, "title": "I was super excited that the other two sisters will also have a story to tell!" }, { "asin": "1683701496", "rating": 4, "text": "This story can truly renew your faith in humanity! Readers need be be warned: please make sure you read to the end for the epilogue, but be sure to have your tissues ready!<br /><br />This book and its story are great! I enjoyed it cover to cover, from beginning to end, and could barely be okay with it ending! It shares with readers the true meaning of Christmas. The author writes this story so that readers are put right in the middle of everything: the main character, Julia, an eleven-year-old girl, and a reclusive deaf man who has a gift of carving. I'll be honest, I think this movie is ready for Hallmark! I know it's a movie I would definitely watch!<br /><br />Thanks so much NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this story! It was great!", "timestamp": 1545535733908, "title": "This book and its story are great!" }, { "asin": "0529118734", "rating": 4, "text": "Thanks to my relationship with The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, my mother and I have been lucky enough to be a part of reading and reviewing so many of Beth Wiseman's books! Today's post is about her latest book, Amish Celebrations: Four Novellas. Gloria (my mom) was originally planning to read and review this book for us, but because she hasn't healed enough from eye surgery and can't read yet, I was assigned the book:<br /><br />What I loved most about this collection of stories is that they are all written by one author. It makes the writing seamless from story to story. I liked that each story was written around a particular time of celebration - birthday, baptism, wedding and Christmas. <br /><br /> * In The Gift of Sisters, twins Hannah and Rachel both fall for a new guy in town, which makes for conflict between them. The story is great and I loved how Ms. Wiseman shows how lies can cause a friend or family member to question a person's reputation. She took a subject that all young women face and handled it with grace.<br /><br /> * In A New Beginning, you could tell right from the start that Noah was going to cause problems. When Noah experiences a bit of the English world, it causes him to forget about his fiance' Rebecca, and soon afterward the trouble follows. Ms. Wiseman shares how Noah struggles with his faith, as well as guilt, forgiveness and temptation. I loved the ending of this story and I also loved the very relatable characters.<br /><br /> ** In A Perfect Plan (also published in An Amish Wedding), Ms. Wiseman introduces us to Priscilla and Chester, a young couple about to be married. When things start to go wrong and they begin to face obstacles that had nothing to do with their love for each other, they both question if they are doing the right thing. Ms. Wiseman shows how we need to see that God's plan for us is bigger than our own and that we need to know that love will always endure.<br /><br /> * In A Christmas Miracle, Beth introduces us to Mary and Gabriel, who are a young couple with five small children finding it hard to cope with life’s challenges. They are doing the best they can but sometimes it's just too much for them. Mary feels like she just can't keep up and starts to doubt herself. I really loved how the Englisch couple, Bruce and Joan, came into Mary's life. To be honest, it's almost too hard to decide which couple made the most impact on the other, but I know they were all very blessed. The moral of this story is that it is okay to ask for help and to that help when it offered regardless of who is offering the help. This last novella doesn't show the Amish lifestyle superficially attractive way, but instead, it shows the strain of living under the rules of the Old Order.<br /><br />Amish Celebrations is a sweet celebration of stories. Each of the stories has its own unique twist and each one focuses on some kind of celebration. The stories are perfect for this time of year and the holiday season.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1545869561726, "title": "The stories are perfect for this time of year and the holiday season." }, { "asin": "0785219269", "rating": 4, "text": "Rating 4.5 Stars!<br />I recently joined forces with the Read with Audra book blogging group, and today's post is part of a Blog Tour for the book, Who I Am with You by Robin Lee Hatcher. When I saw this book available, I knew I wanted to be part of the tour since my mother, Gloria and I both love so many of her previous books.<br /><br />Who I Am with You is the first book in Ms. Hatcher's Legacy of Faith series. Based on this book, I'll do a spoiler right here and tell you that I cannot wait for book 2 in this series! Now.... on to the book:<br /><br />Ridley and Jessica are a super fun couple, and I loved how they started off as friends and neighbors and then blossomed into being romantically interested in each other. Both Ridley and Jessica had their own trust issues because of recent betrayals they had both experienced. While the situations were different, they both had to work through their feelings in their own ways. I loved watching (reading) Jessica prepare her heart and home for the new baby.<br /><br />I won't lie, folks. there's a ton of grief in this book. My heart broke for Jessica because she had lost so much. She was grieving her physical loss and her emotional loss. It was nice to see her getting her life back together and that she had friends that were supportive. While Ridley's grief wasn't as difficult as Jessica's, he was still dealing with the parts of his life that he had lost. It was also great to see him be able to move forward after his hardships.<br /><br />Who I Am with You provided readers with a beautiful faith message and strong tones of forgiveness throughout the story, in both the present and the past stories. It was nice to see Andrew (from the past) jump into God’s word and apply it to his life despite extremely difficult times. It was clear that God called him to love and forgive.<br /><br />I really enjoyed traveling back and forth between the decades, and it was always fun traveling and returning. The transitions were very smooth and very easy to follow, which is always good in a dual timeline story. I highly recommend Who I Am with You -- it's a story you won’t want to put down. It was a very moving story, and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from Audra Jennings PR in exchange for my post. I was not required to post a positive review. Thank you!", "timestamp": 1548124227880, "title": "t was a very moving story, and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series." }, { "asin": "0718085841", "rating": 4, "text": "Rating 4.5 Stars!<br /><br />As an avid reader, I have a very small list of my favorite authors. Today's book is by one of those authors: Secrets at Cedar Cabin by Colleen Coble is the third in her Lavender Tides series. I read the first book in this series, The View from Rainshadow Bay, and the second book, The House at Saltwater Point, so you know I've just been waiting for this book to be published since it's the end of this series. <br /><br />This book was another exciting installment of romance and suspense in the Lavender Tides series! This latest book ties up a few loose story plots from the previous two books, and fills in the story of Shauna's missing siblings that started in book one. I loved that all the characters from the other two books appeared in this book too.<br /><br />The back story is this: An earthquake hit the town of Lavender Tides, Washington and three children were separated from each other while they were at the grocery store with their mother. The earthquake sent their mom into labor and Olivia Fleming delivered the baby girl because she was a paramedic. Unfortunately, the baby's mother died during delivery. The oldest child was Shauna, whom readers met in the first book as she was raised by her father. Shauna found out years later that her brother was adopted by a family.<br /><br />In this story, Secrets at Cedar Cabin, readers meet the baby girl delivered during the earthquake, Bailey Fleming, who ended up being raised by the paramedic, Olivia Fleming. Olivia was murdered and she left Bailey some money and a note that she is in danger for her life as well. Bailey has a \"situation\" involving her rock star husband, Kyle Bearcraft, who seems to already be married to someone else. To keep her from telling her story with the media, Kyle gives Bailey the deed to a house in Lavender Tides, the Cedar Cabin. When someone tries to kill Bailey, she leaves Rock Harbor, Michigan and heads to Lavender Tides and to Cedar Cabin. <br /><br />Bailey is a great character in this story and once she arrives in Lavender Tides, she finds out more of her life has been a lie than she knew. She learns that her cabin has been used for human trafficking, which then brings FBI agent Lance Phoenix into her life. Lance has been working the case to try and rescue his sister, Ava, who was taken by the human trafficking ring when she ran away from home. Lance wonders if Bailey's story is even true when he crosses paths with her, and if she can somehow bring him in touch with his sister. <br /><br />I can't say whether or not this book would serve as a stand alone, having read the others before it. I would, though, recommend reading the first two in the series before beginning this one so that you can understand the backstory of all the characters and what is happening in their lives to bring them all to the point they find themselves in during this book. I was very pleased how all the loose ends from the entire series were tied up by the last page of this book!<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy from Thomas Nelson through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I was not required to write a positive review, but because this was another great book, I wanted to do so! The opinions I have expressed are my own!", "timestamp": 1550510526284, "title": "Great wrap up to the series!" }, { "asin": "031034817X", "rating": 4, "text": "Rating 4.5 Stars!<br /><br />Today's book is With Winter's First Frost by Kelly Irvin, and it's the fourth book in the series, Every Amish Season. When I saw it available for review on NetGalley, I knew I HAD to read it since I've already had the opportunity read the first book, Upon A Spring Breeze, the second book, Beneath the Summer Sun, and the third book, Through the Autumn Air.<br /><br />Usually my mother reads the books about the Amish that I receive, but she's having some medical issues with her eyes right now, so I have to step up and handle them. This book was released February 5th, so I wanted to be sure to get my post out for everyone.<br /><br />“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NRSV-CE<br /><br />The Every Amish Season series itself has been about a group of women who are all in different seasons of life. The women all differ by age and number of children, but they all share one thing in common – they have all lost their husbands and are now facing life after loss. This book will be the conclusion to this series.<br /><br />Laura Kauffman and Zechariah Stutzman are both in their 70's and have both lost their spouses. They have both faced loss and heartache, but perhaps they might face it together. Both Laura and Zechariah are strong and caring people who really want to feel needed and useful in their older years. As they got to know each other, I really enjoyed the banter between Laura and Zechariah, starting as acquaintances but developing into much more. <br /><br />Each of Laura and Zechariah's children are a bit overprotective of them and find it a struggle to figure out how to take care of them while at the same time allowing them to take care of themselves and to live their own lives. I really felt that the author did a great job of writing this story in a very caring and realistic way.<br /><br />While it's not totally necessary to read the entire series in order, if you have read the other books in the series, you will see appearances by the rest of the group of four widowed friends and their relationships are discussed from previous books. If you enjoy Amish fiction that provides an emphasis on family, faith and love, this will be the series for you.<br /><br />I received a complimentary advanced readers digital copy of this book from Zondervan through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to provide a positive review and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1550541915320, "title": "Amish fiction that provides an emphasis on family, faith and love" } ]

[ { "asin": "0310335582", "rating": 5, "text": "I'll admit it - the Amish world has always intrigued me to some extent. I was born and raised in northeastern Ohio and there was a huge Amish community in nearby Holmes County, where we would head out on the weekends to taste their wares while hitting the garage sales and flea markets.<br /><br />Then, when I moved down to Sarasota, Florida, I was surprised to learn there was a large Amish community here as well, and I've taken the benefit of enjoying some fantastic food at &#34;Amish-style&#34; restaurants and I've driven down some streets that have tons of bicycles and women dressed modestly.<br /><br />I realize that I need apologize in advance when I say &#34;Amish&#34; because I never looked closely enough into each community to determine whether it was &#34;Amish,&#34; &#34;Mennonite&#34; or &#34;Anabaptist&#34;. I had heard the terms &#34;Amish&#34; and &#34;Mennonite&#34; before reading this book, but I can honestly say I've never heard of &#34;Anabaptist&#34;.<br /><br />In any event, The Plain Choice by Sherry Gore, is a short book - 179 pages. As I was reading it, I was thinking to myself that my auto accident story would probably fill just about the same amount of pages if I were to try and write a book about my life too. I will say this: while The Plain Choice is a short book comparing it to some of the novels I read, it was just enough pages to walk through Ms. Gore's life. I was very impressed by her honesty, and I loved that the book flowed in time rather than jumping back and forth.<br /><br />It is very clear that Ms. Gore is a very determined woman. Once she made up her mind to change the way she was living, she whole-heartedly took the leap into her new life. I appreciated that she was honest in sharing the part of her story that some people would keep hidden, the &#34;real&#34; Sherry Harris. She shares her childhood struggles growing up and feeling unloved and not a part of her father's life. She does not minimize poor choices or blame someone else for them. She makes it clear that she had removed God from her life. She was and still is an imperfect human living in an imperfect world.<br /><br />Ms. Gore's story teaches us that not all Amish-Mennonite's are removed from technology and modern conveniences too. It depends on the churches and communities as to how &#34;modern&#34; they become.<br /><br />The pinnacle point is when she immersed herself in baptism to her old life, and newness of life in Christ Jesus, and as an Amish-Mennonite. Sherry Gore is saved by grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. But there is more to this book. It is a call for all to realize God's love and forgiveness and that absolutely no one is beyond God's love and redemption.<br /><br />The next time I'm traveling around in Sarasota, I'll be sure to look for that cute Electra bike of hers and give her a &#34;shout out&#34; for this book! I truly appreciate that BookLookBloggers provided me with a paperback copy of this book without cost in exchange for my personal and honest opinion and unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1442604782000, "title": "and I've taken the benefit of enjoying some fantastic food at \"Amish-style\" restaurants and I've driven down some ..." }, { "asin": "1401689604", "rating": 4, "text": "The story line of this book is set in a resort mountain town of Evergreen, Colorado. Kate Whidby is an 11 year-old protector of the family and dreams of becoming a spy. She is caught in the middle of all her family members and grandparents. Her family operates The Harrison Lodge, a historic mountain resort, and has done so for many generations. She keeps her family members' secrets from others and the day after she’s witnessed her grandfather arguing with his best friend, the man is murdered.<br /><br />At the same time in Denver, a robbery gone wrong, a consequent murder, and a gang member set on revenge for the death of his son bring several mysterious people to the Harrison Lodge. In her desire to help others, Kate chooses to harbor a fugitive while trying to save her family at the same time.<br /><br />Readers are introduced to other families, from different walks of life - not only the homeless man who sees a robbery gone wrong, but we also see runaways living under a bridge and the gang member seeking revenge for the death of his son. We also meet Charlie, a boy who has lived on the streets, with no money, and an alcoholic father. After Charlie runs away and crashes a motorcycle in Evergreen, Colorado. Kate comes upon him and hides him in a secret cubby in one of the inn's cottages.<br /><br />There are a lot of different events going on at the beginning and you wonder how they are all going to come together. Once they all converge at The Harrison Lodge, it becomes much easier to follow the story and see where everything is going.<br /><br />The author, Erin Healy, takes various different storylines and skillfully weaves them together over the course of a weekend until they come to a head late Sunday afternoon at the hotel. While the beginning of the book starts a little slow, I think it has to so that the foundation is set out for each key character. We get to know the characters, their lives and their dreams. Once the &#34;action&#34; gets going, readers move through the theft, and then the robbery involving two of the main characters. We are drawn in very easily to the individuals and readers are compassionate to their situations as the book progresses.<br /><br />Ultimately, this book circles around ideas of family and forgiveness. Erin Healy shows us the dynamics of what makes a family work and what makes them fight for each other. I appreciated the depths that this story went to on a thought-provoking level. I found it to be a great read once I got over the hump of bringing the characters together. The book kept me hanging on until the very end to find the answers to some of the mysteries that came out while I was reading. I enjoyed the book and spent a lot of time flipping pages on the edge of my seat to see how things would turn out.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost as part of the Fiction Guild Team Challenge in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1444623127000, "title": "She keeps her family members' secrets from others and the day after she’s witnessed her grandfather arguing with his best friend" }, { "asin": "0824956478", "rating": 5, "text": "If you want to teach your children about Christmas - the real Christmas, The Sparkle Box: A Gift with the Power to Change Christmas by Jill Hardie is the book to get! It's for ages 4 to 8 and it's a perfect story for any child.<br /><br />Author Jill Hardie tells the story of Sam, who is so excited about Christmas! Sam is preparing his Christmas &#34;want&#34; list and he's excited about the upcoming holiday parties. At the same time, he is so curious about one very mysterious gift -- a sparkly box sitting on the mantel above the fireplace. Whenever Sam asked his mother about the box, she would tell him to wait, that she had a few more things to put in the box.<br /><br />In the midst of all of the Christmas festivities, Sam and his family bless other people with various acts of kindness, and all the while Sam waits impatiently to find out what is in the box. On Christmas morning, Sam finally gets to open the box, and he finds the slips of paper recording his family's good deeds. His parents explain to him that the things they are doing - the blessings they are providing others - are a gift for Jesus in honor of His birthday. Sam was confused as they had given the gifts to people, not Jesus. His mother explains that when we give to others we are giving to Him.a gift for Jesus -- for Jesus said that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Him.<br /><br />The Sparkle Box story is inspired by Matthew 25:40 &#34;Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.&#34; The book challenges us to put aside our wants for those in need. To think of others. Whether it be a material item like food, clothes or shelter. Or a spiritual need, such as praying with someone, lending a shoulder. Or maybe giving of your time to a neighbor or friend in need.<br /><br />This heartfelt story will inspire readers to adopt this faith-centered tradition in their own homes. The illustrations in The Sparkle Box are awesome and children are very engaged to the story. The Sparkle Box includes a glitter-coated fold-out Sparkle Box on the inside cover of the back. The book is absolutely gorgeous and is destined to become a children’s Christmas classic for years to come! You can start your own family tradition of giving gifts to the One who gave all to us! The Sparkle Box is definitely a &#34;must have&#34; book for anyone that has children or grandchildren!<br /><br />I was provided with a review copy of this book as a First Look Blogger for Worthy Publishing without cost in exchange for this, my honest review and unbiased opinion.", "timestamp": 1449065759000, "title": "It's for ages 4 to 8 and it's a perfect story for any child" }, { "asin": "031033344X", "rating": 5, "text": "My mom has been on a reading &#34;spree&#34; for the last year or two - ever since we helped her get an e-reader on Black Thursday. She will sit and read for four or five hours at a time - even if it is the middle of the night because hey, she's retired, and can take a nap all afternoon if she wants! When I received this book, The Mountain Midwife by Laurie Alice Eakes, I knew my mom would love the book and since I had quite a stack of books myself, I gladly shared with her in exchange for her honest review. Below you'll find my mom's review:<br /><br />The Mountain Midwife is a wonderful book that is the story of midwife Ashley Tolliver and it contains many twists and turns. I loved reading this book because the Appalachian setting. This book touched the areas of Virginia and parts of West Virginia which mean so much to me.<br /><br />The women in Ashley Tolliver family has been practicing the art of midwifery for many years in their small Appalachian mountain community. Ashley wants to further her education by attending medical school and leave behind the women that she serves. One of the women that Ashley helps deliver in her home is abducted while Ashley is trying to get her to the hospital because she is bleeding dangerously. Ashley now must find the woman and her newborn baby.<br /><br />After receiving a mysterious phone call from a woman claiming to be his mother, Hunter McDermott needs to track where this call came from and seeks the aid of the local midwife (Ashley Tolliver) in this mountain town hoping that she can help him find his family’s background.. Hunter McDermott learning that he is adopted now wants to meet his birth mother who says he has a brother and sister living in the Appalachian Mountains.<br /><br />Ashley is on her own mission to find the abducted mother and newborn baby and Hunter McDermott wants to know his family in the Appalachian Mountains. Will Ashley leave the place where her feet is firmly planted or will Hunter learn to love her Appalachian Mountains?<br /><br />The characters were complex, but at the same time, they were easy to relate to. The Mountain Midwife was definitely a page-turner, and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. There were a few times in the story that the characters had tough decisions to make, and it was refreshing to see that they always turned to God to help them with these tough decisions.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own (or well, in this case, my mother's).", "timestamp": 1453065273000, "title": "The characters were complex, but at the same time, they were easy to relate to." }, { "asin": "031034199X", "rating": 4, "text": "Most of you know that my mother absolutely LOVES Amish stories. She once told me that she enjoys Amish stories because they share about times that seem more &#34;simple&#34; and the priorities of the Amish are clear - faith and family. Because of the fact that my mom likes to read, and doesn't mind providing me with a book review when she's finished, we decided that if any opportunities come up for book reviews on Amish books, she would gladly read them and provide me with her review.<br /><br />Below is my mother, Gloria's review of The Forgotten Recipe (An Amish Heirloom Novel) by Amy Clipston:<br /><br />&#34;This is a story of two people touched by tragedy and both are unable to move forward with their lives until they confront their shared past. It is about love, trust and forgiveness.<br /><br />Veronica Fisher is devastated when her fiancé, Seth Lapp is killed in a tragic accident at work. Jason Huyard worked with Seth and they were best friends. Jason is having a hard time dealing with Seth's death and thinks a lot about Veronica because Seth talked about her all the time. Following the accident, Jason feels compelled to share his grief and condolences with Veronica, who loved his friend also.<br /><br />The forgotten recipe is a newly found, but old recipe stored in her mother's hope chest in the attic, which is for a raspberry pie that Veronica's grandmother used to make. Discovering this recipe, Veronica opens a bake stand in order to sell raspberry pies using her grandmother's recipe. Jason Huyard quickly becomes a regular customer but does not tell her that he knew Seth. Slowly, as he gets to know Veronica, Jason begins to fall in love with Veronica, which is the last thing he wants to do. Veronica is also hesitant to fall in love because of her promise to only love Seth. Jason visits the bake stand once a week for more than raspberry pies - they have something special!<br /><br />This story is about two strangers - one loses the man she's going to marry while the other loses his best friend. This a wonderful story that will leave you hanging at the end of the book. How will Veronica react when she finds out that she and Jason share a past? Jason has a secret - can it ruin their chance at happiness? Will Veronica trust Jason?&#34;<br /><br />If you want to read a story about love, loss and how one recipe brought two people together in ways they couldn't imagine, you'll probably want to read this book. As you can see, my mom isn't giving you spoilers either!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own (or well, in this case, my mother's).", "timestamp": 1453604712000, "title": "a story about love, loss and how one recipe brought two people together!" }, { "asin": "1401689752", "rating": 4, "text": "At the opening of the story, we learn that the main character Lucy Alling, is a rare book seller who works for Sid McKenna, one of the most respected antiques dealer and high end interior decorators in Chicago. Most of Lucy's work with Sid involves keeping the inventory and meeting customers, but Lucy loves to find old editions and then sell them at Sid's shop and she loves her job. Unfortunately, the origins and authenticity of some of the editions that Lucy &#34;finds&#34; are suspect and we learn that her morals are questionable and that she has taken a few liberties with the books she has acquired for the store and then sold.<br /><br />Lucy meets James, a handsome stranger and promising young attorney who buys two of her favorite books for family members. They become romantically involved once James shares that his attraction to Lucy is the main reason he even purchased the books to begin with. Lucy meets James' grandmother, Helen, a woman with terminal cancer who hires Lucy to be her companion on a trip to England where Helen must deal with her own secrets. Visiting some of the sites famous for the Brontë novels and the places where the Brontë sisters lived, a friendship is born and both Lucy and Helen realize that they must face their flaws and fix their wrongdoings.<br /><br />I had never heard of the Brontë sisters before this book, so I didn't know what the title actually meant until I read this book. I thought it was pretty amazing that when I took out a note pad and made a list, there were over 50 other books mentioned in the story of this book!<br /><br />The Brontë Plot explores what makes us who we are and asks if we can change. In my humble opinion, since this book was held out to be a Christian book, I was surprised that there wasn't very much spiritual emphasis as I would have liked, but the life truths were there. The Brontë Plot is about people facing their past to be able to move on into the future.<br /><br />“All real lives hold controversy, trials, mistakes, and regrets. What matters is what you do next.” ― Katherine Reay, The Brontë Plot<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1454551242000, "title": "There were over 50 other books mentioned in the story of this book!" }, { "asin": "0764211595", "rating": 4, "text": "I wasn't hadn't heard of Nancy Mehl before, so I wasn't familiar with her writing before so when this book became available for review, I wasn't sure what to expect. This particular book, Rising Darkness, is Nancy Mehl's third book in the Finding Sanctuary series. Obviously since I haven't heard of Ms. Mehl, so I haven't read the first two books but in all honesty, I had no trouble following along in this book, so I'd say it's definitely a &#34;stand alone&#34; book. I am betting though, that I missed some of the history of the town and of the people, which might have made this book have more depth to me.<br /><br />The main character, Sophie Wittenbaur, is a young lady who grew up in a conservative and strict Mennonite family. Sophie left her small town of Kingdom both in shame and regret and to leave her painful and abusive past behind. Sophie educates herself and chases her dream job of becoming an investigative reporter. While she tries to make a name for herself as a reporter, Sophie unintentionally lands in the middle of a possible lead on a murderer who escaped with millions of dollars. The past that Sophie has worked so hard to leave behind ends up right in front of her again as she travels to the fictional Mennonite town of Sanctuary, Missouri. she takes herself &#34;under cover&#34; posing as Emily McClure while she searches for information in Sanctuary.<br /><br />Sophie meets an old flame, Jonathon Wiese, who is now a pastor in Sanctuary. Jonathon soon discovers who Emily really is and begins helping Sophie discover the answer to this story she has been trying to crack. At the same time, Sophie begins to question her decision of turning away from God and blaming God for her childhood pain while Jonathon reminds her that God was carrying her at those times in her life. There are threats and dangers around every corner, and while Sophie doesn't fully trust Jonathon she realizes that she must let him save her life.<br /><br />Rising Darkness is clear in its message to readers that we can't hold on to our past and that we need to turn things over to God and trust that He will lead us. As I stated above, I haven't read the first two books in this series, but I'm thinking if they are as good as this one, I would recommend that you read them all. While I wasn't familiar with Ms. Mehl before, I can now say that this book was fast paced and the characters were well developed. I loved the story line and you are definitely left guessing about what to expect next. I thought it was a great book and I would recommend it to other readers.<br /><br />Thank you to Bethany House for the opportunity for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1454875189000, "title": "Sophie left her small town of Kingdom both in shame and regret and to leave her painful and abusive past behind" }, { "asin": "0310338492", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm not the type to steal credit when credit is due someone else, so let me tell you right now that the following review of this book, Whispers in the Reading Room is my mother's review:<br /><br />&#34;While both my daughter and I have read several of Shelley Shepard Gray's Amish series books, we did not know she wrote other types of books as well. In fact, I was actually surprised to see this book, Whispers in the Reading Room, was written by the same author, but was happy to give it a try nonetheless.<br /><br />The setting for this historic book is in the seedier part of Chicago where the crime rate is high shortly after the Chicago World Fair in 1893. At once this story transported me to Chicago with its life in the back alleys and was part of the great division between the upper and middle class society.<br /><br />Whispers in the Reading Room is a story about middle class librarian, Lydia Bancroft, and the unlikely friendship she finds herself with a mysterious debonair gentleman patron of her library who never checks a book out. Lydia herself was lonely, and as she is weighted down by the duty to secure a wealthy husband so she can meet her mother's needs, she is very anxious.<br /><br />At once you realize that Mr. Sebastian Marks is an elusive man with many secrets. She learns his name when their paths cross the night Lydia's fiancé takes her to the Hartman Hotel and begins to rough handle her. Sebastian Marks intervenes in a tense situation in Lydia's life and from that moment on Lydia’s new friend takes on the role of protector while showing her that her fiancé isn’t who she thinks he is. Lydia discovers that Sebastian lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.<br /><br />Sebastian himself is quite the mystery man pretending to be a gentleman, and Lydia is shocked to learn that he is the owner of a drinking and gambling establishment. Lydia insists on visiting the club one night and both she and Sebastian are suddenly suspects to a murder. She must determine who can she really trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian (who everyone fears) is actually everything she thinks he is.<br /><br />A mystery book is not the kind of book that I usually read, but once I started Whispers in the Reading Room I could not put it down. Whispers in the Reading Room was an excellent mystery/murder/romance for curling up reading on a raining day by the fireplace. Even though I hadn't read the first two books in this series, I fell in love with all the characters in this story and looking forward to a follow-up story. I will definitely have to go back and read the other Chicago World's Fair Mystery series books - Book #1, Secrets of Sloane House and Book #2, Deception on Sable Hill too!&#34;<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own - well, they are my mother's and for that, I am responsible.", "timestamp": 1457375561000, "title": "but was happy to give it a try nonetheless" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 5, "text": "The Wedding Chapel was the first book written by Rachel Hauck that I have read. At first, I didn't think I was going to care for this book; it seemed like there was just too much information. While I did think the story was interesting, I struggled with Ms. Hauck's telling of it. As the story progressed though - probably about halfway through the book - the story turned out to be a really good one.<br /><br />I feel that Rachel writes from her heart about real broken family struggles, and the drama that goes along with it. The Wedding Chapel is a complex story of interwoven lives, souls seeking peace, secrets, forgiveness, and second chances. The characters were real and I enjoyed their journey each went on within themselves.<br /><br />The Wedding Chapel reminds me of something like time-travel because the story moves back and forth from Heart's Bend, Tennessee in 1948 where it is a lost love story of Jimmy and Colette and then to flash forward to the present where it is a modern love story of Jack and Taylor in New York. Due to the style of this writing, the reader is following the two different couples on their journey of love.<br /><br />At the heart of this story is the wedding chapel, symbolizing hope and healing, while at the same time conveying that there is no time limit on love and second chances.I loved the location of the chapel and the romances of the four characters. This book is such a great love story and also has a hint of suspense regarding a secret one of the characters held. The Wedding Chapel is a book that I will remember.<br /><br />If you enjoy books about inspirational romance and learning how to depend on God to help see your blessings I would highly recommend this one. This book would make a really good book club reading book or as a Hallmark movie.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1457466051000, "title": "it seemed like there was just too much information" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 4, "text": "While I have come to learn that Terri Blackstock is a well known author, this was the first of her books I've ever read. If I Run is the first book in a series also named If I Run. I'm really glad I got in on the first book, so I'll be all set to read the rest in the series. Yes, I'll be reading the future books too.<br /><br />If I Run is written in first person and present tense and it is with two points of view – alternating between the two main characters – namely, Casey Cox and Dylan Roberts. This style of writing really builds up the tension in this story and it puts the reader right in the center of it all.<br /><br />Ms. Blackstock first introduces us to Casey as she is cleaning blood off her tennis shoes and packing up to skip town. Her DNA is all over a crime scene and she is a fugitive who is running for her life. Dylan is the man hired to look for Casey. Right from the start, readers aren’t really clear about Casey's guilt or innocence and this isn’t disclosed until we are pretty far into the story. It definitely kept the suspense going throughout the story, which for me, made for good reading.<br /><br />We learn that Casey is running from the real killers. She is smart and knows how to avoid the cops and as the story progresses, Dylan begins to think Casey cannot actually be the killer too.<br /><br />The author also works in a secondary plot, but I don’t want this to be a spoiler so I’ll just tell you it is an exciting side story that doesn’t distract readers from the main plot.<br /><br />If I Run is a well written book with well developed characters. This book is chalked full of unexpected twists and turns, which, added to the ongoing suspense of the story makes readers excited for the second installment to this series. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for that sequel!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1457475291000, "title": "I'm really glad I got in on the first book" }, { "asin": "0718037626", "rating": 4, "text": "I wasn't sure what to expect with the title of this book - The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell - but I took a chance anyway. The story still has me in shock so excuse me if this review is slightly garbled. The book held me from page one and is still resonating in my head.<br /><br />This story takes place pre-Katrina, in New Orleans. Our main character is Amanda, whose daughter, Ellie's best friend is Sarah. Amanda steps in as a chaperone on her daughter's sixth-grade Halloween field trip to the Big Easy. When Sarah is abducted, Amanda is guilt-ridden because she feels that she was supposed to be the one watching Sarah when she disappeared and she feels responsible.<br /><br />“We all have a feathered bone. It’s called hope. If we hang on to hope, if we don’t let anybody break us or make us forget who we are, then we will always be free.” Sarah<br /><br />Woven throughout this book is Sarah’s side of the story, which is told through her journal entries written so she can remember who she really is. She addresses her entries to a sparrow that comes to her window to visit. In those writings, the reality of Sarah's situation is is disclosed in a very sensitive way. The lessons that her parents taught her before her abduction allow her to stay remind herself of truth. Sarah's voice, through her journal entries, was full of simple, beautiful wisdom.<br /><br />For me this novel shared a very dark story of mental health, abuse and sexual exploitation. It was really deep but does show readers that life doesn't always go smooth and easy and that trials and fears attack us when we least expect them. Cantrell's characters are real and complex, the story is layered and the themes difficult. Amanda was a completely believable character even when she couldn't fix things. Sometimes her emotions were all over the place and the book overall is an emotional rollercoaster. I loved how faith played a big part for the characters too.<br /><br />The details of each character's storyline are so real that while reading, I almost felt like I was a part of the lives of these characters. This is one of those &#34;hard to put down&#34; kind of books, but when you finally do put the book down, you will continue to think about them all.<br /><br />“It is written to remind us all that we are loved, we have worth, and we are never alone.” Julie Cantrell<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1461453179000, "title": "Ellie's best friend is Sarah" }, { "asin": "0764212486", "rating": 5, "text": "This is a story about a twenty five year old unwed Lucy Flaud an Amish girl living in Lancaster County, PA. It begins with mystery and intrigue that will unravel in bits and pieces throughout this novel. As I read this story, I felt that had I known Lucy's past and her mistakes earlier on in the story, I might have enjoyed this novel more but since I didn't know, I felt that I rushed through the story just to find the answers.<br /><br />Lucy had done something in her past where she made a grave mistake. By holding on to her past, she is unable to let go of her sins by forgiving herself and asking God for forgiveness so she move forward. Somehow this mistake help create a strained relationship with her parents especially her father Christian.<br /><br />Trying to find redemption - or &#34;atonement&#34; for her past - Lucy fills every day volunteering at charitable organizations, helping her married sister with her children, and working at home helping her twin sisters and Mother. No matter how hard she works, she cannot fill the empty hole in her heart. I had a hard time understanding her relationship with her twin sisters. Lucy’s journey held lessons on love, faith and forgiveness as she found her way back to church. On her journey Lucy meets an elderly couple who met on a bridge to celebrate. While she listens to their story of love Lucy begins to heal.<br /><br />Lucy's father, Christian, starts attending a local grief support group where he meets, Englisher, Dale Wyeth. Dale seems to be looking for a more simple life and he owns a local hardware store. Through their friendship, Dale starts spending time around the Flaud farm, and Lucy begins to know Dale as they become friends. People are worried, though, that the friendship will lead to more and Lucy past will be revisited when they spot her riding in his truck<br /><br />Meeting Dale brings back all of the painful memories Lucy has avoided. She begins to help a homeless girl she has become friends with and in doing so, she begins to restore her broken relationship with God. This story was provoking and made me look inside myself at mistakes I’ve made in the past. Like Lucy, I had a hard time asking God for forgiveness and let go of my sins to find peace. This is an emotional story that Beverly Lewis tells so well and it is an excellent look at redemption and forgiveness. I enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />Thank you to the Bethany House Blogger Review Program for the opportunity for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1461842307000, "title": "I might have enjoyed this novel more but since I didn't know" }, { "asin": "0718033183", "rating": 4, "text": "This book is second in a series called the &#34;Amish of Birch Creek&#34; written by Kathleen Fuller. I did not read the first book but An Unbroken Heart can stand alone without having previously reading book one. I really enjoyed reading this story and put it down once. Kathleen Fuller makes the reader feel the emotions of love, fear, pain, and questions of self-worth and happiness. The main characters in this book are Joanna Schrock and Andrew Beiler.<br /><br />Joanna was arguing with her parents about wanting to marry Andrew while they were traveling in their buggy on the way to the apple orchard. Her mother was telling her that she was not yet ready for marriage. When a car hit their buggy, the collision caused her to lose both of her parents. Joanna herself suffered a broken pelvis and lacerations on her face which would take a long time to heal. Joanna had loved Andrew since she was twelve years old, since he had stood up for her when she was being bullied at school. Over the years, as they were dating her feelings for Andrew grew stronger and Joanna had shocked Andrew by proposing to him.<br /><br />In the rehabilitation center, Joanna suffered both physically with the pain from the accident and mentally, having learned that she had lost both parents. She felt so empty, alone and guilty. Andrew was upset about the accident and worried that he might be losing Joanna, so visited her and proposed. He could not picture his life without Joanna by his side. She accepted the proposal without the deep joy she had hoped for, and the plans began for their wedding. On the day of her wedding Joanna was unable to walk down the aisle. She then told Andrew she could not marry him as she knew she wasn't ready. God was talking to Joanna, telling her to be strong and courageous. Should she listen to God?<br /><br />In An Unbroken Heart, readers learn about Joanna’s sisters, Sadie and Abigail, and how they managed to run the family business after their parent’s death while at the same time handling Joanna’s recovery. It encourages readers to look at forgiveness in their own lives as Joanna’s met Cameron, the driver who caused the accident that killed her parents, and forgave him. As the characters become so real, you really want healing for those who are hurting, and you want to help them find their way back to God so they can be whole again - but it must be in line with God’s timing and not theirs.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1462317003000, "title": "I really enjoyed reading this story and put it down once" }, { "asin": "0718030923", "rating": 4, "text": "Sister Dear by Laura McNeill has a great cover and picture, which was just enough to pull me in. The story is about Allie, who is a mother convicted of a crime she swears she didn't commit. (Haven't we all heard that one before?) Anyway, after spending 10 years in jail, Allie returns to her small town hoping to pick up the pieces of her life and re-establish a relationship with her now 15-year old daughter. Allie struggles to fall in place, to fit back in living her former life with her family, with friends and at work. In order to try and reconnect and form a relationship with her daughter, Allie becomes determined to find out what really happened that tragic night and wants to clear her name.<br /><br />Sister Dear seemed to start off a little slow and I was little worried that I wasn't going to enjoy the book, but slowly the plot got going and just kept building and building until the very last page. I really enjoyed the writing style - sort of &#34;flashback&#34; style - going between 2006 and 2016 - through the eyes of various people, including Allie, Sheriff Gaines, Emma (Allie's sister) and Caroline (Allie's daughter). Using the multiple points of view and weaving back and forth through time, Sister Dear painted a haunting picture of lies, betrayals and deep dark secrets.<br /><br />The author, McNeill, definitely left me guessing about everyone's involvement in &#34;the incident,&#34; including Allie's own involvement. I loved the plot twists, and I will admit I didn't see them coming. It wasn't one of those predictable plots where you knew what was happening next, and I really appreciated that. I don't want to write a spoiler here, so I really can't go into too much of the story. Suffice it to say, it's worth reading Sister Dear to learn the whole story! On one of those 1 to 5 star ratings, with 5 being highest, I'd give this book a 4.2. I'll definitely be watching for future works of Laura McNeill and I'm going to head back and read her debut book, Center of Gravity too!<br /><br />I truly appreciate that BookLookBloggers provided me with a paperback copy of this book to read without cost in exchange for my personal and honest opinion and unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1462501469000, "title": "Sister Dear by Laura McNeill has a great cover and picture" }, { "asin": "1617956651", "rating": 5, "text": "What I found in this book was a beautiful book filled with hope. Hunting Hope is full of inspiring stories and gut-wrenching moments that share all of the promises that are possible to God's children. Nika Maples shares her heart, and her honesty and the end result is that her transparency is a very beautiful thing for readers. Ms. Maples' humor made me laugh and smile and her stories often made me emotional and teary, but it was her relationship with Jesus that really made me look at those areas of my own life that could really use some work.<br /><br />Accepting what we cannot change, while anticipating future blessings is the perfect definition of hope as Ms. Maples relates to readers. She leans on Scripture to back up every point she makes, helping readers see that the honest and true statements taken from God's Word. Ms. Maples' beautiful examples of God's compassion for us provides strength and hope to readers in their dark moments. Hunting Hope is easy to read and very well written in such a way that it allows readers to find the messages they need at the time they are needed.", "timestamp": 1463961972000, "title": "What I found in this book was a beautiful book filled with hope" }, { "asin": "1401688314", "rating": 5, "text": "A Dream of Miracles is the third book in The Amish Wonder series by Ruth Reid. The first book was A Miracle of Hope and the second book was A Woodland Miracle. Each of those books would probably have helped in creating the backdrop to the characters in this book, but nonetheless, my favorite Amish book reviewer, Gloria (aka Mom) says that this book can be read as a stand alone very nicely.<br /><br />This story takes place in a small community made up of Old Order Amish in Michigan. The two main characters Mattie Diener and Boaz (Bo) Lambright become so real that you think they are your best friends. Mattie is a young widowed woman with two young children, Nathan and 18-month old Amanda, to raise without her husband Andy, who is deceased. Mattie is having a rough time running a herb and honey business with the help of the community especially her next door bachelor neighbor Alvin.<br /><br />Mattie’s oldest child, Nathan, is three years old has been a sickly baby with several health issues since his birth. Nathan is ill and Mattie takes him to the doctor and her worse nightmare begins. Her regular doctor is not available and another doctor, Dr. Wellington, is filling his place but he knows nothing about the Amish. Nathan has a fever and blisters in his mouth and Dr. Wellington suspects’ abuse.<br /><br />The doctor has Mattie take Nathan to the hospital and calls Child Protective Services on her. She meets Boaz Lambright, a fast-rising social services investigator whose high-society mother doesn't seem to rest until she finds her son's &#34;Mrs. Right&#34;. He does not think there is any abuse and sets out to prove her innocence. Things keep happening and the plot continues to twist and turn, and all the while Mattie has your heart because of struggles she is going through. Bo was haunted by dreams with flashing from his current life into his past life.<br /><br />I love the twist that Bo experiences and I found it hard to actually put this book down because I wanted to find out the outcome. There is so much emotion in this story and both the characters and the plot are so powerful that it just carried me away with them. Toward the end of this story things are explained. I loved this story and I look forward to other books by Ruth Reid.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1464313791000, "title": "my favorite Amish book reviewer" }, { "asin": "1530040396", "rating": 4, "text": "My Father's House by Rose Chandler Johnson is about Lily Rose Cates, who has the perfect childhood that includes a fantastic relationship with her father. Her father adored her and she loved him so much. Lily's father unexpectedly passes away when Lily is sixteen and it leaves her to emotionally flounder throughout the rest of high school and into college.<br /><br />As Lily heads off to college, she sees her friends marrying off or falling in love. On a trip to New York City to meet up with her best friend, Lily meets Manuel Valenti. He seems charming and sophisticated and Lily is captivated by his attention. He sweeps her off her feet and promises her the world. She falls into a whirlwind romance and totally falls for him even though there are signals - warning signs - she fails (or chooses) to recognize. Even her wise Annie Ruth feels that Manny Lily brings him home to meet her family.<br /><br />Lily moves forward with marriage, but not surprisingly, soon afterward their marriage begins to fall apart. Her husband is a dark, abusive man and Lily soon realizes that she must make the hard choice of leaving Manny - of running from her husband - or possibly risk even more than the marriage. Once Lily gets away from her horrible marriage, Lily starts to take the necessary steps of healing her heart from her past and from her marriage so that she can move forward. We readers standby (and read on) as Lily slowly begins the process of healing and returning to her father's house.<br /><br />I felt that this story was written to remind us all that there is always hope, even in our darkest hours and our deepest pain. I loved Ms. Johnson's writing and this is one of those books you can definitely get caught up in, and if you're anything like me, you'll read it cover to cover in one sitting. (Pray that I make it through work tomorrow without falling asleep!!)<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1466009767000, "title": "who has the perfect childhood that includes a fantastic relationship with her father" }, { "asin": "0764212818", "rating": 5, "text": "Being part of the Bethany House Blogger Review Program, I get to read some very interesting books that I wouldn't necessarily have the opportunity to read. Sometimes I'm provided with books to read from authors I've never heard of, even though they are very popular in the literary world. Today's book, No Other Will Do, by Karen Witemeyer and this book falls into that category. Those of you who follow me regularly know that my mom loves Amish books. She also loves Western books and when I read her the back cover of this book over the phone, she jumped at the chance to read it and report in. Here's my mom's review:<br /><br />&#34;The setting for this story takes place in the old historical west. This Christian romance has it all - humor, action, murder, mystery and the suspense of a 'who done it'. No Other Will Do is very well written and has you hanging on every word to find out what is going to happen next. I truly enjoyed reading this novel in one day and did not put it down until the end,<br /><br />Emma Chandler and her suffragette aunts were strong, free spirited independent women who started a successful women’s colony in Harper’s Station, Texas to help women in need to make a fresh start with their lives. Unfortunately, there is someone who repeatedly wants to drive all the ladies out of colony. If only Emma knew what this dangerous crook wanted. She is forced to admit they might need a man to help and there is only one man that she really trusts to do the job.<br /><br />Malachi Shaw has known Emma since they were young. She saved his life when he was hiding out in her auntie’s barn after fighting in the streets and is cold, hungry, and no home. She ask her aunt if she could keep him. Now Malachi has earned respect by working on the railroad as an explosive expert. When he received Emma’s telegraph asking for his help, he left immediately to go to her keep a childhood promise be had made and try somehow to repay her for saving his life.<br /><br />The danger at the women’s colony continues and the threats are getting stronger and more dangerous. Should the women leave the colony for their safety? Should they stay and fight with Malachi help to catch the outlaws?&#34;<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the Bethany House Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1466987226000, "title": "I truly enjoyed reading this novel in one day and did not ..." }, { "asin": "1617956120", "rating": 4, "text": "My Mother's Quilts: Devotions on Love, Legacy, Family and Faith by Ramona Richards is an awesome devotional. While this book has lots of pictures of some beautiful quilts, it is way more than a quilt picture book. Each devotional itself shares the story of each individual quilt. It includes a sentence or two of a prayer starter, and then a Bible verse.<br /><br />While this is a book you will want to read in its entirety like I did, you will want to keep it close to you so that when you are reading your daily devotionals you can include this book as a devotional guide as well.<br /><br />As a baby, I received a quilt from my grandfather who passed before I was born. Every Christmas my mom would bring that quilt out and we would enjoy its beauty during the Christmas season, and then she would pack it up again until next year. When I found that exact quilt in this book, my heart swelled with such fond memories of that quilt!<br /><br />I received a copy of this devotional book without cost in exchange for this post from FlyByPromotions! Thank you FlyBy!!", "timestamp": 1466988793000, "title": "Devotions on Love, Legacy" }, { "asin": "1434708381", "rating": 4, "text": "Jilted is the third book in the Mended Hearts series, but can serve as a stand alone book on its own. I did not read the two prior books Jaded and Justified, and I feel that if I had read the first two it would have added to my enjoyment of Jilted.<br /><br />The story in Jilted takes place in a quiet small town of Trapp, Texas. As in most small towns, gossip and news spreads quickly. The memorable characters in this story are Lynda Turner and Clyde Felton. Lynda is doubtful that love and happiness will ever be hers until Clyde an old friend and an ex-convict shows interest in her and hope awakens. Lynda’s husband left her and young daughter Ruthie behind fifteen years ago.<br /><br />Lynda, struggling with depression, had withdrawn from the community and Clyde had to adjust when returning after time in prison to Trapp and face the community he left behind. Because these characters are older and had already missed so much of their lives, I wanted to help them Mrs. Denman told and wrote this story so well that you felt part of this little town and a friend to Lynda and Clyde.<br /><br />Lynda Turner has struggled with depression since her husband abandoned her and their young daughter fifteen years ago. Yet unexpected hope awakens when a local ex-convict shows interest. As long-hidden secrets resurface, Lynda must fight for her emotional stability and for a life where the shadow of shame is replaced by the light of love.<br /><br />Jilted tells of a woman who has lost the joy of living, a man determined to draw her back toward happiness, and a town that must---once and for all---leave the past where it belongs. It is a gentle reminder that all things can work together for good.<br /><br />As secrets which had been hidden for years comes out again Lynda must fight to keep her emotions stable, getting out of living in shame, and receive the love that her old friend Clyde is offering. This final secret is shocking.<br /><br />At the end of this book all ends are neatly tied up and I am sorry that my visit to Trapp, Texas has finished and I will miss Lynda and Clyde and all the others. I really enjoyed reading Jilted, and look forward to reading Jaded and Justified soon!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1467159685000, "title": "and I feel that if I had read the first two it would have added to my enjoyment of Jilted" }, { "asin": "0736966234", "rating": 5, "text": "Here's what I say: Before I can even talk about this book, I have to talk about the Bible verse on the front - one of my favorites! &#34;For I know the plansI have for you,&#34; declares the LORD, &#34;plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.&#34; Jeremiah 29:11.<br /><br />I knew it was going to be a great book just because of that in itself, and I wasn't wrong at all! First I will say this isn't the only book I've read of Dana Mentink's! She really knows how to write some pretty cool pups in her stories and I really enjoyed it in the other book I read. Funny stuff here! I read this book at my desk at work because (1) it was a smaller book and easy to carry; and (2) because I just couldn't wait to read it!<br /><br />Stephanie Pink - yes, her last name is Pink - don't you love it? Anyway, Stephanie Pink is the heroine of this book, and she's hooked on books - kind of like yours truly. She can't seem to go any period of time without reading a book or she gets anxious. She's an aspiring literary agent and had been dreaming of it since she read a book by Agnes Wharton as a kid. She is sent by her boss to pick up a manuscript by none other than Agnes Wharton - one that they'd been waiting for over 15 years. Tragically, when she meets Agnes, her dog, Sweetness, takes off and the story begins!<br /><br />At the same time, Stephanie is also like most girls and is in search of her &#34;happily ever after&#34;. Enter Rhett Hastings, a retired CEO, who stepped down from his job to take care of his sister after a bad accident where she suffered brain trauma. Before her accident, Rhett had treated her pretty bad and she had disowned him but of course, with the injury she doesn't recall that fact. Rhett feels that God is telling him to return to the orchard in Oregon where they had grown up. Of course, on his way there, he bumps into none other than Stephanie Pink.<br /><br />This is where the &#34;happily ever after &#34; may or may not kick in (no spoilers here). Rhett rescues Stephanie and Sweetness and even helps her get the dog to Washington! Both Rhett and Stephanie find themselves on a crazy journey that will definitely change their lives. And just like the author reveals at the beginning of the book, God has a plan for them (Jeremiah 29:11). Of course, they soon find out His plan isn't anything like their individual plans and His is way better! .<br /><br />I give this sweet little book 5 stars out of 5 for style of writing, flow of the storyline, the depth of the characters, and of course the hilarious dog!! I see Dana Mentink has the next book in the Love Unleashed series out in February of 2017, and I will be looking out for that book as well!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1471365525000, "title": "I give this sweet little book 5 stars out of 5" }, { "asin": "1501820079", "rating": 4, "text": "I always love books about dogs, and Service Tails: More Stories of Man's Best Hero by Ace Collins is no exception! Service Tails is a wonderful collection of great true stories that share both the love and loyalty of the owner and their dog, but also provide insight and inspiration.<br /><br />We learn about their extensive training and incredible service working together to provide owners with more self confidence with the assistance of their service dog. These dogs help create permanent and forever bonds with their owners that goes beyond their service, and provides readers with that &#34;heart connection&#34; by sharing their stories.<br /><br />Service Tails shares twelve stories of dogs who provide the commitment of duty and service to their owners, some saving lives and some providing an independent lifestyle to those unable to do so without the help of their service dog. The best part of these stories is the way it shares how owners and their dogs seem to become one as they work together to make life more enjoyable.<br /><br />If you are a dog owner and lover, then I recommend this book to you. This is one of those books to keep on your shelf so you can read again in the future. Service Tails would also make a fantastic gift for any dog lover in your life!<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through the litfuse bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1472431817000, "title": "I always love books about dogs" }, { "asin": "0310339863", "rating": 4, "text": "The Saddle Maker’s Son is the third book in The Amish of Bee County series. I did not read the first two, but enjoyed this one as a stand alone. (I will admit, though, I think I would love to read books #1 and #2 just to see what I missed.)<br /><br />This is a romantic story of Rebekah Lantz, who lives in a small Amish community in Bee County Texas. She feels like her family does not trust her since her sister Leila left the Amish faith to marry Jesse Glick.<br /><br />Tobias Byler is an Amish man who has recently moved to Bee County along with his father, Levi and his nine siblings. As Levi is opening his new shop of making saddles and training horses he has an accident and the children are left to take care of themselves while he is in the hospital.<br /><br />Rebekah works as an assistant school teacher and has discovered two dirty and hungry runaway children The children hiding in the shed outside of the schoolhouse traveled across the border from El Salvador. It is discovered that the children traveled alone and were sent by their grandmother from El Salvador to Texas to hunt out their father, who is living in San Antonio.<br /><br />Rebekah also meets Tobias Byler and his father, Levi who brings the younger children to school. Will Rebekah turn Guadulupe (&#34;Lupe&#34;) and Diego over to the proper authorities? Will this small Amish community open their hearts and arms to these runaway children? It was interesting to read how illegal children immigrants are handled.<br /><br />There is attraction and friction between Rebekah and Tobias as they worked to help the children find their father. Does Tobias have feelings for Rebekah and cannot show it? There is also another romance going on with Rebekah’s aunt and Tobias’s father. This story has all the things that makes a wonderful love story and reminds us that God wants us to help each other.<br /><br />The Saddle Maker's Son is very well written story and I could not put it down until the last page. It was a beautiful story and one that I will remember.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1472434475000, "title": "but enjoyed this one as a stand alone" }, { "asin": "0310345391", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the first book in Shelley Shepard Gray’s &#34;Lone Star Hero&#34; series, I loved reading some of her other books such as the Whispers in the Reading Room.<br /><br />The Loyal Heart story takes place in the late 1800s in Galveston Texas right after the civil war ended, and its a story about Miranda Markham who is a war widow and is facing many troubles in Galveston. She lost her husband that she dearly loved and now has become an outcast in her hometown because someone is spreading rumors that her husband was a traitor.<br /><br />Phillip Markham, Lt. Truax, Caption Monroe, and Major Kelly were prisoners in a POW camp. This group of Confederate soldiers, who had been prisoners by the Union army, promised to take care of each other and their families after the war.<br /><br />Phillip Markham past away right before the war ended. He always spoke of the love that he and his wife Miranda shared. Robert Truax was sent to see how Miranda was doing to fulfill the promise that was made to Markham.<br /><br />Who is responsible making the town turn against Miranda and how are the rumors spreading that Phillip Markham was a traitor? Robert was the problem solver will he be able to take care of this?<br /><br />The Loyal Heart is a historical fiction book and provides for the reader a great mixture of mystery, suspense, action, history of the post-Civil war in the south, and a light romance. Shelley is a great storyteller and I enjoyed this book very much. Looking forward to reading more in this series.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own - well, they are my mother's and for that, I am responsible.", "timestamp": 1473218990000, "title": "I loved reading some of her other books such as the ..." }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "I will admit it - I get so excited every single time I see that Rachel Hauck has another book out. It ranks right up there with having a day off work - my day job, that is. I really think that if there was anyone I could ever point out and say &#34;yes, that woman follows God's calling for her&#34;, it would be Rachel Hauck. That being said, today's post is about Rachel Hauck's latest release, The Wedding Shop. The Wedding Shop is the third book in the &#34;wedding&#34; series, the others being The Wedding Chapel and the other,<br /><br />The Wedding Shop's setting is Heart's Bend, Tennessee, and this story is about a young woman named Haley Morgan who us home from the Air Force. She decides she will take over the town's old wedding shop that's been in the town for over 90 years. The building was run down and in need of many repairs, but Haley had a vision of what it once was. Even though it's been closed for so many years, Haley has a strong feeling that the place must be reopened.<br /><br />The storyline of The Wedding Shop goes back and forth between the 1930s through the 1950s and then the present day. While this book could be a &#34;stand alone&#34;, it is my understanding that some of the characters in this book were also included in Rachel's previous books.<br /><br />The entire book is awesome. Ms. Hauck draws readers in as she alternates the story between modern day Haley and past wedding shop owner Cora. Ms. Hauck has the fantastic ability to transport her readers back in time and make them actually feel like they are there. It was great to see the different perspectives of the characters and how their stories develop while moving between the two time periods. The message I received from this book was that we need to trust in God and do His will and he will provide.<br /><br />I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publisher, and I received a digital copy from NetGalley, both without cost, but in exchange for my opinion.", "timestamp": 1473984027000, "title": "The entire book is awesome." }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 4, "text": "I had never heard of Robert Whitlow before, but the man has written plenty of books. The cover of this book drew me in - sort of resembled a John Grisham book or something - and it made me curious. Another drawing factor to this book was the fact that it was a Christian suspense novel with a legal emphasis. Having worked in the legal field for over 30 years, I'm always interested in that category. Sprinkle it with a little suspense, and you've got me interested.<br /><br />The Witnesses follows young lawyer, Parker House as he begins working in a small North Carolina law firm. His job doesn't pay as much as his friends but he finds satisfaction in what he is learning and achieving as he learns the ropes of a law office and of his town. At the same time, Parker realizes that he is somehow able to see the future.<br /><br />While Parker uses his gift in the legal field, his grandfather, Frank (born Franz Haus), was forced to use the gift during World War II. This fact in itself results in the story going back and forth between these two time periods throughout the book.<br /><br />Parker's gift is starting to become obvious to others, which begins to make him more interesting to a more prestigious law firm. As he struggles with his career decisions and decisions surrounding a new romance, his grandfather is experiencing deep regret for his actions in WWII.<br /><br />The theme of The Witnesses seems to be how people can use (or misuse) God's gifts. While both Parker and his grandfather, Frank are good people, sometimes the use of their gift for evil is too tempting to hold back. Throughout the story, readers will see both of these men struggling with the use of their gift in a responsible manner and whether they will follow the Lord or not follow the Lord.<br /><br />This book would inspire anyone who is wavering about seeking forgiveness and making life changing decisions. If you have never read any of Robert Whitlow's other books, I'd suggest you start here like I did. The Witnesses is a book that seems to cross over those defined genre lines that include law, family, romance, friendship, mystery, suspense and even a little thriller.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1475082812000, "title": "Frank are good people, sometimes the use of their gift for ..." }, { "asin": "0800726413", "rating": 4, "text": "The storyline of When Love Arrives by Johnnie Alexander takes place in a town named Misty Willows. This book is the second in the Misty Willows series, and I had not yet read Where She Belongs, which is the first book, but based on some of the reviews I read, it would have been helpful to know the characters a little better before reading this book. Given the time, I would probably gone back and read Where She Belongs first.<br /><br />Dani Prescott lost her mother in a plane crash. It's the same plane crash that killed Brett Somers' parents. Why is that important? Because Brett is publicly blaming Dani's mother for the crash and ruining her reputation. Dani is hurt and wants to clear her mother's name so she sets out to get revenge against Brett. The story is told in alternating chapters from Brett and Dani's point of view. It's interesting reading this story from Brett's perspective.<br /><br />Brett is a handsome and rich &#34;ladies' man&#34; who is egotistical and pursues younger, blond, long-legged women. Dani accidently meets Brett in the parking lot of the hospital and he pursues her despite the fact that she doesn't meet his standard criteria. Unbeknownst to Brett, Dani is actually seeking revenge. Brett and Dani soon realize they have so many things in common and Dani starts to feel guilty about her original plan to bring Brett down.<br /><br />As Dani and Brett develop their friendship, readers get the sense of the changes Brett is making in his life, and his true desire to become a better person due to the fact that he has learned he has a son.<br /><br />Dani gets help from Brett and his family and her luck begins to change when she secures a new job and a new home surrounded by a great family. As we all know, a relationship built on lies is sure to fail, and Dani's secret plans come to light. These two have a lot to work out and it well worth reading to see where it does.<br /><br />The story is hard to put down and I loved seeing the changes in both of them. I felt that the author did a great job providing a very believable drama that included faith issues that readers will be able to identify with. Seeing how the characters had to reach the &#34;rock bottom&#34; in their lives before they were able to reach out for help from God proved to be a real struggle in the lives of so many people today. The author certainly has a gift for bringing a story to life and making the reader feel like they are right in the midst of it.<br /><br />The great news is that coming in Summer of 2017 there will be another book to this series - the third - and at the end of this book there was a little &#34;teaser&#34; for anyone interested. I hope I make time to go back and read the first book so that by the time the third is released I'll be up to speed on everyone's backgrounds!<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book from Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group for my honest review and was not required to give a positive review.", "timestamp": 1475092642000, "title": "The storyline of When Love Arrives by Johnnie Alexander takes place in a town ..." }, { "asin": "0718077911", "rating": 5, "text": "I had heard of Katherine Reay only after I had the opportunity to read her book, The Brontë Plot, back in February of this year. Because I thought that book was so great, when I heard about this book, A Portrait of Emily Price, I couldn't wait. Unfortunately, I have to say that when it arrived, I was already in the middle of another blog tour so this was placed on the back burner for a while. The book was released on November 1 of this year, so it's still a really new book so everyone can find their copies easily! I know you'll want to get your copy too, because A Portrait of Emily Price is a book full of awesomeness.<br /><br />The protagonist, Emily Price is an art restorer who dreams of becoming an original artist someday. She travels to Atlanta to restore a mural in a home damaged by fire. That’s where she meets Chef Benito &#34;Ben&#34; Vassallo, who is visiting Atlanta to reconnect with his brother and breathe new life into his aunt and uncle’s restaurant, Piccolo. Emily begins a &#34;whirlwind romance&#34; with Ben and falls in love with him while she works with him to improve the appearance of Piccolo. In a shocking move, she accepts Ben's marriage proposal, marries him and and follows him to Italy. Once arriving in Italy, Emily is enchanted with the country, but because of Emily’s need to “fix” what she thinks is broken things get complicated when she meets her new Italian family.<br /><br />The author does an excellent job of showing the relationship problems in families. I also think Katherine did a lovely job of describing Italy and, well &#34;painting a picture&#34; of the scenery for readers so descriptive that we feel a part of the story, especially in the driving scenes where we see hills and small towns, narrow driving lanes and arches that feel too small for the car to fit through. Breathtaking, for sure.<br /><br />If you're anything like me and you love romance stories that are realistic and don't fall under the fairytale-type of “happily ever after” story, A Portrait of Emily Price is definitely a book you'll want to read too!<br /><br />I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion and review. Thanks so much!", "timestamp": 1480539830000, "title": "Because I thought that book was so great, when I heard about this book" }, { "asin": "1401690300", "rating": 5, "text": "As part of the The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader program, I received a copy of Colleen Coble's new book, Twilight at Blueberry Barrens, which was a great read set on the beautiful coast of Folly Shoals, Maine. I'm getting ahead of myself here, but let me tell you the book had fantastic descriptions of the scenery and the characters were well written. The story itself included suspense, murders, romance, a wedding, an escaped prisoner, a hire for murder guy and even a crazy stalker. All of these stories within the book have us guessing and all were very nicely interwoven throughout the book. What more could you ask for in a story?<br /><br />Now that I put the cart in front of the horse, let me tell you a little more about the story: This is the third book in the Sunset Cove series and is connected to the first title, The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, because this book is about Kate Mason, who is Claire Dellamare’s twin sister. This book frequently refers back to the storyline in The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, so it would probably be helpful if you read the first book in the series to understand this one a little better. In all honesty, when I was reading the first book, The Inn at Ocean's Edge, I really wasn't a fan of the character, Claire, but in this book the author redeemed her character and made her someone more relatable to readers. It was also enjoyable learning more about Kate in this book.<br /><br />After successfully battling a life threatening illness, Kate Mason is restarting her life, while at the same time, she is confronted with a faceless enemy who could possibly be someone she knows well. She's in a difficult financial place so when she rents out a cottage for the summer plus she's given the opportunity to nanny a summer guest's young nieces, things might be looking better for Kate. The rental tenant is Drake Newham, who is a handsome and successful entrepreneur from Boston and is protecting his brother's two daughters. Drake has come to Maine in order to investigate his brother and sister-in-law's brutal deaths and it that his brother could have been killed because of his legal actions against a dangerous international crime leader, but Drake is discovering that Heath and Melissa's marriage was unstable, which makes local officials convinced theirs was a case of murder-suicide.<br /><br />Because I don't write spoilers, I can't tell you much more about this book other than to suggest that you buy the book for yourself and dig right in! The characters are likeable, the scenery fantastic and the tale very interesting. If you've read any of Colleen Coble's other books in other series, be warned that some of the other characters from other series make appearances in this book too, which is something I really enjoyed.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1481662354000, "title": "which was a great read set on the beautiful coast of Folly Shoals" }, { "asin": "0718083105", "rating": 4, "text": "&#34;This is a very intense read. The author writes in Afrikaans. Child of the River is the second book written by Irma Joubert that has been translated into English. The first was The Girl from the Train that I have not read. Both of her books are written in the same time period and the location of South Africa. You learn a lot of history when you read this book such as what was going on in Europe during WWII, history during the mid-1950 in South Africa with apartheid and segregation.<br /><br />This is a story about Persomis, the daughter of a sharecropper who comes from a dysfunctional home life. Her father is a drunk and beats his wife and children. Social workers step in and takes the younger siblings and send Persomis to a boarding school where her brother Gerbrand is attending. She works hard, made excellent grades and was allowed to attend the university where she earns a law degree.<br /><br />Irma Joubert weaves three story lines so well. First was Persomi growing up living dirt poor on the Fourie’s farm. Second, the apartheid laws and how they were applied to the families, and third, the love story between Persomi and Boelie.<br /><br />This is a well-written and very inspiring story. I loved the character Persomis especially her passion as she fought for the rights of minorities and the romance between Persomis and Boelie.<br /><br /> I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1481860451000, "title": "made excellent grades and was allowed to attend the university where ..." }, { "asin": "0718086422", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm sure I've said it before, but as part of the Fiction Guild Elite Reader program, I'm often given some pretty amazing books to read and share with my readers. Today's book is no different! It's one of those books I wouldn't have gone out and bought for myself because I wouldn't have known what I was missing!<br /><br />Of Stillness and Storm by Michèle Phoenix is about a missionary family living in Nepal. The story itself is told in two parts - it begins with Lauren, the narrator and wife of Sam, and her 13-year old son, Ryan, living with intermittent power in their home near Kathmandu. Sam leaves for weeks at a time to trek into remote tribes, while leaving Lauren and Sam alone. Lauren is finding ways to cope with the struggle, but Ryan starts feeling the effect of the struggling family.<br /><br />Lauren gets back in touch with a childhood friend who seems to remind her to fight for her son, as well as the woman and writer she used to be. I loved that Lauren seemed very human to readers. Her struggle is familiar to many Christians and while her story is fictional, it is very relatable. Lauren is able to discover that out of darkness and loss emerges a &#34;relentless, demanding, trustworthy, benevolent, and healing God.&#34;<br /><br />I saw a reviewer share a quote from a conversation Lauren has with Sam and I loved it:<br /><br />&#34;I tend to think that who we become because of our faith is more important than what we do to prove it.&#34;<br /><br />Of Stillness and Storm is a story that continues to linger long after its reading. The story is filled with relationships, both spiritual and physical, and it is such a well written book. With rawness and honesty, it plumbs the depths of commitment to family and God. The story is a fascinating view of the missionary life and the benefits and potential pitfalls that can result. This book is one of the most powerful works of fiction I've read in a while and I highly recommend it to others.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in this post are my own.", "timestamp": 1486694103000, "title": "\"I tend to think that who we become because of our faith is more important than what we do to prove it.\"" }, { "asin": "0718090225", "rating": 4, "text": "I received the book, The Angels' Share by James Markert because I'm a Fiction Guild Elite Reader book review blogger. It wouldn't be my normal book genre if I were out shopping for a book, but nonetheless, it was worth a read.<br /><br />The Angels' Share is a historical novel that is true to the times of the Prohibition and the Depression. William &#34;Willie&#34; McFee grew up in Twisted Tree, Kentucky. The McFee family is pretty well off financially even though the town itself is suffering the effects of the McFee family bourbon distillery being shut down by Prohibition. Willie's father, Barley doesn't seem to have any intent on reopening the distillery even though Willie is encouraging him to do so in order to achieve his dream of becoming a distiller as his grandfather had planned.<br /><br />Then a drifter named Asher Keating shows up and he seems to be able to fix people's problems. He dies and is buried in the Potter's Field near the McFee distillery. Gossip begins to circulate about Asher performing miracles. Asher's grave starts getting lots of visitors who are praying at the site, and some strange things begin to happen it the town. Willie starts to investigate the situation and he discovers facts about what his father did during the Prohibition and things about the death of his younger brother. Willie begins to write stories about what he is uncovering and gets them published in a Louisville newspaper, causing all kinds of things to happen.<br /><br />The characters in the book are well developed. The story is full of mystery and unanswered questions. The townspeople are representative of people caught in a difficult situation they cannot control. There are a lot of subplots in this storyline and they will definitely keep readers engrossed in this story.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in this post are my own.", "timestamp": 1489363184000, "title": "The McFee family is pretty well off financially even though the town itself is ..." }, { "asin": "006246910X", "rating": 5, "text": "I find that if the book is written by Shelley Shepard Gray I will enjoy reading it and Her Secret the first book in a new series The Amish of Hart County was no exception. An Amish love story with suspense throughout the book. The main characters Hannah and Isaac are so real that you feel part of their families.<br /><br />The story starts with Hannah Hilty and her family living in Berlin, Ohio in a big house that was comfortable and their family’s legacy. Hannah had been friends with an English man named Trent during her rumspringa. He had pursued her for the last two years and was now following her around and taking pictures of her. Hannah lives her life in fear of this stalker. She quits her job and stays home, only going out with her parents.<br /><br />The family moves from Berlin, Ohio to Munfordville, Kentucky to escape this dangerous man and to give Hannah a new start. Her brother, Ben, and sister, Jenny, blamed Hannah they had to leave their jobs and friends behind. Jenny played a big part in this story and caused Hannah more problems to handle. There are other underlying family secrets that made the family move. Hannah meets her neighbor Isaac Troyer and becomes friends with him. Trent followed the family to Kentucky and became bolder with his activities.<br /><br />I picked this book up and did not put it down until I read the last page. I am so looking forward to the next one in the series, His Guilt, that came out on July 4th, and then there will be two more to follow. I am so recommending this book to my friends!", "timestamp": 1499649149610, "title": "... book is written by Shelley Shepard Gray I will enjoy reading it and Her Secret the first book in ..." }, { "asin": "0718083784", "rating": 5, "text": "I'm a blogger with the Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, and I am very fortunate to be able to receive a lot of books that my mother and I love to read. Today's book, Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks was a first for me. I had never heard of Ms. Parks, and unfortunately, I didn't realize this was book 4 in a series. Nonetheless, to this reader, it wasn't an issue. I'm guessing that there was a plot carried throughout the other books that I may have missed, but I was able to read this book as a stand alone without feeling like I missed anything. In all likelihood, had I read books 1, 2 and 3, I would have had a more panoramic view of the story line.<br /><br />Gwen Marcey is a single mother of a teenage daughter and a cancer survivor, whose ex-husband is threatening to take their daughter away from her. While on a probationary period with her new job as a forensic artist with the Interagency Major Crime Unit (IMCU), Gwen learns about a case of a missing four-year old girl after the murder of her parents in Lapwai, Idaho.<br /><br />The Nez Perce Tribal Police in Lapwai, Idaho are looking for the killer. Because the case took place where she lived when she was little and sounded similar to her own background, Gwen requests being assigned to the case.<br /><br />This assignment causes Gwen to step right into a trap to bring her &#34;home&#34; and to a man who was hurt by her so many years ago. Gwen is in a situation that only God can get her out of. We readers watch as Gwen pieces together her past and present so that she can determine exactly who she really is.<br /><br />The journey to the truth proves to be a very hefty struggle as Gwen finds that many of the witnesses she relies on for information also have strong prejudices against Caucasian people. It takes little time for Gwen to see that she will need to tread very lightly while she's working with the descendants of people involved in these painful moments within Native history.<br /><br />As Gwen works this case, she begins having flashback memories from her own childhood. She begins to think that maybe what happened in her own past could be linked to what is going on in the case she is investigating. Gwen enlists the help of her best friend, Beth, and what they uncover leads them to believe the killer is someone Gwen knows and the killer seems to want Gwen to find out his or her true identity. As Gwen gets closer to the truth, more attempts on her life are made but she refuses to give up. Will her refusal end up costing Gwen her life?<br /><br />In a very spectacular fashion, author Carrie Stuart Parks has written the perfect example of a crime novel with complicated characters mixed with intrigue and suspense. Bravo Ms. Parks! I can't wait to go back and read books 1, 2 and 3 to fill in any blanks I don't even know I have!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1511743487851, "title": "and I am very fortunate to be able to receive a lot of books ..." }, { "asin": "0718082567", "rating": 4, "text": "Words from the Heart is the third book in the Amish Letters series by Kathleen Fuller. While this is the third book, each one can be read as a standalone. I loved the way the author updates readers on what happens to the people from the first two books<br /><br />This is a sweet love story with three main characters: Noah, Ivy, and Noah’s Aunt Cervilla (who was my mother's favorite character). This story begins with Ivy a young unmarried Amish woman so disappointed, feeling hurt and rejected as she is waiting over a year for promised letters from John King that never comes to finding old love letters when Ivy helped Noah clean out Aunt Cervilla’s attic which brought Noah and Ivy closer together in friendship.<br /><br />Ivy Yoder is hurting over her jilted love and is afraid that she will never find a husband in her community of Birch Creek, Ohio. Noah Schlabach is the great-nephew of Ivy’s elderly friend Cevilla Shalaback. He is an auctioneer from Iowa. Cevilla insists the two work together cleaning out her attic. She knows that Noah and Ivy are meant for each other.<br /><br />Not knowing what treasure are in the many boxes they sort through them slowly finding many doilies and old magazines, but in one of the boxes they found a packet of old letters written during the Korean War. The love letters are the story of two people (Bunny and CJ) who are in love.<br /><br />While working together and becoming good friends, Ivy has feelings for Noah, but afraid of getting hurt again. Noah is happy traveling as an auctioneer but knows something is missing in his life. Can Ivy get over the fear from her past to move forward and find love with Noah? Will Noah feel good enough for Ivy and stop his traveling? Does he want to live in her beloved community of Birch Creek?<br /><br />I truly enjoyed reading this book as I love anything written by Kathleen Fuller.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own, or in this case, my mom's.", "timestamp": 1525391757114, "title": "I loved the way the author updates readers on what happens ..." }, { "asin": "0310348080", "rating": 4, "text": "You will enjoy Beneath the Summer Sun without reading the first book, as it does serve as a stand alone. The three complex main characters are Jennie Troyer, Leo Graber, and Nathan Walker. All are facing problems of letting go of their past so that they can move forward with their lives.<br /><br />Jennie carries a secret about her husband, Atlee. The Amish do not divorce as they marry for life, so she told no one about her husband’s mental and physical abuse. Jennie’s husband died from a farming accident four years ago and left her with 7 children to raise on her own under the eyes of the church leaders.<br /><br />Jennie's son, Matthew was ten years old when Atlee died. He knew of the abuse his mother suffered at the hands of his father, and many times he was taken to the shed by his father for beatings. In truth, both Jennie and her son were relieved that Atlee had died. The Community knew something was wrong in her marriage, but not what it was. Jennie was a very likeable person and many had sympathy for her.<br /><br />When Jennie began getting used to life without a husband, two different men took interest in her, and Jennie knew that it was time to remarry. Matthew started sneaking out at night and became moody and rude, but he refused to tell Jennie what was bothering him. <br /><br />Both men who profess to love Jennie had good hearts. First, there is Jennie's childhood friend Amish, Leo Graber, who had been in love with Jennie from the time they were young and attending the same church. He felt so guilty over his father’s death that it prevented him from any social activities. He worked alone building furniture and did not have a happy life.<br /><br />Next, there was Mennonite, Nathan Walker, who was a traveling salesman unable to settle down in one place because he resented that his parents left him behind with relatives while they did mission work in other countries. He was seriously thinking of becoming Amish to be with Jennie. He wanted to settle down with Jennie in her hometown of Jamesport, Missouri.<br /><br />Will Jennie, Leo, Nathan, and Matthew be able to put the past behind them? Who will Jennie choose to love and care for her children? Will she able to trust another man? Atlee was sweet until they spoke their vows, can she believe the sweet words of either man? Three hearts try to discern God’s plan for the future—and find peace beneath the summer sun.<br /><br />Domestic abuse is addressed in this story with showing that faith, trust, forgiveness of yourself, and through the power of prayer we are able to overcome our past and move forward to a healthy, happy life. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time. Thank you Kelly Irvin for a wonderful story and I am looking forward to reading the third book in An Every Amish Season series, which is due out in August of this year, entitled Through the Autumn Air.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own, or in this case, my mom's.", "timestamp": 1525394120890, "title": "You will enjoy Beneath the Summer Sun without reading the first book" }, { "asin": "0718085973", "rating": 4, "text": "Thanks to my relationship with The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, I am very fortunate to receive and review books from various authors -- some I've heard of and some I have not. Today's post is about an author I've heard of, but I've never had an opportunity to read any of her books until now.<br /><br />As soon as I opened the book, You're Gonna Love Me by Robin Lee Hatcher, I was slightly disappointed to realize that this book was book is the sequel to Ms. Hatcher's previous book, You’ll Think of Me, but now that I've read it I can tell you that it can easily be read as a standalone.<br /><br />Samantha Winters returns to Thunder Creek, Idaho to care for her grandmother, Ruth. When she arrives at Ruth's hospital room, she can't even believe that Nick Chastain in there. She hasn't seen him for two years - ever since they broke up after dating for eight months. Because Nick was a daredevil and took too many risks with his life, and because Samantha's fears of his actions were too much to bear, they ended their relationship with harsh words and silence.<br /><br />Now Nick is there and he's recovering from an awful head injury that is causing him to suffer from memory loss and other side effects. Nick has returned to Thunder Creek to have a fresh start at life. Of course, when he sees Sam again, he's hopeful but not sure he deserves a second chance.<br />Sam and Nick's story slowly unfolds throughout You're Gonna Love Me. The author provides small flashbacks of their previous relationship so that readers understand the depth of the past hurts and fears each of them has entering into the reconnection of their relationship. It explains why both Sam and Nick are cautious this time - Sam isn't sure she can trust Nick again and Nick isn't sure of the future of his health and how fair it would be.<br /><br />As Nick and Sam reconnect, they face their fears head on while they both learn to accept each other and trust God. While Sam is trying to overcome her fears, Nick is reaching out to God trying to figure out which way his life is going. I loved how Sam's grandmother, Ruth provided them with some guidance and love in rebuilding their relationship back to friendship and ultimately love.<br />Ruth and her friends were be secondary characters in this book, but their support to the main characters was truly pivotal to the overall story. The author does a great job taking readers through all of the deep emotions and personal relationship issues in Sam and Nick's lives. Readers will be able to identify and relate to the life situations and though processes that this couple must go through in their story. The characters are realistic, the story line moves well, and it's an overall great romance!<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1535589599249, "title": "The characters are realistic, the story line moves well, and it's an overall great romance!" }, { "asin": "0062469215", "rating": 4, "text": "Today's post is a book review on Her Fear by Shelley Shepard Gray. This is the fifth book in The Amish of Hart County series, and since we've been on board with this series since March of 2017, it was great to be included in this book too!<br /><br />First in the series was Her Secret released in March of 2017. The second book in the series was His Guilt in released in July of 2017, and the third book was The Gift released in November of 2017. The fourth book in the series was His Risk, which was released in March of 2018.<br /><br />Thank you Shelley Shepard Gray! While I have completely enjoyed this series, I have to say I really liked the fact that this one was not your average Amish book. While Her Fear can be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading the entire series.<br /><br />While Her Fear provides the traditional things we have come to love in an Amish story like romance and mystery, but it also included topics we usually don't see in Amish fiction novels. To be honest, Her Fear reminds us that Amish folks are just like English folks - they are not perfect people, and no one is perfect except God.<br /><br />Her Fear centers around Sadie Detweiler who becomes pregnant and is faced with an unexpected response to that pregnancy. As a result, her family sends her away to distant and extended family of a different sect of the Amish community. When she arrives, she learns that this family does many things so differently than her family.<br /><br />When Sadie arrives, the matriarch of the family, Verba, becomes mysteriously ill and later dies. An EMT that comes to the scene notices Sadie standing alone and quiet. Noah Freeman is that EMT and over time, Sadie grows attracted to him. Noah is an Amish EMT and I was a little surprised at this, so I looked it up and found out that the Amish do work as EMTs, firefighters and first responders. Anyway, Noah is different than all of the other Amish men Sadie has met; she's comfortable with him and she finds herself really liking him. The only thing holding Sadie back from being honest with her feelings is the fact that she is pregnant and she's not sure how Noah will react when he finds out.<br /><br />Verba later dies at the hospital and then two others die suspiciously, so Noah's boss wants him to dig around the Amish community for clues. He finds himself attracted to Sadie, and he sees her as vulnerable and fearful. Noah wants to help Sadie and wants to be there for her as he senses something going on in the house that Sadie is living in. Noah can’t help himself from thinking about Sadie, so he finds reasons just to check up on her.<br /><br />This book was such a super great read. Shelley Shepard Gray's writing is phenomenal (as always) and with the plot twists and turns, reading the book from cover to cover was very easy to do. Whether you've read the other books in the series or whether this would be your first, I definitely recommend Her Fear, and I can't wait for October, when His Promise is released!<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Collins Publishing and Thomas Nelson, in exchange for this post. A positive review was not required.", "timestamp": 1536540512496, "title": "Shelley Shepard Gray's writing is phenomenal (as always)!" }, { "asin": "0718085809", "rating": 4, "text": "Thanks to my relationship with The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, I have been very fortunate to be a part of reading and reviewing so many great books. Coincidentally, I had requested an advanced reader digital copy of this book on NetGalley through my book blogging relationship with them. While the request was pending, I received a paperback copy from Fiction Guild sent me! <br /><br />Today's book, The House at Saltwater Point is by Colleen Coble, an author whose books I've really come to love! The House at Saltwater Point is the second book in Colleen Coble's Lavender Point series. This book serves as a stand alone, but since I also read the first book in this series, The View from Rainshadow Bay, I was happy to catch up with the main characters from that book and to be introduced to Grayson and Ellie in this one.<br /><br />Ellie Blackshaw is a local house flipper, who joins forces with Coast Guard Investigator, Grayson Bradshaw, when Ellie's sister, Mac, disappears. The disappearance seems to be connected with the disappearance of a large shipment of cocaine from a local warehouse. Grayson is firmly resolved to prove that Mac was behind the cocaine theft, while Ellie is desperately trying to prove that Mac is innocent and still alive. What Ellie and Grayson discover is a whole lot more than what they bargained for and it becomes a race against time to keep things from turning deadly.<br /><br />This story captured me right from the start. There is lots of action and excitement to keep readers engaged throughout this story. As is usually the case with Ms. Coble's books, the characters are well written, interesting an unique. I can't wait to read the next book in this series -- I read somewhere that it may come out in January of 2019!<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I also received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review, but because this was another great book, I wanted to do so! The opinions I have expressed are my own!", "timestamp": 1539477059114, "title": "This story captured me right from the start." }, { "asin": "078522405X", "rating": 4, "text": "Indivisible by Travis Thrasher, is the novelization of the upcoming movie by David G. Evans. The synopsis is the same as the movie, obviously, so I'll just share my opinions:<br /><br />I loved the progress of the story line and the raw emotion shown by the characters made this a very strong story. I appreciated how the author used short chapters that made the story very easy and fast flowing. I'll be honest -- I read the book before I saw the movie, and it really caused me to be excited to see the movie!<br /><br />I liked how some of the chapters would switch to the present because it provided good emotional effects for some of the situations. I would say though, that this story wouldn't necessarily be good to share with some of your younger family members since there are some war scenes in the story (in movie version anyway).<br /><br />Through this story, readers are provided with the truths of how difficult it is for families to be separated for long periods of time and the dangers that our soldiers face. It also shares the difficulties the military has when they come back home after facing war and death and how it changes everyone. It makes me thank God everyday for the courage and strength of our military.<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy from Thomas Nelson through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I was not required to post a positive review, but have chosen to do so because this book was great! Thank you!!", "timestamp": 1540515511431, "title": "I loved the progress of the story line and the raw emotion shown" }, { "asin": "1624167470", "rating": 5, "text": "The author of today's book, The Hope Jar, is Wanda E. Brunstetter. This book is the first in a three-book series called The Prayer Jars. Back in 2015, I actually met her when she was doing a book signing event at the local Wal-Mart here in Sarasota, Florida. At that time, I was able to get my mother, Gloria an autographed copy of one of her favorite Amish books. Ever since that meeting in 2015, whenever the opportunity arises to read and review one of Ms. Brunstetter's books, I jump on it because my mother LOVES Amish stories. <br /><br />Gloria recently mentioned this book and said she couldn't wait to read it, so when I saw it available on NetGalley through my book blogging relationship with them, I requested it and was approved. Unfortunately, Gloria recently had eye surgery so she was unable to read this book after all. <br /><br />The Hope Jar blends both Amish and contemporary fiction together, unlike many of Ms. Brunstetter's other books, which are strictly Amish fiction. After I finished reading The Hope Jar, because it was such a great read, I've already requested the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader copy of the second book in the series, The Forgiving Jar, releasing in February of 2019. My mom really missed out on this one! I finished this book in just about the time it took one college football game to play on television. <br /><br />Mary Ruth and Willis Lapp are at the bus station looking for their long lost granddaughter, Sara Murray. Michelle is at the bus station and Mary Ruth and Willis mistakenly think Michelle is Sara. since Michelle's life is at a dead end, she decides to go along with the Lapps thinking and pretends to be their granddaughter just long enough for her to get her life under control<br /><br />While she is on the Lapps' farm, Michelle learns what it feels like to be truly cared for and loved, which is something she's never had in her life. Michelle never had a real family, having grown up in foster care, and no one ever took the time to really get to know her and love her. Michelle blossoms under the Lapps' love and she learns to love the simple life of the Amish. As she grows in this life, she starts to feel more and more guilty about the deception she is committing by living the life of Sara Murray instead of her own.<br /><br />I loved Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp, although I did feel like they were a bit naive in never asking Michelle for proof that she was their long lost granddaughter. Regardless, they really portrayed the Amish that we've come to learn about and love through Ms. Brunstetter's books - hardworking, faithful, loving and caring people. Their lesson on forgiveness was an example to readers of folks who follow the Word of God.<br /><br />The Hope Jar had a very good story line and it was truly an inspiring story. The characters great and readers were provided with a well thought out message. The Hope Jar have woven the tale of two young women who have experienced tragedy and are at a crossroads in their lives. <br /><br />I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review but chose to since it was a great book! Thank you!", "timestamp": 1543091122534, "title": "The Hope Jar had a very good story line and was truly an inspiring story." }, { "asin": "0718083857", "rating": 4, "text": "Just about a year ago, I read and reviewed Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks. It was a great book, so when I received Formula of Deception from the Fiction Guild through my blogging relationship with them, I was happy. Because my TBR (to be read) stack was a little bigger than I wanted, I haven't had a chance to read this one until now even though it was published in July of this year.<br /><br />Protagonist, Murphy Andersen is hiding in rural Alaska on the run from a serial killer who is probably responsible for her twin sister’s disappearance might soon find her. <br /><br />She uses her artistic skills and fine sense of details and poses as a forensic artist, but she ends up finding herself in more danger than ever.<br /><br />Ms. Parks uses the interesting history of the Kodiak and Aleutian islands region around WWII, giving the story a very realistic feel making the story line even more thrilling.<br /><br />As I read more about Murphy’s character and as her history was revealed, I realized that I liked her character more and more. It became more clear to me as the story progressed that the author had some psychological elements in play, but I wasn't sure how that would pan out. The conversations with her dead sister that Murphy conducted in her head gave me a clue that there was something going on.<br /><br />I was completely engaged in the story line from the first page, and I thought for sure I could figure out the ending before the end of the book since I had experience in Ms. Parks' writing, but as it turned out, I wasn't prepared for how this book ended. This electrifying novel has twists and turns that will make readers awestruck when they discover how she fits it all together at the end.<br /><br />As an added plus, the author includes eight discussion questions to help get a book club discussion going, which is perfect for this fascinating read since it would definitely work well as a book club pick.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1543113513049, "title": "This electrifying novel has twists and turns that will make readers awestruck" }, { "asin": "0310348145", "rating": 4, "text": "Being a part of The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program provides with books to read (which I love to do) and the only requirement is that I have to share a report after I've read the book. As far as I'm concerned, it's a winning arrangement for me and my mother, who loves anything written about the Amish.<br /><br />Today's book is Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin, and it's the third book in the series, Every Amish Season. I've had the opportunity read the first book, Upon A Spring Breeze, and the second book, Beneath the Summer Sun by Kelly Irvin. (The fourth book, With Winter's First Frost, is being released in January, 2019, so you'll need to hurry and read this one!!)<br /><br />Mary Katherine is the mother of ten and it has been seven years since her husband, Moses died and she became a widow. She's full of energy and always ready to step in and help her friends around her Amish community. Her old school friend, Ezekiel Miller, offers Mary Katherine a position as a cook in his restaurant, The Purple Martin Café, named in honor of his late wife Lucy. She knows she should accept, but she doesn't really want to spend her time working in a kitchen. Mary Katherine's secret desire is to write and to own a bookstore with her English friend, but in the Amish community, the church elders want her to work in an Amish-owned store instead. <br /><br />Mary Katherine's oldest son is trying to convince her to move into his Dawdi house, but she is resistant. An English stranger breaks into Mary Katherine's house and proceeds to make himself a sandwich one autumn night. She doesn't call the sheriff, but instead she turns to Ezekiel for help. both Mary Katherine and Ezekiel realize that the stranger, Burke, needs help, so Ezekiel offers Burke a job at his restaurant.<br /><br />While this is book 3 of 4 in An Every Amish Season series, this book could be read as a stand-alone. I loved reading a story dealing with more mature characters and the challenges they faced. Ms. Irvin also added friendships between the Amish and the English that seemed very honest and were caring, respectful and realistic. <br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1544575510167, "title": "Ms. Irvin also added friendships between the Amish and the English that seemed very honest!" }, { "asin": "1683700619", "rating": 4, "text": "Rating 4.5 Stars!<br />The story line of Reason to Breathe is set in Missouri, and the story is about the lives of three sisters, Phylicia, Phee and Brit. Readers move through their pain as they lose their mother, and in another way, they lose their father, Turner, as he runs off to Florida, leaving the sisters struggling emotionally. <br /><br />Because this is book 1 in the Chandler Sisters series, this book is Phylicia Chandler’s story, but I definitely loved the dynamic between all three of the three sisters. I felt that they were thrown into such an uncertain situation, while trying to work through their grief over their mother’s death. The story also weaves hope in and out throughout the story. <br /><br />The sisters are very likable and relatable characters, and I was quickly drawn into this story because it felt so honest and real. As I got to the end, I will admit I was super excited to learn that the other two sisters will also have a story to tell in the next books in the series. <br /><br />Ms. Raney is a fantastic author and I've never read a book that she's written that I haven't loved! Those readers who enjoy inspirational and contemporary romance will definitely want to pick up a copy of Reason to Breathe to read before the second book is released!!<br /><br />I was provided with a courtesy copy of this book as part of the Just Read Tour in exchange my post. A positive review was not required.", "timestamp": 1544579561088, "title": "I was super excited that the other two sisters will also have a story to tell!" }, { "asin": "1683701496", "rating": 4, "text": "This story can truly renew your faith in humanity! Readers need be be warned: please make sure you read to the end for the epilogue, but be sure to have your tissues ready!<br /><br />This book and its story are great! I enjoyed it cover to cover, from beginning to end, and could barely be okay with it ending! It shares with readers the true meaning of Christmas. The author writes this story so that readers are put right in the middle of everything: the main character, Julia, an eleven-year-old girl, and a reclusive deaf man who has a gift of carving. I'll be honest, I think this movie is ready for Hallmark! I know it's a movie I would definitely watch!<br /><br />Thanks so much NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this story! It was great!", "timestamp": 1545535733908, "title": "This book and its story are great!" }, { "asin": "0529118734", "rating": 4, "text": "Thanks to my relationship with The Fiction Guild's Elite Reader Program, my mother and I have been lucky enough to be a part of reading and reviewing so many of Beth Wiseman's books! Today's post is about her latest book, Amish Celebrations: Four Novellas. Gloria (my mom) was originally planning to read and review this book for us, but because she hasn't healed enough from eye surgery and can't read yet, I was assigned the book:<br /><br />What I loved most about this collection of stories is that they are all written by one author. It makes the writing seamless from story to story. I liked that each story was written around a particular time of celebration - birthday, baptism, wedding and Christmas. <br /><br /> * In The Gift of Sisters, twins Hannah and Rachel both fall for a new guy in town, which makes for conflict between them. The story is great and I loved how Ms. Wiseman shows how lies can cause a friend or family member to question a person's reputation. She took a subject that all young women face and handled it with grace.<br /><br /> * In A New Beginning, you could tell right from the start that Noah was going to cause problems. When Noah experiences a bit of the English world, it causes him to forget about his fiance' Rebecca, and soon afterward the trouble follows. Ms. Wiseman shares how Noah struggles with his faith, as well as guilt, forgiveness and temptation. I loved the ending of this story and I also loved the very relatable characters.<br /><br /> ** In A Perfect Plan (also published in An Amish Wedding), Ms. Wiseman introduces us to Priscilla and Chester, a young couple about to be married. When things start to go wrong and they begin to face obstacles that had nothing to do with their love for each other, they both question if they are doing the right thing. Ms. Wiseman shows how we need to see that God's plan for us is bigger than our own and that we need to know that love will always endure.<br /><br /> * In A Christmas Miracle, Beth introduces us to Mary and Gabriel, who are a young couple with five small children finding it hard to cope with life’s challenges. They are doing the best they can but sometimes it's just too much for them. Mary feels like she just can't keep up and starts to doubt herself. I really loved how the Englisch couple, Bruce and Joan, came into Mary's life. To be honest, it's almost too hard to decide which couple made the most impact on the other, but I know they were all very blessed. The moral of this story is that it is okay to ask for help and to that help when it offered regardless of who is offering the help. This last novella doesn't show the Amish lifestyle superficially attractive way, but instead, it shows the strain of living under the rules of the Old Order.<br /><br />Amish Celebrations is a sweet celebration of stories. Each of the stories has its own unique twist and each one focuses on some kind of celebration. The stories are perfect for this time of year and the holiday season.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.", "timestamp": 1545869561726, "title": "The stories are perfect for this time of year and the holiday season." }, { "asin": "0785219269", "rating": 4, "text": "Rating 4.5 Stars!<br />I recently joined forces with the Read with Audra book blogging group, and today's post is part of a Blog Tour for the book, Who I Am with You by Robin Lee Hatcher. When I saw this book available, I knew I wanted to be part of the tour since my mother, Gloria and I both love so many of her previous books.<br /><br />Who I Am with You is the first book in Ms. Hatcher's Legacy of Faith series. Based on this book, I'll do a spoiler right here and tell you that I cannot wait for book 2 in this series! Now.... on to the book:<br /><br />Ridley and Jessica are a super fun couple, and I loved how they started off as friends and neighbors and then blossomed into being romantically interested in each other. Both Ridley and Jessica had their own trust issues because of recent betrayals they had both experienced. While the situations were different, they both had to work through their feelings in their own ways. I loved watching (reading) Jessica prepare her heart and home for the new baby.<br /><br />I won't lie, folks. there's a ton of grief in this book. My heart broke for Jessica because she had lost so much. She was grieving her physical loss and her emotional loss. It was nice to see her getting her life back together and that she had friends that were supportive. While Ridley's grief wasn't as difficult as Jessica's, he was still dealing with the parts of his life that he had lost. It was also great to see him be able to move forward after his hardships.<br /><br />Who I Am with You provided readers with a beautiful faith message and strong tones of forgiveness throughout the story, in both the present and the past stories. It was nice to see Andrew (from the past) jump into God’s word and apply it to his life despite extremely difficult times. It was clear that God called him to love and forgive.<br /><br />I really enjoyed traveling back and forth between the decades, and it was always fun traveling and returning. The transitions were very smooth and very easy to follow, which is always good in a dual timeline story. I highly recommend Who I Am with You -- it's a story you won’t want to put down. It was a very moving story, and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.<br /><br />I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from Audra Jennings PR in exchange for my post. I was not required to post a positive review. Thank you!", "timestamp": 1548124227880, "title": "t was a very moving story, and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series." }, { "asin": "0718085841", "rating": 4, "text": "Rating 4.5 Stars!<br /><br />As an avid reader, I have a very small list of my favorite authors. Today's book is by one of those authors: Secrets at Cedar Cabin by Colleen Coble is the third in her Lavender Tides series. I read the first book in this series, The View from Rainshadow Bay, and the second book, The House at Saltwater Point, so you know I've just been waiting for this book to be published since it's the end of this series. <br /><br />This book was another exciting installment of romance and suspense in the Lavender Tides series! This latest book ties up a few loose story plots from the previous two books, and fills in the story of Shauna's missing siblings that started in book one. I loved that all the characters from the other two books appeared in this book too.<br /><br />The back story is this: An earthquake hit the town of Lavender Tides, Washington and three children were separated from each other while they were at the grocery store with their mother. The earthquake sent their mom into labor and Olivia Fleming delivered the baby girl because she was a paramedic. Unfortunately, the baby's mother died during delivery. The oldest child was Shauna, whom readers met in the first book as she was raised by her father. Shauna found out years later that her brother was adopted by a family.<br /><br />In this story, Secrets at Cedar Cabin, readers meet the baby girl delivered during the earthquake, Bailey Fleming, who ended up being raised by the paramedic, Olivia Fleming. Olivia was murdered and she left Bailey some money and a note that she is in danger for her life as well. Bailey has a \"situation\" involving her rock star husband, Kyle Bearcraft, who seems to already be married to someone else. To keep her from telling her story with the media, Kyle gives Bailey the deed to a house in Lavender Tides, the Cedar Cabin. When someone tries to kill Bailey, she leaves Rock Harbor, Michigan and heads to Lavender Tides and to Cedar Cabin. <br /><br />Bailey is a great character in this story and once she arrives in Lavender Tides, she finds out more of her life has been a lie than she knew. She learns that her cabin has been used for human trafficking, which then brings FBI agent Lance Phoenix into her life. Lance has been working the case to try and rescue his sister, Ava, who was taken by the human trafficking ring when she ran away from home. Lance wonders if Bailey's story is even true when he crosses paths with her, and if she can somehow bring him in touch with his sister. <br /><br />I can't say whether or not this book would serve as a stand alone, having read the others before it. I would, though, recommend reading the first two in the series before beginning this one so that you can understand the backstory of all the characters and what is happening in their lives to bring them all to the point they find themselves in during this book. I was very pleased how all the loose ends from the entire series were tied up by the last page of this book!<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy from Thomas Nelson through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I was not required to write a positive review, but because this was another great book, I wanted to do so! The opinions I have expressed are my own!", "timestamp": 1550510526284, "title": "Great wrap up to the series!" }, { "asin": "031034817X", "rating": 4, "text": "Rating 4.5 Stars!<br /><br />Today's book is With Winter's First Frost by Kelly Irvin, and it's the fourth book in the series, Every Amish Season. When I saw it available for review on NetGalley, I knew I HAD to read it since I've already had the opportunity read the first book, Upon A Spring Breeze, the second book, Beneath the Summer Sun, and the third book, Through the Autumn Air.<br /><br />Usually my mother reads the books about the Amish that I receive, but she's having some medical issues with her eyes right now, so I have to step up and handle them. This book was released February 5th, so I wanted to be sure to get my post out for everyone.<br /><br />“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NRSV-CE<br /><br />The Every Amish Season series itself has been about a group of women who are all in different seasons of life. The women all differ by age and number of children, but they all share one thing in common – they have all lost their husbands and are now facing life after loss. This book will be the conclusion to this series.<br /><br />Laura Kauffman and Zechariah Stutzman are both in their 70's and have both lost their spouses. They have both faced loss and heartache, but perhaps they might face it together. Both Laura and Zechariah are strong and caring people who really want to feel needed and useful in their older years. As they got to know each other, I really enjoyed the banter between Laura and Zechariah, starting as acquaintances but developing into much more. <br /><br />Each of Laura and Zechariah's children are a bit overprotective of them and find it a struggle to figure out how to take care of them while at the same time allowing them to take care of themselves and to live their own lives. I really felt that the author did a great job of writing this story in a very caring and realistic way.<br /><br />While it's not totally necessary to read the entire series in order, if you have read the other books in the series, you will see appearances by the rest of the group of four widowed friends and their relationships are discussed from previous books. If you enjoy Amish fiction that provides an emphasis on family, faith and love, this will be the series for you.<br /><br />I received a complimentary advanced readers digital copy of this book from Zondervan through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to provide a positive review and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1550541915320, "title": "Amish fiction that provides an emphasis on family, faith and love" }, { "asin": "0800735277", "rating": 4, "text": "I was invited to join the Blog Tour Team for Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group for today's post about Courting Mr. Emerson by Melody Carlson. This is the first book by Ms. Carlson that I have read, and I found it to be a light easy read. I especially enjoyed the fact that the main characters were all in their late 50's -- seeing as I am in my late 50's, it made for a great connection.<br /><br />I could really relate with George Emerson, who is a bit OCD - set in his ways and enjoys a steady routine. Mr. Emerson, a retiring high school English teacher, finds myself at loose ends once retired. He has suffered great losses in his lifetime and has become closed off with his heart. Then there's Willow - a free spirited kind of woman raised by her parents who were \"hippies\" in their time. Her daughter has run off to be a groupie, and Willow is an artist who is raising her grandson. With her grandson's graduation coming up, Willow's daughter and her boyfriend return. Of course, the boyfriend leaves, and the daughter is stuck with no place to live and no financial way to survive.<br /><br />Courting Mr. Emerson allows readers to see how God can work in mysterious and unexpected ways! Readers will enjoy observing how this story plays out. As I said earlier, I really enjoyed the maturity of these characters and their life experiences making them who they already were. Both main characters - George and Willow - are very vibrant and well-written characters who are unique and realistic. I appreciated how the author guided readers to see how each of us has our own journey to understanding who God is and what He’s done for each of us, and how everything happens on His timeline instead of what we might expect or hope.<br /><br />I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group in exchange for this, my honest review. I was not required to post a positive review, but chose to.", "timestamp": 1552354800805, "title": "Shows readers how God can work in mysterious and unexpected ways!" } ]

[ { "asin": "1414340125", "rating": 5, "text": "What a great second novel from C.J. Darlington. Bound By Guilt is the sequel to her first novel, Thicker than Blood, though it can be read alone. I loved her first book and couldn't wait to read this one and it did not let me down. I look forward to reading more books from her.<br /><br />Roxi is living with her mom's cousin, Irene, and Irene's son Diego who travel the country stealing rare books and selling them for cash. When a robbery goes wrong, Roxi chooses to run. It is than she meets Jan and her husband who take her in and show her love and acceptance, something she has not known in the past.<br /><br />Guilt is the central theme to this novel and how it can consume you and that the only escape from it is the truth. Roxi is bound by the guilt of being an accomplice to a robbery and a murder. Abby can't escape the guilt that she thinks she failed as a wife, a mother and a cop. These characters must learn how to accept the truth, admit it in order to be free. We are reunited with May and Christy from Thicker than Blood and are introduced to some new and wonderful characters.", "timestamp": 1310173976000, "title": "A fantastic second novel!!!" }, { "asin": "1414335970", "rating": 5, "text": "Forsaking All Others is the sequel and conclusion to For Time and Eternity and I both books are amazing to read. This book being a sequel I highly recommend reading the first one before it as this one picks up right where the first left off. In all reality they could be one book. It would be very confusing to try to read this book by itself.<br /><br />Camilla Fox who had just left home in the first book was caught in a snowstorm, the good news is that she is alive and currently with the US Army under Colonel Charles Brandon. After many months of healing from the affects of being in the snowstorm the Colonel helps her return to Salt Lake City to see her children she left behind while waiting for spring to be able back to her parents home in Missouri.<br /><br />While back in Utah, things are harder then she was expecting but eventually finds a way to escape and head to Missouri, again with the help of the Colonel. Finally back home she builds her strength and her case to legally divorce Nathan and claim her children. Will Camilla find the freedom she needs? Will she be able to bring her children home and raise them in her faith, not the Mormom faith?<br /><br />I loved this book, as well as the first, and found myself not wanting to put the books down. They are such a great story of standing for your faith and not backing down. I would recommend this book to everyone. Defiantly a 5 star book, if not higher!<br /><br />I received this book from Tyndale through the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1316801705000, "title": "What a story!" }, { "asin": "076420498X", "rating": 5, "text": "What if real life becomes more adventuresome, more romantic, and more engaging than fictional stories? This is what happens to Alice Ripley who has been living with her nose stuck in a book and barely paying attention to the world around her. When her boyfriend breaks up with her and she loses her job at the library during the depression she decided to up and go to Acorn, Kentucky to deliver books that her town as donated. What she finds in Acorn is so much more than a library in need of books. She finds true friendship, love, adventure, and an interest in life outside of books.<br /><br />I found this book to be amazing, it has so much depth to the characters and the stories of their lives fascinated me. As much as the story was about Alice it was also about the many residents of Acorn. Lynn Austin is such a gifted and talented writer and brought so much excitement in this book, she wrote with vivid detail that I could picture myself right along side Alice. She also filled the book with so many twists and turns that once I thought I knew what was going to happen something changed.<br /><br />This is the type of book that I would recommend to everyone since it has something for all: history, romance, adventure, and even some suspense. This is definitely a 5 star book!<br /><br />I recieved this book from the publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for my honest review! Thank you Bethany House!", "timestamp": 1318006598000, "title": "What an Adventure!!!!!" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 4, "text": "I found myself really enjoying this book. I had never heard of the author was excited to get to read someone new to me. This book did not disappoint. Though I will say the start of the book (first few chapters) was a little slow and confusing since the author was setting the backdrop of the story and introducing the many characters. Once the story got going and you knew who was who I found the book hard to put down. I definitely would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery, suspense book with a little romance mixed in. I would say this is a 4 star book!<br /><br />I received this book from Kregel in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1319830437000, "title": "A fast paced suspense book!" }, { "asin": "0764208330", "rating": 5, "text": "I loved this book, every single page of it. I found myself drawn into it from the very beginning and kept reading to the end and never stopped loving the story. If you have ever played the Oregon Trail game this book reminded me of my childhood (ok and adulthood) days of playing that game since the story is set during that time of going out west to Oregon.<br /><br />Jody Hedlund does a great job at telling the story, which she actually based partially on real people and history (which makes the best kind of historical). She made is feel like you were right with the characters. I can not wait to read more from her. Great job, Jody!<br /><br />* I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Bethany House!", "timestamp": 1321841585000, "title": "The Oregan Trail game comes to Life in this amazing story" }, { "asin": "0764208942", "rating": 5, "text": "Let me begin, that I love the cover of this book. That alone would make me want to read this book. Then when I read the back of the book it made me even want to read it more. The great thing is that once I started this book I couldn't put it down, it was that good. Lady of Bolton Hill is Elizabeth Camden's debut book and you would think she is a seasoned author with this book, it really is that good. I will be looking forward to reading her second book, The Rose on Winslow Street which comes out in January 2012. Good thing I do not have to wait long!<br /><br />Clara Endicott has just returned to her Baltimore home after many years in London. While in London she developed into fine journalist defending the poor and seeking reform. Now that she is back home she is just as determined to defend those that need it most. It is also when she is reunited with her childhood best friend, Daniel Tremain. The only problem is Daniel has a grudge he just won't let go of and this grudge has the potential to both him and Clara in danger. Clara believes that Daniel needs God's grace and forgiveness to be able to move forward. Will Daniel be able to accept God's grace?<br /><br />This is a great book, full of romance and adventure, you won't regret reading it. So if you are in the mood for a good book that will keep you turning pages well into the middle of the night than this is the book for you. Great job Elizabeth Camden!<br /><br />*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1324173402000, "title": "Elizabeth Camden brings a spectacular debut book to the market!" }, { "asin": "1414334834", "rating": 5, "text": "What would it be like to not remember how you got to where you were? That is what Noelle is about to discover when she is in a bad accident that on the outside leaves very few injuries but on the inside she can not remember the last twenty five years of her life. Her husband Eli, their children and the tragedy from three years ago are gone from her mind and now she needs to figure out who she is, who they are and what happened. Secrets will be uncovered and in the end trust and faith is what they need for healing to begin.<br /><br />The Shadow of Your Smile is book five in Susan May Warren's popular Deep Haven series and while I have not read the others (which now I can not wait to do so) I was able to enjoy this story. It was have been nice to have read the others so I would know all the back stories and would get that feeling like I was visiting with dear friends. Susan May Warren is a very gifted storyteller and draws the reader in with an intriguing plot filled with characters that will make you both laugh and cry. This book is filled with hope, rediscovery, love, faithfulness and trust. So many lessons can be learned by reading this book. As much as I loved this book it is not for everyone. This is not a light and fluffy book, it deals with some tough issues: loss of a child, divorce, amnesia and more. I give this book a solid 5 stars!<br /><br />*I received this book through Litfuse for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1327635981000, "title": "A great read!" }, { "asin": "0800720741", "rating": 4, "text": "Where Wildflowers Bloom is book on in Ann Shorey's new Sisters at Heart series. It is set in post Civil War and the characters are trying to deal with life after the war. This book touches on the condition we know today as PTSD but back then it was called solider's heart.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading this book though it is somewhat predictable like so many books are but that doesn't take away the enjoyment of the story. Ann Shorey did a great job at making the characters feel real. They had real feelings and were trying to figure out how to cope with life. The characters in this book came alive as well as the setting. I could picture myself visiting this town and have that feeling that I am visiting friends. I love books that are able to transport you to the time and place and this book does just that. This is a great book for anyone who loves historical fiction, or a great first book into the this genre. I would give this book a solid 4 stars and will look forward to reading more book in the series.<br /><br />* I received this book from Revell for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1327680208000, "title": "A post civil war historical fiction!" }, { "asin": "0800720075", "rating": 4, "text": "Warning: this book will make you mad! Okay, mad in that you will want to read the second book right away and not have to wait till fall 2012. Now that the warning is over, I loved this book. It was such a fun adventure that kept me guessing who did, what happened to one of the characters and how things would work out. Things did not wrap up like I expected at all, and at the end I almost through the book across the room since there was a huge cliffhanger and I wanted to know what happened. I really enjoyed reading about Alexia's story and trying to find out who is wanting her dead and how the detective will fall into her life. As much as this book is fun there is some real depth to the story as well. Forgiveness, loving others through protecting even when its hard and being honest are all things the characters need to learn as well as God's love for them. This is the first book from Lynette Eason that I have read and will be reading more in the future. I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1329070051000, "title": "What an adventure" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 4, "text": "What a sweet and fun romance story. Beauty for Ashes is Dorothy Love's second Hickok Ridge Novel but is easily read on its own. After reading it I would like to read the other one day. The book is set after the Civil war is over and the main character Carrie Daly has lost her husband to it and does not know what to do now. She has always longed for a family and that seems so hopeless now. Though there is one man that she just may be able to fall in love with, Griff. Follow in Carrie's story and watch these two fall in love in this book. The main theme of this book is that God works all things for the good and He will being beauty for ashes. What a great promise! This is a great book for anyone who enjoys a sweet, simple, historical, Christian romance. This is the kind of book I think is great to read on the beach since there is not as much depth and reminder of the real world in it.<br /><br />* I received this book through booksneeze for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1329318611000, "title": "Sweet and Fun" }, { "asin": "0800720458", "rating": 4, "text": "Words Spoken True by Ann H. Gabhart is a delightful story set in 1850's Louisville during a time of political unrest. While the story is entirely fiction the history of the time period is fairly accurate and that makes this story interesting. This book is full of a lot including dueling newspapers, an unusual engagement, the mystery of the river slasher killing young Irish girls and more. There is a ton of romantic tension with Adriane Darcy and her strange engagement to Stanley and her draw to Blake Garret who works for the rival newspaper.<br /><br />While this book had an intriguing plot, a setting that is not as commonly written in and many twists and turns I found my self having a hard time getting into the book. I found the first third of the book to move very slowly and I am the type of person that wants to be grabbed from page one. I will say I loved the setting of the story and hope to see more books written during that time period in the future. Also, the cover is spectacular! In conclusion, this is a great story in the end and is worth sticking it with it. Final rating 3.9 out of 5.<br /><br />* Thank you Revell for providing me a copy of the book in return for my honest opinion.<br /><br />**Available February 2012 from Revell, a division of Baker Publishers**", "timestamp": 1330189062000, "title": "A slow start with a good end" }, { "asin": "0800732138", "rating": 5, "text": "Julie Lessman has written another fantastic novel about the very passionate O'Connor family and takes you on a grand adventure. Once I started this book I had a very hard time putting it down and found myself reading over half of it (480 page book) in one night! I may have lost some sleep due to it but it was so worth it and I would do it again. The twists and turns that Julie takes you on is very similar to riding the most twisty roller coaster you can think of. There is no way of predicting how the story will play out and that is what makes it fun to read. Predictable is boring and boring is one word that will never describe a Julie Lessman book! There are so many things I loved about this book including seeing Lizzie and John Brady fall in love, John dealing with his past, everything about Charity and so much more. Way to go Julie on another amazing book!<br /><br />A Passion Denied is book three in Julie Lessman's Daughters of Boston series and don't even consider reading these books out of order. If you have not read this trilogy yet don't walk but run to your nearest christian bookstore and pick up these wonderful books filled with so much passion, both romantic and spiritual and discover this amazing family! This is definitely a 10 start book out of 5 stars!", "timestamp": 1330622423000, "title": "Another winner by Julie Lessman" }, { "asin": "0800719859", "rating": 3, "text": "Heart's Safe Passage is the second book in Laurie Alice Eakes Midwives series but stands along rather well. I did not have time to read book one, Lady in the Mist, and was able to follow along really well. I think that it helps that most of the book is set on a ship and so the main characters from the first book play a very very small role in this book. Laurie Alice Eakes does a great job at setting a story just about entirely on a ship and keeping it interesting and weaves together a romance of two very different people. I sadly though did not find this to be a favorite book. I had a hard time getting into the story and staying focused on it. I know we all read book that we love and ones that we don't and in the end it is only our personal opinion. Just because I did not care for it does not mean others won't like it either. It is heartbreaking to not like a book that you looked forward to reading. Oh, before I forget the cover is stunning and really helps set the setting. Final rating 3.5 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1330804496000, "title": "A romance on the high seas" }, { "asin": "1609362187", "rating": 5, "text": "What a fantastic book this was! I loved every minute of it and found myself not wanting to put it down which is most likely why I read it within a day. Heiress is book one of Susan May Warren's Daughters of Fortune series and it is one not to be missed!<br /><br />Glamour, glitz, power, wealth, but where is the love. All Esme and Jinx want is to be loved,by there father and a husband when the time comes but set in the world of Mrs. Astors 400 in the early 1900's makes this hard if not impossible. Will Esme and Jinx find the love they are seeking while be surrounded by clouds of lies? This book took my emotions on a roller coaster from the first page to the last. This is not your normal happy, happy book, for many parts it is down right heartbreaking but so true for that society. A society where women are meant to plan parties, produce heirs and run the house while the men do as they please. Through it all the women take joy in their children and want it to be better for them in the future. This is a solid 5 star book and I can not wait to read the next in the series, Baroness.<br /><br />* I received this book through the author and Amy Lathrop for the pupose of this review, an honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you!", "timestamp": 1331072313000, "title": "wow what a story!" }, { "asin": "1595549153", "rating": 4, "text": "I just loved this book. It was so much fun to read and at many times I found myself laughing out loud. Watching Lucy and Nate figure out how to love each other, live with each other and work alongside one another was downright funny. They each had so much to learn from each other and about each other but with God and time they learn they are perfect for each other. On top of the budding romance Colleen throws in the mystery of what really happened to Lucy's father. Oh the twists and turns this book takes and in the end it is nothing like what was expected. Colleen Coble tells a western tale set in 1877 Texas that weaves together romance, mystery, secrets, lies and humor. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5!", "timestamp": 1331308543000, "title": "Romance and Humor in Texas!" }, { "asin": "0764207865", "rating": 5, "text": "As soon as I got this book in the mail yesterday I could not wait to read it. The cover is so beautiful and so I settled down to read it, though not planning to end up finishing it within the day. Sadie Wagner's character just fascinated me and drew me right in. I could feel her emotions of having to leave her family in order to provide for them or when she was wrestling with what to do do about a certain situation. I can't forget to mention the Melva and Shelva Baxter, the twin sisters that own the mercantile and take Sadie in, they are a hoot!! Most scenes that involved them had me laughing. Kim Vogel Sawyer weaves together a very interesting plot with many little details that keep the story going and make it more than a simple love story, actually it is no where near simple. There is also an excellent message in this book about how when you choose what goes against your morals and how it leads to a guilty conscience.<br /><br />I have read several of Kim Vogel Sawyer's books and this one is one of her best and would highly recommend it to any one who enjoys a good historical romance filled with laughter, faith, romance and more. Final rating 5 stars out of 5!<br /><br />*Thank you Bethany House for providing me with this copy in return for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1332255136000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "0764208101", "rating": 5, "text": "What a fantastic contemporary novel. This is my first book from Ann Tatlock but I know I will reading more. It pulled me from page one and I had a very hard time putting it down and found myself reading it within a day. I loved how this story was so much to do about healing and forgiveness. I loved Jane's character and wondered many times if I would have the same determination to honor a commitment as she did. She had to deal with life changing circumstances and in the end things worked out so great. I really enjoyed how Ann ended the book and the end was even better than I was hoping.<br /><br />Ann Tatlock weaves together a beautiful story set in the upcountry of North Carolina and will pull you in and make you feel what the characters are feeling. If you loved a great contemporary novel then look no further you have found your book.<br /><br />*With thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book to review, and honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you Ann!", "timestamp": 1335725032000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "1414339143", "rating": 4, "text": "Skip Rock Shallows by Jan Watson takes readers into a small coal town where at first the idea of a lady doctor is rejects. Only after saving a young miner she starts to win there trust but even then it is slow and not all want her there. Though there are many residents who become very fond of her and she of them. Throughout the story Lilly faces many battles and wrestles with what to do with the future. Should she stay in Skip Rock or go home to Boston? Then there is the character from her past, who is he and why is he so familiar. Lilly will not only have to face the future but the past as well but she is one strong lady with a trust in God that will help through all she does. Join Lilly and the cast of characters in this fun novel.<br /><br />This book for me was fun to read and I enjoyed meeting all the residents of Skip Rock but the only thing for me was it never fully drew me in. I was easily able to set it down for awhile and come back to it. I am definitely glad I read it and would recommend it to those who love book about lady doctors in a time where that was not common. Overall good job Jan Watson!<br /><br />* I received this book through Tyndale for the purpose of this review. My honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you Tyndale.", "timestamp": 1338479104000, "title": "Charming" }, { "asin": "0800734378", "rating": 3, "text": "I was very hesitant to read this book after reading book one, Chasing Sunsets, which I did not like at all. I was pleasantly surprised that this book was so much better and I found it hard to believe that they are in the same series and written by the same author. Waiting for Sunrise tells Patsy's story, who was a secondary character in book one, but is set the past and there is only one chapter that even references anything from the first book. That makes this book great as a stand alone. While I enjoyed reading this book, that did not take me long at all to read, I can't say it was a favorite. In the end it felt very anti-climatic and really kept a sad tone throughout the book. It does deal with some heavy issues such as mental illness in the 1960's. I do want to put out a warning that I can't really say that it is a christian book, while there was no language or other moral issues there was no real faith aspect to it all, a reference here and there. In the end, I am not really sure what I think, and it left me wanting more.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell Books for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1339535398000, "title": "Anti-Climatic" }, { "asin": "1414333064", "rating": 4, "text": "Dry as Rain is Gina Holmes second novel. This book centers around infidelity. The themes of the book are the truth, forgiveness and second chances.<br /><br />Eric and Kyra have been married for 20 years and have one son, Benji, who dreams are crushed by being medically discharged from the Navy. When Kyra discovers an e-mail that Eric sent to another women her fears that he is having and affair come to reality. Just separated, Kyra is in an accident and when awake has lost some of her memories. Eric is excited that he gets a second chance with wife that he realizes that he truly does love and doesn't want to leave. As Kyra begins to gain more and more memories back Erick struggles with the truth of what happened between them and if he should tell her or allow her to remember on her own.<br /><br />While I loved her debut novel, I did not find that this one was as strong. I found the story to move a little slow and needed more depth to really feel the pain, struggle, and hope of the characters.", "timestamp": 1339539619000, "title": "An enjoyable read" }, { "asin": "1616387157", "rating": 4, "text": "The Anniversary Waltz by Darrel Nelson is a sweet romance set in the 1940's after World War II has ended. This is Darrel's debut novel and he does a great a job at telling the story and making the romance feel real. I enjoyed how the story felt more realistic then a fluffy love story like many romance stories are. Actually, Darrel mentions in the back of the book that the story is loosely based on his family history, though the story at large is fiction. I found this to be an easy and enjoyable read and was able to finish it easily within a day. This is another fine example that not just women can write wonderful romances. Great job Darrel. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a good, clean and sweet romance story.<br /><br />* I received this book through Glass Roads Blog Tours for the purpose of this review, my honest opinion was all that was requested.", "timestamp": 1340209360000, "title": "Sweet" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "4.5 stars<br /><br />Vicious Cycle by Terri Blackstock is book 2 in the Intervention Series and while it is great to know what happened in the first book you can easily read this book on its own. Like the first book, Intervention, this book reads fast and is hard to put down once you start. I really enjoyed this story and Terri Blackstock had me guessing all the way to the end.<br /><br />I enjoyed following Lance, Barbara and Emily's life and enjoyed the different case that took place in this book. The over arching theme of addictions is still there but this time there is more than just that going on in this book. The only thing I didn't like about the book is it is heart wrenching watching the characters struggle so much with their addictions...it is just so sad how many people out there that are trapped in that vicious cycle of addictions.<br /><br />I would recommend this book to anyone who like a a good suspense story but is not afraid of the tough issues presented in the book.<br /><br />* I received this book through Zondervan for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1340827551000, "title": "Couldn't put it down" }, { "asin": "1595547819", "rating": 4, "text": "4 Stars<br /><br />Beach, mystery, secluded island, romance and so much more is found in Colleen Coble's newest book, Tidewater Inn. This book is the first book in her new Hope Beach series and I am now anxiously waiting for the next one to be released. I loved the setting of this book and the cover of the book helps set it too. I could picture the location and the super super small town that exists. It sounds like such a peaceful and relaxing place. All the characters in this book were fun to read about and came alive on the pages. I really enjoyed the mystery portion and was hard to figure out what was going to happen next which is great. Overall this is a great book for everyone and would make a great beach read.<br /><br />*I received this book through booksneeze.com for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1341965035000, "title": "Great Beach Mystery" }, { "asin": "1401685617", "rating": 5, "text": "WOW, what an amazing and powerful book. Robert Whitlow hit the what to about about a teen pregnancy so great and portrayed adoption and abortion without being preachy. In the end he really makes you think and personally he showed a beautiful side to adoption which does not always happen. I really enjoyed the character of Sandy in the book and really felt for her and she had to make one of the hardest decisions of her life. A decision that while great, still brings consequences and is something you never entirely get over. Overall I would recommend this book to everyone since it is such a powerful story that makes you think but is also enjoyable to read at the same time. :)<br /><br />* I received this book through Booksneeze.com for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1343603421000, "title": "Powerful" }, { "asin": "1414333218", "rating": 4, "text": "Powerful, riveting and so much more. This is the the first book I read from Randy Singer and I know I will be reading more in the future. Legal thrillers are not always my first choice but every once in a while I enjoy them for a change. The Last Plea Bargain pulled me in and kept me guessing. I have heard Randy Singer compared to John Grisham and while I have not read John Grisham it is definently an honor to Randy Singer to be compared to him. The nice part of the book is that it is published in the CBA realm so it avoids the language and sex of mainstream novels and its nice to read books with the Christian view point. Overall good job Randy Singer on an excellent book!", "timestamp": 1346170910000, "title": "Legal Thriller genre at its best" }, { "asin": "1414348649", "rating": 4, "text": "Attracted to Fire is the second book I ave read by DiAnn Mills and I personally liked this one a lot better. The other book I read was The Fire in Ember and while it was good it wasn't anything special and I found it slow. With that said I was a little hesitant to try another book from this author but I am glad I did since this one was a lot better. I am not sure if the genre suits her more or it was just the book but I found it really enjoyable. I have found that I really enjoy romantic suspense and this book kept me engaged. I really enjoyed the mystery part and found myself trying to guess what will happen and that changed many times. Overall great page turner DiAnn Mills and now I know I will be reading more from her in the future.", "timestamp": 1346201504000, "title": "Page Turner" } ]

[ { "asin": "1414340125", "rating": 5, "text": "What a great second novel from C.J. Darlington. Bound By Guilt is the sequel to her first novel, Thicker than Blood, though it can be read alone. I loved her first book and couldn't wait to read this one and it did not let me down. I look forward to reading more books from her.<br /><br />Roxi is living with her mom's cousin, Irene, and Irene's son Diego who travel the country stealing rare books and selling them for cash. When a robbery goes wrong, Roxi chooses to run. It is than she meets Jan and her husband who take her in and show her love and acceptance, something she has not known in the past.<br /><br />Guilt is the central theme to this novel and how it can consume you and that the only escape from it is the truth. Roxi is bound by the guilt of being an accomplice to a robbery and a murder. Abby can't escape the guilt that she thinks she failed as a wife, a mother and a cop. These characters must learn how to accept the truth, admit it in order to be free. We are reunited with May and Christy from Thicker than Blood and are introduced to some new and wonderful characters.", "timestamp": 1310173976000, "title": "A fantastic second novel!!!" }, { "asin": "1414335970", "rating": 5, "text": "Forsaking All Others is the sequel and conclusion to For Time and Eternity and I both books are amazing to read. This book being a sequel I highly recommend reading the first one before it as this one picks up right where the first left off. In all reality they could be one book. It would be very confusing to try to read this book by itself.<br /><br />Camilla Fox who had just left home in the first book was caught in a snowstorm, the good news is that she is alive and currently with the US Army under Colonel Charles Brandon. After many months of healing from the affects of being in the snowstorm the Colonel helps her return to Salt Lake City to see her children she left behind while waiting for spring to be able back to her parents home in Missouri.<br /><br />While back in Utah, things are harder then she was expecting but eventually finds a way to escape and head to Missouri, again with the help of the Colonel. Finally back home she builds her strength and her case to legally divorce Nathan and claim her children. Will Camilla find the freedom she needs? Will she be able to bring her children home and raise them in her faith, not the Mormom faith?<br /><br />I loved this book, as well as the first, and found myself not wanting to put the books down. They are such a great story of standing for your faith and not backing down. I would recommend this book to everyone. Defiantly a 5 star book, if not higher!<br /><br />I received this book from Tyndale through the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1316801705000, "title": "What a story!" }, { "asin": "076420498X", "rating": 5, "text": "What if real life becomes more adventuresome, more romantic, and more engaging than fictional stories? This is what happens to Alice Ripley who has been living with her nose stuck in a book and barely paying attention to the world around her. When her boyfriend breaks up with her and she loses her job at the library during the depression she decided to up and go to Acorn, Kentucky to deliver books that her town as donated. What she finds in Acorn is so much more than a library in need of books. She finds true friendship, love, adventure, and an interest in life outside of books.<br /><br />I found this book to be amazing, it has so much depth to the characters and the stories of their lives fascinated me. As much as the story was about Alice it was also about the many residents of Acorn. Lynn Austin is such a gifted and talented writer and brought so much excitement in this book, she wrote with vivid detail that I could picture myself right along side Alice. She also filled the book with so many twists and turns that once I thought I knew what was going to happen something changed.<br /><br />This is the type of book that I would recommend to everyone since it has something for all: history, romance, adventure, and even some suspense. This is definitely a 5 star book!<br /><br />I recieved this book from the publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for my honest review! Thank you Bethany House!", "timestamp": 1318006598000, "title": "What an Adventure!!!!!" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 4, "text": "I found myself really enjoying this book. I had never heard of the author was excited to get to read someone new to me. This book did not disappoint. Though I will say the start of the book (first few chapters) was a little slow and confusing since the author was setting the backdrop of the story and introducing the many characters. Once the story got going and you knew who was who I found the book hard to put down. I definitely would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery, suspense book with a little romance mixed in. I would say this is a 4 star book!<br /><br />I received this book from Kregel in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1319830437000, "title": "A fast paced suspense book!" }, { "asin": "0764208330", "rating": 5, "text": "I loved this book, every single page of it. I found myself drawn into it from the very beginning and kept reading to the end and never stopped loving the story. If you have ever played the Oregon Trail game this book reminded me of my childhood (ok and adulthood) days of playing that game since the story is set during that time of going out west to Oregon.<br /><br />Jody Hedlund does a great job at telling the story, which she actually based partially on real people and history (which makes the best kind of historical). She made is feel like you were right with the characters. I can not wait to read more from her. Great job, Jody!<br /><br />* I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Bethany House!", "timestamp": 1321841585000, "title": "The Oregan Trail game comes to Life in this amazing story" }, { "asin": "0764208942", "rating": 5, "text": "Let me begin, that I love the cover of this book. That alone would make me want to read this book. Then when I read the back of the book it made me even want to read it more. The great thing is that once I started this book I couldn't put it down, it was that good. Lady of Bolton Hill is Elizabeth Camden's debut book and you would think she is a seasoned author with this book, it really is that good. I will be looking forward to reading her second book, The Rose on Winslow Street which comes out in January 2012. Good thing I do not have to wait long!<br /><br />Clara Endicott has just returned to her Baltimore home after many years in London. While in London she developed into fine journalist defending the poor and seeking reform. Now that she is back home she is just as determined to defend those that need it most. It is also when she is reunited with her childhood best friend, Daniel Tremain. The only problem is Daniel has a grudge he just won't let go of and this grudge has the potential to both him and Clara in danger. Clara believes that Daniel needs God's grace and forgiveness to be able to move forward. Will Daniel be able to accept God's grace?<br /><br />This is a great book, full of romance and adventure, you won't regret reading it. So if you are in the mood for a good book that will keep you turning pages well into the middle of the night than this is the book for you. Great job Elizabeth Camden!<br /><br />*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1324173402000, "title": "Elizabeth Camden brings a spectacular debut book to the market!" }, { "asin": "1414334834", "rating": 5, "text": "What would it be like to not remember how you got to where you were? That is what Noelle is about to discover when she is in a bad accident that on the outside leaves very few injuries but on the inside she can not remember the last twenty five years of her life. Her husband Eli, their children and the tragedy from three years ago are gone from her mind and now she needs to figure out who she is, who they are and what happened. Secrets will be uncovered and in the end trust and faith is what they need for healing to begin.<br /><br />The Shadow of Your Smile is book five in Susan May Warren's popular Deep Haven series and while I have not read the others (which now I can not wait to do so) I was able to enjoy this story. It was have been nice to have read the others so I would know all the back stories and would get that feeling like I was visiting with dear friends. Susan May Warren is a very gifted storyteller and draws the reader in with an intriguing plot filled with characters that will make you both laugh and cry. This book is filled with hope, rediscovery, love, faithfulness and trust. So many lessons can be learned by reading this book. As much as I loved this book it is not for everyone. This is not a light and fluffy book, it deals with some tough issues: loss of a child, divorce, amnesia and more. I give this book a solid 5 stars!<br /><br />*I received this book through Litfuse for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1327635981000, "title": "A great read!" }, { "asin": "0800720741", "rating": 4, "text": "Where Wildflowers Bloom is book on in Ann Shorey's new Sisters at Heart series. It is set in post Civil War and the characters are trying to deal with life after the war. This book touches on the condition we know today as PTSD but back then it was called solider's heart.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading this book though it is somewhat predictable like so many books are but that doesn't take away the enjoyment of the story. Ann Shorey did a great job at making the characters feel real. They had real feelings and were trying to figure out how to cope with life. The characters in this book came alive as well as the setting. I could picture myself visiting this town and have that feeling that I am visiting friends. I love books that are able to transport you to the time and place and this book does just that. This is a great book for anyone who loves historical fiction, or a great first book into the this genre. I would give this book a solid 4 stars and will look forward to reading more book in the series.<br /><br />* I received this book from Revell for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1327680208000, "title": "A post civil war historical fiction!" }, { "asin": "0800720075", "rating": 4, "text": "Warning: this book will make you mad! Okay, mad in that you will want to read the second book right away and not have to wait till fall 2012. Now that the warning is over, I loved this book. It was such a fun adventure that kept me guessing who did, what happened to one of the characters and how things would work out. Things did not wrap up like I expected at all, and at the end I almost through the book across the room since there was a huge cliffhanger and I wanted to know what happened. I really enjoyed reading about Alexia's story and trying to find out who is wanting her dead and how the detective will fall into her life. As much as this book is fun there is some real depth to the story as well. Forgiveness, loving others through protecting even when its hard and being honest are all things the characters need to learn as well as God's love for them. This is the first book from Lynette Eason that I have read and will be reading more in the future. I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1329070051000, "title": "What an adventure" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 4, "text": "What a sweet and fun romance story. Beauty for Ashes is Dorothy Love's second Hickok Ridge Novel but is easily read on its own. After reading it I would like to read the other one day. The book is set after the Civil war is over and the main character Carrie Daly has lost her husband to it and does not know what to do now. She has always longed for a family and that seems so hopeless now. Though there is one man that she just may be able to fall in love with, Griff. Follow in Carrie's story and watch these two fall in love in this book. The main theme of this book is that God works all things for the good and He will being beauty for ashes. What a great promise! This is a great book for anyone who enjoys a sweet, simple, historical, Christian romance. This is the kind of book I think is great to read on the beach since there is not as much depth and reminder of the real world in it.<br /><br />* I received this book through booksneeze for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1329318611000, "title": "Sweet and Fun" }, { "asin": "0800720458", "rating": 4, "text": "Words Spoken True by Ann H. Gabhart is a delightful story set in 1850's Louisville during a time of political unrest. While the story is entirely fiction the history of the time period is fairly accurate and that makes this story interesting. This book is full of a lot including dueling newspapers, an unusual engagement, the mystery of the river slasher killing young Irish girls and more. There is a ton of romantic tension with Adriane Darcy and her strange engagement to Stanley and her draw to Blake Garret who works for the rival newspaper.<br /><br />While this book had an intriguing plot, a setting that is not as commonly written in and many twists and turns I found my self having a hard time getting into the book. I found the first third of the book to move very slowly and I am the type of person that wants to be grabbed from page one. I will say I loved the setting of the story and hope to see more books written during that time period in the future. Also, the cover is spectacular! In conclusion, this is a great story in the end and is worth sticking it with it. Final rating 3.9 out of 5.<br /><br />* Thank you Revell for providing me a copy of the book in return for my honest opinion.<br /><br />**Available February 2012 from Revell, a division of Baker Publishers**", "timestamp": 1330189062000, "title": "A slow start with a good end" }, { "asin": "0800732138", "rating": 5, "text": "Julie Lessman has written another fantastic novel about the very passionate O'Connor family and takes you on a grand adventure. Once I started this book I had a very hard time putting it down and found myself reading over half of it (480 page book) in one night! I may have lost some sleep due to it but it was so worth it and I would do it again. The twists and turns that Julie takes you on is very similar to riding the most twisty roller coaster you can think of. There is no way of predicting how the story will play out and that is what makes it fun to read. Predictable is boring and boring is one word that will never describe a Julie Lessman book! There are so many things I loved about this book including seeing Lizzie and John Brady fall in love, John dealing with his past, everything about Charity and so much more. Way to go Julie on another amazing book!<br /><br />A Passion Denied is book three in Julie Lessman's Daughters of Boston series and don't even consider reading these books out of order. If you have not read this trilogy yet don't walk but run to your nearest christian bookstore and pick up these wonderful books filled with so much passion, both romantic and spiritual and discover this amazing family! This is definitely a 10 start book out of 5 stars!", "timestamp": 1330622423000, "title": "Another winner by Julie Lessman" }, { "asin": "0800719859", "rating": 3, "text": "Heart's Safe Passage is the second book in Laurie Alice Eakes Midwives series but stands along rather well. I did not have time to read book one, Lady in the Mist, and was able to follow along really well. I think that it helps that most of the book is set on a ship and so the main characters from the first book play a very very small role in this book. Laurie Alice Eakes does a great job at setting a story just about entirely on a ship and keeping it interesting and weaves together a romance of two very different people. I sadly though did not find this to be a favorite book. I had a hard time getting into the story and staying focused on it. I know we all read book that we love and ones that we don't and in the end it is only our personal opinion. Just because I did not care for it does not mean others won't like it either. It is heartbreaking to not like a book that you looked forward to reading. Oh, before I forget the cover is stunning and really helps set the setting. Final rating 3.5 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1330804496000, "title": "A romance on the high seas" }, { "asin": "1609362187", "rating": 5, "text": "What a fantastic book this was! I loved every minute of it and found myself not wanting to put it down which is most likely why I read it within a day. Heiress is book one of Susan May Warren's Daughters of Fortune series and it is one not to be missed!<br /><br />Glamour, glitz, power, wealth, but where is the love. All Esme and Jinx want is to be loved,by there father and a husband when the time comes but set in the world of Mrs. Astors 400 in the early 1900's makes this hard if not impossible. Will Esme and Jinx find the love they are seeking while be surrounded by clouds of lies? This book took my emotions on a roller coaster from the first page to the last. This is not your normal happy, happy book, for many parts it is down right heartbreaking but so true for that society. A society where women are meant to plan parties, produce heirs and run the house while the men do as they please. Through it all the women take joy in their children and want it to be better for them in the future. This is a solid 5 star book and I can not wait to read the next in the series, Baroness.<br /><br />* I received this book through the author and Amy Lathrop for the pupose of this review, an honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you!", "timestamp": 1331072313000, "title": "wow what a story!" }, { "asin": "1595549153", "rating": 4, "text": "I just loved this book. It was so much fun to read and at many times I found myself laughing out loud. Watching Lucy and Nate figure out how to love each other, live with each other and work alongside one another was downright funny. They each had so much to learn from each other and about each other but with God and time they learn they are perfect for each other. On top of the budding romance Colleen throws in the mystery of what really happened to Lucy's father. Oh the twists and turns this book takes and in the end it is nothing like what was expected. Colleen Coble tells a western tale set in 1877 Texas that weaves together romance, mystery, secrets, lies and humor. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5!", "timestamp": 1331308543000, "title": "Romance and Humor in Texas!" }, { "asin": "0764207865", "rating": 5, "text": "As soon as I got this book in the mail yesterday I could not wait to read it. The cover is so beautiful and so I settled down to read it, though not planning to end up finishing it within the day. Sadie Wagner's character just fascinated me and drew me right in. I could feel her emotions of having to leave her family in order to provide for them or when she was wrestling with what to do do about a certain situation. I can't forget to mention the Melva and Shelva Baxter, the twin sisters that own the mercantile and take Sadie in, they are a hoot!! Most scenes that involved them had me laughing. Kim Vogel Sawyer weaves together a very interesting plot with many little details that keep the story going and make it more than a simple love story, actually it is no where near simple. There is also an excellent message in this book about how when you choose what goes against your morals and how it leads to a guilty conscience.<br /><br />I have read several of Kim Vogel Sawyer's books and this one is one of her best and would highly recommend it to any one who enjoys a good historical romance filled with laughter, faith, romance and more. Final rating 5 stars out of 5!<br /><br />*Thank you Bethany House for providing me with this copy in return for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1332255136000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "0764208101", "rating": 5, "text": "What a fantastic contemporary novel. This is my first book from Ann Tatlock but I know I will reading more. It pulled me from page one and I had a very hard time putting it down and found myself reading it within a day. I loved how this story was so much to do about healing and forgiveness. I loved Jane's character and wondered many times if I would have the same determination to honor a commitment as she did. She had to deal with life changing circumstances and in the end things worked out so great. I really enjoyed how Ann ended the book and the end was even better than I was hoping.<br /><br />Ann Tatlock weaves together a beautiful story set in the upcountry of North Carolina and will pull you in and make you feel what the characters are feeling. If you loved a great contemporary novel then look no further you have found your book.<br /><br />*With thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book to review, and honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you Ann!", "timestamp": 1335725032000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "1414339143", "rating": 4, "text": "Skip Rock Shallows by Jan Watson takes readers into a small coal town where at first the idea of a lady doctor is rejects. Only after saving a young miner she starts to win there trust but even then it is slow and not all want her there. Though there are many residents who become very fond of her and she of them. Throughout the story Lilly faces many battles and wrestles with what to do with the future. Should she stay in Skip Rock or go home to Boston? Then there is the character from her past, who is he and why is he so familiar. Lilly will not only have to face the future but the past as well but she is one strong lady with a trust in God that will help through all she does. Join Lilly and the cast of characters in this fun novel.<br /><br />This book for me was fun to read and I enjoyed meeting all the residents of Skip Rock but the only thing for me was it never fully drew me in. I was easily able to set it down for awhile and come back to it. I am definitely glad I read it and would recommend it to those who love book about lady doctors in a time where that was not common. Overall good job Jan Watson!<br /><br />* I received this book through Tyndale for the purpose of this review. My honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you Tyndale.", "timestamp": 1338479104000, "title": "Charming" }, { "asin": "0800734378", "rating": 3, "text": "I was very hesitant to read this book after reading book one, Chasing Sunsets, which I did not like at all. I was pleasantly surprised that this book was so much better and I found it hard to believe that they are in the same series and written by the same author. Waiting for Sunrise tells Patsy's story, who was a secondary character in book one, but is set the past and there is only one chapter that even references anything from the first book. That makes this book great as a stand alone. While I enjoyed reading this book, that did not take me long at all to read, I can't say it was a favorite. In the end it felt very anti-climatic and really kept a sad tone throughout the book. It does deal with some heavy issues such as mental illness in the 1960's. I do want to put out a warning that I can't really say that it is a christian book, while there was no language or other moral issues there was no real faith aspect to it all, a reference here and there. In the end, I am not really sure what I think, and it left me wanting more.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell Books for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1339535398000, "title": "Anti-Climatic" }, { "asin": "1414333064", "rating": 4, "text": "Dry as Rain is Gina Holmes second novel. This book centers around infidelity. The themes of the book are the truth, forgiveness and second chances.<br /><br />Eric and Kyra have been married for 20 years and have one son, Benji, who dreams are crushed by being medically discharged from the Navy. When Kyra discovers an e-mail that Eric sent to another women her fears that he is having and affair come to reality. Just separated, Kyra is in an accident and when awake has lost some of her memories. Eric is excited that he gets a second chance with wife that he realizes that he truly does love and doesn't want to leave. As Kyra begins to gain more and more memories back Erick struggles with the truth of what happened between them and if he should tell her or allow her to remember on her own.<br /><br />While I loved her debut novel, I did not find that this one was as strong. I found the story to move a little slow and needed more depth to really feel the pain, struggle, and hope of the characters.", "timestamp": 1339539619000, "title": "An enjoyable read" }, { "asin": "1616387157", "rating": 4, "text": "The Anniversary Waltz by Darrel Nelson is a sweet romance set in the 1940's after World War II has ended. This is Darrel's debut novel and he does a great a job at telling the story and making the romance feel real. I enjoyed how the story felt more realistic then a fluffy love story like many romance stories are. Actually, Darrel mentions in the back of the book that the story is loosely based on his family history, though the story at large is fiction. I found this to be an easy and enjoyable read and was able to finish it easily within a day. This is another fine example that not just women can write wonderful romances. Great job Darrel. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a good, clean and sweet romance story.<br /><br />* I received this book through Glass Roads Blog Tours for the purpose of this review, my honest opinion was all that was requested.", "timestamp": 1340209360000, "title": "Sweet" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "4.5 stars<br /><br />Vicious Cycle by Terri Blackstock is book 2 in the Intervention Series and while it is great to know what happened in the first book you can easily read this book on its own. Like the first book, Intervention, this book reads fast and is hard to put down once you start. I really enjoyed this story and Terri Blackstock had me guessing all the way to the end.<br /><br />I enjoyed following Lance, Barbara and Emily's life and enjoyed the different case that took place in this book. The over arching theme of addictions is still there but this time there is more than just that going on in this book. The only thing I didn't like about the book is it is heart wrenching watching the characters struggle so much with their addictions...it is just so sad how many people out there that are trapped in that vicious cycle of addictions.<br /><br />I would recommend this book to anyone who like a a good suspense story but is not afraid of the tough issues presented in the book.<br /><br />* I received this book through Zondervan for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1340827551000, "title": "Couldn't put it down" }, { "asin": "1595547819", "rating": 4, "text": "4 Stars<br /><br />Beach, mystery, secluded island, romance and so much more is found in Colleen Coble's newest book, Tidewater Inn. This book is the first book in her new Hope Beach series and I am now anxiously waiting for the next one to be released. I loved the setting of this book and the cover of the book helps set it too. I could picture the location and the super super small town that exists. It sounds like such a peaceful and relaxing place. All the characters in this book were fun to read about and came alive on the pages. I really enjoyed the mystery portion and was hard to figure out what was going to happen next which is great. Overall this is a great book for everyone and would make a great beach read.<br /><br />*I received this book through booksneeze.com for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1341965035000, "title": "Great Beach Mystery" }, { "asin": "1401685617", "rating": 5, "text": "WOW, what an amazing and powerful book. Robert Whitlow hit the what to about about a teen pregnancy so great and portrayed adoption and abortion without being preachy. In the end he really makes you think and personally he showed a beautiful side to adoption which does not always happen. I really enjoyed the character of Sandy in the book and really felt for her and she had to make one of the hardest decisions of her life. A decision that while great, still brings consequences and is something you never entirely get over. Overall I would recommend this book to everyone since it is such a powerful story that makes you think but is also enjoyable to read at the same time. :)<br /><br />* I received this book through Booksneeze.com for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1343603421000, "title": "Powerful" }, { "asin": "1414333218", "rating": 4, "text": "Powerful, riveting and so much more. This is the the first book I read from Randy Singer and I know I will be reading more in the future. Legal thrillers are not always my first choice but every once in a while I enjoy them for a change. The Last Plea Bargain pulled me in and kept me guessing. I have heard Randy Singer compared to John Grisham and while I have not read John Grisham it is definently an honor to Randy Singer to be compared to him. The nice part of the book is that it is published in the CBA realm so it avoids the language and sex of mainstream novels and its nice to read books with the Christian view point. Overall good job Randy Singer on an excellent book!", "timestamp": 1346170910000, "title": "Legal Thriller genre at its best" }, { "asin": "1414348649", "rating": 4, "text": "Attracted to Fire is the second book I ave read by DiAnn Mills and I personally liked this one a lot better. The other book I read was The Fire in Ember and while it was good it wasn't anything special and I found it slow. With that said I was a little hesitant to try another book from this author but I am glad I did since this one was a lot better. I am not sure if the genre suits her more or it was just the book but I found it really enjoyable. I have found that I really enjoy romantic suspense and this book kept me engaged. I really enjoyed the mystery part and found myself trying to guess what will happen and that changed many times. Overall great page turner DiAnn Mills and now I know I will be reading more from her in the future.", "timestamp": 1346201504000, "title": "Page Turner" }, { "asin": "0764206176", "rating": 3, "text": "3 Stars<br /><br />Over the last few years I have read several of Tracie Peterson's historical series and contemporary fiction books. Many of them I have really enjoyed and a few have fallen short in my own opinion. Sadly this book was just not my favorite, I read book 1 in the series, Chasing the Sun, and found it to be slow moving and just could not get into it. I did not have the time to read the second, but was hoping things would get better with book 3. I will say that I found it a little more interesting, but it took a bit to get into the book. I am sure there are many people out there that would enjoy this book as well as the series, since the great thing about being human is to have our own opinions and interest. Part of it might have been the setting for me, since it is not my most favorite setting, but I know people that love that setting so I hope they will also enjoy the book. With all this said, I thoroughly look forward to reading future books from Tracie as well as some of her older ones I have not read yet, since for the most part I find that she is a great author with a talent to write in many settings, both historical and contemporary.<br /><br />*I received this book through Bethany House and Litfuse Publicity for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1348710769000, "title": "Just okay" } ]

[ { "asin": "1414340125", "rating": 5, "text": "What a great second novel from C.J. Darlington. Bound By Guilt is the sequel to her first novel, Thicker than Blood, though it can be read alone. I loved her first book and couldn't wait to read this one and it did not let me down. I look forward to reading more books from her.<br /><br />Roxi is living with her mom's cousin, Irene, and Irene's son Diego who travel the country stealing rare books and selling them for cash. When a robbery goes wrong, Roxi chooses to run. It is than she meets Jan and her husband who take her in and show her love and acceptance, something she has not known in the past.<br /><br />Guilt is the central theme to this novel and how it can consume you and that the only escape from it is the truth. Roxi is bound by the guilt of being an accomplice to a robbery and a murder. Abby can't escape the guilt that she thinks she failed as a wife, a mother and a cop. These characters must learn how to accept the truth, admit it in order to be free. We are reunited with May and Christy from Thicker than Blood and are introduced to some new and wonderful characters.", "timestamp": 1310173976000, "title": "A fantastic second novel!!!" }, { "asin": "1414335970", "rating": 5, "text": "Forsaking All Others is the sequel and conclusion to For Time and Eternity and I both books are amazing to read. This book being a sequel I highly recommend reading the first one before it as this one picks up right where the first left off. In all reality they could be one book. It would be very confusing to try to read this book by itself.<br /><br />Camilla Fox who had just left home in the first book was caught in a snowstorm, the good news is that she is alive and currently with the US Army under Colonel Charles Brandon. After many months of healing from the affects of being in the snowstorm the Colonel helps her return to Salt Lake City to see her children she left behind while waiting for spring to be able back to her parents home in Missouri.<br /><br />While back in Utah, things are harder then she was expecting but eventually finds a way to escape and head to Missouri, again with the help of the Colonel. Finally back home she builds her strength and her case to legally divorce Nathan and claim her children. Will Camilla find the freedom she needs? Will she be able to bring her children home and raise them in her faith, not the Mormom faith?<br /><br />I loved this book, as well as the first, and found myself not wanting to put the books down. They are such a great story of standing for your faith and not backing down. I would recommend this book to everyone. Defiantly a 5 star book, if not higher!<br /><br />I received this book from Tyndale through the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1316801705000, "title": "What a story!" }, { "asin": "076420498X", "rating": 5, "text": "What if real life becomes more adventuresome, more romantic, and more engaging than fictional stories? This is what happens to Alice Ripley who has been living with her nose stuck in a book and barely paying attention to the world around her. When her boyfriend breaks up with her and she loses her job at the library during the depression she decided to up and go to Acorn, Kentucky to deliver books that her town as donated. What she finds in Acorn is so much more than a library in need of books. She finds true friendship, love, adventure, and an interest in life outside of books.<br /><br />I found this book to be amazing, it has so much depth to the characters and the stories of their lives fascinated me. As much as the story was about Alice it was also about the many residents of Acorn. Lynn Austin is such a gifted and talented writer and brought so much excitement in this book, she wrote with vivid detail that I could picture myself right along side Alice. She also filled the book with so many twists and turns that once I thought I knew what was going to happen something changed.<br /><br />This is the type of book that I would recommend to everyone since it has something for all: history, romance, adventure, and even some suspense. This is definitely a 5 star book!<br /><br />I recieved this book from the publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for my honest review! Thank you Bethany House!", "timestamp": 1318006598000, "title": "What an Adventure!!!!!" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 4, "text": "I found myself really enjoying this book. I had never heard of the author was excited to get to read someone new to me. This book did not disappoint. Though I will say the start of the book (first few chapters) was a little slow and confusing since the author was setting the backdrop of the story and introducing the many characters. Once the story got going and you knew who was who I found the book hard to put down. I definitely would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery, suspense book with a little romance mixed in. I would say this is a 4 star book!<br /><br />I received this book from Kregel in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1319830437000, "title": "A fast paced suspense book!" }, { "asin": "0764208330", "rating": 5, "text": "I loved this book, every single page of it. I found myself drawn into it from the very beginning and kept reading to the end and never stopped loving the story. If you have ever played the Oregon Trail game this book reminded me of my childhood (ok and adulthood) days of playing that game since the story is set during that time of going out west to Oregon.<br /><br />Jody Hedlund does a great job at telling the story, which she actually based partially on real people and history (which makes the best kind of historical). She made is feel like you were right with the characters. I can not wait to read more from her. Great job, Jody!<br /><br />* I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Bethany House!", "timestamp": 1321841585000, "title": "The Oregan Trail game comes to Life in this amazing story" }, { "asin": "0764208942", "rating": 5, "text": "Let me begin, that I love the cover of this book. That alone would make me want to read this book. Then when I read the back of the book it made me even want to read it more. The great thing is that once I started this book I couldn't put it down, it was that good. Lady of Bolton Hill is Elizabeth Camden's debut book and you would think she is a seasoned author with this book, it really is that good. I will be looking forward to reading her second book, The Rose on Winslow Street which comes out in January 2012. Good thing I do not have to wait long!<br /><br />Clara Endicott has just returned to her Baltimore home after many years in London. While in London she developed into fine journalist defending the poor and seeking reform. Now that she is back home she is just as determined to defend those that need it most. It is also when she is reunited with her childhood best friend, Daniel Tremain. The only problem is Daniel has a grudge he just won't let go of and this grudge has the potential to both him and Clara in danger. Clara believes that Daniel needs God's grace and forgiveness to be able to move forward. Will Daniel be able to accept God's grace?<br /><br />This is a great book, full of romance and adventure, you won't regret reading it. So if you are in the mood for a good book that will keep you turning pages well into the middle of the night than this is the book for you. Great job Elizabeth Camden!<br /><br />*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1324173402000, "title": "Elizabeth Camden brings a spectacular debut book to the market!" }, { "asin": "1414334834", "rating": 5, "text": "What would it be like to not remember how you got to where you were? That is what Noelle is about to discover when she is in a bad accident that on the outside leaves very few injuries but on the inside she can not remember the last twenty five years of her life. Her husband Eli, their children and the tragedy from three years ago are gone from her mind and now she needs to figure out who she is, who they are and what happened. Secrets will be uncovered and in the end trust and faith is what they need for healing to begin.<br /><br />The Shadow of Your Smile is book five in Susan May Warren's popular Deep Haven series and while I have not read the others (which now I can not wait to do so) I was able to enjoy this story. It was have been nice to have read the others so I would know all the back stories and would get that feeling like I was visiting with dear friends. Susan May Warren is a very gifted storyteller and draws the reader in with an intriguing plot filled with characters that will make you both laugh and cry. This book is filled with hope, rediscovery, love, faithfulness and trust. So many lessons can be learned by reading this book. As much as I loved this book it is not for everyone. This is not a light and fluffy book, it deals with some tough issues: loss of a child, divorce, amnesia and more. I give this book a solid 5 stars!<br /><br />*I received this book through Litfuse for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1327635981000, "title": "A great read!" }, { "asin": "0800720741", "rating": 4, "text": "Where Wildflowers Bloom is book on in Ann Shorey's new Sisters at Heart series. It is set in post Civil War and the characters are trying to deal with life after the war. This book touches on the condition we know today as PTSD but back then it was called solider's heart.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading this book though it is somewhat predictable like so many books are but that doesn't take away the enjoyment of the story. Ann Shorey did a great job at making the characters feel real. They had real feelings and were trying to figure out how to cope with life. The characters in this book came alive as well as the setting. I could picture myself visiting this town and have that feeling that I am visiting friends. I love books that are able to transport you to the time and place and this book does just that. This is a great book for anyone who loves historical fiction, or a great first book into the this genre. I would give this book a solid 4 stars and will look forward to reading more book in the series.<br /><br />* I received this book from Revell for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1327680208000, "title": "A post civil war historical fiction!" }, { "asin": "0800720075", "rating": 4, "text": "Warning: this book will make you mad! Okay, mad in that you will want to read the second book right away and not have to wait till fall 2012. Now that the warning is over, I loved this book. It was such a fun adventure that kept me guessing who did, what happened to one of the characters and how things would work out. Things did not wrap up like I expected at all, and at the end I almost through the book across the room since there was a huge cliffhanger and I wanted to know what happened. I really enjoyed reading about Alexia's story and trying to find out who is wanting her dead and how the detective will fall into her life. As much as this book is fun there is some real depth to the story as well. Forgiveness, loving others through protecting even when its hard and being honest are all things the characters need to learn as well as God's love for them. This is the first book from Lynette Eason that I have read and will be reading more in the future. I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1329070051000, "title": "What an adventure" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 4, "text": "What a sweet and fun romance story. Beauty for Ashes is Dorothy Love's second Hickok Ridge Novel but is easily read on its own. After reading it I would like to read the other one day. The book is set after the Civil war is over and the main character Carrie Daly has lost her husband to it and does not know what to do now. She has always longed for a family and that seems so hopeless now. Though there is one man that she just may be able to fall in love with, Griff. Follow in Carrie's story and watch these two fall in love in this book. The main theme of this book is that God works all things for the good and He will being beauty for ashes. What a great promise! This is a great book for anyone who enjoys a sweet, simple, historical, Christian romance. This is the kind of book I think is great to read on the beach since there is not as much depth and reminder of the real world in it.<br /><br />* I received this book through booksneeze for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1329318611000, "title": "Sweet and Fun" }, { "asin": "0800720458", "rating": 4, "text": "Words Spoken True by Ann H. Gabhart is a delightful story set in 1850's Louisville during a time of political unrest. While the story is entirely fiction the history of the time period is fairly accurate and that makes this story interesting. This book is full of a lot including dueling newspapers, an unusual engagement, the mystery of the river slasher killing young Irish girls and more. There is a ton of romantic tension with Adriane Darcy and her strange engagement to Stanley and her draw to Blake Garret who works for the rival newspaper.<br /><br />While this book had an intriguing plot, a setting that is not as commonly written in and many twists and turns I found my self having a hard time getting into the book. I found the first third of the book to move very slowly and I am the type of person that wants to be grabbed from page one. I will say I loved the setting of the story and hope to see more books written during that time period in the future. Also, the cover is spectacular! In conclusion, this is a great story in the end and is worth sticking it with it. Final rating 3.9 out of 5.<br /><br />* Thank you Revell for providing me a copy of the book in return for my honest opinion.<br /><br />**Available February 2012 from Revell, a division of Baker Publishers**", "timestamp": 1330189062000, "title": "A slow start with a good end" }, { "asin": "0800732138", "rating": 5, "text": "Julie Lessman has written another fantastic novel about the very passionate O'Connor family and takes you on a grand adventure. Once I started this book I had a very hard time putting it down and found myself reading over half of it (480 page book) in one night! I may have lost some sleep due to it but it was so worth it and I would do it again. The twists and turns that Julie takes you on is very similar to riding the most twisty roller coaster you can think of. There is no way of predicting how the story will play out and that is what makes it fun to read. Predictable is boring and boring is one word that will never describe a Julie Lessman book! There are so many things I loved about this book including seeing Lizzie and John Brady fall in love, John dealing with his past, everything about Charity and so much more. Way to go Julie on another amazing book!<br /><br />A Passion Denied is book three in Julie Lessman's Daughters of Boston series and don't even consider reading these books out of order. If you have not read this trilogy yet don't walk but run to your nearest christian bookstore and pick up these wonderful books filled with so much passion, both romantic and spiritual and discover this amazing family! This is definitely a 10 start book out of 5 stars!", "timestamp": 1330622423000, "title": "Another winner by Julie Lessman" }, { "asin": "0800719859", "rating": 3, "text": "Heart's Safe Passage is the second book in Laurie Alice Eakes Midwives series but stands along rather well. I did not have time to read book one, Lady in the Mist, and was able to follow along really well. I think that it helps that most of the book is set on a ship and so the main characters from the first book play a very very small role in this book. Laurie Alice Eakes does a great job at setting a story just about entirely on a ship and keeping it interesting and weaves together a romance of two very different people. I sadly though did not find this to be a favorite book. I had a hard time getting into the story and staying focused on it. I know we all read book that we love and ones that we don't and in the end it is only our personal opinion. Just because I did not care for it does not mean others won't like it either. It is heartbreaking to not like a book that you looked forward to reading. Oh, before I forget the cover is stunning and really helps set the setting. Final rating 3.5 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1330804496000, "title": "A romance on the high seas" }, { "asin": "1609362187", "rating": 5, "text": "What a fantastic book this was! I loved every minute of it and found myself not wanting to put it down which is most likely why I read it within a day. Heiress is book one of Susan May Warren's Daughters of Fortune series and it is one not to be missed!<br /><br />Glamour, glitz, power, wealth, but where is the love. All Esme and Jinx want is to be loved,by there father and a husband when the time comes but set in the world of Mrs. Astors 400 in the early 1900's makes this hard if not impossible. Will Esme and Jinx find the love they are seeking while be surrounded by clouds of lies? This book took my emotions on a roller coaster from the first page to the last. This is not your normal happy, happy book, for many parts it is down right heartbreaking but so true for that society. A society where women are meant to plan parties, produce heirs and run the house while the men do as they please. Through it all the women take joy in their children and want it to be better for them in the future. This is a solid 5 star book and I can not wait to read the next in the series, Baroness.<br /><br />* I received this book through the author and Amy Lathrop for the pupose of this review, an honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you!", "timestamp": 1331072313000, "title": "wow what a story!" }, { "asin": "1595549153", "rating": 4, "text": "I just loved this book. It was so much fun to read and at many times I found myself laughing out loud. Watching Lucy and Nate figure out how to love each other, live with each other and work alongside one another was downright funny. They each had so much to learn from each other and about each other but with God and time they learn they are perfect for each other. On top of the budding romance Colleen throws in the mystery of what really happened to Lucy's father. Oh the twists and turns this book takes and in the end it is nothing like what was expected. Colleen Coble tells a western tale set in 1877 Texas that weaves together romance, mystery, secrets, lies and humor. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5!", "timestamp": 1331308543000, "title": "Romance and Humor in Texas!" }, { "asin": "0764207865", "rating": 5, "text": "As soon as I got this book in the mail yesterday I could not wait to read it. The cover is so beautiful and so I settled down to read it, though not planning to end up finishing it within the day. Sadie Wagner's character just fascinated me and drew me right in. I could feel her emotions of having to leave her family in order to provide for them or when she was wrestling with what to do do about a certain situation. I can't forget to mention the Melva and Shelva Baxter, the twin sisters that own the mercantile and take Sadie in, they are a hoot!! Most scenes that involved them had me laughing. Kim Vogel Sawyer weaves together a very interesting plot with many little details that keep the story going and make it more than a simple love story, actually it is no where near simple. There is also an excellent message in this book about how when you choose what goes against your morals and how it leads to a guilty conscience.<br /><br />I have read several of Kim Vogel Sawyer's books and this one is one of her best and would highly recommend it to any one who enjoys a good historical romance filled with laughter, faith, romance and more. Final rating 5 stars out of 5!<br /><br />*Thank you Bethany House for providing me with this copy in return for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1332255136000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "0764208101", "rating": 5, "text": "What a fantastic contemporary novel. This is my first book from Ann Tatlock but I know I will reading more. It pulled me from page one and I had a very hard time putting it down and found myself reading it within a day. I loved how this story was so much to do about healing and forgiveness. I loved Jane's character and wondered many times if I would have the same determination to honor a commitment as she did. She had to deal with life changing circumstances and in the end things worked out so great. I really enjoyed how Ann ended the book and the end was even better than I was hoping.<br /><br />Ann Tatlock weaves together a beautiful story set in the upcountry of North Carolina and will pull you in and make you feel what the characters are feeling. If you loved a great contemporary novel then look no further you have found your book.<br /><br />*With thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book to review, and honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you Ann!", "timestamp": 1335725032000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "1414339143", "rating": 4, "text": "Skip Rock Shallows by Jan Watson takes readers into a small coal town where at first the idea of a lady doctor is rejects. Only after saving a young miner she starts to win there trust but even then it is slow and not all want her there. Though there are many residents who become very fond of her and she of them. Throughout the story Lilly faces many battles and wrestles with what to do with the future. Should she stay in Skip Rock or go home to Boston? Then there is the character from her past, who is he and why is he so familiar. Lilly will not only have to face the future but the past as well but she is one strong lady with a trust in God that will help through all she does. Join Lilly and the cast of characters in this fun novel.<br /><br />This book for me was fun to read and I enjoyed meeting all the residents of Skip Rock but the only thing for me was it never fully drew me in. I was easily able to set it down for awhile and come back to it. I am definitely glad I read it and would recommend it to those who love book about lady doctors in a time where that was not common. Overall good job Jan Watson!<br /><br />* I received this book through Tyndale for the purpose of this review. My honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you Tyndale.", "timestamp": 1338479104000, "title": "Charming" }, { "asin": "0800734378", "rating": 3, "text": "I was very hesitant to read this book after reading book one, Chasing Sunsets, which I did not like at all. I was pleasantly surprised that this book was so much better and I found it hard to believe that they are in the same series and written by the same author. Waiting for Sunrise tells Patsy's story, who was a secondary character in book one, but is set the past and there is only one chapter that even references anything from the first book. That makes this book great as a stand alone. While I enjoyed reading this book, that did not take me long at all to read, I can't say it was a favorite. In the end it felt very anti-climatic and really kept a sad tone throughout the book. It does deal with some heavy issues such as mental illness in the 1960's. I do want to put out a warning that I can't really say that it is a christian book, while there was no language or other moral issues there was no real faith aspect to it all, a reference here and there. In the end, I am not really sure what I think, and it left me wanting more.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell Books for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1339535398000, "title": "Anti-Climatic" }, { "asin": "1414333064", "rating": 4, "text": "Dry as Rain is Gina Holmes second novel. This book centers around infidelity. The themes of the book are the truth, forgiveness and second chances.<br /><br />Eric and Kyra have been married for 20 years and have one son, Benji, who dreams are crushed by being medically discharged from the Navy. When Kyra discovers an e-mail that Eric sent to another women her fears that he is having and affair come to reality. Just separated, Kyra is in an accident and when awake has lost some of her memories. Eric is excited that he gets a second chance with wife that he realizes that he truly does love and doesn't want to leave. As Kyra begins to gain more and more memories back Erick struggles with the truth of what happened between them and if he should tell her or allow her to remember on her own.<br /><br />While I loved her debut novel, I did not find that this one was as strong. I found the story to move a little slow and needed more depth to really feel the pain, struggle, and hope of the characters.", "timestamp": 1339539619000, "title": "An enjoyable read" }, { "asin": "1616387157", "rating": 4, "text": "The Anniversary Waltz by Darrel Nelson is a sweet romance set in the 1940's after World War II has ended. This is Darrel's debut novel and he does a great a job at telling the story and making the romance feel real. I enjoyed how the story felt more realistic then a fluffy love story like many romance stories are. Actually, Darrel mentions in the back of the book that the story is loosely based on his family history, though the story at large is fiction. I found this to be an easy and enjoyable read and was able to finish it easily within a day. This is another fine example that not just women can write wonderful romances. Great job Darrel. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a good, clean and sweet romance story.<br /><br />* I received this book through Glass Roads Blog Tours for the purpose of this review, my honest opinion was all that was requested.", "timestamp": 1340209360000, "title": "Sweet" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "4.5 stars<br /><br />Vicious Cycle by Terri Blackstock is book 2 in the Intervention Series and while it is great to know what happened in the first book you can easily read this book on its own. Like the first book, Intervention, this book reads fast and is hard to put down once you start. I really enjoyed this story and Terri Blackstock had me guessing all the way to the end.<br /><br />I enjoyed following Lance, Barbara and Emily's life and enjoyed the different case that took place in this book. The over arching theme of addictions is still there but this time there is more than just that going on in this book. The only thing I didn't like about the book is it is heart wrenching watching the characters struggle so much with their addictions...it is just so sad how many people out there that are trapped in that vicious cycle of addictions.<br /><br />I would recommend this book to anyone who like a a good suspense story but is not afraid of the tough issues presented in the book.<br /><br />* I received this book through Zondervan for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1340827551000, "title": "Couldn't put it down" }, { "asin": "1595547819", "rating": 4, "text": "4 Stars<br /><br />Beach, mystery, secluded island, romance and so much more is found in Colleen Coble's newest book, Tidewater Inn. This book is the first book in her new Hope Beach series and I am now anxiously waiting for the next one to be released. I loved the setting of this book and the cover of the book helps set it too. I could picture the location and the super super small town that exists. It sounds like such a peaceful and relaxing place. All the characters in this book were fun to read about and came alive on the pages. I really enjoyed the mystery portion and was hard to figure out what was going to happen next which is great. Overall this is a great book for everyone and would make a great beach read.<br /><br />*I received this book through booksneeze.com for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1341965035000, "title": "Great Beach Mystery" }, { "asin": "1401685617", "rating": 5, "text": "WOW, what an amazing and powerful book. Robert Whitlow hit the what to about about a teen pregnancy so great and portrayed adoption and abortion without being preachy. In the end he really makes you think and personally he showed a beautiful side to adoption which does not always happen. I really enjoyed the character of Sandy in the book and really felt for her and she had to make one of the hardest decisions of her life. A decision that while great, still brings consequences and is something you never entirely get over. Overall I would recommend this book to everyone since it is such a powerful story that makes you think but is also enjoyable to read at the same time. :)<br /><br />* I received this book through Booksneeze.com for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1343603421000, "title": "Powerful" }, { "asin": "1414333218", "rating": 4, "text": "Powerful, riveting and so much more. This is the the first book I read from Randy Singer and I know I will be reading more in the future. Legal thrillers are not always my first choice but every once in a while I enjoy them for a change. The Last Plea Bargain pulled me in and kept me guessing. I have heard Randy Singer compared to John Grisham and while I have not read John Grisham it is definently an honor to Randy Singer to be compared to him. The nice part of the book is that it is published in the CBA realm so it avoids the language and sex of mainstream novels and its nice to read books with the Christian view point. Overall good job Randy Singer on an excellent book!", "timestamp": 1346170910000, "title": "Legal Thriller genre at its best" }, { "asin": "1414348649", "rating": 4, "text": "Attracted to Fire is the second book I ave read by DiAnn Mills and I personally liked this one a lot better. The other book I read was The Fire in Ember and while it was good it wasn't anything special and I found it slow. With that said I was a little hesitant to try another book from this author but I am glad I did since this one was a lot better. I am not sure if the genre suits her more or it was just the book but I found it really enjoyable. I have found that I really enjoy romantic suspense and this book kept me engaged. I really enjoyed the mystery part and found myself trying to guess what will happen and that changed many times. Overall great page turner DiAnn Mills and now I know I will be reading more from her in the future.", "timestamp": 1346201504000, "title": "Page Turner" }, { "asin": "0764206176", "rating": 3, "text": "3 Stars<br /><br />Over the last few years I have read several of Tracie Peterson's historical series and contemporary fiction books. Many of them I have really enjoyed and a few have fallen short in my own opinion. Sadly this book was just not my favorite, I read book 1 in the series, Chasing the Sun, and found it to be slow moving and just could not get into it. I did not have the time to read the second, but was hoping things would get better with book 3. I will say that I found it a little more interesting, but it took a bit to get into the book. I am sure there are many people out there that would enjoy this book as well as the series, since the great thing about being human is to have our own opinions and interest. Part of it might have been the setting for me, since it is not my most favorite setting, but I know people that love that setting so I hope they will also enjoy the book. With all this said, I thoroughly look forward to reading future books from Tracie as well as some of her older ones I have not read yet, since for the most part I find that she is a great author with a talent to write in many settings, both historical and contemporary.<br /><br />*I received this book through Bethany House and Litfuse Publicity for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1348710769000, "title": "Just okay" }, { "asin": "1595548033", "rating": 4, "text": "The Trouble with Cowboys, is book three in Denise Hunter's Big Sky Romance series and while characters do overlap between the books, they can be easily read on their own. I have read book 2 also and have the first book setting on my shelf waiting to be read, which I will hopefully soon. This book is so much fun to read and is a nice break from some of the deeper books out there. Denise writes very humorously and many times I was laughing out loud but she also has the emotional side to where you cheer the characters on and get mad at them too.<br /><br />I really enjoyed Annie's character and her passion to help her sister through college and life. She is a strong person that is willing to put her life on the side to help others. I am thankful though that she does learn to live her own life and allow someone to love her as she deserves.<br /><br />I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good, clean romance. This is a great beach or vacation read. Great job Denise on writing a great book.<br /><br />* I received this book from Thomas Nelson through Litfuse Publicity. Thank You!", "timestamp": 1348940772000, "title": "So much fun to read" } ]

[ { "asin": "1414340125", "rating": 5, "text": "What a great second novel from C.J. Darlington. Bound By Guilt is the sequel to her first novel, Thicker than Blood, though it can be read alone. I loved her first book and couldn't wait to read this one and it did not let me down. I look forward to reading more books from her.<br /><br />Roxi is living with her mom's cousin, Irene, and Irene's son Diego who travel the country stealing rare books and selling them for cash. When a robbery goes wrong, Roxi chooses to run. It is than she meets Jan and her husband who take her in and show her love and acceptance, something she has not known in the past.<br /><br />Guilt is the central theme to this novel and how it can consume you and that the only escape from it is the truth. Roxi is bound by the guilt of being an accomplice to a robbery and a murder. Abby can't escape the guilt that she thinks she failed as a wife, a mother and a cop. These characters must learn how to accept the truth, admit it in order to be free. We are reunited with May and Christy from Thicker than Blood and are introduced to some new and wonderful characters.", "timestamp": 1310173976000, "title": "A fantastic second novel!!!" }, { "asin": "1414335970", "rating": 5, "text": "Forsaking All Others is the sequel and conclusion to For Time and Eternity and I both books are amazing to read. This book being a sequel I highly recommend reading the first one before it as this one picks up right where the first left off. In all reality they could be one book. It would be very confusing to try to read this book by itself.<br /><br />Camilla Fox who had just left home in the first book was caught in a snowstorm, the good news is that she is alive and currently with the US Army under Colonel Charles Brandon. After many months of healing from the affects of being in the snowstorm the Colonel helps her return to Salt Lake City to see her children she left behind while waiting for spring to be able back to her parents home in Missouri.<br /><br />While back in Utah, things are harder then she was expecting but eventually finds a way to escape and head to Missouri, again with the help of the Colonel. Finally back home she builds her strength and her case to legally divorce Nathan and claim her children. Will Camilla find the freedom she needs? Will she be able to bring her children home and raise them in her faith, not the Mormom faith?<br /><br />I loved this book, as well as the first, and found myself not wanting to put the books down. They are such a great story of standing for your faith and not backing down. I would recommend this book to everyone. Defiantly a 5 star book, if not higher!<br /><br />I received this book from Tyndale through the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1316801705000, "title": "What a story!" }, { "asin": "076420498X", "rating": 5, "text": "What if real life becomes more adventuresome, more romantic, and more engaging than fictional stories? This is what happens to Alice Ripley who has been living with her nose stuck in a book and barely paying attention to the world around her. When her boyfriend breaks up with her and she loses her job at the library during the depression she decided to up and go to Acorn, Kentucky to deliver books that her town as donated. What she finds in Acorn is so much more than a library in need of books. She finds true friendship, love, adventure, and an interest in life outside of books.<br /><br />I found this book to be amazing, it has so much depth to the characters and the stories of their lives fascinated me. As much as the story was about Alice it was also about the many residents of Acorn. Lynn Austin is such a gifted and talented writer and brought so much excitement in this book, she wrote with vivid detail that I could picture myself right along side Alice. She also filled the book with so many twists and turns that once I thought I knew what was going to happen something changed.<br /><br />This is the type of book that I would recommend to everyone since it has something for all: history, romance, adventure, and even some suspense. This is definitely a 5 star book!<br /><br />I recieved this book from the publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for my honest review! Thank you Bethany House!", "timestamp": 1318006598000, "title": "What an Adventure!!!!!" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 4, "text": "I found myself really enjoying this book. I had never heard of the author was excited to get to read someone new to me. This book did not disappoint. Though I will say the start of the book (first few chapters) was a little slow and confusing since the author was setting the backdrop of the story and introducing the many characters. Once the story got going and you knew who was who I found the book hard to put down. I definitely would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery, suspense book with a little romance mixed in. I would say this is a 4 star book!<br /><br />I received this book from Kregel in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1319830437000, "title": "A fast paced suspense book!" }, { "asin": "0764208330", "rating": 5, "text": "I loved this book, every single page of it. I found myself drawn into it from the very beginning and kept reading to the end and never stopped loving the story. If you have ever played the Oregon Trail game this book reminded me of my childhood (ok and adulthood) days of playing that game since the story is set during that time of going out west to Oregon.<br /><br />Jody Hedlund does a great job at telling the story, which she actually based partially on real people and history (which makes the best kind of historical). She made is feel like you were right with the characters. I can not wait to read more from her. Great job, Jody!<br /><br />* I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Bethany House!", "timestamp": 1321841585000, "title": "The Oregan Trail game comes to Life in this amazing story" }, { "asin": "0764208942", "rating": 5, "text": "Let me begin, that I love the cover of this book. That alone would make me want to read this book. Then when I read the back of the book it made me even want to read it more. The great thing is that once I started this book I couldn't put it down, it was that good. Lady of Bolton Hill is Elizabeth Camden's debut book and you would think she is a seasoned author with this book, it really is that good. I will be looking forward to reading her second book, The Rose on Winslow Street which comes out in January 2012. Good thing I do not have to wait long!<br /><br />Clara Endicott has just returned to her Baltimore home after many years in London. While in London she developed into fine journalist defending the poor and seeking reform. Now that she is back home she is just as determined to defend those that need it most. It is also when she is reunited with her childhood best friend, Daniel Tremain. The only problem is Daniel has a grudge he just won't let go of and this grudge has the potential to both him and Clara in danger. Clara believes that Daniel needs God's grace and forgiveness to be able to move forward. Will Daniel be able to accept God's grace?<br /><br />This is a great book, full of romance and adventure, you won't regret reading it. So if you are in the mood for a good book that will keep you turning pages well into the middle of the night than this is the book for you. Great job Elizabeth Camden!<br /><br />*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1324173402000, "title": "Elizabeth Camden brings a spectacular debut book to the market!" }, { "asin": "1414334834", "rating": 5, "text": "What would it be like to not remember how you got to where you were? That is what Noelle is about to discover when she is in a bad accident that on the outside leaves very few injuries but on the inside she can not remember the last twenty five years of her life. Her husband Eli, their children and the tragedy from three years ago are gone from her mind and now she needs to figure out who she is, who they are and what happened. Secrets will be uncovered and in the end trust and faith is what they need for healing to begin.<br /><br />The Shadow of Your Smile is book five in Susan May Warren's popular Deep Haven series and while I have not read the others (which now I can not wait to do so) I was able to enjoy this story. It was have been nice to have read the others so I would know all the back stories and would get that feeling like I was visiting with dear friends. Susan May Warren is a very gifted storyteller and draws the reader in with an intriguing plot filled with characters that will make you both laugh and cry. This book is filled with hope, rediscovery, love, faithfulness and trust. So many lessons can be learned by reading this book. As much as I loved this book it is not for everyone. This is not a light and fluffy book, it deals with some tough issues: loss of a child, divorce, amnesia and more. I give this book a solid 5 stars!<br /><br />*I received this book through Litfuse for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1327635981000, "title": "A great read!" }, { "asin": "0800720741", "rating": 4, "text": "Where Wildflowers Bloom is book on in Ann Shorey's new Sisters at Heart series. It is set in post Civil War and the characters are trying to deal with life after the war. This book touches on the condition we know today as PTSD but back then it was called solider's heart.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading this book though it is somewhat predictable like so many books are but that doesn't take away the enjoyment of the story. Ann Shorey did a great job at making the characters feel real. They had real feelings and were trying to figure out how to cope with life. The characters in this book came alive as well as the setting. I could picture myself visiting this town and have that feeling that I am visiting friends. I love books that are able to transport you to the time and place and this book does just that. This is a great book for anyone who loves historical fiction, or a great first book into the this genre. I would give this book a solid 4 stars and will look forward to reading more book in the series.<br /><br />* I received this book from Revell for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1327680208000, "title": "A post civil war historical fiction!" }, { "asin": "0800720075", "rating": 4, "text": "Warning: this book will make you mad! Okay, mad in that you will want to read the second book right away and not have to wait till fall 2012. Now that the warning is over, I loved this book. It was such a fun adventure that kept me guessing who did, what happened to one of the characters and how things would work out. Things did not wrap up like I expected at all, and at the end I almost through the book across the room since there was a huge cliffhanger and I wanted to know what happened. I really enjoyed reading about Alexia's story and trying to find out who is wanting her dead and how the detective will fall into her life. As much as this book is fun there is some real depth to the story as well. Forgiveness, loving others through protecting even when its hard and being honest are all things the characters need to learn as well as God's love for them. This is the first book from Lynette Eason that I have read and will be reading more in the future. I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1329070051000, "title": "What an adventure" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 4, "text": "What a sweet and fun romance story. Beauty for Ashes is Dorothy Love's second Hickok Ridge Novel but is easily read on its own. After reading it I would like to read the other one day. The book is set after the Civil war is over and the main character Carrie Daly has lost her husband to it and does not know what to do now. She has always longed for a family and that seems so hopeless now. Though there is one man that she just may be able to fall in love with, Griff. Follow in Carrie's story and watch these two fall in love in this book. The main theme of this book is that God works all things for the good and He will being beauty for ashes. What a great promise! This is a great book for anyone who enjoys a sweet, simple, historical, Christian romance. This is the kind of book I think is great to read on the beach since there is not as much depth and reminder of the real world in it.<br /><br />* I received this book through booksneeze for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1329318611000, "title": "Sweet and Fun" }, { "asin": "0800720458", "rating": 4, "text": "Words Spoken True by Ann H. Gabhart is a delightful story set in 1850's Louisville during a time of political unrest. While the story is entirely fiction the history of the time period is fairly accurate and that makes this story interesting. This book is full of a lot including dueling newspapers, an unusual engagement, the mystery of the river slasher killing young Irish girls and more. There is a ton of romantic tension with Adriane Darcy and her strange engagement to Stanley and her draw to Blake Garret who works for the rival newspaper.<br /><br />While this book had an intriguing plot, a setting that is not as commonly written in and many twists and turns I found my self having a hard time getting into the book. I found the first third of the book to move very slowly and I am the type of person that wants to be grabbed from page one. I will say I loved the setting of the story and hope to see more books written during that time period in the future. Also, the cover is spectacular! In conclusion, this is a great story in the end and is worth sticking it with it. Final rating 3.9 out of 5.<br /><br />* Thank you Revell for providing me a copy of the book in return for my honest opinion.<br /><br />**Available February 2012 from Revell, a division of Baker Publishers**", "timestamp": 1330189062000, "title": "A slow start with a good end" }, { "asin": "0800732138", "rating": 5, "text": "Julie Lessman has written another fantastic novel about the very passionate O'Connor family and takes you on a grand adventure. Once I started this book I had a very hard time putting it down and found myself reading over half of it (480 page book) in one night! I may have lost some sleep due to it but it was so worth it and I would do it again. The twists and turns that Julie takes you on is very similar to riding the most twisty roller coaster you can think of. There is no way of predicting how the story will play out and that is what makes it fun to read. Predictable is boring and boring is one word that will never describe a Julie Lessman book! There are so many things I loved about this book including seeing Lizzie and John Brady fall in love, John dealing with his past, everything about Charity and so much more. Way to go Julie on another amazing book!<br /><br />A Passion Denied is book three in Julie Lessman's Daughters of Boston series and don't even consider reading these books out of order. If you have not read this trilogy yet don't walk but run to your nearest christian bookstore and pick up these wonderful books filled with so much passion, both romantic and spiritual and discover this amazing family! This is definitely a 10 start book out of 5 stars!", "timestamp": 1330622423000, "title": "Another winner by Julie Lessman" }, { "asin": "0800719859", "rating": 3, "text": "Heart's Safe Passage is the second book in Laurie Alice Eakes Midwives series but stands along rather well. I did not have time to read book one, Lady in the Mist, and was able to follow along really well. I think that it helps that most of the book is set on a ship and so the main characters from the first book play a very very small role in this book. Laurie Alice Eakes does a great job at setting a story just about entirely on a ship and keeping it interesting and weaves together a romance of two very different people. I sadly though did not find this to be a favorite book. I had a hard time getting into the story and staying focused on it. I know we all read book that we love and ones that we don't and in the end it is only our personal opinion. Just because I did not care for it does not mean others won't like it either. It is heartbreaking to not like a book that you looked forward to reading. Oh, before I forget the cover is stunning and really helps set the setting. Final rating 3.5 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1330804496000, "title": "A romance on the high seas" }, { "asin": "1609362187", "rating": 5, "text": "What a fantastic book this was! I loved every minute of it and found myself not wanting to put it down which is most likely why I read it within a day. Heiress is book one of Susan May Warren's Daughters of Fortune series and it is one not to be missed!<br /><br />Glamour, glitz, power, wealth, but where is the love. All Esme and Jinx want is to be loved,by there father and a husband when the time comes but set in the world of Mrs. Astors 400 in the early 1900's makes this hard if not impossible. Will Esme and Jinx find the love they are seeking while be surrounded by clouds of lies? This book took my emotions on a roller coaster from the first page to the last. This is not your normal happy, happy book, for many parts it is down right heartbreaking but so true for that society. A society where women are meant to plan parties, produce heirs and run the house while the men do as they please. Through it all the women take joy in their children and want it to be better for them in the future. This is a solid 5 star book and I can not wait to read the next in the series, Baroness.<br /><br />* I received this book through the author and Amy Lathrop for the pupose of this review, an honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you!", "timestamp": 1331072313000, "title": "wow what a story!" }, { "asin": "1595549153", "rating": 4, "text": "I just loved this book. It was so much fun to read and at many times I found myself laughing out loud. Watching Lucy and Nate figure out how to love each other, live with each other and work alongside one another was downright funny. They each had so much to learn from each other and about each other but with God and time they learn they are perfect for each other. On top of the budding romance Colleen throws in the mystery of what really happened to Lucy's father. Oh the twists and turns this book takes and in the end it is nothing like what was expected. Colleen Coble tells a western tale set in 1877 Texas that weaves together romance, mystery, secrets, lies and humor. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5!", "timestamp": 1331308543000, "title": "Romance and Humor in Texas!" }, { "asin": "0764207865", "rating": 5, "text": "As soon as I got this book in the mail yesterday I could not wait to read it. The cover is so beautiful and so I settled down to read it, though not planning to end up finishing it within the day. Sadie Wagner's character just fascinated me and drew me right in. I could feel her emotions of having to leave her family in order to provide for them or when she was wrestling with what to do do about a certain situation. I can't forget to mention the Melva and Shelva Baxter, the twin sisters that own the mercantile and take Sadie in, they are a hoot!! Most scenes that involved them had me laughing. Kim Vogel Sawyer weaves together a very interesting plot with many little details that keep the story going and make it more than a simple love story, actually it is no where near simple. There is also an excellent message in this book about how when you choose what goes against your morals and how it leads to a guilty conscience.<br /><br />I have read several of Kim Vogel Sawyer's books and this one is one of her best and would highly recommend it to any one who enjoys a good historical romance filled with laughter, faith, romance and more. Final rating 5 stars out of 5!<br /><br />*Thank you Bethany House for providing me with this copy in return for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1332255136000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "0764208101", "rating": 5, "text": "What a fantastic contemporary novel. This is my first book from Ann Tatlock but I know I will reading more. It pulled me from page one and I had a very hard time putting it down and found myself reading it within a day. I loved how this story was so much to do about healing and forgiveness. I loved Jane's character and wondered many times if I would have the same determination to honor a commitment as she did. She had to deal with life changing circumstances and in the end things worked out so great. I really enjoyed how Ann ended the book and the end was even better than I was hoping.<br /><br />Ann Tatlock weaves together a beautiful story set in the upcountry of North Carolina and will pull you in and make you feel what the characters are feeling. If you loved a great contemporary novel then look no further you have found your book.<br /><br />*With thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book to review, and honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you Ann!", "timestamp": 1335725032000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "1414339143", "rating": 4, "text": "Skip Rock Shallows by Jan Watson takes readers into a small coal town where at first the idea of a lady doctor is rejects. Only after saving a young miner she starts to win there trust but even then it is slow and not all want her there. Though there are many residents who become very fond of her and she of them. Throughout the story Lilly faces many battles and wrestles with what to do with the future. Should she stay in Skip Rock or go home to Boston? Then there is the character from her past, who is he and why is he so familiar. Lilly will not only have to face the future but the past as well but she is one strong lady with a trust in God that will help through all she does. Join Lilly and the cast of characters in this fun novel.<br /><br />This book for me was fun to read and I enjoyed meeting all the residents of Skip Rock but the only thing for me was it never fully drew me in. I was easily able to set it down for awhile and come back to it. I am definitely glad I read it and would recommend it to those who love book about lady doctors in a time where that was not common. Overall good job Jan Watson!<br /><br />* I received this book through Tyndale for the purpose of this review. My honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you Tyndale.", "timestamp": 1338479104000, "title": "Charming" }, { "asin": "0800734378", "rating": 3, "text": "I was very hesitant to read this book after reading book one, Chasing Sunsets, which I did not like at all. I was pleasantly surprised that this book was so much better and I found it hard to believe that they are in the same series and written by the same author. Waiting for Sunrise tells Patsy's story, who was a secondary character in book one, but is set the past and there is only one chapter that even references anything from the first book. That makes this book great as a stand alone. While I enjoyed reading this book, that did not take me long at all to read, I can't say it was a favorite. In the end it felt very anti-climatic and really kept a sad tone throughout the book. It does deal with some heavy issues such as mental illness in the 1960's. I do want to put out a warning that I can't really say that it is a christian book, while there was no language or other moral issues there was no real faith aspect to it all, a reference here and there. In the end, I am not really sure what I think, and it left me wanting more.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell Books for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1339535398000, "title": "Anti-Climatic" }, { "asin": "1414333064", "rating": 4, "text": "Dry as Rain is Gina Holmes second novel. This book centers around infidelity. The themes of the book are the truth, forgiveness and second chances.<br /><br />Eric and Kyra have been married for 20 years and have one son, Benji, who dreams are crushed by being medically discharged from the Navy. When Kyra discovers an e-mail that Eric sent to another women her fears that he is having and affair come to reality. Just separated, Kyra is in an accident and when awake has lost some of her memories. Eric is excited that he gets a second chance with wife that he realizes that he truly does love and doesn't want to leave. As Kyra begins to gain more and more memories back Erick struggles with the truth of what happened between them and if he should tell her or allow her to remember on her own.<br /><br />While I loved her debut novel, I did not find that this one was as strong. I found the story to move a little slow and needed more depth to really feel the pain, struggle, and hope of the characters.", "timestamp": 1339539619000, "title": "An enjoyable read" }, { "asin": "1616387157", "rating": 4, "text": "The Anniversary Waltz by Darrel Nelson is a sweet romance set in the 1940's after World War II has ended. This is Darrel's debut novel and he does a great a job at telling the story and making the romance feel real. I enjoyed how the story felt more realistic then a fluffy love story like many romance stories are. Actually, Darrel mentions in the back of the book that the story is loosely based on his family history, though the story at large is fiction. I found this to be an easy and enjoyable read and was able to finish it easily within a day. This is another fine example that not just women can write wonderful romances. Great job Darrel. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a good, clean and sweet romance story.<br /><br />* I received this book through Glass Roads Blog Tours for the purpose of this review, my honest opinion was all that was requested.", "timestamp": 1340209360000, "title": "Sweet" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "4.5 stars<br /><br />Vicious Cycle by Terri Blackstock is book 2 in the Intervention Series and while it is great to know what happened in the first book you can easily read this book on its own. Like the first book, Intervention, this book reads fast and is hard to put down once you start. I really enjoyed this story and Terri Blackstock had me guessing all the way to the end.<br /><br />I enjoyed following Lance, Barbara and Emily's life and enjoyed the different case that took place in this book. The over arching theme of addictions is still there but this time there is more than just that going on in this book. The only thing I didn't like about the book is it is heart wrenching watching the characters struggle so much with their addictions...it is just so sad how many people out there that are trapped in that vicious cycle of addictions.<br /><br />I would recommend this book to anyone who like a a good suspense story but is not afraid of the tough issues presented in the book.<br /><br />* I received this book through Zondervan for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1340827551000, "title": "Couldn't put it down" }, { "asin": "1595547819", "rating": 4, "text": "4 Stars<br /><br />Beach, mystery, secluded island, romance and so much more is found in Colleen Coble's newest book, Tidewater Inn. This book is the first book in her new Hope Beach series and I am now anxiously waiting for the next one to be released. I loved the setting of this book and the cover of the book helps set it too. I could picture the location and the super super small town that exists. It sounds like such a peaceful and relaxing place. All the characters in this book were fun to read about and came alive on the pages. I really enjoyed the mystery portion and was hard to figure out what was going to happen next which is great. Overall this is a great book for everyone and would make a great beach read.<br /><br />*I received this book through booksneeze.com for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1341965035000, "title": "Great Beach Mystery" }, { "asin": "1401685617", "rating": 5, "text": "WOW, what an amazing and powerful book. Robert Whitlow hit the what to about about a teen pregnancy so great and portrayed adoption and abortion without being preachy. In the end he really makes you think and personally he showed a beautiful side to adoption which does not always happen. I really enjoyed the character of Sandy in the book and really felt for her and she had to make one of the hardest decisions of her life. A decision that while great, still brings consequences and is something you never entirely get over. Overall I would recommend this book to everyone since it is such a powerful story that makes you think but is also enjoyable to read at the same time. :)<br /><br />* I received this book through Booksneeze.com for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1343603421000, "title": "Powerful" }, { "asin": "1414333218", "rating": 4, "text": "Powerful, riveting and so much more. This is the the first book I read from Randy Singer and I know I will be reading more in the future. Legal thrillers are not always my first choice but every once in a while I enjoy them for a change. The Last Plea Bargain pulled me in and kept me guessing. I have heard Randy Singer compared to John Grisham and while I have not read John Grisham it is definently an honor to Randy Singer to be compared to him. The nice part of the book is that it is published in the CBA realm so it avoids the language and sex of mainstream novels and its nice to read books with the Christian view point. Overall good job Randy Singer on an excellent book!", "timestamp": 1346170910000, "title": "Legal Thriller genre at its best" }, { "asin": "1414348649", "rating": 4, "text": "Attracted to Fire is the second book I ave read by DiAnn Mills and I personally liked this one a lot better. The other book I read was The Fire in Ember and while it was good it wasn't anything special and I found it slow. With that said I was a little hesitant to try another book from this author but I am glad I did since this one was a lot better. I am not sure if the genre suits her more or it was just the book but I found it really enjoyable. I have found that I really enjoy romantic suspense and this book kept me engaged. I really enjoyed the mystery part and found myself trying to guess what will happen and that changed many times. Overall great page turner DiAnn Mills and now I know I will be reading more from her in the future.", "timestamp": 1346201504000, "title": "Page Turner" }, { "asin": "0764206176", "rating": 3, "text": "3 Stars<br /><br />Over the last few years I have read several of Tracie Peterson's historical series and contemporary fiction books. Many of them I have really enjoyed and a few have fallen short in my own opinion. Sadly this book was just not my favorite, I read book 1 in the series, Chasing the Sun, and found it to be slow moving and just could not get into it. I did not have the time to read the second, but was hoping things would get better with book 3. I will say that I found it a little more interesting, but it took a bit to get into the book. I am sure there are many people out there that would enjoy this book as well as the series, since the great thing about being human is to have our own opinions and interest. Part of it might have been the setting for me, since it is not my most favorite setting, but I know people that love that setting so I hope they will also enjoy the book. With all this said, I thoroughly look forward to reading future books from Tracie as well as some of her older ones I have not read yet, since for the most part I find that she is a great author with a talent to write in many settings, both historical and contemporary.<br /><br />*I received this book through Bethany House and Litfuse Publicity for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1348710769000, "title": "Just okay" }, { "asin": "1595548033", "rating": 4, "text": "The Trouble with Cowboys, is book three in Denise Hunter's Big Sky Romance series and while characters do overlap between the books, they can be easily read on their own. I have read book 2 also and have the first book setting on my shelf waiting to be read, which I will hopefully soon. This book is so much fun to read and is a nice break from some of the deeper books out there. Denise writes very humorously and many times I was laughing out loud but she also has the emotional side to where you cheer the characters on and get mad at them too.<br /><br />I really enjoyed Annie's character and her passion to help her sister through college and life. She is a strong person that is willing to put her life on the side to help others. I am thankful though that she does learn to live her own life and allow someone to love her as she deserves.<br /><br />I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good, clean romance. This is a great beach or vacation read. Great job Denise on writing a great book.<br /><br />* I received this book from Thomas Nelson through Litfuse Publicity. Thank You!", "timestamp": 1348940772000, "title": "So much fun to read" }, { "asin": "0800734173", "rating": 5, "text": "5 Stars ( or more like 10 stars )<br /><br />What a fantastic book this was to read!!! A Love Surrendered is the third book in Julie Lessman's Winds of Change series and I think it was my favorite in this series. Annie Kennedy just jumped out of the pages and into my heart the minute I met her. She was so much fun to read about and get to know. It was unique because she had not been in any of the others books so she was brand new to the family. It was also great catching up with the rest of the O'Connor's and learning about their plans and schemes!!!<br /><br />With this book it is sad to think the end has come to the O'Connor family but the road was so much fun in hearing of all their adventures. Julie ended the book fantastically and I felt sad that it was over but there was still a conclusion to wonder six books that spanned two series and many decades. At least there is one more book to read, a lighter simpler tale of how Marcy and Patrick met all those years ago.<br /><br />I highly (and even higher than that) recommend Julie's books to everyone who loves a good story filled with drama, tension, romance and wonderful Christian lessons. Though I warn any new reader to Juile, DO NOT read them out of order! Each book builds on the past one and it would just not be right to read them out of order.<br />Congrats Julie on another wonderful novel that will remain in my heart and on my bookshelf for years to come.<br />* I received this book through Revell for the purpose of this review. Thank you Revell!", "timestamp": 1350253084000, "title": "Words can't describe how much I love this book!" } ]

[ { "asin": "1414340125", "rating": 5, "text": "What a great second novel from C.J. Darlington. Bound By Guilt is the sequel to her first novel, Thicker than Blood, though it can be read alone. I loved her first book and couldn't wait to read this one and it did not let me down. I look forward to reading more books from her.<br /><br />Roxi is living with her mom's cousin, Irene, and Irene's son Diego who travel the country stealing rare books and selling them for cash. When a robbery goes wrong, Roxi chooses to run. It is than she meets Jan and her husband who take her in and show her love and acceptance, something she has not known in the past.<br /><br />Guilt is the central theme to this novel and how it can consume you and that the only escape from it is the truth. Roxi is bound by the guilt of being an accomplice to a robbery and a murder. Abby can't escape the guilt that she thinks she failed as a wife, a mother and a cop. These characters must learn how to accept the truth, admit it in order to be free. We are reunited with May and Christy from Thicker than Blood and are introduced to some new and wonderful characters.", "timestamp": 1310173976000, "title": "A fantastic second novel!!!" }, { "asin": "1414335970", "rating": 5, "text": "Forsaking All Others is the sequel and conclusion to For Time and Eternity and I both books are amazing to read. This book being a sequel I highly recommend reading the first one before it as this one picks up right where the first left off. In all reality they could be one book. It would be very confusing to try to read this book by itself.<br /><br />Camilla Fox who had just left home in the first book was caught in a snowstorm, the good news is that she is alive and currently with the US Army under Colonel Charles Brandon. After many months of healing from the affects of being in the snowstorm the Colonel helps her return to Salt Lake City to see her children she left behind while waiting for spring to be able back to her parents home in Missouri.<br /><br />While back in Utah, things are harder then she was expecting but eventually finds a way to escape and head to Missouri, again with the help of the Colonel. Finally back home she builds her strength and her case to legally divorce Nathan and claim her children. Will Camilla find the freedom she needs? Will she be able to bring her children home and raise them in her faith, not the Mormom faith?<br /><br />I loved this book, as well as the first, and found myself not wanting to put the books down. They are such a great story of standing for your faith and not backing down. I would recommend this book to everyone. Defiantly a 5 star book, if not higher!<br /><br />I received this book from Tyndale through the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1316801705000, "title": "What a story!" }, { "asin": "076420498X", "rating": 5, "text": "What if real life becomes more adventuresome, more romantic, and more engaging than fictional stories? This is what happens to Alice Ripley who has been living with her nose stuck in a book and barely paying attention to the world around her. When her boyfriend breaks up with her and she loses her job at the library during the depression she decided to up and go to Acorn, Kentucky to deliver books that her town as donated. What she finds in Acorn is so much more than a library in need of books. She finds true friendship, love, adventure, and an interest in life outside of books.<br /><br />I found this book to be amazing, it has so much depth to the characters and the stories of their lives fascinated me. As much as the story was about Alice it was also about the many residents of Acorn. Lynn Austin is such a gifted and talented writer and brought so much excitement in this book, she wrote with vivid detail that I could picture myself right along side Alice. She also filled the book with so many twists and turns that once I thought I knew what was going to happen something changed.<br /><br />This is the type of book that I would recommend to everyone since it has something for all: history, romance, adventure, and even some suspense. This is definitely a 5 star book!<br /><br />I recieved this book from the publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for my honest review! Thank you Bethany House!", "timestamp": 1318006598000, "title": "What an Adventure!!!!!" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 4, "text": "I found myself really enjoying this book. I had never heard of the author was excited to get to read someone new to me. This book did not disappoint. Though I will say the start of the book (first few chapters) was a little slow and confusing since the author was setting the backdrop of the story and introducing the many characters. Once the story got going and you knew who was who I found the book hard to put down. I definitely would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery, suspense book with a little romance mixed in. I would say this is a 4 star book!<br /><br />I received this book from Kregel in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1319830437000, "title": "A fast paced suspense book!" }, { "asin": "0764208330", "rating": 5, "text": "I loved this book, every single page of it. I found myself drawn into it from the very beginning and kept reading to the end and never stopped loving the story. If you have ever played the Oregon Trail game this book reminded me of my childhood (ok and adulthood) days of playing that game since the story is set during that time of going out west to Oregon.<br /><br />Jody Hedlund does a great job at telling the story, which she actually based partially on real people and history (which makes the best kind of historical). She made is feel like you were right with the characters. I can not wait to read more from her. Great job, Jody!<br /><br />* I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Bethany House!", "timestamp": 1321841585000, "title": "The Oregan Trail game comes to Life in this amazing story" }, { "asin": "0764208942", "rating": 5, "text": "Let me begin, that I love the cover of this book. That alone would make me want to read this book. Then when I read the back of the book it made me even want to read it more. The great thing is that once I started this book I couldn't put it down, it was that good. Lady of Bolton Hill is Elizabeth Camden's debut book and you would think she is a seasoned author with this book, it really is that good. I will be looking forward to reading her second book, The Rose on Winslow Street which comes out in January 2012. Good thing I do not have to wait long!<br /><br />Clara Endicott has just returned to her Baltimore home after many years in London. While in London she developed into fine journalist defending the poor and seeking reform. Now that she is back home she is just as determined to defend those that need it most. It is also when she is reunited with her childhood best friend, Daniel Tremain. The only problem is Daniel has a grudge he just won't let go of and this grudge has the potential to both him and Clara in danger. Clara believes that Daniel needs God's grace and forgiveness to be able to move forward. Will Daniel be able to accept God's grace?<br /><br />This is a great book, full of romance and adventure, you won't regret reading it. So if you are in the mood for a good book that will keep you turning pages well into the middle of the night than this is the book for you. Great job Elizabeth Camden!<br /><br />*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1324173402000, "title": "Elizabeth Camden brings a spectacular debut book to the market!" }, { "asin": "1414334834", "rating": 5, "text": "What would it be like to not remember how you got to where you were? That is what Noelle is about to discover when she is in a bad accident that on the outside leaves very few injuries but on the inside she can not remember the last twenty five years of her life. Her husband Eli, their children and the tragedy from three years ago are gone from her mind and now she needs to figure out who she is, who they are and what happened. Secrets will be uncovered and in the end trust and faith is what they need for healing to begin.<br /><br />The Shadow of Your Smile is book five in Susan May Warren's popular Deep Haven series and while I have not read the others (which now I can not wait to do so) I was able to enjoy this story. It was have been nice to have read the others so I would know all the back stories and would get that feeling like I was visiting with dear friends. Susan May Warren is a very gifted storyteller and draws the reader in with an intriguing plot filled with characters that will make you both laugh and cry. This book is filled with hope, rediscovery, love, faithfulness and trust. So many lessons can be learned by reading this book. As much as I loved this book it is not for everyone. This is not a light and fluffy book, it deals with some tough issues: loss of a child, divorce, amnesia and more. I give this book a solid 5 stars!<br /><br />*I received this book through Litfuse for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1327635981000, "title": "A great read!" }, { "asin": "0800720741", "rating": 4, "text": "Where Wildflowers Bloom is book on in Ann Shorey's new Sisters at Heart series. It is set in post Civil War and the characters are trying to deal with life after the war. This book touches on the condition we know today as PTSD but back then it was called solider's heart.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading this book though it is somewhat predictable like so many books are but that doesn't take away the enjoyment of the story. Ann Shorey did a great job at making the characters feel real. They had real feelings and were trying to figure out how to cope with life. The characters in this book came alive as well as the setting. I could picture myself visiting this town and have that feeling that I am visiting friends. I love books that are able to transport you to the time and place and this book does just that. This is a great book for anyone who loves historical fiction, or a great first book into the this genre. I would give this book a solid 4 stars and will look forward to reading more book in the series.<br /><br />* I received this book from Revell for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1327680208000, "title": "A post civil war historical fiction!" }, { "asin": "0800720075", "rating": 4, "text": "Warning: this book will make you mad! Okay, mad in that you will want to read the second book right away and not have to wait till fall 2012. Now that the warning is over, I loved this book. It was such a fun adventure that kept me guessing who did, what happened to one of the characters and how things would work out. Things did not wrap up like I expected at all, and at the end I almost through the book across the room since there was a huge cliffhanger and I wanted to know what happened. I really enjoyed reading about Alexia's story and trying to find out who is wanting her dead and how the detective will fall into her life. As much as this book is fun there is some real depth to the story as well. Forgiveness, loving others through protecting even when its hard and being honest are all things the characters need to learn as well as God's love for them. This is the first book from Lynette Eason that I have read and will be reading more in the future. I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1329070051000, "title": "What an adventure" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 4, "text": "What a sweet and fun romance story. Beauty for Ashes is Dorothy Love's second Hickok Ridge Novel but is easily read on its own. After reading it I would like to read the other one day. The book is set after the Civil war is over and the main character Carrie Daly has lost her husband to it and does not know what to do now. She has always longed for a family and that seems so hopeless now. Though there is one man that she just may be able to fall in love with, Griff. Follow in Carrie's story and watch these two fall in love in this book. The main theme of this book is that God works all things for the good and He will being beauty for ashes. What a great promise! This is a great book for anyone who enjoys a sweet, simple, historical, Christian romance. This is the kind of book I think is great to read on the beach since there is not as much depth and reminder of the real world in it.<br /><br />* I received this book through booksneeze for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1329318611000, "title": "Sweet and Fun" }, { "asin": "0800720458", "rating": 4, "text": "Words Spoken True by Ann H. Gabhart is a delightful story set in 1850's Louisville during a time of political unrest. While the story is entirely fiction the history of the time period is fairly accurate and that makes this story interesting. This book is full of a lot including dueling newspapers, an unusual engagement, the mystery of the river slasher killing young Irish girls and more. There is a ton of romantic tension with Adriane Darcy and her strange engagement to Stanley and her draw to Blake Garret who works for the rival newspaper.<br /><br />While this book had an intriguing plot, a setting that is not as commonly written in and many twists and turns I found my self having a hard time getting into the book. I found the first third of the book to move very slowly and I am the type of person that wants to be grabbed from page one. I will say I loved the setting of the story and hope to see more books written during that time period in the future. Also, the cover is spectacular! In conclusion, this is a great story in the end and is worth sticking it with it. Final rating 3.9 out of 5.<br /><br />* Thank you Revell for providing me a copy of the book in return for my honest opinion.<br /><br />**Available February 2012 from Revell, a division of Baker Publishers**", "timestamp": 1330189062000, "title": "A slow start with a good end" }, { "asin": "0800732138", "rating": 5, "text": "Julie Lessman has written another fantastic novel about the very passionate O'Connor family and takes you on a grand adventure. Once I started this book I had a very hard time putting it down and found myself reading over half of it (480 page book) in one night! I may have lost some sleep due to it but it was so worth it and I would do it again. The twists and turns that Julie takes you on is very similar to riding the most twisty roller coaster you can think of. There is no way of predicting how the story will play out and that is what makes it fun to read. Predictable is boring and boring is one word that will never describe a Julie Lessman book! There are so many things I loved about this book including seeing Lizzie and John Brady fall in love, John dealing with his past, everything about Charity and so much more. Way to go Julie on another amazing book!<br /><br />A Passion Denied is book three in Julie Lessman's Daughters of Boston series and don't even consider reading these books out of order. If you have not read this trilogy yet don't walk but run to your nearest christian bookstore and pick up these wonderful books filled with so much passion, both romantic and spiritual and discover this amazing family! This is definitely a 10 start book out of 5 stars!", "timestamp": 1330622423000, "title": "Another winner by Julie Lessman" }, { "asin": "0800719859", "rating": 3, "text": "Heart's Safe Passage is the second book in Laurie Alice Eakes Midwives series but stands along rather well. I did not have time to read book one, Lady in the Mist, and was able to follow along really well. I think that it helps that most of the book is set on a ship and so the main characters from the first book play a very very small role in this book. Laurie Alice Eakes does a great job at setting a story just about entirely on a ship and keeping it interesting and weaves together a romance of two very different people. I sadly though did not find this to be a favorite book. I had a hard time getting into the story and staying focused on it. I know we all read book that we love and ones that we don't and in the end it is only our personal opinion. Just because I did not care for it does not mean others won't like it either. It is heartbreaking to not like a book that you looked forward to reading. Oh, before I forget the cover is stunning and really helps set the setting. Final rating 3.5 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1330804496000, "title": "A romance on the high seas" }, { "asin": "1609362187", "rating": 5, "text": "What a fantastic book this was! I loved every minute of it and found myself not wanting to put it down which is most likely why I read it within a day. Heiress is book one of Susan May Warren's Daughters of Fortune series and it is one not to be missed!<br /><br />Glamour, glitz, power, wealth, but where is the love. All Esme and Jinx want is to be loved,by there father and a husband when the time comes but set in the world of Mrs. Astors 400 in the early 1900's makes this hard if not impossible. Will Esme and Jinx find the love they are seeking while be surrounded by clouds of lies? This book took my emotions on a roller coaster from the first page to the last. This is not your normal happy, happy book, for many parts it is down right heartbreaking but so true for that society. A society where women are meant to plan parties, produce heirs and run the house while the men do as they please. Through it all the women take joy in their children and want it to be better for them in the future. This is a solid 5 star book and I can not wait to read the next in the series, Baroness.<br /><br />* I received this book through the author and Amy Lathrop for the pupose of this review, an honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you!", "timestamp": 1331072313000, "title": "wow what a story!" }, { "asin": "1595549153", "rating": 4, "text": "I just loved this book. It was so much fun to read and at many times I found myself laughing out loud. Watching Lucy and Nate figure out how to love each other, live with each other and work alongside one another was downright funny. They each had so much to learn from each other and about each other but with God and time they learn they are perfect for each other. On top of the budding romance Colleen throws in the mystery of what really happened to Lucy's father. Oh the twists and turns this book takes and in the end it is nothing like what was expected. Colleen Coble tells a western tale set in 1877 Texas that weaves together romance, mystery, secrets, lies and humor. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5!", "timestamp": 1331308543000, "title": "Romance and Humor in Texas!" }, { "asin": "0764207865", "rating": 5, "text": "As soon as I got this book in the mail yesterday I could not wait to read it. The cover is so beautiful and so I settled down to read it, though not planning to end up finishing it within the day. Sadie Wagner's character just fascinated me and drew me right in. I could feel her emotions of having to leave her family in order to provide for them or when she was wrestling with what to do do about a certain situation. I can't forget to mention the Melva and Shelva Baxter, the twin sisters that own the mercantile and take Sadie in, they are a hoot!! Most scenes that involved them had me laughing. Kim Vogel Sawyer weaves together a very interesting plot with many little details that keep the story going and make it more than a simple love story, actually it is no where near simple. There is also an excellent message in this book about how when you choose what goes against your morals and how it leads to a guilty conscience.<br /><br />I have read several of Kim Vogel Sawyer's books and this one is one of her best and would highly recommend it to any one who enjoys a good historical romance filled with laughter, faith, romance and more. Final rating 5 stars out of 5!<br /><br />*Thank you Bethany House for providing me with this copy in return for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1332255136000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "0764208101", "rating": 5, "text": "What a fantastic contemporary novel. This is my first book from Ann Tatlock but I know I will reading more. It pulled me from page one and I had a very hard time putting it down and found myself reading it within a day. I loved how this story was so much to do about healing and forgiveness. I loved Jane's character and wondered many times if I would have the same determination to honor a commitment as she did. She had to deal with life changing circumstances and in the end things worked out so great. I really enjoyed how Ann ended the book and the end was even better than I was hoping.<br /><br />Ann Tatlock weaves together a beautiful story set in the upcountry of North Carolina and will pull you in and make you feel what the characters are feeling. If you loved a great contemporary novel then look no further you have found your book.<br /><br />*With thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book to review, and honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you Ann!", "timestamp": 1335725032000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "1414339143", "rating": 4, "text": "Skip Rock Shallows by Jan Watson takes readers into a small coal town where at first the idea of a lady doctor is rejects. Only after saving a young miner she starts to win there trust but even then it is slow and not all want her there. Though there are many residents who become very fond of her and she of them. Throughout the story Lilly faces many battles and wrestles with what to do with the future. Should she stay in Skip Rock or go home to Boston? Then there is the character from her past, who is he and why is he so familiar. Lilly will not only have to face the future but the past as well but she is one strong lady with a trust in God that will help through all she does. Join Lilly and the cast of characters in this fun novel.<br /><br />This book for me was fun to read and I enjoyed meeting all the residents of Skip Rock but the only thing for me was it never fully drew me in. I was easily able to set it down for awhile and come back to it. I am definitely glad I read it and would recommend it to those who love book about lady doctors in a time where that was not common. Overall good job Jan Watson!<br /><br />* I received this book through Tyndale for the purpose of this review. My honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you Tyndale.", "timestamp": 1338479104000, "title": "Charming" }, { "asin": "0800734378", "rating": 3, "text": "I was very hesitant to read this book after reading book one, Chasing Sunsets, which I did not like at all. I was pleasantly surprised that this book was so much better and I found it hard to believe that they are in the same series and written by the same author. Waiting for Sunrise tells Patsy's story, who was a secondary character in book one, but is set the past and there is only one chapter that even references anything from the first book. That makes this book great as a stand alone. While I enjoyed reading this book, that did not take me long at all to read, I can't say it was a favorite. In the end it felt very anti-climatic and really kept a sad tone throughout the book. It does deal with some heavy issues such as mental illness in the 1960's. I do want to put out a warning that I can't really say that it is a christian book, while there was no language or other moral issues there was no real faith aspect to it all, a reference here and there. In the end, I am not really sure what I think, and it left me wanting more.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell Books for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1339535398000, "title": "Anti-Climatic" }, { "asin": "1414333064", "rating": 4, "text": "Dry as Rain is Gina Holmes second novel. This book centers around infidelity. The themes of the book are the truth, forgiveness and second chances.<br /><br />Eric and Kyra have been married for 20 years and have one son, Benji, who dreams are crushed by being medically discharged from the Navy. When Kyra discovers an e-mail that Eric sent to another women her fears that he is having and affair come to reality. Just separated, Kyra is in an accident and when awake has lost some of her memories. Eric is excited that he gets a second chance with wife that he realizes that he truly does love and doesn't want to leave. As Kyra begins to gain more and more memories back Erick struggles with the truth of what happened between them and if he should tell her or allow her to remember on her own.<br /><br />While I loved her debut novel, I did not find that this one was as strong. I found the story to move a little slow and needed more depth to really feel the pain, struggle, and hope of the characters.", "timestamp": 1339539619000, "title": "An enjoyable read" }, { "asin": "1616387157", "rating": 4, "text": "The Anniversary Waltz by Darrel Nelson is a sweet romance set in the 1940's after World War II has ended. This is Darrel's debut novel and he does a great a job at telling the story and making the romance feel real. I enjoyed how the story felt more realistic then a fluffy love story like many romance stories are. Actually, Darrel mentions in the back of the book that the story is loosely based on his family history, though the story at large is fiction. I found this to be an easy and enjoyable read and was able to finish it easily within a day. This is another fine example that not just women can write wonderful romances. Great job Darrel. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a good, clean and sweet romance story.<br /><br />* I received this book through Glass Roads Blog Tours for the purpose of this review, my honest opinion was all that was requested.", "timestamp": 1340209360000, "title": "Sweet" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "4.5 stars<br /><br />Vicious Cycle by Terri Blackstock is book 2 in the Intervention Series and while it is great to know what happened in the first book you can easily read this book on its own. Like the first book, Intervention, this book reads fast and is hard to put down once you start. I really enjoyed this story and Terri Blackstock had me guessing all the way to the end.<br /><br />I enjoyed following Lance, Barbara and Emily's life and enjoyed the different case that took place in this book. The over arching theme of addictions is still there but this time there is more than just that going on in this book. The only thing I didn't like about the book is it is heart wrenching watching the characters struggle so much with their addictions...it is just so sad how many people out there that are trapped in that vicious cycle of addictions.<br /><br />I would recommend this book to anyone who like a a good suspense story but is not afraid of the tough issues presented in the book.<br /><br />* I received this book through Zondervan for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1340827551000, "title": "Couldn't put it down" }, { "asin": "1595547819", "rating": 4, "text": "4 Stars<br /><br />Beach, mystery, secluded island, romance and so much more is found in Colleen Coble's newest book, Tidewater Inn. This book is the first book in her new Hope Beach series and I am now anxiously waiting for the next one to be released. I loved the setting of this book and the cover of the book helps set it too. I could picture the location and the super super small town that exists. It sounds like such a peaceful and relaxing place. All the characters in this book were fun to read about and came alive on the pages. I really enjoyed the mystery portion and was hard to figure out what was going to happen next which is great. Overall this is a great book for everyone and would make a great beach read.<br /><br />*I received this book through booksneeze.com for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1341965035000, "title": "Great Beach Mystery" }, { "asin": "1401685617", "rating": 5, "text": "WOW, what an amazing and powerful book. Robert Whitlow hit the what to about about a teen pregnancy so great and portrayed adoption and abortion without being preachy. In the end he really makes you think and personally he showed a beautiful side to adoption which does not always happen. I really enjoyed the character of Sandy in the book and really felt for her and she had to make one of the hardest decisions of her life. A decision that while great, still brings consequences and is something you never entirely get over. Overall I would recommend this book to everyone since it is such a powerful story that makes you think but is also enjoyable to read at the same time. :)<br /><br />* I received this book through Booksneeze.com for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1343603421000, "title": "Powerful" }, { "asin": "1414333218", "rating": 4, "text": "Powerful, riveting and so much more. This is the the first book I read from Randy Singer and I know I will be reading more in the future. Legal thrillers are not always my first choice but every once in a while I enjoy them for a change. The Last Plea Bargain pulled me in and kept me guessing. I have heard Randy Singer compared to John Grisham and while I have not read John Grisham it is definently an honor to Randy Singer to be compared to him. The nice part of the book is that it is published in the CBA realm so it avoids the language and sex of mainstream novels and its nice to read books with the Christian view point. Overall good job Randy Singer on an excellent book!", "timestamp": 1346170910000, "title": "Legal Thriller genre at its best" }, { "asin": "1414348649", "rating": 4, "text": "Attracted to Fire is the second book I ave read by DiAnn Mills and I personally liked this one a lot better. The other book I read was The Fire in Ember and while it was good it wasn't anything special and I found it slow. With that said I was a little hesitant to try another book from this author but I am glad I did since this one was a lot better. I am not sure if the genre suits her more or it was just the book but I found it really enjoyable. I have found that I really enjoy romantic suspense and this book kept me engaged. I really enjoyed the mystery part and found myself trying to guess what will happen and that changed many times. Overall great page turner DiAnn Mills and now I know I will be reading more from her in the future.", "timestamp": 1346201504000, "title": "Page Turner" }, { "asin": "0764206176", "rating": 3, "text": "3 Stars<br /><br />Over the last few years I have read several of Tracie Peterson's historical series and contemporary fiction books. Many of them I have really enjoyed and a few have fallen short in my own opinion. Sadly this book was just not my favorite, I read book 1 in the series, Chasing the Sun, and found it to be slow moving and just could not get into it. I did not have the time to read the second, but was hoping things would get better with book 3. I will say that I found it a little more interesting, but it took a bit to get into the book. I am sure there are many people out there that would enjoy this book as well as the series, since the great thing about being human is to have our own opinions and interest. Part of it might have been the setting for me, since it is not my most favorite setting, but I know people that love that setting so I hope they will also enjoy the book. With all this said, I thoroughly look forward to reading future books from Tracie as well as some of her older ones I have not read yet, since for the most part I find that she is a great author with a talent to write in many settings, both historical and contemporary.<br /><br />*I received this book through Bethany House and Litfuse Publicity for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1348710769000, "title": "Just okay" }, { "asin": "1595548033", "rating": 4, "text": "The Trouble with Cowboys, is book three in Denise Hunter's Big Sky Romance series and while characters do overlap between the books, they can be easily read on their own. I have read book 2 also and have the first book setting on my shelf waiting to be read, which I will hopefully soon. This book is so much fun to read and is a nice break from some of the deeper books out there. Denise writes very humorously and many times I was laughing out loud but she also has the emotional side to where you cheer the characters on and get mad at them too.<br /><br />I really enjoyed Annie's character and her passion to help her sister through college and life. She is a strong person that is willing to put her life on the side to help others. I am thankful though that she does learn to live her own life and allow someone to love her as she deserves.<br /><br />I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good, clean romance. This is a great beach or vacation read. Great job Denise on writing a great book.<br /><br />* I received this book from Thomas Nelson through Litfuse Publicity. Thank You!", "timestamp": 1348940772000, "title": "So much fun to read" }, { "asin": "0800734173", "rating": 5, "text": "5 Stars ( or more like 10 stars )<br /><br />What a fantastic book this was to read!!! A Love Surrendered is the third book in Julie Lessman's Winds of Change series and I think it was my favorite in this series. Annie Kennedy just jumped out of the pages and into my heart the minute I met her. She was so much fun to read about and get to know. It was unique because she had not been in any of the others books so she was brand new to the family. It was also great catching up with the rest of the O'Connor's and learning about their plans and schemes!!!<br /><br />With this book it is sad to think the end has come to the O'Connor family but the road was so much fun in hearing of all their adventures. Julie ended the book fantastically and I felt sad that it was over but there was still a conclusion to wonder six books that spanned two series and many decades. At least there is one more book to read, a lighter simpler tale of how Marcy and Patrick met all those years ago.<br /><br />I highly (and even higher than that) recommend Julie's books to everyone who loves a good story filled with drama, tension, romance and wonderful Christian lessons. Though I warn any new reader to Juile, DO NOT read them out of order! Each book builds on the past one and it would just not be right to read them out of order.<br />Congrats Julie on another wonderful novel that will remain in my heart and on my bookshelf for years to come.<br />* I received this book through Revell for the purpose of this review. Thank you Revell!", "timestamp": 1350253084000, "title": "Words can't describe how much I love this book!" }, { "asin": "1414364474", "rating": 5, "text": "What a fantastic story! Maureen Lang does a great job at weaving the lives of Henry Hawkins and Dessa Caldwell together, both impulsive, stubborn and in need to learn the same lessons. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and dived right in as soon as it came in the mail. It didn't take me long to read at all! I just loved Dessa and her determination to help woman and young woman out and get them out of bad situations. She didn't just want to give them a hand out but a hand up and teach them skills and show them that God loves them. This is not an easy thing for a woman to do back then and in many ways is still a hard thing.<br /><br />This is part of the Guilded Legacy series but can be completed read on its own, there really is no connection to the first book. The characters and setting and completely different. II personally think this book is a lot better than Birds in the Butterfly Garden, the first book in the series. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed Maureen Lang's other books and historical romance in general. You can't go wrong with this book and the cover is beautiful!<br /><br />*I received this book from Tyndale for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1363366268000, "title": "A Page Turner" } ]

[ { "asin": "1414340125", "rating": 5, "text": "What a great second novel from C.J. Darlington. Bound By Guilt is the sequel to her first novel, Thicker than Blood, though it can be read alone. I loved her first book and couldn't wait to read this one and it did not let me down. I look forward to reading more books from her.<br /><br />Roxi is living with her mom's cousin, Irene, and Irene's son Diego who travel the country stealing rare books and selling them for cash. When a robbery goes wrong, Roxi chooses to run. It is than she meets Jan and her husband who take her in and show her love and acceptance, something she has not known in the past.<br /><br />Guilt is the central theme to this novel and how it can consume you and that the only escape from it is the truth. Roxi is bound by the guilt of being an accomplice to a robbery and a murder. Abby can't escape the guilt that she thinks she failed as a wife, a mother and a cop. These characters must learn how to accept the truth, admit it in order to be free. We are reunited with May and Christy from Thicker than Blood and are introduced to some new and wonderful characters.", "timestamp": 1310173976000, "title": "A fantastic second novel!!!" }, { "asin": "1414335970", "rating": 5, "text": "Forsaking All Others is the sequel and conclusion to For Time and Eternity and I both books are amazing to read. This book being a sequel I highly recommend reading the first one before it as this one picks up right where the first left off. In all reality they could be one book. It would be very confusing to try to read this book by itself.<br /><br />Camilla Fox who had just left home in the first book was caught in a snowstorm, the good news is that she is alive and currently with the US Army under Colonel Charles Brandon. After many months of healing from the affects of being in the snowstorm the Colonel helps her return to Salt Lake City to see her children she left behind while waiting for spring to be able back to her parents home in Missouri.<br /><br />While back in Utah, things are harder then she was expecting but eventually finds a way to escape and head to Missouri, again with the help of the Colonel. Finally back home she builds her strength and her case to legally divorce Nathan and claim her children. Will Camilla find the freedom she needs? Will she be able to bring her children home and raise them in her faith, not the Mormom faith?<br /><br />I loved this book, as well as the first, and found myself not wanting to put the books down. They are such a great story of standing for your faith and not backing down. I would recommend this book to everyone. Defiantly a 5 star book, if not higher!<br /><br />I received this book from Tyndale through the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1316801705000, "title": "What a story!" }, { "asin": "076420498X", "rating": 5, "text": "What if real life becomes more adventuresome, more romantic, and more engaging than fictional stories? This is what happens to Alice Ripley who has been living with her nose stuck in a book and barely paying attention to the world around her. When her boyfriend breaks up with her and she loses her job at the library during the depression she decided to up and go to Acorn, Kentucky to deliver books that her town as donated. What she finds in Acorn is so much more than a library in need of books. She finds true friendship, love, adventure, and an interest in life outside of books.<br /><br />I found this book to be amazing, it has so much depth to the characters and the stories of their lives fascinated me. As much as the story was about Alice it was also about the many residents of Acorn. Lynn Austin is such a gifted and talented writer and brought so much excitement in this book, she wrote with vivid detail that I could picture myself right along side Alice. She also filled the book with so many twists and turns that once I thought I knew what was going to happen something changed.<br /><br />This is the type of book that I would recommend to everyone since it has something for all: history, romance, adventure, and even some suspense. This is definitely a 5 star book!<br /><br />I recieved this book from the publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for my honest review! Thank you Bethany House!", "timestamp": 1318006598000, "title": "What an Adventure!!!!!" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 4, "text": "I found myself really enjoying this book. I had never heard of the author was excited to get to read someone new to me. This book did not disappoint. Though I will say the start of the book (first few chapters) was a little slow and confusing since the author was setting the backdrop of the story and introducing the many characters. Once the story got going and you knew who was who I found the book hard to put down. I definitely would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery, suspense book with a little romance mixed in. I would say this is a 4 star book!<br /><br />I received this book from Kregel in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1319830437000, "title": "A fast paced suspense book!" }, { "asin": "0764208330", "rating": 5, "text": "I loved this book, every single page of it. I found myself drawn into it from the very beginning and kept reading to the end and never stopped loving the story. If you have ever played the Oregon Trail game this book reminded me of my childhood (ok and adulthood) days of playing that game since the story is set during that time of going out west to Oregon.<br /><br />Jody Hedlund does a great job at telling the story, which she actually based partially on real people and history (which makes the best kind of historical). She made is feel like you were right with the characters. I can not wait to read more from her. Great job, Jody!<br /><br />* I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Bethany House!", "timestamp": 1321841585000, "title": "The Oregan Trail game comes to Life in this amazing story" }, { "asin": "0764208942", "rating": 5, "text": "Let me begin, that I love the cover of this book. That alone would make me want to read this book. Then when I read the back of the book it made me even want to read it more. The great thing is that once I started this book I couldn't put it down, it was that good. Lady of Bolton Hill is Elizabeth Camden's debut book and you would think she is a seasoned author with this book, it really is that good. I will be looking forward to reading her second book, The Rose on Winslow Street which comes out in January 2012. Good thing I do not have to wait long!<br /><br />Clara Endicott has just returned to her Baltimore home after many years in London. While in London she developed into fine journalist defending the poor and seeking reform. Now that she is back home she is just as determined to defend those that need it most. It is also when she is reunited with her childhood best friend, Daniel Tremain. The only problem is Daniel has a grudge he just won't let go of and this grudge has the potential to both him and Clara in danger. Clara believes that Daniel needs God's grace and forgiveness to be able to move forward. Will Daniel be able to accept God's grace?<br /><br />This is a great book, full of romance and adventure, you won't regret reading it. So if you are in the mood for a good book that will keep you turning pages well into the middle of the night than this is the book for you. Great job Elizabeth Camden!<br /><br />*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1324173402000, "title": "Elizabeth Camden brings a spectacular debut book to the market!" }, { "asin": "1414334834", "rating": 5, "text": "What would it be like to not remember how you got to where you were? That is what Noelle is about to discover when she is in a bad accident that on the outside leaves very few injuries but on the inside she can not remember the last twenty five years of her life. Her husband Eli, their children and the tragedy from three years ago are gone from her mind and now she needs to figure out who she is, who they are and what happened. Secrets will be uncovered and in the end trust and faith is what they need for healing to begin.<br /><br />The Shadow of Your Smile is book five in Susan May Warren's popular Deep Haven series and while I have not read the others (which now I can not wait to do so) I was able to enjoy this story. It was have been nice to have read the others so I would know all the back stories and would get that feeling like I was visiting with dear friends. Susan May Warren is a very gifted storyteller and draws the reader in with an intriguing plot filled with characters that will make you both laugh and cry. This book is filled with hope, rediscovery, love, faithfulness and trust. So many lessons can be learned by reading this book. As much as I loved this book it is not for everyone. This is not a light and fluffy book, it deals with some tough issues: loss of a child, divorce, amnesia and more. I give this book a solid 5 stars!<br /><br />*I received this book through Litfuse for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1327635981000, "title": "A great read!" }, { "asin": "0800720741", "rating": 4, "text": "Where Wildflowers Bloom is book on in Ann Shorey's new Sisters at Heart series. It is set in post Civil War and the characters are trying to deal with life after the war. This book touches on the condition we know today as PTSD but back then it was called solider's heart.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading this book though it is somewhat predictable like so many books are but that doesn't take away the enjoyment of the story. Ann Shorey did a great job at making the characters feel real. They had real feelings and were trying to figure out how to cope with life. The characters in this book came alive as well as the setting. I could picture myself visiting this town and have that feeling that I am visiting friends. I love books that are able to transport you to the time and place and this book does just that. This is a great book for anyone who loves historical fiction, or a great first book into the this genre. I would give this book a solid 4 stars and will look forward to reading more book in the series.<br /><br />* I received this book from Revell for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1327680208000, "title": "A post civil war historical fiction!" }, { "asin": "0800720075", "rating": 4, "text": "Warning: this book will make you mad! Okay, mad in that you will want to read the second book right away and not have to wait till fall 2012. Now that the warning is over, I loved this book. It was such a fun adventure that kept me guessing who did, what happened to one of the characters and how things would work out. Things did not wrap up like I expected at all, and at the end I almost through the book across the room since there was a huge cliffhanger and I wanted to know what happened. I really enjoyed reading about Alexia's story and trying to find out who is wanting her dead and how the detective will fall into her life. As much as this book is fun there is some real depth to the story as well. Forgiveness, loving others through protecting even when its hard and being honest are all things the characters need to learn as well as God's love for them. This is the first book from Lynette Eason that I have read and will be reading more in the future. I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1329070051000, "title": "What an adventure" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 4, "text": "What a sweet and fun romance story. Beauty for Ashes is Dorothy Love's second Hickok Ridge Novel but is easily read on its own. After reading it I would like to read the other one day. The book is set after the Civil war is over and the main character Carrie Daly has lost her husband to it and does not know what to do now. She has always longed for a family and that seems so hopeless now. Though there is one man that she just may be able to fall in love with, Griff. Follow in Carrie's story and watch these two fall in love in this book. The main theme of this book is that God works all things for the good and He will being beauty for ashes. What a great promise! This is a great book for anyone who enjoys a sweet, simple, historical, Christian romance. This is the kind of book I think is great to read on the beach since there is not as much depth and reminder of the real world in it.<br /><br />* I received this book through booksneeze for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1329318611000, "title": "Sweet and Fun" }, { "asin": "0800720458", "rating": 4, "text": "Words Spoken True by Ann H. Gabhart is a delightful story set in 1850's Louisville during a time of political unrest. While the story is entirely fiction the history of the time period is fairly accurate and that makes this story interesting. This book is full of a lot including dueling newspapers, an unusual engagement, the mystery of the river slasher killing young Irish girls and more. There is a ton of romantic tension with Adriane Darcy and her strange engagement to Stanley and her draw to Blake Garret who works for the rival newspaper.<br /><br />While this book had an intriguing plot, a setting that is not as commonly written in and many twists and turns I found my self having a hard time getting into the book. I found the first third of the book to move very slowly and I am the type of person that wants to be grabbed from page one. I will say I loved the setting of the story and hope to see more books written during that time period in the future. Also, the cover is spectacular! In conclusion, this is a great story in the end and is worth sticking it with it. Final rating 3.9 out of 5.<br /><br />* Thank you Revell for providing me a copy of the book in return for my honest opinion.<br /><br />**Available February 2012 from Revell, a division of Baker Publishers**", "timestamp": 1330189062000, "title": "A slow start with a good end" }, { "asin": "0800732138", "rating": 5, "text": "Julie Lessman has written another fantastic novel about the very passionate O'Connor family and takes you on a grand adventure. Once I started this book I had a very hard time putting it down and found myself reading over half of it (480 page book) in one night! I may have lost some sleep due to it but it was so worth it and I would do it again. The twists and turns that Julie takes you on is very similar to riding the most twisty roller coaster you can think of. There is no way of predicting how the story will play out and that is what makes it fun to read. Predictable is boring and boring is one word that will never describe a Julie Lessman book! There are so many things I loved about this book including seeing Lizzie and John Brady fall in love, John dealing with his past, everything about Charity and so much more. Way to go Julie on another amazing book!<br /><br />A Passion Denied is book three in Julie Lessman's Daughters of Boston series and don't even consider reading these books out of order. If you have not read this trilogy yet don't walk but run to your nearest christian bookstore and pick up these wonderful books filled with so much passion, both romantic and spiritual and discover this amazing family! This is definitely a 10 start book out of 5 stars!", "timestamp": 1330622423000, "title": "Another winner by Julie Lessman" }, { "asin": "0800719859", "rating": 3, "text": "Heart's Safe Passage is the second book in Laurie Alice Eakes Midwives series but stands along rather well. I did not have time to read book one, Lady in the Mist, and was able to follow along really well. I think that it helps that most of the book is set on a ship and so the main characters from the first book play a very very small role in this book. Laurie Alice Eakes does a great job at setting a story just about entirely on a ship and keeping it interesting and weaves together a romance of two very different people. I sadly though did not find this to be a favorite book. I had a hard time getting into the story and staying focused on it. I know we all read book that we love and ones that we don't and in the end it is only our personal opinion. Just because I did not care for it does not mean others won't like it either. It is heartbreaking to not like a book that you looked forward to reading. Oh, before I forget the cover is stunning and really helps set the setting. Final rating 3.5 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1330804496000, "title": "A romance on the high seas" }, { "asin": "1609362187", "rating": 5, "text": "What a fantastic book this was! I loved every minute of it and found myself not wanting to put it down which is most likely why I read it within a day. Heiress is book one of Susan May Warren's Daughters of Fortune series and it is one not to be missed!<br /><br />Glamour, glitz, power, wealth, but where is the love. All Esme and Jinx want is to be loved,by there father and a husband when the time comes but set in the world of Mrs. Astors 400 in the early 1900's makes this hard if not impossible. Will Esme and Jinx find the love they are seeking while be surrounded by clouds of lies? This book took my emotions on a roller coaster from the first page to the last. This is not your normal happy, happy book, for many parts it is down right heartbreaking but so true for that society. A society where women are meant to plan parties, produce heirs and run the house while the men do as they please. Through it all the women take joy in their children and want it to be better for them in the future. This is a solid 5 star book and I can not wait to read the next in the series, Baroness.<br /><br />* I received this book through the author and Amy Lathrop for the pupose of this review, an honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you!", "timestamp": 1331072313000, "title": "wow what a story!" }, { "asin": "1595549153", "rating": 4, "text": "I just loved this book. It was so much fun to read and at many times I found myself laughing out loud. Watching Lucy and Nate figure out how to love each other, live with each other and work alongside one another was downright funny. They each had so much to learn from each other and about each other but with God and time they learn they are perfect for each other. On top of the budding romance Colleen throws in the mystery of what really happened to Lucy's father. Oh the twists and turns this book takes and in the end it is nothing like what was expected. Colleen Coble tells a western tale set in 1877 Texas that weaves together romance, mystery, secrets, lies and humor. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5!", "timestamp": 1331308543000, "title": "Romance and Humor in Texas!" }, { "asin": "0764207865", "rating": 5, "text": "As soon as I got this book in the mail yesterday I could not wait to read it. The cover is so beautiful and so I settled down to read it, though not planning to end up finishing it within the day. Sadie Wagner's character just fascinated me and drew me right in. I could feel her emotions of having to leave her family in order to provide for them or when she was wrestling with what to do do about a certain situation. I can't forget to mention the Melva and Shelva Baxter, the twin sisters that own the mercantile and take Sadie in, they are a hoot!! Most scenes that involved them had me laughing. Kim Vogel Sawyer weaves together a very interesting plot with many little details that keep the story going and make it more than a simple love story, actually it is no where near simple. There is also an excellent message in this book about how when you choose what goes against your morals and how it leads to a guilty conscience.<br /><br />I have read several of Kim Vogel Sawyer's books and this one is one of her best and would highly recommend it to any one who enjoys a good historical romance filled with laughter, faith, romance and more. Final rating 5 stars out of 5!<br /><br />*Thank you Bethany House for providing me with this copy in return for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1332255136000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "0764208101", "rating": 5, "text": "What a fantastic contemporary novel. This is my first book from Ann Tatlock but I know I will reading more. It pulled me from page one and I had a very hard time putting it down and found myself reading it within a day. I loved how this story was so much to do about healing and forgiveness. I loved Jane's character and wondered many times if I would have the same determination to honor a commitment as she did. She had to deal with life changing circumstances and in the end things worked out so great. I really enjoyed how Ann ended the book and the end was even better than I was hoping.<br /><br />Ann Tatlock weaves together a beautiful story set in the upcountry of North Carolina and will pull you in and make you feel what the characters are feeling. If you loved a great contemporary novel then look no further you have found your book.<br /><br />*With thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book to review, and honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you Ann!", "timestamp": 1335725032000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "1414339143", "rating": 4, "text": "Skip Rock Shallows by Jan Watson takes readers into a small coal town where at first the idea of a lady doctor is rejects. Only after saving a young miner she starts to win there trust but even then it is slow and not all want her there. Though there are many residents who become very fond of her and she of them. Throughout the story Lilly faces many battles and wrestles with what to do with the future. Should she stay in Skip Rock or go home to Boston? Then there is the character from her past, who is he and why is he so familiar. Lilly will not only have to face the future but the past as well but she is one strong lady with a trust in God that will help through all she does. Join Lilly and the cast of characters in this fun novel.<br /><br />This book for me was fun to read and I enjoyed meeting all the residents of Skip Rock but the only thing for me was it never fully drew me in. I was easily able to set it down for awhile and come back to it. I am definitely glad I read it and would recommend it to those who love book about lady doctors in a time where that was not common. Overall good job Jan Watson!<br /><br />* I received this book through Tyndale for the purpose of this review. My honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you Tyndale.", "timestamp": 1338479104000, "title": "Charming" }, { "asin": "0800734378", "rating": 3, "text": "I was very hesitant to read this book after reading book one, Chasing Sunsets, which I did not like at all. I was pleasantly surprised that this book was so much better and I found it hard to believe that they are in the same series and written by the same author. Waiting for Sunrise tells Patsy's story, who was a secondary character in book one, but is set the past and there is only one chapter that even references anything from the first book. That makes this book great as a stand alone. While I enjoyed reading this book, that did not take me long at all to read, I can't say it was a favorite. In the end it felt very anti-climatic and really kept a sad tone throughout the book. It does deal with some heavy issues such as mental illness in the 1960's. I do want to put out a warning that I can't really say that it is a christian book, while there was no language or other moral issues there was no real faith aspect to it all, a reference here and there. In the end, I am not really sure what I think, and it left me wanting more.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell Books for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1339535398000, "title": "Anti-Climatic" }, { "asin": "1414333064", "rating": 4, "text": "Dry as Rain is Gina Holmes second novel. This book centers around infidelity. The themes of the book are the truth, forgiveness and second chances.<br /><br />Eric and Kyra have been married for 20 years and have one son, Benji, who dreams are crushed by being medically discharged from the Navy. When Kyra discovers an e-mail that Eric sent to another women her fears that he is having and affair come to reality. Just separated, Kyra is in an accident and when awake has lost some of her memories. Eric is excited that he gets a second chance with wife that he realizes that he truly does love and doesn't want to leave. As Kyra begins to gain more and more memories back Erick struggles with the truth of what happened between them and if he should tell her or allow her to remember on her own.<br /><br />While I loved her debut novel, I did not find that this one was as strong. I found the story to move a little slow and needed more depth to really feel the pain, struggle, and hope of the characters.", "timestamp": 1339539619000, "title": "An enjoyable read" }, { "asin": "1616387157", "rating": 4, "text": "The Anniversary Waltz by Darrel Nelson is a sweet romance set in the 1940's after World War II has ended. This is Darrel's debut novel and he does a great a job at telling the story and making the romance feel real. I enjoyed how the story felt more realistic then a fluffy love story like many romance stories are. Actually, Darrel mentions in the back of the book that the story is loosely based on his family history, though the story at large is fiction. I found this to be an easy and enjoyable read and was able to finish it easily within a day. This is another fine example that not just women can write wonderful romances. Great job Darrel. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a good, clean and sweet romance story.<br /><br />* I received this book through Glass Roads Blog Tours for the purpose of this review, my honest opinion was all that was requested.", "timestamp": 1340209360000, "title": "Sweet" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "4.5 stars<br /><br />Vicious Cycle by Terri Blackstock is book 2 in the Intervention Series and while it is great to know what happened in the first book you can easily read this book on its own. Like the first book, Intervention, this book reads fast and is hard to put down once you start. I really enjoyed this story and Terri Blackstock had me guessing all the way to the end.<br /><br />I enjoyed following Lance, Barbara and Emily's life and enjoyed the different case that took place in this book. The over arching theme of addictions is still there but this time there is more than just that going on in this book. The only thing I didn't like about the book is it is heart wrenching watching the characters struggle so much with their addictions...it is just so sad how many people out there that are trapped in that vicious cycle of addictions.<br /><br />I would recommend this book to anyone who like a a good suspense story but is not afraid of the tough issues presented in the book.<br /><br />* I received this book through Zondervan for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1340827551000, "title": "Couldn't put it down" }, { "asin": "1595547819", "rating": 4, "text": "4 Stars<br /><br />Beach, mystery, secluded island, romance and so much more is found in Colleen Coble's newest book, Tidewater Inn. This book is the first book in her new Hope Beach series and I am now anxiously waiting for the next one to be released. I loved the setting of this book and the cover of the book helps set it too. I could picture the location and the super super small town that exists. It sounds like such a peaceful and relaxing place. All the characters in this book were fun to read about and came alive on the pages. I really enjoyed the mystery portion and was hard to figure out what was going to happen next which is great. Overall this is a great book for everyone and would make a great beach read.<br /><br />*I received this book through booksneeze.com for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1341965035000, "title": "Great Beach Mystery" }, { "asin": "1401685617", "rating": 5, "text": "WOW, what an amazing and powerful book. Robert Whitlow hit the what to about about a teen pregnancy so great and portrayed adoption and abortion without being preachy. In the end he really makes you think and personally he showed a beautiful side to adoption which does not always happen. I really enjoyed the character of Sandy in the book and really felt for her and she had to make one of the hardest decisions of her life. A decision that while great, still brings consequences and is something you never entirely get over. Overall I would recommend this book to everyone since it is such a powerful story that makes you think but is also enjoyable to read at the same time. :)<br /><br />* I received this book through Booksneeze.com for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1343603421000, "title": "Powerful" }, { "asin": "1414333218", "rating": 4, "text": "Powerful, riveting and so much more. This is the the first book I read from Randy Singer and I know I will be reading more in the future. Legal thrillers are not always my first choice but every once in a while I enjoy them for a change. The Last Plea Bargain pulled me in and kept me guessing. I have heard Randy Singer compared to John Grisham and while I have not read John Grisham it is definently an honor to Randy Singer to be compared to him. The nice part of the book is that it is published in the CBA realm so it avoids the language and sex of mainstream novels and its nice to read books with the Christian view point. Overall good job Randy Singer on an excellent book!", "timestamp": 1346170910000, "title": "Legal Thriller genre at its best" }, { "asin": "1414348649", "rating": 4, "text": "Attracted to Fire is the second book I ave read by DiAnn Mills and I personally liked this one a lot better. The other book I read was The Fire in Ember and while it was good it wasn't anything special and I found it slow. With that said I was a little hesitant to try another book from this author but I am glad I did since this one was a lot better. I am not sure if the genre suits her more or it was just the book but I found it really enjoyable. I have found that I really enjoy romantic suspense and this book kept me engaged. I really enjoyed the mystery part and found myself trying to guess what will happen and that changed many times. Overall great page turner DiAnn Mills and now I know I will be reading more from her in the future.", "timestamp": 1346201504000, "title": "Page Turner" }, { "asin": "0764206176", "rating": 3, "text": "3 Stars<br /><br />Over the last few years I have read several of Tracie Peterson's historical series and contemporary fiction books. Many of them I have really enjoyed and a few have fallen short in my own opinion. Sadly this book was just not my favorite, I read book 1 in the series, Chasing the Sun, and found it to be slow moving and just could not get into it. I did not have the time to read the second, but was hoping things would get better with book 3. I will say that I found it a little more interesting, but it took a bit to get into the book. I am sure there are many people out there that would enjoy this book as well as the series, since the great thing about being human is to have our own opinions and interest. Part of it might have been the setting for me, since it is not my most favorite setting, but I know people that love that setting so I hope they will also enjoy the book. With all this said, I thoroughly look forward to reading future books from Tracie as well as some of her older ones I have not read yet, since for the most part I find that she is a great author with a talent to write in many settings, both historical and contemporary.<br /><br />*I received this book through Bethany House and Litfuse Publicity for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1348710769000, "title": "Just okay" }, { "asin": "1595548033", "rating": 4, "text": "The Trouble with Cowboys, is book three in Denise Hunter's Big Sky Romance series and while characters do overlap between the books, they can be easily read on their own. I have read book 2 also and have the first book setting on my shelf waiting to be read, which I will hopefully soon. This book is so much fun to read and is a nice break from some of the deeper books out there. Denise writes very humorously and many times I was laughing out loud but she also has the emotional side to where you cheer the characters on and get mad at them too.<br /><br />I really enjoyed Annie's character and her passion to help her sister through college and life. She is a strong person that is willing to put her life on the side to help others. I am thankful though that she does learn to live her own life and allow someone to love her as she deserves.<br /><br />I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good, clean romance. This is a great beach or vacation read. Great job Denise on writing a great book.<br /><br />* I received this book from Thomas Nelson through Litfuse Publicity. Thank You!", "timestamp": 1348940772000, "title": "So much fun to read" }, { "asin": "0800734173", "rating": 5, "text": "5 Stars ( or more like 10 stars )<br /><br />What a fantastic book this was to read!!! A Love Surrendered is the third book in Julie Lessman's Winds of Change series and I think it was my favorite in this series. Annie Kennedy just jumped out of the pages and into my heart the minute I met her. She was so much fun to read about and get to know. It was unique because she had not been in any of the others books so she was brand new to the family. It was also great catching up with the rest of the O'Connor's and learning about their plans and schemes!!!<br /><br />With this book it is sad to think the end has come to the O'Connor family but the road was so much fun in hearing of all their adventures. Julie ended the book fantastically and I felt sad that it was over but there was still a conclusion to wonder six books that spanned two series and many decades. At least there is one more book to read, a lighter simpler tale of how Marcy and Patrick met all those years ago.<br /><br />I highly (and even higher than that) recommend Julie's books to everyone who loves a good story filled with drama, tension, romance and wonderful Christian lessons. Though I warn any new reader to Juile, DO NOT read them out of order! Each book builds on the past one and it would just not be right to read them out of order.<br />Congrats Julie on another wonderful novel that will remain in my heart and on my bookshelf for years to come.<br />* I received this book through Revell for the purpose of this review. Thank you Revell!", "timestamp": 1350253084000, "title": "Words can't describe how much I love this book!" }, { "asin": "1414364474", "rating": 5, "text": "What a fantastic story! Maureen Lang does a great job at weaving the lives of Henry Hawkins and Dessa Caldwell together, both impulsive, stubborn and in need to learn the same lessons. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and dived right in as soon as it came in the mail. It didn't take me long to read at all! I just loved Dessa and her determination to help woman and young woman out and get them out of bad situations. She didn't just want to give them a hand out but a hand up and teach them skills and show them that God loves them. This is not an easy thing for a woman to do back then and in many ways is still a hard thing.<br /><br />This is part of the Guilded Legacy series but can be completed read on its own, there really is no connection to the first book. The characters and setting and completely different. II personally think this book is a lot better than Birds in the Butterfly Garden, the first book in the series. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed Maureen Lang's other books and historical romance in general. You can't go wrong with this book and the cover is beautiful!<br /><br />*I received this book from Tyndale for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1363366268000, "title": "A Page Turner" }, { "asin": "0764207970", "rating": 3, "text": "Oh how fun to read about candy! Who just doesn't love it? Of course I never expected to find so much competition in the candy making world and wow can they be mean. I found the setting to be fun and loved the candy making plot because it was different and something I had not read yet.<br /><br />At the beginning I really like Lucy but as the story played out I found I did not like her as much and found all her scheming to be a tad too much. I didn't think she really grow or change during the story. In my opinion she made the romance side of the story hard to love.<br /><br />The big downside I found was the book just was so slow paced and I think it could have been a lot shorter. I will say I loved the fact that it was written in the first person. This was my first Siri Mitchell book so I have no idea how it compares to her others, but I would assume many will love this book.<br /><br />*I received this book through Litfuse for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1366132534000, "title": "Candy and Romance" } ]

[ { "asin": "1414340125", "rating": 5, "text": "What a great second novel from C.J. Darlington. Bound By Guilt is the sequel to her first novel, Thicker than Blood, though it can be read alone. I loved her first book and couldn't wait to read this one and it did not let me down. I look forward to reading more books from her.<br /><br />Roxi is living with her mom's cousin, Irene, and Irene's son Diego who travel the country stealing rare books and selling them for cash. When a robbery goes wrong, Roxi chooses to run. It is than she meets Jan and her husband who take her in and show her love and acceptance, something she has not known in the past.<br /><br />Guilt is the central theme to this novel and how it can consume you and that the only escape from it is the truth. Roxi is bound by the guilt of being an accomplice to a robbery and a murder. Abby can't escape the guilt that she thinks she failed as a wife, a mother and a cop. These characters must learn how to accept the truth, admit it in order to be free. We are reunited with May and Christy from Thicker than Blood and are introduced to some new and wonderful characters.", "timestamp": 1310173976000, "title": "A fantastic second novel!!!" }, { "asin": "1414335970", "rating": 5, "text": "Forsaking All Others is the sequel and conclusion to For Time and Eternity and I both books are amazing to read. This book being a sequel I highly recommend reading the first one before it as this one picks up right where the first left off. In all reality they could be one book. It would be very confusing to try to read this book by itself.<br /><br />Camilla Fox who had just left home in the first book was caught in a snowstorm, the good news is that she is alive and currently with the US Army under Colonel Charles Brandon. After many months of healing from the affects of being in the snowstorm the Colonel helps her return to Salt Lake City to see her children she left behind while waiting for spring to be able back to her parents home in Missouri.<br /><br />While back in Utah, things are harder then she was expecting but eventually finds a way to escape and head to Missouri, again with the help of the Colonel. Finally back home she builds her strength and her case to legally divorce Nathan and claim her children. Will Camilla find the freedom she needs? Will she be able to bring her children home and raise them in her faith, not the Mormom faith?<br /><br />I loved this book, as well as the first, and found myself not wanting to put the books down. They are such a great story of standing for your faith and not backing down. I would recommend this book to everyone. Defiantly a 5 star book, if not higher!<br /><br />I received this book from Tyndale through the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1316801705000, "title": "What a story!" }, { "asin": "076420498X", "rating": 5, "text": "What if real life becomes more adventuresome, more romantic, and more engaging than fictional stories? This is what happens to Alice Ripley who has been living with her nose stuck in a book and barely paying attention to the world around her. When her boyfriend breaks up with her and she loses her job at the library during the depression she decided to up and go to Acorn, Kentucky to deliver books that her town as donated. What she finds in Acorn is so much more than a library in need of books. She finds true friendship, love, adventure, and an interest in life outside of books.<br /><br />I found this book to be amazing, it has so much depth to the characters and the stories of their lives fascinated me. As much as the story was about Alice it was also about the many residents of Acorn. Lynn Austin is such a gifted and talented writer and brought so much excitement in this book, she wrote with vivid detail that I could picture myself right along side Alice. She also filled the book with so many twists and turns that once I thought I knew what was going to happen something changed.<br /><br />This is the type of book that I would recommend to everyone since it has something for all: history, romance, adventure, and even some suspense. This is definitely a 5 star book!<br /><br />I recieved this book from the publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for my honest review! Thank you Bethany House!", "timestamp": 1318006598000, "title": "What an Adventure!!!!!" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 4, "text": "I found myself really enjoying this book. I had never heard of the author was excited to get to read someone new to me. This book did not disappoint. Though I will say the start of the book (first few chapters) was a little slow and confusing since the author was setting the backdrop of the story and introducing the many characters. Once the story got going and you knew who was who I found the book hard to put down. I definitely would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery, suspense book with a little romance mixed in. I would say this is a 4 star book!<br /><br />I received this book from Kregel in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1319830437000, "title": "A fast paced suspense book!" }, { "asin": "0764208330", "rating": 5, "text": "I loved this book, every single page of it. I found myself drawn into it from the very beginning and kept reading to the end and never stopped loving the story. If you have ever played the Oregon Trail game this book reminded me of my childhood (ok and adulthood) days of playing that game since the story is set during that time of going out west to Oregon.<br /><br />Jody Hedlund does a great job at telling the story, which she actually based partially on real people and history (which makes the best kind of historical). She made is feel like you were right with the characters. I can not wait to read more from her. Great job, Jody!<br /><br />* I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Bethany House!", "timestamp": 1321841585000, "title": "The Oregan Trail game comes to Life in this amazing story" }, { "asin": "0764208942", "rating": 5, "text": "Let me begin, that I love the cover of this book. That alone would make me want to read this book. Then when I read the back of the book it made me even want to read it more. The great thing is that once I started this book I couldn't put it down, it was that good. Lady of Bolton Hill is Elizabeth Camden's debut book and you would think she is a seasoned author with this book, it really is that good. I will be looking forward to reading her second book, The Rose on Winslow Street which comes out in January 2012. Good thing I do not have to wait long!<br /><br />Clara Endicott has just returned to her Baltimore home after many years in London. While in London she developed into fine journalist defending the poor and seeking reform. Now that she is back home she is just as determined to defend those that need it most. It is also when she is reunited with her childhood best friend, Daniel Tremain. The only problem is Daniel has a grudge he just won't let go of and this grudge has the potential to both him and Clara in danger. Clara believes that Daniel needs God's grace and forgiveness to be able to move forward. Will Daniel be able to accept God's grace?<br /><br />This is a great book, full of romance and adventure, you won't regret reading it. So if you are in the mood for a good book that will keep you turning pages well into the middle of the night than this is the book for you. Great job Elizabeth Camden!<br /><br />*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1324173402000, "title": "Elizabeth Camden brings a spectacular debut book to the market!" }, { "asin": "1414334834", "rating": 5, "text": "What would it be like to not remember how you got to where you were? That is what Noelle is about to discover when she is in a bad accident that on the outside leaves very few injuries but on the inside she can not remember the last twenty five years of her life. Her husband Eli, their children and the tragedy from three years ago are gone from her mind and now she needs to figure out who she is, who they are and what happened. Secrets will be uncovered and in the end trust and faith is what they need for healing to begin.<br /><br />The Shadow of Your Smile is book five in Susan May Warren's popular Deep Haven series and while I have not read the others (which now I can not wait to do so) I was able to enjoy this story. It was have been nice to have read the others so I would know all the back stories and would get that feeling like I was visiting with dear friends. Susan May Warren is a very gifted storyteller and draws the reader in with an intriguing plot filled with characters that will make you both laugh and cry. This book is filled with hope, rediscovery, love, faithfulness and trust. So many lessons can be learned by reading this book. As much as I loved this book it is not for everyone. This is not a light and fluffy book, it deals with some tough issues: loss of a child, divorce, amnesia and more. I give this book a solid 5 stars!<br /><br />*I received this book through Litfuse for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1327635981000, "title": "A great read!" }, { "asin": "0800720741", "rating": 4, "text": "Where Wildflowers Bloom is book on in Ann Shorey's new Sisters at Heart series. It is set in post Civil War and the characters are trying to deal with life after the war. This book touches on the condition we know today as PTSD but back then it was called solider's heart.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading this book though it is somewhat predictable like so many books are but that doesn't take away the enjoyment of the story. Ann Shorey did a great job at making the characters feel real. They had real feelings and were trying to figure out how to cope with life. The characters in this book came alive as well as the setting. I could picture myself visiting this town and have that feeling that I am visiting friends. I love books that are able to transport you to the time and place and this book does just that. This is a great book for anyone who loves historical fiction, or a great first book into the this genre. I would give this book a solid 4 stars and will look forward to reading more book in the series.<br /><br />* I received this book from Revell for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1327680208000, "title": "A post civil war historical fiction!" }, { "asin": "0800720075", "rating": 4, "text": "Warning: this book will make you mad! Okay, mad in that you will want to read the second book right away and not have to wait till fall 2012. Now that the warning is over, I loved this book. It was such a fun adventure that kept me guessing who did, what happened to one of the characters and how things would work out. Things did not wrap up like I expected at all, and at the end I almost through the book across the room since there was a huge cliffhanger and I wanted to know what happened. I really enjoyed reading about Alexia's story and trying to find out who is wanting her dead and how the detective will fall into her life. As much as this book is fun there is some real depth to the story as well. Forgiveness, loving others through protecting even when its hard and being honest are all things the characters need to learn as well as God's love for them. This is the first book from Lynette Eason that I have read and will be reading more in the future. I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1329070051000, "title": "What an adventure" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 4, "text": "What a sweet and fun romance story. Beauty for Ashes is Dorothy Love's second Hickok Ridge Novel but is easily read on its own. After reading it I would like to read the other one day. The book is set after the Civil war is over and the main character Carrie Daly has lost her husband to it and does not know what to do now. She has always longed for a family and that seems so hopeless now. Though there is one man that she just may be able to fall in love with, Griff. Follow in Carrie's story and watch these two fall in love in this book. The main theme of this book is that God works all things for the good and He will being beauty for ashes. What a great promise! This is a great book for anyone who enjoys a sweet, simple, historical, Christian romance. This is the kind of book I think is great to read on the beach since there is not as much depth and reminder of the real world in it.<br /><br />* I received this book through booksneeze for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1329318611000, "title": "Sweet and Fun" }, { "asin": "0800720458", "rating": 4, "text": "Words Spoken True by Ann H. Gabhart is a delightful story set in 1850's Louisville during a time of political unrest. While the story is entirely fiction the history of the time period is fairly accurate and that makes this story interesting. This book is full of a lot including dueling newspapers, an unusual engagement, the mystery of the river slasher killing young Irish girls and more. There is a ton of romantic tension with Adriane Darcy and her strange engagement to Stanley and her draw to Blake Garret who works for the rival newspaper.<br /><br />While this book had an intriguing plot, a setting that is not as commonly written in and many twists and turns I found my self having a hard time getting into the book. I found the first third of the book to move very slowly and I am the type of person that wants to be grabbed from page one. I will say I loved the setting of the story and hope to see more books written during that time period in the future. Also, the cover is spectacular! In conclusion, this is a great story in the end and is worth sticking it with it. Final rating 3.9 out of 5.<br /><br />* Thank you Revell for providing me a copy of the book in return for my honest opinion.<br /><br />**Available February 2012 from Revell, a division of Baker Publishers**", "timestamp": 1330189062000, "title": "A slow start with a good end" }, { "asin": "0800732138", "rating": 5, "text": "Julie Lessman has written another fantastic novel about the very passionate O'Connor family and takes you on a grand adventure. Once I started this book I had a very hard time putting it down and found myself reading over half of it (480 page book) in one night! I may have lost some sleep due to it but it was so worth it and I would do it again. The twists and turns that Julie takes you on is very similar to riding the most twisty roller coaster you can think of. There is no way of predicting how the story will play out and that is what makes it fun to read. Predictable is boring and boring is one word that will never describe a Julie Lessman book! There are so many things I loved about this book including seeing Lizzie and John Brady fall in love, John dealing with his past, everything about Charity and so much more. Way to go Julie on another amazing book!<br /><br />A Passion Denied is book three in Julie Lessman's Daughters of Boston series and don't even consider reading these books out of order. If you have not read this trilogy yet don't walk but run to your nearest christian bookstore and pick up these wonderful books filled with so much passion, both romantic and spiritual and discover this amazing family! This is definitely a 10 start book out of 5 stars!", "timestamp": 1330622423000, "title": "Another winner by Julie Lessman" }, { "asin": "0800719859", "rating": 3, "text": "Heart's Safe Passage is the second book in Laurie Alice Eakes Midwives series but stands along rather well. I did not have time to read book one, Lady in the Mist, and was able to follow along really well. I think that it helps that most of the book is set on a ship and so the main characters from the first book play a very very small role in this book. Laurie Alice Eakes does a great job at setting a story just about entirely on a ship and keeping it interesting and weaves together a romance of two very different people. I sadly though did not find this to be a favorite book. I had a hard time getting into the story and staying focused on it. I know we all read book that we love and ones that we don't and in the end it is only our personal opinion. Just because I did not care for it does not mean others won't like it either. It is heartbreaking to not like a book that you looked forward to reading. Oh, before I forget the cover is stunning and really helps set the setting. Final rating 3.5 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1330804496000, "title": "A romance on the high seas" }, { "asin": "1609362187", "rating": 5, "text": "What a fantastic book this was! I loved every minute of it and found myself not wanting to put it down which is most likely why I read it within a day. Heiress is book one of Susan May Warren's Daughters of Fortune series and it is one not to be missed!<br /><br />Glamour, glitz, power, wealth, but where is the love. All Esme and Jinx want is to be loved,by there father and a husband when the time comes but set in the world of Mrs. Astors 400 in the early 1900's makes this hard if not impossible. Will Esme and Jinx find the love they are seeking while be surrounded by clouds of lies? This book took my emotions on a roller coaster from the first page to the last. This is not your normal happy, happy book, for many parts it is down right heartbreaking but so true for that society. A society where women are meant to plan parties, produce heirs and run the house while the men do as they please. Through it all the women take joy in their children and want it to be better for them in the future. This is a solid 5 star book and I can not wait to read the next in the series, Baroness.<br /><br />* I received this book through the author and Amy Lathrop for the pupose of this review, an honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you!", "timestamp": 1331072313000, "title": "wow what a story!" }, { "asin": "1595549153", "rating": 4, "text": "I just loved this book. It was so much fun to read and at many times I found myself laughing out loud. Watching Lucy and Nate figure out how to love each other, live with each other and work alongside one another was downright funny. They each had so much to learn from each other and about each other but with God and time they learn they are perfect for each other. On top of the budding romance Colleen throws in the mystery of what really happened to Lucy's father. Oh the twists and turns this book takes and in the end it is nothing like what was expected. Colleen Coble tells a western tale set in 1877 Texas that weaves together romance, mystery, secrets, lies and humor. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5!", "timestamp": 1331308543000, "title": "Romance and Humor in Texas!" }, { "asin": "0764207865", "rating": 5, "text": "As soon as I got this book in the mail yesterday I could not wait to read it. The cover is so beautiful and so I settled down to read it, though not planning to end up finishing it within the day. Sadie Wagner's character just fascinated me and drew me right in. I could feel her emotions of having to leave her family in order to provide for them or when she was wrestling with what to do do about a certain situation. I can't forget to mention the Melva and Shelva Baxter, the twin sisters that own the mercantile and take Sadie in, they are a hoot!! Most scenes that involved them had me laughing. Kim Vogel Sawyer weaves together a very interesting plot with many little details that keep the story going and make it more than a simple love story, actually it is no where near simple. There is also an excellent message in this book about how when you choose what goes against your morals and how it leads to a guilty conscience.<br /><br />I have read several of Kim Vogel Sawyer's books and this one is one of her best and would highly recommend it to any one who enjoys a good historical romance filled with laughter, faith, romance and more. Final rating 5 stars out of 5!<br /><br />*Thank you Bethany House for providing me with this copy in return for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1332255136000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "0764208101", "rating": 5, "text": "What a fantastic contemporary novel. This is my first book from Ann Tatlock but I know I will reading more. It pulled me from page one and I had a very hard time putting it down and found myself reading it within a day. I loved how this story was so much to do about healing and forgiveness. I loved Jane's character and wondered many times if I would have the same determination to honor a commitment as she did. She had to deal with life changing circumstances and in the end things worked out so great. I really enjoyed how Ann ended the book and the end was even better than I was hoping.<br /><br />Ann Tatlock weaves together a beautiful story set in the upcountry of North Carolina and will pull you in and make you feel what the characters are feeling. If you loved a great contemporary novel then look no further you have found your book.<br /><br />*With thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book to review, and honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you Ann!", "timestamp": 1335725032000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "1414339143", "rating": 4, "text": "Skip Rock Shallows by Jan Watson takes readers into a small coal town where at first the idea of a lady doctor is rejects. Only after saving a young miner she starts to win there trust but even then it is slow and not all want her there. Though there are many residents who become very fond of her and she of them. Throughout the story Lilly faces many battles and wrestles with what to do with the future. Should she stay in Skip Rock or go home to Boston? Then there is the character from her past, who is he and why is he so familiar. Lilly will not only have to face the future but the past as well but she is one strong lady with a trust in God that will help through all she does. Join Lilly and the cast of characters in this fun novel.<br /><br />This book for me was fun to read and I enjoyed meeting all the residents of Skip Rock but the only thing for me was it never fully drew me in. I was easily able to set it down for awhile and come back to it. I am definitely glad I read it and would recommend it to those who love book about lady doctors in a time where that was not common. Overall good job Jan Watson!<br /><br />* I received this book through Tyndale for the purpose of this review. My honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you Tyndale.", "timestamp": 1338479104000, "title": "Charming" }, { "asin": "0800734378", "rating": 3, "text": "I was very hesitant to read this book after reading book one, Chasing Sunsets, which I did not like at all. I was pleasantly surprised that this book was so much better and I found it hard to believe that they are in the same series and written by the same author. Waiting for Sunrise tells Patsy's story, who was a secondary character in book one, but is set the past and there is only one chapter that even references anything from the first book. That makes this book great as a stand alone. While I enjoyed reading this book, that did not take me long at all to read, I can't say it was a favorite. In the end it felt very anti-climatic and really kept a sad tone throughout the book. It does deal with some heavy issues such as mental illness in the 1960's. I do want to put out a warning that I can't really say that it is a christian book, while there was no language or other moral issues there was no real faith aspect to it all, a reference here and there. In the end, I am not really sure what I think, and it left me wanting more.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell Books for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1339535398000, "title": "Anti-Climatic" }, { "asin": "1414333064", "rating": 4, "text": "Dry as Rain is Gina Holmes second novel. This book centers around infidelity. The themes of the book are the truth, forgiveness and second chances.<br /><br />Eric and Kyra have been married for 20 years and have one son, Benji, who dreams are crushed by being medically discharged from the Navy. When Kyra discovers an e-mail that Eric sent to another women her fears that he is having and affair come to reality. Just separated, Kyra is in an accident and when awake has lost some of her memories. Eric is excited that he gets a second chance with wife that he realizes that he truly does love and doesn't want to leave. As Kyra begins to gain more and more memories back Erick struggles with the truth of what happened between them and if he should tell her or allow her to remember on her own.<br /><br />While I loved her debut novel, I did not find that this one was as strong. I found the story to move a little slow and needed more depth to really feel the pain, struggle, and hope of the characters.", "timestamp": 1339539619000, "title": "An enjoyable read" }, { "asin": "1616387157", "rating": 4, "text": "The Anniversary Waltz by Darrel Nelson is a sweet romance set in the 1940's after World War II has ended. This is Darrel's debut novel and he does a great a job at telling the story and making the romance feel real. I enjoyed how the story felt more realistic then a fluffy love story like many romance stories are. Actually, Darrel mentions in the back of the book that the story is loosely based on his family history, though the story at large is fiction. I found this to be an easy and enjoyable read and was able to finish it easily within a day. This is another fine example that not just women can write wonderful romances. Great job Darrel. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a good, clean and sweet romance story.<br /><br />* I received this book through Glass Roads Blog Tours for the purpose of this review, my honest opinion was all that was requested.", "timestamp": 1340209360000, "title": "Sweet" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "4.5 stars<br /><br />Vicious Cycle by Terri Blackstock is book 2 in the Intervention Series and while it is great to know what happened in the first book you can easily read this book on its own. Like the first book, Intervention, this book reads fast and is hard to put down once you start. I really enjoyed this story and Terri Blackstock had me guessing all the way to the end.<br /><br />I enjoyed following Lance, Barbara and Emily's life and enjoyed the different case that took place in this book. The over arching theme of addictions is still there but this time there is more than just that going on in this book. The only thing I didn't like about the book is it is heart wrenching watching the characters struggle so much with their addictions...it is just so sad how many people out there that are trapped in that vicious cycle of addictions.<br /><br />I would recommend this book to anyone who like a a good suspense story but is not afraid of the tough issues presented in the book.<br /><br />* I received this book through Zondervan for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1340827551000, "title": "Couldn't put it down" }, { "asin": "1595547819", "rating": 4, "text": "4 Stars<br /><br />Beach, mystery, secluded island, romance and so much more is found in Colleen Coble's newest book, Tidewater Inn. This book is the first book in her new Hope Beach series and I am now anxiously waiting for the next one to be released. I loved the setting of this book and the cover of the book helps set it too. I could picture the location and the super super small town that exists. It sounds like such a peaceful and relaxing place. All the characters in this book were fun to read about and came alive on the pages. I really enjoyed the mystery portion and was hard to figure out what was going to happen next which is great. Overall this is a great book for everyone and would make a great beach read.<br /><br />*I received this book through booksneeze.com for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1341965035000, "title": "Great Beach Mystery" }, { "asin": "1401685617", "rating": 5, "text": "WOW, what an amazing and powerful book. Robert Whitlow hit the what to about about a teen pregnancy so great and portrayed adoption and abortion without being preachy. In the end he really makes you think and personally he showed a beautiful side to adoption which does not always happen. I really enjoyed the character of Sandy in the book and really felt for her and she had to make one of the hardest decisions of her life. A decision that while great, still brings consequences and is something you never entirely get over. Overall I would recommend this book to everyone since it is such a powerful story that makes you think but is also enjoyable to read at the same time. :)<br /><br />* I received this book through Booksneeze.com for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1343603421000, "title": "Powerful" }, { "asin": "1414333218", "rating": 4, "text": "Powerful, riveting and so much more. This is the the first book I read from Randy Singer and I know I will be reading more in the future. Legal thrillers are not always my first choice but every once in a while I enjoy them for a change. The Last Plea Bargain pulled me in and kept me guessing. I have heard Randy Singer compared to John Grisham and while I have not read John Grisham it is definently an honor to Randy Singer to be compared to him. The nice part of the book is that it is published in the CBA realm so it avoids the language and sex of mainstream novels and its nice to read books with the Christian view point. Overall good job Randy Singer on an excellent book!", "timestamp": 1346170910000, "title": "Legal Thriller genre at its best" }, { "asin": "1414348649", "rating": 4, "text": "Attracted to Fire is the second book I ave read by DiAnn Mills and I personally liked this one a lot better. The other book I read was The Fire in Ember and while it was good it wasn't anything special and I found it slow. With that said I was a little hesitant to try another book from this author but I am glad I did since this one was a lot better. I am not sure if the genre suits her more or it was just the book but I found it really enjoyable. I have found that I really enjoy romantic suspense and this book kept me engaged. I really enjoyed the mystery part and found myself trying to guess what will happen and that changed many times. Overall great page turner DiAnn Mills and now I know I will be reading more from her in the future.", "timestamp": 1346201504000, "title": "Page Turner" }, { "asin": "0764206176", "rating": 3, "text": "3 Stars<br /><br />Over the last few years I have read several of Tracie Peterson's historical series and contemporary fiction books. Many of them I have really enjoyed and a few have fallen short in my own opinion. Sadly this book was just not my favorite, I read book 1 in the series, Chasing the Sun, and found it to be slow moving and just could not get into it. I did not have the time to read the second, but was hoping things would get better with book 3. I will say that I found it a little more interesting, but it took a bit to get into the book. I am sure there are many people out there that would enjoy this book as well as the series, since the great thing about being human is to have our own opinions and interest. Part of it might have been the setting for me, since it is not my most favorite setting, but I know people that love that setting so I hope they will also enjoy the book. With all this said, I thoroughly look forward to reading future books from Tracie as well as some of her older ones I have not read yet, since for the most part I find that she is a great author with a talent to write in many settings, both historical and contemporary.<br /><br />*I received this book through Bethany House and Litfuse Publicity for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1348710769000, "title": "Just okay" }, { "asin": "1595548033", "rating": 4, "text": "The Trouble with Cowboys, is book three in Denise Hunter's Big Sky Romance series and while characters do overlap between the books, they can be easily read on their own. I have read book 2 also and have the first book setting on my shelf waiting to be read, which I will hopefully soon. This book is so much fun to read and is a nice break from some of the deeper books out there. Denise writes very humorously and many times I was laughing out loud but she also has the emotional side to where you cheer the characters on and get mad at them too.<br /><br />I really enjoyed Annie's character and her passion to help her sister through college and life. She is a strong person that is willing to put her life on the side to help others. I am thankful though that she does learn to live her own life and allow someone to love her as she deserves.<br /><br />I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good, clean romance. This is a great beach or vacation read. Great job Denise on writing a great book.<br /><br />* I received this book from Thomas Nelson through Litfuse Publicity. Thank You!", "timestamp": 1348940772000, "title": "So much fun to read" }, { "asin": "0800734173", "rating": 5, "text": "5 Stars ( or more like 10 stars )<br /><br />What a fantastic book this was to read!!! A Love Surrendered is the third book in Julie Lessman's Winds of Change series and I think it was my favorite in this series. Annie Kennedy just jumped out of the pages and into my heart the minute I met her. She was so much fun to read about and get to know. It was unique because she had not been in any of the others books so she was brand new to the family. It was also great catching up with the rest of the O'Connor's and learning about their plans and schemes!!!<br /><br />With this book it is sad to think the end has come to the O'Connor family but the road was so much fun in hearing of all their adventures. Julie ended the book fantastically and I felt sad that it was over but there was still a conclusion to wonder six books that spanned two series and many decades. At least there is one more book to read, a lighter simpler tale of how Marcy and Patrick met all those years ago.<br /><br />I highly (and even higher than that) recommend Julie's books to everyone who loves a good story filled with drama, tension, romance and wonderful Christian lessons. Though I warn any new reader to Juile, DO NOT read them out of order! Each book builds on the past one and it would just not be right to read them out of order.<br />Congrats Julie on another wonderful novel that will remain in my heart and on my bookshelf for years to come.<br />* I received this book through Revell for the purpose of this review. Thank you Revell!", "timestamp": 1350253084000, "title": "Words can't describe how much I love this book!" }, { "asin": "1414364474", "rating": 5, "text": "What a fantastic story! Maureen Lang does a great job at weaving the lives of Henry Hawkins and Dessa Caldwell together, both impulsive, stubborn and in need to learn the same lessons. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and dived right in as soon as it came in the mail. It didn't take me long to read at all! I just loved Dessa and her determination to help woman and young woman out and get them out of bad situations. She didn't just want to give them a hand out but a hand up and teach them skills and show them that God loves them. This is not an easy thing for a woman to do back then and in many ways is still a hard thing.<br /><br />This is part of the Guilded Legacy series but can be completed read on its own, there really is no connection to the first book. The characters and setting and completely different. II personally think this book is a lot better than Birds in the Butterfly Garden, the first book in the series. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed Maureen Lang's other books and historical romance in general. You can't go wrong with this book and the cover is beautiful!<br /><br />*I received this book from Tyndale for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1363366268000, "title": "A Page Turner" }, { "asin": "0764207970", "rating": 3, "text": "Oh how fun to read about candy! Who just doesn't love it? Of course I never expected to find so much competition in the candy making world and wow can they be mean. I found the setting to be fun and loved the candy making plot because it was different and something I had not read yet.<br /><br />At the beginning I really like Lucy but as the story played out I found I did not like her as much and found all her scheming to be a tad too much. I didn't think she really grow or change during the story. In my opinion she made the romance side of the story hard to love.<br /><br />The big downside I found was the book just was so slow paced and I think it could have been a lot shorter. I will say I loved the fact that it was written in the first person. This was my first Siri Mitchell book so I have no idea how it compares to her others, but I would assume many will love this book.<br /><br />*I received this book through Litfuse for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1366132534000, "title": "Candy and Romance" }, { "asin": "1609367715", "rating": 5, "text": "Wow! What a fantastic conclusion to the Daughters of Fortune series by Susan May Warren. I absolutely loved this book, as well as the whole series. After finishing this book it made me think it will be hard to read another book since it was that good. Susan May Warren did a fantastic job at drawing me into 1930's and 40's, an era of Hollywood, Glitz and glam with WWII overshadowing all of life. The minute I started the book I knew it was going to be as good as the first two and I found myself having a hard time putting it down. One thing I will say is that this book is not stand alone and the series really needs to read in order.<br /><br />I just loved following Rosie's story through the great Depression, trying to figure it out on her own to ultimately realizing she needed redemption and that Christ is what she really needed. Rosie did not have it easy, she made some bad decisions at times and was constantly trying to find happiness and worth but with faith she finally does. She learns who she it, the girl she was trying to run from. I really liked Rosie a lot even when she was hard to love.<br /><br />I highly recommend this whole series to those who love Susan May Warren as well historical romance lovers. You really can't go wrong with the books and they will easily draw you into the time periods and make you really feel for the characters. Great job Susan on an outstanding series.<br /><br />* I received this book through Litfuse for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1368186249000, "title": "Fantastic Conclusion" } ]

[ { "asin": "1414340125", "rating": 5, "text": "What a great second novel from C.J. Darlington. Bound By Guilt is the sequel to her first novel, Thicker than Blood, though it can be read alone. I loved her first book and couldn't wait to read this one and it did not let me down. I look forward to reading more books from her.<br /><br />Roxi is living with her mom's cousin, Irene, and Irene's son Diego who travel the country stealing rare books and selling them for cash. When a robbery goes wrong, Roxi chooses to run. It is than she meets Jan and her husband who take her in and show her love and acceptance, something she has not known in the past.<br /><br />Guilt is the central theme to this novel and how it can consume you and that the only escape from it is the truth. Roxi is bound by the guilt of being an accomplice to a robbery and a murder. Abby can't escape the guilt that she thinks she failed as a wife, a mother and a cop. These characters must learn how to accept the truth, admit it in order to be free. We are reunited with May and Christy from Thicker than Blood and are introduced to some new and wonderful characters.", "timestamp": 1310173976000, "title": "A fantastic second novel!!!" }, { "asin": "1414335970", "rating": 5, "text": "Forsaking All Others is the sequel and conclusion to For Time and Eternity and I both books are amazing to read. This book being a sequel I highly recommend reading the first one before it as this one picks up right where the first left off. In all reality they could be one book. It would be very confusing to try to read this book by itself.<br /><br />Camilla Fox who had just left home in the first book was caught in a snowstorm, the good news is that she is alive and currently with the US Army under Colonel Charles Brandon. After many months of healing from the affects of being in the snowstorm the Colonel helps her return to Salt Lake City to see her children she left behind while waiting for spring to be able back to her parents home in Missouri.<br /><br />While back in Utah, things are harder then she was expecting but eventually finds a way to escape and head to Missouri, again with the help of the Colonel. Finally back home she builds her strength and her case to legally divorce Nathan and claim her children. Will Camilla find the freedom she needs? Will she be able to bring her children home and raise them in her faith, not the Mormom faith?<br /><br />I loved this book, as well as the first, and found myself not wanting to put the books down. They are such a great story of standing for your faith and not backing down. I would recommend this book to everyone. Defiantly a 5 star book, if not higher!<br /><br />I received this book from Tyndale through the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1316801705000, "title": "What a story!" }, { "asin": "076420498X", "rating": 5, "text": "What if real life becomes more adventuresome, more romantic, and more engaging than fictional stories? This is what happens to Alice Ripley who has been living with her nose stuck in a book and barely paying attention to the world around her. When her boyfriend breaks up with her and she loses her job at the library during the depression she decided to up and go to Acorn, Kentucky to deliver books that her town as donated. What she finds in Acorn is so much more than a library in need of books. She finds true friendship, love, adventure, and an interest in life outside of books.<br /><br />I found this book to be amazing, it has so much depth to the characters and the stories of their lives fascinated me. As much as the story was about Alice it was also about the many residents of Acorn. Lynn Austin is such a gifted and talented writer and brought so much excitement in this book, she wrote with vivid detail that I could picture myself right along side Alice. She also filled the book with so many twists and turns that once I thought I knew what was going to happen something changed.<br /><br />This is the type of book that I would recommend to everyone since it has something for all: history, romance, adventure, and even some suspense. This is definitely a 5 star book!<br /><br />I recieved this book from the publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for my honest review! Thank you Bethany House!", "timestamp": 1318006598000, "title": "What an Adventure!!!!!" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 4, "text": "I found myself really enjoying this book. I had never heard of the author was excited to get to read someone new to me. This book did not disappoint. Though I will say the start of the book (first few chapters) was a little slow and confusing since the author was setting the backdrop of the story and introducing the many characters. Once the story got going and you knew who was who I found the book hard to put down. I definitely would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery, suspense book with a little romance mixed in. I would say this is a 4 star book!<br /><br />I received this book from Kregel in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1319830437000, "title": "A fast paced suspense book!" }, { "asin": "0764208330", "rating": 5, "text": "I loved this book, every single page of it. I found myself drawn into it from the very beginning and kept reading to the end and never stopped loving the story. If you have ever played the Oregon Trail game this book reminded me of my childhood (ok and adulthood) days of playing that game since the story is set during that time of going out west to Oregon.<br /><br />Jody Hedlund does a great job at telling the story, which she actually based partially on real people and history (which makes the best kind of historical). She made is feel like you were right with the characters. I can not wait to read more from her. Great job, Jody!<br /><br />* I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Bethany House!", "timestamp": 1321841585000, "title": "The Oregan Trail game comes to Life in this amazing story" }, { "asin": "0764208942", "rating": 5, "text": "Let me begin, that I love the cover of this book. That alone would make me want to read this book. Then when I read the back of the book it made me even want to read it more. The great thing is that once I started this book I couldn't put it down, it was that good. Lady of Bolton Hill is Elizabeth Camden's debut book and you would think she is a seasoned author with this book, it really is that good. I will be looking forward to reading her second book, The Rose on Winslow Street which comes out in January 2012. Good thing I do not have to wait long!<br /><br />Clara Endicott has just returned to her Baltimore home after many years in London. While in London she developed into fine journalist defending the poor and seeking reform. Now that she is back home she is just as determined to defend those that need it most. It is also when she is reunited with her childhood best friend, Daniel Tremain. The only problem is Daniel has a grudge he just won't let go of and this grudge has the potential to both him and Clara in danger. Clara believes that Daniel needs God's grace and forgiveness to be able to move forward. Will Daniel be able to accept God's grace?<br /><br />This is a great book, full of romance and adventure, you won't regret reading it. So if you are in the mood for a good book that will keep you turning pages well into the middle of the night than this is the book for you. Great job Elizabeth Camden!<br /><br />*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1324173402000, "title": "Elizabeth Camden brings a spectacular debut book to the market!" }, { "asin": "1414334834", "rating": 5, "text": "What would it be like to not remember how you got to where you were? That is what Noelle is about to discover when she is in a bad accident that on the outside leaves very few injuries but on the inside she can not remember the last twenty five years of her life. Her husband Eli, their children and the tragedy from three years ago are gone from her mind and now she needs to figure out who she is, who they are and what happened. Secrets will be uncovered and in the end trust and faith is what they need for healing to begin.<br /><br />The Shadow of Your Smile is book five in Susan May Warren's popular Deep Haven series and while I have not read the others (which now I can not wait to do so) I was able to enjoy this story. It was have been nice to have read the others so I would know all the back stories and would get that feeling like I was visiting with dear friends. Susan May Warren is a very gifted storyteller and draws the reader in with an intriguing plot filled with characters that will make you both laugh and cry. This book is filled with hope, rediscovery, love, faithfulness and trust. So many lessons can be learned by reading this book. As much as I loved this book it is not for everyone. This is not a light and fluffy book, it deals with some tough issues: loss of a child, divorce, amnesia and more. I give this book a solid 5 stars!<br /><br />*I received this book through Litfuse for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1327635981000, "title": "A great read!" }, { "asin": "0800720741", "rating": 4, "text": "Where Wildflowers Bloom is book on in Ann Shorey's new Sisters at Heart series. It is set in post Civil War and the characters are trying to deal with life after the war. This book touches on the condition we know today as PTSD but back then it was called solider's heart.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading this book though it is somewhat predictable like so many books are but that doesn't take away the enjoyment of the story. Ann Shorey did a great job at making the characters feel real. They had real feelings and were trying to figure out how to cope with life. The characters in this book came alive as well as the setting. I could picture myself visiting this town and have that feeling that I am visiting friends. I love books that are able to transport you to the time and place and this book does just that. This is a great book for anyone who loves historical fiction, or a great first book into the this genre. I would give this book a solid 4 stars and will look forward to reading more book in the series.<br /><br />* I received this book from Revell for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1327680208000, "title": "A post civil war historical fiction!" }, { "asin": "0800720075", "rating": 4, "text": "Warning: this book will make you mad! Okay, mad in that you will want to read the second book right away and not have to wait till fall 2012. Now that the warning is over, I loved this book. It was such a fun adventure that kept me guessing who did, what happened to one of the characters and how things would work out. Things did not wrap up like I expected at all, and at the end I almost through the book across the room since there was a huge cliffhanger and I wanted to know what happened. I really enjoyed reading about Alexia's story and trying to find out who is wanting her dead and how the detective will fall into her life. As much as this book is fun there is some real depth to the story as well. Forgiveness, loving others through protecting even when its hard and being honest are all things the characters need to learn as well as God's love for them. This is the first book from Lynette Eason that I have read and will be reading more in the future. I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1329070051000, "title": "What an adventure" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 4, "text": "What a sweet and fun romance story. Beauty for Ashes is Dorothy Love's second Hickok Ridge Novel but is easily read on its own. After reading it I would like to read the other one day. The book is set after the Civil war is over and the main character Carrie Daly has lost her husband to it and does not know what to do now. She has always longed for a family and that seems so hopeless now. Though there is one man that she just may be able to fall in love with, Griff. Follow in Carrie's story and watch these two fall in love in this book. The main theme of this book is that God works all things for the good and He will being beauty for ashes. What a great promise! This is a great book for anyone who enjoys a sweet, simple, historical, Christian romance. This is the kind of book I think is great to read on the beach since there is not as much depth and reminder of the real world in it.<br /><br />* I received this book through booksneeze for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1329318611000, "title": "Sweet and Fun" }, { "asin": "0800720458", "rating": 4, "text": "Words Spoken True by Ann H. Gabhart is a delightful story set in 1850's Louisville during a time of political unrest. While the story is entirely fiction the history of the time period is fairly accurate and that makes this story interesting. This book is full of a lot including dueling newspapers, an unusual engagement, the mystery of the river slasher killing young Irish girls and more. There is a ton of romantic tension with Adriane Darcy and her strange engagement to Stanley and her draw to Blake Garret who works for the rival newspaper.<br /><br />While this book had an intriguing plot, a setting that is not as commonly written in and many twists and turns I found my self having a hard time getting into the book. I found the first third of the book to move very slowly and I am the type of person that wants to be grabbed from page one. I will say I loved the setting of the story and hope to see more books written during that time period in the future. Also, the cover is spectacular! In conclusion, this is a great story in the end and is worth sticking it with it. Final rating 3.9 out of 5.<br /><br />* Thank you Revell for providing me a copy of the book in return for my honest opinion.<br /><br />**Available February 2012 from Revell, a division of Baker Publishers**", "timestamp": 1330189062000, "title": "A slow start with a good end" }, { "asin": "0800732138", "rating": 5, "text": "Julie Lessman has written another fantastic novel about the very passionate O'Connor family and takes you on a grand adventure. Once I started this book I had a very hard time putting it down and found myself reading over half of it (480 page book) in one night! I may have lost some sleep due to it but it was so worth it and I would do it again. The twists and turns that Julie takes you on is very similar to riding the most twisty roller coaster you can think of. There is no way of predicting how the story will play out and that is what makes it fun to read. Predictable is boring and boring is one word that will never describe a Julie Lessman book! There are so many things I loved about this book including seeing Lizzie and John Brady fall in love, John dealing with his past, everything about Charity and so much more. Way to go Julie on another amazing book!<br /><br />A Passion Denied is book three in Julie Lessman's Daughters of Boston series and don't even consider reading these books out of order. If you have not read this trilogy yet don't walk but run to your nearest christian bookstore and pick up these wonderful books filled with so much passion, both romantic and spiritual and discover this amazing family! This is definitely a 10 start book out of 5 stars!", "timestamp": 1330622423000, "title": "Another winner by Julie Lessman" }, { "asin": "0800719859", "rating": 3, "text": "Heart's Safe Passage is the second book in Laurie Alice Eakes Midwives series but stands along rather well. I did not have time to read book one, Lady in the Mist, and was able to follow along really well. I think that it helps that most of the book is set on a ship and so the main characters from the first book play a very very small role in this book. Laurie Alice Eakes does a great job at setting a story just about entirely on a ship and keeping it interesting and weaves together a romance of two very different people. I sadly though did not find this to be a favorite book. I had a hard time getting into the story and staying focused on it. I know we all read book that we love and ones that we don't and in the end it is only our personal opinion. Just because I did not care for it does not mean others won't like it either. It is heartbreaking to not like a book that you looked forward to reading. Oh, before I forget the cover is stunning and really helps set the setting. Final rating 3.5 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.", "timestamp": 1330804496000, "title": "A romance on the high seas" }, { "asin": "1609362187", "rating": 5, "text": "What a fantastic book this was! I loved every minute of it and found myself not wanting to put it down which is most likely why I read it within a day. Heiress is book one of Susan May Warren's Daughters of Fortune series and it is one not to be missed!<br /><br />Glamour, glitz, power, wealth, but where is the love. All Esme and Jinx want is to be loved,by there father and a husband when the time comes but set in the world of Mrs. Astors 400 in the early 1900's makes this hard if not impossible. Will Esme and Jinx find the love they are seeking while be surrounded by clouds of lies? This book took my emotions on a roller coaster from the first page to the last. This is not your normal happy, happy book, for many parts it is down right heartbreaking but so true for that society. A society where women are meant to plan parties, produce heirs and run the house while the men do as they please. Through it all the women take joy in their children and want it to be better for them in the future. This is a solid 5 star book and I can not wait to read the next in the series, Baroness.<br /><br />* I received this book through the author and Amy Lathrop for the pupose of this review, an honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you!", "timestamp": 1331072313000, "title": "wow what a story!" }, { "asin": "1595549153", "rating": 4, "text": "I just loved this book. It was so much fun to read and at many times I found myself laughing out loud. Watching Lucy and Nate figure out how to love each other, live with each other and work alongside one another was downright funny. They each had so much to learn from each other and about each other but with God and time they learn they are perfect for each other. On top of the budding romance Colleen throws in the mystery of what really happened to Lucy's father. Oh the twists and turns this book takes and in the end it is nothing like what was expected. Colleen Coble tells a western tale set in 1877 Texas that weaves together romance, mystery, secrets, lies and humor. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5!", "timestamp": 1331308543000, "title": "Romance and Humor in Texas!" }, { "asin": "0764207865", "rating": 5, "text": "As soon as I got this book in the mail yesterday I could not wait to read it. The cover is so beautiful and so I settled down to read it, though not planning to end up finishing it within the day. Sadie Wagner's character just fascinated me and drew me right in. I could feel her emotions of having to leave her family in order to provide for them or when she was wrestling with what to do do about a certain situation. I can't forget to mention the Melva and Shelva Baxter, the twin sisters that own the mercantile and take Sadie in, they are a hoot!! Most scenes that involved them had me laughing. Kim Vogel Sawyer weaves together a very interesting plot with many little details that keep the story going and make it more than a simple love story, actually it is no where near simple. There is also an excellent message in this book about how when you choose what goes against your morals and how it leads to a guilty conscience.<br /><br />I have read several of Kim Vogel Sawyer's books and this one is one of her best and would highly recommend it to any one who enjoys a good historical romance filled with laughter, faith, romance and more. Final rating 5 stars out of 5!<br /><br />*Thank you Bethany House for providing me with this copy in return for an honest review!", "timestamp": 1332255136000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "0764208101", "rating": 5, "text": "What a fantastic contemporary novel. This is my first book from Ann Tatlock but I know I will reading more. It pulled me from page one and I had a very hard time putting it down and found myself reading it within a day. I loved how this story was so much to do about healing and forgiveness. I loved Jane's character and wondered many times if I would have the same determination to honor a commitment as she did. She had to deal with life changing circumstances and in the end things worked out so great. I really enjoyed how Ann ended the book and the end was even better than I was hoping.<br /><br />Ann Tatlock weaves together a beautiful story set in the upcountry of North Carolina and will pull you in and make you feel what the characters are feeling. If you loved a great contemporary novel then look no further you have found your book.<br /><br />*With thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book to review, and honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you Ann!", "timestamp": 1335725032000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "1414339143", "rating": 4, "text": "Skip Rock Shallows by Jan Watson takes readers into a small coal town where at first the idea of a lady doctor is rejects. Only after saving a young miner she starts to win there trust but even then it is slow and not all want her there. Though there are many residents who become very fond of her and she of them. Throughout the story Lilly faces many battles and wrestles with what to do with the future. Should she stay in Skip Rock or go home to Boston? Then there is the character from her past, who is he and why is he so familiar. Lilly will not only have to face the future but the past as well but she is one strong lady with a trust in God that will help through all she does. Join Lilly and the cast of characters in this fun novel.<br /><br />This book for me was fun to read and I enjoyed meeting all the residents of Skip Rock but the only thing for me was it never fully drew me in. I was easily able to set it down for awhile and come back to it. I am definitely glad I read it and would recommend it to those who love book about lady doctors in a time where that was not common. Overall good job Jan Watson!<br /><br />* I received this book through Tyndale for the purpose of this review. My honest opinion was all that was requested. Thank you Tyndale.", "timestamp": 1338479104000, "title": "Charming" }, { "asin": "0800734378", "rating": 3, "text": "I was very hesitant to read this book after reading book one, Chasing Sunsets, which I did not like at all. I was pleasantly surprised that this book was so much better and I found it hard to believe that they are in the same series and written by the same author. Waiting for Sunrise tells Patsy's story, who was a secondary character in book one, but is set the past and there is only one chapter that even references anything from the first book. That makes this book great as a stand alone. While I enjoyed reading this book, that did not take me long at all to read, I can't say it was a favorite. In the end it felt very anti-climatic and really kept a sad tone throughout the book. It does deal with some heavy issues such as mental illness in the 1960's. I do want to put out a warning that I can't really say that it is a christian book, while there was no language or other moral issues there was no real faith aspect to it all, a reference here and there. In the end, I am not really sure what I think, and it left me wanting more.<br /><br />*I received this book from Revell Books for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1339535398000, "title": "Anti-Climatic" }, { "asin": "1414333064", "rating": 4, "text": "Dry as Rain is Gina Holmes second novel. This book centers around infidelity. The themes of the book are the truth, forgiveness and second chances.<br /><br />Eric and Kyra have been married for 20 years and have one son, Benji, who dreams are crushed by being medically discharged from the Navy. When Kyra discovers an e-mail that Eric sent to another women her fears that he is having and affair come to reality. Just separated, Kyra is in an accident and when awake has lost some of her memories. Eric is excited that he gets a second chance with wife that he realizes that he truly does love and doesn't want to leave. As Kyra begins to gain more and more memories back Erick struggles with the truth of what happened between them and if he should tell her or allow her to remember on her own.<br /><br />While I loved her debut novel, I did not find that this one was as strong. I found the story to move a little slow and needed more depth to really feel the pain, struggle, and hope of the characters.", "timestamp": 1339539619000, "title": "An enjoyable read" }, { "asin": "1616387157", "rating": 4, "text": "The Anniversary Waltz by Darrel Nelson is a sweet romance set in the 1940's after World War II has ended. This is Darrel's debut novel and he does a great a job at telling the story and making the romance feel real. I enjoyed how the story felt more realistic then a fluffy love story like many romance stories are. Actually, Darrel mentions in the back of the book that the story is loosely based on his family history, though the story at large is fiction. I found this to be an easy and enjoyable read and was able to finish it easily within a day. This is another fine example that not just women can write wonderful romances. Great job Darrel. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a good, clean and sweet romance story.<br /><br />* I received this book through Glass Roads Blog Tours for the purpose of this review, my honest opinion was all that was requested.", "timestamp": 1340209360000, "title": "Sweet" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "4.5 stars<br /><br />Vicious Cycle by Terri Blackstock is book 2 in the Intervention Series and while it is great to know what happened in the first book you can easily read this book on its own. Like the first book, Intervention, this book reads fast and is hard to put down once you start. I really enjoyed this story and Terri Blackstock had me guessing all the way to the end.<br /><br />I enjoyed following Lance, Barbara and Emily's life and enjoyed the different case that took place in this book. The over arching theme of addictions is still there but this time there is more than just that going on in this book. The only thing I didn't like about the book is it is heart wrenching watching the characters struggle so much with their addictions...it is just so sad how many people out there that are trapped in that vicious cycle of addictions.<br /><br />I would recommend this book to anyone who like a a good suspense story but is not afraid of the tough issues presented in the book.<br /><br />* I received this book through Zondervan for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1340827551000, "title": "Couldn't put it down" }, { "asin": "1595547819", "rating": 4, "text": "4 Stars<br /><br />Beach, mystery, secluded island, romance and so much more is found in Colleen Coble's newest book, Tidewater Inn. This book is the first book in her new Hope Beach series and I am now anxiously waiting for the next one to be released. I loved the setting of this book and the cover of the book helps set it too. I could picture the location and the super super small town that exists. It sounds like such a peaceful and relaxing place. All the characters in this book were fun to read about and came alive on the pages. I really enjoyed the mystery portion and was hard to figure out what was going to happen next which is great. Overall this is a great book for everyone and would make a great beach read.<br /><br />*I received this book through booksneeze.com for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1341965035000, "title": "Great Beach Mystery" }, { "asin": "1401685617", "rating": 5, "text": "WOW, what an amazing and powerful book. Robert Whitlow hit the what to about about a teen pregnancy so great and portrayed adoption and abortion without being preachy. In the end he really makes you think and personally he showed a beautiful side to adoption which does not always happen. I really enjoyed the character of Sandy in the book and really felt for her and she had to make one of the hardest decisions of her life. A decision that while great, still brings consequences and is something you never entirely get over. Overall I would recommend this book to everyone since it is such a powerful story that makes you think but is also enjoyable to read at the same time. :)<br /><br />* I received this book through Booksneeze.com for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1343603421000, "title": "Powerful" }, { "asin": "1414333218", "rating": 4, "text": "Powerful, riveting and so much more. This is the the first book I read from Randy Singer and I know I will be reading more in the future. Legal thrillers are not always my first choice but every once in a while I enjoy them for a change. The Last Plea Bargain pulled me in and kept me guessing. I have heard Randy Singer compared to John Grisham and while I have not read John Grisham it is definently an honor to Randy Singer to be compared to him. The nice part of the book is that it is published in the CBA realm so it avoids the language and sex of mainstream novels and its nice to read books with the Christian view point. Overall good job Randy Singer on an excellent book!", "timestamp": 1346170910000, "title": "Legal Thriller genre at its best" }, { "asin": "1414348649", "rating": 4, "text": "Attracted to Fire is the second book I ave read by DiAnn Mills and I personally liked this one a lot better. The other book I read was The Fire in Ember and while it was good it wasn't anything special and I found it slow. With that said I was a little hesitant to try another book from this author but I am glad I did since this one was a lot better. I am not sure if the genre suits her more or it was just the book but I found it really enjoyable. I have found that I really enjoy romantic suspense and this book kept me engaged. I really enjoyed the mystery part and found myself trying to guess what will happen and that changed many times. Overall great page turner DiAnn Mills and now I know I will be reading more from her in the future.", "timestamp": 1346201504000, "title": "Page Turner" }, { "asin": "0764206176", "rating": 3, "text": "3 Stars<br /><br />Over the last few years I have read several of Tracie Peterson's historical series and contemporary fiction books. Many of them I have really enjoyed and a few have fallen short in my own opinion. Sadly this book was just not my favorite, I read book 1 in the series, Chasing the Sun, and found it to be slow moving and just could not get into it. I did not have the time to read the second, but was hoping things would get better with book 3. I will say that I found it a little more interesting, but it took a bit to get into the book. I am sure there are many people out there that would enjoy this book as well as the series, since the great thing about being human is to have our own opinions and interest. Part of it might have been the setting for me, since it is not my most favorite setting, but I know people that love that setting so I hope they will also enjoy the book. With all this said, I thoroughly look forward to reading future books from Tracie as well as some of her older ones I have not read yet, since for the most part I find that she is a great author with a talent to write in many settings, both historical and contemporary.<br /><br />*I received this book through Bethany House and Litfuse Publicity for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1348710769000, "title": "Just okay" }, { "asin": "1595548033", "rating": 4, "text": "The Trouble with Cowboys, is book three in Denise Hunter's Big Sky Romance series and while characters do overlap between the books, they can be easily read on their own. I have read book 2 also and have the first book setting on my shelf waiting to be read, which I will hopefully soon. This book is so much fun to read and is a nice break from some of the deeper books out there. Denise writes very humorously and many times I was laughing out loud but she also has the emotional side to where you cheer the characters on and get mad at them too.<br /><br />I really enjoyed Annie's character and her passion to help her sister through college and life. She is a strong person that is willing to put her life on the side to help others. I am thankful though that she does learn to live her own life and allow someone to love her as she deserves.<br /><br />I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good, clean romance. This is a great beach or vacation read. Great job Denise on writing a great book.<br /><br />* I received this book from Thomas Nelson through Litfuse Publicity. Thank You!", "timestamp": 1348940772000, "title": "So much fun to read" }, { "asin": "0800734173", "rating": 5, "text": "5 Stars ( or more like 10 stars )<br /><br />What a fantastic book this was to read!!! A Love Surrendered is the third book in Julie Lessman's Winds of Change series and I think it was my favorite in this series. Annie Kennedy just jumped out of the pages and into my heart the minute I met her. She was so much fun to read about and get to know. It was unique because she had not been in any of the others books so she was brand new to the family. It was also great catching up with the rest of the O'Connor's and learning about their plans and schemes!!!<br /><br />With this book it is sad to think the end has come to the O'Connor family but the road was so much fun in hearing of all their adventures. Julie ended the book fantastically and I felt sad that it was over but there was still a conclusion to wonder six books that spanned two series and many decades. At least there is one more book to read, a lighter simpler tale of how Marcy and Patrick met all those years ago.<br /><br />I highly (and even higher than that) recommend Julie's books to everyone who loves a good story filled with drama, tension, romance and wonderful Christian lessons. Though I warn any new reader to Juile, DO NOT read them out of order! Each book builds on the past one and it would just not be right to read them out of order.<br />Congrats Julie on another wonderful novel that will remain in my heart and on my bookshelf for years to come.<br />* I received this book through Revell for the purpose of this review. Thank you Revell!", "timestamp": 1350253084000, "title": "Words can't describe how much I love this book!" }, { "asin": "1414364474", "rating": 5, "text": "What a fantastic story! Maureen Lang does a great job at weaving the lives of Henry Hawkins and Dessa Caldwell together, both impulsive, stubborn and in need to learn the same lessons. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and dived right in as soon as it came in the mail. It didn't take me long to read at all! I just loved Dessa and her determination to help woman and young woman out and get them out of bad situations. She didn't just want to give them a hand out but a hand up and teach them skills and show them that God loves them. This is not an easy thing for a woman to do back then and in many ways is still a hard thing.<br /><br />This is part of the Guilded Legacy series but can be completed read on its own, there really is no connection to the first book. The characters and setting and completely different. II personally think this book is a lot better than Birds in the Butterfly Garden, the first book in the series. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed Maureen Lang's other books and historical romance in general. You can't go wrong with this book and the cover is beautiful!<br /><br />*I received this book from Tyndale for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1363366268000, "title": "A Page Turner" }, { "asin": "0764207970", "rating": 3, "text": "Oh how fun to read about candy! Who just doesn't love it? Of course I never expected to find so much competition in the candy making world and wow can they be mean. I found the setting to be fun and loved the candy making plot because it was different and something I had not read yet.<br /><br />At the beginning I really like Lucy but as the story played out I found I did not like her as much and found all her scheming to be a tad too much. I didn't think she really grow or change during the story. In my opinion she made the romance side of the story hard to love.<br /><br />The big downside I found was the book just was so slow paced and I think it could have been a lot shorter. I will say I loved the fact that it was written in the first person. This was my first Siri Mitchell book so I have no idea how it compares to her others, but I would assume many will love this book.<br /><br />*I received this book through Litfuse for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1366132534000, "title": "Candy and Romance" }, { "asin": "1609367715", "rating": 5, "text": "Wow! What a fantastic conclusion to the Daughters of Fortune series by Susan May Warren. I absolutely loved this book, as well as the whole series. After finishing this book it made me think it will be hard to read another book since it was that good. Susan May Warren did a fantastic job at drawing me into 1930's and 40's, an era of Hollywood, Glitz and glam with WWII overshadowing all of life. The minute I started the book I knew it was going to be as good as the first two and I found myself having a hard time putting it down. One thing I will say is that this book is not stand alone and the series really needs to read in order.<br /><br />I just loved following Rosie's story through the great Depression, trying to figure it out on her own to ultimately realizing she needed redemption and that Christ is what she really needed. Rosie did not have it easy, she made some bad decisions at times and was constantly trying to find happiness and worth but with faith she finally does. She learns who she it, the girl she was trying to run from. I really liked Rosie a lot even when she was hard to love.<br /><br />I highly recommend this whole series to those who love Susan May Warren as well historical romance lovers. You really can't go wrong with the books and they will easily draw you into the time periods and make you really feel for the characters. Great job Susan on an outstanding series.<br /><br />* I received this book through Litfuse for the purpose of this review.", "timestamp": 1368186249000, "title": "Fantastic Conclusion" }, { "asin": "1595548890", "rating": 4, "text": "Beth Wiseman has done it again! She has written a fantastic novel that draws reader in from the first page with realistic and charming charactres, real emotion and faith weaved throughout it.<br /><br />I really enjoyed this book, this is Beth Wiseman's second contemporary novel and she does a great job at it. This genre to me is a hard one because the plots can easily be so similar, or almost too hard to believe but she does a great job at keeping it real and unique but also not being so heavy that leaves readers feeling sad and frustrated. The romance part was very sweet and I couldn't help cheer them on and couldn't wait to see how it would all wrap up. I found this to be an easy read and one that is hard to put down, the best kind of books!<br /><br />I highly recommend this book to fans of Beth Wiseman and to those who enjoy a good contemporary Christian novel.<br /><br />* I received this book from booksneeze for the purpose of this review. Thank you!", "timestamp": 1371524029000, "title": "Another hit from Beth Wiseman" } ]

[ { "asin": "078523103X", "rating": 5, "text": "Andy Andrews's latest book is a very compelling story. It is a historical fiction self-help book about forgiveness. Oh, and it's based on a true story.<br /><br />The story is of an unlikely couple who meet in a small gulf town during World War II. It takes them through a process of coming to terms with their past and finding forgiveness and hope. As life often teaches us, \"A few of the main characters' experiences turned out to be more common that I had previously believed.\" Pg. VI<br /><br />Often when we have been hurt, wronged, or disappointed, we let the pain of the incident cloud our vision and our lives. This is exactly what one of the principal characters in the book has done. Andy weaves a story that keeps you reading, and in the process gives us a good example of forgiveness and second chances. He illustrates how when bitterness and anger takes over we are in reality allowing the person/event to control us.<br /><br />Just as in the book, God will place people in our lives to speak truth to us; we just have to be open and receptive.<br /><br />\"Forgiveness does not erase history or excuse what happened,...... It means giving something up. To relinquish something means to give up whatever power it holds over us.\" Pg. 120<br /><br />After reading this book you will have a clearer understanding of forgiveness and the necessity of it in your own life, the freedom it brings.", "timestamp": 1275322740000, "title": "Story of Second Chances - The Heart Mender" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "I am a fan of Max Lucado so I jumped at the opportunity to read his latest book and I have to admit the title also captivated me. Outliving your life, leaving a legacy, making a difference, however you want to say it that is what all of us want to do in one way or another.<br /><br />To live in such a way that when we are gone from this life that who we were, what we did, lives on in the hearts and minds of others. To live so that the things we do touch and changes lives. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things in everyday life. He did in the Bible and He does today.<br /><br />Using events from the Bible along with stories of similar incidents today Max gives us cause to sit up and examine our circumstances and to honestly ask ourselves are we making a difference. Will our story live on in the lives of others?<br /><br />Max asks questions, probes, and challenges us to stretch ourselves, to grow, so that when we are gone people will know that we've been here.<br /><br />One question that begs thought is \"What if our attention could reduce someone's pain?<br /><br />Read this book, but not only read it but digest it. Let us all live so that our lives outlive us.", "timestamp": 1286662911000, "title": "LIVING LIFE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE" }, { "asin": "0307457176", "rating": 4, "text": "When I received my latest fiction book for review from Water Brook, Tandem by Tracey Bateman, I was surprised to find out it was a Christian vampire story. I know vampires have become quite poplar these days in books, TV shows, and movies and I'm also sure there are those who will question the words Christian and vampire being used together.<br />I won't go into what I think about the issue of vampires, however, at first I wasn't sure I wanted to read the book. Nevertheless, Tracey is a compelling author, and once I picked up the book it held my attention and kept me guessing as to where she was headed and how the mystery would end.<br /> The heroine, Lauryn, struggles with her concept of God and a dad that has Alzheimer's. Her high school crush is the son of the local pastor who left town to become a missionary after graduation and returns with a child.<br />Tracey Bateman does write in a way to draw you into the story and hold you captive to the story line, her characters are fascinating, and you will wind up rooting for the heroine.", "timestamp": 1298835752000, "title": "Tandem by Tracey Bateman" }, { "asin": "078523120X", "rating": 5, "text": "What is The One Principle That Will Save Humanity? That is the question put to David Ponder as he heads THE FINAL SUMMIT. We first met David in The Traveler's Gift, and if you've not read it I would recommend you get it also. The two books tie together so profoundly that I wanted to read it first so I bought it before I continued.<br />By means of history and some of the thoughts of the world's finest and most brilliant minds the ensemble at the summit must find the solution. When we are at the end of our ropes, and we don't know what to do, what is the next step? What do we do?<br />Andy Andrew is a writer like no other I've read. Someone said he was a mix of C.S. Lewis, Alfred Hitchcock and Tony Robbins but I'm not sure if that encapsulates his writing. Andy has the gift of being able to draw you in, to captivate, entertain and at the same time cause you to reflect, to examine yourself.<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson in return for an unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1303909298000, "title": "THE FINAL SUMMIT by ndy Andrews" }, { "asin": "1414335830", "rating": 5, "text": "I've always appreciated the genius of Jerry B. Jenkins writing well before the Left Behind series. I just finished his latest, THE BETRAYAL, which I found out was Book #2 of Precinct 11 Novels. Now I will have to read book one. I finished the novel in about two days as I found it hard to put down.<br />The story follows Detective Boone Drake as he tries to unravel the questions surrounding the attempt to kill an informant being transferred to a secret place. Suspecting an inside job he is not prepared for the suspected person being someone he is close to.<br />Detective Boone makes it his mission to get to the bottom of the matter in spite of being injured while protecting the witness and being warned to stay out of the investigation. White questioning his own instincts and not knowing who he can trust he endeavor's to get some answers and learn the truth.<br />Throughout the story you are intrigued and kept guessing what is around the next page. I found it refreshing to also read of the character's search in spiritual things as well as the matters of everyday life. Jerry Jenkins keeps you spellbound and anxious to see where he will take you next.<br />I received this book from Tyndale House Publisher's free for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1314562954000, "title": "Book #2 Precinct 11 Novel The BETRAYAL" }, { "asin": "1414335970", "rating": 5, "text": "I've read a few books in the past about the Mormon Church when they still all practiced polygamy and I had mixed feelings about FORSAKING ALL OTHERS by Allison Pittman. I have to say she was well versed in their doctrine and although truthful, did not aggressively attack the religion.<br />The story is about Camilla, the first wife of Nathan Fox, and how her relationship with God helps her to run away from the church and therefore her husband. Throughout her journey you are shown many comparisons between the original Mormon Church and Christianity. Camilla has hopes that the people she knows and loves, who have been drawn in to the church, will see the truth.<br />Camilla had married Nathan against her parents' wishes and she had not heard from them since she left. Her wish is to let them know she has seen the error of the church and ask their forgiveness. She makes it back and is reunited with them just before her father passes away. Her focus then is to return and get her daughters so they will not grow up within the church and become ardent followers.<br />Allison does a great job of contrasting Christianity with the Mormon Church in a way that shows their similarity along with the differences. This was a great book and I would highly recommend it.<br />I received this book free from Tyndale for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1320189910000, "title": "FORSAKING ALL OTHERS the Sister Wives Series #2" }, { "asin": "1414338732", "rating": 4, "text": "BECKON by Tom Pawlik is a book that is a little hard to describe. The book is spine tingling, horrifying, weird and unexpected. To quote his webpage it is an \"edge-of-your-seat thriller\".<br />It is a story of a town \"Beckon\" that is inhabited by an unusual group of people, to say the least. A man, Jack Kendrick, a woman police officer, Elina Gutierrez, who are there looking for answers about loved ones, and George Wilcox who has been enticed there seeking a cure for his wife's Alzheimer's. Their stories all converge with the town's people and the leader, Vale, with lots of bizarre twists and turns. I found myself wanting to put it down because it was almost too hard to continue, while at the same time having to know what is going to happen next and the outcome.<br />Ultimately the hope of Christ leads them all to a place of strength and redemption. I would recommend it. Overall it is a good book, especially if you like edge of your seat thrillers.<br />This book was provided free for my honest review by Tyndale House Publishers.", "timestamp": 1333919315000, "title": "Spine Tingling and Weird But Hard To Put Down" }, { "asin": "1401686974", "rating": 4, "text": "Covenant Child is a story of twin sisters. They are orphaned and although they had a stepmother they loved and who wanted to raise them, their maternal grandparents win custody. This begins the tumultuous life's of these two who are lied to and have no idea they are actually heiresses.<br /><br />I've read several Terri Blackstock books so knew this would be an interesting book. You get frustrated at the system that would give the girls to the grandparents. You will also go from empathy for the girls to wondering how they could sink to do some of the things they do.<br /><br />When Amanda, the stepmother, tries to contact them as they get older they don't trust her, especially when they are told there is an inheritance they may have access to.<br /><br />Terri Blackstock writes interesting stories, you will enjoy this one.<br /><br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1343593822000, "title": "Covenant Chilc" }, { "asin": "1433671689", "rating": 4, "text": "What can a chef, a counselor and a vegan health food store worker have in common. Three unlikely women who are brought together and help each other find healing.<br /><br />The chef and cafe owner Ellyn, is large and therefore decides she is unattractive so she buries herself in food. Sabina, the counselor, has come to Mendocino to heal and hide, to be invisible. Twila is a young woman, wise beyond her years, whose father abandoned her and because of the emptiness has developed an eating disorder.<br /><br />Can these three women begin to see themselves as God sees them? Can they work through the issues that hinders them? Twila tells Ellyn that they are alike in some ways, and like them we often share the same vision. \"It just means that we sometimes miss seeing Him in the most important thing He created. Us.....He sees our inner beauty - the condition of our hearts....\"<br /><br />INVISIBLE by Ginny L. Yttrup is a look into ourselves, for one reason or another, we all sometime wish we could be invisible.<br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it. I received Invisible free for an honest review from [...]", "timestamp": 1364860849000, "title": "SOMETIME WE WANT TO BE INVISIBLE" }, { "asin": "1414358490", "rating": 5, "text": "Being a veteran of the police force for twenty-two years, Janice Cantore lends authenticity and realism to her writing of AVENGED. It was however, part of a series, but it can stand alone if you've not read the other two.<br />Carly Edwards, a police officer, and her husband, Sergeant Nick Anderson get caught up in a suspected gang execution that she suspects is not what it seems. Tensions increase between two local gangs. They confiscate some weapons from a member of one of the gangs. After further investigation they find out that the guns, along with some explosives, were stolen from a military base.<br />Carly has her character shredded just as she is to testify in a major trial. She has to depend on God and remember ;\"Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.\"<br />This is a great crime and mystery book and I will be reading more of her books. She knows what she's talking about and is able to bring the characters to life.<br />I received this book free from Tyndale for a honest review. I do recommend this book and author to anyone who enjoys a good clean crime novel.<br /><br />[[ASIN:1414358490 Avenged (Pacific Coast Justice)]]", "timestamp": 1366683945000, "title": "WHEN YOUR CHARACTER IS SHREDDED" }, { "asin": "1401688667", "rating": 5, "text": "TO KNOW YOU by Shannon Ethridge & Kathryn Mackel is a tale of a mother. A mother who was forced to confront her past and the results that ensued.<br />As a young college girl, Julia fell in love with Thomas and became pregnant. Her mother and Thomas convinced her to give the baby up for adoption. Reeling from losing the man she loved and her baby she consequently turned to another and becomes pregnant and again gives up the baby.<br />In time she heals and meets a man who loves her for her and they forge a good life. They have one child that is born with a liver disease and eventually has to have a liver transplant or die. Thus begins the story of her journey to reconnect with the children she relinquished and hopefully save her son.<br />This is a story of forgiveness, redemption and second chances. It will hold you captivated and wondering. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and would recommend it.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Thomas Nelson.", "timestamp": 1383511192000, "title": "CONFRONTING THE PAST" }, { "asin": "0310335884", "rating": 4, "text": "A SIMPLE PRAYER, by Amy Clipston is a entertaining Amish story of two who have been wounded and are afraid to trust.<br />Aaron Ebersol left the Amish community as a teen but returns when he's told of his mother's health problems. Will his family accept him back?<br />Linda Zook, is the sole survivor of a buggy accident that claimed the lives of her parents. Her mother's brother and his wife took her in but she's never felt accepted.<br />What does the future hold for these two, can they find their way to each other and into the community? Can each of them find forgiveness and extend forgiveness to those they feel have wronged them.<br />Having read several Amish books lately by a variety of authors, I found this one compelling, but quite a bit different take of the Amish community. I do know there is a wide range of beliefs, or I should say adherence in the districts. I just may have to read more of Amy's books as this was enjoyable.<br />I received A Simple Prayer free from Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1432772949000, "title": "PRAYER OF THE HEART" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 5, "text": "I’ve read several books by Janice Cantore and never been disappointed. This last one, DRAWING FIRE Cold Case Justice is the first of a new series. I usually don’t care to read the first of a series and then have to wait a year for the next one. Smile However, for Janice Cantore, it is worth it.<br /><br />Abby Hart is a homicide detective in Long Beach, California and becomes the lead detective in a case the she discovers is a serial killer. Her main witness is a private detective, Luke Murphy, who she thinks is a glory hound.<br /><br />Forced to work together they discover they have a mutual interest in a cold case and set out to see what they can find. Abby is ordered to leave the case alone and it is given to two other detectives. Instead she takes a leave of absence in order to pursue it on her own time with the assistance of Luke.<br /><br />I have to agree with Abby that all murders, in fact all unsolved cases of any nature, should be solved and allow closure for the people involved. I am eager for the next book to come out in the Spring of 2016.<br /><br />I received Drawing Fire free from Tyndale Fiction Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1433794336000, "title": "COLD CASE JUSTICE #1" }, { "asin": "0310338476", "rating": 5, "text": "Love does indeed arrive in Pieces as the title says. Betsy St. Amant's book started a bit slow and I wasn't sure i was going to enjoy it but when all was said and done it spoke to me through those pieces.<br />Stella, recovering from a divorce has convinced herself she's a failure and has climbed into herself to forget. And old high school romance, Chase, returns to town and they are destined to work together.<br />Can she pull herself back together to complete the job? Can she find herself again enough to let herself open up to love?<br />There are many gems interspersed throughout, such as: &#34;God tells us to come to Him with faith like a child. I figure that means with our storms too. If it's going to rain anyway....might as well make something of it.&#34; You will be inspired, possibly shed some tears and definitely enjoy LOVE ARRIVES IN PIECES.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Zondervan via Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1439392681000, "title": "PICKING UP THE PIECES" }, { "asin": "140168596X", "rating": 4, "text": "I have read several books from various author's about the Amish. Some, I feel do a lot of study and research, even befriending Amish before they write. Some however I'm not sure how much they actually know about them and their culture. I do know the districts vary from each other by their Bishop and their interpretation of the Ordnung. Therefore I am sometimes dubious about the way the Amish are portrayed in some books. This is one I'm not sure of.<br />HER BROTHER'S KEEPER by Beth Wiseman is a story of an Englischer, Charlotte, investigating her brother's suicide. Ethan was engaged to an Amish maedel so Charlotte is convinced he was brainwashed and that is the reason for his suicide.<br />She decides to pretend to be a distant Amish cousin from Texas and visit. She does not predict the ensuing sequence of events that enfold. It is an intriguing story even if I am unconvinced of some of the actions taken.<br />Overall it was an interesting concept that left many questions as to how it would have all actually have happened had it been real story.<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishing for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1442278531000, "title": "WHAT HAPPENED TO ETHAN?" }, { "asin": "1601426992", "rating": 5, "text": "I love Cindy Woodsmalls books and I'm never disappointed. They only regret with reading her newest Ties That Bind is that it's the first of a series and I hate waiting for the next one. lol<br />The first book of The Amish of Summer Grove series is one of the most intriguing ones I've read of hers. Arianna Brenneman is the twin of Abram and one of the ten children of Isaac and Lovina. The boy she hoped to marry, Quill, ran off with her best friend, Frieda. She is finally moving on and has a new beau, Rudy, when Quill reappears.<br />Quill appears to be linked to the night crawler, a person who sneaks in and assists the Amish who wish to leave the community. However, there are more pressing secrets that come to light that changes everything Arianna believes.<br />This novel does deviate somewhat from her usual ones in that it is focused more on the family and less on the Amish community. I enjoyed Ties that Bind and I iam now sitting on pins and needles waiting for her to release book two.<br />I received this book free from Water Brook Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1444160333000, "title": "WHAT MAKES A FAMILY" }, { "asin": "1601428146", "rating": 5, "text": "Four novellas interwoven together by four different authors creates a totally beguiling book in AMISH CRISTMAS at North Star.<br />The back story begins when an Amish midwife in North Star, Pennsylvania delivers four babies in the midst of a blizzard on a November day. The event is written up in the local newspaper then picked by People Magazine. They became known as &#34;Rebekah's Babies&#34;.<br />Twenty plus years later Chase Wellington finds the newspaper story, is captivated ad sets out to find out what happened to the babies.<br />Katie Ganshert tells us of Elle, baby of Ruth Guiding Star. Ruth left from the midwifes house, leaving her husband and community.<br /> In Morning Star Amanda Fowler acquaint with us Eden Hochstetler whose family moved to Sugarcreek and run a fudge-and-candy shop.<br />Into the Stars is the story told by Cindy Woodsmall of Savilla Beiler who still lives in North Star and is an accomplished seamstress.<br />Mindy Starnes Clark and Emily Clark share the story of Andy, the only baby boy born that night in Star of Grace.<br />Being a Cindy Woodsmall fan I didn't hesitate receiving this book and have found new author's to enjoy. This book was a joy to read.<br />I received this book free from Water Brook for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1447524439000, "title": "FOUR LIVES INTERWOVEN" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 4, "text": "Rachel Hauck wrote a intriguing story about an unfulfilled love that spans sixty-seven years and three generations. The Wedding Chapel is an account of Peg, a deceitful sister who is in love with the boy in love with Collette, her younger sister.<br />Peg and Colette are English who were orphaned in the war then sent to live with an Aunt and Uncle in America. Jimmy is a neighbor boy whose mother left and his dad raised him alone. Jimmy is taken with Collette when Clem, the girls cousin shows him their picture upon hearing they are coming.<br />Jimmy and Colette fall in love. Jimmy is drafted and leaves to serve in the military. Due to misunderstanding and lies Colette runs off to Hollywood and becomes a big star. Neither Colette or Jimmy ever married.<br />Taylor, a photographer, is Peg's granddaughter and has moved to Manhattan where she marries Jack, and advertising executive. Circumstances brings them all back to Heart's Bend, Tennessee where they are all faced with the truth.<br />It's a little confusing at times with the bouncing back and forth between the past and future. However, it is a charming romance which I enjoyed.<br />I received this book free from Zondervan via Thomas Nelson Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1449104626000, "title": "LOVE THAT LASTS" }, { "asin": "0764212486", "rating": 5, "text": "Beverly Lewis understands and write of the Amish Culture better than many who attempt to put pen to paper. Being born in Pennsylvania and living among them she writes with a perceptive and thoughtful heart.<br />The Atonement is a story of a young Amish woman, Lucy Flaud, who is dealing with grief and guilt from a long past time in her life. She has spent the intervening years trying to atone by loving and doing for others.<br /> Her Daed, Christian, is also grieving, for the same incident, however, for a much different reason. He starts attending a grief group where he meets Englischers and befriends one young man, Dale Wyeth.<br />Tobe Glick is Lucy's best friend but has secretly loved her for years. However, Lucy holds her secret so close she feels unworthy to return his offer of courtship.<br />Will she be able to get past her long-ago sin to forgive, live and love again? Will Tobe be able to see the woman she is now or will he reject her?<br />I loved this book as I have all of Beverly Lewis's novels. As always there is much to glean and learn from her writings.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group.", "timestamp": 1459644991000, "title": "MUST YOU ATONE?" }, { "asin": "1401688314", "rating": 4, "text": "Very seldom do I find it impossible to finish a book. A Dream of Miracles by Ruth Reid was one. I picked it up and put it down too many times, unable to continue. It's not because of the writer's ability to draw you in, if anything that is the reason. It is the subject, the characters. It's a story I find myself being able to empathize with and become angry and defensive about.<br />Mattie Diener is a young Amish widow with two children. Bo Lambright is a social services investigator. Of course, circumstances bring them together and you can let you mind jump to where this will be headed. As always there is other people involved that only complicate the matter.<br />To not get on a soap box I will only say that too often the system interferes when they have no business to because of some so called well meaning busy body. Before you get you take this wrong, I do know there are times when they should. Unfortunately too often they should when they don't and don't when they should. Enough said!<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers for a fair and honest review.", "timestamp": 1466264288000, "title": "TRUTH" }, { "asin": "0310342015", "rating": 5, "text": "An Amish Heirloom Novel, THE COURTSHIP BASKET by Amy Clipston is the second in the series. I had read the first, The Forgotten Recipe and knew this would be a good book and wasn't disappointed.<br />At her sister Victoria's wedding, Rachel Fisher, the second of three sisters, happens to overhear her best friend and the young man she hoped to marry. Betrayed and heartbroken she takes a job as a teacher in a special school. Rachel doesn't need another heartbreak and enjoys teaching.<br />John Lantz whose mother is dead and his father is sick joins her class. Mike, his older brother, has assumed responsibility for not only his dad's care but also John's. Mike believes his obligations prevent him from dating or seeking a wife.<br />Rachel, wanting to do something for the family sends meals to the family using an old picnic basket that holds family memories. Mike watchful of her intentions and wants to protect John.<br />Amy has the ability of draw you into the narrative and become enthralled by the characters and their journey. I loved the book and now awaiting book three of the series. I hope she not only shares Emily's account but also the parents tale.<br />I received The Courtship Basket free for an honest review from Zondervan and Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1468093831000, "title": "HEIRLOOMS MAGNETISM" }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "THE WEDDING SHOP is the third book of the series and I'm not sure if I can say enough about Rachel Hauck's ability to captivate your imagination and keep you spellbound. I had read the second book, and even reviewed it. After finishing this one I had to read the first one which I wish I had read first. All three books can be read as a standalone, but are definitely intertwined.<br />The wedding shop is an abandoned building that draws two young girls who make a pinkie pledge to one day reopen. As often happens, life takes them in different directions. Haley goes to college then the military. Tammy stays in Hearts Bend, gets engaged to her childhood crush. However, life throws them a curve and Tammy dies from an aggressive form of brain cancer, Haley has a destructive relationship that causes her to leave the military and return home.<br />Determined to reopen the Wedding Shop for Tammy she encounters Cole, Tammy's fiancé who has bid on tearing the building down. Long buried attraction to each other resurfaces and guilt ensues. Will they be able to move pass the guilt and build a relationship? Will Haley succeed in reopening the Wedding Shop?<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Zondrrvan and Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1474121359000, "title": "PROMISES, REGRETS AND REDEMPTION" }, { "asin": "0310395933", "rating": 4, "text": "To Have ad to Hold: Three Autumn Love Stories by three different authors is a sweet collection of novella's. Each tale is a complete and charming narrative.<br />In Love Takes a Cake by Betsy St. Amant, Charlotte Cantrell is the owner of The Dough Knot bakery. Will Martin is a reclusive bachelor that frequents the bakery, and best man for a wedding Charlotte is to provide the cake for. Each comes with their own baggage to overcome. Will they be able to wade through and find happily after themselves?<br />In The Perfect Arrangement by Katie Ganshert, Amelia Woods is the stepsister, the one ignored and ridiculed by the family. Nate Gallagher, is a ghost writer who begins an email correspondence with Amelia after a minor auto accident. Complications ensue that threaten the blooming relationship. Will they be insurmountable?<br />In Love in the Details by Becky Wade, Josh Bowen is the one who left, went to MIT and became a success. Holly Morgan is the high school sweetheart that broke his heart by breaking up with him after he left. Now he's back in town and once buried feelings resurface. Will they get past the what and why and find happines?<br />I received a free copy from Zondervan a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing. No review, positive or otherwise, was required - all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1480700316000, "title": "LOVE TIMES THREE" } ]

[ { "asin": "078523103X", "rating": 5, "text": "Andy Andrews's latest book is a very compelling story. It is a historical fiction self-help book about forgiveness. Oh, and it's based on a true story.<br /><br />The story is of an unlikely couple who meet in a small gulf town during World War II. It takes them through a process of coming to terms with their past and finding forgiveness and hope. As life often teaches us, \"A few of the main characters' experiences turned out to be more common that I had previously believed.\" Pg. VI<br /><br />Often when we have been hurt, wronged, or disappointed, we let the pain of the incident cloud our vision and our lives. This is exactly what one of the principal characters in the book has done. Andy weaves a story that keeps you reading, and in the process gives us a good example of forgiveness and second chances. He illustrates how when bitterness and anger takes over we are in reality allowing the person/event to control us.<br /><br />Just as in the book, God will place people in our lives to speak truth to us; we just have to be open and receptive.<br /><br />\"Forgiveness does not erase history or excuse what happened,...... It means giving something up. To relinquish something means to give up whatever power it holds over us.\" Pg. 120<br /><br />After reading this book you will have a clearer understanding of forgiveness and the necessity of it in your own life, the freedom it brings.", "timestamp": 1275322740000, "title": "Story of Second Chances - The Heart Mender" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "I am a fan of Max Lucado so I jumped at the opportunity to read his latest book and I have to admit the title also captivated me. Outliving your life, leaving a legacy, making a difference, however you want to say it that is what all of us want to do in one way or another.<br /><br />To live in such a way that when we are gone from this life that who we were, what we did, lives on in the hearts and minds of others. To live so that the things we do touch and changes lives. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things in everyday life. He did in the Bible and He does today.<br /><br />Using events from the Bible along with stories of similar incidents today Max gives us cause to sit up and examine our circumstances and to honestly ask ourselves are we making a difference. Will our story live on in the lives of others?<br /><br />Max asks questions, probes, and challenges us to stretch ourselves, to grow, so that when we are gone people will know that we've been here.<br /><br />One question that begs thought is \"What if our attention could reduce someone's pain?<br /><br />Read this book, but not only read it but digest it. Let us all live so that our lives outlive us.", "timestamp": 1286662911000, "title": "LIVING LIFE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE" }, { "asin": "0307457176", "rating": 4, "text": "When I received my latest fiction book for review from Water Brook, Tandem by Tracey Bateman, I was surprised to find out it was a Christian vampire story. I know vampires have become quite poplar these days in books, TV shows, and movies and I'm also sure there are those who will question the words Christian and vampire being used together.<br />I won't go into what I think about the issue of vampires, however, at first I wasn't sure I wanted to read the book. Nevertheless, Tracey is a compelling author, and once I picked up the book it held my attention and kept me guessing as to where she was headed and how the mystery would end.<br /> The heroine, Lauryn, struggles with her concept of God and a dad that has Alzheimer's. Her high school crush is the son of the local pastor who left town to become a missionary after graduation and returns with a child.<br />Tracey Bateman does write in a way to draw you into the story and hold you captive to the story line, her characters are fascinating, and you will wind up rooting for the heroine.", "timestamp": 1298835752000, "title": "Tandem by Tracey Bateman" }, { "asin": "078523120X", "rating": 5, "text": "What is The One Principle That Will Save Humanity? That is the question put to David Ponder as he heads THE FINAL SUMMIT. We first met David in The Traveler's Gift, and if you've not read it I would recommend you get it also. The two books tie together so profoundly that I wanted to read it first so I bought it before I continued.<br />By means of history and some of the thoughts of the world's finest and most brilliant minds the ensemble at the summit must find the solution. When we are at the end of our ropes, and we don't know what to do, what is the next step? What do we do?<br />Andy Andrew is a writer like no other I've read. Someone said he was a mix of C.S. Lewis, Alfred Hitchcock and Tony Robbins but I'm not sure if that encapsulates his writing. Andy has the gift of being able to draw you in, to captivate, entertain and at the same time cause you to reflect, to examine yourself.<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson in return for an unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1303909298000, "title": "THE FINAL SUMMIT by ndy Andrews" }, { "asin": "1414335830", "rating": 5, "text": "I've always appreciated the genius of Jerry B. Jenkins writing well before the Left Behind series. I just finished his latest, THE BETRAYAL, which I found out was Book #2 of Precinct 11 Novels. Now I will have to read book one. I finished the novel in about two days as I found it hard to put down.<br />The story follows Detective Boone Drake as he tries to unravel the questions surrounding the attempt to kill an informant being transferred to a secret place. Suspecting an inside job he is not prepared for the suspected person being someone he is close to.<br />Detective Boone makes it his mission to get to the bottom of the matter in spite of being injured while protecting the witness and being warned to stay out of the investigation. White questioning his own instincts and not knowing who he can trust he endeavor's to get some answers and learn the truth.<br />Throughout the story you are intrigued and kept guessing what is around the next page. I found it refreshing to also read of the character's search in spiritual things as well as the matters of everyday life. Jerry Jenkins keeps you spellbound and anxious to see where he will take you next.<br />I received this book from Tyndale House Publisher's free for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1314562954000, "title": "Book #2 Precinct 11 Novel The BETRAYAL" }, { "asin": "1414335970", "rating": 5, "text": "I've read a few books in the past about the Mormon Church when they still all practiced polygamy and I had mixed feelings about FORSAKING ALL OTHERS by Allison Pittman. I have to say she was well versed in their doctrine and although truthful, did not aggressively attack the religion.<br />The story is about Camilla, the first wife of Nathan Fox, and how her relationship with God helps her to run away from the church and therefore her husband. Throughout her journey you are shown many comparisons between the original Mormon Church and Christianity. Camilla has hopes that the people she knows and loves, who have been drawn in to the church, will see the truth.<br />Camilla had married Nathan against her parents' wishes and she had not heard from them since she left. Her wish is to let them know she has seen the error of the church and ask their forgiveness. She makes it back and is reunited with them just before her father passes away. Her focus then is to return and get her daughters so they will not grow up within the church and become ardent followers.<br />Allison does a great job of contrasting Christianity with the Mormon Church in a way that shows their similarity along with the differences. This was a great book and I would highly recommend it.<br />I received this book free from Tyndale for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1320189910000, "title": "FORSAKING ALL OTHERS the Sister Wives Series #2" }, { "asin": "1414338732", "rating": 4, "text": "BECKON by Tom Pawlik is a book that is a little hard to describe. The book is spine tingling, horrifying, weird and unexpected. To quote his webpage it is an \"edge-of-your-seat thriller\".<br />It is a story of a town \"Beckon\" that is inhabited by an unusual group of people, to say the least. A man, Jack Kendrick, a woman police officer, Elina Gutierrez, who are there looking for answers about loved ones, and George Wilcox who has been enticed there seeking a cure for his wife's Alzheimer's. Their stories all converge with the town's people and the leader, Vale, with lots of bizarre twists and turns. I found myself wanting to put it down because it was almost too hard to continue, while at the same time having to know what is going to happen next and the outcome.<br />Ultimately the hope of Christ leads them all to a place of strength and redemption. I would recommend it. Overall it is a good book, especially if you like edge of your seat thrillers.<br />This book was provided free for my honest review by Tyndale House Publishers.", "timestamp": 1333919315000, "title": "Spine Tingling and Weird But Hard To Put Down" }, { "asin": "1401686974", "rating": 4, "text": "Covenant Child is a story of twin sisters. They are orphaned and although they had a stepmother they loved and who wanted to raise them, their maternal grandparents win custody. This begins the tumultuous life's of these two who are lied to and have no idea they are actually heiresses.<br /><br />I've read several Terri Blackstock books so knew this would be an interesting book. You get frustrated at the system that would give the girls to the grandparents. You will also go from empathy for the girls to wondering how they could sink to do some of the things they do.<br /><br />When Amanda, the stepmother, tries to contact them as they get older they don't trust her, especially when they are told there is an inheritance they may have access to.<br /><br />Terri Blackstock writes interesting stories, you will enjoy this one.<br /><br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1343593822000, "title": "Covenant Chilc" }, { "asin": "1433671689", "rating": 4, "text": "What can a chef, a counselor and a vegan health food store worker have in common. Three unlikely women who are brought together and help each other find healing.<br /><br />The chef and cafe owner Ellyn, is large and therefore decides she is unattractive so she buries herself in food. Sabina, the counselor, has come to Mendocino to heal and hide, to be invisible. Twila is a young woman, wise beyond her years, whose father abandoned her and because of the emptiness has developed an eating disorder.<br /><br />Can these three women begin to see themselves as God sees them? Can they work through the issues that hinders them? Twila tells Ellyn that they are alike in some ways, and like them we often share the same vision. \"It just means that we sometimes miss seeing Him in the most important thing He created. Us.....He sees our inner beauty - the condition of our hearts....\"<br /><br />INVISIBLE by Ginny L. Yttrup is a look into ourselves, for one reason or another, we all sometime wish we could be invisible.<br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it. I received Invisible free for an honest review from [...]", "timestamp": 1364860849000, "title": "SOMETIME WE WANT TO BE INVISIBLE" }, { "asin": "1414358490", "rating": 5, "text": "Being a veteran of the police force for twenty-two years, Janice Cantore lends authenticity and realism to her writing of AVENGED. It was however, part of a series, but it can stand alone if you've not read the other two.<br />Carly Edwards, a police officer, and her husband, Sergeant Nick Anderson get caught up in a suspected gang execution that she suspects is not what it seems. Tensions increase between two local gangs. They confiscate some weapons from a member of one of the gangs. After further investigation they find out that the guns, along with some explosives, were stolen from a military base.<br />Carly has her character shredded just as she is to testify in a major trial. She has to depend on God and remember ;\"Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.\"<br />This is a great crime and mystery book and I will be reading more of her books. She knows what she's talking about and is able to bring the characters to life.<br />I received this book free from Tyndale for a honest review. I do recommend this book and author to anyone who enjoys a good clean crime novel.<br /><br />[[ASIN:1414358490 Avenged (Pacific Coast Justice)]]", "timestamp": 1366683945000, "title": "WHEN YOUR CHARACTER IS SHREDDED" }, { "asin": "1401688667", "rating": 5, "text": "TO KNOW YOU by Shannon Ethridge & Kathryn Mackel is a tale of a mother. A mother who was forced to confront her past and the results that ensued.<br />As a young college girl, Julia fell in love with Thomas and became pregnant. Her mother and Thomas convinced her to give the baby up for adoption. Reeling from losing the man she loved and her baby she consequently turned to another and becomes pregnant and again gives up the baby.<br />In time she heals and meets a man who loves her for her and they forge a good life. They have one child that is born with a liver disease and eventually has to have a liver transplant or die. Thus begins the story of her journey to reconnect with the children she relinquished and hopefully save her son.<br />This is a story of forgiveness, redemption and second chances. It will hold you captivated and wondering. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and would recommend it.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Thomas Nelson.", "timestamp": 1383511192000, "title": "CONFRONTING THE PAST" }, { "asin": "0310335884", "rating": 4, "text": "A SIMPLE PRAYER, by Amy Clipston is a entertaining Amish story of two who have been wounded and are afraid to trust.<br />Aaron Ebersol left the Amish community as a teen but returns when he's told of his mother's health problems. Will his family accept him back?<br />Linda Zook, is the sole survivor of a buggy accident that claimed the lives of her parents. Her mother's brother and his wife took her in but she's never felt accepted.<br />What does the future hold for these two, can they find their way to each other and into the community? Can each of them find forgiveness and extend forgiveness to those they feel have wronged them.<br />Having read several Amish books lately by a variety of authors, I found this one compelling, but quite a bit different take of the Amish community. I do know there is a wide range of beliefs, or I should say adherence in the districts. I just may have to read more of Amy's books as this was enjoyable.<br />I received A Simple Prayer free from Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1432772949000, "title": "PRAYER OF THE HEART" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 5, "text": "I’ve read several books by Janice Cantore and never been disappointed. This last one, DRAWING FIRE Cold Case Justice is the first of a new series. I usually don’t care to read the first of a series and then have to wait a year for the next one. Smile However, for Janice Cantore, it is worth it.<br /><br />Abby Hart is a homicide detective in Long Beach, California and becomes the lead detective in a case the she discovers is a serial killer. Her main witness is a private detective, Luke Murphy, who she thinks is a glory hound.<br /><br />Forced to work together they discover they have a mutual interest in a cold case and set out to see what they can find. Abby is ordered to leave the case alone and it is given to two other detectives. Instead she takes a leave of absence in order to pursue it on her own time with the assistance of Luke.<br /><br />I have to agree with Abby that all murders, in fact all unsolved cases of any nature, should be solved and allow closure for the people involved. I am eager for the next book to come out in the Spring of 2016.<br /><br />I received Drawing Fire free from Tyndale Fiction Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1433794336000, "title": "COLD CASE JUSTICE #1" }, { "asin": "0310338476", "rating": 5, "text": "Love does indeed arrive in Pieces as the title says. Betsy St. Amant's book started a bit slow and I wasn't sure i was going to enjoy it but when all was said and done it spoke to me through those pieces.<br />Stella, recovering from a divorce has convinced herself she's a failure and has climbed into herself to forget. And old high school romance, Chase, returns to town and they are destined to work together.<br />Can she pull herself back together to complete the job? Can she find herself again enough to let herself open up to love?<br />There are many gems interspersed throughout, such as: &#34;God tells us to come to Him with faith like a child. I figure that means with our storms too. If it's going to rain anyway....might as well make something of it.&#34; You will be inspired, possibly shed some tears and definitely enjoy LOVE ARRIVES IN PIECES.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Zondervan via Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1439392681000, "title": "PICKING UP THE PIECES" }, { "asin": "140168596X", "rating": 4, "text": "I have read several books from various author's about the Amish. Some, I feel do a lot of study and research, even befriending Amish before they write. Some however I'm not sure how much they actually know about them and their culture. I do know the districts vary from each other by their Bishop and their interpretation of the Ordnung. Therefore I am sometimes dubious about the way the Amish are portrayed in some books. This is one I'm not sure of.<br />HER BROTHER'S KEEPER by Beth Wiseman is a story of an Englischer, Charlotte, investigating her brother's suicide. Ethan was engaged to an Amish maedel so Charlotte is convinced he was brainwashed and that is the reason for his suicide.<br />She decides to pretend to be a distant Amish cousin from Texas and visit. She does not predict the ensuing sequence of events that enfold. It is an intriguing story even if I am unconvinced of some of the actions taken.<br />Overall it was an interesting concept that left many questions as to how it would have all actually have happened had it been real story.<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishing for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1442278531000, "title": "WHAT HAPPENED TO ETHAN?" }, { "asin": "1601426992", "rating": 5, "text": "I love Cindy Woodsmalls books and I'm never disappointed. They only regret with reading her newest Ties That Bind is that it's the first of a series and I hate waiting for the next one. lol<br />The first book of The Amish of Summer Grove series is one of the most intriguing ones I've read of hers. Arianna Brenneman is the twin of Abram and one of the ten children of Isaac and Lovina. The boy she hoped to marry, Quill, ran off with her best friend, Frieda. She is finally moving on and has a new beau, Rudy, when Quill reappears.<br />Quill appears to be linked to the night crawler, a person who sneaks in and assists the Amish who wish to leave the community. However, there are more pressing secrets that come to light that changes everything Arianna believes.<br />This novel does deviate somewhat from her usual ones in that it is focused more on the family and less on the Amish community. I enjoyed Ties that Bind and I iam now sitting on pins and needles waiting for her to release book two.<br />I received this book free from Water Brook Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1444160333000, "title": "WHAT MAKES A FAMILY" }, { "asin": "1601428146", "rating": 5, "text": "Four novellas interwoven together by four different authors creates a totally beguiling book in AMISH CRISTMAS at North Star.<br />The back story begins when an Amish midwife in North Star, Pennsylvania delivers four babies in the midst of a blizzard on a November day. The event is written up in the local newspaper then picked by People Magazine. They became known as &#34;Rebekah's Babies&#34;.<br />Twenty plus years later Chase Wellington finds the newspaper story, is captivated ad sets out to find out what happened to the babies.<br />Katie Ganshert tells us of Elle, baby of Ruth Guiding Star. Ruth left from the midwifes house, leaving her husband and community.<br /> In Morning Star Amanda Fowler acquaint with us Eden Hochstetler whose family moved to Sugarcreek and run a fudge-and-candy shop.<br />Into the Stars is the story told by Cindy Woodsmall of Savilla Beiler who still lives in North Star and is an accomplished seamstress.<br />Mindy Starnes Clark and Emily Clark share the story of Andy, the only baby boy born that night in Star of Grace.<br />Being a Cindy Woodsmall fan I didn't hesitate receiving this book and have found new author's to enjoy. This book was a joy to read.<br />I received this book free from Water Brook for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1447524439000, "title": "FOUR LIVES INTERWOVEN" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 4, "text": "Rachel Hauck wrote a intriguing story about an unfulfilled love that spans sixty-seven years and three generations. The Wedding Chapel is an account of Peg, a deceitful sister who is in love with the boy in love with Collette, her younger sister.<br />Peg and Colette are English who were orphaned in the war then sent to live with an Aunt and Uncle in America. Jimmy is a neighbor boy whose mother left and his dad raised him alone. Jimmy is taken with Collette when Clem, the girls cousin shows him their picture upon hearing they are coming.<br />Jimmy and Colette fall in love. Jimmy is drafted and leaves to serve in the military. Due to misunderstanding and lies Colette runs off to Hollywood and becomes a big star. Neither Colette or Jimmy ever married.<br />Taylor, a photographer, is Peg's granddaughter and has moved to Manhattan where she marries Jack, and advertising executive. Circumstances brings them all back to Heart's Bend, Tennessee where they are all faced with the truth.<br />It's a little confusing at times with the bouncing back and forth between the past and future. However, it is a charming romance which I enjoyed.<br />I received this book free from Zondervan via Thomas Nelson Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1449104626000, "title": "LOVE THAT LASTS" }, { "asin": "0764212486", "rating": 5, "text": "Beverly Lewis understands and write of the Amish Culture better than many who attempt to put pen to paper. Being born in Pennsylvania and living among them she writes with a perceptive and thoughtful heart.<br />The Atonement is a story of a young Amish woman, Lucy Flaud, who is dealing with grief and guilt from a long past time in her life. She has spent the intervening years trying to atone by loving and doing for others.<br /> Her Daed, Christian, is also grieving, for the same incident, however, for a much different reason. He starts attending a grief group where he meets Englischers and befriends one young man, Dale Wyeth.<br />Tobe Glick is Lucy's best friend but has secretly loved her for years. However, Lucy holds her secret so close she feels unworthy to return his offer of courtship.<br />Will she be able to get past her long-ago sin to forgive, live and love again? Will Tobe be able to see the woman she is now or will he reject her?<br />I loved this book as I have all of Beverly Lewis's novels. As always there is much to glean and learn from her writings.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group.", "timestamp": 1459644991000, "title": "MUST YOU ATONE?" }, { "asin": "1401688314", "rating": 4, "text": "Very seldom do I find it impossible to finish a book. A Dream of Miracles by Ruth Reid was one. I picked it up and put it down too many times, unable to continue. It's not because of the writer's ability to draw you in, if anything that is the reason. It is the subject, the characters. It's a story I find myself being able to empathize with and become angry and defensive about.<br />Mattie Diener is a young Amish widow with two children. Bo Lambright is a social services investigator. Of course, circumstances bring them together and you can let you mind jump to where this will be headed. As always there is other people involved that only complicate the matter.<br />To not get on a soap box I will only say that too often the system interferes when they have no business to because of some so called well meaning busy body. Before you get you take this wrong, I do know there are times when they should. Unfortunately too often they should when they don't and don't when they should. Enough said!<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers for a fair and honest review.", "timestamp": 1466264288000, "title": "TRUTH" }, { "asin": "0310342015", "rating": 5, "text": "An Amish Heirloom Novel, THE COURTSHIP BASKET by Amy Clipston is the second in the series. I had read the first, The Forgotten Recipe and knew this would be a good book and wasn't disappointed.<br />At her sister Victoria's wedding, Rachel Fisher, the second of three sisters, happens to overhear her best friend and the young man she hoped to marry. Betrayed and heartbroken she takes a job as a teacher in a special school. Rachel doesn't need another heartbreak and enjoys teaching.<br />John Lantz whose mother is dead and his father is sick joins her class. Mike, his older brother, has assumed responsibility for not only his dad's care but also John's. Mike believes his obligations prevent him from dating or seeking a wife.<br />Rachel, wanting to do something for the family sends meals to the family using an old picnic basket that holds family memories. Mike watchful of her intentions and wants to protect John.<br />Amy has the ability of draw you into the narrative and become enthralled by the characters and their journey. I loved the book and now awaiting book three of the series. I hope she not only shares Emily's account but also the parents tale.<br />I received The Courtship Basket free for an honest review from Zondervan and Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1468093831000, "title": "HEIRLOOMS MAGNETISM" }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "THE WEDDING SHOP is the third book of the series and I'm not sure if I can say enough about Rachel Hauck's ability to captivate your imagination and keep you spellbound. I had read the second book, and even reviewed it. After finishing this one I had to read the first one which I wish I had read first. All three books can be read as a standalone, but are definitely intertwined.<br />The wedding shop is an abandoned building that draws two young girls who make a pinkie pledge to one day reopen. As often happens, life takes them in different directions. Haley goes to college then the military. Tammy stays in Hearts Bend, gets engaged to her childhood crush. However, life throws them a curve and Tammy dies from an aggressive form of brain cancer, Haley has a destructive relationship that causes her to leave the military and return home.<br />Determined to reopen the Wedding Shop for Tammy she encounters Cole, Tammy's fiancé who has bid on tearing the building down. Long buried attraction to each other resurfaces and guilt ensues. Will they be able to move pass the guilt and build a relationship? Will Haley succeed in reopening the Wedding Shop?<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Zondrrvan and Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1474121359000, "title": "PROMISES, REGRETS AND REDEMPTION" }, { "asin": "0310395933", "rating": 4, "text": "To Have ad to Hold: Three Autumn Love Stories by three different authors is a sweet collection of novella's. Each tale is a complete and charming narrative.<br />In Love Takes a Cake by Betsy St. Amant, Charlotte Cantrell is the owner of The Dough Knot bakery. Will Martin is a reclusive bachelor that frequents the bakery, and best man for a wedding Charlotte is to provide the cake for. Each comes with their own baggage to overcome. Will they be able to wade through and find happily after themselves?<br />In The Perfect Arrangement by Katie Ganshert, Amelia Woods is the stepsister, the one ignored and ridiculed by the family. Nate Gallagher, is a ghost writer who begins an email correspondence with Amelia after a minor auto accident. Complications ensue that threaten the blooming relationship. Will they be insurmountable?<br />In Love in the Details by Becky Wade, Josh Bowen is the one who left, went to MIT and became a success. Holly Morgan is the high school sweetheart that broke his heart by breaking up with him after he left. Now he's back in town and once buried feelings resurface. Will they get past the what and why and find happines?<br />I received a free copy from Zondervan a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing. No review, positive or otherwise, was required - all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1480700316000, "title": "LOVE TIMES THREE" }, { "asin": "0310341965", "rating": 5, "text": "THE CHERISHED QUILT, an Amish Heirloom book, by Amy Clipston is the third in a series about three Amish sisters. By the epilogue it seems there may be another book coming. Amy has Amish friends who answer questions and help keep her books true to the Amish beliefs.<br />I had read the previous two books so was excited to continue this journey. In this one, Emily the youngest of the Fisher daughters only wants to find the right man and fall in love, have a home and family. One of her sisters, Veronica, is married and Rachel, second one is betrothed and planning her wedding. Emily loves to sew and especially quilt.<br />Emily assists her Dat in the leather shop he and his best friend Hank owns, by keeping the books along and helping the customers.<br />Christopher Hochstetler has come to Bird in Hand to work with his Onkel Hank and learn the leather working trade after a tragedy left him estranged from his family. He attempts to remain distant from everyone but Emily's friendliness and sweetness draws him.<br />Can a quilt made by Emily's own hands be the catalyst that bridges the pain and help heal the hurts in a family?<br />I received a free copy from Zondervan a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing. No review, positive or otherwise, was required - all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1481495327000, "title": "PIECES OF THE HEART" } ]

[ { "asin": "078523103X", "rating": 5, "text": "Andy Andrews's latest book is a very compelling story. It is a historical fiction self-help book about forgiveness. Oh, and it's based on a true story.<br /><br />The story is of an unlikely couple who meet in a small gulf town during World War II. It takes them through a process of coming to terms with their past and finding forgiveness and hope. As life often teaches us, \"A few of the main characters' experiences turned out to be more common that I had previously believed.\" Pg. VI<br /><br />Often when we have been hurt, wronged, or disappointed, we let the pain of the incident cloud our vision and our lives. This is exactly what one of the principal characters in the book has done. Andy weaves a story that keeps you reading, and in the process gives us a good example of forgiveness and second chances. He illustrates how when bitterness and anger takes over we are in reality allowing the person/event to control us.<br /><br />Just as in the book, God will place people in our lives to speak truth to us; we just have to be open and receptive.<br /><br />\"Forgiveness does not erase history or excuse what happened,...... It means giving something up. To relinquish something means to give up whatever power it holds over us.\" Pg. 120<br /><br />After reading this book you will have a clearer understanding of forgiveness and the necessity of it in your own life, the freedom it brings.", "timestamp": 1275322740000, "title": "Story of Second Chances - The Heart Mender" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "I am a fan of Max Lucado so I jumped at the opportunity to read his latest book and I have to admit the title also captivated me. Outliving your life, leaving a legacy, making a difference, however you want to say it that is what all of us want to do in one way or another.<br /><br />To live in such a way that when we are gone from this life that who we were, what we did, lives on in the hearts and minds of others. To live so that the things we do touch and changes lives. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things in everyday life. He did in the Bible and He does today.<br /><br />Using events from the Bible along with stories of similar incidents today Max gives us cause to sit up and examine our circumstances and to honestly ask ourselves are we making a difference. Will our story live on in the lives of others?<br /><br />Max asks questions, probes, and challenges us to stretch ourselves, to grow, so that when we are gone people will know that we've been here.<br /><br />One question that begs thought is \"What if our attention could reduce someone's pain?<br /><br />Read this book, but not only read it but digest it. Let us all live so that our lives outlive us.", "timestamp": 1286662911000, "title": "LIVING LIFE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE" }, { "asin": "0307457176", "rating": 4, "text": "When I received my latest fiction book for review from Water Brook, Tandem by Tracey Bateman, I was surprised to find out it was a Christian vampire story. I know vampires have become quite poplar these days in books, TV shows, and movies and I'm also sure there are those who will question the words Christian and vampire being used together.<br />I won't go into what I think about the issue of vampires, however, at first I wasn't sure I wanted to read the book. Nevertheless, Tracey is a compelling author, and once I picked up the book it held my attention and kept me guessing as to where she was headed and how the mystery would end.<br /> The heroine, Lauryn, struggles with her concept of God and a dad that has Alzheimer's. Her high school crush is the son of the local pastor who left town to become a missionary after graduation and returns with a child.<br />Tracey Bateman does write in a way to draw you into the story and hold you captive to the story line, her characters are fascinating, and you will wind up rooting for the heroine.", "timestamp": 1298835752000, "title": "Tandem by Tracey Bateman" }, { "asin": "078523120X", "rating": 5, "text": "What is The One Principle That Will Save Humanity? That is the question put to David Ponder as he heads THE FINAL SUMMIT. We first met David in The Traveler's Gift, and if you've not read it I would recommend you get it also. The two books tie together so profoundly that I wanted to read it first so I bought it before I continued.<br />By means of history and some of the thoughts of the world's finest and most brilliant minds the ensemble at the summit must find the solution. When we are at the end of our ropes, and we don't know what to do, what is the next step? What do we do?<br />Andy Andrew is a writer like no other I've read. Someone said he was a mix of C.S. Lewis, Alfred Hitchcock and Tony Robbins but I'm not sure if that encapsulates his writing. Andy has the gift of being able to draw you in, to captivate, entertain and at the same time cause you to reflect, to examine yourself.<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson in return for an unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1303909298000, "title": "THE FINAL SUMMIT by ndy Andrews" }, { "asin": "1414335830", "rating": 5, "text": "I've always appreciated the genius of Jerry B. Jenkins writing well before the Left Behind series. I just finished his latest, THE BETRAYAL, which I found out was Book #2 of Precinct 11 Novels. Now I will have to read book one. I finished the novel in about two days as I found it hard to put down.<br />The story follows Detective Boone Drake as he tries to unravel the questions surrounding the attempt to kill an informant being transferred to a secret place. Suspecting an inside job he is not prepared for the suspected person being someone he is close to.<br />Detective Boone makes it his mission to get to the bottom of the matter in spite of being injured while protecting the witness and being warned to stay out of the investigation. White questioning his own instincts and not knowing who he can trust he endeavor's to get some answers and learn the truth.<br />Throughout the story you are intrigued and kept guessing what is around the next page. I found it refreshing to also read of the character's search in spiritual things as well as the matters of everyday life. Jerry Jenkins keeps you spellbound and anxious to see where he will take you next.<br />I received this book from Tyndale House Publisher's free for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1314562954000, "title": "Book #2 Precinct 11 Novel The BETRAYAL" }, { "asin": "1414335970", "rating": 5, "text": "I've read a few books in the past about the Mormon Church when they still all practiced polygamy and I had mixed feelings about FORSAKING ALL OTHERS by Allison Pittman. I have to say she was well versed in their doctrine and although truthful, did not aggressively attack the religion.<br />The story is about Camilla, the first wife of Nathan Fox, and how her relationship with God helps her to run away from the church and therefore her husband. Throughout her journey you are shown many comparisons between the original Mormon Church and Christianity. Camilla has hopes that the people she knows and loves, who have been drawn in to the church, will see the truth.<br />Camilla had married Nathan against her parents' wishes and she had not heard from them since she left. Her wish is to let them know she has seen the error of the church and ask their forgiveness. She makes it back and is reunited with them just before her father passes away. Her focus then is to return and get her daughters so they will not grow up within the church and become ardent followers.<br />Allison does a great job of contrasting Christianity with the Mormon Church in a way that shows their similarity along with the differences. This was a great book and I would highly recommend it.<br />I received this book free from Tyndale for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1320189910000, "title": "FORSAKING ALL OTHERS the Sister Wives Series #2" }, { "asin": "1414338732", "rating": 4, "text": "BECKON by Tom Pawlik is a book that is a little hard to describe. The book is spine tingling, horrifying, weird and unexpected. To quote his webpage it is an \"edge-of-your-seat thriller\".<br />It is a story of a town \"Beckon\" that is inhabited by an unusual group of people, to say the least. A man, Jack Kendrick, a woman police officer, Elina Gutierrez, who are there looking for answers about loved ones, and George Wilcox who has been enticed there seeking a cure for his wife's Alzheimer's. Their stories all converge with the town's people and the leader, Vale, with lots of bizarre twists and turns. I found myself wanting to put it down because it was almost too hard to continue, while at the same time having to know what is going to happen next and the outcome.<br />Ultimately the hope of Christ leads them all to a place of strength and redemption. I would recommend it. Overall it is a good book, especially if you like edge of your seat thrillers.<br />This book was provided free for my honest review by Tyndale House Publishers.", "timestamp": 1333919315000, "title": "Spine Tingling and Weird But Hard To Put Down" }, { "asin": "1401686974", "rating": 4, "text": "Covenant Child is a story of twin sisters. They are orphaned and although they had a stepmother they loved and who wanted to raise them, their maternal grandparents win custody. This begins the tumultuous life's of these two who are lied to and have no idea they are actually heiresses.<br /><br />I've read several Terri Blackstock books so knew this would be an interesting book. You get frustrated at the system that would give the girls to the grandparents. You will also go from empathy for the girls to wondering how they could sink to do some of the things they do.<br /><br />When Amanda, the stepmother, tries to contact them as they get older they don't trust her, especially when they are told there is an inheritance they may have access to.<br /><br />Terri Blackstock writes interesting stories, you will enjoy this one.<br /><br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1343593822000, "title": "Covenant Chilc" }, { "asin": "1433671689", "rating": 4, "text": "What can a chef, a counselor and a vegan health food store worker have in common. Three unlikely women who are brought together and help each other find healing.<br /><br />The chef and cafe owner Ellyn, is large and therefore decides she is unattractive so she buries herself in food. Sabina, the counselor, has come to Mendocino to heal and hide, to be invisible. Twila is a young woman, wise beyond her years, whose father abandoned her and because of the emptiness has developed an eating disorder.<br /><br />Can these three women begin to see themselves as God sees them? Can they work through the issues that hinders them? Twila tells Ellyn that they are alike in some ways, and like them we often share the same vision. \"It just means that we sometimes miss seeing Him in the most important thing He created. Us.....He sees our inner beauty - the condition of our hearts....\"<br /><br />INVISIBLE by Ginny L. Yttrup is a look into ourselves, for one reason or another, we all sometime wish we could be invisible.<br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it. I received Invisible free for an honest review from [...]", "timestamp": 1364860849000, "title": "SOMETIME WE WANT TO BE INVISIBLE" }, { "asin": "1414358490", "rating": 5, "text": "Being a veteran of the police force for twenty-two years, Janice Cantore lends authenticity and realism to her writing of AVENGED. It was however, part of a series, but it can stand alone if you've not read the other two.<br />Carly Edwards, a police officer, and her husband, Sergeant Nick Anderson get caught up in a suspected gang execution that she suspects is not what it seems. Tensions increase between two local gangs. They confiscate some weapons from a member of one of the gangs. After further investigation they find out that the guns, along with some explosives, were stolen from a military base.<br />Carly has her character shredded just as she is to testify in a major trial. She has to depend on God and remember ;\"Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.\"<br />This is a great crime and mystery book and I will be reading more of her books. She knows what she's talking about and is able to bring the characters to life.<br />I received this book free from Tyndale for a honest review. I do recommend this book and author to anyone who enjoys a good clean crime novel.<br /><br />[[ASIN:1414358490 Avenged (Pacific Coast Justice)]]", "timestamp": 1366683945000, "title": "WHEN YOUR CHARACTER IS SHREDDED" }, { "asin": "1401688667", "rating": 5, "text": "TO KNOW YOU by Shannon Ethridge & Kathryn Mackel is a tale of a mother. A mother who was forced to confront her past and the results that ensued.<br />As a young college girl, Julia fell in love with Thomas and became pregnant. Her mother and Thomas convinced her to give the baby up for adoption. Reeling from losing the man she loved and her baby she consequently turned to another and becomes pregnant and again gives up the baby.<br />In time she heals and meets a man who loves her for her and they forge a good life. They have one child that is born with a liver disease and eventually has to have a liver transplant or die. Thus begins the story of her journey to reconnect with the children she relinquished and hopefully save her son.<br />This is a story of forgiveness, redemption and second chances. It will hold you captivated and wondering. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and would recommend it.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Thomas Nelson.", "timestamp": 1383511192000, "title": "CONFRONTING THE PAST" }, { "asin": "0310335884", "rating": 4, "text": "A SIMPLE PRAYER, by Amy Clipston is a entertaining Amish story of two who have been wounded and are afraid to trust.<br />Aaron Ebersol left the Amish community as a teen but returns when he's told of his mother's health problems. Will his family accept him back?<br />Linda Zook, is the sole survivor of a buggy accident that claimed the lives of her parents. Her mother's brother and his wife took her in but she's never felt accepted.<br />What does the future hold for these two, can they find their way to each other and into the community? Can each of them find forgiveness and extend forgiveness to those they feel have wronged them.<br />Having read several Amish books lately by a variety of authors, I found this one compelling, but quite a bit different take of the Amish community. I do know there is a wide range of beliefs, or I should say adherence in the districts. I just may have to read more of Amy's books as this was enjoyable.<br />I received A Simple Prayer free from Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1432772949000, "title": "PRAYER OF THE HEART" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 5, "text": "I’ve read several books by Janice Cantore and never been disappointed. This last one, DRAWING FIRE Cold Case Justice is the first of a new series. I usually don’t care to read the first of a series and then have to wait a year for the next one. Smile However, for Janice Cantore, it is worth it.<br /><br />Abby Hart is a homicide detective in Long Beach, California and becomes the lead detective in a case the she discovers is a serial killer. Her main witness is a private detective, Luke Murphy, who she thinks is a glory hound.<br /><br />Forced to work together they discover they have a mutual interest in a cold case and set out to see what they can find. Abby is ordered to leave the case alone and it is given to two other detectives. Instead she takes a leave of absence in order to pursue it on her own time with the assistance of Luke.<br /><br />I have to agree with Abby that all murders, in fact all unsolved cases of any nature, should be solved and allow closure for the people involved. I am eager for the next book to come out in the Spring of 2016.<br /><br />I received Drawing Fire free from Tyndale Fiction Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1433794336000, "title": "COLD CASE JUSTICE #1" }, { "asin": "0310338476", "rating": 5, "text": "Love does indeed arrive in Pieces as the title says. Betsy St. Amant's book started a bit slow and I wasn't sure i was going to enjoy it but when all was said and done it spoke to me through those pieces.<br />Stella, recovering from a divorce has convinced herself she's a failure and has climbed into herself to forget. And old high school romance, Chase, returns to town and they are destined to work together.<br />Can she pull herself back together to complete the job? Can she find herself again enough to let herself open up to love?<br />There are many gems interspersed throughout, such as: &#34;God tells us to come to Him with faith like a child. I figure that means with our storms too. If it's going to rain anyway....might as well make something of it.&#34; You will be inspired, possibly shed some tears and definitely enjoy LOVE ARRIVES IN PIECES.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Zondervan via Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1439392681000, "title": "PICKING UP THE PIECES" }, { "asin": "140168596X", "rating": 4, "text": "I have read several books from various author's about the Amish. Some, I feel do a lot of study and research, even befriending Amish before they write. Some however I'm not sure how much they actually know about them and their culture. I do know the districts vary from each other by their Bishop and their interpretation of the Ordnung. Therefore I am sometimes dubious about the way the Amish are portrayed in some books. This is one I'm not sure of.<br />HER BROTHER'S KEEPER by Beth Wiseman is a story of an Englischer, Charlotte, investigating her brother's suicide. Ethan was engaged to an Amish maedel so Charlotte is convinced he was brainwashed and that is the reason for his suicide.<br />She decides to pretend to be a distant Amish cousin from Texas and visit. She does not predict the ensuing sequence of events that enfold. It is an intriguing story even if I am unconvinced of some of the actions taken.<br />Overall it was an interesting concept that left many questions as to how it would have all actually have happened had it been real story.<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishing for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1442278531000, "title": "WHAT HAPPENED TO ETHAN?" }, { "asin": "1601426992", "rating": 5, "text": "I love Cindy Woodsmalls books and I'm never disappointed. They only regret with reading her newest Ties That Bind is that it's the first of a series and I hate waiting for the next one. lol<br />The first book of The Amish of Summer Grove series is one of the most intriguing ones I've read of hers. Arianna Brenneman is the twin of Abram and one of the ten children of Isaac and Lovina. The boy she hoped to marry, Quill, ran off with her best friend, Frieda. She is finally moving on and has a new beau, Rudy, when Quill reappears.<br />Quill appears to be linked to the night crawler, a person who sneaks in and assists the Amish who wish to leave the community. However, there are more pressing secrets that come to light that changes everything Arianna believes.<br />This novel does deviate somewhat from her usual ones in that it is focused more on the family and less on the Amish community. I enjoyed Ties that Bind and I iam now sitting on pins and needles waiting for her to release book two.<br />I received this book free from Water Brook Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1444160333000, "title": "WHAT MAKES A FAMILY" }, { "asin": "1601428146", "rating": 5, "text": "Four novellas interwoven together by four different authors creates a totally beguiling book in AMISH CRISTMAS at North Star.<br />The back story begins when an Amish midwife in North Star, Pennsylvania delivers four babies in the midst of a blizzard on a November day. The event is written up in the local newspaper then picked by People Magazine. They became known as &#34;Rebekah's Babies&#34;.<br />Twenty plus years later Chase Wellington finds the newspaper story, is captivated ad sets out to find out what happened to the babies.<br />Katie Ganshert tells us of Elle, baby of Ruth Guiding Star. Ruth left from the midwifes house, leaving her husband and community.<br /> In Morning Star Amanda Fowler acquaint with us Eden Hochstetler whose family moved to Sugarcreek and run a fudge-and-candy shop.<br />Into the Stars is the story told by Cindy Woodsmall of Savilla Beiler who still lives in North Star and is an accomplished seamstress.<br />Mindy Starnes Clark and Emily Clark share the story of Andy, the only baby boy born that night in Star of Grace.<br />Being a Cindy Woodsmall fan I didn't hesitate receiving this book and have found new author's to enjoy. This book was a joy to read.<br />I received this book free from Water Brook for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1447524439000, "title": "FOUR LIVES INTERWOVEN" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 4, "text": "Rachel Hauck wrote a intriguing story about an unfulfilled love that spans sixty-seven years and three generations. The Wedding Chapel is an account of Peg, a deceitful sister who is in love with the boy in love with Collette, her younger sister.<br />Peg and Colette are English who were orphaned in the war then sent to live with an Aunt and Uncle in America. Jimmy is a neighbor boy whose mother left and his dad raised him alone. Jimmy is taken with Collette when Clem, the girls cousin shows him their picture upon hearing they are coming.<br />Jimmy and Colette fall in love. Jimmy is drafted and leaves to serve in the military. Due to misunderstanding and lies Colette runs off to Hollywood and becomes a big star. Neither Colette or Jimmy ever married.<br />Taylor, a photographer, is Peg's granddaughter and has moved to Manhattan where she marries Jack, and advertising executive. Circumstances brings them all back to Heart's Bend, Tennessee where they are all faced with the truth.<br />It's a little confusing at times with the bouncing back and forth between the past and future. However, it is a charming romance which I enjoyed.<br />I received this book free from Zondervan via Thomas Nelson Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1449104626000, "title": "LOVE THAT LASTS" }, { "asin": "0764212486", "rating": 5, "text": "Beverly Lewis understands and write of the Amish Culture better than many who attempt to put pen to paper. Being born in Pennsylvania and living among them she writes with a perceptive and thoughtful heart.<br />The Atonement is a story of a young Amish woman, Lucy Flaud, who is dealing with grief and guilt from a long past time in her life. She has spent the intervening years trying to atone by loving and doing for others.<br /> Her Daed, Christian, is also grieving, for the same incident, however, for a much different reason. He starts attending a grief group where he meets Englischers and befriends one young man, Dale Wyeth.<br />Tobe Glick is Lucy's best friend but has secretly loved her for years. However, Lucy holds her secret so close she feels unworthy to return his offer of courtship.<br />Will she be able to get past her long-ago sin to forgive, live and love again? Will Tobe be able to see the woman she is now or will he reject her?<br />I loved this book as I have all of Beverly Lewis's novels. As always there is much to glean and learn from her writings.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group.", "timestamp": 1459644991000, "title": "MUST YOU ATONE?" }, { "asin": "1401688314", "rating": 4, "text": "Very seldom do I find it impossible to finish a book. A Dream of Miracles by Ruth Reid was one. I picked it up and put it down too many times, unable to continue. It's not because of the writer's ability to draw you in, if anything that is the reason. It is the subject, the characters. It's a story I find myself being able to empathize with and become angry and defensive about.<br />Mattie Diener is a young Amish widow with two children. Bo Lambright is a social services investigator. Of course, circumstances bring them together and you can let you mind jump to where this will be headed. As always there is other people involved that only complicate the matter.<br />To not get on a soap box I will only say that too often the system interferes when they have no business to because of some so called well meaning busy body. Before you get you take this wrong, I do know there are times when they should. Unfortunately too often they should when they don't and don't when they should. Enough said!<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers for a fair and honest review.", "timestamp": 1466264288000, "title": "TRUTH" }, { "asin": "0310342015", "rating": 5, "text": "An Amish Heirloom Novel, THE COURTSHIP BASKET by Amy Clipston is the second in the series. I had read the first, The Forgotten Recipe and knew this would be a good book and wasn't disappointed.<br />At her sister Victoria's wedding, Rachel Fisher, the second of three sisters, happens to overhear her best friend and the young man she hoped to marry. Betrayed and heartbroken she takes a job as a teacher in a special school. Rachel doesn't need another heartbreak and enjoys teaching.<br />John Lantz whose mother is dead and his father is sick joins her class. Mike, his older brother, has assumed responsibility for not only his dad's care but also John's. Mike believes his obligations prevent him from dating or seeking a wife.<br />Rachel, wanting to do something for the family sends meals to the family using an old picnic basket that holds family memories. Mike watchful of her intentions and wants to protect John.<br />Amy has the ability of draw you into the narrative and become enthralled by the characters and their journey. I loved the book and now awaiting book three of the series. I hope she not only shares Emily's account but also the parents tale.<br />I received The Courtship Basket free for an honest review from Zondervan and Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1468093831000, "title": "HEIRLOOMS MAGNETISM" }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "THE WEDDING SHOP is the third book of the series and I'm not sure if I can say enough about Rachel Hauck's ability to captivate your imagination and keep you spellbound. I had read the second book, and even reviewed it. After finishing this one I had to read the first one which I wish I had read first. All three books can be read as a standalone, but are definitely intertwined.<br />The wedding shop is an abandoned building that draws two young girls who make a pinkie pledge to one day reopen. As often happens, life takes them in different directions. Haley goes to college then the military. Tammy stays in Hearts Bend, gets engaged to her childhood crush. However, life throws them a curve and Tammy dies from an aggressive form of brain cancer, Haley has a destructive relationship that causes her to leave the military and return home.<br />Determined to reopen the Wedding Shop for Tammy she encounters Cole, Tammy's fiancé who has bid on tearing the building down. Long buried attraction to each other resurfaces and guilt ensues. Will they be able to move pass the guilt and build a relationship? Will Haley succeed in reopening the Wedding Shop?<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Zondrrvan and Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1474121359000, "title": "PROMISES, REGRETS AND REDEMPTION" }, { "asin": "0310395933", "rating": 4, "text": "To Have ad to Hold: Three Autumn Love Stories by three different authors is a sweet collection of novella's. Each tale is a complete and charming narrative.<br />In Love Takes a Cake by Betsy St. Amant, Charlotte Cantrell is the owner of The Dough Knot bakery. Will Martin is a reclusive bachelor that frequents the bakery, and best man for a wedding Charlotte is to provide the cake for. Each comes with their own baggage to overcome. Will they be able to wade through and find happily after themselves?<br />In The Perfect Arrangement by Katie Ganshert, Amelia Woods is the stepsister, the one ignored and ridiculed by the family. Nate Gallagher, is a ghost writer who begins an email correspondence with Amelia after a minor auto accident. Complications ensue that threaten the blooming relationship. Will they be insurmountable?<br />In Love in the Details by Becky Wade, Josh Bowen is the one who left, went to MIT and became a success. Holly Morgan is the high school sweetheart that broke his heart by breaking up with him after he left. Now he's back in town and once buried feelings resurface. Will they get past the what and why and find happines?<br />I received a free copy from Zondervan a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing. No review, positive or otherwise, was required - all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1480700316000, "title": "LOVE TIMES THREE" }, { "asin": "0310341965", "rating": 5, "text": "THE CHERISHED QUILT, an Amish Heirloom book, by Amy Clipston is the third in a series about three Amish sisters. By the epilogue it seems there may be another book coming. Amy has Amish friends who answer questions and help keep her books true to the Amish beliefs.<br />I had read the previous two books so was excited to continue this journey. In this one, Emily the youngest of the Fisher daughters only wants to find the right man and fall in love, have a home and family. One of her sisters, Veronica, is married and Rachel, second one is betrothed and planning her wedding. Emily loves to sew and especially quilt.<br />Emily assists her Dat in the leather shop he and his best friend Hank owns, by keeping the books along and helping the customers.<br />Christopher Hochstetler has come to Bird in Hand to work with his Onkel Hank and learn the leather working trade after a tragedy left him estranged from his family. He attempts to remain distant from everyone but Emily's friendliness and sweetness draws him.<br />Can a quilt made by Emily's own hands be the catalyst that bridges the pain and help heal the hurts in a family?<br />I received a free copy from Zondervan a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing. No review, positive or otherwise, was required - all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1481495327000, "title": "PIECES OF THE HEART" }, { "asin": "0718085949", "rating": 5, "text": "Pregnant, Brooklyn Myers was abandoned by her husband, Chad Hallston, ten years ago. Working as a waitress she is raising her daughter as a single mother. She never expects to return home where her father is cold and emotionally abusive when she receives an unexpected visitor.<br />Derek Johnson, was Chad's best friend and didn't care for Brooklyn and blamed her for Chad's leaving Thunder Creek Idaho. He's a part time deputy and has a small farm he's cultivating and growing organic produce. He's hoping to buy Chad's family farm next door and expand.<br />They say God often laughs at our plans as he directs us in the way He knows is best. Robin Lee Hatcher brings us a charming story of just such direction in YOU'LL THINK OF ME. I loved the book and highly recommend it.<br />I received a free copy from Harper Collins Publisher and Thomas Nelson Publishing Groups. No review, positive or otherwise, was required – all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1494195276000, "title": "GOD DIRECTS OUR PATH" } ]

[ { "asin": "078523103X", "rating": 5, "text": "Andy Andrews's latest book is a very compelling story. It is a historical fiction self-help book about forgiveness. Oh, and it's based on a true story.<br /><br />The story is of an unlikely couple who meet in a small gulf town during World War II. It takes them through a process of coming to terms with their past and finding forgiveness and hope. As life often teaches us, \"A few of the main characters' experiences turned out to be more common that I had previously believed.\" Pg. VI<br /><br />Often when we have been hurt, wronged, or disappointed, we let the pain of the incident cloud our vision and our lives. This is exactly what one of the principal characters in the book has done. Andy weaves a story that keeps you reading, and in the process gives us a good example of forgiveness and second chances. He illustrates how when bitterness and anger takes over we are in reality allowing the person/event to control us.<br /><br />Just as in the book, God will place people in our lives to speak truth to us; we just have to be open and receptive.<br /><br />\"Forgiveness does not erase history or excuse what happened,...... It means giving something up. To relinquish something means to give up whatever power it holds over us.\" Pg. 120<br /><br />After reading this book you will have a clearer understanding of forgiveness and the necessity of it in your own life, the freedom it brings.", "timestamp": 1275322740000, "title": "Story of Second Chances - The Heart Mender" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "I am a fan of Max Lucado so I jumped at the opportunity to read his latest book and I have to admit the title also captivated me. Outliving your life, leaving a legacy, making a difference, however you want to say it that is what all of us want to do in one way or another.<br /><br />To live in such a way that when we are gone from this life that who we were, what we did, lives on in the hearts and minds of others. To live so that the things we do touch and changes lives. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things in everyday life. He did in the Bible and He does today.<br /><br />Using events from the Bible along with stories of similar incidents today Max gives us cause to sit up and examine our circumstances and to honestly ask ourselves are we making a difference. Will our story live on in the lives of others?<br /><br />Max asks questions, probes, and challenges us to stretch ourselves, to grow, so that when we are gone people will know that we've been here.<br /><br />One question that begs thought is \"What if our attention could reduce someone's pain?<br /><br />Read this book, but not only read it but digest it. Let us all live so that our lives outlive us.", "timestamp": 1286662911000, "title": "LIVING LIFE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE" }, { "asin": "0307457176", "rating": 4, "text": "When I received my latest fiction book for review from Water Brook, Tandem by Tracey Bateman, I was surprised to find out it was a Christian vampire story. I know vampires have become quite poplar these days in books, TV shows, and movies and I'm also sure there are those who will question the words Christian and vampire being used together.<br />I won't go into what I think about the issue of vampires, however, at first I wasn't sure I wanted to read the book. Nevertheless, Tracey is a compelling author, and once I picked up the book it held my attention and kept me guessing as to where she was headed and how the mystery would end.<br /> The heroine, Lauryn, struggles with her concept of God and a dad that has Alzheimer's. Her high school crush is the son of the local pastor who left town to become a missionary after graduation and returns with a child.<br />Tracey Bateman does write in a way to draw you into the story and hold you captive to the story line, her characters are fascinating, and you will wind up rooting for the heroine.", "timestamp": 1298835752000, "title": "Tandem by Tracey Bateman" }, { "asin": "078523120X", "rating": 5, "text": "What is The One Principle That Will Save Humanity? That is the question put to David Ponder as he heads THE FINAL SUMMIT. We first met David in The Traveler's Gift, and if you've not read it I would recommend you get it also. The two books tie together so profoundly that I wanted to read it first so I bought it before I continued.<br />By means of history and some of the thoughts of the world's finest and most brilliant minds the ensemble at the summit must find the solution. When we are at the end of our ropes, and we don't know what to do, what is the next step? What do we do?<br />Andy Andrew is a writer like no other I've read. Someone said he was a mix of C.S. Lewis, Alfred Hitchcock and Tony Robbins but I'm not sure if that encapsulates his writing. Andy has the gift of being able to draw you in, to captivate, entertain and at the same time cause you to reflect, to examine yourself.<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson in return for an unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1303909298000, "title": "THE FINAL SUMMIT by ndy Andrews" }, { "asin": "1414335830", "rating": 5, "text": "I've always appreciated the genius of Jerry B. Jenkins writing well before the Left Behind series. I just finished his latest, THE BETRAYAL, which I found out was Book #2 of Precinct 11 Novels. Now I will have to read book one. I finished the novel in about two days as I found it hard to put down.<br />The story follows Detective Boone Drake as he tries to unravel the questions surrounding the attempt to kill an informant being transferred to a secret place. Suspecting an inside job he is not prepared for the suspected person being someone he is close to.<br />Detective Boone makes it his mission to get to the bottom of the matter in spite of being injured while protecting the witness and being warned to stay out of the investigation. White questioning his own instincts and not knowing who he can trust he endeavor's to get some answers and learn the truth.<br />Throughout the story you are intrigued and kept guessing what is around the next page. I found it refreshing to also read of the character's search in spiritual things as well as the matters of everyday life. Jerry Jenkins keeps you spellbound and anxious to see where he will take you next.<br />I received this book from Tyndale House Publisher's free for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1314562954000, "title": "Book #2 Precinct 11 Novel The BETRAYAL" }, { "asin": "1414335970", "rating": 5, "text": "I've read a few books in the past about the Mormon Church when they still all practiced polygamy and I had mixed feelings about FORSAKING ALL OTHERS by Allison Pittman. I have to say she was well versed in their doctrine and although truthful, did not aggressively attack the religion.<br />The story is about Camilla, the first wife of Nathan Fox, and how her relationship with God helps her to run away from the church and therefore her husband. Throughout her journey you are shown many comparisons between the original Mormon Church and Christianity. Camilla has hopes that the people she knows and loves, who have been drawn in to the church, will see the truth.<br />Camilla had married Nathan against her parents' wishes and she had not heard from them since she left. Her wish is to let them know she has seen the error of the church and ask their forgiveness. She makes it back and is reunited with them just before her father passes away. Her focus then is to return and get her daughters so they will not grow up within the church and become ardent followers.<br />Allison does a great job of contrasting Christianity with the Mormon Church in a way that shows their similarity along with the differences. This was a great book and I would highly recommend it.<br />I received this book free from Tyndale for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1320189910000, "title": "FORSAKING ALL OTHERS the Sister Wives Series #2" }, { "asin": "1414338732", "rating": 4, "text": "BECKON by Tom Pawlik is a book that is a little hard to describe. The book is spine tingling, horrifying, weird and unexpected. To quote his webpage it is an \"edge-of-your-seat thriller\".<br />It is a story of a town \"Beckon\" that is inhabited by an unusual group of people, to say the least. A man, Jack Kendrick, a woman police officer, Elina Gutierrez, who are there looking for answers about loved ones, and George Wilcox who has been enticed there seeking a cure for his wife's Alzheimer's. Their stories all converge with the town's people and the leader, Vale, with lots of bizarre twists and turns. I found myself wanting to put it down because it was almost too hard to continue, while at the same time having to know what is going to happen next and the outcome.<br />Ultimately the hope of Christ leads them all to a place of strength and redemption. I would recommend it. Overall it is a good book, especially if you like edge of your seat thrillers.<br />This book was provided free for my honest review by Tyndale House Publishers.", "timestamp": 1333919315000, "title": "Spine Tingling and Weird But Hard To Put Down" }, { "asin": "1401686974", "rating": 4, "text": "Covenant Child is a story of twin sisters. They are orphaned and although they had a stepmother they loved and who wanted to raise them, their maternal grandparents win custody. This begins the tumultuous life's of these two who are lied to and have no idea they are actually heiresses.<br /><br />I've read several Terri Blackstock books so knew this would be an interesting book. You get frustrated at the system that would give the girls to the grandparents. You will also go from empathy for the girls to wondering how they could sink to do some of the things they do.<br /><br />When Amanda, the stepmother, tries to contact them as they get older they don't trust her, especially when they are told there is an inheritance they may have access to.<br /><br />Terri Blackstock writes interesting stories, you will enjoy this one.<br /><br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1343593822000, "title": "Covenant Chilc" }, { "asin": "1433671689", "rating": 4, "text": "What can a chef, a counselor and a vegan health food store worker have in common. Three unlikely women who are brought together and help each other find healing.<br /><br />The chef and cafe owner Ellyn, is large and therefore decides she is unattractive so she buries herself in food. Sabina, the counselor, has come to Mendocino to heal and hide, to be invisible. Twila is a young woman, wise beyond her years, whose father abandoned her and because of the emptiness has developed an eating disorder.<br /><br />Can these three women begin to see themselves as God sees them? Can they work through the issues that hinders them? Twila tells Ellyn that they are alike in some ways, and like them we often share the same vision. \"It just means that we sometimes miss seeing Him in the most important thing He created. Us.....He sees our inner beauty - the condition of our hearts....\"<br /><br />INVISIBLE by Ginny L. Yttrup is a look into ourselves, for one reason or another, we all sometime wish we could be invisible.<br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it. I received Invisible free for an honest review from [...]", "timestamp": 1364860849000, "title": "SOMETIME WE WANT TO BE INVISIBLE" }, { "asin": "1414358490", "rating": 5, "text": "Being a veteran of the police force for twenty-two years, Janice Cantore lends authenticity and realism to her writing of AVENGED. It was however, part of a series, but it can stand alone if you've not read the other two.<br />Carly Edwards, a police officer, and her husband, Sergeant Nick Anderson get caught up in a suspected gang execution that she suspects is not what it seems. Tensions increase between two local gangs. They confiscate some weapons from a member of one of the gangs. After further investigation they find out that the guns, along with some explosives, were stolen from a military base.<br />Carly has her character shredded just as she is to testify in a major trial. She has to depend on God and remember ;\"Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.\"<br />This is a great crime and mystery book and I will be reading more of her books. She knows what she's talking about and is able to bring the characters to life.<br />I received this book free from Tyndale for a honest review. I do recommend this book and author to anyone who enjoys a good clean crime novel.<br /><br />[[ASIN:1414358490 Avenged (Pacific Coast Justice)]]", "timestamp": 1366683945000, "title": "WHEN YOUR CHARACTER IS SHREDDED" }, { "asin": "1401688667", "rating": 5, "text": "TO KNOW YOU by Shannon Ethridge & Kathryn Mackel is a tale of a mother. A mother who was forced to confront her past and the results that ensued.<br />As a young college girl, Julia fell in love with Thomas and became pregnant. Her mother and Thomas convinced her to give the baby up for adoption. Reeling from losing the man she loved and her baby she consequently turned to another and becomes pregnant and again gives up the baby.<br />In time she heals and meets a man who loves her for her and they forge a good life. They have one child that is born with a liver disease and eventually has to have a liver transplant or die. Thus begins the story of her journey to reconnect with the children she relinquished and hopefully save her son.<br />This is a story of forgiveness, redemption and second chances. It will hold you captivated and wondering. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and would recommend it.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Thomas Nelson.", "timestamp": 1383511192000, "title": "CONFRONTING THE PAST" }, { "asin": "0310335884", "rating": 4, "text": "A SIMPLE PRAYER, by Amy Clipston is a entertaining Amish story of two who have been wounded and are afraid to trust.<br />Aaron Ebersol left the Amish community as a teen but returns when he's told of his mother's health problems. Will his family accept him back?<br />Linda Zook, is the sole survivor of a buggy accident that claimed the lives of her parents. Her mother's brother and his wife took her in but she's never felt accepted.<br />What does the future hold for these two, can they find their way to each other and into the community? Can each of them find forgiveness and extend forgiveness to those they feel have wronged them.<br />Having read several Amish books lately by a variety of authors, I found this one compelling, but quite a bit different take of the Amish community. I do know there is a wide range of beliefs, or I should say adherence in the districts. I just may have to read more of Amy's books as this was enjoyable.<br />I received A Simple Prayer free from Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1432772949000, "title": "PRAYER OF THE HEART" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 5, "text": "I’ve read several books by Janice Cantore and never been disappointed. This last one, DRAWING FIRE Cold Case Justice is the first of a new series. I usually don’t care to read the first of a series and then have to wait a year for the next one. Smile However, for Janice Cantore, it is worth it.<br /><br />Abby Hart is a homicide detective in Long Beach, California and becomes the lead detective in a case the she discovers is a serial killer. Her main witness is a private detective, Luke Murphy, who she thinks is a glory hound.<br /><br />Forced to work together they discover they have a mutual interest in a cold case and set out to see what they can find. Abby is ordered to leave the case alone and it is given to two other detectives. Instead she takes a leave of absence in order to pursue it on her own time with the assistance of Luke.<br /><br />I have to agree with Abby that all murders, in fact all unsolved cases of any nature, should be solved and allow closure for the people involved. I am eager for the next book to come out in the Spring of 2016.<br /><br />I received Drawing Fire free from Tyndale Fiction Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1433794336000, "title": "COLD CASE JUSTICE #1" }, { "asin": "0310338476", "rating": 5, "text": "Love does indeed arrive in Pieces as the title says. Betsy St. Amant's book started a bit slow and I wasn't sure i was going to enjoy it but when all was said and done it spoke to me through those pieces.<br />Stella, recovering from a divorce has convinced herself she's a failure and has climbed into herself to forget. And old high school romance, Chase, returns to town and they are destined to work together.<br />Can she pull herself back together to complete the job? Can she find herself again enough to let herself open up to love?<br />There are many gems interspersed throughout, such as: &#34;God tells us to come to Him with faith like a child. I figure that means with our storms too. If it's going to rain anyway....might as well make something of it.&#34; You will be inspired, possibly shed some tears and definitely enjoy LOVE ARRIVES IN PIECES.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Zondervan via Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1439392681000, "title": "PICKING UP THE PIECES" }, { "asin": "140168596X", "rating": 4, "text": "I have read several books from various author's about the Amish. Some, I feel do a lot of study and research, even befriending Amish before they write. Some however I'm not sure how much they actually know about them and their culture. I do know the districts vary from each other by their Bishop and their interpretation of the Ordnung. Therefore I am sometimes dubious about the way the Amish are portrayed in some books. This is one I'm not sure of.<br />HER BROTHER'S KEEPER by Beth Wiseman is a story of an Englischer, Charlotte, investigating her brother's suicide. Ethan was engaged to an Amish maedel so Charlotte is convinced he was brainwashed and that is the reason for his suicide.<br />She decides to pretend to be a distant Amish cousin from Texas and visit. She does not predict the ensuing sequence of events that enfold. It is an intriguing story even if I am unconvinced of some of the actions taken.<br />Overall it was an interesting concept that left many questions as to how it would have all actually have happened had it been real story.<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishing for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1442278531000, "title": "WHAT HAPPENED TO ETHAN?" }, { "asin": "1601426992", "rating": 5, "text": "I love Cindy Woodsmalls books and I'm never disappointed. They only regret with reading her newest Ties That Bind is that it's the first of a series and I hate waiting for the next one. lol<br />The first book of The Amish of Summer Grove series is one of the most intriguing ones I've read of hers. Arianna Brenneman is the twin of Abram and one of the ten children of Isaac and Lovina. The boy she hoped to marry, Quill, ran off with her best friend, Frieda. She is finally moving on and has a new beau, Rudy, when Quill reappears.<br />Quill appears to be linked to the night crawler, a person who sneaks in and assists the Amish who wish to leave the community. However, there are more pressing secrets that come to light that changes everything Arianna believes.<br />This novel does deviate somewhat from her usual ones in that it is focused more on the family and less on the Amish community. I enjoyed Ties that Bind and I iam now sitting on pins and needles waiting for her to release book two.<br />I received this book free from Water Brook Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1444160333000, "title": "WHAT MAKES A FAMILY" }, { "asin": "1601428146", "rating": 5, "text": "Four novellas interwoven together by four different authors creates a totally beguiling book in AMISH CRISTMAS at North Star.<br />The back story begins when an Amish midwife in North Star, Pennsylvania delivers four babies in the midst of a blizzard on a November day. The event is written up in the local newspaper then picked by People Magazine. They became known as &#34;Rebekah's Babies&#34;.<br />Twenty plus years later Chase Wellington finds the newspaper story, is captivated ad sets out to find out what happened to the babies.<br />Katie Ganshert tells us of Elle, baby of Ruth Guiding Star. Ruth left from the midwifes house, leaving her husband and community.<br /> In Morning Star Amanda Fowler acquaint with us Eden Hochstetler whose family moved to Sugarcreek and run a fudge-and-candy shop.<br />Into the Stars is the story told by Cindy Woodsmall of Savilla Beiler who still lives in North Star and is an accomplished seamstress.<br />Mindy Starnes Clark and Emily Clark share the story of Andy, the only baby boy born that night in Star of Grace.<br />Being a Cindy Woodsmall fan I didn't hesitate receiving this book and have found new author's to enjoy. This book was a joy to read.<br />I received this book free from Water Brook for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1447524439000, "title": "FOUR LIVES INTERWOVEN" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 4, "text": "Rachel Hauck wrote a intriguing story about an unfulfilled love that spans sixty-seven years and three generations. The Wedding Chapel is an account of Peg, a deceitful sister who is in love with the boy in love with Collette, her younger sister.<br />Peg and Colette are English who were orphaned in the war then sent to live with an Aunt and Uncle in America. Jimmy is a neighbor boy whose mother left and his dad raised him alone. Jimmy is taken with Collette when Clem, the girls cousin shows him their picture upon hearing they are coming.<br />Jimmy and Colette fall in love. Jimmy is drafted and leaves to serve in the military. Due to misunderstanding and lies Colette runs off to Hollywood and becomes a big star. Neither Colette or Jimmy ever married.<br />Taylor, a photographer, is Peg's granddaughter and has moved to Manhattan where she marries Jack, and advertising executive. Circumstances brings them all back to Heart's Bend, Tennessee where they are all faced with the truth.<br />It's a little confusing at times with the bouncing back and forth between the past and future. However, it is a charming romance which I enjoyed.<br />I received this book free from Zondervan via Thomas Nelson Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1449104626000, "title": "LOVE THAT LASTS" }, { "asin": "0764212486", "rating": 5, "text": "Beverly Lewis understands and write of the Amish Culture better than many who attempt to put pen to paper. Being born in Pennsylvania and living among them she writes with a perceptive and thoughtful heart.<br />The Atonement is a story of a young Amish woman, Lucy Flaud, who is dealing with grief and guilt from a long past time in her life. She has spent the intervening years trying to atone by loving and doing for others.<br /> Her Daed, Christian, is also grieving, for the same incident, however, for a much different reason. He starts attending a grief group where he meets Englischers and befriends one young man, Dale Wyeth.<br />Tobe Glick is Lucy's best friend but has secretly loved her for years. However, Lucy holds her secret so close she feels unworthy to return his offer of courtship.<br />Will she be able to get past her long-ago sin to forgive, live and love again? Will Tobe be able to see the woman she is now or will he reject her?<br />I loved this book as I have all of Beverly Lewis's novels. As always there is much to glean and learn from her writings.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group.", "timestamp": 1459644991000, "title": "MUST YOU ATONE?" }, { "asin": "1401688314", "rating": 4, "text": "Very seldom do I find it impossible to finish a book. A Dream of Miracles by Ruth Reid was one. I picked it up and put it down too many times, unable to continue. It's not because of the writer's ability to draw you in, if anything that is the reason. It is the subject, the characters. It's a story I find myself being able to empathize with and become angry and defensive about.<br />Mattie Diener is a young Amish widow with two children. Bo Lambright is a social services investigator. Of course, circumstances bring them together and you can let you mind jump to where this will be headed. As always there is other people involved that only complicate the matter.<br />To not get on a soap box I will only say that too often the system interferes when they have no business to because of some so called well meaning busy body. Before you get you take this wrong, I do know there are times when they should. Unfortunately too often they should when they don't and don't when they should. Enough said!<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers for a fair and honest review.", "timestamp": 1466264288000, "title": "TRUTH" }, { "asin": "0310342015", "rating": 5, "text": "An Amish Heirloom Novel, THE COURTSHIP BASKET by Amy Clipston is the second in the series. I had read the first, The Forgotten Recipe and knew this would be a good book and wasn't disappointed.<br />At her sister Victoria's wedding, Rachel Fisher, the second of three sisters, happens to overhear her best friend and the young man she hoped to marry. Betrayed and heartbroken she takes a job as a teacher in a special school. Rachel doesn't need another heartbreak and enjoys teaching.<br />John Lantz whose mother is dead and his father is sick joins her class. Mike, his older brother, has assumed responsibility for not only his dad's care but also John's. Mike believes his obligations prevent him from dating or seeking a wife.<br />Rachel, wanting to do something for the family sends meals to the family using an old picnic basket that holds family memories. Mike watchful of her intentions and wants to protect John.<br />Amy has the ability of draw you into the narrative and become enthralled by the characters and their journey. I loved the book and now awaiting book three of the series. I hope she not only shares Emily's account but also the parents tale.<br />I received The Courtship Basket free for an honest review from Zondervan and Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1468093831000, "title": "HEIRLOOMS MAGNETISM" }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "THE WEDDING SHOP is the third book of the series and I'm not sure if I can say enough about Rachel Hauck's ability to captivate your imagination and keep you spellbound. I had read the second book, and even reviewed it. After finishing this one I had to read the first one which I wish I had read first. All three books can be read as a standalone, but are definitely intertwined.<br />The wedding shop is an abandoned building that draws two young girls who make a pinkie pledge to one day reopen. As often happens, life takes them in different directions. Haley goes to college then the military. Tammy stays in Hearts Bend, gets engaged to her childhood crush. However, life throws them a curve and Tammy dies from an aggressive form of brain cancer, Haley has a destructive relationship that causes her to leave the military and return home.<br />Determined to reopen the Wedding Shop for Tammy she encounters Cole, Tammy's fiancé who has bid on tearing the building down. Long buried attraction to each other resurfaces and guilt ensues. Will they be able to move pass the guilt and build a relationship? Will Haley succeed in reopening the Wedding Shop?<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Zondrrvan and Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1474121359000, "title": "PROMISES, REGRETS AND REDEMPTION" }, { "asin": "0310395933", "rating": 4, "text": "To Have ad to Hold: Three Autumn Love Stories by three different authors is a sweet collection of novella's. Each tale is a complete and charming narrative.<br />In Love Takes a Cake by Betsy St. Amant, Charlotte Cantrell is the owner of The Dough Knot bakery. Will Martin is a reclusive bachelor that frequents the bakery, and best man for a wedding Charlotte is to provide the cake for. Each comes with their own baggage to overcome. Will they be able to wade through and find happily after themselves?<br />In The Perfect Arrangement by Katie Ganshert, Amelia Woods is the stepsister, the one ignored and ridiculed by the family. Nate Gallagher, is a ghost writer who begins an email correspondence with Amelia after a minor auto accident. Complications ensue that threaten the blooming relationship. Will they be insurmountable?<br />In Love in the Details by Becky Wade, Josh Bowen is the one who left, went to MIT and became a success. Holly Morgan is the high school sweetheart that broke his heart by breaking up with him after he left. Now he's back in town and once buried feelings resurface. Will they get past the what and why and find happines?<br />I received a free copy from Zondervan a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing. No review, positive or otherwise, was required - all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1480700316000, "title": "LOVE TIMES THREE" }, { "asin": "0310341965", "rating": 5, "text": "THE CHERISHED QUILT, an Amish Heirloom book, by Amy Clipston is the third in a series about three Amish sisters. By the epilogue it seems there may be another book coming. Amy has Amish friends who answer questions and help keep her books true to the Amish beliefs.<br />I had read the previous two books so was excited to continue this journey. In this one, Emily the youngest of the Fisher daughters only wants to find the right man and fall in love, have a home and family. One of her sisters, Veronica, is married and Rachel, second one is betrothed and planning her wedding. Emily loves to sew and especially quilt.<br />Emily assists her Dat in the leather shop he and his best friend Hank owns, by keeping the books along and helping the customers.<br />Christopher Hochstetler has come to Bird in Hand to work with his Onkel Hank and learn the leather working trade after a tragedy left him estranged from his family. He attempts to remain distant from everyone but Emily's friendliness and sweetness draws him.<br />Can a quilt made by Emily's own hands be the catalyst that bridges the pain and help heal the hurts in a family?<br />I received a free copy from Zondervan a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing. No review, positive or otherwise, was required - all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1481495327000, "title": "PIECES OF THE HEART" }, { "asin": "0718085949", "rating": 5, "text": "Pregnant, Brooklyn Myers was abandoned by her husband, Chad Hallston, ten years ago. Working as a waitress she is raising her daughter as a single mother. She never expects to return home where her father is cold and emotionally abusive when she receives an unexpected visitor.<br />Derek Johnson, was Chad's best friend and didn't care for Brooklyn and blamed her for Chad's leaving Thunder Creek Idaho. He's a part time deputy and has a small farm he's cultivating and growing organic produce. He's hoping to buy Chad's family farm next door and expand.<br />They say God often laughs at our plans as he directs us in the way He knows is best. Robin Lee Hatcher brings us a charming story of just such direction in YOU'LL THINK OF ME. I loved the book and highly recommend it.<br />I received a free copy from Harper Collins Publisher and Thomas Nelson Publishing Groups. No review, positive or otherwise, was required – all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1494195276000, "title": "GOD DIRECTS OUR PATH" }, { "asin": "0764219669", "rating": 5, "text": "Another Beverly Lewis win in The Proving. Beverly never fails or provide us with a compelling story with accuracy and compassion.<br />Amanda Dienner left the Amish after she saw her sister, Arie Mae, kissing her beau, Joshua, and her mother sided with Arie Mae. She'd never intended to leave, but after five years she's adapted and doesn't feel like she can return.<br />Her mother dies and leaves her Bed and Breakfast to Amanda with stipulations. She accepts the challenge, plans on working the inn for the required year then selling it and returning to the outside world. She still feels betrayed by her sister, who lives next door with Joshua who helps with repair work and upkeep of the inn.<br />Karl Lantz a neighbor, is a widower and single father that helps out with the horses. Yonnie, Karl's son grows fond of Amanda as does Karl.<br />Will Amanda forgive Arie Mae and Joshua? Will she let go of the resentment for being all but shunned by her family and the community? Will she let herself love Karl and Yonnie and stay?<br />I received a free copy from Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group. No review, positive or otherwise, was required – all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1504743345926, "title": "LETTING GO" } ]

[ { "asin": "078523103X", "rating": 5, "text": "Andy Andrews's latest book is a very compelling story. It is a historical fiction self-help book about forgiveness. Oh, and it's based on a true story.<br /><br />The story is of an unlikely couple who meet in a small gulf town during World War II. It takes them through a process of coming to terms with their past and finding forgiveness and hope. As life often teaches us, \"A few of the main characters' experiences turned out to be more common that I had previously believed.\" Pg. VI<br /><br />Often when we have been hurt, wronged, or disappointed, we let the pain of the incident cloud our vision and our lives. This is exactly what one of the principal characters in the book has done. Andy weaves a story that keeps you reading, and in the process gives us a good example of forgiveness and second chances. He illustrates how when bitterness and anger takes over we are in reality allowing the person/event to control us.<br /><br />Just as in the book, God will place people in our lives to speak truth to us; we just have to be open and receptive.<br /><br />\"Forgiveness does not erase history or excuse what happened,...... It means giving something up. To relinquish something means to give up whatever power it holds over us.\" Pg. 120<br /><br />After reading this book you will have a clearer understanding of forgiveness and the necessity of it in your own life, the freedom it brings.", "timestamp": 1275322740000, "title": "Story of Second Chances - The Heart Mender" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "I am a fan of Max Lucado so I jumped at the opportunity to read his latest book and I have to admit the title also captivated me. Outliving your life, leaving a legacy, making a difference, however you want to say it that is what all of us want to do in one way or another.<br /><br />To live in such a way that when we are gone from this life that who we were, what we did, lives on in the hearts and minds of others. To live so that the things we do touch and changes lives. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things in everyday life. He did in the Bible and He does today.<br /><br />Using events from the Bible along with stories of similar incidents today Max gives us cause to sit up and examine our circumstances and to honestly ask ourselves are we making a difference. Will our story live on in the lives of others?<br /><br />Max asks questions, probes, and challenges us to stretch ourselves, to grow, so that when we are gone people will know that we've been here.<br /><br />One question that begs thought is \"What if our attention could reduce someone's pain?<br /><br />Read this book, but not only read it but digest it. Let us all live so that our lives outlive us.", "timestamp": 1286662911000, "title": "LIVING LIFE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE" }, { "asin": "0307457176", "rating": 4, "text": "When I received my latest fiction book for review from Water Brook, Tandem by Tracey Bateman, I was surprised to find out it was a Christian vampire story. I know vampires have become quite poplar these days in books, TV shows, and movies and I'm also sure there are those who will question the words Christian and vampire being used together.<br />I won't go into what I think about the issue of vampires, however, at first I wasn't sure I wanted to read the book. Nevertheless, Tracey is a compelling author, and once I picked up the book it held my attention and kept me guessing as to where she was headed and how the mystery would end.<br /> The heroine, Lauryn, struggles with her concept of God and a dad that has Alzheimer's. Her high school crush is the son of the local pastor who left town to become a missionary after graduation and returns with a child.<br />Tracey Bateman does write in a way to draw you into the story and hold you captive to the story line, her characters are fascinating, and you will wind up rooting for the heroine.", "timestamp": 1298835752000, "title": "Tandem by Tracey Bateman" }, { "asin": "078523120X", "rating": 5, "text": "What is The One Principle That Will Save Humanity? That is the question put to David Ponder as he heads THE FINAL SUMMIT. We first met David in The Traveler's Gift, and if you've not read it I would recommend you get it also. The two books tie together so profoundly that I wanted to read it first so I bought it before I continued.<br />By means of history and some of the thoughts of the world's finest and most brilliant minds the ensemble at the summit must find the solution. When we are at the end of our ropes, and we don't know what to do, what is the next step? What do we do?<br />Andy Andrew is a writer like no other I've read. Someone said he was a mix of C.S. Lewis, Alfred Hitchcock and Tony Robbins but I'm not sure if that encapsulates his writing. Andy has the gift of being able to draw you in, to captivate, entertain and at the same time cause you to reflect, to examine yourself.<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson in return for an unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1303909298000, "title": "THE FINAL SUMMIT by ndy Andrews" }, { "asin": "1414335830", "rating": 5, "text": "I've always appreciated the genius of Jerry B. Jenkins writing well before the Left Behind series. I just finished his latest, THE BETRAYAL, which I found out was Book #2 of Precinct 11 Novels. Now I will have to read book one. I finished the novel in about two days as I found it hard to put down.<br />The story follows Detective Boone Drake as he tries to unravel the questions surrounding the attempt to kill an informant being transferred to a secret place. Suspecting an inside job he is not prepared for the suspected person being someone he is close to.<br />Detective Boone makes it his mission to get to the bottom of the matter in spite of being injured while protecting the witness and being warned to stay out of the investigation. White questioning his own instincts and not knowing who he can trust he endeavor's to get some answers and learn the truth.<br />Throughout the story you are intrigued and kept guessing what is around the next page. I found it refreshing to also read of the character's search in spiritual things as well as the matters of everyday life. Jerry Jenkins keeps you spellbound and anxious to see where he will take you next.<br />I received this book from Tyndale House Publisher's free for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1314562954000, "title": "Book #2 Precinct 11 Novel The BETRAYAL" }, { "asin": "1414335970", "rating": 5, "text": "I've read a few books in the past about the Mormon Church when they still all practiced polygamy and I had mixed feelings about FORSAKING ALL OTHERS by Allison Pittman. I have to say she was well versed in their doctrine and although truthful, did not aggressively attack the religion.<br />The story is about Camilla, the first wife of Nathan Fox, and how her relationship with God helps her to run away from the church and therefore her husband. Throughout her journey you are shown many comparisons between the original Mormon Church and Christianity. Camilla has hopes that the people she knows and loves, who have been drawn in to the church, will see the truth.<br />Camilla had married Nathan against her parents' wishes and she had not heard from them since she left. Her wish is to let them know she has seen the error of the church and ask their forgiveness. She makes it back and is reunited with them just before her father passes away. Her focus then is to return and get her daughters so they will not grow up within the church and become ardent followers.<br />Allison does a great job of contrasting Christianity with the Mormon Church in a way that shows their similarity along with the differences. This was a great book and I would highly recommend it.<br />I received this book free from Tyndale for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1320189910000, "title": "FORSAKING ALL OTHERS the Sister Wives Series #2" }, { "asin": "1414338732", "rating": 4, "text": "BECKON by Tom Pawlik is a book that is a little hard to describe. The book is spine tingling, horrifying, weird and unexpected. To quote his webpage it is an \"edge-of-your-seat thriller\".<br />It is a story of a town \"Beckon\" that is inhabited by an unusual group of people, to say the least. A man, Jack Kendrick, a woman police officer, Elina Gutierrez, who are there looking for answers about loved ones, and George Wilcox who has been enticed there seeking a cure for his wife's Alzheimer's. Their stories all converge with the town's people and the leader, Vale, with lots of bizarre twists and turns. I found myself wanting to put it down because it was almost too hard to continue, while at the same time having to know what is going to happen next and the outcome.<br />Ultimately the hope of Christ leads them all to a place of strength and redemption. I would recommend it. Overall it is a good book, especially if you like edge of your seat thrillers.<br />This book was provided free for my honest review by Tyndale House Publishers.", "timestamp": 1333919315000, "title": "Spine Tingling and Weird But Hard To Put Down" }, { "asin": "1401686974", "rating": 4, "text": "Covenant Child is a story of twin sisters. They are orphaned and although they had a stepmother they loved and who wanted to raise them, their maternal grandparents win custody. This begins the tumultuous life's of these two who are lied to and have no idea they are actually heiresses.<br /><br />I've read several Terri Blackstock books so knew this would be an interesting book. You get frustrated at the system that would give the girls to the grandparents. You will also go from empathy for the girls to wondering how they could sink to do some of the things they do.<br /><br />When Amanda, the stepmother, tries to contact them as they get older they don't trust her, especially when they are told there is an inheritance they may have access to.<br /><br />Terri Blackstock writes interesting stories, you will enjoy this one.<br /><br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1343593822000, "title": "Covenant Chilc" }, { "asin": "1433671689", "rating": 4, "text": "What can a chef, a counselor and a vegan health food store worker have in common. Three unlikely women who are brought together and help each other find healing.<br /><br />The chef and cafe owner Ellyn, is large and therefore decides she is unattractive so she buries herself in food. Sabina, the counselor, has come to Mendocino to heal and hide, to be invisible. Twila is a young woman, wise beyond her years, whose father abandoned her and because of the emptiness has developed an eating disorder.<br /><br />Can these three women begin to see themselves as God sees them? Can they work through the issues that hinders them? Twila tells Ellyn that they are alike in some ways, and like them we often share the same vision. \"It just means that we sometimes miss seeing Him in the most important thing He created. Us.....He sees our inner beauty - the condition of our hearts....\"<br /><br />INVISIBLE by Ginny L. Yttrup is a look into ourselves, for one reason or another, we all sometime wish we could be invisible.<br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it. I received Invisible free for an honest review from [...]", "timestamp": 1364860849000, "title": "SOMETIME WE WANT TO BE INVISIBLE" }, { "asin": "1414358490", "rating": 5, "text": "Being a veteran of the police force for twenty-two years, Janice Cantore lends authenticity and realism to her writing of AVENGED. It was however, part of a series, but it can stand alone if you've not read the other two.<br />Carly Edwards, a police officer, and her husband, Sergeant Nick Anderson get caught up in a suspected gang execution that she suspects is not what it seems. Tensions increase between two local gangs. They confiscate some weapons from a member of one of the gangs. After further investigation they find out that the guns, along with some explosives, were stolen from a military base.<br />Carly has her character shredded just as she is to testify in a major trial. She has to depend on God and remember ;\"Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.\"<br />This is a great crime and mystery book and I will be reading more of her books. She knows what she's talking about and is able to bring the characters to life.<br />I received this book free from Tyndale for a honest review. I do recommend this book and author to anyone who enjoys a good clean crime novel.<br /><br />[[ASIN:1414358490 Avenged (Pacific Coast Justice)]]", "timestamp": 1366683945000, "title": "WHEN YOUR CHARACTER IS SHREDDED" }, { "asin": "1401688667", "rating": 5, "text": "TO KNOW YOU by Shannon Ethridge & Kathryn Mackel is a tale of a mother. A mother who was forced to confront her past and the results that ensued.<br />As a young college girl, Julia fell in love with Thomas and became pregnant. Her mother and Thomas convinced her to give the baby up for adoption. Reeling from losing the man she loved and her baby she consequently turned to another and becomes pregnant and again gives up the baby.<br />In time she heals and meets a man who loves her for her and they forge a good life. They have one child that is born with a liver disease and eventually has to have a liver transplant or die. Thus begins the story of her journey to reconnect with the children she relinquished and hopefully save her son.<br />This is a story of forgiveness, redemption and second chances. It will hold you captivated and wondering. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and would recommend it.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Thomas Nelson.", "timestamp": 1383511192000, "title": "CONFRONTING THE PAST" }, { "asin": "0310335884", "rating": 4, "text": "A SIMPLE PRAYER, by Amy Clipston is a entertaining Amish story of two who have been wounded and are afraid to trust.<br />Aaron Ebersol left the Amish community as a teen but returns when he's told of his mother's health problems. Will his family accept him back?<br />Linda Zook, is the sole survivor of a buggy accident that claimed the lives of her parents. Her mother's brother and his wife took her in but she's never felt accepted.<br />What does the future hold for these two, can they find their way to each other and into the community? Can each of them find forgiveness and extend forgiveness to those they feel have wronged them.<br />Having read several Amish books lately by a variety of authors, I found this one compelling, but quite a bit different take of the Amish community. I do know there is a wide range of beliefs, or I should say adherence in the districts. I just may have to read more of Amy's books as this was enjoyable.<br />I received A Simple Prayer free from Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1432772949000, "title": "PRAYER OF THE HEART" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 5, "text": "I’ve read several books by Janice Cantore and never been disappointed. This last one, DRAWING FIRE Cold Case Justice is the first of a new series. I usually don’t care to read the first of a series and then have to wait a year for the next one. Smile However, for Janice Cantore, it is worth it.<br /><br />Abby Hart is a homicide detective in Long Beach, California and becomes the lead detective in a case the she discovers is a serial killer. Her main witness is a private detective, Luke Murphy, who she thinks is a glory hound.<br /><br />Forced to work together they discover they have a mutual interest in a cold case and set out to see what they can find. Abby is ordered to leave the case alone and it is given to two other detectives. Instead she takes a leave of absence in order to pursue it on her own time with the assistance of Luke.<br /><br />I have to agree with Abby that all murders, in fact all unsolved cases of any nature, should be solved and allow closure for the people involved. I am eager for the next book to come out in the Spring of 2016.<br /><br />I received Drawing Fire free from Tyndale Fiction Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1433794336000, "title": "COLD CASE JUSTICE #1" }, { "asin": "0310338476", "rating": 5, "text": "Love does indeed arrive in Pieces as the title says. Betsy St. Amant's book started a bit slow and I wasn't sure i was going to enjoy it but when all was said and done it spoke to me through those pieces.<br />Stella, recovering from a divorce has convinced herself she's a failure and has climbed into herself to forget. And old high school romance, Chase, returns to town and they are destined to work together.<br />Can she pull herself back together to complete the job? Can she find herself again enough to let herself open up to love?<br />There are many gems interspersed throughout, such as: &#34;God tells us to come to Him with faith like a child. I figure that means with our storms too. If it's going to rain anyway....might as well make something of it.&#34; You will be inspired, possibly shed some tears and definitely enjoy LOVE ARRIVES IN PIECES.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Zondervan via Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1439392681000, "title": "PICKING UP THE PIECES" }, { "asin": "140168596X", "rating": 4, "text": "I have read several books from various author's about the Amish. Some, I feel do a lot of study and research, even befriending Amish before they write. Some however I'm not sure how much they actually know about them and their culture. I do know the districts vary from each other by their Bishop and their interpretation of the Ordnung. Therefore I am sometimes dubious about the way the Amish are portrayed in some books. This is one I'm not sure of.<br />HER BROTHER'S KEEPER by Beth Wiseman is a story of an Englischer, Charlotte, investigating her brother's suicide. Ethan was engaged to an Amish maedel so Charlotte is convinced he was brainwashed and that is the reason for his suicide.<br />She decides to pretend to be a distant Amish cousin from Texas and visit. She does not predict the ensuing sequence of events that enfold. It is an intriguing story even if I am unconvinced of some of the actions taken.<br />Overall it was an interesting concept that left many questions as to how it would have all actually have happened had it been real story.<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishing for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1442278531000, "title": "WHAT HAPPENED TO ETHAN?" }, { "asin": "1601426992", "rating": 5, "text": "I love Cindy Woodsmalls books and I'm never disappointed. They only regret with reading her newest Ties That Bind is that it's the first of a series and I hate waiting for the next one. lol<br />The first book of The Amish of Summer Grove series is one of the most intriguing ones I've read of hers. Arianna Brenneman is the twin of Abram and one of the ten children of Isaac and Lovina. The boy she hoped to marry, Quill, ran off with her best friend, Frieda. She is finally moving on and has a new beau, Rudy, when Quill reappears.<br />Quill appears to be linked to the night crawler, a person who sneaks in and assists the Amish who wish to leave the community. However, there are more pressing secrets that come to light that changes everything Arianna believes.<br />This novel does deviate somewhat from her usual ones in that it is focused more on the family and less on the Amish community. I enjoyed Ties that Bind and I iam now sitting on pins and needles waiting for her to release book two.<br />I received this book free from Water Brook Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1444160333000, "title": "WHAT MAKES A FAMILY" }, { "asin": "1601428146", "rating": 5, "text": "Four novellas interwoven together by four different authors creates a totally beguiling book in AMISH CRISTMAS at North Star.<br />The back story begins when an Amish midwife in North Star, Pennsylvania delivers four babies in the midst of a blizzard on a November day. The event is written up in the local newspaper then picked by People Magazine. They became known as &#34;Rebekah's Babies&#34;.<br />Twenty plus years later Chase Wellington finds the newspaper story, is captivated ad sets out to find out what happened to the babies.<br />Katie Ganshert tells us of Elle, baby of Ruth Guiding Star. Ruth left from the midwifes house, leaving her husband and community.<br /> In Morning Star Amanda Fowler acquaint with us Eden Hochstetler whose family moved to Sugarcreek and run a fudge-and-candy shop.<br />Into the Stars is the story told by Cindy Woodsmall of Savilla Beiler who still lives in North Star and is an accomplished seamstress.<br />Mindy Starnes Clark and Emily Clark share the story of Andy, the only baby boy born that night in Star of Grace.<br />Being a Cindy Woodsmall fan I didn't hesitate receiving this book and have found new author's to enjoy. This book was a joy to read.<br />I received this book free from Water Brook for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1447524439000, "title": "FOUR LIVES INTERWOVEN" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 4, "text": "Rachel Hauck wrote a intriguing story about an unfulfilled love that spans sixty-seven years and three generations. The Wedding Chapel is an account of Peg, a deceitful sister who is in love with the boy in love with Collette, her younger sister.<br />Peg and Colette are English who were orphaned in the war then sent to live with an Aunt and Uncle in America. Jimmy is a neighbor boy whose mother left and his dad raised him alone. Jimmy is taken with Collette when Clem, the girls cousin shows him their picture upon hearing they are coming.<br />Jimmy and Colette fall in love. Jimmy is drafted and leaves to serve in the military. Due to misunderstanding and lies Colette runs off to Hollywood and becomes a big star. Neither Colette or Jimmy ever married.<br />Taylor, a photographer, is Peg's granddaughter and has moved to Manhattan where she marries Jack, and advertising executive. Circumstances brings them all back to Heart's Bend, Tennessee where they are all faced with the truth.<br />It's a little confusing at times with the bouncing back and forth between the past and future. However, it is a charming romance which I enjoyed.<br />I received this book free from Zondervan via Thomas Nelson Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1449104626000, "title": "LOVE THAT LASTS" }, { "asin": "0764212486", "rating": 5, "text": "Beverly Lewis understands and write of the Amish Culture better than many who attempt to put pen to paper. Being born in Pennsylvania and living among them she writes with a perceptive and thoughtful heart.<br />The Atonement is a story of a young Amish woman, Lucy Flaud, who is dealing with grief and guilt from a long past time in her life. She has spent the intervening years trying to atone by loving and doing for others.<br /> Her Daed, Christian, is also grieving, for the same incident, however, for a much different reason. He starts attending a grief group where he meets Englischers and befriends one young man, Dale Wyeth.<br />Tobe Glick is Lucy's best friend but has secretly loved her for years. However, Lucy holds her secret so close she feels unworthy to return his offer of courtship.<br />Will she be able to get past her long-ago sin to forgive, live and love again? Will Tobe be able to see the woman she is now or will he reject her?<br />I loved this book as I have all of Beverly Lewis's novels. As always there is much to glean and learn from her writings.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group.", "timestamp": 1459644991000, "title": "MUST YOU ATONE?" }, { "asin": "1401688314", "rating": 4, "text": "Very seldom do I find it impossible to finish a book. A Dream of Miracles by Ruth Reid was one. I picked it up and put it down too many times, unable to continue. It's not because of the writer's ability to draw you in, if anything that is the reason. It is the subject, the characters. It's a story I find myself being able to empathize with and become angry and defensive about.<br />Mattie Diener is a young Amish widow with two children. Bo Lambright is a social services investigator. Of course, circumstances bring them together and you can let you mind jump to where this will be headed. As always there is other people involved that only complicate the matter.<br />To not get on a soap box I will only say that too often the system interferes when they have no business to because of some so called well meaning busy body. Before you get you take this wrong, I do know there are times when they should. Unfortunately too often they should when they don't and don't when they should. Enough said!<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers for a fair and honest review.", "timestamp": 1466264288000, "title": "TRUTH" }, { "asin": "0310342015", "rating": 5, "text": "An Amish Heirloom Novel, THE COURTSHIP BASKET by Amy Clipston is the second in the series. I had read the first, The Forgotten Recipe and knew this would be a good book and wasn't disappointed.<br />At her sister Victoria's wedding, Rachel Fisher, the second of three sisters, happens to overhear her best friend and the young man she hoped to marry. Betrayed and heartbroken she takes a job as a teacher in a special school. Rachel doesn't need another heartbreak and enjoys teaching.<br />John Lantz whose mother is dead and his father is sick joins her class. Mike, his older brother, has assumed responsibility for not only his dad's care but also John's. Mike believes his obligations prevent him from dating or seeking a wife.<br />Rachel, wanting to do something for the family sends meals to the family using an old picnic basket that holds family memories. Mike watchful of her intentions and wants to protect John.<br />Amy has the ability of draw you into the narrative and become enthralled by the characters and their journey. I loved the book and now awaiting book three of the series. I hope she not only shares Emily's account but also the parents tale.<br />I received The Courtship Basket free for an honest review from Zondervan and Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1468093831000, "title": "HEIRLOOMS MAGNETISM" }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "THE WEDDING SHOP is the third book of the series and I'm not sure if I can say enough about Rachel Hauck's ability to captivate your imagination and keep you spellbound. I had read the second book, and even reviewed it. After finishing this one I had to read the first one which I wish I had read first. All three books can be read as a standalone, but are definitely intertwined.<br />The wedding shop is an abandoned building that draws two young girls who make a pinkie pledge to one day reopen. As often happens, life takes them in different directions. Haley goes to college then the military. Tammy stays in Hearts Bend, gets engaged to her childhood crush. However, life throws them a curve and Tammy dies from an aggressive form of brain cancer, Haley has a destructive relationship that causes her to leave the military and return home.<br />Determined to reopen the Wedding Shop for Tammy she encounters Cole, Tammy's fiancé who has bid on tearing the building down. Long buried attraction to each other resurfaces and guilt ensues. Will they be able to move pass the guilt and build a relationship? Will Haley succeed in reopening the Wedding Shop?<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Zondrrvan and Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1474121359000, "title": "PROMISES, REGRETS AND REDEMPTION" }, { "asin": "0310395933", "rating": 4, "text": "To Have ad to Hold: Three Autumn Love Stories by three different authors is a sweet collection of novella's. Each tale is a complete and charming narrative.<br />In Love Takes a Cake by Betsy St. Amant, Charlotte Cantrell is the owner of The Dough Knot bakery. Will Martin is a reclusive bachelor that frequents the bakery, and best man for a wedding Charlotte is to provide the cake for. Each comes with their own baggage to overcome. Will they be able to wade through and find happily after themselves?<br />In The Perfect Arrangement by Katie Ganshert, Amelia Woods is the stepsister, the one ignored and ridiculed by the family. Nate Gallagher, is a ghost writer who begins an email correspondence with Amelia after a minor auto accident. Complications ensue that threaten the blooming relationship. Will they be insurmountable?<br />In Love in the Details by Becky Wade, Josh Bowen is the one who left, went to MIT and became a success. Holly Morgan is the high school sweetheart that broke his heart by breaking up with him after he left. Now he's back in town and once buried feelings resurface. Will they get past the what and why and find happines?<br />I received a free copy from Zondervan a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing. No review, positive or otherwise, was required - all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1480700316000, "title": "LOVE TIMES THREE" }, { "asin": "0310341965", "rating": 5, "text": "THE CHERISHED QUILT, an Amish Heirloom book, by Amy Clipston is the third in a series about three Amish sisters. By the epilogue it seems there may be another book coming. Amy has Amish friends who answer questions and help keep her books true to the Amish beliefs.<br />I had read the previous two books so was excited to continue this journey. In this one, Emily the youngest of the Fisher daughters only wants to find the right man and fall in love, have a home and family. One of her sisters, Veronica, is married and Rachel, second one is betrothed and planning her wedding. Emily loves to sew and especially quilt.<br />Emily assists her Dat in the leather shop he and his best friend Hank owns, by keeping the books along and helping the customers.<br />Christopher Hochstetler has come to Bird in Hand to work with his Onkel Hank and learn the leather working trade after a tragedy left him estranged from his family. He attempts to remain distant from everyone but Emily's friendliness and sweetness draws him.<br />Can a quilt made by Emily's own hands be the catalyst that bridges the pain and help heal the hurts in a family?<br />I received a free copy from Zondervan a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing. No review, positive or otherwise, was required - all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1481495327000, "title": "PIECES OF THE HEART" }, { "asin": "0718085949", "rating": 5, "text": "Pregnant, Brooklyn Myers was abandoned by her husband, Chad Hallston, ten years ago. Working as a waitress she is raising her daughter as a single mother. She never expects to return home where her father is cold and emotionally abusive when she receives an unexpected visitor.<br />Derek Johnson, was Chad's best friend and didn't care for Brooklyn and blamed her for Chad's leaving Thunder Creek Idaho. He's a part time deputy and has a small farm he's cultivating and growing organic produce. He's hoping to buy Chad's family farm next door and expand.<br />They say God often laughs at our plans as he directs us in the way He knows is best. Robin Lee Hatcher brings us a charming story of just such direction in YOU'LL THINK OF ME. I loved the book and highly recommend it.<br />I received a free copy from Harper Collins Publisher and Thomas Nelson Publishing Groups. No review, positive or otherwise, was required – all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1494195276000, "title": "GOD DIRECTS OUR PATH" }, { "asin": "0764219669", "rating": 5, "text": "Another Beverly Lewis win in The Proving. Beverly never fails or provide us with a compelling story with accuracy and compassion.<br />Amanda Dienner left the Amish after she saw her sister, Arie Mae, kissing her beau, Joshua, and her mother sided with Arie Mae. She'd never intended to leave, but after five years she's adapted and doesn't feel like she can return.<br />Her mother dies and leaves her Bed and Breakfast to Amanda with stipulations. She accepts the challenge, plans on working the inn for the required year then selling it and returning to the outside world. She still feels betrayed by her sister, who lives next door with Joshua who helps with repair work and upkeep of the inn.<br />Karl Lantz a neighbor, is a widower and single father that helps out with the horses. Yonnie, Karl's son grows fond of Amanda as does Karl.<br />Will Amanda forgive Arie Mae and Joshua? Will she let go of the resentment for being all but shunned by her family and the community? Will she let herself love Karl and Yonnie and stay?<br />I received a free copy from Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group. No review, positive or otherwise, was required – all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1504743345926, "title": "LETTING GO" }, { "asin": "0718090500", "rating": 5, "text": "Denise Hunter is one of my favorite authors. In blue ridge sunrise she weaves a intriguing story of second chances at first love, forgiveness and God's mercy.<br />Zoe Collins and Cruz Huntley grew up together. Cruz was her brother's best friend and from the wrong side of the tracks according to her dad. They sneak around to see each other and when they are found out there are misunderstandings and lies that aid in their decisions.<br />Five years later Zoe grandma dies and she inherits her peach orchard. Torn with what to do and regretting the direction of her life, what will she decide? Can she and Cruz work through the mistrust, and repercussions of the last five years?<br />I received a free copy from Thomas Nelson Publishing Group. No review, positive or otherwise, was required – all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1511121586322, "title": "SECOND CHANCES" } ]

[ { "asin": "078523103X", "rating": 5, "text": "Andy Andrews's latest book is a very compelling story. It is a historical fiction self-help book about forgiveness. Oh, and it's based on a true story.<br /><br />The story is of an unlikely couple who meet in a small gulf town during World War II. It takes them through a process of coming to terms with their past and finding forgiveness and hope. As life often teaches us, \"A few of the main characters' experiences turned out to be more common that I had previously believed.\" Pg. VI<br /><br />Often when we have been hurt, wronged, or disappointed, we let the pain of the incident cloud our vision and our lives. This is exactly what one of the principal characters in the book has done. Andy weaves a story that keeps you reading, and in the process gives us a good example of forgiveness and second chances. He illustrates how when bitterness and anger takes over we are in reality allowing the person/event to control us.<br /><br />Just as in the book, God will place people in our lives to speak truth to us; we just have to be open and receptive.<br /><br />\"Forgiveness does not erase history or excuse what happened,...... It means giving something up. To relinquish something means to give up whatever power it holds over us.\" Pg. 120<br /><br />After reading this book you will have a clearer understanding of forgiveness and the necessity of it in your own life, the freedom it brings.", "timestamp": 1275322740000, "title": "Story of Second Chances - The Heart Mender" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "I am a fan of Max Lucado so I jumped at the opportunity to read his latest book and I have to admit the title also captivated me. Outliving your life, leaving a legacy, making a difference, however you want to say it that is what all of us want to do in one way or another.<br /><br />To live in such a way that when we are gone from this life that who we were, what we did, lives on in the hearts and minds of others. To live so that the things we do touch and changes lives. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things in everyday life. He did in the Bible and He does today.<br /><br />Using events from the Bible along with stories of similar incidents today Max gives us cause to sit up and examine our circumstances and to honestly ask ourselves are we making a difference. Will our story live on in the lives of others?<br /><br />Max asks questions, probes, and challenges us to stretch ourselves, to grow, so that when we are gone people will know that we've been here.<br /><br />One question that begs thought is \"What if our attention could reduce someone's pain?<br /><br />Read this book, but not only read it but digest it. Let us all live so that our lives outlive us.", "timestamp": 1286662911000, "title": "LIVING LIFE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE" }, { "asin": "0307457176", "rating": 4, "text": "When I received my latest fiction book for review from Water Brook, Tandem by Tracey Bateman, I was surprised to find out it was a Christian vampire story. I know vampires have become quite poplar these days in books, TV shows, and movies and I'm also sure there are those who will question the words Christian and vampire being used together.<br />I won't go into what I think about the issue of vampires, however, at first I wasn't sure I wanted to read the book. Nevertheless, Tracey is a compelling author, and once I picked up the book it held my attention and kept me guessing as to where she was headed and how the mystery would end.<br /> The heroine, Lauryn, struggles with her concept of God and a dad that has Alzheimer's. Her high school crush is the son of the local pastor who left town to become a missionary after graduation and returns with a child.<br />Tracey Bateman does write in a way to draw you into the story and hold you captive to the story line, her characters are fascinating, and you will wind up rooting for the heroine.", "timestamp": 1298835752000, "title": "Tandem by Tracey Bateman" }, { "asin": "078523120X", "rating": 5, "text": "What is The One Principle That Will Save Humanity? That is the question put to David Ponder as he heads THE FINAL SUMMIT. We first met David in The Traveler's Gift, and if you've not read it I would recommend you get it also. The two books tie together so profoundly that I wanted to read it first so I bought it before I continued.<br />By means of history and some of the thoughts of the world's finest and most brilliant minds the ensemble at the summit must find the solution. When we are at the end of our ropes, and we don't know what to do, what is the next step? What do we do?<br />Andy Andrew is a writer like no other I've read. Someone said he was a mix of C.S. Lewis, Alfred Hitchcock and Tony Robbins but I'm not sure if that encapsulates his writing. Andy has the gift of being able to draw you in, to captivate, entertain and at the same time cause you to reflect, to examine yourself.<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson in return for an unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1303909298000, "title": "THE FINAL SUMMIT by ndy Andrews" }, { "asin": "1414335830", "rating": 5, "text": "I've always appreciated the genius of Jerry B. Jenkins writing well before the Left Behind series. I just finished his latest, THE BETRAYAL, which I found out was Book #2 of Precinct 11 Novels. Now I will have to read book one. I finished the novel in about two days as I found it hard to put down.<br />The story follows Detective Boone Drake as he tries to unravel the questions surrounding the attempt to kill an informant being transferred to a secret place. Suspecting an inside job he is not prepared for the suspected person being someone he is close to.<br />Detective Boone makes it his mission to get to the bottom of the matter in spite of being injured while protecting the witness and being warned to stay out of the investigation. White questioning his own instincts and not knowing who he can trust he endeavor's to get some answers and learn the truth.<br />Throughout the story you are intrigued and kept guessing what is around the next page. I found it refreshing to also read of the character's search in spiritual things as well as the matters of everyday life. Jerry Jenkins keeps you spellbound and anxious to see where he will take you next.<br />I received this book from Tyndale House Publisher's free for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1314562954000, "title": "Book #2 Precinct 11 Novel The BETRAYAL" }, { "asin": "1414335970", "rating": 5, "text": "I've read a few books in the past about the Mormon Church when they still all practiced polygamy and I had mixed feelings about FORSAKING ALL OTHERS by Allison Pittman. I have to say she was well versed in their doctrine and although truthful, did not aggressively attack the religion.<br />The story is about Camilla, the first wife of Nathan Fox, and how her relationship with God helps her to run away from the church and therefore her husband. Throughout her journey you are shown many comparisons between the original Mormon Church and Christianity. Camilla has hopes that the people she knows and loves, who have been drawn in to the church, will see the truth.<br />Camilla had married Nathan against her parents' wishes and she had not heard from them since she left. Her wish is to let them know she has seen the error of the church and ask their forgiveness. She makes it back and is reunited with them just before her father passes away. Her focus then is to return and get her daughters so they will not grow up within the church and become ardent followers.<br />Allison does a great job of contrasting Christianity with the Mormon Church in a way that shows their similarity along with the differences. This was a great book and I would highly recommend it.<br />I received this book free from Tyndale for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1320189910000, "title": "FORSAKING ALL OTHERS the Sister Wives Series #2" }, { "asin": "1414338732", "rating": 4, "text": "BECKON by Tom Pawlik is a book that is a little hard to describe. The book is spine tingling, horrifying, weird and unexpected. To quote his webpage it is an \"edge-of-your-seat thriller\".<br />It is a story of a town \"Beckon\" that is inhabited by an unusual group of people, to say the least. A man, Jack Kendrick, a woman police officer, Elina Gutierrez, who are there looking for answers about loved ones, and George Wilcox who has been enticed there seeking a cure for his wife's Alzheimer's. Their stories all converge with the town's people and the leader, Vale, with lots of bizarre twists and turns. I found myself wanting to put it down because it was almost too hard to continue, while at the same time having to know what is going to happen next and the outcome.<br />Ultimately the hope of Christ leads them all to a place of strength and redemption. I would recommend it. Overall it is a good book, especially if you like edge of your seat thrillers.<br />This book was provided free for my honest review by Tyndale House Publishers.", "timestamp": 1333919315000, "title": "Spine Tingling and Weird But Hard To Put Down" }, { "asin": "1401686974", "rating": 4, "text": "Covenant Child is a story of twin sisters. They are orphaned and although they had a stepmother they loved and who wanted to raise them, their maternal grandparents win custody. This begins the tumultuous life's of these two who are lied to and have no idea they are actually heiresses.<br /><br />I've read several Terri Blackstock books so knew this would be an interesting book. You get frustrated at the system that would give the girls to the grandparents. You will also go from empathy for the girls to wondering how they could sink to do some of the things they do.<br /><br />When Amanda, the stepmother, tries to contact them as they get older they don't trust her, especially when they are told there is an inheritance they may have access to.<br /><br />Terri Blackstock writes interesting stories, you will enjoy this one.<br /><br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1343593822000, "title": "Covenant Chilc" }, { "asin": "1433671689", "rating": 4, "text": "What can a chef, a counselor and a vegan health food store worker have in common. Three unlikely women who are brought together and help each other find healing.<br /><br />The chef and cafe owner Ellyn, is large and therefore decides she is unattractive so she buries herself in food. Sabina, the counselor, has come to Mendocino to heal and hide, to be invisible. Twila is a young woman, wise beyond her years, whose father abandoned her and because of the emptiness has developed an eating disorder.<br /><br />Can these three women begin to see themselves as God sees them? Can they work through the issues that hinders them? Twila tells Ellyn that they are alike in some ways, and like them we often share the same vision. \"It just means that we sometimes miss seeing Him in the most important thing He created. Us.....He sees our inner beauty - the condition of our hearts....\"<br /><br />INVISIBLE by Ginny L. Yttrup is a look into ourselves, for one reason or another, we all sometime wish we could be invisible.<br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it. I received Invisible free for an honest review from [...]", "timestamp": 1364860849000, "title": "SOMETIME WE WANT TO BE INVISIBLE" }, { "asin": "1414358490", "rating": 5, "text": "Being a veteran of the police force for twenty-two years, Janice Cantore lends authenticity and realism to her writing of AVENGED. It was however, part of a series, but it can stand alone if you've not read the other two.<br />Carly Edwards, a police officer, and her husband, Sergeant Nick Anderson get caught up in a suspected gang execution that she suspects is not what it seems. Tensions increase between two local gangs. They confiscate some weapons from a member of one of the gangs. After further investigation they find out that the guns, along with some explosives, were stolen from a military base.<br />Carly has her character shredded just as she is to testify in a major trial. She has to depend on God and remember ;\"Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.\"<br />This is a great crime and mystery book and I will be reading more of her books. She knows what she's talking about and is able to bring the characters to life.<br />I received this book free from Tyndale for a honest review. I do recommend this book and author to anyone who enjoys a good clean crime novel.<br /><br />[[ASIN:1414358490 Avenged (Pacific Coast Justice)]]", "timestamp": 1366683945000, "title": "WHEN YOUR CHARACTER IS SHREDDED" }, { "asin": "1401688667", "rating": 5, "text": "TO KNOW YOU by Shannon Ethridge & Kathryn Mackel is a tale of a mother. A mother who was forced to confront her past and the results that ensued.<br />As a young college girl, Julia fell in love with Thomas and became pregnant. Her mother and Thomas convinced her to give the baby up for adoption. Reeling from losing the man she loved and her baby she consequently turned to another and becomes pregnant and again gives up the baby.<br />In time she heals and meets a man who loves her for her and they forge a good life. They have one child that is born with a liver disease and eventually has to have a liver transplant or die. Thus begins the story of her journey to reconnect with the children she relinquished and hopefully save her son.<br />This is a story of forgiveness, redemption and second chances. It will hold you captivated and wondering. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and would recommend it.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Thomas Nelson.", "timestamp": 1383511192000, "title": "CONFRONTING THE PAST" }, { "asin": "0310335884", "rating": 4, "text": "A SIMPLE PRAYER, by Amy Clipston is a entertaining Amish story of two who have been wounded and are afraid to trust.<br />Aaron Ebersol left the Amish community as a teen but returns when he's told of his mother's health problems. Will his family accept him back?<br />Linda Zook, is the sole survivor of a buggy accident that claimed the lives of her parents. Her mother's brother and his wife took her in but she's never felt accepted.<br />What does the future hold for these two, can they find their way to each other and into the community? Can each of them find forgiveness and extend forgiveness to those they feel have wronged them.<br />Having read several Amish books lately by a variety of authors, I found this one compelling, but quite a bit different take of the Amish community. I do know there is a wide range of beliefs, or I should say adherence in the districts. I just may have to read more of Amy's books as this was enjoyable.<br />I received A Simple Prayer free from Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1432772949000, "title": "PRAYER OF THE HEART" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 5, "text": "I’ve read several books by Janice Cantore and never been disappointed. This last one, DRAWING FIRE Cold Case Justice is the first of a new series. I usually don’t care to read the first of a series and then have to wait a year for the next one. Smile However, for Janice Cantore, it is worth it.<br /><br />Abby Hart is a homicide detective in Long Beach, California and becomes the lead detective in a case the she discovers is a serial killer. Her main witness is a private detective, Luke Murphy, who she thinks is a glory hound.<br /><br />Forced to work together they discover they have a mutual interest in a cold case and set out to see what they can find. Abby is ordered to leave the case alone and it is given to two other detectives. Instead she takes a leave of absence in order to pursue it on her own time with the assistance of Luke.<br /><br />I have to agree with Abby that all murders, in fact all unsolved cases of any nature, should be solved and allow closure for the people involved. I am eager for the next book to come out in the Spring of 2016.<br /><br />I received Drawing Fire free from Tyndale Fiction Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1433794336000, "title": "COLD CASE JUSTICE #1" }, { "asin": "0310338476", "rating": 5, "text": "Love does indeed arrive in Pieces as the title says. Betsy St. Amant's book started a bit slow and I wasn't sure i was going to enjoy it but when all was said and done it spoke to me through those pieces.<br />Stella, recovering from a divorce has convinced herself she's a failure and has climbed into herself to forget. And old high school romance, Chase, returns to town and they are destined to work together.<br />Can she pull herself back together to complete the job? Can she find herself again enough to let herself open up to love?<br />There are many gems interspersed throughout, such as: &#34;God tells us to come to Him with faith like a child. I figure that means with our storms too. If it's going to rain anyway....might as well make something of it.&#34; You will be inspired, possibly shed some tears and definitely enjoy LOVE ARRIVES IN PIECES.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Zondervan via Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1439392681000, "title": "PICKING UP THE PIECES" }, { "asin": "140168596X", "rating": 4, "text": "I have read several books from various author's about the Amish. Some, I feel do a lot of study and research, even befriending Amish before they write. Some however I'm not sure how much they actually know about them and their culture. I do know the districts vary from each other by their Bishop and their interpretation of the Ordnung. Therefore I am sometimes dubious about the way the Amish are portrayed in some books. This is one I'm not sure of.<br />HER BROTHER'S KEEPER by Beth Wiseman is a story of an Englischer, Charlotte, investigating her brother's suicide. Ethan was engaged to an Amish maedel so Charlotte is convinced he was brainwashed and that is the reason for his suicide.<br />She decides to pretend to be a distant Amish cousin from Texas and visit. She does not predict the ensuing sequence of events that enfold. It is an intriguing story even if I am unconvinced of some of the actions taken.<br />Overall it was an interesting concept that left many questions as to how it would have all actually have happened had it been real story.<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishing for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1442278531000, "title": "WHAT HAPPENED TO ETHAN?" }, { "asin": "1601426992", "rating": 5, "text": "I love Cindy Woodsmalls books and I'm never disappointed. They only regret with reading her newest Ties That Bind is that it's the first of a series and I hate waiting for the next one. lol<br />The first book of The Amish of Summer Grove series is one of the most intriguing ones I've read of hers. Arianna Brenneman is the twin of Abram and one of the ten children of Isaac and Lovina. The boy she hoped to marry, Quill, ran off with her best friend, Frieda. She is finally moving on and has a new beau, Rudy, when Quill reappears.<br />Quill appears to be linked to the night crawler, a person who sneaks in and assists the Amish who wish to leave the community. However, there are more pressing secrets that come to light that changes everything Arianna believes.<br />This novel does deviate somewhat from her usual ones in that it is focused more on the family and less on the Amish community. I enjoyed Ties that Bind and I iam now sitting on pins and needles waiting for her to release book two.<br />I received this book free from Water Brook Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1444160333000, "title": "WHAT MAKES A FAMILY" }, { "asin": "1601428146", "rating": 5, "text": "Four novellas interwoven together by four different authors creates a totally beguiling book in AMISH CRISTMAS at North Star.<br />The back story begins when an Amish midwife in North Star, Pennsylvania delivers four babies in the midst of a blizzard on a November day. The event is written up in the local newspaper then picked by People Magazine. They became known as &#34;Rebekah's Babies&#34;.<br />Twenty plus years later Chase Wellington finds the newspaper story, is captivated ad sets out to find out what happened to the babies.<br />Katie Ganshert tells us of Elle, baby of Ruth Guiding Star. Ruth left from the midwifes house, leaving her husband and community.<br /> In Morning Star Amanda Fowler acquaint with us Eden Hochstetler whose family moved to Sugarcreek and run a fudge-and-candy shop.<br />Into the Stars is the story told by Cindy Woodsmall of Savilla Beiler who still lives in North Star and is an accomplished seamstress.<br />Mindy Starnes Clark and Emily Clark share the story of Andy, the only baby boy born that night in Star of Grace.<br />Being a Cindy Woodsmall fan I didn't hesitate receiving this book and have found new author's to enjoy. This book was a joy to read.<br />I received this book free from Water Brook for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1447524439000, "title": "FOUR LIVES INTERWOVEN" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 4, "text": "Rachel Hauck wrote a intriguing story about an unfulfilled love that spans sixty-seven years and three generations. The Wedding Chapel is an account of Peg, a deceitful sister who is in love with the boy in love with Collette, her younger sister.<br />Peg and Colette are English who were orphaned in the war then sent to live with an Aunt and Uncle in America. Jimmy is a neighbor boy whose mother left and his dad raised him alone. Jimmy is taken with Collette when Clem, the girls cousin shows him their picture upon hearing they are coming.<br />Jimmy and Colette fall in love. Jimmy is drafted and leaves to serve in the military. Due to misunderstanding and lies Colette runs off to Hollywood and becomes a big star. Neither Colette or Jimmy ever married.<br />Taylor, a photographer, is Peg's granddaughter and has moved to Manhattan where she marries Jack, and advertising executive. Circumstances brings them all back to Heart's Bend, Tennessee where they are all faced with the truth.<br />It's a little confusing at times with the bouncing back and forth between the past and future. However, it is a charming romance which I enjoyed.<br />I received this book free from Zondervan via Thomas Nelson Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1449104626000, "title": "LOVE THAT LASTS" }, { "asin": "0764212486", "rating": 5, "text": "Beverly Lewis understands and write of the Amish Culture better than many who attempt to put pen to paper. Being born in Pennsylvania and living among them she writes with a perceptive and thoughtful heart.<br />The Atonement is a story of a young Amish woman, Lucy Flaud, who is dealing with grief and guilt from a long past time in her life. She has spent the intervening years trying to atone by loving and doing for others.<br /> Her Daed, Christian, is also grieving, for the same incident, however, for a much different reason. He starts attending a grief group where he meets Englischers and befriends one young man, Dale Wyeth.<br />Tobe Glick is Lucy's best friend but has secretly loved her for years. However, Lucy holds her secret so close she feels unworthy to return his offer of courtship.<br />Will she be able to get past her long-ago sin to forgive, live and love again? Will Tobe be able to see the woman she is now or will he reject her?<br />I loved this book as I have all of Beverly Lewis's novels. As always there is much to glean and learn from her writings.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group.", "timestamp": 1459644991000, "title": "MUST YOU ATONE?" }, { "asin": "1401688314", "rating": 4, "text": "Very seldom do I find it impossible to finish a book. A Dream of Miracles by Ruth Reid was one. I picked it up and put it down too many times, unable to continue. It's not because of the writer's ability to draw you in, if anything that is the reason. It is the subject, the characters. It's a story I find myself being able to empathize with and become angry and defensive about.<br />Mattie Diener is a young Amish widow with two children. Bo Lambright is a social services investigator. Of course, circumstances bring them together and you can let you mind jump to where this will be headed. As always there is other people involved that only complicate the matter.<br />To not get on a soap box I will only say that too often the system interferes when they have no business to because of some so called well meaning busy body. Before you get you take this wrong, I do know there are times when they should. Unfortunately too often they should when they don't and don't when they should. Enough said!<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers for a fair and honest review.", "timestamp": 1466264288000, "title": "TRUTH" }, { "asin": "0310342015", "rating": 5, "text": "An Amish Heirloom Novel, THE COURTSHIP BASKET by Amy Clipston is the second in the series. I had read the first, The Forgotten Recipe and knew this would be a good book and wasn't disappointed.<br />At her sister Victoria's wedding, Rachel Fisher, the second of three sisters, happens to overhear her best friend and the young man she hoped to marry. Betrayed and heartbroken she takes a job as a teacher in a special school. Rachel doesn't need another heartbreak and enjoys teaching.<br />John Lantz whose mother is dead and his father is sick joins her class. Mike, his older brother, has assumed responsibility for not only his dad's care but also John's. Mike believes his obligations prevent him from dating or seeking a wife.<br />Rachel, wanting to do something for the family sends meals to the family using an old picnic basket that holds family memories. Mike watchful of her intentions and wants to protect John.<br />Amy has the ability of draw you into the narrative and become enthralled by the characters and their journey. I loved the book and now awaiting book three of the series. I hope she not only shares Emily's account but also the parents tale.<br />I received The Courtship Basket free for an honest review from Zondervan and Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1468093831000, "title": "HEIRLOOMS MAGNETISM" }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "THE WEDDING SHOP is the third book of the series and I'm not sure if I can say enough about Rachel Hauck's ability to captivate your imagination and keep you spellbound. I had read the second book, and even reviewed it. After finishing this one I had to read the first one which I wish I had read first. All three books can be read as a standalone, but are definitely intertwined.<br />The wedding shop is an abandoned building that draws two young girls who make a pinkie pledge to one day reopen. As often happens, life takes them in different directions. Haley goes to college then the military. Tammy stays in Hearts Bend, gets engaged to her childhood crush. However, life throws them a curve and Tammy dies from an aggressive form of brain cancer, Haley has a destructive relationship that causes her to leave the military and return home.<br />Determined to reopen the Wedding Shop for Tammy she encounters Cole, Tammy's fiancé who has bid on tearing the building down. Long buried attraction to each other resurfaces and guilt ensues. Will they be able to move pass the guilt and build a relationship? Will Haley succeed in reopening the Wedding Shop?<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Zondrrvan and Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1474121359000, "title": "PROMISES, REGRETS AND REDEMPTION" }, { "asin": "0310395933", "rating": 4, "text": "To Have ad to Hold: Three Autumn Love Stories by three different authors is a sweet collection of novella's. Each tale is a complete and charming narrative.<br />In Love Takes a Cake by Betsy St. Amant, Charlotte Cantrell is the owner of The Dough Knot bakery. Will Martin is a reclusive bachelor that frequents the bakery, and best man for a wedding Charlotte is to provide the cake for. Each comes with their own baggage to overcome. Will they be able to wade through and find happily after themselves?<br />In The Perfect Arrangement by Katie Ganshert, Amelia Woods is the stepsister, the one ignored and ridiculed by the family. Nate Gallagher, is a ghost writer who begins an email correspondence with Amelia after a minor auto accident. Complications ensue that threaten the blooming relationship. Will they be insurmountable?<br />In Love in the Details by Becky Wade, Josh Bowen is the one who left, went to MIT and became a success. Holly Morgan is the high school sweetheart that broke his heart by breaking up with him after he left. Now he's back in town and once buried feelings resurface. Will they get past the what and why and find happines?<br />I received a free copy from Zondervan a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing. No review, positive or otherwise, was required - all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1480700316000, "title": "LOVE TIMES THREE" }, { "asin": "0310341965", "rating": 5, "text": "THE CHERISHED QUILT, an Amish Heirloom book, by Amy Clipston is the third in a series about three Amish sisters. By the epilogue it seems there may be another book coming. Amy has Amish friends who answer questions and help keep her books true to the Amish beliefs.<br />I had read the previous two books so was excited to continue this journey. In this one, Emily the youngest of the Fisher daughters only wants to find the right man and fall in love, have a home and family. One of her sisters, Veronica, is married and Rachel, second one is betrothed and planning her wedding. Emily loves to sew and especially quilt.<br />Emily assists her Dat in the leather shop he and his best friend Hank owns, by keeping the books along and helping the customers.<br />Christopher Hochstetler has come to Bird in Hand to work with his Onkel Hank and learn the leather working trade after a tragedy left him estranged from his family. He attempts to remain distant from everyone but Emily's friendliness and sweetness draws him.<br />Can a quilt made by Emily's own hands be the catalyst that bridges the pain and help heal the hurts in a family?<br />I received a free copy from Zondervan a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing. No review, positive or otherwise, was required - all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1481495327000, "title": "PIECES OF THE HEART" }, { "asin": "0718085949", "rating": 5, "text": "Pregnant, Brooklyn Myers was abandoned by her husband, Chad Hallston, ten years ago. Working as a waitress she is raising her daughter as a single mother. She never expects to return home where her father is cold and emotionally abusive when she receives an unexpected visitor.<br />Derek Johnson, was Chad's best friend and didn't care for Brooklyn and blamed her for Chad's leaving Thunder Creek Idaho. He's a part time deputy and has a small farm he's cultivating and growing organic produce. He's hoping to buy Chad's family farm next door and expand.<br />They say God often laughs at our plans as he directs us in the way He knows is best. Robin Lee Hatcher brings us a charming story of just such direction in YOU'LL THINK OF ME. I loved the book and highly recommend it.<br />I received a free copy from Harper Collins Publisher and Thomas Nelson Publishing Groups. No review, positive or otherwise, was required – all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1494195276000, "title": "GOD DIRECTS OUR PATH" }, { "asin": "0764219669", "rating": 5, "text": "Another Beverly Lewis win in The Proving. Beverly never fails or provide us with a compelling story with accuracy and compassion.<br />Amanda Dienner left the Amish after she saw her sister, Arie Mae, kissing her beau, Joshua, and her mother sided with Arie Mae. She'd never intended to leave, but after five years she's adapted and doesn't feel like she can return.<br />Her mother dies and leaves her Bed and Breakfast to Amanda with stipulations. She accepts the challenge, plans on working the inn for the required year then selling it and returning to the outside world. She still feels betrayed by her sister, who lives next door with Joshua who helps with repair work and upkeep of the inn.<br />Karl Lantz a neighbor, is a widower and single father that helps out with the horses. Yonnie, Karl's son grows fond of Amanda as does Karl.<br />Will Amanda forgive Arie Mae and Joshua? Will she let go of the resentment for being all but shunned by her family and the community? Will she let herself love Karl and Yonnie and stay?<br />I received a free copy from Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group. No review, positive or otherwise, was required – all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1504743345926, "title": "LETTING GO" }, { "asin": "0718090500", "rating": 5, "text": "Denise Hunter is one of my favorite authors. In blue ridge sunrise she weaves a intriguing story of second chances at first love, forgiveness and God's mercy.<br />Zoe Collins and Cruz Huntley grew up together. Cruz was her brother's best friend and from the wrong side of the tracks according to her dad. They sneak around to see each other and when they are found out there are misunderstandings and lies that aid in their decisions.<br />Five years later Zoe grandma dies and she inherits her peach orchard. Torn with what to do and regretting the direction of her life, what will she decide? Can she and Cruz work through the mistrust, and repercussions of the last five years?<br />I received a free copy from Thomas Nelson Publishing Group. No review, positive or otherwise, was required – all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1511121586322, "title": "SECOND CHANCES" }, { "asin": "031034901X", "rating": 4, "text": "Amy Clipston's A Place At Our Table is an Amish story somewhat different than most. They live close to each other but seem to be from different communities and they rules are much more relaxed than most.<br />James Riehl is a twenty-five Amish volunteer firefighter, the oldest son of a farmer. Jamie's sense of duty to his family and running the farm along with protecting the community keeps him from taking time for himself.<br />Kala Dienner, the sister of an older brother, a firefighter who lost his life in a fire, is furious when her younger brother Nathan wants to become a firefighter and Jamie encourages him.<br />Unable to resist their attraction to each other they begin to date. However Jamie takes his responsibilities so seriously he hardly eats or sleeps and neglects Kayla. After an accident he feels is his fault he pushes Kayla away.<br />Will Jamie's sense of duty and guilt destroy what he and Kayla have? Can they learn to trust and rest in God?<br />I received a free copy from Zondervan HarperCollins Publisher a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing Group. No review, positive or otherwise, was required – all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1513184287350, "title": "FINDING BALANCE" } ]

[ { "asin": "078523103X", "rating": 5, "text": "Andy Andrews's latest book is a very compelling story. It is a historical fiction self-help book about forgiveness. Oh, and it's based on a true story.<br /><br />The story is of an unlikely couple who meet in a small gulf town during World War II. It takes them through a process of coming to terms with their past and finding forgiveness and hope. As life often teaches us, \"A few of the main characters' experiences turned out to be more common that I had previously believed.\" Pg. VI<br /><br />Often when we have been hurt, wronged, or disappointed, we let the pain of the incident cloud our vision and our lives. This is exactly what one of the principal characters in the book has done. Andy weaves a story that keeps you reading, and in the process gives us a good example of forgiveness and second chances. He illustrates how when bitterness and anger takes over we are in reality allowing the person/event to control us.<br /><br />Just as in the book, God will place people in our lives to speak truth to us; we just have to be open and receptive.<br /><br />\"Forgiveness does not erase history or excuse what happened,...... It means giving something up. To relinquish something means to give up whatever power it holds over us.\" Pg. 120<br /><br />After reading this book you will have a clearer understanding of forgiveness and the necessity of it in your own life, the freedom it brings.", "timestamp": 1275322740000, "title": "Story of Second Chances - The Heart Mender" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "I am a fan of Max Lucado so I jumped at the opportunity to read his latest book and I have to admit the title also captivated me. Outliving your life, leaving a legacy, making a difference, however you want to say it that is what all of us want to do in one way or another.<br /><br />To live in such a way that when we are gone from this life that who we were, what we did, lives on in the hearts and minds of others. To live so that the things we do touch and changes lives. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things in everyday life. He did in the Bible and He does today.<br /><br />Using events from the Bible along with stories of similar incidents today Max gives us cause to sit up and examine our circumstances and to honestly ask ourselves are we making a difference. Will our story live on in the lives of others?<br /><br />Max asks questions, probes, and challenges us to stretch ourselves, to grow, so that when we are gone people will know that we've been here.<br /><br />One question that begs thought is \"What if our attention could reduce someone's pain?<br /><br />Read this book, but not only read it but digest it. Let us all live so that our lives outlive us.", "timestamp": 1286662911000, "title": "LIVING LIFE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE" }, { "asin": "0307457176", "rating": 4, "text": "When I received my latest fiction book for review from Water Brook, Tandem by Tracey Bateman, I was surprised to find out it was a Christian vampire story. I know vampires have become quite poplar these days in books, TV shows, and movies and I'm also sure there are those who will question the words Christian and vampire being used together.<br />I won't go into what I think about the issue of vampires, however, at first I wasn't sure I wanted to read the book. Nevertheless, Tracey is a compelling author, and once I picked up the book it held my attention and kept me guessing as to where she was headed and how the mystery would end.<br /> The heroine, Lauryn, struggles with her concept of God and a dad that has Alzheimer's. Her high school crush is the son of the local pastor who left town to become a missionary after graduation and returns with a child.<br />Tracey Bateman does write in a way to draw you into the story and hold you captive to the story line, her characters are fascinating, and you will wind up rooting for the heroine.", "timestamp": 1298835752000, "title": "Tandem by Tracey Bateman" }, { "asin": "078523120X", "rating": 5, "text": "What is The One Principle That Will Save Humanity? That is the question put to David Ponder as he heads THE FINAL SUMMIT. We first met David in The Traveler's Gift, and if you've not read it I would recommend you get it also. The two books tie together so profoundly that I wanted to read it first so I bought it before I continued.<br />By means of history and some of the thoughts of the world's finest and most brilliant minds the ensemble at the summit must find the solution. When we are at the end of our ropes, and we don't know what to do, what is the next step? What do we do?<br />Andy Andrew is a writer like no other I've read. Someone said he was a mix of C.S. Lewis, Alfred Hitchcock and Tony Robbins but I'm not sure if that encapsulates his writing. Andy has the gift of being able to draw you in, to captivate, entertain and at the same time cause you to reflect, to examine yourself.<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson in return for an unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1303909298000, "title": "THE FINAL SUMMIT by ndy Andrews" }, { "asin": "1414335830", "rating": 5, "text": "I've always appreciated the genius of Jerry B. Jenkins writing well before the Left Behind series. I just finished his latest, THE BETRAYAL, which I found out was Book #2 of Precinct 11 Novels. Now I will have to read book one. I finished the novel in about two days as I found it hard to put down.<br />The story follows Detective Boone Drake as he tries to unravel the questions surrounding the attempt to kill an informant being transferred to a secret place. Suspecting an inside job he is not prepared for the suspected person being someone he is close to.<br />Detective Boone makes it his mission to get to the bottom of the matter in spite of being injured while protecting the witness and being warned to stay out of the investigation. White questioning his own instincts and not knowing who he can trust he endeavor's to get some answers and learn the truth.<br />Throughout the story you are intrigued and kept guessing what is around the next page. I found it refreshing to also read of the character's search in spiritual things as well as the matters of everyday life. Jerry Jenkins keeps you spellbound and anxious to see where he will take you next.<br />I received this book from Tyndale House Publisher's free for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1314562954000, "title": "Book #2 Precinct 11 Novel The BETRAYAL" }, { "asin": "1414335970", "rating": 5, "text": "I've read a few books in the past about the Mormon Church when they still all practiced polygamy and I had mixed feelings about FORSAKING ALL OTHERS by Allison Pittman. I have to say she was well versed in their doctrine and although truthful, did not aggressively attack the religion.<br />The story is about Camilla, the first wife of Nathan Fox, and how her relationship with God helps her to run away from the church and therefore her husband. Throughout her journey you are shown many comparisons between the original Mormon Church and Christianity. Camilla has hopes that the people she knows and loves, who have been drawn in to the church, will see the truth.<br />Camilla had married Nathan against her parents' wishes and she had not heard from them since she left. Her wish is to let them know she has seen the error of the church and ask their forgiveness. She makes it back and is reunited with them just before her father passes away. Her focus then is to return and get her daughters so they will not grow up within the church and become ardent followers.<br />Allison does a great job of contrasting Christianity with the Mormon Church in a way that shows their similarity along with the differences. This was a great book and I would highly recommend it.<br />I received this book free from Tyndale for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1320189910000, "title": "FORSAKING ALL OTHERS the Sister Wives Series #2" }, { "asin": "1414338732", "rating": 4, "text": "BECKON by Tom Pawlik is a book that is a little hard to describe. The book is spine tingling, horrifying, weird and unexpected. To quote his webpage it is an \"edge-of-your-seat thriller\".<br />It is a story of a town \"Beckon\" that is inhabited by an unusual group of people, to say the least. A man, Jack Kendrick, a woman police officer, Elina Gutierrez, who are there looking for answers about loved ones, and George Wilcox who has been enticed there seeking a cure for his wife's Alzheimer's. Their stories all converge with the town's people and the leader, Vale, with lots of bizarre twists and turns. I found myself wanting to put it down because it was almost too hard to continue, while at the same time having to know what is going to happen next and the outcome.<br />Ultimately the hope of Christ leads them all to a place of strength and redemption. I would recommend it. Overall it is a good book, especially if you like edge of your seat thrillers.<br />This book was provided free for my honest review by Tyndale House Publishers.", "timestamp": 1333919315000, "title": "Spine Tingling and Weird But Hard To Put Down" }, { "asin": "1401686974", "rating": 4, "text": "Covenant Child is a story of twin sisters. They are orphaned and although they had a stepmother they loved and who wanted to raise them, their maternal grandparents win custody. This begins the tumultuous life's of these two who are lied to and have no idea they are actually heiresses.<br /><br />I've read several Terri Blackstock books so knew this would be an interesting book. You get frustrated at the system that would give the girls to the grandparents. You will also go from empathy for the girls to wondering how they could sink to do some of the things they do.<br /><br />When Amanda, the stepmother, tries to contact them as they get older they don't trust her, especially when they are told there is an inheritance they may have access to.<br /><br />Terri Blackstock writes interesting stories, you will enjoy this one.<br /><br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1343593822000, "title": "Covenant Chilc" }, { "asin": "1433671689", "rating": 4, "text": "What can a chef, a counselor and a vegan health food store worker have in common. Three unlikely women who are brought together and help each other find healing.<br /><br />The chef and cafe owner Ellyn, is large and therefore decides she is unattractive so she buries herself in food. Sabina, the counselor, has come to Mendocino to heal and hide, to be invisible. Twila is a young woman, wise beyond her years, whose father abandoned her and because of the emptiness has developed an eating disorder.<br /><br />Can these three women begin to see themselves as God sees them? Can they work through the issues that hinders them? Twila tells Ellyn that they are alike in some ways, and like them we often share the same vision. \"It just means that we sometimes miss seeing Him in the most important thing He created. Us.....He sees our inner beauty - the condition of our hearts....\"<br /><br />INVISIBLE by Ginny L. Yttrup is a look into ourselves, for one reason or another, we all sometime wish we could be invisible.<br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it. I received Invisible free for an honest review from [...]", "timestamp": 1364860849000, "title": "SOMETIME WE WANT TO BE INVISIBLE" }, { "asin": "1414358490", "rating": 5, "text": "Being a veteran of the police force for twenty-two years, Janice Cantore lends authenticity and realism to her writing of AVENGED. It was however, part of a series, but it can stand alone if you've not read the other two.<br />Carly Edwards, a police officer, and her husband, Sergeant Nick Anderson get caught up in a suspected gang execution that she suspects is not what it seems. Tensions increase between two local gangs. They confiscate some weapons from a member of one of the gangs. After further investigation they find out that the guns, along with some explosives, were stolen from a military base.<br />Carly has her character shredded just as she is to testify in a major trial. She has to depend on God and remember ;\"Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.\"<br />This is a great crime and mystery book and I will be reading more of her books. She knows what she's talking about and is able to bring the characters to life.<br />I received this book free from Tyndale for a honest review. I do recommend this book and author to anyone who enjoys a good clean crime novel.<br /><br />[[ASIN:1414358490 Avenged (Pacific Coast Justice)]]", "timestamp": 1366683945000, "title": "WHEN YOUR CHARACTER IS SHREDDED" }, { "asin": "1401688667", "rating": 5, "text": "TO KNOW YOU by Shannon Ethridge & Kathryn Mackel is a tale of a mother. A mother who was forced to confront her past and the results that ensued.<br />As a young college girl, Julia fell in love with Thomas and became pregnant. Her mother and Thomas convinced her to give the baby up for adoption. Reeling from losing the man she loved and her baby she consequently turned to another and becomes pregnant and again gives up the baby.<br />In time she heals and meets a man who loves her for her and they forge a good life. They have one child that is born with a liver disease and eventually has to have a liver transplant or die. Thus begins the story of her journey to reconnect with the children she relinquished and hopefully save her son.<br />This is a story of forgiveness, redemption and second chances. It will hold you captivated and wondering. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and would recommend it.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Thomas Nelson.", "timestamp": 1383511192000, "title": "CONFRONTING THE PAST" }, { "asin": "0310335884", "rating": 4, "text": "A SIMPLE PRAYER, by Amy Clipston is a entertaining Amish story of two who have been wounded and are afraid to trust.<br />Aaron Ebersol left the Amish community as a teen but returns when he's told of his mother's health problems. Will his family accept him back?<br />Linda Zook, is the sole survivor of a buggy accident that claimed the lives of her parents. Her mother's brother and his wife took her in but she's never felt accepted.<br />What does the future hold for these two, can they find their way to each other and into the community? Can each of them find forgiveness and extend forgiveness to those they feel have wronged them.<br />Having read several Amish books lately by a variety of authors, I found this one compelling, but quite a bit different take of the Amish community. I do know there is a wide range of beliefs, or I should say adherence in the districts. I just may have to read more of Amy's books as this was enjoyable.<br />I received A Simple Prayer free from Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1432772949000, "title": "PRAYER OF THE HEART" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 5, "text": "I’ve read several books by Janice Cantore and never been disappointed. This last one, DRAWING FIRE Cold Case Justice is the first of a new series. I usually don’t care to read the first of a series and then have to wait a year for the next one. Smile However, for Janice Cantore, it is worth it.<br /><br />Abby Hart is a homicide detective in Long Beach, California and becomes the lead detective in a case the she discovers is a serial killer. Her main witness is a private detective, Luke Murphy, who she thinks is a glory hound.<br /><br />Forced to work together they discover they have a mutual interest in a cold case and set out to see what they can find. Abby is ordered to leave the case alone and it is given to two other detectives. Instead she takes a leave of absence in order to pursue it on her own time with the assistance of Luke.<br /><br />I have to agree with Abby that all murders, in fact all unsolved cases of any nature, should be solved and allow closure for the people involved. I am eager for the next book to come out in the Spring of 2016.<br /><br />I received Drawing Fire free from Tyndale Fiction Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1433794336000, "title": "COLD CASE JUSTICE #1" }, { "asin": "0310338476", "rating": 5, "text": "Love does indeed arrive in Pieces as the title says. Betsy St. Amant's book started a bit slow and I wasn't sure i was going to enjoy it but when all was said and done it spoke to me through those pieces.<br />Stella, recovering from a divorce has convinced herself she's a failure and has climbed into herself to forget. And old high school romance, Chase, returns to town and they are destined to work together.<br />Can she pull herself back together to complete the job? Can she find herself again enough to let herself open up to love?<br />There are many gems interspersed throughout, such as: &#34;God tells us to come to Him with faith like a child. I figure that means with our storms too. If it's going to rain anyway....might as well make something of it.&#34; You will be inspired, possibly shed some tears and definitely enjoy LOVE ARRIVES IN PIECES.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Zondervan via Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1439392681000, "title": "PICKING UP THE PIECES" }, { "asin": "140168596X", "rating": 4, "text": "I have read several books from various author's about the Amish. Some, I feel do a lot of study and research, even befriending Amish before they write. Some however I'm not sure how much they actually know about them and their culture. I do know the districts vary from each other by their Bishop and their interpretation of the Ordnung. Therefore I am sometimes dubious about the way the Amish are portrayed in some books. This is one I'm not sure of.<br />HER BROTHER'S KEEPER by Beth Wiseman is a story of an Englischer, Charlotte, investigating her brother's suicide. Ethan was engaged to an Amish maedel so Charlotte is convinced he was brainwashed and that is the reason for his suicide.<br />She decides to pretend to be a distant Amish cousin from Texas and visit. She does not predict the ensuing sequence of events that enfold. It is an intriguing story even if I am unconvinced of some of the actions taken.<br />Overall it was an interesting concept that left many questions as to how it would have all actually have happened had it been real story.<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishing for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1442278531000, "title": "WHAT HAPPENED TO ETHAN?" }, { "asin": "1601426992", "rating": 5, "text": "I love Cindy Woodsmalls books and I'm never disappointed. They only regret with reading her newest Ties That Bind is that it's the first of a series and I hate waiting for the next one. lol<br />The first book of The Amish of Summer Grove series is one of the most intriguing ones I've read of hers. Arianna Brenneman is the twin of Abram and one of the ten children of Isaac and Lovina. The boy she hoped to marry, Quill, ran off with her best friend, Frieda. She is finally moving on and has a new beau, Rudy, when Quill reappears.<br />Quill appears to be linked to the night crawler, a person who sneaks in and assists the Amish who wish to leave the community. However, there are more pressing secrets that come to light that changes everything Arianna believes.<br />This novel does deviate somewhat from her usual ones in that it is focused more on the family and less on the Amish community. I enjoyed Ties that Bind and I iam now sitting on pins and needles waiting for her to release book two.<br />I received this book free from Water Brook Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1444160333000, "title": "WHAT MAKES A FAMILY" }, { "asin": "1601428146", "rating": 5, "text": "Four novellas interwoven together by four different authors creates a totally beguiling book in AMISH CRISTMAS at North Star.<br />The back story begins when an Amish midwife in North Star, Pennsylvania delivers four babies in the midst of a blizzard on a November day. The event is written up in the local newspaper then picked by People Magazine. They became known as &#34;Rebekah's Babies&#34;.<br />Twenty plus years later Chase Wellington finds the newspaper story, is captivated ad sets out to find out what happened to the babies.<br />Katie Ganshert tells us of Elle, baby of Ruth Guiding Star. Ruth left from the midwifes house, leaving her husband and community.<br /> In Morning Star Amanda Fowler acquaint with us Eden Hochstetler whose family moved to Sugarcreek and run a fudge-and-candy shop.<br />Into the Stars is the story told by Cindy Woodsmall of Savilla Beiler who still lives in North Star and is an accomplished seamstress.<br />Mindy Starnes Clark and Emily Clark share the story of Andy, the only baby boy born that night in Star of Grace.<br />Being a Cindy Woodsmall fan I didn't hesitate receiving this book and have found new author's to enjoy. This book was a joy to read.<br />I received this book free from Water Brook for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1447524439000, "title": "FOUR LIVES INTERWOVEN" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 4, "text": "Rachel Hauck wrote a intriguing story about an unfulfilled love that spans sixty-seven years and three generations. The Wedding Chapel is an account of Peg, a deceitful sister who is in love with the boy in love with Collette, her younger sister.<br />Peg and Colette are English who were orphaned in the war then sent to live with an Aunt and Uncle in America. Jimmy is a neighbor boy whose mother left and his dad raised him alone. Jimmy is taken with Collette when Clem, the girls cousin shows him their picture upon hearing they are coming.<br />Jimmy and Colette fall in love. Jimmy is drafted and leaves to serve in the military. Due to misunderstanding and lies Colette runs off to Hollywood and becomes a big star. Neither Colette or Jimmy ever married.<br />Taylor, a photographer, is Peg's granddaughter and has moved to Manhattan where she marries Jack, and advertising executive. Circumstances brings them all back to Heart's Bend, Tennessee where they are all faced with the truth.<br />It's a little confusing at times with the bouncing back and forth between the past and future. However, it is a charming romance which I enjoyed.<br />I received this book free from Zondervan via Thomas Nelson Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1449104626000, "title": "LOVE THAT LASTS" }, { "asin": "0764212486", "rating": 5, "text": "Beverly Lewis understands and write of the Amish Culture better than many who attempt to put pen to paper. Being born in Pennsylvania and living among them she writes with a perceptive and thoughtful heart.<br />The Atonement is a story of a young Amish woman, Lucy Flaud, who is dealing with grief and guilt from a long past time in her life. She has spent the intervening years trying to atone by loving and doing for others.<br /> Her Daed, Christian, is also grieving, for the same incident, however, for a much different reason. He starts attending a grief group where he meets Englischers and befriends one young man, Dale Wyeth.<br />Tobe Glick is Lucy's best friend but has secretly loved her for years. However, Lucy holds her secret so close she feels unworthy to return his offer of courtship.<br />Will she be able to get past her long-ago sin to forgive, live and love again? Will Tobe be able to see the woman she is now or will he reject her?<br />I loved this book as I have all of Beverly Lewis's novels. As always there is much to glean and learn from her writings.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group.", "timestamp": 1459644991000, "title": "MUST YOU ATONE?" }, { "asin": "1401688314", "rating": 4, "text": "Very seldom do I find it impossible to finish a book. A Dream of Miracles by Ruth Reid was one. I picked it up and put it down too many times, unable to continue. It's not because of the writer's ability to draw you in, if anything that is the reason. It is the subject, the characters. It's a story I find myself being able to empathize with and become angry and defensive about.<br />Mattie Diener is a young Amish widow with two children. Bo Lambright is a social services investigator. Of course, circumstances bring them together and you can let you mind jump to where this will be headed. As always there is other people involved that only complicate the matter.<br />To not get on a soap box I will only say that too often the system interferes when they have no business to because of some so called well meaning busy body. Before you get you take this wrong, I do know there are times when they should. Unfortunately too often they should when they don't and don't when they should. Enough said!<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers for a fair and honest review.", "timestamp": 1466264288000, "title": "TRUTH" }, { "asin": "0310342015", "rating": 5, "text": "An Amish Heirloom Novel, THE COURTSHIP BASKET by Amy Clipston is the second in the series. I had read the first, The Forgotten Recipe and knew this would be a good book and wasn't disappointed.<br />At her sister Victoria's wedding, Rachel Fisher, the second of three sisters, happens to overhear her best friend and the young man she hoped to marry. Betrayed and heartbroken she takes a job as a teacher in a special school. Rachel doesn't need another heartbreak and enjoys teaching.<br />John Lantz whose mother is dead and his father is sick joins her class. Mike, his older brother, has assumed responsibility for not only his dad's care but also John's. Mike believes his obligations prevent him from dating or seeking a wife.<br />Rachel, wanting to do something for the family sends meals to the family using an old picnic basket that holds family memories. Mike watchful of her intentions and wants to protect John.<br />Amy has the ability of draw you into the narrative and become enthralled by the characters and their journey. I loved the book and now awaiting book three of the series. I hope she not only shares Emily's account but also the parents tale.<br />I received The Courtship Basket free for an honest review from Zondervan and Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1468093831000, "title": "HEIRLOOMS MAGNETISM" }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "THE WEDDING SHOP is the third book of the series and I'm not sure if I can say enough about Rachel Hauck's ability to captivate your imagination and keep you spellbound. I had read the second book, and even reviewed it. After finishing this one I had to read the first one which I wish I had read first. All three books can be read as a standalone, but are definitely intertwined.<br />The wedding shop is an abandoned building that draws two young girls who make a pinkie pledge to one day reopen. As often happens, life takes them in different directions. Haley goes to college then the military. Tammy stays in Hearts Bend, gets engaged to her childhood crush. However, life throws them a curve and Tammy dies from an aggressive form of brain cancer, Haley has a destructive relationship that causes her to leave the military and return home.<br />Determined to reopen the Wedding Shop for Tammy she encounters Cole, Tammy's fiancé who has bid on tearing the building down. Long buried attraction to each other resurfaces and guilt ensues. Will they be able to move pass the guilt and build a relationship? Will Haley succeed in reopening the Wedding Shop?<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Zondrrvan and Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1474121359000, "title": "PROMISES, REGRETS AND REDEMPTION" }, { "asin": "0310395933", "rating": 4, "text": "To Have ad to Hold: Three Autumn Love Stories by three different authors is a sweet collection of novella's. Each tale is a complete and charming narrative.<br />In Love Takes a Cake by Betsy St. Amant, Charlotte Cantrell is the owner of The Dough Knot bakery. Will Martin is a reclusive bachelor that frequents the bakery, and best man for a wedding Charlotte is to provide the cake for. Each comes with their own baggage to overcome. Will they be able to wade through and find happily after themselves?<br />In The Perfect Arrangement by Katie Ganshert, Amelia Woods is the stepsister, the one ignored and ridiculed by the family. Nate Gallagher, is a ghost writer who begins an email correspondence with Amelia after a minor auto accident. Complications ensue that threaten the blooming relationship. Will they be insurmountable?<br />In Love in the Details by Becky Wade, Josh Bowen is the one who left, went to MIT and became a success. Holly Morgan is the high school sweetheart that broke his heart by breaking up with him after he left. Now he's back in town and once buried feelings resurface. Will they get past the what and why and find happines?<br />I received a free copy from Zondervan a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing. No review, positive or otherwise, was required - all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1480700316000, "title": "LOVE TIMES THREE" }, { "asin": "0310341965", "rating": 5, "text": "THE CHERISHED QUILT, an Amish Heirloom book, by Amy Clipston is the third in a series about three Amish sisters. By the epilogue it seems there may be another book coming. Amy has Amish friends who answer questions and help keep her books true to the Amish beliefs.<br />I had read the previous two books so was excited to continue this journey. In this one, Emily the youngest of the Fisher daughters only wants to find the right man and fall in love, have a home and family. One of her sisters, Veronica, is married and Rachel, second one is betrothed and planning her wedding. Emily loves to sew and especially quilt.<br />Emily assists her Dat in the leather shop he and his best friend Hank owns, by keeping the books along and helping the customers.<br />Christopher Hochstetler has come to Bird in Hand to work with his Onkel Hank and learn the leather working trade after a tragedy left him estranged from his family. He attempts to remain distant from everyone but Emily's friendliness and sweetness draws him.<br />Can a quilt made by Emily's own hands be the catalyst that bridges the pain and help heal the hurts in a family?<br />I received a free copy from Zondervan a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing. No review, positive or otherwise, was required - all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1481495327000, "title": "PIECES OF THE HEART" }, { "asin": "0718085949", "rating": 5, "text": "Pregnant, Brooklyn Myers was abandoned by her husband, Chad Hallston, ten years ago. Working as a waitress she is raising her daughter as a single mother. She never expects to return home where her father is cold and emotionally abusive when she receives an unexpected visitor.<br />Derek Johnson, was Chad's best friend and didn't care for Brooklyn and blamed her for Chad's leaving Thunder Creek Idaho. He's a part time deputy and has a small farm he's cultivating and growing organic produce. He's hoping to buy Chad's family farm next door and expand.<br />They say God often laughs at our plans as he directs us in the way He knows is best. Robin Lee Hatcher brings us a charming story of just such direction in YOU'LL THINK OF ME. I loved the book and highly recommend it.<br />I received a free copy from Harper Collins Publisher and Thomas Nelson Publishing Groups. No review, positive or otherwise, was required – all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1494195276000, "title": "GOD DIRECTS OUR PATH" }, { "asin": "0764219669", "rating": 5, "text": "Another Beverly Lewis win in The Proving. Beverly never fails or provide us with a compelling story with accuracy and compassion.<br />Amanda Dienner left the Amish after she saw her sister, Arie Mae, kissing her beau, Joshua, and her mother sided with Arie Mae. She'd never intended to leave, but after five years she's adapted and doesn't feel like she can return.<br />Her mother dies and leaves her Bed and Breakfast to Amanda with stipulations. She accepts the challenge, plans on working the inn for the required year then selling it and returning to the outside world. She still feels betrayed by her sister, who lives next door with Joshua who helps with repair work and upkeep of the inn.<br />Karl Lantz a neighbor, is a widower and single father that helps out with the horses. Yonnie, Karl's son grows fond of Amanda as does Karl.<br />Will Amanda forgive Arie Mae and Joshua? Will she let go of the resentment for being all but shunned by her family and the community? Will she let herself love Karl and Yonnie and stay?<br />I received a free copy from Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group. No review, positive or otherwise, was required – all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1504743345926, "title": "LETTING GO" }, { "asin": "0718090500", "rating": 5, "text": "Denise Hunter is one of my favorite authors. In blue ridge sunrise she weaves a intriguing story of second chances at first love, forgiveness and God's mercy.<br />Zoe Collins and Cruz Huntley grew up together. Cruz was her brother's best friend and from the wrong side of the tracks according to her dad. They sneak around to see each other and when they are found out there are misunderstandings and lies that aid in their decisions.<br />Five years later Zoe grandma dies and she inherits her peach orchard. Torn with what to do and regretting the direction of her life, what will she decide? Can she and Cruz work through the mistrust, and repercussions of the last five years?<br />I received a free copy from Thomas Nelson Publishing Group. No review, positive or otherwise, was required – all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1511121586322, "title": "SECOND CHANCES" }, { "asin": "031034901X", "rating": 4, "text": "Amy Clipston's A Place At Our Table is an Amish story somewhat different than most. They live close to each other but seem to be from different communities and they rules are much more relaxed than most.<br />James Riehl is a twenty-five Amish volunteer firefighter, the oldest son of a farmer. Jamie's sense of duty to his family and running the farm along with protecting the community keeps him from taking time for himself.<br />Kala Dienner, the sister of an older brother, a firefighter who lost his life in a fire, is furious when her younger brother Nathan wants to become a firefighter and Jamie encourages him.<br />Unable to resist their attraction to each other they begin to date. However Jamie takes his responsibilities so seriously he hardly eats or sleeps and neglects Kayla. After an accident he feels is his fault he pushes Kayla away.<br />Will Jamie's sense of duty and guilt destroy what he and Kayla have? Can they learn to trust and rest in God?<br />I received a free copy from Zondervan HarperCollins Publisher a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing Group. No review, positive or otherwise, was required – all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1513184287350, "title": "FINDING BALANCE" }, { "asin": "0718085973", "rating": 5, "text": "Although it's not listed as a sequel, You're Gonna Love Me by Robin Lee Hatcher is a companion and follow up to You'll Think of Me. Both books are set in Idaho's Thunder Creek and the character's from the first book are in this one.<br />Samantha Winters watched her dad die in an skiing accident as a teen and since then has been avoided risks. Two years ago she met Nick Chastain but when he proved to be a risk taker she broke it off from him.<br />She comes home to assist her grandmother after a mishap and who should be living there but Nick. She wants nothing to do with him but circumstances keep throwing them together. They both have renewed and are striving to strengthen their faith. God challenges her to let go and trust Him as Nick seeks to show her he's changed.<br />Robin continues to write warm inspiring stories that speak truth.<br />I received a free copy from Thomas NelsonPublishing Group. No review, positive or otherwise, was required – all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1513817384427, "title": "THE RISK OF LOVE" } ]

[ { "asin": "078523103X", "rating": 5, "text": "Andy Andrews's latest book is a very compelling story. It is a historical fiction self-help book about forgiveness. Oh, and it's based on a true story.<br /><br />The story is of an unlikely couple who meet in a small gulf town during World War II. It takes them through a process of coming to terms with their past and finding forgiveness and hope. As life often teaches us, \"A few of the main characters' experiences turned out to be more common that I had previously believed.\" Pg. VI<br /><br />Often when we have been hurt, wronged, or disappointed, we let the pain of the incident cloud our vision and our lives. This is exactly what one of the principal characters in the book has done. Andy weaves a story that keeps you reading, and in the process gives us a good example of forgiveness and second chances. He illustrates how when bitterness and anger takes over we are in reality allowing the person/event to control us.<br /><br />Just as in the book, God will place people in our lives to speak truth to us; we just have to be open and receptive.<br /><br />\"Forgiveness does not erase history or excuse what happened,...... It means giving something up. To relinquish something means to give up whatever power it holds over us.\" Pg. 120<br /><br />After reading this book you will have a clearer understanding of forgiveness and the necessity of it in your own life, the freedom it brings.", "timestamp": 1275322740000, "title": "Story of Second Chances - The Heart Mender" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "I am a fan of Max Lucado so I jumped at the opportunity to read his latest book and I have to admit the title also captivated me. Outliving your life, leaving a legacy, making a difference, however you want to say it that is what all of us want to do in one way or another.<br /><br />To live in such a way that when we are gone from this life that who we were, what we did, lives on in the hearts and minds of others. To live so that the things we do touch and changes lives. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things in everyday life. He did in the Bible and He does today.<br /><br />Using events from the Bible along with stories of similar incidents today Max gives us cause to sit up and examine our circumstances and to honestly ask ourselves are we making a difference. Will our story live on in the lives of others?<br /><br />Max asks questions, probes, and challenges us to stretch ourselves, to grow, so that when we are gone people will know that we've been here.<br /><br />One question that begs thought is \"What if our attention could reduce someone's pain?<br /><br />Read this book, but not only read it but digest it. Let us all live so that our lives outlive us.", "timestamp": 1286662911000, "title": "LIVING LIFE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE" }, { "asin": "0307457176", "rating": 4, "text": "When I received my latest fiction book for review from Water Brook, Tandem by Tracey Bateman, I was surprised to find out it was a Christian vampire story. I know vampires have become quite poplar these days in books, TV shows, and movies and I'm also sure there are those who will question the words Christian and vampire being used together.<br />I won't go into what I think about the issue of vampires, however, at first I wasn't sure I wanted to read the book. Nevertheless, Tracey is a compelling author, and once I picked up the book it held my attention and kept me guessing as to where she was headed and how the mystery would end.<br /> The heroine, Lauryn, struggles with her concept of God and a dad that has Alzheimer's. Her high school crush is the son of the local pastor who left town to become a missionary after graduation and returns with a child.<br />Tracey Bateman does write in a way to draw you into the story and hold you captive to the story line, her characters are fascinating, and you will wind up rooting for the heroine.", "timestamp": 1298835752000, "title": "Tandem by Tracey Bateman" }, { "asin": "078523120X", "rating": 5, "text": "What is The One Principle That Will Save Humanity? That is the question put to David Ponder as he heads THE FINAL SUMMIT. We first met David in The Traveler's Gift, and if you've not read it I would recommend you get it also. The two books tie together so profoundly that I wanted to read it first so I bought it before I continued.<br />By means of history and some of the thoughts of the world's finest and most brilliant minds the ensemble at the summit must find the solution. When we are at the end of our ropes, and we don't know what to do, what is the next step? What do we do?<br />Andy Andrew is a writer like no other I've read. Someone said he was a mix of C.S. Lewis, Alfred Hitchcock and Tony Robbins but I'm not sure if that encapsulates his writing. Andy has the gift of being able to draw you in, to captivate, entertain and at the same time cause you to reflect, to examine yourself.<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson in return for an unbiased review.", "timestamp": 1303909298000, "title": "THE FINAL SUMMIT by ndy Andrews" }, { "asin": "1414335830", "rating": 5, "text": "I've always appreciated the genius of Jerry B. Jenkins writing well before the Left Behind series. I just finished his latest, THE BETRAYAL, which I found out was Book #2 of Precinct 11 Novels. Now I will have to read book one. I finished the novel in about two days as I found it hard to put down.<br />The story follows Detective Boone Drake as he tries to unravel the questions surrounding the attempt to kill an informant being transferred to a secret place. Suspecting an inside job he is not prepared for the suspected person being someone he is close to.<br />Detective Boone makes it his mission to get to the bottom of the matter in spite of being injured while protecting the witness and being warned to stay out of the investigation. White questioning his own instincts and not knowing who he can trust he endeavor's to get some answers and learn the truth.<br />Throughout the story you are intrigued and kept guessing what is around the next page. I found it refreshing to also read of the character's search in spiritual things as well as the matters of everyday life. Jerry Jenkins keeps you spellbound and anxious to see where he will take you next.<br />I received this book from Tyndale House Publisher's free for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1314562954000, "title": "Book #2 Precinct 11 Novel The BETRAYAL" }, { "asin": "1414335970", "rating": 5, "text": "I've read a few books in the past about the Mormon Church when they still all practiced polygamy and I had mixed feelings about FORSAKING ALL OTHERS by Allison Pittman. I have to say she was well versed in their doctrine and although truthful, did not aggressively attack the religion.<br />The story is about Camilla, the first wife of Nathan Fox, and how her relationship with God helps her to run away from the church and therefore her husband. Throughout her journey you are shown many comparisons between the original Mormon Church and Christianity. Camilla has hopes that the people she knows and loves, who have been drawn in to the church, will see the truth.<br />Camilla had married Nathan against her parents' wishes and she had not heard from them since she left. Her wish is to let them know she has seen the error of the church and ask their forgiveness. She makes it back and is reunited with them just before her father passes away. Her focus then is to return and get her daughters so they will not grow up within the church and become ardent followers.<br />Allison does a great job of contrasting Christianity with the Mormon Church in a way that shows their similarity along with the differences. This was a great book and I would highly recommend it.<br />I received this book free from Tyndale for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1320189910000, "title": "FORSAKING ALL OTHERS the Sister Wives Series #2" }, { "asin": "1414338732", "rating": 4, "text": "BECKON by Tom Pawlik is a book that is a little hard to describe. The book is spine tingling, horrifying, weird and unexpected. To quote his webpage it is an \"edge-of-your-seat thriller\".<br />It is a story of a town \"Beckon\" that is inhabited by an unusual group of people, to say the least. A man, Jack Kendrick, a woman police officer, Elina Gutierrez, who are there looking for answers about loved ones, and George Wilcox who has been enticed there seeking a cure for his wife's Alzheimer's. Their stories all converge with the town's people and the leader, Vale, with lots of bizarre twists and turns. I found myself wanting to put it down because it was almost too hard to continue, while at the same time having to know what is going to happen next and the outcome.<br />Ultimately the hope of Christ leads them all to a place of strength and redemption. I would recommend it. Overall it is a good book, especially if you like edge of your seat thrillers.<br />This book was provided free for my honest review by Tyndale House Publishers.", "timestamp": 1333919315000, "title": "Spine Tingling and Weird But Hard To Put Down" }, { "asin": "1401686974", "rating": 4, "text": "Covenant Child is a story of twin sisters. They are orphaned and although they had a stepmother they loved and who wanted to raise them, their maternal grandparents win custody. This begins the tumultuous life's of these two who are lied to and have no idea they are actually heiresses.<br /><br />I've read several Terri Blackstock books so knew this would be an interesting book. You get frustrated at the system that would give the girls to the grandparents. You will also go from empathy for the girls to wondering how they could sink to do some of the things they do.<br /><br />When Amanda, the stepmother, tries to contact them as they get older they don't trust her, especially when they are told there is an inheritance they may have access to.<br /><br />Terri Blackstock writes interesting stories, you will enjoy this one.<br /><br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1343593822000, "title": "Covenant Chilc" }, { "asin": "1433671689", "rating": 4, "text": "What can a chef, a counselor and a vegan health food store worker have in common. Three unlikely women who are brought together and help each other find healing.<br /><br />The chef and cafe owner Ellyn, is large and therefore decides she is unattractive so she buries herself in food. Sabina, the counselor, has come to Mendocino to heal and hide, to be invisible. Twila is a young woman, wise beyond her years, whose father abandoned her and because of the emptiness has developed an eating disorder.<br /><br />Can these three women begin to see themselves as God sees them? Can they work through the issues that hinders them? Twila tells Ellyn that they are alike in some ways, and like them we often share the same vision. \"It just means that we sometimes miss seeing Him in the most important thing He created. Us.....He sees our inner beauty - the condition of our hearts....\"<br /><br />INVISIBLE by Ginny L. Yttrup is a look into ourselves, for one reason or another, we all sometime wish we could be invisible.<br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it. I received Invisible free for an honest review from [...]", "timestamp": 1364860849000, "title": "SOMETIME WE WANT TO BE INVISIBLE" }, { "asin": "1414358490", "rating": 5, "text": "Being a veteran of the police force for twenty-two years, Janice Cantore lends authenticity and realism to her writing of AVENGED. It was however, part of a series, but it can stand alone if you've not read the other two.<br />Carly Edwards, a police officer, and her husband, Sergeant Nick Anderson get caught up in a suspected gang execution that she suspects is not what it seems. Tensions increase between two local gangs. They confiscate some weapons from a member of one of the gangs. After further investigation they find out that the guns, along with some explosives, were stolen from a military base.<br />Carly has her character shredded just as she is to testify in a major trial. She has to depend on God and remember ;\"Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.\"<br />This is a great crime and mystery book and I will be reading more of her books. She knows what she's talking about and is able to bring the characters to life.<br />I received this book free from Tyndale for a honest review. I do recommend this book and author to anyone who enjoys a good clean crime novel.<br /><br />[[ASIN:1414358490 Avenged (Pacific Coast Justice)]]", "timestamp": 1366683945000, "title": "WHEN YOUR CHARACTER IS SHREDDED" }, { "asin": "1401688667", "rating": 5, "text": "TO KNOW YOU by Shannon Ethridge & Kathryn Mackel is a tale of a mother. A mother who was forced to confront her past and the results that ensued.<br />As a young college girl, Julia fell in love with Thomas and became pregnant. Her mother and Thomas convinced her to give the baby up for adoption. Reeling from losing the man she loved and her baby she consequently turned to another and becomes pregnant and again gives up the baby.<br />In time she heals and meets a man who loves her for her and they forge a good life. They have one child that is born with a liver disease and eventually has to have a liver transplant or die. Thus begins the story of her journey to reconnect with the children she relinquished and hopefully save her son.<br />This is a story of forgiveness, redemption and second chances. It will hold you captivated and wondering. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and would recommend it.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Thomas Nelson.", "timestamp": 1383511192000, "title": "CONFRONTING THE PAST" }, { "asin": "0310335884", "rating": 4, "text": "A SIMPLE PRAYER, by Amy Clipston is a entertaining Amish story of two who have been wounded and are afraid to trust.<br />Aaron Ebersol left the Amish community as a teen but returns when he's told of his mother's health problems. Will his family accept him back?<br />Linda Zook, is the sole survivor of a buggy accident that claimed the lives of her parents. Her mother's brother and his wife took her in but she's never felt accepted.<br />What does the future hold for these two, can they find their way to each other and into the community? Can each of them find forgiveness and extend forgiveness to those they feel have wronged them.<br />Having read several Amish books lately by a variety of authors, I found this one compelling, but quite a bit different take of the Amish community. I do know there is a wide range of beliefs, or I should say adherence in the districts. I just may have to read more of Amy's books as this was enjoyable.<br />I received A Simple Prayer free from Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1432772949000, "title": "PRAYER OF THE HEART" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 5, "text": "I’ve read several books by Janice Cantore and never been disappointed. This last one, DRAWING FIRE Cold Case Justice is the first of a new series. I usually don’t care to read the first of a series and then have to wait a year for the next one. Smile However, for Janice Cantore, it is worth it.<br /><br />Abby Hart is a homicide detective in Long Beach, California and becomes the lead detective in a case the she discovers is a serial killer. Her main witness is a private detective, Luke Murphy, who she thinks is a glory hound.<br /><br />Forced to work together they discover they have a mutual interest in a cold case and set out to see what they can find. Abby is ordered to leave the case alone and it is given to two other detectives. Instead she takes a leave of absence in order to pursue it on her own time with the assistance of Luke.<br /><br />I have to agree with Abby that all murders, in fact all unsolved cases of any nature, should be solved and allow closure for the people involved. I am eager for the next book to come out in the Spring of 2016.<br /><br />I received Drawing Fire free from Tyndale Fiction Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1433794336000, "title": "COLD CASE JUSTICE #1" }, { "asin": "0310338476", "rating": 5, "text": "Love does indeed arrive in Pieces as the title says. Betsy St. Amant's book started a bit slow and I wasn't sure i was going to enjoy it but when all was said and done it spoke to me through those pieces.<br />Stella, recovering from a divorce has convinced herself she's a failure and has climbed into herself to forget. And old high school romance, Chase, returns to town and they are destined to work together.<br />Can she pull herself back together to complete the job? Can she find herself again enough to let herself open up to love?<br />There are many gems interspersed throughout, such as: &#34;God tells us to come to Him with faith like a child. I figure that means with our storms too. If it's going to rain anyway....might as well make something of it.&#34; You will be inspired, possibly shed some tears and definitely enjoy LOVE ARRIVES IN PIECES.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Zondervan via Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1439392681000, "title": "PICKING UP THE PIECES" }, { "asin": "140168596X", "rating": 4, "text": "I have read several books from various author's about the Amish. Some, I feel do a lot of study and research, even befriending Amish before they write. Some however I'm not sure how much they actually know about them and their culture. I do know the districts vary from each other by their Bishop and their interpretation of the Ordnung. Therefore I am sometimes dubious about the way the Amish are portrayed in some books. This is one I'm not sure of.<br />HER BROTHER'S KEEPER by Beth Wiseman is a story of an Englischer, Charlotte, investigating her brother's suicide. Ethan was engaged to an Amish maedel so Charlotte is convinced he was brainwashed and that is the reason for his suicide.<br />She decides to pretend to be a distant Amish cousin from Texas and visit. She does not predict the ensuing sequence of events that enfold. It is an intriguing story even if I am unconvinced of some of the actions taken.<br />Overall it was an interesting concept that left many questions as to how it would have all actually have happened had it been real story.<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishing for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1442278531000, "title": "WHAT HAPPENED TO ETHAN?" }, { "asin": "1601426992", "rating": 5, "text": "I love Cindy Woodsmalls books and I'm never disappointed. They only regret with reading her newest Ties That Bind is that it's the first of a series and I hate waiting for the next one. lol<br />The first book of The Amish of Summer Grove series is one of the most intriguing ones I've read of hers. Arianna Brenneman is the twin of Abram and one of the ten children of Isaac and Lovina. The boy she hoped to marry, Quill, ran off with her best friend, Frieda. She is finally moving on and has a new beau, Rudy, when Quill reappears.<br />Quill appears to be linked to the night crawler, a person who sneaks in and assists the Amish who wish to leave the community. However, there are more pressing secrets that come to light that changes everything Arianna believes.<br />This novel does deviate somewhat from her usual ones in that it is focused more on the family and less on the Amish community. I enjoyed Ties that Bind and I iam now sitting on pins and needles waiting for her to release book two.<br />I received this book free from Water Brook Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1444160333000, "title": "WHAT MAKES A FAMILY" }, { "asin": "1601428146", "rating": 5, "text": "Four novellas interwoven together by four different authors creates a totally beguiling book in AMISH CRISTMAS at North Star.<br />The back story begins when an Amish midwife in North Star, Pennsylvania delivers four babies in the midst of a blizzard on a November day. The event is written up in the local newspaper then picked by People Magazine. They became known as &#34;Rebekah's Babies&#34;.<br />Twenty plus years later Chase Wellington finds the newspaper story, is captivated ad sets out to find out what happened to the babies.<br />Katie Ganshert tells us of Elle, baby of Ruth Guiding Star. Ruth left from the midwifes house, leaving her husband and community.<br /> In Morning Star Amanda Fowler acquaint with us Eden Hochstetler whose family moved to Sugarcreek and run a fudge-and-candy shop.<br />Into the Stars is the story told by Cindy Woodsmall of Savilla Beiler who still lives in North Star and is an accomplished seamstress.<br />Mindy Starnes Clark and Emily Clark share the story of Andy, the only baby boy born that night in Star of Grace.<br />Being a Cindy Woodsmall fan I didn't hesitate receiving this book and have found new author's to enjoy. This book was a joy to read.<br />I received this book free from Water Brook for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1447524439000, "title": "FOUR LIVES INTERWOVEN" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 4, "text": "Rachel Hauck wrote a intriguing story about an unfulfilled love that spans sixty-seven years and three generations. The Wedding Chapel is an account of Peg, a deceitful sister who is in love with the boy in love with Collette, her younger sister.<br />Peg and Colette are English who were orphaned in the war then sent to live with an Aunt and Uncle in America. Jimmy is a neighbor boy whose mother left and his dad raised him alone. Jimmy is taken with Collette when Clem, the girls cousin shows him their picture upon hearing they are coming.<br />Jimmy and Colette fall in love. Jimmy is drafted and leaves to serve in the military. Due to misunderstanding and lies Colette runs off to Hollywood and becomes a big star. Neither Colette or Jimmy ever married.<br />Taylor, a photographer, is Peg's granddaughter and has moved to Manhattan where she marries Jack, and advertising executive. Circumstances brings them all back to Heart's Bend, Tennessee where they are all faced with the truth.<br />It's a little confusing at times with the bouncing back and forth between the past and future. However, it is a charming romance which I enjoyed.<br />I received this book free from Zondervan via Thomas Nelson Publishers for an honest review.", "timestamp": 1449104626000, "title": "LOVE THAT LASTS" }, { "asin": "0764212486", "rating": 5, "text": "Beverly Lewis understands and write of the Amish Culture better than many who attempt to put pen to paper. Being born in Pennsylvania and living among them she writes with a perceptive and thoughtful heart.<br />The Atonement is a story of a young Amish woman, Lucy Flaud, who is dealing with grief and guilt from a long past time in her life. She has spent the intervening years trying to atone by loving and doing for others.<br /> Her Daed, Christian, is also grieving, for the same incident, however, for a much different reason. He starts attending a grief group where he meets Englischers and befriends one young man, Dale Wyeth.<br />Tobe Glick is Lucy's best friend but has secretly loved her for years. However, Lucy holds her secret so close she feels unworthy to return his offer of courtship.<br />Will she be able to get past her long-ago sin to forgive, live and love again? Will Tobe be able to see the woman she is now or will he reject her?<br />I loved this book as I have all of Beverly Lewis's novels. As always there is much to glean and learn from her writings.<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group.", "timestamp": 1459644991000, "title": "MUST YOU ATONE?" }, { "asin": "1401688314", "rating": 4, "text": "Very seldom do I find it impossible to finish a book. A Dream of Miracles by Ruth Reid was one. I picked it up and put it down too many times, unable to continue. It's not because of the writer's ability to draw you in, if anything that is the reason. It is the subject, the characters. It's a story I find myself being able to empathize with and become angry and defensive about.<br />Mattie Diener is a young Amish widow with two children. Bo Lambright is a social services investigator. Of course, circumstances bring them together and you can let you mind jump to where this will be headed. As always there is other people involved that only complicate the matter.<br />To not get on a soap box I will only say that too often the system interferes when they have no business to because of some so called well meaning busy body. Before you get you take this wrong, I do know there are times when they should. Unfortunately too often they should when they don't and don't when they should. Enough said!<br />I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers for a fair and honest review.", "timestamp": 1466264288000, "title": "TRUTH" }, { "asin": "0310342015", "rating": 5, "text": "An Amish Heirloom Novel, THE COURTSHIP BASKET by Amy Clipston is the second in the series. I had read the first, The Forgotten Recipe and knew this would be a good book and wasn't disappointed.<br />At her sister Victoria's wedding, Rachel Fisher, the second of three sisters, happens to overhear her best friend and the young man she hoped to marry. Betrayed and heartbroken she takes a job as a teacher in a special school. Rachel doesn't need another heartbreak and enjoys teaching.<br />John Lantz whose mother is dead and his father is sick joins her class. Mike, his older brother, has assumed responsibility for not only his dad's care but also John's. Mike believes his obligations prevent him from dating or seeking a wife.<br />Rachel, wanting to do something for the family sends meals to the family using an old picnic basket that holds family memories. Mike watchful of her intentions and wants to protect John.<br />Amy has the ability of draw you into the narrative and become enthralled by the characters and their journey. I loved the book and now awaiting book three of the series. I hope she not only shares Emily's account but also the parents tale.<br />I received The Courtship Basket free for an honest review from Zondervan and Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1468093831000, "title": "HEIRLOOMS MAGNETISM" }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "THE WEDDING SHOP is the third book of the series and I'm not sure if I can say enough about Rachel Hauck's ability to captivate your imagination and keep you spellbound. I had read the second book, and even reviewed it. After finishing this one I had to read the first one which I wish I had read first. All three books can be read as a standalone, but are definitely intertwined.<br />The wedding shop is an abandoned building that draws two young girls who make a pinkie pledge to one day reopen. As often happens, life takes them in different directions. Haley goes to college then the military. Tammy stays in Hearts Bend, gets engaged to her childhood crush. However, life throws them a curve and Tammy dies from an aggressive form of brain cancer, Haley has a destructive relationship that causes her to leave the military and return home.<br />Determined to reopen the Wedding Shop for Tammy she encounters Cole, Tammy's fiancé who has bid on tearing the building down. Long buried attraction to each other resurfaces and guilt ensues. Will they be able to move pass the guilt and build a relationship? Will Haley succeed in reopening the Wedding Shop?<br />I received this book free for an honest review from Zondrrvan and Thomas Nelson Publishers.", "timestamp": 1474121359000, "title": "PROMISES, REGRETS AND REDEMPTION" }, { "asin": "0310395933", "rating": 4, "text": "To Have ad to Hold: Three Autumn Love Stories by three different authors is a sweet collection of novella's. Each tale is a complete and charming narrative.<br />In Love Takes a Cake by Betsy St. Amant, Charlotte Cantrell is the owner of The Dough Knot bakery. Will Martin is a reclusive bachelor that frequents the bakery, and best man for a wedding Charlotte is to provide the cake for. Each comes with their own baggage to overcome. Will they be able to wade through and find happily after themselves?<br />In The Perfect Arrangement by Katie Ganshert, Amelia Woods is the stepsister, the one ignored and ridiculed by the family. Nate Gallagher, is a ghost writer who begins an email correspondence with Amelia after a minor auto accident. Complications ensue that threaten the blooming relationship. Will they be insurmountable?<br />In Love in the Details by Becky Wade, Josh Bowen is the one who left, went to MIT and became a success. Holly Morgan is the high school sweetheart that broke his heart by breaking up with him after he left. Now he's back in town and once buried feelings resurface. Will they get past the what and why and find happines?<br />I received a free copy from Zondervan a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing. No review, positive or otherwise, was required - all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1480700316000, "title": "LOVE TIMES THREE" }, { "asin": "0310341965", "rating": 5, "text": "THE CHERISHED QUILT, an Amish Heirloom book, by Amy Clipston is the third in a series about three Amish sisters. By the epilogue it seems there may be another book coming. Amy has Amish friends who answer questions and help keep her books true to the Amish beliefs.<br />I had read the previous two books so was excited to continue this journey. In this one, Emily the youngest of the Fisher daughters only wants to find the right man and fall in love, have a home and family. One of her sisters, Veronica, is married and Rachel, second one is betrothed and planning her wedding. Emily loves to sew and especially quilt.<br />Emily assists her Dat in the leather shop he and his best friend Hank owns, by keeping the books along and helping the customers.<br />Christopher Hochstetler has come to Bird in Hand to work with his Onkel Hank and learn the leather working trade after a tragedy left him estranged from his family. He attempts to remain distant from everyone but Emily's friendliness and sweetness draws him.<br />Can a quilt made by Emily's own hands be the catalyst that bridges the pain and help heal the hurts in a family?<br />I received a free copy from Zondervan a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing. No review, positive or otherwise, was required - all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1481495327000, "title": "PIECES OF THE HEART" }, { "asin": "0718085949", "rating": 5, "text": "Pregnant, Brooklyn Myers was abandoned by her husband, Chad Hallston, ten years ago. Working as a waitress she is raising her daughter as a single mother. She never expects to return home where her father is cold and emotionally abusive when she receives an unexpected visitor.<br />Derek Johnson, was Chad's best friend and didn't care for Brooklyn and blamed her for Chad's leaving Thunder Creek Idaho. He's a part time deputy and has a small farm he's cultivating and growing organic produce. He's hoping to buy Chad's family farm next door and expand.<br />They say God often laughs at our plans as he directs us in the way He knows is best. Robin Lee Hatcher brings us a charming story of just such direction in YOU'LL THINK OF ME. I loved the book and highly recommend it.<br />I received a free copy from Harper Collins Publisher and Thomas Nelson Publishing Groups. No review, positive or otherwise, was required – all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1494195276000, "title": "GOD DIRECTS OUR PATH" }, { "asin": "0764219669", "rating": 5, "text": "Another Beverly Lewis win in The Proving. Beverly never fails or provide us with a compelling story with accuracy and compassion.<br />Amanda Dienner left the Amish after she saw her sister, Arie Mae, kissing her beau, Joshua, and her mother sided with Arie Mae. She'd never intended to leave, but after five years she's adapted and doesn't feel like she can return.<br />Her mother dies and leaves her Bed and Breakfast to Amanda with stipulations. She accepts the challenge, plans on working the inn for the required year then selling it and returning to the outside world. She still feels betrayed by her sister, who lives next door with Joshua who helps with repair work and upkeep of the inn.<br />Karl Lantz a neighbor, is a widower and single father that helps out with the horses. Yonnie, Karl's son grows fond of Amanda as does Karl.<br />Will Amanda forgive Arie Mae and Joshua? Will she let go of the resentment for being all but shunned by her family and the community? Will she let herself love Karl and Yonnie and stay?<br />I received a free copy from Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group. No review, positive or otherwise, was required – all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1504743345926, "title": "LETTING GO" }, { "asin": "0718090500", "rating": 5, "text": "Denise Hunter is one of my favorite authors. In blue ridge sunrise she weaves a intriguing story of second chances at first love, forgiveness and God's mercy.<br />Zoe Collins and Cruz Huntley grew up together. Cruz was her brother's best friend and from the wrong side of the tracks according to her dad. They sneak around to see each other and when they are found out there are misunderstandings and lies that aid in their decisions.<br />Five years later Zoe grandma dies and she inherits her peach orchard. Torn with what to do and regretting the direction of her life, what will she decide? Can she and Cruz work through the mistrust, and repercussions of the last five years?<br />I received a free copy from Thomas Nelson Publishing Group. No review, positive or otherwise, was required – all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1511121586322, "title": "SECOND CHANCES" }, { "asin": "031034901X", "rating": 4, "text": "Amy Clipston's A Place At Our Table is an Amish story somewhat different than most. They live close to each other but seem to be from different communities and they rules are much more relaxed than most.<br />James Riehl is a twenty-five Amish volunteer firefighter, the oldest son of a farmer. Jamie's sense of duty to his family and running the farm along with protecting the community keeps him from taking time for himself.<br />Kala Dienner, the sister of an older brother, a firefighter who lost his life in a fire, is furious when her younger brother Nathan wants to become a firefighter and Jamie encourages him.<br />Unable to resist their attraction to each other they begin to date. However Jamie takes his responsibilities so seriously he hardly eats or sleeps and neglects Kayla. After an accident he feels is his fault he pushes Kayla away.<br />Will Jamie's sense of duty and guilt destroy what he and Kayla have? Can they learn to trust and rest in God?<br />I received a free copy from Zondervan HarperCollins Publisher a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing Group. No review, positive or otherwise, was required – all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1513184287350, "title": "FINDING BALANCE" }, { "asin": "0718085973", "rating": 5, "text": "Although it's not listed as a sequel, You're Gonna Love Me by Robin Lee Hatcher is a companion and follow up to You'll Think of Me. Both books are set in Idaho's Thunder Creek and the character's from the first book are in this one.<br />Samantha Winters watched her dad die in an skiing accident as a teen and since then has been avoided risks. Two years ago she met Nick Chastain but when he proved to be a risk taker she broke it off from him.<br />She comes home to assist her grandmother after a mishap and who should be living there but Nick. She wants nothing to do with him but circumstances keep throwing them together. They both have renewed and are striving to strengthen their faith. God challenges her to let go and trust Him as Nick seeks to show her he's changed.<br />Robin continues to write warm inspiring stories that speak truth.<br />I received a free copy from Thomas NelsonPublishing Group. No review, positive or otherwise, was required – all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1513817384427, "title": "THE RISK OF LOVE" }, { "asin": "0718091159", "rating": 5, "text": "Amy Clipston's Amish Sweethearts is a book with four of Amy's novella's. Each is story of two Amish young people finding their way with family issues, tradition and making the right decisions.<br />A Home for Lindsay is about a Lindsay and Matthew and his struggle with doing what is right for the right reason.<br />Love and Buggy Rides tells of Janie Lantz choice's. Does she tell what she saw and defy her Daed or does she keep quiet and let Jonathan be blamed for an accident.<br />In Where the Heart Is Tobias Smucker left his community to get some help with his alcoholism without explaining to his family. Mariella is his sister's friend who has always liked him.<br />Love Birds follows Ellie Lapp and her mother dealing with the farm after her brother Seth's death. Seth's friend Lloyd comes by to help with chores and whittles birds which his father disapproves of.<br />I received a free copy from Zondervan a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing Group. No review, positive or otherwise, was required – all opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1516490222260, "title": "SWEETHEARTS OF THE AMISH" } ]

[ { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 4, "text": "Do you ever wonder why our lives bear so little resemblance to the lives of people portrayed in the New Testament?<br /><br />When I read the book of Acts, I see men who were cowardly and fled when Christ was arrested and crucified, now transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. In boldness they went forth and proclaiming the Gospel message of salvation found in Jesus Christ alone. We see God working through them and performing miracles. We see people comprehend and live out the truth, \"To live is Christ and to die is gain.\"<br /><br />I was excited to select Max Lucado's book \"Outlive Your Life\" and read his perspective on God at work in and through the church, a work that continues today. Max has a way of taking profound truths and simplifying them. He takes God at His word and believes that God still transforms lives and that He wants to work in your life and mine. That the Lord has a greater purpose and plan for our lives if we will dare to yield to Him and die to self daily.<br /><br />I recommend \"Outlive Your Life\" to Christian readers who want to be challenged to grow in their faith walk and also for unbelievers who want to see the heart of God at work in His church.<br /><br />It took a few chapters for me to embrace \"Outlive Your Life\" because I was concerned that the author, Max Lucado had left out the most important element, the Gospel message that salvation is found in Jesus Christ. But in chapter four, \"Don't Forget the Bread\", Max shares the Gospel through the words of the Apostle Peter.<br /><br />The chapter that won me over was \"Open Your Door; Open Your Heart\". In this chapter Max shows examples of how we can reach out to people around us. Simple actions that we can all do. My favorite chapter by far was \"Pray First; Pray Most\". There are times I struggle to be faithful in prayer. What an encouragement this chapter was on how powerful prayer is. Max sites examples from scripture and from Christians today who are mighty prayer warriors.<br /><br />Do you need a reminder on just how powerful God is and the work that He wants to do in and through you? Pick up a copy of \"Outlive Your Life\" by Max Lucado and then reread the book of Acts. Where does God want you to serve today and to reach the people for whom Christ died?<br /><br />Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: \"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.\"", "timestamp": 1292015638000, "title": "Outlive Your Life - Profound Yet Simple" }, { "asin": "0849920701", "rating": 4, "text": "Author Max Lucado has a unique way of meditating on God, who He is and what He's done for sinful man. What better subject than grace! The grace of God that saves us and gives us a new heart. Our gracious God who forgives us when by all rights He should have condemned us. The grace of God demonstrated when He sent His Son to take our place and pay the penalty for our sin. In exchange, He saved us by His marvelous, overflowing, unstoppable grace. Grace that can soften a hardened heart and change a life. Those are just some of the meditations on God's grace that Max Lucado shares in his new book Grace - More Than We Deserve - Greater Than We Imagine.<br /><br />Who doesn't need to be under the fire hose of God's grace? Once you've been on the receiving end of God's grace, often dispensed through the lives of His people, you want to learn how to live a grace filled and grace giving life.<br /><br />This book is a powerful reminder on God and the grace He freely gives us in abundance.<br /><br />I highly recommend Max Lucado's newest book Grace - More Than We Deserve - Greater Than We Imagine. This book is a keeper because you will want to read it again, ponder and reflect on our gracious God. This book is a giver too; you'll want to share this encouraging book with someone in need of an outpouring of God's grace.<br /><br />A concern that I had with the Reader's Guide written by Kate Etue, is that it was too self-focused and less God focused. I also would appreciate Max Lucado broaching the subject of repentance, a subject that is seldom mentioned in Christian writing today.<br /><br />A free copy of this book was provided to me by BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review. I under no obligation to provide a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1358401242000, "title": "Grace by Max Lucado - This Book's a Keeper and a Giver" }, { "asin": "1414366930", "rating": 3, "text": "When the opportunity to read and review Sheri Rose Shepherd's newest book, His Treasure Gems of Love from Your King, was presented I was excited at the prospect of reading her work. I've heard some of her conference messages and found Sheri to be a very compelling speaker.<br /><br />Based on her writing, I would say that Sheri has a love for the Lord and heart for women. She desires that the women will grasp the love that God has for them and the blessings that come to a woman who loves the Lord, increasingly trusts and obeys Him.<br /><br />I found many of the Treasures to be very encouraging, convicting and they touched tender spots where I have emotional wounds that need the Lord's healing.<br /><br />Sheri's love and passion for the Lord comes through in her writing.<br /><br />I also want to share how I struggled with this book. My struggle is with the style or genre of this book as if God is speaking to the reader. I would have felt more comfortable if instead the writer was praying to God. It's easy to not accurately represent God, because we see Him through our own unique perspective that is colored by our life and experiences. I also felt like the sovereignty and holiness of God was somewhat lacking. The focus seemed to be on the person to whom God was talking and less focused on God. As portrayed, God seemed to be gently trying to persuade the beloved child or daughter and was seldom revealed as God, the absolute Authority to Whom we will give an account. I would have also appreciated if scripture references had been given that would line up to the words God was speaking.<br /><br />I would like to thank Tyndale House Publishers for providing a complimentary copy of this book.", "timestamp": 1383806276000, "title": "Some Mixed Emotions" }, { "asin": "0310283140", "rating": 4, "text": "It was my pleasure to read Terri Blackstock’s newest novel Distortion, the second book in the Moonlights Series. I love to read mysteries and in the past I’ve read a number of Terri’s books and now I remember why I liked her writing so much.<br /><br />Distortion is a fast-paced murder mystery. From the very beginning of the novel, I was drawn into the storyline and characters. This is the second novel in the series, but the reader is not at a disadvantage if you haven’t read the first book Truth Stained Lies. There is enough information peppered throughout the book that helps the reader know about the background of the characters. I do wish I had read the first book, but Distortion a good standalone book too.<br /><br />Terri does a great job in developing the characters as the storyline unfolds. I find her characters very likable and appealing. Unlike other writers, Terri doesn’t have her characters making stupid blunders, just to put them in jeopardy.<br /><br />As a Christian, I’m very appreciative of having Christian characters that wrestle with their faith in the middle of a crisis and see how they interact with family and friends, believers and unbelievers. I also appreciate a writer who doesn’t offend my moral standards by throwing in sin and immorality just to titillate the reader.<br /><br />If you like mystery and suspense, I recommend that you give Terri Blackstock’s newest book Distortion a read. I do forewarn you that you may be staying up late a few nights because you won’t to put the book down.<br /><br />I would like to thank people at BookLook for providing me with a free copy of Distortion to read in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1399958844000, "title": "Fast-paced Intrigue & Suspense" }, { "asin": "0310322170", "rating": 3, "text": "I really enjoy reading mystery novels and like to discover good authors that are new to me. Now that’s a win-win recipe that I like to try and why I selected Murder Freshly Baked by author Vannetta Chapman.<br /><br />Murder Freshly Baked is the third book in the Amish Village Mystery series and the first book I’ve read by Vannetta Chapman. Overall I liked this book, but there were some things I struggled with especially early on.<br /><br />I was lost at the beginning of the book because there were so many characters introduced right off the bat. On the first page alone there were six characters carried over from the prior novels and four more were introduced before chapter one ended. I would imagine that for people who have read the first two books it was like encountering old friends. But for someone new to the series I had a hard time keeping everyone straight and understanding who’s who. The first scenes had a lot going and with a character being murdered the story was off and running. But I felt like I was back at the starting line just trying to figure out what was going on and who was involved.<br /><br />Something else I struggled with is that the author is very wordy. She goes into a lot of detail and uses many adjectives to describe the scenes and what people are doing. For me the wordiness was almost to the point of distraction. I don’t know if I just got used to the writer’s style or if the excessive descriptions lessened as the novel progressed.<br /><br />But there was a point that I started to connect with the characters and was able to figure out who’s who and wasn’t as distracted. I liked the characters and how they really seemed to care about one another. This is not a fast-paced novel, but one in which you get to know the characters and I like finding out what makes people tick.<br /><br />From a Christian perspective there were some things I appreciated about characters and how they interacted with one another. However, I was surprised when the perfect opportunity for one of the characters to share the gospel message was missed. Instead, practical advice was given on how to get out of a difficult situation. Christian writers have a unique platform to share the Gospel message and Biblical truth. When that opportunity is missed I don’t understand why.<br /><br />The author could have done a better job introducing the characters to the reader and not assume that people had read the earlier books in the series. The first flashback scene came out of nowhere and was a bit confusing until I learned that the former military character suffered PTSD.<br /><br />At the end of the day, I liked Murder Freshly Baked, mostly because of the characters and I would recommend it with the caveat that people start with the first two books in this series. It’s not a deep book, nor fast-paced, it wasn’t hard to figure out who committed the murder, but there was something appealing about the story, the people.<br /><br />I would like to thank the people at BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1434056539000, "title": "Mixed Emotions" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 4, "text": "I love a good mystery filled with intrigue and interesting characters. I hit the target with Drawing Fire by author Janice Cantore who is a former Long Beach police officer. This is the first book I’ve read by Janice Cantore and I look forward to reading her earlier books.<br /><br />Drawing Fire is filled with suspense and lots of action, but not at the expense of character development. I really liked the characters and learning about what drives them and makes them tick. The story takes place in Long Beach, California. Having lived in So Cal for many years it was fun to read about the various locations and visualize the scenes.<br /><br />I appreciate when a Christian author weaves their faith into the characters and storyline. I thought that Janice did a good job in showing what a loving and supportive Christian community can be like. It wasn’t contrived but flowed naturally as we learn about the characters and see them interact in everyday life and in crisis situations.<br /><br />At the end of Drawing Fire there are twelve discussion questions which can be used for a book club or the individual reader. I found the questions compelling as I remembered the characters and storyline and wondered how I might have responded.<br /><br />When Drawing Fire concludes the readers will know who done it, but things aren’t neatly and perfectly tied up, which is kind of like real life. It proves to be a good stopping off point because the characters will be continued in the next book of the Cold Case Justice series. That’s a book I will want to read.<br /><br />I would like to thank Tyndale Publishers for the opportunity to read Drawing Fire by Janice Cantore in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1435550331000, "title": "Hits the Target" }, { "asin": "1401688888", "rating": 5, "text": "I was privileged to read Robert Whitlow’s book A House Divided. He is an excellent writer and knows how to write good fiction. He skillfully and realistically weaves his Christian faith in to the storyline through the lives of the characters. But he doesn’t beat you over the head with it. Instead you see the Christian faith lived out in the lives of imperfect, hurting and broken people.<br /><br />I’ll be honest with you there were times A House Divided was hard to read. If you know an alcoholic or have seen how destructive alcoholism is you may also find this book painful to read. Read it anyway. There were times I found myself angry at the main character Corbin and wanted to yell at him so he would wake up and see that he was destroying his life, relationships and was endangering others.<br /><br />Robert Whitlow has the ability to draw the reader in to the story from the beginning. I found the characters very engaging and cared about them from the first page to the last, even when they weren’t so loveable. It was interesting and challenging to see how each character, Ray, Roxy, Cindy, Billy and others, responded to Corbin and the situations and people they were involved with. I loved seeing grace given when it was least deserved and unexpected. I couldn’t help but wonder how I would have responded.<br /><br />A House Divided is a book with characters that will stay with me. If Robert Whitlow writes a sequel to this one I want to read it.<br /><br />There are some authors whose work I want to read, whatever they write, because they are that good. Robert Whitlow is one of those writers. I highly recommend A House Divided by Robert Whitlow. You will be challenged and grow as you read it.<br /><br />I would like to thank the people at BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing me a free copy of Robert Whitlow’s book, A House Divided, to read in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1442509229000, "title": "A Compelling and Excellent Read" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 5, "text": "I’m a fan of Terri Blackstock’s writing so I was excited at the opportunity to read her newest mystery If I Run.<br /><br />This book is much different from her other stories. If I Run is written in the first person narrative from two character’s perspectives, Casey and Dylan.<br /><br />The story jumps right in to a mystery from the first sentence with Casey leaving the scene of a murder. Over time the reader learns more about who was murdered and why and why in the world Casey is on the run.<br /><br />Shortly thereafter readers are introduced to Dylan, a friend of the murder victim, who was hired by family to help bring into custody the chief murder suspect Casey.<br /><br />Why is Casey fleeing the scene? If she’s really innocent why doesn’t she hang around to defend herself? After all, won’t the evidence exonerate her if indeed she is innocent? Does Dylan really want to find the person who murdered his friend? Or is he hunting Casey down just for the money? Will truth prevail or will evil triumph?<br /><br />To get answers to those questions, you’ll have to read If I Run by Terri Blackstock. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.<br /><br />One of the things I appreciate about reading Christian writers is when they incorporate the Christian faith into the characters. Unlike some of her other books the main characters aren’t believers. They’ve had some exposure to Christianity, but they aren’t believers yet.<br /><br />Both characters, Casey and Dylan were very likable. I’ve got to confess, Casey had me pulling my hair out at times. But I realized that the character reminded me of real life. We can’t control what other people do and the decisions they make and they have their reasons for making them.<br /><br />I recommend Terri Blackstock’s newest book If I Run. Readers will enjoy Terri’s unveiling the characters and storyline one layer at a time. I forewarn you, you may need to stay up late to finish this book.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Terri Blackstock’s newest book If I Run in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1458079442000, "title": "Will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end" }, { "asin": "1501820079", "rating": 5, "text": "As an animal lover, it didn’t take me long to request Ace Collins newest book Service Tails - More Stores of Man’s Best Hero. What a treat it was to read this book. With all that’s wrong in the world today, it was lovely to take some time and learn about how service dogs have been helping people with disabilities and health challenges live full and independent lives.<br /><br />Service Tails tells the stories of twelve different people, with various disabilities, whose lives were transformed for the better though the use of service dogs helping them live everyday life. For years I’ve known about seeing-eye dogs that help the blind, but didn’t realize all the other areas that dogs could be trained to help.<br /><br />I found it interesting to learn about how the dogs are trained. Why one breed of dog is used over another. Each organization takes a careful look at the needs of the disabled person and puts a lot of thought into selecting just the right animal. Training may need to be customized so the dog is able to meet the needs of the person they will be serving.<br /><br />In Service Tails you will learn how service dogs first started being used in the United States. I felt grateful for the courageous and pioneering spirit of Morris Frank and his determination to get a guide dog so he could regain his freedom and independence. But he didn’t stop there; he went on to share with other blind Americans the gift of guide dogs.<br /><br />It was heartwarming to hear about the bonding that happens between a person and their service dog. However, it was disconcerting to read about the way people with disabilities are treated and may feel isolated, ignored or treated like a small child. I was encouraged to see how the service animal helps breakdown some barriers for disabled people. Instead of people shying away from a disabled person, they are now drawn to them because of the animal. The service dog serves as a vehicle to help people see beyond the disability and see the person for who they are and things they may have in common.<br /><br />Service Tails is a book about heroes. The disabled person who won’t settle for being isolated, giving up and living the rest of their life behind closed doors. The service dogs whom God has gifted with the right temperament, skills, and intelligence to learn and help and serve people in need. Not to be forgotten are the people who train and work with the dogs to prepare them for a life of serving, loving and caring for their own special person.<br /><br />I highly recommend Service Tails – More Stores of Man’s Best Hero by Ace Collins. This book will encourage you and may give you a new perspective on disabled people and the dogs who serve them.<br /><br />I would like to thank Litfuse and Abingdon Press for the opportunity to read Service Tails by Ace Collins in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1472135280000, "title": "A Real Treat" }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 5, "text": "I’ve read some of Robert Whitlow’s previous books and was thrilled at the opportunity to read his newest release, The Witnesses. While reading this book, I was reminded why Robert Whitlow is one of my favorite authors. This man is a gifted storyteller and he knows how to weave a story together with intrigue, mystery and characters you want to get to know better.<br /><br />The Witnesses tells the story of two generations of the House family. Frank is from Germany, a former Nazi and grandfather to Parker who is an attorney in a small town in North Carolina. Both men have a unique gift that they can use for good or evil. How will Frank reconcile his past participation in unimaginable horrors? Will he ever find rest and peace for his soul? Parker’s career is just beginning, he’s the new man on the totem and working long hours. How long will he have to wait to sink his teeth into some weighty cases and prove himself as an attorney?<br /><br />As the storyline develops, Robert slowly unveils the characters, layer by layer. He has keen, thought provoking and honest insights into people and their circumstances. His characters are very relatable. I especially liked the relationships: between Frank and Parker and their love and respect for one another, the friendship between Frank and his longtime friend Lenny and the instantaneous bond between Layla and Frank. As a Christian, I appreciate how Robert weaves the Christian faith into his character’s lives. He did a great job in presenting the Gospel message and showing the Christian faith lived out in everyday life. I would never have guessed that I would like a story that involves a former Nazi, much less like the character; but I did.<br /><br />This book is well written, with interesting characters that will draw you in. I found myself thinking about the characters when I wasn’t reading, they kind of come alive. One thing I love about a book is when a character perfectly expresses what you’ve been feeling, but didn’t quite know how to put into words.<br /><br />I highly recommend The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow, a tale of two men who have a unique gift of seeing what will happen in the future. One man is looking back on a life with some very ugly sins he can’t seem to get away from and the other just starting his career. Will he put his career over and above love? To find out what happens in the lives of these men you will want to read The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing me a free copy The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1476719030000, "title": "A Gifted Storyteller" }, { "asin": "0718037685", "rating": 2, "text": "The Candidate by Lis Wiehl – A Mixed Bag - 2 1/2 Stars<br /><br />Since I like books with mystery and intrigue, I decided to read author Lis Wiehl’s new book The Candidate – A Newsmakers Novel written with Sebastian Stuart. I’ve watched Lis on Fox News and like her keen legal analysis and hoped that would translate into a good book. Unfortunately, I found The Candidate to be a mixed bag.<br /><br />What’s good? I found the plotline intriguing. Is top Presidential candidate, Mike Ortiz, as good as he seems at first glance? Or will Erica discover there is something nefarious going on behind the scenes when she takes a closer look? Coming on the heels of a very contentious election cycle this should be a very interesting book.<br /><br />The story is action packed and the main character, Erica Sparks, is somewhat interesting. Her background is revealed during the course of the story but there was not a lot of depth to this character. I liked her fiancé Greg, while not perfect, he showed himself to be there for Erica in the end. But overall I found the characters were not well developed. What the reader learns about the characters is very surface level details, some action of course, but there seemed to be an obsession with physical appearance. In fact, it was almost to the point of distraction.<br /><br />What’s not so good? The story was predictable. After the first big event in the book, I found myself guessing what the next plot development would be throughout the book.<br /><br />While somewhat veiled, there were some rather sick sexual relationships in this book that cross the line in a book released by a Christian publisher. While not described in detail, enough is said that makes it clear what’s happening. Also, Lis took a swipe at Donald Trump by including a nasty comment from one of the characters about him. It was unnecessary to the story and not value added. My overall impression was Lis tried to be edgy.<br /><br />If this book had been published by a secular publisher, I would only put a cautionary note about some of the content which may be offensive to people of faith.<br /><br />I have higher expectations from Thomas Nelson Publishers. On their website, this publisher is self-described as, “Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years.”<br /><br />There was nothing whatsoever Christian about this book. There was nothing about faith. There was one curse word as I recall and I appreciate that there was very little profanity. But some of the content of this book was not fit material from a Christian publisher.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook for the opportunity to read The Candidate by Lis Wiehl. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1482340801000, "title": "... A Mixed Bag - 2 1/2 Stars Since I like books with mystery and intrigue" }, { "asin": "0718085809", "rating": 3, "text": "The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble is the second book I’ve read by this author. What drew me to the book was the setting along the coastline of Washington, the mystery of what happened to the missing sister, a little romance with some home renovation mixed in. I wanted to like this book more than I actually did.<br /><br />The story is about two sisters Ellie and Mackenzie Blackmore, one of whom is missing and presumed dead. She leaves behind a mystery of a life that wasn’t what it seemed. Thrown into the mix is Grayson Bradshaw, an investigator for the US Coast Guard, who is looking into a missing shipment of illegal drugs that has ties to a terrorist. One of the prime suspects is Mackenzie and that news doesn’t sit too well with Ellie who just wants to find her sister.<br /><br />What I liked about The House at Saltwater Point:<br />• Grayson was very honest, forthright, nice and likeable.<br />• I kind of liked his relationship with Ellie, but they went from an adversarial relationship to romance and I wasn’t quite sure how they crossed that bridge.<br />• I liked the subplot of Grayson finding out that he was adopted and had biological sister and family whom he knew nothing about.<br />• I enjoyed the setting of Lavender Tides, the description of the town, the townspeople and friends, waterfront, beaches and scenery.<br />• I liked the home renovation career of Ellie.<br /><br />What I wasn’t too keen on:<br />• The storyline was rather convoluted and had too many subplots going on.<br />• The story and characters weren’t very realistic. Especially, the two small town sisters trying thwart a terrorist attack. There were times that the sisters did a better job than the FBI and Coast Guard in trying to stop the terrorists. There sure didn’t seem to much of a police presence considering the seriousness of what was going on.<br />• Early on in the book Ellie takes in a helpless small kitten. Periodically, the kitten would be mentioned but for the most part it wasn’t part of the story. I found it distracting. That part of the story was unnecessary and didn’t contribute to the storyline.<br />• At times the story seemed the drag.<br />• The characters weren’t very realistic. My favorite was Grayson, a very nice man…but he was a little too perfect.<br /><br />Colleen is really good at setting a scene and describing the place and helping the reader see it in their mind. However, the storyline was not plausible and the characters weren’t deep or realistic…much of it was very surface level. I think that’s where it lost me, I didn’t connect with the characters.<br /><br />If you just want to read a mystery to escape for a while you may enjoy The House at Saltwater Point.<br /><br />Colleen Coble is a Christian author, but there nothing much about faith included in this book. It’s clean, no profanity and or sexual immorality, and I appreciate that. But nothing much regarding faith and characters talking about God or praying or faith being lived out in their everyday lives.<br /><br />I wanted to like The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble. There were parts I did enjoy, but I think the implausible storyline and lack of depth the characters were too much to overcome.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and BookLook for the opportunity to read The House at Saltwater Point for free in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1534995746065, "title": "Implausible" }, { "asin": "0310348145", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite things is when I find a book that I love by an author whose work is new to me. I found a gem in Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin. I absolutely loved this book, from the moment I first started reading it. I haven’t read a lot of Amish themed novels, but there was something about storyline that caught my attention.<br /><br />Mary Katherine Ropp is a sixty-year-old widow and her last daughter is getting married. Most in the community would have her living with one of her married children and helping to raise her grandchildren. But Mary Katherine isn’t like most Amish women. She’s little bit spunky, independent, she likes to read, write stories and even dares to dream about opening a book store with her English friend Dottie. Also, part of the community is Ezekiel Miller who has been widowed for many years. In spite of grief, he kept family going through his business the Purpose Martin Café. Both Mary Katherine and Ezekiel can’t imagine getting married again so late in life, especially since they had wonderful marriages. But Ezekiel can imagine hiring another cook to help at the restaurant. In to the storyline steps the not so skilled, but very hungry burglar, Burke McMillan, who has a late-night encounter with Mary Katherine.<br /><br />What I loved best about this book were the characters. They were very likable people that I would enjoy knowing. Mary Katherine was my favorite and I loved her ongoing conversations with her husband Moses. I loved Ezekiel’s tender caring heart, tender for Mary Katherine, open to help and give a new start to a stranger, loving to his grandchildren, especially Kenneth. Burke is a man of mystery. Is he just a down on his luck kind of guy, is he the thief that’s been plaguing the Amish community or is something more going on with him?<br /><br />Kelly Irvin is a wonderful writer. She knows how to make characters interesting and very likeable, even in plain every day ordinary life. She gives insight into the characters and what they are going through at this stage in their lives. The Amish community setting is interesting but doesn’t overwhelm the story, instead it’s the background and reveals how these characters live their lives. I could identify with many of the feelings that Mary Katherine was expressing.<br /><br />The one person, I wasn’t too keen on was her son Thomas because he was so disrespectful to his mother. I would think as a Christian, he would have tried to honor his mother, but instead he treated her more like a child who has misbehaved.<br /><br />I loved Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin and I look forward to reading more of her books. I highly recommend this story, it was lovely! I read this book during a very difficult time in my life and I found it to be a very comforting place to escape to for a while.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Through the Autumn Air in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1539231378306, "title": "A Real Gem and Lovely Read" } ]

[ { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 4, "text": "Do you ever wonder why our lives bear so little resemblance to the lives of people portrayed in the New Testament?<br /><br />When I read the book of Acts, I see men who were cowardly and fled when Christ was arrested and crucified, now transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. In boldness they went forth and proclaiming the Gospel message of salvation found in Jesus Christ alone. We see God working through them and performing miracles. We see people comprehend and live out the truth, \"To live is Christ and to die is gain.\"<br /><br />I was excited to select Max Lucado's book \"Outlive Your Life\" and read his perspective on God at work in and through the church, a work that continues today. Max has a way of taking profound truths and simplifying them. He takes God at His word and believes that God still transforms lives and that He wants to work in your life and mine. That the Lord has a greater purpose and plan for our lives if we will dare to yield to Him and die to self daily.<br /><br />I recommend \"Outlive Your Life\" to Christian readers who want to be challenged to grow in their faith walk and also for unbelievers who want to see the heart of God at work in His church.<br /><br />It took a few chapters for me to embrace \"Outlive Your Life\" because I was concerned that the author, Max Lucado had left out the most important element, the Gospel message that salvation is found in Jesus Christ. But in chapter four, \"Don't Forget the Bread\", Max shares the Gospel through the words of the Apostle Peter.<br /><br />The chapter that won me over was \"Open Your Door; Open Your Heart\". In this chapter Max shows examples of how we can reach out to people around us. Simple actions that we can all do. My favorite chapter by far was \"Pray First; Pray Most\". There are times I struggle to be faithful in prayer. What an encouragement this chapter was on how powerful prayer is. Max sites examples from scripture and from Christians today who are mighty prayer warriors.<br /><br />Do you need a reminder on just how powerful God is and the work that He wants to do in and through you? Pick up a copy of \"Outlive Your Life\" by Max Lucado and then reread the book of Acts. Where does God want you to serve today and to reach the people for whom Christ died?<br /><br />Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: \"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.\"", "timestamp": 1292015638000, "title": "Outlive Your Life - Profound Yet Simple" }, { "asin": "0849920701", "rating": 4, "text": "Author Max Lucado has a unique way of meditating on God, who He is and what He's done for sinful man. What better subject than grace! The grace of God that saves us and gives us a new heart. Our gracious God who forgives us when by all rights He should have condemned us. The grace of God demonstrated when He sent His Son to take our place and pay the penalty for our sin. In exchange, He saved us by His marvelous, overflowing, unstoppable grace. Grace that can soften a hardened heart and change a life. Those are just some of the meditations on God's grace that Max Lucado shares in his new book Grace - More Than We Deserve - Greater Than We Imagine.<br /><br />Who doesn't need to be under the fire hose of God's grace? Once you've been on the receiving end of God's grace, often dispensed through the lives of His people, you want to learn how to live a grace filled and grace giving life.<br /><br />This book is a powerful reminder on God and the grace He freely gives us in abundance.<br /><br />I highly recommend Max Lucado's newest book Grace - More Than We Deserve - Greater Than We Imagine. This book is a keeper because you will want to read it again, ponder and reflect on our gracious God. This book is a giver too; you'll want to share this encouraging book with someone in need of an outpouring of God's grace.<br /><br />A concern that I had with the Reader's Guide written by Kate Etue, is that it was too self-focused and less God focused. I also would appreciate Max Lucado broaching the subject of repentance, a subject that is seldom mentioned in Christian writing today.<br /><br />A free copy of this book was provided to me by BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review. I under no obligation to provide a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1358401242000, "title": "Grace by Max Lucado - This Book's a Keeper and a Giver" }, { "asin": "1414366930", "rating": 3, "text": "When the opportunity to read and review Sheri Rose Shepherd's newest book, His Treasure Gems of Love from Your King, was presented I was excited at the prospect of reading her work. I've heard some of her conference messages and found Sheri to be a very compelling speaker.<br /><br />Based on her writing, I would say that Sheri has a love for the Lord and heart for women. She desires that the women will grasp the love that God has for them and the blessings that come to a woman who loves the Lord, increasingly trusts and obeys Him.<br /><br />I found many of the Treasures to be very encouraging, convicting and they touched tender spots where I have emotional wounds that need the Lord's healing.<br /><br />Sheri's love and passion for the Lord comes through in her writing.<br /><br />I also want to share how I struggled with this book. My struggle is with the style or genre of this book as if God is speaking to the reader. I would have felt more comfortable if instead the writer was praying to God. It's easy to not accurately represent God, because we see Him through our own unique perspective that is colored by our life and experiences. I also felt like the sovereignty and holiness of God was somewhat lacking. The focus seemed to be on the person to whom God was talking and less focused on God. As portrayed, God seemed to be gently trying to persuade the beloved child or daughter and was seldom revealed as God, the absolute Authority to Whom we will give an account. I would have also appreciated if scripture references had been given that would line up to the words God was speaking.<br /><br />I would like to thank Tyndale House Publishers for providing a complimentary copy of this book.", "timestamp": 1383806276000, "title": "Some Mixed Emotions" }, { "asin": "0310283140", "rating": 4, "text": "It was my pleasure to read Terri Blackstock’s newest novel Distortion, the second book in the Moonlights Series. I love to read mysteries and in the past I’ve read a number of Terri’s books and now I remember why I liked her writing so much.<br /><br />Distortion is a fast-paced murder mystery. From the very beginning of the novel, I was drawn into the storyline and characters. This is the second novel in the series, but the reader is not at a disadvantage if you haven’t read the first book Truth Stained Lies. There is enough information peppered throughout the book that helps the reader know about the background of the characters. I do wish I had read the first book, but Distortion a good standalone book too.<br /><br />Terri does a great job in developing the characters as the storyline unfolds. I find her characters very likable and appealing. Unlike other writers, Terri doesn’t have her characters making stupid blunders, just to put them in jeopardy.<br /><br />As a Christian, I’m very appreciative of having Christian characters that wrestle with their faith in the middle of a crisis and see how they interact with family and friends, believers and unbelievers. I also appreciate a writer who doesn’t offend my moral standards by throwing in sin and immorality just to titillate the reader.<br /><br />If you like mystery and suspense, I recommend that you give Terri Blackstock’s newest book Distortion a read. I do forewarn you that you may be staying up late a few nights because you won’t to put the book down.<br /><br />I would like to thank people at BookLook for providing me with a free copy of Distortion to read in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1399958844000, "title": "Fast-paced Intrigue & Suspense" }, { "asin": "0310322170", "rating": 3, "text": "I really enjoy reading mystery novels and like to discover good authors that are new to me. Now that’s a win-win recipe that I like to try and why I selected Murder Freshly Baked by author Vannetta Chapman.<br /><br />Murder Freshly Baked is the third book in the Amish Village Mystery series and the first book I’ve read by Vannetta Chapman. Overall I liked this book, but there were some things I struggled with especially early on.<br /><br />I was lost at the beginning of the book because there were so many characters introduced right off the bat. On the first page alone there were six characters carried over from the prior novels and four more were introduced before chapter one ended. I would imagine that for people who have read the first two books it was like encountering old friends. But for someone new to the series I had a hard time keeping everyone straight and understanding who’s who. The first scenes had a lot going and with a character being murdered the story was off and running. But I felt like I was back at the starting line just trying to figure out what was going on and who was involved.<br /><br />Something else I struggled with is that the author is very wordy. She goes into a lot of detail and uses many adjectives to describe the scenes and what people are doing. For me the wordiness was almost to the point of distraction. I don’t know if I just got used to the writer’s style or if the excessive descriptions lessened as the novel progressed.<br /><br />But there was a point that I started to connect with the characters and was able to figure out who’s who and wasn’t as distracted. I liked the characters and how they really seemed to care about one another. This is not a fast-paced novel, but one in which you get to know the characters and I like finding out what makes people tick.<br /><br />From a Christian perspective there were some things I appreciated about characters and how they interacted with one another. However, I was surprised when the perfect opportunity for one of the characters to share the gospel message was missed. Instead, practical advice was given on how to get out of a difficult situation. Christian writers have a unique platform to share the Gospel message and Biblical truth. When that opportunity is missed I don’t understand why.<br /><br />The author could have done a better job introducing the characters to the reader and not assume that people had read the earlier books in the series. The first flashback scene came out of nowhere and was a bit confusing until I learned that the former military character suffered PTSD.<br /><br />At the end of the day, I liked Murder Freshly Baked, mostly because of the characters and I would recommend it with the caveat that people start with the first two books in this series. It’s not a deep book, nor fast-paced, it wasn’t hard to figure out who committed the murder, but there was something appealing about the story, the people.<br /><br />I would like to thank the people at BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1434056539000, "title": "Mixed Emotions" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 4, "text": "I love a good mystery filled with intrigue and interesting characters. I hit the target with Drawing Fire by author Janice Cantore who is a former Long Beach police officer. This is the first book I’ve read by Janice Cantore and I look forward to reading her earlier books.<br /><br />Drawing Fire is filled with suspense and lots of action, but not at the expense of character development. I really liked the characters and learning about what drives them and makes them tick. The story takes place in Long Beach, California. Having lived in So Cal for many years it was fun to read about the various locations and visualize the scenes.<br /><br />I appreciate when a Christian author weaves their faith into the characters and storyline. I thought that Janice did a good job in showing what a loving and supportive Christian community can be like. It wasn’t contrived but flowed naturally as we learn about the characters and see them interact in everyday life and in crisis situations.<br /><br />At the end of Drawing Fire there are twelve discussion questions which can be used for a book club or the individual reader. I found the questions compelling as I remembered the characters and storyline and wondered how I might have responded.<br /><br />When Drawing Fire concludes the readers will know who done it, but things aren’t neatly and perfectly tied up, which is kind of like real life. It proves to be a good stopping off point because the characters will be continued in the next book of the Cold Case Justice series. That’s a book I will want to read.<br /><br />I would like to thank Tyndale Publishers for the opportunity to read Drawing Fire by Janice Cantore in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1435550331000, "title": "Hits the Target" }, { "asin": "1401688888", "rating": 5, "text": "I was privileged to read Robert Whitlow’s book A House Divided. He is an excellent writer and knows how to write good fiction. He skillfully and realistically weaves his Christian faith in to the storyline through the lives of the characters. But he doesn’t beat you over the head with it. Instead you see the Christian faith lived out in the lives of imperfect, hurting and broken people.<br /><br />I’ll be honest with you there were times A House Divided was hard to read. If you know an alcoholic or have seen how destructive alcoholism is you may also find this book painful to read. Read it anyway. There were times I found myself angry at the main character Corbin and wanted to yell at him so he would wake up and see that he was destroying his life, relationships and was endangering others.<br /><br />Robert Whitlow has the ability to draw the reader in to the story from the beginning. I found the characters very engaging and cared about them from the first page to the last, even when they weren’t so loveable. It was interesting and challenging to see how each character, Ray, Roxy, Cindy, Billy and others, responded to Corbin and the situations and people they were involved with. I loved seeing grace given when it was least deserved and unexpected. I couldn’t help but wonder how I would have responded.<br /><br />A House Divided is a book with characters that will stay with me. If Robert Whitlow writes a sequel to this one I want to read it.<br /><br />There are some authors whose work I want to read, whatever they write, because they are that good. Robert Whitlow is one of those writers. I highly recommend A House Divided by Robert Whitlow. You will be challenged and grow as you read it.<br /><br />I would like to thank the people at BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing me a free copy of Robert Whitlow’s book, A House Divided, to read in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1442509229000, "title": "A Compelling and Excellent Read" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 5, "text": "I’m a fan of Terri Blackstock’s writing so I was excited at the opportunity to read her newest mystery If I Run.<br /><br />This book is much different from her other stories. If I Run is written in the first person narrative from two character’s perspectives, Casey and Dylan.<br /><br />The story jumps right in to a mystery from the first sentence with Casey leaving the scene of a murder. Over time the reader learns more about who was murdered and why and why in the world Casey is on the run.<br /><br />Shortly thereafter readers are introduced to Dylan, a friend of the murder victim, who was hired by family to help bring into custody the chief murder suspect Casey.<br /><br />Why is Casey fleeing the scene? If she’s really innocent why doesn’t she hang around to defend herself? After all, won’t the evidence exonerate her if indeed she is innocent? Does Dylan really want to find the person who murdered his friend? Or is he hunting Casey down just for the money? Will truth prevail or will evil triumph?<br /><br />To get answers to those questions, you’ll have to read If I Run by Terri Blackstock. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.<br /><br />One of the things I appreciate about reading Christian writers is when they incorporate the Christian faith into the characters. Unlike some of her other books the main characters aren’t believers. They’ve had some exposure to Christianity, but they aren’t believers yet.<br /><br />Both characters, Casey and Dylan were very likable. I’ve got to confess, Casey had me pulling my hair out at times. But I realized that the character reminded me of real life. We can’t control what other people do and the decisions they make and they have their reasons for making them.<br /><br />I recommend Terri Blackstock’s newest book If I Run. Readers will enjoy Terri’s unveiling the characters and storyline one layer at a time. I forewarn you, you may need to stay up late to finish this book.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Terri Blackstock’s newest book If I Run in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1458079442000, "title": "Will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end" }, { "asin": "1501820079", "rating": 5, "text": "As an animal lover, it didn’t take me long to request Ace Collins newest book Service Tails - More Stores of Man’s Best Hero. What a treat it was to read this book. With all that’s wrong in the world today, it was lovely to take some time and learn about how service dogs have been helping people with disabilities and health challenges live full and independent lives.<br /><br />Service Tails tells the stories of twelve different people, with various disabilities, whose lives were transformed for the better though the use of service dogs helping them live everyday life. For years I’ve known about seeing-eye dogs that help the blind, but didn’t realize all the other areas that dogs could be trained to help.<br /><br />I found it interesting to learn about how the dogs are trained. Why one breed of dog is used over another. Each organization takes a careful look at the needs of the disabled person and puts a lot of thought into selecting just the right animal. Training may need to be customized so the dog is able to meet the needs of the person they will be serving.<br /><br />In Service Tails you will learn how service dogs first started being used in the United States. I felt grateful for the courageous and pioneering spirit of Morris Frank and his determination to get a guide dog so he could regain his freedom and independence. But he didn’t stop there; he went on to share with other blind Americans the gift of guide dogs.<br /><br />It was heartwarming to hear about the bonding that happens between a person and their service dog. However, it was disconcerting to read about the way people with disabilities are treated and may feel isolated, ignored or treated like a small child. I was encouraged to see how the service animal helps breakdown some barriers for disabled people. Instead of people shying away from a disabled person, they are now drawn to them because of the animal. The service dog serves as a vehicle to help people see beyond the disability and see the person for who they are and things they may have in common.<br /><br />Service Tails is a book about heroes. The disabled person who won’t settle for being isolated, giving up and living the rest of their life behind closed doors. The service dogs whom God has gifted with the right temperament, skills, and intelligence to learn and help and serve people in need. Not to be forgotten are the people who train and work with the dogs to prepare them for a life of serving, loving and caring for their own special person.<br /><br />I highly recommend Service Tails – More Stores of Man’s Best Hero by Ace Collins. This book will encourage you and may give you a new perspective on disabled people and the dogs who serve them.<br /><br />I would like to thank Litfuse and Abingdon Press for the opportunity to read Service Tails by Ace Collins in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1472135280000, "title": "A Real Treat" }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 5, "text": "I’ve read some of Robert Whitlow’s previous books and was thrilled at the opportunity to read his newest release, The Witnesses. While reading this book, I was reminded why Robert Whitlow is one of my favorite authors. This man is a gifted storyteller and he knows how to weave a story together with intrigue, mystery and characters you want to get to know better.<br /><br />The Witnesses tells the story of two generations of the House family. Frank is from Germany, a former Nazi and grandfather to Parker who is an attorney in a small town in North Carolina. Both men have a unique gift that they can use for good or evil. How will Frank reconcile his past participation in unimaginable horrors? Will he ever find rest and peace for his soul? Parker’s career is just beginning, he’s the new man on the totem and working long hours. How long will he have to wait to sink his teeth into some weighty cases and prove himself as an attorney?<br /><br />As the storyline develops, Robert slowly unveils the characters, layer by layer. He has keen, thought provoking and honest insights into people and their circumstances. His characters are very relatable. I especially liked the relationships: between Frank and Parker and their love and respect for one another, the friendship between Frank and his longtime friend Lenny and the instantaneous bond between Layla and Frank. As a Christian, I appreciate how Robert weaves the Christian faith into his character’s lives. He did a great job in presenting the Gospel message and showing the Christian faith lived out in everyday life. I would never have guessed that I would like a story that involves a former Nazi, much less like the character; but I did.<br /><br />This book is well written, with interesting characters that will draw you in. I found myself thinking about the characters when I wasn’t reading, they kind of come alive. One thing I love about a book is when a character perfectly expresses what you’ve been feeling, but didn’t quite know how to put into words.<br /><br />I highly recommend The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow, a tale of two men who have a unique gift of seeing what will happen in the future. One man is looking back on a life with some very ugly sins he can’t seem to get away from and the other just starting his career. Will he put his career over and above love? To find out what happens in the lives of these men you will want to read The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing me a free copy The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1476719030000, "title": "A Gifted Storyteller" }, { "asin": "0718037685", "rating": 2, "text": "The Candidate by Lis Wiehl – A Mixed Bag - 2 1/2 Stars<br /><br />Since I like books with mystery and intrigue, I decided to read author Lis Wiehl’s new book The Candidate – A Newsmakers Novel written with Sebastian Stuart. I’ve watched Lis on Fox News and like her keen legal analysis and hoped that would translate into a good book. Unfortunately, I found The Candidate to be a mixed bag.<br /><br />What’s good? I found the plotline intriguing. Is top Presidential candidate, Mike Ortiz, as good as he seems at first glance? Or will Erica discover there is something nefarious going on behind the scenes when she takes a closer look? Coming on the heels of a very contentious election cycle this should be a very interesting book.<br /><br />The story is action packed and the main character, Erica Sparks, is somewhat interesting. Her background is revealed during the course of the story but there was not a lot of depth to this character. I liked her fiancé Greg, while not perfect, he showed himself to be there for Erica in the end. But overall I found the characters were not well developed. What the reader learns about the characters is very surface level details, some action of course, but there seemed to be an obsession with physical appearance. In fact, it was almost to the point of distraction.<br /><br />What’s not so good? The story was predictable. After the first big event in the book, I found myself guessing what the next plot development would be throughout the book.<br /><br />While somewhat veiled, there were some rather sick sexual relationships in this book that cross the line in a book released by a Christian publisher. While not described in detail, enough is said that makes it clear what’s happening. Also, Lis took a swipe at Donald Trump by including a nasty comment from one of the characters about him. It was unnecessary to the story and not value added. My overall impression was Lis tried to be edgy.<br /><br />If this book had been published by a secular publisher, I would only put a cautionary note about some of the content which may be offensive to people of faith.<br /><br />I have higher expectations from Thomas Nelson Publishers. On their website, this publisher is self-described as, “Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years.”<br /><br />There was nothing whatsoever Christian about this book. There was nothing about faith. There was one curse word as I recall and I appreciate that there was very little profanity. But some of the content of this book was not fit material from a Christian publisher.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook for the opportunity to read The Candidate by Lis Wiehl. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1482340801000, "title": "... A Mixed Bag - 2 1/2 Stars Since I like books with mystery and intrigue" }, { "asin": "0718085809", "rating": 3, "text": "The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble is the second book I’ve read by this author. What drew me to the book was the setting along the coastline of Washington, the mystery of what happened to the missing sister, a little romance with some home renovation mixed in. I wanted to like this book more than I actually did.<br /><br />The story is about two sisters Ellie and Mackenzie Blackmore, one of whom is missing and presumed dead. She leaves behind a mystery of a life that wasn’t what it seemed. Thrown into the mix is Grayson Bradshaw, an investigator for the US Coast Guard, who is looking into a missing shipment of illegal drugs that has ties to a terrorist. One of the prime suspects is Mackenzie and that news doesn’t sit too well with Ellie who just wants to find her sister.<br /><br />What I liked about The House at Saltwater Point:<br />• Grayson was very honest, forthright, nice and likeable.<br />• I kind of liked his relationship with Ellie, but they went from an adversarial relationship to romance and I wasn’t quite sure how they crossed that bridge.<br />• I liked the subplot of Grayson finding out that he was adopted and had biological sister and family whom he knew nothing about.<br />• I enjoyed the setting of Lavender Tides, the description of the town, the townspeople and friends, waterfront, beaches and scenery.<br />• I liked the home renovation career of Ellie.<br /><br />What I wasn’t too keen on:<br />• The storyline was rather convoluted and had too many subplots going on.<br />• The story and characters weren’t very realistic. Especially, the two small town sisters trying thwart a terrorist attack. There were times that the sisters did a better job than the FBI and Coast Guard in trying to stop the terrorists. There sure didn’t seem to much of a police presence considering the seriousness of what was going on.<br />• Early on in the book Ellie takes in a helpless small kitten. Periodically, the kitten would be mentioned but for the most part it wasn’t part of the story. I found it distracting. That part of the story was unnecessary and didn’t contribute to the storyline.<br />• At times the story seemed the drag.<br />• The characters weren’t very realistic. My favorite was Grayson, a very nice man…but he was a little too perfect.<br /><br />Colleen is really good at setting a scene and describing the place and helping the reader see it in their mind. However, the storyline was not plausible and the characters weren’t deep or realistic…much of it was very surface level. I think that’s where it lost me, I didn’t connect with the characters.<br /><br />If you just want to read a mystery to escape for a while you may enjoy The House at Saltwater Point.<br /><br />Colleen Coble is a Christian author, but there nothing much about faith included in this book. It’s clean, no profanity and or sexual immorality, and I appreciate that. But nothing much regarding faith and characters talking about God or praying or faith being lived out in their everyday lives.<br /><br />I wanted to like The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble. There were parts I did enjoy, but I think the implausible storyline and lack of depth the characters were too much to overcome.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and BookLook for the opportunity to read The House at Saltwater Point for free in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1534995746065, "title": "Implausible" }, { "asin": "0310348145", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite things is when I find a book that I love by an author whose work is new to me. I found a gem in Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin. I absolutely loved this book, from the moment I first started reading it. I haven’t read a lot of Amish themed novels, but there was something about storyline that caught my attention.<br /><br />Mary Katherine Ropp is a sixty-year-old widow and her last daughter is getting married. Most in the community would have her living with one of her married children and helping to raise her grandchildren. But Mary Katherine isn’t like most Amish women. She’s little bit spunky, independent, she likes to read, write stories and even dares to dream about opening a book store with her English friend Dottie. Also, part of the community is Ezekiel Miller who has been widowed for many years. In spite of grief, he kept family going through his business the Purpose Martin Café. Both Mary Katherine and Ezekiel can’t imagine getting married again so late in life, especially since they had wonderful marriages. But Ezekiel can imagine hiring another cook to help at the restaurant. In to the storyline steps the not so skilled, but very hungry burglar, Burke McMillan, who has a late-night encounter with Mary Katherine.<br /><br />What I loved best about this book were the characters. They were very likable people that I would enjoy knowing. Mary Katherine was my favorite and I loved her ongoing conversations with her husband Moses. I loved Ezekiel’s tender caring heart, tender for Mary Katherine, open to help and give a new start to a stranger, loving to his grandchildren, especially Kenneth. Burke is a man of mystery. Is he just a down on his luck kind of guy, is he the thief that’s been plaguing the Amish community or is something more going on with him?<br /><br />Kelly Irvin is a wonderful writer. She knows how to make characters interesting and very likeable, even in plain every day ordinary life. She gives insight into the characters and what they are going through at this stage in their lives. The Amish community setting is interesting but doesn’t overwhelm the story, instead it’s the background and reveals how these characters live their lives. I could identify with many of the feelings that Mary Katherine was expressing.<br /><br />The one person, I wasn’t too keen on was her son Thomas because he was so disrespectful to his mother. I would think as a Christian, he would have tried to honor his mother, but instead he treated her more like a child who has misbehaved.<br /><br />I loved Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin and I look forward to reading more of her books. I highly recommend this story, it was lovely! I read this book during a very difficult time in my life and I found it to be a very comforting place to escape to for a while.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Through the Autumn Air in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1539231378306, "title": "A Real Gem and Lovely Read" }, { "asin": "0718083040", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite authors that I’ve discovered in recent years is Robert Whitlow. If he writes a new book, I want read. I’m so glad that I was able to read Robert’s newest release Chosen People.<br /><br />This book is a little different than other novels I’ve read by Robert Whitlow. Like his other books, it involves attorneys and law, but Chosen People is set against the backdrop Islamic terrorism. It includes characters that are from the Middle East and shows the impact of terrorism at a personal level.<br /><br />Hana Abboud, an attorney working at law firm in Atlanta, is from Israel and is of Arab descent and a Christian which adds some interesting dynamics and cultural views to the storyline. Jakob Brodsky, a secular Jewish attorney has agreed to help Ben Neumann and his daughter Sadie bring a lawsuit against any organization or company that funded the terrorists that left his wife Gloria dead and their daughter Sadie seriously injured.<br /><br />With her background and experience in Israel, Hana is the right attorney to handle this case, if she’s willing. Jakob is going to batt for a family that may not have much of a case to stand on, much less the deep pockets necessary to handle the comprehensive research and to track down people who funded these morally reprehensible murderers.<br /><br />Will there be any justice for the Neumann family? Will the big law firm be willing to take a risk on this case which may go no where or run into many costly obstacles along the way? Will Hana be willing to take on a case that will bring up ugly savage images that will never leave her memory? How will she be able to handle this case long distance from Atlanta? Who will she be able to trust to be her boots on the ground in Israel to investigate the terrorists who perpetrated this savage attack? Was Jakob’s attack related to the investigation, or was it just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time?<br /><br />Mixed into the storyline is faith, Christian, Jewish, Islamic and agnostic.<br /><br />I enjoyed the likable characters, found the storyline intriguing and suspenseful as people put their lives on the line to investigate and bring terrorists and those that support them to justice.<br /><br />I give Chosen People a big thumbs up and recommend it highly. Robert Whitlow knows how to write great fiction, from interesting characters to a storyline that weaves together intrigue, suspense and faith. This one kept me guessing to the end.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Robert Whitlow’s new book Chosen People in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1545607314578, "title": "Intrigue, Suspense & Interesting Characters – A Story That Kept Me Guessing to the End" } ]

[ { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 4, "text": "Do you ever wonder why our lives bear so little resemblance to the lives of people portrayed in the New Testament?<br /><br />When I read the book of Acts, I see men who were cowardly and fled when Christ was arrested and crucified, now transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. In boldness they went forth and proclaiming the Gospel message of salvation found in Jesus Christ alone. We see God working through them and performing miracles. We see people comprehend and live out the truth, \"To live is Christ and to die is gain.\"<br /><br />I was excited to select Max Lucado's book \"Outlive Your Life\" and read his perspective on God at work in and through the church, a work that continues today. Max has a way of taking profound truths and simplifying them. He takes God at His word and believes that God still transforms lives and that He wants to work in your life and mine. That the Lord has a greater purpose and plan for our lives if we will dare to yield to Him and die to self daily.<br /><br />I recommend \"Outlive Your Life\" to Christian readers who want to be challenged to grow in their faith walk and also for unbelievers who want to see the heart of God at work in His church.<br /><br />It took a few chapters for me to embrace \"Outlive Your Life\" because I was concerned that the author, Max Lucado had left out the most important element, the Gospel message that salvation is found in Jesus Christ. But in chapter four, \"Don't Forget the Bread\", Max shares the Gospel through the words of the Apostle Peter.<br /><br />The chapter that won me over was \"Open Your Door; Open Your Heart\". In this chapter Max shows examples of how we can reach out to people around us. Simple actions that we can all do. My favorite chapter by far was \"Pray First; Pray Most\". There are times I struggle to be faithful in prayer. What an encouragement this chapter was on how powerful prayer is. Max sites examples from scripture and from Christians today who are mighty prayer warriors.<br /><br />Do you need a reminder on just how powerful God is and the work that He wants to do in and through you? Pick up a copy of \"Outlive Your Life\" by Max Lucado and then reread the book of Acts. Where does God want you to serve today and to reach the people for whom Christ died?<br /><br />Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: \"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.\"", "timestamp": 1292015638000, "title": "Outlive Your Life - Profound Yet Simple" }, { "asin": "0849920701", "rating": 4, "text": "Author Max Lucado has a unique way of meditating on God, who He is and what He's done for sinful man. What better subject than grace! The grace of God that saves us and gives us a new heart. Our gracious God who forgives us when by all rights He should have condemned us. The grace of God demonstrated when He sent His Son to take our place and pay the penalty for our sin. In exchange, He saved us by His marvelous, overflowing, unstoppable grace. Grace that can soften a hardened heart and change a life. Those are just some of the meditations on God's grace that Max Lucado shares in his new book Grace - More Than We Deserve - Greater Than We Imagine.<br /><br />Who doesn't need to be under the fire hose of God's grace? Once you've been on the receiving end of God's grace, often dispensed through the lives of His people, you want to learn how to live a grace filled and grace giving life.<br /><br />This book is a powerful reminder on God and the grace He freely gives us in abundance.<br /><br />I highly recommend Max Lucado's newest book Grace - More Than We Deserve - Greater Than We Imagine. This book is a keeper because you will want to read it again, ponder and reflect on our gracious God. This book is a giver too; you'll want to share this encouraging book with someone in need of an outpouring of God's grace.<br /><br />A concern that I had with the Reader's Guide written by Kate Etue, is that it was too self-focused and less God focused. I also would appreciate Max Lucado broaching the subject of repentance, a subject that is seldom mentioned in Christian writing today.<br /><br />A free copy of this book was provided to me by BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review. I under no obligation to provide a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1358401242000, "title": "Grace by Max Lucado - This Book's a Keeper and a Giver" }, { "asin": "1414366930", "rating": 3, "text": "When the opportunity to read and review Sheri Rose Shepherd's newest book, His Treasure Gems of Love from Your King, was presented I was excited at the prospect of reading her work. I've heard some of her conference messages and found Sheri to be a very compelling speaker.<br /><br />Based on her writing, I would say that Sheri has a love for the Lord and heart for women. She desires that the women will grasp the love that God has for them and the blessings that come to a woman who loves the Lord, increasingly trusts and obeys Him.<br /><br />I found many of the Treasures to be very encouraging, convicting and they touched tender spots where I have emotional wounds that need the Lord's healing.<br /><br />Sheri's love and passion for the Lord comes through in her writing.<br /><br />I also want to share how I struggled with this book. My struggle is with the style or genre of this book as if God is speaking to the reader. I would have felt more comfortable if instead the writer was praying to God. It's easy to not accurately represent God, because we see Him through our own unique perspective that is colored by our life and experiences. I also felt like the sovereignty and holiness of God was somewhat lacking. The focus seemed to be on the person to whom God was talking and less focused on God. As portrayed, God seemed to be gently trying to persuade the beloved child or daughter and was seldom revealed as God, the absolute Authority to Whom we will give an account. I would have also appreciated if scripture references had been given that would line up to the words God was speaking.<br /><br />I would like to thank Tyndale House Publishers for providing a complimentary copy of this book.", "timestamp": 1383806276000, "title": "Some Mixed Emotions" }, { "asin": "0310283140", "rating": 4, "text": "It was my pleasure to read Terri Blackstock’s newest novel Distortion, the second book in the Moonlights Series. I love to read mysteries and in the past I’ve read a number of Terri’s books and now I remember why I liked her writing so much.<br /><br />Distortion is a fast-paced murder mystery. From the very beginning of the novel, I was drawn into the storyline and characters. This is the second novel in the series, but the reader is not at a disadvantage if you haven’t read the first book Truth Stained Lies. There is enough information peppered throughout the book that helps the reader know about the background of the characters. I do wish I had read the first book, but Distortion a good standalone book too.<br /><br />Terri does a great job in developing the characters as the storyline unfolds. I find her characters very likable and appealing. Unlike other writers, Terri doesn’t have her characters making stupid blunders, just to put them in jeopardy.<br /><br />As a Christian, I’m very appreciative of having Christian characters that wrestle with their faith in the middle of a crisis and see how they interact with family and friends, believers and unbelievers. I also appreciate a writer who doesn’t offend my moral standards by throwing in sin and immorality just to titillate the reader.<br /><br />If you like mystery and suspense, I recommend that you give Terri Blackstock’s newest book Distortion a read. I do forewarn you that you may be staying up late a few nights because you won’t to put the book down.<br /><br />I would like to thank people at BookLook for providing me with a free copy of Distortion to read in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1399958844000, "title": "Fast-paced Intrigue & Suspense" }, { "asin": "0310322170", "rating": 3, "text": "I really enjoy reading mystery novels and like to discover good authors that are new to me. Now that’s a win-win recipe that I like to try and why I selected Murder Freshly Baked by author Vannetta Chapman.<br /><br />Murder Freshly Baked is the third book in the Amish Village Mystery series and the first book I’ve read by Vannetta Chapman. Overall I liked this book, but there were some things I struggled with especially early on.<br /><br />I was lost at the beginning of the book because there were so many characters introduced right off the bat. On the first page alone there were six characters carried over from the prior novels and four more were introduced before chapter one ended. I would imagine that for people who have read the first two books it was like encountering old friends. But for someone new to the series I had a hard time keeping everyone straight and understanding who’s who. The first scenes had a lot going and with a character being murdered the story was off and running. But I felt like I was back at the starting line just trying to figure out what was going on and who was involved.<br /><br />Something else I struggled with is that the author is very wordy. She goes into a lot of detail and uses many adjectives to describe the scenes and what people are doing. For me the wordiness was almost to the point of distraction. I don’t know if I just got used to the writer’s style or if the excessive descriptions lessened as the novel progressed.<br /><br />But there was a point that I started to connect with the characters and was able to figure out who’s who and wasn’t as distracted. I liked the characters and how they really seemed to care about one another. This is not a fast-paced novel, but one in which you get to know the characters and I like finding out what makes people tick.<br /><br />From a Christian perspective there were some things I appreciated about characters and how they interacted with one another. However, I was surprised when the perfect opportunity for one of the characters to share the gospel message was missed. Instead, practical advice was given on how to get out of a difficult situation. Christian writers have a unique platform to share the Gospel message and Biblical truth. When that opportunity is missed I don’t understand why.<br /><br />The author could have done a better job introducing the characters to the reader and not assume that people had read the earlier books in the series. The first flashback scene came out of nowhere and was a bit confusing until I learned that the former military character suffered PTSD.<br /><br />At the end of the day, I liked Murder Freshly Baked, mostly because of the characters and I would recommend it with the caveat that people start with the first two books in this series. It’s not a deep book, nor fast-paced, it wasn’t hard to figure out who committed the murder, but there was something appealing about the story, the people.<br /><br />I would like to thank the people at BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1434056539000, "title": "Mixed Emotions" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 4, "text": "I love a good mystery filled with intrigue and interesting characters. I hit the target with Drawing Fire by author Janice Cantore who is a former Long Beach police officer. This is the first book I’ve read by Janice Cantore and I look forward to reading her earlier books.<br /><br />Drawing Fire is filled with suspense and lots of action, but not at the expense of character development. I really liked the characters and learning about what drives them and makes them tick. The story takes place in Long Beach, California. Having lived in So Cal for many years it was fun to read about the various locations and visualize the scenes.<br /><br />I appreciate when a Christian author weaves their faith into the characters and storyline. I thought that Janice did a good job in showing what a loving and supportive Christian community can be like. It wasn’t contrived but flowed naturally as we learn about the characters and see them interact in everyday life and in crisis situations.<br /><br />At the end of Drawing Fire there are twelve discussion questions which can be used for a book club or the individual reader. I found the questions compelling as I remembered the characters and storyline and wondered how I might have responded.<br /><br />When Drawing Fire concludes the readers will know who done it, but things aren’t neatly and perfectly tied up, which is kind of like real life. It proves to be a good stopping off point because the characters will be continued in the next book of the Cold Case Justice series. That’s a book I will want to read.<br /><br />I would like to thank Tyndale Publishers for the opportunity to read Drawing Fire by Janice Cantore in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1435550331000, "title": "Hits the Target" }, { "asin": "1401688888", "rating": 5, "text": "I was privileged to read Robert Whitlow’s book A House Divided. He is an excellent writer and knows how to write good fiction. He skillfully and realistically weaves his Christian faith in to the storyline through the lives of the characters. But he doesn’t beat you over the head with it. Instead you see the Christian faith lived out in the lives of imperfect, hurting and broken people.<br /><br />I’ll be honest with you there were times A House Divided was hard to read. If you know an alcoholic or have seen how destructive alcoholism is you may also find this book painful to read. Read it anyway. There were times I found myself angry at the main character Corbin and wanted to yell at him so he would wake up and see that he was destroying his life, relationships and was endangering others.<br /><br />Robert Whitlow has the ability to draw the reader in to the story from the beginning. I found the characters very engaging and cared about them from the first page to the last, even when they weren’t so loveable. It was interesting and challenging to see how each character, Ray, Roxy, Cindy, Billy and others, responded to Corbin and the situations and people they were involved with. I loved seeing grace given when it was least deserved and unexpected. I couldn’t help but wonder how I would have responded.<br /><br />A House Divided is a book with characters that will stay with me. If Robert Whitlow writes a sequel to this one I want to read it.<br /><br />There are some authors whose work I want to read, whatever they write, because they are that good. Robert Whitlow is one of those writers. I highly recommend A House Divided by Robert Whitlow. You will be challenged and grow as you read it.<br /><br />I would like to thank the people at BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing me a free copy of Robert Whitlow’s book, A House Divided, to read in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1442509229000, "title": "A Compelling and Excellent Read" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 5, "text": "I’m a fan of Terri Blackstock’s writing so I was excited at the opportunity to read her newest mystery If I Run.<br /><br />This book is much different from her other stories. If I Run is written in the first person narrative from two character’s perspectives, Casey and Dylan.<br /><br />The story jumps right in to a mystery from the first sentence with Casey leaving the scene of a murder. Over time the reader learns more about who was murdered and why and why in the world Casey is on the run.<br /><br />Shortly thereafter readers are introduced to Dylan, a friend of the murder victim, who was hired by family to help bring into custody the chief murder suspect Casey.<br /><br />Why is Casey fleeing the scene? If she’s really innocent why doesn’t she hang around to defend herself? After all, won’t the evidence exonerate her if indeed she is innocent? Does Dylan really want to find the person who murdered his friend? Or is he hunting Casey down just for the money? Will truth prevail or will evil triumph?<br /><br />To get answers to those questions, you’ll have to read If I Run by Terri Blackstock. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.<br /><br />One of the things I appreciate about reading Christian writers is when they incorporate the Christian faith into the characters. Unlike some of her other books the main characters aren’t believers. They’ve had some exposure to Christianity, but they aren’t believers yet.<br /><br />Both characters, Casey and Dylan were very likable. I’ve got to confess, Casey had me pulling my hair out at times. But I realized that the character reminded me of real life. We can’t control what other people do and the decisions they make and they have their reasons for making them.<br /><br />I recommend Terri Blackstock’s newest book If I Run. Readers will enjoy Terri’s unveiling the characters and storyline one layer at a time. I forewarn you, you may need to stay up late to finish this book.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Terri Blackstock’s newest book If I Run in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1458079442000, "title": "Will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end" }, { "asin": "1501820079", "rating": 5, "text": "As an animal lover, it didn’t take me long to request Ace Collins newest book Service Tails - More Stores of Man’s Best Hero. What a treat it was to read this book. With all that’s wrong in the world today, it was lovely to take some time and learn about how service dogs have been helping people with disabilities and health challenges live full and independent lives.<br /><br />Service Tails tells the stories of twelve different people, with various disabilities, whose lives were transformed for the better though the use of service dogs helping them live everyday life. For years I’ve known about seeing-eye dogs that help the blind, but didn’t realize all the other areas that dogs could be trained to help.<br /><br />I found it interesting to learn about how the dogs are trained. Why one breed of dog is used over another. Each organization takes a careful look at the needs of the disabled person and puts a lot of thought into selecting just the right animal. Training may need to be customized so the dog is able to meet the needs of the person they will be serving.<br /><br />In Service Tails you will learn how service dogs first started being used in the United States. I felt grateful for the courageous and pioneering spirit of Morris Frank and his determination to get a guide dog so he could regain his freedom and independence. But he didn’t stop there; he went on to share with other blind Americans the gift of guide dogs.<br /><br />It was heartwarming to hear about the bonding that happens between a person and their service dog. However, it was disconcerting to read about the way people with disabilities are treated and may feel isolated, ignored or treated like a small child. I was encouraged to see how the service animal helps breakdown some barriers for disabled people. Instead of people shying away from a disabled person, they are now drawn to them because of the animal. The service dog serves as a vehicle to help people see beyond the disability and see the person for who they are and things they may have in common.<br /><br />Service Tails is a book about heroes. The disabled person who won’t settle for being isolated, giving up and living the rest of their life behind closed doors. The service dogs whom God has gifted with the right temperament, skills, and intelligence to learn and help and serve people in need. Not to be forgotten are the people who train and work with the dogs to prepare them for a life of serving, loving and caring for their own special person.<br /><br />I highly recommend Service Tails – More Stores of Man’s Best Hero by Ace Collins. This book will encourage you and may give you a new perspective on disabled people and the dogs who serve them.<br /><br />I would like to thank Litfuse and Abingdon Press for the opportunity to read Service Tails by Ace Collins in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1472135280000, "title": "A Real Treat" }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 5, "text": "I’ve read some of Robert Whitlow’s previous books and was thrilled at the opportunity to read his newest release, The Witnesses. While reading this book, I was reminded why Robert Whitlow is one of my favorite authors. This man is a gifted storyteller and he knows how to weave a story together with intrigue, mystery and characters you want to get to know better.<br /><br />The Witnesses tells the story of two generations of the House family. Frank is from Germany, a former Nazi and grandfather to Parker who is an attorney in a small town in North Carolina. Both men have a unique gift that they can use for good or evil. How will Frank reconcile his past participation in unimaginable horrors? Will he ever find rest and peace for his soul? Parker’s career is just beginning, he’s the new man on the totem and working long hours. How long will he have to wait to sink his teeth into some weighty cases and prove himself as an attorney?<br /><br />As the storyline develops, Robert slowly unveils the characters, layer by layer. He has keen, thought provoking and honest insights into people and their circumstances. His characters are very relatable. I especially liked the relationships: between Frank and Parker and their love and respect for one another, the friendship between Frank and his longtime friend Lenny and the instantaneous bond between Layla and Frank. As a Christian, I appreciate how Robert weaves the Christian faith into his character’s lives. He did a great job in presenting the Gospel message and showing the Christian faith lived out in everyday life. I would never have guessed that I would like a story that involves a former Nazi, much less like the character; but I did.<br /><br />This book is well written, with interesting characters that will draw you in. I found myself thinking about the characters when I wasn’t reading, they kind of come alive. One thing I love about a book is when a character perfectly expresses what you’ve been feeling, but didn’t quite know how to put into words.<br /><br />I highly recommend The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow, a tale of two men who have a unique gift of seeing what will happen in the future. One man is looking back on a life with some very ugly sins he can’t seem to get away from and the other just starting his career. Will he put his career over and above love? To find out what happens in the lives of these men you will want to read The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing me a free copy The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1476719030000, "title": "A Gifted Storyteller" }, { "asin": "0718037685", "rating": 2, "text": "The Candidate by Lis Wiehl – A Mixed Bag - 2 1/2 Stars<br /><br />Since I like books with mystery and intrigue, I decided to read author Lis Wiehl’s new book The Candidate – A Newsmakers Novel written with Sebastian Stuart. I’ve watched Lis on Fox News and like her keen legal analysis and hoped that would translate into a good book. Unfortunately, I found The Candidate to be a mixed bag.<br /><br />What’s good? I found the plotline intriguing. Is top Presidential candidate, Mike Ortiz, as good as he seems at first glance? Or will Erica discover there is something nefarious going on behind the scenes when she takes a closer look? Coming on the heels of a very contentious election cycle this should be a very interesting book.<br /><br />The story is action packed and the main character, Erica Sparks, is somewhat interesting. Her background is revealed during the course of the story but there was not a lot of depth to this character. I liked her fiancé Greg, while not perfect, he showed himself to be there for Erica in the end. But overall I found the characters were not well developed. What the reader learns about the characters is very surface level details, some action of course, but there seemed to be an obsession with physical appearance. In fact, it was almost to the point of distraction.<br /><br />What’s not so good? The story was predictable. After the first big event in the book, I found myself guessing what the next plot development would be throughout the book.<br /><br />While somewhat veiled, there were some rather sick sexual relationships in this book that cross the line in a book released by a Christian publisher. While not described in detail, enough is said that makes it clear what’s happening. Also, Lis took a swipe at Donald Trump by including a nasty comment from one of the characters about him. It was unnecessary to the story and not value added. My overall impression was Lis tried to be edgy.<br /><br />If this book had been published by a secular publisher, I would only put a cautionary note about some of the content which may be offensive to people of faith.<br /><br />I have higher expectations from Thomas Nelson Publishers. On their website, this publisher is self-described as, “Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years.”<br /><br />There was nothing whatsoever Christian about this book. There was nothing about faith. There was one curse word as I recall and I appreciate that there was very little profanity. But some of the content of this book was not fit material from a Christian publisher.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook for the opportunity to read The Candidate by Lis Wiehl. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1482340801000, "title": "... A Mixed Bag - 2 1/2 Stars Since I like books with mystery and intrigue" }, { "asin": "0718085809", "rating": 3, "text": "The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble is the second book I’ve read by this author. What drew me to the book was the setting along the coastline of Washington, the mystery of what happened to the missing sister, a little romance with some home renovation mixed in. I wanted to like this book more than I actually did.<br /><br />The story is about two sisters Ellie and Mackenzie Blackmore, one of whom is missing and presumed dead. She leaves behind a mystery of a life that wasn’t what it seemed. Thrown into the mix is Grayson Bradshaw, an investigator for the US Coast Guard, who is looking into a missing shipment of illegal drugs that has ties to a terrorist. One of the prime suspects is Mackenzie and that news doesn’t sit too well with Ellie who just wants to find her sister.<br /><br />What I liked about The House at Saltwater Point:<br />• Grayson was very honest, forthright, nice and likeable.<br />• I kind of liked his relationship with Ellie, but they went from an adversarial relationship to romance and I wasn’t quite sure how they crossed that bridge.<br />• I liked the subplot of Grayson finding out that he was adopted and had biological sister and family whom he knew nothing about.<br />• I enjoyed the setting of Lavender Tides, the description of the town, the townspeople and friends, waterfront, beaches and scenery.<br />• I liked the home renovation career of Ellie.<br /><br />What I wasn’t too keen on:<br />• The storyline was rather convoluted and had too many subplots going on.<br />• The story and characters weren’t very realistic. Especially, the two small town sisters trying thwart a terrorist attack. There were times that the sisters did a better job than the FBI and Coast Guard in trying to stop the terrorists. There sure didn’t seem to much of a police presence considering the seriousness of what was going on.<br />• Early on in the book Ellie takes in a helpless small kitten. Periodically, the kitten would be mentioned but for the most part it wasn’t part of the story. I found it distracting. That part of the story was unnecessary and didn’t contribute to the storyline.<br />• At times the story seemed the drag.<br />• The characters weren’t very realistic. My favorite was Grayson, a very nice man…but he was a little too perfect.<br /><br />Colleen is really good at setting a scene and describing the place and helping the reader see it in their mind. However, the storyline was not plausible and the characters weren’t deep or realistic…much of it was very surface level. I think that’s where it lost me, I didn’t connect with the characters.<br /><br />If you just want to read a mystery to escape for a while you may enjoy The House at Saltwater Point.<br /><br />Colleen Coble is a Christian author, but there nothing much about faith included in this book. It’s clean, no profanity and or sexual immorality, and I appreciate that. But nothing much regarding faith and characters talking about God or praying or faith being lived out in their everyday lives.<br /><br />I wanted to like The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble. There were parts I did enjoy, but I think the implausible storyline and lack of depth the characters were too much to overcome.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and BookLook for the opportunity to read The House at Saltwater Point for free in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1534995746065, "title": "Implausible" }, { "asin": "0310348145", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite things is when I find a book that I love by an author whose work is new to me. I found a gem in Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin. I absolutely loved this book, from the moment I first started reading it. I haven’t read a lot of Amish themed novels, but there was something about storyline that caught my attention.<br /><br />Mary Katherine Ropp is a sixty-year-old widow and her last daughter is getting married. Most in the community would have her living with one of her married children and helping to raise her grandchildren. But Mary Katherine isn’t like most Amish women. She’s little bit spunky, independent, she likes to read, write stories and even dares to dream about opening a book store with her English friend Dottie. Also, part of the community is Ezekiel Miller who has been widowed for many years. In spite of grief, he kept family going through his business the Purpose Martin Café. Both Mary Katherine and Ezekiel can’t imagine getting married again so late in life, especially since they had wonderful marriages. But Ezekiel can imagine hiring another cook to help at the restaurant. In to the storyline steps the not so skilled, but very hungry burglar, Burke McMillan, who has a late-night encounter with Mary Katherine.<br /><br />What I loved best about this book were the characters. They were very likable people that I would enjoy knowing. Mary Katherine was my favorite and I loved her ongoing conversations with her husband Moses. I loved Ezekiel’s tender caring heart, tender for Mary Katherine, open to help and give a new start to a stranger, loving to his grandchildren, especially Kenneth. Burke is a man of mystery. Is he just a down on his luck kind of guy, is he the thief that’s been plaguing the Amish community or is something more going on with him?<br /><br />Kelly Irvin is a wonderful writer. She knows how to make characters interesting and very likeable, even in plain every day ordinary life. She gives insight into the characters and what they are going through at this stage in their lives. The Amish community setting is interesting but doesn’t overwhelm the story, instead it’s the background and reveals how these characters live their lives. I could identify with many of the feelings that Mary Katherine was expressing.<br /><br />The one person, I wasn’t too keen on was her son Thomas because he was so disrespectful to his mother. I would think as a Christian, he would have tried to honor his mother, but instead he treated her more like a child who has misbehaved.<br /><br />I loved Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin and I look forward to reading more of her books. I highly recommend this story, it was lovely! I read this book during a very difficult time in my life and I found it to be a very comforting place to escape to for a while.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Through the Autumn Air in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1539231378306, "title": "A Real Gem and Lovely Read" }, { "asin": "0718083040", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite authors that I’ve discovered in recent years is Robert Whitlow. If he writes a new book, I want read. I’m so glad that I was able to read Robert’s newest release Chosen People.<br /><br />This book is a little different than other novels I’ve read by Robert Whitlow. Like his other books, it involves attorneys and law, but Chosen People is set against the backdrop Islamic terrorism. It includes characters that are from the Middle East and shows the impact of terrorism at a personal level.<br /><br />Hana Abboud, an attorney working at law firm in Atlanta, is from Israel and is of Arab descent and a Christian which adds some interesting dynamics and cultural views to the storyline. Jakob Brodsky, a secular Jewish attorney has agreed to help Ben Neumann and his daughter Sadie bring a lawsuit against any organization or company that funded the terrorists that left his wife Gloria dead and their daughter Sadie seriously injured.<br /><br />With her background and experience in Israel, Hana is the right attorney to handle this case, if she’s willing. Jakob is going to batt for a family that may not have much of a case to stand on, much less the deep pockets necessary to handle the comprehensive research and to track down people who funded these morally reprehensible murderers.<br /><br />Will there be any justice for the Neumann family? Will the big law firm be willing to take a risk on this case which may go no where or run into many costly obstacles along the way? Will Hana be willing to take on a case that will bring up ugly savage images that will never leave her memory? How will she be able to handle this case long distance from Atlanta? Who will she be able to trust to be her boots on the ground in Israel to investigate the terrorists who perpetrated this savage attack? Was Jakob’s attack related to the investigation, or was it just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time?<br /><br />Mixed into the storyline is faith, Christian, Jewish, Islamic and agnostic.<br /><br />I enjoyed the likable characters, found the storyline intriguing and suspenseful as people put their lives on the line to investigate and bring terrorists and those that support them to justice.<br /><br />I give Chosen People a big thumbs up and recommend it highly. Robert Whitlow knows how to write great fiction, from interesting characters to a storyline that weaves together intrigue, suspense and faith. This one kept me guessing to the end.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Robert Whitlow’s new book Chosen People in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1545607314578, "title": "Intrigue, Suspense & Interesting Characters – A Story That Kept Me Guessing to the End" }, { "asin": "0718090543", "rating": 4, "text": "On Magnolia Lane is the first book that I’ve read by author by Denise Hunter and I really enjoyed it. This is the third book in the Blue Ridge Romance Series. Though it’s part of a series, it’s good as a standalone book.<br /><br />The story is about Jack McReady who happens to be the local Pastor. One of his congregants is Daisy Pendleton and she’s been meeting with Jack for counseling over a couple of years now. He’s pretty much head over heals in love with Daisy and she is oblivious. Will she ever be able to see Jack as something more than her Pastor? Will Jack ever be bold enough to ask Daisy out on a date? Or will this romance need a little help from their friends?<br /><br />I really liked the characters in this book. They weren’t perfect, but they were kind, descent and caring people that I’d like to spend time with. The story takes place in the small town of Copper Creak, Georgia and after reading this book I wish it really existed because I’d like to visit.<br /><br />One of my favorite characters was the mystery woman Julia. I found myself drawn into her quest and appreciated how understanding and gracious she was. I liked the friendship that developed between Daisy and Julia.<br /><br />Denise’s style of writing is very inviting. She has a way of helping the reader to visualize the places and people, but without being too wordy. She leaves room for imagination. I thought Denise was insightful in bringing out what was going on within the characters, their insecurities and wounds from the past that haven’t quite healed, that still impacted relationships.<br /><br />I really enjoyed On Magnolia Lane. I appreciated that the Christian faith was included in the character’s lives and that it was a clean novel and free from filthy language and sexual immorality. There are some details about a character’s past that comes out, but the sinful choices were not glorified or made light of.<br /><br />In today’s world, where every where you turn there’s more bad news, it’s really nice to be able to step away for a little while, into small town with a little romance. If you like a good love story, be sure to read On Magnolia Lane by Denise Hunter. I look forward to reading more of Denise’s novels.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for the opportunity to ready On Magnolia Lane in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1548308032880, "title": "If you like a good love story, time to step away for little while and read On Magnolia Lane." } ]

[ { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 4, "text": "Do you ever wonder why our lives bear so little resemblance to the lives of people portrayed in the New Testament?<br /><br />When I read the book of Acts, I see men who were cowardly and fled when Christ was arrested and crucified, now transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. In boldness they went forth and proclaiming the Gospel message of salvation found in Jesus Christ alone. We see God working through them and performing miracles. We see people comprehend and live out the truth, \"To live is Christ and to die is gain.\"<br /><br />I was excited to select Max Lucado's book \"Outlive Your Life\" and read his perspective on God at work in and through the church, a work that continues today. Max has a way of taking profound truths and simplifying them. He takes God at His word and believes that God still transforms lives and that He wants to work in your life and mine. That the Lord has a greater purpose and plan for our lives if we will dare to yield to Him and die to self daily.<br /><br />I recommend \"Outlive Your Life\" to Christian readers who want to be challenged to grow in their faith walk and also for unbelievers who want to see the heart of God at work in His church.<br /><br />It took a few chapters for me to embrace \"Outlive Your Life\" because I was concerned that the author, Max Lucado had left out the most important element, the Gospel message that salvation is found in Jesus Christ. But in chapter four, \"Don't Forget the Bread\", Max shares the Gospel through the words of the Apostle Peter.<br /><br />The chapter that won me over was \"Open Your Door; Open Your Heart\". In this chapter Max shows examples of how we can reach out to people around us. Simple actions that we can all do. My favorite chapter by far was \"Pray First; Pray Most\". There are times I struggle to be faithful in prayer. What an encouragement this chapter was on how powerful prayer is. Max sites examples from scripture and from Christians today who are mighty prayer warriors.<br /><br />Do you need a reminder on just how powerful God is and the work that He wants to do in and through you? Pick up a copy of \"Outlive Your Life\" by Max Lucado and then reread the book of Acts. Where does God want you to serve today and to reach the people for whom Christ died?<br /><br />Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: \"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.\"", "timestamp": 1292015638000, "title": "Outlive Your Life - Profound Yet Simple" }, { "asin": "0849920701", "rating": 4, "text": "Author Max Lucado has a unique way of meditating on God, who He is and what He's done for sinful man. What better subject than grace! The grace of God that saves us and gives us a new heart. Our gracious God who forgives us when by all rights He should have condemned us. The grace of God demonstrated when He sent His Son to take our place and pay the penalty for our sin. In exchange, He saved us by His marvelous, overflowing, unstoppable grace. Grace that can soften a hardened heart and change a life. Those are just some of the meditations on God's grace that Max Lucado shares in his new book Grace - More Than We Deserve - Greater Than We Imagine.<br /><br />Who doesn't need to be under the fire hose of God's grace? Once you've been on the receiving end of God's grace, often dispensed through the lives of His people, you want to learn how to live a grace filled and grace giving life.<br /><br />This book is a powerful reminder on God and the grace He freely gives us in abundance.<br /><br />I highly recommend Max Lucado's newest book Grace - More Than We Deserve - Greater Than We Imagine. This book is a keeper because you will want to read it again, ponder and reflect on our gracious God. This book is a giver too; you'll want to share this encouraging book with someone in need of an outpouring of God's grace.<br /><br />A concern that I had with the Reader's Guide written by Kate Etue, is that it was too self-focused and less God focused. I also would appreciate Max Lucado broaching the subject of repentance, a subject that is seldom mentioned in Christian writing today.<br /><br />A free copy of this book was provided to me by BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review. I under no obligation to provide a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1358401242000, "title": "Grace by Max Lucado - This Book's a Keeper and a Giver" }, { "asin": "1414366930", "rating": 3, "text": "When the opportunity to read and review Sheri Rose Shepherd's newest book, His Treasure Gems of Love from Your King, was presented I was excited at the prospect of reading her work. I've heard some of her conference messages and found Sheri to be a very compelling speaker.<br /><br />Based on her writing, I would say that Sheri has a love for the Lord and heart for women. She desires that the women will grasp the love that God has for them and the blessings that come to a woman who loves the Lord, increasingly trusts and obeys Him.<br /><br />I found many of the Treasures to be very encouraging, convicting and they touched tender spots where I have emotional wounds that need the Lord's healing.<br /><br />Sheri's love and passion for the Lord comes through in her writing.<br /><br />I also want to share how I struggled with this book. My struggle is with the style or genre of this book as if God is speaking to the reader. I would have felt more comfortable if instead the writer was praying to God. It's easy to not accurately represent God, because we see Him through our own unique perspective that is colored by our life and experiences. I also felt like the sovereignty and holiness of God was somewhat lacking. The focus seemed to be on the person to whom God was talking and less focused on God. As portrayed, God seemed to be gently trying to persuade the beloved child or daughter and was seldom revealed as God, the absolute Authority to Whom we will give an account. I would have also appreciated if scripture references had been given that would line up to the words God was speaking.<br /><br />I would like to thank Tyndale House Publishers for providing a complimentary copy of this book.", "timestamp": 1383806276000, "title": "Some Mixed Emotions" }, { "asin": "0310283140", "rating": 4, "text": "It was my pleasure to read Terri Blackstock’s newest novel Distortion, the second book in the Moonlights Series. I love to read mysteries and in the past I’ve read a number of Terri’s books and now I remember why I liked her writing so much.<br /><br />Distortion is a fast-paced murder mystery. From the very beginning of the novel, I was drawn into the storyline and characters. This is the second novel in the series, but the reader is not at a disadvantage if you haven’t read the first book Truth Stained Lies. There is enough information peppered throughout the book that helps the reader know about the background of the characters. I do wish I had read the first book, but Distortion a good standalone book too.<br /><br />Terri does a great job in developing the characters as the storyline unfolds. I find her characters very likable and appealing. Unlike other writers, Terri doesn’t have her characters making stupid blunders, just to put them in jeopardy.<br /><br />As a Christian, I’m very appreciative of having Christian characters that wrestle with their faith in the middle of a crisis and see how they interact with family and friends, believers and unbelievers. I also appreciate a writer who doesn’t offend my moral standards by throwing in sin and immorality just to titillate the reader.<br /><br />If you like mystery and suspense, I recommend that you give Terri Blackstock’s newest book Distortion a read. I do forewarn you that you may be staying up late a few nights because you won’t to put the book down.<br /><br />I would like to thank people at BookLook for providing me with a free copy of Distortion to read in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1399958844000, "title": "Fast-paced Intrigue & Suspense" }, { "asin": "0310322170", "rating": 3, "text": "I really enjoy reading mystery novels and like to discover good authors that are new to me. Now that’s a win-win recipe that I like to try and why I selected Murder Freshly Baked by author Vannetta Chapman.<br /><br />Murder Freshly Baked is the third book in the Amish Village Mystery series and the first book I’ve read by Vannetta Chapman. Overall I liked this book, but there were some things I struggled with especially early on.<br /><br />I was lost at the beginning of the book because there were so many characters introduced right off the bat. On the first page alone there were six characters carried over from the prior novels and four more were introduced before chapter one ended. I would imagine that for people who have read the first two books it was like encountering old friends. But for someone new to the series I had a hard time keeping everyone straight and understanding who’s who. The first scenes had a lot going and with a character being murdered the story was off and running. But I felt like I was back at the starting line just trying to figure out what was going on and who was involved.<br /><br />Something else I struggled with is that the author is very wordy. She goes into a lot of detail and uses many adjectives to describe the scenes and what people are doing. For me the wordiness was almost to the point of distraction. I don’t know if I just got used to the writer’s style or if the excessive descriptions lessened as the novel progressed.<br /><br />But there was a point that I started to connect with the characters and was able to figure out who’s who and wasn’t as distracted. I liked the characters and how they really seemed to care about one another. This is not a fast-paced novel, but one in which you get to know the characters and I like finding out what makes people tick.<br /><br />From a Christian perspective there were some things I appreciated about characters and how they interacted with one another. However, I was surprised when the perfect opportunity for one of the characters to share the gospel message was missed. Instead, practical advice was given on how to get out of a difficult situation. Christian writers have a unique platform to share the Gospel message and Biblical truth. When that opportunity is missed I don’t understand why.<br /><br />The author could have done a better job introducing the characters to the reader and not assume that people had read the earlier books in the series. The first flashback scene came out of nowhere and was a bit confusing until I learned that the former military character suffered PTSD.<br /><br />At the end of the day, I liked Murder Freshly Baked, mostly because of the characters and I would recommend it with the caveat that people start with the first two books in this series. It’s not a deep book, nor fast-paced, it wasn’t hard to figure out who committed the murder, but there was something appealing about the story, the people.<br /><br />I would like to thank the people at BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1434056539000, "title": "Mixed Emotions" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 4, "text": "I love a good mystery filled with intrigue and interesting characters. I hit the target with Drawing Fire by author Janice Cantore who is a former Long Beach police officer. This is the first book I’ve read by Janice Cantore and I look forward to reading her earlier books.<br /><br />Drawing Fire is filled with suspense and lots of action, but not at the expense of character development. I really liked the characters and learning about what drives them and makes them tick. The story takes place in Long Beach, California. Having lived in So Cal for many years it was fun to read about the various locations and visualize the scenes.<br /><br />I appreciate when a Christian author weaves their faith into the characters and storyline. I thought that Janice did a good job in showing what a loving and supportive Christian community can be like. It wasn’t contrived but flowed naturally as we learn about the characters and see them interact in everyday life and in crisis situations.<br /><br />At the end of Drawing Fire there are twelve discussion questions which can be used for a book club or the individual reader. I found the questions compelling as I remembered the characters and storyline and wondered how I might have responded.<br /><br />When Drawing Fire concludes the readers will know who done it, but things aren’t neatly and perfectly tied up, which is kind of like real life. It proves to be a good stopping off point because the characters will be continued in the next book of the Cold Case Justice series. That’s a book I will want to read.<br /><br />I would like to thank Tyndale Publishers for the opportunity to read Drawing Fire by Janice Cantore in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1435550331000, "title": "Hits the Target" }, { "asin": "1401688888", "rating": 5, "text": "I was privileged to read Robert Whitlow’s book A House Divided. He is an excellent writer and knows how to write good fiction. He skillfully and realistically weaves his Christian faith in to the storyline through the lives of the characters. But he doesn’t beat you over the head with it. Instead you see the Christian faith lived out in the lives of imperfect, hurting and broken people.<br /><br />I’ll be honest with you there were times A House Divided was hard to read. If you know an alcoholic or have seen how destructive alcoholism is you may also find this book painful to read. Read it anyway. There were times I found myself angry at the main character Corbin and wanted to yell at him so he would wake up and see that he was destroying his life, relationships and was endangering others.<br /><br />Robert Whitlow has the ability to draw the reader in to the story from the beginning. I found the characters very engaging and cared about them from the first page to the last, even when they weren’t so loveable. It was interesting and challenging to see how each character, Ray, Roxy, Cindy, Billy and others, responded to Corbin and the situations and people they were involved with. I loved seeing grace given when it was least deserved and unexpected. I couldn’t help but wonder how I would have responded.<br /><br />A House Divided is a book with characters that will stay with me. If Robert Whitlow writes a sequel to this one I want to read it.<br /><br />There are some authors whose work I want to read, whatever they write, because they are that good. Robert Whitlow is one of those writers. I highly recommend A House Divided by Robert Whitlow. You will be challenged and grow as you read it.<br /><br />I would like to thank the people at BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing me a free copy of Robert Whitlow’s book, A House Divided, to read in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1442509229000, "title": "A Compelling and Excellent Read" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 5, "text": "I’m a fan of Terri Blackstock’s writing so I was excited at the opportunity to read her newest mystery If I Run.<br /><br />This book is much different from her other stories. If I Run is written in the first person narrative from two character’s perspectives, Casey and Dylan.<br /><br />The story jumps right in to a mystery from the first sentence with Casey leaving the scene of a murder. Over time the reader learns more about who was murdered and why and why in the world Casey is on the run.<br /><br />Shortly thereafter readers are introduced to Dylan, a friend of the murder victim, who was hired by family to help bring into custody the chief murder suspect Casey.<br /><br />Why is Casey fleeing the scene? If she’s really innocent why doesn’t she hang around to defend herself? After all, won’t the evidence exonerate her if indeed she is innocent? Does Dylan really want to find the person who murdered his friend? Or is he hunting Casey down just for the money? Will truth prevail or will evil triumph?<br /><br />To get answers to those questions, you’ll have to read If I Run by Terri Blackstock. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.<br /><br />One of the things I appreciate about reading Christian writers is when they incorporate the Christian faith into the characters. Unlike some of her other books the main characters aren’t believers. They’ve had some exposure to Christianity, but they aren’t believers yet.<br /><br />Both characters, Casey and Dylan were very likable. I’ve got to confess, Casey had me pulling my hair out at times. But I realized that the character reminded me of real life. We can’t control what other people do and the decisions they make and they have their reasons for making them.<br /><br />I recommend Terri Blackstock’s newest book If I Run. Readers will enjoy Terri’s unveiling the characters and storyline one layer at a time. I forewarn you, you may need to stay up late to finish this book.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Terri Blackstock’s newest book If I Run in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1458079442000, "title": "Will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end" }, { "asin": "1501820079", "rating": 5, "text": "As an animal lover, it didn’t take me long to request Ace Collins newest book Service Tails - More Stores of Man’s Best Hero. What a treat it was to read this book. With all that’s wrong in the world today, it was lovely to take some time and learn about how service dogs have been helping people with disabilities and health challenges live full and independent lives.<br /><br />Service Tails tells the stories of twelve different people, with various disabilities, whose lives were transformed for the better though the use of service dogs helping them live everyday life. For years I’ve known about seeing-eye dogs that help the blind, but didn’t realize all the other areas that dogs could be trained to help.<br /><br />I found it interesting to learn about how the dogs are trained. Why one breed of dog is used over another. Each organization takes a careful look at the needs of the disabled person and puts a lot of thought into selecting just the right animal. Training may need to be customized so the dog is able to meet the needs of the person they will be serving.<br /><br />In Service Tails you will learn how service dogs first started being used in the United States. I felt grateful for the courageous and pioneering spirit of Morris Frank and his determination to get a guide dog so he could regain his freedom and independence. But he didn’t stop there; he went on to share with other blind Americans the gift of guide dogs.<br /><br />It was heartwarming to hear about the bonding that happens between a person and their service dog. However, it was disconcerting to read about the way people with disabilities are treated and may feel isolated, ignored or treated like a small child. I was encouraged to see how the service animal helps breakdown some barriers for disabled people. Instead of people shying away from a disabled person, they are now drawn to them because of the animal. The service dog serves as a vehicle to help people see beyond the disability and see the person for who they are and things they may have in common.<br /><br />Service Tails is a book about heroes. The disabled person who won’t settle for being isolated, giving up and living the rest of their life behind closed doors. The service dogs whom God has gifted with the right temperament, skills, and intelligence to learn and help and serve people in need. Not to be forgotten are the people who train and work with the dogs to prepare them for a life of serving, loving and caring for their own special person.<br /><br />I highly recommend Service Tails – More Stores of Man’s Best Hero by Ace Collins. This book will encourage you and may give you a new perspective on disabled people and the dogs who serve them.<br /><br />I would like to thank Litfuse and Abingdon Press for the opportunity to read Service Tails by Ace Collins in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1472135280000, "title": "A Real Treat" }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 5, "text": "I’ve read some of Robert Whitlow’s previous books and was thrilled at the opportunity to read his newest release, The Witnesses. While reading this book, I was reminded why Robert Whitlow is one of my favorite authors. This man is a gifted storyteller and he knows how to weave a story together with intrigue, mystery and characters you want to get to know better.<br /><br />The Witnesses tells the story of two generations of the House family. Frank is from Germany, a former Nazi and grandfather to Parker who is an attorney in a small town in North Carolina. Both men have a unique gift that they can use for good or evil. How will Frank reconcile his past participation in unimaginable horrors? Will he ever find rest and peace for his soul? Parker’s career is just beginning, he’s the new man on the totem and working long hours. How long will he have to wait to sink his teeth into some weighty cases and prove himself as an attorney?<br /><br />As the storyline develops, Robert slowly unveils the characters, layer by layer. He has keen, thought provoking and honest insights into people and their circumstances. His characters are very relatable. I especially liked the relationships: between Frank and Parker and their love and respect for one another, the friendship between Frank and his longtime friend Lenny and the instantaneous bond between Layla and Frank. As a Christian, I appreciate how Robert weaves the Christian faith into his character’s lives. He did a great job in presenting the Gospel message and showing the Christian faith lived out in everyday life. I would never have guessed that I would like a story that involves a former Nazi, much less like the character; but I did.<br /><br />This book is well written, with interesting characters that will draw you in. I found myself thinking about the characters when I wasn’t reading, they kind of come alive. One thing I love about a book is when a character perfectly expresses what you’ve been feeling, but didn’t quite know how to put into words.<br /><br />I highly recommend The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow, a tale of two men who have a unique gift of seeing what will happen in the future. One man is looking back on a life with some very ugly sins he can’t seem to get away from and the other just starting his career. Will he put his career over and above love? To find out what happens in the lives of these men you will want to read The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing me a free copy The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1476719030000, "title": "A Gifted Storyteller" }, { "asin": "0718037685", "rating": 2, "text": "The Candidate by Lis Wiehl – A Mixed Bag - 2 1/2 Stars<br /><br />Since I like books with mystery and intrigue, I decided to read author Lis Wiehl’s new book The Candidate – A Newsmakers Novel written with Sebastian Stuart. I’ve watched Lis on Fox News and like her keen legal analysis and hoped that would translate into a good book. Unfortunately, I found The Candidate to be a mixed bag.<br /><br />What’s good? I found the plotline intriguing. Is top Presidential candidate, Mike Ortiz, as good as he seems at first glance? Or will Erica discover there is something nefarious going on behind the scenes when she takes a closer look? Coming on the heels of a very contentious election cycle this should be a very interesting book.<br /><br />The story is action packed and the main character, Erica Sparks, is somewhat interesting. Her background is revealed during the course of the story but there was not a lot of depth to this character. I liked her fiancé Greg, while not perfect, he showed himself to be there for Erica in the end. But overall I found the characters were not well developed. What the reader learns about the characters is very surface level details, some action of course, but there seemed to be an obsession with physical appearance. In fact, it was almost to the point of distraction.<br /><br />What’s not so good? The story was predictable. After the first big event in the book, I found myself guessing what the next plot development would be throughout the book.<br /><br />While somewhat veiled, there were some rather sick sexual relationships in this book that cross the line in a book released by a Christian publisher. While not described in detail, enough is said that makes it clear what’s happening. Also, Lis took a swipe at Donald Trump by including a nasty comment from one of the characters about him. It was unnecessary to the story and not value added. My overall impression was Lis tried to be edgy.<br /><br />If this book had been published by a secular publisher, I would only put a cautionary note about some of the content which may be offensive to people of faith.<br /><br />I have higher expectations from Thomas Nelson Publishers. On their website, this publisher is self-described as, “Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years.”<br /><br />There was nothing whatsoever Christian about this book. There was nothing about faith. There was one curse word as I recall and I appreciate that there was very little profanity. But some of the content of this book was not fit material from a Christian publisher.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook for the opportunity to read The Candidate by Lis Wiehl. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1482340801000, "title": "... A Mixed Bag - 2 1/2 Stars Since I like books with mystery and intrigue" }, { "asin": "0718085809", "rating": 3, "text": "The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble is the second book I’ve read by this author. What drew me to the book was the setting along the coastline of Washington, the mystery of what happened to the missing sister, a little romance with some home renovation mixed in. I wanted to like this book more than I actually did.<br /><br />The story is about two sisters Ellie and Mackenzie Blackmore, one of whom is missing and presumed dead. She leaves behind a mystery of a life that wasn’t what it seemed. Thrown into the mix is Grayson Bradshaw, an investigator for the US Coast Guard, who is looking into a missing shipment of illegal drugs that has ties to a terrorist. One of the prime suspects is Mackenzie and that news doesn’t sit too well with Ellie who just wants to find her sister.<br /><br />What I liked about The House at Saltwater Point:<br />• Grayson was very honest, forthright, nice and likeable.<br />• I kind of liked his relationship with Ellie, but they went from an adversarial relationship to romance and I wasn’t quite sure how they crossed that bridge.<br />• I liked the subplot of Grayson finding out that he was adopted and had biological sister and family whom he knew nothing about.<br />• I enjoyed the setting of Lavender Tides, the description of the town, the townspeople and friends, waterfront, beaches and scenery.<br />• I liked the home renovation career of Ellie.<br /><br />What I wasn’t too keen on:<br />• The storyline was rather convoluted and had too many subplots going on.<br />• The story and characters weren’t very realistic. Especially, the two small town sisters trying thwart a terrorist attack. There were times that the sisters did a better job than the FBI and Coast Guard in trying to stop the terrorists. There sure didn’t seem to much of a police presence considering the seriousness of what was going on.<br />• Early on in the book Ellie takes in a helpless small kitten. Periodically, the kitten would be mentioned but for the most part it wasn’t part of the story. I found it distracting. That part of the story was unnecessary and didn’t contribute to the storyline.<br />• At times the story seemed the drag.<br />• The characters weren’t very realistic. My favorite was Grayson, a very nice man…but he was a little too perfect.<br /><br />Colleen is really good at setting a scene and describing the place and helping the reader see it in their mind. However, the storyline was not plausible and the characters weren’t deep or realistic…much of it was very surface level. I think that’s where it lost me, I didn’t connect with the characters.<br /><br />If you just want to read a mystery to escape for a while you may enjoy The House at Saltwater Point.<br /><br />Colleen Coble is a Christian author, but there nothing much about faith included in this book. It’s clean, no profanity and or sexual immorality, and I appreciate that. But nothing much regarding faith and characters talking about God or praying or faith being lived out in their everyday lives.<br /><br />I wanted to like The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble. There were parts I did enjoy, but I think the implausible storyline and lack of depth the characters were too much to overcome.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and BookLook for the opportunity to read The House at Saltwater Point for free in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1534995746065, "title": "Implausible" }, { "asin": "0310348145", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite things is when I find a book that I love by an author whose work is new to me. I found a gem in Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin. I absolutely loved this book, from the moment I first started reading it. I haven’t read a lot of Amish themed novels, but there was something about storyline that caught my attention.<br /><br />Mary Katherine Ropp is a sixty-year-old widow and her last daughter is getting married. Most in the community would have her living with one of her married children and helping to raise her grandchildren. But Mary Katherine isn’t like most Amish women. She’s little bit spunky, independent, she likes to read, write stories and even dares to dream about opening a book store with her English friend Dottie. Also, part of the community is Ezekiel Miller who has been widowed for many years. In spite of grief, he kept family going through his business the Purpose Martin Café. Both Mary Katherine and Ezekiel can’t imagine getting married again so late in life, especially since they had wonderful marriages. But Ezekiel can imagine hiring another cook to help at the restaurant. In to the storyline steps the not so skilled, but very hungry burglar, Burke McMillan, who has a late-night encounter with Mary Katherine.<br /><br />What I loved best about this book were the characters. They were very likable people that I would enjoy knowing. Mary Katherine was my favorite and I loved her ongoing conversations with her husband Moses. I loved Ezekiel’s tender caring heart, tender for Mary Katherine, open to help and give a new start to a stranger, loving to his grandchildren, especially Kenneth. Burke is a man of mystery. Is he just a down on his luck kind of guy, is he the thief that’s been plaguing the Amish community or is something more going on with him?<br /><br />Kelly Irvin is a wonderful writer. She knows how to make characters interesting and very likeable, even in plain every day ordinary life. She gives insight into the characters and what they are going through at this stage in their lives. The Amish community setting is interesting but doesn’t overwhelm the story, instead it’s the background and reveals how these characters live their lives. I could identify with many of the feelings that Mary Katherine was expressing.<br /><br />The one person, I wasn’t too keen on was her son Thomas because he was so disrespectful to his mother. I would think as a Christian, he would have tried to honor his mother, but instead he treated her more like a child who has misbehaved.<br /><br />I loved Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin and I look forward to reading more of her books. I highly recommend this story, it was lovely! I read this book during a very difficult time in my life and I found it to be a very comforting place to escape to for a while.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Through the Autumn Air in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1539231378306, "title": "A Real Gem and Lovely Read" }, { "asin": "0718083040", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite authors that I’ve discovered in recent years is Robert Whitlow. If he writes a new book, I want read. I’m so glad that I was able to read Robert’s newest release Chosen People.<br /><br />This book is a little different than other novels I’ve read by Robert Whitlow. Like his other books, it involves attorneys and law, but Chosen People is set against the backdrop Islamic terrorism. It includes characters that are from the Middle East and shows the impact of terrorism at a personal level.<br /><br />Hana Abboud, an attorney working at law firm in Atlanta, is from Israel and is of Arab descent and a Christian which adds some interesting dynamics and cultural views to the storyline. Jakob Brodsky, a secular Jewish attorney has agreed to help Ben Neumann and his daughter Sadie bring a lawsuit against any organization or company that funded the terrorists that left his wife Gloria dead and their daughter Sadie seriously injured.<br /><br />With her background and experience in Israel, Hana is the right attorney to handle this case, if she’s willing. Jakob is going to batt for a family that may not have much of a case to stand on, much less the deep pockets necessary to handle the comprehensive research and to track down people who funded these morally reprehensible murderers.<br /><br />Will there be any justice for the Neumann family? Will the big law firm be willing to take a risk on this case which may go no where or run into many costly obstacles along the way? Will Hana be willing to take on a case that will bring up ugly savage images that will never leave her memory? How will she be able to handle this case long distance from Atlanta? Who will she be able to trust to be her boots on the ground in Israel to investigate the terrorists who perpetrated this savage attack? Was Jakob’s attack related to the investigation, or was it just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time?<br /><br />Mixed into the storyline is faith, Christian, Jewish, Islamic and agnostic.<br /><br />I enjoyed the likable characters, found the storyline intriguing and suspenseful as people put their lives on the line to investigate and bring terrorists and those that support them to justice.<br /><br />I give Chosen People a big thumbs up and recommend it highly. Robert Whitlow knows how to write great fiction, from interesting characters to a storyline that weaves together intrigue, suspense and faith. This one kept me guessing to the end.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Robert Whitlow’s new book Chosen People in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1545607314578, "title": "Intrigue, Suspense & Interesting Characters – A Story That Kept Me Guessing to the End" }, { "asin": "0718090543", "rating": 4, "text": "On Magnolia Lane is the first book that I’ve read by author by Denise Hunter and I really enjoyed it. This is the third book in the Blue Ridge Romance Series. Though it’s part of a series, it’s good as a standalone book.<br /><br />The story is about Jack McReady who happens to be the local Pastor. One of his congregants is Daisy Pendleton and she’s been meeting with Jack for counseling over a couple of years now. He’s pretty much head over heals in love with Daisy and she is oblivious. Will she ever be able to see Jack as something more than her Pastor? Will Jack ever be bold enough to ask Daisy out on a date? Or will this romance need a little help from their friends?<br /><br />I really liked the characters in this book. They weren’t perfect, but they were kind, descent and caring people that I’d like to spend time with. The story takes place in the small town of Copper Creak, Georgia and after reading this book I wish it really existed because I’d like to visit.<br /><br />One of my favorite characters was the mystery woman Julia. I found myself drawn into her quest and appreciated how understanding and gracious she was. I liked the friendship that developed between Daisy and Julia.<br /><br />Denise’s style of writing is very inviting. She has a way of helping the reader to visualize the places and people, but without being too wordy. She leaves room for imagination. I thought Denise was insightful in bringing out what was going on within the characters, their insecurities and wounds from the past that haven’t quite healed, that still impacted relationships.<br /><br />I really enjoyed On Magnolia Lane. I appreciated that the Christian faith was included in the character’s lives and that it was a clean novel and free from filthy language and sexual immorality. There are some details about a character’s past that comes out, but the sinful choices were not glorified or made light of.<br /><br />In today’s world, where every where you turn there’s more bad news, it’s really nice to be able to step away for a little while, into small town with a little romance. If you like a good love story, be sure to read On Magnolia Lane by Denise Hunter. I look forward to reading more of Denise’s novels.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for the opportunity to ready On Magnolia Lane in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1548308032880, "title": "If you like a good love story, time to step away for little while and read On Magnolia Lane." }, { "asin": "0785219706", "rating": 5, "text": "Can I say that an author is one of my favorites after reading only one of her books, Hurricane Season? Maybe not, but I was excited at the opportunity to read Lauren K. Denton’s newest book Glory Road.<br /><br />I absolutely loved this book! Lauren has a way of writing and helping you to see the beauty in the everyday ordinary life. From the people to the places and the beauty of creation.<br /><br />Glory Road takes place in Alabama and tells the story of Jessie who is a single mom, her 14-year-old daughter Evan and her Mom Gus. Following her divorce, Jessie moved back home to Perry where she grew up. Her home is next door to her Mother’s house and right next door to her garden shop the Twig on an old dirt road. It’s summertime and Evan will be starting in high school come September. Gus seems to be having some episodes of confusion and forgetfulness and Jessie is worried that it may be something serious. Jessie is content with her life the way it is and she’s not looking to make changes or room for romance. But sometimes God brings people and changes into our lives when we don’t feel ready.<br /><br />What did I love about Glory Road? I loved the characters, especially Jessie and her relationship with her daughter Evan and Mom Gus and their love, kindness and caring for one another. I loved the relationships between Jessie and Ben and Jessie and Sumner. I loved the relationship between Evan and Nick who takes after his father Ben. Lauren has a way of writing that is almost poetic or lyrical. She captures the character’s thoughts and feelings in a thought-provoking way that caused me to reflect on my own life. She also paints lovely word pictures of the places, indoors and outdoors, that helps the reader to imagine what it looks like. She does that without being too wordy or letting words get in the way of the reader’s imagination. I really enjoyed the quotes on gardening at the beginning of each chapter.<br /><br />On a more serious note, as someone whose parent had Alzheimer’s I appreciated the way Gus’ life and experiences were handled. It helped me to see how scary it must be for the person experiencing forgetfulness and for the family who sees it and are unsure on how to handle it. That part of the story rang a little too close to home.<br /><br />There’s only one mention of God in the book, other than two phrases that use the name of God. Even though God, Christianity, and faith were not specifically mentioned I had the feeling that faith undergirded the character’s lives. I would like to have seen elements of faith as part of the storyline but greatly appreciated a clean novel.<br /><br />I absolutely loved Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton. It’s a wonderful, lovely book that leaves you wanting the story to continue on. Lauren is on my short list of writers that when they write a new book, I want to be sure to read it.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and BookLook for the opportunity the read Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1560118394637, "title": "Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton – Wonderful, lovely, I didn’t want the story to end!" } ]

[ { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 4, "text": "Do you ever wonder why our lives bear so little resemblance to the lives of people portrayed in the New Testament?<br /><br />When I read the book of Acts, I see men who were cowardly and fled when Christ was arrested and crucified, now transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. In boldness they went forth and proclaiming the Gospel message of salvation found in Jesus Christ alone. We see God working through them and performing miracles. We see people comprehend and live out the truth, \"To live is Christ and to die is gain.\"<br /><br />I was excited to select Max Lucado's book \"Outlive Your Life\" and read his perspective on God at work in and through the church, a work that continues today. Max has a way of taking profound truths and simplifying them. He takes God at His word and believes that God still transforms lives and that He wants to work in your life and mine. That the Lord has a greater purpose and plan for our lives if we will dare to yield to Him and die to self daily.<br /><br />I recommend \"Outlive Your Life\" to Christian readers who want to be challenged to grow in their faith walk and also for unbelievers who want to see the heart of God at work in His church.<br /><br />It took a few chapters for me to embrace \"Outlive Your Life\" because I was concerned that the author, Max Lucado had left out the most important element, the Gospel message that salvation is found in Jesus Christ. But in chapter four, \"Don't Forget the Bread\", Max shares the Gospel through the words of the Apostle Peter.<br /><br />The chapter that won me over was \"Open Your Door; Open Your Heart\". In this chapter Max shows examples of how we can reach out to people around us. Simple actions that we can all do. My favorite chapter by far was \"Pray First; Pray Most\". There are times I struggle to be faithful in prayer. What an encouragement this chapter was on how powerful prayer is. Max sites examples from scripture and from Christians today who are mighty prayer warriors.<br /><br />Do you need a reminder on just how powerful God is and the work that He wants to do in and through you? Pick up a copy of \"Outlive Your Life\" by Max Lucado and then reread the book of Acts. Where does God want you to serve today and to reach the people for whom Christ died?<br /><br />Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: \"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.\"", "timestamp": 1292015638000, "title": "Outlive Your Life - Profound Yet Simple" }, { "asin": "0849920701", "rating": 4, "text": "Author Max Lucado has a unique way of meditating on God, who He is and what He's done for sinful man. What better subject than grace! The grace of God that saves us and gives us a new heart. Our gracious God who forgives us when by all rights He should have condemned us. The grace of God demonstrated when He sent His Son to take our place and pay the penalty for our sin. In exchange, He saved us by His marvelous, overflowing, unstoppable grace. Grace that can soften a hardened heart and change a life. Those are just some of the meditations on God's grace that Max Lucado shares in his new book Grace - More Than We Deserve - Greater Than We Imagine.<br /><br />Who doesn't need to be under the fire hose of God's grace? Once you've been on the receiving end of God's grace, often dispensed through the lives of His people, you want to learn how to live a grace filled and grace giving life.<br /><br />This book is a powerful reminder on God and the grace He freely gives us in abundance.<br /><br />I highly recommend Max Lucado's newest book Grace - More Than We Deserve - Greater Than We Imagine. This book is a keeper because you will want to read it again, ponder and reflect on our gracious God. This book is a giver too; you'll want to share this encouraging book with someone in need of an outpouring of God's grace.<br /><br />A concern that I had with the Reader's Guide written by Kate Etue, is that it was too self-focused and less God focused. I also would appreciate Max Lucado broaching the subject of repentance, a subject that is seldom mentioned in Christian writing today.<br /><br />A free copy of this book was provided to me by BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review. I under no obligation to provide a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1358401242000, "title": "Grace by Max Lucado - This Book's a Keeper and a Giver" }, { "asin": "1414366930", "rating": 3, "text": "When the opportunity to read and review Sheri Rose Shepherd's newest book, His Treasure Gems of Love from Your King, was presented I was excited at the prospect of reading her work. I've heard some of her conference messages and found Sheri to be a very compelling speaker.<br /><br />Based on her writing, I would say that Sheri has a love for the Lord and heart for women. She desires that the women will grasp the love that God has for them and the blessings that come to a woman who loves the Lord, increasingly trusts and obeys Him.<br /><br />I found many of the Treasures to be very encouraging, convicting and they touched tender spots where I have emotional wounds that need the Lord's healing.<br /><br />Sheri's love and passion for the Lord comes through in her writing.<br /><br />I also want to share how I struggled with this book. My struggle is with the style or genre of this book as if God is speaking to the reader. I would have felt more comfortable if instead the writer was praying to God. It's easy to not accurately represent God, because we see Him through our own unique perspective that is colored by our life and experiences. I also felt like the sovereignty and holiness of God was somewhat lacking. The focus seemed to be on the person to whom God was talking and less focused on God. As portrayed, God seemed to be gently trying to persuade the beloved child or daughter and was seldom revealed as God, the absolute Authority to Whom we will give an account. I would have also appreciated if scripture references had been given that would line up to the words God was speaking.<br /><br />I would like to thank Tyndale House Publishers for providing a complimentary copy of this book.", "timestamp": 1383806276000, "title": "Some Mixed Emotions" }, { "asin": "0310283140", "rating": 4, "text": "It was my pleasure to read Terri Blackstock’s newest novel Distortion, the second book in the Moonlights Series. I love to read mysteries and in the past I’ve read a number of Terri’s books and now I remember why I liked her writing so much.<br /><br />Distortion is a fast-paced murder mystery. From the very beginning of the novel, I was drawn into the storyline and characters. This is the second novel in the series, but the reader is not at a disadvantage if you haven’t read the first book Truth Stained Lies. There is enough information peppered throughout the book that helps the reader know about the background of the characters. I do wish I had read the first book, but Distortion a good standalone book too.<br /><br />Terri does a great job in developing the characters as the storyline unfolds. I find her characters very likable and appealing. Unlike other writers, Terri doesn’t have her characters making stupid blunders, just to put them in jeopardy.<br /><br />As a Christian, I’m very appreciative of having Christian characters that wrestle with their faith in the middle of a crisis and see how they interact with family and friends, believers and unbelievers. I also appreciate a writer who doesn’t offend my moral standards by throwing in sin and immorality just to titillate the reader.<br /><br />If you like mystery and suspense, I recommend that you give Terri Blackstock’s newest book Distortion a read. I do forewarn you that you may be staying up late a few nights because you won’t to put the book down.<br /><br />I would like to thank people at BookLook for providing me with a free copy of Distortion to read in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1399958844000, "title": "Fast-paced Intrigue & Suspense" }, { "asin": "0310322170", "rating": 3, "text": "I really enjoy reading mystery novels and like to discover good authors that are new to me. Now that’s a win-win recipe that I like to try and why I selected Murder Freshly Baked by author Vannetta Chapman.<br /><br />Murder Freshly Baked is the third book in the Amish Village Mystery series and the first book I’ve read by Vannetta Chapman. Overall I liked this book, but there were some things I struggled with especially early on.<br /><br />I was lost at the beginning of the book because there were so many characters introduced right off the bat. On the first page alone there were six characters carried over from the prior novels and four more were introduced before chapter one ended. I would imagine that for people who have read the first two books it was like encountering old friends. But for someone new to the series I had a hard time keeping everyone straight and understanding who’s who. The first scenes had a lot going and with a character being murdered the story was off and running. But I felt like I was back at the starting line just trying to figure out what was going on and who was involved.<br /><br />Something else I struggled with is that the author is very wordy. She goes into a lot of detail and uses many adjectives to describe the scenes and what people are doing. For me the wordiness was almost to the point of distraction. I don’t know if I just got used to the writer’s style or if the excessive descriptions lessened as the novel progressed.<br /><br />But there was a point that I started to connect with the characters and was able to figure out who’s who and wasn’t as distracted. I liked the characters and how they really seemed to care about one another. This is not a fast-paced novel, but one in which you get to know the characters and I like finding out what makes people tick.<br /><br />From a Christian perspective there were some things I appreciated about characters and how they interacted with one another. However, I was surprised when the perfect opportunity for one of the characters to share the gospel message was missed. Instead, practical advice was given on how to get out of a difficult situation. Christian writers have a unique platform to share the Gospel message and Biblical truth. When that opportunity is missed I don’t understand why.<br /><br />The author could have done a better job introducing the characters to the reader and not assume that people had read the earlier books in the series. The first flashback scene came out of nowhere and was a bit confusing until I learned that the former military character suffered PTSD.<br /><br />At the end of the day, I liked Murder Freshly Baked, mostly because of the characters and I would recommend it with the caveat that people start with the first two books in this series. It’s not a deep book, nor fast-paced, it wasn’t hard to figure out who committed the murder, but there was something appealing about the story, the people.<br /><br />I would like to thank the people at BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1434056539000, "title": "Mixed Emotions" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 4, "text": "I love a good mystery filled with intrigue and interesting characters. I hit the target with Drawing Fire by author Janice Cantore who is a former Long Beach police officer. This is the first book I’ve read by Janice Cantore and I look forward to reading her earlier books.<br /><br />Drawing Fire is filled with suspense and lots of action, but not at the expense of character development. I really liked the characters and learning about what drives them and makes them tick. The story takes place in Long Beach, California. Having lived in So Cal for many years it was fun to read about the various locations and visualize the scenes.<br /><br />I appreciate when a Christian author weaves their faith into the characters and storyline. I thought that Janice did a good job in showing what a loving and supportive Christian community can be like. It wasn’t contrived but flowed naturally as we learn about the characters and see them interact in everyday life and in crisis situations.<br /><br />At the end of Drawing Fire there are twelve discussion questions which can be used for a book club or the individual reader. I found the questions compelling as I remembered the characters and storyline and wondered how I might have responded.<br /><br />When Drawing Fire concludes the readers will know who done it, but things aren’t neatly and perfectly tied up, which is kind of like real life. It proves to be a good stopping off point because the characters will be continued in the next book of the Cold Case Justice series. That’s a book I will want to read.<br /><br />I would like to thank Tyndale Publishers for the opportunity to read Drawing Fire by Janice Cantore in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1435550331000, "title": "Hits the Target" }, { "asin": "1401688888", "rating": 5, "text": "I was privileged to read Robert Whitlow’s book A House Divided. He is an excellent writer and knows how to write good fiction. He skillfully and realistically weaves his Christian faith in to the storyline through the lives of the characters. But he doesn’t beat you over the head with it. Instead you see the Christian faith lived out in the lives of imperfect, hurting and broken people.<br /><br />I’ll be honest with you there were times A House Divided was hard to read. If you know an alcoholic or have seen how destructive alcoholism is you may also find this book painful to read. Read it anyway. There were times I found myself angry at the main character Corbin and wanted to yell at him so he would wake up and see that he was destroying his life, relationships and was endangering others.<br /><br />Robert Whitlow has the ability to draw the reader in to the story from the beginning. I found the characters very engaging and cared about them from the first page to the last, even when they weren’t so loveable. It was interesting and challenging to see how each character, Ray, Roxy, Cindy, Billy and others, responded to Corbin and the situations and people they were involved with. I loved seeing grace given when it was least deserved and unexpected. I couldn’t help but wonder how I would have responded.<br /><br />A House Divided is a book with characters that will stay with me. If Robert Whitlow writes a sequel to this one I want to read it.<br /><br />There are some authors whose work I want to read, whatever they write, because they are that good. Robert Whitlow is one of those writers. I highly recommend A House Divided by Robert Whitlow. You will be challenged and grow as you read it.<br /><br />I would like to thank the people at BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing me a free copy of Robert Whitlow’s book, A House Divided, to read in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1442509229000, "title": "A Compelling and Excellent Read" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 5, "text": "I’m a fan of Terri Blackstock’s writing so I was excited at the opportunity to read her newest mystery If I Run.<br /><br />This book is much different from her other stories. If I Run is written in the first person narrative from two character’s perspectives, Casey and Dylan.<br /><br />The story jumps right in to a mystery from the first sentence with Casey leaving the scene of a murder. Over time the reader learns more about who was murdered and why and why in the world Casey is on the run.<br /><br />Shortly thereafter readers are introduced to Dylan, a friend of the murder victim, who was hired by family to help bring into custody the chief murder suspect Casey.<br /><br />Why is Casey fleeing the scene? If she’s really innocent why doesn’t she hang around to defend herself? After all, won’t the evidence exonerate her if indeed she is innocent? Does Dylan really want to find the person who murdered his friend? Or is he hunting Casey down just for the money? Will truth prevail or will evil triumph?<br /><br />To get answers to those questions, you’ll have to read If I Run by Terri Blackstock. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.<br /><br />One of the things I appreciate about reading Christian writers is when they incorporate the Christian faith into the characters. Unlike some of her other books the main characters aren’t believers. They’ve had some exposure to Christianity, but they aren’t believers yet.<br /><br />Both characters, Casey and Dylan were very likable. I’ve got to confess, Casey had me pulling my hair out at times. But I realized that the character reminded me of real life. We can’t control what other people do and the decisions they make and they have their reasons for making them.<br /><br />I recommend Terri Blackstock’s newest book If I Run. Readers will enjoy Terri’s unveiling the characters and storyline one layer at a time. I forewarn you, you may need to stay up late to finish this book.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Terri Blackstock’s newest book If I Run in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1458079442000, "title": "Will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end" }, { "asin": "1501820079", "rating": 5, "text": "As an animal lover, it didn’t take me long to request Ace Collins newest book Service Tails - More Stores of Man’s Best Hero. What a treat it was to read this book. With all that’s wrong in the world today, it was lovely to take some time and learn about how service dogs have been helping people with disabilities and health challenges live full and independent lives.<br /><br />Service Tails tells the stories of twelve different people, with various disabilities, whose lives were transformed for the better though the use of service dogs helping them live everyday life. For years I’ve known about seeing-eye dogs that help the blind, but didn’t realize all the other areas that dogs could be trained to help.<br /><br />I found it interesting to learn about how the dogs are trained. Why one breed of dog is used over another. Each organization takes a careful look at the needs of the disabled person and puts a lot of thought into selecting just the right animal. Training may need to be customized so the dog is able to meet the needs of the person they will be serving.<br /><br />In Service Tails you will learn how service dogs first started being used in the United States. I felt grateful for the courageous and pioneering spirit of Morris Frank and his determination to get a guide dog so he could regain his freedom and independence. But he didn’t stop there; he went on to share with other blind Americans the gift of guide dogs.<br /><br />It was heartwarming to hear about the bonding that happens between a person and their service dog. However, it was disconcerting to read about the way people with disabilities are treated and may feel isolated, ignored or treated like a small child. I was encouraged to see how the service animal helps breakdown some barriers for disabled people. Instead of people shying away from a disabled person, they are now drawn to them because of the animal. The service dog serves as a vehicle to help people see beyond the disability and see the person for who they are and things they may have in common.<br /><br />Service Tails is a book about heroes. The disabled person who won’t settle for being isolated, giving up and living the rest of their life behind closed doors. The service dogs whom God has gifted with the right temperament, skills, and intelligence to learn and help and serve people in need. Not to be forgotten are the people who train and work with the dogs to prepare them for a life of serving, loving and caring for their own special person.<br /><br />I highly recommend Service Tails – More Stores of Man’s Best Hero by Ace Collins. This book will encourage you and may give you a new perspective on disabled people and the dogs who serve them.<br /><br />I would like to thank Litfuse and Abingdon Press for the opportunity to read Service Tails by Ace Collins in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1472135280000, "title": "A Real Treat" }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 5, "text": "I’ve read some of Robert Whitlow’s previous books and was thrilled at the opportunity to read his newest release, The Witnesses. While reading this book, I was reminded why Robert Whitlow is one of my favorite authors. This man is a gifted storyteller and he knows how to weave a story together with intrigue, mystery and characters you want to get to know better.<br /><br />The Witnesses tells the story of two generations of the House family. Frank is from Germany, a former Nazi and grandfather to Parker who is an attorney in a small town in North Carolina. Both men have a unique gift that they can use for good or evil. How will Frank reconcile his past participation in unimaginable horrors? Will he ever find rest and peace for his soul? Parker’s career is just beginning, he’s the new man on the totem and working long hours. How long will he have to wait to sink his teeth into some weighty cases and prove himself as an attorney?<br /><br />As the storyline develops, Robert slowly unveils the characters, layer by layer. He has keen, thought provoking and honest insights into people and their circumstances. His characters are very relatable. I especially liked the relationships: between Frank and Parker and their love and respect for one another, the friendship between Frank and his longtime friend Lenny and the instantaneous bond between Layla and Frank. As a Christian, I appreciate how Robert weaves the Christian faith into his character’s lives. He did a great job in presenting the Gospel message and showing the Christian faith lived out in everyday life. I would never have guessed that I would like a story that involves a former Nazi, much less like the character; but I did.<br /><br />This book is well written, with interesting characters that will draw you in. I found myself thinking about the characters when I wasn’t reading, they kind of come alive. One thing I love about a book is when a character perfectly expresses what you’ve been feeling, but didn’t quite know how to put into words.<br /><br />I highly recommend The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow, a tale of two men who have a unique gift of seeing what will happen in the future. One man is looking back on a life with some very ugly sins he can’t seem to get away from and the other just starting his career. Will he put his career over and above love? To find out what happens in the lives of these men you will want to read The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing me a free copy The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1476719030000, "title": "A Gifted Storyteller" }, { "asin": "0718037685", "rating": 2, "text": "The Candidate by Lis Wiehl – A Mixed Bag - 2 1/2 Stars<br /><br />Since I like books with mystery and intrigue, I decided to read author Lis Wiehl’s new book The Candidate – A Newsmakers Novel written with Sebastian Stuart. I’ve watched Lis on Fox News and like her keen legal analysis and hoped that would translate into a good book. Unfortunately, I found The Candidate to be a mixed bag.<br /><br />What’s good? I found the plotline intriguing. Is top Presidential candidate, Mike Ortiz, as good as he seems at first glance? Or will Erica discover there is something nefarious going on behind the scenes when she takes a closer look? Coming on the heels of a very contentious election cycle this should be a very interesting book.<br /><br />The story is action packed and the main character, Erica Sparks, is somewhat interesting. Her background is revealed during the course of the story but there was not a lot of depth to this character. I liked her fiancé Greg, while not perfect, he showed himself to be there for Erica in the end. But overall I found the characters were not well developed. What the reader learns about the characters is very surface level details, some action of course, but there seemed to be an obsession with physical appearance. In fact, it was almost to the point of distraction.<br /><br />What’s not so good? The story was predictable. After the first big event in the book, I found myself guessing what the next plot development would be throughout the book.<br /><br />While somewhat veiled, there were some rather sick sexual relationships in this book that cross the line in a book released by a Christian publisher. While not described in detail, enough is said that makes it clear what’s happening. Also, Lis took a swipe at Donald Trump by including a nasty comment from one of the characters about him. It was unnecessary to the story and not value added. My overall impression was Lis tried to be edgy.<br /><br />If this book had been published by a secular publisher, I would only put a cautionary note about some of the content which may be offensive to people of faith.<br /><br />I have higher expectations from Thomas Nelson Publishers. On their website, this publisher is self-described as, “Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years.”<br /><br />There was nothing whatsoever Christian about this book. There was nothing about faith. There was one curse word as I recall and I appreciate that there was very little profanity. But some of the content of this book was not fit material from a Christian publisher.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook for the opportunity to read The Candidate by Lis Wiehl. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1482340801000, "title": "... A Mixed Bag - 2 1/2 Stars Since I like books with mystery and intrigue" }, { "asin": "0718085809", "rating": 3, "text": "The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble is the second book I’ve read by this author. What drew me to the book was the setting along the coastline of Washington, the mystery of what happened to the missing sister, a little romance with some home renovation mixed in. I wanted to like this book more than I actually did.<br /><br />The story is about two sisters Ellie and Mackenzie Blackmore, one of whom is missing and presumed dead. She leaves behind a mystery of a life that wasn’t what it seemed. Thrown into the mix is Grayson Bradshaw, an investigator for the US Coast Guard, who is looking into a missing shipment of illegal drugs that has ties to a terrorist. One of the prime suspects is Mackenzie and that news doesn’t sit too well with Ellie who just wants to find her sister.<br /><br />What I liked about The House at Saltwater Point:<br />• Grayson was very honest, forthright, nice and likeable.<br />• I kind of liked his relationship with Ellie, but they went from an adversarial relationship to romance and I wasn’t quite sure how they crossed that bridge.<br />• I liked the subplot of Grayson finding out that he was adopted and had biological sister and family whom he knew nothing about.<br />• I enjoyed the setting of Lavender Tides, the description of the town, the townspeople and friends, waterfront, beaches and scenery.<br />• I liked the home renovation career of Ellie.<br /><br />What I wasn’t too keen on:<br />• The storyline was rather convoluted and had too many subplots going on.<br />• The story and characters weren’t very realistic. Especially, the two small town sisters trying thwart a terrorist attack. There were times that the sisters did a better job than the FBI and Coast Guard in trying to stop the terrorists. There sure didn’t seem to much of a police presence considering the seriousness of what was going on.<br />• Early on in the book Ellie takes in a helpless small kitten. Periodically, the kitten would be mentioned but for the most part it wasn’t part of the story. I found it distracting. That part of the story was unnecessary and didn’t contribute to the storyline.<br />• At times the story seemed the drag.<br />• The characters weren’t very realistic. My favorite was Grayson, a very nice man…but he was a little too perfect.<br /><br />Colleen is really good at setting a scene and describing the place and helping the reader see it in their mind. However, the storyline was not plausible and the characters weren’t deep or realistic…much of it was very surface level. I think that’s where it lost me, I didn’t connect with the characters.<br /><br />If you just want to read a mystery to escape for a while you may enjoy The House at Saltwater Point.<br /><br />Colleen Coble is a Christian author, but there nothing much about faith included in this book. It’s clean, no profanity and or sexual immorality, and I appreciate that. But nothing much regarding faith and characters talking about God or praying or faith being lived out in their everyday lives.<br /><br />I wanted to like The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble. There were parts I did enjoy, but I think the implausible storyline and lack of depth the characters were too much to overcome.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and BookLook for the opportunity to read The House at Saltwater Point for free in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1534995746065, "title": "Implausible" }, { "asin": "0310348145", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite things is when I find a book that I love by an author whose work is new to me. I found a gem in Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin. I absolutely loved this book, from the moment I first started reading it. I haven’t read a lot of Amish themed novels, but there was something about storyline that caught my attention.<br /><br />Mary Katherine Ropp is a sixty-year-old widow and her last daughter is getting married. Most in the community would have her living with one of her married children and helping to raise her grandchildren. But Mary Katherine isn’t like most Amish women. She’s little bit spunky, independent, she likes to read, write stories and even dares to dream about opening a book store with her English friend Dottie. Also, part of the community is Ezekiel Miller who has been widowed for many years. In spite of grief, he kept family going through his business the Purpose Martin Café. Both Mary Katherine and Ezekiel can’t imagine getting married again so late in life, especially since they had wonderful marriages. But Ezekiel can imagine hiring another cook to help at the restaurant. In to the storyline steps the not so skilled, but very hungry burglar, Burke McMillan, who has a late-night encounter with Mary Katherine.<br /><br />What I loved best about this book were the characters. They were very likable people that I would enjoy knowing. Mary Katherine was my favorite and I loved her ongoing conversations with her husband Moses. I loved Ezekiel’s tender caring heart, tender for Mary Katherine, open to help and give a new start to a stranger, loving to his grandchildren, especially Kenneth. Burke is a man of mystery. Is he just a down on his luck kind of guy, is he the thief that’s been plaguing the Amish community or is something more going on with him?<br /><br />Kelly Irvin is a wonderful writer. She knows how to make characters interesting and very likeable, even in plain every day ordinary life. She gives insight into the characters and what they are going through at this stage in their lives. The Amish community setting is interesting but doesn’t overwhelm the story, instead it’s the background and reveals how these characters live their lives. I could identify with many of the feelings that Mary Katherine was expressing.<br /><br />The one person, I wasn’t too keen on was her son Thomas because he was so disrespectful to his mother. I would think as a Christian, he would have tried to honor his mother, but instead he treated her more like a child who has misbehaved.<br /><br />I loved Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin and I look forward to reading more of her books. I highly recommend this story, it was lovely! I read this book during a very difficult time in my life and I found it to be a very comforting place to escape to for a while.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Through the Autumn Air in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1539231378306, "title": "A Real Gem and Lovely Read" }, { "asin": "0718083040", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite authors that I’ve discovered in recent years is Robert Whitlow. If he writes a new book, I want read. I’m so glad that I was able to read Robert’s newest release Chosen People.<br /><br />This book is a little different than other novels I’ve read by Robert Whitlow. Like his other books, it involves attorneys and law, but Chosen People is set against the backdrop Islamic terrorism. It includes characters that are from the Middle East and shows the impact of terrorism at a personal level.<br /><br />Hana Abboud, an attorney working at law firm in Atlanta, is from Israel and is of Arab descent and a Christian which adds some interesting dynamics and cultural views to the storyline. Jakob Brodsky, a secular Jewish attorney has agreed to help Ben Neumann and his daughter Sadie bring a lawsuit against any organization or company that funded the terrorists that left his wife Gloria dead and their daughter Sadie seriously injured.<br /><br />With her background and experience in Israel, Hana is the right attorney to handle this case, if she’s willing. Jakob is going to batt for a family that may not have much of a case to stand on, much less the deep pockets necessary to handle the comprehensive research and to track down people who funded these morally reprehensible murderers.<br /><br />Will there be any justice for the Neumann family? Will the big law firm be willing to take a risk on this case which may go no where or run into many costly obstacles along the way? Will Hana be willing to take on a case that will bring up ugly savage images that will never leave her memory? How will she be able to handle this case long distance from Atlanta? Who will she be able to trust to be her boots on the ground in Israel to investigate the terrorists who perpetrated this savage attack? Was Jakob’s attack related to the investigation, or was it just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time?<br /><br />Mixed into the storyline is faith, Christian, Jewish, Islamic and agnostic.<br /><br />I enjoyed the likable characters, found the storyline intriguing and suspenseful as people put their lives on the line to investigate and bring terrorists and those that support them to justice.<br /><br />I give Chosen People a big thumbs up and recommend it highly. Robert Whitlow knows how to write great fiction, from interesting characters to a storyline that weaves together intrigue, suspense and faith. This one kept me guessing to the end.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Robert Whitlow’s new book Chosen People in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1545607314578, "title": "Intrigue, Suspense & Interesting Characters – A Story That Kept Me Guessing to the End" }, { "asin": "0718090543", "rating": 4, "text": "On Magnolia Lane is the first book that I’ve read by author by Denise Hunter and I really enjoyed it. This is the third book in the Blue Ridge Romance Series. Though it’s part of a series, it’s good as a standalone book.<br /><br />The story is about Jack McReady who happens to be the local Pastor. One of his congregants is Daisy Pendleton and she’s been meeting with Jack for counseling over a couple of years now. He’s pretty much head over heals in love with Daisy and she is oblivious. Will she ever be able to see Jack as something more than her Pastor? Will Jack ever be bold enough to ask Daisy out on a date? Or will this romance need a little help from their friends?<br /><br />I really liked the characters in this book. They weren’t perfect, but they were kind, descent and caring people that I’d like to spend time with. The story takes place in the small town of Copper Creak, Georgia and after reading this book I wish it really existed because I’d like to visit.<br /><br />One of my favorite characters was the mystery woman Julia. I found myself drawn into her quest and appreciated how understanding and gracious she was. I liked the friendship that developed between Daisy and Julia.<br /><br />Denise’s style of writing is very inviting. She has a way of helping the reader to visualize the places and people, but without being too wordy. She leaves room for imagination. I thought Denise was insightful in bringing out what was going on within the characters, their insecurities and wounds from the past that haven’t quite healed, that still impacted relationships.<br /><br />I really enjoyed On Magnolia Lane. I appreciated that the Christian faith was included in the character’s lives and that it was a clean novel and free from filthy language and sexual immorality. There are some details about a character’s past that comes out, but the sinful choices were not glorified or made light of.<br /><br />In today’s world, where every where you turn there’s more bad news, it’s really nice to be able to step away for a little while, into small town with a little romance. If you like a good love story, be sure to read On Magnolia Lane by Denise Hunter. I look forward to reading more of Denise’s novels.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for the opportunity to ready On Magnolia Lane in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1548308032880, "title": "If you like a good love story, time to step away for little while and read On Magnolia Lane." }, { "asin": "0785219706", "rating": 5, "text": "Can I say that an author is one of my favorites after reading only one of her books, Hurricane Season? Maybe not, but I was excited at the opportunity to read Lauren K. Denton’s newest book Glory Road.<br /><br />I absolutely loved this book! Lauren has a way of writing and helping you to see the beauty in the everyday ordinary life. From the people to the places and the beauty of creation.<br /><br />Glory Road takes place in Alabama and tells the story of Jessie who is a single mom, her 14-year-old daughter Evan and her Mom Gus. Following her divorce, Jessie moved back home to Perry where she grew up. Her home is next door to her Mother’s house and right next door to her garden shop the Twig on an old dirt road. It’s summertime and Evan will be starting in high school come September. Gus seems to be having some episodes of confusion and forgetfulness and Jessie is worried that it may be something serious. Jessie is content with her life the way it is and she’s not looking to make changes or room for romance. But sometimes God brings people and changes into our lives when we don’t feel ready.<br /><br />What did I love about Glory Road? I loved the characters, especially Jessie and her relationship with her daughter Evan and Mom Gus and their love, kindness and caring for one another. I loved the relationships between Jessie and Ben and Jessie and Sumner. I loved the relationship between Evan and Nick who takes after his father Ben. Lauren has a way of writing that is almost poetic or lyrical. She captures the character’s thoughts and feelings in a thought-provoking way that caused me to reflect on my own life. She also paints lovely word pictures of the places, indoors and outdoors, that helps the reader to imagine what it looks like. She does that without being too wordy or letting words get in the way of the reader’s imagination. I really enjoyed the quotes on gardening at the beginning of each chapter.<br /><br />On a more serious note, as someone whose parent had Alzheimer’s I appreciated the way Gus’ life and experiences were handled. It helped me to see how scary it must be for the person experiencing forgetfulness and for the family who sees it and are unsure on how to handle it. That part of the story rang a little too close to home.<br /><br />There’s only one mention of God in the book, other than two phrases that use the name of God. Even though God, Christianity, and faith were not specifically mentioned I had the feeling that faith undergirded the character’s lives. I would like to have seen elements of faith as part of the storyline but greatly appreciated a clean novel.<br /><br />I absolutely loved Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton. It’s a wonderful, lovely book that leaves you wanting the story to continue on. Lauren is on my short list of writers that when they write a new book, I want to be sure to read it.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and BookLook for the opportunity the read Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1560118394637, "title": "Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton – Wonderful, lovely, I didn’t want the story to end!" }, { "asin": "0785223142", "rating": 3, "text": "Over the Line is Kelly Irvin’s newest book in the romantic suspense genre. I recently discovered Kelly’s writing when I read two of her recent Amish themed books and fell in love with her writing. That’s why I was excited to read her newest book.<br /><br />Over the Line is an action-packed novel that seems like it could have been taken from today’s headline news. Chef and restaurateur, Gabriella Benoit is locking up her restaurant late at night and is met by a stranger who was carrying a gun and calling her name. As he clutches his chest and falls to the ground he says “Jake” but dies before he can say anything more about Gabby’s brother. She’d never imagined she’d need help from her former fiancé Eli Cavazos to find her missing brother or find herself in the middle of an illegal gun smuggling ring at the border. How is she going to protect her sister and family from some very desperate and dangerous men? Just who are the good guys and who are the bad ones?<br /><br />I had a mixed reaction to Over the Line. I appreciate that it’s clean and not filled with sexual immorality or filthy language. There is some Christian faith included in the book and I thought it was better and more genuine towards the end of the book. I liked Eli’s mother and her openness and transparency and how different characters dealt with the issue of forgiveness. I especially liked the character Deacon, he was a nice surprise. As you get to know him you can see he’s a decent sincere person and Natalie was very likeable too.<br /><br />But over-all, I feel like the action was center stage and eclipsed the characters. Some of the prayers or mentions of God and faith seemed like they were out of place or just thrown in, instead of a natural overflow of the character’s thinking or feelings. Some of the character’s actions didn’t make a lot of sense, like Deacon trespassing or Gabby confronting a police officer she suspected was corrupt because she was overcome with emotion instead of using reason and logic. That didn’t make sense coming from a person who was a former district attorney. The scene where Gabriella and Natalie crashed the van doesn’t seem realistic because the dialogue goes on and on when the bad guys are coming their way with big guns. I wasn’t overly fond of the main character Gabriella.<br /><br />As I was reading this book, I kept thinking this must be the second book in a series because there was a lot of back-story between Gabriella and Eli and what had happened in Natalie’s life previously. I was surprised to find out that this wasn’t the second book. Some of the background information and questions I had were answered later in the book.<br /><br />I would recommend Over the Line to someone who likes Kelly Irvin’s writing, with a note that it’s much different than her Amish themed books. Also, for those who enjoy Christian suspense novels. Over the Line will be available June 11, 2019.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Over the Line by Kelly Irvin in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1560262669597, "title": "Mixed Reaction" } ]

[ { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 4, "text": "Do you ever wonder why our lives bear so little resemblance to the lives of people portrayed in the New Testament?<br /><br />When I read the book of Acts, I see men who were cowardly and fled when Christ was arrested and crucified, now transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. In boldness they went forth and proclaiming the Gospel message of salvation found in Jesus Christ alone. We see God working through them and performing miracles. We see people comprehend and live out the truth, \"To live is Christ and to die is gain.\"<br /><br />I was excited to select Max Lucado's book \"Outlive Your Life\" and read his perspective on God at work in and through the church, a work that continues today. Max has a way of taking profound truths and simplifying them. He takes God at His word and believes that God still transforms lives and that He wants to work in your life and mine. That the Lord has a greater purpose and plan for our lives if we will dare to yield to Him and die to self daily.<br /><br />I recommend \"Outlive Your Life\" to Christian readers who want to be challenged to grow in their faith walk and also for unbelievers who want to see the heart of God at work in His church.<br /><br />It took a few chapters for me to embrace \"Outlive Your Life\" because I was concerned that the author, Max Lucado had left out the most important element, the Gospel message that salvation is found in Jesus Christ. But in chapter four, \"Don't Forget the Bread\", Max shares the Gospel through the words of the Apostle Peter.<br /><br />The chapter that won me over was \"Open Your Door; Open Your Heart\". In this chapter Max shows examples of how we can reach out to people around us. Simple actions that we can all do. My favorite chapter by far was \"Pray First; Pray Most\". There are times I struggle to be faithful in prayer. What an encouragement this chapter was on how powerful prayer is. Max sites examples from scripture and from Christians today who are mighty prayer warriors.<br /><br />Do you need a reminder on just how powerful God is and the work that He wants to do in and through you? Pick up a copy of \"Outlive Your Life\" by Max Lucado and then reread the book of Acts. Where does God want you to serve today and to reach the people for whom Christ died?<br /><br />Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: \"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.\"", "timestamp": 1292015638000, "title": "Outlive Your Life - Profound Yet Simple" }, { "asin": "0849920701", "rating": 4, "text": "Author Max Lucado has a unique way of meditating on God, who He is and what He's done for sinful man. What better subject than grace! The grace of God that saves us and gives us a new heart. Our gracious God who forgives us when by all rights He should have condemned us. The grace of God demonstrated when He sent His Son to take our place and pay the penalty for our sin. In exchange, He saved us by His marvelous, overflowing, unstoppable grace. Grace that can soften a hardened heart and change a life. Those are just some of the meditations on God's grace that Max Lucado shares in his new book Grace - More Than We Deserve - Greater Than We Imagine.<br /><br />Who doesn't need to be under the fire hose of God's grace? Once you've been on the receiving end of God's grace, often dispensed through the lives of His people, you want to learn how to live a grace filled and grace giving life.<br /><br />This book is a powerful reminder on God and the grace He freely gives us in abundance.<br /><br />I highly recommend Max Lucado's newest book Grace - More Than We Deserve - Greater Than We Imagine. This book is a keeper because you will want to read it again, ponder and reflect on our gracious God. This book is a giver too; you'll want to share this encouraging book with someone in need of an outpouring of God's grace.<br /><br />A concern that I had with the Reader's Guide written by Kate Etue, is that it was too self-focused and less God focused. I also would appreciate Max Lucado broaching the subject of repentance, a subject that is seldom mentioned in Christian writing today.<br /><br />A free copy of this book was provided to me by BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review. I under no obligation to provide a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1358401242000, "title": "Grace by Max Lucado - This Book's a Keeper and a Giver" }, { "asin": "1414366930", "rating": 3, "text": "When the opportunity to read and review Sheri Rose Shepherd's newest book, His Treasure Gems of Love from Your King, was presented I was excited at the prospect of reading her work. I've heard some of her conference messages and found Sheri to be a very compelling speaker.<br /><br />Based on her writing, I would say that Sheri has a love for the Lord and heart for women. She desires that the women will grasp the love that God has for them and the blessings that come to a woman who loves the Lord, increasingly trusts and obeys Him.<br /><br />I found many of the Treasures to be very encouraging, convicting and they touched tender spots where I have emotional wounds that need the Lord's healing.<br /><br />Sheri's love and passion for the Lord comes through in her writing.<br /><br />I also want to share how I struggled with this book. My struggle is with the style or genre of this book as if God is speaking to the reader. I would have felt more comfortable if instead the writer was praying to God. It's easy to not accurately represent God, because we see Him through our own unique perspective that is colored by our life and experiences. I also felt like the sovereignty and holiness of God was somewhat lacking. The focus seemed to be on the person to whom God was talking and less focused on God. As portrayed, God seemed to be gently trying to persuade the beloved child or daughter and was seldom revealed as God, the absolute Authority to Whom we will give an account. I would have also appreciated if scripture references had been given that would line up to the words God was speaking.<br /><br />I would like to thank Tyndale House Publishers for providing a complimentary copy of this book.", "timestamp": 1383806276000, "title": "Some Mixed Emotions" }, { "asin": "0310283140", "rating": 4, "text": "It was my pleasure to read Terri Blackstock’s newest novel Distortion, the second book in the Moonlights Series. I love to read mysteries and in the past I’ve read a number of Terri’s books and now I remember why I liked her writing so much.<br /><br />Distortion is a fast-paced murder mystery. From the very beginning of the novel, I was drawn into the storyline and characters. This is the second novel in the series, but the reader is not at a disadvantage if you haven’t read the first book Truth Stained Lies. There is enough information peppered throughout the book that helps the reader know about the background of the characters. I do wish I had read the first book, but Distortion a good standalone book too.<br /><br />Terri does a great job in developing the characters as the storyline unfolds. I find her characters very likable and appealing. Unlike other writers, Terri doesn’t have her characters making stupid blunders, just to put them in jeopardy.<br /><br />As a Christian, I’m very appreciative of having Christian characters that wrestle with their faith in the middle of a crisis and see how they interact with family and friends, believers and unbelievers. I also appreciate a writer who doesn’t offend my moral standards by throwing in sin and immorality just to titillate the reader.<br /><br />If you like mystery and suspense, I recommend that you give Terri Blackstock’s newest book Distortion a read. I do forewarn you that you may be staying up late a few nights because you won’t to put the book down.<br /><br />I would like to thank people at BookLook for providing me with a free copy of Distortion to read in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1399958844000, "title": "Fast-paced Intrigue & Suspense" }, { "asin": "0310322170", "rating": 3, "text": "I really enjoy reading mystery novels and like to discover good authors that are new to me. Now that’s a win-win recipe that I like to try and why I selected Murder Freshly Baked by author Vannetta Chapman.<br /><br />Murder Freshly Baked is the third book in the Amish Village Mystery series and the first book I’ve read by Vannetta Chapman. Overall I liked this book, but there were some things I struggled with especially early on.<br /><br />I was lost at the beginning of the book because there were so many characters introduced right off the bat. On the first page alone there were six characters carried over from the prior novels and four more were introduced before chapter one ended. I would imagine that for people who have read the first two books it was like encountering old friends. But for someone new to the series I had a hard time keeping everyone straight and understanding who’s who. The first scenes had a lot going and with a character being murdered the story was off and running. But I felt like I was back at the starting line just trying to figure out what was going on and who was involved.<br /><br />Something else I struggled with is that the author is very wordy. She goes into a lot of detail and uses many adjectives to describe the scenes and what people are doing. For me the wordiness was almost to the point of distraction. I don’t know if I just got used to the writer’s style or if the excessive descriptions lessened as the novel progressed.<br /><br />But there was a point that I started to connect with the characters and was able to figure out who’s who and wasn’t as distracted. I liked the characters and how they really seemed to care about one another. This is not a fast-paced novel, but one in which you get to know the characters and I like finding out what makes people tick.<br /><br />From a Christian perspective there were some things I appreciated about characters and how they interacted with one another. However, I was surprised when the perfect opportunity for one of the characters to share the gospel message was missed. Instead, practical advice was given on how to get out of a difficult situation. Christian writers have a unique platform to share the Gospel message and Biblical truth. When that opportunity is missed I don’t understand why.<br /><br />The author could have done a better job introducing the characters to the reader and not assume that people had read the earlier books in the series. The first flashback scene came out of nowhere and was a bit confusing until I learned that the former military character suffered PTSD.<br /><br />At the end of the day, I liked Murder Freshly Baked, mostly because of the characters and I would recommend it with the caveat that people start with the first two books in this series. It’s not a deep book, nor fast-paced, it wasn’t hard to figure out who committed the murder, but there was something appealing about the story, the people.<br /><br />I would like to thank the people at BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1434056539000, "title": "Mixed Emotions" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 4, "text": "I love a good mystery filled with intrigue and interesting characters. I hit the target with Drawing Fire by author Janice Cantore who is a former Long Beach police officer. This is the first book I’ve read by Janice Cantore and I look forward to reading her earlier books.<br /><br />Drawing Fire is filled with suspense and lots of action, but not at the expense of character development. I really liked the characters and learning about what drives them and makes them tick. The story takes place in Long Beach, California. Having lived in So Cal for many years it was fun to read about the various locations and visualize the scenes.<br /><br />I appreciate when a Christian author weaves their faith into the characters and storyline. I thought that Janice did a good job in showing what a loving and supportive Christian community can be like. It wasn’t contrived but flowed naturally as we learn about the characters and see them interact in everyday life and in crisis situations.<br /><br />At the end of Drawing Fire there are twelve discussion questions which can be used for a book club or the individual reader. I found the questions compelling as I remembered the characters and storyline and wondered how I might have responded.<br /><br />When Drawing Fire concludes the readers will know who done it, but things aren’t neatly and perfectly tied up, which is kind of like real life. It proves to be a good stopping off point because the characters will be continued in the next book of the Cold Case Justice series. That’s a book I will want to read.<br /><br />I would like to thank Tyndale Publishers for the opportunity to read Drawing Fire by Janice Cantore in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1435550331000, "title": "Hits the Target" }, { "asin": "1401688888", "rating": 5, "text": "I was privileged to read Robert Whitlow’s book A House Divided. He is an excellent writer and knows how to write good fiction. He skillfully and realistically weaves his Christian faith in to the storyline through the lives of the characters. But he doesn’t beat you over the head with it. Instead you see the Christian faith lived out in the lives of imperfect, hurting and broken people.<br /><br />I’ll be honest with you there were times A House Divided was hard to read. If you know an alcoholic or have seen how destructive alcoholism is you may also find this book painful to read. Read it anyway. There were times I found myself angry at the main character Corbin and wanted to yell at him so he would wake up and see that he was destroying his life, relationships and was endangering others.<br /><br />Robert Whitlow has the ability to draw the reader in to the story from the beginning. I found the characters very engaging and cared about them from the first page to the last, even when they weren’t so loveable. It was interesting and challenging to see how each character, Ray, Roxy, Cindy, Billy and others, responded to Corbin and the situations and people they were involved with. I loved seeing grace given when it was least deserved and unexpected. I couldn’t help but wonder how I would have responded.<br /><br />A House Divided is a book with characters that will stay with me. If Robert Whitlow writes a sequel to this one I want to read it.<br /><br />There are some authors whose work I want to read, whatever they write, because they are that good. Robert Whitlow is one of those writers. I highly recommend A House Divided by Robert Whitlow. You will be challenged and grow as you read it.<br /><br />I would like to thank the people at BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing me a free copy of Robert Whitlow’s book, A House Divided, to read in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1442509229000, "title": "A Compelling and Excellent Read" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 5, "text": "I’m a fan of Terri Blackstock’s writing so I was excited at the opportunity to read her newest mystery If I Run.<br /><br />This book is much different from her other stories. If I Run is written in the first person narrative from two character’s perspectives, Casey and Dylan.<br /><br />The story jumps right in to a mystery from the first sentence with Casey leaving the scene of a murder. Over time the reader learns more about who was murdered and why and why in the world Casey is on the run.<br /><br />Shortly thereafter readers are introduced to Dylan, a friend of the murder victim, who was hired by family to help bring into custody the chief murder suspect Casey.<br /><br />Why is Casey fleeing the scene? If she’s really innocent why doesn’t she hang around to defend herself? After all, won’t the evidence exonerate her if indeed she is innocent? Does Dylan really want to find the person who murdered his friend? Or is he hunting Casey down just for the money? Will truth prevail or will evil triumph?<br /><br />To get answers to those questions, you’ll have to read If I Run by Terri Blackstock. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.<br /><br />One of the things I appreciate about reading Christian writers is when they incorporate the Christian faith into the characters. Unlike some of her other books the main characters aren’t believers. They’ve had some exposure to Christianity, but they aren’t believers yet.<br /><br />Both characters, Casey and Dylan were very likable. I’ve got to confess, Casey had me pulling my hair out at times. But I realized that the character reminded me of real life. We can’t control what other people do and the decisions they make and they have their reasons for making them.<br /><br />I recommend Terri Blackstock’s newest book If I Run. Readers will enjoy Terri’s unveiling the characters and storyline one layer at a time. I forewarn you, you may need to stay up late to finish this book.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Terri Blackstock’s newest book If I Run in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1458079442000, "title": "Will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end" }, { "asin": "1501820079", "rating": 5, "text": "As an animal lover, it didn’t take me long to request Ace Collins newest book Service Tails - More Stores of Man’s Best Hero. What a treat it was to read this book. With all that’s wrong in the world today, it was lovely to take some time and learn about how service dogs have been helping people with disabilities and health challenges live full and independent lives.<br /><br />Service Tails tells the stories of twelve different people, with various disabilities, whose lives were transformed for the better though the use of service dogs helping them live everyday life. For years I’ve known about seeing-eye dogs that help the blind, but didn’t realize all the other areas that dogs could be trained to help.<br /><br />I found it interesting to learn about how the dogs are trained. Why one breed of dog is used over another. Each organization takes a careful look at the needs of the disabled person and puts a lot of thought into selecting just the right animal. Training may need to be customized so the dog is able to meet the needs of the person they will be serving.<br /><br />In Service Tails you will learn how service dogs first started being used in the United States. I felt grateful for the courageous and pioneering spirit of Morris Frank and his determination to get a guide dog so he could regain his freedom and independence. But he didn’t stop there; he went on to share with other blind Americans the gift of guide dogs.<br /><br />It was heartwarming to hear about the bonding that happens between a person and their service dog. However, it was disconcerting to read about the way people with disabilities are treated and may feel isolated, ignored or treated like a small child. I was encouraged to see how the service animal helps breakdown some barriers for disabled people. Instead of people shying away from a disabled person, they are now drawn to them because of the animal. The service dog serves as a vehicle to help people see beyond the disability and see the person for who they are and things they may have in common.<br /><br />Service Tails is a book about heroes. The disabled person who won’t settle for being isolated, giving up and living the rest of their life behind closed doors. The service dogs whom God has gifted with the right temperament, skills, and intelligence to learn and help and serve people in need. Not to be forgotten are the people who train and work with the dogs to prepare them for a life of serving, loving and caring for their own special person.<br /><br />I highly recommend Service Tails – More Stores of Man’s Best Hero by Ace Collins. This book will encourage you and may give you a new perspective on disabled people and the dogs who serve them.<br /><br />I would like to thank Litfuse and Abingdon Press for the opportunity to read Service Tails by Ace Collins in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1472135280000, "title": "A Real Treat" }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 5, "text": "I’ve read some of Robert Whitlow’s previous books and was thrilled at the opportunity to read his newest release, The Witnesses. While reading this book, I was reminded why Robert Whitlow is one of my favorite authors. This man is a gifted storyteller and he knows how to weave a story together with intrigue, mystery and characters you want to get to know better.<br /><br />The Witnesses tells the story of two generations of the House family. Frank is from Germany, a former Nazi and grandfather to Parker who is an attorney in a small town in North Carolina. Both men have a unique gift that they can use for good or evil. How will Frank reconcile his past participation in unimaginable horrors? Will he ever find rest and peace for his soul? Parker’s career is just beginning, he’s the new man on the totem and working long hours. How long will he have to wait to sink his teeth into some weighty cases and prove himself as an attorney?<br /><br />As the storyline develops, Robert slowly unveils the characters, layer by layer. He has keen, thought provoking and honest insights into people and their circumstances. His characters are very relatable. I especially liked the relationships: between Frank and Parker and their love and respect for one another, the friendship between Frank and his longtime friend Lenny and the instantaneous bond between Layla and Frank. As a Christian, I appreciate how Robert weaves the Christian faith into his character’s lives. He did a great job in presenting the Gospel message and showing the Christian faith lived out in everyday life. I would never have guessed that I would like a story that involves a former Nazi, much less like the character; but I did.<br /><br />This book is well written, with interesting characters that will draw you in. I found myself thinking about the characters when I wasn’t reading, they kind of come alive. One thing I love about a book is when a character perfectly expresses what you’ve been feeling, but didn’t quite know how to put into words.<br /><br />I highly recommend The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow, a tale of two men who have a unique gift of seeing what will happen in the future. One man is looking back on a life with some very ugly sins he can’t seem to get away from and the other just starting his career. Will he put his career over and above love? To find out what happens in the lives of these men you will want to read The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing me a free copy The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1476719030000, "title": "A Gifted Storyteller" }, { "asin": "0718037685", "rating": 2, "text": "The Candidate by Lis Wiehl – A Mixed Bag - 2 1/2 Stars<br /><br />Since I like books with mystery and intrigue, I decided to read author Lis Wiehl’s new book The Candidate – A Newsmakers Novel written with Sebastian Stuart. I’ve watched Lis on Fox News and like her keen legal analysis and hoped that would translate into a good book. Unfortunately, I found The Candidate to be a mixed bag.<br /><br />What’s good? I found the plotline intriguing. Is top Presidential candidate, Mike Ortiz, as good as he seems at first glance? Or will Erica discover there is something nefarious going on behind the scenes when she takes a closer look? Coming on the heels of a very contentious election cycle this should be a very interesting book.<br /><br />The story is action packed and the main character, Erica Sparks, is somewhat interesting. Her background is revealed during the course of the story but there was not a lot of depth to this character. I liked her fiancé Greg, while not perfect, he showed himself to be there for Erica in the end. But overall I found the characters were not well developed. What the reader learns about the characters is very surface level details, some action of course, but there seemed to be an obsession with physical appearance. In fact, it was almost to the point of distraction.<br /><br />What’s not so good? The story was predictable. After the first big event in the book, I found myself guessing what the next plot development would be throughout the book.<br /><br />While somewhat veiled, there were some rather sick sexual relationships in this book that cross the line in a book released by a Christian publisher. While not described in detail, enough is said that makes it clear what’s happening. Also, Lis took a swipe at Donald Trump by including a nasty comment from one of the characters about him. It was unnecessary to the story and not value added. My overall impression was Lis tried to be edgy.<br /><br />If this book had been published by a secular publisher, I would only put a cautionary note about some of the content which may be offensive to people of faith.<br /><br />I have higher expectations from Thomas Nelson Publishers. On their website, this publisher is self-described as, “Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years.”<br /><br />There was nothing whatsoever Christian about this book. There was nothing about faith. There was one curse word as I recall and I appreciate that there was very little profanity. But some of the content of this book was not fit material from a Christian publisher.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook for the opportunity to read The Candidate by Lis Wiehl. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1482340801000, "title": "... A Mixed Bag - 2 1/2 Stars Since I like books with mystery and intrigue" }, { "asin": "0718085809", "rating": 3, "text": "The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble is the second book I’ve read by this author. What drew me to the book was the setting along the coastline of Washington, the mystery of what happened to the missing sister, a little romance with some home renovation mixed in. I wanted to like this book more than I actually did.<br /><br />The story is about two sisters Ellie and Mackenzie Blackmore, one of whom is missing and presumed dead. She leaves behind a mystery of a life that wasn’t what it seemed. Thrown into the mix is Grayson Bradshaw, an investigator for the US Coast Guard, who is looking into a missing shipment of illegal drugs that has ties to a terrorist. One of the prime suspects is Mackenzie and that news doesn’t sit too well with Ellie who just wants to find her sister.<br /><br />What I liked about The House at Saltwater Point:<br />• Grayson was very honest, forthright, nice and likeable.<br />• I kind of liked his relationship with Ellie, but they went from an adversarial relationship to romance and I wasn’t quite sure how they crossed that bridge.<br />• I liked the subplot of Grayson finding out that he was adopted and had biological sister and family whom he knew nothing about.<br />• I enjoyed the setting of Lavender Tides, the description of the town, the townspeople and friends, waterfront, beaches and scenery.<br />• I liked the home renovation career of Ellie.<br /><br />What I wasn’t too keen on:<br />• The storyline was rather convoluted and had too many subplots going on.<br />• The story and characters weren’t very realistic. Especially, the two small town sisters trying thwart a terrorist attack. There were times that the sisters did a better job than the FBI and Coast Guard in trying to stop the terrorists. There sure didn’t seem to much of a police presence considering the seriousness of what was going on.<br />• Early on in the book Ellie takes in a helpless small kitten. Periodically, the kitten would be mentioned but for the most part it wasn’t part of the story. I found it distracting. That part of the story was unnecessary and didn’t contribute to the storyline.<br />• At times the story seemed the drag.<br />• The characters weren’t very realistic. My favorite was Grayson, a very nice man…but he was a little too perfect.<br /><br />Colleen is really good at setting a scene and describing the place and helping the reader see it in their mind. However, the storyline was not plausible and the characters weren’t deep or realistic…much of it was very surface level. I think that’s where it lost me, I didn’t connect with the characters.<br /><br />If you just want to read a mystery to escape for a while you may enjoy The House at Saltwater Point.<br /><br />Colleen Coble is a Christian author, but there nothing much about faith included in this book. It’s clean, no profanity and or sexual immorality, and I appreciate that. But nothing much regarding faith and characters talking about God or praying or faith being lived out in their everyday lives.<br /><br />I wanted to like The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble. There were parts I did enjoy, but I think the implausible storyline and lack of depth the characters were too much to overcome.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and BookLook for the opportunity to read The House at Saltwater Point for free in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1534995746065, "title": "Implausible" }, { "asin": "0310348145", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite things is when I find a book that I love by an author whose work is new to me. I found a gem in Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin. I absolutely loved this book, from the moment I first started reading it. I haven’t read a lot of Amish themed novels, but there was something about storyline that caught my attention.<br /><br />Mary Katherine Ropp is a sixty-year-old widow and her last daughter is getting married. Most in the community would have her living with one of her married children and helping to raise her grandchildren. But Mary Katherine isn’t like most Amish women. She’s little bit spunky, independent, she likes to read, write stories and even dares to dream about opening a book store with her English friend Dottie. Also, part of the community is Ezekiel Miller who has been widowed for many years. In spite of grief, he kept family going through his business the Purpose Martin Café. Both Mary Katherine and Ezekiel can’t imagine getting married again so late in life, especially since they had wonderful marriages. But Ezekiel can imagine hiring another cook to help at the restaurant. In to the storyline steps the not so skilled, but very hungry burglar, Burke McMillan, who has a late-night encounter with Mary Katherine.<br /><br />What I loved best about this book were the characters. They were very likable people that I would enjoy knowing. Mary Katherine was my favorite and I loved her ongoing conversations with her husband Moses. I loved Ezekiel’s tender caring heart, tender for Mary Katherine, open to help and give a new start to a stranger, loving to his grandchildren, especially Kenneth. Burke is a man of mystery. Is he just a down on his luck kind of guy, is he the thief that’s been plaguing the Amish community or is something more going on with him?<br /><br />Kelly Irvin is a wonderful writer. She knows how to make characters interesting and very likeable, even in plain every day ordinary life. She gives insight into the characters and what they are going through at this stage in their lives. The Amish community setting is interesting but doesn’t overwhelm the story, instead it’s the background and reveals how these characters live their lives. I could identify with many of the feelings that Mary Katherine was expressing.<br /><br />The one person, I wasn’t too keen on was her son Thomas because he was so disrespectful to his mother. I would think as a Christian, he would have tried to honor his mother, but instead he treated her more like a child who has misbehaved.<br /><br />I loved Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin and I look forward to reading more of her books. I highly recommend this story, it was lovely! I read this book during a very difficult time in my life and I found it to be a very comforting place to escape to for a while.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Through the Autumn Air in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1539231378306, "title": "A Real Gem and Lovely Read" }, { "asin": "0718083040", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite authors that I’ve discovered in recent years is Robert Whitlow. If he writes a new book, I want read. I’m so glad that I was able to read Robert’s newest release Chosen People.<br /><br />This book is a little different than other novels I’ve read by Robert Whitlow. Like his other books, it involves attorneys and law, but Chosen People is set against the backdrop Islamic terrorism. It includes characters that are from the Middle East and shows the impact of terrorism at a personal level.<br /><br />Hana Abboud, an attorney working at law firm in Atlanta, is from Israel and is of Arab descent and a Christian which adds some interesting dynamics and cultural views to the storyline. Jakob Brodsky, a secular Jewish attorney has agreed to help Ben Neumann and his daughter Sadie bring a lawsuit against any organization or company that funded the terrorists that left his wife Gloria dead and their daughter Sadie seriously injured.<br /><br />With her background and experience in Israel, Hana is the right attorney to handle this case, if she’s willing. Jakob is going to batt for a family that may not have much of a case to stand on, much less the deep pockets necessary to handle the comprehensive research and to track down people who funded these morally reprehensible murderers.<br /><br />Will there be any justice for the Neumann family? Will the big law firm be willing to take a risk on this case which may go no where or run into many costly obstacles along the way? Will Hana be willing to take on a case that will bring up ugly savage images that will never leave her memory? How will she be able to handle this case long distance from Atlanta? Who will she be able to trust to be her boots on the ground in Israel to investigate the terrorists who perpetrated this savage attack? Was Jakob’s attack related to the investigation, or was it just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time?<br /><br />Mixed into the storyline is faith, Christian, Jewish, Islamic and agnostic.<br /><br />I enjoyed the likable characters, found the storyline intriguing and suspenseful as people put their lives on the line to investigate and bring terrorists and those that support them to justice.<br /><br />I give Chosen People a big thumbs up and recommend it highly. Robert Whitlow knows how to write great fiction, from interesting characters to a storyline that weaves together intrigue, suspense and faith. This one kept me guessing to the end.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Robert Whitlow’s new book Chosen People in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1545607314578, "title": "Intrigue, Suspense & Interesting Characters – A Story That Kept Me Guessing to the End" }, { "asin": "0718090543", "rating": 4, "text": "On Magnolia Lane is the first book that I’ve read by author by Denise Hunter and I really enjoyed it. This is the third book in the Blue Ridge Romance Series. Though it’s part of a series, it’s good as a standalone book.<br /><br />The story is about Jack McReady who happens to be the local Pastor. One of his congregants is Daisy Pendleton and she’s been meeting with Jack for counseling over a couple of years now. He’s pretty much head over heals in love with Daisy and she is oblivious. Will she ever be able to see Jack as something more than her Pastor? Will Jack ever be bold enough to ask Daisy out on a date? Or will this romance need a little help from their friends?<br /><br />I really liked the characters in this book. They weren’t perfect, but they were kind, descent and caring people that I’d like to spend time with. The story takes place in the small town of Copper Creak, Georgia and after reading this book I wish it really existed because I’d like to visit.<br /><br />One of my favorite characters was the mystery woman Julia. I found myself drawn into her quest and appreciated how understanding and gracious she was. I liked the friendship that developed between Daisy and Julia.<br /><br />Denise’s style of writing is very inviting. She has a way of helping the reader to visualize the places and people, but without being too wordy. She leaves room for imagination. I thought Denise was insightful in bringing out what was going on within the characters, their insecurities and wounds from the past that haven’t quite healed, that still impacted relationships.<br /><br />I really enjoyed On Magnolia Lane. I appreciated that the Christian faith was included in the character’s lives and that it was a clean novel and free from filthy language and sexual immorality. There are some details about a character’s past that comes out, but the sinful choices were not glorified or made light of.<br /><br />In today’s world, where every where you turn there’s more bad news, it’s really nice to be able to step away for a little while, into small town with a little romance. If you like a good love story, be sure to read On Magnolia Lane by Denise Hunter. I look forward to reading more of Denise’s novels.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for the opportunity to ready On Magnolia Lane in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1548308032880, "title": "If you like a good love story, time to step away for little while and read On Magnolia Lane." }, { "asin": "0785219706", "rating": 5, "text": "Can I say that an author is one of my favorites after reading only one of her books, Hurricane Season? Maybe not, but I was excited at the opportunity to read Lauren K. Denton’s newest book Glory Road.<br /><br />I absolutely loved this book! Lauren has a way of writing and helping you to see the beauty in the everyday ordinary life. From the people to the places and the beauty of creation.<br /><br />Glory Road takes place in Alabama and tells the story of Jessie who is a single mom, her 14-year-old daughter Evan and her Mom Gus. Following her divorce, Jessie moved back home to Perry where she grew up. Her home is next door to her Mother’s house and right next door to her garden shop the Twig on an old dirt road. It’s summertime and Evan will be starting in high school come September. Gus seems to be having some episodes of confusion and forgetfulness and Jessie is worried that it may be something serious. Jessie is content with her life the way it is and she’s not looking to make changes or room for romance. But sometimes God brings people and changes into our lives when we don’t feel ready.<br /><br />What did I love about Glory Road? I loved the characters, especially Jessie and her relationship with her daughter Evan and Mom Gus and their love, kindness and caring for one another. I loved the relationships between Jessie and Ben and Jessie and Sumner. I loved the relationship between Evan and Nick who takes after his father Ben. Lauren has a way of writing that is almost poetic or lyrical. She captures the character’s thoughts and feelings in a thought-provoking way that caused me to reflect on my own life. She also paints lovely word pictures of the places, indoors and outdoors, that helps the reader to imagine what it looks like. She does that without being too wordy or letting words get in the way of the reader’s imagination. I really enjoyed the quotes on gardening at the beginning of each chapter.<br /><br />On a more serious note, as someone whose parent had Alzheimer’s I appreciated the way Gus’ life and experiences were handled. It helped me to see how scary it must be for the person experiencing forgetfulness and for the family who sees it and are unsure on how to handle it. That part of the story rang a little too close to home.<br /><br />There’s only one mention of God in the book, other than two phrases that use the name of God. Even though God, Christianity, and faith were not specifically mentioned I had the feeling that faith undergirded the character’s lives. I would like to have seen elements of faith as part of the storyline but greatly appreciated a clean novel.<br /><br />I absolutely loved Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton. It’s a wonderful, lovely book that leaves you wanting the story to continue on. Lauren is on my short list of writers that when they write a new book, I want to be sure to read it.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and BookLook for the opportunity the read Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1560118394637, "title": "Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton – Wonderful, lovely, I didn’t want the story to end!" }, { "asin": "0785223142", "rating": 3, "text": "Over the Line is Kelly Irvin’s newest book in the romantic suspense genre. I recently discovered Kelly’s writing when I read two of her recent Amish themed books and fell in love with her writing. That’s why I was excited to read her newest book.<br /><br />Over the Line is an action-packed novel that seems like it could have been taken from today’s headline news. Chef and restaurateur, Gabriella Benoit is locking up her restaurant late at night and is met by a stranger who was carrying a gun and calling her name. As he clutches his chest and falls to the ground he says “Jake” but dies before he can say anything more about Gabby’s brother. She’d never imagined she’d need help from her former fiancé Eli Cavazos to find her missing brother or find herself in the middle of an illegal gun smuggling ring at the border. How is she going to protect her sister and family from some very desperate and dangerous men? Just who are the good guys and who are the bad ones?<br /><br />I had a mixed reaction to Over the Line. I appreciate that it’s clean and not filled with sexual immorality or filthy language. There is some Christian faith included in the book and I thought it was better and more genuine towards the end of the book. I liked Eli’s mother and her openness and transparency and how different characters dealt with the issue of forgiveness. I especially liked the character Deacon, he was a nice surprise. As you get to know him you can see he’s a decent sincere person and Natalie was very likeable too.<br /><br />But over-all, I feel like the action was center stage and eclipsed the characters. Some of the prayers or mentions of God and faith seemed like they were out of place or just thrown in, instead of a natural overflow of the character’s thinking or feelings. Some of the character’s actions didn’t make a lot of sense, like Deacon trespassing or Gabby confronting a police officer she suspected was corrupt because she was overcome with emotion instead of using reason and logic. That didn’t make sense coming from a person who was a former district attorney. The scene where Gabriella and Natalie crashed the van doesn’t seem realistic because the dialogue goes on and on when the bad guys are coming their way with big guns. I wasn’t overly fond of the main character Gabriella.<br /><br />As I was reading this book, I kept thinking this must be the second book in a series because there was a lot of back-story between Gabriella and Eli and what had happened in Natalie’s life previously. I was surprised to find out that this wasn’t the second book. Some of the background information and questions I had were answered later in the book.<br /><br />I would recommend Over the Line to someone who likes Kelly Irvin’s writing, with a note that it’s much different than her Amish themed books. Also, for those who enjoy Christian suspense novels. Over the Line will be available June 11, 2019.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Over the Line by Kelly Irvin in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1560262669597, "title": "Mixed Reaction" }, { "asin": "0785222723", "rating": 4, "text": "I love a good mystery and when it’s tied to a little romance that’s a book I’ll want to read. That’s why I was excited to read Denise Hunter’s newest book Lake Season (A Bluebell Inn Romance).<br /><br />Molly, Levi and Grace Bennett are siblings whose parents had died in a tragic accident a year ago. Grace is 18 years old and set upon staying in Bluebell. But it will take the commitment of all three of them to fulfill their parent’s dream and turn their home into a bed and breakfast inn. Ten months later, their inn is about to open when their first unofficial guest Adam Bradford walks in. Little do they know but under their roof is the famous author, who writes under the pen name Nathaniel Quinn, whose work Molly loves. Adam is in town to do a little research to help him get inspired so he can write his next bestseller. Adam is quite taken with Molly whom he considers his muse and he gets distracted when he tries to help Molly find the writer and recipient of a letter that’s been lost for 57 years.<br /><br />That’s the background of Lake Season, which is set in the lovely lakeside town of Bluebell, North Carolina. My favorite character was Adam, he was kind and caring. He was rather shy and had some insecurities you wouldn’t expect for an accomplished writer. Molly was sweet, unpretentious, passionate and caring. She even cared about people she never knew. But she knew the importance of the letter she had in her possession and wanted to get it into the hands of the people it belonged to. I appreciated the caring and commitment that Levi, Molly, and Grace had for one another, a self-sacrificing love. I especially liked the relationship between Adam and Molly. They got to know each other and their attraction more than skin deep. I enjoyed the unfolding mystery of who Lizzie and Ben were and what had happened to them all those years ago.<br /><br />Lake Season was a story that I didn’t want to end, so I took my time reading and savoring this story. When I finished, I felt a little sad leaving behind the characters I had come to care about. The characters were very likable and the town seemed inviting and like a place I would like to visit. I loved the blend of mystery and romance. Denise Hunter is on the shortlist of writers whose work I want to read. When I was reading Lake Season, I thought this would be a perfect Hallmark Channel movie.<br /><br />I wish there had been more of the character’s faith included in the story, I think it would have been a richer story. I appreciated that the novel was clean in content and language.<br /><br />If you like a blend of romance and mystery be sure to read Lake Season by Denise Hunter.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Lake Season and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.", "timestamp": 1574483912564, "title": "Likeable characters, in a lovely town with a blend of mystery and romance." } ]

[ { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 4, "text": "Do you ever wonder why our lives bear so little resemblance to the lives of people portrayed in the New Testament?<br /><br />When I read the book of Acts, I see men who were cowardly and fled when Christ was arrested and crucified, now transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. In boldness they went forth and proclaiming the Gospel message of salvation found in Jesus Christ alone. We see God working through them and performing miracles. We see people comprehend and live out the truth, \"To live is Christ and to die is gain.\"<br /><br />I was excited to select Max Lucado's book \"Outlive Your Life\" and read his perspective on God at work in and through the church, a work that continues today. Max has a way of taking profound truths and simplifying them. He takes God at His word and believes that God still transforms lives and that He wants to work in your life and mine. That the Lord has a greater purpose and plan for our lives if we will dare to yield to Him and die to self daily.<br /><br />I recommend \"Outlive Your Life\" to Christian readers who want to be challenged to grow in their faith walk and also for unbelievers who want to see the heart of God at work in His church.<br /><br />It took a few chapters for me to embrace \"Outlive Your Life\" because I was concerned that the author, Max Lucado had left out the most important element, the Gospel message that salvation is found in Jesus Christ. But in chapter four, \"Don't Forget the Bread\", Max shares the Gospel through the words of the Apostle Peter.<br /><br />The chapter that won me over was \"Open Your Door; Open Your Heart\". In this chapter Max shows examples of how we can reach out to people around us. Simple actions that we can all do. My favorite chapter by far was \"Pray First; Pray Most\". There are times I struggle to be faithful in prayer. What an encouragement this chapter was on how powerful prayer is. Max sites examples from scripture and from Christians today who are mighty prayer warriors.<br /><br />Do you need a reminder on just how powerful God is and the work that He wants to do in and through you? Pick up a copy of \"Outlive Your Life\" by Max Lucado and then reread the book of Acts. Where does God want you to serve today and to reach the people for whom Christ died?<br /><br />Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: \"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.\"", "timestamp": 1292015638000, "title": "Outlive Your Life - Profound Yet Simple" }, { "asin": "0849920701", "rating": 4, "text": "Author Max Lucado has a unique way of meditating on God, who He is and what He's done for sinful man. What better subject than grace! The grace of God that saves us and gives us a new heart. Our gracious God who forgives us when by all rights He should have condemned us. The grace of God demonstrated when He sent His Son to take our place and pay the penalty for our sin. In exchange, He saved us by His marvelous, overflowing, unstoppable grace. Grace that can soften a hardened heart and change a life. Those are just some of the meditations on God's grace that Max Lucado shares in his new book Grace - More Than We Deserve - Greater Than We Imagine.<br /><br />Who doesn't need to be under the fire hose of God's grace? Once you've been on the receiving end of God's grace, often dispensed through the lives of His people, you want to learn how to live a grace filled and grace giving life.<br /><br />This book is a powerful reminder on God and the grace He freely gives us in abundance.<br /><br />I highly recommend Max Lucado's newest book Grace - More Than We Deserve - Greater Than We Imagine. This book is a keeper because you will want to read it again, ponder and reflect on our gracious God. This book is a giver too; you'll want to share this encouraging book with someone in need of an outpouring of God's grace.<br /><br />A concern that I had with the Reader's Guide written by Kate Etue, is that it was too self-focused and less God focused. I also would appreciate Max Lucado broaching the subject of repentance, a subject that is seldom mentioned in Christian writing today.<br /><br />A free copy of this book was provided to me by BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review. I under no obligation to provide a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1358401242000, "title": "Grace by Max Lucado - This Book's a Keeper and a Giver" }, { "asin": "1414366930", "rating": 3, "text": "When the opportunity to read and review Sheri Rose Shepherd's newest book, His Treasure Gems of Love from Your King, was presented I was excited at the prospect of reading her work. I've heard some of her conference messages and found Sheri to be a very compelling speaker.<br /><br />Based on her writing, I would say that Sheri has a love for the Lord and heart for women. She desires that the women will grasp the love that God has for them and the blessings that come to a woman who loves the Lord, increasingly trusts and obeys Him.<br /><br />I found many of the Treasures to be very encouraging, convicting and they touched tender spots where I have emotional wounds that need the Lord's healing.<br /><br />Sheri's love and passion for the Lord comes through in her writing.<br /><br />I also want to share how I struggled with this book. My struggle is with the style or genre of this book as if God is speaking to the reader. I would have felt more comfortable if instead the writer was praying to God. It's easy to not accurately represent God, because we see Him through our own unique perspective that is colored by our life and experiences. I also felt like the sovereignty and holiness of God was somewhat lacking. The focus seemed to be on the person to whom God was talking and less focused on God. As portrayed, God seemed to be gently trying to persuade the beloved child or daughter and was seldom revealed as God, the absolute Authority to Whom we will give an account. I would have also appreciated if scripture references had been given that would line up to the words God was speaking.<br /><br />I would like to thank Tyndale House Publishers for providing a complimentary copy of this book.", "timestamp": 1383806276000, "title": "Some Mixed Emotions" }, { "asin": "0310283140", "rating": 4, "text": "It was my pleasure to read Terri Blackstock’s newest novel Distortion, the second book in the Moonlights Series. I love to read mysteries and in the past I’ve read a number of Terri’s books and now I remember why I liked her writing so much.<br /><br />Distortion is a fast-paced murder mystery. From the very beginning of the novel, I was drawn into the storyline and characters. This is the second novel in the series, but the reader is not at a disadvantage if you haven’t read the first book Truth Stained Lies. There is enough information peppered throughout the book that helps the reader know about the background of the characters. I do wish I had read the first book, but Distortion a good standalone book too.<br /><br />Terri does a great job in developing the characters as the storyline unfolds. I find her characters very likable and appealing. Unlike other writers, Terri doesn’t have her characters making stupid blunders, just to put them in jeopardy.<br /><br />As a Christian, I’m very appreciative of having Christian characters that wrestle with their faith in the middle of a crisis and see how they interact with family and friends, believers and unbelievers. I also appreciate a writer who doesn’t offend my moral standards by throwing in sin and immorality just to titillate the reader.<br /><br />If you like mystery and suspense, I recommend that you give Terri Blackstock’s newest book Distortion a read. I do forewarn you that you may be staying up late a few nights because you won’t to put the book down.<br /><br />I would like to thank people at BookLook for providing me with a free copy of Distortion to read in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1399958844000, "title": "Fast-paced Intrigue & Suspense" }, { "asin": "0310322170", "rating": 3, "text": "I really enjoy reading mystery novels and like to discover good authors that are new to me. Now that’s a win-win recipe that I like to try and why I selected Murder Freshly Baked by author Vannetta Chapman.<br /><br />Murder Freshly Baked is the third book in the Amish Village Mystery series and the first book I’ve read by Vannetta Chapman. Overall I liked this book, but there were some things I struggled with especially early on.<br /><br />I was lost at the beginning of the book because there were so many characters introduced right off the bat. On the first page alone there were six characters carried over from the prior novels and four more were introduced before chapter one ended. I would imagine that for people who have read the first two books it was like encountering old friends. But for someone new to the series I had a hard time keeping everyone straight and understanding who’s who. The first scenes had a lot going and with a character being murdered the story was off and running. But I felt like I was back at the starting line just trying to figure out what was going on and who was involved.<br /><br />Something else I struggled with is that the author is very wordy. She goes into a lot of detail and uses many adjectives to describe the scenes and what people are doing. For me the wordiness was almost to the point of distraction. I don’t know if I just got used to the writer’s style or if the excessive descriptions lessened as the novel progressed.<br /><br />But there was a point that I started to connect with the characters and was able to figure out who’s who and wasn’t as distracted. I liked the characters and how they really seemed to care about one another. This is not a fast-paced novel, but one in which you get to know the characters and I like finding out what makes people tick.<br /><br />From a Christian perspective there were some things I appreciated about characters and how they interacted with one another. However, I was surprised when the perfect opportunity for one of the characters to share the gospel message was missed. Instead, practical advice was given on how to get out of a difficult situation. Christian writers have a unique platform to share the Gospel message and Biblical truth. When that opportunity is missed I don’t understand why.<br /><br />The author could have done a better job introducing the characters to the reader and not assume that people had read the earlier books in the series. The first flashback scene came out of nowhere and was a bit confusing until I learned that the former military character suffered PTSD.<br /><br />At the end of the day, I liked Murder Freshly Baked, mostly because of the characters and I would recommend it with the caveat that people start with the first two books in this series. It’s not a deep book, nor fast-paced, it wasn’t hard to figure out who committed the murder, but there was something appealing about the story, the people.<br /><br />I would like to thank the people at BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1434056539000, "title": "Mixed Emotions" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 4, "text": "I love a good mystery filled with intrigue and interesting characters. I hit the target with Drawing Fire by author Janice Cantore who is a former Long Beach police officer. This is the first book I’ve read by Janice Cantore and I look forward to reading her earlier books.<br /><br />Drawing Fire is filled with suspense and lots of action, but not at the expense of character development. I really liked the characters and learning about what drives them and makes them tick. The story takes place in Long Beach, California. Having lived in So Cal for many years it was fun to read about the various locations and visualize the scenes.<br /><br />I appreciate when a Christian author weaves their faith into the characters and storyline. I thought that Janice did a good job in showing what a loving and supportive Christian community can be like. It wasn’t contrived but flowed naturally as we learn about the characters and see them interact in everyday life and in crisis situations.<br /><br />At the end of Drawing Fire there are twelve discussion questions which can be used for a book club or the individual reader. I found the questions compelling as I remembered the characters and storyline and wondered how I might have responded.<br /><br />When Drawing Fire concludes the readers will know who done it, but things aren’t neatly and perfectly tied up, which is kind of like real life. It proves to be a good stopping off point because the characters will be continued in the next book of the Cold Case Justice series. That’s a book I will want to read.<br /><br />I would like to thank Tyndale Publishers for the opportunity to read Drawing Fire by Janice Cantore in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1435550331000, "title": "Hits the Target" }, { "asin": "1401688888", "rating": 5, "text": "I was privileged to read Robert Whitlow’s book A House Divided. He is an excellent writer and knows how to write good fiction. He skillfully and realistically weaves his Christian faith in to the storyline through the lives of the characters. But he doesn’t beat you over the head with it. Instead you see the Christian faith lived out in the lives of imperfect, hurting and broken people.<br /><br />I’ll be honest with you there were times A House Divided was hard to read. If you know an alcoholic or have seen how destructive alcoholism is you may also find this book painful to read. Read it anyway. There were times I found myself angry at the main character Corbin and wanted to yell at him so he would wake up and see that he was destroying his life, relationships and was endangering others.<br /><br />Robert Whitlow has the ability to draw the reader in to the story from the beginning. I found the characters very engaging and cared about them from the first page to the last, even when they weren’t so loveable. It was interesting and challenging to see how each character, Ray, Roxy, Cindy, Billy and others, responded to Corbin and the situations and people they were involved with. I loved seeing grace given when it was least deserved and unexpected. I couldn’t help but wonder how I would have responded.<br /><br />A House Divided is a book with characters that will stay with me. If Robert Whitlow writes a sequel to this one I want to read it.<br /><br />There are some authors whose work I want to read, whatever they write, because they are that good. Robert Whitlow is one of those writers. I highly recommend A House Divided by Robert Whitlow. You will be challenged and grow as you read it.<br /><br />I would like to thank the people at BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing me a free copy of Robert Whitlow’s book, A House Divided, to read in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1442509229000, "title": "A Compelling and Excellent Read" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 5, "text": "I’m a fan of Terri Blackstock’s writing so I was excited at the opportunity to read her newest mystery If I Run.<br /><br />This book is much different from her other stories. If I Run is written in the first person narrative from two character’s perspectives, Casey and Dylan.<br /><br />The story jumps right in to a mystery from the first sentence with Casey leaving the scene of a murder. Over time the reader learns more about who was murdered and why and why in the world Casey is on the run.<br /><br />Shortly thereafter readers are introduced to Dylan, a friend of the murder victim, who was hired by family to help bring into custody the chief murder suspect Casey.<br /><br />Why is Casey fleeing the scene? If she’s really innocent why doesn’t she hang around to defend herself? After all, won’t the evidence exonerate her if indeed she is innocent? Does Dylan really want to find the person who murdered his friend? Or is he hunting Casey down just for the money? Will truth prevail or will evil triumph?<br /><br />To get answers to those questions, you’ll have to read If I Run by Terri Blackstock. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.<br /><br />One of the things I appreciate about reading Christian writers is when they incorporate the Christian faith into the characters. Unlike some of her other books the main characters aren’t believers. They’ve had some exposure to Christianity, but they aren’t believers yet.<br /><br />Both characters, Casey and Dylan were very likable. I’ve got to confess, Casey had me pulling my hair out at times. But I realized that the character reminded me of real life. We can’t control what other people do and the decisions they make and they have their reasons for making them.<br /><br />I recommend Terri Blackstock’s newest book If I Run. Readers will enjoy Terri’s unveiling the characters and storyline one layer at a time. I forewarn you, you may need to stay up late to finish this book.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Terri Blackstock’s newest book If I Run in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1458079442000, "title": "Will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end" }, { "asin": "1501820079", "rating": 5, "text": "As an animal lover, it didn’t take me long to request Ace Collins newest book Service Tails - More Stores of Man’s Best Hero. What a treat it was to read this book. With all that’s wrong in the world today, it was lovely to take some time and learn about how service dogs have been helping people with disabilities and health challenges live full and independent lives.<br /><br />Service Tails tells the stories of twelve different people, with various disabilities, whose lives were transformed for the better though the use of service dogs helping them live everyday life. For years I’ve known about seeing-eye dogs that help the blind, but didn’t realize all the other areas that dogs could be trained to help.<br /><br />I found it interesting to learn about how the dogs are trained. Why one breed of dog is used over another. Each organization takes a careful look at the needs of the disabled person and puts a lot of thought into selecting just the right animal. Training may need to be customized so the dog is able to meet the needs of the person they will be serving.<br /><br />In Service Tails you will learn how service dogs first started being used in the United States. I felt grateful for the courageous and pioneering spirit of Morris Frank and his determination to get a guide dog so he could regain his freedom and independence. But he didn’t stop there; he went on to share with other blind Americans the gift of guide dogs.<br /><br />It was heartwarming to hear about the bonding that happens between a person and their service dog. However, it was disconcerting to read about the way people with disabilities are treated and may feel isolated, ignored or treated like a small child. I was encouraged to see how the service animal helps breakdown some barriers for disabled people. Instead of people shying away from a disabled person, they are now drawn to them because of the animal. The service dog serves as a vehicle to help people see beyond the disability and see the person for who they are and things they may have in common.<br /><br />Service Tails is a book about heroes. The disabled person who won’t settle for being isolated, giving up and living the rest of their life behind closed doors. The service dogs whom God has gifted with the right temperament, skills, and intelligence to learn and help and serve people in need. Not to be forgotten are the people who train and work with the dogs to prepare them for a life of serving, loving and caring for their own special person.<br /><br />I highly recommend Service Tails – More Stores of Man’s Best Hero by Ace Collins. This book will encourage you and may give you a new perspective on disabled people and the dogs who serve them.<br /><br />I would like to thank Litfuse and Abingdon Press for the opportunity to read Service Tails by Ace Collins in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1472135280000, "title": "A Real Treat" }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 5, "text": "I’ve read some of Robert Whitlow’s previous books and was thrilled at the opportunity to read his newest release, The Witnesses. While reading this book, I was reminded why Robert Whitlow is one of my favorite authors. This man is a gifted storyteller and he knows how to weave a story together with intrigue, mystery and characters you want to get to know better.<br /><br />The Witnesses tells the story of two generations of the House family. Frank is from Germany, a former Nazi and grandfather to Parker who is an attorney in a small town in North Carolina. Both men have a unique gift that they can use for good or evil. How will Frank reconcile his past participation in unimaginable horrors? Will he ever find rest and peace for his soul? Parker’s career is just beginning, he’s the new man on the totem and working long hours. How long will he have to wait to sink his teeth into some weighty cases and prove himself as an attorney?<br /><br />As the storyline develops, Robert slowly unveils the characters, layer by layer. He has keen, thought provoking and honest insights into people and their circumstances. His characters are very relatable. I especially liked the relationships: between Frank and Parker and their love and respect for one another, the friendship between Frank and his longtime friend Lenny and the instantaneous bond between Layla and Frank. As a Christian, I appreciate how Robert weaves the Christian faith into his character’s lives. He did a great job in presenting the Gospel message and showing the Christian faith lived out in everyday life. I would never have guessed that I would like a story that involves a former Nazi, much less like the character; but I did.<br /><br />This book is well written, with interesting characters that will draw you in. I found myself thinking about the characters when I wasn’t reading, they kind of come alive. One thing I love about a book is when a character perfectly expresses what you’ve been feeling, but didn’t quite know how to put into words.<br /><br />I highly recommend The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow, a tale of two men who have a unique gift of seeing what will happen in the future. One man is looking back on a life with some very ugly sins he can’t seem to get away from and the other just starting his career. Will he put his career over and above love? To find out what happens in the lives of these men you will want to read The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing me a free copy The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1476719030000, "title": "A Gifted Storyteller" }, { "asin": "0718037685", "rating": 2, "text": "The Candidate by Lis Wiehl – A Mixed Bag - 2 1/2 Stars<br /><br />Since I like books with mystery and intrigue, I decided to read author Lis Wiehl’s new book The Candidate – A Newsmakers Novel written with Sebastian Stuart. I’ve watched Lis on Fox News and like her keen legal analysis and hoped that would translate into a good book. Unfortunately, I found The Candidate to be a mixed bag.<br /><br />What’s good? I found the plotline intriguing. Is top Presidential candidate, Mike Ortiz, as good as he seems at first glance? Or will Erica discover there is something nefarious going on behind the scenes when she takes a closer look? Coming on the heels of a very contentious election cycle this should be a very interesting book.<br /><br />The story is action packed and the main character, Erica Sparks, is somewhat interesting. Her background is revealed during the course of the story but there was not a lot of depth to this character. I liked her fiancé Greg, while not perfect, he showed himself to be there for Erica in the end. But overall I found the characters were not well developed. What the reader learns about the characters is very surface level details, some action of course, but there seemed to be an obsession with physical appearance. In fact, it was almost to the point of distraction.<br /><br />What’s not so good? The story was predictable. After the first big event in the book, I found myself guessing what the next plot development would be throughout the book.<br /><br />While somewhat veiled, there were some rather sick sexual relationships in this book that cross the line in a book released by a Christian publisher. While not described in detail, enough is said that makes it clear what’s happening. Also, Lis took a swipe at Donald Trump by including a nasty comment from one of the characters about him. It was unnecessary to the story and not value added. My overall impression was Lis tried to be edgy.<br /><br />If this book had been published by a secular publisher, I would only put a cautionary note about some of the content which may be offensive to people of faith.<br /><br />I have higher expectations from Thomas Nelson Publishers. On their website, this publisher is self-described as, “Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years.”<br /><br />There was nothing whatsoever Christian about this book. There was nothing about faith. There was one curse word as I recall and I appreciate that there was very little profanity. But some of the content of this book was not fit material from a Christian publisher.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook for the opportunity to read The Candidate by Lis Wiehl. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1482340801000, "title": "... A Mixed Bag - 2 1/2 Stars Since I like books with mystery and intrigue" }, { "asin": "0718085809", "rating": 3, "text": "The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble is the second book I’ve read by this author. What drew me to the book was the setting along the coastline of Washington, the mystery of what happened to the missing sister, a little romance with some home renovation mixed in. I wanted to like this book more than I actually did.<br /><br />The story is about two sisters Ellie and Mackenzie Blackmore, one of whom is missing and presumed dead. She leaves behind a mystery of a life that wasn’t what it seemed. Thrown into the mix is Grayson Bradshaw, an investigator for the US Coast Guard, who is looking into a missing shipment of illegal drugs that has ties to a terrorist. One of the prime suspects is Mackenzie and that news doesn’t sit too well with Ellie who just wants to find her sister.<br /><br />What I liked about The House at Saltwater Point:<br />• Grayson was very honest, forthright, nice and likeable.<br />• I kind of liked his relationship with Ellie, but they went from an adversarial relationship to romance and I wasn’t quite sure how they crossed that bridge.<br />• I liked the subplot of Grayson finding out that he was adopted and had biological sister and family whom he knew nothing about.<br />• I enjoyed the setting of Lavender Tides, the description of the town, the townspeople and friends, waterfront, beaches and scenery.<br />• I liked the home renovation career of Ellie.<br /><br />What I wasn’t too keen on:<br />• The storyline was rather convoluted and had too many subplots going on.<br />• The story and characters weren’t very realistic. Especially, the two small town sisters trying thwart a terrorist attack. There were times that the sisters did a better job than the FBI and Coast Guard in trying to stop the terrorists. There sure didn’t seem to much of a police presence considering the seriousness of what was going on.<br />• Early on in the book Ellie takes in a helpless small kitten. Periodically, the kitten would be mentioned but for the most part it wasn’t part of the story. I found it distracting. That part of the story was unnecessary and didn’t contribute to the storyline.<br />• At times the story seemed the drag.<br />• The characters weren’t very realistic. My favorite was Grayson, a very nice man…but he was a little too perfect.<br /><br />Colleen is really good at setting a scene and describing the place and helping the reader see it in their mind. However, the storyline was not plausible and the characters weren’t deep or realistic…much of it was very surface level. I think that’s where it lost me, I didn’t connect with the characters.<br /><br />If you just want to read a mystery to escape for a while you may enjoy The House at Saltwater Point.<br /><br />Colleen Coble is a Christian author, but there nothing much about faith included in this book. It’s clean, no profanity and or sexual immorality, and I appreciate that. But nothing much regarding faith and characters talking about God or praying or faith being lived out in their everyday lives.<br /><br />I wanted to like The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble. There were parts I did enjoy, but I think the implausible storyline and lack of depth the characters were too much to overcome.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and BookLook for the opportunity to read The House at Saltwater Point for free in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1534995746065, "title": "Implausible" }, { "asin": "0310348145", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite things is when I find a book that I love by an author whose work is new to me. I found a gem in Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin. I absolutely loved this book, from the moment I first started reading it. I haven’t read a lot of Amish themed novels, but there was something about storyline that caught my attention.<br /><br />Mary Katherine Ropp is a sixty-year-old widow and her last daughter is getting married. Most in the community would have her living with one of her married children and helping to raise her grandchildren. But Mary Katherine isn’t like most Amish women. She’s little bit spunky, independent, she likes to read, write stories and even dares to dream about opening a book store with her English friend Dottie. Also, part of the community is Ezekiel Miller who has been widowed for many years. In spite of grief, he kept family going through his business the Purpose Martin Café. Both Mary Katherine and Ezekiel can’t imagine getting married again so late in life, especially since they had wonderful marriages. But Ezekiel can imagine hiring another cook to help at the restaurant. In to the storyline steps the not so skilled, but very hungry burglar, Burke McMillan, who has a late-night encounter with Mary Katherine.<br /><br />What I loved best about this book were the characters. They were very likable people that I would enjoy knowing. Mary Katherine was my favorite and I loved her ongoing conversations with her husband Moses. I loved Ezekiel’s tender caring heart, tender for Mary Katherine, open to help and give a new start to a stranger, loving to his grandchildren, especially Kenneth. Burke is a man of mystery. Is he just a down on his luck kind of guy, is he the thief that’s been plaguing the Amish community or is something more going on with him?<br /><br />Kelly Irvin is a wonderful writer. She knows how to make characters interesting and very likeable, even in plain every day ordinary life. She gives insight into the characters and what they are going through at this stage in their lives. The Amish community setting is interesting but doesn’t overwhelm the story, instead it’s the background and reveals how these characters live their lives. I could identify with many of the feelings that Mary Katherine was expressing.<br /><br />The one person, I wasn’t too keen on was her son Thomas because he was so disrespectful to his mother. I would think as a Christian, he would have tried to honor his mother, but instead he treated her more like a child who has misbehaved.<br /><br />I loved Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin and I look forward to reading more of her books. I highly recommend this story, it was lovely! I read this book during a very difficult time in my life and I found it to be a very comforting place to escape to for a while.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Through the Autumn Air in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1539231378306, "title": "A Real Gem and Lovely Read" }, { "asin": "0718083040", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite authors that I’ve discovered in recent years is Robert Whitlow. If he writes a new book, I want read. I’m so glad that I was able to read Robert’s newest release Chosen People.<br /><br />This book is a little different than other novels I’ve read by Robert Whitlow. Like his other books, it involves attorneys and law, but Chosen People is set against the backdrop Islamic terrorism. It includes characters that are from the Middle East and shows the impact of terrorism at a personal level.<br /><br />Hana Abboud, an attorney working at law firm in Atlanta, is from Israel and is of Arab descent and a Christian which adds some interesting dynamics and cultural views to the storyline. Jakob Brodsky, a secular Jewish attorney has agreed to help Ben Neumann and his daughter Sadie bring a lawsuit against any organization or company that funded the terrorists that left his wife Gloria dead and their daughter Sadie seriously injured.<br /><br />With her background and experience in Israel, Hana is the right attorney to handle this case, if she’s willing. Jakob is going to batt for a family that may not have much of a case to stand on, much less the deep pockets necessary to handle the comprehensive research and to track down people who funded these morally reprehensible murderers.<br /><br />Will there be any justice for the Neumann family? Will the big law firm be willing to take a risk on this case which may go no where or run into many costly obstacles along the way? Will Hana be willing to take on a case that will bring up ugly savage images that will never leave her memory? How will she be able to handle this case long distance from Atlanta? Who will she be able to trust to be her boots on the ground in Israel to investigate the terrorists who perpetrated this savage attack? Was Jakob’s attack related to the investigation, or was it just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time?<br /><br />Mixed into the storyline is faith, Christian, Jewish, Islamic and agnostic.<br /><br />I enjoyed the likable characters, found the storyline intriguing and suspenseful as people put their lives on the line to investigate and bring terrorists and those that support them to justice.<br /><br />I give Chosen People a big thumbs up and recommend it highly. Robert Whitlow knows how to write great fiction, from interesting characters to a storyline that weaves together intrigue, suspense and faith. This one kept me guessing to the end.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Robert Whitlow’s new book Chosen People in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1545607314578, "title": "Intrigue, Suspense & Interesting Characters – A Story That Kept Me Guessing to the End" }, { "asin": "0718090543", "rating": 4, "text": "On Magnolia Lane is the first book that I’ve read by author by Denise Hunter and I really enjoyed it. This is the third book in the Blue Ridge Romance Series. Though it’s part of a series, it’s good as a standalone book.<br /><br />The story is about Jack McReady who happens to be the local Pastor. One of his congregants is Daisy Pendleton and she’s been meeting with Jack for counseling over a couple of years now. He’s pretty much head over heals in love with Daisy and she is oblivious. Will she ever be able to see Jack as something more than her Pastor? Will Jack ever be bold enough to ask Daisy out on a date? Or will this romance need a little help from their friends?<br /><br />I really liked the characters in this book. They weren’t perfect, but they were kind, descent and caring people that I’d like to spend time with. The story takes place in the small town of Copper Creak, Georgia and after reading this book I wish it really existed because I’d like to visit.<br /><br />One of my favorite characters was the mystery woman Julia. I found myself drawn into her quest and appreciated how understanding and gracious she was. I liked the friendship that developed between Daisy and Julia.<br /><br />Denise’s style of writing is very inviting. She has a way of helping the reader to visualize the places and people, but without being too wordy. She leaves room for imagination. I thought Denise was insightful in bringing out what was going on within the characters, their insecurities and wounds from the past that haven’t quite healed, that still impacted relationships.<br /><br />I really enjoyed On Magnolia Lane. I appreciated that the Christian faith was included in the character’s lives and that it was a clean novel and free from filthy language and sexual immorality. There are some details about a character’s past that comes out, but the sinful choices were not glorified or made light of.<br /><br />In today’s world, where every where you turn there’s more bad news, it’s really nice to be able to step away for a little while, into small town with a little romance. If you like a good love story, be sure to read On Magnolia Lane by Denise Hunter. I look forward to reading more of Denise’s novels.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for the opportunity to ready On Magnolia Lane in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1548308032880, "title": "If you like a good love story, time to step away for little while and read On Magnolia Lane." }, { "asin": "0785219706", "rating": 5, "text": "Can I say that an author is one of my favorites after reading only one of her books, Hurricane Season? Maybe not, but I was excited at the opportunity to read Lauren K. Denton’s newest book Glory Road.<br /><br />I absolutely loved this book! Lauren has a way of writing and helping you to see the beauty in the everyday ordinary life. From the people to the places and the beauty of creation.<br /><br />Glory Road takes place in Alabama and tells the story of Jessie who is a single mom, her 14-year-old daughter Evan and her Mom Gus. Following her divorce, Jessie moved back home to Perry where she grew up. Her home is next door to her Mother’s house and right next door to her garden shop the Twig on an old dirt road. It’s summertime and Evan will be starting in high school come September. Gus seems to be having some episodes of confusion and forgetfulness and Jessie is worried that it may be something serious. Jessie is content with her life the way it is and she’s not looking to make changes or room for romance. But sometimes God brings people and changes into our lives when we don’t feel ready.<br /><br />What did I love about Glory Road? I loved the characters, especially Jessie and her relationship with her daughter Evan and Mom Gus and their love, kindness and caring for one another. I loved the relationships between Jessie and Ben and Jessie and Sumner. I loved the relationship between Evan and Nick who takes after his father Ben. Lauren has a way of writing that is almost poetic or lyrical. She captures the character’s thoughts and feelings in a thought-provoking way that caused me to reflect on my own life. She also paints lovely word pictures of the places, indoors and outdoors, that helps the reader to imagine what it looks like. She does that without being too wordy or letting words get in the way of the reader’s imagination. I really enjoyed the quotes on gardening at the beginning of each chapter.<br /><br />On a more serious note, as someone whose parent had Alzheimer’s I appreciated the way Gus’ life and experiences were handled. It helped me to see how scary it must be for the person experiencing forgetfulness and for the family who sees it and are unsure on how to handle it. That part of the story rang a little too close to home.<br /><br />There’s only one mention of God in the book, other than two phrases that use the name of God. Even though God, Christianity, and faith were not specifically mentioned I had the feeling that faith undergirded the character’s lives. I would like to have seen elements of faith as part of the storyline but greatly appreciated a clean novel.<br /><br />I absolutely loved Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton. It’s a wonderful, lovely book that leaves you wanting the story to continue on. Lauren is on my short list of writers that when they write a new book, I want to be sure to read it.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and BookLook for the opportunity the read Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1560118394637, "title": "Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton – Wonderful, lovely, I didn’t want the story to end!" }, { "asin": "0785223142", "rating": 3, "text": "Over the Line is Kelly Irvin’s newest book in the romantic suspense genre. I recently discovered Kelly’s writing when I read two of her recent Amish themed books and fell in love with her writing. That’s why I was excited to read her newest book.<br /><br />Over the Line is an action-packed novel that seems like it could have been taken from today’s headline news. Chef and restaurateur, Gabriella Benoit is locking up her restaurant late at night and is met by a stranger who was carrying a gun and calling her name. As he clutches his chest and falls to the ground he says “Jake” but dies before he can say anything more about Gabby’s brother. She’d never imagined she’d need help from her former fiancé Eli Cavazos to find her missing brother or find herself in the middle of an illegal gun smuggling ring at the border. How is she going to protect her sister and family from some very desperate and dangerous men? Just who are the good guys and who are the bad ones?<br /><br />I had a mixed reaction to Over the Line. I appreciate that it’s clean and not filled with sexual immorality or filthy language. There is some Christian faith included in the book and I thought it was better and more genuine towards the end of the book. I liked Eli’s mother and her openness and transparency and how different characters dealt with the issue of forgiveness. I especially liked the character Deacon, he was a nice surprise. As you get to know him you can see he’s a decent sincere person and Natalie was very likeable too.<br /><br />But over-all, I feel like the action was center stage and eclipsed the characters. Some of the prayers or mentions of God and faith seemed like they were out of place or just thrown in, instead of a natural overflow of the character’s thinking or feelings. Some of the character’s actions didn’t make a lot of sense, like Deacon trespassing or Gabby confronting a police officer she suspected was corrupt because she was overcome with emotion instead of using reason and logic. That didn’t make sense coming from a person who was a former district attorney. The scene where Gabriella and Natalie crashed the van doesn’t seem realistic because the dialogue goes on and on when the bad guys are coming their way with big guns. I wasn’t overly fond of the main character Gabriella.<br /><br />As I was reading this book, I kept thinking this must be the second book in a series because there was a lot of back-story between Gabriella and Eli and what had happened in Natalie’s life previously. I was surprised to find out that this wasn’t the second book. Some of the background information and questions I had were answered later in the book.<br /><br />I would recommend Over the Line to someone who likes Kelly Irvin’s writing, with a note that it’s much different than her Amish themed books. Also, for those who enjoy Christian suspense novels. Over the Line will be available June 11, 2019.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Over the Line by Kelly Irvin in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1560262669597, "title": "Mixed Reaction" }, { "asin": "0785222723", "rating": 4, "text": "I love a good mystery and when it’s tied to a little romance that’s a book I’ll want to read. That’s why I was excited to read Denise Hunter’s newest book Lake Season (A Bluebell Inn Romance).<br /><br />Molly, Levi and Grace Bennett are siblings whose parents had died in a tragic accident a year ago. Grace is 18 years old and set upon staying in Bluebell. But it will take the commitment of all three of them to fulfill their parent’s dream and turn their home into a bed and breakfast inn. Ten months later, their inn is about to open when their first unofficial guest Adam Bradford walks in. Little do they know but under their roof is the famous author, who writes under the pen name Nathaniel Quinn, whose work Molly loves. Adam is in town to do a little research to help him get inspired so he can write his next bestseller. Adam is quite taken with Molly whom he considers his muse and he gets distracted when he tries to help Molly find the writer and recipient of a letter that’s been lost for 57 years.<br /><br />That’s the background of Lake Season, which is set in the lovely lakeside town of Bluebell, North Carolina. My favorite character was Adam, he was kind and caring. He was rather shy and had some insecurities you wouldn’t expect for an accomplished writer. Molly was sweet, unpretentious, passionate and caring. She even cared about people she never knew. But she knew the importance of the letter she had in her possession and wanted to get it into the hands of the people it belonged to. I appreciated the caring and commitment that Levi, Molly, and Grace had for one another, a self-sacrificing love. I especially liked the relationship between Adam and Molly. They got to know each other and their attraction more than skin deep. I enjoyed the unfolding mystery of who Lizzie and Ben were and what had happened to them all those years ago.<br /><br />Lake Season was a story that I didn’t want to end, so I took my time reading and savoring this story. When I finished, I felt a little sad leaving behind the characters I had come to care about. The characters were very likable and the town seemed inviting and like a place I would like to visit. I loved the blend of mystery and romance. Denise Hunter is on the shortlist of writers whose work I want to read. When I was reading Lake Season, I thought this would be a perfect Hallmark Channel movie.<br /><br />I wish there had been more of the character’s faith included in the story, I think it would have been a richer story. I appreciated that the novel was clean in content and language.<br /><br />If you like a blend of romance and mystery be sure to read Lake Season by Denise Hunter.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Lake Season and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.", "timestamp": 1574483912564, "title": "Likeable characters, in a lovely town with a blend of mystery and romance." }, { "asin": "0718083059", "rating": 5, "text": "When author Robert Whitlow writes a book, I want to read it. That’s why I was excited at the opportunity to read his newest book Promised Land and I loved it.<br /><br />Readers are reintroduced to characters from his last novel Chosen People. Hana Abboud, a Christian Arab attorney from Israel who is living in the United States, her husband Daud Hasan a Christian Arab from Israel, friend and colleague Jakob Brodsky, and dear friends Ben and Sadie Neumann. While reading this book, I felt like I was being reunited and catching up with old friends.<br /><br />The story begins with Rahal Abaza in Qatar, five years earlier he had a jarring experience that set his life on a new course that will intersect with Daud and Hana. Hana is at home and awakens for her night watch, a time of prayer, reading Scripture and worship. While she does not know the specifics of all that’s going on with her husband Daud, she is praying for him while he is in Egypt on a mission for the CIA. He will need those prayers for what he’s about to encounter.<br /><br />From the get-go, Promised Land is off and running. There’s a lot of suspense, intrigue, and action, but it doesn’t interfere with the development of characters or take the place of an interesting storyline. It’s well balanced.<br /><br />My favorite thing about Robert Whitlow’s writing is how he develops characters. Hana is one of the most interesting characters. It’s fascinating to see and consider what it’s like to be an Arab Christian who is from Israel. You would think that there might be conflict, but Hana is a very gracious woman who takes her faith seriously. She loves her family and is a faithful friend. I found Daud intriguing and felt on edge with all the situations and people he encounters. Jakob is an interesting fellow. He always seems to take on cases that look impossible and that will require a lot of work and research to see if they will pan out. Ben and his daughter Sadie…absolutely love them.<br /><br />I don’t want to spoil the story about what happens, so I’ll leave it with a brief intro into the storyline and characters. But I hope that you will pick up a copy of Promised Land by Robert Whitlow. It’s the second book in this series but is a good stand-alone book. You may want to go back and read Chosen People so you can have a richer connection with the characters.<br /><br />Robert Whitlow is a gifted writer. He tells a good story and develops rich likable characters. I highly recommend Promised Land by Robert Whitlow. If you like action, suspense, intrigue, and interesting likable characters you will like Promised Land.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Promised Land by Robert Whitlow. I was provided with a free copy of this book and was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1581469890985, "title": "Intrigue, Suspense, Interesting Characters Mixed with Fascinating Cultures" } ]

[ { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 4, "text": "Do you ever wonder why our lives bear so little resemblance to the lives of people portrayed in the New Testament?<br /><br />When I read the book of Acts, I see men who were cowardly and fled when Christ was arrested and crucified, now transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. In boldness they went forth and proclaiming the Gospel message of salvation found in Jesus Christ alone. We see God working through them and performing miracles. We see people comprehend and live out the truth, \"To live is Christ and to die is gain.\"<br /><br />I was excited to select Max Lucado's book \"Outlive Your Life\" and read his perspective on God at work in and through the church, a work that continues today. Max has a way of taking profound truths and simplifying them. He takes God at His word and believes that God still transforms lives and that He wants to work in your life and mine. That the Lord has a greater purpose and plan for our lives if we will dare to yield to Him and die to self daily.<br /><br />I recommend \"Outlive Your Life\" to Christian readers who want to be challenged to grow in their faith walk and also for unbelievers who want to see the heart of God at work in His church.<br /><br />It took a few chapters for me to embrace \"Outlive Your Life\" because I was concerned that the author, Max Lucado had left out the most important element, the Gospel message that salvation is found in Jesus Christ. But in chapter four, \"Don't Forget the Bread\", Max shares the Gospel through the words of the Apostle Peter.<br /><br />The chapter that won me over was \"Open Your Door; Open Your Heart\". In this chapter Max shows examples of how we can reach out to people around us. Simple actions that we can all do. My favorite chapter by far was \"Pray First; Pray Most\". There are times I struggle to be faithful in prayer. What an encouragement this chapter was on how powerful prayer is. Max sites examples from scripture and from Christians today who are mighty prayer warriors.<br /><br />Do you need a reminder on just how powerful God is and the work that He wants to do in and through you? Pick up a copy of \"Outlive Your Life\" by Max Lucado and then reread the book of Acts. Where does God want you to serve today and to reach the people for whom Christ died?<br /><br />Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: \"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.\"", "timestamp": 1292015638000, "title": "Outlive Your Life - Profound Yet Simple" }, { "asin": "0849920701", "rating": 4, "text": "Author Max Lucado has a unique way of meditating on God, who He is and what He's done for sinful man. What better subject than grace! The grace of God that saves us and gives us a new heart. Our gracious God who forgives us when by all rights He should have condemned us. The grace of God demonstrated when He sent His Son to take our place and pay the penalty for our sin. In exchange, He saved us by His marvelous, overflowing, unstoppable grace. Grace that can soften a hardened heart and change a life. Those are just some of the meditations on God's grace that Max Lucado shares in his new book Grace - More Than We Deserve - Greater Than We Imagine.<br /><br />Who doesn't need to be under the fire hose of God's grace? Once you've been on the receiving end of God's grace, often dispensed through the lives of His people, you want to learn how to live a grace filled and grace giving life.<br /><br />This book is a powerful reminder on God and the grace He freely gives us in abundance.<br /><br />I highly recommend Max Lucado's newest book Grace - More Than We Deserve - Greater Than We Imagine. This book is a keeper because you will want to read it again, ponder and reflect on our gracious God. This book is a giver too; you'll want to share this encouraging book with someone in need of an outpouring of God's grace.<br /><br />A concern that I had with the Reader's Guide written by Kate Etue, is that it was too self-focused and less God focused. I also would appreciate Max Lucado broaching the subject of repentance, a subject that is seldom mentioned in Christian writing today.<br /><br />A free copy of this book was provided to me by BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review. I under no obligation to provide a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1358401242000, "title": "Grace by Max Lucado - This Book's a Keeper and a Giver" }, { "asin": "1414366930", "rating": 3, "text": "When the opportunity to read and review Sheri Rose Shepherd's newest book, His Treasure Gems of Love from Your King, was presented I was excited at the prospect of reading her work. I've heard some of her conference messages and found Sheri to be a very compelling speaker.<br /><br />Based on her writing, I would say that Sheri has a love for the Lord and heart for women. She desires that the women will grasp the love that God has for them and the blessings that come to a woman who loves the Lord, increasingly trusts and obeys Him.<br /><br />I found many of the Treasures to be very encouraging, convicting and they touched tender spots where I have emotional wounds that need the Lord's healing.<br /><br />Sheri's love and passion for the Lord comes through in her writing.<br /><br />I also want to share how I struggled with this book. My struggle is with the style or genre of this book as if God is speaking to the reader. I would have felt more comfortable if instead the writer was praying to God. It's easy to not accurately represent God, because we see Him through our own unique perspective that is colored by our life and experiences. I also felt like the sovereignty and holiness of God was somewhat lacking. The focus seemed to be on the person to whom God was talking and less focused on God. As portrayed, God seemed to be gently trying to persuade the beloved child or daughter and was seldom revealed as God, the absolute Authority to Whom we will give an account. I would have also appreciated if scripture references had been given that would line up to the words God was speaking.<br /><br />I would like to thank Tyndale House Publishers for providing a complimentary copy of this book.", "timestamp": 1383806276000, "title": "Some Mixed Emotions" }, { "asin": "0310283140", "rating": 4, "text": "It was my pleasure to read Terri Blackstock’s newest novel Distortion, the second book in the Moonlights Series. I love to read mysteries and in the past I’ve read a number of Terri’s books and now I remember why I liked her writing so much.<br /><br />Distortion is a fast-paced murder mystery. From the very beginning of the novel, I was drawn into the storyline and characters. This is the second novel in the series, but the reader is not at a disadvantage if you haven’t read the first book Truth Stained Lies. There is enough information peppered throughout the book that helps the reader know about the background of the characters. I do wish I had read the first book, but Distortion a good standalone book too.<br /><br />Terri does a great job in developing the characters as the storyline unfolds. I find her characters very likable and appealing. Unlike other writers, Terri doesn’t have her characters making stupid blunders, just to put them in jeopardy.<br /><br />As a Christian, I’m very appreciative of having Christian characters that wrestle with their faith in the middle of a crisis and see how they interact with family and friends, believers and unbelievers. I also appreciate a writer who doesn’t offend my moral standards by throwing in sin and immorality just to titillate the reader.<br /><br />If you like mystery and suspense, I recommend that you give Terri Blackstock’s newest book Distortion a read. I do forewarn you that you may be staying up late a few nights because you won’t to put the book down.<br /><br />I would like to thank people at BookLook for providing me with a free copy of Distortion to read in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1399958844000, "title": "Fast-paced Intrigue & Suspense" }, { "asin": "0310322170", "rating": 3, "text": "I really enjoy reading mystery novels and like to discover good authors that are new to me. Now that’s a win-win recipe that I like to try and why I selected Murder Freshly Baked by author Vannetta Chapman.<br /><br />Murder Freshly Baked is the third book in the Amish Village Mystery series and the first book I’ve read by Vannetta Chapman. Overall I liked this book, but there were some things I struggled with especially early on.<br /><br />I was lost at the beginning of the book because there were so many characters introduced right off the bat. On the first page alone there were six characters carried over from the prior novels and four more were introduced before chapter one ended. I would imagine that for people who have read the first two books it was like encountering old friends. But for someone new to the series I had a hard time keeping everyone straight and understanding who’s who. The first scenes had a lot going and with a character being murdered the story was off and running. But I felt like I was back at the starting line just trying to figure out what was going on and who was involved.<br /><br />Something else I struggled with is that the author is very wordy. She goes into a lot of detail and uses many adjectives to describe the scenes and what people are doing. For me the wordiness was almost to the point of distraction. I don’t know if I just got used to the writer’s style or if the excessive descriptions lessened as the novel progressed.<br /><br />But there was a point that I started to connect with the characters and was able to figure out who’s who and wasn’t as distracted. I liked the characters and how they really seemed to care about one another. This is not a fast-paced novel, but one in which you get to know the characters and I like finding out what makes people tick.<br /><br />From a Christian perspective there were some things I appreciated about characters and how they interacted with one another. However, I was surprised when the perfect opportunity for one of the characters to share the gospel message was missed. Instead, practical advice was given on how to get out of a difficult situation. Christian writers have a unique platform to share the Gospel message and Biblical truth. When that opportunity is missed I don’t understand why.<br /><br />The author could have done a better job introducing the characters to the reader and not assume that people had read the earlier books in the series. The first flashback scene came out of nowhere and was a bit confusing until I learned that the former military character suffered PTSD.<br /><br />At the end of the day, I liked Murder Freshly Baked, mostly because of the characters and I would recommend it with the caveat that people start with the first two books in this series. It’s not a deep book, nor fast-paced, it wasn’t hard to figure out who committed the murder, but there was something appealing about the story, the people.<br /><br />I would like to thank the people at BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1434056539000, "title": "Mixed Emotions" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 4, "text": "I love a good mystery filled with intrigue and interesting characters. I hit the target with Drawing Fire by author Janice Cantore who is a former Long Beach police officer. This is the first book I’ve read by Janice Cantore and I look forward to reading her earlier books.<br /><br />Drawing Fire is filled with suspense and lots of action, but not at the expense of character development. I really liked the characters and learning about what drives them and makes them tick. The story takes place in Long Beach, California. Having lived in So Cal for many years it was fun to read about the various locations and visualize the scenes.<br /><br />I appreciate when a Christian author weaves their faith into the characters and storyline. I thought that Janice did a good job in showing what a loving and supportive Christian community can be like. It wasn’t contrived but flowed naturally as we learn about the characters and see them interact in everyday life and in crisis situations.<br /><br />At the end of Drawing Fire there are twelve discussion questions which can be used for a book club or the individual reader. I found the questions compelling as I remembered the characters and storyline and wondered how I might have responded.<br /><br />When Drawing Fire concludes the readers will know who done it, but things aren’t neatly and perfectly tied up, which is kind of like real life. It proves to be a good stopping off point because the characters will be continued in the next book of the Cold Case Justice series. That’s a book I will want to read.<br /><br />I would like to thank Tyndale Publishers for the opportunity to read Drawing Fire by Janice Cantore in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1435550331000, "title": "Hits the Target" }, { "asin": "1401688888", "rating": 5, "text": "I was privileged to read Robert Whitlow’s book A House Divided. He is an excellent writer and knows how to write good fiction. He skillfully and realistically weaves his Christian faith in to the storyline through the lives of the characters. But he doesn’t beat you over the head with it. Instead you see the Christian faith lived out in the lives of imperfect, hurting and broken people.<br /><br />I’ll be honest with you there were times A House Divided was hard to read. If you know an alcoholic or have seen how destructive alcoholism is you may also find this book painful to read. Read it anyway. There were times I found myself angry at the main character Corbin and wanted to yell at him so he would wake up and see that he was destroying his life, relationships and was endangering others.<br /><br />Robert Whitlow has the ability to draw the reader in to the story from the beginning. I found the characters very engaging and cared about them from the first page to the last, even when they weren’t so loveable. It was interesting and challenging to see how each character, Ray, Roxy, Cindy, Billy and others, responded to Corbin and the situations and people they were involved with. I loved seeing grace given when it was least deserved and unexpected. I couldn’t help but wonder how I would have responded.<br /><br />A House Divided is a book with characters that will stay with me. If Robert Whitlow writes a sequel to this one I want to read it.<br /><br />There are some authors whose work I want to read, whatever they write, because they are that good. Robert Whitlow is one of those writers. I highly recommend A House Divided by Robert Whitlow. You will be challenged and grow as you read it.<br /><br />I would like to thank the people at BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing me a free copy of Robert Whitlow’s book, A House Divided, to read in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1442509229000, "title": "A Compelling and Excellent Read" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 5, "text": "I’m a fan of Terri Blackstock’s writing so I was excited at the opportunity to read her newest mystery If I Run.<br /><br />This book is much different from her other stories. If I Run is written in the first person narrative from two character’s perspectives, Casey and Dylan.<br /><br />The story jumps right in to a mystery from the first sentence with Casey leaving the scene of a murder. Over time the reader learns more about who was murdered and why and why in the world Casey is on the run.<br /><br />Shortly thereafter readers are introduced to Dylan, a friend of the murder victim, who was hired by family to help bring into custody the chief murder suspect Casey.<br /><br />Why is Casey fleeing the scene? If she’s really innocent why doesn’t she hang around to defend herself? After all, won’t the evidence exonerate her if indeed she is innocent? Does Dylan really want to find the person who murdered his friend? Or is he hunting Casey down just for the money? Will truth prevail or will evil triumph?<br /><br />To get answers to those questions, you’ll have to read If I Run by Terri Blackstock. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.<br /><br />One of the things I appreciate about reading Christian writers is when they incorporate the Christian faith into the characters. Unlike some of her other books the main characters aren’t believers. They’ve had some exposure to Christianity, but they aren’t believers yet.<br /><br />Both characters, Casey and Dylan were very likable. I’ve got to confess, Casey had me pulling my hair out at times. But I realized that the character reminded me of real life. We can’t control what other people do and the decisions they make and they have their reasons for making them.<br /><br />I recommend Terri Blackstock’s newest book If I Run. Readers will enjoy Terri’s unveiling the characters and storyline one layer at a time. I forewarn you, you may need to stay up late to finish this book.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Terri Blackstock’s newest book If I Run in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1458079442000, "title": "Will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end" }, { "asin": "1501820079", "rating": 5, "text": "As an animal lover, it didn’t take me long to request Ace Collins newest book Service Tails - More Stores of Man’s Best Hero. What a treat it was to read this book. With all that’s wrong in the world today, it was lovely to take some time and learn about how service dogs have been helping people with disabilities and health challenges live full and independent lives.<br /><br />Service Tails tells the stories of twelve different people, with various disabilities, whose lives were transformed for the better though the use of service dogs helping them live everyday life. For years I’ve known about seeing-eye dogs that help the blind, but didn’t realize all the other areas that dogs could be trained to help.<br /><br />I found it interesting to learn about how the dogs are trained. Why one breed of dog is used over another. Each organization takes a careful look at the needs of the disabled person and puts a lot of thought into selecting just the right animal. Training may need to be customized so the dog is able to meet the needs of the person they will be serving.<br /><br />In Service Tails you will learn how service dogs first started being used in the United States. I felt grateful for the courageous and pioneering spirit of Morris Frank and his determination to get a guide dog so he could regain his freedom and independence. But he didn’t stop there; he went on to share with other blind Americans the gift of guide dogs.<br /><br />It was heartwarming to hear about the bonding that happens between a person and their service dog. However, it was disconcerting to read about the way people with disabilities are treated and may feel isolated, ignored or treated like a small child. I was encouraged to see how the service animal helps breakdown some barriers for disabled people. Instead of people shying away from a disabled person, they are now drawn to them because of the animal. The service dog serves as a vehicle to help people see beyond the disability and see the person for who they are and things they may have in common.<br /><br />Service Tails is a book about heroes. The disabled person who won’t settle for being isolated, giving up and living the rest of their life behind closed doors. The service dogs whom God has gifted with the right temperament, skills, and intelligence to learn and help and serve people in need. Not to be forgotten are the people who train and work with the dogs to prepare them for a life of serving, loving and caring for their own special person.<br /><br />I highly recommend Service Tails – More Stores of Man’s Best Hero by Ace Collins. This book will encourage you and may give you a new perspective on disabled people and the dogs who serve them.<br /><br />I would like to thank Litfuse and Abingdon Press for the opportunity to read Service Tails by Ace Collins in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1472135280000, "title": "A Real Treat" }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 5, "text": "I’ve read some of Robert Whitlow’s previous books and was thrilled at the opportunity to read his newest release, The Witnesses. While reading this book, I was reminded why Robert Whitlow is one of my favorite authors. This man is a gifted storyteller and he knows how to weave a story together with intrigue, mystery and characters you want to get to know better.<br /><br />The Witnesses tells the story of two generations of the House family. Frank is from Germany, a former Nazi and grandfather to Parker who is an attorney in a small town in North Carolina. Both men have a unique gift that they can use for good or evil. How will Frank reconcile his past participation in unimaginable horrors? Will he ever find rest and peace for his soul? Parker’s career is just beginning, he’s the new man on the totem and working long hours. How long will he have to wait to sink his teeth into some weighty cases and prove himself as an attorney?<br /><br />As the storyline develops, Robert slowly unveils the characters, layer by layer. He has keen, thought provoking and honest insights into people and their circumstances. His characters are very relatable. I especially liked the relationships: between Frank and Parker and their love and respect for one another, the friendship between Frank and his longtime friend Lenny and the instantaneous bond between Layla and Frank. As a Christian, I appreciate how Robert weaves the Christian faith into his character’s lives. He did a great job in presenting the Gospel message and showing the Christian faith lived out in everyday life. I would never have guessed that I would like a story that involves a former Nazi, much less like the character; but I did.<br /><br />This book is well written, with interesting characters that will draw you in. I found myself thinking about the characters when I wasn’t reading, they kind of come alive. One thing I love about a book is when a character perfectly expresses what you’ve been feeling, but didn’t quite know how to put into words.<br /><br />I highly recommend The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow, a tale of two men who have a unique gift of seeing what will happen in the future. One man is looking back on a life with some very ugly sins he can’t seem to get away from and the other just starting his career. Will he put his career over and above love? To find out what happens in the lives of these men you will want to read The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing me a free copy The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1476719030000, "title": "A Gifted Storyteller" }, { "asin": "0718037685", "rating": 2, "text": "The Candidate by Lis Wiehl – A Mixed Bag - 2 1/2 Stars<br /><br />Since I like books with mystery and intrigue, I decided to read author Lis Wiehl’s new book The Candidate – A Newsmakers Novel written with Sebastian Stuart. I’ve watched Lis on Fox News and like her keen legal analysis and hoped that would translate into a good book. Unfortunately, I found The Candidate to be a mixed bag.<br /><br />What’s good? I found the plotline intriguing. Is top Presidential candidate, Mike Ortiz, as good as he seems at first glance? Or will Erica discover there is something nefarious going on behind the scenes when she takes a closer look? Coming on the heels of a very contentious election cycle this should be a very interesting book.<br /><br />The story is action packed and the main character, Erica Sparks, is somewhat interesting. Her background is revealed during the course of the story but there was not a lot of depth to this character. I liked her fiancé Greg, while not perfect, he showed himself to be there for Erica in the end. But overall I found the characters were not well developed. What the reader learns about the characters is very surface level details, some action of course, but there seemed to be an obsession with physical appearance. In fact, it was almost to the point of distraction.<br /><br />What’s not so good? The story was predictable. After the first big event in the book, I found myself guessing what the next plot development would be throughout the book.<br /><br />While somewhat veiled, there were some rather sick sexual relationships in this book that cross the line in a book released by a Christian publisher. While not described in detail, enough is said that makes it clear what’s happening. Also, Lis took a swipe at Donald Trump by including a nasty comment from one of the characters about him. It was unnecessary to the story and not value added. My overall impression was Lis tried to be edgy.<br /><br />If this book had been published by a secular publisher, I would only put a cautionary note about some of the content which may be offensive to people of faith.<br /><br />I have higher expectations from Thomas Nelson Publishers. On their website, this publisher is self-described as, “Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years.”<br /><br />There was nothing whatsoever Christian about this book. There was nothing about faith. There was one curse word as I recall and I appreciate that there was very little profanity. But some of the content of this book was not fit material from a Christian publisher.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook for the opportunity to read The Candidate by Lis Wiehl. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1482340801000, "title": "... A Mixed Bag - 2 1/2 Stars Since I like books with mystery and intrigue" }, { "asin": "0718085809", "rating": 3, "text": "The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble is the second book I’ve read by this author. What drew me to the book was the setting along the coastline of Washington, the mystery of what happened to the missing sister, a little romance with some home renovation mixed in. I wanted to like this book more than I actually did.<br /><br />The story is about two sisters Ellie and Mackenzie Blackmore, one of whom is missing and presumed dead. She leaves behind a mystery of a life that wasn’t what it seemed. Thrown into the mix is Grayson Bradshaw, an investigator for the US Coast Guard, who is looking into a missing shipment of illegal drugs that has ties to a terrorist. One of the prime suspects is Mackenzie and that news doesn’t sit too well with Ellie who just wants to find her sister.<br /><br />What I liked about The House at Saltwater Point:<br />• Grayson was very honest, forthright, nice and likeable.<br />• I kind of liked his relationship with Ellie, but they went from an adversarial relationship to romance and I wasn’t quite sure how they crossed that bridge.<br />• I liked the subplot of Grayson finding out that he was adopted and had biological sister and family whom he knew nothing about.<br />• I enjoyed the setting of Lavender Tides, the description of the town, the townspeople and friends, waterfront, beaches and scenery.<br />• I liked the home renovation career of Ellie.<br /><br />What I wasn’t too keen on:<br />• The storyline was rather convoluted and had too many subplots going on.<br />• The story and characters weren’t very realistic. Especially, the two small town sisters trying thwart a terrorist attack. There were times that the sisters did a better job than the FBI and Coast Guard in trying to stop the terrorists. There sure didn’t seem to much of a police presence considering the seriousness of what was going on.<br />• Early on in the book Ellie takes in a helpless small kitten. Periodically, the kitten would be mentioned but for the most part it wasn’t part of the story. I found it distracting. That part of the story was unnecessary and didn’t contribute to the storyline.<br />• At times the story seemed the drag.<br />• The characters weren’t very realistic. My favorite was Grayson, a very nice man…but he was a little too perfect.<br /><br />Colleen is really good at setting a scene and describing the place and helping the reader see it in their mind. However, the storyline was not plausible and the characters weren’t deep or realistic…much of it was very surface level. I think that’s where it lost me, I didn’t connect with the characters.<br /><br />If you just want to read a mystery to escape for a while you may enjoy The House at Saltwater Point.<br /><br />Colleen Coble is a Christian author, but there nothing much about faith included in this book. It’s clean, no profanity and or sexual immorality, and I appreciate that. But nothing much regarding faith and characters talking about God or praying or faith being lived out in their everyday lives.<br /><br />I wanted to like The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble. There were parts I did enjoy, but I think the implausible storyline and lack of depth the characters were too much to overcome.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and BookLook for the opportunity to read The House at Saltwater Point for free in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1534995746065, "title": "Implausible" }, { "asin": "0310348145", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite things is when I find a book that I love by an author whose work is new to me. I found a gem in Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin. I absolutely loved this book, from the moment I first started reading it. I haven’t read a lot of Amish themed novels, but there was something about storyline that caught my attention.<br /><br />Mary Katherine Ropp is a sixty-year-old widow and her last daughter is getting married. Most in the community would have her living with one of her married children and helping to raise her grandchildren. But Mary Katherine isn’t like most Amish women. She’s little bit spunky, independent, she likes to read, write stories and even dares to dream about opening a book store with her English friend Dottie. Also, part of the community is Ezekiel Miller who has been widowed for many years. In spite of grief, he kept family going through his business the Purpose Martin Café. Both Mary Katherine and Ezekiel can’t imagine getting married again so late in life, especially since they had wonderful marriages. But Ezekiel can imagine hiring another cook to help at the restaurant. In to the storyline steps the not so skilled, but very hungry burglar, Burke McMillan, who has a late-night encounter with Mary Katherine.<br /><br />What I loved best about this book were the characters. They were very likable people that I would enjoy knowing. Mary Katherine was my favorite and I loved her ongoing conversations with her husband Moses. I loved Ezekiel’s tender caring heart, tender for Mary Katherine, open to help and give a new start to a stranger, loving to his grandchildren, especially Kenneth. Burke is a man of mystery. Is he just a down on his luck kind of guy, is he the thief that’s been plaguing the Amish community or is something more going on with him?<br /><br />Kelly Irvin is a wonderful writer. She knows how to make characters interesting and very likeable, even in plain every day ordinary life. She gives insight into the characters and what they are going through at this stage in their lives. The Amish community setting is interesting but doesn’t overwhelm the story, instead it’s the background and reveals how these characters live their lives. I could identify with many of the feelings that Mary Katherine was expressing.<br /><br />The one person, I wasn’t too keen on was her son Thomas because he was so disrespectful to his mother. I would think as a Christian, he would have tried to honor his mother, but instead he treated her more like a child who has misbehaved.<br /><br />I loved Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin and I look forward to reading more of her books. I highly recommend this story, it was lovely! I read this book during a very difficult time in my life and I found it to be a very comforting place to escape to for a while.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read Through the Autumn Air in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1539231378306, "title": "A Real Gem and Lovely Read" }, { "asin": "0718083040", "rating": 5, "text": "One of my favorite authors that I’ve discovered in recent years is Robert Whitlow. If he writes a new book, I want read. I’m so glad that I was able to read Robert’s newest release Chosen People.<br /><br />This book is a little different than other novels I’ve read by Robert Whitlow. Like his other books, it involves attorneys and law, but Chosen People is set against the backdrop Islamic terrorism. It includes characters that are from the Middle East and shows the impact of terrorism at a personal level.<br /><br />Hana Abboud, an attorney working at law firm in Atlanta, is from Israel and is of Arab descent and a Christian which adds some interesting dynamics and cultural views to the storyline. Jakob Brodsky, a secular Jewish attorney has agreed to help Ben Neumann and his daughter Sadie bring a lawsuit against any organization or company that funded the terrorists that left his wife Gloria dead and their daughter Sadie seriously injured.<br /><br />With her background and experience in Israel, Hana is the right attorney to handle this case, if she’s willing. Jakob is going to batt for a family that may not have much of a case to stand on, much less the deep pockets necessary to handle the comprehensive research and to track down people who funded these morally reprehensible murderers.<br /><br />Will there be any justice for the Neumann family? Will the big law firm be willing to take a risk on this case which may go no where or run into many costly obstacles along the way? Will Hana be willing to take on a case that will bring up ugly savage images that will never leave her memory? How will she be able to handle this case long distance from Atlanta? Who will she be able to trust to be her boots on the ground in Israel to investigate the terrorists who perpetrated this savage attack? Was Jakob’s attack related to the investigation, or was it just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time?<br /><br />Mixed into the storyline is faith, Christian, Jewish, Islamic and agnostic.<br /><br />I enjoyed the likable characters, found the storyline intriguing and suspenseful as people put their lives on the line to investigate and bring terrorists and those that support them to justice.<br /><br />I give Chosen People a big thumbs up and recommend it highly. Robert Whitlow knows how to write great fiction, from interesting characters to a storyline that weaves together intrigue, suspense and faith. This one kept me guessing to the end.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Robert Whitlow’s new book Chosen People in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1545607314578, "title": "Intrigue, Suspense & Interesting Characters – A Story That Kept Me Guessing to the End" }, { "asin": "0718090543", "rating": 4, "text": "On Magnolia Lane is the first book that I’ve read by author by Denise Hunter and I really enjoyed it. This is the third book in the Blue Ridge Romance Series. Though it’s part of a series, it’s good as a standalone book.<br /><br />The story is about Jack McReady who happens to be the local Pastor. One of his congregants is Daisy Pendleton and she’s been meeting with Jack for counseling over a couple of years now. He’s pretty much head over heals in love with Daisy and she is oblivious. Will she ever be able to see Jack as something more than her Pastor? Will Jack ever be bold enough to ask Daisy out on a date? Or will this romance need a little help from their friends?<br /><br />I really liked the characters in this book. They weren’t perfect, but they were kind, descent and caring people that I’d like to spend time with. The story takes place in the small town of Copper Creak, Georgia and after reading this book I wish it really existed because I’d like to visit.<br /><br />One of my favorite characters was the mystery woman Julia. I found myself drawn into her quest and appreciated how understanding and gracious she was. I liked the friendship that developed between Daisy and Julia.<br /><br />Denise’s style of writing is very inviting. She has a way of helping the reader to visualize the places and people, but without being too wordy. She leaves room for imagination. I thought Denise was insightful in bringing out what was going on within the characters, their insecurities and wounds from the past that haven’t quite healed, that still impacted relationships.<br /><br />I really enjoyed On Magnolia Lane. I appreciated that the Christian faith was included in the character’s lives and that it was a clean novel and free from filthy language and sexual immorality. There are some details about a character’s past that comes out, but the sinful choices were not glorified or made light of.<br /><br />In today’s world, where every where you turn there’s more bad news, it’s really nice to be able to step away for a little while, into small town with a little romance. If you like a good love story, be sure to read On Magnolia Lane by Denise Hunter. I look forward to reading more of Denise’s novels.<br /><br />I would like to thank BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for the opportunity to ready On Magnolia Lane in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1548308032880, "title": "If you like a good love story, time to step away for little while and read On Magnolia Lane." }, { "asin": "0785219706", "rating": 5, "text": "Can I say that an author is one of my favorites after reading only one of her books, Hurricane Season? Maybe not, but I was excited at the opportunity to read Lauren K. Denton’s newest book Glory Road.<br /><br />I absolutely loved this book! Lauren has a way of writing and helping you to see the beauty in the everyday ordinary life. From the people to the places and the beauty of creation.<br /><br />Glory Road takes place in Alabama and tells the story of Jessie who is a single mom, her 14-year-old daughter Evan and her Mom Gus. Following her divorce, Jessie moved back home to Perry where she grew up. Her home is next door to her Mother’s house and right next door to her garden shop the Twig on an old dirt road. It’s summertime and Evan will be starting in high school come September. Gus seems to be having some episodes of confusion and forgetfulness and Jessie is worried that it may be something serious. Jessie is content with her life the way it is and she’s not looking to make changes or room for romance. But sometimes God brings people and changes into our lives when we don’t feel ready.<br /><br />What did I love about Glory Road? I loved the characters, especially Jessie and her relationship with her daughter Evan and Mom Gus and their love, kindness and caring for one another. I loved the relationships between Jessie and Ben and Jessie and Sumner. I loved the relationship between Evan and Nick who takes after his father Ben. Lauren has a way of writing that is almost poetic or lyrical. She captures the character’s thoughts and feelings in a thought-provoking way that caused me to reflect on my own life. She also paints lovely word pictures of the places, indoors and outdoors, that helps the reader to imagine what it looks like. She does that without being too wordy or letting words get in the way of the reader’s imagination. I really enjoyed the quotes on gardening at the beginning of each chapter.<br /><br />On a more serious note, as someone whose parent had Alzheimer’s I appreciated the way Gus’ life and experiences were handled. It helped me to see how scary it must be for the person experiencing forgetfulness and for the family who sees it and are unsure on how to handle it. That part of the story rang a little too close to home.<br /><br />There’s only one mention of God in the book, other than two phrases that use the name of God. Even though God, Christianity, and faith were not specifically mentioned I had the feeling that faith undergirded the character’s lives. I would like to have seen elements of faith as part of the storyline but greatly appreciated a clean novel.<br /><br />I absolutely loved Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton. It’s a wonderful, lovely book that leaves you wanting the story to continue on. Lauren is on my short list of writers that when they write a new book, I want to be sure to read it.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and BookLook for the opportunity the read Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1560118394637, "title": "Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton – Wonderful, lovely, I didn’t want the story to end!" }, { "asin": "0785223142", "rating": 3, "text": "Over the Line is Kelly Irvin’s newest book in the romantic suspense genre. I recently discovered Kelly’s writing when I read two of her recent Amish themed books and fell in love with her writing. That’s why I was excited to read her newest book.<br /><br />Over the Line is an action-packed novel that seems like it could have been taken from today’s headline news. Chef and restaurateur, Gabriella Benoit is locking up her restaurant late at night and is met by a stranger who was carrying a gun and calling her name. As he clutches his chest and falls to the ground he says “Jake” but dies before he can say anything more about Gabby’s brother. She’d never imagined she’d need help from her former fiancé Eli Cavazos to find her missing brother or find herself in the middle of an illegal gun smuggling ring at the border. How is she going to protect her sister and family from some very desperate and dangerous men? Just who are the good guys and who are the bad ones?<br /><br />I had a mixed reaction to Over the Line. I appreciate that it’s clean and not filled with sexual immorality or filthy language. There is some Christian faith included in the book and I thought it was better and more genuine towards the end of the book. I liked Eli’s mother and her openness and transparency and how different characters dealt with the issue of forgiveness. I especially liked the character Deacon, he was a nice surprise. As you get to know him you can see he’s a decent sincere person and Natalie was very likeable too.<br /><br />But over-all, I feel like the action was center stage and eclipsed the characters. Some of the prayers or mentions of God and faith seemed like they were out of place or just thrown in, instead of a natural overflow of the character’s thinking or feelings. Some of the character’s actions didn’t make a lot of sense, like Deacon trespassing or Gabby confronting a police officer she suspected was corrupt because she was overcome with emotion instead of using reason and logic. That didn’t make sense coming from a person who was a former district attorney. The scene where Gabriella and Natalie crashed the van doesn’t seem realistic because the dialogue goes on and on when the bad guys are coming their way with big guns. I wasn’t overly fond of the main character Gabriella.<br /><br />As I was reading this book, I kept thinking this must be the second book in a series because there was a lot of back-story between Gabriella and Eli and what had happened in Natalie’s life previously. I was surprised to find out that this wasn’t the second book. Some of the background information and questions I had were answered later in the book.<br /><br />I would recommend Over the Line to someone who likes Kelly Irvin’s writing, with a note that it’s much different than her Amish themed books. Also, for those who enjoy Christian suspense novels. Over the Line will be available June 11, 2019.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Over the Line by Kelly Irvin in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1560262669597, "title": "Mixed Reaction" }, { "asin": "0785222723", "rating": 4, "text": "I love a good mystery and when it’s tied to a little romance that’s a book I’ll want to read. That’s why I was excited to read Denise Hunter’s newest book Lake Season (A Bluebell Inn Romance).<br /><br />Molly, Levi and Grace Bennett are siblings whose parents had died in a tragic accident a year ago. Grace is 18 years old and set upon staying in Bluebell. But it will take the commitment of all three of them to fulfill their parent’s dream and turn their home into a bed and breakfast inn. Ten months later, their inn is about to open when their first unofficial guest Adam Bradford walks in. Little do they know but under their roof is the famous author, who writes under the pen name Nathaniel Quinn, whose work Molly loves. Adam is in town to do a little research to help him get inspired so he can write his next bestseller. Adam is quite taken with Molly whom he considers his muse and he gets distracted when he tries to help Molly find the writer and recipient of a letter that’s been lost for 57 years.<br /><br />That’s the background of Lake Season, which is set in the lovely lakeside town of Bluebell, North Carolina. My favorite character was Adam, he was kind and caring. He was rather shy and had some insecurities you wouldn’t expect for an accomplished writer. Molly was sweet, unpretentious, passionate and caring. She even cared about people she never knew. But she knew the importance of the letter she had in her possession and wanted to get it into the hands of the people it belonged to. I appreciated the caring and commitment that Levi, Molly, and Grace had for one another, a self-sacrificing love. I especially liked the relationship between Adam and Molly. They got to know each other and their attraction more than skin deep. I enjoyed the unfolding mystery of who Lizzie and Ben were and what had happened to them all those years ago.<br /><br />Lake Season was a story that I didn’t want to end, so I took my time reading and savoring this story. When I finished, I felt a little sad leaving behind the characters I had come to care about. The characters were very likable and the town seemed inviting and like a place I would like to visit. I loved the blend of mystery and romance. Denise Hunter is on the shortlist of writers whose work I want to read. When I was reading Lake Season, I thought this would be a perfect Hallmark Channel movie.<br /><br />I wish there had been more of the character’s faith included in the story, I think it would have been a richer story. I appreciated that the novel was clean in content and language.<br /><br />If you like a blend of romance and mystery be sure to read Lake Season by Denise Hunter.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Lake Season and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.", "timestamp": 1574483912564, "title": "Likeable characters, in a lovely town with a blend of mystery and romance." }, { "asin": "0718083059", "rating": 5, "text": "When author Robert Whitlow writes a book, I want to read it. That’s why I was excited at the opportunity to read his newest book Promised Land and I loved it.<br /><br />Readers are reintroduced to characters from his last novel Chosen People. Hana Abboud, a Christian Arab attorney from Israel who is living in the United States, her husband Daud Hasan a Christian Arab from Israel, friend and colleague Jakob Brodsky, and dear friends Ben and Sadie Neumann. While reading this book, I felt like I was being reunited and catching up with old friends.<br /><br />The story begins with Rahal Abaza in Qatar, five years earlier he had a jarring experience that set his life on a new course that will intersect with Daud and Hana. Hana is at home and awakens for her night watch, a time of prayer, reading Scripture and worship. While she does not know the specifics of all that’s going on with her husband Daud, she is praying for him while he is in Egypt on a mission for the CIA. He will need those prayers for what he’s about to encounter.<br /><br />From the get-go, Promised Land is off and running. There’s a lot of suspense, intrigue, and action, but it doesn’t interfere with the development of characters or take the place of an interesting storyline. It’s well balanced.<br /><br />My favorite thing about Robert Whitlow’s writing is how he develops characters. Hana is one of the most interesting characters. It’s fascinating to see and consider what it’s like to be an Arab Christian who is from Israel. You would think that there might be conflict, but Hana is a very gracious woman who takes her faith seriously. She loves her family and is a faithful friend. I found Daud intriguing and felt on edge with all the situations and people he encounters. Jakob is an interesting fellow. He always seems to take on cases that look impossible and that will require a lot of work and research to see if they will pan out. Ben and his daughter Sadie…absolutely love them.<br /><br />I don’t want to spoil the story about what happens, so I’ll leave it with a brief intro into the storyline and characters. But I hope that you will pick up a copy of Promised Land by Robert Whitlow. It’s the second book in this series but is a good stand-alone book. You may want to go back and read Chosen People so you can have a richer connection with the characters.<br /><br />Robert Whitlow is a gifted writer. He tells a good story and develops rich likable characters. I highly recommend Promised Land by Robert Whitlow. If you like action, suspense, intrigue, and interesting likable characters you will like Promised Land.<br /><br />I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Promised Land by Robert Whitlow. I was provided with a free copy of this book and was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1581469890985, "title": "Intrigue, Suspense, Interesting Characters Mixed with Fascinating Cultures" }, { "asin": "164352741X", "rating": 4, "text": "The Walnut Creek Wish is the first book I’ve read by Wanda E. Brunstetter, and I look forward to reading more of her work.<br /><br />Jeff and Rhonda Davis have been married for nearly thirteen years. But their marriage has been strained and they’ve grown apart. Both are hardworking and care about one another, but disappointment over not having children has impacted their marriage. In a last-ditch effort to try and help their marriage, against better judgment, the Davis’ decide to purchase a new home in Walnut Creek, OH. The additional strain of financial issues, when their old house doesn’t sell, adds more pressure. Jeff has a love for antiques and befriends an Amish couple, Orley and Lois Troyer, who own a local antique store. A rather unconventional friendship develops between the couples. Will their friendship and faith-filled influence be enough to help Jeff and Rhonda?<br /><br />I loved this book. I appreciated the development of the characters and they really came alive. I liked that the author wasn’t in a hurry to rush from one action scene to the next. Instead, the reader gets to know the characters and what made them the way they are. It was interesting to learn why Jeff and Rhonda had rejected the Christian faith and to see God at work in their breaking down those walls.<br /><br />I read a lot of books by Christian writers and publishers, and it’s a rare occurrence these days when the Gospel message is shared as part of the storyline. That is why I loved this book. The Troyer’s built a relationship with the Davis’, cared about them, and prayed for them. They shared their faith and eventually shared the Gospel of Christ with Jeff and Rhonda. I liked and cared about these characters.<br /><br />Because I enjoyed the characters and the setting, I didn’t want to rush through reading this book. This book was very enjoyable. I appreciated that the storyline was clean, without immorality or profanity.<br /><br />I highly recommend The Walnut Creek Wish by Wanda E. Brunstetter. I love finding an author whose work is new to me, and I look forward to reading more of her work.<br /><br />I would like to thank Barbour Publishing, Inc and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of The Walnut Creek Wish by Wanda E. Brunstetter. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.", "timestamp": 1629329239297, "title": "An Enjoyable Inviting Read with Likable Characters" } ]

[ { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 4, "text": "I enjoyed reading this historical fiction which is a genre I don't read often. I'm glad I endeavored to read this one because it was a nice change of pace.<br /><br />The story was sweet and charming and very innocent which is what I like in the fiction I read. The plot was a little predictable and had some unnecessary developments. I felt like the book was 50 pages too long. I knew what was going to happen and just wanted the story to get on with it. Yet I am glad I took the time to read the entire book instead of just skipping to end to see what happens.<br /><br />Overall, it was a nice little book that will make for a refreshing summer read.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine", "timestamp": 1276012290000, "title": "A charming story" }, { "asin": "159554870X", "rating": 4, "text": "I have read quite a few books from the Amish genre already. I read the Beverly Lewis series, Heritage of Lancaster County, 10 years ago. Since then the market has been saturated with Amish fiction. So I was pleasantly surprised with this book.<br /><br />The story focuses on Sarah King, but she is not the only one in the story who learns a wunderbaar lesson in trusting Der Herr. Sarah, Grant, and even the Fisher family learn to trust God and to return to truth. It is a lesson that we all need reminding.<br /><br />This is the first book in the series entitled \"A Patch of Heaven.\" The next book, Lilly's Wedding Quilt is due out in April 2011. I look forward to reading more in this series.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1277860366000, "title": "A wunderbaar story" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "I got a chance to read another terrific book by Max Lucado. He always brings a fresh perspective to our lives as Christians. Sometimes he even hits too close to home, and I have to take a good look at myself to see where I may need to make some changes. Yet the book is not condemning but more convicting. Sometimes change is good even when it is hard.<br /><br />This book challenges me to do more than just believe in Christ and live a good life. If I want to outlive my life, God can use me to do even more than I could ever dream. When Jesus said \"Follow me\" to his disciples, He is asking me, too. And when they followed, He did amazing things through them. And when I follow, He can do amazing things through me.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1284124982000, "title": "There's more to life" }, { "asin": "1595540091", "rating": 5, "text": "I just started to read Ted Dekker this summer. A friend loaned me Black, and I am glad that I got my feet wet with the Circle series ([[ASIN:1595546820 Green (The Circle Series)]], [[ASIN:B003TO6D3W Black (The Circle)]], [[ASIN:B003IWYGW0 Red (The Circle Series)]], and [[ASIN:B003TO6D5U White (The Circle Series)]]) before reading Immanuel's Veins.<br /><br />To be honest, in order to read and enjoy his books, I have to open my mind and let go of preconceived notions. When I am reading, it feels like riding a roller coaster...at first, I am not so sure I am going to like it but then the excitement starts tp pick up, and I don't want it to end.<br /><br />I really do not know how what category this book falls into. It could be suspense, drama, murder, romance, fantasy, or even historical fiction. I guess by not being able to put the book into one category makes this book even more interesting to read.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1284397418000, "title": "Open your mind" }, { "asin": "0764208659", "rating": 5, "text": "I just finished reading this terrific book. I have read [[ASIN:0764200836 Jesus Freaks: Martyrs: Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus: The Ultimate Jesus Freaks]]and am in the middle of [[ASIN:B0009U7YQO Under God]], so I am familiar with books that Toby Mac is involved in. He does not write the book himself (he saves his writing for lyrics), but instead he compiles stories from others who inspire us and encourage us.<br /><br />My son is excited to read this book, too. We went to a Toby Mac concert last year, and I am grateful that my middle school son is singing lyrics that are building and encouraging. Some of the music his friends listen to is questionable. This book will encourage him to be more than just a believer but to live out his faith.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Bethany House has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1286144908000, "title": "Read this book to be inspired" }, { "asin": "0849946158", "rating": 5, "text": "I did not intend to read 3 books in the last year about people describing heaven from the first person perspective. [[ASIN:0800759494 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life]], [[ASIN:0764207946 Flight to Heaven: A Plane Crash...A Lone Survivor...A Journey to Heaven--and Back]], and Heaven is for Real share the same perspective of what heaven is like. All 3 books also have in a common a person who had to suffer and go through intense medical drama in order to experience heaven. I am glad that I have read all 3 of these books. I am also excited to be doing a study on Revelation ([[ASIN:B003VRVTYU Here And Now...There And Then: Listening Guide & Weekly Assignments]] by Beth Moore). It seems like God is trying to teach me something, and I best be paying attention. Next thing I know, my pastor will be preaching about heaven. ;)<br /><br />What I liked about Heaven is Real is the fresh and honest understanding of heaven. An almost 4 year old does not have the Biblical knowledge to describe heaven like he did unless he saw it himself. There are some things that I could not describe even after studying the Bible. No amount of study compares to an eyewitness account, and what this young boy describes is completely in alignment with what the Scriptures teach us.<br /><br />I also want to commend Todd and Sonja Burpo for being careful and honest in trying to understand what their son, Colton, saw. It is easy to feed information to your children and sway their perspective. However, the Burpo's were discerning in allowing their son to tell them what he saw without trying to influence his understanding. As a result, we get to read a great book about heaven and about a little child who had the chance to see it for himself.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1288749668000, "title": "True and honest" }, { "asin": "0764207326", "rating": 3, "text": "I like a good book to read on vacation. I received this book to review but did not get to go on vacation to read it. However, it did bring back good memories of a trip I took to OBX.<br /><br />This book was mildly entertaining. It was not an easy read as too many characters were introduced yet they did not seem significant to the story line. My mind was overwhelmed with trying to understand each character and their back story. I think half of the characters were unnecessary and the story would have been the same without them.<br /><br />The book falls under the category of inspirational fiction, but there was not a whole lot of talk about God and religion. The book could also be a romance novel, but the story was not overly romantic. At times, I wanted to read more about the romantic relationship between 2 characters and at other times, I was tired of hearing about how the main character felt about a particular man. There was also some drama and suspense in the book. So I am not sure how to categorize this book. Instead I will say the story is unique.<br /><br />Bethany House has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1289701487000, "title": "A vacation read" }, { "asin": "0764208500", "rating": 1, "text": "I can honestly say that I was not inspired while reading this book. I did not like this book and it left a bad taste in my mouth.<br /><br />Too verbose. I did not enjoy the many paragraphs of descriptive writing that were unnecessary to the story line. Some description is needed to help the reader visualize the story but not so much that the background becomes a storyline itself.<br /><br />Too many characters. I was exhausted by the beginning of the 4th chapter as yet another character was being introduced. Since so much description is given to each character, it was time consuming to keep tract of each new character.<br /><br />Too long. I was on page 286 before I realized that there had yet to be a climax to the story. For an author writing about writing, I was surprised that the book lacked basic story elements. In the last 40 pages, the protagonist did find herself at the turning point, but it felt rushed as if the author needed to keep the book under 320 pages.<br /><br />Too much smut. As mentioned in other reviews, this book was not as Christian as the Christian market expects. I was convicted a few years ago about reading books that bordered on smut. I turned to Christian publishers to find morally entertaining books. I did not expect to read about half naked women and unmarried couples sleeping together in this novel.<br /><br />I do not enjoy writing negative reviews, but I have read and reviewed so many books this year that it was bound to happen.<br /><br />Bethany House has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1291065444000, "title": "Uninspiring" }, { "asin": "1595547916", "rating": 4, "text": "Kristin Billerbeck set the standard for Chick Lit, and this book is the very definition of Chick Lit. It is an easy read with light-hearted romance and a dash of drama thrown in for good measure.<br /><br />Katie is a young woman who has overcome hurt but has now left the past behind to live a decent life. However, her past comes back to mess up what she has established. Sometimes you need to learn from the past to make a better future, and Katie does just that.<br /><br />Much like other books by Kristin Billerbeck (What a Girl Wants and A Girl's Best Friend), this book has a young woman trying to find her true self while staying true to her faith in a materialistic world. I think we can all relate to that so some degree.<br /><br />On a side note, I felt that the relationship between Katie and Dexter was much like the relationship between Meg Ryan and her fiance in Sleepless in Seattle. It was safe and comfortable but a passionless relationship that was doomed from the start.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1295116389000, "title": "Another Chick Lit from Billerbeck" }, { "asin": "1595545395", "rating": 3, "text": "Another foray into the chick-lit genre. This book was enjoyable to read and interesting enough to keep my attention throughout the story. The character development was a bit slow at times but realistic enough. It has been the first book in a while that I did not rush to finish. I took my time even though I could have rushed to finish just to see what happens. I like to take my time if the book is good.<br /><br />I am not sure why the title was \"Save the Date.\" By the end of the book, I still did not understand what the title meant. I may have missed something, but \"Saving Grace\" seems like a more fitting title.<br /><br />I was a bit confused with the character of Julian and his relationship with Clare. They reminded me of Karen and Jack in the old sitcom Will and Grace. I am not sure how his character added to the storyline, and for me, he was more a distraction.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1296225657000, "title": "Saving Grace is a better title" }, { "asin": "1595548017", "rating": 4, "text": "The pace of this book kept me from giving it 5 stars. I felt like the story slowed down too much in the middle which dragged out the plot for too long. Will she fall in love? Will he tell her the truth? I wanted to know what happened next, but for about 100 pages, it felt like nothing was really happening. It was not until page 250 that I got the information I had been wanting to know about a pivotal character. So for that reason, this was a page turner.<br /><br />When I typed \"A Cowboy's Touch\" into the search on amazon, another book with the same title came up. It was definitely not this book. It was a romance but more, shall we saw, graphic. I hope people do not confuse these 2 books because Denise Hunter's \"A Cowboy Touch\" is nothing like what I saw on the cover of the other book.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provides me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my opinion which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1299894529000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "Drugs, addiction, child trafficing, and that is just the first chapter.<br /><br />The Covington family has had its share of tragedy and sorrow, but they find themselves in the middle of another heartache as they try heal from their own pain. Emily is one year sober (read about her struggles in [[ASIN:0310321980 Intervention (Intervention Series, Book 1)]]), and is excited to live a new life. But how do you live a new life when the old life keeps dragging you down?<br /><br />This was one of those can't-put-it-down kind of books. I enjoyed reading it and would keep reading to find out what happens next. I was not happy when the book was over only because I like how Terri Blackstock writes and want to know more about what happens next. The book does leave a small open door so I hope that means there is another book to be written???<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1302310511000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "078523120X", "rating": 1, "text": "I did not like this book. I tried like it, but it was not my cup of tea. It was downright unimaginative.<br /><br />David Ponder, the main character from [[ASIN:0785273220 The Traveler's Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success]], returns. He is taken to a summit where he, along with many pivotal people from history, must save the world by coming up a 2 word phrase. Together, they discuss and ponder (pun intended) what the phrase could be. They have 7 chances to get it right. After each incorrect guess, a new traveler is added to the discussion.<br /><br />So what bored me about the book is that there was a whole lot of talk but not much action. The story is the discussion of a 2 word phrase. It got so boring, that I just skipped to the end of the chapter to see what the phrase will be. I also knew that it would take all 7 chances before they got it right, but even then the final 2 word phrase was trite and uninspiring.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provides me with a free copy of this book for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1302551042000, "title": "Dull and unexciting" }, { "asin": "1414319495", "rating": 4, "text": "I was glad to read another book in the juvenille fiction genre. It was interesting to read this cross between a chapter book and a graphic novel. I can see how this would be a good book for a boy who is able to read chapter books but is not interested in some of the options that are available.<br /><br />Since I have not read the first two books in this series, I had a hard time understanding the characters and their backgrounds. I had to quickly catch up with their backstory while at the same time keep up with the action from this story. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I had read the previous books; however, that is not to say that I did not enjoy this book. On the contrary, it was an interesting book which kept my attention throughout.<br /><br />The story is about a boy and 2 girls who find themselves in the middle of a mystery. They are as integral as the adults in the book at solving the mystery. It is fast-paced and action packed. I would classify the book as action and suspense with Biblical overtones.<br /><br />I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for this review.", "timestamp": 1306176331000, "title": "A cross between graphic novel and chapter book" }, { "asin": "1595548114", "rating": 4, "text": "I am not an avid reader of historical fiction, but this book was nice. It was neither exciting nor dull and makes a decent summer read.<br /><br />The story is of Lucy, a young lady, who is pursuing a career in photography in a small town. The story is also of David who is trying to redeem his past. Their lives converge and sparks fly. It is a common theme in fiction, but charming nonetheless.<br /><br />I did find some of the story lacking. It was about 50 pages too long as the storyline dragged on without an significant progress in character development. Also, the end was a little unsatisfying. It ended the way I had anticipated without any big ordeal or revelation. Like I said, it was nice but not exciting.<br /><br />This book is part of the Rocky Creek Romance series; however, I did not need to read the 2 previous books to enjoy this book. It is as much a stand- alone book as it is a part of the series.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1307970908000, "title": "Decent but not spectacular" }, { "asin": "0764208055", "rating": 4, "text": "I have never read a book from the \"Texas Adventure and Romance\" genre, and I rarely read historical fiction. However, I read this book and enjoyed it very much.<br /><br />Elizabeth Evans travels to El Paso/Fort Bliss to help her widowed brother but quickly finds herself in the middle of an international event. Ranger Jake Nelson comes to her aid and quickly they fall in love. The problem is that both Elizabeth and Jake have loved and lost before and do not want to love and lose again.<br /><br />I did enjoy reading this book. There was enough action and drama to keep it from being too sappy with the romance. Sometimes the action was too much as I wondered how many more incidents could Elizabeth and Jake find themselves. Kidnapping, border crossing, and near drownings were just a few of this action packed incidents. There seemed to be no end to the adrenaline rush for the characters or even time to grieve from tragic events.<br /><br />Bethany House has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1316439948000, "title": "Action, drama, and romance to boot" }, { "asin": "1400318033", "rating": 5, "text": "What a delightful little book! Little Hermie is just right for young children. The book is short enough to keep their attention but cute enough to capture their hearts. The short prayer is written in rhyme so it is pleasing for little children to quietly listen to.<br /><br />Little Hermie is thanking God for His many blessings. Hermie thanks God for leaves to sleep on, for friends and family, for food and playtime, and for blessing me.<br /><br />What I liked about the book was that it was easy to read and sounds nice when read out loud. I wish the book was longer; however, I remember when my little ones were little and their attention span was very short.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1316887552000, "title": "Short and sweet" }, { "asin": "1595549404", "rating": 4, "text": "Much like Frank Peretti, Lis Weihl delves into the supernatural and the power of evil. I have enjoyed previous books by this author and continued to enjoy this new book.<br /><br />The story follows Dani, a psychiatrist who works for the DA, as she tries to solve a local murder. With the help of her friend, Tommy, she is able to solve the crime. Not only does she figure out who done it, but also she figures out why that person did it.<br /><br />The storyline is much like an episode of a TV crime drama. The murder is solved in less than 2 weeks, and the characters never seem to have a night where they actually sleep. As the reader, it is interesting to follow the storyline as you try to solve the crime along with the characters of the book.<br /><br />What I did not like about the book is the past history between Dani and Tommy. She was the overachieving nerd in high school, and he was the game winning jock. He had a crush on her and admitted to being intimidated by her. I found this part of the story a little far fetched.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1317777570000, "title": "Another great book by Lis Weihl" }, { "asin": "0764209418", "rating": 3, "text": "Joy was a young orphan in China who is adopted by Andrew and Gloria. They bring her back to Texas and raise her as their own. However, Joy was never really an orphan. Joy is Lily, the fourth daughter of the Chang family who had to place their daughter in an orphanage because of governmental restrictions. Lily's sister, Kai, has devoted her life to find Lily and to find a cure for polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic disease that has plagued her family.<br /><br />Adoption, disease, teenage rebellion, and family devotion are weaved throughout the story. In some ways, there were too many elements causing conflict in the story. Most of these elements are resolved at the end of the story, but some are not. For example, the story hints at turmoil in Gloria's life because of her dad's infidelity, but that story line is never resolved.<br /><br />The storyline stuttered too much for me. The flashback to China is deep and descriptive as the authors uses too many words to set the tone. Then the story flies through 2 years of relationship building after Kai and Lily meet for the first time. I just had a hard time with the pace of the story.<br /><br />I give the book a 3.5 out of 5. It is neither good not bad. Just okay for me.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1321031289000, "title": "Not an easy read" }, { "asin": "0310332311", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been a fan of Terri Blackstock for years and have never been disappointed. This most recent book of hers is a reprint from a previous book. She updated the story and incorporated the story of redemption. I appreciate how the redemption story is weaved into the book without being forced or preachy.<br /><br />Carny, the protagonist, is a new person after leaving the carnival life, becoming a Christian, and settling in the town of Serenity, Texas. When Logan Brisco comes to town, she see him for the con he is. As much as she tries to discredit him, he sees the truth of what he is doing. In the midst of this, they are falling in love.<br /><br />The story had many unexpected twists and turns, yet it was an easy read that kept me interested from cover to cover. Terri Blackstock really does have the gift of storytelling, and I appreciate that she has used her gift to honor God.<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1321741698000, "title": "Another great book by Blackstock" }, { "asin": "0764208225", "rating": 3, "text": "The story opens with Heather Hampton, successful Seattle architect, on the verge of her biggest career move yet. The entire deal hinges on the sale of her family's property in Texas. This is the place she experienced tragedy and depression and wanted nothing more to leave the past behind. In this deal she hoped to erase the past and forget the memories of her home. Instead she has to face the past to deal with the present. This past includes the mystery of how her father died in a place she never wanted to live. Heather tries to solve this mystery but only uncovers more secrets instead of answers.<br /><br />I got frustrated reading this book as the secrets continued to build instead of being revealed. I read page after page waiting for the truth to be revealed. It took 300 pages before the truth started to come out. Once the mystery was solved, everything unraveled quickly. It was almost too quickly for as slow as the book started.<br /><br />I did like one line toward the end of the book, \"The great leaps in life are not made in the absence of fear but in the presence of faith.\" There were some good parts to the story, but overall the book was not satisfying.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332207991000, "title": "Slow and somewhat boring" }, { "asin": "0310250684", "rating": 4, "text": "I have yet to read a Terri Blackstock novel that I did not like. Whenever I get my hands on a new book, I know I am in for a treat. In this latest story, there is drama, suspense, struggle, and triumph.<br /><br />Emily Covington is a recovering drug addict trying to have a normal life. She knows that addiction recovery is not a walk in the park; however, she is challenged in ways she never anticipated. Her whole family is challenged in ways they never anticipated. All of them are forced into situations where they have to choose between right and wrong, yet sometimes it is not obvious what is right and what is wrong. From start to finish, the characters must react to situations and make tough decisions. At times, I thought, \"No, don't do it!\" but the characters made their decisions and had to face the consequences. Somehow, it all works out in the end, but you still need to read the book to find out how it happens.<br /><br />Downfall is the third book in a 3 book series about the Covington family with Intervention and Viscous Cycle being the first 2 books in the series. Of the 3 books in the series, this was my least favorite, but I am glad I read it as it ends the series. The book was fast-paced and an easy read.<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332465975000, "title": "A nice end to the series" }, { "asin": "1595548874", "rating": 4, "text": "Whew! I just finished Need You Now, and it was like riding a roller coaster. There is drama, suspense, tragedy, and triumph.<br /><br />The Henderson family relocates to a small town in Texas. They left Houston in hopes of getting their 3 children away from negative influences; however, the drama does not go away quietly as they settle in Round Top, Texas. Darlene, the mother, is struggling to find herself as her children need her less and she still has a lot to give. Brad, the father, is working overtime to make partner and wonders if his hard work will really pay-off. Chad, the eldest son, left drama behind in Houston but is still faces temptation in Round Top. Grace, the middle daughter, is the perfect child as she hides her true feelings and is overwhelmed with keeping up appearances. Ansley, the youngest daughter, is the only member of the family without drama. Also, the family is surprised to find out their next door neighbor was a Hollywood movie star was drama of her own.<br /><br />It took 100 pages for all these characters to be introduced and all these story lines to be developed. Initially the book was slow as the author was laying the groundwork for all these characters and their respective issues. Then in the last 100 pages, the story was fast-paced as the issues were brought to light and characters had a change of heart or realization about their issues. It was a slow build up and then a fast ride to the end, like a roller coaster.<br /><br />I am surprised that this book is only 250 pages long. It could have been so much longer. There were a few issues that were never really resolved by the end of the book. The character of Ansley was never developed, and she could have easily been left out of the story altogether. Chad's history in Houston was never fully revealed. I could foresee the author adding another book to this series, either as a prequel or a sequel.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for me review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332791141000, "title": "It is quite a ride!" }, { "asin": "076420615X", "rating": 4, "text": "Set during the War Between the States, Texas had both Union supporters and Confederate supports. There were also quite a few Texas supports who only wanted what benefited their state. Hannah, the heroine of the story, is just trying to survive with her 2 step-siblings. The ranch on which they live was given to their father, a Conferderate supporter. The previous residents were Union supporters and left to fight the war. Hannah's father leaves to help his mother back in Vicksburg but has not been heard from since. Instead, William Bartlett returns, the son of the previous ranch owner, to claim his family property.<br /><br />Initially, the storyline was slow as the many characters were introduced. Therefore, it took a while to understand how Hannah Dandridge can to live on a Texas ranch with her much younger step-brother and step-sister. I almost lost interest in the book, but I continued to read so I could write a thorough review.<br /><br />Once I got into the book, I enjoyed reading it, mostly. Some parts of the story annoyed me. I did not like how clueless Hannah was in her dealings with Herbert Lockhart, her father's business partner. She also seemed naive about how her family came to live on the ranch. She is strong woman who came from a privileged upbringing and became a hard-working ranch woman. Yet, the story does not talk about the transformation. There is only a nod to how she was once privileged and now must take care of her family and land.<br /><br />The story ends nicely with all loose ends tied up. It was neither surprising nor upsetting.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1336512516000, "title": "Nice enough" }, { "asin": "0310333172", "rating": 4, "text": "Reading a suspense novel from the perspective of an author doing research for a suspense novel adds a unique spin to this story. The story is also based on an actual cold case solved by the FBI.<br /><br />The heroine of this story, Kariss, is writing a novel and doing research while shadowing an FBI agent, Tigo. As she does her research, she becomes the main character in her own suspenseful story. Throughout the entire book, she inserts herself into FBI business and puts herself in harms way. Luckily, the hero of the book, Tigo, is always there to save this damsel in distress. However, Kariss is just stubborn enough to think of herself not as a damsel in distress but a modern woman who can do anything. That attitude keeps getting her in trouble. There is also a romantic element as Kariss and Tigo start to see each other as more than just a nuisance.<br /><br />The book was easy to read and kept my interest throughout. There were many twists and turns, but the ending was satisfying. I did get a little annoyed at the heroine who would not listen to wisdom and foolishly found herself on the wrong side of town, but that is how the heroine and hero start to fall in love, or at least like. There is a sequel that will probably explore this romantic storyline.<br /><br />Zondervan provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1338379735000, "title": "Enjoyable to read" }, { "asin": "0764209779", "rating": 4, "text": "Beverly Lewis is the gold standard in Amish fiction. She started with The Shunning and continues to raise the bar for other books in this genre.<br /><br />Amelia Devries is a world-class violinist who is so focused on her music that she has lost her way in life. When she loses her way, literally, in a bad rainstorm, she finds herself in an Amish village. There she realizes her need to reclaim the truth she once knew. She also falls in love both with a young man and with a simpler life. Amelia then has to decide what she really wants in life and how to go about doing just that.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading this book and felt the calming effect of the Amish way. I am not a world renown musician, but I am a woman who, like Amelia, can forget what is truly important in life. This book is a gentle reminder for me and for all readers.<br /><br />Bethany House has provided a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1338564279000, "title": "More than just another Amish book" }, { "asin": "1414333218", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the first book by Randy Singer I have read, and it is a pretty good book. It contains a lot of drama, a bit of suspense, a smattering of action, and a dash of romance.<br /><br />Initially, I had a hard time keeping up with the many characters and how they relate to the storyline. The main character is Jamie Brock who tells the story in the first person. However, other parts of the story are told in the third person so the reader gets an inside view of the action. Even still, there are twists and surprises to the story that are unexpected and entertaining.<br /><br />This book reminds me of the many crime dramas available on TV but far more interesting. I just might have to read more by Randy Singer now that I have had a small taste of his work.", "timestamp": 1340974960000, "title": "Pretty Good" }, { "asin": "140168565X", "rating": 5, "text": "How appropriate that I finished reading this book on a nice rainy day.<br /><br />Daphne is a \"nose\" which is to say she knows how things smell and how things should smell. However, after being left at the altar, she loses her sense of smell which means she also may lose her job. So she must deal with the rejection of her ex-fiance and with the problem of creating new scents without being able to smell them.<br /><br />Of course, it would not be Chick Lit without romance. Daphne's new boss, Jesse, is a widow who himself is struggling with his job and with relationships. Mix it all up, and you have an interesting tale of love, loss, and love again.<br /><br />I have read all of the books by Kristin Billerbeck, and this is by far my favorite. Instead of the shallow and selfish heroines found in previous books, Daphne has depths and layers much like the fragrances she creates.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1342813416000, "title": "Love, loss, and love again" }, { "asin": "1401685617", "rating": 4, "text": "Not since Francine Rivers[...] has a book delved into the difficulties faced by a unwed teenage mother who decides to give up her child for adoption.<br /><br />The choices we make determine the people we become. This idea is wonderfully illustrated in this book. The book opens with Sandy Lincoln confirming her pregnancy with her mom at the doctor's office. The story takes off from there without slowing down or wasting a word. This could have been a 400+ page book, and I am grateful that the author kept the book as short as he did.<br /><br />The only reason why I gave this book a 4-star instead of a 5-star rating is that some of the characters were just too perfect. Sandy's mother, for example, was an uptight Southern woman who was also kind and compassionate when Sandy discovered she was pregnant. Only her classmates gossiped about her pregnancy, but no one was condemning or critical about her behavior. Instead everyone was supportive, except the birth father as he did not want to give up his football career.<br /><br />Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1343178216000, "title": "A fast paced but good read" }, { "asin": "0764209655", "rating": 5, "text": "No one wants to marry a groom because of chance, even if the groom is the man you have dreamed about since childhood. Meridith Hayes has had a crush on Travis Archer since he rescued her from a trap when she was a child. He was the man of her dreams, literally, and eventually, those dreams came true.<br /><br />I really enjoyed reading this book. The storyline was contrived, but the plot progressed smoothly with sufficient character development. It has been a while since I really liked reading historical fiction. This book was a breath of fresh air in my reading repertoire.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1344043100000, "title": "A Delight to Read" }, { "asin": "076420887X", "rating": 3, "text": "I did not understand the character of Melinda. She is a strong young women who must leave her life of affluence when her parents die. She becomes a lady's maid and must endure the life of a servant. She does this with courage and grace and is a model servant. However, when she falls in love with Evan she becomes a whiny, petulant child who wants to get her way no matter what Evan says. Even when the local pastor tries to encourage Melinda to wait and pray, she ignores his advice and continues to try to control the situation. It was very frustrating to read as nothing seemed to change as the story line dragged on.<br /><br />The first half of the book was painstakingly slow. I almost gave up reading the book. I had to finish reading in order to write a thorough review. So I kept on reading. The pace of the story line picked up, and I started to enjoy it. The second half of the book was so much better than the first half. I am glad I stuck with it, but I did not like having to plod through so much useless story line to get to good stuff.<br /><br />In the second half the book, the story was interesting and fun to read. There was drama, suspense, romance, and intrigue. If I could have just read the end without having to get through the beginning, I would have enjoyed this book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1346550361000, "title": "A slow story that picks up in the end" }, { "asin": "0849920701", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been reading Max Lucado books for 25 years. Even since I gave my life to Christ, his books have spoken to my heart and encouraged my faith. This latest book does not disappoint.<br /><br />This book revolutionary. I thought I understood grace. However, I have only just begun to comprehend the immense blessing of God's grace. Weaving every day stories with theology, Max Lucado opens our minds and our hearts to the great gift of grace.<br /><br />If I was to recommend just one book everyone should read this year, it would be this book. It is not hard to read or a long book, but the truths between the covers will stay with you long after you are done.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1348665842000, "title": "Grace is Great" }, { "asin": "1414349300", "rating": 3, "text": "On the good side, the story is well written. Character development is solid. Drama unfolds with plenty of action and suspense.<br /><br />On the bad side, I have an issue with the main character, Lance Corporal Bekah Shaw. She is a Marine reservist who is returning to action on her third deployment in as many years. Bekah is divorced from her husband who was never fit to be married in the first place. Bekah also must leave her young son in the care of her grandmother who also helped raise her. Bekah struggles with leaving her son behind but is courageous enough to serve her country. So far, the character is believable and almost admirable. However, once she starts to see action in a war zone, the character becomes less believable.<br /><br />Women in the military do not serve in combat units on the front line of battle. Even in today's military, a women would not be a fire team leader in charge of small unit attack. I know this because I served in the military, and my husband continues to serve. So I take offense to a story that stretches the truth to the point of a lie. If the main character was a man, a single dad who struggled with leaving a child behind, then this story would have been great. But since the main character is a women, this story is just too unrealistic to be enjoyable.<br /><br />Tyndale House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1349099524000, "title": "Could have been better" }, { "asin": "0310730538", "rating": 5, "text": "I ordered this book for my 11 year old daughter who loves American history and Indian culture. I read it first and thoroughly enjoyed it.<br /><br />Barbara Leininger is torn from her family during an Indian raid and forced to adapt to the Indian culture. Before she is forced into marriage with an Indian brave, she escapes with 3 other captives. Together, they must travel 300+ miles on foot to reach freedom. Living as an Indian was not easy nor was her escape. Yet through it all, she maintained her faith and her determination to see her younger sister again.<br /><br />This is an inspiring story for everyone. I am thankful for Zondervan who provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1358648395000, "title": "Inspring story" }, { "asin": "0764208888", "rating": 3, "text": "It is not hard to figure out the plot when the front cover of the book shows a bride and groom standing hand in hand. However, the story begins with a young woman, Callie, who has sworn off marriage and a young man, Wes, who does not want to socialize with the many wealthy families who visit Bridal Veil Island. So the reader expects the two to fall in love and get married before the end of the story.<br /><br />Without ruining the story, Callie and Wes do fall in love as expected. I was bored with the story line because it took 200 pages before Callie and Wes admit their affection for each other. There were a few obstacles to overcome and some of the characters had to change their opinions and desires before the story was complete. Yet none of these story elements involved significant drama or soul searching. The pace of the story was slow and predictable. It was not an exciting story but more of a nice read.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1360335782000, "title": "Nice but not great" }, { "asin": "0764210734", "rating": 5, "text": "Reading the Bible in a year has become a popular endeavor. However, the quest can be daunting. This book encourages women to meet the challenge and to do so with joy.<br /><br />The unique thing about this yearly reading method is that it is broken down by weeks instead of days. You can start any time since the weeks are not dated. So it really you are reading the Bible in 52 weeks. I also like that the New Testament books are interspersed throughout the year.<br /><br />Diane Stortz encourages women not to do this alone but to join or create a group who reads through the Bible together. The group will provide the necessary encouragement and accountability one needs to read through the entire Bible is just 52 weeks.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1360755817000, "title": "A great way to read the Bible" }, { "asin": "0764206192", "rating": 5, "text": "It has been a long time since I read a good book such as this one. It was not amazing; however, it was a nice leisurely read. The book had romance, a dash of suspense, and a nice helping of family. It was just what I needed!<br /><br />Merrill is a strong woman who has been taking care of her father and older brothers after the death of her mother. She is quite capable and is not looking to find a husband especially after living with so many men for so long. Of course, when she least expects it, a new man comes into to town and she falls in love. The twist is that she does not realize she is falling in love. He loves her, too, but there are some complications that are getting in the way. Only after much drama and suspense are they able to admit their love for each other.<br /><br />I probably gave the book away, but with all historical romance, the reader knows that the man and woman at the center of the story will fall in love and live happily ever after. Even though I knew it was going to happen, it was fun to find out how it would happen. That is why I enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1365439913000, "title": "A Nice Read" }, { "asin": "0764209795", "rating": 4, "text": "Beverly Lewis is the trailblazer for Amish fiction. I remember reading The Shunning years ago while discovering this new genre. She set the standard for all others who endeavoured to write Amish fiction.<br /><br />In this latest book, Jodi Winfield visits a local Amish community and rediscovers her own faith while learning about the Amish culture. The story is also about Maryanna Esh, a young widow and mother of 4, who learns that she can love again.<br /><br />The storyline is nice. The setting is charming. The people are delightful. Even the food sounds delicious. The middle of the book was tedious as the plot stagnated, but the ending was satisfying. Overall, this was a good book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1367846848000, "title": "Good enough to read" }, { "asin": "0764211129", "rating": 5, "text": "I read the O'Malley series years ago and wondered why Jennifer never had her own book. All the other siblings had a book, but Jennifer was left out, until now.<br /><br />Since it has been so long since I read the O'Malley series, I was excited to read this novella. The story is a flashback to when Jennifer became a believer in Jesus and when she fell in love with Tom. It was not exciting or earth-shattering. Instead it was sweet and comforting. Although the end of the book (SPOILER ALERT) begins Jennifer's journey with cancer, it is still an enjoyable book.<br /><br />I highly recommend this book to anyone who read the O'Malley series and to anyone who is looking for a nice summer read.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1371050146000, "title": "Nice and Sweet" }, { "asin": "0764209566", "rating": 3, "text": "As with most historical fiction, the heroine tries to be independent and strong but still enjoys having a man save the damsel in distress.<br /><br />The heroine of this story is Melanie Ross who is fired as a governess and must make a way for herself out west. She has no family left but inherits half of a general store. The other half is owned by Caleb Nelson, a widower and the single father of young Levi. Melanie and Caleb do not agree on how to run the store and often find themselves at odds. Only when they have to defend the store and the honor of their uncles, do they settle their differences.<br /><br />The story line was slow. The action did not really pick up until the last quarter of the book. I thought the story was about the difference of opinions between Melanie and Caleb. Instead it was about the deaths in town that were tied together but a common thread. By the time this part of the story reached its climax, the romance between Melanie and Caleb was long overdue. Even though the murderer was not who I expected, the rest of the story was predictable.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1372528648000, "title": "Too slow" }, { "asin": "0310315476", "rating": 5, "text": "Susanna Truitt always had a plan for her life, but when that plan falls apart, she must fully trust God with her future. Her boyfriend of 12 years dumps her; she loses her job; and she is forced to move out of her cottage. Nothing seems to be going her way. Even when she meets a man and enjoys a few dates with him, he returns to his Euorpean home after 2 weeks. But this man, Nate, is really Prince Nathaniel II, and Susanna's future might just become her own fairy tale.<br /><br />Initially, Susanna does not know that Nate is a prince but eventually learns the truth. What I liked is that this was not a belabored point in the story. There is some time and confusion between meeting Nate and discovering that he is a prince but not so much time that the reader is annoyed.<br /><br />I am surprised that I liked this book. Usually young adult fiction is immoral, predictable, and overly romantic. Instead, this book was delightful, engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1374059634000, "title": "A charming and delightful story" }, { "asin": "1414380437", "rating": 5, "text": "Well done, Beth Moore! I am so glad she published a teen edition of her book So Long Insecurity. I have read both books, and I am thoroughly impressed with this most recent publication.<br /><br />Girls, ladies, women, we are all insecure. Some are more so than others. But we all need to face our insecurities and overcome them. This book is a great way for young women to address and deal with their own insecurities.<br /><br />I have read other magazine-like books for teens. Often, they come across shallow and trendy without much substance. This book is quite the opposite. It is deep and full of truths, but with an interesting and engaging format. I highly recommend it to all teenagers. No one is immune from insecurities.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, please mention as part of every Web or Amazon review that Tyndale House Publishers has provided you with a complimentary copy of this book.", "timestamp": 1375454367000, "title": "Well Done!" }, { "asin": "0764210157", "rating": 3, "text": "There is an explosion at a nuclear facility. A security guard is trying to keep his job without having to lie about what he saw. A lab technician tries to discover what happened and whether or not he was exposed to radiation. A lawyer gets involved while she is grieving the loss of her mother and questioning a strained relationship with her father. A well-paid executive is trying to complete a illegal project while covering up the explosion.<br /><br />The story was not bad, but it was not very good either. There were so many characters that I did not feel like everyone was fully developed, nor were all their issues resolved by the end of the book. On top of the many characters, there was a plethora of scientific explanation about the explosion and the work of the nuclear facility. It was just too much to understand in one book.<br /><br />I did not dislike this book, but it was hard to finish. I got lost with all the characters and all the science involved.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a copy of this book in exchange for my review which I honestly give.", "timestamp": 1384797464000, "title": "Not bad but not great" }, { "asin": "140168968X", "rating": 5, "text": "I thoroughly enjoyed this book with the unique first person storytelling and the many characters intertwined throughout the story.<br /><br />Sam is an orphan girl who has is trying to make her way in today's culture. She knows her upbringing was lacking and used books to understand human nature. Books were her escape, but she also learned to hide behind these characters. Only when she learns to be her true self can she fully mature and become the woman she is suppose to be.<br /><br />I am not a reader of British literature so many of the books and characters (Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and The Scarlet Pimpernel) were unknown to me. I was still able to follow the story line and noticed that as Sam matured, she used her characters less and less. However, she never had to leave her great books behind as that was one of the few good memories she has of her childhood.<br /><br />What I most liked about the book was how the story was told through one-sided letters. I was able to figure out who Mr. Knightley was but only a few pages before he was revealed. The book was charming and enjoyable.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1385999251000, "title": "Charming" }, { "asin": "0764212435", "rating": 3, "text": "Mark Bishop is a Navy submarine commander, and Gina Gray is a brilliant scientist and researcher who discovers ways to help submarines stay quiet underwater. It seems like a match made in heaven, but it took a long time before these two people fall in love.<br /><br />The book included a lot of background of submarine warfare and the software programs that Gina was trying to design. The technical information was necessary to build up to the action at the end of the story; however, I felt that the book was longer than it needed to be. I had to skim the last 100 pages to get to the real action and to see if Gina and Mark would finally fall in love. The end is satifying yet seemed to come quickly after the 400+ page build up.<br /><br />I like books written by Dee Henderson and am impressed with the amount of research she put into this story. Yet I did not enjoy this book as much as her previous books. It just felt too long and too wordy.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1401376450000, "title": "Could have been shorter and better" }, { "asin": "1496403339", "rating": 4, "text": "Jed King is a singer/songwriter. When he writes &#34;The Song&#34;, his career takes off. He is happily married to Rose, but the time appart while on tour is detrimental to their relationship. This storyline reflects Song of Solomon and is a good modernization of the love story.<br /><br />When I say I want to curl up with a good book, this is that book. It is the kind of book that when you start reading, you lose track of time. The story invites you in, and you want to stay. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />The only negative comment I have is that I did not want to see the pictures from the movie in the book. It not only gave away the story line, but also the ending.<br /><br />Tyndale Fiction provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1421762188000, "title": "Curl up with this good book" }, { "asin": "0764211587", "rating": 3, "text": "Sarah Miller has finally settled into a good life. She has her work as a teacher and her friends whom she trusts. She recently found her sister and discovered she is an aunt. Unfortunately, her sister dies, and Sarah has now become a mother to her sister's daughter.<br /><br />While I liked the storyline, the pace was not so good. The beginning of the story was quick and intense. Then the story slowed down. Clues were dropped but at a mind-numbing pace. The pace never really picked up even as all the clues came together, but it was more of an afterthought instead of a climax to the story.<br /><br />I wanted to like this book, but it just was not for me.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1428431616000, "title": "Too slow" } ]

[ { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 4, "text": "I enjoyed reading this historical fiction which is a genre I don't read often. I'm glad I endeavored to read this one because it was a nice change of pace.<br /><br />The story was sweet and charming and very innocent which is what I like in the fiction I read. The plot was a little predictable and had some unnecessary developments. I felt like the book was 50 pages too long. I knew what was going to happen and just wanted the story to get on with it. Yet I am glad I took the time to read the entire book instead of just skipping to end to see what happens.<br /><br />Overall, it was a nice little book that will make for a refreshing summer read.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine", "timestamp": 1276012290000, "title": "A charming story" }, { "asin": "159554870X", "rating": 4, "text": "I have read quite a few books from the Amish genre already. I read the Beverly Lewis series, Heritage of Lancaster County, 10 years ago. Since then the market has been saturated with Amish fiction. So I was pleasantly surprised with this book.<br /><br />The story focuses on Sarah King, but she is not the only one in the story who learns a wunderbaar lesson in trusting Der Herr. Sarah, Grant, and even the Fisher family learn to trust God and to return to truth. It is a lesson that we all need reminding.<br /><br />This is the first book in the series entitled \"A Patch of Heaven.\" The next book, Lilly's Wedding Quilt is due out in April 2011. I look forward to reading more in this series.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1277860366000, "title": "A wunderbaar story" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "I got a chance to read another terrific book by Max Lucado. He always brings a fresh perspective to our lives as Christians. Sometimes he even hits too close to home, and I have to take a good look at myself to see where I may need to make some changes. Yet the book is not condemning but more convicting. Sometimes change is good even when it is hard.<br /><br />This book challenges me to do more than just believe in Christ and live a good life. If I want to outlive my life, God can use me to do even more than I could ever dream. When Jesus said \"Follow me\" to his disciples, He is asking me, too. And when they followed, He did amazing things through them. And when I follow, He can do amazing things through me.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1284124982000, "title": "There's more to life" }, { "asin": "1595540091", "rating": 5, "text": "I just started to read Ted Dekker this summer. A friend loaned me Black, and I am glad that I got my feet wet with the Circle series ([[ASIN:1595546820 Green (The Circle Series)]], [[ASIN:B003TO6D3W Black (The Circle)]], [[ASIN:B003IWYGW0 Red (The Circle Series)]], and [[ASIN:B003TO6D5U White (The Circle Series)]]) before reading Immanuel's Veins.<br /><br />To be honest, in order to read and enjoy his books, I have to open my mind and let go of preconceived notions. When I am reading, it feels like riding a roller coaster...at first, I am not so sure I am going to like it but then the excitement starts tp pick up, and I don't want it to end.<br /><br />I really do not know how what category this book falls into. It could be suspense, drama, murder, romance, fantasy, or even historical fiction. I guess by not being able to put the book into one category makes this book even more interesting to read.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1284397418000, "title": "Open your mind" }, { "asin": "0764208659", "rating": 5, "text": "I just finished reading this terrific book. I have read [[ASIN:0764200836 Jesus Freaks: Martyrs: Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus: The Ultimate Jesus Freaks]]and am in the middle of [[ASIN:B0009U7YQO Under God]], so I am familiar with books that Toby Mac is involved in. He does not write the book himself (he saves his writing for lyrics), but instead he compiles stories from others who inspire us and encourage us.<br /><br />My son is excited to read this book, too. We went to a Toby Mac concert last year, and I am grateful that my middle school son is singing lyrics that are building and encouraging. Some of the music his friends listen to is questionable. This book will encourage him to be more than just a believer but to live out his faith.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Bethany House has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1286144908000, "title": "Read this book to be inspired" }, { "asin": "0849946158", "rating": 5, "text": "I did not intend to read 3 books in the last year about people describing heaven from the first person perspective. [[ASIN:0800759494 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life]], [[ASIN:0764207946 Flight to Heaven: A Plane Crash...A Lone Survivor...A Journey to Heaven--and Back]], and Heaven is for Real share the same perspective of what heaven is like. All 3 books also have in a common a person who had to suffer and go through intense medical drama in order to experience heaven. I am glad that I have read all 3 of these books. I am also excited to be doing a study on Revelation ([[ASIN:B003VRVTYU Here And Now...There And Then: Listening Guide & Weekly Assignments]] by Beth Moore). It seems like God is trying to teach me something, and I best be paying attention. Next thing I know, my pastor will be preaching about heaven. ;)<br /><br />What I liked about Heaven is Real is the fresh and honest understanding of heaven. An almost 4 year old does not have the Biblical knowledge to describe heaven like he did unless he saw it himself. There are some things that I could not describe even after studying the Bible. No amount of study compares to an eyewitness account, and what this young boy describes is completely in alignment with what the Scriptures teach us.<br /><br />I also want to commend Todd and Sonja Burpo for being careful and honest in trying to understand what their son, Colton, saw. It is easy to feed information to your children and sway their perspective. However, the Burpo's were discerning in allowing their son to tell them what he saw without trying to influence his understanding. As a result, we get to read a great book about heaven and about a little child who had the chance to see it for himself.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1288749668000, "title": "True and honest" }, { "asin": "0764207326", "rating": 3, "text": "I like a good book to read on vacation. I received this book to review but did not get to go on vacation to read it. However, it did bring back good memories of a trip I took to OBX.<br /><br />This book was mildly entertaining. It was not an easy read as too many characters were introduced yet they did not seem significant to the story line. My mind was overwhelmed with trying to understand each character and their back story. I think half of the characters were unnecessary and the story would have been the same without them.<br /><br />The book falls under the category of inspirational fiction, but there was not a whole lot of talk about God and religion. The book could also be a romance novel, but the story was not overly romantic. At times, I wanted to read more about the romantic relationship between 2 characters and at other times, I was tired of hearing about how the main character felt about a particular man. There was also some drama and suspense in the book. So I am not sure how to categorize this book. Instead I will say the story is unique.<br /><br />Bethany House has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1289701487000, "title": "A vacation read" }, { "asin": "0764208500", "rating": 1, "text": "I can honestly say that I was not inspired while reading this book. I did not like this book and it left a bad taste in my mouth.<br /><br />Too verbose. I did not enjoy the many paragraphs of descriptive writing that were unnecessary to the story line. Some description is needed to help the reader visualize the story but not so much that the background becomes a storyline itself.<br /><br />Too many characters. I was exhausted by the beginning of the 4th chapter as yet another character was being introduced. Since so much description is given to each character, it was time consuming to keep tract of each new character.<br /><br />Too long. I was on page 286 before I realized that there had yet to be a climax to the story. For an author writing about writing, I was surprised that the book lacked basic story elements. In the last 40 pages, the protagonist did find herself at the turning point, but it felt rushed as if the author needed to keep the book under 320 pages.<br /><br />Too much smut. As mentioned in other reviews, this book was not as Christian as the Christian market expects. I was convicted a few years ago about reading books that bordered on smut. I turned to Christian publishers to find morally entertaining books. I did not expect to read about half naked women and unmarried couples sleeping together in this novel.<br /><br />I do not enjoy writing negative reviews, but I have read and reviewed so many books this year that it was bound to happen.<br /><br />Bethany House has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1291065444000, "title": "Uninspiring" }, { "asin": "1595547916", "rating": 4, "text": "Kristin Billerbeck set the standard for Chick Lit, and this book is the very definition of Chick Lit. It is an easy read with light-hearted romance and a dash of drama thrown in for good measure.<br /><br />Katie is a young woman who has overcome hurt but has now left the past behind to live a decent life. However, her past comes back to mess up what she has established. Sometimes you need to learn from the past to make a better future, and Katie does just that.<br /><br />Much like other books by Kristin Billerbeck (What a Girl Wants and A Girl's Best Friend), this book has a young woman trying to find her true self while staying true to her faith in a materialistic world. I think we can all relate to that so some degree.<br /><br />On a side note, I felt that the relationship between Katie and Dexter was much like the relationship between Meg Ryan and her fiance in Sleepless in Seattle. It was safe and comfortable but a passionless relationship that was doomed from the start.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1295116389000, "title": "Another Chick Lit from Billerbeck" }, { "asin": "1595545395", "rating": 3, "text": "Another foray into the chick-lit genre. This book was enjoyable to read and interesting enough to keep my attention throughout the story. The character development was a bit slow at times but realistic enough. It has been the first book in a while that I did not rush to finish. I took my time even though I could have rushed to finish just to see what happens. I like to take my time if the book is good.<br /><br />I am not sure why the title was \"Save the Date.\" By the end of the book, I still did not understand what the title meant. I may have missed something, but \"Saving Grace\" seems like a more fitting title.<br /><br />I was a bit confused with the character of Julian and his relationship with Clare. They reminded me of Karen and Jack in the old sitcom Will and Grace. I am not sure how his character added to the storyline, and for me, he was more a distraction.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1296225657000, "title": "Saving Grace is a better title" }, { "asin": "1595548017", "rating": 4, "text": "The pace of this book kept me from giving it 5 stars. I felt like the story slowed down too much in the middle which dragged out the plot for too long. Will she fall in love? Will he tell her the truth? I wanted to know what happened next, but for about 100 pages, it felt like nothing was really happening. It was not until page 250 that I got the information I had been wanting to know about a pivotal character. So for that reason, this was a page turner.<br /><br />When I typed \"A Cowboy's Touch\" into the search on amazon, another book with the same title came up. It was definitely not this book. It was a romance but more, shall we saw, graphic. I hope people do not confuse these 2 books because Denise Hunter's \"A Cowboy Touch\" is nothing like what I saw on the cover of the other book.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provides me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my opinion which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1299894529000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "Drugs, addiction, child trafficing, and that is just the first chapter.<br /><br />The Covington family has had its share of tragedy and sorrow, but they find themselves in the middle of another heartache as they try heal from their own pain. Emily is one year sober (read about her struggles in [[ASIN:0310321980 Intervention (Intervention Series, Book 1)]]), and is excited to live a new life. But how do you live a new life when the old life keeps dragging you down?<br /><br />This was one of those can't-put-it-down kind of books. I enjoyed reading it and would keep reading to find out what happens next. I was not happy when the book was over only because I like how Terri Blackstock writes and want to know more about what happens next. The book does leave a small open door so I hope that means there is another book to be written???<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1302310511000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "078523120X", "rating": 1, "text": "I did not like this book. I tried like it, but it was not my cup of tea. It was downright unimaginative.<br /><br />David Ponder, the main character from [[ASIN:0785273220 The Traveler's Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success]], returns. He is taken to a summit where he, along with many pivotal people from history, must save the world by coming up a 2 word phrase. Together, they discuss and ponder (pun intended) what the phrase could be. They have 7 chances to get it right. After each incorrect guess, a new traveler is added to the discussion.<br /><br />So what bored me about the book is that there was a whole lot of talk but not much action. The story is the discussion of a 2 word phrase. It got so boring, that I just skipped to the end of the chapter to see what the phrase will be. I also knew that it would take all 7 chances before they got it right, but even then the final 2 word phrase was trite and uninspiring.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provides me with a free copy of this book for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1302551042000, "title": "Dull and unexciting" }, { "asin": "1414319495", "rating": 4, "text": "I was glad to read another book in the juvenille fiction genre. It was interesting to read this cross between a chapter book and a graphic novel. I can see how this would be a good book for a boy who is able to read chapter books but is not interested in some of the options that are available.<br /><br />Since I have not read the first two books in this series, I had a hard time understanding the characters and their backgrounds. I had to quickly catch up with their backstory while at the same time keep up with the action from this story. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I had read the previous books; however, that is not to say that I did not enjoy this book. On the contrary, it was an interesting book which kept my attention throughout.<br /><br />The story is about a boy and 2 girls who find themselves in the middle of a mystery. They are as integral as the adults in the book at solving the mystery. It is fast-paced and action packed. I would classify the book as action and suspense with Biblical overtones.<br /><br />I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for this review.", "timestamp": 1306176331000, "title": "A cross between graphic novel and chapter book" }, { "asin": "1595548114", "rating": 4, "text": "I am not an avid reader of historical fiction, but this book was nice. It was neither exciting nor dull and makes a decent summer read.<br /><br />The story is of Lucy, a young lady, who is pursuing a career in photography in a small town. The story is also of David who is trying to redeem his past. Their lives converge and sparks fly. It is a common theme in fiction, but charming nonetheless.<br /><br />I did find some of the story lacking. It was about 50 pages too long as the storyline dragged on without an significant progress in character development. Also, the end was a little unsatisfying. It ended the way I had anticipated without any big ordeal or revelation. Like I said, it was nice but not exciting.<br /><br />This book is part of the Rocky Creek Romance series; however, I did not need to read the 2 previous books to enjoy this book. It is as much a stand- alone book as it is a part of the series.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1307970908000, "title": "Decent but not spectacular" }, { "asin": "0764208055", "rating": 4, "text": "I have never read a book from the \"Texas Adventure and Romance\" genre, and I rarely read historical fiction. However, I read this book and enjoyed it very much.<br /><br />Elizabeth Evans travels to El Paso/Fort Bliss to help her widowed brother but quickly finds herself in the middle of an international event. Ranger Jake Nelson comes to her aid and quickly they fall in love. The problem is that both Elizabeth and Jake have loved and lost before and do not want to love and lose again.<br /><br />I did enjoy reading this book. There was enough action and drama to keep it from being too sappy with the romance. Sometimes the action was too much as I wondered how many more incidents could Elizabeth and Jake find themselves. Kidnapping, border crossing, and near drownings were just a few of this action packed incidents. There seemed to be no end to the adrenaline rush for the characters or even time to grieve from tragic events.<br /><br />Bethany House has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1316439948000, "title": "Action, drama, and romance to boot" }, { "asin": "1400318033", "rating": 5, "text": "What a delightful little book! Little Hermie is just right for young children. The book is short enough to keep their attention but cute enough to capture their hearts. The short prayer is written in rhyme so it is pleasing for little children to quietly listen to.<br /><br />Little Hermie is thanking God for His many blessings. Hermie thanks God for leaves to sleep on, for friends and family, for food and playtime, and for blessing me.<br /><br />What I liked about the book was that it was easy to read and sounds nice when read out loud. I wish the book was longer; however, I remember when my little ones were little and their attention span was very short.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1316887552000, "title": "Short and sweet" }, { "asin": "1595549404", "rating": 4, "text": "Much like Frank Peretti, Lis Weihl delves into the supernatural and the power of evil. I have enjoyed previous books by this author and continued to enjoy this new book.<br /><br />The story follows Dani, a psychiatrist who works for the DA, as she tries to solve a local murder. With the help of her friend, Tommy, she is able to solve the crime. Not only does she figure out who done it, but also she figures out why that person did it.<br /><br />The storyline is much like an episode of a TV crime drama. The murder is solved in less than 2 weeks, and the characters never seem to have a night where they actually sleep. As the reader, it is interesting to follow the storyline as you try to solve the crime along with the characters of the book.<br /><br />What I did not like about the book is the past history between Dani and Tommy. She was the overachieving nerd in high school, and he was the game winning jock. He had a crush on her and admitted to being intimidated by her. I found this part of the story a little far fetched.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1317777570000, "title": "Another great book by Lis Weihl" }, { "asin": "0764209418", "rating": 3, "text": "Joy was a young orphan in China who is adopted by Andrew and Gloria. They bring her back to Texas and raise her as their own. However, Joy was never really an orphan. Joy is Lily, the fourth daughter of the Chang family who had to place their daughter in an orphanage because of governmental restrictions. Lily's sister, Kai, has devoted her life to find Lily and to find a cure for polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic disease that has plagued her family.<br /><br />Adoption, disease, teenage rebellion, and family devotion are weaved throughout the story. In some ways, there were too many elements causing conflict in the story. Most of these elements are resolved at the end of the story, but some are not. For example, the story hints at turmoil in Gloria's life because of her dad's infidelity, but that story line is never resolved.<br /><br />The storyline stuttered too much for me. The flashback to China is deep and descriptive as the authors uses too many words to set the tone. Then the story flies through 2 years of relationship building after Kai and Lily meet for the first time. I just had a hard time with the pace of the story.<br /><br />I give the book a 3.5 out of 5. It is neither good not bad. Just okay for me.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1321031289000, "title": "Not an easy read" }, { "asin": "0310332311", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been a fan of Terri Blackstock for years and have never been disappointed. This most recent book of hers is a reprint from a previous book. She updated the story and incorporated the story of redemption. I appreciate how the redemption story is weaved into the book without being forced or preachy.<br /><br />Carny, the protagonist, is a new person after leaving the carnival life, becoming a Christian, and settling in the town of Serenity, Texas. When Logan Brisco comes to town, she see him for the con he is. As much as she tries to discredit him, he sees the truth of what he is doing. In the midst of this, they are falling in love.<br /><br />The story had many unexpected twists and turns, yet it was an easy read that kept me interested from cover to cover. Terri Blackstock really does have the gift of storytelling, and I appreciate that she has used her gift to honor God.<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1321741698000, "title": "Another great book by Blackstock" }, { "asin": "0764208225", "rating": 3, "text": "The story opens with Heather Hampton, successful Seattle architect, on the verge of her biggest career move yet. The entire deal hinges on the sale of her family's property in Texas. This is the place she experienced tragedy and depression and wanted nothing more to leave the past behind. In this deal she hoped to erase the past and forget the memories of her home. Instead she has to face the past to deal with the present. This past includes the mystery of how her father died in a place she never wanted to live. Heather tries to solve this mystery but only uncovers more secrets instead of answers.<br /><br />I got frustrated reading this book as the secrets continued to build instead of being revealed. I read page after page waiting for the truth to be revealed. It took 300 pages before the truth started to come out. Once the mystery was solved, everything unraveled quickly. It was almost too quickly for as slow as the book started.<br /><br />I did like one line toward the end of the book, \"The great leaps in life are not made in the absence of fear but in the presence of faith.\" There were some good parts to the story, but overall the book was not satisfying.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332207991000, "title": "Slow and somewhat boring" }, { "asin": "0310250684", "rating": 4, "text": "I have yet to read a Terri Blackstock novel that I did not like. Whenever I get my hands on a new book, I know I am in for a treat. In this latest story, there is drama, suspense, struggle, and triumph.<br /><br />Emily Covington is a recovering drug addict trying to have a normal life. She knows that addiction recovery is not a walk in the park; however, she is challenged in ways she never anticipated. Her whole family is challenged in ways they never anticipated. All of them are forced into situations where they have to choose between right and wrong, yet sometimes it is not obvious what is right and what is wrong. From start to finish, the characters must react to situations and make tough decisions. At times, I thought, \"No, don't do it!\" but the characters made their decisions and had to face the consequences. Somehow, it all works out in the end, but you still need to read the book to find out how it happens.<br /><br />Downfall is the third book in a 3 book series about the Covington family with Intervention and Viscous Cycle being the first 2 books in the series. Of the 3 books in the series, this was my least favorite, but I am glad I read it as it ends the series. The book was fast-paced and an easy read.<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332465975000, "title": "A nice end to the series" }, { "asin": "1595548874", "rating": 4, "text": "Whew! I just finished Need You Now, and it was like riding a roller coaster. There is drama, suspense, tragedy, and triumph.<br /><br />The Henderson family relocates to a small town in Texas. They left Houston in hopes of getting their 3 children away from negative influences; however, the drama does not go away quietly as they settle in Round Top, Texas. Darlene, the mother, is struggling to find herself as her children need her less and she still has a lot to give. Brad, the father, is working overtime to make partner and wonders if his hard work will really pay-off. Chad, the eldest son, left drama behind in Houston but is still faces temptation in Round Top. Grace, the middle daughter, is the perfect child as she hides her true feelings and is overwhelmed with keeping up appearances. Ansley, the youngest daughter, is the only member of the family without drama. Also, the family is surprised to find out their next door neighbor was a Hollywood movie star was drama of her own.<br /><br />It took 100 pages for all these characters to be introduced and all these story lines to be developed. Initially the book was slow as the author was laying the groundwork for all these characters and their respective issues. Then in the last 100 pages, the story was fast-paced as the issues were brought to light and characters had a change of heart or realization about their issues. It was a slow build up and then a fast ride to the end, like a roller coaster.<br /><br />I am surprised that this book is only 250 pages long. It could have been so much longer. There were a few issues that were never really resolved by the end of the book. The character of Ansley was never developed, and she could have easily been left out of the story altogether. Chad's history in Houston was never fully revealed. I could foresee the author adding another book to this series, either as a prequel or a sequel.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for me review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332791141000, "title": "It is quite a ride!" }, { "asin": "076420615X", "rating": 4, "text": "Set during the War Between the States, Texas had both Union supporters and Confederate supports. There were also quite a few Texas supports who only wanted what benefited their state. Hannah, the heroine of the story, is just trying to survive with her 2 step-siblings. The ranch on which they live was given to their father, a Conferderate supporter. The previous residents were Union supporters and left to fight the war. Hannah's father leaves to help his mother back in Vicksburg but has not been heard from since. Instead, William Bartlett returns, the son of the previous ranch owner, to claim his family property.<br /><br />Initially, the storyline was slow as the many characters were introduced. Therefore, it took a while to understand how Hannah Dandridge can to live on a Texas ranch with her much younger step-brother and step-sister. I almost lost interest in the book, but I continued to read so I could write a thorough review.<br /><br />Once I got into the book, I enjoyed reading it, mostly. Some parts of the story annoyed me. I did not like how clueless Hannah was in her dealings with Herbert Lockhart, her father's business partner. She also seemed naive about how her family came to live on the ranch. She is strong woman who came from a privileged upbringing and became a hard-working ranch woman. Yet, the story does not talk about the transformation. There is only a nod to how she was once privileged and now must take care of her family and land.<br /><br />The story ends nicely with all loose ends tied up. It was neither surprising nor upsetting.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1336512516000, "title": "Nice enough" }, { "asin": "0310333172", "rating": 4, "text": "Reading a suspense novel from the perspective of an author doing research for a suspense novel adds a unique spin to this story. The story is also based on an actual cold case solved by the FBI.<br /><br />The heroine of this story, Kariss, is writing a novel and doing research while shadowing an FBI agent, Tigo. As she does her research, she becomes the main character in her own suspenseful story. Throughout the entire book, she inserts herself into FBI business and puts herself in harms way. Luckily, the hero of the book, Tigo, is always there to save this damsel in distress. However, Kariss is just stubborn enough to think of herself not as a damsel in distress but a modern woman who can do anything. That attitude keeps getting her in trouble. There is also a romantic element as Kariss and Tigo start to see each other as more than just a nuisance.<br /><br />The book was easy to read and kept my interest throughout. There were many twists and turns, but the ending was satisfying. I did get a little annoyed at the heroine who would not listen to wisdom and foolishly found herself on the wrong side of town, but that is how the heroine and hero start to fall in love, or at least like. There is a sequel that will probably explore this romantic storyline.<br /><br />Zondervan provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1338379735000, "title": "Enjoyable to read" }, { "asin": "0764209779", "rating": 4, "text": "Beverly Lewis is the gold standard in Amish fiction. She started with The Shunning and continues to raise the bar for other books in this genre.<br /><br />Amelia Devries is a world-class violinist who is so focused on her music that she has lost her way in life. When she loses her way, literally, in a bad rainstorm, she finds herself in an Amish village. There she realizes her need to reclaim the truth she once knew. She also falls in love both with a young man and with a simpler life. Amelia then has to decide what she really wants in life and how to go about doing just that.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading this book and felt the calming effect of the Amish way. I am not a world renown musician, but I am a woman who, like Amelia, can forget what is truly important in life. This book is a gentle reminder for me and for all readers.<br /><br />Bethany House has provided a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1338564279000, "title": "More than just another Amish book" }, { "asin": "1414333218", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the first book by Randy Singer I have read, and it is a pretty good book. It contains a lot of drama, a bit of suspense, a smattering of action, and a dash of romance.<br /><br />Initially, I had a hard time keeping up with the many characters and how they relate to the storyline. The main character is Jamie Brock who tells the story in the first person. However, other parts of the story are told in the third person so the reader gets an inside view of the action. Even still, there are twists and surprises to the story that are unexpected and entertaining.<br /><br />This book reminds me of the many crime dramas available on TV but far more interesting. I just might have to read more by Randy Singer now that I have had a small taste of his work.", "timestamp": 1340974960000, "title": "Pretty Good" }, { "asin": "140168565X", "rating": 5, "text": "How appropriate that I finished reading this book on a nice rainy day.<br /><br />Daphne is a \"nose\" which is to say she knows how things smell and how things should smell. However, after being left at the altar, she loses her sense of smell which means she also may lose her job. So she must deal with the rejection of her ex-fiance and with the problem of creating new scents without being able to smell them.<br /><br />Of course, it would not be Chick Lit without romance. Daphne's new boss, Jesse, is a widow who himself is struggling with his job and with relationships. Mix it all up, and you have an interesting tale of love, loss, and love again.<br /><br />I have read all of the books by Kristin Billerbeck, and this is by far my favorite. Instead of the shallow and selfish heroines found in previous books, Daphne has depths and layers much like the fragrances she creates.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1342813416000, "title": "Love, loss, and love again" }, { "asin": "1401685617", "rating": 4, "text": "Not since Francine Rivers[...] has a book delved into the difficulties faced by a unwed teenage mother who decides to give up her child for adoption.<br /><br />The choices we make determine the people we become. This idea is wonderfully illustrated in this book. The book opens with Sandy Lincoln confirming her pregnancy with her mom at the doctor's office. The story takes off from there without slowing down or wasting a word. This could have been a 400+ page book, and I am grateful that the author kept the book as short as he did.<br /><br />The only reason why I gave this book a 4-star instead of a 5-star rating is that some of the characters were just too perfect. Sandy's mother, for example, was an uptight Southern woman who was also kind and compassionate when Sandy discovered she was pregnant. Only her classmates gossiped about her pregnancy, but no one was condemning or critical about her behavior. Instead everyone was supportive, except the birth father as he did not want to give up his football career.<br /><br />Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1343178216000, "title": "A fast paced but good read" }, { "asin": "0764209655", "rating": 5, "text": "No one wants to marry a groom because of chance, even if the groom is the man you have dreamed about since childhood. Meridith Hayes has had a crush on Travis Archer since he rescued her from a trap when she was a child. He was the man of her dreams, literally, and eventually, those dreams came true.<br /><br />I really enjoyed reading this book. The storyline was contrived, but the plot progressed smoothly with sufficient character development. It has been a while since I really liked reading historical fiction. This book was a breath of fresh air in my reading repertoire.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1344043100000, "title": "A Delight to Read" }, { "asin": "076420887X", "rating": 3, "text": "I did not understand the character of Melinda. She is a strong young women who must leave her life of affluence when her parents die. She becomes a lady's maid and must endure the life of a servant. She does this with courage and grace and is a model servant. However, when she falls in love with Evan she becomes a whiny, petulant child who wants to get her way no matter what Evan says. Even when the local pastor tries to encourage Melinda to wait and pray, she ignores his advice and continues to try to control the situation. It was very frustrating to read as nothing seemed to change as the story line dragged on.<br /><br />The first half of the book was painstakingly slow. I almost gave up reading the book. I had to finish reading in order to write a thorough review. So I kept on reading. The pace of the story line picked up, and I started to enjoy it. The second half of the book was so much better than the first half. I am glad I stuck with it, but I did not like having to plod through so much useless story line to get to good stuff.<br /><br />In the second half the book, the story was interesting and fun to read. There was drama, suspense, romance, and intrigue. If I could have just read the end without having to get through the beginning, I would have enjoyed this book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1346550361000, "title": "A slow story that picks up in the end" }, { "asin": "0849920701", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been reading Max Lucado books for 25 years. Even since I gave my life to Christ, his books have spoken to my heart and encouraged my faith. This latest book does not disappoint.<br /><br />This book revolutionary. I thought I understood grace. However, I have only just begun to comprehend the immense blessing of God's grace. Weaving every day stories with theology, Max Lucado opens our minds and our hearts to the great gift of grace.<br /><br />If I was to recommend just one book everyone should read this year, it would be this book. It is not hard to read or a long book, but the truths between the covers will stay with you long after you are done.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1348665842000, "title": "Grace is Great" }, { "asin": "1414349300", "rating": 3, "text": "On the good side, the story is well written. Character development is solid. Drama unfolds with plenty of action and suspense.<br /><br />On the bad side, I have an issue with the main character, Lance Corporal Bekah Shaw. She is a Marine reservist who is returning to action on her third deployment in as many years. Bekah is divorced from her husband who was never fit to be married in the first place. Bekah also must leave her young son in the care of her grandmother who also helped raise her. Bekah struggles with leaving her son behind but is courageous enough to serve her country. So far, the character is believable and almost admirable. However, once she starts to see action in a war zone, the character becomes less believable.<br /><br />Women in the military do not serve in combat units on the front line of battle. Even in today's military, a women would not be a fire team leader in charge of small unit attack. I know this because I served in the military, and my husband continues to serve. So I take offense to a story that stretches the truth to the point of a lie. If the main character was a man, a single dad who struggled with leaving a child behind, then this story would have been great. But since the main character is a women, this story is just too unrealistic to be enjoyable.<br /><br />Tyndale House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1349099524000, "title": "Could have been better" }, { "asin": "0310730538", "rating": 5, "text": "I ordered this book for my 11 year old daughter who loves American history and Indian culture. I read it first and thoroughly enjoyed it.<br /><br />Barbara Leininger is torn from her family during an Indian raid and forced to adapt to the Indian culture. Before she is forced into marriage with an Indian brave, she escapes with 3 other captives. Together, they must travel 300+ miles on foot to reach freedom. Living as an Indian was not easy nor was her escape. Yet through it all, she maintained her faith and her determination to see her younger sister again.<br /><br />This is an inspiring story for everyone. I am thankful for Zondervan who provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1358648395000, "title": "Inspring story" }, { "asin": "0764208888", "rating": 3, "text": "It is not hard to figure out the plot when the front cover of the book shows a bride and groom standing hand in hand. However, the story begins with a young woman, Callie, who has sworn off marriage and a young man, Wes, who does not want to socialize with the many wealthy families who visit Bridal Veil Island. So the reader expects the two to fall in love and get married before the end of the story.<br /><br />Without ruining the story, Callie and Wes do fall in love as expected. I was bored with the story line because it took 200 pages before Callie and Wes admit their affection for each other. There were a few obstacles to overcome and some of the characters had to change their opinions and desires before the story was complete. Yet none of these story elements involved significant drama or soul searching. The pace of the story was slow and predictable. It was not an exciting story but more of a nice read.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1360335782000, "title": "Nice but not great" }, { "asin": "0764210734", "rating": 5, "text": "Reading the Bible in a year has become a popular endeavor. However, the quest can be daunting. This book encourages women to meet the challenge and to do so with joy.<br /><br />The unique thing about this yearly reading method is that it is broken down by weeks instead of days. You can start any time since the weeks are not dated. So it really you are reading the Bible in 52 weeks. I also like that the New Testament books are interspersed throughout the year.<br /><br />Diane Stortz encourages women not to do this alone but to join or create a group who reads through the Bible together. The group will provide the necessary encouragement and accountability one needs to read through the entire Bible is just 52 weeks.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1360755817000, "title": "A great way to read the Bible" }, { "asin": "0764206192", "rating": 5, "text": "It has been a long time since I read a good book such as this one. It was not amazing; however, it was a nice leisurely read. The book had romance, a dash of suspense, and a nice helping of family. It was just what I needed!<br /><br />Merrill is a strong woman who has been taking care of her father and older brothers after the death of her mother. She is quite capable and is not looking to find a husband especially after living with so many men for so long. Of course, when she least expects it, a new man comes into to town and she falls in love. The twist is that she does not realize she is falling in love. He loves her, too, but there are some complications that are getting in the way. Only after much drama and suspense are they able to admit their love for each other.<br /><br />I probably gave the book away, but with all historical romance, the reader knows that the man and woman at the center of the story will fall in love and live happily ever after. Even though I knew it was going to happen, it was fun to find out how it would happen. That is why I enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1365439913000, "title": "A Nice Read" }, { "asin": "0764209795", "rating": 4, "text": "Beverly Lewis is the trailblazer for Amish fiction. I remember reading The Shunning years ago while discovering this new genre. She set the standard for all others who endeavoured to write Amish fiction.<br /><br />In this latest book, Jodi Winfield visits a local Amish community and rediscovers her own faith while learning about the Amish culture. The story is also about Maryanna Esh, a young widow and mother of 4, who learns that she can love again.<br /><br />The storyline is nice. The setting is charming. The people are delightful. Even the food sounds delicious. The middle of the book was tedious as the plot stagnated, but the ending was satisfying. Overall, this was a good book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1367846848000, "title": "Good enough to read" }, { "asin": "0764211129", "rating": 5, "text": "I read the O'Malley series years ago and wondered why Jennifer never had her own book. All the other siblings had a book, but Jennifer was left out, until now.<br /><br />Since it has been so long since I read the O'Malley series, I was excited to read this novella. The story is a flashback to when Jennifer became a believer in Jesus and when she fell in love with Tom. It was not exciting or earth-shattering. Instead it was sweet and comforting. Although the end of the book (SPOILER ALERT) begins Jennifer's journey with cancer, it is still an enjoyable book.<br /><br />I highly recommend this book to anyone who read the O'Malley series and to anyone who is looking for a nice summer read.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1371050146000, "title": "Nice and Sweet" }, { "asin": "0764209566", "rating": 3, "text": "As with most historical fiction, the heroine tries to be independent and strong but still enjoys having a man save the damsel in distress.<br /><br />The heroine of this story is Melanie Ross who is fired as a governess and must make a way for herself out west. She has no family left but inherits half of a general store. The other half is owned by Caleb Nelson, a widower and the single father of young Levi. Melanie and Caleb do not agree on how to run the store and often find themselves at odds. Only when they have to defend the store and the honor of their uncles, do they settle their differences.<br /><br />The story line was slow. The action did not really pick up until the last quarter of the book. I thought the story was about the difference of opinions between Melanie and Caleb. Instead it was about the deaths in town that were tied together but a common thread. By the time this part of the story reached its climax, the romance between Melanie and Caleb was long overdue. Even though the murderer was not who I expected, the rest of the story was predictable.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1372528648000, "title": "Too slow" }, { "asin": "0310315476", "rating": 5, "text": "Susanna Truitt always had a plan for her life, but when that plan falls apart, she must fully trust God with her future. Her boyfriend of 12 years dumps her; she loses her job; and she is forced to move out of her cottage. Nothing seems to be going her way. Even when she meets a man and enjoys a few dates with him, he returns to his Euorpean home after 2 weeks. But this man, Nate, is really Prince Nathaniel II, and Susanna's future might just become her own fairy tale.<br /><br />Initially, Susanna does not know that Nate is a prince but eventually learns the truth. What I liked is that this was not a belabored point in the story. There is some time and confusion between meeting Nate and discovering that he is a prince but not so much time that the reader is annoyed.<br /><br />I am surprised that I liked this book. Usually young adult fiction is immoral, predictable, and overly romantic. Instead, this book was delightful, engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1374059634000, "title": "A charming and delightful story" }, { "asin": "1414380437", "rating": 5, "text": "Well done, Beth Moore! I am so glad she published a teen edition of her book So Long Insecurity. I have read both books, and I am thoroughly impressed with this most recent publication.<br /><br />Girls, ladies, women, we are all insecure. Some are more so than others. But we all need to face our insecurities and overcome them. This book is a great way for young women to address and deal with their own insecurities.<br /><br />I have read other magazine-like books for teens. Often, they come across shallow and trendy without much substance. This book is quite the opposite. It is deep and full of truths, but with an interesting and engaging format. I highly recommend it to all teenagers. No one is immune from insecurities.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, please mention as part of every Web or Amazon review that Tyndale House Publishers has provided you with a complimentary copy of this book.", "timestamp": 1375454367000, "title": "Well Done!" }, { "asin": "0764210157", "rating": 3, "text": "There is an explosion at a nuclear facility. A security guard is trying to keep his job without having to lie about what he saw. A lab technician tries to discover what happened and whether or not he was exposed to radiation. A lawyer gets involved while she is grieving the loss of her mother and questioning a strained relationship with her father. A well-paid executive is trying to complete a illegal project while covering up the explosion.<br /><br />The story was not bad, but it was not very good either. There were so many characters that I did not feel like everyone was fully developed, nor were all their issues resolved by the end of the book. On top of the many characters, there was a plethora of scientific explanation about the explosion and the work of the nuclear facility. It was just too much to understand in one book.<br /><br />I did not dislike this book, but it was hard to finish. I got lost with all the characters and all the science involved.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a copy of this book in exchange for my review which I honestly give.", "timestamp": 1384797464000, "title": "Not bad but not great" }, { "asin": "140168968X", "rating": 5, "text": "I thoroughly enjoyed this book with the unique first person storytelling and the many characters intertwined throughout the story.<br /><br />Sam is an orphan girl who has is trying to make her way in today's culture. She knows her upbringing was lacking and used books to understand human nature. Books were her escape, but she also learned to hide behind these characters. Only when she learns to be her true self can she fully mature and become the woman she is suppose to be.<br /><br />I am not a reader of British literature so many of the books and characters (Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and The Scarlet Pimpernel) were unknown to me. I was still able to follow the story line and noticed that as Sam matured, she used her characters less and less. However, she never had to leave her great books behind as that was one of the few good memories she has of her childhood.<br /><br />What I most liked about the book was how the story was told through one-sided letters. I was able to figure out who Mr. Knightley was but only a few pages before he was revealed. The book was charming and enjoyable.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1385999251000, "title": "Charming" }, { "asin": "0764212435", "rating": 3, "text": "Mark Bishop is a Navy submarine commander, and Gina Gray is a brilliant scientist and researcher who discovers ways to help submarines stay quiet underwater. It seems like a match made in heaven, but it took a long time before these two people fall in love.<br /><br />The book included a lot of background of submarine warfare and the software programs that Gina was trying to design. The technical information was necessary to build up to the action at the end of the story; however, I felt that the book was longer than it needed to be. I had to skim the last 100 pages to get to the real action and to see if Gina and Mark would finally fall in love. The end is satifying yet seemed to come quickly after the 400+ page build up.<br /><br />I like books written by Dee Henderson and am impressed with the amount of research she put into this story. Yet I did not enjoy this book as much as her previous books. It just felt too long and too wordy.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1401376450000, "title": "Could have been shorter and better" }, { "asin": "1496403339", "rating": 4, "text": "Jed King is a singer/songwriter. When he writes &#34;The Song&#34;, his career takes off. He is happily married to Rose, but the time appart while on tour is detrimental to their relationship. This storyline reflects Song of Solomon and is a good modernization of the love story.<br /><br />When I say I want to curl up with a good book, this is that book. It is the kind of book that when you start reading, you lose track of time. The story invites you in, and you want to stay. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />The only negative comment I have is that I did not want to see the pictures from the movie in the book. It not only gave away the story line, but also the ending.<br /><br />Tyndale Fiction provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1421762188000, "title": "Curl up with this good book" }, { "asin": "0764211587", "rating": 3, "text": "Sarah Miller has finally settled into a good life. She has her work as a teacher and her friends whom she trusts. She recently found her sister and discovered she is an aunt. Unfortunately, her sister dies, and Sarah has now become a mother to her sister's daughter.<br /><br />While I liked the storyline, the pace was not so good. The beginning of the story was quick and intense. Then the story slowed down. Clues were dropped but at a mind-numbing pace. The pace never really picked up even as all the clues came together, but it was more of an afterthought instead of a climax to the story.<br /><br />I wanted to like this book, but it just was not for me.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1428431616000, "title": "Too slow" }, { "asin": "076421246X", "rating": 3, "text": "Marlena Wenger is struggling to follow her heart as she develops deeper relationships with her Mennonite grandmother, with her English niece, and with her Old Order Amish beau. She feels torn and has to decide for herself what she believes.<br /><br />I have read Amish fiction for years and usually like books by Beverly Lewis. However, this one was not my favorite, or even top 10. The story line was interesting, but the execution was disjointed. I never understood Marlena's motivation or even how to she came to her new found understanding of faith.<br /><br />There was another storyline about a young boy that helps an older man, who is suffering from memory loss, to find his way home. The only connection between the 2 stories is that they were next door neighbors. I felt like the stories were 2 separate books forced into 1.<br /><br />The book was hard to follow and slow going. It was not something I would recommend.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1429795953000, "title": "Not a good book" } ]

[ { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 4, "text": "I enjoyed reading this historical fiction which is a genre I don't read often. I'm glad I endeavored to read this one because it was a nice change of pace.<br /><br />The story was sweet and charming and very innocent which is what I like in the fiction I read. The plot was a little predictable and had some unnecessary developments. I felt like the book was 50 pages too long. I knew what was going to happen and just wanted the story to get on with it. Yet I am glad I took the time to read the entire book instead of just skipping to end to see what happens.<br /><br />Overall, it was a nice little book that will make for a refreshing summer read.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine", "timestamp": 1276012290000, "title": "A charming story" }, { "asin": "159554870X", "rating": 4, "text": "I have read quite a few books from the Amish genre already. I read the Beverly Lewis series, Heritage of Lancaster County, 10 years ago. Since then the market has been saturated with Amish fiction. So I was pleasantly surprised with this book.<br /><br />The story focuses on Sarah King, but she is not the only one in the story who learns a wunderbaar lesson in trusting Der Herr. Sarah, Grant, and even the Fisher family learn to trust God and to return to truth. It is a lesson that we all need reminding.<br /><br />This is the first book in the series entitled \"A Patch of Heaven.\" The next book, Lilly's Wedding Quilt is due out in April 2011. I look forward to reading more in this series.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1277860366000, "title": "A wunderbaar story" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "I got a chance to read another terrific book by Max Lucado. He always brings a fresh perspective to our lives as Christians. Sometimes he even hits too close to home, and I have to take a good look at myself to see where I may need to make some changes. Yet the book is not condemning but more convicting. Sometimes change is good even when it is hard.<br /><br />This book challenges me to do more than just believe in Christ and live a good life. If I want to outlive my life, God can use me to do even more than I could ever dream. When Jesus said \"Follow me\" to his disciples, He is asking me, too. And when they followed, He did amazing things through them. And when I follow, He can do amazing things through me.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1284124982000, "title": "There's more to life" }, { "asin": "1595540091", "rating": 5, "text": "I just started to read Ted Dekker this summer. A friend loaned me Black, and I am glad that I got my feet wet with the Circle series ([[ASIN:1595546820 Green (The Circle Series)]], [[ASIN:B003TO6D3W Black (The Circle)]], [[ASIN:B003IWYGW0 Red (The Circle Series)]], and [[ASIN:B003TO6D5U White (The Circle Series)]]) before reading Immanuel's Veins.<br /><br />To be honest, in order to read and enjoy his books, I have to open my mind and let go of preconceived notions. When I am reading, it feels like riding a roller coaster...at first, I am not so sure I am going to like it but then the excitement starts tp pick up, and I don't want it to end.<br /><br />I really do not know how what category this book falls into. It could be suspense, drama, murder, romance, fantasy, or even historical fiction. I guess by not being able to put the book into one category makes this book even more interesting to read.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1284397418000, "title": "Open your mind" }, { "asin": "0764208659", "rating": 5, "text": "I just finished reading this terrific book. I have read [[ASIN:0764200836 Jesus Freaks: Martyrs: Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus: The Ultimate Jesus Freaks]]and am in the middle of [[ASIN:B0009U7YQO Under God]], so I am familiar with books that Toby Mac is involved in. He does not write the book himself (he saves his writing for lyrics), but instead he compiles stories from others who inspire us and encourage us.<br /><br />My son is excited to read this book, too. We went to a Toby Mac concert last year, and I am grateful that my middle school son is singing lyrics that are building and encouraging. Some of the music his friends listen to is questionable. This book will encourage him to be more than just a believer but to live out his faith.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Bethany House has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1286144908000, "title": "Read this book to be inspired" }, { "asin": "0849946158", "rating": 5, "text": "I did not intend to read 3 books in the last year about people describing heaven from the first person perspective. [[ASIN:0800759494 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life]], [[ASIN:0764207946 Flight to Heaven: A Plane Crash...A Lone Survivor...A Journey to Heaven--and Back]], and Heaven is for Real share the same perspective of what heaven is like. All 3 books also have in a common a person who had to suffer and go through intense medical drama in order to experience heaven. I am glad that I have read all 3 of these books. I am also excited to be doing a study on Revelation ([[ASIN:B003VRVTYU Here And Now...There And Then: Listening Guide & Weekly Assignments]] by Beth Moore). It seems like God is trying to teach me something, and I best be paying attention. Next thing I know, my pastor will be preaching about heaven. ;)<br /><br />What I liked about Heaven is Real is the fresh and honest understanding of heaven. An almost 4 year old does not have the Biblical knowledge to describe heaven like he did unless he saw it himself. There are some things that I could not describe even after studying the Bible. No amount of study compares to an eyewitness account, and what this young boy describes is completely in alignment with what the Scriptures teach us.<br /><br />I also want to commend Todd and Sonja Burpo for being careful and honest in trying to understand what their son, Colton, saw. It is easy to feed information to your children and sway their perspective. However, the Burpo's were discerning in allowing their son to tell them what he saw without trying to influence his understanding. As a result, we get to read a great book about heaven and about a little child who had the chance to see it for himself.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1288749668000, "title": "True and honest" }, { "asin": "0764207326", "rating": 3, "text": "I like a good book to read on vacation. I received this book to review but did not get to go on vacation to read it. However, it did bring back good memories of a trip I took to OBX.<br /><br />This book was mildly entertaining. It was not an easy read as too many characters were introduced yet they did not seem significant to the story line. My mind was overwhelmed with trying to understand each character and their back story. I think half of the characters were unnecessary and the story would have been the same without them.<br /><br />The book falls under the category of inspirational fiction, but there was not a whole lot of talk about God and religion. The book could also be a romance novel, but the story was not overly romantic. At times, I wanted to read more about the romantic relationship between 2 characters and at other times, I was tired of hearing about how the main character felt about a particular man. There was also some drama and suspense in the book. So I am not sure how to categorize this book. Instead I will say the story is unique.<br /><br />Bethany House has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1289701487000, "title": "A vacation read" }, { "asin": "0764208500", "rating": 1, "text": "I can honestly say that I was not inspired while reading this book. I did not like this book and it left a bad taste in my mouth.<br /><br />Too verbose. I did not enjoy the many paragraphs of descriptive writing that were unnecessary to the story line. Some description is needed to help the reader visualize the story but not so much that the background becomes a storyline itself.<br /><br />Too many characters. I was exhausted by the beginning of the 4th chapter as yet another character was being introduced. Since so much description is given to each character, it was time consuming to keep tract of each new character.<br /><br />Too long. I was on page 286 before I realized that there had yet to be a climax to the story. For an author writing about writing, I was surprised that the book lacked basic story elements. In the last 40 pages, the protagonist did find herself at the turning point, but it felt rushed as if the author needed to keep the book under 320 pages.<br /><br />Too much smut. As mentioned in other reviews, this book was not as Christian as the Christian market expects. I was convicted a few years ago about reading books that bordered on smut. I turned to Christian publishers to find morally entertaining books. I did not expect to read about half naked women and unmarried couples sleeping together in this novel.<br /><br />I do not enjoy writing negative reviews, but I have read and reviewed so many books this year that it was bound to happen.<br /><br />Bethany House has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1291065444000, "title": "Uninspiring" }, { "asin": "1595547916", "rating": 4, "text": "Kristin Billerbeck set the standard for Chick Lit, and this book is the very definition of Chick Lit. It is an easy read with light-hearted romance and a dash of drama thrown in for good measure.<br /><br />Katie is a young woman who has overcome hurt but has now left the past behind to live a decent life. However, her past comes back to mess up what she has established. Sometimes you need to learn from the past to make a better future, and Katie does just that.<br /><br />Much like other books by Kristin Billerbeck (What a Girl Wants and A Girl's Best Friend), this book has a young woman trying to find her true self while staying true to her faith in a materialistic world. I think we can all relate to that so some degree.<br /><br />On a side note, I felt that the relationship between Katie and Dexter was much like the relationship between Meg Ryan and her fiance in Sleepless in Seattle. It was safe and comfortable but a passionless relationship that was doomed from the start.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1295116389000, "title": "Another Chick Lit from Billerbeck" }, { "asin": "1595545395", "rating": 3, "text": "Another foray into the chick-lit genre. This book was enjoyable to read and interesting enough to keep my attention throughout the story. The character development was a bit slow at times but realistic enough. It has been the first book in a while that I did not rush to finish. I took my time even though I could have rushed to finish just to see what happens. I like to take my time if the book is good.<br /><br />I am not sure why the title was \"Save the Date.\" By the end of the book, I still did not understand what the title meant. I may have missed something, but \"Saving Grace\" seems like a more fitting title.<br /><br />I was a bit confused with the character of Julian and his relationship with Clare. They reminded me of Karen and Jack in the old sitcom Will and Grace. I am not sure how his character added to the storyline, and for me, he was more a distraction.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1296225657000, "title": "Saving Grace is a better title" }, { "asin": "1595548017", "rating": 4, "text": "The pace of this book kept me from giving it 5 stars. I felt like the story slowed down too much in the middle which dragged out the plot for too long. Will she fall in love? Will he tell her the truth? I wanted to know what happened next, but for about 100 pages, it felt like nothing was really happening. It was not until page 250 that I got the information I had been wanting to know about a pivotal character. So for that reason, this was a page turner.<br /><br />When I typed \"A Cowboy's Touch\" into the search on amazon, another book with the same title came up. It was definitely not this book. It was a romance but more, shall we saw, graphic. I hope people do not confuse these 2 books because Denise Hunter's \"A Cowboy Touch\" is nothing like what I saw on the cover of the other book.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provides me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my opinion which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1299894529000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "Drugs, addiction, child trafficing, and that is just the first chapter.<br /><br />The Covington family has had its share of tragedy and sorrow, but they find themselves in the middle of another heartache as they try heal from their own pain. Emily is one year sober (read about her struggles in [[ASIN:0310321980 Intervention (Intervention Series, Book 1)]]), and is excited to live a new life. But how do you live a new life when the old life keeps dragging you down?<br /><br />This was one of those can't-put-it-down kind of books. I enjoyed reading it and would keep reading to find out what happens next. I was not happy when the book was over only because I like how Terri Blackstock writes and want to know more about what happens next. The book does leave a small open door so I hope that means there is another book to be written???<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1302310511000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "078523120X", "rating": 1, "text": "I did not like this book. I tried like it, but it was not my cup of tea. It was downright unimaginative.<br /><br />David Ponder, the main character from [[ASIN:0785273220 The Traveler's Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success]], returns. He is taken to a summit where he, along with many pivotal people from history, must save the world by coming up a 2 word phrase. Together, they discuss and ponder (pun intended) what the phrase could be. They have 7 chances to get it right. After each incorrect guess, a new traveler is added to the discussion.<br /><br />So what bored me about the book is that there was a whole lot of talk but not much action. The story is the discussion of a 2 word phrase. It got so boring, that I just skipped to the end of the chapter to see what the phrase will be. I also knew that it would take all 7 chances before they got it right, but even then the final 2 word phrase was trite and uninspiring.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provides me with a free copy of this book for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1302551042000, "title": "Dull and unexciting" }, { "asin": "1414319495", "rating": 4, "text": "I was glad to read another book in the juvenille fiction genre. It was interesting to read this cross between a chapter book and a graphic novel. I can see how this would be a good book for a boy who is able to read chapter books but is not interested in some of the options that are available.<br /><br />Since I have not read the first two books in this series, I had a hard time understanding the characters and their backgrounds. I had to quickly catch up with their backstory while at the same time keep up with the action from this story. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I had read the previous books; however, that is not to say that I did not enjoy this book. On the contrary, it was an interesting book which kept my attention throughout.<br /><br />The story is about a boy and 2 girls who find themselves in the middle of a mystery. They are as integral as the adults in the book at solving the mystery. It is fast-paced and action packed. I would classify the book as action and suspense with Biblical overtones.<br /><br />I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for this review.", "timestamp": 1306176331000, "title": "A cross between graphic novel and chapter book" }, { "asin": "1595548114", "rating": 4, "text": "I am not an avid reader of historical fiction, but this book was nice. It was neither exciting nor dull and makes a decent summer read.<br /><br />The story is of Lucy, a young lady, who is pursuing a career in photography in a small town. The story is also of David who is trying to redeem his past. Their lives converge and sparks fly. It is a common theme in fiction, but charming nonetheless.<br /><br />I did find some of the story lacking. It was about 50 pages too long as the storyline dragged on without an significant progress in character development. Also, the end was a little unsatisfying. It ended the way I had anticipated without any big ordeal or revelation. Like I said, it was nice but not exciting.<br /><br />This book is part of the Rocky Creek Romance series; however, I did not need to read the 2 previous books to enjoy this book. It is as much a stand- alone book as it is a part of the series.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1307970908000, "title": "Decent but not spectacular" }, { "asin": "0764208055", "rating": 4, "text": "I have never read a book from the \"Texas Adventure and Romance\" genre, and I rarely read historical fiction. However, I read this book and enjoyed it very much.<br /><br />Elizabeth Evans travels to El Paso/Fort Bliss to help her widowed brother but quickly finds herself in the middle of an international event. Ranger Jake Nelson comes to her aid and quickly they fall in love. The problem is that both Elizabeth and Jake have loved and lost before and do not want to love and lose again.<br /><br />I did enjoy reading this book. There was enough action and drama to keep it from being too sappy with the romance. Sometimes the action was too much as I wondered how many more incidents could Elizabeth and Jake find themselves. Kidnapping, border crossing, and near drownings were just a few of this action packed incidents. There seemed to be no end to the adrenaline rush for the characters or even time to grieve from tragic events.<br /><br />Bethany House has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1316439948000, "title": "Action, drama, and romance to boot" }, { "asin": "1400318033", "rating": 5, "text": "What a delightful little book! Little Hermie is just right for young children. The book is short enough to keep their attention but cute enough to capture their hearts. The short prayer is written in rhyme so it is pleasing for little children to quietly listen to.<br /><br />Little Hermie is thanking God for His many blessings. Hermie thanks God for leaves to sleep on, for friends and family, for food and playtime, and for blessing me.<br /><br />What I liked about the book was that it was easy to read and sounds nice when read out loud. I wish the book was longer; however, I remember when my little ones were little and their attention span was very short.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1316887552000, "title": "Short and sweet" }, { "asin": "1595549404", "rating": 4, "text": "Much like Frank Peretti, Lis Weihl delves into the supernatural and the power of evil. I have enjoyed previous books by this author and continued to enjoy this new book.<br /><br />The story follows Dani, a psychiatrist who works for the DA, as she tries to solve a local murder. With the help of her friend, Tommy, she is able to solve the crime. Not only does she figure out who done it, but also she figures out why that person did it.<br /><br />The storyline is much like an episode of a TV crime drama. The murder is solved in less than 2 weeks, and the characters never seem to have a night where they actually sleep. As the reader, it is interesting to follow the storyline as you try to solve the crime along with the characters of the book.<br /><br />What I did not like about the book is the past history between Dani and Tommy. She was the overachieving nerd in high school, and he was the game winning jock. He had a crush on her and admitted to being intimidated by her. I found this part of the story a little far fetched.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1317777570000, "title": "Another great book by Lis Weihl" }, { "asin": "0764209418", "rating": 3, "text": "Joy was a young orphan in China who is adopted by Andrew and Gloria. They bring her back to Texas and raise her as their own. However, Joy was never really an orphan. Joy is Lily, the fourth daughter of the Chang family who had to place their daughter in an orphanage because of governmental restrictions. Lily's sister, Kai, has devoted her life to find Lily and to find a cure for polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic disease that has plagued her family.<br /><br />Adoption, disease, teenage rebellion, and family devotion are weaved throughout the story. In some ways, there were too many elements causing conflict in the story. Most of these elements are resolved at the end of the story, but some are not. For example, the story hints at turmoil in Gloria's life because of her dad's infidelity, but that story line is never resolved.<br /><br />The storyline stuttered too much for me. The flashback to China is deep and descriptive as the authors uses too many words to set the tone. Then the story flies through 2 years of relationship building after Kai and Lily meet for the first time. I just had a hard time with the pace of the story.<br /><br />I give the book a 3.5 out of 5. It is neither good not bad. Just okay for me.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1321031289000, "title": "Not an easy read" }, { "asin": "0310332311", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been a fan of Terri Blackstock for years and have never been disappointed. This most recent book of hers is a reprint from a previous book. She updated the story and incorporated the story of redemption. I appreciate how the redemption story is weaved into the book without being forced or preachy.<br /><br />Carny, the protagonist, is a new person after leaving the carnival life, becoming a Christian, and settling in the town of Serenity, Texas. When Logan Brisco comes to town, she see him for the con he is. As much as she tries to discredit him, he sees the truth of what he is doing. In the midst of this, they are falling in love.<br /><br />The story had many unexpected twists and turns, yet it was an easy read that kept me interested from cover to cover. Terri Blackstock really does have the gift of storytelling, and I appreciate that she has used her gift to honor God.<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1321741698000, "title": "Another great book by Blackstock" }, { "asin": "0764208225", "rating": 3, "text": "The story opens with Heather Hampton, successful Seattle architect, on the verge of her biggest career move yet. The entire deal hinges on the sale of her family's property in Texas. This is the place she experienced tragedy and depression and wanted nothing more to leave the past behind. In this deal she hoped to erase the past and forget the memories of her home. Instead she has to face the past to deal with the present. This past includes the mystery of how her father died in a place she never wanted to live. Heather tries to solve this mystery but only uncovers more secrets instead of answers.<br /><br />I got frustrated reading this book as the secrets continued to build instead of being revealed. I read page after page waiting for the truth to be revealed. It took 300 pages before the truth started to come out. Once the mystery was solved, everything unraveled quickly. It was almost too quickly for as slow as the book started.<br /><br />I did like one line toward the end of the book, \"The great leaps in life are not made in the absence of fear but in the presence of faith.\" There were some good parts to the story, but overall the book was not satisfying.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332207991000, "title": "Slow and somewhat boring" }, { "asin": "0310250684", "rating": 4, "text": "I have yet to read a Terri Blackstock novel that I did not like. Whenever I get my hands on a new book, I know I am in for a treat. In this latest story, there is drama, suspense, struggle, and triumph.<br /><br />Emily Covington is a recovering drug addict trying to have a normal life. She knows that addiction recovery is not a walk in the park; however, she is challenged in ways she never anticipated. Her whole family is challenged in ways they never anticipated. All of them are forced into situations where they have to choose between right and wrong, yet sometimes it is not obvious what is right and what is wrong. From start to finish, the characters must react to situations and make tough decisions. At times, I thought, \"No, don't do it!\" but the characters made their decisions and had to face the consequences. Somehow, it all works out in the end, but you still need to read the book to find out how it happens.<br /><br />Downfall is the third book in a 3 book series about the Covington family with Intervention and Viscous Cycle being the first 2 books in the series. Of the 3 books in the series, this was my least favorite, but I am glad I read it as it ends the series. The book was fast-paced and an easy read.<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332465975000, "title": "A nice end to the series" }, { "asin": "1595548874", "rating": 4, "text": "Whew! I just finished Need You Now, and it was like riding a roller coaster. There is drama, suspense, tragedy, and triumph.<br /><br />The Henderson family relocates to a small town in Texas. They left Houston in hopes of getting their 3 children away from negative influences; however, the drama does not go away quietly as they settle in Round Top, Texas. Darlene, the mother, is struggling to find herself as her children need her less and she still has a lot to give. Brad, the father, is working overtime to make partner and wonders if his hard work will really pay-off. Chad, the eldest son, left drama behind in Houston but is still faces temptation in Round Top. Grace, the middle daughter, is the perfect child as she hides her true feelings and is overwhelmed with keeping up appearances. Ansley, the youngest daughter, is the only member of the family without drama. Also, the family is surprised to find out their next door neighbor was a Hollywood movie star was drama of her own.<br /><br />It took 100 pages for all these characters to be introduced and all these story lines to be developed. Initially the book was slow as the author was laying the groundwork for all these characters and their respective issues. Then in the last 100 pages, the story was fast-paced as the issues were brought to light and characters had a change of heart or realization about their issues. It was a slow build up and then a fast ride to the end, like a roller coaster.<br /><br />I am surprised that this book is only 250 pages long. It could have been so much longer. There were a few issues that were never really resolved by the end of the book. The character of Ansley was never developed, and she could have easily been left out of the story altogether. Chad's history in Houston was never fully revealed. I could foresee the author adding another book to this series, either as a prequel or a sequel.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for me review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332791141000, "title": "It is quite a ride!" }, { "asin": "076420615X", "rating": 4, "text": "Set during the War Between the States, Texas had both Union supporters and Confederate supports. There were also quite a few Texas supports who only wanted what benefited their state. Hannah, the heroine of the story, is just trying to survive with her 2 step-siblings. The ranch on which they live was given to their father, a Conferderate supporter. The previous residents were Union supporters and left to fight the war. Hannah's father leaves to help his mother back in Vicksburg but has not been heard from since. Instead, William Bartlett returns, the son of the previous ranch owner, to claim his family property.<br /><br />Initially, the storyline was slow as the many characters were introduced. Therefore, it took a while to understand how Hannah Dandridge can to live on a Texas ranch with her much younger step-brother and step-sister. I almost lost interest in the book, but I continued to read so I could write a thorough review.<br /><br />Once I got into the book, I enjoyed reading it, mostly. Some parts of the story annoyed me. I did not like how clueless Hannah was in her dealings with Herbert Lockhart, her father's business partner. She also seemed naive about how her family came to live on the ranch. She is strong woman who came from a privileged upbringing and became a hard-working ranch woman. Yet, the story does not talk about the transformation. There is only a nod to how she was once privileged and now must take care of her family and land.<br /><br />The story ends nicely with all loose ends tied up. It was neither surprising nor upsetting.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1336512516000, "title": "Nice enough" }, { "asin": "0310333172", "rating": 4, "text": "Reading a suspense novel from the perspective of an author doing research for a suspense novel adds a unique spin to this story. The story is also based on an actual cold case solved by the FBI.<br /><br />The heroine of this story, Kariss, is writing a novel and doing research while shadowing an FBI agent, Tigo. As she does her research, she becomes the main character in her own suspenseful story. Throughout the entire book, she inserts herself into FBI business and puts herself in harms way. Luckily, the hero of the book, Tigo, is always there to save this damsel in distress. However, Kariss is just stubborn enough to think of herself not as a damsel in distress but a modern woman who can do anything. That attitude keeps getting her in trouble. There is also a romantic element as Kariss and Tigo start to see each other as more than just a nuisance.<br /><br />The book was easy to read and kept my interest throughout. There were many twists and turns, but the ending was satisfying. I did get a little annoyed at the heroine who would not listen to wisdom and foolishly found herself on the wrong side of town, but that is how the heroine and hero start to fall in love, or at least like. There is a sequel that will probably explore this romantic storyline.<br /><br />Zondervan provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1338379735000, "title": "Enjoyable to read" }, { "asin": "0764209779", "rating": 4, "text": "Beverly Lewis is the gold standard in Amish fiction. She started with The Shunning and continues to raise the bar for other books in this genre.<br /><br />Amelia Devries is a world-class violinist who is so focused on her music that she has lost her way in life. When she loses her way, literally, in a bad rainstorm, she finds herself in an Amish village. There she realizes her need to reclaim the truth she once knew. She also falls in love both with a young man and with a simpler life. Amelia then has to decide what she really wants in life and how to go about doing just that.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading this book and felt the calming effect of the Amish way. I am not a world renown musician, but I am a woman who, like Amelia, can forget what is truly important in life. This book is a gentle reminder for me and for all readers.<br /><br />Bethany House has provided a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1338564279000, "title": "More than just another Amish book" }, { "asin": "1414333218", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the first book by Randy Singer I have read, and it is a pretty good book. It contains a lot of drama, a bit of suspense, a smattering of action, and a dash of romance.<br /><br />Initially, I had a hard time keeping up with the many characters and how they relate to the storyline. The main character is Jamie Brock who tells the story in the first person. However, other parts of the story are told in the third person so the reader gets an inside view of the action. Even still, there are twists and surprises to the story that are unexpected and entertaining.<br /><br />This book reminds me of the many crime dramas available on TV but far more interesting. I just might have to read more by Randy Singer now that I have had a small taste of his work.", "timestamp": 1340974960000, "title": "Pretty Good" }, { "asin": "140168565X", "rating": 5, "text": "How appropriate that I finished reading this book on a nice rainy day.<br /><br />Daphne is a \"nose\" which is to say she knows how things smell and how things should smell. However, after being left at the altar, she loses her sense of smell which means she also may lose her job. So she must deal with the rejection of her ex-fiance and with the problem of creating new scents without being able to smell them.<br /><br />Of course, it would not be Chick Lit without romance. Daphne's new boss, Jesse, is a widow who himself is struggling with his job and with relationships. Mix it all up, and you have an interesting tale of love, loss, and love again.<br /><br />I have read all of the books by Kristin Billerbeck, and this is by far my favorite. Instead of the shallow and selfish heroines found in previous books, Daphne has depths and layers much like the fragrances she creates.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1342813416000, "title": "Love, loss, and love again" }, { "asin": "1401685617", "rating": 4, "text": "Not since Francine Rivers[...] has a book delved into the difficulties faced by a unwed teenage mother who decides to give up her child for adoption.<br /><br />The choices we make determine the people we become. This idea is wonderfully illustrated in this book. The book opens with Sandy Lincoln confirming her pregnancy with her mom at the doctor's office. The story takes off from there without slowing down or wasting a word. This could have been a 400+ page book, and I am grateful that the author kept the book as short as he did.<br /><br />The only reason why I gave this book a 4-star instead of a 5-star rating is that some of the characters were just too perfect. Sandy's mother, for example, was an uptight Southern woman who was also kind and compassionate when Sandy discovered she was pregnant. Only her classmates gossiped about her pregnancy, but no one was condemning or critical about her behavior. Instead everyone was supportive, except the birth father as he did not want to give up his football career.<br /><br />Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1343178216000, "title": "A fast paced but good read" }, { "asin": "0764209655", "rating": 5, "text": "No one wants to marry a groom because of chance, even if the groom is the man you have dreamed about since childhood. Meridith Hayes has had a crush on Travis Archer since he rescued her from a trap when she was a child. He was the man of her dreams, literally, and eventually, those dreams came true.<br /><br />I really enjoyed reading this book. The storyline was contrived, but the plot progressed smoothly with sufficient character development. It has been a while since I really liked reading historical fiction. This book was a breath of fresh air in my reading repertoire.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1344043100000, "title": "A Delight to Read" }, { "asin": "076420887X", "rating": 3, "text": "I did not understand the character of Melinda. She is a strong young women who must leave her life of affluence when her parents die. She becomes a lady's maid and must endure the life of a servant. She does this with courage and grace and is a model servant. However, when she falls in love with Evan she becomes a whiny, petulant child who wants to get her way no matter what Evan says. Even when the local pastor tries to encourage Melinda to wait and pray, she ignores his advice and continues to try to control the situation. It was very frustrating to read as nothing seemed to change as the story line dragged on.<br /><br />The first half of the book was painstakingly slow. I almost gave up reading the book. I had to finish reading in order to write a thorough review. So I kept on reading. The pace of the story line picked up, and I started to enjoy it. The second half of the book was so much better than the first half. I am glad I stuck with it, but I did not like having to plod through so much useless story line to get to good stuff.<br /><br />In the second half the book, the story was interesting and fun to read. There was drama, suspense, romance, and intrigue. If I could have just read the end without having to get through the beginning, I would have enjoyed this book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1346550361000, "title": "A slow story that picks up in the end" }, { "asin": "0849920701", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been reading Max Lucado books for 25 years. Even since I gave my life to Christ, his books have spoken to my heart and encouraged my faith. This latest book does not disappoint.<br /><br />This book revolutionary. I thought I understood grace. However, I have only just begun to comprehend the immense blessing of God's grace. Weaving every day stories with theology, Max Lucado opens our minds and our hearts to the great gift of grace.<br /><br />If I was to recommend just one book everyone should read this year, it would be this book. It is not hard to read or a long book, but the truths between the covers will stay with you long after you are done.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1348665842000, "title": "Grace is Great" }, { "asin": "1414349300", "rating": 3, "text": "On the good side, the story is well written. Character development is solid. Drama unfolds with plenty of action and suspense.<br /><br />On the bad side, I have an issue with the main character, Lance Corporal Bekah Shaw. She is a Marine reservist who is returning to action on her third deployment in as many years. Bekah is divorced from her husband who was never fit to be married in the first place. Bekah also must leave her young son in the care of her grandmother who also helped raise her. Bekah struggles with leaving her son behind but is courageous enough to serve her country. So far, the character is believable and almost admirable. However, once she starts to see action in a war zone, the character becomes less believable.<br /><br />Women in the military do not serve in combat units on the front line of battle. Even in today's military, a women would not be a fire team leader in charge of small unit attack. I know this because I served in the military, and my husband continues to serve. So I take offense to a story that stretches the truth to the point of a lie. If the main character was a man, a single dad who struggled with leaving a child behind, then this story would have been great. But since the main character is a women, this story is just too unrealistic to be enjoyable.<br /><br />Tyndale House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1349099524000, "title": "Could have been better" }, { "asin": "0310730538", "rating": 5, "text": "I ordered this book for my 11 year old daughter who loves American history and Indian culture. I read it first and thoroughly enjoyed it.<br /><br />Barbara Leininger is torn from her family during an Indian raid and forced to adapt to the Indian culture. Before she is forced into marriage with an Indian brave, she escapes with 3 other captives. Together, they must travel 300+ miles on foot to reach freedom. Living as an Indian was not easy nor was her escape. Yet through it all, she maintained her faith and her determination to see her younger sister again.<br /><br />This is an inspiring story for everyone. I am thankful for Zondervan who provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1358648395000, "title": "Inspring story" }, { "asin": "0764208888", "rating": 3, "text": "It is not hard to figure out the plot when the front cover of the book shows a bride and groom standing hand in hand. However, the story begins with a young woman, Callie, who has sworn off marriage and a young man, Wes, who does not want to socialize with the many wealthy families who visit Bridal Veil Island. So the reader expects the two to fall in love and get married before the end of the story.<br /><br />Without ruining the story, Callie and Wes do fall in love as expected. I was bored with the story line because it took 200 pages before Callie and Wes admit their affection for each other. There were a few obstacles to overcome and some of the characters had to change their opinions and desires before the story was complete. Yet none of these story elements involved significant drama or soul searching. The pace of the story was slow and predictable. It was not an exciting story but more of a nice read.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1360335782000, "title": "Nice but not great" }, { "asin": "0764210734", "rating": 5, "text": "Reading the Bible in a year has become a popular endeavor. However, the quest can be daunting. This book encourages women to meet the challenge and to do so with joy.<br /><br />The unique thing about this yearly reading method is that it is broken down by weeks instead of days. You can start any time since the weeks are not dated. So it really you are reading the Bible in 52 weeks. I also like that the New Testament books are interspersed throughout the year.<br /><br />Diane Stortz encourages women not to do this alone but to join or create a group who reads through the Bible together. The group will provide the necessary encouragement and accountability one needs to read through the entire Bible is just 52 weeks.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1360755817000, "title": "A great way to read the Bible" }, { "asin": "0764206192", "rating": 5, "text": "It has been a long time since I read a good book such as this one. It was not amazing; however, it was a nice leisurely read. The book had romance, a dash of suspense, and a nice helping of family. It was just what I needed!<br /><br />Merrill is a strong woman who has been taking care of her father and older brothers after the death of her mother. She is quite capable and is not looking to find a husband especially after living with so many men for so long. Of course, when she least expects it, a new man comes into to town and she falls in love. The twist is that she does not realize she is falling in love. He loves her, too, but there are some complications that are getting in the way. Only after much drama and suspense are they able to admit their love for each other.<br /><br />I probably gave the book away, but with all historical romance, the reader knows that the man and woman at the center of the story will fall in love and live happily ever after. Even though I knew it was going to happen, it was fun to find out how it would happen. That is why I enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1365439913000, "title": "A Nice Read" }, { "asin": "0764209795", "rating": 4, "text": "Beverly Lewis is the trailblazer for Amish fiction. I remember reading The Shunning years ago while discovering this new genre. She set the standard for all others who endeavoured to write Amish fiction.<br /><br />In this latest book, Jodi Winfield visits a local Amish community and rediscovers her own faith while learning about the Amish culture. The story is also about Maryanna Esh, a young widow and mother of 4, who learns that she can love again.<br /><br />The storyline is nice. The setting is charming. The people are delightful. Even the food sounds delicious. The middle of the book was tedious as the plot stagnated, but the ending was satisfying. Overall, this was a good book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1367846848000, "title": "Good enough to read" }, { "asin": "0764211129", "rating": 5, "text": "I read the O'Malley series years ago and wondered why Jennifer never had her own book. All the other siblings had a book, but Jennifer was left out, until now.<br /><br />Since it has been so long since I read the O'Malley series, I was excited to read this novella. The story is a flashback to when Jennifer became a believer in Jesus and when she fell in love with Tom. It was not exciting or earth-shattering. Instead it was sweet and comforting. Although the end of the book (SPOILER ALERT) begins Jennifer's journey with cancer, it is still an enjoyable book.<br /><br />I highly recommend this book to anyone who read the O'Malley series and to anyone who is looking for a nice summer read.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1371050146000, "title": "Nice and Sweet" }, { "asin": "0764209566", "rating": 3, "text": "As with most historical fiction, the heroine tries to be independent and strong but still enjoys having a man save the damsel in distress.<br /><br />The heroine of this story is Melanie Ross who is fired as a governess and must make a way for herself out west. She has no family left but inherits half of a general store. The other half is owned by Caleb Nelson, a widower and the single father of young Levi. Melanie and Caleb do not agree on how to run the store and often find themselves at odds. Only when they have to defend the store and the honor of their uncles, do they settle their differences.<br /><br />The story line was slow. The action did not really pick up until the last quarter of the book. I thought the story was about the difference of opinions between Melanie and Caleb. Instead it was about the deaths in town that were tied together but a common thread. By the time this part of the story reached its climax, the romance between Melanie and Caleb was long overdue. Even though the murderer was not who I expected, the rest of the story was predictable.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1372528648000, "title": "Too slow" }, { "asin": "0310315476", "rating": 5, "text": "Susanna Truitt always had a plan for her life, but when that plan falls apart, she must fully trust God with her future. Her boyfriend of 12 years dumps her; she loses her job; and she is forced to move out of her cottage. Nothing seems to be going her way. Even when she meets a man and enjoys a few dates with him, he returns to his Euorpean home after 2 weeks. But this man, Nate, is really Prince Nathaniel II, and Susanna's future might just become her own fairy tale.<br /><br />Initially, Susanna does not know that Nate is a prince but eventually learns the truth. What I liked is that this was not a belabored point in the story. There is some time and confusion between meeting Nate and discovering that he is a prince but not so much time that the reader is annoyed.<br /><br />I am surprised that I liked this book. Usually young adult fiction is immoral, predictable, and overly romantic. Instead, this book was delightful, engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1374059634000, "title": "A charming and delightful story" }, { "asin": "1414380437", "rating": 5, "text": "Well done, Beth Moore! I am so glad she published a teen edition of her book So Long Insecurity. I have read both books, and I am thoroughly impressed with this most recent publication.<br /><br />Girls, ladies, women, we are all insecure. Some are more so than others. But we all need to face our insecurities and overcome them. This book is a great way for young women to address and deal with their own insecurities.<br /><br />I have read other magazine-like books for teens. Often, they come across shallow and trendy without much substance. This book is quite the opposite. It is deep and full of truths, but with an interesting and engaging format. I highly recommend it to all teenagers. No one is immune from insecurities.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, please mention as part of every Web or Amazon review that Tyndale House Publishers has provided you with a complimentary copy of this book.", "timestamp": 1375454367000, "title": "Well Done!" }, { "asin": "0764210157", "rating": 3, "text": "There is an explosion at a nuclear facility. A security guard is trying to keep his job without having to lie about what he saw. A lab technician tries to discover what happened and whether or not he was exposed to radiation. A lawyer gets involved while she is grieving the loss of her mother and questioning a strained relationship with her father. A well-paid executive is trying to complete a illegal project while covering up the explosion.<br /><br />The story was not bad, but it was not very good either. There were so many characters that I did not feel like everyone was fully developed, nor were all their issues resolved by the end of the book. On top of the many characters, there was a plethora of scientific explanation about the explosion and the work of the nuclear facility. It was just too much to understand in one book.<br /><br />I did not dislike this book, but it was hard to finish. I got lost with all the characters and all the science involved.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a copy of this book in exchange for my review which I honestly give.", "timestamp": 1384797464000, "title": "Not bad but not great" }, { "asin": "140168968X", "rating": 5, "text": "I thoroughly enjoyed this book with the unique first person storytelling and the many characters intertwined throughout the story.<br /><br />Sam is an orphan girl who has is trying to make her way in today's culture. She knows her upbringing was lacking and used books to understand human nature. Books were her escape, but she also learned to hide behind these characters. Only when she learns to be her true self can she fully mature and become the woman she is suppose to be.<br /><br />I am not a reader of British literature so many of the books and characters (Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and The Scarlet Pimpernel) were unknown to me. I was still able to follow the story line and noticed that as Sam matured, she used her characters less and less. However, she never had to leave her great books behind as that was one of the few good memories she has of her childhood.<br /><br />What I most liked about the book was how the story was told through one-sided letters. I was able to figure out who Mr. Knightley was but only a few pages before he was revealed. The book was charming and enjoyable.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1385999251000, "title": "Charming" }, { "asin": "0764212435", "rating": 3, "text": "Mark Bishop is a Navy submarine commander, and Gina Gray is a brilliant scientist and researcher who discovers ways to help submarines stay quiet underwater. It seems like a match made in heaven, but it took a long time before these two people fall in love.<br /><br />The book included a lot of background of submarine warfare and the software programs that Gina was trying to design. The technical information was necessary to build up to the action at the end of the story; however, I felt that the book was longer than it needed to be. I had to skim the last 100 pages to get to the real action and to see if Gina and Mark would finally fall in love. The end is satifying yet seemed to come quickly after the 400+ page build up.<br /><br />I like books written by Dee Henderson and am impressed with the amount of research she put into this story. Yet I did not enjoy this book as much as her previous books. It just felt too long and too wordy.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1401376450000, "title": "Could have been shorter and better" }, { "asin": "1496403339", "rating": 4, "text": "Jed King is a singer/songwriter. When he writes &#34;The Song&#34;, his career takes off. He is happily married to Rose, but the time appart while on tour is detrimental to their relationship. This storyline reflects Song of Solomon and is a good modernization of the love story.<br /><br />When I say I want to curl up with a good book, this is that book. It is the kind of book that when you start reading, you lose track of time. The story invites you in, and you want to stay. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />The only negative comment I have is that I did not want to see the pictures from the movie in the book. It not only gave away the story line, but also the ending.<br /><br />Tyndale Fiction provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1421762188000, "title": "Curl up with this good book" }, { "asin": "0764211587", "rating": 3, "text": "Sarah Miller has finally settled into a good life. She has her work as a teacher and her friends whom she trusts. She recently found her sister and discovered she is an aunt. Unfortunately, her sister dies, and Sarah has now become a mother to her sister's daughter.<br /><br />While I liked the storyline, the pace was not so good. The beginning of the story was quick and intense. Then the story slowed down. Clues were dropped but at a mind-numbing pace. The pace never really picked up even as all the clues came together, but it was more of an afterthought instead of a climax to the story.<br /><br />I wanted to like this book, but it just was not for me.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1428431616000, "title": "Too slow" }, { "asin": "076421246X", "rating": 3, "text": "Marlena Wenger is struggling to follow her heart as she develops deeper relationships with her Mennonite grandmother, with her English niece, and with her Old Order Amish beau. She feels torn and has to decide for herself what she believes.<br /><br />I have read Amish fiction for years and usually like books by Beverly Lewis. However, this one was not my favorite, or even top 10. The story line was interesting, but the execution was disjointed. I never understood Marlena's motivation or even how to she came to her new found understanding of faith.<br /><br />There was another storyline about a young boy that helps an older man, who is suffering from memory loss, to find his way home. The only connection between the 2 stories is that they were next door neighbors. I felt like the stories were 2 separate books forced into 1.<br /><br />The book was hard to follow and slow going. It was not something I would recommend.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1429795953000, "title": "Not a good book" }, { "asin": "0764212613", "rating": 3, "text": "Through tragedy, Kelli Huddleston discovers that her dad was not what he seemed which leads her to discover her family who are more than they seemed.<br /><br />Kelli is fired from a job because she stood up for what is right. This gave her the opportunity to travel across the country to find her birth family and see who they really are while protecting her real identity. She learns a great deal about them and about herself.<br /><br />While the story is interesting, I had a hard time with how everything fell into place so nicely. Kelli had the luxury of not worrying about her income. Her birth mom was forgiving and understanding. Her birth sister was open and loving and willing to start a deep relationship with this stranger. Even her father's best friend extended friendship and grace to Kelli with no questions asked. No one seemed hurt when the truth came out about what Kelli's father did to the family. It was just too sugary sweet for my tastes.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1430830897000, "title": "Too sweet for my tastes" } ]

[ { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 4, "text": "I enjoyed reading this historical fiction which is a genre I don't read often. I'm glad I endeavored to read this one because it was a nice change of pace.<br /><br />The story was sweet and charming and very innocent which is what I like in the fiction I read. The plot was a little predictable and had some unnecessary developments. I felt like the book was 50 pages too long. I knew what was going to happen and just wanted the story to get on with it. Yet I am glad I took the time to read the entire book instead of just skipping to end to see what happens.<br /><br />Overall, it was a nice little book that will make for a refreshing summer read.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine", "timestamp": 1276012290000, "title": "A charming story" }, { "asin": "159554870X", "rating": 4, "text": "I have read quite a few books from the Amish genre already. I read the Beverly Lewis series, Heritage of Lancaster County, 10 years ago. Since then the market has been saturated with Amish fiction. So I was pleasantly surprised with this book.<br /><br />The story focuses on Sarah King, but she is not the only one in the story who learns a wunderbaar lesson in trusting Der Herr. Sarah, Grant, and even the Fisher family learn to trust God and to return to truth. It is a lesson that we all need reminding.<br /><br />This is the first book in the series entitled \"A Patch of Heaven.\" The next book, Lilly's Wedding Quilt is due out in April 2011. I look forward to reading more in this series.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1277860366000, "title": "A wunderbaar story" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "I got a chance to read another terrific book by Max Lucado. He always brings a fresh perspective to our lives as Christians. Sometimes he even hits too close to home, and I have to take a good look at myself to see where I may need to make some changes. Yet the book is not condemning but more convicting. Sometimes change is good even when it is hard.<br /><br />This book challenges me to do more than just believe in Christ and live a good life. If I want to outlive my life, God can use me to do even more than I could ever dream. When Jesus said \"Follow me\" to his disciples, He is asking me, too. And when they followed, He did amazing things through them. And when I follow, He can do amazing things through me.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1284124982000, "title": "There's more to life" }, { "asin": "1595540091", "rating": 5, "text": "I just started to read Ted Dekker this summer. A friend loaned me Black, and I am glad that I got my feet wet with the Circle series ([[ASIN:1595546820 Green (The Circle Series)]], [[ASIN:B003TO6D3W Black (The Circle)]], [[ASIN:B003IWYGW0 Red (The Circle Series)]], and [[ASIN:B003TO6D5U White (The Circle Series)]]) before reading Immanuel's Veins.<br /><br />To be honest, in order to read and enjoy his books, I have to open my mind and let go of preconceived notions. When I am reading, it feels like riding a roller coaster...at first, I am not so sure I am going to like it but then the excitement starts tp pick up, and I don't want it to end.<br /><br />I really do not know how what category this book falls into. It could be suspense, drama, murder, romance, fantasy, or even historical fiction. I guess by not being able to put the book into one category makes this book even more interesting to read.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1284397418000, "title": "Open your mind" }, { "asin": "0764208659", "rating": 5, "text": "I just finished reading this terrific book. I have read [[ASIN:0764200836 Jesus Freaks: Martyrs: Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus: The Ultimate Jesus Freaks]]and am in the middle of [[ASIN:B0009U7YQO Under God]], so I am familiar with books that Toby Mac is involved in. He does not write the book himself (he saves his writing for lyrics), but instead he compiles stories from others who inspire us and encourage us.<br /><br />My son is excited to read this book, too. We went to a Toby Mac concert last year, and I am grateful that my middle school son is singing lyrics that are building and encouraging. Some of the music his friends listen to is questionable. This book will encourage him to be more than just a believer but to live out his faith.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Bethany House has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1286144908000, "title": "Read this book to be inspired" }, { "asin": "0849946158", "rating": 5, "text": "I did not intend to read 3 books in the last year about people describing heaven from the first person perspective. [[ASIN:0800759494 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life]], [[ASIN:0764207946 Flight to Heaven: A Plane Crash...A Lone Survivor...A Journey to Heaven--and Back]], and Heaven is for Real share the same perspective of what heaven is like. All 3 books also have in a common a person who had to suffer and go through intense medical drama in order to experience heaven. I am glad that I have read all 3 of these books. I am also excited to be doing a study on Revelation ([[ASIN:B003VRVTYU Here And Now...There And Then: Listening Guide & Weekly Assignments]] by Beth Moore). It seems like God is trying to teach me something, and I best be paying attention. Next thing I know, my pastor will be preaching about heaven. ;)<br /><br />What I liked about Heaven is Real is the fresh and honest understanding of heaven. An almost 4 year old does not have the Biblical knowledge to describe heaven like he did unless he saw it himself. There are some things that I could not describe even after studying the Bible. No amount of study compares to an eyewitness account, and what this young boy describes is completely in alignment with what the Scriptures teach us.<br /><br />I also want to commend Todd and Sonja Burpo for being careful and honest in trying to understand what their son, Colton, saw. It is easy to feed information to your children and sway their perspective. However, the Burpo's were discerning in allowing their son to tell them what he saw without trying to influence his understanding. As a result, we get to read a great book about heaven and about a little child who had the chance to see it for himself.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1288749668000, "title": "True and honest" }, { "asin": "0764207326", "rating": 3, "text": "I like a good book to read on vacation. I received this book to review but did not get to go on vacation to read it. However, it did bring back good memories of a trip I took to OBX.<br /><br />This book was mildly entertaining. It was not an easy read as too many characters were introduced yet they did not seem significant to the story line. My mind was overwhelmed with trying to understand each character and their back story. I think half of the characters were unnecessary and the story would have been the same without them.<br /><br />The book falls under the category of inspirational fiction, but there was not a whole lot of talk about God and religion. The book could also be a romance novel, but the story was not overly romantic. At times, I wanted to read more about the romantic relationship between 2 characters and at other times, I was tired of hearing about how the main character felt about a particular man. There was also some drama and suspense in the book. So I am not sure how to categorize this book. Instead I will say the story is unique.<br /><br />Bethany House has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1289701487000, "title": "A vacation read" }, { "asin": "0764208500", "rating": 1, "text": "I can honestly say that I was not inspired while reading this book. I did not like this book and it left a bad taste in my mouth.<br /><br />Too verbose. I did not enjoy the many paragraphs of descriptive writing that were unnecessary to the story line. Some description is needed to help the reader visualize the story but not so much that the background becomes a storyline itself.<br /><br />Too many characters. I was exhausted by the beginning of the 4th chapter as yet another character was being introduced. Since so much description is given to each character, it was time consuming to keep tract of each new character.<br /><br />Too long. I was on page 286 before I realized that there had yet to be a climax to the story. For an author writing about writing, I was surprised that the book lacked basic story elements. In the last 40 pages, the protagonist did find herself at the turning point, but it felt rushed as if the author needed to keep the book under 320 pages.<br /><br />Too much smut. As mentioned in other reviews, this book was not as Christian as the Christian market expects. I was convicted a few years ago about reading books that bordered on smut. I turned to Christian publishers to find morally entertaining books. I did not expect to read about half naked women and unmarried couples sleeping together in this novel.<br /><br />I do not enjoy writing negative reviews, but I have read and reviewed so many books this year that it was bound to happen.<br /><br />Bethany House has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1291065444000, "title": "Uninspiring" }, { "asin": "1595547916", "rating": 4, "text": "Kristin Billerbeck set the standard for Chick Lit, and this book is the very definition of Chick Lit. It is an easy read with light-hearted romance and a dash of drama thrown in for good measure.<br /><br />Katie is a young woman who has overcome hurt but has now left the past behind to live a decent life. However, her past comes back to mess up what she has established. Sometimes you need to learn from the past to make a better future, and Katie does just that.<br /><br />Much like other books by Kristin Billerbeck (What a Girl Wants and A Girl's Best Friend), this book has a young woman trying to find her true self while staying true to her faith in a materialistic world. I think we can all relate to that so some degree.<br /><br />On a side note, I felt that the relationship between Katie and Dexter was much like the relationship between Meg Ryan and her fiance in Sleepless in Seattle. It was safe and comfortable but a passionless relationship that was doomed from the start.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1295116389000, "title": "Another Chick Lit from Billerbeck" }, { "asin": "1595545395", "rating": 3, "text": "Another foray into the chick-lit genre. This book was enjoyable to read and interesting enough to keep my attention throughout the story. The character development was a bit slow at times but realistic enough. It has been the first book in a while that I did not rush to finish. I took my time even though I could have rushed to finish just to see what happens. I like to take my time if the book is good.<br /><br />I am not sure why the title was \"Save the Date.\" By the end of the book, I still did not understand what the title meant. I may have missed something, but \"Saving Grace\" seems like a more fitting title.<br /><br />I was a bit confused with the character of Julian and his relationship with Clare. They reminded me of Karen and Jack in the old sitcom Will and Grace. I am not sure how his character added to the storyline, and for me, he was more a distraction.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1296225657000, "title": "Saving Grace is a better title" }, { "asin": "1595548017", "rating": 4, "text": "The pace of this book kept me from giving it 5 stars. I felt like the story slowed down too much in the middle which dragged out the plot for too long. Will she fall in love? Will he tell her the truth? I wanted to know what happened next, but for about 100 pages, it felt like nothing was really happening. It was not until page 250 that I got the information I had been wanting to know about a pivotal character. So for that reason, this was a page turner.<br /><br />When I typed \"A Cowboy's Touch\" into the search on amazon, another book with the same title came up. It was definitely not this book. It was a romance but more, shall we saw, graphic. I hope people do not confuse these 2 books because Denise Hunter's \"A Cowboy Touch\" is nothing like what I saw on the cover of the other book.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provides me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my opinion which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1299894529000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "Drugs, addiction, child trafficing, and that is just the first chapter.<br /><br />The Covington family has had its share of tragedy and sorrow, but they find themselves in the middle of another heartache as they try heal from their own pain. Emily is one year sober (read about her struggles in [[ASIN:0310321980 Intervention (Intervention Series, Book 1)]]), and is excited to live a new life. But how do you live a new life when the old life keeps dragging you down?<br /><br />This was one of those can't-put-it-down kind of books. I enjoyed reading it and would keep reading to find out what happens next. I was not happy when the book was over only because I like how Terri Blackstock writes and want to know more about what happens next. The book does leave a small open door so I hope that means there is another book to be written???<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1302310511000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "078523120X", "rating": 1, "text": "I did not like this book. I tried like it, but it was not my cup of tea. It was downright unimaginative.<br /><br />David Ponder, the main character from [[ASIN:0785273220 The Traveler's Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success]], returns. He is taken to a summit where he, along with many pivotal people from history, must save the world by coming up a 2 word phrase. Together, they discuss and ponder (pun intended) what the phrase could be. They have 7 chances to get it right. After each incorrect guess, a new traveler is added to the discussion.<br /><br />So what bored me about the book is that there was a whole lot of talk but not much action. The story is the discussion of a 2 word phrase. It got so boring, that I just skipped to the end of the chapter to see what the phrase will be. I also knew that it would take all 7 chances before they got it right, but even then the final 2 word phrase was trite and uninspiring.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provides me with a free copy of this book for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1302551042000, "title": "Dull and unexciting" }, { "asin": "1414319495", "rating": 4, "text": "I was glad to read another book in the juvenille fiction genre. It was interesting to read this cross between a chapter book and a graphic novel. I can see how this would be a good book for a boy who is able to read chapter books but is not interested in some of the options that are available.<br /><br />Since I have not read the first two books in this series, I had a hard time understanding the characters and their backgrounds. I had to quickly catch up with their backstory while at the same time keep up with the action from this story. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I had read the previous books; however, that is not to say that I did not enjoy this book. On the contrary, it was an interesting book which kept my attention throughout.<br /><br />The story is about a boy and 2 girls who find themselves in the middle of a mystery. They are as integral as the adults in the book at solving the mystery. It is fast-paced and action packed. I would classify the book as action and suspense with Biblical overtones.<br /><br />I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for this review.", "timestamp": 1306176331000, "title": "A cross between graphic novel and chapter book" }, { "asin": "1595548114", "rating": 4, "text": "I am not an avid reader of historical fiction, but this book was nice. It was neither exciting nor dull and makes a decent summer read.<br /><br />The story is of Lucy, a young lady, who is pursuing a career in photography in a small town. The story is also of David who is trying to redeem his past. Their lives converge and sparks fly. It is a common theme in fiction, but charming nonetheless.<br /><br />I did find some of the story lacking. It was about 50 pages too long as the storyline dragged on without an significant progress in character development. Also, the end was a little unsatisfying. It ended the way I had anticipated without any big ordeal or revelation. Like I said, it was nice but not exciting.<br /><br />This book is part of the Rocky Creek Romance series; however, I did not need to read the 2 previous books to enjoy this book. It is as much a stand- alone book as it is a part of the series.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1307970908000, "title": "Decent but not spectacular" }, { "asin": "0764208055", "rating": 4, "text": "I have never read a book from the \"Texas Adventure and Romance\" genre, and I rarely read historical fiction. However, I read this book and enjoyed it very much.<br /><br />Elizabeth Evans travels to El Paso/Fort Bliss to help her widowed brother but quickly finds herself in the middle of an international event. Ranger Jake Nelson comes to her aid and quickly they fall in love. The problem is that both Elizabeth and Jake have loved and lost before and do not want to love and lose again.<br /><br />I did enjoy reading this book. There was enough action and drama to keep it from being too sappy with the romance. Sometimes the action was too much as I wondered how many more incidents could Elizabeth and Jake find themselves. Kidnapping, border crossing, and near drownings were just a few of this action packed incidents. There seemed to be no end to the adrenaline rush for the characters or even time to grieve from tragic events.<br /><br />Bethany House has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1316439948000, "title": "Action, drama, and romance to boot" }, { "asin": "1400318033", "rating": 5, "text": "What a delightful little book! Little Hermie is just right for young children. The book is short enough to keep their attention but cute enough to capture their hearts. The short prayer is written in rhyme so it is pleasing for little children to quietly listen to.<br /><br />Little Hermie is thanking God for His many blessings. Hermie thanks God for leaves to sleep on, for friends and family, for food and playtime, and for blessing me.<br /><br />What I liked about the book was that it was easy to read and sounds nice when read out loud. I wish the book was longer; however, I remember when my little ones were little and their attention span was very short.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1316887552000, "title": "Short and sweet" }, { "asin": "1595549404", "rating": 4, "text": "Much like Frank Peretti, Lis Weihl delves into the supernatural and the power of evil. I have enjoyed previous books by this author and continued to enjoy this new book.<br /><br />The story follows Dani, a psychiatrist who works for the DA, as she tries to solve a local murder. With the help of her friend, Tommy, she is able to solve the crime. Not only does she figure out who done it, but also she figures out why that person did it.<br /><br />The storyline is much like an episode of a TV crime drama. The murder is solved in less than 2 weeks, and the characters never seem to have a night where they actually sleep. As the reader, it is interesting to follow the storyline as you try to solve the crime along with the characters of the book.<br /><br />What I did not like about the book is the past history between Dani and Tommy. She was the overachieving nerd in high school, and he was the game winning jock. He had a crush on her and admitted to being intimidated by her. I found this part of the story a little far fetched.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1317777570000, "title": "Another great book by Lis Weihl" }, { "asin": "0764209418", "rating": 3, "text": "Joy was a young orphan in China who is adopted by Andrew and Gloria. They bring her back to Texas and raise her as their own. However, Joy was never really an orphan. Joy is Lily, the fourth daughter of the Chang family who had to place their daughter in an orphanage because of governmental restrictions. Lily's sister, Kai, has devoted her life to find Lily and to find a cure for polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic disease that has plagued her family.<br /><br />Adoption, disease, teenage rebellion, and family devotion are weaved throughout the story. In some ways, there were too many elements causing conflict in the story. Most of these elements are resolved at the end of the story, but some are not. For example, the story hints at turmoil in Gloria's life because of her dad's infidelity, but that story line is never resolved.<br /><br />The storyline stuttered too much for me. The flashback to China is deep and descriptive as the authors uses too many words to set the tone. Then the story flies through 2 years of relationship building after Kai and Lily meet for the first time. I just had a hard time with the pace of the story.<br /><br />I give the book a 3.5 out of 5. It is neither good not bad. Just okay for me.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1321031289000, "title": "Not an easy read" }, { "asin": "0310332311", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been a fan of Terri Blackstock for years and have never been disappointed. This most recent book of hers is a reprint from a previous book. She updated the story and incorporated the story of redemption. I appreciate how the redemption story is weaved into the book without being forced or preachy.<br /><br />Carny, the protagonist, is a new person after leaving the carnival life, becoming a Christian, and settling in the town of Serenity, Texas. When Logan Brisco comes to town, she see him for the con he is. As much as she tries to discredit him, he sees the truth of what he is doing. In the midst of this, they are falling in love.<br /><br />The story had many unexpected twists and turns, yet it was an easy read that kept me interested from cover to cover. Terri Blackstock really does have the gift of storytelling, and I appreciate that she has used her gift to honor God.<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1321741698000, "title": "Another great book by Blackstock" }, { "asin": "0764208225", "rating": 3, "text": "The story opens with Heather Hampton, successful Seattle architect, on the verge of her biggest career move yet. The entire deal hinges on the sale of her family's property in Texas. This is the place she experienced tragedy and depression and wanted nothing more to leave the past behind. In this deal she hoped to erase the past and forget the memories of her home. Instead she has to face the past to deal with the present. This past includes the mystery of how her father died in a place she never wanted to live. Heather tries to solve this mystery but only uncovers more secrets instead of answers.<br /><br />I got frustrated reading this book as the secrets continued to build instead of being revealed. I read page after page waiting for the truth to be revealed. It took 300 pages before the truth started to come out. Once the mystery was solved, everything unraveled quickly. It was almost too quickly for as slow as the book started.<br /><br />I did like one line toward the end of the book, \"The great leaps in life are not made in the absence of fear but in the presence of faith.\" There were some good parts to the story, but overall the book was not satisfying.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332207991000, "title": "Slow and somewhat boring" }, { "asin": "0310250684", "rating": 4, "text": "I have yet to read a Terri Blackstock novel that I did not like. Whenever I get my hands on a new book, I know I am in for a treat. In this latest story, there is drama, suspense, struggle, and triumph.<br /><br />Emily Covington is a recovering drug addict trying to have a normal life. She knows that addiction recovery is not a walk in the park; however, she is challenged in ways she never anticipated. Her whole family is challenged in ways they never anticipated. All of them are forced into situations where they have to choose between right and wrong, yet sometimes it is not obvious what is right and what is wrong. From start to finish, the characters must react to situations and make tough decisions. At times, I thought, \"No, don't do it!\" but the characters made their decisions and had to face the consequences. Somehow, it all works out in the end, but you still need to read the book to find out how it happens.<br /><br />Downfall is the third book in a 3 book series about the Covington family with Intervention and Viscous Cycle being the first 2 books in the series. Of the 3 books in the series, this was my least favorite, but I am glad I read it as it ends the series. The book was fast-paced and an easy read.<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332465975000, "title": "A nice end to the series" }, { "asin": "1595548874", "rating": 4, "text": "Whew! I just finished Need You Now, and it was like riding a roller coaster. There is drama, suspense, tragedy, and triumph.<br /><br />The Henderson family relocates to a small town in Texas. They left Houston in hopes of getting their 3 children away from negative influences; however, the drama does not go away quietly as they settle in Round Top, Texas. Darlene, the mother, is struggling to find herself as her children need her less and she still has a lot to give. Brad, the father, is working overtime to make partner and wonders if his hard work will really pay-off. Chad, the eldest son, left drama behind in Houston but is still faces temptation in Round Top. Grace, the middle daughter, is the perfect child as she hides her true feelings and is overwhelmed with keeping up appearances. Ansley, the youngest daughter, is the only member of the family without drama. Also, the family is surprised to find out their next door neighbor was a Hollywood movie star was drama of her own.<br /><br />It took 100 pages for all these characters to be introduced and all these story lines to be developed. Initially the book was slow as the author was laying the groundwork for all these characters and their respective issues. Then in the last 100 pages, the story was fast-paced as the issues were brought to light and characters had a change of heart or realization about their issues. It was a slow build up and then a fast ride to the end, like a roller coaster.<br /><br />I am surprised that this book is only 250 pages long. It could have been so much longer. There were a few issues that were never really resolved by the end of the book. The character of Ansley was never developed, and she could have easily been left out of the story altogether. Chad's history in Houston was never fully revealed. I could foresee the author adding another book to this series, either as a prequel or a sequel.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for me review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332791141000, "title": "It is quite a ride!" }, { "asin": "076420615X", "rating": 4, "text": "Set during the War Between the States, Texas had both Union supporters and Confederate supports. There were also quite a few Texas supports who only wanted what benefited their state. Hannah, the heroine of the story, is just trying to survive with her 2 step-siblings. The ranch on which they live was given to their father, a Conferderate supporter. The previous residents were Union supporters and left to fight the war. Hannah's father leaves to help his mother back in Vicksburg but has not been heard from since. Instead, William Bartlett returns, the son of the previous ranch owner, to claim his family property.<br /><br />Initially, the storyline was slow as the many characters were introduced. Therefore, it took a while to understand how Hannah Dandridge can to live on a Texas ranch with her much younger step-brother and step-sister. I almost lost interest in the book, but I continued to read so I could write a thorough review.<br /><br />Once I got into the book, I enjoyed reading it, mostly. Some parts of the story annoyed me. I did not like how clueless Hannah was in her dealings with Herbert Lockhart, her father's business partner. She also seemed naive about how her family came to live on the ranch. She is strong woman who came from a privileged upbringing and became a hard-working ranch woman. Yet, the story does not talk about the transformation. There is only a nod to how she was once privileged and now must take care of her family and land.<br /><br />The story ends nicely with all loose ends tied up. It was neither surprising nor upsetting.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1336512516000, "title": "Nice enough" }, { "asin": "0310333172", "rating": 4, "text": "Reading a suspense novel from the perspective of an author doing research for a suspense novel adds a unique spin to this story. The story is also based on an actual cold case solved by the FBI.<br /><br />The heroine of this story, Kariss, is writing a novel and doing research while shadowing an FBI agent, Tigo. As she does her research, she becomes the main character in her own suspenseful story. Throughout the entire book, she inserts herself into FBI business and puts herself in harms way. Luckily, the hero of the book, Tigo, is always there to save this damsel in distress. However, Kariss is just stubborn enough to think of herself not as a damsel in distress but a modern woman who can do anything. That attitude keeps getting her in trouble. There is also a romantic element as Kariss and Tigo start to see each other as more than just a nuisance.<br /><br />The book was easy to read and kept my interest throughout. There were many twists and turns, but the ending was satisfying. I did get a little annoyed at the heroine who would not listen to wisdom and foolishly found herself on the wrong side of town, but that is how the heroine and hero start to fall in love, or at least like. There is a sequel that will probably explore this romantic storyline.<br /><br />Zondervan provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1338379735000, "title": "Enjoyable to read" }, { "asin": "0764209779", "rating": 4, "text": "Beverly Lewis is the gold standard in Amish fiction. She started with The Shunning and continues to raise the bar for other books in this genre.<br /><br />Amelia Devries is a world-class violinist who is so focused on her music that she has lost her way in life. When she loses her way, literally, in a bad rainstorm, she finds herself in an Amish village. There she realizes her need to reclaim the truth she once knew. She also falls in love both with a young man and with a simpler life. Amelia then has to decide what she really wants in life and how to go about doing just that.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading this book and felt the calming effect of the Amish way. I am not a world renown musician, but I am a woman who, like Amelia, can forget what is truly important in life. This book is a gentle reminder for me and for all readers.<br /><br />Bethany House has provided a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1338564279000, "title": "More than just another Amish book" }, { "asin": "1414333218", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the first book by Randy Singer I have read, and it is a pretty good book. It contains a lot of drama, a bit of suspense, a smattering of action, and a dash of romance.<br /><br />Initially, I had a hard time keeping up with the many characters and how they relate to the storyline. The main character is Jamie Brock who tells the story in the first person. However, other parts of the story are told in the third person so the reader gets an inside view of the action. Even still, there are twists and surprises to the story that are unexpected and entertaining.<br /><br />This book reminds me of the many crime dramas available on TV but far more interesting. I just might have to read more by Randy Singer now that I have had a small taste of his work.", "timestamp": 1340974960000, "title": "Pretty Good" }, { "asin": "140168565X", "rating": 5, "text": "How appropriate that I finished reading this book on a nice rainy day.<br /><br />Daphne is a \"nose\" which is to say she knows how things smell and how things should smell. However, after being left at the altar, she loses her sense of smell which means she also may lose her job. So she must deal with the rejection of her ex-fiance and with the problem of creating new scents without being able to smell them.<br /><br />Of course, it would not be Chick Lit without romance. Daphne's new boss, Jesse, is a widow who himself is struggling with his job and with relationships. Mix it all up, and you have an interesting tale of love, loss, and love again.<br /><br />I have read all of the books by Kristin Billerbeck, and this is by far my favorite. Instead of the shallow and selfish heroines found in previous books, Daphne has depths and layers much like the fragrances she creates.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1342813416000, "title": "Love, loss, and love again" }, { "asin": "1401685617", "rating": 4, "text": "Not since Francine Rivers[...] has a book delved into the difficulties faced by a unwed teenage mother who decides to give up her child for adoption.<br /><br />The choices we make determine the people we become. This idea is wonderfully illustrated in this book. The book opens with Sandy Lincoln confirming her pregnancy with her mom at the doctor's office. The story takes off from there without slowing down or wasting a word. This could have been a 400+ page book, and I am grateful that the author kept the book as short as he did.<br /><br />The only reason why I gave this book a 4-star instead of a 5-star rating is that some of the characters were just too perfect. Sandy's mother, for example, was an uptight Southern woman who was also kind and compassionate when Sandy discovered she was pregnant. Only her classmates gossiped about her pregnancy, but no one was condemning or critical about her behavior. Instead everyone was supportive, except the birth father as he did not want to give up his football career.<br /><br />Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1343178216000, "title": "A fast paced but good read" }, { "asin": "0764209655", "rating": 5, "text": "No one wants to marry a groom because of chance, even if the groom is the man you have dreamed about since childhood. Meridith Hayes has had a crush on Travis Archer since he rescued her from a trap when she was a child. He was the man of her dreams, literally, and eventually, those dreams came true.<br /><br />I really enjoyed reading this book. The storyline was contrived, but the plot progressed smoothly with sufficient character development. It has been a while since I really liked reading historical fiction. This book was a breath of fresh air in my reading repertoire.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1344043100000, "title": "A Delight to Read" }, { "asin": "076420887X", "rating": 3, "text": "I did not understand the character of Melinda. She is a strong young women who must leave her life of affluence when her parents die. She becomes a lady's maid and must endure the life of a servant. She does this with courage and grace and is a model servant. However, when she falls in love with Evan she becomes a whiny, petulant child who wants to get her way no matter what Evan says. Even when the local pastor tries to encourage Melinda to wait and pray, she ignores his advice and continues to try to control the situation. It was very frustrating to read as nothing seemed to change as the story line dragged on.<br /><br />The first half of the book was painstakingly slow. I almost gave up reading the book. I had to finish reading in order to write a thorough review. So I kept on reading. The pace of the story line picked up, and I started to enjoy it. The second half of the book was so much better than the first half. I am glad I stuck with it, but I did not like having to plod through so much useless story line to get to good stuff.<br /><br />In the second half the book, the story was interesting and fun to read. There was drama, suspense, romance, and intrigue. If I could have just read the end without having to get through the beginning, I would have enjoyed this book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1346550361000, "title": "A slow story that picks up in the end" }, { "asin": "0849920701", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been reading Max Lucado books for 25 years. Even since I gave my life to Christ, his books have spoken to my heart and encouraged my faith. This latest book does not disappoint.<br /><br />This book revolutionary. I thought I understood grace. However, I have only just begun to comprehend the immense blessing of God's grace. Weaving every day stories with theology, Max Lucado opens our minds and our hearts to the great gift of grace.<br /><br />If I was to recommend just one book everyone should read this year, it would be this book. It is not hard to read or a long book, but the truths between the covers will stay with you long after you are done.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1348665842000, "title": "Grace is Great" }, { "asin": "1414349300", "rating": 3, "text": "On the good side, the story is well written. Character development is solid. Drama unfolds with plenty of action and suspense.<br /><br />On the bad side, I have an issue with the main character, Lance Corporal Bekah Shaw. She is a Marine reservist who is returning to action on her third deployment in as many years. Bekah is divorced from her husband who was never fit to be married in the first place. Bekah also must leave her young son in the care of her grandmother who also helped raise her. Bekah struggles with leaving her son behind but is courageous enough to serve her country. So far, the character is believable and almost admirable. However, once she starts to see action in a war zone, the character becomes less believable.<br /><br />Women in the military do not serve in combat units on the front line of battle. Even in today's military, a women would not be a fire team leader in charge of small unit attack. I know this because I served in the military, and my husband continues to serve. So I take offense to a story that stretches the truth to the point of a lie. If the main character was a man, a single dad who struggled with leaving a child behind, then this story would have been great. But since the main character is a women, this story is just too unrealistic to be enjoyable.<br /><br />Tyndale House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1349099524000, "title": "Could have been better" }, { "asin": "0310730538", "rating": 5, "text": "I ordered this book for my 11 year old daughter who loves American history and Indian culture. I read it first and thoroughly enjoyed it.<br /><br />Barbara Leininger is torn from her family during an Indian raid and forced to adapt to the Indian culture. Before she is forced into marriage with an Indian brave, she escapes with 3 other captives. Together, they must travel 300+ miles on foot to reach freedom. Living as an Indian was not easy nor was her escape. Yet through it all, she maintained her faith and her determination to see her younger sister again.<br /><br />This is an inspiring story for everyone. I am thankful for Zondervan who provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1358648395000, "title": "Inspring story" }, { "asin": "0764208888", "rating": 3, "text": "It is not hard to figure out the plot when the front cover of the book shows a bride and groom standing hand in hand. However, the story begins with a young woman, Callie, who has sworn off marriage and a young man, Wes, who does not want to socialize with the many wealthy families who visit Bridal Veil Island. So the reader expects the two to fall in love and get married before the end of the story.<br /><br />Without ruining the story, Callie and Wes do fall in love as expected. I was bored with the story line because it took 200 pages before Callie and Wes admit their affection for each other. There were a few obstacles to overcome and some of the characters had to change their opinions and desires before the story was complete. Yet none of these story elements involved significant drama or soul searching. The pace of the story was slow and predictable. It was not an exciting story but more of a nice read.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1360335782000, "title": "Nice but not great" }, { "asin": "0764210734", "rating": 5, "text": "Reading the Bible in a year has become a popular endeavor. However, the quest can be daunting. This book encourages women to meet the challenge and to do so with joy.<br /><br />The unique thing about this yearly reading method is that it is broken down by weeks instead of days. You can start any time since the weeks are not dated. So it really you are reading the Bible in 52 weeks. I also like that the New Testament books are interspersed throughout the year.<br /><br />Diane Stortz encourages women not to do this alone but to join or create a group who reads through the Bible together. The group will provide the necessary encouragement and accountability one needs to read through the entire Bible is just 52 weeks.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1360755817000, "title": "A great way to read the Bible" }, { "asin": "0764206192", "rating": 5, "text": "It has been a long time since I read a good book such as this one. It was not amazing; however, it was a nice leisurely read. The book had romance, a dash of suspense, and a nice helping of family. It was just what I needed!<br /><br />Merrill is a strong woman who has been taking care of her father and older brothers after the death of her mother. She is quite capable and is not looking to find a husband especially after living with so many men for so long. Of course, when she least expects it, a new man comes into to town and she falls in love. The twist is that she does not realize she is falling in love. He loves her, too, but there are some complications that are getting in the way. Only after much drama and suspense are they able to admit their love for each other.<br /><br />I probably gave the book away, but with all historical romance, the reader knows that the man and woman at the center of the story will fall in love and live happily ever after. Even though I knew it was going to happen, it was fun to find out how it would happen. That is why I enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1365439913000, "title": "A Nice Read" }, { "asin": "0764209795", "rating": 4, "text": "Beverly Lewis is the trailblazer for Amish fiction. I remember reading The Shunning years ago while discovering this new genre. She set the standard for all others who endeavoured to write Amish fiction.<br /><br />In this latest book, Jodi Winfield visits a local Amish community and rediscovers her own faith while learning about the Amish culture. The story is also about Maryanna Esh, a young widow and mother of 4, who learns that she can love again.<br /><br />The storyline is nice. The setting is charming. The people are delightful. Even the food sounds delicious. The middle of the book was tedious as the plot stagnated, but the ending was satisfying. Overall, this was a good book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1367846848000, "title": "Good enough to read" }, { "asin": "0764211129", "rating": 5, "text": "I read the O'Malley series years ago and wondered why Jennifer never had her own book. All the other siblings had a book, but Jennifer was left out, until now.<br /><br />Since it has been so long since I read the O'Malley series, I was excited to read this novella. The story is a flashback to when Jennifer became a believer in Jesus and when she fell in love with Tom. It was not exciting or earth-shattering. Instead it was sweet and comforting. Although the end of the book (SPOILER ALERT) begins Jennifer's journey with cancer, it is still an enjoyable book.<br /><br />I highly recommend this book to anyone who read the O'Malley series and to anyone who is looking for a nice summer read.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1371050146000, "title": "Nice and Sweet" }, { "asin": "0764209566", "rating": 3, "text": "As with most historical fiction, the heroine tries to be independent and strong but still enjoys having a man save the damsel in distress.<br /><br />The heroine of this story is Melanie Ross who is fired as a governess and must make a way for herself out west. She has no family left but inherits half of a general store. The other half is owned by Caleb Nelson, a widower and the single father of young Levi. Melanie and Caleb do not agree on how to run the store and often find themselves at odds. Only when they have to defend the store and the honor of their uncles, do they settle their differences.<br /><br />The story line was slow. The action did not really pick up until the last quarter of the book. I thought the story was about the difference of opinions between Melanie and Caleb. Instead it was about the deaths in town that were tied together but a common thread. By the time this part of the story reached its climax, the romance between Melanie and Caleb was long overdue. Even though the murderer was not who I expected, the rest of the story was predictable.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1372528648000, "title": "Too slow" }, { "asin": "0310315476", "rating": 5, "text": "Susanna Truitt always had a plan for her life, but when that plan falls apart, she must fully trust God with her future. Her boyfriend of 12 years dumps her; she loses her job; and she is forced to move out of her cottage. Nothing seems to be going her way. Even when she meets a man and enjoys a few dates with him, he returns to his Euorpean home after 2 weeks. But this man, Nate, is really Prince Nathaniel II, and Susanna's future might just become her own fairy tale.<br /><br />Initially, Susanna does not know that Nate is a prince but eventually learns the truth. What I liked is that this was not a belabored point in the story. There is some time and confusion between meeting Nate and discovering that he is a prince but not so much time that the reader is annoyed.<br /><br />I am surprised that I liked this book. Usually young adult fiction is immoral, predictable, and overly romantic. Instead, this book was delightful, engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1374059634000, "title": "A charming and delightful story" }, { "asin": "1414380437", "rating": 5, "text": "Well done, Beth Moore! I am so glad she published a teen edition of her book So Long Insecurity. I have read both books, and I am thoroughly impressed with this most recent publication.<br /><br />Girls, ladies, women, we are all insecure. Some are more so than others. But we all need to face our insecurities and overcome them. This book is a great way for young women to address and deal with their own insecurities.<br /><br />I have read other magazine-like books for teens. Often, they come across shallow and trendy without much substance. This book is quite the opposite. It is deep and full of truths, but with an interesting and engaging format. I highly recommend it to all teenagers. No one is immune from insecurities.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, please mention as part of every Web or Amazon review that Tyndale House Publishers has provided you with a complimentary copy of this book.", "timestamp": 1375454367000, "title": "Well Done!" }, { "asin": "0764210157", "rating": 3, "text": "There is an explosion at a nuclear facility. A security guard is trying to keep his job without having to lie about what he saw. A lab technician tries to discover what happened and whether or not he was exposed to radiation. A lawyer gets involved while she is grieving the loss of her mother and questioning a strained relationship with her father. A well-paid executive is trying to complete a illegal project while covering up the explosion.<br /><br />The story was not bad, but it was not very good either. There were so many characters that I did not feel like everyone was fully developed, nor were all their issues resolved by the end of the book. On top of the many characters, there was a plethora of scientific explanation about the explosion and the work of the nuclear facility. It was just too much to understand in one book.<br /><br />I did not dislike this book, but it was hard to finish. I got lost with all the characters and all the science involved.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a copy of this book in exchange for my review which I honestly give.", "timestamp": 1384797464000, "title": "Not bad but not great" }, { "asin": "140168968X", "rating": 5, "text": "I thoroughly enjoyed this book with the unique first person storytelling and the many characters intertwined throughout the story.<br /><br />Sam is an orphan girl who has is trying to make her way in today's culture. She knows her upbringing was lacking and used books to understand human nature. Books were her escape, but she also learned to hide behind these characters. Only when she learns to be her true self can she fully mature and become the woman she is suppose to be.<br /><br />I am not a reader of British literature so many of the books and characters (Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and The Scarlet Pimpernel) were unknown to me. I was still able to follow the story line and noticed that as Sam matured, she used her characters less and less. However, she never had to leave her great books behind as that was one of the few good memories she has of her childhood.<br /><br />What I most liked about the book was how the story was told through one-sided letters. I was able to figure out who Mr. Knightley was but only a few pages before he was revealed. The book was charming and enjoyable.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1385999251000, "title": "Charming" }, { "asin": "0764212435", "rating": 3, "text": "Mark Bishop is a Navy submarine commander, and Gina Gray is a brilliant scientist and researcher who discovers ways to help submarines stay quiet underwater. It seems like a match made in heaven, but it took a long time before these two people fall in love.<br /><br />The book included a lot of background of submarine warfare and the software programs that Gina was trying to design. The technical information was necessary to build up to the action at the end of the story; however, I felt that the book was longer than it needed to be. I had to skim the last 100 pages to get to the real action and to see if Gina and Mark would finally fall in love. The end is satifying yet seemed to come quickly after the 400+ page build up.<br /><br />I like books written by Dee Henderson and am impressed with the amount of research she put into this story. Yet I did not enjoy this book as much as her previous books. It just felt too long and too wordy.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1401376450000, "title": "Could have been shorter and better" }, { "asin": "1496403339", "rating": 4, "text": "Jed King is a singer/songwriter. When he writes &#34;The Song&#34;, his career takes off. He is happily married to Rose, but the time appart while on tour is detrimental to their relationship. This storyline reflects Song of Solomon and is a good modernization of the love story.<br /><br />When I say I want to curl up with a good book, this is that book. It is the kind of book that when you start reading, you lose track of time. The story invites you in, and you want to stay. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />The only negative comment I have is that I did not want to see the pictures from the movie in the book. It not only gave away the story line, but also the ending.<br /><br />Tyndale Fiction provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1421762188000, "title": "Curl up with this good book" }, { "asin": "0764211587", "rating": 3, "text": "Sarah Miller has finally settled into a good life. She has her work as a teacher and her friends whom she trusts. She recently found her sister and discovered she is an aunt. Unfortunately, her sister dies, and Sarah has now become a mother to her sister's daughter.<br /><br />While I liked the storyline, the pace was not so good. The beginning of the story was quick and intense. Then the story slowed down. Clues were dropped but at a mind-numbing pace. The pace never really picked up even as all the clues came together, but it was more of an afterthought instead of a climax to the story.<br /><br />I wanted to like this book, but it just was not for me.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1428431616000, "title": "Too slow" }, { "asin": "076421246X", "rating": 3, "text": "Marlena Wenger is struggling to follow her heart as she develops deeper relationships with her Mennonite grandmother, with her English niece, and with her Old Order Amish beau. She feels torn and has to decide for herself what she believes.<br /><br />I have read Amish fiction for years and usually like books by Beverly Lewis. However, this one was not my favorite, or even top 10. The story line was interesting, but the execution was disjointed. I never understood Marlena's motivation or even how to she came to her new found understanding of faith.<br /><br />There was another storyline about a young boy that helps an older man, who is suffering from memory loss, to find his way home. The only connection between the 2 stories is that they were next door neighbors. I felt like the stories were 2 separate books forced into 1.<br /><br />The book was hard to follow and slow going. It was not something I would recommend.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1429795953000, "title": "Not a good book" }, { "asin": "0764212613", "rating": 3, "text": "Through tragedy, Kelli Huddleston discovers that her dad was not what he seemed which leads her to discover her family who are more than they seemed.<br /><br />Kelli is fired from a job because she stood up for what is right. This gave her the opportunity to travel across the country to find her birth family and see who they really are while protecting her real identity. She learns a great deal about them and about herself.<br /><br />While the story is interesting, I had a hard time with how everything fell into place so nicely. Kelli had the luxury of not worrying about her income. Her birth mom was forgiving and understanding. Her birth sister was open and loving and willing to start a deep relationship with this stranger. Even her father's best friend extended friendship and grace to Kelli with no questions asked. No one seemed hurt when the truth came out about what Kelli's father did to the family. It was just too sugary sweet for my tastes.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1430830897000, "title": "Too sweet for my tastes" }, { "asin": "0310335582", "rating": 3, "text": "I was fascinated with a story about someone becoming Amish instead of someone leaving the Amish community. It was role reversal. Initially, I enjoyed reading about Sherry Gore conversion from living as an Englisher to becoming Amish.<br /><br />As I was reading, I expected the author to share her spiritual awakening. Sherry does get baptized and has a heartfelt conversion to her faith. However, she believes in the maxim &#34;God does for those who do for themselves&#34;. This really bothered me because many people think this is a Biblical passage, but it is not. It is also not based on the teachings of the Bible. It is a man-made, man enforced phrase.<br /><br />I also did not understand why Sherry continued to move around and piecemeal her belief system based on her life experiences, instead of the Bible. I struggled to even understand why she became Amish.<br /><br />Zondervan provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1440709260000, "title": "Disappointing" } ]

[ { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 4, "text": "I enjoyed reading this historical fiction which is a genre I don't read often. I'm glad I endeavored to read this one because it was a nice change of pace.<br /><br />The story was sweet and charming and very innocent which is what I like in the fiction I read. The plot was a little predictable and had some unnecessary developments. I felt like the book was 50 pages too long. I knew what was going to happen and just wanted the story to get on with it. Yet I am glad I took the time to read the entire book instead of just skipping to end to see what happens.<br /><br />Overall, it was a nice little book that will make for a refreshing summer read.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine", "timestamp": 1276012290000, "title": "A charming story" }, { "asin": "159554870X", "rating": 4, "text": "I have read quite a few books from the Amish genre already. I read the Beverly Lewis series, Heritage of Lancaster County, 10 years ago. Since then the market has been saturated with Amish fiction. So I was pleasantly surprised with this book.<br /><br />The story focuses on Sarah King, but she is not the only one in the story who learns a wunderbaar lesson in trusting Der Herr. Sarah, Grant, and even the Fisher family learn to trust God and to return to truth. It is a lesson that we all need reminding.<br /><br />This is the first book in the series entitled \"A Patch of Heaven.\" The next book, Lilly's Wedding Quilt is due out in April 2011. I look forward to reading more in this series.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1277860366000, "title": "A wunderbaar story" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "I got a chance to read another terrific book by Max Lucado. He always brings a fresh perspective to our lives as Christians. Sometimes he even hits too close to home, and I have to take a good look at myself to see where I may need to make some changes. Yet the book is not condemning but more convicting. Sometimes change is good even when it is hard.<br /><br />This book challenges me to do more than just believe in Christ and live a good life. If I want to outlive my life, God can use me to do even more than I could ever dream. When Jesus said \"Follow me\" to his disciples, He is asking me, too. And when they followed, He did amazing things through them. And when I follow, He can do amazing things through me.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1284124982000, "title": "There's more to life" }, { "asin": "1595540091", "rating": 5, "text": "I just started to read Ted Dekker this summer. A friend loaned me Black, and I am glad that I got my feet wet with the Circle series ([[ASIN:1595546820 Green (The Circle Series)]], [[ASIN:B003TO6D3W Black (The Circle)]], [[ASIN:B003IWYGW0 Red (The Circle Series)]], and [[ASIN:B003TO6D5U White (The Circle Series)]]) before reading Immanuel's Veins.<br /><br />To be honest, in order to read and enjoy his books, I have to open my mind and let go of preconceived notions. When I am reading, it feels like riding a roller coaster...at first, I am not so sure I am going to like it but then the excitement starts tp pick up, and I don't want it to end.<br /><br />I really do not know how what category this book falls into. It could be suspense, drama, murder, romance, fantasy, or even historical fiction. I guess by not being able to put the book into one category makes this book even more interesting to read.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1284397418000, "title": "Open your mind" }, { "asin": "0764208659", "rating": 5, "text": "I just finished reading this terrific book. I have read [[ASIN:0764200836 Jesus Freaks: Martyrs: Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus: The Ultimate Jesus Freaks]]and am in the middle of [[ASIN:B0009U7YQO Under God]], so I am familiar with books that Toby Mac is involved in. He does not write the book himself (he saves his writing for lyrics), but instead he compiles stories from others who inspire us and encourage us.<br /><br />My son is excited to read this book, too. We went to a Toby Mac concert last year, and I am grateful that my middle school son is singing lyrics that are building and encouraging. Some of the music his friends listen to is questionable. This book will encourage him to be more than just a believer but to live out his faith.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Bethany House has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1286144908000, "title": "Read this book to be inspired" }, { "asin": "0849946158", "rating": 5, "text": "I did not intend to read 3 books in the last year about people describing heaven from the first person perspective. [[ASIN:0800759494 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life]], [[ASIN:0764207946 Flight to Heaven: A Plane Crash...A Lone Survivor...A Journey to Heaven--and Back]], and Heaven is for Real share the same perspective of what heaven is like. All 3 books also have in a common a person who had to suffer and go through intense medical drama in order to experience heaven. I am glad that I have read all 3 of these books. I am also excited to be doing a study on Revelation ([[ASIN:B003VRVTYU Here And Now...There And Then: Listening Guide & Weekly Assignments]] by Beth Moore). It seems like God is trying to teach me something, and I best be paying attention. Next thing I know, my pastor will be preaching about heaven. ;)<br /><br />What I liked about Heaven is Real is the fresh and honest understanding of heaven. An almost 4 year old does not have the Biblical knowledge to describe heaven like he did unless he saw it himself. There are some things that I could not describe even after studying the Bible. No amount of study compares to an eyewitness account, and what this young boy describes is completely in alignment with what the Scriptures teach us.<br /><br />I also want to commend Todd and Sonja Burpo for being careful and honest in trying to understand what their son, Colton, saw. It is easy to feed information to your children and sway their perspective. However, the Burpo's were discerning in allowing their son to tell them what he saw without trying to influence his understanding. As a result, we get to read a great book about heaven and about a little child who had the chance to see it for himself.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1288749668000, "title": "True and honest" }, { "asin": "0764207326", "rating": 3, "text": "I like a good book to read on vacation. I received this book to review but did not get to go on vacation to read it. However, it did bring back good memories of a trip I took to OBX.<br /><br />This book was mildly entertaining. It was not an easy read as too many characters were introduced yet they did not seem significant to the story line. My mind was overwhelmed with trying to understand each character and their back story. I think half of the characters were unnecessary and the story would have been the same without them.<br /><br />The book falls under the category of inspirational fiction, but there was not a whole lot of talk about God and religion. The book could also be a romance novel, but the story was not overly romantic. At times, I wanted to read more about the romantic relationship between 2 characters and at other times, I was tired of hearing about how the main character felt about a particular man. There was also some drama and suspense in the book. So I am not sure how to categorize this book. Instead I will say the story is unique.<br /><br />Bethany House has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1289701487000, "title": "A vacation read" }, { "asin": "0764208500", "rating": 1, "text": "I can honestly say that I was not inspired while reading this book. I did not like this book and it left a bad taste in my mouth.<br /><br />Too verbose. I did not enjoy the many paragraphs of descriptive writing that were unnecessary to the story line. Some description is needed to help the reader visualize the story but not so much that the background becomes a storyline itself.<br /><br />Too many characters. I was exhausted by the beginning of the 4th chapter as yet another character was being introduced. Since so much description is given to each character, it was time consuming to keep tract of each new character.<br /><br />Too long. I was on page 286 before I realized that there had yet to be a climax to the story. For an author writing about writing, I was surprised that the book lacked basic story elements. In the last 40 pages, the protagonist did find herself at the turning point, but it felt rushed as if the author needed to keep the book under 320 pages.<br /><br />Too much smut. As mentioned in other reviews, this book was not as Christian as the Christian market expects. I was convicted a few years ago about reading books that bordered on smut. I turned to Christian publishers to find morally entertaining books. I did not expect to read about half naked women and unmarried couples sleeping together in this novel.<br /><br />I do not enjoy writing negative reviews, but I have read and reviewed so many books this year that it was bound to happen.<br /><br />Bethany House has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1291065444000, "title": "Uninspiring" }, { "asin": "1595547916", "rating": 4, "text": "Kristin Billerbeck set the standard for Chick Lit, and this book is the very definition of Chick Lit. It is an easy read with light-hearted romance and a dash of drama thrown in for good measure.<br /><br />Katie is a young woman who has overcome hurt but has now left the past behind to live a decent life. However, her past comes back to mess up what she has established. Sometimes you need to learn from the past to make a better future, and Katie does just that.<br /><br />Much like other books by Kristin Billerbeck (What a Girl Wants and A Girl's Best Friend), this book has a young woman trying to find her true self while staying true to her faith in a materialistic world. I think we can all relate to that so some degree.<br /><br />On a side note, I felt that the relationship between Katie and Dexter was much like the relationship between Meg Ryan and her fiance in Sleepless in Seattle. It was safe and comfortable but a passionless relationship that was doomed from the start.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1295116389000, "title": "Another Chick Lit from Billerbeck" }, { "asin": "1595545395", "rating": 3, "text": "Another foray into the chick-lit genre. This book was enjoyable to read and interesting enough to keep my attention throughout the story. The character development was a bit slow at times but realistic enough. It has been the first book in a while that I did not rush to finish. I took my time even though I could have rushed to finish just to see what happens. I like to take my time if the book is good.<br /><br />I am not sure why the title was \"Save the Date.\" By the end of the book, I still did not understand what the title meant. I may have missed something, but \"Saving Grace\" seems like a more fitting title.<br /><br />I was a bit confused with the character of Julian and his relationship with Clare. They reminded me of Karen and Jack in the old sitcom Will and Grace. I am not sure how his character added to the storyline, and for me, he was more a distraction.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1296225657000, "title": "Saving Grace is a better title" }, { "asin": "1595548017", "rating": 4, "text": "The pace of this book kept me from giving it 5 stars. I felt like the story slowed down too much in the middle which dragged out the plot for too long. Will she fall in love? Will he tell her the truth? I wanted to know what happened next, but for about 100 pages, it felt like nothing was really happening. It was not until page 250 that I got the information I had been wanting to know about a pivotal character. So for that reason, this was a page turner.<br /><br />When I typed \"A Cowboy's Touch\" into the search on amazon, another book with the same title came up. It was definitely not this book. It was a romance but more, shall we saw, graphic. I hope people do not confuse these 2 books because Denise Hunter's \"A Cowboy Touch\" is nothing like what I saw on the cover of the other book.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provides me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my opinion which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1299894529000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "Drugs, addiction, child trafficing, and that is just the first chapter.<br /><br />The Covington family has had its share of tragedy and sorrow, but they find themselves in the middle of another heartache as they try heal from their own pain. Emily is one year sober (read about her struggles in [[ASIN:0310321980 Intervention (Intervention Series, Book 1)]]), and is excited to live a new life. But how do you live a new life when the old life keeps dragging you down?<br /><br />This was one of those can't-put-it-down kind of books. I enjoyed reading it and would keep reading to find out what happens next. I was not happy when the book was over only because I like how Terri Blackstock writes and want to know more about what happens next. The book does leave a small open door so I hope that means there is another book to be written???<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1302310511000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "078523120X", "rating": 1, "text": "I did not like this book. I tried like it, but it was not my cup of tea. It was downright unimaginative.<br /><br />David Ponder, the main character from [[ASIN:0785273220 The Traveler's Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success]], returns. He is taken to a summit where he, along with many pivotal people from history, must save the world by coming up a 2 word phrase. Together, they discuss and ponder (pun intended) what the phrase could be. They have 7 chances to get it right. After each incorrect guess, a new traveler is added to the discussion.<br /><br />So what bored me about the book is that there was a whole lot of talk but not much action. The story is the discussion of a 2 word phrase. It got so boring, that I just skipped to the end of the chapter to see what the phrase will be. I also knew that it would take all 7 chances before they got it right, but even then the final 2 word phrase was trite and uninspiring.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provides me with a free copy of this book for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1302551042000, "title": "Dull and unexciting" }, { "asin": "1414319495", "rating": 4, "text": "I was glad to read another book in the juvenille fiction genre. It was interesting to read this cross between a chapter book and a graphic novel. I can see how this would be a good book for a boy who is able to read chapter books but is not interested in some of the options that are available.<br /><br />Since I have not read the first two books in this series, I had a hard time understanding the characters and their backgrounds. I had to quickly catch up with their backstory while at the same time keep up with the action from this story. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I had read the previous books; however, that is not to say that I did not enjoy this book. On the contrary, it was an interesting book which kept my attention throughout.<br /><br />The story is about a boy and 2 girls who find themselves in the middle of a mystery. They are as integral as the adults in the book at solving the mystery. It is fast-paced and action packed. I would classify the book as action and suspense with Biblical overtones.<br /><br />I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for this review.", "timestamp": 1306176331000, "title": "A cross between graphic novel and chapter book" }, { "asin": "1595548114", "rating": 4, "text": "I am not an avid reader of historical fiction, but this book was nice. It was neither exciting nor dull and makes a decent summer read.<br /><br />The story is of Lucy, a young lady, who is pursuing a career in photography in a small town. The story is also of David who is trying to redeem his past. Their lives converge and sparks fly. It is a common theme in fiction, but charming nonetheless.<br /><br />I did find some of the story lacking. It was about 50 pages too long as the storyline dragged on without an significant progress in character development. Also, the end was a little unsatisfying. It ended the way I had anticipated without any big ordeal or revelation. Like I said, it was nice but not exciting.<br /><br />This book is part of the Rocky Creek Romance series; however, I did not need to read the 2 previous books to enjoy this book. It is as much a stand- alone book as it is a part of the series.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1307970908000, "title": "Decent but not spectacular" }, { "asin": "0764208055", "rating": 4, "text": "I have never read a book from the \"Texas Adventure and Romance\" genre, and I rarely read historical fiction. However, I read this book and enjoyed it very much.<br /><br />Elizabeth Evans travels to El Paso/Fort Bliss to help her widowed brother but quickly finds herself in the middle of an international event. Ranger Jake Nelson comes to her aid and quickly they fall in love. The problem is that both Elizabeth and Jake have loved and lost before and do not want to love and lose again.<br /><br />I did enjoy reading this book. There was enough action and drama to keep it from being too sappy with the romance. Sometimes the action was too much as I wondered how many more incidents could Elizabeth and Jake find themselves. Kidnapping, border crossing, and near drownings were just a few of this action packed incidents. There seemed to be no end to the adrenaline rush for the characters or even time to grieve from tragic events.<br /><br />Bethany House has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1316439948000, "title": "Action, drama, and romance to boot" }, { "asin": "1400318033", "rating": 5, "text": "What a delightful little book! Little Hermie is just right for young children. The book is short enough to keep their attention but cute enough to capture their hearts. The short prayer is written in rhyme so it is pleasing for little children to quietly listen to.<br /><br />Little Hermie is thanking God for His many blessings. Hermie thanks God for leaves to sleep on, for friends and family, for food and playtime, and for blessing me.<br /><br />What I liked about the book was that it was easy to read and sounds nice when read out loud. I wish the book was longer; however, I remember when my little ones were little and their attention span was very short.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1316887552000, "title": "Short and sweet" }, { "asin": "1595549404", "rating": 4, "text": "Much like Frank Peretti, Lis Weihl delves into the supernatural and the power of evil. I have enjoyed previous books by this author and continued to enjoy this new book.<br /><br />The story follows Dani, a psychiatrist who works for the DA, as she tries to solve a local murder. With the help of her friend, Tommy, she is able to solve the crime. Not only does she figure out who done it, but also she figures out why that person did it.<br /><br />The storyline is much like an episode of a TV crime drama. The murder is solved in less than 2 weeks, and the characters never seem to have a night where they actually sleep. As the reader, it is interesting to follow the storyline as you try to solve the crime along with the characters of the book.<br /><br />What I did not like about the book is the past history between Dani and Tommy. She was the overachieving nerd in high school, and he was the game winning jock. He had a crush on her and admitted to being intimidated by her. I found this part of the story a little far fetched.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1317777570000, "title": "Another great book by Lis Weihl" }, { "asin": "0764209418", "rating": 3, "text": "Joy was a young orphan in China who is adopted by Andrew and Gloria. They bring her back to Texas and raise her as their own. However, Joy was never really an orphan. Joy is Lily, the fourth daughter of the Chang family who had to place their daughter in an orphanage because of governmental restrictions. Lily's sister, Kai, has devoted her life to find Lily and to find a cure for polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic disease that has plagued her family.<br /><br />Adoption, disease, teenage rebellion, and family devotion are weaved throughout the story. In some ways, there were too many elements causing conflict in the story. Most of these elements are resolved at the end of the story, but some are not. For example, the story hints at turmoil in Gloria's life because of her dad's infidelity, but that story line is never resolved.<br /><br />The storyline stuttered too much for me. The flashback to China is deep and descriptive as the authors uses too many words to set the tone. Then the story flies through 2 years of relationship building after Kai and Lily meet for the first time. I just had a hard time with the pace of the story.<br /><br />I give the book a 3.5 out of 5. It is neither good not bad. Just okay for me.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1321031289000, "title": "Not an easy read" }, { "asin": "0310332311", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been a fan of Terri Blackstock for years and have never been disappointed. This most recent book of hers is a reprint from a previous book. She updated the story and incorporated the story of redemption. I appreciate how the redemption story is weaved into the book without being forced or preachy.<br /><br />Carny, the protagonist, is a new person after leaving the carnival life, becoming a Christian, and settling in the town of Serenity, Texas. When Logan Brisco comes to town, she see him for the con he is. As much as she tries to discredit him, he sees the truth of what he is doing. In the midst of this, they are falling in love.<br /><br />The story had many unexpected twists and turns, yet it was an easy read that kept me interested from cover to cover. Terri Blackstock really does have the gift of storytelling, and I appreciate that she has used her gift to honor God.<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1321741698000, "title": "Another great book by Blackstock" }, { "asin": "0764208225", "rating": 3, "text": "The story opens with Heather Hampton, successful Seattle architect, on the verge of her biggest career move yet. The entire deal hinges on the sale of her family's property in Texas. This is the place she experienced tragedy and depression and wanted nothing more to leave the past behind. In this deal she hoped to erase the past and forget the memories of her home. Instead she has to face the past to deal with the present. This past includes the mystery of how her father died in a place she never wanted to live. Heather tries to solve this mystery but only uncovers more secrets instead of answers.<br /><br />I got frustrated reading this book as the secrets continued to build instead of being revealed. I read page after page waiting for the truth to be revealed. It took 300 pages before the truth started to come out. Once the mystery was solved, everything unraveled quickly. It was almost too quickly for as slow as the book started.<br /><br />I did like one line toward the end of the book, \"The great leaps in life are not made in the absence of fear but in the presence of faith.\" There were some good parts to the story, but overall the book was not satisfying.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332207991000, "title": "Slow and somewhat boring" }, { "asin": "0310250684", "rating": 4, "text": "I have yet to read a Terri Blackstock novel that I did not like. Whenever I get my hands on a new book, I know I am in for a treat. In this latest story, there is drama, suspense, struggle, and triumph.<br /><br />Emily Covington is a recovering drug addict trying to have a normal life. She knows that addiction recovery is not a walk in the park; however, she is challenged in ways she never anticipated. Her whole family is challenged in ways they never anticipated. All of them are forced into situations where they have to choose between right and wrong, yet sometimes it is not obvious what is right and what is wrong. From start to finish, the characters must react to situations and make tough decisions. At times, I thought, \"No, don't do it!\" but the characters made their decisions and had to face the consequences. Somehow, it all works out in the end, but you still need to read the book to find out how it happens.<br /><br />Downfall is the third book in a 3 book series about the Covington family with Intervention and Viscous Cycle being the first 2 books in the series. Of the 3 books in the series, this was my least favorite, but I am glad I read it as it ends the series. The book was fast-paced and an easy read.<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332465975000, "title": "A nice end to the series" }, { "asin": "1595548874", "rating": 4, "text": "Whew! I just finished Need You Now, and it was like riding a roller coaster. There is drama, suspense, tragedy, and triumph.<br /><br />The Henderson family relocates to a small town in Texas. They left Houston in hopes of getting their 3 children away from negative influences; however, the drama does not go away quietly as they settle in Round Top, Texas. Darlene, the mother, is struggling to find herself as her children need her less and she still has a lot to give. Brad, the father, is working overtime to make partner and wonders if his hard work will really pay-off. Chad, the eldest son, left drama behind in Houston but is still faces temptation in Round Top. Grace, the middle daughter, is the perfect child as she hides her true feelings and is overwhelmed with keeping up appearances. Ansley, the youngest daughter, is the only member of the family without drama. Also, the family is surprised to find out their next door neighbor was a Hollywood movie star was drama of her own.<br /><br />It took 100 pages for all these characters to be introduced and all these story lines to be developed. Initially the book was slow as the author was laying the groundwork for all these characters and their respective issues. Then in the last 100 pages, the story was fast-paced as the issues were brought to light and characters had a change of heart or realization about their issues. It was a slow build up and then a fast ride to the end, like a roller coaster.<br /><br />I am surprised that this book is only 250 pages long. It could have been so much longer. There were a few issues that were never really resolved by the end of the book. The character of Ansley was never developed, and she could have easily been left out of the story altogether. Chad's history in Houston was never fully revealed. I could foresee the author adding another book to this series, either as a prequel or a sequel.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for me review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332791141000, "title": "It is quite a ride!" }, { "asin": "076420615X", "rating": 4, "text": "Set during the War Between the States, Texas had both Union supporters and Confederate supports. There were also quite a few Texas supports who only wanted what benefited their state. Hannah, the heroine of the story, is just trying to survive with her 2 step-siblings. The ranch on which they live was given to their father, a Conferderate supporter. The previous residents were Union supporters and left to fight the war. Hannah's father leaves to help his mother back in Vicksburg but has not been heard from since. Instead, William Bartlett returns, the son of the previous ranch owner, to claim his family property.<br /><br />Initially, the storyline was slow as the many characters were introduced. Therefore, it took a while to understand how Hannah Dandridge can to live on a Texas ranch with her much younger step-brother and step-sister. I almost lost interest in the book, but I continued to read so I could write a thorough review.<br /><br />Once I got into the book, I enjoyed reading it, mostly. Some parts of the story annoyed me. I did not like how clueless Hannah was in her dealings with Herbert Lockhart, her father's business partner. She also seemed naive about how her family came to live on the ranch. She is strong woman who came from a privileged upbringing and became a hard-working ranch woman. Yet, the story does not talk about the transformation. There is only a nod to how she was once privileged and now must take care of her family and land.<br /><br />The story ends nicely with all loose ends tied up. It was neither surprising nor upsetting.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1336512516000, "title": "Nice enough" }, { "asin": "0310333172", "rating": 4, "text": "Reading a suspense novel from the perspective of an author doing research for a suspense novel adds a unique spin to this story. The story is also based on an actual cold case solved by the FBI.<br /><br />The heroine of this story, Kariss, is writing a novel and doing research while shadowing an FBI agent, Tigo. As she does her research, she becomes the main character in her own suspenseful story. Throughout the entire book, she inserts herself into FBI business and puts herself in harms way. Luckily, the hero of the book, Tigo, is always there to save this damsel in distress. However, Kariss is just stubborn enough to think of herself not as a damsel in distress but a modern woman who can do anything. That attitude keeps getting her in trouble. There is also a romantic element as Kariss and Tigo start to see each other as more than just a nuisance.<br /><br />The book was easy to read and kept my interest throughout. There were many twists and turns, but the ending was satisfying. I did get a little annoyed at the heroine who would not listen to wisdom and foolishly found herself on the wrong side of town, but that is how the heroine and hero start to fall in love, or at least like. There is a sequel that will probably explore this romantic storyline.<br /><br />Zondervan provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1338379735000, "title": "Enjoyable to read" }, { "asin": "0764209779", "rating": 4, "text": "Beverly Lewis is the gold standard in Amish fiction. She started with The Shunning and continues to raise the bar for other books in this genre.<br /><br />Amelia Devries is a world-class violinist who is so focused on her music that she has lost her way in life. When she loses her way, literally, in a bad rainstorm, she finds herself in an Amish village. There she realizes her need to reclaim the truth she once knew. She also falls in love both with a young man and with a simpler life. Amelia then has to decide what she really wants in life and how to go about doing just that.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading this book and felt the calming effect of the Amish way. I am not a world renown musician, but I am a woman who, like Amelia, can forget what is truly important in life. This book is a gentle reminder for me and for all readers.<br /><br />Bethany House has provided a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1338564279000, "title": "More than just another Amish book" }, { "asin": "1414333218", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the first book by Randy Singer I have read, and it is a pretty good book. It contains a lot of drama, a bit of suspense, a smattering of action, and a dash of romance.<br /><br />Initially, I had a hard time keeping up with the many characters and how they relate to the storyline. The main character is Jamie Brock who tells the story in the first person. However, other parts of the story are told in the third person so the reader gets an inside view of the action. Even still, there are twists and surprises to the story that are unexpected and entertaining.<br /><br />This book reminds me of the many crime dramas available on TV but far more interesting. I just might have to read more by Randy Singer now that I have had a small taste of his work.", "timestamp": 1340974960000, "title": "Pretty Good" }, { "asin": "140168565X", "rating": 5, "text": "How appropriate that I finished reading this book on a nice rainy day.<br /><br />Daphne is a \"nose\" which is to say she knows how things smell and how things should smell. However, after being left at the altar, she loses her sense of smell which means she also may lose her job. So she must deal with the rejection of her ex-fiance and with the problem of creating new scents without being able to smell them.<br /><br />Of course, it would not be Chick Lit without romance. Daphne's new boss, Jesse, is a widow who himself is struggling with his job and with relationships. Mix it all up, and you have an interesting tale of love, loss, and love again.<br /><br />I have read all of the books by Kristin Billerbeck, and this is by far my favorite. Instead of the shallow and selfish heroines found in previous books, Daphne has depths and layers much like the fragrances she creates.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1342813416000, "title": "Love, loss, and love again" }, { "asin": "1401685617", "rating": 4, "text": "Not since Francine Rivers[...] has a book delved into the difficulties faced by a unwed teenage mother who decides to give up her child for adoption.<br /><br />The choices we make determine the people we become. This idea is wonderfully illustrated in this book. The book opens with Sandy Lincoln confirming her pregnancy with her mom at the doctor's office. The story takes off from there without slowing down or wasting a word. This could have been a 400+ page book, and I am grateful that the author kept the book as short as he did.<br /><br />The only reason why I gave this book a 4-star instead of a 5-star rating is that some of the characters were just too perfect. Sandy's mother, for example, was an uptight Southern woman who was also kind and compassionate when Sandy discovered she was pregnant. Only her classmates gossiped about her pregnancy, but no one was condemning or critical about her behavior. Instead everyone was supportive, except the birth father as he did not want to give up his football career.<br /><br />Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1343178216000, "title": "A fast paced but good read" }, { "asin": "0764209655", "rating": 5, "text": "No one wants to marry a groom because of chance, even if the groom is the man you have dreamed about since childhood. Meridith Hayes has had a crush on Travis Archer since he rescued her from a trap when she was a child. He was the man of her dreams, literally, and eventually, those dreams came true.<br /><br />I really enjoyed reading this book. The storyline was contrived, but the plot progressed smoothly with sufficient character development. It has been a while since I really liked reading historical fiction. This book was a breath of fresh air in my reading repertoire.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1344043100000, "title": "A Delight to Read" }, { "asin": "076420887X", "rating": 3, "text": "I did not understand the character of Melinda. She is a strong young women who must leave her life of affluence when her parents die. She becomes a lady's maid and must endure the life of a servant. She does this with courage and grace and is a model servant. However, when she falls in love with Evan she becomes a whiny, petulant child who wants to get her way no matter what Evan says. Even when the local pastor tries to encourage Melinda to wait and pray, she ignores his advice and continues to try to control the situation. It was very frustrating to read as nothing seemed to change as the story line dragged on.<br /><br />The first half of the book was painstakingly slow. I almost gave up reading the book. I had to finish reading in order to write a thorough review. So I kept on reading. The pace of the story line picked up, and I started to enjoy it. The second half of the book was so much better than the first half. I am glad I stuck with it, but I did not like having to plod through so much useless story line to get to good stuff.<br /><br />In the second half the book, the story was interesting and fun to read. There was drama, suspense, romance, and intrigue. If I could have just read the end without having to get through the beginning, I would have enjoyed this book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1346550361000, "title": "A slow story that picks up in the end" }, { "asin": "0849920701", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been reading Max Lucado books for 25 years. Even since I gave my life to Christ, his books have spoken to my heart and encouraged my faith. This latest book does not disappoint.<br /><br />This book revolutionary. I thought I understood grace. However, I have only just begun to comprehend the immense blessing of God's grace. Weaving every day stories with theology, Max Lucado opens our minds and our hearts to the great gift of grace.<br /><br />If I was to recommend just one book everyone should read this year, it would be this book. It is not hard to read or a long book, but the truths between the covers will stay with you long after you are done.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1348665842000, "title": "Grace is Great" }, { "asin": "1414349300", "rating": 3, "text": "On the good side, the story is well written. Character development is solid. Drama unfolds with plenty of action and suspense.<br /><br />On the bad side, I have an issue with the main character, Lance Corporal Bekah Shaw. She is a Marine reservist who is returning to action on her third deployment in as many years. Bekah is divorced from her husband who was never fit to be married in the first place. Bekah also must leave her young son in the care of her grandmother who also helped raise her. Bekah struggles with leaving her son behind but is courageous enough to serve her country. So far, the character is believable and almost admirable. However, once she starts to see action in a war zone, the character becomes less believable.<br /><br />Women in the military do not serve in combat units on the front line of battle. Even in today's military, a women would not be a fire team leader in charge of small unit attack. I know this because I served in the military, and my husband continues to serve. So I take offense to a story that stretches the truth to the point of a lie. If the main character was a man, a single dad who struggled with leaving a child behind, then this story would have been great. But since the main character is a women, this story is just too unrealistic to be enjoyable.<br /><br />Tyndale House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1349099524000, "title": "Could have been better" }, { "asin": "0310730538", "rating": 5, "text": "I ordered this book for my 11 year old daughter who loves American history and Indian culture. I read it first and thoroughly enjoyed it.<br /><br />Barbara Leininger is torn from her family during an Indian raid and forced to adapt to the Indian culture. Before she is forced into marriage with an Indian brave, she escapes with 3 other captives. Together, they must travel 300+ miles on foot to reach freedom. Living as an Indian was not easy nor was her escape. Yet through it all, she maintained her faith and her determination to see her younger sister again.<br /><br />This is an inspiring story for everyone. I am thankful for Zondervan who provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1358648395000, "title": "Inspring story" }, { "asin": "0764208888", "rating": 3, "text": "It is not hard to figure out the plot when the front cover of the book shows a bride and groom standing hand in hand. However, the story begins with a young woman, Callie, who has sworn off marriage and a young man, Wes, who does not want to socialize with the many wealthy families who visit Bridal Veil Island. So the reader expects the two to fall in love and get married before the end of the story.<br /><br />Without ruining the story, Callie and Wes do fall in love as expected. I was bored with the story line because it took 200 pages before Callie and Wes admit their affection for each other. There were a few obstacles to overcome and some of the characters had to change their opinions and desires before the story was complete. Yet none of these story elements involved significant drama or soul searching. The pace of the story was slow and predictable. It was not an exciting story but more of a nice read.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1360335782000, "title": "Nice but not great" }, { "asin": "0764210734", "rating": 5, "text": "Reading the Bible in a year has become a popular endeavor. However, the quest can be daunting. This book encourages women to meet the challenge and to do so with joy.<br /><br />The unique thing about this yearly reading method is that it is broken down by weeks instead of days. You can start any time since the weeks are not dated. So it really you are reading the Bible in 52 weeks. I also like that the New Testament books are interspersed throughout the year.<br /><br />Diane Stortz encourages women not to do this alone but to join or create a group who reads through the Bible together. The group will provide the necessary encouragement and accountability one needs to read through the entire Bible is just 52 weeks.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1360755817000, "title": "A great way to read the Bible" }, { "asin": "0764206192", "rating": 5, "text": "It has been a long time since I read a good book such as this one. It was not amazing; however, it was a nice leisurely read. The book had romance, a dash of suspense, and a nice helping of family. It was just what I needed!<br /><br />Merrill is a strong woman who has been taking care of her father and older brothers after the death of her mother. She is quite capable and is not looking to find a husband especially after living with so many men for so long. Of course, when she least expects it, a new man comes into to town and she falls in love. The twist is that she does not realize she is falling in love. He loves her, too, but there are some complications that are getting in the way. Only after much drama and suspense are they able to admit their love for each other.<br /><br />I probably gave the book away, but with all historical romance, the reader knows that the man and woman at the center of the story will fall in love and live happily ever after. Even though I knew it was going to happen, it was fun to find out how it would happen. That is why I enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1365439913000, "title": "A Nice Read" }, { "asin": "0764209795", "rating": 4, "text": "Beverly Lewis is the trailblazer for Amish fiction. I remember reading The Shunning years ago while discovering this new genre. She set the standard for all others who endeavoured to write Amish fiction.<br /><br />In this latest book, Jodi Winfield visits a local Amish community and rediscovers her own faith while learning about the Amish culture. The story is also about Maryanna Esh, a young widow and mother of 4, who learns that she can love again.<br /><br />The storyline is nice. The setting is charming. The people are delightful. Even the food sounds delicious. The middle of the book was tedious as the plot stagnated, but the ending was satisfying. Overall, this was a good book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1367846848000, "title": "Good enough to read" }, { "asin": "0764211129", "rating": 5, "text": "I read the O'Malley series years ago and wondered why Jennifer never had her own book. All the other siblings had a book, but Jennifer was left out, until now.<br /><br />Since it has been so long since I read the O'Malley series, I was excited to read this novella. The story is a flashback to when Jennifer became a believer in Jesus and when she fell in love with Tom. It was not exciting or earth-shattering. Instead it was sweet and comforting. Although the end of the book (SPOILER ALERT) begins Jennifer's journey with cancer, it is still an enjoyable book.<br /><br />I highly recommend this book to anyone who read the O'Malley series and to anyone who is looking for a nice summer read.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1371050146000, "title": "Nice and Sweet" }, { "asin": "0764209566", "rating": 3, "text": "As with most historical fiction, the heroine tries to be independent and strong but still enjoys having a man save the damsel in distress.<br /><br />The heroine of this story is Melanie Ross who is fired as a governess and must make a way for herself out west. She has no family left but inherits half of a general store. The other half is owned by Caleb Nelson, a widower and the single father of young Levi. Melanie and Caleb do not agree on how to run the store and often find themselves at odds. Only when they have to defend the store and the honor of their uncles, do they settle their differences.<br /><br />The story line was slow. The action did not really pick up until the last quarter of the book. I thought the story was about the difference of opinions between Melanie and Caleb. Instead it was about the deaths in town that were tied together but a common thread. By the time this part of the story reached its climax, the romance between Melanie and Caleb was long overdue. Even though the murderer was not who I expected, the rest of the story was predictable.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1372528648000, "title": "Too slow" }, { "asin": "0310315476", "rating": 5, "text": "Susanna Truitt always had a plan for her life, but when that plan falls apart, she must fully trust God with her future. Her boyfriend of 12 years dumps her; she loses her job; and she is forced to move out of her cottage. Nothing seems to be going her way. Even when she meets a man and enjoys a few dates with him, he returns to his Euorpean home after 2 weeks. But this man, Nate, is really Prince Nathaniel II, and Susanna's future might just become her own fairy tale.<br /><br />Initially, Susanna does not know that Nate is a prince but eventually learns the truth. What I liked is that this was not a belabored point in the story. There is some time and confusion between meeting Nate and discovering that he is a prince but not so much time that the reader is annoyed.<br /><br />I am surprised that I liked this book. Usually young adult fiction is immoral, predictable, and overly romantic. Instead, this book was delightful, engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1374059634000, "title": "A charming and delightful story" }, { "asin": "1414380437", "rating": 5, "text": "Well done, Beth Moore! I am so glad she published a teen edition of her book So Long Insecurity. I have read both books, and I am thoroughly impressed with this most recent publication.<br /><br />Girls, ladies, women, we are all insecure. Some are more so than others. But we all need to face our insecurities and overcome them. This book is a great way for young women to address and deal with their own insecurities.<br /><br />I have read other magazine-like books for teens. Often, they come across shallow and trendy without much substance. This book is quite the opposite. It is deep and full of truths, but with an interesting and engaging format. I highly recommend it to all teenagers. No one is immune from insecurities.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, please mention as part of every Web or Amazon review that Tyndale House Publishers has provided you with a complimentary copy of this book.", "timestamp": 1375454367000, "title": "Well Done!" }, { "asin": "0764210157", "rating": 3, "text": "There is an explosion at a nuclear facility. A security guard is trying to keep his job without having to lie about what he saw. A lab technician tries to discover what happened and whether or not he was exposed to radiation. A lawyer gets involved while she is grieving the loss of her mother and questioning a strained relationship with her father. A well-paid executive is trying to complete a illegal project while covering up the explosion.<br /><br />The story was not bad, but it was not very good either. There were so many characters that I did not feel like everyone was fully developed, nor were all their issues resolved by the end of the book. On top of the many characters, there was a plethora of scientific explanation about the explosion and the work of the nuclear facility. It was just too much to understand in one book.<br /><br />I did not dislike this book, but it was hard to finish. I got lost with all the characters and all the science involved.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a copy of this book in exchange for my review which I honestly give.", "timestamp": 1384797464000, "title": "Not bad but not great" }, { "asin": "140168968X", "rating": 5, "text": "I thoroughly enjoyed this book with the unique first person storytelling and the many characters intertwined throughout the story.<br /><br />Sam is an orphan girl who has is trying to make her way in today's culture. She knows her upbringing was lacking and used books to understand human nature. Books were her escape, but she also learned to hide behind these characters. Only when she learns to be her true self can she fully mature and become the woman she is suppose to be.<br /><br />I am not a reader of British literature so many of the books and characters (Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and The Scarlet Pimpernel) were unknown to me. I was still able to follow the story line and noticed that as Sam matured, she used her characters less and less. However, she never had to leave her great books behind as that was one of the few good memories she has of her childhood.<br /><br />What I most liked about the book was how the story was told through one-sided letters. I was able to figure out who Mr. Knightley was but only a few pages before he was revealed. The book was charming and enjoyable.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1385999251000, "title": "Charming" }, { "asin": "0764212435", "rating": 3, "text": "Mark Bishop is a Navy submarine commander, and Gina Gray is a brilliant scientist and researcher who discovers ways to help submarines stay quiet underwater. It seems like a match made in heaven, but it took a long time before these two people fall in love.<br /><br />The book included a lot of background of submarine warfare and the software programs that Gina was trying to design. The technical information was necessary to build up to the action at the end of the story; however, I felt that the book was longer than it needed to be. I had to skim the last 100 pages to get to the real action and to see if Gina and Mark would finally fall in love. The end is satifying yet seemed to come quickly after the 400+ page build up.<br /><br />I like books written by Dee Henderson and am impressed with the amount of research she put into this story. Yet I did not enjoy this book as much as her previous books. It just felt too long and too wordy.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1401376450000, "title": "Could have been shorter and better" }, { "asin": "1496403339", "rating": 4, "text": "Jed King is a singer/songwriter. When he writes &#34;The Song&#34;, his career takes off. He is happily married to Rose, but the time appart while on tour is detrimental to their relationship. This storyline reflects Song of Solomon and is a good modernization of the love story.<br /><br />When I say I want to curl up with a good book, this is that book. It is the kind of book that when you start reading, you lose track of time. The story invites you in, and you want to stay. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />The only negative comment I have is that I did not want to see the pictures from the movie in the book. It not only gave away the story line, but also the ending.<br /><br />Tyndale Fiction provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1421762188000, "title": "Curl up with this good book" }, { "asin": "0764211587", "rating": 3, "text": "Sarah Miller has finally settled into a good life. She has her work as a teacher and her friends whom she trusts. She recently found her sister and discovered she is an aunt. Unfortunately, her sister dies, and Sarah has now become a mother to her sister's daughter.<br /><br />While I liked the storyline, the pace was not so good. The beginning of the story was quick and intense. Then the story slowed down. Clues were dropped but at a mind-numbing pace. The pace never really picked up even as all the clues came together, but it was more of an afterthought instead of a climax to the story.<br /><br />I wanted to like this book, but it just was not for me.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1428431616000, "title": "Too slow" }, { "asin": "076421246X", "rating": 3, "text": "Marlena Wenger is struggling to follow her heart as she develops deeper relationships with her Mennonite grandmother, with her English niece, and with her Old Order Amish beau. She feels torn and has to decide for herself what she believes.<br /><br />I have read Amish fiction for years and usually like books by Beverly Lewis. However, this one was not my favorite, or even top 10. The story line was interesting, but the execution was disjointed. I never understood Marlena's motivation or even how to she came to her new found understanding of faith.<br /><br />There was another storyline about a young boy that helps an older man, who is suffering from memory loss, to find his way home. The only connection between the 2 stories is that they were next door neighbors. I felt like the stories were 2 separate books forced into 1.<br /><br />The book was hard to follow and slow going. It was not something I would recommend.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1429795953000, "title": "Not a good book" }, { "asin": "0764212613", "rating": 3, "text": "Through tragedy, Kelli Huddleston discovers that her dad was not what he seemed which leads her to discover her family who are more than they seemed.<br /><br />Kelli is fired from a job because she stood up for what is right. This gave her the opportunity to travel across the country to find her birth family and see who they really are while protecting her real identity. She learns a great deal about them and about herself.<br /><br />While the story is interesting, I had a hard time with how everything fell into place so nicely. Kelli had the luxury of not worrying about her income. Her birth mom was forgiving and understanding. Her birth sister was open and loving and willing to start a deep relationship with this stranger. Even her father's best friend extended friendship and grace to Kelli with no questions asked. No one seemed hurt when the truth came out about what Kelli's father did to the family. It was just too sugary sweet for my tastes.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1430830897000, "title": "Too sweet for my tastes" }, { "asin": "0310335582", "rating": 3, "text": "I was fascinated with a story about someone becoming Amish instead of someone leaving the Amish community. It was role reversal. Initially, I enjoyed reading about Sherry Gore conversion from living as an Englisher to becoming Amish.<br /><br />As I was reading, I expected the author to share her spiritual awakening. Sherry does get baptized and has a heartfelt conversion to her faith. However, she believes in the maxim &#34;God does for those who do for themselves&#34;. This really bothered me because many people think this is a Biblical passage, but it is not. It is also not based on the teachings of the Bible. It is a man-made, man enforced phrase.<br /><br />I also did not understand why Sherry continued to move around and piecemeal her belief system based on her life experiences, instead of the Bible. I struggled to even understand why she became Amish.<br /><br />Zondervan provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1440709260000, "title": "Disappointing" }, { "asin": "0764209000", "rating": 5, "text": "Nehemiah is the cupbearer to the king and is content to serve him. But when a visit from his brother sheds light on the disrepair of Jerusalem, Nehemiah is heartbroken and seeks God's guidance. The Lord leads him back to his homeland to lead the rebuilding of the city walls.<br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed this book of historical fiction. The author stayed true to the Biblical story and only added fictionalization to shed light on what the people might have felt or thought.<br /><br />Even though I did not read the first 2 books in The Restoration Chronicles, I did not struggle to follow the storyline. I now would like to read the previous books as this book was well written and enjoyable to read.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1448737084000, "title": "A good read" } ]

[ { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 4, "text": "I enjoyed reading this historical fiction which is a genre I don't read often. I'm glad I endeavored to read this one because it was a nice change of pace.<br /><br />The story was sweet and charming and very innocent which is what I like in the fiction I read. The plot was a little predictable and had some unnecessary developments. I felt like the book was 50 pages too long. I knew what was going to happen and just wanted the story to get on with it. Yet I am glad I took the time to read the entire book instead of just skipping to end to see what happens.<br /><br />Overall, it was a nice little book that will make for a refreshing summer read.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine", "timestamp": 1276012290000, "title": "A charming story" }, { "asin": "159554870X", "rating": 4, "text": "I have read quite a few books from the Amish genre already. I read the Beverly Lewis series, Heritage of Lancaster County, 10 years ago. Since then the market has been saturated with Amish fiction. So I was pleasantly surprised with this book.<br /><br />The story focuses on Sarah King, but she is not the only one in the story who learns a wunderbaar lesson in trusting Der Herr. Sarah, Grant, and even the Fisher family learn to trust God and to return to truth. It is a lesson that we all need reminding.<br /><br />This is the first book in the series entitled \"A Patch of Heaven.\" The next book, Lilly's Wedding Quilt is due out in April 2011. I look forward to reading more in this series.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1277860366000, "title": "A wunderbaar story" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "I got a chance to read another terrific book by Max Lucado. He always brings a fresh perspective to our lives as Christians. Sometimes he even hits too close to home, and I have to take a good look at myself to see where I may need to make some changes. Yet the book is not condemning but more convicting. Sometimes change is good even when it is hard.<br /><br />This book challenges me to do more than just believe in Christ and live a good life. If I want to outlive my life, God can use me to do even more than I could ever dream. When Jesus said \"Follow me\" to his disciples, He is asking me, too. And when they followed, He did amazing things through them. And when I follow, He can do amazing things through me.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1284124982000, "title": "There's more to life" }, { "asin": "1595540091", "rating": 5, "text": "I just started to read Ted Dekker this summer. A friend loaned me Black, and I am glad that I got my feet wet with the Circle series ([[ASIN:1595546820 Green (The Circle Series)]], [[ASIN:B003TO6D3W Black (The Circle)]], [[ASIN:B003IWYGW0 Red (The Circle Series)]], and [[ASIN:B003TO6D5U White (The Circle Series)]]) before reading Immanuel's Veins.<br /><br />To be honest, in order to read and enjoy his books, I have to open my mind and let go of preconceived notions. When I am reading, it feels like riding a roller coaster...at first, I am not so sure I am going to like it but then the excitement starts tp pick up, and I don't want it to end.<br /><br />I really do not know how what category this book falls into. It could be suspense, drama, murder, romance, fantasy, or even historical fiction. I guess by not being able to put the book into one category makes this book even more interesting to read.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1284397418000, "title": "Open your mind" }, { "asin": "0764208659", "rating": 5, "text": "I just finished reading this terrific book. I have read [[ASIN:0764200836 Jesus Freaks: Martyrs: Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus: The Ultimate Jesus Freaks]]and am in the middle of [[ASIN:B0009U7YQO Under God]], so I am familiar with books that Toby Mac is involved in. He does not write the book himself (he saves his writing for lyrics), but instead he compiles stories from others who inspire us and encourage us.<br /><br />My son is excited to read this book, too. We went to a Toby Mac concert last year, and I am grateful that my middle school son is singing lyrics that are building and encouraging. Some of the music his friends listen to is questionable. This book will encourage him to be more than just a believer but to live out his faith.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Bethany House has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1286144908000, "title": "Read this book to be inspired" }, { "asin": "0849946158", "rating": 5, "text": "I did not intend to read 3 books in the last year about people describing heaven from the first person perspective. [[ASIN:0800759494 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life]], [[ASIN:0764207946 Flight to Heaven: A Plane Crash...A Lone Survivor...A Journey to Heaven--and Back]], and Heaven is for Real share the same perspective of what heaven is like. All 3 books also have in a common a person who had to suffer and go through intense medical drama in order to experience heaven. I am glad that I have read all 3 of these books. I am also excited to be doing a study on Revelation ([[ASIN:B003VRVTYU Here And Now...There And Then: Listening Guide & Weekly Assignments]] by Beth Moore). It seems like God is trying to teach me something, and I best be paying attention. Next thing I know, my pastor will be preaching about heaven. ;)<br /><br />What I liked about Heaven is Real is the fresh and honest understanding of heaven. An almost 4 year old does not have the Biblical knowledge to describe heaven like he did unless he saw it himself. There are some things that I could not describe even after studying the Bible. No amount of study compares to an eyewitness account, and what this young boy describes is completely in alignment with what the Scriptures teach us.<br /><br />I also want to commend Todd and Sonja Burpo for being careful and honest in trying to understand what their son, Colton, saw. It is easy to feed information to your children and sway their perspective. However, the Burpo's were discerning in allowing their son to tell them what he saw without trying to influence his understanding. As a result, we get to read a great book about heaven and about a little child who had the chance to see it for himself.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1288749668000, "title": "True and honest" }, { "asin": "0764207326", "rating": 3, "text": "I like a good book to read on vacation. I received this book to review but did not get to go on vacation to read it. However, it did bring back good memories of a trip I took to OBX.<br /><br />This book was mildly entertaining. It was not an easy read as too many characters were introduced yet they did not seem significant to the story line. My mind was overwhelmed with trying to understand each character and their back story. I think half of the characters were unnecessary and the story would have been the same without them.<br /><br />The book falls under the category of inspirational fiction, but there was not a whole lot of talk about God and religion. The book could also be a romance novel, but the story was not overly romantic. At times, I wanted to read more about the romantic relationship between 2 characters and at other times, I was tired of hearing about how the main character felt about a particular man. There was also some drama and suspense in the book. So I am not sure how to categorize this book. Instead I will say the story is unique.<br /><br />Bethany House has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1289701487000, "title": "A vacation read" }, { "asin": "0764208500", "rating": 1, "text": "I can honestly say that I was not inspired while reading this book. I did not like this book and it left a bad taste in my mouth.<br /><br />Too verbose. I did not enjoy the many paragraphs of descriptive writing that were unnecessary to the story line. Some description is needed to help the reader visualize the story but not so much that the background becomes a storyline itself.<br /><br />Too many characters. I was exhausted by the beginning of the 4th chapter as yet another character was being introduced. Since so much description is given to each character, it was time consuming to keep tract of each new character.<br /><br />Too long. I was on page 286 before I realized that there had yet to be a climax to the story. For an author writing about writing, I was surprised that the book lacked basic story elements. In the last 40 pages, the protagonist did find herself at the turning point, but it felt rushed as if the author needed to keep the book under 320 pages.<br /><br />Too much smut. As mentioned in other reviews, this book was not as Christian as the Christian market expects. I was convicted a few years ago about reading books that bordered on smut. I turned to Christian publishers to find morally entertaining books. I did not expect to read about half naked women and unmarried couples sleeping together in this novel.<br /><br />I do not enjoy writing negative reviews, but I have read and reviewed so many books this year that it was bound to happen.<br /><br />Bethany House has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1291065444000, "title": "Uninspiring" }, { "asin": "1595547916", "rating": 4, "text": "Kristin Billerbeck set the standard for Chick Lit, and this book is the very definition of Chick Lit. It is an easy read with light-hearted romance and a dash of drama thrown in for good measure.<br /><br />Katie is a young woman who has overcome hurt but has now left the past behind to live a decent life. However, her past comes back to mess up what she has established. Sometimes you need to learn from the past to make a better future, and Katie does just that.<br /><br />Much like other books by Kristin Billerbeck (What a Girl Wants and A Girl's Best Friend), this book has a young woman trying to find her true self while staying true to her faith in a materialistic world. I think we can all relate to that so some degree.<br /><br />On a side note, I felt that the relationship between Katie and Dexter was much like the relationship between Meg Ryan and her fiance in Sleepless in Seattle. It was safe and comfortable but a passionless relationship that was doomed from the start.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1295116389000, "title": "Another Chick Lit from Billerbeck" }, { "asin": "1595545395", "rating": 3, "text": "Another foray into the chick-lit genre. This book was enjoyable to read and interesting enough to keep my attention throughout the story. The character development was a bit slow at times but realistic enough. It has been the first book in a while that I did not rush to finish. I took my time even though I could have rushed to finish just to see what happens. I like to take my time if the book is good.<br /><br />I am not sure why the title was \"Save the Date.\" By the end of the book, I still did not understand what the title meant. I may have missed something, but \"Saving Grace\" seems like a more fitting title.<br /><br />I was a bit confused with the character of Julian and his relationship with Clare. They reminded me of Karen and Jack in the old sitcom Will and Grace. I am not sure how his character added to the storyline, and for me, he was more a distraction.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1296225657000, "title": "Saving Grace is a better title" }, { "asin": "1595548017", "rating": 4, "text": "The pace of this book kept me from giving it 5 stars. I felt like the story slowed down too much in the middle which dragged out the plot for too long. Will she fall in love? Will he tell her the truth? I wanted to know what happened next, but for about 100 pages, it felt like nothing was really happening. It was not until page 250 that I got the information I had been wanting to know about a pivotal character. So for that reason, this was a page turner.<br /><br />When I typed \"A Cowboy's Touch\" into the search on amazon, another book with the same title came up. It was definitely not this book. It was a romance but more, shall we saw, graphic. I hope people do not confuse these 2 books because Denise Hunter's \"A Cowboy Touch\" is nothing like what I saw on the cover of the other book.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provides me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my opinion which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1299894529000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "Drugs, addiction, child trafficing, and that is just the first chapter.<br /><br />The Covington family has had its share of tragedy and sorrow, but they find themselves in the middle of another heartache as they try heal from their own pain. Emily is one year sober (read about her struggles in [[ASIN:0310321980 Intervention (Intervention Series, Book 1)]]), and is excited to live a new life. But how do you live a new life when the old life keeps dragging you down?<br /><br />This was one of those can't-put-it-down kind of books. I enjoyed reading it and would keep reading to find out what happens next. I was not happy when the book was over only because I like how Terri Blackstock writes and want to know more about what happens next. The book does leave a small open door so I hope that means there is another book to be written???<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1302310511000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "078523120X", "rating": 1, "text": "I did not like this book. I tried like it, but it was not my cup of tea. It was downright unimaginative.<br /><br />David Ponder, the main character from [[ASIN:0785273220 The Traveler's Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success]], returns. He is taken to a summit where he, along with many pivotal people from history, must save the world by coming up a 2 word phrase. Together, they discuss and ponder (pun intended) what the phrase could be. They have 7 chances to get it right. After each incorrect guess, a new traveler is added to the discussion.<br /><br />So what bored me about the book is that there was a whole lot of talk but not much action. The story is the discussion of a 2 word phrase. It got so boring, that I just skipped to the end of the chapter to see what the phrase will be. I also knew that it would take all 7 chances before they got it right, but even then the final 2 word phrase was trite and uninspiring.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provides me with a free copy of this book for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1302551042000, "title": "Dull and unexciting" }, { "asin": "1414319495", "rating": 4, "text": "I was glad to read another book in the juvenille fiction genre. It was interesting to read this cross between a chapter book and a graphic novel. I can see how this would be a good book for a boy who is able to read chapter books but is not interested in some of the options that are available.<br /><br />Since I have not read the first two books in this series, I had a hard time understanding the characters and their backgrounds. I had to quickly catch up with their backstory while at the same time keep up with the action from this story. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I had read the previous books; however, that is not to say that I did not enjoy this book. On the contrary, it was an interesting book which kept my attention throughout.<br /><br />The story is about a boy and 2 girls who find themselves in the middle of a mystery. They are as integral as the adults in the book at solving the mystery. It is fast-paced and action packed. I would classify the book as action and suspense with Biblical overtones.<br /><br />I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for this review.", "timestamp": 1306176331000, "title": "A cross between graphic novel and chapter book" }, { "asin": "1595548114", "rating": 4, "text": "I am not an avid reader of historical fiction, but this book was nice. It was neither exciting nor dull and makes a decent summer read.<br /><br />The story is of Lucy, a young lady, who is pursuing a career in photography in a small town. The story is also of David who is trying to redeem his past. Their lives converge and sparks fly. It is a common theme in fiction, but charming nonetheless.<br /><br />I did find some of the story lacking. It was about 50 pages too long as the storyline dragged on without an significant progress in character development. Also, the end was a little unsatisfying. It ended the way I had anticipated without any big ordeal or revelation. Like I said, it was nice but not exciting.<br /><br />This book is part of the Rocky Creek Romance series; however, I did not need to read the 2 previous books to enjoy this book. It is as much a stand- alone book as it is a part of the series.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1307970908000, "title": "Decent but not spectacular" }, { "asin": "0764208055", "rating": 4, "text": "I have never read a book from the \"Texas Adventure and Romance\" genre, and I rarely read historical fiction. However, I read this book and enjoyed it very much.<br /><br />Elizabeth Evans travels to El Paso/Fort Bliss to help her widowed brother but quickly finds herself in the middle of an international event. Ranger Jake Nelson comes to her aid and quickly they fall in love. The problem is that both Elizabeth and Jake have loved and lost before and do not want to love and lose again.<br /><br />I did enjoy reading this book. There was enough action and drama to keep it from being too sappy with the romance. Sometimes the action was too much as I wondered how many more incidents could Elizabeth and Jake find themselves. Kidnapping, border crossing, and near drownings were just a few of this action packed incidents. There seemed to be no end to the adrenaline rush for the characters or even time to grieve from tragic events.<br /><br />Bethany House has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1316439948000, "title": "Action, drama, and romance to boot" }, { "asin": "1400318033", "rating": 5, "text": "What a delightful little book! Little Hermie is just right for young children. The book is short enough to keep their attention but cute enough to capture their hearts. The short prayer is written in rhyme so it is pleasing for little children to quietly listen to.<br /><br />Little Hermie is thanking God for His many blessings. Hermie thanks God for leaves to sleep on, for friends and family, for food and playtime, and for blessing me.<br /><br />What I liked about the book was that it was easy to read and sounds nice when read out loud. I wish the book was longer; however, I remember when my little ones were little and their attention span was very short.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1316887552000, "title": "Short and sweet" }, { "asin": "1595549404", "rating": 4, "text": "Much like Frank Peretti, Lis Weihl delves into the supernatural and the power of evil. I have enjoyed previous books by this author and continued to enjoy this new book.<br /><br />The story follows Dani, a psychiatrist who works for the DA, as she tries to solve a local murder. With the help of her friend, Tommy, she is able to solve the crime. Not only does she figure out who done it, but also she figures out why that person did it.<br /><br />The storyline is much like an episode of a TV crime drama. The murder is solved in less than 2 weeks, and the characters never seem to have a night where they actually sleep. As the reader, it is interesting to follow the storyline as you try to solve the crime along with the characters of the book.<br /><br />What I did not like about the book is the past history between Dani and Tommy. She was the overachieving nerd in high school, and he was the game winning jock. He had a crush on her and admitted to being intimidated by her. I found this part of the story a little far fetched.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1317777570000, "title": "Another great book by Lis Weihl" }, { "asin": "0764209418", "rating": 3, "text": "Joy was a young orphan in China who is adopted by Andrew and Gloria. They bring her back to Texas and raise her as their own. However, Joy was never really an orphan. Joy is Lily, the fourth daughter of the Chang family who had to place their daughter in an orphanage because of governmental restrictions. Lily's sister, Kai, has devoted her life to find Lily and to find a cure for polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic disease that has plagued her family.<br /><br />Adoption, disease, teenage rebellion, and family devotion are weaved throughout the story. In some ways, there were too many elements causing conflict in the story. Most of these elements are resolved at the end of the story, but some are not. For example, the story hints at turmoil in Gloria's life because of her dad's infidelity, but that story line is never resolved.<br /><br />The storyline stuttered too much for me. The flashback to China is deep and descriptive as the authors uses too many words to set the tone. Then the story flies through 2 years of relationship building after Kai and Lily meet for the first time. I just had a hard time with the pace of the story.<br /><br />I give the book a 3.5 out of 5. It is neither good not bad. Just okay for me.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1321031289000, "title": "Not an easy read" }, { "asin": "0310332311", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been a fan of Terri Blackstock for years and have never been disappointed. This most recent book of hers is a reprint from a previous book. She updated the story and incorporated the story of redemption. I appreciate how the redemption story is weaved into the book without being forced or preachy.<br /><br />Carny, the protagonist, is a new person after leaving the carnival life, becoming a Christian, and settling in the town of Serenity, Texas. When Logan Brisco comes to town, she see him for the con he is. As much as she tries to discredit him, he sees the truth of what he is doing. In the midst of this, they are falling in love.<br /><br />The story had many unexpected twists and turns, yet it was an easy read that kept me interested from cover to cover. Terri Blackstock really does have the gift of storytelling, and I appreciate that she has used her gift to honor God.<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1321741698000, "title": "Another great book by Blackstock" }, { "asin": "0764208225", "rating": 3, "text": "The story opens with Heather Hampton, successful Seattle architect, on the verge of her biggest career move yet. The entire deal hinges on the sale of her family's property in Texas. This is the place she experienced tragedy and depression and wanted nothing more to leave the past behind. In this deal she hoped to erase the past and forget the memories of her home. Instead she has to face the past to deal with the present. This past includes the mystery of how her father died in a place she never wanted to live. Heather tries to solve this mystery but only uncovers more secrets instead of answers.<br /><br />I got frustrated reading this book as the secrets continued to build instead of being revealed. I read page after page waiting for the truth to be revealed. It took 300 pages before the truth started to come out. Once the mystery was solved, everything unraveled quickly. It was almost too quickly for as slow as the book started.<br /><br />I did like one line toward the end of the book, \"The great leaps in life are not made in the absence of fear but in the presence of faith.\" There were some good parts to the story, but overall the book was not satisfying.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332207991000, "title": "Slow and somewhat boring" }, { "asin": "0310250684", "rating": 4, "text": "I have yet to read a Terri Blackstock novel that I did not like. Whenever I get my hands on a new book, I know I am in for a treat. In this latest story, there is drama, suspense, struggle, and triumph.<br /><br />Emily Covington is a recovering drug addict trying to have a normal life. She knows that addiction recovery is not a walk in the park; however, she is challenged in ways she never anticipated. Her whole family is challenged in ways they never anticipated. All of them are forced into situations where they have to choose between right and wrong, yet sometimes it is not obvious what is right and what is wrong. From start to finish, the characters must react to situations and make tough decisions. At times, I thought, \"No, don't do it!\" but the characters made their decisions and had to face the consequences. Somehow, it all works out in the end, but you still need to read the book to find out how it happens.<br /><br />Downfall is the third book in a 3 book series about the Covington family with Intervention and Viscous Cycle being the first 2 books in the series. Of the 3 books in the series, this was my least favorite, but I am glad I read it as it ends the series. The book was fast-paced and an easy read.<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332465975000, "title": "A nice end to the series" }, { "asin": "1595548874", "rating": 4, "text": "Whew! I just finished Need You Now, and it was like riding a roller coaster. There is drama, suspense, tragedy, and triumph.<br /><br />The Henderson family relocates to a small town in Texas. They left Houston in hopes of getting their 3 children away from negative influences; however, the drama does not go away quietly as they settle in Round Top, Texas. Darlene, the mother, is struggling to find herself as her children need her less and she still has a lot to give. Brad, the father, is working overtime to make partner and wonders if his hard work will really pay-off. Chad, the eldest son, left drama behind in Houston but is still faces temptation in Round Top. Grace, the middle daughter, is the perfect child as she hides her true feelings and is overwhelmed with keeping up appearances. Ansley, the youngest daughter, is the only member of the family without drama. Also, the family is surprised to find out their next door neighbor was a Hollywood movie star was drama of her own.<br /><br />It took 100 pages for all these characters to be introduced and all these story lines to be developed. Initially the book was slow as the author was laying the groundwork for all these characters and their respective issues. Then in the last 100 pages, the story was fast-paced as the issues were brought to light and characters had a change of heart or realization about their issues. It was a slow build up and then a fast ride to the end, like a roller coaster.<br /><br />I am surprised that this book is only 250 pages long. It could have been so much longer. There were a few issues that were never really resolved by the end of the book. The character of Ansley was never developed, and she could have easily been left out of the story altogether. Chad's history in Houston was never fully revealed. I could foresee the author adding another book to this series, either as a prequel or a sequel.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for me review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332791141000, "title": "It is quite a ride!" }, { "asin": "076420615X", "rating": 4, "text": "Set during the War Between the States, Texas had both Union supporters and Confederate supports. There were also quite a few Texas supports who only wanted what benefited their state. Hannah, the heroine of the story, is just trying to survive with her 2 step-siblings. The ranch on which they live was given to their father, a Conferderate supporter. The previous residents were Union supporters and left to fight the war. Hannah's father leaves to help his mother back in Vicksburg but has not been heard from since. Instead, William Bartlett returns, the son of the previous ranch owner, to claim his family property.<br /><br />Initially, the storyline was slow as the many characters were introduced. Therefore, it took a while to understand how Hannah Dandridge can to live on a Texas ranch with her much younger step-brother and step-sister. I almost lost interest in the book, but I continued to read so I could write a thorough review.<br /><br />Once I got into the book, I enjoyed reading it, mostly. Some parts of the story annoyed me. I did not like how clueless Hannah was in her dealings with Herbert Lockhart, her father's business partner. She also seemed naive about how her family came to live on the ranch. She is strong woman who came from a privileged upbringing and became a hard-working ranch woman. Yet, the story does not talk about the transformation. There is only a nod to how she was once privileged and now must take care of her family and land.<br /><br />The story ends nicely with all loose ends tied up. It was neither surprising nor upsetting.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1336512516000, "title": "Nice enough" }, { "asin": "0310333172", "rating": 4, "text": "Reading a suspense novel from the perspective of an author doing research for a suspense novel adds a unique spin to this story. The story is also based on an actual cold case solved by the FBI.<br /><br />The heroine of this story, Kariss, is writing a novel and doing research while shadowing an FBI agent, Tigo. As she does her research, she becomes the main character in her own suspenseful story. Throughout the entire book, she inserts herself into FBI business and puts herself in harms way. Luckily, the hero of the book, Tigo, is always there to save this damsel in distress. However, Kariss is just stubborn enough to think of herself not as a damsel in distress but a modern woman who can do anything. That attitude keeps getting her in trouble. There is also a romantic element as Kariss and Tigo start to see each other as more than just a nuisance.<br /><br />The book was easy to read and kept my interest throughout. There were many twists and turns, but the ending was satisfying. I did get a little annoyed at the heroine who would not listen to wisdom and foolishly found herself on the wrong side of town, but that is how the heroine and hero start to fall in love, or at least like. There is a sequel that will probably explore this romantic storyline.<br /><br />Zondervan provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1338379735000, "title": "Enjoyable to read" }, { "asin": "0764209779", "rating": 4, "text": "Beverly Lewis is the gold standard in Amish fiction. She started with The Shunning and continues to raise the bar for other books in this genre.<br /><br />Amelia Devries is a world-class violinist who is so focused on her music that she has lost her way in life. When she loses her way, literally, in a bad rainstorm, she finds herself in an Amish village. There she realizes her need to reclaim the truth she once knew. She also falls in love both with a young man and with a simpler life. Amelia then has to decide what she really wants in life and how to go about doing just that.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading this book and felt the calming effect of the Amish way. I am not a world renown musician, but I am a woman who, like Amelia, can forget what is truly important in life. This book is a gentle reminder for me and for all readers.<br /><br />Bethany House has provided a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1338564279000, "title": "More than just another Amish book" }, { "asin": "1414333218", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the first book by Randy Singer I have read, and it is a pretty good book. It contains a lot of drama, a bit of suspense, a smattering of action, and a dash of romance.<br /><br />Initially, I had a hard time keeping up with the many characters and how they relate to the storyline. The main character is Jamie Brock who tells the story in the first person. However, other parts of the story are told in the third person so the reader gets an inside view of the action. Even still, there are twists and surprises to the story that are unexpected and entertaining.<br /><br />This book reminds me of the many crime dramas available on TV but far more interesting. I just might have to read more by Randy Singer now that I have had a small taste of his work.", "timestamp": 1340974960000, "title": "Pretty Good" }, { "asin": "140168565X", "rating": 5, "text": "How appropriate that I finished reading this book on a nice rainy day.<br /><br />Daphne is a \"nose\" which is to say she knows how things smell and how things should smell. However, after being left at the altar, she loses her sense of smell which means she also may lose her job. So she must deal with the rejection of her ex-fiance and with the problem of creating new scents without being able to smell them.<br /><br />Of course, it would not be Chick Lit without romance. Daphne's new boss, Jesse, is a widow who himself is struggling with his job and with relationships. Mix it all up, and you have an interesting tale of love, loss, and love again.<br /><br />I have read all of the books by Kristin Billerbeck, and this is by far my favorite. Instead of the shallow and selfish heroines found in previous books, Daphne has depths and layers much like the fragrances she creates.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1342813416000, "title": "Love, loss, and love again" }, { "asin": "1401685617", "rating": 4, "text": "Not since Francine Rivers[...] has a book delved into the difficulties faced by a unwed teenage mother who decides to give up her child for adoption.<br /><br />The choices we make determine the people we become. This idea is wonderfully illustrated in this book. The book opens with Sandy Lincoln confirming her pregnancy with her mom at the doctor's office. The story takes off from there without slowing down or wasting a word. This could have been a 400+ page book, and I am grateful that the author kept the book as short as he did.<br /><br />The only reason why I gave this book a 4-star instead of a 5-star rating is that some of the characters were just too perfect. Sandy's mother, for example, was an uptight Southern woman who was also kind and compassionate when Sandy discovered she was pregnant. Only her classmates gossiped about her pregnancy, but no one was condemning or critical about her behavior. Instead everyone was supportive, except the birth father as he did not want to give up his football career.<br /><br />Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1343178216000, "title": "A fast paced but good read" }, { "asin": "0764209655", "rating": 5, "text": "No one wants to marry a groom because of chance, even if the groom is the man you have dreamed about since childhood. Meridith Hayes has had a crush on Travis Archer since he rescued her from a trap when she was a child. He was the man of her dreams, literally, and eventually, those dreams came true.<br /><br />I really enjoyed reading this book. The storyline was contrived, but the plot progressed smoothly with sufficient character development. It has been a while since I really liked reading historical fiction. This book was a breath of fresh air in my reading repertoire.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1344043100000, "title": "A Delight to Read" }, { "asin": "076420887X", "rating": 3, "text": "I did not understand the character of Melinda. She is a strong young women who must leave her life of affluence when her parents die. She becomes a lady's maid and must endure the life of a servant. She does this with courage and grace and is a model servant. However, when she falls in love with Evan she becomes a whiny, petulant child who wants to get her way no matter what Evan says. Even when the local pastor tries to encourage Melinda to wait and pray, she ignores his advice and continues to try to control the situation. It was very frustrating to read as nothing seemed to change as the story line dragged on.<br /><br />The first half of the book was painstakingly slow. I almost gave up reading the book. I had to finish reading in order to write a thorough review. So I kept on reading. The pace of the story line picked up, and I started to enjoy it. The second half of the book was so much better than the first half. I am glad I stuck with it, but I did not like having to plod through so much useless story line to get to good stuff.<br /><br />In the second half the book, the story was interesting and fun to read. There was drama, suspense, romance, and intrigue. If I could have just read the end without having to get through the beginning, I would have enjoyed this book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1346550361000, "title": "A slow story that picks up in the end" }, { "asin": "0849920701", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been reading Max Lucado books for 25 years. Even since I gave my life to Christ, his books have spoken to my heart and encouraged my faith. This latest book does not disappoint.<br /><br />This book revolutionary. I thought I understood grace. However, I have only just begun to comprehend the immense blessing of God's grace. Weaving every day stories with theology, Max Lucado opens our minds and our hearts to the great gift of grace.<br /><br />If I was to recommend just one book everyone should read this year, it would be this book. It is not hard to read or a long book, but the truths between the covers will stay with you long after you are done.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1348665842000, "title": "Grace is Great" }, { "asin": "1414349300", "rating": 3, "text": "On the good side, the story is well written. Character development is solid. Drama unfolds with plenty of action and suspense.<br /><br />On the bad side, I have an issue with the main character, Lance Corporal Bekah Shaw. She is a Marine reservist who is returning to action on her third deployment in as many years. Bekah is divorced from her husband who was never fit to be married in the first place. Bekah also must leave her young son in the care of her grandmother who also helped raise her. Bekah struggles with leaving her son behind but is courageous enough to serve her country. So far, the character is believable and almost admirable. However, once she starts to see action in a war zone, the character becomes less believable.<br /><br />Women in the military do not serve in combat units on the front line of battle. Even in today's military, a women would not be a fire team leader in charge of small unit attack. I know this because I served in the military, and my husband continues to serve. So I take offense to a story that stretches the truth to the point of a lie. If the main character was a man, a single dad who struggled with leaving a child behind, then this story would have been great. But since the main character is a women, this story is just too unrealistic to be enjoyable.<br /><br />Tyndale House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1349099524000, "title": "Could have been better" }, { "asin": "0310730538", "rating": 5, "text": "I ordered this book for my 11 year old daughter who loves American history and Indian culture. I read it first and thoroughly enjoyed it.<br /><br />Barbara Leininger is torn from her family during an Indian raid and forced to adapt to the Indian culture. Before she is forced into marriage with an Indian brave, she escapes with 3 other captives. Together, they must travel 300+ miles on foot to reach freedom. Living as an Indian was not easy nor was her escape. Yet through it all, she maintained her faith and her determination to see her younger sister again.<br /><br />This is an inspiring story for everyone. I am thankful for Zondervan who provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1358648395000, "title": "Inspring story" }, { "asin": "0764208888", "rating": 3, "text": "It is not hard to figure out the plot when the front cover of the book shows a bride and groom standing hand in hand. However, the story begins with a young woman, Callie, who has sworn off marriage and a young man, Wes, who does not want to socialize with the many wealthy families who visit Bridal Veil Island. So the reader expects the two to fall in love and get married before the end of the story.<br /><br />Without ruining the story, Callie and Wes do fall in love as expected. I was bored with the story line because it took 200 pages before Callie and Wes admit their affection for each other. There were a few obstacles to overcome and some of the characters had to change their opinions and desires before the story was complete. Yet none of these story elements involved significant drama or soul searching. The pace of the story was slow and predictable. It was not an exciting story but more of a nice read.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1360335782000, "title": "Nice but not great" }, { "asin": "0764210734", "rating": 5, "text": "Reading the Bible in a year has become a popular endeavor. However, the quest can be daunting. This book encourages women to meet the challenge and to do so with joy.<br /><br />The unique thing about this yearly reading method is that it is broken down by weeks instead of days. You can start any time since the weeks are not dated. So it really you are reading the Bible in 52 weeks. I also like that the New Testament books are interspersed throughout the year.<br /><br />Diane Stortz encourages women not to do this alone but to join or create a group who reads through the Bible together. The group will provide the necessary encouragement and accountability one needs to read through the entire Bible is just 52 weeks.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1360755817000, "title": "A great way to read the Bible" }, { "asin": "0764206192", "rating": 5, "text": "It has been a long time since I read a good book such as this one. It was not amazing; however, it was a nice leisurely read. The book had romance, a dash of suspense, and a nice helping of family. It was just what I needed!<br /><br />Merrill is a strong woman who has been taking care of her father and older brothers after the death of her mother. She is quite capable and is not looking to find a husband especially after living with so many men for so long. Of course, when she least expects it, a new man comes into to town and she falls in love. The twist is that she does not realize she is falling in love. He loves her, too, but there are some complications that are getting in the way. Only after much drama and suspense are they able to admit their love for each other.<br /><br />I probably gave the book away, but with all historical romance, the reader knows that the man and woman at the center of the story will fall in love and live happily ever after. Even though I knew it was going to happen, it was fun to find out how it would happen. That is why I enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1365439913000, "title": "A Nice Read" }, { "asin": "0764209795", "rating": 4, "text": "Beverly Lewis is the trailblazer for Amish fiction. I remember reading The Shunning years ago while discovering this new genre. She set the standard for all others who endeavoured to write Amish fiction.<br /><br />In this latest book, Jodi Winfield visits a local Amish community and rediscovers her own faith while learning about the Amish culture. The story is also about Maryanna Esh, a young widow and mother of 4, who learns that she can love again.<br /><br />The storyline is nice. The setting is charming. The people are delightful. Even the food sounds delicious. The middle of the book was tedious as the plot stagnated, but the ending was satisfying. Overall, this was a good book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1367846848000, "title": "Good enough to read" }, { "asin": "0764211129", "rating": 5, "text": "I read the O'Malley series years ago and wondered why Jennifer never had her own book. All the other siblings had a book, but Jennifer was left out, until now.<br /><br />Since it has been so long since I read the O'Malley series, I was excited to read this novella. The story is a flashback to when Jennifer became a believer in Jesus and when she fell in love with Tom. It was not exciting or earth-shattering. Instead it was sweet and comforting. Although the end of the book (SPOILER ALERT) begins Jennifer's journey with cancer, it is still an enjoyable book.<br /><br />I highly recommend this book to anyone who read the O'Malley series and to anyone who is looking for a nice summer read.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1371050146000, "title": "Nice and Sweet" }, { "asin": "0764209566", "rating": 3, "text": "As with most historical fiction, the heroine tries to be independent and strong but still enjoys having a man save the damsel in distress.<br /><br />The heroine of this story is Melanie Ross who is fired as a governess and must make a way for herself out west. She has no family left but inherits half of a general store. The other half is owned by Caleb Nelson, a widower and the single father of young Levi. Melanie and Caleb do not agree on how to run the store and often find themselves at odds. Only when they have to defend the store and the honor of their uncles, do they settle their differences.<br /><br />The story line was slow. The action did not really pick up until the last quarter of the book. I thought the story was about the difference of opinions between Melanie and Caleb. Instead it was about the deaths in town that were tied together but a common thread. By the time this part of the story reached its climax, the romance between Melanie and Caleb was long overdue. Even though the murderer was not who I expected, the rest of the story was predictable.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1372528648000, "title": "Too slow" }, { "asin": "0310315476", "rating": 5, "text": "Susanna Truitt always had a plan for her life, but when that plan falls apart, she must fully trust God with her future. Her boyfriend of 12 years dumps her; she loses her job; and she is forced to move out of her cottage. Nothing seems to be going her way. Even when she meets a man and enjoys a few dates with him, he returns to his Euorpean home after 2 weeks. But this man, Nate, is really Prince Nathaniel II, and Susanna's future might just become her own fairy tale.<br /><br />Initially, Susanna does not know that Nate is a prince but eventually learns the truth. What I liked is that this was not a belabored point in the story. There is some time and confusion between meeting Nate and discovering that he is a prince but not so much time that the reader is annoyed.<br /><br />I am surprised that I liked this book. Usually young adult fiction is immoral, predictable, and overly romantic. Instead, this book was delightful, engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1374059634000, "title": "A charming and delightful story" }, { "asin": "1414380437", "rating": 5, "text": "Well done, Beth Moore! I am so glad she published a teen edition of her book So Long Insecurity. I have read both books, and I am thoroughly impressed with this most recent publication.<br /><br />Girls, ladies, women, we are all insecure. Some are more so than others. But we all need to face our insecurities and overcome them. This book is a great way for young women to address and deal with their own insecurities.<br /><br />I have read other magazine-like books for teens. Often, they come across shallow and trendy without much substance. This book is quite the opposite. It is deep and full of truths, but with an interesting and engaging format. I highly recommend it to all teenagers. No one is immune from insecurities.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, please mention as part of every Web or Amazon review that Tyndale House Publishers has provided you with a complimentary copy of this book.", "timestamp": 1375454367000, "title": "Well Done!" }, { "asin": "0764210157", "rating": 3, "text": "There is an explosion at a nuclear facility. A security guard is trying to keep his job without having to lie about what he saw. A lab technician tries to discover what happened and whether or not he was exposed to radiation. A lawyer gets involved while she is grieving the loss of her mother and questioning a strained relationship with her father. A well-paid executive is trying to complete a illegal project while covering up the explosion.<br /><br />The story was not bad, but it was not very good either. There were so many characters that I did not feel like everyone was fully developed, nor were all their issues resolved by the end of the book. On top of the many characters, there was a plethora of scientific explanation about the explosion and the work of the nuclear facility. It was just too much to understand in one book.<br /><br />I did not dislike this book, but it was hard to finish. I got lost with all the characters and all the science involved.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a copy of this book in exchange for my review which I honestly give.", "timestamp": 1384797464000, "title": "Not bad but not great" }, { "asin": "140168968X", "rating": 5, "text": "I thoroughly enjoyed this book with the unique first person storytelling and the many characters intertwined throughout the story.<br /><br />Sam is an orphan girl who has is trying to make her way in today's culture. She knows her upbringing was lacking and used books to understand human nature. Books were her escape, but she also learned to hide behind these characters. Only when she learns to be her true self can she fully mature and become the woman she is suppose to be.<br /><br />I am not a reader of British literature so many of the books and characters (Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and The Scarlet Pimpernel) were unknown to me. I was still able to follow the story line and noticed that as Sam matured, she used her characters less and less. However, she never had to leave her great books behind as that was one of the few good memories she has of her childhood.<br /><br />What I most liked about the book was how the story was told through one-sided letters. I was able to figure out who Mr. Knightley was but only a few pages before he was revealed. The book was charming and enjoyable.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1385999251000, "title": "Charming" }, { "asin": "0764212435", "rating": 3, "text": "Mark Bishop is a Navy submarine commander, and Gina Gray is a brilliant scientist and researcher who discovers ways to help submarines stay quiet underwater. It seems like a match made in heaven, but it took a long time before these two people fall in love.<br /><br />The book included a lot of background of submarine warfare and the software programs that Gina was trying to design. The technical information was necessary to build up to the action at the end of the story; however, I felt that the book was longer than it needed to be. I had to skim the last 100 pages to get to the real action and to see if Gina and Mark would finally fall in love. The end is satifying yet seemed to come quickly after the 400+ page build up.<br /><br />I like books written by Dee Henderson and am impressed with the amount of research she put into this story. Yet I did not enjoy this book as much as her previous books. It just felt too long and too wordy.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1401376450000, "title": "Could have been shorter and better" }, { "asin": "1496403339", "rating": 4, "text": "Jed King is a singer/songwriter. When he writes &#34;The Song&#34;, his career takes off. He is happily married to Rose, but the time appart while on tour is detrimental to their relationship. This storyline reflects Song of Solomon and is a good modernization of the love story.<br /><br />When I say I want to curl up with a good book, this is that book. It is the kind of book that when you start reading, you lose track of time. The story invites you in, and you want to stay. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />The only negative comment I have is that I did not want to see the pictures from the movie in the book. It not only gave away the story line, but also the ending.<br /><br />Tyndale Fiction provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1421762188000, "title": "Curl up with this good book" }, { "asin": "0764211587", "rating": 3, "text": "Sarah Miller has finally settled into a good life. She has her work as a teacher and her friends whom she trusts. She recently found her sister and discovered she is an aunt. Unfortunately, her sister dies, and Sarah has now become a mother to her sister's daughter.<br /><br />While I liked the storyline, the pace was not so good. The beginning of the story was quick and intense. Then the story slowed down. Clues were dropped but at a mind-numbing pace. The pace never really picked up even as all the clues came together, but it was more of an afterthought instead of a climax to the story.<br /><br />I wanted to like this book, but it just was not for me.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1428431616000, "title": "Too slow" }, { "asin": "076421246X", "rating": 3, "text": "Marlena Wenger is struggling to follow her heart as she develops deeper relationships with her Mennonite grandmother, with her English niece, and with her Old Order Amish beau. She feels torn and has to decide for herself what she believes.<br /><br />I have read Amish fiction for years and usually like books by Beverly Lewis. However, this one was not my favorite, or even top 10. The story line was interesting, but the execution was disjointed. I never understood Marlena's motivation or even how to she came to her new found understanding of faith.<br /><br />There was another storyline about a young boy that helps an older man, who is suffering from memory loss, to find his way home. The only connection between the 2 stories is that they were next door neighbors. I felt like the stories were 2 separate books forced into 1.<br /><br />The book was hard to follow and slow going. It was not something I would recommend.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1429795953000, "title": "Not a good book" }, { "asin": "0764212613", "rating": 3, "text": "Through tragedy, Kelli Huddleston discovers that her dad was not what he seemed which leads her to discover her family who are more than they seemed.<br /><br />Kelli is fired from a job because she stood up for what is right. This gave her the opportunity to travel across the country to find her birth family and see who they really are while protecting her real identity. She learns a great deal about them and about herself.<br /><br />While the story is interesting, I had a hard time with how everything fell into place so nicely. Kelli had the luxury of not worrying about her income. Her birth mom was forgiving and understanding. Her birth sister was open and loving and willing to start a deep relationship with this stranger. Even her father's best friend extended friendship and grace to Kelli with no questions asked. No one seemed hurt when the truth came out about what Kelli's father did to the family. It was just too sugary sweet for my tastes.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1430830897000, "title": "Too sweet for my tastes" }, { "asin": "0310335582", "rating": 3, "text": "I was fascinated with a story about someone becoming Amish instead of someone leaving the Amish community. It was role reversal. Initially, I enjoyed reading about Sherry Gore conversion from living as an Englisher to becoming Amish.<br /><br />As I was reading, I expected the author to share her spiritual awakening. Sherry does get baptized and has a heartfelt conversion to her faith. However, she believes in the maxim &#34;God does for those who do for themselves&#34;. This really bothered me because many people think this is a Biblical passage, but it is not. It is also not based on the teachings of the Bible. It is a man-made, man enforced phrase.<br /><br />I also did not understand why Sherry continued to move around and piecemeal her belief system based on her life experiences, instead of the Bible. I struggled to even understand why she became Amish.<br /><br />Zondervan provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1440709260000, "title": "Disappointing" }, { "asin": "0764209000", "rating": 5, "text": "Nehemiah is the cupbearer to the king and is content to serve him. But when a visit from his brother sheds light on the disrepair of Jerusalem, Nehemiah is heartbroken and seeks God's guidance. The Lord leads him back to his homeland to lead the rebuilding of the city walls.<br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed this book of historical fiction. The author stayed true to the Biblical story and only added fictionalization to shed light on what the people might have felt or thought.<br /><br />Even though I did not read the first 2 books in The Restoration Chronicles, I did not struggle to follow the storyline. I now would like to read the previous books as this book was well written and enjoyable to read.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1448737084000, "title": "A good read" }, { "asin": "1401686117", "rating": 4, "text": "Brock Matthews discovers a way to change the present by dreaming of visiting himself in the past. The problem is that it changes the future. When he tries to change the past again, it really messes up the future. It seems he can't get it right, or by getting it wrong, it is right?<br /><br />As far as fiction goes, this is an interesting book. The story moves along smoothly and the end is satisfying. It reminds me of &#34;The Shack&#34; and &#34;The Five People You Meet in Heaven.&#34; All these books have a spiritual element, but with artistic license, expands spiritual concepts. There may need to be a new genre term such as &#34;spiritual fiction&#34; to describe these books.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give", "timestamp": 1451785510000, "title": "Spiritual Fiction" } ]

[ { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 4, "text": "I enjoyed reading this historical fiction which is a genre I don't read often. I'm glad I endeavored to read this one because it was a nice change of pace.<br /><br />The story was sweet and charming and very innocent which is what I like in the fiction I read. The plot was a little predictable and had some unnecessary developments. I felt like the book was 50 pages too long. I knew what was going to happen and just wanted the story to get on with it. Yet I am glad I took the time to read the entire book instead of just skipping to end to see what happens.<br /><br />Overall, it was a nice little book that will make for a refreshing summer read.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine", "timestamp": 1276012290000, "title": "A charming story" }, { "asin": "159554870X", "rating": 4, "text": "I have read quite a few books from the Amish genre already. I read the Beverly Lewis series, Heritage of Lancaster County, 10 years ago. Since then the market has been saturated with Amish fiction. So I was pleasantly surprised with this book.<br /><br />The story focuses on Sarah King, but she is not the only one in the story who learns a wunderbaar lesson in trusting Der Herr. Sarah, Grant, and even the Fisher family learn to trust God and to return to truth. It is a lesson that we all need reminding.<br /><br />This is the first book in the series entitled \"A Patch of Heaven.\" The next book, Lilly's Wedding Quilt is due out in April 2011. I look forward to reading more in this series.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1277860366000, "title": "A wunderbaar story" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "I got a chance to read another terrific book by Max Lucado. He always brings a fresh perspective to our lives as Christians. Sometimes he even hits too close to home, and I have to take a good look at myself to see where I may need to make some changes. Yet the book is not condemning but more convicting. Sometimes change is good even when it is hard.<br /><br />This book challenges me to do more than just believe in Christ and live a good life. If I want to outlive my life, God can use me to do even more than I could ever dream. When Jesus said \"Follow me\" to his disciples, He is asking me, too. And when they followed, He did amazing things through them. And when I follow, He can do amazing things through me.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1284124982000, "title": "There's more to life" }, { "asin": "1595540091", "rating": 5, "text": "I just started to read Ted Dekker this summer. A friend loaned me Black, and I am glad that I got my feet wet with the Circle series ([[ASIN:1595546820 Green (The Circle Series)]], [[ASIN:B003TO6D3W Black (The Circle)]], [[ASIN:B003IWYGW0 Red (The Circle Series)]], and [[ASIN:B003TO6D5U White (The Circle Series)]]) before reading Immanuel's Veins.<br /><br />To be honest, in order to read and enjoy his books, I have to open my mind and let go of preconceived notions. When I am reading, it feels like riding a roller coaster...at first, I am not so sure I am going to like it but then the excitement starts tp pick up, and I don't want it to end.<br /><br />I really do not know how what category this book falls into. It could be suspense, drama, murder, romance, fantasy, or even historical fiction. I guess by not being able to put the book into one category makes this book even more interesting to read.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1284397418000, "title": "Open your mind" }, { "asin": "0764208659", "rating": 5, "text": "I just finished reading this terrific book. I have read [[ASIN:0764200836 Jesus Freaks: Martyrs: Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus: The Ultimate Jesus Freaks]]and am in the middle of [[ASIN:B0009U7YQO Under God]], so I am familiar with books that Toby Mac is involved in. He does not write the book himself (he saves his writing for lyrics), but instead he compiles stories from others who inspire us and encourage us.<br /><br />My son is excited to read this book, too. We went to a Toby Mac concert last year, and I am grateful that my middle school son is singing lyrics that are building and encouraging. Some of the music his friends listen to is questionable. This book will encourage him to be more than just a believer but to live out his faith.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Bethany House has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1286144908000, "title": "Read this book to be inspired" }, { "asin": "0849946158", "rating": 5, "text": "I did not intend to read 3 books in the last year about people describing heaven from the first person perspective. [[ASIN:0800759494 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life]], [[ASIN:0764207946 Flight to Heaven: A Plane Crash...A Lone Survivor...A Journey to Heaven--and Back]], and Heaven is for Real share the same perspective of what heaven is like. All 3 books also have in a common a person who had to suffer and go through intense medical drama in order to experience heaven. I am glad that I have read all 3 of these books. I am also excited to be doing a study on Revelation ([[ASIN:B003VRVTYU Here And Now...There And Then: Listening Guide & Weekly Assignments]] by Beth Moore). It seems like God is trying to teach me something, and I best be paying attention. Next thing I know, my pastor will be preaching about heaven. ;)<br /><br />What I liked about Heaven is Real is the fresh and honest understanding of heaven. An almost 4 year old does not have the Biblical knowledge to describe heaven like he did unless he saw it himself. There are some things that I could not describe even after studying the Bible. No amount of study compares to an eyewitness account, and what this young boy describes is completely in alignment with what the Scriptures teach us.<br /><br />I also want to commend Todd and Sonja Burpo for being careful and honest in trying to understand what their son, Colton, saw. It is easy to feed information to your children and sway their perspective. However, the Burpo's were discerning in allowing their son to tell them what he saw without trying to influence his understanding. As a result, we get to read a great book about heaven and about a little child who had the chance to see it for himself.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1288749668000, "title": "True and honest" }, { "asin": "0764207326", "rating": 3, "text": "I like a good book to read on vacation. I received this book to review but did not get to go on vacation to read it. However, it did bring back good memories of a trip I took to OBX.<br /><br />This book was mildly entertaining. It was not an easy read as too many characters were introduced yet they did not seem significant to the story line. My mind was overwhelmed with trying to understand each character and their back story. I think half of the characters were unnecessary and the story would have been the same without them.<br /><br />The book falls under the category of inspirational fiction, but there was not a whole lot of talk about God and religion. The book could also be a romance novel, but the story was not overly romantic. At times, I wanted to read more about the romantic relationship between 2 characters and at other times, I was tired of hearing about how the main character felt about a particular man. There was also some drama and suspense in the book. So I am not sure how to categorize this book. Instead I will say the story is unique.<br /><br />Bethany House has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1289701487000, "title": "A vacation read" }, { "asin": "0764208500", "rating": 1, "text": "I can honestly say that I was not inspired while reading this book. I did not like this book and it left a bad taste in my mouth.<br /><br />Too verbose. I did not enjoy the many paragraphs of descriptive writing that were unnecessary to the story line. Some description is needed to help the reader visualize the story but not so much that the background becomes a storyline itself.<br /><br />Too many characters. I was exhausted by the beginning of the 4th chapter as yet another character was being introduced. Since so much description is given to each character, it was time consuming to keep tract of each new character.<br /><br />Too long. I was on page 286 before I realized that there had yet to be a climax to the story. For an author writing about writing, I was surprised that the book lacked basic story elements. In the last 40 pages, the protagonist did find herself at the turning point, but it felt rushed as if the author needed to keep the book under 320 pages.<br /><br />Too much smut. As mentioned in other reviews, this book was not as Christian as the Christian market expects. I was convicted a few years ago about reading books that bordered on smut. I turned to Christian publishers to find morally entertaining books. I did not expect to read about half naked women and unmarried couples sleeping together in this novel.<br /><br />I do not enjoy writing negative reviews, but I have read and reviewed so many books this year that it was bound to happen.<br /><br />Bethany House has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1291065444000, "title": "Uninspiring" }, { "asin": "1595547916", "rating": 4, "text": "Kristin Billerbeck set the standard for Chick Lit, and this book is the very definition of Chick Lit. It is an easy read with light-hearted romance and a dash of drama thrown in for good measure.<br /><br />Katie is a young woman who has overcome hurt but has now left the past behind to live a decent life. However, her past comes back to mess up what she has established. Sometimes you need to learn from the past to make a better future, and Katie does just that.<br /><br />Much like other books by Kristin Billerbeck (What a Girl Wants and A Girl's Best Friend), this book has a young woman trying to find her true self while staying true to her faith in a materialistic world. I think we can all relate to that so some degree.<br /><br />On a side note, I felt that the relationship between Katie and Dexter was much like the relationship between Meg Ryan and her fiance in Sleepless in Seattle. It was safe and comfortable but a passionless relationship that was doomed from the start.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1295116389000, "title": "Another Chick Lit from Billerbeck" }, { "asin": "1595545395", "rating": 3, "text": "Another foray into the chick-lit genre. This book was enjoyable to read and interesting enough to keep my attention throughout the story. The character development was a bit slow at times but realistic enough. It has been the first book in a while that I did not rush to finish. I took my time even though I could have rushed to finish just to see what happens. I like to take my time if the book is good.<br /><br />I am not sure why the title was \"Save the Date.\" By the end of the book, I still did not understand what the title meant. I may have missed something, but \"Saving Grace\" seems like a more fitting title.<br /><br />I was a bit confused with the character of Julian and his relationship with Clare. They reminded me of Karen and Jack in the old sitcom Will and Grace. I am not sure how his character added to the storyline, and for me, he was more a distraction.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1296225657000, "title": "Saving Grace is a better title" }, { "asin": "1595548017", "rating": 4, "text": "The pace of this book kept me from giving it 5 stars. I felt like the story slowed down too much in the middle which dragged out the plot for too long. Will she fall in love? Will he tell her the truth? I wanted to know what happened next, but for about 100 pages, it felt like nothing was really happening. It was not until page 250 that I got the information I had been wanting to know about a pivotal character. So for that reason, this was a page turner.<br /><br />When I typed \"A Cowboy's Touch\" into the search on amazon, another book with the same title came up. It was definitely not this book. It was a romance but more, shall we saw, graphic. I hope people do not confuse these 2 books because Denise Hunter's \"A Cowboy Touch\" is nothing like what I saw on the cover of the other book.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provides me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my opinion which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1299894529000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "Drugs, addiction, child trafficing, and that is just the first chapter.<br /><br />The Covington family has had its share of tragedy and sorrow, but they find themselves in the middle of another heartache as they try heal from their own pain. Emily is one year sober (read about her struggles in [[ASIN:0310321980 Intervention (Intervention Series, Book 1)]]), and is excited to live a new life. But how do you live a new life when the old life keeps dragging you down?<br /><br />This was one of those can't-put-it-down kind of books. I enjoyed reading it and would keep reading to find out what happens next. I was not happy when the book was over only because I like how Terri Blackstock writes and want to know more about what happens next. The book does leave a small open door so I hope that means there is another book to be written???<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1302310511000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "078523120X", "rating": 1, "text": "I did not like this book. I tried like it, but it was not my cup of tea. It was downright unimaginative.<br /><br />David Ponder, the main character from [[ASIN:0785273220 The Traveler's Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success]], returns. He is taken to a summit where he, along with many pivotal people from history, must save the world by coming up a 2 word phrase. Together, they discuss and ponder (pun intended) what the phrase could be. They have 7 chances to get it right. After each incorrect guess, a new traveler is added to the discussion.<br /><br />So what bored me about the book is that there was a whole lot of talk but not much action. The story is the discussion of a 2 word phrase. It got so boring, that I just skipped to the end of the chapter to see what the phrase will be. I also knew that it would take all 7 chances before they got it right, but even then the final 2 word phrase was trite and uninspiring.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provides me with a free copy of this book for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1302551042000, "title": "Dull and unexciting" }, { "asin": "1414319495", "rating": 4, "text": "I was glad to read another book in the juvenille fiction genre. It was interesting to read this cross between a chapter book and a graphic novel. I can see how this would be a good book for a boy who is able to read chapter books but is not interested in some of the options that are available.<br /><br />Since I have not read the first two books in this series, I had a hard time understanding the characters and their backgrounds. I had to quickly catch up with their backstory while at the same time keep up with the action from this story. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I had read the previous books; however, that is not to say that I did not enjoy this book. On the contrary, it was an interesting book which kept my attention throughout.<br /><br />The story is about a boy and 2 girls who find themselves in the middle of a mystery. They are as integral as the adults in the book at solving the mystery. It is fast-paced and action packed. I would classify the book as action and suspense with Biblical overtones.<br /><br />I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for this review.", "timestamp": 1306176331000, "title": "A cross between graphic novel and chapter book" }, { "asin": "1595548114", "rating": 4, "text": "I am not an avid reader of historical fiction, but this book was nice. It was neither exciting nor dull and makes a decent summer read.<br /><br />The story is of Lucy, a young lady, who is pursuing a career in photography in a small town. The story is also of David who is trying to redeem his past. Their lives converge and sparks fly. It is a common theme in fiction, but charming nonetheless.<br /><br />I did find some of the story lacking. It was about 50 pages too long as the storyline dragged on without an significant progress in character development. Also, the end was a little unsatisfying. It ended the way I had anticipated without any big ordeal or revelation. Like I said, it was nice but not exciting.<br /><br />This book is part of the Rocky Creek Romance series; however, I did not need to read the 2 previous books to enjoy this book. It is as much a stand- alone book as it is a part of the series.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1307970908000, "title": "Decent but not spectacular" }, { "asin": "0764208055", "rating": 4, "text": "I have never read a book from the \"Texas Adventure and Romance\" genre, and I rarely read historical fiction. However, I read this book and enjoyed it very much.<br /><br />Elizabeth Evans travels to El Paso/Fort Bliss to help her widowed brother but quickly finds herself in the middle of an international event. Ranger Jake Nelson comes to her aid and quickly they fall in love. The problem is that both Elizabeth and Jake have loved and lost before and do not want to love and lose again.<br /><br />I did enjoy reading this book. There was enough action and drama to keep it from being too sappy with the romance. Sometimes the action was too much as I wondered how many more incidents could Elizabeth and Jake find themselves. Kidnapping, border crossing, and near drownings were just a few of this action packed incidents. There seemed to be no end to the adrenaline rush for the characters or even time to grieve from tragic events.<br /><br />Bethany House has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1316439948000, "title": "Action, drama, and romance to boot" }, { "asin": "1400318033", "rating": 5, "text": "What a delightful little book! Little Hermie is just right for young children. The book is short enough to keep their attention but cute enough to capture their hearts. The short prayer is written in rhyme so it is pleasing for little children to quietly listen to.<br /><br />Little Hermie is thanking God for His many blessings. Hermie thanks God for leaves to sleep on, for friends and family, for food and playtime, and for blessing me.<br /><br />What I liked about the book was that it was easy to read and sounds nice when read out loud. I wish the book was longer; however, I remember when my little ones were little and their attention span was very short.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1316887552000, "title": "Short and sweet" }, { "asin": "1595549404", "rating": 4, "text": "Much like Frank Peretti, Lis Weihl delves into the supernatural and the power of evil. I have enjoyed previous books by this author and continued to enjoy this new book.<br /><br />The story follows Dani, a psychiatrist who works for the DA, as she tries to solve a local murder. With the help of her friend, Tommy, she is able to solve the crime. Not only does she figure out who done it, but also she figures out why that person did it.<br /><br />The storyline is much like an episode of a TV crime drama. The murder is solved in less than 2 weeks, and the characters never seem to have a night where they actually sleep. As the reader, it is interesting to follow the storyline as you try to solve the crime along with the characters of the book.<br /><br />What I did not like about the book is the past history between Dani and Tommy. She was the overachieving nerd in high school, and he was the game winning jock. He had a crush on her and admitted to being intimidated by her. I found this part of the story a little far fetched.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1317777570000, "title": "Another great book by Lis Weihl" }, { "asin": "0764209418", "rating": 3, "text": "Joy was a young orphan in China who is adopted by Andrew and Gloria. They bring her back to Texas and raise her as their own. However, Joy was never really an orphan. Joy is Lily, the fourth daughter of the Chang family who had to place their daughter in an orphanage because of governmental restrictions. Lily's sister, Kai, has devoted her life to find Lily and to find a cure for polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic disease that has plagued her family.<br /><br />Adoption, disease, teenage rebellion, and family devotion are weaved throughout the story. In some ways, there were too many elements causing conflict in the story. Most of these elements are resolved at the end of the story, but some are not. For example, the story hints at turmoil in Gloria's life because of her dad's infidelity, but that story line is never resolved.<br /><br />The storyline stuttered too much for me. The flashback to China is deep and descriptive as the authors uses too many words to set the tone. Then the story flies through 2 years of relationship building after Kai and Lily meet for the first time. I just had a hard time with the pace of the story.<br /><br />I give the book a 3.5 out of 5. It is neither good not bad. Just okay for me.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1321031289000, "title": "Not an easy read" }, { "asin": "0310332311", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been a fan of Terri Blackstock for years and have never been disappointed. This most recent book of hers is a reprint from a previous book. She updated the story and incorporated the story of redemption. I appreciate how the redemption story is weaved into the book without being forced or preachy.<br /><br />Carny, the protagonist, is a new person after leaving the carnival life, becoming a Christian, and settling in the town of Serenity, Texas. When Logan Brisco comes to town, she see him for the con he is. As much as she tries to discredit him, he sees the truth of what he is doing. In the midst of this, they are falling in love.<br /><br />The story had many unexpected twists and turns, yet it was an easy read that kept me interested from cover to cover. Terri Blackstock really does have the gift of storytelling, and I appreciate that she has used her gift to honor God.<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1321741698000, "title": "Another great book by Blackstock" }, { "asin": "0764208225", "rating": 3, "text": "The story opens with Heather Hampton, successful Seattle architect, on the verge of her biggest career move yet. The entire deal hinges on the sale of her family's property in Texas. This is the place she experienced tragedy and depression and wanted nothing more to leave the past behind. In this deal she hoped to erase the past and forget the memories of her home. Instead she has to face the past to deal with the present. This past includes the mystery of how her father died in a place she never wanted to live. Heather tries to solve this mystery but only uncovers more secrets instead of answers.<br /><br />I got frustrated reading this book as the secrets continued to build instead of being revealed. I read page after page waiting for the truth to be revealed. It took 300 pages before the truth started to come out. Once the mystery was solved, everything unraveled quickly. It was almost too quickly for as slow as the book started.<br /><br />I did like one line toward the end of the book, \"The great leaps in life are not made in the absence of fear but in the presence of faith.\" There were some good parts to the story, but overall the book was not satisfying.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332207991000, "title": "Slow and somewhat boring" }, { "asin": "0310250684", "rating": 4, "text": "I have yet to read a Terri Blackstock novel that I did not like. Whenever I get my hands on a new book, I know I am in for a treat. In this latest story, there is drama, suspense, struggle, and triumph.<br /><br />Emily Covington is a recovering drug addict trying to have a normal life. She knows that addiction recovery is not a walk in the park; however, she is challenged in ways she never anticipated. Her whole family is challenged in ways they never anticipated. All of them are forced into situations where they have to choose between right and wrong, yet sometimes it is not obvious what is right and what is wrong. From start to finish, the characters must react to situations and make tough decisions. At times, I thought, \"No, don't do it!\" but the characters made their decisions and had to face the consequences. Somehow, it all works out in the end, but you still need to read the book to find out how it happens.<br /><br />Downfall is the third book in a 3 book series about the Covington family with Intervention and Viscous Cycle being the first 2 books in the series. Of the 3 books in the series, this was my least favorite, but I am glad I read it as it ends the series. The book was fast-paced and an easy read.<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332465975000, "title": "A nice end to the series" }, { "asin": "1595548874", "rating": 4, "text": "Whew! I just finished Need You Now, and it was like riding a roller coaster. There is drama, suspense, tragedy, and triumph.<br /><br />The Henderson family relocates to a small town in Texas. They left Houston in hopes of getting their 3 children away from negative influences; however, the drama does not go away quietly as they settle in Round Top, Texas. Darlene, the mother, is struggling to find herself as her children need her less and she still has a lot to give. Brad, the father, is working overtime to make partner and wonders if his hard work will really pay-off. Chad, the eldest son, left drama behind in Houston but is still faces temptation in Round Top. Grace, the middle daughter, is the perfect child as she hides her true feelings and is overwhelmed with keeping up appearances. Ansley, the youngest daughter, is the only member of the family without drama. Also, the family is surprised to find out their next door neighbor was a Hollywood movie star was drama of her own.<br /><br />It took 100 pages for all these characters to be introduced and all these story lines to be developed. Initially the book was slow as the author was laying the groundwork for all these characters and their respective issues. Then in the last 100 pages, the story was fast-paced as the issues were brought to light and characters had a change of heart or realization about their issues. It was a slow build up and then a fast ride to the end, like a roller coaster.<br /><br />I am surprised that this book is only 250 pages long. It could have been so much longer. There were a few issues that were never really resolved by the end of the book. The character of Ansley was never developed, and she could have easily been left out of the story altogether. Chad's history in Houston was never fully revealed. I could foresee the author adding another book to this series, either as a prequel or a sequel.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for me review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332791141000, "title": "It is quite a ride!" }, { "asin": "076420615X", "rating": 4, "text": "Set during the War Between the States, Texas had both Union supporters and Confederate supports. There were also quite a few Texas supports who only wanted what benefited their state. Hannah, the heroine of the story, is just trying to survive with her 2 step-siblings. The ranch on which they live was given to their father, a Conferderate supporter. The previous residents were Union supporters and left to fight the war. Hannah's father leaves to help his mother back in Vicksburg but has not been heard from since. Instead, William Bartlett returns, the son of the previous ranch owner, to claim his family property.<br /><br />Initially, the storyline was slow as the many characters were introduced. Therefore, it took a while to understand how Hannah Dandridge can to live on a Texas ranch with her much younger step-brother and step-sister. I almost lost interest in the book, but I continued to read so I could write a thorough review.<br /><br />Once I got into the book, I enjoyed reading it, mostly. Some parts of the story annoyed me. I did not like how clueless Hannah was in her dealings with Herbert Lockhart, her father's business partner. She also seemed naive about how her family came to live on the ranch. She is strong woman who came from a privileged upbringing and became a hard-working ranch woman. Yet, the story does not talk about the transformation. There is only a nod to how she was once privileged and now must take care of her family and land.<br /><br />The story ends nicely with all loose ends tied up. It was neither surprising nor upsetting.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1336512516000, "title": "Nice enough" }, { "asin": "0310333172", "rating": 4, "text": "Reading a suspense novel from the perspective of an author doing research for a suspense novel adds a unique spin to this story. The story is also based on an actual cold case solved by the FBI.<br /><br />The heroine of this story, Kariss, is writing a novel and doing research while shadowing an FBI agent, Tigo. As she does her research, she becomes the main character in her own suspenseful story. Throughout the entire book, she inserts herself into FBI business and puts herself in harms way. Luckily, the hero of the book, Tigo, is always there to save this damsel in distress. However, Kariss is just stubborn enough to think of herself not as a damsel in distress but a modern woman who can do anything. That attitude keeps getting her in trouble. There is also a romantic element as Kariss and Tigo start to see each other as more than just a nuisance.<br /><br />The book was easy to read and kept my interest throughout. There were many twists and turns, but the ending was satisfying. I did get a little annoyed at the heroine who would not listen to wisdom and foolishly found herself on the wrong side of town, but that is how the heroine and hero start to fall in love, or at least like. There is a sequel that will probably explore this romantic storyline.<br /><br />Zondervan provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1338379735000, "title": "Enjoyable to read" }, { "asin": "0764209779", "rating": 4, "text": "Beverly Lewis is the gold standard in Amish fiction. She started with The Shunning and continues to raise the bar for other books in this genre.<br /><br />Amelia Devries is a world-class violinist who is so focused on her music that she has lost her way in life. When she loses her way, literally, in a bad rainstorm, she finds herself in an Amish village. There she realizes her need to reclaim the truth she once knew. She also falls in love both with a young man and with a simpler life. Amelia then has to decide what she really wants in life and how to go about doing just that.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading this book and felt the calming effect of the Amish way. I am not a world renown musician, but I am a woman who, like Amelia, can forget what is truly important in life. This book is a gentle reminder for me and for all readers.<br /><br />Bethany House has provided a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1338564279000, "title": "More than just another Amish book" }, { "asin": "1414333218", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the first book by Randy Singer I have read, and it is a pretty good book. It contains a lot of drama, a bit of suspense, a smattering of action, and a dash of romance.<br /><br />Initially, I had a hard time keeping up with the many characters and how they relate to the storyline. The main character is Jamie Brock who tells the story in the first person. However, other parts of the story are told in the third person so the reader gets an inside view of the action. Even still, there are twists and surprises to the story that are unexpected and entertaining.<br /><br />This book reminds me of the many crime dramas available on TV but far more interesting. I just might have to read more by Randy Singer now that I have had a small taste of his work.", "timestamp": 1340974960000, "title": "Pretty Good" }, { "asin": "140168565X", "rating": 5, "text": "How appropriate that I finished reading this book on a nice rainy day.<br /><br />Daphne is a \"nose\" which is to say she knows how things smell and how things should smell. However, after being left at the altar, she loses her sense of smell which means she also may lose her job. So she must deal with the rejection of her ex-fiance and with the problem of creating new scents without being able to smell them.<br /><br />Of course, it would not be Chick Lit without romance. Daphne's new boss, Jesse, is a widow who himself is struggling with his job and with relationships. Mix it all up, and you have an interesting tale of love, loss, and love again.<br /><br />I have read all of the books by Kristin Billerbeck, and this is by far my favorite. Instead of the shallow and selfish heroines found in previous books, Daphne has depths and layers much like the fragrances she creates.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1342813416000, "title": "Love, loss, and love again" }, { "asin": "1401685617", "rating": 4, "text": "Not since Francine Rivers[...] has a book delved into the difficulties faced by a unwed teenage mother who decides to give up her child for adoption.<br /><br />The choices we make determine the people we become. This idea is wonderfully illustrated in this book. The book opens with Sandy Lincoln confirming her pregnancy with her mom at the doctor's office. The story takes off from there without slowing down or wasting a word. This could have been a 400+ page book, and I am grateful that the author kept the book as short as he did.<br /><br />The only reason why I gave this book a 4-star instead of a 5-star rating is that some of the characters were just too perfect. Sandy's mother, for example, was an uptight Southern woman who was also kind and compassionate when Sandy discovered she was pregnant. Only her classmates gossiped about her pregnancy, but no one was condemning or critical about her behavior. Instead everyone was supportive, except the birth father as he did not want to give up his football career.<br /><br />Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1343178216000, "title": "A fast paced but good read" }, { "asin": "0764209655", "rating": 5, "text": "No one wants to marry a groom because of chance, even if the groom is the man you have dreamed about since childhood. Meridith Hayes has had a crush on Travis Archer since he rescued her from a trap when she was a child. He was the man of her dreams, literally, and eventually, those dreams came true.<br /><br />I really enjoyed reading this book. The storyline was contrived, but the plot progressed smoothly with sufficient character development. It has been a while since I really liked reading historical fiction. This book was a breath of fresh air in my reading repertoire.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1344043100000, "title": "A Delight to Read" }, { "asin": "076420887X", "rating": 3, "text": "I did not understand the character of Melinda. She is a strong young women who must leave her life of affluence when her parents die. She becomes a lady's maid and must endure the life of a servant. She does this with courage and grace and is a model servant. However, when she falls in love with Evan she becomes a whiny, petulant child who wants to get her way no matter what Evan says. Even when the local pastor tries to encourage Melinda to wait and pray, she ignores his advice and continues to try to control the situation. It was very frustrating to read as nothing seemed to change as the story line dragged on.<br /><br />The first half of the book was painstakingly slow. I almost gave up reading the book. I had to finish reading in order to write a thorough review. So I kept on reading. The pace of the story line picked up, and I started to enjoy it. The second half of the book was so much better than the first half. I am glad I stuck with it, but I did not like having to plod through so much useless story line to get to good stuff.<br /><br />In the second half the book, the story was interesting and fun to read. There was drama, suspense, romance, and intrigue. If I could have just read the end without having to get through the beginning, I would have enjoyed this book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1346550361000, "title": "A slow story that picks up in the end" }, { "asin": "0849920701", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been reading Max Lucado books for 25 years. Even since I gave my life to Christ, his books have spoken to my heart and encouraged my faith. This latest book does not disappoint.<br /><br />This book revolutionary. I thought I understood grace. However, I have only just begun to comprehend the immense blessing of God's grace. Weaving every day stories with theology, Max Lucado opens our minds and our hearts to the great gift of grace.<br /><br />If I was to recommend just one book everyone should read this year, it would be this book. It is not hard to read or a long book, but the truths between the covers will stay with you long after you are done.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1348665842000, "title": "Grace is Great" }, { "asin": "1414349300", "rating": 3, "text": "On the good side, the story is well written. Character development is solid. Drama unfolds with plenty of action and suspense.<br /><br />On the bad side, I have an issue with the main character, Lance Corporal Bekah Shaw. She is a Marine reservist who is returning to action on her third deployment in as many years. Bekah is divorced from her husband who was never fit to be married in the first place. Bekah also must leave her young son in the care of her grandmother who also helped raise her. Bekah struggles with leaving her son behind but is courageous enough to serve her country. So far, the character is believable and almost admirable. However, once she starts to see action in a war zone, the character becomes less believable.<br /><br />Women in the military do not serve in combat units on the front line of battle. Even in today's military, a women would not be a fire team leader in charge of small unit attack. I know this because I served in the military, and my husband continues to serve. So I take offense to a story that stretches the truth to the point of a lie. If the main character was a man, a single dad who struggled with leaving a child behind, then this story would have been great. But since the main character is a women, this story is just too unrealistic to be enjoyable.<br /><br />Tyndale House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1349099524000, "title": "Could have been better" }, { "asin": "0310730538", "rating": 5, "text": "I ordered this book for my 11 year old daughter who loves American history and Indian culture. I read it first and thoroughly enjoyed it.<br /><br />Barbara Leininger is torn from her family during an Indian raid and forced to adapt to the Indian culture. Before she is forced into marriage with an Indian brave, she escapes with 3 other captives. Together, they must travel 300+ miles on foot to reach freedom. Living as an Indian was not easy nor was her escape. Yet through it all, she maintained her faith and her determination to see her younger sister again.<br /><br />This is an inspiring story for everyone. I am thankful for Zondervan who provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1358648395000, "title": "Inspring story" }, { "asin": "0764208888", "rating": 3, "text": "It is not hard to figure out the plot when the front cover of the book shows a bride and groom standing hand in hand. However, the story begins with a young woman, Callie, who has sworn off marriage and a young man, Wes, who does not want to socialize with the many wealthy families who visit Bridal Veil Island. So the reader expects the two to fall in love and get married before the end of the story.<br /><br />Without ruining the story, Callie and Wes do fall in love as expected. I was bored with the story line because it took 200 pages before Callie and Wes admit their affection for each other. There were a few obstacles to overcome and some of the characters had to change their opinions and desires before the story was complete. Yet none of these story elements involved significant drama or soul searching. The pace of the story was slow and predictable. It was not an exciting story but more of a nice read.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1360335782000, "title": "Nice but not great" }, { "asin": "0764210734", "rating": 5, "text": "Reading the Bible in a year has become a popular endeavor. However, the quest can be daunting. This book encourages women to meet the challenge and to do so with joy.<br /><br />The unique thing about this yearly reading method is that it is broken down by weeks instead of days. You can start any time since the weeks are not dated. So it really you are reading the Bible in 52 weeks. I also like that the New Testament books are interspersed throughout the year.<br /><br />Diane Stortz encourages women not to do this alone but to join or create a group who reads through the Bible together. The group will provide the necessary encouragement and accountability one needs to read through the entire Bible is just 52 weeks.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1360755817000, "title": "A great way to read the Bible" }, { "asin": "0764206192", "rating": 5, "text": "It has been a long time since I read a good book such as this one. It was not amazing; however, it was a nice leisurely read. The book had romance, a dash of suspense, and a nice helping of family. It was just what I needed!<br /><br />Merrill is a strong woman who has been taking care of her father and older brothers after the death of her mother. She is quite capable and is not looking to find a husband especially after living with so many men for so long. Of course, when she least expects it, a new man comes into to town and she falls in love. The twist is that she does not realize she is falling in love. He loves her, too, but there are some complications that are getting in the way. Only after much drama and suspense are they able to admit their love for each other.<br /><br />I probably gave the book away, but with all historical romance, the reader knows that the man and woman at the center of the story will fall in love and live happily ever after. Even though I knew it was going to happen, it was fun to find out how it would happen. That is why I enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1365439913000, "title": "A Nice Read" }, { "asin": "0764209795", "rating": 4, "text": "Beverly Lewis is the trailblazer for Amish fiction. I remember reading The Shunning years ago while discovering this new genre. She set the standard for all others who endeavoured to write Amish fiction.<br /><br />In this latest book, Jodi Winfield visits a local Amish community and rediscovers her own faith while learning about the Amish culture. The story is also about Maryanna Esh, a young widow and mother of 4, who learns that she can love again.<br /><br />The storyline is nice. The setting is charming. The people are delightful. Even the food sounds delicious. The middle of the book was tedious as the plot stagnated, but the ending was satisfying. Overall, this was a good book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1367846848000, "title": "Good enough to read" }, { "asin": "0764211129", "rating": 5, "text": "I read the O'Malley series years ago and wondered why Jennifer never had her own book. All the other siblings had a book, but Jennifer was left out, until now.<br /><br />Since it has been so long since I read the O'Malley series, I was excited to read this novella. The story is a flashback to when Jennifer became a believer in Jesus and when she fell in love with Tom. It was not exciting or earth-shattering. Instead it was sweet and comforting. Although the end of the book (SPOILER ALERT) begins Jennifer's journey with cancer, it is still an enjoyable book.<br /><br />I highly recommend this book to anyone who read the O'Malley series and to anyone who is looking for a nice summer read.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1371050146000, "title": "Nice and Sweet" }, { "asin": "0764209566", "rating": 3, "text": "As with most historical fiction, the heroine tries to be independent and strong but still enjoys having a man save the damsel in distress.<br /><br />The heroine of this story is Melanie Ross who is fired as a governess and must make a way for herself out west. She has no family left but inherits half of a general store. The other half is owned by Caleb Nelson, a widower and the single father of young Levi. Melanie and Caleb do not agree on how to run the store and often find themselves at odds. Only when they have to defend the store and the honor of their uncles, do they settle their differences.<br /><br />The story line was slow. The action did not really pick up until the last quarter of the book. I thought the story was about the difference of opinions between Melanie and Caleb. Instead it was about the deaths in town that were tied together but a common thread. By the time this part of the story reached its climax, the romance between Melanie and Caleb was long overdue. Even though the murderer was not who I expected, the rest of the story was predictable.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1372528648000, "title": "Too slow" }, { "asin": "0310315476", "rating": 5, "text": "Susanna Truitt always had a plan for her life, but when that plan falls apart, she must fully trust God with her future. Her boyfriend of 12 years dumps her; she loses her job; and she is forced to move out of her cottage. Nothing seems to be going her way. Even when she meets a man and enjoys a few dates with him, he returns to his Euorpean home after 2 weeks. But this man, Nate, is really Prince Nathaniel II, and Susanna's future might just become her own fairy tale.<br /><br />Initially, Susanna does not know that Nate is a prince but eventually learns the truth. What I liked is that this was not a belabored point in the story. There is some time and confusion between meeting Nate and discovering that he is a prince but not so much time that the reader is annoyed.<br /><br />I am surprised that I liked this book. Usually young adult fiction is immoral, predictable, and overly romantic. Instead, this book was delightful, engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1374059634000, "title": "A charming and delightful story" }, { "asin": "1414380437", "rating": 5, "text": "Well done, Beth Moore! I am so glad she published a teen edition of her book So Long Insecurity. I have read both books, and I am thoroughly impressed with this most recent publication.<br /><br />Girls, ladies, women, we are all insecure. Some are more so than others. But we all need to face our insecurities and overcome them. This book is a great way for young women to address and deal with their own insecurities.<br /><br />I have read other magazine-like books for teens. Often, they come across shallow and trendy without much substance. This book is quite the opposite. It is deep and full of truths, but with an interesting and engaging format. I highly recommend it to all teenagers. No one is immune from insecurities.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, please mention as part of every Web or Amazon review that Tyndale House Publishers has provided you with a complimentary copy of this book.", "timestamp": 1375454367000, "title": "Well Done!" }, { "asin": "0764210157", "rating": 3, "text": "There is an explosion at a nuclear facility. A security guard is trying to keep his job without having to lie about what he saw. A lab technician tries to discover what happened and whether or not he was exposed to radiation. A lawyer gets involved while she is grieving the loss of her mother and questioning a strained relationship with her father. A well-paid executive is trying to complete a illegal project while covering up the explosion.<br /><br />The story was not bad, but it was not very good either. There were so many characters that I did not feel like everyone was fully developed, nor were all their issues resolved by the end of the book. On top of the many characters, there was a plethora of scientific explanation about the explosion and the work of the nuclear facility. It was just too much to understand in one book.<br /><br />I did not dislike this book, but it was hard to finish. I got lost with all the characters and all the science involved.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a copy of this book in exchange for my review which I honestly give.", "timestamp": 1384797464000, "title": "Not bad but not great" }, { "asin": "140168968X", "rating": 5, "text": "I thoroughly enjoyed this book with the unique first person storytelling and the many characters intertwined throughout the story.<br /><br />Sam is an orphan girl who has is trying to make her way in today's culture. She knows her upbringing was lacking and used books to understand human nature. Books were her escape, but she also learned to hide behind these characters. Only when she learns to be her true self can she fully mature and become the woman she is suppose to be.<br /><br />I am not a reader of British literature so many of the books and characters (Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and The Scarlet Pimpernel) were unknown to me. I was still able to follow the story line and noticed that as Sam matured, she used her characters less and less. However, she never had to leave her great books behind as that was one of the few good memories she has of her childhood.<br /><br />What I most liked about the book was how the story was told through one-sided letters. I was able to figure out who Mr. Knightley was but only a few pages before he was revealed. The book was charming and enjoyable.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1385999251000, "title": "Charming" }, { "asin": "0764212435", "rating": 3, "text": "Mark Bishop is a Navy submarine commander, and Gina Gray is a brilliant scientist and researcher who discovers ways to help submarines stay quiet underwater. It seems like a match made in heaven, but it took a long time before these two people fall in love.<br /><br />The book included a lot of background of submarine warfare and the software programs that Gina was trying to design. The technical information was necessary to build up to the action at the end of the story; however, I felt that the book was longer than it needed to be. I had to skim the last 100 pages to get to the real action and to see if Gina and Mark would finally fall in love. The end is satifying yet seemed to come quickly after the 400+ page build up.<br /><br />I like books written by Dee Henderson and am impressed with the amount of research she put into this story. Yet I did not enjoy this book as much as her previous books. It just felt too long and too wordy.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1401376450000, "title": "Could have been shorter and better" }, { "asin": "1496403339", "rating": 4, "text": "Jed King is a singer/songwriter. When he writes &#34;The Song&#34;, his career takes off. He is happily married to Rose, but the time appart while on tour is detrimental to their relationship. This storyline reflects Song of Solomon and is a good modernization of the love story.<br /><br />When I say I want to curl up with a good book, this is that book. It is the kind of book that when you start reading, you lose track of time. The story invites you in, and you want to stay. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />The only negative comment I have is that I did not want to see the pictures from the movie in the book. It not only gave away the story line, but also the ending.<br /><br />Tyndale Fiction provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1421762188000, "title": "Curl up with this good book" }, { "asin": "0764211587", "rating": 3, "text": "Sarah Miller has finally settled into a good life. She has her work as a teacher and her friends whom she trusts. She recently found her sister and discovered she is an aunt. Unfortunately, her sister dies, and Sarah has now become a mother to her sister's daughter.<br /><br />While I liked the storyline, the pace was not so good. The beginning of the story was quick and intense. Then the story slowed down. Clues were dropped but at a mind-numbing pace. The pace never really picked up even as all the clues came together, but it was more of an afterthought instead of a climax to the story.<br /><br />I wanted to like this book, but it just was not for me.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1428431616000, "title": "Too slow" }, { "asin": "076421246X", "rating": 3, "text": "Marlena Wenger is struggling to follow her heart as she develops deeper relationships with her Mennonite grandmother, with her English niece, and with her Old Order Amish beau. She feels torn and has to decide for herself what she believes.<br /><br />I have read Amish fiction for years and usually like books by Beverly Lewis. However, this one was not my favorite, or even top 10. The story line was interesting, but the execution was disjointed. I never understood Marlena's motivation or even how to she came to her new found understanding of faith.<br /><br />There was another storyline about a young boy that helps an older man, who is suffering from memory loss, to find his way home. The only connection between the 2 stories is that they were next door neighbors. I felt like the stories were 2 separate books forced into 1.<br /><br />The book was hard to follow and slow going. It was not something I would recommend.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1429795953000, "title": "Not a good book" }, { "asin": "0764212613", "rating": 3, "text": "Through tragedy, Kelli Huddleston discovers that her dad was not what he seemed which leads her to discover her family who are more than they seemed.<br /><br />Kelli is fired from a job because she stood up for what is right. This gave her the opportunity to travel across the country to find her birth family and see who they really are while protecting her real identity. She learns a great deal about them and about herself.<br /><br />While the story is interesting, I had a hard time with how everything fell into place so nicely. Kelli had the luxury of not worrying about her income. Her birth mom was forgiving and understanding. Her birth sister was open and loving and willing to start a deep relationship with this stranger. Even her father's best friend extended friendship and grace to Kelli with no questions asked. No one seemed hurt when the truth came out about what Kelli's father did to the family. It was just too sugary sweet for my tastes.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1430830897000, "title": "Too sweet for my tastes" }, { "asin": "0310335582", "rating": 3, "text": "I was fascinated with a story about someone becoming Amish instead of someone leaving the Amish community. It was role reversal. Initially, I enjoyed reading about Sherry Gore conversion from living as an Englisher to becoming Amish.<br /><br />As I was reading, I expected the author to share her spiritual awakening. Sherry does get baptized and has a heartfelt conversion to her faith. However, she believes in the maxim &#34;God does for those who do for themselves&#34;. This really bothered me because many people think this is a Biblical passage, but it is not. It is also not based on the teachings of the Bible. It is a man-made, man enforced phrase.<br /><br />I also did not understand why Sherry continued to move around and piecemeal her belief system based on her life experiences, instead of the Bible. I struggled to even understand why she became Amish.<br /><br />Zondervan provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1440709260000, "title": "Disappointing" }, { "asin": "0764209000", "rating": 5, "text": "Nehemiah is the cupbearer to the king and is content to serve him. But when a visit from his brother sheds light on the disrepair of Jerusalem, Nehemiah is heartbroken and seeks God's guidance. The Lord leads him back to his homeland to lead the rebuilding of the city walls.<br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed this book of historical fiction. The author stayed true to the Biblical story and only added fictionalization to shed light on what the people might have felt or thought.<br /><br />Even though I did not read the first 2 books in The Restoration Chronicles, I did not struggle to follow the storyline. I now would like to read the previous books as this book was well written and enjoyable to read.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1448737084000, "title": "A good read" }, { "asin": "1401686117", "rating": 4, "text": "Brock Matthews discovers a way to change the present by dreaming of visiting himself in the past. The problem is that it changes the future. When he tries to change the past again, it really messes up the future. It seems he can't get it right, or by getting it wrong, it is right?<br /><br />As far as fiction goes, this is an interesting book. The story moves along smoothly and the end is satisfying. It reminds me of &#34;The Shack&#34; and &#34;The Five People You Meet in Heaven.&#34; All these books have a spiritual element, but with artistic license, expands spiritual concepts. There may need to be a new genre term such as &#34;spiritual fiction&#34; to describe these books.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give", "timestamp": 1451785510000, "title": "Spiritual Fiction" }, { "asin": "0764211595", "rating": 3, "text": "Sophie Wittenbauer has left her old life behind. She left her Mennonite town and beliefs and built a new life for herself. While she investigates a murder, she learns that her past may be behind her but it also made her the person she is now.<br /><br />The book was slow and it took too long to develop the plot. I was getting bored trying to follow both the character development and the investigation into the murder. I had to force myself to finish just so that I could write this review. It wasn't a bad book, just slow.<br /><br />It wasn't until halfway through this book that I realized I read the first book in the series. You do not have to read the series to follow the storyline as each book introduces new characters and old characters just make an appearance in the next story.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1452631922000, "title": "Slow to develop the story" } ]

[ { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 4, "text": "I enjoyed reading this historical fiction which is a genre I don't read often. I'm glad I endeavored to read this one because it was a nice change of pace.<br /><br />The story was sweet and charming and very innocent which is what I like in the fiction I read. The plot was a little predictable and had some unnecessary developments. I felt like the book was 50 pages too long. I knew what was going to happen and just wanted the story to get on with it. Yet I am glad I took the time to read the entire book instead of just skipping to end to see what happens.<br /><br />Overall, it was a nice little book that will make for a refreshing summer read.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine", "timestamp": 1276012290000, "title": "A charming story" }, { "asin": "159554870X", "rating": 4, "text": "I have read quite a few books from the Amish genre already. I read the Beverly Lewis series, Heritage of Lancaster County, 10 years ago. Since then the market has been saturated with Amish fiction. So I was pleasantly surprised with this book.<br /><br />The story focuses on Sarah King, but she is not the only one in the story who learns a wunderbaar lesson in trusting Der Herr. Sarah, Grant, and even the Fisher family learn to trust God and to return to truth. It is a lesson that we all need reminding.<br /><br />This is the first book in the series entitled \"A Patch of Heaven.\" The next book, Lilly's Wedding Quilt is due out in April 2011. I look forward to reading more in this series.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1277860366000, "title": "A wunderbaar story" }, { "asin": "0849920698", "rating": 5, "text": "I got a chance to read another terrific book by Max Lucado. He always brings a fresh perspective to our lives as Christians. Sometimes he even hits too close to home, and I have to take a good look at myself to see where I may need to make some changes. Yet the book is not condemning but more convicting. Sometimes change is good even when it is hard.<br /><br />This book challenges me to do more than just believe in Christ and live a good life. If I want to outlive my life, God can use me to do even more than I could ever dream. When Jesus said \"Follow me\" to his disciples, He is asking me, too. And when they followed, He did amazing things through them. And when I follow, He can do amazing things through me.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1284124982000, "title": "There's more to life" }, { "asin": "1595540091", "rating": 5, "text": "I just started to read Ted Dekker this summer. A friend loaned me Black, and I am glad that I got my feet wet with the Circle series ([[ASIN:1595546820 Green (The Circle Series)]], [[ASIN:B003TO6D3W Black (The Circle)]], [[ASIN:B003IWYGW0 Red (The Circle Series)]], and [[ASIN:B003TO6D5U White (The Circle Series)]]) before reading Immanuel's Veins.<br /><br />To be honest, in order to read and enjoy his books, I have to open my mind and let go of preconceived notions. When I am reading, it feels like riding a roller coaster...at first, I am not so sure I am going to like it but then the excitement starts tp pick up, and I don't want it to end.<br /><br />I really do not know how what category this book falls into. It could be suspense, drama, murder, romance, fantasy, or even historical fiction. I guess by not being able to put the book into one category makes this book even more interesting to read.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1284397418000, "title": "Open your mind" }, { "asin": "0764208659", "rating": 5, "text": "I just finished reading this terrific book. I have read [[ASIN:0764200836 Jesus Freaks: Martyrs: Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus: The Ultimate Jesus Freaks]]and am in the middle of [[ASIN:B0009U7YQO Under God]], so I am familiar with books that Toby Mac is involved in. He does not write the book himself (he saves his writing for lyrics), but instead he compiles stories from others who inspire us and encourage us.<br /><br />My son is excited to read this book, too. We went to a Toby Mac concert last year, and I am grateful that my middle school son is singing lyrics that are building and encouraging. Some of the music his friends listen to is questionable. This book will encourage him to be more than just a believer but to live out his faith.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Bethany House has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1286144908000, "title": "Read this book to be inspired" }, { "asin": "0849946158", "rating": 5, "text": "I did not intend to read 3 books in the last year about people describing heaven from the first person perspective. [[ASIN:0800759494 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life]], [[ASIN:0764207946 Flight to Heaven: A Plane Crash...A Lone Survivor...A Journey to Heaven--and Back]], and Heaven is for Real share the same perspective of what heaven is like. All 3 books also have in a common a person who had to suffer and go through intense medical drama in order to experience heaven. I am glad that I have read all 3 of these books. I am also excited to be doing a study on Revelation ([[ASIN:B003VRVTYU Here And Now...There And Then: Listening Guide & Weekly Assignments]] by Beth Moore). It seems like God is trying to teach me something, and I best be paying attention. Next thing I know, my pastor will be preaching about heaven. ;)<br /><br />What I liked about Heaven is Real is the fresh and honest understanding of heaven. An almost 4 year old does not have the Biblical knowledge to describe heaven like he did unless he saw it himself. There are some things that I could not describe even after studying the Bible. No amount of study compares to an eyewitness account, and what this young boy describes is completely in alignment with what the Scriptures teach us.<br /><br />I also want to commend Todd and Sonja Burpo for being careful and honest in trying to understand what their son, Colton, saw. It is easy to feed information to your children and sway their perspective. However, the Burpo's were discerning in allowing their son to tell them what he saw without trying to influence his understanding. As a result, we get to read a great book about heaven and about a little child who had the chance to see it for himself.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1288749668000, "title": "True and honest" }, { "asin": "0764207326", "rating": 3, "text": "I like a good book to read on vacation. I received this book to review but did not get to go on vacation to read it. However, it did bring back good memories of a trip I took to OBX.<br /><br />This book was mildly entertaining. It was not an easy read as too many characters were introduced yet they did not seem significant to the story line. My mind was overwhelmed with trying to understand each character and their back story. I think half of the characters were unnecessary and the story would have been the same without them.<br /><br />The book falls under the category of inspirational fiction, but there was not a whole lot of talk about God and religion. The book could also be a romance novel, but the story was not overly romantic. At times, I wanted to read more about the romantic relationship between 2 characters and at other times, I was tired of hearing about how the main character felt about a particular man. There was also some drama and suspense in the book. So I am not sure how to categorize this book. Instead I will say the story is unique.<br /><br />Bethany House has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1289701487000, "title": "A vacation read" }, { "asin": "0764208500", "rating": 1, "text": "I can honestly say that I was not inspired while reading this book. I did not like this book and it left a bad taste in my mouth.<br /><br />Too verbose. I did not enjoy the many paragraphs of descriptive writing that were unnecessary to the story line. Some description is needed to help the reader visualize the story but not so much that the background becomes a storyline itself.<br /><br />Too many characters. I was exhausted by the beginning of the 4th chapter as yet another character was being introduced. Since so much description is given to each character, it was time consuming to keep tract of each new character.<br /><br />Too long. I was on page 286 before I realized that there had yet to be a climax to the story. For an author writing about writing, I was surprised that the book lacked basic story elements. In the last 40 pages, the protagonist did find herself at the turning point, but it felt rushed as if the author needed to keep the book under 320 pages.<br /><br />Too much smut. As mentioned in other reviews, this book was not as Christian as the Christian market expects. I was convicted a few years ago about reading books that bordered on smut. I turned to Christian publishers to find morally entertaining books. I did not expect to read about half naked women and unmarried couples sleeping together in this novel.<br /><br />I do not enjoy writing negative reviews, but I have read and reviewed so many books this year that it was bound to happen.<br /><br />Bethany House has given me a free copy of this book to review and has given me freedom to state my own opinions about it.", "timestamp": 1291065444000, "title": "Uninspiring" }, { "asin": "1595547916", "rating": 4, "text": "Kristin Billerbeck set the standard for Chick Lit, and this book is the very definition of Chick Lit. It is an easy read with light-hearted romance and a dash of drama thrown in for good measure.<br /><br />Katie is a young woman who has overcome hurt but has now left the past behind to live a decent life. However, her past comes back to mess up what she has established. Sometimes you need to learn from the past to make a better future, and Katie does just that.<br /><br />Much like other books by Kristin Billerbeck (What a Girl Wants and A Girl's Best Friend), this book has a young woman trying to find her true self while staying true to her faith in a materialistic world. I think we can all relate to that so some degree.<br /><br />On a side note, I felt that the relationship between Katie and Dexter was much like the relationship between Meg Ryan and her fiance in Sleepless in Seattle. It was safe and comfortable but a passionless relationship that was doomed from the start.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1295116389000, "title": "Another Chick Lit from Billerbeck" }, { "asin": "1595545395", "rating": 3, "text": "Another foray into the chick-lit genre. This book was enjoyable to read and interesting enough to keep my attention throughout the story. The character development was a bit slow at times but realistic enough. It has been the first book in a while that I did not rush to finish. I took my time even though I could have rushed to finish just to see what happens. I like to take my time if the book is good.<br /><br />I am not sure why the title was \"Save the Date.\" By the end of the book, I still did not understand what the title meant. I may have missed something, but \"Saving Grace\" seems like a more fitting title.<br /><br />I was a bit confused with the character of Julian and his relationship with Clare. They reminded me of Karen and Jack in the old sitcom Will and Grace. I am not sure how his character added to the storyline, and for me, he was more a distraction.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.", "timestamp": 1296225657000, "title": "Saving Grace is a better title" }, { "asin": "1595548017", "rating": 4, "text": "The pace of this book kept me from giving it 5 stars. I felt like the story slowed down too much in the middle which dragged out the plot for too long. Will she fall in love? Will he tell her the truth? I wanted to know what happened next, but for about 100 pages, it felt like nothing was really happening. It was not until page 250 that I got the information I had been wanting to know about a pivotal character. So for that reason, this was a page turner.<br /><br />When I typed \"A Cowboy's Touch\" into the search on amazon, another book with the same title came up. It was definitely not this book. It was a romance but more, shall we saw, graphic. I hope people do not confuse these 2 books because Denise Hunter's \"A Cowboy Touch\" is nothing like what I saw on the cover of the other book.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provides me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my opinion which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1299894529000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "Drugs, addiction, child trafficing, and that is just the first chapter.<br /><br />The Covington family has had its share of tragedy and sorrow, but they find themselves in the middle of another heartache as they try heal from their own pain. Emily is one year sober (read about her struggles in [[ASIN:0310321980 Intervention (Intervention Series, Book 1)]]), and is excited to live a new life. But how do you live a new life when the old life keeps dragging you down?<br /><br />This was one of those can't-put-it-down kind of books. I enjoyed reading it and would keep reading to find out what happens next. I was not happy when the book was over only because I like how Terri Blackstock writes and want to know more about what happens next. The book does leave a small open door so I hope that means there is another book to be written???<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1302310511000, "title": "A page turner" }, { "asin": "078523120X", "rating": 1, "text": "I did not like this book. I tried like it, but it was not my cup of tea. It was downright unimaginative.<br /><br />David Ponder, the main character from [[ASIN:0785273220 The Traveler's Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success]], returns. He is taken to a summit where he, along with many pivotal people from history, must save the world by coming up a 2 word phrase. Together, they discuss and ponder (pun intended) what the phrase could be. They have 7 chances to get it right. After each incorrect guess, a new traveler is added to the discussion.<br /><br />So what bored me about the book is that there was a whole lot of talk but not much action. The story is the discussion of a 2 word phrase. It got so boring, that I just skipped to the end of the chapter to see what the phrase will be. I also knew that it would take all 7 chances before they got it right, but even then the final 2 word phrase was trite and uninspiring.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provides me with a free copy of this book for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1302551042000, "title": "Dull and unexciting" }, { "asin": "1414319495", "rating": 4, "text": "I was glad to read another book in the juvenille fiction genre. It was interesting to read this cross between a chapter book and a graphic novel. I can see how this would be a good book for a boy who is able to read chapter books but is not interested in some of the options that are available.<br /><br />Since I have not read the first two books in this series, I had a hard time understanding the characters and their backgrounds. I had to quickly catch up with their backstory while at the same time keep up with the action from this story. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I had read the previous books; however, that is not to say that I did not enjoy this book. On the contrary, it was an interesting book which kept my attention throughout.<br /><br />The story is about a boy and 2 girls who find themselves in the middle of a mystery. They are as integral as the adults in the book at solving the mystery. It is fast-paced and action packed. I would classify the book as action and suspense with Biblical overtones.<br /><br />I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for this review.", "timestamp": 1306176331000, "title": "A cross between graphic novel and chapter book" }, { "asin": "1595548114", "rating": 4, "text": "I am not an avid reader of historical fiction, but this book was nice. It was neither exciting nor dull and makes a decent summer read.<br /><br />The story is of Lucy, a young lady, who is pursuing a career in photography in a small town. The story is also of David who is trying to redeem his past. Their lives converge and sparks fly. It is a common theme in fiction, but charming nonetheless.<br /><br />I did find some of the story lacking. It was about 50 pages too long as the storyline dragged on without an significant progress in character development. Also, the end was a little unsatisfying. It ended the way I had anticipated without any big ordeal or revelation. Like I said, it was nice but not exciting.<br /><br />This book is part of the Rocky Creek Romance series; however, I did not need to read the 2 previous books to enjoy this book. It is as much a stand- alone book as it is a part of the series.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1307970908000, "title": "Decent but not spectacular" }, { "asin": "0764208055", "rating": 4, "text": "I have never read a book from the \"Texas Adventure and Romance\" genre, and I rarely read historical fiction. However, I read this book and enjoyed it very much.<br /><br />Elizabeth Evans travels to El Paso/Fort Bliss to help her widowed brother but quickly finds herself in the middle of an international event. Ranger Jake Nelson comes to her aid and quickly they fall in love. The problem is that both Elizabeth and Jake have loved and lost before and do not want to love and lose again.<br /><br />I did enjoy reading this book. There was enough action and drama to keep it from being too sappy with the romance. Sometimes the action was too much as I wondered how many more incidents could Elizabeth and Jake find themselves. Kidnapping, border crossing, and near drownings were just a few of this action packed incidents. There seemed to be no end to the adrenaline rush for the characters or even time to grieve from tragic events.<br /><br />Bethany House has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1316439948000, "title": "Action, drama, and romance to boot" }, { "asin": "1400318033", "rating": 5, "text": "What a delightful little book! Little Hermie is just right for young children. The book is short enough to keep their attention but cute enough to capture their hearts. The short prayer is written in rhyme so it is pleasing for little children to quietly listen to.<br /><br />Little Hermie is thanking God for His many blessings. Hermie thanks God for leaves to sleep on, for friends and family, for food and playtime, and for blessing me.<br /><br />What I liked about the book was that it was easy to read and sounds nice when read out loud. I wish the book was longer; however, I remember when my little ones were little and their attention span was very short.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1316887552000, "title": "Short and sweet" }, { "asin": "1595549404", "rating": 4, "text": "Much like Frank Peretti, Lis Weihl delves into the supernatural and the power of evil. I have enjoyed previous books by this author and continued to enjoy this new book.<br /><br />The story follows Dani, a psychiatrist who works for the DA, as she tries to solve a local murder. With the help of her friend, Tommy, she is able to solve the crime. Not only does she figure out who done it, but also she figures out why that person did it.<br /><br />The storyline is much like an episode of a TV crime drama. The murder is solved in less than 2 weeks, and the characters never seem to have a night where they actually sleep. As the reader, it is interesting to follow the storyline as you try to solve the crime along with the characters of the book.<br /><br />What I did not like about the book is the past history between Dani and Tommy. She was the overachieving nerd in high school, and he was the game winning jock. He had a crush on her and admitted to being intimidated by her. I found this part of the story a little far fetched.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1317777570000, "title": "Another great book by Lis Weihl" }, { "asin": "0764209418", "rating": 3, "text": "Joy was a young orphan in China who is adopted by Andrew and Gloria. They bring her back to Texas and raise her as their own. However, Joy was never really an orphan. Joy is Lily, the fourth daughter of the Chang family who had to place their daughter in an orphanage because of governmental restrictions. Lily's sister, Kai, has devoted her life to find Lily and to find a cure for polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic disease that has plagued her family.<br /><br />Adoption, disease, teenage rebellion, and family devotion are weaved throughout the story. In some ways, there were too many elements causing conflict in the story. Most of these elements are resolved at the end of the story, but some are not. For example, the story hints at turmoil in Gloria's life because of her dad's infidelity, but that story line is never resolved.<br /><br />The storyline stuttered too much for me. The flashback to China is deep and descriptive as the authors uses too many words to set the tone. Then the story flies through 2 years of relationship building after Kai and Lily meet for the first time. I just had a hard time with the pace of the story.<br /><br />I give the book a 3.5 out of 5. It is neither good not bad. Just okay for me.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1321031289000, "title": "Not an easy read" }, { "asin": "0310332311", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been a fan of Terri Blackstock for years and have never been disappointed. This most recent book of hers is a reprint from a previous book. She updated the story and incorporated the story of redemption. I appreciate how the redemption story is weaved into the book without being forced or preachy.<br /><br />Carny, the protagonist, is a new person after leaving the carnival life, becoming a Christian, and settling in the town of Serenity, Texas. When Logan Brisco comes to town, she see him for the con he is. As much as she tries to discredit him, he sees the truth of what he is doing. In the midst of this, they are falling in love.<br /><br />The story had many unexpected twists and turns, yet it was an easy read that kept me interested from cover to cover. Terri Blackstock really does have the gift of storytelling, and I appreciate that she has used her gift to honor God.<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1321741698000, "title": "Another great book by Blackstock" }, { "asin": "0764208225", "rating": 3, "text": "The story opens with Heather Hampton, successful Seattle architect, on the verge of her biggest career move yet. The entire deal hinges on the sale of her family's property in Texas. This is the place she experienced tragedy and depression and wanted nothing more to leave the past behind. In this deal she hoped to erase the past and forget the memories of her home. Instead she has to face the past to deal with the present. This past includes the mystery of how her father died in a place she never wanted to live. Heather tries to solve this mystery but only uncovers more secrets instead of answers.<br /><br />I got frustrated reading this book as the secrets continued to build instead of being revealed. I read page after page waiting for the truth to be revealed. It took 300 pages before the truth started to come out. Once the mystery was solved, everything unraveled quickly. It was almost too quickly for as slow as the book started.<br /><br />I did like one line toward the end of the book, \"The great leaps in life are not made in the absence of fear but in the presence of faith.\" There were some good parts to the story, but overall the book was not satisfying.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332207991000, "title": "Slow and somewhat boring" }, { "asin": "0310250684", "rating": 4, "text": "I have yet to read a Terri Blackstock novel that I did not like. Whenever I get my hands on a new book, I know I am in for a treat. In this latest story, there is drama, suspense, struggle, and triumph.<br /><br />Emily Covington is a recovering drug addict trying to have a normal life. She knows that addiction recovery is not a walk in the park; however, she is challenged in ways she never anticipated. Her whole family is challenged in ways they never anticipated. All of them are forced into situations where they have to choose between right and wrong, yet sometimes it is not obvious what is right and what is wrong. From start to finish, the characters must react to situations and make tough decisions. At times, I thought, \"No, don't do it!\" but the characters made their decisions and had to face the consequences. Somehow, it all works out in the end, but you still need to read the book to find out how it happens.<br /><br />Downfall is the third book in a 3 book series about the Covington family with Intervention and Viscous Cycle being the first 2 books in the series. Of the 3 books in the series, this was my least favorite, but I am glad I read it as it ends the series. The book was fast-paced and an easy read.<br /><br />Zondervan has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332465975000, "title": "A nice end to the series" }, { "asin": "1595548874", "rating": 4, "text": "Whew! I just finished Need You Now, and it was like riding a roller coaster. There is drama, suspense, tragedy, and triumph.<br /><br />The Henderson family relocates to a small town in Texas. They left Houston in hopes of getting their 3 children away from negative influences; however, the drama does not go away quietly as they settle in Round Top, Texas. Darlene, the mother, is struggling to find herself as her children need her less and she still has a lot to give. Brad, the father, is working overtime to make partner and wonders if his hard work will really pay-off. Chad, the eldest son, left drama behind in Houston but is still faces temptation in Round Top. Grace, the middle daughter, is the perfect child as she hides her true feelings and is overwhelmed with keeping up appearances. Ansley, the youngest daughter, is the only member of the family without drama. Also, the family is surprised to find out their next door neighbor was a Hollywood movie star was drama of her own.<br /><br />It took 100 pages for all these characters to be introduced and all these story lines to be developed. Initially the book was slow as the author was laying the groundwork for all these characters and their respective issues. Then in the last 100 pages, the story was fast-paced as the issues were brought to light and characters had a change of heart or realization about their issues. It was a slow build up and then a fast ride to the end, like a roller coaster.<br /><br />I am surprised that this book is only 250 pages long. It could have been so much longer. There were a few issues that were never really resolved by the end of the book. The character of Ansley was never developed, and she could have easily been left out of the story altogether. Chad's history in Houston was never fully revealed. I could foresee the author adding another book to this series, either as a prequel or a sequel.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for me review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1332791141000, "title": "It is quite a ride!" }, { "asin": "076420615X", "rating": 4, "text": "Set during the War Between the States, Texas had both Union supporters and Confederate supports. There were also quite a few Texas supports who only wanted what benefited their state. Hannah, the heroine of the story, is just trying to survive with her 2 step-siblings. The ranch on which they live was given to their father, a Conferderate supporter. The previous residents were Union supporters and left to fight the war. Hannah's father leaves to help his mother back in Vicksburg but has not been heard from since. Instead, William Bartlett returns, the son of the previous ranch owner, to claim his family property.<br /><br />Initially, the storyline was slow as the many characters were introduced. Therefore, it took a while to understand how Hannah Dandridge can to live on a Texas ranch with her much younger step-brother and step-sister. I almost lost interest in the book, but I continued to read so I could write a thorough review.<br /><br />Once I got into the book, I enjoyed reading it, mostly. Some parts of the story annoyed me. I did not like how clueless Hannah was in her dealings with Herbert Lockhart, her father's business partner. She also seemed naive about how her family came to live on the ranch. She is strong woman who came from a privileged upbringing and became a hard-working ranch woman. Yet, the story does not talk about the transformation. There is only a nod to how she was once privileged and now must take care of her family and land.<br /><br />The story ends nicely with all loose ends tied up. It was neither surprising nor upsetting.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1336512516000, "title": "Nice enough" }, { "asin": "0310333172", "rating": 4, "text": "Reading a suspense novel from the perspective of an author doing research for a suspense novel adds a unique spin to this story. The story is also based on an actual cold case solved by the FBI.<br /><br />The heroine of this story, Kariss, is writing a novel and doing research while shadowing an FBI agent, Tigo. As she does her research, she becomes the main character in her own suspenseful story. Throughout the entire book, she inserts herself into FBI business and puts herself in harms way. Luckily, the hero of the book, Tigo, is always there to save this damsel in distress. However, Kariss is just stubborn enough to think of herself not as a damsel in distress but a modern woman who can do anything. That attitude keeps getting her in trouble. There is also a romantic element as Kariss and Tigo start to see each other as more than just a nuisance.<br /><br />The book was easy to read and kept my interest throughout. There were many twists and turns, but the ending was satisfying. I did get a little annoyed at the heroine who would not listen to wisdom and foolishly found herself on the wrong side of town, but that is how the heroine and hero start to fall in love, or at least like. There is a sequel that will probably explore this romantic storyline.<br /><br />Zondervan provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1338379735000, "title": "Enjoyable to read" }, { "asin": "0764209779", "rating": 4, "text": "Beverly Lewis is the gold standard in Amish fiction. She started with The Shunning and continues to raise the bar for other books in this genre.<br /><br />Amelia Devries is a world-class violinist who is so focused on her music that she has lost her way in life. When she loses her way, literally, in a bad rainstorm, she finds herself in an Amish village. There she realizes her need to reclaim the truth she once knew. She also falls in love both with a young man and with a simpler life. Amelia then has to decide what she really wants in life and how to go about doing just that.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading this book and felt the calming effect of the Amish way. I am not a world renown musician, but I am a woman who, like Amelia, can forget what is truly important in life. This book is a gentle reminder for me and for all readers.<br /><br />Bethany House has provided a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1338564279000, "title": "More than just another Amish book" }, { "asin": "1414333218", "rating": 4, "text": "This is the first book by Randy Singer I have read, and it is a pretty good book. It contains a lot of drama, a bit of suspense, a smattering of action, and a dash of romance.<br /><br />Initially, I had a hard time keeping up with the many characters and how they relate to the storyline. The main character is Jamie Brock who tells the story in the first person. However, other parts of the story are told in the third person so the reader gets an inside view of the action. Even still, there are twists and surprises to the story that are unexpected and entertaining.<br /><br />This book reminds me of the many crime dramas available on TV but far more interesting. I just might have to read more by Randy Singer now that I have had a small taste of his work.", "timestamp": 1340974960000, "title": "Pretty Good" }, { "asin": "140168565X", "rating": 5, "text": "How appropriate that I finished reading this book on a nice rainy day.<br /><br />Daphne is a \"nose\" which is to say she knows how things smell and how things should smell. However, after being left at the altar, she loses her sense of smell which means she also may lose her job. So she must deal with the rejection of her ex-fiance and with the problem of creating new scents without being able to smell them.<br /><br />Of course, it would not be Chick Lit without romance. Daphne's new boss, Jesse, is a widow who himself is struggling with his job and with relationships. Mix it all up, and you have an interesting tale of love, loss, and love again.<br /><br />I have read all of the books by Kristin Billerbeck, and this is by far my favorite. Instead of the shallow and selfish heroines found in previous books, Daphne has depths and layers much like the fragrances she creates.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1342813416000, "title": "Love, loss, and love again" }, { "asin": "1401685617", "rating": 4, "text": "Not since Francine Rivers[...] has a book delved into the difficulties faced by a unwed teenage mother who decides to give up her child for adoption.<br /><br />The choices we make determine the people we become. This idea is wonderfully illustrated in this book. The book opens with Sandy Lincoln confirming her pregnancy with her mom at the doctor's office. The story takes off from there without slowing down or wasting a word. This could have been a 400+ page book, and I am grateful that the author kept the book as short as he did.<br /><br />The only reason why I gave this book a 4-star instead of a 5-star rating is that some of the characters were just too perfect. Sandy's mother, for example, was an uptight Southern woman who was also kind and compassionate when Sandy discovered she was pregnant. Only her classmates gossiped about her pregnancy, but no one was condemning or critical about her behavior. Instead everyone was supportive, except the birth father as he did not want to give up his football career.<br /><br />Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1343178216000, "title": "A fast paced but good read" }, { "asin": "0764209655", "rating": 5, "text": "No one wants to marry a groom because of chance, even if the groom is the man you have dreamed about since childhood. Meridith Hayes has had a crush on Travis Archer since he rescued her from a trap when she was a child. He was the man of her dreams, literally, and eventually, those dreams came true.<br /><br />I really enjoyed reading this book. The storyline was contrived, but the plot progressed smoothly with sufficient character development. It has been a while since I really liked reading historical fiction. This book was a breath of fresh air in my reading repertoire.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1344043100000, "title": "A Delight to Read" }, { "asin": "076420887X", "rating": 3, "text": "I did not understand the character of Melinda. She is a strong young women who must leave her life of affluence when her parents die. She becomes a lady's maid and must endure the life of a servant. She does this with courage and grace and is a model servant. However, when she falls in love with Evan she becomes a whiny, petulant child who wants to get her way no matter what Evan says. Even when the local pastor tries to encourage Melinda to wait and pray, she ignores his advice and continues to try to control the situation. It was very frustrating to read as nothing seemed to change as the story line dragged on.<br /><br />The first half of the book was painstakingly slow. I almost gave up reading the book. I had to finish reading in order to write a thorough review. So I kept on reading. The pace of the story line picked up, and I started to enjoy it. The second half of the book was so much better than the first half. I am glad I stuck with it, but I did not like having to plod through so much useless story line to get to good stuff.<br /><br />In the second half the book, the story was interesting and fun to read. There was drama, suspense, romance, and intrigue. If I could have just read the end without having to get through the beginning, I would have enjoyed this book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1346550361000, "title": "A slow story that picks up in the end" }, { "asin": "0849920701", "rating": 5, "text": "I have been reading Max Lucado books for 25 years. Even since I gave my life to Christ, his books have spoken to my heart and encouraged my faith. This latest book does not disappoint.<br /><br />This book revolutionary. I thought I understood grace. However, I have only just begun to comprehend the immense blessing of God's grace. Weaving every day stories with theology, Max Lucado opens our minds and our hearts to the great gift of grace.<br /><br />If I was to recommend just one book everyone should read this year, it would be this book. It is not hard to read or a long book, but the truths between the covers will stay with you long after you are done.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1348665842000, "title": "Grace is Great" }, { "asin": "1414349300", "rating": 3, "text": "On the good side, the story is well written. Character development is solid. Drama unfolds with plenty of action and suspense.<br /><br />On the bad side, I have an issue with the main character, Lance Corporal Bekah Shaw. She is a Marine reservist who is returning to action on her third deployment in as many years. Bekah is divorced from her husband who was never fit to be married in the first place. Bekah also must leave her young son in the care of her grandmother who also helped raise her. Bekah struggles with leaving her son behind but is courageous enough to serve her country. So far, the character is believable and almost admirable. However, once she starts to see action in a war zone, the character becomes less believable.<br /><br />Women in the military do not serve in combat units on the front line of battle. Even in today's military, a women would not be a fire team leader in charge of small unit attack. I know this because I served in the military, and my husband continues to serve. So I take offense to a story that stretches the truth to the point of a lie. If the main character was a man, a single dad who struggled with leaving a child behind, then this story would have been great. But since the main character is a women, this story is just too unrealistic to be enjoyable.<br /><br />Tyndale House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1349099524000, "title": "Could have been better" }, { "asin": "0310730538", "rating": 5, "text": "I ordered this book for my 11 year old daughter who loves American history and Indian culture. I read it first and thoroughly enjoyed it.<br /><br />Barbara Leininger is torn from her family during an Indian raid and forced to adapt to the Indian culture. Before she is forced into marriage with an Indian brave, she escapes with 3 other captives. Together, they must travel 300+ miles on foot to reach freedom. Living as an Indian was not easy nor was her escape. Yet through it all, she maintained her faith and her determination to see her younger sister again.<br /><br />This is an inspiring story for everyone. I am thankful for Zondervan who provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1358648395000, "title": "Inspring story" }, { "asin": "0764208888", "rating": 3, "text": "It is not hard to figure out the plot when the front cover of the book shows a bride and groom standing hand in hand. However, the story begins with a young woman, Callie, who has sworn off marriage and a young man, Wes, who does not want to socialize with the many wealthy families who visit Bridal Veil Island. So the reader expects the two to fall in love and get married before the end of the story.<br /><br />Without ruining the story, Callie and Wes do fall in love as expected. I was bored with the story line because it took 200 pages before Callie and Wes admit their affection for each other. There were a few obstacles to overcome and some of the characters had to change their opinions and desires before the story was complete. Yet none of these story elements involved significant drama or soul searching. The pace of the story was slow and predictable. It was not an exciting story but more of a nice read.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1360335782000, "title": "Nice but not great" }, { "asin": "0764210734", "rating": 5, "text": "Reading the Bible in a year has become a popular endeavor. However, the quest can be daunting. This book encourages women to meet the challenge and to do so with joy.<br /><br />The unique thing about this yearly reading method is that it is broken down by weeks instead of days. You can start any time since the weeks are not dated. So it really you are reading the Bible in 52 weeks. I also like that the New Testament books are interspersed throughout the year.<br /><br />Diane Stortz encourages women not to do this alone but to join or create a group who reads through the Bible together. The group will provide the necessary encouragement and accountability one needs to read through the entire Bible is just 52 weeks.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1360755817000, "title": "A great way to read the Bible" }, { "asin": "0764206192", "rating": 5, "text": "It has been a long time since I read a good book such as this one. It was not amazing; however, it was a nice leisurely read. The book had romance, a dash of suspense, and a nice helping of family. It was just what I needed!<br /><br />Merrill is a strong woman who has been taking care of her father and older brothers after the death of her mother. She is quite capable and is not looking to find a husband especially after living with so many men for so long. Of course, when she least expects it, a new man comes into to town and she falls in love. The twist is that she does not realize she is falling in love. He loves her, too, but there are some complications that are getting in the way. Only after much drama and suspense are they able to admit their love for each other.<br /><br />I probably gave the book away, but with all historical romance, the reader knows that the man and woman at the center of the story will fall in love and live happily ever after. Even though I knew it was going to happen, it was fun to find out how it would happen. That is why I enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1365439913000, "title": "A Nice Read" }, { "asin": "0764209795", "rating": 4, "text": "Beverly Lewis is the trailblazer for Amish fiction. I remember reading The Shunning years ago while discovering this new genre. She set the standard for all others who endeavoured to write Amish fiction.<br /><br />In this latest book, Jodi Winfield visits a local Amish community and rediscovers her own faith while learning about the Amish culture. The story is also about Maryanna Esh, a young widow and mother of 4, who learns that she can love again.<br /><br />The storyline is nice. The setting is charming. The people are delightful. Even the food sounds delicious. The middle of the book was tedious as the plot stagnated, but the ending was satisfying. Overall, this was a good book.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1367846848000, "title": "Good enough to read" }, { "asin": "0764211129", "rating": 5, "text": "I read the O'Malley series years ago and wondered why Jennifer never had her own book. All the other siblings had a book, but Jennifer was left out, until now.<br /><br />Since it has been so long since I read the O'Malley series, I was excited to read this novella. The story is a flashback to when Jennifer became a believer in Jesus and when she fell in love with Tom. It was not exciting or earth-shattering. Instead it was sweet and comforting. Although the end of the book (SPOILER ALERT) begins Jennifer's journey with cancer, it is still an enjoyable book.<br /><br />I highly recommend this book to anyone who read the O'Malley series and to anyone who is looking for a nice summer read.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1371050146000, "title": "Nice and Sweet" }, { "asin": "0764209566", "rating": 3, "text": "As with most historical fiction, the heroine tries to be independent and strong but still enjoys having a man save the damsel in distress.<br /><br />The heroine of this story is Melanie Ross who is fired as a governess and must make a way for herself out west. She has no family left but inherits half of a general store. The other half is owned by Caleb Nelson, a widower and the single father of young Levi. Melanie and Caleb do not agree on how to run the store and often find themselves at odds. Only when they have to defend the store and the honor of their uncles, do they settle their differences.<br /><br />The story line was slow. The action did not really pick up until the last quarter of the book. I thought the story was about the difference of opinions between Melanie and Caleb. Instead it was about the deaths in town that were tied together but a common thread. By the time this part of the story reached its climax, the romance between Melanie and Caleb was long overdue. Even though the murderer was not who I expected, the rest of the story was predictable.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1372528648000, "title": "Too slow" }, { "asin": "0310315476", "rating": 5, "text": "Susanna Truitt always had a plan for her life, but when that plan falls apart, she must fully trust God with her future. Her boyfriend of 12 years dumps her; she loses her job; and she is forced to move out of her cottage. Nothing seems to be going her way. Even when she meets a man and enjoys a few dates with him, he returns to his Euorpean home after 2 weeks. But this man, Nate, is really Prince Nathaniel II, and Susanna's future might just become her own fairy tale.<br /><br />Initially, Susanna does not know that Nate is a prince but eventually learns the truth. What I liked is that this was not a belabored point in the story. There is some time and confusion between meeting Nate and discovering that he is a prince but not so much time that the reader is annoyed.<br /><br />I am surprised that I liked this book. Usually young adult fiction is immoral, predictable, and overly romantic. Instead, this book was delightful, engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1374059634000, "title": "A charming and delightful story" }, { "asin": "1414380437", "rating": 5, "text": "Well done, Beth Moore! I am so glad she published a teen edition of her book So Long Insecurity. I have read both books, and I am thoroughly impressed with this most recent publication.<br /><br />Girls, ladies, women, we are all insecure. Some are more so than others. But we all need to face our insecurities and overcome them. This book is a great way for young women to address and deal with their own insecurities.<br /><br />I have read other magazine-like books for teens. Often, they come across shallow and trendy without much substance. This book is quite the opposite. It is deep and full of truths, but with an interesting and engaging format. I highly recommend it to all teenagers. No one is immune from insecurities.<br /><br />To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, please mention as part of every Web or Amazon review that Tyndale House Publishers has provided you with a complimentary copy of this book.", "timestamp": 1375454367000, "title": "Well Done!" }, { "asin": "0764210157", "rating": 3, "text": "There is an explosion at a nuclear facility. A security guard is trying to keep his job without having to lie about what he saw. A lab technician tries to discover what happened and whether or not he was exposed to radiation. A lawyer gets involved while she is grieving the loss of her mother and questioning a strained relationship with her father. A well-paid executive is trying to complete a illegal project while covering up the explosion.<br /><br />The story was not bad, but it was not very good either. There were so many characters that I did not feel like everyone was fully developed, nor were all their issues resolved by the end of the book. On top of the many characters, there was a plethora of scientific explanation about the explosion and the work of the nuclear facility. It was just too much to understand in one book.<br /><br />I did not dislike this book, but it was hard to finish. I got lost with all the characters and all the science involved.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a copy of this book in exchange for my review which I honestly give.", "timestamp": 1384797464000, "title": "Not bad but not great" }, { "asin": "140168968X", "rating": 5, "text": "I thoroughly enjoyed this book with the unique first person storytelling and the many characters intertwined throughout the story.<br /><br />Sam is an orphan girl who has is trying to make her way in today's culture. She knows her upbringing was lacking and used books to understand human nature. Books were her escape, but she also learned to hide behind these characters. Only when she learns to be her true self can she fully mature and become the woman she is suppose to be.<br /><br />I am not a reader of British literature so many of the books and characters (Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and The Scarlet Pimpernel) were unknown to me. I was still able to follow the story line and noticed that as Sam matured, she used her characters less and less. However, she never had to leave her great books behind as that was one of the few good memories she has of her childhood.<br /><br />What I most liked about the book was how the story was told through one-sided letters. I was able to figure out who Mr. Knightley was but only a few pages before he was revealed. The book was charming and enjoyable.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1385999251000, "title": "Charming" }, { "asin": "0764212435", "rating": 3, "text": "Mark Bishop is a Navy submarine commander, and Gina Gray is a brilliant scientist and researcher who discovers ways to help submarines stay quiet underwater. It seems like a match made in heaven, but it took a long time before these two people fall in love.<br /><br />The book included a lot of background of submarine warfare and the software programs that Gina was trying to design. The technical information was necessary to build up to the action at the end of the story; however, I felt that the book was longer than it needed to be. I had to skim the last 100 pages to get to the real action and to see if Gina and Mark would finally fall in love. The end is satifying yet seemed to come quickly after the 400+ page build up.<br /><br />I like books written by Dee Henderson and am impressed with the amount of research she put into this story. Yet I did not enjoy this book as much as her previous books. It just felt too long and too wordy.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1401376450000, "title": "Could have been shorter and better" }, { "asin": "1496403339", "rating": 4, "text": "Jed King is a singer/songwriter. When he writes &#34;The Song&#34;, his career takes off. He is happily married to Rose, but the time appart while on tour is detrimental to their relationship. This storyline reflects Song of Solomon and is a good modernization of the love story.<br /><br />When I say I want to curl up with a good book, this is that book. It is the kind of book that when you start reading, you lose track of time. The story invites you in, and you want to stay. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.<br /><br />The only negative comment I have is that I did not want to see the pictures from the movie in the book. It not only gave away the story line, but also the ending.<br /><br />Tyndale Fiction provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1421762188000, "title": "Curl up with this good book" }, { "asin": "0764211587", "rating": 3, "text": "Sarah Miller has finally settled into a good life. She has her work as a teacher and her friends whom she trusts. She recently found her sister and discovered she is an aunt. Unfortunately, her sister dies, and Sarah has now become a mother to her sister's daughter.<br /><br />While I liked the storyline, the pace was not so good. The beginning of the story was quick and intense. Then the story slowed down. Clues were dropped but at a mind-numbing pace. The pace never really picked up even as all the clues came together, but it was more of an afterthought instead of a climax to the story.<br /><br />I wanted to like this book, but it just was not for me.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1428431616000, "title": "Too slow" }, { "asin": "076421246X", "rating": 3, "text": "Marlena Wenger is struggling to follow her heart as she develops deeper relationships with her Mennonite grandmother, with her English niece, and with her Old Order Amish beau. She feels torn and has to decide for herself what she believes.<br /><br />I have read Amish fiction for years and usually like books by Beverly Lewis. However, this one was not my favorite, or even top 10. The story line was interesting, but the execution was disjointed. I never understood Marlena's motivation or even how to she came to her new found understanding of faith.<br /><br />There was another storyline about a young boy that helps an older man, who is suffering from memory loss, to find his way home. The only connection between the 2 stories is that they were next door neighbors. I felt like the stories were 2 separate books forced into 1.<br /><br />The book was hard to follow and slow going. It was not something I would recommend.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1429795953000, "title": "Not a good book" }, { "asin": "0764212613", "rating": 3, "text": "Through tragedy, Kelli Huddleston discovers that her dad was not what he seemed which leads her to discover her family who are more than they seemed.<br /><br />Kelli is fired from a job because she stood up for what is right. This gave her the opportunity to travel across the country to find her birth family and see who they really are while protecting her real identity. She learns a great deal about them and about herself.<br /><br />While the story is interesting, I had a hard time with how everything fell into place so nicely. Kelli had the luxury of not worrying about her income. Her birth mom was forgiving and understanding. Her birth sister was open and loving and willing to start a deep relationship with this stranger. Even her father's best friend extended friendship and grace to Kelli with no questions asked. No one seemed hurt when the truth came out about what Kelli's father did to the family. It was just too sugary sweet for my tastes.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1430830897000, "title": "Too sweet for my tastes" }, { "asin": "0310335582", "rating": 3, "text": "I was fascinated with a story about someone becoming Amish instead of someone leaving the Amish community. It was role reversal. Initially, I enjoyed reading about Sherry Gore conversion from living as an Englisher to becoming Amish.<br /><br />As I was reading, I expected the author to share her spiritual awakening. Sherry does get baptized and has a heartfelt conversion to her faith. However, she believes in the maxim &#34;God does for those who do for themselves&#34;. This really bothered me because many people think this is a Biblical passage, but it is not. It is also not based on the teachings of the Bible. It is a man-made, man enforced phrase.<br /><br />I also did not understand why Sherry continued to move around and piecemeal her belief system based on her life experiences, instead of the Bible. I struggled to even understand why she became Amish.<br /><br />Zondervan provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1440709260000, "title": "Disappointing" }, { "asin": "0764209000", "rating": 5, "text": "Nehemiah is the cupbearer to the king and is content to serve him. But when a visit from his brother sheds light on the disrepair of Jerusalem, Nehemiah is heartbroken and seeks God's guidance. The Lord leads him back to his homeland to lead the rebuilding of the city walls.<br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed this book of historical fiction. The author stayed true to the Biblical story and only added fictionalization to shed light on what the people might have felt or thought.<br /><br />Even though I did not read the first 2 books in The Restoration Chronicles, I did not struggle to follow the storyline. I now would like to read the previous books as this book was well written and enjoyable to read.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1448737084000, "title": "A good read" }, { "asin": "1401686117", "rating": 4, "text": "Brock Matthews discovers a way to change the present by dreaming of visiting himself in the past. The problem is that it changes the future. When he tries to change the past again, it really messes up the future. It seems he can't get it right, or by getting it wrong, it is right?<br /><br />As far as fiction goes, this is an interesting book. The story moves along smoothly and the end is satisfying. It reminds me of &#34;The Shack&#34; and &#34;The Five People You Meet in Heaven.&#34; All these books have a spiritual element, but with artistic license, expands spiritual concepts. There may need to be a new genre term such as &#34;spiritual fiction&#34; to describe these books.<br /><br />Thomas Nelson provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give", "timestamp": 1451785510000, "title": "Spiritual Fiction" }, { "asin": "0764211595", "rating": 3, "text": "Sophie Wittenbauer has left her old life behind. She left her Mennonite town and beliefs and built a new life for herself. While she investigates a murder, she learns that her past may be behind her but it also made her the person she is now.<br /><br />The book was slow and it took too long to develop the plot. I was getting bored trying to follow both the character development and the investigation into the murder. I had to force myself to finish just so that I could write this review. It wasn't a bad book, just slow.<br /><br />It wasn't until halfway through this book that I realized I read the first book in the series. You do not have to read the series to follow the storyline as each book introduces new characters and old characters just make an appearance in the next story.<br /><br />Bethany House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1452631922000, "title": "Slow to develop the story" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 4, "text": "I don't know how to summarize this story without giving away the story, but I'll try... After finding her best friend, Brent, murdered, Casey runs, and Dylan is tasked to find her. If I say anything more, I'll ruin the story. Just read it to find out what happens which is how I felt while I read this book. I just wanted to find out what happens next so I kept reading. Time goes by and 50 pages later, I am still engrossed in the book.<br /><br />The genre is drama and suspense with some mystery thrown in for good measure. It is definitely a page-turner.<br /><br />Zondervan provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.", "timestamp": 1457209712000, "title": "After finding her best friend, Brent" } ]

[ { "asin": "0800732138", "rating": 5, "text": "If you are looking for the greatest series in Christian fiction right now, then look no further than the Daughters of Boston series by Julie Lessman. I put off reading these books for months (why, I have no idea), but they were so well worth the wait. Never have I read such an edgy series that just sucked me in so much that I couldn't seem to read fast enough.<br /><br />I have to admit that this third book, A Passion Denied, was probably my favorite of the Daughters of Boston series. While the first two are wonderful (and you definitely should read them in order), book three brought a little bit more \"real life\" to the whole picture. Faith and Charity are now married, and thus, have to deal with the joys and challenges that married life brings. Also, Marcy and Patrick's relationship has a wrench thrown into it that just adds more depth to the story. I felt that Julie did a great job of giving insight to both the good and the bad with each couple, all while giving advice through her characters on how certain situations should be handled. Scattered throughout the book are numerous snippets of Scripture that help prove the points Julie's trying to get across, and not once does it come across as preachy.<br /><br />So, with all that said, don't even think about starting this series if you're not willing to stay up `til at least midnight or later! Every single book in this series has been nothing short of fantastic, and I cannot wait for more!", "timestamp": 1243445092000, "title": "Up 'til Midnight fiction!!" }, { "asin": "1434766411", "rating": 5, "text": "Very rarely do I come across a book that just leaves me floored the whole way through. Except for one tiny little break, I read this book from cover to cover, and loved every second of it. While it's not a book that I would normally go out of my way to read, words cannot adequately express how impressed I was after reading this fabulous debut novel.<br /><br />Talking to the Dead is a great example of an author thinking outside the box and finding a new niche in the Christian fiction arena. I have never come across a Christian fiction novel that dealt with any type of mental illness, much less mental institutions and shrinks, and how individuals seek help (be it worldly or spiritual) for those problems in the real world. Even though the Christian aspects of the novel were a tad bit watered down in places, I really applaud the author for showing what some churches/pastors are like in the real world, particularly, the scene with Jack's father. It literally broke my heart to read through Kate's experience with this fictitious pastor, knowing that there really are pastors and church leaders out there that use the same tactics.<br /><br />Talking to the Dead is now firmly planted on my all-time favorites list. Now, I must begin the impatient wait for whatever she has in store for her next book. If all of Bonnie's books are as great as this one, I'll be a fan for life.", "timestamp": 1257371509000, "title": "You Don't Want to Miss Out on This Book!" }, { "asin": "0764205137", "rating": 3, "text": "Honestly, this book was not all that impressive to me. I really wanted to like it because I've heard a lot of good things about Ms. Whitson's books. The beginning of the book was almost enough to make me put it down and not finish it, mostly because there were way too many characters to keep up with. Fortunately, only the beginning of the book centers around half or so of the sixteen brides, and then, dwindles to five main brides for the rest of the story. It took about 100 or so pages before the bulk of the story started to take shape, and it wasn't a fast-moving story because again, there were too many characters. If this had been a book that centered around 2 or 3 brides, I think I would've enjoyed it much more.", "timestamp": 1270607281000, "title": "Almost Didn't Finish It" }, { "asin": "1935416634", "rating": 4, "text": "Just like Miralee's first historical novel, her second venture into this genre does not disappoint at all! This book is rich with descriptions, and easily addictive. In fact, I found that after awhile, I simply couldn't put it down!<br /><br />The agonizing grief that Margaret felt with the loss of her first love, and then, her father, is simply heartbreaking. That'd be enough to make me want to crawl in a hole somewhere and die, honestly. Instead, she perseveres, and moves on with her life, both with her job as a teacher and her budding relationship with Andrew.<br /><br />While the romance scenes in the book are small in number, they were enough to steal my breath away! I truly had no idea which man Margaret would choose, even after going back in forth in my own mind with who the lucky fellow would be.<br /><br />Probably the most interesting aspect of the whole book is tucked away at the very end. (Don't worry...this is not a spoiler.) Miralee shares what inspired her to write this book, most of it coming from her own family history. I imagine that makes this book even more special to her on a whole different level. Several things are scattered through the story that are actual historical events...although, I can't let the cat out of the bag on that one, or I really would be spoiling the story!<br /><br />Yep, definitely another great book for Miralee, and another fantastic addition to the Love Finds You series! I can't wait to read what she comes out with next! :o)", "timestamp": 1274980283000, "title": "Another Great Historical Novel from Miralee Ferrell!" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 3, "text": "Having read another novel by Melanie Dobson earlier this year and really liking it, I really had high expectations for this book. Honestly, this book fell way short. True, it's a totally different genre than the other book I've read by her (which was historical), but I really had a hard time getting through this book, in general.<br /><br />I guess you could call this a suspense novel....maybe. In a way, I almost consider that a little bit of a stretch because in addition to reading Camden's side of the story, I was also getting the bad guy's side of the story. Sometimes that's good, but I don't know if I felt that it was, in this case. I like for a suspense novel to make me guess a little, even if really don't have it all figured out by the end of the story. There was a small twist at the end that I did not expect, but other than that, I felt the ending was a little anticlimactic.<br /><br />I also felt no connection to the characters, except maybe a little bit with Camden. She's pretty much on her own, has no money, and has inherited a house that she can't pay to repair. All through her story, I was rooting for her to succeed, and hoping that she would not say yes to the first person to come along and make her an offer on the old house. Grant's character was just okay...nothing really spectacular to me. And the creepy guys were just....well....creepy.<br /><br />In spite of this book being not so great, I know I'll be reading more from Melanie Dobson in the future. I typically enjoy reading suspense novels, but this one was just a little flat. Overall, I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to the publisher for providing this book for me to review.", "timestamp": 1275055861000, "title": "Just Okay" }, { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 5, "text": "Without a doubt...Cara Lynn James is certainly new author to watch! I was so thoroughly captivated by this novel that I couldn't believe it's only her first! Her writing style is so beautiful and lyrical that I literally felt transported to the era of the Astors and Vanderbilts. Until now, my only experience with the Gilded Era has been through film, and now, I'm just itching for more of this era in printed form. January 2011 seems far too long to have to wait to read the next book in the Ladies of Summerhill series, but I will wait for it as patiently as I know how!", "timestamp": 1276662978000, "title": "Give Me More...Quick!!" }, { "asin": "0764204963", "rating": 5, "text": "Though Waters Roar is another win for Lynn Austin! It's clear why her novels win so many awards, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if this one garners a few of it's own.<br /><br />It's no secret at all that Lynn Austin is one of my absolute favorite authors, but I have to admit that I struggled a little bit initially to get interested in this story. One of Lynn's trademarks is merging a present-day story with some history of another person within a family unit. This book had that same feature (which I love), but it was harder for me to follow for the first few chapters. Usually, her books are divided into parts with each part being about one person's story. This one was not set up that way at all, and there were times that I was so thoroughly confused trying to keep the characters straight, and where they belonged in the overall timeline. But....don't let that deter you from considering this book for your next read. Just keep in mind that it make take you awhile to fully immerse yourself in the story.<br /><br />I loved the historical elements that were featured, too. This story focused on the era of women struggling to have a voice, particularly with voting. Another large chunk of the story featured alcoholism, and the resulting Prohibition movement. And yet another portion dealth with slavery. Each major character had a hand in each one of these parts of history, and it was so thoroughly fascinating to read about all of that in one book.<br /><br />While it's probably won't ever be my favorite book ever by Lynn Austin, I have to give it 5 stars simply because the story was truly extraordinary. And as always, I can't wait to read her next book. :o)", "timestamp": 1276796839000, "title": "Excellent As Always" }, { "asin": "1414335962", "rating": 5, "text": "Allison Pittman can flat write a book...period. If it had not been for a suggestion from a friend of mine several years ago, I doubt I would've ever discovered Allison's books. Since then, though, I've become a fan through and through. Her historical novels always seem to have some a little different from all the rest--sometimes, it's unique characters, but almost always, it's a story that pulls at my emotions from start to finish.<br /><br />For Time and Eternity was a novel I wanted to read from the first moment I read the description. I've been on a little bit of a kick with this particular book \"style\" lately, and I knew Allison's take on this point in history would not disappoint. It also helped that she had first-hand knowledge of the Mormon church and their practices. Now, I'm not Mormon, I don't know any Mormons, but I do have a basic knowledge of their beliefs. What really saddens me is how many people were drawn into this religion in it's early years, maybe before they were fully aware of what they were getting into. Honestly, what sane woman wants to share her husband? Um, not me. Thankfully, as a church they have eliminated all practices of polygamy, but it's still a part of their history. Now, only the FLDS (Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints) participate in polygamy.<br /><br />I felt all of Camilla's emotions through this entire book. Camilla had more on her young shoulders than most people have when they're twice her age, and she had so many decisions that she had to make...some that were split-second. One came when she had to choose between her parents and this new boy, Nathan Fox. She barely knew him, and she didn't understand why her parents didn't want her around him. After time, their reasons became very clear. And thankfully, Camilla's mother insisted that she read her Bible daily, and journal a verse every day. This early nurturing in Scripture would be the difference maker in Camilla's adult, married life.<br /><br />If you decide to read For Time and Eternity, let me warn you that this is not your typical novel--not just because it has both Mormon and Christian elements, but because it will literally have your emotions on overdrive from page one through to the very end. It was an excellent story that was heartbreaking, but beautifully told. My only complaint was that it didn't last long enough!", "timestamp": 1284184050000, "title": "Do Not Miss This Book!" }, { "asin": "1595548246", "rating": 5, "text": "Oh, my...I think this was one of the best books I read all year! I already know that whatever words I can come up with to describe how much I enjoyed this book will be so insufficient. It had beauty and tenderness, along with sadness and pain, but with definite joy at the end of the journey.<br /><br />I've said so many times that Amish fiction has reached a point where so many stories are similar, and for something to really reach out and grab me, it needs to have a little something extra. This is that book! First of all, the setting is brand new for Amish fiction fans. This is the first book that I know of set in the mountains of Colorado. That was very intriguing simply because of adjusting to the different weather conditions there compared to Pennsylvania. Second, Emily and her family have to deal with a situation that is almost unheard of in their communities. I won't mention what it is because I don't want to spoil anything, but I've only ever seen it mentioned in one other Amish series. Seeing Emily overcome her past, while also trying not to be attracted to David, is a very beautiful thing to watch unfold.<br /><br />I also want to give some love to some of the secondary characters. Martha....loved her to pieces!! The scene where she introduces her parrot to David and Emily grabbed ahold of my funny bone, and wouldn't let go! And I wish that something had developed between her and certain gentleman, but I'm thinking (and hoping) that story will be featured in a future book. Another character that had an integral role in the story was Katie Ann, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for her from the get-go. Her story was never really a part of the Daughters of the Promise series, so I'm glad that she will be the primary focus of Beth's next book set in Canaan, Colorado.<br /><br />If you've not read Beth's Daughters of the Promise series, then I strongly encourage you to do so before reading this book. There are a handful of things in this book that build upon the previous books, and unless you are okay with a few spoilers, the entire story is best appreciated if it's read in order.<br /><br />That said, I don't know how in the world I'm gonna wait until the end of 2011 to find out what happens next in Canaan!! I'll be able to get my Beth Wiseman fix in March (thankfully, that's not far away) when she releases the next book in the Daughters of the Promise series, Plain Proposal. Listen now, when I discover a new author that I love, you better get out of my way at the bookstore...this woman can write!", "timestamp": 1292948125000, "title": "This Book Will Have You Burning the Midnight Oil!" }, { "asin": "0800734564", "rating": 4, "text": "Fatal Judgment was the first romantic suspense novel I've read in quite a long time. It was also the first time I've read anything by Irene Hannon, and I have to say that I was very impressed. The first novel in her new series, Guardians of Justice, was a thrill ride with U.S. Marshals, the FBI, and a murderer on the loose. The action was consistent throughout, but sprinkled with moments of grief and healing for both Liz and Jake. It was up to Jake to protect Liz at every turn, and he was definitely a hero worth reading about!<br /><br />Another thing I loved was that, as a reader, I knew who the bad guy was all along because he was revealed about 1/3 of the way into the book. From past experience, sometimes that works for a story, sometimes it doesn't. In Fatal Judgment, it defintely worked! I was given a glimpse into his crazy mind, and his motives for striking out at Judge Michaels. On the other hand, his character saddened me because there are so many people in the real world that have his same twisted logic toward our country.<br /><br />I have no doubt that the next installment in this series will please suspense fans as easily as this one did. Irene Hannon has enormous talent within this genre, and the thoughts and research that went into this novel was evident on every page. And now that I know that a few characters from this novel were a part of her previous series, I can't wait to get my hands on those next!<br /><br />4.5 Stars", "timestamp": 1296364027000, "title": "4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "0800732596", "rating": 4, "text": "Melody Carlson has always been my go-to author for great YA fiction, and Never Been Kissed was another fabulous example of her talent within this genre. I read this book from cover to cover in one sitting, and even though I'm a few years removed from the young adult period of my life, there was plenty in this short book to open my eyes to what teens are involved in today, particularly on the topic of sexting.<br /><br />Melody's novels are always on the pulse of current teen issues and what's happening in high schools everywhere. Never Been Kissed is just the kind of book that should be read by parents and teens alike. My rating is 4 stars.", "timestamp": 1296446134000, "title": "Should Be Read by Parents and Teens Alike" }, { "asin": "0800734521", "rating": 3, "text": "This was another one of those books that I tried so very hard to like, but it was oh-so-difficult. I think that the author had a great idea to base a series of books on midwives, but this first book just fell flat. There was so little information about midwives and their roles in society that I was left wanting by the book's end. This may have had something to do with so few women in the book that were pregnant (only 3 deliveries of babies and one litter of puppies in a 400 page novel).<br /><br />Another thing that kept me from really enjoying the book was all of the filler. One chapter left me on a climax, then the next chapter switched to a different scene entirely, and it usually was one that had no excitement at all. By the time I got back around to the resolution of the cliffhanger from 2 chapters before, my anticipation to know what happened had vanished. This is something that I've noticed with authors that typically write short novels (Heartsong or Love Inspired), who then switch to writing a full-length novel. The plot of the story may be good, but the delivery gets choked up by all the filler to make it a longer book. (At this point, I have not read any of Ms. Eakes' other novels, but I know she has some shorter novels that have been released, and that's why I am drawing this conclusion.)<br /><br />I am still interested to read the next book in this series, and I hope that there will be more of a midwife feel to it as opposed to another historical Regency. Ms. Eakes' has a great deal of talent with her writing; I just hope that it will be more focused in her next full-length book.", "timestamp": 1298312686000, "title": "Good Book, just Needed a Little More Focus" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "Since I first started reading Christian fiction, Terri Blackstock has always been one of my favorite authors. I love the intensity in her novels, which causes me to furiously turn the pages. She has begun a new series about the struggles of drug addiction, and she doesn't tone down that intensity one bit.<br /><br />Vicious Cycle is a novel about a young girl, Jordan, who is caught up in a web of drug addiction. Not only is she an addict, but her mother and half-brother are as well. In the very first chapter, she is pregnant with a child and forced to have the baby in her own bed because her mother will not take her to the hospital. Jordan does not understand that at first, but as the pieces fall into place throughout the book, Jordan's realizes she has a mother who does not care about anyone but herself.<br /><br />Lance (featured in book one, Intervention) becomes friends with Jordan through school. Because his sister is a recovering drug addict, he recognizes pretty quickly that Jordan is on the road to a bad life, not only for herself, but for the baby that she's carrying. He convinces her to start treatment at a local rehab center, New Day. Lance visits every weekend to see his sister while she's recovering, and seeing Jordan is an added bonus. When Jordan voluntarily leaves New Day so close to her delivery date, he knows Jordan will return to her drug-infested home. He takes it upon himself to drive over to her house to check on her, not realizing that he's about to be in the biggest trouble of his life.<br /><br />Leave it to Terri Blackstock to create a novel that sucked me in from page one!! Not only did I get a glimpse of the world of meth, I also got a small glimpse into the world of baby trafficking, and neither one was a pretty picture. This book was so realistic, possibly more so than the book before it, Intervention. I can't wait to see what's in store for Barbara, Kent, Emily, and Lance with the remainder of the books in this series. Highly Recommended!!", "timestamp": 1298998047000, "title": "Intense Novel That I Couldn't Put Down!" }, { "asin": "160260696X", "rating": 4, "text": "Discovering new authors can really be a mixed bag of surprises for a reader. I've had experiences where I wonder what took me so long to get around to them, and I've had other experiences where I wished I could've used my time differently. No worries....Vickie McDonough fits perfectly into the first category. :o)<br /><br />Vickie's western style of writing was very reminiscent of Mary Connealy and Lori Copeland, except it was deeper. I loved that I got to really invest myself in the emotions of each character. Luke--who initially had a heart filled with unforgiveness--slowly allowed his heart to soften. Rachel--who scorned Luke many years ago--longed to admit that she'd made a terrible mistake. And Jacqueline--better known as \"Jack\"--was a feisty tomboy that just wanted her ma to marry Luke.<br /><br />But setting up Luke and Rachel wasn't as easy as a couple of cousins thought it would be! Luke's cousins took it upon themselves to find a mail-order bride for Luke. What they didn't count on was that instead of one girl being interested in Luke...there were three! And what made things even crazier...poor Luke didn't have a clue what he was about to be in for--a pushy mayor, a nosy journalist, and three women vying for his hand in marriage! If that's not a recipe for a great story, I don't know what is!<br /><br />I'm so happy to add Vickie to my list of highly recommended authors, and it comes after reading just one book. I have a feeling that the tiny town of Lookout, Texas has a few more surprises up it's sleeve before the series concludes. My rating for The Anonymous Bride is 4.5 Stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to Barbour Books for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1299901844000, "title": "4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "0800734076", "rating": 4, "text": "Having been a fan of Biblical fiction for many years now, I was very intrigued to read a story about the life of Job. Job's story in the Bible is not one that I've read very many times because frankly, it's a little sad and depressing, even though it does end well. I have to say that the fictional retelling of Job's story in Love Amid the Ashes really has me wanting to crack open this book in my Bible to get a better appreciation of Job's trials.<br /><br />I really appreciated the genealogy flow chart at the beginning of the book because without it, I don't know if I'd have ever been able to keep all the characters straight! There are a LOT of characters mentioned at the very beginning of the story, and I admit that I was confused a number of times. However, had all of those characters not been introduced, I wouldn't have gotten a full picture of the people involved in Job's life.<br /><br />I was also very grateful for the author's note at the end of the book explaining how she developed the story. I never would've thought of Jacob's daughter, Dinah, as being a part of Job's life at all, but thanks to the enormous research done by Ms. Andrews, it very likely may have been a reality. Because of that, I doubt I will ever look at Job's story the same way again.<br /><br />I highly recommend Love Amid the Ashes for those who enjoy Biblical fiction. Ms. Andrews has challenged my thinking, and has encouraged me to thoroughly re-read the story of Job. I can't wait to see what she has planned for her next novel because as a debut author, she's hit the ball out of the park with Love Amid the Ashes! My rating is 4 stars.", "timestamp": 1301167790000, "title": "Exceptional Debut Novel" }, { "asin": "0800733266", "rating": 4, "text": "Amanda Cabot has quickly become one of my go-to authors. I can't even count the number of times I've recommended her books to my book friends....they're just that good! Her latest offering is the last book in the Texas Dreams Series, and I'm so sad that my time with the citizens of Ladreville has come to an end.<br /><br />I enjoyed seeing the town through the eyes of Lawrence and Harriet. I have to confess that Lawrence wasn't one of my favorite characters in the last book. He was too stiff and rugged for my taste, and his infatuation with Priscilla got annoying after awhile. However, he was a completely different person in this book. He said goodbye to the life of a Texas Ranger, and stepped into the dual roles of town sheriff and mayor, two jobs that suited him quite well.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Harriet stepped in to fill the vacancy for school teacher in Ladreville. Not only was she excited to be teaching in a new town, she was anxious to forge a new life for herself and her siblings. I couldn't help but smile at the friendship that developed between Harriet and Isabelle. Isabelle has been one of the most genuine characters throughout the series, and her sweet spirit in this book is not one that I'll soon forget. If it hadn't been for Isabelle, poor Harriet would have never softened her uptight exterior. She also would've been destined to be a victim of the Fashion Police for a LONG time if Isabelle hadn't come to her rescue!<br /><br />Even more that the two previous books, I felt like I was a part of the town in Tomorrow's Garden. I wanted to scream at Harriet that she needed to keep her distance from Karl. I wanted to convince the townsfolk how important the bridge building was. And I wanted to cheer with joy at Ruth's gradual growth into a more confident young woman. Who wouldn't want to be part of such a community? :o)<br /><br />If you enjoy such authors as Lori Copeland and Kim Vogel Sawyer, I would strongly suggest you give Amanda Cabot a try. Each book in this series has been filled with so much emotion, and all of them have been nearly impossible to put down! I don't know how in the world I will be able to wait until next year to read her next offering which will be set in Wyoming. :o)<br /><br />4.5 Stars<br /><br />**Many thanks to Revell for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1303354184000, "title": "More Like 4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "082543310X", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm finding lately that I really enjoy young adult fiction. I mean *really* enjoy it! When I was in my teen years, there was not much to choose from unless I wanted to read general market. Fifteen years later, there's tons of Christian YA fiction, and well...I gotta make up for lost time!<br /><br />In addition to having not read a lot of YA books, I've also not read a whole lot from the WWII period. Frankly, it's just really difficult to read. I cannot imagine living in a world of persecution and hate, being separated from my family, or having to wonder where I will get my next meal. So, it was with a little bit of nervousness that I decided to read How Huge the Night by debut authors Heather and Lydia Munn.<br /><br />First of all, I loved how this story was told through a teenager's eyes. Being an adult, I know the terror I would have felt if I were a wife and mother. How would I prepare to go into a war? How will I make sure my family doesn't starve? But reading this story from a younger generation's point of view made it that much more realistic. At first, Julian was the typical teenager--frustrated with a move to a new town and a new school, struggling to make new friends--but as he matured, his focus shifted to concerns for his family, their Jewish boarder, the new friends he had made, and eventually, how the war would change all of their lives forever.<br /><br />Secondly, I loved that the story was told with a French setting. While I have a very basic knowledge of WWII, I have almost no knowledge of France or French history. There were snippets of history regarding the Huguenots and their struggles for religious freedom in the 1600's, as well as details about the armistice between France and Germany, and how Germany eventually violated their agreement. I was also surprised to read at the very end that France as a whole had very little knowledge about what was actually happening around them during the war (shared in the author's note). This made me curiously wonder whether they simply did not have access to tv's or newspapers, or if the news that was brought to them had been censored. Either way, how frightening it must have been to not know what's happening in the world around you.<br /><br />Also shared in the author's note was that there is another book coming soon from this talented mother/daughter team. While I have no idea if it will just be a sequel or part of a series, I wish it was available to read right now! This book did not leave me hanging per se, but I'm just itching to know what happens to Julian, Benjamin, Nina, and Gustav as the worst of the war is yet to come. I happily give a rating of 4 Stars for this exceptional debut novel.", "timestamp": 1308857409000, "title": "An Exceptional Debut Novel!" }, { "asin": "1414335695", "rating": 4, "text": "I can now safely say that Randy Singer never fails to amaze me with any book he writes. He's got a knack for creating these larger-than-life tales that make me feel like I just watched a whole season of 24 non-stop. Granted, I've only read two of his novels, but simply put...he's just awesome. End of discussion. :o)<br /><br />False Witness was an action-packed thrill ride, and that's no joke! There's the mob, the FBI, a bounty hunter, and this one little algorithm that everyone wanted. The problem was that if it fell into the wrong hands, chaos would ensue in no time flat. Then, there were the kidnappings, the torture, the money demands, and well...you can seen why it was an addictive read!<br /><br />But the one strike this book had against itself was all the legal stuff. I was able to keep most of it straight initially, but toward the end, my brain was on overload. I think if it had been toned down just a little bit, False Witness would have been 5-star worthy, for sure.<br /><br />In spite of that one little irritation, I still highly recommend False Witness as an incredible read. Just a warning that you may burn your dinner, have a pile of laundry waiting, or not get enough winks at night until you get it finished. :o)", "timestamp": 1309045355000, "title": "An Action-Packed Thrill Ride!" }, { "asin": "0764208330", "rating": 5, "text": "As a rule, I'm not overly fond of wagon train stories, but I could not read this one fast enough! It's not often that I have an opportunity to practically fly through a book as good as this one, but in 24 hours time, I read this book every moment I could spare. Thankfully, my husband was very understanding as we went through an evening with me cooking no dinner, folding no laundry, and watching no tv. And yes...he survived. ;o)<br /><br />Jody Hedlund has created a masterpiece in The Doctor's Lady. She had me smiling at the teasing nature of Priscilla and Eli's early relationship, and conversely, she had me in tears during a moment that no mother every wants to experience. If that wasn't enough, she created romantic tension so thick, I could cut it with a knife.<br /><br />And this was not your typical marriage of convenience story. Priscilla and Eli's marriage was quickly thrust into the dangers of what would become the Oregon Trail as they dealt with rapid rivers, dishonest guides, and fatal diseases. Not only did they butt heads occasionally with their traveling companions, they also struggled to share their true thoughts with one another which created unnecessary, yet believable, emotional turmoil.<br /><br />For those who are fans of Laura Frantz or Deeanne Gist, I guarantee The Doctor's Lady is a story that you will love in its entirety. As I said before, wagon train stories are not my thing as there are usually several portions that lag and I find my attention drifting. That is definitely not the case with this one! The action is continuous, the hardships believable, and the romance new and exciting. I have already carved out a place on my keeper shelf for this gem of a novel, and you better believe that it's there to stay. :o)", "timestamp": 1315631886000, "title": "A Masterpiece" }, { "asin": "0764209035", "rating": 3, "text": "It always pains me when I come across a book that others really enjoyed and I didn't. It's even worse when it's a brand new author. Each book is like a new baby to an author, and I imagine new authors are doubly sensitive when they read reviews of their \"firstborn.\" But unfortunately, Wings of a Dream just wasn't my cup of tea.<br /><br />There's not one clear area that I can point to as to where this book went wrong for me. I could name several things that didn't appeal to me, but I really don't want to get into a whole lot of details lest I ruin the reading experience for others. However, I compliment the author for creating a most unlikeable character in Rebekah's mother. She was far too uppity for her own good. :o)<br /><br />In spite of my overall dislike of this story, I do plan to give Anne's novels another try in the future. Every author, especially a new one, deserves a second chance to make a good impression, and I think with a little more work, Anne's future novels could be real gems. My rating for Wings of a Dream is 3.5 stars.", "timestamp": 1316450351000, "title": "Not the Right Fit for Me" }, { "asin": "0310332311", "rating": 4, "text": "I have been a diehard fan of Terri Blackstock since I first started reading Christian fiction over ten years ago. I have always been able to rely on Terri to provide suspenseful stories that keep me awake until the wee hours of the morning. However, this was not one of her stronger novels.<br /><br />While the carnival/amusement park idea was unique, I felt that I had to suspend belief for a large portion of the story. Like Carny, I wondered how in the world all of Logan's plans would come to fruition if he wasn't in fact a con artist. Without giving too much away, the end of the story was where this was most evident. Considering the amount of time that had passed between Logan's first visit to Serenity and the final chapter of the story, everything progressed much faster than it would in the real world.<br /><br />On the flip side, I felt that the characters in this story were extremely believable, Logan in particular. His reflections on his past as a product of foster homes combined with the years spent with his con artist mentor made him the most complex character of the story. Having personally met a con artist in my life (but thankfully not his victim), I could identify with some of the techniques Logan used to persuade the town into parting with their hard-earned money.<br /><br />I appreciated that Terri went back to her last novel written for the general market and rewrote it to appeal to a Christian audience. Never once did it seem that the story was rewritten as all the Christian elements blended seamlessly throughout the story. But if I compare it to some of her recent novels, it was not up to the same caliber that I've come to expect from her. It was only slightly suspenseful and romantic, yet still engaging enough that I wanted to read it to the very end. My rating is 4 Stars.", "timestamp": 1317131226000, "title": "Not Very Believable, but Still An Overall Good Story" }, { "asin": "1609362187", "rating": 5, "text": "I could go in so many directions with this review to tell you all about the characters, the plot, the setting, the clothes (oh...the clothes), but Heiress is one of those novels that is an experience--in jealousy, in opulence, in tragedy, in love. It's one that, if you know nothing but the back cover blurb, then you are in for the surprise of your life.<br /><br />I knew that Susan was a great writer, even after reading my first book by her earlier this year, but Heiress has catapulted her to favorite author status in no time flat. Just when I thought I was going to hit a lull in this story, she snapped my mind back to attention with one twist after another. Now, I know that some authors usually like to have one surprise lurking somewhere in their stories, but to have them appear in rapid succession (and all of them believable, no less) showed that Susan's got some masterful writing chops.<br /><br />Without a doubt, Heiress has to be the edgiest Christian fiction book of the year. It should also come with a warning label--\"Don't start unless you plan to stay up past your bedtime.\"<br /><br />Go. Get. It. Now. I dare you. ;o)", "timestamp": 1317135741000, "title": "The Edgiest Christian Fiction Book of the Year" }, { "asin": "0802405843", "rating": 3, "text": "Susan Page Davis is an author whose books I've come to love. From her early days of writing for the Heartsong Presents Line to one of her newest series, The Ladies Shooting Club, I've been able to rely on her ability to supply excellent stories to the Christian fiction genre. For those reasons, I was eager to read her newest novel, Captive Trail.<br /><br />Captive Trail was a bit of a departure from Susan's usual style. There wasn't the spunky heroine or the handsome hero, nor was there the gradual and believable romance that I'm accustomed to reading. However, there was a sweet series of relationships that formed among the characters, and enough danger and fear evident with the local Indian tribes that I kept turning page after page.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to the other 5 books in The Texas Trail Series by various authors that I have come to enjoy. My rating for Captive Trail is 3 Stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to Moody Publishers and CFBA for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1317834323000, "title": "Captive Trail" } ]

[ { "asin": "0800732138", "rating": 5, "text": "If you are looking for the greatest series in Christian fiction right now, then look no further than the Daughters of Boston series by Julie Lessman. I put off reading these books for months (why, I have no idea), but they were so well worth the wait. Never have I read such an edgy series that just sucked me in so much that I couldn't seem to read fast enough.<br /><br />I have to admit that this third book, A Passion Denied, was probably my favorite of the Daughters of Boston series. While the first two are wonderful (and you definitely should read them in order), book three brought a little bit more \"real life\" to the whole picture. Faith and Charity are now married, and thus, have to deal with the joys and challenges that married life brings. Also, Marcy and Patrick's relationship has a wrench thrown into it that just adds more depth to the story. I felt that Julie did a great job of giving insight to both the good and the bad with each couple, all while giving advice through her characters on how certain situations should be handled. Scattered throughout the book are numerous snippets of Scripture that help prove the points Julie's trying to get across, and not once does it come across as preachy.<br /><br />So, with all that said, don't even think about starting this series if you're not willing to stay up `til at least midnight or later! Every single book in this series has been nothing short of fantastic, and I cannot wait for more!", "timestamp": 1243445092000, "title": "Up 'til Midnight fiction!!" }, { "asin": "1434766411", "rating": 5, "text": "Very rarely do I come across a book that just leaves me floored the whole way through. Except for one tiny little break, I read this book from cover to cover, and loved every second of it. While it's not a book that I would normally go out of my way to read, words cannot adequately express how impressed I was after reading this fabulous debut novel.<br /><br />Talking to the Dead is a great example of an author thinking outside the box and finding a new niche in the Christian fiction arena. I have never come across a Christian fiction novel that dealt with any type of mental illness, much less mental institutions and shrinks, and how individuals seek help (be it worldly or spiritual) for those problems in the real world. Even though the Christian aspects of the novel were a tad bit watered down in places, I really applaud the author for showing what some churches/pastors are like in the real world, particularly, the scene with Jack's father. It literally broke my heart to read through Kate's experience with this fictitious pastor, knowing that there really are pastors and church leaders out there that use the same tactics.<br /><br />Talking to the Dead is now firmly planted on my all-time favorites list. Now, I must begin the impatient wait for whatever she has in store for her next book. If all of Bonnie's books are as great as this one, I'll be a fan for life.", "timestamp": 1257371509000, "title": "You Don't Want to Miss Out on This Book!" }, { "asin": "0764205137", "rating": 3, "text": "Honestly, this book was not all that impressive to me. I really wanted to like it because I've heard a lot of good things about Ms. Whitson's books. The beginning of the book was almost enough to make me put it down and not finish it, mostly because there were way too many characters to keep up with. Fortunately, only the beginning of the book centers around half or so of the sixteen brides, and then, dwindles to five main brides for the rest of the story. It took about 100 or so pages before the bulk of the story started to take shape, and it wasn't a fast-moving story because again, there were too many characters. If this had been a book that centered around 2 or 3 brides, I think I would've enjoyed it much more.", "timestamp": 1270607281000, "title": "Almost Didn't Finish It" }, { "asin": "1935416634", "rating": 4, "text": "Just like Miralee's first historical novel, her second venture into this genre does not disappoint at all! This book is rich with descriptions, and easily addictive. In fact, I found that after awhile, I simply couldn't put it down!<br /><br />The agonizing grief that Margaret felt with the loss of her first love, and then, her father, is simply heartbreaking. That'd be enough to make me want to crawl in a hole somewhere and die, honestly. Instead, she perseveres, and moves on with her life, both with her job as a teacher and her budding relationship with Andrew.<br /><br />While the romance scenes in the book are small in number, they were enough to steal my breath away! I truly had no idea which man Margaret would choose, even after going back in forth in my own mind with who the lucky fellow would be.<br /><br />Probably the most interesting aspect of the whole book is tucked away at the very end. (Don't worry...this is not a spoiler.) Miralee shares what inspired her to write this book, most of it coming from her own family history. I imagine that makes this book even more special to her on a whole different level. Several things are scattered through the story that are actual historical events...although, I can't let the cat out of the bag on that one, or I really would be spoiling the story!<br /><br />Yep, definitely another great book for Miralee, and another fantastic addition to the Love Finds You series! I can't wait to read what she comes out with next! :o)", "timestamp": 1274980283000, "title": "Another Great Historical Novel from Miralee Ferrell!" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 3, "text": "Having read another novel by Melanie Dobson earlier this year and really liking it, I really had high expectations for this book. Honestly, this book fell way short. True, it's a totally different genre than the other book I've read by her (which was historical), but I really had a hard time getting through this book, in general.<br /><br />I guess you could call this a suspense novel....maybe. In a way, I almost consider that a little bit of a stretch because in addition to reading Camden's side of the story, I was also getting the bad guy's side of the story. Sometimes that's good, but I don't know if I felt that it was, in this case. I like for a suspense novel to make me guess a little, even if really don't have it all figured out by the end of the story. There was a small twist at the end that I did not expect, but other than that, I felt the ending was a little anticlimactic.<br /><br />I also felt no connection to the characters, except maybe a little bit with Camden. She's pretty much on her own, has no money, and has inherited a house that she can't pay to repair. All through her story, I was rooting for her to succeed, and hoping that she would not say yes to the first person to come along and make her an offer on the old house. Grant's character was just okay...nothing really spectacular to me. And the creepy guys were just....well....creepy.<br /><br />In spite of this book being not so great, I know I'll be reading more from Melanie Dobson in the future. I typically enjoy reading suspense novels, but this one was just a little flat. Overall, I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to the publisher for providing this book for me to review.", "timestamp": 1275055861000, "title": "Just Okay" }, { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 5, "text": "Without a doubt...Cara Lynn James is certainly new author to watch! I was so thoroughly captivated by this novel that I couldn't believe it's only her first! Her writing style is so beautiful and lyrical that I literally felt transported to the era of the Astors and Vanderbilts. Until now, my only experience with the Gilded Era has been through film, and now, I'm just itching for more of this era in printed form. January 2011 seems far too long to have to wait to read the next book in the Ladies of Summerhill series, but I will wait for it as patiently as I know how!", "timestamp": 1276662978000, "title": "Give Me More...Quick!!" }, { "asin": "0764204963", "rating": 5, "text": "Though Waters Roar is another win for Lynn Austin! It's clear why her novels win so many awards, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if this one garners a few of it's own.<br /><br />It's no secret at all that Lynn Austin is one of my absolute favorite authors, but I have to admit that I struggled a little bit initially to get interested in this story. One of Lynn's trademarks is merging a present-day story with some history of another person within a family unit. This book had that same feature (which I love), but it was harder for me to follow for the first few chapters. Usually, her books are divided into parts with each part being about one person's story. This one was not set up that way at all, and there were times that I was so thoroughly confused trying to keep the characters straight, and where they belonged in the overall timeline. But....don't let that deter you from considering this book for your next read. Just keep in mind that it make take you awhile to fully immerse yourself in the story.<br /><br />I loved the historical elements that were featured, too. This story focused on the era of women struggling to have a voice, particularly with voting. Another large chunk of the story featured alcoholism, and the resulting Prohibition movement. And yet another portion dealth with slavery. Each major character had a hand in each one of these parts of history, and it was so thoroughly fascinating to read about all of that in one book.<br /><br />While it's probably won't ever be my favorite book ever by Lynn Austin, I have to give it 5 stars simply because the story was truly extraordinary. And as always, I can't wait to read her next book. :o)", "timestamp": 1276796839000, "title": "Excellent As Always" }, { "asin": "1414335962", "rating": 5, "text": "Allison Pittman can flat write a book...period. If it had not been for a suggestion from a friend of mine several years ago, I doubt I would've ever discovered Allison's books. Since then, though, I've become a fan through and through. Her historical novels always seem to have some a little different from all the rest--sometimes, it's unique characters, but almost always, it's a story that pulls at my emotions from start to finish.<br /><br />For Time and Eternity was a novel I wanted to read from the first moment I read the description. I've been on a little bit of a kick with this particular book \"style\" lately, and I knew Allison's take on this point in history would not disappoint. It also helped that she had first-hand knowledge of the Mormon church and their practices. Now, I'm not Mormon, I don't know any Mormons, but I do have a basic knowledge of their beliefs. What really saddens me is how many people were drawn into this religion in it's early years, maybe before they were fully aware of what they were getting into. Honestly, what sane woman wants to share her husband? Um, not me. Thankfully, as a church they have eliminated all practices of polygamy, but it's still a part of their history. Now, only the FLDS (Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints) participate in polygamy.<br /><br />I felt all of Camilla's emotions through this entire book. Camilla had more on her young shoulders than most people have when they're twice her age, and she had so many decisions that she had to make...some that were split-second. One came when she had to choose between her parents and this new boy, Nathan Fox. She barely knew him, and she didn't understand why her parents didn't want her around him. After time, their reasons became very clear. And thankfully, Camilla's mother insisted that she read her Bible daily, and journal a verse every day. This early nurturing in Scripture would be the difference maker in Camilla's adult, married life.<br /><br />If you decide to read For Time and Eternity, let me warn you that this is not your typical novel--not just because it has both Mormon and Christian elements, but because it will literally have your emotions on overdrive from page one through to the very end. It was an excellent story that was heartbreaking, but beautifully told. My only complaint was that it didn't last long enough!", "timestamp": 1284184050000, "title": "Do Not Miss This Book!" }, { "asin": "1595548246", "rating": 5, "text": "Oh, my...I think this was one of the best books I read all year! I already know that whatever words I can come up with to describe how much I enjoyed this book will be so insufficient. It had beauty and tenderness, along with sadness and pain, but with definite joy at the end of the journey.<br /><br />I've said so many times that Amish fiction has reached a point where so many stories are similar, and for something to really reach out and grab me, it needs to have a little something extra. This is that book! First of all, the setting is brand new for Amish fiction fans. This is the first book that I know of set in the mountains of Colorado. That was very intriguing simply because of adjusting to the different weather conditions there compared to Pennsylvania. Second, Emily and her family have to deal with a situation that is almost unheard of in their communities. I won't mention what it is because I don't want to spoil anything, but I've only ever seen it mentioned in one other Amish series. Seeing Emily overcome her past, while also trying not to be attracted to David, is a very beautiful thing to watch unfold.<br /><br />I also want to give some love to some of the secondary characters. Martha....loved her to pieces!! The scene where she introduces her parrot to David and Emily grabbed ahold of my funny bone, and wouldn't let go! And I wish that something had developed between her and certain gentleman, but I'm thinking (and hoping) that story will be featured in a future book. Another character that had an integral role in the story was Katie Ann, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for her from the get-go. Her story was never really a part of the Daughters of the Promise series, so I'm glad that she will be the primary focus of Beth's next book set in Canaan, Colorado.<br /><br />If you've not read Beth's Daughters of the Promise series, then I strongly encourage you to do so before reading this book. There are a handful of things in this book that build upon the previous books, and unless you are okay with a few spoilers, the entire story is best appreciated if it's read in order.<br /><br />That said, I don't know how in the world I'm gonna wait until the end of 2011 to find out what happens next in Canaan!! I'll be able to get my Beth Wiseman fix in March (thankfully, that's not far away) when she releases the next book in the Daughters of the Promise series, Plain Proposal. Listen now, when I discover a new author that I love, you better get out of my way at the bookstore...this woman can write!", "timestamp": 1292948125000, "title": "This Book Will Have You Burning the Midnight Oil!" }, { "asin": "0800734564", "rating": 4, "text": "Fatal Judgment was the first romantic suspense novel I've read in quite a long time. It was also the first time I've read anything by Irene Hannon, and I have to say that I was very impressed. The first novel in her new series, Guardians of Justice, was a thrill ride with U.S. Marshals, the FBI, and a murderer on the loose. The action was consistent throughout, but sprinkled with moments of grief and healing for both Liz and Jake. It was up to Jake to protect Liz at every turn, and he was definitely a hero worth reading about!<br /><br />Another thing I loved was that, as a reader, I knew who the bad guy was all along because he was revealed about 1/3 of the way into the book. From past experience, sometimes that works for a story, sometimes it doesn't. In Fatal Judgment, it defintely worked! I was given a glimpse into his crazy mind, and his motives for striking out at Judge Michaels. On the other hand, his character saddened me because there are so many people in the real world that have his same twisted logic toward our country.<br /><br />I have no doubt that the next installment in this series will please suspense fans as easily as this one did. Irene Hannon has enormous talent within this genre, and the thoughts and research that went into this novel was evident on every page. And now that I know that a few characters from this novel were a part of her previous series, I can't wait to get my hands on those next!<br /><br />4.5 Stars", "timestamp": 1296364027000, "title": "4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "0800732596", "rating": 4, "text": "Melody Carlson has always been my go-to author for great YA fiction, and Never Been Kissed was another fabulous example of her talent within this genre. I read this book from cover to cover in one sitting, and even though I'm a few years removed from the young adult period of my life, there was plenty in this short book to open my eyes to what teens are involved in today, particularly on the topic of sexting.<br /><br />Melody's novels are always on the pulse of current teen issues and what's happening in high schools everywhere. Never Been Kissed is just the kind of book that should be read by parents and teens alike. My rating is 4 stars.", "timestamp": 1296446134000, "title": "Should Be Read by Parents and Teens Alike" }, { "asin": "0800734521", "rating": 3, "text": "This was another one of those books that I tried so very hard to like, but it was oh-so-difficult. I think that the author had a great idea to base a series of books on midwives, but this first book just fell flat. There was so little information about midwives and their roles in society that I was left wanting by the book's end. This may have had something to do with so few women in the book that were pregnant (only 3 deliveries of babies and one litter of puppies in a 400 page novel).<br /><br />Another thing that kept me from really enjoying the book was all of the filler. One chapter left me on a climax, then the next chapter switched to a different scene entirely, and it usually was one that had no excitement at all. By the time I got back around to the resolution of the cliffhanger from 2 chapters before, my anticipation to know what happened had vanished. This is something that I've noticed with authors that typically write short novels (Heartsong or Love Inspired), who then switch to writing a full-length novel. The plot of the story may be good, but the delivery gets choked up by all the filler to make it a longer book. (At this point, I have not read any of Ms. Eakes' other novels, but I know she has some shorter novels that have been released, and that's why I am drawing this conclusion.)<br /><br />I am still interested to read the next book in this series, and I hope that there will be more of a midwife feel to it as opposed to another historical Regency. Ms. Eakes' has a great deal of talent with her writing; I just hope that it will be more focused in her next full-length book.", "timestamp": 1298312686000, "title": "Good Book, just Needed a Little More Focus" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "Since I first started reading Christian fiction, Terri Blackstock has always been one of my favorite authors. I love the intensity in her novels, which causes me to furiously turn the pages. She has begun a new series about the struggles of drug addiction, and she doesn't tone down that intensity one bit.<br /><br />Vicious Cycle is a novel about a young girl, Jordan, who is caught up in a web of drug addiction. Not only is she an addict, but her mother and half-brother are as well. In the very first chapter, she is pregnant with a child and forced to have the baby in her own bed because her mother will not take her to the hospital. Jordan does not understand that at first, but as the pieces fall into place throughout the book, Jordan's realizes she has a mother who does not care about anyone but herself.<br /><br />Lance (featured in book one, Intervention) becomes friends with Jordan through school. Because his sister is a recovering drug addict, he recognizes pretty quickly that Jordan is on the road to a bad life, not only for herself, but for the baby that she's carrying. He convinces her to start treatment at a local rehab center, New Day. Lance visits every weekend to see his sister while she's recovering, and seeing Jordan is an added bonus. When Jordan voluntarily leaves New Day so close to her delivery date, he knows Jordan will return to her drug-infested home. He takes it upon himself to drive over to her house to check on her, not realizing that he's about to be in the biggest trouble of his life.<br /><br />Leave it to Terri Blackstock to create a novel that sucked me in from page one!! Not only did I get a glimpse of the world of meth, I also got a small glimpse into the world of baby trafficking, and neither one was a pretty picture. This book was so realistic, possibly more so than the book before it, Intervention. I can't wait to see what's in store for Barbara, Kent, Emily, and Lance with the remainder of the books in this series. Highly Recommended!!", "timestamp": 1298998047000, "title": "Intense Novel That I Couldn't Put Down!" }, { "asin": "160260696X", "rating": 4, "text": "Discovering new authors can really be a mixed bag of surprises for a reader. I've had experiences where I wonder what took me so long to get around to them, and I've had other experiences where I wished I could've used my time differently. No worries....Vickie McDonough fits perfectly into the first category. :o)<br /><br />Vickie's western style of writing was very reminiscent of Mary Connealy and Lori Copeland, except it was deeper. I loved that I got to really invest myself in the emotions of each character. Luke--who initially had a heart filled with unforgiveness--slowly allowed his heart to soften. Rachel--who scorned Luke many years ago--longed to admit that she'd made a terrible mistake. And Jacqueline--better known as \"Jack\"--was a feisty tomboy that just wanted her ma to marry Luke.<br /><br />But setting up Luke and Rachel wasn't as easy as a couple of cousins thought it would be! Luke's cousins took it upon themselves to find a mail-order bride for Luke. What they didn't count on was that instead of one girl being interested in Luke...there were three! And what made things even crazier...poor Luke didn't have a clue what he was about to be in for--a pushy mayor, a nosy journalist, and three women vying for his hand in marriage! If that's not a recipe for a great story, I don't know what is!<br /><br />I'm so happy to add Vickie to my list of highly recommended authors, and it comes after reading just one book. I have a feeling that the tiny town of Lookout, Texas has a few more surprises up it's sleeve before the series concludes. My rating for The Anonymous Bride is 4.5 Stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to Barbour Books for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1299901844000, "title": "4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "0800734076", "rating": 4, "text": "Having been a fan of Biblical fiction for many years now, I was very intrigued to read a story about the life of Job. Job's story in the Bible is not one that I've read very many times because frankly, it's a little sad and depressing, even though it does end well. I have to say that the fictional retelling of Job's story in Love Amid the Ashes really has me wanting to crack open this book in my Bible to get a better appreciation of Job's trials.<br /><br />I really appreciated the genealogy flow chart at the beginning of the book because without it, I don't know if I'd have ever been able to keep all the characters straight! There are a LOT of characters mentioned at the very beginning of the story, and I admit that I was confused a number of times. However, had all of those characters not been introduced, I wouldn't have gotten a full picture of the people involved in Job's life.<br /><br />I was also very grateful for the author's note at the end of the book explaining how she developed the story. I never would've thought of Jacob's daughter, Dinah, as being a part of Job's life at all, but thanks to the enormous research done by Ms. Andrews, it very likely may have been a reality. Because of that, I doubt I will ever look at Job's story the same way again.<br /><br />I highly recommend Love Amid the Ashes for those who enjoy Biblical fiction. Ms. Andrews has challenged my thinking, and has encouraged me to thoroughly re-read the story of Job. I can't wait to see what she has planned for her next novel because as a debut author, she's hit the ball out of the park with Love Amid the Ashes! My rating is 4 stars.", "timestamp": 1301167790000, "title": "Exceptional Debut Novel" }, { "asin": "0800733266", "rating": 4, "text": "Amanda Cabot has quickly become one of my go-to authors. I can't even count the number of times I've recommended her books to my book friends....they're just that good! Her latest offering is the last book in the Texas Dreams Series, and I'm so sad that my time with the citizens of Ladreville has come to an end.<br /><br />I enjoyed seeing the town through the eyes of Lawrence and Harriet. I have to confess that Lawrence wasn't one of my favorite characters in the last book. He was too stiff and rugged for my taste, and his infatuation with Priscilla got annoying after awhile. However, he was a completely different person in this book. He said goodbye to the life of a Texas Ranger, and stepped into the dual roles of town sheriff and mayor, two jobs that suited him quite well.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Harriet stepped in to fill the vacancy for school teacher in Ladreville. Not only was she excited to be teaching in a new town, she was anxious to forge a new life for herself and her siblings. I couldn't help but smile at the friendship that developed between Harriet and Isabelle. Isabelle has been one of the most genuine characters throughout the series, and her sweet spirit in this book is not one that I'll soon forget. If it hadn't been for Isabelle, poor Harriet would have never softened her uptight exterior. She also would've been destined to be a victim of the Fashion Police for a LONG time if Isabelle hadn't come to her rescue!<br /><br />Even more that the two previous books, I felt like I was a part of the town in Tomorrow's Garden. I wanted to scream at Harriet that she needed to keep her distance from Karl. I wanted to convince the townsfolk how important the bridge building was. And I wanted to cheer with joy at Ruth's gradual growth into a more confident young woman. Who wouldn't want to be part of such a community? :o)<br /><br />If you enjoy such authors as Lori Copeland and Kim Vogel Sawyer, I would strongly suggest you give Amanda Cabot a try. Each book in this series has been filled with so much emotion, and all of them have been nearly impossible to put down! I don't know how in the world I will be able to wait until next year to read her next offering which will be set in Wyoming. :o)<br /><br />4.5 Stars<br /><br />**Many thanks to Revell for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1303354184000, "title": "More Like 4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "082543310X", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm finding lately that I really enjoy young adult fiction. I mean *really* enjoy it! When I was in my teen years, there was not much to choose from unless I wanted to read general market. Fifteen years later, there's tons of Christian YA fiction, and well...I gotta make up for lost time!<br /><br />In addition to having not read a lot of YA books, I've also not read a whole lot from the WWII period. Frankly, it's just really difficult to read. I cannot imagine living in a world of persecution and hate, being separated from my family, or having to wonder where I will get my next meal. So, it was with a little bit of nervousness that I decided to read How Huge the Night by debut authors Heather and Lydia Munn.<br /><br />First of all, I loved how this story was told through a teenager's eyes. Being an adult, I know the terror I would have felt if I were a wife and mother. How would I prepare to go into a war? How will I make sure my family doesn't starve? But reading this story from a younger generation's point of view made it that much more realistic. At first, Julian was the typical teenager--frustrated with a move to a new town and a new school, struggling to make new friends--but as he matured, his focus shifted to concerns for his family, their Jewish boarder, the new friends he had made, and eventually, how the war would change all of their lives forever.<br /><br />Secondly, I loved that the story was told with a French setting. While I have a very basic knowledge of WWII, I have almost no knowledge of France or French history. There were snippets of history regarding the Huguenots and their struggles for religious freedom in the 1600's, as well as details about the armistice between France and Germany, and how Germany eventually violated their agreement. I was also surprised to read at the very end that France as a whole had very little knowledge about what was actually happening around them during the war (shared in the author's note). This made me curiously wonder whether they simply did not have access to tv's or newspapers, or if the news that was brought to them had been censored. Either way, how frightening it must have been to not know what's happening in the world around you.<br /><br />Also shared in the author's note was that there is another book coming soon from this talented mother/daughter team. While I have no idea if it will just be a sequel or part of a series, I wish it was available to read right now! This book did not leave me hanging per se, but I'm just itching to know what happens to Julian, Benjamin, Nina, and Gustav as the worst of the war is yet to come. I happily give a rating of 4 Stars for this exceptional debut novel.", "timestamp": 1308857409000, "title": "An Exceptional Debut Novel!" }, { "asin": "1414335695", "rating": 4, "text": "I can now safely say that Randy Singer never fails to amaze me with any book he writes. He's got a knack for creating these larger-than-life tales that make me feel like I just watched a whole season of 24 non-stop. Granted, I've only read two of his novels, but simply put...he's just awesome. End of discussion. :o)<br /><br />False Witness was an action-packed thrill ride, and that's no joke! There's the mob, the FBI, a bounty hunter, and this one little algorithm that everyone wanted. The problem was that if it fell into the wrong hands, chaos would ensue in no time flat. Then, there were the kidnappings, the torture, the money demands, and well...you can seen why it was an addictive read!<br /><br />But the one strike this book had against itself was all the legal stuff. I was able to keep most of it straight initially, but toward the end, my brain was on overload. I think if it had been toned down just a little bit, False Witness would have been 5-star worthy, for sure.<br /><br />In spite of that one little irritation, I still highly recommend False Witness as an incredible read. Just a warning that you may burn your dinner, have a pile of laundry waiting, or not get enough winks at night until you get it finished. :o)", "timestamp": 1309045355000, "title": "An Action-Packed Thrill Ride!" }, { "asin": "0764208330", "rating": 5, "text": "As a rule, I'm not overly fond of wagon train stories, but I could not read this one fast enough! It's not often that I have an opportunity to practically fly through a book as good as this one, but in 24 hours time, I read this book every moment I could spare. Thankfully, my husband was very understanding as we went through an evening with me cooking no dinner, folding no laundry, and watching no tv. And yes...he survived. ;o)<br /><br />Jody Hedlund has created a masterpiece in The Doctor's Lady. She had me smiling at the teasing nature of Priscilla and Eli's early relationship, and conversely, she had me in tears during a moment that no mother every wants to experience. If that wasn't enough, she created romantic tension so thick, I could cut it with a knife.<br /><br />And this was not your typical marriage of convenience story. Priscilla and Eli's marriage was quickly thrust into the dangers of what would become the Oregon Trail as they dealt with rapid rivers, dishonest guides, and fatal diseases. Not only did they butt heads occasionally with their traveling companions, they also struggled to share their true thoughts with one another which created unnecessary, yet believable, emotional turmoil.<br /><br />For those who are fans of Laura Frantz or Deeanne Gist, I guarantee The Doctor's Lady is a story that you will love in its entirety. As I said before, wagon train stories are not my thing as there are usually several portions that lag and I find my attention drifting. That is definitely not the case with this one! The action is continuous, the hardships believable, and the romance new and exciting. I have already carved out a place on my keeper shelf for this gem of a novel, and you better believe that it's there to stay. :o)", "timestamp": 1315631886000, "title": "A Masterpiece" }, { "asin": "0764209035", "rating": 3, "text": "It always pains me when I come across a book that others really enjoyed and I didn't. It's even worse when it's a brand new author. Each book is like a new baby to an author, and I imagine new authors are doubly sensitive when they read reviews of their \"firstborn.\" But unfortunately, Wings of a Dream just wasn't my cup of tea.<br /><br />There's not one clear area that I can point to as to where this book went wrong for me. I could name several things that didn't appeal to me, but I really don't want to get into a whole lot of details lest I ruin the reading experience for others. However, I compliment the author for creating a most unlikeable character in Rebekah's mother. She was far too uppity for her own good. :o)<br /><br />In spite of my overall dislike of this story, I do plan to give Anne's novels another try in the future. Every author, especially a new one, deserves a second chance to make a good impression, and I think with a little more work, Anne's future novels could be real gems. My rating for Wings of a Dream is 3.5 stars.", "timestamp": 1316450351000, "title": "Not the Right Fit for Me" }, { "asin": "0310332311", "rating": 4, "text": "I have been a diehard fan of Terri Blackstock since I first started reading Christian fiction over ten years ago. I have always been able to rely on Terri to provide suspenseful stories that keep me awake until the wee hours of the morning. However, this was not one of her stronger novels.<br /><br />While the carnival/amusement park idea was unique, I felt that I had to suspend belief for a large portion of the story. Like Carny, I wondered how in the world all of Logan's plans would come to fruition if he wasn't in fact a con artist. Without giving too much away, the end of the story was where this was most evident. Considering the amount of time that had passed between Logan's first visit to Serenity and the final chapter of the story, everything progressed much faster than it would in the real world.<br /><br />On the flip side, I felt that the characters in this story were extremely believable, Logan in particular. His reflections on his past as a product of foster homes combined with the years spent with his con artist mentor made him the most complex character of the story. Having personally met a con artist in my life (but thankfully not his victim), I could identify with some of the techniques Logan used to persuade the town into parting with their hard-earned money.<br /><br />I appreciated that Terri went back to her last novel written for the general market and rewrote it to appeal to a Christian audience. Never once did it seem that the story was rewritten as all the Christian elements blended seamlessly throughout the story. But if I compare it to some of her recent novels, it was not up to the same caliber that I've come to expect from her. It was only slightly suspenseful and romantic, yet still engaging enough that I wanted to read it to the very end. My rating is 4 Stars.", "timestamp": 1317131226000, "title": "Not Very Believable, but Still An Overall Good Story" }, { "asin": "1609362187", "rating": 5, "text": "I could go in so many directions with this review to tell you all about the characters, the plot, the setting, the clothes (oh...the clothes), but Heiress is one of those novels that is an experience--in jealousy, in opulence, in tragedy, in love. It's one that, if you know nothing but the back cover blurb, then you are in for the surprise of your life.<br /><br />I knew that Susan was a great writer, even after reading my first book by her earlier this year, but Heiress has catapulted her to favorite author status in no time flat. Just when I thought I was going to hit a lull in this story, she snapped my mind back to attention with one twist after another. Now, I know that some authors usually like to have one surprise lurking somewhere in their stories, but to have them appear in rapid succession (and all of them believable, no less) showed that Susan's got some masterful writing chops.<br /><br />Without a doubt, Heiress has to be the edgiest Christian fiction book of the year. It should also come with a warning label--\"Don't start unless you plan to stay up past your bedtime.\"<br /><br />Go. Get. It. Now. I dare you. ;o)", "timestamp": 1317135741000, "title": "The Edgiest Christian Fiction Book of the Year" }, { "asin": "0802405843", "rating": 3, "text": "Susan Page Davis is an author whose books I've come to love. From her early days of writing for the Heartsong Presents Line to one of her newest series, The Ladies Shooting Club, I've been able to rely on her ability to supply excellent stories to the Christian fiction genre. For those reasons, I was eager to read her newest novel, Captive Trail.<br /><br />Captive Trail was a bit of a departure from Susan's usual style. There wasn't the spunky heroine or the handsome hero, nor was there the gradual and believable romance that I'm accustomed to reading. However, there was a sweet series of relationships that formed among the characters, and enough danger and fear evident with the local Indian tribes that I kept turning page after page.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to the other 5 books in The Texas Trail Series by various authors that I have come to enjoy. My rating for Captive Trail is 3 Stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to Moody Publishers and CFBA for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1317834323000, "title": "Captive Trail" }, { "asin": "1433668688", "rating": 5, "text": "I love being able to have a new experience every time I read a book, and when it comes to reading Amish fiction...well, that's a tad bit of a rarity. Most of the time, their culture is seen as difficult, closed off, and rigorous. But in Tricia Goyer's first Amish novel, those cultural boundaries are pushed to the edge, and seriously...it makes for an incredibly entertaining, yet beautiful, story that I won't soon forget.<br /><br />What surprised me most about this story was the increased interaction between the Amish and the Englisch. Normally, the Amish are not known for this, but frankly, when you live in the wide open spaces of Montana, you don't have much choice about who your neighbors are. For Marianna and her father, this unusual arrangement with outsiders took some getting used to at first, but slowly, those self-imposed walls began to drop, and new relationships started to form. Not only were these new relationships with common people, but also, with God Himself.<br /><br />Prior to reading Beside Still Waters, I had read only a handful of Tricia's novels, but truly, she has a gift with the Amish genre. Not that her other books aren't great in their own rights, but she has a different voice here that kept pulling on my heartstrings, and it just would...not...let...go. If you're like me and love a great Amish read, yet you long for something different, Beside Still Waters is one of the best. Period.", "timestamp": 1324276367000, "title": "Change is Good, Especially When It Comes to the Amish" } ]

[ { "asin": "0800732138", "rating": 5, "text": "If you are looking for the greatest series in Christian fiction right now, then look no further than the Daughters of Boston series by Julie Lessman. I put off reading these books for months (why, I have no idea), but they were so well worth the wait. Never have I read such an edgy series that just sucked me in so much that I couldn't seem to read fast enough.<br /><br />I have to admit that this third book, A Passion Denied, was probably my favorite of the Daughters of Boston series. While the first two are wonderful (and you definitely should read them in order), book three brought a little bit more \"real life\" to the whole picture. Faith and Charity are now married, and thus, have to deal with the joys and challenges that married life brings. Also, Marcy and Patrick's relationship has a wrench thrown into it that just adds more depth to the story. I felt that Julie did a great job of giving insight to both the good and the bad with each couple, all while giving advice through her characters on how certain situations should be handled. Scattered throughout the book are numerous snippets of Scripture that help prove the points Julie's trying to get across, and not once does it come across as preachy.<br /><br />So, with all that said, don't even think about starting this series if you're not willing to stay up `til at least midnight or later! Every single book in this series has been nothing short of fantastic, and I cannot wait for more!", "timestamp": 1243445092000, "title": "Up 'til Midnight fiction!!" }, { "asin": "1434766411", "rating": 5, "text": "Very rarely do I come across a book that just leaves me floored the whole way through. Except for one tiny little break, I read this book from cover to cover, and loved every second of it. While it's not a book that I would normally go out of my way to read, words cannot adequately express how impressed I was after reading this fabulous debut novel.<br /><br />Talking to the Dead is a great example of an author thinking outside the box and finding a new niche in the Christian fiction arena. I have never come across a Christian fiction novel that dealt with any type of mental illness, much less mental institutions and shrinks, and how individuals seek help (be it worldly or spiritual) for those problems in the real world. Even though the Christian aspects of the novel were a tad bit watered down in places, I really applaud the author for showing what some churches/pastors are like in the real world, particularly, the scene with Jack's father. It literally broke my heart to read through Kate's experience with this fictitious pastor, knowing that there really are pastors and church leaders out there that use the same tactics.<br /><br />Talking to the Dead is now firmly planted on my all-time favorites list. Now, I must begin the impatient wait for whatever she has in store for her next book. If all of Bonnie's books are as great as this one, I'll be a fan for life.", "timestamp": 1257371509000, "title": "You Don't Want to Miss Out on This Book!" }, { "asin": "0764205137", "rating": 3, "text": "Honestly, this book was not all that impressive to me. I really wanted to like it because I've heard a lot of good things about Ms. Whitson's books. The beginning of the book was almost enough to make me put it down and not finish it, mostly because there were way too many characters to keep up with. Fortunately, only the beginning of the book centers around half or so of the sixteen brides, and then, dwindles to five main brides for the rest of the story. It took about 100 or so pages before the bulk of the story started to take shape, and it wasn't a fast-moving story because again, there were too many characters. If this had been a book that centered around 2 or 3 brides, I think I would've enjoyed it much more.", "timestamp": 1270607281000, "title": "Almost Didn't Finish It" }, { "asin": "1935416634", "rating": 4, "text": "Just like Miralee's first historical novel, her second venture into this genre does not disappoint at all! This book is rich with descriptions, and easily addictive. In fact, I found that after awhile, I simply couldn't put it down!<br /><br />The agonizing grief that Margaret felt with the loss of her first love, and then, her father, is simply heartbreaking. That'd be enough to make me want to crawl in a hole somewhere and die, honestly. Instead, she perseveres, and moves on with her life, both with her job as a teacher and her budding relationship with Andrew.<br /><br />While the romance scenes in the book are small in number, they were enough to steal my breath away! I truly had no idea which man Margaret would choose, even after going back in forth in my own mind with who the lucky fellow would be.<br /><br />Probably the most interesting aspect of the whole book is tucked away at the very end. (Don't worry...this is not a spoiler.) Miralee shares what inspired her to write this book, most of it coming from her own family history. I imagine that makes this book even more special to her on a whole different level. Several things are scattered through the story that are actual historical events...although, I can't let the cat out of the bag on that one, or I really would be spoiling the story!<br /><br />Yep, definitely another great book for Miralee, and another fantastic addition to the Love Finds You series! I can't wait to read what she comes out with next! :o)", "timestamp": 1274980283000, "title": "Another Great Historical Novel from Miralee Ferrell!" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 3, "text": "Having read another novel by Melanie Dobson earlier this year and really liking it, I really had high expectations for this book. Honestly, this book fell way short. True, it's a totally different genre than the other book I've read by her (which was historical), but I really had a hard time getting through this book, in general.<br /><br />I guess you could call this a suspense novel....maybe. In a way, I almost consider that a little bit of a stretch because in addition to reading Camden's side of the story, I was also getting the bad guy's side of the story. Sometimes that's good, but I don't know if I felt that it was, in this case. I like for a suspense novel to make me guess a little, even if really don't have it all figured out by the end of the story. There was a small twist at the end that I did not expect, but other than that, I felt the ending was a little anticlimactic.<br /><br />I also felt no connection to the characters, except maybe a little bit with Camden. She's pretty much on her own, has no money, and has inherited a house that she can't pay to repair. All through her story, I was rooting for her to succeed, and hoping that she would not say yes to the first person to come along and make her an offer on the old house. Grant's character was just okay...nothing really spectacular to me. And the creepy guys were just....well....creepy.<br /><br />In spite of this book being not so great, I know I'll be reading more from Melanie Dobson in the future. I typically enjoy reading suspense novels, but this one was just a little flat. Overall, I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to the publisher for providing this book for me to review.", "timestamp": 1275055861000, "title": "Just Okay" }, { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 5, "text": "Without a doubt...Cara Lynn James is certainly new author to watch! I was so thoroughly captivated by this novel that I couldn't believe it's only her first! Her writing style is so beautiful and lyrical that I literally felt transported to the era of the Astors and Vanderbilts. Until now, my only experience with the Gilded Era has been through film, and now, I'm just itching for more of this era in printed form. January 2011 seems far too long to have to wait to read the next book in the Ladies of Summerhill series, but I will wait for it as patiently as I know how!", "timestamp": 1276662978000, "title": "Give Me More...Quick!!" }, { "asin": "0764204963", "rating": 5, "text": "Though Waters Roar is another win for Lynn Austin! It's clear why her novels win so many awards, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if this one garners a few of it's own.<br /><br />It's no secret at all that Lynn Austin is one of my absolute favorite authors, but I have to admit that I struggled a little bit initially to get interested in this story. One of Lynn's trademarks is merging a present-day story with some history of another person within a family unit. This book had that same feature (which I love), but it was harder for me to follow for the first few chapters. Usually, her books are divided into parts with each part being about one person's story. This one was not set up that way at all, and there were times that I was so thoroughly confused trying to keep the characters straight, and where they belonged in the overall timeline. But....don't let that deter you from considering this book for your next read. Just keep in mind that it make take you awhile to fully immerse yourself in the story.<br /><br />I loved the historical elements that were featured, too. This story focused on the era of women struggling to have a voice, particularly with voting. Another large chunk of the story featured alcoholism, and the resulting Prohibition movement. And yet another portion dealth with slavery. Each major character had a hand in each one of these parts of history, and it was so thoroughly fascinating to read about all of that in one book.<br /><br />While it's probably won't ever be my favorite book ever by Lynn Austin, I have to give it 5 stars simply because the story was truly extraordinary. And as always, I can't wait to read her next book. :o)", "timestamp": 1276796839000, "title": "Excellent As Always" }, { "asin": "1414335962", "rating": 5, "text": "Allison Pittman can flat write a book...period. If it had not been for a suggestion from a friend of mine several years ago, I doubt I would've ever discovered Allison's books. Since then, though, I've become a fan through and through. Her historical novels always seem to have some a little different from all the rest--sometimes, it's unique characters, but almost always, it's a story that pulls at my emotions from start to finish.<br /><br />For Time and Eternity was a novel I wanted to read from the first moment I read the description. I've been on a little bit of a kick with this particular book \"style\" lately, and I knew Allison's take on this point in history would not disappoint. It also helped that she had first-hand knowledge of the Mormon church and their practices. Now, I'm not Mormon, I don't know any Mormons, but I do have a basic knowledge of their beliefs. What really saddens me is how many people were drawn into this religion in it's early years, maybe before they were fully aware of what they were getting into. Honestly, what sane woman wants to share her husband? Um, not me. Thankfully, as a church they have eliminated all practices of polygamy, but it's still a part of their history. Now, only the FLDS (Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints) participate in polygamy.<br /><br />I felt all of Camilla's emotions through this entire book. Camilla had more on her young shoulders than most people have when they're twice her age, and she had so many decisions that she had to make...some that were split-second. One came when she had to choose between her parents and this new boy, Nathan Fox. She barely knew him, and she didn't understand why her parents didn't want her around him. After time, their reasons became very clear. And thankfully, Camilla's mother insisted that she read her Bible daily, and journal a verse every day. This early nurturing in Scripture would be the difference maker in Camilla's adult, married life.<br /><br />If you decide to read For Time and Eternity, let me warn you that this is not your typical novel--not just because it has both Mormon and Christian elements, but because it will literally have your emotions on overdrive from page one through to the very end. It was an excellent story that was heartbreaking, but beautifully told. My only complaint was that it didn't last long enough!", "timestamp": 1284184050000, "title": "Do Not Miss This Book!" }, { "asin": "1595548246", "rating": 5, "text": "Oh, my...I think this was one of the best books I read all year! I already know that whatever words I can come up with to describe how much I enjoyed this book will be so insufficient. It had beauty and tenderness, along with sadness and pain, but with definite joy at the end of the journey.<br /><br />I've said so many times that Amish fiction has reached a point where so many stories are similar, and for something to really reach out and grab me, it needs to have a little something extra. This is that book! First of all, the setting is brand new for Amish fiction fans. This is the first book that I know of set in the mountains of Colorado. That was very intriguing simply because of adjusting to the different weather conditions there compared to Pennsylvania. Second, Emily and her family have to deal with a situation that is almost unheard of in their communities. I won't mention what it is because I don't want to spoil anything, but I've only ever seen it mentioned in one other Amish series. Seeing Emily overcome her past, while also trying not to be attracted to David, is a very beautiful thing to watch unfold.<br /><br />I also want to give some love to some of the secondary characters. Martha....loved her to pieces!! The scene where she introduces her parrot to David and Emily grabbed ahold of my funny bone, and wouldn't let go! And I wish that something had developed between her and certain gentleman, but I'm thinking (and hoping) that story will be featured in a future book. Another character that had an integral role in the story was Katie Ann, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for her from the get-go. Her story was never really a part of the Daughters of the Promise series, so I'm glad that she will be the primary focus of Beth's next book set in Canaan, Colorado.<br /><br />If you've not read Beth's Daughters of the Promise series, then I strongly encourage you to do so before reading this book. There are a handful of things in this book that build upon the previous books, and unless you are okay with a few spoilers, the entire story is best appreciated if it's read in order.<br /><br />That said, I don't know how in the world I'm gonna wait until the end of 2011 to find out what happens next in Canaan!! I'll be able to get my Beth Wiseman fix in March (thankfully, that's not far away) when she releases the next book in the Daughters of the Promise series, Plain Proposal. Listen now, when I discover a new author that I love, you better get out of my way at the bookstore...this woman can write!", "timestamp": 1292948125000, "title": "This Book Will Have You Burning the Midnight Oil!" }, { "asin": "0800734564", "rating": 4, "text": "Fatal Judgment was the first romantic suspense novel I've read in quite a long time. It was also the first time I've read anything by Irene Hannon, and I have to say that I was very impressed. The first novel in her new series, Guardians of Justice, was a thrill ride with U.S. Marshals, the FBI, and a murderer on the loose. The action was consistent throughout, but sprinkled with moments of grief and healing for both Liz and Jake. It was up to Jake to protect Liz at every turn, and he was definitely a hero worth reading about!<br /><br />Another thing I loved was that, as a reader, I knew who the bad guy was all along because he was revealed about 1/3 of the way into the book. From past experience, sometimes that works for a story, sometimes it doesn't. In Fatal Judgment, it defintely worked! I was given a glimpse into his crazy mind, and his motives for striking out at Judge Michaels. On the other hand, his character saddened me because there are so many people in the real world that have his same twisted logic toward our country.<br /><br />I have no doubt that the next installment in this series will please suspense fans as easily as this one did. Irene Hannon has enormous talent within this genre, and the thoughts and research that went into this novel was evident on every page. And now that I know that a few characters from this novel were a part of her previous series, I can't wait to get my hands on those next!<br /><br />4.5 Stars", "timestamp": 1296364027000, "title": "4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "0800732596", "rating": 4, "text": "Melody Carlson has always been my go-to author for great YA fiction, and Never Been Kissed was another fabulous example of her talent within this genre. I read this book from cover to cover in one sitting, and even though I'm a few years removed from the young adult period of my life, there was plenty in this short book to open my eyes to what teens are involved in today, particularly on the topic of sexting.<br /><br />Melody's novels are always on the pulse of current teen issues and what's happening in high schools everywhere. Never Been Kissed is just the kind of book that should be read by parents and teens alike. My rating is 4 stars.", "timestamp": 1296446134000, "title": "Should Be Read by Parents and Teens Alike" }, { "asin": "0800734521", "rating": 3, "text": "This was another one of those books that I tried so very hard to like, but it was oh-so-difficult. I think that the author had a great idea to base a series of books on midwives, but this first book just fell flat. There was so little information about midwives and their roles in society that I was left wanting by the book's end. This may have had something to do with so few women in the book that were pregnant (only 3 deliveries of babies and one litter of puppies in a 400 page novel).<br /><br />Another thing that kept me from really enjoying the book was all of the filler. One chapter left me on a climax, then the next chapter switched to a different scene entirely, and it usually was one that had no excitement at all. By the time I got back around to the resolution of the cliffhanger from 2 chapters before, my anticipation to know what happened had vanished. This is something that I've noticed with authors that typically write short novels (Heartsong or Love Inspired), who then switch to writing a full-length novel. The plot of the story may be good, but the delivery gets choked up by all the filler to make it a longer book. (At this point, I have not read any of Ms. Eakes' other novels, but I know she has some shorter novels that have been released, and that's why I am drawing this conclusion.)<br /><br />I am still interested to read the next book in this series, and I hope that there will be more of a midwife feel to it as opposed to another historical Regency. Ms. Eakes' has a great deal of talent with her writing; I just hope that it will be more focused in her next full-length book.", "timestamp": 1298312686000, "title": "Good Book, just Needed a Little More Focus" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "Since I first started reading Christian fiction, Terri Blackstock has always been one of my favorite authors. I love the intensity in her novels, which causes me to furiously turn the pages. She has begun a new series about the struggles of drug addiction, and she doesn't tone down that intensity one bit.<br /><br />Vicious Cycle is a novel about a young girl, Jordan, who is caught up in a web of drug addiction. Not only is she an addict, but her mother and half-brother are as well. In the very first chapter, she is pregnant with a child and forced to have the baby in her own bed because her mother will not take her to the hospital. Jordan does not understand that at first, but as the pieces fall into place throughout the book, Jordan's realizes she has a mother who does not care about anyone but herself.<br /><br />Lance (featured in book one, Intervention) becomes friends with Jordan through school. Because his sister is a recovering drug addict, he recognizes pretty quickly that Jordan is on the road to a bad life, not only for herself, but for the baby that she's carrying. He convinces her to start treatment at a local rehab center, New Day. Lance visits every weekend to see his sister while she's recovering, and seeing Jordan is an added bonus. When Jordan voluntarily leaves New Day so close to her delivery date, he knows Jordan will return to her drug-infested home. He takes it upon himself to drive over to her house to check on her, not realizing that he's about to be in the biggest trouble of his life.<br /><br />Leave it to Terri Blackstock to create a novel that sucked me in from page one!! Not only did I get a glimpse of the world of meth, I also got a small glimpse into the world of baby trafficking, and neither one was a pretty picture. This book was so realistic, possibly more so than the book before it, Intervention. I can't wait to see what's in store for Barbara, Kent, Emily, and Lance with the remainder of the books in this series. Highly Recommended!!", "timestamp": 1298998047000, "title": "Intense Novel That I Couldn't Put Down!" }, { "asin": "160260696X", "rating": 4, "text": "Discovering new authors can really be a mixed bag of surprises for a reader. I've had experiences where I wonder what took me so long to get around to them, and I've had other experiences where I wished I could've used my time differently. No worries....Vickie McDonough fits perfectly into the first category. :o)<br /><br />Vickie's western style of writing was very reminiscent of Mary Connealy and Lori Copeland, except it was deeper. I loved that I got to really invest myself in the emotions of each character. Luke--who initially had a heart filled with unforgiveness--slowly allowed his heart to soften. Rachel--who scorned Luke many years ago--longed to admit that she'd made a terrible mistake. And Jacqueline--better known as \"Jack\"--was a feisty tomboy that just wanted her ma to marry Luke.<br /><br />But setting up Luke and Rachel wasn't as easy as a couple of cousins thought it would be! Luke's cousins took it upon themselves to find a mail-order bride for Luke. What they didn't count on was that instead of one girl being interested in Luke...there were three! And what made things even crazier...poor Luke didn't have a clue what he was about to be in for--a pushy mayor, a nosy journalist, and three women vying for his hand in marriage! If that's not a recipe for a great story, I don't know what is!<br /><br />I'm so happy to add Vickie to my list of highly recommended authors, and it comes after reading just one book. I have a feeling that the tiny town of Lookout, Texas has a few more surprises up it's sleeve before the series concludes. My rating for The Anonymous Bride is 4.5 Stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to Barbour Books for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1299901844000, "title": "4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "0800734076", "rating": 4, "text": "Having been a fan of Biblical fiction for many years now, I was very intrigued to read a story about the life of Job. Job's story in the Bible is not one that I've read very many times because frankly, it's a little sad and depressing, even though it does end well. I have to say that the fictional retelling of Job's story in Love Amid the Ashes really has me wanting to crack open this book in my Bible to get a better appreciation of Job's trials.<br /><br />I really appreciated the genealogy flow chart at the beginning of the book because without it, I don't know if I'd have ever been able to keep all the characters straight! There are a LOT of characters mentioned at the very beginning of the story, and I admit that I was confused a number of times. However, had all of those characters not been introduced, I wouldn't have gotten a full picture of the people involved in Job's life.<br /><br />I was also very grateful for the author's note at the end of the book explaining how she developed the story. I never would've thought of Jacob's daughter, Dinah, as being a part of Job's life at all, but thanks to the enormous research done by Ms. Andrews, it very likely may have been a reality. Because of that, I doubt I will ever look at Job's story the same way again.<br /><br />I highly recommend Love Amid the Ashes for those who enjoy Biblical fiction. Ms. Andrews has challenged my thinking, and has encouraged me to thoroughly re-read the story of Job. I can't wait to see what she has planned for her next novel because as a debut author, she's hit the ball out of the park with Love Amid the Ashes! My rating is 4 stars.", "timestamp": 1301167790000, "title": "Exceptional Debut Novel" }, { "asin": "0800733266", "rating": 4, "text": "Amanda Cabot has quickly become one of my go-to authors. I can't even count the number of times I've recommended her books to my book friends....they're just that good! Her latest offering is the last book in the Texas Dreams Series, and I'm so sad that my time with the citizens of Ladreville has come to an end.<br /><br />I enjoyed seeing the town through the eyes of Lawrence and Harriet. I have to confess that Lawrence wasn't one of my favorite characters in the last book. He was too stiff and rugged for my taste, and his infatuation with Priscilla got annoying after awhile. However, he was a completely different person in this book. He said goodbye to the life of a Texas Ranger, and stepped into the dual roles of town sheriff and mayor, two jobs that suited him quite well.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Harriet stepped in to fill the vacancy for school teacher in Ladreville. Not only was she excited to be teaching in a new town, she was anxious to forge a new life for herself and her siblings. I couldn't help but smile at the friendship that developed between Harriet and Isabelle. Isabelle has been one of the most genuine characters throughout the series, and her sweet spirit in this book is not one that I'll soon forget. If it hadn't been for Isabelle, poor Harriet would have never softened her uptight exterior. She also would've been destined to be a victim of the Fashion Police for a LONG time if Isabelle hadn't come to her rescue!<br /><br />Even more that the two previous books, I felt like I was a part of the town in Tomorrow's Garden. I wanted to scream at Harriet that she needed to keep her distance from Karl. I wanted to convince the townsfolk how important the bridge building was. And I wanted to cheer with joy at Ruth's gradual growth into a more confident young woman. Who wouldn't want to be part of such a community? :o)<br /><br />If you enjoy such authors as Lori Copeland and Kim Vogel Sawyer, I would strongly suggest you give Amanda Cabot a try. Each book in this series has been filled with so much emotion, and all of them have been nearly impossible to put down! I don't know how in the world I will be able to wait until next year to read her next offering which will be set in Wyoming. :o)<br /><br />4.5 Stars<br /><br />**Many thanks to Revell for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1303354184000, "title": "More Like 4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "082543310X", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm finding lately that I really enjoy young adult fiction. I mean *really* enjoy it! When I was in my teen years, there was not much to choose from unless I wanted to read general market. Fifteen years later, there's tons of Christian YA fiction, and well...I gotta make up for lost time!<br /><br />In addition to having not read a lot of YA books, I've also not read a whole lot from the WWII period. Frankly, it's just really difficult to read. I cannot imagine living in a world of persecution and hate, being separated from my family, or having to wonder where I will get my next meal. So, it was with a little bit of nervousness that I decided to read How Huge the Night by debut authors Heather and Lydia Munn.<br /><br />First of all, I loved how this story was told through a teenager's eyes. Being an adult, I know the terror I would have felt if I were a wife and mother. How would I prepare to go into a war? How will I make sure my family doesn't starve? But reading this story from a younger generation's point of view made it that much more realistic. At first, Julian was the typical teenager--frustrated with a move to a new town and a new school, struggling to make new friends--but as he matured, his focus shifted to concerns for his family, their Jewish boarder, the new friends he had made, and eventually, how the war would change all of their lives forever.<br /><br />Secondly, I loved that the story was told with a French setting. While I have a very basic knowledge of WWII, I have almost no knowledge of France or French history. There were snippets of history regarding the Huguenots and their struggles for religious freedom in the 1600's, as well as details about the armistice between France and Germany, and how Germany eventually violated their agreement. I was also surprised to read at the very end that France as a whole had very little knowledge about what was actually happening around them during the war (shared in the author's note). This made me curiously wonder whether they simply did not have access to tv's or newspapers, or if the news that was brought to them had been censored. Either way, how frightening it must have been to not know what's happening in the world around you.<br /><br />Also shared in the author's note was that there is another book coming soon from this talented mother/daughter team. While I have no idea if it will just be a sequel or part of a series, I wish it was available to read right now! This book did not leave me hanging per se, but I'm just itching to know what happens to Julian, Benjamin, Nina, and Gustav as the worst of the war is yet to come. I happily give a rating of 4 Stars for this exceptional debut novel.", "timestamp": 1308857409000, "title": "An Exceptional Debut Novel!" }, { "asin": "1414335695", "rating": 4, "text": "I can now safely say that Randy Singer never fails to amaze me with any book he writes. He's got a knack for creating these larger-than-life tales that make me feel like I just watched a whole season of 24 non-stop. Granted, I've only read two of his novels, but simply put...he's just awesome. End of discussion. :o)<br /><br />False Witness was an action-packed thrill ride, and that's no joke! There's the mob, the FBI, a bounty hunter, and this one little algorithm that everyone wanted. The problem was that if it fell into the wrong hands, chaos would ensue in no time flat. Then, there were the kidnappings, the torture, the money demands, and well...you can seen why it was an addictive read!<br /><br />But the one strike this book had against itself was all the legal stuff. I was able to keep most of it straight initially, but toward the end, my brain was on overload. I think if it had been toned down just a little bit, False Witness would have been 5-star worthy, for sure.<br /><br />In spite of that one little irritation, I still highly recommend False Witness as an incredible read. Just a warning that you may burn your dinner, have a pile of laundry waiting, or not get enough winks at night until you get it finished. :o)", "timestamp": 1309045355000, "title": "An Action-Packed Thrill Ride!" }, { "asin": "0764208330", "rating": 5, "text": "As a rule, I'm not overly fond of wagon train stories, but I could not read this one fast enough! It's not often that I have an opportunity to practically fly through a book as good as this one, but in 24 hours time, I read this book every moment I could spare. Thankfully, my husband was very understanding as we went through an evening with me cooking no dinner, folding no laundry, and watching no tv. And yes...he survived. ;o)<br /><br />Jody Hedlund has created a masterpiece in The Doctor's Lady. She had me smiling at the teasing nature of Priscilla and Eli's early relationship, and conversely, she had me in tears during a moment that no mother every wants to experience. If that wasn't enough, she created romantic tension so thick, I could cut it with a knife.<br /><br />And this was not your typical marriage of convenience story. Priscilla and Eli's marriage was quickly thrust into the dangers of what would become the Oregon Trail as they dealt with rapid rivers, dishonest guides, and fatal diseases. Not only did they butt heads occasionally with their traveling companions, they also struggled to share their true thoughts with one another which created unnecessary, yet believable, emotional turmoil.<br /><br />For those who are fans of Laura Frantz or Deeanne Gist, I guarantee The Doctor's Lady is a story that you will love in its entirety. As I said before, wagon train stories are not my thing as there are usually several portions that lag and I find my attention drifting. That is definitely not the case with this one! The action is continuous, the hardships believable, and the romance new and exciting. I have already carved out a place on my keeper shelf for this gem of a novel, and you better believe that it's there to stay. :o)", "timestamp": 1315631886000, "title": "A Masterpiece" }, { "asin": "0764209035", "rating": 3, "text": "It always pains me when I come across a book that others really enjoyed and I didn't. It's even worse when it's a brand new author. Each book is like a new baby to an author, and I imagine new authors are doubly sensitive when they read reviews of their \"firstborn.\" But unfortunately, Wings of a Dream just wasn't my cup of tea.<br /><br />There's not one clear area that I can point to as to where this book went wrong for me. I could name several things that didn't appeal to me, but I really don't want to get into a whole lot of details lest I ruin the reading experience for others. However, I compliment the author for creating a most unlikeable character in Rebekah's mother. She was far too uppity for her own good. :o)<br /><br />In spite of my overall dislike of this story, I do plan to give Anne's novels another try in the future. Every author, especially a new one, deserves a second chance to make a good impression, and I think with a little more work, Anne's future novels could be real gems. My rating for Wings of a Dream is 3.5 stars.", "timestamp": 1316450351000, "title": "Not the Right Fit for Me" }, { "asin": "0310332311", "rating": 4, "text": "I have been a diehard fan of Terri Blackstock since I first started reading Christian fiction over ten years ago. I have always been able to rely on Terri to provide suspenseful stories that keep me awake until the wee hours of the morning. However, this was not one of her stronger novels.<br /><br />While the carnival/amusement park idea was unique, I felt that I had to suspend belief for a large portion of the story. Like Carny, I wondered how in the world all of Logan's plans would come to fruition if he wasn't in fact a con artist. Without giving too much away, the end of the story was where this was most evident. Considering the amount of time that had passed between Logan's first visit to Serenity and the final chapter of the story, everything progressed much faster than it would in the real world.<br /><br />On the flip side, I felt that the characters in this story were extremely believable, Logan in particular. His reflections on his past as a product of foster homes combined with the years spent with his con artist mentor made him the most complex character of the story. Having personally met a con artist in my life (but thankfully not his victim), I could identify with some of the techniques Logan used to persuade the town into parting with their hard-earned money.<br /><br />I appreciated that Terri went back to her last novel written for the general market and rewrote it to appeal to a Christian audience. Never once did it seem that the story was rewritten as all the Christian elements blended seamlessly throughout the story. But if I compare it to some of her recent novels, it was not up to the same caliber that I've come to expect from her. It was only slightly suspenseful and romantic, yet still engaging enough that I wanted to read it to the very end. My rating is 4 Stars.", "timestamp": 1317131226000, "title": "Not Very Believable, but Still An Overall Good Story" }, { "asin": "1609362187", "rating": 5, "text": "I could go in so many directions with this review to tell you all about the characters, the plot, the setting, the clothes (oh...the clothes), but Heiress is one of those novels that is an experience--in jealousy, in opulence, in tragedy, in love. It's one that, if you know nothing but the back cover blurb, then you are in for the surprise of your life.<br /><br />I knew that Susan was a great writer, even after reading my first book by her earlier this year, but Heiress has catapulted her to favorite author status in no time flat. Just when I thought I was going to hit a lull in this story, she snapped my mind back to attention with one twist after another. Now, I know that some authors usually like to have one surprise lurking somewhere in their stories, but to have them appear in rapid succession (and all of them believable, no less) showed that Susan's got some masterful writing chops.<br /><br />Without a doubt, Heiress has to be the edgiest Christian fiction book of the year. It should also come with a warning label--\"Don't start unless you plan to stay up past your bedtime.\"<br /><br />Go. Get. It. Now. I dare you. ;o)", "timestamp": 1317135741000, "title": "The Edgiest Christian Fiction Book of the Year" }, { "asin": "0802405843", "rating": 3, "text": "Susan Page Davis is an author whose books I've come to love. From her early days of writing for the Heartsong Presents Line to one of her newest series, The Ladies Shooting Club, I've been able to rely on her ability to supply excellent stories to the Christian fiction genre. For those reasons, I was eager to read her newest novel, Captive Trail.<br /><br />Captive Trail was a bit of a departure from Susan's usual style. There wasn't the spunky heroine or the handsome hero, nor was there the gradual and believable romance that I'm accustomed to reading. However, there was a sweet series of relationships that formed among the characters, and enough danger and fear evident with the local Indian tribes that I kept turning page after page.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to the other 5 books in The Texas Trail Series by various authors that I have come to enjoy. My rating for Captive Trail is 3 Stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to Moody Publishers and CFBA for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1317834323000, "title": "Captive Trail" }, { "asin": "1433668688", "rating": 5, "text": "I love being able to have a new experience every time I read a book, and when it comes to reading Amish fiction...well, that's a tad bit of a rarity. Most of the time, their culture is seen as difficult, closed off, and rigorous. But in Tricia Goyer's first Amish novel, those cultural boundaries are pushed to the edge, and seriously...it makes for an incredibly entertaining, yet beautiful, story that I won't soon forget.<br /><br />What surprised me most about this story was the increased interaction between the Amish and the Englisch. Normally, the Amish are not known for this, but frankly, when you live in the wide open spaces of Montana, you don't have much choice about who your neighbors are. For Marianna and her father, this unusual arrangement with outsiders took some getting used to at first, but slowly, those self-imposed walls began to drop, and new relationships started to form. Not only were these new relationships with common people, but also, with God Himself.<br /><br />Prior to reading Beside Still Waters, I had read only a handful of Tricia's novels, but truly, she has a gift with the Amish genre. Not that her other books aren't great in their own rights, but she has a different voice here that kept pulling on my heartstrings, and it just would...not...let...go. If you're like me and love a great Amish read, yet you long for something different, Beside Still Waters is one of the best. Period.", "timestamp": 1324276367000, "title": "Change is Good, Especially When It Comes to the Amish" }, { "asin": "0800734599", "rating": 4, "text": "Ever since I devoured every single book in Amanda Cabot's Texas Dreams series, I have been eagerly awaiting the start of her newest series set in the West. Her characters have a way of finding a place in my heart, and I find myself thinking about them days, weeks, and months since our acquaintance.<br /><br />Summer of Promise, while a great start to a new series, didn't quite resonate with me the way Amanda's previous books have. Abigail seemed a bit uppity to me at first, yet slowly and surely won me over. Ethan was a commanding officer with a devotion to his soldiers, and underneath his tough exterior lay a gentle soul. Charlotte and Jeffrey oftentimes shared a strained relationship that suffered a painful ending. All the characters were well-written, but as a whole, it took longer than I would've liked to make a connection with them.<br /><br />What I did find interesting, though, was that the story was set during the early days at Fort Laramie. Amanda wove in a handful of details about the fort that were true to the time period, such as the progress of certain factual buildings or the characteristics of the general area. It seemed odd to me that there was no mention of a church anywhere near the fort, and I can't help but think (and/or hope) that one will be introduced in a later book.<br /><br />And as a dog lover to the core, I couldn't help but smile every time I read about Puddles! My husband and I briefly had a puppy in our house, and Puddles' multiple antics reminded me several times what it was like to clean up after a muddy dog, or to have them cover my face with doggie kisses. :o)<br /><br />Fans of historical romance will enjoy this first book in the Westward Winds series. Personally, I'm glad to know that just like Amanda's first series, each book in this new series will center around a different heroine. It will be interesting to see how Charlotte handles the new challenges that have come her way in book 2.", "timestamp": 1328240646000, "title": "Perfect for Fans of Historical Romance" } ]

[ { "asin": "0800732138", "rating": 5, "text": "If you are looking for the greatest series in Christian fiction right now, then look no further than the Daughters of Boston series by Julie Lessman. I put off reading these books for months (why, I have no idea), but they were so well worth the wait. Never have I read such an edgy series that just sucked me in so much that I couldn't seem to read fast enough.<br /><br />I have to admit that this third book, A Passion Denied, was probably my favorite of the Daughters of Boston series. While the first two are wonderful (and you definitely should read them in order), book three brought a little bit more \"real life\" to the whole picture. Faith and Charity are now married, and thus, have to deal with the joys and challenges that married life brings. Also, Marcy and Patrick's relationship has a wrench thrown into it that just adds more depth to the story. I felt that Julie did a great job of giving insight to both the good and the bad with each couple, all while giving advice through her characters on how certain situations should be handled. Scattered throughout the book are numerous snippets of Scripture that help prove the points Julie's trying to get across, and not once does it come across as preachy.<br /><br />So, with all that said, don't even think about starting this series if you're not willing to stay up `til at least midnight or later! Every single book in this series has been nothing short of fantastic, and I cannot wait for more!", "timestamp": 1243445092000, "title": "Up 'til Midnight fiction!!" }, { "asin": "1434766411", "rating": 5, "text": "Very rarely do I come across a book that just leaves me floored the whole way through. Except for one tiny little break, I read this book from cover to cover, and loved every second of it. While it's not a book that I would normally go out of my way to read, words cannot adequately express how impressed I was after reading this fabulous debut novel.<br /><br />Talking to the Dead is a great example of an author thinking outside the box and finding a new niche in the Christian fiction arena. I have never come across a Christian fiction novel that dealt with any type of mental illness, much less mental institutions and shrinks, and how individuals seek help (be it worldly or spiritual) for those problems in the real world. Even though the Christian aspects of the novel were a tad bit watered down in places, I really applaud the author for showing what some churches/pastors are like in the real world, particularly, the scene with Jack's father. It literally broke my heart to read through Kate's experience with this fictitious pastor, knowing that there really are pastors and church leaders out there that use the same tactics.<br /><br />Talking to the Dead is now firmly planted on my all-time favorites list. Now, I must begin the impatient wait for whatever she has in store for her next book. If all of Bonnie's books are as great as this one, I'll be a fan for life.", "timestamp": 1257371509000, "title": "You Don't Want to Miss Out on This Book!" }, { "asin": "0764205137", "rating": 3, "text": "Honestly, this book was not all that impressive to me. I really wanted to like it because I've heard a lot of good things about Ms. Whitson's books. The beginning of the book was almost enough to make me put it down and not finish it, mostly because there were way too many characters to keep up with. Fortunately, only the beginning of the book centers around half or so of the sixteen brides, and then, dwindles to five main brides for the rest of the story. It took about 100 or so pages before the bulk of the story started to take shape, and it wasn't a fast-moving story because again, there were too many characters. If this had been a book that centered around 2 or 3 brides, I think I would've enjoyed it much more.", "timestamp": 1270607281000, "title": "Almost Didn't Finish It" }, { "asin": "1935416634", "rating": 4, "text": "Just like Miralee's first historical novel, her second venture into this genre does not disappoint at all! This book is rich with descriptions, and easily addictive. In fact, I found that after awhile, I simply couldn't put it down!<br /><br />The agonizing grief that Margaret felt with the loss of her first love, and then, her father, is simply heartbreaking. That'd be enough to make me want to crawl in a hole somewhere and die, honestly. Instead, she perseveres, and moves on with her life, both with her job as a teacher and her budding relationship with Andrew.<br /><br />While the romance scenes in the book are small in number, they were enough to steal my breath away! I truly had no idea which man Margaret would choose, even after going back in forth in my own mind with who the lucky fellow would be.<br /><br />Probably the most interesting aspect of the whole book is tucked away at the very end. (Don't worry...this is not a spoiler.) Miralee shares what inspired her to write this book, most of it coming from her own family history. I imagine that makes this book even more special to her on a whole different level. Several things are scattered through the story that are actual historical events...although, I can't let the cat out of the bag on that one, or I really would be spoiling the story!<br /><br />Yep, definitely another great book for Miralee, and another fantastic addition to the Love Finds You series! I can't wait to read what she comes out with next! :o)", "timestamp": 1274980283000, "title": "Another Great Historical Novel from Miralee Ferrell!" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 3, "text": "Having read another novel by Melanie Dobson earlier this year and really liking it, I really had high expectations for this book. Honestly, this book fell way short. True, it's a totally different genre than the other book I've read by her (which was historical), but I really had a hard time getting through this book, in general.<br /><br />I guess you could call this a suspense novel....maybe. In a way, I almost consider that a little bit of a stretch because in addition to reading Camden's side of the story, I was also getting the bad guy's side of the story. Sometimes that's good, but I don't know if I felt that it was, in this case. I like for a suspense novel to make me guess a little, even if really don't have it all figured out by the end of the story. There was a small twist at the end that I did not expect, but other than that, I felt the ending was a little anticlimactic.<br /><br />I also felt no connection to the characters, except maybe a little bit with Camden. She's pretty much on her own, has no money, and has inherited a house that she can't pay to repair. All through her story, I was rooting for her to succeed, and hoping that she would not say yes to the first person to come along and make her an offer on the old house. Grant's character was just okay...nothing really spectacular to me. And the creepy guys were just....well....creepy.<br /><br />In spite of this book being not so great, I know I'll be reading more from Melanie Dobson in the future. I typically enjoy reading suspense novels, but this one was just a little flat. Overall, I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to the publisher for providing this book for me to review.", "timestamp": 1275055861000, "title": "Just Okay" }, { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 5, "text": "Without a doubt...Cara Lynn James is certainly new author to watch! I was so thoroughly captivated by this novel that I couldn't believe it's only her first! Her writing style is so beautiful and lyrical that I literally felt transported to the era of the Astors and Vanderbilts. Until now, my only experience with the Gilded Era has been through film, and now, I'm just itching for more of this era in printed form. January 2011 seems far too long to have to wait to read the next book in the Ladies of Summerhill series, but I will wait for it as patiently as I know how!", "timestamp": 1276662978000, "title": "Give Me More...Quick!!" }, { "asin": "0764204963", "rating": 5, "text": "Though Waters Roar is another win for Lynn Austin! It's clear why her novels win so many awards, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if this one garners a few of it's own.<br /><br />It's no secret at all that Lynn Austin is one of my absolute favorite authors, but I have to admit that I struggled a little bit initially to get interested in this story. One of Lynn's trademarks is merging a present-day story with some history of another person within a family unit. This book had that same feature (which I love), but it was harder for me to follow for the first few chapters. Usually, her books are divided into parts with each part being about one person's story. This one was not set up that way at all, and there were times that I was so thoroughly confused trying to keep the characters straight, and where they belonged in the overall timeline. But....don't let that deter you from considering this book for your next read. Just keep in mind that it make take you awhile to fully immerse yourself in the story.<br /><br />I loved the historical elements that were featured, too. This story focused on the era of women struggling to have a voice, particularly with voting. Another large chunk of the story featured alcoholism, and the resulting Prohibition movement. And yet another portion dealth with slavery. Each major character had a hand in each one of these parts of history, and it was so thoroughly fascinating to read about all of that in one book.<br /><br />While it's probably won't ever be my favorite book ever by Lynn Austin, I have to give it 5 stars simply because the story was truly extraordinary. And as always, I can't wait to read her next book. :o)", "timestamp": 1276796839000, "title": "Excellent As Always" }, { "asin": "1414335962", "rating": 5, "text": "Allison Pittman can flat write a book...period. If it had not been for a suggestion from a friend of mine several years ago, I doubt I would've ever discovered Allison's books. Since then, though, I've become a fan through and through. Her historical novels always seem to have some a little different from all the rest--sometimes, it's unique characters, but almost always, it's a story that pulls at my emotions from start to finish.<br /><br />For Time and Eternity was a novel I wanted to read from the first moment I read the description. I've been on a little bit of a kick with this particular book \"style\" lately, and I knew Allison's take on this point in history would not disappoint. It also helped that she had first-hand knowledge of the Mormon church and their practices. Now, I'm not Mormon, I don't know any Mormons, but I do have a basic knowledge of their beliefs. What really saddens me is how many people were drawn into this religion in it's early years, maybe before they were fully aware of what they were getting into. Honestly, what sane woman wants to share her husband? Um, not me. Thankfully, as a church they have eliminated all practices of polygamy, but it's still a part of their history. Now, only the FLDS (Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints) participate in polygamy.<br /><br />I felt all of Camilla's emotions through this entire book. Camilla had more on her young shoulders than most people have when they're twice her age, and she had so many decisions that she had to make...some that were split-second. One came when she had to choose between her parents and this new boy, Nathan Fox. She barely knew him, and she didn't understand why her parents didn't want her around him. After time, their reasons became very clear. And thankfully, Camilla's mother insisted that she read her Bible daily, and journal a verse every day. This early nurturing in Scripture would be the difference maker in Camilla's adult, married life.<br /><br />If you decide to read For Time and Eternity, let me warn you that this is not your typical novel--not just because it has both Mormon and Christian elements, but because it will literally have your emotions on overdrive from page one through to the very end. It was an excellent story that was heartbreaking, but beautifully told. My only complaint was that it didn't last long enough!", "timestamp": 1284184050000, "title": "Do Not Miss This Book!" }, { "asin": "1595548246", "rating": 5, "text": "Oh, my...I think this was one of the best books I read all year! I already know that whatever words I can come up with to describe how much I enjoyed this book will be so insufficient. It had beauty and tenderness, along with sadness and pain, but with definite joy at the end of the journey.<br /><br />I've said so many times that Amish fiction has reached a point where so many stories are similar, and for something to really reach out and grab me, it needs to have a little something extra. This is that book! First of all, the setting is brand new for Amish fiction fans. This is the first book that I know of set in the mountains of Colorado. That was very intriguing simply because of adjusting to the different weather conditions there compared to Pennsylvania. Second, Emily and her family have to deal with a situation that is almost unheard of in their communities. I won't mention what it is because I don't want to spoil anything, but I've only ever seen it mentioned in one other Amish series. Seeing Emily overcome her past, while also trying not to be attracted to David, is a very beautiful thing to watch unfold.<br /><br />I also want to give some love to some of the secondary characters. Martha....loved her to pieces!! The scene where she introduces her parrot to David and Emily grabbed ahold of my funny bone, and wouldn't let go! And I wish that something had developed between her and certain gentleman, but I'm thinking (and hoping) that story will be featured in a future book. Another character that had an integral role in the story was Katie Ann, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for her from the get-go. Her story was never really a part of the Daughters of the Promise series, so I'm glad that she will be the primary focus of Beth's next book set in Canaan, Colorado.<br /><br />If you've not read Beth's Daughters of the Promise series, then I strongly encourage you to do so before reading this book. There are a handful of things in this book that build upon the previous books, and unless you are okay with a few spoilers, the entire story is best appreciated if it's read in order.<br /><br />That said, I don't know how in the world I'm gonna wait until the end of 2011 to find out what happens next in Canaan!! I'll be able to get my Beth Wiseman fix in March (thankfully, that's not far away) when she releases the next book in the Daughters of the Promise series, Plain Proposal. Listen now, when I discover a new author that I love, you better get out of my way at the bookstore...this woman can write!", "timestamp": 1292948125000, "title": "This Book Will Have You Burning the Midnight Oil!" }, { "asin": "0800734564", "rating": 4, "text": "Fatal Judgment was the first romantic suspense novel I've read in quite a long time. It was also the first time I've read anything by Irene Hannon, and I have to say that I was very impressed. The first novel in her new series, Guardians of Justice, was a thrill ride with U.S. Marshals, the FBI, and a murderer on the loose. The action was consistent throughout, but sprinkled with moments of grief and healing for both Liz and Jake. It was up to Jake to protect Liz at every turn, and he was definitely a hero worth reading about!<br /><br />Another thing I loved was that, as a reader, I knew who the bad guy was all along because he was revealed about 1/3 of the way into the book. From past experience, sometimes that works for a story, sometimes it doesn't. In Fatal Judgment, it defintely worked! I was given a glimpse into his crazy mind, and his motives for striking out at Judge Michaels. On the other hand, his character saddened me because there are so many people in the real world that have his same twisted logic toward our country.<br /><br />I have no doubt that the next installment in this series will please suspense fans as easily as this one did. Irene Hannon has enormous talent within this genre, and the thoughts and research that went into this novel was evident on every page. And now that I know that a few characters from this novel were a part of her previous series, I can't wait to get my hands on those next!<br /><br />4.5 Stars", "timestamp": 1296364027000, "title": "4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "0800732596", "rating": 4, "text": "Melody Carlson has always been my go-to author for great YA fiction, and Never Been Kissed was another fabulous example of her talent within this genre. I read this book from cover to cover in one sitting, and even though I'm a few years removed from the young adult period of my life, there was plenty in this short book to open my eyes to what teens are involved in today, particularly on the topic of sexting.<br /><br />Melody's novels are always on the pulse of current teen issues and what's happening in high schools everywhere. Never Been Kissed is just the kind of book that should be read by parents and teens alike. My rating is 4 stars.", "timestamp": 1296446134000, "title": "Should Be Read by Parents and Teens Alike" }, { "asin": "0800734521", "rating": 3, "text": "This was another one of those books that I tried so very hard to like, but it was oh-so-difficult. I think that the author had a great idea to base a series of books on midwives, but this first book just fell flat. There was so little information about midwives and their roles in society that I was left wanting by the book's end. This may have had something to do with so few women in the book that were pregnant (only 3 deliveries of babies and one litter of puppies in a 400 page novel).<br /><br />Another thing that kept me from really enjoying the book was all of the filler. One chapter left me on a climax, then the next chapter switched to a different scene entirely, and it usually was one that had no excitement at all. By the time I got back around to the resolution of the cliffhanger from 2 chapters before, my anticipation to know what happened had vanished. This is something that I've noticed with authors that typically write short novels (Heartsong or Love Inspired), who then switch to writing a full-length novel. The plot of the story may be good, but the delivery gets choked up by all the filler to make it a longer book. (At this point, I have not read any of Ms. Eakes' other novels, but I know she has some shorter novels that have been released, and that's why I am drawing this conclusion.)<br /><br />I am still interested to read the next book in this series, and I hope that there will be more of a midwife feel to it as opposed to another historical Regency. Ms. Eakes' has a great deal of talent with her writing; I just hope that it will be more focused in her next full-length book.", "timestamp": 1298312686000, "title": "Good Book, just Needed a Little More Focus" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "Since I first started reading Christian fiction, Terri Blackstock has always been one of my favorite authors. I love the intensity in her novels, which causes me to furiously turn the pages. She has begun a new series about the struggles of drug addiction, and she doesn't tone down that intensity one bit.<br /><br />Vicious Cycle is a novel about a young girl, Jordan, who is caught up in a web of drug addiction. Not only is she an addict, but her mother and half-brother are as well. In the very first chapter, she is pregnant with a child and forced to have the baby in her own bed because her mother will not take her to the hospital. Jordan does not understand that at first, but as the pieces fall into place throughout the book, Jordan's realizes she has a mother who does not care about anyone but herself.<br /><br />Lance (featured in book one, Intervention) becomes friends with Jordan through school. Because his sister is a recovering drug addict, he recognizes pretty quickly that Jordan is on the road to a bad life, not only for herself, but for the baby that she's carrying. He convinces her to start treatment at a local rehab center, New Day. Lance visits every weekend to see his sister while she's recovering, and seeing Jordan is an added bonus. When Jordan voluntarily leaves New Day so close to her delivery date, he knows Jordan will return to her drug-infested home. He takes it upon himself to drive over to her house to check on her, not realizing that he's about to be in the biggest trouble of his life.<br /><br />Leave it to Terri Blackstock to create a novel that sucked me in from page one!! Not only did I get a glimpse of the world of meth, I also got a small glimpse into the world of baby trafficking, and neither one was a pretty picture. This book was so realistic, possibly more so than the book before it, Intervention. I can't wait to see what's in store for Barbara, Kent, Emily, and Lance with the remainder of the books in this series. Highly Recommended!!", "timestamp": 1298998047000, "title": "Intense Novel That I Couldn't Put Down!" }, { "asin": "160260696X", "rating": 4, "text": "Discovering new authors can really be a mixed bag of surprises for a reader. I've had experiences where I wonder what took me so long to get around to them, and I've had other experiences where I wished I could've used my time differently. No worries....Vickie McDonough fits perfectly into the first category. :o)<br /><br />Vickie's western style of writing was very reminiscent of Mary Connealy and Lori Copeland, except it was deeper. I loved that I got to really invest myself in the emotions of each character. Luke--who initially had a heart filled with unforgiveness--slowly allowed his heart to soften. Rachel--who scorned Luke many years ago--longed to admit that she'd made a terrible mistake. And Jacqueline--better known as \"Jack\"--was a feisty tomboy that just wanted her ma to marry Luke.<br /><br />But setting up Luke and Rachel wasn't as easy as a couple of cousins thought it would be! Luke's cousins took it upon themselves to find a mail-order bride for Luke. What they didn't count on was that instead of one girl being interested in Luke...there were three! And what made things even crazier...poor Luke didn't have a clue what he was about to be in for--a pushy mayor, a nosy journalist, and three women vying for his hand in marriage! If that's not a recipe for a great story, I don't know what is!<br /><br />I'm so happy to add Vickie to my list of highly recommended authors, and it comes after reading just one book. I have a feeling that the tiny town of Lookout, Texas has a few more surprises up it's sleeve before the series concludes. My rating for The Anonymous Bride is 4.5 Stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to Barbour Books for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1299901844000, "title": "4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "0800734076", "rating": 4, "text": "Having been a fan of Biblical fiction for many years now, I was very intrigued to read a story about the life of Job. Job's story in the Bible is not one that I've read very many times because frankly, it's a little sad and depressing, even though it does end well. I have to say that the fictional retelling of Job's story in Love Amid the Ashes really has me wanting to crack open this book in my Bible to get a better appreciation of Job's trials.<br /><br />I really appreciated the genealogy flow chart at the beginning of the book because without it, I don't know if I'd have ever been able to keep all the characters straight! There are a LOT of characters mentioned at the very beginning of the story, and I admit that I was confused a number of times. However, had all of those characters not been introduced, I wouldn't have gotten a full picture of the people involved in Job's life.<br /><br />I was also very grateful for the author's note at the end of the book explaining how she developed the story. I never would've thought of Jacob's daughter, Dinah, as being a part of Job's life at all, but thanks to the enormous research done by Ms. Andrews, it very likely may have been a reality. Because of that, I doubt I will ever look at Job's story the same way again.<br /><br />I highly recommend Love Amid the Ashes for those who enjoy Biblical fiction. Ms. Andrews has challenged my thinking, and has encouraged me to thoroughly re-read the story of Job. I can't wait to see what she has planned for her next novel because as a debut author, she's hit the ball out of the park with Love Amid the Ashes! My rating is 4 stars.", "timestamp": 1301167790000, "title": "Exceptional Debut Novel" }, { "asin": "0800733266", "rating": 4, "text": "Amanda Cabot has quickly become one of my go-to authors. I can't even count the number of times I've recommended her books to my book friends....they're just that good! Her latest offering is the last book in the Texas Dreams Series, and I'm so sad that my time with the citizens of Ladreville has come to an end.<br /><br />I enjoyed seeing the town through the eyes of Lawrence and Harriet. I have to confess that Lawrence wasn't one of my favorite characters in the last book. He was too stiff and rugged for my taste, and his infatuation with Priscilla got annoying after awhile. However, he was a completely different person in this book. He said goodbye to the life of a Texas Ranger, and stepped into the dual roles of town sheriff and mayor, two jobs that suited him quite well.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Harriet stepped in to fill the vacancy for school teacher in Ladreville. Not only was she excited to be teaching in a new town, she was anxious to forge a new life for herself and her siblings. I couldn't help but smile at the friendship that developed between Harriet and Isabelle. Isabelle has been one of the most genuine characters throughout the series, and her sweet spirit in this book is not one that I'll soon forget. If it hadn't been for Isabelle, poor Harriet would have never softened her uptight exterior. She also would've been destined to be a victim of the Fashion Police for a LONG time if Isabelle hadn't come to her rescue!<br /><br />Even more that the two previous books, I felt like I was a part of the town in Tomorrow's Garden. I wanted to scream at Harriet that she needed to keep her distance from Karl. I wanted to convince the townsfolk how important the bridge building was. And I wanted to cheer with joy at Ruth's gradual growth into a more confident young woman. Who wouldn't want to be part of such a community? :o)<br /><br />If you enjoy such authors as Lori Copeland and Kim Vogel Sawyer, I would strongly suggest you give Amanda Cabot a try. Each book in this series has been filled with so much emotion, and all of them have been nearly impossible to put down! I don't know how in the world I will be able to wait until next year to read her next offering which will be set in Wyoming. :o)<br /><br />4.5 Stars<br /><br />**Many thanks to Revell for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1303354184000, "title": "More Like 4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "082543310X", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm finding lately that I really enjoy young adult fiction. I mean *really* enjoy it! When I was in my teen years, there was not much to choose from unless I wanted to read general market. Fifteen years later, there's tons of Christian YA fiction, and well...I gotta make up for lost time!<br /><br />In addition to having not read a lot of YA books, I've also not read a whole lot from the WWII period. Frankly, it's just really difficult to read. I cannot imagine living in a world of persecution and hate, being separated from my family, or having to wonder where I will get my next meal. So, it was with a little bit of nervousness that I decided to read How Huge the Night by debut authors Heather and Lydia Munn.<br /><br />First of all, I loved how this story was told through a teenager's eyes. Being an adult, I know the terror I would have felt if I were a wife and mother. How would I prepare to go into a war? How will I make sure my family doesn't starve? But reading this story from a younger generation's point of view made it that much more realistic. At first, Julian was the typical teenager--frustrated with a move to a new town and a new school, struggling to make new friends--but as he matured, his focus shifted to concerns for his family, their Jewish boarder, the new friends he had made, and eventually, how the war would change all of their lives forever.<br /><br />Secondly, I loved that the story was told with a French setting. While I have a very basic knowledge of WWII, I have almost no knowledge of France or French history. There were snippets of history regarding the Huguenots and their struggles for religious freedom in the 1600's, as well as details about the armistice between France and Germany, and how Germany eventually violated their agreement. I was also surprised to read at the very end that France as a whole had very little knowledge about what was actually happening around them during the war (shared in the author's note). This made me curiously wonder whether they simply did not have access to tv's or newspapers, or if the news that was brought to them had been censored. Either way, how frightening it must have been to not know what's happening in the world around you.<br /><br />Also shared in the author's note was that there is another book coming soon from this talented mother/daughter team. While I have no idea if it will just be a sequel or part of a series, I wish it was available to read right now! This book did not leave me hanging per se, but I'm just itching to know what happens to Julian, Benjamin, Nina, and Gustav as the worst of the war is yet to come. I happily give a rating of 4 Stars for this exceptional debut novel.", "timestamp": 1308857409000, "title": "An Exceptional Debut Novel!" }, { "asin": "1414335695", "rating": 4, "text": "I can now safely say that Randy Singer never fails to amaze me with any book he writes. He's got a knack for creating these larger-than-life tales that make me feel like I just watched a whole season of 24 non-stop. Granted, I've only read two of his novels, but simply put...he's just awesome. End of discussion. :o)<br /><br />False Witness was an action-packed thrill ride, and that's no joke! There's the mob, the FBI, a bounty hunter, and this one little algorithm that everyone wanted. The problem was that if it fell into the wrong hands, chaos would ensue in no time flat. Then, there were the kidnappings, the torture, the money demands, and well...you can seen why it was an addictive read!<br /><br />But the one strike this book had against itself was all the legal stuff. I was able to keep most of it straight initially, but toward the end, my brain was on overload. I think if it had been toned down just a little bit, False Witness would have been 5-star worthy, for sure.<br /><br />In spite of that one little irritation, I still highly recommend False Witness as an incredible read. Just a warning that you may burn your dinner, have a pile of laundry waiting, or not get enough winks at night until you get it finished. :o)", "timestamp": 1309045355000, "title": "An Action-Packed Thrill Ride!" }, { "asin": "0764208330", "rating": 5, "text": "As a rule, I'm not overly fond of wagon train stories, but I could not read this one fast enough! It's not often that I have an opportunity to practically fly through a book as good as this one, but in 24 hours time, I read this book every moment I could spare. Thankfully, my husband was very understanding as we went through an evening with me cooking no dinner, folding no laundry, and watching no tv. And yes...he survived. ;o)<br /><br />Jody Hedlund has created a masterpiece in The Doctor's Lady. She had me smiling at the teasing nature of Priscilla and Eli's early relationship, and conversely, she had me in tears during a moment that no mother every wants to experience. If that wasn't enough, she created romantic tension so thick, I could cut it with a knife.<br /><br />And this was not your typical marriage of convenience story. Priscilla and Eli's marriage was quickly thrust into the dangers of what would become the Oregon Trail as they dealt with rapid rivers, dishonest guides, and fatal diseases. Not only did they butt heads occasionally with their traveling companions, they also struggled to share their true thoughts with one another which created unnecessary, yet believable, emotional turmoil.<br /><br />For those who are fans of Laura Frantz or Deeanne Gist, I guarantee The Doctor's Lady is a story that you will love in its entirety. As I said before, wagon train stories are not my thing as there are usually several portions that lag and I find my attention drifting. That is definitely not the case with this one! The action is continuous, the hardships believable, and the romance new and exciting. I have already carved out a place on my keeper shelf for this gem of a novel, and you better believe that it's there to stay. :o)", "timestamp": 1315631886000, "title": "A Masterpiece" }, { "asin": "0764209035", "rating": 3, "text": "It always pains me when I come across a book that others really enjoyed and I didn't. It's even worse when it's a brand new author. Each book is like a new baby to an author, and I imagine new authors are doubly sensitive when they read reviews of their \"firstborn.\" But unfortunately, Wings of a Dream just wasn't my cup of tea.<br /><br />There's not one clear area that I can point to as to where this book went wrong for me. I could name several things that didn't appeal to me, but I really don't want to get into a whole lot of details lest I ruin the reading experience for others. However, I compliment the author for creating a most unlikeable character in Rebekah's mother. She was far too uppity for her own good. :o)<br /><br />In spite of my overall dislike of this story, I do plan to give Anne's novels another try in the future. Every author, especially a new one, deserves a second chance to make a good impression, and I think with a little more work, Anne's future novels could be real gems. My rating for Wings of a Dream is 3.5 stars.", "timestamp": 1316450351000, "title": "Not the Right Fit for Me" }, { "asin": "0310332311", "rating": 4, "text": "I have been a diehard fan of Terri Blackstock since I first started reading Christian fiction over ten years ago. I have always been able to rely on Terri to provide suspenseful stories that keep me awake until the wee hours of the morning. However, this was not one of her stronger novels.<br /><br />While the carnival/amusement park idea was unique, I felt that I had to suspend belief for a large portion of the story. Like Carny, I wondered how in the world all of Logan's plans would come to fruition if he wasn't in fact a con artist. Without giving too much away, the end of the story was where this was most evident. Considering the amount of time that had passed between Logan's first visit to Serenity and the final chapter of the story, everything progressed much faster than it would in the real world.<br /><br />On the flip side, I felt that the characters in this story were extremely believable, Logan in particular. His reflections on his past as a product of foster homes combined with the years spent with his con artist mentor made him the most complex character of the story. Having personally met a con artist in my life (but thankfully not his victim), I could identify with some of the techniques Logan used to persuade the town into parting with their hard-earned money.<br /><br />I appreciated that Terri went back to her last novel written for the general market and rewrote it to appeal to a Christian audience. Never once did it seem that the story was rewritten as all the Christian elements blended seamlessly throughout the story. But if I compare it to some of her recent novels, it was not up to the same caliber that I've come to expect from her. It was only slightly suspenseful and romantic, yet still engaging enough that I wanted to read it to the very end. My rating is 4 Stars.", "timestamp": 1317131226000, "title": "Not Very Believable, but Still An Overall Good Story" }, { "asin": "1609362187", "rating": 5, "text": "I could go in so many directions with this review to tell you all about the characters, the plot, the setting, the clothes (oh...the clothes), but Heiress is one of those novels that is an experience--in jealousy, in opulence, in tragedy, in love. It's one that, if you know nothing but the back cover blurb, then you are in for the surprise of your life.<br /><br />I knew that Susan was a great writer, even after reading my first book by her earlier this year, but Heiress has catapulted her to favorite author status in no time flat. Just when I thought I was going to hit a lull in this story, she snapped my mind back to attention with one twist after another. Now, I know that some authors usually like to have one surprise lurking somewhere in their stories, but to have them appear in rapid succession (and all of them believable, no less) showed that Susan's got some masterful writing chops.<br /><br />Without a doubt, Heiress has to be the edgiest Christian fiction book of the year. It should also come with a warning label--\"Don't start unless you plan to stay up past your bedtime.\"<br /><br />Go. Get. It. Now. I dare you. ;o)", "timestamp": 1317135741000, "title": "The Edgiest Christian Fiction Book of the Year" }, { "asin": "0802405843", "rating": 3, "text": "Susan Page Davis is an author whose books I've come to love. From her early days of writing for the Heartsong Presents Line to one of her newest series, The Ladies Shooting Club, I've been able to rely on her ability to supply excellent stories to the Christian fiction genre. For those reasons, I was eager to read her newest novel, Captive Trail.<br /><br />Captive Trail was a bit of a departure from Susan's usual style. There wasn't the spunky heroine or the handsome hero, nor was there the gradual and believable romance that I'm accustomed to reading. However, there was a sweet series of relationships that formed among the characters, and enough danger and fear evident with the local Indian tribes that I kept turning page after page.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to the other 5 books in The Texas Trail Series by various authors that I have come to enjoy. My rating for Captive Trail is 3 Stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to Moody Publishers and CFBA for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1317834323000, "title": "Captive Trail" }, { "asin": "1433668688", "rating": 5, "text": "I love being able to have a new experience every time I read a book, and when it comes to reading Amish fiction...well, that's a tad bit of a rarity. Most of the time, their culture is seen as difficult, closed off, and rigorous. But in Tricia Goyer's first Amish novel, those cultural boundaries are pushed to the edge, and seriously...it makes for an incredibly entertaining, yet beautiful, story that I won't soon forget.<br /><br />What surprised me most about this story was the increased interaction between the Amish and the Englisch. Normally, the Amish are not known for this, but frankly, when you live in the wide open spaces of Montana, you don't have much choice about who your neighbors are. For Marianna and her father, this unusual arrangement with outsiders took some getting used to at first, but slowly, those self-imposed walls began to drop, and new relationships started to form. Not only were these new relationships with common people, but also, with God Himself.<br /><br />Prior to reading Beside Still Waters, I had read only a handful of Tricia's novels, but truly, she has a gift with the Amish genre. Not that her other books aren't great in their own rights, but she has a different voice here that kept pulling on my heartstrings, and it just would...not...let...go. If you're like me and love a great Amish read, yet you long for something different, Beside Still Waters is one of the best. Period.", "timestamp": 1324276367000, "title": "Change is Good, Especially When It Comes to the Amish" }, { "asin": "0800734599", "rating": 4, "text": "Ever since I devoured every single book in Amanda Cabot's Texas Dreams series, I have been eagerly awaiting the start of her newest series set in the West. Her characters have a way of finding a place in my heart, and I find myself thinking about them days, weeks, and months since our acquaintance.<br /><br />Summer of Promise, while a great start to a new series, didn't quite resonate with me the way Amanda's previous books have. Abigail seemed a bit uppity to me at first, yet slowly and surely won me over. Ethan was a commanding officer with a devotion to his soldiers, and underneath his tough exterior lay a gentle soul. Charlotte and Jeffrey oftentimes shared a strained relationship that suffered a painful ending. All the characters were well-written, but as a whole, it took longer than I would've liked to make a connection with them.<br /><br />What I did find interesting, though, was that the story was set during the early days at Fort Laramie. Amanda wove in a handful of details about the fort that were true to the time period, such as the progress of certain factual buildings or the characteristics of the general area. It seemed odd to me that there was no mention of a church anywhere near the fort, and I can't help but think (and/or hope) that one will be introduced in a later book.<br /><br />And as a dog lover to the core, I couldn't help but smile every time I read about Puddles! My husband and I briefly had a puppy in our house, and Puddles' multiple antics reminded me several times what it was like to clean up after a muddy dog, or to have them cover my face with doggie kisses. :o)<br /><br />Fans of historical romance will enjoy this first book in the Westward Winds series. Personally, I'm glad to know that just like Amanda's first series, each book in this new series will center around a different heroine. It will be interesting to see how Charlotte handles the new challenges that have come her way in book 2.", "timestamp": 1328240646000, "title": "Perfect for Fans of Historical Romance" }, { "asin": "0764207865", "rating": 3, "text": "Normally, I can't get enough of Kim's books, but this one was not one of my favorites. The story was very sweet, but there wasn't enough momentum throughout the story to keep me interested and engaged. The characters were fully-fleshed, but again, not interesting. For fans that enjoy sweet historical romances, I would recommend that they read some of Kim's other novels, particularly Courting Miss Amsel...one of her best.", "timestamp": 1328762764000, "title": "Not One of My Favorites" } ]

[ { "asin": "0800732138", "rating": 5, "text": "If you are looking for the greatest series in Christian fiction right now, then look no further than the Daughters of Boston series by Julie Lessman. I put off reading these books for months (why, I have no idea), but they were so well worth the wait. Never have I read such an edgy series that just sucked me in so much that I couldn't seem to read fast enough.<br /><br />I have to admit that this third book, A Passion Denied, was probably my favorite of the Daughters of Boston series. While the first two are wonderful (and you definitely should read them in order), book three brought a little bit more \"real life\" to the whole picture. Faith and Charity are now married, and thus, have to deal with the joys and challenges that married life brings. Also, Marcy and Patrick's relationship has a wrench thrown into it that just adds more depth to the story. I felt that Julie did a great job of giving insight to both the good and the bad with each couple, all while giving advice through her characters on how certain situations should be handled. Scattered throughout the book are numerous snippets of Scripture that help prove the points Julie's trying to get across, and not once does it come across as preachy.<br /><br />So, with all that said, don't even think about starting this series if you're not willing to stay up `til at least midnight or later! Every single book in this series has been nothing short of fantastic, and I cannot wait for more!", "timestamp": 1243445092000, "title": "Up 'til Midnight fiction!!" }, { "asin": "1434766411", "rating": 5, "text": "Very rarely do I come across a book that just leaves me floored the whole way through. Except for one tiny little break, I read this book from cover to cover, and loved every second of it. While it's not a book that I would normally go out of my way to read, words cannot adequately express how impressed I was after reading this fabulous debut novel.<br /><br />Talking to the Dead is a great example of an author thinking outside the box and finding a new niche in the Christian fiction arena. I have never come across a Christian fiction novel that dealt with any type of mental illness, much less mental institutions and shrinks, and how individuals seek help (be it worldly or spiritual) for those problems in the real world. Even though the Christian aspects of the novel were a tad bit watered down in places, I really applaud the author for showing what some churches/pastors are like in the real world, particularly, the scene with Jack's father. It literally broke my heart to read through Kate's experience with this fictitious pastor, knowing that there really are pastors and church leaders out there that use the same tactics.<br /><br />Talking to the Dead is now firmly planted on my all-time favorites list. Now, I must begin the impatient wait for whatever she has in store for her next book. If all of Bonnie's books are as great as this one, I'll be a fan for life.", "timestamp": 1257371509000, "title": "You Don't Want to Miss Out on This Book!" }, { "asin": "0764205137", "rating": 3, "text": "Honestly, this book was not all that impressive to me. I really wanted to like it because I've heard a lot of good things about Ms. Whitson's books. The beginning of the book was almost enough to make me put it down and not finish it, mostly because there were way too many characters to keep up with. Fortunately, only the beginning of the book centers around half or so of the sixteen brides, and then, dwindles to five main brides for the rest of the story. It took about 100 or so pages before the bulk of the story started to take shape, and it wasn't a fast-moving story because again, there were too many characters. If this had been a book that centered around 2 or 3 brides, I think I would've enjoyed it much more.", "timestamp": 1270607281000, "title": "Almost Didn't Finish It" }, { "asin": "1935416634", "rating": 4, "text": "Just like Miralee's first historical novel, her second venture into this genre does not disappoint at all! This book is rich with descriptions, and easily addictive. In fact, I found that after awhile, I simply couldn't put it down!<br /><br />The agonizing grief that Margaret felt with the loss of her first love, and then, her father, is simply heartbreaking. That'd be enough to make me want to crawl in a hole somewhere and die, honestly. Instead, she perseveres, and moves on with her life, both with her job as a teacher and her budding relationship with Andrew.<br /><br />While the romance scenes in the book are small in number, they were enough to steal my breath away! I truly had no idea which man Margaret would choose, even after going back in forth in my own mind with who the lucky fellow would be.<br /><br />Probably the most interesting aspect of the whole book is tucked away at the very end. (Don't worry...this is not a spoiler.) Miralee shares what inspired her to write this book, most of it coming from her own family history. I imagine that makes this book even more special to her on a whole different level. Several things are scattered through the story that are actual historical events...although, I can't let the cat out of the bag on that one, or I really would be spoiling the story!<br /><br />Yep, definitely another great book for Miralee, and another fantastic addition to the Love Finds You series! I can't wait to read what she comes out with next! :o)", "timestamp": 1274980283000, "title": "Another Great Historical Novel from Miralee Ferrell!" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 3, "text": "Having read another novel by Melanie Dobson earlier this year and really liking it, I really had high expectations for this book. Honestly, this book fell way short. True, it's a totally different genre than the other book I've read by her (which was historical), but I really had a hard time getting through this book, in general.<br /><br />I guess you could call this a suspense novel....maybe. In a way, I almost consider that a little bit of a stretch because in addition to reading Camden's side of the story, I was also getting the bad guy's side of the story. Sometimes that's good, but I don't know if I felt that it was, in this case. I like for a suspense novel to make me guess a little, even if really don't have it all figured out by the end of the story. There was a small twist at the end that I did not expect, but other than that, I felt the ending was a little anticlimactic.<br /><br />I also felt no connection to the characters, except maybe a little bit with Camden. She's pretty much on her own, has no money, and has inherited a house that she can't pay to repair. All through her story, I was rooting for her to succeed, and hoping that she would not say yes to the first person to come along and make her an offer on the old house. Grant's character was just okay...nothing really spectacular to me. And the creepy guys were just....well....creepy.<br /><br />In spite of this book being not so great, I know I'll be reading more from Melanie Dobson in the future. I typically enjoy reading suspense novels, but this one was just a little flat. Overall, I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to the publisher for providing this book for me to review.", "timestamp": 1275055861000, "title": "Just Okay" }, { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 5, "text": "Without a doubt...Cara Lynn James is certainly new author to watch! I was so thoroughly captivated by this novel that I couldn't believe it's only her first! Her writing style is so beautiful and lyrical that I literally felt transported to the era of the Astors and Vanderbilts. Until now, my only experience with the Gilded Era has been through film, and now, I'm just itching for more of this era in printed form. January 2011 seems far too long to have to wait to read the next book in the Ladies of Summerhill series, but I will wait for it as patiently as I know how!", "timestamp": 1276662978000, "title": "Give Me More...Quick!!" }, { "asin": "0764204963", "rating": 5, "text": "Though Waters Roar is another win for Lynn Austin! It's clear why her novels win so many awards, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if this one garners a few of it's own.<br /><br />It's no secret at all that Lynn Austin is one of my absolute favorite authors, but I have to admit that I struggled a little bit initially to get interested in this story. One of Lynn's trademarks is merging a present-day story with some history of another person within a family unit. This book had that same feature (which I love), but it was harder for me to follow for the first few chapters. Usually, her books are divided into parts with each part being about one person's story. This one was not set up that way at all, and there were times that I was so thoroughly confused trying to keep the characters straight, and where they belonged in the overall timeline. But....don't let that deter you from considering this book for your next read. Just keep in mind that it make take you awhile to fully immerse yourself in the story.<br /><br />I loved the historical elements that were featured, too. This story focused on the era of women struggling to have a voice, particularly with voting. Another large chunk of the story featured alcoholism, and the resulting Prohibition movement. And yet another portion dealth with slavery. Each major character had a hand in each one of these parts of history, and it was so thoroughly fascinating to read about all of that in one book.<br /><br />While it's probably won't ever be my favorite book ever by Lynn Austin, I have to give it 5 stars simply because the story was truly extraordinary. And as always, I can't wait to read her next book. :o)", "timestamp": 1276796839000, "title": "Excellent As Always" }, { "asin": "1414335962", "rating": 5, "text": "Allison Pittman can flat write a book...period. If it had not been for a suggestion from a friend of mine several years ago, I doubt I would've ever discovered Allison's books. Since then, though, I've become a fan through and through. Her historical novels always seem to have some a little different from all the rest--sometimes, it's unique characters, but almost always, it's a story that pulls at my emotions from start to finish.<br /><br />For Time and Eternity was a novel I wanted to read from the first moment I read the description. I've been on a little bit of a kick with this particular book \"style\" lately, and I knew Allison's take on this point in history would not disappoint. It also helped that she had first-hand knowledge of the Mormon church and their practices. Now, I'm not Mormon, I don't know any Mormons, but I do have a basic knowledge of their beliefs. What really saddens me is how many people were drawn into this religion in it's early years, maybe before they were fully aware of what they were getting into. Honestly, what sane woman wants to share her husband? Um, not me. Thankfully, as a church they have eliminated all practices of polygamy, but it's still a part of their history. Now, only the FLDS (Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints) participate in polygamy.<br /><br />I felt all of Camilla's emotions through this entire book. Camilla had more on her young shoulders than most people have when they're twice her age, and she had so many decisions that she had to make...some that were split-second. One came when she had to choose between her parents and this new boy, Nathan Fox. She barely knew him, and she didn't understand why her parents didn't want her around him. After time, their reasons became very clear. And thankfully, Camilla's mother insisted that she read her Bible daily, and journal a verse every day. This early nurturing in Scripture would be the difference maker in Camilla's adult, married life.<br /><br />If you decide to read For Time and Eternity, let me warn you that this is not your typical novel--not just because it has both Mormon and Christian elements, but because it will literally have your emotions on overdrive from page one through to the very end. It was an excellent story that was heartbreaking, but beautifully told. My only complaint was that it didn't last long enough!", "timestamp": 1284184050000, "title": "Do Not Miss This Book!" }, { "asin": "1595548246", "rating": 5, "text": "Oh, my...I think this was one of the best books I read all year! I already know that whatever words I can come up with to describe how much I enjoyed this book will be so insufficient. It had beauty and tenderness, along with sadness and pain, but with definite joy at the end of the journey.<br /><br />I've said so many times that Amish fiction has reached a point where so many stories are similar, and for something to really reach out and grab me, it needs to have a little something extra. This is that book! First of all, the setting is brand new for Amish fiction fans. This is the first book that I know of set in the mountains of Colorado. That was very intriguing simply because of adjusting to the different weather conditions there compared to Pennsylvania. Second, Emily and her family have to deal with a situation that is almost unheard of in their communities. I won't mention what it is because I don't want to spoil anything, but I've only ever seen it mentioned in one other Amish series. Seeing Emily overcome her past, while also trying not to be attracted to David, is a very beautiful thing to watch unfold.<br /><br />I also want to give some love to some of the secondary characters. Martha....loved her to pieces!! The scene where she introduces her parrot to David and Emily grabbed ahold of my funny bone, and wouldn't let go! And I wish that something had developed between her and certain gentleman, but I'm thinking (and hoping) that story will be featured in a future book. Another character that had an integral role in the story was Katie Ann, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for her from the get-go. Her story was never really a part of the Daughters of the Promise series, so I'm glad that she will be the primary focus of Beth's next book set in Canaan, Colorado.<br /><br />If you've not read Beth's Daughters of the Promise series, then I strongly encourage you to do so before reading this book. There are a handful of things in this book that build upon the previous books, and unless you are okay with a few spoilers, the entire story is best appreciated if it's read in order.<br /><br />That said, I don't know how in the world I'm gonna wait until the end of 2011 to find out what happens next in Canaan!! I'll be able to get my Beth Wiseman fix in March (thankfully, that's not far away) when she releases the next book in the Daughters of the Promise series, Plain Proposal. Listen now, when I discover a new author that I love, you better get out of my way at the bookstore...this woman can write!", "timestamp": 1292948125000, "title": "This Book Will Have You Burning the Midnight Oil!" }, { "asin": "0800734564", "rating": 4, "text": "Fatal Judgment was the first romantic suspense novel I've read in quite a long time. It was also the first time I've read anything by Irene Hannon, and I have to say that I was very impressed. The first novel in her new series, Guardians of Justice, was a thrill ride with U.S. Marshals, the FBI, and a murderer on the loose. The action was consistent throughout, but sprinkled with moments of grief and healing for both Liz and Jake. It was up to Jake to protect Liz at every turn, and he was definitely a hero worth reading about!<br /><br />Another thing I loved was that, as a reader, I knew who the bad guy was all along because he was revealed about 1/3 of the way into the book. From past experience, sometimes that works for a story, sometimes it doesn't. In Fatal Judgment, it defintely worked! I was given a glimpse into his crazy mind, and his motives for striking out at Judge Michaels. On the other hand, his character saddened me because there are so many people in the real world that have his same twisted logic toward our country.<br /><br />I have no doubt that the next installment in this series will please suspense fans as easily as this one did. Irene Hannon has enormous talent within this genre, and the thoughts and research that went into this novel was evident on every page. And now that I know that a few characters from this novel were a part of her previous series, I can't wait to get my hands on those next!<br /><br />4.5 Stars", "timestamp": 1296364027000, "title": "4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "0800732596", "rating": 4, "text": "Melody Carlson has always been my go-to author for great YA fiction, and Never Been Kissed was another fabulous example of her talent within this genre. I read this book from cover to cover in one sitting, and even though I'm a few years removed from the young adult period of my life, there was plenty in this short book to open my eyes to what teens are involved in today, particularly on the topic of sexting.<br /><br />Melody's novels are always on the pulse of current teen issues and what's happening in high schools everywhere. Never Been Kissed is just the kind of book that should be read by parents and teens alike. My rating is 4 stars.", "timestamp": 1296446134000, "title": "Should Be Read by Parents and Teens Alike" }, { "asin": "0800734521", "rating": 3, "text": "This was another one of those books that I tried so very hard to like, but it was oh-so-difficult. I think that the author had a great idea to base a series of books on midwives, but this first book just fell flat. There was so little information about midwives and their roles in society that I was left wanting by the book's end. This may have had something to do with so few women in the book that were pregnant (only 3 deliveries of babies and one litter of puppies in a 400 page novel).<br /><br />Another thing that kept me from really enjoying the book was all of the filler. One chapter left me on a climax, then the next chapter switched to a different scene entirely, and it usually was one that had no excitement at all. By the time I got back around to the resolution of the cliffhanger from 2 chapters before, my anticipation to know what happened had vanished. This is something that I've noticed with authors that typically write short novels (Heartsong or Love Inspired), who then switch to writing a full-length novel. The plot of the story may be good, but the delivery gets choked up by all the filler to make it a longer book. (At this point, I have not read any of Ms. Eakes' other novels, but I know she has some shorter novels that have been released, and that's why I am drawing this conclusion.)<br /><br />I am still interested to read the next book in this series, and I hope that there will be more of a midwife feel to it as opposed to another historical Regency. Ms. Eakes' has a great deal of talent with her writing; I just hope that it will be more focused in her next full-length book.", "timestamp": 1298312686000, "title": "Good Book, just Needed a Little More Focus" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "Since I first started reading Christian fiction, Terri Blackstock has always been one of my favorite authors. I love the intensity in her novels, which causes me to furiously turn the pages. She has begun a new series about the struggles of drug addiction, and she doesn't tone down that intensity one bit.<br /><br />Vicious Cycle is a novel about a young girl, Jordan, who is caught up in a web of drug addiction. Not only is she an addict, but her mother and half-brother are as well. In the very first chapter, she is pregnant with a child and forced to have the baby in her own bed because her mother will not take her to the hospital. Jordan does not understand that at first, but as the pieces fall into place throughout the book, Jordan's realizes she has a mother who does not care about anyone but herself.<br /><br />Lance (featured in book one, Intervention) becomes friends with Jordan through school. Because his sister is a recovering drug addict, he recognizes pretty quickly that Jordan is on the road to a bad life, not only for herself, but for the baby that she's carrying. He convinces her to start treatment at a local rehab center, New Day. Lance visits every weekend to see his sister while she's recovering, and seeing Jordan is an added bonus. When Jordan voluntarily leaves New Day so close to her delivery date, he knows Jordan will return to her drug-infested home. He takes it upon himself to drive over to her house to check on her, not realizing that he's about to be in the biggest trouble of his life.<br /><br />Leave it to Terri Blackstock to create a novel that sucked me in from page one!! Not only did I get a glimpse of the world of meth, I also got a small glimpse into the world of baby trafficking, and neither one was a pretty picture. This book was so realistic, possibly more so than the book before it, Intervention. I can't wait to see what's in store for Barbara, Kent, Emily, and Lance with the remainder of the books in this series. Highly Recommended!!", "timestamp": 1298998047000, "title": "Intense Novel That I Couldn't Put Down!" }, { "asin": "160260696X", "rating": 4, "text": "Discovering new authors can really be a mixed bag of surprises for a reader. I've had experiences where I wonder what took me so long to get around to them, and I've had other experiences where I wished I could've used my time differently. No worries....Vickie McDonough fits perfectly into the first category. :o)<br /><br />Vickie's western style of writing was very reminiscent of Mary Connealy and Lori Copeland, except it was deeper. I loved that I got to really invest myself in the emotions of each character. Luke--who initially had a heart filled with unforgiveness--slowly allowed his heart to soften. Rachel--who scorned Luke many years ago--longed to admit that she'd made a terrible mistake. And Jacqueline--better known as \"Jack\"--was a feisty tomboy that just wanted her ma to marry Luke.<br /><br />But setting up Luke and Rachel wasn't as easy as a couple of cousins thought it would be! Luke's cousins took it upon themselves to find a mail-order bride for Luke. What they didn't count on was that instead of one girl being interested in Luke...there were three! And what made things even crazier...poor Luke didn't have a clue what he was about to be in for--a pushy mayor, a nosy journalist, and three women vying for his hand in marriage! If that's not a recipe for a great story, I don't know what is!<br /><br />I'm so happy to add Vickie to my list of highly recommended authors, and it comes after reading just one book. I have a feeling that the tiny town of Lookout, Texas has a few more surprises up it's sleeve before the series concludes. My rating for The Anonymous Bride is 4.5 Stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to Barbour Books for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1299901844000, "title": "4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "0800734076", "rating": 4, "text": "Having been a fan of Biblical fiction for many years now, I was very intrigued to read a story about the life of Job. Job's story in the Bible is not one that I've read very many times because frankly, it's a little sad and depressing, even though it does end well. I have to say that the fictional retelling of Job's story in Love Amid the Ashes really has me wanting to crack open this book in my Bible to get a better appreciation of Job's trials.<br /><br />I really appreciated the genealogy flow chart at the beginning of the book because without it, I don't know if I'd have ever been able to keep all the characters straight! There are a LOT of characters mentioned at the very beginning of the story, and I admit that I was confused a number of times. However, had all of those characters not been introduced, I wouldn't have gotten a full picture of the people involved in Job's life.<br /><br />I was also very grateful for the author's note at the end of the book explaining how she developed the story. I never would've thought of Jacob's daughter, Dinah, as being a part of Job's life at all, but thanks to the enormous research done by Ms. Andrews, it very likely may have been a reality. Because of that, I doubt I will ever look at Job's story the same way again.<br /><br />I highly recommend Love Amid the Ashes for those who enjoy Biblical fiction. Ms. Andrews has challenged my thinking, and has encouraged me to thoroughly re-read the story of Job. I can't wait to see what she has planned for her next novel because as a debut author, she's hit the ball out of the park with Love Amid the Ashes! My rating is 4 stars.", "timestamp": 1301167790000, "title": "Exceptional Debut Novel" }, { "asin": "0800733266", "rating": 4, "text": "Amanda Cabot has quickly become one of my go-to authors. I can't even count the number of times I've recommended her books to my book friends....they're just that good! Her latest offering is the last book in the Texas Dreams Series, and I'm so sad that my time with the citizens of Ladreville has come to an end.<br /><br />I enjoyed seeing the town through the eyes of Lawrence and Harriet. I have to confess that Lawrence wasn't one of my favorite characters in the last book. He was too stiff and rugged for my taste, and his infatuation with Priscilla got annoying after awhile. However, he was a completely different person in this book. He said goodbye to the life of a Texas Ranger, and stepped into the dual roles of town sheriff and mayor, two jobs that suited him quite well.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Harriet stepped in to fill the vacancy for school teacher in Ladreville. Not only was she excited to be teaching in a new town, she was anxious to forge a new life for herself and her siblings. I couldn't help but smile at the friendship that developed between Harriet and Isabelle. Isabelle has been one of the most genuine characters throughout the series, and her sweet spirit in this book is not one that I'll soon forget. If it hadn't been for Isabelle, poor Harriet would have never softened her uptight exterior. She also would've been destined to be a victim of the Fashion Police for a LONG time if Isabelle hadn't come to her rescue!<br /><br />Even more that the two previous books, I felt like I was a part of the town in Tomorrow's Garden. I wanted to scream at Harriet that she needed to keep her distance from Karl. I wanted to convince the townsfolk how important the bridge building was. And I wanted to cheer with joy at Ruth's gradual growth into a more confident young woman. Who wouldn't want to be part of such a community? :o)<br /><br />If you enjoy such authors as Lori Copeland and Kim Vogel Sawyer, I would strongly suggest you give Amanda Cabot a try. Each book in this series has been filled with so much emotion, and all of them have been nearly impossible to put down! I don't know how in the world I will be able to wait until next year to read her next offering which will be set in Wyoming. :o)<br /><br />4.5 Stars<br /><br />**Many thanks to Revell for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1303354184000, "title": "More Like 4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "082543310X", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm finding lately that I really enjoy young adult fiction. I mean *really* enjoy it! When I was in my teen years, there was not much to choose from unless I wanted to read general market. Fifteen years later, there's tons of Christian YA fiction, and well...I gotta make up for lost time!<br /><br />In addition to having not read a lot of YA books, I've also not read a whole lot from the WWII period. Frankly, it's just really difficult to read. I cannot imagine living in a world of persecution and hate, being separated from my family, or having to wonder where I will get my next meal. So, it was with a little bit of nervousness that I decided to read How Huge the Night by debut authors Heather and Lydia Munn.<br /><br />First of all, I loved how this story was told through a teenager's eyes. Being an adult, I know the terror I would have felt if I were a wife and mother. How would I prepare to go into a war? How will I make sure my family doesn't starve? But reading this story from a younger generation's point of view made it that much more realistic. At first, Julian was the typical teenager--frustrated with a move to a new town and a new school, struggling to make new friends--but as he matured, his focus shifted to concerns for his family, their Jewish boarder, the new friends he had made, and eventually, how the war would change all of their lives forever.<br /><br />Secondly, I loved that the story was told with a French setting. While I have a very basic knowledge of WWII, I have almost no knowledge of France or French history. There were snippets of history regarding the Huguenots and their struggles for religious freedom in the 1600's, as well as details about the armistice between France and Germany, and how Germany eventually violated their agreement. I was also surprised to read at the very end that France as a whole had very little knowledge about what was actually happening around them during the war (shared in the author's note). This made me curiously wonder whether they simply did not have access to tv's or newspapers, or if the news that was brought to them had been censored. Either way, how frightening it must have been to not know what's happening in the world around you.<br /><br />Also shared in the author's note was that there is another book coming soon from this talented mother/daughter team. While I have no idea if it will just be a sequel or part of a series, I wish it was available to read right now! This book did not leave me hanging per se, but I'm just itching to know what happens to Julian, Benjamin, Nina, and Gustav as the worst of the war is yet to come. I happily give a rating of 4 Stars for this exceptional debut novel.", "timestamp": 1308857409000, "title": "An Exceptional Debut Novel!" }, { "asin": "1414335695", "rating": 4, "text": "I can now safely say that Randy Singer never fails to amaze me with any book he writes. He's got a knack for creating these larger-than-life tales that make me feel like I just watched a whole season of 24 non-stop. Granted, I've only read two of his novels, but simply put...he's just awesome. End of discussion. :o)<br /><br />False Witness was an action-packed thrill ride, and that's no joke! There's the mob, the FBI, a bounty hunter, and this one little algorithm that everyone wanted. The problem was that if it fell into the wrong hands, chaos would ensue in no time flat. Then, there were the kidnappings, the torture, the money demands, and well...you can seen why it was an addictive read!<br /><br />But the one strike this book had against itself was all the legal stuff. I was able to keep most of it straight initially, but toward the end, my brain was on overload. I think if it had been toned down just a little bit, False Witness would have been 5-star worthy, for sure.<br /><br />In spite of that one little irritation, I still highly recommend False Witness as an incredible read. Just a warning that you may burn your dinner, have a pile of laundry waiting, or not get enough winks at night until you get it finished. :o)", "timestamp": 1309045355000, "title": "An Action-Packed Thrill Ride!" }, { "asin": "0764208330", "rating": 5, "text": "As a rule, I'm not overly fond of wagon train stories, but I could not read this one fast enough! It's not often that I have an opportunity to practically fly through a book as good as this one, but in 24 hours time, I read this book every moment I could spare. Thankfully, my husband was very understanding as we went through an evening with me cooking no dinner, folding no laundry, and watching no tv. And yes...he survived. ;o)<br /><br />Jody Hedlund has created a masterpiece in The Doctor's Lady. She had me smiling at the teasing nature of Priscilla and Eli's early relationship, and conversely, she had me in tears during a moment that no mother every wants to experience. If that wasn't enough, she created romantic tension so thick, I could cut it with a knife.<br /><br />And this was not your typical marriage of convenience story. Priscilla and Eli's marriage was quickly thrust into the dangers of what would become the Oregon Trail as they dealt with rapid rivers, dishonest guides, and fatal diseases. Not only did they butt heads occasionally with their traveling companions, they also struggled to share their true thoughts with one another which created unnecessary, yet believable, emotional turmoil.<br /><br />For those who are fans of Laura Frantz or Deeanne Gist, I guarantee The Doctor's Lady is a story that you will love in its entirety. As I said before, wagon train stories are not my thing as there are usually several portions that lag and I find my attention drifting. That is definitely not the case with this one! The action is continuous, the hardships believable, and the romance new and exciting. I have already carved out a place on my keeper shelf for this gem of a novel, and you better believe that it's there to stay. :o)", "timestamp": 1315631886000, "title": "A Masterpiece" }, { "asin": "0764209035", "rating": 3, "text": "It always pains me when I come across a book that others really enjoyed and I didn't. It's even worse when it's a brand new author. Each book is like a new baby to an author, and I imagine new authors are doubly sensitive when they read reviews of their \"firstborn.\" But unfortunately, Wings of a Dream just wasn't my cup of tea.<br /><br />There's not one clear area that I can point to as to where this book went wrong for me. I could name several things that didn't appeal to me, but I really don't want to get into a whole lot of details lest I ruin the reading experience for others. However, I compliment the author for creating a most unlikeable character in Rebekah's mother. She was far too uppity for her own good. :o)<br /><br />In spite of my overall dislike of this story, I do plan to give Anne's novels another try in the future. Every author, especially a new one, deserves a second chance to make a good impression, and I think with a little more work, Anne's future novels could be real gems. My rating for Wings of a Dream is 3.5 stars.", "timestamp": 1316450351000, "title": "Not the Right Fit for Me" }, { "asin": "0310332311", "rating": 4, "text": "I have been a diehard fan of Terri Blackstock since I first started reading Christian fiction over ten years ago. I have always been able to rely on Terri to provide suspenseful stories that keep me awake until the wee hours of the morning. However, this was not one of her stronger novels.<br /><br />While the carnival/amusement park idea was unique, I felt that I had to suspend belief for a large portion of the story. Like Carny, I wondered how in the world all of Logan's plans would come to fruition if he wasn't in fact a con artist. Without giving too much away, the end of the story was where this was most evident. Considering the amount of time that had passed between Logan's first visit to Serenity and the final chapter of the story, everything progressed much faster than it would in the real world.<br /><br />On the flip side, I felt that the characters in this story were extremely believable, Logan in particular. His reflections on his past as a product of foster homes combined with the years spent with his con artist mentor made him the most complex character of the story. Having personally met a con artist in my life (but thankfully not his victim), I could identify with some of the techniques Logan used to persuade the town into parting with their hard-earned money.<br /><br />I appreciated that Terri went back to her last novel written for the general market and rewrote it to appeal to a Christian audience. Never once did it seem that the story was rewritten as all the Christian elements blended seamlessly throughout the story. But if I compare it to some of her recent novels, it was not up to the same caliber that I've come to expect from her. It was only slightly suspenseful and romantic, yet still engaging enough that I wanted to read it to the very end. My rating is 4 Stars.", "timestamp": 1317131226000, "title": "Not Very Believable, but Still An Overall Good Story" }, { "asin": "1609362187", "rating": 5, "text": "I could go in so many directions with this review to tell you all about the characters, the plot, the setting, the clothes (oh...the clothes), but Heiress is one of those novels that is an experience--in jealousy, in opulence, in tragedy, in love. It's one that, if you know nothing but the back cover blurb, then you are in for the surprise of your life.<br /><br />I knew that Susan was a great writer, even after reading my first book by her earlier this year, but Heiress has catapulted her to favorite author status in no time flat. Just when I thought I was going to hit a lull in this story, she snapped my mind back to attention with one twist after another. Now, I know that some authors usually like to have one surprise lurking somewhere in their stories, but to have them appear in rapid succession (and all of them believable, no less) showed that Susan's got some masterful writing chops.<br /><br />Without a doubt, Heiress has to be the edgiest Christian fiction book of the year. It should also come with a warning label--\"Don't start unless you plan to stay up past your bedtime.\"<br /><br />Go. Get. It. Now. I dare you. ;o)", "timestamp": 1317135741000, "title": "The Edgiest Christian Fiction Book of the Year" }, { "asin": "0802405843", "rating": 3, "text": "Susan Page Davis is an author whose books I've come to love. From her early days of writing for the Heartsong Presents Line to one of her newest series, The Ladies Shooting Club, I've been able to rely on her ability to supply excellent stories to the Christian fiction genre. For those reasons, I was eager to read her newest novel, Captive Trail.<br /><br />Captive Trail was a bit of a departure from Susan's usual style. There wasn't the spunky heroine or the handsome hero, nor was there the gradual and believable romance that I'm accustomed to reading. However, there was a sweet series of relationships that formed among the characters, and enough danger and fear evident with the local Indian tribes that I kept turning page after page.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to the other 5 books in The Texas Trail Series by various authors that I have come to enjoy. My rating for Captive Trail is 3 Stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to Moody Publishers and CFBA for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1317834323000, "title": "Captive Trail" }, { "asin": "1433668688", "rating": 5, "text": "I love being able to have a new experience every time I read a book, and when it comes to reading Amish fiction...well, that's a tad bit of a rarity. Most of the time, their culture is seen as difficult, closed off, and rigorous. But in Tricia Goyer's first Amish novel, those cultural boundaries are pushed to the edge, and seriously...it makes for an incredibly entertaining, yet beautiful, story that I won't soon forget.<br /><br />What surprised me most about this story was the increased interaction between the Amish and the Englisch. Normally, the Amish are not known for this, but frankly, when you live in the wide open spaces of Montana, you don't have much choice about who your neighbors are. For Marianna and her father, this unusual arrangement with outsiders took some getting used to at first, but slowly, those self-imposed walls began to drop, and new relationships started to form. Not only were these new relationships with common people, but also, with God Himself.<br /><br />Prior to reading Beside Still Waters, I had read only a handful of Tricia's novels, but truly, she has a gift with the Amish genre. Not that her other books aren't great in their own rights, but she has a different voice here that kept pulling on my heartstrings, and it just would...not...let...go. If you're like me and love a great Amish read, yet you long for something different, Beside Still Waters is one of the best. Period.", "timestamp": 1324276367000, "title": "Change is Good, Especially When It Comes to the Amish" }, { "asin": "0800734599", "rating": 4, "text": "Ever since I devoured every single book in Amanda Cabot's Texas Dreams series, I have been eagerly awaiting the start of her newest series set in the West. Her characters have a way of finding a place in my heart, and I find myself thinking about them days, weeks, and months since our acquaintance.<br /><br />Summer of Promise, while a great start to a new series, didn't quite resonate with me the way Amanda's previous books have. Abigail seemed a bit uppity to me at first, yet slowly and surely won me over. Ethan was a commanding officer with a devotion to his soldiers, and underneath his tough exterior lay a gentle soul. Charlotte and Jeffrey oftentimes shared a strained relationship that suffered a painful ending. All the characters were well-written, but as a whole, it took longer than I would've liked to make a connection with them.<br /><br />What I did find interesting, though, was that the story was set during the early days at Fort Laramie. Amanda wove in a handful of details about the fort that were true to the time period, such as the progress of certain factual buildings or the characteristics of the general area. It seemed odd to me that there was no mention of a church anywhere near the fort, and I can't help but think (and/or hope) that one will be introduced in a later book.<br /><br />And as a dog lover to the core, I couldn't help but smile every time I read about Puddles! My husband and I briefly had a puppy in our house, and Puddles' multiple antics reminded me several times what it was like to clean up after a muddy dog, or to have them cover my face with doggie kisses. :o)<br /><br />Fans of historical romance will enjoy this first book in the Westward Winds series. Personally, I'm glad to know that just like Amanda's first series, each book in this new series will center around a different heroine. It will be interesting to see how Charlotte handles the new challenges that have come her way in book 2.", "timestamp": 1328240646000, "title": "Perfect for Fans of Historical Romance" }, { "asin": "0764207865", "rating": 3, "text": "Normally, I can't get enough of Kim's books, but this one was not one of my favorites. The story was very sweet, but there wasn't enough momentum throughout the story to keep me interested and engaged. The characters were fully-fleshed, but again, not interesting. For fans that enjoy sweet historical romances, I would recommend that they read some of Kim's other novels, particularly Courting Miss Amsel...one of her best.", "timestamp": 1328762764000, "title": "Not One of My Favorites" }, { "asin": "0310250684", "rating": 5, "text": "All of Terri Blackstock's books are great from start to finish...doesn't matter which one I pick up. I know that every single time I read one, I'm going be riveted by the story and glued to every page.<br /><br />Downfall was no exception. While I'm extremely disappointed that this was the last book in the Intervention series, I can honestly say that it was a great conclusion because truly, the Covington family's nerves are probably frayed to threads after all the ordeals they've been through!<br /><br />The suspense was believable, too, especially the overall flow of events. Emily's part in the story blended well as she tried in her own way to solve the mystery. Lance's instincts proved true about his classmates from his new school, which also contributed to the suspense. And to top it all off, Kent was assigned to the case of figuring out who this weirdo was that was responsible for terrorizing everyone. Poor Barbara...it was all she could do to keep up!! She got a little hysterical a time or two, but honestly, who wouldn't?<br /><br />I have so appreciated Terri's confidence in writing a series completely devoted to drug addiction, and how those addictions have a ripple effect on others. And to have it combined with her trademark Up All Night Suspense? What else could a reader want? :o)", "timestamp": 1330666838000, "title": "Excellent Conclusion to the Intervention Series!" } ]

[ { "asin": "0800732138", "rating": 5, "text": "If you are looking for the greatest series in Christian fiction right now, then look no further than the Daughters of Boston series by Julie Lessman. I put off reading these books for months (why, I have no idea), but they were so well worth the wait. Never have I read such an edgy series that just sucked me in so much that I couldn't seem to read fast enough.<br /><br />I have to admit that this third book, A Passion Denied, was probably my favorite of the Daughters of Boston series. While the first two are wonderful (and you definitely should read them in order), book three brought a little bit more \"real life\" to the whole picture. Faith and Charity are now married, and thus, have to deal with the joys and challenges that married life brings. Also, Marcy and Patrick's relationship has a wrench thrown into it that just adds more depth to the story. I felt that Julie did a great job of giving insight to both the good and the bad with each couple, all while giving advice through her characters on how certain situations should be handled. Scattered throughout the book are numerous snippets of Scripture that help prove the points Julie's trying to get across, and not once does it come across as preachy.<br /><br />So, with all that said, don't even think about starting this series if you're not willing to stay up `til at least midnight or later! Every single book in this series has been nothing short of fantastic, and I cannot wait for more!", "timestamp": 1243445092000, "title": "Up 'til Midnight fiction!!" }, { "asin": "1434766411", "rating": 5, "text": "Very rarely do I come across a book that just leaves me floored the whole way through. Except for one tiny little break, I read this book from cover to cover, and loved every second of it. While it's not a book that I would normally go out of my way to read, words cannot adequately express how impressed I was after reading this fabulous debut novel.<br /><br />Talking to the Dead is a great example of an author thinking outside the box and finding a new niche in the Christian fiction arena. I have never come across a Christian fiction novel that dealt with any type of mental illness, much less mental institutions and shrinks, and how individuals seek help (be it worldly or spiritual) for those problems in the real world. Even though the Christian aspects of the novel were a tad bit watered down in places, I really applaud the author for showing what some churches/pastors are like in the real world, particularly, the scene with Jack's father. It literally broke my heart to read through Kate's experience with this fictitious pastor, knowing that there really are pastors and church leaders out there that use the same tactics.<br /><br />Talking to the Dead is now firmly planted on my all-time favorites list. Now, I must begin the impatient wait for whatever she has in store for her next book. If all of Bonnie's books are as great as this one, I'll be a fan for life.", "timestamp": 1257371509000, "title": "You Don't Want to Miss Out on This Book!" }, { "asin": "0764205137", "rating": 3, "text": "Honestly, this book was not all that impressive to me. I really wanted to like it because I've heard a lot of good things about Ms. Whitson's books. The beginning of the book was almost enough to make me put it down and not finish it, mostly because there were way too many characters to keep up with. Fortunately, only the beginning of the book centers around half or so of the sixteen brides, and then, dwindles to five main brides for the rest of the story. It took about 100 or so pages before the bulk of the story started to take shape, and it wasn't a fast-moving story because again, there were too many characters. If this had been a book that centered around 2 or 3 brides, I think I would've enjoyed it much more.", "timestamp": 1270607281000, "title": "Almost Didn't Finish It" }, { "asin": "1935416634", "rating": 4, "text": "Just like Miralee's first historical novel, her second venture into this genre does not disappoint at all! This book is rich with descriptions, and easily addictive. In fact, I found that after awhile, I simply couldn't put it down!<br /><br />The agonizing grief that Margaret felt with the loss of her first love, and then, her father, is simply heartbreaking. That'd be enough to make me want to crawl in a hole somewhere and die, honestly. Instead, she perseveres, and moves on with her life, both with her job as a teacher and her budding relationship with Andrew.<br /><br />While the romance scenes in the book are small in number, they were enough to steal my breath away! I truly had no idea which man Margaret would choose, even after going back in forth in my own mind with who the lucky fellow would be.<br /><br />Probably the most interesting aspect of the whole book is tucked away at the very end. (Don't worry...this is not a spoiler.) Miralee shares what inspired her to write this book, most of it coming from her own family history. I imagine that makes this book even more special to her on a whole different level. Several things are scattered through the story that are actual historical events...although, I can't let the cat out of the bag on that one, or I really would be spoiling the story!<br /><br />Yep, definitely another great book for Miralee, and another fantastic addition to the Love Finds You series! I can't wait to read what she comes out with next! :o)", "timestamp": 1274980283000, "title": "Another Great Historical Novel from Miralee Ferrell!" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 3, "text": "Having read another novel by Melanie Dobson earlier this year and really liking it, I really had high expectations for this book. Honestly, this book fell way short. True, it's a totally different genre than the other book I've read by her (which was historical), but I really had a hard time getting through this book, in general.<br /><br />I guess you could call this a suspense novel....maybe. In a way, I almost consider that a little bit of a stretch because in addition to reading Camden's side of the story, I was also getting the bad guy's side of the story. Sometimes that's good, but I don't know if I felt that it was, in this case. I like for a suspense novel to make me guess a little, even if really don't have it all figured out by the end of the story. There was a small twist at the end that I did not expect, but other than that, I felt the ending was a little anticlimactic.<br /><br />I also felt no connection to the characters, except maybe a little bit with Camden. She's pretty much on her own, has no money, and has inherited a house that she can't pay to repair. All through her story, I was rooting for her to succeed, and hoping that she would not say yes to the first person to come along and make her an offer on the old house. Grant's character was just okay...nothing really spectacular to me. And the creepy guys were just....well....creepy.<br /><br />In spite of this book being not so great, I know I'll be reading more from Melanie Dobson in the future. I typically enjoy reading suspense novels, but this one was just a little flat. Overall, I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to the publisher for providing this book for me to review.", "timestamp": 1275055861000, "title": "Just Okay" }, { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 5, "text": "Without a doubt...Cara Lynn James is certainly new author to watch! I was so thoroughly captivated by this novel that I couldn't believe it's only her first! Her writing style is so beautiful and lyrical that I literally felt transported to the era of the Astors and Vanderbilts. Until now, my only experience with the Gilded Era has been through film, and now, I'm just itching for more of this era in printed form. January 2011 seems far too long to have to wait to read the next book in the Ladies of Summerhill series, but I will wait for it as patiently as I know how!", "timestamp": 1276662978000, "title": "Give Me More...Quick!!" }, { "asin": "0764204963", "rating": 5, "text": "Though Waters Roar is another win for Lynn Austin! It's clear why her novels win so many awards, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if this one garners a few of it's own.<br /><br />It's no secret at all that Lynn Austin is one of my absolute favorite authors, but I have to admit that I struggled a little bit initially to get interested in this story. One of Lynn's trademarks is merging a present-day story with some history of another person within a family unit. This book had that same feature (which I love), but it was harder for me to follow for the first few chapters. Usually, her books are divided into parts with each part being about one person's story. This one was not set up that way at all, and there were times that I was so thoroughly confused trying to keep the characters straight, and where they belonged in the overall timeline. But....don't let that deter you from considering this book for your next read. Just keep in mind that it make take you awhile to fully immerse yourself in the story.<br /><br />I loved the historical elements that were featured, too. This story focused on the era of women struggling to have a voice, particularly with voting. Another large chunk of the story featured alcoholism, and the resulting Prohibition movement. And yet another portion dealth with slavery. Each major character had a hand in each one of these parts of history, and it was so thoroughly fascinating to read about all of that in one book.<br /><br />While it's probably won't ever be my favorite book ever by Lynn Austin, I have to give it 5 stars simply because the story was truly extraordinary. And as always, I can't wait to read her next book. :o)", "timestamp": 1276796839000, "title": "Excellent As Always" }, { "asin": "1414335962", "rating": 5, "text": "Allison Pittman can flat write a book...period. If it had not been for a suggestion from a friend of mine several years ago, I doubt I would've ever discovered Allison's books. Since then, though, I've become a fan through and through. Her historical novels always seem to have some a little different from all the rest--sometimes, it's unique characters, but almost always, it's a story that pulls at my emotions from start to finish.<br /><br />For Time and Eternity was a novel I wanted to read from the first moment I read the description. I've been on a little bit of a kick with this particular book \"style\" lately, and I knew Allison's take on this point in history would not disappoint. It also helped that she had first-hand knowledge of the Mormon church and their practices. Now, I'm not Mormon, I don't know any Mormons, but I do have a basic knowledge of their beliefs. What really saddens me is how many people were drawn into this religion in it's early years, maybe before they were fully aware of what they were getting into. Honestly, what sane woman wants to share her husband? Um, not me. Thankfully, as a church they have eliminated all practices of polygamy, but it's still a part of their history. Now, only the FLDS (Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints) participate in polygamy.<br /><br />I felt all of Camilla's emotions through this entire book. Camilla had more on her young shoulders than most people have when they're twice her age, and she had so many decisions that she had to make...some that were split-second. One came when she had to choose between her parents and this new boy, Nathan Fox. She barely knew him, and she didn't understand why her parents didn't want her around him. After time, their reasons became very clear. And thankfully, Camilla's mother insisted that she read her Bible daily, and journal a verse every day. This early nurturing in Scripture would be the difference maker in Camilla's adult, married life.<br /><br />If you decide to read For Time and Eternity, let me warn you that this is not your typical novel--not just because it has both Mormon and Christian elements, but because it will literally have your emotions on overdrive from page one through to the very end. It was an excellent story that was heartbreaking, but beautifully told. My only complaint was that it didn't last long enough!", "timestamp": 1284184050000, "title": "Do Not Miss This Book!" }, { "asin": "1595548246", "rating": 5, "text": "Oh, my...I think this was one of the best books I read all year! I already know that whatever words I can come up with to describe how much I enjoyed this book will be so insufficient. It had beauty and tenderness, along with sadness and pain, but with definite joy at the end of the journey.<br /><br />I've said so many times that Amish fiction has reached a point where so many stories are similar, and for something to really reach out and grab me, it needs to have a little something extra. This is that book! First of all, the setting is brand new for Amish fiction fans. This is the first book that I know of set in the mountains of Colorado. That was very intriguing simply because of adjusting to the different weather conditions there compared to Pennsylvania. Second, Emily and her family have to deal with a situation that is almost unheard of in their communities. I won't mention what it is because I don't want to spoil anything, but I've only ever seen it mentioned in one other Amish series. Seeing Emily overcome her past, while also trying not to be attracted to David, is a very beautiful thing to watch unfold.<br /><br />I also want to give some love to some of the secondary characters. Martha....loved her to pieces!! The scene where she introduces her parrot to David and Emily grabbed ahold of my funny bone, and wouldn't let go! And I wish that something had developed between her and certain gentleman, but I'm thinking (and hoping) that story will be featured in a future book. Another character that had an integral role in the story was Katie Ann, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for her from the get-go. Her story was never really a part of the Daughters of the Promise series, so I'm glad that she will be the primary focus of Beth's next book set in Canaan, Colorado.<br /><br />If you've not read Beth's Daughters of the Promise series, then I strongly encourage you to do so before reading this book. There are a handful of things in this book that build upon the previous books, and unless you are okay with a few spoilers, the entire story is best appreciated if it's read in order.<br /><br />That said, I don't know how in the world I'm gonna wait until the end of 2011 to find out what happens next in Canaan!! I'll be able to get my Beth Wiseman fix in March (thankfully, that's not far away) when she releases the next book in the Daughters of the Promise series, Plain Proposal. Listen now, when I discover a new author that I love, you better get out of my way at the bookstore...this woman can write!", "timestamp": 1292948125000, "title": "This Book Will Have You Burning the Midnight Oil!" }, { "asin": "0800734564", "rating": 4, "text": "Fatal Judgment was the first romantic suspense novel I've read in quite a long time. It was also the first time I've read anything by Irene Hannon, and I have to say that I was very impressed. The first novel in her new series, Guardians of Justice, was a thrill ride with U.S. Marshals, the FBI, and a murderer on the loose. The action was consistent throughout, but sprinkled with moments of grief and healing for both Liz and Jake. It was up to Jake to protect Liz at every turn, and he was definitely a hero worth reading about!<br /><br />Another thing I loved was that, as a reader, I knew who the bad guy was all along because he was revealed about 1/3 of the way into the book. From past experience, sometimes that works for a story, sometimes it doesn't. In Fatal Judgment, it defintely worked! I was given a glimpse into his crazy mind, and his motives for striking out at Judge Michaels. On the other hand, his character saddened me because there are so many people in the real world that have his same twisted logic toward our country.<br /><br />I have no doubt that the next installment in this series will please suspense fans as easily as this one did. Irene Hannon has enormous talent within this genre, and the thoughts and research that went into this novel was evident on every page. And now that I know that a few characters from this novel were a part of her previous series, I can't wait to get my hands on those next!<br /><br />4.5 Stars", "timestamp": 1296364027000, "title": "4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "0800732596", "rating": 4, "text": "Melody Carlson has always been my go-to author for great YA fiction, and Never Been Kissed was another fabulous example of her talent within this genre. I read this book from cover to cover in one sitting, and even though I'm a few years removed from the young adult period of my life, there was plenty in this short book to open my eyes to what teens are involved in today, particularly on the topic of sexting.<br /><br />Melody's novels are always on the pulse of current teen issues and what's happening in high schools everywhere. Never Been Kissed is just the kind of book that should be read by parents and teens alike. My rating is 4 stars.", "timestamp": 1296446134000, "title": "Should Be Read by Parents and Teens Alike" }, { "asin": "0800734521", "rating": 3, "text": "This was another one of those books that I tried so very hard to like, but it was oh-so-difficult. I think that the author had a great idea to base a series of books on midwives, but this first book just fell flat. There was so little information about midwives and their roles in society that I was left wanting by the book's end. This may have had something to do with so few women in the book that were pregnant (only 3 deliveries of babies and one litter of puppies in a 400 page novel).<br /><br />Another thing that kept me from really enjoying the book was all of the filler. One chapter left me on a climax, then the next chapter switched to a different scene entirely, and it usually was one that had no excitement at all. By the time I got back around to the resolution of the cliffhanger from 2 chapters before, my anticipation to know what happened had vanished. This is something that I've noticed with authors that typically write short novels (Heartsong or Love Inspired), who then switch to writing a full-length novel. The plot of the story may be good, but the delivery gets choked up by all the filler to make it a longer book. (At this point, I have not read any of Ms. Eakes' other novels, but I know she has some shorter novels that have been released, and that's why I am drawing this conclusion.)<br /><br />I am still interested to read the next book in this series, and I hope that there will be more of a midwife feel to it as opposed to another historical Regency. Ms. Eakes' has a great deal of talent with her writing; I just hope that it will be more focused in her next full-length book.", "timestamp": 1298312686000, "title": "Good Book, just Needed a Little More Focus" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "Since I first started reading Christian fiction, Terri Blackstock has always been one of my favorite authors. I love the intensity in her novels, which causes me to furiously turn the pages. She has begun a new series about the struggles of drug addiction, and she doesn't tone down that intensity one bit.<br /><br />Vicious Cycle is a novel about a young girl, Jordan, who is caught up in a web of drug addiction. Not only is she an addict, but her mother and half-brother are as well. In the very first chapter, she is pregnant with a child and forced to have the baby in her own bed because her mother will not take her to the hospital. Jordan does not understand that at first, but as the pieces fall into place throughout the book, Jordan's realizes she has a mother who does not care about anyone but herself.<br /><br />Lance (featured in book one, Intervention) becomes friends with Jordan through school. Because his sister is a recovering drug addict, he recognizes pretty quickly that Jordan is on the road to a bad life, not only for herself, but for the baby that she's carrying. He convinces her to start treatment at a local rehab center, New Day. Lance visits every weekend to see his sister while she's recovering, and seeing Jordan is an added bonus. When Jordan voluntarily leaves New Day so close to her delivery date, he knows Jordan will return to her drug-infested home. He takes it upon himself to drive over to her house to check on her, not realizing that he's about to be in the biggest trouble of his life.<br /><br />Leave it to Terri Blackstock to create a novel that sucked me in from page one!! Not only did I get a glimpse of the world of meth, I also got a small glimpse into the world of baby trafficking, and neither one was a pretty picture. This book was so realistic, possibly more so than the book before it, Intervention. I can't wait to see what's in store for Barbara, Kent, Emily, and Lance with the remainder of the books in this series. Highly Recommended!!", "timestamp": 1298998047000, "title": "Intense Novel That I Couldn't Put Down!" }, { "asin": "160260696X", "rating": 4, "text": "Discovering new authors can really be a mixed bag of surprises for a reader. I've had experiences where I wonder what took me so long to get around to them, and I've had other experiences where I wished I could've used my time differently. No worries....Vickie McDonough fits perfectly into the first category. :o)<br /><br />Vickie's western style of writing was very reminiscent of Mary Connealy and Lori Copeland, except it was deeper. I loved that I got to really invest myself in the emotions of each character. Luke--who initially had a heart filled with unforgiveness--slowly allowed his heart to soften. Rachel--who scorned Luke many years ago--longed to admit that she'd made a terrible mistake. And Jacqueline--better known as \"Jack\"--was a feisty tomboy that just wanted her ma to marry Luke.<br /><br />But setting up Luke and Rachel wasn't as easy as a couple of cousins thought it would be! Luke's cousins took it upon themselves to find a mail-order bride for Luke. What they didn't count on was that instead of one girl being interested in Luke...there were three! And what made things even crazier...poor Luke didn't have a clue what he was about to be in for--a pushy mayor, a nosy journalist, and three women vying for his hand in marriage! If that's not a recipe for a great story, I don't know what is!<br /><br />I'm so happy to add Vickie to my list of highly recommended authors, and it comes after reading just one book. I have a feeling that the tiny town of Lookout, Texas has a few more surprises up it's sleeve before the series concludes. My rating for The Anonymous Bride is 4.5 Stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to Barbour Books for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1299901844000, "title": "4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "0800734076", "rating": 4, "text": "Having been a fan of Biblical fiction for many years now, I was very intrigued to read a story about the life of Job. Job's story in the Bible is not one that I've read very many times because frankly, it's a little sad and depressing, even though it does end well. I have to say that the fictional retelling of Job's story in Love Amid the Ashes really has me wanting to crack open this book in my Bible to get a better appreciation of Job's trials.<br /><br />I really appreciated the genealogy flow chart at the beginning of the book because without it, I don't know if I'd have ever been able to keep all the characters straight! There are a LOT of characters mentioned at the very beginning of the story, and I admit that I was confused a number of times. However, had all of those characters not been introduced, I wouldn't have gotten a full picture of the people involved in Job's life.<br /><br />I was also very grateful for the author's note at the end of the book explaining how she developed the story. I never would've thought of Jacob's daughter, Dinah, as being a part of Job's life at all, but thanks to the enormous research done by Ms. Andrews, it very likely may have been a reality. Because of that, I doubt I will ever look at Job's story the same way again.<br /><br />I highly recommend Love Amid the Ashes for those who enjoy Biblical fiction. Ms. Andrews has challenged my thinking, and has encouraged me to thoroughly re-read the story of Job. I can't wait to see what she has planned for her next novel because as a debut author, she's hit the ball out of the park with Love Amid the Ashes! My rating is 4 stars.", "timestamp": 1301167790000, "title": "Exceptional Debut Novel" }, { "asin": "0800733266", "rating": 4, "text": "Amanda Cabot has quickly become one of my go-to authors. I can't even count the number of times I've recommended her books to my book friends....they're just that good! Her latest offering is the last book in the Texas Dreams Series, and I'm so sad that my time with the citizens of Ladreville has come to an end.<br /><br />I enjoyed seeing the town through the eyes of Lawrence and Harriet. I have to confess that Lawrence wasn't one of my favorite characters in the last book. He was too stiff and rugged for my taste, and his infatuation with Priscilla got annoying after awhile. However, he was a completely different person in this book. He said goodbye to the life of a Texas Ranger, and stepped into the dual roles of town sheriff and mayor, two jobs that suited him quite well.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Harriet stepped in to fill the vacancy for school teacher in Ladreville. Not only was she excited to be teaching in a new town, she was anxious to forge a new life for herself and her siblings. I couldn't help but smile at the friendship that developed between Harriet and Isabelle. Isabelle has been one of the most genuine characters throughout the series, and her sweet spirit in this book is not one that I'll soon forget. If it hadn't been for Isabelle, poor Harriet would have never softened her uptight exterior. She also would've been destined to be a victim of the Fashion Police for a LONG time if Isabelle hadn't come to her rescue!<br /><br />Even more that the two previous books, I felt like I was a part of the town in Tomorrow's Garden. I wanted to scream at Harriet that she needed to keep her distance from Karl. I wanted to convince the townsfolk how important the bridge building was. And I wanted to cheer with joy at Ruth's gradual growth into a more confident young woman. Who wouldn't want to be part of such a community? :o)<br /><br />If you enjoy such authors as Lori Copeland and Kim Vogel Sawyer, I would strongly suggest you give Amanda Cabot a try. Each book in this series has been filled with so much emotion, and all of them have been nearly impossible to put down! I don't know how in the world I will be able to wait until next year to read her next offering which will be set in Wyoming. :o)<br /><br />4.5 Stars<br /><br />**Many thanks to Revell for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1303354184000, "title": "More Like 4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "082543310X", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm finding lately that I really enjoy young adult fiction. I mean *really* enjoy it! When I was in my teen years, there was not much to choose from unless I wanted to read general market. Fifteen years later, there's tons of Christian YA fiction, and well...I gotta make up for lost time!<br /><br />In addition to having not read a lot of YA books, I've also not read a whole lot from the WWII period. Frankly, it's just really difficult to read. I cannot imagine living in a world of persecution and hate, being separated from my family, or having to wonder where I will get my next meal. So, it was with a little bit of nervousness that I decided to read How Huge the Night by debut authors Heather and Lydia Munn.<br /><br />First of all, I loved how this story was told through a teenager's eyes. Being an adult, I know the terror I would have felt if I were a wife and mother. How would I prepare to go into a war? How will I make sure my family doesn't starve? But reading this story from a younger generation's point of view made it that much more realistic. At first, Julian was the typical teenager--frustrated with a move to a new town and a new school, struggling to make new friends--but as he matured, his focus shifted to concerns for his family, their Jewish boarder, the new friends he had made, and eventually, how the war would change all of their lives forever.<br /><br />Secondly, I loved that the story was told with a French setting. While I have a very basic knowledge of WWII, I have almost no knowledge of France or French history. There were snippets of history regarding the Huguenots and their struggles for religious freedom in the 1600's, as well as details about the armistice between France and Germany, and how Germany eventually violated their agreement. I was also surprised to read at the very end that France as a whole had very little knowledge about what was actually happening around them during the war (shared in the author's note). This made me curiously wonder whether they simply did not have access to tv's or newspapers, or if the news that was brought to them had been censored. Either way, how frightening it must have been to not know what's happening in the world around you.<br /><br />Also shared in the author's note was that there is another book coming soon from this talented mother/daughter team. While I have no idea if it will just be a sequel or part of a series, I wish it was available to read right now! This book did not leave me hanging per se, but I'm just itching to know what happens to Julian, Benjamin, Nina, and Gustav as the worst of the war is yet to come. I happily give a rating of 4 Stars for this exceptional debut novel.", "timestamp": 1308857409000, "title": "An Exceptional Debut Novel!" }, { "asin": "1414335695", "rating": 4, "text": "I can now safely say that Randy Singer never fails to amaze me with any book he writes. He's got a knack for creating these larger-than-life tales that make me feel like I just watched a whole season of 24 non-stop. Granted, I've only read two of his novels, but simply put...he's just awesome. End of discussion. :o)<br /><br />False Witness was an action-packed thrill ride, and that's no joke! There's the mob, the FBI, a bounty hunter, and this one little algorithm that everyone wanted. The problem was that if it fell into the wrong hands, chaos would ensue in no time flat. Then, there were the kidnappings, the torture, the money demands, and well...you can seen why it was an addictive read!<br /><br />But the one strike this book had against itself was all the legal stuff. I was able to keep most of it straight initially, but toward the end, my brain was on overload. I think if it had been toned down just a little bit, False Witness would have been 5-star worthy, for sure.<br /><br />In spite of that one little irritation, I still highly recommend False Witness as an incredible read. Just a warning that you may burn your dinner, have a pile of laundry waiting, or not get enough winks at night until you get it finished. :o)", "timestamp": 1309045355000, "title": "An Action-Packed Thrill Ride!" }, { "asin": "0764208330", "rating": 5, "text": "As a rule, I'm not overly fond of wagon train stories, but I could not read this one fast enough! It's not often that I have an opportunity to practically fly through a book as good as this one, but in 24 hours time, I read this book every moment I could spare. Thankfully, my husband was very understanding as we went through an evening with me cooking no dinner, folding no laundry, and watching no tv. And yes...he survived. ;o)<br /><br />Jody Hedlund has created a masterpiece in The Doctor's Lady. She had me smiling at the teasing nature of Priscilla and Eli's early relationship, and conversely, she had me in tears during a moment that no mother every wants to experience. If that wasn't enough, she created romantic tension so thick, I could cut it with a knife.<br /><br />And this was not your typical marriage of convenience story. Priscilla and Eli's marriage was quickly thrust into the dangers of what would become the Oregon Trail as they dealt with rapid rivers, dishonest guides, and fatal diseases. Not only did they butt heads occasionally with their traveling companions, they also struggled to share their true thoughts with one another which created unnecessary, yet believable, emotional turmoil.<br /><br />For those who are fans of Laura Frantz or Deeanne Gist, I guarantee The Doctor's Lady is a story that you will love in its entirety. As I said before, wagon train stories are not my thing as there are usually several portions that lag and I find my attention drifting. That is definitely not the case with this one! The action is continuous, the hardships believable, and the romance new and exciting. I have already carved out a place on my keeper shelf for this gem of a novel, and you better believe that it's there to stay. :o)", "timestamp": 1315631886000, "title": "A Masterpiece" }, { "asin": "0764209035", "rating": 3, "text": "It always pains me when I come across a book that others really enjoyed and I didn't. It's even worse when it's a brand new author. Each book is like a new baby to an author, and I imagine new authors are doubly sensitive when they read reviews of their \"firstborn.\" But unfortunately, Wings of a Dream just wasn't my cup of tea.<br /><br />There's not one clear area that I can point to as to where this book went wrong for me. I could name several things that didn't appeal to me, but I really don't want to get into a whole lot of details lest I ruin the reading experience for others. However, I compliment the author for creating a most unlikeable character in Rebekah's mother. She was far too uppity for her own good. :o)<br /><br />In spite of my overall dislike of this story, I do plan to give Anne's novels another try in the future. Every author, especially a new one, deserves a second chance to make a good impression, and I think with a little more work, Anne's future novels could be real gems. My rating for Wings of a Dream is 3.5 stars.", "timestamp": 1316450351000, "title": "Not the Right Fit for Me" }, { "asin": "0310332311", "rating": 4, "text": "I have been a diehard fan of Terri Blackstock since I first started reading Christian fiction over ten years ago. I have always been able to rely on Terri to provide suspenseful stories that keep me awake until the wee hours of the morning. However, this was not one of her stronger novels.<br /><br />While the carnival/amusement park idea was unique, I felt that I had to suspend belief for a large portion of the story. Like Carny, I wondered how in the world all of Logan's plans would come to fruition if he wasn't in fact a con artist. Without giving too much away, the end of the story was where this was most evident. Considering the amount of time that had passed between Logan's first visit to Serenity and the final chapter of the story, everything progressed much faster than it would in the real world.<br /><br />On the flip side, I felt that the characters in this story were extremely believable, Logan in particular. His reflections on his past as a product of foster homes combined with the years spent with his con artist mentor made him the most complex character of the story. Having personally met a con artist in my life (but thankfully not his victim), I could identify with some of the techniques Logan used to persuade the town into parting with their hard-earned money.<br /><br />I appreciated that Terri went back to her last novel written for the general market and rewrote it to appeal to a Christian audience. Never once did it seem that the story was rewritten as all the Christian elements blended seamlessly throughout the story. But if I compare it to some of her recent novels, it was not up to the same caliber that I've come to expect from her. It was only slightly suspenseful and romantic, yet still engaging enough that I wanted to read it to the very end. My rating is 4 Stars.", "timestamp": 1317131226000, "title": "Not Very Believable, but Still An Overall Good Story" }, { "asin": "1609362187", "rating": 5, "text": "I could go in so many directions with this review to tell you all about the characters, the plot, the setting, the clothes (oh...the clothes), but Heiress is one of those novels that is an experience--in jealousy, in opulence, in tragedy, in love. It's one that, if you know nothing but the back cover blurb, then you are in for the surprise of your life.<br /><br />I knew that Susan was a great writer, even after reading my first book by her earlier this year, but Heiress has catapulted her to favorite author status in no time flat. Just when I thought I was going to hit a lull in this story, she snapped my mind back to attention with one twist after another. Now, I know that some authors usually like to have one surprise lurking somewhere in their stories, but to have them appear in rapid succession (and all of them believable, no less) showed that Susan's got some masterful writing chops.<br /><br />Without a doubt, Heiress has to be the edgiest Christian fiction book of the year. It should also come with a warning label--\"Don't start unless you plan to stay up past your bedtime.\"<br /><br />Go. Get. It. Now. I dare you. ;o)", "timestamp": 1317135741000, "title": "The Edgiest Christian Fiction Book of the Year" }, { "asin": "0802405843", "rating": 3, "text": "Susan Page Davis is an author whose books I've come to love. From her early days of writing for the Heartsong Presents Line to one of her newest series, The Ladies Shooting Club, I've been able to rely on her ability to supply excellent stories to the Christian fiction genre. For those reasons, I was eager to read her newest novel, Captive Trail.<br /><br />Captive Trail was a bit of a departure from Susan's usual style. There wasn't the spunky heroine or the handsome hero, nor was there the gradual and believable romance that I'm accustomed to reading. However, there was a sweet series of relationships that formed among the characters, and enough danger and fear evident with the local Indian tribes that I kept turning page after page.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to the other 5 books in The Texas Trail Series by various authors that I have come to enjoy. My rating for Captive Trail is 3 Stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to Moody Publishers and CFBA for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1317834323000, "title": "Captive Trail" }, { "asin": "1433668688", "rating": 5, "text": "I love being able to have a new experience every time I read a book, and when it comes to reading Amish fiction...well, that's a tad bit of a rarity. Most of the time, their culture is seen as difficult, closed off, and rigorous. But in Tricia Goyer's first Amish novel, those cultural boundaries are pushed to the edge, and seriously...it makes for an incredibly entertaining, yet beautiful, story that I won't soon forget.<br /><br />What surprised me most about this story was the increased interaction between the Amish and the Englisch. Normally, the Amish are not known for this, but frankly, when you live in the wide open spaces of Montana, you don't have much choice about who your neighbors are. For Marianna and her father, this unusual arrangement with outsiders took some getting used to at first, but slowly, those self-imposed walls began to drop, and new relationships started to form. Not only were these new relationships with common people, but also, with God Himself.<br /><br />Prior to reading Beside Still Waters, I had read only a handful of Tricia's novels, but truly, she has a gift with the Amish genre. Not that her other books aren't great in their own rights, but she has a different voice here that kept pulling on my heartstrings, and it just would...not...let...go. If you're like me and love a great Amish read, yet you long for something different, Beside Still Waters is one of the best. Period.", "timestamp": 1324276367000, "title": "Change is Good, Especially When It Comes to the Amish" }, { "asin": "0800734599", "rating": 4, "text": "Ever since I devoured every single book in Amanda Cabot's Texas Dreams series, I have been eagerly awaiting the start of her newest series set in the West. Her characters have a way of finding a place in my heart, and I find myself thinking about them days, weeks, and months since our acquaintance.<br /><br />Summer of Promise, while a great start to a new series, didn't quite resonate with me the way Amanda's previous books have. Abigail seemed a bit uppity to me at first, yet slowly and surely won me over. Ethan was a commanding officer with a devotion to his soldiers, and underneath his tough exterior lay a gentle soul. Charlotte and Jeffrey oftentimes shared a strained relationship that suffered a painful ending. All the characters were well-written, but as a whole, it took longer than I would've liked to make a connection with them.<br /><br />What I did find interesting, though, was that the story was set during the early days at Fort Laramie. Amanda wove in a handful of details about the fort that were true to the time period, such as the progress of certain factual buildings or the characteristics of the general area. It seemed odd to me that there was no mention of a church anywhere near the fort, and I can't help but think (and/or hope) that one will be introduced in a later book.<br /><br />And as a dog lover to the core, I couldn't help but smile every time I read about Puddles! My husband and I briefly had a puppy in our house, and Puddles' multiple antics reminded me several times what it was like to clean up after a muddy dog, or to have them cover my face with doggie kisses. :o)<br /><br />Fans of historical romance will enjoy this first book in the Westward Winds series. Personally, I'm glad to know that just like Amanda's first series, each book in this new series will center around a different heroine. It will be interesting to see how Charlotte handles the new challenges that have come her way in book 2.", "timestamp": 1328240646000, "title": "Perfect for Fans of Historical Romance" }, { "asin": "0764207865", "rating": 3, "text": "Normally, I can't get enough of Kim's books, but this one was not one of my favorites. The story was very sweet, but there wasn't enough momentum throughout the story to keep me interested and engaged. The characters were fully-fleshed, but again, not interesting. For fans that enjoy sweet historical romances, I would recommend that they read some of Kim's other novels, particularly Courting Miss Amsel...one of her best.", "timestamp": 1328762764000, "title": "Not One of My Favorites" }, { "asin": "0310250684", "rating": 5, "text": "All of Terri Blackstock's books are great from start to finish...doesn't matter which one I pick up. I know that every single time I read one, I'm going be riveted by the story and glued to every page.<br /><br />Downfall was no exception. While I'm extremely disappointed that this was the last book in the Intervention series, I can honestly say that it was a great conclusion because truly, the Covington family's nerves are probably frayed to threads after all the ordeals they've been through!<br /><br />The suspense was believable, too, especially the overall flow of events. Emily's part in the story blended well as she tried in her own way to solve the mystery. Lance's instincts proved true about his classmates from his new school, which also contributed to the suspense. And to top it all off, Kent was assigned to the case of figuring out who this weirdo was that was responsible for terrorizing everyone. Poor Barbara...it was all she could do to keep up!! She got a little hysterical a time or two, but honestly, who wouldn't?<br /><br />I have so appreciated Terri's confidence in writing a series completely devoted to drug addiction, and how those addictions have a ripple effect on others. And to have it combined with her trademark Up All Night Suspense? What else could a reader want? :o)", "timestamp": 1330666838000, "title": "Excellent Conclusion to the Intervention Series!" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 4, "text": "If possible, I think Dorothy Love's sophomore novel is better than her first! It's been a *long* time since I stayed up past midnight to finish a book to it's very last page. :o) Another bonus? That cover...isn't it gorgeous?! The covers for all three books in this series really deserve a hand of applause for their beauty. I could stare at them for the longest time... *sigh* And yet another bonus? It's set in my home state of Tennessee, and I couldn't help but appreciate all the references to cities, towns, and landmarks that I'm familiar with.<br /><br />I think I related more to the heroine in Beauty for Ashes than I did the heroine in Beyond All Measure (Dorothy's debut novel). I've been in that place before where if something could go wrong, it did go wrong, and like Carrie, I've hoped that I could run away from those problems so someone else could sort them out. Unfortunately, life has other ideas, both in the real and fictitious worlds, and Carrie's world was pretty much turned upside down more than once. It was a cross between heartbreak and frustration as I read about her relationships with Nate and Mary, but those feeling were soon replaced with admiration because of her strength of character. No matter what, she wasn't going to quit. No matter what, her irritation at the lot she'd been given in life was not going to overwhelm her. She was going to make it through this storm God had sent her through (first the loss of a husband, then being the third wheel in her brother's new marriage), and come out stronger on the other side.<br /><br />Griff's character was a good addition to the story, but I didn't connect with him as much as I would've liked. It always seemed like he was hiding something, even until the very end. Most likely, it was the drifter in him that made me wary. However, I did enjoy the portions where he worked as a horse trainer, and the references to the newly-created Kentucky Derby.<br /><br />When I connect with books on a personal level, it's always easy to recommend them. It's extra-easy in this case because this book is a winner. :o) I can't wait to journey back to Hickory Ridge one final time when Dorothy's final book in this series, Every Perfect Gift, releases later this year.", "timestamp": 1331871768000, "title": "Better Than Her First Novel!" } ]

[ { "asin": "0800732138", "rating": 5, "text": "If you are looking for the greatest series in Christian fiction right now, then look no further than the Daughters of Boston series by Julie Lessman. I put off reading these books for months (why, I have no idea), but they were so well worth the wait. Never have I read such an edgy series that just sucked me in so much that I couldn't seem to read fast enough.<br /><br />I have to admit that this third book, A Passion Denied, was probably my favorite of the Daughters of Boston series. While the first two are wonderful (and you definitely should read them in order), book three brought a little bit more \"real life\" to the whole picture. Faith and Charity are now married, and thus, have to deal with the joys and challenges that married life brings. Also, Marcy and Patrick's relationship has a wrench thrown into it that just adds more depth to the story. I felt that Julie did a great job of giving insight to both the good and the bad with each couple, all while giving advice through her characters on how certain situations should be handled. Scattered throughout the book are numerous snippets of Scripture that help prove the points Julie's trying to get across, and not once does it come across as preachy.<br /><br />So, with all that said, don't even think about starting this series if you're not willing to stay up `til at least midnight or later! Every single book in this series has been nothing short of fantastic, and I cannot wait for more!", "timestamp": 1243445092000, "title": "Up 'til Midnight fiction!!" }, { "asin": "1434766411", "rating": 5, "text": "Very rarely do I come across a book that just leaves me floored the whole way through. Except for one tiny little break, I read this book from cover to cover, and loved every second of it. While it's not a book that I would normally go out of my way to read, words cannot adequately express how impressed I was after reading this fabulous debut novel.<br /><br />Talking to the Dead is a great example of an author thinking outside the box and finding a new niche in the Christian fiction arena. I have never come across a Christian fiction novel that dealt with any type of mental illness, much less mental institutions and shrinks, and how individuals seek help (be it worldly or spiritual) for those problems in the real world. Even though the Christian aspects of the novel were a tad bit watered down in places, I really applaud the author for showing what some churches/pastors are like in the real world, particularly, the scene with Jack's father. It literally broke my heart to read through Kate's experience with this fictitious pastor, knowing that there really are pastors and church leaders out there that use the same tactics.<br /><br />Talking to the Dead is now firmly planted on my all-time favorites list. Now, I must begin the impatient wait for whatever she has in store for her next book. If all of Bonnie's books are as great as this one, I'll be a fan for life.", "timestamp": 1257371509000, "title": "You Don't Want to Miss Out on This Book!" }, { "asin": "0764205137", "rating": 3, "text": "Honestly, this book was not all that impressive to me. I really wanted to like it because I've heard a lot of good things about Ms. Whitson's books. The beginning of the book was almost enough to make me put it down and not finish it, mostly because there were way too many characters to keep up with. Fortunately, only the beginning of the book centers around half or so of the sixteen brides, and then, dwindles to five main brides for the rest of the story. It took about 100 or so pages before the bulk of the story started to take shape, and it wasn't a fast-moving story because again, there were too many characters. If this had been a book that centered around 2 or 3 brides, I think I would've enjoyed it much more.", "timestamp": 1270607281000, "title": "Almost Didn't Finish It" }, { "asin": "1935416634", "rating": 4, "text": "Just like Miralee's first historical novel, her second venture into this genre does not disappoint at all! This book is rich with descriptions, and easily addictive. In fact, I found that after awhile, I simply couldn't put it down!<br /><br />The agonizing grief that Margaret felt with the loss of her first love, and then, her father, is simply heartbreaking. That'd be enough to make me want to crawl in a hole somewhere and die, honestly. Instead, she perseveres, and moves on with her life, both with her job as a teacher and her budding relationship with Andrew.<br /><br />While the romance scenes in the book are small in number, they were enough to steal my breath away! I truly had no idea which man Margaret would choose, even after going back in forth in my own mind with who the lucky fellow would be.<br /><br />Probably the most interesting aspect of the whole book is tucked away at the very end. (Don't worry...this is not a spoiler.) Miralee shares what inspired her to write this book, most of it coming from her own family history. I imagine that makes this book even more special to her on a whole different level. Several things are scattered through the story that are actual historical events...although, I can't let the cat out of the bag on that one, or I really would be spoiling the story!<br /><br />Yep, definitely another great book for Miralee, and another fantastic addition to the Love Finds You series! I can't wait to read what she comes out with next! :o)", "timestamp": 1274980283000, "title": "Another Great Historical Novel from Miralee Ferrell!" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 3, "text": "Having read another novel by Melanie Dobson earlier this year and really liking it, I really had high expectations for this book. Honestly, this book fell way short. True, it's a totally different genre than the other book I've read by her (which was historical), but I really had a hard time getting through this book, in general.<br /><br />I guess you could call this a suspense novel....maybe. In a way, I almost consider that a little bit of a stretch because in addition to reading Camden's side of the story, I was also getting the bad guy's side of the story. Sometimes that's good, but I don't know if I felt that it was, in this case. I like for a suspense novel to make me guess a little, even if really don't have it all figured out by the end of the story. There was a small twist at the end that I did not expect, but other than that, I felt the ending was a little anticlimactic.<br /><br />I also felt no connection to the characters, except maybe a little bit with Camden. She's pretty much on her own, has no money, and has inherited a house that she can't pay to repair. All through her story, I was rooting for her to succeed, and hoping that she would not say yes to the first person to come along and make her an offer on the old house. Grant's character was just okay...nothing really spectacular to me. And the creepy guys were just....well....creepy.<br /><br />In spite of this book being not so great, I know I'll be reading more from Melanie Dobson in the future. I typically enjoy reading suspense novels, but this one was just a little flat. Overall, I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to the publisher for providing this book for me to review.", "timestamp": 1275055861000, "title": "Just Okay" }, { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 5, "text": "Without a doubt...Cara Lynn James is certainly new author to watch! I was so thoroughly captivated by this novel that I couldn't believe it's only her first! Her writing style is so beautiful and lyrical that I literally felt transported to the era of the Astors and Vanderbilts. Until now, my only experience with the Gilded Era has been through film, and now, I'm just itching for more of this era in printed form. January 2011 seems far too long to have to wait to read the next book in the Ladies of Summerhill series, but I will wait for it as patiently as I know how!", "timestamp": 1276662978000, "title": "Give Me More...Quick!!" }, { "asin": "0764204963", "rating": 5, "text": "Though Waters Roar is another win for Lynn Austin! It's clear why her novels win so many awards, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if this one garners a few of it's own.<br /><br />It's no secret at all that Lynn Austin is one of my absolute favorite authors, but I have to admit that I struggled a little bit initially to get interested in this story. One of Lynn's trademarks is merging a present-day story with some history of another person within a family unit. This book had that same feature (which I love), but it was harder for me to follow for the first few chapters. Usually, her books are divided into parts with each part being about one person's story. This one was not set up that way at all, and there were times that I was so thoroughly confused trying to keep the characters straight, and where they belonged in the overall timeline. But....don't let that deter you from considering this book for your next read. Just keep in mind that it make take you awhile to fully immerse yourself in the story.<br /><br />I loved the historical elements that were featured, too. This story focused on the era of women struggling to have a voice, particularly with voting. Another large chunk of the story featured alcoholism, and the resulting Prohibition movement. And yet another portion dealth with slavery. Each major character had a hand in each one of these parts of history, and it was so thoroughly fascinating to read about all of that in one book.<br /><br />While it's probably won't ever be my favorite book ever by Lynn Austin, I have to give it 5 stars simply because the story was truly extraordinary. And as always, I can't wait to read her next book. :o)", "timestamp": 1276796839000, "title": "Excellent As Always" }, { "asin": "1414335962", "rating": 5, "text": "Allison Pittman can flat write a book...period. If it had not been for a suggestion from a friend of mine several years ago, I doubt I would've ever discovered Allison's books. Since then, though, I've become a fan through and through. Her historical novels always seem to have some a little different from all the rest--sometimes, it's unique characters, but almost always, it's a story that pulls at my emotions from start to finish.<br /><br />For Time and Eternity was a novel I wanted to read from the first moment I read the description. I've been on a little bit of a kick with this particular book \"style\" lately, and I knew Allison's take on this point in history would not disappoint. It also helped that she had first-hand knowledge of the Mormon church and their practices. Now, I'm not Mormon, I don't know any Mormons, but I do have a basic knowledge of their beliefs. What really saddens me is how many people were drawn into this religion in it's early years, maybe before they were fully aware of what they were getting into. Honestly, what sane woman wants to share her husband? Um, not me. Thankfully, as a church they have eliminated all practices of polygamy, but it's still a part of their history. Now, only the FLDS (Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints) participate in polygamy.<br /><br />I felt all of Camilla's emotions through this entire book. Camilla had more on her young shoulders than most people have when they're twice her age, and she had so many decisions that she had to make...some that were split-second. One came when she had to choose between her parents and this new boy, Nathan Fox. She barely knew him, and she didn't understand why her parents didn't want her around him. After time, their reasons became very clear. And thankfully, Camilla's mother insisted that she read her Bible daily, and journal a verse every day. This early nurturing in Scripture would be the difference maker in Camilla's adult, married life.<br /><br />If you decide to read For Time and Eternity, let me warn you that this is not your typical novel--not just because it has both Mormon and Christian elements, but because it will literally have your emotions on overdrive from page one through to the very end. It was an excellent story that was heartbreaking, but beautifully told. My only complaint was that it didn't last long enough!", "timestamp": 1284184050000, "title": "Do Not Miss This Book!" }, { "asin": "1595548246", "rating": 5, "text": "Oh, my...I think this was one of the best books I read all year! I already know that whatever words I can come up with to describe how much I enjoyed this book will be so insufficient. It had beauty and tenderness, along with sadness and pain, but with definite joy at the end of the journey.<br /><br />I've said so many times that Amish fiction has reached a point where so many stories are similar, and for something to really reach out and grab me, it needs to have a little something extra. This is that book! First of all, the setting is brand new for Amish fiction fans. This is the first book that I know of set in the mountains of Colorado. That was very intriguing simply because of adjusting to the different weather conditions there compared to Pennsylvania. Second, Emily and her family have to deal with a situation that is almost unheard of in their communities. I won't mention what it is because I don't want to spoil anything, but I've only ever seen it mentioned in one other Amish series. Seeing Emily overcome her past, while also trying not to be attracted to David, is a very beautiful thing to watch unfold.<br /><br />I also want to give some love to some of the secondary characters. Martha....loved her to pieces!! The scene where she introduces her parrot to David and Emily grabbed ahold of my funny bone, and wouldn't let go! And I wish that something had developed between her and certain gentleman, but I'm thinking (and hoping) that story will be featured in a future book. Another character that had an integral role in the story was Katie Ann, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for her from the get-go. Her story was never really a part of the Daughters of the Promise series, so I'm glad that she will be the primary focus of Beth's next book set in Canaan, Colorado.<br /><br />If you've not read Beth's Daughters of the Promise series, then I strongly encourage you to do so before reading this book. There are a handful of things in this book that build upon the previous books, and unless you are okay with a few spoilers, the entire story is best appreciated if it's read in order.<br /><br />That said, I don't know how in the world I'm gonna wait until the end of 2011 to find out what happens next in Canaan!! I'll be able to get my Beth Wiseman fix in March (thankfully, that's not far away) when she releases the next book in the Daughters of the Promise series, Plain Proposal. Listen now, when I discover a new author that I love, you better get out of my way at the bookstore...this woman can write!", "timestamp": 1292948125000, "title": "This Book Will Have You Burning the Midnight Oil!" }, { "asin": "0800734564", "rating": 4, "text": "Fatal Judgment was the first romantic suspense novel I've read in quite a long time. It was also the first time I've read anything by Irene Hannon, and I have to say that I was very impressed. The first novel in her new series, Guardians of Justice, was a thrill ride with U.S. Marshals, the FBI, and a murderer on the loose. The action was consistent throughout, but sprinkled with moments of grief and healing for both Liz and Jake. It was up to Jake to protect Liz at every turn, and he was definitely a hero worth reading about!<br /><br />Another thing I loved was that, as a reader, I knew who the bad guy was all along because he was revealed about 1/3 of the way into the book. From past experience, sometimes that works for a story, sometimes it doesn't. In Fatal Judgment, it defintely worked! I was given a glimpse into his crazy mind, and his motives for striking out at Judge Michaels. On the other hand, his character saddened me because there are so many people in the real world that have his same twisted logic toward our country.<br /><br />I have no doubt that the next installment in this series will please suspense fans as easily as this one did. Irene Hannon has enormous talent within this genre, and the thoughts and research that went into this novel was evident on every page. And now that I know that a few characters from this novel were a part of her previous series, I can't wait to get my hands on those next!<br /><br />4.5 Stars", "timestamp": 1296364027000, "title": "4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "0800732596", "rating": 4, "text": "Melody Carlson has always been my go-to author for great YA fiction, and Never Been Kissed was another fabulous example of her talent within this genre. I read this book from cover to cover in one sitting, and even though I'm a few years removed from the young adult period of my life, there was plenty in this short book to open my eyes to what teens are involved in today, particularly on the topic of sexting.<br /><br />Melody's novels are always on the pulse of current teen issues and what's happening in high schools everywhere. Never Been Kissed is just the kind of book that should be read by parents and teens alike. My rating is 4 stars.", "timestamp": 1296446134000, "title": "Should Be Read by Parents and Teens Alike" }, { "asin": "0800734521", "rating": 3, "text": "This was another one of those books that I tried so very hard to like, but it was oh-so-difficult. I think that the author had a great idea to base a series of books on midwives, but this first book just fell flat. There was so little information about midwives and their roles in society that I was left wanting by the book's end. This may have had something to do with so few women in the book that were pregnant (only 3 deliveries of babies and one litter of puppies in a 400 page novel).<br /><br />Another thing that kept me from really enjoying the book was all of the filler. One chapter left me on a climax, then the next chapter switched to a different scene entirely, and it usually was one that had no excitement at all. By the time I got back around to the resolution of the cliffhanger from 2 chapters before, my anticipation to know what happened had vanished. This is something that I've noticed with authors that typically write short novels (Heartsong or Love Inspired), who then switch to writing a full-length novel. The plot of the story may be good, but the delivery gets choked up by all the filler to make it a longer book. (At this point, I have not read any of Ms. Eakes' other novels, but I know she has some shorter novels that have been released, and that's why I am drawing this conclusion.)<br /><br />I am still interested to read the next book in this series, and I hope that there will be more of a midwife feel to it as opposed to another historical Regency. Ms. Eakes' has a great deal of talent with her writing; I just hope that it will be more focused in her next full-length book.", "timestamp": 1298312686000, "title": "Good Book, just Needed a Little More Focus" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "Since I first started reading Christian fiction, Terri Blackstock has always been one of my favorite authors. I love the intensity in her novels, which causes me to furiously turn the pages. She has begun a new series about the struggles of drug addiction, and she doesn't tone down that intensity one bit.<br /><br />Vicious Cycle is a novel about a young girl, Jordan, who is caught up in a web of drug addiction. Not only is she an addict, but her mother and half-brother are as well. In the very first chapter, she is pregnant with a child and forced to have the baby in her own bed because her mother will not take her to the hospital. Jordan does not understand that at first, but as the pieces fall into place throughout the book, Jordan's realizes she has a mother who does not care about anyone but herself.<br /><br />Lance (featured in book one, Intervention) becomes friends with Jordan through school. Because his sister is a recovering drug addict, he recognizes pretty quickly that Jordan is on the road to a bad life, not only for herself, but for the baby that she's carrying. He convinces her to start treatment at a local rehab center, New Day. Lance visits every weekend to see his sister while she's recovering, and seeing Jordan is an added bonus. When Jordan voluntarily leaves New Day so close to her delivery date, he knows Jordan will return to her drug-infested home. He takes it upon himself to drive over to her house to check on her, not realizing that he's about to be in the biggest trouble of his life.<br /><br />Leave it to Terri Blackstock to create a novel that sucked me in from page one!! Not only did I get a glimpse of the world of meth, I also got a small glimpse into the world of baby trafficking, and neither one was a pretty picture. This book was so realistic, possibly more so than the book before it, Intervention. I can't wait to see what's in store for Barbara, Kent, Emily, and Lance with the remainder of the books in this series. Highly Recommended!!", "timestamp": 1298998047000, "title": "Intense Novel That I Couldn't Put Down!" }, { "asin": "160260696X", "rating": 4, "text": "Discovering new authors can really be a mixed bag of surprises for a reader. I've had experiences where I wonder what took me so long to get around to them, and I've had other experiences where I wished I could've used my time differently. No worries....Vickie McDonough fits perfectly into the first category. :o)<br /><br />Vickie's western style of writing was very reminiscent of Mary Connealy and Lori Copeland, except it was deeper. I loved that I got to really invest myself in the emotions of each character. Luke--who initially had a heart filled with unforgiveness--slowly allowed his heart to soften. Rachel--who scorned Luke many years ago--longed to admit that she'd made a terrible mistake. And Jacqueline--better known as \"Jack\"--was a feisty tomboy that just wanted her ma to marry Luke.<br /><br />But setting up Luke and Rachel wasn't as easy as a couple of cousins thought it would be! Luke's cousins took it upon themselves to find a mail-order bride for Luke. What they didn't count on was that instead of one girl being interested in Luke...there were three! And what made things even crazier...poor Luke didn't have a clue what he was about to be in for--a pushy mayor, a nosy journalist, and three women vying for his hand in marriage! If that's not a recipe for a great story, I don't know what is!<br /><br />I'm so happy to add Vickie to my list of highly recommended authors, and it comes after reading just one book. I have a feeling that the tiny town of Lookout, Texas has a few more surprises up it's sleeve before the series concludes. My rating for The Anonymous Bride is 4.5 Stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to Barbour Books for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1299901844000, "title": "4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "0800734076", "rating": 4, "text": "Having been a fan of Biblical fiction for many years now, I was very intrigued to read a story about the life of Job. Job's story in the Bible is not one that I've read very many times because frankly, it's a little sad and depressing, even though it does end well. I have to say that the fictional retelling of Job's story in Love Amid the Ashes really has me wanting to crack open this book in my Bible to get a better appreciation of Job's trials.<br /><br />I really appreciated the genealogy flow chart at the beginning of the book because without it, I don't know if I'd have ever been able to keep all the characters straight! There are a LOT of characters mentioned at the very beginning of the story, and I admit that I was confused a number of times. However, had all of those characters not been introduced, I wouldn't have gotten a full picture of the people involved in Job's life.<br /><br />I was also very grateful for the author's note at the end of the book explaining how she developed the story. I never would've thought of Jacob's daughter, Dinah, as being a part of Job's life at all, but thanks to the enormous research done by Ms. Andrews, it very likely may have been a reality. Because of that, I doubt I will ever look at Job's story the same way again.<br /><br />I highly recommend Love Amid the Ashes for those who enjoy Biblical fiction. Ms. Andrews has challenged my thinking, and has encouraged me to thoroughly re-read the story of Job. I can't wait to see what she has planned for her next novel because as a debut author, she's hit the ball out of the park with Love Amid the Ashes! My rating is 4 stars.", "timestamp": 1301167790000, "title": "Exceptional Debut Novel" }, { "asin": "0800733266", "rating": 4, "text": "Amanda Cabot has quickly become one of my go-to authors. I can't even count the number of times I've recommended her books to my book friends....they're just that good! Her latest offering is the last book in the Texas Dreams Series, and I'm so sad that my time with the citizens of Ladreville has come to an end.<br /><br />I enjoyed seeing the town through the eyes of Lawrence and Harriet. I have to confess that Lawrence wasn't one of my favorite characters in the last book. He was too stiff and rugged for my taste, and his infatuation with Priscilla got annoying after awhile. However, he was a completely different person in this book. He said goodbye to the life of a Texas Ranger, and stepped into the dual roles of town sheriff and mayor, two jobs that suited him quite well.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Harriet stepped in to fill the vacancy for school teacher in Ladreville. Not only was she excited to be teaching in a new town, she was anxious to forge a new life for herself and her siblings. I couldn't help but smile at the friendship that developed between Harriet and Isabelle. Isabelle has been one of the most genuine characters throughout the series, and her sweet spirit in this book is not one that I'll soon forget. If it hadn't been for Isabelle, poor Harriet would have never softened her uptight exterior. She also would've been destined to be a victim of the Fashion Police for a LONG time if Isabelle hadn't come to her rescue!<br /><br />Even more that the two previous books, I felt like I was a part of the town in Tomorrow's Garden. I wanted to scream at Harriet that she needed to keep her distance from Karl. I wanted to convince the townsfolk how important the bridge building was. And I wanted to cheer with joy at Ruth's gradual growth into a more confident young woman. Who wouldn't want to be part of such a community? :o)<br /><br />If you enjoy such authors as Lori Copeland and Kim Vogel Sawyer, I would strongly suggest you give Amanda Cabot a try. Each book in this series has been filled with so much emotion, and all of them have been nearly impossible to put down! I don't know how in the world I will be able to wait until next year to read her next offering which will be set in Wyoming. :o)<br /><br />4.5 Stars<br /><br />**Many thanks to Revell for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1303354184000, "title": "More Like 4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "082543310X", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm finding lately that I really enjoy young adult fiction. I mean *really* enjoy it! When I was in my teen years, there was not much to choose from unless I wanted to read general market. Fifteen years later, there's tons of Christian YA fiction, and well...I gotta make up for lost time!<br /><br />In addition to having not read a lot of YA books, I've also not read a whole lot from the WWII period. Frankly, it's just really difficult to read. I cannot imagine living in a world of persecution and hate, being separated from my family, or having to wonder where I will get my next meal. So, it was with a little bit of nervousness that I decided to read How Huge the Night by debut authors Heather and Lydia Munn.<br /><br />First of all, I loved how this story was told through a teenager's eyes. Being an adult, I know the terror I would have felt if I were a wife and mother. How would I prepare to go into a war? How will I make sure my family doesn't starve? But reading this story from a younger generation's point of view made it that much more realistic. At first, Julian was the typical teenager--frustrated with a move to a new town and a new school, struggling to make new friends--but as he matured, his focus shifted to concerns for his family, their Jewish boarder, the new friends he had made, and eventually, how the war would change all of their lives forever.<br /><br />Secondly, I loved that the story was told with a French setting. While I have a very basic knowledge of WWII, I have almost no knowledge of France or French history. There were snippets of history regarding the Huguenots and their struggles for religious freedom in the 1600's, as well as details about the armistice between France and Germany, and how Germany eventually violated their agreement. I was also surprised to read at the very end that France as a whole had very little knowledge about what was actually happening around them during the war (shared in the author's note). This made me curiously wonder whether they simply did not have access to tv's or newspapers, or if the news that was brought to them had been censored. Either way, how frightening it must have been to not know what's happening in the world around you.<br /><br />Also shared in the author's note was that there is another book coming soon from this talented mother/daughter team. While I have no idea if it will just be a sequel or part of a series, I wish it was available to read right now! This book did not leave me hanging per se, but I'm just itching to know what happens to Julian, Benjamin, Nina, and Gustav as the worst of the war is yet to come. I happily give a rating of 4 Stars for this exceptional debut novel.", "timestamp": 1308857409000, "title": "An Exceptional Debut Novel!" }, { "asin": "1414335695", "rating": 4, "text": "I can now safely say that Randy Singer never fails to amaze me with any book he writes. He's got a knack for creating these larger-than-life tales that make me feel like I just watched a whole season of 24 non-stop. Granted, I've only read two of his novels, but simply put...he's just awesome. End of discussion. :o)<br /><br />False Witness was an action-packed thrill ride, and that's no joke! There's the mob, the FBI, a bounty hunter, and this one little algorithm that everyone wanted. The problem was that if it fell into the wrong hands, chaos would ensue in no time flat. Then, there were the kidnappings, the torture, the money demands, and well...you can seen why it was an addictive read!<br /><br />But the one strike this book had against itself was all the legal stuff. I was able to keep most of it straight initially, but toward the end, my brain was on overload. I think if it had been toned down just a little bit, False Witness would have been 5-star worthy, for sure.<br /><br />In spite of that one little irritation, I still highly recommend False Witness as an incredible read. Just a warning that you may burn your dinner, have a pile of laundry waiting, or not get enough winks at night until you get it finished. :o)", "timestamp": 1309045355000, "title": "An Action-Packed Thrill Ride!" }, { "asin": "0764208330", "rating": 5, "text": "As a rule, I'm not overly fond of wagon train stories, but I could not read this one fast enough! It's not often that I have an opportunity to practically fly through a book as good as this one, but in 24 hours time, I read this book every moment I could spare. Thankfully, my husband was very understanding as we went through an evening with me cooking no dinner, folding no laundry, and watching no tv. And yes...he survived. ;o)<br /><br />Jody Hedlund has created a masterpiece in The Doctor's Lady. She had me smiling at the teasing nature of Priscilla and Eli's early relationship, and conversely, she had me in tears during a moment that no mother every wants to experience. If that wasn't enough, she created romantic tension so thick, I could cut it with a knife.<br /><br />And this was not your typical marriage of convenience story. Priscilla and Eli's marriage was quickly thrust into the dangers of what would become the Oregon Trail as they dealt with rapid rivers, dishonest guides, and fatal diseases. Not only did they butt heads occasionally with their traveling companions, they also struggled to share their true thoughts with one another which created unnecessary, yet believable, emotional turmoil.<br /><br />For those who are fans of Laura Frantz or Deeanne Gist, I guarantee The Doctor's Lady is a story that you will love in its entirety. As I said before, wagon train stories are not my thing as there are usually several portions that lag and I find my attention drifting. That is definitely not the case with this one! The action is continuous, the hardships believable, and the romance new and exciting. I have already carved out a place on my keeper shelf for this gem of a novel, and you better believe that it's there to stay. :o)", "timestamp": 1315631886000, "title": "A Masterpiece" }, { "asin": "0764209035", "rating": 3, "text": "It always pains me when I come across a book that others really enjoyed and I didn't. It's even worse when it's a brand new author. Each book is like a new baby to an author, and I imagine new authors are doubly sensitive when they read reviews of their \"firstborn.\" But unfortunately, Wings of a Dream just wasn't my cup of tea.<br /><br />There's not one clear area that I can point to as to where this book went wrong for me. I could name several things that didn't appeal to me, but I really don't want to get into a whole lot of details lest I ruin the reading experience for others. However, I compliment the author for creating a most unlikeable character in Rebekah's mother. She was far too uppity for her own good. :o)<br /><br />In spite of my overall dislike of this story, I do plan to give Anne's novels another try in the future. Every author, especially a new one, deserves a second chance to make a good impression, and I think with a little more work, Anne's future novels could be real gems. My rating for Wings of a Dream is 3.5 stars.", "timestamp": 1316450351000, "title": "Not the Right Fit for Me" }, { "asin": "0310332311", "rating": 4, "text": "I have been a diehard fan of Terri Blackstock since I first started reading Christian fiction over ten years ago. I have always been able to rely on Terri to provide suspenseful stories that keep me awake until the wee hours of the morning. However, this was not one of her stronger novels.<br /><br />While the carnival/amusement park idea was unique, I felt that I had to suspend belief for a large portion of the story. Like Carny, I wondered how in the world all of Logan's plans would come to fruition if he wasn't in fact a con artist. Without giving too much away, the end of the story was where this was most evident. Considering the amount of time that had passed between Logan's first visit to Serenity and the final chapter of the story, everything progressed much faster than it would in the real world.<br /><br />On the flip side, I felt that the characters in this story were extremely believable, Logan in particular. His reflections on his past as a product of foster homes combined with the years spent with his con artist mentor made him the most complex character of the story. Having personally met a con artist in my life (but thankfully not his victim), I could identify with some of the techniques Logan used to persuade the town into parting with their hard-earned money.<br /><br />I appreciated that Terri went back to her last novel written for the general market and rewrote it to appeal to a Christian audience. Never once did it seem that the story was rewritten as all the Christian elements blended seamlessly throughout the story. But if I compare it to some of her recent novels, it was not up to the same caliber that I've come to expect from her. It was only slightly suspenseful and romantic, yet still engaging enough that I wanted to read it to the very end. My rating is 4 Stars.", "timestamp": 1317131226000, "title": "Not Very Believable, but Still An Overall Good Story" }, { "asin": "1609362187", "rating": 5, "text": "I could go in so many directions with this review to tell you all about the characters, the plot, the setting, the clothes (oh...the clothes), but Heiress is one of those novels that is an experience--in jealousy, in opulence, in tragedy, in love. It's one that, if you know nothing but the back cover blurb, then you are in for the surprise of your life.<br /><br />I knew that Susan was a great writer, even after reading my first book by her earlier this year, but Heiress has catapulted her to favorite author status in no time flat. Just when I thought I was going to hit a lull in this story, she snapped my mind back to attention with one twist after another. Now, I know that some authors usually like to have one surprise lurking somewhere in their stories, but to have them appear in rapid succession (and all of them believable, no less) showed that Susan's got some masterful writing chops.<br /><br />Without a doubt, Heiress has to be the edgiest Christian fiction book of the year. It should also come with a warning label--\"Don't start unless you plan to stay up past your bedtime.\"<br /><br />Go. Get. It. Now. I dare you. ;o)", "timestamp": 1317135741000, "title": "The Edgiest Christian Fiction Book of the Year" }, { "asin": "0802405843", "rating": 3, "text": "Susan Page Davis is an author whose books I've come to love. From her early days of writing for the Heartsong Presents Line to one of her newest series, The Ladies Shooting Club, I've been able to rely on her ability to supply excellent stories to the Christian fiction genre. For those reasons, I was eager to read her newest novel, Captive Trail.<br /><br />Captive Trail was a bit of a departure from Susan's usual style. There wasn't the spunky heroine or the handsome hero, nor was there the gradual and believable romance that I'm accustomed to reading. However, there was a sweet series of relationships that formed among the characters, and enough danger and fear evident with the local Indian tribes that I kept turning page after page.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to the other 5 books in The Texas Trail Series by various authors that I have come to enjoy. My rating for Captive Trail is 3 Stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to Moody Publishers and CFBA for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1317834323000, "title": "Captive Trail" }, { "asin": "1433668688", "rating": 5, "text": "I love being able to have a new experience every time I read a book, and when it comes to reading Amish fiction...well, that's a tad bit of a rarity. Most of the time, their culture is seen as difficult, closed off, and rigorous. But in Tricia Goyer's first Amish novel, those cultural boundaries are pushed to the edge, and seriously...it makes for an incredibly entertaining, yet beautiful, story that I won't soon forget.<br /><br />What surprised me most about this story was the increased interaction between the Amish and the Englisch. Normally, the Amish are not known for this, but frankly, when you live in the wide open spaces of Montana, you don't have much choice about who your neighbors are. For Marianna and her father, this unusual arrangement with outsiders took some getting used to at first, but slowly, those self-imposed walls began to drop, and new relationships started to form. Not only were these new relationships with common people, but also, with God Himself.<br /><br />Prior to reading Beside Still Waters, I had read only a handful of Tricia's novels, but truly, she has a gift with the Amish genre. Not that her other books aren't great in their own rights, but she has a different voice here that kept pulling on my heartstrings, and it just would...not...let...go. If you're like me and love a great Amish read, yet you long for something different, Beside Still Waters is one of the best. Period.", "timestamp": 1324276367000, "title": "Change is Good, Especially When It Comes to the Amish" }, { "asin": "0800734599", "rating": 4, "text": "Ever since I devoured every single book in Amanda Cabot's Texas Dreams series, I have been eagerly awaiting the start of her newest series set in the West. Her characters have a way of finding a place in my heart, and I find myself thinking about them days, weeks, and months since our acquaintance.<br /><br />Summer of Promise, while a great start to a new series, didn't quite resonate with me the way Amanda's previous books have. Abigail seemed a bit uppity to me at first, yet slowly and surely won me over. Ethan was a commanding officer with a devotion to his soldiers, and underneath his tough exterior lay a gentle soul. Charlotte and Jeffrey oftentimes shared a strained relationship that suffered a painful ending. All the characters were well-written, but as a whole, it took longer than I would've liked to make a connection with them.<br /><br />What I did find interesting, though, was that the story was set during the early days at Fort Laramie. Amanda wove in a handful of details about the fort that were true to the time period, such as the progress of certain factual buildings or the characteristics of the general area. It seemed odd to me that there was no mention of a church anywhere near the fort, and I can't help but think (and/or hope) that one will be introduced in a later book.<br /><br />And as a dog lover to the core, I couldn't help but smile every time I read about Puddles! My husband and I briefly had a puppy in our house, and Puddles' multiple antics reminded me several times what it was like to clean up after a muddy dog, or to have them cover my face with doggie kisses. :o)<br /><br />Fans of historical romance will enjoy this first book in the Westward Winds series. Personally, I'm glad to know that just like Amanda's first series, each book in this new series will center around a different heroine. It will be interesting to see how Charlotte handles the new challenges that have come her way in book 2.", "timestamp": 1328240646000, "title": "Perfect for Fans of Historical Romance" }, { "asin": "0764207865", "rating": 3, "text": "Normally, I can't get enough of Kim's books, but this one was not one of my favorites. The story was very sweet, but there wasn't enough momentum throughout the story to keep me interested and engaged. The characters were fully-fleshed, but again, not interesting. For fans that enjoy sweet historical romances, I would recommend that they read some of Kim's other novels, particularly Courting Miss Amsel...one of her best.", "timestamp": 1328762764000, "title": "Not One of My Favorites" }, { "asin": "0310250684", "rating": 5, "text": "All of Terri Blackstock's books are great from start to finish...doesn't matter which one I pick up. I know that every single time I read one, I'm going be riveted by the story and glued to every page.<br /><br />Downfall was no exception. While I'm extremely disappointed that this was the last book in the Intervention series, I can honestly say that it was a great conclusion because truly, the Covington family's nerves are probably frayed to threads after all the ordeals they've been through!<br /><br />The suspense was believable, too, especially the overall flow of events. Emily's part in the story blended well as she tried in her own way to solve the mystery. Lance's instincts proved true about his classmates from his new school, which also contributed to the suspense. And to top it all off, Kent was assigned to the case of figuring out who this weirdo was that was responsible for terrorizing everyone. Poor Barbara...it was all she could do to keep up!! She got a little hysterical a time or two, but honestly, who wouldn't?<br /><br />I have so appreciated Terri's confidence in writing a series completely devoted to drug addiction, and how those addictions have a ripple effect on others. And to have it combined with her trademark Up All Night Suspense? What else could a reader want? :o)", "timestamp": 1330666838000, "title": "Excellent Conclusion to the Intervention Series!" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 4, "text": "If possible, I think Dorothy Love's sophomore novel is better than her first! It's been a *long* time since I stayed up past midnight to finish a book to it's very last page. :o) Another bonus? That cover...isn't it gorgeous?! The covers for all three books in this series really deserve a hand of applause for their beauty. I could stare at them for the longest time... *sigh* And yet another bonus? It's set in my home state of Tennessee, and I couldn't help but appreciate all the references to cities, towns, and landmarks that I'm familiar with.<br /><br />I think I related more to the heroine in Beauty for Ashes than I did the heroine in Beyond All Measure (Dorothy's debut novel). I've been in that place before where if something could go wrong, it did go wrong, and like Carrie, I've hoped that I could run away from those problems so someone else could sort them out. Unfortunately, life has other ideas, both in the real and fictitious worlds, and Carrie's world was pretty much turned upside down more than once. It was a cross between heartbreak and frustration as I read about her relationships with Nate and Mary, but those feeling were soon replaced with admiration because of her strength of character. No matter what, she wasn't going to quit. No matter what, her irritation at the lot she'd been given in life was not going to overwhelm her. She was going to make it through this storm God had sent her through (first the loss of a husband, then being the third wheel in her brother's new marriage), and come out stronger on the other side.<br /><br />Griff's character was a good addition to the story, but I didn't connect with him as much as I would've liked. It always seemed like he was hiding something, even until the very end. Most likely, it was the drifter in him that made me wary. However, I did enjoy the portions where he worked as a horse trainer, and the references to the newly-created Kentucky Derby.<br /><br />When I connect with books on a personal level, it's always easy to recommend them. It's extra-easy in this case because this book is a winner. :o) I can't wait to journey back to Hickory Ridge one final time when Dorothy's final book in this series, Every Perfect Gift, releases later this year.", "timestamp": 1331871768000, "title": "Better Than Her First Novel!" }, { "asin": "1414334834", "rating": 5, "text": "Noelle and Eli's marriage is on the skids, thanks to a difficult period filled with grief over the murder of their daughter. Now, they're sleeping in separate rooms and each one has secrets that would be devastating if they were brought to light. To make things even worse, Noelle develops amnesia after a severe blow to the head, and the past 25 years of her life have suddenly disappeared. Noelle and Eli must now work together to piece their lives back together, and decide whether or not their marriage is worth saving.<br /><br />Emma Nelson wants nothing more than to recapture the song of her heart. She feels as though it should've been her and not Kelsey that met the end of a shooter's bullet. Since then, playing the music that she and Kelsey created together just isn't the same anymore. If only she could capture the lyrics, the song that keeps running through her head would be complete. It will take a trip back home to Deep Haven, as well as the help of a special friend, to find what's she's been missing all along.<br /><br />Once again, Susan May Warren has created a masterpiece of a book wrought with deep emotions and personal struggles. Those suffering through a period of grief or those who have strayed from their first love (both literally and spiritually) can find hope in the pages of this novel. The Shadow of Your Smile is not a book to rush through reading, but rather, one that is worth the time it takes to savor the wisdom contained within. Highly Recommended!", "timestamp": 1334894567000, "title": "Deeply Emotional" } ]

[ { "asin": "0800732138", "rating": 5, "text": "If you are looking for the greatest series in Christian fiction right now, then look no further than the Daughters of Boston series by Julie Lessman. I put off reading these books for months (why, I have no idea), but they were so well worth the wait. Never have I read such an edgy series that just sucked me in so much that I couldn't seem to read fast enough.<br /><br />I have to admit that this third book, A Passion Denied, was probably my favorite of the Daughters of Boston series. While the first two are wonderful (and you definitely should read them in order), book three brought a little bit more \"real life\" to the whole picture. Faith and Charity are now married, and thus, have to deal with the joys and challenges that married life brings. Also, Marcy and Patrick's relationship has a wrench thrown into it that just adds more depth to the story. I felt that Julie did a great job of giving insight to both the good and the bad with each couple, all while giving advice through her characters on how certain situations should be handled. Scattered throughout the book are numerous snippets of Scripture that help prove the points Julie's trying to get across, and not once does it come across as preachy.<br /><br />So, with all that said, don't even think about starting this series if you're not willing to stay up `til at least midnight or later! Every single book in this series has been nothing short of fantastic, and I cannot wait for more!", "timestamp": 1243445092000, "title": "Up 'til Midnight fiction!!" }, { "asin": "1434766411", "rating": 5, "text": "Very rarely do I come across a book that just leaves me floored the whole way through. Except for one tiny little break, I read this book from cover to cover, and loved every second of it. While it's not a book that I would normally go out of my way to read, words cannot adequately express how impressed I was after reading this fabulous debut novel.<br /><br />Talking to the Dead is a great example of an author thinking outside the box and finding a new niche in the Christian fiction arena. I have never come across a Christian fiction novel that dealt with any type of mental illness, much less mental institutions and shrinks, and how individuals seek help (be it worldly or spiritual) for those problems in the real world. Even though the Christian aspects of the novel were a tad bit watered down in places, I really applaud the author for showing what some churches/pastors are like in the real world, particularly, the scene with Jack's father. It literally broke my heart to read through Kate's experience with this fictitious pastor, knowing that there really are pastors and church leaders out there that use the same tactics.<br /><br />Talking to the Dead is now firmly planted on my all-time favorites list. Now, I must begin the impatient wait for whatever she has in store for her next book. If all of Bonnie's books are as great as this one, I'll be a fan for life.", "timestamp": 1257371509000, "title": "You Don't Want to Miss Out on This Book!" }, { "asin": "0764205137", "rating": 3, "text": "Honestly, this book was not all that impressive to me. I really wanted to like it because I've heard a lot of good things about Ms. Whitson's books. The beginning of the book was almost enough to make me put it down and not finish it, mostly because there were way too many characters to keep up with. Fortunately, only the beginning of the book centers around half or so of the sixteen brides, and then, dwindles to five main brides for the rest of the story. It took about 100 or so pages before the bulk of the story started to take shape, and it wasn't a fast-moving story because again, there were too many characters. If this had been a book that centered around 2 or 3 brides, I think I would've enjoyed it much more.", "timestamp": 1270607281000, "title": "Almost Didn't Finish It" }, { "asin": "1935416634", "rating": 4, "text": "Just like Miralee's first historical novel, her second venture into this genre does not disappoint at all! This book is rich with descriptions, and easily addictive. In fact, I found that after awhile, I simply couldn't put it down!<br /><br />The agonizing grief that Margaret felt with the loss of her first love, and then, her father, is simply heartbreaking. That'd be enough to make me want to crawl in a hole somewhere and die, honestly. Instead, she perseveres, and moves on with her life, both with her job as a teacher and her budding relationship with Andrew.<br /><br />While the romance scenes in the book are small in number, they were enough to steal my breath away! I truly had no idea which man Margaret would choose, even after going back in forth in my own mind with who the lucky fellow would be.<br /><br />Probably the most interesting aspect of the whole book is tucked away at the very end. (Don't worry...this is not a spoiler.) Miralee shares what inspired her to write this book, most of it coming from her own family history. I imagine that makes this book even more special to her on a whole different level. Several things are scattered through the story that are actual historical events...although, I can't let the cat out of the bag on that one, or I really would be spoiling the story!<br /><br />Yep, definitely another great book for Miralee, and another fantastic addition to the Love Finds You series! I can't wait to read what she comes out with next! :o)", "timestamp": 1274980283000, "title": "Another Great Historical Novel from Miralee Ferrell!" }, { "asin": "0825425905", "rating": 3, "text": "Having read another novel by Melanie Dobson earlier this year and really liking it, I really had high expectations for this book. Honestly, this book fell way short. True, it's a totally different genre than the other book I've read by her (which was historical), but I really had a hard time getting through this book, in general.<br /><br />I guess you could call this a suspense novel....maybe. In a way, I almost consider that a little bit of a stretch because in addition to reading Camden's side of the story, I was also getting the bad guy's side of the story. Sometimes that's good, but I don't know if I felt that it was, in this case. I like for a suspense novel to make me guess a little, even if really don't have it all figured out by the end of the story. There was a small twist at the end that I did not expect, but other than that, I felt the ending was a little anticlimactic.<br /><br />I also felt no connection to the characters, except maybe a little bit with Camden. She's pretty much on her own, has no money, and has inherited a house that she can't pay to repair. All through her story, I was rooting for her to succeed, and hoping that she would not say yes to the first person to come along and make her an offer on the old house. Grant's character was just okay...nothing really spectacular to me. And the creepy guys were just....well....creepy.<br /><br />In spite of this book being not so great, I know I'll be reading more from Melanie Dobson in the future. I typically enjoy reading suspense novels, but this one was just a little flat. Overall, I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to the publisher for providing this book for me to review.", "timestamp": 1275055861000, "title": "Just Okay" }, { "asin": "1595546790", "rating": 5, "text": "Without a doubt...Cara Lynn James is certainly new author to watch! I was so thoroughly captivated by this novel that I couldn't believe it's only her first! Her writing style is so beautiful and lyrical that I literally felt transported to the era of the Astors and Vanderbilts. Until now, my only experience with the Gilded Era has been through film, and now, I'm just itching for more of this era in printed form. January 2011 seems far too long to have to wait to read the next book in the Ladies of Summerhill series, but I will wait for it as patiently as I know how!", "timestamp": 1276662978000, "title": "Give Me More...Quick!!" }, { "asin": "0764204963", "rating": 5, "text": "Though Waters Roar is another win for Lynn Austin! It's clear why her novels win so many awards, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if this one garners a few of it's own.<br /><br />It's no secret at all that Lynn Austin is one of my absolute favorite authors, but I have to admit that I struggled a little bit initially to get interested in this story. One of Lynn's trademarks is merging a present-day story with some history of another person within a family unit. This book had that same feature (which I love), but it was harder for me to follow for the first few chapters. Usually, her books are divided into parts with each part being about one person's story. This one was not set up that way at all, and there were times that I was so thoroughly confused trying to keep the characters straight, and where they belonged in the overall timeline. But....don't let that deter you from considering this book for your next read. Just keep in mind that it make take you awhile to fully immerse yourself in the story.<br /><br />I loved the historical elements that were featured, too. This story focused on the era of women struggling to have a voice, particularly with voting. Another large chunk of the story featured alcoholism, and the resulting Prohibition movement. And yet another portion dealth with slavery. Each major character had a hand in each one of these parts of history, and it was so thoroughly fascinating to read about all of that in one book.<br /><br />While it's probably won't ever be my favorite book ever by Lynn Austin, I have to give it 5 stars simply because the story was truly extraordinary. And as always, I can't wait to read her next book. :o)", "timestamp": 1276796839000, "title": "Excellent As Always" }, { "asin": "1414335962", "rating": 5, "text": "Allison Pittman can flat write a book...period. If it had not been for a suggestion from a friend of mine several years ago, I doubt I would've ever discovered Allison's books. Since then, though, I've become a fan through and through. Her historical novels always seem to have some a little different from all the rest--sometimes, it's unique characters, but almost always, it's a story that pulls at my emotions from start to finish.<br /><br />For Time and Eternity was a novel I wanted to read from the first moment I read the description. I've been on a little bit of a kick with this particular book \"style\" lately, and I knew Allison's take on this point in history would not disappoint. It also helped that she had first-hand knowledge of the Mormon church and their practices. Now, I'm not Mormon, I don't know any Mormons, but I do have a basic knowledge of their beliefs. What really saddens me is how many people were drawn into this religion in it's early years, maybe before they were fully aware of what they were getting into. Honestly, what sane woman wants to share her husband? Um, not me. Thankfully, as a church they have eliminated all practices of polygamy, but it's still a part of their history. Now, only the FLDS (Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints) participate in polygamy.<br /><br />I felt all of Camilla's emotions through this entire book. Camilla had more on her young shoulders than most people have when they're twice her age, and she had so many decisions that she had to make...some that were split-second. One came when she had to choose between her parents and this new boy, Nathan Fox. She barely knew him, and she didn't understand why her parents didn't want her around him. After time, their reasons became very clear. And thankfully, Camilla's mother insisted that she read her Bible daily, and journal a verse every day. This early nurturing in Scripture would be the difference maker in Camilla's adult, married life.<br /><br />If you decide to read For Time and Eternity, let me warn you that this is not your typical novel--not just because it has both Mormon and Christian elements, but because it will literally have your emotions on overdrive from page one through to the very end. It was an excellent story that was heartbreaking, but beautifully told. My only complaint was that it didn't last long enough!", "timestamp": 1284184050000, "title": "Do Not Miss This Book!" }, { "asin": "1595548246", "rating": 5, "text": "Oh, my...I think this was one of the best books I read all year! I already know that whatever words I can come up with to describe how much I enjoyed this book will be so insufficient. It had beauty and tenderness, along with sadness and pain, but with definite joy at the end of the journey.<br /><br />I've said so many times that Amish fiction has reached a point where so many stories are similar, and for something to really reach out and grab me, it needs to have a little something extra. This is that book! First of all, the setting is brand new for Amish fiction fans. This is the first book that I know of set in the mountains of Colorado. That was very intriguing simply because of adjusting to the different weather conditions there compared to Pennsylvania. Second, Emily and her family have to deal with a situation that is almost unheard of in their communities. I won't mention what it is because I don't want to spoil anything, but I've only ever seen it mentioned in one other Amish series. Seeing Emily overcome her past, while also trying not to be attracted to David, is a very beautiful thing to watch unfold.<br /><br />I also want to give some love to some of the secondary characters. Martha....loved her to pieces!! The scene where she introduces her parrot to David and Emily grabbed ahold of my funny bone, and wouldn't let go! And I wish that something had developed between her and certain gentleman, but I'm thinking (and hoping) that story will be featured in a future book. Another character that had an integral role in the story was Katie Ann, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for her from the get-go. Her story was never really a part of the Daughters of the Promise series, so I'm glad that she will be the primary focus of Beth's next book set in Canaan, Colorado.<br /><br />If you've not read Beth's Daughters of the Promise series, then I strongly encourage you to do so before reading this book. There are a handful of things in this book that build upon the previous books, and unless you are okay with a few spoilers, the entire story is best appreciated if it's read in order.<br /><br />That said, I don't know how in the world I'm gonna wait until the end of 2011 to find out what happens next in Canaan!! I'll be able to get my Beth Wiseman fix in March (thankfully, that's not far away) when she releases the next book in the Daughters of the Promise series, Plain Proposal. Listen now, when I discover a new author that I love, you better get out of my way at the bookstore...this woman can write!", "timestamp": 1292948125000, "title": "This Book Will Have You Burning the Midnight Oil!" }, { "asin": "0800734564", "rating": 4, "text": "Fatal Judgment was the first romantic suspense novel I've read in quite a long time. It was also the first time I've read anything by Irene Hannon, and I have to say that I was very impressed. The first novel in her new series, Guardians of Justice, was a thrill ride with U.S. Marshals, the FBI, and a murderer on the loose. The action was consistent throughout, but sprinkled with moments of grief and healing for both Liz and Jake. It was up to Jake to protect Liz at every turn, and he was definitely a hero worth reading about!<br /><br />Another thing I loved was that, as a reader, I knew who the bad guy was all along because he was revealed about 1/3 of the way into the book. From past experience, sometimes that works for a story, sometimes it doesn't. In Fatal Judgment, it defintely worked! I was given a glimpse into his crazy mind, and his motives for striking out at Judge Michaels. On the other hand, his character saddened me because there are so many people in the real world that have his same twisted logic toward our country.<br /><br />I have no doubt that the next installment in this series will please suspense fans as easily as this one did. Irene Hannon has enormous talent within this genre, and the thoughts and research that went into this novel was evident on every page. And now that I know that a few characters from this novel were a part of her previous series, I can't wait to get my hands on those next!<br /><br />4.5 Stars", "timestamp": 1296364027000, "title": "4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "0800732596", "rating": 4, "text": "Melody Carlson has always been my go-to author for great YA fiction, and Never Been Kissed was another fabulous example of her talent within this genre. I read this book from cover to cover in one sitting, and even though I'm a few years removed from the young adult period of my life, there was plenty in this short book to open my eyes to what teens are involved in today, particularly on the topic of sexting.<br /><br />Melody's novels are always on the pulse of current teen issues and what's happening in high schools everywhere. Never Been Kissed is just the kind of book that should be read by parents and teens alike. My rating is 4 stars.", "timestamp": 1296446134000, "title": "Should Be Read by Parents and Teens Alike" }, { "asin": "0800734521", "rating": 3, "text": "This was another one of those books that I tried so very hard to like, but it was oh-so-difficult. I think that the author had a great idea to base a series of books on midwives, but this first book just fell flat. There was so little information about midwives and their roles in society that I was left wanting by the book's end. This may have had something to do with so few women in the book that were pregnant (only 3 deliveries of babies and one litter of puppies in a 400 page novel).<br /><br />Another thing that kept me from really enjoying the book was all of the filler. One chapter left me on a climax, then the next chapter switched to a different scene entirely, and it usually was one that had no excitement at all. By the time I got back around to the resolution of the cliffhanger from 2 chapters before, my anticipation to know what happened had vanished. This is something that I've noticed with authors that typically write short novels (Heartsong or Love Inspired), who then switch to writing a full-length novel. The plot of the story may be good, but the delivery gets choked up by all the filler to make it a longer book. (At this point, I have not read any of Ms. Eakes' other novels, but I know she has some shorter novels that have been released, and that's why I am drawing this conclusion.)<br /><br />I am still interested to read the next book in this series, and I hope that there will be more of a midwife feel to it as opposed to another historical Regency. Ms. Eakes' has a great deal of talent with her writing; I just hope that it will be more focused in her next full-length book.", "timestamp": 1298312686000, "title": "Good Book, just Needed a Little More Focus" }, { "asin": "0310250676", "rating": 5, "text": "Since I first started reading Christian fiction, Terri Blackstock has always been one of my favorite authors. I love the intensity in her novels, which causes me to furiously turn the pages. She has begun a new series about the struggles of drug addiction, and she doesn't tone down that intensity one bit.<br /><br />Vicious Cycle is a novel about a young girl, Jordan, who is caught up in a web of drug addiction. Not only is she an addict, but her mother and half-brother are as well. In the very first chapter, she is pregnant with a child and forced to have the baby in her own bed because her mother will not take her to the hospital. Jordan does not understand that at first, but as the pieces fall into place throughout the book, Jordan's realizes she has a mother who does not care about anyone but herself.<br /><br />Lance (featured in book one, Intervention) becomes friends with Jordan through school. Because his sister is a recovering drug addict, he recognizes pretty quickly that Jordan is on the road to a bad life, not only for herself, but for the baby that she's carrying. He convinces her to start treatment at a local rehab center, New Day. Lance visits every weekend to see his sister while she's recovering, and seeing Jordan is an added bonus. When Jordan voluntarily leaves New Day so close to her delivery date, he knows Jordan will return to her drug-infested home. He takes it upon himself to drive over to her house to check on her, not realizing that he's about to be in the biggest trouble of his life.<br /><br />Leave it to Terri Blackstock to create a novel that sucked me in from page one!! Not only did I get a glimpse of the world of meth, I also got a small glimpse into the world of baby trafficking, and neither one was a pretty picture. This book was so realistic, possibly more so than the book before it, Intervention. I can't wait to see what's in store for Barbara, Kent, Emily, and Lance with the remainder of the books in this series. Highly Recommended!!", "timestamp": 1298998047000, "title": "Intense Novel That I Couldn't Put Down!" }, { "asin": "160260696X", "rating": 4, "text": "Discovering new authors can really be a mixed bag of surprises for a reader. I've had experiences where I wonder what took me so long to get around to them, and I've had other experiences where I wished I could've used my time differently. No worries....Vickie McDonough fits perfectly into the first category. :o)<br /><br />Vickie's western style of writing was very reminiscent of Mary Connealy and Lori Copeland, except it was deeper. I loved that I got to really invest myself in the emotions of each character. Luke--who initially had a heart filled with unforgiveness--slowly allowed his heart to soften. Rachel--who scorned Luke many years ago--longed to admit that she'd made a terrible mistake. And Jacqueline--better known as \"Jack\"--was a feisty tomboy that just wanted her ma to marry Luke.<br /><br />But setting up Luke and Rachel wasn't as easy as a couple of cousins thought it would be! Luke's cousins took it upon themselves to find a mail-order bride for Luke. What they didn't count on was that instead of one girl being interested in Luke...there were three! And what made things even crazier...poor Luke didn't have a clue what he was about to be in for--a pushy mayor, a nosy journalist, and three women vying for his hand in marriage! If that's not a recipe for a great story, I don't know what is!<br /><br />I'm so happy to add Vickie to my list of highly recommended authors, and it comes after reading just one book. I have a feeling that the tiny town of Lookout, Texas has a few more surprises up it's sleeve before the series concludes. My rating for The Anonymous Bride is 4.5 Stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to Barbour Books for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1299901844000, "title": "4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "0800734076", "rating": 4, "text": "Having been a fan of Biblical fiction for many years now, I was very intrigued to read a story about the life of Job. Job's story in the Bible is not one that I've read very many times because frankly, it's a little sad and depressing, even though it does end well. I have to say that the fictional retelling of Job's story in Love Amid the Ashes really has me wanting to crack open this book in my Bible to get a better appreciation of Job's trials.<br /><br />I really appreciated the genealogy flow chart at the beginning of the book because without it, I don't know if I'd have ever been able to keep all the characters straight! There are a LOT of characters mentioned at the very beginning of the story, and I admit that I was confused a number of times. However, had all of those characters not been introduced, I wouldn't have gotten a full picture of the people involved in Job's life.<br /><br />I was also very grateful for the author's note at the end of the book explaining how she developed the story. I never would've thought of Jacob's daughter, Dinah, as being a part of Job's life at all, but thanks to the enormous research done by Ms. Andrews, it very likely may have been a reality. Because of that, I doubt I will ever look at Job's story the same way again.<br /><br />I highly recommend Love Amid the Ashes for those who enjoy Biblical fiction. Ms. Andrews has challenged my thinking, and has encouraged me to thoroughly re-read the story of Job. I can't wait to see what she has planned for her next novel because as a debut author, she's hit the ball out of the park with Love Amid the Ashes! My rating is 4 stars.", "timestamp": 1301167790000, "title": "Exceptional Debut Novel" }, { "asin": "0800733266", "rating": 4, "text": "Amanda Cabot has quickly become one of my go-to authors. I can't even count the number of times I've recommended her books to my book friends....they're just that good! Her latest offering is the last book in the Texas Dreams Series, and I'm so sad that my time with the citizens of Ladreville has come to an end.<br /><br />I enjoyed seeing the town through the eyes of Lawrence and Harriet. I have to confess that Lawrence wasn't one of my favorite characters in the last book. He was too stiff and rugged for my taste, and his infatuation with Priscilla got annoying after awhile. However, he was a completely different person in this book. He said goodbye to the life of a Texas Ranger, and stepped into the dual roles of town sheriff and mayor, two jobs that suited him quite well.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Harriet stepped in to fill the vacancy for school teacher in Ladreville. Not only was she excited to be teaching in a new town, she was anxious to forge a new life for herself and her siblings. I couldn't help but smile at the friendship that developed between Harriet and Isabelle. Isabelle has been one of the most genuine characters throughout the series, and her sweet spirit in this book is not one that I'll soon forget. If it hadn't been for Isabelle, poor Harriet would have never softened her uptight exterior. She also would've been destined to be a victim of the Fashion Police for a LONG time if Isabelle hadn't come to her rescue!<br /><br />Even more that the two previous books, I felt like I was a part of the town in Tomorrow's Garden. I wanted to scream at Harriet that she needed to keep her distance from Karl. I wanted to convince the townsfolk how important the bridge building was. And I wanted to cheer with joy at Ruth's gradual growth into a more confident young woman. Who wouldn't want to be part of such a community? :o)<br /><br />If you enjoy such authors as Lori Copeland and Kim Vogel Sawyer, I would strongly suggest you give Amanda Cabot a try. Each book in this series has been filled with so much emotion, and all of them have been nearly impossible to put down! I don't know how in the world I will be able to wait until next year to read her next offering which will be set in Wyoming. :o)<br /><br />4.5 Stars<br /><br />**Many thanks to Revell for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1303354184000, "title": "More Like 4.5 Stars!" }, { "asin": "082543310X", "rating": 4, "text": "I'm finding lately that I really enjoy young adult fiction. I mean *really* enjoy it! When I was in my teen years, there was not much to choose from unless I wanted to read general market. Fifteen years later, there's tons of Christian YA fiction, and well...I gotta make up for lost time!<br /><br />In addition to having not read a lot of YA books, I've also not read a whole lot from the WWII period. Frankly, it's just really difficult to read. I cannot imagine living in a world of persecution and hate, being separated from my family, or having to wonder where I will get my next meal. So, it was with a little bit of nervousness that I decided to read How Huge the Night by debut authors Heather and Lydia Munn.<br /><br />First of all, I loved how this story was told through a teenager's eyes. Being an adult, I know the terror I would have felt if I were a wife and mother. How would I prepare to go into a war? How will I make sure my family doesn't starve? But reading this story from a younger generation's point of view made it that much more realistic. At first, Julian was the typical teenager--frustrated with a move to a new town and a new school, struggling to make new friends--but as he matured, his focus shifted to concerns for his family, their Jewish boarder, the new friends he had made, and eventually, how the war would change all of their lives forever.<br /><br />Secondly, I loved that the story was told with a French setting. While I have a very basic knowledge of WWII, I have almost no knowledge of France or French history. There were snippets of history regarding the Huguenots and their struggles for religious freedom in the 1600's, as well as details about the armistice between France and Germany, and how Germany eventually violated their agreement. I was also surprised to read at the very end that France as a whole had very little knowledge about what was actually happening around them during the war (shared in the author's note). This made me curiously wonder whether they simply did not have access to tv's or newspapers, or if the news that was brought to them had been censored. Either way, how frightening it must have been to not know what's happening in the world around you.<br /><br />Also shared in the author's note was that there is another book coming soon from this talented mother/daughter team. While I have no idea if it will just be a sequel or part of a series, I wish it was available to read right now! This book did not leave me hanging per se, but I'm just itching to know what happens to Julian, Benjamin, Nina, and Gustav as the worst of the war is yet to come. I happily give a rating of 4 Stars for this exceptional debut novel.", "timestamp": 1308857409000, "title": "An Exceptional Debut Novel!" }, { "asin": "1414335695", "rating": 4, "text": "I can now safely say that Randy Singer never fails to amaze me with any book he writes. He's got a knack for creating these larger-than-life tales that make me feel like I just watched a whole season of 24 non-stop. Granted, I've only read two of his novels, but simply put...he's just awesome. End of discussion. :o)<br /><br />False Witness was an action-packed thrill ride, and that's no joke! There's the mob, the FBI, a bounty hunter, and this one little algorithm that everyone wanted. The problem was that if it fell into the wrong hands, chaos would ensue in no time flat. Then, there were the kidnappings, the torture, the money demands, and well...you can seen why it was an addictive read!<br /><br />But the one strike this book had against itself was all the legal stuff. I was able to keep most of it straight initially, but toward the end, my brain was on overload. I think if it had been toned down just a little bit, False Witness would have been 5-star worthy, for sure.<br /><br />In spite of that one little irritation, I still highly recommend False Witness as an incredible read. Just a warning that you may burn your dinner, have a pile of laundry waiting, or not get enough winks at night until you get it finished. :o)", "timestamp": 1309045355000, "title": "An Action-Packed Thrill Ride!" }, { "asin": "0764208330", "rating": 5, "text": "As a rule, I'm not overly fond of wagon train stories, but I could not read this one fast enough! It's not often that I have an opportunity to practically fly through a book as good as this one, but in 24 hours time, I read this book every moment I could spare. Thankfully, my husband was very understanding as we went through an evening with me cooking no dinner, folding no laundry, and watching no tv. And yes...he survived. ;o)<br /><br />Jody Hedlund has created a masterpiece in The Doctor's Lady. She had me smiling at the teasing nature of Priscilla and Eli's early relationship, and conversely, she had me in tears during a moment that no mother every wants to experience. If that wasn't enough, she created romantic tension so thick, I could cut it with a knife.<br /><br />And this was not your typical marriage of convenience story. Priscilla and Eli's marriage was quickly thrust into the dangers of what would become the Oregon Trail as they dealt with rapid rivers, dishonest guides, and fatal diseases. Not only did they butt heads occasionally with their traveling companions, they also struggled to share their true thoughts with one another which created unnecessary, yet believable, emotional turmoil.<br /><br />For those who are fans of Laura Frantz or Deeanne Gist, I guarantee The Doctor's Lady is a story that you will love in its entirety. As I said before, wagon train stories are not my thing as there are usually several portions that lag and I find my attention drifting. That is definitely not the case with this one! The action is continuous, the hardships believable, and the romance new and exciting. I have already carved out a place on my keeper shelf for this gem of a novel, and you better believe that it's there to stay. :o)", "timestamp": 1315631886000, "title": "A Masterpiece" }, { "asin": "0764209035", "rating": 3, "text": "It always pains me when I come across a book that others really enjoyed and I didn't. It's even worse when it's a brand new author. Each book is like a new baby to an author, and I imagine new authors are doubly sensitive when they read reviews of their \"firstborn.\" But unfortunately, Wings of a Dream just wasn't my cup of tea.<br /><br />There's not one clear area that I can point to as to where this book went wrong for me. I could name several things that didn't appeal to me, but I really don't want to get into a whole lot of details lest I ruin the reading experience for others. However, I compliment the author for creating a most unlikeable character in Rebekah's mother. She was far too uppity for her own good. :o)<br /><br />In spite of my overall dislike of this story, I do plan to give Anne's novels another try in the future. Every author, especially a new one, deserves a second chance to make a good impression, and I think with a little more work, Anne's future novels could be real gems. My rating for Wings of a Dream is 3.5 stars.", "timestamp": 1316450351000, "title": "Not the Right Fit for Me" }, { "asin": "0310332311", "rating": 4, "text": "I have been a diehard fan of Terri Blackstock since I first started reading Christian fiction over ten years ago. I have always been able to rely on Terri to provide suspenseful stories that keep me awake until the wee hours of the morning. However, this was not one of her stronger novels.<br /><br />While the carnival/amusement park idea was unique, I felt that I had to suspend belief for a large portion of the story. Like Carny, I wondered how in the world all of Logan's plans would come to fruition if he wasn't in fact a con artist. Without giving too much away, the end of the story was where this was most evident. Considering the amount of time that had passed between Logan's first visit to Serenity and the final chapter of the story, everything progressed much faster than it would in the real world.<br /><br />On the flip side, I felt that the characters in this story were extremely believable, Logan in particular. His reflections on his past as a product of foster homes combined with the years spent with his con artist mentor made him the most complex character of the story. Having personally met a con artist in my life (but thankfully not his victim), I could identify with some of the techniques Logan used to persuade the town into parting with their hard-earned money.<br /><br />I appreciated that Terri went back to her last novel written for the general market and rewrote it to appeal to a Christian audience. Never once did it seem that the story was rewritten as all the Christian elements blended seamlessly throughout the story. But if I compare it to some of her recent novels, it was not up to the same caliber that I've come to expect from her. It was only slightly suspenseful and romantic, yet still engaging enough that I wanted to read it to the very end. My rating is 4 Stars.", "timestamp": 1317131226000, "title": "Not Very Believable, but Still An Overall Good Story" }, { "asin": "1609362187", "rating": 5, "text": "I could go in so many directions with this review to tell you all about the characters, the plot, the setting, the clothes (oh...the clothes), but Heiress is one of those novels that is an experience--in jealousy, in opulence, in tragedy, in love. It's one that, if you know nothing but the back cover blurb, then you are in for the surprise of your life.<br /><br />I knew that Susan was a great writer, even after reading my first book by her earlier this year, but Heiress has catapulted her to favorite author status in no time flat. Just when I thought I was going to hit a lull in this story, she snapped my mind back to attention with one twist after another. Now, I know that some authors usually like to have one surprise lurking somewhere in their stories, but to have them appear in rapid succession (and all of them believable, no less) showed that Susan's got some masterful writing chops.<br /><br />Without a doubt, Heiress has to be the edgiest Christian fiction book of the year. It should also come with a warning label--\"Don't start unless you plan to stay up past your bedtime.\"<br /><br />Go. Get. It. Now. I dare you. ;o)", "timestamp": 1317135741000, "title": "The Edgiest Christian Fiction Book of the Year" }, { "asin": "0802405843", "rating": 3, "text": "Susan Page Davis is an author whose books I've come to love. From her early days of writing for the Heartsong Presents Line to one of her newest series, The Ladies Shooting Club, I've been able to rely on her ability to supply excellent stories to the Christian fiction genre. For those reasons, I was eager to read her newest novel, Captive Trail.<br /><br />Captive Trail was a bit of a departure from Susan's usual style. There wasn't the spunky heroine or the handsome hero, nor was there the gradual and believable romance that I'm accustomed to reading. However, there was a sweet series of relationships that formed among the characters, and enough danger and fear evident with the local Indian tribes that I kept turning page after page.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to the other 5 books in The Texas Trail Series by various authors that I have come to enjoy. My rating for Captive Trail is 3 Stars.<br /><br />**Many thanks to Moody Publishers and CFBA for providing a copy for review.", "timestamp": 1317834323000, "title": "Captive Trail" }, { "asin": "1433668688", "rating": 5, "text": "I love being able to have a new experience every time I read a book, and when it comes to reading Amish fiction...well, that's a tad bit of a rarity. Most of the time, their culture is seen as difficult, closed off, and rigorous. But in Tricia Goyer's first Amish novel, those cultural boundaries are pushed to the edge, and seriously...it makes for an incredibly entertaining, yet beautiful, story that I won't soon forget.<br /><br />What surprised me most about this story was the increased interaction between the Amish and the Englisch. Normally, the Amish are not known for this, but frankly, when you live in the wide open spaces of Montana, you don't have much choice about who your neighbors are. For Marianna and her father, this unusual arrangement with outsiders took some getting used to at first, but slowly, those self-imposed walls began to drop, and new relationships started to form. Not only were these new relationships with common people, but also, with God Himself.<br /><br />Prior to reading Beside Still Waters, I had read only a handful of Tricia's novels, but truly, she has a gift with the Amish genre. Not that her other books aren't great in their own rights, but she has a different voice here that kept pulling on my heartstrings, and it just would...not...let...go. If you're like me and love a great Amish read, yet you long for something different, Beside Still Waters is one of the best. Period.", "timestamp": 1324276367000, "title": "Change is Good, Especially When It Comes to the Amish" }, { "asin": "0800734599", "rating": 4, "text": "Ever since I devoured every single book in Amanda Cabot's Texas Dreams series, I have been eagerly awaiting the start of her newest series set in the West. Her characters have a way of finding a place in my heart, and I find myself thinking about them days, weeks, and months since our acquaintance.<br /><br />Summer of Promise, while a great start to a new series, didn't quite resonate with me the way Amanda's previous books have. Abigail seemed a bit uppity to me at first, yet slowly and surely won me over. Ethan was a commanding officer with a devotion to his soldiers, and underneath his tough exterior lay a gentle soul. Charlotte and Jeffrey oftentimes shared a strained relationship that suffered a painful ending. All the characters were well-written, but as a whole, it took longer than I would've liked to make a connection with them.<br /><br />What I did find interesting, though, was that the story was set during the early days at Fort Laramie. Amanda wove in a handful of details about the fort that were true to the time period, such as the progress of certain factual buildings or the characteristics of the general area. It seemed odd to me that there was no mention of a church anywhere near the fort, and I can't help but think (and/or hope) that one will be introduced in a later book.<br /><br />And as a dog lover to the core, I couldn't help but smile every time I read about Puddles! My husband and I briefly had a puppy in our house, and Puddles' multiple antics reminded me several times what it was like to clean up after a muddy dog, or to have them cover my face with doggie kisses. :o)<br /><br />Fans of historical romance will enjoy this first book in the Westward Winds series. Personally, I'm glad to know that just like Amanda's first series, each book in this new series will center around a different heroine. It will be interesting to see how Charlotte handles the new challenges that have come her way in book 2.", "timestamp": 1328240646000, "title": "Perfect for Fans of Historical Romance" }, { "asin": "0764207865", "rating": 3, "text": "Normally, I can't get enough of Kim's books, but this one was not one of my favorites. The story was very sweet, but there wasn't enough momentum throughout the story to keep me interested and engaged. The characters were fully-fleshed, but again, not interesting. For fans that enjoy sweet historical romances, I would recommend that they read some of Kim's other novels, particularly Courting Miss Amsel...one of her best.", "timestamp": 1328762764000, "title": "Not One of My Favorites" }, { "asin": "0310250684", "rating": 5, "text": "All of Terri Blackstock's books are great from start to finish...doesn't matter which one I pick up. I know that every single time I read one, I'm going be riveted by the story and glued to every page.<br /><br />Downfall was no exception. While I'm extremely disappointed that this was the last book in the Intervention series, I can honestly say that it was a great conclusion because truly, the Covington family's nerves are probably frayed to threads after all the ordeals they've been through!<br /><br />The suspense was believable, too, especially the overall flow of events. Emily's part in the story blended well as she tried in her own way to solve the mystery. Lance's instincts proved true about his classmates from his new school, which also contributed to the suspense. And to top it all off, Kent was assigned to the case of figuring out who this weirdo was that was responsible for terrorizing everyone. Poor Barbara...it was all she could do to keep up!! She got a little hysterical a time or two, but honestly, who wouldn't?<br /><br />I have so appreciated Terri's confidence in writing a series completely devoted to drug addiction, and how those addictions have a ripple effect on others. And to have it combined with her trademark Up All Night Suspense? What else could a reader want? :o)", "timestamp": 1330666838000, "title": "Excellent Conclusion to the Intervention Series!" }, { "asin": "1595549013", "rating": 4, "text": "If possible, I think Dorothy Love's sophomore novel is better than her first! It's been a *long* time since I stayed up past midnight to finish a book to it's very last page. :o) Another bonus? That cover...isn't it gorgeous?! The covers for all three books in this series really deserve a hand of applause for their beauty. I could stare at them for the longest time... *sigh* And yet another bonus? It's set in my home state of Tennessee, and I couldn't help but appreciate all the references to cities, towns, and landmarks that I'm familiar with.<br /><br />I think I related more to the heroine in Beauty for Ashes than I did the heroine in Beyond All Measure (Dorothy's debut novel). I've been in that place before where if something could go wrong, it did go wrong, and like Carrie, I've hoped that I could run away from those problems so someone else could sort them out. Unfortunately, life has other ideas, both in the real and fictitious worlds, and Carrie's world was pretty much turned upside down more than once. It was a cross between heartbreak and frustration as I read about her relationships with Nate and Mary, but those feeling were soon replaced with admiration because of her strength of character. No matter what, she wasn't going to quit. No matter what, her irritation at the lot she'd been given in life was not going to overwhelm her. She was going to make it through this storm God had sent her through (first the loss of a husband, then being the third wheel in her brother's new marriage), and come out stronger on the other side.<br /><br />Griff's character was a good addition to the story, but I didn't connect with him as much as I would've liked. It always seemed like he was hiding something, even until the very end. Most likely, it was the drifter in him that made me wary. However, I did enjoy the portions where he worked as a horse trainer, and the references to the newly-created Kentucky Derby.<br /><br />When I connect with books on a personal level, it's always easy to recommend them. It's extra-easy in this case because this book is a winner. :o) I can't wait to journey back to Hickory Ridge one final time when Dorothy's final book in this series, Every Perfect Gift, releases later this year.", "timestamp": 1331871768000, "title": "Better Than Her First Novel!" }, { "asin": "1414334834", "rating": 5, "text": "Noelle and Eli's marriage is on the skids, thanks to a difficult period filled with grief over the murder of their daughter. Now, they're sleeping in separate rooms and each one has secrets that would be devastating if they were brought to light. To make things even worse, Noelle develops amnesia after a severe blow to the head, and the past 25 years of her life have suddenly disappeared. Noelle and Eli must now work together to piece their lives back together, and decide whether or not their marriage is worth saving.<br /><br />Emma Nelson wants nothing more than to recapture the song of her heart. She feels as though it should've been her and not Kelsey that met the end of a shooter's bullet. Since then, playing the music that she and Kelsey created together just isn't the same anymore. If only she could capture the lyrics, the song that keeps running through her head would be complete. It will take a trip back home to Deep Haven, as well as the help of a special friend, to find what's she's been missing all along.<br /><br />Once again, Susan May Warren has created a masterpiece of a book wrought with deep emotions and personal struggles. Those suffering through a period of grief or those who have strayed from their first love (both literally and spiritually) can find hope in the pages of this novel. The Shadow of Your Smile is not a book to rush through reading, but rather, one that is worth the time it takes to savor the wisdom contained within. Highly Recommended!", "timestamp": 1334894567000, "title": "Deeply Emotional" }, { "asin": "1414335970", "rating": 5, "text": "Having firmly ensconced herself among some of the best authors in Christian historical fiction, Allison Pittman has penned another winner that fans of American and religious history will certainly appreciate. Immediately picking up where she last left her readers, Forsaking All Others concludes the story of Camilla Deardon Fox and her freedom from the early Mormon church.<br /><br />Knowing that she must leave the falsehoods of the Mormon faith and return to the Christian teachings of her childhood, Camilla flees her husband and two young daughters as the US is on the brink of war with Utah and the Mormon church. Intending to seek refuge with her sister-in-law, she is stranded in the cold and faces the dangers of frostbite. Thanks to a compassionate Army officer, Camilla gains a safe haven to plot her next move and recover. After several convincing arguments, she persuades Colonel Brandon to take her to Salt Lake City so she may beg housing from her relatives. After having the door slam in her face, she resigns herself to staying with the one woman that won't turn her away--Sister Evangeline. This charity does not come without a price, however, and betrayal becomes the next foe she must face.<br /><br />With a contrast so stark you could touch it, Allison Pittman has masterfully created a character in this novel that has grown from her impetuous youth into a woman of considerable grace and strength. With the entire story told in first-person point of view, Camilla's thoughts and emotions were completely transparent, and as a reader, I could identify with her longings to give herself completely over to God and His plan for her life. Compared to the previous novel, For Time and Eternity, Forsaking All Others was less about the strange teachings of the early Mormon church, and more about the journey Camilla took both spiritually and physically. There were times when I wanted to weep for the heartache that Camilla was experiencing, and alternately, I wanted to rejoice in the hope that her future was going to be better than her past.<br /><br />While probably a strange backdrop for some fans of Christian fiction, The Sister Wife Series shares something that is indeed a part of early American history. Sadly, many were deceived by it's teachings and the enthusiasm of it's members. I applaud Allison for tastefully creating a fascinating story that I will not soon forget. Highly recommended!", "timestamp": 1335240764000, "title": "Tastefully Written and Emotionally Transparent" } ]

[ { "asin": "1496402243", "rating": 5, "text": "A friend asked me recently if I ever savored a book by leaving it on a table just to look at before reading it. Immediately a mental image of The Choosing on my nightstand popped into my mind. I had rushed right out to by it the first week it was available, not waiting for a reduced e-book sales campaign. Then it sat, calling to me, until I had time to truly immerse myself in its pages. I was not disappointed, not in the least, in spite of how I had built up the possibilities of this book in my mind. Throughout reading The Choosing I was anxious to review it, to pass the word on to my fellow readers about the depth of this story and the talent of this author. However, when it came time to sit and share my thoughts, I procrastinated. Why? I just didn’t feel like there was any way my words could do this tale justice. So I am just going to simply share a brief description to help the readers decide if this book is for them, and welcome those who choose to join the journey.<br /><br /> Rachelle Dekker’s debut novel falls within the dystopian genre. Washington D.C. is occupied by a group of people who were fortunate enough to survive immunizations which proved to be deadly for many. The Authority is in control of individual destinies, determining one’s place in society. Young women have once chance at being selected for marriage, not to be chosen would yield a cruel fate of their own making. Carrington Hale’s mother had prepared her for her Choosing Ceremony her whole life. She was confident in the outcome. How could things go so horribly wrong? Young men are placed in occupations for which The Authority finds them best suited. Remko had always been satisfied with his solitary life as a City Watch guard; that is, until he met Carrington. Then there is Aaron, a speaker of truth or a leader of rebellion, or both? The ideas he promotes are unsettling. Is there something more, Someone more, who determines individual worth, Someone greater than The Authority? What sacrifices are necessary to find the answer to those questions? What sacrifices are our protagonists, their friends, their family willing to make?<br /><br /> I invite you to join me on the journey, the journey of seers.", "timestamp": 1440001812000, "title": "A Book to be Savored" }, { "asin": "0800723260", "rating": 4, "text": "The Elite Guardians, bodyguards led by Olivia Edwards, are always watching over their client, radio personality, Wade Savage. Unfortunately, Wade’s stalker is equally vigilant in watching his every move. As the stalker begins to expand his, or is it her, focus to include Wade’s young daughter, Amy, and one of his bodyguards is severely injured in an attack outside the radio station, Olivia is forced to call in back up from local law enforcement. Even with the extra resources, much of Olivia’s time is spent with Wade, and the growing attraction is undeniable. Will the attraction prove too much of a distraction, and will that lead to deadly consequences? After all, Wade has done something to make the stalker very angry.<br /> When reviews are posted on web sites, the reviewer is often asked to give a star rating of the book or product. When considering the number of stars I consider how well the item being reviewed met my expectations and how pleased I was with it. Well, if I were to give Always Watching a star rating, and I was comparing it to how other mysteries I’ve read over the last few years met my expectations and provided reading pleasure, I would give it four stars. However, if I were to compare it with the last two Lynette Eason books I’d read from her Hidden Identity series, I would probably give it three stars. As mysteries in general go, Always Watching is a great read, but for my reading pleasure it was less engaging than Nowhere to Turn and No One to Trust. I found the characters to be less endearing and the events less realistic. Am I saying that I wouldn’t recommend this book, absolutely not. It simply is not my favorite Lynette Eason book. Will I read the next book in this series, certainly; after all it’s a Lynette Eason book.<br /> I thank Revell Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for providing Always Watching for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.", "timestamp": 1455590705000, "title": "Fast Paced" }, { "asin": "080072402X", "rating": 5, "text": "God is our heavenly Father, correct? What about when He allows bad things to happen? When He allows those who should love and protect us to betray us? When He allows disaster to fall on those that least deserve it? What then? These questions plague Marie as do the panic attacks that accompany them. They eat away at Seth who struggles to trust, who brings others' motives into question. Shall we admit that they sometimes niggle at the backs of our minds as well? While Johnson does not presume to answer these questions, she does give us a glimpse into the beauty that God, our Father, can bring from the ashes. We need only open our eyes in gratitude.<br />Marie believes she has walked away from everything after a bitter betrayal. Seth believes everything has been taken from him. Both make their way to the refuge offered by Jack Sloane, a widower, trying to fulfill his late wife's dream of opening a bed and breakfast, a healing place for the soul. Eventually the unlikely pair realize they have been led to everything that really matters. Readers may be called to reassess their own priorities, and to identify blessings to which they have been blind.<br />Set on beautiful Prince Edward Island, with a cast of caring neighbors, and with many references to L. M. Montgomery's books about a special red-headed orphan, The Red Door Inn casts our world of problems and worries against a backdrop of healing in a kinder, gentler time and place. Johnson's dialogue flows smoothly. Her crisp descriptions paint pictures of places, characters, and actions filled with emotions that will linger in the readers' minds. Both major and minor characters are well developed giving insight into what motivates them in life. I look forward to visiting them again in book two of Prince Edward Island Dreams.<br />Thank you to Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for making The Red Door Inn available to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I have received no monetary compensation for my review.", "timestamp": 1458867221000, "title": "When God Brings Beauty From Ashes" }, { "asin": "0800724186", "rating": 4, "text": "Missionary Bailey Adams is anxious to return home to Logan Point, even if only for a visit. Bailey has made some very dangerous enemies in Mexico and needs to gain perspective on her role there. On her last day in Mexico those enemies, a disgruntled shaman, someone from the Calatrava drug cartel, or a kidnapper after Bailey’s charge, young Maria Montoya, have Bailey and Maria on the run. How long is the arm of those who would do these two harm? To what extent will they go to carry out their plans? Will Logan Point, Mississippi put enough distance between them?<br /> Bailey has known all along that going home to Logan Point means inevitably running into her former fiance, Danny Maxwell. She had not however considered the possibility of their paths crossing in Chihuahua, Mexico, and is totally taken aback when that is just what happens. Now it seems Danny is the only one she can trust to get her and Maria to safety.<br /> Each mystery in Bradley’s Logan Point series has included well laid out clues and plausible red herrings. The fast paced action, crisp dialogue, and engaging characters will have readers carrying the books wherever they go, snatching moments whenever possible to catch the next turn of events. While reading the books in sequence will allow the reader to understand some references regarding characters and events from previous books, the books do work well as a stand alone read. Patricia Bradley has become one of my favorite mystery authors. Mystery fans of Irene Hannon, Lynette Eason, and Colleen Coble will be proud to display Bradley’s books on their shelves as well. I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing Silence in the Dark for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for providing this review.", "timestamp": 1464088452000, "title": "Return to Logan Point" }, { "asin": "0800722752", "rating": 3, "text": "I eagerly awaited this book’s arrival in the mail as I had so enjoyed Where Rivers Part, a previous book in Gilbert’s Texas Gold series. While I did enjoy this book, had I not known it was by the same author I would never have suspected it. Where Rivers Part would appear to have been written by a more seasoned, mature author. Both books dealt with strong themes, What Matters Most’s being the need for integrity in all walks of life, but especially in positions of leadership, very apropos for our current election cycle.<br /> What Matters Most has two protagonists that are poster children for integrity, even when they are thrown into situations which pose significant challenges to that integrity. The antagonists are everything the American public has grown to despise in our political arena. The greater message here is hope, hope that when things are tough that doing the right thing will lead to a positive outcome, hope that a new generation is rising that will embody moral character, hope for our states and our country. Hope that is found in God.<br /> One of the most basic comprehension strategies we teach students is to bring their background knowledge to the task of comprehending, one type of knowledge is the knowledge of how particular genres of stories work. Readers who are familiar with this type of story are waiting for the other shoe to drop well into this story, because we all know that it will. Once it does, the author wastes no time in moving to clean up the subsequent fall out. The final piece to that solution comes from a very unlikely source.<br /> I recommend What Matters Most to romantic fiction readers, and to those who, during this presidential election season, need a message of hope. Thank you to Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for making What Matters Most available to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I have received no monetary compensation for my review.", "timestamp": 1470014844000, "title": "Integrity and Hope" }, { "asin": "0800722205", "rating": 3, "text": "To Follow Her Heart is book three in The Southold Chronicles based on Rebecca De Marino’s ancestors, Barnabas and Mary Horton’s, settling in what is now Long Island, New York. In her author’s notes DeMarino clearly separates the fact from the fiction. While this latest addition to the series focuses on the romance between Patience Terry and Barnabas’ brother, Jeremy, it continues the story of the deep love between Mary and Barnabas.<br /><br /> Life in the 1600’s wasn’t easy with illness and death truly plaguing residents in the New World as well as the Old. The Horton family, while not untouched, was largely spared. The community of Southold demonstrates the reliance those who settled our nation had to have upon one another and upon the original residents in the lands upon which they settled. It also demonstrates the deep attachments that developed.<br /><br /> While it is satisfying to revisit Barnabas and Mary Horton, and to rejoice in the depth of their love for and dedication to one another, it is the ever changing relationship between Jeremy and Patience that keeps the reader engaged with this story. The author does a wonderful job of keeping the reader guessing as to what direction she will take this relationship. Patience, in her early forties, has waited a long time for Jeremy to commit to her, while it seems that that time has finally arrived, Jeremy seems to like the idea of commitment far more than actually committing. Might there be another suitor far more ready to do so?<br /><br /> There is one aspect of To Follow Her Heart that kept me unsettled. That was the question of to what degree did the characters act and interact in a way that was true to the time period in which the story is set. Would they consider that a certain color gown would make the color of their eyes, “pop”? Would a couple, not officially engaged, spend so much unchaperoned time together in the confines of one’s home? Would there be such public displays of affection? Would women and men compete against one another in a game of tug-of-war? This line of questioning did not, however, diminish my enjoyment of the story, and would not keep me from recommending it to others.<br /><br /> I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing To Follow Her Heart for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for providing this review.", "timestamp": 1472654051000, "title": "Which Way Will the Author Go With This???" }, { "asin": "0800726693", "rating": 4, "text": "Another Day, Another Dali is the second book in the Serena Jones Mystery series, following A Fool and His Monet. Special Agent Serena Jones is a member of the FBI’s art crime team, but it was her Nana that got her involved in solving the theft of a Dali painting. This on the heels of rushing into a drug dealer’s home based on the possibility of a valuable painting being found on site. Then things get really interesting when Serena helps out another agent who is investigating the Russian mob. All of these cases seem to be intertwined, and all Serena knows is that someone is targeting her; the trick is to figure out which of the cases her attacker or attackers is linked to.<br /><br /> When reading a mystery, we expect to be looking for motives, and questioning motives. In life we also look for motives, and unfortunately often make incorrect assumptions about why people do what they do. In Another Day, Another Dali Orchard drives this point home. Those incorrect assumptions may result in hurt feelings and unwanted and unnecessary consequences, feelings and consequences that could be avoided with adequate trust and communication.<br /><br /> I am looking forward to reading Serena Jones’ next adventure, and Orchard’s next clever title. I recommend this series to cozy mystery lovers and to those “more mature” ladies who have been looking for fun characters in their age bracket. Both groups (regardless of their age) are going to love Serena’s Aunt Martha. The series makes a great vacation or fun weekend read. I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing me with a copy of Another Day, Another Dali in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1477863726000, "title": "Motives Matter" }, { "asin": "0718099109", "rating": 5, "text": "Through Thorald Norgaard Joanne Bischof honors the deaf and their language. She makes clear the importance of listening and of being heard, whether verbal speech is a part of that communication or not, and in spite of gender or race differences. Even for the hearing community, much of what we say and hear involves non-verbal communication, being aware of that will improve our skills if we will allow it to do so.<br /> Thor is the middle son, a skilled apple farmer and maker of hard ciders and wines. He is also an alcoholic, a slave to his handiwork, even as he supports those freed from slavery following the Civil War. Aven Norgaard is the young widow of the brothers' cousin who has braved the seas to come live with their Aunt Dorothe and the three “boys” under her care. She arrives to learn that Dorothe has passed away, and the three boys are grown men, one of whom quickly claims her heart. Aven has seen the results of a life given to alcohol, and is unsure of how to guard her heart.<br /> Sons of Blackbird Mountain is a study in relationships and a story of forgiveness given and at times withheld. It is a story of choosing to do the right thing over choosing the easy or self-centered path.<br /> Joanne Bischof is a new to me author, and I will be looking for more of her books in the future. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1530714564273, "title": "Original Characters" }, { "asin": "B077CWKDYR", "rating": 5, "text": "Recently I watched an interview with a twin who was subjected to Dr. Josef Mengele's experiments at Auschwitz. Her voice rang in my head as I read Auschwitz Lullaby by Mario Escobar. The atrocities of which Mengele was guilty were great, and he was never brought to justice on this side of eternity. In this book Escobar tells the story of Helene Hannemann, largely adhering to the actual facts of her time at Auschwitz with her five children. Helene, an Aryan, voluntarily accompanied her Gypsy husband and their children when the soldiers came to take them away. Her determination to care for her children and those of other Gypsy families in the camp improved the circumstances for many during their imprisonment. Hannemann worked under the direction of Dr. Mengele, running a nursery and school for the Gypsy children, some who were then taken to be included in his experiments. Her goal remained the same throughout her time there, to protect and care for the children.<br /><br /> Escobar's well-written, somewhat fictionalized account of her life allows Helene Hannemann to be an inspiration to another generation of parents, a generation that may be in need of a lesson in sacrifice. Helene could have spared her life, could have walked away from the filth, disease and death that was Auschwitz, but instead she sacrificed each hour, each minute, for the children.<br /><br /> I highly recommend Auschwitz Lullaby not only for fans of historical fiction, but for all who have a heart for children, and those in this generation who may need to be reminded of the gift they are. Received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1533648719323, "title": "A Look at Auschwitz From a Different Lens" }, { "asin": "0718083040", "rating": 4, "text": "Robert Whitlow's legal suspense stories never fail to intrigue. His knowledge of our country's legal system adds credibility to his novels. In Chosen People Whitlow demonstrates that his knowledge is not limited to our country's borders, as this book is set in both the U.S. and the Middle East. Whitlow confronts the need to hold those who fund terrorism accountable. He also gives his readers a glimpse into the complexity of being a Christian of Middle Eastern heritage.<br /><br /> Hana Abboud, a Christian Arab Israeli, practices law at a firm in Atlanta, Georgia. Because of her knowledge of the languages and cultures of the area, Hana is asked to represent the firm in a case involving the death of an American woman killed by terrorists in Jerusalem. Hana would be working with an attorney from a small firm, Jakob Brodsky, a secular Jew from a Russian background, who had approached a senior partner of the larger firm about being co-counsel in the case. Their first order of business would be to uncover connections between the terrorists and a funding entity who would then be sued. Little did Hana and Jakob know the impact this case would have on their own lives.<br /><br /> I would recommend Chosen People, and indeed any book by this author, to fans of mysteries and suspense. Whitlow's work appeals to both men and women. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1541552447226, "title": "Great Legal Suspense" }, { "asin": "0785219269", "rating": 4, "text": "Who I Am With You is the story of Andrew Henning who lived in Kuna, Idaho and married Helen Greyson in 1929. The Great Depression had a profound effect on the Hennings' lives, but together they recovered emotionally and spiritually. It is also the story of Andrew and Helen's great-granddaughter, Jessica Mason, who, pregnant and widowed, lived in Hope Springs, Idaho during current times. Jessica lived for a long time acting a part and pressing down true feelings, but through her great-grandfather's Bible and her new neighbor, Ridley Chesterfield, is ready to allow God to do a new work in her. Ridley, too, is seeking a new direction after being falsely accused of underhandedness, and having his integrity questioned. He felt that a time apart from society and alone with God would provide that direction, but was totally amazed at where God lead him, and with whom.<br /><br /> Who I Am With You is a tale about who we can be through God in spite of our mistakes and circumstances. It is about the person we can be aided by those whom God places in our lives, about deciding to love and to allow ourselves to be loved, and deciding to forgive and trust again. I recommend this book to those who love a sweet, heart-warming story, and especially to those who need hope in their lives.<br /><br /> I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1544540486051, "title": "A Tale of Forgiveness and Trust" }, { "asin": "0718085841", "rating": 4, "text": "Secrets of Cedar Cabin continues the story of Shauna Bannister's search for her missing siblings. She successfully located her brother, Grayson Bradshaw, in the previous book in the Lavender Tides series. Now they are working to locate their baby sister, Bailey Fleming. In fleeing from her mother's murderer, Bailey surprisingly ended up in Shauna's hometown. The events leading to her discovery, and the terrifying events that followed will keep the reader tied to this story, not to mention Bailey's budding romance with FBI agent Lance Phoenix whose search for his missing sister intersected with Bailey's flight. Don't be surprised when the words, “Well, I didn't see that coming!” rush from your lips. This books is Coble at her best.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1548209419670, "title": "Coble at Her Best" }, { "asin": "0800735277", "rating": 4, "text": "Courting Mr. Emerson is true to Melody Carlson's writing style with quirky, endearing characters, a setting readers will want to truly visit, and a sense of poignancy. It is a story that one wants to walk into and join the cast of characters, to be a part of what unfolds.<br /><br /> Mr. Emerson, a retiring high school English teacher, is a bit out of step with the times. Once considered a confirmed bachelor by others, he's now a self-proclaimed curmudgeon. Having been told as a young boy that his parents had died because God needed them, having his older brother die in the Vietnam War, losing his fiance in a car wreck just three days before his graduation from graduate school, and eventually losing his grandparents who raised him, George came to the conclusion that there was no God. Believing that was less painful than believing that there was a God who at the worst had it out for him, and at the least didn't care about or need him. What would it take for God to make Himself and His love known to George at this time in his life? Enter Willow West, artist, bohemian, hippie, Christian, and her somewhat dysfunctional family. God can certainly work in mysterious and unexpected ways! Readers will enjoy observing how this story plays out.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a copy of Courting Mr. Emerson from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1551817779005, "title": "Quirky, Endearing Characters" }, { "asin": "0310350964", "rating": 4, "text": "'Beauty from ashes' is the phrase that best describes the stories of Everleigh Applegate and Beck Holiday. Both women had experienced great loss and grief. Both traveled an unexpected road to healing after years of living mostly within themselves. Allowing oneself to love and experience being loved is often difficult when trying to shield oneself from the pain of loosing another loved one. The Memory House is a story of God's provision and the patient love of two men who wanted these women to truly love again. It is a story of perseverance and forgiveness.<br /><br /> If you are seeking a poignant love story with places that bring a huge smile to your face, The Memory House is a good pick for you . I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1554211380845, "title": "Poignant" } ]

[ { "asin": "1496402243", "rating": 5, "text": "A friend asked me recently if I ever savored a book by leaving it on a table just to look at before reading it. Immediately a mental image of The Choosing on my nightstand popped into my mind. I had rushed right out to by it the first week it was available, not waiting for a reduced e-book sales campaign. Then it sat, calling to me, until I had time to truly immerse myself in its pages. I was not disappointed, not in the least, in spite of how I had built up the possibilities of this book in my mind. Throughout reading The Choosing I was anxious to review it, to pass the word on to my fellow readers about the depth of this story and the talent of this author. However, when it came time to sit and share my thoughts, I procrastinated. Why? I just didn’t feel like there was any way my words could do this tale justice. So I am just going to simply share a brief description to help the readers decide if this book is for them, and welcome those who choose to join the journey.<br /><br /> Rachelle Dekker’s debut novel falls within the dystopian genre. Washington D.C. is occupied by a group of people who were fortunate enough to survive immunizations which proved to be deadly for many. The Authority is in control of individual destinies, determining one’s place in society. Young women have once chance at being selected for marriage, not to be chosen would yield a cruel fate of their own making. Carrington Hale’s mother had prepared her for her Choosing Ceremony her whole life. She was confident in the outcome. How could things go so horribly wrong? Young men are placed in occupations for which The Authority finds them best suited. Remko had always been satisfied with his solitary life as a City Watch guard; that is, until he met Carrington. Then there is Aaron, a speaker of truth or a leader of rebellion, or both? The ideas he promotes are unsettling. Is there something more, Someone more, who determines individual worth, Someone greater than The Authority? What sacrifices are necessary to find the answer to those questions? What sacrifices are our protagonists, their friends, their family willing to make?<br /><br /> I invite you to join me on the journey, the journey of seers.", "timestamp": 1440001812000, "title": "A Book to be Savored" }, { "asin": "0800723260", "rating": 4, "text": "The Elite Guardians, bodyguards led by Olivia Edwards, are always watching over their client, radio personality, Wade Savage. Unfortunately, Wade’s stalker is equally vigilant in watching his every move. As the stalker begins to expand his, or is it her, focus to include Wade’s young daughter, Amy, and one of his bodyguards is severely injured in an attack outside the radio station, Olivia is forced to call in back up from local law enforcement. Even with the extra resources, much of Olivia’s time is spent with Wade, and the growing attraction is undeniable. Will the attraction prove too much of a distraction, and will that lead to deadly consequences? After all, Wade has done something to make the stalker very angry.<br /> When reviews are posted on web sites, the reviewer is often asked to give a star rating of the book or product. When considering the number of stars I consider how well the item being reviewed met my expectations and how pleased I was with it. Well, if I were to give Always Watching a star rating, and I was comparing it to how other mysteries I’ve read over the last few years met my expectations and provided reading pleasure, I would give it four stars. However, if I were to compare it with the last two Lynette Eason books I’d read from her Hidden Identity series, I would probably give it three stars. As mysteries in general go, Always Watching is a great read, but for my reading pleasure it was less engaging than Nowhere to Turn and No One to Trust. I found the characters to be less endearing and the events less realistic. Am I saying that I wouldn’t recommend this book, absolutely not. It simply is not my favorite Lynette Eason book. Will I read the next book in this series, certainly; after all it’s a Lynette Eason book.<br /> I thank Revell Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for providing Always Watching for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.", "timestamp": 1455590705000, "title": "Fast Paced" }, { "asin": "080072402X", "rating": 5, "text": "God is our heavenly Father, correct? What about when He allows bad things to happen? When He allows those who should love and protect us to betray us? When He allows disaster to fall on those that least deserve it? What then? These questions plague Marie as do the panic attacks that accompany them. They eat away at Seth who struggles to trust, who brings others' motives into question. Shall we admit that they sometimes niggle at the backs of our minds as well? While Johnson does not presume to answer these questions, she does give us a glimpse into the beauty that God, our Father, can bring from the ashes. We need only open our eyes in gratitude.<br />Marie believes she has walked away from everything after a bitter betrayal. Seth believes everything has been taken from him. Both make their way to the refuge offered by Jack Sloane, a widower, trying to fulfill his late wife's dream of opening a bed and breakfast, a healing place for the soul. Eventually the unlikely pair realize they have been led to everything that really matters. Readers may be called to reassess their own priorities, and to identify blessings to which they have been blind.<br />Set on beautiful Prince Edward Island, with a cast of caring neighbors, and with many references to L. M. Montgomery's books about a special red-headed orphan, The Red Door Inn casts our world of problems and worries against a backdrop of healing in a kinder, gentler time and place. Johnson's dialogue flows smoothly. Her crisp descriptions paint pictures of places, characters, and actions filled with emotions that will linger in the readers' minds. Both major and minor characters are well developed giving insight into what motivates them in life. I look forward to visiting them again in book two of Prince Edward Island Dreams.<br />Thank you to Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for making The Red Door Inn available to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I have received no monetary compensation for my review.", "timestamp": 1458867221000, "title": "When God Brings Beauty From Ashes" }, { "asin": "0800724186", "rating": 4, "text": "Missionary Bailey Adams is anxious to return home to Logan Point, even if only for a visit. Bailey has made some very dangerous enemies in Mexico and needs to gain perspective on her role there. On her last day in Mexico those enemies, a disgruntled shaman, someone from the Calatrava drug cartel, or a kidnapper after Bailey’s charge, young Maria Montoya, have Bailey and Maria on the run. How long is the arm of those who would do these two harm? To what extent will they go to carry out their plans? Will Logan Point, Mississippi put enough distance between them?<br /> Bailey has known all along that going home to Logan Point means inevitably running into her former fiance, Danny Maxwell. She had not however considered the possibility of their paths crossing in Chihuahua, Mexico, and is totally taken aback when that is just what happens. Now it seems Danny is the only one she can trust to get her and Maria to safety.<br /> Each mystery in Bradley’s Logan Point series has included well laid out clues and plausible red herrings. The fast paced action, crisp dialogue, and engaging characters will have readers carrying the books wherever they go, snatching moments whenever possible to catch the next turn of events. While reading the books in sequence will allow the reader to understand some references regarding characters and events from previous books, the books do work well as a stand alone read. Patricia Bradley has become one of my favorite mystery authors. Mystery fans of Irene Hannon, Lynette Eason, and Colleen Coble will be proud to display Bradley’s books on their shelves as well. I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing Silence in the Dark for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for providing this review.", "timestamp": 1464088452000, "title": "Return to Logan Point" }, { "asin": "0800722752", "rating": 3, "text": "I eagerly awaited this book’s arrival in the mail as I had so enjoyed Where Rivers Part, a previous book in Gilbert’s Texas Gold series. While I did enjoy this book, had I not known it was by the same author I would never have suspected it. Where Rivers Part would appear to have been written by a more seasoned, mature author. Both books dealt with strong themes, What Matters Most’s being the need for integrity in all walks of life, but especially in positions of leadership, very apropos for our current election cycle.<br /> What Matters Most has two protagonists that are poster children for integrity, even when they are thrown into situations which pose significant challenges to that integrity. The antagonists are everything the American public has grown to despise in our political arena. The greater message here is hope, hope that when things are tough that doing the right thing will lead to a positive outcome, hope that a new generation is rising that will embody moral character, hope for our states and our country. Hope that is found in God.<br /> One of the most basic comprehension strategies we teach students is to bring their background knowledge to the task of comprehending, one type of knowledge is the knowledge of how particular genres of stories work. Readers who are familiar with this type of story are waiting for the other shoe to drop well into this story, because we all know that it will. Once it does, the author wastes no time in moving to clean up the subsequent fall out. The final piece to that solution comes from a very unlikely source.<br /> I recommend What Matters Most to romantic fiction readers, and to those who, during this presidential election season, need a message of hope. Thank you to Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for making What Matters Most available to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I have received no monetary compensation for my review.", "timestamp": 1470014844000, "title": "Integrity and Hope" }, { "asin": "0800722205", "rating": 3, "text": "To Follow Her Heart is book three in The Southold Chronicles based on Rebecca De Marino’s ancestors, Barnabas and Mary Horton’s, settling in what is now Long Island, New York. In her author’s notes DeMarino clearly separates the fact from the fiction. While this latest addition to the series focuses on the romance between Patience Terry and Barnabas’ brother, Jeremy, it continues the story of the deep love between Mary and Barnabas.<br /><br /> Life in the 1600’s wasn’t easy with illness and death truly plaguing residents in the New World as well as the Old. The Horton family, while not untouched, was largely spared. The community of Southold demonstrates the reliance those who settled our nation had to have upon one another and upon the original residents in the lands upon which they settled. It also demonstrates the deep attachments that developed.<br /><br /> While it is satisfying to revisit Barnabas and Mary Horton, and to rejoice in the depth of their love for and dedication to one another, it is the ever changing relationship between Jeremy and Patience that keeps the reader engaged with this story. The author does a wonderful job of keeping the reader guessing as to what direction she will take this relationship. Patience, in her early forties, has waited a long time for Jeremy to commit to her, while it seems that that time has finally arrived, Jeremy seems to like the idea of commitment far more than actually committing. Might there be another suitor far more ready to do so?<br /><br /> There is one aspect of To Follow Her Heart that kept me unsettled. That was the question of to what degree did the characters act and interact in a way that was true to the time period in which the story is set. Would they consider that a certain color gown would make the color of their eyes, “pop”? Would a couple, not officially engaged, spend so much unchaperoned time together in the confines of one’s home? Would there be such public displays of affection? Would women and men compete against one another in a game of tug-of-war? This line of questioning did not, however, diminish my enjoyment of the story, and would not keep me from recommending it to others.<br /><br /> I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing To Follow Her Heart for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for providing this review.", "timestamp": 1472654051000, "title": "Which Way Will the Author Go With This???" }, { "asin": "0800726693", "rating": 4, "text": "Another Day, Another Dali is the second book in the Serena Jones Mystery series, following A Fool and His Monet. Special Agent Serena Jones is a member of the FBI’s art crime team, but it was her Nana that got her involved in solving the theft of a Dali painting. This on the heels of rushing into a drug dealer’s home based on the possibility of a valuable painting being found on site. Then things get really interesting when Serena helps out another agent who is investigating the Russian mob. All of these cases seem to be intertwined, and all Serena knows is that someone is targeting her; the trick is to figure out which of the cases her attacker or attackers is linked to.<br /><br /> When reading a mystery, we expect to be looking for motives, and questioning motives. In life we also look for motives, and unfortunately often make incorrect assumptions about why people do what they do. In Another Day, Another Dali Orchard drives this point home. Those incorrect assumptions may result in hurt feelings and unwanted and unnecessary consequences, feelings and consequences that could be avoided with adequate trust and communication.<br /><br /> I am looking forward to reading Serena Jones’ next adventure, and Orchard’s next clever title. I recommend this series to cozy mystery lovers and to those “more mature” ladies who have been looking for fun characters in their age bracket. Both groups (regardless of their age) are going to love Serena’s Aunt Martha. The series makes a great vacation or fun weekend read. I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing me with a copy of Another Day, Another Dali in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1477863726000, "title": "Motives Matter" }, { "asin": "0718099109", "rating": 5, "text": "Through Thorald Norgaard Joanne Bischof honors the deaf and their language. She makes clear the importance of listening and of being heard, whether verbal speech is a part of that communication or not, and in spite of gender or race differences. Even for the hearing community, much of what we say and hear involves non-verbal communication, being aware of that will improve our skills if we will allow it to do so.<br /> Thor is the middle son, a skilled apple farmer and maker of hard ciders and wines. He is also an alcoholic, a slave to his handiwork, even as he supports those freed from slavery following the Civil War. Aven Norgaard is the young widow of the brothers' cousin who has braved the seas to come live with their Aunt Dorothe and the three “boys” under her care. She arrives to learn that Dorothe has passed away, and the three boys are grown men, one of whom quickly claims her heart. Aven has seen the results of a life given to alcohol, and is unsure of how to guard her heart.<br /> Sons of Blackbird Mountain is a study in relationships and a story of forgiveness given and at times withheld. It is a story of choosing to do the right thing over choosing the easy or self-centered path.<br /> Joanne Bischof is a new to me author, and I will be looking for more of her books in the future. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1530714564273, "title": "Original Characters" }, { "asin": "B077CWKDYR", "rating": 5, "text": "Recently I watched an interview with a twin who was subjected to Dr. Josef Mengele's experiments at Auschwitz. Her voice rang in my head as I read Auschwitz Lullaby by Mario Escobar. The atrocities of which Mengele was guilty were great, and he was never brought to justice on this side of eternity. In this book Escobar tells the story of Helene Hannemann, largely adhering to the actual facts of her time at Auschwitz with her five children. Helene, an Aryan, voluntarily accompanied her Gypsy husband and their children when the soldiers came to take them away. Her determination to care for her children and those of other Gypsy families in the camp improved the circumstances for many during their imprisonment. Hannemann worked under the direction of Dr. Mengele, running a nursery and school for the Gypsy children, some who were then taken to be included in his experiments. Her goal remained the same throughout her time there, to protect and care for the children.<br /><br /> Escobar's well-written, somewhat fictionalized account of her life allows Helene Hannemann to be an inspiration to another generation of parents, a generation that may be in need of a lesson in sacrifice. Helene could have spared her life, could have walked away from the filth, disease and death that was Auschwitz, but instead she sacrificed each hour, each minute, for the children.<br /><br /> I highly recommend Auschwitz Lullaby not only for fans of historical fiction, but for all who have a heart for children, and those in this generation who may need to be reminded of the gift they are. Received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1533648719323, "title": "A Look at Auschwitz From a Different Lens" }, { "asin": "0718083040", "rating": 4, "text": "Robert Whitlow's legal suspense stories never fail to intrigue. His knowledge of our country's legal system adds credibility to his novels. In Chosen People Whitlow demonstrates that his knowledge is not limited to our country's borders, as this book is set in both the U.S. and the Middle East. Whitlow confronts the need to hold those who fund terrorism accountable. He also gives his readers a glimpse into the complexity of being a Christian of Middle Eastern heritage.<br /><br /> Hana Abboud, a Christian Arab Israeli, practices law at a firm in Atlanta, Georgia. Because of her knowledge of the languages and cultures of the area, Hana is asked to represent the firm in a case involving the death of an American woman killed by terrorists in Jerusalem. Hana would be working with an attorney from a small firm, Jakob Brodsky, a secular Jew from a Russian background, who had approached a senior partner of the larger firm about being co-counsel in the case. Their first order of business would be to uncover connections between the terrorists and a funding entity who would then be sued. Little did Hana and Jakob know the impact this case would have on their own lives.<br /><br /> I would recommend Chosen People, and indeed any book by this author, to fans of mysteries and suspense. Whitlow's work appeals to both men and women. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1541552447226, "title": "Great Legal Suspense" }, { "asin": "0785219269", "rating": 4, "text": "Who I Am With You is the story of Andrew Henning who lived in Kuna, Idaho and married Helen Greyson in 1929. The Great Depression had a profound effect on the Hennings' lives, but together they recovered emotionally and spiritually. It is also the story of Andrew and Helen's great-granddaughter, Jessica Mason, who, pregnant and widowed, lived in Hope Springs, Idaho during current times. Jessica lived for a long time acting a part and pressing down true feelings, but through her great-grandfather's Bible and her new neighbor, Ridley Chesterfield, is ready to allow God to do a new work in her. Ridley, too, is seeking a new direction after being falsely accused of underhandedness, and having his integrity questioned. He felt that a time apart from society and alone with God would provide that direction, but was totally amazed at where God lead him, and with whom.<br /><br /> Who I Am With You is a tale about who we can be through God in spite of our mistakes and circumstances. It is about the person we can be aided by those whom God places in our lives, about deciding to love and to allow ourselves to be loved, and deciding to forgive and trust again. I recommend this book to those who love a sweet, heart-warming story, and especially to those who need hope in their lives.<br /><br /> I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1544540486051, "title": "A Tale of Forgiveness and Trust" }, { "asin": "0718085841", "rating": 4, "text": "Secrets of Cedar Cabin continues the story of Shauna Bannister's search for her missing siblings. She successfully located her brother, Grayson Bradshaw, in the previous book in the Lavender Tides series. Now they are working to locate their baby sister, Bailey Fleming. In fleeing from her mother's murderer, Bailey surprisingly ended up in Shauna's hometown. The events leading to her discovery, and the terrifying events that followed will keep the reader tied to this story, not to mention Bailey's budding romance with FBI agent Lance Phoenix whose search for his missing sister intersected with Bailey's flight. Don't be surprised when the words, “Well, I didn't see that coming!” rush from your lips. This books is Coble at her best.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1548209419670, "title": "Coble at Her Best" }, { "asin": "0800735277", "rating": 4, "text": "Courting Mr. Emerson is true to Melody Carlson's writing style with quirky, endearing characters, a setting readers will want to truly visit, and a sense of poignancy. It is a story that one wants to walk into and join the cast of characters, to be a part of what unfolds.<br /><br /> Mr. Emerson, a retiring high school English teacher, is a bit out of step with the times. Once considered a confirmed bachelor by others, he's now a self-proclaimed curmudgeon. Having been told as a young boy that his parents had died because God needed them, having his older brother die in the Vietnam War, losing his fiance in a car wreck just three days before his graduation from graduate school, and eventually losing his grandparents who raised him, George came to the conclusion that there was no God. Believing that was less painful than believing that there was a God who at the worst had it out for him, and at the least didn't care about or need him. What would it take for God to make Himself and His love known to George at this time in his life? Enter Willow West, artist, bohemian, hippie, Christian, and her somewhat dysfunctional family. God can certainly work in mysterious and unexpected ways! Readers will enjoy observing how this story plays out.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a copy of Courting Mr. Emerson from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1551817779005, "title": "Quirky, Endearing Characters" }, { "asin": "0310350964", "rating": 4, "text": "'Beauty from ashes' is the phrase that best describes the stories of Everleigh Applegate and Beck Holiday. Both women had experienced great loss and grief. Both traveled an unexpected road to healing after years of living mostly within themselves. Allowing oneself to love and experience being loved is often difficult when trying to shield oneself from the pain of loosing another loved one. The Memory House is a story of God's provision and the patient love of two men who wanted these women to truly love again. It is a story of perseverance and forgiveness.<br /><br /> If you are seeking a poignant love story with places that bring a huge smile to your face, The Memory House is a good pick for you . I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1554211380845, "title": "Poignant" }, { "asin": "0785223169", "rating": 5, "text": "Set in England in 1811, this is the story of Delia Greythorne and the children for whom she cared. Each of them has experienced great hurt and loss in their lives which has forged a bond between them. Now once again their lives are in a state of upheaval as they are forced to move to a new home with the children's uncle whom they don't really know. Jac Twethewey is a bachelor living in a large house on an estate that he is desperately trying to keep afloat. He was totally unprepared for the arrival of his nieces and nephew, let alone their beautiful governess and taciturn tutor. Finally, as everyone is beginning to settle into their situation, it seems as if Mrs. Greystone's past has returned to haunt them all.<br /><br /> The Governess of Penwythe Hall has it all: historical elements, romance, a mysterious past, and intrigue. This one well definitely keep you up long into the night. While some of the story structure follows along the lines of what one would expect in a historical romance, Ladd has included plenty of surprises and suspense to hold her readers' interest.<br /><br /> I was happy to have received a complimentary coy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1555439114247, "title": "Love It!!!" } ]

[ { "asin": "1496402243", "rating": 5, "text": "A friend asked me recently if I ever savored a book by leaving it on a table just to look at before reading it. Immediately a mental image of The Choosing on my nightstand popped into my mind. I had rushed right out to by it the first week it was available, not waiting for a reduced e-book sales campaign. Then it sat, calling to me, until I had time to truly immerse myself in its pages. I was not disappointed, not in the least, in spite of how I had built up the possibilities of this book in my mind. Throughout reading The Choosing I was anxious to review it, to pass the word on to my fellow readers about the depth of this story and the talent of this author. However, when it came time to sit and share my thoughts, I procrastinated. Why? I just didn’t feel like there was any way my words could do this tale justice. So I am just going to simply share a brief description to help the readers decide if this book is for them, and welcome those who choose to join the journey.<br /><br /> Rachelle Dekker’s debut novel falls within the dystopian genre. Washington D.C. is occupied by a group of people who were fortunate enough to survive immunizations which proved to be deadly for many. The Authority is in control of individual destinies, determining one’s place in society. Young women have once chance at being selected for marriage, not to be chosen would yield a cruel fate of their own making. Carrington Hale’s mother had prepared her for her Choosing Ceremony her whole life. She was confident in the outcome. How could things go so horribly wrong? Young men are placed in occupations for which The Authority finds them best suited. Remko had always been satisfied with his solitary life as a City Watch guard; that is, until he met Carrington. Then there is Aaron, a speaker of truth or a leader of rebellion, or both? The ideas he promotes are unsettling. Is there something more, Someone more, who determines individual worth, Someone greater than The Authority? What sacrifices are necessary to find the answer to those questions? What sacrifices are our protagonists, their friends, their family willing to make?<br /><br /> I invite you to join me on the journey, the journey of seers.", "timestamp": 1440001812000, "title": "A Book to be Savored" }, { "asin": "0800723260", "rating": 4, "text": "The Elite Guardians, bodyguards led by Olivia Edwards, are always watching over their client, radio personality, Wade Savage. Unfortunately, Wade’s stalker is equally vigilant in watching his every move. As the stalker begins to expand his, or is it her, focus to include Wade’s young daughter, Amy, and one of his bodyguards is severely injured in an attack outside the radio station, Olivia is forced to call in back up from local law enforcement. Even with the extra resources, much of Olivia’s time is spent with Wade, and the growing attraction is undeniable. Will the attraction prove too much of a distraction, and will that lead to deadly consequences? After all, Wade has done something to make the stalker very angry.<br /> When reviews are posted on web sites, the reviewer is often asked to give a star rating of the book or product. When considering the number of stars I consider how well the item being reviewed met my expectations and how pleased I was with it. Well, if I were to give Always Watching a star rating, and I was comparing it to how other mysteries I’ve read over the last few years met my expectations and provided reading pleasure, I would give it four stars. However, if I were to compare it with the last two Lynette Eason books I’d read from her Hidden Identity series, I would probably give it three stars. As mysteries in general go, Always Watching is a great read, but for my reading pleasure it was less engaging than Nowhere to Turn and No One to Trust. I found the characters to be less endearing and the events less realistic. Am I saying that I wouldn’t recommend this book, absolutely not. It simply is not my favorite Lynette Eason book. Will I read the next book in this series, certainly; after all it’s a Lynette Eason book.<br /> I thank Revell Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for providing Always Watching for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.", "timestamp": 1455590705000, "title": "Fast Paced" }, { "asin": "080072402X", "rating": 5, "text": "God is our heavenly Father, correct? What about when He allows bad things to happen? When He allows those who should love and protect us to betray us? When He allows disaster to fall on those that least deserve it? What then? These questions plague Marie as do the panic attacks that accompany them. They eat away at Seth who struggles to trust, who brings others' motives into question. Shall we admit that they sometimes niggle at the backs of our minds as well? While Johnson does not presume to answer these questions, she does give us a glimpse into the beauty that God, our Father, can bring from the ashes. We need only open our eyes in gratitude.<br />Marie believes she has walked away from everything after a bitter betrayal. Seth believes everything has been taken from him. Both make their way to the refuge offered by Jack Sloane, a widower, trying to fulfill his late wife's dream of opening a bed and breakfast, a healing place for the soul. Eventually the unlikely pair realize they have been led to everything that really matters. Readers may be called to reassess their own priorities, and to identify blessings to which they have been blind.<br />Set on beautiful Prince Edward Island, with a cast of caring neighbors, and with many references to L. M. Montgomery's books about a special red-headed orphan, The Red Door Inn casts our world of problems and worries against a backdrop of healing in a kinder, gentler time and place. Johnson's dialogue flows smoothly. Her crisp descriptions paint pictures of places, characters, and actions filled with emotions that will linger in the readers' minds. Both major and minor characters are well developed giving insight into what motivates them in life. I look forward to visiting them again in book two of Prince Edward Island Dreams.<br />Thank you to Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for making The Red Door Inn available to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I have received no monetary compensation for my review.", "timestamp": 1458867221000, "title": "When God Brings Beauty From Ashes" }, { "asin": "0800724186", "rating": 4, "text": "Missionary Bailey Adams is anxious to return home to Logan Point, even if only for a visit. Bailey has made some very dangerous enemies in Mexico and needs to gain perspective on her role there. On her last day in Mexico those enemies, a disgruntled shaman, someone from the Calatrava drug cartel, or a kidnapper after Bailey’s charge, young Maria Montoya, have Bailey and Maria on the run. How long is the arm of those who would do these two harm? To what extent will they go to carry out their plans? Will Logan Point, Mississippi put enough distance between them?<br /> Bailey has known all along that going home to Logan Point means inevitably running into her former fiance, Danny Maxwell. She had not however considered the possibility of their paths crossing in Chihuahua, Mexico, and is totally taken aback when that is just what happens. Now it seems Danny is the only one she can trust to get her and Maria to safety.<br /> Each mystery in Bradley’s Logan Point series has included well laid out clues and plausible red herrings. The fast paced action, crisp dialogue, and engaging characters will have readers carrying the books wherever they go, snatching moments whenever possible to catch the next turn of events. While reading the books in sequence will allow the reader to understand some references regarding characters and events from previous books, the books do work well as a stand alone read. Patricia Bradley has become one of my favorite mystery authors. Mystery fans of Irene Hannon, Lynette Eason, and Colleen Coble will be proud to display Bradley’s books on their shelves as well. I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing Silence in the Dark for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for providing this review.", "timestamp": 1464088452000, "title": "Return to Logan Point" }, { "asin": "0800722752", "rating": 3, "text": "I eagerly awaited this book’s arrival in the mail as I had so enjoyed Where Rivers Part, a previous book in Gilbert’s Texas Gold series. While I did enjoy this book, had I not known it was by the same author I would never have suspected it. Where Rivers Part would appear to have been written by a more seasoned, mature author. Both books dealt with strong themes, What Matters Most’s being the need for integrity in all walks of life, but especially in positions of leadership, very apropos for our current election cycle.<br /> What Matters Most has two protagonists that are poster children for integrity, even when they are thrown into situations which pose significant challenges to that integrity. The antagonists are everything the American public has grown to despise in our political arena. The greater message here is hope, hope that when things are tough that doing the right thing will lead to a positive outcome, hope that a new generation is rising that will embody moral character, hope for our states and our country. Hope that is found in God.<br /> One of the most basic comprehension strategies we teach students is to bring their background knowledge to the task of comprehending, one type of knowledge is the knowledge of how particular genres of stories work. Readers who are familiar with this type of story are waiting for the other shoe to drop well into this story, because we all know that it will. Once it does, the author wastes no time in moving to clean up the subsequent fall out. The final piece to that solution comes from a very unlikely source.<br /> I recommend What Matters Most to romantic fiction readers, and to those who, during this presidential election season, need a message of hope. Thank you to Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for making What Matters Most available to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I have received no monetary compensation for my review.", "timestamp": 1470014844000, "title": "Integrity and Hope" }, { "asin": "0800722205", "rating": 3, "text": "To Follow Her Heart is book three in The Southold Chronicles based on Rebecca De Marino’s ancestors, Barnabas and Mary Horton’s, settling in what is now Long Island, New York. In her author’s notes DeMarino clearly separates the fact from the fiction. While this latest addition to the series focuses on the romance between Patience Terry and Barnabas’ brother, Jeremy, it continues the story of the deep love between Mary and Barnabas.<br /><br /> Life in the 1600’s wasn’t easy with illness and death truly plaguing residents in the New World as well as the Old. The Horton family, while not untouched, was largely spared. The community of Southold demonstrates the reliance those who settled our nation had to have upon one another and upon the original residents in the lands upon which they settled. It also demonstrates the deep attachments that developed.<br /><br /> While it is satisfying to revisit Barnabas and Mary Horton, and to rejoice in the depth of their love for and dedication to one another, it is the ever changing relationship between Jeremy and Patience that keeps the reader engaged with this story. The author does a wonderful job of keeping the reader guessing as to what direction she will take this relationship. Patience, in her early forties, has waited a long time for Jeremy to commit to her, while it seems that that time has finally arrived, Jeremy seems to like the idea of commitment far more than actually committing. Might there be another suitor far more ready to do so?<br /><br /> There is one aspect of To Follow Her Heart that kept me unsettled. That was the question of to what degree did the characters act and interact in a way that was true to the time period in which the story is set. Would they consider that a certain color gown would make the color of their eyes, “pop”? Would a couple, not officially engaged, spend so much unchaperoned time together in the confines of one’s home? Would there be such public displays of affection? Would women and men compete against one another in a game of tug-of-war? This line of questioning did not, however, diminish my enjoyment of the story, and would not keep me from recommending it to others.<br /><br /> I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing To Follow Her Heart for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for providing this review.", "timestamp": 1472654051000, "title": "Which Way Will the Author Go With This???" }, { "asin": "0800726693", "rating": 4, "text": "Another Day, Another Dali is the second book in the Serena Jones Mystery series, following A Fool and His Monet. Special Agent Serena Jones is a member of the FBI’s art crime team, but it was her Nana that got her involved in solving the theft of a Dali painting. This on the heels of rushing into a drug dealer’s home based on the possibility of a valuable painting being found on site. Then things get really interesting when Serena helps out another agent who is investigating the Russian mob. All of these cases seem to be intertwined, and all Serena knows is that someone is targeting her; the trick is to figure out which of the cases her attacker or attackers is linked to.<br /><br /> When reading a mystery, we expect to be looking for motives, and questioning motives. In life we also look for motives, and unfortunately often make incorrect assumptions about why people do what they do. In Another Day, Another Dali Orchard drives this point home. Those incorrect assumptions may result in hurt feelings and unwanted and unnecessary consequences, feelings and consequences that could be avoided with adequate trust and communication.<br /><br /> I am looking forward to reading Serena Jones’ next adventure, and Orchard’s next clever title. I recommend this series to cozy mystery lovers and to those “more mature” ladies who have been looking for fun characters in their age bracket. Both groups (regardless of their age) are going to love Serena’s Aunt Martha. The series makes a great vacation or fun weekend read. I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing me with a copy of Another Day, Another Dali in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1477863726000, "title": "Motives Matter" }, { "asin": "0718099109", "rating": 5, "text": "Through Thorald Norgaard Joanne Bischof honors the deaf and their language. She makes clear the importance of listening and of being heard, whether verbal speech is a part of that communication or not, and in spite of gender or race differences. Even for the hearing community, much of what we say and hear involves non-verbal communication, being aware of that will improve our skills if we will allow it to do so.<br /> Thor is the middle son, a skilled apple farmer and maker of hard ciders and wines. He is also an alcoholic, a slave to his handiwork, even as he supports those freed from slavery following the Civil War. Aven Norgaard is the young widow of the brothers' cousin who has braved the seas to come live with their Aunt Dorothe and the three “boys” under her care. She arrives to learn that Dorothe has passed away, and the three boys are grown men, one of whom quickly claims her heart. Aven has seen the results of a life given to alcohol, and is unsure of how to guard her heart.<br /> Sons of Blackbird Mountain is a study in relationships and a story of forgiveness given and at times withheld. It is a story of choosing to do the right thing over choosing the easy or self-centered path.<br /> Joanne Bischof is a new to me author, and I will be looking for more of her books in the future. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1530714564273, "title": "Original Characters" }, { "asin": "B077CWKDYR", "rating": 5, "text": "Recently I watched an interview with a twin who was subjected to Dr. Josef Mengele's experiments at Auschwitz. Her voice rang in my head as I read Auschwitz Lullaby by Mario Escobar. The atrocities of which Mengele was guilty were great, and he was never brought to justice on this side of eternity. In this book Escobar tells the story of Helene Hannemann, largely adhering to the actual facts of her time at Auschwitz with her five children. Helene, an Aryan, voluntarily accompanied her Gypsy husband and their children when the soldiers came to take them away. Her determination to care for her children and those of other Gypsy families in the camp improved the circumstances for many during their imprisonment. Hannemann worked under the direction of Dr. Mengele, running a nursery and school for the Gypsy children, some who were then taken to be included in his experiments. Her goal remained the same throughout her time there, to protect and care for the children.<br /><br /> Escobar's well-written, somewhat fictionalized account of her life allows Helene Hannemann to be an inspiration to another generation of parents, a generation that may be in need of a lesson in sacrifice. Helene could have spared her life, could have walked away from the filth, disease and death that was Auschwitz, but instead she sacrificed each hour, each minute, for the children.<br /><br /> I highly recommend Auschwitz Lullaby not only for fans of historical fiction, but for all who have a heart for children, and those in this generation who may need to be reminded of the gift they are. Received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1533648719323, "title": "A Look at Auschwitz From a Different Lens" }, { "asin": "0718083040", "rating": 4, "text": "Robert Whitlow's legal suspense stories never fail to intrigue. His knowledge of our country's legal system adds credibility to his novels. In Chosen People Whitlow demonstrates that his knowledge is not limited to our country's borders, as this book is set in both the U.S. and the Middle East. Whitlow confronts the need to hold those who fund terrorism accountable. He also gives his readers a glimpse into the complexity of being a Christian of Middle Eastern heritage.<br /><br /> Hana Abboud, a Christian Arab Israeli, practices law at a firm in Atlanta, Georgia. Because of her knowledge of the languages and cultures of the area, Hana is asked to represent the firm in a case involving the death of an American woman killed by terrorists in Jerusalem. Hana would be working with an attorney from a small firm, Jakob Brodsky, a secular Jew from a Russian background, who had approached a senior partner of the larger firm about being co-counsel in the case. Their first order of business would be to uncover connections between the terrorists and a funding entity who would then be sued. Little did Hana and Jakob know the impact this case would have on their own lives.<br /><br /> I would recommend Chosen People, and indeed any book by this author, to fans of mysteries and suspense. Whitlow's work appeals to both men and women. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1541552447226, "title": "Great Legal Suspense" }, { "asin": "0785219269", "rating": 4, "text": "Who I Am With You is the story of Andrew Henning who lived in Kuna, Idaho and married Helen Greyson in 1929. The Great Depression had a profound effect on the Hennings' lives, but together they recovered emotionally and spiritually. It is also the story of Andrew and Helen's great-granddaughter, Jessica Mason, who, pregnant and widowed, lived in Hope Springs, Idaho during current times. Jessica lived for a long time acting a part and pressing down true feelings, but through her great-grandfather's Bible and her new neighbor, Ridley Chesterfield, is ready to allow God to do a new work in her. Ridley, too, is seeking a new direction after being falsely accused of underhandedness, and having his integrity questioned. He felt that a time apart from society and alone with God would provide that direction, but was totally amazed at where God lead him, and with whom.<br /><br /> Who I Am With You is a tale about who we can be through God in spite of our mistakes and circumstances. It is about the person we can be aided by those whom God places in our lives, about deciding to love and to allow ourselves to be loved, and deciding to forgive and trust again. I recommend this book to those who love a sweet, heart-warming story, and especially to those who need hope in their lives.<br /><br /> I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1544540486051, "title": "A Tale of Forgiveness and Trust" }, { "asin": "0718085841", "rating": 4, "text": "Secrets of Cedar Cabin continues the story of Shauna Bannister's search for her missing siblings. She successfully located her brother, Grayson Bradshaw, in the previous book in the Lavender Tides series. Now they are working to locate their baby sister, Bailey Fleming. In fleeing from her mother's murderer, Bailey surprisingly ended up in Shauna's hometown. The events leading to her discovery, and the terrifying events that followed will keep the reader tied to this story, not to mention Bailey's budding romance with FBI agent Lance Phoenix whose search for his missing sister intersected with Bailey's flight. Don't be surprised when the words, “Well, I didn't see that coming!” rush from your lips. This books is Coble at her best.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1548209419670, "title": "Coble at Her Best" }, { "asin": "0800735277", "rating": 4, "text": "Courting Mr. Emerson is true to Melody Carlson's writing style with quirky, endearing characters, a setting readers will want to truly visit, and a sense of poignancy. It is a story that one wants to walk into and join the cast of characters, to be a part of what unfolds.<br /><br /> Mr. Emerson, a retiring high school English teacher, is a bit out of step with the times. Once considered a confirmed bachelor by others, he's now a self-proclaimed curmudgeon. Having been told as a young boy that his parents had died because God needed them, having his older brother die in the Vietnam War, losing his fiance in a car wreck just three days before his graduation from graduate school, and eventually losing his grandparents who raised him, George came to the conclusion that there was no God. Believing that was less painful than believing that there was a God who at the worst had it out for him, and at the least didn't care about or need him. What would it take for God to make Himself and His love known to George at this time in his life? Enter Willow West, artist, bohemian, hippie, Christian, and her somewhat dysfunctional family. God can certainly work in mysterious and unexpected ways! Readers will enjoy observing how this story plays out.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a copy of Courting Mr. Emerson from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1551817779005, "title": "Quirky, Endearing Characters" }, { "asin": "0310350964", "rating": 4, "text": "'Beauty from ashes' is the phrase that best describes the stories of Everleigh Applegate and Beck Holiday. Both women had experienced great loss and grief. Both traveled an unexpected road to healing after years of living mostly within themselves. Allowing oneself to love and experience being loved is often difficult when trying to shield oneself from the pain of loosing another loved one. The Memory House is a story of God's provision and the patient love of two men who wanted these women to truly love again. It is a story of perseverance and forgiveness.<br /><br /> If you are seeking a poignant love story with places that bring a huge smile to your face, The Memory House is a good pick for you . I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1554211380845, "title": "Poignant" }, { "asin": "0785223169", "rating": 5, "text": "Set in England in 1811, this is the story of Delia Greythorne and the children for whom she cared. Each of them has experienced great hurt and loss in their lives which has forged a bond between them. Now once again their lives are in a state of upheaval as they are forced to move to a new home with the children's uncle whom they don't really know. Jac Twethewey is a bachelor living in a large house on an estate that he is desperately trying to keep afloat. He was totally unprepared for the arrival of his nieces and nephew, let alone their beautiful governess and taciturn tutor. Finally, as everyone is beginning to settle into their situation, it seems as if Mrs. Greystone's past has returned to haunt them all.<br /><br /> The Governess of Penwythe Hall has it all: historical elements, romance, a mysterious past, and intrigue. This one well definitely keep you up long into the night. While some of the story structure follows along the lines of what one would expect in a historical romance, Ladd has included plenty of surprises and suspense to hold her readers' interest.<br /><br /> I was happy to have received a complimentary coy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1555439114247, "title": "Love It!!!" }, { "asin": "0800735323", "rating": 5, "text": "Walters uses this romantic suspense novel to tackle the issues of mental illness, depression and suicide as well as the stigma attached to them. She does so with great empathy and compassion. Readers will walk away with renewed understanding of themselves whether as a sufferer or someone who interacts with someone openly dealing with these issues or someone living with the lies these issues speak to them. I highly recommend the novel Living Lies.<br /><br /> Lane Kent would describe herself as broken and unworthy. Her friends would describe her as empathetic and selfless. The burden of guilt she carried weighed heavily on her, and blinded her to the possibilities for the future. Deputy Charlie Lynch, a former Marine, knew what he wanted out of life, it was the reason he had come to Walton, Georgia, and he knew it needed to include Lane Kent. Convincing her that they had a future was something he was willing to work at for as long as it took. The fact that Lane's life seemed to be in danger from the perpetrator of Walton's first murder in thirty years only increased Charlie's desire to keep her close. Fans of romantic suspense will be excited to add Natalie Walters to their list of favorite authors.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a copy of Living Lies from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1559225104851, "title": "Highly Recommended" } ]

[ { "asin": "1496402243", "rating": 5, "text": "A friend asked me recently if I ever savored a book by leaving it on a table just to look at before reading it. Immediately a mental image of The Choosing on my nightstand popped into my mind. I had rushed right out to by it the first week it was available, not waiting for a reduced e-book sales campaign. Then it sat, calling to me, until I had time to truly immerse myself in its pages. I was not disappointed, not in the least, in spite of how I had built up the possibilities of this book in my mind. Throughout reading The Choosing I was anxious to review it, to pass the word on to my fellow readers about the depth of this story and the talent of this author. However, when it came time to sit and share my thoughts, I procrastinated. Why? I just didn’t feel like there was any way my words could do this tale justice. So I am just going to simply share a brief description to help the readers decide if this book is for them, and welcome those who choose to join the journey.<br /><br /> Rachelle Dekker’s debut novel falls within the dystopian genre. Washington D.C. is occupied by a group of people who were fortunate enough to survive immunizations which proved to be deadly for many. The Authority is in control of individual destinies, determining one’s place in society. Young women have once chance at being selected for marriage, not to be chosen would yield a cruel fate of their own making. Carrington Hale’s mother had prepared her for her Choosing Ceremony her whole life. She was confident in the outcome. How could things go so horribly wrong? Young men are placed in occupations for which The Authority finds them best suited. Remko had always been satisfied with his solitary life as a City Watch guard; that is, until he met Carrington. Then there is Aaron, a speaker of truth or a leader of rebellion, or both? The ideas he promotes are unsettling. Is there something more, Someone more, who determines individual worth, Someone greater than The Authority? What sacrifices are necessary to find the answer to those questions? What sacrifices are our protagonists, their friends, their family willing to make?<br /><br /> I invite you to join me on the journey, the journey of seers.", "timestamp": 1440001812000, "title": "A Book to be Savored" }, { "asin": "0800723260", "rating": 4, "text": "The Elite Guardians, bodyguards led by Olivia Edwards, are always watching over their client, radio personality, Wade Savage. Unfortunately, Wade’s stalker is equally vigilant in watching his every move. As the stalker begins to expand his, or is it her, focus to include Wade’s young daughter, Amy, and one of his bodyguards is severely injured in an attack outside the radio station, Olivia is forced to call in back up from local law enforcement. Even with the extra resources, much of Olivia’s time is spent with Wade, and the growing attraction is undeniable. Will the attraction prove too much of a distraction, and will that lead to deadly consequences? After all, Wade has done something to make the stalker very angry.<br /> When reviews are posted on web sites, the reviewer is often asked to give a star rating of the book or product. When considering the number of stars I consider how well the item being reviewed met my expectations and how pleased I was with it. Well, if I were to give Always Watching a star rating, and I was comparing it to how other mysteries I’ve read over the last few years met my expectations and provided reading pleasure, I would give it four stars. However, if I were to compare it with the last two Lynette Eason books I’d read from her Hidden Identity series, I would probably give it three stars. As mysteries in general go, Always Watching is a great read, but for my reading pleasure it was less engaging than Nowhere to Turn and No One to Trust. I found the characters to be less endearing and the events less realistic. Am I saying that I wouldn’t recommend this book, absolutely not. It simply is not my favorite Lynette Eason book. Will I read the next book in this series, certainly; after all it’s a Lynette Eason book.<br /> I thank Revell Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for providing Always Watching for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.", "timestamp": 1455590705000, "title": "Fast Paced" }, { "asin": "080072402X", "rating": 5, "text": "God is our heavenly Father, correct? What about when He allows bad things to happen? When He allows those who should love and protect us to betray us? When He allows disaster to fall on those that least deserve it? What then? These questions plague Marie as do the panic attacks that accompany them. They eat away at Seth who struggles to trust, who brings others' motives into question. Shall we admit that they sometimes niggle at the backs of our minds as well? While Johnson does not presume to answer these questions, she does give us a glimpse into the beauty that God, our Father, can bring from the ashes. We need only open our eyes in gratitude.<br />Marie believes she has walked away from everything after a bitter betrayal. Seth believes everything has been taken from him. Both make their way to the refuge offered by Jack Sloane, a widower, trying to fulfill his late wife's dream of opening a bed and breakfast, a healing place for the soul. Eventually the unlikely pair realize they have been led to everything that really matters. Readers may be called to reassess their own priorities, and to identify blessings to which they have been blind.<br />Set on beautiful Prince Edward Island, with a cast of caring neighbors, and with many references to L. M. Montgomery's books about a special red-headed orphan, The Red Door Inn casts our world of problems and worries against a backdrop of healing in a kinder, gentler time and place. Johnson's dialogue flows smoothly. Her crisp descriptions paint pictures of places, characters, and actions filled with emotions that will linger in the readers' minds. Both major and minor characters are well developed giving insight into what motivates them in life. I look forward to visiting them again in book two of Prince Edward Island Dreams.<br />Thank you to Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for making The Red Door Inn available to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I have received no monetary compensation for my review.", "timestamp": 1458867221000, "title": "When God Brings Beauty From Ashes" }, { "asin": "0800724186", "rating": 4, "text": "Missionary Bailey Adams is anxious to return home to Logan Point, even if only for a visit. Bailey has made some very dangerous enemies in Mexico and needs to gain perspective on her role there. On her last day in Mexico those enemies, a disgruntled shaman, someone from the Calatrava drug cartel, or a kidnapper after Bailey’s charge, young Maria Montoya, have Bailey and Maria on the run. How long is the arm of those who would do these two harm? To what extent will they go to carry out their plans? Will Logan Point, Mississippi put enough distance between them?<br /> Bailey has known all along that going home to Logan Point means inevitably running into her former fiance, Danny Maxwell. She had not however considered the possibility of their paths crossing in Chihuahua, Mexico, and is totally taken aback when that is just what happens. Now it seems Danny is the only one she can trust to get her and Maria to safety.<br /> Each mystery in Bradley’s Logan Point series has included well laid out clues and plausible red herrings. The fast paced action, crisp dialogue, and engaging characters will have readers carrying the books wherever they go, snatching moments whenever possible to catch the next turn of events. While reading the books in sequence will allow the reader to understand some references regarding characters and events from previous books, the books do work well as a stand alone read. Patricia Bradley has become one of my favorite mystery authors. Mystery fans of Irene Hannon, Lynette Eason, and Colleen Coble will be proud to display Bradley’s books on their shelves as well. I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing Silence in the Dark for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for providing this review.", "timestamp": 1464088452000, "title": "Return to Logan Point" }, { "asin": "0800722752", "rating": 3, "text": "I eagerly awaited this book’s arrival in the mail as I had so enjoyed Where Rivers Part, a previous book in Gilbert’s Texas Gold series. While I did enjoy this book, had I not known it was by the same author I would never have suspected it. Where Rivers Part would appear to have been written by a more seasoned, mature author. Both books dealt with strong themes, What Matters Most’s being the need for integrity in all walks of life, but especially in positions of leadership, very apropos for our current election cycle.<br /> What Matters Most has two protagonists that are poster children for integrity, even when they are thrown into situations which pose significant challenges to that integrity. The antagonists are everything the American public has grown to despise in our political arena. The greater message here is hope, hope that when things are tough that doing the right thing will lead to a positive outcome, hope that a new generation is rising that will embody moral character, hope for our states and our country. Hope that is found in God.<br /> One of the most basic comprehension strategies we teach students is to bring their background knowledge to the task of comprehending, one type of knowledge is the knowledge of how particular genres of stories work. Readers who are familiar with this type of story are waiting for the other shoe to drop well into this story, because we all know that it will. Once it does, the author wastes no time in moving to clean up the subsequent fall out. The final piece to that solution comes from a very unlikely source.<br /> I recommend What Matters Most to romantic fiction readers, and to those who, during this presidential election season, need a message of hope. Thank you to Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for making What Matters Most available to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I have received no monetary compensation for my review.", "timestamp": 1470014844000, "title": "Integrity and Hope" }, { "asin": "0800722205", "rating": 3, "text": "To Follow Her Heart is book three in The Southold Chronicles based on Rebecca De Marino’s ancestors, Barnabas and Mary Horton’s, settling in what is now Long Island, New York. In her author’s notes DeMarino clearly separates the fact from the fiction. While this latest addition to the series focuses on the romance between Patience Terry and Barnabas’ brother, Jeremy, it continues the story of the deep love between Mary and Barnabas.<br /><br /> Life in the 1600’s wasn’t easy with illness and death truly plaguing residents in the New World as well as the Old. The Horton family, while not untouched, was largely spared. The community of Southold demonstrates the reliance those who settled our nation had to have upon one another and upon the original residents in the lands upon which they settled. It also demonstrates the deep attachments that developed.<br /><br /> While it is satisfying to revisit Barnabas and Mary Horton, and to rejoice in the depth of their love for and dedication to one another, it is the ever changing relationship between Jeremy and Patience that keeps the reader engaged with this story. The author does a wonderful job of keeping the reader guessing as to what direction she will take this relationship. Patience, in her early forties, has waited a long time for Jeremy to commit to her, while it seems that that time has finally arrived, Jeremy seems to like the idea of commitment far more than actually committing. Might there be another suitor far more ready to do so?<br /><br /> There is one aspect of To Follow Her Heart that kept me unsettled. That was the question of to what degree did the characters act and interact in a way that was true to the time period in which the story is set. Would they consider that a certain color gown would make the color of their eyes, “pop”? Would a couple, not officially engaged, spend so much unchaperoned time together in the confines of one’s home? Would there be such public displays of affection? Would women and men compete against one another in a game of tug-of-war? This line of questioning did not, however, diminish my enjoyment of the story, and would not keep me from recommending it to others.<br /><br /> I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing To Follow Her Heart for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for providing this review.", "timestamp": 1472654051000, "title": "Which Way Will the Author Go With This???" }, { "asin": "0800726693", "rating": 4, "text": "Another Day, Another Dali is the second book in the Serena Jones Mystery series, following A Fool and His Monet. Special Agent Serena Jones is a member of the FBI’s art crime team, but it was her Nana that got her involved in solving the theft of a Dali painting. This on the heels of rushing into a drug dealer’s home based on the possibility of a valuable painting being found on site. Then things get really interesting when Serena helps out another agent who is investigating the Russian mob. All of these cases seem to be intertwined, and all Serena knows is that someone is targeting her; the trick is to figure out which of the cases her attacker or attackers is linked to.<br /><br /> When reading a mystery, we expect to be looking for motives, and questioning motives. In life we also look for motives, and unfortunately often make incorrect assumptions about why people do what they do. In Another Day, Another Dali Orchard drives this point home. Those incorrect assumptions may result in hurt feelings and unwanted and unnecessary consequences, feelings and consequences that could be avoided with adequate trust and communication.<br /><br /> I am looking forward to reading Serena Jones’ next adventure, and Orchard’s next clever title. I recommend this series to cozy mystery lovers and to those “more mature” ladies who have been looking for fun characters in their age bracket. Both groups (regardless of their age) are going to love Serena’s Aunt Martha. The series makes a great vacation or fun weekend read. I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing me with a copy of Another Day, Another Dali in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1477863726000, "title": "Motives Matter" }, { "asin": "0718099109", "rating": 5, "text": "Through Thorald Norgaard Joanne Bischof honors the deaf and their language. She makes clear the importance of listening and of being heard, whether verbal speech is a part of that communication or not, and in spite of gender or race differences. Even for the hearing community, much of what we say and hear involves non-verbal communication, being aware of that will improve our skills if we will allow it to do so.<br /> Thor is the middle son, a skilled apple farmer and maker of hard ciders and wines. He is also an alcoholic, a slave to his handiwork, even as he supports those freed from slavery following the Civil War. Aven Norgaard is the young widow of the brothers' cousin who has braved the seas to come live with their Aunt Dorothe and the three “boys” under her care. She arrives to learn that Dorothe has passed away, and the three boys are grown men, one of whom quickly claims her heart. Aven has seen the results of a life given to alcohol, and is unsure of how to guard her heart.<br /> Sons of Blackbird Mountain is a study in relationships and a story of forgiveness given and at times withheld. It is a story of choosing to do the right thing over choosing the easy or self-centered path.<br /> Joanne Bischof is a new to me author, and I will be looking for more of her books in the future. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1530714564273, "title": "Original Characters" }, { "asin": "B077CWKDYR", "rating": 5, "text": "Recently I watched an interview with a twin who was subjected to Dr. Josef Mengele's experiments at Auschwitz. Her voice rang in my head as I read Auschwitz Lullaby by Mario Escobar. The atrocities of which Mengele was guilty were great, and he was never brought to justice on this side of eternity. In this book Escobar tells the story of Helene Hannemann, largely adhering to the actual facts of her time at Auschwitz with her five children. Helene, an Aryan, voluntarily accompanied her Gypsy husband and their children when the soldiers came to take them away. Her determination to care for her children and those of other Gypsy families in the camp improved the circumstances for many during their imprisonment. Hannemann worked under the direction of Dr. Mengele, running a nursery and school for the Gypsy children, some who were then taken to be included in his experiments. Her goal remained the same throughout her time there, to protect and care for the children.<br /><br /> Escobar's well-written, somewhat fictionalized account of her life allows Helene Hannemann to be an inspiration to another generation of parents, a generation that may be in need of a lesson in sacrifice. Helene could have spared her life, could have walked away from the filth, disease and death that was Auschwitz, but instead she sacrificed each hour, each minute, for the children.<br /><br /> I highly recommend Auschwitz Lullaby not only for fans of historical fiction, but for all who have a heart for children, and those in this generation who may need to be reminded of the gift they are. Received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1533648719323, "title": "A Look at Auschwitz From a Different Lens" }, { "asin": "0718083040", "rating": 4, "text": "Robert Whitlow's legal suspense stories never fail to intrigue. His knowledge of our country's legal system adds credibility to his novels. In Chosen People Whitlow demonstrates that his knowledge is not limited to our country's borders, as this book is set in both the U.S. and the Middle East. Whitlow confronts the need to hold those who fund terrorism accountable. He also gives his readers a glimpse into the complexity of being a Christian of Middle Eastern heritage.<br /><br /> Hana Abboud, a Christian Arab Israeli, practices law at a firm in Atlanta, Georgia. Because of her knowledge of the languages and cultures of the area, Hana is asked to represent the firm in a case involving the death of an American woman killed by terrorists in Jerusalem. Hana would be working with an attorney from a small firm, Jakob Brodsky, a secular Jew from a Russian background, who had approached a senior partner of the larger firm about being co-counsel in the case. Their first order of business would be to uncover connections between the terrorists and a funding entity who would then be sued. Little did Hana and Jakob know the impact this case would have on their own lives.<br /><br /> I would recommend Chosen People, and indeed any book by this author, to fans of mysteries and suspense. Whitlow's work appeals to both men and women. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1541552447226, "title": "Great Legal Suspense" }, { "asin": "0785219269", "rating": 4, "text": "Who I Am With You is the story of Andrew Henning who lived in Kuna, Idaho and married Helen Greyson in 1929. The Great Depression had a profound effect on the Hennings' lives, but together they recovered emotionally and spiritually. It is also the story of Andrew and Helen's great-granddaughter, Jessica Mason, who, pregnant and widowed, lived in Hope Springs, Idaho during current times. Jessica lived for a long time acting a part and pressing down true feelings, but through her great-grandfather's Bible and her new neighbor, Ridley Chesterfield, is ready to allow God to do a new work in her. Ridley, too, is seeking a new direction after being falsely accused of underhandedness, and having his integrity questioned. He felt that a time apart from society and alone with God would provide that direction, but was totally amazed at where God lead him, and with whom.<br /><br /> Who I Am With You is a tale about who we can be through God in spite of our mistakes and circumstances. It is about the person we can be aided by those whom God places in our lives, about deciding to love and to allow ourselves to be loved, and deciding to forgive and trust again. I recommend this book to those who love a sweet, heart-warming story, and especially to those who need hope in their lives.<br /><br /> I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1544540486051, "title": "A Tale of Forgiveness and Trust" }, { "asin": "0718085841", "rating": 4, "text": "Secrets of Cedar Cabin continues the story of Shauna Bannister's search for her missing siblings. She successfully located her brother, Grayson Bradshaw, in the previous book in the Lavender Tides series. Now they are working to locate their baby sister, Bailey Fleming. In fleeing from her mother's murderer, Bailey surprisingly ended up in Shauna's hometown. The events leading to her discovery, and the terrifying events that followed will keep the reader tied to this story, not to mention Bailey's budding romance with FBI agent Lance Phoenix whose search for his missing sister intersected with Bailey's flight. Don't be surprised when the words, “Well, I didn't see that coming!” rush from your lips. This books is Coble at her best.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1548209419670, "title": "Coble at Her Best" }, { "asin": "0800735277", "rating": 4, "text": "Courting Mr. Emerson is true to Melody Carlson's writing style with quirky, endearing characters, a setting readers will want to truly visit, and a sense of poignancy. It is a story that one wants to walk into and join the cast of characters, to be a part of what unfolds.<br /><br /> Mr. Emerson, a retiring high school English teacher, is a bit out of step with the times. Once considered a confirmed bachelor by others, he's now a self-proclaimed curmudgeon. Having been told as a young boy that his parents had died because God needed them, having his older brother die in the Vietnam War, losing his fiance in a car wreck just three days before his graduation from graduate school, and eventually losing his grandparents who raised him, George came to the conclusion that there was no God. Believing that was less painful than believing that there was a God who at the worst had it out for him, and at the least didn't care about or need him. What would it take for God to make Himself and His love known to George at this time in his life? Enter Willow West, artist, bohemian, hippie, Christian, and her somewhat dysfunctional family. God can certainly work in mysterious and unexpected ways! Readers will enjoy observing how this story plays out.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a copy of Courting Mr. Emerson from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1551817779005, "title": "Quirky, Endearing Characters" }, { "asin": "0310350964", "rating": 4, "text": "'Beauty from ashes' is the phrase that best describes the stories of Everleigh Applegate and Beck Holiday. Both women had experienced great loss and grief. Both traveled an unexpected road to healing after years of living mostly within themselves. Allowing oneself to love and experience being loved is often difficult when trying to shield oneself from the pain of loosing another loved one. The Memory House is a story of God's provision and the patient love of two men who wanted these women to truly love again. It is a story of perseverance and forgiveness.<br /><br /> If you are seeking a poignant love story with places that bring a huge smile to your face, The Memory House is a good pick for you . I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1554211380845, "title": "Poignant" }, { "asin": "0785223169", "rating": 5, "text": "Set in England in 1811, this is the story of Delia Greythorne and the children for whom she cared. Each of them has experienced great hurt and loss in their lives which has forged a bond between them. Now once again their lives are in a state of upheaval as they are forced to move to a new home with the children's uncle whom they don't really know. Jac Twethewey is a bachelor living in a large house on an estate that he is desperately trying to keep afloat. He was totally unprepared for the arrival of his nieces and nephew, let alone their beautiful governess and taciturn tutor. Finally, as everyone is beginning to settle into their situation, it seems as if Mrs. Greystone's past has returned to haunt them all.<br /><br /> The Governess of Penwythe Hall has it all: historical elements, romance, a mysterious past, and intrigue. This one well definitely keep you up long into the night. While some of the story structure follows along the lines of what one would expect in a historical romance, Ladd has included plenty of surprises and suspense to hold her readers' interest.<br /><br /> I was happy to have received a complimentary coy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1555439114247, "title": "Love It!!!" }, { "asin": "0800735323", "rating": 5, "text": "Walters uses this romantic suspense novel to tackle the issues of mental illness, depression and suicide as well as the stigma attached to them. She does so with great empathy and compassion. Readers will walk away with renewed understanding of themselves whether as a sufferer or someone who interacts with someone openly dealing with these issues or someone living with the lies these issues speak to them. I highly recommend the novel Living Lies.<br /><br /> Lane Kent would describe herself as broken and unworthy. Her friends would describe her as empathetic and selfless. The burden of guilt she carried weighed heavily on her, and blinded her to the possibilities for the future. Deputy Charlie Lynch, a former Marine, knew what he wanted out of life, it was the reason he had come to Walton, Georgia, and he knew it needed to include Lane Kent. Convincing her that they had a future was something he was willing to work at for as long as it took. The fact that Lane's life seemed to be in danger from the perpetrator of Walton's first murder in thirty years only increased Charlie's desire to keep her close. Fans of romantic suspense will be excited to add Natalie Walters to their list of favorite authors.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a copy of Living Lies from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1559225104851, "title": "Highly Recommended" }, { "asin": "0785224122", "rating": 5, "text": "Regency England, historical mystery, and romance written by Abigail Wilson, need I say more? This book is all you would expect. Abigail Wilson's debut book, In the Shadow of Croft Towers, displayed her talent for crafting a truly compelling mystery, and this second book shows that Wilson is definitely not a one-hit-wonder, but rather an up-and-coming author in this genre, one that will quickly build a large fan base.<br /><br />Rebecca and her Aunt Jo were forced to leave their London townhouse to move into her guardian's estate following her brother's death. The problem, Rebecca is convinced that her guardian murdered her brother. The townspeople near his estate are equally convinced. While moving to Greybourne Hall was distasteful, maybe Rebecca could find the evidence she needs to find justice for her brother, and so the mystery begins.<br /><br />I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Those opinions are that this is a well written, engaging story, and that it is well worth the time spent reading.", "timestamp": 1562115183474, "title": "Compelling" } ]

[ { "asin": "1496402243", "rating": 5, "text": "A friend asked me recently if I ever savored a book by leaving it on a table just to look at before reading it. Immediately a mental image of The Choosing on my nightstand popped into my mind. I had rushed right out to by it the first week it was available, not waiting for a reduced e-book sales campaign. Then it sat, calling to me, until I had time to truly immerse myself in its pages. I was not disappointed, not in the least, in spite of how I had built up the possibilities of this book in my mind. Throughout reading The Choosing I was anxious to review it, to pass the word on to my fellow readers about the depth of this story and the talent of this author. However, when it came time to sit and share my thoughts, I procrastinated. Why? I just didn’t feel like there was any way my words could do this tale justice. So I am just going to simply share a brief description to help the readers decide if this book is for them, and welcome those who choose to join the journey.<br /><br /> Rachelle Dekker’s debut novel falls within the dystopian genre. Washington D.C. is occupied by a group of people who were fortunate enough to survive immunizations which proved to be deadly for many. The Authority is in control of individual destinies, determining one’s place in society. Young women have once chance at being selected for marriage, not to be chosen would yield a cruel fate of their own making. Carrington Hale’s mother had prepared her for her Choosing Ceremony her whole life. She was confident in the outcome. How could things go so horribly wrong? Young men are placed in occupations for which The Authority finds them best suited. Remko had always been satisfied with his solitary life as a City Watch guard; that is, until he met Carrington. Then there is Aaron, a speaker of truth or a leader of rebellion, or both? The ideas he promotes are unsettling. Is there something more, Someone more, who determines individual worth, Someone greater than The Authority? What sacrifices are necessary to find the answer to those questions? What sacrifices are our protagonists, their friends, their family willing to make?<br /><br /> I invite you to join me on the journey, the journey of seers.", "timestamp": 1440001812000, "title": "A Book to be Savored" }, { "asin": "0800723260", "rating": 4, "text": "The Elite Guardians, bodyguards led by Olivia Edwards, are always watching over their client, radio personality, Wade Savage. Unfortunately, Wade’s stalker is equally vigilant in watching his every move. As the stalker begins to expand his, or is it her, focus to include Wade’s young daughter, Amy, and one of his bodyguards is severely injured in an attack outside the radio station, Olivia is forced to call in back up from local law enforcement. Even with the extra resources, much of Olivia’s time is spent with Wade, and the growing attraction is undeniable. Will the attraction prove too much of a distraction, and will that lead to deadly consequences? After all, Wade has done something to make the stalker very angry.<br /> When reviews are posted on web sites, the reviewer is often asked to give a star rating of the book or product. When considering the number of stars I consider how well the item being reviewed met my expectations and how pleased I was with it. Well, if I were to give Always Watching a star rating, and I was comparing it to how other mysteries I’ve read over the last few years met my expectations and provided reading pleasure, I would give it four stars. However, if I were to compare it with the last two Lynette Eason books I’d read from her Hidden Identity series, I would probably give it three stars. As mysteries in general go, Always Watching is a great read, but for my reading pleasure it was less engaging than Nowhere to Turn and No One to Trust. I found the characters to be less endearing and the events less realistic. Am I saying that I wouldn’t recommend this book, absolutely not. It simply is not my favorite Lynette Eason book. Will I read the next book in this series, certainly; after all it’s a Lynette Eason book.<br /> I thank Revell Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for providing Always Watching for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.", "timestamp": 1455590705000, "title": "Fast Paced" }, { "asin": "080072402X", "rating": 5, "text": "God is our heavenly Father, correct? What about when He allows bad things to happen? When He allows those who should love and protect us to betray us? When He allows disaster to fall on those that least deserve it? What then? These questions plague Marie as do the panic attacks that accompany them. They eat away at Seth who struggles to trust, who brings others' motives into question. Shall we admit that they sometimes niggle at the backs of our minds as well? While Johnson does not presume to answer these questions, she does give us a glimpse into the beauty that God, our Father, can bring from the ashes. We need only open our eyes in gratitude.<br />Marie believes she has walked away from everything after a bitter betrayal. Seth believes everything has been taken from him. Both make their way to the refuge offered by Jack Sloane, a widower, trying to fulfill his late wife's dream of opening a bed and breakfast, a healing place for the soul. Eventually the unlikely pair realize they have been led to everything that really matters. Readers may be called to reassess their own priorities, and to identify blessings to which they have been blind.<br />Set on beautiful Prince Edward Island, with a cast of caring neighbors, and with many references to L. M. Montgomery's books about a special red-headed orphan, The Red Door Inn casts our world of problems and worries against a backdrop of healing in a kinder, gentler time and place. Johnson's dialogue flows smoothly. Her crisp descriptions paint pictures of places, characters, and actions filled with emotions that will linger in the readers' minds. Both major and minor characters are well developed giving insight into what motivates them in life. I look forward to visiting them again in book two of Prince Edward Island Dreams.<br />Thank you to Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for making The Red Door Inn available to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I have received no monetary compensation for my review.", "timestamp": 1458867221000, "title": "When God Brings Beauty From Ashes" }, { "asin": "0800724186", "rating": 4, "text": "Missionary Bailey Adams is anxious to return home to Logan Point, even if only for a visit. Bailey has made some very dangerous enemies in Mexico and needs to gain perspective on her role there. On her last day in Mexico those enemies, a disgruntled shaman, someone from the Calatrava drug cartel, or a kidnapper after Bailey’s charge, young Maria Montoya, have Bailey and Maria on the run. How long is the arm of those who would do these two harm? To what extent will they go to carry out their plans? Will Logan Point, Mississippi put enough distance between them?<br /> Bailey has known all along that going home to Logan Point means inevitably running into her former fiance, Danny Maxwell. She had not however considered the possibility of their paths crossing in Chihuahua, Mexico, and is totally taken aback when that is just what happens. Now it seems Danny is the only one she can trust to get her and Maria to safety.<br /> Each mystery in Bradley’s Logan Point series has included well laid out clues and plausible red herrings. The fast paced action, crisp dialogue, and engaging characters will have readers carrying the books wherever they go, snatching moments whenever possible to catch the next turn of events. While reading the books in sequence will allow the reader to understand some references regarding characters and events from previous books, the books do work well as a stand alone read. Patricia Bradley has become one of my favorite mystery authors. Mystery fans of Irene Hannon, Lynette Eason, and Colleen Coble will be proud to display Bradley’s books on their shelves as well. I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing Silence in the Dark for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for providing this review.", "timestamp": 1464088452000, "title": "Return to Logan Point" }, { "asin": "0800722752", "rating": 3, "text": "I eagerly awaited this book’s arrival in the mail as I had so enjoyed Where Rivers Part, a previous book in Gilbert’s Texas Gold series. While I did enjoy this book, had I not known it was by the same author I would never have suspected it. Where Rivers Part would appear to have been written by a more seasoned, mature author. Both books dealt with strong themes, What Matters Most’s being the need for integrity in all walks of life, but especially in positions of leadership, very apropos for our current election cycle.<br /> What Matters Most has two protagonists that are poster children for integrity, even when they are thrown into situations which pose significant challenges to that integrity. The antagonists are everything the American public has grown to despise in our political arena. The greater message here is hope, hope that when things are tough that doing the right thing will lead to a positive outcome, hope that a new generation is rising that will embody moral character, hope for our states and our country. Hope that is found in God.<br /> One of the most basic comprehension strategies we teach students is to bring their background knowledge to the task of comprehending, one type of knowledge is the knowledge of how particular genres of stories work. Readers who are familiar with this type of story are waiting for the other shoe to drop well into this story, because we all know that it will. Once it does, the author wastes no time in moving to clean up the subsequent fall out. The final piece to that solution comes from a very unlikely source.<br /> I recommend What Matters Most to romantic fiction readers, and to those who, during this presidential election season, need a message of hope. Thank you to Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for making What Matters Most available to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I have received no monetary compensation for my review.", "timestamp": 1470014844000, "title": "Integrity and Hope" }, { "asin": "0800722205", "rating": 3, "text": "To Follow Her Heart is book three in The Southold Chronicles based on Rebecca De Marino’s ancestors, Barnabas and Mary Horton’s, settling in what is now Long Island, New York. In her author’s notes DeMarino clearly separates the fact from the fiction. While this latest addition to the series focuses on the romance between Patience Terry and Barnabas’ brother, Jeremy, it continues the story of the deep love between Mary and Barnabas.<br /><br /> Life in the 1600’s wasn’t easy with illness and death truly plaguing residents in the New World as well as the Old. The Horton family, while not untouched, was largely spared. The community of Southold demonstrates the reliance those who settled our nation had to have upon one another and upon the original residents in the lands upon which they settled. It also demonstrates the deep attachments that developed.<br /><br /> While it is satisfying to revisit Barnabas and Mary Horton, and to rejoice in the depth of their love for and dedication to one another, it is the ever changing relationship between Jeremy and Patience that keeps the reader engaged with this story. The author does a wonderful job of keeping the reader guessing as to what direction she will take this relationship. Patience, in her early forties, has waited a long time for Jeremy to commit to her, while it seems that that time has finally arrived, Jeremy seems to like the idea of commitment far more than actually committing. Might there be another suitor far more ready to do so?<br /><br /> There is one aspect of To Follow Her Heart that kept me unsettled. That was the question of to what degree did the characters act and interact in a way that was true to the time period in which the story is set. Would they consider that a certain color gown would make the color of their eyes, “pop”? Would a couple, not officially engaged, spend so much unchaperoned time together in the confines of one’s home? Would there be such public displays of affection? Would women and men compete against one another in a game of tug-of-war? This line of questioning did not, however, diminish my enjoyment of the story, and would not keep me from recommending it to others.<br /><br /> I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing To Follow Her Heart for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for providing this review.", "timestamp": 1472654051000, "title": "Which Way Will the Author Go With This???" }, { "asin": "0800726693", "rating": 4, "text": "Another Day, Another Dali is the second book in the Serena Jones Mystery series, following A Fool and His Monet. Special Agent Serena Jones is a member of the FBI’s art crime team, but it was her Nana that got her involved in solving the theft of a Dali painting. This on the heels of rushing into a drug dealer’s home based on the possibility of a valuable painting being found on site. Then things get really interesting when Serena helps out another agent who is investigating the Russian mob. All of these cases seem to be intertwined, and all Serena knows is that someone is targeting her; the trick is to figure out which of the cases her attacker or attackers is linked to.<br /><br /> When reading a mystery, we expect to be looking for motives, and questioning motives. In life we also look for motives, and unfortunately often make incorrect assumptions about why people do what they do. In Another Day, Another Dali Orchard drives this point home. Those incorrect assumptions may result in hurt feelings and unwanted and unnecessary consequences, feelings and consequences that could be avoided with adequate trust and communication.<br /><br /> I am looking forward to reading Serena Jones’ next adventure, and Orchard’s next clever title. I recommend this series to cozy mystery lovers and to those “more mature” ladies who have been looking for fun characters in their age bracket. Both groups (regardless of their age) are going to love Serena’s Aunt Martha. The series makes a great vacation or fun weekend read. I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing me with a copy of Another Day, Another Dali in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1477863726000, "title": "Motives Matter" }, { "asin": "0718099109", "rating": 5, "text": "Through Thorald Norgaard Joanne Bischof honors the deaf and their language. She makes clear the importance of listening and of being heard, whether verbal speech is a part of that communication or not, and in spite of gender or race differences. Even for the hearing community, much of what we say and hear involves non-verbal communication, being aware of that will improve our skills if we will allow it to do so.<br /> Thor is the middle son, a skilled apple farmer and maker of hard ciders and wines. He is also an alcoholic, a slave to his handiwork, even as he supports those freed from slavery following the Civil War. Aven Norgaard is the young widow of the brothers' cousin who has braved the seas to come live with their Aunt Dorothe and the three “boys” under her care. She arrives to learn that Dorothe has passed away, and the three boys are grown men, one of whom quickly claims her heart. Aven has seen the results of a life given to alcohol, and is unsure of how to guard her heart.<br /> Sons of Blackbird Mountain is a study in relationships and a story of forgiveness given and at times withheld. It is a story of choosing to do the right thing over choosing the easy or self-centered path.<br /> Joanne Bischof is a new to me author, and I will be looking for more of her books in the future. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1530714564273, "title": "Original Characters" }, { "asin": "B077CWKDYR", "rating": 5, "text": "Recently I watched an interview with a twin who was subjected to Dr. Josef Mengele's experiments at Auschwitz. Her voice rang in my head as I read Auschwitz Lullaby by Mario Escobar. The atrocities of which Mengele was guilty were great, and he was never brought to justice on this side of eternity. In this book Escobar tells the story of Helene Hannemann, largely adhering to the actual facts of her time at Auschwitz with her five children. Helene, an Aryan, voluntarily accompanied her Gypsy husband and their children when the soldiers came to take them away. Her determination to care for her children and those of other Gypsy families in the camp improved the circumstances for many during their imprisonment. Hannemann worked under the direction of Dr. Mengele, running a nursery and school for the Gypsy children, some who were then taken to be included in his experiments. Her goal remained the same throughout her time there, to protect and care for the children.<br /><br /> Escobar's well-written, somewhat fictionalized account of her life allows Helene Hannemann to be an inspiration to another generation of parents, a generation that may be in need of a lesson in sacrifice. Helene could have spared her life, could have walked away from the filth, disease and death that was Auschwitz, but instead she sacrificed each hour, each minute, for the children.<br /><br /> I highly recommend Auschwitz Lullaby not only for fans of historical fiction, but for all who have a heart for children, and those in this generation who may need to be reminded of the gift they are. Received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1533648719323, "title": "A Look at Auschwitz From a Different Lens" }, { "asin": "0718083040", "rating": 4, "text": "Robert Whitlow's legal suspense stories never fail to intrigue. His knowledge of our country's legal system adds credibility to his novels. In Chosen People Whitlow demonstrates that his knowledge is not limited to our country's borders, as this book is set in both the U.S. and the Middle East. Whitlow confronts the need to hold those who fund terrorism accountable. He also gives his readers a glimpse into the complexity of being a Christian of Middle Eastern heritage.<br /><br /> Hana Abboud, a Christian Arab Israeli, practices law at a firm in Atlanta, Georgia. Because of her knowledge of the languages and cultures of the area, Hana is asked to represent the firm in a case involving the death of an American woman killed by terrorists in Jerusalem. Hana would be working with an attorney from a small firm, Jakob Brodsky, a secular Jew from a Russian background, who had approached a senior partner of the larger firm about being co-counsel in the case. Their first order of business would be to uncover connections between the terrorists and a funding entity who would then be sued. Little did Hana and Jakob know the impact this case would have on their own lives.<br /><br /> I would recommend Chosen People, and indeed any book by this author, to fans of mysteries and suspense. Whitlow's work appeals to both men and women. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1541552447226, "title": "Great Legal Suspense" }, { "asin": "0785219269", "rating": 4, "text": "Who I Am With You is the story of Andrew Henning who lived in Kuna, Idaho and married Helen Greyson in 1929. The Great Depression had a profound effect on the Hennings' lives, but together they recovered emotionally and spiritually. It is also the story of Andrew and Helen's great-granddaughter, Jessica Mason, who, pregnant and widowed, lived in Hope Springs, Idaho during current times. Jessica lived for a long time acting a part and pressing down true feelings, but through her great-grandfather's Bible and her new neighbor, Ridley Chesterfield, is ready to allow God to do a new work in her. Ridley, too, is seeking a new direction after being falsely accused of underhandedness, and having his integrity questioned. He felt that a time apart from society and alone with God would provide that direction, but was totally amazed at where God lead him, and with whom.<br /><br /> Who I Am With You is a tale about who we can be through God in spite of our mistakes and circumstances. It is about the person we can be aided by those whom God places in our lives, about deciding to love and to allow ourselves to be loved, and deciding to forgive and trust again. I recommend this book to those who love a sweet, heart-warming story, and especially to those who need hope in their lives.<br /><br /> I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1544540486051, "title": "A Tale of Forgiveness and Trust" }, { "asin": "0718085841", "rating": 4, "text": "Secrets of Cedar Cabin continues the story of Shauna Bannister's search for her missing siblings. She successfully located her brother, Grayson Bradshaw, in the previous book in the Lavender Tides series. Now they are working to locate their baby sister, Bailey Fleming. In fleeing from her mother's murderer, Bailey surprisingly ended up in Shauna's hometown. The events leading to her discovery, and the terrifying events that followed will keep the reader tied to this story, not to mention Bailey's budding romance with FBI agent Lance Phoenix whose search for his missing sister intersected with Bailey's flight. Don't be surprised when the words, “Well, I didn't see that coming!” rush from your lips. This books is Coble at her best.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1548209419670, "title": "Coble at Her Best" }, { "asin": "0800735277", "rating": 4, "text": "Courting Mr. Emerson is true to Melody Carlson's writing style with quirky, endearing characters, a setting readers will want to truly visit, and a sense of poignancy. It is a story that one wants to walk into and join the cast of characters, to be a part of what unfolds.<br /><br /> Mr. Emerson, a retiring high school English teacher, is a bit out of step with the times. Once considered a confirmed bachelor by others, he's now a self-proclaimed curmudgeon. Having been told as a young boy that his parents had died because God needed them, having his older brother die in the Vietnam War, losing his fiance in a car wreck just three days before his graduation from graduate school, and eventually losing his grandparents who raised him, George came to the conclusion that there was no God. Believing that was less painful than believing that there was a God who at the worst had it out for him, and at the least didn't care about or need him. What would it take for God to make Himself and His love known to George at this time in his life? Enter Willow West, artist, bohemian, hippie, Christian, and her somewhat dysfunctional family. God can certainly work in mysterious and unexpected ways! Readers will enjoy observing how this story plays out.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a copy of Courting Mr. Emerson from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1551817779005, "title": "Quirky, Endearing Characters" }, { "asin": "0310350964", "rating": 4, "text": "'Beauty from ashes' is the phrase that best describes the stories of Everleigh Applegate and Beck Holiday. Both women had experienced great loss and grief. Both traveled an unexpected road to healing after years of living mostly within themselves. Allowing oneself to love and experience being loved is often difficult when trying to shield oneself from the pain of loosing another loved one. The Memory House is a story of God's provision and the patient love of two men who wanted these women to truly love again. It is a story of perseverance and forgiveness.<br /><br /> If you are seeking a poignant love story with places that bring a huge smile to your face, The Memory House is a good pick for you . I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1554211380845, "title": "Poignant" }, { "asin": "0785223169", "rating": 5, "text": "Set in England in 1811, this is the story of Delia Greythorne and the children for whom she cared. Each of them has experienced great hurt and loss in their lives which has forged a bond between them. Now once again their lives are in a state of upheaval as they are forced to move to a new home with the children's uncle whom they don't really know. Jac Twethewey is a bachelor living in a large house on an estate that he is desperately trying to keep afloat. He was totally unprepared for the arrival of his nieces and nephew, let alone their beautiful governess and taciturn tutor. Finally, as everyone is beginning to settle into their situation, it seems as if Mrs. Greystone's past has returned to haunt them all.<br /><br /> The Governess of Penwythe Hall has it all: historical elements, romance, a mysterious past, and intrigue. This one well definitely keep you up long into the night. While some of the story structure follows along the lines of what one would expect in a historical romance, Ladd has included plenty of surprises and suspense to hold her readers' interest.<br /><br /> I was happy to have received a complimentary coy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1555439114247, "title": "Love It!!!" }, { "asin": "0800735323", "rating": 5, "text": "Walters uses this romantic suspense novel to tackle the issues of mental illness, depression and suicide as well as the stigma attached to them. She does so with great empathy and compassion. Readers will walk away with renewed understanding of themselves whether as a sufferer or someone who interacts with someone openly dealing with these issues or someone living with the lies these issues speak to them. I highly recommend the novel Living Lies.<br /><br /> Lane Kent would describe herself as broken and unworthy. Her friends would describe her as empathetic and selfless. The burden of guilt she carried weighed heavily on her, and blinded her to the possibilities for the future. Deputy Charlie Lynch, a former Marine, knew what he wanted out of life, it was the reason he had come to Walton, Georgia, and he knew it needed to include Lane Kent. Convincing her that they had a future was something he was willing to work at for as long as it took. The fact that Lane's life seemed to be in danger from the perpetrator of Walton's first murder in thirty years only increased Charlie's desire to keep her close. Fans of romantic suspense will be excited to add Natalie Walters to their list of favorite authors.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a copy of Living Lies from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1559225104851, "title": "Highly Recommended" }, { "asin": "0785224122", "rating": 5, "text": "Regency England, historical mystery, and romance written by Abigail Wilson, need I say more? This book is all you would expect. Abigail Wilson's debut book, In the Shadow of Croft Towers, displayed her talent for crafting a truly compelling mystery, and this second book shows that Wilson is definitely not a one-hit-wonder, but rather an up-and-coming author in this genre, one that will quickly build a large fan base.<br /><br />Rebecca and her Aunt Jo were forced to leave their London townhouse to move into her guardian's estate following her brother's death. The problem, Rebecca is convinced that her guardian murdered her brother. The townspeople near his estate are equally convinced. While moving to Greybourne Hall was distasteful, maybe Rebecca could find the evidence she needs to find justice for her brother, and so the mystery begins.<br /><br />I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Those opinions are that this is a well written, engaging story, and that it is well worth the time spent reading.", "timestamp": 1562115183474, "title": "Compelling" }, { "asin": "0718085884", "rating": 4, "text": "Many have taken DNA tests through currently popular companies and learned of surprising connections. Strands of Truth is a story about one of the possible abuses of such information. Coble has created a mystery that begins with two sisters using DNA to locate family, who also locate trouble as well as answers to two cold cases, a story of truly getting more than you bargained for. Mystery fans will be quite happy with what they get from Strands of Truth, an engaging mystery with carefully sprinkled clues throughout. Unexpected connections await.<br /><br />I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Strands of Truth from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1568123240834, "title": "Coble remains one of my faves" } ]

[ { "asin": "1496402243", "rating": 5, "text": "A friend asked me recently if I ever savored a book by leaving it on a table just to look at before reading it. Immediately a mental image of The Choosing on my nightstand popped into my mind. I had rushed right out to by it the first week it was available, not waiting for a reduced e-book sales campaign. Then it sat, calling to me, until I had time to truly immerse myself in its pages. I was not disappointed, not in the least, in spite of how I had built up the possibilities of this book in my mind. Throughout reading The Choosing I was anxious to review it, to pass the word on to my fellow readers about the depth of this story and the talent of this author. However, when it came time to sit and share my thoughts, I procrastinated. Why? I just didn’t feel like there was any way my words could do this tale justice. So I am just going to simply share a brief description to help the readers decide if this book is for them, and welcome those who choose to join the journey.<br /><br /> Rachelle Dekker’s debut novel falls within the dystopian genre. Washington D.C. is occupied by a group of people who were fortunate enough to survive immunizations which proved to be deadly for many. The Authority is in control of individual destinies, determining one’s place in society. Young women have once chance at being selected for marriage, not to be chosen would yield a cruel fate of their own making. Carrington Hale’s mother had prepared her for her Choosing Ceremony her whole life. She was confident in the outcome. How could things go so horribly wrong? Young men are placed in occupations for which The Authority finds them best suited. Remko had always been satisfied with his solitary life as a City Watch guard; that is, until he met Carrington. Then there is Aaron, a speaker of truth or a leader of rebellion, or both? The ideas he promotes are unsettling. Is there something more, Someone more, who determines individual worth, Someone greater than The Authority? What sacrifices are necessary to find the answer to those questions? What sacrifices are our protagonists, their friends, their family willing to make?<br /><br /> I invite you to join me on the journey, the journey of seers.", "timestamp": 1440001812000, "title": "A Book to be Savored" }, { "asin": "0800723260", "rating": 4, "text": "The Elite Guardians, bodyguards led by Olivia Edwards, are always watching over their client, radio personality, Wade Savage. Unfortunately, Wade’s stalker is equally vigilant in watching his every move. As the stalker begins to expand his, or is it her, focus to include Wade’s young daughter, Amy, and one of his bodyguards is severely injured in an attack outside the radio station, Olivia is forced to call in back up from local law enforcement. Even with the extra resources, much of Olivia’s time is spent with Wade, and the growing attraction is undeniable. Will the attraction prove too much of a distraction, and will that lead to deadly consequences? After all, Wade has done something to make the stalker very angry.<br /> When reviews are posted on web sites, the reviewer is often asked to give a star rating of the book or product. When considering the number of stars I consider how well the item being reviewed met my expectations and how pleased I was with it. Well, if I were to give Always Watching a star rating, and I was comparing it to how other mysteries I’ve read over the last few years met my expectations and provided reading pleasure, I would give it four stars. However, if I were to compare it with the last two Lynette Eason books I’d read from her Hidden Identity series, I would probably give it three stars. As mysteries in general go, Always Watching is a great read, but for my reading pleasure it was less engaging than Nowhere to Turn and No One to Trust. I found the characters to be less endearing and the events less realistic. Am I saying that I wouldn’t recommend this book, absolutely not. It simply is not my favorite Lynette Eason book. Will I read the next book in this series, certainly; after all it’s a Lynette Eason book.<br /> I thank Revell Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for providing Always Watching for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.", "timestamp": 1455590705000, "title": "Fast Paced" }, { "asin": "080072402X", "rating": 5, "text": "God is our heavenly Father, correct? What about when He allows bad things to happen? When He allows those who should love and protect us to betray us? When He allows disaster to fall on those that least deserve it? What then? These questions plague Marie as do the panic attacks that accompany them. They eat away at Seth who struggles to trust, who brings others' motives into question. Shall we admit that they sometimes niggle at the backs of our minds as well? While Johnson does not presume to answer these questions, she does give us a glimpse into the beauty that God, our Father, can bring from the ashes. We need only open our eyes in gratitude.<br />Marie believes she has walked away from everything after a bitter betrayal. Seth believes everything has been taken from him. Both make their way to the refuge offered by Jack Sloane, a widower, trying to fulfill his late wife's dream of opening a bed and breakfast, a healing place for the soul. Eventually the unlikely pair realize they have been led to everything that really matters. Readers may be called to reassess their own priorities, and to identify blessings to which they have been blind.<br />Set on beautiful Prince Edward Island, with a cast of caring neighbors, and with many references to L. M. Montgomery's books about a special red-headed orphan, The Red Door Inn casts our world of problems and worries against a backdrop of healing in a kinder, gentler time and place. Johnson's dialogue flows smoothly. Her crisp descriptions paint pictures of places, characters, and actions filled with emotions that will linger in the readers' minds. Both major and minor characters are well developed giving insight into what motivates them in life. I look forward to visiting them again in book two of Prince Edward Island Dreams.<br />Thank you to Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for making The Red Door Inn available to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I have received no monetary compensation for my review.", "timestamp": 1458867221000, "title": "When God Brings Beauty From Ashes" }, { "asin": "0800724186", "rating": 4, "text": "Missionary Bailey Adams is anxious to return home to Logan Point, even if only for a visit. Bailey has made some very dangerous enemies in Mexico and needs to gain perspective on her role there. On her last day in Mexico those enemies, a disgruntled shaman, someone from the Calatrava drug cartel, or a kidnapper after Bailey’s charge, young Maria Montoya, have Bailey and Maria on the run. How long is the arm of those who would do these two harm? To what extent will they go to carry out their plans? Will Logan Point, Mississippi put enough distance between them?<br /> Bailey has known all along that going home to Logan Point means inevitably running into her former fiance, Danny Maxwell. She had not however considered the possibility of their paths crossing in Chihuahua, Mexico, and is totally taken aback when that is just what happens. Now it seems Danny is the only one she can trust to get her and Maria to safety.<br /> Each mystery in Bradley’s Logan Point series has included well laid out clues and plausible red herrings. The fast paced action, crisp dialogue, and engaging characters will have readers carrying the books wherever they go, snatching moments whenever possible to catch the next turn of events. While reading the books in sequence will allow the reader to understand some references regarding characters and events from previous books, the books do work well as a stand alone read. Patricia Bradley has become one of my favorite mystery authors. Mystery fans of Irene Hannon, Lynette Eason, and Colleen Coble will be proud to display Bradley’s books on their shelves as well. I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing Silence in the Dark for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for providing this review.", "timestamp": 1464088452000, "title": "Return to Logan Point" }, { "asin": "0800722752", "rating": 3, "text": "I eagerly awaited this book’s arrival in the mail as I had so enjoyed Where Rivers Part, a previous book in Gilbert’s Texas Gold series. While I did enjoy this book, had I not known it was by the same author I would never have suspected it. Where Rivers Part would appear to have been written by a more seasoned, mature author. Both books dealt with strong themes, What Matters Most’s being the need for integrity in all walks of life, but especially in positions of leadership, very apropos for our current election cycle.<br /> What Matters Most has two protagonists that are poster children for integrity, even when they are thrown into situations which pose significant challenges to that integrity. The antagonists are everything the American public has grown to despise in our political arena. The greater message here is hope, hope that when things are tough that doing the right thing will lead to a positive outcome, hope that a new generation is rising that will embody moral character, hope for our states and our country. Hope that is found in God.<br /> One of the most basic comprehension strategies we teach students is to bring their background knowledge to the task of comprehending, one type of knowledge is the knowledge of how particular genres of stories work. Readers who are familiar with this type of story are waiting for the other shoe to drop well into this story, because we all know that it will. Once it does, the author wastes no time in moving to clean up the subsequent fall out. The final piece to that solution comes from a very unlikely source.<br /> I recommend What Matters Most to romantic fiction readers, and to those who, during this presidential election season, need a message of hope. Thank you to Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for making What Matters Most available to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I have received no monetary compensation for my review.", "timestamp": 1470014844000, "title": "Integrity and Hope" }, { "asin": "0800722205", "rating": 3, "text": "To Follow Her Heart is book three in The Southold Chronicles based on Rebecca De Marino’s ancestors, Barnabas and Mary Horton’s, settling in what is now Long Island, New York. In her author’s notes DeMarino clearly separates the fact from the fiction. While this latest addition to the series focuses on the romance between Patience Terry and Barnabas’ brother, Jeremy, it continues the story of the deep love between Mary and Barnabas.<br /><br /> Life in the 1600’s wasn’t easy with illness and death truly plaguing residents in the New World as well as the Old. The Horton family, while not untouched, was largely spared. The community of Southold demonstrates the reliance those who settled our nation had to have upon one another and upon the original residents in the lands upon which they settled. It also demonstrates the deep attachments that developed.<br /><br /> While it is satisfying to revisit Barnabas and Mary Horton, and to rejoice in the depth of their love for and dedication to one another, it is the ever changing relationship between Jeremy and Patience that keeps the reader engaged with this story. The author does a wonderful job of keeping the reader guessing as to what direction she will take this relationship. Patience, in her early forties, has waited a long time for Jeremy to commit to her, while it seems that that time has finally arrived, Jeremy seems to like the idea of commitment far more than actually committing. Might there be another suitor far more ready to do so?<br /><br /> There is one aspect of To Follow Her Heart that kept me unsettled. That was the question of to what degree did the characters act and interact in a way that was true to the time period in which the story is set. Would they consider that a certain color gown would make the color of their eyes, “pop”? Would a couple, not officially engaged, spend so much unchaperoned time together in the confines of one’s home? Would there be such public displays of affection? Would women and men compete against one another in a game of tug-of-war? This line of questioning did not, however, diminish my enjoyment of the story, and would not keep me from recommending it to others.<br /><br /> I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing To Follow Her Heart for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for providing this review.", "timestamp": 1472654051000, "title": "Which Way Will the Author Go With This???" }, { "asin": "0800726693", "rating": 4, "text": "Another Day, Another Dali is the second book in the Serena Jones Mystery series, following A Fool and His Monet. Special Agent Serena Jones is a member of the FBI’s art crime team, but it was her Nana that got her involved in solving the theft of a Dali painting. This on the heels of rushing into a drug dealer’s home based on the possibility of a valuable painting being found on site. Then things get really interesting when Serena helps out another agent who is investigating the Russian mob. All of these cases seem to be intertwined, and all Serena knows is that someone is targeting her; the trick is to figure out which of the cases her attacker or attackers is linked to.<br /><br /> When reading a mystery, we expect to be looking for motives, and questioning motives. In life we also look for motives, and unfortunately often make incorrect assumptions about why people do what they do. In Another Day, Another Dali Orchard drives this point home. Those incorrect assumptions may result in hurt feelings and unwanted and unnecessary consequences, feelings and consequences that could be avoided with adequate trust and communication.<br /><br /> I am looking forward to reading Serena Jones’ next adventure, and Orchard’s next clever title. I recommend this series to cozy mystery lovers and to those “more mature” ladies who have been looking for fun characters in their age bracket. Both groups (regardless of their age) are going to love Serena’s Aunt Martha. The series makes a great vacation or fun weekend read. I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing me with a copy of Another Day, Another Dali in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1477863726000, "title": "Motives Matter" }, { "asin": "0718099109", "rating": 5, "text": "Through Thorald Norgaard Joanne Bischof honors the deaf and their language. She makes clear the importance of listening and of being heard, whether verbal speech is a part of that communication or not, and in spite of gender or race differences. Even for the hearing community, much of what we say and hear involves non-verbal communication, being aware of that will improve our skills if we will allow it to do so.<br /> Thor is the middle son, a skilled apple farmer and maker of hard ciders and wines. He is also an alcoholic, a slave to his handiwork, even as he supports those freed from slavery following the Civil War. Aven Norgaard is the young widow of the brothers' cousin who has braved the seas to come live with their Aunt Dorothe and the three “boys” under her care. She arrives to learn that Dorothe has passed away, and the three boys are grown men, one of whom quickly claims her heart. Aven has seen the results of a life given to alcohol, and is unsure of how to guard her heart.<br /> Sons of Blackbird Mountain is a study in relationships and a story of forgiveness given and at times withheld. It is a story of choosing to do the right thing over choosing the easy or self-centered path.<br /> Joanne Bischof is a new to me author, and I will be looking for more of her books in the future. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1530714564273, "title": "Original Characters" }, { "asin": "B077CWKDYR", "rating": 5, "text": "Recently I watched an interview with a twin who was subjected to Dr. Josef Mengele's experiments at Auschwitz. Her voice rang in my head as I read Auschwitz Lullaby by Mario Escobar. The atrocities of which Mengele was guilty were great, and he was never brought to justice on this side of eternity. In this book Escobar tells the story of Helene Hannemann, largely adhering to the actual facts of her time at Auschwitz with her five children. Helene, an Aryan, voluntarily accompanied her Gypsy husband and their children when the soldiers came to take them away. Her determination to care for her children and those of other Gypsy families in the camp improved the circumstances for many during their imprisonment. Hannemann worked under the direction of Dr. Mengele, running a nursery and school for the Gypsy children, some who were then taken to be included in his experiments. Her goal remained the same throughout her time there, to protect and care for the children.<br /><br /> Escobar's well-written, somewhat fictionalized account of her life allows Helene Hannemann to be an inspiration to another generation of parents, a generation that may be in need of a lesson in sacrifice. Helene could have spared her life, could have walked away from the filth, disease and death that was Auschwitz, but instead she sacrificed each hour, each minute, for the children.<br /><br /> I highly recommend Auschwitz Lullaby not only for fans of historical fiction, but for all who have a heart for children, and those in this generation who may need to be reminded of the gift they are. Received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1533648719323, "title": "A Look at Auschwitz From a Different Lens" }, { "asin": "0718083040", "rating": 4, "text": "Robert Whitlow's legal suspense stories never fail to intrigue. His knowledge of our country's legal system adds credibility to his novels. In Chosen People Whitlow demonstrates that his knowledge is not limited to our country's borders, as this book is set in both the U.S. and the Middle East. Whitlow confronts the need to hold those who fund terrorism accountable. He also gives his readers a glimpse into the complexity of being a Christian of Middle Eastern heritage.<br /><br /> Hana Abboud, a Christian Arab Israeli, practices law at a firm in Atlanta, Georgia. Because of her knowledge of the languages and cultures of the area, Hana is asked to represent the firm in a case involving the death of an American woman killed by terrorists in Jerusalem. Hana would be working with an attorney from a small firm, Jakob Brodsky, a secular Jew from a Russian background, who had approached a senior partner of the larger firm about being co-counsel in the case. Their first order of business would be to uncover connections between the terrorists and a funding entity who would then be sued. Little did Hana and Jakob know the impact this case would have on their own lives.<br /><br /> I would recommend Chosen People, and indeed any book by this author, to fans of mysteries and suspense. Whitlow's work appeals to both men and women. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1541552447226, "title": "Great Legal Suspense" }, { "asin": "0785219269", "rating": 4, "text": "Who I Am With You is the story of Andrew Henning who lived in Kuna, Idaho and married Helen Greyson in 1929. The Great Depression had a profound effect on the Hennings' lives, but together they recovered emotionally and spiritually. It is also the story of Andrew and Helen's great-granddaughter, Jessica Mason, who, pregnant and widowed, lived in Hope Springs, Idaho during current times. Jessica lived for a long time acting a part and pressing down true feelings, but through her great-grandfather's Bible and her new neighbor, Ridley Chesterfield, is ready to allow God to do a new work in her. Ridley, too, is seeking a new direction after being falsely accused of underhandedness, and having his integrity questioned. He felt that a time apart from society and alone with God would provide that direction, but was totally amazed at where God lead him, and with whom.<br /><br /> Who I Am With You is a tale about who we can be through God in spite of our mistakes and circumstances. It is about the person we can be aided by those whom God places in our lives, about deciding to love and to allow ourselves to be loved, and deciding to forgive and trust again. I recommend this book to those who love a sweet, heart-warming story, and especially to those who need hope in their lives.<br /><br /> I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1544540486051, "title": "A Tale of Forgiveness and Trust" }, { "asin": "0718085841", "rating": 4, "text": "Secrets of Cedar Cabin continues the story of Shauna Bannister's search for her missing siblings. She successfully located her brother, Grayson Bradshaw, in the previous book in the Lavender Tides series. Now they are working to locate their baby sister, Bailey Fleming. In fleeing from her mother's murderer, Bailey surprisingly ended up in Shauna's hometown. The events leading to her discovery, and the terrifying events that followed will keep the reader tied to this story, not to mention Bailey's budding romance with FBI agent Lance Phoenix whose search for his missing sister intersected with Bailey's flight. Don't be surprised when the words, “Well, I didn't see that coming!” rush from your lips. This books is Coble at her best.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1548209419670, "title": "Coble at Her Best" }, { "asin": "0800735277", "rating": 4, "text": "Courting Mr. Emerson is true to Melody Carlson's writing style with quirky, endearing characters, a setting readers will want to truly visit, and a sense of poignancy. It is a story that one wants to walk into and join the cast of characters, to be a part of what unfolds.<br /><br /> Mr. Emerson, a retiring high school English teacher, is a bit out of step with the times. Once considered a confirmed bachelor by others, he's now a self-proclaimed curmudgeon. Having been told as a young boy that his parents had died because God needed them, having his older brother die in the Vietnam War, losing his fiance in a car wreck just three days before his graduation from graduate school, and eventually losing his grandparents who raised him, George came to the conclusion that there was no God. Believing that was less painful than believing that there was a God who at the worst had it out for him, and at the least didn't care about or need him. What would it take for God to make Himself and His love known to George at this time in his life? Enter Willow West, artist, bohemian, hippie, Christian, and her somewhat dysfunctional family. God can certainly work in mysterious and unexpected ways! Readers will enjoy observing how this story plays out.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a copy of Courting Mr. Emerson from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1551817779005, "title": "Quirky, Endearing Characters" }, { "asin": "0310350964", "rating": 4, "text": "'Beauty from ashes' is the phrase that best describes the stories of Everleigh Applegate and Beck Holiday. Both women had experienced great loss and grief. Both traveled an unexpected road to healing after years of living mostly within themselves. Allowing oneself to love and experience being loved is often difficult when trying to shield oneself from the pain of loosing another loved one. The Memory House is a story of God's provision and the patient love of two men who wanted these women to truly love again. It is a story of perseverance and forgiveness.<br /><br /> If you are seeking a poignant love story with places that bring a huge smile to your face, The Memory House is a good pick for you . I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1554211380845, "title": "Poignant" }, { "asin": "0785223169", "rating": 5, "text": "Set in England in 1811, this is the story of Delia Greythorne and the children for whom she cared. Each of them has experienced great hurt and loss in their lives which has forged a bond between them. Now once again their lives are in a state of upheaval as they are forced to move to a new home with the children's uncle whom they don't really know. Jac Twethewey is a bachelor living in a large house on an estate that he is desperately trying to keep afloat. He was totally unprepared for the arrival of his nieces and nephew, let alone their beautiful governess and taciturn tutor. Finally, as everyone is beginning to settle into their situation, it seems as if Mrs. Greystone's past has returned to haunt them all.<br /><br /> The Governess of Penwythe Hall has it all: historical elements, romance, a mysterious past, and intrigue. This one well definitely keep you up long into the night. While some of the story structure follows along the lines of what one would expect in a historical romance, Ladd has included plenty of surprises and suspense to hold her readers' interest.<br /><br /> I was happy to have received a complimentary coy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1555439114247, "title": "Love It!!!" }, { "asin": "0800735323", "rating": 5, "text": "Walters uses this romantic suspense novel to tackle the issues of mental illness, depression and suicide as well as the stigma attached to them. She does so with great empathy and compassion. Readers will walk away with renewed understanding of themselves whether as a sufferer or someone who interacts with someone openly dealing with these issues or someone living with the lies these issues speak to them. I highly recommend the novel Living Lies.<br /><br /> Lane Kent would describe herself as broken and unworthy. Her friends would describe her as empathetic and selfless. The burden of guilt she carried weighed heavily on her, and blinded her to the possibilities for the future. Deputy Charlie Lynch, a former Marine, knew what he wanted out of life, it was the reason he had come to Walton, Georgia, and he knew it needed to include Lane Kent. Convincing her that they had a future was something he was willing to work at for as long as it took. The fact that Lane's life seemed to be in danger from the perpetrator of Walton's first murder in thirty years only increased Charlie's desire to keep her close. Fans of romantic suspense will be excited to add Natalie Walters to their list of favorite authors.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a copy of Living Lies from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1559225104851, "title": "Highly Recommended" }, { "asin": "0785224122", "rating": 5, "text": "Regency England, historical mystery, and romance written by Abigail Wilson, need I say more? This book is all you would expect. Abigail Wilson's debut book, In the Shadow of Croft Towers, displayed her talent for crafting a truly compelling mystery, and this second book shows that Wilson is definitely not a one-hit-wonder, but rather an up-and-coming author in this genre, one that will quickly build a large fan base.<br /><br />Rebecca and her Aunt Jo were forced to leave their London townhouse to move into her guardian's estate following her brother's death. The problem, Rebecca is convinced that her guardian murdered her brother. The townspeople near his estate are equally convinced. While moving to Greybourne Hall was distasteful, maybe Rebecca could find the evidence she needs to find justice for her brother, and so the mystery begins.<br /><br />I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Those opinions are that this is a well written, engaging story, and that it is well worth the time spent reading.", "timestamp": 1562115183474, "title": "Compelling" }, { "asin": "0718085884", "rating": 4, "text": "Many have taken DNA tests through currently popular companies and learned of surprising connections. Strands of Truth is a story about one of the possible abuses of such information. Coble has created a mystery that begins with two sisters using DNA to locate family, who also locate trouble as well as answers to two cold cases, a story of truly getting more than you bargained for. Mystery fans will be quite happy with what they get from Strands of Truth, an engaging mystery with carefully sprinkled clues throughout. Unexpected connections await.<br /><br />I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Strands of Truth from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1568123240834, "title": "Coble remains one of my faves" }, { "asin": "0718095529", "rating": 5, "text": "Cambron's seamless transition and intertwining of three connected yet distinct stories from the 1840s, 1940s, and present day is truly amazing. Elizabeth, Amelia, and Keira all share stories of heartbreak and restoration that unfold on the Parham Hill Estate in Suffolk County, England. Each lady's story is captivating and will stir the reader's heart. Elizabeth and Keira's stories include a mystery to be solved. Each story goes beyond romance to deep and abiding love.<br /><br />Kristy Cambron is a master of character development. In her stories each word counts, frivolous passages are non-existent. Once finished, they leave you with the desire to let them rest in your thoughts, with no desire to immediately enter a new book and another world.<br /><br />I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in the review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1571139911045, "title": "Highly Recommended" } ]

[ { "asin": "1496402243", "rating": 5, "text": "A friend asked me recently if I ever savored a book by leaving it on a table just to look at before reading it. Immediately a mental image of The Choosing on my nightstand popped into my mind. I had rushed right out to by it the first week it was available, not waiting for a reduced e-book sales campaign. Then it sat, calling to me, until I had time to truly immerse myself in its pages. I was not disappointed, not in the least, in spite of how I had built up the possibilities of this book in my mind. Throughout reading The Choosing I was anxious to review it, to pass the word on to my fellow readers about the depth of this story and the talent of this author. However, when it came time to sit and share my thoughts, I procrastinated. Why? I just didn’t feel like there was any way my words could do this tale justice. So I am just going to simply share a brief description to help the readers decide if this book is for them, and welcome those who choose to join the journey.<br /><br /> Rachelle Dekker’s debut novel falls within the dystopian genre. Washington D.C. is occupied by a group of people who were fortunate enough to survive immunizations which proved to be deadly for many. The Authority is in control of individual destinies, determining one’s place in society. Young women have once chance at being selected for marriage, not to be chosen would yield a cruel fate of their own making. Carrington Hale’s mother had prepared her for her Choosing Ceremony her whole life. She was confident in the outcome. How could things go so horribly wrong? Young men are placed in occupations for which The Authority finds them best suited. Remko had always been satisfied with his solitary life as a City Watch guard; that is, until he met Carrington. Then there is Aaron, a speaker of truth or a leader of rebellion, or both? The ideas he promotes are unsettling. Is there something more, Someone more, who determines individual worth, Someone greater than The Authority? What sacrifices are necessary to find the answer to those questions? What sacrifices are our protagonists, their friends, their family willing to make?<br /><br /> I invite you to join me on the journey, the journey of seers.", "timestamp": 1440001812000, "title": "A Book to be Savored" }, { "asin": "0800723260", "rating": 4, "text": "The Elite Guardians, bodyguards led by Olivia Edwards, are always watching over their client, radio personality, Wade Savage. Unfortunately, Wade’s stalker is equally vigilant in watching his every move. As the stalker begins to expand his, or is it her, focus to include Wade’s young daughter, Amy, and one of his bodyguards is severely injured in an attack outside the radio station, Olivia is forced to call in back up from local law enforcement. Even with the extra resources, much of Olivia’s time is spent with Wade, and the growing attraction is undeniable. Will the attraction prove too much of a distraction, and will that lead to deadly consequences? After all, Wade has done something to make the stalker very angry.<br /> When reviews are posted on web sites, the reviewer is often asked to give a star rating of the book or product. When considering the number of stars I consider how well the item being reviewed met my expectations and how pleased I was with it. Well, if I were to give Always Watching a star rating, and I was comparing it to how other mysteries I’ve read over the last few years met my expectations and provided reading pleasure, I would give it four stars. However, if I were to compare it with the last two Lynette Eason books I’d read from her Hidden Identity series, I would probably give it three stars. As mysteries in general go, Always Watching is a great read, but for my reading pleasure it was less engaging than Nowhere to Turn and No One to Trust. I found the characters to be less endearing and the events less realistic. Am I saying that I wouldn’t recommend this book, absolutely not. It simply is not my favorite Lynette Eason book. Will I read the next book in this series, certainly; after all it’s a Lynette Eason book.<br /> I thank Revell Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for providing Always Watching for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.", "timestamp": 1455590705000, "title": "Fast Paced" }, { "asin": "080072402X", "rating": 5, "text": "God is our heavenly Father, correct? What about when He allows bad things to happen? When He allows those who should love and protect us to betray us? When He allows disaster to fall on those that least deserve it? What then? These questions plague Marie as do the panic attacks that accompany them. They eat away at Seth who struggles to trust, who brings others' motives into question. Shall we admit that they sometimes niggle at the backs of our minds as well? While Johnson does not presume to answer these questions, she does give us a glimpse into the beauty that God, our Father, can bring from the ashes. We need only open our eyes in gratitude.<br />Marie believes she has walked away from everything after a bitter betrayal. Seth believes everything has been taken from him. Both make their way to the refuge offered by Jack Sloane, a widower, trying to fulfill his late wife's dream of opening a bed and breakfast, a healing place for the soul. Eventually the unlikely pair realize they have been led to everything that really matters. Readers may be called to reassess their own priorities, and to identify blessings to which they have been blind.<br />Set on beautiful Prince Edward Island, with a cast of caring neighbors, and with many references to L. M. Montgomery's books about a special red-headed orphan, The Red Door Inn casts our world of problems and worries against a backdrop of healing in a kinder, gentler time and place. Johnson's dialogue flows smoothly. Her crisp descriptions paint pictures of places, characters, and actions filled with emotions that will linger in the readers' minds. Both major and minor characters are well developed giving insight into what motivates them in life. I look forward to visiting them again in book two of Prince Edward Island Dreams.<br />Thank you to Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for making The Red Door Inn available to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I have received no monetary compensation for my review.", "timestamp": 1458867221000, "title": "When God Brings Beauty From Ashes" }, { "asin": "0800724186", "rating": 4, "text": "Missionary Bailey Adams is anxious to return home to Logan Point, even if only for a visit. Bailey has made some very dangerous enemies in Mexico and needs to gain perspective on her role there. On her last day in Mexico those enemies, a disgruntled shaman, someone from the Calatrava drug cartel, or a kidnapper after Bailey’s charge, young Maria Montoya, have Bailey and Maria on the run. How long is the arm of those who would do these two harm? To what extent will they go to carry out their plans? Will Logan Point, Mississippi put enough distance between them?<br /> Bailey has known all along that going home to Logan Point means inevitably running into her former fiance, Danny Maxwell. She had not however considered the possibility of their paths crossing in Chihuahua, Mexico, and is totally taken aback when that is just what happens. Now it seems Danny is the only one she can trust to get her and Maria to safety.<br /> Each mystery in Bradley’s Logan Point series has included well laid out clues and plausible red herrings. The fast paced action, crisp dialogue, and engaging characters will have readers carrying the books wherever they go, snatching moments whenever possible to catch the next turn of events. While reading the books in sequence will allow the reader to understand some references regarding characters and events from previous books, the books do work well as a stand alone read. Patricia Bradley has become one of my favorite mystery authors. Mystery fans of Irene Hannon, Lynette Eason, and Colleen Coble will be proud to display Bradley’s books on their shelves as well. I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing Silence in the Dark for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for providing this review.", "timestamp": 1464088452000, "title": "Return to Logan Point" }, { "asin": "0800722752", "rating": 3, "text": "I eagerly awaited this book’s arrival in the mail as I had so enjoyed Where Rivers Part, a previous book in Gilbert’s Texas Gold series. While I did enjoy this book, had I not known it was by the same author I would never have suspected it. Where Rivers Part would appear to have been written by a more seasoned, mature author. Both books dealt with strong themes, What Matters Most’s being the need for integrity in all walks of life, but especially in positions of leadership, very apropos for our current election cycle.<br /> What Matters Most has two protagonists that are poster children for integrity, even when they are thrown into situations which pose significant challenges to that integrity. The antagonists are everything the American public has grown to despise in our political arena. The greater message here is hope, hope that when things are tough that doing the right thing will lead to a positive outcome, hope that a new generation is rising that will embody moral character, hope for our states and our country. Hope that is found in God.<br /> One of the most basic comprehension strategies we teach students is to bring their background knowledge to the task of comprehending, one type of knowledge is the knowledge of how particular genres of stories work. Readers who are familiar with this type of story are waiting for the other shoe to drop well into this story, because we all know that it will. Once it does, the author wastes no time in moving to clean up the subsequent fall out. The final piece to that solution comes from a very unlikely source.<br /> I recommend What Matters Most to romantic fiction readers, and to those who, during this presidential election season, need a message of hope. Thank you to Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for making What Matters Most available to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I have received no monetary compensation for my review.", "timestamp": 1470014844000, "title": "Integrity and Hope" }, { "asin": "0800722205", "rating": 3, "text": "To Follow Her Heart is book three in The Southold Chronicles based on Rebecca De Marino’s ancestors, Barnabas and Mary Horton’s, settling in what is now Long Island, New York. In her author’s notes DeMarino clearly separates the fact from the fiction. While this latest addition to the series focuses on the romance between Patience Terry and Barnabas’ brother, Jeremy, it continues the story of the deep love between Mary and Barnabas.<br /><br /> Life in the 1600’s wasn’t easy with illness and death truly plaguing residents in the New World as well as the Old. The Horton family, while not untouched, was largely spared. The community of Southold demonstrates the reliance those who settled our nation had to have upon one another and upon the original residents in the lands upon which they settled. It also demonstrates the deep attachments that developed.<br /><br /> While it is satisfying to revisit Barnabas and Mary Horton, and to rejoice in the depth of their love for and dedication to one another, it is the ever changing relationship between Jeremy and Patience that keeps the reader engaged with this story. The author does a wonderful job of keeping the reader guessing as to what direction she will take this relationship. Patience, in her early forties, has waited a long time for Jeremy to commit to her, while it seems that that time has finally arrived, Jeremy seems to like the idea of commitment far more than actually committing. Might there be another suitor far more ready to do so?<br /><br /> There is one aspect of To Follow Her Heart that kept me unsettled. That was the question of to what degree did the characters act and interact in a way that was true to the time period in which the story is set. Would they consider that a certain color gown would make the color of their eyes, “pop”? Would a couple, not officially engaged, spend so much unchaperoned time together in the confines of one’s home? Would there be such public displays of affection? Would women and men compete against one another in a game of tug-of-war? This line of questioning did not, however, diminish my enjoyment of the story, and would not keep me from recommending it to others.<br /><br /> I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing To Follow Her Heart for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for providing this review.", "timestamp": 1472654051000, "title": "Which Way Will the Author Go With This???" }, { "asin": "0800726693", "rating": 4, "text": "Another Day, Another Dali is the second book in the Serena Jones Mystery series, following A Fool and His Monet. Special Agent Serena Jones is a member of the FBI’s art crime team, but it was her Nana that got her involved in solving the theft of a Dali painting. This on the heels of rushing into a drug dealer’s home based on the possibility of a valuable painting being found on site. Then things get really interesting when Serena helps out another agent who is investigating the Russian mob. All of these cases seem to be intertwined, and all Serena knows is that someone is targeting her; the trick is to figure out which of the cases her attacker or attackers is linked to.<br /><br /> When reading a mystery, we expect to be looking for motives, and questioning motives. In life we also look for motives, and unfortunately often make incorrect assumptions about why people do what they do. In Another Day, Another Dali Orchard drives this point home. Those incorrect assumptions may result in hurt feelings and unwanted and unnecessary consequences, feelings and consequences that could be avoided with adequate trust and communication.<br /><br /> I am looking forward to reading Serena Jones’ next adventure, and Orchard’s next clever title. I recommend this series to cozy mystery lovers and to those “more mature” ladies who have been looking for fun characters in their age bracket. Both groups (regardless of their age) are going to love Serena’s Aunt Martha. The series makes a great vacation or fun weekend read. I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing me with a copy of Another Day, Another Dali in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1477863726000, "title": "Motives Matter" }, { "asin": "0718099109", "rating": 5, "text": "Through Thorald Norgaard Joanne Bischof honors the deaf and their language. She makes clear the importance of listening and of being heard, whether verbal speech is a part of that communication or not, and in spite of gender or race differences. Even for the hearing community, much of what we say and hear involves non-verbal communication, being aware of that will improve our skills if we will allow it to do so.<br /> Thor is the middle son, a skilled apple farmer and maker of hard ciders and wines. He is also an alcoholic, a slave to his handiwork, even as he supports those freed from slavery following the Civil War. Aven Norgaard is the young widow of the brothers' cousin who has braved the seas to come live with their Aunt Dorothe and the three “boys” under her care. She arrives to learn that Dorothe has passed away, and the three boys are grown men, one of whom quickly claims her heart. Aven has seen the results of a life given to alcohol, and is unsure of how to guard her heart.<br /> Sons of Blackbird Mountain is a study in relationships and a story of forgiveness given and at times withheld. It is a story of choosing to do the right thing over choosing the easy or self-centered path.<br /> Joanne Bischof is a new to me author, and I will be looking for more of her books in the future. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1530714564273, "title": "Original Characters" }, { "asin": "B077CWKDYR", "rating": 5, "text": "Recently I watched an interview with a twin who was subjected to Dr. Josef Mengele's experiments at Auschwitz. Her voice rang in my head as I read Auschwitz Lullaby by Mario Escobar. The atrocities of which Mengele was guilty were great, and he was never brought to justice on this side of eternity. In this book Escobar tells the story of Helene Hannemann, largely adhering to the actual facts of her time at Auschwitz with her five children. Helene, an Aryan, voluntarily accompanied her Gypsy husband and their children when the soldiers came to take them away. Her determination to care for her children and those of other Gypsy families in the camp improved the circumstances for many during their imprisonment. Hannemann worked under the direction of Dr. Mengele, running a nursery and school for the Gypsy children, some who were then taken to be included in his experiments. Her goal remained the same throughout her time there, to protect and care for the children.<br /><br /> Escobar's well-written, somewhat fictionalized account of her life allows Helene Hannemann to be an inspiration to another generation of parents, a generation that may be in need of a lesson in sacrifice. Helene could have spared her life, could have walked away from the filth, disease and death that was Auschwitz, but instead she sacrificed each hour, each minute, for the children.<br /><br /> I highly recommend Auschwitz Lullaby not only for fans of historical fiction, but for all who have a heart for children, and those in this generation who may need to be reminded of the gift they are. Received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1533648719323, "title": "A Look at Auschwitz From a Different Lens" }, { "asin": "0718083040", "rating": 4, "text": "Robert Whitlow's legal suspense stories never fail to intrigue. His knowledge of our country's legal system adds credibility to his novels. In Chosen People Whitlow demonstrates that his knowledge is not limited to our country's borders, as this book is set in both the U.S. and the Middle East. Whitlow confronts the need to hold those who fund terrorism accountable. He also gives his readers a glimpse into the complexity of being a Christian of Middle Eastern heritage.<br /><br /> Hana Abboud, a Christian Arab Israeli, practices law at a firm in Atlanta, Georgia. Because of her knowledge of the languages and cultures of the area, Hana is asked to represent the firm in a case involving the death of an American woman killed by terrorists in Jerusalem. Hana would be working with an attorney from a small firm, Jakob Brodsky, a secular Jew from a Russian background, who had approached a senior partner of the larger firm about being co-counsel in the case. Their first order of business would be to uncover connections between the terrorists and a funding entity who would then be sued. Little did Hana and Jakob know the impact this case would have on their own lives.<br /><br /> I would recommend Chosen People, and indeed any book by this author, to fans of mysteries and suspense. Whitlow's work appeals to both men and women. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1541552447226, "title": "Great Legal Suspense" }, { "asin": "0785219269", "rating": 4, "text": "Who I Am With You is the story of Andrew Henning who lived in Kuna, Idaho and married Helen Greyson in 1929. The Great Depression had a profound effect on the Hennings' lives, but together they recovered emotionally and spiritually. It is also the story of Andrew and Helen's great-granddaughter, Jessica Mason, who, pregnant and widowed, lived in Hope Springs, Idaho during current times. Jessica lived for a long time acting a part and pressing down true feelings, but through her great-grandfather's Bible and her new neighbor, Ridley Chesterfield, is ready to allow God to do a new work in her. Ridley, too, is seeking a new direction after being falsely accused of underhandedness, and having his integrity questioned. He felt that a time apart from society and alone with God would provide that direction, but was totally amazed at where God lead him, and with whom.<br /><br /> Who I Am With You is a tale about who we can be through God in spite of our mistakes and circumstances. It is about the person we can be aided by those whom God places in our lives, about deciding to love and to allow ourselves to be loved, and deciding to forgive and trust again. I recommend this book to those who love a sweet, heart-warming story, and especially to those who need hope in their lives.<br /><br /> I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1544540486051, "title": "A Tale of Forgiveness and Trust" }, { "asin": "0718085841", "rating": 4, "text": "Secrets of Cedar Cabin continues the story of Shauna Bannister's search for her missing siblings. She successfully located her brother, Grayson Bradshaw, in the previous book in the Lavender Tides series. Now they are working to locate their baby sister, Bailey Fleming. In fleeing from her mother's murderer, Bailey surprisingly ended up in Shauna's hometown. The events leading to her discovery, and the terrifying events that followed will keep the reader tied to this story, not to mention Bailey's budding romance with FBI agent Lance Phoenix whose search for his missing sister intersected with Bailey's flight. Don't be surprised when the words, “Well, I didn't see that coming!” rush from your lips. This books is Coble at her best.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1548209419670, "title": "Coble at Her Best" }, { "asin": "0800735277", "rating": 4, "text": "Courting Mr. Emerson is true to Melody Carlson's writing style with quirky, endearing characters, a setting readers will want to truly visit, and a sense of poignancy. It is a story that one wants to walk into and join the cast of characters, to be a part of what unfolds.<br /><br /> Mr. Emerson, a retiring high school English teacher, is a bit out of step with the times. Once considered a confirmed bachelor by others, he's now a self-proclaimed curmudgeon. Having been told as a young boy that his parents had died because God needed them, having his older brother die in the Vietnam War, losing his fiance in a car wreck just three days before his graduation from graduate school, and eventually losing his grandparents who raised him, George came to the conclusion that there was no God. Believing that was less painful than believing that there was a God who at the worst had it out for him, and at the least didn't care about or need him. What would it take for God to make Himself and His love known to George at this time in his life? Enter Willow West, artist, bohemian, hippie, Christian, and her somewhat dysfunctional family. God can certainly work in mysterious and unexpected ways! Readers will enjoy observing how this story plays out.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a copy of Courting Mr. Emerson from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1551817779005, "title": "Quirky, Endearing Characters" }, { "asin": "0310350964", "rating": 4, "text": "'Beauty from ashes' is the phrase that best describes the stories of Everleigh Applegate and Beck Holiday. Both women had experienced great loss and grief. Both traveled an unexpected road to healing after years of living mostly within themselves. Allowing oneself to love and experience being loved is often difficult when trying to shield oneself from the pain of loosing another loved one. The Memory House is a story of God's provision and the patient love of two men who wanted these women to truly love again. It is a story of perseverance and forgiveness.<br /><br /> If you are seeking a poignant love story with places that bring a huge smile to your face, The Memory House is a good pick for you . I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1554211380845, "title": "Poignant" }, { "asin": "0785223169", "rating": 5, "text": "Set in England in 1811, this is the story of Delia Greythorne and the children for whom she cared. Each of them has experienced great hurt and loss in their lives which has forged a bond between them. Now once again their lives are in a state of upheaval as they are forced to move to a new home with the children's uncle whom they don't really know. Jac Twethewey is a bachelor living in a large house on an estate that he is desperately trying to keep afloat. He was totally unprepared for the arrival of his nieces and nephew, let alone their beautiful governess and taciturn tutor. Finally, as everyone is beginning to settle into their situation, it seems as if Mrs. Greystone's past has returned to haunt them all.<br /><br /> The Governess of Penwythe Hall has it all: historical elements, romance, a mysterious past, and intrigue. This one well definitely keep you up long into the night. While some of the story structure follows along the lines of what one would expect in a historical romance, Ladd has included plenty of surprises and suspense to hold her readers' interest.<br /><br /> I was happy to have received a complimentary coy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1555439114247, "title": "Love It!!!" }, { "asin": "0800735323", "rating": 5, "text": "Walters uses this romantic suspense novel to tackle the issues of mental illness, depression and suicide as well as the stigma attached to them. She does so with great empathy and compassion. Readers will walk away with renewed understanding of themselves whether as a sufferer or someone who interacts with someone openly dealing with these issues or someone living with the lies these issues speak to them. I highly recommend the novel Living Lies.<br /><br /> Lane Kent would describe herself as broken and unworthy. Her friends would describe her as empathetic and selfless. The burden of guilt she carried weighed heavily on her, and blinded her to the possibilities for the future. Deputy Charlie Lynch, a former Marine, knew what he wanted out of life, it was the reason he had come to Walton, Georgia, and he knew it needed to include Lane Kent. Convincing her that they had a future was something he was willing to work at for as long as it took. The fact that Lane's life seemed to be in danger from the perpetrator of Walton's first murder in thirty years only increased Charlie's desire to keep her close. Fans of romantic suspense will be excited to add Natalie Walters to their list of favorite authors.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a copy of Living Lies from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1559225104851, "title": "Highly Recommended" }, { "asin": "0785224122", "rating": 5, "text": "Regency England, historical mystery, and romance written by Abigail Wilson, need I say more? This book is all you would expect. Abigail Wilson's debut book, In the Shadow of Croft Towers, displayed her talent for crafting a truly compelling mystery, and this second book shows that Wilson is definitely not a one-hit-wonder, but rather an up-and-coming author in this genre, one that will quickly build a large fan base.<br /><br />Rebecca and her Aunt Jo were forced to leave their London townhouse to move into her guardian's estate following her brother's death. The problem, Rebecca is convinced that her guardian murdered her brother. The townspeople near his estate are equally convinced. While moving to Greybourne Hall was distasteful, maybe Rebecca could find the evidence she needs to find justice for her brother, and so the mystery begins.<br /><br />I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Those opinions are that this is a well written, engaging story, and that it is well worth the time spent reading.", "timestamp": 1562115183474, "title": "Compelling" }, { "asin": "0718085884", "rating": 4, "text": "Many have taken DNA tests through currently popular companies and learned of surprising connections. Strands of Truth is a story about one of the possible abuses of such information. Coble has created a mystery that begins with two sisters using DNA to locate family, who also locate trouble as well as answers to two cold cases, a story of truly getting more than you bargained for. Mystery fans will be quite happy with what they get from Strands of Truth, an engaging mystery with carefully sprinkled clues throughout. Unexpected connections await.<br /><br />I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Strands of Truth from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1568123240834, "title": "Coble remains one of my faves" }, { "asin": "0718095529", "rating": 5, "text": "Cambron's seamless transition and intertwining of three connected yet distinct stories from the 1840s, 1940s, and present day is truly amazing. Elizabeth, Amelia, and Keira all share stories of heartbreak and restoration that unfold on the Parham Hill Estate in Suffolk County, England. Each lady's story is captivating and will stir the reader's heart. Elizabeth and Keira's stories include a mystery to be solved. Each story goes beyond romance to deep and abiding love.<br /><br />Kristy Cambron is a master of character development. In her stories each word counts, frivolous passages are non-existent. Once finished, they leave you with the desire to let them rest in your thoughts, with no desire to immediately enter a new book and another world.<br /><br />I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in the review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1571139911045, "title": "Highly Recommended" }, { "asin": "0718083059", "rating": 5, "text": "Like every Robert Whitlow book I have ever read, I did not want this book to end. Readers cannot help but get deeply involved in the lives of Hana Abboud Hasan and her husband, Daub, Christian Arabs living in Atlanta, Georgia. Hana and Daub married following the harrowing events told in Book One of Whitlow's Chosen People series. (I won't include any spoilers for those who haven't had the pleasure of reading it yet.) Daub has moved his security business to live in the United States where Hana is an attorney. After briefly returning to the Middle East as a contractor with the CIA, trouble follows him both home and abroad, impacting those for whom he cares. This action packed, tension-filled novel will follow readers wherever they go as well, but the only trouble involved will be chores left undone and sleepless nights. Throughout the story readers will be reminded that we are not guaranteed tomorrow and that our safety lies in God's hands.<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy of Promised Land. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1579028070704, "title": "Didn't Want It to End" } ]

[ { "asin": "1496402243", "rating": 5, "text": "A friend asked me recently if I ever savored a book by leaving it on a table just to look at before reading it. Immediately a mental image of The Choosing on my nightstand popped into my mind. I had rushed right out to by it the first week it was available, not waiting for a reduced e-book sales campaign. Then it sat, calling to me, until I had time to truly immerse myself in its pages. I was not disappointed, not in the least, in spite of how I had built up the possibilities of this book in my mind. Throughout reading The Choosing I was anxious to review it, to pass the word on to my fellow readers about the depth of this story and the talent of this author. However, when it came time to sit and share my thoughts, I procrastinated. Why? I just didn’t feel like there was any way my words could do this tale justice. So I am just going to simply share a brief description to help the readers decide if this book is for them, and welcome those who choose to join the journey.<br /><br /> Rachelle Dekker’s debut novel falls within the dystopian genre. Washington D.C. is occupied by a group of people who were fortunate enough to survive immunizations which proved to be deadly for many. The Authority is in control of individual destinies, determining one’s place in society. Young women have once chance at being selected for marriage, not to be chosen would yield a cruel fate of their own making. Carrington Hale’s mother had prepared her for her Choosing Ceremony her whole life. She was confident in the outcome. How could things go so horribly wrong? Young men are placed in occupations for which The Authority finds them best suited. Remko had always been satisfied with his solitary life as a City Watch guard; that is, until he met Carrington. Then there is Aaron, a speaker of truth or a leader of rebellion, or both? The ideas he promotes are unsettling. Is there something more, Someone more, who determines individual worth, Someone greater than The Authority? What sacrifices are necessary to find the answer to those questions? What sacrifices are our protagonists, their friends, their family willing to make?<br /><br /> I invite you to join me on the journey, the journey of seers.", "timestamp": 1440001812000, "title": "A Book to be Savored" }, { "asin": "0800723260", "rating": 4, "text": "The Elite Guardians, bodyguards led by Olivia Edwards, are always watching over their client, radio personality, Wade Savage. Unfortunately, Wade’s stalker is equally vigilant in watching his every move. As the stalker begins to expand his, or is it her, focus to include Wade’s young daughter, Amy, and one of his bodyguards is severely injured in an attack outside the radio station, Olivia is forced to call in back up from local law enforcement. Even with the extra resources, much of Olivia’s time is spent with Wade, and the growing attraction is undeniable. Will the attraction prove too much of a distraction, and will that lead to deadly consequences? After all, Wade has done something to make the stalker very angry.<br /> When reviews are posted on web sites, the reviewer is often asked to give a star rating of the book or product. When considering the number of stars I consider how well the item being reviewed met my expectations and how pleased I was with it. Well, if I were to give Always Watching a star rating, and I was comparing it to how other mysteries I’ve read over the last few years met my expectations and provided reading pleasure, I would give it four stars. However, if I were to compare it with the last two Lynette Eason books I’d read from her Hidden Identity series, I would probably give it three stars. As mysteries in general go, Always Watching is a great read, but for my reading pleasure it was less engaging than Nowhere to Turn and No One to Trust. I found the characters to be less endearing and the events less realistic. Am I saying that I wouldn’t recommend this book, absolutely not. It simply is not my favorite Lynette Eason book. Will I read the next book in this series, certainly; after all it’s a Lynette Eason book.<br /> I thank Revell Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for providing Always Watching for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.", "timestamp": 1455590705000, "title": "Fast Paced" }, { "asin": "080072402X", "rating": 5, "text": "God is our heavenly Father, correct? What about when He allows bad things to happen? When He allows those who should love and protect us to betray us? When He allows disaster to fall on those that least deserve it? What then? These questions plague Marie as do the panic attacks that accompany them. They eat away at Seth who struggles to trust, who brings others' motives into question. Shall we admit that they sometimes niggle at the backs of our minds as well? While Johnson does not presume to answer these questions, she does give us a glimpse into the beauty that God, our Father, can bring from the ashes. We need only open our eyes in gratitude.<br />Marie believes she has walked away from everything after a bitter betrayal. Seth believes everything has been taken from him. Both make their way to the refuge offered by Jack Sloane, a widower, trying to fulfill his late wife's dream of opening a bed and breakfast, a healing place for the soul. Eventually the unlikely pair realize they have been led to everything that really matters. Readers may be called to reassess their own priorities, and to identify blessings to which they have been blind.<br />Set on beautiful Prince Edward Island, with a cast of caring neighbors, and with many references to L. M. Montgomery's books about a special red-headed orphan, The Red Door Inn casts our world of problems and worries against a backdrop of healing in a kinder, gentler time and place. Johnson's dialogue flows smoothly. Her crisp descriptions paint pictures of places, characters, and actions filled with emotions that will linger in the readers' minds. Both major and minor characters are well developed giving insight into what motivates them in life. I look forward to visiting them again in book two of Prince Edward Island Dreams.<br />Thank you to Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for making The Red Door Inn available to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I have received no monetary compensation for my review.", "timestamp": 1458867221000, "title": "When God Brings Beauty From Ashes" }, { "asin": "0800724186", "rating": 4, "text": "Missionary Bailey Adams is anxious to return home to Logan Point, even if only for a visit. Bailey has made some very dangerous enemies in Mexico and needs to gain perspective on her role there. On her last day in Mexico those enemies, a disgruntled shaman, someone from the Calatrava drug cartel, or a kidnapper after Bailey’s charge, young Maria Montoya, have Bailey and Maria on the run. How long is the arm of those who would do these two harm? To what extent will they go to carry out their plans? Will Logan Point, Mississippi put enough distance between them?<br /> Bailey has known all along that going home to Logan Point means inevitably running into her former fiance, Danny Maxwell. She had not however considered the possibility of their paths crossing in Chihuahua, Mexico, and is totally taken aback when that is just what happens. Now it seems Danny is the only one she can trust to get her and Maria to safety.<br /> Each mystery in Bradley’s Logan Point series has included well laid out clues and plausible red herrings. The fast paced action, crisp dialogue, and engaging characters will have readers carrying the books wherever they go, snatching moments whenever possible to catch the next turn of events. While reading the books in sequence will allow the reader to understand some references regarding characters and events from previous books, the books do work well as a stand alone read. Patricia Bradley has become one of my favorite mystery authors. Mystery fans of Irene Hannon, Lynette Eason, and Colleen Coble will be proud to display Bradley’s books on their shelves as well. I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing Silence in the Dark for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for providing this review.", "timestamp": 1464088452000, "title": "Return to Logan Point" }, { "asin": "0800722752", "rating": 3, "text": "I eagerly awaited this book’s arrival in the mail as I had so enjoyed Where Rivers Part, a previous book in Gilbert’s Texas Gold series. While I did enjoy this book, had I not known it was by the same author I would never have suspected it. Where Rivers Part would appear to have been written by a more seasoned, mature author. Both books dealt with strong themes, What Matters Most’s being the need for integrity in all walks of life, but especially in positions of leadership, very apropos for our current election cycle.<br /> What Matters Most has two protagonists that are poster children for integrity, even when they are thrown into situations which pose significant challenges to that integrity. The antagonists are everything the American public has grown to despise in our political arena. The greater message here is hope, hope that when things are tough that doing the right thing will lead to a positive outcome, hope that a new generation is rising that will embody moral character, hope for our states and our country. Hope that is found in God.<br /> One of the most basic comprehension strategies we teach students is to bring their background knowledge to the task of comprehending, one type of knowledge is the knowledge of how particular genres of stories work. Readers who are familiar with this type of story are waiting for the other shoe to drop well into this story, because we all know that it will. Once it does, the author wastes no time in moving to clean up the subsequent fall out. The final piece to that solution comes from a very unlikely source.<br /> I recommend What Matters Most to romantic fiction readers, and to those who, during this presidential election season, need a message of hope. Thank you to Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for making What Matters Most available to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I have received no monetary compensation for my review.", "timestamp": 1470014844000, "title": "Integrity and Hope" }, { "asin": "0800722205", "rating": 3, "text": "To Follow Her Heart is book three in The Southold Chronicles based on Rebecca De Marino’s ancestors, Barnabas and Mary Horton’s, settling in what is now Long Island, New York. In her author’s notes DeMarino clearly separates the fact from the fiction. While this latest addition to the series focuses on the romance between Patience Terry and Barnabas’ brother, Jeremy, it continues the story of the deep love between Mary and Barnabas.<br /><br /> Life in the 1600’s wasn’t easy with illness and death truly plaguing residents in the New World as well as the Old. The Horton family, while not untouched, was largely spared. The community of Southold demonstrates the reliance those who settled our nation had to have upon one another and upon the original residents in the lands upon which they settled. It also demonstrates the deep attachments that developed.<br /><br /> While it is satisfying to revisit Barnabas and Mary Horton, and to rejoice in the depth of their love for and dedication to one another, it is the ever changing relationship between Jeremy and Patience that keeps the reader engaged with this story. The author does a wonderful job of keeping the reader guessing as to what direction she will take this relationship. Patience, in her early forties, has waited a long time for Jeremy to commit to her, while it seems that that time has finally arrived, Jeremy seems to like the idea of commitment far more than actually committing. Might there be another suitor far more ready to do so?<br /><br /> There is one aspect of To Follow Her Heart that kept me unsettled. That was the question of to what degree did the characters act and interact in a way that was true to the time period in which the story is set. Would they consider that a certain color gown would make the color of their eyes, “pop”? Would a couple, not officially engaged, spend so much unchaperoned time together in the confines of one’s home? Would there be such public displays of affection? Would women and men compete against one another in a game of tug-of-war? This line of questioning did not, however, diminish my enjoyment of the story, and would not keep me from recommending it to others.<br /><br /> I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing To Follow Her Heart for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for providing this review.", "timestamp": 1472654051000, "title": "Which Way Will the Author Go With This???" }, { "asin": "0800726693", "rating": 4, "text": "Another Day, Another Dali is the second book in the Serena Jones Mystery series, following A Fool and His Monet. Special Agent Serena Jones is a member of the FBI’s art crime team, but it was her Nana that got her involved in solving the theft of a Dali painting. This on the heels of rushing into a drug dealer’s home based on the possibility of a valuable painting being found on site. Then things get really interesting when Serena helps out another agent who is investigating the Russian mob. All of these cases seem to be intertwined, and all Serena knows is that someone is targeting her; the trick is to figure out which of the cases her attacker or attackers is linked to.<br /><br /> When reading a mystery, we expect to be looking for motives, and questioning motives. In life we also look for motives, and unfortunately often make incorrect assumptions about why people do what they do. In Another Day, Another Dali Orchard drives this point home. Those incorrect assumptions may result in hurt feelings and unwanted and unnecessary consequences, feelings and consequences that could be avoided with adequate trust and communication.<br /><br /> I am looking forward to reading Serena Jones’ next adventure, and Orchard’s next clever title. I recommend this series to cozy mystery lovers and to those “more mature” ladies who have been looking for fun characters in their age bracket. Both groups (regardless of their age) are going to love Serena’s Aunt Martha. The series makes a great vacation or fun weekend read. I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing me with a copy of Another Day, Another Dali in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1477863726000, "title": "Motives Matter" }, { "asin": "0718099109", "rating": 5, "text": "Through Thorald Norgaard Joanne Bischof honors the deaf and their language. She makes clear the importance of listening and of being heard, whether verbal speech is a part of that communication or not, and in spite of gender or race differences. Even for the hearing community, much of what we say and hear involves non-verbal communication, being aware of that will improve our skills if we will allow it to do so.<br /> Thor is the middle son, a skilled apple farmer and maker of hard ciders and wines. He is also an alcoholic, a slave to his handiwork, even as he supports those freed from slavery following the Civil War. Aven Norgaard is the young widow of the brothers' cousin who has braved the seas to come live with their Aunt Dorothe and the three “boys” under her care. She arrives to learn that Dorothe has passed away, and the three boys are grown men, one of whom quickly claims her heart. Aven has seen the results of a life given to alcohol, and is unsure of how to guard her heart.<br /> Sons of Blackbird Mountain is a study in relationships and a story of forgiveness given and at times withheld. It is a story of choosing to do the right thing over choosing the easy or self-centered path.<br /> Joanne Bischof is a new to me author, and I will be looking for more of her books in the future. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1530714564273, "title": "Original Characters" }, { "asin": "B077CWKDYR", "rating": 5, "text": "Recently I watched an interview with a twin who was subjected to Dr. Josef Mengele's experiments at Auschwitz. Her voice rang in my head as I read Auschwitz Lullaby by Mario Escobar. The atrocities of which Mengele was guilty were great, and he was never brought to justice on this side of eternity. In this book Escobar tells the story of Helene Hannemann, largely adhering to the actual facts of her time at Auschwitz with her five children. Helene, an Aryan, voluntarily accompanied her Gypsy husband and their children when the soldiers came to take them away. Her determination to care for her children and those of other Gypsy families in the camp improved the circumstances for many during their imprisonment. Hannemann worked under the direction of Dr. Mengele, running a nursery and school for the Gypsy children, some who were then taken to be included in his experiments. Her goal remained the same throughout her time there, to protect and care for the children.<br /><br /> Escobar's well-written, somewhat fictionalized account of her life allows Helene Hannemann to be an inspiration to another generation of parents, a generation that may be in need of a lesson in sacrifice. Helene could have spared her life, could have walked away from the filth, disease and death that was Auschwitz, but instead she sacrificed each hour, each minute, for the children.<br /><br /> I highly recommend Auschwitz Lullaby not only for fans of historical fiction, but for all who have a heart for children, and those in this generation who may need to be reminded of the gift they are. Received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1533648719323, "title": "A Look at Auschwitz From a Different Lens" }, { "asin": "0718083040", "rating": 4, "text": "Robert Whitlow's legal suspense stories never fail to intrigue. His knowledge of our country's legal system adds credibility to his novels. In Chosen People Whitlow demonstrates that his knowledge is not limited to our country's borders, as this book is set in both the U.S. and the Middle East. Whitlow confronts the need to hold those who fund terrorism accountable. He also gives his readers a glimpse into the complexity of being a Christian of Middle Eastern heritage.<br /><br /> Hana Abboud, a Christian Arab Israeli, practices law at a firm in Atlanta, Georgia. Because of her knowledge of the languages and cultures of the area, Hana is asked to represent the firm in a case involving the death of an American woman killed by terrorists in Jerusalem. Hana would be working with an attorney from a small firm, Jakob Brodsky, a secular Jew from a Russian background, who had approached a senior partner of the larger firm about being co-counsel in the case. Their first order of business would be to uncover connections between the terrorists and a funding entity who would then be sued. Little did Hana and Jakob know the impact this case would have on their own lives.<br /><br /> I would recommend Chosen People, and indeed any book by this author, to fans of mysteries and suspense. Whitlow's work appeals to both men and women. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1541552447226, "title": "Great Legal Suspense" }, { "asin": "0785219269", "rating": 4, "text": "Who I Am With You is the story of Andrew Henning who lived in Kuna, Idaho and married Helen Greyson in 1929. The Great Depression had a profound effect on the Hennings' lives, but together they recovered emotionally and spiritually. It is also the story of Andrew and Helen's great-granddaughter, Jessica Mason, who, pregnant and widowed, lived in Hope Springs, Idaho during current times. Jessica lived for a long time acting a part and pressing down true feelings, but through her great-grandfather's Bible and her new neighbor, Ridley Chesterfield, is ready to allow God to do a new work in her. Ridley, too, is seeking a new direction after being falsely accused of underhandedness, and having his integrity questioned. He felt that a time apart from society and alone with God would provide that direction, but was totally amazed at where God lead him, and with whom.<br /><br /> Who I Am With You is a tale about who we can be through God in spite of our mistakes and circumstances. It is about the person we can be aided by those whom God places in our lives, about deciding to love and to allow ourselves to be loved, and deciding to forgive and trust again. I recommend this book to those who love a sweet, heart-warming story, and especially to those who need hope in their lives.<br /><br /> I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1544540486051, "title": "A Tale of Forgiveness and Trust" }, { "asin": "0718085841", "rating": 4, "text": "Secrets of Cedar Cabin continues the story of Shauna Bannister's search for her missing siblings. She successfully located her brother, Grayson Bradshaw, in the previous book in the Lavender Tides series. Now they are working to locate their baby sister, Bailey Fleming. In fleeing from her mother's murderer, Bailey surprisingly ended up in Shauna's hometown. The events leading to her discovery, and the terrifying events that followed will keep the reader tied to this story, not to mention Bailey's budding romance with FBI agent Lance Phoenix whose search for his missing sister intersected with Bailey's flight. Don't be surprised when the words, “Well, I didn't see that coming!” rush from your lips. This books is Coble at her best.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1548209419670, "title": "Coble at Her Best" }, { "asin": "0800735277", "rating": 4, "text": "Courting Mr. Emerson is true to Melody Carlson's writing style with quirky, endearing characters, a setting readers will want to truly visit, and a sense of poignancy. It is a story that one wants to walk into and join the cast of characters, to be a part of what unfolds.<br /><br /> Mr. Emerson, a retiring high school English teacher, is a bit out of step with the times. Once considered a confirmed bachelor by others, he's now a self-proclaimed curmudgeon. Having been told as a young boy that his parents had died because God needed them, having his older brother die in the Vietnam War, losing his fiance in a car wreck just three days before his graduation from graduate school, and eventually losing his grandparents who raised him, George came to the conclusion that there was no God. Believing that was less painful than believing that there was a God who at the worst had it out for him, and at the least didn't care about or need him. What would it take for God to make Himself and His love known to George at this time in his life? Enter Willow West, artist, bohemian, hippie, Christian, and her somewhat dysfunctional family. God can certainly work in mysterious and unexpected ways! Readers will enjoy observing how this story plays out.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a copy of Courting Mr. Emerson from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1551817779005, "title": "Quirky, Endearing Characters" }, { "asin": "0310350964", "rating": 4, "text": "'Beauty from ashes' is the phrase that best describes the stories of Everleigh Applegate and Beck Holiday. Both women had experienced great loss and grief. Both traveled an unexpected road to healing after years of living mostly within themselves. Allowing oneself to love and experience being loved is often difficult when trying to shield oneself from the pain of loosing another loved one. The Memory House is a story of God's provision and the patient love of two men who wanted these women to truly love again. It is a story of perseverance and forgiveness.<br /><br /> If you are seeking a poignant love story with places that bring a huge smile to your face, The Memory House is a good pick for you . I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1554211380845, "title": "Poignant" }, { "asin": "0785223169", "rating": 5, "text": "Set in England in 1811, this is the story of Delia Greythorne and the children for whom she cared. Each of them has experienced great hurt and loss in their lives which has forged a bond between them. Now once again their lives are in a state of upheaval as they are forced to move to a new home with the children's uncle whom they don't really know. Jac Twethewey is a bachelor living in a large house on an estate that he is desperately trying to keep afloat. He was totally unprepared for the arrival of his nieces and nephew, let alone their beautiful governess and taciturn tutor. Finally, as everyone is beginning to settle into their situation, it seems as if Mrs. Greystone's past has returned to haunt them all.<br /><br /> The Governess of Penwythe Hall has it all: historical elements, romance, a mysterious past, and intrigue. This one well definitely keep you up long into the night. While some of the story structure follows along the lines of what one would expect in a historical romance, Ladd has included plenty of surprises and suspense to hold her readers' interest.<br /><br /> I was happy to have received a complimentary coy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1555439114247, "title": "Love It!!!" }, { "asin": "0800735323", "rating": 5, "text": "Walters uses this romantic suspense novel to tackle the issues of mental illness, depression and suicide as well as the stigma attached to them. She does so with great empathy and compassion. Readers will walk away with renewed understanding of themselves whether as a sufferer or someone who interacts with someone openly dealing with these issues or someone living with the lies these issues speak to them. I highly recommend the novel Living Lies.<br /><br /> Lane Kent would describe herself as broken and unworthy. Her friends would describe her as empathetic and selfless. The burden of guilt she carried weighed heavily on her, and blinded her to the possibilities for the future. Deputy Charlie Lynch, a former Marine, knew what he wanted out of life, it was the reason he had come to Walton, Georgia, and he knew it needed to include Lane Kent. Convincing her that they had a future was something he was willing to work at for as long as it took. The fact that Lane's life seemed to be in danger from the perpetrator of Walton's first murder in thirty years only increased Charlie's desire to keep her close. Fans of romantic suspense will be excited to add Natalie Walters to their list of favorite authors.<br /><br /> I am grateful to have received a copy of Living Lies from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.", "timestamp": 1559225104851, "title": "Highly Recommended" }, { "asin": "0785224122", "rating": 5, "text": "Regency England, historical mystery, and romance written by Abigail Wilson, need I say more? This book is all you would expect. Abigail Wilson's debut book, In the Shadow of Croft Towers, displayed her talent for crafting a truly compelling mystery, and this second book shows that Wilson is definitely not a one-hit-wonder, but rather an up-and-coming author in this genre, one that will quickly build a large fan base.<br /><br />Rebecca and her Aunt Jo were forced to leave their London townhouse to move into her guardian's estate following her brother's death. The problem, Rebecca is convinced that her guardian murdered her brother. The townspeople near his estate are equally convinced. While moving to Greybourne Hall was distasteful, maybe Rebecca could find the evidence she needs to find justice for her brother, and so the mystery begins.<br /><br />I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Those opinions are that this is a well written, engaging story, and that it is well worth the time spent reading.", "timestamp": 1562115183474, "title": "Compelling" }, { "asin": "0718085884", "rating": 4, "text": "Many have taken DNA tests through currently popular companies and learned of surprising connections. Strands of Truth is a story about one of the possible abuses of such information. Coble has created a mystery that begins with two sisters using DNA to locate family, who also locate trouble as well as answers to two cold cases, a story of truly getting more than you bargained for. Mystery fans will be quite happy with what they get from Strands of Truth, an engaging mystery with carefully sprinkled clues throughout. Unexpected connections await.<br /><br />I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Strands of Truth from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1568123240834, "title": "Coble remains one of my faves" }, { "asin": "0718095529", "rating": 5, "text": "Cambron's seamless transition and intertwining of three connected yet distinct stories from the 1840s, 1940s, and present day is truly amazing. Elizabeth, Amelia, and Keira all share stories of heartbreak and restoration that unfold on the Parham Hill Estate in Suffolk County, England. Each lady's story is captivating and will stir the reader's heart. Elizabeth and Keira's stories include a mystery to be solved. Each story goes beyond romance to deep and abiding love.<br /><br />Kristy Cambron is a master of character development. In her stories each word counts, frivolous passages are non-existent. Once finished, they leave you with the desire to let them rest in your thoughts, with no desire to immediately enter a new book and another world.<br /><br />I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in the review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1571139911045, "title": "Highly Recommended" }, { "asin": "0718083059", "rating": 5, "text": "Like every Robert Whitlow book I have ever read, I did not want this book to end. Readers cannot help but get deeply involved in the lives of Hana Abboud Hasan and her husband, Daub, Christian Arabs living in Atlanta, Georgia. Hana and Daub married following the harrowing events told in Book One of Whitlow's Chosen People series. (I won't include any spoilers for those who haven't had the pleasure of reading it yet.) Daub has moved his security business to live in the United States where Hana is an attorney. After briefly returning to the Middle East as a contractor with the CIA, trouble follows him both home and abroad, impacting those for whom he cares. This action packed, tension-filled novel will follow readers wherever they go as well, but the only trouble involved will be chores left undone and sleepless nights. Throughout the story readers will be reminded that we are not guaranteed tomorrow and that our safety lies in God's hands.<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy of Promised Land. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1579028070704, "title": "Didn't Want It to End" }, { "asin": "0785240470", "rating": 3, "text": "Reading Bookshop by the Sea caused me long periods of angst. The way that Sophie Lawson was treated by those close to her was disturbing to say the least. While this book was an okay read, Hunter's Bluebell Inn series was a hard act to follow. The theme of this book is dealing with abandonment. Hunter did a wonderful job of demonstrating the long-term consequences while providing hope, especially for those who discover their worth as a child of God. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.", "timestamp": 1618319904530, "title": "Hope" } ]

[ { "asin": "B00XXYGNJC", "rating": 5, "text": "Melinda Leigh has a formula: Woman threatened, woman assesses threat, woman kicks ass. Or at least that's what I thought. Not that I minded. I'm not into reading about helpless characters. Leigh also is a master of creating masterful antagonists. In the past novels I've read, these are some of the slimiest scumbags ever. They're also powerful and smart, to some degree. Difficult to vanquish. In &#34;She Can Kill,&#34; Leigh changes it up a bit. She made her protagonist a guy, Cristan Rojas, a former killer who worked for a Latin gunrunner. He had to disappear from his former life to raise his baby daughter. But time caught up with him and so did the people chasing him. Meanwhile, he's met a woman. They're not lovers, but they could be. She's got her own problems, the chief being her idiot ex-husband who won't let her go. Leigh's talent as a writer is making all her characters relatable. She's an astute observer of human nature. Her description of Sarah Mitchell, the potential love interest, is quite compelling. Sarah is more than a victim. She's a mom with a lot of character and enough drive to change her story. She got out of a destructive marriage and wants to make a go of it on her own. She has support, but Leigh makes it real. They can only do so much. The person has to be the one to make the change. Rojas gets into trouble. A couple of guys target him during a robbery, and he's canny enough to realize it may be related to his former life. He stops the robbers but reveals himself. His daughter, however, doesn't want to move. And that's the logical thing to do. He's been discovered. He may be targeted for death. But his daughter convinces him to stay. It means taking a stand despite the consequences. Leigh brings all of this to an intense confrontation while juggling Sarah's sideplot. It's one of her best yet. Leigh is a master of the thriller with that little bit of fleeting romance.", "timestamp": 1452469911000, "title": "When the past comes calling and running isn't an option" }, { "asin": "B00QQYZYPK", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Minutes to Kill,&#34; the second in Melinda Leigh's Scarlet Falls series, starts with a runaway underage girl desperate for help in a Las Vegas parking lot. She finds Hannah Barrett, a corporate attorney and all-around over-achiever. The girl, Jewel, is terrified. And, it turns out, she has good reason. A couple of guys who conned her into turning tricks for them turn out to be a couple of the nastiest sociopaths this side of Henderson, Nevada. Barrett tries but fails to help Jewel. In the process, her car is rammed and she's injured and unable to work. She heads home to recuperate in Scarlet Falls, which has its own demons. Turns out this is the second, not first book in the series, (oh well) and her brother is freshly murdered and the Barrett family is still trying to make sense of the tragedy. Hannah has things to work through. What she normally does is work. She wants to become a partner in her law firm. But there's more to Hannah. She grew up the sole girl in a family of four, dominated by a military father who expected his children to fall in and learn how to survive in the woods as well as the urban jungle. Tragedy struck him too, with a roadside bomb robbing him of his ability to walk. It didn't slow him down, or make him any sweeter. Hannah was a girl in a man's world. But this is Melinda Leigh. She works through it. Rather than baggage, the Hannah backstory is simply an excuse to provide more dimension to the character. Jewel picked well. Hannah will not give up. She lost Jewel to the two dirtbags after being incapacitated by the accident. But she's enlisted the aid of a local cop, a guy named Brody MacNamara. The detective is a stand-up sort. He's got his own issues, but they're mostly dealt with. In Hannah, he sees a strong woman who perks up emotions he hasn't dealt with in some time. But she's not local. No chance. Right? Rather than delve too deeply into plot development, which rocks, I'll simply reflect on how I got into this novel about a quarter the way through. Leigh's deft attention to relationships and how one person can feel about another made me think of how my wife and I first met. I thought I didn't have a chance. She was way too above me. Mac's got the same impression. My wife didn't have time for a dopey business journalist. She had a career to get on with. Anyway, as I'm reading this all I can think of is how awesome the love story portion is. Mac doesn't have a chance. Or does he? Maybe. Circumstances have a way of changing in Leigh's stories. The dirtbags from Vegas track Hannah to the East Coast. They got her purse. They intend to kidnap her. And they're capable. Ruthless. They kill just for fun. Leigh's ability to make the reader want them dead in no uncertain terms is one of her strengths. They create havoc. Anyway, I can't read these books back to back because I'd get nothing done. I read this book in two sittings. I had to.", "timestamp": 1457915447000, "title": "The bad guys are really nasty" }, { "asin": "B00LTBWMVO", "rating": 5, "text": "Grant Barrett had just returned from an ambush in Afghanistan where he was forced to kill a traitorous soldier who turned out to be a Taliban sleeper agent when he learned something that made the entire experience almost meaningless. This is the start of Melinda Leigh's Scarlet Falls series, &#34;Hour of Need.&#34; It starts hot and stays that way. Grant's superior officer tells him to sit down. No debrief. &#34;Grant, your brother and his wife were murdered,&#34; says the officer. Grant's mind reels. He's already somewhat numb. Now his brain is on overload. His brother Lee was the stable one. The attorney in their hometown of Scarlett Falls. Now he's dead. Grant gets 30 days emergency leave. Lee and his wife had two kids. One is 4 months old. Grant arrives in the states to more questions than the local police have answers. Shot and killed outside a local restaurant? The facts don't make a lot of sense. He gets help from Lee's neighbor, the attractive and single Ellie Ross. Lee's wife had tried to set them up the year before. But Grant's on military career track. He's a major. He wants to follow his father, the colonel, into a life always envisioned for him. That leaves almost no time for domestic bliss. But this is a Melinda Leigh book. The attraction between the two is immediate, and instantly suppressed. Neither wants to start something without a future. The search for the killer nearly gets more killed. Ellie is threatened. Her daughter and mom are marked for death. She can't say anything. The killer has tasted blood and finds out he likes it. But there's more corruption lurking in the community. And Grant's not the type to be messed with. I read this after &#34;Minutes to Kill,&#34; the second in the series. No matter. Leigh wrote each to stand alone. The novels are about the Barrett family. And there's another out. It will be a must-read.", "timestamp": 1460320678000, "title": "Something's rotten in Scarlet Falls" }, { "asin": "B015FMV3LW", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Furious,&#34; the start of T.R. Ragan's Faith McMann trilogy, doesn't take a third of the book to get interesting. Ragan doesn't dawdle establishing characters, color and scene. She gets right into it. Like a punch to the face. Ragan apparently writes about serial killers in her other books. This one is told from the perspective of a victim, a woman, a mother who has lost everything. Violently. Faith McMann starts the story talking to her sister about a party, planning for some inane family event that we all deal with, don't really question but tend to enjoy when we experience it. The part of life that makes the daily grind at work, the struggle with the bills and the fights with various nefarious players in our lives worthwhile. But Faith's world is torn apart. She, through no fault of her own, is caught in a random crossfire that sets in motion a series of horrific crimes. As Faith pulls into her garage and lets her two energetic kids tear into the house, she realizes something is amiss. Little does she know the full extent of how the next few minutes would shatter her expectations and her view of life as she knew it. That comfortable middle class perspective was shattered. Three very bad hombres kill her husband in front of her and slit her throat. But Faith somehow survives. Her neighbor hears something and plugs her carotid artery until an ambulance arrives. But the bad guys kidnap her kids. Faith goes through the stages of grief, but she gets stuck on anger. Thus the title of the book. The cops can't seem to make any headway into her case so she goes hard at it herself, attracting a couple of amazing friends in the process. They discover a sordid underground of human slavery that her kids have apparently been sold into. She wants them back. In writing this, Ragan sheds light into a growing problem in California and the rest of the country. Even President Obama called for an end to human trafficking in a proclamation. &#34;From factories and brothels to farms and mines, millions of men, women, and children in the United States and around the world are exploited for their bodies and their labor,&#34; he said at the end of his presidency. &#34;Whether through violence, deceit, or the promises of a better life, some of the most vulnerable populations among us ... are preyed upon by human traffickers. In order to rid the world of modern slavery we must do everything in our power to combat these violations of human decency.&#34; Ragan fills her novel with data, explaining how the networks that contribute to the problem operate and how it's the johns who are ultimately responsible for keeping this illicit part of the economy lucrative. Faith doesn't give up. But she faces a lot of heartbreak along the way. Very intense stuff. Hard to put down.", "timestamp": 1492981916000, "title": "Intense look at a woman who stops at nothing to get her kids back from slavers" }, { "asin": "B01H3RO2TM", "rating": 5, "text": "In &#34;Wrath,&#34; the final installment in the Faith McMann trilogy, author T.R. Ragan wraps up all the loose ends that have plagued her hero as she sought to recover her children, who were abducted in the opening scene of the first novel. Rage, who lives with Beast, the former bounty hunter who lost his wife and child in a senseless auto accident, continues to deteriorate healthwise. She's dying of cancer, but she doesn't want sympathy. She wants to help Faith get her kids. Faith has learned more of how the crime operation that stole her children operates. She recovered her son with the help of the police, who are increasingly leery of her methods, and her brother and father, who traipsed through the Sierra to find him. He had been sold to drug operators, who used him and other boys to process illegally grown marijuana. Faith must increasingly take risks to find out more about where her daughter has been hidden. Her ceaseless resolve to recover her children has caused cracks in the organization that killed her husband and nearly killed her. The big boss loses his hold on his underlings, and they try to go off on their own. And even as Faith closes in, she realizes there are other groups just as nasty if not worse out there who will have no problem continuing the trafficking and exploitation. In all, it's a fine series. There are a couple of elements I would have liked Ragan to address. But that's just nitpicking. I got really into the whole thing. I read each book in record time, and even wrote a story on just how bad the practice is here in the central San Joaquin Valley, interviewing some cops and people at the Marjaree Mason Center.", "timestamp": 1492984532000, "title": "The bad guys are truly nasty, but nobody's really a winner as Faith gets her revenge" }, { "asin": "B01M7XPGYE", "rating": 5, "text": "At the heart of most Melinda Leigh books is a love story, and &#34;Say You're Sorry,&#34; the first book in the Morgan Dane series, is no different. However, this is a different kind of love. One that comes from mutual respect. The story rolls out with immediate mystery and heartbreak. A girl is killed. The boy next door looks like the prime suspect. Morgan Dane, who's about to start a new job, knows both. But she's drawn in by the fact that the boy's father has no means of hiring a defense attorney for his boy. And, he said, he knows for certain his boy didn't do it. For one, the boy is immediately sickened at the sight of blood. Morgan takes the case and loses any shot at that new job. Turns out it was a good move. She joins forces with Lance, an ex-cop turned private investigator. At first, their association is tentative. Neither likes giving up control. Both are strong. Both have tragedy in their past. Lance was shot, and recovery took more time than he wanted. He quit the police force. He didn't want to be a burden. Morgan's husband was lost in Iraq. She has kids. Couple things set this novel apart from Leigh's previous works. She has built in tremendous supporting characters, and a stray dog. Sharp is the private eye with the perspective and the wise world view. He's worthy of his own novel. The other is Jamie, a runaway who knew more than she should and embodies everything a kid from the wrong side of the tracks would rather not have to deal with. Leigh adds social commentary to her novels, and usually it's about strong personalities persevering against tremendous personal calamity. However, with Jamie she shows that tenderness goes a long way and understanding may save a life. I read a Melinda Leigh book in one or two sittings. Sometimes they're an emotional roller coaster. One that means I put it down, do something else to clear my head and go back to the story for another round. But that's a good thing.", "timestamp": 1502050739498, "title": "Sometimes, despite everything, helping somebody can save a life" }, { "asin": "B06ZZW7G42", "rating": 5, "text": "Morgan Dane's life has begun to improve. She's figured out what she wants to do now that the assistant district attorney job has been lost to fate, and her family has grown stronger with the addition of a young woman who needed others to care for. Dane's romantic interest, Lance Kruger, has emerged as a business partner. She speculates there's more between them. But she's not yet ready. Her husband looms large in her memory after dying in combat some years earlier. But &#34;Her Last Goodbye,&#34; the second Morgan Dane novel, is destined for another deadly encounter. Author Melinda Leigh weaves a little romance into her books. But it's simply part of the narrative. She writes real life. But Leigh's characters all encounter that dark underbelly of society. Dane and her firm are hired to find a missing woman. The husband may have been the problem. He's offered very little help raising their two small children, one of whom is a baby who screams a lot. The authorities believe she's bailed. Her parents know that's not the case. But the clues are far and few. Dane and Kruger interview everybody but find very little. And working the case is where Leigh is at her best. Dane takes the gumshoe approach, sifting through all the information. Meanwhile, Leigh provides insight into the kidnapper, revealing a dark and perverse way of viewing reality. He's smart. But Dane and Kruger don't relent. They push for every clue. And they grow a little closer as they figure out one thing, ruling out another. Leigh's at her best creating strong female characters that don't take crap. They're realists. While I'd love to see any of her books find the big screen, the film version would have to be optioned by the right director. Leigh's one of the best at her craft, and with Dane she's got a great character that could provide many new sequels.", "timestamp": 1511132033401, "title": "The killer among us" }, { "asin": "B0746L8G49", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Deadly Recall&#34; by mystery thriller writer T.R. Ragan starts off where the first in the Jessie Cole series ended. Ben Morrison, the strange reporter from the Sacramento daily who's lost his memory, starts digging into the bits and pieces of his past that return suddenly and at inopportune times. And he enlists Jessie's help. But this is just a minor thread in the novel. Jessie gets the job of trying to recover a healthcare executive's daughter. A former client is killing members of the company because it wouldn't cover his daughter's treatment. She died and he went over the deep end. He's a regular guy with a singular focus on revenge, and Ragan dives deep into his motivations and torment. He's not really her typical scumbag. He's a product of his environment, of his circumstances, of the U.S. healthcare system. Ragan also delves more deeply into Jessie and the new employee she's taken on, the girl who was kidnapped and almost killed in the previous book. The girl is unique and crazy. But she wants to do the right thing. She also gets to know Jessie's niece, now a teenager who is learning to be a grownup. Ben finds out more about his past. And it's not all that promising. He's got demons. But are they understandable or sociopathic. All this and more answered in the next installment. And I'll be pre-ording.", "timestamp": 1526256282079, "title": "He's a man who just doesn't want to take it anymore" }, { "asin": "B072QX6TG1", "rating": 5, "text": "In &#34;Bones Don't Lie,&#34; the third in author Melinda Leigh's Morgan Dane series, a dredged up car from the bottom of a lake reveals clues as to the final moments of Lance Kruger's father, a guy who disappeared without a trace decades earlier. But the clues are frustratingly sketchy and anybody who knows anything is either already dead or comes to a violent end. Morgan digs into every lead as Lance watches his preconceived notions of his fantasized past disappear. Does his mom know more than she's told him? Was his dad a bad guy with a dark secret? Leigh further develops Morgan's personality and Lance's to what may be her best series. And Leigh's talent for storytelling is as good as it's ever been. Leigh keeps the antagonist's identity secret until the very last, when it appears he's got the upper hand. But her tough characters haven't failed yet. I'm ready for the next novel. Leigh is one of the best.", "timestamp": 1526259751369, "title": "Warming up a cold case buried in a lake causes some to get burned" }, { "asin": "B07CNBKTPY", "rating": 5, "text": "Lisa Regan is that author whose works I wished I had read slowly. She crafts each word, each paragraph and each page with precision. But her stories move quickly, and I want nothing more than to learn all there is to know. Right now. Dammit! \"Her Mother's Grave,\" the third outing with Josie Quinn, who rose to police chief in her little community after uncovering a ghastly sex ring. This novel starts to uncover who Josie is and what made her such a basket case. Josie doesn't like introspection. She's happier ignoring her past. But Regan, a master storyteller, decides she's let Josie let the past lie long enough. Some kids unearth bones that have something to say, and their history pulls Josie into the deep end of a mystery that played out when she was a kid in the same trailer park where the boys found the bones. Josie's got to learn more and remember more about her past than she has ever done. What before was too painful is necessary to figure out the case. She has to dig into it no matter what the stakes or who the truth hurts. And it appears the one who will be damaged the most by the revelations is Josie. Regan unearths twists and turns. I must have been sweating when I consumed this in a couple sittings. Then I wanted more. I had to tell my wife and adult son what was going on inside the pages I read because it was just that intense.", "timestamp": 1533596832481, "title": "The shocking twists just keep coming" }, { "asin": "B076KMQ7M3", "rating": 5, "text": "Lisa Regan's first novel in the Detective Josie Quinn series, \"Vanishing Girls,\" scours the dark underbelly of humankind's mistreatment of those who are less able to protect themselves. The novel provides frightening commentary to what people are capable of inflicting just to satisfy their sexual cravings. Quinn lives in a small town with big city problems. A girl goes missing. But there aren't any clues. In fact, her search riles people it shouldn't. And she doesn't get the assistance she should. Or maybe she's just imagining reticence on the part of her fellow cops. Regan sends her protagonist into every possible nook and cranny to find answers. And Josie knows better than most what her victims must be feeling, that helplessness at the hands of a sociopath. She tries to bat her own demons away while making use of her experiences growing up to solve the puzzle before innocent young women are killed. Regan is a master at her profession. And I just realized I've only been reading her books for several months. Picking up this novel is a challenge. I didn't expect to have to consume this one and the followup in a couple days. But I was obsessed. Regan knows how to weave a fascinating tale.", "timestamp": 1533597770164, "title": "Preying on the less fortunate" } ]

[ { "asin": "B00XXYGNJC", "rating": 5, "text": "Melinda Leigh has a formula: Woman threatened, woman assesses threat, woman kicks ass. Or at least that's what I thought. Not that I minded. I'm not into reading about helpless characters. Leigh also is a master of creating masterful antagonists. In the past novels I've read, these are some of the slimiest scumbags ever. They're also powerful and smart, to some degree. Difficult to vanquish. In &#34;She Can Kill,&#34; Leigh changes it up a bit. She made her protagonist a guy, Cristan Rojas, a former killer who worked for a Latin gunrunner. He had to disappear from his former life to raise his baby daughter. But time caught up with him and so did the people chasing him. Meanwhile, he's met a woman. They're not lovers, but they could be. She's got her own problems, the chief being her idiot ex-husband who won't let her go. Leigh's talent as a writer is making all her characters relatable. She's an astute observer of human nature. Her description of Sarah Mitchell, the potential love interest, is quite compelling. Sarah is more than a victim. She's a mom with a lot of character and enough drive to change her story. She got out of a destructive marriage and wants to make a go of it on her own. She has support, but Leigh makes it real. They can only do so much. The person has to be the one to make the change. Rojas gets into trouble. A couple of guys target him during a robbery, and he's canny enough to realize it may be related to his former life. He stops the robbers but reveals himself. His daughter, however, doesn't want to move. And that's the logical thing to do. He's been discovered. He may be targeted for death. But his daughter convinces him to stay. It means taking a stand despite the consequences. Leigh brings all of this to an intense confrontation while juggling Sarah's sideplot. It's one of her best yet. Leigh is a master of the thriller with that little bit of fleeting romance.", "timestamp": 1452469911000, "title": "When the past comes calling and running isn't an option" }, { "asin": "B00QQYZYPK", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Minutes to Kill,&#34; the second in Melinda Leigh's Scarlet Falls series, starts with a runaway underage girl desperate for help in a Las Vegas parking lot. She finds Hannah Barrett, a corporate attorney and all-around over-achiever. The girl, Jewel, is terrified. And, it turns out, she has good reason. A couple of guys who conned her into turning tricks for them turn out to be a couple of the nastiest sociopaths this side of Henderson, Nevada. Barrett tries but fails to help Jewel. In the process, her car is rammed and she's injured and unable to work. She heads home to recuperate in Scarlet Falls, which has its own demons. Turns out this is the second, not first book in the series, (oh well) and her brother is freshly murdered and the Barrett family is still trying to make sense of the tragedy. Hannah has things to work through. What she normally does is work. She wants to become a partner in her law firm. But there's more to Hannah. She grew up the sole girl in a family of four, dominated by a military father who expected his children to fall in and learn how to survive in the woods as well as the urban jungle. Tragedy struck him too, with a roadside bomb robbing him of his ability to walk. It didn't slow him down, or make him any sweeter. Hannah was a girl in a man's world. But this is Melinda Leigh. She works through it. Rather than baggage, the Hannah backstory is simply an excuse to provide more dimension to the character. Jewel picked well. Hannah will not give up. She lost Jewel to the two dirtbags after being incapacitated by the accident. But she's enlisted the aid of a local cop, a guy named Brody MacNamara. The detective is a stand-up sort. He's got his own issues, but they're mostly dealt with. In Hannah, he sees a strong woman who perks up emotions he hasn't dealt with in some time. But she's not local. No chance. Right? Rather than delve too deeply into plot development, which rocks, I'll simply reflect on how I got into this novel about a quarter the way through. Leigh's deft attention to relationships and how one person can feel about another made me think of how my wife and I first met. I thought I didn't have a chance. She was way too above me. Mac's got the same impression. My wife didn't have time for a dopey business journalist. She had a career to get on with. Anyway, as I'm reading this all I can think of is how awesome the love story portion is. Mac doesn't have a chance. Or does he? Maybe. Circumstances have a way of changing in Leigh's stories. The dirtbags from Vegas track Hannah to the East Coast. They got her purse. They intend to kidnap her. And they're capable. Ruthless. They kill just for fun. Leigh's ability to make the reader want them dead in no uncertain terms is one of her strengths. They create havoc. Anyway, I can't read these books back to back because I'd get nothing done. I read this book in two sittings. I had to.", "timestamp": 1457915447000, "title": "The bad guys are really nasty" }, { "asin": "B00LTBWMVO", "rating": 5, "text": "Grant Barrett had just returned from an ambush in Afghanistan where he was forced to kill a traitorous soldier who turned out to be a Taliban sleeper agent when he learned something that made the entire experience almost meaningless. This is the start of Melinda Leigh's Scarlet Falls series, &#34;Hour of Need.&#34; It starts hot and stays that way. Grant's superior officer tells him to sit down. No debrief. &#34;Grant, your brother and his wife were murdered,&#34; says the officer. Grant's mind reels. He's already somewhat numb. Now his brain is on overload. His brother Lee was the stable one. The attorney in their hometown of Scarlett Falls. Now he's dead. Grant gets 30 days emergency leave. Lee and his wife had two kids. One is 4 months old. Grant arrives in the states to more questions than the local police have answers. Shot and killed outside a local restaurant? The facts don't make a lot of sense. He gets help from Lee's neighbor, the attractive and single Ellie Ross. Lee's wife had tried to set them up the year before. But Grant's on military career track. He's a major. He wants to follow his father, the colonel, into a life always envisioned for him. That leaves almost no time for domestic bliss. But this is a Melinda Leigh book. The attraction between the two is immediate, and instantly suppressed. Neither wants to start something without a future. The search for the killer nearly gets more killed. Ellie is threatened. Her daughter and mom are marked for death. She can't say anything. The killer has tasted blood and finds out he likes it. But there's more corruption lurking in the community. And Grant's not the type to be messed with. I read this after &#34;Minutes to Kill,&#34; the second in the series. No matter. Leigh wrote each to stand alone. The novels are about the Barrett family. And there's another out. It will be a must-read.", "timestamp": 1460320678000, "title": "Something's rotten in Scarlet Falls" }, { "asin": "B015FMV3LW", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Furious,&#34; the start of T.R. Ragan's Faith McMann trilogy, doesn't take a third of the book to get interesting. Ragan doesn't dawdle establishing characters, color and scene. She gets right into it. Like a punch to the face. Ragan apparently writes about serial killers in her other books. This one is told from the perspective of a victim, a woman, a mother who has lost everything. Violently. Faith McMann starts the story talking to her sister about a party, planning for some inane family event that we all deal with, don't really question but tend to enjoy when we experience it. The part of life that makes the daily grind at work, the struggle with the bills and the fights with various nefarious players in our lives worthwhile. But Faith's world is torn apart. She, through no fault of her own, is caught in a random crossfire that sets in motion a series of horrific crimes. As Faith pulls into her garage and lets her two energetic kids tear into the house, she realizes something is amiss. Little does she know the full extent of how the next few minutes would shatter her expectations and her view of life as she knew it. That comfortable middle class perspective was shattered. Three very bad hombres kill her husband in front of her and slit her throat. But Faith somehow survives. Her neighbor hears something and plugs her carotid artery until an ambulance arrives. But the bad guys kidnap her kids. Faith goes through the stages of grief, but she gets stuck on anger. Thus the title of the book. The cops can't seem to make any headway into her case so she goes hard at it herself, attracting a couple of amazing friends in the process. They discover a sordid underground of human slavery that her kids have apparently been sold into. She wants them back. In writing this, Ragan sheds light into a growing problem in California and the rest of the country. Even President Obama called for an end to human trafficking in a proclamation. &#34;From factories and brothels to farms and mines, millions of men, women, and children in the United States and around the world are exploited for their bodies and their labor,&#34; he said at the end of his presidency. &#34;Whether through violence, deceit, or the promises of a better life, some of the most vulnerable populations among us ... are preyed upon by human traffickers. In order to rid the world of modern slavery we must do everything in our power to combat these violations of human decency.&#34; Ragan fills her novel with data, explaining how the networks that contribute to the problem operate and how it's the johns who are ultimately responsible for keeping this illicit part of the economy lucrative. Faith doesn't give up. But she faces a lot of heartbreak along the way. Very intense stuff. Hard to put down.", "timestamp": 1492981916000, "title": "Intense look at a woman who stops at nothing to get her kids back from slavers" }, { "asin": "B01H3RO2TM", "rating": 5, "text": "In &#34;Wrath,&#34; the final installment in the Faith McMann trilogy, author T.R. Ragan wraps up all the loose ends that have plagued her hero as she sought to recover her children, who were abducted in the opening scene of the first novel. Rage, who lives with Beast, the former bounty hunter who lost his wife and child in a senseless auto accident, continues to deteriorate healthwise. She's dying of cancer, but she doesn't want sympathy. She wants to help Faith get her kids. Faith has learned more of how the crime operation that stole her children operates. She recovered her son with the help of the police, who are increasingly leery of her methods, and her brother and father, who traipsed through the Sierra to find him. He had been sold to drug operators, who used him and other boys to process illegally grown marijuana. Faith must increasingly take risks to find out more about where her daughter has been hidden. Her ceaseless resolve to recover her children has caused cracks in the organization that killed her husband and nearly killed her. The big boss loses his hold on his underlings, and they try to go off on their own. And even as Faith closes in, she realizes there are other groups just as nasty if not worse out there who will have no problem continuing the trafficking and exploitation. In all, it's a fine series. There are a couple of elements I would have liked Ragan to address. But that's just nitpicking. I got really into the whole thing. I read each book in record time, and even wrote a story on just how bad the practice is here in the central San Joaquin Valley, interviewing some cops and people at the Marjaree Mason Center.", "timestamp": 1492984532000, "title": "The bad guys are truly nasty, but nobody's really a winner as Faith gets her revenge" }, { "asin": "B01M7XPGYE", "rating": 5, "text": "At the heart of most Melinda Leigh books is a love story, and &#34;Say You're Sorry,&#34; the first book in the Morgan Dane series, is no different. However, this is a different kind of love. One that comes from mutual respect. The story rolls out with immediate mystery and heartbreak. A girl is killed. The boy next door looks like the prime suspect. Morgan Dane, who's about to start a new job, knows both. But she's drawn in by the fact that the boy's father has no means of hiring a defense attorney for his boy. And, he said, he knows for certain his boy didn't do it. For one, the boy is immediately sickened at the sight of blood. Morgan takes the case and loses any shot at that new job. Turns out it was a good move. She joins forces with Lance, an ex-cop turned private investigator. At first, their association is tentative. Neither likes giving up control. Both are strong. Both have tragedy in their past. Lance was shot, and recovery took more time than he wanted. He quit the police force. He didn't want to be a burden. Morgan's husband was lost in Iraq. She has kids. Couple things set this novel apart from Leigh's previous works. She has built in tremendous supporting characters, and a stray dog. Sharp is the private eye with the perspective and the wise world view. He's worthy of his own novel. The other is Jamie, a runaway who knew more than she should and embodies everything a kid from the wrong side of the tracks would rather not have to deal with. Leigh adds social commentary to her novels, and usually it's about strong personalities persevering against tremendous personal calamity. However, with Jamie she shows that tenderness goes a long way and understanding may save a life. I read a Melinda Leigh book in one or two sittings. Sometimes they're an emotional roller coaster. One that means I put it down, do something else to clear my head and go back to the story for another round. But that's a good thing.", "timestamp": 1502050739498, "title": "Sometimes, despite everything, helping somebody can save a life" }, { "asin": "B06ZZW7G42", "rating": 5, "text": "Morgan Dane's life has begun to improve. She's figured out what she wants to do now that the assistant district attorney job has been lost to fate, and her family has grown stronger with the addition of a young woman who needed others to care for. Dane's romantic interest, Lance Kruger, has emerged as a business partner. She speculates there's more between them. But she's not yet ready. Her husband looms large in her memory after dying in combat some years earlier. But &#34;Her Last Goodbye,&#34; the second Morgan Dane novel, is destined for another deadly encounter. Author Melinda Leigh weaves a little romance into her books. But it's simply part of the narrative. She writes real life. But Leigh's characters all encounter that dark underbelly of society. Dane and her firm are hired to find a missing woman. The husband may have been the problem. He's offered very little help raising their two small children, one of whom is a baby who screams a lot. The authorities believe she's bailed. Her parents know that's not the case. But the clues are far and few. Dane and Kruger interview everybody but find very little. And working the case is where Leigh is at her best. Dane takes the gumshoe approach, sifting through all the information. Meanwhile, Leigh provides insight into the kidnapper, revealing a dark and perverse way of viewing reality. He's smart. But Dane and Kruger don't relent. They push for every clue. And they grow a little closer as they figure out one thing, ruling out another. Leigh's at her best creating strong female characters that don't take crap. They're realists. While I'd love to see any of her books find the big screen, the film version would have to be optioned by the right director. Leigh's one of the best at her craft, and with Dane she's got a great character that could provide many new sequels.", "timestamp": 1511132033401, "title": "The killer among us" }, { "asin": "B0746L8G49", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Deadly Recall&#34; by mystery thriller writer T.R. Ragan starts off where the first in the Jessie Cole series ended. Ben Morrison, the strange reporter from the Sacramento daily who's lost his memory, starts digging into the bits and pieces of his past that return suddenly and at inopportune times. And he enlists Jessie's help. But this is just a minor thread in the novel. Jessie gets the job of trying to recover a healthcare executive's daughter. A former client is killing members of the company because it wouldn't cover his daughter's treatment. She died and he went over the deep end. He's a regular guy with a singular focus on revenge, and Ragan dives deep into his motivations and torment. He's not really her typical scumbag. He's a product of his environment, of his circumstances, of the U.S. healthcare system. Ragan also delves more deeply into Jessie and the new employee she's taken on, the girl who was kidnapped and almost killed in the previous book. The girl is unique and crazy. But she wants to do the right thing. She also gets to know Jessie's niece, now a teenager who is learning to be a grownup. Ben finds out more about his past. And it's not all that promising. He's got demons. But are they understandable or sociopathic. All this and more answered in the next installment. And I'll be pre-ording.", "timestamp": 1526256282079, "title": "He's a man who just doesn't want to take it anymore" }, { "asin": "B072QX6TG1", "rating": 5, "text": "In &#34;Bones Don't Lie,&#34; the third in author Melinda Leigh's Morgan Dane series, a dredged up car from the bottom of a lake reveals clues as to the final moments of Lance Kruger's father, a guy who disappeared without a trace decades earlier. But the clues are frustratingly sketchy and anybody who knows anything is either already dead or comes to a violent end. Morgan digs into every lead as Lance watches his preconceived notions of his fantasized past disappear. Does his mom know more than she's told him? Was his dad a bad guy with a dark secret? Leigh further develops Morgan's personality and Lance's to what may be her best series. And Leigh's talent for storytelling is as good as it's ever been. Leigh keeps the antagonist's identity secret until the very last, when it appears he's got the upper hand. But her tough characters haven't failed yet. I'm ready for the next novel. Leigh is one of the best.", "timestamp": 1526259751369, "title": "Warming up a cold case buried in a lake causes some to get burned" }, { "asin": "B07CNBKTPY", "rating": 5, "text": "Lisa Regan is that author whose works I wished I had read slowly. She crafts each word, each paragraph and each page with precision. But her stories move quickly, and I want nothing more than to learn all there is to know. Right now. Dammit! \"Her Mother's Grave,\" the third outing with Josie Quinn, who rose to police chief in her little community after uncovering a ghastly sex ring. This novel starts to uncover who Josie is and what made her such a basket case. Josie doesn't like introspection. She's happier ignoring her past. But Regan, a master storyteller, decides she's let Josie let the past lie long enough. Some kids unearth bones that have something to say, and their history pulls Josie into the deep end of a mystery that played out when she was a kid in the same trailer park where the boys found the bones. Josie's got to learn more and remember more about her past than she has ever done. What before was too painful is necessary to figure out the case. She has to dig into it no matter what the stakes or who the truth hurts. And it appears the one who will be damaged the most by the revelations is Josie. Regan unearths twists and turns. I must have been sweating when I consumed this in a couple sittings. Then I wanted more. I had to tell my wife and adult son what was going on inside the pages I read because it was just that intense.", "timestamp": 1533596832481, "title": "The shocking twists just keep coming" }, { "asin": "B076KMQ7M3", "rating": 5, "text": "Lisa Regan's first novel in the Detective Josie Quinn series, \"Vanishing Girls,\" scours the dark underbelly of humankind's mistreatment of those who are less able to protect themselves. The novel provides frightening commentary to what people are capable of inflicting just to satisfy their sexual cravings. Quinn lives in a small town with big city problems. A girl goes missing. But there aren't any clues. In fact, her search riles people it shouldn't. And she doesn't get the assistance she should. Or maybe she's just imagining reticence on the part of her fellow cops. Regan sends her protagonist into every possible nook and cranny to find answers. And Josie knows better than most what her victims must be feeling, that helplessness at the hands of a sociopath. She tries to bat her own demons away while making use of her experiences growing up to solve the puzzle before innocent young women are killed. Regan is a master at her profession. And I just realized I've only been reading her books for several months. Picking up this novel is a challenge. I didn't expect to have to consume this one and the followup in a couple days. But I was obsessed. Regan knows how to weave a fascinating tale.", "timestamp": 1533597770164, "title": "Preying on the less fortunate" }, { "asin": "B07B3NTQ1H", "rating": 5, "text": "\"The Girl With No Name,\" the second in the Josie Quinn series by Lisa Regan, begins with an almost impossible mystery. Protagonist Quinn has very little to go on. And nothing about the case makes sense. Regan keeps the story moving forward, tossing out one clue after another. Slowly more details emerge. But none of it was what I expected. There's no unraveling a Regan novel. She's good at what she does. Quinn keeps digging. She's damaged but an amazing analyst. And she's fearless. Dark, nasty and possible death don't factor much into her decision making. Quinn is difficult to relate to but easy to like. Regan explores her character little by little. But everything is revealing.", "timestamp": 1533599278447, "title": "Nothing's what it appears" } ]

[ { "asin": "B00XXYGNJC", "rating": 5, "text": "Melinda Leigh has a formula: Woman threatened, woman assesses threat, woman kicks ass. Or at least that's what I thought. Not that I minded. I'm not into reading about helpless characters. Leigh also is a master of creating masterful antagonists. In the past novels I've read, these are some of the slimiest scumbags ever. They're also powerful and smart, to some degree. Difficult to vanquish. In &#34;She Can Kill,&#34; Leigh changes it up a bit. She made her protagonist a guy, Cristan Rojas, a former killer who worked for a Latin gunrunner. He had to disappear from his former life to raise his baby daughter. But time caught up with him and so did the people chasing him. Meanwhile, he's met a woman. They're not lovers, but they could be. She's got her own problems, the chief being her idiot ex-husband who won't let her go. Leigh's talent as a writer is making all her characters relatable. She's an astute observer of human nature. Her description of Sarah Mitchell, the potential love interest, is quite compelling. Sarah is more than a victim. She's a mom with a lot of character and enough drive to change her story. She got out of a destructive marriage and wants to make a go of it on her own. She has support, but Leigh makes it real. They can only do so much. The person has to be the one to make the change. Rojas gets into trouble. A couple of guys target him during a robbery, and he's canny enough to realize it may be related to his former life. He stops the robbers but reveals himself. His daughter, however, doesn't want to move. And that's the logical thing to do. He's been discovered. He may be targeted for death. But his daughter convinces him to stay. It means taking a stand despite the consequences. Leigh brings all of this to an intense confrontation while juggling Sarah's sideplot. It's one of her best yet. Leigh is a master of the thriller with that little bit of fleeting romance.", "timestamp": 1452469911000, "title": "When the past comes calling and running isn't an option" }, { "asin": "B00QQYZYPK", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Minutes to Kill,&#34; the second in Melinda Leigh's Scarlet Falls series, starts with a runaway underage girl desperate for help in a Las Vegas parking lot. She finds Hannah Barrett, a corporate attorney and all-around over-achiever. The girl, Jewel, is terrified. And, it turns out, she has good reason. A couple of guys who conned her into turning tricks for them turn out to be a couple of the nastiest sociopaths this side of Henderson, Nevada. Barrett tries but fails to help Jewel. In the process, her car is rammed and she's injured and unable to work. She heads home to recuperate in Scarlet Falls, which has its own demons. Turns out this is the second, not first book in the series, (oh well) and her brother is freshly murdered and the Barrett family is still trying to make sense of the tragedy. Hannah has things to work through. What she normally does is work. She wants to become a partner in her law firm. But there's more to Hannah. She grew up the sole girl in a family of four, dominated by a military father who expected his children to fall in and learn how to survive in the woods as well as the urban jungle. Tragedy struck him too, with a roadside bomb robbing him of his ability to walk. It didn't slow him down, or make him any sweeter. Hannah was a girl in a man's world. But this is Melinda Leigh. She works through it. Rather than baggage, the Hannah backstory is simply an excuse to provide more dimension to the character. Jewel picked well. Hannah will not give up. She lost Jewel to the two dirtbags after being incapacitated by the accident. But she's enlisted the aid of a local cop, a guy named Brody MacNamara. The detective is a stand-up sort. He's got his own issues, but they're mostly dealt with. In Hannah, he sees a strong woman who perks up emotions he hasn't dealt with in some time. But she's not local. No chance. Right? Rather than delve too deeply into plot development, which rocks, I'll simply reflect on how I got into this novel about a quarter the way through. Leigh's deft attention to relationships and how one person can feel about another made me think of how my wife and I first met. I thought I didn't have a chance. She was way too above me. Mac's got the same impression. My wife didn't have time for a dopey business journalist. She had a career to get on with. Anyway, as I'm reading this all I can think of is how awesome the love story portion is. Mac doesn't have a chance. Or does he? Maybe. Circumstances have a way of changing in Leigh's stories. The dirtbags from Vegas track Hannah to the East Coast. They got her purse. They intend to kidnap her. And they're capable. Ruthless. They kill just for fun. Leigh's ability to make the reader want them dead in no uncertain terms is one of her strengths. They create havoc. Anyway, I can't read these books back to back because I'd get nothing done. I read this book in two sittings. I had to.", "timestamp": 1457915447000, "title": "The bad guys are really nasty" }, { "asin": "B00LTBWMVO", "rating": 5, "text": "Grant Barrett had just returned from an ambush in Afghanistan where he was forced to kill a traitorous soldier who turned out to be a Taliban sleeper agent when he learned something that made the entire experience almost meaningless. This is the start of Melinda Leigh's Scarlet Falls series, &#34;Hour of Need.&#34; It starts hot and stays that way. Grant's superior officer tells him to sit down. No debrief. &#34;Grant, your brother and his wife were murdered,&#34; says the officer. Grant's mind reels. He's already somewhat numb. Now his brain is on overload. His brother Lee was the stable one. The attorney in their hometown of Scarlett Falls. Now he's dead. Grant gets 30 days emergency leave. Lee and his wife had two kids. One is 4 months old. Grant arrives in the states to more questions than the local police have answers. Shot and killed outside a local restaurant? The facts don't make a lot of sense. He gets help from Lee's neighbor, the attractive and single Ellie Ross. Lee's wife had tried to set them up the year before. But Grant's on military career track. He's a major. He wants to follow his father, the colonel, into a life always envisioned for him. That leaves almost no time for domestic bliss. But this is a Melinda Leigh book. The attraction between the two is immediate, and instantly suppressed. Neither wants to start something without a future. The search for the killer nearly gets more killed. Ellie is threatened. Her daughter and mom are marked for death. She can't say anything. The killer has tasted blood and finds out he likes it. But there's more corruption lurking in the community. And Grant's not the type to be messed with. I read this after &#34;Minutes to Kill,&#34; the second in the series. No matter. Leigh wrote each to stand alone. The novels are about the Barrett family. And there's another out. It will be a must-read.", "timestamp": 1460320678000, "title": "Something's rotten in Scarlet Falls" }, { "asin": "B015FMV3LW", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Furious,&#34; the start of T.R. Ragan's Faith McMann trilogy, doesn't take a third of the book to get interesting. Ragan doesn't dawdle establishing characters, color and scene. She gets right into it. Like a punch to the face. Ragan apparently writes about serial killers in her other books. This one is told from the perspective of a victim, a woman, a mother who has lost everything. Violently. Faith McMann starts the story talking to her sister about a party, planning for some inane family event that we all deal with, don't really question but tend to enjoy when we experience it. The part of life that makes the daily grind at work, the struggle with the bills and the fights with various nefarious players in our lives worthwhile. But Faith's world is torn apart. She, through no fault of her own, is caught in a random crossfire that sets in motion a series of horrific crimes. As Faith pulls into her garage and lets her two energetic kids tear into the house, she realizes something is amiss. Little does she know the full extent of how the next few minutes would shatter her expectations and her view of life as she knew it. That comfortable middle class perspective was shattered. Three very bad hombres kill her husband in front of her and slit her throat. But Faith somehow survives. Her neighbor hears something and plugs her carotid artery until an ambulance arrives. But the bad guys kidnap her kids. Faith goes through the stages of grief, but she gets stuck on anger. Thus the title of the book. The cops can't seem to make any headway into her case so she goes hard at it herself, attracting a couple of amazing friends in the process. They discover a sordid underground of human slavery that her kids have apparently been sold into. She wants them back. In writing this, Ragan sheds light into a growing problem in California and the rest of the country. Even President Obama called for an end to human trafficking in a proclamation. &#34;From factories and brothels to farms and mines, millions of men, women, and children in the United States and around the world are exploited for their bodies and their labor,&#34; he said at the end of his presidency. &#34;Whether through violence, deceit, or the promises of a better life, some of the most vulnerable populations among us ... are preyed upon by human traffickers. In order to rid the world of modern slavery we must do everything in our power to combat these violations of human decency.&#34; Ragan fills her novel with data, explaining how the networks that contribute to the problem operate and how it's the johns who are ultimately responsible for keeping this illicit part of the economy lucrative. Faith doesn't give up. But she faces a lot of heartbreak along the way. Very intense stuff. Hard to put down.", "timestamp": 1492981916000, "title": "Intense look at a woman who stops at nothing to get her kids back from slavers" }, { "asin": "B01H3RO2TM", "rating": 5, "text": "In &#34;Wrath,&#34; the final installment in the Faith McMann trilogy, author T.R. Ragan wraps up all the loose ends that have plagued her hero as she sought to recover her children, who were abducted in the opening scene of the first novel. Rage, who lives with Beast, the former bounty hunter who lost his wife and child in a senseless auto accident, continues to deteriorate healthwise. She's dying of cancer, but she doesn't want sympathy. She wants to help Faith get her kids. Faith has learned more of how the crime operation that stole her children operates. She recovered her son with the help of the police, who are increasingly leery of her methods, and her brother and father, who traipsed through the Sierra to find him. He had been sold to drug operators, who used him and other boys to process illegally grown marijuana. Faith must increasingly take risks to find out more about where her daughter has been hidden. Her ceaseless resolve to recover her children has caused cracks in the organization that killed her husband and nearly killed her. The big boss loses his hold on his underlings, and they try to go off on their own. And even as Faith closes in, she realizes there are other groups just as nasty if not worse out there who will have no problem continuing the trafficking and exploitation. In all, it's a fine series. There are a couple of elements I would have liked Ragan to address. But that's just nitpicking. I got really into the whole thing. I read each book in record time, and even wrote a story on just how bad the practice is here in the central San Joaquin Valley, interviewing some cops and people at the Marjaree Mason Center.", "timestamp": 1492984532000, "title": "The bad guys are truly nasty, but nobody's really a winner as Faith gets her revenge" }, { "asin": "B01M7XPGYE", "rating": 5, "text": "At the heart of most Melinda Leigh books is a love story, and &#34;Say You're Sorry,&#34; the first book in the Morgan Dane series, is no different. However, this is a different kind of love. One that comes from mutual respect. The story rolls out with immediate mystery and heartbreak. A girl is killed. The boy next door looks like the prime suspect. Morgan Dane, who's about to start a new job, knows both. But she's drawn in by the fact that the boy's father has no means of hiring a defense attorney for his boy. And, he said, he knows for certain his boy didn't do it. For one, the boy is immediately sickened at the sight of blood. Morgan takes the case and loses any shot at that new job. Turns out it was a good move. She joins forces with Lance, an ex-cop turned private investigator. At first, their association is tentative. Neither likes giving up control. Both are strong. Both have tragedy in their past. Lance was shot, and recovery took more time than he wanted. He quit the police force. He didn't want to be a burden. Morgan's husband was lost in Iraq. She has kids. Couple things set this novel apart from Leigh's previous works. She has built in tremendous supporting characters, and a stray dog. Sharp is the private eye with the perspective and the wise world view. He's worthy of his own novel. The other is Jamie, a runaway who knew more than she should and embodies everything a kid from the wrong side of the tracks would rather not have to deal with. Leigh adds social commentary to her novels, and usually it's about strong personalities persevering against tremendous personal calamity. However, with Jamie she shows that tenderness goes a long way and understanding may save a life. I read a Melinda Leigh book in one or two sittings. Sometimes they're an emotional roller coaster. One that means I put it down, do something else to clear my head and go back to the story for another round. But that's a good thing.", "timestamp": 1502050739498, "title": "Sometimes, despite everything, helping somebody can save a life" }, { "asin": "B06ZZW7G42", "rating": 5, "text": "Morgan Dane's life has begun to improve. She's figured out what she wants to do now that the assistant district attorney job has been lost to fate, and her family has grown stronger with the addition of a young woman who needed others to care for. Dane's romantic interest, Lance Kruger, has emerged as a business partner. She speculates there's more between them. But she's not yet ready. Her husband looms large in her memory after dying in combat some years earlier. But &#34;Her Last Goodbye,&#34; the second Morgan Dane novel, is destined for another deadly encounter. Author Melinda Leigh weaves a little romance into her books. But it's simply part of the narrative. She writes real life. But Leigh's characters all encounter that dark underbelly of society. Dane and her firm are hired to find a missing woman. The husband may have been the problem. He's offered very little help raising their two small children, one of whom is a baby who screams a lot. The authorities believe she's bailed. Her parents know that's not the case. But the clues are far and few. Dane and Kruger interview everybody but find very little. And working the case is where Leigh is at her best. Dane takes the gumshoe approach, sifting through all the information. Meanwhile, Leigh provides insight into the kidnapper, revealing a dark and perverse way of viewing reality. He's smart. But Dane and Kruger don't relent. They push for every clue. And they grow a little closer as they figure out one thing, ruling out another. Leigh's at her best creating strong female characters that don't take crap. They're realists. While I'd love to see any of her books find the big screen, the film version would have to be optioned by the right director. Leigh's one of the best at her craft, and with Dane she's got a great character that could provide many new sequels.", "timestamp": 1511132033401, "title": "The killer among us" }, { "asin": "B0746L8G49", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Deadly Recall&#34; by mystery thriller writer T.R. Ragan starts off where the first in the Jessie Cole series ended. Ben Morrison, the strange reporter from the Sacramento daily who's lost his memory, starts digging into the bits and pieces of his past that return suddenly and at inopportune times. And he enlists Jessie's help. But this is just a minor thread in the novel. Jessie gets the job of trying to recover a healthcare executive's daughter. A former client is killing members of the company because it wouldn't cover his daughter's treatment. She died and he went over the deep end. He's a regular guy with a singular focus on revenge, and Ragan dives deep into his motivations and torment. He's not really her typical scumbag. He's a product of his environment, of his circumstances, of the U.S. healthcare system. Ragan also delves more deeply into Jessie and the new employee she's taken on, the girl who was kidnapped and almost killed in the previous book. The girl is unique and crazy. But she wants to do the right thing. She also gets to know Jessie's niece, now a teenager who is learning to be a grownup. Ben finds out more about his past. And it's not all that promising. He's got demons. But are they understandable or sociopathic. All this and more answered in the next installment. And I'll be pre-ording.", "timestamp": 1526256282079, "title": "He's a man who just doesn't want to take it anymore" }, { "asin": "B072QX6TG1", "rating": 5, "text": "In &#34;Bones Don't Lie,&#34; the third in author Melinda Leigh's Morgan Dane series, a dredged up car from the bottom of a lake reveals clues as to the final moments of Lance Kruger's father, a guy who disappeared without a trace decades earlier. But the clues are frustratingly sketchy and anybody who knows anything is either already dead or comes to a violent end. Morgan digs into every lead as Lance watches his preconceived notions of his fantasized past disappear. Does his mom know more than she's told him? Was his dad a bad guy with a dark secret? Leigh further develops Morgan's personality and Lance's to what may be her best series. And Leigh's talent for storytelling is as good as it's ever been. Leigh keeps the antagonist's identity secret until the very last, when it appears he's got the upper hand. But her tough characters haven't failed yet. I'm ready for the next novel. Leigh is one of the best.", "timestamp": 1526259751369, "title": "Warming up a cold case buried in a lake causes some to get burned" }, { "asin": "B07CNBKTPY", "rating": 5, "text": "Lisa Regan is that author whose works I wished I had read slowly. She crafts each word, each paragraph and each page with precision. But her stories move quickly, and I want nothing more than to learn all there is to know. Right now. Dammit! \"Her Mother's Grave,\" the third outing with Josie Quinn, who rose to police chief in her little community after uncovering a ghastly sex ring. This novel starts to uncover who Josie is and what made her such a basket case. Josie doesn't like introspection. She's happier ignoring her past. But Regan, a master storyteller, decides she's let Josie let the past lie long enough. Some kids unearth bones that have something to say, and their history pulls Josie into the deep end of a mystery that played out when she was a kid in the same trailer park where the boys found the bones. Josie's got to learn more and remember more about her past than she has ever done. What before was too painful is necessary to figure out the case. She has to dig into it no matter what the stakes or who the truth hurts. And it appears the one who will be damaged the most by the revelations is Josie. Regan unearths twists and turns. I must have been sweating when I consumed this in a couple sittings. Then I wanted more. I had to tell my wife and adult son what was going on inside the pages I read because it was just that intense.", "timestamp": 1533596832481, "title": "The shocking twists just keep coming" }, { "asin": "B076KMQ7M3", "rating": 5, "text": "Lisa Regan's first novel in the Detective Josie Quinn series, \"Vanishing Girls,\" scours the dark underbelly of humankind's mistreatment of those who are less able to protect themselves. The novel provides frightening commentary to what people are capable of inflicting just to satisfy their sexual cravings. Quinn lives in a small town with big city problems. A girl goes missing. But there aren't any clues. In fact, her search riles people it shouldn't. And she doesn't get the assistance she should. Or maybe she's just imagining reticence on the part of her fellow cops. Regan sends her protagonist into every possible nook and cranny to find answers. And Josie knows better than most what her victims must be feeling, that helplessness at the hands of a sociopath. She tries to bat her own demons away while making use of her experiences growing up to solve the puzzle before innocent young women are killed. Regan is a master at her profession. And I just realized I've only been reading her books for several months. Picking up this novel is a challenge. I didn't expect to have to consume this one and the followup in a couple days. But I was obsessed. Regan knows how to weave a fascinating tale.", "timestamp": 1533597770164, "title": "Preying on the less fortunate" }, { "asin": "B07B3NTQ1H", "rating": 5, "text": "\"The Girl With No Name,\" the second in the Josie Quinn series by Lisa Regan, begins with an almost impossible mystery. Protagonist Quinn has very little to go on. And nothing about the case makes sense. Regan keeps the story moving forward, tossing out one clue after another. Slowly more details emerge. But none of it was what I expected. There's no unraveling a Regan novel. She's good at what she does. Quinn keeps digging. She's damaged but an amazing analyst. And she's fearless. Dark, nasty and possible death don't factor much into her decision making. Quinn is difficult to relate to but easy to like. Regan explores her character little by little. But everything is revealing.", "timestamp": 1533599278447, "title": "Nothing's what it appears" }, { "asin": "B01JGIOO2Q", "rating": 5, "text": "Loreth Anne White blew my mind with \"The Drowned Girls,\" the first in the Angie Pallorino series. I mean, Vancouver/Victoria setting, cop with issues dealing with authority and horrific bad guys. Sounded good. I picked it out of the \"if you liked ..., you'll like this\" section of the Amazon book section. No preconceived notions. But there's something about a tough female character written by a woman who pulls no punches when it comes to detail, her character or what happens. White is hard core on all accounts. She beats the crap out of Angie by way of what she has happen. This is not for those who prefer a protagonist who wins no matter what. Angie risks everything. All the time. She gives herself no quarter. She often makes the wrong decision. She charges into the most dangerous situation without proper preparation, especially when danger lurks. She's cast into a situation where she might have a love interest, but she feels strongly that she doesn't deserve happiness. She's got a dark side. And at least to me, that dark side proved almost enough to really not like her. But I got over it. White knows what she's doing. Not only is the writing superb, but she's a storyteller like no other. But she does get dark. She gets into the heads of some pretty sick individuals.", "timestamp": 1542584647093, "title": "Rainy Victoria really has a very dark side" } ]

[ { "asin": "B00XXYGNJC", "rating": 5, "text": "Melinda Leigh has a formula: Woman threatened, woman assesses threat, woman kicks ass. Or at least that's what I thought. Not that I minded. I'm not into reading about helpless characters. Leigh also is a master of creating masterful antagonists. In the past novels I've read, these are some of the slimiest scumbags ever. They're also powerful and smart, to some degree. Difficult to vanquish. In &#34;She Can Kill,&#34; Leigh changes it up a bit. She made her protagonist a guy, Cristan Rojas, a former killer who worked for a Latin gunrunner. He had to disappear from his former life to raise his baby daughter. But time caught up with him and so did the people chasing him. Meanwhile, he's met a woman. They're not lovers, but they could be. She's got her own problems, the chief being her idiot ex-husband who won't let her go. Leigh's talent as a writer is making all her characters relatable. She's an astute observer of human nature. Her description of Sarah Mitchell, the potential love interest, is quite compelling. Sarah is more than a victim. She's a mom with a lot of character and enough drive to change her story. She got out of a destructive marriage and wants to make a go of it on her own. She has support, but Leigh makes it real. They can only do so much. The person has to be the one to make the change. Rojas gets into trouble. A couple of guys target him during a robbery, and he's canny enough to realize it may be related to his former life. He stops the robbers but reveals himself. His daughter, however, doesn't want to move. And that's the logical thing to do. He's been discovered. He may be targeted for death. But his daughter convinces him to stay. It means taking a stand despite the consequences. Leigh brings all of this to an intense confrontation while juggling Sarah's sideplot. It's one of her best yet. Leigh is a master of the thriller with that little bit of fleeting romance.", "timestamp": 1452469911000, "title": "When the past comes calling and running isn't an option" }, { "asin": "B00QQYZYPK", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Minutes to Kill,&#34; the second in Melinda Leigh's Scarlet Falls series, starts with a runaway underage girl desperate for help in a Las Vegas parking lot. She finds Hannah Barrett, a corporate attorney and all-around over-achiever. The girl, Jewel, is terrified. And, it turns out, she has good reason. A couple of guys who conned her into turning tricks for them turn out to be a couple of the nastiest sociopaths this side of Henderson, Nevada. Barrett tries but fails to help Jewel. In the process, her car is rammed and she's injured and unable to work. She heads home to recuperate in Scarlet Falls, which has its own demons. Turns out this is the second, not first book in the series, (oh well) and her brother is freshly murdered and the Barrett family is still trying to make sense of the tragedy. Hannah has things to work through. What she normally does is work. She wants to become a partner in her law firm. But there's more to Hannah. She grew up the sole girl in a family of four, dominated by a military father who expected his children to fall in and learn how to survive in the woods as well as the urban jungle. Tragedy struck him too, with a roadside bomb robbing him of his ability to walk. It didn't slow him down, or make him any sweeter. Hannah was a girl in a man's world. But this is Melinda Leigh. She works through it. Rather than baggage, the Hannah backstory is simply an excuse to provide more dimension to the character. Jewel picked well. Hannah will not give up. She lost Jewel to the two dirtbags after being incapacitated by the accident. But she's enlisted the aid of a local cop, a guy named Brody MacNamara. The detective is a stand-up sort. He's got his own issues, but they're mostly dealt with. In Hannah, he sees a strong woman who perks up emotions he hasn't dealt with in some time. But she's not local. No chance. Right? Rather than delve too deeply into plot development, which rocks, I'll simply reflect on how I got into this novel about a quarter the way through. Leigh's deft attention to relationships and how one person can feel about another made me think of how my wife and I first met. I thought I didn't have a chance. She was way too above me. Mac's got the same impression. My wife didn't have time for a dopey business journalist. She had a career to get on with. Anyway, as I'm reading this all I can think of is how awesome the love story portion is. Mac doesn't have a chance. Or does he? Maybe. Circumstances have a way of changing in Leigh's stories. The dirtbags from Vegas track Hannah to the East Coast. They got her purse. They intend to kidnap her. And they're capable. Ruthless. They kill just for fun. Leigh's ability to make the reader want them dead in no uncertain terms is one of her strengths. They create havoc. Anyway, I can't read these books back to back because I'd get nothing done. I read this book in two sittings. I had to.", "timestamp": 1457915447000, "title": "The bad guys are really nasty" }, { "asin": "B00LTBWMVO", "rating": 5, "text": "Grant Barrett had just returned from an ambush in Afghanistan where he was forced to kill a traitorous soldier who turned out to be a Taliban sleeper agent when he learned something that made the entire experience almost meaningless. This is the start of Melinda Leigh's Scarlet Falls series, &#34;Hour of Need.&#34; It starts hot and stays that way. Grant's superior officer tells him to sit down. No debrief. &#34;Grant, your brother and his wife were murdered,&#34; says the officer. Grant's mind reels. He's already somewhat numb. Now his brain is on overload. His brother Lee was the stable one. The attorney in their hometown of Scarlett Falls. Now he's dead. Grant gets 30 days emergency leave. Lee and his wife had two kids. One is 4 months old. Grant arrives in the states to more questions than the local police have answers. Shot and killed outside a local restaurant? The facts don't make a lot of sense. He gets help from Lee's neighbor, the attractive and single Ellie Ross. Lee's wife had tried to set them up the year before. But Grant's on military career track. He's a major. He wants to follow his father, the colonel, into a life always envisioned for him. That leaves almost no time for domestic bliss. But this is a Melinda Leigh book. The attraction between the two is immediate, and instantly suppressed. Neither wants to start something without a future. The search for the killer nearly gets more killed. Ellie is threatened. Her daughter and mom are marked for death. She can't say anything. The killer has tasted blood and finds out he likes it. But there's more corruption lurking in the community. And Grant's not the type to be messed with. I read this after &#34;Minutes to Kill,&#34; the second in the series. No matter. Leigh wrote each to stand alone. The novels are about the Barrett family. And there's another out. It will be a must-read.", "timestamp": 1460320678000, "title": "Something's rotten in Scarlet Falls" }, { "asin": "B015FMV3LW", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Furious,&#34; the start of T.R. Ragan's Faith McMann trilogy, doesn't take a third of the book to get interesting. Ragan doesn't dawdle establishing characters, color and scene. She gets right into it. Like a punch to the face. Ragan apparently writes about serial killers in her other books. This one is told from the perspective of a victim, a woman, a mother who has lost everything. Violently. Faith McMann starts the story talking to her sister about a party, planning for some inane family event that we all deal with, don't really question but tend to enjoy when we experience it. The part of life that makes the daily grind at work, the struggle with the bills and the fights with various nefarious players in our lives worthwhile. But Faith's world is torn apart. She, through no fault of her own, is caught in a random crossfire that sets in motion a series of horrific crimes. As Faith pulls into her garage and lets her two energetic kids tear into the house, she realizes something is amiss. Little does she know the full extent of how the next few minutes would shatter her expectations and her view of life as she knew it. That comfortable middle class perspective was shattered. Three very bad hombres kill her husband in front of her and slit her throat. But Faith somehow survives. Her neighbor hears something and plugs her carotid artery until an ambulance arrives. But the bad guys kidnap her kids. Faith goes through the stages of grief, but she gets stuck on anger. Thus the title of the book. The cops can't seem to make any headway into her case so she goes hard at it herself, attracting a couple of amazing friends in the process. They discover a sordid underground of human slavery that her kids have apparently been sold into. She wants them back. In writing this, Ragan sheds light into a growing problem in California and the rest of the country. Even President Obama called for an end to human trafficking in a proclamation. &#34;From factories and brothels to farms and mines, millions of men, women, and children in the United States and around the world are exploited for their bodies and their labor,&#34; he said at the end of his presidency. &#34;Whether through violence, deceit, or the promises of a better life, some of the most vulnerable populations among us ... are preyed upon by human traffickers. In order to rid the world of modern slavery we must do everything in our power to combat these violations of human decency.&#34; Ragan fills her novel with data, explaining how the networks that contribute to the problem operate and how it's the johns who are ultimately responsible for keeping this illicit part of the economy lucrative. Faith doesn't give up. But she faces a lot of heartbreak along the way. Very intense stuff. Hard to put down.", "timestamp": 1492981916000, "title": "Intense look at a woman who stops at nothing to get her kids back from slavers" }, { "asin": "B01H3RO2TM", "rating": 5, "text": "In &#34;Wrath,&#34; the final installment in the Faith McMann trilogy, author T.R. Ragan wraps up all the loose ends that have plagued her hero as she sought to recover her children, who were abducted in the opening scene of the first novel. Rage, who lives with Beast, the former bounty hunter who lost his wife and child in a senseless auto accident, continues to deteriorate healthwise. She's dying of cancer, but she doesn't want sympathy. She wants to help Faith get her kids. Faith has learned more of how the crime operation that stole her children operates. She recovered her son with the help of the police, who are increasingly leery of her methods, and her brother and father, who traipsed through the Sierra to find him. He had been sold to drug operators, who used him and other boys to process illegally grown marijuana. Faith must increasingly take risks to find out more about where her daughter has been hidden. Her ceaseless resolve to recover her children has caused cracks in the organization that killed her husband and nearly killed her. The big boss loses his hold on his underlings, and they try to go off on their own. And even as Faith closes in, she realizes there are other groups just as nasty if not worse out there who will have no problem continuing the trafficking and exploitation. In all, it's a fine series. There are a couple of elements I would have liked Ragan to address. But that's just nitpicking. I got really into the whole thing. I read each book in record time, and even wrote a story on just how bad the practice is here in the central San Joaquin Valley, interviewing some cops and people at the Marjaree Mason Center.", "timestamp": 1492984532000, "title": "The bad guys are truly nasty, but nobody's really a winner as Faith gets her revenge" }, { "asin": "B01M7XPGYE", "rating": 5, "text": "At the heart of most Melinda Leigh books is a love story, and &#34;Say You're Sorry,&#34; the first book in the Morgan Dane series, is no different. However, this is a different kind of love. One that comes from mutual respect. The story rolls out with immediate mystery and heartbreak. A girl is killed. The boy next door looks like the prime suspect. Morgan Dane, who's about to start a new job, knows both. But she's drawn in by the fact that the boy's father has no means of hiring a defense attorney for his boy. And, he said, he knows for certain his boy didn't do it. For one, the boy is immediately sickened at the sight of blood. Morgan takes the case and loses any shot at that new job. Turns out it was a good move. She joins forces with Lance, an ex-cop turned private investigator. At first, their association is tentative. Neither likes giving up control. Both are strong. Both have tragedy in their past. Lance was shot, and recovery took more time than he wanted. He quit the police force. He didn't want to be a burden. Morgan's husband was lost in Iraq. She has kids. Couple things set this novel apart from Leigh's previous works. She has built in tremendous supporting characters, and a stray dog. Sharp is the private eye with the perspective and the wise world view. He's worthy of his own novel. The other is Jamie, a runaway who knew more than she should and embodies everything a kid from the wrong side of the tracks would rather not have to deal with. Leigh adds social commentary to her novels, and usually it's about strong personalities persevering against tremendous personal calamity. However, with Jamie she shows that tenderness goes a long way and understanding may save a life. I read a Melinda Leigh book in one or two sittings. Sometimes they're an emotional roller coaster. One that means I put it down, do something else to clear my head and go back to the story for another round. But that's a good thing.", "timestamp": 1502050739498, "title": "Sometimes, despite everything, helping somebody can save a life" }, { "asin": "B06ZZW7G42", "rating": 5, "text": "Morgan Dane's life has begun to improve. She's figured out what she wants to do now that the assistant district attorney job has been lost to fate, and her family has grown stronger with the addition of a young woman who needed others to care for. Dane's romantic interest, Lance Kruger, has emerged as a business partner. She speculates there's more between them. But she's not yet ready. Her husband looms large in her memory after dying in combat some years earlier. But &#34;Her Last Goodbye,&#34; the second Morgan Dane novel, is destined for another deadly encounter. Author Melinda Leigh weaves a little romance into her books. But it's simply part of the narrative. She writes real life. But Leigh's characters all encounter that dark underbelly of society. Dane and her firm are hired to find a missing woman. The husband may have been the problem. He's offered very little help raising their two small children, one of whom is a baby who screams a lot. The authorities believe she's bailed. Her parents know that's not the case. But the clues are far and few. Dane and Kruger interview everybody but find very little. And working the case is where Leigh is at her best. Dane takes the gumshoe approach, sifting through all the information. Meanwhile, Leigh provides insight into the kidnapper, revealing a dark and perverse way of viewing reality. He's smart. But Dane and Kruger don't relent. They push for every clue. And they grow a little closer as they figure out one thing, ruling out another. Leigh's at her best creating strong female characters that don't take crap. They're realists. While I'd love to see any of her books find the big screen, the film version would have to be optioned by the right director. Leigh's one of the best at her craft, and with Dane she's got a great character that could provide many new sequels.", "timestamp": 1511132033401, "title": "The killer among us" }, { "asin": "B0746L8G49", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Deadly Recall&#34; by mystery thriller writer T.R. Ragan starts off where the first in the Jessie Cole series ended. Ben Morrison, the strange reporter from the Sacramento daily who's lost his memory, starts digging into the bits and pieces of his past that return suddenly and at inopportune times. And he enlists Jessie's help. But this is just a minor thread in the novel. Jessie gets the job of trying to recover a healthcare executive's daughter. A former client is killing members of the company because it wouldn't cover his daughter's treatment. She died and he went over the deep end. He's a regular guy with a singular focus on revenge, and Ragan dives deep into his motivations and torment. He's not really her typical scumbag. He's a product of his environment, of his circumstances, of the U.S. healthcare system. Ragan also delves more deeply into Jessie and the new employee she's taken on, the girl who was kidnapped and almost killed in the previous book. The girl is unique and crazy. But she wants to do the right thing. She also gets to know Jessie's niece, now a teenager who is learning to be a grownup. Ben finds out more about his past. And it's not all that promising. He's got demons. But are they understandable or sociopathic. All this and more answered in the next installment. And I'll be pre-ording.", "timestamp": 1526256282079, "title": "He's a man who just doesn't want to take it anymore" }, { "asin": "B072QX6TG1", "rating": 5, "text": "In &#34;Bones Don't Lie,&#34; the third in author Melinda Leigh's Morgan Dane series, a dredged up car from the bottom of a lake reveals clues as to the final moments of Lance Kruger's father, a guy who disappeared without a trace decades earlier. But the clues are frustratingly sketchy and anybody who knows anything is either already dead or comes to a violent end. Morgan digs into every lead as Lance watches his preconceived notions of his fantasized past disappear. Does his mom know more than she's told him? Was his dad a bad guy with a dark secret? Leigh further develops Morgan's personality and Lance's to what may be her best series. And Leigh's talent for storytelling is as good as it's ever been. Leigh keeps the antagonist's identity secret until the very last, when it appears he's got the upper hand. But her tough characters haven't failed yet. I'm ready for the next novel. Leigh is one of the best.", "timestamp": 1526259751369, "title": "Warming up a cold case buried in a lake causes some to get burned" }, { "asin": "B07CNBKTPY", "rating": 5, "text": "Lisa Regan is that author whose works I wished I had read slowly. She crafts each word, each paragraph and each page with precision. But her stories move quickly, and I want nothing more than to learn all there is to know. Right now. Dammit! \"Her Mother's Grave,\" the third outing with Josie Quinn, who rose to police chief in her little community after uncovering a ghastly sex ring. This novel starts to uncover who Josie is and what made her such a basket case. Josie doesn't like introspection. She's happier ignoring her past. But Regan, a master storyteller, decides she's let Josie let the past lie long enough. Some kids unearth bones that have something to say, and their history pulls Josie into the deep end of a mystery that played out when she was a kid in the same trailer park where the boys found the bones. Josie's got to learn more and remember more about her past than she has ever done. What before was too painful is necessary to figure out the case. She has to dig into it no matter what the stakes or who the truth hurts. And it appears the one who will be damaged the most by the revelations is Josie. Regan unearths twists and turns. I must have been sweating when I consumed this in a couple sittings. Then I wanted more. I had to tell my wife and adult son what was going on inside the pages I read because it was just that intense.", "timestamp": 1533596832481, "title": "The shocking twists just keep coming" }, { "asin": "B076KMQ7M3", "rating": 5, "text": "Lisa Regan's first novel in the Detective Josie Quinn series, \"Vanishing Girls,\" scours the dark underbelly of humankind's mistreatment of those who are less able to protect themselves. The novel provides frightening commentary to what people are capable of inflicting just to satisfy their sexual cravings. Quinn lives in a small town with big city problems. A girl goes missing. But there aren't any clues. In fact, her search riles people it shouldn't. And she doesn't get the assistance she should. Or maybe she's just imagining reticence on the part of her fellow cops. Regan sends her protagonist into every possible nook and cranny to find answers. And Josie knows better than most what her victims must be feeling, that helplessness at the hands of a sociopath. She tries to bat her own demons away while making use of her experiences growing up to solve the puzzle before innocent young women are killed. Regan is a master at her profession. And I just realized I've only been reading her books for several months. Picking up this novel is a challenge. I didn't expect to have to consume this one and the followup in a couple days. But I was obsessed. Regan knows how to weave a fascinating tale.", "timestamp": 1533597770164, "title": "Preying on the less fortunate" }, { "asin": "B07B3NTQ1H", "rating": 5, "text": "\"The Girl With No Name,\" the second in the Josie Quinn series by Lisa Regan, begins with an almost impossible mystery. Protagonist Quinn has very little to go on. And nothing about the case makes sense. Regan keeps the story moving forward, tossing out one clue after another. Slowly more details emerge. But none of it was what I expected. There's no unraveling a Regan novel. She's good at what she does. Quinn keeps digging. She's damaged but an amazing analyst. And she's fearless. Dark, nasty and possible death don't factor much into her decision making. Quinn is difficult to relate to but easy to like. Regan explores her character little by little. But everything is revealing.", "timestamp": 1533599278447, "title": "Nothing's what it appears" }, { "asin": "B01JGIOO2Q", "rating": 5, "text": "Loreth Anne White blew my mind with \"The Drowned Girls,\" the first in the Angie Pallorino series. I mean, Vancouver/Victoria setting, cop with issues dealing with authority and horrific bad guys. Sounded good. I picked it out of the \"if you liked ..., you'll like this\" section of the Amazon book section. No preconceived notions. But there's something about a tough female character written by a woman who pulls no punches when it comes to detail, her character or what happens. White is hard core on all accounts. She beats the crap out of Angie by way of what she has happen. This is not for those who prefer a protagonist who wins no matter what. Angie risks everything. All the time. She gives herself no quarter. She often makes the wrong decision. She charges into the most dangerous situation without proper preparation, especially when danger lurks. She's cast into a situation where she might have a love interest, but she feels strongly that she doesn't deserve happiness. She's got a dark side. And at least to me, that dark side proved almost enough to really not like her. But I got over it. White knows what she's doing. Not only is the writing superb, but she's a storyteller like no other. But she does get dark. She gets into the heads of some pretty sick individuals.", "timestamp": 1542584647093, "title": "Rainy Victoria really has a very dark side" }, { "asin": "B071CTDC8W", "rating": 5, "text": "In \"The Lullaby Girl,\" the second in Loreth Anne White's Angie Pallorino series, the detective, the hero of the last novel who killed the serial killer, has lost her detective's badge. She's relegated to social media. But Pallorino isn't easily sidelined. And when she discovers a clue into her origins, she's got to find out where she came from, who she really is. White doesn't just create a character with a cloudy back story. She jumps right into it. Pallorino gets a tip and she can't let it go. She just can't, no matter what it means to her future with the Victoria police force. Maddox, her sort of boyfriend, gets the short shrift. She's got to figure out what turns into her own personal mystery more than she cares for love or her security. And Maddox has his hands full. He's tracking down a shady organization that treats women like slaves. The story is fantastic and rife with detail. One epiphany in Pallorino's journey leads to another. And it looks like the only way to find out what's what means heading into a direction that means certain death.", "timestamp": 1542585429130, "title": "Learning the truth may kill" } ]

[ { "asin": "B00XXYGNJC", "rating": 5, "text": "Melinda Leigh has a formula: Woman threatened, woman assesses threat, woman kicks ass. Or at least that's what I thought. Not that I minded. I'm not into reading about helpless characters. Leigh also is a master of creating masterful antagonists. In the past novels I've read, these are some of the slimiest scumbags ever. They're also powerful and smart, to some degree. Difficult to vanquish. In &#34;She Can Kill,&#34; Leigh changes it up a bit. She made her protagonist a guy, Cristan Rojas, a former killer who worked for a Latin gunrunner. He had to disappear from his former life to raise his baby daughter. But time caught up with him and so did the people chasing him. Meanwhile, he's met a woman. They're not lovers, but they could be. She's got her own problems, the chief being her idiot ex-husband who won't let her go. Leigh's talent as a writer is making all her characters relatable. She's an astute observer of human nature. Her description of Sarah Mitchell, the potential love interest, is quite compelling. Sarah is more than a victim. She's a mom with a lot of character and enough drive to change her story. She got out of a destructive marriage and wants to make a go of it on her own. She has support, but Leigh makes it real. They can only do so much. The person has to be the one to make the change. Rojas gets into trouble. A couple of guys target him during a robbery, and he's canny enough to realize it may be related to his former life. He stops the robbers but reveals himself. His daughter, however, doesn't want to move. And that's the logical thing to do. He's been discovered. He may be targeted for death. But his daughter convinces him to stay. It means taking a stand despite the consequences. Leigh brings all of this to an intense confrontation while juggling Sarah's sideplot. It's one of her best yet. Leigh is a master of the thriller with that little bit of fleeting romance.", "timestamp": 1452469911000, "title": "When the past comes calling and running isn't an option" }, { "asin": "B00QQYZYPK", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Minutes to Kill,&#34; the second in Melinda Leigh's Scarlet Falls series, starts with a runaway underage girl desperate for help in a Las Vegas parking lot. She finds Hannah Barrett, a corporate attorney and all-around over-achiever. The girl, Jewel, is terrified. And, it turns out, she has good reason. A couple of guys who conned her into turning tricks for them turn out to be a couple of the nastiest sociopaths this side of Henderson, Nevada. Barrett tries but fails to help Jewel. In the process, her car is rammed and she's injured and unable to work. She heads home to recuperate in Scarlet Falls, which has its own demons. Turns out this is the second, not first book in the series, (oh well) and her brother is freshly murdered and the Barrett family is still trying to make sense of the tragedy. Hannah has things to work through. What she normally does is work. She wants to become a partner in her law firm. But there's more to Hannah. She grew up the sole girl in a family of four, dominated by a military father who expected his children to fall in and learn how to survive in the woods as well as the urban jungle. Tragedy struck him too, with a roadside bomb robbing him of his ability to walk. It didn't slow him down, or make him any sweeter. Hannah was a girl in a man's world. But this is Melinda Leigh. She works through it. Rather than baggage, the Hannah backstory is simply an excuse to provide more dimension to the character. Jewel picked well. Hannah will not give up. She lost Jewel to the two dirtbags after being incapacitated by the accident. But she's enlisted the aid of a local cop, a guy named Brody MacNamara. The detective is a stand-up sort. He's got his own issues, but they're mostly dealt with. In Hannah, he sees a strong woman who perks up emotions he hasn't dealt with in some time. But she's not local. No chance. Right? Rather than delve too deeply into plot development, which rocks, I'll simply reflect on how I got into this novel about a quarter the way through. Leigh's deft attention to relationships and how one person can feel about another made me think of how my wife and I first met. I thought I didn't have a chance. She was way too above me. Mac's got the same impression. My wife didn't have time for a dopey business journalist. She had a career to get on with. Anyway, as I'm reading this all I can think of is how awesome the love story portion is. Mac doesn't have a chance. Or does he? Maybe. Circumstances have a way of changing in Leigh's stories. The dirtbags from Vegas track Hannah to the East Coast. They got her purse. They intend to kidnap her. And they're capable. Ruthless. They kill just for fun. Leigh's ability to make the reader want them dead in no uncertain terms is one of her strengths. They create havoc. Anyway, I can't read these books back to back because I'd get nothing done. I read this book in two sittings. I had to.", "timestamp": 1457915447000, "title": "The bad guys are really nasty" }, { "asin": "B00LTBWMVO", "rating": 5, "text": "Grant Barrett had just returned from an ambush in Afghanistan where he was forced to kill a traitorous soldier who turned out to be a Taliban sleeper agent when he learned something that made the entire experience almost meaningless. This is the start of Melinda Leigh's Scarlet Falls series, &#34;Hour of Need.&#34; It starts hot and stays that way. Grant's superior officer tells him to sit down. No debrief. &#34;Grant, your brother and his wife were murdered,&#34; says the officer. Grant's mind reels. He's already somewhat numb. Now his brain is on overload. His brother Lee was the stable one. The attorney in their hometown of Scarlett Falls. Now he's dead. Grant gets 30 days emergency leave. Lee and his wife had two kids. One is 4 months old. Grant arrives in the states to more questions than the local police have answers. Shot and killed outside a local restaurant? The facts don't make a lot of sense. He gets help from Lee's neighbor, the attractive and single Ellie Ross. Lee's wife had tried to set them up the year before. But Grant's on military career track. He's a major. He wants to follow his father, the colonel, into a life always envisioned for him. That leaves almost no time for domestic bliss. But this is a Melinda Leigh book. The attraction between the two is immediate, and instantly suppressed. Neither wants to start something without a future. The search for the killer nearly gets more killed. Ellie is threatened. Her daughter and mom are marked for death. She can't say anything. The killer has tasted blood and finds out he likes it. But there's more corruption lurking in the community. And Grant's not the type to be messed with. I read this after &#34;Minutes to Kill,&#34; the second in the series. No matter. Leigh wrote each to stand alone. The novels are about the Barrett family. And there's another out. It will be a must-read.", "timestamp": 1460320678000, "title": "Something's rotten in Scarlet Falls" }, { "asin": "B015FMV3LW", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Furious,&#34; the start of T.R. Ragan's Faith McMann trilogy, doesn't take a third of the book to get interesting. Ragan doesn't dawdle establishing characters, color and scene. She gets right into it. Like a punch to the face. Ragan apparently writes about serial killers in her other books. This one is told from the perspective of a victim, a woman, a mother who has lost everything. Violently. Faith McMann starts the story talking to her sister about a party, planning for some inane family event that we all deal with, don't really question but tend to enjoy when we experience it. The part of life that makes the daily grind at work, the struggle with the bills and the fights with various nefarious players in our lives worthwhile. But Faith's world is torn apart. She, through no fault of her own, is caught in a random crossfire that sets in motion a series of horrific crimes. As Faith pulls into her garage and lets her two energetic kids tear into the house, she realizes something is amiss. Little does she know the full extent of how the next few minutes would shatter her expectations and her view of life as she knew it. That comfortable middle class perspective was shattered. Three very bad hombres kill her husband in front of her and slit her throat. But Faith somehow survives. Her neighbor hears something and plugs her carotid artery until an ambulance arrives. But the bad guys kidnap her kids. Faith goes through the stages of grief, but she gets stuck on anger. Thus the title of the book. The cops can't seem to make any headway into her case so she goes hard at it herself, attracting a couple of amazing friends in the process. They discover a sordid underground of human slavery that her kids have apparently been sold into. She wants them back. In writing this, Ragan sheds light into a growing problem in California and the rest of the country. Even President Obama called for an end to human trafficking in a proclamation. &#34;From factories and brothels to farms and mines, millions of men, women, and children in the United States and around the world are exploited for their bodies and their labor,&#34; he said at the end of his presidency. &#34;Whether through violence, deceit, or the promises of a better life, some of the most vulnerable populations among us ... are preyed upon by human traffickers. In order to rid the world of modern slavery we must do everything in our power to combat these violations of human decency.&#34; Ragan fills her novel with data, explaining how the networks that contribute to the problem operate and how it's the johns who are ultimately responsible for keeping this illicit part of the economy lucrative. Faith doesn't give up. But she faces a lot of heartbreak along the way. Very intense stuff. Hard to put down.", "timestamp": 1492981916000, "title": "Intense look at a woman who stops at nothing to get her kids back from slavers" }, { "asin": "B01H3RO2TM", "rating": 5, "text": "In &#34;Wrath,&#34; the final installment in the Faith McMann trilogy, author T.R. Ragan wraps up all the loose ends that have plagued her hero as she sought to recover her children, who were abducted in the opening scene of the first novel. Rage, who lives with Beast, the former bounty hunter who lost his wife and child in a senseless auto accident, continues to deteriorate healthwise. She's dying of cancer, but she doesn't want sympathy. She wants to help Faith get her kids. Faith has learned more of how the crime operation that stole her children operates. She recovered her son with the help of the police, who are increasingly leery of her methods, and her brother and father, who traipsed through the Sierra to find him. He had been sold to drug operators, who used him and other boys to process illegally grown marijuana. Faith must increasingly take risks to find out more about where her daughter has been hidden. Her ceaseless resolve to recover her children has caused cracks in the organization that killed her husband and nearly killed her. The big boss loses his hold on his underlings, and they try to go off on their own. And even as Faith closes in, she realizes there are other groups just as nasty if not worse out there who will have no problem continuing the trafficking and exploitation. In all, it's a fine series. There are a couple of elements I would have liked Ragan to address. But that's just nitpicking. I got really into the whole thing. I read each book in record time, and even wrote a story on just how bad the practice is here in the central San Joaquin Valley, interviewing some cops and people at the Marjaree Mason Center.", "timestamp": 1492984532000, "title": "The bad guys are truly nasty, but nobody's really a winner as Faith gets her revenge" }, { "asin": "B01M7XPGYE", "rating": 5, "text": "At the heart of most Melinda Leigh books is a love story, and &#34;Say You're Sorry,&#34; the first book in the Morgan Dane series, is no different. However, this is a different kind of love. One that comes from mutual respect. The story rolls out with immediate mystery and heartbreak. A girl is killed. The boy next door looks like the prime suspect. Morgan Dane, who's about to start a new job, knows both. But she's drawn in by the fact that the boy's father has no means of hiring a defense attorney for his boy. And, he said, he knows for certain his boy didn't do it. For one, the boy is immediately sickened at the sight of blood. Morgan takes the case and loses any shot at that new job. Turns out it was a good move. She joins forces with Lance, an ex-cop turned private investigator. At first, their association is tentative. Neither likes giving up control. Both are strong. Both have tragedy in their past. Lance was shot, and recovery took more time than he wanted. He quit the police force. He didn't want to be a burden. Morgan's husband was lost in Iraq. She has kids. Couple things set this novel apart from Leigh's previous works. She has built in tremendous supporting characters, and a stray dog. Sharp is the private eye with the perspective and the wise world view. He's worthy of his own novel. The other is Jamie, a runaway who knew more than she should and embodies everything a kid from the wrong side of the tracks would rather not have to deal with. Leigh adds social commentary to her novels, and usually it's about strong personalities persevering against tremendous personal calamity. However, with Jamie she shows that tenderness goes a long way and understanding may save a life. I read a Melinda Leigh book in one or two sittings. Sometimes they're an emotional roller coaster. One that means I put it down, do something else to clear my head and go back to the story for another round. But that's a good thing.", "timestamp": 1502050739498, "title": "Sometimes, despite everything, helping somebody can save a life" }, { "asin": "B06ZZW7G42", "rating": 5, "text": "Morgan Dane's life has begun to improve. She's figured out what she wants to do now that the assistant district attorney job has been lost to fate, and her family has grown stronger with the addition of a young woman who needed others to care for. Dane's romantic interest, Lance Kruger, has emerged as a business partner. She speculates there's more between them. But she's not yet ready. Her husband looms large in her memory after dying in combat some years earlier. But &#34;Her Last Goodbye,&#34; the second Morgan Dane novel, is destined for another deadly encounter. Author Melinda Leigh weaves a little romance into her books. But it's simply part of the narrative. She writes real life. But Leigh's characters all encounter that dark underbelly of society. Dane and her firm are hired to find a missing woman. The husband may have been the problem. He's offered very little help raising their two small children, one of whom is a baby who screams a lot. The authorities believe she's bailed. Her parents know that's not the case. But the clues are far and few. Dane and Kruger interview everybody but find very little. And working the case is where Leigh is at her best. Dane takes the gumshoe approach, sifting through all the information. Meanwhile, Leigh provides insight into the kidnapper, revealing a dark and perverse way of viewing reality. He's smart. But Dane and Kruger don't relent. They push for every clue. And they grow a little closer as they figure out one thing, ruling out another. Leigh's at her best creating strong female characters that don't take crap. They're realists. While I'd love to see any of her books find the big screen, the film version would have to be optioned by the right director. Leigh's one of the best at her craft, and with Dane she's got a great character that could provide many new sequels.", "timestamp": 1511132033401, "title": "The killer among us" }, { "asin": "B0746L8G49", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Deadly Recall&#34; by mystery thriller writer T.R. Ragan starts off where the first in the Jessie Cole series ended. Ben Morrison, the strange reporter from the Sacramento daily who's lost his memory, starts digging into the bits and pieces of his past that return suddenly and at inopportune times. And he enlists Jessie's help. But this is just a minor thread in the novel. Jessie gets the job of trying to recover a healthcare executive's daughter. A former client is killing members of the company because it wouldn't cover his daughter's treatment. She died and he went over the deep end. He's a regular guy with a singular focus on revenge, and Ragan dives deep into his motivations and torment. He's not really her typical scumbag. He's a product of his environment, of his circumstances, of the U.S. healthcare system. Ragan also delves more deeply into Jessie and the new employee she's taken on, the girl who was kidnapped and almost killed in the previous book. The girl is unique and crazy. But she wants to do the right thing. She also gets to know Jessie's niece, now a teenager who is learning to be a grownup. Ben finds out more about his past. And it's not all that promising. He's got demons. But are they understandable or sociopathic. All this and more answered in the next installment. And I'll be pre-ording.", "timestamp": 1526256282079, "title": "He's a man who just doesn't want to take it anymore" }, { "asin": "B072QX6TG1", "rating": 5, "text": "In &#34;Bones Don't Lie,&#34; the third in author Melinda Leigh's Morgan Dane series, a dredged up car from the bottom of a lake reveals clues as to the final moments of Lance Kruger's father, a guy who disappeared without a trace decades earlier. But the clues are frustratingly sketchy and anybody who knows anything is either already dead or comes to a violent end. Morgan digs into every lead as Lance watches his preconceived notions of his fantasized past disappear. Does his mom know more than she's told him? Was his dad a bad guy with a dark secret? Leigh further develops Morgan's personality and Lance's to what may be her best series. And Leigh's talent for storytelling is as good as it's ever been. Leigh keeps the antagonist's identity secret until the very last, when it appears he's got the upper hand. But her tough characters haven't failed yet. I'm ready for the next novel. Leigh is one of the best.", "timestamp": 1526259751369, "title": "Warming up a cold case buried in a lake causes some to get burned" }, { "asin": "B07CNBKTPY", "rating": 5, "text": "Lisa Regan is that author whose works I wished I had read slowly. She crafts each word, each paragraph and each page with precision. But her stories move quickly, and I want nothing more than to learn all there is to know. Right now. Dammit! \"Her Mother's Grave,\" the third outing with Josie Quinn, who rose to police chief in her little community after uncovering a ghastly sex ring. This novel starts to uncover who Josie is and what made her such a basket case. Josie doesn't like introspection. She's happier ignoring her past. But Regan, a master storyteller, decides she's let Josie let the past lie long enough. Some kids unearth bones that have something to say, and their history pulls Josie into the deep end of a mystery that played out when she was a kid in the same trailer park where the boys found the bones. Josie's got to learn more and remember more about her past than she has ever done. What before was too painful is necessary to figure out the case. She has to dig into it no matter what the stakes or who the truth hurts. And it appears the one who will be damaged the most by the revelations is Josie. Regan unearths twists and turns. I must have been sweating when I consumed this in a couple sittings. Then I wanted more. I had to tell my wife and adult son what was going on inside the pages I read because it was just that intense.", "timestamp": 1533596832481, "title": "The shocking twists just keep coming" }, { "asin": "B076KMQ7M3", "rating": 5, "text": "Lisa Regan's first novel in the Detective Josie Quinn series, \"Vanishing Girls,\" scours the dark underbelly of humankind's mistreatment of those who are less able to protect themselves. The novel provides frightening commentary to what people are capable of inflicting just to satisfy their sexual cravings. Quinn lives in a small town with big city problems. A girl goes missing. But there aren't any clues. In fact, her search riles people it shouldn't. And she doesn't get the assistance she should. Or maybe she's just imagining reticence on the part of her fellow cops. Regan sends her protagonist into every possible nook and cranny to find answers. And Josie knows better than most what her victims must be feeling, that helplessness at the hands of a sociopath. She tries to bat her own demons away while making use of her experiences growing up to solve the puzzle before innocent young women are killed. Regan is a master at her profession. And I just realized I've only been reading her books for several months. Picking up this novel is a challenge. I didn't expect to have to consume this one and the followup in a couple days. But I was obsessed. Regan knows how to weave a fascinating tale.", "timestamp": 1533597770164, "title": "Preying on the less fortunate" }, { "asin": "B07B3NTQ1H", "rating": 5, "text": "\"The Girl With No Name,\" the second in the Josie Quinn series by Lisa Regan, begins with an almost impossible mystery. Protagonist Quinn has very little to go on. And nothing about the case makes sense. Regan keeps the story moving forward, tossing out one clue after another. Slowly more details emerge. But none of it was what I expected. There's no unraveling a Regan novel. She's good at what she does. Quinn keeps digging. She's damaged but an amazing analyst. And she's fearless. Dark, nasty and possible death don't factor much into her decision making. Quinn is difficult to relate to but easy to like. Regan explores her character little by little. But everything is revealing.", "timestamp": 1533599278447, "title": "Nothing's what it appears" }, { "asin": "B01JGIOO2Q", "rating": 5, "text": "Loreth Anne White blew my mind with \"The Drowned Girls,\" the first in the Angie Pallorino series. I mean, Vancouver/Victoria setting, cop with issues dealing with authority and horrific bad guys. Sounded good. I picked it out of the \"if you liked ..., you'll like this\" section of the Amazon book section. No preconceived notions. But there's something about a tough female character written by a woman who pulls no punches when it comes to detail, her character or what happens. White is hard core on all accounts. She beats the crap out of Angie by way of what she has happen. This is not for those who prefer a protagonist who wins no matter what. Angie risks everything. All the time. She gives herself no quarter. She often makes the wrong decision. She charges into the most dangerous situation without proper preparation, especially when danger lurks. She's cast into a situation where she might have a love interest, but she feels strongly that she doesn't deserve happiness. She's got a dark side. And at least to me, that dark side proved almost enough to really not like her. But I got over it. White knows what she's doing. Not only is the writing superb, but she's a storyteller like no other. But she does get dark. She gets into the heads of some pretty sick individuals.", "timestamp": 1542584647093, "title": "Rainy Victoria really has a very dark side" }, { "asin": "B071CTDC8W", "rating": 5, "text": "In \"The Lullaby Girl,\" the second in Loreth Anne White's Angie Pallorino series, the detective, the hero of the last novel who killed the serial killer, has lost her detective's badge. She's relegated to social media. But Pallorino isn't easily sidelined. And when she discovers a clue into her origins, she's got to find out where she came from, who she really is. White doesn't just create a character with a cloudy back story. She jumps right into it. Pallorino gets a tip and she can't let it go. She just can't, no matter what it means to her future with the Victoria police force. Maddox, her sort of boyfriend, gets the short shrift. She's got to figure out what turns into her own personal mystery more than she cares for love or her security. And Maddox has his hands full. He's tracking down a shady organization that treats women like slaves. The story is fantastic and rife with detail. One epiphany in Pallorino's journey leads to another. And it looks like the only way to find out what's what means heading into a direction that means certain death.", "timestamp": 1542585429130, "title": "Learning the truth may kill" }, { "asin": "B076V5BZ4X", "rating": 5, "text": "Even when Angie Pallorino, the protagonist in Loreth Anne White's third novel in her mystery crime series, wants to take a break, she can't. Pallorino and boyfriend Maddox go flyfishing but stumble across a long-buried body. And \"The Girl in the Moss\" is no regular mystery. Death and strangeness await in the greater British Columbia wilderness. Pallorino, who's trying to make her credentials as a private investigator after getting fired from the Victoria police force, starts asking questions in the small town. She and Maddox had visited a remote lodge for their getaway. But the whole town appears not to want to know what happened to the victim. Even the cops appear compromised. That doesn't bother Pallorino. She's not bothered by warnings, even when somebody trashes her car. She picks up the scent of something rotten and goes charging in. White doesn't disappoint. She creates a bizarre situation nobody would want to encounter in the emerald forest.", "timestamp": 1542586423165, "title": "Nothing stops Angie Pallorino" } ]

[ { "asin": "B00XXYGNJC", "rating": 5, "text": "Melinda Leigh has a formula: Woman threatened, woman assesses threat, woman kicks ass. Or at least that's what I thought. Not that I minded. I'm not into reading about helpless characters. Leigh also is a master of creating masterful antagonists. In the past novels I've read, these are some of the slimiest scumbags ever. They're also powerful and smart, to some degree. Difficult to vanquish. In &#34;She Can Kill,&#34; Leigh changes it up a bit. She made her protagonist a guy, Cristan Rojas, a former killer who worked for a Latin gunrunner. He had to disappear from his former life to raise his baby daughter. But time caught up with him and so did the people chasing him. Meanwhile, he's met a woman. They're not lovers, but they could be. She's got her own problems, the chief being her idiot ex-husband who won't let her go. Leigh's talent as a writer is making all her characters relatable. She's an astute observer of human nature. Her description of Sarah Mitchell, the potential love interest, is quite compelling. Sarah is more than a victim. She's a mom with a lot of character and enough drive to change her story. She got out of a destructive marriage and wants to make a go of it on her own. She has support, but Leigh makes it real. They can only do so much. The person has to be the one to make the change. Rojas gets into trouble. A couple of guys target him during a robbery, and he's canny enough to realize it may be related to his former life. He stops the robbers but reveals himself. His daughter, however, doesn't want to move. And that's the logical thing to do. He's been discovered. He may be targeted for death. But his daughter convinces him to stay. It means taking a stand despite the consequences. Leigh brings all of this to an intense confrontation while juggling Sarah's sideplot. It's one of her best yet. Leigh is a master of the thriller with that little bit of fleeting romance.", "timestamp": 1452469911000, "title": "When the past comes calling and running isn't an option" }, { "asin": "B00QQYZYPK", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Minutes to Kill,&#34; the second in Melinda Leigh's Scarlet Falls series, starts with a runaway underage girl desperate for help in a Las Vegas parking lot. She finds Hannah Barrett, a corporate attorney and all-around over-achiever. The girl, Jewel, is terrified. And, it turns out, she has good reason. A couple of guys who conned her into turning tricks for them turn out to be a couple of the nastiest sociopaths this side of Henderson, Nevada. Barrett tries but fails to help Jewel. In the process, her car is rammed and she's injured and unable to work. She heads home to recuperate in Scarlet Falls, which has its own demons. Turns out this is the second, not first book in the series, (oh well) and her brother is freshly murdered and the Barrett family is still trying to make sense of the tragedy. Hannah has things to work through. What she normally does is work. She wants to become a partner in her law firm. But there's more to Hannah. She grew up the sole girl in a family of four, dominated by a military father who expected his children to fall in and learn how to survive in the woods as well as the urban jungle. Tragedy struck him too, with a roadside bomb robbing him of his ability to walk. It didn't slow him down, or make him any sweeter. Hannah was a girl in a man's world. But this is Melinda Leigh. She works through it. Rather than baggage, the Hannah backstory is simply an excuse to provide more dimension to the character. Jewel picked well. Hannah will not give up. She lost Jewel to the two dirtbags after being incapacitated by the accident. But she's enlisted the aid of a local cop, a guy named Brody MacNamara. The detective is a stand-up sort. He's got his own issues, but they're mostly dealt with. In Hannah, he sees a strong woman who perks up emotions he hasn't dealt with in some time. But she's not local. No chance. Right? Rather than delve too deeply into plot development, which rocks, I'll simply reflect on how I got into this novel about a quarter the way through. Leigh's deft attention to relationships and how one person can feel about another made me think of how my wife and I first met. I thought I didn't have a chance. She was way too above me. Mac's got the same impression. My wife didn't have time for a dopey business journalist. She had a career to get on with. Anyway, as I'm reading this all I can think of is how awesome the love story portion is. Mac doesn't have a chance. Or does he? Maybe. Circumstances have a way of changing in Leigh's stories. The dirtbags from Vegas track Hannah to the East Coast. They got her purse. They intend to kidnap her. And they're capable. Ruthless. They kill just for fun. Leigh's ability to make the reader want them dead in no uncertain terms is one of her strengths. They create havoc. Anyway, I can't read these books back to back because I'd get nothing done. I read this book in two sittings. I had to.", "timestamp": 1457915447000, "title": "The bad guys are really nasty" }, { "asin": "B00LTBWMVO", "rating": 5, "text": "Grant Barrett had just returned from an ambush in Afghanistan where he was forced to kill a traitorous soldier who turned out to be a Taliban sleeper agent when he learned something that made the entire experience almost meaningless. This is the start of Melinda Leigh's Scarlet Falls series, &#34;Hour of Need.&#34; It starts hot and stays that way. Grant's superior officer tells him to sit down. No debrief. &#34;Grant, your brother and his wife were murdered,&#34; says the officer. Grant's mind reels. He's already somewhat numb. Now his brain is on overload. His brother Lee was the stable one. The attorney in their hometown of Scarlett Falls. Now he's dead. Grant gets 30 days emergency leave. Lee and his wife had two kids. One is 4 months old. Grant arrives in the states to more questions than the local police have answers. Shot and killed outside a local restaurant? The facts don't make a lot of sense. He gets help from Lee's neighbor, the attractive and single Ellie Ross. Lee's wife had tried to set them up the year before. But Grant's on military career track. He's a major. He wants to follow his father, the colonel, into a life always envisioned for him. That leaves almost no time for domestic bliss. But this is a Melinda Leigh book. The attraction between the two is immediate, and instantly suppressed. Neither wants to start something without a future. The search for the killer nearly gets more killed. Ellie is threatened. Her daughter and mom are marked for death. She can't say anything. The killer has tasted blood and finds out he likes it. But there's more corruption lurking in the community. And Grant's not the type to be messed with. I read this after &#34;Minutes to Kill,&#34; the second in the series. No matter. Leigh wrote each to stand alone. The novels are about the Barrett family. And there's another out. It will be a must-read.", "timestamp": 1460320678000, "title": "Something's rotten in Scarlet Falls" }, { "asin": "B015FMV3LW", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Furious,&#34; the start of T.R. Ragan's Faith McMann trilogy, doesn't take a third of the book to get interesting. Ragan doesn't dawdle establishing characters, color and scene. She gets right into it. Like a punch to the face. Ragan apparently writes about serial killers in her other books. This one is told from the perspective of a victim, a woman, a mother who has lost everything. Violently. Faith McMann starts the story talking to her sister about a party, planning for some inane family event that we all deal with, don't really question but tend to enjoy when we experience it. The part of life that makes the daily grind at work, the struggle with the bills and the fights with various nefarious players in our lives worthwhile. But Faith's world is torn apart. She, through no fault of her own, is caught in a random crossfire that sets in motion a series of horrific crimes. As Faith pulls into her garage and lets her two energetic kids tear into the house, she realizes something is amiss. Little does she know the full extent of how the next few minutes would shatter her expectations and her view of life as she knew it. That comfortable middle class perspective was shattered. Three very bad hombres kill her husband in front of her and slit her throat. But Faith somehow survives. Her neighbor hears something and plugs her carotid artery until an ambulance arrives. But the bad guys kidnap her kids. Faith goes through the stages of grief, but she gets stuck on anger. Thus the title of the book. The cops can't seem to make any headway into her case so she goes hard at it herself, attracting a couple of amazing friends in the process. They discover a sordid underground of human slavery that her kids have apparently been sold into. She wants them back. In writing this, Ragan sheds light into a growing problem in California and the rest of the country. Even President Obama called for an end to human trafficking in a proclamation. &#34;From factories and brothels to farms and mines, millions of men, women, and children in the United States and around the world are exploited for their bodies and their labor,&#34; he said at the end of his presidency. &#34;Whether through violence, deceit, or the promises of a better life, some of the most vulnerable populations among us ... are preyed upon by human traffickers. In order to rid the world of modern slavery we must do everything in our power to combat these violations of human decency.&#34; Ragan fills her novel with data, explaining how the networks that contribute to the problem operate and how it's the johns who are ultimately responsible for keeping this illicit part of the economy lucrative. Faith doesn't give up. But she faces a lot of heartbreak along the way. Very intense stuff. Hard to put down.", "timestamp": 1492981916000, "title": "Intense look at a woman who stops at nothing to get her kids back from slavers" }, { "asin": "B01H3RO2TM", "rating": 5, "text": "In &#34;Wrath,&#34; the final installment in the Faith McMann trilogy, author T.R. Ragan wraps up all the loose ends that have plagued her hero as she sought to recover her children, who were abducted in the opening scene of the first novel. Rage, who lives with Beast, the former bounty hunter who lost his wife and child in a senseless auto accident, continues to deteriorate healthwise. She's dying of cancer, but she doesn't want sympathy. She wants to help Faith get her kids. Faith has learned more of how the crime operation that stole her children operates. She recovered her son with the help of the police, who are increasingly leery of her methods, and her brother and father, who traipsed through the Sierra to find him. He had been sold to drug operators, who used him and other boys to process illegally grown marijuana. Faith must increasingly take risks to find out more about where her daughter has been hidden. Her ceaseless resolve to recover her children has caused cracks in the organization that killed her husband and nearly killed her. The big boss loses his hold on his underlings, and they try to go off on their own. And even as Faith closes in, she realizes there are other groups just as nasty if not worse out there who will have no problem continuing the trafficking and exploitation. In all, it's a fine series. There are a couple of elements I would have liked Ragan to address. But that's just nitpicking. I got really into the whole thing. I read each book in record time, and even wrote a story on just how bad the practice is here in the central San Joaquin Valley, interviewing some cops and people at the Marjaree Mason Center.", "timestamp": 1492984532000, "title": "The bad guys are truly nasty, but nobody's really a winner as Faith gets her revenge" }, { "asin": "B01M7XPGYE", "rating": 5, "text": "At the heart of most Melinda Leigh books is a love story, and &#34;Say You're Sorry,&#34; the first book in the Morgan Dane series, is no different. However, this is a different kind of love. One that comes from mutual respect. The story rolls out with immediate mystery and heartbreak. A girl is killed. The boy next door looks like the prime suspect. Morgan Dane, who's about to start a new job, knows both. But she's drawn in by the fact that the boy's father has no means of hiring a defense attorney for his boy. And, he said, he knows for certain his boy didn't do it. For one, the boy is immediately sickened at the sight of blood. Morgan takes the case and loses any shot at that new job. Turns out it was a good move. She joins forces with Lance, an ex-cop turned private investigator. At first, their association is tentative. Neither likes giving up control. Both are strong. Both have tragedy in their past. Lance was shot, and recovery took more time than he wanted. He quit the police force. He didn't want to be a burden. Morgan's husband was lost in Iraq. She has kids. Couple things set this novel apart from Leigh's previous works. She has built in tremendous supporting characters, and a stray dog. Sharp is the private eye with the perspective and the wise world view. He's worthy of his own novel. The other is Jamie, a runaway who knew more than she should and embodies everything a kid from the wrong side of the tracks would rather not have to deal with. Leigh adds social commentary to her novels, and usually it's about strong personalities persevering against tremendous personal calamity. However, with Jamie she shows that tenderness goes a long way and understanding may save a life. I read a Melinda Leigh book in one or two sittings. Sometimes they're an emotional roller coaster. One that means I put it down, do something else to clear my head and go back to the story for another round. But that's a good thing.", "timestamp": 1502050739498, "title": "Sometimes, despite everything, helping somebody can save a life" }, { "asin": "B06ZZW7G42", "rating": 5, "text": "Morgan Dane's life has begun to improve. She's figured out what she wants to do now that the assistant district attorney job has been lost to fate, and her family has grown stronger with the addition of a young woman who needed others to care for. Dane's romantic interest, Lance Kruger, has emerged as a business partner. She speculates there's more between them. But she's not yet ready. Her husband looms large in her memory after dying in combat some years earlier. But &#34;Her Last Goodbye,&#34; the second Morgan Dane novel, is destined for another deadly encounter. Author Melinda Leigh weaves a little romance into her books. But it's simply part of the narrative. She writes real life. But Leigh's characters all encounter that dark underbelly of society. Dane and her firm are hired to find a missing woman. The husband may have been the problem. He's offered very little help raising their two small children, one of whom is a baby who screams a lot. The authorities believe she's bailed. Her parents know that's not the case. But the clues are far and few. Dane and Kruger interview everybody but find very little. And working the case is where Leigh is at her best. Dane takes the gumshoe approach, sifting through all the information. Meanwhile, Leigh provides insight into the kidnapper, revealing a dark and perverse way of viewing reality. He's smart. But Dane and Kruger don't relent. They push for every clue. And they grow a little closer as they figure out one thing, ruling out another. Leigh's at her best creating strong female characters that don't take crap. They're realists. While I'd love to see any of her books find the big screen, the film version would have to be optioned by the right director. Leigh's one of the best at her craft, and with Dane she's got a great character that could provide many new sequels.", "timestamp": 1511132033401, "title": "The killer among us" }, { "asin": "B0746L8G49", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Deadly Recall&#34; by mystery thriller writer T.R. Ragan starts off where the first in the Jessie Cole series ended. Ben Morrison, the strange reporter from the Sacramento daily who's lost his memory, starts digging into the bits and pieces of his past that return suddenly and at inopportune times. And he enlists Jessie's help. But this is just a minor thread in the novel. Jessie gets the job of trying to recover a healthcare executive's daughter. A former client is killing members of the company because it wouldn't cover his daughter's treatment. She died and he went over the deep end. He's a regular guy with a singular focus on revenge, and Ragan dives deep into his motivations and torment. He's not really her typical scumbag. He's a product of his environment, of his circumstances, of the U.S. healthcare system. Ragan also delves more deeply into Jessie and the new employee she's taken on, the girl who was kidnapped and almost killed in the previous book. The girl is unique and crazy. But she wants to do the right thing. She also gets to know Jessie's niece, now a teenager who is learning to be a grownup. Ben finds out more about his past. And it's not all that promising. He's got demons. But are they understandable or sociopathic. All this and more answered in the next installment. And I'll be pre-ording.", "timestamp": 1526256282079, "title": "He's a man who just doesn't want to take it anymore" }, { "asin": "B072QX6TG1", "rating": 5, "text": "In &#34;Bones Don't Lie,&#34; the third in author Melinda Leigh's Morgan Dane series, a dredged up car from the bottom of a lake reveals clues as to the final moments of Lance Kruger's father, a guy who disappeared without a trace decades earlier. But the clues are frustratingly sketchy and anybody who knows anything is either already dead or comes to a violent end. Morgan digs into every lead as Lance watches his preconceived notions of his fantasized past disappear. Does his mom know more than she's told him? Was his dad a bad guy with a dark secret? Leigh further develops Morgan's personality and Lance's to what may be her best series. And Leigh's talent for storytelling is as good as it's ever been. Leigh keeps the antagonist's identity secret until the very last, when it appears he's got the upper hand. But her tough characters haven't failed yet. I'm ready for the next novel. Leigh is one of the best.", "timestamp": 1526259751369, "title": "Warming up a cold case buried in a lake causes some to get burned" }, { "asin": "B07CNBKTPY", "rating": 5, "text": "Lisa Regan is that author whose works I wished I had read slowly. She crafts each word, each paragraph and each page with precision. But her stories move quickly, and I want nothing more than to learn all there is to know. Right now. Dammit! \"Her Mother's Grave,\" the third outing with Josie Quinn, who rose to police chief in her little community after uncovering a ghastly sex ring. This novel starts to uncover who Josie is and what made her such a basket case. Josie doesn't like introspection. She's happier ignoring her past. But Regan, a master storyteller, decides she's let Josie let the past lie long enough. Some kids unearth bones that have something to say, and their history pulls Josie into the deep end of a mystery that played out when she was a kid in the same trailer park where the boys found the bones. Josie's got to learn more and remember more about her past than she has ever done. What before was too painful is necessary to figure out the case. She has to dig into it no matter what the stakes or who the truth hurts. And it appears the one who will be damaged the most by the revelations is Josie. Regan unearths twists and turns. I must have been sweating when I consumed this in a couple sittings. Then I wanted more. I had to tell my wife and adult son what was going on inside the pages I read because it was just that intense.", "timestamp": 1533596832481, "title": "The shocking twists just keep coming" }, { "asin": "B076KMQ7M3", "rating": 5, "text": "Lisa Regan's first novel in the Detective Josie Quinn series, \"Vanishing Girls,\" scours the dark underbelly of humankind's mistreatment of those who are less able to protect themselves. The novel provides frightening commentary to what people are capable of inflicting just to satisfy their sexual cravings. Quinn lives in a small town with big city problems. A girl goes missing. But there aren't any clues. In fact, her search riles people it shouldn't. And she doesn't get the assistance she should. Or maybe she's just imagining reticence on the part of her fellow cops. Regan sends her protagonist into every possible nook and cranny to find answers. And Josie knows better than most what her victims must be feeling, that helplessness at the hands of a sociopath. She tries to bat her own demons away while making use of her experiences growing up to solve the puzzle before innocent young women are killed. Regan is a master at her profession. And I just realized I've only been reading her books for several months. Picking up this novel is a challenge. I didn't expect to have to consume this one and the followup in a couple days. But I was obsessed. Regan knows how to weave a fascinating tale.", "timestamp": 1533597770164, "title": "Preying on the less fortunate" }, { "asin": "B07B3NTQ1H", "rating": 5, "text": "\"The Girl With No Name,\" the second in the Josie Quinn series by Lisa Regan, begins with an almost impossible mystery. Protagonist Quinn has very little to go on. And nothing about the case makes sense. Regan keeps the story moving forward, tossing out one clue after another. Slowly more details emerge. But none of it was what I expected. There's no unraveling a Regan novel. She's good at what she does. Quinn keeps digging. She's damaged but an amazing analyst. And she's fearless. Dark, nasty and possible death don't factor much into her decision making. Quinn is difficult to relate to but easy to like. Regan explores her character little by little. But everything is revealing.", "timestamp": 1533599278447, "title": "Nothing's what it appears" }, { "asin": "B01JGIOO2Q", "rating": 5, "text": "Loreth Anne White blew my mind with \"The Drowned Girls,\" the first in the Angie Pallorino series. I mean, Vancouver/Victoria setting, cop with issues dealing with authority and horrific bad guys. Sounded good. I picked it out of the \"if you liked ..., you'll like this\" section of the Amazon book section. No preconceived notions. But there's something about a tough female character written by a woman who pulls no punches when it comes to detail, her character or what happens. White is hard core on all accounts. She beats the crap out of Angie by way of what she has happen. This is not for those who prefer a protagonist who wins no matter what. Angie risks everything. All the time. She gives herself no quarter. She often makes the wrong decision. She charges into the most dangerous situation without proper preparation, especially when danger lurks. She's cast into a situation where she might have a love interest, but she feels strongly that she doesn't deserve happiness. She's got a dark side. And at least to me, that dark side proved almost enough to really not like her. But I got over it. White knows what she's doing. Not only is the writing superb, but she's a storyteller like no other. But she does get dark. She gets into the heads of some pretty sick individuals.", "timestamp": 1542584647093, "title": "Rainy Victoria really has a very dark side" }, { "asin": "B071CTDC8W", "rating": 5, "text": "In \"The Lullaby Girl,\" the second in Loreth Anne White's Angie Pallorino series, the detective, the hero of the last novel who killed the serial killer, has lost her detective's badge. She's relegated to social media. But Pallorino isn't easily sidelined. And when she discovers a clue into her origins, she's got to find out where she came from, who she really is. White doesn't just create a character with a cloudy back story. She jumps right into it. Pallorino gets a tip and she can't let it go. She just can't, no matter what it means to her future with the Victoria police force. Maddox, her sort of boyfriend, gets the short shrift. She's got to figure out what turns into her own personal mystery more than she cares for love or her security. And Maddox has his hands full. He's tracking down a shady organization that treats women like slaves. The story is fantastic and rife with detail. One epiphany in Pallorino's journey leads to another. And it looks like the only way to find out what's what means heading into a direction that means certain death.", "timestamp": 1542585429130, "title": "Learning the truth may kill" }, { "asin": "B076V5BZ4X", "rating": 5, "text": "Even when Angie Pallorino, the protagonist in Loreth Anne White's third novel in her mystery crime series, wants to take a break, she can't. Pallorino and boyfriend Maddox go flyfishing but stumble across a long-buried body. And \"The Girl in the Moss\" is no regular mystery. Death and strangeness await in the greater British Columbia wilderness. Pallorino, who's trying to make her credentials as a private investigator after getting fired from the Victoria police force, starts asking questions in the small town. She and Maddox had visited a remote lodge for their getaway. But the whole town appears not to want to know what happened to the victim. Even the cops appear compromised. That doesn't bother Pallorino. She's not bothered by warnings, even when somebody trashes her car. She picks up the scent of something rotten and goes charging in. White doesn't disappoint. She creates a bizarre situation nobody would want to encounter in the emerald forest.", "timestamp": 1542586423165, "title": "Nothing stops Angie Pallorino" }, { "asin": "B0799LVPKC", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Deranged,\" the third in the Jessie Cole series, has all the elements of a T.R. Ragan novel: evil dirtbag intent on killing for the sake of his own private sick satisfaction, a mystery within a mystery and some sordid connection to Jessie Cole. Ragan trolls the depths of depravity with her antagonists. They appall from beginning to their demise. I read these novels while seething, wanting the bad guys to taste their own medicine. Ragan creates smart villains. She knows the American public enjoys a good bad guy. Of course, she also knows the bad guy must get what's coming to him. And she doesn't disappoint. In \"Deranged,\" sidekick reporter Ben Morrison, who may also be a sick puppy but we don't know, learns more about his past through Jessie's investigation. Meanwhile, people start to die and Jessie finds herself in the middle of it. Who it is appears to know more than he should. Or more than should be possible. If Jessie survives, she won't emerge unscathed. I adore Ragan's writing. It sends me into a drain of depression occasionally trying to fathom that people can be this terrible. But Ragan usually sends redemption at some point. And then I breathe easier. For some reason I just thought of Rod Serling walking out of the fog to explain everything. Yeah, I messed with your head but here's why.", "timestamp": 1547946962312, "title": "A villain like none other, smart and despicable" } ]

[ { "asin": "B00XXYGNJC", "rating": 5, "text": "Melinda Leigh has a formula: Woman threatened, woman assesses threat, woman kicks ass. Or at least that's what I thought. Not that I minded. I'm not into reading about helpless characters. Leigh also is a master of creating masterful antagonists. In the past novels I've read, these are some of the slimiest scumbags ever. They're also powerful and smart, to some degree. Difficult to vanquish. In &#34;She Can Kill,&#34; Leigh changes it up a bit. She made her protagonist a guy, Cristan Rojas, a former killer who worked for a Latin gunrunner. He had to disappear from his former life to raise his baby daughter. But time caught up with him and so did the people chasing him. Meanwhile, he's met a woman. They're not lovers, but they could be. She's got her own problems, the chief being her idiot ex-husband who won't let her go. Leigh's talent as a writer is making all her characters relatable. She's an astute observer of human nature. Her description of Sarah Mitchell, the potential love interest, is quite compelling. Sarah is more than a victim. She's a mom with a lot of character and enough drive to change her story. She got out of a destructive marriage and wants to make a go of it on her own. She has support, but Leigh makes it real. They can only do so much. The person has to be the one to make the change. Rojas gets into trouble. A couple of guys target him during a robbery, and he's canny enough to realize it may be related to his former life. He stops the robbers but reveals himself. His daughter, however, doesn't want to move. And that's the logical thing to do. He's been discovered. He may be targeted for death. But his daughter convinces him to stay. It means taking a stand despite the consequences. Leigh brings all of this to an intense confrontation while juggling Sarah's sideplot. It's one of her best yet. Leigh is a master of the thriller with that little bit of fleeting romance.", "timestamp": 1452469911000, "title": "When the past comes calling and running isn't an option" }, { "asin": "B00QQYZYPK", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Minutes to Kill,&#34; the second in Melinda Leigh's Scarlet Falls series, starts with a runaway underage girl desperate for help in a Las Vegas parking lot. She finds Hannah Barrett, a corporate attorney and all-around over-achiever. The girl, Jewel, is terrified. And, it turns out, she has good reason. A couple of guys who conned her into turning tricks for them turn out to be a couple of the nastiest sociopaths this side of Henderson, Nevada. Barrett tries but fails to help Jewel. In the process, her car is rammed and she's injured and unable to work. She heads home to recuperate in Scarlet Falls, which has its own demons. Turns out this is the second, not first book in the series, (oh well) and her brother is freshly murdered and the Barrett family is still trying to make sense of the tragedy. Hannah has things to work through. What she normally does is work. She wants to become a partner in her law firm. But there's more to Hannah. She grew up the sole girl in a family of four, dominated by a military father who expected his children to fall in and learn how to survive in the woods as well as the urban jungle. Tragedy struck him too, with a roadside bomb robbing him of his ability to walk. It didn't slow him down, or make him any sweeter. Hannah was a girl in a man's world. But this is Melinda Leigh. She works through it. Rather than baggage, the Hannah backstory is simply an excuse to provide more dimension to the character. Jewel picked well. Hannah will not give up. She lost Jewel to the two dirtbags after being incapacitated by the accident. But she's enlisted the aid of a local cop, a guy named Brody MacNamara. The detective is a stand-up sort. He's got his own issues, but they're mostly dealt with. In Hannah, he sees a strong woman who perks up emotions he hasn't dealt with in some time. But she's not local. No chance. Right? Rather than delve too deeply into plot development, which rocks, I'll simply reflect on how I got into this novel about a quarter the way through. Leigh's deft attention to relationships and how one person can feel about another made me think of how my wife and I first met. I thought I didn't have a chance. She was way too above me. Mac's got the same impression. My wife didn't have time for a dopey business journalist. She had a career to get on with. Anyway, as I'm reading this all I can think of is how awesome the love story portion is. Mac doesn't have a chance. Or does he? Maybe. Circumstances have a way of changing in Leigh's stories. The dirtbags from Vegas track Hannah to the East Coast. They got her purse. They intend to kidnap her. And they're capable. Ruthless. They kill just for fun. Leigh's ability to make the reader want them dead in no uncertain terms is one of her strengths. They create havoc. Anyway, I can't read these books back to back because I'd get nothing done. I read this book in two sittings. I had to.", "timestamp": 1457915447000, "title": "The bad guys are really nasty" }, { "asin": "B00LTBWMVO", "rating": 5, "text": "Grant Barrett had just returned from an ambush in Afghanistan where he was forced to kill a traitorous soldier who turned out to be a Taliban sleeper agent when he learned something that made the entire experience almost meaningless. This is the start of Melinda Leigh's Scarlet Falls series, &#34;Hour of Need.&#34; It starts hot and stays that way. Grant's superior officer tells him to sit down. No debrief. &#34;Grant, your brother and his wife were murdered,&#34; says the officer. Grant's mind reels. He's already somewhat numb. Now his brain is on overload. His brother Lee was the stable one. The attorney in their hometown of Scarlett Falls. Now he's dead. Grant gets 30 days emergency leave. Lee and his wife had two kids. One is 4 months old. Grant arrives in the states to more questions than the local police have answers. Shot and killed outside a local restaurant? The facts don't make a lot of sense. He gets help from Lee's neighbor, the attractive and single Ellie Ross. Lee's wife had tried to set them up the year before. But Grant's on military career track. He's a major. He wants to follow his father, the colonel, into a life always envisioned for him. That leaves almost no time for domestic bliss. But this is a Melinda Leigh book. The attraction between the two is immediate, and instantly suppressed. Neither wants to start something without a future. The search for the killer nearly gets more killed. Ellie is threatened. Her daughter and mom are marked for death. She can't say anything. The killer has tasted blood and finds out he likes it. But there's more corruption lurking in the community. And Grant's not the type to be messed with. I read this after &#34;Minutes to Kill,&#34; the second in the series. No matter. Leigh wrote each to stand alone. The novels are about the Barrett family. And there's another out. It will be a must-read.", "timestamp": 1460320678000, "title": "Something's rotten in Scarlet Falls" }, { "asin": "B015FMV3LW", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Furious,&#34; the start of T.R. Ragan's Faith McMann trilogy, doesn't take a third of the book to get interesting. Ragan doesn't dawdle establishing characters, color and scene. She gets right into it. Like a punch to the face. Ragan apparently writes about serial killers in her other books. This one is told from the perspective of a victim, a woman, a mother who has lost everything. Violently. Faith McMann starts the story talking to her sister about a party, planning for some inane family event that we all deal with, don't really question but tend to enjoy when we experience it. The part of life that makes the daily grind at work, the struggle with the bills and the fights with various nefarious players in our lives worthwhile. But Faith's world is torn apart. She, through no fault of her own, is caught in a random crossfire that sets in motion a series of horrific crimes. As Faith pulls into her garage and lets her two energetic kids tear into the house, she realizes something is amiss. Little does she know the full extent of how the next few minutes would shatter her expectations and her view of life as she knew it. That comfortable middle class perspective was shattered. Three very bad hombres kill her husband in front of her and slit her throat. But Faith somehow survives. Her neighbor hears something and plugs her carotid artery until an ambulance arrives. But the bad guys kidnap her kids. Faith goes through the stages of grief, but she gets stuck on anger. Thus the title of the book. The cops can't seem to make any headway into her case so she goes hard at it herself, attracting a couple of amazing friends in the process. They discover a sordid underground of human slavery that her kids have apparently been sold into. She wants them back. In writing this, Ragan sheds light into a growing problem in California and the rest of the country. Even President Obama called for an end to human trafficking in a proclamation. &#34;From factories and brothels to farms and mines, millions of men, women, and children in the United States and around the world are exploited for their bodies and their labor,&#34; he said at the end of his presidency. &#34;Whether through violence, deceit, or the promises of a better life, some of the most vulnerable populations among us ... are preyed upon by human traffickers. In order to rid the world of modern slavery we must do everything in our power to combat these violations of human decency.&#34; Ragan fills her novel with data, explaining how the networks that contribute to the problem operate and how it's the johns who are ultimately responsible for keeping this illicit part of the economy lucrative. Faith doesn't give up. But she faces a lot of heartbreak along the way. Very intense stuff. Hard to put down.", "timestamp": 1492981916000, "title": "Intense look at a woman who stops at nothing to get her kids back from slavers" }, { "asin": "B01H3RO2TM", "rating": 5, "text": "In &#34;Wrath,&#34; the final installment in the Faith McMann trilogy, author T.R. Ragan wraps up all the loose ends that have plagued her hero as she sought to recover her children, who were abducted in the opening scene of the first novel. Rage, who lives with Beast, the former bounty hunter who lost his wife and child in a senseless auto accident, continues to deteriorate healthwise. She's dying of cancer, but she doesn't want sympathy. She wants to help Faith get her kids. Faith has learned more of how the crime operation that stole her children operates. She recovered her son with the help of the police, who are increasingly leery of her methods, and her brother and father, who traipsed through the Sierra to find him. He had been sold to drug operators, who used him and other boys to process illegally grown marijuana. Faith must increasingly take risks to find out more about where her daughter has been hidden. Her ceaseless resolve to recover her children has caused cracks in the organization that killed her husband and nearly killed her. The big boss loses his hold on his underlings, and they try to go off on their own. And even as Faith closes in, she realizes there are other groups just as nasty if not worse out there who will have no problem continuing the trafficking and exploitation. In all, it's a fine series. There are a couple of elements I would have liked Ragan to address. But that's just nitpicking. I got really into the whole thing. I read each book in record time, and even wrote a story on just how bad the practice is here in the central San Joaquin Valley, interviewing some cops and people at the Marjaree Mason Center.", "timestamp": 1492984532000, "title": "The bad guys are truly nasty, but nobody's really a winner as Faith gets her revenge" }, { "asin": "B01M7XPGYE", "rating": 5, "text": "At the heart of most Melinda Leigh books is a love story, and &#34;Say You're Sorry,&#34; the first book in the Morgan Dane series, is no different. However, this is a different kind of love. One that comes from mutual respect. The story rolls out with immediate mystery and heartbreak. A girl is killed. The boy next door looks like the prime suspect. Morgan Dane, who's about to start a new job, knows both. But she's drawn in by the fact that the boy's father has no means of hiring a defense attorney for his boy. And, he said, he knows for certain his boy didn't do it. For one, the boy is immediately sickened at the sight of blood. Morgan takes the case and loses any shot at that new job. Turns out it was a good move. She joins forces with Lance, an ex-cop turned private investigator. At first, their association is tentative. Neither likes giving up control. Both are strong. Both have tragedy in their past. Lance was shot, and recovery took more time than he wanted. He quit the police force. He didn't want to be a burden. Morgan's husband was lost in Iraq. She has kids. Couple things set this novel apart from Leigh's previous works. She has built in tremendous supporting characters, and a stray dog. Sharp is the private eye with the perspective and the wise world view. He's worthy of his own novel. The other is Jamie, a runaway who knew more than she should and embodies everything a kid from the wrong side of the tracks would rather not have to deal with. Leigh adds social commentary to her novels, and usually it's about strong personalities persevering against tremendous personal calamity. However, with Jamie she shows that tenderness goes a long way and understanding may save a life. I read a Melinda Leigh book in one or two sittings. Sometimes they're an emotional roller coaster. One that means I put it down, do something else to clear my head and go back to the story for another round. But that's a good thing.", "timestamp": 1502050739498, "title": "Sometimes, despite everything, helping somebody can save a life" }, { "asin": "B06ZZW7G42", "rating": 5, "text": "Morgan Dane's life has begun to improve. She's figured out what she wants to do now that the assistant district attorney job has been lost to fate, and her family has grown stronger with the addition of a young woman who needed others to care for. Dane's romantic interest, Lance Kruger, has emerged as a business partner. She speculates there's more between them. But she's not yet ready. Her husband looms large in her memory after dying in combat some years earlier. But &#34;Her Last Goodbye,&#34; the second Morgan Dane novel, is destined for another deadly encounter. Author Melinda Leigh weaves a little romance into her books. But it's simply part of the narrative. She writes real life. But Leigh's characters all encounter that dark underbelly of society. Dane and her firm are hired to find a missing woman. The husband may have been the problem. He's offered very little help raising their two small children, one of whom is a baby who screams a lot. The authorities believe she's bailed. Her parents know that's not the case. But the clues are far and few. Dane and Kruger interview everybody but find very little. And working the case is where Leigh is at her best. Dane takes the gumshoe approach, sifting through all the information. Meanwhile, Leigh provides insight into the kidnapper, revealing a dark and perverse way of viewing reality. He's smart. But Dane and Kruger don't relent. They push for every clue. And they grow a little closer as they figure out one thing, ruling out another. Leigh's at her best creating strong female characters that don't take crap. They're realists. While I'd love to see any of her books find the big screen, the film version would have to be optioned by the right director. Leigh's one of the best at her craft, and with Dane she's got a great character that could provide many new sequels.", "timestamp": 1511132033401, "title": "The killer among us" }, { "asin": "B0746L8G49", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Deadly Recall&#34; by mystery thriller writer T.R. Ragan starts off where the first in the Jessie Cole series ended. Ben Morrison, the strange reporter from the Sacramento daily who's lost his memory, starts digging into the bits and pieces of his past that return suddenly and at inopportune times. And he enlists Jessie's help. But this is just a minor thread in the novel. Jessie gets the job of trying to recover a healthcare executive's daughter. A former client is killing members of the company because it wouldn't cover his daughter's treatment. She died and he went over the deep end. He's a regular guy with a singular focus on revenge, and Ragan dives deep into his motivations and torment. He's not really her typical scumbag. He's a product of his environment, of his circumstances, of the U.S. healthcare system. Ragan also delves more deeply into Jessie and the new employee she's taken on, the girl who was kidnapped and almost killed in the previous book. The girl is unique and crazy. But she wants to do the right thing. She also gets to know Jessie's niece, now a teenager who is learning to be a grownup. Ben finds out more about his past. And it's not all that promising. He's got demons. But are they understandable or sociopathic. All this and more answered in the next installment. And I'll be pre-ording.", "timestamp": 1526256282079, "title": "He's a man who just doesn't want to take it anymore" }, { "asin": "B072QX6TG1", "rating": 5, "text": "In &#34;Bones Don't Lie,&#34; the third in author Melinda Leigh's Morgan Dane series, a dredged up car from the bottom of a lake reveals clues as to the final moments of Lance Kruger's father, a guy who disappeared without a trace decades earlier. But the clues are frustratingly sketchy and anybody who knows anything is either already dead or comes to a violent end. Morgan digs into every lead as Lance watches his preconceived notions of his fantasized past disappear. Does his mom know more than she's told him? Was his dad a bad guy with a dark secret? Leigh further develops Morgan's personality and Lance's to what may be her best series. And Leigh's talent for storytelling is as good as it's ever been. Leigh keeps the antagonist's identity secret until the very last, when it appears he's got the upper hand. But her tough characters haven't failed yet. I'm ready for the next novel. Leigh is one of the best.", "timestamp": 1526259751369, "title": "Warming up a cold case buried in a lake causes some to get burned" }, { "asin": "B07CNBKTPY", "rating": 5, "text": "Lisa Regan is that author whose works I wished I had read slowly. She crafts each word, each paragraph and each page with precision. But her stories move quickly, and I want nothing more than to learn all there is to know. Right now. Dammit! \"Her Mother's Grave,\" the third outing with Josie Quinn, who rose to police chief in her little community after uncovering a ghastly sex ring. This novel starts to uncover who Josie is and what made her such a basket case. Josie doesn't like introspection. She's happier ignoring her past. But Regan, a master storyteller, decides she's let Josie let the past lie long enough. Some kids unearth bones that have something to say, and their history pulls Josie into the deep end of a mystery that played out when she was a kid in the same trailer park where the boys found the bones. Josie's got to learn more and remember more about her past than she has ever done. What before was too painful is necessary to figure out the case. She has to dig into it no matter what the stakes or who the truth hurts. And it appears the one who will be damaged the most by the revelations is Josie. Regan unearths twists and turns. I must have been sweating when I consumed this in a couple sittings. Then I wanted more. I had to tell my wife and adult son what was going on inside the pages I read because it was just that intense.", "timestamp": 1533596832481, "title": "The shocking twists just keep coming" }, { "asin": "B076KMQ7M3", "rating": 5, "text": "Lisa Regan's first novel in the Detective Josie Quinn series, \"Vanishing Girls,\" scours the dark underbelly of humankind's mistreatment of those who are less able to protect themselves. The novel provides frightening commentary to what people are capable of inflicting just to satisfy their sexual cravings. Quinn lives in a small town with big city problems. A girl goes missing. But there aren't any clues. In fact, her search riles people it shouldn't. And she doesn't get the assistance she should. Or maybe she's just imagining reticence on the part of her fellow cops. Regan sends her protagonist into every possible nook and cranny to find answers. And Josie knows better than most what her victims must be feeling, that helplessness at the hands of a sociopath. She tries to bat her own demons away while making use of her experiences growing up to solve the puzzle before innocent young women are killed. Regan is a master at her profession. And I just realized I've only been reading her books for several months. Picking up this novel is a challenge. I didn't expect to have to consume this one and the followup in a couple days. But I was obsessed. Regan knows how to weave a fascinating tale.", "timestamp": 1533597770164, "title": "Preying on the less fortunate" }, { "asin": "B07B3NTQ1H", "rating": 5, "text": "\"The Girl With No Name,\" the second in the Josie Quinn series by Lisa Regan, begins with an almost impossible mystery. Protagonist Quinn has very little to go on. And nothing about the case makes sense. Regan keeps the story moving forward, tossing out one clue after another. Slowly more details emerge. But none of it was what I expected. There's no unraveling a Regan novel. She's good at what she does. Quinn keeps digging. She's damaged but an amazing analyst. And she's fearless. Dark, nasty and possible death don't factor much into her decision making. Quinn is difficult to relate to but easy to like. Regan explores her character little by little. But everything is revealing.", "timestamp": 1533599278447, "title": "Nothing's what it appears" }, { "asin": "B01JGIOO2Q", "rating": 5, "text": "Loreth Anne White blew my mind with \"The Drowned Girls,\" the first in the Angie Pallorino series. I mean, Vancouver/Victoria setting, cop with issues dealing with authority and horrific bad guys. Sounded good. I picked it out of the \"if you liked ..., you'll like this\" section of the Amazon book section. No preconceived notions. But there's something about a tough female character written by a woman who pulls no punches when it comes to detail, her character or what happens. White is hard core on all accounts. She beats the crap out of Angie by way of what she has happen. This is not for those who prefer a protagonist who wins no matter what. Angie risks everything. All the time. She gives herself no quarter. She often makes the wrong decision. She charges into the most dangerous situation without proper preparation, especially when danger lurks. She's cast into a situation where she might have a love interest, but she feels strongly that she doesn't deserve happiness. She's got a dark side. And at least to me, that dark side proved almost enough to really not like her. But I got over it. White knows what she's doing. Not only is the writing superb, but she's a storyteller like no other. But she does get dark. She gets into the heads of some pretty sick individuals.", "timestamp": 1542584647093, "title": "Rainy Victoria really has a very dark side" }, { "asin": "B071CTDC8W", "rating": 5, "text": "In \"The Lullaby Girl,\" the second in Loreth Anne White's Angie Pallorino series, the detective, the hero of the last novel who killed the serial killer, has lost her detective's badge. She's relegated to social media. But Pallorino isn't easily sidelined. And when she discovers a clue into her origins, she's got to find out where she came from, who she really is. White doesn't just create a character with a cloudy back story. She jumps right into it. Pallorino gets a tip and she can't let it go. She just can't, no matter what it means to her future with the Victoria police force. Maddox, her sort of boyfriend, gets the short shrift. She's got to figure out what turns into her own personal mystery more than she cares for love or her security. And Maddox has his hands full. He's tracking down a shady organization that treats women like slaves. The story is fantastic and rife with detail. One epiphany in Pallorino's journey leads to another. And it looks like the only way to find out what's what means heading into a direction that means certain death.", "timestamp": 1542585429130, "title": "Learning the truth may kill" }, { "asin": "B076V5BZ4X", "rating": 5, "text": "Even when Angie Pallorino, the protagonist in Loreth Anne White's third novel in her mystery crime series, wants to take a break, she can't. Pallorino and boyfriend Maddox go flyfishing but stumble across a long-buried body. And \"The Girl in the Moss\" is no regular mystery. Death and strangeness await in the greater British Columbia wilderness. Pallorino, who's trying to make her credentials as a private investigator after getting fired from the Victoria police force, starts asking questions in the small town. She and Maddox had visited a remote lodge for their getaway. But the whole town appears not to want to know what happened to the victim. Even the cops appear compromised. That doesn't bother Pallorino. She's not bothered by warnings, even when somebody trashes her car. She picks up the scent of something rotten and goes charging in. White doesn't disappoint. She creates a bizarre situation nobody would want to encounter in the emerald forest.", "timestamp": 1542586423165, "title": "Nothing stops Angie Pallorino" }, { "asin": "B0799LVPKC", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Deranged,\" the third in the Jessie Cole series, has all the elements of a T.R. Ragan novel: evil dirtbag intent on killing for the sake of his own private sick satisfaction, a mystery within a mystery and some sordid connection to Jessie Cole. Ragan trolls the depths of depravity with her antagonists. They appall from beginning to their demise. I read these novels while seething, wanting the bad guys to taste their own medicine. Ragan creates smart villains. She knows the American public enjoys a good bad guy. Of course, she also knows the bad guy must get what's coming to him. And she doesn't disappoint. In \"Deranged,\" sidekick reporter Ben Morrison, who may also be a sick puppy but we don't know, learns more about his past through Jessie's investigation. Meanwhile, people start to die and Jessie finds herself in the middle of it. Who it is appears to know more than he should. Or more than should be possible. If Jessie survives, she won't emerge unscathed. I adore Ragan's writing. It sends me into a drain of depression occasionally trying to fathom that people can be this terrible. But Ragan usually sends redemption at some point. And then I breathe easier. For some reason I just thought of Rod Serling walking out of the fog to explain everything. Yeah, I messed with your head but here's why.", "timestamp": 1547946962312, "title": "A villain like none other, smart and despicable" }, { "asin": "B07GDH8F26", "rating": 5, "text": "Disclaimer: I love T.R. Ragan's spell-weaving, tale-spinning, dark-delving fiction. I picked up \"Buried Deep,\" the fourth of the Jessie Cole series, via Kindle early, about 5 a.m. and went to the athletic club, reading on the stationary bike, and finally finished it late that evening. Yes, it was a slow day at work so I read more than just for lunch. I finished the night before I wrote this. But once I start in on one of Jessie's new cases, actually she gets a couple in Buried, I just have to untangle the conclusion. This morning as I was riding my bike up into the not-so-far reaches of the Sierra, leaving civilization behind, I thought how Ragan's mysteries remind me of Dashiell Hammett, who I became obsessed with in college. My roommate and I loved the \"The Maltese Falcon\" when we saw it together as kids but mostly because it had Humphrey Bogart. Then the two of us began consuming mass quantities of literature, mostly American crime fiction and fantasy. I digress. Still, my point is (I get kinda spaced out on long-ass uphill rides) that Ragan delves into the unknown like nobody's business. Jessie's employee, Zee, who talks to unseen voices, really got to the heart of suspense, drama and random behavior. The cases Ragan created beat the crap out of Dateline. Missing mom and missing daughter who nobody really wants but has money coming really intrigued me. The missing mom. Cripes. Reminded me of when my mom sent me away overnight to another state to live with my grandmother on an island. I wouldn't see my dad for about seven years. Still love that crazy old man who tried to drown his fear of the SS officer who almost got him when he was hiding during WWII. Normally I write pretty standard reviews. But I just got an immense high (nothing to do with California's state weed) from this one. And really anything in the novel I'd mention would be considered a spoiler. Perhaps the most intriguing part of the book has to do with Ben Morrison, the Sac Bee (or whatever she calls it) crime reporter. Ben's got these issues. He lost his memories. He's got a dark past. But he's saved Jessie's life. He's rescued her niece. He's a badass. And good reporters are a dying breed anyway. I should know. And damn if he doesn't get perhaps the choicest piece of gristly mystery. Ragan ends with him. It's good. Something about women writers. Ragan got me reading them. The detail. The twists. The damn-straight resolutions. I will now swear (Samuel L. Jackson-ish) for emphasis.", "timestamp": 1555627129479, "title": "And she's claustrophobic, too" } ]

[ { "asin": "B00XXYGNJC", "rating": 5, "text": "Melinda Leigh has a formula: Woman threatened, woman assesses threat, woman kicks ass. Or at least that's what I thought. Not that I minded. I'm not into reading about helpless characters. Leigh also is a master of creating masterful antagonists. In the past novels I've read, these are some of the slimiest scumbags ever. They're also powerful and smart, to some degree. Difficult to vanquish. In &#34;She Can Kill,&#34; Leigh changes it up a bit. She made her protagonist a guy, Cristan Rojas, a former killer who worked for a Latin gunrunner. He had to disappear from his former life to raise his baby daughter. But time caught up with him and so did the people chasing him. Meanwhile, he's met a woman. They're not lovers, but they could be. She's got her own problems, the chief being her idiot ex-husband who won't let her go. Leigh's talent as a writer is making all her characters relatable. She's an astute observer of human nature. Her description of Sarah Mitchell, the potential love interest, is quite compelling. Sarah is more than a victim. She's a mom with a lot of character and enough drive to change her story. She got out of a destructive marriage and wants to make a go of it on her own. She has support, but Leigh makes it real. They can only do so much. The person has to be the one to make the change. Rojas gets into trouble. A couple of guys target him during a robbery, and he's canny enough to realize it may be related to his former life. He stops the robbers but reveals himself. His daughter, however, doesn't want to move. And that's the logical thing to do. He's been discovered. He may be targeted for death. But his daughter convinces him to stay. It means taking a stand despite the consequences. Leigh brings all of this to an intense confrontation while juggling Sarah's sideplot. It's one of her best yet. Leigh is a master of the thriller with that little bit of fleeting romance.", "timestamp": 1452469911000, "title": "When the past comes calling and running isn't an option" }, { "asin": "B00QQYZYPK", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Minutes to Kill,&#34; the second in Melinda Leigh's Scarlet Falls series, starts with a runaway underage girl desperate for help in a Las Vegas parking lot. She finds Hannah Barrett, a corporate attorney and all-around over-achiever. The girl, Jewel, is terrified. And, it turns out, she has good reason. A couple of guys who conned her into turning tricks for them turn out to be a couple of the nastiest sociopaths this side of Henderson, Nevada. Barrett tries but fails to help Jewel. In the process, her car is rammed and she's injured and unable to work. She heads home to recuperate in Scarlet Falls, which has its own demons. Turns out this is the second, not first book in the series, (oh well) and her brother is freshly murdered and the Barrett family is still trying to make sense of the tragedy. Hannah has things to work through. What she normally does is work. She wants to become a partner in her law firm. But there's more to Hannah. She grew up the sole girl in a family of four, dominated by a military father who expected his children to fall in and learn how to survive in the woods as well as the urban jungle. Tragedy struck him too, with a roadside bomb robbing him of his ability to walk. It didn't slow him down, or make him any sweeter. Hannah was a girl in a man's world. But this is Melinda Leigh. She works through it. Rather than baggage, the Hannah backstory is simply an excuse to provide more dimension to the character. Jewel picked well. Hannah will not give up. She lost Jewel to the two dirtbags after being incapacitated by the accident. But she's enlisted the aid of a local cop, a guy named Brody MacNamara. The detective is a stand-up sort. He's got his own issues, but they're mostly dealt with. In Hannah, he sees a strong woman who perks up emotions he hasn't dealt with in some time. But she's not local. No chance. Right? Rather than delve too deeply into plot development, which rocks, I'll simply reflect on how I got into this novel about a quarter the way through. Leigh's deft attention to relationships and how one person can feel about another made me think of how my wife and I first met. I thought I didn't have a chance. She was way too above me. Mac's got the same impression. My wife didn't have time for a dopey business journalist. She had a career to get on with. Anyway, as I'm reading this all I can think of is how awesome the love story portion is. Mac doesn't have a chance. Or does he? Maybe. Circumstances have a way of changing in Leigh's stories. The dirtbags from Vegas track Hannah to the East Coast. They got her purse. They intend to kidnap her. And they're capable. Ruthless. They kill just for fun. Leigh's ability to make the reader want them dead in no uncertain terms is one of her strengths. They create havoc. Anyway, I can't read these books back to back because I'd get nothing done. I read this book in two sittings. I had to.", "timestamp": 1457915447000, "title": "The bad guys are really nasty" }, { "asin": "B00LTBWMVO", "rating": 5, "text": "Grant Barrett had just returned from an ambush in Afghanistan where he was forced to kill a traitorous soldier who turned out to be a Taliban sleeper agent when he learned something that made the entire experience almost meaningless. This is the start of Melinda Leigh's Scarlet Falls series, &#34;Hour of Need.&#34; It starts hot and stays that way. Grant's superior officer tells him to sit down. No debrief. &#34;Grant, your brother and his wife were murdered,&#34; says the officer. Grant's mind reels. He's already somewhat numb. Now his brain is on overload. His brother Lee was the stable one. The attorney in their hometown of Scarlett Falls. Now he's dead. Grant gets 30 days emergency leave. Lee and his wife had two kids. One is 4 months old. Grant arrives in the states to more questions than the local police have answers. Shot and killed outside a local restaurant? The facts don't make a lot of sense. He gets help from Lee's neighbor, the attractive and single Ellie Ross. Lee's wife had tried to set them up the year before. But Grant's on military career track. He's a major. He wants to follow his father, the colonel, into a life always envisioned for him. That leaves almost no time for domestic bliss. But this is a Melinda Leigh book. The attraction between the two is immediate, and instantly suppressed. Neither wants to start something without a future. The search for the killer nearly gets more killed. Ellie is threatened. Her daughter and mom are marked for death. She can't say anything. The killer has tasted blood and finds out he likes it. But there's more corruption lurking in the community. And Grant's not the type to be messed with. I read this after &#34;Minutes to Kill,&#34; the second in the series. No matter. Leigh wrote each to stand alone. The novels are about the Barrett family. And there's another out. It will be a must-read.", "timestamp": 1460320678000, "title": "Something's rotten in Scarlet Falls" }, { "asin": "B015FMV3LW", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Furious,&#34; the start of T.R. Ragan's Faith McMann trilogy, doesn't take a third of the book to get interesting. Ragan doesn't dawdle establishing characters, color and scene. She gets right into it. Like a punch to the face. Ragan apparently writes about serial killers in her other books. This one is told from the perspective of a victim, a woman, a mother who has lost everything. Violently. Faith McMann starts the story talking to her sister about a party, planning for some inane family event that we all deal with, don't really question but tend to enjoy when we experience it. The part of life that makes the daily grind at work, the struggle with the bills and the fights with various nefarious players in our lives worthwhile. But Faith's world is torn apart. She, through no fault of her own, is caught in a random crossfire that sets in motion a series of horrific crimes. As Faith pulls into her garage and lets her two energetic kids tear into the house, she realizes something is amiss. Little does she know the full extent of how the next few minutes would shatter her expectations and her view of life as she knew it. That comfortable middle class perspective was shattered. Three very bad hombres kill her husband in front of her and slit her throat. But Faith somehow survives. Her neighbor hears something and plugs her carotid artery until an ambulance arrives. But the bad guys kidnap her kids. Faith goes through the stages of grief, but she gets stuck on anger. Thus the title of the book. The cops can't seem to make any headway into her case so she goes hard at it herself, attracting a couple of amazing friends in the process. They discover a sordid underground of human slavery that her kids have apparently been sold into. She wants them back. In writing this, Ragan sheds light into a growing problem in California and the rest of the country. Even President Obama called for an end to human trafficking in a proclamation. &#34;From factories and brothels to farms and mines, millions of men, women, and children in the United States and around the world are exploited for their bodies and their labor,&#34; he said at the end of his presidency. &#34;Whether through violence, deceit, or the promises of a better life, some of the most vulnerable populations among us ... are preyed upon by human traffickers. In order to rid the world of modern slavery we must do everything in our power to combat these violations of human decency.&#34; Ragan fills her novel with data, explaining how the networks that contribute to the problem operate and how it's the johns who are ultimately responsible for keeping this illicit part of the economy lucrative. Faith doesn't give up. But she faces a lot of heartbreak along the way. Very intense stuff. Hard to put down.", "timestamp": 1492981916000, "title": "Intense look at a woman who stops at nothing to get her kids back from slavers" }, { "asin": "B01H3RO2TM", "rating": 5, "text": "In &#34;Wrath,&#34; the final installment in the Faith McMann trilogy, author T.R. Ragan wraps up all the loose ends that have plagued her hero as she sought to recover her children, who were abducted in the opening scene of the first novel. Rage, who lives with Beast, the former bounty hunter who lost his wife and child in a senseless auto accident, continues to deteriorate healthwise. She's dying of cancer, but she doesn't want sympathy. She wants to help Faith get her kids. Faith has learned more of how the crime operation that stole her children operates. She recovered her son with the help of the police, who are increasingly leery of her methods, and her brother and father, who traipsed through the Sierra to find him. He had been sold to drug operators, who used him and other boys to process illegally grown marijuana. Faith must increasingly take risks to find out more about where her daughter has been hidden. Her ceaseless resolve to recover her children has caused cracks in the organization that killed her husband and nearly killed her. The big boss loses his hold on his underlings, and they try to go off on their own. And even as Faith closes in, she realizes there are other groups just as nasty if not worse out there who will have no problem continuing the trafficking and exploitation. In all, it's a fine series. There are a couple of elements I would have liked Ragan to address. But that's just nitpicking. I got really into the whole thing. I read each book in record time, and even wrote a story on just how bad the practice is here in the central San Joaquin Valley, interviewing some cops and people at the Marjaree Mason Center.", "timestamp": 1492984532000, "title": "The bad guys are truly nasty, but nobody's really a winner as Faith gets her revenge" }, { "asin": "B01M7XPGYE", "rating": 5, "text": "At the heart of most Melinda Leigh books is a love story, and &#34;Say You're Sorry,&#34; the first book in the Morgan Dane series, is no different. However, this is a different kind of love. One that comes from mutual respect. The story rolls out with immediate mystery and heartbreak. A girl is killed. The boy next door looks like the prime suspect. Morgan Dane, who's about to start a new job, knows both. But she's drawn in by the fact that the boy's father has no means of hiring a defense attorney for his boy. And, he said, he knows for certain his boy didn't do it. For one, the boy is immediately sickened at the sight of blood. Morgan takes the case and loses any shot at that new job. Turns out it was a good move. She joins forces with Lance, an ex-cop turned private investigator. At first, their association is tentative. Neither likes giving up control. Both are strong. Both have tragedy in their past. Lance was shot, and recovery took more time than he wanted. He quit the police force. He didn't want to be a burden. Morgan's husband was lost in Iraq. She has kids. Couple things set this novel apart from Leigh's previous works. She has built in tremendous supporting characters, and a stray dog. Sharp is the private eye with the perspective and the wise world view. He's worthy of his own novel. The other is Jamie, a runaway who knew more than she should and embodies everything a kid from the wrong side of the tracks would rather not have to deal with. Leigh adds social commentary to her novels, and usually it's about strong personalities persevering against tremendous personal calamity. However, with Jamie she shows that tenderness goes a long way and understanding may save a life. I read a Melinda Leigh book in one or two sittings. Sometimes they're an emotional roller coaster. One that means I put it down, do something else to clear my head and go back to the story for another round. But that's a good thing.", "timestamp": 1502050739498, "title": "Sometimes, despite everything, helping somebody can save a life" }, { "asin": "B06ZZW7G42", "rating": 5, "text": "Morgan Dane's life has begun to improve. She's figured out what she wants to do now that the assistant district attorney job has been lost to fate, and her family has grown stronger with the addition of a young woman who needed others to care for. Dane's romantic interest, Lance Kruger, has emerged as a business partner. She speculates there's more between them. But she's not yet ready. Her husband looms large in her memory after dying in combat some years earlier. But &#34;Her Last Goodbye,&#34; the second Morgan Dane novel, is destined for another deadly encounter. Author Melinda Leigh weaves a little romance into her books. But it's simply part of the narrative. She writes real life. But Leigh's characters all encounter that dark underbelly of society. Dane and her firm are hired to find a missing woman. The husband may have been the problem. He's offered very little help raising their two small children, one of whom is a baby who screams a lot. The authorities believe she's bailed. Her parents know that's not the case. But the clues are far and few. Dane and Kruger interview everybody but find very little. And working the case is where Leigh is at her best. Dane takes the gumshoe approach, sifting through all the information. Meanwhile, Leigh provides insight into the kidnapper, revealing a dark and perverse way of viewing reality. He's smart. But Dane and Kruger don't relent. They push for every clue. And they grow a little closer as they figure out one thing, ruling out another. Leigh's at her best creating strong female characters that don't take crap. They're realists. While I'd love to see any of her books find the big screen, the film version would have to be optioned by the right director. Leigh's one of the best at her craft, and with Dane she's got a great character that could provide many new sequels.", "timestamp": 1511132033401, "title": "The killer among us" }, { "asin": "B0746L8G49", "rating": 5, "text": "&#34;Deadly Recall&#34; by mystery thriller writer T.R. Ragan starts off where the first in the Jessie Cole series ended. Ben Morrison, the strange reporter from the Sacramento daily who's lost his memory, starts digging into the bits and pieces of his past that return suddenly and at inopportune times. And he enlists Jessie's help. But this is just a minor thread in the novel. Jessie gets the job of trying to recover a healthcare executive's daughter. A former client is killing members of the company because it wouldn't cover his daughter's treatment. She died and he went over the deep end. He's a regular guy with a singular focus on revenge, and Ragan dives deep into his motivations and torment. He's not really her typical scumbag. He's a product of his environment, of his circumstances, of the U.S. healthcare system. Ragan also delves more deeply into Jessie and the new employee she's taken on, the girl who was kidnapped and almost killed in the previous book. The girl is unique and crazy. But she wants to do the right thing. She also gets to know Jessie's niece, now a teenager who is learning to be a grownup. Ben finds out more about his past. And it's not all that promising. He's got demons. But are they understandable or sociopathic. All this and more answered in the next installment. And I'll be pre-ording.", "timestamp": 1526256282079, "title": "He's a man who just doesn't want to take it anymore" }, { "asin": "B072QX6TG1", "rating": 5, "text": "In &#34;Bones Don't Lie,&#34; the third in author Melinda Leigh's Morgan Dane series, a dredged up car from the bottom of a lake reveals clues as to the final moments of Lance Kruger's father, a guy who disappeared without a trace decades earlier. But the clues are frustratingly sketchy and anybody who knows anything is either already dead or comes to a violent end. Morgan digs into every lead as Lance watches his preconceived notions of his fantasized past disappear. Does his mom know more than she's told him? Was his dad a bad guy with a dark secret? Leigh further develops Morgan's personality and Lance's to what may be her best series. And Leigh's talent for storytelling is as good as it's ever been. Leigh keeps the antagonist's identity secret until the very last, when it appears he's got the upper hand. But her tough characters haven't failed yet. I'm ready for the next novel. Leigh is one of the best.", "timestamp": 1526259751369, "title": "Warming up a cold case buried in a lake causes some to get burned" }, { "asin": "B07CNBKTPY", "rating": 5, "text": "Lisa Regan is that author whose works I wished I had read slowly. She crafts each word, each paragraph and each page with precision. But her stories move quickly, and I want nothing more than to learn all there is to know. Right now. Dammit! \"Her Mother's Grave,\" the third outing with Josie Quinn, who rose to police chief in her little community after uncovering a ghastly sex ring. This novel starts to uncover who Josie is and what made her such a basket case. Josie doesn't like introspection. She's happier ignoring her past. But Regan, a master storyteller, decides she's let Josie let the past lie long enough. Some kids unearth bones that have something to say, and their history pulls Josie into the deep end of a mystery that played out when she was a kid in the same trailer park where the boys found the bones. Josie's got to learn more and remember more about her past than she has ever done. What before was too painful is necessary to figure out the case. She has to dig into it no matter what the stakes or who the truth hurts. And it appears the one who will be damaged the most by the revelations is Josie. Regan unearths twists and turns. I must have been sweating when I consumed this in a couple sittings. Then I wanted more. I had to tell my wife and adult son what was going on inside the pages I read because it was just that intense.", "timestamp": 1533596832481, "title": "The shocking twists just keep coming" }, { "asin": "B076KMQ7M3", "rating": 5, "text": "Lisa Regan's first novel in the Detective Josie Quinn series, \"Vanishing Girls,\" scours the dark underbelly of humankind's mistreatment of those who are less able to protect themselves. The novel provides frightening commentary to what people are capable of inflicting just to satisfy their sexual cravings. Quinn lives in a small town with big city problems. A girl goes missing. But there aren't any clues. In fact, her search riles people it shouldn't. And she doesn't get the assistance she should. Or maybe she's just imagining reticence on the part of her fellow cops. Regan sends her protagonist into every possible nook and cranny to find answers. And Josie knows better than most what her victims must be feeling, that helplessness at the hands of a sociopath. She tries to bat her own demons away while making use of her experiences growing up to solve the puzzle before innocent young women are killed. Regan is a master at her profession. And I just realized I've only been reading her books for several months. Picking up this novel is a challenge. I didn't expect to have to consume this one and the followup in a couple days. But I was obsessed. Regan knows how to weave a fascinating tale.", "timestamp": 1533597770164, "title": "Preying on the less fortunate" }, { "asin": "B07B3NTQ1H", "rating": 5, "text": "\"The Girl With No Name,\" the second in the Josie Quinn series by Lisa Regan, begins with an almost impossible mystery. Protagonist Quinn has very little to go on. And nothing about the case makes sense. Regan keeps the story moving forward, tossing out one clue after another. Slowly more details emerge. But none of it was what I expected. There's no unraveling a Regan novel. She's good at what she does. Quinn keeps digging. She's damaged but an amazing analyst. And she's fearless. Dark, nasty and possible death don't factor much into her decision making. Quinn is difficult to relate to but easy to like. Regan explores her character little by little. But everything is revealing.", "timestamp": 1533599278447, "title": "Nothing's what it appears" }, { "asin": "B01JGIOO2Q", "rating": 5, "text": "Loreth Anne White blew my mind with \"The Drowned Girls,\" the first in the Angie Pallorino series. I mean, Vancouver/Victoria setting, cop with issues dealing with authority and horrific bad guys. Sounded good. I picked it out of the \"if you liked ..., you'll like this\" section of the Amazon book section. No preconceived notions. But there's something about a tough female character written by a woman who pulls no punches when it comes to detail, her character or what happens. White is hard core on all accounts. She beats the crap out of Angie by way of what she has happen. This is not for those who prefer a protagonist who wins no matter what. Angie risks everything. All the time. She gives herself no quarter. She often makes the wrong decision. She charges into the most dangerous situation without proper preparation, especially when danger lurks. She's cast into a situation where she might have a love interest, but she feels strongly that she doesn't deserve happiness. She's got a dark side. And at least to me, that dark side proved almost enough to really not like her. But I got over it. White knows what she's doing. Not only is the writing superb, but she's a storyteller like no other. But she does get dark. She gets into the heads of some pretty sick individuals.", "timestamp": 1542584647093, "title": "Rainy Victoria really has a very dark side" }, { "asin": "B071CTDC8W", "rating": 5, "text": "In \"The Lullaby Girl,\" the second in Loreth Anne White's Angie Pallorino series, the detective, the hero of the last novel who killed the serial killer, has lost her detective's badge. She's relegated to social media. But Pallorino isn't easily sidelined. And when she discovers a clue into her origins, she's got to find out where she came from, who she really is. White doesn't just create a character with a cloudy back story. She jumps right into it. Pallorino gets a tip and she can't let it go. She just can't, no matter what it means to her future with the Victoria police force. Maddox, her sort of boyfriend, gets the short shrift. She's got to figure out what turns into her own personal mystery more than she cares for love or her security. And Maddox has his hands full. He's tracking down a shady organization that treats women like slaves. The story is fantastic and rife with detail. One epiphany in Pallorino's journey leads to another. And it looks like the only way to find out what's what means heading into a direction that means certain death.", "timestamp": 1542585429130, "title": "Learning the truth may kill" }, { "asin": "B076V5BZ4X", "rating": 5, "text": "Even when Angie Pallorino, the protagonist in Loreth Anne White's third novel in her mystery crime series, wants to take a break, she can't. Pallorino and boyfriend Maddox go flyfishing but stumble across a long-buried body. And \"The Girl in the Moss\" is no regular mystery. Death and strangeness await in the greater British Columbia wilderness. Pallorino, who's trying to make her credentials as a private investigator after getting fired from the Victoria police force, starts asking questions in the small town. She and Maddox had visited a remote lodge for their getaway. But the whole town appears not to want to know what happened to the victim. Even the cops appear compromised. That doesn't bother Pallorino. She's not bothered by warnings, even when somebody trashes her car. She picks up the scent of something rotten and goes charging in. White doesn't disappoint. She creates a bizarre situation nobody would want to encounter in the emerald forest.", "timestamp": 1542586423165, "title": "Nothing stops Angie Pallorino" }, { "asin": "B0799LVPKC", "rating": 5, "text": "\"Deranged,\" the third in the Jessie Cole series, has all the elements of a T.R. Ragan novel: evil dirtbag intent on killing for the sake of his own private sick satisfaction, a mystery within a mystery and some sordid connection to Jessie Cole. Ragan trolls the depths of depravity with her antagonists. They appall from beginning to their demise. I read these novels while seething, wanting the bad guys to taste their own medicine. Ragan creates smart villains. She knows the American public enjoys a good bad guy. Of course, she also knows the bad guy must get what's coming to him. And she doesn't disappoint. In \"Deranged,\" sidekick reporter Ben Morrison, who may also be a sick puppy but we don't know, learns more about his past through Jessie's investigation. Meanwhile, people start to die and Jessie finds herself in the middle of it. Who it is appears to know more than he should. Or more than should be possible. If Jessie survives, she won't emerge unscathed. I adore Ragan's writing. It sends me into a drain of depression occasionally trying to fathom that people can be this terrible. But Ragan usually sends redemption at some point. And then I breathe easier. For some reason I just thought of Rod Serling walking out of the fog to explain everything. Yeah, I messed with your head but here's why.", "timestamp": 1547946962312, "title": "A villain like none other, smart and despicable" }, { "asin": "B07GDH8F26", "rating": 5, "text": "Disclaimer: I love T.R. Ragan's spell-weaving, tale-spinning, dark-delving fiction. I picked up \"Buried Deep,\" the fourth of the Jessie Cole series, via Kindle early, about 5 a.m. and went to the athletic club, reading on the stationary bike, and finally finished it late that evening. Yes, it was a slow day at work so I read more than just for lunch. I finished the night before I wrote this. But once I start in on one of Jessie's new cases, actually she gets a couple in Buried, I just have to untangle the conclusion. This morning as I was riding my bike up into the not-so-far reaches of the Sierra, leaving civilization behind, I thought how Ragan's mysteries remind me of Dashiell Hammett, who I became obsessed with in college. My roommate and I loved the \"The Maltese Falcon\" when we saw it together as kids but mostly because it had Humphrey Bogart. Then the two of us began consuming mass quantities of literature, mostly American crime fiction and fantasy. I digress. Still, my point is (I get kinda spaced out on long-ass uphill rides) that Ragan delves into the unknown like nobody's business. Jessie's employee, Zee, who talks to unseen voices, really got to the heart of suspense, drama and random behavior. The cases Ragan created beat the crap out of Dateline. Missing mom and missing daughter who nobody really wants but has money coming really intrigued me. The missing mom. Cripes. Reminded me of when my mom sent me away overnight to another state to live with my grandmother on an island. I wouldn't see my dad for about seven years. Still love that crazy old man who tried to drown his fear of the SS officer who almost got him when he was hiding during WWII. Normally I write pretty standard reviews. But I just got an immense high (nothing to do with California's state weed) from this one. And really anything in the novel I'd mention would be considered a spoiler. Perhaps the most intriguing part of the book has to do with Ben Morrison, the Sac Bee (or whatever she calls it) crime reporter. Ben's got these issues. He lost his memories. He's got a dark past. But he's saved Jessie's life. He's rescued her niece. He's a badass. And good reporters are a dying breed anyway. I should know. And damn if he doesn't get perhaps the choicest piece of gristly mystery. Ragan ends with him. It's good. Something about women writers. Ragan got me reading them. The detail. The twists. The damn-straight resolutions. I will now swear (Samuel L. Jackson-ish) for emphasis.", "timestamp": 1555627129479, "title": "And she's claustrophobic, too" }, { "asin": "B07H2ML6LB", "rating": 5, "text": "Detective Josie Quinn is more likely to get entangled in a murder investigation than figure out a way to spend a relaxing weekend with her boyfriend. And in \"Her Final Confession,\" the fourth in the series by author Lisa Regan, she discovers a dead body in the driveway of her coworker and feloow detective Gretchen Palmer. And as usual, nothing comes easy. The clues are few and far between, and Palmer's missing. Their supervisor isn't pleased. It looks bad. All the way around. But this is a Regan novel. She has a way of presenting a damning picture, rife with unanswered questions, compromising details and elements that make the reader question everybody's motives. Few moments in any Regan book involve happy, huggy-kissy stuff. She prefers delving into darker realms. People have secrets. Gretchen certainly does. Josie digs around in her coworkers' life and finds things to chase, facts that Gretchen never told her. Again, it looks bad. But Josie has faith. She's learned to trust Gretchen, respect her decisions, even like sharing a cup of coffee with her. But Gretchen doesn't help much. And it appears she's got something to hide. But the mystery proves strange, one that Josie doesn't fully untangle until the conclusion. This is great stuff.", "timestamp": 1556310471774, "title": "Secrets and more secrets, all dark" } ]

[ { "asin": "0764212613", "rating": 5, "text": "After her parents die, Kelli finds some news that could change everything she ever knew. She embarks on a journey to find the truth about her past, about her parents, and about herself. She is desperate to know the truth, even if the truth hurts.<br /><br />I could not put this book down. From the beginning to the end, I was intrigued by the story. I was drawn into the story; I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. I highly recommend this book. It has a little bit of romance as well as a little bit of mystery since as the reader you are trying to figure out the puzzle with Kelli. I had never read a Kathryn Cushman book before, but I definitely will be looking forward to reading more books by her in the future.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher (Bethany House) for review. I was not paid for my review, and all opinions are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1428805791000, "title": "I highly recommend this book" }, { "asin": "0310747414", "rating": 5, "text": "This activity book has lots of fun activities for your child. There are connect the dots, find what’s wrong with this picture, find the differences and simple coloring pages, plus 50 stickers. This activity book has a story about Princess Grace and her kitten Poppy. There are a total of 5 of these sticker and activity books each with a different princess.<br /><br />I love these activity books. This is the second one I have gotten for my daughter, and I plan to use them on road trips to keep her occupied for a little bit in the car. She loves stickers and she’s already put quite a few of them in her book. Some of the activities are above my daughter’s skill level since she’s still only 3, but I still highly recommend these activity books to parents.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers &#60;http://booklookbloggers.com&#62; book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1433292130000, "title": "Awesome sticker/activity books for your children!" }, { "asin": "076421571X", "rating": 5, "text": "After eleven years, Shannon Bliss is finally free from her kidnappers. After she escaped she handpicked Matthew Dane to help her through the tricky situation her escape has left her in. She confides in him and trusts him with her secrets and to best know how to play the next move so that the Jacoby family cannot find her or disappear completely. Slowly he begins to unravel the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. Given the experience he's had in this particular field, Dane knows best how to help see through and be the friend she needs through what lies ahead for her.<br /><br />Taken is one of the most amazing books I've read in a while. I absolutely loved this book. It did take me a little while to get fully engrossed in it, but once I did I could not put this book down. I loved all the mystery in it that keeps the reader on his/her toes. I love the Christian perspective of this book. Many times you read suspense or mystery novels and they completely leave God out, but Henderson did a great job at pointing to God to help get the characters through each and every situation they face past or present. I highly recommend this book.<br /><br />**I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1434252407000, "title": "Amazing, read it!" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 5, "text": "Abby Hart is a homicide detective that has a passion for finding justice for victims' families. But when a serial killer's latest victim has ties to a cold case very dear to her heart, it brings her the opportunity to ask questions she has always wanted to ask. It also causes her to cross paths with private investigator Luke Murphy who unbeknownst to Abby is just as interested in the same cold case. <br /><br />This was an amazing book. I was so drawn into the book, that when I had to lay it down, I found myself wondering what was going on. It kept me guessing the while way through. If you like suspense, you'll love this book. I cannot wait until the next book in the series comes out next spring! I will definitely be watching for it. <br /><br />**I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own", "timestamp": 1439750773000, "title": "Absolutely loved this book!!" }, { "asin": "1401689604", "rating": 5, "text": "Kate is great at keeping secrets. She loves to spy on her family members and the guests at their lodge. Right after the murder of one of her grandfather’s friends, Kate secretly offers a homeless man shelter, not knowing what would happen to her family after she does so.<br /><br />This book was excellent. I found it to be very intriguing and kept you guessing until the very end. I love suspense because I love trying to guess what is coming next, or who did it. This book was no different. The characters were all interesting and very well-developed. I felt like I could picture the scenes as I was reading. I had never read any of Erin Healy’s books, but after reading this one, I will definitely read more! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys some suspense.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers &#60;http://booklookbloggers.com&#62; book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60;http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1443201122000, "title": "Great suspense book!" }, { "asin": "0764210637", "rating": 5, "text": "Abrianna Cunningham is always finding herself in some sort of trouble, but will she be able to get out of this plight without causing harm to anyone else? This clever redhead is very resourceful and can handle just about anything she gets herself into, but she may just be in too far over her head this time. Follow Abrianna as she plans her wedding to the love of her life, but has some confusing doubts along the way. See how she deals with her doubts and find some interesting plot twists in the process.<br /><br />This book was phenomenal! I absolutely love every book by Tracie Peterson, and this was no exception! The characters were very well developed and the plot was very intriguing. I love how as you are reading about halfway through, Peterson throws a plot twist in and keeps you on your toes so much that you can't bring yourself to stop reading. I found myself reading well into the night because I was afraid I was going to miss something. Highly, highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher (Bethany House) for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1445695101000, "title": "Another amazing read!" }, { "asin": "0310338492", "rating": 5, "text": "A librarian named Lydia Bancroft finds herself very intrigued by a special patron that comes to the library, but never checks out a book. Sebastian Marks is an elusive man who has many secrets. After rescuing her from a disaster at the Hartman Hotel, they form a friendship. However, Lydia soon learns there is more to Mr. Marks than she ever would have dreamed.<br /><br />This is the third book in the Chicago World's Fair series, however it can stand alone. The characters are complex and very well developed. As this mystery unfolds you find yourself getting drawn deeper and deeper into the book. By the time I got to the end, I couldn't put it down because I had to know what was going to happen. This was by far one of the best mysteries I've read in a while! If you love mysteries with a splash of romance you will love this one.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild by Thomas Nelson/Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1452004862000, "title": "Great mystery! Keeps you interested all the way to the end!" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 5, "text": "Coach Westbrook’s wedding chapel has stood empty for decades, never seeing a wedding. Taylor Branson, a photographer who left Heart’s Bend to pursue her career, falls head over heels in love with Jack Forester after bumping into him in New York, but did they rush things? When Coach Westbrook and Taylor’s paths cross paths during a photo shoot in Heart’s Bend, many secrets are brought to the surface. Will they both discover the love they long for, despite their past?<br />This was a wonderful romance full of unexpected twists and turns along the way. It keeps you on your toes wondering what will happen next. The characters were complex, and very well developed. I very much enjoyed this read; at first I didn’t like the bouncing back and forth from one character’s story to the next, from the past to the present, but by the middle it got better and easier to follow, and by the end I was completely drawn in and I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good romance.<br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild by Zondervan /Thomas Nelson for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1452356163000, "title": "Great romance, full of twists and turns" }, { "asin": "031033344X", "rating": 5, "text": "Ashley Tolliver is a midwife in the mountains of Virginia, but she wants to take her career to the next level and attend medical school. She comes from a long line of midwives, nearly 200 years worth to be exact. But when a city boy comes to town looking for help and answers, she begins to think about all that her dream entails, leaving the community she's not only grown up in, but has committed herself to serving and helping.<br /><br />This was a brilliant romance. I was captivated from the very beginning. The characters are complex, but easy to relate to. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. I was sad to see the book end. I love books that point to God, and this was no exception. A few times the characters had tough decisions to make, and they always turned to God to help them with these decisions. This was the first of Eakes books I have read, but if the rest of her books are like this one, I will be finding every one. In short, I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : &#34;Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.&#34;", "timestamp": 1452882048000, "title": "Captivating from the beginning!" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 5, "text": "Casey Cox is tortured by her past, but now a new threat has sent her running for her life. She’s accused of murdering her good friend, but doesn’t know who she can and cannot trust. Will she be able to find justice for her father and for her friend without being in jeopardy herself?<br /><br />I was drawn into this book from the very first line. It is a gripping story told in the first person that draws you in so far you feel like you’re right there with Casey as she tries to figure out this mess. The characters are complex with their own flaws. This is the first in a trilogy so when I got to the end I was ready to jump into the next one, but alas, I have to wait. I finished this book in 2 days (which is a big deal for me…lol) because I couldn’t bear to put it down long because every time I did it left me wondering what was going to happen next! Highly recommend this book!<br /><br />** I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLookBloggers [...]book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1457122614000, "title": "Amazing read!" }, { "asin": "0718030923", "rating": 3, "text": "Allie Marshall was convicted of a crime she didn't commit, but after 10 long years she's out on parole. She's determined to prove her innocence. Her return turns everyone's world upside down, especially her daughter's. Will she be able to mend her relationship with her daughter and prove once and for all she didn't murder the coach?<br /><br />I enjoyed this suspense. It was full of unexpected twists and turns all the way to the end. It keeps you enthralled the whole time. While I loved this book I wouldn't call this Christian fiction as there's no mention of God at all. It's fairly clean, however, there are a few instances of cursing and there were a couple racy spots (more than I prefer). Minus those spots the storyline was great and kept me on my toes.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review through Book Look Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review; all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1465782092000, "title": "Kept me on my toes" }, { "asin": "0692701370", "rating": 5, "text": "Katie Chupp is an Amish girl who works at the bakery in town. As she walks into the bakery on the day of the Fourth of July celebration, she finds that someone has broken into the bakery and stolen a good deal of their inventory. Now they are faced with finding the thief responsible and finding a place to bake all the special orders in time for the celebration. When Katie unknowingly stumbles upon the thief and realizes the situation behind the theft, she is faced with telling her boss and hoping she will understand the circumstances.<br /><br />This is Naomi Miller's debut novel, and I must say it was amazing! It kept my interest from the first page until the very end. It was shorter than usual, so I finished it in just two days! I loved the characters; they were well developed and the story was one you could relate to. The Amish genre usually is hard for me to get into, but this story was different, not like a lot of the other Amish books I've tried to read before. I love mysteries and if you do too, I highly recommend it. I am looking forward to book #2 in this series, the &#34;Christmas Cookie Mystery&#34;!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the author for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1472696828000, "title": "Great read!" }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 4, "text": "Parker House has a very close relationship with his grandfather, Frank House. He shares a special talent with his grandfather in that they both are able to see future events. This talent has been haunting Frank House for years ever since the war. When Parker gets a new job at a new law firm, Frank is forced to come face to face with his past. Will Frank be able to move on from his past?<br />It took me a long time to get into this story, but when I finally did it was a good read. It was hard for me at first to go back and forth between the characters and the different time periods throughout the book. The characters were very well developed and had their own flaws, and were pretty relatable. This was a different type of read than I’m used to, but I would definitely recommend it to others who like a little suspense with some romance thrown in.<br /><br />**I received this book free through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1476244820000, "title": "Good read, just kind of a slow pace." }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "After her best friend Tammy dies, Haley Morgan dreams of opening the wedding shop in Heart’s Bend and carry on the legacy of Cora Scott. Is it just a dream she and her friend had as children, or can she make the dream become a reality and save the shop from becoming a parking lot. Fixing up the old shop to the city’s time table and specifications is the beginning of a beautiful journey of faith and love for Haley. Will she be able to accomplish her dream and maybe find true love on the way?<br /><br />This book was another amazing read by Rachel Hauck. She has a way of writing the storyline and characters in such a relatable way that you feel like you know them. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next, how it would all come together. I loved it. If you love Christian romance then you need to check this one out.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1482990554000, "title": "Another amazing book by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "1401690300", "rating": 5, "text": "Since her mother's blueberry barrens are no longer producing enough fruit to make a living, Kate decides she needs to rent her cottage out. Drake Newham shows up with his nieces and not only wants to rent it, but also needs a nanny. When Kate finds out Drake is in Maine to look into his brother and sister-in-law's deaths, they decide to team up to get to the bottom of it. However, Kate's uncle has recently escaped prison and someone may be stalking her. Will they ever find the people responsible for all the threats to Kate and her loved ones?<br /><br />I always enjoy Colleen Coble's books, and this was no different. It was packed with suspense and romance. I found myself turning page after page wondering who the stalker was, who really killed Drake's family, and will they ever catch Uncle Paul? I find myself so engrossed I feel like I'm right there with Kate and Drake, rooting for them. The characters are very relatable. If you love suspense with romance mixed in, you'll love this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publishers through the Fiction Guild program for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1484542439000, "title": "Another great read by Colleen Coble! Lots of suspense!" }, { "asin": "1625915136", "rating": 5, "text": "When Angela moves in next door to one of Mitch's house flips, he thought she was a bit strange, but then she came to church and they form an unlikely friendship. They both have a passion for the same family that lives in one of Mitch's rentals across from Angela's house. As they set about to show Bianca and her family Christ's love and grace, they find they have feelings for each other. Will they be able be able to move past the past and have a meaningful relationship? Will they be able to lead Bianca and her family to the Lord, or will she turn them away for good?<br /><br />This was a wonderful story of how God's grace can restore anybody, regardless of what they've been through. The characters were very well developed. I really appreciated how Slattery took common problems that people face in today's world, and showed how no matter how bad it seems, God can always restore that person by His grace! I think it's safe to say most people nowadays know of someone who has some of the same challenges that each character in this book faces. There's Angela who struggled with drugs and promiscuity in her past, but found God's grace and by His grace is turning her life around. Bianca is a single mom who is struggling to provide for her family after her husband is imprisoned and just feels like her life is falling apart. Finally, there's Mitch, a divorced man who is dealing with his drug addict son while his unsaved business partner is making business difficult. I found myself immersed in this book, and I didn't want to put it down. If you need a good book, check this one out! I highly recommend it!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1484843617000, "title": "A great story of God's Grace!" }, { "asin": "0718078764", "rating": 5, "text": "After thirteen years, Natalie Mitchell is faced with going back to the place where her sister's tragic death happened, a place she's avoided since. She is forced to face her past as her father instructs her to check on the status of her grandfather's winery and possibly shut it down. When she arrives, her childhood friend, Tanner Collins, is anything but happy to see her. As they are forced to work together, they find they both have secrets in their pasts. Will she be able to face her past and move on with her life, or will it haunt her forever? Will she be able to save the winery or will she blindly obey her father's wishes as she's always done?<br />Beautifully written, you will not want to put this book down. I loved this book, I loved how the characters were flawed and very well developed. Their struggles are struggles that many people can relate to. I love how West shows how they learn to trust God as they work through their problems. To trust that God makes no mistakes and He has a plan in everything, no matter how horrible it looks to us. I highly recommend this book, go grab yours today!<br />**I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for review through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1496334642000, "title": "Wonderful storyline, well-written!" }, { "asin": "0718083474", "rating": 5, "text": "When Hayden McCarthy is given a case with hardly any information, she knows she has her work cut out for her. Her boss is confident that she can win the case, but she can't seem to get the answers she needs to move forward. As she finally starts gaining momentum, she realizes there is something more to this case than just a wrongful death, but she wants justice for her client. Andrew Wesley is Hayden's roommate's cousin and the son of Congressman Wesley. He works with young kids who have recently immigrated to the United States. Their paths begin to cross more frequently as a boy he's helping ends up being one of the sons of Hayden's client. Will Hayden be able to find justice before they all end up mixed up in something way over their heads?<br /><br />This was the first book I've read of Cara Putman's and I was not disappointed. It was fantastic! The characters were complex and well developed, they were very likable. From the beginning, I was sucked into the story. There were times where after reading the book, I couldn't remember if I read it in the story or if it was a news headline. It's full of twists and turns and keeps the reader guessing until the very end. I loved every minute of it, and can't wait to read more of Putman's books! If you too like suspense, you need to read this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1501788308684, "title": "Will keep you guessing until the end" }, { "asin": "0718085949", "rating": 5, "text": "Brooklyn Myers never intended to return to her hometown of Thunder Creek, Idaho, but God seemed to have different plans. When her husband whom she has been separated from dies and leaves his family home and property to her and her daughter, she sees it as the perfect opportunity to give her daughter a better life. However, Derek Johnson, who was her estranged husband's best friend since childhood, is not exactly thrilled with the idea of Brooklyn and her daughter coming back to live next door, especially since it means he may not be able to buy the land he wanted so bad. As their paths continue to cross, and they get to know each other better, an attraction builds, but they both have some obstacles to overcome, and Brooklyn must get over her past and learn to trust again.<br /> <br />This was a beautifully written, captivating story; I didn't want to put the book down. You'll fall in love with the characters and be rooting for them each step of the way. Rooting for Brooklyn to stand up for herself, to learn to trust men again, and to give Derek a chance. If you love a good romance, this is one you should read!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild program in exchange for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1501903060306, "title": "Captivating romance!" }, { "asin": "1401690327", "rating": 5, "text": "When Dana Newell moves back to her home town of Rock Harbor, she thought she'd be starting over, free from her abusive fianc&eacute;. However, there are many secrets and dangers she wasn't aware of in her hometown. As she tries to help her new friend Boone unravel the mystery of his sister's murder, they find more questions than answers. Will her ex-fianc&eacute; finally leave her alone so she can move on with her life? Will they be able to find the murderer before he strikes again?<br /><br />Colleen Coble has written another amazing story! It will keep you on the edge of your seat from page one. The suspense grabbed me from the very beginning and kept me guessing until the very end. While this is a part of the Rock Harbor series, I have not read any of the rest of the series and I didn't feel lost, so it definitely can stand alone. So what are you waiting for? Go grab your copy and get started, you will want to read this one!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1505619803688, "title": "Suspenseful!" }, { "asin": "0310341590", "rating": 5, "text": "After Tenley Roth writes a bestseller, she is challenged to write her next book. However, she is overcome with writer's block. When her estranged mother asks her to come to Cocoa Beach to help her through her chemotherapy treatments, she thinks this may be what she needs to get her inspiration back. When Tenley arrives at her mother's house she falls in love with an antique desk and gains inspiration from the desk. Little did Tenley know that years before Birdie Shehorn had sat at the same desk wanting two things, to be a published author and to marry for love. Will Tenley shake her writer's block and find her inspiration? Will Birdie be able to go against her mother's wishes and marry for love and finally get her name on a book? <br /><br />This story was very intriguing. I fell in love with both Tenley and Birdie. It kept me wondering how each of their stories would end. I could not put the book down, and when I had to my !Ind kept wondering what was going to happen next. This is another amazing story by Rachel Hauck, and I highly recommend it. I love the way she writes two separate stories of women from two completely different ages and weaves them back together. <br /><br />**I received this book for free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1508124994775, "title": "Another great book by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "0718085760", "rating": 5, "text": "After her husband died, Shauna wanted nothing to do with his best friend, Zach, because she blames him for his death. However, when a series of deaths threaten her life and the life of her son, she has no one else to turn to and has to rely on Zach to keep her safe. As they slowly unravel the mystery of who killed their friends, it only seems to get more dangerous. Will they be able to figure out what the killers are after? And will they be able to solve the mystery before someone else Shauna loves gets hurt?<br /><br />I cannot wait to read the next book in this series. It’s full of twists and turns with a bit of romance thrown in! I love it, kept me guessing all the way until the end! As usual, I quickly fell in love with the main characters, who are very relatable. I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1531621370312, "title": "Amazing suspense!! Great read!" }, { "asin": "0800729463", "rating": 5, "text": "More than likely you know a few things about Elisabeth Elliot and her husband, Jim; you may even have read some of Elisabeth's other books. I knew their story, and a little about Elisabeth after her husband was murdered, but I didn't know much else about her, for example, I never knew she spent an entire year on the opposite side of the jungle as a single missionary trying to create a written language for the Colorado Indians. I found this book very enlightening, it shows the struggles of her first year as a missionary. It shows her humanity through the doubts she herself faced at times. Many times I think we as Christians take for granted that these missionaries leave to go to the field and we hear back from them most of the positive things of their work. We don't hear of the struggles and doubts they have faced. I think sometimes we see these people as superhuman and they don't have doubts, or fears, or struggles, but they are still human, the devil still attacks them, and probably more so as they work daily on a foreign field without many of the luxuries we have here at home. It also shows how great her faith was, even in those struggles she was able to remind herself that she was called of God without a doubt, and it would strengthen her faith to keep on keeping on. I learned a lot from reading her memoir, and I know you will too. May it strengthen your faith as well!<br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1546278626079, "title": "A great story of her struggles, doubts and her faith!" }, { "asin": "0310350964", "rating": 5, "text": "I love the way Rachel Hauck weaves the story of 2 different women from 2 different decades together so seamlessly. I fell in love with Everleigh and Beck very quickly. All of the characters were very interesting and I loved watching the romance between the two couples blossom. Once I was drawn into the story, which didn't take but a few chapters, it was hard for me to put the book down. I wanted to know what happened next. Would Everleigh allow herself to love again? Would Beck ever find her memories? I highly recommend this one, another great romance by Rachel Hauck!<br />**I received a copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1555329536013, "title": "Another great romance by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "0310332591", "rating": 5, "text": "Edge of your seat suspense. The whole book kept me on the edge of my seat. I literally could not put it down, and I'll admit I stayed up way later than I should have to finish it, because I just had to find out what happened to Brenna and her kids,to find out if Nate's dad is really innocent who killed Brenna's father? I immediately fell in love with the characters, and my heart went out to Brenna. I was rooting for her from the beginning. I was hoping she'd see the light and deal with her drinking problem. I love how Nate encourages her to look to God and get back into a relationship with Him instead of turning to alcohol. If you love suspense, if you love a good Blackstock novel, you will not want to miss this book. I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1573313863140, "title": "Keeps you on the edge of your seat!" }, { "asin": "0718085884", "rating": 5, "text": "As usual, I was enthralled with this book by Colleen Coble. I got sucked in, and I couldn't put it down. The characters were very well written, and you could totally relate to them. I quickly fell in love with Harper and Ridge, and they made a great team trying to solve the mystery of the different attacks. I am a big fan of suspense, and this book did not disappoint at all. This is a romantic suspense you won't want to miss!<br /><br />**I received this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1573769909212, "title": "You won't want to miss this one!" } ]

[ { "asin": "0764212613", "rating": 5, "text": "After her parents die, Kelli finds some news that could change everything she ever knew. She embarks on a journey to find the truth about her past, about her parents, and about herself. She is desperate to know the truth, even if the truth hurts.<br /><br />I could not put this book down. From the beginning to the end, I was intrigued by the story. I was drawn into the story; I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. I highly recommend this book. It has a little bit of romance as well as a little bit of mystery since as the reader you are trying to figure out the puzzle with Kelli. I had never read a Kathryn Cushman book before, but I definitely will be looking forward to reading more books by her in the future.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher (Bethany House) for review. I was not paid for my review, and all opinions are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1428805791000, "title": "I highly recommend this book" }, { "asin": "0310747414", "rating": 5, "text": "This activity book has lots of fun activities for your child. There are connect the dots, find what’s wrong with this picture, find the differences and simple coloring pages, plus 50 stickers. This activity book has a story about Princess Grace and her kitten Poppy. There are a total of 5 of these sticker and activity books each with a different princess.<br /><br />I love these activity books. This is the second one I have gotten for my daughter, and I plan to use them on road trips to keep her occupied for a little bit in the car. She loves stickers and she’s already put quite a few of them in her book. Some of the activities are above my daughter’s skill level since she’s still only 3, but I still highly recommend these activity books to parents.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers &#60;http://booklookbloggers.com&#62; book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1433292130000, "title": "Awesome sticker/activity books for your children!" }, { "asin": "076421571X", "rating": 5, "text": "After eleven years, Shannon Bliss is finally free from her kidnappers. After she escaped she handpicked Matthew Dane to help her through the tricky situation her escape has left her in. She confides in him and trusts him with her secrets and to best know how to play the next move so that the Jacoby family cannot find her or disappear completely. Slowly he begins to unravel the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. Given the experience he's had in this particular field, Dane knows best how to help see through and be the friend she needs through what lies ahead for her.<br /><br />Taken is one of the most amazing books I've read in a while. I absolutely loved this book. It did take me a little while to get fully engrossed in it, but once I did I could not put this book down. I loved all the mystery in it that keeps the reader on his/her toes. I love the Christian perspective of this book. Many times you read suspense or mystery novels and they completely leave God out, but Henderson did a great job at pointing to God to help get the characters through each and every situation they face past or present. I highly recommend this book.<br /><br />**I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1434252407000, "title": "Amazing, read it!" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 5, "text": "Abby Hart is a homicide detective that has a passion for finding justice for victims' families. But when a serial killer's latest victim has ties to a cold case very dear to her heart, it brings her the opportunity to ask questions she has always wanted to ask. It also causes her to cross paths with private investigator Luke Murphy who unbeknownst to Abby is just as interested in the same cold case. <br /><br />This was an amazing book. I was so drawn into the book, that when I had to lay it down, I found myself wondering what was going on. It kept me guessing the while way through. If you like suspense, you'll love this book. I cannot wait until the next book in the series comes out next spring! I will definitely be watching for it. <br /><br />**I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own", "timestamp": 1439750773000, "title": "Absolutely loved this book!!" }, { "asin": "1401689604", "rating": 5, "text": "Kate is great at keeping secrets. She loves to spy on her family members and the guests at their lodge. Right after the murder of one of her grandfather’s friends, Kate secretly offers a homeless man shelter, not knowing what would happen to her family after she does so.<br /><br />This book was excellent. I found it to be very intriguing and kept you guessing until the very end. I love suspense because I love trying to guess what is coming next, or who did it. This book was no different. The characters were all interesting and very well-developed. I felt like I could picture the scenes as I was reading. I had never read any of Erin Healy’s books, but after reading this one, I will definitely read more! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys some suspense.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers &#60;http://booklookbloggers.com&#62; book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60;http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1443201122000, "title": "Great suspense book!" }, { "asin": "0764210637", "rating": 5, "text": "Abrianna Cunningham is always finding herself in some sort of trouble, but will she be able to get out of this plight without causing harm to anyone else? This clever redhead is very resourceful and can handle just about anything she gets herself into, but she may just be in too far over her head this time. Follow Abrianna as she plans her wedding to the love of her life, but has some confusing doubts along the way. See how she deals with her doubts and find some interesting plot twists in the process.<br /><br />This book was phenomenal! I absolutely love every book by Tracie Peterson, and this was no exception! The characters were very well developed and the plot was very intriguing. I love how as you are reading about halfway through, Peterson throws a plot twist in and keeps you on your toes so much that you can't bring yourself to stop reading. I found myself reading well into the night because I was afraid I was going to miss something. Highly, highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher (Bethany House) for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1445695101000, "title": "Another amazing read!" }, { "asin": "0310338492", "rating": 5, "text": "A librarian named Lydia Bancroft finds herself very intrigued by a special patron that comes to the library, but never checks out a book. Sebastian Marks is an elusive man who has many secrets. After rescuing her from a disaster at the Hartman Hotel, they form a friendship. However, Lydia soon learns there is more to Mr. Marks than she ever would have dreamed.<br /><br />This is the third book in the Chicago World's Fair series, however it can stand alone. The characters are complex and very well developed. As this mystery unfolds you find yourself getting drawn deeper and deeper into the book. By the time I got to the end, I couldn't put it down because I had to know what was going to happen. This was by far one of the best mysteries I've read in a while! If you love mysteries with a splash of romance you will love this one.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild by Thomas Nelson/Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1452004862000, "title": "Great mystery! Keeps you interested all the way to the end!" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 5, "text": "Coach Westbrook’s wedding chapel has stood empty for decades, never seeing a wedding. Taylor Branson, a photographer who left Heart’s Bend to pursue her career, falls head over heels in love with Jack Forester after bumping into him in New York, but did they rush things? When Coach Westbrook and Taylor’s paths cross paths during a photo shoot in Heart’s Bend, many secrets are brought to the surface. Will they both discover the love they long for, despite their past?<br />This was a wonderful romance full of unexpected twists and turns along the way. It keeps you on your toes wondering what will happen next. The characters were complex, and very well developed. I very much enjoyed this read; at first I didn’t like the bouncing back and forth from one character’s story to the next, from the past to the present, but by the middle it got better and easier to follow, and by the end I was completely drawn in and I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good romance.<br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild by Zondervan /Thomas Nelson for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1452356163000, "title": "Great romance, full of twists and turns" }, { "asin": "031033344X", "rating": 5, "text": "Ashley Tolliver is a midwife in the mountains of Virginia, but she wants to take her career to the next level and attend medical school. She comes from a long line of midwives, nearly 200 years worth to be exact. But when a city boy comes to town looking for help and answers, she begins to think about all that her dream entails, leaving the community she's not only grown up in, but has committed herself to serving and helping.<br /><br />This was a brilliant romance. I was captivated from the very beginning. The characters are complex, but easy to relate to. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. I was sad to see the book end. I love books that point to God, and this was no exception. A few times the characters had tough decisions to make, and they always turned to God to help them with these decisions. This was the first of Eakes books I have read, but if the rest of her books are like this one, I will be finding every one. In short, I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : &#34;Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.&#34;", "timestamp": 1452882048000, "title": "Captivating from the beginning!" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 5, "text": "Casey Cox is tortured by her past, but now a new threat has sent her running for her life. She’s accused of murdering her good friend, but doesn’t know who she can and cannot trust. Will she be able to find justice for her father and for her friend without being in jeopardy herself?<br /><br />I was drawn into this book from the very first line. It is a gripping story told in the first person that draws you in so far you feel like you’re right there with Casey as she tries to figure out this mess. The characters are complex with their own flaws. This is the first in a trilogy so when I got to the end I was ready to jump into the next one, but alas, I have to wait. I finished this book in 2 days (which is a big deal for me…lol) because I couldn’t bear to put it down long because every time I did it left me wondering what was going to happen next! Highly recommend this book!<br /><br />** I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLookBloggers [...]book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1457122614000, "title": "Amazing read!" }, { "asin": "0718030923", "rating": 3, "text": "Allie Marshall was convicted of a crime she didn't commit, but after 10 long years she's out on parole. She's determined to prove her innocence. Her return turns everyone's world upside down, especially her daughter's. Will she be able to mend her relationship with her daughter and prove once and for all she didn't murder the coach?<br /><br />I enjoyed this suspense. It was full of unexpected twists and turns all the way to the end. It keeps you enthralled the whole time. While I loved this book I wouldn't call this Christian fiction as there's no mention of God at all. It's fairly clean, however, there are a few instances of cursing and there were a couple racy spots (more than I prefer). Minus those spots the storyline was great and kept me on my toes.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review through Book Look Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review; all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1465782092000, "title": "Kept me on my toes" }, { "asin": "0692701370", "rating": 5, "text": "Katie Chupp is an Amish girl who works at the bakery in town. As she walks into the bakery on the day of the Fourth of July celebration, she finds that someone has broken into the bakery and stolen a good deal of their inventory. Now they are faced with finding the thief responsible and finding a place to bake all the special orders in time for the celebration. When Katie unknowingly stumbles upon the thief and realizes the situation behind the theft, she is faced with telling her boss and hoping she will understand the circumstances.<br /><br />This is Naomi Miller's debut novel, and I must say it was amazing! It kept my interest from the first page until the very end. It was shorter than usual, so I finished it in just two days! I loved the characters; they were well developed and the story was one you could relate to. The Amish genre usually is hard for me to get into, but this story was different, not like a lot of the other Amish books I've tried to read before. I love mysteries and if you do too, I highly recommend it. I am looking forward to book #2 in this series, the &#34;Christmas Cookie Mystery&#34;!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the author for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1472696828000, "title": "Great read!" }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 4, "text": "Parker House has a very close relationship with his grandfather, Frank House. He shares a special talent with his grandfather in that they both are able to see future events. This talent has been haunting Frank House for years ever since the war. When Parker gets a new job at a new law firm, Frank is forced to come face to face with his past. Will Frank be able to move on from his past?<br />It took me a long time to get into this story, but when I finally did it was a good read. It was hard for me at first to go back and forth between the characters and the different time periods throughout the book. The characters were very well developed and had their own flaws, and were pretty relatable. This was a different type of read than I’m used to, but I would definitely recommend it to others who like a little suspense with some romance thrown in.<br /><br />**I received this book free through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1476244820000, "title": "Good read, just kind of a slow pace." }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "After her best friend Tammy dies, Haley Morgan dreams of opening the wedding shop in Heart’s Bend and carry on the legacy of Cora Scott. Is it just a dream she and her friend had as children, or can she make the dream become a reality and save the shop from becoming a parking lot. Fixing up the old shop to the city’s time table and specifications is the beginning of a beautiful journey of faith and love for Haley. Will she be able to accomplish her dream and maybe find true love on the way?<br /><br />This book was another amazing read by Rachel Hauck. She has a way of writing the storyline and characters in such a relatable way that you feel like you know them. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next, how it would all come together. I loved it. If you love Christian romance then you need to check this one out.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1482990554000, "title": "Another amazing book by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "1401690300", "rating": 5, "text": "Since her mother's blueberry barrens are no longer producing enough fruit to make a living, Kate decides she needs to rent her cottage out. Drake Newham shows up with his nieces and not only wants to rent it, but also needs a nanny. When Kate finds out Drake is in Maine to look into his brother and sister-in-law's deaths, they decide to team up to get to the bottom of it. However, Kate's uncle has recently escaped prison and someone may be stalking her. Will they ever find the people responsible for all the threats to Kate and her loved ones?<br /><br />I always enjoy Colleen Coble's books, and this was no different. It was packed with suspense and romance. I found myself turning page after page wondering who the stalker was, who really killed Drake's family, and will they ever catch Uncle Paul? I find myself so engrossed I feel like I'm right there with Kate and Drake, rooting for them. The characters are very relatable. If you love suspense with romance mixed in, you'll love this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publishers through the Fiction Guild program for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1484542439000, "title": "Another great read by Colleen Coble! Lots of suspense!" }, { "asin": "1625915136", "rating": 5, "text": "When Angela moves in next door to one of Mitch's house flips, he thought she was a bit strange, but then she came to church and they form an unlikely friendship. They both have a passion for the same family that lives in one of Mitch's rentals across from Angela's house. As they set about to show Bianca and her family Christ's love and grace, they find they have feelings for each other. Will they be able be able to move past the past and have a meaningful relationship? Will they be able to lead Bianca and her family to the Lord, or will she turn them away for good?<br /><br />This was a wonderful story of how God's grace can restore anybody, regardless of what they've been through. The characters were very well developed. I really appreciated how Slattery took common problems that people face in today's world, and showed how no matter how bad it seems, God can always restore that person by His grace! I think it's safe to say most people nowadays know of someone who has some of the same challenges that each character in this book faces. There's Angela who struggled with drugs and promiscuity in her past, but found God's grace and by His grace is turning her life around. Bianca is a single mom who is struggling to provide for her family after her husband is imprisoned and just feels like her life is falling apart. Finally, there's Mitch, a divorced man who is dealing with his drug addict son while his unsaved business partner is making business difficult. I found myself immersed in this book, and I didn't want to put it down. If you need a good book, check this one out! I highly recommend it!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1484843617000, "title": "A great story of God's Grace!" }, { "asin": "0718078764", "rating": 5, "text": "After thirteen years, Natalie Mitchell is faced with going back to the place where her sister's tragic death happened, a place she's avoided since. She is forced to face her past as her father instructs her to check on the status of her grandfather's winery and possibly shut it down. When she arrives, her childhood friend, Tanner Collins, is anything but happy to see her. As they are forced to work together, they find they both have secrets in their pasts. Will she be able to face her past and move on with her life, or will it haunt her forever? Will she be able to save the winery or will she blindly obey her father's wishes as she's always done?<br />Beautifully written, you will not want to put this book down. I loved this book, I loved how the characters were flawed and very well developed. Their struggles are struggles that many people can relate to. I love how West shows how they learn to trust God as they work through their problems. To trust that God makes no mistakes and He has a plan in everything, no matter how horrible it looks to us. I highly recommend this book, go grab yours today!<br />**I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for review through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1496334642000, "title": "Wonderful storyline, well-written!" }, { "asin": "0718083474", "rating": 5, "text": "When Hayden McCarthy is given a case with hardly any information, she knows she has her work cut out for her. Her boss is confident that she can win the case, but she can't seem to get the answers she needs to move forward. As she finally starts gaining momentum, she realizes there is something more to this case than just a wrongful death, but she wants justice for her client. Andrew Wesley is Hayden's roommate's cousin and the son of Congressman Wesley. He works with young kids who have recently immigrated to the United States. Their paths begin to cross more frequently as a boy he's helping ends up being one of the sons of Hayden's client. Will Hayden be able to find justice before they all end up mixed up in something way over their heads?<br /><br />This was the first book I've read of Cara Putman's and I was not disappointed. It was fantastic! The characters were complex and well developed, they were very likable. From the beginning, I was sucked into the story. There were times where after reading the book, I couldn't remember if I read it in the story or if it was a news headline. It's full of twists and turns and keeps the reader guessing until the very end. I loved every minute of it, and can't wait to read more of Putman's books! If you too like suspense, you need to read this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1501788308684, "title": "Will keep you guessing until the end" }, { "asin": "0718085949", "rating": 5, "text": "Brooklyn Myers never intended to return to her hometown of Thunder Creek, Idaho, but God seemed to have different plans. When her husband whom she has been separated from dies and leaves his family home and property to her and her daughter, she sees it as the perfect opportunity to give her daughter a better life. However, Derek Johnson, who was her estranged husband's best friend since childhood, is not exactly thrilled with the idea of Brooklyn and her daughter coming back to live next door, especially since it means he may not be able to buy the land he wanted so bad. As their paths continue to cross, and they get to know each other better, an attraction builds, but they both have some obstacles to overcome, and Brooklyn must get over her past and learn to trust again.<br /> <br />This was a beautifully written, captivating story; I didn't want to put the book down. You'll fall in love with the characters and be rooting for them each step of the way. Rooting for Brooklyn to stand up for herself, to learn to trust men again, and to give Derek a chance. If you love a good romance, this is one you should read!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild program in exchange for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1501903060306, "title": "Captivating romance!" }, { "asin": "1401690327", "rating": 5, "text": "When Dana Newell moves back to her home town of Rock Harbor, she thought she'd be starting over, free from her abusive fianc&eacute;. However, there are many secrets and dangers she wasn't aware of in her hometown. As she tries to help her new friend Boone unravel the mystery of his sister's murder, they find more questions than answers. Will her ex-fianc&eacute; finally leave her alone so she can move on with her life? Will they be able to find the murderer before he strikes again?<br /><br />Colleen Coble has written another amazing story! It will keep you on the edge of your seat from page one. The suspense grabbed me from the very beginning and kept me guessing until the very end. While this is a part of the Rock Harbor series, I have not read any of the rest of the series and I didn't feel lost, so it definitely can stand alone. So what are you waiting for? Go grab your copy and get started, you will want to read this one!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1505619803688, "title": "Suspenseful!" }, { "asin": "0310341590", "rating": 5, "text": "After Tenley Roth writes a bestseller, she is challenged to write her next book. However, she is overcome with writer's block. When her estranged mother asks her to come to Cocoa Beach to help her through her chemotherapy treatments, she thinks this may be what she needs to get her inspiration back. When Tenley arrives at her mother's house she falls in love with an antique desk and gains inspiration from the desk. Little did Tenley know that years before Birdie Shehorn had sat at the same desk wanting two things, to be a published author and to marry for love. Will Tenley shake her writer's block and find her inspiration? Will Birdie be able to go against her mother's wishes and marry for love and finally get her name on a book? <br /><br />This story was very intriguing. I fell in love with both Tenley and Birdie. It kept me wondering how each of their stories would end. I could not put the book down, and when I had to my !Ind kept wondering what was going to happen next. This is another amazing story by Rachel Hauck, and I highly recommend it. I love the way she writes two separate stories of women from two completely different ages and weaves them back together. <br /><br />**I received this book for free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1508124994775, "title": "Another great book by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "0718085760", "rating": 5, "text": "After her husband died, Shauna wanted nothing to do with his best friend, Zach, because she blames him for his death. However, when a series of deaths threaten her life and the life of her son, she has no one else to turn to and has to rely on Zach to keep her safe. As they slowly unravel the mystery of who killed their friends, it only seems to get more dangerous. Will they be able to figure out what the killers are after? And will they be able to solve the mystery before someone else Shauna loves gets hurt?<br /><br />I cannot wait to read the next book in this series. It’s full of twists and turns with a bit of romance thrown in! I love it, kept me guessing all the way until the end! As usual, I quickly fell in love with the main characters, who are very relatable. I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1531621370312, "title": "Amazing suspense!! Great read!" }, { "asin": "0800729463", "rating": 5, "text": "More than likely you know a few things about Elisabeth Elliot and her husband, Jim; you may even have read some of Elisabeth's other books. I knew their story, and a little about Elisabeth after her husband was murdered, but I didn't know much else about her, for example, I never knew she spent an entire year on the opposite side of the jungle as a single missionary trying to create a written language for the Colorado Indians. I found this book very enlightening, it shows the struggles of her first year as a missionary. It shows her humanity through the doubts she herself faced at times. Many times I think we as Christians take for granted that these missionaries leave to go to the field and we hear back from them most of the positive things of their work. We don't hear of the struggles and doubts they have faced. I think sometimes we see these people as superhuman and they don't have doubts, or fears, or struggles, but they are still human, the devil still attacks them, and probably more so as they work daily on a foreign field without many of the luxuries we have here at home. It also shows how great her faith was, even in those struggles she was able to remind herself that she was called of God without a doubt, and it would strengthen her faith to keep on keeping on. I learned a lot from reading her memoir, and I know you will too. May it strengthen your faith as well!<br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1546278626079, "title": "A great story of her struggles, doubts and her faith!" }, { "asin": "0310350964", "rating": 5, "text": "I love the way Rachel Hauck weaves the story of 2 different women from 2 different decades together so seamlessly. I fell in love with Everleigh and Beck very quickly. All of the characters were very interesting and I loved watching the romance between the two couples blossom. Once I was drawn into the story, which didn't take but a few chapters, it was hard for me to put the book down. I wanted to know what happened next. Would Everleigh allow herself to love again? Would Beck ever find her memories? I highly recommend this one, another great romance by Rachel Hauck!<br />**I received a copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1555329536013, "title": "Another great romance by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "0310332591", "rating": 5, "text": "Edge of your seat suspense. The whole book kept me on the edge of my seat. I literally could not put it down, and I'll admit I stayed up way later than I should have to finish it, because I just had to find out what happened to Brenna and her kids,to find out if Nate's dad is really innocent who killed Brenna's father? I immediately fell in love with the characters, and my heart went out to Brenna. I was rooting for her from the beginning. I was hoping she'd see the light and deal with her drinking problem. I love how Nate encourages her to look to God and get back into a relationship with Him instead of turning to alcohol. If you love suspense, if you love a good Blackstock novel, you will not want to miss this book. I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1573313863140, "title": "Keeps you on the edge of your seat!" }, { "asin": "0718085884", "rating": 5, "text": "As usual, I was enthralled with this book by Colleen Coble. I got sucked in, and I couldn't put it down. The characters were very well written, and you could totally relate to them. I quickly fell in love with Harper and Ridge, and they made a great team trying to solve the mystery of the different attacks. I am a big fan of suspense, and this book did not disappoint at all. This is a romantic suspense you won't want to miss!<br /><br />**I received this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1573769909212, "title": "You won't want to miss this one!" }, { "asin": "0800735846", "rating": 4, "text": "Action-packed and full of suspense, this book will leave you wanting to jump right into the next book! I absolutely loved each of the characters, and felt like I was climbing Denali with them. Each character had their own unique back story, and they were all just as easy to love as the rest of them. I found myself gasping and wondering if they were ever going to get off that mountain. Would they be able to rescue their friends in time? Would they ever trust each other again? Would their pasts hinder them from the feelings Orion and Jenny both clearly had for each other, but were denying? As a first book in a series, I'm so glad I can follow the story into the next book when it comes out!! I loved this book, and definitely recommend it! The only thing I think I should warn about is there are a couple points where I thought the romance was getting a bit...shall we say steamier than I would like in a book....nothing ever happens, but it definitely is implied that had something not interrupted it would have happened.<br /><br />**I received this book from Revell Reads for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1579398682476, "title": "Action packed and full of suspense" } ]

[ { "asin": "0764212613", "rating": 5, "text": "After her parents die, Kelli finds some news that could change everything she ever knew. She embarks on a journey to find the truth about her past, about her parents, and about herself. She is desperate to know the truth, even if the truth hurts.<br /><br />I could not put this book down. From the beginning to the end, I was intrigued by the story. I was drawn into the story; I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. I highly recommend this book. It has a little bit of romance as well as a little bit of mystery since as the reader you are trying to figure out the puzzle with Kelli. I had never read a Kathryn Cushman book before, but I definitely will be looking forward to reading more books by her in the future.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher (Bethany House) for review. I was not paid for my review, and all opinions are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1428805791000, "title": "I highly recommend this book" }, { "asin": "0310747414", "rating": 5, "text": "This activity book has lots of fun activities for your child. There are connect the dots, find what’s wrong with this picture, find the differences and simple coloring pages, plus 50 stickers. This activity book has a story about Princess Grace and her kitten Poppy. There are a total of 5 of these sticker and activity books each with a different princess.<br /><br />I love these activity books. This is the second one I have gotten for my daughter, and I plan to use them on road trips to keep her occupied for a little bit in the car. She loves stickers and she’s already put quite a few of them in her book. Some of the activities are above my daughter’s skill level since she’s still only 3, but I still highly recommend these activity books to parents.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers &#60;http://booklookbloggers.com&#62; book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1433292130000, "title": "Awesome sticker/activity books for your children!" }, { "asin": "076421571X", "rating": 5, "text": "After eleven years, Shannon Bliss is finally free from her kidnappers. After she escaped she handpicked Matthew Dane to help her through the tricky situation her escape has left her in. She confides in him and trusts him with her secrets and to best know how to play the next move so that the Jacoby family cannot find her or disappear completely. Slowly he begins to unravel the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. Given the experience he's had in this particular field, Dane knows best how to help see through and be the friend she needs through what lies ahead for her.<br /><br />Taken is one of the most amazing books I've read in a while. I absolutely loved this book. It did take me a little while to get fully engrossed in it, but once I did I could not put this book down. I loved all the mystery in it that keeps the reader on his/her toes. I love the Christian perspective of this book. Many times you read suspense or mystery novels and they completely leave God out, but Henderson did a great job at pointing to God to help get the characters through each and every situation they face past or present. I highly recommend this book.<br /><br />**I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1434252407000, "title": "Amazing, read it!" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 5, "text": "Abby Hart is a homicide detective that has a passion for finding justice for victims' families. But when a serial killer's latest victim has ties to a cold case very dear to her heart, it brings her the opportunity to ask questions she has always wanted to ask. It also causes her to cross paths with private investigator Luke Murphy who unbeknownst to Abby is just as interested in the same cold case. <br /><br />This was an amazing book. I was so drawn into the book, that when I had to lay it down, I found myself wondering what was going on. It kept me guessing the while way through. If you like suspense, you'll love this book. I cannot wait until the next book in the series comes out next spring! I will definitely be watching for it. <br /><br />**I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own", "timestamp": 1439750773000, "title": "Absolutely loved this book!!" }, { "asin": "1401689604", "rating": 5, "text": "Kate is great at keeping secrets. She loves to spy on her family members and the guests at their lodge. Right after the murder of one of her grandfather’s friends, Kate secretly offers a homeless man shelter, not knowing what would happen to her family after she does so.<br /><br />This book was excellent. I found it to be very intriguing and kept you guessing until the very end. I love suspense because I love trying to guess what is coming next, or who did it. This book was no different. The characters were all interesting and very well-developed. I felt like I could picture the scenes as I was reading. I had never read any of Erin Healy’s books, but after reading this one, I will definitely read more! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys some suspense.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers &#60;http://booklookbloggers.com&#62; book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60;http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1443201122000, "title": "Great suspense book!" }, { "asin": "0764210637", "rating": 5, "text": "Abrianna Cunningham is always finding herself in some sort of trouble, but will she be able to get out of this plight without causing harm to anyone else? This clever redhead is very resourceful and can handle just about anything she gets herself into, but she may just be in too far over her head this time. Follow Abrianna as she plans her wedding to the love of her life, but has some confusing doubts along the way. See how she deals with her doubts and find some interesting plot twists in the process.<br /><br />This book was phenomenal! I absolutely love every book by Tracie Peterson, and this was no exception! The characters were very well developed and the plot was very intriguing. I love how as you are reading about halfway through, Peterson throws a plot twist in and keeps you on your toes so much that you can't bring yourself to stop reading. I found myself reading well into the night because I was afraid I was going to miss something. Highly, highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher (Bethany House) for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1445695101000, "title": "Another amazing read!" }, { "asin": "0310338492", "rating": 5, "text": "A librarian named Lydia Bancroft finds herself very intrigued by a special patron that comes to the library, but never checks out a book. Sebastian Marks is an elusive man who has many secrets. After rescuing her from a disaster at the Hartman Hotel, they form a friendship. However, Lydia soon learns there is more to Mr. Marks than she ever would have dreamed.<br /><br />This is the third book in the Chicago World's Fair series, however it can stand alone. The characters are complex and very well developed. As this mystery unfolds you find yourself getting drawn deeper and deeper into the book. By the time I got to the end, I couldn't put it down because I had to know what was going to happen. This was by far one of the best mysteries I've read in a while! If you love mysteries with a splash of romance you will love this one.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild by Thomas Nelson/Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1452004862000, "title": "Great mystery! Keeps you interested all the way to the end!" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 5, "text": "Coach Westbrook’s wedding chapel has stood empty for decades, never seeing a wedding. Taylor Branson, a photographer who left Heart’s Bend to pursue her career, falls head over heels in love with Jack Forester after bumping into him in New York, but did they rush things? When Coach Westbrook and Taylor’s paths cross paths during a photo shoot in Heart’s Bend, many secrets are brought to the surface. Will they both discover the love they long for, despite their past?<br />This was a wonderful romance full of unexpected twists and turns along the way. It keeps you on your toes wondering what will happen next. The characters were complex, and very well developed. I very much enjoyed this read; at first I didn’t like the bouncing back and forth from one character’s story to the next, from the past to the present, but by the middle it got better and easier to follow, and by the end I was completely drawn in and I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good romance.<br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild by Zondervan /Thomas Nelson for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1452356163000, "title": "Great romance, full of twists and turns" }, { "asin": "031033344X", "rating": 5, "text": "Ashley Tolliver is a midwife in the mountains of Virginia, but she wants to take her career to the next level and attend medical school. She comes from a long line of midwives, nearly 200 years worth to be exact. But when a city boy comes to town looking for help and answers, she begins to think about all that her dream entails, leaving the community she's not only grown up in, but has committed herself to serving and helping.<br /><br />This was a brilliant romance. I was captivated from the very beginning. The characters are complex, but easy to relate to. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. I was sad to see the book end. I love books that point to God, and this was no exception. A few times the characters had tough decisions to make, and they always turned to God to help them with these decisions. This was the first of Eakes books I have read, but if the rest of her books are like this one, I will be finding every one. In short, I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : &#34;Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.&#34;", "timestamp": 1452882048000, "title": "Captivating from the beginning!" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 5, "text": "Casey Cox is tortured by her past, but now a new threat has sent her running for her life. She’s accused of murdering her good friend, but doesn’t know who she can and cannot trust. Will she be able to find justice for her father and for her friend without being in jeopardy herself?<br /><br />I was drawn into this book from the very first line. It is a gripping story told in the first person that draws you in so far you feel like you’re right there with Casey as she tries to figure out this mess. The characters are complex with their own flaws. This is the first in a trilogy so when I got to the end I was ready to jump into the next one, but alas, I have to wait. I finished this book in 2 days (which is a big deal for me…lol) because I couldn’t bear to put it down long because every time I did it left me wondering what was going to happen next! Highly recommend this book!<br /><br />** I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLookBloggers [...]book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1457122614000, "title": "Amazing read!" }, { "asin": "0718030923", "rating": 3, "text": "Allie Marshall was convicted of a crime she didn't commit, but after 10 long years she's out on parole. She's determined to prove her innocence. Her return turns everyone's world upside down, especially her daughter's. Will she be able to mend her relationship with her daughter and prove once and for all she didn't murder the coach?<br /><br />I enjoyed this suspense. It was full of unexpected twists and turns all the way to the end. It keeps you enthralled the whole time. While I loved this book I wouldn't call this Christian fiction as there's no mention of God at all. It's fairly clean, however, there are a few instances of cursing and there were a couple racy spots (more than I prefer). Minus those spots the storyline was great and kept me on my toes.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review through Book Look Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review; all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1465782092000, "title": "Kept me on my toes" }, { "asin": "0692701370", "rating": 5, "text": "Katie Chupp is an Amish girl who works at the bakery in town. As she walks into the bakery on the day of the Fourth of July celebration, she finds that someone has broken into the bakery and stolen a good deal of their inventory. Now they are faced with finding the thief responsible and finding a place to bake all the special orders in time for the celebration. When Katie unknowingly stumbles upon the thief and realizes the situation behind the theft, she is faced with telling her boss and hoping she will understand the circumstances.<br /><br />This is Naomi Miller's debut novel, and I must say it was amazing! It kept my interest from the first page until the very end. It was shorter than usual, so I finished it in just two days! I loved the characters; they were well developed and the story was one you could relate to. The Amish genre usually is hard for me to get into, but this story was different, not like a lot of the other Amish books I've tried to read before. I love mysteries and if you do too, I highly recommend it. I am looking forward to book #2 in this series, the &#34;Christmas Cookie Mystery&#34;!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the author for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1472696828000, "title": "Great read!" }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 4, "text": "Parker House has a very close relationship with his grandfather, Frank House. He shares a special talent with his grandfather in that they both are able to see future events. This talent has been haunting Frank House for years ever since the war. When Parker gets a new job at a new law firm, Frank is forced to come face to face with his past. Will Frank be able to move on from his past?<br />It took me a long time to get into this story, but when I finally did it was a good read. It was hard for me at first to go back and forth between the characters and the different time periods throughout the book. The characters were very well developed and had their own flaws, and were pretty relatable. This was a different type of read than I’m used to, but I would definitely recommend it to others who like a little suspense with some romance thrown in.<br /><br />**I received this book free through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1476244820000, "title": "Good read, just kind of a slow pace." }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "After her best friend Tammy dies, Haley Morgan dreams of opening the wedding shop in Heart’s Bend and carry on the legacy of Cora Scott. Is it just a dream she and her friend had as children, or can she make the dream become a reality and save the shop from becoming a parking lot. Fixing up the old shop to the city’s time table and specifications is the beginning of a beautiful journey of faith and love for Haley. Will she be able to accomplish her dream and maybe find true love on the way?<br /><br />This book was another amazing read by Rachel Hauck. She has a way of writing the storyline and characters in such a relatable way that you feel like you know them. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next, how it would all come together. I loved it. If you love Christian romance then you need to check this one out.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1482990554000, "title": "Another amazing book by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "1401690300", "rating": 5, "text": "Since her mother's blueberry barrens are no longer producing enough fruit to make a living, Kate decides she needs to rent her cottage out. Drake Newham shows up with his nieces and not only wants to rent it, but also needs a nanny. When Kate finds out Drake is in Maine to look into his brother and sister-in-law's deaths, they decide to team up to get to the bottom of it. However, Kate's uncle has recently escaped prison and someone may be stalking her. Will they ever find the people responsible for all the threats to Kate and her loved ones?<br /><br />I always enjoy Colleen Coble's books, and this was no different. It was packed with suspense and romance. I found myself turning page after page wondering who the stalker was, who really killed Drake's family, and will they ever catch Uncle Paul? I find myself so engrossed I feel like I'm right there with Kate and Drake, rooting for them. The characters are very relatable. If you love suspense with romance mixed in, you'll love this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publishers through the Fiction Guild program for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1484542439000, "title": "Another great read by Colleen Coble! Lots of suspense!" }, { "asin": "1625915136", "rating": 5, "text": "When Angela moves in next door to one of Mitch's house flips, he thought she was a bit strange, but then she came to church and they form an unlikely friendship. They both have a passion for the same family that lives in one of Mitch's rentals across from Angela's house. As they set about to show Bianca and her family Christ's love and grace, they find they have feelings for each other. Will they be able be able to move past the past and have a meaningful relationship? Will they be able to lead Bianca and her family to the Lord, or will she turn them away for good?<br /><br />This was a wonderful story of how God's grace can restore anybody, regardless of what they've been through. The characters were very well developed. I really appreciated how Slattery took common problems that people face in today's world, and showed how no matter how bad it seems, God can always restore that person by His grace! I think it's safe to say most people nowadays know of someone who has some of the same challenges that each character in this book faces. There's Angela who struggled with drugs and promiscuity in her past, but found God's grace and by His grace is turning her life around. Bianca is a single mom who is struggling to provide for her family after her husband is imprisoned and just feels like her life is falling apart. Finally, there's Mitch, a divorced man who is dealing with his drug addict son while his unsaved business partner is making business difficult. I found myself immersed in this book, and I didn't want to put it down. If you need a good book, check this one out! I highly recommend it!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1484843617000, "title": "A great story of God's Grace!" }, { "asin": "0718078764", "rating": 5, "text": "After thirteen years, Natalie Mitchell is faced with going back to the place where her sister's tragic death happened, a place she's avoided since. She is forced to face her past as her father instructs her to check on the status of her grandfather's winery and possibly shut it down. When she arrives, her childhood friend, Tanner Collins, is anything but happy to see her. As they are forced to work together, they find they both have secrets in their pasts. Will she be able to face her past and move on with her life, or will it haunt her forever? Will she be able to save the winery or will she blindly obey her father's wishes as she's always done?<br />Beautifully written, you will not want to put this book down. I loved this book, I loved how the characters were flawed and very well developed. Their struggles are struggles that many people can relate to. I love how West shows how they learn to trust God as they work through their problems. To trust that God makes no mistakes and He has a plan in everything, no matter how horrible it looks to us. I highly recommend this book, go grab yours today!<br />**I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for review through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1496334642000, "title": "Wonderful storyline, well-written!" }, { "asin": "0718083474", "rating": 5, "text": "When Hayden McCarthy is given a case with hardly any information, she knows she has her work cut out for her. Her boss is confident that she can win the case, but she can't seem to get the answers she needs to move forward. As she finally starts gaining momentum, she realizes there is something more to this case than just a wrongful death, but she wants justice for her client. Andrew Wesley is Hayden's roommate's cousin and the son of Congressman Wesley. He works with young kids who have recently immigrated to the United States. Their paths begin to cross more frequently as a boy he's helping ends up being one of the sons of Hayden's client. Will Hayden be able to find justice before they all end up mixed up in something way over their heads?<br /><br />This was the first book I've read of Cara Putman's and I was not disappointed. It was fantastic! The characters were complex and well developed, they were very likable. From the beginning, I was sucked into the story. There were times where after reading the book, I couldn't remember if I read it in the story or if it was a news headline. It's full of twists and turns and keeps the reader guessing until the very end. I loved every minute of it, and can't wait to read more of Putman's books! If you too like suspense, you need to read this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1501788308684, "title": "Will keep you guessing until the end" }, { "asin": "0718085949", "rating": 5, "text": "Brooklyn Myers never intended to return to her hometown of Thunder Creek, Idaho, but God seemed to have different plans. When her husband whom she has been separated from dies and leaves his family home and property to her and her daughter, she sees it as the perfect opportunity to give her daughter a better life. However, Derek Johnson, who was her estranged husband's best friend since childhood, is not exactly thrilled with the idea of Brooklyn and her daughter coming back to live next door, especially since it means he may not be able to buy the land he wanted so bad. As their paths continue to cross, and they get to know each other better, an attraction builds, but they both have some obstacles to overcome, and Brooklyn must get over her past and learn to trust again.<br /> <br />This was a beautifully written, captivating story; I didn't want to put the book down. You'll fall in love with the characters and be rooting for them each step of the way. Rooting for Brooklyn to stand up for herself, to learn to trust men again, and to give Derek a chance. If you love a good romance, this is one you should read!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild program in exchange for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1501903060306, "title": "Captivating romance!" }, { "asin": "1401690327", "rating": 5, "text": "When Dana Newell moves back to her home town of Rock Harbor, she thought she'd be starting over, free from her abusive fianc&eacute;. However, there are many secrets and dangers she wasn't aware of in her hometown. As she tries to help her new friend Boone unravel the mystery of his sister's murder, they find more questions than answers. Will her ex-fianc&eacute; finally leave her alone so she can move on with her life? Will they be able to find the murderer before he strikes again?<br /><br />Colleen Coble has written another amazing story! It will keep you on the edge of your seat from page one. The suspense grabbed me from the very beginning and kept me guessing until the very end. While this is a part of the Rock Harbor series, I have not read any of the rest of the series and I didn't feel lost, so it definitely can stand alone. So what are you waiting for? Go grab your copy and get started, you will want to read this one!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1505619803688, "title": "Suspenseful!" }, { "asin": "0310341590", "rating": 5, "text": "After Tenley Roth writes a bestseller, she is challenged to write her next book. However, she is overcome with writer's block. When her estranged mother asks her to come to Cocoa Beach to help her through her chemotherapy treatments, she thinks this may be what she needs to get her inspiration back. When Tenley arrives at her mother's house she falls in love with an antique desk and gains inspiration from the desk. Little did Tenley know that years before Birdie Shehorn had sat at the same desk wanting two things, to be a published author and to marry for love. Will Tenley shake her writer's block and find her inspiration? Will Birdie be able to go against her mother's wishes and marry for love and finally get her name on a book? <br /><br />This story was very intriguing. I fell in love with both Tenley and Birdie. It kept me wondering how each of their stories would end. I could not put the book down, and when I had to my !Ind kept wondering what was going to happen next. This is another amazing story by Rachel Hauck, and I highly recommend it. I love the way she writes two separate stories of women from two completely different ages and weaves them back together. <br /><br />**I received this book for free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1508124994775, "title": "Another great book by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "0718085760", "rating": 5, "text": "After her husband died, Shauna wanted nothing to do with his best friend, Zach, because she blames him for his death. However, when a series of deaths threaten her life and the life of her son, she has no one else to turn to and has to rely on Zach to keep her safe. As they slowly unravel the mystery of who killed their friends, it only seems to get more dangerous. Will they be able to figure out what the killers are after? And will they be able to solve the mystery before someone else Shauna loves gets hurt?<br /><br />I cannot wait to read the next book in this series. It’s full of twists and turns with a bit of romance thrown in! I love it, kept me guessing all the way until the end! As usual, I quickly fell in love with the main characters, who are very relatable. I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1531621370312, "title": "Amazing suspense!! Great read!" }, { "asin": "0800729463", "rating": 5, "text": "More than likely you know a few things about Elisabeth Elliot and her husband, Jim; you may even have read some of Elisabeth's other books. I knew their story, and a little about Elisabeth after her husband was murdered, but I didn't know much else about her, for example, I never knew she spent an entire year on the opposite side of the jungle as a single missionary trying to create a written language for the Colorado Indians. I found this book very enlightening, it shows the struggles of her first year as a missionary. It shows her humanity through the doubts she herself faced at times. Many times I think we as Christians take for granted that these missionaries leave to go to the field and we hear back from them most of the positive things of their work. We don't hear of the struggles and doubts they have faced. I think sometimes we see these people as superhuman and they don't have doubts, or fears, or struggles, but they are still human, the devil still attacks them, and probably more so as they work daily on a foreign field without many of the luxuries we have here at home. It also shows how great her faith was, even in those struggles she was able to remind herself that she was called of God without a doubt, and it would strengthen her faith to keep on keeping on. I learned a lot from reading her memoir, and I know you will too. May it strengthen your faith as well!<br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1546278626079, "title": "A great story of her struggles, doubts and her faith!" }, { "asin": "0310350964", "rating": 5, "text": "I love the way Rachel Hauck weaves the story of 2 different women from 2 different decades together so seamlessly. I fell in love with Everleigh and Beck very quickly. All of the characters were very interesting and I loved watching the romance between the two couples blossom. Once I was drawn into the story, which didn't take but a few chapters, it was hard for me to put the book down. I wanted to know what happened next. Would Everleigh allow herself to love again? Would Beck ever find her memories? I highly recommend this one, another great romance by Rachel Hauck!<br />**I received a copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1555329536013, "title": "Another great romance by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "0310332591", "rating": 5, "text": "Edge of your seat suspense. The whole book kept me on the edge of my seat. I literally could not put it down, and I'll admit I stayed up way later than I should have to finish it, because I just had to find out what happened to Brenna and her kids,to find out if Nate's dad is really innocent who killed Brenna's father? I immediately fell in love with the characters, and my heart went out to Brenna. I was rooting for her from the beginning. I was hoping she'd see the light and deal with her drinking problem. I love how Nate encourages her to look to God and get back into a relationship with Him instead of turning to alcohol. If you love suspense, if you love a good Blackstock novel, you will not want to miss this book. I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1573313863140, "title": "Keeps you on the edge of your seat!" }, { "asin": "0718085884", "rating": 5, "text": "As usual, I was enthralled with this book by Colleen Coble. I got sucked in, and I couldn't put it down. The characters were very well written, and you could totally relate to them. I quickly fell in love with Harper and Ridge, and they made a great team trying to solve the mystery of the different attacks. I am a big fan of suspense, and this book did not disappoint at all. This is a romantic suspense you won't want to miss!<br /><br />**I received this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1573769909212, "title": "You won't want to miss this one!" }, { "asin": "0800735846", "rating": 4, "text": "Action-packed and full of suspense, this book will leave you wanting to jump right into the next book! I absolutely loved each of the characters, and felt like I was climbing Denali with them. Each character had their own unique back story, and they were all just as easy to love as the rest of them. I found myself gasping and wondering if they were ever going to get off that mountain. Would they be able to rescue their friends in time? Would they ever trust each other again? Would their pasts hinder them from the feelings Orion and Jenny both clearly had for each other, but were denying? As a first book in a series, I'm so glad I can follow the story into the next book when it comes out!! I loved this book, and definitely recommend it! The only thing I think I should warn about is there are a couple points where I thought the romance was getting a bit...shall we say steamier than I would like in a book....nothing ever happens, but it definitely is implied that had something not interrupted it would have happened.<br /><br />**I received this book from Revell Reads for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1579398682476, "title": "Action packed and full of suspense" }, { "asin": "1636090893", "rating": 5, "text": "World War II has always been my favorite part of history. This book was set in that time period. I had never heard of the SPARS branch of the Coast Guard until I got this book. It was fascinating to read this story and about the brave women who chose to serve their country in this special branch. I know this was a fictionalized story, but it will definitely keep you on your toes and you’ll quickly fall in love with the characters. I loved the storyline, the characters, and suspense. If you like historical fiction with suspense added in, you’ll absolutely love this book!<br /><br />**I received this book for review as part of the CelebrateLit blog team. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1639251908380, "title": "Hard to put down!" } ]

[ { "asin": "0764212613", "rating": 5, "text": "After her parents die, Kelli finds some news that could change everything she ever knew. She embarks on a journey to find the truth about her past, about her parents, and about herself. She is desperate to know the truth, even if the truth hurts.<br /><br />I could not put this book down. From the beginning to the end, I was intrigued by the story. I was drawn into the story; I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. I highly recommend this book. It has a little bit of romance as well as a little bit of mystery since as the reader you are trying to figure out the puzzle with Kelli. I had never read a Kathryn Cushman book before, but I definitely will be looking forward to reading more books by her in the future.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher (Bethany House) for review. I was not paid for my review, and all opinions are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1428805791000, "title": "I highly recommend this book" }, { "asin": "0310747414", "rating": 5, "text": "This activity book has lots of fun activities for your child. There are connect the dots, find what’s wrong with this picture, find the differences and simple coloring pages, plus 50 stickers. This activity book has a story about Princess Grace and her kitten Poppy. There are a total of 5 of these sticker and activity books each with a different princess.<br /><br />I love these activity books. This is the second one I have gotten for my daughter, and I plan to use them on road trips to keep her occupied for a little bit in the car. She loves stickers and she’s already put quite a few of them in her book. Some of the activities are above my daughter’s skill level since she’s still only 3, but I still highly recommend these activity books to parents.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers &#60;http://booklookbloggers.com&#62; book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1433292130000, "title": "Awesome sticker/activity books for your children!" }, { "asin": "076421571X", "rating": 5, "text": "After eleven years, Shannon Bliss is finally free from her kidnappers. After she escaped she handpicked Matthew Dane to help her through the tricky situation her escape has left her in. She confides in him and trusts him with her secrets and to best know how to play the next move so that the Jacoby family cannot find her or disappear completely. Slowly he begins to unravel the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. Given the experience he's had in this particular field, Dane knows best how to help see through and be the friend she needs through what lies ahead for her.<br /><br />Taken is one of the most amazing books I've read in a while. I absolutely loved this book. It did take me a little while to get fully engrossed in it, but once I did I could not put this book down. I loved all the mystery in it that keeps the reader on his/her toes. I love the Christian perspective of this book. Many times you read suspense or mystery novels and they completely leave God out, but Henderson did a great job at pointing to God to help get the characters through each and every situation they face past or present. I highly recommend this book.<br /><br />**I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1434252407000, "title": "Amazing, read it!" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 5, "text": "Abby Hart is a homicide detective that has a passion for finding justice for victims' families. But when a serial killer's latest victim has ties to a cold case very dear to her heart, it brings her the opportunity to ask questions she has always wanted to ask. It also causes her to cross paths with private investigator Luke Murphy who unbeknownst to Abby is just as interested in the same cold case. <br /><br />This was an amazing book. I was so drawn into the book, that when I had to lay it down, I found myself wondering what was going on. It kept me guessing the while way through. If you like suspense, you'll love this book. I cannot wait until the next book in the series comes out next spring! I will definitely be watching for it. <br /><br />**I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own", "timestamp": 1439750773000, "title": "Absolutely loved this book!!" }, { "asin": "1401689604", "rating": 5, "text": "Kate is great at keeping secrets. She loves to spy on her family members and the guests at their lodge. Right after the murder of one of her grandfather’s friends, Kate secretly offers a homeless man shelter, not knowing what would happen to her family after she does so.<br /><br />This book was excellent. I found it to be very intriguing and kept you guessing until the very end. I love suspense because I love trying to guess what is coming next, or who did it. This book was no different. The characters were all interesting and very well-developed. I felt like I could picture the scenes as I was reading. I had never read any of Erin Healy’s books, but after reading this one, I will definitely read more! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys some suspense.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers &#60;http://booklookbloggers.com&#62; book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60;http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1443201122000, "title": "Great suspense book!" }, { "asin": "0764210637", "rating": 5, "text": "Abrianna Cunningham is always finding herself in some sort of trouble, but will she be able to get out of this plight without causing harm to anyone else? This clever redhead is very resourceful and can handle just about anything she gets herself into, but she may just be in too far over her head this time. Follow Abrianna as she plans her wedding to the love of her life, but has some confusing doubts along the way. See how she deals with her doubts and find some interesting plot twists in the process.<br /><br />This book was phenomenal! I absolutely love every book by Tracie Peterson, and this was no exception! The characters were very well developed and the plot was very intriguing. I love how as you are reading about halfway through, Peterson throws a plot twist in and keeps you on your toes so much that you can't bring yourself to stop reading. I found myself reading well into the night because I was afraid I was going to miss something. Highly, highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher (Bethany House) for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1445695101000, "title": "Another amazing read!" }, { "asin": "0310338492", "rating": 5, "text": "A librarian named Lydia Bancroft finds herself very intrigued by a special patron that comes to the library, but never checks out a book. Sebastian Marks is an elusive man who has many secrets. After rescuing her from a disaster at the Hartman Hotel, they form a friendship. However, Lydia soon learns there is more to Mr. Marks than she ever would have dreamed.<br /><br />This is the third book in the Chicago World's Fair series, however it can stand alone. The characters are complex and very well developed. As this mystery unfolds you find yourself getting drawn deeper and deeper into the book. By the time I got to the end, I couldn't put it down because I had to know what was going to happen. This was by far one of the best mysteries I've read in a while! If you love mysteries with a splash of romance you will love this one.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild by Thomas Nelson/Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1452004862000, "title": "Great mystery! Keeps you interested all the way to the end!" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 5, "text": "Coach Westbrook’s wedding chapel has stood empty for decades, never seeing a wedding. Taylor Branson, a photographer who left Heart’s Bend to pursue her career, falls head over heels in love with Jack Forester after bumping into him in New York, but did they rush things? When Coach Westbrook and Taylor’s paths cross paths during a photo shoot in Heart’s Bend, many secrets are brought to the surface. Will they both discover the love they long for, despite their past?<br />This was a wonderful romance full of unexpected twists and turns along the way. It keeps you on your toes wondering what will happen next. The characters were complex, and very well developed. I very much enjoyed this read; at first I didn’t like the bouncing back and forth from one character’s story to the next, from the past to the present, but by the middle it got better and easier to follow, and by the end I was completely drawn in and I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good romance.<br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild by Zondervan /Thomas Nelson for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1452356163000, "title": "Great romance, full of twists and turns" }, { "asin": "031033344X", "rating": 5, "text": "Ashley Tolliver is a midwife in the mountains of Virginia, but she wants to take her career to the next level and attend medical school. She comes from a long line of midwives, nearly 200 years worth to be exact. But when a city boy comes to town looking for help and answers, she begins to think about all that her dream entails, leaving the community she's not only grown up in, but has committed herself to serving and helping.<br /><br />This was a brilliant romance. I was captivated from the very beginning. The characters are complex, but easy to relate to. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. I was sad to see the book end. I love books that point to God, and this was no exception. A few times the characters had tough decisions to make, and they always turned to God to help them with these decisions. This was the first of Eakes books I have read, but if the rest of her books are like this one, I will be finding every one. In short, I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : &#34;Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.&#34;", "timestamp": 1452882048000, "title": "Captivating from the beginning!" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 5, "text": "Casey Cox is tortured by her past, but now a new threat has sent her running for her life. She’s accused of murdering her good friend, but doesn’t know who she can and cannot trust. Will she be able to find justice for her father and for her friend without being in jeopardy herself?<br /><br />I was drawn into this book from the very first line. It is a gripping story told in the first person that draws you in so far you feel like you’re right there with Casey as she tries to figure out this mess. The characters are complex with their own flaws. This is the first in a trilogy so when I got to the end I was ready to jump into the next one, but alas, I have to wait. I finished this book in 2 days (which is a big deal for me…lol) because I couldn’t bear to put it down long because every time I did it left me wondering what was going to happen next! Highly recommend this book!<br /><br />** I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLookBloggers [...]book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1457122614000, "title": "Amazing read!" }, { "asin": "0718030923", "rating": 3, "text": "Allie Marshall was convicted of a crime she didn't commit, but after 10 long years she's out on parole. She's determined to prove her innocence. Her return turns everyone's world upside down, especially her daughter's. Will she be able to mend her relationship with her daughter and prove once and for all she didn't murder the coach?<br /><br />I enjoyed this suspense. It was full of unexpected twists and turns all the way to the end. It keeps you enthralled the whole time. While I loved this book I wouldn't call this Christian fiction as there's no mention of God at all. It's fairly clean, however, there are a few instances of cursing and there were a couple racy spots (more than I prefer). Minus those spots the storyline was great and kept me on my toes.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review through Book Look Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review; all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1465782092000, "title": "Kept me on my toes" }, { "asin": "0692701370", "rating": 5, "text": "Katie Chupp is an Amish girl who works at the bakery in town. As she walks into the bakery on the day of the Fourth of July celebration, she finds that someone has broken into the bakery and stolen a good deal of their inventory. Now they are faced with finding the thief responsible and finding a place to bake all the special orders in time for the celebration. When Katie unknowingly stumbles upon the thief and realizes the situation behind the theft, she is faced with telling her boss and hoping she will understand the circumstances.<br /><br />This is Naomi Miller's debut novel, and I must say it was amazing! It kept my interest from the first page until the very end. It was shorter than usual, so I finished it in just two days! I loved the characters; they were well developed and the story was one you could relate to. The Amish genre usually is hard for me to get into, but this story was different, not like a lot of the other Amish books I've tried to read before. I love mysteries and if you do too, I highly recommend it. I am looking forward to book #2 in this series, the &#34;Christmas Cookie Mystery&#34;!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the author for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1472696828000, "title": "Great read!" }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 4, "text": "Parker House has a very close relationship with his grandfather, Frank House. He shares a special talent with his grandfather in that they both are able to see future events. This talent has been haunting Frank House for years ever since the war. When Parker gets a new job at a new law firm, Frank is forced to come face to face with his past. Will Frank be able to move on from his past?<br />It took me a long time to get into this story, but when I finally did it was a good read. It was hard for me at first to go back and forth between the characters and the different time periods throughout the book. The characters were very well developed and had their own flaws, and were pretty relatable. This was a different type of read than I’m used to, but I would definitely recommend it to others who like a little suspense with some romance thrown in.<br /><br />**I received this book free through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1476244820000, "title": "Good read, just kind of a slow pace." }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "After her best friend Tammy dies, Haley Morgan dreams of opening the wedding shop in Heart’s Bend and carry on the legacy of Cora Scott. Is it just a dream she and her friend had as children, or can she make the dream become a reality and save the shop from becoming a parking lot. Fixing up the old shop to the city’s time table and specifications is the beginning of a beautiful journey of faith and love for Haley. Will she be able to accomplish her dream and maybe find true love on the way?<br /><br />This book was another amazing read by Rachel Hauck. She has a way of writing the storyline and characters in such a relatable way that you feel like you know them. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next, how it would all come together. I loved it. If you love Christian romance then you need to check this one out.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1482990554000, "title": "Another amazing book by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "1401690300", "rating": 5, "text": "Since her mother's blueberry barrens are no longer producing enough fruit to make a living, Kate decides she needs to rent her cottage out. Drake Newham shows up with his nieces and not only wants to rent it, but also needs a nanny. When Kate finds out Drake is in Maine to look into his brother and sister-in-law's deaths, they decide to team up to get to the bottom of it. However, Kate's uncle has recently escaped prison and someone may be stalking her. Will they ever find the people responsible for all the threats to Kate and her loved ones?<br /><br />I always enjoy Colleen Coble's books, and this was no different. It was packed with suspense and romance. I found myself turning page after page wondering who the stalker was, who really killed Drake's family, and will they ever catch Uncle Paul? I find myself so engrossed I feel like I'm right there with Kate and Drake, rooting for them. The characters are very relatable. If you love suspense with romance mixed in, you'll love this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publishers through the Fiction Guild program for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1484542439000, "title": "Another great read by Colleen Coble! Lots of suspense!" }, { "asin": "1625915136", "rating": 5, "text": "When Angela moves in next door to one of Mitch's house flips, he thought she was a bit strange, but then she came to church and they form an unlikely friendship. They both have a passion for the same family that lives in one of Mitch's rentals across from Angela's house. As they set about to show Bianca and her family Christ's love and grace, they find they have feelings for each other. Will they be able be able to move past the past and have a meaningful relationship? Will they be able to lead Bianca and her family to the Lord, or will she turn them away for good?<br /><br />This was a wonderful story of how God's grace can restore anybody, regardless of what they've been through. The characters were very well developed. I really appreciated how Slattery took common problems that people face in today's world, and showed how no matter how bad it seems, God can always restore that person by His grace! I think it's safe to say most people nowadays know of someone who has some of the same challenges that each character in this book faces. There's Angela who struggled with drugs and promiscuity in her past, but found God's grace and by His grace is turning her life around. Bianca is a single mom who is struggling to provide for her family after her husband is imprisoned and just feels like her life is falling apart. Finally, there's Mitch, a divorced man who is dealing with his drug addict son while his unsaved business partner is making business difficult. I found myself immersed in this book, and I didn't want to put it down. If you need a good book, check this one out! I highly recommend it!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1484843617000, "title": "A great story of God's Grace!" }, { "asin": "0718078764", "rating": 5, "text": "After thirteen years, Natalie Mitchell is faced with going back to the place where her sister's tragic death happened, a place she's avoided since. She is forced to face her past as her father instructs her to check on the status of her grandfather's winery and possibly shut it down. When she arrives, her childhood friend, Tanner Collins, is anything but happy to see her. As they are forced to work together, they find they both have secrets in their pasts. Will she be able to face her past and move on with her life, or will it haunt her forever? Will she be able to save the winery or will she blindly obey her father's wishes as she's always done?<br />Beautifully written, you will not want to put this book down. I loved this book, I loved how the characters were flawed and very well developed. Their struggles are struggles that many people can relate to. I love how West shows how they learn to trust God as they work through their problems. To trust that God makes no mistakes and He has a plan in everything, no matter how horrible it looks to us. I highly recommend this book, go grab yours today!<br />**I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for review through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1496334642000, "title": "Wonderful storyline, well-written!" }, { "asin": "0718083474", "rating": 5, "text": "When Hayden McCarthy is given a case with hardly any information, she knows she has her work cut out for her. Her boss is confident that she can win the case, but she can't seem to get the answers she needs to move forward. As she finally starts gaining momentum, she realizes there is something more to this case than just a wrongful death, but she wants justice for her client. Andrew Wesley is Hayden's roommate's cousin and the son of Congressman Wesley. He works with young kids who have recently immigrated to the United States. Their paths begin to cross more frequently as a boy he's helping ends up being one of the sons of Hayden's client. Will Hayden be able to find justice before they all end up mixed up in something way over their heads?<br /><br />This was the first book I've read of Cara Putman's and I was not disappointed. It was fantastic! The characters were complex and well developed, they were very likable. From the beginning, I was sucked into the story. There were times where after reading the book, I couldn't remember if I read it in the story or if it was a news headline. It's full of twists and turns and keeps the reader guessing until the very end. I loved every minute of it, and can't wait to read more of Putman's books! If you too like suspense, you need to read this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1501788308684, "title": "Will keep you guessing until the end" }, { "asin": "0718085949", "rating": 5, "text": "Brooklyn Myers never intended to return to her hometown of Thunder Creek, Idaho, but God seemed to have different plans. When her husband whom she has been separated from dies and leaves his family home and property to her and her daughter, she sees it as the perfect opportunity to give her daughter a better life. However, Derek Johnson, who was her estranged husband's best friend since childhood, is not exactly thrilled with the idea of Brooklyn and her daughter coming back to live next door, especially since it means he may not be able to buy the land he wanted so bad. As their paths continue to cross, and they get to know each other better, an attraction builds, but they both have some obstacles to overcome, and Brooklyn must get over her past and learn to trust again.<br /> <br />This was a beautifully written, captivating story; I didn't want to put the book down. You'll fall in love with the characters and be rooting for them each step of the way. Rooting for Brooklyn to stand up for herself, to learn to trust men again, and to give Derek a chance. If you love a good romance, this is one you should read!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild program in exchange for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1501903060306, "title": "Captivating romance!" }, { "asin": "1401690327", "rating": 5, "text": "When Dana Newell moves back to her home town of Rock Harbor, she thought she'd be starting over, free from her abusive fianc&eacute;. However, there are many secrets and dangers she wasn't aware of in her hometown. As she tries to help her new friend Boone unravel the mystery of his sister's murder, they find more questions than answers. Will her ex-fianc&eacute; finally leave her alone so she can move on with her life? Will they be able to find the murderer before he strikes again?<br /><br />Colleen Coble has written another amazing story! It will keep you on the edge of your seat from page one. The suspense grabbed me from the very beginning and kept me guessing until the very end. While this is a part of the Rock Harbor series, I have not read any of the rest of the series and I didn't feel lost, so it definitely can stand alone. So what are you waiting for? Go grab your copy and get started, you will want to read this one!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1505619803688, "title": "Suspenseful!" }, { "asin": "0310341590", "rating": 5, "text": "After Tenley Roth writes a bestseller, she is challenged to write her next book. However, she is overcome with writer's block. When her estranged mother asks her to come to Cocoa Beach to help her through her chemotherapy treatments, she thinks this may be what she needs to get her inspiration back. When Tenley arrives at her mother's house she falls in love with an antique desk and gains inspiration from the desk. Little did Tenley know that years before Birdie Shehorn had sat at the same desk wanting two things, to be a published author and to marry for love. Will Tenley shake her writer's block and find her inspiration? Will Birdie be able to go against her mother's wishes and marry for love and finally get her name on a book? <br /><br />This story was very intriguing. I fell in love with both Tenley and Birdie. It kept me wondering how each of their stories would end. I could not put the book down, and when I had to my !Ind kept wondering what was going to happen next. This is another amazing story by Rachel Hauck, and I highly recommend it. I love the way she writes two separate stories of women from two completely different ages and weaves them back together. <br /><br />**I received this book for free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1508124994775, "title": "Another great book by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "0718085760", "rating": 5, "text": "After her husband died, Shauna wanted nothing to do with his best friend, Zach, because she blames him for his death. However, when a series of deaths threaten her life and the life of her son, she has no one else to turn to and has to rely on Zach to keep her safe. As they slowly unravel the mystery of who killed their friends, it only seems to get more dangerous. Will they be able to figure out what the killers are after? And will they be able to solve the mystery before someone else Shauna loves gets hurt?<br /><br />I cannot wait to read the next book in this series. It’s full of twists and turns with a bit of romance thrown in! I love it, kept me guessing all the way until the end! As usual, I quickly fell in love with the main characters, who are very relatable. I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1531621370312, "title": "Amazing suspense!! Great read!" }, { "asin": "0800729463", "rating": 5, "text": "More than likely you know a few things about Elisabeth Elliot and her husband, Jim; you may even have read some of Elisabeth's other books. I knew their story, and a little about Elisabeth after her husband was murdered, but I didn't know much else about her, for example, I never knew she spent an entire year on the opposite side of the jungle as a single missionary trying to create a written language for the Colorado Indians. I found this book very enlightening, it shows the struggles of her first year as a missionary. It shows her humanity through the doubts she herself faced at times. Many times I think we as Christians take for granted that these missionaries leave to go to the field and we hear back from them most of the positive things of their work. We don't hear of the struggles and doubts they have faced. I think sometimes we see these people as superhuman and they don't have doubts, or fears, or struggles, but they are still human, the devil still attacks them, and probably more so as they work daily on a foreign field without many of the luxuries we have here at home. It also shows how great her faith was, even in those struggles she was able to remind herself that she was called of God without a doubt, and it would strengthen her faith to keep on keeping on. I learned a lot from reading her memoir, and I know you will too. May it strengthen your faith as well!<br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1546278626079, "title": "A great story of her struggles, doubts and her faith!" }, { "asin": "0310350964", "rating": 5, "text": "I love the way Rachel Hauck weaves the story of 2 different women from 2 different decades together so seamlessly. I fell in love with Everleigh and Beck very quickly. All of the characters were very interesting and I loved watching the romance between the two couples blossom. Once I was drawn into the story, which didn't take but a few chapters, it was hard for me to put the book down. I wanted to know what happened next. Would Everleigh allow herself to love again? Would Beck ever find her memories? I highly recommend this one, another great romance by Rachel Hauck!<br />**I received a copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1555329536013, "title": "Another great romance by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "0310332591", "rating": 5, "text": "Edge of your seat suspense. The whole book kept me on the edge of my seat. I literally could not put it down, and I'll admit I stayed up way later than I should have to finish it, because I just had to find out what happened to Brenna and her kids,to find out if Nate's dad is really innocent who killed Brenna's father? I immediately fell in love with the characters, and my heart went out to Brenna. I was rooting for her from the beginning. I was hoping she'd see the light and deal with her drinking problem. I love how Nate encourages her to look to God and get back into a relationship with Him instead of turning to alcohol. If you love suspense, if you love a good Blackstock novel, you will not want to miss this book. I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1573313863140, "title": "Keeps you on the edge of your seat!" }, { "asin": "0718085884", "rating": 5, "text": "As usual, I was enthralled with this book by Colleen Coble. I got sucked in, and I couldn't put it down. The characters were very well written, and you could totally relate to them. I quickly fell in love with Harper and Ridge, and they made a great team trying to solve the mystery of the different attacks. I am a big fan of suspense, and this book did not disappoint at all. This is a romantic suspense you won't want to miss!<br /><br />**I received this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1573769909212, "title": "You won't want to miss this one!" }, { "asin": "0800735846", "rating": 4, "text": "Action-packed and full of suspense, this book will leave you wanting to jump right into the next book! I absolutely loved each of the characters, and felt like I was climbing Denali with them. Each character had their own unique back story, and they were all just as easy to love as the rest of them. I found myself gasping and wondering if they were ever going to get off that mountain. Would they be able to rescue their friends in time? Would they ever trust each other again? Would their pasts hinder them from the feelings Orion and Jenny both clearly had for each other, but were denying? As a first book in a series, I'm so glad I can follow the story into the next book when it comes out!! I loved this book, and definitely recommend it! The only thing I think I should warn about is there are a couple points where I thought the romance was getting a bit...shall we say steamier than I would like in a book....nothing ever happens, but it definitely is implied that had something not interrupted it would have happened.<br /><br />**I received this book from Revell Reads for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1579398682476, "title": "Action packed and full of suspense" }, { "asin": "1636090893", "rating": 5, "text": "World War II has always been my favorite part of history. This book was set in that time period. I had never heard of the SPARS branch of the Coast Guard until I got this book. It was fascinating to read this story and about the brave women who chose to serve their country in this special branch. I know this was a fictionalized story, but it will definitely keep you on your toes and you’ll quickly fall in love with the characters. I loved the storyline, the characters, and suspense. If you like historical fiction with suspense added in, you’ll absolutely love this book!<br /><br />**I received this book for review as part of the CelebrateLit blog team. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1639251908380, "title": "Hard to put down!" }, { "asin": "0800737334", "rating": 5, "text": "An awesome, heart-pounding read! It kept me guessing from the beginning all the way to the end. So many twists and turns, I never knew what was going to happen next! Lynette Eason has a way about writing suspense that will keep her readers enraptured in her books, and this one doesn’t disappoint. I love the characters, they were easy to fall in love with and very relatable. I felt like I was right there with Penny trying to figure out the case, catch the killer and keep myself out of harm’s way. An excellent book, I highly recommend. Can’t wait for the next one in the serious!<br /><br />**I received this book as part of the launch team. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1641301944383, "title": "Amazing read!" } ]

[ { "asin": "0764212613", "rating": 5, "text": "After her parents die, Kelli finds some news that could change everything she ever knew. She embarks on a journey to find the truth about her past, about her parents, and about herself. She is desperate to know the truth, even if the truth hurts.<br /><br />I could not put this book down. From the beginning to the end, I was intrigued by the story. I was drawn into the story; I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. I highly recommend this book. It has a little bit of romance as well as a little bit of mystery since as the reader you are trying to figure out the puzzle with Kelli. I had never read a Kathryn Cushman book before, but I definitely will be looking forward to reading more books by her in the future.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher (Bethany House) for review. I was not paid for my review, and all opinions are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1428805791000, "title": "I highly recommend this book" }, { "asin": "0310747414", "rating": 5, "text": "This activity book has lots of fun activities for your child. There are connect the dots, find what’s wrong with this picture, find the differences and simple coloring pages, plus 50 stickers. This activity book has a story about Princess Grace and her kitten Poppy. There are a total of 5 of these sticker and activity books each with a different princess.<br /><br />I love these activity books. This is the second one I have gotten for my daughter, and I plan to use them on road trips to keep her occupied for a little bit in the car. She loves stickers and she’s already put quite a few of them in her book. Some of the activities are above my daughter’s skill level since she’s still only 3, but I still highly recommend these activity books to parents.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers &#60;http://booklookbloggers.com&#62; book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1433292130000, "title": "Awesome sticker/activity books for your children!" }, { "asin": "076421571X", "rating": 5, "text": "After eleven years, Shannon Bliss is finally free from her kidnappers. After she escaped she handpicked Matthew Dane to help her through the tricky situation her escape has left her in. She confides in him and trusts him with her secrets and to best know how to play the next move so that the Jacoby family cannot find her or disappear completely. Slowly he begins to unravel the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. Given the experience he's had in this particular field, Dane knows best how to help see through and be the friend she needs through what lies ahead for her.<br /><br />Taken is one of the most amazing books I've read in a while. I absolutely loved this book. It did take me a little while to get fully engrossed in it, but once I did I could not put this book down. I loved all the mystery in it that keeps the reader on his/her toes. I love the Christian perspective of this book. Many times you read suspense or mystery novels and they completely leave God out, but Henderson did a great job at pointing to God to help get the characters through each and every situation they face past or present. I highly recommend this book.<br /><br />**I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1434252407000, "title": "Amazing, read it!" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 5, "text": "Abby Hart is a homicide detective that has a passion for finding justice for victims' families. But when a serial killer's latest victim has ties to a cold case very dear to her heart, it brings her the opportunity to ask questions she has always wanted to ask. It also causes her to cross paths with private investigator Luke Murphy who unbeknownst to Abby is just as interested in the same cold case. <br /><br />This was an amazing book. I was so drawn into the book, that when I had to lay it down, I found myself wondering what was going on. It kept me guessing the while way through. If you like suspense, you'll love this book. I cannot wait until the next book in the series comes out next spring! I will definitely be watching for it. <br /><br />**I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own", "timestamp": 1439750773000, "title": "Absolutely loved this book!!" }, { "asin": "1401689604", "rating": 5, "text": "Kate is great at keeping secrets. She loves to spy on her family members and the guests at their lodge. Right after the murder of one of her grandfather’s friends, Kate secretly offers a homeless man shelter, not knowing what would happen to her family after she does so.<br /><br />This book was excellent. I found it to be very intriguing and kept you guessing until the very end. I love suspense because I love trying to guess what is coming next, or who did it. This book was no different. The characters were all interesting and very well-developed. I felt like I could picture the scenes as I was reading. I had never read any of Erin Healy’s books, but after reading this one, I will definitely read more! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys some suspense.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers &#60;http://booklookbloggers.com&#62; book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60;http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1443201122000, "title": "Great suspense book!" }, { "asin": "0764210637", "rating": 5, "text": "Abrianna Cunningham is always finding herself in some sort of trouble, but will she be able to get out of this plight without causing harm to anyone else? This clever redhead is very resourceful and can handle just about anything she gets herself into, but she may just be in too far over her head this time. Follow Abrianna as she plans her wedding to the love of her life, but has some confusing doubts along the way. See how she deals with her doubts and find some interesting plot twists in the process.<br /><br />This book was phenomenal! I absolutely love every book by Tracie Peterson, and this was no exception! The characters were very well developed and the plot was very intriguing. I love how as you are reading about halfway through, Peterson throws a plot twist in and keeps you on your toes so much that you can't bring yourself to stop reading. I found myself reading well into the night because I was afraid I was going to miss something. Highly, highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher (Bethany House) for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1445695101000, "title": "Another amazing read!" }, { "asin": "0310338492", "rating": 5, "text": "A librarian named Lydia Bancroft finds herself very intrigued by a special patron that comes to the library, but never checks out a book. Sebastian Marks is an elusive man who has many secrets. After rescuing her from a disaster at the Hartman Hotel, they form a friendship. However, Lydia soon learns there is more to Mr. Marks than she ever would have dreamed.<br /><br />This is the third book in the Chicago World's Fair series, however it can stand alone. The characters are complex and very well developed. As this mystery unfolds you find yourself getting drawn deeper and deeper into the book. By the time I got to the end, I couldn't put it down because I had to know what was going to happen. This was by far one of the best mysteries I've read in a while! If you love mysteries with a splash of romance you will love this one.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild by Thomas Nelson/Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1452004862000, "title": "Great mystery! Keeps you interested all the way to the end!" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 5, "text": "Coach Westbrook’s wedding chapel has stood empty for decades, never seeing a wedding. Taylor Branson, a photographer who left Heart’s Bend to pursue her career, falls head over heels in love with Jack Forester after bumping into him in New York, but did they rush things? When Coach Westbrook and Taylor’s paths cross paths during a photo shoot in Heart’s Bend, many secrets are brought to the surface. Will they both discover the love they long for, despite their past?<br />This was a wonderful romance full of unexpected twists and turns along the way. It keeps you on your toes wondering what will happen next. The characters were complex, and very well developed. I very much enjoyed this read; at first I didn’t like the bouncing back and forth from one character’s story to the next, from the past to the present, but by the middle it got better and easier to follow, and by the end I was completely drawn in and I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good romance.<br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild by Zondervan /Thomas Nelson for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1452356163000, "title": "Great romance, full of twists and turns" }, { "asin": "031033344X", "rating": 5, "text": "Ashley Tolliver is a midwife in the mountains of Virginia, but she wants to take her career to the next level and attend medical school. She comes from a long line of midwives, nearly 200 years worth to be exact. But when a city boy comes to town looking for help and answers, she begins to think about all that her dream entails, leaving the community she's not only grown up in, but has committed herself to serving and helping.<br /><br />This was a brilliant romance. I was captivated from the very beginning. The characters are complex, but easy to relate to. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. I was sad to see the book end. I love books that point to God, and this was no exception. A few times the characters had tough decisions to make, and they always turned to God to help them with these decisions. This was the first of Eakes books I have read, but if the rest of her books are like this one, I will be finding every one. In short, I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : &#34;Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.&#34;", "timestamp": 1452882048000, "title": "Captivating from the beginning!" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 5, "text": "Casey Cox is tortured by her past, but now a new threat has sent her running for her life. She’s accused of murdering her good friend, but doesn’t know who she can and cannot trust. Will she be able to find justice for her father and for her friend without being in jeopardy herself?<br /><br />I was drawn into this book from the very first line. It is a gripping story told in the first person that draws you in so far you feel like you’re right there with Casey as she tries to figure out this mess. The characters are complex with their own flaws. This is the first in a trilogy so when I got to the end I was ready to jump into the next one, but alas, I have to wait. I finished this book in 2 days (which is a big deal for me…lol) because I couldn’t bear to put it down long because every time I did it left me wondering what was going to happen next! Highly recommend this book!<br /><br />** I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLookBloggers [...]book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1457122614000, "title": "Amazing read!" }, { "asin": "0718030923", "rating": 3, "text": "Allie Marshall was convicted of a crime she didn't commit, but after 10 long years she's out on parole. She's determined to prove her innocence. Her return turns everyone's world upside down, especially her daughter's. Will she be able to mend her relationship with her daughter and prove once and for all she didn't murder the coach?<br /><br />I enjoyed this suspense. It was full of unexpected twists and turns all the way to the end. It keeps you enthralled the whole time. While I loved this book I wouldn't call this Christian fiction as there's no mention of God at all. It's fairly clean, however, there are a few instances of cursing and there were a couple racy spots (more than I prefer). Minus those spots the storyline was great and kept me on my toes.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review through Book Look Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review; all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1465782092000, "title": "Kept me on my toes" }, { "asin": "0692701370", "rating": 5, "text": "Katie Chupp is an Amish girl who works at the bakery in town. As she walks into the bakery on the day of the Fourth of July celebration, she finds that someone has broken into the bakery and stolen a good deal of their inventory. Now they are faced with finding the thief responsible and finding a place to bake all the special orders in time for the celebration. When Katie unknowingly stumbles upon the thief and realizes the situation behind the theft, she is faced with telling her boss and hoping she will understand the circumstances.<br /><br />This is Naomi Miller's debut novel, and I must say it was amazing! It kept my interest from the first page until the very end. It was shorter than usual, so I finished it in just two days! I loved the characters; they were well developed and the story was one you could relate to. The Amish genre usually is hard for me to get into, but this story was different, not like a lot of the other Amish books I've tried to read before. I love mysteries and if you do too, I highly recommend it. I am looking forward to book #2 in this series, the &#34;Christmas Cookie Mystery&#34;!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the author for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1472696828000, "title": "Great read!" }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 4, "text": "Parker House has a very close relationship with his grandfather, Frank House. He shares a special talent with his grandfather in that they both are able to see future events. This talent has been haunting Frank House for years ever since the war. When Parker gets a new job at a new law firm, Frank is forced to come face to face with his past. Will Frank be able to move on from his past?<br />It took me a long time to get into this story, but when I finally did it was a good read. It was hard for me at first to go back and forth between the characters and the different time periods throughout the book. The characters were very well developed and had their own flaws, and were pretty relatable. This was a different type of read than I’m used to, but I would definitely recommend it to others who like a little suspense with some romance thrown in.<br /><br />**I received this book free through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1476244820000, "title": "Good read, just kind of a slow pace." }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "After her best friend Tammy dies, Haley Morgan dreams of opening the wedding shop in Heart’s Bend and carry on the legacy of Cora Scott. Is it just a dream she and her friend had as children, or can she make the dream become a reality and save the shop from becoming a parking lot. Fixing up the old shop to the city’s time table and specifications is the beginning of a beautiful journey of faith and love for Haley. Will she be able to accomplish her dream and maybe find true love on the way?<br /><br />This book was another amazing read by Rachel Hauck. She has a way of writing the storyline and characters in such a relatable way that you feel like you know them. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next, how it would all come together. I loved it. If you love Christian romance then you need to check this one out.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1482990554000, "title": "Another amazing book by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "1401690300", "rating": 5, "text": "Since her mother's blueberry barrens are no longer producing enough fruit to make a living, Kate decides she needs to rent her cottage out. Drake Newham shows up with his nieces and not only wants to rent it, but also needs a nanny. When Kate finds out Drake is in Maine to look into his brother and sister-in-law's deaths, they decide to team up to get to the bottom of it. However, Kate's uncle has recently escaped prison and someone may be stalking her. Will they ever find the people responsible for all the threats to Kate and her loved ones?<br /><br />I always enjoy Colleen Coble's books, and this was no different. It was packed with suspense and romance. I found myself turning page after page wondering who the stalker was, who really killed Drake's family, and will they ever catch Uncle Paul? I find myself so engrossed I feel like I'm right there with Kate and Drake, rooting for them. The characters are very relatable. If you love suspense with romance mixed in, you'll love this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publishers through the Fiction Guild program for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1484542439000, "title": "Another great read by Colleen Coble! Lots of suspense!" }, { "asin": "1625915136", "rating": 5, "text": "When Angela moves in next door to one of Mitch's house flips, he thought she was a bit strange, but then she came to church and they form an unlikely friendship. They both have a passion for the same family that lives in one of Mitch's rentals across from Angela's house. As they set about to show Bianca and her family Christ's love and grace, they find they have feelings for each other. Will they be able be able to move past the past and have a meaningful relationship? Will they be able to lead Bianca and her family to the Lord, or will she turn them away for good?<br /><br />This was a wonderful story of how God's grace can restore anybody, regardless of what they've been through. The characters were very well developed. I really appreciated how Slattery took common problems that people face in today's world, and showed how no matter how bad it seems, God can always restore that person by His grace! I think it's safe to say most people nowadays know of someone who has some of the same challenges that each character in this book faces. There's Angela who struggled with drugs and promiscuity in her past, but found God's grace and by His grace is turning her life around. Bianca is a single mom who is struggling to provide for her family after her husband is imprisoned and just feels like her life is falling apart. Finally, there's Mitch, a divorced man who is dealing with his drug addict son while his unsaved business partner is making business difficult. I found myself immersed in this book, and I didn't want to put it down. If you need a good book, check this one out! I highly recommend it!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1484843617000, "title": "A great story of God's Grace!" }, { "asin": "0718078764", "rating": 5, "text": "After thirteen years, Natalie Mitchell is faced with going back to the place where her sister's tragic death happened, a place she's avoided since. She is forced to face her past as her father instructs her to check on the status of her grandfather's winery and possibly shut it down. When she arrives, her childhood friend, Tanner Collins, is anything but happy to see her. As they are forced to work together, they find they both have secrets in their pasts. Will she be able to face her past and move on with her life, or will it haunt her forever? Will she be able to save the winery or will she blindly obey her father's wishes as she's always done?<br />Beautifully written, you will not want to put this book down. I loved this book, I loved how the characters were flawed and very well developed. Their struggles are struggles that many people can relate to. I love how West shows how they learn to trust God as they work through their problems. To trust that God makes no mistakes and He has a plan in everything, no matter how horrible it looks to us. I highly recommend this book, go grab yours today!<br />**I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for review through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1496334642000, "title": "Wonderful storyline, well-written!" }, { "asin": "0718083474", "rating": 5, "text": "When Hayden McCarthy is given a case with hardly any information, she knows she has her work cut out for her. Her boss is confident that she can win the case, but she can't seem to get the answers she needs to move forward. As she finally starts gaining momentum, she realizes there is something more to this case than just a wrongful death, but she wants justice for her client. Andrew Wesley is Hayden's roommate's cousin and the son of Congressman Wesley. He works with young kids who have recently immigrated to the United States. Their paths begin to cross more frequently as a boy he's helping ends up being one of the sons of Hayden's client. Will Hayden be able to find justice before they all end up mixed up in something way over their heads?<br /><br />This was the first book I've read of Cara Putman's and I was not disappointed. It was fantastic! The characters were complex and well developed, they were very likable. From the beginning, I was sucked into the story. There were times where after reading the book, I couldn't remember if I read it in the story or if it was a news headline. It's full of twists and turns and keeps the reader guessing until the very end. I loved every minute of it, and can't wait to read more of Putman's books! If you too like suspense, you need to read this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1501788308684, "title": "Will keep you guessing until the end" }, { "asin": "0718085949", "rating": 5, "text": "Brooklyn Myers never intended to return to her hometown of Thunder Creek, Idaho, but God seemed to have different plans. When her husband whom she has been separated from dies and leaves his family home and property to her and her daughter, she sees it as the perfect opportunity to give her daughter a better life. However, Derek Johnson, who was her estranged husband's best friend since childhood, is not exactly thrilled with the idea of Brooklyn and her daughter coming back to live next door, especially since it means he may not be able to buy the land he wanted so bad. As their paths continue to cross, and they get to know each other better, an attraction builds, but they both have some obstacles to overcome, and Brooklyn must get over her past and learn to trust again.<br /> <br />This was a beautifully written, captivating story; I didn't want to put the book down. You'll fall in love with the characters and be rooting for them each step of the way. Rooting for Brooklyn to stand up for herself, to learn to trust men again, and to give Derek a chance. If you love a good romance, this is one you should read!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild program in exchange for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1501903060306, "title": "Captivating romance!" }, { "asin": "1401690327", "rating": 5, "text": "When Dana Newell moves back to her home town of Rock Harbor, she thought she'd be starting over, free from her abusive fianc&eacute;. However, there are many secrets and dangers she wasn't aware of in her hometown. As she tries to help her new friend Boone unravel the mystery of his sister's murder, they find more questions than answers. Will her ex-fianc&eacute; finally leave her alone so she can move on with her life? Will they be able to find the murderer before he strikes again?<br /><br />Colleen Coble has written another amazing story! It will keep you on the edge of your seat from page one. The suspense grabbed me from the very beginning and kept me guessing until the very end. While this is a part of the Rock Harbor series, I have not read any of the rest of the series and I didn't feel lost, so it definitely can stand alone. So what are you waiting for? Go grab your copy and get started, you will want to read this one!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1505619803688, "title": "Suspenseful!" }, { "asin": "0310341590", "rating": 5, "text": "After Tenley Roth writes a bestseller, she is challenged to write her next book. However, she is overcome with writer's block. When her estranged mother asks her to come to Cocoa Beach to help her through her chemotherapy treatments, she thinks this may be what she needs to get her inspiration back. When Tenley arrives at her mother's house she falls in love with an antique desk and gains inspiration from the desk. Little did Tenley know that years before Birdie Shehorn had sat at the same desk wanting two things, to be a published author and to marry for love. Will Tenley shake her writer's block and find her inspiration? Will Birdie be able to go against her mother's wishes and marry for love and finally get her name on a book? <br /><br />This story was very intriguing. I fell in love with both Tenley and Birdie. It kept me wondering how each of their stories would end. I could not put the book down, and when I had to my !Ind kept wondering what was going to happen next. This is another amazing story by Rachel Hauck, and I highly recommend it. I love the way she writes two separate stories of women from two completely different ages and weaves them back together. <br /><br />**I received this book for free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1508124994775, "title": "Another great book by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "0718085760", "rating": 5, "text": "After her husband died, Shauna wanted nothing to do with his best friend, Zach, because she blames him for his death. However, when a series of deaths threaten her life and the life of her son, she has no one else to turn to and has to rely on Zach to keep her safe. As they slowly unravel the mystery of who killed their friends, it only seems to get more dangerous. Will they be able to figure out what the killers are after? And will they be able to solve the mystery before someone else Shauna loves gets hurt?<br /><br />I cannot wait to read the next book in this series. It’s full of twists and turns with a bit of romance thrown in! I love it, kept me guessing all the way until the end! As usual, I quickly fell in love with the main characters, who are very relatable. I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1531621370312, "title": "Amazing suspense!! Great read!" }, { "asin": "0800729463", "rating": 5, "text": "More than likely you know a few things about Elisabeth Elliot and her husband, Jim; you may even have read some of Elisabeth's other books. I knew their story, and a little about Elisabeth after her husband was murdered, but I didn't know much else about her, for example, I never knew she spent an entire year on the opposite side of the jungle as a single missionary trying to create a written language for the Colorado Indians. I found this book very enlightening, it shows the struggles of her first year as a missionary. It shows her humanity through the doubts she herself faced at times. Many times I think we as Christians take for granted that these missionaries leave to go to the field and we hear back from them most of the positive things of their work. We don't hear of the struggles and doubts they have faced. I think sometimes we see these people as superhuman and they don't have doubts, or fears, or struggles, but they are still human, the devil still attacks them, and probably more so as they work daily on a foreign field without many of the luxuries we have here at home. It also shows how great her faith was, even in those struggles she was able to remind herself that she was called of God without a doubt, and it would strengthen her faith to keep on keeping on. I learned a lot from reading her memoir, and I know you will too. May it strengthen your faith as well!<br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1546278626079, "title": "A great story of her struggles, doubts and her faith!" }, { "asin": "0310350964", "rating": 5, "text": "I love the way Rachel Hauck weaves the story of 2 different women from 2 different decades together so seamlessly. I fell in love with Everleigh and Beck very quickly. All of the characters were very interesting and I loved watching the romance between the two couples blossom. Once I was drawn into the story, which didn't take but a few chapters, it was hard for me to put the book down. I wanted to know what happened next. Would Everleigh allow herself to love again? Would Beck ever find her memories? I highly recommend this one, another great romance by Rachel Hauck!<br />**I received a copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1555329536013, "title": "Another great romance by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "0310332591", "rating": 5, "text": "Edge of your seat suspense. The whole book kept me on the edge of my seat. I literally could not put it down, and I'll admit I stayed up way later than I should have to finish it, because I just had to find out what happened to Brenna and her kids,to find out if Nate's dad is really innocent who killed Brenna's father? I immediately fell in love with the characters, and my heart went out to Brenna. I was rooting for her from the beginning. I was hoping she'd see the light and deal with her drinking problem. I love how Nate encourages her to look to God and get back into a relationship with Him instead of turning to alcohol. If you love suspense, if you love a good Blackstock novel, you will not want to miss this book. I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1573313863140, "title": "Keeps you on the edge of your seat!" }, { "asin": "0718085884", "rating": 5, "text": "As usual, I was enthralled with this book by Colleen Coble. I got sucked in, and I couldn't put it down. The characters were very well written, and you could totally relate to them. I quickly fell in love with Harper and Ridge, and they made a great team trying to solve the mystery of the different attacks. I am a big fan of suspense, and this book did not disappoint at all. This is a romantic suspense you won't want to miss!<br /><br />**I received this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1573769909212, "title": "You won't want to miss this one!" }, { "asin": "0800735846", "rating": 4, "text": "Action-packed and full of suspense, this book will leave you wanting to jump right into the next book! I absolutely loved each of the characters, and felt like I was climbing Denali with them. Each character had their own unique back story, and they were all just as easy to love as the rest of them. I found myself gasping and wondering if they were ever going to get off that mountain. Would they be able to rescue their friends in time? Would they ever trust each other again? Would their pasts hinder them from the feelings Orion and Jenny both clearly had for each other, but were denying? As a first book in a series, I'm so glad I can follow the story into the next book when it comes out!! I loved this book, and definitely recommend it! The only thing I think I should warn about is there are a couple points where I thought the romance was getting a bit...shall we say steamier than I would like in a book....nothing ever happens, but it definitely is implied that had something not interrupted it would have happened.<br /><br />**I received this book from Revell Reads for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1579398682476, "title": "Action packed and full of suspense" }, { "asin": "1636090893", "rating": 5, "text": "World War II has always been my favorite part of history. This book was set in that time period. I had never heard of the SPARS branch of the Coast Guard until I got this book. It was fascinating to read this story and about the brave women who chose to serve their country in this special branch. I know this was a fictionalized story, but it will definitely keep you on your toes and you’ll quickly fall in love with the characters. I loved the storyline, the characters, and suspense. If you like historical fiction with suspense added in, you’ll absolutely love this book!<br /><br />**I received this book for review as part of the CelebrateLit blog team. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1639251908380, "title": "Hard to put down!" }, { "asin": "0800737334", "rating": 5, "text": "An awesome, heart-pounding read! It kept me guessing from the beginning all the way to the end. So many twists and turns, I never knew what was going to happen next! Lynette Eason has a way about writing suspense that will keep her readers enraptured in her books, and this one doesn’t disappoint. I love the characters, they were easy to fall in love with and very relatable. I felt like I was right there with Penny trying to figure out the case, catch the killer and keep myself out of harm’s way. An excellent book, I highly recommend. Can’t wait for the next one in the serious!<br /><br />**I received this book as part of the launch team. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1641301944383, "title": "Amazing read!" }, { "asin": "0800739795", "rating": 4, "text": "A great read! I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I love the characters. Elinor and Kekoa were an interesting pair, and very relatable. This was a great mystery and had some great suspense especially towards the end. I definitely was kept wondering who was trying to set up Elinor or if in fact she was guilty. While this was book 2 in the series, it can definitely stand alone. I hadn't read the first one and I didn't feel lost. I would recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received a copy of this book from Revell for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1654733253366, "title": "A great read!" } ]

[ { "asin": "0764212613", "rating": 5, "text": "After her parents die, Kelli finds some news that could change everything she ever knew. She embarks on a journey to find the truth about her past, about her parents, and about herself. She is desperate to know the truth, even if the truth hurts.<br /><br />I could not put this book down. From the beginning to the end, I was intrigued by the story. I was drawn into the story; I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. I highly recommend this book. It has a little bit of romance as well as a little bit of mystery since as the reader you are trying to figure out the puzzle with Kelli. I had never read a Kathryn Cushman book before, but I definitely will be looking forward to reading more books by her in the future.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher (Bethany House) for review. I was not paid for my review, and all opinions are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1428805791000, "title": "I highly recommend this book" }, { "asin": "0310747414", "rating": 5, "text": "This activity book has lots of fun activities for your child. There are connect the dots, find what’s wrong with this picture, find the differences and simple coloring pages, plus 50 stickers. This activity book has a story about Princess Grace and her kitten Poppy. There are a total of 5 of these sticker and activity books each with a different princess.<br /><br />I love these activity books. This is the second one I have gotten for my daughter, and I plan to use them on road trips to keep her occupied for a little bit in the car. She loves stickers and she’s already put quite a few of them in her book. Some of the activities are above my daughter’s skill level since she’s still only 3, but I still highly recommend these activity books to parents.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers &#60;http://booklookbloggers.com&#62; book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1433292130000, "title": "Awesome sticker/activity books for your children!" }, { "asin": "076421571X", "rating": 5, "text": "After eleven years, Shannon Bliss is finally free from her kidnappers. After she escaped she handpicked Matthew Dane to help her through the tricky situation her escape has left her in. She confides in him and trusts him with her secrets and to best know how to play the next move so that the Jacoby family cannot find her or disappear completely. Slowly he begins to unravel the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. Given the experience he's had in this particular field, Dane knows best how to help see through and be the friend she needs through what lies ahead for her.<br /><br />Taken is one of the most amazing books I've read in a while. I absolutely loved this book. It did take me a little while to get fully engrossed in it, but once I did I could not put this book down. I loved all the mystery in it that keeps the reader on his/her toes. I love the Christian perspective of this book. Many times you read suspense or mystery novels and they completely leave God out, but Henderson did a great job at pointing to God to help get the characters through each and every situation they face past or present. I highly recommend this book.<br /><br />**I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1434252407000, "title": "Amazing, read it!" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 5, "text": "Abby Hart is a homicide detective that has a passion for finding justice for victims' families. But when a serial killer's latest victim has ties to a cold case very dear to her heart, it brings her the opportunity to ask questions she has always wanted to ask. It also causes her to cross paths with private investigator Luke Murphy who unbeknownst to Abby is just as interested in the same cold case. <br /><br />This was an amazing book. I was so drawn into the book, that when I had to lay it down, I found myself wondering what was going on. It kept me guessing the while way through. If you like suspense, you'll love this book. I cannot wait until the next book in the series comes out next spring! I will definitely be watching for it. <br /><br />**I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own", "timestamp": 1439750773000, "title": "Absolutely loved this book!!" }, { "asin": "1401689604", "rating": 5, "text": "Kate is great at keeping secrets. She loves to spy on her family members and the guests at their lodge. Right after the murder of one of her grandfather’s friends, Kate secretly offers a homeless man shelter, not knowing what would happen to her family after she does so.<br /><br />This book was excellent. I found it to be very intriguing and kept you guessing until the very end. I love suspense because I love trying to guess what is coming next, or who did it. This book was no different. The characters were all interesting and very well-developed. I felt like I could picture the scenes as I was reading. I had never read any of Erin Healy’s books, but after reading this one, I will definitely read more! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys some suspense.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers &#60;http://booklookbloggers.com&#62; book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60;http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1443201122000, "title": "Great suspense book!" }, { "asin": "0764210637", "rating": 5, "text": "Abrianna Cunningham is always finding herself in some sort of trouble, but will she be able to get out of this plight without causing harm to anyone else? This clever redhead is very resourceful and can handle just about anything she gets herself into, but she may just be in too far over her head this time. Follow Abrianna as she plans her wedding to the love of her life, but has some confusing doubts along the way. See how she deals with her doubts and find some interesting plot twists in the process.<br /><br />This book was phenomenal! I absolutely love every book by Tracie Peterson, and this was no exception! The characters were very well developed and the plot was very intriguing. I love how as you are reading about halfway through, Peterson throws a plot twist in and keeps you on your toes so much that you can't bring yourself to stop reading. I found myself reading well into the night because I was afraid I was going to miss something. Highly, highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher (Bethany House) for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1445695101000, "title": "Another amazing read!" }, { "asin": "0310338492", "rating": 5, "text": "A librarian named Lydia Bancroft finds herself very intrigued by a special patron that comes to the library, but never checks out a book. Sebastian Marks is an elusive man who has many secrets. After rescuing her from a disaster at the Hartman Hotel, they form a friendship. However, Lydia soon learns there is more to Mr. Marks than she ever would have dreamed.<br /><br />This is the third book in the Chicago World's Fair series, however it can stand alone. The characters are complex and very well developed. As this mystery unfolds you find yourself getting drawn deeper and deeper into the book. By the time I got to the end, I couldn't put it down because I had to know what was going to happen. This was by far one of the best mysteries I've read in a while! If you love mysteries with a splash of romance you will love this one.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild by Thomas Nelson/Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1452004862000, "title": "Great mystery! Keeps you interested all the way to the end!" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 5, "text": "Coach Westbrook’s wedding chapel has stood empty for decades, never seeing a wedding. Taylor Branson, a photographer who left Heart’s Bend to pursue her career, falls head over heels in love with Jack Forester after bumping into him in New York, but did they rush things? When Coach Westbrook and Taylor’s paths cross paths during a photo shoot in Heart’s Bend, many secrets are brought to the surface. Will they both discover the love they long for, despite their past?<br />This was a wonderful romance full of unexpected twists and turns along the way. It keeps you on your toes wondering what will happen next. The characters were complex, and very well developed. I very much enjoyed this read; at first I didn’t like the bouncing back and forth from one character’s story to the next, from the past to the present, but by the middle it got better and easier to follow, and by the end I was completely drawn in and I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good romance.<br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild by Zondervan /Thomas Nelson for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1452356163000, "title": "Great romance, full of twists and turns" }, { "asin": "031033344X", "rating": 5, "text": "Ashley Tolliver is a midwife in the mountains of Virginia, but she wants to take her career to the next level and attend medical school. She comes from a long line of midwives, nearly 200 years worth to be exact. But when a city boy comes to town looking for help and answers, she begins to think about all that her dream entails, leaving the community she's not only grown up in, but has committed herself to serving and helping.<br /><br />This was a brilliant romance. I was captivated from the very beginning. The characters are complex, but easy to relate to. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. I was sad to see the book end. I love books that point to God, and this was no exception. A few times the characters had tough decisions to make, and they always turned to God to help them with these decisions. This was the first of Eakes books I have read, but if the rest of her books are like this one, I will be finding every one. In short, I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : &#34;Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.&#34;", "timestamp": 1452882048000, "title": "Captivating from the beginning!" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 5, "text": "Casey Cox is tortured by her past, but now a new threat has sent her running for her life. She’s accused of murdering her good friend, but doesn’t know who she can and cannot trust. Will she be able to find justice for her father and for her friend without being in jeopardy herself?<br /><br />I was drawn into this book from the very first line. It is a gripping story told in the first person that draws you in so far you feel like you’re right there with Casey as she tries to figure out this mess. The characters are complex with their own flaws. This is the first in a trilogy so when I got to the end I was ready to jump into the next one, but alas, I have to wait. I finished this book in 2 days (which is a big deal for me…lol) because I couldn’t bear to put it down long because every time I did it left me wondering what was going to happen next! Highly recommend this book!<br /><br />** I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLookBloggers [...]book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1457122614000, "title": "Amazing read!" }, { "asin": "0718030923", "rating": 3, "text": "Allie Marshall was convicted of a crime she didn't commit, but after 10 long years she's out on parole. She's determined to prove her innocence. Her return turns everyone's world upside down, especially her daughter's. Will she be able to mend her relationship with her daughter and prove once and for all she didn't murder the coach?<br /><br />I enjoyed this suspense. It was full of unexpected twists and turns all the way to the end. It keeps you enthralled the whole time. While I loved this book I wouldn't call this Christian fiction as there's no mention of God at all. It's fairly clean, however, there are a few instances of cursing and there were a couple racy spots (more than I prefer). Minus those spots the storyline was great and kept me on my toes.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review through Book Look Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review; all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1465782092000, "title": "Kept me on my toes" }, { "asin": "0692701370", "rating": 5, "text": "Katie Chupp is an Amish girl who works at the bakery in town. As she walks into the bakery on the day of the Fourth of July celebration, she finds that someone has broken into the bakery and stolen a good deal of their inventory. Now they are faced with finding the thief responsible and finding a place to bake all the special orders in time for the celebration. When Katie unknowingly stumbles upon the thief and realizes the situation behind the theft, she is faced with telling her boss and hoping she will understand the circumstances.<br /><br />This is Naomi Miller's debut novel, and I must say it was amazing! It kept my interest from the first page until the very end. It was shorter than usual, so I finished it in just two days! I loved the characters; they were well developed and the story was one you could relate to. The Amish genre usually is hard for me to get into, but this story was different, not like a lot of the other Amish books I've tried to read before. I love mysteries and if you do too, I highly recommend it. I am looking forward to book #2 in this series, the &#34;Christmas Cookie Mystery&#34;!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the author for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1472696828000, "title": "Great read!" }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 4, "text": "Parker House has a very close relationship with his grandfather, Frank House. He shares a special talent with his grandfather in that they both are able to see future events. This talent has been haunting Frank House for years ever since the war. When Parker gets a new job at a new law firm, Frank is forced to come face to face with his past. Will Frank be able to move on from his past?<br />It took me a long time to get into this story, but when I finally did it was a good read. It was hard for me at first to go back and forth between the characters and the different time periods throughout the book. The characters were very well developed and had their own flaws, and were pretty relatable. This was a different type of read than I’m used to, but I would definitely recommend it to others who like a little suspense with some romance thrown in.<br /><br />**I received this book free through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1476244820000, "title": "Good read, just kind of a slow pace." }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "After her best friend Tammy dies, Haley Morgan dreams of opening the wedding shop in Heart’s Bend and carry on the legacy of Cora Scott. Is it just a dream she and her friend had as children, or can she make the dream become a reality and save the shop from becoming a parking lot. Fixing up the old shop to the city’s time table and specifications is the beginning of a beautiful journey of faith and love for Haley. Will she be able to accomplish her dream and maybe find true love on the way?<br /><br />This book was another amazing read by Rachel Hauck. She has a way of writing the storyline and characters in such a relatable way that you feel like you know them. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next, how it would all come together. I loved it. If you love Christian romance then you need to check this one out.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1482990554000, "title": "Another amazing book by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "1401690300", "rating": 5, "text": "Since her mother's blueberry barrens are no longer producing enough fruit to make a living, Kate decides she needs to rent her cottage out. Drake Newham shows up with his nieces and not only wants to rent it, but also needs a nanny. When Kate finds out Drake is in Maine to look into his brother and sister-in-law's deaths, they decide to team up to get to the bottom of it. However, Kate's uncle has recently escaped prison and someone may be stalking her. Will they ever find the people responsible for all the threats to Kate and her loved ones?<br /><br />I always enjoy Colleen Coble's books, and this was no different. It was packed with suspense and romance. I found myself turning page after page wondering who the stalker was, who really killed Drake's family, and will they ever catch Uncle Paul? I find myself so engrossed I feel like I'm right there with Kate and Drake, rooting for them. The characters are very relatable. If you love suspense with romance mixed in, you'll love this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publishers through the Fiction Guild program for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1484542439000, "title": "Another great read by Colleen Coble! Lots of suspense!" }, { "asin": "1625915136", "rating": 5, "text": "When Angela moves in next door to one of Mitch's house flips, he thought she was a bit strange, but then she came to church and they form an unlikely friendship. They both have a passion for the same family that lives in one of Mitch's rentals across from Angela's house. As they set about to show Bianca and her family Christ's love and grace, they find they have feelings for each other. Will they be able be able to move past the past and have a meaningful relationship? Will they be able to lead Bianca and her family to the Lord, or will she turn them away for good?<br /><br />This was a wonderful story of how God's grace can restore anybody, regardless of what they've been through. The characters were very well developed. I really appreciated how Slattery took common problems that people face in today's world, and showed how no matter how bad it seems, God can always restore that person by His grace! I think it's safe to say most people nowadays know of someone who has some of the same challenges that each character in this book faces. There's Angela who struggled with drugs and promiscuity in her past, but found God's grace and by His grace is turning her life around. Bianca is a single mom who is struggling to provide for her family after her husband is imprisoned and just feels like her life is falling apart. Finally, there's Mitch, a divorced man who is dealing with his drug addict son while his unsaved business partner is making business difficult. I found myself immersed in this book, and I didn't want to put it down. If you need a good book, check this one out! I highly recommend it!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1484843617000, "title": "A great story of God's Grace!" }, { "asin": "0718078764", "rating": 5, "text": "After thirteen years, Natalie Mitchell is faced with going back to the place where her sister's tragic death happened, a place she's avoided since. She is forced to face her past as her father instructs her to check on the status of her grandfather's winery and possibly shut it down. When she arrives, her childhood friend, Tanner Collins, is anything but happy to see her. As they are forced to work together, they find they both have secrets in their pasts. Will she be able to face her past and move on with her life, or will it haunt her forever? Will she be able to save the winery or will she blindly obey her father's wishes as she's always done?<br />Beautifully written, you will not want to put this book down. I loved this book, I loved how the characters were flawed and very well developed. Their struggles are struggles that many people can relate to. I love how West shows how they learn to trust God as they work through their problems. To trust that God makes no mistakes and He has a plan in everything, no matter how horrible it looks to us. I highly recommend this book, go grab yours today!<br />**I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for review through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1496334642000, "title": "Wonderful storyline, well-written!" }, { "asin": "0718083474", "rating": 5, "text": "When Hayden McCarthy is given a case with hardly any information, she knows she has her work cut out for her. Her boss is confident that she can win the case, but she can't seem to get the answers she needs to move forward. As she finally starts gaining momentum, she realizes there is something more to this case than just a wrongful death, but she wants justice for her client. Andrew Wesley is Hayden's roommate's cousin and the son of Congressman Wesley. He works with young kids who have recently immigrated to the United States. Their paths begin to cross more frequently as a boy he's helping ends up being one of the sons of Hayden's client. Will Hayden be able to find justice before they all end up mixed up in something way over their heads?<br /><br />This was the first book I've read of Cara Putman's and I was not disappointed. It was fantastic! The characters were complex and well developed, they were very likable. From the beginning, I was sucked into the story. There were times where after reading the book, I couldn't remember if I read it in the story or if it was a news headline. It's full of twists and turns and keeps the reader guessing until the very end. I loved every minute of it, and can't wait to read more of Putman's books! If you too like suspense, you need to read this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1501788308684, "title": "Will keep you guessing until the end" }, { "asin": "0718085949", "rating": 5, "text": "Brooklyn Myers never intended to return to her hometown of Thunder Creek, Idaho, but God seemed to have different plans. When her husband whom she has been separated from dies and leaves his family home and property to her and her daughter, she sees it as the perfect opportunity to give her daughter a better life. However, Derek Johnson, who was her estranged husband's best friend since childhood, is not exactly thrilled with the idea of Brooklyn and her daughter coming back to live next door, especially since it means he may not be able to buy the land he wanted so bad. As their paths continue to cross, and they get to know each other better, an attraction builds, but they both have some obstacles to overcome, and Brooklyn must get over her past and learn to trust again.<br /> <br />This was a beautifully written, captivating story; I didn't want to put the book down. You'll fall in love with the characters and be rooting for them each step of the way. Rooting for Brooklyn to stand up for herself, to learn to trust men again, and to give Derek a chance. If you love a good romance, this is one you should read!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild program in exchange for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1501903060306, "title": "Captivating romance!" }, { "asin": "1401690327", "rating": 5, "text": "When Dana Newell moves back to her home town of Rock Harbor, she thought she'd be starting over, free from her abusive fianc&eacute;. However, there are many secrets and dangers she wasn't aware of in her hometown. As she tries to help her new friend Boone unravel the mystery of his sister's murder, they find more questions than answers. Will her ex-fianc&eacute; finally leave her alone so she can move on with her life? Will they be able to find the murderer before he strikes again?<br /><br />Colleen Coble has written another amazing story! It will keep you on the edge of your seat from page one. The suspense grabbed me from the very beginning and kept me guessing until the very end. While this is a part of the Rock Harbor series, I have not read any of the rest of the series and I didn't feel lost, so it definitely can stand alone. So what are you waiting for? Go grab your copy and get started, you will want to read this one!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1505619803688, "title": "Suspenseful!" }, { "asin": "0310341590", "rating": 5, "text": "After Tenley Roth writes a bestseller, she is challenged to write her next book. However, she is overcome with writer's block. When her estranged mother asks her to come to Cocoa Beach to help her through her chemotherapy treatments, she thinks this may be what she needs to get her inspiration back. When Tenley arrives at her mother's house she falls in love with an antique desk and gains inspiration from the desk. Little did Tenley know that years before Birdie Shehorn had sat at the same desk wanting two things, to be a published author and to marry for love. Will Tenley shake her writer's block and find her inspiration? Will Birdie be able to go against her mother's wishes and marry for love and finally get her name on a book? <br /><br />This story was very intriguing. I fell in love with both Tenley and Birdie. It kept me wondering how each of their stories would end. I could not put the book down, and when I had to my !Ind kept wondering what was going to happen next. This is another amazing story by Rachel Hauck, and I highly recommend it. I love the way she writes two separate stories of women from two completely different ages and weaves them back together. <br /><br />**I received this book for free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1508124994775, "title": "Another great book by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "0718085760", "rating": 5, "text": "After her husband died, Shauna wanted nothing to do with his best friend, Zach, because she blames him for his death. However, when a series of deaths threaten her life and the life of her son, she has no one else to turn to and has to rely on Zach to keep her safe. As they slowly unravel the mystery of who killed their friends, it only seems to get more dangerous. Will they be able to figure out what the killers are after? And will they be able to solve the mystery before someone else Shauna loves gets hurt?<br /><br />I cannot wait to read the next book in this series. It’s full of twists and turns with a bit of romance thrown in! I love it, kept me guessing all the way until the end! As usual, I quickly fell in love with the main characters, who are very relatable. I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1531621370312, "title": "Amazing suspense!! Great read!" }, { "asin": "0800729463", "rating": 5, "text": "More than likely you know a few things about Elisabeth Elliot and her husband, Jim; you may even have read some of Elisabeth's other books. I knew their story, and a little about Elisabeth after her husband was murdered, but I didn't know much else about her, for example, I never knew she spent an entire year on the opposite side of the jungle as a single missionary trying to create a written language for the Colorado Indians. I found this book very enlightening, it shows the struggles of her first year as a missionary. It shows her humanity through the doubts she herself faced at times. Many times I think we as Christians take for granted that these missionaries leave to go to the field and we hear back from them most of the positive things of their work. We don't hear of the struggles and doubts they have faced. I think sometimes we see these people as superhuman and they don't have doubts, or fears, or struggles, but they are still human, the devil still attacks them, and probably more so as they work daily on a foreign field without many of the luxuries we have here at home. It also shows how great her faith was, even in those struggles she was able to remind herself that she was called of God without a doubt, and it would strengthen her faith to keep on keeping on. I learned a lot from reading her memoir, and I know you will too. May it strengthen your faith as well!<br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1546278626079, "title": "A great story of her struggles, doubts and her faith!" }, { "asin": "0310350964", "rating": 5, "text": "I love the way Rachel Hauck weaves the story of 2 different women from 2 different decades together so seamlessly. I fell in love with Everleigh and Beck very quickly. All of the characters were very interesting and I loved watching the romance between the two couples blossom. Once I was drawn into the story, which didn't take but a few chapters, it was hard for me to put the book down. I wanted to know what happened next. Would Everleigh allow herself to love again? Would Beck ever find her memories? I highly recommend this one, another great romance by Rachel Hauck!<br />**I received a copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1555329536013, "title": "Another great romance by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "0310332591", "rating": 5, "text": "Edge of your seat suspense. The whole book kept me on the edge of my seat. I literally could not put it down, and I'll admit I stayed up way later than I should have to finish it, because I just had to find out what happened to Brenna and her kids,to find out if Nate's dad is really innocent who killed Brenna's father? I immediately fell in love with the characters, and my heart went out to Brenna. I was rooting for her from the beginning. I was hoping she'd see the light and deal with her drinking problem. I love how Nate encourages her to look to God and get back into a relationship with Him instead of turning to alcohol. If you love suspense, if you love a good Blackstock novel, you will not want to miss this book. I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1573313863140, "title": "Keeps you on the edge of your seat!" }, { "asin": "0718085884", "rating": 5, "text": "As usual, I was enthralled with this book by Colleen Coble. I got sucked in, and I couldn't put it down. The characters were very well written, and you could totally relate to them. I quickly fell in love with Harper and Ridge, and they made a great team trying to solve the mystery of the different attacks. I am a big fan of suspense, and this book did not disappoint at all. This is a romantic suspense you won't want to miss!<br /><br />**I received this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1573769909212, "title": "You won't want to miss this one!" }, { "asin": "0800735846", "rating": 4, "text": "Action-packed and full of suspense, this book will leave you wanting to jump right into the next book! I absolutely loved each of the characters, and felt like I was climbing Denali with them. Each character had their own unique back story, and they were all just as easy to love as the rest of them. I found myself gasping and wondering if they were ever going to get off that mountain. Would they be able to rescue their friends in time? Would they ever trust each other again? Would their pasts hinder them from the feelings Orion and Jenny both clearly had for each other, but were denying? As a first book in a series, I'm so glad I can follow the story into the next book when it comes out!! I loved this book, and definitely recommend it! The only thing I think I should warn about is there are a couple points where I thought the romance was getting a bit...shall we say steamier than I would like in a book....nothing ever happens, but it definitely is implied that had something not interrupted it would have happened.<br /><br />**I received this book from Revell Reads for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1579398682476, "title": "Action packed and full of suspense" }, { "asin": "1636090893", "rating": 5, "text": "World War II has always been my favorite part of history. This book was set in that time period. I had never heard of the SPARS branch of the Coast Guard until I got this book. It was fascinating to read this story and about the brave women who chose to serve their country in this special branch. I know this was a fictionalized story, but it will definitely keep you on your toes and you’ll quickly fall in love with the characters. I loved the storyline, the characters, and suspense. If you like historical fiction with suspense added in, you’ll absolutely love this book!<br /><br />**I received this book for review as part of the CelebrateLit blog team. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1639251908380, "title": "Hard to put down!" }, { "asin": "0800737334", "rating": 5, "text": "An awesome, heart-pounding read! It kept me guessing from the beginning all the way to the end. So many twists and turns, I never knew what was going to happen next! Lynette Eason has a way about writing suspense that will keep her readers enraptured in her books, and this one doesn’t disappoint. I love the characters, they were easy to fall in love with and very relatable. I felt like I was right there with Penny trying to figure out the case, catch the killer and keep myself out of harm’s way. An excellent book, I highly recommend. Can’t wait for the next one in the serious!<br /><br />**I received this book as part of the launch team. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1641301944383, "title": "Amazing read!" }, { "asin": "0800739795", "rating": 4, "text": "A great read! I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I love the characters. Elinor and Kekoa were an interesting pair, and very relatable. This was a great mystery and had some great suspense especially towards the end. I definitely was kept wondering who was trying to set up Elinor or if in fact she was guilty. While this was book 2 in the series, it can definitely stand alone. I hadn't read the first one and I didn't feel lost. I would recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received a copy of this book from Revell for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1654733253366, "title": "A great read!" }, { "asin": "0800739833", "rating": 4, "text": "Another amazing book by Susan May Warren! I love the characters, and I quickly fell in love with Noemi and Ranger. I found myself guessing the whole time as to why the terrorists were after Noemi, right up to the very end. I highly recommend this book and the whole series. I would say that I feel like this series would be best read in order, while I read this one out of order and I wasn’t completely lost, I feel like I’m missing some information that must have happened with Tae in the first book, so I’ll probably go back and read that one before reading the next one, which I can’t wait to do to see what happens with Ranger and Noemi and the rest of the family!​<br /><br />**I received this book for review from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own", "timestamp": 1657251988691, "title": "A great read!" } ]

[ { "asin": "0764212613", "rating": 5, "text": "After her parents die, Kelli finds some news that could change everything she ever knew. She embarks on a journey to find the truth about her past, about her parents, and about herself. She is desperate to know the truth, even if the truth hurts.<br /><br />I could not put this book down. From the beginning to the end, I was intrigued by the story. I was drawn into the story; I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. I highly recommend this book. It has a little bit of romance as well as a little bit of mystery since as the reader you are trying to figure out the puzzle with Kelli. I had never read a Kathryn Cushman book before, but I definitely will be looking forward to reading more books by her in the future.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher (Bethany House) for review. I was not paid for my review, and all opinions are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1428805791000, "title": "I highly recommend this book" }, { "asin": "0310747414", "rating": 5, "text": "This activity book has lots of fun activities for your child. There are connect the dots, find what’s wrong with this picture, find the differences and simple coloring pages, plus 50 stickers. This activity book has a story about Princess Grace and her kitten Poppy. There are a total of 5 of these sticker and activity books each with a different princess.<br /><br />I love these activity books. This is the second one I have gotten for my daughter, and I plan to use them on road trips to keep her occupied for a little bit in the car. She loves stickers and she’s already put quite a few of them in her book. Some of the activities are above my daughter’s skill level since she’s still only 3, but I still highly recommend these activity books to parents.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers &#60;http://booklookbloggers.com&#62; book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1433292130000, "title": "Awesome sticker/activity books for your children!" }, { "asin": "076421571X", "rating": 5, "text": "After eleven years, Shannon Bliss is finally free from her kidnappers. After she escaped she handpicked Matthew Dane to help her through the tricky situation her escape has left her in. She confides in him and trusts him with her secrets and to best know how to play the next move so that the Jacoby family cannot find her or disappear completely. Slowly he begins to unravel the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. Given the experience he's had in this particular field, Dane knows best how to help see through and be the friend she needs through what lies ahead for her.<br /><br />Taken is one of the most amazing books I've read in a while. I absolutely loved this book. It did take me a little while to get fully engrossed in it, but once I did I could not put this book down. I loved all the mystery in it that keeps the reader on his/her toes. I love the Christian perspective of this book. Many times you read suspense or mystery novels and they completely leave God out, but Henderson did a great job at pointing to God to help get the characters through each and every situation they face past or present. I highly recommend this book.<br /><br />**I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1434252407000, "title": "Amazing, read it!" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 5, "text": "Abby Hart is a homicide detective that has a passion for finding justice for victims' families. But when a serial killer's latest victim has ties to a cold case very dear to her heart, it brings her the opportunity to ask questions she has always wanted to ask. It also causes her to cross paths with private investigator Luke Murphy who unbeknownst to Abby is just as interested in the same cold case. <br /><br />This was an amazing book. I was so drawn into the book, that when I had to lay it down, I found myself wondering what was going on. It kept me guessing the while way through. If you like suspense, you'll love this book. I cannot wait until the next book in the series comes out next spring! I will definitely be watching for it. <br /><br />**I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own", "timestamp": 1439750773000, "title": "Absolutely loved this book!!" }, { "asin": "1401689604", "rating": 5, "text": "Kate is great at keeping secrets. She loves to spy on her family members and the guests at their lodge. Right after the murder of one of her grandfather’s friends, Kate secretly offers a homeless man shelter, not knowing what would happen to her family after she does so.<br /><br />This book was excellent. I found it to be very intriguing and kept you guessing until the very end. I love suspense because I love trying to guess what is coming next, or who did it. This book was no different. The characters were all interesting and very well-developed. I felt like I could picture the scenes as I was reading. I had never read any of Erin Healy’s books, but after reading this one, I will definitely read more! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys some suspense.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers &#60;http://booklookbloggers.com&#62; book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60;http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1443201122000, "title": "Great suspense book!" }, { "asin": "0764210637", "rating": 5, "text": "Abrianna Cunningham is always finding herself in some sort of trouble, but will she be able to get out of this plight without causing harm to anyone else? This clever redhead is very resourceful and can handle just about anything she gets herself into, but she may just be in too far over her head this time. Follow Abrianna as she plans her wedding to the love of her life, but has some confusing doubts along the way. See how she deals with her doubts and find some interesting plot twists in the process.<br /><br />This book was phenomenal! I absolutely love every book by Tracie Peterson, and this was no exception! The characters were very well developed and the plot was very intriguing. I love how as you are reading about halfway through, Peterson throws a plot twist in and keeps you on your toes so much that you can't bring yourself to stop reading. I found myself reading well into the night because I was afraid I was going to miss something. Highly, highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher (Bethany House) for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1445695101000, "title": "Another amazing read!" }, { "asin": "0310338492", "rating": 5, "text": "A librarian named Lydia Bancroft finds herself very intrigued by a special patron that comes to the library, but never checks out a book. Sebastian Marks is an elusive man who has many secrets. After rescuing her from a disaster at the Hartman Hotel, they form a friendship. However, Lydia soon learns there is more to Mr. Marks than she ever would have dreamed.<br /><br />This is the third book in the Chicago World's Fair series, however it can stand alone. The characters are complex and very well developed. As this mystery unfolds you find yourself getting drawn deeper and deeper into the book. By the time I got to the end, I couldn't put it down because I had to know what was going to happen. This was by far one of the best mysteries I've read in a while! If you love mysteries with a splash of romance you will love this one.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild by Thomas Nelson/Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1452004862000, "title": "Great mystery! Keeps you interested all the way to the end!" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 5, "text": "Coach Westbrook’s wedding chapel has stood empty for decades, never seeing a wedding. Taylor Branson, a photographer who left Heart’s Bend to pursue her career, falls head over heels in love with Jack Forester after bumping into him in New York, but did they rush things? When Coach Westbrook and Taylor’s paths cross paths during a photo shoot in Heart’s Bend, many secrets are brought to the surface. Will they both discover the love they long for, despite their past?<br />This was a wonderful romance full of unexpected twists and turns along the way. It keeps you on your toes wondering what will happen next. The characters were complex, and very well developed. I very much enjoyed this read; at first I didn’t like the bouncing back and forth from one character’s story to the next, from the past to the present, but by the middle it got better and easier to follow, and by the end I was completely drawn in and I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good romance.<br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild by Zondervan /Thomas Nelson for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1452356163000, "title": "Great romance, full of twists and turns" }, { "asin": "031033344X", "rating": 5, "text": "Ashley Tolliver is a midwife in the mountains of Virginia, but she wants to take her career to the next level and attend medical school. She comes from a long line of midwives, nearly 200 years worth to be exact. But when a city boy comes to town looking for help and answers, she begins to think about all that her dream entails, leaving the community she's not only grown up in, but has committed herself to serving and helping.<br /><br />This was a brilliant romance. I was captivated from the very beginning. The characters are complex, but easy to relate to. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. I was sad to see the book end. I love books that point to God, and this was no exception. A few times the characters had tough decisions to make, and they always turned to God to help them with these decisions. This was the first of Eakes books I have read, but if the rest of her books are like this one, I will be finding every one. In short, I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : &#34;Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.&#34;", "timestamp": 1452882048000, "title": "Captivating from the beginning!" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 5, "text": "Casey Cox is tortured by her past, but now a new threat has sent her running for her life. She’s accused of murdering her good friend, but doesn’t know who she can and cannot trust. Will she be able to find justice for her father and for her friend without being in jeopardy herself?<br /><br />I was drawn into this book from the very first line. It is a gripping story told in the first person that draws you in so far you feel like you’re right there with Casey as she tries to figure out this mess. The characters are complex with their own flaws. This is the first in a trilogy so when I got to the end I was ready to jump into the next one, but alas, I have to wait. I finished this book in 2 days (which is a big deal for me…lol) because I couldn’t bear to put it down long because every time I did it left me wondering what was going to happen next! Highly recommend this book!<br /><br />** I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLookBloggers [...]book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1457122614000, "title": "Amazing read!" }, { "asin": "0718030923", "rating": 3, "text": "Allie Marshall was convicted of a crime she didn't commit, but after 10 long years she's out on parole. She's determined to prove her innocence. Her return turns everyone's world upside down, especially her daughter's. Will she be able to mend her relationship with her daughter and prove once and for all she didn't murder the coach?<br /><br />I enjoyed this suspense. It was full of unexpected twists and turns all the way to the end. It keeps you enthralled the whole time. While I loved this book I wouldn't call this Christian fiction as there's no mention of God at all. It's fairly clean, however, there are a few instances of cursing and there were a couple racy spots (more than I prefer). Minus those spots the storyline was great and kept me on my toes.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review through Book Look Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review; all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1465782092000, "title": "Kept me on my toes" }, { "asin": "0692701370", "rating": 5, "text": "Katie Chupp is an Amish girl who works at the bakery in town. As she walks into the bakery on the day of the Fourth of July celebration, she finds that someone has broken into the bakery and stolen a good deal of their inventory. Now they are faced with finding the thief responsible and finding a place to bake all the special orders in time for the celebration. When Katie unknowingly stumbles upon the thief and realizes the situation behind the theft, she is faced with telling her boss and hoping she will understand the circumstances.<br /><br />This is Naomi Miller's debut novel, and I must say it was amazing! It kept my interest from the first page until the very end. It was shorter than usual, so I finished it in just two days! I loved the characters; they were well developed and the story was one you could relate to. The Amish genre usually is hard for me to get into, but this story was different, not like a lot of the other Amish books I've tried to read before. I love mysteries and if you do too, I highly recommend it. I am looking forward to book #2 in this series, the &#34;Christmas Cookie Mystery&#34;!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the author for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1472696828000, "title": "Great read!" }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 4, "text": "Parker House has a very close relationship with his grandfather, Frank House. He shares a special talent with his grandfather in that they both are able to see future events. This talent has been haunting Frank House for years ever since the war. When Parker gets a new job at a new law firm, Frank is forced to come face to face with his past. Will Frank be able to move on from his past?<br />It took me a long time to get into this story, but when I finally did it was a good read. It was hard for me at first to go back and forth between the characters and the different time periods throughout the book. The characters were very well developed and had their own flaws, and were pretty relatable. This was a different type of read than I’m used to, but I would definitely recommend it to others who like a little suspense with some romance thrown in.<br /><br />**I received this book free through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1476244820000, "title": "Good read, just kind of a slow pace." }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "After her best friend Tammy dies, Haley Morgan dreams of opening the wedding shop in Heart’s Bend and carry on the legacy of Cora Scott. Is it just a dream she and her friend had as children, or can she make the dream become a reality and save the shop from becoming a parking lot. Fixing up the old shop to the city’s time table and specifications is the beginning of a beautiful journey of faith and love for Haley. Will she be able to accomplish her dream and maybe find true love on the way?<br /><br />This book was another amazing read by Rachel Hauck. She has a way of writing the storyline and characters in such a relatable way that you feel like you know them. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next, how it would all come together. I loved it. If you love Christian romance then you need to check this one out.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1482990554000, "title": "Another amazing book by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "1401690300", "rating": 5, "text": "Since her mother's blueberry barrens are no longer producing enough fruit to make a living, Kate decides she needs to rent her cottage out. Drake Newham shows up with his nieces and not only wants to rent it, but also needs a nanny. When Kate finds out Drake is in Maine to look into his brother and sister-in-law's deaths, they decide to team up to get to the bottom of it. However, Kate's uncle has recently escaped prison and someone may be stalking her. Will they ever find the people responsible for all the threats to Kate and her loved ones?<br /><br />I always enjoy Colleen Coble's books, and this was no different. It was packed with suspense and romance. I found myself turning page after page wondering who the stalker was, who really killed Drake's family, and will they ever catch Uncle Paul? I find myself so engrossed I feel like I'm right there with Kate and Drake, rooting for them. The characters are very relatable. If you love suspense with romance mixed in, you'll love this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publishers through the Fiction Guild program for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1484542439000, "title": "Another great read by Colleen Coble! Lots of suspense!" }, { "asin": "1625915136", "rating": 5, "text": "When Angela moves in next door to one of Mitch's house flips, he thought she was a bit strange, but then she came to church and they form an unlikely friendship. They both have a passion for the same family that lives in one of Mitch's rentals across from Angela's house. As they set about to show Bianca and her family Christ's love and grace, they find they have feelings for each other. Will they be able be able to move past the past and have a meaningful relationship? Will they be able to lead Bianca and her family to the Lord, or will she turn them away for good?<br /><br />This was a wonderful story of how God's grace can restore anybody, regardless of what they've been through. The characters were very well developed. I really appreciated how Slattery took common problems that people face in today's world, and showed how no matter how bad it seems, God can always restore that person by His grace! I think it's safe to say most people nowadays know of someone who has some of the same challenges that each character in this book faces. There's Angela who struggled with drugs and promiscuity in her past, but found God's grace and by His grace is turning her life around. Bianca is a single mom who is struggling to provide for her family after her husband is imprisoned and just feels like her life is falling apart. Finally, there's Mitch, a divorced man who is dealing with his drug addict son while his unsaved business partner is making business difficult. I found myself immersed in this book, and I didn't want to put it down. If you need a good book, check this one out! I highly recommend it!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1484843617000, "title": "A great story of God's Grace!" }, { "asin": "0718078764", "rating": 5, "text": "After thirteen years, Natalie Mitchell is faced with going back to the place where her sister's tragic death happened, a place she's avoided since. She is forced to face her past as her father instructs her to check on the status of her grandfather's winery and possibly shut it down. When she arrives, her childhood friend, Tanner Collins, is anything but happy to see her. As they are forced to work together, they find they both have secrets in their pasts. Will she be able to face her past and move on with her life, or will it haunt her forever? Will she be able to save the winery or will she blindly obey her father's wishes as she's always done?<br />Beautifully written, you will not want to put this book down. I loved this book, I loved how the characters were flawed and very well developed. Their struggles are struggles that many people can relate to. I love how West shows how they learn to trust God as they work through their problems. To trust that God makes no mistakes and He has a plan in everything, no matter how horrible it looks to us. I highly recommend this book, go grab yours today!<br />**I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for review through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1496334642000, "title": "Wonderful storyline, well-written!" }, { "asin": "0718083474", "rating": 5, "text": "When Hayden McCarthy is given a case with hardly any information, she knows she has her work cut out for her. Her boss is confident that she can win the case, but she can't seem to get the answers she needs to move forward. As she finally starts gaining momentum, she realizes there is something more to this case than just a wrongful death, but she wants justice for her client. Andrew Wesley is Hayden's roommate's cousin and the son of Congressman Wesley. He works with young kids who have recently immigrated to the United States. Their paths begin to cross more frequently as a boy he's helping ends up being one of the sons of Hayden's client. Will Hayden be able to find justice before they all end up mixed up in something way over their heads?<br /><br />This was the first book I've read of Cara Putman's and I was not disappointed. It was fantastic! The characters were complex and well developed, they were very likable. From the beginning, I was sucked into the story. There were times where after reading the book, I couldn't remember if I read it in the story or if it was a news headline. It's full of twists and turns and keeps the reader guessing until the very end. I loved every minute of it, and can't wait to read more of Putman's books! If you too like suspense, you need to read this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1501788308684, "title": "Will keep you guessing until the end" }, { "asin": "0718085949", "rating": 5, "text": "Brooklyn Myers never intended to return to her hometown of Thunder Creek, Idaho, but God seemed to have different plans. When her husband whom she has been separated from dies and leaves his family home and property to her and her daughter, she sees it as the perfect opportunity to give her daughter a better life. However, Derek Johnson, who was her estranged husband's best friend since childhood, is not exactly thrilled with the idea of Brooklyn and her daughter coming back to live next door, especially since it means he may not be able to buy the land he wanted so bad. As their paths continue to cross, and they get to know each other better, an attraction builds, but they both have some obstacles to overcome, and Brooklyn must get over her past and learn to trust again.<br /> <br />This was a beautifully written, captivating story; I didn't want to put the book down. You'll fall in love with the characters and be rooting for them each step of the way. Rooting for Brooklyn to stand up for herself, to learn to trust men again, and to give Derek a chance. If you love a good romance, this is one you should read!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild program in exchange for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1501903060306, "title": "Captivating romance!" }, { "asin": "1401690327", "rating": 5, "text": "When Dana Newell moves back to her home town of Rock Harbor, she thought she'd be starting over, free from her abusive fianc&eacute;. However, there are many secrets and dangers she wasn't aware of in her hometown. As she tries to help her new friend Boone unravel the mystery of his sister's murder, they find more questions than answers. Will her ex-fianc&eacute; finally leave her alone so she can move on with her life? Will they be able to find the murderer before he strikes again?<br /><br />Colleen Coble has written another amazing story! It will keep you on the edge of your seat from page one. The suspense grabbed me from the very beginning and kept me guessing until the very end. While this is a part of the Rock Harbor series, I have not read any of the rest of the series and I didn't feel lost, so it definitely can stand alone. So what are you waiting for? Go grab your copy and get started, you will want to read this one!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1505619803688, "title": "Suspenseful!" }, { "asin": "0310341590", "rating": 5, "text": "After Tenley Roth writes a bestseller, she is challenged to write her next book. However, she is overcome with writer's block. When her estranged mother asks her to come to Cocoa Beach to help her through her chemotherapy treatments, she thinks this may be what she needs to get her inspiration back. When Tenley arrives at her mother's house she falls in love with an antique desk and gains inspiration from the desk. Little did Tenley know that years before Birdie Shehorn had sat at the same desk wanting two things, to be a published author and to marry for love. Will Tenley shake her writer's block and find her inspiration? Will Birdie be able to go against her mother's wishes and marry for love and finally get her name on a book? <br /><br />This story was very intriguing. I fell in love with both Tenley and Birdie. It kept me wondering how each of their stories would end. I could not put the book down, and when I had to my !Ind kept wondering what was going to happen next. This is another amazing story by Rachel Hauck, and I highly recommend it. I love the way she writes two separate stories of women from two completely different ages and weaves them back together. <br /><br />**I received this book for free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1508124994775, "title": "Another great book by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "0718085760", "rating": 5, "text": "After her husband died, Shauna wanted nothing to do with his best friend, Zach, because she blames him for his death. However, when a series of deaths threaten her life and the life of her son, she has no one else to turn to and has to rely on Zach to keep her safe. As they slowly unravel the mystery of who killed their friends, it only seems to get more dangerous. Will they be able to figure out what the killers are after? And will they be able to solve the mystery before someone else Shauna loves gets hurt?<br /><br />I cannot wait to read the next book in this series. It’s full of twists and turns with a bit of romance thrown in! I love it, kept me guessing all the way until the end! As usual, I quickly fell in love with the main characters, who are very relatable. I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1531621370312, "title": "Amazing suspense!! Great read!" }, { "asin": "0800729463", "rating": 5, "text": "More than likely you know a few things about Elisabeth Elliot and her husband, Jim; you may even have read some of Elisabeth's other books. I knew their story, and a little about Elisabeth after her husband was murdered, but I didn't know much else about her, for example, I never knew she spent an entire year on the opposite side of the jungle as a single missionary trying to create a written language for the Colorado Indians. I found this book very enlightening, it shows the struggles of her first year as a missionary. It shows her humanity through the doubts she herself faced at times. Many times I think we as Christians take for granted that these missionaries leave to go to the field and we hear back from them most of the positive things of their work. We don't hear of the struggles and doubts they have faced. I think sometimes we see these people as superhuman and they don't have doubts, or fears, or struggles, but they are still human, the devil still attacks them, and probably more so as they work daily on a foreign field without many of the luxuries we have here at home. It also shows how great her faith was, even in those struggles she was able to remind herself that she was called of God without a doubt, and it would strengthen her faith to keep on keeping on. I learned a lot from reading her memoir, and I know you will too. May it strengthen your faith as well!<br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1546278626079, "title": "A great story of her struggles, doubts and her faith!" }, { "asin": "0310350964", "rating": 5, "text": "I love the way Rachel Hauck weaves the story of 2 different women from 2 different decades together so seamlessly. I fell in love with Everleigh and Beck very quickly. All of the characters were very interesting and I loved watching the romance between the two couples blossom. Once I was drawn into the story, which didn't take but a few chapters, it was hard for me to put the book down. I wanted to know what happened next. Would Everleigh allow herself to love again? Would Beck ever find her memories? I highly recommend this one, another great romance by Rachel Hauck!<br />**I received a copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1555329536013, "title": "Another great romance by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "0310332591", "rating": 5, "text": "Edge of your seat suspense. The whole book kept me on the edge of my seat. I literally could not put it down, and I'll admit I stayed up way later than I should have to finish it, because I just had to find out what happened to Brenna and her kids,to find out if Nate's dad is really innocent who killed Brenna's father? I immediately fell in love with the characters, and my heart went out to Brenna. I was rooting for her from the beginning. I was hoping she'd see the light and deal with her drinking problem. I love how Nate encourages her to look to God and get back into a relationship with Him instead of turning to alcohol. If you love suspense, if you love a good Blackstock novel, you will not want to miss this book. I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1573313863140, "title": "Keeps you on the edge of your seat!" }, { "asin": "0718085884", "rating": 5, "text": "As usual, I was enthralled with this book by Colleen Coble. I got sucked in, and I couldn't put it down. The characters were very well written, and you could totally relate to them. I quickly fell in love with Harper and Ridge, and they made a great team trying to solve the mystery of the different attacks. I am a big fan of suspense, and this book did not disappoint at all. This is a romantic suspense you won't want to miss!<br /><br />**I received this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1573769909212, "title": "You won't want to miss this one!" }, { "asin": "0800735846", "rating": 4, "text": "Action-packed and full of suspense, this book will leave you wanting to jump right into the next book! I absolutely loved each of the characters, and felt like I was climbing Denali with them. Each character had their own unique back story, and they were all just as easy to love as the rest of them. I found myself gasping and wondering if they were ever going to get off that mountain. Would they be able to rescue their friends in time? Would they ever trust each other again? Would their pasts hinder them from the feelings Orion and Jenny both clearly had for each other, but were denying? As a first book in a series, I'm so glad I can follow the story into the next book when it comes out!! I loved this book, and definitely recommend it! The only thing I think I should warn about is there are a couple points where I thought the romance was getting a bit...shall we say steamier than I would like in a book....nothing ever happens, but it definitely is implied that had something not interrupted it would have happened.<br /><br />**I received this book from Revell Reads for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1579398682476, "title": "Action packed and full of suspense" }, { "asin": "1636090893", "rating": 5, "text": "World War II has always been my favorite part of history. This book was set in that time period. I had never heard of the SPARS branch of the Coast Guard until I got this book. It was fascinating to read this story and about the brave women who chose to serve their country in this special branch. I know this was a fictionalized story, but it will definitely keep you on your toes and you’ll quickly fall in love with the characters. I loved the storyline, the characters, and suspense. If you like historical fiction with suspense added in, you’ll absolutely love this book!<br /><br />**I received this book for review as part of the CelebrateLit blog team. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1639251908380, "title": "Hard to put down!" }, { "asin": "0800737334", "rating": 5, "text": "An awesome, heart-pounding read! It kept me guessing from the beginning all the way to the end. So many twists and turns, I never knew what was going to happen next! Lynette Eason has a way about writing suspense that will keep her readers enraptured in her books, and this one doesn’t disappoint. I love the characters, they were easy to fall in love with and very relatable. I felt like I was right there with Penny trying to figure out the case, catch the killer and keep myself out of harm’s way. An excellent book, I highly recommend. Can’t wait for the next one in the serious!<br /><br />**I received this book as part of the launch team. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1641301944383, "title": "Amazing read!" }, { "asin": "0800739795", "rating": 4, "text": "A great read! I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I love the characters. Elinor and Kekoa were an interesting pair, and very relatable. This was a great mystery and had some great suspense especially towards the end. I definitely was kept wondering who was trying to set up Elinor or if in fact she was guilty. While this was book 2 in the series, it can definitely stand alone. I hadn't read the first one and I didn't feel lost. I would recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received a copy of this book from Revell for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1654733253366, "title": "A great read!" }, { "asin": "0800739833", "rating": 4, "text": "Another amazing book by Susan May Warren! I love the characters, and I quickly fell in love with Noemi and Ranger. I found myself guessing the whole time as to why the terrorists were after Noemi, right up to the very end. I highly recommend this book and the whole series. I would say that I feel like this series would be best read in order, while I read this one out of order and I wasn’t completely lost, I feel like I’m missing some information that must have happened with Tae in the first book, so I’ll probably go back and read that one before reading the next one, which I can’t wait to do to see what happens with Ranger and Noemi and the rest of the family!​<br /><br />**I received this book for review from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own", "timestamp": 1657251988691, "title": "A great read!" }, { "asin": "0800737350", "rating": 5, "text": "Another amazing book by Lynette Eason! I love the suspense of this book, kept me guessing the whole way to the end. The characters were so easy to fall in love with, and relatable. I love how the theme of forgiveness is woven throughout and the reminder of God’s goodness. I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received a copy of this book for review from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1661964682068, "title": "Amazing storyline with great suspense" } ]

[ { "asin": "0764212613", "rating": 5, "text": "After her parents die, Kelli finds some news that could change everything she ever knew. She embarks on a journey to find the truth about her past, about her parents, and about herself. She is desperate to know the truth, even if the truth hurts.<br /><br />I could not put this book down. From the beginning to the end, I was intrigued by the story. I was drawn into the story; I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. I highly recommend this book. It has a little bit of romance as well as a little bit of mystery since as the reader you are trying to figure out the puzzle with Kelli. I had never read a Kathryn Cushman book before, but I definitely will be looking forward to reading more books by her in the future.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher (Bethany House) for review. I was not paid for my review, and all opinions are completely my own.", "timestamp": 1428805791000, "title": "I highly recommend this book" }, { "asin": "0310747414", "rating": 5, "text": "This activity book has lots of fun activities for your child. There are connect the dots, find what’s wrong with this picture, find the differences and simple coloring pages, plus 50 stickers. This activity book has a story about Princess Grace and her kitten Poppy. There are a total of 5 of these sticker and activity books each with a different princess.<br /><br />I love these activity books. This is the second one I have gotten for my daughter, and I plan to use them on road trips to keep her occupied for a little bit in the car. She loves stickers and she’s already put quite a few of them in her book. Some of the activities are above my daughter’s skill level since she’s still only 3, but I still highly recommend these activity books to parents.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers &#60;http://booklookbloggers.com&#62; book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1433292130000, "title": "Awesome sticker/activity books for your children!" }, { "asin": "076421571X", "rating": 5, "text": "After eleven years, Shannon Bliss is finally free from her kidnappers. After she escaped she handpicked Matthew Dane to help her through the tricky situation her escape has left her in. She confides in him and trusts him with her secrets and to best know how to play the next move so that the Jacoby family cannot find her or disappear completely. Slowly he begins to unravel the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. Given the experience he's had in this particular field, Dane knows best how to help see through and be the friend she needs through what lies ahead for her.<br /><br />Taken is one of the most amazing books I've read in a while. I absolutely loved this book. It did take me a little while to get fully engrossed in it, but once I did I could not put this book down. I loved all the mystery in it that keeps the reader on his/her toes. I love the Christian perspective of this book. Many times you read suspense or mystery novels and they completely leave God out, but Henderson did a great job at pointing to God to help get the characters through each and every situation they face past or present. I highly recommend this book.<br /><br />**I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1434252407000, "title": "Amazing, read it!" }, { "asin": "1414396686", "rating": 5, "text": "Abby Hart is a homicide detective that has a passion for finding justice for victims' families. But when a serial killer's latest victim has ties to a cold case very dear to her heart, it brings her the opportunity to ask questions she has always wanted to ask. It also causes her to cross paths with private investigator Luke Murphy who unbeknownst to Abby is just as interested in the same cold case. <br /><br />This was an amazing book. I was so drawn into the book, that when I had to lay it down, I found myself wondering what was going on. It kept me guessing the while way through. If you like suspense, you'll love this book. I cannot wait until the next book in the series comes out next spring! I will definitely be watching for it. <br /><br />**I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own", "timestamp": 1439750773000, "title": "Absolutely loved this book!!" }, { "asin": "1401689604", "rating": 5, "text": "Kate is great at keeping secrets. She loves to spy on her family members and the guests at their lodge. Right after the murder of one of her grandfather’s friends, Kate secretly offers a homeless man shelter, not knowing what would happen to her family after she does so.<br /><br />This book was excellent. I found it to be very intriguing and kept you guessing until the very end. I love suspense because I love trying to guess what is coming next, or who did it. This book was no different. The characters were all interesting and very well-developed. I felt like I could picture the scenes as I was reading. I had never read any of Erin Healy’s books, but after reading this one, I will definitely read more! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys some suspense.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers &#60;http://booklookbloggers.com&#62; book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60;http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1443201122000, "title": "Great suspense book!" }, { "asin": "0764210637", "rating": 5, "text": "Abrianna Cunningham is always finding herself in some sort of trouble, but will she be able to get out of this plight without causing harm to anyone else? This clever redhead is very resourceful and can handle just about anything she gets herself into, but she may just be in too far over her head this time. Follow Abrianna as she plans her wedding to the love of her life, but has some confusing doubts along the way. See how she deals with her doubts and find some interesting plot twists in the process.<br /><br />This book was phenomenal! I absolutely love every book by Tracie Peterson, and this was no exception! The characters were very well developed and the plot was very intriguing. I love how as you are reading about halfway through, Peterson throws a plot twist in and keeps you on your toes so much that you can't bring yourself to stop reading. I found myself reading well into the night because I was afraid I was going to miss something. Highly, highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher (Bethany House) for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1445695101000, "title": "Another amazing read!" }, { "asin": "0310338492", "rating": 5, "text": "A librarian named Lydia Bancroft finds herself very intrigued by a special patron that comes to the library, but never checks out a book. Sebastian Marks is an elusive man who has many secrets. After rescuing her from a disaster at the Hartman Hotel, they form a friendship. However, Lydia soon learns there is more to Mr. Marks than she ever would have dreamed.<br /><br />This is the third book in the Chicago World's Fair series, however it can stand alone. The characters are complex and very well developed. As this mystery unfolds you find yourself getting drawn deeper and deeper into the book. By the time I got to the end, I couldn't put it down because I had to know what was going to happen. This was by far one of the best mysteries I've read in a while! If you love mysteries with a splash of romance you will love this one.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild by Thomas Nelson/Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1452004862000, "title": "Great mystery! Keeps you interested all the way to the end!" }, { "asin": "0310341523", "rating": 5, "text": "Coach Westbrook’s wedding chapel has stood empty for decades, never seeing a wedding. Taylor Branson, a photographer who left Heart’s Bend to pursue her career, falls head over heels in love with Jack Forester after bumping into him in New York, but did they rush things? When Coach Westbrook and Taylor’s paths cross paths during a photo shoot in Heart’s Bend, many secrets are brought to the surface. Will they both discover the love they long for, despite their past?<br />This was a wonderful romance full of unexpected twists and turns along the way. It keeps you on your toes wondering what will happen next. The characters were complex, and very well developed. I very much enjoyed this read; at first I didn’t like the bouncing back and forth from one character’s story to the next, from the past to the present, but by the middle it got better and easier to follow, and by the end I was completely drawn in and I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good romance.<br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild by Zondervan /Thomas Nelson for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1452356163000, "title": "Great romance, full of twists and turns" }, { "asin": "031033344X", "rating": 5, "text": "Ashley Tolliver is a midwife in the mountains of Virginia, but she wants to take her career to the next level and attend medical school. She comes from a long line of midwives, nearly 200 years worth to be exact. But when a city boy comes to town looking for help and answers, she begins to think about all that her dream entails, leaving the community she's not only grown up in, but has committed herself to serving and helping.<br /><br />This was a brilliant romance. I was captivated from the very beginning. The characters are complex, but easy to relate to. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. I was sad to see the book end. I love books that point to God, and this was no exception. A few times the characters had tough decisions to make, and they always turned to God to help them with these decisions. This was the first of Eakes books I have read, but if the rest of her books are like this one, I will be finding every one. In short, I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &#60; http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&#62; : &#34;Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.&#34;", "timestamp": 1452882048000, "title": "Captivating from the beginning!" }, { "asin": "0310332435", "rating": 5, "text": "Casey Cox is tortured by her past, but now a new threat has sent her running for her life. She’s accused of murdering her good friend, but doesn’t know who she can and cannot trust. Will she be able to find justice for her father and for her friend without being in jeopardy herself?<br /><br />I was drawn into this book from the very first line. It is a gripping story told in the first person that draws you in so far you feel like you’re right there with Casey as she tries to figure out this mess. The characters are complex with their own flaws. This is the first in a trilogy so when I got to the end I was ready to jump into the next one, but alas, I have to wait. I finished this book in 2 days (which is a big deal for me…lol) because I couldn’t bear to put it down long because every time I did it left me wondering what was going to happen next! Highly recommend this book!<br /><br />** I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLookBloggers [...]book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”", "timestamp": 1457122614000, "title": "Amazing read!" }, { "asin": "0718030923", "rating": 3, "text": "Allie Marshall was convicted of a crime she didn't commit, but after 10 long years she's out on parole. She's determined to prove her innocence. Her return turns everyone's world upside down, especially her daughter's. Will she be able to mend her relationship with her daughter and prove once and for all she didn't murder the coach?<br /><br />I enjoyed this suspense. It was full of unexpected twists and turns all the way to the end. It keeps you enthralled the whole time. While I loved this book I wouldn't call this Christian fiction as there's no mention of God at all. It's fairly clean, however, there are a few instances of cursing and there were a couple racy spots (more than I prefer). Minus those spots the storyline was great and kept me on my toes.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review through Book Look Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review; all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1465782092000, "title": "Kept me on my toes" }, { "asin": "0692701370", "rating": 5, "text": "Katie Chupp is an Amish girl who works at the bakery in town. As she walks into the bakery on the day of the Fourth of July celebration, she finds that someone has broken into the bakery and stolen a good deal of their inventory. Now they are faced with finding the thief responsible and finding a place to bake all the special orders in time for the celebration. When Katie unknowingly stumbles upon the thief and realizes the situation behind the theft, she is faced with telling her boss and hoping she will understand the circumstances.<br /><br />This is Naomi Miller's debut novel, and I must say it was amazing! It kept my interest from the first page until the very end. It was shorter than usual, so I finished it in just two days! I loved the characters; they were well developed and the story was one you could relate to. The Amish genre usually is hard for me to get into, but this story was different, not like a lot of the other Amish books I've tried to read before. I love mysteries and if you do too, I highly recommend it. I am looking forward to book #2 in this series, the &#34;Christmas Cookie Mystery&#34;!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the author for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1472696828000, "title": "Great read!" }, { "asin": "140168890X", "rating": 4, "text": "Parker House has a very close relationship with his grandfather, Frank House. He shares a special talent with his grandfather in that they both are able to see future events. This talent has been haunting Frank House for years ever since the war. When Parker gets a new job at a new law firm, Frank is forced to come face to face with his past. Will Frank be able to move on from his past?<br />It took me a long time to get into this story, but when I finally did it was a good read. It was hard for me at first to go back and forth between the characters and the different time periods throughout the book. The characters were very well developed and had their own flaws, and were pretty relatable. This was a different type of read than I’m used to, but I would definitely recommend it to others who like a little suspense with some romance thrown in.<br /><br />**I received this book free through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1476244820000, "title": "Good read, just kind of a slow pace." }, { "asin": "031034154X", "rating": 5, "text": "After her best friend Tammy dies, Haley Morgan dreams of opening the wedding shop in Heart’s Bend and carry on the legacy of Cora Scott. Is it just a dream she and her friend had as children, or can she make the dream become a reality and save the shop from becoming a parking lot. Fixing up the old shop to the city’s time table and specifications is the beginning of a beautiful journey of faith and love for Haley. Will she be able to accomplish her dream and maybe find true love on the way?<br /><br />This book was another amazing read by Rachel Hauck. She has a way of writing the storyline and characters in such a relatable way that you feel like you know them. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next, how it would all come together. I loved it. If you love Christian romance then you need to check this one out.<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1482990554000, "title": "Another amazing book by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "1401690300", "rating": 5, "text": "Since her mother's blueberry barrens are no longer producing enough fruit to make a living, Kate decides she needs to rent her cottage out. Drake Newham shows up with his nieces and not only wants to rent it, but also needs a nanny. When Kate finds out Drake is in Maine to look into his brother and sister-in-law's deaths, they decide to team up to get to the bottom of it. However, Kate's uncle has recently escaped prison and someone may be stalking her. Will they ever find the people responsible for all the threats to Kate and her loved ones?<br /><br />I always enjoy Colleen Coble's books, and this was no different. It was packed with suspense and romance. I found myself turning page after page wondering who the stalker was, who really killed Drake's family, and will they ever catch Uncle Paul? I find myself so engrossed I feel like I'm right there with Kate and Drake, rooting for them. The characters are very relatable. If you love suspense with romance mixed in, you'll love this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publishers through the Fiction Guild program for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1484542439000, "title": "Another great read by Colleen Coble! Lots of suspense!" }, { "asin": "1625915136", "rating": 5, "text": "When Angela moves in next door to one of Mitch's house flips, he thought she was a bit strange, but then she came to church and they form an unlikely friendship. They both have a passion for the same family that lives in one of Mitch's rentals across from Angela's house. As they set about to show Bianca and her family Christ's love and grace, they find they have feelings for each other. Will they be able be able to move past the past and have a meaningful relationship? Will they be able to lead Bianca and her family to the Lord, or will she turn them away for good?<br /><br />This was a wonderful story of how God's grace can restore anybody, regardless of what they've been through. The characters were very well developed. I really appreciated how Slattery took common problems that people face in today's world, and showed how no matter how bad it seems, God can always restore that person by His grace! I think it's safe to say most people nowadays know of someone who has some of the same challenges that each character in this book faces. There's Angela who struggled with drugs and promiscuity in her past, but found God's grace and by His grace is turning her life around. Bianca is a single mom who is struggling to provide for her family after her husband is imprisoned and just feels like her life is falling apart. Finally, there's Mitch, a divorced man who is dealing with his drug addict son while his unsaved business partner is making business difficult. I found myself immersed in this book, and I didn't want to put it down. If you need a good book, check this one out! I highly recommend it!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1484843617000, "title": "A great story of God's Grace!" }, { "asin": "0718078764", "rating": 5, "text": "After thirteen years, Natalie Mitchell is faced with going back to the place where her sister's tragic death happened, a place she's avoided since. She is forced to face her past as her father instructs her to check on the status of her grandfather's winery and possibly shut it down. When she arrives, her childhood friend, Tanner Collins, is anything but happy to see her. As they are forced to work together, they find they both have secrets in their pasts. Will she be able to face her past and move on with her life, or will it haunt her forever? Will she be able to save the winery or will she blindly obey her father's wishes as she's always done?<br />Beautifully written, you will not want to put this book down. I loved this book, I loved how the characters were flawed and very well developed. Their struggles are struggles that many people can relate to. I love how West shows how they learn to trust God as they work through their problems. To trust that God makes no mistakes and He has a plan in everything, no matter how horrible it looks to us. I highly recommend this book, go grab yours today!<br />**I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for review through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1496334642000, "title": "Wonderful storyline, well-written!" }, { "asin": "0718083474", "rating": 5, "text": "When Hayden McCarthy is given a case with hardly any information, she knows she has her work cut out for her. Her boss is confident that she can win the case, but she can't seem to get the answers she needs to move forward. As she finally starts gaining momentum, she realizes there is something more to this case than just a wrongful death, but she wants justice for her client. Andrew Wesley is Hayden's roommate's cousin and the son of Congressman Wesley. He works with young kids who have recently immigrated to the United States. Their paths begin to cross more frequently as a boy he's helping ends up being one of the sons of Hayden's client. Will Hayden be able to find justice before they all end up mixed up in something way over their heads?<br /><br />This was the first book I've read of Cara Putman's and I was not disappointed. It was fantastic! The characters were complex and well developed, they were very likable. From the beginning, I was sucked into the story. There were times where after reading the book, I couldn't remember if I read it in the story or if it was a news headline. It's full of twists and turns and keeps the reader guessing until the very end. I loved every minute of it, and can't wait to read more of Putman's books! If you too like suspense, you need to read this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1501788308684, "title": "Will keep you guessing until the end" }, { "asin": "0718085949", "rating": 5, "text": "Brooklyn Myers never intended to return to her hometown of Thunder Creek, Idaho, but God seemed to have different plans. When her husband whom she has been separated from dies and leaves his family home and property to her and her daughter, she sees it as the perfect opportunity to give her daughter a better life. However, Derek Johnson, who was her estranged husband's best friend since childhood, is not exactly thrilled with the idea of Brooklyn and her daughter coming back to live next door, especially since it means he may not be able to buy the land he wanted so bad. As their paths continue to cross, and they get to know each other better, an attraction builds, but they both have some obstacles to overcome, and Brooklyn must get over her past and learn to trust again.<br /> <br />This was a beautifully written, captivating story; I didn't want to put the book down. You'll fall in love with the characters and be rooting for them each step of the way. Rooting for Brooklyn to stand up for herself, to learn to trust men again, and to give Derek a chance. If you love a good romance, this is one you should read!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild program in exchange for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1501903060306, "title": "Captivating romance!" }, { "asin": "1401690327", "rating": 5, "text": "When Dana Newell moves back to her home town of Rock Harbor, she thought she'd be starting over, free from her abusive fianc&eacute;. However, there are many secrets and dangers she wasn't aware of in her hometown. As she tries to help her new friend Boone unravel the mystery of his sister's murder, they find more questions than answers. Will her ex-fianc&eacute; finally leave her alone so she can move on with her life? Will they be able to find the murderer before he strikes again?<br /><br />Colleen Coble has written another amazing story! It will keep you on the edge of your seat from page one. The suspense grabbed me from the very beginning and kept me guessing until the very end. While this is a part of the Rock Harbor series, I have not read any of the rest of the series and I didn't feel lost, so it definitely can stand alone. So what are you waiting for? Go grab your copy and get started, you will want to read this one!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild program. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1505619803688, "title": "Suspenseful!" }, { "asin": "0310341590", "rating": 5, "text": "After Tenley Roth writes a bestseller, she is challenged to write her next book. However, she is overcome with writer's block. When her estranged mother asks her to come to Cocoa Beach to help her through her chemotherapy treatments, she thinks this may be what she needs to get her inspiration back. When Tenley arrives at her mother's house she falls in love with an antique desk and gains inspiration from the desk. Little did Tenley know that years before Birdie Shehorn had sat at the same desk wanting two things, to be a published author and to marry for love. Will Tenley shake her writer's block and find her inspiration? Will Birdie be able to go against her mother's wishes and marry for love and finally get her name on a book? <br /><br />This story was very intriguing. I fell in love with both Tenley and Birdie. It kept me wondering how each of their stories would end. I could not put the book down, and when I had to my !Ind kept wondering what was going to happen next. This is another amazing story by Rachel Hauck, and I highly recommend it. I love the way she writes two separate stories of women from two completely different ages and weaves them back together. <br /><br />**I received this book for free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1508124994775, "title": "Another great book by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "0718085760", "rating": 5, "text": "After her husband died, Shauna wanted nothing to do with his best friend, Zach, because she blames him for his death. However, when a series of deaths threaten her life and the life of her son, she has no one else to turn to and has to rely on Zach to keep her safe. As they slowly unravel the mystery of who killed their friends, it only seems to get more dangerous. Will they be able to figure out what the killers are after? And will they be able to solve the mystery before someone else Shauna loves gets hurt?<br /><br />I cannot wait to read the next book in this series. It’s full of twists and turns with a bit of romance thrown in! I love it, kept me guessing all the way until the end! As usual, I quickly fell in love with the main characters, who are very relatable. I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1531621370312, "title": "Amazing suspense!! Great read!" }, { "asin": "0800729463", "rating": 5, "text": "More than likely you know a few things about Elisabeth Elliot and her husband, Jim; you may even have read some of Elisabeth's other books. I knew their story, and a little about Elisabeth after her husband was murdered, but I didn't know much else about her, for example, I never knew she spent an entire year on the opposite side of the jungle as a single missionary trying to create a written language for the Colorado Indians. I found this book very enlightening, it shows the struggles of her first year as a missionary. It shows her humanity through the doubts she herself faced at times. Many times I think we as Christians take for granted that these missionaries leave to go to the field and we hear back from them most of the positive things of their work. We don't hear of the struggles and doubts they have faced. I think sometimes we see these people as superhuman and they don't have doubts, or fears, or struggles, but they are still human, the devil still attacks them, and probably more so as they work daily on a foreign field without many of the luxuries we have here at home. It also shows how great her faith was, even in those struggles she was able to remind herself that she was called of God without a doubt, and it would strengthen her faith to keep on keeping on. I learned a lot from reading her memoir, and I know you will too. May it strengthen your faith as well!<br />**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1546278626079, "title": "A great story of her struggles, doubts and her faith!" }, { "asin": "0310350964", "rating": 5, "text": "I love the way Rachel Hauck weaves the story of 2 different women from 2 different decades together so seamlessly. I fell in love with Everleigh and Beck very quickly. All of the characters were very interesting and I loved watching the romance between the two couples blossom. Once I was drawn into the story, which didn't take but a few chapters, it was hard for me to put the book down. I wanted to know what happened next. Would Everleigh allow herself to love again? Would Beck ever find her memories? I highly recommend this one, another great romance by Rachel Hauck!<br />**I received a copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1555329536013, "title": "Another great romance by Rachel Hauck!" }, { "asin": "0310332591", "rating": 5, "text": "Edge of your seat suspense. The whole book kept me on the edge of my seat. I literally could not put it down, and I'll admit I stayed up way later than I should have to finish it, because I just had to find out what happened to Brenna and her kids,to find out if Nate's dad is really innocent who killed Brenna's father? I immediately fell in love with the characters, and my heart went out to Brenna. I was rooting for her from the beginning. I was hoping she'd see the light and deal with her drinking problem. I love how Nate encourages her to look to God and get back into a relationship with Him instead of turning to alcohol. If you love suspense, if you love a good Blackstock novel, you will not want to miss this book. I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1573313863140, "title": "Keeps you on the edge of your seat!" }, { "asin": "0718085884", "rating": 5, "text": "As usual, I was enthralled with this book by Colleen Coble. I got sucked in, and I couldn't put it down. The characters were very well written, and you could totally relate to them. I quickly fell in love with Harper and Ridge, and they made a great team trying to solve the mystery of the different attacks. I am a big fan of suspense, and this book did not disappoint at all. This is a romantic suspense you won't want to miss!<br /><br />**I received this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1573769909212, "title": "You won't want to miss this one!" }, { "asin": "0800735846", "rating": 4, "text": "Action-packed and full of suspense, this book will leave you wanting to jump right into the next book! I absolutely loved each of the characters, and felt like I was climbing Denali with them. Each character had their own unique back story, and they were all just as easy to love as the rest of them. I found myself gasping and wondering if they were ever going to get off that mountain. Would they be able to rescue their friends in time? Would they ever trust each other again? Would their pasts hinder them from the feelings Orion and Jenny both clearly had for each other, but were denying? As a first book in a series, I'm so glad I can follow the story into the next book when it comes out!! I loved this book, and definitely recommend it! The only thing I think I should warn about is there are a couple points where I thought the romance was getting a bit...shall we say steamier than I would like in a book....nothing ever happens, but it definitely is implied that had something not interrupted it would have happened.<br /><br />**I received this book from Revell Reads for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1579398682476, "title": "Action packed and full of suspense" }, { "asin": "1636090893", "rating": 5, "text": "World War II has always been my favorite part of history. This book was set in that time period. I had never heard of the SPARS branch of the Coast Guard until I got this book. It was fascinating to read this story and about the brave women who chose to serve their country in this special branch. I know this was a fictionalized story, but it will definitely keep you on your toes and you’ll quickly fall in love with the characters. I loved the storyline, the characters, and suspense. If you like historical fiction with suspense added in, you’ll absolutely love this book!<br /><br />**I received this book for review as part of the CelebrateLit blog team. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1639251908380, "title": "Hard to put down!" }, { "asin": "0800737334", "rating": 5, "text": "An awesome, heart-pounding read! It kept me guessing from the beginning all the way to the end. So many twists and turns, I never knew what was going to happen next! Lynette Eason has a way about writing suspense that will keep her readers enraptured in her books, and this one doesn’t disappoint. I love the characters, they were easy to fall in love with and very relatable. I felt like I was right there with Penny trying to figure out the case, catch the killer and keep myself out of harm’s way. An excellent book, I highly recommend. Can’t wait for the next one in the serious!<br /><br />**I received this book as part of the launch team. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1641301944383, "title": "Amazing read!" }, { "asin": "0800739795", "rating": 4, "text": "A great read! I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I love the characters. Elinor and Kekoa were an interesting pair, and very relatable. This was a great mystery and had some great suspense especially towards the end. I definitely was kept wondering who was trying to set up Elinor or if in fact she was guilty. While this was book 2 in the series, it can definitely stand alone. I hadn't read the first one and I didn't feel lost. I would recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received a copy of this book from Revell for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1654733253366, "title": "A great read!" }, { "asin": "0800739833", "rating": 4, "text": "Another amazing book by Susan May Warren! I love the characters, and I quickly fell in love with Noemi and Ranger. I found myself guessing the whole time as to why the terrorists were after Noemi, right up to the very end. I highly recommend this book and the whole series. I would say that I feel like this series would be best read in order, while I read this one out of order and I wasn’t completely lost, I feel like I’m missing some information that must have happened with Tae in the first book, so I’ll probably go back and read that one before reading the next one, which I can’t wait to do to see what happens with Ranger and Noemi and the rest of the family!​<br /><br />**I received this book for review from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own", "timestamp": 1657251988691, "title": "A great read!" }, { "asin": "0800737350", "rating": 5, "text": "Another amazing book by Lynette Eason! I love the suspense of this book, kept me guessing the whole way to the end. The characters were so easy to fall in love with, and relatable. I love how the theme of forgiveness is woven throughout and the reminder of God’s goodness. I highly recommend this book!<br /><br />**I received a copy of this book for review from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1661964682068, "title": "Amazing storyline with great suspense" }, { "asin": "0800736192", "rating": 5, "text": "A wonderful story! Grace Reilly is such a lovable character, and Nate is just as easy to fall in love with. They have such great chemistry and are the perfect match. I loved the mystery behind the seemingly natural deaths that Grace and Nate start to question. The twists and turns will keep you guessing who done it all the way to the end of the book. I highly recommend this one!<br /><br />**I received this book from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.", "timestamp": 1667680411971, "title": "A wonderful story!" } ]

[ { "asin": "B00QXROAA0", "rating": 5, "text": "Kendra Elliott never fails to entice the reader into her web. The plot (and what a plot this time) draws you ever so slowly into its orbit and you find yourself trying to pull<br />all of the threads together and figure out the why of the story. Kendra Elliott always comes through at the end. Read it and you will see what I mean. Keep up the good work and write faster!! I can hardly wait for the next one.", "timestamp": 1435188935000, "title": "Best of the group!" }, { "asin": "B00Y0PIEZY", "rating": 5, "text": "Wow! I often wonder how writers come up with their plots and characters. However Kendra Elliott does it, I hope she will continue. Chris' story needed to be told since we met him in Buried. She outdid herself in the telling this time. Gianna, Chris and her daughter Violet enter into a story that started years before. Family secrets, murder and intrigue all play a part in the unraveling of this decades old story. You will be on the edge of your seat as the story unfolds and a smile on your face when it is over.", "timestamp": 1453868804000, "title": "Best book of the series!" }, { "asin": "B017IKQW5Q", "rating": 5, "text": "Targeted, the newest entry into the series is the best one yet. It is always a pleasure to read a new book that offers the reader a glimpse into the life of these two people who have found themselves amid some of the worse scenarios possible. Their relationship is one constant in the world they live. Ava's sister Jayne who is downplayed in this book, is still weaving her web, but another potential family member shows up and one wonders who Ava is more afraid of. I can't wait until the next one!", "timestamp": 1465654939000, "title": "Kendra Elliott never fails!" }, { "asin": "B017IKQW6U", "rating": 5, "text": "This book is so full of twists and turns you feel like you are on a roller coaster and not quite sure where you will end up! The writing draws you in at the beginning and keeps you enthralled all the way to the end. Bravo, Mary Burton! I can't wait to read another one!", "timestamp": 1468025169000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "B01GJA450A", "rating": 5, "text": "Short it may be, but it is full of mystery and intrigue. Meeting new characters and visiting old ones is always a joy with Rogue River. I wonder if we will have heard the last of one of the new characters? I can hardly wait for the next one!", "timestamp": 1477523090000, "title": "Short But Fully Satisfying!" }, { "asin": "B01EN506CE", "rating": 5, "text": "Meeting all of the Sullivans again is enjoyable, even though most of them were seen in a hospital waiting room. This book was hard to put down and following the plot, while a wee bit difficult at first, evolved into a very satisfying read. This is a great way to spend the weekend while it is snowing outside!", "timestamp": 1483929287000, "title": "Edge of you seat excitement!" }, { "asin": "B01EN506CO", "rating": 5, "text": "Mercy Kirkpatrick is a new kind of hero. Brought up as a survivalist, she was cast out of the family home after a traumatic attack when she finished high school. She returned to her hometown as a self- made FBI agent to investigate a series of murders that may or may not have origins in the earlier attack. Great plot and characters!", "timestamp": 1485324466000, "title": "Great start to a new series!" }, { "asin": "B01MQ2HAAJ", "rating": 5, "text": "This is a must read for any fan of Kendra Elliott. She is at the top of her game in this series. The research involved is outstanding and the topic is frequently found on the front pages of our newspapers. A master storyteller. I cannot wait for number 3.", "timestamp": 1496797847000, "title": "Another winner!" }, { "asin": "B06Y5MTNMQ", "rating": 5, "text": "Kendra Elliott has once again created a nail biting, hard hitting mystery. Mercy Kilpatrick is an extraordinary literary character who is able to live in two worlds: the FBI and the survivalist. Two that are not normally compatible, but they are dynamite in the hands of a master story teller like Elliot. This book will keep you on your toes!", "timestamp": 1517373526792, "title": "Great Read!" }, { "asin": "B077GRGYJ4", "rating": 5, "text": "This book is one of the best mysteries I have read. The plot was outstanding, dialogue sharp and to the point and absolutely satisfying in the end. It was good to see the conflict of Mercy dealing with her prepping side while admitting her heart's desire. Great way to spend a day! Thank you Kendra Elliott and keep up the good work!!", "timestamp": 1529708683227, "title": "A worthwhile use of your time!!!" }, { "asin": "B077XGTQPB", "rating": 5, "text": "If you are looking for a book that will put you to sleep, don't pick this one. From the first page the tension is high. Just when you think you have figured out the plot, out pops another zinger and you have to re-consider your options. Believe me, this story will stay with you for awhile. Bravo to Katee Robert for a memorable story.", "timestamp": 1530762554015, "title": "Spine Tingling Suspense..." }, { "asin": "B07F1442NX", "rating": 5, "text": "I enjoyed this novella with its charming characters and the crisp atmosphere of the Northwest. Old friends Cate and Tessa reunite over the bones of a recently missing girl that brings back memories of another lost friend. I can hardly wait for the rest of the series to see who, what and when!", "timestamp": 1540523009429, "title": "Great New Series!" }, { "asin": "B07C854RL5", "rating": 5, "text": "Once again Kendra Elliot has proven her ability to pull the reader into her world within the first few pages of her book. Mercy Kilpatrick is one of my favorite characters because Elliot has created such a wonderful character whose flaws are outweighed by her humanity. I say this every time, but this is one of her best. Although I didn't have any fingernails left by the end of the book, good overcame evil once again. Go Team Mercy!!", "timestamp": 1548214614979, "title": "A well-crafted nail biting story!" }, { "asin": "B07BDF7WKP", "rating": 5, "text": "I loved these characters and cannot wait to read more about them! The plot was not your usual shoot 'um up, bang, bang!! It has all the hallmarks of a nightmare and it it was brilliantly presented by Mary Burton. Thank you for a very fascinating story.", "timestamp": 1552094721106, "title": "Great book!!!" }, { "asin": "B07GDH8F26", "rating": 5, "text": "This series has an extraordinary premise with good and evil parts, and it is forever fascinating. Jessie Cole is a PI and has some of the most intricate cases right out of the pages of the daily news. Great writing!!", "timestamp": 1555544105225, "title": "Great book!" }, { "asin": "B01E3UB7O0", "rating": 5, "text": "Once again Mary Burton has created a nightmare. A nightmare you cannot put down! The characters are tightly drawn and the plot is intricately crafted (a bit gruesome, but it worked) and the good guys won again!! Mary Burton can write a spine tingling work of art. Highly enjoyable!", "timestamp": 1556335293122, "title": "Another winner!" }, { "asin": "B07P32NGR6", "rating": 5, "text": "Secrets can come back to haunt you and that is exactly what Mary Burton proves in I See You. Although this was the second book in the series, it is not dependent upon other works by Burton. I enjoyed the book and all of the forensic procedure. The suspense was first rate and all of the little side stories that were included. I am looking forward to the next one.", "timestamp": 1570591053577, "title": "Keep your doors locked and eyes wide open while reading this book!" } ]

[ { "asin": "B00QXROAA0", "rating": 5, "text": "Kendra Elliott never fails to entice the reader into her web. The plot (and what a plot this time) draws you ever so slowly into its orbit and you find yourself trying to pull<br />all of the threads together and figure out the why of the story. Kendra Elliott always comes through at the end. Read it and you will see what I mean. Keep up the good work and write faster!! I can hardly wait for the next one.", "timestamp": 1435188935000, "title": "Best of the group!" }, { "asin": "B00Y0PIEZY", "rating": 5, "text": "Wow! I often wonder how writers come up with their plots and characters. However Kendra Elliott does it, I hope she will continue. Chris' story needed to be told since we met him in Buried. She outdid herself in the telling this time. Gianna, Chris and her daughter Violet enter into a story that started years before. Family secrets, murder and intrigue all play a part in the unraveling of this decades old story. You will be on the edge of your seat as the story unfolds and a smile on your face when it is over.", "timestamp": 1453868804000, "title": "Best book of the series!" }, { "asin": "B017IKQW5Q", "rating": 5, "text": "Targeted, the newest entry into the series is the best one yet. It is always a pleasure to read a new book that offers the reader a glimpse into the life of these two people who have found themselves amid some of the worse scenarios possible. Their relationship is one constant in the world they live. Ava's sister Jayne who is downplayed in this book, is still weaving her web, but another potential family member shows up and one wonders who Ava is more afraid of. I can't wait until the next one!", "timestamp": 1465654939000, "title": "Kendra Elliott never fails!" }, { "asin": "B017IKQW6U", "rating": 5, "text": "This book is so full of twists and turns you feel like you are on a roller coaster and not quite sure where you will end up! The writing draws you in at the beginning and keeps you enthralled all the way to the end. Bravo, Mary Burton! I can't wait to read another one!", "timestamp": 1468025169000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "B01GJA450A", "rating": 5, "text": "Short it may be, but it is full of mystery and intrigue. Meeting new characters and visiting old ones is always a joy with Rogue River. I wonder if we will have heard the last of one of the new characters? I can hardly wait for the next one!", "timestamp": 1477523090000, "title": "Short But Fully Satisfying!" }, { "asin": "B01EN506CE", "rating": 5, "text": "Meeting all of the Sullivans again is enjoyable, even though most of them were seen in a hospital waiting room. This book was hard to put down and following the plot, while a wee bit difficult at first, evolved into a very satisfying read. This is a great way to spend the weekend while it is snowing outside!", "timestamp": 1483929287000, "title": "Edge of you seat excitement!" }, { "asin": "B01EN506CO", "rating": 5, "text": "Mercy Kirkpatrick is a new kind of hero. Brought up as a survivalist, she was cast out of the family home after a traumatic attack when she finished high school. She returned to her hometown as a self- made FBI agent to investigate a series of murders that may or may not have origins in the earlier attack. Great plot and characters!", "timestamp": 1485324466000, "title": "Great start to a new series!" }, { "asin": "B01MQ2HAAJ", "rating": 5, "text": "This is a must read for any fan of Kendra Elliott. She is at the top of her game in this series. The research involved is outstanding and the topic is frequently found on the front pages of our newspapers. A master storyteller. I cannot wait for number 3.", "timestamp": 1496797847000, "title": "Another winner!" }, { "asin": "B06Y5MTNMQ", "rating": 5, "text": "Kendra Elliott has once again created a nail biting, hard hitting mystery. Mercy Kilpatrick is an extraordinary literary character who is able to live in two worlds: the FBI and the survivalist. Two that are not normally compatible, but they are dynamite in the hands of a master story teller like Elliot. This book will keep you on your toes!", "timestamp": 1517373526792, "title": "Great Read!" }, { "asin": "B077GRGYJ4", "rating": 5, "text": "This book is one of the best mysteries I have read. The plot was outstanding, dialogue sharp and to the point and absolutely satisfying in the end. It was good to see the conflict of Mercy dealing with her prepping side while admitting her heart's desire. Great way to spend a day! Thank you Kendra Elliott and keep up the good work!!", "timestamp": 1529708683227, "title": "A worthwhile use of your time!!!" }, { "asin": "B077XGTQPB", "rating": 5, "text": "If you are looking for a book that will put you to sleep, don't pick this one. From the first page the tension is high. Just when you think you have figured out the plot, out pops another zinger and you have to re-consider your options. Believe me, this story will stay with you for awhile. Bravo to Katee Robert for a memorable story.", "timestamp": 1530762554015, "title": "Spine Tingling Suspense..." }, { "asin": "B07F1442NX", "rating": 5, "text": "I enjoyed this novella with its charming characters and the crisp atmosphere of the Northwest. Old friends Cate and Tessa reunite over the bones of a recently missing girl that brings back memories of another lost friend. I can hardly wait for the rest of the series to see who, what and when!", "timestamp": 1540523009429, "title": "Great New Series!" }, { "asin": "B07C854RL5", "rating": 5, "text": "Once again Kendra Elliot has proven her ability to pull the reader into her world within the first few pages of her book. Mercy Kilpatrick is one of my favorite characters because Elliot has created such a wonderful character whose flaws are outweighed by her humanity. I say this every time, but this is one of her best. Although I didn't have any fingernails left by the end of the book, good overcame evil once again. Go Team Mercy!!", "timestamp": 1548214614979, "title": "A well-crafted nail biting story!" }, { "asin": "B07BDF7WKP", "rating": 5, "text": "I loved these characters and cannot wait to read more about them! The plot was not your usual shoot 'um up, bang, bang!! It has all the hallmarks of a nightmare and it it was brilliantly presented by Mary Burton. Thank you for a very fascinating story.", "timestamp": 1552094721106, "title": "Great book!!!" }, { "asin": "B07GDH8F26", "rating": 5, "text": "This series has an extraordinary premise with good and evil parts, and it is forever fascinating. Jessie Cole is a PI and has some of the most intricate cases right out of the pages of the daily news. Great writing!!", "timestamp": 1555544105225, "title": "Great book!" }, { "asin": "B01E3UB7O0", "rating": 5, "text": "Once again Mary Burton has created a nightmare. A nightmare you cannot put down! The characters are tightly drawn and the plot is intricately crafted (a bit gruesome, but it worked) and the good guys won again!! Mary Burton can write a spine tingling work of art. Highly enjoyable!", "timestamp": 1556335293122, "title": "Another winner!" }, { "asin": "B07P32NGR6", "rating": 5, "text": "Secrets can come back to haunt you and that is exactly what Mary Burton proves in I See You. Although this was the second book in the series, it is not dependent upon other works by Burton. I enjoyed the book and all of the forensic procedure. The suspense was first rate and all of the little side stories that were included. I am looking forward to the next one.", "timestamp": 1570591053577, "title": "Keep your doors locked and eyes wide open while reading this book!" }, { "asin": "B07GB2BVQP", "rating": 5, "text": "This is is a standalone novella about murder and mayhem in the woods on Widow's Island. However, Cade and Tessa suffered a loss while they were teenagers that has never been solved. References to this loss are made in this story. While they have both grown up and entered law enforcement positions, they have never forgotten. It does not detract from them finding the villain. However it does lead them to a long lost clue. This is a great partnership with Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliott. I hope that more books are coming from this partnership.", "timestamp": 1571792501355, "title": "Masterful storytelling!" } ]

[ { "asin": "B00QXROAA0", "rating": 5, "text": "Kendra Elliott never fails to entice the reader into her web. The plot (and what a plot this time) draws you ever so slowly into its orbit and you find yourself trying to pull<br />all of the threads together and figure out the why of the story. Kendra Elliott always comes through at the end. Read it and you will see what I mean. Keep up the good work and write faster!! I can hardly wait for the next one.", "timestamp": 1435188935000, "title": "Best of the group!" }, { "asin": "B00Y0PIEZY", "rating": 5, "text": "Wow! I often wonder how writers come up with their plots and characters. However Kendra Elliott does it, I hope she will continue. Chris' story needed to be told since we met him in Buried. She outdid herself in the telling this time. Gianna, Chris and her daughter Violet enter into a story that started years before. Family secrets, murder and intrigue all play a part in the unraveling of this decades old story. You will be on the edge of your seat as the story unfolds and a smile on your face when it is over.", "timestamp": 1453868804000, "title": "Best book of the series!" }, { "asin": "B017IKQW5Q", "rating": 5, "text": "Targeted, the newest entry into the series is the best one yet. It is always a pleasure to read a new book that offers the reader a glimpse into the life of these two people who have found themselves amid some of the worse scenarios possible. Their relationship is one constant in the world they live. Ava's sister Jayne who is downplayed in this book, is still weaving her web, but another potential family member shows up and one wonders who Ava is more afraid of. I can't wait until the next one!", "timestamp": 1465654939000, "title": "Kendra Elliott never fails!" }, { "asin": "B017IKQW6U", "rating": 5, "text": "This book is so full of twists and turns you feel like you are on a roller coaster and not quite sure where you will end up! The writing draws you in at the beginning and keeps you enthralled all the way to the end. Bravo, Mary Burton! I can't wait to read another one!", "timestamp": 1468025169000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "B01GJA450A", "rating": 5, "text": "Short it may be, but it is full of mystery and intrigue. Meeting new characters and visiting old ones is always a joy with Rogue River. I wonder if we will have heard the last of one of the new characters? I can hardly wait for the next one!", "timestamp": 1477523090000, "title": "Short But Fully Satisfying!" }, { "asin": "B01EN506CE", "rating": 5, "text": "Meeting all of the Sullivans again is enjoyable, even though most of them were seen in a hospital waiting room. This book was hard to put down and following the plot, while a wee bit difficult at first, evolved into a very satisfying read. This is a great way to spend the weekend while it is snowing outside!", "timestamp": 1483929287000, "title": "Edge of you seat excitement!" }, { "asin": "B01EN506CO", "rating": 5, "text": "Mercy Kirkpatrick is a new kind of hero. Brought up as a survivalist, she was cast out of the family home after a traumatic attack when she finished high school. She returned to her hometown as a self- made FBI agent to investigate a series of murders that may or may not have origins in the earlier attack. Great plot and characters!", "timestamp": 1485324466000, "title": "Great start to a new series!" }, { "asin": "B01MQ2HAAJ", "rating": 5, "text": "This is a must read for any fan of Kendra Elliott. She is at the top of her game in this series. The research involved is outstanding and the topic is frequently found on the front pages of our newspapers. A master storyteller. I cannot wait for number 3.", "timestamp": 1496797847000, "title": "Another winner!" }, { "asin": "B06Y5MTNMQ", "rating": 5, "text": "Kendra Elliott has once again created a nail biting, hard hitting mystery. Mercy Kilpatrick is an extraordinary literary character who is able to live in two worlds: the FBI and the survivalist. Two that are not normally compatible, but they are dynamite in the hands of a master story teller like Elliot. This book will keep you on your toes!", "timestamp": 1517373526792, "title": "Great Read!" }, { "asin": "B077GRGYJ4", "rating": 5, "text": "This book is one of the best mysteries I have read. The plot was outstanding, dialogue sharp and to the point and absolutely satisfying in the end. It was good to see the conflict of Mercy dealing with her prepping side while admitting her heart's desire. Great way to spend a day! Thank you Kendra Elliott and keep up the good work!!", "timestamp": 1529708683227, "title": "A worthwhile use of your time!!!" }, { "asin": "B077XGTQPB", "rating": 5, "text": "If you are looking for a book that will put you to sleep, don't pick this one. From the first page the tension is high. Just when you think you have figured out the plot, out pops another zinger and you have to re-consider your options. Believe me, this story will stay with you for awhile. Bravo to Katee Robert for a memorable story.", "timestamp": 1530762554015, "title": "Spine Tingling Suspense..." }, { "asin": "B07F1442NX", "rating": 5, "text": "I enjoyed this novella with its charming characters and the crisp atmosphere of the Northwest. Old friends Cate and Tessa reunite over the bones of a recently missing girl that brings back memories of another lost friend. I can hardly wait for the rest of the series to see who, what and when!", "timestamp": 1540523009429, "title": "Great New Series!" }, { "asin": "B07C854RL5", "rating": 5, "text": "Once again Kendra Elliot has proven her ability to pull the reader into her world within the first few pages of her book. Mercy Kilpatrick is one of my favorite characters because Elliot has created such a wonderful character whose flaws are outweighed by her humanity. I say this every time, but this is one of her best. Although I didn't have any fingernails left by the end of the book, good overcame evil once again. Go Team Mercy!!", "timestamp": 1548214614979, "title": "A well-crafted nail biting story!" }, { "asin": "B07BDF7WKP", "rating": 5, "text": "I loved these characters and cannot wait to read more about them! The plot was not your usual shoot 'um up, bang, bang!! It has all the hallmarks of a nightmare and it it was brilliantly presented by Mary Burton. Thank you for a very fascinating story.", "timestamp": 1552094721106, "title": "Great book!!!" }, { "asin": "B07GDH8F26", "rating": 5, "text": "This series has an extraordinary premise with good and evil parts, and it is forever fascinating. Jessie Cole is a PI and has some of the most intricate cases right out of the pages of the daily news. Great writing!!", "timestamp": 1555544105225, "title": "Great book!" }, { "asin": "B01E3UB7O0", "rating": 5, "text": "Once again Mary Burton has created a nightmare. A nightmare you cannot put down! The characters are tightly drawn and the plot is intricately crafted (a bit gruesome, but it worked) and the good guys won again!! Mary Burton can write a spine tingling work of art. Highly enjoyable!", "timestamp": 1556335293122, "title": "Another winner!" }, { "asin": "B07P32NGR6", "rating": 5, "text": "Secrets can come back to haunt you and that is exactly what Mary Burton proves in I See You. Although this was the second book in the series, it is not dependent upon other works by Burton. I enjoyed the book and all of the forensic procedure. The suspense was first rate and all of the little side stories that were included. I am looking forward to the next one.", "timestamp": 1570591053577, "title": "Keep your doors locked and eyes wide open while reading this book!" }, { "asin": "B07GB2BVQP", "rating": 5, "text": "This is is a standalone novella about murder and mayhem in the woods on Widow's Island. However, Cade and Tessa suffered a loss while they were teenagers that has never been solved. References to this loss are made in this story. While they have both grown up and entered law enforcement positions, they have never forgotten. It does not detract from them finding the villain. However it does lead them to a long lost clue. This is a great partnership with Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliott. I hope that more books are coming from this partnership.", "timestamp": 1571792501355, "title": "Masterful storytelling!" }, { "asin": "B07G9YZTFF", "rating": 5, "text": "I have followed this series from the beginning, lamenting that the novellas were not long enough! Tessa and Cate called Widows Island home, even though their childhood friend Sam disappeared when they were children and they never got over it. Now twenty years later the spectre of her disappearance returns to haunt them. Trust me, you will never figure out what happened!! Great writing by both Elliott and Melinda Leigh and it makes you want more and more of this collaboration! Bravo ladies!!", "timestamp": 1572377706447, "title": "Full of Surprises!!" } ]

[ { "asin": "B00QXROAA0", "rating": 5, "text": "Kendra Elliott never fails to entice the reader into her web. The plot (and what a plot this time) draws you ever so slowly into its orbit and you find yourself trying to pull<br />all of the threads together and figure out the why of the story. Kendra Elliott always comes through at the end. Read it and you will see what I mean. Keep up the good work and write faster!! I can hardly wait for the next one.", "timestamp": 1435188935000, "title": "Best of the group!" }, { "asin": "B00Y0PIEZY", "rating": 5, "text": "Wow! I often wonder how writers come up with their plots and characters. However Kendra Elliott does it, I hope she will continue. Chris' story needed to be told since we met him in Buried. She outdid herself in the telling this time. Gianna, Chris and her daughter Violet enter into a story that started years before. Family secrets, murder and intrigue all play a part in the unraveling of this decades old story. You will be on the edge of your seat as the story unfolds and a smile on your face when it is over.", "timestamp": 1453868804000, "title": "Best book of the series!" }, { "asin": "B017IKQW5Q", "rating": 5, "text": "Targeted, the newest entry into the series is the best one yet. It is always a pleasure to read a new book that offers the reader a glimpse into the life of these two people who have found themselves amid some of the worse scenarios possible. Their relationship is one constant in the world they live. Ava's sister Jayne who is downplayed in this book, is still weaving her web, but another potential family member shows up and one wonders who Ava is more afraid of. I can't wait until the next one!", "timestamp": 1465654939000, "title": "Kendra Elliott never fails!" }, { "asin": "B017IKQW6U", "rating": 5, "text": "This book is so full of twists and turns you feel like you are on a roller coaster and not quite sure where you will end up! The writing draws you in at the beginning and keeps you enthralled all the way to the end. Bravo, Mary Burton! I can't wait to read another one!", "timestamp": 1468025169000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "B01GJA450A", "rating": 5, "text": "Short it may be, but it is full of mystery and intrigue. Meeting new characters and visiting old ones is always a joy with Rogue River. I wonder if we will have heard the last of one of the new characters? I can hardly wait for the next one!", "timestamp": 1477523090000, "title": "Short But Fully Satisfying!" }, { "asin": "B01EN506CE", "rating": 5, "text": "Meeting all of the Sullivans again is enjoyable, even though most of them were seen in a hospital waiting room. This book was hard to put down and following the plot, while a wee bit difficult at first, evolved into a very satisfying read. This is a great way to spend the weekend while it is snowing outside!", "timestamp": 1483929287000, "title": "Edge of you seat excitement!" }, { "asin": "B01EN506CO", "rating": 5, "text": "Mercy Kirkpatrick is a new kind of hero. Brought up as a survivalist, she was cast out of the family home after a traumatic attack when she finished high school. She returned to her hometown as a self- made FBI agent to investigate a series of murders that may or may not have origins in the earlier attack. Great plot and characters!", "timestamp": 1485324466000, "title": "Great start to a new series!" }, { "asin": "B01MQ2HAAJ", "rating": 5, "text": "This is a must read for any fan of Kendra Elliott. She is at the top of her game in this series. The research involved is outstanding and the topic is frequently found on the front pages of our newspapers. A master storyteller. I cannot wait for number 3.", "timestamp": 1496797847000, "title": "Another winner!" }, { "asin": "B06Y5MTNMQ", "rating": 5, "text": "Kendra Elliott has once again created a nail biting, hard hitting mystery. Mercy Kilpatrick is an extraordinary literary character who is able to live in two worlds: the FBI and the survivalist. Two that are not normally compatible, but they are dynamite in the hands of a master story teller like Elliot. This book will keep you on your toes!", "timestamp": 1517373526792, "title": "Great Read!" }, { "asin": "B077GRGYJ4", "rating": 5, "text": "This book is one of the best mysteries I have read. The plot was outstanding, dialogue sharp and to the point and absolutely satisfying in the end. It was good to see the conflict of Mercy dealing with her prepping side while admitting her heart's desire. Great way to spend a day! Thank you Kendra Elliott and keep up the good work!!", "timestamp": 1529708683227, "title": "A worthwhile use of your time!!!" }, { "asin": "B077XGTQPB", "rating": 5, "text": "If you are looking for a book that will put you to sleep, don't pick this one. From the first page the tension is high. Just when you think you have figured out the plot, out pops another zinger and you have to re-consider your options. Believe me, this story will stay with you for awhile. Bravo to Katee Robert for a memorable story.", "timestamp": 1530762554015, "title": "Spine Tingling Suspense..." }, { "asin": "B07F1442NX", "rating": 5, "text": "I enjoyed this novella with its charming characters and the crisp atmosphere of the Northwest. Old friends Cate and Tessa reunite over the bones of a recently missing girl that brings back memories of another lost friend. I can hardly wait for the rest of the series to see who, what and when!", "timestamp": 1540523009429, "title": "Great New Series!" }, { "asin": "B07C854RL5", "rating": 5, "text": "Once again Kendra Elliot has proven her ability to pull the reader into her world within the first few pages of her book. Mercy Kilpatrick is one of my favorite characters because Elliot has created such a wonderful character whose flaws are outweighed by her humanity. I say this every time, but this is one of her best. Although I didn't have any fingernails left by the end of the book, good overcame evil once again. Go Team Mercy!!", "timestamp": 1548214614979, "title": "A well-crafted nail biting story!" }, { "asin": "B07BDF7WKP", "rating": 5, "text": "I loved these characters and cannot wait to read more about them! The plot was not your usual shoot 'um up, bang, bang!! It has all the hallmarks of a nightmare and it it was brilliantly presented by Mary Burton. Thank you for a very fascinating story.", "timestamp": 1552094721106, "title": "Great book!!!" }, { "asin": "B07GDH8F26", "rating": 5, "text": "This series has an extraordinary premise with good and evil parts, and it is forever fascinating. Jessie Cole is a PI and has some of the most intricate cases right out of the pages of the daily news. Great writing!!", "timestamp": 1555544105225, "title": "Great book!" }, { "asin": "B01E3UB7O0", "rating": 5, "text": "Once again Mary Burton has created a nightmare. A nightmare you cannot put down! The characters are tightly drawn and the plot is intricately crafted (a bit gruesome, but it worked) and the good guys won again!! Mary Burton can write a spine tingling work of art. Highly enjoyable!", "timestamp": 1556335293122, "title": "Another winner!" }, { "asin": "B07P32NGR6", "rating": 5, "text": "Secrets can come back to haunt you and that is exactly what Mary Burton proves in I See You. Although this was the second book in the series, it is not dependent upon other works by Burton. I enjoyed the book and all of the forensic procedure. The suspense was first rate and all of the little side stories that were included. I am looking forward to the next one.", "timestamp": 1570591053577, "title": "Keep your doors locked and eyes wide open while reading this book!" }, { "asin": "B07GB2BVQP", "rating": 5, "text": "This is is a standalone novella about murder and mayhem in the woods on Widow's Island. However, Cade and Tessa suffered a loss while they were teenagers that has never been solved. References to this loss are made in this story. While they have both grown up and entered law enforcement positions, they have never forgotten. It does not detract from them finding the villain. However it does lead them to a long lost clue. This is a great partnership with Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliott. I hope that more books are coming from this partnership.", "timestamp": 1571792501355, "title": "Masterful storytelling!" }, { "asin": "B07G9YZTFF", "rating": 5, "text": "I have followed this series from the beginning, lamenting that the novellas were not long enough! Tessa and Cate called Widows Island home, even though their childhood friend Sam disappeared when they were children and they never got over it. Now twenty years later the spectre of her disappearance returns to haunt them. Trust me, you will never figure out what happened!! Great writing by both Elliott and Melinda Leigh and it makes you want more and more of this collaboration! Bravo ladies!!", "timestamp": 1572377706447, "title": "Full of Surprises!!" }, { "asin": "B07CNBKTPY", "rating": 5, "text": "This book had so many threads in it that it was hard to follow! True evil is present in several of the characters that I must admit had me on the edge of my seat. It is very dark, but absolutely fascinating and written by a master's hand. I can barely wait to read the rest of the series.", "timestamp": 1587001655639, "title": "1 hankie book, but not to dry your years (well maybe) but to silence your screams!" } ]

[ { "asin": "B00QXROAA0", "rating": 5, "text": "Kendra Elliott never fails to entice the reader into her web. The plot (and what a plot this time) draws you ever so slowly into its orbit and you find yourself trying to pull<br />all of the threads together and figure out the why of the story. Kendra Elliott always comes through at the end. Read it and you will see what I mean. Keep up the good work and write faster!! I can hardly wait for the next one.", "timestamp": 1435188935000, "title": "Best of the group!" }, { "asin": "B00Y0PIEZY", "rating": 5, "text": "Wow! I often wonder how writers come up with their plots and characters. However Kendra Elliott does it, I hope she will continue. Chris' story needed to be told since we met him in Buried. She outdid herself in the telling this time. Gianna, Chris and her daughter Violet enter into a story that started years before. Family secrets, murder and intrigue all play a part in the unraveling of this decades old story. You will be on the edge of your seat as the story unfolds and a smile on your face when it is over.", "timestamp": 1453868804000, "title": "Best book of the series!" }, { "asin": "B017IKQW5Q", "rating": 5, "text": "Targeted, the newest entry into the series is the best one yet. It is always a pleasure to read a new book that offers the reader a glimpse into the life of these two people who have found themselves amid some of the worse scenarios possible. Their relationship is one constant in the world they live. Ava's sister Jayne who is downplayed in this book, is still weaving her web, but another potential family member shows up and one wonders who Ava is more afraid of. I can't wait until the next one!", "timestamp": 1465654939000, "title": "Kendra Elliott never fails!" }, { "asin": "B017IKQW6U", "rating": 5, "text": "This book is so full of twists and turns you feel like you are on a roller coaster and not quite sure where you will end up! The writing draws you in at the beginning and keeps you enthralled all the way to the end. Bravo, Mary Burton! I can't wait to read another one!", "timestamp": 1468025169000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "B01GJA450A", "rating": 5, "text": "Short it may be, but it is full of mystery and intrigue. Meeting new characters and visiting old ones is always a joy with Rogue River. I wonder if we will have heard the last of one of the new characters? I can hardly wait for the next one!", "timestamp": 1477523090000, "title": "Short But Fully Satisfying!" }, { "asin": "B01EN506CE", "rating": 5, "text": "Meeting all of the Sullivans again is enjoyable, even though most of them were seen in a hospital waiting room. This book was hard to put down and following the plot, while a wee bit difficult at first, evolved into a very satisfying read. This is a great way to spend the weekend while it is snowing outside!", "timestamp": 1483929287000, "title": "Edge of you seat excitement!" }, { "asin": "B01EN506CO", "rating": 5, "text": "Mercy Kirkpatrick is a new kind of hero. Brought up as a survivalist, she was cast out of the family home after a traumatic attack when she finished high school. She returned to her hometown as a self- made FBI agent to investigate a series of murders that may or may not have origins in the earlier attack. Great plot and characters!", "timestamp": 1485324466000, "title": "Great start to a new series!" }, { "asin": "B01MQ2HAAJ", "rating": 5, "text": "This is a must read for any fan of Kendra Elliott. She is at the top of her game in this series. The research involved is outstanding and the topic is frequently found on the front pages of our newspapers. A master storyteller. I cannot wait for number 3.", "timestamp": 1496797847000, "title": "Another winner!" }, { "asin": "B06Y5MTNMQ", "rating": 5, "text": "Kendra Elliott has once again created a nail biting, hard hitting mystery. Mercy Kilpatrick is an extraordinary literary character who is able to live in two worlds: the FBI and the survivalist. Two that are not normally compatible, but they are dynamite in the hands of a master story teller like Elliot. This book will keep you on your toes!", "timestamp": 1517373526792, "title": "Great Read!" }, { "asin": "B077GRGYJ4", "rating": 5, "text": "This book is one of the best mysteries I have read. The plot was outstanding, dialogue sharp and to the point and absolutely satisfying in the end. It was good to see the conflict of Mercy dealing with her prepping side while admitting her heart's desire. Great way to spend a day! Thank you Kendra Elliott and keep up the good work!!", "timestamp": 1529708683227, "title": "A worthwhile use of your time!!!" }, { "asin": "B077XGTQPB", "rating": 5, "text": "If you are looking for a book that will put you to sleep, don't pick this one. From the first page the tension is high. Just when you think you have figured out the plot, out pops another zinger and you have to re-consider your options. Believe me, this story will stay with you for awhile. Bravo to Katee Robert for a memorable story.", "timestamp": 1530762554015, "title": "Spine Tingling Suspense..." }, { "asin": "B07F1442NX", "rating": 5, "text": "I enjoyed this novella with its charming characters and the crisp atmosphere of the Northwest. Old friends Cate and Tessa reunite over the bones of a recently missing girl that brings back memories of another lost friend. I can hardly wait for the rest of the series to see who, what and when!", "timestamp": 1540523009429, "title": "Great New Series!" }, { "asin": "B07C854RL5", "rating": 5, "text": "Once again Kendra Elliot has proven her ability to pull the reader into her world within the first few pages of her book. Mercy Kilpatrick is one of my favorite characters because Elliot has created such a wonderful character whose flaws are outweighed by her humanity. I say this every time, but this is one of her best. Although I didn't have any fingernails left by the end of the book, good overcame evil once again. Go Team Mercy!!", "timestamp": 1548214614979, "title": "A well-crafted nail biting story!" }, { "asin": "B07BDF7WKP", "rating": 5, "text": "I loved these characters and cannot wait to read more about them! The plot was not your usual shoot 'um up, bang, bang!! It has all the hallmarks of a nightmare and it it was brilliantly presented by Mary Burton. Thank you for a very fascinating story.", "timestamp": 1552094721106, "title": "Great book!!!" }, { "asin": "B07GDH8F26", "rating": 5, "text": "This series has an extraordinary premise with good and evil parts, and it is forever fascinating. Jessie Cole is a PI and has some of the most intricate cases right out of the pages of the daily news. Great writing!!", "timestamp": 1555544105225, "title": "Great book!" }, { "asin": "B01E3UB7O0", "rating": 5, "text": "Once again Mary Burton has created a nightmare. A nightmare you cannot put down! The characters are tightly drawn and the plot is intricately crafted (a bit gruesome, but it worked) and the good guys won again!! Mary Burton can write a spine tingling work of art. Highly enjoyable!", "timestamp": 1556335293122, "title": "Another winner!" }, { "asin": "B07P32NGR6", "rating": 5, "text": "Secrets can come back to haunt you and that is exactly what Mary Burton proves in I See You. Although this was the second book in the series, it is not dependent upon other works by Burton. I enjoyed the book and all of the forensic procedure. The suspense was first rate and all of the little side stories that were included. I am looking forward to the next one.", "timestamp": 1570591053577, "title": "Keep your doors locked and eyes wide open while reading this book!" }, { "asin": "B07GB2BVQP", "rating": 5, "text": "This is is a standalone novella about murder and mayhem in the woods on Widow's Island. However, Cade and Tessa suffered a loss while they were teenagers that has never been solved. References to this loss are made in this story. While they have both grown up and entered law enforcement positions, they have never forgotten. It does not detract from them finding the villain. However it does lead them to a long lost clue. This is a great partnership with Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliott. I hope that more books are coming from this partnership.", "timestamp": 1571792501355, "title": "Masterful storytelling!" }, { "asin": "B07G9YZTFF", "rating": 5, "text": "I have followed this series from the beginning, lamenting that the novellas were not long enough! Tessa and Cate called Widows Island home, even though their childhood friend Sam disappeared when they were children and they never got over it. Now twenty years later the spectre of her disappearance returns to haunt them. Trust me, you will never figure out what happened!! Great writing by both Elliott and Melinda Leigh and it makes you want more and more of this collaboration! Bravo ladies!!", "timestamp": 1572377706447, "title": "Full of Surprises!!" }, { "asin": "B07CNBKTPY", "rating": 5, "text": "This book had so many threads in it that it was hard to follow! True evil is present in several of the characters that I must admit had me on the edge of my seat. It is very dark, but absolutely fascinating and written by a master's hand. I can barely wait to read the rest of the series.", "timestamp": 1587001655639, "title": "1 hankie book, but not to dry your years (well maybe) but to silence your screams!" }, { "asin": "B07XJTDDC5", "rating": 5, "text": "Great book!! Mary Burton can write a story of the greatest deprivation and man's inhumanity to man and several pages later create a love story. Burton throws the reader a curve every now and then, but it only enhanced the plot. Melina Shepard makes a wonderful main character with baggage that could get her killed. Serial killers, FBI agents and kidnapped kids are only a few of the people you will meet in within the pages of this book.", "timestamp": 1591151101227, "title": "This book will draw you into the action!" } ]

[ { "asin": "B00QXROAA0", "rating": 5, "text": "Kendra Elliott never fails to entice the reader into her web. The plot (and what a plot this time) draws you ever so slowly into its orbit and you find yourself trying to pull<br />all of the threads together and figure out the why of the story. Kendra Elliott always comes through at the end. Read it and you will see what I mean. Keep up the good work and write faster!! I can hardly wait for the next one.", "timestamp": 1435188935000, "title": "Best of the group!" }, { "asin": "B00Y0PIEZY", "rating": 5, "text": "Wow! I often wonder how writers come up with their plots and characters. However Kendra Elliott does it, I hope she will continue. Chris' story needed to be told since we met him in Buried. She outdid herself in the telling this time. Gianna, Chris and her daughter Violet enter into a story that started years before. Family secrets, murder and intrigue all play a part in the unraveling of this decades old story. You will be on the edge of your seat as the story unfolds and a smile on your face when it is over.", "timestamp": 1453868804000, "title": "Best book of the series!" }, { "asin": "B017IKQW5Q", "rating": 5, "text": "Targeted, the newest entry into the series is the best one yet. It is always a pleasure to read a new book that offers the reader a glimpse into the life of these two people who have found themselves amid some of the worse scenarios possible. Their relationship is one constant in the world they live. Ava's sister Jayne who is downplayed in this book, is still weaving her web, but another potential family member shows up and one wonders who Ava is more afraid of. I can't wait until the next one!", "timestamp": 1465654939000, "title": "Kendra Elliott never fails!" }, { "asin": "B017IKQW6U", "rating": 5, "text": "This book is so full of twists and turns you feel like you are on a roller coaster and not quite sure where you will end up! The writing draws you in at the beginning and keeps you enthralled all the way to the end. Bravo, Mary Burton! I can't wait to read another one!", "timestamp": 1468025169000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "B01GJA450A", "rating": 5, "text": "Short it may be, but it is full of mystery and intrigue. Meeting new characters and visiting old ones is always a joy with Rogue River. I wonder if we will have heard the last of one of the new characters? I can hardly wait for the next one!", "timestamp": 1477523090000, "title": "Short But Fully Satisfying!" }, { "asin": "B01EN506CE", "rating": 5, "text": "Meeting all of the Sullivans again is enjoyable, even though most of them were seen in a hospital waiting room. This book was hard to put down and following the plot, while a wee bit difficult at first, evolved into a very satisfying read. This is a great way to spend the weekend while it is snowing outside!", "timestamp": 1483929287000, "title": "Edge of you seat excitement!" }, { "asin": "B01EN506CO", "rating": 5, "text": "Mercy Kirkpatrick is a new kind of hero. Brought up as a survivalist, she was cast out of the family home after a traumatic attack when she finished high school. She returned to her hometown as a self- made FBI agent to investigate a series of murders that may or may not have origins in the earlier attack. Great plot and characters!", "timestamp": 1485324466000, "title": "Great start to a new series!" }, { "asin": "B01MQ2HAAJ", "rating": 5, "text": "This is a must read for any fan of Kendra Elliott. She is at the top of her game in this series. The research involved is outstanding and the topic is frequently found on the front pages of our newspapers. A master storyteller. I cannot wait for number 3.", "timestamp": 1496797847000, "title": "Another winner!" }, { "asin": "B06Y5MTNMQ", "rating": 5, "text": "Kendra Elliott has once again created a nail biting, hard hitting mystery. Mercy Kilpatrick is an extraordinary literary character who is able to live in two worlds: the FBI and the survivalist. Two that are not normally compatible, but they are dynamite in the hands of a master story teller like Elliot. This book will keep you on your toes!", "timestamp": 1517373526792, "title": "Great Read!" }, { "asin": "B077GRGYJ4", "rating": 5, "text": "This book is one of the best mysteries I have read. The plot was outstanding, dialogue sharp and to the point and absolutely satisfying in the end. It was good to see the conflict of Mercy dealing with her prepping side while admitting her heart's desire. Great way to spend a day! Thank you Kendra Elliott and keep up the good work!!", "timestamp": 1529708683227, "title": "A worthwhile use of your time!!!" }, { "asin": "B077XGTQPB", "rating": 5, "text": "If you are looking for a book that will put you to sleep, don't pick this one. From the first page the tension is high. Just when you think you have figured out the plot, out pops another zinger and you have to re-consider your options. Believe me, this story will stay with you for awhile. Bravo to Katee Robert for a memorable story.", "timestamp": 1530762554015, "title": "Spine Tingling Suspense..." }, { "asin": "B07F1442NX", "rating": 5, "text": "I enjoyed this novella with its charming characters and the crisp atmosphere of the Northwest. Old friends Cate and Tessa reunite over the bones of a recently missing girl that brings back memories of another lost friend. I can hardly wait for the rest of the series to see who, what and when!", "timestamp": 1540523009429, "title": "Great New Series!" }, { "asin": "B07C854RL5", "rating": 5, "text": "Once again Kendra Elliot has proven her ability to pull the reader into her world within the first few pages of her book. Mercy Kilpatrick is one of my favorite characters because Elliot has created such a wonderful character whose flaws are outweighed by her humanity. I say this every time, but this is one of her best. Although I didn't have any fingernails left by the end of the book, good overcame evil once again. Go Team Mercy!!", "timestamp": 1548214614979, "title": "A well-crafted nail biting story!" }, { "asin": "B07BDF7WKP", "rating": 5, "text": "I loved these characters and cannot wait to read more about them! The plot was not your usual shoot 'um up, bang, bang!! It has all the hallmarks of a nightmare and it it was brilliantly presented by Mary Burton. Thank you for a very fascinating story.", "timestamp": 1552094721106, "title": "Great book!!!" }, { "asin": "B07GDH8F26", "rating": 5, "text": "This series has an extraordinary premise with good and evil parts, and it is forever fascinating. Jessie Cole is a PI and has some of the most intricate cases right out of the pages of the daily news. Great writing!!", "timestamp": 1555544105225, "title": "Great book!" }, { "asin": "B01E3UB7O0", "rating": 5, "text": "Once again Mary Burton has created a nightmare. A nightmare you cannot put down! The characters are tightly drawn and the plot is intricately crafted (a bit gruesome, but it worked) and the good guys won again!! Mary Burton can write a spine tingling work of art. Highly enjoyable!", "timestamp": 1556335293122, "title": "Another winner!" }, { "asin": "B07P32NGR6", "rating": 5, "text": "Secrets can come back to haunt you and that is exactly what Mary Burton proves in I See You. Although this was the second book in the series, it is not dependent upon other works by Burton. I enjoyed the book and all of the forensic procedure. The suspense was first rate and all of the little side stories that were included. I am looking forward to the next one.", "timestamp": 1570591053577, "title": "Keep your doors locked and eyes wide open while reading this book!" }, { "asin": "B07GB2BVQP", "rating": 5, "text": "This is is a standalone novella about murder and mayhem in the woods on Widow's Island. However, Cade and Tessa suffered a loss while they were teenagers that has never been solved. References to this loss are made in this story. While they have both grown up and entered law enforcement positions, they have never forgotten. It does not detract from them finding the villain. However it does lead them to a long lost clue. This is a great partnership with Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliott. I hope that more books are coming from this partnership.", "timestamp": 1571792501355, "title": "Masterful storytelling!" }, { "asin": "B07G9YZTFF", "rating": 5, "text": "I have followed this series from the beginning, lamenting that the novellas were not long enough! Tessa and Cate called Widows Island home, even though their childhood friend Sam disappeared when they were children and they never got over it. Now twenty years later the spectre of her disappearance returns to haunt them. Trust me, you will never figure out what happened!! Great writing by both Elliott and Melinda Leigh and it makes you want more and more of this collaboration! Bravo ladies!!", "timestamp": 1572377706447, "title": "Full of Surprises!!" }, { "asin": "B07CNBKTPY", "rating": 5, "text": "This book had so many threads in it that it was hard to follow! True evil is present in several of the characters that I must admit had me on the edge of my seat. It is very dark, but absolutely fascinating and written by a master's hand. I can barely wait to read the rest of the series.", "timestamp": 1587001655639, "title": "1 hankie book, but not to dry your years (well maybe) but to silence your screams!" }, { "asin": "B07XJTDDC5", "rating": 5, "text": "Great book!! Mary Burton can write a story of the greatest deprivation and man's inhumanity to man and several pages later create a love story. Burton throws the reader a curve every now and then, but it only enhanced the plot. Melina Shepard makes a wonderful main character with baggage that could get her killed. Serial killers, FBI agents and kidnapped kids are only a few of the people you will meet in within the pages of this book.", "timestamp": 1591151101227, "title": "This book will draw you into the action!" }, { "asin": "B07XTD29GV", "rating": 5, "text": "This was a really good book. It caught you at the beginning and continued to keep you on the edge of your seat all the way to the end. Bree Taggert is still dealing with the death of her sister and taking care of her niece and nephew. She is now confronted with the grisly deaths of several college students. She works it out. Great book - you will enjoy every page!", "timestamp": 1600382934938, "title": "Outstanding entry into the series." } ]

[ { "asin": "B00QXROAA0", "rating": 5, "text": "Kendra Elliott never fails to entice the reader into her web. The plot (and what a plot this time) draws you ever so slowly into its orbit and you find yourself trying to pull<br />all of the threads together and figure out the why of the story. Kendra Elliott always comes through at the end. Read it and you will see what I mean. Keep up the good work and write faster!! I can hardly wait for the next one.", "timestamp": 1435188935000, "title": "Best of the group!" }, { "asin": "B00Y0PIEZY", "rating": 5, "text": "Wow! I often wonder how writers come up with their plots and characters. However Kendra Elliott does it, I hope she will continue. Chris' story needed to be told since we met him in Buried. She outdid herself in the telling this time. Gianna, Chris and her daughter Violet enter into a story that started years before. Family secrets, murder and intrigue all play a part in the unraveling of this decades old story. You will be on the edge of your seat as the story unfolds and a smile on your face when it is over.", "timestamp": 1453868804000, "title": "Best book of the series!" }, { "asin": "B017IKQW5Q", "rating": 5, "text": "Targeted, the newest entry into the series is the best one yet. It is always a pleasure to read a new book that offers the reader a glimpse into the life of these two people who have found themselves amid some of the worse scenarios possible. Their relationship is one constant in the world they live. Ava's sister Jayne who is downplayed in this book, is still weaving her web, but another potential family member shows up and one wonders who Ava is more afraid of. I can't wait until the next one!", "timestamp": 1465654939000, "title": "Kendra Elliott never fails!" }, { "asin": "B017IKQW6U", "rating": 5, "text": "This book is so full of twists and turns you feel like you are on a roller coaster and not quite sure where you will end up! The writing draws you in at the beginning and keeps you enthralled all the way to the end. Bravo, Mary Burton! I can't wait to read another one!", "timestamp": 1468025169000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "B01GJA450A", "rating": 5, "text": "Short it may be, but it is full of mystery and intrigue. Meeting new characters and visiting old ones is always a joy with Rogue River. I wonder if we will have heard the last of one of the new characters? I can hardly wait for the next one!", "timestamp": 1477523090000, "title": "Short But Fully Satisfying!" }, { "asin": "B01EN506CE", "rating": 5, "text": "Meeting all of the Sullivans again is enjoyable, even though most of them were seen in a hospital waiting room. This book was hard to put down and following the plot, while a wee bit difficult at first, evolved into a very satisfying read. This is a great way to spend the weekend while it is snowing outside!", "timestamp": 1483929287000, "title": "Edge of you seat excitement!" }, { "asin": "B01EN506CO", "rating": 5, "text": "Mercy Kirkpatrick is a new kind of hero. Brought up as a survivalist, she was cast out of the family home after a traumatic attack when she finished high school. She returned to her hometown as a self- made FBI agent to investigate a series of murders that may or may not have origins in the earlier attack. Great plot and characters!", "timestamp": 1485324466000, "title": "Great start to a new series!" }, { "asin": "B01MQ2HAAJ", "rating": 5, "text": "This is a must read for any fan of Kendra Elliott. She is at the top of her game in this series. The research involved is outstanding and the topic is frequently found on the front pages of our newspapers. A master storyteller. I cannot wait for number 3.", "timestamp": 1496797847000, "title": "Another winner!" }, { "asin": "B06Y5MTNMQ", "rating": 5, "text": "Kendra Elliott has once again created a nail biting, hard hitting mystery. Mercy Kilpatrick is an extraordinary literary character who is able to live in two worlds: the FBI and the survivalist. Two that are not normally compatible, but they are dynamite in the hands of a master story teller like Elliot. This book will keep you on your toes!", "timestamp": 1517373526792, "title": "Great Read!" }, { "asin": "B077GRGYJ4", "rating": 5, "text": "This book is one of the best mysteries I have read. The plot was outstanding, dialogue sharp and to the point and absolutely satisfying in the end. It was good to see the conflict of Mercy dealing with her prepping side while admitting her heart's desire. Great way to spend a day! Thank you Kendra Elliott and keep up the good work!!", "timestamp": 1529708683227, "title": "A worthwhile use of your time!!!" }, { "asin": "B077XGTQPB", "rating": 5, "text": "If you are looking for a book that will put you to sleep, don't pick this one. From the first page the tension is high. Just when you think you have figured out the plot, out pops another zinger and you have to re-consider your options. Believe me, this story will stay with you for awhile. Bravo to Katee Robert for a memorable story.", "timestamp": 1530762554015, "title": "Spine Tingling Suspense..." }, { "asin": "B07F1442NX", "rating": 5, "text": "I enjoyed this novella with its charming characters and the crisp atmosphere of the Northwest. Old friends Cate and Tessa reunite over the bones of a recently missing girl that brings back memories of another lost friend. I can hardly wait for the rest of the series to see who, what and when!", "timestamp": 1540523009429, "title": "Great New Series!" }, { "asin": "B07C854RL5", "rating": 5, "text": "Once again Kendra Elliot has proven her ability to pull the reader into her world within the first few pages of her book. Mercy Kilpatrick is one of my favorite characters because Elliot has created such a wonderful character whose flaws are outweighed by her humanity. I say this every time, but this is one of her best. Although I didn't have any fingernails left by the end of the book, good overcame evil once again. Go Team Mercy!!", "timestamp": 1548214614979, "title": "A well-crafted nail biting story!" }, { "asin": "B07BDF7WKP", "rating": 5, "text": "I loved these characters and cannot wait to read more about them! The plot was not your usual shoot 'um up, bang, bang!! It has all the hallmarks of a nightmare and it it was brilliantly presented by Mary Burton. Thank you for a very fascinating story.", "timestamp": 1552094721106, "title": "Great book!!!" }, { "asin": "B07GDH8F26", "rating": 5, "text": "This series has an extraordinary premise with good and evil parts, and it is forever fascinating. Jessie Cole is a PI and has some of the most intricate cases right out of the pages of the daily news. Great writing!!", "timestamp": 1555544105225, "title": "Great book!" }, { "asin": "B01E3UB7O0", "rating": 5, "text": "Once again Mary Burton has created a nightmare. A nightmare you cannot put down! The characters are tightly drawn and the plot is intricately crafted (a bit gruesome, but it worked) and the good guys won again!! Mary Burton can write a spine tingling work of art. Highly enjoyable!", "timestamp": 1556335293122, "title": "Another winner!" }, { "asin": "B07P32NGR6", "rating": 5, "text": "Secrets can come back to haunt you and that is exactly what Mary Burton proves in I See You. Although this was the second book in the series, it is not dependent upon other works by Burton. I enjoyed the book and all of the forensic procedure. The suspense was first rate and all of the little side stories that were included. I am looking forward to the next one.", "timestamp": 1570591053577, "title": "Keep your doors locked and eyes wide open while reading this book!" }, { "asin": "B07GB2BVQP", "rating": 5, "text": "This is is a standalone novella about murder and mayhem in the woods on Widow's Island. However, Cade and Tessa suffered a loss while they were teenagers that has never been solved. References to this loss are made in this story. While they have both grown up and entered law enforcement positions, they have never forgotten. It does not detract from them finding the villain. However it does lead them to a long lost clue. This is a great partnership with Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliott. I hope that more books are coming from this partnership.", "timestamp": 1571792501355, "title": "Masterful storytelling!" }, { "asin": "B07G9YZTFF", "rating": 5, "text": "I have followed this series from the beginning, lamenting that the novellas were not long enough! Tessa and Cate called Widows Island home, even though their childhood friend Sam disappeared when they were children and they never got over it. Now twenty years later the spectre of her disappearance returns to haunt them. Trust me, you will never figure out what happened!! Great writing by both Elliott and Melinda Leigh and it makes you want more and more of this collaboration! Bravo ladies!!", "timestamp": 1572377706447, "title": "Full of Surprises!!" }, { "asin": "B07CNBKTPY", "rating": 5, "text": "This book had so many threads in it that it was hard to follow! True evil is present in several of the characters that I must admit had me on the edge of my seat. It is very dark, but absolutely fascinating and written by a master's hand. I can barely wait to read the rest of the series.", "timestamp": 1587001655639, "title": "1 hankie book, but not to dry your years (well maybe) but to silence your screams!" }, { "asin": "B07XJTDDC5", "rating": 5, "text": "Great book!! Mary Burton can write a story of the greatest deprivation and man's inhumanity to man and several pages later create a love story. Burton throws the reader a curve every now and then, but it only enhanced the plot. Melina Shepard makes a wonderful main character with baggage that could get her killed. Serial killers, FBI agents and kidnapped kids are only a few of the people you will meet in within the pages of this book.", "timestamp": 1591151101227, "title": "This book will draw you into the action!" }, { "asin": "B07XTD29GV", "rating": 5, "text": "This was a really good book. It caught you at the beginning and continued to keep you on the edge of your seat all the way to the end. Bree Taggert is still dealing with the death of her sister and taking care of her niece and nephew. She is now confronted with the grisly deaths of several college students. She works it out. Great book - you will enjoy every page!", "timestamp": 1600382934938, "title": "Outstanding entry into the series." }, { "asin": "B084MHZRGG", "rating": 5, "text": "Great book full of action and wonderful characters. You will never guess who the bad guy is and that is a good thing because it keeps you turning the pages. I love Mary Burton but I sometimes wonder where she gets her storylines. Keep it up because that is the secret to maintaining happy readers!!", "timestamp": 1603685444179, "title": "Loved this book!" } ]

[ { "asin": "B00QXROAA0", "rating": 5, "text": "Kendra Elliott never fails to entice the reader into her web. The plot (and what a plot this time) draws you ever so slowly into its orbit and you find yourself trying to pull<br />all of the threads together and figure out the why of the story. Kendra Elliott always comes through at the end. Read it and you will see what I mean. Keep up the good work and write faster!! I can hardly wait for the next one.", "timestamp": 1435188935000, "title": "Best of the group!" }, { "asin": "B00Y0PIEZY", "rating": 5, "text": "Wow! I often wonder how writers come up with their plots and characters. However Kendra Elliott does it, I hope she will continue. Chris' story needed to be told since we met him in Buried. She outdid herself in the telling this time. Gianna, Chris and her daughter Violet enter into a story that started years before. Family secrets, murder and intrigue all play a part in the unraveling of this decades old story. You will be on the edge of your seat as the story unfolds and a smile on your face when it is over.", "timestamp": 1453868804000, "title": "Best book of the series!" }, { "asin": "B017IKQW5Q", "rating": 5, "text": "Targeted, the newest entry into the series is the best one yet. It is always a pleasure to read a new book that offers the reader a glimpse into the life of these two people who have found themselves amid some of the worse scenarios possible. Their relationship is one constant in the world they live. Ava's sister Jayne who is downplayed in this book, is still weaving her web, but another potential family member shows up and one wonders who Ava is more afraid of. I can't wait until the next one!", "timestamp": 1465654939000, "title": "Kendra Elliott never fails!" }, { "asin": "B017IKQW6U", "rating": 5, "text": "This book is so full of twists and turns you feel like you are on a roller coaster and not quite sure where you will end up! The writing draws you in at the beginning and keeps you enthralled all the way to the end. Bravo, Mary Burton! I can't wait to read another one!", "timestamp": 1468025169000, "title": "Loved it!" }, { "asin": "B01GJA450A", "rating": 5, "text": "Short it may be, but it is full of mystery and intrigue. Meeting new characters and visiting old ones is always a joy with Rogue River. I wonder if we will have heard the last of one of the new characters? I can hardly wait for the next one!", "timestamp": 1477523090000, "title": "Short But Fully Satisfying!" }, { "asin": "B01EN506CE", "rating": 5, "text": "Meeting all of the Sullivans again is enjoyable, even though most of them were seen in a hospital waiting room. This book was hard to put down and following the plot, while a wee bit difficult at first, evolved into a very satisfying read. This is a great way to spend the weekend while it is snowing outside!", "timestamp": 1483929287000, "title": "Edge of you seat excitement!" }, { "asin": "B01EN506CO", "rating": 5, "text": "Mercy Kirkpatrick is a new kind of hero. Brought up as a survivalist, she was cast out of the family home after a traumatic attack when she finished high school. She returned to her hometown as a self- made FBI agent to investigate a series of murders that may or may not have origins in the earlier attack. Great plot and characters!", "timestamp": 1485324466000, "title": "Great start to a new series!" }, { "asin": "B01MQ2HAAJ", "rating": 5, "text": "This is a must read for any fan of Kendra Elliott. She is at the top of her game in this series. The research involved is outstanding and the topic is frequently found on the front pages of our newspapers. A master storyteller. I cannot wait for number 3.", "timestamp": 1496797847000, "title": "Another winner!" }, { "asin": "B06Y5MTNMQ", "rating": 5, "text": "Kendra Elliott has once again created a nail biting, hard hitting mystery. Mercy Kilpatrick is an extraordinary literary character who is able to live in two worlds: the FBI and the survivalist. Two that are not normally compatible, but they are dynamite in the hands of a master story teller like Elliot. This book will keep you on your toes!", "timestamp": 1517373526792, "title": "Great Read!" }, { "asin": "B077GRGYJ4", "rating": 5, "text": "This book is one of the best mysteries I have read. The plot was outstanding, dialogue sharp and to the point and absolutely satisfying in the end. It was good to see the conflict of Mercy dealing with her prepping side while admitting her heart's desire. Great way to spend a day! Thank you Kendra Elliott and keep up the good work!!", "timestamp": 1529708683227, "title": "A worthwhile use of your time!!!" }, { "asin": "B077XGTQPB", "rating": 5, "text": "If you are looking for a book that will put you to sleep, don't pick this one. From the first page the tension is high. Just when you think you have figured out the plot, out pops another zinger and you have to re-consider your options. Believe me, this story will stay with you for awhile. Bravo to Katee Robert for a memorable story.", "timestamp": 1530762554015, "title": "Spine Tingling Suspense..." }, { "asin": "B07F1442NX", "rating": 5, "text": "I enjoyed this novella with its charming characters and the crisp atmosphere of the Northwest. Old friends Cate and Tessa reunite over the bones of a recently missing girl that brings back memories of another lost friend. I can hardly wait for the rest of the series to see who, what and when!", "timestamp": 1540523009429, "title": "Great New Series!" }, { "asin": "B07C854RL5", "rating": 5, "text": "Once again Kendra Elliot has proven her ability to pull the reader into her world within the first few pages of her book. Mercy Kilpatrick is one of my favorite characters because Elliot has created such a wonderful character whose flaws are outweighed by her humanity. I say this every time, but this is one of her best. Although I didn't have any fingernails left by the end of the book, good overcame evil once again. Go Team Mercy!!", "timestamp": 1548214614979, "title": "A well-crafted nail biting story!" }, { "asin": "B07BDF7WKP", "rating": 5, "text": "I loved these characters and cannot wait to read more about them! The plot was not your usual shoot 'um up, bang, bang!! It has all the hallmarks of a nightmare and it it was brilliantly presented by Mary Burton. Thank you for a very fascinating story.", "timestamp": 1552094721106, "title": "Great book!!!" }, { "asin": "B07GDH8F26", "rating": 5, "text": "This series has an extraordinary premise with good and evil parts, and it is forever fascinating. Jessie Cole is a PI and has some of the most intricate cases right out of the pages of the daily news. Great writing!!", "timestamp": 1555544105225, "title": "Great book!" }, { "asin": "B01E3UB7O0", "rating": 5, "text": "Once again Mary Burton has created a nightmare. A nightmare you cannot put down! The characters are tightly drawn and the plot is intricately crafted (a bit gruesome, but it worked) and the good guys won again!! Mary Burton can write a spine tingling work of art. Highly enjoyable!", "timestamp": 1556335293122, "title": "Another winner!" }, { "asin": "B07P32NGR6", "rating": 5, "text": "Secrets can come back to haunt you and that is exactly what Mary Burton proves in I See You. Although this was the second book in the series, it is not dependent upon other works by Burton. I enjoyed the book and all of the forensic procedure. The suspense was first rate and all of the little side stories that were included. I am looking forward to the next one.", "timestamp": 1570591053577, "title": "Keep your doors locked and eyes wide open while reading this book!" }, { "asin": "B07GB2BVQP", "rating": 5, "text": "This is is a standalone novella about murder and mayhem in the woods on Widow's Island. However, Cade and Tessa suffered a loss while they were teenagers that has never been solved. References to this loss are made in this story. While they have both grown up and entered law enforcement positions, they have never forgotten. It does not detract from them finding the villain. However it does lead them to a long lost clue. This is a great partnership with Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliott. I hope that more books are coming from this partnership.", "timestamp": 1571792501355, "title": "Masterful storytelling!" }, { "asin": "B07G9YZTFF", "rating": 5, "text": "I have followed this series from the beginning, lamenting that the novellas were not long enough! Tessa and Cate called Widows Island home, even though their childhood friend Sam disappeared when they were children and they never got over it. Now twenty years later the spectre of her disappearance returns to haunt them. Trust me, you will never figure out what happened!! Great writing by both Elliott and Melinda Leigh and it makes you want more and more of this collaboration! Bravo ladies!!", "timestamp": 1572377706447, "title": "Full of Surprises!!" }, { "asin": "B07CNBKTPY", "rating": 5, "text": "This book had so many threads in it that it was hard to follow! True evil is present in several of the characters that I must admit had me on the edge of my seat. It is very dark, but absolutely fascinating and written by a master's hand. I can barely wait to read the rest of the series.", "timestamp": 1587001655639, "title": "1 hankie book, but not to dry your years (well maybe) but to silence your screams!" }, { "asin": "B07XJTDDC5", "rating": 5, "text": "Great book!! Mary Burton can write a story of the greatest deprivation and man's inhumanity to man and several pages later create a love story. Burton throws the reader a curve every now and then, but it only enhanced the plot. Melina Shepard makes a wonderful main character with baggage that could get her killed. Serial killers, FBI agents and kidnapped kids are only a few of the people you will meet in within the pages of this book.", "timestamp": 1591151101227, "title": "This book will draw you into the action!" }, { "asin": "B07XTD29GV", "rating": 5, "text": "This was a really good book. It caught you at the beginning and continued to keep you on the edge of your seat all the way to the end. Bree Taggert is still dealing with the death of her sister and taking care of her niece and nephew. She is now confronted with the grisly deaths of several college students. She works it out. Great book - you will enjoy every page!", "timestamp": 1600382934938, "title": "Outstanding entry into the series." }, { "asin": "B084MHZRGG", "rating": 5, "text": "Great book full of action and wonderful characters. You will never guess who the bad guy is and that is a good thing because it keeps you turning the pages. I love Mary Burton but I sometimes wonder where she gets her storylines. Keep it up because that is the secret to maintaining happy readers!!", "timestamp": 1603685444179, "title": "Loved this book!" }, { "asin": "B07TJFRFJ4", "rating": 5, "text": "It was wonderful to re-visit the familiar scenery on Widow’s Island and its inhabitants. Its beautiful scenery masked terrible deeds that all had thought were gone. No spoilers! Great writing and a must read for those who have followed this series.", "timestamp": 1603835714640, "title": "Outstanding!" } ]