FOREVER FAITHFUL The Complete Trilogy

by

Karen Kingsbury

ISBN: 978-1-60142-411-2

Paperback, 1124 pages

Waterbrookmultnomah Publisher

All three books in one how great is that?  As I begin to read the first part "Waiting for Morning" I became so interested in that one that I really did not want to put it down.  In this one Hannah Ryan was home alone as her doctor husband and two daughters went on a camping trip, in which they do every year right before school starts back.  They were late and she got that terrible feeling before the policemen showed up with some dreadful news.  A drunk driver strikes again!  She begin to doubt God and thought that He should not let anything bad happen to His children.

The second book "A Moment of Weakness"  finds a little girl that lived down the street from her best friend and they both said someday they would marry.  But that was before Jade's mother ran off with another man and her daddy moved her away.  Will they ever find each other again?  If so what trials will they go through?

The third book "Halfway to Forever" brings both of the first book together and ends with all of them being friends but bad things are still happening to both families.  Will they keep their faith in God?

All three of these books in one are tied together with someone and the last one ends with a BANG!  You can not go wrong by buying this book as you don't have to wait until the next one comes out, you have all of them right in your hands to read one after the other.  Karen Kingsbury is a really great writer and did a great job with these.

Thanks to Blogging for Books for sending this book to read and enjoy and I chose to review it..

PATTERNS OF LOVE

by

Robin Lee Hatcher

ISBN: 978-0-310-23105-9

Paperback, 315 pages

Zondervan Publishers

The second book in the series "Coming To America" tells about Inga Linberg who is the eldest of four sisters.  They all are beautiful but she thinks that she is not.  She does not think she will ever find a man who will love her as her father does her mother.  But that was before a young man "Dirk Bridger" that lived a long way from town came to her father the pastor of their church to see is he knew of someone he could hire to live in his home and care for his sick mother and two nieces.  Inga heard them talking and she though this would be something she would love to do so she volunteers.  She loved everything about the farm even though Dirk hated the farm.  He had been called to come and help his mother raise his two nieces when their parents were killed.  But he had wanted to just travel in his life and was really mad at the farm and everything to do with it.  

As the time passes and his mother dies Inga continues to keep house for him and to care for the two little girls.

This is a good love story and it shows how God can change even the lives of a stubborn man.

Thanks so much to Zondervan Publishing for sending me this book at no charge and I chose to review it.

 

Sunrise on The Battery

By

Beth Webb Hart

ISBN: 978-1-59554-200-7

Paperback, 294 Pages

Thomas Nelson Publisher

If you love the historical Charleston SC then you will love this book.  I live in SC and know everywhere the author talks about except Meggett, SC where Mary Lynn had grown up as an illegitimate child as was always talked about and made fun of in her school.

Mary Lynn met and married a very handsome young man whom had not had an easy life himself.  They had three daughter and wanted more for them than they had grown up with.  Jackson get in with a young man that he knew and begin to learn how to make and invest money.  They bought an old Victorian home in Charleston, SC near the Battery.  They wanted to get into all the society that they could and Jackson was very strict with their daughters. He pushed they very hard and wanted them to learn the things that he wanted them to learn and not what they really wanted.  Mary Lynn was a Christian and went to some church and some of the ladies prayer meeting, but Jackson wanted nothing to do with God and didn't want his daughters to either.



When God really got into all of their lives after the marriage was almost destroyed they found out that they really didn't need to be in with the society groups but they all needed God more.  They sold their fancy house and the family found out what love really was, they knew they did not need all the things the world has to offer.

Thanks so much to Book Sneeze for sending me this book and I chose to review it.

 

DEAR LADY

by

Robin Lee Hatcher

ISBN: 978-0-310-25083-0

Paperback, 295 pages

Zondervan Publishers

Elizabeth Wellington a young woman from England, that had lost her parents and her home, but was destined to marry a really mean man her father had set her up with two of her friends were just arriving to America on a ship.  From there they were to separate and go their own ways.  She was on her way to New Prospects, Montana encouraged by her young friend that had been writing to her.   They were in need of a school teacher so this seemed like a great place to get away from Perceval that was expecting her to marry him.

When she finally reached her destination after ship, train and stage coach, she didn't find anyone waiting for her, she got a man to take her out to the ranch to where the little girl lived.  When she arrived she meet the father of Janie the little girl.  She was met with quite a surprise to the rancher Garrett Steele.  He had lost his wife in death, but was in a unhappy marriage as his late wife had run around on him so he was in no way wanting another woman in his house.  He and Janie were getting alone just fine.  The gossip started in the town about an unmarried woman living in his house so Elizabeth (Beth) was talked into moving.
She had no money so she was talked into living in the attic of the towns worst gossips the sisters Bunny and Pasty Homer. 

The Mayor took a liking to her, and she got the job of teaching school and living in a little house on the school property.  At least she had a place of her own.  How will she handle all the children when some of them was bigger that she.  What about two men in love with her but could she have the one she wanted or have to take one that could provide for her?

Robin Lee Hatcher always spins a great tale.  I love to read about the period of the 1800s as history unfolds.

Thanks to Zondervan Publishing for sending me a copy of this book and it is my choice to do a review of it.

 

Forsaking All Others

by

Allison Pittman

ISBN: 978-1-4143-3597-1

Paperback, 380 pages

Tyndale Publishers

Releases Oct.  2011

Camilla Fox is alive. The last thing she remembers is being lost in the snow after leaving her home to escape the Mormon faith she no longer calls her own. She’s been taken in by the 5th Infantry Regiment of the US Army and given over to the personal care of Captain Charles Brandon. As she regains her strength, memories of her two children she had to leave behind come flooding back, threatening to break her heart. Camilla is determined to reunite with her daughters. But when news of her father’s grave illness reaches her, she knows she must return to the family farm to reconcile with her father. As spring arrives, Camilla returns to Salt Lake City a changed woman, but nothing could prepare her for the changes to the city, to the Mormon church, and to the family she left behind.

Alone in a storm storm with only her horse to keep her alive Camilla Fox was found hanging onto her horse by Colonel Charles Brandon and some of his soldiers.  She never knew they had found her but woke up days later within a tent surrounded by the US Army.  She didn't know where she was just that she had ran away from the Mormon life and her husband and two little girls.  She had to find a place where she could live and to get her girls away from Salt Lake City where they were being feed to worship a man instead of God.  She was a Christian but had loved the young man Nathan enough to run away from her home and parents to marry him, not knowing what she was getting in for.  She could pretend that she was listing to the man that spoke in there church meetings but she could not share her husband with another wife and in the same house.

This book was really a lesson to me as I have heard things about the Mormon Church but didn't know a lot as I am a Christian.  I know that this story was based back when Joseph Smith was alive and may not be all true in today's life as a Mormon.  But I am sure Allison Pittman did her research to write this book.  All you have to do is look around this world and see that there is no way a mortal man could be in charge of it.  We have no control of the weather or even out lives so there had to be a higher being that could make all of this and to control it.  Folks get your Bible out and read it and you will see who the leader really is.

Thanks so much to Tyndale Publishing for sending me this free book in order for me to read it and it is my desire to do the this review.

 

Shadows on the Sand

by

Gayle Roper

 ISBN: 978-1-60142-084-8
Paperback, 313 pages
Multnomah Publisher

 From a small town in New Jersey right on the Atlantic called Seaside everything that can happens there.  There were only a  few people left after Labor Day and one of them was an older lady in a motorized chair that loved to tweet about everything, so she and her friends knew what was always going on.  Carrie and her sister Lindsey ran a small cafe with a few employees.  There was Andi who lived with her great uncle Clooney and no one knew where she came from or was not saying.  Then there was Rick that was the cook and they had a new guy Jase Peoples who was missing. Mr. Perkins was an old man that always ate in the cafe and so was an ex-cop Greg Barnes who now was the manager of a boarding house.

 To get back to the story line there was also a cult called "The Pathways" and was ran by a man known as "Michael the Archangel".  He took the people in and everything they owned, he also had a policy that he chose the man for the young women sixteen years and older.  He always had a pre-wedding night for the young ladies and that was held in his bed.  So as you can see this is turning into quite a mixture.

I think if you enjoy suspense, mystery, romance in a good clean Christian book then you will enjoy this one.  I wanted to read it all the first night but my eyes would not stay open but I did finish it in two settings.  Gayle always seems to please with whatever her topic is about.

I want to thank Blogging for Books for sending me this great read and it was my choice to post a review.

 

 

 

THE HEALING

book two of Kentucky Brothers

by

Wanda E. Brunstetter

ISBN: 978-1-60260-683-8
Paperback, 377 pages
Barbour Publishing

About the Author:

Seek a fresh start with Amish widower Samuel Fisher as he journeys from Lancaster County to Bluegrass Country, hoping to find a balm for the grief he’s carried with him. Will this single father, burdened by yesterday’s memories, discover a new and perhaps better life in Kentucky, the land of tomorrow? Esther Beiler, who helps watch Samuel’s children, develops a crush on Samuel and a true affection for his kids. Can she win his heart, or has she already lost it to an English woman? How will God untangle star-crossed lovers when jealousies and misconceptions threaten to tear them apart?

My Thoughts:



I have read the first book in the series and as this one starts Samuel Fisher had just buried his young wife and unborn baby.  He had four more children to raise now by himself and he just could not see how he was going to make it without his sweet Elsie.  He got into such a state of depression that he didn't even pay any attention to his own children.

He decided to move to Kentucky where his brother Titus lived and see if he could start over.  He did get work but still was very depressed.  He found a young woman the friend of Titus's girlfriend that would care for his children when he worked.  Esther's parents had moved back to Pennsylvania to help their son that had been diagnosed with MS.

Another young woman "Bonnie" from Organ had come to Pembroke Kentucky for her grandmother's funeral and found out that everything that had belonged to her grandmother was left to her including the old home.  She decided to move there and use the old house as a bed-and-breakfast.  She didn't get alone with her father at home since her mother had passed away.  She is not Amish but made a lot of friends among the Amish community.

Will Samuel find peace at last or will he still stay true to his late wife.  Bonnie had a secret of her own so when will she let anyone know about her past life.

Another great book written by one of the best Amish authors.  I was so thrilled when I received it in the mail last week, by the request of Wanda E Brunstetter and Barbour Publishing in order for me to read and post a review.

 

 BLOG TOUR

TELLING LIES

by

Cathi Stoler

ISBN: 978-1603818438
Paperback, 270 pages
Camel Press

Cathi Stoler was an award-winning advertising copywriter. TELLING LIES, her first mystery/suspense novel published by Camel Press, takes on the subject of stolen Nazi art. Other novels in this series will include KEEPING SECRETS, which delves into the subject of hidden identity, and, THE HARD WAY, a story about the international diamond trade. She has also written several short stories including FATAL FLAW, which will be published online at BEAT TO A PULP and OUT OF LUCK, which will be included in the next MURDER NEW YORK STYLE Anthology from New York Sisters in Crime. In addition to Sisters in Crime, Cathi is also a member of Mystery Writers of America. You can contact Cathi at www.cathistoler.com.

This biography was provided by the author or their representative.




MY THOUGHTS:

Eight years after 9/11 there were still people missing and all were dead or were they?
Laurel Imperiole is vacationing in Florence, Italy, with Aaron Gerrard her boyfriend when they are in a museum and she runs into a man by accident, she looks at him and then walks away.  She got to thinking about the man and could not get him off her mind.  The more she thought the more she was sure she knew who he was and that he was supposed to have been on one of the top floors of the twin towers when the plane hit in a meeting with an art dealer.  There was no way that could have been him, his wife is her best friend and she was pregnant when this accrued.

She and Aaron start to investigate and even call some of their friends in the art business and things started to look as if maybe this was Sargasso the husband of her friend.  

This is the first book by Cathi that I have read and I was a little bit hesitance in getting it to review, but I really enjoyed the story and it kept my interest.  The only thing that I didn't like about the book was some of the cruse words that Cathi used, I know that without them the story would not have seem so real, but I am a Christian and don't like to read these words.

Thanks to Tribute Publishing for furnishing this book for me to review and to do the tour.

 

ELLA FINDS LOVE AGAIN

by

Jerry S. Eicher

ISBN: 978-0-7369-2806-9

Paperback, 284 pages

Harvest House Publishers

Bestselling author Jerry Eicher concludes the Little Valley Series with one more glimpse into young Ella's Amish world. She loves the widower Ivan Stutzman's children and enjoys caring for them. Although she is genuinely devoted to Preacher Stutzman and keenly aware of his desire to propose, her feelings for him stop short of romantic love. Yet Ella yearns for marriage and wonders if what she and Ivan have is enough.
When the handsome Englisha stops by and asks about converting to the Amish faith, Ella is intrigued and warily agrees to meet with him. Soon Ella realizes she's torn between her devotion to Ivan and his children and her growing feelings for the Englisha. With dire consequences at stake, Ella must determine what the truth is, if her feelings are dependable, and how to stay faithful to the will of God.
About This Series: The Little Valley Series follows Ella Yoder, a young independent Amish woman who has suffered the loss of her beloved fiancé. Relying on her faith and the support of her community, she picks up the pieces of her shattered life and learns to live, love, and dream again.

MY THOUGHTS:
I have had the privilege of reading the first two books in this series, and in this one Ella finally finds a love almost as good as the one she had with her intended Aden before he had gotten killed.  She also was living in the house that Aden was going to build for her.  She rented out the house part and she lived in the basement and kept the three little girls of Preacher Ivan Stutzman, as he had lost his wife Lois.  Ella loved the little girls and assumed she would one day marry Ivan and be the mama of them.  She just knew she was not in love with him as she had been Aden.  Then one day an Engisha man came to her door and was wanting to join the Amish faith, she had never heard of such a thing so she sent him to the Bishop that lived down the road.

Ivan got in trouble with the ministers of the Amish as he was reading and preaching in a way they though he should not be doing.  The Engisha man Robert Hayes lived with the Bishop and continued to become an Amish man.  He was wanting Ella to teach him German and he dressed as an Amish man.

Things begin to get really interested about now in the book, who will Ella choice for her love, will it be Ivan, Robert or Bishop Miller?

I want to thank the Author and Harvest House for sending me this book free and it was my choice to review it.