Amanda Flower's A Plain Death ~ Reviewed

A PLAIN DEATH 
Amanda Flower
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: B&H Books (July 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1433676974


Description:

Welcome to Appleseed Creek, the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country, where life is not as serene as it seems.

While her Cleveland friends relocated to Southern California and Italy, 24-year-old computer whiz Chloe Humphrey moves with some uncertainty to Appleseed Creek to direct technology services at a nearby college. Her first acquaintance is Becky, an ex-Amish teenager looking for a new home.

While driving Chloe’s car, Becky collides with a buggy, killing an Amish elder. But what looks like an accident is soon labeled murder when police discover the car’s cut brake line.

Now, Chloe must take on the role of amateur sleuth to discover who the real intended victim was before the murderer makes a second attempt. Becky’s handsome Amish-turned-Mennonite brother, Timothy, a local carpenter, comes in handy along the way. With God’s help, they’ll solve the mystery that’s rocking this small community.


Review:


A Plain Death begins with a young computer whiz named Chloe Humphrey who moves to Appleseed Creek to head up the computer department at the local community college.  On the way there, she rescues a young Amish girl, Becky, who has run away from home, from two local thugs.  Chloe then takes Becky in, but before barely getting her foot in the door, problems arise.  Becky borrows Chloe’s care without asking (and having no driver’s license) and gets into an accident, killing an Amish elder.  It’s later found out that someone cut the break line in the car, leaving everyone to wonder who the intended victim was and who the culprit is.  So Chloe, along with Becky’s Mennonite brother, begin doing their own investigation to find the murderer.

This was an enjoyable book.  It kept my attention really well and I was able to stay interested from the beginning.  One thing I really liked was the author’s description of Applewood Creek, specifically the town square and where the little Amish Farmer’s Market was set up.  I was able to envision the whole thing in my head, and wished I could have been there!  If you enjoy Amish stories, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this book, with all its twists and turns!
 

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Jackson Keene's Nolichuck! TJ's Wild Frontier Adventure ~ Reviewed

Nolichuck! TJ's Wild Frontier Adventure
Author: Jackson Keene
ISBN: 678-1-936127-50-4
Publisher: WhoooDoo Mysteries a division of Treble Heart Books
(September 19, 2011)
Page Count: 281

Description:


TJ s just an ordinary fourteen year old kid with extraordinary
problems at home and school: A broken up family from his parents
bitter divorce, evil bullies almost every afternoon, failing grades,
boring classes, snobby girls, mean teachers, cut from basketball
tryouts, few friends. Life is rough for TJ Cockrell. And then that
mysterious little green book had to go and throw him into the past.
And not just any past, but into the untamed forbidding forests of 1802
eastern Tennessee along with the savage Indians, wild beasts,
bloodthirsty robbers, backwoods ruffians, and log cabin living! Yup,
it s definitely not 2011 Knoxville anymore.

Review:
 
As much as I hate to say it, I was a bit biased toward this book. I've
never been to fond of westerns, and I committed the horrendous act of judging a book by it's cover (Sorry!). Lucky for me Nolichuck! had just enough of a small green magical book to get me interested. It
turned out not to be strictly a western... perhaps a fanestern? or a
westasy? In any event it is centered around TJ - the son of a famous
historian and member of a broken family. TJ is your average teenager,
teased at school, ignored by the "cool kids", with a little Ta i-kwon-do  knowledge thrown in. After his parents divorce the whole world seems a dark place. Then he wanders into his fathers study and...
 
Well, you'll have to read the book to find out more. If your a fan of
pioneer life and magical green books you just might find what your
looking for in Nolichuck! TJ's Wild Frontier Adventure. Good Luck, and happy reading!

Reviewed by: Jayshua Nelson

Courtney Walsh's A Sweethaven Homecoming ~ Reviewed

A SWEETHAVEN HOMECOMING 
Courtney Walsh
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Guideposts Books (August 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0824931718

Description:

The Sweethaven Circle is back -- and so is a friend they thought they'd never see again!
The women of Sweethaven are enjoying an Indian summer when their old friend -- the missing member of their scrapbook circle -- arrives back home. Meghan Rhodes has moved on with her life, leaving Sweethaven and its painful memories in the past. But when her ex files for custody of their twins, she takes the first flight back to the beach town full of haunting memories. Meghan wants to make things right with her ex-husband, her children, and the friends she'd convinced herself she no longer needed. But is she too late? Meghan works with friends Jane, Lila, Adele, and Campbell to begin a new scrapbook for memories yet to be made. Picking up where A Sweethaven Summer left off, A Sweethaven Homecoming explores the strong bonds of friendship, the power of forgiveness, and the importance of unconditional love.

Review:

A Sweethaven Homecoming revolves around a group of women who used to spend a lot of time together scrapbooking who have grown apart, but come back together again, amidst trials and tribulations.  Meghan, who has been a successful country star, returns to try to get custody of her children, whom she abandoned two years previously, while trying to avoid her feelings that she still has for her ex-husband.  Jane, a Pastor’s wife, realizes she hasn’t learned forgiveness when Meghan shows up, as Jane’s son, Alex, drowned tragically while in Meghan’s care.  Lila returns to get away from her husband, Tom, whom she has found out fathered a child with her best friend, Suzanne, twenty five years ago.  Campbell, his daughter, now wants to be in their lives and get to know them, and Lila doesn’t know if she can trust him again.

Once I got into this book, I really enjoyed it.  It took a while to keep the characters straight as I hadn’t read the previous book.  And each chapter begins with the character’s name who’s perspective it’s being told from.  That, I did enjoy.  It’s nice for a change not having to see the whole story from one person’s point of view.  I really liked how everything came together at the end and the way the characters were reconciled to each other.  It was a very heartwarming story!
 
Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Beth Wiseman's Need You Now ~ Reviewed

Need You Now
By: Beth Wiseman
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 320
Vendor: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: 2012
ISBN: 1595548874


Description
 
When big-city life threatens the safety of one of their children, Brad and Darlene Henderson move with their three teenagers from Houston to the tiny town of Round Top, Texas.

Adjusting to small-town life is difficult for the kids, especially fifteen-year-old Grace who is coping in a dangerous way.

Married life hasn’t always been bliss, but their strong faith has carried Brad and Darlene through the difficult times. When Darlene takes a job outside the home for the first time in their marriage, the domestic tension rises. 

While working with special needs children at her new job, the widowed father of one of the students starts paying more attention to Darlene than is appropriate. Problem is, she feels like someone is listening to her for the first time in a long time.

If Darlene ever needed God . . . it’s now.

Experience a family’s triumph over lies, betrayal, and loss while still clinging to the One who matters most.

Review:

Need You Now is about Brad and Darlene Henderson and their family.  They move from Houston, Texas to Darlene’s Grandparents’ farm in Round Rock, Texas, to shield their children from the perils of big city life.  Each family member has their own difficulties and struggles to contend with while adjusting to small town life.  When Darlene takes a new job after being a housewife for 20 years, and one of their children’s life becomes threatened, Darlene and Brad’s marriage begin to suffer.  You wonder if they can over come the obstacles, and hope they remember to turn back to the Lord.





This book was a little slow going at first, but once I got into it, I had trouble putting it down.  Darlene starts out as a confident woman of God, but she’s never really had any trials or struggles to test her faith, and when they come about, she nearly crumbles.  But she has a wonderful friend and neighbor, Layla, who is a great encouragement to her.  The struggles the family goes through are very true to the time period we’re living in.  I liked how the story pointed back to the Lord in the end, bringing the family together.

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers.

Harry Kraus's A Heartbeat Away ~ Reviewed

A Heartbeat Away: A Novel [Paperback] 

Harry Kraus (Author) 

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook (September 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 143470257X
 

 

Description:

 

When a brilliant surgeon undergoes a heart transplant, her life transforms as she begins experiencing memories of a murder she never witnessed.

 

The residents worship her. Nurses step out of her way. Her colleagues respect and sometimes even fear her. But surgeon Tori Taylor never expected to end up on this side of the operating table.

 

Now she has a new heart. This life that was formerly controlled and predictable is now chaotic. Dr. Taylor had famously protected herself from love or commitment, but her walls are beginning to crumble.

 

And strangest of all, memories surface that will take her on a journey out of the operating room and into a murder investigation.

 

Where there once was a heart of stone, there is a heart of flesh. And there is no going back.

 

Review:

 

I love medical fiction and a good mystery. Harry Kraus provides both in A Heartbeat Away.

Tori Taylor is a surgical legend. Nurses hate her, students fear her, other physicians grudgingly respect her. But a virus has ravaged her heart leaving her barely able to function. The story opens as Tori receives word of a donor heart match and just in the nick of time.

Tori goes under the knife feeling the full frustration and dislike of the entire nursing staff and fighting fears she won't even acknowledge. She wakes up in the recovery room with a nightmare raging in her mind...memories of fire and hatred and the sense that someone was in grave danger.

Overnight, Tori's life turns upside down. Emotions and needs she never accepted because they were weaknesses haunt her, along with the continued nightmares and visions. Her reign as a queen of ice has left her life in shambles. Few friends, no family, staff members who'd rather see her suffer than comfortable, distrust.... consequences of who she'd been.

Then, the plot thickens and Tori finds herself in a thick mire of murder, abuse and terror. Two people help Tori, one believes her crazy ideas that the visions and nightmares might have been her heart donor's final moments.

Those that grow weak in the knees over blood may want to avoid this one. As are those who get a little squeamish with grittiness in relationships. One scene in particular gives the book a parental warning. There is a secondary plot line that involves teenagers who take a relationship a little far physically.

 

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

 

Lisa Bergren's Glamorous Illusions ~ Reviewed

Glamorous Illusions: A Novel (Grand Tour Series) 

 Lisa T. Bergren 

Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook; New edition (June 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1434764303 

Description:

When Cora Kensington learns she is the illegitimate daughter of a copper king, her life changes forever. Even as she explores Europe with her new family, she discovers that the most valuable journey is within. The first book in the Grand Tour series takes you from the farms of Montana through England and France on an adventure of forgiveness, spiritual awakening, and self-discovery.

Review:

Glamorous Illusions is about a young woman named Cora Kensington.  The story takes place during the summer of 1913.  Cora has just returned to her parents’ farm, only to face her father’s failing health, as well as the chance that they could lose the family farm.  Suddenly,  Wallace Kensington, one of the wealthiest men in Minnesota, shows up at their door, revealing a long kept family secret – Cora is really the daughter of Wallace Kensington, as a result of an affair he had with her mother.  Before she knows it, Cora is whisked away with Mr. Kensington, introduced to her half-siblings who want nothing to do with her, and sent to Europe with her siblings for a European tour.  Through the tour, she learns more about her family and about herself.                  
 This was a great book!  I loved it from the very beginning.  I enjoyed seeing Cora’s character develop, and seeing how she worked through her struggles, as well as facing judgement from others regarding her illegitimate parentage.  It was great to watch her attitude change about the whole situation throughout the book.  I wish the story would have kept going, but I’ll have to be patient and wait for book two to come out.  I can’t wait!
 
 Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Bonus Review:

As usual, flawless writing from Lisa Bergren. You'll travel from Montana to England and Paris, from a dirt poor farm to an elegant estate, and meet characters rich and poor that you'll love and hate.

If you've never heard of a Grand Tour, then you might want to pick up this tale. Grand Tours were quite the rage for the elite during the late 1800's and into the early 1900's. This book, first in a trilogy, gives you an up close and personal glimpse into one of these tours.

At times I found the pacing to be a little slow, the angst in heroine Cora a little over the top, and fact that the copper king of Montana is her dad to be a little unbelievable. Overall, though, this is an enjoyable read for a lazy day when you want to mindlessly drift away into another time period.

Reviewed by: Michelle Griep

Melanie Dobson's Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan ~ Reviewed

Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan
By: Melanie Dobson
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 320
Vendor: Summerside Press
ISBN: 1609366409

Description

Though Elena Bissett's once-wealthy family is determined to find her a rich suitor, she'd rather secretly meet a fisherman named Chase at the lighthouse---where they work to solve a decades-old mystery. But when she's forced to meet elusive millionaire Chester Darrington, her two worlds collide. Must she choose between her heart and her family's future? 320 pages, softcover from Summerside.

Review:

 Love Finds You in Mackinac Island Michigan is about a young woman named Elena Bissette.  Her family is vacationing at Macinac Island, possibly for the last time, as her family’s fortune is nearly gone.  Her mother feels it is up to her to marry well to save the family fortune and business, but Elena wants nothing to do with it.  She doesn’t want to marry for wealth – she wants to marry for love.  In the meantime, Chester Darrington (whom Elena’s mother is hoping will fall in love with Elena) is a handsome, wealthy, eligible bachelor who is tired of woman falling over him for his money.  He wants a woman who shares his interests and his love of inventions and new things.  Chester and Elena meet by chance at an abandoned lighthouse, though neither of them reveal who they really are.  The each realize they have fallen in love with each other, but when they meet again at a ball and realize the true identity of the other, their trust is broken.  How can they love someone that hasn’t been truthful.
This was such a wonderful story.  I really enjoy this time period.  I liked Elena’s character a lot, as she didn’t want to conform to society.  I felt bad for her, struggling to marry well to please her mother, yet wanting to find true love.  Chester’s character was fun, too.  I just loved their “chance” meeting, and found myself having a hard time putting the book down because I was anxious to see how they finally realized who the other was, and if that would change anything.  I highly recommend this book!

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

 

Don Reid's The Mulligans of Mt. Jefferson ~ Reviewed

The Mulligans of Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Jefferson Series #2
By: Don Reid 
Paperback
Number of Pages: 400
Vendor: David C. Cook
ISBN-13: 9781434764942


Description

 

Childhood pals Cal, Harlan, and Buddy were known in Mt. Jefferson for their troublemaking. But when World War II tears them apart, they wonder if their friendship will survive. In 1959, Harlan is shot---and Buddy and Cal are the first to arrive at his bedside. Can they discover who put Harlan in the hospital---and why?

 

Review:

Don Reid's book, The Mulligans of Mt. Jefferson is a feel good tale wrapped in the lives of likeable, very human characters. The story surprised me a few times and kept me hooked until the end.

The setting of the hook was the feel of the story. Told in a homey story-teller cadence,  this novel evokes a simplicity and warmth from a time in history that has all but disappeared in our lives filled with crashing waves of easy data and instant communication. The polished writing didn't take away from the story either and I found myself entering the lives of the characters as if I vaguely recognized them.

The grabber that took me along for the ride was a strong cord of unraveling mystery. Hidden details pulled at me, compelling me to read a little further.

Finally, the characters were fleshed out and imperfect but guys that reminded me of some of the men I know and respect, even when they behave badly.

This is a great book to curl up with, especially now that the nights will be getting longer and cooler. Don't expect heavy scripture and lots of conversations about God, Reid handles the faith elements realistically. The characters have discussions about faith only because it feels right for them to do so. And it's not heavy and cloying. Of note is that there are some heavy plot lines, too. Sensitive readers may want to look further before reading.


Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

Vickie McDonough's End of the Trail ~ Reviewed

End of the Trail (The Texas Trail Series)
Vickie McDonough
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: River North; New Edition edition (May 25, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0802404081

 

Description:
 

End of the Trail is part of a six-book series about four generations of the Morgan family living, fighting, and thriving amidst a turbulent Texas history spanning from 1845 to 1896.

Brooks Morgan left home 11 years earlier and is just too stubborn to return home. In 1896 he pulls into the town of Shoofly to take refuge from a storm and befriends John Langston in the local cafe. A high stakes poker game ends with Brooks holding the deed to John's ranch with one condition - Brooks must promise to take care of Keri. Brooks agrees, assuming that Keri is a horse.

Overcome by guilt, Brooks return to the cafe to give back the deed but finds John on the floor dead. Brooks heads off to take care of John's ranch and is ambushed. With a noose around his neck, hands tied behind his back he offers a prayer up to God. A stunning shot is delivered from the rifle of a lady on horseback that breaks the noose and frees Brooks. But could this lady - Keri - be an enemy, too?

 

 

Review:

 

End of the Trail takes place in a little town called Shoofly.  A young man named Brooks Morgan, who ran away from home ten years ago due to rebellion and not wanting to take responsibility, befriends a sick man named Will Langston.  Brooks agrees to stay on and take care of him and in the process becomes good friends with him.  A high stakes poker games leaves Brooks as the new owner of Will’s property along with the promise to take care of “Keri.”  However, just shortly after the game, Will is found murdered.  In the meantime, Will’s niece, Keri, returns from finishing school, anxious to get back to life on the ranch, only to find her uncle dead and her ranch in possession of a young, seemingly arrogant man.  As they learn to deal with one another on a daily basis, they also have to deal with the fact that someone is sabotaging their ranch in order to gain possession of it.
I believe this is book 5 in Texas Trails: The Morgan Family Series.  I have read all of them, but it’s interesting that the last couple don’t really tie in with the previous ones, except the family name and their link with horses is there.  This was a great book, though.  I enjoyed seeing Brooks finally grow up and take responsibility and I also liked seeing Keri develop into a young woman. 

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers
 

Carolyn Zane's Beyond the Storm ~ Reviewed

Beyond the Storm: Quilts of Love Series [Paperback]
Carolyn Zane 
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Abingdon Press (October 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426745974


Description:

After a tornado rips through her town, store owner Abigail comes across a piece of fabric from a wedding dress among the devastation. Abigail is moved to start collecting other swatches of fabric she finds – her neighbor’s kitchen curtains, a man’s necktie, a dog’s bed – which she stashes in shopping bags. As she pursues her seemingly absurd quest, horrible realities spark the question, “What kind of a God would allow such tragedy?”

As she struggles to reconcile her right to happiness amidst the destruction, Abigail begins piecing together a patchwork quilt from the salvaged fabric in hopes it will bring some peace. But a new relationship with Justin, a contractor, may require too much of her fragile heart.  Will her pain and questions of faith give way to the courage to love? 

Review:

Beyond the Storm revolves around a young woman named Abigail.  She owns a beauty shop in the little town of Rawston.  She is very materialistic and hasn’t grasped what’s really important in life.  However, her outlook changes when a devastating tornado destroys the town.  As the town begins to draw together to lift each other up, Abigail also develops a closeness with a young contractor named Justin.  Through the love and support of the town as well as family and friends, Abigail begins to see what’s really important in life, and that the Lord has been nearby all along.
               
I really enjoyed this story.  There were also a lot of sub plots involving other characters, and I enjoyed seeing how those characters grew and changed as well.  It shows how much God can use a tragedy to draw people closer to Him.  Abigail’s character went through quite a change, but it was great to watch it develop.  One would hope that if a tragedy such as this swept through a town or city, that the people would come together like they did in this story, and that many would be brought to Christ through it.
 
Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Robert Whitlow's The Choice ~ Reviewed

THE CHOICE

By Robert Whitlow

Published by Thomas Nelson

ISBN# 978-1401685614

432 Pages

Back Cover :

One young woman. Two very different roads. The choice will change everything.

Even as a pregnant, unwed teen in 1974, Sandy Lincoln wanted to do the right thing. But when an ageless woman approached her in a convenience store with a mysterious prophecy and a warning, doing the right thing became even more unclear. She made the best choice she could . . . and has lived with the consequences.

More than thirty years later, a pregnant teen has come into her life, and Sandy’s long-ago decision has come back to haunt her. The stakes rise quickly, leaving Sandy with split seconds to choose once more. But will her choice decision bring life . . . or death?

Review:   

I caught up with Robert Whitlow and his wife last year at the ICRS conference. He was passionate when he spoke of the book he just finished writing, The Choice. The subject matter was near and dear to his heart. Robert had longed to write a book that honored moms for all they sacrificed to be the bringers of life. I think he achieved his goal in The Choice.

There are a couple of things I look forward to when I read a Robert Whitlow book. One, I enjoy the legal aspect. He brings the reader into the courtroom and shows them the evidence and lets them be in the jury box. The other things I enjoy are his characters and how I instantly feel for them and their situation. Roberts’s sharp wit and sensitivity of the subject matter bring a winning combination for a book. This book is broken into three parts.

Part One introduces the reader to Sandy Lincoln whose a cheerleader in trouble, living in Ruthland, GA in 1974. Her boyfriend wants to marry her, but he’s not ready to be a father. It’s Sandy’s senior year and she has some hard decisions to make. “The Supreme Court ruled that an unborn baby has no protection during the first trimester of the pregnancy. They’ve ruled it doesn’t become a person until its old enough to survive outside the mother’s body. That’s illogical,” Sandy yells to her friend., “If all the grocery stores in Atlanta closed, most of the people in the city would starve before they learned how to grow their own food. Does that mean we’re not people because we’re not as self-sufficient as my parents were on the farm?”

Sandy searches her heart and that of God as what decision to make. She knows it won’t be easy whatever the outcome.

Part Two fast forwards to 2008 – California – Dustin, attorney at law who works at the law firm of Jenkins and Lyons, P.C. moves to GA to handle Dexadopamine cases. Dustin and Sandy’s lives collide in an unexpected way. Sandy Lincoln has been an AP English teacher for a while now! She meets Maria and wants to help her adjust to the English culture and language. Sandy soon learns Maria is in trouble, her father is furious and she doesn’t know where to turn or what to do.

Part Three is The Choice. How far will Sandy go to help Maria decide what is best for her and the baby? What will Maria do? Will Sandy stay committed to be an advocate for Maria when her job is threatened? How far is too far for a school and/or a teacher, guidance counselor to go in getting involved with a student and their life’s choices? Do they have the students’ best interest at heart or do they have their own agenda at stake?

Sandy’s attorney says to her in preparation for the road ahead, “this case goes way beyond a fight over who gets to talk to Maria, when a women’s group like this gets involved in litigation, it’s often because the leaders of the group want to obtain a legal precedent that can be used to advance their goals in other situations, locally, and nationally.”

Sandy was in over her head, this was quickly getting complicated, and she needed God to intercede. Maria was confused, hurt and didn’t speak or understand the English language well. Could Sandy help Maria make the right Choice given all her options?

This was definitely an eye opener for me on how special interest groups can and do take advantage of people and their situations to advance their cause. There’s a tender love story written into the mix and some surprises along the way I liked. I really enjoyed this book and I’m thankful for the review copy!

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent

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Judith Galblum Pex's Walk the Land ~ Reviewed

Walk the Land : A Journey on Foot through Israel [Paperback]
Judith Galblum Pex (Author)
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Cladach Publishing
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0975961950


Description:

Come with John and Judy Pex as they hike the 600-mile Israel National Trail from the Egyptian to the Lebanese borders. During 42 days of trekking through spectacular scenery, Arab towns and villages, past Jewish, Muslim, Druze, and Christian holy sites, they discover: + Sights seldom seen by tourists + Physical challenges and spiritual tests + Cultural encounters and historical insights + Lessons about peace, faith, and endurance. This book will appeal to: 1) Students of the Bible 2) Middle-agers who want vigorous role models and new challenges 3) Christian believers seeking creative ways to test and share their faith 4) Young adults pursuing the great hiking trails of the world 5) Readers interested in Israel. Included are 16 pages of color photos of scenes from the Trail.

Review:

I love biographies and meaty accounts of lesson-filled journeys. I am also fascinated with cultural differences and physical challenge accounts.

That said, the journey taken by the Pex’s is a fascinating idea, miles and miles of hiking through the heart and sometimes, soul, of Israel. The trek through all sorts of obstacles that made them physically stronger makes for a rich source of information and ideas. And Pex shared some fascinating bits of history and cultural richness throughout her account. There was spiritual application and ideas to contemplate as well.

However, I may have misunderstood Pex’s sense of humor or personality. She’d begin to share details about the rugged terrain and the physical challenges, but then lapse into sharing about her physical discomfort, or frustration about her husband’s more laid back style of hiking. Encounters with others on the trail were snippets of random conversations as they very likely happened. Her lessons jotted in her journal that she shared within her chapters were very basic, simplistic lessons that she learned on the trail, about life, about herself.

I think this book might be valuable to someone who is considering taking on a journey along these lines. There wasn’t a blow by blow of what they did to prepare completely, but many details are covered as are details about the trail itself. Those who love insider’s insights about different countries and a taste of culture may enjoy this book as well. Literary biography lovers would find themselves frustrated. Those looking for heavy Biblical truths may also be disappointed. However, this could be a nice companion piece/reference if studying ancient Israel, the life of David, Moses or the Life of Christ, Paul or Peter and their missionary journeys.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

Amanda Cabot's Summer of Promise ~ Reviewed

Summer of Promise,Westward Winds Series #1

By: Amanda Cabot
More in Westward Winds Series

Revell / 2011 / Paperback

ISBN-13: 9780800734596

Description:

 

Though she had planned to spend the summer in Vermont with her sweetheart, Abigail Harding cannot dismiss her concerns over her older sister. Charlotte's letters have been uncharacteristically melancholy, and her claims that nothing is wrong ring false, so Abigail heads West to Wyoming. The endless prairie seems monotonous, but when her stagecoach is attacked, Wyoming promises to be anything but boring. Luckily, the heroics of another passenger, Lieutenant Ethan Bowles, save the day. When circumstances--and perhaps a bit of matchmaking--put Abigail and Ethan together, there's certainly attraction. But Abigail is planning to marry another man and return to life in Vermont as soon as she is finished attending to her sister. And Ethan loves his life in the Army and the wilds of Wyoming. When summer ends, will Abigail go back East? Or will she fall in love with this rugged land herself?

 

Review:

Summer of Promise is about a young woman named Abigail Harding who is a teacher in Vermont.  She has her life all planned out, including an eventual marriage to Woodrow, a fellow teacher who is safe and predictable.  However, her plans are interrupted due to concern for her sister, Charlotte, who is married to a soldier that is stationed at Fort Laramie.  As Charlotte’s letters become more melancholy, Abigail decides to make a trip to see if her sister is okY.  Along the way, her stage coach is held up, but everyone is saved by the brave Lieutenant, Ethan Bowles.  As Abigail tends to her sister, she also gets to know Ethan more, and in the process not only begins to fall in love with the wild Wyoming territory, but with a certain soldier.
                 
I loved this story.  I loved watching Ethan’s faith grow, starting from nothing, really.  And their love story was great, too.  Abigail reminds me of myself.  She thought she had everything planned out perfectly, and no matter what came her way, she figured her plans were set, not realizing the obstacles in her way were directing her towards a path she never dreamed of.  It just goes to show God’s ways are not always our ways, and we need to have our hearts and minds open to His will.  I saw that Ms. Cabot is planning to release another book in the series next year, and I’m very anxious to see what happens next!
 

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Lisa Mangum's After Hello ~ Reviewed

AFTER HELLO

By Lisa Mangum

September 2012

Young Adult

Shadow Mountain Publishing

978-1-60907-010-6

Seventeen-year-old Sara is a seeker. She's always on the lookout for the perfect moment to capture with her ever-present camera, especially on her first trip to New York City.

Sam is a finder. He has a knack for finding what other people can't, whether it's a first-edition book or the last two tickets to a sold-out Broadway show. In New York, there is always something interesting to find.

When Sam and Sara cross paths, neither one of them is prepared for what they will find out about each other--and about themselves. Forming an unlikely partnership in the search for an elusive work of art, they're racing against time to set things right for everyone. Did fate bring their talents together for a reason, or will this one day be both a hello and a good-bye?

The interesting thing about AFTER HELLO is that the entire story takes place during a twenty-four hour period. Author Lisa Mangum does an admirable job of making Sam & Sara's relationship believable...not too intimate too fast, yet ending with satisfactory closure. Less believable is the importance of their quest--a search for a piece of art to appease a cranky movie star. Nevertheless, Mangum's writing is always pleasing to the reader's psyche.

Takeaway value is abundant. I really liked this line: "...if you give your dad power over your feelings, then you've given up power over yourself." Great message for a young adult. I wish someone would've told me that when I was an angst-filled teenager. And yes, there is plenty of angst in these characters. They are teens, after all. 

Overall, a sweet, easy read.

 

Reviewed by: Michelle Griep

 

 

Kathryn Cushman's Almost Amish ~ Reviewed

Almost Amish

By  Katheryn Cushman

Published by Bethany House Publishers

ISBN# 978-0764208263

336 Pages

Book Blurb: 

Julie Charlton is at the breaking point. She's overwhelmed and burned out, and in today's unrelenting society, her kids are, too. When her sister-in-law Susan, a Martha Stewart-in-training, lands the chance to participate in a reality TV series promoting simple living, and needs another family to join her, it seems like the perfect opportunity. The location is an idyllic farm outside an Amish community in Tennessee. Julie, with her two children, joins Susan and her teenage daughter for a summer adventure. Susan needs to succeed in order to become self-sufficient after an ugly divorce, Julie needs to slow down long enough to remember what her priorities are and regain a sense of purpose and meaning. It becomes clear from the start that "living simple" is no simple matter. With the camera watching every move, Susan's drive for perfection feels a lot like what they left behind, while Julie suddenly finds herself needing to stand up for slowing down. With each new challenge, their season of "going Amish" gets more and more complicated, as each woman learns unexpected lessons about herself and her family.

REVIEW: 

Julie Charlton agrees to help her sister-in-law with a new idea for a T.V. reality show called "Almost Amish". The deal is they have to live like the Amish for 3 months with a few modifications to the pure Amish life style.

Julie agrees to do this for two reasons, one she can't say no to her sister-in-law and two she has come to hate her life! Something needed to change - she needed a new perspective, maybe this three month get away would do the trick. Little did Julie and Susan realize how much their world would be rocked through this experience as their families try to live an Amish life style 24/7, oh the added bonus it would be filmed for national T.V.

“Julie and Susan quickly realize that the "simple" life takes a lot of work and determination - why did people call it simple? It was anything but that! Just making coffee in the morning was a major production!”

Susan tells Julie, "Living simply for a few months will give us a chance to de-stress and think about what it is that's really important to us."

Susan is a Martha Steward wannabe - doing this correctly will give her the big break she's been looking for. Susan faces each weeks challenge with this in mind. But what Susan and Julie soon learn is something new about themselves and their family members. Each discovers a part of themselves they never knew existed or they had the talent for.

The family has no distractions or interruptions such as cell phones, T.V. Radio etc. They are forced to be creative with their spar time, which forces them to talk about things they never had time to do before. Julie realizes she doesn't want to go back to the life she left behind. Her family has discovered something incredible and they didn't want to loose it. Julie feared jumping back into the rat race would spoil everything. They had found fun as a family and they reconnected with their faith in God they left behind years ago. Julie realized she needed His strength to have the courage to walk out what this new life back in the modern world.

This story was fun to read. I'm thankful for the review copy and how the author made the reader think about what's important. She challenged them to take a look at life through the eyes of the characters and ask themselves what is really important in life. How do we keep the main thing the main focus of our lives and that of our family?

If you’re looking for something different and fun for your summer read look no further! This book will bring a smile to your face and having you look at family in a new light!! Happy Reading!

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent

The Book Club Network CEO

Bonus Review:

Almost Amish is about a woman named Julie Charlton. Although she is a stay at home mom of two children, Whitney and Brian, she finds herself constantly on the go, and over committed. When her sister-in-law, Susan, is offered the chance to participate in a reality TV series where regular people try to live like the Amish, she decides to offer her support and join her. Though Susan is overbearing in her drive for perfection due to being in front of the TV camerasJulie finds that living the “simple” hard-working Amish life suits her well.

I really, really enjoyed this book. It was interesting to watch how most Julie and her children, as well as Susan’s daughter, Angie, thrived in the Amish environment, while Susan, the “perfect” homemaker, struggled with it. The part I really liked was how well the children adjusted to it. They found there were other things to do rather than being on their phones all the time, or running from this event to that event. Though I know the Amish work very hard, I can see how it would be a very fulfilling lifestyle, working hard in the home, the way I think the Lord intended it, though I know it’s not always possible in this day and age. This was a very enjoyable read.

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Murray Pura's The Wings of Morning ~ Reviewed

THE WINGS OF MORNING
Murray Pura
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (February 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736948775 
                
 Description:

Lovers of Amish fiction will quickly sign on as fans of award-winning author Murray Pura as they keep turning the pages of this exciting new historical romance set in 1917 during America's participation in World War I.

Jude Whetstone and Lyyndaya Kurtz, whose families are converts to the Amish faith, are slowly falling in love. Jude has also fallen in love with flying that new-fangled invention, the aeroplane.

The Amish communities have rejected the telephone and have forbidden motorcar ownership but not yet electricity or aeroplanes.

Though exempt from military service on religious grounds, Jude is manipulated by unscrupulous army officers into enlisting in order to protect several Amish men. No one in the community understands Jude's sudden enlistment and so he is shunned. Lyyndaya's despair deepens at the reports that Jude has been shot down in France. In her grief, she turns to nursing Spanish flu victims in Philadelphia. After many months of caring for stricken soldiers, Lyyndaya is stunned when an emaciated Jude turns up in her ward.

Lyyndaya's joy at receiving Jude back from the dead is quickly diminished when the Amish leadership insist the shunning remain in force. How then can they marry without the blessing of their families? 

Will happiness elude them forever?


The Wings of Morning takes place in an Amish Community.  Lyyndaya Kurtz and Jude Whetstone’s Family have only been part of the community for a few years, but already, their families are well loved.  Lyyndaya and Jude grew up as childhood friends, but have begun to realize that their feelings are running deeper.  Jude also discovered a love of flying, which, strangely, his Amish community allowed.  When flying for an Amish celebration, members of the US Military see Jude in action.  To force him to join up for the fighting in World War I, the military takes Jude and some of his friends captive and makes their lives miserable in order to force Jude into flying.  Eventually, he agrees, though he had sworn to his community that he would not fight as it went against their beliefs.  What no one but one of his friends knew was that he joined to save the other boys’ lives.  In doing so, he risked being shunned.  However, Jude began to become a hero, as he not only saved his own men with his flying abilities, but he purposefully did what he could to save the enemy as well, whether by flying circles around them, or purposefully shooting not to kill.  In the meantime, Lyyndaya is struggling as 
she has fallen in love with Jude, but is not allowed to communicate with him. 

This is one of the top Amish stories I’ve read, I think.  I really loved Jude’s character, and how he used the abilities that the Lord gave him to save lives on both sides, instead of being vengeful.  This was a great story line, one I never would have thought of for an Amish setting, but it was well written.

Reviewed by:Sarah Meyers

Dan Walsh's The Reunion ~ Reviewed

The Reunion

By Dan Walsh

Publisher: Revell

ISBN-13: 978-0800721213

304 pages

DESCRIPTION: There are people in this world we pass right by without giving a second thought. They are almost invisible. Yet some of them have amazing stories to tell, if we'd only take the time to listen . . .

Aaron Miller was an old, worn-out Vietnam vet, a handyman in a trailer park. Forty years prior, he saved the lives of three young men in the field only to come home from the war and lose everything. But God is a master at finding and redeeming the lost things of life. Aaron is about to be found. And the one who finds him just might find the love of his life as well.

Expert storyteller Dan Walsh pens a new tale filled with the things his fans have come to love--forgiveness, redemption, love, and that certain bittersweet quality that few authors ever truly master. Fans old and new will find themselves drawn into this latest story about how God cares for everyone.

REVIEW: 

I just finished reading Dan Walsh's new book The Reunion that will hit bookshelves in SEPTEMBER 2012. OHMYGOSH! I have happy tears running down my face and a warm feeling in my heart. I never expected the ending to this amazing heart felt story to be what it was!  It was off the charts satisfying!! You'll want to mark your calendars and put this one on your reading list for 2012.

I highly recommend it. I just had to tell you that I LOVED reading this book. It touched me deeply!! It had me look at the Vietnam war and the men who fought in that war differently! WOW!!

Reviewed by: Nora St. Laurent 

The Book Club Network CEO
Finding Hope Through Fiction -


Bonus Review:

Walsh spills his heart onto the pages of this book.

The Reunion, by Dan Walsh, has taken up residence on my Top Ten of 2012 List, but that's not all. It sparked a new list. My Top Ten All Time Favorites, and it's earned a spot there. Exquisitely drawn characters, a heartrending plot, and a deceptively simple delivery make The Reunion one of the best books I've ever read. This book has to be made into a movie, and I'm delighted to say it's been optioned. Novel Rocket and I give it our very highest recommendation. It's a 5-star must read.

Reviewed by: Ane Mulligan

Lori Copeland's and Virginia Smith's The Heart's Frontier ~ Reviewed

The Heart's Frontier, The Amish of Apple Grove Series #1
By: Lori Copeland, Virginia Smith
More in Amish of Apple Grove Series 

Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 320
Vendor: Harvest House Publishers

ISBN: 0736947523





Description
 

Kansas,1881-On a trip to visit relatives, Emma Switzer's Amish family is robbed of all their possessions, leaving them destitute and stranded on the prairie. Walking into the nearest trading settlement, they pray to the Lord for someone to help. When a man lands in the dust at her feet, Emma looks down at him and thinks, The Lord might have cleaned him up first.

Curtis Carson, heading up his first cattle drive, is not planning on being the answer to anyone's prayers, but it looks as though God has something else in mind for this kind and gentle man. Plain and rugged-do the two mix? And what happens when a dedicated Amish woman and a stubborn trail boss prove to be each other's match?

Review:

The Heart’s Frontier is about a young Amish WomanEmma Switzer. She is traveling from one town in Kansas to another with her Jonas, her father, Rebecca, her sister and her Grandmother. They are going to visit family but at the same time she knows that her family is looking for her to find a suitable husband. During their travels, they are robbed by a mob of bandits and are forced to ask for help in a neighboring town. The Lord brings Luke Carson, a young cattle driver leading his first drive, to their rescue. Though Luke is pressured to get his cattle to their destination,he can’t seem to refuse in assisting the Amish family, especially with young Emma there.

This was a great book. It was fun watching the Amish family “step outside the box” so to speak, in coming to the aid of Luke and his men on the cattle drive. I enjoyed watching Emma and Luke’s love story unfold. I really didn’t know how it was going to end as it didn’t seem Emma would leave her Amish faith, but Luke definitely was not cut out for the Amish lifestyle. But not matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t fight their growing feelings for each other. The outcome was exciting – you’ll have to read it to find out!

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Janice Thompson's The Director's Cut ~ Reviewed

The Director's Cut
Janice Thompson 
Paperback: 296 pages
Publisher: Revell (June 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800733479





Description:

Tia Morales is used to calling the shots. She’s the director of the popular sitcom Stars Collide, and her life on set is calculated and orderly. Well, most of the time. But her life outside the studio is another matter. If only she could get her family to behave as well as her stars do! When she starts butting heads with handsome camera operator Jason Harris, it’s enough to send a girl over the edge.

Will she ever learn to let go and take life–and love–as it comes?

Review:

Janice Thompson’s novels are always fun and invigorating and her final Backstage Pass novel continues that trend. Displaying her personal experience as a screenwriter with a Hollywood background, all the technical details and uniqueness of a TV show setting are teamed with genuine, down to earth characters wrestling with life, love and family. Faithful readers will enjoy the little nods to characters in some of her previous series and the ever present funny moments that make Janice Thompson’s stories uniquely hers. If you are looking for a story to relax with and enjoy, pick up a copy of The Director’s Cut today.

Reviewed by: Rel Mollet

Melody Carlson's Westward Hearts ~ Reviewed

 

Westward Hearts, Homeward on the Oregon Trail Series #1
By: Melody A. Carlson
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 304
Vendor: Harvest House Publishers
Publication Date: 2012
Dimensions: 8.50 X 5.50 (inches)
ISBN: 0736948716


Description

 

Kentucky, 1854-Elizabeth Martin has mourned her husband's death for three years, but now she feels ready to fulfill the dream they had shared-to take their two children west. The dream becomes reality when her middle-aged parents and bachelor brother surprise her with the news that they want to go as well.

 

Review:

Westward Hearts revolves around a young widow and mother of two, Elizabeth Martin.  Since her husband has died, she has felt a restlessness that won’t go away.  Her and husband and her had a desire to follow the Oregon Trail and head west, and even though he has since passed, that dream is still alive in her.  When her brother’s engagement is ended suddenly, he decides to leave and head west.  This presents the perfect opportunity for Elizabeth, her two children, and her parents to travel with him.  As the journey begins, they gain new friends and overcome many obstacles.  Elizabeth unexpectedly finds herself attracted to the scout on the wagon train, and is unsure what to do about her feelings.  In the meantime, her brother finds romance as well. 
I really, really like this book.  The time period and the storyline are right up my alley.  I enjoy reading about the travels and hardships these people had to face and the fact that they kept their focus on the Lord to see them through.  The story ended a bit abruptly, so I am very anxious for the next book in the series to come out to find out what happens next!
 

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers