Jolina Petersheim's The Midwife ~ Reviewed

THE MIDWIFE
Jolina Petersheim
Binding Softcover
Release Date May 1, 2014
Publisher Tyndale House Publishers
ISBN 1414379358
Pages 383


Description

Since the day Rhoda Mummau was baptized into the Old Order Mennonite Church and became the head midwife of Hopen Haus, she's been torn between the needs of the unwed mothers under her care and her desire to conceal the secrets of her past. Contact with the outside world could provide medical advantages, but remaining secluded in the community gives her the anonymity she craves.Graduate student Beth Winslow is on a path she never would have chosen. Heartbroken after surrendering a baby to adoption, she devotes herself to her studies until she becomes pregnant again, this time as a surrogate. But when early tests indicate possible abnormalities, Beth is unprepared for the parents' decision to end the pregnancy--and for the fierce love she feels for this unborn child. Desperate, she flees the city and seeks refuge at Hopen House.Past and present collide when a young woman named Amelia arrives to the sweeping countryside bearing secrets of her own. As Amelia's due date draws near, Rhoda must face her past and those she thought she had left behind in order for the healing power of love and forgiveness to set them all free.

Review: 

The Midwife is the story of Rhoda Mummau.  She was baptized into the Mennonite Church and became the head midwife of Hopen House, dedicated to helping young women who are pregnant and don’t know where to go.  She finds herself torn between keeping Hopen House as it is and using it to hide from her past, and getting help from the “outside world” to make improvements to help the young women that come. We also learn about Beth Winslow, a graduate student who is still grieving after giving up a baby for adoption.  In her grief, she agrees to help her professor by becoming a surrogate for him and his wife.  In the process, she finds herself falling in love with this baby, while the parent’s decide to terminate the pregnancy due to the change of the baby being abnormal.  Beth panics and runs away to Hopen Haus, hoping to find the refuge she’s looking for.  As we read, we find Rhoda and Beth’s lives coming together in a series of unusual circumstances. 

                

This was a WONDERFUL book!  I loved how it kept taking twists and turns, and you didn’t always know what was going to happen.  I had a really hard time putting it down!  I highly recommend this book.  It was WONDERFUL!

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Jocelyn Green's Yankee in Atlanta ~ Reviewed

YANKEE IN ATLANTA 
Jocelyn Green
Pages 320 
Binding Softcover 
Release Date Jul 1, 2014
Publisher Moody Publishing
Series Heroines Behind The Lines
Series Number 3
ISBN 0802405789




Description

When soldier Caitlin McKae woke up in Atlanta after being wounded in battle, the Georgian doctor who treated her believed Caitlin's only secret was that she had been fighting for the Confederacy disguised as a man. In order to avoid arrest or worse, Caitlin hides her true identity and makes a new life for herself in Atlanta.

Trained as a teacher, she accepts a job as a governess to the daughter of Noah Becker, a German immigrant lawyer, who is about to enlist with the Rebel army. Then in the spring of 1864, Sherman's troops edge closer to Atlanta. Caitlin tries to escape north with the girl, but is arrested on charges of being a spy. Will honor dictate that Caitlin follow the rules, or love demand that she break them?

Review:

Yankee In Atlanta is Book 3 in the “Heroines Behind the Lines, Civil War” series.  This book follows Caitlin McKae.  She disguises herself as a man and enlist in the Union Army, only to end up fighting with the Confederate Army as a spy.  After being wounded, she wakes up in an Atlanta hospital, and her secret is out.  Unable to go back home to the North due to the war, she becomes a teacher in Atlanta.  When the school closes due to the war, she finds herself a job as a governess for a fellow teacher, Noah Becker, when he decides to enlist to fight for his home.  Caitlin quickly falls in love with his little girl, Ana, and, surprisingly enough, begins to care for Noah, even though he’s away….and the feelings are mutual.  In the meantime, we also learn more about Ruby O’Flannery, whom we were introduced to in book 2.  She has a job as a domestic, but begins to care for a young clergyman, Edward.  The feelings are mutual, however, Ruby is haunted by her past, even though she now knows Jesus and knows her sins have been washed away.      

                

I was so excited to get this book.  I loved the other two in this series and was not disappointed.  I loved how it tied in the characters from book 2, and even brought in a bit about the characters in book 1.  I had a hard time putting it down.  I really admired Caitlin’s character.  She went through so much, yet stayed strong.  And watching Ruby and Edward’s relationship grow was bittersweet as well.  This was a WONDERFUL book.  You won’t be disappointed.

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Rosaria Champagne Butterfield's The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert: An English Professor's Journey into Christian Faith ~ Reviewed

The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert: An English Professor's Journey into Christian Faith
By Rosaria Champagne Butterfield
Crown & Covenant Publications
2012
ISBN B0097G05F8


BACK COVER:


Rosaria, by the standards of many, was living a very good life. She had a tenured position at a large university in a field for which she cared deeply. She owned two homes with her partner, in which they provided hospitality to students and activists that were looking to make a difference in the world. There, her partner rehabilitated abandoned and abused dogs. In the community, Rosaria was involved in volunteer work. At the university, she was a respected advisor of students and her department's curriculum. And then, in her late 30s, Rosaria encountered something that turned her world upside down-the idea that Christianity, a religion that she had regarded as problematic and sometimes downright damaging, might be right about who God was, an idea that flew in the face of the people and causes that she most loved. What follows is a story of what she describes as a "train wreck" at the hand of the supernatural. These are her secret thoughts about those events, written as only a reflective English professor could.

MY REVIEW:

First off, I'm not usually a non-fiction reader. Oh, I slog through several a year because "they're good for you." Whatever. This one, however, didn't take much slogging because it reads more like a story.

Probably because it is.

The Secret Thoughts of An Unlikely Convert reads like a piece of fiction because it is the story of Rosaria Champagne Butterfield's life. She is a highly intellectual woman with the skill of breaking down lofty thoughts into words that the average Joe can understand (no offense to any Joseph's out there). Coming from a lesbian background, she tells about her conversion to Christianity. It's quite the life changing event.

She offers insight on many topics besides homosexuality, such as worship, homeschooling, and adoption. If you're looking for a fresh perspective on these issues, give this book a whirl.

Reviewed by: Michelle Griep

Heather James's Hands of Darkness ~ Reviewed

Hands Of Darkness
By Heather James
272 Pages
Release Date Feb 1, 2014
Series Lure Of The Serpent
Series Number 2
ISBN 0825442923


Description
When the terror becomes personal, the hunt becomes more urgent

Evelyn Barrett has a new job, a new baby, and a new life--of sorts. Nearly crushed by the horrific abduction and murder of her daughter (book 1, Unholy Hunger), Evelyn is moving on as best she can.

No longer allowed to practice law, she is recruited by one of the detectives from her daughter's case to become a police consultant. Her inaugural case becomes a baptism by fire as she joins the hunt for a chillingly methodical and sadistic serial rapist and murderer.

Her revulsion and anger fuels a passion for justice . . . and then it becomes personal. Her friend and law school 

roommate, Jen, becomes a victim. The rapist has made a catastrophic mistake with Jen: he has left her alive and able to talk.

Filled with the chilling tension of Unholy Hunger, Hands of Darkness explores the emotional and spiritual consequences for all involved when justice and compassion collide head-on with the darkest examples of human depravity.

Review: 

This is the second book in this series, and the second I've read of Heather James's novels. I can't shout from the mountaintop that every person needs to read this book. Just like the first one, Unholy Hunger, the theme of the novel is dark, heavy and almost unbearable. 

However, the stories have been powerful and the writing is impressive. James is succinct but descriptive in her narrative. The timing is perfect with tense page turning moments followed by pages where the reader can catch a breath, or slow a heart rate. James even manages to intersperse quite a bit of humor into the storyline, though it could be considered darker in nature as it's the type of coping humor often seen in recovery rooms or station houses. 

The main character, Evelyn, is brash and offensive and sarcastic but underneath has a broken heart that has begun to heal again. Cheering her on toward hope and happiness feels right. In the midst of overcoming her own horror from the recent past, reclaiming her marriage and rejoicing in the birth of their new baby, she collides with a serial murderer rapist and is thrown back into a nightmare. It's not just a generic nightmare because of her position as a police consultant either, her friend lands into the path of the monster and Evelyn finds herself clawing against the serpent as he attempts to take more innocent lives. 

If you crave suspense, crime drama, police or legal procedurals, or gritty Christian fiction and love a tautly and well written story give it a shot. If you need light and inspirational reading material, steer away. 

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

Jane Austen's and Seth Grahame-Smith's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies ~ Reviewed

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

By Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

2009

Quirk Productions, Inc.

978-1-59474-334-4

Back Cover Copy:

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.”

So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life!

Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield.

Can Elizabeth vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you’d actually want to read.

Review:

I was a zombie virgin until I read this book. I went into it with a 1960’s black-and-white Saturday afternoon horror movie mindset, but honestly, this book was so much more vivid. Seriously. If you’re squeamish about innards—namely brains or guts—you might want to avoid this story. I, however, was mildly entertained.

The humor was sometimes a bit tongue-in-cheek and other times in your face, but overall I loved the quirky storyline and the way zombies were blended into this classic. **spoiler alert** What’s not to love about Charlotte contracting the dread disease and Mr. Collins not even noticing his languishing wife is turning into a zombie?

Austen lovers will either hate the author for adding in some unexpected twists to the story or smirk as they might at a naughty puppy, for indeed, there are a quite a few liberties taken within the Bennet family. Loved, loved, LOVED what happens to Wickham, the scoundrel. Elizabeth comes off as an even stronger heroine, and Darcy’s prowess with a sword is positively drool-worthy.

Set aside your prim and proper teacup and give this book a chance if you’re hankering for a fun zombie book.

Reviewed by: Michelle Griep

Kirkpatrick's, Cabot's, Eakes's Sincerely Yours ~ Reviewed

Sincerely Yours: A Novella Collection [Paperback]
By Jane Kirkpatrick (Author), Amanda Cabot (Author) & Laurie Alice Eakes (Author)
Pages 384
Release Date Feb 1, 2014
Publisher Baker Publishing Group
ISBN 0800722043




Overview
In this collection of brand-new historical novellas from four outstanding storytellers, four young women find their lives altered after each receives a letter that sets her on a new path toward a changed life--and perhaps lifelong love. From a Hudson River steamboat to a lush drawing room, from a carousel carver's workshop to a remote and controversial hospital, readers will love being swept into the lives of four young women who are making their way in the world and finding love where they least expect it.

Review: 

                Sincerely Yours consists of four short stories, each revolving around a letter that the main character has received.  Moonlight Promise is about Camilla Renfrew, a young English woman who unexpectedly finds love on a steamboat headed to the Erie Canal.   Lessons In Love is about Marigold Bentley, a well-to-do, single young woman who is masquerading as a man in order to keep writing a newspaper column on marriage.  One Little Word is about Lorraine Caldwell, who gets away from the big city to visit her brother and forget the fact that she has to marry someone she doesn’t love in order to keep her family fortune from falling in the wrong hands.  And A Saving Grace is about Grace Hathaway, who is trying to save a friend from a notorious clinic that promises to heal people, but really starves them to death for their own benefit. 

                All of these stories were great.  And while none of them tied into the other, I didn’t find that bothersome.  A lot was said in each short story and was well worth the read.  I like how each one advanced in time as well.  The first one started in the early 1800’s while the last one took place in the 1920’s, I believe. Very enjoyable book.

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

MaryLu Tyndall's Abandoned Memories ~ Reviewed

ABANDONED MEMORIES
By MaryLu Tyndall
July 2014
Barbour Publishing
ISBN 1616265981


BACK COVER:


Something sinister lurks in the lush Brazilian jungle. . . .

It is 1866 and the fledgling Confederate colony of New Hope is Angeline Moore’s last chance at a normal life. Running from the law, she longs to make a fresh start in this new Southern Utopia. But a series of strange disasters threaten to destroy everything the colonists have worked for, and strange visions threaten to reveal a past Angeline is desperate to hide.

James Callaway failed at both doctoring and preaching, but he hopes that his move to Brazil will give him another chance to become the spiritual leader he so desires. He longs to create a world free from the immorality that plagued every street corner back home and ruined his life. And he believes Angeline is just the sort of refined woman he needs to keep him on the right track.

But something is amiss in New Hope: haunting visions, the discovery of crypts beneath an ancient temple, and an archaic Hebrew book, set the colonists’ fears on edge. When one of their own is murdered, a series of disasters leads them to believe God has brought them to Brazil to defeat an evil that, if unleashed, could wreak havoc on the entire world.



MY REVIEW:

A very satisfying end to an action packed tale. Seriously. This could be a blockbuster movie. What I loved most is how author MaryLu Tyndall weaves an intricate web that ties her characters together.

This book focuses on James and Angeline, sharing their journey of hardships and bad choices. Though fictional, every reader will relate to the consequences sin plays out in our lives.

One of the biggest themes that gets touched on time and time again is the fact that though the characters have made mistakes in their past, change can happen. Real change. It is possible to repent and lead a new life, leaving behind destructive lifestyles.

I especially loved the ending. I knew there would be a happy finale, but I wasn’t certain how it would play out. I was delightfully surprised. And you will be too, but you’ll have to get the book to find out!

Reviewed by~ Michelle Griep

   WriterOffTheLeash...Blogging Gone Wild

Suzanne Woods Fisher's The Revealing ~ Reviewed

THE REVEALING 

Suzanne Woods Fisher

Binding  Softcover 
Release Date   May 1, 2014 
Publisher   Baker Publishing Group 
Series  Inn At Eagle Hill   
Series Number  3   
ISBN  0800720954  

Description

Naomi King, soft spoken, loyal, and easily overlooked, has a gift. She sees what others can't see. Intuition, she calls it. Others in Stoney Ridge don't know what to make of it and dismiss her hunches and inklings altogether. 
When a young woman arrives at the Inn at Eagle Hill with a shocking secret about Tobe Schrock, Naomi fears the worst. She can't ignore the feeling that something sinister is at work-- something more than a threat to the tenuous love begun between her and Tobe. 

As signs mount, they begin to point to Jake Hertzler, the elusive mastermind behind Schrock Investments' downfall. Soon, events spiral hopelessly out of control and Naomi must decide whether to listen to her head or her heart. 

In this riveting conclusion to The Inn at Eagle Hill series, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher pulls out all the stops with a fast-paced tale of deception, revelation, and just the right dose of romance.

   

Review:

The Revealing is book three in The Inn at Eagle Hill Series.  This book takes place in an Amish community and revolves around several characters.  There is Naomi King, who is hiding her relationship with Tobe Schrock, who is serving time in jail in regards to poor business dealings his father made.  There is also Galen King, Naomi’s older brother, who is courting Rose Schrock, Tobe’s step-mother.  In the midst of this, a young woman shows up at Rose’s door, claiming to be Tobe’s girlfriend and is nearly ready to deliver a baby. 

                

This book took me a while to get into because I hadn’t ready the other two books in the series, therefore, I didn’t have time to get to know the characters and the situation, however, once I got going and figured out who was who, I really enjoyed it.  I really didn’t know how it was going to turn out and there were some turn of events that surprised me, but not in a bad way.  I would, however, recommend reading the other two books in the series first.

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Emily Wierenga's A Promise in Pieces ~ Reviewed

A Promise in Pieces
Emily T Wierenga
Series: Quilts of Love
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Abingdon Press (April 15, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426758855

Description:

A small gift, a simple promise, a life forever changed It’s been more than fifty years since Clara cared for injured WWII soldiers in the Women’s Army Corp. Fifty years since she promised to deliver a dying soldier’s last wish. And fifty years since that soldier’s young widow gave her the baby quilt—a grief-ridden gift that would provide hope to countless newborns in the years to come. On her way to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Clara decides it’s time to share her story. Little does she know she will re-gift the quilt one more time—to a recipient who, perhaps, is most deserving of all.

Review: 

A Promise In Pieces is about a woman named Clara Wilson.  While on a road trip with her whole family to meet an old friend, she begins to tell her life story to her grandson.  Clara served in WWII as a nurse, much to the frustration of her family.  She returns from the Army Nurse Corps to deliver a dying soldier’s last wish, a note stating his love for his young bride, Mattie, which Clara wrote for him while he dictated before he passed away.  As Clara tries to settle back in to a normal life and deal with her own post-war trauma, she decides to use a quilt Mattie had given her, which was to be a baby quilt for her own children, to honor the sacrifices of the soldiers and their families. 

                

This was a wonderful book, and really kept my interest.  Just when the back story would get interesting, the author would cut back to the present to let us know what was going on while Clara was relating the story to her family.  I really enjoyed watching her character progress, and seeing the struggles she went through, and how her faith in God was restored. 

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Bonus Review: 

Emily T Wierenga's debut novel, A Promise in Pieces, grabbed hold of my heart and didn't let go until I read "The End," and even then, the characters have lingered in my mind. Well-written, this touching story will leave you wanting more from this talented new author. Novel Rocket and I give it our highest recommendation. It's a 5-star must read.

Reviewed by: Ane Mulligan

Stu Summers's Summers' Love ~ Reviewed

Summers' Love, A Cute and Funny Cinderella Love Story
by Stu Summers (Author)
Paperback: 250 pages
Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas (April 7, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1938499204

Description: 

Following the collapse of her interior design business, Kate Winston moves to Georgetown with hopes of making it as a sales rep for Tasmania, a company selling personal protection devices for women. With rapes, robberies, and domestic violence on the rise, the nation's capital is a ripe market. But Kate's stun gun party implodes when her guests demand she sweeten the deal by providing autographed copies of In Heat, the latest best-selling novel by Stu Summers. With creditors breathing down her neck, Kate drives to Page Me Bookstore, where adoring fans clamor for a picture with the New York Times sexy and single romance writer. 

Stu expects the flirty smiles and women fawning praise, but when his editor phones to inform Stu that his latest manuscript failed to impress the publishing board, his carefully crafted career begins to unravel. Stu has one week to deliver a complete rewrite that meets his readers' demanding standards. And he would if only he could write. But he can't. Not a lick. 

For years Stu has paid a church secretary to ghostwrite his novels. Only now Hattie May Hall feels God calling her to write paranormal prairie Amish thrillers with an evangelical, Western twist. With Stu's career on the line and Kate's big sale in jeopardy, an unlikely pair of hearts collide, providing a shocking climax at the world's biggest stun gun ball.

Review: 

When I read that Stu Summers had written himself - or his name - into Summer's Love, I frankly didn't know quite what to expect. Still, I read on. His humor and a delightful story drew me. Then came the twist I didn't expect. And so much more. Summer's Love is definitely not your normal romance. It's a love story at its best. One with a perfect ending. If you like romance, you will definitely love Summer's Love. Novel Rocket and I give it a high recommendation.

Reviewed by: Ane Mulligan

Robin Lee Hatcher's A Promise Kept ~ Reviewed

A Promise Kept
Robin Lee Hatcher
Pages 304
Binding Softcover
Release Date Dec 1, 2013
Publisher Thomas Nelson
ISBN 1401687652




Description

God was going to save her marriage, Allison was sure of it. But neither her husband nor her marriage had been saved.

What had become of His promise?

Tony Kavanagh had been Allison's dream-come-true. They were in love within days, engaged within weeks, married and pregnant within a year. Her cup bubbled over with joy . . . but years later, that joy had been extinguished by unexpected trials.

The day Allison issued her husband an ultimatum, she thought it might save him. She never expected he would actually leave. She was certain God had promised to heal; it was clear that she'd misunderstood.

Now, living in the quiet mountain cabin she inherited from her single, self-reliant Great Aunt Emma, Allison must come to terms with her grief and figure out how to adapt to small town life. But when she finds a wedding dress and a collection of journals in Emma's attic, a portrait of her aunt emerges that takes Allison completely by surprise: a portrait of a heartbroken woman surprisingly like herself.

As Allison reads the incredible story of Emma's life in the 1920s and 1930s, she is forced to ask a difficult question: Does she really surrender every piece of her life to the Lord?

Drawing from her own heart-wrenching story of redemption, "A Promise Kept" is Robin Lee Hatcher's emotionally charged thanksgiving to a God who answers prayers--in His own time and His own ways.

Review:

A Promise Kept tells us about Allison Kavanagh.  After marrying Tony, the love of her life, she thought life would be perfect.  But shortly after her marriage, she realizes a secret he’s been hiding, his love for alcohol.  While not a violent drunk, his addiction drives a wedge between himself and Allison.  Allison finally delivers an ultimatum, trusting that Tony would turn things around and God would save her marriage, but Tony did not agree and left.  Allison moves herself to a quiet mountain cabin that she inherited from her Great Aunt Emma.  As she settles into the house, she finds several journals that belonged to her aunt, as well as an old wedding dress, which was a mystery, because, as far as the family knew, Aunt Emma had never married.  As Allison begins to read the journals, she realizes how much alike she and her aunt were, and she learns the true importance of laying everything at the Lord’s feet and trusting Him for the outcome.

                

This was a great story.  I loved the idea of Allison retreating to live in a cabin in the mountains.  I could picture it in my mind, and imagine it being somewhere I’d love to live.  I also related to the fact that Allison had plans all laid out and figured that God planned on keeping them just the way Allison wanted, and when something went wrong, it caused Allison to question herself and how in tune she was with the Lord’s will.  I’ve found myself in that position several times, so it was nice to see her and how she came out in the end.

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Creston Mapes's Sky Zone ~ Reviewed

SKY ZONE

By Creston Mapes

Published by David C. Cook

ISBN#978-0-7814-0817-2

400 Pages

ABOUT BOOK: A rally for a controversial presidential candidate. 
A terrorist threat.

A nightmare of cataclysmic proportions.

Jack and Pamela Crittendon have hit the breaking point. After months out of work as a reporter, Jack is playing Mr. Mom and working part-time at Festival Arena with his survivalist friend Brian Shakespeare. Meanwhile, Pamela has gone back to work full-time while eight months pregnant. Having her recently widowed mother on hand isn’t making matters any easier.

With financial pressures boiling, Jack reports for duty at a rally for controversial presidential candidate Martin Sterling where he expects a mindless night on the job. But when Homeland Security picks up intel about a potential terrorist threat, Jack and Shakespeare are thrust into a life-or-death battle to save their own lives—and the lives of thousands of innocent people.

This third book in The Crittendon Filesreminds us of the power of family, friendships and faith—and why we are never in as much control as we think. 

REVIEW: I’m thankful for the review copy of a book I just couldn’t put down. This is a nail biting suspense drama that’s all too real. It reminded me of two movies Airforce One with Harrison Ford, from a political point of view with the danger and on the edge suspense. The other movie was Die Hard with Bruce Willis because of all the people on the inside he trying to save people from the bad guys. A few insiders were the eyes and ears for the police outside which created dramatic tension. 

This story picks up about where the last book leaves off. Jack Crittendon finds it hard to obtain full time work so he is working part-time as a security person at the Columbus Festival Arena. His wife Pamela has had to go back to work full-time as Administrative assistant to a local orthodontist office to make ends meet. Both of them hate their situations since she’s now expecting their third child. 

When Jack gets to work he discovers that singer Everett and Senator Martin Sterling will be at the Arena that night, which meant this place was going to be hopping.  He works with Shakespeare who’s x-military and takes pride in arming himself and family for a collapse of America’s economy. They both think of strategies for tonight’s crowd. 

Shakespeare shares the reason for his life style and possible disaster forecast for America with Jack, “You control individuals with guns and weapons, like Hitler did, but you control the population with food….If food is cut off you have chaos, societal bedlam. Pillaging. Theft. Gang of looters. What do you do then?” He wanted Jack to start preparing for this event now like him and his family were. 

Shakespeare went on to tell him about the Get Home Bag. “It’s a bag of necessities you keep in your car in case the mud hits the fan while you’re away from home. It’s got everything you need to get you home – then you can decide whether you are going to bug out or hunker down –  I can show you mine. You’ll need a SRL too – Survival Retreat location. It’s when home base is no longer good. It’s when there’s complete breakdown of society with people starving and panic, looting from house to house…You’ve got to bug out because every house, barn, store and building will be searched for food and supplies.” 

“Jack and his wife had been to Shakespeare and his wife’s survival camp (home), it was astounding.”

Jack liked his friend but who had time to think about all this much less do it. But he’d be polite and listen. 

There’s a call on the radio for both of them to report to the office. There they hear the news that homeland security has picked up a threat of a possible attack at the Arena that night. His boss was deciding whether to cancel the event or delay opening so they could search the place to make sure it was safe for their visitors. One of the workers says to the boss, “We did a full sweep last night after the hockey game just like always.” This was a 12,000 seat venue. 

“You know as well as I do that if someone wanted to spend the night in this building they could. If these guys are pros and this things been planned out, they could have been hanging from the ceiling like bats for all we know. There are plenty of places to hide. I say they’re in here now and we should evacuate.” 

Time was ticking down for the arrival of baby number three. Pam had been a stay at home mom for all of their kids. That’s where her heart was and where Jack wanted her to be too; home with their new born. She couldn’t believe God wasn't making that happen.

I highly recommend you prepare time to really enjoy this book; it’s one you can’t put down once you start.  Mapes writing shines in his best novel to date. Don't miss this riveting, page-turning thriller that will have you up late reading the dramatic, satisfying conclusion of an all too real scenario. 

Reviewed by: Nora St Laurent

TBCN Where Book Fun Begins www.bookfun.org

Finding Hope Through Fiction www.psalm516.blogspot.com  

Mona Hodgson's The Quilted Heart ~ Reviewed

THE QUILTED HEART
Mona Hodgson
Pages 400
Binding Softcover
Release Date Jan 21, 2014
Series Quilted Heart
ISBN 0307731146



Description

Like a beautiful patchwork quilt, the three novellas in The Quilted Heart tell stories of lives stitched together with love and God's unending grace. 

Once a week, Elsa Brantenberg hosts the Saint Charles Quilting Circle at her farmhouse on the outskirts of the riverside town of St. Charles, Missouri. The ladies who gather there have all experienced heartache related to the intense hardships of the Civil War, and together, they are facing their painful circumstances with friendship and prayer. Can the tattered pieces of their hearts be stitched together by God's grace?                 

Review

The Quilted Heart follows three young women in St. Charles, Missouri.  All have been through different experiences during the Civil War, but become friends through a quilting circle held once a week. Maren Jensen took a job At Elsa Brantenberg’s home after being rejected as a mail-order bride due to her impending blindness.  She is content at the moment to help Elsa at her home, as well as to help her raise her granddaughter, Gabi.  When Gabi’s father, “Wooly,” returns after disappearing when Gabi’s mother died, Maren finds herself hoping for a chance at love.  Emilie Heinrich helps her father run the town general store. While her father insists she continue her education at a local Ladies’ college, Emilie is content to stay home and take care of her father.  In the meantime, she is reacquainted with childhood friend, Quaid, and comes to realize she may want more out of life than running her father’s general store.  Then, there’s Caroline, whose husband was killed in the Civil War.  She isn’t sure where to go from here with her life, until Garrett Cowlishaw comes into town.  She never thought she could love another again, but as she gets to know Garrett, she finds she’s having a change of heart. 

               

This was a great book.  I loved how each story was separate, but all three were tied together at the same time.  The characters were so likeable.  I found I was excited to keep reading to see what happened next. 

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Connie Almony's At the Edge of a Dark Forest ~ Reviewed

At the Edge of a Dark Forest

By Connie Almony

Pages: 80

Release Date: February 17, 2014

Publisher: Createspace

ISBN: 978-1495452178

Back Cover:

Cole Harrison, a war veteran, wears his disfigurement like a barrier to those who might love him, shielding them from the ugliness inside. He agrees to try and potentially invest in, a prototype prosthetic with the goal of saving a hopeless man’s dreams. Carly Rose contracts to live with Cole and train him to use his new limbs, only to discover the darkness that wars against the man he could become. At the Edge of a Dark Forest is a modern-day retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Only it is not her love that will make him whole.

Review:

In an effort to help save her father’s company while bettering the life of amputees, Carly Rose moves into the lavish home of an angry, liquor guzzling war veteran. She understands post traumatic stress disorder, and though her understanding helps, she still finds it quite difficult to help a man who not only appears to not want her there, but who seems to take great pleasure in mocking her when the chance arises. If not for her love for and loyalty to her father, she might leave… except the hints of sorrow she sees in his eyes compel her to stay. But how can she help bent on self-destruction?

As Beauty and the Beast has always been one of my favorite fairy tales, I clamored to read this modern day telling of the story. I expected to enjoy it, but I must say, I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I found myself, on many nights, staying up much later than I should to read just one more chapter, then one more, then one more. Ms. Almony wrote with a depth and authenticity that gripped, flayed, and encouraged my heart—depending on the scene I was reading.

What struck me most was her skill at characterization. She did a masterful job with Cole, the gruff, wounded, yet tender hearted war veteran, revealing his personality through each piece of dialogue and flitting thought. His actions, word choices, and perceptions all pointed to a cohesive and dynamic individual I could easily visualize. Contrasted with the sweet, quiet, yet focused and determined Carly Rose, who was also masterfully crafted and revealed, Cole appeared all the more masculine and unique.

I was equally impressed with how Ms. Almony revealed Cole’s inner struggle as a former soldier who was now so dependent on others for even the most menial of tasks. I felt, it seemed, the entire spectrum of human emotions as through his experiences of being hopeful for increased independence, fearful of his inner demons, terrified of failure, terrified more of allowing hope to blossom only to have it shattered, his deep longing for love yet his distrust of it… Bravo, Ms. Almony! At the Edge of a Dark Forest is a brilliant story of love, hope, and deep emotional healing.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Slattery

Pam Hillman's Claiming Mariah ~ Reviewed

Claiming Mariah 
By Pam Hillman
Pages 425 
Binding Softcover
Release Date Dec 1, 2013
Publisher Tyndale House Publishers
ISBN 1414389752



Description
After her father's death, Mariah Malone sends a letter that will forever alter the lives of her family. When Slade Donovan, strong willed and eager for vengeance, shows up on her front porch, Mariah is not ready to hear his truths: her father's farm, the only home she's ever known, was bought with stolen gold. With Slade ready to collect his father's rightful claim and force Mariah and her family out on the streets, Mariah must turn to God for guidance. Though Mr. Frederick Cooper, a local landowner, promises to answer her financial woes if she agrees to be his bride, Mariah finds herself drawn instead to the angry young man demanding her home.With the ranch now under Slade's careful eye, he unearths more than he ever imagined as a devious plot of thievery, betrayal, and murder threatens the well-being of the ranch, endangering those who hold it dear. As the days dwindle until the rest of the Donovan clan arrives at the Lazy M ranch, Mariah and Slade must rise above the resentment of their fathers and see their true feelings before greed changes their futures forever.

Review:

Claiming Mariah is about a young woman named Mariah Malone.  After her father passes away, she sends a letter to an old acquaintance of her father’s, not realizing what would come of it.  When Slade Donovan shows up at Mariah’s door, she has no idea what she’s in for.  She is told that her father stole what belonged to Slade’s Father, and that, in fact, Mariah’s ranch actually belonged to the Donovan family.  Slade and his brother, Buck begin to take over, while Slade allows Mariah and her Grandmother to stay there until his mother and sisters come.  Mariah has to work hard to trust the Lord to work the situation out, while Slade is relying on his own strength to make things work.  While Slade and Mariah are struggling to get along, it is discovered that thievery and betrayal is about on the ranch.  Top this off with Mariah and Slade’s growing feelings for each other that they aren’t willing to admit, and you’ve got a great story!

I enjoyed this book.  I admired Mariah, who, after losing her father, has to deal with the fact that a stranger is coming to take her home, leaving her with nothing.  Yet she works hard at trusting the Lord through it all.  It just goes to show that God knows our circumstances and that He can work all things together for good.  The trusting part is the hard part, but it’s worth it.  

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Karen Barnett's Out of the Ruins ~ Reviewed

OUT OF THE RUINS
Karen Barnett
Binding Softcover
Release Date Mar 1, 2014
Publisher Abingdon Press
Series Golden Gate Chronicles
Series Number 1
ISBN 1426780575




OverviewWhile her sister lies on her deathbed, Abby Fischer prays for a miracle. What Abby doesn't expect, however, is for God's answer to come in the form of the handsome Dr. Robert King, whose experimental treatment is risky at best. As they work together toward a cure, Abby's feelings for Robert become hopelessly entangled. Separated by the tragedy of the mighty San Francisco earthquake, their relationship suddenly takes a back seat to survival. With fires raging throughout the city, Abby fears for her life as she flees alone through burning streets. Where is God now? Will Robert find Abby, even as the world burns around them? Or has their love fallen with the ruins of the city?

Review:

Out of the Ruins revolves around Abby Fischer.  Life has been fine on her family’s orchard until her beloved sister Cecilia, is diagnosed with cancer.  Abby is determined she will beat it.  While Cecilia is trusting God for the outcome, Abby refuses, trusting rather in her ability to care for her, along with her cousin, Dr. Gerald Larkspur and his handsome partner, Dr. Robert King.  They have discovered new research regarding radiation as treatment for cancer.  The family temporarily moves to San Francisco for Cecilia’s treatments.  As the treatments progress, so do feelings between Abby and Robert.  However, when another tragedy strikes, the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906, Abby has no idea which way to turn.  She has spent so long relying on herself and denying God that she doesn’t know how to live any other way.  In the midst of the earthquake, she finds herself separated from her family and Robert, forcing her to deal with the fact that she is no self-sufficient, and just maybe, God has been waiting there for her all along.

                

I really liked this book a lot.  Abby’s character grew so much by the end of the book.  She spent so much time fighting God through so much of it, not understanding Cecilia’s childlike trust and faith in the Lord, making it look so easy to leave her life in His hands.  And Robert and Abby’s love story was fun to watch unfold as well.  Abby thought herself the plain one next to her sister, so it was fun to see her blossom under Robert’s attention and compliments. 

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers