Twice a Bride

Willow Peterson has to begin again.  By this time on her life, she expected to be the mother of several of Sam's children but when tragedy strikes, the only reason she felt God left her on this earth was to help nurse her father when he developed consumption but now he is gone.  Not wishing to place the burden of her care on anyone, Willow strives to find her own path yet near her brother and his bride.

Photographer Trenton Van Der Veer never thought he'd end up settling in Cripple Creek, Colorado to begin his business after having spent time in places like New York.  When a patron suggests he find someone to paint portraits from the photos he shoots, that gives him something to consider.  Might Willow's desire to be an artist fit into Trenton's dreams for his studio?  Trenton also has an interesting past which makes it difficult to trust any woman.

Twice A Bride is the fourth book in the Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek series.  Picking up only the fourth book did make it a bit more difficult to get into even though the author does provide enough background to make it possible.  I think the author assumes you have read the other three so doesn't develop the characters as fully as she might have had this been a stand-alone title.  However, each of the main characters are fun and personable.  The secondary characters are a bit more difficult to pick up on except the Sinclair sisters who were sent to Cripple Creek to find husbands and are the main characters of the previous books.

As a  lover of historical fiction, I did enjoy this book and would like to read the three preceding it.  Miss Hattie, the owner of the boarding house that seems to be the centerpoint of each of the  novels in the series, is absolutely delightful!

This book was provided free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  To read the first chapter of  Twice A Bride, go to http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/blog/2012/03/02/sneak-peek-twice-a-bride-by-mona-hodgson/.  

You Can't Make Me: But I Can Be Persuaded

Do you ever wonder if your child is strong-willed or just stubborn and defiant?  While defiance can be seen as a heart issue, having a strong will can be quite beneficial in our world, if channeled properly.  Being the parent to a strong-willed child is quite the challenge, but it doesn't have to be so frustrating that you want to throw up your hands and quit.  Cynthia Tobias, parent of a strong-willed child herself, offers strategies and and tips to keep you from doing so as well as insight into the benefits of their strong will.  As she states, "(your) child may change the world--after all, it's not likely that the world is going to change them"!

I ordered this book because I am the parent of a strong-willed child.  I felt like I was reading a book written by some other mom about my child.  I never realized that my child might feel as if I were taking all the power away from them or that they may not resent authority but may resent how that authority is communicated.  I also felt like it was too late for me.  After all, my children are both in their late teens.  If you find yourself thinking the same thing, there is hope. Tobias offers strategies which will preserve your relationship with your child while also helping them to use that "gift" God has given them to accomplish great things.  Like many parents, perhaps you may disagree with your spouse regarding how to deal with your child.  Tobias has advise for these situations as well. 

This book can easily be read in half a day making it something you can begin to put into practice immediately whether your child is a toddler, teen, or adult.  Even if you feel you have blown it with your child, it isn't too late. To read the first chapter, check outhttp://waterbrookmultnomah.com/blog/2012/04/28/sneak-peek-you-cant-make-me-but-i-can-be-persuaded-by-cynthia-ulrich-tobias/. 

I did receive this book free from Multnomah Press in exchange for an honest review.  I was in no way obligated to leave a positive review.