The Fourth Fisherman

Joe Kissack had everything the world values--cars, a large home, a beautiful wife and family, and a career that most would envy.  What he didn't have was acceptance and love from his earthly father.  He was on his way to the top but he couldn't imagine or see the storm that was headed his way. 

While Joe was enjoying his in-the-spotlight lifestyle, three Mexican fisherman were fighting for their lives.  They had left shore on October 28, 2005, along with two other men, in a small fiberglass boat headed out for a three day fishing trip.  All were experienced fishermen and knew the danger that the waters could hold but none would have even dreamed of what the trip would hold.  Several days and a storm later, all they had left was meager remnants of food which was quickly depleted and a Bible, no gasoline or freshwater.   With little hope and no food or water, only the Word of God and raw seafood and birds kept them alive.

While Joe and the fishermen were not even on the same continent, all were lost in one way or another but their lives do become miraculously intertwined.  Typically, I am a fiction reader but this is one story that I couldn't put down.   Even though a true story, it reads easily and is a page turner but not necessarily written for one with a weak stomach.  The fishermen must go to extreme lengths to stay alive.  It is an amazing and inspirational story about relying on God no matter your circumstances.  I would love to have the opportunity to hear Joe's story in person.

I received this book from Multnomah Press in exchange for an honest review.  I was not persuaded in any way to write a positive one.  The book and the story itself, however, make that necessary.  This book is scheduled to be released in March 2012.

The Christmas Singing

If you love Amish fiction, check it out!

http://bit.ly/vvg9mc

http://scr.bi/uJkucX

30% off and free shipping on The Christmas Singing (and any other title) when you use promo code CHRISTMAS11 at checkout on WaterBrookMultnomah.com. The coupon code expires on December 20th, 2011.

Smitten

One story.  Four friends.  One goal--to save their small town of Smitten, Vermont when news breaks that the mill, the primary industry in the town, is closing.  Smitten is the perfect place to raise a family but has little to offer tourists. Just the mention of the town's name makes everyone think of love so the four friends devise a plan that will capitalize on that fact.  Each woman, with talents of their own determine to use those talents to help save their beloved town.  When they share their plan with the town, everyone joins in the excitement.  Well, almost everyone.

Each character's story is written by a different well-known Christian author--Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter.  The book begins with Collen Coble telling the story of Natalie, owner of the local coffee shop, who is raising her niece and wishes to adopt her and give her the stable life she never had.  Where Ms. Coble leaves off, Ms. Billerbeck picks up, telling the story of Julie, the friend who moved home to Smitten after working at a spa in Manhattan.   Ms. Hunt then picks up the story from the point of view of Shelby who wishes to use her sewing skills to help save Smitten.  Ms. Hunter then brings the story to a close, focusing on Reese who has always wanted to open an outdoor store in the beautiful area.  Each of the friends were strong women but still have the insecurities and longing for love that most women do which make them so easy for the ready to identify with.

The writing style of the four authors is so similar and the way that they wove the stories of the four friends into one was well done.  Each "story", as it unfolds, is fairly predictable but aren't all romances?   The book includes questions for book clubs, an interview with the four authors which gives the reader insight into their lives and how the story was so well and intricately woven together, and recipes and tips from the book characters.  Smitten is to be followed by Secretly Smitten in December 2012.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.  Pick up your copy today.  I think you'll be "smitten" with characters and storyline.

Nearing Home

To be honest with you, I looked over this book for weeks, thinking that, in my forties, I wouldn't need to read a book by Billy Graham about the final stages of life.  None of us know when God will call us home but I hope I'm in mid life, not Nearing Home. 

However, as Dr. Graham points out, we're all getting closer to home whether that going home day be tomorrow or years away.  Each day brings us closer. Nearing Home helps the reader prepare for getting older, knowing what God's purpose is for our golden years, and how we can grow stronger and face those years with joy and hope rather than dreading them. Whether you be at the point of retirement, want to learn how to handle your finances, creating a living will, grieving the death of a loved one, trying to figure out what REALLY matters, or simply want to leave a legacy to your children or grandchildren, Dr. Graham's words of wisdom are pertinent to all.   Of course, as Dr. Graham writes in the very first chapter, in order to look toward those years with anticipation, each of us must be certain that we have placed our hope in Christ in order for heaven to be our eternal home.

As always, Dr. Graham shares with the reader a wisdom that is far beyond what most of us will ever have.  To still have the opportunity to learn from his relationship with God and his life is such a treasure.  He may be nearing ninety-three but he still has the same wit and humor he has always had.  Whether you be 25 or 75, you won't regret the time you spend learning from such an annointed man of God.  As you read, you'll almost feel like you're sitting in your living room having a conversation with Dr. Graham.  He makes no attempt to talk above you.  He is honest and forthright about the challenges of growing older but I would expect nothing less from him.

I did receive this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball

Cora Crowder has her Christmas shopping planned out.  One or two gifts at a time between Labor Day and Christmas and it will all be done.  When the time comes to select a gift for her uncle, she seeks out an eclectic bookstore where she receives a ticket to a Christmas Ball with her purchase.

Simon Derrick, Cora's boss, is searching for a gift for his sister and discovers the same bookstore and also receives a ticket to the Christmas Ball.  Were the owners of the bookstore trying to match Cora and Simon together?  No other tickets can be purchase so when Cora decides to give her ticket to Simon's special needs sister, the plan doesn't come together as intended.  However, they do keep finding themselves "thrown" together through the twists and turns of the story.

I always enjoy any story set around Christmas.  This book was no exception.  However, it wasn't what I expected. 

First, the ball is the Wizard's Ball.  Not exactly what I would expect from a Christian book.  Throughout the book, there almost seemed to be an element of magic as the street the bookstore was on seems to "disappear" which again, isn't what I expected.  The fact that the two main characters and Simon's family were Christian was evident but, I hate to say, almost seemed like an afterthought for the author, especially during the first half of the book.  Almost forced and unnatural in places.

However, as I said above, I did enjoy the lighthearted quick read.  Simon's tender heart toward his sister was refreshing and genuine.  That Cora finally saw a side of her boss that she never would have seen outside of the office was quite enjoyable and made me think about people I work with everyday that I may not truly know.  And the fact that Cora felt quite insecure developing a relationship, even as a friendship, with the boss made her easy to relate to. 

I would have no problem giving this book to someone else to read if they are looking for a fun little love story with a Christmas setting. Can one book be realistic fiction and fantasy?  That is the way I might classify this story. I did receive this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Christmas Note

It is a few weeks before Christmas when Gretchen moves into a new condo with her children Emma and Ethan in order to be closer to her mother.  Gretchen is content to unpack boxes and get settled into her new home and life.  However, an unexpected visitor shows up, forcing her to extend a helping hand to her new not-to-be-bothered neighbor, Melissa.
When Melissa's mother dies, Melissa sheds no tears.  The life she has had up to this point has been rocky at best and she blames her mother.  When Melissa and Gretchen go to the apartment to clean out all Melissa's mother's things, there is nothing there worth having, except for a couple of photos and the beginning of a note, only two short scribbled lines, to Melissa from her mother.  The note leads Melissa to find who she really is and  family she didn't know she had.
I love Christmas so stories about the season always warm my heart.  I loved both Gretchen and Melissa.  They both have imperfect lives and are dealing with difficulties life has thrown their way.  Both need to find peace within their circumstances.  Through these circumstances their lives become more and more intertwined.
While much of the story is easy to predict, the author, Donna VanLiere, places a good deal of twists and surprises that make you want to keep reading.  This story of Christmas miracles warmed my heart and is one I would recommend to just about anyone through the holidays.  If I understand correctly, this is the 9th in the series of Christmas stories by Ms. VanLiere but stands alone so do not be concerned if you have not read the other eight.  I hope to be able to find the others at my library.
I received this book from Book Sneeze in exchange for my honest review.

Shadows on the Sand

Carrie Carter was a runaway teen, finding a “home” in Seaside, NJ with her sister Lindsey.  Running away from an abusive alcoholic mother and her many boyfriends, Carrie went to work for Mary P in a café in the coastal small town.  When Mary retired, Carrie realized her dream of running the café and life beginning to look up.  When one of her employees, Jase, goes missing and is discovered dead in the nearby bay, it appears the past is catching up with several of her closest friends.  Carrie also longs to be loved and has her eye on an ex-cop, Greg, but she is uncertain if he can let go of his past and be able to love again.  He barely seems to even notice her even though she serves him breakfast every day.

I loved the small coastal town that Gayle Roper set the story in.   Carrie and Greg were both very believable characters who I could sympathize with and understand.  Carrie was insecure and Greg had seen his wife and children needlessly killed several years prior and was still overcoming his own grief.  However, I do feel the author went too far with the overuse of social networking and the role it played in the town news and solving the mystery and the cult involvement of the café employees was not all that believable for me.  However, I did love the fact that Mrs. Roper dealt with some real world topics such as alcoholism, adultery, drug use, and forgiveness.  There were some unexpected surprises and twists, including who the real killer was, throughout the story that also added to my enjoyment.  If you are looking for a mystery title with a sweet love story thrown in for good measure, check out Gayle Roper’s latest book, Shadows on the Sand.

Sunrise on the Battery

Mary Ann Scoville, a small town girl who was raised by a single parent and bullied as a child, has more than she ever thought possible--a lovely home, three beautiful girls, and is climbing up the social ladder.  She and her husband, Jackson, have a mission to raise their children to have everything they didn't have growing up in small town South Carolina.  But Mary Ann's life still feels empty until she is invited by a friend to a local Bible study and experiences her own personal miracle.  Mary Ann then prays that her husband will find God but, when he does, he seems to take that to extremes just as he has so many things in life which causes a chasm to begin to develop in their marriage.  To her friends and outsiders, everything looks picture perfect, but is it?  Being part of the upper crust in Charleston brings on a whole new set of concerns and her daughters are exposed to a lifestyle that may not really be what she and Jackson had hoped for. 

I was originally drawn to this book because  I love Charleston, SC and the area surrounding and I had never read anything by Beth Webb Hart.  Although the book is a fairly easy to read text, there are parts that I stumbled through.  Ms. Hart can write a sentence longer than anyone I know!  There are entire paragraphs that are only one sentence.  Once I overcame that obstacle, I did enjoy the book. The author does paint a realistic picture of Charleston and it made me feel like I was walking the beloved streets.  Each of the characters are believable, even if a bit radical and extreme.  However, to be honest, it wasn't a story that made me not want to put it down.  I wanted Mary Ann to be a bit stronger of a person and for Jackson to not be so dominant and over the top.  It will make a nice addition to our church library and I will recommend it to anyone who loves Charleston as much as I.

100 Read & Sing Devotions

If you are looking for a devotional book to use with your small children, this could be what you've been looking for.  100 Read & Sing Devotions, created by Stephen Elkins, is filled with colorful child friendly illustrations and daily devotions which include a short scripture verse that you and your child can memorize, a prayer, and a brief devotional narrative.  Each devotion is accompanied by a classic children's song which is included on the two CDs which come with the book and reinforces the Biblical truth of the day's devotional.  The songs, performed by children,  are easy to learn and will hide God's word in your child's heart.  Your child will learn about creation, worship trusting God, Jesus' life and ministry, and more. 

Nothing is more special than sharing your faith with your child.  However, reading stories straight from your own Bible for them might be a bit frustrating for young ones to understand.  The languuage used in this devotional is simple to understand yet does not compromise God's word. No devotion exceeds  two pages in length, including the illustration, prayer, and scripture, so your little one doesn't lose interest.  Use this book as a springboard for further discussion as you tell your child stories about how God has been real to you.  "100 Devotions is an important way to establish a lifetime relationship with God."  I would recommend this book for ages 3 - 8.  It would also make a wonderful gift.

I did receive a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest opinion of the product.

Mercy Come Morning

Krista Mueller left her home in New Mexico years ago leaving behind a past love, Dane, and a mother who seemed to care little about her.  She has a successful life as a college history professor in Colorado which she loves.  However, when Krista's mother, who has suffered from Alzheimer's for over ten years nears the end of her life, she is called home for her final days.  Here, Krista begins to discover who her mother really was through notes written in a book of Christmas carols used as a journal and letters hidden in storage.  Krista also discovers that her feelings for Dane may not be as deeply buried as she once believed.  Having felt neglected and unacceptable all these years, can Krista open her heart to her mother as well as accept the friendship Dane offers?

Mercy Come Morning by Lisa Tawn Bergren is a story of healing and second chances.  The present day story is interspersed with flashbacks of days in Krista's childhood, some with her loving grandparents and some with memories of her mother.  Although a quick read, I do feel that anyone who is dealing with or has dealt with a loved one suffering from Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia would enjoy this book.  I could almost picture my own grandmother who suffered from the disease in Charlotte.  The characters are well developed for the length and believable.  The picture Ms. Bergman paints of Taos, New Mexico almost makes you feel as if you are visiting there yourself.

This book was received from Waterbrook Multnomah as a preview copy in exchange for my honest opinion about the book. 

The Harvest of Grace

Sylvia Fisher undoubtedly loves Elam.  But unlike most Amish women, she has her own ideas regarding what brings her happiness and she is uncertain that she can fit into the mold of being an Old Order Amish housewife.  When Elam proposes, Sylvia hesitates a bit too long which leads to a terrible betrayal by him as well as by her closest sister, Beckie. That betrayal doesn't change the love and attraction she feels towards Elam.  Hurt beyond words, Sylvia leaves her home and family to help another Amish family on their dairy farm.  The farm owners., the Blands, are still grieving over the recent death of their daughter and are at the brink of losing their land.

Sylvia has helped the Blands heal emotionally and the farm is on the road to making a profit which will help pay off some of the loans.  The Blands do have one surviving child, Aaron, who left home to get help with his alcohol addiction.   When Aaron returns home, he comes with the news that he has made a downpayment on an Amish appliance store and wishes his parents to sell their failing farm and move with him in order to have an easier life.  Can his father ever trust him again since he left without a word and his parents knew nothing of his addiction before he left?  Will Sylvia stand in the way of his plans to sell the farm?  Will either of them ever find the peace and forgiveness they long for?

The Harvest of Grace by Cindy Woodsmall is the third in the Ada's House series, preceded by The Hope of Refuge and The Bridge of Peace.  Although The Harvest of Grace begins the story of Sylvia and Aaron, the stories of the main characters from the two preceding novels are continued in this novel.  As a reader new to this series, I was thankful that Ms. Woodsmall had written a brief synopsis of the two prior novels at the beginning of this installment and a glossary of characters at the end.  Without those, I would have found it impossible to keep all the characters straight since there are multiple stories being told throughout the novel with all the charcters being intertwined through friendship. 

I did enjoy this Amish fiction series but I do recommend reading them in order.  Having read the third one first, I won't go back to read the other two because I already know the "rest of the story".   As usual, Ms. Woodsmall does an excellent job of developing believable multi-faceted characters.  The Harvest of Grace will be available on August 9, 2011 from your local christian bookstore, christianbooks.com (on August 23),  and amazon.com.

Don't Check Your Brains At the Door

Do you ever wonder why you believe what you believe?  Is it because your parents believed it?  Your Sunday School teacher taught it to you?  Your pastor told you it was true?  If you can answer "yes" to any of those questions, this book might be what you're looking for.  Josh McDowell, internationally known speaker and author of more than 130 books and Bob Hostetler, author and pastor, discuss 42 common myths pertaining to God, Jesus, the Bible, the resurrection, religion and Christianity,and life and happiness.  Along with each myth, McDowell and Hostetler convey a real life example and then lead the reader to discover what the Bible has to say about the myth.  At the close of each "chapter", a section entitled "Brain Food" is included which encourages the reader to dig into the Bible with short scripture texts and answer a question or two about what you have read.  Each chapter is short, easy to read, and could very well be used as a devotion with older children and young teens.

When I ordered Don't Check Your Brains At The Door, I was anticipating a book similar to what this is but I did expect the book to address some of the more difficult and challenging questions I might get from my 16 and 18 year old.  Way too many of my beliefs stem from what my parents taught me and now those are the types of questions my children are asking such as "Why does skin color or differences in faith or denomination matter when you choose your spouse?" or "Why should I dress up to go to church?  Does God care what I wear?".  Did I expect too much from one book?  Perhaps.  McDowell and Hostetler do address some very prevalent world opinions but I do feel that this book is best suited for children from the ages of 10 to 16, younger children if done alongside an adult.  After reading, your child will have a better understanding of why they believe as they do and be able to defend his/her beliefs.

A Place Called Blessing

The last book I read before this was The Blessing  by John Trent.  We all, whether adult or child, want to know we are treasured by someone. The Blessing illustrated how to accomplish that through five different venues:  meaningful touch, a spoken message, attaching high value to the individual, dreaming with and believing in him or her about a very special future God has for him/her, and a commitment to bestowing the blessing.  Using Biblical truths and stories of Jesus' life on earth, Trent paints us a vivid picture of the changed lives that are a result of such a blessing.

Not necessarily listed as a sequel, A Place Called Blessing by John Trent and Annnette Smith tells the story of  an orphan named Josh, who grew up in the foster care program and a children's home, separated from his two brothers for most of his life.  Josh never felt the unconditional love we all long for and lived with the guilt of a horrible accident he was responsible for at the age of six.  Because of the accident, he was deemed unadoptable.  His childhood experiences left him feeling worthless, flawed, and without the ability to trust anyone.  When Josh is released from the state system at age 18, he is determined to find a job but doesn't find that an easy task and is forced to sleep wherever he can find a dry place and living off very little food to eat.  However, in his search for a job, he meets Anna and Mike who show him the love he thought couldn't exist.  Anna and Mike display the traits Trent explains in The Blessing, giving the reader concrete examples of how to apply the principles to your own life.  A Place Called Blessing also includes questions for thought and discussion, several questions on each chapter and a special message from Mr. Trent.  Trent seems to have had a similar experience as Josh growing up.

I started this book at bedtime and I couldn't put it down.   Rarely do I read a book in one day but this is one that grabbed my attention.  I couldn't wait to see if Josh would allow Anna, Mike, and God to change his life.  While the story is somewhat predictable, I was taken quite by surprise toward the end.  Whether for pleasure, as a book club book, or as a follow-up to The Blessing, I would highly recommend this book which is available on Amazon.com, christianbook.com, or your local Christian bookstore.

Giving the blessing of unconditional love and acceptance

As Jacob was blessed by Abraham, so we all yearn to receive the blessing of our parents.  It is also natural for us to want to "pass on to our children more than we received.  This book can put into words what you missed as a child as well as provide practical, hands-on ways of communicating unconditional love and acceptance to your children and loved ones." (p. 5)  Please don't get me wrong.  I had a wonderful childhood and felt the love of my parents.  However, part of human nature is doubting our true worth and competing with siblings, if there are any.  If possible, I want to eradicate any possibility of my children's doubts they they are loved and truly treasured by their parents, regardless of what choices they make in life.  The world tells us otherwise.  This book equipped me with five specific tools to counteract what the world is telling my children.  If I have made the book seem as if it is only written for parents to use with their children, I need to clarify.  While that is the focus of the writing, these principles enrich and bring healing in  all intimate relationships such as friendships, parents, or your spouse.  We all, whether adult or child, want to know we are treasured by someone. The Blessing will tell you how to accomplish that through five different venues:  meaningful touch, a spoken message, attaching high value to the individual, dreaming with and believing in him or her about a very special future God has for him/her, and a commitment to bestowing the blessing.  Using Biblical truths and stories of Jesus' life on earth, Trent paints us a vivid picture of the changed lives that are a result of such a blessing.

Why should we bless our children and others?  As Mr.Trent explains, it allows them to develop intimate relationships when they are older and it "lays the foundation" for a genuine and fulfilling relationship with God that can survive the rocky teen years".  We need others, but especially our children, to feel that unconditional acceptance with us, as parents, rather than seeking "counterfeit blessings" in the world through money, drugs, poor choices in friends, cults, or even success.  If you missed that blessing in your life from parents or grandparents of other significant adults, the book also contains helpful information in overcoming that hurt and not allowing it to define who you are or passing the same lack of blessing on to your own family.

How I wish space allowed me to explain deeper each of the five components of the blessing.  This book is a must read for all parents but I highly recommend it to anyone who works with children be they Sunday school teachers or public school teachers or counselors.   I also feel this book would be helpful to those who may have had a rocky childhood and may find it difficult to be loved or to love unconditionally.

The Blessing by John Trent and Gary Smalley is a reprint.  It has been updated  by Trent with ideas and questions that pause you to think about how to apply what you have read as well as rich Internet resources.  The Blessing is available on amazon.com, christianbook.com or your local Christian bookstore.

Do you want to be happy? Enemies of the Heart: dealing with greed, anger, guilt, and jealousy even if you choose to refuse it exists

How many times has something slipped out of your mouth that you couldn't believe you said or did something that was totally "uncharacteristic" of you?  For me, it is far too often.  I may have thought it, but did it need to be said?  Luke 6:45 says that ........for his mouth speaks from that which fills the heart.  So, is my mouth the problem or is my heart the problem?  I think you can see from the scripture that it is my heart.  Was I born this way?  No.  I could pretend that everything is okay, as most of us do, but eventually the "real" me (who I am inside) will surface.  Every thought, deed, and word that comes from me originates in the heart.  Doesn't that mean that I should take the time to  make certain my heart is as it should be?  Originally published in 2006 as It Came From Within, Enemies of the Heart  by Andy Stanley caused me to examine my heart to determine its health (not in the physical sense but in the spiritual sense).

Things may have happened to us in the past that may give us every right to be anger, jealous.....But do you want to stay that way?  How long are we/you going to allow those events to have power over you and control who you are?   Even if you don't see any of these four enemies of the heart glaring in your life, this book will allow you to see bits and pieces of them in yourself, making your heart less than what God would have it to be.  If you have a weak physical heart, you immediately see a doctor to see what needs to be done.  Allow Andy to be the "doctor" of your spiritual heart and he will point you to the path of healing, whether you need an "immediate transplant" or just a bit of exercise. 

However, once you see those bits of "poison" in your own life, there is hope.  Andy doesn't leave you there.  Change won't happen overnight.  It took you/me years to get where we are.   The last two thirds of the book is devoted to confronting those undesirable traits and overcoming their power in your life.
Andy writes just like he preaches:  straight up, to the point, encouraging, confronting in love, in everday language.  Even though I have listened to a number of his sermons both in person and via the Internet, this is the first of his books I have read.  It won't be the last.  Andy doesn't dance around the Truth and his illustrations are pointed and personal.  He is able to grab the reader's attention and keep it from the beginning paragraph to the end of the book.  I"m typically not a non-fiction reader but I very much enjoyed reading this book.  Did it sting a bit?  Of course!  But who wants to become stagnant and not grow in their faith and become all God wants you to be?  Any change and growth is uncomfortable a bit but definitely worth it.

Enemies of the Heart is availabe June 21, 2011 from Amazon.com, christianbook.com and your local Christian bookstore.

The Daughter's Walk: a woman's suffrage story

Just before the turn on the 20th century, when woman's suffrage was at its infancy, Clara Estby must join her mother to walk from Spokane, Washington to New York City in order to save her family's farm.  Her father has recovered from diphrheria but he cannot find enough work to pay the mortgage.  Clara's mother, Helga, agrees to make the walk, advertising the new reform dress for the sponsors which shows a woman's ankles, for the sum of $10,000.  In leaving with her mother, Clara must resign her position at Stapleton home and will most likely not be able to find employment once she returns.  Several poor decisions and illnesses prolong their arrival to NYC but the Estby women are not typicaly women of their day.  Will they make it in time to save their family?

Returning to their home in Spokane, they find that tragedy has struck.  Plans for the future hang in limbo and Clara must find work.  Through her job as a secretary and her employers, Clara seeks to find a place of belonging and to fill the emptiness in her heart.

Based on a true story, The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick tells the story of an independent woman paving the way for women today and her time away from her family after she is told some of the family "secrets".  The end of  each chapter leaves the reader wondering what is going to happen to Clara next.  I literally flew through the almost four hundred pages.  I grieved with her mother and felt like I was right there with Clara every step of the way.  The author does an excellent job breathing life into the historical characters and making the history come to life during a time of American history I know very little about.  I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.  However, don't expect a story that is filled with examples of the family's faith in God.   You won't find it.  God is mentioned in the book but almost as a brief afterthought which was somewhat of a disappointment. 

This book is available on Amazon.com and christianbooks.com.

Beyond All Measure

Shortly after the Civil War has ended, Ada is penniless and all alone.  Her mother died years ago of consumption and her father has recently passed away, leaving Ada with no home, no prospect of marriage, and nothing to live on. Ada boards a train in her home of Boston and travels to Hickory Ridge, Tennessee to become a companion to Lillian Caldwell.  The only skill Ada brings with her is her ability to make hats like her mother did.   Ada is determined to open her own business as a milliner in order to have the funds to return to what is familiar to her and live a life that does not included playing the part of a servant.

However, Ada didn't consider that she might actually care for Lillian nor did she dream she might meet someone who could change her plans.  Wyatt Caldwell, Lillian's nephew, is probably the best looking man Ada has ever seen.  What man would put his dreams on hold to come to Tennessee to make sure his aging aunt was well taken care of? However, Ada has been betrayed so many times that it is difficult for her to trust.  Can Ada let go of her past and learn to trust both God and Wyatt?

The author, Dorothy Love, attempts to weave the story of two people who carry pain from their past--Ada's from her father and ex-fiance, Wyatt's from the Civil War.  However, I do not feel that the character's struggles are well developed enough to allow the reader to truly empathize with either.   Most of the book is a nice easy-going story about the relationship between Ada and Lillian and Ada and Wyatt.  Scattered throughout the story are peeks of the conflict between Ada and her father and her perceived "ruining" of her life.  It was a  good story but not one that I would want to pick up again.  Most of it was quite predictable leading the reader with little reason to read past bedtime which is what I would have liked to have seen.  Although written as part of a series, this book easily stands alone.

Beyond All Measure by Dorothy Love is available on Christianbooks.com and on Amazon.com.

Til Death Do Us Part?

The Lightkeeper's Ball by Colleen Coble opens at the turn of the 20th century in New York.  Olivia Stewart and her mother receive news that Olivia's sister, Eleanor, has died before her arranged marriage with Harrison Bennett takes place.  The marriage between the two families will benefit both and the elder Mr. Bennett will not consider fulfilling his end of the bargain if there is no daughter to marry.  The Stewart's money has all but disappeared through the years and the Bennetts are quite wealthy.  Can Olivia step into her sister's place and rescue the family by marrying Harrison?

The perplexing events surrounding Eleanor's death leave the family baffled.  Eleanor drowned and yet she was terrified of water.  What would have convinced Eleanor to have been anywhere close to water?  Olivia intends to find out before committing to the arranged marriage.

Olivia travels west to Mercy Falls assuming the name of Lady Devonworth,  to discover what happened to her dear sister.  She strongly suspects that the young Harrison Bennett had something to do with her untimely death.  However, before she can even set foot into Mercy Falls, someone pushes her overboard and she is rescued by none other than Harrison.  Olivia seeks shelter in the coastal lighthouse and develops a quick friendship with the tenants, Katie and Will Jersperson and their daughter Jennie. 

Within days, another tragic event takes place when the lighthouse tumbles in a fierce storm.  Olivia welcomes the Jespersons into her home for as long as it takes to rebuild the lighthouse.  However, there is no money to rebuild.  Olivia determines to help and decides a Lightkeeper's ball is just the thing.  She will invite her set of friends who think nothing of traveling the 3,000 miles to a party during the social season.

Can Olivia get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding her sister's death?  Is Harrison who he appears to be?  Could Harrison even consider a marriage with Olivia when he finds out she is Eleanor's sister?  Will Olivia find the faith that seems to be missing her in life?

The Lightkeeper's Ball is the third in the Mercy Falls series.  Even though it is a series, I found  that the author made it very easy to pick up the characters and dive right in to their lives and the sequence of events made me want to keep reading until the very end.  The book can easily stand alone.  I also found a lot of myself in Olivia--not so much the conventional lady but interested in things that many "ladies" would not have bothered with nor been interested in during her time period.  I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

This book is available on christianbook.com and on Amazon.com.

Can a heart and soul mend?

Hannah Lapp left her Old Order Amish home of Owl's Perch, Pennsylvania several years ago in disgrace and fled to Ohio to begin a new life.  Only months before leaving Pennsylvania, she was engaged and happy.  But a horrible night changed all that.   No one believed she had been attacked.  Not her fiance, not the bishop, not even her own father.

Hannah found what she was seeking in Ohio when she was united with her father's twin sister who had been shunned many years back and was living in the Englischer's world.  She also found love and a new family when she met Martin Palmer who had recently been left raising his niece and nephew when his sister deserted them.  Between the Palmer family, her work with a doctor, and nursing school, Hannah's life was full and complete.  Or was it?

A fatal fire in Owl's Perch makes it necessary for Hannah to return to Owl's Creek and face her past.  However, she never expects that past to include her once fiance, Paul.  Can Hannah find the forgiveness she so desperately needs to be able to allow her soul to mend so that she can move forward with her life?

When the Soul Mends by Cindy Woodsmall, is the third in the Sisters of the Quilt series.  It follows When the Heart Cries and When the Morning Comes.  The preceding titles are given because I found it somewhat difficult to pick up in the story in the middle of the series.  Mrs. Woodsmall does provide a glossary of main characters from books 1 & 2 and it is something I found most helpful and necessary to refer back to on a regular basis as I found it challenging to keep up with all the lesser significant characters' names and connection to the main characters.  I also found some parts of the book to be difficult to follow as the sequence of events did not always connect as I thought they should. 

I have very much enjoyed all Amish fiction that I have read through the years and  I'm certain that this series would not be an exception.  However, I would recommend that, even though the book can be read as a separate entity, that the reader begins at the beginning of the series rather than in book 3.  When the Soul Mends is available from Amazon.com and through christianbook.com.

Plain Proposal

Miriam Raber has loved Saul Fisher for what seems like her whole life.  She can picture their Amish life together in Lancaster, Pennsylvania as husband and wife, with a family of their own.  However, Saul may have other plans.  He wants more than what he feels the Amish life has to offer him.  Both Miriam and Saul are in their rumschpringe so have the opportunity to experience some of the outside world before joining the church. 

Since his mother's death, as the oldest child, Saul has lovingly cooked for his "ill" father and siblings.  Saul would like nothing more than to go out into the world and become a chef.  The opportunity is there.  He has an offer to learn the craft.  However, he does have feelings for Miriam.  As those feelings grow through the summer, will Miriam be willing to leave her Amish life behind?  Miriam has an uncle who has chosen the Englisch ways so she is aware of the lonely life of being shunned should she choose to leave the Amish faith.  

Woven into the blooming love between Miriam and Saul is the story of Miriam's cousin, Shelby, who has come to visit for the summer.  Shelby comes from the Englisch world.  Her parents are recently divorced and she has recently broken up with her boyfriend.  Shelby comes to Lancaster a very sad young lady.  She misses electricity, air conditioning, and some of the activities of the outside world but also finds some comfort in the simple life her relatives live.  Will she find joy and meaning to her life in the strange surroundings of her distant family?

Plain Proposal is part of the Daughters of Promise series by Beth Wiseman.  Even though part of a series, each novel can stand alone.  It is an easy read and will take you to a place where life is much simpler.  Plain Proposal is available at your local Christian bookstore and on Amazon.com. 

Plain Wisdom by Cindy Woodsmall & Miriam Flaud

I have read more fiction with an Amish setting than I care to admit.  I have even been to Lancaster, PA to gain a better understanding of their simple lifestyle.  If you enjoy any of the many authors who write fictional stories about the Amish, then Plain Wisdom might need to be your next read.  Without compromsing the privacy of the Amish, the authors do an excellent job of allowing the reader to peek into both of their everyday lives.

Plain Wisdom captures the relationship between  an Old Order Amish wife and mother, Mirium Flaud, and an "Englisher" wife and mother,  Cindy Woodsmall.  Cindy desires to write about the Amish but truly wants to understand their life before doing so.  In order to gain that understanding, she develops a friendship, through a mutual friend, with Mirium who has lived her entire life in the Amish ways.  Mirium opens her home and her life to Cindy.

One might assume that the two women were so different that they couldn't possibly learn anything from one another.  However, just the opposite is true. Each brief chapter contains a  personal account from both Cindy and Mirium.  Even though the manner in which they live their lives are so vastly different in many ways, their experiences through life are very similar and they developed a deep friendship based on their faith.  Cindy's everyday life is filled with the busyness that each of us experience each and every day.  Through her time with Mirium, Cindy realizes the simple pleasures that she is typically too busy to recognize, even the pleasure of having morning chores to complete while the day is fresh and a time to rest in the evening as the Amish must do.  My favorite quote of the book comes from Mirium when she writes, "in the garden of life, being successful isn't just about hoeing your own row but also about slowing down enough to help your brother hoe his row until he is caught up, then hoeing the rest of the field together".  If only I took the time each day to slow down and help my brother! 

Adding to the charm of the stories told in the book are scriptures opening each chapter and the scattered Amish recipes from Mirium which range from main courses to vegetables to desserts.  Plain Wisom will be released in bookstores on March 15, 2011.  It is currently available for pre-order from barnesandnoble.com and Amazon.com. 

Radical by David Platt

When I first began reading this book, I was at the eye doctor when one of the staff made a comment on what I was reading.  He mentioned that he had read the book so I asked him what he thought of it.  His response was two words--life changing.

I chose to read Radical because I have felt for years that American churches have made a movement toward the church (lower case "c") blending in far too much with the world rather than going into the world, teaching and making disciples as is commanded in Acts for the Church (upper case "c").  When we walk into many churches in the US, there is a beautiful sanctuary, the music has been practiced to perfection and is very performance-like, the pews or chairs are cushioned, the air conditioning and heat making us quite comfortable in our surroundings.....There is nothing wrong with comfort BUT have we also gotten away from the Word and made God into the god (lower case "g") we feel comfortable with, ignoring all 360 degrees of God and instead only accepting those attributes of Him that make us feel good?  I think we, as Christians, are in danger of doing so if we have not aleady done so.

David Platt, a pastor in Birmingham Alabama, encourages us to search the scripture to see what being a Christian really means and to follow the Jesus of the Bible.  To borrow some of his words, Mr. Platt says that "We are settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves".

If you are searching for the answers about what being a true Christ follower really means or what God intended the Church to be, I encourage you to purchase a copy of Radical and read for yourself what Mr. Platt and scripture have to say on the subject.  Radical is available through your local Christian book store, on Amazon.com, or through Barnesandnoble.com.

Unto the Hills by Billy Graham

America's most loved evangelist, Billy Graham, shares daily devotionals with examples taken from his many years of being a Christian, a parent, and a pastor.  Each devotion includes a short scripture passage, usually less than three verses, a brief narrative, and a prayer based on the topic.  Topics range from who God is, to who we are in Christ, to marriage and parenting, to the daily diciplines of Christianity. 

God has a way of using everything that comes into our lives whether it be people, experiences, or even what we read.  Each of the devotions met me just where I was and, I believe, will continue to do so each time I read this book.  For example, the day before I read the entry on January 9, I had experienced a very frightening vehicle ride in Thailand.   For those of you who have never been there, driving and riding in a vehicle is not similar to my United States experiences.  Two lane road can often be forced to be five or more lanes.  The day following that experience, I read about angels in the January 9th entry, and their ability to protect us from certain harms and that is only one way that God cares for us and protects us from Satan.  After my experience the day before, I could really see God's hand of protection  on my and my family.

This is only one example.   I could tell you about many more.  If you are looking for a devotional book that is clearly written and easy to understand, I would highly recommend that you seek out a copy of Unto The Hills and learn from a man who has been blessed by God with wisdom and has years of experience sharing God throughout the entire world.