Book Review~In All Things

I recently had the pleasure of reviewing a Bible study called In All Things: A Nine-Week Devotional Bible Study On Unshakeable Joy, by Melissa B. Kruger. Joy is something we all strive for our entire lives, and unshakeable joy is even better! This Bible Study uses the book of Philippians to learn how to  have unshakeable joy.

Included in the book is an Introduction, the nine weeks of study, a study guide for group use (although this is fine to do by yourself), the book of Philippians (handy to have right there for your use), acknowledgements and notes. The nine weeks of study are titled:

1. We Need More Than a Spiritual Experience: Joy in Salvation-Acts 7-16
2. A Shared Joy: Joy in True Fellowship-Philippians 1:1-11
3. Unshakeable: Joy in Christ's Lordship-Philippians 1:12-30
4. The More of Becoming Less: Joy in Humility-Philippians 2:1-11
5. With Hearts Set Free: Joy in Obedience- Philippians 2:12-30
6. A Friend Like No Other: Joy in Knowing Christ-Philippians 3:1-11
7. Something Better is Coming: Joy in Heaven-Philippians 3:12-4:1
8. A Heart at Peace: Joy in the Inner Life-Philippians 4:2-9
9. Upside-Down Living: Joy in Giving-Philippians 4:10-23

For the most part, each week is broken down like this: Day 1-Observation, Days 2 and 3-Interpretation, Day 4-Application, and Day 5-Devotional. Each day contains reading and questions to answer.

I enjoyed In All Things and would definitely recommend it. I think it would also make a great group study so that you could discuss your answers with others.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review~Fliers

Book Description: 
The perfect present for buds and dormroom inhabitors, this collection of viral fake fliers is at once strange, thought-provoking, and hilarious. Printed on heavy, cardstock-like paper, these 20 "fake" fliers both celebrate and embody surreal posters--like the kind plastered all over college campuses, only taken to the next level. As a bonus feature, the sturdy paperback comes with a french-fold jacket that, when removed, opens up to reveal a larger poster. Images include a photo of a found duck mistaken for a dog that the poster is now keeping and an anonymous group posting about a quiet universe. There is something in this collection for everyone who ever looked at a postered telephone pole or coffee house bulletin board and wondered "is there more out there?"

My Review: 

Fliers: 20 Small Posters with Big Thoughts sounded intriguing to me. I thought it would be full of funny fliers. As it turns out, I only thought a handful were kind of funny.  Maybe its that I'm from an older generation and just didn't get it. I just didn't find the fliers that interesting. Things I did like were the heavyweight cover, the heavy cardstock used for the fliers, and the pretty pastel color assortment used for the posters. If one really enjoyed a poster, they could pull it out of the book to keep, which is a nice feature. This might just be a great coffee table-type book for the right person, it just wasn't for me. 

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

A Record of My Vinyl: A Collector's Catalog

My twenty-six year old son recently purchased a record player and his first record. He is excited to begin a vinyl collection. Oh, how I wish I hadn't thrown away my records from my childhood. I believe there are some he would appreciate. Hindsight is always 20/20, right?

Since my son is a brand new collector, A Record of My Vinyl seemed to be a perfect gift for him. It is a softcover, and the cover looks like a record was wrapped around the book. It even feels like a record! Inside is an introduction to why vinyl is cool, and how to use this book. Next is the bulk of the book-the place where you record your vinyl collection. Each space contains Artist, Label, Album, Country, Catalog No, Year, Grade, and Liner Notes. There is room for recording four albums on each page, and at the top of each page is a place to write the category. There is space for  records. Next is a section on How to Care for Your Collection, How to Value Your Vinyl, and Understanding Record Speeds. Last are several perforated sheets where you can list your most wanted vinyl. My only negative feedback for this book is that one of the perforated sheets had already come out, so they must come out very easily.

I think A Record of My Vinyl: A Collector's Catalog is a must-have for any record collector. Especially once your collection gets sizable, it may be hard to remember all that you have. This would be a great gift. It looks (and feels) cool too!

I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest review from Blogging for Books.

Book Review~What We See in the Stars:An Illustrated Tour of the Night Sky

I have often looked up into the sky on clear nights and wished I knew more about what I was looking at. Recognizing the Big Dipper is the extent of my knowledge. So when I saw What We See in the Stars: An Illustrated Tour of the Night Sky available for review, I was excited to have this book as a resource at home for the entire family.

Kelsey Oseid is both the author and illustrator of the book, which is a beautiful 160 page hardcover.  There is a detailed index at the back of the book, which is extremely helpful with the amount of knowledge contained in the pages. Topics covered are the Constellations, the Milky Way, the Moon, the Sun, the Planets, Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors, and Deep Space.

I learned so much reading What We See in the Stars! It is easy to understand, and of course the gorgeous illustrations helped to keep my attention throughout the book. This book will stay on our bookshelf to grab when we need it, and for our children and future grandchildren to enjoy. I think it would make an excellent gift.

I received this book free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review~Many Sparrows

About the Book:
In 1774, the Ohio-Kentucky frontier pulses with rising tension and brutal conflicts as Colonists push westward and encroach upon Native American territories. The young Inglesby family is making the perilous journey west when an accident sends Philip back to Redstone Fort for help, forcing him to leave his pregnant wife, Clare, and their four-year-old son, Jacob, on a remote mountain trail. 

When Philip does not return and Jacob disappears from the wagon under the cover of darkness, Clare finds herself utterly alone, in labor and wondering how she can recover her son...especially when her second child is moments away from being born. 

Clare will face the greatest fight of her life, as she struggles to reclaim her son from the Shawnee Indians now holding him captive. But with the battle lines sharply drawn, Jacob's life might not be the only one at stake. When frontiersman Jeremiah Ring comes to her aid, can the stranger convince Clare that recovering her son will require the very thing her anguished heart is unwilling to do-be still, wait, and let God fight this battle for them?

About the Author:
Lori Benton was raised east of the Appalachian Mountains, surrounded by early American history going back three hundred years. Her novels transport readers to the eighteenth century, where she brings to life the Colonial and early Federal periods of American history. When she isn't writing, reading, or researching, Lori enjoys exploring and photographing the Oregon wilderness with her husband. She is the author of Burning Sky, recipient of three Christy Awards, The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn, Christy nominee The Wood's Edge, and A Flight of Arrows.

What I Thought:
Many Sparrows is the first book I have read by Lori Benton, and I am incredibly impressed by her talent. She brought this time in history to life-I would have loved History class in school if I could have read her novels instead of the dry textbooks!

I felt so horrible for Clare and all she was going through. It is every parents worst nightmare to lose a child. Ms. Benton does a wonderful job of getting the reader to really feel the emotions of the characters.I learned quite a bit about the Indian tribes during this time, and felt compassion for them, while also feeling compassion for the Colonists. I will definitely be reading more of Lori Benton's books, and recommend Many Sparrows highly.

I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Review~Here and Gone by Haylen Beck

About the Book:
Audra just wants to reach California. She's finally found the strength to flee her abusive husband and make a fresh start for her two children. With little Sean and Louise in tow, she has carefully made her way across the country, taking back roads and avoiding attention.
So when an unsettling local sheriff pulls her over in the middle of the Arizona desert, Audra works to hide her nerves and keep calm. She has to. But then he pulls a bag of drugs she's never seen before out of her trunk, and nervousness turns into panic. She thinks the worst has happened. Unfortunately, she's wrong. The worst is yet to come.

About the Author:
Haylen Beck is the pen name of internationally acclaimed, prizewinning crime writer Stuart Neville. Neville won the Los Angeles Times book Prize for his Serena Flanagan detective series set in Belfast, was nominated for an Edgar Award, and made best-of-year lists with numerous publications, including the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and the Boston Globe. His Haylen Beck novels are set in the United States and inspired by his love of American crime writing.

What I Thought:
When I read the description of this book, it sparked my interest. But, since I knew nothing of the author, I hesitated. Let me tell you I am so glad I decided to read Here and Gone by Haylen Beck! This is one of those nail-biter stories that made me not want to sleep at night so I could keep reading! The subject is every parents nightmare-losing your children. But how that happens in this story is just crazy. It is full of twists and turns. I really enjoyed how it was written from different characters' perspectives. This made me feel that I had a better understanding of the characters. If you are looking for a book you won't be able to put down, you've found it-Here and Gone by Haylen Beck.

I received a copy of this book free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Grace and the Preacher

About the Book:
At the age of twenty-three, postmistress Grace Cristler has all but given up hope of finding a husband among the narrowing group of eligible men in her town of Fairland, Kansas. But when her uncle decides to retire from the pulpit, Grace is responsible for corresponding with the new preacher set to take his place. She can’t deny the affection growing in her heart for Reverend Rufus Dille—a man she deeply admires but has only met through his letters.

Theophil Garrison is on the run from his past. Ten years ago his outlaw cousins convinced him to take part in a train robbery, but Theo fled the scene, leaving his cousins to face imprisonment. Now they’ve finished their sentences, but the plan for vengeance has just begun. Branded a coward and running for his life, Theo has aa chance encounter that could provide him with the escape he needs. 

But the young man’s desperate con might come at an enormous price for the tenderhearted Grace—and the entire town. Will Grace’s undeserved affection and God’s mercy make something beautiful from the ashes of Theo’s past?

About the Author: 

 Award-winning, bestselling author Kim Vogel Sawyer is a wife, mother, gramma, chocolate-lover, cat-petter, and--most importantly--a daughter of the King! With more than 1.5 million books in print in seven different languages, Kim enjoys a full-time writing and speaking ministry. Her "gentle stories of hope" are loved by readers and reviewers alike. Kim and her retired military husband, Don, reside on the plains of Kansas, the setting for many of her novels.

What I Thought: 
I have enjoyed every book that I have read by author Kim Vogel Sawyer, and Grace and the Preacher was no exception! I was reading it during a very stressful time in my life, and it took me away and thoroughly captured my attention each time I picked it up. I enjoyed the characters; the author does a great job of making you feel like you've met them in person.

There were many lessons throughout Grace and the Preacher. Just a few are forgiveness, grace,and repentance.  Faith and God are core to the story and characters. At the end of the book are a reader's guide and questions for discussion.  I recommend this book if you are looking for a clean, heartwarming story that contains romance and suspense.

Book Review~The Angel of Forest Hill

Book Description: When Old Order Amish  Rose Kurtz is asked to leave her family, travel deep into West Virginia, and help Joel Dienner with his children in the wake of tragedy, the quiet young woman recognizes a home where she might find kindness instead of criticism and hope replacing harsh words. She agrees to stay in Forest Hill and become Joel's wife for the sake of his family needs, but their marriage is to be a partnership, one built from need, not love and affection.

As the years pass, Rose continues to beckon Joel to join life again, to take joy in his growing children, and to awaken his heart to the possibility of new love. Joel hopes that can move beyond deep-rooted hurts to see the beautiful Christmas ahead, their season. But will the arrival of a beautiful widow and a series of misunderstandings reverse how far Rose and Joel have come?

My Review: Cindy Woodsmall is one of my favorite Amish fiction authors, so I am always excited to read her latest book!  Then add in my favorite season, Christmas, and you have a recipe for a great  book. The Angel of Forest Hill was a sweet story of love and forgiveness. The thought of a young woman agreeing to marry a stranger (and they marry for life, no divorces) and care for his children is just hard to imagine. Rose and Joel's relationship grows over the years, but Rose still hangs on to so much hurt from her childhood and the harsh way her mother treated her.  I enjoyed this story and its characters. It was a quick read at just 196 pages, and includes two recipes as well.

*I received  this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Review~Fraying at the Edge

Fraying at the Edge, by author Cindy Woodsmall, is the second book in The Amish of Summer Grove series. At the end of the first book in the series,  Ties that Bind, two young women from very different worlds discover they were accidentally switched at birth. Ariana Brenneman has been raised in an Old Order Amish Family, while Skylar Nash was raised in the Englisch world. In Fraying at the Edge,  Ariana and Skylar are forced to go live with their birth parents for a year, to experience what life they should have lived. Nicholas, Ariana's birth father, threatened to sue the midwife, so the Brennemans feel they must abide by his wishes. Skylar's life had spiraled out of control, and living life on an Amish farm seemed a better option than rehab. Ariana, on the other hand, has everything going for her-a man she plans to marry, a loving family, and a cafe she just purchased. Both girls are thrust into lives that are new and scary, and they struggle to get through each day. Will any good come out of this, or will relationships be damaged?

Cindy Woodsmall is one of my favorite authors, and I have read all of her books. Her style of writing draws me in, and in Fraying at the Edge, as with all of her other books, I feel like I know the characters personally. This book was so hard to put down! I do think that you would be confused if you did not read the first book in the series, Ties that Bind, before this one. At the back of the book is a Glossary of Amish words. I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

You can purchase your own copy of Fraying at the Edge at Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers.

*I received a copy of this book free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Review~The Quality of Silence

 About the Book (description from Crown Publishing): 
Thrillingly suspenseful and atmospheric, The Quality of Silence is the story of Yasmin, a beautiful, troubled astrophysicist, and her precocious, deaf ten-year-old daughter, Ruby, who arrive in a remote part of Alaska only to learn that Ruby's father, Matt, has been the victim of a catastrophic accident. Unable to accept his death as truth, Yasmin and Ruby set out into the hostile tundra to find him. They grow increasingly isolated with each frozen mile they cover as their search takes them deeper and deeper into the endless Alaskan night. Mother and daughter discover unknown strength and focus as they press on, convinced that Matt is still alive. But as the arctic winter tightens its grip, Yasmin realizes that someone is out there trying to stop them, who is tracking them relentlessly through the soundless dark. Written in breathtaking, pitch-perfect prose, The Quality of Silence explores the powerful love of a family and the very limits of human resilience. 

What I Thought: 
I enjoy a good, suspenseful thriller, and I am fascinated with Alaska-so The Quality of Silence by Rosamund Lupton was a perfect match. This book is written from both the perspective of Yasmin, the mother, and Ruby, the daughter, so I felt like I was really getting to know them both and their deepest thoughts. I enjoyed the story from start to finish, never losing interest. There are so many different emotions throughout this story-dealing with death, love, fear, faith, and more. I didn't know anything about fracking, but the subject being in the book spurred me to learn more about it. So I guess you could say The Quality of Silence was educational as well!

The only negative response I have to this book is that it got a bit confusing at time switching perspectives. Not a huge problem, and it did not take away from the book, but a few times it was confusing when I thought I was still reading from the mother's perspective and it had switched to the daughter's. The Quality of Silence is book I recommend. Rosamund Lupton is a talented author, and I look forward to reading her other novels.

I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Review~Amish Christmas at North Star

About the Book: 
One night four lives entered the world by the hands of an Amish midwife on the edge of North Star, Pennsylvania. Rebekah's Babies, as they are called, are now adults, and in four heartwarming novellas each person experiences a journey of discovery, the possibility of love, and the wonder of Christmas.

Guiding Star by Katie Ganshert: Curiosity gets the best of Englischer Chase Wellington when he investigates the twenty-five-year-old disappearance of an Amish baby. When he finds adventurous Ellie McAllister in Iowa, will his revelations upend her world?

Mourning Star by Amanda Flower: Eden Hoschstetler slips from her parents' shop to investigate the death of her friend Isaac. Who is guilty? Isaac's handsome great-nephew Jesse, and angry Englischer, or someone else?

In the Stars by Cindy Woodsmall: Heartbroken Kore Detweiler avoids North Star after Savilla Beiler rejects his love. But when he is unexpectedly called home, he and Savilla must join forces to keep a family together.

Star of Grace by Mindy Starns Clark and Emily Clark: Andy Danner left North Star to join a new Amish settlement in Mississippi. His little brother devises a scheme to bring Andy home for Christmas and unwittingly unleashes the power of forgiveness in a reclusive widower's life.

What I Thought: 
I have always enjoyed collections of novellas in one book.  These four Amish fiction stories are intertwined by the location-North Star, Pennsylvania, and the midwife Rebekah, who was the midwife attending each main characters birth. The things I enjoy about reading the collections is that they are all intertwined, but written by different authors, that they are relatively short-just about 100 pages each, and in this case, it is Christmas time! These four novellas in Amish Christmas at North Star: Four Stories of Love & Family were all fun to read and engaging, and I loved all four. I really couldn't pick one that stood out as my favorite over the others.  I do have to say that Cindy Woodsmall is one of my favorite authors (I even met her at a book signing!), so her novella In the Stars had a slight edge for me.  At the end of the collection, author Katie Ganshert wrote an epilogue, which I thought was a nice way to wrap up the book.

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review~When Love Returns

About the Book: 
From the Back Cover: Riddled with doubt and lingering regrets, will Suzanne and Paul find strength in God to explore a second chance at love?  It wasn’t easy to move back to the Old Order Mennonite community from which quiet, responsible Suzanne Zimmerman was shamefully sent away as a pregnant teen. Returning twenty years later to take care of her mother, Suzanne and Alexa—the daughter she raised as her own—have spent months rebuilding relationships with her family.

Now with the upcoming wedding of their biological daughter,  Suzanne and Paul find themselves drawn to one another once again—but with new challenges to face. They have been single parents with painful pasts. Can Paul and Suzanne find the strength to rebuild the loving relationship that was torn apart by their teen pregnancy so long ago?

Suzanne must also let go of Alexa as she heads back to Indianapolis to visit friends--and as her chance to find her birth parents. Leaving the bed-and-breakfast in Suzanne’s apprehensive hands, Alexa embarks on a journey that will certainly change her life completely. Can mother and daughter trust God to restore all things in His timing?

What I Thought: 
When Love Returns is the third book in The Zimmerman Restoration Trilogy by Kim Vogel Sawyer, published by WaterBrook Press.  This series has been my favorite Amish series that I have read in a long time. The author did an amazing job of weaving a tale full of surprises. I was so excited to read this third and final book, which did a great job of wrapping up the series. Aside from being a great story, I especially enjoyed the theme of adoption, as I was adopted and have adopted one of my children. If you are looking for a good series that you won't be able to set down, look no further-The Zimmerman Restoration Trilogy is for you!

*Disclosure-I received a copy of this book free from Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Review~Ties That Bind

About the Book (from the publisher):

Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She has two aspirations: open a cafe in historic Summer Grove to help support her family's ever-expanding brood, and keep any other Amish from being lured into the Englisch life by Quill Schlabach.

Five years ago Quill and her dear friend Frieda ran off together, and Ariana still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters him again, she realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish.

Despite how things look, Quill's goal has always been to protect Ariana from anything that might hurt her, including the reasons he left. After returning to Summer Grove, he unearths secrets about Ariana and her family that she is unaware of. His loyalty to her beckons him to try to win her trust-because when she learns the truth that connects her and a stranger named Skylar Nash, Quill knows it may upend her life forever.

What I Thought: 

Cindy Woodsmall is one of my favorite authors, so I was very excited to find out she has a new series coming out! Ties That Bind is the first book in The Amish of Summer Grove series. It took me a few chapters to get into the story and the characters, but once I did it was hard to put the book down! Babies being switched accidentally at birth is such a frightening, yet fascinating topic. Ariana is so devoted to her Old Amish lifestyle, and is close to accomplishing her dream of owning her own cafe. She also has a loving boyfriend she is planning to marry, so this news that she is not biologically from her Amish family has the potential to change everything. Skylar Nash is the opposite of Ariana-her life is a mess, so maybe the Amish lifestyle could bring her some much needed stability.  I can't wait to read the next book in the series and find out how Ariana and Skylar adapt to their new lifestyles.

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Review~Freedom's Child

About the Book: Freedom Oliver has plenty of secrets.  She lives in a small Oregon town and keeps mostly to herself.  Her few friends and neighbors know she works at the local biker bar; they know she gets arrested for public drunkenness almost every night; they know she’s brash, funny, and fearless. 

What they don’t know is that Freedom Oliver is a fake name.  They don’t know that she was arrested for killing her husband, a cop, twenty years ago.  They don’t know she put her two kids up for adoption.  They don’t know that she’s now in witness protection, regretting ever making a deal with the Feds, and missing her children with a heartache so strong it makes her ill.

Then, she learns that her daughter has gone missing, possibly kidnapped.  Determined to find out what happened, Freedom slips free of her handlers, gets on a motorcycle, and heads for Kentucky, where her daughter was raised.  As she ventures out on her own, no longer protected by the government, her troubled past comes roaring back at her: her husband’s vengeful, sadistic family; her brief, terrifying stint in prison; and the family she chose to adopt her kids who are keeping dangerous secrets.

Written with a ferocious wit and a breakneck pace, Freedom’s Child is a thrilling, emotional portrait of a woman who risks everything to make amends for a past that haunts her still.

What I Thought: Freedom's Child, by Jax Miller, was a fast-paced story, full of twists and turns.  The topics of the religious cult and Witness Protection program were what intrigued me at first.  My heart ached for Freedom, who is dealing with so much from her past, and drowning herself in alcohol. There was more cussing than I care for, and there are some tough subjects to deal with.  Aside from that, I enjoyed the story and felt it held my interest right through to the end.  

I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for  my honest review.

Book Review~When Grace Sings

When Grace Sings, by author Kim Vogel Sawyer, is the second book in The Zimmerman Restoration Trilogy.  Alexa Zimmerman is living in her Grandmother's home in an Old Order Mennonite community in Arborville, Kansas.  Though not Old Order Mennonite, Alexa is staying there to get to know her extended family, whom she recently met.  She has turned her Grandmother's home into a Bed and Breakfast, Grace Notes. 

One of Alexa's first customers is Briley Forrester, a reporter from Chicago, who is there to find 'dirt' on the peaceful community.  There is a spark between Briley, a womanizer, and Alexa, who is innocent and naive.  Then when her cousin Anna-Grace comes to stay, it puts Alexa over the edge with insecurity.  Anna-Grace is actually Alexa's mother's birth daughter who she gave up for adoption, making Alexa question if she belongs there at all. 

My Thoughts:  When Grace Sings was a great story of romance, secrets, and trusting in God's plans.  Alexa and Anna-Grace both have so much they are going through, questioning what they are doing with their lives and where they fit.  Having been adopted myself, this story touched me as Alexa comes to the realization that she is a member of the family, even if not by blood.  This story was hard to put down!  I am looking forward to book three in The Zimmerman Restoration Trilogy!

You can purchase your own copy of When Grace Sings from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing.

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free from Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest review.

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a best-selling author highly acclaimed for her gentle stories of hope. More than one million copies of her books are currently in print and have garnered awards including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim lives in central Kansas, with husband Don and their four feline companions. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and ten grandchildren. - See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/author-spotlight.php?authorid=162648#sthash.DUpl5Zck.dpuf

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a best-selling author highly acclaimed for her gentle stories of hope. More than one million copies of her books are currently in print and have garnered awards including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim lives in central Kansas, with husband Don and their four feline companions. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and ten grandchildren. - See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/author-spotlight.php?authorid=162648#sthash.DUpl5Zck.dpuf

Kim Vogel Sawyer

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a best-selling author highly acclaimed for her gentle stories of hope. More than one million copies of her books are currently in print and have garnered awards including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim lives in central Kansas, with husband Don and their four feline companions. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and ten grandchildren.
- See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/author-spotlight.php?authorid=162648#sthash.MnsbhK26.dpuf

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a best-selling author highly acclaimed for her gentle stories of hope. More than one million copies of her books are currently in print and have garnered awards including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim lives in central Kansas, with husband Don and their four feline companions. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and ten grandchildren. - See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/author-spotlight.php?authorid=162648#sthash.MnsbhK26.dpuf

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a best-selling author highly acclaimed for her gentle stories of hope. More than one million copies of her books are currently in print and have garnered awards including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim lives in central Kansas, with husband Don and their four feline companions. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and ten grandchildren. - See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/author-spotlight.php?authorid=162648#sthash.MnsbhK26.dpuf

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a best-selling author highly acclaimed for her gentle stories of hope. More than one million copies of her books are currently in print and have garnered awards including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim lives in central Kansas, with husband Don and their four feline companions. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and ten grandchildren. - See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/author-spotlight.php?authorid=162648#sthash.MnsbhK26.dpuf

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a best-selling author highly acclaimed for her gentle stories of hope. More than one million copies of her books are currently in print and have garnered awards including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim lives in central Kansas, with husband Don and their four feline companions. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and ten grandchildren. - See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/author-spotlight.php?authorid=162648#sthash.MnsbhK26.dpuf

Book Review~Knitting Block by Block

I enjoy knitting.  I learned to knit about five years ago, and have enjoyed the craft ever since.  I love looking at patterns and yarns-the possibilities are endless!  So, I was thrilled to be able to review Knitting Block by Block by Nicky Epstein.  This is a beautiful hardcover book that would make a lovely gift for the knitter in your life. 

Knitting Block by Block is 240 pages, with color pictures and illustrations.  I love the idea of knitting blocks-for a novice like me, knitting one block at a time is much less daunting than a pattern for a big blanket!  I can do one block at a time, feel satisfied that I accomplished that block, and move on to the next block. 

In this book you will find 150 original block patterns, from simple textures to embossed pictorials, lace to cables, colorwork, double knitting and more.  There are more than ten project designs you can make with the blocks, many that don't look like they are made from blocks!  These designs are gorgeous and unique, and the patterns and instructions are thorough. 

Author Nicky Epstein is the author of numerous books and has been featured in many knitting publications. 

You can purchase your own copy of Knitting Block by Block at Random House and other online retailers. 

I received a copy of this book free from Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review~When Mercy Rains by Kim Vogel Sawyer

About the Book: If you are looking for a book that grabs your attention from the beginning, keeps your attention until the very end, and sends you on an emotional roller coaster in between, When Mercy Rains is for you! It is the first book in The Zimmerman Restoration Trilogy.  This is the story of Suzanne Zimmerman, who was Old Order Mennonite.  When she discovers she is pregnant at age 17, her mother sent her away from their community in Kansas.  Ashamed, and with a broken heart, Suzanne moves to Indiana, became a nurse, and raised her daughter all on her own. 

Twenty years later she is contacted by her estranged family back in Kansas, with a request for her to return home and care for her ailing mother.  Can Suzanne face her family and community?  Can they let go of the past and offer forgiveness, and can she forgive her mother?

What I Thought: If you've read my blog for any amount of time, you know I'm an Amish fiction addict!  So when the chance came to read a story centered around the Mennonite, I was excited for a change.  I'm so glad I did, because When Mercy Rains was incredible!  I could not put it down and read it in record time.  It was full of twists and turns and so much emotion!  I loved the characters of Suzanne and her daughter Alexa.  They were so real and deep.  The only negative is it left me wanting to read the next installment of the story-When Grace Sings-due out in Spring 2015.  I'm counting the days until I get my hands on it!

About the Author: Kim Vogel Sawyer is a best-selling author highly acclaimed for her gentle stories of hope. More than one million copies of her books are currently in print and have garnered awards including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim lives in central Kansas, with husband Don and their four feline companions. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and ten grandchildren.

You can get more information and purchase your own copy of When Mercy Rains at Waterbrook Multnomah. 

I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Review~Reasons My Kid Is Crying

Several  months ago, my daughter was looking at something on her computer and said, "Mom, you have to see this!".  The next ten minutes we spent laughing uncontrollably.  The reason?  My daughter had come across a website, Reasons My Kid is Crying.  When I found out recently that a Reasons My Kid is Crying book had been published, I had to review it!

Reasons My Kid is Crying all began when father Greg Pembroke began staying home two days a week with his little ones.  He started snapping pictures of his kids mid-tantrum and posting them on his Tumblr blog, and Reasons My Kid is Crying was born.  Soon, parents from around the world were contributing their hilarious photos too. 

I received the 196 page softcover book, published by Three Rivers Press (a division of Crown Publishing/Random House) and immediately dove in.  The pictures are very crisp on nice, glossy paper.  Once I started, I couldn't stop-I read (looked at) the entire book in one sitting!  Next, my 11 year old son and his friend came home and got their hands on it.  They were in hysterics for at least 30 minutes!



If you want to take a break from all things serious and have a laugh, you need to get this book!  It is available at Random House, as well as other retailers, and is also available as an e-book.  The Random House link also has an author bio and more information on the book.

For more information on Reasons My Kid is Crying:
* Website
* Press Release
* Facebook link
* Twitter link
* First Chapter



*Disclosure: I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Review~Pilgrim's Wilderness

Pilgrim's Wilderness: A True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier is the story of Papa Pilgrim, aka Bobby Hale, an eccentric man who arrived in Alaska with his wife and 15 children.  They were living off the grid, self-sufficient in the wilderness near McCarthy, Alaska.  Pilgrim's Wilderness follows their lives, including their pasts and how they got to Alaska.  They had many struggles in Alaska, including trouble with their neighbors and the National Park Service.  As the story unfolds, you begin to see the dysfunction within the family. 

The author of Pilgrim's Wilderness is Tom Kizzia, who is a veteran Alaskan journalist and has traveled extensively throughout Alaska.  He did a great job putting all the pieces together to write this book, which I imagine was not an easy task! 

I began this story excited to read about the adventures of a true wilderness family.  As it went on, it evolved more into the adventures of a very dysfunctional, abused family with a patriarch who was clearly not mentally stable.  I enjoyed the book, but was sad to read what these poor children had to endure. 

*Disclosure: I received this book free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Book Review~Seasons of Tomorrow

Seasons of Tomorrow, by author Cindy Woodsmall, is the fourth book in her Amish Vines and Orchards series.  I have read the three previous books, and was excited to read this new story.  Cindy Woodsmall is one of my favorite Amish Fiction authors, and she wrote another winner with Seasons of Tomorrow. 

The King and Byler families are continuing to work around the clock to make Orchard Bend Farms a success.  After breaking Jacob's heart by revealing their love for each other, Samuel and Rhoda are taking their relationship slowly and cautiously.  Leah and Landon are falling in love, but their relationship is frowned upon by her family and the community because Landon is Englisch.  Leah must make a decision-leave the only life she's ever known for love, or give up the love of her life to remain Amish? 

After a tragedy hits the families and several members must leave the farm, those remaining have to pull together to make sure the farm survives.  Jacob, who has been in another state since his breakup with Rhoda, returns to help.  Can they unite during this time, or will they be torn apart?  Will Samuel and Rhoda ever be able to express their love?

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this eagerly anticipated fourth book in the Amish Vines and Orchards series.  By now, I feel like I know all the characters so well, which is a talent that Cindy Woodsmall has.  I think you could read this book alone, but it would make much more sense if you read the other three books first.  As usual with Ms. Woodsmall's books, I had a hard time putting it down. 

To learn more about and purchase Seasons of Tomorrow, click here.

*Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.