Search This Blog

Thursday, June 30, 2016


HUNTED by SANDRA ROBBINS

I have eagerly been  awaiting the second book in the Firebrand Series. I plunged into the book and never stopped till the very end. It packs a whooper of a punch with action, deceit, second chances and surprises that will having you gasping for air. The author once again has written a story so intriguing that I devoured every page. Yes it is that good. The author is at the top of the list right along with Lis Wiehl,  Dee Henderson, Richard Mabry  and others who write with depth and intensity. I'm not comparing her to these authors , just letting readers know that she is a superior writer and can go toe to toe with others and keep her readers anxiously wanting more.

Colt and Sloan have been married for awhile.After a heartbreaking loss, Sloan decides she can't stay with Colt and leaves him. But something will bring them back together that could cost them their lives. Who is after Colt? Will this person use Sloan to lure Colt into a trap? Sloan and Colt will have  to be smart, trust the Lord and rely on their instincts to stay alive in this action packed book. I loved the intricate details of working undercover. Gray Feather otherwise known as Colt is a very skilled military sniper and his skills will be put to the test in this dangerous game of being the hunted. They must stay one step ahead of Nimrod who is desperate to seek revenge. Why does Nimrod want to kill Colt? Can Colt trust everyone who is helping him?  Be ready for an unforgettable story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I can't wait for the next book in this series that I'm sure will be another explosive , action packed , well written book.

I received a copy of this book from The BookClub Network for an honest review.

Wednesday, June 29, 2016


anteupfbcover
Purchase your copy here.

About the book


Click to purchase.

Out with Murphy and in with O’Reilly!
O’Reilly’s Law: Murphy was an optimist!
Marriage has been good to Aggie. After a few years and a baby under her belt, she’s confident that she can take on anything–including adding child number ten to the home! Blessings aren’t always easy, and Aggie is about to discover that in a whole new way!
When their near-idyllic life was turned upside down by senseless vandalism, Aggie and gang spent a week on “Aunt” Willow’s farm. Luke worked day and night to get them back home for Thanksgiving. But when things, once more, seem to pile up, Aggie flounders. Her pregnancy grows precarious, and her husband doesn’t recognize her anymore.
Only the Lord can soothe her rumpled spirit, but will she allow Him to comfort her as only He can?
Aggie’s sure that she just needs to “knuckle down” and “ante up” to keep from losing ALL her marbles.
Ante Up! is the fourth book in the Aggie Series

About the Author

chautonaChautona lives in a small, remote town in California’s Mojave Desert with her husband and six of her nine children. When not writing, she enjoys paper crafting, sewing, and looking forward to retirement from home education. Chautona writes stories of fictional people who have real problems, weaknesses, and triumphs. Through their stories, she tries to share the Hope that is within her.

Guest Post from Chautona Havig

“You have eight kids? How do you do it? I can barely manage with the one (or two or three) that I have! I could never do eight.”
How many times had I heard those words? Ten? Fifty? A thousand? I suspect it was between fifty and a thousand. I guarantee it felt like a million. And the reason wasn’t that people were rude or unkind about it. It was simply because they assumed things that weren’t reasonable. They acted as if I’d woken up one day with eight kids and never had a problem with adapting to it.
The cold, hard truth? I never planned to have children—ever—much less the eight I had then or the nine I have now. I didn’t like children, and even now, I really just prefer mine and others’ in very small doses. I’m naturally a very selfish person. So the comments that made me sound excessively patient and maternal were, in a word, ridiculous.
I had one answer I always gave—just one. “I didn’t get them all at once. I got them one at a time, the old fashioned way. And with a minimum of about eighteen to twenty-two months of getting used to having two, three, six, seven before I got the next.”
But that thought haunted me for weeks. What would happen if someone did get eight at once? How would she handle that? Not like the women with multiples—five, seven, eight at a time. No, I was thinking of what it would be like for someone to have my kids just dumped on someone all at once with all those different ages to deal with. I think I should have known at that moment that my childhood dream of being a writer would come true, because my next thought was, “And what if she was single?” From there, I added more. A grandmother-in-law to rival any horror stories of mothers-in-law, home renovations with kids (every mother’s nightmare), grieving, and accident prone kids who can’t stop calling 9-1-1 and you had all the worst things I could think of without becoming ridiculous.
I had originally decided that Aggie would remain single. Yeah, that didn’t happen. So, I gave her personal convictions to follow. I added to that her sister’s convictions, just to keep things interesting. I wanted to show that people have convictions for a myriad of reasons, and just because they hold one, doesn’t mean they look down on those who don’t. That original story grew from a sixty-thousand word single book into a trilogy—each book being over one hundred twenty thousand words! I was sure people would hate the length, hate the story, and ride me out of the country on the proverbial rail. I just hoped I landed in the southern Atlantic—nice and warm.
Instead, Ready or Not has been my best selling book—an Amazon bestseller. The first promotion we did resulted in the book being downloaded every 3.6 seconds in a twenty-four hour period. I was flabbergasted. I did the math a dozen times to make sure. When the last book came out, fans bemoaned the loss of their favorite character. I added more of her to another series, Past Forward. That helped—a little.
Eventually, I agreed to write a fourth book. I waited, and I’m so glad I did. Nearly five years have passed since Aggie inherited her eight nieces and nephews, and nearly four have passed since she married and began a new journey with him. She’s a mother now, not “just” an aunt. She’s a wife. Her life is rich and full of the craziness readers have come to love. So in this book, I decided to explore what happens when life throws just one too many curve balls. I decided to show the children growing up and facing new trials and temptations. And, I wanted to give just a little bit of joy in the extended family front after three books of trials there. I thought it was about time.
My goal for these books has always been to point my readers to the Lord. I did that through one character’s wisdom, another’s steadfastness, and of course, through Aggie’s songs and bite-sized prayers (p-mails). In this book, I wanted to point readers to the Lord through Aggie again, but in a different way. I hope it is as encouraging to them as it was to me. I learned so much in the writing of this book. It laid open my heart before the Lord and I saw things in myself I didn’t want to see but needed to. The Lord is so good to us.
Don’t forget—for those who purchase before July 7, 2016, we’re giving away a FREE bonus devotional, Tune My Heart: 25 Hymn-Filled Moments with the Lord. Each chapter corresponds to the book and examines some of the themes of the book, so you don’t want to read it before you’ve read the book! To get your free copy, just forward your Amazon receipt to THIS EMAIL.
Review.jpg

 There was one scene that made me laugh out loud. One of the children spills milk and total chaos breaks out. Can you imagine all those children running around in the milk and all you can do is laugh? I especially liked how the author used Vannie to teach us about pride. It is so hard to swallow that pride of ours and ask for forgiveness, even if we think we didn't do anything wrong. Thank you for giving readers a great example that reminds us to "be quick to forgive and slow to anger."

At first I had a bit of a struggle getting into the book , but as I read more I became more focused on the family and how they remained me of everyday life. Aggie's bladder problem seemed to become a bit annoying to me only because it seemed to drag on for several chapters. When it was found out that she had a medical condition that could cause her to go into premature labor, I was then glad the author added it to the story. It showed me how we need to learn to be patient and rely on God. Aggie soon realized she needed to rest and have faith that the family would be taken care of.

I loved reading about the teens and their problems of trying to fit in with peers and dealing with dating . It is not easy be a teenager and the author eloquently wrote the storyline with realism. There were times I could feel myself sitting in their living room watching the family interact with each other.

The story was very intriguing and I loved how the author gave us a real family with real struggles that we could relate to. There were a couple of things that really made me think as I read the story. It showed me how we need to be patient, rely on God, trust Him more and rest in his embrace.

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit for an honest review.

Blog Stops

June 30: Quiet Quilter
July 2: Mary Hake
July 3: Petra’s Hope
July 7: Cassandra M’s Place (spotlight)
July 10: Karens Krayons
July 11: cherylbbookblog (spotlight)

Giveaway

Kindle grand prize meme
To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away a Kindle Fire! Click to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/9d3a

Monday, June 27, 2016


CHANGE OF HEART by RACHEL J. GOOD

I can't say enough nice things about this lovely book. It has great character development and each one will touch your heart. Lydia is keeping her eye on her younger sister Emma. Emma is kinda stubborn and has a yearning to experience things that could perhaps get her into trouble. I can relate to Emma quite well. I was a rebel growing up around a very strict upbringing. Guess like Emma, I wanted to see what the world had to offer. Will Emma find what she is looking for away from the safety of her family?

Lydia is busy being the good child and doesn't want to go against anything that would cause her shame. She seems to want to be the one who always does the right thing. What will happen when she needs to defend herself against people in authority? Will she find it prideful to speak her mind, or will she submit to her elders?

There are wonderful lessons to be learned in this well written and emotional read. We find the dad  who has been holding unforgiveness and bitterness in his heart. Will he finally allow God to soften his heart, or will he push his family away.? I loved how the mom had much wisdom to share and did with a soft heart and humor. I think using humor when giving advice makes it easier to receive.

There are other characters in the book that will cross paths with Lydia and Emma. What impact will they have on their lives? I loved the writing style and how  each character learned different things as they listened to God. The story will make you really think about your own attitude. Do you have someone you need to forgive? Is pride standing in the way of a blessing from God? Do you know what unconditional love feels like? Don't miss this beautifully written story that will give you a "Change of Heart" if you are open to receive it.

Sunday, June 26, 2016


WICKED DISREGARD by BARBARA ANN DERKSEN

I enjoyed this book because the author writes with intensity and doesn't back down from details. The subject matter may be difficult for some, but it is one that needs to be exposed and made known to the world. Human trafficking is everywhere and the author writes a powerful story that pulls  you in with the brutal honesty of this ongoing crisis . It is a fictional story, but it could easily be on the front page of any newspaper today , which makes this book so emotional and real.

Christine Smith has opened an investigation agency that looks for lost children. Her  latest investigation has her dodging bullets and wondering what she has gotten herself into. Her service dog, Chief is masterfully written as a well bred, well trained dog who will protect Christine at all costs. She still has a mystery to solve that happened along time ago as well as finding out who is behind the human trafficking of children. Who killed her parents ? Does their deaths put Christine in danger?

Jeremy is a very determined young man who wants to protect Christine . His job gets  harder when Christine continues to put her life in danger . Has she stumbled onto where the missing children are being held? Who is behind the inhumane treatment of these innocent children? I loved  the emotions the authors presented as Christine gets desperate to help these children. She hates the thought of one child being harmed and it makes her feel helpless . The combination of Christine and Jeremy working together is well written and at times the story made me cry as the author takes us to the dark and sinister world of human trafficking and pedophiles . You could fell the sheer terror these children must of felt when it seemed hopeless for a rescue to happen. The story has intense scenes that kept me glued to the book.

There was several things that really stick out to be and pierced my soul. " These  perverts kill the minds of their victims as well as their bodies. It is a powerful trip for them to have total control of these young kids and there are no such things as coincidences. God loves you and sent angels to protect you. Gods word says so." Will this help Christine give her heart to ? Will she be able to trust Him and let Him guide her to save the chi,Daren before its to late? The book has reminded me that human trafficking happens everyday around us. There are pedophiles in every neighborhood just waiting and watching. The author has written a book that reminds us that evil is out there.

I received a copy of this book from Thr BookClub Network for an honest review.

Wednesday, June 22, 2016


DONNA'S DETOUR by JO HUDDLESTON

I so enjoyed the author's description of the cute diner that Donna worked at. She described the vinyl seats, the small jukebox on the tables and the counter where people could eat and talk to the waitresses. The diner made me think of the one on "Happy Days." Everyone who was anyone would hang out there.

Donna is working at the diner and saving her money so she can fulfill her dream of going to L. A. to become a secretary. One day as the door opens, Tommy appears. He was best friends with her brother when they were growing up. She has been in love with him forever. Their chemistry is so nice and refreshing. I loved the book so much with the setting from the 1950's to the sweet and innocent way that Donna still honored her upbringing with good moral values. The book is very relaxing to read and I love the author's smooth writing style. She has a way to take readers back in time with her exquisite words that flow throughout the story. When Donna and Tommy are talking about church I loved what she said to him. "Going to church pleases God, but it won't make you a Christian. That's a thing of the heart. Nobody but Jesus can judge your heart's commitment but Him. "

It is time to relax, grab an ice cold bottle of Coke and enjoy a great book that will bring a smile to your face. Join Donna and Tommy as they take a journey on Route 66.

Sunday, June 19, 2016


HEARTS IN DEFIANCE by HEATHER BLANTON

If you have not had the chance to read this author, may I suggest you rush to the neared bookstore or library and check out the first book in this series called, "A Lady in Defiance." Once you have read that book, you will continue the series with this outstanding story. The author does  an amazing job of describing the mining town, with its rough characters, rowdy men and even a visit from the Indians. It has all the makings for a great western movie where the town is booming and the characters are brilliantly written.

Naomi and her two sisters have travelled to this town with two of them being widows and one pregnant. Looks like they have brought their own little baggage to the town. Will they be accepted? They open a restaurant and hope that it will bring income to help with their needs. I can picture the restaurant with people at their tables eating hot piping home cooked meals while discussing their day.

Naomi it seems has caught the attention of Charles  McIntrye with her looks. He doesn't have a great reputation when it comes to women. Naomi will have her hands full  with this man who is still a baby Christian. The temptations to stray from God will test their faith and lead them on a journey that is intriguing. Rebecca is the sensible one who now faces the decision of getting together with her friend Ian Brannagh. Can they find true love? Hannah who is still a teenager  is quite shocked when the man who left her suddenly appears in town.

These three women have their hands full with men, a restaurant to run, a baby on the way and a town rich with the old western feel. I hope you sit back, grab some snacks and get ready to travel back to the old west where anything can happen. The overall theme of forgiveness, redemption and God's  love is prevalent throughout the story. I'm sorry that I can only give this book a five star rating. It deserves a much higher rating with outstanding writing that captures the essence of a western story that keeps readers glued to the book.

I received a copy of this book from The BookClub Network for an honest review.

LAND OF SILENCE by TESSA AFSHAR

The book grabbed my attention from the very beginning. As Elianna and her little brother , Joseph were enjoying the outdoors, I could smell the flowers and see the beauty that surrounded them. Elianna has been entrusted by her mother to watch over her brother for the day. When something distracts her, Joseph is attacked. What attacked him? What made Elianna divert her attention from the care of her brother? The anger her father thrust at her was so well written. I applaud the author for writing such an emotional scene that made me want to tell Elianna it would be ok. I saw her standing there begging her parents to forgive her for her lack of attention to her brother. I can't inagibe what it must have felt like to feel the wrath of her father and realize you are to blame for the unfortunate accident.

I loved the author telling readers what Elianna means from the Hebrew word. "Eli" which means "my God" and "Anna" which signifies " favor." What a blessed name to have which " was a sign of God's favor and grace to my parents."  I'm sure that Elianna wasn't feeling favored at this time. What a burden she must be feeling now. What punishment will she receive for this terrible accident? The Pharisee believed that she will be punished for her negligence.

The details of the blankets, and towels that Elianna's family made were brilliantly detailed to such a degree that I could see the women making them as they chatted with each other. The authors' knowledge of the trade is well defined as she goes into great detail . The more I read of this story, the more I realized how talented and gifted the author is.

The story is a fictional account of the woman we read about in the bible with the issue of blood. I remember this story so vividly because it talked about the desperation of a woman who wanted to be healed. She believed with all her heart that Jesus would heal her. Do we have that kind of faith when we are sick or struggling with something?

Elianna is the woman we read about in the bible that is afflicted with a bleeding illness. In this story she spend years and lots of money trying to find a cure for her illness. She spends a lot of time  praying for healing. At a time of desperation, she travels to hear Jesus speak, thinking if she could just touch his clothing, she would be healed. She plans to touch his clothing and be healed without anyone knowing.

The author has done a lot of research to make the story true to the time in history.I highly  recommend this book to anyone who needs to be encouraged. The story is a reflection of healing, faith, unconditional love and the suffering that a woman endures while clinging to hope.

"Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace . "

I received a copy of this book from The BookClub Network for an honest review.

Saturday, June 18, 2016

amishfirefighterFB

About the Book

Purchase your copy of The Amish Firefighter here
Beautiful Young Woman Banished from Home
Abigail Stutzman thought it was bad enough being dropped at the nearest bus station and sent to live several states away with some relatives she’d never even heard of, much less met. But now, just a week after her arrival in Jamesport, Missouri, she finds herself at the scene of a barn fire. An intentional barn fire. And all fingers are pointed at her. She’s desperate to prove her innocence and protect her reputation, but nobody’s making that easy to do. And God certainly doesn’t seem willing to help.
A Brave Firefighter with an Agenda of His Own
Sam Miller is in the process of turning over a new leaf. Determined to atone for the follies of his past, he is a volunteer firefighter, an EMT, and a doctor-in-training. With suspicious barn fires escalating, and the Miller family being among the victims, no one is more determined to see the perpetrators brought to justice than Sam.
A Kindled Flame Neither One Could Have Anticipated
When their paths first cross at the site of a barn burning, the emotional intensity rivals the warmth of the flames. Soon, they must decide whether this fire is one they should feed or fight. And they’ll discover that the truth can prove more dangerous than a blazing inferno.

 About the Author

Laura V. Hilton
 Hilton3Amish fiction lovers responded positively and immediately to Laura V. Hilton’s debut novel, Patchwork Dreams, when she burst on the scene in 2009 with her unique series, The Amish of Seymour, set in the tiny town of Seymour, in Webster County, Missouri. Fans of the genre immediately recognized Hilton’s insider knowledge, not only of the Webster County community, but Amish culture in general. Her natural speech and writing patterns, she says, are uniquely “Amish,” acquired from her Amish maternal grandparents. The Amish of Seymour, includes Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts, and Promised to Another. Her second series, The Amish of Webster County, is comprised of Healing Love, Surrendered Love, and Awakened Love. A stand-alone title, A White Christmas in Webster County, was released in September 2014. The Birdhouseconcluded Laura’s 2015 series, The Amish of Jamesport, includes The Snow Globe, The Postcard and The Birdhouse. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer. Laura and her husband, Steve, have five children, whom Laura homeschools. The family makes their home in Arkansas.
For more about Laura, her latest book, the books she’s written and those she’s reviewed:
Laura Hilton’s Website:  www.lauravhilton.blogspot.com.

Guest Post from Laura V. Hilton

Unlike some authors, I am not a planner. I have a very vague idea of the story, of the series, and as soon as the characters step forward and introduce themselves I dive in and start writing. When I first began writing this series – New Beginnings in Jamesport – I knew Sammy Miller was going to be the hero. Readers started asking for Sammy’s story as soon as they read The Postcard where Sammy was the villain. Ouch. I’d never considered writing a story about a former villain. But just as David in The Postcard was reader requested, Sammy would be.
Sammy is a very strong character and I knew he had to have a strong female lead character, one that wasn’t afraid to stand up to him and keep him under control. He is a leader, an EMT studying to be a paramedic, and a volunteer firefighter. The female lead, Abigail, is thrown into Jamesport without warning. Her step-father takes her to the bus station and sends her away and she doesn’t even know why! When she is met at the bus station by an aunt and uncle she didn’t even know existed, she is thrown into the middle of several mysteries, including barn fires set by arsonists. And she is the main suspect.
The whole New Beginnings in Jamesport series, while considered a continuation of The Amish of Jamesport series due to Sammy being the hero, is set around Amish starting over in Jamesport. The second book The Amish Wanderer is about a former resident of Jamesport hitchhiking across the country to get to his Mennonite uncle’s house in Pennsylvania. Silas is desperate to escape from his dysfunctional family for several reasons. But he cannot stay in Jamesport because someone is out to kill him. When he stumbles upon another mystery within hours of his arrival, what choice does he have but to stick around for awhile?
God gave me the verses for all three books in the Amish of Jamesport series The Amish Firefighter, The Amish Wanderer and the yet untitled third book (My books all stand alone) before I started writing them, which is unusual. He usually reveals these things slowly to me, as I need to know. The verse for The Amish Firefighter is Isaiah 43:2-4 and the verse for The Amish Wanderer is Romans 8:38-39. The third book’s verse is 2 Corinthians 4:8. It is tentatively titled The Amish Accountant, but most people think accountants are boring, and his real profession is a clockmaker. But The Amish Clockmaker has already been taken by another author. So we shall see what the wonderful Whitaker House team will come up with. It is about another young Amish woman, Lydia, who needs a “safe haven.” So her parents send her to live with her Mennonite aunt and uncle in Jamesport. It doesn’t exactly work out as planned, as the aunt and uncle leave for a foreign mission trip immediately, leaving Lydia acting manager of a gift shop and living in an all electric apartment. Before her aunt leaves, she tells Lydia’s secrets to her best friend. But did she tell all of them or some of them? And the best friend’s son, Caleb (the clockmaker) is acting as accountant for the gift shop. And what about Caleb’s carefully kept secret? When Lydia’s past catches up with her, will it destroy all she’d begun to imagine as she dreamed of starting over in Jamesport?
Next after that is The Christmas Challenge which is also set in Jamesport.
I don’t have official release dates for The Amish Wanderer or the other books yet. But as soon as I know, I’ll share.
Coming next? Who knows? I have two ideas warring for attention—but which one gets told first, I don’t know! I lean toward one, then the other. They both want to be told.
And now, I must get back to work. Thank you for visiting today and thank you so much for supporting my books. I do hope you’ll enjoy The Amish Firefighter!
Happy Reading!
Because of Him,
~ Laura ~
Review.jpg

This is another outstanding book from a very gifted author. I loved this book so much, I read it in one day. Yes it is that good. It is not the typical feel good Amish story where everyone is happy and helps out. What it is though is a very intriguing book filled with shunning, accusations, mystery and an unforgettable story . Ms. Hilton delivers a very captivating story of characters that came to life. 

Abigail has for some reason been sent to her aunt and uncles place to live. What would it feel like to one day wake up and be told you are no longer welcomed at your home? She is very confused by this, but of course obeys her family . She somehow gets mixed up with a group from the new town that seem to have trouble follow them wherever they go. Unfortunately one night while out with her friends, Abigail is somehow accused of a barn fire. There have been a rash of these devastating fires in the town and well you know the saying, Being at the wrong place at the wrong time. " How will Abigail convince a town that she just moved to that she is innocent of the fire? 

Perhaps Sam can be of some assistance to her. He is a firefighter who seems to be positive that Abigail had something to do with it. I loved how the author wrote such strong independent characters who compliment each other well. As they get to know each other, you can feel the attraction come to life with gentle words of affection and a concern for each other's well being . Are there secrets in the town that could explain why Abigail was sent there? Does Sam have a past that he doesn't want anyone to know about? Well as the saying goes, " Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive ." 

The book was outstanding and I love the Amish words and their meaning at the beginning of the book. The book captures the true meaning of forgiveness, intrigue and a bit of romance that keeps readers glued to the story. 

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit for an honest review.

Blog Stops

June 9: Quiet Quilter
June 12: Splashes of Joy
June 13: Babs Book Bistro
June 13: bigreadersite
June 17: A Greater Yes 
June 19: Petra’s Hope
June 21: A Holland Reads
June 22: Pause for Tales
June 22: KarensKrayons

Giveaway

The amish firefighter giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Laura is giving away a basket that includes a Kindle Fire and a complete set of her books! Enter here: https://promosimple.com/ps/9bed

Friday, June 17, 2016


MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE by BETH WISEMAN

What would you do if the girl you have loved since childhood suddenly disappears one day? Kyle is shocked when his girlfriend and her family have disappeared overnight. The house is completely vacant and there are no signs that they ever existed. He is heartbroken and confused, but over time he tries to move on with his life. He still remembers the little messages she would leave for him in his medicine bottle. Will he ever get another message from her again?

Kyle now has a beautiful wife to be  named Lexie. In just a few short months they will be married and plans for the wedding have begun. One day there is a knock on Kyle's apartment door that will lead him on an adventure that will change his life forever. Who were the two men knocking on Kyle's door? Where are they taking him to in such a rush? Kyle is terrified and cannot get word to Lexie to let her know anything. Kyle has been given little detail on where he is going , but has been told he has a chance to save a little girls' life. Who is this mysterious little girl ?

The story is fast paced with intrigue that had me on the edge of my seat. I was so engrossed in the story that I read it in a very short time. The author does  an excellent job on character development and vividly describes the emotions of each character with great depth. What a great story to be reminded of God's love, healing and trust.

"When times get tough, we put our worries into a big giant bubble and blow them to God. He catches the bubbles and takes care of everything. "

I received a digital copy of  this book from the author for an honest review.

THE SENSE OF HUMOR: Let Humor Fast Track you to Healthier, Happier Living by Naz Elliot Anderson

We live in a world where everyday we hear about shootings, terrorist attacks and other emotionally charged events. When was the last time you laughed so hard your face hurt? It has been awhile for me and with all the tragedies going on around us, I find myself not laughing or being cheerful at all. The trials of the world can easily distract us and keep us in a depression.

I enjoyed the various studies the author did on laughter. I found it interesting when he talked about his friend who was a dentist. He uses humor in his practice to make the person feel more at ease and to help the appointment go smoothly. What if we adopted that concept in our everyday lives? Some of us have life threatening illnesses and with a bit of humor it could help with the stress we  are under. Some people use humor when they are nervous, or in a stressful situation. No matter when you use humor, it always makes others feel better . There are some funny moments in the book as he tells stories  that relate to everyday life. I think it is important to be able to laugh at ourselves when we do silly things. The book is a great tool for bringing  joy back into our lives .  Thank you writing a book that shows us through humor , our situations can be bearable and " laughter really is the best medicine. "

"Humor has been said to be the most underrated elixir for good health. " Humor relieves tension and reduces anger and aggression. "

I received a copy of this book from The BookClub Network for an honest review."

Thursday, June 16, 2016


RED PEN REDEMPTION by LORI STANLEY ROELEVELD

I have not read a book this powerful and life changing in a very long time. I have always thought my relationship with God was good. After reading this very emotional story, I realize I have a lot of work to do. I don't think I would be as brave as Helen and challenge God like she did. Her family always prayed that she would someday know Him. One Christmas Eve , Helen will find her life unfolding before her eyes.

As the evening progressed Helen was preparing her gift to her grandson. It was a manuscript written by her  about her life. A mysterious package arrives for her and she takes it upstairs to open it. What is inside the package? Will it change the way Helen thinks about God?  As she tries to understand her gift , she boldly tells God to "edit" her story. She doesn't believe in Him and feels like her life story has nothing to be ashamed of or need to ask forgiveness for. I loved the journey the author takes us own as we glimpse into Helen's life. We see images of her growing up and being reminded of things that perhaps were not good decisions. I felt like I was on a journey through history as the author took us to the sixties. We see Helen experiencing Woodstock and watching as God shows her through scripture the things she had done that did not line up with the Word of God. I especially liked the mention of 911. That was a time of grief for  a nation and the worry that many people faced when they were frantic about the safety of  their loved ones. Helen's life was not perfect, but God is a forgiving God. The more she spent with Him that evening, the more her heart began to soften towards Him. Will Helen give her heart to Jesus?

I know that if my life story were in front  of me , I would have red markings all over the pages as Helen did.  My tears flowed as I came to end of the book. I appreciate the author writing a book filled with scriptures that touched my soul, words that healed me and hope that my relationship can grow stronger with God.

A big thank you to The BookClub Network and the author for a copy of this book and allowing me to give an honest review of an amazing book.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

whisperinghorsesFB

About the Book

To purchase your copy, click here
An old fence separates a modern community from their Amish neighbors, until a little boy opens the gate and breaks down barriers between them. Main characters, Matt and Eli, find friendship, hope, and a future through a mutual need, which creates an opportunity for them to learn to understand each other. Eli and his little sisters will touch your heart by Whispering to Horses.

About the Author

thomasnyecroppedThomas Nye, author of the Amish Horses Book Series, Lives near an Amish community where he grew to know and respect his Amish neighbors. During grade school Thomas developed an interest in history and loved reading anything he could find about the 1800s. His love of farm, history, and horses all came together in real-life experiences with his Amish friends, who also happen to share his Christian faith.  He purchased draft horses from Amish farmers in his neighborhood and set out to learn the art of working with horses in harness.  After years of buying, selling, and trading work horses with Amish farmers in his community, Thomas had many wonderful memories of those experiences. His novels based on those adventures. Learn more about Thomas Nye on his website.

Guest Post from Thomas Nye

Last spring, I visited numerous Amish communities throughout the state of Indiana. My original goal was to bring awareness of my Amish Horses book series to the Amish and tourists in that region. As I traveled down quiet country roads, my heart was overwhelmed by beautiful farm scenes. Conversations with Amish families, and especially Amish children, brought a new awareness and inspiration to me. Springtime and its rich aromas flooded my senses and filled my heart with a story, Whispering to Horses.
Whispering to Horses is a very short novel which spans several generations. It is the story of two families that live side-by-side for years, and yet are strangers to each other. A fence that was installed to keep livestock apart has become a dividing line, separating Amish from their non-Amish neighbors. Years ago, when putting in the fence, an Amishman remembered his grandfather’s advice, almost prophetically, “… a gate opens the way for help in time of need.” Generations later, a gentle Amish boy named Eli, seems to have inherited his great-great-grandfather’s wisdom, as he opens the gate and communication between neighbors.
Kalona, Iowa has been my home for the past 35 years. Living in an Amish/Mennonite community, I have experienced many situations exactly like the one described in this book. It is so easy for us to look over a fence and have a disdain for people we don’t know, or understand. Sometimes, a little child can use their simple wisdom to break through our misconceptions, and soften our crusty opinions. In my hundreds of visits to Amish farms, it has been the children that have surprised me most. Even though English is their second language, Amish children speak with wisdom that has become a treasure to me, and I want to share it with you. I hope the story of Whispering to Horses opens your eyes, and brings back memories of your own childhood, when we all shared that simple wisdom.


Review.jpg

This is a new author to me  and I really enjoyed how he described things so vividly. He made the story come to life by writing with such beauty and details. I could feel the light breeze on my face and hear the horses as they worked in the fields. What magnificent horses they were so sleek and strong as they went about their daily chores.

Matt has inherited a house that he is not pleased with at all. He can't stand the smell from the farmland next door. It is an Amish family that works the land and for some reason that irritates him. His character is angry at the world it seems. His plan is to sell the house as quick as he can and get far away from the Amish family and country living. Matt is not someone I would enjoy being around with his horrible attitude . Will something happen to change his mind about moving? Will his heart soften towards the Amish family?

Eli is Matt's neighbor and really works hard everyday. Matt takes notice of this young man and his work ethic. Matt realizes that Eli could make his yard beautiful and attract buyers . Eli is hired to landscape Matt's yard and is eager to start . I loved the interaction between Matt and Eli. As their friendship developed, Matt seemed to not be as angry. The story is beautifully written and at the beginning of the book the author gives us a little history of the two houses. Long ago Matt's grandfather was friends with the Amish family that lived in the house Eli and his family now live in. They decided to put in a gate so it would be easy to get to each other if there was ever a need.
"Good fences make good neighbors, but a gate opens the way for help in time of need." Oh how I loved  that sentence. How many of us have blocked gates so we wouldn't be bothered by other? Did we miss opportunities that God had for us?

The story has so many messages throughout that I hated to see it end. Memories are wonderful to have when they remind you of a happy time and the story touched on that with such grace. There are a few surprises in the story that really blends well with the theme of the book. I hope you get a chance to read this short book and feel the warmth of a story that brings hope, contentment and peace.

I received this book from Celebrate Lit for an honest review.

Blog Stops
June 7: Quiet Quilter
June 8: ArtisticNobody
June 8: Petra’s Hope
June 12: Bigreadersite
June 14: A Greater Yes

Giveaway

whispering to horses smaller
To celebrate his tour, Thomas is giving away an entire set of his Amish Horses Series! Click here to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/9b7f