WHEN MOUNTAINS MOVE by JULIE CANTRELL

The story is set in  the 1940s and the author has done an amazing job of writing a beautiful historical book. I appreciate the descriptions of Colorado in those days and made the story very realistic. It wasn't easy trying to start a new life in the rough terrain  and our main characters will soon find out how much work is involved to start a ranch.

Millie is quite young when she married Bump Anderson. She is ready to begin a new life and doesn't mind the treacherous grounds they will have to travel to reach their destination. Millie has another reason to leave her old home that she hasn't told Bump about. What will happen when he finds out her secret?

Bump is a hard working man and is excited to take on the challenge of getting a deserted ranch back up and running. I loved the details of what chores were done daily to keep the ranch going. It was very hard work and I was impressed with Millie and her dedication to helping  her husband's dream come true. I don't think I would want to go to a land and start from scratch trying to rebuild it. I did find her friend Kat to be most unpleasant. She sure has her eyes on Millie's husband and that really added some friction between the newlyweds.

When Millie's grandmother comes to visit Millie, I really enjoyed how her heritage was a focal point of the story. Her grandmother shared some wonderful stories about the past and described some of the Choctaw traditions. It seemed to really help Millie understand where she came from and how important her ancestors were. I loved the descriptions of their culture and I could picture Millie sitting in awe as Oca shared memories. When Millie has a very hard decision to make , I could feel her despair and pain. The author did a great job of talking about a very hard subject but did it with grace and showed the struggle that women go through when faced with this decision.
What does Millie decide to do ? Dies she make the right choice?

The book is a wonderful journey of newlyweds starting out, their struggles and the lessons they learn as they grow in their faith and learn to trust each other. The secret that Millie has hidden from Bump will be a huge shock and I loved how the author shared the pain and hurt that the secret had caused. If you love historical fiction with a powerful cast of characters and reading about the challenges they face this is the book to get. There are several characters I didn't mention but you will discover how they are intricate to the story about second chances , trust and unconditional love.

I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild for an honest review.

FROM THIS MOMENT ON by DEBRA CLOPTON

The moment you open a new book with anticipation and feel chills as you start the first chapter and begin to find yourself there with the characters is special. Not many writers can capture that feeling for a reader but this author has an amazing way to open your eyes to a new adventure with words that skip across the pages with gusto. I am honored that I was able to read From This Moment On and thankful that there is more to come from this inspiring series.

Cali is a very smart young woman who has come back to the family's resort after a disasterous marriage that ended with an emotional scar that Cali carries with her. She is putting all her energy into helping the family renovate the resort. I loved how all the siblings worked together in a family business and helped them stay as a tight knit family. There is nothing more special then a family that looks out for each other and is there when they are needed. Cali is still very hurt by the divorce but won't talk about it. Will she ever be able to trust a man again?

As part of the renovation, Cali's  brother has hired Grant to do some murals to improve the appeal of the resort. He is quite handsome  and famous but carries a heavy burden of a plane accident that he can't get over. Will his guilt stop him from believing in himself? I loved when Cali and Grant first meet. I could feel the attraction right away as the author captured their intense and guarded look. As Grant started working on the murals , I enjoyed the details of the painting and felt the scenes come to life.

The story is filled with touching moments between Cali and Grant. I loved how their relationship was slowly developed and how Grant was patient with Cali. Will Cali be able to open her heart again and trust Grant to make her feel safe? I loved the way the author masterfully wrote a story about forgiveness and trust and allowed us to witness the gift of true love. Be sure and pick up a copy of this beautiful story and travel  to Windswept Bay and experience the waves as they crash against the rocks, feel the sand as you walk along the beach and fall in love with characters that will have you wanting to meet them.

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

MARY CHOSEN OF GOD by DIANA WALLIS TAYLOR

I really love books that are fictionalization of bible stories. Sometimes they are just straight forward with no real descriptions or anything to help the reader to connect to the book. In this case, the author has done an outstanding  job of retelling  a very important story that completely captivated me. I saw the breads, the fruits and other delicious items on the table as Mary's family sat down to partake of a meal that came from God's provision. I loved how the author made me feel like I was sitting at the table listening to Mary talk to her parents. I envisioned a sweet soft voice as she spoke of her love for The Most High.

I was so impressed with the way the author told the story of Mary and how she made such beautiful descriptions of the time period and the feelings that Mary experienced when she realized she was carrying a special child. I imagine there was much talk and whispers about Mary when she became pregnant. I have read the story many times, seen movies about Mary and the birth of Christ. This time I felt the story deep in my soul as the author wrote with grace and compassion about the mother of Jesus. I loved how Mary continuously prayed for guidance and believed without question that her son was destined for greatness.

The author has given me a new author to read now that I have had  the honor of reading her book. It is parallel to the story in the bible but adds real depth and brings the story to life with vivid details. The true unconditional love that Mary had for her son is written with emotions that brought tears to my eyes. I hope everyone will grab a copy of this book. It is a magnificent retelling of Mary and the son who would one day set us free.

"Therefore , let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Yeshua, whom you crucified , both Lord and Messiah."

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