Beloved by Robin Lee Hatcher - A Book Review

Diana Brennan  was adopted by a loving couple when she was a little girl.  When she turned 17 she fell head over heals in love for Tyson Applegate who is the son of a wealthy and hard to please mine owner.  Diana and Tyson quickly get married before she even meets his family.  Not long after their marriage she begins to find out that Tyson had ulterior motives for marrying her.  He needed to get married in order to get his hands on his inheritance before he turned 30.  He is very defiant towards his father and soon abandons Dianna and takes off to explore the world.  He ends up fighting with the Rough Riders in Cuba.  Years pass and Tyson is presumed dead.  Diana is ready to move past her broken heart and marry again, she just needs Tyson to be declared legally dead.  Just when she least expects it Tyson shows up and turns Diana's world upside down.

While Tyson was away, he became a changed man.  He gave his heart to the Lord and is ready to make restitution.  He is also running for the senate and asks Diana to live with him as his wife for 6 months during the election period and let him prove to her that he has changed.  If at the end of the six months she wants to leave he will provide her with a home for her and her mother and allowance for the rest of her life, but he will not divorce her.  Diana suspects the only reason he is doing this is for appearance sake, but agrees anyway.  She guards her heart, determined not to let him break it.

I absolutely loved this book.  Robin Lee Hatcher did a great job writing this novel and I was sorry for it to end.  I loved the whole restitution part as that seems to be a very important part of salvation that tends to get overlooked.  Diana is a character with a back bone and a streak of stubbornness that at a few times made me want to thump her in the head, but with her brokenness of the past years she has become very guarded and does not trust easily.  It is hard for her to understand that the people that hurt her so deeply in the past have now changed.  Tyson is determined to show his love and prove to her that he is a changed man and I love the romantic way that the author portrayed his character.  I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves historic fiction!

***This book was provided to me by booksneeze in exchange for my review.

Apple Picking Time

 A few weeks ago we went to Eckert's to pick apples.  We had a lot of fun and can't wait to do it again!  Here are a few of the pics I captured that day!

My Hope Is Found - A Book Review

My Hope Is Found by Joanne Bischof is the 3'rd book in The Cadence of Grace series.

I have loved each of the books in this series and could hardly wait for each book to be released.  I was thrilled to have the opportunity to get an advance reading copy for review for the last book in the series.

Lonnie and Gideon's relationship has been rocky to say the least.  When it finally seemed as if they had found love and happiness together a women from Gideon's past comes forward and tears apart everything that Lonnie and Gideon had built together.  Cassie is Gideon's legal wife so he has no choice but to stay with her.  Lonnie is determined to move forward and adjust to life without Gideon.  It is easier said then done, but when the handsome Scottish minister comes calling, it's not long before Lonnie begins to have hope for a better future.

In the meantime, Cassie decides to let Gideon go back to Lonnie for she know's that he will never love her like he love's Lonnie.  They decide to get an annulment and Gideon heads back to Lonnie.

Right when Lonnie was beginning to accept her life without Gideon, he shows up again and now she must make a choice...a choice between Toby and Gideon.  Who will she choose?

I love the character of Lonnie but I must admit I am not a fan of Gideon.  Although he has changed a lot through this series he just seems so selfish and hot tempered.  I was glad to see redemption and forgiveness written into the story, but I was not real happy with the turn out.  Even with that said, I love the way Joanne Bischof writes and once again I found it hard to put the book down.  All in all it was a great series that I would recommend!

***This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for my review.

Rebellious Heart - A Book Review

Rebellious Heart is the second book I have read by Author Jody Hedlund and she is quickly becoming my favorite author!!  She has an amazing way of telling a story.  As I read Rebellious Heart it felt as if I was transported right to 1763 where I was watching the story unfold right before my eyes.

This book had me chuckling several times, page turning suspense at others and the romance is enough to make a grown women "swoon". ;)  I also loved the historical accuracy on what life was like in the 1700's!

If you have not read any of Jody Hedlund's books I highly recommend her and Rebellious Heart would be a great place to start!

About the Book:

In 1763 Massachusetts, Susanna Smith has grown up with everything she's ever wanted, except one thing: an education. Because she's a female, higher learning has been closed to her, but her quick mind and quicker tongue never back down from a challenge. She's determined to put her status to good use, reaching out to the poor and deprived. And she knows when she marries well, she will be able to continue her work with the less fortunate. 

Ben Ross grew up a farmer's son and has nothing to his name but his Harvard education. A poor country lawyer, he doesn't see how he'll be able to fulfill his promise to make his father proud of him. When family friends introduce him to the Smith family, he's drawn to quick-witted Susanna but knows her family expects her to marry well. When Susanna's decision to help an innocent woman no matter the cost crosses with Ben's growing disillusionment with their British rulers, the two find themselves bound together in what quickly becomes a very dangerous fight for justice.


***This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for my review.

Tattler's Branch - Book Review

Lilly Corbett Still has grown to love her life as the small-town doctor of Skip Rock, a tiny coal community in the Kentucky mountains. Though her husband, Tern, is away for a few months at a mining job, Lilly has her hands full with her patients and her younger sister visiting for the summer.

Lilly turns to her good friend and neighbor, Armina, to help keep things in order—until a mysterious chain of events leaves Armina bedridden and an abandoned baby on her doorstep. Lilly works to uncover the truth, unaware of what a mess she’s found herself in until a break-in at her clinic puts her on high alert. As she struggles between what is right and what is safe, Lilly must discover the strength of her resilient country neighbors, her God, and herself.

I did not realize this book was part of a series until I was finished with it, so even if you don't want to read the series this book works fine as a stand alone book. I was in no way "lost" about the events or the characters. I did however find it slow paced.

The first chapter I was captivated. I thought it was going to be a great "can't wait to turn the page" book, but after the first chapter the story line took a different turn. It became very slow paced, very detailed with too many details about doctor procedures that in my opinion were irrelevant to the story line. It was not until the last third of the book that the story started to pick up and really grabbed my attention again.

I really did enjoy the last part of the book and it even made me want to read the first book in the series to see how Lilly and Tern's love story began. I'll give it a try and sure hope it's not as slow as this one.

***This book was provided to me by Tyndale Publishing in exchange for my review.

Wounded Women of the Bible - Book Review

One thing that you can count on living in this world is that sometime or another you are going to get hurt.  Someone is going to wound you to your core.  Whether intentional or not, it hurts and it cannot be avoided.  Truth be told you have probably done your share of hurting others as well.

Women tend to feel things deeply.  We love deeply and when we hurt we hurt deeply.  So many times when we get hurt we tend to shut ourselves off from others.  We have the frame of mind that if we guard our hearts, stop opening ourselves up to others we can "protect" ourselves from being hurt again.  Sad thing about that way of thinking is that we are only hurting ourselves.  We need friends, we need family, we need love and to be encouraged by others.  How then do we deal with the hurts that are sure to come our way if we continue to open ourselves up to relationships?

Wounded Women of the Bible:  Finding Hope when Life Hurts by Dena Dyer and Tina Samples is a great book of encouragement for all women no matter where they are in their walk with God.  There are stories straight from the Bible, plus Dena and Tina both give accounts of different times in their lives that they have went through trying experiences.  The book offers encouragement and hope.  It lets those of us who are hurting know that we are not alone in our suffering and most of all that God is right there with us, carrying us and He has a plan even when there seems to be no hope.  I really enjoyed the stories from the Bible such as Abigail, Hagar, and the two women in Solomon's Court just to name a few.  Sometimes we get so used to hearing these stories that we tend to forget that these were real people, who had feelings just like me and you.   When I thought of some of the emotions that these women may have went through during their trials, the Lord began to minister to me in a whole new way.

This book will be one that I know I will pick up in the years to come for encouragement.  I also think it would be a great gift idea for anyone you know that is struggling with the hurts that this world sometimes brings.

***This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for my review.

Indoctrination - A Book Review

What happens when God is expelled from the classroom?

88% of Christian children deny their faith by graduation day…. are public schools to blame?

ABOUT THE BOOK:

"Public Schools and the Decline of Christianity"

"Why a growing number of parents choose not to send their children to public school.

The companion book to the award-winning documentary "IndoctrinNation", this eye-opening book includes:
* An unforgettable introduction by a father who lost his son in the Columbine school massacre -- "I put him in a pagan school where they teach there is no God."
* 12 common reasons people give not to homeschool -- and the manageable reality of this educational alternative
* Revealing, firsthand accounts of Christian educators working in public schools-- sharing the struggles they face in a hostile system
* The classroom anti-Christian ideologies from humanism, Marxism, utopianism, educational psychology, and more confronting students in public schools today.

Look behind the comfortable myths of an educational system actively at work to alter your child's moral values, worldview, and religious beliefs. Learn the history and philosophy of public school education -- and discover it is based on neither Christian nor American values. Explore the biblical principles regarding education -- and who is ultimately responsible for our children's future." (From New Leaf Publishing Group Website)

MY THOUGHTS:

The book IndoctriNation is a companion book to the dvd documentary, IndoctriNation.  This review is for the book itself and not the dvd as I did not get a chance to watch it for review.  So even though it is a companion book you can definitely use it without the use of the dvd or vice-versa.   

The book is very straight forward.  It does not come across as "bashing the school system", but instead tells it how it is by showing how the public school system is controlled by the government and how they are leaving God out of it.  The decline of the school system is a tragedy and one that is still spiraling downward.  I believe in homescooling 100% and believe that parents are the best ones to educate their children.  This book has reconfirmed my decision and convictions.  I would encourage every parent who has school age children and are considering sending them to public school to read this book first.  You need to know what kind of environment your child will be in and what they will be taught.  No matter what choice you make for your children's education, educate yourself first!!

***This book was provided to me by New Leaf Publishing in exchange for my review. 

Be sure to check out this video book trailer to learn more!

For Every Season - A Book Review

For every Season by Cindy Woodsmall is book three in the Amish Vines and Orchards series.  The book starts off right were book two ended.  Rhoda Byler and the Kings have been working hard to start a new Amish community outside of Unity, Maine and it seems like everything under the sun has come up against them.   At the end of book two Jacob had found out about Samuel and Rhoda's kiss and in book three you find the three of them trying to mend their relationships and earn back each other's trust.

Rhoda is learning not to fight her "gift" of premonitions and is starting to embrace who God has called her to be.  Jacob is starting to be able to put his past behind him, and Samuel, well he's just Samuel and I love the chemistry between him and Rhoda that seems to jump off the pages.  It is quite entertaining to read how these two fight their feelings towards each other.  In this book we are also introduced to Iva, an unconventional Amish girl who fits right in with this strange concoction of a family.

Book three has by far been my favorite book of this series.  Once I picked it up I could not put it down. I struggled some with the beginning of the first two books, but not the case with this one.  It had me loving it from the get go!  When I first got the book I thought it would be the last book in the series, but I see now that there will be a book four coming out in April!  I can hardly wait to read the conclusion of a series I have come to love!

I definitely recommend reading the whole series in order.  I have read all of Cindy Woodsmall's books to date and have never been disappointed.

***I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Advice for Seekers by Charles H. Spurgeon - Book Review

I am always thrilled when I get the chance to add a book by Charles H. Spurgeon to my library.  Advice for Seekers is a reproduction of Spurgeon's 1896 work called Words of Advice for Seekers.  It is published by Attic Books which is a division of New Leaf Publishing Group.  The book itself is compact and has the look of an older book which I really like and the edges of the pages even have a tattered look!

You might think upon hearing the title that the book and "advice" might be for new believers, but I have found it to be quite encouraging and think that it is a blessing for all people no matter where they are in their walk with Christ.  As I read through the book I found my self marking pages and underlining important truths.  There are so many great words of wisdom to meditate upon that I am sure I will be referring back to this little gold nugget of a book for years to come.

From the back of the book:

What is keeping you from finding the kind of faith like you want?

Christ said He came to give us the full depth of His abundant life...to draw seekers unto Himself.  Yet, for some of us that deeper and more meaningful relationship with Christ just doesn't seem to happen.  No matter how many books are read on improving our spiritual life or reading the Bible faithfully, or even by attending church regularly, we remain frustrated, unable to move forward or grow in our faith.

What stands in the way?  The tough answer just might be:  YOU.

At least it was the answer Charles Spurgeon realized when he questioned is own ability to surrender his life and will to God as a young man.  a powerful collection of insight from this legendary pastor and man of faith is presented within Advice for seekers and focused on removing the barriers we too often place between our faith and God's love.  Spurgeon sought an abundant life in Christ and found it.  Now, in this faithful 19'th century reproduction, he reveals the simple path to God's truth for seekers today.



You can also read more about the book and see what other people say about it by clicking HERE.

***This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for my review.

Homeschool Mom's Bible - Book Review

Sometimes it seems impossible for the homeschool mom to find any time for herself, but if you have homeschooled for very long you know how very important spending time each day
with God is.  A morning devotion and Bible reading combined with prayer can start your day off right.

I recently had the opportunity to read for review the Homeschool Moms Bible.  When the book was delivered to me I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was.  It is a hard back book and had a nice book cover.  I was also a little surprised that it is not only a devotional book, it is a complete Bible.  I love that idea!  What better place to put your daily devotions than the word of God.  After (or before) you read the daily devotion you can spend time reading from God's Holy Word.  So convenient!!

There is a devotion for each day of the year spread throughout the Bible.  At the bottom of each page of the current devotion it tells you what page you can find the next devotion on.  Each story is centered around the homeschool and you can find encouragement knowing that you are not alone in your journey.  Each day's devotion also includes a short prayer.  The Bible is available in KJV or NIV  and it is available in leather bound or hardback.

This would be a great gift for a new homeschool mom or even for the mom who has been at it for years.  We all need encouragement and this great devotional is just the thing to motivate you while you are raising/schooling your children.

***This book was provided to me through the booksneeze  in exchange for my review.