Fools Rush In by Janice Thompson

Fools Rush In by Janice Thompson is a fun, quick read.  The story has comedy and romance!  I enjoyed reading Bella's story.  She is unsure of herself in some areas of her life, but through the tale in this book she comes to understand her abilities, giftings, and beauty from the words spoken by those around her.  Bella is part of a large Italian family that mostly resides under the same roof making for some interesting encounters and great family moments.  Throw in a parrot with a dirty mouth and your story is almost complete.  All that's left to add is a special Texan cowboy.  Wonderful first book in the Weddings by Bella series!  I'm looking forward to reading the next one very soon!  :)

A Wedding Inivitation by Alice J. Wisler

It has taken me a really long time to finish this book, which isn't to say that I didn't enjoy it.  Alice Wisler's writing style is a little different that what I normally read.  It's gritty, heart searching, and sometimes feels very real emotionally.  She takes you into the lives of her characters and has you try on their emotions, their feelings, and their past. I enjoyed reading Samantha Bravencourt's story of teaching in a refugee camp in the Philippines and her life experience years after that has been saturated by her year abroad.  Her story has heartache, doubt, faith, and renewal.  This book has some Southern flair mixed in with the dirty streets of the refugee camp.  Two very different worlds collide in this book as we learn Samantha's history and her present.  A deep-reaching book with a lot of light thrown in.  Great book club read for a group, and there are discussion questions in the back!

Disclaimer:  This book may have been provided free for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Talk of the Town by Lisa Wingate

Very enjoyable book!  Mandalay and Imagene are two wonderful characters who are easy to relate to.  Their stories are heartfelt and honest.  Daily, Texas, is a town I'd certainly like to visit so I could get to know some of the locals; they are very kind, helpful people.  This story is rich with great characters, emotions, humor, and so much more.  Mandalay is striving for something that she really doesn't want anymore if she ever truly did.  Imagene is still mourning the loss of her husband and living a secluded life.  Amber is trying to do the right thing despite all the bad press surrounding her.  Carter is starting on a new journey for good reasons.  These people are really, fun, happy, sad, etc.  And Daily is certainly a town full of wonderful people.  My one issue with the book is that the charcters' relationships with Christ are a little less than I'd like.  Overall, Talk of the Town was very hard to put down.  A great read and a wonderful choice for book clubs.  Get your cowboy hat on and head on down to Daily, Texas, for some great times with some genuine folks.

Disclaimer:
May have been provided free for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Never the Bride by Cheryl McKay and Rene Gutteridge

Wow!  I'm not even sure where to begin.  I read this book in 4 days time, which is pretty quick for me right now.  Overall, I really enjoyed the story.  Cheryl McKay's characters honed into book format with Rene Gutteridge's help made for an interesting and thought-provoking story on many levels.  In the story, we meet Jessie Stone and follow her through life's misadventures and human assumptions.  She is thirty-four, single, longing for the man of her dreams, wanting her love story to finally happen.  She has tried all the avenues that most of us (until recently maybe) wouldn't try.  She's going through life on her terms without considering what God might want for her.  She is the ultimate romantic (hopeless or otherwise) and everybody who knows her knows this about her.  What is a woman to do when a mysterious man shows up in her life; a man who says that he's God.  This presents many interesting situations for Jessie as she talks to someone that only she can see, etc.  The story has twists and turns as does life when we try to follow our format for it and not the format (path) picked out for us by our Creator.  Many good characters, fun scenarios, and great details.
I have a problem or two or more with this story.  Normally, I try very hard to be very positive when I write my reviews, but I struggle to do that with some parts of this book.  I guess my trouble comes from the fact that I want all Christian fiction to be entirely Christian.  Not to say that Christians don't have their stumbling blocks (myself included).  The issues for me from this book are Jessie's sister (who has lived with one guy after another for some time now), Jessie's decision to move in with someone, Jessie's need to get drunk, and even Blake's shallowness when it comes to women.  The other thing that bothers me is that Jessie hasn't had a relationship with God for years, if ever.  At one point, we find out that she hasn't set foot in a church in 14 years or so, yet God comes into her life to write her love story.  I guess for me the state of one's heart in terms of their relationship with Christ is more pressing, but maybe I'm missing the purpose of this story or overanalyzing it when that much analysis was never what the authors wanted.  I believe truly that God wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives.  He loves His children (His creation) and wants to be involved in us, but we have a tendency to limit His involvement.  Truly, I believe this saddens Him.  So, from that point of view, I can see where the authors want us to see that God truly is concerned for us, wants to guide us, counsel us, reprimand us, praise us, enjoy us, etc.  I find that there is so much more that I could say about this story, but I don't want to tear about what really was an entertaining, fun, unique story full of interesting characters with human aspects we can each certainly relate to.  I did find the book funny, intriguing, and hard to put down.  Check it out and tell me what you think.

Disclaimer: This book was provided free for review by WaterBrook Press.

The Bridge of Peace by Cindy Woodsmall

I found this book to be very enjoyable.  Once I got into the story and the characters, I had a really hard time putting the book down.  Lena has lived her whole life with a birthmark on her face and has struggled with the comments and remarks that have come with that.  She is a wonderful young woman who loves teaching her students and wants to help them in every way possible.  Her story is one of coming to an understanding of herself.  I enjoyed her story, Grey's story, and the many other stories in the book.  The details of Amish life are always so interesting to me, and Cindy Woodsmall does a great job capturing so many aspects of Amish life.  This book had some very intense moments, twists, and turns, which just added to the draw of the story.  I find the books in this series so interesting for several reasons: there's romance, there's suspense, there's faith, there's Amish life, and so much more.  I have so many thoughts swirling through my head about this book, but I can't seem to capture them well.  I really found it to be another great story from Cindy Woodsmall.  She really has a way of bringing Amish life to life for her reader.  I look forward to the next book in this series.  I'm hoping that some loose ends get tied up!  I so enjoy reading about each characters struggles and challenges and joys!  If you love Amish fiction, you will certainly enjoy this story!!

Disclaimer: This book was provided free for review by WaterBrook Press.

The Apothecary's Daughter by Julie Klassen

I really enjoyed The Apothecary's Daughter.  A very interesting and enjoyable read.  The story of Lillian (Lilly) Haswell, daughter of apothecary Charles Haswell, is well-written with details and depth by Julie Klassen's hand.  I found Lilly's story full of fascinating details about apothecaries in the 1800s, as well as details about England at the time the story takes place.  Lilly is the daughter of an apothecary, a man with great knowledge and understanding of ailments and their treatment.  She has an amazing memory for details of the past and knowledge of herbs, mixtures, treatments, etc. herself.  However, Lilly longs for something more from her life than what she has in Bedsley Priors.  She wants to travel, to see the world, to go beyond her little village and experience more of life.  The opportunity arises for her to go to London and spend time in the care of her aunt and uncle of wealth.  There, Lilly learns the finer points of being a young lady of proper upbringing, but she also misses the life she came from.  Throughout the story many young men vie for Lilly's affection, and she goes through many trials.  Lilly is a woman with many good qualities and a knowledge that during her time in London she has wandered from her life of prayer.  She rediscovers the importance of this, I think, upon her return to Bedsley Priors.  This story is full of rich characters, a twist or two, and many interesting historical pieces.  I found it to be a fairly quick read and an enjoyable story that I would certainly recommend to others.  If you enjoy a good historical novel, check out The Apothecary's Daughter!  Enjoy!

Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr

Ellie's story is somewhat predictable, but it was one I really enjoyed.  Ellie is a spinster at 31-years-old and finds herself almost entirely alone in the world.  The only relatives she has left are two male cousins who are not really the nicest folks around.  She has been sent to keep house for free for a widower with two young sons as "punishment" for her actions.  Ellie makes the two-hour journey by foot hoping beyond hope that the man will give a recommendation so that she might find a position somewhere and no longer be dependent on her Cousin Mark.  As the tale unfolds, Ellie finds herself in a situation she's always dreamed of but never thought it would be the way that it is.  Along her journey she comes to care deeply for her young charges and their father as well as the island she now calls home.  Can God cause a miracle to happen?  Can a man truly love a woman as plain as Ellie?  Can circumstances so change that true love flows on both sides?  A story half full of sadness and half full of joy.  I enjoyed journeying through this tale with Ellie as she came to a place she truly felt God wanted her to be.  She is a woman of great character and depth and insight.  She has a heart for her Father.  I found the male lead in the story to be rough around the edges and moody and somewhat dense at times, but I think he had a lot of growing to do and heartache to work through.  A good historical read from Delia Parr set in Pennsylvania!  Enjoy!

Disclaimer:
This book was provided free for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Links to check out:
Hearts Awakening Book
Hearts Awakening Excerpt
Delia Parr's Website

The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen

I learned a lot about governesses from this book.  This was my first time reading a novel by Julie Klassen and I was drawn in quickly to the story, setting, etc.  I am, admittedly, a huge Jane Austen fan so that may have something to do with my quick interest in this particular book.  Ms. Klassen tells the story of Olivia Keene - a young woman who goes through several trials of sorts throughout the tale.  She is thrust into a situation beyond her control and finds herself in unexpected circumstances in the home of an earl.  During her time in that place she befriends many individuals and eventually becomes the governess.  Olivia's story is full of hurts, heartaches, assumptions, and so much more.  In the end, everything is as it should be.  God's plan is worked out.  The true heart of each of the characters comes to light by the end of the book, but I felt that this story was somewhat lacking in sharing faith openly.  There were not many obviously Christian characters.  There were many moral issues throughout the book, but then I suppose those even (if we were honest) occur in the life of a Christian on occasion.  Overall, I found this story of Olivia, Lord Bradley, Lord Brightwell, Mr. Croome, Andrew, Audrey, and so many others to be a delightful tale with some twists and turns.  I certainly, after reading this novel, want to find and read more of Ms. Klassen's books.  She seems to have a real taste for the era of Jane Austen and her contemporaries.  If you enjoy a good historical read, check out The Silent Governess.  It's a real delight and hopefully a quick read!

Disclaimer:
This book provided free for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Links to check out:
Julie Klassen's website
The Silent Governess book
The Silent Governess excerpt

Divine Appointments by Charlene Ann Baumbich

At first I had trouble getting into this story, mostly because of the main character's attitude and behavior.  I also thought this book would be like the first book in the series, but it really didn't have the same feel at all.  After reading more of the book, I discovered that the story is rich with great characters (even Josie - the main character).  Josie is an analyst experiencing hot flashes and dealing with ideas that have been drilled into her since her childhood with a military father.  She is a woman who knows how to get things done and does it with little emotion and feeling, but what she doesn't realize is that her life is about to change.  Not only does her life change, but the lives of others at the company where she is a consultant.  They are changed in ways only God can orchestrate as He does so well.  I enjoyed getting to know divorced Marsha and pleasant, friendly, encouraging Beth.  Quirky Frank.  Kind, charitable Lyle. And others as well.  The story is one of Divine Appointments - events only God can bring about for His purposes.  I found the book very enjoyable and one I'd highly recommend.  I'm also hoping that somehow there will be a third book in the series.  I still continue to enjoy Ms. Baumbich's writing, especially her Dearest Dorothy books.  She is a wonderful writer!  Hope you all get a chance to have your own Divine Appointments.

Disclaimer:
This book was provided free for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Links to check out:
Divine Appointments Book
Charlene Ann Baumbich's Page

A Journey to New Books - Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball

This story of real-life with a little fairy tale mixed in was a fun, quick read.  I found myself really feeling for Cora with all of her family issues.  She has such a heart for her Savior but struggles in so many areas because of her family background.  Cora has established herself as a hardworker at the company where she is employed and has a simple life for herself.  However, her life is about to take a little spin into another realm; a realm where God uses unique people to help give Cora a little push in a new direction.  The bit of fantasy intertwined with the reality of the story was an enjoyable touch and one I didn't find difficult to follow or allow.  It was an element necessary to making this story what the author wanted it to be.  Simon was also well-drawn as a man with two sides: his professional persona in the office and his "real" persona out of the office.  I enjoyed getting to know the members of his family, including Candy-Sandy.  Sandy was the receiver of so much of Simon's love, and I can understand why.  She has such a sweet, loving personality and is lovable in her own way.  Who couldn't pour out their love on her?  Overall, I really found this tale enjoyable and a fun, unique holiday read.  I would recommend this story to those who don't mind thinking outside the box of reality.  You'll truly enjoy it!

Disclaimer:
This book was provided free for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Just Beyond the Clouds by Karen Kingsbury

This book was powerful!  I found the characters real, vulnerable, and well-written.  Cody has such a struggle in his heart after the loss of his wife, and he wants so much to "protect" his brother that he loses sight of what is really important to Carl Joseph.  Elle has a scar from a past relationship that she uses to shield herself from potential relationships.  She pours all she has into her students and her family as a form of self-protection.  What could God possibly do with these two people?  He could work a special miracle in their hearts and bring about something truly special for them.  Both having a sibling with Down Syndrome causes Cody and Elle to understand a truth that the average person may not, life is to be enjoyed.  They understand that life isn't always easy for everyone, but both come to see that sometimes it isn't the person with the handicap that is truly handicapped.  Sometimes we inflict handicaps of different sorts upon ourselves for one reason or another, and they become chains that bind us into a world that we shouldn't be living in.  A world limited in scope and expression.  I found the characters in this story to be rich and full of lessons for all of us.  Humans with human hearts and human flaws but with the potential to see what the Creator could and would have for them.  A truly great story for your heart and your walk with God!

The Carousel Painter by Judith Miller

The first thing I want to mention about this book is how much I enjoyed learning about the workings of a carousel factory.  I found the detail about all of the different departments very interesting.  One of my favorite things about reading books is learning about things that I would never take the time to research, yet when someone else does the work, I find the information and detail fascinating.
The main character in this story - Carrington - is a woman with morals and convictions.  She is struggling to learn about God and what He would have her do.  She is a talented lady without any family, but God surrounds her with true friends that lead her in the right direction to real, truthful answers.  She has moments of discouragement but strives to continue on with a good attitude.
The setting for this story was ideal for what the author wanted to accomplish, I believe.  For Carrington to work in a factory full of men at the time the book was set was definitely controversial.  She was the only woman causing many stirrings for not only the workers but their families.  For what she goes through during the story, I think Carrington does a good job of keeping her head above water.
I found some of the other characters very full of themselves and focused on the wrong things in life, but Carrington and Josef, in particular, want to find what is best for their lives with God's help.  Something many of us need to do in our lives.
I recommend this story of love, friendship, growth, intrigue, and more!

Disclaimer:
This book was provided free for review by Bethany House Publishers.

A Journey to New Books - The Miracle of Mercy Land

The Miracle of Mercy Land was not what I expected, but I ended up really enjoying it.  Mercy Land is a woman of the 1930s who is smart, no-nonsense, full of heart, and a go-to-girl.  She has a history different from many of those that she has lived near the last seven years because she grew up in "Bittersweet Creek."  Her rural upbringing has given her a little more sense and awareness than most women of her day in Bay City, Alabama.  She works for Doc at the town newspaper and an amazing turn of events occurs in their lives, something that will change so many things for them.  Under the circumstances of this turn of events, Mercy and Doc discover many things about themselves, their pasts, and their futures.  I found the story full of questions, twists, turns, and thought-provoking tidbits.  River Jordan has written a piece that makes you ponder, wonder, think, and keep turning pages (thinking "what will happen next?").  Truly a unique tale with interesting characters, great setting details, and unpredictable plot turns.  I got to a point, while reading the story, where I didn't want to put it down because I had to know what was coming next.  A mind-bender of a book.  I won't soon forget it.

Disclaimer:
The book was provided free for review by WaterBrook Press.

A Wish for Christmas by Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer

Another great installment in the Cape Light series.  I always enjoy coming back to these characters again and again.  I could personally live without the constant Christmas theme that has found its way into the titles and stories of the last several books in the series, but I do still enjoy the stories and the characters.  Cape Light has a way of drawing you back over and over, despite yourself.  If you enjoy small-town life, you should really check out Cape Light and its plethora of unique and interesting characters.  In A Wish for Christmas, the story focuses on David Sawyer, son of Jack Sawyer, and the ever-stalwart Lillian Warwick.  You may find some unexpected treasures in the story as well with Grace Hegman and her father, Digger.  The stories in this installment were enjoyable and worth the read.  Check it out and prepare for the next book - due out in November.  Enjoy!!!

Fields of Grace by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Fields of Grace broke my heart many times, but I found the book to be one that compelled me to want to keep reading anyway.  I thought that Lillian and her family were hardworking, God-loving people who weren't afraid to get their hands dirty to accomplish something great.  Having chosen to leave their home in Russia, Lillian, her husband, her three sons, and her husband's foster brother venture to America.  The decision is made out of a desire to not have Henrik (who will turn 18 soon) be forced to serve in the military.  Being Mennonite, they don't agree with fighting, etc.  What ensues after they leave Russia is not an easy ride across the ocean and a path paved with all the dreams that were hoped for.  Instead, many sad events occur which cause many changes in the characters in Sawyer's story.  I found the story to be heavy in many places, but overall it was an interesting historical novel.  The year is 1872 when the book opens; a year we can only dream about and try to imagine.  Sawyer paints a picture of the journey of this family in that time that is very different than many historical novels I have read.  She is an enjoyable read, if you like something a little more substantial.

Disclaimer:
This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Wildflowers by Robin Jones Gunn

Wow!  I've read this book before and enjoyed it then, but I think I understood and appreciated it more now that I'm married.  This book follows Gena.  She has been married over 20 years and has 3 daughters with her husband.  They are in a committed marriage, but for Gena things have changed over time.  She has lost the love she once had for her husband and the desire to commune with God as well.  During this story, Gena comes to realize many things about herself, God, and her husband.  Only having been married almost 5 1/2 years myself, I can't relate entirely to Gena's struggles.  However, I certainly can relate to some parts of her story, and I think many readers will be able to do the same.  I found the story to be very real in many respects and found some eye-opening truths in the pages as well.  The only sadness for me in reading Wildflowers is that it's the last book in Gunn's Glenbrooke Series.  When you've been a fan of Christy Miller, Glenbrooke, and Sierra Jensen as long as I have, sometimes it can be difficult to close that last book and have to let the characters go until the next time.  Other than that, I really enjoyed rereading this wonderful story of refreshing, reawakening, and rebirth.  It is a great story about marriage, friendship, and family.  I hope you'll take the time to read Wildflowers.  To do it right, I recommend starting with book one in The Glenbrooke Series - Secrets - and then continuing on through the series until you reach the end - Wildflowers, book eight.

A Mile in My Flip-Flops by Melody Carlson

Gretchen's story has so many parts that I think many of us can relate to.  She has been dealing with her broken engagement for 18 months now and has isolated herself during that time from others.  She has come to the point where only 2 things comfort her: HGTV and Ben and Jerry's.  How many of us can relate to at least one of those items?  For me, it's definitely all about the ice cream.  Mmmmmm!  Gretchen has come up with a great plan to get out of her tiny one-bedroom apartment that she shares with her half chocolate Lab dog - she's going to flip a house.  Having no real experience other than what she's "gathered" from observing her dad over the last 20 plus years, she believes she's ready and fully aware of what is involved in flipping a house.  But, like many of us, Gretchen is unaware of what is really involved in a venture of this nature.  She is a woman with a plan to make changes in her life, but even she isn't prepared for all of the changes God has in store for her.  It's a great story that anyone who's done any remodeling can appreciate and the rest of us can certainly enjoy for other reasons.  So follow Gretchen as she moves onto a new pathway in life and finds out that life is rewarding beyond her dreams!

That Certain Spark by Cathy Marie Hake

Wow!  I just finished That Certain Spark, and I enjoyed it.  I found the story of Dr. Taylor Bestman interesting and enthralling and well worth the read.  However, sometimes I wanted to knock a few heads together because some of the characters in the book were rather small-minded in their thinking about a female physician.  I certainly enjoy returning to Gooding, Texas, which each new character Hake brings there.  The women who lead the stories are friendly, smart, caring, fierce, and well-written.  Taylor is no exception.  As the twin sister of a veternarian brother, Taylor has come to Gooding to fulfill a four-year contract as the town doctor.  She is well-trained, full of wisdom, ingenious, compassionate, and prepared.  She has a calling on her life in the field of medicine and takes her oath very seriously.  There are those in Gooding, particularly men, who would have her ridden out of town on a rail simply because she's a woman and can have no actual ability as a doctor.  The story has some twists and turns, some romance, some tears, some cheers, and a message of redemption.  I highly recommend this latest Gooding novel.

Disclaimer:
This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Whirlwind by Cathy Marie Hake

Cathy Marie Hake has done it again!  She has written another great story for her readers to dive into.  The story of Millie and her journey from England to America and what happens is definitely a page-turner.  I so enjoyed all the wonderful characteristics that Millie has - she's caring, loyal, intelligent, creative, generous, sweet, kind, and so much more.  A grand leading lady for this story of sadness and joy and ups and downs.  She definitely fits in with the rest of the Gooding ladies.  I really feel like I'm a part of the story when I read a Hake book.  She spins such marvelous tales.  I question her choosing to do certain things with some of her characters, but I know she has her reasons and so that's usually enough for me to be "okay" with her choices.  A quality, enjoyable tale from an author who has definitely made a name for herself in this business.  If you enjoy a good historical fiction novel, then you must read the entire Only in Gooding! Series.  This is book number three in the series.  Begin your journey with Fancy Pants, I know you'll be glad that you did!!

Words Unspoken by Elizabeth Musser

This book was powerful emotionally.  That is my first thought.  The story of Lissa and so many other characters was a steady stream of emotions, learning, growing, gaining understanding, and so much more.  Follow Lissa as she deals with the emotions of grief and loss due to the death of her mother.  Follow her as she comes back from the brink of blackness.  Follow the story of Ted Draker as he learns that the way to caring for your family can only be paved with stones of truth and honesty.  Follow Silvano Rossi as he learns that the best way to help his family is to do it legitimately and without hurting others and stepping on them to climb the "ladder."  Follow Katy Lynn as she finds forgiveness for others and a new way to live life even through dramatic changes.  Follow Janelle as she journeys through grief so real it still hurts after 2 years.  These characters are dealing with real heart issues and life issues and through it all we start to piece together how they are all ultimately connected to each other.  It's a powerful story of the words we listen to and choose to follow in our lives - good or bad.  I am typically not a fan of this kind of story, but I found it quite good and definitely worth the time.  Hope you enjoy as well!


Disclaimer:
This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.