Review: Goodbye to Yesterday

Book Description

Release date: February 5, 2013 | Series: The Discovery - A Lancaster County Saga (Book 1)

Join Meredith and Luke Stoltzfus, an Amish couple who are faced with the greatest challenge of their young lives. Financial struggles. Arguments. A suspected pregnancy. A last-minute trip to Middlebury, Indiana. A deadly encounter at a Philadelphia bus station. Will their love and faith be enough to bring them back together again, against all odds?  Book 1 of the 6-part serial novel--The Discovery-A Lancaster County Saga.

*Source

My Review:

Filled with the classic newly-wed struggles, I found this novella to be both enjoyable to read and easy to relate to. 

The characters are very realistic and engaging right from the start. 

The story moves very fast and has more twists in the plot than I would expect in such a short book. It is also very emotionally engaging and it gripped me from the very beginning.

I read the story in one afternoon and I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out.

* I must mention that I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Handlebar.

Book Review: Waiting for Morning/Brides of Last Chance Ranch

Book Description

The Brides of Last Chance Ranch, #3

Molly Hatfield comes to Arizona Territory seeking stability and security. But living in Cactus Patch provides her with more than she ever dreamed.

There is nothing Molly wouldn’t do for her teenaged brother, Donny. Blaming herself for the accident that left him wheelchair bound, Molly has dedicated her life to his care. But in 1896, gainful employment for a woman is hard to come by. So when Molly learns that an eccentric rancher in Cactus Patch, Arizona, is looking for an heiress—someone to take over management of the ranch in exchange for future ownership—she jumps at the chance to provide a real home for her brother.

However, Molly didn’t bank on meeting Dr. Caleb Fairbanks, the town’s charming unmarried doctor. Caleb has a way with Molly that makes her nervous. But it’s how he is with her brother that really alarms her. Caleb sees past the wheelchair and genuinely likes Donny, but Molly fears he’s putting unrealistic ideas into her brother’s head. Falling in love with Caleb would threaten everything she’s worked for, even her brother’s future happiness. But it could be the very reason God brought her to Last Chance Ranch.

My Review:

This book is an adventure right from the first chapter. Beginning with a devastating fire that, the now-former dance hall girl sets out with her crippled brother to find a new life at Last Chance Ranch.

Always feeling like an outcast, Molly struggles to fit in at the Ranch, while wrestling with "fitting in" to the body of Christ as well. 

I loved the quirky and colorful characters in this book. They were funny yet sincere and always very lively. Having read the previous books in this serious, I loved the look back into the lives of the other characters, yet it would be fine to read this book as a stand-alone too.

What I most appreciated about this book was the strong message of faith - something that is often missing from Christian fiction today.

*I must mention I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the BookSneeze program.

Book Review: Firefly Island

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2013

Lisa Wingate Is a Top Name in Inspirational Contemporary Romance

At thirty-four, congressional staffer Mallory Hale is about to embark on an adventure completely off the map. After a whirlwind romance, she is hopelessly in love with two men--fortunately, they're related. Daniel Everson and his little boy, Nick, are a package deal, and Mallory suddenly can't imagine her future without them.

Mallory couldn't be more shocked when Daniel asks her to marry him, move to Texas, and form a family with him and motherless Nick. The idea is both thrilling and terrifying.

Mallory takes a leap of faith and begins a sweet, mishap-filled journey into ranch living, Moses Lake society, and a marriage that at times reminds her of the mail-order-bride stories. But despite the wild adventure of her new life, she discovers secrets and questions beneath her rosy new life. Can she find answers on Firefly Island, a little chunk of property just off the lakeshore, where mysterious lights glisten at night?

My Review:

I loved this trip back to Moses Lake. From the light romance, to the funny yet true-to-life hiccups of the newlywed days this book was the perfect blend of humor and mystery.

I really enjoyed following the story of Mallory, as she goes through this season of life where she is stretched and molded while discovering who she truly is.

I also enjoyed the glimpse back into the lives of the other Moses Lake residents that long time readers of Wingate will know - like Len and Birdie, Doc, and the others.

Overall, this was everything I have come to expect from Wingate.

* I must mention that I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Bethany House.

Preview it:

Firefly Island by Bethany House Publishers

Review: The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen

 

 

Description

Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father when his boarding school fails, accompanies him to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But soon after they arrive and begin teaching the two younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte at night, only to find the music room empty? And who begins sneaking into her bedchamber, leaving behind strange mementoes?   The baronet's older sons, Phillip and Henry Weston, wrestle with problems--and secrets--of their own. They both remember the studious Miss Smallwood from their days at her father's academy. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her....   When suspicious acts escalate, can Emma figure out which brother to blame and which to trust with her heart?
  Filled with page-turning suspense, The Tutor's Daughter takes readers to the windswept Cornwall coast--a place infamous for shipwrecks and superstitions--where danger lurks, faith is tested, and romance awaits. 

My Review:

I very much enjoyed this book. As always, Klassen has done an outstanding job bringing the story alive through vivid description, historically accurate detail, and interesting characters. With a thread of mystery winding through the plot, the reader is drawn through book. Unexpected twists in the plot keep it interesting - I could hardly put it down.

What I most liked was the look inside the 19th century English Manor House. From the tensions between the servants and the tutor, and the in between nature of his position (not family, but higher than a servant) to the look at the life of the maids, I found the detail quite interesting. 

I also enjoyed the glimpse of Cornwall history found in this book.

The only thing I didn't like was the  "Jane Eyre" part of the plot. I won't give any spoilers here, but it just seemed to me that one of the major plot lines was quite similar to Bronte's work.

Overall, I found it do be a good piece of historical fiction.

*I must mention that I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for a honest opinion.

Preview It:

 

The Tutors Daughter by Bethany House Publishers

Review: Silent Night by Colleen Coble

Book Description

As Christmas day nears, Bree and her faithful search-and-rescue dog Samson follow the trail of a troubling mystery into the snowy forests of Rock Harbor.
Bree Matthews is preparing for Christmas guests, but her heart is reeling from the recent and tender loss of her unborn child. Her sister-in-law, Lauri, suddenly turns up on the doorstep of the lighthouse home Bree shares with her husband, Kade, in Rock Harbor. Secretive and withdrawn, Lauri seems curiously intent on discovering what happened to a parachuter who disappeared in the North Woods along Lake Superior's icy shore.
As Bree and Samson, her search-and-rescue dog, plunge into the search, Bree wonders if Lauri may know more than she’s admitted about the parachuter. And then the clues lead them to the trail of a young woman whose family fears the worst about her disappearance.
Will the search on this snowy, silent night lead Bree and Samson to more than clues about the missing girl? And will Bree’s prayer for a baby ever be answered?

My Review:

I had high hopes for this book. Colleen Coble is one of my favorite author and so far I have enjoyed the Rock Harbor series.

This book had a lot of potential. The look back into the lives of characters I've come to know in previous books was nice. The plot started out looking like it would be the complex and multi-faceted plots I have come to expect from Coble. And, in some ways she delivered. The plot moved very quickly and there were a very subplots that were interesting. There were unexpected twists in the plot that kept it interesting. But, in the end, I was just a little disappointed.

First, it really lacked the depth that I had expected. As I said, it started out looking like a complex plot, but it ended up seeming like there were just a few details thrown in to keep the smaller storylines going.Perhaps some of it was just a bit too ambitious for a novella.

And then, the storyline seemed very rushed. While I tend to expect a fast moving story from Coble, this one seemed very rushed.  It seemed like the foundation for a great book was there, but it needed more time and development to really make the story come alive. When I reached the end I couldn't help but think "That was it?" It just seemed too short, even for a novella.

Overall, it is a good book, but it's less than what I have come to expect from Coble.

*I must mention I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Christmas at Apple Ridge by Cindy Woodsmall

Book Description:

Three-in-One Collection: The Sound of Sleigh Bells, The Christmas Singing, NEW! The Dawn of Christmas

Experience the holidays with the Plain folk of Apple Ridge, Pennsylvania, in these touching novellas centered around love, romance, heartache, and restoration from best-selling author Cindy Woodsmall.

The Sound of Sleigh Bells
Beth Hertzler is unable to let go of a past tragedy, but when she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds. Determined that her niece meet the gifted artist, her aunt tracks him down, but it’s not that simple – will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love?
 
The Christmas Singing
Mattie thought her childhood sweetheart adored her until he abruptly ended their engagement on Christmas Eve. Brokenhearted, Mattie moves away and pursues her longtime dream of becoming a cake decorator, and even finds a new beau. But when Mattie is forced to return home three years later, will learning the truth behind Gideon’s rejection restore her Christmas joy – or open the door to even deeper heartbreak?
 
The Dawn of Christmas
Sadie enjoys her freedom away from home and her mission trips to Peru, but after four years, her Old Order Amish family insists it’s time to come home and settle down. Levi, a bachelor who distrusts women after a family heartbreak, also has no desire for romance. To keep their families from meddling in their lives, Sadie and Levi devise a plan—but soon discover that the walls around their hearts are breaking down. Can they let go of their prejudices, learn to trust each other, and embrace a future together? 
*Source

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My Review:

I enjoyed this collection of Amish Christmas stories.

The Sound of Sleigh Bells was probably my favorite of the three. The characters, especially Beth and Jonah, really touched my heart. While both struggle to overcome tragedies of their past, they form an unlikely though deep bond. I thought the author really brought this story to life with her colorful descriptions and also showed a deep understanding of the heart of an artist. The themes of hope and forgiveness come through clearly.

I previously reviewed The Christmas Singing and will share my thoughts again here:

This short, easy to read story is OK, but not something I would highly recommend.

Though Mattie is funny, quirky, and a bit scatterbrained, the rest of the characters are quite dull and lack depth. 

The storyline is very predictable – you basically know what is going to happen right at the beginning of the book. 

I was also disappointed that there really wasn’t much of a Christmas theme to the story at all. 

Overall, it’s a quick and easy short novella with a bit of romance and humor, but anything spectacular.

 The Dawn of Christmas is the new story in this series. I found it to be entertaining and enjoyable to read, though a bit predictable. Sadie and Levi are very likable characters and the author does a good job of making the reader feel what they are feeling. The story moves along swiftly and draws the reader with it. 

What I most liked about this third story was the way the author ties in the other two and gives you a peak into their continuing stories.

***

Taken as a whole, I like the collection. None of them are very heavy on the Christmas theme, which makes it nice reading for any time of year. Some of the themes from the first story follow all the way through the other two, making them very cohesive and best read together rather than as separate stories.

If you enjoy Amish fiction, I think you will enjoy this collection.

*I must mention that I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

Review: The Truth About the Lordship of Christ

Book Description

"Becoming a Christian means being sick of your sin, longing for forgiveness and rescue from present evil and future hell, and affirming your commitment to the Lordship of Christ to the point where you are willing to forsake everything. I've said it before and I'll say it again: it isn't just holding up your hand or walking down an aisle and saying, 'I love Jesus.'" ―John MacArthur
Best-selling author and pastor John MacArthur brings his deep knowledge of Scripture to this foundational subject. Step by step, he walks through the impact of God's sovereignty, our submission, the characteristics of holy living, and our assurance of salvation. MacArthur makes the case that the Christian life is full and rich―but not easy. It requires sacrifice, perseverance, and transformation in the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ. And it is absolutely worth the cost.
The Truth About Series For decades, MacArthur has encouraged countless Christians to develop a deeper understanding of the Bible and a greater respect for God's truth. In The Truth About Series, he now gathers his landmark teachings about core aspects of the Christian faith in one place. These powerful books are designed to give readers a focused experience that centers on God's character and how it applies to their daily walk of faith.

My Review

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. This book was everything I have come to expect from John MacArthur. Pastor MacArthur opens God's Word to clearly teach the powerful and sobering truths about the Lordship of Christ in a manner that is easy to follow and understand.
It was a little different than I expected, yet in a good way. In The Gospel According to the Apostles MacArthur clearly laid out the case against No-Lordship salvation, and I expected that this would would be along the same lines, but it really wasn't - and that's OK. This book focused on the truths, clearly expounded and applied to the lives of believers. It is a powerful yet short book that will really help you understand what lordship really means.
If you are wondering about the no-lordship salvation issue, I would recommend The Gospel According to the Apostles in addition to this book.
*I must mention that I received a complimentary review copy of this book from BookSneeze.