Friday, July 26, 2013

Adoring Addie | Book Review

Adoring Addie is the newest book from author Leslie Gould.  This is also the second book in her Courtships of Lancaster County. 

Set in modern day, Amish country, Addie Cramer is your typical Amish teenager.  She is looking forward to courting and getting married some day.  Her parents have high hopes that she will be marrying Phillip Eicher since he is dependable and hard working.  The only problem is that Addie wants to marry for love and not just dependability. 

While she is fond of Phillip she is falling for Jonathan Mosier.   There is one problem with Jonathan….He is a Mosier and her family HATES the Mosiers.   There has been a long standing feud between the Cramers and the Mosiers.  When her parents find out that she has feelings for Jonathan they are hoping it’s just a laps in her judgement but, that would not be the case.

Addie and Jonathan want to bring their families together so that they can be together but, will that ever happen and can the elders in the families forgive and forget about what started the feud in the first place?

This book is a modern tale of Romeo and Juliet set in an Amish community.   While the storyline and plot are mostly like the tale of Rome and Juliet, the book is speckled throughout with Amish terms and traditions.  Ms. Gould gives you a peak inside of the Amish community, which is quiet different than most of society, and tells a story of longing, hardship, and the hope for love.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.*

Friday, July 19, 2013

A Big Year for Lily | Book Review

Our world has so much going on and even our children can have a very hectic life.  A Big Year for Lily by Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher show children how there are others in this world who’s lives are much simpler and just as fulfilling. 

This book is the third in The Adventures of Lily Lapp series and I wish I could say that I have read the first two but, I have not had that opportunity.  Since this was the first one for me I found it a little boring and was kind of lost since I didn’t know the character from the previous books but, this book is written for the age range of 8-12 years old so I am sure that most in that range would love this book.

Lily is a little girl who lives in the Amish community.  She loves all the same things as other little girls, she just has a more simple life.  She spends her days playing with the other girls in her community, she has special occasions just like others, and she has to deal with “bullies” just like any other kid.  Oh…and she LOVES to explore.  Sometimes its not the best thing for her to do.

The story line is great and shows kids that there are others who live amazing lives without all the convinces that most are awarded but, this book jumped around to much for me.  One chapter might be set in summer time and the next would jump forward a few months.  Other than that I think that all little kids could benefit from reading this book. 

Available July 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.*

Dolled Up to Die | Book Review

Murder, mystery and dolls???  These three things combine in Lorena McCourtney’s new book Dolled Up to Die. 

Cate Kinkaid is a assistant private investigator who works for her uncle’s private investigations company.  She loves her job but, is looking for more action and she gets exactly what she wants when she gets a call from Mrs Kieferson one night about a shooting with three people shot.  Little did she know that, although they were dolls that got shot, this call would lead her in a new direction of her life. 

While investigating the shooting of the dolls the police show up and find that there is truly a murder at Mrs. Kieferson’s home and it happens to be her ex-husband.  It seemed like he shot himself but, after further digging, it looks like he was murdered.

Of course the police thing that Mrs. Kieferson was the killer but, could it have been his new wife or how about the new mother-in-law?  Or was it someone else entirely?  But, for an private investigation office that doesn’t do murder investigations, Cate won’t allow this one to slip through her fingers.  She must find out the truth.

This book is filled with mystery, romance and even a little bit of humor and it keeps you on your toes the hole time.  It’s well written and flows nicely.  This is a great book for your summer reading list if you still have some room and time to read it.  Otherwise, make sure you have it on your winter reading list. 

“Available July 15, 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.  All opinions are my own.*

Thursday, July 11, 2013

NIV Leadership Bible | Book Review

Zondervan Publishing House has recently released a new Bible entitled The Leadership Bible (NIV.)  

The translation of this Bible is the widely accepted NIV translation which makes this amazingly easy to read and understand but, the truly wonderful differences are what is included in this Bible to make it worthy of the title The Leadership Bible.

Throughout the Bible there are great extras that will help you increase your leadership quality, if you already had some, and if you didn't,
well you will after studying your way through.

There are 52 weekly studies throughout and they are broken down into 5 days.  Each day has a different assigned reading and they correspond to a way in which you can relate it to God, yourself and how to incorporate the skills and teaching you have learned.  They are extensive studies and will take you all around the Bible in just one week of study.  Your readings are just in one chapter.

Each one of the 52 studies is related to a certain character trait of a great leader or skills that might help you become a better leader.  You can do the studies in order or you can pick a topic that interest you and start there.  (I love this feature myself.)

Also included in the Bible are small tidbits of information that can be helpful.  The two different versions of these are Insights and Profiles.  My favorite is the profiles.  They are usually about a half a page and are more information about some of the great men, and women, of the Bible that have shown leadership skills that Zondervan wanted to point out.  They have even included a profile on Satan himself.  This actually shocked me but, when you read the profile it makes sense why it’s included.

This Bible would make a wonderful gift for a future leader that you may know, your husband or son that want to take their leadership role in their family seriously, and even the women in your life that are in leadership positions since there are more and more of them emerging every day.  No matter who is reading this Bible, they will defiantly learn how to be a better leader and how to implement God’s word towards leading others.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.  All opinions are my own.*

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Angels By My Side | Book Review

I have always had a fascination with angels since I was a little girl.

I recently had the opportunity to read Angels By My Side by Betty Malz and was greatly enthralled.  Ms. Malz talks us on a journey that will teach us everything we need to know or might wonder about when it comes to angels.  I know that I had a lot of questions that were answered after reading this book.  Questions such as…will I know if an angel has been sent to help me?  Or…do all angels do the same job?  All of which were answered.

This book is filled with scriptural references, as to where we can find stories, of how angels have helped men and women throughout biblical times to show them that God really does care about their prayers and can see when they are going through a hard time.  Ms. Malz has, also, let us explore bits of her life by showing us glimpses of where angels have come to help her.

Angels can do just about anything they want if we need it.  They can intercede on our behalf, offer us protection, rescue us from times that we are in need and protect us when necessary.  There are many stories included in the book of when people have actually had angels do one of these things for them.

It’s amazing to see angels at work and warms my heart to know that there have probably been times when angels have been at work for me and I didn't even know it.  This is such an inspirational book and just reinforced how I already felt about angels.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review. *

Rising Above Death and Moving Forward

It's really hard to make it through life sometimes.

I know that we all have to deal with death at some point but, there are times that are worse than others.  Like the death of one of your parents or children.

I recently lost my mother to a long, hard, well fought battle with a list of illnesses.  It has been a hard time in my life but, knowing my mother and how she approached life, I know that she would not have wanted me to sit around and feel sorry for myself or her.  I mean, why would I need to feel sorry for her?  She is fully healed and living her life now with our wonderful Father and His glorious son.

In the aftermath of her death and remembering her for who she truly was, before all the illness, I have been inspired to create an online (and hopefully more) ministry.

So...in the upcoming months I will be debuting a whole new ministry that I hope can encourage women to live better lives.  Lives worthy of our King.  While also showing them ways to teach their children to follow His ways.

(My mother loved teaching kids.)

With this all said.  I am rising above all the sadness and depression that death can bring and creating a ministry in honor of someone who meant so much to me.

Stay Tuned!!!!!!

Photo Credit

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Small Town Girl | Book Review

Small Town Girl by Ann H. Gabhart is another story of boy meets girl.  Set during the pre-WWII era Kate Merrit and Jay Tanner meet while both being in the wedding of Kate’s sister.  Little did Tanner know but, Kate was actually in love with her sisters fiancĂ©. 

Everyone in Rosey Corner assumed that Kate and Carl Noland (towny in love with Kate) would be the next to get married after her sister.  Kate has other plans though and not even Jay can try to change them.  At least, not until Pearl Harbor happens. 

I am including the publishers summary at the end of this review.  I am doing so because I couldn’t get into this book.  I tried really hard to like this book but, it was your typical boy meets girl, girl rejects boy until something major happens. 

While the writing style of Ms. Gabhart is very simple and easy to read, she gets caught up in the thoughts of her characters.  In this book there was so much going on in the characters heads that I felt their inner thoughts actually took away from the story line instead of helping it.  It was overwhelming reading everything that they were thinking.  Most of which was unnecessary. 

This might be a good book for someone to sit in a hammock and read but, it was too slow and distracting for me.  I do look forward to reading anything else that Ms. Gabhart writes in hopes of finding one of her stories engaging and entertaining.

How long can two people stand on the brink of love without plunging in headfirst?
In the autumn of 1941, rumors of war whisper through Rosey Corner. The town practically vibrates with apprehension, as if it is holding its breath. But for Kate Merritt, it seems life is letting out a prolonged sigh. As Kate watches her sister marry the man Kate has loved since she was fifteen, her heart is silently breaking. And even the attentions of Jay Tanner, the handsome best man, can't draw her interest.

Then suddenly, Pearl Harbor changes everything and Kate finds herself drawn to Jay in surprising ways. Could she truly be in love with him? And if he enlists, will she ever see him again?

In her gentle and textured style, Ann H. Gabhart tells a timeless story of love, sacrifice, and longing that will grip your heart and stir your spirit. Fans of Gabhart's Angel Sister will love seeing Kate Merritt all grown-up, as well as other characters they have come to love.  

*Publishers Summary*
 *I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.*

  Available July 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.