An Amish Love

An Amish Love is a collection of three Amish stories that are sure to become favorites with fans of Amish reading. Seems like I have been reading alot of Amish stories lately, and I must say this book is one of my favorite so far.Each of the stories is a unique story of Amish love. The stories are written by some of the best names in Amish fiction. Beth Wiseman writes Healing Hearts, Kelly Long contribution is A Marriage Of The Heart, and Kathleen Fuller writes What The Heart Sees, which was probably my favorite story out of the three. Ellie is in an accident that causes her to loose her sight, when her boyfriend leaves her she wonders if she will ever have love and a home of her own, because no one will want a blind wife. When a young man returns to the community and meets Ellie, she soon realizes that their may be a chance for her after all. A very touching story.
If you have never read these authors reading the short stories in this novel will give you a real glimpse of their writing style. I also enjoyed the Amish recipes, and the reading group guide included in this book.

Even though I was provided a copy of this book for review by Booksneeze it in no way alters my opinion of this book.

An Amish Christmas December In Lancaster County

An Amish Christmas a previously released title by Thomas Nelson, but the twist is they have included a bonus story in this printing. I found this book a quick easy read, that really packs alot in to each of the stories. The stories do move along at a quick pace because they are novellas, but I felt like each of the stories were satisfying, actually making me want to seek out these authors to see what else they have written.
Another thing that I liked about this book was the fact that while the stories intertwine with each other, they can easily be read as stand alone stories.There is a glossary in the front of the book to help with the Amish words used, there is also a reading group guide provided with this book. I think the recipes included in the back were really an added bonus. Because of the nice binding and the fact that it is a hard back I believe it would make a great Christmas gift.

Inspirational fiction stories that Amish readers will love, these stories will uplift you, and would a great read anytime of the year!

Even though I was provided a copy of this book for review from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program it doesn't alter my opinion of this book.

Start! The Bible For New Believers-review

I was anxious to review this Bible. I wondered what it could have that would make it special for new believers. Well what I found right off the bat at the beginning of the book was a section titled The Plan of Salvation, which even includes a prayer for people who are unsure that they are saved. The next section was called secrets to spiritual success which gives tips and pointers on how to become a successful christian.

One thing that stood out for me was the fact that at the opening of each book of the Bible we are given an introduction explaining what the chapter will be about, which I found enlightening.Additional features in this Bible are the titled grow ,know , live and learn messages peppered throughout this Bible, which helps you in your studies. I also found the topical index to articles and scriptures a handy way to navigate to issues that may be pertinent especially for a new christian that isn't really familiar with the Bible.

The only negative I have is the extremely small print that is used in this Bible. Otherwise I think this NKJV version edited by Greg Laurie would be a very handy tool for the person just starting their walk with Jesus.


Product Description from Amazon.com

A brand new life of faith begins when we place our trust in Jesus Christ. Start is the perfect Bible for new believers or believers who want to learn more about their faith. Ideal for introducing new believers to the Bible, Start focuses on basic discipleship with articles and devotions on subjects including prayer, Bible study, church involvement, sharing your faith, and discovering God's will. Core biblical themes are introduced at basic levels of theological sophistication and presented in very simple language.

Even though I was provided a review copy of this Bible from Booksneeze it in no way alters my opinion of this Bible.

A Suitor For Jenny by Margaret Brownley

A Suitor For Jenny is the second book in the Rocky Creek Historical Romance series written by Margaret Brownley.

This book takes place in Rocky Creek Texas, shortly after the civil war. Jenny made a promise to her dad on is deathbed that she would take care of her two younger sisters, Brenda and Mary Lou, and she thinks the best thing would be to find them husbands. So armed with The Complete Authoritative Manual for Attracting and Procuring a Husband she and her sisters set off for Rocky Creek to find two husbands, Jenny doesn't want a husband she feels that past mistakes make her unworthy of love. When the men she meets don't meet the requirements of the manual will she come to realize that she needs to let God lead her, instead of doing it on her own?

While on her quest to meet husbands for her sisters she meets Marshal Rhett Armstrong, a man who has past issues as well, but when she starts having feelings for him, perhaps he can change her mind, and she will open herself up for true love!

This was the first time reading anything by this author and I must say boy she can really make you laugh. while romance isn't normally my thing to read, I actually enjoyed this book. So if you enjoy historical romance and are looking for a book that might tickle your funny bone then give this one a try. I don't think you will be disappointed!

Even though I was provided a copy of this book for review from Booksneeze it in no way influenced my opinion of this book!

Transforming Church in Rural America by Shannon O'Dell

Transforming Church in Rural America is a book with an interesting concept on how to grow rural churches so that they will be more productive, draw in more people, and most of all be able to afford to run and maintain their church buildings. I can really see how some of the ideas in the book might be useful, but I was so bothered by a few of the flippant points that were made that it really put me off of this book. The one comment that stuck out in my mind was when Mr. O'dell was speaking of the little brass plaques on the pews that he wanted to take out of the church. When he made the comment about the seven dollar clock having a memorial plaque it really bothered me. Someones family had donated the clock in someones honor and here he was criticizing the cost of the clock, and truthfully he speaks of money quite often in the book. Whether he is speaking of a ministers small salary, or wanting to add a bathroom to the church, its money. I have always attended an out in the sticks rural church, and the one thing that these churches have that is often lost when a church grows into a mega church is that individual attention you receive and the wonderful feeling of attending a church where everybody knows each other.

Where Hearts Are Free by Golden Keyes Parsons

Where Hearts Are Free is a historical fiction novel set in Pennsylvania in 1681.
Philippe and his family, who were members of French Royalty have come to The New World from France to escape the problems going on in their home country. While coming by ship they lose their money and two of the boys Philippe and Charles are forced to become indentured servants to pay for the families passage.
Charles becomes an indentured servant for a man who isn't nice and who is also making and smuggling guns.
Philippe is a bit luckier and becomes indentured to the Barringtons, who own a plantation and have one daughter Bridget.
Bridget becomes very close to Philippe and soon falls in love with him, when she tells Phillipe he tells her their is no way they can be together because she is Catholic and he is Protestant, she tells her parents and they quickly decide to let Philippe out of his contract and send him home.
Bridget's heart is broken, but her parents soon find her a better suitor or so they believe, but the secrets that Edward Moorehead are hiding are very dangerous, and soon Bridget feels trapped and prays to God to help her out of the mess.
This book was the third in a series but I had no problem following the characters. The book starts out strong but then soon looses its momentum about mid way. By the last of the book the story gets really interesting and I enjoyed the conclusion.

I was provided a copy of this book by Booksneeze in return for an honest review.

Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker

Immanuel's Veins was a book that I couldn't put down. I wasn't sure what to expect when I first started reading the book, but boy was I pleasantly surprised by the depth of this novel. At first I couldn't imagine why Thomas Nelson had published a book about vampires, because that is where my mind went with this story, but once it was revealed the lineage of the people I presumed to be vampires then the whole thing really clicked for me.
This book has christian theme, but more than that its about the lengths one would go to for true love. Its also about the age old story of good versus evil. If your a fan of vampires you will probably enjoy this book.
I was provided a copy of this book from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.

Out Live Your Life

Out Live Your Life By Max Lucado, will grab your attention and make you take pause to consider just what you can do to make a difference.
It doesn't take a rocket scientiest to realize the world is on precarious grounds. Heck in the United States alone people go to bed hungry every night, children are often disgarded easier than yesterdays garbage,the elderly often choose between needed medicine and food, but it doesn't have to be that way. It takes change, and thats something each and every one of us can do. Yep each of us, just your plain average Joe can do something to make a difference. You don't have to worry about what you don't have to give, instead just give what you can. Because often what seems not so great to us is in fact just what someone else might need.
Mr. Lucado's writitng style is very easy and he uses personal stories, scriptures and antcedotal wisdom to get his point across.
This is a book you wont be able to put down and you will keep thinking about long after the last page, its a compelling message that the world needs to hear and we all need to start practicing.

I was provided a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson's booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review.

Faithful by Kim Cash Tate

Faithful is written by a new to me author. I wasn't sure what to expect but I really was surprised. First the title had me fooled, its about being faithful to God, I thought it would have something to do with marriage.
The book kept surprising me, I thought it would wind up being chick-lit, but it was so much more than that. The author weaves a very believable story that is a christian fiction. With characters so real that you feel like your in the middle of the story, I could imagine women like these living in my neighborhood. I got a few laughs out of this story but also some times that were very emotional. A book that will hold your attention until the end.
I was provided a copy of this book for review from Booksneeze in return for an honest review.

The Boy Who Changed The World by Andy Andrews

Product Description


Did you know that what you do today can change the world forever?
The Boy Who Changed the World opens with a young Norman Borlaug playing in his family's cornfields with his sisters. One day, Norman would grow up and use his knowledge of agriculture to save the lives of two billion people. Two billion! Norman changed the world! Or was it Henry Wallace who changed the world? Or maybe it was George Washington Carver?


This engaging story reveals the incredible truth that everything we do matters! Based on The Butterfly Effect, Andy's timeless tale shows children that even the smallest of our actions can affect all of humanity. The book is beautifully illustrated and shares the stories of Nobel Laureate Norman Borlaug, Vice President Henry Wallace, Inventor George Washington Carver, and Farmer Moses Carver. Through the stories of each, a different butterfly will appear. The book will end with a flourish of butterflies and a charge to the child that they, too, can be the boy or girl who changes the world.



Review: The Boy Who Changed The World is my first time reading anything by Andy Andrews, and even though it was a children's book I found the message very inspirational and message we often forget. That everything we do matters, Andy explains it as the Butterfly Effect. It's like every time we do something it causes a ripple effect that causes something else to happen.

Mr. Andrews shows us how ordinary people grew up to make a difference in the world, but the neat thing is that if each person in the chain of the ripple hadn't accomplished what they did then history could have turned out differently.

This is a beautifully illustrated book that will capture a youngsters attention, and then the story will give them a great message that they do matter. I would recommend this book to small children who would be captivated by the pictures to the older child up to 10 who could grasp the little history lesson along with the inspirational message.

A great book that belongs in every library. I highly recommend it.



I was provided a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson's booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review.

Lee A Life Of Virtue By John Perry (review)

Lee A Life OF Virtue

Written By John Perry

Product Description
A powerful, compact biography of Robert E. Lee, focusing on how his intrinsic goodness shaped everything from his battle tactics to his treatment of his troops.
It's no surprise that Robert E. Lee graduated second in his class from West Point. His four years there were marked by exemplary conduct and nary a demerit. He went on to become one of the most successful generals of the Confederate army during the American Civil War, inspiring his troops with his unselfish character and devotion to duty. Lee's string of victories earned him praise on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. He was admired for his tactical success in battle, and even after surrendering to Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomatox court house, his example of conduct for thousands of ex-Confederates made him a legend. After the war, he assumed the presidency of Washington College and devoted the remainder of his life to setting an example of conduct. He remains one of the most distinguished military heroes of all time.

About the Author:

John Perry has appeared on C-SPAN Book TV, The Janet Parshall Show, The G. Gordon Liddy Show, and other syndicated broadcast shows. He has published biographies of Charles Colson, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, and Sgt. York.

My Review: I was very excited to get to read about Robert E. Lee. I am an avid history fan and wondered what this book might tell me about The Great General that I didn't already know.

It takes us back to the beginning when the first of the Lee family came to the new world. It also discloses to us that Lee was actually not fighting to preserve slavery for the south but instead that he was fighting to defend our Constitutional Freedoms.

It gives us an up close and personal look at the Generals life in a way that is easy to read and understand. If you have never read anything about Robert E. Lee then you would probably enjoy this book.

I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's booksneeze program in return for an honest review!

A Review of Resurrection in May

Book Description:
A strange and wondrous friendship ignites the fire of love in May Seymour's life.
May Seymour graduated from college with the world at her feet and no idea what to do with it. A mission trip to Rwanda brought her a sense of purpose in loving others. So when the genocide began she chose to remain in the village, which was subsequently slaughtered. Only May survived.
May journeyed to heal on the farm of Claudius Borne, a sweet, innocent old man who understood plants and animals far better than people.
Years later, having not stepped a foot off Claudius' farm, May learns an old college flame, now a death-row inmate, is refusing to appeal his sentence. Can she convince him to grab hold of life once again? Their surprising friendship turns the tables, for the prisoner, Eli Campbell, has a deeper faith from which to draw than she. Eli slowly begins to pull May from her cloistered existence. With the help of Eli, their tiny town, and ultimately a renewal of faith, May comes to life once again.

My Review: This is a book that I really haven't decided whether I like or not. It is a gripping tale of May Seymour.

When Claudius Borne finds May drunk along the road and takes he home a story unfolds of how Claudius allows May-May to stay on his farm so that she can learn to come to grips with the things that happened in her life.

May had graduated college and went on a mission trip to Rwanda. While staying in Rwanda the villiage is wiped out by Genocide the only survivor being May. So when she finally makes it back to the states she is physically and emotionally scarred. So when she winds up on Claudius' farm she slowly learns to heal.

Some parts of this book are very hard to read such as the slaughter in Rwanda and I really didn't expect to read about the killing of chickens and turkeys in the story.

Even with the above mentioned issues this is a very well written book and the lessons I took away from it were well worth reading this book. The main themes of this book are forgiveness, grace and love. Although Claudius and May were strangers they form a family bond of sorts which is a great reminder that families aren't a group we are born into but rather they are the people who love us and take care of us when we need them most. I rate this book a solid 4.5.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Booksneeze for an honest review.

Sarah's Garden

Product Description
When Sarah realizes that she has fallen in love with an Englisch doctor, she must choose between loving a man and losing her family.
Deep in the heart of Pennsylvania's Allegheny Mountains, shy Sarah King is happiest when working in her vibrant Amish kitchen garden, but new family responsibilities lead her into the confusing world of the Englisch.
Sarah finds her life turned around when she encounters the community's new Englisch veterinarian, Grant Williams. His blue-gold eyes and his obvious concern for her people attract her immediately. Sarah seeks solace and direction from the Lord as she creates a quilt pattern which details her struggle between two worlds.
The Lord is guiding Sarah to follow His will, but will she listen?
My Review: I have never read an amish based story before but decided to give this book a try and was surprised that I liked it.
Sarah is a very shy Amish woman who would rather be working in her garden but when quite by accident she meets Grant Williams, she is drawn to him immediatly. Even though he is English and she is Amish can there love find a way for them to be together? Will Sarah follow her heart or stick to her traditional Amish ways?
If you have never read an Amish inspirational give this one a try. I think you just might like it.

Dad's Bible The Father's Plan notes by Robert Wolgemuth

The Bible is a New Century Version and I must admit this is the first time I have read a NCV Bible and I really like it. With this translation the words seem to flow together so well which makes this bible read almost like a novel...

This Bible starts out with a brief synopsis at the beginning of each book of the bible. It gives the reader a glimpse as to what each book you are about to read is about. Once you start reading you will find other useful info peppered thru out each book, such as little snippets called insights which delve a little deeper into a particular subject. This Bible also has a question and answer section in the back that covers a lot of questions a dad might be ask by his children. Lastly this bible even has a topical index as well as a section called Gods Word on which is scriptures for whatever issue you may be dealing with. The author does an excellent job of giving insight into how fathers can use this Bible in their daily spiritual walk as well as some great topics that would be useful if you are trying to raise your children in a Godly way. I think this Bible would be a great reference book for any man who is a father or who is thinking about becoming a father. This book was provided free by Thomas Nelson Publishing but in no way did it alter my opinion of this book.

hi

Welcome anyone that might happen by this new blog. Here you will find general day to day stuff and anything I happen to hit on. Thanks for popping in