The Healing Quilt by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Amish couple Emma and Lamar Yoder Miller, have bought a small winter home in Sarasota Florida in the Pinecraft community. Having taught a quilting class back in Indiana, Emma wants to teach at their winter home in Pinecraft to have something creative to do with her time. Lamar agrees to help her with the class and finding students begins. 

In this book about hope, friendship and love, various characters come together to learn how to make a quilted wall hanging given by Emma Yoder with help from her husband Lamar. Each student comes to the once per week class. Some came there freely and eager to learn. One student named Erika is in a wheelchair and really doesn't want to be there. Jennifer, a pregnant woman whose husband has been unsuccessfully searching for a new job. Someone who wishes to be anonymous, pays for Jennifer's classes and more as the story develops. Mike, a charter boat owner, Kim a waitress and Noreen and BJ round out the class. 

Emma and Lamar welcome their students into their home and it's interesting and heartwarming to learn more about each character and how talking with each other their problems become lessened and they learn more about each other and themselves.

The Healing Quilt is a lovely story to enjoy. There is much to be learned about the generosity of Emma, Lamar and each of the students who all benefit by listening and helping each other. 

The Healing Quilt was provided to me by Shiloh Run Press and Handlebar free of charge with no expectation for a positive review.

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Gunpowder Tea by Margaret Brownley Miranda Hunt is a detective with the Pinkerton Detective Agency. She is going to go undercover as Annie Beckman and answer an ad for becoming the heiress for the Last Chance Ranch. There are train robberies occuring in the Arizona territory in the 1890's and it is feared that the phantom train robber may be hiding on the Last Chance Ranch property. The train that is bringing Miranda to her new assignment is held up by the robber and his associates. One of the robbers, possibly the Phantom robber, steals her dead father's watch. Not a great start for Miranda or is it? The man who robbed her had blue eyes and he was seated but then there he was with his face half hidden and taking her father's watch and putting it in his own pocket, not with the other stolen items. When the train arrives at it's destination, the authorities catch the three thieves, and some of the passengers call for a hanging, but the bad guys are hauled off to jail. Miranda heads off to her job interview but more unforseen problems begin after she arrives.

This was such a very enjoyable book to read. I've never read any of Margaret Brownley's othestories, but I do want to get them all and read them. My meager review gives you just a taste of the story. The book will grab you and pull you into the days of cowboys and the lives of the strong women who all made a place for themselves way back in the 1890's. 

This book was provided to me to read and review by Litfuse Publicity.

The Letters by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Letters is a story that you will wish you could keep reading beyond the end of  the book. The story follows Rose Schrock after her husband dies and she has moved in with her mother-in-law. She needs to repay the debts that her husband has left. Rose comes up with the plan to convert the basement into an inn.  The Inn is a success and we meet new characters who each add their own personalities to the story.  Galen is the next door neighbor who might just be a love interest for Rose. They just need a little encouragement and nudges from others to take the steps needed to open their hearts to the other. The Letters has many other stories within the main story and they all add to the fullness of another great book from Suzanne Woods Fisher. I highly recommend this book.

I received this book free of charge from Litfuse to read and review.

The Quarryman's Bride

The Quarryman's bride by author Tracie Peterson tells the story of love between two people who have been seperated by circumstances beyond their control. Emmalyne Knox and Tavin MacLachlan have always loved each other and planned to be married. Family obligations and a very strict father kept Emmalyne at home with her mother instead of with Tavin and building their own family. Years go by and then Emmalyne and Tavin meet once again. Will they finally marry and will their families respect their wishes? Nothing in life is ever that easy, but the problems that we face make us stronger.

This story is a really great read and you won't be sorry to buy this book and enjoy every word for yourself.

This book was provided to me by Bethany House  Publishers.

Time and Again by Deborah Heal

Time and Again by author Deborah Heal is the story of Abby and Merrideth. Merri is a teen aged girl with parental And personal problems. Her parents are divorced, with her mother working hard to take care of herself and Merri. Abby is a college aged young woman who takes on the job as a tutor, as part of a service project to help Merri who's school work has deteriorated along with her family structure. At first things are difficult between the teacher and her student, but things begin to get very interesting with inter-actions with various neighbors and a very odd computer program on the household computer.
This book was written for young adults but readers of all ages will really like the story and the many real characters from the 1800's in the USA and Illinois in particular. Abraham Lincoln is one character that everyone will enjoy reading about. The underground railroad is brought to life with the telling of some stories from several characters whose stories were similar to real experiences from real people who took their lives and freedom into their own hands and into the hands of the people who helped them to go north.

I recommend this book to everyone, it really has something for everyone.

Love in Disguise by Carol Cox

Ellie Moore has spent many years as the wardrobe mistress, make-up artist and general assistant to an actress who is about to leave for Europe. Ellie loses her job and must look for another one quickly as she hasn't much money to survive on, in wintry Chicago. As she tries to find new employment, she overhears two men discussing a job that needs another woman to pretend to be the niece of a widowed woman in the warmer area of Arizona. It sounds like the perfect opportunity for Ellie, so she follows the two men into what turns out to be the Pinkerton Detective Agency. After a few more encounters with the agency, she convinces them to hire her for the job to be a detective investigating the theft of silver shipments.
This book was fun to read. The woman that Ellie was supposed to play the niece to, throws a very big wrench into the works which leads to a real challenge for Ellie. Tell the truth to the Pinkertons and lose her new found job or pretend that all is fine and play more than one role. Although at times I had some doubts about things like the make-up and costuming all done by Ellie alone, it just didn't deter me from really enjoying this book very much. I do recommend this book to everyone.
This book was provided to me by Bethany House Publishers to read and review.

Deadly Image by Tamelia Tumlin

Lexi Yates and her 3 year old daughter Anna, have started a new life in the town of Gator Bayou in Louisiana. Lexi's husband died in a car crash and she just wants a new place to live away from all of the familiar scenes of her formerly happy life with her deceased husband and the sad ending to what should have been a long and wonderful life together. Little Anna disappears one day and the local police seem to believe that Lexi has done something to her young daughter. Even the FBI seem to distrust her words and actions. With all the stress of waiting for word about her daughter, dealing with the police, the FBI and family and neighbors has taken a toll on Lexi. She suffers from stress and recurring nightmares that seem to be more frequent and scary. She must find Anna and put an end to the bad feelings and fear of what is happening to Anna.

This book has several mysteries contributing to the story. Memories from the past, what her parents know but aren't saying contribute to a lot of questions but make the story more interesting. Although I was able to guess at what was haunting Lexi fairly early on, reading the story to verify what I thought was a good read. I do recommend this book to anyone who likes a mystery and some romance too.

This book was provided to me to read and review by the author. 

For more information about Tamelia Tumlin and her books please visit her website at http://www.tameliatumlin.com/ 

Tamelia will be giving away two $10.00 Amazon gift cards. So don't forget to visit her website and read about how to enter to win.

http://www.tameliatumlin.com/

Lucy Come Home 

by Dave and Neta Jackson

Lucy Come Home follows Lucinda Tucker in the year 1943. She is traveling with her family who are migrant farm workers moving from one farm to the next in the hope of finding work. The story also follows  "Bo" Bodene who works with the traveling circus along with his father James "Jeb" Bodene. Lucinda and Bo meet when the migrant farm workers and the circus both come to Lapeer, Michigan. The two young people get to know each other and really do like each other. As their story progresses, something really horrible happens which forces them to leave everything they know and care about and seek a safer place to live.

Historical fiction helps to give everyone a chance to learn about times from our past and to have a better understanding of various factual occurences. The dust bowl, WW2, migrant farm workers are some of the actual things told to us with fictional characters. The lives and times that many of our ancesters lived through are amazing to read about. Lucy Come Home has Lucinda/Cindy/Lucy Tucker as part of a migrant picking family. Bo Bodeen works with a traveling circus. They meet when they both come to Lapeer, Michigan to begin working. Although these two characters are fictional, their story could be anyone's who lived during those hard times in our history. I really enjoyed reading this book, but at first I was a bit surprised by the time leap from the '40's to the more recent times in our history. Who was this 80 year old woman telling about the Manna House where homeless women lived. Then I realized that this was Cindy who now called herself Lucy. The book was written by Dave Jackson and his wife Neta, and it appeared that one wrote the old parts and the other wrote the more modern parts. There seemed to be some differences in how Cindy and Lucy spoke, even though they were the same person. In spite of that slight problem, I did enjoy the book and the story it told. There is an underlying faith in God that kept popping up for Lucy, that sustained her even when she wasn't so strongly aware of the presence of God in her life.

This book was provided to me to read and review by Litfuse Publicity.

http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/13501702/lucycomehome

The Messenger by Siri Mitchell

I am a big fan of both Siri Mitchell's writing and of historical fiction. The Messenger is a very well written story set in Philadelphia while occupied by British forces during the Revolutionary War. The two main characters who narrate the story are Hannah Sunderland a Quaker or Friend whose brother is being held by the British in a jail on Walnut Street. She wants to see her brother and help him but she is forbidden from taking sides or going to the jail. Conditions in the jail are squalid, cold and illness is prevalent. Jeremiah Jones has a grudge against the British for what happened to him while he fought during the French and Indian Wars. Hannah and Jeremiah become an unlikely pair of spies and helpers to assist our young nation struggling against the British. This story will draw you into the lives of the various characters and social expectations of that time. Hannah in particular has a real struggle with her family and with her faith as she does what she thinks is right for herself and for her brother. I do recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. You can't go wrong with this interesting book. 

The Messenger by Siri Mitchell was provided to me by Bethany House to read and review.

Sixty Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings

 It is 1878 in Texas as the story begins. Rosa has lost her husband and father- in-law in a mining accident in Mexico. She goes with her mother-in-law to the family property in Texas to begin a new life. Rosa is quite exotic in appearance compared to the other ladies in Texas. Rosa wears bright lively colors that reflect her own Mexican heritage and also her optimistic joy about life. Blending in with the people of the town where she will live will not be easy, but Rosa isn't too concerned about what others will think or say about her. She has work to do and just wants to help her mother-in-law run the ranch and raise the money needed to pay off the delinquent taxes that must be paid in order to keep their property. When she meets the cousin of her late husband, there may be an attraction between the two of them but they both are carrying secrets that may keep them apart forever. 

This story grabbed and held my interest from beginning to end. I love historical fiction and reading about Rosa and her new family was a lovely story in spite of the troubles that she and her family had to face. Some of the characters in this story will anger you, but it's necessary to know about how things were at this time for women of any heritage. How Rosa faces the problems that confront her will renew your faith in God and how He is always an inspiration and a force living within all good people.

This book was provided to me to read and review by Bethany House Publishers.

The Rose of Winslow Street by Elizabeth Camden

It is the summer of 1879 in the town of Colden, Massachusetts. Libby Sawyer and her inventor father are spending the summer at her brother's home on St. Catherine's Island. Libby loves this time away from the main house in Colden, because she is able to enjoy some free time painting whatever she wants to paint, rather then working as her father's artist sketching his intricate designs of his inventions. She also enjoys spending time with her young niece and the other children on the island. At home her father will not allow children into the house for fear of them causing damage to his property. This summer though word comes that a family of Romanians has moved into their home and claiming it is their's. The Sawyers will have to return to Colden to try and removed these people from their home.

There are many interesting characters within this book and each adds so much to the story. Lady Mirela is a bit of a mystery to the Sawyers. Is she really from nobility and just how is she related to Michael the head of the Dobrescu family ensconced in the Sawyer home. What sorrow is Lady Mirela carrying with her. Libby is also carrying around a secret shame. Why does Michael tear out all the beautiful rose bushes on the Sawyer property and also from the neighbor's property? Will the Dobrescu's be able to prove that they are the rightful heirs to the property that Professor Sawyer bought so many years ago? This book is really a good read with quite a few twists and turns to hold your interest throughout the book.

 This book was provided to me to read and review by Bethany House Publishers.

The Shadow of Your Smile by Susan May Warren

It's another cold, snowy day in Deep Haven Minnesota. Noelle and Eli Hueston have been married for twenty-five years, but things have deteriorated in their marriage to the point where they are getting ready to divorce each other, just as soon as their youngest son graduates from high school. Eli has been spending his time away from Noelle as much as possible out on the lake in his fishing shack and when he is home he sleeps in his den. Noelle is involved in an accident on a very slippery road and hits her head on the road, knocking her out. When she wakes up in the hospital, she finds that she has no memory of her married life and doesn't even recognize her children or husband.

The Shadow of Your Smile is a book about faith, love, trust and rediscovery. Noelle and her husband are not the only people who are dealing with the pain of loss and finding their own place in the world, there are her daughter's best friend, their sons and another woman who has lost her husband. We learn about each of their lives and the path to discovering a new life for themselves as they learn to accept the loss of a loved one from their lives. This book will grab you and keep you reading until the very end. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good read and an inspiring story of personal tragedy and strength.

This book was provided to me for free, to read and review by Litfuse.

Blame it on the Mistletoe by Joyce Magnin

Blame it on the Mistletoe is certainly a delightful story that just about everyone will enjoy reading. The little Pennsylvania town of Bright's Pond is the home of many diverse personalities each with a story to tell. Griselda Sparrow is a middle-aged lady who is just beginning to discover her wings. Agnes is Griselda's sister who has suffered from being morbidly obese and was moved into the Greebrier Nursing Home by way of a forklift. Griselda is taking flying lessons from Cliff Cardwell and she is questioning herself about her feelings for Cliff and also for her long time boyfriend Zeb Sewickey. There is quite a lot of strange things going on at the nursing home with elderly residents riding tricycles and smooching in the crooked gazebo that was built by a slightly odd little fellow named Leon Fontaine, who some people are beginning to suspect may be the source of a fountain of youth.

This book was provided to me to read and review by the publisher Abingdon Press and Net Galley.

When the Heart Cries by Cindy Woodsmall

When the Heart Cries by Cindy Woodsmall

Hannah Lapp is an Amish teenager who has fallen in love with a Mennonite man. Hannah's father would never permit a marriage for Hannah to a Mennonite so she keeps the engagement to Paul Waddell a secret from her family. Unfortunately, a horrific thing happens to Hannah while walking down a deserted road and this leads to so many more complications in her life. How she comes to deal with the many things that happen to her makes a very interesting read that for some may lead to many more questions about the Amish faith and how they take care of their own problems.

I think that this book by Cindy Woodsmall will bring questions and perhaps resentment to some people who read it. This is understandable, but perhaps it is better to step back and realize that the Amish community is not like the English world (English meaning those outside the Amish community). The book is very touching but at times harsh, but this is life in this community. The story will continue into other books, so there will be some resolution for Hannah.

I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Read Chapter 1 of The Christmas Singing

http://www.scribd.com/doc/69473983/The-Christmas-Singing-Chapter-1-Excerpt

A lovely Christmas Gift Idea

The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall

Mattie's sweetheart for many years Gideon broke off their engagement without an explanation of what was really happening to him. After three years of seperation, circumstances throw them back together again, but will Mattie be able to find it in her heart to listen to Gideon and try to learn the truth of what happened three years ago. Much has happened to both of these people, but does ether of them know the other person all that well?

I really enjoyed reading this book. Cindy Woodsmall has such a lovely way of writing about some of the ordinary day to day things that occur in an Amish community. This is a lovely, easy to read story about love, forgiveness and trust. It also has a lot of references about cakes since Mattie has her own bakery and makes cakes for many special occasions. Just reading about the cakes makes me hungry. At the end of the book are a few recipes for some cakes that sound wonderful. I just might make a cake or two soon.

This book was provided to me to read and review by WaterBrook Multnomah’s blogging for books.

The Road Trip by Jo Lynn Crozier

Imagine this, a woman named Liz wakes up too early in the morning with a terrible headache. Liz makes her way to the kitchen to get a hot cup of coffee. Heading back to the dining room to enjoy her cup of coffee and quietly visit with the Lord Liz hears a voice telling her that "My plan for you is ministry". Liz gulps and asks if He knows who He is talking to, as if the Lord would ever make a mistake. The Lord tells Liz that she is going to take a road trip with Him and Liz is excited to join the Lord on this trip. Liz is about to find out that the trip will be in a motorcycle sidecar with God as the driver.

The trips along the way take us to fantastic places that will open your eyes to so many of our basic beliefs and how God has given us so much and what He expects from us in return. These trips introduce us to angels, people, animals and even insects who will give you occasional humerous looks into the Lord's plan for all of us.

The Road Trip is a book that I recommend to everyone. The story is fun to read and inspires us to appreciate the fact that God is everywhere and always there for us.

This book was provided to me to read and review by Emanuel House Publishing.

An Amish Wedding by Kelly Long, Kathleen Fuller and Beth Wiseman

An Amish Wedding by Kelly Long, Kathleen Fuller and Beth Wiseman

Three Amish wedding stories in one book. The three stories follow the background and planning for the weddings of three couples. The first story is A Perfect Secret by Kelly Long and follows Rose and Luke as they deal with "secrets" from their past that effect their present lives. The second story is A Perfect Match by Kathleen Fuller and tells us about Naomi and Zeke as they deal with Zeke's fear of his own marriage becoming like his parent's and Naomi who must deal with a man from her past who abandoned her. The third story, A Perfect Plan by Beth Wiseman is about Priscilla and Chester. Chester is concerned that Priscilla is too concerned about having everything being perfect for the wedding of her dreams.

 

I really enjoyed reading the three stories. Each story intertwined with the others since the setting for the stories is in the same place with the same families but written by different authors. It was interesting to read about the various traditions within the Amish community, especially as to weddings. This really is a very sweet book and I will read it again. I highly recommend it to anyone intersted in the Amish and especially weddings.

 

This book was provided to me to read and review by BookSneeze.com.

Sunrise on the Battery

Mary Lynn and Jackson Scoville have worked hard to achieve what they consider to be success. They have a beautiful home and life in Charleston, South Carolina with their three daughters. Their girls go to the best private schools and they all shop at high end stores and wear designer label clothing. Soon all of their hopes to belong to the best social circles will be open to them, but is that what they really want or need? Mary Lynn has found herself being drawn to Christ and wants Jackson and their girls to also become more aware and welcoming to God in their lives also.

At first I was drawn into the book but kept waiting for something to show me that these people were like any of the people that I know. I could not identify with parents that controlled every minute of their children't lives and by doing so, took away a lot of the choices that most teenagers are able to make for themselves. They seemed to be so tightly controlled, especially by their father, that there was no room for mistakes, a valuable learning experience for most people. I found it odd that a car was given to the oldest daughter who was only 15 and she was told not to get a ticket or the car would be taken back to the dealership. Of course she promptly got a ticket and the car was taken away. Personally, I would never have given a car to a teen that young and expected anything good to come of it. Every child needs rules, but they also need limits in what they should be able to do with new freedoms. The father was so utterly controlling, that he really didn't seem normal in any way. Then when he accepts God into his life, he goes completely in the other direction and does a really convincing portayal of a person who has completely lost it. Although at times I could almost see a hint of what this story was trying to tell us, it just annoyed me too much reading about all the nuttiness of Jackson and Mary Lynn to a lesser degree. Since there is a message contained in all the antics of this family, this book may be something that some people would enjoy reading.

This book was provided to me to read and review by Thomas Nelson via Booksneeze.com