A Story of Healing and Restoration

              "The Dance"
 By Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley 

This is a book that will touch every reader and hopefully change them for the better. I know it did, for me.  From the beginning of the first chapter, it is a story that compels you to keep it in your hands until you have finished it.

  After twenty seven years of marriage, Marilyn is very tired and discouraged. She has attempted to play the role of the perfect wife, with little success. Her husband, Jim , is a businessman , very successful in his field. He has supplied her every need- a beautiful home, financial freedom to be a stay at home mom and a collection of wordly goods! Marilyn has everything that she wants... EXCEPT for what is most important- LOVE!!

Marilyn has tried for years to be a faithful wife and companion , however feels a total failure. She finally tires of trying to find happiness and decides to take some time for herself.  Maybe if she sorts out her life, some content will be gained. So, she leaves her husband, without warning, gets a job and another place to live, making every attempt to "find herself" and attain some degree of contentment. Part of this involves her taking dance lessons. That is one thing Marilyn has always wanted to do, much to Jim's dismay.

The story , as well as describing Marilyn's life, shows us a man in agony. Jim is shocked to find his house empty, his life turned upside down. What did he do wrong??? It takes an unlikely ally to begin a campaign to win Marilyn back. What he doesn't realize , is that this will also affect everyone around him, starting with himself.

I found this book to be a very powerful and emotional story that kept me up long after bedtime. The power of God and His ability to provide us with restoration and renewal of our faith shines throughout the story.

The characters are realistic and full of character. I could easily identify with the feelings they were experiencing. The lows and the highs were all there and are felt by the reader.  This is a roller coaster of a story, with a typical family experiencing a crisis none of us desires.  The important part is how they find their way back to a healthy relationship, centred on God. The impact on others is not to be taken lightly. It is a fact of life that what we do DOES affect our family.  

Definitely, a five star book!  It is definitely worth the read!

     
  "Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group". 

A Book With a Truly Emotional Journey!

 

 "Hidden in the Heart"
  By Catherine West               
                                                                                               
  ABOUT THE BOOK:
Everything Claire wants seems to be beyond her reach…
After losing her mother to cancer and suffering a miscarriage soon after, Claire Ferguson numbs the pain with alcohol and pills, and wonders if her own life is worth living.
Adopted at birth, Claire is convinced she has some unknown genetic flaw that may have been the cause of her miscarriage. She must find a way to deal with the guilt she harbors. But exoneration will come with a price. With her marriage in trouble and her father refusing to answer any questions about her adoption, Claire begins the search for her birth mother. For the first time in her life, she really wants to know where she came from. But what if the woman who gave her life doesn’t want to be found?
Hidden in the Heart has been nominated for a 2013 Grace Award and is on the long list for an INSPY award.


My Thoughts:  I must admit, adoption is near and dear to my heart as my husband and I are adoptive parents. The joy we experienced twenty three years ago, receiving that exciting, unbelievable call that we had been chosen to have in our home, a beautiful baby girl was one which has never been matched!  The journey of searching for a birth mother is nothing strange to us- in fact we embrace the thought and hope that one day , our daughter decides to go on this adventure.

  The author tells the story of a young woman's search for her birth mother beautifully. The depth of the emotion is so heartrending. This is truly an emotional journey, one filled with loss, hope, and also a promise for the future. The main character is so realistic in her feelings and roller coaster ride into the past, that I felt that I was accompanying her in her journey. Her suffering and loss caused me to cry! Claire struggles with her faith as she travels down a long lonely road of discovery. The characters that Catharine has so well developed, are complete with flaws, as we all are.  They have to deal with the every day problems of making mistakes, experiencing heartbreak and pain. Easy to identify with, they become part of you. 

I could not put this book down. It is a compelling story that those of us who have been touched by adoption can feel and identify with. It is  a story of forgiveness . The road is tough but God can deal with this journey . It succeeded in giving me a very thorough understanding of the feelings of an adoptee. Catherine West helps us examine how our failures shape our futures and how a marriage CAN survive, but, only with God's help. 

A Five Star Book!! 
 This should be a "must read" for all persons who have experienced adoption   in their family.

 

 


 About the Author: Catherine West is an award-winning author writing inspirational stories of hope and healing from her island home in Bermuda. Educated in Bermuda, England and Canada, Catherine holds a degree in English from the University of Toronto. Her first novel, Yesterday's Tomorrow, released in 2011, her second, Hidden in the Heart, in September, 2012. When she's not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or tending to her roses and orchids. She and her husband have two college-aged children. Catherine is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America, and is represented by Rachelle Gardner of Books & Such Literary. Catherine loves to connect with her readers and can be reached at Catherine@catherinejwest.com

 Purchase a copy here

This ebook was provided by Litfuse, in exchange for an honest and fair review. 


 Catherine West is celebrating with the Hidden in the Heart Kindle Fire Giveaway! Enter today.

One winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle Fire
• A copy of Hidden in the Heart and Yesterday's Tomorrow by Catherine West

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 21st. Winner will be announced on 4/23/13 at Catherine's blog.

Falling in Love!!

          "Unrivaled"                                     
 
                By Siri Mitchell                                                                     

Synopsis: 
Lucy Kendall returns from a tour of the Continent, her luggage filled with the latest fashions and a mind fired by inspiration. After tasting Europe’s best confections, she’s sure she’ll come up with a recipe that will save her father’s struggling candy business and reverse their fortunes. But she soon discovers that their biggest competitor, the cheat who swindled her father out of his prize recipe, has now hired a promotions manager–a cocky, handsome out-of-towner who gets under Lucy’s skin.
Charlie Clarke’s new role at Standard Manufacturing is the chance of a lifetime. He can put some rough times behind him and reconnect with the father he’s never known. The one thing he never counted on, however, was tenacious Lucy Kendall. She’s making his work life miserable…and making herself impossible for him to forget.

Unrivaled by Siri Mitchell
Bethany House / 2013

Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

About the Author:
    
 Siri Mitchell is the author of nearly a dozen novels, among them the critically acclaimed Christy Award finalists "Chateau of Echoes" and "The Cubicle Next Door". A graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in business, she has worked in many different levels of government. As military spouse, she has lived in places as varied as Tokyo and Paris. Siri currently lives in the DC-metro area. 

My Thoughts on this Book:
This book held my attention from start to finish. In fact, I did not want to put it down to eat, sleep OR do housework!! This genre is generally not my favorite, however Siri is changing my likes!! Her book completely won me over.

  I fell in love with the main characters, Lucy and Charlie , immediately.  Siri described them with such rich language skills and so thoroughly , that I felt that I knew them. For me to enjoy a book, I must be able to connect with the characters and this was the case here. 
Lucy and Charlie came from such different backgrounds, however managed to find a common ground- their basic interests were the same as was their code of ethic . Both romance and conflict make the plot one that is full of twists and turns. Siri manages to use the element of surprise in a special twist of the plot! The ending was a total surprise! Now, THAT makes a great book!

I truly enjoyed the way in which the story was told- from both Charlie's  and Lucy's point of view. So, although , it is written in the first person, the chapters vary with two viewpoints of the same event. A very different way to write, one which did not appeal to me at first, but it did not take me long to adapt and love the two characters' similarities and differences. 

The total process of making candy from scratch was described  with rich detail. It became a real learning experience for me. The steps to creating delicious treats was unknown to me before reading this book and I am sure, to many others. Siri used colorful descriptions of the variety of sweets being made, so that it was very informative, making your mouth water! Although the book was light and entertaining, the author managed to throw in some more complex thoughts- a woman taking a man's job in industry- unheard of at that time! and those who are wealthy truly marrying for love!! NOT just to make MORE money!

This is a book well worth the read. Although not a complex plot, it provides the reader with information and a light romance in which to be interested.  
A FIVE star book!! LOVED IT! 

 

.Book was provided by Litfuse , in exchange for an honest and fair review.


Join a Facebook Party to discuss this wonderful novel with the author and friends! Win some prizes along the way!

One "swooning" winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Vintage Candy Kit
• Unrivaled by Siri Mitchell (one for you and one for a friend!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 17th. Winner will be announced at the "Unrivaled" Author Chat Facebook Party on 4/18. Connect with Siri, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like yourself. There will also be gift certificates, books, vintage candy kits, and more!

So grab your copy of Unrivaled and join Siri on the evening of the April 18th for a chance to connect with Siri and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

                             

"A Courageous Story of Giving Life and Renewing Hope"

"Taylor's Gift"
                By Todd and Tara Storch
                     with Jennifer Schuchmann

This is one of the most thought provoking and touching books that I have read in a very long time. It is one that causes you to review your own life and appreciate all you have. 

Synopsis: A loving family is on spring vacation, having a great adventure skiing. It is the last run of the first day on the slopes for Todd and Tara and their three children. But suddenly, a tragedy occurs. Their daughter, Taylor's life is cut short in a skiing accident. The poor family is overcome with grief losing their beautiful young daughter. While they are still in shock, they are asked the difficult question that no parents think that they will ever hear, "Would you be willing to donate your daughter's organs?"

The answer they gave, would change their lives forever, as well as bring them immeasurable comfort in years to come, even in their darkest moments.  It also saves the lives of five desperately ill people who are waiting for a heart, liver, cornea, pancreas and a  kidney. What is important in life? To give to others! What is important in death- the SAME thing!  

This is a heart wrenching true story of a family's struggle to make the right decision. It brings hope to all those who experience a tragedy in their lives.  There can be life after a loss, although we think otherwise.  This Christian family finds strength in God  even in the darkest moment. Hope  reigns!

My Thoughts:  My emotions while reading this wonderful book were on a rollercoaster .  I cried with these Godly parents as they went through the most feared of all disasters, losing a child. I rejoiced as they found hope and peace in their decision to donate Taylor's organs, as she would have wanted to do, so that she could live on in the lives of others. Even in death, Taylor made a difference to people who needed a touch of healing. An extremely well written book, accurately and realistically describing a tragedy that any of us could experience. 
The book succeeds in making us think that there can be hope found in any family situation. It also makes us very aware of the importance of organ donation and what it means to others. 
A FANTASTIC book!! One, that all of us NEEDS to read- thought provoking and hopeful!

    "Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

An "On the edge of your seat" kind of book!!!

 

 

 

            "Poison"

By Jordyn Redwood

If you love to read books that are frightening, hold your attention far into the night , and won't let you release those pages until you have finished, this book is definitely for you!! What a thriller!! I felt fear, confusion, wonder and amazement when reading this work of art. You are compelled to read to the last page to find out the answers to the many questions that are raised in your mind during this story.

The story begins with the main character, Keelyn Blake, whose stepfather took her family hostage, raving about an "imaginary" creature, Lucent, a being who forced him to commit horrible acts.  Some of the family survived while others did not. Even Lee Watson, one of FBI's best detectives, could not overcome this deadly man's delusions or end the standoff in a peaceful manner. 

Now, Lucent is appearing in a new way- and he is NOT an illusion. He has kidnapped Keelyn's niece and her half sister, Raven. Raven  is no where to be found. Others begin dying in very strange circumstances, all having been involved in the standoff many years ago. Will Keelyn's relationship with Lee survive the unimaginable horrors that occur????

This book is the second in the  Bloodline Trilogy, following "Proof".  

All I can say is WOW!!!! This book held my complete attention from beginning to end.  I must say, many of the events gave me chills and my gasps could be heard aloud, as I read the many surprise terrifying situations in this book. 

The characters were realistic and well described. I felt every fear that Keelyn experienced and wanted to release her from her pain of the past. 

The plot keeps you totally engaged and you need to read this book , when you can stay up all night to finish it. The tension builds throughout. The ending is a complete surprise, totally unpredictable. 

Definitely , a five star book to those of us who like to FEEL the book!! I can hardly wait for Book 3 in this series!!

Book provided by Kregal Publications, in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

                              

Getting to REALLY Know the Author, Jerry Eicher!!

"My Amish Childhood"
                             By Jerry Eicher

 I have read many, many books by Jerry Eicher and I must say that I love all of his Amish fiction! Also in my possession, is the cookbook, that he and his wife composed together. Yes, I did know that he was from an Amish tradition but little did I know of all the experiences this gentleman has had. No wonder he writes with such accurate and expansive knowledge of the Amish beliefs and Plain People! 
In this memoir, Jerry recounts many of his favorite childhood memories growing up Amish. Born in Alymer, Ontario, Canada, Jerry grew up in a large Amish family, dedicated to their faiths and beliefs.
In this book, Jerry recounts many of his favorite childhood memories while growing up Amish. He gives us a very clear picture of the daily life of a unique Amish community, simple and trusting, however often, taken advantage of.
At a young age, this man was transplanted with his family to a strange land, with a different language and customs, - the Honduras.  In this book, we read of his adventures , challenges, joys and fears in this  faraway country.  
Also a new discovery, at least to me, is that Jerry struggled as a stutterer. He tells of his many unhappy experiences due to this condition. You feel his pain and agony as he recounts stories of frustration. His conversion to Christ and departure from the Amish faith is also included.
This is truly an informative, wonderful memoire, told in many stories. I must admit, I thought I knew a lot about the Amish until I read this book, packed full of information. I also gained insight into Jerry and what made him the author, he is today!! No wonder, he writes with such understanding of the Plain People.
A  great book that you should not miss reading!! 

Book was provided by Harvest House and the author, in exchange for an fair and honest review.