Dancing with Fireflies by Denise Hunter

BOOK SUMMARY:

Jade returns home to Chapel Springs after years of protecting her fragile heart. Then along comes Daniel, making her long to dance again.

Creative and complicated, Jade McKinley felt like a weed in a rose garden growing up in Chapel Springs. When she left, she thought she'd never look back. But now, pregnant, alone, and broke, she has no other choice but to return.

The mayor of Chapel Springs, Daniel Dawson, has been an honorary member of the McKinley family for years. While his own home life was almost non-existent, Daniel fit right into the boisterous McKinley family. He's loved Jade for years, but she always saw him as a big brother. Now that she's back, his feelings are stronger than ever.

As Jade attempts to settle in, nothing feels right. God seems far away, she's hiding secrets from her family, and she's strangely attracted to the man who's always called her "squirt." Finding her way home may prove more difficult than she imagined.

MY THOUGHTS:

As part of the Chapel Springs Romance series, this book is a wonderful addition. I love how Jade's reaction to her situation and the way she deals with it shows real emotion. This would not be an easy thing to live with and I was grateful it wasn't a "quick fix" but allowed the reader full exposure to her life and thoughts. 

Daniel's character was a lot of fun. He was such a part of the family, it was hard for Jade to see him in a different light. The reader is drawn into the relationship from the beginning and allowed access to both sides along the way. It was a fun reminder that God has a plan and it might be something we can't wrap our minds around until just the right moment.

Denise Hunter writes with such emotion and depth that you feel a part of the family as you read this book.

I highly recommend it and can't wait to read the next book!

Disclosure: I received a print copy in exchange for an honest review.

It Had to be You by Susan May Warren

BOOK SUMMARY:

Eden Christiansen never imagined her role as her younger brother Owen’s cheerleader would keep her on the sidelines of her own life. Sure, it feels good to be needed, but looking after the reckless NHL rookie leaves little time for Eden to focus on her own career. She dreamed of making a name for herself as a reporter, but is stuck writing obits—and starting to fear she doesn’t have the chops to land a major story. If only someone would step up to mentor Owen . . . but she knows better than to expect help from team veteran and bad-boy enforcer Jace Jacobsen.

Jace has built his career on the infamous reputation of his aggressive behavior—on and off the ice. Now at a crossroads about his future in hockey, that reputation has him trapped. And the guilt-trip he’s getting from Eden Christiansen isn’t making things any easier. But when Owen’s carelessness leads to a career-threatening injury and Eden stumbles upon a story that could be her big break, she and Jace are thrown together . . . and begin to wonder if they belong on the same team after all.

MY THOUGHTS:

I have loved every book of Susan May Warren's that I have loved. This book was no different. This is Book 2 of the Christiansen Family Series. I love how the author draws you in to the characters lives and you become part of the story.  Each character had a well thought out story and the interaction between them was real and down to earth. I loved watching Eden as she grew from being an over-protective sister to the realization that she deserved her own live also.

Watching her learn to trust Jace was so real. It can be hard to put away the past and hope for a better future, but we see a relationship of truth and forgiveness that everyone can relate to in some way.

The addition of the mystery of John Doe, and Jace's relationship with Sam and his daughter Maddy, only make the book more genuine in the way the characters dealt with tragedy and the unknown. While learning to rely on their faith, they progress through stages easily understood by others.

This is a book where you will love the journey just as much as the ending.  You don't want to miss this story! You will find the addition of a prequel and more included. There are some great discussion questions which would be great for a book club.

Disclosure: I received a print copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Distortion by Terri Blackstock

BOOK SUMMARY:

Juliet Cole’s life has been dismantled by the murder of her husband. She doesn’t know who—or what—to trust when everything she has believed to be true about her marriage has been a lie.

A husband’s lies can have deadly consequences.

When Juliet Cole’s husband of fifteen years is murdered before her eyes, she thinks it was a random shooting. Devastated and traumatized, she answers hours of questioning, then returns home to break the tragic news to her boys. But a threatening voicemail takes this from a random shooting to a planned, deliberate attack.

Juliet realizes that she and her children are in danger too, unless she meets the killers’ demands. But as she and her sisters untangle the clues, her husband’s dark secrets come to light. The more she learns, the more of her life is dismantled. Was her husband an innocent victim or a hardened criminal?

MY THOUGHTS:

Terri Blackstock  has done it again and created a wonderful story that will keep you on your toes!I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I couldn't wait for my down time of the day to read it! Often that time went far into the night:) It is full of mystery, suspense and family drama. The story is very well crafted, and will lead you on some amazing journeys. It has a great way of drawing the reader in and making them examine how they might react in situations when faced with the unexpected. The relationships between characters are well thought out and make them so real. The family drama between sisters and learning how to listen and trust are characteristics of any family. This will be a great addition to your book library!

Disclosure: I received a print copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

A Road Unknown by Barbara Cameron

  

BOOK SUMMARY:

Elizabeth is at a crossroad. She’s been given the chance to experience life outside of her community, away from the responsibility to care for her eight younger siblings, but Elizabeth Bontrager can’t decide which road to take. Goshen has its charms and pressures, but Paradise, Pennsylvania, sounds . . . well, like paradise. And it’s also home to her Englisch friend, Paula. Decision made. Elizabeth is Paradise bound.

But will the small town live up to its name? When Elizabeth meets Paula’s friend, Bruce, she quickly learns he wants more than a friendship. And the same might be true of Saul Miller, her new boss at the country story that sells Amish products to the Englisch community. As the two compete for her attention, Elizabeth is surprised to realize she misses her family and becomes even more uncertain about where she belongs. She has a choice to make: return home or embrace this new life and possibly a new love?

MY THOUGHTS:

This is Book 1 in the Amish Roads Series.  I encourage everyone to read it now! It is such a refreshing and heartwarming story of love, forgiveness and family. I love how Elizabeth's character grows in  her personal journey and how she comes to term with her choices and ability to move forward. Her character is very easy to relate to because everyone has choices they have to work through and be able to feel confident in them. 

Watching the relationship between Elizabeth and Paula grow despite their obvious differences was a testimony of how God can bring people in our lives at just the right moment. Paula helps Elizabeth start her new life, and is an encouragement to her.

Struggles come to the relationship with Saul and Elizabeth, but by working together and trusting each other we find an amazing story develop.

You can find the book for yourself on amazon.com. 

Learn more about the author here http://barbaracameron.com/

Disclosure: I received a print copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own and may differ from others.

Hopeful by Shelley Shepard Gray

Book Summary:

In the Amish town of Sugarcreek, love comes in many forms. But will it come at all for Miriam?

Miriam Zehr has worked at the Sugarcreek Inn longer than she cares to admit. The restaurant is a favorite of town residents as well as the many tourists who come to taste the famous Amish fare. Though she always tries to have a smile for every customer, deep down Miriam knows something’s missing: a family of her own.

Miriam has never felt particularly beautiful, especially because she’s always been a bit heavier than other girls her age. When Junior, the man she’s pined for all her life, suddenly seeks her out, she’s thrilled to be noticed . . . until she realizes he’s only asking her to help get the attention of Mary Kathryn Hershberger, her pretty friend.

If Miriam helps Junior court Mary Kathryn, she’ll get to spend a lot of time with him, but she might lose him in the process. Are these few stolen moments worth a lifetime of sacrifice? Is Miriam right to even hope for the life she dreams of?

My Thoughts:

This is Book 1 in the new Return to Sugarcreek series. I am already looking forward to Book 2. What I loved most about this book was the truths it told, and followed a story everyone can relate to in some way. 

What would you do if the person you loved wanted you to help them find love with someone else? Although not everyone will experience this, I'm sure most people can relate to "the one that got away".  It was encouraging to see how Miriam handled herself in this situation and watch how she put others ahead of herself. Now, I'm not sure I could have done what she did, but I admired the Christ like way she treated others. 

The relationships between Miriam and Junior and Mary Kathryn were shown in a deep and creative way. I felt drawn in to the story and became a part of it myself. The characters were brought to life in unique and creative ways which allow the reader to really relate to each one.

You can find this book for yourself at amazon.com. 

Disclosure: I received a print copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own and may differ from others

A Promise Kept By Robin Lee Hatcher

Book Description:

God was going to save her marriage, Allison was sure of it. But neither her husband nor her marriage had been saved.

What had become of His promise?

Tony Kavanagh had been Allison’s dream-come-true. They were in love within days, engaged within weeks, married and pregnant within a year. Her cup bubbled over with joy . . . but years later, that joy had been extinguished by unexpected trials.

The day Allison issued her husband an ultimatum, she thought it might save him. She never expected he would actually leave. She was certain God had promised to heal; it was clear that she'd misunderstood.

Now, living in the quiet mountain cabin she inherited from her single, self-reliant Great Aunt Emma, Allison must come to terms with her grief and figure out how to adapt to small town life. But when she finds a wedding dress and a collection of journals in Emma’s attic, a portrait of her aunt emerges that takes Allison completely by surprise: a portrait of a heartbroken woman surprisingly like herself.

As Allison reads the incredible story of Emma’s life in the 1920s and 1930s, she is forced to ask a difficult question: Does she really surrender every piece of her life to the Lord?

Drawing from her own heart-wrenching story of redemption, A Promise Kept is Robin Lee Hatcher’s emotionally charged thanksgiving to a God who answers prayers—in His own time and His own ways.

My Thoughts:

This was both an exciting book, and an emotional journey.  As we see Allison working to restore her relationship with God and learn to move on from her divorce, we also gain the insight of her past married life with Tony. I feel that by moving back and forth between present and past, we  can learn to relate to each character better knowing where they came from. Not all books that do this are able to pull it off in a natural way, but I was thrilled with how it works. 

I loved hearing Emma's life through the journals. I'm sure we all have times when we wish we knew what went on in our family past. I felt Emma's character was well written and was easy to connect with even though she had already passed on when the book begins.

This is a great story of forgiveness, love and second chances. You will not read this without emotion.

You can find this book on AMAZON. 

You can learn more about the author and her other amazing stories on her WEBSITE.

Disclosure: I received a free print copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am  part of the book sneeze review team. My reviews are my own opinion and may differ from others.

Andi Unexpected by Amanda Flower

Book Summary (from Amazon)

Twelve-year-old Andora 'Andi' Boggs and her fourteen-year-old sister Bethany move to rural Ohio to live with their eccentric twenty-something aunt after the sudden death of their parents. While dealing with her grief, Andi discovers proof of another Andora Boggs in the family tree whose existence was hidden in a Depression-era trunk in the attic. With help from her new friend and neighbor, Colin Carter, Andi is determined to find out who this first Andora was and what happened to her.

My Thoughts: 

This is a great teen mystery book! It's a quick and fun read with some great characters. It's interesting to watch the relationship of the sisters and how they are dealing with the lost of their parents. I love the different dynamics shown with all the characters. It's a touch of family relationships, with a mystery to solve mixed in. This book is part of a new series which I'm sure will become a hit among teens! You can find out more about this book, and others, on the authors website

This would make a great Christmas gift!

Disclosure: I received a print copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I received this book as a reviewer for www.booksneeze.com. My reviews are always honest and my own opinions.

To Know You by Shannon Ethridge **with a great giveaway!

Book Description courtesy of amazon.com

JuliaWhittaker’s rocky past yielded two daughters, both given up for adoption asinfants. Now she must find them to try to save her son.

Julia and Matt Whittaker’s son hasbeaten the odds for thirteen years only to have the odds—and his liver—crashprecipitously. The only hope for his survival is a “living liver” transplant,but the transplant list is long and Dillon’s time is short. His two olderhalf-sisters, born eighteen months apart to two different fathers, offer hisonly hope for survival.

But can Julia ask a youngwoman—someone she surrendered to strangers long ago and has never spokenwith—to make such a sacrifice to save a brother she’s never known? Can shemuster the courage to journey back into a shame-filled season of her life, faceher choices and their consequences, and find any hope of healing?

And what if she discovers in her owndaughters’ lives that a history of foolish choices threatens to repeat itself? Juliaknows she’s probably embarking on a fool’s errand—searching for the daughtersshe abandoned only now that she needs something from them. But love compelsJulia to take this journey. Can grace and forgiveness compel her daughters tojoin her?

In To Know You, ShannonEthridge and Kathryn Mackel explore how the past creates the present . . . andhow even the most shattered lives can be redeemed.

My Thoughts: 

I loved this story. As we follow the characters on the journey of love, forgiveness and ultimately sacrifice, we learn so much that can be applied to our lives. The depth of the storyline and the way the author takes us back in time to the beginning of the story is incredible. It is well written and will keep your attention the entire time. I felt completely a part of the story. I kept wondering who, if anyone, would be a match for Dillon. I kept changing my mind on what I thought would happen and was pleasantly surprised at the end. 

It was interesting to see how Julia related to her daughters in different ways and through different struggles. It portrayed a natural and realistic journey into their relationships.

We find out how importatnt life is, and how life-altering forgiveness and sacrifice are. There is no way you can read this book adn not be affected in some way.

This is a book for the must read list! I will be recommending it to everyone I know. The reading group discussion questions at the end are great, and would be fun conversation starters for a book club. 

You can find out more about the author at http://www.shannonethridge.com 

Shannon Ethridge is celebrating the release of  To Know You (co-written by Kathryn Mackel), by giving away a $100 gift certificate to Lisa Leonard Designs and a personal coaching session, as well as throwing a Facebook Author Chat Party!

One winner will receive:

• A $100 gift certificate to Lisa Leonard Designs
• To Know You by Shannon Ethridge

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 19th. Winner will be announced at the "To Know You" Facebook Author Chat Party on the 19th. Connect with Shannon and friends for an encouraging evening of fun chat, book club discussion, giveaways, and a chance to win a PERSONAL COACHING SESSION WITH SHANNON!

So grab your copy of To Know You and join Shannon on the evening of November 19th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN at the event page. Spread the word — tell your friends about the giveaway and party via FACEBOOK or TWITTER or Pinterest and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on 11/19!

Disclosure: I received a print copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own and may differ from others.

Just One More Thing Before You Leave Home by David Gudgel

Just One More Thing Before You Leave Home, is a practical way to find peace in the stressful and emotional time of getting your child ready to leave home. David Gudgel has provided us with 30 topics to cover with our children to prepare them for the future.

David Gudgel gives examples that have been personally tried by his family and gives encouragement of how it works and what to do and not do.

Each topic provides a section to read, scripture which goes along with the topic, and a section which gives help with how to approach the discussions and examples of what you can do.

I felt like the book had some great words and covered each topic well. As a mom of a teenager, I found myself reading it differently knowing my own child has just a few years left at home. It really brought home truth to me. I feel it will be of great encouragement to parents and teens.

Some of the topics it covers are relationships, finances, careers,spiritual truths and practical tips. All very important for the teen to learn. I think this book is great for helping families to take the time to sit down and really focus on what's happening and making time for teens to share what's in their hearts also. A great communication starter.

I encourage all parents of teens to read this book. Don't wait for the last moment, start as they get started in high school as a way to look at life at that time, and then read again as they get closer to send off. I feel the topics are that important. I can't wait to really sit down with my son and savoring the time with him as we go through this book.

You can purchase this book here at  amazon.com

Disclosure: I received a print copy of this book from in order to do my review. All my reviews are honest and are my own opinion.

A Christmas Gift for Rose by Tricia Goyer

For the Amish faith, joining the military is just not something that is done. When Jonathan, the man Rose loves, returns from serving as a Medic in World War II, she breaks things off. She is concerned with how the Bishop will react and is also not sure how she feels herself.
To Rose's complete surprise, the nightmares that have been disrupting her sleep lately turn out to have some truth to them. Rose finds out that she was born English. Her family was unable to provide properly for her and sent her to live with the Amish family that has been the family Rose has always loved.
How will this newfound knowledge affect her relationships with her Amish family, and Jonathan? Life is about to change in ways Rose never imagined.


MY THOUGHTS:

I'll start by saying I would give this book 5 out of 5 stars! I loved the idea of the story. What would happen if we discovered our lives were not what they should have been? It's hard to imagine, but how much more difficult would it be for it to have actually happened?
It's intriguing to discover how Rose deals with this and the emotions involved. Her Amish family along with  Jonathan try and help her to rely on her faith throughout her struggles. That is an encouragement to me and I'm sure will be for others reading Rose's story.
I loved the creative ways the author brought people into Rose's life at just the right moment. Finding out the meaning of the title was exciting for me. It was a clever and unique situation which you learn about later in the book.

Except for a rest to eat, I finished this book in one sitting! I just couldn't put it down! It's a somewhat shorter book which made it easier, but it was the star quality of the book that kept me glued to the story.
I was invested in each character and the wonderfully drafted storyline that I couldn't let it go.


You can learn more about the author at http://www.triciagoyer.com
Follow her on Twitter and Facebook

Disclosure: I received a print copy of the book from booksneeze in exchange for an honest review. My reviews are always honest and my own opinion. My views may differ from others.

Tangerine Morning by Rita Garcia

 Tangerine Morning is Book 2 in the Serenity Cove Series by Rita Garcia, here we find Jezzica at odds with God. Her husband was killed just a few years prior, and she is still dealing with the struggle of moving on. When a new detective comes to town she immediately has mixed feelings. She has a distrust of police because of their lack of being able to find her husband's killers.

Zach is determined to reach her. He wants to be friends and wants to help her uncover the truth. Along the way the feelings on both sides increases. The question is, will Jezzica allow herself to move on and trust another man. Can she take that step to moving beyond the feeling of being unfaithful to her husband?

Jezzica's sister, Catylen, has her own struggles that we learn about. The difference is that she is trusting God. She has the relationship with God where she knows the love regardless of circumstances. When Jezzica watches how her sister deals with her own personal agony, will that allow Jezzica to find a way back to God?

I really enjoyed this book. I feel it did a great job of teaching about putting our trust in God regardless of what we might be going through. Each character had his or her own difficulties they had to deal with, and gave a lot of variety in situations. I feel this was a smart way to provide the knowledge that everyone has different struggles, and God can help you through any situation.

This book would be great for young adult along with women in general who love a good story. It also would be a good way to help someone in need, maybe someone who doesn't fully have God in their hearts and is in need of that.

You can find the book for yourself HERE

Rita Garcia lives in California with her husband. They have 4 children and 7 grandchildren. You can find out more about her at http://www.ritagarcia.com/

Disclosure: I received a free ebook copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review. I was not compensated in any other way. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations. I am a part of CWA review crew

The Secret Keeper by Beverly Lewis

The Secret Keeper is Book 4 in the Home to Hickory Hollow series. Although it's Book 4, you can read it independently of the other books. I have read the entire series from the beginning and recommend them all.

Jenny is an Englisher, but in her heart she has always seen herself as Plain. She has never felt like she belonged in her world and thanks to an Amish friend, finds herself being mentored in her "proving period" by Rebecca and Samuel Lapp.  Although things are more difficult then they appeared at first, Jenny is determined to fit in and prove she has what it takes to become a baptized member of the Amish church. People in the community have a variety of thoughts of this worldly person wanting to join the Amish church, especially at the same time many of the youth are seeking to leave the community.

As Jenny strives to learn the correct ways to conduct herself and learn how to be a true Amishwoman, she also finds herself struggling with her interest in Andrew. Jenny is not supposed to court until she is a member of the church, but she finds herself drawing closer to him and his trust in her.

When a secret threatens to destroy her chances of finishing her proving time, she decides she will never be Amish and leaves to go home. What she finds is that although she is back in the English world, her heart is with the Amish.

What I love about this story is that it brings in a theme that is common to people no matter where they are or who they are. The struggle to find where you fit in. Following your heart may not be the accepted choice or the most popular, but how important it is to follow your heart and God's leading.

The families and individual characters in the story draw you in. They feel like family.  If you have read any of the Heritage of Lancaster County books, you will love hearing more about Katie Lapp and her journey outside the Amish faith, and learn about the struggles and changes occuring in that family.

I love reading Amish fiction. Although the lifestyle is strict and difficult, the idea of living simple without all the stress of "keeping up" with everyone makes reading about it very enjoyable.
Beverly Lewis never disappoints with her books. I highly recommend finding this book fast! You can find it HERE.


Disclosure: I received a print copy of the book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.

Our Daily Homeschool life!

I love reading about other homeschool families. It's interesting how vastly different each home can be. That's the great thing about homeschooling, each family can work in a way that will cater to their individual children instead of trying to fit their child into the mold of everyone else. I am not anti-public school, we just feel like homeschool is what's best for our child.

My son is in the 11th grade for the most part, that means that in some subjects he might work slower on it or in some cases has been on a different level for a class. Being an only child, he really needs the outside community for social activities. We have always been a part of a homeschool co-op. We've done the huge ones and now we are in a small group with maybe 60 kids. I love the group we are in. We meet once a week and have not only academic classes, but also focus on the social part and allowing the kids to be creative and form lasting friendships.

This year my son is taking classes in a variety of ways. He is taking Chinese through a virtual school here in Florida. I'm thankful because there's no way I could help him with this! (and he'll tell you this too!)  He has Computer Technology which we are using great online videos and activities. Then we have the regular book work classes also.

We are pretty relaxed in our day. I see this as both good and bad. We sometimes get busy with life and forget to do something or put it off and all of a sudden it's bedtime:)  For the most part though it works great for us. I babysit full time so I get up earlier, but my son (being a normal teen) usually gets up by 11am, gets something to eat and starts on his work for the day. Some classes are daily, some are a few times a week.  He works pretty much independently except for certain parts of classes.  He works on getting stuff done throughout the afternoon. He knows there are no video games and limited phone usage until he's done. We started doing this to give him the responsibility of how long school takes him. Some days he's done in less than 2 hrs, some days it will take all afternoon into the evening.

For me, I can't imagine sending him off for 8+ hours a day. I love having him home and seeing first hand what he is learning, what interests him and having the extra time when schools done to hang out, relax, see him dive into a good book, spend time with friends or head to the theme parks.

On a day he got done early, we had a lot of time and we were able to play a great game of Settlers of Catan. He loves strategy games and this one definitely adds thinking into it.

I'd love to hear about your day in the comments!

I Carried an Angel by Staci A. Luker

I Carried an Angel is a true story about the short life of Barrett, Staci's first son.  Although Barrett never got the chance to live life on this earth, he has inspired countless people about a life of sacrifice, and the love of Christ. Through the heartbreak of learning about his death, to the days that followed, Staci has been able to share her family's love for Barrett and bring about a way to keep his name alive.
Each chapter follows Staci's journal of how she and her family learned to cope with the unspeakable tragedy.

When I first sat down to read the book, I grabbed a box of kleenex fully expecting to use it. Although the heartbreak is there, and as a mom, I found myself struggling to imagine what they went through, the book was different then I expected. Of course there are parts that were hard to read, but what was amazing was the focus while on the situation, brought about incredible joy of the Lord. Staci shares with us how Barrett's death caused her focus to be on Christ and in sharing it with others.

What I loved was how honest the book reads. It never sugar coated the feelings of despair, but allowed us to see that through Christ we can do all things, even things we never imagined we could conquer.

Barrett's Blankets is a ministry that Staci started because of her wishing she had the blanket from the time she held Barrett. Figuring others would benefit from it also, she began knitting wonderful blankets to share with other grieving parents. Before long, it was a huge success and she was able to not only share a blanket, but the message of Christ! You can find out more about it HERE

With how firmly planted in trusting God the family is, Barrett's short life will ultimately bring a multitude to Jesus. Barrett will never be forgotten.

Find out more about Staci on her blog at http://www.lukerfamilytales.com



Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Game Giveaway!

Enjoy some quality family time!

RoosterFin Games Giveaway

RoosterFin games were designed and created by a former teacher. They are designed to be fun and educational at the same time. RoosterFin offers games for different ages and they can be found by visiting their website HERE.

Staci at Luker Family Tales was able to review the game "Color Slap" from RoosterFin. You can read her review HERE. If you want to learn more about the different games offered by RoosterFin or find a retailer near you, then click  HERE and check it out on their website. You can also find more information there about how the company was started.

RoosterFin is giving away one of their games to one lucky reader. The winner will be able to have their choice of games from: PongCano, Shufflin' Feet, Masheroo!, Monkeys Up, or Color Slap. Winner must be a US resident who is 18 years or older. Winner will be contacted via email and must respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

*Disclosure: Lost Island of Book Reviews and Luker Family Tales were not compensated for this post. Prize fulfillment is solely the responsibility of the giveaway sponsor. This giveaway is in no way associated with any social media platform.  

A Wedding Transpires on Mackinac Island by Cara C. Putman

This is part two of  the Waterfront weddings book.  I have enjoyed being able to bring you both stories! I felt that providing the stories into separate reviews would give a unique and special look at both of them. 

In this story, Alanna is returning home to Mackinac Island after being away for 11 years. She fled after a terrible tragedy occurred putting her brother Trevor wrongly in the hot seat of suspicion. Now Alanna's father has been hospitalized and her mom is in need of help running the family painting shop.

Not only did Alanna leave her family all those years ago, she also left Jonathan, the man she loved for many summers. When she runs into him immediately upon her return, she tries to avoid him. Her plan is to get back out of town as fast as she can. Circumstances keep bringing them together and finally she starts to relax and remember why she loved him before.

While she is on the island, she finds herself determined to clear her brothers name.  In digging up dirt surrounding a teen's death, she finds herself at odds with many people from her past.  When things come to light which affect her family, she turns to Jonathan for help. He is an encouragement to her and stands by her side. When their search turns up a murder, they find themselves not only suspects, but also in danger from the real culprit.  Together they fight to the end.

WHAT I THOUGHT:

When I first started reading the story, I was expecting it to focus on weddings and romance. While there was romance involved, the story revolved more around dealing with the past, mystery and suspense. 

The story had a slow start to it for me. I almost put it down, but I am so glad I didn't. The story pulls you in to the web of secrets in a way that you feel intertwined and can't get out. This is a great story. There are great characters and the author does a great job of developing the characters into people you can completely relate to.  There are many times when you find Alanna in situations very relatable. Not only is it a great overall story, but there are many parts which make you think of what you might do in her circumstances. 

The ending will also take you by surprise which is great!  Check this book out, you won't be disappointed.

You can find the book here at amazon.com

Disclosure: I received an ebook copy of Waterfront Weddings from netgalley.com in exchange for the review. No other compensation was given. My reviews are always honest and my own.

A Hopeful Heart by Amy Clipston

A Hopeful Heart is the first book in a new series called  

"Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel". 

When Hannah finds herself a young widow, she tries to help support her family by working housekeeping at a local hotel. Although her Mother in law is against her having a job outside the home (it's not typical for Amish women) ,She really enjoys her job and co-workers. 

When she begins to befriend a male guest, Trey, who has suffered similar losses, she learns the difficulties and reasons why the Amish prefer to keep to themselves and not become involved in the English world.  Hannah and her Brother in law,Joshua,have been working together to keep the farm going, but when  Hannah starts including Trey in her life outside the hotel, Hannah is seen as trouble and the trouble starts to affect her children.

To complicate the situation, Joshua is in love with Hannah. When she finally realizes that, she is also falling for Trey. Through many trials, Hannah finds herself in the midst of a difficult situation which could affect her whole family. Her choices could cause her to be shunned and to lose family members if she follows her heart to leave with Trey. She loves Joshua, but feels more of a friend to him and a way to keep her husbands memory alive. How will she make the right choice? What IS the right choice for her and her family?

MY THOUGHTS:

This book is a great read! I again found myself reading late into the night because I couldn't put it down. My sleep pattern is losing out to great books!  I felt this book to be a very realistic view of life, love and choices. Whether you are Amish or not, there are decisions we make every day that affect not only us, but those around us. In this book, we find a balance of both sides of the choices Hannah must make. I enjoyed the characters throughout. I found myself liking some of them and disliking others. Although the Mother in law seemed to be more on the manipulative side, I'm sure that by seeing it from her side we would find her heart and reasoning. Amish life seems to be rooted in very strict rules that they are supposed to follow without question, which would be the side of the Mother in law. Hannah is choosing to follow her heart and see what God has for her, whether it's to stay or go she will follow God. I love how there are discussion questions in the back. This would make a great book for a book club. I would give this book a 5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend it , and already looking forward to book two of this series.

You can find this book at amazon.com

Disclosure: I received a print copy of this book from booksneeze.com in order to do my review. No other compensation was given. My reviews are always honest and my opinions are my own.

Kiss Me Awake by Julie Momyer

SUMMARY:

When Jaida was a baby, she was left by her biological mom in the bushes. When a young boy, Spencer, finds her, she is brought into his family. Spencer vows to protect her and care for her forever.

Fast forward to now. Jaida is delving into discovering who her mom really is. She doesn't know her name, but is desperate to find out what she can. While working as a detective, Jaida is searching not only for her mom, but also desperately trying to learn about and take down a man named Gale. She thinks he is a murderer and has a tie to her past.

Jaida and her co-worker Auggie are on Gale's trail. Gale is accusing their company of stealing 8 million dollars and thinks Jaida has it.  In the midst of all that's going on, Jaida finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy that is full of drama, suspense, mystery and intrigue. When Spencer returns to her life, Jaida finds herself dealing with her own past alongside finding out things which change who she is and what she thinks.

When she finds herself and others in danger, Jaida finds herself searching for truth. Praying for God's will is the hardest thing she has had to do, but the most important thing.

WHAT I THINK:

This is a wonderful story of not only suspense and intrigue, but also of redemption and forgiveness which is creatively intertwined throughout the entire book. I loved the path of twists and turns the book took. So many things you are not expecting.  I found myself getting excited when learning new things and realizing how it all made sense.
Not only is the book written well, it is very descriptive. You are given a great picture of what is going on and where you are.
This book kept me engaged the entire time. I had a hard time putting it down!  I highly recommend checking it out.
You can find the book at amazon.com.
Connect with the author at http://Juliemomyer.com and http://juliemomyerblog.com


Disclosure: I received an ebook copy of the book from netgalley.com in order to do my review. My reviews are always honest. My opinions are my own and may differ from others.

Grace Given by Beth Shriver

      In this book, we find Elsie and her family trying to find their way into a new community. They have moved from Virginia to Texas only the previous year. While learning to follow the changes of the community, and dealing with vandals hitting the Amish farms, they also are dealing with a family issue.  

Elsie's sister Katie left the community with Jake, and Elsie finds this especially hard because she thought their was something growing in her relationship with Jake. 

      Thankfully Elsie has a good friend in Gideon. He has been interested in Elsie for a long time and enjoys being there for her, and also hoping that Elsie will grow to love him. 

      Through circumstances with the English vandals, Elsie and Gideon find themselves growing closer as they search for the truth.

      When Katie returns, emotions run wild. In an already stressful time, we find yet another situation that requires faith, grace and forgiveness. Choices must be made and struggles met to do what is right.

Amazing story of love and forgiveness.

My Review:

I would give this book 5 out of 5 stars. I find myself intrigued by the Amish culture and enjoy reading books which give insight into their lives and why they choose to do things the way they do. This is Book 2 in the series "Touch of Grace" by Beth Shriver.  I read this one realizing that I had not yet read Book 1. Although I plan on going back and reading Book 1, I don't feel that not reading it first caused any difficulty in understanding what was going on in this book. I would recommend reading in order though, but that's just how I usually like to do things:)

This book is well-written, and kept my attention well past times that I should have been sleeping! Beth Shriver always puts together wonderful stories and I am thrilled to have the privilege  of sharing this one with you.

You can find a copy of this book at amazon.com

Disclosure: I received a print copy of this book through thebooketeria.com in order to do this review. My reviews are always honest and are my own opinion. My opinions may differ from  others.

An Amish Family Christmas by Murray Pura

I think I have a theme going with Amish stories! Realized that when I saw the last 2 books set for reviews were Amish:) I have to admit, although I could never live the completely simple life they promote, sometimes a simpler life sounds peaceful. I'm not sure I could live without certain electronic things but I love the idea of community, family and support they encourage.

In this story, we are brought in after a horrible tragedy. Naomi is dealing with the loss of her parents, and also her brother, Luke, who wasn't killed, but was injured, and is catatonic. Rebecca, Naomi's sister in law, lives with Naomi and is helping her cope. They are figuring out how to care for Luke when their lives come to a complete stop. Naomi's husband had taken off for the Army life, which is forbidden for the Amish, a year ago.  He now returns knowing he is most likely under the bann, meaning he can't eat or speak to anyone, including his wife.

Naomi and Micah have to learn to live as husband and wife without the ease of words. Although difficult, they are able to learn to share their love through looks and things they do for each other around the home.

When letters start arriving showing how Micah blessed others by saving lives as a medic in the Army, Naomi is sure the Bishop and Minister will change their mind and release Micah from the bann.

Through a shocking experience, the Minister comes to find out himself how Micah's calling as a medic helps.  Through lots of prayer, comes an amazing end to the story. You never know what might happen  when we let God work through us.


This was a great book. It is well written, and has a great storyline. It keeps moving, making it hard to put the book down:) I recommend this book especially for anyone who loves family, and making them important. I don't always agree with some of the behavior and actions in the Amish community, but the book is clearly staying in line with true beliefs. It makes for a great true to life situation.
You can find the book at amazon.com

Disclosure: I received a print copy of this book from netgalley.com in order to do the review. My reviews are always my honest opinion and may differ from others.