Book Review: For Every Season

Working hard to develop a new Amish community outside of Unity, Maine, Rhoda Byler is fully committed to rehabilitating an orchard with business partner Samuel King. But an impulsive decision has created an unexpected strain in her relationship with her beau, Samuel’s brother, Jacob, threatening plans for the orchard. Amidst mounting tension in matters of the heart and business, Rhoda finds that this fledging settlement feels like the home she has always longed for, and she begins to embrace the God-given, heightened intuition that has always felt like a burden to her. She longs for Jacob to fully be free of his past, so they can work towards the future together.

But as Rhoda uses her gift to unpack an old secret with her Englisch neighbors, it is not her beau but an unlikely ally that cheers her on. With the orchard on shaky ground and Jacob’s plans in question, Rhoda is determined to see things through to harvest. But can she trust her insight to direct her path in matters of the heart?

My Review:

I love Amish books and I love Cindy Woodsmall's stories.  This one was wonderful as well.  I did not read the first two books in this series, but in the beginning of this book there is a quick synopsis of the past two books.  I do not think that I have ever seen that in another book that was part of a series.  I thought the idea was wonderful and I really appreciated the recap.  I would not have been interested or able to really enjoy this book without it.  Of course, reading the first two would have been best.  The other thing, besides the story which I loved, that I really enjoyed about this series was that the story was about the same people.  Usually in a series of books like these the setting is the same and the people are the same but you hear a different person's story.  I really enjoy those as well, but this one seems to just pick up right where the first two left off.  Basically, it could be a really long book if you just combined it all!

This story was great and I definitely think you should check it out especially if you like to read series that pick up right where the last left off.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review: Christmas at Rose Hill Farm

Join best-selling, award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher for an Amish Christmas to remember. Filled with heart-twisting moments amid the sweet anticipation of love, Christmas at Rose Hill Farm will charm readers into the holiday spirit.

Host a Christmas at Rose Hill Farm Book Club Brunch! This fall Suzanne is inviting book clubs across the nation to throw a Christmas at Rose Hill Farm Book Club Brunch. Sign up here between now and September 29. If you’re selected as one of the 50 hosts, you’ll receive a copy of the book plus two other Revell titles (give them away as party prizes or door prizes or keep them for yourself), a complete party kit, and a discount code to purchase copies of Christmas at Rose Hill Farm for your book club at a discount. Suzanne is also encouraging each book club brunch to collect non-perishable items for their local community shelter. She will be making a donation to her favorite charity (helping abused women and children) for every brunch that meets their goal. Click here for more details and to SIGN UP!
Bess Riehl is preparing Rose Hill Farm for her upcoming wedding, but her groom isn't who she thought it would be. Billy Lapp is far away from his Amish roots working as a rose rustler for Penn State and wants nothing to do with Stoney Ridge, his family, or Bess. And that suits Bess just fine. Why should she think twice about a man who left without a word, without any explanation? It's time she moved on with her life, and that meant saying yes to Amos Lapp, Billy's cousin and best friend. But as Bess and Amos's wedding day draws near, her emotions tangle into a tight knot. She loves Amos. Yet she can't forget Billy.

When a "lost" rose is discovered at Rose Hill Farm, Billy is sent to track down its origins. Get in, identify the rose, and get out. That's his plan. The only catch is that he's having a hard time narrowing down the identity of the lost rose, and he can't those tropical blue eyes of Bess Riehl out of his mind.


As the history of the lost rose is pieced together, it reminds Bess and Billy---and Amos, too---that Christmas truly is the season of miracles.


Filled with heart-twisting moments amid the sweet anticipation of love, this story will charm readers into the holiday spirit."

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/ARPVX 

About the author:  Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Inn at Eagle Hill series, Lancaster Country Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of a new Amish children's series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She is a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines.  She lives in California.

Download Suzanne's free app! http://bit.ly/10Tygyi

Find Suzanne online: website, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest

My Review:

I wait for Christmas-time all year long.  I love the decorations, the cooking, the shopping, the spirit people seem to have and most of all the reason for the season.  I also cannot wait to read my Christmas books.  I was so thrilled to be getting to review this one.  I knew it would put me in the mood for my favorite time of the year.  I also love every book written by Suzanne Woods Fisher.  She is a wonderful writer who truly captures the spirit of her characters and their surroundings. 

This book was great, as I expected it to be.  If you are looking for an enjoyable Christmas read, you should definitely check out this book!

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

book review: The Calling

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher is celebrating her newest book, The Calling, by giving away TWO iPads, TWO Kindles, and TWO Nooks!
 

Two grand prize winners will receive:

• An iPad
• The Letters and The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Four second place winners will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX or a Nook HD—winner's choice!
• The Letters and The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 8th. All winners will be announced February 10th at Suzanne's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Suzanne's blog on the 10th to see if you won one of the great prizes! (Or better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)

About the book: Book Two in the Inn at Eagle Hill series.

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher delivers her trademark twists, turns, and tender romance in this delightful and exciting visit to the deceptively quiet community of Stoney Ridge.

Twenty-year-old Bethany Schrock is restless. Her love life has derailed, her faith hangs by a thread, and she is spending the incredibly hot summer days wading through a lifetime's accumulation of junk at the home of five ancient Amish sisters. About the only thing that holds her interest is the spirited and dangerously handsome Jimmy Fisher---and he seems bent on irritating her to no end.

When the sly old sisters and a guest at the Inn get Bethany involved in running the local soup kitchen and starting a community garden, she suddenly finds herself wondering, Shootfire! How did that happen? Despite her newfound purposefulness, a gnawing emptiness about a childhood mystery continues to plague her. Encouraged by Jimmy Fisher, she will seek out the answers she craves---and uncover a shocking secret that will break her heart, heal it, and point her to love.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/stlG8

Read an excerpt: http://ow.ly/stlIM

Meet the author: Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Inn at Eagle Hill series, Lancaster County Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of a new Amish children's series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She is a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. Get Amish proverbs delivered right to your mobile device! Download the Free App! http://bit.ly/10Tygyi

Learn more about Suzanne at: http://suzannewoodsfisher.com

My Review:

This is another great book by Suzanne Woods Fisher.  I love reading her books.  This was the second in a series, but you really do not need to have read the first book in order to follow along in this one.  The characters are the same, but there are a few new ones added into it.  The stories told are mostly from others' perspectives and you will find your place just fine.  I do enjoy reading books in series like these when I really like the characters.  Suzanne Woods Fisher does a great job at story-telling and at developing characters everyone can relate to love. 

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

book review: Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe



Praise for Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe“I have never seen a more practical book on how to pray for your husband than Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe. Sharon Jaynes has done wives (and husbands) a great service by writing this book. I can’t wait to see what will happen to husbands whose wives choose this challenge to pray.”—Gary Chapman, PhD, author of The Five Love Languages“In this much-needed book, Sharon Jaynes gives readers the whys, whats, and how-tos of praying for a husband. The thirty-day guide for covering every aspect of a man’s life through prayer is every wife’s dream come true. What a gift! As Sharon writes, ‘Prayer can change everything’!”—Elizabeth George, author of A Woman After God’s Own Heart“You will be delightfully surprised by the power of this book. Most of us have prayed for our husbands for years, but Sharon’s approach is so unique, it will change how we pray for our men forever.”—Shaunti Feldhahn, author of For Women Only“Sharon Jaynes has combined powerful prayers with a practical plan that wives everywhere can follow. Her words are full of wisdom, encouragement, and truth. This book is an invitation to deepen your intimacy with Jesus in ways that will ultimately bless your marriage as well.”—Holley Gerth, author of You’re Already Amazing“Every wife wants to know the best way to encourage and support her husband. The best place to begin is by having a conversation with the God who created him. God knows every detail about your husband—his struggles, his concerns, his joys, his fears, his hopes, and his dreams. After all, it’s God who wired your husband exactly the way he is. Sharon Jaynes invites you to pray for your husband by releasing the creation (your husband) back to his Creator (our gracious God) and praying for your husband from head to toe each day. This collection of prayers will be an encouragement to your husband, and in the process, you’ll be drawn closer to God.”—Diedra Riggs, managing editor of TheHighCalling.org“Sharon Jaynes has written a book every woman needs on her bedside table. Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe is a powerful and practical marriage changer. A woman will get in tune with God’s heart for her husband—and also with herself, her life, and the future blessings and best God has for her love.”—Pam Farrel, coauthor of Men Are Like Waffles—Women Are Like Spaghetti “Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe could not have arrived at a more perfect time. With life moving ahead at a near-frantic pace while I attempt—in vain—to keep up, this book is a reminder to slow it all down. My husband needs not only my love, encouragement, and support but most important, my prayers. And not just any boilerplate prayer, but specific prayers over every square inch of his body, mind, and even his sexuality (one of my personal favorites!).”—Fawn Weaver, founder of HappyWivesClub.com“In the nineteen years I’ve been married to my best friend, I’ve lived the ‘for better or for worse’ part of my wedding vows. I’ve learned so much and assembled quite the tool belt in my journey to love and honor my husband. But nothing—nothing—has been as powerful as bowing my heart and knee and simply praying for him. Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe is a practical, powerful guide for blessing not only your spouse’s life but also your own. This resource will take your marriage to a new level!”—Kristen Welch, author of We Are THAT Family blog
“One of the most important things we can do as wives is to pray daily for our husbands. Sharon Jaynes has given us a great resource to cover every aspect of our husbands’ lives and character with Scripture-based prayer over the course of thirty days. This will be a book I keep on my nightstand for years to come!”—Melanie Shankle, author of Sparkly Green Earrings and The Big Mama blogI truly believe that every wife ought to try to be a blessing to her husband, but how?  Sharon Jaynes' book, Praying for your Husband from Head to Toe, is a thirty day prayer guide that takes wives through a selfless, scripture-based prayer journey for their husbands. I am convinced that God will move in marriages in a big way as women use this book to daily pray for their husband. —Lindsey Nicole (Isham) Graves, National Speaker & Author of No Sex in the City: One Virgin’s Confessions of Love, Lust, Dating, and Waiting 

About the Author

Sharon Jaynes is a popular conference speaker, avid blogger, and best-selling author of numerous books and Bible studies. She is the cofounder of Girlfriends in God, a ministry with approximately 500,000 online devotion subscribers, and a popular guest on Christian radio and television programs such as Revive Our Hearts, FamilyLife Today, and Focus on the Family.

My Review:

I am completely IN LOVE with this book!  I never could have imagined it to be so great!  The beginning of the book is all about why, how, etc. we should pray for our husbands.  The second part is 30 days of prayers for him.  It is specific in areas: Mind, Eyes, Ears, Mouth, Neck, Shoulders, Heart, Back, Arms, Hands, Ring Finger, Side, Se*uality, Legs, Knees and Feet.  Then there is prayers for Fatherhood and for Healing.  My goal is to do these continuously for the rest of our lives and I'm hoping that soon I will have many of them memorized.  I really appreciate and am awed by this book and how wonderful it is.  It is going to bless many, especially me.  I hope that there is one for children and if not I hope that Jaynes will write one soon!

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

book review the A-Z of C.S. lewis

A Complete Guide to His Life, Thoughts and Writings

Published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of C. S. Lewis's death, this complete guide covers all of Lewis' works, from his literary criticism to Narnia.

C. S. Lewis's work is widely known and regarded, but enthusiasts are often only aware of one part of his work-his children's stories and his popular theology; and yet he wrote so much more, including science fiction and literary criticism. This volume brings together all aspects of C S Lewis's life and thought. Arranged in alphabetical order, it begins with The Abolition of Man-written in 1943 and described as "almost my favorite"-to Wormwood, a character in The Screwtape Letters. This book will delight anyone who is interested in C. S. Lewis and wants to learn more about him, his thought, his works, and his life.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/tzmgH ;

About the Author: 

Colin Duriez was for many years a commissioning editor at Inter-Varsity Press UK. He has subsequently appeared as a commentator on DVDs of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, and BBC television's The Worlds of Fantasy. He is also the author of The Inklings Handbook (with the late David Porter), J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis: The Story of Their Friendship, and Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings, and has contributed to definitive reference works relating to Tolkien such as The Tolkien Encyclopedia (Routledge).

My Review:

I knew very little about C.S. Lewis before reading this book.  I learned so much about a brilliant man.  This book was a little more historical than I thought it would be, but I definitely enjoyed reading it.  It would have been much more enjoyable had I read the works by Lewis being described.  I have now wanted to start reading more of his works and this book will serve as a great reference back once I have read them.  If you are a C.S. Lewis fan I highly recommend this book and if you, like I did, know very little about him I still recommend this book as it might spark a fire for you to read more works by him. 

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

book review real women leading: with proverbs 31 values

Real Women Leading: With Proverbs 31 Values is a must-have leadership resource for today’s Christian woman. Lisa Troyer and Dawn Yoder are celebrating the release of their book with an iPad Mini giveaway and a Facebook "Leading with Values" author chat event on March 20th.

  One winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• Real Women Leading by Lisa Troyer and Dawn Yoder

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 20th. Winner will be announced at "Leading with Values" Facebook Party on March 20th. Connect with Lisa and Dawn for an encouraging discussion on how we can lead (at home and in the workplace) effectively and with biblical values. Win prizes, connect with other leaders, and be inspired.

So grab your copy of Real Women Leading and join Lisa and Dawn on the evening of March 20th 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. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 20th!

About the book: Today's marketplace is not always a "values-friendly" environment. Business leaders Lisa Troyer and Dawn Yoder show you that you can live and thrive in a "valueless" workplace when you live by biblical values and principles.

Real Women: Leading with Proverbs 31 Values is a must-have leadership resource for today's Christian woman. Written by women in the marketplace, Real Women cultivates biblical truth, credible relationship development, and practical application into everyday life through ten foundational principles. Once women embrace these ten principles, they will soon discover the multiple attributes of the Proverbs 31 woman in today's marketplace and learn practical ways to implement the wisdom from that timeless Scripture passage.

Women will be encouraged to develop their God-given gifts and talents in the marketplace as they live out the principles that invite others to embrace the equality-inspiring values they live by. Knowing that we are not the end users of the gospel message, the Proverbs 31 leader will find the initiative to inspire the upcoming generation to view womanhood as a gift and continue the learning process that will impact generations to come.

About the authors:

 

Lisa Troyer Sometimes referred to by friends as the "singing executive," wife, mom, radio personality, recording artist, speaker, and author. Her Circle of Friends women's outreach, formed over a decade ago, is growing in all directions. Lisa uses her gift of encouragement, her influence, and her resources to open doors for women to discover their significance and belonging. She and her family currently live in Ohio. 

Learn more about Lisa at: http://www.lisatroyer.com

Dawn Yoder is passionate about developing people to discover their strengths and reach their leadership potential. As CEO of a 500-plus employee company, she seeks to bring values and principle-based thinking into all aspects of society through a round table environment. Dawn is a member of the John Maxwell coaching team, an international trainer, a speaker with the Circle of Friends ministry, a contributing writer, a songwriter, and a frequent worship leader. She and her husband, Jeff, have been married for more than 20 years and have four children.

Learn more about Dawn at: http://dawnyoder.com

My Review:

While I am not in a very high leadership position, I really enjoyed this book and think that most women would find it helpful and encouraging.  As moms, we are always in a leadership role and often times it takes us into other areas where we need to lead like mom's groups, homeschool groups, church ministries, etc.  This book is a great resource for encouragement and how-to type tips and ideas.  I definitely recommend reading this book. 

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Book Review: Dancing with Fireflies

Don't miss Denise Hunter's latest Chapel Springs Romance, Dancing with Fireflies. Reviewers have already labeled Dancing with Fireflies "swoon-worthy" and "the perfect love story." 

Join Denise in celebrating the release of her new book by entering her Kindle HDX giveaway and RSVPing for her April 10th Facebook party.

One winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle Fire HDX
• Dancing with Fireflies and Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 10th. Winner will be announced at the Dancing with Fireflies Facebook Party on April 10th. Connect with Denise for an evening of prizes, book chat, and an exclusive look at the next book in the series. About the book: A Chapel Springs Romance

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.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/uJ6OD





About the Author: Denise Hunter is an internationally published best-selling author. Her books have won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader's Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and was a RITA finalist. In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all of her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps, too. When Denise isn't writing, she's busy raising three heroes-in-the-making with her husband.

Learn more about Denise at: http://www.denisehunterbooks.com

My Review:

The cover and title of this book were so appealing to me.  The beginning of the book also drags you in.  It starts out with a sad, awful situation that makes you want to read more.  The story line is wonderful and the characters are inspiring.  This is the second book in Hunter's Chapel Springs series.  I have not read the first one, but now I might.  You do not need to have read the first.  I was not confused by anything that went on in this story.  This is an enjoyable read and I definitely recommend it. 

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review: Go Fresh

The more you cook at home, with a focus on fresh ingredients, the easier it is to achieve a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Making meals with fresh ingredients is not only healthy and flavorful but also fast and easy with Go Fresh. The American Heart Association offers more than 250 recipes in this cookbook, inspiring you to bring nutritious and wholesome ingredients into your kitchen. Enjoy full-flavored favorites—all made from scratch, made healthy, and made fresh—including:
· Cauliflower-Carrot Soup
· Blueberry-Walnut Chicken Salad
· Blackened Fish with Crisp Kale and Creamy Lemon Sauce
· Rosemary-Peach Chicken Kebabs with Orange Glaze
· Tomato-Basil Pork Tenderloin
· Butternut Squash Pasta
· Dark Cherry and Apple Crumble

In the book, you’ll also find Healthy Swaps for substituting seasonal fruits and vegetables in delicious new ways, Shop & Store tips for making the most of your trips to the market and what you buy, and Tips, Tricks & Timesavers.




My Review:

I was pretty disappointed in this cookbook.  I really enjoy pictures in my cookbooks, but there was only a few pages toward the end of the book that had pictures.  There were several recipes that sound great and I will definitely try some of them soon, although I would try more quickly if there were pictures.  If you don't mind a cookbook with little to no pictures, then this would be a great one, but unfortunately it was a disappointment for me. 

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.