Beauty for Ashes

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  Product Description:

She's a beautiful young widow. He's a Southern gentleman with a thirst for adventure. Both need a place to call home.


After losing her husband in the Civil War, Carrie Daly is scared she will never have the family she longs for. Eligible bachelors are scarce in Hickory Ridge, Tennessee, but Carrie has found love. Not the weak-in-the-knees kind, but something practical. Still, she isn't quite ready to set a wedding date with Nate Chastain.
Griff Rutledge is a former member of Charleston society, but has been estranged from his family for years. He's determined to remain unattached, never settling in one place for too long. But when asked to train a Thoroughbred for an upcoming race in Hickory Ridge, he decides to stay awhile.


Despite objections from the townsfolk, and her fear that true happiness has eluded her, Carrie is drawn to Griff's kindness and charm. It will take a leap of faith for them to open their hearts and claim God's promise to give beauty for ashes.


My Review:
This was a nice, easy-to-read and relaxing book. The story moves along at a very comfortable pace and there is just enough twists in the plot to keep it interesting.
I found myself very able to relate to Carrie and her struggles. The author has done a great job making the characters very real and easy to identify with. 
There is just enough description of the setting to give you a feel for the area without overloading the reader with boring details.
What I most appreciated about the book is how we see Carrie grow in grace as she learns to trust the Lord through the difficult providences of life, and how she strives to show His love to difficult people.
Overall, this is a very nice piece of Christian historical fiction.


I must mention that I received a complimentary review copy of this ebook through BookSneeze.

Saving Grace by Annie Jones

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Book Description:



Every year on the night of New Bethany's annual Splendor Belle Gala, reclusive Sera Grayson appears on the porch of her aging antebellum home dressed in a tattered ball gown. Legend holds she is reliving the greatest disappointment of her life: waiting endlessly for the man who stood her up more than fifty years ago. Rosemary, Naomi, Gayle, and Lucy, first introduced in Jones's Prayer Tree, together decide to help out the eccentric old woman-partly to strengthen their own special bond, threatened by time and the demands of everyday life. Will their joint project instead tear them apart forever?
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My Review:
I found this book to be rather slow reading. The plot moves along at a snails pace, and I really had trouble connecting with the characters. I was about half way through the book before I felt like I knew who each character was and what their background was.
I was also disappointed in that the book really had little to do with helping the older lady. I felt that the book description given by the publisher did not really convey what the book was about.
Perhaps those who have already read "The Prayer Tree" will enjoy the continuing story of these ladies more than I did.

I must mention that I received a complimentary review copy of this ebook from Waterbrook Multnomah. That in no way influenced my opinion of it.

An Amish Wedding

Book Description

Three Amish women yearn for the perfect wedding.


"A Perfect Plan" by Beth Wiseman


Priscilla King has been planning to marry Chester Lapp since she was sixteen years old, and when Chester proposes on Priscilla’s nineteenth birthday, wedding plans begin immediately. What wasn't planned was all the problems the couple encounters as their big day approaches. A house disaster, a ruined wedding dress, and a sick attendant all make the couple wonder if God's sending them signs to call things off.



"The Perfect Match" by Kathleen Fuller

Naomi Fisher has had great success at matchmaking her family members and friends. Now with her sister’s wedding right around the corner, Naomi wonders why she’s able to find husbands for her friends and family, but not one for herself.



"The Perfect Secret" by Kelly Long


Rose Bender has recently become engaged to handsome but somber Luke Raber. She agrees out of a sense of duty and a willingness to settle for solid friendship as a basis for the engagement. But as she watches her friend's excitement over her soon-to-be wedding, Rose wonders if there shouldn’t be more to her relationship with Luke. She begins to examine Luke and his life more closely and is amazed when she stumbles upon an exciting, secret side of him that engages her mind and heart.


My Review:

These three novellas fit together almost seamlessly. The three authors did a great job of making three individual stories flow together and compliment each other. The characters each cross into the next story, and yet there really aren't even subtle differences in them, as sometimes happens in a group writing project.

Each one of the stories had an interesting storyline with enough twists in the plot to keep them interesting, though "The Perfect Secret" was my favorite. I do hope there is a sequel to this one!

"The Perfect Plan" was a little bit predictable since some of the story was already alluded to in the previous stories, but it was still interesting. ***Note: the description of above is from the publisher and is how it appears on the back of the book. However, the stories are actually in the reverse order in the book, making "The Perfect Plan" last.

Overall, I think Amish fiction lovers will enjoy this book.

I must mention that a received a complimentary review copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through their Book Sneeze program.








The Christmas Singing

Book Description

Series: Ada's House Series | Publication Date: October 4, 2011

After Gideon coldly broke her heart, can the warmth of the season revive Mattie’s hopes?

Mattie thought her childhood sweetheart adored her until he abruptly ended their engagement on Christmas Eve.

Three years later, will learning the truth behind his rejection restore her Christmas joy – or open the door to even deeper heartbreak?

Spend Christmas with the Amish in this story of love, romance, heartache, and restoration.

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My Review:

This short, easy to read story is ok, but not something I would highly recommend.

Though Mattie is funny, quirky, and a bit scatterbrained, the rest of the characters are quite dull and lack depth.

The storyline is very predictable – you basically know what is going to happen right at the beginning of the book.

I was also disappointed that there really wasn’t much of a Christmas theme to the story at all.

Overall, it’s a quick and easy short novella with a bit of romance and humor, but I was not at all impressed with it.

I must mention that I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Waterbrook Press through their Blogging for Books program.  That in no way influenced my opinion of it.

Valley of Dreams

Book Description

Series: Wild West Wind | Publication Date: November 1, 2011

Addy Lockwood's mother died when she was little, so Addy traveled with her father's Wild West Show and became an amazingly skillful trick rider, likened by some to the famous Annie Oakley. When her father died, she continued to work with the show, having nowhere else to go.

Now Addy has discovered that "Uncle" Jason, the show's manager, has driven the show into debt, and he's absconded with what little money was left. Devastated, Addy decides to try to find the hidden valley where here father had dreamed of putting down roots. She has only one clue. She needs to find three huge stones that look like fingers raised in a giant hand. With Chief, a Sioux Indian who's been with the show for twenty years, and Micah, the head wrangler, she leaves both the show and a bundle of heartache behind and begins a wild and daring adventure.

 

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My Review:

 

In this new series debut, Lauraine Snelling has done her usual stellar job of putting the reader right back into the early 1900’s. The details of life during that time are amazing and a joy to read about. The plot moves along quickly and draws the reader in. The characters are lively and unique with just enough mystery to keep you wondering about them.

I love Cassie – her strength of character and unshakable determination after the betrayal of someone she trusted as family make her one remarkable young lady.

I can’t wait for the next book in the series to be released – this book leaves you longing to know more.

I must mention that I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Bethany House publishers.

House of Secrets

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2011

When her father orchestrates a surprise trip to the summer house of her childhood, Bailee Cooper is unprepared for what follows. What is intended to be a happy reunion for Bailee and her sisters, Geena and Piper, quickly becomes shrouded by memories from the past.

Together again, the three sisters sift through their recollections of fifteen years ago...of an ill mother, and of their father making a desperate choice. They vowed, as children, to be silent--but one sister believes the truth must now be revealed. Yet can they trust their memories?

Mark Delahunt arrives in the wake of this emotional turmoil. Determined to win Bailee's affection, Mark becomes the strong fortress for her in this time of confusion, and what was once a tentative promise begins to take root and grow. Caught between the past and an uncertain future, can Bailee let God guide her to heal the past and ultimately to embrace love?

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My Review:

This book deals with some very difficult issues. The overall feel of the book is very dark and a bit depressing, yet I just couldn’t put it down. The author does a wonderful job of drawing the reader into the story and making you feel what the characters are feeling. I also thought the author did a good job of portraying true Christian love and friendship in Mark’s character.

The book appears to be very well researched and the author seems to have a very good understanding of mental health issues and the impact they have on the families.

Though the Gospel presentation is a little weak (us “accepting God” rather than repentance) it is there and the issue of our sin, the necessity of repentance, and our need for a sinless Savior are mentioned.

I must mention that I received a complimentary review copy of the book from Bethany house publishers.

40 Ways to Get Closer to God

 

 

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2011

Sometimes faith demands action. This practical book gives Christians ideas for how to adjust their hearts to get closer to God.

Each chapter contains a unique challenge and a brief explanation that puts the challenge in context. Exercises include acts of service to others, extended prayer, Scripture memory, fasting, a day of gratitude, media fasting (no TV or Internet), evangelism, and much more. The challenges are broad in scope, allowing people with varying personality types and learning styles to benefit from them.

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My Review:

Overall, I found this book to be lacking in several areas. My biggest concern, however, is having a book about getting closer to God that doesn’t present the Gospel first. We all know that there are tares amongst the wheat, and we cannot assume that everyone who picks up a Christian book is already a Christian. And an unbeliever cannot get close to God without first repenting and believing the Gospel.

Some of the steps are biblical but are so basic that true Christians should not need to read a book to do these things. Perhaps it’s just a sad reflection of the church today that Christians need to be told to pray and study their Bibles.

Some of the steps go beyond what God has said. God hasn't promised to sanctify us if we abstain from watching TV, and we need to be very careful to make promises that God hasn't made. While some of these things may be a good idea, and may even be beneficial, to claim that they will truly draw us closer to God if God Himself has not said so is a very dangerous thing. If we "fast" from TV and replace it with prayer and Bible study, we will grow - but its not the TV fast that caused the growth, but the prayer and Bible study, which are means that God has ordained for our sanctification.

My other concern with this book is that it is full of aestheticism and quotes from known mystics/contemplatives. A brief flip through the book makes it abundantly clear that the author has embraced the mysticism that is growing so prevalent in the Evangelical church today. God has given us the true means of grace revealed in the Scriptures, and we don’t need man made practices or practices borrowed from Eastern mysticism to grow close God.

I must mention that I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Bethany House publishers.