"The Guardian," by Beverly Lewis

"The Guardian," by Beverly Lewis

Come home to Hickory Hollow, Pennsylvania--the beloved setting where Beverly Lewis's celebrated Amish novels began--with new characters and new stories of drama, romance, and the ties that draw people together.

When Jodi Winfield comes to Lancaster to house-sit, the last thing she expects to find is a disheveled little girl alone on the side of the road. The young teacher is mystified when she learns there have been no reports of a missing child, and the girl herself is no help, since she can't speak English. It's as if the child appeared out of nowhere.

Then Jodi turns her attention to Hickory Hollow--and the cloistered world of the Old Order Amish--in search of answers.

As always another good book by Beverly Lewis.  If you like books about the Amish, with a little bit of mystery and romance mixed in, this is the book for you.  It's nothing earth shattering, but it is a book that will want you turning just one more page to see what happens next.  However that one more page turns into two, then three and before you know it, you've been sitting there until late into the night reading the whole book.........well that's what I did!!!

Stars out of 5 : 4.5 it's a good book, will I remember it in years to come probably not, but it's one I am glad I read and will look forward to reading more in the series.

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

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

Mennonite Girls Can Cook - Celebrations

Mennonite Girls Can Cook - Celebrations

Life is a gift from God, so why not celebrate?

The bestselling authors of Mennonite Girls Can Cook return with a second course in their new Celebrations cookbook. From mouthwatering mini-muffins and succulent soufflé to campers' stew and lattice-topped grilled apples, the Mennonite Girls share recipes to honor all of life. Join the girls for brunch celebrating a child's birth, campfire cooking with family, and even the more somber celebrations of a life well-lived. Filled from cover to cover with devotional reflections, personal stories, and beautiful photos, this book contains much more than recipes--it will soon become your kitchen companion for life's celebrations.

Like their first book, Mennonite Girls Can Cook: Celebrations includes many gluten free adaptations!


What a wonderful book this is.  Not only is it a recipe book, it's a book with many other qualities, including lovely stories, poems and psalms.  The photography is great and very inspiring.  The recipes, are varied and for people with different levels of expertise; from the beginner to the advanced.  The Chocolate Crispy Rice Roll on page 56 is one I want to make as soon as possible.  The Seafood Chowder on Page 191 looks so good.

Stars out of 5 : 5 This book is well worth the money.  It would make a great Bridal Shower gift; or even just a great "because I was thinking of you," gift.  It will make a great addition to your current recipe book collection.  Normally I donate all books I review; this one I'm keeping!!!  It will be a book I will be turning too regularly.  Oh and I LOVE the material of the aprons.


"Book has been provided courtesy of MennoMedia and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

Available at your favourite bookseller from Herald Press, a publishing imprint of MennoMedia".

"Sweet Mercy," by Ann Tatlock

"Sweet Mercy," by Ann Tatlock

Stunning coming-of-age drama set during the Great Depression and Prohibition

When Eve Marryat's father is laid off from the Ford Motor Company in 1931, he is forced to support his family by leaving St. Paul, Minnesota, and moving back to his Ohio roots. Eve's uncle Cyrus has invited the family to live and work at his Marryat Island Ballroom and Lodge.

Eve can't wait to leave St. Paul, a notorious haven for gangsters. At seventeen, she considers her family to be "good people," not lawbreakers like so many in her neighborhood. Thrilled to be moving to a "safe haven," Eve soon forms an unlikely friendship with a strange young man named Link, blissfully unaware that her uncle's lodge is anything but what it seems.

When the reality of her situation finally becomes clear, Eve is faced with a dilemma. Does she dare risk everything by exposing the man whose love and generosity is keeping her family from ruin? And when things turn dangerous, can she trust Link in spite of appearances?

The more I read Ann Tatlock's book, the more I enjoy her style of writing.  This book sucks you in right from the first chapter.  Eve is such an easy character to love and to understand.  I will say I figured out who was who and what was what quite early on; so if I figured it out you will too!!!

It wasn't a hard book to read and you will want to know what will happen next.

Stars out of 5 : 5 A great book, well worth purchasing or borrowing from your local library.

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

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

"Jennifer," by Dee Henderson

"Jennifer," by Dee Henderson

It's a summer of change for Jennifer O'Malley.

The busy physician has a pediatrics practice in Dallas, Texas, and meeting and falling in love with surgeon Tom Peterson is adding a rich layer to her life. She's sorting out how to introduce Tom to her family--she's the youngest of seven--and thinking about marriage.

She's falling in love with Jesus too, and knows God is good. But that faith is about to be tested, and in a way she didn't expect. The results will soon transform her entire family.

Inside the front cover of the book it says this:

In this "story behind the story," of Dee Henderson's popular O'Malley series, Dr. Jennifer O'Malley meets the man who will love her for a lifetime.........

I forgot about this as I was reading this book, which was a problem as this book would have made more sense, as it was I finished the book thinking, "well that was a weird book."  At the end there is an Author's note that says:

Jennifer's story continues throughout the O'Malley series and can be found in "The Negotiator," Book One.

So I need to read that book to continue to see what is going to happen to Jennifer and her friend Tom.  As it was this book ended in such a strange way it was disappointing.  It's not that I didn't like this book, I did; it's just that it left me feeling half empty if you know what I mean?  I can guarantee you will want/have to read The Negotiator after this book.

Stars out of 5 : 3.5  Overall I enjoy Dee's books, but this one was a bit strange to me.

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

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

"Undeniably Yours," by Becky Wade

"Undeniably Yours," by Becky Wade

When Meg Cole's father dies unexpectedly, she's forced to return home to Texas and to Whispering Creek Ranch to take up the reins of his empire. The last thing she has the patience or the sanity to deal with? Her father's Thoroughbred racehorse farm. She gives its manager, Bo Porter, six months to close the place down.

Bo knows he ought to resent the woman who's determined to take from him the only job he ever wanted. But instead of anger, Meg evokes within him a profound desire to protect. The more time he spends with her, the more he longs to overcome every obstacle that separates them and earn her love.

Just when Meg realizes she can no longer deny the depth of her feelings for Bo, their fragile bond is broken by a force from Meg's past. Can their relationship--and their belief that God can work through every circumstance--survive?

Another super book by Becky Wade.  Great story that keeps you interested from the first page.  The lead characters are so good for one another it's crazy.  You will click what the "Force from Meg's past," is but you won't believe what's going to happen, which was a great twist in the book.

It was one of those good beats evil books and the way Becky built up the characters you hope there are more books to follow, as there is so much more to tell especially about Bo Porter's family.  Also who doesn't love a handsome cowboy!!!!

Stars out of 5 : 5 Another winning book, easy to read and a story that will get you sucked in right away and wanting more!!

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

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

"When Love Calls," by Lorna Seilstad

"When Love Calls," by Lorna Seilstad

When romance calls, will she choose to answer?
Hannah Gregory is good at many things, but that list does not include following rules. So when she must apply for a job as a switchboard operator to support her two sisters, she knows it won't be easy. Hello Girls must conduct themselves according to strict-and often bewildering-rules, which include absolutely no consorting with gentlemen while in training.

Hannah doubts it will be difficult to keep that rule-until a handsome young lawyer starts getting under her skin.

I loved, loved, loved this book!  Did I mention I loved this book?  All the characters were great; they all meshed together well.  Hannah and Lincoln's love story was good.  I loved the historic detail of the book.  It was an interesting subject set around the Hello Girls, and you can read more about them here

This is the first in a series about the Gregory Sisters and you can be sure I will be reading the rest of the series, as we are introduced to the other two sisters in this book and they are as delightful as their older sister Hannah.

Stars out of  5 : 5 You are sucked into the story right away and I don't have anything negative to say about this book.  One of the best I have read in a while.  Wish the second one was ready to read now!!

"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".

"Adoring Addie," by Leslie Gould

"Adoring Addie," by Leslie Gould

Not Since Romeo and Juliet Has a Couple Faced Odds This Long

The Cramers and Mosiers have been angry with each other for as long as anyone can remember. Things had cooled to a simmer...until Addie Cramer and Jonathan Mosier fell head over heels for each other. Now old tensions are renewed, and Addie's parents insist she marry stolid and uninspiring Phillip Eicher.

Distraught at a future apart, the two decide their best hope is to reconcile the two families...but that means digging into the past to see what tore them apart. Will their love be enough to keep them together or will long-held secrets ruin their chance at happiness?

One of the things I loved about this book, was that Leslie made the family so real, warts and all.  Very few families are perfect and the ones portrayed in the book were no exception.  That in itself made the book more relate able; at least to me.  Addie falling in love with the "enemy" not only makes things worse, but brings old feelings and feuds to a head.

Addie and Johnathan were made for one another and you want to knock their parents heads together to make them see sense in all of this.

Stars out of 5 : 5 I loved this book, it was interesting and very "real." It was an easy book to read and the story sucked you in right from the start.  You also get reacquainted to some of the characters from the first book in the series "Courting Cate."

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

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