"Prepared for a Purpose," by Antoinette Tuff with Alex Tresniowski

"Prepared for a Purpose," by Antoinette Tuff with Alex Tresniowski

870 children waited in fear as their elementary school rushed into lock down mode. As the nation faced yet another Sandy Hook story of tragedy, one woman rewrote the ending.

Yet the story doesn't start with those first steps Michael Hill took into that Atlanta elementary school. It starts with Antoinette Tuff, a woman who faced her own pain, hurt, and rejection, yet held onto grace, faith, and hope. A hope that anchored her in the most high-stakes moments, a grace that allowed her to empathize with a hurting young man, and a faith that gave her the courage to love him back from the brink.

This is more than just the amazing account of tragedy averted. It's the evidence of what we can do when we allow ourselves to be used by God. And it's a story of how God uses all of our life experiences--the good and the bad--to prepare us for our own moment of divine purpose.

I am a big believer in things happen for a reason.  Everything in life is a learning experience, with some of the things happening to teach us things and some things to make us dig into our resources of what has happened in the past and put them to good use.

This book is all of that and more.  What Antoinette went through that day is not an everyday occurrence, but the way she handled the situation did make it seem that God had prepared her for this day and knew she could handle it.  However I am also a big believer in inner strength and we all have that hidden inside of us and sometimes we have to use it.  Luckily for the children and staff at the school, Antoinette has a huge bundle of inner strength inside of her.

Even her life story up to the point of the siege was quite remarkable.  She went through so many things in her life that would have weakened many of us; but in her case it only made her stronger.

Stars out of 5 : 5 A book well worth reading, as it makes you appreciate your own life and even question what would you do if this were to happen to you.  If you get chance to read this book snap it up, you won't regret it.

"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".

"Wildwood Creek," by Lisa Wingate

Allie Kirkland has always heard the call of her father's unfinished destiny. When she's offered a production assistant's job on a docudrama filming in the hills near Moses Lake, Texas, the dream of following in her director-father's footsteps suddenly seems within reach. The reenactment of the legendary frontier settlement of Wildwood is a first step into the film industry. A summer on set in the wilderness is a small price to pay for a dream.

But in 1861, the real Wildwood held dangerous realities. Town founder Harland Delavan held helpless residents, including young Irish schoolteacher Bonnie Rose, in an iron grip. Mysterious disappearances led to myths and legends still retold in the region's folk songs. Eventually, the entire site was found abandoned.

When filming begins, strange connections surface between Allie and the teacher who disappeared over a century ago, and everyone in Wildwood--including Blake Fulton, Allie's handsome neighbor on the film set--seems to be hiding secrets. Allie doesn't know whom she can trust. If she can't find the answers in time, history may repeat itself...with the most unthinkable results.

What a super book.  It really is two stories in one and it keeps flipping back and forward between them.  Both are interesting and they want you to know what is going to happen next.  There is a twist near the end that you won't anticipate that's for sure.  Love both the main characters in the both stories and they add to the realness of the stories.  I think there is another book to be written about Bonnie Rose, if the author is reading this!!!

If you have read any of the other books in the Moses Lake series, you will recognize a couple of the characters in this book from the other books.

Stars out of 5 : 4.5  The only reason I didn't give it a five out of five was that it does take you a couple of chapters to get into the story and to figure out where this book is going.  It really is well worth reading and a book I would recommend.

"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".

"No One To Trust," by Lynette Eason

"No One To Trust," by Lynette Eason

She doesn't know who she's running from--and the man she loves may be someone else entirely

Summer Abernathy wakes up one morning to find her husband missing, three men in her home intent on finding him, and the life she's been living based on a lie. Which Kyle Abernathy did she marry? The computer programmer she met in line at the bank? Or the one who was apparently using that image as a cover?

The search for her husband--and answers--takes Summer ever deeper into a world of organized crime where people are used one moment and discarded the next. And with her deepest relationship of trust already shattered, Summer doesn't know who to believe.

Always thrilling, bestselling author Lynette Eason outdoes herself in this taut, breakneck story of lies, loyalties, and love that will have you up all night to discover the truth hidden in the shadows.

I LOVED this book, I read it in one session during the afternoon and evening.  I could not put it down as it was that good, I HAD to know what was going to happen next.  It was so interesting and such a fast paced story, I was hooked right away.  Without giving the story away, you honestly don't know who is telling the truth half the time.  It makes for a great story and showed a different part of life that I was not familiar with.

Stars out of 5 : 5 It is a must read and so well worth your time.  I would give it more stars if I could as it was that good.  This is a book I would truly recommend you reading.

"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".

"All Things Hidden," by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse

"All Things Hidden," by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse

Gwyn Hillerman loves being a nurse at her father's clinic on the beautiful Alaskan frontier. But family life has been rough ever since her mother left them, disdaining the uncivilized country and taking Gwyn's younger sister with her.

In Chicago, Dr. Jeremiah Vaughan finds his life suddenly turned upside down when his medical license is stripped away after an affluent patient dies. In a snowball effect, his fiance breaks their engagement. In an attempt to bury the past, Jeremiah accepts Dr. Hillerman's invitation to join his growing practice in the ited Alaska Territory.

Gwyn and Jeremiah soon recognize a growing attraction to each other. But when rumors of Jeremiah's past begin to surface, they'll need more than love to face the threat of an uncertain future.

I found this book a bit slow but interesting all the same.  You were kept entertained but honestly there were no real surprises.  I did however learn something new as I had never heard of the Matanuska Project before, so that part of the book was really interesting.

Also make sure you read the author's notes at the end of the book, there are some interesting facts in there that were included in the book.

Stars out of 5 : 4 It wasn't a hard book to read and the story did keep going at a steady pace.  I just didn't find it gripping enough for me.  I would recommend reading the book though as it is an easy read.

"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".

"Orchard of Hope," by Ann H. Gabhart

"Orchard of Hope," by Ann H. Gabhart

It is 1964, and 14-year-old Jocie Brooke is about to have an unforgettable summer. Her father has found a new love, her hippie sister is about to have a baby, and her aunt is finally pleasurable to live with. But, when a black family from Chicago moves into the quiet hamlet of Holly County, Kentucky, Jocie finds herself befriending a boy that some townspeople shun. Due to the unspoken racial lines in this southern town, the presence of these newcomers sparks a smoldering fire of unrest that will change Holly County--and Jocie--forever.

Orchard of Hope, the riveting sequel to The Scent of Lilacs, takes readers along to experience unexpected love, fear, forgiveness, new life, and a deeper understanding of the value of each individual's story.

It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did I couldn't put it down as it got more and more interesting.  One of the things that both fascinated and shocked me at the same time was the racial upset that occured.  As never experiencing something of that nature I can only imagine how frightening it must have been for people.  Both as victims and onlookers.  I thought the way Ann wrote that into the story was very well done.

It does help if you have read Ann's first book in this series Scent of Lilacs as the story carries on from where that one left off.  I see the next one in the series Summer of Joy is to be released in March of 2014.

Stars out of 5 : 3.5 I struggle getting "hooked," with Ann's books but when I do get "hooked" on the story I love the books, they just don't grasp me right from the very beginning for some reason?  I am enjoying this series of books and they are a well worth read.

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

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

"Chasing Hope," by Kathryn Cushman

"Chasing Hope," by Kathryn Cushman

A Touching Story of Two Unlikely Friends.
The Power of Trust.
The Struggle of Pain.
And How, Sometimes, Following God Can Lead You to the Most Unexpected Places.
A talented runner determined to make the Olympics, Sabrina Rice had her dreams shattered by a devastating diagnosis. One forfeited scholarship and several years later, she's forged a new vision for her future that has nothing to do with running, which she's buried deep, intent on forgetting...

Until the day she sees Brandy Philip running across the college campus, easily outpacing security. Sabrina immediately recognizes world class potential, and it's all the more painful that it belongs to a troublemaking teen. When a chance encounter brings the two young women together, Sabrina realizes she's Brandy's best hope to salvage a life about to spiral out of control forever.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I didn't think I would, but I was hooked right from the start.  The author kept information from the readers to keep you wondering about certain things.  Sabrina had to give up so much but you're not sure exactly for why, until later on in the book.

You're not sure if Brandy will succeed and I'll be honest the Epilogue resonated so deep within me it made the book even more special.

Stars out of 5 : 5 I could read this again as it was so good.  It is a must read in my opinion as it shows how much courage and determination and faith in God some people have.

"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".

"Fired Up," by Mary Connealy

"Fired Up," by Mary Connealy

When a doctor who attracts danger falls for a cook determined to make it on her own, there's going to be trouble in Texas!

Glynna Greer came west as a mail-order bride and ended up in a bad situation. Now her husband, Flint, is dead, and she's determined to make a go of it on her own. In a town full of men, Glynna decides she can support her two children by opening a diner--never mind that cooking is not her greatest talent.

Dare Riker is a doctor who saves lives, but someone seems determined to end his. It may have something to do with the traitors he dealt with during the Civil War, or it might be related to the recent incident with Flint Greer and the ranch. Whoever the culprit is, he or she seems really fired up, and Dare can't let his guard down for a moment--which is a challenge, since right now he's trying to win the heart of the recently widowed Glynna.

Though his doctoring business is booming due to Glynna's questionable cooking, Dare seems to encounter unexpected dangers wherever he goes. There's the avalanche. And the fire. And then the shadowy figure with a knife. Can Dare survive it all long enough to convince Glynna to take another chance on love?

This book had a bit of everything in it.  A bit of mystery, a bit of laughter, some romance and a fast pace story that kept you interested and fully involved in the story.  This is the second book in the "Trouble in Texas," series and it was every bit as good as the first book.  

Both Glynna and Dare are made for one another, it's just a case of them figuring it out and it makes for a good chunk of the story them figuring it out.

Stars out of 5 : 5 Great book well worth the read and well worth either buying or borrowing from the 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".