Book Review: Return to Me

Return to Me

By Lynn Austin

I will be honest, I have tried to read this three-four times over the past three months and had a really hard time getting it into it and having the desire to continue reading.  I would start, read a chapter maybe two and just give up.  I still can not decide if it was the writing or the setting or what.  But this past week I decided to give it one more shot.  I started reading at Chapter Three.  I am now about half way through and I am liking the book.

The characters make the story.  I want to know what is going to happen to Yael and her dad.  Is everyone going to get really mad at her for going against the grain although she is still rather young?  I wan to know if Zechariah is going to be able to keep giving of his full self to his religion or his he going to realize he needs balance?  I want to know if Dinah is going to give up and return to her children and grandchildren.

I have not finished this book yet, but this review is due.  I have all intentions of finishing the book and updating this review.

Currently i give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

To read more about this book check out here:

 http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/return-to-me/328870 

And yes, I received this book for free from Bethany House for this review.  But I told the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!

PS If you want to review books too check out this website www.bethanyhouse.com/bookreviewers

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Book Review: Dark Road Home

Dark Road Home

By Elizabeth Ludwig

I found this book hard to read.  It was extremely slow going.  It seemed to me to go in a circle and not really make any plot development until the last 75 pages or so.  It took me over a month to read this book because I would get bored put it down for a few days, come back to it, read some more and get bored, take a break etc.

With that said, I did want to know what was going to happen to the characters.  I wanted to know if Ana and Eoghan were going to make their relationship work.  I did want to know if Eoghan was going to patch things with his sisters.  I did want to know if Eoghan’s past was going to meet up with Ana’s past and how that was going to affect things.  I appreciated how Ana and Eoghan both grew in this book and became less focused on themselves and more focused on others.  Towards the end of the book I missed reading about the little girl and others who you were introduced at the beginning of the book but kind of just disappeared!  I would kind of suggest reading the first chapter or two to get an introduction and than maybe just reading the last 75-100 pages!

I give this book 2 out of 5 stars.

And yes, I received this book for free from Bethany House for this review.  But I told the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!

PS If you want to review books too check out this website www.bethanyhouse.com/bookreviewers

Flashback Thursday: March 2013

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Cabin 2013

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Family Pictures

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The Girls...

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Week of July 22

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Children's Museum (sometime in May??)

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Hard Things....

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Book Review: Sweet Mercy by Ann Tatlock

From http://www.anntatlock.com/book-sweet-mercy.php:

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?

My thoughts:

I enjoyed reading this book and watching Eve grow.  She was a seventeen year old and was responsible and an honest person.  But there was just something about her that makes you want her to change just a little bit.  She was just a little too good.  She had not fully experienced life.  As the reader, you watch Eve experience love and heartbreak.

Not to spoil the book, but as Eve is faced with a dilemma.  Does she do what she would normally do and be the perfect law abiding citizen or does she help out her family but walking away.  I enjoyed watching Eve grow as she faced this dilemma.  

Besides watching Eve grow, I learned about the feelings of prohibition.  I know what prohibition is and the reasons for it.  But I never realized how affected those that did not drink anyway but had to live during prohibition.

Link helped me realize how you can not judge a person by appearances.  There were hard times back than.  Eve learned this too has she helped link with food.  

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

And yes, I received this book for free from Bethany House for this review.  But I told the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!

PS If you want to review books too check out this website www.bethanyhouse.com/bookreviewers

Book Review: Stealing the Preacher

Stealing the Preacher

By Karen Witmeyer

From Baker Publishing Website:

A cowboy who wants to be a preacher. An outlaw's daughter who wants to change his mind.

On his way to interview for a position at a church in the Piney Woods of Texas, Crockett Archer can't believe it when he's forced off the train by an outlaw and presented to the man's daughter as the preacher she requested for her birthday. He's determined to escape--which would be much easier if he could stop thinking about Joanna Robbins and her unexpected request.

For months, Joanna had prayed for a minister. A man to breathe life back into the abandoned church at the heart of her community. A man to assist her in fulfilling a promise to her dying mother. But just when it seems her prayers have been answered, it turns out the parson is there against his will and has dreams of his own calling him elsewhere. Is there any way she can convince Crockett he ended up right where he was supposed to be?

With her signature blend of humor, history, and lively western romance, two-time RITA Award finalist and bestselling author Karen Witemeyer delivers a Texas love story sure to steal your heart.

My thoughts:

I enjoyed how this book jumped right in with excitement on the train.  You fall in love with Crockett Archer and you want him to help JoAnna out.

I learned a lot about patience and things happening at the right time as I watched Joanna’s dad change.  He had a lot of things that he personally needed to work out, no one else could do it for him.  It was a personal thing he had to work out before he could change.  There were times that I even looked inside myself to see if there was something holding me back from accomplishing a task or making a friend or changing.

This book was a little preachy.  But you will fall in love with all the characters and want to keep reading.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars!

And yes, I received this book for free from Bethany House for this review.  But I told the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

PS If you want to review books too check out this website www.bethanyhouse.com/bookreviewers

Rochesterfest

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Book Review: Sweet Sanctuary

Sweet Sanctuary
by Kim Vogel Sawyer

From Baker Publishing Website:

A Story of Hope and Love Set Against the Backdrop of World War II

Lydia Eldredge longs to provide sanctuary for her young son, Nicky. But a constant threat comes from Nicky's drug-addicted father, who wants the boy and seems willing to do whatever it takes to get him.

Dr. Micah Hatcher faithfully serves the immigrant population of Queens, New York. But under cover of darkness, he has a secret mission that challenges everything he thought he wanted out of life.

When Lydia and Micah's paths cross, they are suddenly wrapped up in each other's callings. Together, they seek a refuge of safety--for Nicky, for themselves, and for the needy people God puts into their lives. Amid turmoil and discord, can hope and love prevail?


My thoughts:
The characters sold me on this book. I feel in love with them. I felt there pain, their hardships, their love. I felt the struggles Lydia of keeping Nikky save and wanting to help others.

Micah really holds these characters together. You realize all that Micah does for others in the clinic, his brother, Lydia's family. You feel for Micah and I love how Micah just steps up and solves problems for others and never thinks of himself until the very end.

I enjoyed watching the characters each face their struggles head on and how they would seek God's help and advice.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

And yes, I received this book for free from Bethany House for this review. But I told the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!

PS If you want to review books too check out this website www.bethanyhouse.com/bookreviewers 

4 Months Old (May 6, 2013)

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The Guardian by Beverly Lewis

The Guadian
by Beverly Lewis

From Bethany Publishing Website:

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.

My thoughts:

This book started out really strong.  It starts right out with a lot of action and suspense and you want to read more.  I loved getting to know the characters of the story and watching them come to life.  I enjoyed following Jodi as she grows and learns from the people of Hickory Hollow.  I also enjoyed watching Maryanna as she too changed.  As Maryanna lost her child and reuniting with her child and the story continues you really want Maryanna to be able to overcome the death of her husband from years before and to have a full life.  As Jodi's life crosses Maryanna you, the reader, are able to watch as they both overcome their challenges and are able to love and grow.

I did think the middle book was necessary for learning about all the characters and such but it was rather slow.

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

And yes, I received this book for free from Bethany House for this review.  But I told the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!

PS If you want to review books too check out this website www.bethanyhouse.com/bookreviewers

Blessing Weekend (March 15-17, 2013)

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Rachel Blessing Day (March 17, 2013)

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Book Review: Love in the Balance

Love in the Balance
By Regina Jennings

From Bethany Publishing Website:

Handsome Cowboy or Debonair Tycoon.
How's a Girl to Choose?

Molly Lovelace dreams of a life without cares in Lockhart, Texas. She also dreams of handsome wrangler Bailey Garner, her ardent but inconsistent beau. The problem is, with Bailey's poor prospects, she just can't fit the two dreams together.

Then mysterious stranger Edward Pierrepont sweeps into town--and her life--and for the first time Molly wonders if she's met the man who can give her everything. But he won't be in Lockhart long and while it certainly seems like he talks about their glorious future together, she can't quite get Bailey out of her mind.

What's a girl to do with all these decisions when love is in the balance?

My thoughts:

    I really enjoyed this book.  It kept me wanting more! I really liked all the twists.  It took me a chapter or two to really get into the storyline but once I did I was hooked.  I wanted to know Molly's choices.  I wanted to know if she was going to stand up for herself, honor her family or what.  In the end, she does both.  The characters in this story were easy to get to know and relate to.  I have felt the pressures of family before and wanting to do the right thing.  I have felt lost like Bailey not knowing what to do with my life too.  I ached with Molly has she made her choices want her to choose the things that would make her happy but yet choosing at the time the proper choice.
I also really enjoyed watching the characters mature and grow.  They each had decisions to make and with each choice they grew.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

And yes, I received this book for free from Bethany House for this review.  But I told the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!

PS If you want to review books too check out this website www.bethanyhouse.com/bookreviewers

The rest of February...

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Book Review: To Honor and Trust

To Honor and Trust
by Tracie Peterson & Judith Miller

From Bethany Publishing Website:

Come home to magnificent Bridal Veil Island resort!

Bridal Veil Island, Georgia 1913

Callie Deboyer arrives at Bridal Veil Island to spend the winter working as a governess for the Bridgeport family. However, she finds she can't fully enjoy the beautiful resort because questions about her future weigh heavily on her mind: Should she continue in this job she enjoys, or is God calling her to join her parents in their missionary work?

When she enrolls young Thomas Bridgeport in golf lessons, Callie meets instructor Wesley Townsend, who urges Callie to take lessons, as well. During their time together, Callie comes to care for Wes--until she discovers that he's been hiding something very important from her.

Then expensive pieces go missing from various homes around the island, and suspicion is aimed in Callie's direction. Callie wonders if this is a sign she should leave it all behind and join her parents in Africa. Considering Wesley's deceit, will he ever be a man Callie can honor and trust for the rest of her life?

http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/to-honor-and-trust/327930

My thoughts:

   I really enjoyed this book.  It kept me wanting more!  I feel in love with the characters.  I kept reading because of the characters.  I wanted to know what Callie decided to do with her future.  I kept reading because I wanted to know what Wes was going to do about his family.  I kept reading to learn about the Bridgeport children.  As each character developed they each played a part in the plot development.  I noticed this is the third book in the Bridal Veil Island series.  I feel like the characters developed and I can leave the be and I am happy not wondering what is going to happen in their lives.  I have not read books 1 and 2 yet however when reading this book, I did not feel like I was missing anything.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

And yes, I received this book for free from Bethany House for this review.  But I told the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!

This week...

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Last Week

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Quarantine

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Our New Favorite Toy...

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First Bath (1/12/2013)

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One Week Old (1/13/2013)

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The Bathroom Redo

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Introducing...

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January 2013...so far

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Sledding with Grandpa

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Christmas Day

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Daddy's Birthday

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Christmas Eve

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Abigail's 3rd Birthday

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