A Most Inconvenient Marriage by Regina Jennings

Abigail was a Civil War nurse who escaped a difficult family life and nursed soldiers in a prison.  She agrees to marry Jeremiah on his death bed and go to his family home to care for his sister and help with the horses, something she grew up doing.  When she's been at the family home for awhile she is in for a big surprise!

Throughout the books she is both learning and helping others.

I had a hard timer getting into this book.  I didn't feel drawn to the characters in the way I normally do.  While there were several interesting situations that did come up, I just did not fully enjoy the story line.

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for the sole purpose of this review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expresses herein are my own.

A Matter of Heart by Tracie Peterson

This was the 3rd book in Tracie Peterson's Long Star Brides series.  It was just as great as the first two!!

Jessica's heart was broken when the man she planned to marry, married someone else.  She comes to realize she doesn't like the person she has become and vows to make a change.  Throughout the story she struggles with making the change and getting people to accept the way she has changed.

She meets two different people,Harrison Gable who could give her the life style that she was grown accustomed to and give her everything she desires and Austin Todd who has a broken and painful past and a very kind nature,  Jessica follows her heart and it leads to one of these two men.

Throughout her struggles to discover who she really is and her desire to change, Jessica is drawn back to God and a desire to follow his will for her life.  Through all of it Jessica learns who her friends are and who will help her along the way.

Ms. Peterson's third book was to hard to put down!  She does a wonderful job of pulling you into her stories and making you feel like you really know her characters.  Once again she has produced a wonderful book.  One I highly recommend.

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for the sole purpose of this review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expresses herein are my own.

A Bride in Store by Melissa Jagears

Eliza has answered a mail order bride and is going to held in the store that he runs.  She decides to arrive early to surprise him.  Only to discover he (Axel)  wasn't there!!!  While she waits for him to return, she works with her fiances partner, Will, who starts to fall for her and she for him.

Eliza encounters many troubles from her arrival in town until when her fiance returns.  Will always seems to be there to help her.  She tries to help her to become the doctor he wants to be.

Eliza is a very strong and determined women.  Something that is rare to be seen in the time period that this is set in, especially since she starts and runs her own general store.

Will struggles to follow what he really desires to do.  He wants to be a doctor, but lacks the resources to fulfill his dreams.  While most of the town people are supportive of him and go to him for help, the town doctor is not supportive of him and won't help him.

I really enjoyed this book.  I enjoy historical fiction books and have read many books about mail order brides.  I can't imagine traveling far from home to marry someone you have only every written about in letters.  As Eliza learned, letters don't always tell the full truth about the person.

Ms. Jagears does a great job in describing the story and pulling you into the story and what is happening.

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for the sole purpose of this review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expresses herein are my own.

Answering Your Kids Toughest Questions by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson

This book was written by a mother and daughter team and deals with answer some questions your kids might ask you.  Some of the topics dealt with include death, Satan, divorce, natural disasters, fighting and killing and a few other topics.  Each chapter describes what your child might ask and some possible explanations and real life situations that can apply.  Each chapter gives you a breakdown of a suggest script for pre-school age, age 5 to 10 and age 11 and up.

While I didn't agree with everything that was suggested and said, a lot of what they do say are good suggestions of how you can deal with these questions and situations.  They answer all these questions from a Godly and Biblical basis.  It is refreshing to see when there are so many other books or suggestions out there that keep God out of answering some of these questions.

I don't have any kids, but wanted to get this book to see if it might be helpful to me as I work with kids on a regular basis at my church.  This book might be helpful to parents who struggle with knowing how to answer some of their kids questions.  While I fully understand the lack of time for parents to read, this book is short (under 200 pages) and a quick read.

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for the sole purpose of this review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expresses herein are my own.

Experiencing the Loss of a Family Member by H Norman Wright

Dr. Wright does a wonderful job at explaining what the world of grief can be like for some people. While I myself have not experienced a profound lost, I have many friends who have, and this opened up my eyes to understand what they are going through.

He was able to share personal experience when it came to talk about the loss of a spouse or the loss of a child.  In each and every section when talking about the loss of a spouse, child, parent, sibling, friend or pet, he talks about how we are not alone and God is with you every step of the way.  He walk talks about the pain people feel in the loss of a loved one who are often forgotten.  The grandparents who loss a grandchild.  The sibling who lost a brother or sister.  The person who lost their best friend.

The last chapter, and through each chapter, he gives wonderful insights on how we can be there for someone who has lost a loved one.  

Dr. Wright is a grief and trama therapist and knows what he is talking about.  While reading through his book, I couldn't decide who I wanted to share this book with more, a friend who recently lost a child or someone I know who lost their spouse.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has lost a loved one or know someone who has lost a loved one.

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for the sole purpose of this review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expresses herein are my own.

Proverbs 31 - The Virtuous Woman

This morning in my Bible reading, I read Proverbs 31.  As I was reading through the verses about the virtuous woman in verses 10-31 it got me thinking. In the past when I've read the verses or heard about them, the only thought that ever comes to mind is a married woman.  Well what about me?  I'm single.  Can't I be a virtuous woman?  Can't these verses apply to me.  True the verses about her husband and her children won't apply as I don't have any, but what about the rest?  What about the verses where it talks about her work to provide for her family.  I have to work to provide for myself.  She's a women who keeps herself busy doing work for her family.  I don't have family, but I have a church family.  Why can't I keep myself busy doing things for them?  Doing things for the Lord?

I had to read verse 30 a couple of different times.  "Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised." That verse does apply to me!  I want to be (and hope I am) one that feareth the Lord.  While I don't necessarily want praise for the work I do, I do hope that the work I can do can be a blessing to someone.  Verse 31 says, "Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates."

I have said in the past that I have time on my hands that someone who is married with kids doesn't have.  Why don't I use that time?  I hope that when I move to Sackville, that maybe I can better use some of that time to help my church family, as I will be living much closer to them!

True I still have a desire to get married and have children, but I am content with being single and in the position that I am.  I know this is what God has for me and if he has for me to get married, he will show that to me in his time.   Paul says in  I Corinthians 7:7-8 "For I would that all men were even as I myself.  But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.  I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I."

Being single is a good thing and I can, with God's help, do my best to be that Virtuous Woman.

A Moment in Time by Tracie Peterson

This is the second book in Tracie Peterson's series Lone Star Brides.

Alice, Marty and Jake all move to Texas back to the ranch where Marty's family lives.  Times are hard in Colorado and the move was necessary.  While Marty does not enjoy the move, Alice feels as if it is answer to prayer as it gets her away from everything that has happened to her and her family.  However, she finds out some shocking news that could potentially change everything.  Through everything that happens Alice learns to put her trust in God and that he knows and is handling her future.  Alice also meets someone who captures her heart, and she captures his heart.

I was so excited to get my hands on this book, after the first book in the series left me hanging and wanting for more!  Once I picked this book up, I couldn't put it down and finished it in two days.  (Unlimited free time due to vacation helped)  Once again Tracie Peterson has done a fantastic job.  I really enjoy her writing.  I can't wait for more books in this series!!

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for the sole purpose of this review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expresses herein are my own.

Persecuted by Robin Parrish

Persecuted tells the story of a pastor, John Luther, who lives in the United States who faces persecution for his beliefs and his refusal to support the Faith and Fairness Act, a new religious-equality bill going through the halls of Congress.  When Luther is accused of a crime he did not commit, he goes on the run to prove his innocence.  During every twist and turn he finds out more and more about the truth and what is really going on.  He finds out who is friends are and who is enemies are.  Luther stands up for what he believes in and in the end...well I won't ruin the end for you.  Luther stands up for the truth of the Gospel through all that he goes through.

I have to admit that I had a hard time getting into this book.  A book needs to capture me in the first chapter for me to really enjoy it and this one didn't.  Now I was having a very crazy busy week when I started to read this, but I think I would have the same issue if I had started it when I wasn't so busy.  The book did capture me further into the book, but at that point I was forcing myself to pick up the book and read it.  I did enjoy it by the end, and stayed up past the time I needed to be going to sleep so I could finish it!

I also had to think when I was reading this book.  If something like this were to happen here in Canada, what would my reaction be?  Would I stand firm for the Gospel?  I certainly hope I would!

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for the sole purpose of this review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expresses herein are my own.

A Shining Light by Judith Miller

Andrea Wilson returns to her father's farm after receiving news that her husband has died.  When she gets there she discovered the home she grew up in has burned to the ground and her father died in the fire.  Her father had sold his farm to the nearby Amana village.  As Andrea has no money and no place to stay, the Amana village take her and her young son in.  Her young son, Lukas, is taken under the wing of the tin-smith Dirk, who is starting to fall in love with Andrea.  Andrea is beginning to adjust to the simple life the Amanda people live and is looking at a possible future with Dirk when a visitor arrives that could change everything for Andrea, Lukas and Dirk.

Andrea lived in a time where women had few rights.  She had lived a hard life with her husband who was not good to her or her son.  She had an opportunity of a new life and to start over again with the Amana people.  She was slowly learning to love again and growing closer to God.

I really enjoyed this story.  I hadn't ready any books by Judith Miller before and I am looking forward to reading more by her and especially reading the first two books in this series as this was the third!

I did find myself turning to the internet to look up about the Amana people.  I had never heard of them before, but felt they sounded a lot like the Amish people.  It was very interesting reading about the Amana Colonies and how they started.  You can read about them here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amana_Colonies

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishes for purpose of this review.  I was not required to write a positive review, the opinions I have expressed are my own.

Lost & Found - by Sarah Jakes

This autobiography tells of Ms. Jakes struggles she went through in her teenage years.  She is the daughter of a pastor and had a baby at the age of 14.  She talks about what she went through in those early years and how people reacted. She also talks about what lessons she learned.  

She also talks about her marriage and divorce and the lessons she learned from that.

Well the book is well written, I struggle to recommend it to anyone to read.  There is no where in the book where she mentions to asking God to forgive her for the sins she committed.  There is no where she mentions going before the church and asking forgiveness, when this is something commanded in Scripture.


I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for purpose of this review, I was not required to write a positive review, the opinions I have expressed are my own.

A Sensible Arrangement by Tracie Peterson

I have read several of Tracie Peterson's books and was eager to read a new one.  She is always great at capturing your attention and keeping it throughout the whole book.  I found it hard to put it down at night when I needed to go to bed!

Marty is a widow he doesn't want to live in Texas anymore.  She is angry with God over the death of her husband.  She answers an add in the paper to be a "Lone Star Bride" and moved to Colorado without telling her family.

Jake is a man that has been hurt deeply by his first wife.  He doesn't want to re-marry but is pressured into it do to his new position at the bank where he works.  Both of them agree this will be a marriage of convenience.

I love reading about how they both need to go to the high society events and how uncomfortable it makes both of them feel.  The servants that work for them are great.  Alicia's back story is heartbreaking, but it's great to see her grow and how Marty is able to help her.  Mr. Brighton and Mrs. Landry kept me laughing throughout the book!

I did learn some about how the fall of silver in Colorado in 1893 and the effect it had on the city.

The only downside to the book was that it ended to abruptly!! I wanted to know more about what happens to Marty and Jake!  Where do they go??? What happens with Alicia?? What happens with the orphans that Marty was working with??? I need to know more!! As this is the first book in a series, I certainly hope the next book in the series brings us back to these people!

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for purpose of this review, I was not required to write a positive review, the opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Pleasure of His Company by Dutch Sheets

I had a hard time reading this book, not due to bad writing, but there was to many things that I disagreed with.

It was clear from near the beginning of the book, before I looked anything up, that he is part of a much more liberal church.  After looking up the place where he went to school and works, I wasn't surprised to see a rock band advertised as having been there.  

I didn't agree with a lot of his philosophies and ways of worship.  This is one book that I cannot see myself recommending to anyone to read.

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for purpose of this review, I was not required to write a positive review, the opinions I have expressed are my own.

At Peace in the Storm by Ken Gire

When you finding yourself wanting to grab a highlighter and highlight something in the book, and it's only the introduction, you know you are in for a good read!

There were a lot of quotes and statements that Mr Gire made that were a encouragement and a blessing to me.  While I might not have agreed with everything he said (when it came along the lines of movies) I found this book to be a great encouragement.

This would be a good book to give to someone who you know is going through a hard time and might be struggling in some different areas of there life and not understanding why something has happened.

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for purpose of this review, I was not required to write a positive review, the opinions I have expressed are my own.

Wildwood Creek by Lisa Wingate

I loved the way that the author perfectly entwined the stories of Allie and Bonnie together.   Lisa did a perfect job at drawing you into the lives of both of the characters.

Bonnie and Allie may have lived over 150 years apart from each other, but the lives they lived were so very similar to each other.  They both experienced sadness and lost in their past and they both struggled to be accepted.

As Allie learns more about Wildwood and what happened there, it leaves the reader wondering what happened to Wildwood and wanting to know more.  What happened to everyone at Wildwood? Where did all the people go?  What happened to Bonnie?

Having Allie play the part of Bonnie in the re-enactement of Wildwood, makes the story even more intriguing, especially when things start to happen at the location.  Whose behind it all?  Is the same thing that happened so many years ago happening again?

I really encourage you to read this book and find out more!

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for purpose of this review, I was not required to write a positive review, the opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen

Another great book by Julie Klassen!  I've read a few of her books now and this is her newest one.

I loved how when the book starts out the main character, Julia, is protrayed as a spoiled rich girl.  However, as you read more and more you find out some much more about her.  Alec comes to town to start a dancing and fencing school, only to discover that dancing has been outlawed in this town for some time!  But why???  That question slowly gets answered throughout the story.  There is a character introduced early on that has an air of mystery about him.  Who is?  What is doing in the town?  Does he have anything to do with why dancing is outlawed?  

I enjoyed how Ms. Klassen introduced each of her characters and then slowly throughout the story let you know a little more about them.  The mystery going on through the story keeps you wanting to read for me and leaves you routing for some of the main characters!  I also enjoyed the romance in the story between not just one set of characters and the complications that there can be between two people who are of different social standings.  

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for purpose of this review, I was not required to write a positive review, the opinions I have expressed are my own.