Hannah's Choice by Jan Drexler

 

Hannah's Choice by Jan Drexler is an Amish book set in 1842.  Hannah Yoder loves her quiet life by the Conestoga Creek in Lancaster County.  Hannah tries her best to hold her family together after the tragic loss of three of her siblings.  It's something her mother has never gotten over.  She also tries hard to get her sister Liesbet to be obedient and to stop sneaking around.

Hannah has grown up with Adam, a Mennonite.    Adam is in love with Hannah, but Hannah doesn't want to leave her faith and Adam doesn't want to become Amish.  Hannah  then meets Josef.  A young Amish man who desire to court her.  When her father decides the family needs a new start and they are going to move west, Hannah needs to make a choice.  Will she turn Mennonite and marry Adam and help him in his work? Or will she leave her beloved home and go with her family and marry Josef?

Your heart breaks for the ache Hannah's mom feels for the loss of her children and the struggle she has to overcome it.  Hannah is the glue that tries to hold her family together.  She finds she needs to stay strong and tries to not let it be known she feels responsible for the death of her siblings.  She takes that and works hard on her sister Liesbet to get her to stay true to her believes.  She struggles with the decision she needs to make but in the end she knows she makes the right ones.

I did find a couple portions of the book a little anti-climatic and could have been built up a little more.  Other then that it was a really good book.  I won't ruin it and tell you what choices she makes!

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.   I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

Always Watching by Lynette Eason

Always Watching by Lynette Eason tells the story of Wade Savage. Wade is a popular psychiatrist and has a radio talk show.  When it becomes apparent he has a stalker, his father hires Elite Guardians to protect him.   When his own bodyguard is attacked and nearly killed, Olivia Edwards steps in and fills in their place.

Things become more complicated as the stalker starts to do more then just leave innocent gifts.  They attack Wade and threaten his family.  As the stalker becomes more and more dangerous, Olivia herself becomes her target.  Can Olivia and her Elite Guardians keep him safe?  Will they find out who is behind all this?  As the threats become more dangerous, so does the threat to Olivia's heart as she starts to fall for her client.

WOW!!!!  I don't think that is an accurate word to describe this book!  This book is next to impossible to put down once you pick it up! (And nearly makes you miss your bus stop when your reading it on the bus!) It is action packed and moves fast.  You are on the edge of our seat trying to figure out who is behind all of what is going on.  I never saw it coming as to who was behind all that happened!

While the suspense of the book was intense and fast moving, so was the romance going on between the Olivia and Wade.  I was silently rooting them on!  With the history that comes out of both of their pasts, they just seem to be so well suited for each other!

I highly recommend this book! (Though don't try reading it on the bus!)

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.   I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

Debt-Proof Your Marriage: How to Manage Your Money Together by Mary Hunt

 

 Mary Hunt is the founder and publisher of Debt Proof Living.  In this book she gives several steps that spouses can take to became debt free and to strengthen their marriage.  She gives examples of real life experiences, including her own, and adds a little bit of humor in with it.  Some of the main concepts she covers is (1) how to reconcile different money behaviors and beliefs;  (2) where to find money you didn't know you had; and (3) her 10-10-80 solution.  She teaches you how to take care of yourself now, how to clean up what has happened in the past and how to prepare yourself for your future and anything that could come.  She teaches you how you can become debt free which will bring you peace of mind and help to strengthen your marriage.

While I am not married (and at this time don't feel as if it's the Lord's will for me to marry) I felt like I could still learn a lot from this book.  While the first section in the book does deal entirely with marriage and did not apply to me, the rest of the book did.  I took away several good ideas she gave.  The first being her 10-10-80 principal - give away 10%, save 10% and use the remaining 80% for what you need.  Her ideas of the contingency fund, the freedom account and the rapid debt-repayment plan were all something anyone can apply.  Whether single or married.  I myself am all ready using the rapid debt-repayment plan.  I do want to try setting up a freedom account next.  An account where you set aside money for those irregular expenses (like insurance or tax payments) so that when they time comes to pay them, they money is there and you aren't trying to pull it from something else to pay it.  

I found this book to be very helpful.  The only things I found not helpful to me is the fact that she is American and almost every resource she gives for places and websites are entirely US based and doesn't apply her in Canada.  It does want me to research for similar sites and places here though!

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.   I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

Peace

As many know for the last about eight months I have been seeing someone.  For the past couple months now I've been struggling with the relationship and having peace that what I was doing was what God wanted me to do.  Anytime I would think of it and think long term, I just could never see myself married.  It wasn't something I had peace about and constantly struggled with.

I have read several books my Elizabeth George and she always talks about the single women in them.  She always talk about how to apply what she has been talking about to people who are single.   Beautiful in God's Eyes by Elizabeth George talks about Proverbs 31.  I've always looked at that chapter as something that doesn't apply to me.  She opened my eyes to looking at that chapter in a whole new way when she states that the women the kings mother is describing to her son is a single woman who already posses those qualities.  Another book I read by Virginia Ruth Fugate talks about how Paul said that singleness is a special gift from God for certain people (I Cor. 7:7-8).  She goes on to give some short bits of advice and ends by stating to be content in whatever state you find yourself in (Phil 4:11b).

It was through a lot of prayer and support of friends, that I have come to realize that being single at this time is what God wants for me.  I fully believe that I can better serve him as a single lady then I could if I was married with children.  If I was married and had children, they would need to come first in my life.  Right now I can put my service first in my life.  I can devote my full time to my Sunday School class, my JOY Club kids and working in the church nursery and junior church.  I can use my time to help with the ladies group in my church and help in organizing events.  I can have the time to work in the outreach ministry.   I was feeling a heavy burden that I would need to give up several of those things if I were to marry as I more then likely wouldn't have the time to devote to them as I should.

Of course when I was little I dreamed of my wedding day and having my own family some day.  I've come to realize that this is not what is meant to be for me.  However, I do have the three best nephews any Auntie could ever ask for.  (I'm a little biased in that area!)  I currently have seven wonderful Sunday School students (who I love to spoil) and several JOY Club kids that I get to work with every week (and miss those that have moved on to the teen group!).  I realized the other day that I have worked with everyone at my church from age about 15 or 16 on down to the youngest ones.  

The decision I made to end the relationship is one that I have total and complete peace regarding.  I have  complete peace about remaining single.  I believe that is what God wants for me at this time in my life.  As Valentines Day approaches I want to remind myself on that day of the love that God has for me.  His taking away of my sins is the best action of love anyone has ever shown me or will ever show me.

Cold Shot by Dani Pettry

 

 Cold Shot by Dani Pettrey tells the story of Griffin McCray.  Griffin has left a former cop who is trying his best to forget his past and what has happened.  While serving as a park ranger at a Civil War park, remains are discovered that are not from the Civil War.  Forensic anthropologist Dr. Finley Scott comes to examine all the evidence.  As they work together, and grow closer together, Finley discovers evidence that will cause Griffin to bring back his past and use his expertise.  The expertise he doesn't want to bring up.

Griffin is calls in FBI agent Declan Grey someone Griffin grew up with and was close friends with.  With the help of other around them they work to discover who the remains where that they found.  What happened to the victim?  Who is responsible for their death?

I loved how the details of both Griffin and Finley's past were slow to come out.  Throughout about the first half of the book you learn a little more about them and what has shaped them into who they are and why they are doing what they do.  Most of the story does center around Griffin and what has caused him to change what he does.  While he has tried to change and hide his past, he discovers that it cannot remain hidden and he needs to rely on it.

While this story does contain a lot of suspense as the characters unravel what has happened, what is going on now and who is behind all it, there is also a blossoming romance between Griffin and Finley.  Not only between them, but between others they work with as well.  Both story lines were well woven together and came together in a wonderful way.

Throughout the book there was also the story of Griffin and Declan's friend Luke who had disappeared years ago.  While this is not resolved in this book, it was certainly left open as to that possibly being the main story line of the next book.  I cannot wait for the next book to read more about Griffin and Finley and find out what happened to Luke!!

I actually ended up getting this book from two separate companies.  One as an e-book version and one as a paper back version.  Please find below the disclaimers for both people I received one.  The first one is for the e-book version and the second is for the paper back version.

 Disclaimer 1 - I received this book from Bethany House Publishers for the sole purpose of this review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

Disclaimer 2 - This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.   I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.