Sunday, June 26, 2011

Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond


Booksneeze has Provided Me with A Complimentary Copy of this Book.

With no prospects for marriage and her parents recently deceased, Susannah Freemont agrees to go west to the Dakota territory to marry her minister's homesteading brother, Jesse. But Susannah is painfully shy, doesn't see herself as worthy of love from either a husband or from God, and lives in constant fear that Jesse is going to ship her back to Detroit.

In spite of her petite size and the fact that Susannah doesn't look like she could survive on the prairie, Jesse quickly discovers that his new wife is a greater blessing than he even hoped for. The years she spent as her father's veterinary assistant allow her to save Jesse's ox and twin calves and to help neighboring farmers with their animals.

But Susannah's feelings of unworthiness are deeply rooted, and she can't believe that Jesse's praise-or the tenderness and love he shows-could possibly last. The thawing of her heart seems almost as distant as Spring in the midst of the winter blanketing the Dakota prairie.

This is a GREAT story for Catherine Richmond’s first book. It was so good, I just didn’t want to put it down. Susannah Underhill lives in Michigan and after her parents die, she has no one, so she decides to go to the Dakotas where Jesse Mason lives. Jesse is Susannah’s preacher’s brother,but when she arrives, it is not what she thought it would be, more rustic. She is very shy towards Jesse but will talk to his dog. As the book goes on, she starts to open up to Jesse, but tragedy happens and Jesse has to leave to find work to support her. He is gone for a long time and during this time, she finds out she is pregnant. But she survives on her own and when Jesse returns, he is surprised of how she managed to keep everything going.

It is such a great story, one you would thoroughly enjoy. I would suggest this book to my friends and family.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay


Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.

Paris, May 2002: On Vel’ d’Hiv’s 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv', to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life. Tatiana de Rosnay offers us a brilliantly subtle, compelling portrait of France under occupation and reveals the taboos and silence that surround this painful episode.


I just finished this book in audio format. Oh, my gosh, this was such a good book and I did not want it to end. But, books have to end. I cried and cried throughout this book and am still crying for Sarah Starcynski DeFor Rainsford. How many people have stories like hers, oh my gosh. Thank you for opening my eyes to this horrible tragedy. I knew about the Germans but did not know about France. It's terrible that lives were shattered like that. Just because you were jewish. Terrible. I can't imagine what Sarah was going through in real life. Thank you, Tatiana for letting everyone know and not to let it die. We will always remember, we will never forget, well, at least I will never forget. I would suggest this book to all my friends and family, in fact, I have done that already. Thanks again.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Ella Finds Love Again by Jerry Eicher


This Advanced copy of this book was supplied to me by Harvest House Publishers in exchange for my review of Ella Finds Love Again.

She loves the widower Ivan Stutzman's children and enjoys caring for them. Although she is genuinely devoted to Preacher Stutzman and keenly aware of his desire to propose, her feelings for him stop short of romantic love. Yet Ella yearns for marriage and wonders if what she and Ivan have is enough.

When the handsome Englisha stops by and asks about converting to the Amish faith, Ella is intrigued and warily agrees to meet with him. Soon Ella realizes she's torn between her devotion to Ivan and his children and her growing feelings for the Englisha. With dire consequences at stake, Ella must determine what the truth is, if her feelings are dependable, and how to stay faithful to the will of God.

This is the 3rd and final book in the Little Valley Series by Jerry Eicher. I loved this series and this book so much, I didn’t want it to end at all. Ella loves Preacher Ivan Stutzman’s children but she is not sure how she feels about him. But, she had it in her mind that she would marry him because she loves the children so much. Then, an Englisha man shows up, and he causes her to wonder if she could have feelings again. But, she continues to care for Preacher Stutzman’s children and life goes on. Then tragedy happens and I am not saying what happens from here on out.

This book is so good, if you love the Amish as much as I do, you will love this book. You will laugh and cry like I did. It is a GREAT book. I would suggest this book to my family and friends, most definitely.
Enjoy this book as I know you will.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

The Amish Midwife


This Book was sent to me by Harvest House Publishers in exchange for a Review.

A dusty carved box containing two locks of hair and a century-old letter regarding property in Switzerland, and a burning desire to learn about her biological family lead nurse-midwife Lexie Jaeger from her home in Oregon to the heart of Pennsylvania Amish country. There she meets Marta Bayer, a mysterious lay-midwife who desperately needs help after an Amish client and her baby die.

Lexie steps in to assume Marta’s patient load even as she continues the search for her birth family, and from her patients she learns the true meaning of the Pennsylvania Dutch word demut, which means “to let be” as she changes from a woman who wants to control everything to a woman who depends on God.

This book is the first book in "The Women of Lancaster County series. I can't wait until the second book comes out.

This book is one of the best books I have read. I wasn’t too sure if I wanted to read it or not but decided to give it a try. It is a GREAT book about someone who was adopted and trying to locate her birth family. When Lexie Jaeger’s dad passes away, he tells her about a little box and she looks on the inside of the box, and finds all kinds of things. Then she goes to Pennsylvania to try to locate her birth family and there are a lot of stumbling blocks because of secrets. But, this book is a GREAT book, this is one book I did not want to put down. I went on break at work and forgot about the time and was almost late to go back to work.

You will enjoy this book, it is wonderful. I most definitely would suggest this book to my friends and family.