Saturday, January 22, 2011

A Simple Amish Christmas by Vannetta Chapman


It's Christmas, and Annie Weaver misses her family after leaving her Amish community to work at a distant hospital. But when she hears that her father has been gravely injured in a buggy accident, she rushes home to care for him. Her passion for healing catches widower Samuel Yoder’s attention. Will she also capture his heart? 256 pages, softcover from Abingdon.

This book was the first book I have read by Vannetta Chapman and it definitely will not be my last. In my opinion, she is one of the best Amish authors around. She keeps you interested from the first page to the last page, in fact I didn’t want the book to end. I actually wanted a lot more.

This book is a GREAT Christmas book but it can be read as just taking place in the winter time too. When Annie gets the phone call while she is working at the hospital, I never dreamed that she would not go back to the hospital since she loves nursing so much. I also was glad that her dad was happy to see her. In some books where the daughter or son comes home after his rumschpringe, they are not welcome at home.

I loved how Samuel and Annie don't get along at first and then are drawn together and the sparks fly. Samuel has a rough time since losing his wife and daughter and then Annie comes along and sparks those feelings again. It is a GREAT book, one that I would suggest to everyone. It is WONDERFUL.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Unto The Hills by Billy Graham



Booksneeze has provided me with a complimentary copy of this Devotional Unto the Hills by Billy Graham in exchange for a Review.

Each of the 365 daily readings in this inspiring collection offers a carefully chosen passage of scripture, a brief, thoughtful message from Dr. Graham, and a heartfelt prayer composed especially for this book. Distilled from a lifetime of study and ministry, these devotionals supply daily food for thought about living fruitfully and joyfully in an often fretful world.

This Devotional is a GREAT devotional. I was wanting to get back to reading devotionals and this one is the Best one out there. What I really loved about this book is that the well-known Billy Graham wrote it and that there is a bible verse at the top, with his comments and then a prayer at the bottom of the devotional.

I have always loved and respected Dr. Graham. If you respect Billy Graham as much as I do, you would give this devotional a try. It is GREAT. I believe that everyone needs some type of devotional to use every single days of our lives. How would we get through life without the word of God. I suggest this devotional to my friends and family also.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

A Place of Peace by Amy Clipston



Zondervan Publishing has Provided Me with A Complimentary Copy of this Book

Miriam Lapp, who left the Amish community in Pennsylvania three years ago, is heartbroken when her sister calls to reveal that her mother has died suddenly. Traveling home to Pennsylvania, she is forced to face the heartache from her past, including her rift from her family and the break up of her engagement with Timothy Kauffman. Her past emotional wounds are reopened when her family rejects her once again and she finds out that Timothy is in a relationship with someone else. Miriam discovers that the rumors that broke them up three years ago were all lies. However, when Timothy proposes to his girlfriend and Miriam's father disowns her, Miriam returns to Indiana with her heart in shambles. When Miriam's father has a stroke, Miriam returns to Pennsylvania, and her world begins to fall apart, leaving her to question her place in the Amish community and her faith in God.

In this book, Miriam Lapp left Gordonville, Pennsylvania because she felt that everyone hated her and felt she was abandoned. Then, she receives a phone call from her sister, Hannah, letting her know that her mother, Bertha Lapp has died. She, then rushes home for the funeral and in the meantime, her father, brother and younger sister abandon her. She feels crushed. She leaves Pennsylvania and goes back to Indiana. Then she receives a phone call from Hannah, her sister, letting her know that her father has had a stroke and he is wanting to talk with her. So, she goes back to Pennsylvania and decides to stay. Now, her former beau, Timothy has proposed marriage to someone else and she has to deal with this turn of events.

This book is Book 3 of the Kauffman Amish Bakery Series by Amy Clipston. Amy Clipston is one of the Greatest authors who write about the Amish.

This is a Great Book, one that you will not want to put down. At least, I didn’t. My husband even told me to quit reading for a while due to my eye twitching. I stopped for a while and then picked the book back up. I know that you will enjoy this book, I would suggest this book to everyone.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Finding Becky by Martha Rogers


Rob Frankston has waited four years for Becky Haynes to come home, but she arrives back in Barton Creek, newly graduated from college with an independent spirit that puzzles him. Believing the old Becky is hidden beneath her façade of newfound independence, he is determined to find and bring her back. Is it just jealousy? Or, will he find answers and convince Becky to return to the faith of her childhood before it's too late?

Becky has been away to college back east in Boston. She returns to Barton Creek, Oklahoma, where she was raised. Rob Frankston has waited for her and is in love with her. She arrives in Barton Creek and gets off the train with a stranger, Geoff Kensington who is from Chicago, Illinois. Rebecca Haynes shows affection to both of them, but as the story goes, Geoff Kensington wants Becky’s father Ben Haynes to sell part of his farm to him and the company who has sent him to Barton Creek under the guise of Ben selling his cattle to him. But, strange things start happening and then Geoff is attacked.

This book is one of the best ones I have read. I have read the first 2 books in this series. I highly recommend this book as well. I believe that you will not be disappointed, especially if you are from Oklahoma as I am. Enjoy.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

An Amish Christmas Expanded Edition (4 Novellas)


Booksneeze has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book-An Amish Christmas.

A time of hope, redemption, and new life.

A Choice To Forgive by Beth Wiseman.
After Daniel disappeared that long-ago Christmas Eve, Lydia built a life with his brother. But now she's a widow and Daniel has reappeared, asking for forgiveness. But can she go back to her normal life with her long-lost love as her neighbor?

A Miracle for Miriam by Kathleen Fuller.
Seth is no longer the arrogant young man who shattered Miriam's confidence and broke her heart. But can he convince "plain" Miriam that she is truly beautiful to him?

One Child by Barbara Cameron.
The birth of one child forever changed the world two thousand years ago. On a snowy Christmas night in Lancaster County, another child changes the world for two very different couples.

Christmas Candles by Kelly Long
When Anna takes over for her aunt, the local midwife, Christmas night heats up with multiple deliveries, three stangers’ quilts and unexpected help from the handsome, brooking Asa Lapp.

This book has 4 short stories (Novellas)about the Amish. I love to read about the Amish and when this book was released I jumped on it. This book was released last year and they added another story to it and it was released again. I’m sure glad because it is GREAT.

I thoroughly loved it, it is a GREAT read for people who love the Amish stories as much as I do. It will bring you closer to knowing the true meaning of Christmas, I just thoroughly loved every story in the book. The stories all pertain to each other and that is very helpful also since some of the characters in the first book are in the second book and so on. You should really give this book a try, and especially since it is about Christmas in the Amish country in Pennsylvania. I love Christmas and this book just touched my heart. Thank you to Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, Barbara Cameron and Kelly Long for giving us all such a great book.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

A Man's Heart by Lori Copeland



Zondervan Publishing has Provided Me with A Complimentary Copy of this Book

Jules sacrificed marriage to tend to her ailing father. Now Pop is gone, Cruz hates her, she's caring for her deceased friend's children, and her sister is furious that she's been disinherited---all while Jules is struggling to save her father's drought-stricken potato farm. How much can one woman bear? Can she ever win back Cruz's heart?

I have read a lot of Lori Copeland’s books and she is GREAT. I loved this book so much, it was very hard to put down. I laughed and cried in the book but it was worth it. Jules changes her mind twice to marry Cruz Delgado because of her selfishness. But as the book goes on, she goes to college but eventually comes home and realizes that she is in love with Cruz all those years. But, he is just not so sure about allowing his heart to love her. In the meantime, Jules loses her dad, her best friend also. It is a GREAT book, I would definitely suggest this book to everyone.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Seek Me with All Your Heart by Beth Wiseman


Emily Detweiler's family abruptly moved to Colorado after tragedy struck in Ohio. But Emily can't get far enough to escape what happened there.
David Stoltzfus is not happy when his family relocates from Pennsylvania to Colorado. Never mind that they haven't told him why. David struggles not only with this unwelcome move, but also with the fear that a health condition could keep him from living his life in full.

Emily and David each come to terms with a past that follows them, testing their faith and resolve. Will they overcome adversity and step onto the path God has chosen for them?

I loved this book so much, I can’t wait until the next book comes out. Thank you Beth for giving us such a good book. I cried and laughed in it also. The book is about families that have left Ohio and Pennsylvania to start a new life and the struggles they have when they arrive in Canaan, Colorado. It tells of the struggles between Emily Detweiler and David Stolzfus and how they overcome their problems, mentally and physically. It even draws you in as David’s aenti Kati Ann has marriage problems. It is just a GREAT book.