The Road Home book review

In her latest book, The Road Home, Beverly Lewis provides us with yet another peek into the lives of the Amish. Through her sweet and endearing characters, her vivid depictions of the scenevery and settings, and her accurate portrayal of Amish daily life, Ms. Lewis opens a door that is usually closed to the average person.

The Road Home is a standalone novel set partly in the area of Lancaster County that Beverly Lewis fans are so familiar with, and partly in an Amish settlement in Michigan. It follows the story of Lena Rose, a young woman whose family is rocked by sudden and unexpected tragedy: the death of both of her parents. During this time when what she and her siblings want most is to be together and console each other, they are given the terrible news that no one family will be able to take in all 10 of the siblings. Most of the children find homes with neighbors, friends, and family in their Michigan community, but the only home open to Lena Rose is in far away Lancaster County! Will the siblings be able to maintain their bond across all those miles? And will Lena Rose ever be able to come home again?

I was truly touched by Lena Rose's story. I loved watching her slowly bloom in her new environment. As someone who has had to move away from family and friends, I understand her pain and sadness. The way that Beverly Lewis portrayed it, the sadness mixed with home and trust in the Lord, was just so accurate! I would truly recommend this beautiful, hope-filled story!

(I received this book free from Bethany House publishers as part of their blogger book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.)

The House on Foster Hill book review

I chose to read The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright on a whim- the cover looked cool and the description sounded interesting. But I did not have high expectations. I have been disappointed by one too many so-called Christian "suspense" novels over the years that ended up having plots that fell flat and characters that I just couldn't get attached to. But Ms. Wright's book totally entranced me. I couldn't put it down! The plot twists and turns and draws you in, and the characters are human, flawed, and lovable, and easy to relate to.

The story follows two women who lived their lives 100 years apart, but end up having more in common than anyone could have guessed. From the time when Ivy Thorpe lived in the shadow of the abandoned house on Foster Hill, to the present day as Kaine attempts to renovate the house and make it a home, Foster Hill House has seemed to be filled with nothing but evil. Is it possible for Kaine to overcome the past and forge a hope-filled new future? Or will her new start end up being just a continuation of everything she moved here to escape from? You'll just have to read the book- I'm not going to give you any hints! I would definitely recommend picking up this dual mystery and giving it a read!

I received this book free from Bethany House publishers as part of their blogger book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

The Proving book review

Beverly Lewis is well known for her stories about the Amish. Her charming, relatable tales give us a peek into the daily lives of the People, and are a refreshing respite from our busy lives. And of course, there is always the draw of reading about a culture that is so different from ours. Her newest book, The Proving did not disappoint. I read it faster than I have read most books recently, because once I picked it up, I just couldn't put it down!

The Proving follows the story of Mandy, a young woman who thought she left the Amish life behind her for good five years ago. But an unexpected phone call informs her not only of her mother's death, but also of her inheritance of her mother's popular Amish inn. Now Mandy must face her family and run the inn for a full year, or lose all of her inheritance. Faced wish many challenges, can she pull it off? Or will the past that she tried to escape force her to give up and return to the easier "English" life she has become accustomed to? I'm not going to spoil the story and tell you, so you'll just have to run to your nearest library and pick up the book today!

I received this book free from Bethany House publishers as part of their blogger book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Wings of the Wind book review.

I've always loved history, and I credit this in large part to historical fiction. Placing a fictional character into a historical setting brings the history alive. And that is exactly what Connilyn Cossette did in her latest book, Wings of the Wind, a historical fiction story that takes place in Biblical times. Although it is the third book in the "Out from Egypt" series (which I didn't realize when I requested my review copy, and I haven't read the first two books in the series), it is able to stand alone very nicely. I believe that each book in the series focuses on different characters, so you can dive into the series anywhere without feeling lost.

The story centers around fictional characters Alanah and Tobiah. Alanah is a Canaanite woman, alone in the world and feeling like her life has no purpose. Tobiah is a Hebrew warrior, one of many who have been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years and who are eager to enter and conquer Canaan. When God brings them together through incredible circumstances, neither of their lives will ever be the same.

The seamless way that Cossette wove these fictional characters' lives into the historical context was amazing. She imagined what it must have been like during those 40 years in the wilderness, a period of time that the Bible is mainly silent about. I won't give anything away, but my favorite part was a few chapters from the end, when a plot twist developed that made my history-loving heart very happy! The story is definitely worth a read, and I think I will be going back and reading the first two books in the series as well!

I received this book free from Bethany House publishers as part of their blogger book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Longing For More book review

Longing For More, daily reflections on finding God in the rhythms of life. As soon as I read the title of this book by Timothy Willard, I wanted to read it. And I was not disappointed. It contains 52 short chapters, one for every week of the year. Each one focuses on a topic, such as love, silence, leadership, forgiveness, and strength, and contains a reading for each day that week. Readings are prayers, thoughts by the author, quotes from Christian theologians, and Scripture passages.

What I liked most about this book is that unlike so many devotionals, the daily readings are small, bite-sized chunks. They can be used along with your current devotional routine, and they don't take up too much time if you have a busy schedule. But those small readings dive in deep, and I often found myself reading several days' worth at a time. All in all, this was one of the best devotionals I have read in a long time.

I received this book free from Bethany House publishers as part of their blogger book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Review of Fierce Convictions by Karen Swallow Prior

I really wanted to like Fierce Convictions by Karen Swallow Prior. I had been introduced to Hannah More in the movie Amazing Grace, and was interested and excited to learn about her as a person and about her contributions to society. But sadly, the story of Hannah's life is buried in detailed descriptions of society, opinions, and life in her day and age. I believe that at least some of that is necessary to set the stage and make the life story understandable. But there is such a thing as too much.

Hannah More was an extraordinary lady and a woman of deep faith. And someone that I believe everyone should know about. So do some research, and maybe even read this book. Maybe I just haven't read enough biographies and this is typical for how one goes. But I still feel that even a biography should draw you in and entice you to keep reading.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Booklookbloggers.com http://booklookbloggers.com/ book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html>: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Storm Siren by Mary Weber

In a world where her kind is looked on with suspicion and distrust, where they were hunted nearly to extinction, where females of her kind aren't even supposed to exist, Nymia's greatest struggle is within herself. She has been bought and sold by numerous owners, one after the other. But what eats her alive is the things she has been made to do with her power. She is an Elemental, able to bring down the power of the storm clouds and use it against human beings. Some owners have tried to use her and ended up being injured by her power instead. You see, she has no control over it. But now she has been sold to her 15th owner, and things may be about to change. She has been offered the chance to receive training and become a weapon that may turn the tide of the war now rampaging her homeland.

At first, it was the title of Storm Siren that caught my attention. But as I read deeper and deeper into the intricate fantasy world created by Mary Weber, I became more and more impressed. Every detail was masterfully described, and the characters breathed with life and emotion and personality. The story, with its twists and turns and secrets kept me turning pages. And I am already looking forward to Ms. Weber's next release. Part science fiction, part fantasy, all wonderfulness, Storm Siren is a book I would place high on my recommended reading list. So grab a copy, find a cozy spot to curl up, and dive deep into the world of Elementals!




Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Booklookbloggers.com http://booklookbloggers.com/ book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html>: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."