Stars in the Grass

ABOUT THE BOOK

The idyllic world of nine-year-old Abby McAndrews is transformed when a tragedy tears her family apart. Before the accident, her dad, Reverend John McAndrews, had all the answers, but now his questions and guilt threaten to destroy his family. Abby’s fifteen-year-old brother, Matt, begins an angry descent as he acts out in dangerous ways. Her mother tries to hold her grieving family together, but when Abby’s dad refuses to move on, the family is at a crossroads. Set in a small Midwestern town in 1970, Abby’s heartbreaking remembrances are balanced by humor and nostalgia as her family struggles with—and ultimately celebrates—an authentic story of faith and life after loss.

LORI'S TRAVELS

This book is a plus for me because it's told in 1st person and that would be 9 year old Abby.

This book is very emotional and will have you crying in most places of the book as the family struggles through the death of a loved one.

Abby and Matt took it the hardest especially Abby. I felt like they left her out of everything as each one tried to grieve on their own. 

I can relate to Abby in many ways. Grief strikes each person differently and grief has no time. 

Like Abbys dad says there is a place and time for everything and a time to heal and a time for growth.

He also said that God didn't run away from him, He ran away from God.

I think in some ways God was tryingto teach him a lesson becausehe uswd to bave all the answers. But, when tragedy happens he suddenly doesn't have all the answers and he doesnt know how to handle it all.

Renee is stuck in between and isnt sure what to do next. It seems she has moved on but yet not moved on. It seems as if she's waiting on something. 

Time heals all wounds but sometimes it doesn't. There are 5 stages of grief but I've forgotten what they are and maybe this family did go through those five stages.

I can relate to this book in many ways because I have lost loved ones too. 

I recommend this book very strongly. 

This story is in mid western Ohio town in the 1970's. I grew up in this time period and was an instant hit for me. I was 3 in 1970

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ANN MARIE STEWART is the author of Preparing My Heart for Advent: A Spiritual Pilgrimage for the Christmas Season, and writes a bi-monthly column titled Ann's Loving "Ewe" for The Country Register. She is currently completing her first novel.

Her expertise as a vocal soloist and choral conductor help her incorporate music into each week's lesson, while her background in acting and scriptwriting add drama to her presentation of the gospel. Ann's ultimate purpose for this book is to encourage woman to meet, accept, and follow Jesus, as did so many New Testament Women.

Ann Marie graduated with honors from the University of Washington and also earned the top educational honor awarded by the school for female education majors. Ann later did graduate studies in film and television at the University of Michigan and taught English and music for several years at various grade levels ranging from preschool to college-level. With a background in acting and writing dramas, she excels at writing in an expressive, engaging style. Ann and her husband and two daughters run a small farm in Paeonian Springs, Virginia 

The Newcomer by Suzanne Woods Fisher

ABOUT THE BOOK

In 1737, Anna Konig and her fellow church members stagger off a small wooden ship after ten weeks at sea, eager to start a new life in the vibrant but raw Pennsylvania frontier. On the docks of Port Philadelphia waits bishop Jacob Bauer, founder of the settlement and father to ship carpenter Bairn. It's a time of new beginnings for the reunited Bauer family, and for Anna and Bairn's shipboard romance to blossom. 

But this perfect moment cannot last. As Bairn grasps the reality of what it means to be Amish in the New World--isolated, rigid with expectations, under the thumb of his domineering father--his enthusiasm evaporates. When a sea captain offers the chance to cross the ocean one more time, Bairn grabs it. Just one more crossing, he promises Anna. But will she wait for him? 

When Henrik Newman joins the church just as it makes its way to the frontier, Anna is torn. He seems to be everything Bairn is not--bold, devoted, and delighted to vie for her heart. And the most dramatic difference? He is here; Bairn is not. 

Far from the frontier, an unexpected turn of events weaves together the lives of Bairn, Anna, and Henrik. When a secret is revealed, which true love will emerge

LORI'S TRAVELS

Thank you Suzanne for listening to my begging for another story about Bairn and Anna! I wasn't disappointed but now we have to see if they get married or not! The ending leaves us wondering if we will get to read about them again!?

You have a wonderful way of drawing us into a book and then leave us wanting for more! 

I just couldn't put this book down!

Have you ever met a person and get a sixth sense of something isn't as it should be with that person like you cant really trust them? 

Well, we meet such a person like that in this book and because he did make the story interesting! 

Young Felix made me laugh in some places of the book and so did his awful dog. I never did understand why they called him an awful dog. Felix I can relate to at times. He's my favorite character. I love his enthusiasm and childish ways. He's also headstrong and doesnt want ro do as he's told.

Bairn is a very different person. He was raised at sea among the sailors and until Felix came along it sort of shifted things for Bairn lol!

Bairn is a leader just like his father. I love his confidence and that and his personality makes him a special person. He does need to find himself and I loved watching him change. 

Anna is unique and her special self. I wiah that I can speake two different languages. Plus, she got grit and is able to hold ber own even in the New World.

I can't imagine being in that time or place although I would love to. I am glad that people can preserve history so that we don't forget what once was and that our past is who we are today.

I think the Amish were brave people. 

They are like us English people wanting a new place to start over whether it be religions, or just want to have land. Roots is what I think it's called.

I also like how the author has put a tidbit of history at the end. I just live to read about things like that. I love how places,things and people get their names.

And I loved how Suzanne added a special person in the story! He was a treat!!!

I am hoping that Suzanne will write a third novel in this series. I want to see what happens to the little church of Ixhiem. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher with no obligation to review this book. 

i also strongly recommend this book for people who love amish. This is a different kind of story about the Amish. But how I loved it!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling, award winning author of fiction and non-fiction books about the Old Order Amish for Revell Books, host of the radio-show-turned-blog Amish Wisdom, a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazine. 

Her interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, who was raised Plain. A theme in her books (her life!) is that you don’t have to “go Amish” to incorporate the principles of simple living. 

Suzanne lives in California with her family and raises puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. To her way of thinking, you just can't life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone's underwear in its mouth. 

Suzanne can be found on-line at: www.suzannewoodsfisher.com

(less)