Tuesday, August 28, 2018

The Hope Jar by Wanda Brunstter

36627503



ABOUT THE BOOK

A Brand-New 3-Book Series from New York Times Bestselling Author Wanda E. Brunstetter.
What happens when making an elderly Amish couple very happy means going along with a lie that gets bigger by the day?

Michelle Taylor is not who her new family in Lancaster County believes her to be. The Lapps were looking for their long-lost granddaughter when they met Michelle and she assumed the identity of Sara Murray. Once homeless and hopeless, Michelle has come to love her new Amish friends and even considers the idea of romance among them.

Finding an old blue jar in the barn that is filled with slips of paper containing thoughts, quotes, and prayers by an unknown author becomes a boost to Michelle’s budding faith— but also convicting. How can she tell the truth without hurting the ones she has truly come to love?



LORI'S REVIEW

Wanda is a talented author. I love all of her books and the messages that she weaves into her stories! They have the message that there can be hope, healing and love. 

I really don't know what to say about this book. 
I want to be honest but I don't want to hurt any feelings. It seems like that is all I do anymore. 
That being said, I felt like Mary Ruth and Willis did. Wondering what I did wrong.
I am too trusting! I am like the Lapps in so many ways! I felt like I was reading about myself through this book!

I loved Mary Ruth and Willis!! I felt like they were my own grandparents and as I read more into the story my heart hurt for them. Once your trust is broken it is hard to learn to trust again 


I didn't really like Michelle even though I understood the things she did. Some people would do anything! I didn't like the things she did because then it made it harder for the real Sara.

I also liked how Elijah answered Michelle's questions. I feel like I learned quite a bit about the Amish myself. Wanda even answered some of my questions!

Will Sara be able to find her way and earn her grandparents' trust again? I'd like to think so which is why I can't wait to read Sara's story in book #2!

I can't wait for y'all to read this book to see what y'all think!!

I received a complementary copy from the publisher. No compensations were received
This is my honest opinion!




ABOUT THE AUTHOR


New York Times bestselling and award-winning author, Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written close to 90 books translated in four languages. With over 10 million copies sold, Wanda's stories consistently earn spots on the nations most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.
Wanda E. Brunstetter

Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.

When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

To learn more about Wanda, visit her website at www.wandabrunstetter.com




38746245



ABOUT THE BOOK


Wish you could make busy-ness a business so you’d be a millionaire? . . .
Welcome to the maternal order of slightly sagging sisters of the 'hood. The motherhood. 
 
With her own offbeat brand of wit and near-wisdom, popular inspirational humorist Debora Coty addresses heart needs of moms drowning in the churning stress-pool of busyness. In her beloved mom-to-mom, grin-provoking style, Coty offers empathy, laughs, real-life stories, practical parenting survival tips, and fresh biblical insights to help you hear Papa God’s still, small voice through life’s chaos. 

Whether you're struggling with stress related to attitude, time-management, guilt trips, patience, or something in between. . .this humor-filled volume will deliver a much-needed smile and equip you with simple-to-implement tips for attaining the peace we all crave—the peace that passes all understanding.



LORI'S REVIEW


This book full of wonderful advice!
Where was this book when I was raising my son! I could've used this then. But, the awesome thing is of course we can still use the book in our daily lives.

Too Blessed to be Stressed for Moms has some cool scriptures. I enjoyed how the author weaves these in with her every day life and shows us how to also. 

There are some funny parts too. These stories have a way of making you laugh at yourself as you look back and realise that this author understands exactly what you are going through as a mom.

I would like to read these other books in this series too and see what they have to offer. 
The cover of this book is really beautiful!

I received a complementary copy from Netgalley and no compensations were received. This is my honest opinion 



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Debora M. CotyDeb began writing professionally after her youngest chick flew the coop back in 2002 Since then, Deb has been blessed with over 200 published articles, and 40 award-winning inspirational books, including the bestselling Too Blessed to be Stressed series (over 750k sold). Deb loves to swat a tennis ball around and hike in the mountains. She lives, loves, and laughs in central Florida with her longsuffering husband and her desperately wicked pooch, Fenway. Join Debora's fun-loving community of BFFs (Blessed Friends Forever) and her Too Blessed to be Stressed blog at www.DeboraCoty.com

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Homespun by LoriLee Craker

Homespun: Amish and Mennonite Women in Their Own Words 


ABOUT THE BOOK

Ever wish you could visit with a group of Amish or Mennonite women over a cup of coffee? In the pages of Homespun, Amish and Plain Mennonite women swap stories and spin yarns while we listen in. Lorilee Craker, bestselling author of Money Secrets of the Amish, collects these personal writings about hospitality, home, grief, joy, and walks with God. Hear from one woman who struggles with feeling inferior to her sister, from another about her longing for a baby, and from a third who accidentally bought stretchy material to sew her husband’s pants. Each woman’s story is a testament to the grace of God and the blessings of community. Behind Amish romance novels and tourist spots and television shows stand real people, with longings and loves just like the rest of us. Every Amish and Mennonite woman has a story. In Homespun, you get to hear some of them. 


MY REVIEW

  Ever wonder what it's like to live in the Amish and Mennonite world?
This wonderful book will answer that question for you. I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever asked themselves that question.
One story shows how they value their families, while another gave their troubles to the Lord.
Then in another story one remembered what it was like to do chores while growing up. She reflected on what it was like to gather nuts to make a pie.
She sometimes wondered if she was the only one who gathered nuts for pies, but later in life was surprised to discover that others did too.
I have always wondered about what it was like to be Amish.
They are fascinating people. I think that there are lessons we can a lot learn from them .
The Lord teaches us that we should live in the world but not of the world.
That's what the Amish and Mennonite people do. They live in the world but remain separate in order to remain true to their beliefs.
This book also shows us that the Amish have troubles in life. Like "Englishers" they gossip, and want to believe the lies that were told to them.
They struggle with their crops and the normal storms of life just like we do. They do many things we do just I'm a different way.
The way the Amish live is not easy.
It's called the simple life, but it's not that simple
There were no compensations for this book. All opinions are my own.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 Lorilee Craker speaks for MOPS groups and at other events for mothers. She writes on entertainment for a major daily newspaper and is the author of several books including Loving Life with Your Preschooler. She lives in Michigan with her husband, Doyle, and their two sons.

Monday, August 13, 2018

The Christmas Prayer by Wanda Brunstetter

38746243 


ABOUT THE BOOK

 Only the brave—or foolhardy—would attempt a cross-country journey late in the season. Three wagons meet up in Independence, Missouri, in April 1850, and their owners decide to keep forging ahead despite many setbacks and delays. December finds them in the Sierra Nevada Mountains when a sudden snowstorm traps them, obscuring the trail.
 
Cynthia Cooper is traveling with her mother and the man she has promised to marry. But as Christmas is upon them and they are hunkered down in a small cabin, she is forced to reevaluate her reasons for planning to marry fellow-traveler Walter Prentice. When a widowed father heading to a California ranch and a gold prospector both show an interest in Cynthia, she weighs her dreams for marriage alongside her responsibility to care for her mother. Can love win over her timid heart?

MY REVIEW

 A very different book from what Wanda has written but I loved it anyway, but love all of Wanda's books anyway
This book has taken me away from all of my troubles and I surely hated coming back to the real world.
At first, when I seen the cover I thought it was the sequel to the Hope jar. But, it wasn't.
I loved the fellowship of the wagon train but what I didn't like was that there was someone in the crowd that always spoils or tries to for everyone else.
Wanda has a of making each person in the story come alive and matching their feelings with yours or in how you connect with them.
I enjoyed this story particularly because in 2006 my family and I had a chance to visit the Sierra Nevada's.
It was a sight to behold. I'll never forget it. This was another way that I could relate to this story. I couldn't imagine traveling that by covered wagon!!
I give this book 5 stars because of the wonderful historical research behind it.
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book
All opinions my own. No compensations were not required

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times bestselling and award-winning author, Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written close to 90 books translated in four languages. With over 10 million copies sold, Wanda's stories consistently earn spots on the nations most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.

Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.

When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

To learn more about Wanda, visit her website at www.wandabrunstetter.com  
 
 

Sunday, August 12, 2018

Simple Singing by Leslie Gould

36796281 



ABOUT THE BOOK

Marie Bachmann has always been the good Amish daughter. But when two men, a Mennonite farmhand and a bishops rebellious son, show interest in her, she finds herself at a crossroads. On a journey to Florida and back, she grapples with her heart, finding inspiration and hope for the future in the story of a brave Civil Warera ancestor.

 MY REVIEW

  I loved how Leslie Gould could weave past to present and then eventually tie it in altogether.
There are many delightful characters in this book.
I do agree with some other reviewers that Marie is kind of hard to warm up to. But, I do like how she is challenged because at first she knew what she wanted out of life. I liked some of the challenges that God sent her way.
Kind of like what I'm going through now. I think God has sent me a wake up call. But, gosh did He have to do it the hard way?
Annie is a character of the past whom I greatly admired! When it is something that she didn't back down.
Before I go on, I wanted to remind y'all that this is a different type of Amish story than we're used to reading.
To me, I think it's very exciting because it's different and it shows us that not all Amish are the same in their beliefs.
It is mentioned through both books about Rebecca's drowning and how it changed Marie and Jessica's mamm.
Tragedy can come unexpectedly and in many different forms. Not just death.
I do admire family (except ours) I know that some ppl believe very strongly about family ties and how they always stand by you. Today, I found out differently. No, they don't.
The other thing I love about Leslie's writing style is that she uses first person. I loooooooove this. It's my favorite genre. To me, I can connect with the people in the story much better than the other way.
The second way she writes I felt like I was in Pinecraft w.ith Aunti Suz and Marie. I felt like I was there with them even tho I just got back from Florida myself. The ocean has a way of soothing you. It has a music all of it own if you listen carefully. It's as if God is really talking to you.
Thank you Leslie Gould for another awesome story!! I wish I could give you ten stars!!
I received this from Netgalley All opinions are my own!
 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Leslie Gould Leslie Gould is the #1 bestselling and Christy Award winning author of twenty-two novels. She received her MFA from Portland State University and teaches writing at Warner Pacific College. Leslie enjoys traveling, hiking, and history. She and her husband, Peter, are the revolving-door parents of four children and three cats. Visit her at http://www.lesliegould.com/.  

The Songs that could have been by Amanda Wen

ABOUT THE BOOK Two couples in love. Two sets of impossible circumstances. One powerful God of grace. After a tailspin in her late teens, Lau...