Keeping Christmas
by Dan Walsh
Publisher: Revell
Pub. Date: September 1st, 2015
ISBN: 978-0800721190
Pages: 224
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

While my humbug attitude hasn't changed quite yet, I nevertheless made some time to read the holiday novel Keeping Christmas by Dan Walsh. Actually, I was a bit too tired to even read last night, but talked myself into reading at least the first chapter. I ended up reading about half of the novel before going sleep and I finished reading the rest this morning.

The novel centers on Stan and Judith Winters, an older couple that are for first time dreading the holiday season. In the past, each and ever year they have the same routine of hosting Thanksgiving dinner for kids (Suzanne, Anna & Brandon), son-in-laws, a daughter-in-law and grandchildren. The girls would spend Thanksgiving afternoon flipping through Black Friday ads and Judith would go shopping with them the next day. Early in the morning, Stan would drag out the Christmas decorations for the kids to put up. Then he would go fishing with his good pal Barney, which they would later head to the Bass Pro Shop for some bargain shopping.

Sadly, all the kids have moved out of state and aren't coming for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year, letting Stan & Judith to consider leaving behind their holiday traditions.

The Photograph
by Beverly Lewis
Publisher: Bethany Hosue
Pub. Date: September 8, 2015
ISBN: 978-0764212475
Pages: 329
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:
 
To me, Beverly Lewis is the master of penning Amish romances and she continues her creativity with the recently released The Photograph, a standalone novel. Though I read the book back on Labor Day, which happened to be my birthday, I'm only getting around to writing the review for it today.

Like many of her novels, The Photograph is set in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It centers on the Esch sisters (Eva, Lily, Frona), whom are still mourning the death of their widowed mother. The farmhouse was left to their younger brother, Menno, who took over the farm after the death of their father. He plans on moving into the farmhouse with his wife and kids, so there will be only room for one sister to live there; the other two will have to leave. Unfortunately, this all means that the sisters will have to give up their candy store, The Sweet Tooth, which is in a small room in the farmhouse that their father had built for them.

The youngest sister, Lily, wastes no time as she packs her back and leaves the day after Menno announced the family's changes. However, she does leaves a note behind for Eva, stating that she no longer wants to be Amish and that she is leaving for the outside world.

Meanwhile, an Amish man, Jed Stuzman, leaves his Ohio community and travels on a train to Lancaster countryside to learn how to make buggies. While on the train he stumbles across a photo of a young Plain woman that was hidden inside a copy of Little Women. While the Amish aren't supposed to keep photos, he is intrigued by the pretty young woman and keeps it. This a romance novel, so of course Jed runs into Eva and is slightly shocked as she resembles the woman in the photograph.

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

  This week's question is submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews!

Do you read every day? If so, do you have a "page goal?"

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.

  

My Answer: 

   I would love to read every day, but sometimes I just don't have the time. If I'm reading a new book, I always have a goal of reading the first 75 pages for taking a break.

Rising Darkness
Finding Sanctuary, book 3
by Nancy Mehl
Publisher: Bethany House
Pub. Date: November 3, 2015
ISBN: 978-0764211591
Pages: 320
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

After reading the first book in the Road to Kingdom series a few  years ago, I was an instant fan of Nancy Mehl's writings. Plus, I always like authors that live in my home-state of Missouri. While I had read book two (Deadly Echoes) in the Finding Sanctuary series earlier this year, I went ahead and reread it prior to reading book three, Rising Darkness, which was released earlier this month to bookstores.

Once again, the setting is in Sanctuary, Missouri, but this time the story centers on an ex-Mennonite named Sophie Wittenbauer, who had left her strict community in Kingdom to start a new life. She takes a job working at newspaper office under a new identity. Sadly, she can no longer escape her previous life after she receives a tip that a criminal might be hiding somewhere in town. While this might seem like a great story for a newbie reporter, there is a slight problem - Sophie recognizes the criminal's name and she's worried that her past will be exposed.

To make matters worse, she runs into an old crush from her childhood, Jonathon Wiese, who is a now a pastor in Sanctuary. There are threats and dangers around every corner, and while Sophie doesn't exactly trust Jonathon, she might not have any other choice, but to let him save her life.

Deadly Echoes
Finding Sanctuary, book 2
by Nancy Mehl
Publisher: Bethany House
Pub. Date: February 3, 2015
ISBN: 978-0764211584
Pages: 336
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

In my continuing quest to review all the books that have been collecting dust on my desk for months, today I'm reviewing Deadly Echoes, book 2 in the Finding Sanctuary series, by Nancy Mehl. I stumbled upon her Road To Kingdom series a few years ago and I've been a fan of her writings ever since.

Set in the same Mennonite community in Sanctuary, Missouri that had to deal with a horrible kidnapping in the first book, Gathering Storms, Deadly Echoes centers on Sarah Miller, who moved to the small town start a new life as a school teacher and to reconnected with her sister, Hannah. Their parents were murdered when they were young and they were separated after going into the foster care system.

Out of nowhere, Hannah is also murdered, leaving Sarah to raise her niece by herself. While she could just let the local authorities try to solve the murder, Sarah believes there is a connection between Hannah's death and their parent's murders. With help from Sheriff Paul Gleason, she is determined to unravel a mystery that has been hidden for almost twenty years.

Santa's Little Helper
Director: Gil Junger
Cast: Mike "The Miz" Mizanin, Paige, Annalynne McCord
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 17, 2015
Retail: $22.98
ASIN: B015G6WN98
Running Time: 90 minutes
Rating: PG
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Now available on DVD from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is the holiday comedy Santa's Little Helper. Directed by Gil Junger, the film stars WWE superstars Mike "The Miz" Mizanin and Paige. Special features includes The "Ho Ho Ho," Introducing Paige and Holiday Cast & Crew.

Produced by WWE Studios, Santa's Little Helper centers on a businessman, Dax (played by Mike "The Miz" Mizanin), who is suddenly fired from his job. To make matters worse, his girlfriend leaves him, his car is repossessed and the bank is going foreclose on his home.

Luckily for Dax, his a guardian angel, well, actually it's just Santa Claus (played by Eric Keenleyside), has been keeping an eye out on Dax for awhile. Santa needs a second-in-command, which is called the Ho Ho Ho, at his North Pole operations and he believes that Dax is the best man for the job. Instead of sending himself to see if Dax is up for the challenge, Santa sends his top elf, Billie (played by Annalynne McCord) to recruit him.

Of course, Dax doesn't believe that Santa is real, but he really needs a job, so he agrees to participate in several embarrassing tests, which he barely passes. Unfortunately, the Ho Ho Ho position might not be his as the elf named Eleanor (played by Paige) wants the job and challenges to Dax to competition.

If personal automobiles are no longer necessary or interesting to young adults, could there instead be some interest in portable personal vehicles in the future? By portable personal vehicles, I mean not a folding bicycle but something truly portable that would fit in a carry bag -- something like a wheeled version of the hovering, skateboard-like item from Back to the Future, a Segway without the handlebars, a self-balancing scooter or hoverboard.


Could we be seeing the end of car culture in America? We may already be seeing some signs of that. Young adults and teens are less interested in getting drivers licenses. Car buying has also shifted away from the 35-44 age crowd to the 55-64 ages, although this doesn't take into account what will happen when Millennials have kids that need rides to soccer practice or school plays.


Carmaker Lexus has actually built a levitating Slide Hoverboard that works over ground and water as well. The device was conceived as a marketing stunt for new Lexus cars, to "make the impossible possible" and it requires special magnetic technology embedded in the ground to make it hover. Unfortunately, it's doubtful that there will be any commercial versions available for sale in the near future.

The Innocent
by Ann H. Gabhart
Publisher: Revell
Pub. Date: July 7, 2015
ISBN: 978-0800723415
Pages: 400
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

When it comes to picking out titles to read, I typically stick to familiar authors, but ever since I've started reviewing books, I've been taking chances on newer authors (well, at least they're new to me). Since then I've read a few titles buy author Ann H. Gabhart. Back in July, Revell released her book The Innocent to bookstores.

Set in 1865, The Innocent centers on Carlyn Kearney, who has been patiently awaiting news about her husband from the Union Army. Her husband, Ambrose, had served during the Civil War, but she hasn't heard from him for over two years. With not a penny to her name, she is forced to leave her home and seek refuge at the Shaker village in Harmony Hill.

From what she understood, the Shakers were kind and loving people, so she is a bit shocked to learn that Sister Edna is very strict. Getting married, owning any sort of possessions and contacting people from the outside world is forbidden in the community.

After several mysterious deaths that occur in the village, the town's sheriff, Mitchell Brodie, begins an investigation. This is a romance novel, so there are sparks between Brodie and Carlyn. The only problem is that Carlyn still loves her husband and hopes that he will one day return to her.