Sunday, November 12, 2017

Review - The Wish by Beverly Lewis




Bethany House; 336 pages; $15.99; Amazon
If you follow this blog regularly, then you would know I'm a big fan of Amish fiction, which is a genre that I just fell into accidentally. Do you remember getting mailing flyers to join book clubs where can you get 5 to 7 books for $.99? Well, I was a member of many of  those clubs. When I went to join one of those clubs (I don't recall the name), I needed to pick out just one more book to join, so I just randomly picked The Covenant by Beverly Lewis. I read the book and ended up loving the author's writing style, so that's how I became a fan of her books and a fan of Amish fiction.

Today, I'm reviewing The Wish by Beverly Lewis, a book that I received from Bethany House (a division of Baker Publishing Group) sometime in 2016! Yep, this is one of those titles that's been in my "needs-to-be-reviewed" pile. I thought I already read it previously, but I believe I was mistaken. So, I read the book this morning in about an hour or so. (Yes, I can speed read!)

Like many of Beverly Lewis' recent titles, The Wish is a standalone story. The novel centers on Leona Speicher, a young woman who had lost her best friend, Gloria Gingerich, (aka the 'sister' she always dreamed of) after Gloria's father is kicked out of their Old Order Amish church for unknown reasons. Shortly after, the Gingeriches disappear from Lancaster County. 

Years later, out of the blue, Lenoa receives word from Gloria. Despite objections from her fiance, Leona is determined to bring her best friend home.

Final Thoughts

Review Catch Up Marathon!: Undaunted Hope by Jody Hedlund


Bethany House; 384 pages; $14.99; Amazon

Collecting dust on top of my needs-to-be-reviewed pile  is the historical-romance Undaunted Hope (book three in the Beacons of Hope series) by author Jody Hedlund. I had read the book as soon as I received it in the mail from Bethany House (a division of Baker Publishing Group) last year, but I went ahead and reread it yesterday, so I would have the story fresh in my mind for this review.

Set in 1871, the novel centers on Tessa Taylor, a young woman who accepts a job as a teacher to a group of children of miners in Eagle Harbor, Michigan. Upon arriving, she learns that the town requested a male teacher, so her arrival is a shock to everyone. Luckily, Percival Updegraff, the superintendent and chief mine clerk, says she can stay through the winter months, because it's too late to send for a replacement teacher.

Now Tessa has a plan, which involves being the best teacher she can be for her students, so the town will see she is irreplaceable. The last thing on her mind is love, but out of nowhere she has two love interests. One is the father of two of her students, who are trying to play matchmaker, and the other is Alex Bjorklund, the assistant lightkeeper.

Final Thoughts

Review - A Plain Leaving by Leslie Gould


Bethany House; 352 pages; $15.99; Amazon

Now available from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is the Amish-fiction drama A Plain Leaving, book one in The Sister's of Lancaster County series, by Leslie Gould.

The novel centers on Jessica Bachmann, an Amish woman who had left her family and Amish community after clashing with her brother, Arden, and the bishop over the future of their family's farm. Three years later, she returns to Lancaster County after learning of her father's death.

They say that you can never go home again, and well, that's exactly what Jessica is thinking, as she returns home. While she grieves her father's passing, she must deal with the past, which includes her brother's decision to allow fracking on the family's land.

With all the emotional trauma, Jessica has to deal with, she must always come face to face with Silas Kemp, a man she once thought she had a future with.



Final Thoughts

Friday, November 10, 2017

Book Blogger Hop: November 10th - 16th




Instructions: Select all code above, copy it and paste it inside your blog post as HTML


Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

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!

What is your favorite part of blogging? Is there a least favorite part of blogging?

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:

My favorite parts of blogging is getting to read books before they're officially released, and sharing my thoughts with other readers. My least favorite part of blogging is when I fall behind in my reading/reviewing, as it takes me forever to catch up.


Linky List:

Thursday, November 9, 2017

'Christy' Giveaway, Blog Tour, and Facebook Live Party!

Some stories are evergreen, their themes and lessons standing the test of time and connecting with readers generation after generation. Reconnect with Catherine Marshall's beloved Christy as it celebrates its 50th anniversary with a new edition! As nineteen-year-old teacher Christy struggles to find acceptance in her new home of Cutter Gap, some see her-and her one-room school-as a threat to their way of life. Her faith is challenged and her heart is torn between two strong men with conflicting views about how to care for the families of the Cove. Yearning to make a difference, will Christy's determination and devotion be enough?

Celebrate the new 50th anniversary edition of Christy by entering to win one of TWO $50 Visa cash cards (details below) and by attending a Facebook Live party on December 5!


TWO grand prize winners will receive:
  • One copy of Christy
  • One $50 Visa Cash Card
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 5. The winner will be announced at the Christy Facebook Live Party. RSVP for a chance to connect with authors who've been impacted by Christy and other readers, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

Review - The Ebb Tide by Beverly Lewis


Bethany House; 336 pages; $15.99; Amazon

Now available from Bethany House (a division of Baker Publishing Group) is the Amish fiction drama The Ebb Tide by New York Times bestselling author Beverly Lewis.

The novel enters on a young Amish woman named Sallie Reihl, who plans on joining the church, but before she does that, she wants to accomplish her dream of traveling around the world. When an unexpected opportunity for a summer nanny job in Cape May crosses her path, she takes it. The only problem is that she has to delay her baptism for an entire year.

Sallie does accepts the job and travels to Cape May for the summer. Out of the blue, she meets Kevin, a young Mennonite man who's interested in marine biology, and she quickly begins a friendship with him, which eventually turns to romance.




Final Thoughts

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Review - Where She Belongs by Johnnie Alexander


Revell; 367 pages; $14.99; Amazon
Yeah, my plans of posting all my needs-to-be-reviewed books by November 1st changed, as here I a writing another Review Catch Up Marathon! post on November 8th! Why the delay? Well, all my Halloween-themed posts last month was the main reason why I delayed writing the reviews.

Anyhow, today I'm reviewing Where She Belongs by Johnnie Alexander, and if I recall correctly, the book was released in January 2016. Sadly, this showcases how backed up I am with needs-to-be-reviewed books.

Where She Belongs centers on a widowed mother named Shelby Kincaid, who plans on moving forward with her life (and her daughters' lives) by buying her family's old homestead, which is called Misty Willow. Her plan is to remodel the abandoned house, so she can raise daughters there. However, there's one small problem - a man named AJ Sullivan owns the property.

AJ Sullivan is stuck owning Misty Willow due to the little fact that it was his late grandfather's dying wish for him to live there. Since his grandfather's death, he has let the property fall into ruin. He's more than glad to hand over the reigns to Misty Willow to Shelby, but she sort of hates the Sullivan family. Years ago, the Sullivans stole Misty Willow from the Kincaids, causing problems between the two families.

Of course this is a romance story, so you can imagine that the impossible happens and sparks fly between AJ and Shelby.

Final Thoughts