Beth Thatcher returns home for a summer vacation from her teaching job in the improvised mining town of Coal Valley. She loves her job, the people, and the children, but looks forward to rest and quite time with her family. She also has growing affections for a Mountie serving in the area name Jarrick Thorton. Was he the “one”? They agree to keep in touch during the summer, getting to know each other better.
She hasn’t even unpacked when it becomes apparent there will be no rest or quite time! Her family wants to whisk her off on a 6 week cruise stopping at all the big cities from Canada to the U.S., ending in New York City! She wants to decline but her family won’t hear of it. Her father promises to relay mail or telegrams from Jarrick and the school about her teaching position the coming year.
She does look forward to reconnecting with her family, especially her younger sister Julie. This requires Beth to tag along on the many activities youthful Julie enjoys. As if that isn’t exhausting enough, her sister becomes involved with some “modern” friends on the trip. Beth has reservations but doesn’t want to be judgmental. Julie is too stubborn to listens to her sister’s concerns, so Beth makes sure she keeps an eye on her. The trip is anything but dull! The family is confronted with numerous surprises and even tragedy.
The book was fun and enjoyable to read. I learned a great deal about travel during that era, especially by ship. To me there was much hardship in spite of the fact that the Thatchers were wealthy and had first class accommodations. I had stark realization of the hardship dealing with emergencies when away from home without our modern day technology! I was on pins and needles!
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book of the Return to the Canadian West Series, Where Courage Calls. You will want to read the first book, but this can be read as a standalone. A very enjoyable book, but of course you can never go wrong with Janet Oke! I am looking forward to the next one!
I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated are my own.

Neil Anderson has long been one of my favorite nonfiction writers. He is biblically solid and backs all his writing with scripture. When a person accepts Christ as their Savior, scripture tells us “. . . , he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
This raises many questions we usually don’t ask, “How do I become new? What is passed away? What else becomes new?” Believers can go through their entire life without really knowing these answers. This book searches deep into finding out. Six chapters cover exactly what is “new” in our lives according to the Bible with 5 lessons for study.
This isn’t a read through it and be done book but a work through and learn one. It is filled with lots of scripture references, charts, and questions. I have been a believer for 35 years and it opened my eyes to “new” blessings I did not even consider. You can set your own pace. This would a wonderful personal or group study. It would also make a great book for churches to give their new converts.
I received this book free from Bethany Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have stated are my own.

This is the most powerful and incredible book I have ever read about a person’s fight to accept Christ and follow Him, no matter what the cost! I remembered reading about her plight in 2009 and following the news. It wasn’t until I was further into the book that I realized it was her. It was one thing to watch it on the news but to actually read the details of what went on is a real eye-opener.
Rifqa was raised in a strict Muslim home. She puts herself at risk even before she becomes a Christian to learn more about Christ. When she did accept Him that was when her sole focus and desire to serve the Lord 100%.
We sit in our churches; enjoy our Bibles and freedom, never once thinking about the privilege and honor we possess, taking it all for granted. I do not see how anyone can read Rifqa’s story and walk away unchanged.
She puts most Christians to shame with her thirst to know Him, her passion to worship Him freely, and her willingness to forsake everything she has ever known to follow Him. She gave up her home, family, and put her life in danger, even now to make Jesus the Lord of her life. Too many believers won’t stand for God because they are afraid they will be criticized or it might involve a small sacrifice concerning their comfort.
She was in a seemingly impossible situation but woven throughout her story was the testimony of God’s hand in guiding and protecting her. Each time it seemed she was at the end of her rope; there would be exactly what she needed to continue. So many Christians stepped out of their comfort zones and put themselves in peril just to help Rifqa. Most of them did not even know her before that moment. They are yet another living example of true, unwavering faith. I was humbled, and amazed by this young woman’s story. You will want to read this book!
I received this book free from Bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I expressed are my own.

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