What a wonderful historical Christian romance! It has so many things going for it than just being well written and a great story! It is clear the author has meticulously researched the time, 1653, and details about the European settlers in America. In addition, some of the characters are based on some descendants Ms. Demarino’s personal family tree. All this combined develops some realistic characters and helps the reader slip into their era and lives. Another big plus for me was the strong spiritual center to the story, played out in the their lives.. There was a lot of scripture application which I am sure was a part of the original setters existence, to be able to handle all the hardships they faced.
The book begins with Heather Flower, Indian princess of the Montaukett tribe, lying bound and left to die after an attack of the fierce Narragansett tribe. It had been her wedding day, and she was about to marry the man she had grown up with and loved, only to watch him be murdered in cold blood. After ransom was paid, instead of releasing her the rival tribe left her helpless and alone. Thirteen other women were taken but she had no idea if her friends were dead or alive.
As part of a search party, Dutch Lt. Dirk Van Buren comes to her rescue. There is an immediate spark between them. To heal from her tragic loss she goes to live with her aunt and her tribe. Nearby is an English settlement that has been close friends to her family since she was small. There also lives Benjamin Horton a childhood friend who has always loved Heather Flower. He wants very much to make her his wife. Her emotions are in turmoil. She still grieves over the loss of her husband yet she is drawn to both of the men? What should she do?
The author did a beautiful and skillful job of simultaneously presenting the daily details of the individual characters daily lives and their relationships with one another too. Along with this, she included historical details in many areas: politics, European and Indian customs, work, home life, childbirth, challenges and much more. Each character was well developed and their particular personalities made them seem very real. Add to all this a surprise ending!
I have not read the 1st book of the series, A Place in His Heart, but I am definitely going to! This book stood alone but I am anxious to read what led up to the story. At the end is a sneak peek at book number 3 that is coming. Can’t wait!
I received this book free from the Revell Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

What a wonderful surprise! Good clean fun, entertainment for kids! This book is just the right size to take anywhere anytime. It fits in the palm of my hand, so I know it is easy for a child to carry. All you need is a pencil, but if you want to bring crayons or markers that would be a bonus. I suggest a pencil so if the child wants to “re-do” a part; they can erase and start over. My mind is spinning with ideas for this book! Great for keeping your children or grandchildren entertained on trips, waiting for appointments, waiting rooms, running errands (which kids hate!), when you are in a meeting with another adult, and there is nothing for the kids to do. The possibilities are endless as there are many times and places you need something for kids to pass the time quietly. I love the fact it is something that will spark imagination and creativity. Better yet it is something OTHER THAN an electronic device. It will also make a wonderful gift, and because of how wholesome the content it can be used for door prizes or gifts in your church! It is suggested for kids 9 – 12 but I see it working for ages 5 – 80! Children love silly jokes and riddles. This book is packed with 220 of them. Each page shares a riddle/joke. Below it is the answer. There are illustrations that are not completely finished. A suggestion is given on how the child can finish the picture. Be prepared as they will not only want to share their pictures with you but also read you the jokes! For getting a few extra miles out of the book, the children can color the pictures and then save the book to have their very own personalized joke book to enjoy over and over. This book is designated for girls but boys will enjoy it just as much. Hours of fun and amusement! Buy more than one so the kids can do new illustrations for the jokes. One time around will not be enough!

What a wonderful surprise! Good clean fun, entertainment for kids! This book is just the right size to take anywhere anytime. It fits in the palm of my hand, so I know it is easy for a child to carry. All you need is a pencil, but if you want to bring crayons or markers that would be a bonus. I suggest a pencil so if the child wants to “re-do” a part; they can erase and start over.
My mind is spinning with ideas for this book! Great for keeping your children or grandchildren entertained on trips, waiting for appointments, waiting rooms, running errands (which kids hate!), when you are in a meeting with another adult, and there is nothing for the kids to do. The possibilities are endless as there are many times and places you need something for kids to pass the time quietly. I love the fact it is something that will spark imagination and creativity. Better yet it is something OTHER THAN an electronic device. It will also make a wonderful gift, and because of how wholesome the content it can be used for door prizes or gifts in your church!
It is suggested for kids 9 – 12 but I see it working for ages 5 – 80! Children love silly jokes and riddles. This book is packed with 220 of them. Each page shares a riddle/joke. Below it is the answer. There are illustrations that are not completely finished. A suggestion is given on how the child can finish the picture. Be prepared as they will not only want to share their pictures with you but also read you the jokes! For getting a few extra miles out of the book, the children can color the pictures and then save the book to have their very own personalized joke book to enjoy over and over.
This book is designated for boys but girls will enjoy it just as much. Hours of fun and amusement! Buy more than one so the kids can do new illustrations for the jokes. One time around will not be enough!
I received this book free from Revell Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I stated are my own.

The post-Civil war period was one of the most difficult times in history, not only for surveying soldiers, but also the families they left behind. This novel gave me an even deeper glimpse into how hard it was.
In 1865, young Carlyn Kearney was one of those facing the aftermath. Her situation was complicated by the fact that her beloved husband, Ambrose, was reported missing 2 years ago. The last time she had heard from him was in 1863. Was he dead? Was she a widow? How long did she wait for him to return. She loved him and didn’t want to give up hope, but this was only a small part of the hardships she faced. I cannot imagine being a widow during that time. Tending the home was more than cleaning and paying the electric bill. There were animals to care for, a garden, and much more.
Unable to pay the loan on their farm, Carlyn was being harassed and threatened by her repugnant and cruel landlord, Curt Whitlow. All she had for protection was her gun and her very capable dog Asher, whom she loved deeply. Finally the day came when Curt and Sheriff Mitchell Brodie, gave her a deadline to be out of her home. Sheriff Brodie was immediately taken with her courage, beauty, and vulnerability.
Everything looks hopeless for the young widow but a saying of her mother’s continues to come to mind, “Pray anyway.” And that she does!
She decides to join the local Shaker Community where she will receive food and shelter while she waits for word of Ambrose. She does not believe as they do, but she feels she can live with them for her needs to be met. Not allowing dogs, she is forced to give Asher to the Sheriff. Mitchell is fine with that as it gives him a way to keep in touch and feed his growing attraction to her.
I knew little about the Shaker’s beliefs and practices other than their simplicity in living and ban against marriage. I was shocked and how far they took their strict behavior and lifestyle. It seemed a sad life built around rules and legalism. From how you spoke, to what you wore, and how you ate, their guidelines were extremely unyielding. Caryln found herself in a different kind of suffering and questioned if her decision to join was the right one. Strange things began to happen after Caryln arrived and of course the Shakers blamed her.
This book is filled with many surprises and lots of excitement! Woven right through middle of all the action is a beautiful story of 2 people learning to love again, and strong faith in the midst of harrowing trials. What really left an impression on me was Caryln’s mother’s spiritual teaching, “Pray anyway.” It has come back to e many times since I read the book, and know it will continue to.
I received this book free from Revell Reads Blog Tour Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I stated are my own.

This book has SO MUCH to offer! There are a multitude of ways these recipes can be used. Being a widow, I struggle with eating, period. There is the issue of not really having an appetite and also the challenge of cooking for one. I was thrilled to see what this cookbook had to offer!
The individual portions are perfect for me. Of course I can’t eat an entire recipe (which varies from 6- 12 servings), but that is okay because my leftovers are another meal!. The recipes are simple, varied, and delicious. Ingredients are easy to find, and most you will have on hand already. No special items that are only found on top of a mountain in Tibet or you have to empty your pocket book to purchase! They also helped me in my goal of eating a healthier diet. Sections include, breakfast, appetizers, main dishes, side dishes and desserts. Wouldn’t it be fun to have an entire meal muffin tin meal?
Single servings are great to take with me and eat on the run, thus keeping me from eating out. But it doesn’t just stop with me! This cookbook is great for cooking for your kids and in my case my grandkids. The muffin meals intrigue them not to mention the smaller sizes cook faster. Important when you have a hungry bunch waiting to eat. Any leftovers turn into individualized snacks for later.
The colorful and appetizing pictures of each recipe wet my appetite and also I love the simple clean up without a lot of pots and pans. There is also a primer on different kinds of muffin tins and sizes; silicone, metal, stoneware, cast iron, etc. The author also discusses packaging and freezing. He has conveniently marked recipes that are Vegetarian, Gluten free, and can be frozen later. With the latter you can have a bunch on hand to quickly heat up.
A cookbook for everyone, dieters (portion control), couples, singles, college students, etc; it can fit the needs of everyone. I plan to makes some of the recipes for our church dinners. This is a cookbook you want to own and will use a lot!
I received this book free from Ulysses Press in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I expressed are my own.

I have never read a book by Melody Carlson I did not enjoy. This one will be added to the list. It was a refreshing change from historical novels. I never fail to learn something new from the books I read. When I heard of people going to school to get a degree in hotel management I never realized all the Hospitality Industry entailed professionally!
Anna Gordon is a young woman with big dreams to pursue a career she loves. She puts her plans on hold to move back to her small home town and be with her widowed grandmother. Making the best of the situation and wait or God to direct her, she gets a job managing the “Value Lodge”. The name should tell you enough! It was fraught with frustrations dealing with indifferent owners, lax employees, and outdated facilities. She feels her education and expertise is worthless there. Just when she thinks she can’t handle anymore, the opportunity of a life time opens up.
A friend arranges for her to interview for a job at a stylish, high-class, new hotel opening in New York City! She gets a job, but not as manager. Much to her disappointment, she is hired as head of housekeeping. She decides to do her very best and hopefully move up in the future. The real blow to her comes when she finds out that Sean O’Neil is the new manager. He is an old crush of hers from high school. Still drawn to him, she struggles to maintain a professional attitude and relationship. Much to her surprise, he is very interested in more.
That wasn’t the only adjustment she faced. It was quite a change from her little community to bustling New York City! I have never been to the Big Apple, but I feel like I got a mini trip their through Anna! Ms. Carlson made the sights and sounds so real. I especially liked her descriptiveness of the hotel and Anna’s first apartment. This is a fun book, and such a sweet story of romance. An added bonus is a sneak peek at the author’s next book in her “Follow Your Heart” series. I can’t wait to read it too!
I received a copy of this book from Revell’s Blog Tour Program for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

When I read the title of the book I never dreamed all the excitement that would be packed into the word “rescue”. This is not your regular 1800’s historical fiction! The storm Elizabeth Benjamin’s ship is facing in her return to Key West, Florida is just the tip of the iceberg compared to the tempest that awaits her at home when she arrives.
For the past four years in South Carolina she has managed to dodge every suitor her family has presented. A different story lies ahead for her when she is once again in her father’s house. He is determined to have her marry and has even picked her (icky) future husband. Her meddling, elderly aunt has rigid social expectations for her too. She also faces her mother’s death since she was gone, and she feels responsible to care for her crippled brother whose condition is a direct result of choice she made in the past. Her heart still belongs to the handsome and kind, Captain O’Malley. Does he share her feelings after all this time? Her father is totally against her marrying the captain as he is “beneath” her station.
She is faced with family secrets that will require her to forgive as much as she desires to be forgiven. The story is rich in history about the Florida Key, slavery issues, and the shipping industry. Add to that lots of action packed moments! The characters face life threatening peril, evil conspiracy, deception, and much more. This is a wonderfully written book with a plot and fascinating characters that draw you into the suspense and times.
I received a copy of this book from Revell Blog Tour Program for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

This book is just what I have been waiting for!!! It is a goldmine of creative ideas that anyone can do and do well! This is the “Candyland” of books! There were so many things I liked!
The sturdy cover and pages make it easy to use and handle while cooking and creating! The cover back and front drew me in immediately with the colorful finished products displayed.
The ideas were unique, new, and easy enough for anyone to do. None were labor intensive and the ingredients are easily found in your pantry and grocery store. Not to mention none of the projects are expensive. All these are big pluses when you are preparing these as treats for a large group. These creations would thrill a children’s class at school, a Sunday school class, anywhere you want to bring refreshments. The ideas are so unusual and cute, they will add to the fun and celebration.
Most of projects are kid-friendly and the incredible step by step how to pictures makes everything even easier! A book you will want to keep and use!
I received this book free from Bloggingforbooks.org in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I expressed are my own.

The KJV is the only Bible version I read. I was delighted to see one of such quality and with so many bonuses! It is a very well made Bible. I was concerned at first about it being a hardcover, but it is not heavy and is easy to handle.
Except for a small concordance in the back, it is just what you need for Bible study; the bare bones! No cross references, commentaries, maps, etc. You have just God’s word for you to read and discover the treasures within. I know I become distracted by the things I mentioned, and while they do aid my studies, when I am reading on my Bible I need to focus on what the Lord shows me, not any extra information. I can get the references and dig deeper later. This makes what I write even more personal and relevant to my life.
I have always been not so much a note taker in my Bible as writing down insights, and special understandings of the scriptures. And write I have! That is one reason I love the large margins! My previous Bible so marked in every available place!!! In the Note-Takers Bible, there is so much room not only to write but keep everything neat and in order, not struggling to try and squeeze more in.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that the large margins did not also accompany a font size that requires a microscope to read! The icing on the cake is that it is also are red letter Bible! All the words of Christ are in red! For me, this makes what Jesus spoke to stand out even more.
I also see it becoming an heirloom of my spiritual journal for my family to read for generations to come. I find this important because I have received Bibles from parents and grandparents upon their death, excited to what they learned, only to find very few notes or none at all. This Bible would also be excellent for those who do Bible journaling with pictures decorative handwriting.
This Bible is a treasure! I look forward to it becoming a very special part of my daily time with the Lord.
I received this Bible from the BookLook Bloggers, program for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have written are my own.

If Beverly Lewis is the author, you are assured 100% you will be reading a good book. This one is another in a line of many of excellent stories! The River is a wonderful example that all families have conflicts, even the Amish.
Tilly left her Amish life and married an Englisher. Her sister Ruth also made the choice to leave. She and Tilly have a close bond, but still love and miss their family. Tilly is very happy with her twin girls and her new life. You can only imagine the discord this created with their Amish family.
A brother calls and invites them to come to a celebration of their parent’s anniversary. Due to the difficult relationship with her family, especially her father, both girls decide not to attend. Ruth receives another call telling of their father’s bad health which influences them to go. Having been several years since they have been home, they are understandably anxious about the reception they will receive.
As I read I could actually feel the tension and uneasiness Tilly felt. Some of her family received her with open arms, others were distant, but her Dad was as he had always been toward her, unloving and critical. She was the only child in the family he treated so harshly. She decides to stay and her uncle and aunt’s house to ease the situation. Tilly not only is confronted with her father’s lifetime rejection of her, but also guilt involving the death of her younger sister years ago. She blamed herself for the little one’s drowning, when she was supposed to be watching her.
Misunderstandings and unknown facts can cause a family to fall into a trap of living in conflict, hurting one another, and never experiencing the closeness they could have. Ms. Lewis weaves a beautiful story of a family finding their way back to each other amid great conflict with in and among themselves. Through forgiveness, love, and confronting their inner hearts, they find their way back. The story has many surprises and made me think of how longstanding secrets can cause people to act in ways we don’t understand. You will want to read this book!

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.