Cassie Haddon was born with the proverbial “silver spoon”. The end of the Civil war changed her and her mother from wealthy aristocrats to homeless average people with no skills to support themselves. After overstaying their welcome at her uncle’s they are forced to move. Her mother refuses to accept her loss of status and lifestyle, but Cassie takes a realistic point of view, especially after she overheard her uncle call her “useless”.
Her mother uses the last of their money for tickets to Noble Springs, Missouri on a hear-say that her brother is living there. An old friend of Cassie’s, Rosemary Stewart, invites them to stay with her and her husband Elijah. Cassie is angry and humiliated to realize her mother plans to put down roots and take advantage of the Stewart’s hospitality permanently. This and her uncle’s declaring her “useless” spurs her do get a job to support her and her mother.
She applies at Jake West’s restaurant as a waitress. Her persistence and spunk persuade him to hire her. Having never worked in her life she has a real learning experience. Her mother is not only horrified at her working, but down right angry when Cassie rents them a little 2 room cabin in town.
Throughout the book Cassie shows courage, perseverance, and character, as she faces her mother’s conniving and manipulation, not to mention the many mistakes she makes as she learns to make a new life for herself. Mutual respect soon draws Jake and Cassie together and they find themselves falling in love. Her lack of confidence and His secret from his past keep them from declaring their feelings at first.
They had much in common in spite of their very different backgrounds. Jake had grown up poor and neglected, whereas Cassie was raised rich and overly pampered, yet both of them were striving to overcome their pasts through hard work and honesty.
I loved the way Cassie was always double checking her choices and actions by God’s Word. I also admired her respect and patience with her mother’s selfishness and scheming. It was wonderful to see a story where the spoilt rich girl becomes a godly woman of substance. Expect lots of surprises and glitches throughout the story! I appreciated the godliness and integrity of the main characters. An enjoyable book. Although have not read the other two books I never felt I was missing part of the story. I look forward to reading them now!
I received this book free from Revell Pulishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

This is one of my first books to read by Katharine Swartz and I was duly impressed. The story is about two women, one living in the present day, Jane Hatton, and one in the 1030’s, Alice James. The Hatton’s are a fast paced, modern New York family. Jane and her husband both have busy careers and 3 children. She loves it and all the perks to living in the Big Apple. Her British born husband, Andrew decides it is time for them to move back to his homeland after their daughter falls in with the wrong crowd. The house they buy is a drafty, crumbling vicarage in the small, isolated town of Goswell on the Cumbrian coast. Jane moves into very house Alice James moved into as a newlywed. Alice was a 19 year old bride who married her true love, David James, the vicar of Goswell.
I enjoyed the way the author alternated chapters between Jane’s life and Alice’s. Jane did not want to leave her exciting lifestyle and found herself very negative and unhappy. She agreed because her husband had spent 16 years in America and she felt it was his turn to be home. Alice on the other hand was very excited about starting her new life and moving, but she struggled with leaving her father and the home she had always known. Each woman had a different attitude about their move, and each handled in in a different way, but the both faced many of the same struggles sand discontentment. The home was huge and dreary. The weather was relentlessly cold and bleak.
One day when Jane was attempting to begin the enormous job of turning the vicarage into a home, she finds a yellowed piece of paper with a shopping list on it. She becomes fascinated with learning about the woman who wrote the list. What was her life like? How did she feel living there?
As their stories unfold both women find their loneliness and despair increasing by their circumstances. Jane woman misses her career and doubts her ability to be happy and be a woman without it. Alice misses her husband who is at war and doubts her ability to be a vicar’s wife. Both women feel the awkwardness and rejection trying to fit in to the tight knit community. Their approach to facing unwelcome changes was a stark contrast between self-pity and loving sacrifice. I felt a part of both their world’s as they grew and learned their true strengths and weaknesses. The author’s writing was vivid in all her descriptions. I could feel how dark, depressing, and cold the home was. At some points I had to pull up some extra blankets because I could feel the chill! Her accounts of each woman’s emotions were so intense I actually felt their hurt, frustrations, and pain! A beautiful book, well written and very entertaining!
I received this book free from the publisher Kregel Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

We’ve all been there. Times in our lives where what we are facing is so overwhelming that we just don’t think we will survive. The pain is so great it engulfs our hearts and minds to the point we feel it will never end. I know I have been to that point many times in my life. It’s one huge problem after another or a bunches of little ones that wear me down. This is where Satan steps in and gets our focus off of Christ and onto our circumstances. No wonder we feel defeated!
This is a wonderful book to help you get back on track and see through Satan’s lies and clearly see God’s Truths. Ms. Gerth does a beautiful job through insights and scriptures to help us refocus and on who we are in Christ. She shows all that we have at our disposal through His power, not only to survive but to come out a victor not a victim!
One of the most important aspects of the book was how much scripture she uses to guide you to where you need to be. Scripture is our ONLY guide. She helps you climb out of a seemingly dark hole and see the courage and strength that is there waiting for you through the Lord. When difficulties arise, we are attacked on all sides, physically, mentally and emotionally. The author addresses all of these. A wonderful book filled with encouragement and hope! This is one I will keep, read again and again, and use as a reference. I think it would make an incredible Bible study for an individual or a group!
I received this book free from Revell Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

One of my favorite things about historical novels is that although they are fiction they are entertaining ways to view life in the past. The growing territories of the 1800’s were sometimes challenging places to live and only for the strong of heart, especially for women. Elizabeth Harding had already braved her way through medical school to become a doctor; definitely not an acceptable career choice for women of that time.
She shows even more grit and courage by choosing to join her older sisters and their families in Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1887 and set up her first medical practice. Having already weathered the opposition and jeers of her fellow male students, she is undaunted at the task before her and full of hope and expectation. Next to her new clinic is a young lawyer named Jason Nordling, also trying to establish his business. At first they get off on the wrong foot due to his prejudice against female doctors. This doesn’t deter Elizabeth’s goals at all. Time and circumstances soften their feeling toward each other and a friendship is forged that quickly turns into romance, surprising them both. Suspense, murder and many surprises enter into the sweet love story.
Living in the 21st century we forget how restrictive and sometimes hard the lives of women were, little alone one that was choosing to blaze a new path. There were many life lessons to be learned from the characters. Elizabeth’s courage not only to follow her dream but also to do what is right despite the opinions of others was inspiring. She chooses to treat a madam of a bordello and her women without caring what others would say. Although she did not agree with their occupation, she did care about them as people. She was not afraid to stand for what was right or for those who were being wronged.
In her I also saw how easy it is to jump to conclusions about people and their motives before knowing the full truth of the matter. I have to give her credit that she recognized her weakness in this area.
Elizabeth and Jason had what they believed to be concrete plans about their future, who they would marry and if they would marry. Their relationship was a reminder that we should never say “never” and need to leave the door open for God’s plans.
Gwen, her friend and lady she roomed had a problem that still goes on today but in a greater way; body image and self-worth. I appreciated the way the author proved that this is not the key to being loved and admired by another.
I have not read the other two books of this series and I feel this could be a stand-alone read. The story was well written and a real page turner. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Cabot’s books.
I received this book free from Baker Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

I have been looking for a book like this for years! I wish it had been available when my kids were young but all is not lost, I get to enjoy it with my grandkids This is a really bargain with it being 3 jokes books in on: Laugh Out Loud Jokes for Kids,
Zoolarious Animal Jokes for Kids, and Knock-Knock Jokes for Kids.
It is such a wonderful collection of good clean jokes for kids to enjoy. Kids love silly jokes: they can’t get enough of them! Even teens and older adults will get laugh too.
The book will be enjoyed over and over by the children because they never tire of telling the same jokes over and over. I get tickled because they laugh just as hard or harder than they did the first time!
While it is great for the kids to read, I have endless possibilities to use it also. It will be wonderful for working with my grandchildren’s classes at school. These would be great for lunch box notes, surprise notes to leave around the house and even making Valentines. I want make a family dinner jar for interaction at meals!
A great gift for children or a great resource of teachers, parents, and grandparents!
I received this book free from Baker publishing I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

When I began my review of this book I didn’t realize it was by three different authors! In fact, I didn’t know until I started the second one. At first I was disappointed because I thought the first story had ended and I was so involved in the characters. I was very happy when I realized the original characters were still a part and at some points a little more of their story unfolded in next novellas. Minor characters from the preceding stories became the main ones in the succeeding ones. They all lived together in a small Amish community in Paradise, Pennsylvania. I assumed with 3 different authors and three different styles, the stories connection would be somewhat disjointed. To my surprise they weren’t! They flowed beautifully together! The book’s three novellas are: Always in My Heart, Always His Providence, and Always Beautiful.
Always in My Heart tells the story of Hope Bowman a young happily married woman with 4 daughters. She longs for a son. After being raped as a teenager, she was forced by her harsh father to give up her first born, a son. She believed the sin of giving him up was why God did not give them a son. After years of carrying her burden she confesses it to her husband. For the first time in years she feels freedom and forgiveness. Her anxious heart is calmed and she turns everything over to God and prays for His will to be done. He works in Hope’s life in a mighty and unexpected way.
Always His Providence begins with the seemly impossible situation a young widow finds herself in. Ruth Hostetler will lose her farm in less than a month if she cannot come up with the back taxes. Her only source of income is selling eggs and even that is threatened. Her pride prevents her from letting her community know she needs help. If she loses her beloved home she must move far away from her friends to live with an aunt. My heart broke for her and I could feel her frustration and hopelessness. At the same time I was frustrated with her for trying to do things in her own strength! In spite of Ruth’s stubbornness, the Lord solves her dilemma in unanticipated ways.
Always Beautiful finds eighteen year Becky Byler facing a problem many young girls deal with, being overweight. She has no friends other than Elam. He is her best friend and has his own physical challenge. Becky feels very self-conscious and alone. So much so she even considers suicide by jumping into the waters of a rampant creek. She prays for God to work a miracle in her life. Much to her joy, she is able to overcome her temptation with food and the pounds begin to fall away. Everything she thought she wanted begins to happen. She loves the way she looks, and the most handsome man in the community, Matt, is dating her, but something still isn’t right. God does work a miracle but not as she envisioned it. He shows her where her true happiness lies.
There are so many spiritual lessons in each novella I would love to share, but then my review would be a spoiler! I even had scriptures pop into my head as I read. One lesson I can share is that we always try to second guess how God will solve our problems. Sometimes we even work out a plan for Him, based on our limited vision. If we only trust Him He will not only take care of us, but also astonish us with His answers! I loved the recipes in the back of the book that were mentioned in the stories! I am still amazed the three different authors wrote this!

My husband has been dead 7 months now. I have been reading many books on being a widow. All are different and offer diverse perspectives. I found this book very helpful. Mrs. Neff has already gone down the road of “widowhood” and does an excellent job of lighting the way for others. She very clearly and thoroughly shows you what you might experience, challenges and pitfalls alike. I felt like she was taking me by the hand and walking with me.
Becoming a widow is something you cannot prepare for; there is no learning curve. The moment your spouse dies you are confronted with learning as you go. There is no right way or wrong way to grieve, it is very personal, but we all have common denominators we will face.
I found being a widow very confusing. There wasn’t a file I could neatly tuck it into and predict or control what I faced, emotionally or physically. Mrs. Neff’s book brought me not only reassurance but also encouragement in these dark moments. She helped me realize I wasn’t as alone as I felt. Others had gone through this and survived; she herself had made it.
She showed me there were choices I could make in this new life I had not chosen. One was realizing who in my life I could turn to and depends on to give me guidance and support. She gave me sound advice about finances, that of course drastically change when I was suddenly alone. She covered so many things that I would not have thought of in this fog I am walking through.
Unlike many books this one dared to approach some positive changes that would come into my life. Yes, positive! I know that is hard to even fathom when you are in such pain. She does not ignore the agony and heartache you are experiencing, as she does talk about it, neither is she negative and morose. Her approach is positive and upbeat without being offensive to a freshly broken heart.
I found help in glimpsing into the future even though I am not ready to venture there now. Mrs. Neff reminds us the importance of reaching out to others and comforting them as we have been comforted as the Bible speaks of in, 2 Corinthians 1:4, “Who comforted us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
One of the things I appreciated most of all and made the book so relevant to me was the strong Biblical thread that ran through it. As a Christian that is the only way I am able to approach anything is through God’s Word. My book has many dog eared pages for me to refer back to the parts that were especially helpful. I highly recommend this to any woman who has lost her spouse. Thank you, Mrs. Neff, for this work of the heart.
I received this book free from the publisher Moody Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

When I saw Karen Ehman’s name on this book I KNEW it would be great, but it was better than that, it is outstanding! How wish this had been published when my girls were little! I tried very hard to make holidays special, but wracked my brain to find ways to make the many days in between them fun. This book was just what I needed! All is not lost because now I can use the ideas with my grandchildren.
This book’s celebrations did not require a lot of extra purchases and expense to carry them out. That is a plus for any family in this day and time. I especially liked that the throughout the book there was a Christian emphasis on family times spent together. The ideas were not only unique but very creative. Just the stuff great memories are made of.
Regular holidays are of course represented, with new traditions, games, and crafts. Many unusual calendar days not typically celebrated are included. There are sections on daily and weekly moments such as meal times, family night, sibling’s night, name day, spiritual miles stones, and reaching out to others in hard times. There is also a chapter on ways to keep connected with your children from the young to those heading to college.
I liked that it was divided into seasons where I can easily find what is appropriate for that time of year. The recipes are excellent, not a lot of fuss and things everyone would like, but delicious! Throughout the books are quotes, spiritual insights, and experiences of other women. This book is a keeper, and one you will want to use over and over!
I received this book free from Baker Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

I am always on looking for quality children’s Bible Story books. Not only for my grandchildren and to use in church nursery, but also I think they are one of the best baby gifts you can give. There are many qualities I look for in a book and this has all of them and a few extra.
One is well made and sturdy to hold up to little hands touching and handling, not only for the present, but for years to come. Some of my children’s Bible story books were passed down to their children. 99 stories from the Bible is both. It is a well-made book and a good value.
Secondly, for the book to be enjoyed and hold the child’s attention, it has to be very colorful with quality illustrations. This book also checks both of those boxes. The characters are not only cute but entertaining. Their bulbous noses and tiny eyes are different than most illustrations in this type of book and bring a fun factor into the pictures.
Most Bible story books have just a few stories, but I was impressed this one had 99! Even though it contained so many it was not big and cumbersome. The Old and New Testament stories are just one to two pages each, just enough for little minds to grasp. While the stories may be short they do an excellent job to sharing the very basic facts of the biblical accounts.
While this is for preschool age children, as they grow older it would be a wonderful learning to read Bible story book for the beginning reader. How proud they would be at their accomplishment and it would be yet another way to instill God’s Word in their hearts. This would be a great baby gift (one for grandparents too), birthday gift, and to keep in the church nursery.
I received this book free from the publisher Kregel Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.