12 Pearls of Christmas- Day Three

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Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas!



Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom" from some of today's most beloved writer's (Tricia Goyer, Babbie Suzanne Woods Fisher, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, Sibella Giorello and more)! Please follow the series through Christmas day as each contributor shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year.



AND just for fun ... there's also a giveaway! Fill out this simple {form} and enter for a chance to win a beautiful pearl necklace and earring set ($450 value). Contest runs 12/14 - 12/25 and the winner will on 1/1. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents. You may enter once per day.



If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

***

Where is Comfort and Joy Found?

By Sandy Ralya



The year 2006 ushered unwelcome emotions into my life. My husband was unhappy in his job, two of my grown children were making poor choices, my mother-in-law was showing signs of Alzheimer’s, extended-family issues were surfacing, and I was writing a book. Things only got worse. Much worse.



Early in 2007, I was asked to represent the mentoring ministry for wives I founded, Beautiful Womanhood, and lead a women’s conference in Uganda, Africa. My husband wasn’t sure if traveling to Africa was a good idea, so we committed it to prayer. While we were listening for an answer, I sensed God asking me to fast from spending, except for groceries, for thirty days. Sometimes you know that you’ve heard God’s voice because you’d never have come up with those words on your own. This was one of those times. I’d never heard of a fast from spending. Tom needed no convincing that a fast from spending came directly from the mouth of God. He still gets excited just thinking about it!



During the fast, it became clear I had used spending as a way to gain a comfort fix. When I was spending money, I felt carefree and lighthearted. Instead of dwelling on the unpleasantness in my life, I was thinking of my purchases and how they would bring me pleasure. Not until I stopped spending did I realize how short-lived the fix really was. During the fast, when I felt the urge to spend—to anesthetize my pain—I pictured myself running into the arms of Jesus, the Great Comforter. Oh, what comfort I received!



One night, I told good friends my experience of gaining comfort through the power of the Holy Spirit rather than money. I exclaimed that I had never felt so comforted. One friend then told us about a dream he’d had shortly after hearing about the invitation from Uganda. After the dream, he had awoken and recorded the following thoughts:



“. . . this is for Sandy. Christ’s redemption of women is beautiful. Beautiful Womanhood is a result of redemptive wholeness. The visuals the ministry uses on the books, etc., are like a piece of beautifully veneered furniture. There is something going on with the ministry to the brokenness of abused women. In Uganda, there are hurting, abused women, and something is connecting their need and Beautiful Womanhood. Though there is nothing wrong with veneer, it is only the topping—the covering, and without good structure it is shallow and will not hold up. It is time to add a new depth to the ministry.”



Then these verses came to my friend’s mind:



All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NL



When my friend was finished sharing, everyone in the room broke down in tears, praising God for His work in my life. I’d learned to listen and God had spoken. I’d obeyed, and He’d acted. When He acted, I was changed.



Needless to say, I packed my bags and experienced some of the best days of my life in Uganda—offering God’s comfort to His troubled women.

***

Sandy and her husband Tom have been married since 1980 and live near Grand Rapids, Michigan. They have three adult children and a growing number of grandchildren. When not writing and speaking, Sandy enjoys shopping at yard sales for vintage clothing, cooking, travelling, and drinking really good coffee (black is best) with her husband. For more information, contact Sandy at sandy@beautifulwomanhood.com. Subscribe to Sandy’s blog at www.beautifulwomanhood.com/blog. Find Sandy on Facebook at Beautiful Womanhood. Follow Sandy on Twitter @MentoringWives.

12 Pearls of Christmas- Day Two

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas!



Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom" from some of today's most beloved writer's (Tricia Goyer, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, Sibella Giorello and more)! Please follow the series through Christmas day as each contributor shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year.



AND just for fun ... there's also a giveaway! Fill out this simple {form} and enter for a chance to win a beautiful pearl necklace and earring set ($450 value). Contest runs 12/14 - 12/25 and the winner will on 1/1. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents. You may enter once per day.



If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

*** 

Advent
By Sibella Giorello



Consider the bride's walk down the aisle. We all know where that woman in the white is going but somehow waiting for her to arrive at the altar is an essential part of the ceremony. In fact, the waiting is so essential that even cheapskate Vegas chapels include wedding marches.



Why?



Because the wait adds meaning to the moment.



At Christmas time, we tend to forget this essential truth about anticipation. We're lost to shopping malls and checklists, rushing toward December 25th so quickly that we forget the quiet joy of the month's other 24 days -- and then we wonder why we feel so empty on the 26th, amid ribbons and wrapping paper and our best intentions.



Because the wait adds meaning to the moment.



And that is why Advent is so important to Christmas.



I'm as guilty as the next harried person. This Advent was particularly tricky because just six hours before it started, I was still trying to finish a 110,000-word novel that was written over the course of the year -- written while homeschooling my kids, keeping my hubby happy, and generally making sure the house didn't fall down around us.



It's an understatement to say my free time is limited. But waiting adds meaning, and Advent is crucial to Christmas, so I've devised several Advent traditions that are simple, powerful and easy to keep even amid the seasonal rush.



When my kids outgrew the simple Advent calendars around age 7, I stole an idea from my writer friend Shelly Ngo (as T.S. Eliot said, "Mediocre writers borrow. Great writers steal." Indulge me.)



Here's how it goes: Find 24 great Christmas books, wrap them individually and place then under the tree. On the first day of Advent, take turns picking which book to open. When we did this, we would cuddle under a blanket and read aloud -- oh, the wonder, the magic! We savored "The Polar Express," howled with "How Murray Saved Christmas," and fell silent at the end of "The Tale of The Three Trees" (note: some of the picture books I chose were not explicitly about Christmas but they always echoed the message that Jesus came to earth to save us from ourselves and to love us beyond our wildest imagination. In that category, Angela Hunt's retelling of The Three Trees definitely hits the Yuletide bull's eye).



This Advent tradition lasted for about five years. It gave us rich daily discussions about the season's real meaning, without being religious or legalistic, and it increased family couch time. But like the lift-the-flap calendars, my kids outgrew the picture books.



Because the wait adds meaning, and Advent is crucial, I prayed for another way to celebrate anticipation of Christmas. By the grace of God, last year I found an enormous Advent calendar on  clearance at Pottery Barn. Made of burlap, it has large pockets big enough to hold some serious bounty.

 

But my husband and I didn't want the kids focusing only on the materialist stuff for Advent -- we already fight that on Christmas day. We decided to fill the daily pockets with simple necessities and small gift cards. We also printed out the nativity story from Luke 2:1-21 in a large-sized font and cut each verse out. From Day 1 to Day 21, there is one verse to read aloud. The kids memorize it, then get to open their present (again, on alternating days for each person). Then we tape the verse to the wall in order. By Day 22, all the verses are on the wall, in order, and the kids now try to recite the entire nativity story from memory. That's not as difficult as it sounds because they've been memorizing one verse each day. Still, the entire recitation -- verbatim -- usually requires Day 23 and Day 24. Whoever does memorize the entire thing -- without mistakes --  earns a bonus gift of $25.



Does that sounds extravagant?



It is.



Because we want our kids to understand that God came down and humbled himself and taught us about love right before He suffered and died on behalf of the undeserving -- which is every one of us.



"That's" extravagant.



And in the waiting, we find even more meaning.

***

Sibella Giorello writes the Raleigh Harmon mystery series which won the Christy Award with its first book "The Stones Cry Out." She lives in Washington state with her husband and children, and often wishes there were 36 hours in a day.

12 Pearls of Christmas- Day One

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas!



Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom" from some of today's most beloved writer's (Tricia Goyer, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, Sibella Giorello and more)! Please follow the series through Christmas day as each contributor shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year.



AND just for fun ... there's also a giveaway! Fill out this simple {form} and enter for a chance to win a beautiful pearl necklace and earring set ($450 value). Contest runs 12/14 - 12/25 and the winner will on 1/1. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents. You may enter once per day.



If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

***

A Christmas of Kindness

By Suzanne Woods Fisher



"You can give without loving, but you can¹t love without giving." Amish proverb



I do it every year.



I plan for a simpler, less stressful Christmas season and, every year, by Christmas Eve I'm exhausted! After our delicious and very-time-consuming-to-make traditional Swedish meal to honor my husband¹s relatives (think: Vikings), it's time to head to church. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but the last few Christmas Eve's, I have sent my husband and kids head off without me. The pull to spend an hour of quiet in the house feels as strong as a magnet.



It's odd. My children are young adults now. Wouldn't you think that Christmas would be simpler? Instead, it's just the opposite. Jugging schedules to share the grandbaby with the in-laws, trying to include our elderly parents at the best time of day for them, dancing carefully around recently divorced family members whose children are impacted by the shards of broken relationships.



The thing is: you can simplify your to-do list, but you can't really simplify people. We are just a complicated bunch.

Here's where I borrow a lesson about simplicity from the Amish. It's easy to get distracted with the buggies and the bonnets and the beards, but there's so much more to learn from these gentle people if you're willing to look a little deeper.



Yes, they live with less "stuff" and that does make for a simpler, less cluttered life. But it's the reason behind it that is so compelling to me: they seek to create margin in their life. Not just empty spacebut space that is available to nourish family, community, and faith. Their Christmas is far less elaborate than yours or mine, but what they do fill it with is oh so right.



Christmas comes quietly on an Amish farmhouse. There is no outward sign of the holiday as we know it: no bright decorations, no big tree in the living room corner. A few modest gifts are waiting for children at their breakfast place settings, covered by a dishtowel. Waiting first for Dad to read the story of Christ's birth from the book of Luke. Waiting until after a special breakfast has been enjoyed. Waiting until Mom and Dad give the signal that the time has come for gifts.



Later, if Christmas doesn't fall on a Sunday, extended family and friends will gather for another big meal. If time and weather permits, the late afternoon will be filled with ice skating or sledding. And more food! Always, always an abundance of good food. Faith, family, and community. That is the focus of an Amish Christmas.



And it's also how the story begins for A Lancaster County Christmas, as a young family prepares for Christmas. A winter storm blows a non-Amish couple, Jaime and C.J. Fitzpatrick, off-course and into the Riehl farmhouse. An unlikely and tentative friendship develops, until the one thing Mattie and Sol hold most dear disappears and then. Ah, but you¹ll just have to read the story to find out what happens next. Without giving anything away, I will say that I want to create a Mattie-inspired margin this Christmas season. Mattie knew inconveniences and interruptions that come in the form of people (big ones and little ones!) are ordained by God. And blessed by God.



Creating margin probably means that I won't get Christmas cards out until the end of January, and my house won't be uber-decorated. After all, something has to give. But it will mean I make time for a leisurely visit with my dad at his Alzheimer's facility. And time to volunteer in the church nursery for a holiday-crowded event. And time to invite a new neighbor over for coffee. Hopefully, it will mean that my energy won't get diverted by a frantic, self-imposed agenda. Only by God's agendathe essence of true simplicity.



And that includes taking time to worship Christ's coming at the Christmas Eve service. You can hold me accountable! This year, I will be there.

***

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, The Search, and The Keeper, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Christy Award nominee and is the host of an internet radio show called Amish Wisdom and her work has appeared in many magazines. She lives in California. www.suzannewoodsfisher.com.

Cute Little Song!

Okay, so I learned a song this summer, and I can't believe I never shared it with you!

It is called (drum roll please)

The Kool-Aid Song!

Yes, Kool-Aid! As in, the interesting pitcher guy.

Note: This is not my image.

It's kind of hard to understand at first because the song is more a play on words. You know "Do-Re-Mi" from the Sound of Music, right? This song uses the same kind of play on words, and it is actually to the same tune. So, sing the Kool-Aid song to the same tune of "Do-Re-Mi".

Ready? :)

The Kool-Aid song:

Do (dough) the stuff, I buy my Kool-Aid with

Re (Ray) the guy I buy it from (thanks, Ray!)

Mi (me) the one, I buy my Kool-Aid for,

Fa (far) a long long way to get some!

So I think I'll have some Kool-Aid (how much?)

La (lots) and lots and lots of Kool-Aid

Ti (tea)? No thanks, I'll have some Kool-aid

And that brings us back to do, do, do, do, do!

And there you have it, folks!

Blessings,

Review of Precisely Terminated

Precisely Terminated is the debut book and first in the Cantral Chronicles, a dystopian trilogy, by Amanda Davis.  In a world where slavery is rampant and all people are controlled by cruel, heartless nobles by means of microchips implanted into the skull, there is only one person who is capable of saving them. Monica is a noble who evaded implantation of the microchip after escaping an extermination of her family and city. Now, as a sixteen year old, she must act as a slave and constantly watch her back and trick the system as she searches for a way to decimate the computers that control the slaves' lives. Aided by a mysterious, demanding council and self-sacrificing fellow slaves, Monica is the only person who could ever shut down the computers as she is the only person to have ever beat the system and avoided a chip. But time is running out.

The hints of rebellion are spreading to the nobles, and in their unfeeling condition, they will exterminate all of the slaves with little thought. Monica has little time to act, but her task will demand more of her than she ever thought.

It's rare for an debut published author to have a writing style that can be read easily. This author already has a clear voice that smoothly carries the story. The setting is the shining star of this novel. A dystopian setting is new to me, but I loved the whole eeriness of it all.  A feeling of ohmygoodnessthiscouldhappen! is what I like to see in books. The mechanicalized culture of this novel obviously has a lot of thought behind it, and it is so refreshingly unique. Realistic but fiction enough to be enjoyable. The descriptions aren't as heavy as I'd imagine in such an abstract book, but they are sufficient enough to allow for the reader's imagination to fill in the gaps. This is really one of the best settings I have ever read. There's also an excellent amount of danger throughout the story that helps keep the reader's attention.

That said, I had a very hard time getting into this book. The first few chapters are vital in attracting interest, and although I got an excellent backdrop to the story, I just wasn't "wowed". The theme continues for approximately two-thirds of the book. Monica goes back and forth and meets new people and while it does develop the setting and characters, the plot just dragged on. It wasn't until the last part that all of the pieces fell together and I really started enjoying the story. The only reasons I kept with this book until the end were a) to give an honest opinion, I must fully read the books I am to review and b) I could really see the potential of the story and it only really became evident in the last part of the book. Also, it was hard to relate to the characters, even Monica, although she was the most personable. Granted, this is the first in a series and a first for an author, so I am eager to see the improvement of plot and characters in future books.

All in all, I rate this book four out of five stars.

Specifics (from amazon.com):
~ Paperback: 464 pages
~ Publisher: Living Ink Books; None edition (September 12, 2011)

Note: Thanks to GlassroadPR for providing me with a free copy of this book for reviewing purposes. 

Blessings,
~Prism~

Review of Protection for Hire

Protection for Hire by Camy Tang is the first book in the Protection for Hire series. Tessa Lancaster has always been a tough girl. A nonexistent relationship with the dad who abandoned her and a difficult family life lead to a tough attitude that her Japanese mafia ringleader uncle took notice of, and Tessa was made an enforcer. However, due to her involvement with the mafia, she became incarcerated for seven long years for a crime she didn't even commit. In that time, she made the decision to follow Jesus and become a Christian. Now that she's out of jail, Tessa is determined to start over, get a respectable job, stay away from the Japanese mafia, and be different from the woman she once was. A solutions seems to arrive when wealthy Elizabeth St. Amant hires Tessa to act as a bodyguard for herself and her three-year-old son.

But it seems trouble just follows Tessa wherever she goes.

It turns out there's more to protecting Elizabeth. Her abusive husband is very aggressive in getting Elizabeth back and his motives seem unclear. Danger bigger than anything she ever could have expected is lurking, and it will stop for no one. To help Elizabeth out with the legal issues, Charles Britton, up-and-coming lawyer, decides to step in. Tessa is grateful for the help, but she doesn't know that Charles holds a secret that had a huge impact on Tessa's life. Will the two be able to work together for the sake of their client, or will their pasts tear them, and their mission, apart?

I'm a huge fan of the author's books, so this book was a joy to read. I love the author's unique sense of humor and insight into different cultures. I especially found the Japanese mafia aspect very interesting. Tessa's previous ties run deep and are hard to overcome, and her struggle with her past is an excellent addition to this book. The character of Tessa was expertly written. Her motives, personality, and struggles are made very clear, and though most people aren't ex-mafia ex-convicts, I believe she is a very relatable character. The supporting cast also adds beautifully to the story. Elizabeth's southern charm, humor, and grace are an excellent addition to the story, and I loved the subplot of Tessa's relationship with her mother, sister, and niece. Charles's mother Vivian also added charm to the book, and I even loved the minor character of Eddie, Charles's brother. This book left me desperately wanting to read the next book, and the excerpt in the end sold me. I can't wait until #2 in the Protection for Hire series comes out! Bravo!

I will be forthright and say this book is for older audiences. There's one bad word that I noticed and other elements. As for the story itself, I wish the character of Charles was filled out a bit more. The character of Tessa was flawless, but I felt somewhat detached from Charles as I was reading.

All in all, I rate this book four out of five stars.

Specifics (from amazon.com)
~ Paperback: 336 pages
~ Publisher: Zondervan (November 29, 2011)

Note: Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

Blessings,

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy family, friends, food, and most of all, thank God for all the blessings we have!

Psalm 100

1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Blessings,

Review of Reclaiming Lily

Reclaiming Lily by Patti Lacy is the poignant fiction story of redemption, pain, and hope. Dr. Kai Chang is determined to reclaim Fourth Daughter. To find her little sister, who she left on the steps of a Chinese orphanage years ago and who is now living in America as the daughter of a pastor, has been her goal ever since her mother told Kai to find Fourth Daughter, Lily, as her final, dying wish. Dr. Chang is even more determined to do so when she discovers that a terrible genetic disease is ready to ravage the lives of members of her family and realizes that her sister is at a great risk. Kai is determined to help her sister, but will Lily's adoptive family, the Powells, allow Kai into Lily's life?

When family tensions tighten as Lily becomes more and more rebellious, Gloria Powell, the shy wife of a pastor and Lily's mother, decides that Kai would only tear up what little control her seventeen-year-old daughter has left. Different cultures and opinions collide as Kai and the Powells are forced to face the possibility of a terrible disease. Will Kai and Gloria be able to reconcile and do what is best for Lily?

Wow. I love books that inspire and educate. I chose to read this book due to my interest in the medical aspect, but I got so much more than that. As Kai and her sister are from China, we get glimpses into their pasts and their cultural background. Reading Kai's perspective of events from her past brought very clear pictures to my mind. The author masterfully describes Kai's experiences in a way that readers understand but also learn from. The prose style and word choices beautifully describe Kai's culture, and I really appreciate that. I also loved the character of Kai. Her way of thinking and expressing her thoughts was definitely unique but poignant in its own way. I especially loved the quotes from Kai's mentor in dealing with patients. The medical aspect of this book was one of the biggest perks of this book. I love medicine, and my recent studies have been about genetic disorders, the ethics involved, and how they may be treated. It is very obvious the author put a lot of work into this book to make it was realistic as possible. This book covered many issues well, and I really enjoyed reading it.

To be honest, the first few chapters of this book were confusing. I had a hard time getting into it, but I was so glad I did by the end of the book. The beginning of the novel jumps right in with the story of Kai, and the terminology used is somewhat too abrupt for a reader to understand. Kai's mindset is of a different culture, so it was easy to get lost in the beginning. However, as the story progressed, I became more interested in the characters and began to invest my attention into what would happen. The story was lovely, but I believe it could have been even better if the beginning was polished a bit and made more attention-grabbing for readers. Also, there was a backstory of Gloria having a hard past due to her father's unfaithfulness to her mother. It did explain her motives and reactions to things that came up, but there didn't seem to really be any full-on confrontation of the issue. It left me wanting that closure, which I never really got. Finally, I would say I recommend this book to readers in their late teens and up. This book does address some very weighty topics. Some things to be aware of is that a character steals inappropriate things (and is later given the appropriate punishment), some of the medical-related scenes may be uncomfortable to sensitive readers, and one of my biggest pet peeves of a book, strongly hinting at the physical relationship between a husband and wife. Yes, it's perfectly natural and right, but I don't like it when that aspect is given time in books.

All in all, I rate his book four out of five stars.

Specifics (from amazon.com):
~Paperback: 380 pages
~Publisher: Bethany House (October 1, 2011)

Note: Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

Blessings,

Review of The Song of Unmaking

The Song of Unmaking by D. Barkley Briggs is the third book in the Legends of Karac Tor series. Four brothers, the Barlows, have been brought from our world to a strange new world that gives them mysterious powers and dangers abounding. In this book, the Goths, a terrible force, have come to invade Rockval. The Vanir, the beautiful widowed ruler must take command of the situation and fight for her people. However, darker powers approach to test the Vanir and her people. A terrible machine for dark intentions is being built to release a terrible thing of legend- the Song of Unmaking. Now that Ewan, one of the Barlow brothers, has lost his power of song; the chances of victory seem dim. As the Barlow brothers continue to develop their powers and Arthur is challenged to become a leader, the good are challenged to face the evil. But who will succeed? And is there grace in deserved justice?

This book was excellent! I enjoy a good fantasy book every now and then, but to be honest, I haven't been dabbling much in the genre lately. This book reminded me why I love it so much. Fantasy has the power of subterfuge, which can be good or bad. It has much capability for symbolism and for influencing readers often without them noticing. The symbolism is present but not overwhelming. The writing style is fresh yet familiar, echoing the works of C.S. Lewis or Tolkien in a new light. I love the idea of a family trying to survive and thrive in a world so foreign to them to the point that they would fight for this world they were never even aware of. The affection between the father and brothers is clear, and I really appreciate that. I also found it interesting that the author wrote this book for his own sons when his family was going through a very similar ordeal as the Barlow family in the books. In all fantasy books, details are essential but have the capability to overwhelm the reader. believe this book was a nice blend of detail and action. I also found the incorporation of historical elements and classical lore very interesting and, again, echoing the voices of the great writers of the past. Overall, very well-written and stylistically excellent.

I would strongly suggest that the reader starts from the first book onwards. I am at a bit of a disadvantage because I was not able to read the first two and this book jumps right into the story. As I haven't read the previous books, I was confused at times and I had no idea if the author recapped the previous books or not. This is not a surprise; I have found it very common in books of this genre. However, it's very hard to not get lost in a fantasy book, and for about half of the book, I was lost. I was surprised that there wasn't some sort of summary of the past two books, a character description, or anything for a reader to understand without reading the previous books. That said, I plan to go back and read the first to in order to catch up.

All in all, I rate this book four out of five stars.

Specifics (from amazon.com):
~ Paperback: 336 pages
~ Publisher: Living Ink Books (October 14, 2011)

Note: Thanks to Glass Road PR and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

Blessings,

Review of Wonderland Creek

Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin is the Great Depression - era novel of a girl who discovers the vibrancy of life after leaving a life lived in the realm of fiction books. Alice Grace Ripley has lived in a dream world for a long time. Long enough to not realize that her need to read has become more and more like an addiction, causing her to disregard her boyfriend and best friend. When she gets a reality check and her boyfriend decides to break up with her because of her obsession, Alice is left crushed. She also loses her job at the library after cutbacks must be made to alleviate the affects of the Great Depression on the library. Finding her life almost meaningless now, Alice decides to put her efforts into something good, delivering donated books to a rural town in Kentucky named Acorn.

Alice travels from Illinois to Kentucky with her relatives, and she is dropped off, excited at the prospect of helping people get the books they want and staying with the librarian, Leslie McDougal. However, the librarian is anything but what she expected and Alice is soon thrust into a strange world of poverty, joy, family drama, love, corruption, faith, crime, and danger.  Alice soon discovers the life she has been missing out on all of her life, and discovers that true life is much better than any story book.


I absolutely loved this book. In fact, Wonderland Creek is now on my favorite's list. Alice, or Allie, is such an endearing character. There were genuinely funny moments (I rarely laugh out loud while reading, but in this book, I did!), scary moments, dramatic moments, and romantic moments. This book was a perfect blend of history and fiction. My favorite character was an old woman Alice meets while in Acorn. She's kind of like the catalyst that forces Alice to face reality and be bold. She also encourages Alice's faith and was such a joy to read about. I wish she were a real person!

All in all, I rate this book five out of five stars.

Specifics (from amazon.com) :
~Paperback: 400 pages
~Publisher: Bethany House (October 1, 2011)

Note: Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

Blessings,

Review of Lonestar Angel

Lonestar Angel by Colleen Coble is the latest edition to the Lonestar series. It's been five years since Eden and Clay Larson's baby girl was stolen, presumed dead, and never found. It's also been five years since Eden and Clay Larson's marriage fell apart. Now, Eden has found faith in God and is moving on with her life in the city, in a cozy romance dating a guy she may soon marry. However, Clay suddenly shows up in her life revealing that they are still married and that they're daughter is still alive. Still uncomfortable with each other, the two decide to move to Bluebird, Texas to serve as counselors to the youth ranch where their daughter is staying. Little do they know the danger and love that awaits them.

Eden and Clay soon find themselves entangled in a web of drama and family troubles. As they fight against time to discover which little girl is theirs, the couple begins to rekindle their lost romance and discover God's sovereignty in their situation.

Great premise that is carried through all throughout the book. I really enjoyed the lead characters, Eden and Clay, and their situation - their very unique situation. The author's creativity shines through as the reader is lead through mysteries such as who the daughter is and who is behind all of the threats to Eden and Clay. Lonestar Angel is written masterfully, and I enjoyed it so much!

I have no complaints about the plot or story. Something to be aware of, the book strongly hints at the private aspects of marriage in Clay and Eden's relationship. I'm not a big fan of that kind of content.

All in all, I rate this book four out of five stars.

Specifics (from amazon.com)
~Paperback: 352 pages
~Publisher: Thomas Nelson; Original edition (November 8, 2011)

 Note: Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free e-copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

Blessings,

Review of Refuge on Crescent Hill

Refuge on Crescent Hill by Melanie Dobson is an exciting mystery/adventure story. Camden Bristow is at a crossroads at her life. She's just lost her job, has no money, and has nowhere to go. However, she remembers that the bright spots in her past were the times she spent with her grandmother who she hasn't visited in years. Her visit soon turns bittersweet when she discovers that her grandmother has passed away and left her historical home on Crescent Hill to Camden. Soon, strange occurrences lead Camden to believe that someone may be lurking around her new refuge. She rekindles her friendship with a childhood playmate Jenny, who seems to have something that Camden lacks- security and love. She also has to deal with her half-sister, Liza, a greedy woman who only wants Crescent Hill for the money. Her desire to sell the home to responsible owners who will restore Crescent Hill leads to Camden to meet Alex Yates, who seems to understand Camden's situation and wants her sell her home to the city. Yet could there be something more in his willingness to help?

Stories of runaway slaves, the Underground railroad, and the possibility that her new home was once a stop on the route, begins to become more and more real as Camden discovers a shocking secret kept hidden for generations. A secret that will not only change her life, but the life of the whole town.

Excellently written! I loved the mystery and history in this book. Camden was an extremely likable character, and the additional characters brought true depth. Jenny brought warmth and humor, Liza brought conflict, Alex brought romance, and the additional characters added beautifully. I enjoyed the idea of the past impacting the future, and I loved how the mystery tied together in the end. I thought I had it fairly figured out, but the author has a big surprise in the end. The main villains in the story are apparent from the beginning, but the author still manages to keep some surprises until the end. Loved it!

Some things to be aware of are mentions of domestic abuse and unwed mothers. However, all are portrayed in light that leads to restoration and hope.

All in all, I rate this book five out of five stars.

Specifics (from amazon.com):
~Paperback: 272 pages
~Publisher: Kregel Publications (March 11, 2010)

Note: Thanks for the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

Special Note: So, you like free things, right? Well, Refuge on Crescent Hill will be available on Amazon Kindle FREE for one week starting October 31! Be sure to get your free e-copy! 

Blessings,

Review of Wings of a Dream

Wings of a Dream by Anne Mateer is the story of a woman who finds true love even in the midst of chaos and pain. Rebekah Hendricks is on her way to her dream. She has a handsome suitor, Arthur,who is an aviator who promises a life of adventure far away from her life in Oklahoma when they get married. However, war calls, and Arthur is sent to prepare to fly. Rebekah soon gets word that her aunt is very ill, so she reluctantly goes to help as it helps her be nearer to Arthur and her dream of a glamorous, adventurous life.

Her world is soon shaken with surprises and the terror of the Spanish flu. As the epidemic ravages the population of her aunt's town, Rebekah is forced to grow up and take care of four motherless children. She soon discovers the truth and a love that may be the wings of a dream she never would have imagined.

The threads of history and fiction were beautifully balanced in this book. I enjoyed how the aspects of history affected Rebekah in direct and indirect ways. The characters are distinct and bold, and I loved the idea that the heroine gets to choose who she marries. The children were an interesting aspect to the story. Their presence and need of Rebekah caused her to really mature in the story, and I appreciated that. The raw emotion of loss, confusion, and bravery is clearly and beautifully portrayed, yet the romance was slow-moving. It was nice to see a progression of true love instead of a WHAM, it's attraction! sort of thing.

I am so happy to say this book was clean. My only tiny disappointment was that the book seemed to end really quickly.

All in all, I rate this book four out of five stars. Well done!

Specifics (from amazon.com) :
~Paperback: 319 pages
~Publisher: Bethany House (September 1, 2011)

Note: Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

Blessings,

Review of Southern Fried Sushi

Southern Fried Sushi is the first book in a series by Jennifer Rogers Spinola. Shiloh is the epitome of successful. She's got a ritzy job with the Associated Press in Japan, has all the designer goods she wants, and is engaged to a Latin hottie. However, she soon finds her carefully constructed world shattering to pieces. When she finds out her estranged mother passed away, her fiance's female roommate begins to win his heart, and that she's been caught for plagiarizing, Shiloh is left penniless and lost in rural Virginia. She soon meets a group of people who are as Southern as they come. Her culture shock leads to a series of misadventures and life-changing experiences.

This book was great. I loved Shiloh's character and her experiences in adapting to Virginia after living in Japan for a long time. The humor was excellently written and the emotion scenes are moving. I really loved the spiritual truths in this book and how Shiloh learned of the Christian faith. This book isn't overly preachy, but it exposes a reader to what Christianity really is in a poignant way. The characters seemed like real people genuinely expressing their faith. The residents of Shiloh's new town were definitely endearing. Although I had a feeling some of the aspects of the book were exaggerated in the extent to country people, the storyline was really sweet and expertly dealt with some tough topics.

All in all, I rate this book five out of five stars. Highly recommended!

Specifics (from amazon.com):
~ Paperback: 384 pages
~ Publisher: Barbour Books (October 1, 2011)

Note: Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free e-copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

Blessings,