Wildflowers from Winter - a Waterbrook Multnomah review

It's not too often that I read something emotional that doesn't leave me disheartened. I don't like novels that have horrific loss, grief, pain. Real life has enough of that, and I prefer to lose myself in something light . . . and hopeful. Wildflowers from Winter, written by Katie Ganshert, is one of those books that has grief and loss. The difference with this book, though, is that the characters feel real, and Katie doesn't write the grief so that you feel like you've had your heart ripped from your chest. Thank you!

Iowa native Bethany Quinn has made her life in Chicago as an architect, leaving her painful past behind her. But when her mother calls to tell her that her once-best friend has had a loss in her life, Bethany painfully makes her way back to Peaks, Iowa. Staying with her grandfather on his farm (who happens to have farm hand Evan Price living with him) while she pays her respects, Bethany vows to not stay long. Her job is demanding, and problems wait for her in Chicago. However, when she suddenly inherits the farm and Evan inherits the farmhouse, things become more complicated. Evan wants the land, but she wants to sell and have her own business. Meanwhile, Bethany struggles with her past and issues in Chicago. Torn emotionally, Bethany has to make several decisions and determine where she stands with God.

The characters in this story feel so real. No put-ons, no dramatic flair, just real-feeling people dealing with their problems. And while this book has romance in it, it's not one of those novels that is empty romance (or what my husband calls "fluff puff"). This is a great first novel by Katie, and I look forward to reading more from her!

I highly recommend that you visit this link at her website, where you will find the first three chapters of the book as well as background information on the novel!

I received Wildflowers from Winter as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

The Blessed Church - a Waterbrook Multnomah Review

Everyone is curious to know the secrets for church growth. All churches go through valleys and peaks, and Robert Morris' book The Blessed Church: The Simple Secret to Growing the Church You Love gives some tips for church growth--not just in the numbers sense but in the wisdom, knowledge, and experience sense.

As I read the book, I felt like it could greatly benefit those who are newly called to preach and for those who are newly pastoring. It also would be beneficial for pastors who have found themselves in a funk or who are discouraged by a stagnated fellowship or a drop in membership and/or attendance.

At first I felt a little skepticism, because Morris' own church is a large church. We're talking thousands of attendees and members, multiple church services, and church BRANCHES. Yes, I said BRANCHES. That, to me, is remarkable. In a day where we find that some large churches tote the prosperity gospel line, I found myself starting out this book a little biased and definitely looking for signs that this church might be one of them. I'm ashamed to say that, but I also believe that we also have to be cautious in what we read.

Upon further reading of this book, I found several nuggets of great advice and truth. I'm a big staunch supporter of those in leadership positions being leaders. Notice I said leaders--not kowtowing slaves or hard-nosed dictators. There's a middle ground there that is hard to stand on, yet a pastor (or Sunday school teacher, or prayer warrior, or choir leader, etc.) should try to maintain that. Anyone in church leadership should be willing to listen, to delegate authority when needed, and jump in there when work needs to be done.

Some things that I wrote down that I found relevant to me and to those I know were these:

• What frustrates you is probably what God has ordained your ministry to be. Aha!! Brilliant! I definitely could see that possibility. (this from Chapter 6)
• Write a vision for your church so that the body knows what the goals of the church are. (chapter 10) I think a lot of times, we just are focused on having church: worshiping, listening to the preaching, going to Bible study, that we fail to think about a vision of where we're hoping to head in the future.
• Pastors need to delegate. Exodus 18:13-23 was shared, in which Jethro gave Moses advice on delegating authority to other men so that Moses was not spending from daylight till dark in hearing the needs of the people. "Otherwise, you and your associates will all fall prey to burnout, which, in turn, eventually leads to what I call the prayer of the burned-out pastor." WOW!! How many times have you seen the same people doing everything? Often, this is a situation where there's not enough delegation happening. (Though sometimes it's as a result of there not being enough willing to do the work!) Too often there's an individual who doesn't trust someone (or "someones") to help do the job because they think it won't get done properly. This, like Morris iterated, causes burnout and oftentimes bitterness on the part of the person doing it all, and sometimes on those who would like to help but who are turned down.

I really enjoyed this book, and I found a lot of good suggestions for growing the church. I think that God doesn't necessarily want every church to be a thousand-plus church membership, but He wants us to remain busy and excited and goal-oriented.

 
I received The Blessed Church as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

Be Still My Soul - a Multnomah Review

Be Still My Soul by Joanne Bischof is a story that felt different to me. Different than other books I read. How? Well, it has a "tone" (only way I know to describe it) that hit my heart immediately. Set in the turn of the last century in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this story will bring all sorts of emotions to the table. Melancholy, forbidden, hopeless are words that I would use to describe Lonnie Sawyer's life. She lives at home with her parents and her siblings, but her father is not loving toward her. She looks forward to turning 18 when she can move in with her aunt.

But before that can happen, a man named Gideon messes up with her plans when she allows him to kiss her and her father witnesses it. Deciding that she's no longer pure, her father forces her to marry Gideon. Both Lonnie and Gideon do not want to marry but do so because they see no other way around it.

When Gideon decides to move to another town for better job opportunities, Lonnie goes along with him, but the trek is arduous. Lonnie collapses when Gideon doesn't allow her to rest, and as a result they wind up at the home of an older couple. From here, chaos ensues for both of them. With a lack of love toward one another, can they make it or will Gideon leave?

This book kept me on the edge of my seat!

I received Be Still My Soul as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

 

The Scent of Cherry Blossoms - a Multnomah review

The Scent of Cherry Blossoms, an Amish fiction novella written by Cindy Woodsmall, is a book that has been on my to-read list for a while. When I finally got to reading it, it didn't disappoint!

This story is written during the Spring, when the cherry blossoms are in bloom (hence the title). Annie Martin is a Plain Mennonite whose family has gone through tough times in recent years. With the separation of her parents' in past years, Annie has a hard time relating to her mother at times. As the result of an argument, Annie and her mother decide it would be best for Annie to spend a few months with her grandfather in Apple Ridge.

Aden Zook is a young Amish man whose family has had their share of heartaches, too. Aden's twin brother Roman and their father were both involved in a horrible accident, leaving Roman confined to a wheelchair. Aden has a stuttering problem, and he lacks the confidence to date.

When Annie comes back to Apple Ridge and helps in the Zook diner, Aden finds himself remembering his feelings for her. But one major thing stands in their way: Annie is Mennonite, and Aden is Amish.

The characters in this story are so endearing. The powerful story of the Zook brothers' past and Annie's own heartbreak will melt your heart. Their troubles seem impossible to overcome, and Cindy does a good job weaving the storyline into a way that the story finds resolution quite well.

Cindy has an excerpt of this story on her website if you would like to read it. Click {here} to go to that page.


I received The Scent of Cherry Blossoms as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

Beloved Enemy - a Multnomah Review

Beloved Enemy, written by Al Lacy, is a historical fiction novel in the Christian market that takes place in early Civil War 1861, particularly covering the Bull Run battle. Beloved Enemy is 356 pages in length, with an excerpt of the first chapter of another novel at the end.

Jenny Jordan, daughter of Mexican War hero Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Jordan, finds herself torn between the North and South in loyalty when her father, a member of the Senate Military Committee, decides to turn traitor and become a spy for the Southern cause. Jenny feels even more torn when her heart finds its way into the heart of a Zouave named Buck Brownell. When Buck and Jenny fall in love, her father demands that Buck leave her alone. Her father also suggests that she join him in becoming a spy for the Confederacy. Jenny's allegiance lies with her father and her beloved Virginia, but her heart also follows after a man whose loyalty remains with President Lincoln and the Union.

I've read some of Lacy's novels in the past, and I've always enjoyed them. I love how he is able to throw a lot of battle into his novels. It's obvious that he's interested in the historical aspect of his writing. (This book may annoy someone who has done a lot of research into Civil War history. It isn't perfect history. This is a work of fiction, and the writer takes liberties with some things, as many writers do with historical fiction.) When I sat down to begin this novel, I had no problems getting right into the "thick" of it, and once I got involved I was in it till the end!

I loved Jenny's character. However, I'd have loved to have seen more of her (but wouldn't have wanted to lose the story as sacrifice). I also loved the action centered around Buck. His humanity was developed well. The biggest character, though, that I'd have really liked to have seen more of is Joshua Jordan. He was a spy, and I'd have liked to have seen more of the inner workings of that. His character involvement was good, but a little more attention to that would've been interesting.

The flow from one scene of battle to another was a little choppy but not unbearable. There were scenes with other characters who weren't a big part of the story, and though those parts--I felt--weren't necessary to tell, I still enjoyed reading them. (Focus on Stonewall Jackson is one example.)

All in all, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to my counterparts who enjoy reading historical fiction with a little romance tied in.



I received Beloved Enemy as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

The Christmas Singing - a WaterbrookMultnomah Review

I loved this book. The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall is an Amish novel set in Amish towns in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The main character Mattie Eash moved to Ohio after her childhood love broke off their relationship. Determined to make a new start, she opens her own cake shop and her creativity flourishes. With a successful business, Mattie has it all--even a promising beau, safe and loyal.

But when her shop goes up in flames and she's forced to return to Pennsylvania at her elderly parents' request, she dreads what she knows will happen--seeing her ex-boyfriend Gideon.

Gideon Beiler has his reasons for breaking up with Mattie. In spite of her suggestion that he cheated on her, Gideon did not do that. But for him, it was easier to allow her to think that way instead of telling her the truth. Gideon's Mattie Lane, as he always called her, lived in Ohio but it didn't keep him from making visits every now and then to check up on her, in secret. When Gideon hears that Mattie Lane has returned to Ohio for a few weeks, he can't help but feel those old feelings stir up so strongly. But he must hold them to himself, because he knows she can't find out the truth.

This book was incredible. Cindy did a great job writing the story, and Gideon's secret kept me on the edge of my seat! This is a great story for the Amish enthusiast. I highly recommend this one! It's a keeper!

If you're interested in reading an excerpt, go to Cindy's website.





I received The Christmas Singing as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

When the Soul Mends - a WaterbrookMultnomah Review

Hannah Lapp had begun a new life in the "Englischer" world with her fiance Martin Palmer and his nephew and niece that he was raising. Fulfilling her dream of becoming a nurse has almost been brought to fruition when she gets the call to go back home to help with her sister. What Hannah was not prepared for was to have to work with her former fiance, Paul Waddell, in order to help her sister Sarah.

After having left her Amish community two and a half years prior with her heart broken, Hannah returns to her Old Order Amish community in Owl's Perch, Pennsylvania. When she returns to find that the community has had a terrible loss and that her sister's mental health is shaky, Hannah has to also deal with the reason for her departure.

Thrust back and forth between her Amish community and her life with Martin, Hannah struggles between where her heart wants to be.

I absolutely loved When the Soul Mends! If you're not familiar with Cindy Woodsmall's books, I encourage you to read them. If you enjoy Amish fiction, this one will easily be a favorite. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this novel--they were portrayed very well. From Hannah's stubborn streak to Paul's annoyingly (LOL!) calm demeanor, Cindy has painted these characters very well.

The only bone that I have to pick (and it's not a big bone) is that I'd be more interested in knowing about Sarah's mental issues--what brought this about? Maybe Cindy has it in mind to write the next book in the series about Sarah (hint :P).

When the Soul Mends is third installment of the Sisters of the Quilt Series. You can go to Cindy's page and read an excerpt of the book if you're interested.



I received When the Soul Mends as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

Shadows on the Sand - a Multnomah Review

Shadows on the Sand by Gayle Roper was such a great book! At 309 pages, this book flowed smoothly and was one that I had trouble putting down!

The characters in this story felt very real. I was able to feel the characters' frustrations, fears, and joys.

This novel is a romantic suspense. The main character Carrie Carter had had a rough childhood. She and her younger sister Lindsay had run away from a bad home when they were just sixteen and ten. Carrie, as an adult, ran her own successful cafe in Seaside, New Jersey, with her sister as co-owner.

Every morning, she served Greg Barnes breakfast. Greg was an ex-cop, a widower who'd lost his wife and children in an explosion that had been meant for him. Carrie found herself drawn to Greg and attracted to him, but he seemed to never notice her beyond the perfunctory nod, order, and payment.

Carrie and Greg were soon joined in an effort to find out who killed Carrie's dishwasher Jase. Greg found himself drawn to Carrie's life. But when Carrie had an accident in Greg's presence, his panic made him question whether Carrie deserved him. He made the difficult decision to pull away from her, feeling as if she deserved a stronger man. When Carrie's employee Andi disappeared and Carrie found herself in danger, Greg couldn't deny his feelings; he put himself in harm's way to save the lives of Carrie, Andi, and Lindsay.

If you love suspense and a little romance thrown in for good measure, you'll enjoy this book!



I received Shadows on the Sand as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

Mine is the Night - a Waterbrook Multnomah Review

Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs was a breathtaking book that read like a classic to me. It had a Jane Eyre feel to it, I thought, and it had me in anticipation from start to finish.

Set in 18th century Scotland, Mine is the Night is a story of two ladies' journeys from prosperity to poverty. Due to the loss of her husband and her sons (Jacobites) after they were lost in battle, widow Marjory Kerr and her widowed daughter-in-law Elisabeth set off for the Kerr hometown of Selkirk to begin life anew. Running from dragoons who would surely capture them and turn them into the King for their treason frightened them, but they found Selkirk to be fairly safe.

After being reluctantly accepted by the townsfolk, Marjory and Elisabeth, with the help of their cousin Anne who provided shelter, began to support themselves. Marjory learned to cook and care for the home (having been a mistress of a large home with servants, she'd not had to do that before), and Elisabeth became a seamstress in town.

After admiral Lord Jack Buchanan was awarded an estate in Selkirk by the King, Elisabeth applied for a servant's job--as seamstress. She was quite a talented seamstress and caught Lord Jack's eye immediately.

What results is a story that will warm your heart. The story has a Ruth-Naomi-Boaz feel to it that is sure to please.

I had never read any of Higgs' books, but now I'm definitely ready for more. This was a winner!!



I received Mine is the Night as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

Dragons of the Valley - a Multnomah Review

Dragons of the Valley, by Donita K. Paul, was an enjoyable read. I had trouble visualizing the characters at first: several different races at different sizes and names and descriptions. . . . It took a couple of chapters before I was able to realize who was whom. (It doesn't help that I hadn't read the first book in the series before I read this one.)

The story takes place in a fictional land named Chiril. The peace in the land comes to a brutal halt when an enemy invades the land. The land's most prized possessions are three statues, and when it is decided that the statues must be hidden, a remarkable journey to the Valley of the Dragons becomes a struggle.

The people of Chiril embark not only on a journey to remain safe, but they also find that on this journey their creator, whom they have little knowledge of, Wulder becomes more real to them. In their struggle to regain peace, they also learn what it means to trust and desire a relationship with Wulder, their creator.

This has been a captivating novel, and I hope to read the first of the series soon!

I received Dragons of the Valley as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

Indivisible - a Waterbrook Multnomah Review

Indivisible, written by Kristen Heitzmann, was a good read. This is one of those books that I tend to not read much of, simply because mystery/suspense isn't something I enjoy on the whole. However, this was a book that was well-written, character-wise, and so it made it easier for me to enjoy it.

I want to get my pickiness aside before I tell you what I liked about the book. There was some mild profanity in this book (not a lot, but one word is too much for me) that I just didn't feel was necessary. Yup, it is a suspense book, laced with a little murder-intrigue, but profanity is just something I can't shrug off. It is possible to show the profane side of a character without using the language. And that's all I'll say about that.

The main characters in the story were well fleshed out, once I got into the gist of the story. At first, there were a lot of questions popping into my head, and sometimes if there are too many questions in the story, I'll lose interest. Thankfully, Kristen had plenty of spice thrown in that the questions didn't overwhelm me. By the time I finally got to the answers, it all made sense, and the questions and answers came together nicely.

Jonah Westfall, main guy and Chief of police, had been in love with Tia Manning since childhood. However, when he decided to marry her sister Reba, Tia was crushed. However, Jonah and Tia had a short fling, for which was discovered--literally--by Tia's family. The result was that Jonah's impending marriage was doomed, Tia's family moved away, and Jonah and Tia were never the same. They avoided each other throughout the town, harboring their own demons and skeletons in the closet. But when a new, mysterious vet moves in to town and fixes her eyes on Jonah, chaos ensues. Added to the fact that there are supportive characters who also have their own problems, Indivisible makes for an action-packed book that'll keep you on your toes.



I received Indivisible as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers.

Sir Rowan and the Camerian Conquest - a Waterbrook Multnomah Review

Before I even start my review, let me just say it.... WOW! Ok, with that out of my system, let's begin. :P

Sir Rowan and the Camerian Conquest, written by Chuck Black, is a YA fantasy book. It's published by Waterbrook Multnomah, a Christian publishing company. The novel is 182 pages in length, with discussion questions and answers following. Also in the back is a scoresheet of a song entitled The Final Call written by Emily Elizabeth Black, Chuck's talented daughter. (Also if you go to the series' website, Arrethtrae, you will find a CD of music written and performed by Emily that you can buy! You can also hear a demonstration of music.)

This is the second book that I've read in this series (Sir Rowan is the sixth book in the Knights of Arrethtrae series), and I just have to say that this series is, just simply put, excellent. (If you want to read a review I wrote on Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor, click *here*.) I hold a love of fantasy, and this book definitely feeds that love. My young boys (11 and 6) love fantasy as well, and even though this story is a bit "old" for my youngest son, he could definitely appreciate it as a read-along. Even though this book is considered YA, I believe that all ages can appreciate it.

The main character of this book is a guy named Rowan. Both of his parents died, and as a result he was an urchin. A stable boy with the desire to sword fight, but a boy nonetheless with no sword. However, when a knight named Sir Aldwyn came to have his horse cared for, Rowan made a plea to hold the knight's sword. Watching the young man wield his sword, Sir Aldwyn asked him if he'd like to join him in training. Rowan wholeheartedly agreed, and was trained to be a Knight of the Prince.

Rowan quickly proved to be an excellent swordsman and rose in the ranks of sword competitors to become champion. However, the fame and fortune that he received did not do him well, but instead blinded him to his real purpose in life. After being captured and held for ransom for nearly a year, he was finally left to die by his captors when they gave up on ever receiving ransom. A woman happened along, found him, and brought him back to her home to nurse him back to health. After Rowan has had a few months to recover, he joins the Resolutes, a large group of knights and other individuals whose desire is to win back their land. However, when Rowan meets an unexpected man, his life is forever changed.

I won't spoil the ending for you, so go out and grab it! I highly recommend this book. It's enjoyable and will leave you on the edge of your seat.

I received Sir Rowan and the Camerian Conquest as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers.

Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor - a Waterbrook Multnomah Review

Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor, written by Chuck Black, is a YA fantasy book. It's published by Waterbrook Multnomah, a Christian publishing company. The novel is 176 pages in length, with discussion questions and answers following. Also in the back is a scoresheet of a song entitled Ride of the Valiant written by Emily Elizabeth Black, Chuck's talented daughter. (Also if you go to the series' website, Arrethtrae, you will find a CD of music written and performed by Emily that you can buy! You can also hear a demonstration of music.)

I was a little hesitant to start reading this book (the fifth one in the Knights of Arrethtrae series) without having read the previous four. I'm obsessive about chronology, so I love reading books in the order they were written. However, I delved into the book and had no trouble getting "knee deep" in the story. The action and intrigue is gripping, and it captured my attention quite quickly.

The main character is a young man referred to by friends and family as Twitch. Twitch received his name because of a twitch that would appear in his cheek when he became nervous or stressed. Twitch and his pal Gustav, whose nickname was Tav, lived together with Tav's family after Twitch's parents tragically died. Twitch and Tav are learning to become knights for the Prince (aka Jesus).

After a bizarre type of pet infiltrates the Burkfield haven where the boys were training, many of the young knights lost interest in serving the Prince. When Tav's uncle, Sir Baylor, arrived to recruit Tav as a Sword of Valor, Twitch's interest is piqued. Tav refuses to follow his uncle, but Twitch wants to go. At Mount Resolve, Twitch kneels and determines to follow the Prince, to give himself to whatever the Prince should want for him. What results from that resolution to the King was a tumult of hardship that he'd never have imagined.

I won't ruin the story for you, but Twitch, now called by his given name Quinlan, learns that following the Prince isn't always going to be a bed of roses. The fight is fierce, it's often nasty, but in the end the journey to the Kingdom Across the Sea (aka Heaven) is what we long for and is worth the wait!

I highly recommend this book for people who love fantasy. It's a great book for adolescents as well. I plan on purchasing the other books in the series so that I can read them and pass them on to my sons.

Here's the run-down of what I think of the book:

Ease of reading ..................... 5/5
Supporting Details ................ 5/5
Sufficient Length ................... 5/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 5/5
Overall Impression ........ 5/5

I received Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers.

When you see this image, it represents books that I highly recommend!

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball - a Waterbrook Multnomah Review

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul is a novella about two people who work at the same place but who really don't know each other at all. Through a little act of mystery and magic, the two end up bumping into each other quite frequently, even being invited to a mysterious Christmas Ball that no one else in town seems to know anything about.

The two main characters in this book, Cora Crowder and Simon Derrick, will make you smile. The supporting characters, Simon's sister Sandy, the Wizbotterdads and the Booterbaws will make you laugh.

This Christian novella will delight you with a little mystery, a little fairy-tale like magical "happily ever after" feel while at the same time making you wonder if happily ever after may ever happen for the characters in this book.

I heartily recommend this delightful read. It was a pleasant read, a quick read, and I wish there was a sequel! A girl can dream, right?

Here's the run-down of what I think of the book:

Ease of reading ..................... 5/5
Supporting Details ................ 5/5
Sufficient Length ................... 5/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 5/5
Overall Impression ........ 5/5

Here's a video trailer of the book:

I received Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers.

When you see this image, it represents books that I highly recommend!