Waiting for Dawn

Oh my word! This book blew me away! Loved it! Waiting for Dawn is a short (novella) story written by Susan May Warren about a brave heroine who takes it upon herself to find her friend Jim Micah, who is MIA in Afghanistan. This novella is a prequel for Flee The Night--the first book in the Team Hope series.

Because of her link with the Department of Defense, contractor Lacey Galloway hatches a plan with Jim's best friend who also happens to be her ex-boyfriend Lieutenant John Montgomery.

Jim Micah has been in love with Lacey for years, and when he had introduced his best friend to her years before, he immediately regretted it. John stole her heart immediately.

Lacey finds herself torn between two men: one a dear friend, and another a handsome charmer.

This book grabbed me from the first word and kept my attention to the last. When the last page arrived, I began searching for where I could read more. Susan May Warren has caught my attention yet again! If you enjoy a nice suspense-filled romance, this book is sure to please!

I'm grateful to have been given the opportunity to read and review Waiting for Dawn through NetGalley. My 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.

Unhallowed Ground - a Kregel Review

Unhallowed Ground, the fourth book in the Hugh de Singleton series, was written by Mel Starr.

Unhallowed Ground continues the story of Hugh de Singleton, a surgeon and bailiff in 14th Century England. When an enemy of Hugh's suddenly is found swinging from a tree, Hugh finds himself investigating the situation. When everyone in town assumes that Thomas atte Bridge has committed suicide, Hugh is not so sure upon investigation. Though atte Bridge was an enemy, Hugh finds himself in the middle of a suspicious situation when he finds clues that lead him to believe that Thomas was murdered. What makes the investigation most difficult is that Hugh wasn't Thomas' only enemy; he had made many during his life.

Hugh is plunged into a lengthy investigation that leads to many dead ends along the way!

I loved this story, and I was thrilled to be allowed to review this book. I also have reviewed one of Starr's books before, and you can read that {here}. Starr puts incredible detail into his books, and it's obvious that he has done a wealth of research on Medieval England. In the front of the book, you will find a glossary of words that Starr uses in the story, as well as a map of the setting of the story. His weaving of the personality and character of Hugh de Singleton is wonderful, and I truly enjoy reading this series.

If you are interested in reading an excerpt of this story, you can go to {this} link, which will take you to Kregel Publications where you can download a pdf copy of Chapter 1. You can also go to Mel's website to read about the other books he has written, and about the fifth book that is planned for this series.

I received Unhallowed Ground as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Kregel Blog Tours. My comments and opinions are my own.

First Date - a BookSneeze Review

First Date, written by Krista McGee, was a sweet story that is perfect for teenage girls. Addy Davidson is a high school student in her senior year. When the principal of her Christian school suggests that she take part in a reality show called The Book of Love where the President's son chooses someone to be his prom date, the last thing Addy wants to do is be a part of it. A shy girl who prefers to stay out of the limelight and enjoy her quiet life, Addy finds herself being adamant when the cameras are thrust in her face.

She was practically forced by her uncle and principal to join the reality show. The principal told her, when asked if she could think about it, that her plane took off the next day. But when she was able to spend more time with Jonathon, the President's son, she soon realized that she wanted to stick around.

This story is an innocent story, sweet and lacks the heavy lovey-dovey tones that some YA books include. However, the story felt a little unrealistic in parts. How often would an uncle and a principal not give a girl a say in whether she wanted to be part of a reality show? In spite of that, it was a nice read and reminded me of books I used to read as a teen. If you're looking for a book that is geared toward teens, sweet and has a Christian theme, this one is sure to please.

Krista has another story planned as a spinoff of this one. I'll be anxious to see if I can get my hands on a copy!

I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous program through Thomas Nelson. BookSneeze sends members free books to read and keep in exchange for written reviews on a blog and on a major retailer's website (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

Forever Faithful - a Waterbrook Multnomah review

Forever Faithful, a trilogy by Karen Kingsbury, is a compilation of the novels Waiting for Morning,
A Moment of Weakness, and Halfway to Forever.

The first novel will introduce you to Hannah Ryan and her daughter Jenny. Hannah loses her husband and oldest daughter in a car crash. A drunk driver plows into the vehicle, and Jenny is the only one of the three remaining alive. When Hannah goes to the hospital, finding only her youngest daughter has survived, she vows to get revenge against the careless drunk who killed her beloved husband and daughter. This book is heart-wrenching and gut-punching. The first three chapters left me so emotional that I wasn't sure that I would be able to continue reading. However, since the trilogy is an astounding 1100+ pages in length, I simply put the book down until the following day after I'd had time to get myself calmed down.

Novel Number Two is the story of Jade Conner and Tanner Eastman, childhood friends who were separated during their adolescent years then reunited as young adults. When Tanner's wealthy mother determined that Jade wasn't good enough for her aspiring politician of a son, Jade and Tanner were tragically separated again for another decade. This is a powerful story that will move you and keep you reading to see if things get better for Jade and Tanner.

Novel Number Three is another gut-wrencher. This was another one that I had to keep the tissue box nearby. The characters from the two previous novels are joined together and are all friends. When Hannah and new husband Matt determine to adopt a young girl, they wind up having her ripped from their arms, leaving them bereft. When Jade comes down with a deadly disease, Tanner visions himself spending the rest of his life without Jade--this time, forever. I found myself at times skimming through this book because toward the end there was a case involving Matt that didn't seem to really add much to the story. It just felt like filler to me.

I'm a very avid reader of Karen's, but this series was way too emotional for me. If I'd not been given it to read for review, I'd have never finished it. Real life is hard enough, and when I read, I like to escape just a wee bit, so this trilogy was very hard to get through. However, if you like a good read with lots of emotion, this trilogy will definitely be for you.


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

The Wonder of Your Love - a BookSneeze review

Beth Wiseman, author of The Wonder of Your Love, has done it again! This newest novel is the second novel of the Land of Canaan series. (The first in the series is titled Seek Me With All Your Heart, which I also recommend!)

You'll follow the story of Katie Ann from Colorado, an Amish widow whose husband had left her for another woman then tragically died in a car accident. Katie Ann, after twenty years of infertility, has carried her deceased husband's child and has given birth. Her struggle with being a single parent is portrayed beautifully and so is Katie Ann's personality.

When she meets Amish widower Eli Detweiler from Ohio, she and Eli both secretly harbor feelings for each other and struggle with the long distance relationship. Holding back because of the distance and ties holding them to their individual states, Eli and Katie Ann both face the reality that it may not be in God's plan for them to be together.

In this story, you will also read about other characters' struggles (namely Martha who you would've been introduced to in Book 1). Beth does a fabulous job with weaving these characters' personalities. Martha is a hoot!

If you enjoy Amish fiction, check out Beth's newest novel today. You won't regret it!

I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous program through Thomas Nelson. BookSneeze sends members free books to read and keep in exchange for written reviews on a blog and on a major retailer's website (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

How Do We Know the Bible Is True - a Creation Conversations review

Written by Ken Ham (President of Answers in Genesis) and Bodie Hodge, How Do We Know the Bible Is True? is a book that I believe all pastors should have in their church libraries, and all Christians should keep on their shelves at home. This book is relevant to today's issues; it answers questions that many new Christians may not know, and it helps defend the faith.

The book tackles many topics, including my favorites (but not limited to):
- Is the Old Testament reliable? This chapter discusses how historical records were kept back in Biblical days.
- Is the New Testament reliable? This chapter explains why that it IS reliable.
- Is Genesis a Derivation from Ancient Myths? Is it all just hearsay or legends passed down?
- What about the Factual Claims in the DaVinci Code? I love this chapter!
- Polygamy in the Light of Scripture
- Laminin and the Cross - fascinating chapter!!
- How Were People Saved Before Jesus Died on the Cross?

This is a book that can easily be shared with a teen class at church or even included in a homeschool curriculum for older students. It would also be perfect for a church Bible study or a book discussion. Or if you're like me and you enjoy reading Apologia and Hermeneutics, you'll enjoy this one as well. :)