About the Book: Lily Winter's wings are folded so tightly around her daughter that when
empty nest arrives, she feels she can no longer fly. But Lily's lonely,
widowed life changes in a heartbeat when she goes to visit a woman who
is almost a stranger to her---a woman who also happens to be her mother.
During their fiery reunion, her mother reveals a dark family secret
that she'd been hiding for decades---Lily has an identical twin sister
who was put up for adoption when they were just babies.
Without
looking back, Lily---with her fear of flying---boards a jumbo jet and
embarks on a quest to find her sister which leads half way around the
world to Melbourne, Australia. Befriended by imprudent Ausie, he might
prove to be the key to finding her sister. But her journey becomes a
circle that leads her back home to attempt a family reunion and to find
the one dream she no longer imagined possible-the chance to fall in love
again.
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. From watching Lily transform and allow her true person to shine through, to enjoying the process of finding her long lost sister, to seeing the differences between the way each twin saw and processed the separation, to observing them rekindling their relationship, this book captured me from page one and didn't let go till the end.
So many deep and difficult subjects were dealt with this in this book, and yet it was not in any way depressing to read. In fact, mercy, grace, and hope shone through each page.
Looking forward to reading more books by this fantastic author!
Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for organizing this tour and providing me with my complimentary review copy.
About the Book: Three sisters. A charming inn. Hints of mystery and romance. And a gorgeous seaside setting. Escape to Misty Harbor Inn.
As
Nantucket reaches the pinnacle of its summer glory, and the Marris
sisters welcome guests at Misty Harbor Inn, youngest sister Sam Carter
enters her mother's cobbler recipe in the Summerfest baking contest. But
she faces a formidable opponent, a past winner who is determined to
keep her title even if it means stooping to dirty tactics. Can Sam's
newfound faith help her rise above the fray and reach out to this lonely
woman? Meanwhile, an elderly guest arrives who knows the inn's history,
and the sisters are stunned to learn that their late mother lived there
as a child. But she told them she'd never been to Nantucket until her
honeymoon! Through the woman's reminiscences and photos, the sisters
make an intriguing discovery --- not only about the mysterious Hannah
Montague, the young woman who disappeared from the house in 1880, but
also about their own family history.
Readers will delight in the
inviting Nantucket setting and be enthralled by the adventures of these
sisters who reunite to bring their mother's Misty Harbor dreams to life.
My Thoughts: After previously reviewing the first two books in the Misty Harbor series, I was looking forward to the third installment. I don't like leaving things unresolved and I was looking forward to finding out what happened to Hannah Montague.
This was an easy read, and I really enjoyed finishing off this saga. I particularly liked the twist about the baking contest and how two characters grew as individuals and friends by looking at their own weaknesses. The whole series seemed to wrap up really quickly at the end, but I thoroughly enjoyed the ending.
Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for organizing this tour and providing me with my complimentary review copy.
I realized I never posted about this on the ole blog before, so I thought it would be good to post about it today - exactly one year after our first (hopefully last?) broken bone in our family. Beware, this is a long, picture heavy post!
On June 13th (easy to remember because it's one of my nephew's birthdays), we had friends over for supper and the kids were all playing outside on our play structure (still in our "old" house on Settler's). Olivia came inside crying that she hurt her wrist. Being the incredibly sensitive mom that I am, I kissed her better and sent her back outside. It didn't take long and she was back inside complaining that it still hurt. Olivia doesn't complain about pain, so I knew it wasn't good. I figured it was probably just sprained and said she could lie down and watch tv with an ice pack on.
I hemmed and hawed about whether or not to take her in for an xray. I have no great love for emergency waiting rooms and hate to waste the doctor's time so I was definitely leaning towards not going. But, I figured in this case maybe it was better safe than sorry, so the next morning we headed in to our local ER.
Turns out it was a good thing I took her in. She had a greenstick fracture. Basically this means that it didn't snap all the way - sort of like if you tried to snap a young, green stick of wood - it bends and splinters instead of breaks. These are pretty common in young kids because their bones aren't as hard and brittle as adult bones are. Thankfully, they also heal fairly fast. She had to have a temporary cast put on for a week until the swelling would go down, and then she'd have a permanent one put on for about 4 weeks. Not a great start to summer holidays which were just a couple short weeks away!
So, after she got her temporary cast, we went to Chicken Chef for lunch as a consolation prize.
One week later, (June 21st) we were back at the hospital to get the temporary cast removed. Here she is posing with her temporary cast by the snack machine that I didn't let her get anything from, even though she begged.
Here's the doctor checking out her temporary cast.
Then it was off to get another xray.
Of course, this particularl patient had one or two or a thousand questions, so the doctor and xray technician went over the xrays with her (and me!)
If you look closely you can see that on the middle xray in particular that there is a slight bulge at her wrist.
Here's the doctor cutting off the temporary cast.
Check out the bruising.
And on goes the permanent cast.
The temporary cast had been very itchy, but thankfully the real cast was not!
It did, however, put a slight downer on Olivia's very first overnight camp experience at the end of June, as she wasn't supposed to go swimming or get it wet. (She did manage to sweet talk them into putting some sort of cover on her cast and she was in the water a little bit)
On July 5th we went back to the hospital to check if her cast was ready to come off. We knew it wasn't very likely, but there was a chance. So, we snapped some pictures of all the autographs, just in case.
More xrays and the verdict was - not quite, one more week.
In the meantime, we got creative so she could still enjoy the summer.
Finally, on July 12th, we went back in and the cast came off!
About the Book: From bestselling author Angela Hunt, the heart-wrenching story of a young mother who unknowingly gave away her own child after serving as a surrogate for a childless couple.
After growing up as an only child, Amanda Lisandra wants a big family. But since she and her soldier husband can't afford to have more children right away, Mandy decides to earn money as a gestational carrier for a childless couple. She loves being pregnant, and while carrying the child she dreams of having her own son and maybe another daughter. . .
Just when the nearly perfect pregnancy is about to conclude, unexpected tragedy enters Mandy's world and leaves her reeling. Devastated by grief, she surrenders the child she was carrying and struggles to regain her emotional equilibrium.
Two years later she studies a photograph of the baby she bore and wonders if the unthinkable has happened---could she have inadvertently given away her own biological child? Over the next few months Mandy struggles to decide between the desires of her grief-stricken heart and what's best for the little boy she has never known.
My Thoughts: Wow, this book packs an emotional punch! Angela Hunt is one of my favourite authors and she delivers another great book in The Offering.
Dealing with infertility, adoption, surrogacy and invitro fertilization this book brings up many complex ethical issues. Assuming a belief that life begins at conception (or the joining of the egg and sperm) invitro fertilization can still be an option - with certain restrictions. Those holding this view would not fertilize and attempt to implant more little lives than you'd be willing to carry (no reductive abortions!), and would also not freeze them for later potential use due to the 50% likelihood of survival upon thawing. Sometime science just goes too far with the pursuit of biological children.
As someone who has not struggled with infertility, I cannot truly empathize with those who do. I can only imagine the heartbreak and struggle that would accompany this. But I loved how Amanda came to realize that blood is not the trump card - love is.
I highly recommend this book!
Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for organizing this tour and providing me with my complimentary review copy.
About the Book: Bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray brings inspirational romance to life in this sweet tale of love in the Amish community, Ray of Light, the second installment of her Days of Redemption series.
Roman Keim just wants a break from the family drama at his snowy Ohio home when he heads to an Amish snowbird community in Florida. There he meets Amanda Yoder and her daughter Regina who soon are warming his heart. But will Roman return to Ohio or will he stay and help the young widow embrace a second chance at love?
My Thoughts: I have not read the first book in this series, but didn't feel like I was missing too much and it works as a standalone novel, though of course, you're curious about what happens to a few members of the family, which I'm sure is coming in the next book.
I think this may be the first book I've read by Gray and I really enjoyed it. It seemed different from a lot of the other Amish books I've read - maybe because of the travelling. You don't hear of too many Amish people going to Florida for vacation! But I really enjoyed the side of it - it made it seem a little more relatable.
Both of the main characters are likeable and I enjoyed watching them grow in their faith and character throughout the book. Roman needs to sort out the difference between responsibility and self-imposed duty, between following what's expected of him to following what God has called him to do. Amanda also recognizes the need to not become bound by the past - either by her own expectations or the expectations of her late husband's family.
Though it dealt with deep subject matter, it was also a sweet and enjoyable read.
Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for organizing this tour and providing me with my complimentary review copy.
This is the speech delivered by 14 year old Douglas Nichols for a speech tournament at Faith Academy in the Philippines. He gave an impressive speech - both in message and in his delivery. What a well spoken young man!
Here is the transcript I wrote of his speech from the above video....
The
rock solid Bible.
The reason most
people don’t believe this book is not because it contradicts itself, but
because it contradicts them.
It’s not that they can’t believe it, it’s that they won’t.
Because in a world
obsessed with equality, this book speaks with authority.
In a generation
content with naturalistic explanations, this book affirms supernatural
realities.
In a society stuck
on relativity this book is full of absolutes.
In a civilization
captivated by sensuality, this book esteems purity.
In a culture infatuated
with self-discovery and self-fulfillment, this book calls for self-denial and
self-sacrifice.
In a time when we’re
taught that all roads lead to heaven, this book says no one gets to heaven
without Jesus.
This book tells the
truth - the truth about life and death, heaven and hell, right and wrong, Saviour
and sinners. Thousands of characters, hundreds of stories, but one unmistakably
clear message: the redemption of fallen humanity, through Jesus Christ, for the
glory of God.
The stories in this
book might surprise you – a man kills his brother and a father his son; shepherds
become kings and kings become criminals; the righteous are rebuked but prostitutes
are forgiven; sinners live but the Saviour dies.
It’s not
diplomatic, it’s not discreet.
It’s not irrelevant
and it’s not incorrect.
It’s not trivial
and it’s not hollow.
It is holy and righteous.
It is good and
true.
It is powerful and
pure.
It is sweeter than
honey and finer than gold.
It’s a map that
leads you through the great storm of life.
It’s a lamp that
gives light amidst blinding darkness.
It’s a mirror who
tells you who you really are.
It’s a sword that
cuts deep into your guilty conscience.
It’s a hammer that
breaks your heart to pieces.
And it’s the glue
that puts it back together, better than before.
The law of the Lord
is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the
Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the
Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
The rock solid
Bible.
Stand firm on its
foundation.
Walk in its paths.
Tweet it. Share it.
Blog it. Spread it.
Unshakeable,
unwavering, rock solid truth.
The rock solid
Bible.
Read the stories,
study the teachings, share the blessings, believe the prophecies, quote the
promises and apply the wisdom.
The rock solid
Bible.
Make it your holy
addiction.
Make it your sacred
obsession.
Make it your sanctified
passion.
The rock solid
Bible.
Don’t twist its
words.
Don’t neglect its strength.
Don’t presume it’s
just words on a page for ancient people long dead.
Know the Word of
God is living and active. Here and now.
And if you’re spiritually
dead, it will bring you to life.
About the Book: Book Three in the Daughters of Fortune series.
When her country needs her, will she have the courage to surrender her glittering world and her one true love?
The golden age of Hollywood is in the business of creating stars. Rosie Worth, now starlet Roxy Price, has found everything she's wanted in the glamour of the silver screen. With adoring fans and a studio-mogul husband, she's finally silenced the voices-and grief-of the past. Her future shines bright...until the fated Black Friday when it all comes crashing down. When Roxy loses everything, she finds herself disgraced and penniless. Her only hope is to join forces with Belgian duke Rolfe Van Horne, a longtime film investor. But Rolfe is not who he seems, and he has other plans for Roxy and her movies-plans to support a growing unrest in Europe, plans that could break her heart and endanger her life. Find out more about the series by clicking on these links.Heiress. Baroness.
My Thoughts: I previously reviewed both Heiress and Baroness, so I was thrilled to have the chance to review the third book in the series as well. I love Susan May Warren's writing, and though this series is a pretty big departure from the style of previous works I've read by her, I've loved this one as well.
One thing I wish authors would do is provide a quick summary of the previous books in the series. I've read them both but still felt like I didn't quite remember all the details, and I do think it adds more depth as you're reading to have that background firmly in mind.
That being said, this book swept me away once again. I didn't mind reading all about the golden age of Hollywood, but I really loved the turn the book took when it moved into Europe and I thoroughly enjoyed that part of the storyline.
Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for organizing this tour and providing me with my complimentary review copy.
About the Series: The Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn series
(Guideposts Books) introduces readers to Caroline, Gracie and Sam as
they gather for a vacation where they spent the summers as children, and
follows their adventures as they fulfill their mother's dream of
opening a bed and breakfast. As the sisters heal from their mother's
passing, they bond in ways they never imagined and discover evidence of
God's hand in the unlikeliest of circumstances.
A team of four
authors come together under the pen name of Evangeline Kelley to bring
the unique personalities of each sister to vivid life and welcome
audiences to the charming and historic island of Nantucket, complete
with cobblestone streets, quaint shops, ferries, sandy beaches and salty
air.
About Seaside Harmony: Three sisters, a charming inn, hints of mystery and romance, and a gorgeous seaside setting. Summer reading at its finest!
When
Caroline Marris joins her sisters, Gracie Gold and Sam Carter for a
Nantucket Island getaway, she has no idea how it will change her life.
The sisters stumble upon Misty Harbor Inn, the place their late mother
loved so much, and Caroline talks her sisters into buying the beautiful
but dilapidated inn. But can free-spirited Caroline stay focused enough
to make opening the inn a reality? Hand-drawn old postcards draw the
sisters into the mystery of Hannah Montague, the young widow of the
original owner. Can the sisters uncover the fate of this woman who
disappeared in 1880? As Caroline and her sisters work together to make
their mom's dream a reality, they bond in ways they never expected. About Sunflower Summer:Misty Harbor Inn officially opens, and
Gracie Gold, the middle Marris sister, wrestles with an overwhelming
decision. As the sisters learn the day-to-day workings of running an
inn, Gracie counsels its first guests, newlyweds whose honeymoon seems
to be ending before it begins. Meanwhile, Sam's discovery of a clue in a
secret room sheds unflattering light on Hannah Montague, who vanished
from the house more than one hundred years ago. And as Gracie and
Caroline welcome guests to the inn, they are delighted to see how God
uses it --- and them --- to deepen relationships and transform lives.
Meet Evangeline Kelley: Evangeline Kelley is the pen name for the writing team of Patti Berg,
Pam Andrews & Barbara Hanson, and Camy Tang, the four authors who
collaborated to create Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn. Each of them has
published novels individually, but this is their first series together.
My Thoughts: I admit that it took me a little bit to get into the first book. I'm not totally sure why, though I think it may have to do with all the main characters being older, and therefore, simply not as relatable in terms of life stages. I enjoyed it more after the purchase of the inn, watching as they restore it to it's former glory, and work out their relationships with each other at the same time.
In Sunflower Summer I thoroughly enjoyed the additional characters of the guests of the inn. They added a lot of interest to the storyline without taking away from the main characters at all.
Once I got into it, I really enjoyed these easy reads.
Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for organizing this tour and providing me with my complimentary review copy.
About the Book: Will grief push Meg over the edge?
On the same night she discovers she is pregnant, twenty-eight-year-old nurse Meg Richards's husband is killed in an auto accident caused by a drunken teen. James Thomas comes from one of the most influential families in the community. He's a star athlete and glamour boy at the local high school. But the accident he caused will change his life---and Meg's future---forever.
Angered by her senseless loss and facing life as a single mother, Meg blames God for what has happened and considers a decision that could change her life even further. Enraged by the brutal trial and the court's decision, Meg starts down a frightening path of retribution. When the opportunity for revenge comes unexpectedly, will Meg follow through? Or will the remnants of her faith lead her in a different direction?
My Thoughts: Ace Collins did a masterful job of presenting the extreme side of darkness, despair and hate that can overwhelm someone in the face of close personal loss. It also shows how deep and all-pervasive that darkness can be if we give in to it, and how hate simply swallows up the ability to love in any area. Bitterness and hate can quickly turn you into a prisoner of your own soul if you allow them to. Revenge seems like a way for you to get back at whoever has hurt you, but the one who really ends up getting hurt, is you.
The book also showed how a shallow perception of the gospel will give you no foundation in the face of great loss. God never promises an easy life for those who follow Him. In fact, He promises that it will be hard, but that He will be with us every step of the way and that we can find our refuge in Him.
Thankfully, the book also shows that no matter how far into darkness we descend, God will always provide a way out, into the dawn.
Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for organizing this tour and providing me with my complimentary review copy.
