With Autumn's Return by Amanda Cabot closes the Westward Winds series and the story of the four Harding sisters. This time we focus on Elizabeth Harding, a doctor who decides Cheyenne is where she wants to set up her new practice. The only problem is that the town isn't convinced that they need another doctor, that the one they have is fine--better than fine, a man.
This book captivated me from start to finish. I enjoyed the trials that the new doctor went through and how she gained the trust of the community.
There's mystery and intrigue here too, along with a little of the wildness that made up the wild west.
And an Amanda Cabot novel wouldn't be complete without a little romance, this book will be sure to feed the craving that you've got for a good clean love story.
Amanda Cabot never fails to deliver and this book is one that I recommend.
From the back cover:
When Elizabeth Harding arrives in Cheyenne to open her medical practice, she is confident that the future is as bright as the warm Wyoming sun. Certain she'll have a line of patients eager for her services, she soon discovers the town may not welcome a new physician--especially a lady doctor. Even Jason Hordling, the handsome young attorney next door, seems to disapprove of her chosen profession.
When a web of deceit among Cheyenne's wealthiest residents threatens to catch Elizabeth and Jason in its snare, they must risk working together to save one of Elizabeth's patients--even if it means falling in love.
This book was provided for review by Revell.
A
Promise Kept by Robin Lee Hatcher reminds me of when I fell in love
with this author, and why. A touching story that's reminiscent of events
in her own life, it's one that is sure to keep the reader remembering
it for some time. A reminder that marriage vows are sacred and that God
can work miracles of all kinds.
I
liked that this story took place over three different time periods, it
was written well and didn't confuse me with the back and forth as books
sometimes do.
This book has the ability to provide hope for those who may think their situation is hopeless.
This book was provided for review by BookSneeze.
About the book:
God was going to save her marriage, Allison was sure of it. But neither her husband nor her marriage had been saved.
What had become of His promise?
Tony
Kavanagh had been Allison's dream-come-true. They were in love within
days, engaged within weeks, married and pregnant within a year. Her cup
bubbled over with joy . . . but years later, that joy had been
extinguished by unexpected trials.
The day Allison issued her
husband an ultimatum, she thought it might save him. She never expected
he would actually leave. She was certain God had promised to heal; it
was clear that she'd misunderstood.
Now, living in the quiet
mountain cabin she inherited from her single, self-reliant Great Aunt
Emma, Allison must come to terms with her grief and figure out how to
adapt to small town life. But when she finds a wedding dress and a
collection of journals in Emma's attic, a portrait of her aunt emerges
that takes Allison completely by surprise: a portrait of a heartbroken
woman surprisingly like herself.
As Allison reads the incredible
story of Emma's life in the 1920s and 1930s, she is forced to ask a
difficult question: Does she really surrender every piece of her life to
the Lord?
Drawing from her own heart-wrenching story of redemption, A Promise Kept is Robin Lee Hatcher's emotionally charged thanksgiving to a God who answers prayers---in His own time and His own ways.
A Promise Kept by Robin Lee Hatcher reminds me of when I fell in love with this author, and why. A touching story that's reminiscent of events in her own life, it's one that is sure to keep the reader remembering it for some time. A reminder that marriage vows are sacred and that God can work miracles of all kinds.
I liked that this story took place over three different time periods, it was written well and didn't confuse me with the back and forth as books sometimes do.
This book has the ability to provide hope for those who may think their situation is hopeless.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse.
About the book:
God was going to save her marriage, Allison was sure of it. But neither her husband nor her marriage had been saved.
What had become of His promise?
Tony
Kavanagh had been Allison's dream-come-true. They were in love within
days, engaged within weeks, married and pregnant within a year. Her cup
bubbled over with joy . . . but years later, that joy had been
extinguished by unexpected trials.
The day Allison issued her
husband an ultimatum, she thought it might save him. She never expected
he would actually leave. She was certain God had promised to heal; it
was clear that she'd misunderstood.
Now, living in the quiet
mountain cabin she inherited from her single, self-reliant Great Aunt
Emma, Allison must come to terms with her grief and figure out how to
adapt to small town life. But when she finds a wedding dress and a
collection of journals in Emma's attic, a portrait of her aunt emerges
that takes Allison completely by surprise: a portrait of a heartbroken
woman surprisingly like herself.
As Allison reads the incredible
story of Emma's life in the 1920s and 1930s, she is forced to ask a
difficult question: Does she really surrender every piece of her life to
the Lord?
Drawing from her own heart-wrenching story of redemption, A Promise Kept is Robin Lee Hatcher's emotionally charged thanksgiving to a God who answers prayers---in His own time and His own ways.
The Dancing Master is the newest release from novelist Julie Klassen. I was excited to read it as I've read and enjoyed her previous works. This book, however, was so dull that it never drew me in. I actually dreaded my time with it and never made it through the entire story. The characters seemed flat to me and I found the entire thing uninteresting. It also moved very slowly. I tried to give it my all, but was bored beyond belief and once I put it down I had nothing in me that wanted to pick it back up again. I put it down and forgot about it.
From the back cover:
Finding himself the man of the family, London dancing master Alec Valcourt moves his mother and sister to remote Devonshire, hoping to start over. But he is stunned to learn that the village matriarch has prohibited all dancing, for reasons buried deep in her past.
Alec finds an unlikely ally in the matriarch's daughter. Though he's initially wary of Julia Midwinter's reckless flirtation, he comes to realize her bold exterior disguises a vulnerable soul--and hidden sorrows of her own.
Julia is quickly attracted to the handsome dancing master-a man her mother would never approve of-but she cannot imagine why Mr Valcourt would leave London, or why he evades questions about his past. With Alec's help, can Julia uncover old secrets and restore life to her somber village...and to her mother's tattered heart?
Filled with mystery and romance, The Dancing Master brings to life the intriguing profession of those who taught essential social graces for ladies and gentlemen to make a "good match" in Regency England.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse.
Dare to Love Again by Julie Lessman takes the reader back to Victorian times in San Francisco. This time we join Allison McClare as she navigates her way from Nob Hill to the dangerous Barbary Coast where she teaches at a school for the less fortunate.
This book opened with a bang and had me giggling right at the start. The action slowed down about halfway through and I struggled to finish it. I lost interest in the story with all of the characters and the sub-plot.
I've read other books by this author and have enjoyed them fully, this one just didn't captivate me throughout.
From the back cover:
Spunky Allison McClare is determined to be a fearless, independent woman. But when she takes a notion to explore the wild Barbary Coast, she quickly discovers she's no match for the unsavory characters that haunt the dark streets.
Detective Nick Barone would rather do almost anything than teach this petite socialite self-defense, but it seems he has little choice. Sparks fly every time the two meet until a grudging friendship develops into something deeper. But is he just a fraud like all the rest of the men Allison's cared for? Or is he the one who will let her dare to love again?
This book was provided for review by Revell.
This may be a joke book for kids, but some of the jokes are really quite funny.
Separated into three sections:
Laugh Out Loud Jokes for Kids
Zoolarious Animal Jokes for Kids
Knock-Knock Jokes for Kids
I spent some quality time with my husband last night reading these jokes aloud, we both laughed. A lot. I do admit I laughed a little harder, but we all know that I have the sense of humor of a seventh-grader.
Some of my favorites:
How do you shoot a bumblebee?
With a bee-bee gun
Why are snails shy at parties?
They don't want to come out of their shell.
At 180 pages, this is packed full of things that will make you snicker, guffaw, giggle, and groan. Lots of clean fun for kids of all ages.
This book was provided for review by Revell.
From beginning to end this is a delightful book. It has a myriad of ideas on how to make the mundane every day life into something much more. From "name day" to "backwards day" to ways to celebrate more well-known days, it's packed full of fun. Makes me wish my own kids were little again.
It's also got an abundance of recipes to try. And it's laced with scriptures.
This book is one that your family will treasure for years to come. I've already gathered some ideas to put into use.
Don't worry about a lot of expense, most of these ideas are ones that you'll be able to do with things that you already have.
Lots of fun in this book!
From the back cover:
Everyday Confetti is your go-to guide to making holidays, birthdays, special events, and even the everyday special. Inside you'll find more than two hundred ways to make memories with your family, including easy recipes, fun activities, and inexpensive decorating ideas--all simple, doable, and stress-free.
This book was provided for review by Revell.
No One to Trust by Lynette Eason was a very fast paced thrilling read. It kept my attention the whole time and while there were numerous characters I didn't get lost as to who was who. It was well written and kept me guessing the constantly. It had love, loss, intrigue, murder, mystery, and more. This is everything that a mystery novel should be. Layers on layers of writing that I thought was perfect.
From the back cover:
Summer Abernathy wakes up one morning to find her husband missing, three men in her home intent on finding him, and the life she's been living based on a lie. Which Kyle Abernathy did she marry? The computer programmer she met in line at the bank? Or the one who was apparently using that image as a cover?
The search for her husband--and answers--takes Summer ever deeper into a world of organized crime where people are used one moment and discarded the next. And with her deepest relationship of trust already shattered, Summer doesn't know who to believe.
Always thrilling, bestselling author Lynette Eason outdoes herself in this taut, breakneck story of lies, loyalties, and love that will have you up all night to discover the truth hidden in the shadows.
This book was provided for review by Revell.
Ministering to Problem People in Your Church by Marshall Shelley
Oh
my goodness, where has this book been for the last 20+ years that we've
been in ministry? Seriously, EVERY pastor needs to read this book. This
is without doubt, the best book I've read on the topic of ministry.
With real-life examples of "Well-intentioned dragons" and the stories
that are all too familiar with our own experiences, this book will
encourage and give hope to pastors who are going through the trials that
are caused by people.
While
the term "well-intentioned dragon" is used to describe these folks
(meaning that they are fierce but that they don't realize it) I have to
disagree somewhat. I've met some dragons and I'm fairly certain that
they knew exactly what they were doing. Some of these people are just
dragons, no good intentions at all. There was one at a church we
pastored who I refer to as "Servant of Satan" because of the evil that
seeped from him, this man was definitely a dragon and he was intent on
dragging others down his spiral.
What
I loved about this book was the practical, Biblical advice that it gave
on how to handle these people and their problematic tendencies. For
each example there is a solution, and one that is attainable.
Thank God for Marshall Shelley and his approach to church conflict. I hope that this book helps pastors do what they need to do.
This would be a great Christmas gift for your favorite pastor!
This book was provided for review by Bethany House.
From the back cover:
Every
church has them-sincere, well-meaning Christians who leave ulcers,
strained relationships, and hard feelings in their wake. They don't
intend to be hostile; they don't conciously plot destruction or breed
discontent. But they do often undermine the ministry of the church and
make pastors question their calling.
Ministering
to Problem People in Your Church will guide you in dealing with these
challenging people. Based on real-life accounts of battle-scarred
veterans, this book helps you go beyond just tolerating the problem
people to limiting their damage and showing them God's love. You'll
discover effective strategies to turn dissidents into disciples.
This
time-tested book by the editor-in-cheif of Christianity Today's
Leadership Journal has new chapters on using social media and caring for
those with mental illness. It will help you not only preserve your
sanity (and maybe your job), but minister more effectively, even to
those who make life difficult.
I've enjoyed biographies and autobiographies for years but rarely come across any anymore that intrigue me. When I saw this one I knew it would be worth reading. I just didn't realize that it would be as interesting as it was.
This is Your Captain Speaking by Gavin MacLeod was an honest, in depth look at the life of an author that anyone over the age of 40 should recognize. I knew him as Captain Stubing from The Love Boat. Before that role he was popular from The Mary Tyler Moore Show and before that, many films and television shows.
What I didn't realize about him was that he is a fellow believer. This book showcases not only his life before Christ, but also how he found the Lord, mended a broken marriage, and became an outspoken Christian.
This was fascinating reading, and a perfect book to take with me on a recent out-of-town trip, where I only had bits of time to read.
I recommend it, it was refreshing and insightful.
This book was provided for review by Booksneeze.
January
1. This is Your Captain Speaking by Gavin MacLeod
2. No One to Trust by Lynette Eason
3. Ink, Read, Dead by Joanna Campbell Slan (Kindle)
4. Photo, Snap, Shot by Joanna Campbell Slan (Kindle)
5. Shadowed by Grace by Cara C. Putman
6. Dare to Love Again by Julie Lessman
7. With Autumn's Return by Amanda Cabot
8. Gated by Amy Christine Parker
9. A Promise Kept by Robin Lee Hatcher
10. Friend Me by John Faubion
11. Wishing on Buttercups by Miralee Ferrell
FEBRUARY
12. Poison Town by Creston Mapes
13. Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck
14. Distortion by Terri Blackstock
15. The Dream Dress by Janice Thompson
16. My Amish Boyfriend by Melody Carlson
17. Secrets over Sweet Tea by Denise Hildreth Jones
MARCH
18 All Things Hidden by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse
19. The Merciful Scar by Rebecca St James and Nancy Rue (Kindle)
20. Dancing with Fireflies by Denise Hunter
21. Love isn't Supposed to Hurt by Christi Paul (Kindle)
22. Echoes of Titanic by Mindy Starns Clark & John Campbell Clark
23. In the Dead of Winter by Nancy Mehl
24. Bye Bye Bertie by Nancy Mehl
25. For Whom the Wedding Bell Tolls by Nancy Mehl
26. The Measure of Katie Calloway (Kindle) by Serena B. Miller
27. Critical Condition by Richard L. Mabry, M.D.
28. For Time & Eternity by Allison Pittman
APRIL
29. Forsaking All Others by Allison Pittman (Kindle)
30. What Follows After by Dan Walsh
31. Balancing it All by Candace Cameron Bure
32. Caught in the Middle by Regina Jennings
33. Love Comes Calling by Siri Mitchell
34. Blown Away by Nancy Mehl
35. One Perfect Spring by Irene Hannon
36. Fatal Exchange by Lisa Harris
37. The Passion Principles by Shannon Ethridge
MAY
38. The Widow of Larkspur Inn by Lawana Blackwell (Kindle)
39. While Love Stirs by Lorna Seilstad
40. A Table by the Window by Hillary Manton Lodge
41. A Woman of Fortune by Kellie Coates Gilbert
42. Stuff Christians Like by Jonathan Acuff
43. Moms' Night Out by Tricia Goyer
JUNE
44. Blind Trust by Sandra Orchard
45. Persecuted by Robin Parrish
46. Sarah's Choice by Rebecca St James & Nancy Rue
47. Seagrass Pier by Colleen Coble
48. Introverts in the Church by Adam S. McHugh
49. Death Takes a Ride by Lorena McCourtney
50. Reshaping It All: Motivation for Physical and Spiritual Fitness by Candace Cameron Bure and Darlene Schacht (Kindle)
51. I Met Him in the Ladies Room by Michelle Stimpson (Kindle)
JULY
52. Full Steam Ahead by Karen Witemeyer
53. So Not Okay by Nancy Rue
54. All for a Story by Allison Pittman (Kindle)
55. Veil of Secrets by Shannon Ethridge and Kathryn Mackel
56. A Broken Kind of Beautiful by Katie Ganshart
AUGUST
57. Surviving Henry by Erin Taylor Young
58. A Bouquet of Love by Janice Thompson
59. A Wedding Transpires on Mackinac Island by Cara Putnam (Kindle)
60. Captured by Love by Jody Hedlund
61. Nowhere to Turn by Lynette Eason
62. A Most Unsuitable Match by Stephanie Grace Whitson (Kindle)
63. The Desire by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley
64. Help Me, Jesus! I Have Nothing to Wear! by Shari Braendel
65. Mental Pause by Laura Jensen Walker (Kindle)
SEPTEMBER
66. The Remaining by Travis Thrasher
67. A Light in the Wilderness by Jane Kirkpatrick
68. Never Ever Give Up by Erik Rees with Jenna Glatzer
69. Home to Chicory Lane by Deborah Raney
70. Stolen by Katariina Rosenblatt, PhD with Cecil Murphey
71. Let's All Be Brave by Annie F. Downs
72. Deceived by Irene Hannon
73. Slow Moon Rising by Eva Marie Everson
74. The Amish Midwife by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould
75. The Promise by Beth Wiseman
OCTOBER
76. Hit by Lorie Ann Grover
77. It Happened at the Fair by Deeanne Gist
78. Prescription for Life by Richard Furman, MD, FACS
79. Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin
80. Trading Secrets by Melody Carlson
81. Positive by Paige Rawl
82. At Bluebonnet Lake by Amanda Cabot
83. Blur by Steven James
84. The Christmas Cat by Melody Carlson
NOVEMBER
85. Last Family Standing by Jennifer Allee
86. Can't Let You Go by Jenny B Jones (Kindle)
87. Hidden in the Stars by Robin Carroll
88. Lip Reading: A Novel by Harry Kraus (Kindle)
89. Love Without Limits by Nick Vujicic with Kanae Vujicic
90. The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate (Kindle)
DECEMBER
91. Wounds by Alton Gansky
92. Swept Away by Laura V Hilton and Cindy Loven
93. A Wedding Invitation by Alice J Wisler
94. Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey
95. An Amish Buggy Ride by Sarah Price
96. Every Tear A Memory by Myra Johnson
97. Love Unexpected by Jody Hedlund
98. The Song by Chris Fabry
