Who Do I Lean On? House of Hope Book by Neta Jackson

So before I review Who do I lean on I have to start out about the Series, Yada Yada Prayer Group. This series was beyond awesome. I started reading the first one in a book club and was HOOKED. These books look at relationships with God, women's relationships with each other, and how a group of unlikely characters truly become sisters. The story is told from Jodi's perspective....her father was a pastor so she grew up in the church but wasn't having a relationship with God....she went through the motions. She attends a prayer conference and gets grouped with an interesting set of characters.......these books are just awesome.......I can't say enough about them except in order to really understand it you have to read them.

After the Yada Yada Series closed Neta Jackson started started a spin off series called House of Hope. These books are about Manna House a women's homeless shelter that our Yada sisters helped rebuild after a fire. In these books the perspective is from Gabby's perspective a new character who moves from Virginia to Chicago with her husband. Gabby and her husband live in a penthouse on the lake.  She meets a homeless woman named Lucy and everything rolls from there. Gaby gets a job at Manna House....her mother gets ill and has to move in with her and her husband.....her husband throws her out and sends their children to live with their grandparents back in Virginia. So Gabby and Grandma Shep are homeless and now are residents at Manna House.  These books adress so many aspects of faith and finding that dependence on Christ in all times of life.

In Who do I lean on, Gabby has moved into her own apartment, her boys are living with her thanks to her father in law, and she has inherited money from her Mom. She feels she is being led to purchase the building she is living in to make 2nd step housing for Manna House residents. She is going through court with her husband to make sure she can keep custody of her boys.  This book shows how if we lean on Christ things will work out in his time and how powerful prayer really is. These books I would recommend to anyone looking for a wonderful series of books about women and faith.

Neta Jackson's husband Dave has a spin off series he is writing from House of Hope  which the first book is Harry Bentley's second chance.  Harry is introduced in House of Hope as a true friend to Gabby and this book runs parallel to House of Hope. I have not read it yet but can't wait to read it.

Disaster Status By Candance Calvert

First I would like to say:Tyndale House Publishers have provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. This review is my opinion.

Disaster Status is the the second book in this series. This book follows ER Charge Nurse Erin Quinn to Pacific Mercy Hospital. Erin is living with her Grandma Iris, helping support her.  The books starts out with hazardous materials being spilled and causing panic. Not only were civilians brought in with exposure, a nurse in the ER was also exposed by a patient and falls very ill.  Erin meets Fire Captian Scott McKenna and sparks fly.

Disaster Status is a medical drama/romance story. Candance Calvert doesn't use a lot of medical terms that aren't understood. The characters are very deep. They develop right along with the story. You learn about each of them as the story goes. There is more than one storyline but they all tie together. Candace Calvert does a wonderful job weaving everyone together. This book shows strong faith of Erin and Iris. Also people struggling with faith like Scott and Leigh. Candance Calvert's story shows how faith and forgiveness bring everyone together. This book was a wonderful book that balanced drama and romance.  The focus was always on praying, faith, struggles with faith, and coming full circle.  I highly recommend this book.

Never Let You Go By Erin Healy

Never Let You Go by Erin Healy is the first book she wrote on her own. She had co written 2 other books. I received this book from www.booksneeze.com to read and review. This review is of my own opinion.  Seven years ago Lexi Solomon's life fell apart. Her sister was killed at a shopping mall, her drug dealer husband left her, her father had a breakdown and her mother left to travel. This left Lexi and her daughter Molly. Molly was her motivation for everything she did. After work one night, Warden Pavo, showed up to inform her that the man who killer her sister was up for parole and she was going to have to testify on his behalf or her daughter would pay for it. She soon finds out that her ex husband is back in town. This book was slow to start but once it picked up I couldn't put it down. Lexi was a newer Christian, still learning about forgiveness and love. This story had evil forces working against Lexi, which because of her hatred for her husband and the man who killed her sister, evil found a foothold. Lexi had to figure out about forgiveness and how grace works for everyone. I highly recommend this book. I can't wait to see what else Erin Healy has in store for us!! This book truly shows good and evil and how good can triumph over evil

Seasons of Grace Series

I recently finished the series by Beverly Lewis called Seasons of Grace. It is a story of an Amish woman who one morning leaves her family in search of a child she gave up for adoption many years ago. No one but her and her parents know about this child. Lettie Byler is married and has 4 other children. Her family is turned upside down by her leaving and not knowing what was happening. In the mean time an Englisher has come to Lancaster county in search of Natural treatments for Cancer.  There are 3 books in this series and where one ends the next one picks up. The series is wonderful and well written.....I couldn't put the books down......the books are well researched as far as Amish ways and religion. Beverly Lewis truly portrays the Amish life and also shows how everyone is human and fall short.

The Hand of Fate- A Triple Threat Novel

I received the book, Hand of Fate; a Triple Threat Novel, free from booksneeze.com to review. This is my opinions of this book. This is the 2nd book by Lis Wiehl with April Henry. Hand of Fate is an awesome book. I couldn't put it down. We again see our 3 friends: Allison, a DA, Nicole, FBI Agent, and Cassidy, a TV reporter.  We meet Jim Fate in this book. He has a radio show called "hand of fate". He is a friend of Cassidy's and had contacted Allison and Nicole about threats he was receiving on his life. He receives a package and opens it. When it is opened a "gas" of some kind is released. This starts a whole chain of events....chaos......unsure of what was released it begins investigations. So begins a case to figure out who wanted Jim Fate dead and the list is HUGE. Could be his co host, his Nuts of the Day, or even a Politician. Intertwined in these events we see our 3 friends going through their own personal crisis. A miscarriage, a drug addiction, and also admission of rape that happened 10 yrs ago. We see the friends relying on their faith to get through these trials.  Just as Face of Betrayal, this book kept you on the edge of your seat and in the end the suspect is NOT who you would think it was. I am so glad to have been given the opportunity to read this book and now have another favorite author! Can't wait for another Triple Threat book to come out!! Lis Weihl is a very talented writer and knows how to keep her readers wanting more.

Plain Paradise by Beth Wiseman

I received this book Plain Paradise from booksneeze.com to review. This review is based on my opinions of the book and its author. This book is the 4th book in  The Daughters of the Promise Novels. This book follows along Linda Huyard, a 17 yr old Amish girl who was adopted at 2 weeks old. Her birth mother was 17 yrs old when she had an encounter with a teacher. Her parents forced the adoption. Linda has no idea she was adopted. One day her birthmother, Josie, shows up wanting to meet her and get to know her. Josie has cancer and is terminal. Linda's parents have to tell her and her brothers she was adopted. This book incorporates new and old characters from other books in this series. We watch Linda go through her Rumspringa and follow into her faith. We see Josie become a believer and have a miracle happen in her life. The book shows all the emotions that go with being adopted and the emotions all involved have but they continue to rely on Faith in God and it sees them all through. The book is well written and was just a wonderful story of lost faith being found and new bonds being formed. I recommend this book highly. Beth Wiseman is an awesome author.

The clouds roll away by Sibella Giorella

I had not read any books by this author until I received this free from Booksneeze.com and I love her books. An awesome author and this book was just great.

The Clouds Roll Away is the 3rd book in the series which I didn't realize until I ordered it. When I ordered it I thought there were only 2 books in the series so I read her 2nd book The Rivers Run Dry. Awesome Book. So I just finished The Clouds roll away. I truly enjoyed the book. Was a bit confused at first how Raleigh, our main character, was back in Richmond but was patient and it was explained through out. Raleigh was transferred back to Richmond after being transferred to Seattle with the FBI for disciplinary reasons. She got back to Richmond and was put right back into a high profile case of a hate crime. This book goes deep into the crimes, into the historical roots, and gives a really great description of Richmond and the down south air. Not only is our main character dealing with professional issues: A boss who doesn't like her, co workers who don't trust her, and getting assignments that spell failure we see her personal life: still dealing with her dad's unsolved death, her mothers mental issues, and family dynamics that run deep. Her personal and professional life intersect. Sibella Giorello is a great author who really knows how to spin these stories. You don't expect what is coming next and it all ties in. These books give enough background that you can read #3 without reading the other 2. I am so glad I was given the opportunity to read this wonderful author.