The Mercy Book 3 Of The Rose Trilogy By Beverly Lewis

I received this book from Bethany House for free for my honest opinion of this book.

Book Description:
Rose Kauffman pines for prodigal Nick Franco, the Bishop's foster son who left the Amish under a cloud of suspicion after his foster brother's death. His rebellion led to the "silencing" of their beloved Bishop. But is Nick really the rebel he appears to be? Rose's lingering feelings for her wayward friend refuse to fade, but she is frustrated that Nick won't return and make things right with the People. Nick avowed his love for Rose--but will he ever be willing to sacrifice modern life for her?

Meanwhile, Rose's older sister, Hen, is living in her parents' Dawdi Haus. Her estranged "English" husband, injured and helpless after a car accident, has reluctantly come to live with her and their young daughter during his recovery. Can their marriage recover, as well? Is there any possible middle ground between a woman reclaiming her old-fashioned Amish lifestyle and thoroughly modern man?

My Thoughts:
The Mercy picks back up where Beverly Lewis left us off in The Judgement. Hen is living in the Dawdi Haus with her estranged husband who is blind and injured from an accident. Rose has broken off her engagement with Silas Goode. Their Mamm is waiting to have back surgery that she refused to have for many years but because of Beth Browning and her visions decided it was time. Rose still has feelings for Nick Franco but is trying to move on. Their family friend and bishop has been silenced by the brethren for the actions of Nick Franco, their Foster Son.

Picking up The Mercy was like picking back up with a friend. The characters in these books fast become like old friends and it is awesome to see everything come full circle. Beverly Lewis truly captures the Amish Faith and life. The characters are rich ones that you feel such a kinship with as you read. This final installment of the trilogy was anything but predictable. I found myself not knowing what would happen until it did and Beverly Lewis does an amazing job of making her books and characters unique in their circumstances and lives. While reading The Mercy I felt like I was right there in Lancaster County watching all of this unfold. I am sad to see this set of books end but cannot wait to see what new Beverly Lewis has in store for us readers next. I highly recommend not just this book but this trilogy to anyone who likes Amish Fiction. Thank you Bethany House for the honor of reading and reviewing this book.

His Steadfast Love by Golden Keyes Parsons

I received this e-book from booksneeze.com for free for my honest opinion of this e-book.

Book Description:
The Civil War - a defining time of great sacrifice, change, and betrayal which determined the fate of the Nation.

It isn’t until it comes into her very home that Amanda Belle must face impossible choices of love, loss, and loyalty.

It's the spring of 1861 on the Gulf Coast of Texas. Although Amanda never thought she would marry because of her promise she made to her dying mother, her attraction to Captain Kent Littlefield is undeniable.

When Texas secedes from the Union, her brother Daniel marches off to war to fight for the Confederate States and Kent remains with the Union troops.

Her heart is torn between the two men she loves and the two sides of the conflict. When she turns to God for help, Amanda expects direction and support, but hears nothing. Is God listening to her anymore? Where is God in the atrocities of war—and whose side is He on?

Amanda senses her life is at a turning point. But she must trust God to bring her family through the chaos that threatens her home, her family, and the beloved state of Texas . . . with her heart, and her faith, intact.

My Thoughts:

His Steadfast Love by Golden Keyes Parsons is a beautiful story that takes place during the Civil War mainly in Indianola, TX. This story is about Amanda Belle, the oldest daughter of Reverend Belle. When her mother died, Amanda had promised to raise and protect her siblings. Amanda's brother, Daniel, goes to war, while Amanda and her family must stay on their land and try to live. This story recounts historically the events that happened in towns and cities all over the U.S. during this time. Amanda met a Union soldier and they fell in love but her family forbids a relationship. As the war goes on Amanda begins to question their way of life in the South in regards to slavery and her Union soldier sees that slavery isn't the same in every household. The Belles home is overtaken by Union soldiers when her Soldier, Kent Littlefield is injured. Amanda and her father nurse him back to health. Amanda's feelings for him grow. As the war goes on Amanda starts questioning her faith and whether God is really hearing their prayers. Kent Littlefield's faith on the other hand never waivers and continues to grow as he depends on God for everything.

I love Golden Keyes Parsons books. She writes awesome historical fiction that really brings you in. From the beginning I felt like I was right there watching the story unfold, seeing the effects of the war. The historical facts are very well researched and things that I hadn't heard about with the Civil War. The time period was also well researched as how everyone interacted and how feelings were between the North and South. The characters were people that I could relate to and really felt part of their lives and their thoughts. The theme of War and God's love is predominant throughout the whole story. The faith of all the characters are seen in this book including that of the slaves. I truly enjoyed this book and found it hard to put down. I hope Golden Keyes Parsons will be continuing on this story as a series. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, especially during the Civil War time. I cannot wait for another novel by Golden Keyes Parsons.

The Baker's Wife By Erin Healy

I received this book from booksneeze.com for free for my honest review of this book.

Book Description:
If what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger, why is Audrey growing weaker by the day?

When her husband Geoff, a pastor, lost his job after a scandal rocked their congregation, Audrey's never lost faith.

They decide to resurrect a failing bakery as a way to heal family wounds and restore their place in the community.

Running late to the bakery one foggy morning, Audrey strikes a vehicle. Emerging from her car into the fog, she discovers she hit a motor scooter. But there’s no rider in sight. Just blood.

The absence of the driver is a mystery, especially to Sergeant Jack Mansfield, the detective and church member responsible for firing Geoff from his pulpit. The scooter belongs to Jack’s wife, Julie, a teacher at the local high school, who has vanished…like morning fog.

Though there is no evidence to support Jack’s growing suspicion that Audrey and Geoff were involved in Julie’s disappearance, the detective is convinced of their guilt. When he takes the tiny bakery and its patron’s hostage, Audrey must unravel the secret of Julie’s disappearance and her own mysterious suffering before Jack hits his breaking point.

My Thoughts:

The Baker's Wife is the 2nd book I have read by Erin Healy and it did not disappoint. The Baker's Wife is a story about a woman with a connection to people that others don't have, she can sense their pain and can take it away for them. The Baker's wife was The Pastor's wife until Jack Mansfield got her husband fired. The family stayed in the town and opened a bakery. On a fog morning, Audrey, the Baker's wife and their son were driving to the bakery when out of no where they hit something. They get out of the car and see they have hit a scooter belonging to Julie Mansfield, Jack's wife, and Julie is nowhere to be found but lots of blood is around. At the same time Diane Hall has come back to town after being in jail for 25 yrs for the death of her twin sister. Diane and Julie had been friends as children. Jack Mansfield believes that Audrey had killed his wife and hid her body or was holding her hostage somewhere. As Jack hold Audrey's family and some others hostage at the bakery, Audrey, Diane, and Jack's estranged daughter Miralee fight against the clock to find Julie and bring her home before Jack hurts everyone Audrey loves.

The Baker's Wife is a very interesting story about The Baker's Wife who can feel others pain and does her best to help them. Erin Healy writes a fascinating story about 2 families at odds with each other who have to come together to find Julie Mansfield. This story is a fast paced, at times intense tale that really keeps you guessing at what really happened. As the story unfolds there is a depth and connection of all the characters. Erin Healy writes of forgiveness, having faith in a seemingly impossible situation, and how some people use their faith as a weapon against others. I truly enjoyed this story and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys stories of suspense and intrigue. I look forward to reading more novels by Erin Healy.

Waking Hours By Lis Wiehl with Pete Nelson

I received this e-book from booksneeze.com for free in exchange for my honest review.

Book Description:
Welcome to East Salem: A deceptively sleepy town where ancient supernatural forces are being awakened.

A high-school girl is found murdered in a park in Westchester County, New York. The shocking manner of her death confounds the town and intrigues forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris, who is determined to unravel the mystery. All the suspects are teenagers who were at a party with the girl—yet no one remembers what happened. Could one of them be a vicious killer? Or is something more sinister afoot—something tied to an ancient evil?

But it's not just Dani’s waking hours that challenge her. Each night, her eyes open at 2:13 due to troubling dreams—dreams filled with blood, water, and destruction. Is it a clue—or a sign?

Across town, former NFL linebacker Tommy Gunderson finds his security system has been breached by an elderly woman who attacks him with preternatural strength. Before he can process the attack, someone close to him is implicated in the high-school girl's murder. He agrees to help—and finds himself working with Dani, the only girl who could resist his charms when they were in high school.

It will take astute analysis and forensic skills to solve the crime. But Dani and Tommy suspect there's more to the mystery than murder, more to their growing friendship than chance . . . and more to the evil they're facing than a mere human killer.

My Thoughts:
Waking Hours by Lis Wiehl with Pete Nelson is the first book in East Salem series. I am addicted to Lis Wiehl's Triple Threat Series so I was very excited to see she was writing another series and HAD to read it. Of course it did NOT disappoint. Waking Hours is a story about true evil that has descended on the town of East Salem. A girl is murdered, not just murdered but sacrificed. The storyline is intense and I found myself with goosebumps reading some of it. The suspense and intrigue grab you from the start and just keep going. The story was not predictable and it keeps you guessing until the end. The characters of this book are very well written and are real people. All the characters are connected to one another in all different ways. The history of witches and rituals was very well researched and well explained in the book. This book kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense and intrigue. Cannot wait for the next book in the series to come out.

Women Of Faith Imagine 2011 Milwaukee Wi

Attended Imagine 2011 here in Milwaukee at the Bradley Center Sept 30 and Oct 1. AWESOME!!!!! So much happened and so much to process. I am so looking forward to next year. I really need to get the money now to go for next year!! I am still processing through all that this weekend was and I am physically recuperating from it all so I will be post here in the next few days about the experience! All I know is that I HAVE to go next year!!!! So Check back in the next few days for WOF Imagine through my eyes!!

The Crossing by Serita Ann Jakes

I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah's Blogging For Books program for free for my honest review of this book.

Book Description:
Imprisoned by memories, Claudia Campbell lives each day in the shadow of a ten-year-old murder. Who can set her free?

On the way home from a football game, a decade earlier, a masked gunman opened fire on a Texas school bus. Cheerleading coach B.J. Remington was killed, but her murderer was never found. Claudia, who had a close friendship with the young, spirited teacher, constantly relives the anguish of that day, caught in one moment in time. When her husband, the assistant district attorney, becomes determined to uncover the mystery of that tragedy, the secrets buried over the years threaten to tear their family apart.

Officer Casio Hightower will never forget the day his dreams were destroyed. A star quarterback with a promising future, Casio was on top of the world—until one bullet changed everything. He is eager to help Victor Campbell find B.J.’s killer, the man who shot him. Maybe solving the case will help silence the demons driving Casio to hurt the woman he loves.

As the Campbells and Casio teeter on the brink of losing everything, will they be able to discover that what begins at the crossing ends at the cross?

My Thoughts:
The Crossing by Serita Ann Jakes is a phenomenal story of a 10 yr old murder that was never solved but the effects on those involved are lasting. B.J. Remington was murdered on a school bus coming back from a high school football game as it waited at the train tracks for the train to go through. A football star, Casio, had his career cut short trying to attack the gunman. Claudia Campbell was a cheerleader and B.J.'s best friend even though B.J. was a teacher and the cheerleading coach. Claudia's husband, Victor, is the ADA and with the help of Casio, they have reopened B.J's case. This opens a lot of wounds especially for Casio and Claudia. As questions start getting asked more comes out and they find things are definitely not what they seem.

This story was just, WOW. I love Serita Ann Jakes. I have listened to her preach and teach for a few years now and have read some of her nonfiction. The Crossing just blew me away. This book became part of me as I could not put it down for very long. Where I found a few minutes to stop and read it, I did. This book not just follows those living through this but also follows what B.J Remington goes through after she is shot until her last breath. Serita Jakes writes about God's forgiveness and God's love no matter what the sin. The way she wrote this book I felt like I was right there watching this all unfold and all of the characters were connected to one another in one way or another. It is a hauntingly beautiful story of life and death, sin and forgiveness, and letting go and moving on with life. I recommend this book to everyone!! This book is one that will stay in my memory for a long time. I look forward to reading more by Serita Jakes!!

Women Of Faith Imagine 2011

As I have stated in many a book review I do reviews through booksneeze.com and they offered tickets to the Women of Faith events in cities all over the US including Milwaukee, Wi with the agreement that you will blog on your experience. So I signed up for it. I have wanted to attend a WOF event for the last 2 years but unfortunately we haven't had the funds for me to go with our church group. I figured I had nothing to lose by trying, worse case, didn't get picked. So a few months ago booksneeze.com had posted on Facebook that those who were selected to attend WOF through them received emails letting them know. So I checked my email and didn't see anything....did a search in my email since I don't always see my emails. Did not have anything....felt a little disappointed but hey, no biggie....nothing lost here.

A month ago I received an envelope in the mail from WOF and was confused. But figured it was probably an advertisement or something from them. So I opened the envelope and found 2 tickets for the event. I was floored, since I didn't receive the email I had no idea how I got these tickets. On top of that I thought the booksneeze thing was only one ticket. So I called the number for WOF and found out that in fact it was a ticket for me and one for a friend and they were compliments of booksneeze.com. So excited. I spoke with my friend Jolene, to see if she wanted to go with me to the event and found out she got the same envelope and no email. So she had 2 tickets also....I feel so blessed to have been picked to go to this event.

I know God truly blessed me, on top of all of this found out 2 weeks ago I need surgery on my gallbladder and a liver biopsy and the event is before my surgery so I feel so blessed that I can go before the surgery happens and really get to enjoy myself and be open to God's word. So check back here to read my review of this awesome conference! Can't wait to go and share it with all of you!!

Copy and Paste this link into your browser to check it out!! : http://www.womenoffaith.com/events/2011-events/milwaukee/