Promise to Keep: Promise of Sunrise Book 3 By Elizabeth Byler Younts

I received this book from Howard Books for no charge in exchange for my honest review of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Description:

World War II Marine Joe Garrison returns home from war longing to be a father to his deaf daughter, Daisy, only to find that she is attached to Esther Detweiler, the Amish woman who has raised her since his wife's death in this touching historical romance.

Orphaned as a child, Esther Detweiler is used to caring for herself and her ailing grandmother. They made the best out of a hard life and poverty without asking for help. They even take in her shunned cousin's deaf daughter, Daisy, when her mother dies and her father goes off to war. When Esther's grandmother dies, Daisy is all she has.

When war veteran Joe Garrison returns, all he can think about is recovering from the horrors of war and building a relationship with his seven-year-old daughter. Daisy, however, is unwilling to leave Esther, whom she loves. Joe and Daisy get to know each other again, but Joe struggles with nightmares and fatherhood is proving to be more difficult than he imagined. Esther loves Daisy and despite her Amish ways, Joe finds himself drawn to her as a woman and not just a caregiver.

As their love blossoms, Joe decides to send Daisy away to a school for the deaf which propels their lives into turmoil and a battle for love and family.

My Thoughts: 

Promise to Keep is book 3 in Elizabeth Byler Younts Promise of Sunrise Book and I really enjoyed it. I have not read any books by Elizabeth Byler Younts so I was excited to have the opportunity to read a new to me author. Especially a new to me Amish Fiction and Christian Historical Fiction author. As a HUGE Amish Fiction and Christian Historical fan I am always excited to learn of new authors to read.  Promise to Keep is the 3rd and last book of the Promise of Sunrise series but it definitely doesn't need to be read in order and this book can definitely be read as a stand alone.  This book takes place during WWII and the impact it had on the Amish and English alike. Esther Detweiler was orphaned as a child living with her grandmother and taking care of her. When Esther's cousin died, Esther and Orpha took in her deaf daughter, Daisy because Irene's husband Joe decided to enlist in the military. Irene was raised Amish but left when she married Joe Garrison and was shunned by everyone except Esther and Orpha.  Until Esther took in Daisy no one knew she was deaf, they all thought she was "simple" but eventually Esther figured it out and taught herself and Daisy to communicate mainly through sign language and their own ways. Esther knew Joe would be back for Daisy after his service was done but that didn't change that Esther has been a mother to Daisy and the only parent she has really ever known so when Joe comes home, Daisy doesn't understand and is very angry. Esther is afraid of what will happen when Joe is ready to take Daisy back and raise her. As Esther works with Daisy and Joe, Esther and Joe start to have feelings for one another past being in laws and co parents for Daisy.

I really enjoyed this book by Elizabeth Byler Younts! As a huge fan of Amish and Christian Historical fiction this book is the best of both worlds. When I requested this book I was not aware it was the third and last book in a series and didn't know until I finished the book and read the acknowledgements at the end. This book definitely can be read as stand alone. I could NOT tell that it was part of a series and I did not feel like I was missing any parts of the story. Elizabeth Byler Younts grew up in an Amish Community so there is a knowledge and authenticity to this story that really stands out. I found myself learning so much more about the Amish and their role in WWII, the military in general. Elizabeth Byler Younts paints a realistic, honest look at Amish life, not just the happy or pleasant. I found myself taken in with this story from the start and had a hard time putting it down. This story is great and I have definitely found another author to add to my list! I look forward to reading Elizabeth Byler Younts other books! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Amish and Christian Historical fiction, you will not be disappointed. I give this book 4 STARS.

The Methuselah Project By Rick Barry

I received this book from Kregel Publications for no charge in exchange for my honest review of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Description: 

Nazi scientists started many experiments. One never ended.

Roger Greene is a war hero. Raised in an orphanage, the only birthright he knows is the feeling that he was born to fly. Flying against the Axis Powers in World War II is everything he always dreamed--until the day he's shot down and lands in the hands of the enemy.

When Allied bombs destroy both his prison and the mad genius experimenting on POWs, Roger survives. Within hours, his wounds miraculously heal, thanks to those experiments. The Methuselah Project is a success--but this ace is still not free. Seventy years later, Roger hasn't aged a day, but he has nearly gone insane. This isn't Captain America--just a lousy existence only made passable by a newfound faith. The Bible provides the only reliable anchor for Roger's sanity and his soul. When he finally escapes, there's no angelic promise or personal prophecy of deliverance, just confusion. It's 2015--and the world has become an unrecognizable place.

Katherine Mueller--crack shot, genius, and real Southern Belle--offers to help him find his way home. Can he convince her of the truth of his crazy story? Can he continue to trust her when he finds out she works for the very organization he's trying to flee?

Thrown right into pulse-pounding action from the first page, readers will find themselves transported back in time to a believable, full-colored past, and then catapulted into the present once more. The historical back-and-forth adds a constantly moving element of suspense to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

My Thoughts: 

The Methuselah Project is the first book by Rick Barry I have read and all I can say is AWESOME! This book takes place in two different times in history until they collide into the present. Parts of the book take place starting with WW2 and other parts take place in the present and eventually the past catches up with the present and they come together and it is explosive.  Captain Roger Greene was born to fly. From the time he can remember it is all he ever wanted to do, so when he could, he joined the US Eighth Army Air Force and flew planes for the WW2 efforts to defeat Hitler.  One of his missions he is shot down. Captain Greene survived and was taken prisoner by German soldiers. Instead of going to a POW camp, Captain Greene wakes up in a cell somewhere with six other service men in separate cells. Captain Greene and the other men in this project are referred to by their number 1-7, Capt. Greene is number seven, the last person captured for this project.  Soon it is explained that these men have been chosen for medical experimentation of a serum of sorts that is like a Fountain of Youth. The project extents the subjects life span, their bodies do not age, and their bodies can heal from sickness or injury in no time flat. All seven men were inoculated with Methuselah but Captain Greene is the only one of the seven that survived. After the war ended the Methuselah Project continued being funded by private people and referred to "The Organization"  Capt. Greene is held captive in from December 1943 until his escape in March 2015. Simultaneously Katherine Mueller lives in Atlanta with her Uncle Karl. Karl took her in when both of her parents died when she was very young. Katherine comes from a long line of German descendants who are part of this organization called Heritage Organization or HO as those inside call it.  Captain Greene and Katherine's paths crossed and now they are in a mess together. As Roger tries to stay alive, Katherine is doing what she can to help him even though his story sounds outrageous.

The Methuselah Project is really a fantastic read. From the first page until the last this book grabbed a hold of me and kept me on the edge of my seat. I had a VERY hard time putting this book down.  As a fan of Christian Historical Fiction I was excited to learn more. Rick Barry writes with authority about World War Two history, science and technology past and current, flying/being a pilot, and the Armed Forces. Rick Barry writes with such detail that I honestly felt like I was there, a part of the action. The characters in this book are amazing. I really enjoyed the characters, good and bad guys. Sometimes it was hard to tell which were which.  I love books like this! The idea of the Methuselah Project really started me thinking about the sciences out there and what people can do with it, good or bad.  The Methuselah Project is a work of fiction but wow, to think it could be real, really gets you thinking. I found myself experience a range of emotions as I read this book from laughing out loud to crying. This book has a little bit of everything: mystery, intrigue, murder, romance, and action. So I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Historical Fiction, you will NOT be disappointed. I cannot wait to read more from Rick Barry! I give this book 5+ STARS.

Stone Cold Case: A Rock Shop Mystery Book Two By Catherine Dilts

I received this book from Roger Charlie Publicity and Management and the author for no charge in exchange for my honest review of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Description:

Rock shop owner Morgan Iverson's discovery of human remains reopens a cold case and unhealed wounds in a Colorado mountain town, while her find of a rare gemstone sparks a dangerous treasure hunt.

The remains are those of Carlee Kruger, a prom queen who vanished fifteen years ago. Carlee's mother asks Morgan to investigate. A Sasquatch look-alike may hold the key to both Carlee's death and the gemstone, but he eludes the police, despite repeated sightings by an elderly cowboy and the rock shop's donkeys. As she uncovers the past, Morgan becomes the target of someone determined to keep the truth buried.

In book two of the Rock Shop Mystery series, amateur sleuth Morgan Iverson digs into gemstone prospecting to solve a Stone Cold Case.

My Thoughts:

Stone Cold Case is the second book in Catherine Dilts Rock Shop Mystery Series and it is fantastic. From the time I can remember I have enjoyed mystery books so this book was definitely for me! I have not read books by Catherine Dilts but now that I have, I definitely have another author to add to my must read list. I don't usually read a book that is part of a series unless I have read the previous books but Stone Cold Case sounded too good to pass up and I am glad I didn't pass it up. This book can definitely be read as a stand alone. Catherine Dilts does a great job making sure new readers have the details needed not to feel lost. I did not feel that the details were overdone to the point that it would bore someone who read the first book. This book had the perfect balance.  This book starts a few months after the last one started with Morgan Iverson making a go of her rock shop and learning what she needs to about rocks and geology. While with a class in the forest Morgan falls into human remains and a "Bigfoot" type mountain man on the loose. Morgan dives in with her amateur sleuthing skills she finds herself getting herself into something bigger than she could imagined.

Stone Cold Case is a great book! Catherine Dilts writes with authority about Colorado, geology, gems, rocks, running a business, and solving mysteries. This book grabbed a hold of me and made it very hard to put it down! I really felt like I was there as the story unfolded.  Catherine Dilts kept readers guessing until the end and leaving me wanting to read more. As I stated, I did not read Catherine's debut novel but that did not detract from my enjoyment of her book. I enjoyed the characters including Morgan's elderly donkeys that escaped all the time. I enjoyed both the seriousness and the silliness in this novel.....I found myself laughing in lots of parts at the hi jinx Morgan found herself in. I really enjoyed this book and I think that anyone who enjoys Mystery/Suspense Fiction, you will enjoy it too! I have the first book in this series, Stone Cold Death, on my TBR pile. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series too! I give this book 5 STARS.

I want to thank Catherine Dilts and Samantha Lien from Roger Charlie for this opportunity to read and review this book!

A Wedding at The Orange Blossom Inn: Book 3 in Shelley Shepard Gray's Amish Brides of Pinecraft Series

I received this book from Litfuse Publicity for no charge in exchange for my honest review of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Description: 

A wedding brings together two young widowed parents . . . and gives them a second chance at love.
Emma Keim was heartbroken when her husband, Sanford, passed away, leaving her to raise three young daughters alone. Though several years have passed, her relatives have made it no secret that they expect Emma to remain a widow, mourning Sanford indefinitely. But when she meets Jay Hilty—a handsome widower with three young sons of his own—Emma is delighted to have a new friend who understands her struggles. Still, she is dismayed that her family is so opposed to their friendship—and the idea of it ever becoming anything more. She honors her husband’s memory every day, but is she destined to be alone forever?
Emma’s gentleness with Jay’s boys stirs something in his heart that’s been quiet for far too long. But when his oldest son becomes engaged to a local woman, suddenly Jay, Emma, and their children are swept up in wedding preparations. Witnessing his son’s joy, Jay wonders if it’s time for him to move forward, too, and find happiness again.
Once again, love has come to Pinecraft. But can these two parties of four become a happy, healthy family of eight?


My Thoughts:

A Wedding at The Orange Blossom Inn is the third book in Shelley Shepard Gray's latest series, The Amish Brides of Pinecraft and it is fantastic! As a huge fan of Amish Fiction, Shelley Shepard Gray's books are in my top 10 to read and this latest book did NOT disappoint! In this book Emma Keim and Jay Hilty are both widowed with three children each and of course Frankie the beagle who brings them together in the first place because of his love of pizza.  Again this book takes place in Pinecraft with a good portion at The Orange Blossom Inn, the setting for the other two books.  Shelley Shepard Gray writes with authority on The Amish, their faith, the communities throughout the US, Pinecraft,FL, and the hospitality industry. I love the setting being in this beautiful inn. I can pictured myself there as I read these books. Shelley Shepard Gray information about the Amish is correct and in each book I have learned more about the Amish that I didn't know before. I had a hard time putting this book down, the story grabbed me from the start and held on. I found myself laughing in parts, especially those with Frankie, the beagle and crying in others. I enjoyed meeting new friends and learning about old friends from books past. This book can be read as a stand alone because Shelley Shepard Gray's writing makes it easy to keep up but also not too much to bore those of us that have read the series.  I highly recommend this book and series to anyone who enjoys Amish Fiction, you will NOT be disappointed! I am excited to learn that there will be a Book Four in this series, Can't wait!! I give this book 5 STARS.

A Heart's Home: Journeyof the Heart Series Book 6 By Colleen Colbe

I received this book from Litfuse Publicity for no charge in exchange for my honest review of this book. The opinions expressed here are mine.

Book Description:  

Emmie’s hope for a life with Isaac is overshadowed by a tragic loss at Fort Phil Kearny.
Isaac Liddle is keen to marry Emmie, and she knows she shouldn’t hide her pregnancy from him any longer. But before she can tell him her secret, a widower friend asks the impossible of Emmie: Will she honor her promise to his dead wife by marrying him to care for the orphaned baby?
With the Sioux Wars threatening outside the fort, Emmie’s solemn vow threatens her happiness from within. Will she honor a promise sure to break her heart—and Isaac’s? Or is there another way to find a home for her heart?

My Thoughts:

A Heart's Home is the last book in Colleen Coble's Series, Journey of the Heart, and it is a great book.  As most know I am a HUGE Christian Historical Fiction fan but I am not too keen on novellas until I read this set of novellas. Colleen Coble's approach to the novella is fresh and really kept me interested,. I enjoyed the flow of the books and the frequency of their release. This installment wraps up all the stories really well. This book really gets the emotions going from joy to extreme sadness. This story continues with Emmie's journey, as she struggles with her own insecurities and a promise she made a friend she is very conflicted especially since she herself is pregnant and won't be able to hide it much longer. I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys Christian Historical Fiction, you will not be disappointed, but you definitely have to read them in order. I give this book 5 STARS.

A Heart's Promise: Journey of the Heart Book 5 By Colleen Coble

I received this book from Litfuse Publicity for no charge in exchange for my honest review of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Description: 

Emmie makes a promise to her friend that, if fulfilled, could mean the end to her dreams of a future with Isaac.

Emmie Croftner let Isaac Liddle go to avoid telling him about her past. But Isaac remains determined to win Emmie’s heart and hand. Though Emmie resolves to keep her heart in check, it hurts when she sees that another woman has set her bonnet for Isaac.
Then Emmie’s dear friend extracts a costly promise: if anything happens to her in childbirth, Emmie will marry her widower and raise the baby herself. And it seems Emmie may have to fulfill that promise. But can she live happily without Isaac?



My Thoughts:

A Heart's Promise is the fifth book in Colleen Coble's Journey of the Heart Series.  This series is a collection of six novellas that tell a whole story.  As I have stated before I am not usually a fan of novellas but this series changed my mind.  In A Heart's Promise more of Emmie Croftner's story unfolds.  Emmie is in love with Isaac, a lieutenant in the US Army and Isaac is in love with Emmie but Emmie does not want Isaac to find out about her past so she decides to let him go. Emmie fears he will walk away when he finds out she is pregnant so she decides to let him go first.  As Emmie goes on with her life she has a hard time seeing another woman with Isaac, but the shame of her previously life keeps her from Isaac. Amelia, Emmie's close friend is also pregnant but fears she will die in childbirth and asks Emmie to promise if she does die that Emmie will marry Amelia's husband and raise the baby as her own. Emmie makes this promise to Amelia, knowing what it means and what/who she is giving up. 

A Heart's Promise is a great read. These novellas definitely need to be read in order so that the story can be enjoyed. I enjoyed that the focus was more on Emmie's story but the characters from the other books are still around and we get to continue following their stories.  The characters in this story are very real people, living life. I have to say my favorite character is Emmie Croftner.  Emmie Croftner's life has been hard, but she has made it through. She also fights to have a life but she doesn't believe she can have true happiness. I cannot wait to read the final book to see how these stories finish. I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys Christian Historical Fiction, you will not be disappointed. I give this book 4 STARS.

Eve: A Novel By WM. Paul Young

I received this book from Howard Books A Division of Simon & Schuster for no charge in exchange for my honest review of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Description: 

From the author of the twenty-five-million-copy bestseller The Shack comes a captivating new novel destined to be one of the most talked-about books of the decade.

Eve is a bold, unprecedented exploration of the Creation narrative, true to the original texts and centuries of scholarship—yet with breathtaking discoveries that challenge traditional beliefs about who we are and how we’re made. Eve opens a refreshing conversation about the equality of men and women within the context of our beginnings, helping us see each other as our Creator does—complete, unique, and not constrained by cultural rules or limitations.

When a shipping container washes ashore on an island between our world and the next, John the Collector finds a young woman inside—broken, frozen, and barely alive. With the aid of Healers and Scholars, John oversees her recovery and soon discovers that her genetic code connects her to every known race. No one would guess what her survival will mean…

No one but Eve, Mother of the Living, who calls her “daughter” and invites her to witness the truth about her own story—indeed, the truth about us all.

As The Shack awakened readers to a personal, non-religious understanding of God, Eve will free us from faulty interpretations that have corrupted human relationships since the Garden of Eden.

Thoroughly researched and exquisitely written, Eve is a masterpiece that will inspire readers for generations to come.

My Thoughts:

Eve is the latest book by WM. Paul Young and it is a good one. I have not read any of his other books but do have them in my To Be Read pile. Eve is the retelling of the story of Creation and the fall of Man from a personal viewpoint,  seeing it from the view point of Lily, one of the main characters in the book.  This book was definitely well researched and gives the story of creation a modern look God and the story of man. I felt the writing was good but I had a hard time keeping up in the beginning but eventually it all evened out and I felt I had a firmer grasp on the message WM. Paul Young was writing about. I did have a hard time connecting with the book but that shouldn't discourage readers from this book. I think this book is a good book and for anyone looking for a modern telling of the story of creation this is definitely the right book for you! I plan on reading Eve again and hope to be able to add more to my review.  I give this book 3.5 STARS.