Pray A to Z: A Practical Guide to Pray for Your Community Paperback – November 15, 2016

by Amelia Rhodes  (Author)

Pray A to Z: A Practical Guide to Praying for Your Community will help you topically organize your prayer requests and lay the burdens of your community at the feet of our Heavenly Father. Whether you are praying for a friend's adoption journey, a neighbor's bankruptcy, or a family member's cancer, this book will give you Bible verses, prayer prompts, and prayer starts to guide you through praying for even the most difficult issues that affect the people you know and love. Perfect for either individual or group prayer, Pray A-Z will help you experience the peace that comes from communicating with God.

My Review:

This is really a simple book of prayers on a variety of topics. It is not a book that goes deep into the subject of the prayer topic but it is a starting point. I thinks this book would be great for a new believer that is learning the concept of praying and how to apply the word of God to the prayer need.

I would encourage anyone who is struggling to develop a life of prayer to get this book and learn how to apply God's Word to your prayer life.

I received this book in exchange for this review.

THE WISH

The Wish Paperback – September 6, 2016

by Beverly Lewis (Author)
Years after her friend Gloria's family was expelled from the Old Order church, Leona unexpectedly hears from Gloria and endeavors to convince her to rejoin the Amish church, but Leona's fiancee has his reservations about her mission.A Compelling Story of Friendship from the Top Author in Amish Fiction Leona Speicher got the "sister" she'd always dreamed of the day Gloria Gingerich and her family moved to Lancaster County Amish farmland. The Arkansas newcomers seem to be everything a devout Plain family should be, and Leona can't help comparing Gloria's engaging young parents to her own. Leona's cousin shows a romantic interest in Gloria around the same time as Gloria's older brother expresses his fondness for Leona--it seems likely the two young women will marry into each other's families, remaining close friends for life. Thus, Leona is shocked when the Gingeriches suddenly pack up and disappear after being expelled from the church for reasons no one will discuss. Despite Leona's pleas, Gloria goes with them, leaving more than one broken heart behind. When Gloria unexpectedly contacts Leona after a silence of several years, Leona makes up her mind to persuade her friend to return to Lancaster County and the Amish ways. Leona's fiancee, the deacon's son, is alarmed when Leona decides to go after Gloria. Will Leona's dearest wish lead to her own undoing?

My Review:Beverly Lewis has always been my favorite author for Amish fiction. This book centers on 2 Amish girls that come from very different families. As their friendship grow they become more like sister. Just what Leona always dream for was a sister(Gloria) to fill her lonely days. But out of the blue Gloria's family leaves the Amish community. Leona waits for a letter from her best friend that never comes. Finally years later a letter comes asking for help.The main point of the story is to consider the cost of living a christian life.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

A Daughter's Dream (Avon Inspire, May 2016)
A young teacher and farmer discover they have much in common, especially when it comes to healing old wounds from the past . . . and finding love in one another.

Rebecca Kinsinger has always dreamed of being a teacher. But when she's given the opportunity she's been waiting for at Charm Amish School, she's dismayed to discover that teaching is hard work---work she's afraid she's not very good at.

That is, until Lilly Yoder joins the class. A thirteen-year old who's just lost her parents, Lilly is in need of someone like Rebecca. For the first time since starting her new job, Rebecca feels a sense of purpose. But when she meets Lilly's uncle, Jacob, his good looks and sweet, easy-going temperament are hard to ignore. How can she even entertain romantic thoughts of Jacob when his niece is her student?

Suddenly becoming Lily's sole caregiver, Jacob Yoder never thought he'd be a single parent---or a farmer. Having been living in Florida as a carpenter, Jacob feels more at home wielding a hammer than a backhoe. The only bright spot in his life is Rebecca Kinsinger. As Lily and Rebecca develop a bond, Jacob's fondness for the pretty teacher grows, too.

But when a fateful accident brings them together, Rebecca and Jacob must choose between duty and desire. Will they follow the path before them? Or set out to find true happiness . . . and true love?

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/20vVAye

About the author:

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

My Review:
This book is a second in a series but don't worry you still can enjoy this book on its own. The book centers on Rebecca and her siblings. Rebecca has always had the dream to be a teacher but not sure she is really cut out to be one. He new man arrives to the area from Florida to help raise his orphan niece. He is trying to be a farmer like his dad but really his heart is in working construction. A romance develops between the two. We also see marriages grow through out the story.
The main point of the story is to be who God called you to be and walk in it.


I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Simple Pleasures: Stories from My Life as an Amish Mother (MennoMedia, March 2016)

Young Amish homemaker Marianne Jantzi invites readers into her family’s life on the snowy plains of Ontario.

The mother of four young children and wife of a storekeeper, Jantzi writes about her daily routines and heartfelt faith with equal measures of wit and warmth. Sewing, cleaning, cooking, gardening, and helping to manage the store take up most hours in her day, but Jantzi finds time to pen columns for the Connection, a magazine beloved by Amish and Mennonite readers across the United States and Canada. Never sugarcoating the frustrations of motherhood, Jantzi tells it like it is, broken washing machine and bickering children and all. But through her busy days, Jantzi finds strength in simple pleasures of family, fellowship with her Amish community, and quiet time with God.

My Review:

For those who love to read Amish fiction, you will enjoy reading about the everyday life of a real Amish family. The Author shares how her family manages home and work. She shares how her community handle caring for their own, weddings and holding church services. This is an enjoyable read. Also enjoy the family recipes the author graciously shares with the readers.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

THE ATONEMENT

The Atonement Paperback –by Beverly Lewis  (Author)

The mistakes of the past haunt Lucy Flaud, who years ago stopped attending the activities for courting-age young people in her hometown of Bird-in-Hand. Now twenty-five and solidly past the age of Amish courtship, Lucy has given up any hope of marriage, instead focusing her efforts on volunteering in both the Plain and fancy communities of Lancaster County. Yet no matter how hard Lucy strives, she feels uncertain that she'll ever find redemption.

Dale Wyeth has a deep mistrust of modern-day "advances" and the dependency they create. The young Englisher's interest in living off the grid is fueled further when he meets Christian Flaud, Lucy's father. Dale appreciates the self-sufficient ways of the Old Order Amish, and Christian invites him to learn more about them by staying at the family farm.

As Christian and Dale grow closer, developing a father-son rapport, Lucy begins to question what Dale's being there might mean for her. Could God be testing her? Or is it possible that even the most unworthy heart--and two people from very different walks of life--can somehow find a new beginning?

MY REVIEW:

I love Beverly Lewis' books and this book did not disappoint. This story centers around Lucy. Lucy has a past that she can't get over. She has suffered loss that she can't grieve. So Lucy fills her life doing volunteer work. But no matter how much she does for others she still feels far from God and His Goodness.

As the story unfolds you realize she still hasn't forgiving her self or a member of her family. Can Lucy find what she is missing in her life? How does the Englisher man her father brings home fit into her life. I highly recommend this book. Enjoy!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

A DREAM OF MIRACLES

A Dream of Miracles (The Amish Wonders Series) Paperback – April 12, 2016

by Ruth Reid (Author)

Amish widow Mattie vows never to love again . . . until a suspicious outsider with a shadowy past comes crashing into her fragile world.

Mattie Diener can barely keep it together. A young Amish widow and mother of two young children, she faces the lingering heartbreak of lost love, her son’s mysterious illness, and a torrent of accusations that threaten to undo her.

Bo Lambright is a fast-rising social services investigator whose high-society mother won’t rest until she finds his Mrs. Right. Despite Bo’s worldly success, the raw ache of a shadowy past and a series of unsettling dreams have left him reeling.

When Mattie and Bo cross paths, all signs point to disaster. Yet as they face a crucible of trials and tragedies together, longings begin to stir that seem destined only to end in more heartbreak. Is a miracle possible—not only of healing but of forbidden love? What secrets lie in Bo’s dreams? And will Mattie find the courage to face her uncertain future . . . or will she simply run away?

MY REVIEW:

This book was an interesting read. The story is centered around a young widowed Amish mom of 2 small children. She is still dealing with the loss of her husband and having difficulties dealing with daily life alone raising her children. Her son becomes ill and the doctor she uses is on vacation. The doctor filling in accuses the mom of child abuse. Things only get worse as Bo the social worker enters the story.

Through the love of God and this willing man listening to God, this story has a dramatic ended. I would recommend this book for those who love Amish fiction.

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my review.

THE PROPHETESS

The Prophetess: Deborah's Story (Daughters of the Promised Land)Paperback – February 2, 2016

by Jill Eileen Smith  (Author)

Outspoken and fearless, Deborah has faith in God but struggles to see the potential her own life holds. As an Israelite woman, she'll marry, have a family, and seek to teach her children about Adonai--and those tasks seem to be more than enough to occupy her time. But God has another plan for her. Israel has been under the near constant terror of Canaan's armies for twenty years, and now God has called Deborah to deliver her people from this oppression. Will her family understand? Will her people even believe God's calling on her life? And can the menace of Canaan be stopped?

With her trademark impeccable research and her imaginative storytelling, Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the story of Israel's most powerful woman in a novel that is both intriguing and inspiring.

MY REVIEW:

i was pleasantly surprised by this book. i loved the story of Deborah! The author opens our eyes of how it might of been living the life of this Prophetess of the old Testament. While there is not a lot written about Deborah in the bible this book revealed a woman we could understand and know.
i look foreword to more book by this author.

I received a copy of this book in exchange of my review.

SYNCED

Jennifer Kennedy Dean is executive director of the Praying Life Foundation and a respected author and speaker. The author of numerous books, studies, and magazine articles specializing in prayer and spiritual formation, her book Heart's Cry has been named National Day of Prayer's signature book, while her book Live a Praying Life® has been called a flagship work on prayer. Widely recognized as an unusually gifted communicator, Jennifer speaks all over the country calling God's people to discover the difference between a prayer life and a praying life. Jennifer is the author of such books as Altar'd, Clothed with Power, Conversations with the Most High, Life Unhindered!, Power in the Blood of Christ, Power in the Name of Jesus, Secrets Jesus Shared, Set Apart, The Power of Small, and much more. A highly demanded speaker, her engagements include respected organizations such as the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove and Focus on the Family. She is a board member for Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, a member of America's National Prayer Committee, a member of National Professional Women Association, and national prayer director and board member for Christian Women in Media.

About the book: 

Synced: Living Connected to the Heart of Jesus (New Hope, February 2016)

Prayer can become extraordinary when we live connected to the heart of Jesus.

Synced encourages you to emulate the way Jesus lived His life. With real-life stories of people walking closely with Jesus, finding themselves in the right place at the right time, readers are challenged to examine what staying in step with the Spirit looks like. National best-selling author and known prayer expert, Jennifer Kennedy Dean, uses the familiar passage of the Lord's Prayer as anchor points to present the way Jesus lived His life in step with the Father through prayer.

Every moment is pregnant with purpose. Every moment is drenched in power. Prayer is no longer the means by which you attempt to get God to perform for you and becomes, instead, the means by which you connect with His heart and mind. A praying life is a life of peace and soul-rest. A praying life is lived in sync with the heart of Jesus.

MY REVIEW:

The author of this book wrote to encourage us to walk with Jesus being connected to the Father in our everyday life. Through out the book she reminds us, 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NIV).

Basically the author is teaching how to walk in the spirit using the Lord's Prayer as outline to do so.

She speaks of prayer as a way of life not just an occasional action. Living a life of forgiveness and living day by day are among other topics taught in this book.

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my review.

 

Hannah's Choice: A Novel (Journey to Pleasant Prairie) Paperback – January 19, 2016

by Jan Drexler (Author)

 

Hannah Yoder loves her quiet life on the banks of the Conestoga Creek. In 1842, this corner of Lancaster County is settled and peaceful--yet problems lurk beneath the placid facade. Hannah's father worries about the spread of liberal ideas from their Mennonite and Brethren neighbors. And Hannah blames herself for a tragedy that struck their home nine years ago. She strives to be the one person who can bind the threads of her family together in spite of her mother's ongoing depression and her sister's rejection of their family. But her world is threatening to unravel.

When two young men seek her hand in marriage--one offering the home she craves and the other promising the adventure of following God's call west--Hannah must make a choice. Faithfully perform her duties to her family? Or defy her father and abandon her community?

With a tender hand, Jan Drexler teases out the threads of a romance that will captivate readers in this brand-new Amish historical series. 

 

My Review: 

This story is about a Amish family that has suffered the loss of  three children. This has changed the family in such a way that tears them apart. Many of the Amish in their area have moved on leaving them concerned about their children's future. There is too many outsiders around them that may take their children away from the Amish faith

They must decide to move or stay in the home the father was raised.  Members of the family are being pulled in different direction. This is a nice story for those that enjoy Amish fiction.

 

 

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review.