Christmas in Apple Ridge ~ Book Review

Christmas in Apple Ridge
by Cindy Woodsmall
ISBN:  978-0307730992
$14.53 (paperback)
$  7.99 (kindle)

About the book:

Join Old Order Amish Beth, Mattie, and Sadie as the warmth of Christmas beckons them to let go of past heartaches, set right past wrongs, and help them to trust in a fresh future.

Experience the holidays with the Plain folk of Apple Ridge, Pennsylvania, in these touching novellas centered around love, romance, and restoration from best-selling author Cindy Woodsmall.

My thoughts:

This 3 in one collection has 3 books that are part of a trilogy. I tend to get caught up in the stories I read and if I like the first one I'm going to always check to see if there is a sequel. I liked how the books are not set in the "ritual" of being Amish but actually let you see each character in a "real life" manner. You still have the rules of being Amish - but you also see the humanity and personality of each character standing on their own. I really liked that.

My favorite of the 3 books was the very first story. Beth Hertzler is out on a buying trip for her aunt's shop and comes across a intricate carving that shows the beauty of Amish children playing in the snow. The carving draws her attention and captures her heart and she sets out to see if the town bishop will allow her to sell these carvings in her shop. The love story comes when she meets the artist and and they must both let go of their past hurts and learn to love each other.

Books 2 & 3 introduce characters we read about in book 1 and in turn we get to meet and get to know each of them and watch them fall in love and struggle to get through issues each of them have in their own lives - or with each other. All 3 stories are beautiful detailed and capture your imagination and heart making them a wonderful classic to pull out each year to read again.

This would make a great hostess gift, stocking stuffer, "just because" gift or even a great addition to your own library. 

Disclaimer: Blogging for Books provided this book to me for free in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to have a positive review and no money exchanged hands. Thanks for reading GivingNSharing!

Her Restless Heart ~ Online Bible Study Invitation

You are invited to join me with an informal online Bible study hosted at Facebook beginning April 22nd through May 27th. This Bible Study will be based on the book "Her Restless Heart" by Barbara Cameron.

About the book:

Her Restless Heart is the second study in the Faith and Fiction Bible study series that uses Christian fiction as a backdrop for exploring biblical themes. Just as Jesus used stories (parables) to teach important principles, inspirational fiction can open readers to greater understanding of themselves and spiritual themes.

Based on a novel of the same name by acclaimed Christian fiction author Barbara Cameron, this six-session Bible study explores the heart’s longing for love and acceptance and the Bible’s answer to this universal human need. The Participant Book has five daily readings per week, each including Scripture, reflections on the day’s topic with questions and space for writing responses, prayer, and a suggestion for the day—a question to ponder, Scripture to consider, or action to take.

About the online Bible Study:

This online study offers women a chance to find peace among a life of restlessness, dissatisfaction, and heartbreak. We will use the fiction story of a young Amish woman caught between two worlds as our vehicle for studying God's word. We will journey together as we seek to satisfy our own restlessness with God's love, acceptance, and peace.

There is no "homework" for this abbreviated Bible study and reading the novel is not required. Just stop by and interact with Abingdon Women and the author each week during the course of the study (April 22nd through May 27th). It's a great chance to find a bit of refreshment and encouragement for your restless heart.



Each week a video clip will be posted along with reflection questions.  This allows you to watch some of the video clips that accompany the study (but only if you're interested).  This abbreviated and informal online women's study is open to all!  Join us if you'd like and feel free to invite your friends: https://www.facebook.com/events/322394164552878/

Order here:

Book  $11.69 or Kindle for .99!   *    Bible Study @ $11.69

(note - these are sale prices - order now so you don't spend more)

Disclaimer: I was offered a copy of Her Restless Heart to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review and no money exchanged hands. Thanks for reading!

A Faith & Fiction Bible Study ~ learn more...

 

Yesterday I received my copy of Her Restless Heart which is the 2nd book in the new Faith &  Fiction Bible Study series. I'm rather excited about this series which uses Christian fiction as a backdrop to explore biblical themes. Through the characters and their stories you learn how to rest in God's great love freeing us to experience His joy & peace.


This Bible study would be ideal for small groups, sunday school groups, women's book clubs and probably even mother/daughter teams that would like to read and learn through the Bible Study and the accompanying book.

You can order the bible study on Amazon for $11.69 (participants guide), $11.04 (leaders guide) and the Videos $30.39 and the fiction book is available for $10.98 (paperback) or $9.99 (Kindle).

I think I'm going to get a copy of the book on Kindle and work through the workbook while reading it. Will let you all know my thoughts....


Press Release 

The Memory Jar ~ Blog Tour

The Memory Jar

by Tricia Goyer

ISBN: 978-0310335108

$8.38 (paperback)

$4.99 (kindle)

About the Book:

Book One in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series

Every year, 30-40 young Amish men descend on the cozy little town of West Kootenai, Montana, arriving in the spring to live there for six months and receive 'resident' status for the hunting season in the fall. They arrive as bachelors, but go home with brides! Sarah Shelter has lived in West Kootenai for the last ten years and wonders if she will ever fall in love. Since the tragic death of her best friend, she carries her memories in a jar along with the small items connected to them. For just as long, she's also been carrying around her emotions instead of allowing them to penetrate deep into her heart. Now she's met a kind and gentle man who may be able to break down the wall. But can Sarah risk her heart to finally achieve her dreams?

My Thoughts: This is a wonderful lighthearted read with a serious side to it. Does that make sense? 
Sarah has a dream ~ and only one person ever encouraged her to reach out for that dream & now she's gone. After the terrible death of her best friend Sarah withdraws from those around her and at 23 she's an old maid (almost). Her family is supportive but Sarah is afraid to let anyone to close. Then she meets Jathan and allows herself to dream. Jathan has a dream too but his family responsibilities and fear of disappointing his father and brother hold him back.
This book is wonderful and probably one of the few Amish Genre type books I can honestly say have a place on my bookshelf. I truly like Sarah - and I'd love to find a Jathan of my own. Tricia has written a couple that are "perfect" for each other. The scriptural side of the book is solidly based, you see both Sarah & Jathan learn to rely on God and in turn on each other. I can't wait to read the next book! Fun Links you'll enjoy:

• Find out how to create a memory jar of your own and additional crafts to help you "collect" memories: Click Here
• Discussion Guides - perfect for mother/daughter, book clubs, bible studies - Coming Soon!
• Tricia's Blog, Facebook Page and Twitter

Meet the Author:

Tricia Goyer is the award winning author of over thirty books including 
Beside Still Waters, Remembering You, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences and is the host of Living Inspired. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

Find out more about Tricia at http://triciagoyer.com.

Be sure to read the reviews by other blog tour participants: The Memory Jar Book Tour

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of The Memory Jar to read & review on GivingNSharing. I was not required to have a positive review and no money exchanged hands. Copy was provided by LitfuseGroup.com

The Keeper Blog Tour ~ Book Review

The Keeper

by Suzanne Woods Fisher

ISBN: 978-0800719876

320 pages, Christian fiction

$10.19 on Amazon

Julia Lapp has planned on marrying Paul Fisher since she was a girl. Now 21, she looks forward to their wedding with giddy anticipation. When Paul tells her he wants to postpone the wedding - again - she knows who is to blame. perpetual bachelor and spreader of cold feet, Roman Troyer, the Bee Man.

Roamin' Roman travels through the Amish communities of Ohio and Pennsylvania with his hives full of bees, renting them out to farmers in need of pollinators. He relishes his nomadic life, which keeps him from thinking about all he has lost. He especially enjoys bringing his bees to Stoney Ridge each year. But with Julia on a mission to punish him for inspiring Paul's cold feet, the Lapp farm is looking decidedly less pleasant.

Can Julia secure the future she's always dreamed of? Or does God have something else in mind?

My Thoughts:

This is the 2nd book of Suzanne Woods Fisher that I have read so I was excited when I was offered a review of The Keeper during her Book Tour that starts up today. I'm not a big fan of Amish books but this one I found very enjoyable and I will definitely be first in line for the book tour.

The Keeper is Book 1 in a new series called Stoney Ridge Seasons by Suzanne Woods Fisher. Opening with Julia dreaming about her fiance Paul and his telling her that he wants to postpone their wedding for the second time. Julia of course is devastated and feels like it is all her fault while Paul is immature and unable to commit to a marriage and the responsibility that comes with it. It doesn't help that Paul's mother is catty, sharp-tongued and let's Julia know that she isn't good enough for her "little boy". Then Roman arrives along with the rumors that he is the instigator of broken engagements and a ladies man.

In the meantime the Lapp family lives with family troubles in the form of heart failure and losing their father. You'll find that Suzanne did a lot of medical research for heart disease, transplants and more along with the usual research into Amish living. The Keeper is fast moving, inspiring and filled with enough angst and emotion to keep you reading page after page and ending with probably the best ending I've read in a romance of any kind in a very long time.

Be sure to watch for the next 2 books in the Stoney Ridge Seasons series: The Haven (book 2) coming in August 2012 and The Lesson (book 3) coming in January 2013. You can learn more about Suzanne Woods Fisher is very knowledgeable about Amish life and has written several books in series and a non-fiction book called Amish Values for Your Family.

         

 

FREE e-Copies of The Keeper by Suzanne Fisher Woods are Available TODAY only @ Kindle: http://tiny.cc/6kxiq or Nook: http://tiny.cc/pvmrp

The Keeper by Suzanne Wood Fisher ~ Trailer

Suzanne Woods Fisher has a new book out ~

and a contest too! Check it out @ http://suzannewoodsfisher.com/contest

The Wonder of Your Love by Beth Wiseman (Book Tour)

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The Wonder of Your Love
by Beth Wiseman
ISBN: 978-1595548863
$10.87 Amazon (paperback)
$9.99 Amazon (Kindle)


About the Book:
Katie Ann Stolzfus lives in the small Amish community of Canaan, Colorado. At 40, she is widowed and raising her first child. Eli Detweiler has come to Canaan for a wedding and a long vacation. Having raised 6 children following the death of his young wife, Eli is finally an empty-nester. He's enjoying the slower pace of having no one to care for but himself. When Eli meets Katie Ann there is an instant connection. Yet as strong as the attraction is, they both acknowledge that a romance would never work. But as their friendship slowly blossoms into feelings that are as frightening as they are intoxicating, Katie Ann and Eli question if the plas they made for themselves are in line with God's plans. Can Katie Ann entrust her heart to another man, and rediscover the wonder of God's love?


My Thoughts:
I gotta admit I hesitated to do an Amish book just because there just seems to be so many of them and I wasn't sure if there could be another take on the Amish theme but Beth Wiseman has definitely taken another spin with the Amish genre and succeeded.


The Wonder of Your Love is very well written and this time it's a book in another generation (not the teens or 20's). The characters are in the 40's (gasp), well rounded, mature adults who know who they are and what they believe (or think they do). It was nice to read a book about characters my own age who have many of the same thoughts and moral values that I do. 


I was a little surprised to find a story of infidelity (on the part of Katie's deceased spouse) and the mention of one of the main characters becoming a believer in one of the other books. I've never read anything by Beth Wiseman and didn't really expect there to be a message about salvation and belief in Christ in an Amish book (that gives you an idea why I steer clear from Amish fiction as my Christian faith isn't 'rule based' but based on Christ being our 'high priest' not a bishop or priest who dictates behavior and consequences). 


The theme of infidelity, childlessness and repentance is very well handled throughout the book and I liked the way the book ended - without jumping straight to the marriage alter. The characters are normal (read not wimpy), flawed and yet gracious and caring. I will definitely be back for another one or 10 of Beth Wiseman's books!



Beth Wiseman is hailed as a top voice in Amish fiction. She is a Carol-award winner and author of numerous bestsellers including the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. She and her family live in Texas. Connect with her on Twitter @bethwiseman, Facebook, her website, www.bethwiseman.com, and on Amish Living.

"Writing about the Amish lifestyle within fictional love stories has been a wonderful experience." Beth says. "The Amish and Mennonite contacts I have established in Pennsylvania and Colorado help me to keep the books authentic. An often misunderstood sect of people, it has been a privilege to learn about their ways."

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Beth is celebrating the release of Book 2 in the Land of Canaan series with a Fabulous Facebook Party on November 1st. She'll be giving away one of her OWN paintings, several mini prize packs and a sneak peak at the next book in this heartwarming series.

Click the button above to RSVP for the party, then join us on November 1st for a book chat, Amish themed trivia contest, and more!

Blog Tour schedule:

(Be sure to follow the other blogs & see what they think 

about this great book)

http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13433387

Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of The wonder of your love to review on GivingNSharing. No positive review was required and I wasn't paid any $ for my opinion. Thanks!