Margaret

Even though the plot in this book is extreme... I can completely seeing it happening with my friends from the small college I went to. I think that this is a definite read for all those kids who just want to party and don't realize what can happen. If only they could learn from other peoples mistakes before making their own. I definitely recommend this book to any college kid.

Avon Inspire has done it again! One more fabulous book to add to my keep shelf, I have never read something from Avon Inspire that I was not in love with immediately. This is my first experience with Kristin Billerbeck and it was a great one, I'm definitely a new fan. This is book two of a series, and even though I read this one without reading the first one, I was completely drawn in and felt that I really knew the characters and really enjoyed the story-lives of Jane and Lindsey. I cannot wait to go back and get my hands on a copy of the first book.

Lindsey and Jane are two very different women and odd points in life, but they really could not have more in common at the same time. The way that things work together to bring about the will of God is incredibly shown in this story. There is plenty of Christ in this story without preaching at every corner, and I definitely think that this story would be a joy read from any market. One of the best things in life is to know your friends, not take them for granted, and to move one day at a time. This is a great story for anyone to read and learn from.

I was hesitant at first, because this does take place in L.A. with a good set of Trophy Wives, and I am a makeup-less book junkie who could really care less about shoes, makeup, and clothes. (I think it's probably been at least two years since I bought any clothes...) But I was pleasantly surprised and brought into a wonderful group of women getting to know each other and themselves better. I could see myself in their personalities and learned to like a few things as well as let some others go. This story is really a great weekend or spa read or just a fun one for anywhere and anytime and I strongly recommend it.

This is my first Wanda Brunstetter, although, I have been reading Amish Christian Fiction for a while and enjoying it from [a:Beverly Lewis 34227 Beverly Lewis http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-F-50x66.jpg] and [a:Cindy Woodsmall 117290 Cindy Woodsmall http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1222229270p2/117290.jpg]. I couldn't sleep last night, so I decided to start this book, I guess that was around ten or eleven o'clock. Well, that was a mistake, because then I could not stop or go to sleep until I was finished at after five in the morning! This is not a book to pick up and have a short quaint read of enjoyment. It states on the inside back flap that [a:Wand a E. Brunstetter] writes about the Amish life, because she likes the simple, plain life. Well, if you are using the general description of their lives, sure. But not the lives of these characters. One thing after another happens in this story to the family Hosteller, and you never expect what is next. There is a main secret, which from the first chapter, I was able to guess, but for many many chapters after that she throws things in that make you wonder. Nothing ends up being what you thought, and after tons of page turning trying to find out what happens, the book ends, with only minimal things resolved, and you're left scrambling to get the next book in the series. Luckily, I checked out both from the library at the same time...

I do believe this is the best of [author: Lori Wick] so far that I have read. It was adventurous like [author: Traci Peterson]'s [book: Yukon Quest] and gave the same feel of hating the bad guy but not being able to do anything because it's a story and you're a human and then feeling guilty because they are not charitable Christian thoughts you are having toward the evil fictional characters anyway. This is one that you can really get into and understand and feel for the character's loves and losses. It may be because I have read the three in the series before this one so I have been reading of the family for a while and love them already, who knows. Either way. Yay Lori Wick.

My Thoughts: I have not yet gotten the chance to read Just As I Am, but I cannot reiterate how glad I am that I was given the chance to read and review Sincerely, Mayla. After finishing this book #2, I cannot wait to go back and read the prequel in Mayla's life found in #1. Mayla is 23, my age, and she is a real and very “normal” girl and I love her to death! Ginny has a winner with this story and life of the character of Mayla. Life is not a simplistic thing, and events do not occur one at a time and wait for something else to cool off before the next challenge. This book of Mayla's life is so real to life and brings so many things to light in the eyes of a growing Christian. Mayla is still a new Christian and learning step by step how to put more things onto God and become more Christlike. It is through her journey and life events that a reader can find peace and understanding of their own life. The beginning of the book was very humorous and caught my interest, the middle of the book I still could not put it down, and then end of the book practically had me in tears with a giggle in my smile. I strongly urge everyone to read this book. It spoke to me, to relating to Mayla's age, but there is a character in most all situations that can bring anyone into this story. There is no reason not to read this book!

I'm about halfway through the book so far and I'm not sure how I feel. The writing is great, and I truly feel like I know the characters. So far I haven't gotten much of a Christian appeal, but from slight things said, I think more of that is to come. Partially, I feel at odds with the main character as a person. She seems to be fully obsessing about her mother in general, beyond a healthy level of wanting to know her. I just cannot see how that can help her, but to make her more sad, and slightly unstable. I'm shocked that I'm looking at this from a psychological angle, but that just seems to stand out to me. Other than that object of interest for her, I realize that she is 19 and has lead a sheltered life and is finishing of her last year of college, but she seems really immature, I say this from being in her thoughts through the book so far. My other qualm so far is the two generations of unwed pregnancies and anti-male relations. Noting all this! I'm not finished yet, there may be a twist that makes me love and treasure this story forever! The writing is great, and I can really see the story taking place, for me it is just a dislike of the characters, but then not all Christian fiction has lovable characters and ends with giggles. When I finish reading, I'll give you an updated review.

The only way to understand this book is to read it for yourself. Personally, this was not my favorite. I actually did not finish it, but stopped about half way through. To me, the first quarter of the book was when Jim sees Dave with an unknown woman and spends the next six or seven chapters debating whether or not he is going to confront Dave. The next quarter of the book is the actual confrontation. I could not get hooked on this book. I read Christian Fiction myself to escape reality and get inspired by the miraculously good in some people's hearts. This story is too realistic and full of pain for me. It is not an escape, but a realistic reminder that even pastors make mistakes. This book for me, was just not my cup of tea.

This Bible was an absolute delight to have available for devotions throughout my 2008 year. The song devotions were my favorite, so much that I went and bought the individual book [b:The One Year Great Songs of Faith 341264 The One Year Great Songs of Faith (One Year Books) William J. Petersen http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173893213s/341264.jpg 331636] where many of the songs came from. But also the deeper looks on women of the Bible and poetry and other things through out made this Devotional Bible a jewel. I have the Fabric/leather version, and it feels so good in hand. I really recommend this for any female you know seeking out a good devotional Bible.

Wow. That is the main thought that I am left with after finishing this magnificent book. Cindy Woodsmall has done an amazing job with her debut series and I cannot wait to read more from this fabulous author. I enjoyed the first book and really was full of emotion for the characters. I cannot tell you how many times throughout the series I was brought to tears or screaming in anger when the characters would not for themselves.

When the Soul Mends is an incredible book about such depth with a vast amount of heart wrenching drama that is so real and so needed to be read. You could read this book alone, but I strongly suggest you start from the beginning, because only after going through When the Heart Cries to the When the Morning Comes can you really appreciate the beauty and fully healing affects of When the Soul Mends. Can you see how perfect these titles are?

I'm practically speechless, but I want to ramble about how great this book is. The characters are so real, as are their troubles and joys. Cindy really brings you into an Amish/Plain/Englisher world and shows the good, as well as the bad in all cases. After falling into their world in the first two novels and screaming for answers with the cliff hangers those two left me in, Cindy has answered everything in more depth and better than I ever could have imagined. I'm completely satisfied with this series and you can bet it is on my keeper shelf.

Another Historical Christian Fiction about a prostitute, but unlike any other. This story is based in the northwest of the United States and brings together a very unlikely list of characters that as a reader you come to understand and find little ways to relate to. This is a good read, it is for a mature audience, however.

My heart complete breaks and repairs through this book. This story is told giving perspective into many of the characters lives and it makes you look back on your own with perspective. SPOILER ALERTImagine leading a plain, normal strict life, yet having a desire for a man you know will not receive approval in the eyes of your family your people and struggling to find a way. Then as everything looks like it will work out just find, you're raped by a stranger and nobody believes you. Then when you finally accept the reality of a pregnancy, you lose that too. Only through the grace of God can life be repaired. Usually I despise books that leave things wanting, but this book was perfect. It ended at just the right time and I look forward to reading a sequel [b:When The Morning Comes 633044 When the Morning Comes (Sisters of the Quilt, book #2) Cindy Woodsmall http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320562291s/633044.jpg 2294666].

Lost and found in love, life, and Christ. That is definitely what this book is all about. This book makes me feel like a hopeless romantic, but at the same time so grateful for what I have. I really have not yet read a book by Lori Wick that I didn't like. I'm now off to find the sequel to this one.

This book is about two fairly quite personalities struggling to do God's will before their own desires. This was once again one of Lori Wick's lost, love, found books. Same themes, but completely different story and method of approaching the end game. I just do not think that I can get enough of her books. I laugh out loud, and giggle quietly, as well as want to cry. Just to struggle with the characters and then rejoice with them is quite the experience.

This was a very dramatic book, maybe it was because I was hearing in with certain emphasis rather than reading my own thoughts into it, but this was a stressful book. There were several deaths throughout the book, and heart breaks, and lies, and betrayal. Almost everything that can go wrong did in one of the five sister's lives and then they had to struggle to go on. True it ends in a relative forgiveness, but rather abruptly when there were some 40-odd chapters of pure pain and torture. I love Tracie Peterson's work, but this is a book that I do not plan to ever read/listen to again. It is just too painful.

The ending of this book is absolutely fabulous! And as for the rest of the book, not too far off either. I was not able to read this book through as fast as I would like, as I was interrupted by a million different things. Yet, I'm so glad I was able to read it. [a:Donita Paul 100752 Donita K. Paul http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1219455323p2/100752.jpg] really knows how to tell a story. Some characters you think you know until you don't, and it is in an amazing way that you didn't see coming. One of the things that she has put into her good vs. evil I have recently seen in a new book up and coming [b:Beyond the Reflection's Edge 2348157 Beyond the Reflection's Edge (Echoes from the Edge #1) Bryan Davis http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266750192s/2348157.jpg 2354867] by [a:Bryan Davis 37060 Bryan Davis http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1200802702p2/37060.jpg]. It is amazing how things of the devil can look so much like the wonders of God, until you really look at them and see what they are made of fully. This book continues right after where the first [b:DragonSpell 172734 DragonSpell (DragonKeeper Chronicles, #1) Donita K. Paul http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172407587s/172734.jpg 166822] ended. But here, you get more characters added into this wonderful assortment of personalities. I love the wizards! There is adventure, and this is quite the comfy entertaining story without a worry in the world, unless you consider the mordalkeeps, and bisonbecks, or the other creatures that want to turn you over to the evil wizard Risto and keep you from realizing the truth and power of Paladin and Wulder. sigh The message here is so complete, and just in a form that is needed. This book will be great for kids, and prompt the right questions and a great direction for life. Highly recommended for people in all places of life!

The overall book was good, but there were a couple Biblical errors. Especially in talking about the washing of feet, names were given to people that did not have names in the Bible. Also, there was a section where they discovered a part that is important to the overall plot and it appears that part of the conversation is skipped and hard to follow.

This book was mostly fabulous. The last few chapters were not quite wonderful, but the rest of the book was really enjoyable. I literally was giggling at some points and even gasped at others. This is the third in a series and where the first book was great, and the second was not so thrilling this one was a very adventurous and pleasant read. It even has a twinge of remembrance to [b: Bride Most Begrudging 324022 A Bride Most Begrudging Deeanne Gist https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347399267s/324022.jpg 314724] that I found humorous and fun. Deirdre, Princess of Gleannmara is a wonderful woman of God and throughout the book she gives me more and more hope and guidance of the idea of what a prayer-life could really be like if you try and do not despair. Jeremiah 29:11 is the main theme written throughout this book and it is a wonderful one.

I read the first chapter of this book online several weeks ago, and was finally able to get it from inter-library loan this past week. I started the book last night, and could not put it down. I did sleep, but once I woke up this morning, I did not even get on my computer. I just read, stopped to make a PB&J and read. It is now almost four in the afternoon and I am finished. [a:Maureen Lang 420047 Maureen Lang http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1242658773p2/420047.jpg] has quite the affinity for story telling. I was completely entranced by the family heritage story that she was unrolling and could not stop until there was no more. (I'm glad there is a sequel!) As a genealogist myself, I'm very interested in learning of other peoples adventures into their heritage through newspaper entries, letters, or in this case an old diary. Natalie, or Talie as everyone calls her is the modern mom of America. She attends her contemporary church with her husband and enjoys having her mother and sister near. Mom and baby's social group turns out to be less than she expected... and then she finds a box of heirlooms including a diary. The family legacy lies within the pages and it is not what Talie expected, but it turns out to be a curse that Lord can make into a blessing. Other than genealogy, at one time I fancied a future as a nurse and genetics is something else that I have found intriguing. This story is one that all families should read. If something comes at you that seems terrible, there is a chance that there is good to come from it. Look for your lemonade in your lemons, and your blessings in your supposed curse.