by admin | Jul 8, 2016 | Amish, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I may have to change my opinion about Amish fiction if they were all as entertaining as “Sweet As Honey”. This was such a sweet and entertaining book, filled with humor, romance, and even some lessons in beekeeping.
The characters were priceless! There were times I wanted to give both Lily and Dan a push or two. Were they both just totally clueless? Could Dan not see how teasing Lily the same way he did at ten years old was no way to romance a gal? And Lily – why on earth did she allow herself to be manipulated by such a jerk as Paul for so many years? Oh my! Enough of that or I will spoil everything. I really did love the girls’ Aunt Bitsy and all her eccentricities. She was such a refreshing change in an Amish novel and added some of that delightful humor as well.
I loved every minute of “Sweet As Honey” and will keep my eyes open for the next two installments of the series. Jennifer Beckstrand is another author I will definitely read again.
A copy of this book was provided for review by Amazon Vine.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Smart, kind, and good-hearted, the three Christner girls are affectionately known as The Honeybee Sisters in the beloved Wisconsin Amish community where, under the care of their aunt, they’ve grown into skilled beekeepers–and lovely, sought-after young women. . .
Though she has blossomed into a beauty, Lily Christner doesn’t really believe it. Deep down, she still feels like a lonely, gawky teenager. Maybe that’s why she’s all but promised herself to Paul Glick, the one boy who never teased her in her awkward girlhood–unlike Dan Kanagy, whose creative name-calling left her in tears many a time. Now he’s back in town after two years away–and being surprisingly sweet, suspiciously attentive–and making Lily unsettlingly yet deliciously nervous. It seems Dan wants Lily’s forgiveness–and her heart. But can he convince her–not to mention her protective schwesters and aendi–that despite the past, her future lies with him?…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jennifer Beckstrand is the bestselling author of The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series and the Forever After in Apple Lake series, set in two Amish communities in beautiful Wisconsin. She has always been drawn to the strong faith and the enduring family ties of the Plain people and loves writing about the antics of Anna and Felty Helmuth. Jennifer has a degree in mathematics and a background in editing. She and her husband have been married for thirty years, and she has four daughters, two sons, and two adorable grandsons, whom she spoils rotten. Readers can visit her website at www.jenniferbeckstrand.com.
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by admin | Jul 8, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Medical, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
“Lethal Harvest” is one of those novels that will make you think and will challenge your beliefs. As a fast-paced medical suspense the story seems to move at breakneck speed at times only to slow down just enough to try the reader’s patience. I honestly believe there was purpose behind that method because it certainly kept me turning the pages.
In a time when medicine is advancing quickly and technology has opened even more possibilities, the question of ethics should be considered. Just because something is now possible, is it appropriate? That is exactly the scenario that takes place in “Lethal Harvest”. A brilliant researcher secretly breaks the law as he works with human embryos in an attempt to find a cure for a devastating disease that affects his family which happens to include the President of the United States. A chance mistake brings other players into the picture and his death brings danger to the door of his widow and his partners.
“Lethal Harvest” held my attention throughout the entire book with ample danger, action, drama, and even a romance to keep it interesting. The story was very readable for one that included so many medical terms and procedures. Characters were mostly likeable and believable and a strong message of faith was woven throughout the narrative.
This particular version of “Lethal Harvest” has been updated by the surviving author to include such modern devices as cell phones and the story itself fits very well into current history. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys medical suspense.
A copy of this book was provided for review by Kregel Publications.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
“A Machiavellian plot . . . [and] a satisfying medical thriller.” —Library Journal
In order to save the president’s life, a brilliant embryologist– the president’s nephew–made a “devil’s bargain” with a secret group of federal agents. But Tim Sullivan’s illegal genetic manipulations of human embryos place everyone he knows at risk. Before he can finish his work, a freakish accident kills him and leaves only troubling questions behind.
Now his partner, Ben McKay, and Tim’s widow, Marnie, must uncover the hidden truth about Tim’s research before more lives are swept away. In the process, they’re forced to face their feelings for each other and the dark secrets in their own pasts. This story of love, loss, and danger crosses international borders from Mexico to the former Soviet Union in order to answer one searing question: if Tim’s research is completed, what form will the strange and dangerous harvest take?
Ambition, jealousy, and the ultimate meaning of love move this riveting story through the dark labyrinth that may lie buried under breakthroughs in genetic research and cloning.
Read an excerpt from “Lethal Harvest” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
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Sandra Glahn (PhD, UT Dallas) teaches at Dallas Theological Seminary, her alma mater. She is the author or coauthor of more than twenty books, including the CBA bestseller and Christy Award finalist, Lethal Harvest, and the Coffee Cup Bible Study series. Her most recent book is The City of Ephesus: A Short History. |
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William R. Cutrer, M.D., is an OB/GYN and an ordained minister. He is the Gheens Professor of Christian Ministry and the director of the Gheens Center for Marriage and Family at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He serves as the medical director at A Woman’s Choice Pregnancy Resource Center. He is the author of Choice Today: A Pregnancy Resource and Under the Fig Leaves, and coauthor of Sexual Intimacy in Marriage and The Infertility Companion. He has also coauthored the novels Lethal Harvest, Deadly Cure, and False Positive. |
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by admin | Jul 8, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Native American, Spiritural Warfare
MY REVIEW:
I will be honest – I only accepted a copy of “Shaman’s Fire” for review because it seemed to be one that was not being requested very quickly. I can also honestly say I had no idea what I was getting but am so glad that I requested it.
It did not take very long to find myself totally immersed in the Native American culture of southern Oregon. Most of the characters are Christian but a few are strongly pulled toward a dark and dangerous spiritual world that includes powerful spells, hallucinogenic drugs, and shape-shifters.
“Shaman’s Fire” is probably the best novel depicting spiritual warfare that I have read since Frank Peretti’s “This Present Darkness” although there is very little resemblance between the two novels. The suspenseful plot moves along at a fast clip and is filled with more scripture than is usually contained in most fiction. This book only highlights some of the dark spiritual forces present not only in Native American culture but also around everyone. As Christians we need to be more aware of the spiritual realm and learn to fight for our families and country.
A copy of this book was provided for review by The Book Club Network.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A singer, a death, a shaman…what has Sayla Whitewater gotten herself into? Shaman’s Fire is a modern-day suspense story of a young Native American woman who struggles to find her identity as she moves between the ancient traditions of her people and the beliefs of the merging white world. She discovers magic in the shaman’s fire but, too late, she discovers such magic demands a price. Is it possible that the God of her grandmother is the same Creator her ancestors worshiped?
Shaman’s Fire is a story of choices and how the known world can change in an instant. It’s a story of injustice…a story of heartbreak…and a story of restoration.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sandy Cathcart is a freelance writer, photographer and artist, as well as a scribe for Restoring The Heart Ministries (A Native American Online Magazine). She lives in the High Cascades of Southern Oregon with her husband, The Cat Man, where she writes about Creator and everything wild.
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by admin | Jul 8, 2016 | Books, Historical, Romance, Texas, Western
MY REVIEW:
After I read my first Karen Witemeyer novel, the author moved into the top of my must-read list. Her books are among those I will definitely purchase if I am not offered a review copy. This time I preordered a copy of “No Other Will Do” and also accepted a review copy from Bethany. I remembered my preorder the day it arrived so I ended up with two copies. Still debating about who will be blessed with my extra copy. With two copies in hand, I had high hopes that this book would live up to my expectations. I can happily verify that it even exceeded my expectations.
As always, the plot moved along at just the right rate and included the perfect blend of action, adventure, danger, humor, faith, and of course romance. Emma Chandler’s portrayal as a strong, intelligent woman was tempered with a touch of vulnerability and compassion that helped keep her a likeable heroine. Malachi Shaw was a hero to swoon over. Not only was he a strong, handsome man, but his humility, his loyalty to Emma and dedication to justice made him a man most women could love.
I could tell more about the trials and tribulations of the women of Harper Station as they fought valiantly to hold on to their homes but it would be difficult to do so without spoilers. Believe me when I say I cannot wait to visit Harper Station again and am in hopes that my wait will not be too long.
A copy of this book was provided for review by
Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A Ladies of Harper Station Novel
She Trusts Him for the Job,
But Can She Trust Him With Her Heart?
Men are optional. That was the credo Emma Chandler’s suffragette aunts taught her and why she established Harper’s Station, a women’s colony that offers a fresh start to females in need. But when a dangerous and shadowy assailant tries repeatedly to drive the women out, Emma is forced to admit they might need a man after all. One who can fight. And there is only one man she trusts enough to ask.
Malachi Shaw has finally earned the respect he’s always craved by becoming an explosives expert for the railroad. Yet when Emma’s telegram arrives, he rushes back to Texas to repay the girl who once saved his life. Only she’s not a girl any longer. She’s a woman with a mind of her own and a smile that makes a man imagine a future he doesn’t deserve.
As the danger intensifies, Emma, Mal, and the ladies of Harper’s Station must choose safety or whether to risk everything to fight for their future.
Read an excerpt from “No Other Will Do” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Winner of the HOLT Medallion and the Carol Award and a finalist for the RITA and Christy Award, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer writes historical romance to give the world more happily-ever-afters. Karen makes her home in Texas, with her husband and three children. Learn more about Karen and her books at www.karenwitemeyer.com.
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