American Hunter by Willie Robertson and William Doyle

My 7-year-old son was absolutely excited to open the package that revealed this book. He wanted to take it with him everywhere to read. It is a book that is a bit beyond his reading skills because of the length, but he has trudged through with such diligence and has read several pages in this book to his sisters and to his dad and grandpa. He loves being outdoors and target shooting and can't wait for his first hunting expedition. He loves Duck Dynasty and has watched almost every episode and has read their books for kids where you choose your own journey.

I was really impressed by this book. I read a few chapters to my son and enjoyed the stories so much that I would read it to myself if I missed any chapters. There is so much information in the book, but I absolutely loved the stories of some famous American people. I really had no idea a few of them hunted! They never seemed like the type of person to hunt.

This book is definitely written for older kids and adults, but if you have a son who loves the outdoors, then you will create some wonderful memories with them by reading this book out loud. My 5-year-old daughter even sits in and listens. At first she wasn't as enthused because she thought it was more of a boy book. Now she asks to read it every night and loves the stories just as much as my son!

With Christmas coming up, American Hunter would make a great gift to put under the tree or to put in a stocking.

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Promise to Keep by Elizabeth Byler Younts

I absolutely love history now that I'm older. I find that I gravitate a lot towards fictional books that include history. However, I still love my Amish fiction. Usually those two genres don't go together, so that is what has endeared this series to me. I finally have my two favorite genres joined together! I read a lot of books and I can't really think of an Amish series that includes more of the historical setting of WWII. It may be out there, but I haven't ran across it yet.

What makes this book so interesting is because the author is interesting. She was Amish and still has Amish family, even though she is not Amish anymore. She also married a man in the Air Force. Fascinating! So she writes with a lot of knowledge of the Amish community and the military.

As a music therapist and someone who is partially deaf in one ear, and someone who loves sign language, the characters in this book spoke to my heart. I loved watching Joe learn to interact and communicate with his daughter.

This book stirs up many emotions that the characters have to deal with. There's risk, loss, fear, frustration, anger, and lastly, love. Daisy may bring Joe and Esther together, but they ultimately have to decide if love is more than the loss they have and will experience in their lives.

I'm sad that this series is ending. I really hope she continues to blend history and Amish fiction together. It really sets her books apart and makes them very memorable to her readers.

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Promise to Keep by Elizabeth Byler Younts

I absolutely love history now that I'm older. I find that I gravitate a lot towards fictional books that include history. However, I still love my Amish fiction. Usually those two genres don't go together, so that is what has endeared this series to me. I finally have my two favorite genres joined together! I read a lot of books and I can't really think of an Amish series that includes more of the historical setting of WWII. It may be out there, but I haven't ran across it yet.

What makes this book so interesting is because the author is interesting. She was Amish and still has Amish family, even though she is not Amish anymore. She also married a man in the Air Force. Fascinating! So she writes with a lot of knowledge of the Amish community and the military.

As a music therapist and someone who is partially deaf in one ear, and someone who loves sign language, the characters in this book spoke to my heart. I loved watching Joe learn to interact and communicate with his daughter.

This book stirs up many emotions that the characters have to deal with. There's risk, loss, fear, frustration, anger, and lastly, love. Daisy may bring Joe and Esther together, but they ultimately have to decide if love is more than the loss they have and will experience in their lives.

I'm sad that this series is ending. I really hope she continues to blend history and Amish fiction together. It really sets her books apart and makes them very memorable to her readers.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Word from the Author:

I’m Elizabeth, a blessed child of The King. I’m a middle-born daughter, military officer’s wife, homeschooling mama, writer, closet DIYer, and, dare I say it, Downton Abbey addict. May I also mention that I love both my history and my coffee rich.

I am formerly Amish and my heritage is very dear to me and thankful to be so accepted among my still Amish family. I can still speak PA Dutch, too! You can learn more about my Amish family in my first book Seasons: A Real Story of an Amish Girl.

My three book series with Howard Books (a division of Simon & Schuster) is a dream come true. The series is titled The Promise of Sunrise. In this series you will live through World War 2 from an Amish perspective and experience their unique struggles as conscientious objectors during wartime. What happened if one of their members enlisted? What was it like to serve at the Civilian Public Service Camps for years with almost no compensation? How did Amish women and families cope when a son or father was drafted? I look forward to taking you back into the richness of these years of Amish history through fiction.

ABOUT THE BOOK

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.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Promise to Keep, go HERE.
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I received this book free from Howard Publishers and CFBA in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Beth K. Vogt

This book made me feel like I was on a vacation every time I picked it up. I'm not certain what it was about it, but I truly looked forward to reading this book throughout my day. It could be that its centered around having a destination wedding, which in this case is the beach in Destin, Florida.

I must admit that I was a little surprised by this book and the direction it took. I was expecting a different ending than what happened. I'm not disappointed, though, because I had mixed feelings about the whole wedding she was having anyway.

Vanessa, Ted, Logan, and Mindy are all easy to like and relate to. I wasn't too certain about Ted in the beginning. It wasn't that he was bad, but I felt that he was a little dry and didn't have much of a personality. Vanessa is good at running away from things instead of reaching out in relationships. I couldn't easily relate to her because she came across as more withdrawn. However, I did like her for some reason and really enjoyed reading her story.

Beth Vogt did an excellent job making this a destination wedding that you won't easily forget. I'm looking forward to this new series of destination weddings. What a great idea she had for this series!

Read more reviews on this book at: http://litfusegroup.com/author/bvogt.

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About the Book

                       Crazy Little Thing Called Love: A Destination Wedding Novel (Howard, June 2015)
Wedding bells and storm clouds collide in the first engaging novel in a brand-new series about destination weddings, the power of love, and the possible mishaps and missteps that happen on a couple’s journey down the aisle to “I do.”
Paramedic Vanessa Hollister has put her adolescence behind her, including the unwanted label of being the new kid in town over and over again, thanks to her father’s military career. She’s overcome what her mother called “the biggest mistake of her life” and is planning an elegant destination wedding in Destin, Florida with her new fiancé. But will the reappearance of her first husband from her what-were-you-thinking teenage elopement disrupt her dream of an idyllic beach wedding?
As a professional storm chaser, Logan Hollister is used to taking risks. However, a reckless decision during the last tornado season has him questioning the future of his team, the Stormmeisters. Coming face to face with his ex-wife eight years after their divorce compels him to confront his greatest regret: losing Vanessa. Does their past give him the right to interfere with her future?
A fast-moving, powerful hurricane throws Vanessa and Logan together as they evacuate to a storm shelter along with other residents of the Florida Gulf Coast. Forced to spend time together, the pair battles unexpected renewed feelings for each other.
Vanessa and Logan are faced with a choice: Should they accept, once and for all, their teenage marital mistake? Or is God offering them a second chance at happily ever after?
Learn more and purchase a copy.

Beth K. Vogt

Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” A 2015 RITA® Finalist and a 2014 Carol Award finalist, Beth is a contemporary romance novelist with Howard Books. Her 2014 novel, "Somebody Like You," was one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2014. In 2015 she introduced her destination wedding series with both an e-novella, "Can’t Buy Me Love," (May) and a novel, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (June).

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I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group and Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Chasing Sunsets by Karen Kingsbury

After reading the first book in the new Angels Walking series, I was really excited to read the second book. I was glad there wasn't a long wait between the first and second book.

This book stays true to the same style of writing that I have come to love by Karen Kingsbury. It is a real life scenario and though the characters may not be into the same job as I am, their struggles are ones that are easy to relate to. They each have such a unique story that it's impossible to forget.

I like that this book tied back into the first one where we first met Tyler and Sami. It was good to get an update and to watch their story continue to grow. That's the thing I liked so much about the Baxter series... although the stories focused on different people, we never lost contact with our old favorite characters! The same is true in this series and I love that about this series.

Mary Catharine did frustrate me some, although I can understand why she made some of the decisions she did. I'm assuming that the next book will be focusing mostly on Mary Catharine. I hope I get the ending that I really want!

Marcus is a sweetheart and I couldn't help but like him. He was easy to feel his heart. He hadn't made the best choices in life, but I think we all can say that about a time in our own lives. For him to know he was forgiven was a wonderful celebration.

I'm not normally a person who likes to read fiction about angels because I feel like sometimes authors let their imaginations run wild with what angels can and can't do and it becomes less based on what Scripture says angels can and can't do. I appreciate that Kingsbury doesn't do this. She uses her imagination, of course, but does stay true to what Scripture says about angels. I'm thankful she doesn't compromise on this.

I am definitely looking forward to getting my hands on book 3. I hope there's not a long wait for it!

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki

At first, I wasn't certain I would even like this book. I had liked The Traitor's Wife, but usually this type of fiction isn't one that I gravitate to. I finally decided I'd go ahead and give it a try because sometimes it's good to branch out of my normal genre. And guess what?! Probably one of my top books that I've read so far this year.

I enjoyed all of the historical facts that were throughout the pages. It flowed perfectly within the story and never felt like a bunch of historical facts. I was surprised at myself when I at first liked the emperor and then I couldn't stand the man by the end. However, I will admit, I still have a soft spot for him, hoping things turn around.

And forget about the emperor's mom. I can't stand the woman. I'm not certain how the real Empress Elisabeth was able to stand her. I kept wanting Sisi (a.k.a. Elisabeth) to fire out some comments to her or stand up for herself more than she did.

I appreciated the interview at the end of the book that really helped give me more of a perspective on what drove Pataki to write this book, as well as more of a background. Normally I read that part first, but I waited this time because it made more sense to read it at the end, after all of the characters in the story had been solidified for me.

My only caution about this book is the fact that there were a few times that certain words were used that I thought could have been left out. I understood some of the behaviors because that was the time period and that was the culture. However, the story would have been just as beautiful without the added colorful words in the story.

Pataki has hinted that Sisi has more to her story. I sure hope so! Now I want to know more about this Empress who is so fascinating.

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

More than Happy: The Wisdom of Amish Parenting by Serena B. Miller and Paul Stutzman

This is probably one of my favorite parenting books that I have read in a long time. I get the chance to read quite a few, but I just loved the ideas in this book.

I like learning about the Amish anyway and enjoy Amish fiction, so it was no question as to whether I would be reading this book. I wasn't certain what to expect about this book, though, considering some people think Amish parenting is bad and others thing it is good. I loved the approach that Serena B. Miller and Paul Stutzman took in this book. They focused on the things the Amish did in parenting that led to happy, content children. Of course, you may not agree with everything, but I had a hard time disagreeing on the topics they chose to discuss.

I was impressed with how they taught their children from such an early age about work ethic. I also liked how their children weren't expected to be praised for helping the family. It was an expectation to give back to the family by helping. I will definitely be using their ideas on hanging up coats; however, I will be using it with shoes! And I can already foresee cleaning becoming much more fun with the quarter idea.

I could relate to taking my children almost everywhere I go and making them learn appropriate behavior in each setting. They work some with me and have learned to be quiet and helpful. The part that I think made me stop and ponder the most was about technology. Our kids are just coming into the age where they like iPads and all. We do restrict television a lot, as in we don't use it much, but I appreciated their reasoning on why they don't allow iPads, iPhones, or things like that. I can see how it takes me away from my children at times. I appreciated the awareness that it brought to me on that subject. I have also become more aware on working more together as a family so we have more time to play and spend together later in the day. I also appreciated the honesty of the Amish in this book. There is no question that they raise some of the most respectful, hard-working, and obedient children. I want that for my children, too.

This book was full of so much information that I will have to read it and re-read it. It's a book that will stay in my possession for many years to come and I can see it already as a great gift for other moms.

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

A New Season by Al & Lisa Robertson

I, like probably many other Duck Dynasty fans, didn't know much about Al and Lisa. I can't say that now after reading this book. They hold nothing back in these pages and aren't afraid to share the good times, but also the dirty, rotten, bad times. They share their good choices and their bad choices. This is their life and although it's rough, it's beautiful. You can clearly see God's hand guiding them even at a young age and taking what was bad and turning it into something beautiful.

I appreciate their honesty. Most people try to hide things and like to give people the persona that their marriages/lives are perfect. However, because Al and Lisa didn't do that, I strongly believe this book will be used to help heal many marriages and to guide many young people back to Christ. Many others have a similar story, but are too afraid to share. I think this will empower others to know that Christ forgives and uses what's bad for good.

This book isn't "preachy." God and faith is so entwined in their lives that it's obviously a huge factor and mentioned, but at no point does the reader feel hopeless. In fact, I think that by their honesty sharing, you feel a big sense of hope for any situation. When they say most people think they can't relate to others, I must admit I had thought the same. They then follow that up with, as soon as they hear our story, they realize theirs isn't as bad! These are two people who know what forgiveness is and how to offer it. It's so neat to see how God has redeemed the time they lost on bad choices and given them a second, third, fourth, fifth, etc. chance to help others.

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Angels Walking by Karen Kingsbury

This is probably the first book by Karen Kingsbury that I wasn't as excited to read at first. Normally I'm so excited she has a book coming out but the title of this book left me thinking I may not like it. However, I just can't pass up one of her books, so like the fan I am, I decided to read it.

From the title, I assumed this may be a book about angels and I just figured I wouldn't be into that. Scripture talks about angels, but people like to use their own imaginations to make angels do more and be more than Scripture talks about. I figured that would be the case since this is a fiction book.

After the first chapter, I still had some reservations. But by the second chapter, I was hooked and knew this was still the same Karen Kingsbury. Of course, the angels conversation was made up, but the way things worked together was something each of us experience in our own lives. It leaves us saying, "Wow. God worked it all perfectly, without me." This was the same scenario played out in the pages of this book.

I liked how you clearly saw the problem, but just like in our lives, you couldn't see how the solution would be presented and how the relationships would be mended. It was a beautiful picture of God's grace in a man's life that had run so far from God.

And this is just the beginning.... the true story has to deal with a child yet to be born.... Now I'm definitely excited about this series and reading the next one in that will be coming out.

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

The Family of Jesus by Karen Kingsbury

Wow!  After having spent this whole year in the book of Matthew for my personal study, I'm so glad this book came at the time of my final few chapters of study.  This was a beautiful way to end my Matthew study.  I came to love Joseph, Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, James, and John the Baptist in a new way.

I think it's easy to de-personalize the characters in the Bible since information about many of them is limited.  Then there's some who were so close to God or so close to Jesus that we forget that they could possibly be scared or have normal feelings like we do. 

One person I always did that to was John the Baptist.  I never stopped to think about his lonely time in prison and how he was left with his own thoughts. I'm sure he battled fears and disappointment.  I loved stopping to really ponder who these people were and remind myself they were, in fact, humans too. 

There is a Bible study at the end that you could easily do as a small group study, Women's study, or personal study.  It has personal questions for personal study and then group discussion questions.

It's hard to beat the Baxter series, but I think this book is my favorite so far.  I hope she does more with the people in the Bible, such as others in the line of Jesus.  There's a hint of that happening with this being part of the Life-Changing Bible Study Series.

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits by Mary Jane Hathaway

I absolutely loved everything about this book. The cover is beautiful and quite stunning.  The font of the front of the story is fun and I think it captures the essence of the story: Classics meets the south.

I really like Jane Austen and when I saw this book, I knew I would have to read it. Pride & Prejudice is one of my favorite books by Jane Austen so I was excited to see this adaptation. I mean, who doesn't like Mr. Darcy?!

I found this book quite enjoyable to read. I had moments where I laughed out loud as I compared Elizabeth with Shelby and Mr. Darcy with Ransom. I liked the setting of the history building/classroom and teaching. Even Shelby's mom was just as dramatic as Elizabeth.  I also liked the modern-day comparison of Elizabeth's sisters with Shelby's sisters.

My favorite scene was actually what set Shelby's career in a down-spiral. I couldn't help but laugh when Ransom was trying so hard to keep a stern face as Shelby got her point across in front of all of this class!

I'm really looking forward to the south meeting more of Jane Austen in Emma, Mr. Knightly and Chili-Slaw Dogs that has already come out and is available to read.

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange of my honest opinion of this book.

Somebody Like You by Beth K. Vogt

Haley Ames has had her life turned upside down.  What should have been a wonderful, exciting time in her life as she welcomes a baby into her life has turned into something heartbreaking.  Haley's husband has died and she is left with "what would have been."

Haley's husband, Sam, is a twin.  His brother, Stephen, has entered into Haley's life and now Haley has a stream of conflicting emotions.  All types of things run through her head as she meets Sam. 

Beth K. Vogt was able to put some surprise elements into a book that is very emotional.  It was hard to not cry over the death of Sam and it was hard not to laugh over how Haley meets Sam's brother.  I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster as I considered how I might feel if I met someone who looked just like my husband.  Then to have a child and wrestle with liking Stephen so soon after her husband has gone would be so much.

I liked this book and how beautiful of a story it was.  It wasn't a feel-good romance novel because of the loss, but it was a beautiful story of grace and mercy.

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Chateau of Secrets by Melanie Dobson

I tend to seek out books by Melanie Dobson.  When I saw the cover of this book with her name on it, it threw me for a loop! I hadn't expected her to write a book about WWII.  I'm not certain why I had put her into a box, but I did. It was wonderful to see this side of her.  I enjoyed this entire book and had a hard time separating myself from it.

The thing that fascinated me the most was how this was based on a true story, although a few liberties were taken.  I have read a lot on WWII and appreciated the new scenes that she painted in my head at that time. It seems like I've read several books on this time period lately, so I thought it would be hard to beat those.  However, I think it matched them in my top books!

I really think this book had it all. It kept my heart racing at moments and then it brought tears to my eyes in others.  At times I just had to smile at the visions in my head. 

I hope Melanie Dobson plans to write more in this time period.  She did a great job with the storytelling and research.  In my personal opinion, I think this book is the best book she as written so far.

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Fair Play by Deeanne Gist

I have thoroughly enjoyed every book I have ever read by Deeanne Gist, which I think I have read them all.  I was wrapped up in the Chicago World's Fair and the year of  1893.  I felt like I was experiencing the fair myself. 

I enjoyed the complete story but I really appreciated how much history filled this fictional story.  I felt like there was so much in this book and it and it had a perfect balance of fiction and history. I liked how Billy, the woman doctor... which wasn't popular at this time... and Hunter, the ranger, got past all of their frustrations and worked together with a share passion.

They saw what was happening with young children, thanks to an infant being abandoned. As they were trying to find a place for this baby, their eyes were opened to the crimes being committed by young children.  They were determined to figure how they could help change the lives of these children who were left in such hopeless situations.

On a side note, I really like the cover of this book.  I think it is beautiful, with the Ferris Wheel in the background and the beautiful lake.  I'm looking forward to what Deanne Gist will write next!

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Fearless Hope by Serena B. Miller

I have enjoyed this series by Serena B. Miller.  Her writing includes romance, but they are very inspirational and hook the reader on the first page.  I also like the cover of this book. It is beautifully done!

I'll start my review by saying I wanted to give Titus a good talking to, as well!  I was so mad at him when the first chapter ended.  If he had only listened to his wife!  I admired her submission to him and how she let the subject drop, but I can only imagine how furious I would be and then completely heartbroken after what happened to him.

In the opening chapters, I was a little curious how Logan and Hope would end up meeting and how in the world he would let his fiancée go.  I never really liked her anyway, so I was anxious for her to leave.  I couldn't imagine how these two would cross paths. I loved how she creatively wrote their love story.

I liked Aunt Claire, too.  When Hope was at her lowest, Claire came to her rescue to push her.  I liked how raw Hope's emotions were and I felt like I was walking this road with her.  I would be thankful for an Aunt Claire in my life, even though I'd probably be mad at her a lot, too!

There were some light humor scenes in this book, too, which I appreciated.  There's also a deep revelation of Logan's past.  I like how the revelation comes to pass starting in the beginning of the book.

I really like the story of a real Amish wedding.  I'm always so fascinated by the Amish lifestyle and really liked this in-depth look at what a real wedding looks like.  It's neat how books are now starting to come with a little extra surprises.

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  I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

 
 

Vow Unbroken by Caryl McAdoo

The cover of this book was absolutely beautiful with the contrast between the light and dark colors and the visual artwork. It clearly helped me picture Susannah and Henry, which I liked.  The cover didn't stop with the front, but the colors carried onto the back.  I like to comment on covers that catch my eye and this one did.

Susannah Baylor is a character many can identify with.  She has made a mistake, learned from it, moved on, and is trying desperately not to repeat that mistake with another man.  Her strength and determination were amazing.  Not only did she have her own daughter to raise, she was also taking care of her nephew.  On top of that, she has he own cotton field that she has to take care of and sell.  She needs lots of wisdom to be able to do business and she can't do it alone. 

I liked seeing the changes occurring in Henry.  He finally found what he was made to do and I liked that Susannah finally (although reluctantly) was willing to give Henry a chance to prove what he could do.

The book is full of romance and even has some humor spots in it.  I am very impressed that this is Carly McAdoo's first book.  It transports readers back to the prairie life.  She does a wonderful job setting up the scenes with just enough information.  I am excited to see what comes next, which she has already started working on!

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Healer of Carthage by Lynne Gentry

From present to past, this story reveals history and hard times.  Lisbeth decides to join her father on one of his digs to look for her mother who had died on an archaeological digs years ago. Lisbeth is actually a doctor, who is going through a tough time at the moment. Her decision has cost someone their life.  While on this search, she's hoping she can get her mind back on the things she needs to know and do.

However, when she is searching in a cave, she finds herself being transported back in time.  She is back in Rome and about to be sold as a slave.  The early church is just forming, so Christians are being persecuted for their beliefs.  Despite that, Christianity is growing.

Carthage itself is suffering from a plague that Dr. Lisbeth might could just save them from.  She is more focused on getting out of this time, finding her mother, and once again returning to her father. Her father is, no doubt, worried now that he's lost her to this cave again. 

I like the history that filled this book.  The storyline was very creative.  I had hesitations about this book, but I am really glad I read it.  It was an interesting look into Rome, the early Church, and the people of that time.

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

The Thief by Stephanie Landsem

This is a very interesting book from a different angle than most.  I like this biblical fiction story because it puts you into the mindset of those who crucified Jesus. When you read the Bible, it's hard to look at the people in the stories and say, "How can they not believe." However, this book sheds light on the life of the Gentiles and the Jews. It reminds the readers about what they have been taught and what their picture of the Messiah would be.

Nissa is a Jewish woman that strongly believes that God has abandoned her, after a rough life.  She has the responsibility of taking care of her brother Cedron, who is blind. She has to rely on others to help provide their needs.  But then Cedron is healed.  Thinking life would suddenly be a lot better, it gets worse.

It was fascinating to read about how the people were so divided against each other.  One group wasn't Roman enough, another Jewish enough, etc.  Then to see how Jesus brought those sides together only with the reason that they hated Him.

Knowing how the story ends, I was prepared to be sad.  The crucifixion of Jesus is never and should never be an easy thing to read.  I found this to be such a good book to read right before the start of Lent. 

This is the second book in the Living Water series.

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Growing Up Duggar by Jana, Jill, Jessa, and Jinger Duggar

I am a huge fan of the Duggars.  I watch their show and have read both of the books that Jim Bob and Michelle have written.  I have found them to be extremely helpful in raising my own children.  When I saw this book, I originally didn't want to read it.  I figured it would be geared more towards teen girls.  That was, of course, good, but in my spare time I wanted to read something meaningful and helpful to where I am in life. 


You can imagine my surprise when I felt like I needed to take some notes in the first couple of chapters!  The whole book is about relationships.  It is from their point of view, but their view towards their parents was so helpful to me.  They told some rules their family incorporates to help stop bickering and how their parents offer love and encouragement to each child.  I love that they spend some time with each child doing a heart-to-heart talk.  They shared some topics they discuss and I kept thinking that's what I want to do with my children.  I want them to feel safe talking to me about these things!


The chapters where they talk about their relationships with their parents and with their siblings were probably my favorites.  I liked the rest and thought they were helpful, but I took a lot of parenting ideas from the first two chapters.  I've already started the obedience game in our home.  How did I not think of that?!  The kids love it!


The book is great for those pre-teen to teen years and even into their young adulthood.  I like how positive they were about being single and how it is a time to focus on their hearts and prepare themselves by working on their relationship with God. 


I'm keeping this book for the future when my daughter (who is now 3) comes to the age where these issues begin to raise themselves.  Until then, I'll be revisiting the first few chapters to glean all of the parenting information I can!


It was helpful to see how they viewed their siblings and helping out their parents.  They truly have a servant's heart and I am glad to hear that they don't despise them at all for helping within the family.  It is encouragement to a young mom who is just starting trying to figure out chores and all of those things within our own family.


I hope the Duggars write more books.  I feel like they are so positive and give me lots of ideas and challenges.  I know they have their plates full of things, but surely another book could make that list!

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Traitor's Wife by Allison Pataki

It has been such a long time since I've given any thought to Benedict Arnold.  I'm sure we studied about him in school, but I didn't remember much about him.  I really enjoyed all of the history that was in this book.  There was so much detail, but I never got bogged down in the historical information.  The story flowed easily in and out of the historical timeline.

I am very impressed that this is Allison Pataki's first novel.  She wrote so well that I never realized this was her first book until I read the biography on her!   I expect so many other great novels coming from her over the years.

This book focuses on the Revolutionary War. I liked the perspective in which she writes through her characters.  Clara, the maid, tells the story of Peggy, who is the 2nd wife of Benedict Arnold (of whom I knew nothing about).  I absolutely could not imagine being in Clara's place.  She knew so much information and I think I'd be terrified about the repercussions if someone found out I knew all that she did!

This has been such a great historical novel. It has a little romance,  little suspense, and a little history. In my opinion, this book has everything in it that makes a good book.

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.