Indelible By Kristen Heitzman

The Widow of Saunders creek

by Tracy Bateman I absolutely adored this book. Adored it.

I found out about this book through another favorite blogger/author of mine: Kristine McGuire. Kristine has answered many questions I've had about Christianity and ghost hunting. This book was recommended by her and I am so glad I read it.

I could NOT put this book down. It is very rare that I will finish 80% of a book in one sitting. I read it for several hours and could not stop.

As a Christian, who unfortunately has done authentic ghost hunting/paranormal activities in the past, this book hit the nail on the head. It held a very valuable lesson with a very sweet love story. It was balanced out superbly.

Demonic spirts can and DO mimic human behavior and I kept wanting to shout at Corrie, "Don't continue down this path looking for your husband!" Tracey definitely illustrated a great point: one would NOT experience a paralyzing fear while communicating with an actual departed loved one. (From experience, this is 100% accurate.) The departed would also not mention something to embarrass you, such as drinking to drown out your grief weeks before.

Eli was such a strong, Christian character that helped guide her down the right path. He was also such a joy to read and get to know.

I found myself crying several times throughout this book (the painting on the wall that Corrie worked on for Eli, to name one scene); which has not happened to me in a long time.

Thank you for writing such a wonderful, heartfelt book that addressed the real dangers of ghosts and what they really are.

When we first moved to Amish country, I was entralled with Amish fiction, hoping to glean some understanding about a people with whom I was previously unfamiliar.I'll admit it: I got burnt out. I felt like I was reading the same plots with different characters.I've been reluctant to pick up another one in quite some time, but I found a pleasant surprise in Cindy Woodsmall's The Scent of Cherry Blossoms. Though the story was slow to start, it soon picked up speed, and I was fully invested in the Romeo-and-Juliet plot set in the Plain community.Aden and Annie, the love protagonists, are separated by their faith communities, one Old Order Amish, the other Old Order Mennonite, and though they work side-by-side and have been friends for years, their relationship is not permitted to progress beyond a working one. The plot is almost frustrating because the line separating the two groups, from the outside, seems almost negligible. Woodsmall, however, writes from personal knowledge -- friendship with an Old Order Amish woman -- which lends credibility to the story and its characters.FAVORITES: Likable characters. Enchanting setting. Compelling story.FAULTS: Aden stutters, and Woodsmall writes that into his dialogue. It's an important part of his character, but it's hard to read at times. Distracting, almost. But I don't know how else you convey a stutter on the printed page. Also, the ending felt abrupt. After all the build-up, I thought, "that's it?" It wasn't a bad ending; the story just concluded hastily, I thought.IN A WORD: Redemptive. It's Christian fiction, so it ought to be, right? For me, The Scent of Cherry Blossoms redeemed Amish fiction. Maybe I'll try another one soon.I received a free copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers

Brush of Angles wings By Ruth Reid

in exchange fBook description: "Rachel and Jordan's feelings for each other are hostile at
first, but angelic intervention helps the two discover peace . . . and perhaps
love.The youngest and last unmarried of four sisters, Rachel Hartlzer spends
most of her time helping with barn chores. Her role abruptly changes when her
father hires Jordan Engles, the son he always wanted.As Jordan takes on
brotherly roles around the house, like escorting Rachel to the youth singing,
the enmity between the two grows. Besides, Jordan has one foot in the Englisch
world and is determined not to get involved with an Amish girl.Neither
realizes that God has sent an angel, Nathaniel, to help mend their hearts. The
angel's intervention helps them find peace and healing in accepting God's will
for their lives."My review: This is another book that I really enjoyed
reading, but I am not sure I like all of the book. I enjoyed the story as well
as the characters. I'm just not sure how I feel about the angels. They did add
some depth and understanding to the story. However, it would seem the author,
Ruth Reid, has attributed the work of the Holy Spirit to an angel. I think I
understand why she chose to include the angels, I just do not agree with the way
they are portrayed. I enjoy reading Amish stories and have read quite a few by
several different authors. I am looking forward to reading more by Ruth Reid. I
received a complimentary e-copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers
through their Booksneeze blogger program or an honest review. All
opinions are my own.

THE CHRISTMAS SINGING

Gideon Beiler and Mattie Eash have been in love with each other since they were children and many assumed they would eventually marry. However, when Gideon gets devastating news he finds an excuse to break up with Mattie. Mattie's heart is broken but she moves on, opening her own cake decorating business and dating Sol Bender. Gideon too has gone on with his life but has never really stopped loving Mattie. Unfortunate circumstances have brought Mattie back home and into Gideon's life - will her return rekindle their romance or is it too late?Set in the Amish community, "The Christmas Singing" is a nicely done, at times poignant, novel about someone who loves his girlfriend so much he is willing to do whatever it takes to save her from hurt, even if it means ending their relationship. This would make an excellent novel for book clubs as Gideon's actions, while noble, are ripe for discussion. Author Cindy Woodsmall does an excellent job of showing just how much not only the reason for Gideon's decision has cost him but how the decision itself has hurt him. Woodsmall also does an excellent job with Mattie's character. She is a bit scatterbrained (at times devastatingly so), a talented cake decorator, and worried about her mother's health. People, including Gideon, seem to want to protect her and don't realize how strong she is - Woodsmall does an excellent job of developing that aspect of her character. Also well done, if a bit sad, are the reasons Mattie is dating Sol. Again, all of this would make a good book for a book club discussion. Finally, having the novel set at Christmas adds a lot of magic to the story."The Christmas Singing" is a nice romance.

Mine Is The night By LIZ CURTIS HIGGS

I was hooked from the beginning of Here My Burns My Candle and have been waiting for the end of Elisabeth and Marjory Kerr's story. Liz Curtis Higgs finishes it up and does a wonderful job. I love how the customs and laws of 18th century Scotland lend themselves so well to retelling the Biblical story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz. When Elisabeth meets Admiral Lord Jack Buchanan, I saw how Boaz could have felt about Ruth. When Marjory began to love her daughter-in-law and esteem her, I felt how Naomi might have responded to Ruth's faithfulness. I'm only sorry the tale is over and I wonder which Bible stories and people will next picque Liz's imagination.

The pirate Queen by Patricia hickman

Well to do and unsatisfied. These words describe Saphora Warren, the main character in The Pirate Queen. Saphora is a southern woman who, after decades of marriage, has finally decided to leave her womanizing, plastic surgeon husband Bender. After Southern Living magazine visits their home to feature it in a future issue, Saphora packs her bags and leaves for their bungalow in Oriental on the Outer Banks, hoping to make sense of her self. Just as Saphora is about to leave for Oriental, Bender arrives home and says he's dying of cancer. With this monkey wrench thrown into her plans, Saphora agrees to care for him at their bungalow. Inwardly, she wants to kick herself for being such a pushover. Their bungalow gets more and more crowded when family members arrive and townsfolk stop by to check on them. Frustrated, Saphora asks God to show her the way back to herself. The Pirate Queen is a deep character study of Saphora who, after years of fulfilling her duties as a wife and mother, fights to discover Saphora. Hickman's poignant writing style allowed me to easily slip on Saphora's distinctive view of her marriage and family. In addition, the cast of characters in this story add dimension to the novel. This story courageously deals with the often unspoken expectations of womanhood, especially as women navigate their role in the home. The Pirate Queenhad me turning the pages, wanting to see how Saphora comes to terms with her life. A great story.