Forever Amish Book Review

Legacy of Lancaster Trilogy

Book Three

SUMMARY:  It's the Last Thing She Expects to Find

     Sally Bingham needs some time away to sort through the changes in her life and to rethink her upcoming marriage.  Despite her ailing father's hesitations, she drives to Lancaster County for a weekend away.  But her best-laid plans leave her in a near collision with a bishop's buggy and in the home of a mysterious Amish woman named Lizzie.  Lizzie introduces her to a different perspective on life, a charming farmhand named Armin - and opens a Pandora's box that will forever change Sally's life.

     The last book in the Legacy of Lancaster trilogy, Forever Amish introduces us to a young woman about to uncover a shocking secret and find an invitation to a new way of living.  This is a story of forgiveness, legacies, and the ties that bind through generations.

REVIEW: This book was not the typical Amish romance story.  Where most heroines has some idea of their Amish background or connections, in this one, Sally has no idea.  She headed to Lancaster County to meet a mysterious Lizzie and to think about her upcoming marriage.  This is about the time I wondered what was going on and where was the plot line headed.  Most of the time, I was wondering what was going on with Lizzie and her family.  They were so secretive about everything.  So was Lizzie's dad, Honest Ed.  He kept a bunch of secrets about his life growing up, Lizzie's mom and afterwards.  To me, my favorite part was the end.  I like how Lizzie and Armin worked things out and that all the secrets everyone kept were revealed.
     This was an okay book.  Unfortunately, not one of my favorites.

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group for review without compensation.

A native of Baltimore, Kate Lloyd spends time with family and friends in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the inspiration for the Legacy of Lancaster trilogy.  She is a member of the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society and has done extensive research on the Amish.  Kate and her husband live in Seattle.  Learn more about Kate at katelloyd.net and facebook.com/katelloydbooks and on Twitter @KateLloydAuthor.

The Final Summit Book Review

SUMMARY:  THE FINAL SUMMIT - A QUEST TO FIND THE ONE PRINCIPLE THAT WILL SAVE HUMANITY
      David Ponder is back - and this time, the fate of mankind may be in his hands.
     This is humanity's last chance.  Centuries of greed, pride, and hate have sent mankind hurtling toward disaster, and far from its original purpose.  There is only one solution that can reset the compass and right the ship - and that answer is only two words.
     With time running out, it is up to David Ponder and a cast of history's best and brightest minds to uncover this solution before it is too late.  The catch?  They are allowed only five tries to solve the ominous challenge.
     Readers first encountered David Ponder in the New York Times bestseller The Traveler's Gift.  Now, in The Final Summit, Andrews combines a riveting narrative with astounding history in order to show us the one thing we must do when we don't know what to do.

REVIEW:  Having read and really liked The Heart Mender by Andy Andrews, I was drawn to this book even though I have not read The Traveler's Gift.  Unfortunately, the story was too far "out there" for me.  I had a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that someone from the present day was meeting with all sorts of important historical people from all over the previous centuries discussing the future of present-day humanity.  The location was suppose to be in Heaven but the participants still had too much of their previous "humanity" (pride, arguing, smoking, etc.) and Gabriel seemed too contentious.  After David returned from the summit, the author left the story hanging.  Did David get the word out about what happened at The Summit?  Did humanity change?  What happens to Carl and Gloria?  They take up the first part of the book then are never mentioned again.  There was so much potential that was not realized in the end.  I really wanted to like this book but was disappointed.

This book was provided by Thomas Nelson Publishers/Book Sneeze for review without compensation.

Hailed by a New York Times reporter as "someone who has quietly become on of the most influential people in America,"  ANDY ANDREWS is a bestselling novelist and in-demand speaker for the world's largest organizations.  He has spoken at the request of four different United States presidents and at military bases worldwide.  Andy appears frequently on CNN, Fox News, and ABC's Good Morning America.  He is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Noticer and The Traveler's Gift.  He lives in Orange Beach, Alabama , with his wife, Polly, and their two sons.

The Heart Mender Blog Tour and Give Away

The Heart Mender - A Story of Second Chances by Andy Andrews is AWESOME!!!  I LOVE THIS BOOK!!  It is set in Coastal Alabama during World War II.  It is based on a true story.  Actually, this book was published before under the name Island of Saints but, due to a myriad of bad timing and luck, it didn't go too far.  A few people who read the book loved it and helped get it re-released under the current title.  One of the many questions the author receives about this book is "Is this story true?" and the answer is yes with some tweaks.  A few of the locations and most of the characters' names have been changed but all the dates, history, numbers and items he found are real.  This information made the book even more interesting and captivating.

Helen Mason is angry at everyone and everything.  After losing her young husband to the war, Helen is bitter.  Moving away from everything, she finds shelter in Coastal Alabama.  Lt. Josef Landermann served on a German U-boat that was patrolling the Gulf of Mexico.  Betrayed, shot and left for dead, he washes ashore where Helen finds him.  Both struggle with how life treated them and their current (and dangerous) circumstances.  Together they find that forgiveness and letting go of the past brings healing: physically, mentally, and spiritually.  I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves history and unforgettable stories!!  I finished this book in two days and hated putting it down. 

SUMMARY:
In the classic storytelling style of The Noticer and The Traveler's Gift, New York Times best-selling author Andy Andrews now delivers an adventure set sharply against the warm waters and white sands of the Gulf of Mexico in WWII America.

Saddened and unable to abandon her resentment towards the Nazi war machine tht took her husband's life, the young and attractive Helen Mason is living a bitter, lonely existence.  Betrayed and left for dead, German U-boat officer Lt. Josef Landermann washes ashore in a sleepy town along the northern gulf coast, looking to Helen for survival.

The Heart Mender is a story of life, loss and reconciliation, reminding us of the power of forgiveness and the universal healing experience of letting go.

This book and give away copy were provided by Thomas Nelson Publishers.

GIVE AWAY INFORMATION:

Thomas Nelson Publishers provided me a copy of this book to give away.  To be in the drawing, you must either comment on this post or send me an e-mail (jinnettm@bellsouth.net) by Saturday, May 22, 2010.  I will draw a name from all the entries and mail the winner a copy of the book.  You will not be disappointed with this book.