Plain Wisdom Book Review

An Invitation into an Amish Home and the Hearts of Two Women

SUMMARY:  Two friends from different worlds - one Old Order Amish, one Englischer - share the truths that bring them together.

     Best-selling novelist Cindy Woodsmall might seem to have little in common with Miriam Flaud, a woman immersed in the culture of Old Order Amish.  But with nine children and almost sixty years of marriage between them, Cindy and Miriam both have found the secrets to facing life with strength and grace.  Whether enduring financial setbacks, celebrating new babies and times of prosperity, grieving the crushing losses in the deaths of family and friends, or facing disappointments with their respective communities - through it all they find guidance for each day by looking to God.

     With poignant recollections, unexpected insights, and humorous tales, the two women welcome you into their unique friendship.  Youll also gain a rare glimpse into the traditions and ways of the Amish as iriam recalls special occasions and shares family recipes throughout the book.

     Plain Wisdom is a heartwarming celebration of God, womanhood, and the search for beauty that unites us all.  So grab a warm drink and your quilt and settle in for a soul-comforting read with Plain Wisdom.

REVIEW:  When I first saw this book, I wondered what it would be like since the authors are from two completely different backgrounds - what they would have to share that would be of interest to me.  What I found was two friends sharing their lives, backgrounds, family stories and, most importantly, God's love.  I felt like these women had become friends of mine as they shared their hurts, heartaches, concerns for their families along with the joy they found with their families, friends, celebrations, and the day in and day out things like cooking, laundry, and living.  God and His work in their lives is very evident throughout the book as they share how God has touched them, guided them when they needed direction and stood beside them in difficult times.  This book is a great read with short chapters.  It also includes some of Miriam's recipes that sound delicious.  I have marked a few to try later, especially when my zucchini comes in.  :-)

This book was provided by Waterbrook Multnomah for review without compensation.

Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times best-selling author of several novels whose connection with the Amish community has been featured on ABC Nightline and on the front page of the Wall Street Journal.

Miriam Flaud is an Old Order Amish woman who has lived within one of the most structures societies in the United States.  She's experienced the abundant joys of that lifestyle as well as troubled times.  She and her husband have six children and several grandchildren.

Spring for Susannah Book Review

SUMMARY:  Hundreds of miles from home, Susannah faces an uncertain future as a mail-order bride on the untamed Dakota prairie.
     When her parents die suddenly, and no suitors call, Susannah resigns herself to the only option available:  becoming a mail-order bride.  Agreeing to marry her pastor's brother, Jesse, Susannah leaves the only home she's ever known for the untamed frontier of the Dakota Territory.
     Her new husband is more loving and patient with her than she believes she deserves.  Still, there is also a wildness to him that mirrors the wilderness surrounding them.  And Susannah finds herself constantly on edge.  But Jesse's confidence in her - and his faith in God's perfect plan - slowly begin to chip away at the wall she hides behind.
     When she miscarries in the brutal Dakota winder, Susannah's fledgling faith in herself and in God begins to crumble.  Still, Jesse's love is unwavering.  Just when it seems like winter will never end, Susannah finally sees the first tentative evidence of spring.  And with it, the realization that more than the landscape has changed.
     She looks to the future with a renewed heart.  Yet, in her wildest dreams, she couldn't predict all that awaits her.

REVIEW:  I love how Susannah becomes a stronger person as she learns to trust Jesse and God more.  Having learned veterinary skills from her father, she is a big help to Jesse and the people in their small community when problems arise with their livestock which, in turn, helps her confidence build.  When Jesse leaves to find work after they lose their crop to grasshoppers, Susannah is again forced to stand on her own, trust God with her future and husband, and exert herself when forced to make some difficult decisions.  This is an awesome book!!

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

Catherine Richmond was focused on her career as an occupational therapist until a special song planted a story idea in her mind.  That idea would ultimately become Spring for Susannah, her first novel.  She is also a founder and moderator of Nebraska Novelists critique group and lives in Nebraska with her husband.  This book is her literary debut.

A Reluctant Queen - The Love Story of Esther - Book Review

SUMMARY:  You've read it as a biblical tale of courage.  Experience it anew as a heart-stirring love story.

She was a simple girl faced with an impossible choice.

He was a magnificent king with a lonely heart.

Their love was the divine surprise that changed the course of history.

     The beloved story of Esther springs to fresh life in this inspired novel that vibrates with mystery, intrigue and romance.

REVIEW:  This is not your typical story of Esther.  The author is writing this strictly as a love story and does not stay true to all the information found in the bible.  She takes liberty with history also (she says historically, there was no kind called Ahasuerus.  Xerxes took the Persian throne after Darius, which is about the time the original story was written.)  While it can be distracting, especially if you are as familiar with this story and have studied it as often as I had, it does what it is meant to do:  tell a story of love between two people and how God works through human beings to accomplish His will.
      This was a good book.  I enjoyed the change with the story and loved how the two main characters fall in love, in spite of all their differences.  The author weaves a wonderful tale and doesn't forget what God can accomplish through us if we are willing.

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

Joan Wolf was born in New York City but has lived most of her adult life in Connecticut with her husband, two children, and numerous pets.  She's the author of The Road to Avalon lauded as "historical fiction at its finest" by Publishers Weekly.

The Fine Art of Insincerity Book Review

SUMMARY:  Three Southern sisters with nine marriages among them - and more looming on the horizon - travel to St. Simons Island to empty their late grandmother's house.  Ginger, the eldest, wonders if she's the only one who hasn't inherited what their family calls "the Grandma Gene" - the tendency to enjoy the casualness of courtship more than the intimacy of marriage.  Could it be that her sisters are fated to serially marry, just like their seven-times-wed grandmother, Lillian Irene Harper Winslow Goldstein Carey James Bobrinski Gordon George?
     Marital frustrations collide with poignant memories when the sisters gather to close up Grandma's treasured beach house for the last time.  One sister faces her husband's infidelity, one plots the end of her life in pursuit of love, and one toys with the idea of leaving her loving but dull husband as the task at hand reminds them of their grandmother's love and life lessons.  This "girls only" weekend forced them to finally unpack their family baggage, examine their relationship DNA, and discover the true legacy their much-marrying grandmother left behind.

REVIEW:  This story was written in all three sisters' points of view.  It was very well written and not at all confusing.  I love being able to "see inside" each of the main characters and understand what they are thinking and why they say and do what they do.  While the sisters work together to clean out their grandmother's house, they come across items left behind that speak to each of them.  These things help the sisters work on solving their problems in their relationships with their husbands, themselves and each other.  This was a great book and was very hard to put down.

This book was provided by Glass Road Public Relations for review without compensation.

With nearly 4 million copies of her books sold worldwide, ANGELA ELWELL HUNT is the bestselling author of more than one hundred books, including The Tale of Three Trees, Don't Bet Against Me!, The Note, and The Nativity Story.  Hunt is one of the most sought-after collaborators in the publishing industry.  Her nonfiction book Don't Bet Against Me!, written with Deanna Favre, spent several weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.  Angela's novel The Note was filmed as a Hallmark Channel's Christmas movie for 2007 and proved to be the highest rated television movie in the channel's history.  She often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writer's conferences.  She and her husband make their home in Florida.

Holy Guacamole Book Review

SUMMARY:  Nestled along San Diego's coast, the former romantic getaway of the silver screen's most notorious lovers is now the sizzling hacienda of Bonnie Miller's culinary boot camp.  "If you are what you eat, make it hot, spicy, and irresistible," is her motto, and this queen of Southwestern cuisine enjoys quite a savory life: success, fame, and a reputation for the finest palate west of Barcelona.  That is, until a pot-rattling bang causes Trace Domingo, a washed-up sports writer, to crash into her life.  His arrival turns up the heat at the culinary boot camp as Bonnie discovers in life's recipe book, it is not the spices which add the most flavor, but how truly hungry you are.

REVIEW:  This book was not as enjoyable as I thought it would/should be.  It was difficult to follow along at times.  Some of the events that happened seems way out there.  The time line was also hard to follow.  Even though Bonnie says "it is not the spices which add the most flavor, but how truly hungry you are," I wondered how she knew this because she was a self-proclaimed food snob.  Even when she was really hungry during some events that happened in Mexico, she still turned her nose up at the food that was offered.  Trace and a few other characters did add some spice to the book with their outlook on life but I felt the book was still lacking.

This book was provided by Glass Road Public Relations for review without compensation.

Dan and Denise Harmer enjoy living in Southern California's "Avocado Capital of the World" where they maintain a laid-back lifestyle as they run a cabinet shop, raise four children, and tend a small ranch.  Okay, maybe it does get a little hectic.  A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book go to support the ministry of Outside the Bowl.

Leaving Book Review

SUMMARY:  The Bailey Flanigan Series begins with Bailey leaving Bloomington for the adventure of a lifetime.  She has won an audition for the ensemble of a Broadway musical in New York City.  She's determined to take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity, but is she really ready to leave family and friends for the loneliness of the city?  And what of Cody Coleman?  His disappearance has Bailey worried about their future and praying that their love can survive.
     In order to be closer to his mother in jail, Cody takes a coaching job in a small community outside Indianapolis.  New friends, distance, and circumstances expose cracks in his relationship with Bailey Flanigan.
     Love, loneliness, big opportunities, and even bigger decisions highlight the first book in the new Bailey Flanigan Series that features members of the popular Baxter family and finally completes the Bailey/Cody story.

REVIEW:  When I first started this book, I was really confused.  It started with a "Baxter Family Newsletter" from the fictional Baxter family (apparently well-known to Mrs. Kingsbury's readers) that was included in my review copy.  Having never read any other books by this author, I didn't know what to do with the seemingly important information.  Adding to my confusion, as I read the book, Bailey's character is the main focus and the Baxter family doesn't make an appearance until much later.  About halfway through the book, though, my confusion dissipated.
     That said, the book is really good.  I was drawn into the characters and the story.  The book can stand on its own but I think it would be helpful to read the other stories, too.  Mrs. Kingsbury does a great job filling in the background and backstory gaps for those who may not be familiar with them or may have forgotten some of the details.  I would have liked more information on the movie of Brandon Paul's that was shelved, but that is just my personal preference.
     Leaving is the first book in the four part Bailey Flanigan series.  I highly recommend this book and can't wait for the rest of the series to come out.

This book was provided by Zondervan Publishers for review without compensation.

New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury is America's favorite inspirational novelist, with over 15 million books in print.  Her Life-Changing Fiction (tm) has produced multiple bestsellers, including Take One, Between Sundays, Even Now, One Tuesday Morning, Beyond Tuesday Morning, and Ever After, which was named the 2007 Christian Book of the Year.  An award-winning author and newly published songwriter, Karen has several movies optioned for production, and her novel Like Dandelion Dust was made into a major motion picture and is now available on DVD.  Karen is also a nationally known speaker with several women's groups.  She lives in Washington with her husband, Don, and their six children, three of whom were adopted from Haiti.
     You can find out more about Karen, her books and her appearance schedule at www.KarenKingsbury.com.

Blood Covenant Book Review

SUMMARY:  The struggle for survival deep in the heart of Africa.
     When fighting erupts between government forces and renegade Ghost Soldiers deep within the Republic of Dhambizao, thousands are forced to leave their homes.  Dr. Paige Ryan, who works with Volunteers of Hope International, is sent to lead a team to set up a refugee transit site - where the immediate needs for shelter, water, sanitation, and food are critical.  Nick Gilbert, a bush pilot for compassion Air, joins the team to help fly supplies in and out of the area.
     With the refugee camp already experiencing overcrowding, raids, and uprisings, a group of American mountain climbers is attacked by the Ghost Soldiers.  Paige's medical team responds immediately, rescuing survivors and taking them into the camp.  When it's discovered that one of the trekkers is carrying an infectious disease, the harrowing conditions of the camp are forgotten.
     In desperate need of vaccines and with the Ghost Soldiers blocking the only road out until their demands for amnesty are met, it won't be long before the disease is out of control . . . and there is nowhere to run.

REVIEW:  This is a really good book!!  Even though the prologue doesn't fit into the book until almost the end, the story flows seamlessly.  Paige is someone I could easily identify with.  Wanting to help the refugees but overwhelmed with all they were facing made Paige feel helpless and wanting to give up.  Nick helps her see beyond the impossibility of meeting all their needs and focusing on what she can do to help them.  This is something we all need to remember.  The story does take some interesting twists and turns but they kept the story real and alive.  I would highly recommend this book!

This book was provided by Zondervan for review without compensation.

Award-winning author LISA HARRIS has been writing both fiction and nonfiction since 2000 and has more than fifteen novels and novellas in print.  She currently lives with her family in Mozambique, where they work as missionaries.  Visit her website at www.lisaharriswrites.com and her blog at www.myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com.