When Love Returns Book Review

The Zimmerman Restoration Trilogy

Book Three

SUMMARY:  Riddled with doubt and lingering regrets, will Suzanne and Paul find strength in God to explore a second chance at love?

     It wasn't easy to move back to the Old Order Mennonite community from which quiet, responsible Suzanne Zimmerman was shamefully sent away as a pregnant teen.  Since returning twenty years later to take care of her mother, Suzanne and Alexa - the daughter she raised as her own - have spent months rebuilding relationships with her family.

     Now with the upcoming wedding of their biological daughter, Suzanne and Paul find themselves drawn to one another once again - but with new challenges to face.  They have been single parents with painful pasts.  Can Paul and Suzanne find the strength to rebuild the loving relationship that was torn apart by their teen pregnancy so long ago?

     Suzanne must also let go of Alexa as she heads back to Indianapolis to visit friends, and with hopes of finding her birth parents.  Leaving the bed-and-breakfast in Suzanne's apprehensive hands, Alexa embarks on a journey that will certainly change her life completely.  Can mother and daughter trust God to restore all things in His timing?

REVIEW:  This book is about reconciliation and restoration.  Even though most of Suzanne's family has reconciled with her and her return, there are a few relationships that still need to be mended.  Through love, patience and prayer, those tears are mended completely.  Even though Alexa wants to meet her birth family, she struggles with anger over the circumstances surrounding her abandonment and directs it towards her birth mother.  I love how even though all parties in this book do what they can to facilitate and manipulate events, God's perfect timing prevails.  

     This was a wonderful book and a sweet ending to this trilogy.

This book was provided by Waterbrook Multnomah and Blogging for Books 

for review without compensation.

 

 Kim Vogel Sawyer is a best-selling, award-winning author highly acclaimed for her gentle stories of hope.  More than one million copies of her books are currently in print.  She lives in central Kansas where she and her retired military husband, Don, enjoy spoiling their granddarlings.

When Grace Sings Book Review

The Zimmerman Restoration Trilogy

Book Two

SUMMARY:  When trouble roars into quiet Arborville, Alexa and Anna-Grace find themselves the target for discord and exposed secrets.

     Alexa Zimmerman wonders if the Old Order Mennonite community in Arborville, Kansas, will ever fully accept her.  Her family roots aren't what anyone thought when she first arrived, but she is hopeful that her culinary and hospitality skills will win the skeptics over.  The bed-and-breakfast she's operating needs to succeed, so Alexa agrees to allow Briley Forrester, the hotshot reporter from Chicago, to stay as a long-term boarder, not knowing his real motives for being among the Plain folk.

     But when Alexa agrees to host her cousin Anna-Grace Braun, the presence of extended family brings out Alexa's insecurities and sets Briley on the trial to uncovering a web of hidden truths.

      Plans for a secure future and the sweetness of young romance hang n the balance when Alexa and Anna-Grace have to face the truth that their secrets are interconnected, binding the two in ways they could not have imagined.  They must trust in a loving heavenly Father and His plan for their futures.

REVIEW:  Kim Vogel Sawyer does an excellent job in these books.  You must read the first one, When Mercy Rains, to understand Alexa's insecurities, Anna-Grace's hesitancy, and the secrets that bind them together.  I love how the author does not wrap up everything by the end of the book in a nice, neat bow but leaves you anxiously waiting for the next book to see how the events will play out.  I also like how the only romance is between Anna-Grace and her fiance' Steven, though feelings between Alexa and Briley are not ignored but also not blown out of proportion.  

     The one thing that is pivotal to the storyline, but also drove me crazy, was all the secrets everyone had.  Even though it would have helped matters greatly to voice them, the characters kept everything bottled up inside, causing all kinds of misunderstandings and misinterpretations.  When Steven's secret is finally revealed, the hurt Anna-Grace felt was much greater because he did not discuss it at all with her, his betrothed. 

     This is a great series.  I can't wait for the third book to be released next year to see how everything works out.

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

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a best-selling author highly acclaimed for her gentle stories of hope.  More than one million copies of her books are currently in print and have garnered awards including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence.  Kim lives in central Kansas with her husband, Don, and their four feline companions.  She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and her grandchildren.

Through the Deep Waters Book Review

SUMMARY:  A past filled with shame can be washed away with a love that conquers all.
     Born to an unloving prostitute in a popular Chicago brothel, timid seventeen-year-old Dinah Hubley was raised amid the secrets held in every dark grimy room of her home. Anxious to escape, Dinah pursues her dream of becoming a Harvey Girl, waiting tables along the railroad in an upscale hotel.  But when she finds out she isn't old enough, her only option is to accept a job as a chambermaid at the Clifton Hotel in Florence, Kansas.  Eager to put everything behind her, Dinah feels more worthless than ever, based on a single horrible decision she made to survive.
     The Clifton offers a life Dinah has never known, but blinded to the love around her, Dinah remains buried in the shame of her past.  When a handsome chicken farmer named Amos Ackerman starts to show interest, Dinah withdraws further, convinced no one could want a sullied woman like her.  Despite his self-consciousness about his physical disability and her strange behavior, Amos resolves to show Dinah Christ's love.  But can she ever accept the gift she so desperately needs?

REVIEW:  This is a good book about how God's love can overcome anything we've done or had done to us, if we will just let Him.  Dinah's past of being unloved by her own mother and growing up surrounded by lies keeps her from being open to God and his promises.  Her roommate, Ruthie, grows up hearing God's word but still struggles with God's will for her life.  Amos also grows up with knowing about God but struggles with his love when it looks like he won't get what he has always longed for.  The author does a great job bringing the story around and showing how these characters grow in God's love and His acceptance.  I love how once Dinah's secret is revealed to her supervisor, he and those who work closely with her stand up for her and support her. 
     This is a good book but it can be hard to read at times. 

This book was provided by Blogging for Books for review without compensation.

Kim Vogel  Sawyer is a best-selling author highly acclaimed for her gentle stories of hope.  More than one million copies of her books are in print and have garnered awards, including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence.  Kim lives in Kansas, where she and her retired military husband, Don, run a bed-and-breakfast inn with the help of their four feline companions.  She enjoys spending time with her daughters and grandchildren.

Sweet Sanctuary by Kim Vogel Sawyer Book Review

SUMMARY:  Lydia Eldredge longs to provide sanctuary for her young son, Nicky.  But a constant threat comes from Nicky's drug-addicted father, who wants the boy and seems willing to do whatever it takes to get him.
     Dr. Micah Hatcher faithfully serves the immigrant population of Queens, New York.  But under cover of darkness, he has a secret mission that challenges everything he thought he wanted out of life.
     When Lydia and Micah's path's cross, they are suddenly wrapped up in each other's callings.  Together, they seek a refuge of safety - for Nicky, for themselves, and for the needy people God puts into their lives.  Amid turmoil and discord, can hope and love prevail?

REVIEW:  This is a book full of reminders that we need to step out in faith and trust that God will guide and help you.  Over and over again, Lydia and Micah are put into situations where they need to trust God for answers to very hard questions and in very difficult circumstances.  When they do, each time they are rewarded for their faith and see God work some amazing miracles. 
     One of my favorite parts is when Lydia is forced to trust God when Nicky's dad takes him.  Things look grim but God works miracles of faith and trust in more than one person's life and make all things new.  Lydia finds out that God's plans are greater than anything she could ever hope and imagine.  Another part is when Micah decides to adopt a little Jewish girl from Poland when the local rabbi is not able to adopt her out because of her light coloring.  He becomes a single dad and works hard to provide for her.
     This is an interesting read with some difficult parts but full of laughter and the miracles only God can accomplish, if we let Him. 

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

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a bestselling, award-winning author highly acclaimed for her gentle stories of hope.  She has more than one million copies of her books in print.  Kim lives in central Kansas, where she and her husband, Don, run a bed-and-breakfast and enjoy spending time with their three daughters and nine grandchildren.  To find out more about Kim and her books, please visit the sites listed below.

www.kimvogelsawyer.com

writespassage.blogspot.com

www.TheKingsInnBnB.com