Miles from Where We Started Review

Miles from Where We Started by Cynthia Ruchti is a book I loved! I love road trips and camping! I enjoy meeting new people and seeing new sights. This book takes you on a road trip, but you travel through a whole range of situations involving a troubled marriage and a foster child with a big personality.  A trip like this one comes with many adjustments and so does marriage. Add in a child who has his own difficulties and you have extra challenges, but also humor, real life, and another perspective. So much of life is revealed as they travel down the road, through their own memories, and even into the future. They see more than they planned on and learn lessons they didn’t know they needed. There is so much wisdom woven into their journey as they meet others who share with them. They learn they need people, each other, just as the slogan for their camper is, “Just add humans.” I loved this story, the people, the hope, and the restoration within it. I will share it and I will read it again.

A Sparkle of Silver Review

A Sparkle of Silver by Liz Johnson stirred up emotions in me by bringing up memories of caring for my elderly parents and grandparents. Millie, as her grandmother’s caretaker, has lots of decisions to make to care for her, but not lots of money. Millie has to work hard to make ends meet and they don’t always. So when a chance comes along to look for a fortune, she has to do it. And she has to enlist help. Will the help prove trustworthy? Will their relationship turn to friendship? Or more? Or will their pasts interfere with it all?

This book delivers a touching story of love between the generations, mystery, history, and romance. It has much to say about trust and forgiveness, too. How the lives of the characters are all intertwined is so intriguing. This is a great read and I can’t wait for more in this series.

Review of The Daniel Generation

I have heard Jolene Erlacher speak before and so was excited to read this book. It is engaging and relevant to those in ministry, but also to anyone trying to relate to young people. I found it to be a resource for growth for myself, too. I urge you to get a copy for yourself.

The Daniel Generation is a book that all church leaders and anyone working with young adults should read. It will teach how to engage the next generation and help them be like Daniel was as he served in an ungodly culture. It has practical suggestions and Biblical principles to guide you in standing for your Christian values in a constantly changing culture., Besides helping you to teach these principles, they will guide you to growth as well. This book puts the emphasis on the remnant rather than on success in numbers. It emphasizes the relevance of God’s Word and the reliance on the Holy Spirit. It is well-written and to the point. This is a great resource and one I plan to give to others, as well as read again for myself.

Do Grandparents Have Favorites?

Do Grandparents Have Favorites?

Of course, grandparents have favorites. Let’s get real. We all like some people or some things more than others. Grandparents are human. There is a connection with some grandchildren more than others. Lots of things can affect this. You may have access to some children more than others. A closer proximity may bring closer bonds. You may share something specific with some of your grandchildren, like a love for books or a hobby or activity. Those things may make you grow closer. Sometimes a certain personality of a child draws you closer or may push you apart. A certain child may have a special love for you and that will make you have a more intimate connection.

Some children may not seem to like you as well as other people so your relationship will not be as close. Some children have mannerisms or behaviors that may be distasteful to you, and it changes the relationship or minimizes it a bit. It doesn’t mean you don’t love the child. We love all our grandchildren. It just means a different relationship with them.

My grandparents had over 30 grandchildren. They didn’t know all of us well. We were all different ages from different places and spent varying amounts of time with them at different stages of their lives. My parents had 10 grandchildren of different ages, too. They were much more elderly and facing health challenges when my youngest was born. They were different grandparents to her than to their oldest grandchildren.

It’s not wrong to feel a special connection to some of them. It is a gift. Anytime you can connect well with a young person is a blessing. Both they and you need it. It is a good thing.

But if in having favorites, you play favorites, you may hurt someone. My dad loved all his grandchildren, but he had a special place in his heart for his oldest grandsons. He sometimes bought them more than his other grandchildren. That was obvious favoritism and my children were sometimes bothered by it. Or I was. I try not to show favoritism. I want them ALL to believe they are my favorites. They are all loved by me and I want them to know they are all special to me.

My oldest granddaughter always wants me to proclaim her my favorite. She tries every time I am with her.  I tell her she is my favorite oldest granddaughter. And I mean it!

Each of my grandchildren are unique with special gifts, talents and personalities. I enjoy them immensely. I try to do things for them and buy gifts uniquely for them. I want them to know I accept them and want them as part of my life.

If I have favorites, I will never tell. Some might know or think they know. Hopefully all of them at some point will think it is them!

The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear Review

I love The Daughters of the Mayflower series, and The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear is a fantastic addition. You immediately step into the story of what it was like to travel in 1794 into the frontier of western Kentucky. Travel was hazardous at best, and add to it that it was a move with all they could take with them packed on their animals. Their guide is an intriguing individual with some secrets of his own. All of these things make it a tough journey, but there is also conflict with the Indians brewing.

The story is rich in history and you feel like you are with them on their journey. But it is also a satisfying story with the depth of the characters making you feel like you know them. The conflicts and solutions are wrapped in vivid detail and real emotion. History, romance, and a good story- what's not to like?

 This is the kind of story that makes history real and alive. I would recommend it to others.

“I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.”

Review of The Patriot Bride

The Patriot Bride

Kimberly Woodhouse has written an historical novel complete with spies, romance, and historical figures like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin playing a part in it. The Revolutionary War takes on a reality that makes you feel a part of it. It makes you see what it was like to live in that time period. Besides being historical fiction, it also has romance. Could Faith end up with an unwanted suitor? Or can two spies wind up together? Will they have to sacrifice more than they thought for their country and freedom? I particularly enjoyed this story as we have just recently toured Mount Vernon and are on our way to Boston. I could imagine the places and how the stories took place. This was an excellent read and I look forward to more in this series of The Mayflower Brides.

Review- The Captured Bride

             This series of the Mayflower Brides is so fun. I love the history and the family tree. The Captured Bride is a great story.

                This story captured my interest! It was a story set in an historical period I wasn't entirely familiar with so I learned from it, too. The main character, Mercy, is a strong woman with an unusual gift that makes her the perfect person to do a job not usually offered to women. She ends up in in some dangerous situations, having to trust people she normally wouldn’t. Her story has depth and involves other layered characters you get to know. There's suspense, intrigue, and romance. The different characters lead you into a deeper story. The Native American angle to it was very interesting and led me to more understanding of their role in our early history.  I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

“I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.”

Mother's Day Gifts

Mother’s Day Gifts

                I raised 6 children and loved a few extra, too. I have 17 grandchildren. Two daughters still live at home with us. That’s a lot of people to mother and love. And on Mother’s Day, I always weigh my worth, my value, my success in life by them. My life centered around them as I raised them, homeschooled them, prayed for them, and tried to support them. I cannot look at how I spent my time without thinking of them. But God calls me His child and my worth comes from that, not what I did or did not do.

                While my head knows this, my heart gets caught up in their responses. I wait for greetings from them. I look for their calls or visits. I thrill at their gifts, not because I want gifts, but because then I know they remembered me.

                Not all of my children have a relationship with me. Not all of them want to come home and spend time with me. That hurts, especially on Mother’s Day. My dreams of a big, loving family didn’t come true. We don’t always get what we want.

                But sometimes we get infinitely more than we hoped for. I have 2 daughters I never expected to have, born late to me at age 35 and 44! They are gifts to us, proof of God’s love, grace, and mercy. They bring me joy every day. Also, my husband loves me well. He strives to show me love in so many ways. Mother’s Day always means breakfast in my corncrib gazebo that he built for me. He has a fire in my chiminea, tea made, fruit cut up, and a gift for me. Every single Mother’s Day! We go to church together and are blessed to sit with 3 of my grandchildren. Sunday school provided flowers for the students to give to their mothers, so my youngest daughter brought me one. But then my granddaughter brought me hers. I was so blessed. After church, we had planned on lunch out and had a wonderful buffet. We stopped to buy some gardening supplies, too.

                But before we went in to eat, my husband and daughters gave me an envelope. It had a bow on it and they said, “This gift is given to you because we all believe in you. We have faith in you.” I was almost afraid to open it. When I did, I saw that they had registered me for a writer’s retreat. I am not a writer, maybe a wannabe writer. I never found the time to finish anything. Only once did I have a magazine article published. But they wanted to give me back my dream, a dream I had given up on. They wanted me to pursue my passion if I wanted to. I was stunned. I was overwhelmed. I was intimidated. So I cried. I was so touched. Yet it scared me. Now I feel like I should be writing again. But I am not sure I can. Yet the gift of their belief in me is invaluable to me.

                I received greetings from a few of my kids, a donation in my name to a pro-life organization, and a hanging basket of flowers. We had friends over for a relaxing bonfire and food and fellowship.  It was a good day. I missed my mom and my mother-in-law. I mourned the relationships that are not good. But the gifts of Mother’s Day that I will cherish are love, hope, faith, fellowship, grace, forgiveness, and each person who expresses those things to me. These are the gifts we cherish every day, but were shown to me again in new ways on Mother’s Day.

Review of The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y'Barbo

Review of The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y'Barbo

This is the second in the series of The Daughters of the Mayflower series. Each story in the series gives us a different slice of history through the eyes of one young woman as she becomes the bride in the book. You get a piece of history mixed with romance and adventure. One of my daughters will tell you she retains more history from a story than from a boring history book. She needs characters, setting, and story to make it memorable. This series makes history real and fun!

The Pirate Bride is historical fiction, but also adventure and risk. If you love a pirate tale filled with battles and skirmishes, intrigue and romance, interesting characters, and unique settings, this book is for you. The tale takes you on a journey, not just by ship, but also the journey the characters take as they figure out who they are and what they will do with their futures. Each character has its own story and they are woven together in a way that will sometimes surprise you. The heroine is fun, and you will wish you could meet her in real life. The pirate is much more than just a pirate. Can pirates be good guys? This book is an enjoyable read and has an ending that ties up everything so you feel satisfied like after a good meal.

“I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.”

Review of The Heart Between Us by Lindsay Harrel

After reading The Heart Between Us, I felt like I had been on a journey. I felt as though I had traveled with the characters to places I had never been to before. The descriptions and experiences were so real that I felt like I had done it, too. Besides the travel, the story is a story of healing. Twin sisters who were estranged find their way back to each other in the journey. While the relationship eventually is renewed, it takes more than each has to give. They must learn to trust and hope. Romance is woven into the story as well as forgiveness and letting go of fears. Each person has to come to terms with who they are and accept the others in their lives as they are, too. Trusting in God and trusting the people they love does not come easily, but helps them heal in the ways they need to.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It is one I will share with others.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and was under no obligation to post a review.

Review of The Innkeeper's Daughter by Michelle Griep

When you read this Regency era book, you get romance and some suspense. Anytime you have a spy, you will see intrigues develop. This story gives you insight into a slice of history and makes it real to you. The characters face struggles we can’t imagine and rise above them with their faith holding them together. There are some unsavory characters that you will not like. The lines are clearly drawn between the bad guys and good guys, although there are some surprises along the way. The characters are well developed and interesting each in their own way.  The descriptions of the settings make you imagine you are there. It is well-written and will be enjoyed by anyone who likes historical fiction, especially in the Regency era.

                You will also come away feeling like persistence pays off. The main character does not give up. She holds onto her faith through all her trials. We can learn from her dependence on God and her strength in doing all she can no matter how hard.

“I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.”

The Mayflower Bride Review

The Mayflower Bride takes a slice of our history and makes it real. We often see a date or fact and just gloss over it just as a fact, not real lives lived in the midst of struggles and difficulties. In this book, you live through those things with the characters. You feel their pain and face their uncertainties with them. You see lives lost and lives changed because of their trials. Even though life was hard, faith in God remains constant for many and makes a difference in how they face each obstacle before them.

                Besides the excellent historical content, you follow a young woman through the journey and watch as she begins to fall in love. Her story will touch your heart as she faces so many new things and overcomes her fears and grief.

                I enjoyed this book immensely as I got caught up in it and became a part of it as I read it. The story kept your attention and the history in it became reality. It was an interesting read and I look forward to more in this series.

                “I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.”