Review of Before and After

Before and After by Judy Christie and Lisa Wingate

Before and After does not read like Lisa Wingate’s novels, but it takes her book Before We Were Yours into the realm of reality. It is the true stories of orphans who survived the scandal that came out of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. The novel captivated its readers and made you wonder if it could be true. This book shows you it could be. It chronicles the stories of many who came through the process and how it affected them and even the next generation. Some of the stories are heart rending and others are stories of triumph and overcoming. Many who shared their stories never thought they would have a voice to tell what it was like. Many told their stories at the urging of their children.  The stories show reunions, some heartbreak, and unexpected connections that help them to heal. It is a story that should not have to have been written, or shared, but because it happened, the sharing inspires hope and restoration. If you read Before We Were Yours, this is a must read to complete the story and to answer more questions.

A Glitter of Gold by Liz Johnson Review

A Glitter of Gold by Liz Johnson

After reading this book, I wanted to start planning a trip to Savannah. The history and the descriptions captivated me. I also loved her characters in this story. Anne moves to Savannah looking to re-start her life after some bad decisions that continued to haunt her in her old home.  She finds her new identity as a tour guide telling pirate stories especially, and dresses like one, too. Yet even in a new place in a new costume, can she outrun her past and how it has defined her? Through a beach find, some historical research, and a cute guy, she finds more than she was looking for.

Sometimes we can get stuck living in the shame of the past, and it immobilizes us. We cannot enjoy the present nor look to the future. Both Anne and Carter must discover what can take them past where they are stuck. Grace becomes a real and attainable gift and changes both their futures. If you like pirates, romance, history, some mystery, and a hope-filled story, this is for you. It has so much to offer; you won’t want to miss it.

The Brides of Big Valley Review

Review of The Brides of Big Valley

The Brides of Big Valley is a set of 3 novellas written by Wanda Brunstetter, her daughter-in-law, and her granddaughter. Each story relates to each other, but has unique characteristics in that each is set in a different distinct Amish community within Big Valley. Each story ends with a bonus recipe, too. They are all romances, each with a different twist. If you like Amish fiction, this won’t disappoint you. You will learn about different groups of Amish and you will see how those differences impact the people. The stories are stories of faith, family, and love. They are truly enjoyable.

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

Review of The Express Bride by Kimberly Woodhouse

The Express Bride by Kimberly Woodhouse

The Pony Express has always fascinated me, and this book has that, as well as a young woman running the station! It would have been an unusual situation, but it worked. She has taken over after her dad dies. He leaves behind a mystery as to her identity that she must figure out. The story also includes intrigue and romance. Faith is woven throughout the story, and we see God’s redemption as it changes the characters. I enjoyed this story in The Daughters of the Mayflower series. I definitely recommend it, especially to lovers of historical fiction, but to anyone who likes a good story.

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

Review of The God Dare by Kate Battistelli

Review of The God Dare by Kate Battistelli

This book is very readable, but took me longer to read it than usual. I needed to savor it, ponder it, and feel it deeply. It challenged me to think about what God wants from me. Battistelli uses personal stories and Biblical stories to make her points. She encourages you to think through the Scriptures and restates her bullet points, as well as giving discussion questions. This would be an excellent study to do with a group. I enjoyed it for my personal study and would recommend it for either way. If you want to dig deeper and see how God wants to use you, get this book!

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

Review of The Noble Guardian

The Noble Guardian by Michelle Griep

The Noble Guardian continues the saga in Regency England. You may recognize some of her characters from her other Bow Street Runners books, yet it can stand alone as you get into the story. This story is filled with action, adventure, and intrigue. Add to that some romance, compassion for a sweet little girl, and plenty of drama. The story will captivate you and keep you reading. It’s a tale of a journey with surprises, scares, and an ending that is different from what was intended for all of them. I learned more about this time period because of the details, but it was the story and characters that kept you coming back for more!

Review of The King's Mercy

The King’s Mercy by Lori Benton

The King’s Mercy by Lori Benton is historical fiction with a depth of layers that proclaim so much truth. It takes place in the 18^th century in the South beginning on a slave plantation. It touches on indentured servitude, slavery conditions, itinerant preachers, and Indian relations. The story will captivate you and stretch you with lots of emotions. This is a story that will simmer in your heart and mind for a while and make you think. It is rich in detail and makes you feel like you are living through it with the characters. It will open your eyes to another slice of history you may not know. You will be the richer for reading this and letting it touch you with the mercy found in it.

Review of Cards of Kindness for Courageous Girls

Review of Cards of Kindness for Courageous Girls

This book calls itself shareable devotions and inspiration, and it is! Each devotional can be detached and passed on to another girl. I think this book would be great for those mentoring girls or for camp counselors that want to give something to the girls to think about.  Each page has an inspirational quote, a Bible verse, and the devotional. The devotions are topical and apply to contemporary issues the girls may be facing. Some of them are: When you are tempted to get even, when your busy life needs a pause, when you need strength, and many more. They will speak truth to a girl’s life. They are short, simple, and thought provoking. I recommend this for anyone who has young girls in their life that they want to impact with God’s Truth.

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

Review of The Inn at Hidden Run by Olivia Newport

This book is book one of the Tree of Life series Olivia Newport is a new author to me, but I will look for her books again. The story is about a young woman who wishes for a different career pathway than her family wants for her. She runs away to a place where she feels safe to make a different decision than what they want. In the midst of her anxiety, she finds strangers in the town willing to be there for her. One of them is a genealogist who researches her family to see their bigger story. Two stories are told within the book as the result, and you learn about Memphis in 1878 and the epidemic they faced then. I did not know about this significant historical event, nor how it would impact history as well as the characters in the story. Newport skillfully weaves historical fact throughout her story and introduces you to modern day conflict and historical conflict. I was intrigued by how the two stories meshed and how the historical story impacted the contemporary story. I enjoyed it and would recommend it.

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

Shadow Among Sheaves Review

Review of Shadow among the Sheaves by Naomi Stephens

I really enjoyed this book by a new author! It takes place in the 1860’s in England and retells the story of Ruth in a unique way. A widow and her Indian daughter-in-law leave India after both their husbands die. They are almost completely destitute and are not sure how they will survive. Eventually Lord Barric enters the scene, but not always in a helpful manner. The prejudices displayed and the desperateness of the widows’ situation will stir your emotions. The story has strong characters, a vivid setting, and is compelling enough to keep you reading until you are finished. This is a great story for history lovers, but with the parallels to the story of Ruth, it will make you want to reread that as well.

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

Review of The Alamo Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo

The Alamo Bride continues the saga of The Daughters of the Mayflower series. It definitely gives more of the background and history of the Alamo battle than I was aware of. The heroine is a young woman with incredible spirit, and also a love for her beloved homeland. She is feisty and can do many things. The hero is a good counterpart to her, and they have interesting interaction. Suspense, mystery, and romance are all woven into this historical adventure. It is an enjoyable read that will teach you some Texas history, too. This series is a great way to spark your interest into American history.

Review of The Forgiving Jar

The Forgiving Jar by Wanda Brunstetter was the second book in The Prayer Jars Series.  It continues the stories of two young women who end up in Amish country with an older couple who are the grandparents of one of the girls. Both girls have a past that has wounded them and both need to learn the art of forgiveness. Both of them find romance, but will their pasts get in the way? Can they learn to be friends and see each other in a positive way? Can they forgive and move forward in their lives? As the story unfolds, you get to know more about the Amish community and their way of life. You also get to see how the relationships develop and how family responds in different situations. The grandparents’ love and acceptance are seen throughout. This story will touch your heart and show you beautiful truths about love and forgiveness. I enjoyed this book and will recommend it to others.

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