Sleigh Bells for Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad - Review

Sleigh Bells for Dry Creek

from the Dry Creek Series

by Janet Tronstad

I really liked this book although I haven't read the other 22 books in the series. I think I'll have to read all of them now. Janet starts out by grabbing your attention about what happened nine years ago, then once she tell you, she keeps your attention because it isn't true after all.

Wade and his Mother, Gracie return to town after she has spent nine years in prison for a murder she didn't commit. She confessed because she thought Wade did it, he is in shock when she shares this with him. Amy, his childhood sweetheart, overhears the confession Gracie makes to her son. Wade and Amy are still in love with each other even after not talking or seeing each other for all those years, but each is afraid to let the other know because they don't think the feelings are still mutual. When Amy overhears Gracie, she doesn't know what to believe, she knows in her heart Wade could not have done such a thing, but if his Mother thinks he could have murdered his Father, it puts doubts in her mind.

You will have to read the book to see if Wade killed his father, if Amy forgives him, and if Wade didn't commit the murder and if Amy doesn't forgive him what happens.

This book shows how far a Mother will go to protect her son, how you can change your life around and come to know God even in the worst of times. Once you let God in your life, faith will help you have patience to let the truth come out.

It is a quick read and very good, Janet did a great job.

This book was given to me by the author to review and give my honest opinion of the book.

His Steadfast Love by Golden Keyes Parsons - Review

His Steadfast Love

by Golden Keyes Parsons

I think the story was an interesting one and it showed how people that loved one another could have completely different opinions and that some were willing to look at both sides of a war. It shows how hard it can be to forgive and/or forget.

The storyline seemed to move quietly along, which I think maybe contributed to me having a difficult time staying interested. I like the story it told about two families involved in the Civil War, one from the North and one from the South and how difficult it had to be for some to choose sides and even more difficult for those who could see both sides not wanting to choose who was right, but still support their loved ones serving in opposing armies. Amanda and Kent met before the war started, then Kent and Amanda's brother Daniel went to war for opposing Armies. Will Amanda and Kent's love be strong enough to last the length of the war, and if so, will her fiance and her brother be able to forgive each other for their roll in the war?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Rose Trilogy by Beverly Lewis - Review of The Thorn, The Judgment and The Mercy

The Rose Trilogy

series by

Beverly Lewis

                                      The Thorn The JudgmentThe Mercy

I thought I'd do this review a little different, I was given The Mercy by Bethany House to give an honest review. Since it was that last book in the series, I didn't think I could do it justice unless I read the whole series so I purchased The Thorn for my Kindle and borrowed The Judgment from the public library for my Kindle. I read all three books in order and was really glad I did. Beverly has tied these three books together so well that you would miss out on so much if you don't read them all, in order. That is my opinion anyway.

Rose joined the church at a very early age even for an Amish girl, but her sister Hen (Hannah) or her best friend Nick did not. Nick is a foster son of their Bishop who is also a close family friend and neighbor. Hen married an Englischer and has one child Mattie Sue by the time she starts wanting her Plain life back, so she returns to her parents home with Mattie Sue and lives in the dawdi house. This is very upsetting to her parents because, even though her husband isn't Amish, they don't believe in divorce. Nick has never fit in with the Amish so they are all leery of him except Rose, she knows a different, much kinder Nick than the rest of the community knows.

Rose's mother Emma paralyzed from the waste down and in extreme pain most of the time due to an accident when Rose was very young and she blames herself because she didn't go with her. Pain medication disagrees with Emma, it makes her extremely ill so she goes without and suffers dearly for it. When Rose starts working for a neighbor, an Englischer, one morning a week, she discovers his secret, he has a daughter, Beth. Beth's grandfather gets ill so her father takes her to Rose's home to see if her family will care for her until he can return. Beth is the best thing to happen to Emma in a long time.

Nick and his foster brother Christian have never gotten along, it appears to me that he is jealous of Nick for some reason. The two guys go riding one day and Nick brings Christian back laying in front of him on his horse leading Christian's horse. No one believes his story about how Christian got hurt, and since he is dead, Nick leaves, going back to Philly to see if he can find his alcoholic Mother.

Rose misses Nick terribly and doesn't know what to believe, right around the time he left she becomes engaged to Silas, who is in love with someone else. Rose's dad later tells her about the talk he had with Silas's Dad, now she really thinks Silas is only marrying her to gain the family farm. She releases him from the engagement and moves on with her life. She later meets Isaac through her brother. Isaac doesn't follow the old Ordnung the way Rose does, but she continues seeing him anyway.

There is a lot more I could say, but I'm always afraid I'll give too much away. I recommend this series to anyone that likes Amish novels. Bethany House did not require that I give a positive review, just an honest review of the book.

Got my book from Bethany House Publishers today, I get to read The Mercy by Beverly Lewis and submit a review.

WINNER again! This time it's Don't Mess with Texas by Christie Craig from Frugal Plus. Thank you for hosting this giveaway! I really want to thank everyone that hosts the giveaways, it really makes my day when I can win a book. Thank you Frugal Plus!

The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund - Review

The Doctor's Lady

by Jody Hedlund

This book kind of kept me guessing throughout. Two people have such great plans to help people in undeveloped territories, but they want to go to different areas of the world and for completely different reasons. When Doctor Ernest shows up on a Sunday morning, where Priscilla is attending Church, with two young 'savages', the entire membership is frightened. After stating his plans, Dr Ernest and Priscilla find themselves headed toward the first of many arguments.

Priscilla can't have children due to a bad case of the mumps, so the family decides to keep it a secret between her, her parents and her doctor, Dr Baldwin. She decides never to marry and has turned down an engagement before deciding to do Christian missionary work in India. Dr Ernest wants to go to Oregon country and do mission work to teach Nez Perce natives better medical care and a better lifestyle. Priscilla has applied with the mission board and is awaiting permission to go, as Dr Ernest is getting things ready to go west as he waits for permission also. When Priscilla's letter arrives her Mother, not knowing the letter says that Priscilla will not be allowed to go to India because she isn't married, reads it aloud in front of the whole Church congregation. Dr Baldwin tries to convince Dr Ernest to marry Priscilla and take her with him, knowing but not telling him that the Mission Board has decided that he must also be married to do mission work in Oregon. He explains about Priscilla's medical problems, without Priscilla or her family's permission in hopes that it will convince him to marry her, but he refuses and leaves town.

Dr Ernest has found out he has to be married but can't find a wife, so he returns to Angelica, NY to beg Priscilla to marry him. After some arguing, she finally agrees to marry him as a business arrangement. The wedding takes place quickly and they are off, disliking each other, it makes for a long journey full of lots of bad luck. During their travels, Priscilla comes to love the two 'savages' but is still deathly afraid of other natives they meet along the way. You'll never guess who else they have to travel with, this even adds more intrigue to the trip.

I found the book interesting and I kept changing my mind about what was going to happen. It took lots of faith and strength to make this journey that is base on a true story. The "real" Priscilla and the other lady in their group are the first white women to cross The Continental Divide and travel to the far west.

I won this book from Overcoming Through Time and was not required to do a review.

Brides of Amish Country by Patricia Davids - Review of Katie's Redemption, The Doctor's Blessing, An Amish Christmas and The Farmer Next Door

BRIDES   OF   AMISH   COUNTRY

series by   Patricia Davids

Katie's Redemption,  The Doctor's Blessing,   An Amish Christmas, and   The Farmer Next Door

KATIE'S   REDEMPTION

Shunning normally happens only if someone has already joined the Amish Church, but Katies brother shunned her even though she hadn't joined the Church yet. Malachi told Katie when she left his home that he would only let her return was if she got down on her knees and begged forgiveness. Katie now finds herself homeless, penniless, and pregnant without ever being married. She's willing to get down on her knees and beg that forgiveness for the sake of her unborn child, the only problem is, the man on the other side of the door is not her brother Malachi, it is Elam Sutter, the man Malachi sold his home to and moved to Kansas. Katies past is not a happy one, starting from the age of four and having to sleep in a room in the barn some nights as punishment for even minor 'misbehavior', and her future doesn't look real good either. She struggles with her faith and trust of others.

 THE   DOCTOR'S   BLESSING

Amber loved her job as a nurse-midwife in Amish country and helping Dr Harold White in his office. Most of his patients are Amish. When Harold goes to visit his grandson Dr Phillip White in Hawaii, he hadn't even know he had a grandson until recently, they get into an argument the day before Harold is to return home and he ends up in the hospital for an extended period of time. Phillip puts his plans on hold and goes to take over his grandfathers practice for a couple of months until Harold can travel. Phillip doesn't know anything about the Amish or their ways and definitely doesn't believe in home deliveries, where does that leave Amber. She tries her best to convince him by explaining about the Amish, but he just doesn't think it's safe. By denying the Amish their 'choice' to deliver at home, he all but destroys his grandfather's practice. When Harold hears what's happening, he's fit to be tied and hopes he has a practice to return to when he's able.

AN   AMISH   CHRISTMAS

Anna told her sister Karen that there was a dead man in the ditch as Karen was taking her to school. They were running late and Karen, not seeing anything went on to school. On her return trip she stopped to look and sure enough there was an unconscious Englischer in the ditch. She calls for an ambulance, when he wakes up he doesn't remember anything. Karen and Anna talk their Father into letting him live in the Dowdy house until he remembers who he is. He seems to know a lot about horses but nothing else. Little did Karen know how long it would take him to regain his memory and the feelings she (who had already joined the Church) would soon have for an Englischer.

THE   FARMER   NEXT   DOOR

Adrian Lapp lost his wife and son, Faith Martin, his new neighbor, is a widow trying to adopt her nephew and raises Alpaca. Adrian is 'introduced' to the Alpaca first by Myrtle spitting on him, when he confronts his new neighbor, because of his attitude, Faith neglects to inform him that when the spittle dries you can brust it right off, BUT the smell lingers for quite some time. Not only does Myrtle spit on Adrain, but when the Bishops wife meets Myrtle for the first time she spits on her. Will she ever live it down, everyone Faith meets from then on asks her if she's the one that raises Alpaca and did on REALLY spit on the Bishops wife, then laughs. She does get to have her nephew come to live with her, but every time the social worker comes for her visit, he runs away and he's afraid to let her know that he loves his Aunt Faith, because everytime you love someone you, or they, get taken away. After running away the third time, the social worker takes him away. Faith is heartbroken but knows she has to tell them she'd rather live Amish than give her faith up to live as an Englischer, even if that's what it would take to adopt Kyle. It doesn't end there though.

I would give this series 5 stars, a definite series to read.