Book: Summer’s Promise

About the book:
Can she leave everything she knows for love?

Summer Carson has lived near the Amish community in Paradise, Pennsylvania, all her life. Now she's following in her father's footsteps and earning her degree in agricultural science so she can continue his work helping local farmers.

In her job at the county extension office, Summer moves between the Englisch and the Amish worlds. While she sometimes finds herself speaking—and even thinking—in Pennsylvania Deitsch, the transition isn't always easy. But what has come naturally to Summer is her attraction to one of the farmers: Abram Yoder is handsome, steady, and hardworking. He's everything so many of the Englisch men she knows are not. And Summer quickly realizes that she's caught his eye as well.

Can Summer give up the comforts she's always known for a life with this Amish man? And is Abram willing to let her try?

My thoughts:
 Summer's Promise is the third book in the Harvest of Hope series by Barbara Cameron.  

I liked reading Summer and Abram’s story. Summer is working hard to finish college on top of working and helping her mother.  They are both grieving the loss of her father.  Summer also feels the burden of caring for her mother when she begins to notice her health and memory seems to be declining. She has a lot on her plate right now.  

Abram, an Amish man that lives nearby, comes along as a friend to Summer.  They both enjoy each other's friendship but don't know if they can have a relationship because they are from differing lifestyles.  

There were some things that confused me. I was not sure at first of Carl’s role and his relationship to Summer or her mother.  I was confused about his age and role. Also, I didn’t know why it suddenly said Abram had a cell phone since the Amish do not typically use them.  I couldn’t remember if I had missed it previously stating why he was allowed to have a phone.  There were parts of the book that didn't flow well in my opinion, parts felt choppy and needed to be more developed or left out.  

Overall I enjoyed the story.

I was not familliar with this author and had not read the others in this series.

I received a copy of this book from the Kregel blog tour for my honest review.  Thank you.


Have a day of blessings!
 Bethany

Book: More Than Words Can Say

I have a new book to share with you today from one of my very favorite authors of historical fiction, Karen Witemeyer.  This is the second book in the Patchwork Family series.  If you are not familiar with this author and her books I hope you will check them out.

About the book:

After fulfilling a pledge to a dying friend, Zacharias Hamilton is finally free to live life on his own terms. No family entanglements. No opportunities to disappoint those he cares about. Just the quiet bachelor existence he's always craved. Until fate snatches his freedom away once again when the baker of his favorite breakfast treat is railroaded by the city council. As hard as he tries to avoid getting involved, he can't turn a blind eye to her predicament . . . or her adorable dimples.

Abigail Kemp needs a man's name on her bakery's deed. A marriage of convenience seems the best solution . . . if it involves a man she can control. Not the stoic lumberman who oozes confidence without saying a word whenever he enters her shop. Control Zacharias Hamilton? She can't even control her pulse when around him.

When vows are spoken, Abigail's troubles should be over. Yet threats to the bakery worsen, and darker dangers hound her sister. As trust grows between Zach and Abby, she finds she wants more than his rescue. She wants his heart.

My thoughts:

Another fabulous book by Karen Witemeyer!  Zach and Abby have such an interesting relationship. They married and then went through a period of courtship.  It was sweet to see their relationship grow through the book.   It is clear they love each other even when they aren't sure. 

One of Abigail's struggles is that she doubts that her husband would find her attractive because she does not feel she has a perfect figure.  She considers her sister the "pretty one." I really liked this quote from the book and had to share it.   I recently had a similar conversation with my husband so this really spoke to me to read it in the book.

I thought parts of the book were predictable but there were several "surprises" as well. There was quite a bit of focus on the physical aspects and attraction in marriage but was all in a tasteful manner.  

And one more quote:  

I reviewed the first book in the Patchwork Family series More Than Meets the Eye here.  

Visit the author's website here and check out her other wonderful books.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review. Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!
    Bethany

Book: Whose Waves These Are

My thoughts:
I recently finished reading Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes.  I had seen this book mentioned online as a new release and the description sounded interesting.  I cannot say how much I loved this book!  The characters drew me in and the setting made me want to plan a trip to Maine.  This is a beautiful story. 

I wasn't sure if I would like the book when I started reading but I quickly fell in love with the story.  The more I read the more I loved it.  I liked how it jumped to different time periods.  This made it more interesting to me.  I felt the author did a great job tying together the characters and their pain.

I look forward to reading more books from this author, and I hope they are as beautiful as this book. I requested this one from my library.  

About the book:
In the wake of WWII, a grieving fisherman submits a poem to a local newspaper: a rallying cry for hope, purpose . . . and rocks. Send me a rock for the person you lost, and I will build something life-giving. When the poem spreads farther than he ever intended, Robert Bliss's humble words change the tide of a nation. Boxes of rocks inundate the tiny, coastal Maine town, and he sets his calloused hands to work, but the building halts when tragedy strikes.

Decades later, Annie Bliss is summoned back to Ansel-by-the-Sea when she learns her Great-Uncle Robert, the man who became her refuge during the hardest summer of her youth, is now the one in need of help. What she didn't anticipate was finding a wall of heavy boxes hiding in his home. Long-ago memories of stone ruins on a nearby island trigger her curiosity, igniting a fire in her anthropologist soul to uncover answers.

She joins forces with the handsome and mysterious harbor postman, and all her hopes of mending the decades-old chasm in her family seem to point back to the ruins. But with Robert failing fast, her search for answers battles against time, a foe as relentless as the ever-crashing waves upon the sea.  



Have a day of blessings! 
    Bethany

Book: Shiny Things

Shiny Things is by two Moms, Amanda Bacon and Anne-Renee Gumley. 


About the book:

Are you addicted to distraction? 

It’s no secret that technology is driving us to distraction. But it’s not just our smart phones and smart homes to blame for the loss of our ability to concentrate. Ask any mom. Whether it’s one phone call, one child hollering, one email about an online sale, one text from a friend, a mom’s attention is being pulled in so many directions she can barely finish a sentence, let alone carry out an entire conversation. And that doesn’t even begin to address all the other good things that might be distracting Mom. 

“The desire to see what’s going on in the world and communicate is strong, so our phones are probably the most powerful distraction we face in our days,” authors Amanda Bacon and Anne-Renee Gumley say. “We don’t want to throw away the years we have with our children, pursuing temporary pleasures and chasing worthless desires.”

With ten children between them, Bacon and Gumley teamed up to write Shiny Things as a resource for moms of children of all ages. “We do not have this down; that’s why we’re writing this book. We need this message,” the authors said. “We want change in our lives so much that we’re willing to bare our souls and carve a path we can all walk down together toward victory over distractedness.” 

New York Times bestselling author and founder of Proverbs 31 Ministries Lysa TerKeurst says, “This practical, godly wisdom will meet you right where you are while pointing you back to Jesus Himself.” 

For readers whose highest priorities are honoring God and loving their families, but sometimes need help keeping their priorities in line, Shiny Things will help them: 

• identify the threat of distractions so they can learn to live with intention
• resist the pull to be interrupted by non-essentials and focus on God and their priority people
• purpose to live free from distraction with hearts turned Godward in all they do

It’s never too late to take hold of what’s most important. Today’s a great day to start.

Amanda Bacon lives in North Carolina with her husband, Jeremy, and their eight children. She works for Proverbs 31 Ministries and loves encouraging women with biblical truth and authenticity. When she isn’t driving carpool or feeding people, you can find her writing, reading, or wandering outdoors.

Anne-Renee Gumley and her husband, Andrew, live in Alaska, with their two ministries, with time reserved for bike rides, breakfast foods, and bonfires. She loves words—especially the mom related ones.

My thoughts:
Wow what an excellent read! I will be recommending this to my Mom friends. It has really made me think about distractions in my own life.

There is much to like about this book. I like that the chapters are quick reads. Each one is about 4-5 pages which make it convenient to read in one setting. It is divided into ten parts each with four chapters each. The parts end with an overview of things to remember. I was able to read through it fairly quickly.  

We all have distractions in our lives. This book addresses those distractions and how to handle them. It is practical and easy to read. Moms will be able to relate to the stories and feelings shared in the pages of this excellent book. I appreciate the authors don’t claim to be experts on getting rid of distractions and having this mastered in their own lives. They said this book is for them too.

Here are a couple of my favorite quotes:
“But too often our goals become our gods, and their distraction becomes our way of life.”

"Sadly, sometimes we've been at this comparison game for so long that we're no longer sure what we personally like or feel or want."

Visit the book website here.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.  Thank you.  

Have a day of blessings!   
   Bethany

Book: Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday

About the book:
Most days motherhood often looks like bottomless piles of laundry; a sink full of dishes; sleepless nights; and unshowered, nonstop, endless days. If that’s all there is, then no wonder “Grumpy Mom” sometimes sneaks into your heart and home.

If you can relate, you’re in good company—Valerie Woerner gets it and has experienced Grumpy Mom more often than she’d care to admit. In Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday, Valerie shares what she’s learned so far about sending Grumpy Mom packing and embracing a joyful, intentional motherhood that is so much better than you thought possible.

As you journey with Valerie, you’ll be inspired and equipped to find energy in the most unlikely places, pursue your own dreams, be set free from mom guilt, feel content despite unfinished to-do lists, spend purposeful time with God amid the daily chaos, and discover more joyous moments of motherhood.

So, take a holiday from Grumpy Mom, and enjoy life as the mom God made you to be.


My thoughts:
This has been a book I am reading slowly.  I have caught myself several times rereading a paragraph and letting it "soak in."

I have those moments when I feel like "Grumpy Mom."  The things the author writes about are many of the same experiences or thoughts I have had myself.  She writes so readers can relate and know that she understands where you are coming from. 

As Moms we face these difficult situations on a daily basis...how do we respond in these moments? Do you know how to look for the joy in the situation?  This book will help change your perspective and challenge you if you have those days when you are "Grumpy Mom."

You can visit the author's website here.  Visit Tyndale here.

I'm glad I had a chance to review this book.  It would make a nice gift for yourself for Mother's Day!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Tyndale Blog Network for my honest review.  Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!
  Bethany

Book: Lunch Notes to our children

Do you ever put notes in your child's lunch box?  I do from time to time for Caleb. During football season the past three years I'd write a note each Thursday. One year I put a joke in his lunch box.  That was fun as I would find them and do themes sometimes for a week.  

About the book:
Between school, extra-curricular activities, work, and countless other distractions, how can we fulfill our calling to not just raise “good kids” but raise followers of Christ? The reality is, sometimes it’s not easy to figure out how to regularly speak into our kids’ lives while leaning into our relationship through the process! In fun and simple ways, using the power of words, this book equips parents to connect with their child, while sowing God’s Word into them. It includes 10 biblically-based missional values crucial to teach children; concrete illustrations for speaking encouragement; 100+ ready-made notes; and blank notes.

My thoughts:The book Lunch Notes to our Children by Nicole M. Hewitt, PhD, is a great tool for parents to encourage their children while they are at school.  Each chapter has a different topic for parents to focus on in their notes. These include "Character and integrity matter," "Never doubt you are loved," "Emulate Jesus Christ ," and "Understand God has a purpose for your life."  The titles of all of the chapters actually spell LUNCH NOTES. (Loved that little touch!) The encouragement is practical for what our kids are facing and will hopefully encourage them to know they have parents who care and are praying for them during their school days.

I liked that this book has short, to-the-point chapters without a lot of fluff. Example notes that you can copy related to each topic are shared at the end of each chapter.  This book provides a very easy yet effective way for parents to encourage their children during the school day. 

I look forward to writing these notes for my son. As the new semester has started I have started including these with his lunch box. 

Find out more here.

I was provided a copy of this book from the BookCrash Reviewers program.  

Have a day of blessings!
   Bethany