Thursday, July 19, 2012

Review: The Scent of Cherry Blossoms by Cindy Woodsmall



About the book:
 Annie Martin loves the Plain ways of her Old Order Mennonite people, like those revered by her beloved grandfather. Retreating from a contentious relationship with her mother, Annie goes to live with her Daadi Moses in Apple Ridge.
 But as spring moves into Pennsylvania and Annie spends time among the cherry trees with the handsome Aden Zook, she wishes she could forget how deeply the lines between the Old Order Amish and Old Order Mennonite are drawn.
 Can Annie and Aden find a place for their love to bloom in the midst of a brewing storm?



About the Author:
 Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times and CBA best-selling author of nine works of fiction and one work of nonfiction, whose connection with the Amish community has been featured widely in national media and throughout Christian news outlets. She lives outside of Atlanta with her family. You can read more about one of my favorite authors here .

My Review:
 It's no secret that I love Cindy Woodsmall her books pull me in like no other. And this latest book is no different. I love how all her books play off one another. I love how she gives you a hint at the end of each book on what the next one will be about. Annie is Mennonite and it is forbidden for her to marry outside her religion but she has always had a special place in her heart for Aden Zook. The only problem is Aden is Amish and by the way it is also forbidden for him to marry outside his religion. In this novel, Aden is perplexed on how he will be with the love of his life without destroying his family's livelihood. When his twin brother finally gives him the go ahead he runs to Annie's grandfather for his blessing. Even though Moses is very reluctant he gives Aden his blessing. With that Aden rushes to New York to be with his one true love only to be mildly cast aside with what he believes will their undoing. Only to be surprised at the very end.

You can also read an excerpt of the book here.

This book was provided for me for free through the Blogging for Books program.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Review: Yelling:The Cause The Casualty The Cure


This months Gabby Mom Review is on the newly released Kindle book by Lorrie Flem titled Yelling: The Cause The Casualty The Cure. This book describes me to a "T". It is really hard to admit that. I always feel bad after and spend a lot of time apologizing to my babies and a lot of time on my knees before the Lord for forgiveness and to ask for patience. A lot of my yelling usually has to do with the kids getting loud whether they are playing or fighting after I have told them to hush at least twenty times.

 Lorrie explains that there are ways to combat this thing that can over take you.

Praying is number one. God understands and would love for you to allow him to help you through this. And I know from personal experience that it works. So we MUST go to him in prayer first and foremost. And I know one thing that helps me is do NOT punish your child out of anger. So I try my best to keep my mind in check. Because I feel when we yell it is too late you have already lost it.

 Also try to keep in mind why your children may be acting up. Is it out of boredom,hunger or maybe that toddler is teething or sleepy? And I try to address those and see if the situation will change. And usually that changes things so momma doesn't go nuts and start yelling.

 Lorrie does a real good job on reminding us too rely on God when all seems hopeless. Because he is truly the only one to rid us of ultimately hurting those around us whom we adore.

 Yelling: The Cause The Casualty The Cure will be available as a FREE kindle down load on July 24th. You can go here to check that out.

 As always if you would like to learn more about Lorrie Flem and her ministry you can go to her website here.

*This product was given to me for free through the Gabby Moms Program for my honest review.*

Lorrie is hosting another Facebook Party details below.




Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Review: Touching The Sky by Tracie Peterson


  Book Summary:
 Though their first encounter is hardly auspicious, Laura Marquardt soon discovers herself drawn to the dashing Captain Brandon Reid. As an officer over the colored troops, he eagerly supports her desire to educate blacks and seek harmony in a town where the defeat of the South is a bitter reality.
 When Laura's sister marries her Confederate beau, Laura finds herself in a difficult situation after overhearing a discussion with frightening consequences. In her heart she feels she could confide in Brandon, but Laura fears to do so may endanger her sister's life. Yet as the stakes continue to rise and Brandon's motives for pursuing her come into doubt, Laura questions where to turn... and wonders if her own dreams of love may be forsaken.

About the Author:
 Tracie Peterson is an award-winning, best-selling author of over 85 books.  Having given her heart to Jesus at the young age of six, Tracie has always felt called to some form of ministry, and writing fulfills that mission field.

Tracie received her first book contract in November, 1992 and saw A Place To Belong published in February 1993 with Barbour Publishings' Heartsong Presents.  She wrote exclusively with Heartsong for the next two years, receiving their readership's vote for Favorite Author of the Year for three years in a row.

In December, 1995 she signed a contract with Bethany House Publishers to co-write a series with author Judith Pella.  Tracie now writes exclusively for Bethany House Publishers.

Throughout her writing career Tracie has found time to speak at writer's conferences where she has a special heart for new authors.  She is often joined by her husband Jim, whose background in history offers new authors insight into research.  Besides teaching at conferences, Tracie also at one time managed Barbour Publishing's Heartsong Presents book line - overseeing the production of 52 books a year.

Tracie was awarded the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for 2007 Inspirational Fiction and her books have won numerous awards for favorite books in a variety of contests.

Making her home in Montana, this Kansas native enjoys spending time with family--especially her three grandchildren--Rainy, Fox and Max.  She's active in her church as the Director of Women's Ministries, coordinates a yearly writer's retreat for published authors, and travels, as time permits, to research her books.

My Review:
 The newest book in the series Land of the Lone Star by the beloved Tracie Peterson takes place in the Texas town Corpus Christie. The time period is just after the end of the Civil War that was won by the Union army. And in this town not everyone agrees them to be the victor. So Union troops are still occupying this town to maintain some semblance of order. At the beginning of the book we find Laura the oldest of the Marquardt daughters in town on an errand for her mother. But unbeknownst to her some fellow townspeople have other plans for her that day. See the Marquardt family are Union supporters and a lot of people in this particular town don't like that about them and see them as traitors.Well just as Laura is being man-handled some troops walk up to check on her and make sure she is safe. They of course sort of scare off the men that are causing problems. And then rides up Captain Brandon Reid to make sure everything is going according to procedure and that he doesn't need to step in. When he is met with a beautiful but very sassy Laura that assures him everything is just peachy. So she runs along not the least bit impressed by the Captain.
 But all that changes when by a slight change in plan Brandon Reid attends a party that Laura's family is hosting and they start to see each other in a different light. Soon after Laura's sister; Carissa engaged to marry a former Confederate soldier, is in grave danger as everyone finds out Malcolm's true nature. And pretty soon the Marquardt sisters are fighting for their lives for a fight that is really not about them until Captain Brandon Reid steps in to save the day.

This book was a real page turner with a bit of mystery thrown in for good measure.

*This book was provided to me for free for my honest review by Bethany House Publishers.*