Sunday, January 27, 2013

Wishing on Willows By: Katie Ganshert

What do you do when you have suffered so much loss and pain you don’t know how to move? Robin knows how that feels, and when Jed Johnson shows up in her café after his wife has died, Robin wants to treat him to a hot egg soufflé. But, her oven won’t work. The Willow Tree café was started by Robin and her husband. When he died, it was just her and their son Caleb. Now, Ian McKay wants to tear down her business and build condos. Will she let him? Not a chance. What she doesn’t know is that he is just as stubborn and determined to pull this deal off so his family will be proud of him again as she is to hold on to her cafe. Robin is told by many people that things will work out, God will provide, but how is that possible if she loses her café? She will hold on to the end and fight everybody that stands in her way. Will she discover what God’s way is before it is too late? Can Ian talk her into selling since he has so much more at stake? Katie Ganshert does a wonderful job in Wishing on Willows, drawing you in and creating characters that you can’t wait to read more about. If you haven’t read Wildflowers from Winter you don’t have to read it first. Wishing on Willows teaches how to let go and let God. You can’t control outcomes, cancer, deaths, or developers. Even though you are overcome with loss, there is still hope. Hope in God, faith, love. Ian’s mother says that if that pain brings us to the throne of God, if it brings us to our knees before the King of Kings, there is amazing grace in that. Reading Robin’s story has given me hope that even though things don’t work out as I expected, God still loves me and is still in control. God has perfect timing, even though we may not be able to see it at first. Enjoy Katie Ganshert’s latest novel and see how Robin discovers God’s will for her life in the midst of her sorrow and confusion and how God equips Robin and Ian to move past their pain and loss to find the hope, peace, and love that God has for them.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Home for Good Jessica Keller

What an amazing book! I laughed, cried, hoped, and cheered with the wonderful characters in this debut novel by Jessica Keller. Home for Good is about Jericho Freed who left his home, his wife, and an unborn child because he was a drunk. Eight years later he approaches Ali Silver, his wife, and she takes off running, literally. Is it too late for Jericho to ask for forgiveness? Forgiveness means you grant pardon for what happened. Can Ali forgive Jericho and let him be a father to Chance and a husband to her? She’s afraid she will get hurt again if he leaves a second time, and she has Chance to think about. How will it affect him if his daddy takes off again? Ali must learn to forgive and to trust. You experience freedom in forgiveness. You’re not bitter, resentful, or angry anymore. Can Ali let all that go to have the life God wants for her? Do you need a fresh start like Ali does? You’re identity is not the makeup of past mistakes. You now have a clean slate to change your world and start over. Ali is having issues of her own out of her nonprofit business Big Sky Dreams for handicapped children. Money is missing, things are tampered with, cattle are set free and lost or killed, tires are slashed, and horses are turned loose. Who is responsible for these events? Who can Ali trust? This all started happening when Jericho came back to town. Are the events related, or is someone else behind the mayhem? Can Ali put her trust back in God, even though she feels He left her? Will she realize God has always been there, it was she who walked away from God? He’s always been right there waiting for her to turn back to Him. You will not believe the twists and turns in this story, and the perfect ending. When you let God have control, anything can happen! Come join Ali and Jericho and the other wonderful characters in this sweet, engaging story by Jessica Keller. I look forward to reading more by this author. If you love Christian Romance that portrays a deeper understanding of love, forgiveness, trust, and hope, this book is for you!

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Search and Rescue By Marianne Evans

I received this novel free from the author in exchange for a review. Search and Rescue is a wonderful book in so many ways! Jenny Foster and Ryan Douglas have similar challenges to face. They each faced them alone, not knowing God was drawing them together to be a help to each other. Blessings verses burdens. How do you perceive the trials you are going through? Do you vent in anger, whine, or get depressed, or do you thank God for what you are going through because it makes you the person that He wants you to be? Jenny and Ryan both have parents that are challenged. Jenny’s mom is bipolar and Ryan’s dad is paralyzed. All question if there is a purpose to the events in their lives. Jenny is afraid to let Ryan in her life for fear he will walk right back out. Is the risk worth the reward? Can God open her heart to the one He has for her? Sometimes you need someone with you and God knows who that person should be. Believe in God, trust in Him, and He will provide. Sometimes all it takes is a different perspective. Look at what you have, and not what you don’t have. Accept your worth, see how wonderful God has made you. Your life is a beautiful tapestry, each piece put lovingly put together by God for His child, you. Find faith, hold on to it, and draw from it to see the life you’ve been given through God’s eyes. These are lessons that Jenny must learn as she struggles daily with her faith and learns how to trust God again, Once you start this book you will not be able to put it down. The characters come to life with their real life issues and insecurities. As you read their story, you will find pieces of truth to hold onto to help you in your own life. Your faith will be kindled and your trust restored in a loving God who looks out for you. I look forward to reading much more by this author!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman

Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman is a wonderful story! I started it and couldn't put it down. The day Mariah Malone met Slade, he was there to tell her the ranch her father bought was bought with stolen money and didn't belong to her, but to him, since his father was dead. He died because her father had shot him. Mariah's father is also dead, so how can she get to the bottom and find the truth? This story is filled with acts of forgiveness and exercising faith. Can Mariah and Slade put aside their differences and find the love waiting for them? Mariah agrees to leave because she says as much as leaving hurt, confessing her father's sins hurt more. Her grandmother tells her that we've got to do right in God's sight, and the rest will fall into place. Mariah's grandmother is full of humor and wisdom. Mariah's friend Sally is the preacher's wife and a wonderful character. Once you pick up this book, you will have found friends you won't want to leave when the book ends. If you love western romances with God-experiencing lessons, you will love this book. Sometimes we have to learn to forgive ourselves and have faith in what God wants for us. Enjoy this lovely story of Slade and Mariah! I can't wait to read more by this author!

Getting It Together by Kayse Pratt

I just read Getting It Together and had to post a review. Kayse Pratt does an excellent job of explaining how to get all your important information in one place, in a Home Management System notebook that you create yourself, and makes it fun to do so. Do you have at your fingertips your children's medical records, the phone number to the local pizza place, your financial goals for this year, and when Aunt Martha's birthday is? Now you do! Pratt puts everything in a logical order with her examples for making the notebook something you want to do and keep up with and even has free printables to get you started. In your Home Management System notebook, you can use her printables the way they are, or use hers as an example and create your own. Right away I printed the spending tracker, the perpetual calendar for birthdays, anniversaries, auto maintenance log, and the account tracker. Now, instead of rewriting things from one calendar to the next year's calendar, it is all in one place and doesn't have to be rewritten each year! You will be glad you read this and you will want to get it all together! Great job, Kayse Pratt! I would enjoy reading other books by this author. She has awesome ideas that are very helpful and a straightforward, humorous manner to get you interested and keep you reading!