"A December Bride" by Denise Hunter

About the book (from the publisher): What started as a whim turned into an accidental—and very public—engagement. Can Layla and Seth keep up the façade in Chapel Springs this holiday season—for the sake of her career . . . and his heart?

"heart failure" by richard l. mabry, m.d.

About the book: When her fiancé’s dangerous secrets turn her work upside down, a beautiful doctor must choose between her own safety and the man she loves—and thought she knew.

Dr. Carrie Markham’s heart was broken by the death of her husband two years ago. Now, just as her medical practice is taking off, her fresh engagement to paralegal Adam Davidson seems almost too good to be true . . . until a drive-by shooting leaves Carrie on the floor of his car with glass falling around her.

When he confesses that Adam isn’t his real name and that he fled the witness protection program, Carrie is left with an impossible choice: should she abandon the fiancé she isn’t sure she really knows, or accept his claim of innocence and help him fight back against this faceless menace?

While Carrie struggles to decide whether to follow her heart or her head, the threats against them continue to escalate. Her life—as well as Adam’s—depends on making the right choice . . . and the clock is ticking.

My take: Full of twists and turns that kept me guessing, Heart Failure is an entertaining suspense novel. It's also a medical novel, a fact that I thought might grow tiresome. Instead, I loved reading about Carrie's medical practice and patients, and I especially enjoyed reading about the diagnosis of different health problems.

While the novel is quite entertaining, I found the suspense aspect to be a bit lacking. I never doubted that Carrie and Adam would make it through the novel largely unscathed, and even when they were in danger, I found the novel more intriguing than suspenseful. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the book, but I didn't feel it lived up to Mabry's last thrill ride of a novel, Stress Test.

My rating: 3-1/2 stars

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my review of Mabry's Stress Test.

About the author: A retired physician, Dr. Richard Mabry is the author of four critically acclaimed novels of medical suspense. His previous works have been finalists for the Carol Award and Romantic Times Reader's Choice Award, and have won the Selah Award. He is a past Vice-President of American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of the International Thriller Writers. He and his wife live in North Texas.
Learn more about Richard at http://www.rmabry.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. 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."

"broken wings" by shannon dittemore

About the book (from Goodreads): Giant angels with metal wings and visible song. A blind demon restored from the pit of darkness. And a girl who has never felt more broken.

Brielle sees the world as it really is: a place where the Celestial exists side by side with human reality. But in the aftermath of a supernatural showdown, her life begins to crumble. Her boyfriend, Jake, is keeping something from her—something important. Her overprotective father has started drinking again. He’s dating a much younger woman who makes Brielle’s skin crawl, and he’s downright hostile toward Jake. Haunting nightmares keep Brielle from sleeping, and flashes of Celestial vision keep her off kilter.

What she doesn’t know is that she’s been targeted. The Prince of Darkness himself has heard of the boy with healing in his hands and of the girl who sees through the Terrestrial Veil. When he plucks the blind demon, Damien, from the fiery chasm and sends him back to Earth with new eyes, the stage is set for a cataclysmic battle of good versus evil.

Then Brielle unearths the truth about her mother’s death and she must question everything she ever thought was true.

Brielle has no choice. She knows evil forces are converging and will soon rain their terror down upon the town of Stratus. She must master the weapons she’s been given. She must fight.

But can she fly with broken wings?

My take: I was so excited to read Broken Wings. After all, I named book one, Angel Eyes, my #2 book of 2012. The day I received it (which was back in February, I think), I opened it up and started reading. But for whatever reason, I just couldn't get into it. So I put the book down and didn't pick it up again until this week. Once again, I had trouble getting into the story. I think it's because Angel Eyes was so good—full of intrigue (who exactly are Jake and Canaan?), suspense, and action—that the slower pace of Broken Wings was a bit of a letdown.

Broken Wings is the "in between" book. The reader already understands Jake's gift and Canaan's nature, Jake and Brielle are in a good place relationally, and the only real conflict throughout most of the book comes as a result of Brielle's father's drinking. But the book also sets up what is sure to be an epic showdown between good and evil in the final book of the trilogy, Dark Halo, and the action really ramps up near the end of the book.

Don't get me wrong, Broken Wings is a good book. Written well with an interesting plot, it's better than much of what's out there. I hope that once I've read Dark Halo, I'll see exactly how it fits in and just how good it is. But taken now, it just didn't quite live up to my (admittedly high) expectations.

My rating: 4 stars

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Buy the book.
Read my review of Dittemore's Angel Eyes.

About the author: Shannon Dittemore is the author of the Angel Eyes Trilogy. She has an overactive imagination and a passion for truth. Her lifelong journey to combine the two is responsible for a stint at Portland Bible College, performances with local theater companies, and a focus on youth and young adult ministry. When she isn’t writing, she spends her days with her husband, Matt, imagining things unseen and chasing their two children around their home in Northern California.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. 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."

"darkness rising" by lis wiehl with pete nelson

About the book (from the publisher): The evil in East Salem is no longer content to hide in the shadows. The stakes—and the darkness—are rising.

Dani Harris thought there wasn’t much left that could surprise her after serving as a forensic psychiatrist in East Salem. And Tommy Gunderson has faced few challenges in his life that he couldn’t overcome by either physical strength or his celebrity status.

But as they race to uncover what’s really happening behind the high walls of St. Adrian’s Academy, it becomes clear that supernatural forces have been at work here for generations. And now their focus is on making sure Dani and Tommy don’t interfere.

When the unseen becomes seen, faith is the only weapon strong enough to fight in a battle involving not just murder and betrayal—but angels and demons.

My take: Darkness Rising is the sequel to Waking Hours ... and yes, you really do need to read Waking Hours first! Both books are incredibly quick, captivating reads, but Darkness Rising really kicked things up a notch. Waking Hours really just laid the groundwork for the battles to come, and Darkness Rising kicks off with a bang and continues at a frenetic pace until the end.

One thing you should know: Darkness Rising doesn't just deal with the battle between good and evil, involving angels and demons, but it also depicts a Christian who is demon possessed. If you're sensitive to that type of thing (as I am...) you may want to think hard about whether you want to read it.

So in the end, I'm torn. On one hand, I loved the book while I was reading it. On the other, it left me dwelling on things that aren't healthy for me to be thinking about (and it really stuck with me). Because of the subject matter and how it affected me, I'm giving it 3-1/2 stars. But if you enjoy supernatural thrillers and aren't bothered by reading about demon possession, you'll probably really like this novel.

Read my review of Waking Hours.
Read my reviews of Wiehl's "Triple Threat" novels (these are crime novels that do not deal with the supernatural): Hand of Fate, Heart of Ice, and Eyes of Justice.

About the authors: Lis Wiehl is a New York Times best-selling author, Harvard Law School graduate, and former federal prosecutor. A popular legal analyst and commentator for the Fox News Channel, Wiehl appears onThe O'Reilly Factor and was co-host will Bill O'Reilly on the radio for seven years. 

Pete Nelson is the author of I Thought You Were Dead. He was listed in the Esquire Register of Best American Writers, the recipient of the 2003 Christopher Award, and nominated for the prestigious Edgar Award. He lives with his wife and son in Westchester, New York.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze 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."

"starring me" by krista mcgee

About the book: Kara McKormick is auditioning for the role of a lifetime as the female host of a new teen sketch comedy show. She and nine other girls will live together in Orlando throughout the audition process. What they don't know is that their character, not their acting ability, is what's being examined.

America's Next Star winner Chad Beacon will be the male host of the show. When he agrees to let his parents have the final say in who his costar will be, the network suits think he's crazy. But he knows his parents have his best interests at heart, and he trusts their judgment, so he agrees to let them make the decision before he meets any of the girls ... still, he secretly wishes his costar could be Kara, the spunky redhead he met while visiting his friend Jonathon.

My take: I really enjoyed Starring Me, which is loosely based on the biblical story of Isaac and Rebekah. It's a fun—and funny—story that teens and beyond will enjoy. Though it includes characters from McGee's previous novel First Date, Starring Me can be read without any background knowledge from that book. (I hadn't read it, and I had no trouble following the plot. But reading Starring Me made me want to go back and catch up on what I'd missed!)

Kara is a fantastic leading lady—she's funny, outgoing, caring, and flawed. Because of the nature of the book, I was fairly certain she would become a Christian by book's end, but her journey to faith was much more organic than I expected.

Chad, on the other hand, seems just a bit too perfect. He's really just a supporting character—Kara's best friend Addy (from First Date) has a much larger role than he does—so perhaps his lack of page time kept McGee from fully fleshing out his character. Still, I liked him, and I enjoyed the path the story took.

Starring Me is a book I can wholeheartedly recommend to teens—it's funny, sweet, and full of the truth. 4 stars.

About the author: Krista McGee writes for teens, teaches teens, and more often than not, acts like a teen. She and her family have lived and ministered in Texas, Costa Rica, and Spain. Their current hometown is Tampa, FL. Check out her website for FAQ's, info on her books, and her blog.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. 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."

"eyes of justice" by lis wiehl with april henry

About the book: The members of the Triple Threat Club—crime reporter Cassidy, FBI agent Nicole, and federal prosecutor Allison—have solved multiple crimes together. When one of their own is murdered, the other two must scramble to uncover the truth behind her death ... or they could be the murderer's next targets.

My take: It's hard to review this book because I don't want to give away which of the Triple Threat is murdered ... so it becomes difficult to discuss much of the plot! I guess I'll leave it at this: Eyes of Justice was my favorite of all the Triple Threat novels so far. Big things—some good, some bad—happened to each character, and, while I wish no one had to die, I am "happy" Wiehl chose to kill the character she did. Also, the addition of technology-whiz Ophelia to the team inserts a nice quirkiness into the group, and I think she'll be very fun to read about in future novels.

This is an edge-of-your-seat suspense novel, and I highly recommend it! 5 stars.

(Eyes of Justice is book four in the Triple Threat series. You could jump in here without getting lost, but to have an emotional connection with the characters, I'd recommend you read the others first. I reviewed book two, Hand of Fate, here and book three, Heart of Ice, here.)

About the authors: Lis Wiehl is a New York Times best-selling author, Harvard Law School graduate, and former federal prosecutor. A popular legal analyst and commentator for the Fox News Channel, Wiehl appears on The O'Reilly Factor and was co-host will Bill O'Reilly on the radio for seven years.

April Henry is the New York Times best-selling author of mysteries and thrillers. Her books have been short-listed for the Agatha Award, the Anthony Award, and the Oregon Book Award. April lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and daughter.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneezebook 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."

"smitten" by colleen coble, kristin billerbeck, diann hunt & denise hunter

When Smitten Lumber—the largest employer in Smitten, Vermont—closes, four friends unite to capitalize on Smitten's name and turn the town into a destination wedding location in time for hometown hero (and budding country music sensation) Sawyer Smitten's Valentine's Day wedding. Along the way, these four single friends—Natalie, Julia, Shelby, and Reese—each find their own "happily ever after."

My take: I absolutely inhaled Smitten. Each woman's story can be read in about an hour, so this book is perfect for those times when you have a little bit of free time. (Or you could stay up until 3 a.m. reading the whole thing, which is what I did!) As with any anthology, some of the stories resonated with me more than others. By far, my favorite was Hunter's "Reese," the last story. Not only did it go in a different direction than I expected based on the first three stories, but it also had the most elaborate and twisty plot. The one story that didn't really click for me was Billerbeck's "Julia." It was fine, but it didn't engage my emotions like the other three stories did. (Perhaps I'm just not destined to be a Billerbeck fan—I've heard great things about her writing, but I had this problem the only other time I read something she wrote.)

Although I didn't connect with all of the stories, I still greatly enjoyed reading Smitten. I give Smitten 4 out of 5 stars, and I absolutely recommend it to romance fans or fans of any of the authors!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze 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."

"lonestar angel" by colleen coble

Eden Larson is about to get engaged when her ex, Clay, shows up with some surprising news—they are still married, and their daughter is alive. Clay knows that their Brianna, who was kidnapped as an infant, is one of the girls staying at Bluebird Ranch in Texas, but he doesn't know which one. In order to learn the identity of their daughter, Clay and Eden go undercover as counselors at the Ranch. But the person behind Brianna’s kidnapping is watching … and  is determined to keep the Larsons from their happy ending.

Lonestar Angel is book four in Colleen Coble’s Lonestar series. While I loved the first three books, I didn’t enjoy this one as much. I had the villain pegged from the character’s first appearance, and while I didn’t figure out the character’s motivations or put together the connection to Eden and Clay, the suspense was reduced considerably by the knowledge I did have. Also, the five little girls who could be Brianna weren’t fully developed characters, and now, one day after finishing the book, I can’t even remember which one turned out to be Brianna.

Though I wasn’t fully satisfied with Lonestar Angel, it was still an entertaining read, and I’d recommend it to those who have read the other Lonestar books. I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze 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."

"there you'll find me" by jenny b. jones

In the two years since her brother Will's death, Finley Sinclair has been reeling. When she gets accepted into a study abroad program in Ireland—the same program Will participated in—Finley hopes to use Will's journal to find peace. On the flight to Ireland, she meets teen heartthrob Beckett Rush. After dismissing him as a wild playboy—just the kind of guy she doesn't need—Finley discovers that Beckett is staying at her host family's bed-and-breakfast while he films his latest movie. Though she'd rather avoid him, he can help her find all the places in her brother's journal—and maybe in the process of connecting with her brother, she'll also connect with God.

There You'll Find Me is a great teen novel that you don't need to be a teen to enjoy. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Finley is the little sister of Alex Sinclair, whose story author Jenny B. Jones told in Save the Date (a book I absolutely loved). Though this book stands alone, I gasped in surprised delight when I made the connection between the books. While There You'll Find Me is about finding love and finding God, it's also about bullying and eating disorders—two themes prevalent in today's high schools. Jones handled both with aplomb, especially the eating disorder thread. I'm sure many girls will be able to see at least a fraction of themselves—or their friends—in Finley, and I hope that reading about her journey will cause them to recognize when they need help.

There You'll Find Me is a solid, entertaining read, and I give it 4-1/2 stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze 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."

"treasuring emma" by kathleen fuller

When Emma's mother dies--two short years after Emma's father's death--Emma finds herself at odds with her sister Clara, who thinks they should turn the workshop on the family property into a yarn store. Then, suddenly, Adam--the only man Emma has ever loved--returns to Middlefield, and a visiting relative of Clara's husband Peter also shows interest in her. As Emma tries to understand her feelings and deal with her sister, she learns what it means to truly rely on God.

I've read and reviewed several other Kathleen Fuller novels, but Treasuring Emma just may be my favorite. I think it's because this book deals more with family dynamics than romance (though romance is still a major part of it). I absolutely loathed Emma's sister Clara for most of the book--she was incredibly controlling, unappreciative of her husband, and conniving--and I wondered if Fuller would be able to redeem her. She did, and the Clara-Peter story line turned out to be one of my favorites. A few characters from Fuller's "Hearts of Middlefield" series make cameo appearances in Treasuring Emma, and it was fun to check in with them again. The story ends in a way that nicely sets up a second book, and I can't wait to read it!

Who should read it? Fans of Amish books, Christian romance, or family drama.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze 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."

women of faith: initial thoughts

I had the privilege of attending the Women of Faith: Over the Top conference in Omaha last weekend. As I said prior to going, the 1998 conference I attended was one of the greatest experiences of my first 16 years of life. So I had fairly high expectations going in—and I was not disappointed! Following are some of the points that hit home to me.

Andy Andrews spoke about the butterfly effect on Friday night. He has a book of the same name, which I reviewed last year. I really enjoyed his message, which basically served as a reminder that everything I do matters. He used history to drive home his point, and he is a masterful storyteller. I (along with the rest of the audience) was captivated while he spoke.

Mandisa's concert was amazing! My mom especially noticed how she just praised the Lord with abandon. Mom wants to learn to dance like Mandisa!

Mandisa

Amy Grant just about broke my heart in her response to Katharine Everett's drama about laying down all your bags at the foot of the cross. The girl in the drama was struggling with her parents' divorce, and Amy said that her daughters were young when she left their father, and she prays every day that God finds her children like He found her. I have done my share of judging Amy in the past, and her humility and brokenness reminded me that I shouldn't, in the words of my sister, be a "Judger McJudger-pants."

Amy Grant

For me, the biggest take-away of the weekend came from Lisa Whelchel. I need to get my hands on her book, Friendship for Grown-Ups. Lisa was very candid about the fact that she has struggled to make good, close friends, and she shared some of the things she's learned as she's sought out great friendships. While I had two very close friends in high school, a best friend and a few other close friends in college, and a great friend and roommate right after college, I've struggled to make "heart friends" in recent years. (I don't know who I'm stealing that term from, but I love it!) I'm sure it has something to do with opening up and being vulnerable, which has always been hard for me. Anyway, Lisa encouraged us to let that desire for friendship bubble up inside and then act on it—I'm more used to burying those kinds of desires, so we'll see how this goes! But God knows I've been longing for a close friend, and I believe He sent me to Women of Faith just to hear Lisa speak.

My mom (right) and me before the Saturday session.
So glad I could experience Women of Faith with her!

I also connected with some people on Twitter after the event (first time I've communicated with strangers over Twitter—so yes, I know that I'm not really using it right!)—I met two women who were in my section…one was even sitting next to my mom! Maybe in the future there will be some sort of blogger meet-up at events like this. It would have been nice to have a way to connect with other bloggers while I was there. (Some of the BookSneeze bloggers did find each other—but I, with no smartphone to check Twitter, had to be content with tweeting by text, and I didn't see the tweet about the blogger picture until I got home.)

I even had one of my tweets referenced on stage: Looking forward to @womenoffaith tomorrow and Saturday. Great way to spend my 30th birthday! #wofott Then Sandi Patty and Mandisa sang to all of the birthday girls in the audience!

A big thanks to BookSneeze for giving me two tickets in exchange for blogging about the event.  It was much appreciated!

celebrating my 30th

What should I do for my 30th birthday?

That's a question I've been contemplating for a while now ... and the day is rapidly approaching! Well, I now know what I'll be doing--first, I'll spend the day in staff in-service (not my first choice!), and then I'll head to Omaha for Women of Faith!

I'm very excited to attend Women of Faith this year--and I'm grateful to BookSneeze for hooking me up with tickets. The last Women of Faith conference I attended was in 1998 when I was still in high school. I went with my mom and a few ladies from our church, and this time I'm going with my mom again! I just reread my journal entry from right after the 1998 conference, and at the time, I said it was one of the greatest weekends ever. I'm really looking forward to another Women of Faith experience! I'll be blogging about it again after the weekend, so stay tuned! If you want to get your own tickets, you can click on the badge at the top right of the page. I'd love to see you there!

"heart of ice" by lis wiehl with april henry

Exactly a year ago, I reviewed Hand of Fate, the second book in Lis Wiehl's Triple Threat series. I really enjoyed that book, so I jumped at the opportunity to read and review book three: Heart of Ice.

Heart of Ice picks up not long after the events in Hand of Fate. The women--federal prosecutor Allison, FBI agent Nicole, and TV crime reporter Cassidy--are seeking to bring the Want Ad Killer (reminiscent of the Craigslist Killer) to justice. This case, however, doesn't have much to do with the plot. Instead, the story centers around Elizabeth, the titular Heart of Ice. She is Cassidy's trainer, and in Cassidy sees someone she can manipulate, just as she manipulates everyone she has a relationship with. What she doesn't count on is the bond between Cassidy, Allison, and Nicole, or on their penchant for solving crimes ... crimes she herself has committed.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. Because I knew from page one (actually from the book jacket description) that Elizabeth was this story's "Big Bad," instead of wondering who the killer was, I wondered how everything would come together for Elizabeth to be caught. I actually think the author's choice to let the reader in on the identity of the bad guy at the beginning allowed for the book to become more suspenseful, as I worried about certain characters' safety when they became closer to Elizabeth.

I also enjoyed the deeper looks into Allison's and Nicole's lives. Though their stories seem to move slowly, each saw significant change in their lives during this book, and I'm excited to learn what will happen to them next!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

"a cowboy's touch" by denise hunter

When 28-year-old Abigail begins having stress-related health problems, she goes to Montana to spend the summer with her great-aunt Lucy. Soon, she meets cowboy Wade Ryan and his daughter Maddy. When Wade needs a new nanny for Maddy, Abigail steps in, and sparks between Wade and Abigail begin to fly. However, both Wade's secret and Abigail's job as an investigative journalist threaten to keep them apart.

I haven't yet met a Denise Hunter book I didn't like, and A Cowboy's Touch is no different. In fact, I devoured it in an evening! Guilt and the power of forgiveness are focuses of this novel, as both Wade and Abigail must learn to forgive themselves and each other. I found myself especially identifying with Abigail, and reading about her journey caused me to examine some aspects of my own life.

Also, Denise Hunter knows how to write romance! No cheesy or sickeningly sweet prose here--just a great story written in a way that makes the reader long for the two to get over their issues and fall in love. I highly recommend this book! (And I'm anxious for book two. Do we really have to wait until 2012?)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze 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."

"an amish love" by beth wiseman, kathleen fuller, and kelly long

An Amish Love is a collection of three romance novellas set in an Amish community in Pennsylvania.

A Marriage of the Heart by Kelly Long: Abigail sees marriage to Joseph as a way to escape her disapproving father. Joseph sees marriage to Abby as an entryway into the community his family abandoned years before. After they marry, they learn what it means to truly love someone.

What the Heart Sees by Kathleen Fuller: Five years ago, a tragic accident caused Ellie to lose her sight and Christopher to lose his fiancée. When Christopher returns to Pennsylvania, he finds himself drawn to Ellie. But will the truth about the accident keep them apart?

Healing Hearts by Beth Wiseman: Naaman left his wife and family to “find himself.” When he returns home, his wife Levina has a hard time trusting him. As Naaman seeks to reconcile with his wife and his community, a mysterious man threatens to destroy the progress Namaan has made.

Of the three stories, I expected Long’s to be my favorite (I am, after all, a sucker for the “first comes marriage, then comes love” plot line) and Wiseman’s to be my least favorite. I should quit making predictions because the reverse was true! Though I enjoyed Wiseman's the most (largely due to the mystery surrounding Naaman's return), all were well-written and entertaining. I read each novella in approximately one hour … a great way to unwind after a long day! If you like Amish romance, I'm sure you'll enjoy An Amish Love.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze 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 way home" dvd review

My love for Dean Cain is well documented. So when BookSneeze offered me the chance to review his latest movie, I jumped at the chance!

Cain plays Randy Simpkins, a man whose two-year-old son Joe disappeared while he was supposed to be watching him. When those in the community learn Randy’s son is missing, they turn out in droves to help search for Joe.

I wanted to like this movie. Instead, I just feel ambivalent about it. It was fine; the acting was good, the plot featured plenty of action, and the display of community is one we don’t often see in this age of technology and privacy. But it was lacking … something. At first, I thought perhaps the problem was that I already knew the ending—it’s a true story, and it's not hard to guess what happens. But that’s not it; I’ve thoroughly enjoyed many true-story movies where I already knew the ending. In the end, all I can say is this: The Way Home is a nice, well-produced film that’s safe for the whole family. But it’s probably not a movie you’ll watch over and over again.

I received this dvd free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

"immanuel's veins" by ted dekker

Ted Dekker has done it again. In Immanuel's Veins, Dekker has turned the whole "vampire craze" on its side and woven a wonderful tale of love, lust, duty, and redemption. Once I started reading, I could barely put the book down.

Toma Nicolescu and his friend Alek have been charged with protecting the beautiful Cantemir sisters Natasha and Lucine. Though Empress Catherine the Great has commanded Toma not to fall in love with either sister, he falls for Lucine. A Russian nobleman, Vlad van Valerik, and several others who live with him soon become involved with the Cantemirs; while Toma can't put his finger on what exactly is different about them, he is wary of their sensuality and the strange pull they have on everyone they meet. As Vlad's influence on Lucine intensifies, Toma finds himself in a heartbreaking battle of good vs. evil.

You've probably guessed by now that Vlad is a vampire. As someone who is completely fed up with the Twilight craze, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying a vampire novel. The difference here is that Dekker is very clear as to which side of the good vs. evil battle the vampires fall on ... and it's not the side the "Twihards" would hope! This is a fantastic book that I highly recommend. And if you're a fan of the "Books of History Chronicles" (Black, Red, White, Green, Showdown, etc.), you'll be happy to see the connections between Immanuel's Veins and those books. (I squealed like a child when I read the words "Blood Book" and "Shataiki"!)

One note: I've read some reviews that criticize this book for being too sensual (in fact, the book has apparently been "banned" in Holland for that very reason). It's violent; it's dark; it's sensual ... but I feel it's all appropriate for the story. Should an 11-year-old read it? Probably not. But for adults, this is a wonderful story that will grip you from the beginning and take you on an amazing journey.

Thomas Nelson, the book's publisher, is giving away t-shirts connected to Immanuel's Veins. I got one (and love it!), and now I get to give one away! If you want the chance to win a shirt, simply leave a comment on this post by Friday, Sept. 17.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze 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 butterfly effect" by andy andrews

The Butterfly Effect. Besides being a ridiculous Ashton Kutcher movie, the butterfly effect is the concept that one small event (such as a butterfly flapping its wings) can change the course of the future. In his book The Butterfly Effect, Andy Andrews demonstrates how one man's actions during the Civil War changed the course of American (and world) history. Through this story and others, Andrews encourages his readers to make their lives count--to positively influence the world.

As I reflect on this book, I'm torn. On the one hand, it's a fantastic motivational book. In just over 100 partially-full pages, Andrews convinced me to reflect on the effect my actions have on others and on my--and their--future. The book is compact, attractive, and perfect for a coffee table. On the other hand, Andrews doesn't point the reader in any specific direction. I walked away from the book with the following message: "I'm important. My life matters. I should do positive things so my effect on the world is positive." And in a sense, that is true ... but it goes much deeper than that. Everything I do should be done for the glory of God; that knowledge should be a far greater influence on my life than Andrews' book. When I put the book down, I thought of the following quote, which I've since learned is credited to English missionary C.T. Studd: "Only one life, 'twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last." So I do recommend this book--it is, as I've said, quite interesting and inspiring--but remember that if you are a Christian, your main responsibility is to glorify God ... and by glorifying God, you just might change the world!

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

"sarah's garden" by kelly long

Sarah King is a reserved Amish girl who loves nothing more than spending time tending her garden. When she begins running her family's produce stand, she is apprehensive about dealing with the Englisch. Then she meets the new veterinarian, Grant Williams. As their friendship grows, Sarah emerges from her shell ... and a forbidden love begins to blossom.

Honestly, I'm torn when I reflect on this book. It is incredibly well written. Long has a way with words, and she drew me into the story. So my complaint comes from the plotline itself. I've read a lot of Amish fiction over the years--both the Beverly Lewis variety, where characters struggle with their faith, are shunned on occasion, and sometimes choose to leave the Amish church, and the more recent variety, which seems to idealize the Amish lifestyle. Out of all those books, this is the first that made me think, "Oh, please don't let that happen!" I won't spoil anything; I'll just say I didn't like how the conflict resolved.

Who should read it? Anyone who enjoys Amish romance should give it a shot ... just because I didn't like it doesn't mean you won't enjoy it.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

"a summer secret" by kathleen fuller

Mary Beth Mullet just wants to escape her annoying siblings. So, even though her parents forbade her to enter the rickety, abandoned barn near their farm, Mary Beth creates a hideout for herself inside the barn. Her twin, Johnny, soon discovers Mary Beth's secret ... and the two quickly realize they aren't the only people using the barn. When they learn who is in the barn, they are determined to help--even though that means lying to their parents.

A Summer Secret is book one in Fuller's "Mysteries of Middlefield" series, and a few of the characters from Fuller's "Hearts of Middlefield" series make an appearance, which I found enjoyable. This book is geared toward teenagers, but I would have enjoyed it most around the age of eight. The "mystery" isn't at all scary or even that mysterious. Still, it was a quick, enjoyable read (as long as I didn't get hung up on the "mystery" part of it), and I think it would be highly appropriate for preteen and teenage girls.

Who should read it? Teenagers or those who enjoyed Fuller's other books.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.