First Date

When 5 high school girls decide they want dates to their Christian academy's homecoming, they form the DG, a secret group to help them break into dating. As the five girls navigate going about getting dates for homecoming, they discover truths about themselves and each other, drawing them closer together as a group of friends. 

I like Melody Carlson's novels for a fun read, and this one didn't disappoint! I thought all five main characters were fun to get to know in this novel and I look forward to the next book in the series! If you are looking for a fun read, this is your book.:)

Christmas in Apple Ridge

Curl up this Winter with Christmas in Apple Ridge, A collection of three novella's about the Amish in Apple Ridge, Pennsylvania.
In The Sound of Sleigh Bells you will meet Beth, a young woman who is still suffering from the loss of her beau the year before. Weighed down with guilt, she struggles to learn how to carry on life with Henry gone. When her well meaning aunt tries to bring joy back into Beth's life, chaos ensues.
The Christmas Singing tells the story of Mattie, a young woman who thought that life couldn't get any better as she plans to marry her sweetheart. When he abruptly breaks the engagement, and her heart, Mattie must rebuild her life. Years latter, when she returns home, she finds that all might not of been how it met the eye. Will she have the courage to choose between her old beau and her new one?
The Dawn of Christmas brings Sadie home from her years on the mission field in Peru. She found joy in her independence and working for the Lord, but could it be that a new chapter has opened in her life? When she attempts to discourage the meddlers in her life, she just might open herself up to romance.
I enjoyed this collection of novella's immensely! Most of the time, I prefer a full fledged novel, since some novella's seem too short to really get to know the characters. That is not the case with this one! The stories and characters are richly portrayed. This book is perfect for the holidays!

Little Book of Great Dates

Just because you said your wedding vows, doesn't mean you should stop dating your spouse. In this nifty little handbook, Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley go through 52 different ideas for date nights with your spouse. Filled with ideas for activities and questions to stimulate conversation on your dates, this book is a nice resource to have on hand whether you have been married for a short time or for decades. Having date nights as a couple is a great way to breath fresh life into your marriage and help you re-connect with your spouse.
I thought that this book would make a nice gift for couples, since it would work well to help couples get out of the rut of every day. The nice thing is, the dates don't have to cost much. A lot of the emphasis is more on connecting through communication and focusing on your marriage. Excellent!

Sweet Mercy

Grabbing at the chance to escape the Depression, Eve Marryat's family moves back to Ohio to help out with her uncle's lodge. At first, all is as Eve remembered it from childhood, innocent and fun. When she discovers that many in the area are breaking the law of Prohibition though, she finds herself caught between doing what is right and going against those she loves.
I rather enjoyed this book, since the story flowed nicely and there were several surprises along the way! I thought that it was a neat historical novel, showing how life was like in the 1930's. This one is a must!

The Secret Keeper

Jennifer Burns has always been considered an old soul. Mocked by her siblings as being born 100 years too late, she jumps at the chance to become Amish when her pen-pal invites her to convert. But, she soon finds that the Amish community is anything but simple as she navigates a new language and culture.
This novel reminded me why Beverly Lewis is such a popular author!

Trapped

When librarian, Laura Griffith comes home to her sister missing, she quickly decides to hire Phoenix to find Darcy. Which, winds up being a good thing, since Darcy started out wanting to get away from those who love her to make a way for herself, but then she takes up with the wrong crowd and finds herself over her head. Will her sister and the team at Phoenix find her before it is too late for redemption?
Filled with tons of suspense, Trapped will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page! I loved this sequel to Vanished.

Five Days in Skye

In return for upsetting a client, Hospitality consultant Andrea Sullivan is given one last chance to redeem herself and snag the coveted position of VP. Sent to the Isle of Skye in order to get the contract for helping chef James MacDonald realize his dream of opening a hotel, Andrea just wants to get her work done and get home, so she can enjoy some of her vacation time.
As she gets to know James though, she finds that things might not be so easy as she thought. What starts out as a nuisance to Andrea might just bring the healing that her heart needs.
I thought this one was a cute, chick flick style book that wound up having more to it (in a good way!) then you originally think when you first crack it open. The characters were well written and I like that there wound up being more to the story then I thought there would be. Both Andrea and James develop nicely into characters that one can fall in love with.
Two thumbs up!