Anna's Crossing

When Anna König first meets Bairn, the Scottish ship carpenter of the Charming Nancy, their encounter is anything but pleasant. Anna is on the ship only to ensure the safe arrival of her loved ones to the New World. Hardened by years of living at sea, Bairn resents toting these naïve farmers--dubbed "Peculiars" by deckhands--across the ocean. As delays, storms, illness, and diminishing provisions afflict crew and passengers alike, Bairn finds himself drawn to Anna's serene nature. For her part, Anna can't seem to stay away from the aloof carpenter, despite warnings. When an act of sacrifice leaves Anna in peril, Bairn discovers he may not have left his faith as firmly in the past as he thought. But has the revelation come too late?

My thoughts: This book is very different from a lot of the popular Amish fiction stories (and I mean that in a nice way!), since it goes back to when some of the Amish came to America to settle. Anna's story takes place in 1737, and is the story of a young woman who thinks to make the journey to America as a translator, and then return to her aging grandparents. But, as she gets to know the ship's carpenter, she discovers that God might have other plans.
I love the history in this story! I haven't read a whole lot about the first Amish settlements, so I especially enjoyed the friendly history lesson (if you don't care for history, you will still like this book, since it isn't dry at all!). I like all the characters that are woven into the story and look forward to reading the rest of the series! This book is a fun, new experience.
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Jesus, Jihad, and Peace

Is there any hope for peace in the world? Or is terror our destiny?

In our post-9/11 world, Westerners in general—and Christians in particular—remain targets of Islamic terrorism. From the White House to 10 Downing Street, radical groups like the Muslim Brotherhood are appeased and allowed to operate freely in the West.

In a world that cries out for peace, which will prevail—Jesus or Jihad?

Bible-believing Christians wonder: What does Islamic extremism mean in terms of Bible prophecy? Do today’s turbulent events have prophetic significance?

In Jesus, Jihad and Peace, Dr. Michael Youssef provides answers that are concise and biblically accurate, explaining how trends within Judaism, Christianity, and Islam fit into prophetic history. You will be filled with hope as you see God displaying His character and purpose through current global events.

My thoughts: I very much appreciated this book and the hope that it offers! Well researched, with tons of facts, this book is a wonderful wake up call to those concerned about what is going on in the Middle East. Dr. Youssef does a fabulous job of explaining some of the differences between Judaism, Islam, and Christianity and what those differences mean to us today. I think this is an excellent resource that will open ones eyes to what is going on in the world around us! I think it is important to look at the warnings that God has given us through Scripture and see how it applies to us today.
I received this book from Worthy publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Twisted Innocence

Holly Cramer’s past choices have finally caught up to her, but she never expected them to endanger her baby.

Though Holly’s stumbled through most of her adult life as a party girl, she longs to live a more stable life for her daughter. Then police show up to question her about the whereabouts of Creed Kershaw, Lily’s father. She has kept his identity a secret from friends and family—she never even told him about the pregnancy. Now he’s a person of interest in a drug-related murder case.

Determined to keep him out of their lives and turn him over to police, Holly uses her private investigating skills to search for him. But her bravado backfires when he turns the tables and takes her and the baby hostage. As desperate hours tick by, Holly realizes his connection to Leonard Miller—the man who has gunned down several members of her family. Creed claims he’s innocent and that Miller is after him too. His gentleness with Lily moves her, but she can’t trust a man who has held her at gunpoint . . . even if he reminds her so much of herself.

My thoughts: I have enjoyed the two previous books in this series,  so I was thrilled when the chance to read and review this one came up! While all the siblings in the Cramer family are likeable, in my opinion, Holly is the easiest to relate to. We may not all be party girls like her, but most of us will admit to making mistakes and not living up to the person God would have us to be. I enjoyed this last adventure with the Moonlighters, as they seek to bring Leonard Miller to justice for the crimes he has commited and from taking more victims.  Two thumbs up!
I received this book from Lit fuse in exchange for my honest review.

Take Ten

Top Ten Favorite Fictional Heroines
1. Lucy Pevenise from Narnia

Lucy has been on my list of favorites since I was a little girl.
2. Jo March from Little Women

I wanted to write stories just like her, when I was a kid.;)
3. Emma Woodhouse

Okay, yes she is spoiled and meddlesome, but her heart is in the right place! I love how her character develops as she learns to accept that she isn't always right.;)
4.Lizzy Bennet

Lizzy is just so spunky! (For some reason, I just adore that cover!)
5. Hermoine Granger

6. Lady Merry

7. Emma Smallwood

8.Elara

9. Abigail Pressman

10 Samantha Moore

Deadly Echoes

As a child, Sarah Miller lost her parents to a supposed burglary gone bad. She and her sister were left orphaned and soon lost contact with one another. Now, as an adult, they enjoy a brief reunion before Hannah dies.  Convinced there is a link to her parents and sister's death, Sarah ignores the warning signs and seks for justice.
My thoughts: I love the mysteries I have read by Nancy Mehl! She combines her mystery with peace loving Mennonite communities, which bring up some interesting questions about what their faith thinks of seeking justice and forgiving those who do evil. I love that Nancy tackles tough issues, rather than glossing over them. She does a fabulous job of bringing her characters and stories to life. I look forward to the next book in this series!
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Unveiled Wife

As a young bride, Jennifer Smith couldn’t wait to build her life with the man she adored. She dreamed of closeness, of being fully known and loved by her husband. But the first years of marriage were nothing like she’d imagined. Instead, they were marked by disappointment and pain. Trapped by fear and insecurity, and feeling totally alone, Jennifer cried out to God: What am I doing wrong? Why is this happening to us? It was as if a veil had descended between her and her husband, and between her and God—one that kept her from experiencing the fullness of love. How did Jennifer and her husband survive the painful times? What did they do when they were tempted to call it quits? How did God miraculously step in during the darkest hour to rescue and redeem them, tearing down the veil once and for all? The Unveiled Wife is a real-life love story; one couple’s refreshingly raw, transparent journey touching the deep places in a marriage that only God can reach. If you are feeling disappointment or even despair about your marriage, the heart-cry of this book is: You are not alone. Discover through Jennifer’s story how God can bring you through it all to a place of transformation.
My thoughts: I really appreciate Jennifer Smith opening up so much about the struggles she has had with her marriage and the lessons she had to learn about intimacy. As Christians, we aren't usually very open about sex and intimacy (and the difference between the two). Thankfully, there are books like this one to help equip brides and wives who haven't had the luxury of having trusted women to go to about the seemingly taboo subjects. This is a wonderful book to read, no matter how long you have been married! I think it is also a wonderful gift idea for those young women you know who are engaged. There needs to be more resources like this one!
If you would like to read more about Jennifer, check out her website
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

Heartfelt

Every woman longs for good conversation, a safe place to be vulnerable, and wisdom from women who are ahead of us on the journey. In previous generations, women lived in close-knit communities and encouraged one another in marriage, parenting, and spirituality. In today's world, we often feel isolated. Yet our God-given craving for connection remains.

In Heartfelt, Dr. Joneal Kirby shows us how to embrace the joy of emotional intimacy with other women. Her practical wisdom and personal experience, combined with dozens of real-life stories, equip us to cultivate meaningful relationships with women in all seasons of life.

You may feel you'll never move beyond the small talk of church coffee hour. You may wonder if your current friendships will ever reach a new depth. Heartfelt gives you the practical ideas and inspiration you need to change surface-level interactions into deep relationships that can change lives forever.

Includes prayers, questions for discussion and reflection, and a guide to beginning your own intergenerational small group.

My thoughts: I have often looked at the Scripture in Titus about the older women counseling the younger. I love that this book addresses that and how to make put together a group of women who can lean on one another. How opening your heart and your life to friends can make life richer. I love that there are ideas in this book on how to get started, as well as testimonies and stories of the encouragement that others have found by getting such a group together. I think this is something that can be lacking in churches, especially larger congregations where there is some segregation, due to ages and stages of life.
I received this book from Worthy in exchange for my honest review.