Every woman loves a good old fashioned fairy tale. The one that the price arrives, sweeps you off your feet ad pledges his undying love for you. Unfortunately for Annalisa, that only happens in fairy tales, marriage was a matter of convenience not of love, for her people. Recently immigrated German farmers still followed the unwritten rules from the old country, where women were treated like property. Having lost her husband Annalisa knew that it would not be long until her father had her married off to a perfect stranger. She had no silly notions of love and romance, until Carl enters her life and she sees a glimpse of what friendship between a man and woman could look like. Unfortunately Carl brings with him the news that Annalisa's new husband is making the journey to marry her, and that is when her fairy tale falls apart.

What a wonderful book from Jody Hedlund! I could not put this book down. I loved the historical time period that it was set in and the rich details of the German immigrants. It was such a wonderful interplay between the two main characters, as the learned to challenge the traditional thoughts on love and instead look to what the Bible says on how a marriage should look like.

I would give this book 5 stars!!! Looking forward to many more stories from this author!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group

You know how you can just tell from the cover that this is going to be a good book?
When Meg Cole returns to small town Texas to take the position left to her from her recently deceased father, Meg Cole finds herself with lots of expectations. She fully expects to ruffle some feathers as she decides what positions on the sprawling ranch she is going to keep. From her first meeting with Bo Porter her fathers Thoroughbred handler at Whispering Creek Ranch, it becomes apparent that not all of the hired hands will take kindly to losing their position at the ranch.
Becky Wade, did a wonderful job in the writing of this novel. I was instantly drawn in to the characters lives. I love the way that she described the little details drawing you into the story almost as if you were watching it unfold in person. The chemistry that she describes between the main characters and how she weaves a story that is victorious over guilt and anxiety all the while reminding us of scriptures along the way made the book particularly enjoyable.
Great job!!! I loved this book!
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group

I love to cook...so when I had the chance to review this book I was so thrilled and could not wait for it to come!

I flipped through the pages, and decided to try baking some of the recipes right away, much to my families delight. I started with the cheese stuffed bread sticks. The dough was wonderful to work with and I was surprised how quickly they came together! I also made up the Chili Cheese Dip which didn't last long around here, as everyone enjoyed it with nachos. I am looking forward to trying so many of the recipes in this collection, and with the beautiful photos it just makes it so much more tempting to try them all!

I loved the inspiring life lessons that the ladies passed on to us through the story of each of their celebrations.

I would give this cookbook 4 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of MennoMedia and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Available at your favourite bookseller from Herald Press, a publishing imprint of MennoMedia

Growing up along the beaches of southern Ontario, I have often heard tales of bootleggers and whisky smugglers along the shore. The stories take on various forms, sometimes its dark shadowed figures running through the underground tunnels from a tucked away small town bar, to the unassuming young mother going for a stroll across the border with her false bottomed baby carriage. Living in days like these I am sure the people from our own small town, not unlike the town of Ann Tatlocks Mercy, wondered just who they could trust. Sometimes things are not like they seem.

Ann Tatlocks new novel Sweet Mercy is set during a tumultuous time in our nations history, the carefree days of the roaring twenties had given way to the dirty thirties, the world seemed a little less idyllic and the childhoods of many grew short. Eve Marryat's family has seen better times, and big decisions were to be made. Not only were they to move from the big city of St. Paul where the streets were filled with gangsters and the days of prohibition had turned the city sour, but Eve's dad was returning to the very place he longed to be free from. Eve was so happy to be moving away from the cities dark side, and into the safety of the small town of Mercy and then she begins to see signs that her place of safety might just crumble.

What a wonderful book!!! I would give this novel 5 stars.

Great writing, wonderful characters and a fresh storyline.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Adventure, romance and great storytelling could sum up the review of this book. Mary Connealy has given us another wonderful read this spring. We enter into the lives of Ruthy MacNeil as she is enduring the long hard days on the wagon train, or more accurately the long days with the people that she shares the wagon with; the people who have raised her. When she is swept away in an unfortunate accident, Miss MacNeils life takes some unexpected turns.

Luke has been away from his hometown long enough for his father to be killed and his families ranch to be stolen from him. He sends word to his friends and they gather together to form a plan that will win the ranch back and set things right. The last thing Luke expects to find on the journey is Ruthy MacNeil who just might upset his plans to inflict revenge upon the man who murdered his pa.

Mary Connealy does a wonderful job of drawing you into the story. I felt instantly connected with the characters and could not wait to read the next page. I do find the action and adventure parts to be a little more detailed and drawn out than is necessary, but never the less enjoyable to read.

I would give this book 5 stars and am looking forward to reading the 2nd book of this series due to release in Sept 2013.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group

I had the most enjoyable evening the other day as I sat down with the fireplace warming me, wrapped up in a blanket a hot cup of tea to drink and an amazing book to read! It was storming outside, which was the perfect backdrop for the reading of The Icecutter's Daughter by Tracie Peterson.

I instantly could relate to Merrill Krause the main character in this novel. I loved hearing about all of the ways she lovingly took care of her family. The many meals she prepared inspired me to bake up delicious treats the next day for mine! Merrill enjoyed working with her families horses which was a sharp contrast to how the other women who lived in town spent their time. In fact, most girls her age were already married, and how exactly was a girl who spent most of her time in the kitchen or in the stable supposed to secure a husband?

Rurik Jorgenson is ready to make some changes, not content with the arranged marriage that his father laid out for him, Rurik decides to move away from the family home to go and help his ailing uncle in his furniture shop which just so happens to be Merrills home town...and so the story begins.

I loved the interplay between the characters, and the storyline and plot. I found myself not wanting to put the book down....but rather continued to read until the wee hours of the morning. I think this is my favorite book of Tracie Peterson's yet! Looking forward to the next!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group

I do not think that I have ever cried so much while reading a book. Taylor's Gift is a story of love.

Todd and Tara Storch have written the most beautiful love story, well actually the most beautiful life story. In the hours following their daughters tragic ski accident they choose the gift of life when they made the decision to choose organ donation. Reading through the pages of the book, I was drawn into the emotional spiral that both Todd and Tara share. As a mother, I have never read a book that described the pure devastation of losing a child as heart wrenching and real as this book did. I found myself looking at organ donation as a gift...and when the Storch family shared that they were comforted that Taylor's heart had not missed a beat, it struck a chord in me...something that I had never thought about. I would challenge you to read this book, it is not an easy weekend read...it will make you cry...but the life lessons I have learned will stay with me forever.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Ever wish you could have a do-over day? One mistake...if only...you could just-do-it-over...
I certainly have. As I read Regina Jennings new book Love in the Balance, I immediately could relate to Miss Lovelace, as she struggles with the choices she is making and the consequences that each choice ensues. We join Molly as she struggles to build a life for herself which in the late 1800's means that she marries well. The definition of well is the one thing that she struggles to reconcile the most. According to her parents, marrying well involves a financially secure future and yet that might mean she must give up on the love of her youth. If only she could have both...her decision on one fateful day determines the path for her future. If only she could turn back the hands of time....

I read Sixty Acres and a Bride last year and absolutely loved it! The Texas setting, the depth of characters and the beautiful storytelling left me anticipating Mrs. Jennings next book...and she sure did not disappoint! I would give 5 stars to this book!

I was given this copy for purpose of review from Bethany House Publishers, I am under no obligation to write a positive review.

I usually am a historical fiction snob...I like to learn a little bit about the culture of the different time periods that the books are set in...I particularly like to read about the fashion, rules of society...and customs that transport me to a different time and place. When asked to review Blue Moon Bay, I knew that this novel was set in present day and I was pleasantly surprised to find myself immersed in the culture of small town, Moses Lake. Having grown up in a small town myself, I found myself identifying with the secondary characters and really enjoying the interplay between them.

Heather Hampton always felt out of place, and like the school 'freak'. Her father was murdered and she is haunted by the fact that she witnessed the horrible scene. As soon as she was able she moved to the city and began her career and was feeling really settled in her big city life when her professional and personal life collide. The sale of family real estate will further her career and her mother and brother seem set on hindering the progress of the deal. Heather decides that she must return to the town she has spent most of her life trying to forget to convince her family to sell the property. Once back in town, Heathers path collides with the handsome banker, Blain Underhill, the high school football player she spent most of the past trying to forget. The swirling waters of Moses lake brings change with the wind as a sense of mystery pervades over the last few chapters. I must say the ending was very intriguing and much different than I would have guessed!

I would recommend this book, and give it 4 stars! I was given this book for purpose of review from Bethany House Publishers. I am under no obligation to give a positive review.

I love Bibles...my trusty black leather King James Version...The Message with its down to earth story like read....and then there is my NIV student Bible, with all the scribbles of sermons from youth retreats, and Bible studies, I seem to collect them...and now I have one more!

I was blessed with a copy of THE WAY, which many might remember as a hippie Bible of the 70's. It was unconventional back then with its black and white photos of real people and places, and unconventional translation. Today, with translations like The Voice and The Message the translation seems rather conventional....but the presentation remains trendy. I noticed right away the scanning ability for smart phones...I like the 'white space' around the borders...it leaves lots of room for notes and thoughts and ideas to be written. Yet the pictures of real people and places scattered through out the Bible bringing with it a sense of everyday readability.

I would recommend this Bible, especially to the teenage crowd and up. I like the way that it feels in my hands, it is easy to read and the questions or 'laments' are hard hitting, true life questions that we all find ourselves asking at one time or another....it is nice to have perspective at these moments! Thank you for providing such a wonderfully written translation.

Advanced Reader's Copy of the Bible has been provided courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Tyndale House Publishers, Inc