The Gift by Max Lucado

I've been on the run so much recently and needed a book that was uplifting and I could spread out a bit.

I'm a big Max Lucado fan.  His books are always uplifting and inspiring.  They are a great pick me up when I'm going through challenging times.  When I got this book I was at a point where a good read like this came in handy.  From the back: 

A New View on the Old Rugged Cross
 
 
Are peace, joy, and significance on your wish list?  How about redemption, forgiveness, the salvation of your soul?  Each of these descriptors bring us to the main event:  grace.  Saving grace, God’s immeasurable gift intended for all.  Regardless of accomplishments or station in life, despite sins of the past, anyone can receive the free gift of grace. 
Yet too often we take God’s incomparable gift for granted—despite the fact that God’s very Son paid for it with his body, breath, and blood. Understandably, we often find ourselves caught up in the daily routine of life, not taking time to reflect on the enormity of God’s mercy.
So here’s a suggestion:  give yourself the gift of a few moments spent in the world of God’s grace.  Read pastor Max Lucado’s unique, stirring insights into God’s role as grace-giver. Spend some time reflecting on the gift of grace, in all its magnificent meaning.  
Let grace, the gift for all people, speak to you personally through these pages.

This book is a wonderful collection of short stories that are simply delivered but have profound meaning.  I was going to read only one story a day but found myself reading many in one day.  The stories will touch your heart and satisfy your soul!  The message of God's grace and love for us came through loud and clear.  This is too beautiful of a book to hang on to.  You will want to pass it along to someone else and share the Gift!  

This book really spoke to me and I was excited to get a copy in exchange for my review.  This is another amazing read by Max Lucado and you will want to get (and pass along) your own copy! Happy Reading! 

Wake Up Mr. Rooster by Adam Lusso

I love to read.  That love has poured over into my children.  I have two.  A little boy who is 8 and a little girl who is 4.  Both children enjoy being read to so I'm always on the hunt for a good family book!

Wake Up Mr. Rooster is by a new author, Adam Lusso.  He wrote and illustrated the book.  From the back:

Small children, and in particular small boys, tend to act on their whimsy without much consideration to the things and people around them. This is the story of one morning and one sweet, innocent boy who only wants to have a bit of fun and learns a valuable lesson in treating others how you would like to be treated

Mr. Lusso's first book is full of whimsy. Reading it I was reminded of a very small boy sitting right next to me.  In fact, I'm almost wondering if he bugged my house?  The children loved the illustrations and could not stop laughing over the poor rooster.  I had to go back and read that part five times before I was allowed to move on in the story.  

I love finding newbies in the children's market.  Sometimes you get lucky and snag a real gem.  If you are looking for a fun children's book to read at bedtime or anytime pick up a copy today! Happy Reading!

Taking the Plunge an Audible Book by Angela Breidenbach

I live way out in the country so long drives are a way of life with me.  I normally plug in my favorite radio station but I decided to try something wild and crazy.  An audiobook.  What can I say, I live on the edge.

I have had an on again off again relationship with audiobooks.  I get them on occasion but often would just rather read the book for several reasons.  One is sometimes you get a reader who reminds you of a teacher that you had way back when that puts you to sleep.  Not good when you drive. Another reason is that I have children who keep a running commentary about my book selections. 

But I decided to take a chance and listen to Angela Breidenbach's book. I was glad I did! From the publisher's summary: 

Could she believe in herself when no one else did?

A progressive thinker in 1892 Montana, Delphina O'Connor believed God-given dreams for women didn't stop at marriage and children. Hers might not include a husband or family at all. So when Hugh Thomas rescues the new swimming instructor at the elegant Broadwater Natatorium from near drowning in the plunge, how can anyone believe the freedom to enjoy swimming, competition, and a healthy body is an appropriate activity for a proper lady? Hugh is about to find out status quo is the starting line for a courageous woman with a dream!

Taking the Plunge explores the real-world question: What do you do when you think differently than the world around you?

This was my first book by Angela Breidenbach. 

I really enjoyed the story overall. Ms. Breidenbach touched on a time period near and dear to my heart. Many of my family were suffragettes. Times were changing rapidly for women and we were struggling to make a place for ourselves in a man's world.

Delphina had different dreams. She didn't want to rush into marriage and a family. I loved how spirited she was from right out of the gate. We meet her as she dives into a pool to save a drowning child. Her spirited energy and fire kept me cheering her on. Hugh also becomes enamored with her. Can he convince her to give him a swimming chance?

I even enjoyed the book performer, Tristan Leder.  She was pleasant to listen to and did a pretty good job bringing the story to life.  

I plan on looking into more books by Ms. Breidenbach and may get really brave and get some of them on Audible.  Pick up your copy today!  Happy Reading!  

Sense and Sensibility An Amish Retelling of Jane Austen's Classic By Sarah Price

Spring is here!  We went from about three inches of snow to 75 degrees in a span of two days. Welcome to Virginia weather.  With the nice weather I was able to sneak outside to the front porch swing with a brand new book.

I attended an online book party and of course found a whole bunch of must reads.  This one topped my list.  I was excited to have this book arrive last week.  I started the book on a Monday and despite the many interruptions of kids, dogs, and an invisible fence person I still had it read in about three days.  I had a hard time putting it down.

Henry Detweiler dies unexpectedly, leaving his second wife and three daughters, Eleanor, Mary Ann, and Maggie, in the care of John, his oldest son from a previous marriage. John and his wife, Fanny, inherit the farm and, despite a deathbed promise to take care of their stepmother and half-sisters, John and Fanny make it obvious that Mrs. Detweiler and her daughters are not welcomed at the farm. When Edwin Fischer, Fanny’s older brother, takes notice of Eleanor and begins to court her, much to the disapproval of his sister, Fanny makes life even more difficult for the Detweiler women. 
 
In their new home, Eleanor wonders if Edwin will come calling while Mary Ann catches the attention of Christian Bechtler, an older bachelor in the church district, and John Willis, a younger man set to inherit a nearby farm. While Eleanor quietly pines for Edwin, Mary Ann does not hide her infatuation with John Willis. When the marriage proposal from John Willis does not materialize, Mary Ann is left grief-stricken and humiliated as the Amish community begins to gossip about their relationship. In the meantime, a broken-hearted Eleanor learns that Edwin is engaged to another woman.
Will admitting her affections for him result in the marriage proposal Eleanor has always desired?

I'm a Jane Austen fan.  I wondered how it would fit together with an Amish storyline.  The answer is it fit rather well.  I loved how the story unfolded and Sarah brought this together.  The story weaves biblical truth into it and the characters will have you laughing and crying.  

All of Sarah's characters were lifelike and I found myself wanting to chase Fanny off of the farm while cheering on Edwin and Eleanor and getting a little chuckle when the bishop visited some of the village gossipers in the end.  The book was a wonderful read and being a fan of the original and of Amish fiction it was great to see it all come together.  

This is a fantastic read and I'm excited to find this series.  I plan on getting the other books in the Amish Classic Series and enjoying some new classics!  So grab a copy today.  Happy Reading! 

An Amish Market

It's still winter here in Virginia.  The only problem is that mother nature socked us all at once!  So while I sat in our 14 inches of snow I was able to pull up next to the fire and catch up on some reading.  

An Amish Market features four great novellas by some terrific writers.  

Love Birds by Amy Clipston

While Ellie Lapp and her mother are still mourning the loss of her brother, Seth, Ellie starts working at one of the gift shops in town. Seth’s friend Lloyd is talented at carving wooden birds, but his father disapproves and expects him to take over the family farm someday. Ellie sees the beauty in Lloyd’s creations and insists Lloyd sell the birds in the gift shop where she works. As Ellie and Lloyd spend more time together, they begin to develop feelings for one another, but she accidentally betrays his trust. Will she lose any hope of a future with him?

A Bid for Love by Kathleen Fuller

Every week, Hannah Lynne brings her home-churned butter to the local market. And every week Ezra stops by to purchase some. Hannah Lynne knows not to read too much into it—Ezra is a confirmed bachelor and barely even glances her way, despite any hope to the contrary. But when Ezra bids an exorbitant amount to win the quilt she had her heart set on, Hannah Lynne can’t stop her heart from taking over her mind. Could Ezra finally be in the market for love?

Sweeter Than Honey by Kelly Irvin

Shattering a jar of pickled beets wasn’t the impression Isabella hoped to make on her first trip to the local Combination Store of Bee County, Texas. But as embarrassed as she was by the accident, she didn’t think it warranted the frosty reaction from the handsome manager of the store, Will Glick. As she soon learns, though, Will’s heart has been broken one too many times. And now, for some reason, Isabella finds herself determined to be the one to repair that broken heart and renew his faith in love.

Love in Store by Vannetta Chapman

Stella Schrock works at the Old Mill in Nappanee, Indiana, with new employee David Stoltzfus, a recent widower. When strange happenings begin occurring around town, it appears as if someone wants to close the mill. Stella and David have to work together to solve the mystery of what is happening at the Old Amish Mill, and in the process they might just find that God has more in store for their future than they would ever have dreamed possible.

Amy Clipston starts off the book with a bang.  I loved the story and wished it was longer!  Her characters are realistic and well developed. I felt like I had know Ellie my whole life.  I was rooting for Ellie and Lloyd from the start!  The story moves at a great pace and my only complaint was I wish it was longer.  I hate it when a great story ends.  This was a fantastic read and a great follow up from The Forgotten Recipe.  

Kathleen Fuller has the second book in the novella.  A Bid For Love was a sweet story.  I enjoyed Ezra and how he bought so much butter from Hannah Lynne that it was overflowing in his mother's house. The characters were well done and easy to identify with.  Ezra and Hannah Lynn made a fantastic couple and the story tied up nicely. 

Kelly Irvin is a writer I'm not as familiar with.  I was drawn into the story from the start. I felt Isabella's embarrassment as she dropped the jar of pickled beets on the floor.  Having moved numerous times growing up I also identified with how hard it is to fit into a new place and start over again.  I really enjoyed this short story and plan on looking into more of her books. 

The final story was by Vannetta Chapman.  It was a unique ending to this great trip to the market.  There aren't many Amish mysteries out there which makes this one stand out.  The story moves quickly and kept me guessing!  This was a fantastic way to end the book! 

Overall, the book was a wonderful read.  Each story embraces the theme of Amish shops which ties them together, but each writer brought their own styles which made the stories unique and throughly enjoyable.  Grab your copy and curl up by the fire tonight!  Happy Reading!     

Purple Moxie Review

It's hard finding time to take care of yourself in today's world.  Like most other moms, I'm a woman on the go.  From the time I get up till I go to bed.  I'm a parent to two special needs kids and am now in the process of training a service dog for them.  So as you can imagine, life is really crazy!

I heard about Purple Moxie from a friend of mine.  She also is the Moxie Lady of the month this month (more on that later).  Purple Moxie is a monthly subscription that describes itself as "a little box of gratitude".  It has various items that come in it monthly for some much needed pampering.

I was really curious and decided to go ahead and get a box!  

 My box came today.  I'm a believer in good things coming in small packages.  So I did what the website suggested.  I got in my nice comfy clothes, made a nice cup of hot tea, put the kids to bed, and got ready to open up the box!

 Can you say wowzers?!  There was a ton of stuff in that little box!  Warm and Cozy was the theme and it was definitely lived up to its name.

 Let's start with the teas.  There were two types of tea.  Chamomile and a winter spice blend.  There was also a packet of hot chocolate (not pictured because after I saw that I ditched my tea and made hot chocolate).  The bags had cute little sayings.  One was All you need is tea and warm socks.  I can't drink certain blends due to my food allergies, but the herbs used in the bags will be put to use as sachets.  I'm a multi purpose sort of gal that way!

 Now lets talk about the mug.  This is my favorite item in the box!!  I mean, seriously how cute is a mug sweater?  I also took the sweater off (for those of you who may be opposed to dressing your cups) and the mug itself has very pretty designs on it.

They also included bath salts.  With lavender.  After I'm done with this I'm going to take a nice long soak!! I'm loving the attention to details as well.  Note the little button and rick rack.

The socks are well made and will come in handy since no one likes me sticking my cold feet on them!

Also lip balms!  This is a super hot commodity in my home.  I have an 8 year old who takes them from me every chance he gets.  I have stashed these in a safe spot.  One is Tahitian Vanilla and the other is peppermint.  I tried the peppermint and it was just right!  Not overpowering at all.

The box also came with recipes to make on cold winter nights.  They looked really good and most are easily modified if you have food allergies.

So all the items were great.  But let me tell you another couple of reasons why you may want to become a Purple Moxie member.

First, every month a new woman is highlighted to be the Moxie Lady.  This woman shows courage, strength, and fortitude.  You can see Katie, this month's Moxie Lady here.  You can also take time to nominate your own Moxie Lady.  I have over 300 women in Virginia that have special needs children that I am proud to know and be a part of.  They will be hearing from me.

Another reason is that if you share a pic of you and your box with the hashtag #purplemoxiesharethelove on their Facebook page here they donate a portion to a charity for women and girls.  Awesome!!

This is a monthly subscription.  You are billed automatically.  It's $29.95 a month and to sign up the link is right here.  You can also send this as a gift to someone.  I already have a few ladies in mind for that!

So take some time and check them out.  I promise you won't be disappointed!

The Forgotten Recipe by Amy Clipston

We are finally seeing signs of fall here in the Old Dominion.  The days are crisper, shorter, and I feel the urge to stock up on books so I'm ready for the long winter months!

Being part of Amy Clipston's Bakery Bunch has been a great way to have one of my favorite authors always at hand.  I was so super excited to receive an advanced reader copy of her newest series.

The Forgotten Recipe is the first of another great new series, the Amish Heirloom Series.  

From Goodreads: Veronica Fisher knows how lucky she is to be marrying her best friend. Seth Lapp is kind, hardworking, and handsome—but most importantly, he loves Veronica.

When an accident on the job steals Seth away from her, a heartbroken Veronica is certain she will never love—or be loved—again. Yet when she discovers a batch of forgotten recipes and opens a bake stand to sell her Mammi’s raspberry pies, Veronica picks up a regular customer who gives her heart pause.

Jason Huyard was with Seth when he lost his life—a memory that haunts him still. So when he seeks out the grieving fiancée to convey his condolences, the last thing he expects—or wants—is to fall in love. Nonetheless, Jason soon finds himself visiting Veronica’s bake stand every week . . . and it’s for more than the raspberry pies.

Now, as Veronica’s heart thaws, Jason can’t bring himself to tell her he was there when Seth died. Can he ever reveal where he was on the day her life derailed? Or will his secret rob them of the second chance at love they both want? 

If you haven't guessed already, I'm a big fan of Amy Clipston and her work.  I knew this was going to be a book I enjoyed and once I pick up one of her books I manage to slip into the story.  And burn dinner.  Twice.  

The characters were so easy to connect with and well thought out.  Veronica and Jason both have so much pain over the loss of Seth.  The way they came together and how the story unfolded was natural and unhurried. Everything falls into place at just the right time.  The epilogue wraps up the story nicely and leaves a great teaser in it for the second book in the series, The Courtship Basket.  I will have a very hard time waiting for it to come out!

Amy's books keep getting better and better.  I truly love seeing how authors change and develop over time.  Amy's writing style grows stronger with each book she writes.  Fans of Amish Fiction and Amy Clipston won't be disappointed with this story.  

So curl up in your favorite chair, grab a slice of pie, and a copy of The Forgotten Recipe.  Happy Reading!