Book Reviews

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Captivating and Emotional – A Story You Won’t Soon Forget!

Love's Rescue headerTitle: Love’s Rescue

Author: Christine Johnson

Publishing House/Publication Date: Revell/June, 2015

Genres: Christian Fiction; Historical Romance

Time Period: 1850 (pre-Civil War Era)

Number of Pages: 352

Series: Book #1 in the ‘Keys of Promise’ series

You should read this book if… You enjoy captivating, historically detailed stories of drama and suspense combined with unique and unusual settings – and compelling characters that steal your heart from the first chapter.   At the same time, this book will also appeal to readers who enjoy a beautiful and emotional portrayal of true love, complete with sweet and tender moments mixed with heartache. Continue reading →

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Perfect for a Summer Afternoon!

As Love Blooms imageTitle: As Love Blooms

Author: Lorna Seilstad

Publishing House/Publication Date: Revell/June, 2015

Genres: Christian Fiction; Historical Romance

Time Period: 1913 (late Progressive Era)

Number of Pages: 320

Series: Book #3 in ‘The Gregory Sisters’ series

You should read this book if… You are looking for a sweet, colorful and quick summertime story filled with quirky but lovable characters, and a compelling plot.The Gregory Sisters 1 & 2 Garden-lovers will delight in references to the stunning gardens and horticulture practices of the early 1900s, and this book is a must-read if you enjoyed the two previous titles in ‘The Gregory Sisters’ series, When Love Calls and While Love Stirs. Continue reading →

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Heartwarming and Down-to-Earth (and our first fiction review in a long time!)

The Midwife's Tale imageTitle: The Midwife’s Tale

Author: Delia Parr

Publishing House/Publication Date: Bethany House/2015

Genres: Christian Fiction; Historical Romance

Time Period: 1830 (early Victorian Era)

Number of Pages: 336

Series: Book #1 in the ‘At Home in Trinity’ series

You should read this book if… You enjoy laid-back stories that are compelling and heartwarming, while focusing on character development and growth. Equally enjoyable in this story are the many, obviously well researched facets from history, namely relating to the midwife profession of years past. Also, this novel features an older than average protagonist, perhaps increasing the appeal to a middle-age audience. Continue reading →

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Difficult to Get Through

Everyday Grace imageTitle: Everyday Grace: Infusing All Your Relationships with the Love of Jesus

Author: Jessica Thompson

Publishing House/Publication Date: Bethany House/2015

Genres: Christian Living; Inspirational Non-Fiction; Relationships

Number of Pages: 208

You should read this book if… You are searching for wisdom to strengthen the relationships in your life with God-given grace. Continue reading →

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Heartfelt and Humorous – A Book to Share

untitledTitle: Tricks My Dog Taught Me: About Life, Love, and God

Author: Phil Callaway

Publishing House/Publication Date: Harvest House/2015

Genres: Christian Living; Humor; Inspirational Non-Fiction; Animal Anecdotes

Number of Pages: 208

You should read this book if… You love to discover new ways of finding messages from God in ordinary, everyday occurrences. Although a dog in your life is not necessary to finding truth and insight from this book, your enjoyment while reading it will be multiplied tenfold if a dog of any size, breed, or color has ever been a part of your life! Continue reading →

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Showcasing the Power of Forgiveness (but for mature readers)

SampleTitle: The Heart of the Amish: Life Lessons on Peacemaking and the Power of Forgiveness

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Publishing House/Publication Date: Revell/2015

Genres: Christian Living; Amish Non-Fiction; Inspirational Non-Fiction; Devotional

Number of Pages: 192

You should read this book if… You enjoy learning about the lifestyles and value systems of the Amish and Mennonite communities – what they believe and how they portray their faith in everyday situations. In addition, Continue reading →

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Bright, Sparkling, and Uplifting!

PrintTitle: Immeasurable: A Memoir

Author: Diana Anderson-Tyler

Publishing House/Publication Date: eLecto Publishing, LLC/2015

Genres: Memoir; Devotional; Inspirational Non-Fiction

Number of Pages: 107 Continue reading →

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A Book of Intriguing Ideas for Mature Readers

Circling Back Home imageTitle: Circling Back Home: A Plainswoman’s Journey

Author: Darcy Lipp-Acord

Publishing House/Publication Date: South Dakota State Historical Society Press/2013

Genres: Biographical; Essays; Memoir; Inspirational Non-Fiction

Number of Pages: 120

You should read this book if… You enjoy reading essays, and feel a special empathy for the lifestyle of farmers and ranchers – in particular the wives who support them. Continue reading →

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The Incredible ‘Story Behind the Stories’

Pioneer Girl imageTitle: Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography

Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder and Pamela Smith Hill, Editor

Publishing House/Publication Date: South Dakota State Historical Society Press/2014

Genres: Historical Non-Fiction; Autobiographical;

Number of Pages: 400+

Generations of children over the past three-quarters of a century have grown up reading the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. These books have become a symbol of the pioneering spirit of the Ingalls family, but also a hallmark of childhood innocence, imagination, and a window to the past. Now, for the first time, dedicated readers of Laura’s timeless tales can step once again into the world of Little House Continue reading →

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Shining with Grace

From Good to Grace imageTitle: From Good to Grace: Letting Go of the Goodness Gospel
Author: Christine Hoover
Publishing House/Publication Date: BakerBooks/2015
Genres: Christian Living; Inspirational Non-Fiction;
Number of Pages: 219

You should read this book if… You have ever felt as this woman did, when she “poured out her… thoughts of despair and worthlessness that had kept her relationally isolated, wracked with guilt, and so sure that she was a deep disappointment to… her God. She could not receive the gifts God offered her – grace, rest, the enjoyment of her children, his strength in her weakness, joy in life – but could only twist them into shame-inducing evidences of her failure. Her sin was so much in view and grace so far out of range that she could only hear condemnation.” (Page 199) Continue reading →