Where Courage Calls By Jannette Oke And Laurel Oke Logan Book Review

// Where Courage Calls //

 

A When Calls The Heart Novel

 

By Janette & Laurel Oke

{Review By Madi}

 

Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 076421232X
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: February 4th, 2014

Source: Litfuse Publicity Group
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

 

// Book Synopsis //

 

Taken from Good Reads

 

"After years of schooling, Beth Thatcher has graduated and is determined to become a teacher. But when she's assigned the position no one else wants--in the tiny mining town of Coal Valley, located in the rugged foothills of western Canada--she worries she doesn't have the courage to accept.

Inspired by the diary of her aunt Elizabeth, who went west to teach school several years earlier, as well as her father's encouragement, Beth eventually decides to put her trust in God and leave behind all she's ever known.

But the conditions in Coal Valley are even worse than she'd feared. A recent mining accident has left the town grieving and at the mercy of the mining company. The children have very little prior education, and many of the locals don't even speak English. In addition, Beth's heart is torn between two young men--both Mounties, one a lifelong friend and the other a kind, quiet man who comes to her aid more than once.

Despite the unexpected challenges, Beth is determined to make a difference in the rustic frontier town. But when her sister visits from the East, reminding her of all the luxuries she's had to give up, will Beth decide to return to her privileged life as soon as the school year is over?"
 

 

// Madi's Book Review //

 

Janette Oke Strikes again! In this heart wrenching tale of a woman following her calling, you will laugh, cry, and smile. This book has a television series based off of it (When Calls The Heart can be found on Hallmark), and after watching a few episodes, I was really looking forward to reading this novel. I have always adored Janette Oke. I think that it is just so sweet that she wrote this book with her daughter. A talent for creating wonderful literature must run in the family. I have an entire bookshelf dedicated to Janette Oke's books, and I'm glad to be able to add this darling little novel to it. Where Courage Calls is about a privileged city girl that left her home town to teach in what her family would consider and uncivilized mining town. The children are poorly fed, ill clothed, but hungry for knowledge. Beth is a kind hearted soul with a compassionate heart. Sometimes she puts such responsibility on herself to care for the people of Coal Valley that her own health declines, but because of her efforts she quickly finds acceptance amongst the strong people of this rural town. Beth refuses to let thoughts of suitors such as her childhood . . . friend Edward or the handsome Mountie Jarrik (also known as "Jack") distract her from her work. She is determined to help everyone that she can that surrounds her new home, and though the road gets bumpy, she makes it through with the help of her Lord and Savior. This book had wonderfully created characters with inspiring personalities and a plot that kept me interested from start to finish. I am fully convinced that Janette Oke could make a story about a potato interesting. She really is a fantastic author, and her historical fiction has no competition. I can't recommend this book enough.

 

~The Literary Maidens

 

Note: I was provided with a free copy of this book by The Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not further compensated to review this product and all thoughts and sentiments expressed above are completely my own and unbiased.

 

 

 

 

 

Where Courage Calls by Janette Oke & Laurel Oke Logan Book Review

// Where Courage Calls //

A When Calls The Heart Novel

By Janette Oke & Laurel Oke Logan

{Review By Bethany}

Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 076421232X
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: February 4th, 2014

Source: Litfuse Publicity Group
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

// Book Synopsis //

Taken from Good Reads

"After years of schooling, Beth Thatcher has graduated and is determined to become a teacher. But when she's assigned the position no one else wants--in the tiny mining town of Coal Valley, located in the rugged foothills of western Canada--she worries she doesn't have the courage to accept.

Inspired by the diary of her aunt Elizabeth, who went west to teach school several years earlier, as well as her father's encouragement, Beth eventually decides to put her trust in God and leave behind all she's ever known.

But the conditions in Coal Valley are even worse than she'd feared. A recent mining accident has left the town grieving and at the mercy of the mining company. The children have very little prior education, and many of the locals don't even speak English. In addition, Beth's heart is torn between two young men--both Mounties, one a lifelong friend and the other a kind, quiet man who comes to her aid more than once.

Despite the unexpected challenges, Beth is determined to make a difference in the rustic frontier town. But when her sister visits from the East, reminding her of all the luxuries she's had to give up, will Beth decide to return to her privileged life as soon as the school year is over?"

// Bethany's Book Review //

This new companion novel to the When Calls The Heart Hallmark movie and T.V. series, is sure to be a delightful read for any Janette Oke fans, as well as fans of the movie adaptions of her books. Filled with lots of prairie close-knit family together-ness and courage to boot, join Beth Thatcher on an unforgettable journey where she learns to trust God in every situation, knowing He is working all things out for good.

This was a very nice novel, which I greatly enjoyed reading during the time when the T.V. series based on Janette Oke's book Where Calls The Heart, was airing each Saturday evening. I had already come to love the T.V. series and fallen in love with the characters, so I was very enthusiastic to read the book that inspired the series. Since this book is the companion novel to the series, it was neat getting to "read" more of the T.V. series, so to speak, and see what the movie episodes were based on. I've always been a fan of Janette Oke's Love Comes Softly series and movies, so I wasn't surprised to love this novel just as much as the Love Comes Softly saga!

This book is full of Janette Oke's classic writing style that often features a hard working prairie family setting, a soft and clean romance as well as lots of strong Christian values and morals throughout. I was not surprised to end up enjoying this novel so much, and it reminded me in a way of her Love Comes Softly novels, though of course in a different setting. This novel focuses on main character Beth Thatcher's journey into the wild west to become a school teacher to the poor children of Coal Valley, who recently lost their fathers in a mining accident when the coal mine exploded, leaving shattered children and helpless widows. Accustomed to luxuries of indoor plumbing, electricity and plenty of money at her disposal, Beth is unaware that primitive Coal Valley and her new teaching position are both going to test her in more ways than one; and reveal who she really is underneath her family's wealth and fame to the person God has called her heart to be, and the life purpose He has for her.

Among the many pros I found in this book, the biggest one was how big the emphasis on how your money doesn't define who you are as a person, and how everyone is important, was played out in the story. I loved Beth as she was a very humble character who willingly went to help poor people in a primitive town with few luxuries, when all she'd ever known was wealth and prosperity. I also loved her character. She was such a strong young lady and really aimed towards truly helping the people of Coal Valley and sharing Christ's love with others, no matter what their current situation was. I just loved being able to see how Beth connected with the people of Coal Valley despite their vast differences, and shared hope with them. At the end of the story I truly felt like she had truly reformed the town and left it better off than she found it; and I loved her example of how one person truly can make a difference for the Lord and bless others.

While I did find the events that took place while Beth was in Coal Valley completely different than the events played out in the T.V. series, I found it uniquely interesting getting "more" of the events of this town while Beth was teacher. While some people may see this as a con since the book is so different than the movie, I didn't feel like it lessened the book, and actually thoughts it was interesting to continue the story with the same characters you already knew and loved from the T.V. episodes.

Overall, I'd highly encourage all fans of Janette Oke's books and movie adaptions to read this book. It's filled with Christian values and a very sturdy life changing character, with an overall uplifting storyline, and sure to not disappoint!

D I S C L A I M E R :: I received a free copy of Where Courage Calls from the publisher through Litfuse Publicity for the purpose of this review. I was not paid in any way to write this review, or promote this book. All thoughts expressed in my review are completely my own, honest and unbiased.

Enter Today | 2/17 - 3/4!

Once A Day Country Faith Book Review

/ / Once A Day Country Faith / /

/ / 56 Reflections From Today's Leading Country Music Stars / /

 

{Review Written By Madi}

Book Title: Once A Day Country Faith

Author(s): 56 Country Music Stars

Source: Booksneeze

Book Genre: Devotional

Number Of Pages: 128

ISBN: 978-0-310-42293-8

Publisher: Zondervan

Year Of Publication: 2013

Rating: Four Out Of Five Stars

 

/ / Book Description / /

Pour yourself a fresh, cold glass of sweet tea and ease into your favorite chair with a copy of the Once-A-Day Country Faith. You'll enjoy a front row seat to an intimate look at your favorite country stars as they discuss the personal significance of their favorite Bible passage. With contributions from 56 of today's top country artists, the Once-A-Day Country Faith includes the Bible passage that tops each of their charts as well as the reasons why this part of scripture is so valuable to them. After reading Country Faith, you'll be inspired to identify the Bible passage that's most meaningful to you. You'll also listen to your favorite country artists in a whole new way.

 

/ / Book Review / /

With people like Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Scotty McCreery, The Band Perry, Josh Turner, Lauren Alaina, Wynonna Judd, Miranda Lambert, Alan Jackson, Hunter Hayes, Charley Daniels and Sara Evans (to name a few) writing this book, country music fans every where are bound to be jumping with joy. I personally have a special fondness for country music. I love the way that it tells a story. Reading this book is like getting a little glimpse into the hearts of some of the singers whose songs have touched mine. Each artist that contributed wrote a little about a verse that is dear to their hearts. I love the insight that some of the people provided. Some people don't go into to depth as much as others, which is a bit of a bummer, but I still enjoyed it very much! My mom has already asked to borrow it as soon as I'm finished writing this review. I live in Texas, and my family has a love for all things Southern, so this is a real treat. Now if only I could get this book signed by it's authors ;) . I would greatly encourage you to read this devotional. It definitely puts you in a good mood, and reading a page each day helped put a pep in my step. I think it's really cool that these people that are shoved into a materialistic society in whole new way still manage to hold onto their faith. Fame tends to get the better of a lot of people, and it's nice to see some people standing firm amongst all the tabloids and headliners.

 

~The Literary Maidens

 

Note: I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion by Booksneeze. I was not further compensated to review this product, and all thoughts and sentiments expressed above are completely my own and unbiased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love's Sweet Beginning By Ann Shorey Book Review

/ / Love's Sweet Beginning / /

/ / Sisters At Heart / /

{Review Written By Madi}

 

Book Title: Love's Sweet Beginning

Author: Ann Shorey

Source: Revell

Number Of Pages: 342

ISBN: 978-0-8007-2072-8

Publisher: Revell

Year Of Publication: 2014

Rating: Three Out Of Five Stars

 

/ / Book Description / /

It wasn't Cassie Haddon's fault that she had managed to reach the age of twenty-five without possessing any useful skills. Until the war, she had always had servants to wait on her. Since then, she and her widowed mother had moved from place to place, relying on family to care for them. Now she's forced to find work to support them both. What isn't in her plans is falling for Jacob West, a local restaurateur and grocer. She needs a job and he needs help. But what they both need is love.

 

/ / Book Review / /

 This book was okay. I was kind of disappointed in it. I usually love just about every book published by Revell, but this book was boring and predictable. There was nothing really special about it. It didn't have any particularly bad parts, but I unfortunately can't think of a scene that really stood out in a good way either. I was really surprised at the lack of action and suspense. There just wasn't much going on. It didn't speed up at any time, and nothing really important happened. It was like following someone's everyday life. I mean, it wasn't horrible, just boring. It took me two weeks to finish it. I just couldn't seem to get interested in it! I usually finish a book this length in a couple of days or so, but this one took much longer than anticipated, and it put me behind schedule with my other review books. I probably won't be reading anything else by this author. The one good thing about this novel, though, was that it had a good message. It showed that even super privileged and spoiled girls can roll up her sleeves and show her grit when the need arises. I was impressed with the initiative the lead character, Cassie, took to care for her and her mother as best as she possibly could. It may not have been the life that they had become accustomed to before the war, but they were well fed and had a decent roof over their heads. I loved how Cassie always put her loved ones first. I loved her strength. I loved her grit. The lead character was fabulous, and that's the only reason that I gave this book such a high rating. If you read this book, I hope that you enjoy it. I mean, just because I didn't really enjoy it doesn't mean that you won't. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

 

 

~The Literary Maidens

 

Note: I was provided with a free copy of this novel by Revell Buzz in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not further compensated to review this product, and all thoughts and sentiments expressed above are completely my own and unbiased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Princess Ever After By Rachel Hauck Book Review

/ /  Princess Ever After / /

/ / The Royal Wedding Series / /

{Review Written By Madi}

 

Book Title: Princess Ever After

Author: Rachel Hauck

Source: The Litfuse Publicity Group

Number Of Pages: 360

ISBN: 978-0-310-31550-6

Publisher: Zondervan

Year Of Publication: 2014

Rating: Five Out Of Five Stars

 Click here to order this book.

 

/ / Book Description / /

Regina Beswick never dreamed of faraway places. She’s happy with her life as a classic car mechanic and owner of a restoration shop.

But an unexpected visitor and the discovery of a fairytale, drawn by her great-grandma, causes Regina to wonder if she might be destined for something more.

Tanner Burkhardt, Minister of Culture for the Grand Duchy of Hessenberg, must convince the strong-willed Southerner, Miss Beswick, that she is his country’s long-lost princess. Failure could destroy his reputation and change his nation forever.

As Regina and Tanner face the challenges before them, neither are prepared for love to invade their hearts and change every thing they believe about themselves.

However, when a royal opponent nearly destroys Regina’s future, she must lean into God and trust He has sovereignly brought her to her true and final destiny.

 

/ / Book Review / /

 Wowzers! This book was simply fabulous. I read the first book in the royal wedding series (Once Upon A Prince ) last year, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Needless to say, when the opportunity to review it's sequel came up. I was thrilled. Rachel Hauck is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Not quite my absolute favorite, but she's definitely working her way up. Her stories are spectacular! What girl wouldn't want to read about a modern-day fairy tale? It got me to thinking how I would react were I put in Regina's place. I assume that I would be thrilled to have someone show up at my house one day with a letter from the king of a far away land stating that I was a long lost princess, but who knows? Regina is forced to choose between her love for her heritage and country and her love for her comfortable Southern home near her family. In a perfect world, she would be able to bring her family and business along with her, but she can't uproot her dad and stepmom, and she certainly won't be able to talk her partner Al into moving to a foreign country to remodel old cars when he can do it where he's spent his entire life. She is forced to come to the realization that being a princess is more than just pretty dresses and eloquent speech, it's about being a servant. But why would she serve a country that she didn't have a single connection to a week ago? She was born and raised in America, she was an American. Why would she travel half way around the world to save a country so small that it hardly warranted a place in her old high school history books? She figures that she might as well see what all the hub-bub is all about, so she agrees to a short trip to scope things out. One thing follows another, and next thing you know, Regina is swearing an oath to be the princess of Hessenberg, wearing pretty dresses, and falling for her chief advisor. What was happening? Her life had gone from comfortably predictable to a zero-to-sixty whirlwind in less than a month! She realized that she can't abandon the country of the great grandmother that she loved so dearly, but she still isn't sure that she is cut out for the job. I totally felt like I was walking through all these struggles right beside Princess Regina (and Tanner (; . . . ). You know what this book REALLY reminds me of? "The Princess Diaries". You know, those movies with Anne Hathaway? When Tanner told Regina of her inheritance to a kingdom, I so saw Mia Thermopalis saying, "Shut. Up!" in my head. I've always been a sucker for fairy tales, and this one roped me in, just as I expected it would. I can't recommend this series enough! Especially if you're a female with a soft spot for princesses (which most girls do, if we're honest with ourselves). READ IT READ IT READ IT.

 

~The Literary Maidens

 

Note: I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion by The Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not paid to review this product and all thoughts and opinions expressed above are completely my own and unbiased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



/ / Rachel By Jill Eileen Smith Book Review / /

/ / Rachel / /

/ / Wives of the Patriarchs / /

{Review Written By Madi}

Book Title: Rachel

Author: Jill Eileen Smith

Source: Revell Buzz

Number Of Pages: 314

ISBN: 978-0-8007-3431-2

Publisher: Revell

Year Of Publication: 2014

Rating: Four Out Of Five Stars

 

/ / Book Description / /

Beautiful Rachel wants nothing more than for her older half sister Leah to wed and move out of their household. Maybe then she would not feel so scrutinized, so managed, so judged. Plain Leah wishes her father Laban would find a good man for her, someone who would love her alone and make her his only bride. Unbeknownst to either of them, Jacob is making his way to their home, trying to escape a past laced with deceit and find the future God has promised him.

But the past comes back to haunt Jacob when he finds himself on the receiving end of treachery and the victim of a cruel bait and switch. The man who wanted only one woman will end up with sisters who have never gotten along and now must spend the rest of their lives sharing a husband. In the power struggles that follow, only one woman will triumph . . . or will she?

Combining meticulous research with her own imaginings, Jill Eileen Smith not only tells one of the most famous love stories of all time but will manage to surprise even those who think they know the story inside and out.

 

/ / Book Review / /

The story of Rachel and Jacob has always been one of my all time favorite Bible stories. I remember reading it early last year and having one verse in particular really stick with me; "So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her." (Genesis 29:20). How much love is expressed in that simple sentence! Most guys are afraid to even look my daddy in the eye and shake his hand, much less work seven years for him in order to gain a relationship with me. Of course, things were different back in Jacob and Rachel's day. A bride price was required if you wanted to get yourself a decent woman, and if you didn't have it, you would sometimes get the opportunity to work for her (such as Jacob did). I love the insight that the author brought to this story. I've often thought about what life would have been like for Jacob and Rachel, but I never really factored in Rachel's sister, Leah, and Jacob's two other wives. What must it have been like for Rachel and Leah to share a husband with each other and with two other women? The Bible clearly expresses that Rachel is Jacob's favored wife, even though Leah was his first. What must it have been like for Leah and the two other women to feel unloved and unwanted by their husband? This novel definitely got me to thinking about how I would have responded if I were put in this situation. Probably not with as much grace as Leah and Rachel did, that's for sure. Which brings something else to mind, in the beginning of the book, it clearly shows the tension between these two sisters, but toward the end the two came together as a family always should. This book starts when Jacob finds Rachel at the well, and ends at Rachel's death. A lot happened in that time if you think about it. I encourage you to go back a read Genesis if you haven't read it recently, it is a truly inspirational piece of history, and this author did a fair job with it. There were, however, a few things that I did not like about this book. For one, when it came to Rachel, Jacob was a total pushover. That's just not how things worked back then. The man of the family had the final (and ONLY) say-so. The other thing that I didn't particularly enjoy was the fact that it got a little . . . intense sometimes. I mean, I was expecting a romance, but maybe not one with such . . . insight into the workings of their marriage. Don't get me wrong, it never got THAT detailed, but it got too close to my liking. That being said, I know that those kind of things don't bother some people as much as it does others. Over all, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that is 16+ years of age.

 

~The Literary Maidens

 

Note: I was provided with a free copy of this book by Revell Buzz in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not further reimbursed to review this product and all thoughts and sentiments expressed above are completely my  own and unbiased. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Dare To Love Again By Julie Lessman Book Review

/ / Dare To Love Again / /

/ / A Novel / /

{Review Written By Madi}

 

Book Title: Dare To Love Again

Author: Julie Lessman

Source: Revell

Number Of Pages: 410

ISBN: 978-0-8007-2166-4

Publisher: Revell

Year Of Publication: 2014

Rating: Five Out Of Five Stars

 

/ / Book Description / /

Spunky Allison McClare is determined to be a fearless, independent woman, resorting to a mammoth hat pin for protection on her way to and from the school where she teaches. But when she takes a notion to explore the wild Barbary Coast she quickly discovers she is no match for rum-soaked brute strength.

Detective Nick Barone would rather do almost anything than teach this petite socialite jiu-jitsu, but it seems he has little choice in the matter. Sparks fly every time the two meet until a grudging friendship develops into something deeper. But when Nick suddenly leaves town, Allison realizes he’s a fraud just like all the rest of the men she’s cared for. Does she dare love again?

 

/ / Book Review / /

 BEST. BOOK. EVER. Like, this is seriously the best book that I have read this year. Julie Lessman, to me, seems like a mixture between Mary Connealy and Julie Klassen (two of my favorite authors). Her story contained the humor that I usually associate with Mary Connealy's writing, and the historical setting and writing style reminded me of Julie Klassen. A wonderful mixture, I assure you! I was reading late one night (I just couldn't put it down! Sleep wasn't a priority at this point), and my little brother stuck his head in my room and said, "What's so flippin' funny?! I'm trying to sleep!". Who said that reading was a quiet hobby? ;) Allison was such a crack up. I love it when the lead character is a spitfire, it makes them easy for me to relate to. All of these "perfect" girls in novels nowadays make me sick. Allison McClare is an independent woman that knows what she wants, and no one (not even a hunky pain-in-the-butt police officer) can change her mind. I love Allison's relationship with Detective Nick Barone (long e). All of the best book couples start off hating each other. For example: Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe (a personal favorite), Ms. Bennet and Mr. Darcy,  Jo March and Theodore Laurence - AKA "Laurie"- (I still think that they should have ended up together. Louisa May Alcott is a dream crusher, but a wonderful author all the same), just to name a few! I like how Allison has this huge dude trained quicker than he can get through their jiu-jitsu lessons. That boy practically worshiped the ground that she walked on by the time she was finished with him. I also loved the sub-story. The long ago romance of Caitlin McClare and Logan McClare was a great way to tie things together. I just loved EVERYTHING about this book. I wouldn't change a thing. I can't recommend this book enough. I should have known it was gonna be good when Tamera Alexander's praise was on the back cover. I can't wait to read more by Julie Lessman!

 

~The Literary Maidens

 

Note: I was provided with a free copy of this book by Revell Buzz in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not further reimbursed to review this product, and all thoughts and sentiments expressed above are completely my own and unbiased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Growing Up Duggar By Jana, Jill, Jessa & Jinger Duggar Book Review

 // Growing Up Duggar //

 

It's All About Relationships

 

By Jana, Jill, Jessa & Jinger Duggar

 

{Review By Bethany}

 

Number of Pages: 240
ISBN: 1451679165
Publisher: Howard Books
Release Date: March 4th, 2014

Source: Howard review program
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

// Book Synopsis //

 

Taken from Good Reads

 

"In a rare look inside America’s favorite mega-sized family, the four eldest girls talk about their faith, their dreams for the future, and what it’s like growing up a Duggar.

Airing weekly throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, 19 Kids and Counting has made the huge Duggar family into a media phenomenon. The Duggar children are frequently asked, “Tell the truth; do you really agree with the lifestyle your parents have created for you?” Now, the four eldest Duggar girls—Jana, Jill, Jessa, and Jinger—open up about the blessings and advantages of living the Duggar lifestyle.

With a backdrop of the key relationships in their lives—relationship with self, parents, siblings, friends, boys, and God—the four Duggar girls open up about their own personal faith and convictions, boys, dating, manners, living in a large family, politics, and much more. You’ll learn how the family navigates the difficult years between twelve and sixteen and what the girls look for in a man, all in a frank and fun book that will inspire teens and adults alike. Including lighthearted stories about the younger kids’ antics, Growing Up Duggar is a wise and entertaining trip into a family like no other."

 

// Bethany's Book Review //

 

I've been a big fan of the Duggar family and their T.V. show 19 Kids & Counting for a long time; and was blessed to be able to briefly meet them at a family conference two years ago. While I admire the whole family, I've always found the eldest Duggar girls to be very inspiring and a huge encouragement to me as a Christian sister and daughter of the King. Since I also come from a "large" family (though obviously not as big as the Duggar family) I've enjoyed getting to "meet" the Duggar ladies through their book and their family T.V. shows. So when I heard that the ladies were writing a book, I was very eager to read it once it released.

 

This newest book from the Duggar family, written by the four eldest Duggar ladies, is about relationships. In this book the Duggar ladies candidly write about different aspects of relationships, and also give a bit of a look into how things are "growing up Duggar".

 

In this book, there are eight chapters, and each one covers a certain type of relationship. Chapters include the topics of a relationship with God, relationship with yourself, relationship with your parents, relationship with your siblings, relationship with friends, relationship with guys, relationship with culture, relationship with your country and relationship with the world. Even though there are four different authors who contributed to certain portions of the book, I didn't at all feel like this made it hard to read, and the book flowed quite well despite the constant switching of authors.

 

While I did find it neat to read a book written by the eldest Duggar girls, I must admit that there was one aspect of the book that I was a bit disappointed in. This book seemed to be more of an advice-type book, sharing how the Duggars deal with certain relationships as a way of responding to all the numerous emails they receive with questions on how they do things. I was hoping it would be written more memoir-style with details on the Duggar's everyday life and unique stories you'd otherwise not hear. While I did enjoy getting a detailed account of how the Duggar ladies view things, I really would have liked to see more personal stories and the inside-view of their life. Now this isn't to say there weren't any personal stories in this book, because there were a few - just not as many as I was hoping for. However it didn't really take away from the book very much for me.

 

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it to any fans of the Duggar family.

 

D I S C L A I M E R :: In accordance with the FTC disclosure, I received a free hardback copy of Growing Up Duggar from Howards Books for the purpose of this review. I was not paid in any way to write this review, and all thoughts expressed in my review are completely honest, my own and unbiased.

Echoes of Mercy by Kim Vogel Sawyer Book Review

// Echoes of Mercy //

  

By Kim Vogel Sawyer

 

{Review By Bethany}

 

Number of Pages: 352
ISBN: 0307731278
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Released: January 21st, 2014

Source: Blogging for Books
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

// Book Synopsis //

 

Taken from Good Reads

"When a suspicious accident occurs at the Dinsmore Chocolate Factory in Sinclair, Kansas, in 1904, Caroline Lang goes undercover as a factory worker to investigate. Oliver Dinsmore, heir to the Dinsmore candy dynasty, has his own investigation to conduct. Posing as a common worker known as “Ollie Moore,” he aims to find out all he can about the family business before he takes over for his father."

// Author's Website //

// Author's Facebook //

// Author's Twitter //

// Book Information //

// Chapter 1 Excerpt //

// Author Bio //

// Bethany's Book Review //

 

This was yet another classic novel from Kim Vogel Sawyer that is sure to leave fans impressed and inspired by this sweet heart-felt novel.

 

In the past I've enjoyed several Kim Vogel Sawyer novels, including one of my favorites My Heart Remembers and In Every Heartbeat. I've always been a fan of her Janette Oke-like writing style with simple and subtle romances, and strong characters with Christian values and ways of life. This was another novel that didn't disappoint me, and I'd have to say it's one of my more favorites from all the novels I've read by this author.

 

One of my favorite things about this novel were the characters. Kim Vogel Sawyer did such an excellent job shaping the characters throughout the story, and I particularly loved Caroline. She was such a likable character and a true role-model with an interesting story. I loved her heart for children, and how much for genuinely was concerned for the three children that she encounters during her business trip to investigate at a chocolate factory. She had such a compassionate heart, and I truly felt like this character was such a memorable one; and so unlike most book characters in novels today.

 

Another pro I found with this book is how low-romance it was. For those who like me, like a novel that has a strong story line that doesn't rely on heavy romance and professions of love, then such readers would enjoy this novel. I loved how the romance was minimal and clean. There was enough to make a sweet story that pulls the heart-strings, but it didn't overdo it and was never the main theme of the story, but rather a sub-plot. While this aspect of the book can be either a pro or a con, considering personal taste;, I considered it a pro, and think it really complemented the story.

 

The only thing I did find to be a bit on the down side for me was how little mystery there was until the very end of the story. From the book synopsis, it appeared to be a mystery, and while it did have a steady thread with lots of suspense and mystery, not much happened until the end. While it wasn't a huge downer, I personally would have liked to see a bit more mystery. But it no way made the story any less enjoyable for me. I will say that at the end when the mystery did pick up, it was all very fast paced and kept me turning pages, despite a slight difficulty to turn pages previously.

 

In all this was a very warm hearted novel in which Kim Vogel Sawyer has yet again produced a novel with classic Janette Oke-like themes and characters, which is sure to delight. I'd recommend this book to any Kim Vogel Sawyer fans, or fans of Janette Oke-like historical fiction with strong admirable characters and a wonderful story-line.

 

D I S C L A I M E R :: In accordance with the FTC disclosure, I received a free copy of Echoes of Mercy from the publisher and Blogging For Books for the purpose of this review. I was not paid in any way to write this review, and all thoughts expressed in my review are completely honest, my own and unbiased.

The Calling By Suzanne Woods Fisher Book Review

// The Calling//

By Suzanne Woods Fisher

{Review By Bethany}

 

Source: Litfuse Publicity Group

Number of Pages: 336

ISBN: 0800720946

Publisher: Revell

Publication Date: January 21st, 2014

Bethany's Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

 

// Book Synopsis //

 

"Twenty-year-old Bethany Schrock is restless. Her love life has derailed, her faith hangs by a thread, and she is spending the incredibly hot summer days wading through a lifetime’s accumulation of junk at the home of five ancient Amish sisters. About the only thing that holds her interest is the spirited and dangerously handsome Jimmy Fisher–and he seems bent on irritating her to no end.
When the sly old sisters and a guest at the Inn get Bethany involved in running the local soup kitchen and starting a community garden, she suddenly finds herself wondering, Shootfire! How did that happen? Despite her newfound purposefulness, a gnawing emptiness about a childhood mystery continues to plague her. Encouraged by Jimmy Fisher, she will seek out the answers she craves–and uncover a shocking secret that will break her heart, heal it, and point her to love.
Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher delivers her trademark twists, turns, and tender romance in this delightful and exciting visit to the deceptively quiet community of Stoney Ridge."

 

// Bethany's Book Review //

Prior to reading The Calling I'd read the first book in The Inn at Eagle Hill series, The Letters, and didn't really like it as I felt like I couldn't connect with the characters, and felt an overall dragging out of the story-line. When the opportunity to review the second book in the series, The Calling came up, I decided to give this series another go and try out the second book, even though I didn't really feel like the first one was for me; and hoped I would like the second book better. However unfortunately, I found the second book to be a lot like the first book in the case of the storyline feeling slow and dragged out as well as the inability to connect with the characters.

 

I will say that in overview, I do think I enjoyed The Calling better than the first book in the series, mainly because the first book was about an older woman and this one was about a girl more my age. Plus we share the name Bethany, which I liked. :) While there was improvement with the story-line and characters, I just didn't ever feel I "clicked" with this novel.

 

I really did want to enjoy this story, and while I thought it a nice one time read, at times it was a bit slow, I sadly don't think I'll end up keeping this book on my favorites shelf and most likely wouldn't re-read it. While I didn't really feel a connection with this book, I have seen friends who did enjoy this series. So I by no means want to give it a bad review, as I know several people really like this series; it just wasn't for me.

 

However on the positive side, this novel was very low-romance and was a slower read, which can be a con for someone who likes a more relaxed, easy going read. I found myself liking the "Sisters" and loved the ending of this story when things really got going.

 

Disclaimer :: I received a free copy of The Calling from the publisher through Litfuse Publicity Group, for the sole purpose of reading and review it. I was not paid in any way to review this book, and was not required to give a good review, if in fact I didn't like the book. All thoughts expressed in my review are my own and completely unbiased.

Guest Review

/ / Echoes Of Mercy By Kim Vogel Sawyer / /

/ / Guest Review / /

Hello Friends!

Today TLM is having a guest review on Kim Vogel Sawyer's new book Echoes Of Mercy. My dear friend saw how much fun I was having with book blogging and decided to give it a shot. If she likes it she may start a book blog of her own, so let's give her some encouragement! First, I will interview this darling girl, and then we will move on to her review. Let's get started!

 

 

Madi: Let's start off with something easy. Name?

Elisabeth: Elisabeth Pierce!

Madi: Tell us a little about yourself.

Elisabeth: I'm seventeen and am currently living in Oklahoma, but I'm a Texas girl at heart. I love to read, write, dance, sing, and pretty much anything that I can get a good laugh out of!

Madi: When did you start to take an interest in reading?

Elisabeth: My grandmother was always reading me stories as a kid, and I think that's what got me started on it. Reading and writing have always been my best (and favorite) subjects in school. It also

Madi: What's your favorite book?

helps that my best friend loves to read as well, and she's the one I usually go to for recommendations.

Elisabeth: Just one? Haha. I love Gone With the Wind. It's such a great story about the old south, and Margaret Mitchell's prose is just beautiful.

Madi: What is your favorite book genre?

Elisabeth: Christian Historical Fiction

Madi: What are you currently reading?

Elisabeth: "Lone Star Sanctuary" by Colleen Coble

 Madi: Do you have any writing aspirations?

Elisabeth: Yes! I love to write. I haven't published anything, but in the future I might look into it. I like writing fiction and journaling.


Madi: Who's your favorite author?

Elisabeth: Jane Austen and Colleen Coble

Madi: Where do you usually do your writing?

Elisabeth: Anywhere I feel inspired. Most of the time I write in my room, but I've been known to take frequent trips to the library or sit on the porch if I get writer's block or need a change of scenery.

Random Questions:

 Madi: Favorite word? Particularly.

Elisabeth: It's just so fun to say!

Madi: Hunger Games or Narnia?

Elisabeth: Narnia.

 Madi: Coffee or Tea?

Elisabeth: (Sweet) Tea

Madi: Cluttered or Organized?

Elisabeth: I would love to say I'm organized, but I'm actually more cluttered. I like to call it "eclectic"

Madi: Harry Potter or Twilight?

Elisabeth: Harry Potter

Madi: Name a word that rhymes with your name.

Elisabeth: Hmmm. Well Beth (my nickname) happens to rhyme with death and meth. I'm not so sure that's a good thing!

 

 

                                                   / / Book Review / /

 

{By Elisabeth Pierce}

 

Book Title: Echoes Of Mercy

Author: Kim Vogel Sawyer

Source: Blogging For Books Review Program

Book Genre: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction.

Number Of Pages: 344

ISBN: 978-0-307-73127-2

Book Publisher: WaterBrook Press

Year Of Publication: 2014

Elisabeth's Rating: Four Out Of Five Stars

 

/ / Book Description / /

When a suspicious accident occurs at the Dinsmore Chocolate Factory in Sinclair, Kansas, in 1904, Caroline Lang goes undercover as a factory worker to investigate. Oliver Dinsmore, heir to the Dinsmore candy dynasty, has his own investigation to conduct. Posing as a common worker known as “Ollie Moore,” he aims to find out all he can about the family business before he takes over for his father.

 

 

/ / Elisabeth's Review / /

I really enjoyed this book. This was my first book to read by Kim Vogel Sawyer, and, hearing a lot of good things about her, I was very excited to read it. The book had very strong characters, a good plot, and a great Christian emphasis. I was very impressed by this author's writing style. Each of the main characters had a backstory, and the author showed it without giving  you too much information at once or not giving any at all. Another thing I really enjoyed in this novel was the emphasis on the protagonist, Caroline's, faith. At the beginning of the book she was already a Christian, but by the end of the book she had grown even more in her relationship with Christ, showing the need to grow even after we become a Christian. Of course, the book did include a "love interest", but the author handled it extremely well and I would feel comfortable with any age reading it. The only thing I didn't like was that I found the pace a little slow- it took me longer than usual to read it- but this wouldn't keep me from recommending it to a friend. All in all, it was a good read, and I look forward to hopefully reading more by this author.

 

~

 

If you enjoyed this post, please visit Elisabeth's craft blog here. Have a blessed day!

 

~The Literary Maidens



/ / How To Make A Secret Book / /

/ / DIY Hollow Book / /

{Post By Madi}

Hello Blog Friends!

I know that here at TLM that we usually focus on book reviews and giveaways, but I thought that it might be fun to do a book related craft, just to mix things up. I've seen a few tutorials on Pinterest on how to make those nifty secret books to keep little treasures in, and I decided to do my own rendition of it. Here's what you will need:

• An Old Book (I used an old discarded library book that I got for fifty cents).
• A Ruler.
• A Pencil
• An Eraser (or you could just use the one at the end of your pencil. I just like using my big one)
•  A Box Cutter/Exacto Knife (most people find it easier to use a box cutter, but if you don't have one on hand I'm sure the Exacto Knife will work fine).
• Liquid Elmer's Glue.
• A Small Paint Brush (I just used an old eyeliner brush. It worked great! Just make sure it's clean before you start your project if you decide to go that route).
• A Small Container To Make Your Glue Solution (I opted for an old Hormel bowl).

 

                            



Start with your book. Open it up to the page that you want to cut (leave a few pages, I'll tell you why later)

Next, get your ruler and draw a line the width of your ruler on all four sides.

When you're done it should look something like this.

Get your handy-dandy eraser and erase the lines in the corners, leaving the box in tact.

Like So.

Now t's time to mix up your glue solution. Mix seventy-five percent glue and twenty-five percent water. Stir it all up.

Next, lay the book on its spine so that you can easily paint the glue on without it dripping on everything.

Slather your glue on all four sides so that everything stays together while you're cutting. This also gives your little hidey hole the consistency that it needs to hold all of your little goodies.

Next glue the back page to the back cover.

Close the book and let the glue dry COMPLETELY. You'll want to use something to keep the pages that you have set aside from the rest of the book apart from your glued pages so that they don't get glued with the rest of the book. I used my eraser and ruler, but you can use whatever you like. I know that someone said that post-it notes work great. I also ended up stacking up a couple of heavy books on top of it while it dried.

Once the glue is dry, you're ready to start cutting. Take your box cutter and start cutting along the lines that you drew earlier.

This is where the fun starts.

Getting all of these pages cut out is a very long and tedious process. Get your favorite Pandora station going to keep you going.

Just keep swimming . . .

Voila!

Once you have all your pages cut out, use your glue solution on the inside pages. I also did another coat on the outside because all the cutting and tearing had dismantled a few of the pages.

Now put a layer of glue on the top page.

Close the book and let the glue dry COMPLETELY. Stack a few books on it to make it dry as tight as possible.

 

Once it's dry, cut out the top page.

And there you go! You have a very sneaky place to hide a cash stash, candy from the little ones in your home, or anything else that you can think to stuff in there. I hope that you found this helpful! If you decide to take on a book craft, comment! We love hearing from y'all!

 

~The Literary Maidens

A Promise Kept By Robin Lee Hatcher Book Review

// A Promise Kept //

By Robin Lee Hatcher

{Review By Bethany}

 

Source: Litfuse Publicity Group

Number of Pages: 304

ISBN: 1401687652

Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers

Publication Date: January 7th, 2014

Bethany's Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

 

// Book Synopsis //

 

"God was going to save her marriage, Allison was sure of it.
 

But neither her husband nor her marriage had been saved.

What had become of His promise?

Tony Kavanagh had been Allison’s dream-come-true. They were in love within days, engaged within weeks, married and pregnant within a year. Her cup bubbled over with joy . . . but years later, that joy had been extinguished by unexpected trials.

The day Allison issued her husband an ultimatum, she thought it might save him. She never expected he would actually leave. She was certain God had promised to heal; it was clear that she’d misunderstood.

Now living in the quiet mountain cabin she inherited from her single, self-reliant Great Aunt Emma, Allison must come to terms with her grief and figure out how to adapt to small town life. But when she finds a wedding dress and a collection of journals in Emma’s attic, a portrait of her aunt emerges that takes Allison completely by surprise: a portrait of a heartbroken woman surprisingly like herself.

As Allison reads the incredible story of Emma’s life in the 1920s and 1930s, she is forced to ask a difficult question: Does she really surrender every piece of her life to the Lord? For a woman accustomed to being someone else’s savior, that will be even harder than it sounds.

Drawing from her own heart-wrenching story of redemption, A Promise Kept is Robin Lee Hatcher’s emotionally charged thanksgiving to a God who answers prayers—in His own time and His own ways."

 // Bethany's Book Review //

This was a very nice contemporary inspirational fiction that stresses the importance of faith and the importance of marriage, and that the Lord works all things good, and for His glory-even divorce and difficult marriages.

 

Previous to reading this book I'd only read one other book by this author, so seeing that the book synopsis looked promising, I thought I'd give it a try. Overall I was pleased that I got to read it, however I do think that since I am currently single and this book is about two divorced women whose marriages God redeems; it did make the novel a bit un-relatable for me and in some ways made it seem like it wasn't "the novel" for me at this time in my life. Thus the three-star rating. However that had nothing to do with the story itself or the author's writing, it completely depends on your current stage in life. For anyone who is married or has gone through the heartache of divorce, I'm sure this novel would be a great inspiration and a comforting book to read as it really displays God's design for marriage being a permanent binding for life, in a very inspiring way.

 

I personally enjoyed the aspect of getting to know two ladies with similar marital situations in this book. In the story Allison gets to "meet" her Aunt Emma through her old journals and I liked how these two women's stories were played out in the novel, especially the ending. It was neat getting two different perspectives with the same ladies in two completely different time periods. I really admired Emma's character and her love towards her husband, even when he treated her wrong and deserved every right to be bitter towards him. I also enjoyed reading about how this novel is based on the author's true story of her own marriage to an active alcoholic, and how God worked through that situation to not only strengthen her faith, but strengthen her marriage as well.

 

One nice thing about this novel is that even though it is written about and most likely for married women, I did find it completely clean for young people to even read. Even though the topics discussed are geared towards people who are married, it can also be interesting for a young person to read it as it gives the very real picture that you don't see a lot now days which is how marriage isn't always rosy and bright like everyone makes it out to be. The author did an excellent job portraying this without belittling the importance of staying together for life as promised in wedding vows, and helps portray the fact that though marriage is difficult, it is totally worth it.

 

DISCLAIMER :: I received a free copy of A Promise Kept from the publisher through Litufse Publicity to read and review. I was not paid in any way to review this book, nor are any of the thoughts expressed in my review biased. All thoughts are my own, and completely honest.

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