A Bride for All Seasons by Margaret Brownley, Debra Copton, Mary Connealy, Robin Lee Hatcher

This book is the perfect blend of history, fun and spiritual wisdom. Four great writers teamed up to create this book. Each story deals with a "mail order bride". Each bride discovers an unexpected surprise upon arriving at her destination. It was interesting to read about the different situations that would cause a man or woman to be part of a mail order marriage. While the times the women lived in are far different than our own - their longing for love and family are ones we all can relate to. Each story puts emphasis on God being able to bring good out a difficult situation. Each write in her unique way showed through her character that God cares about the details of our life and He is working to bring about good for each individual. Each young lady will win her way into your heart as you read about her faith, struggles and ultimate triumph in love!

I received this book from the publishers and was not required to write a positive review.

Harriet Beamer Strikes Gold by Joyce Magnin

Harriet Beamer gives real meaning to good clean fun. This book has lots of adventure and excitement mixed in with deep family fun. Harriet is a likable character that has some real life sorrows, questions about life and God. She learns to deal with emotions such as: jealously, doubt, grief, anger, fear. She learns that God often has the treasure we seek right in front of us all the time. Harriet is 72 and I love it that she's the heroine of this story and it's not about another beautiful, young heroine like most books but rather an ordinary woman with an extraordinary heart. I'm not a senior yet so I can honestly say this book could appeal to anyone of any age.

This book was given to me free by the publishers and I was not required to write a positive review.

When Jesus Wept by Brock and Brodie Thoene

Although, I personally believe that we sleep until Jesus return when He calls us from the grave...I loved this account of the Lazarus story. It was moving enough that I could put aside my view on death as a sleep (authors believe we go directly to heaven) and enjoy the way Jesus touched the lives of those He lived with while on this earth.

The historical background of traditions, ways they tended vineyards, the rules for slave owning etc was all fascinating. This made the story come alive and be real for me. But the best part was how Jesus talked naturally to those He met and those who became His followers and friends. This book brought well known parables into the story in ways that Jesus could have used them to help specific people. I loved reading how Jesus transformed lives from harlots, to revengeful slaves to prideful wealthy land owners.

The way Jesus worked in each life in this story brought tears to my eyes and helped me realize how much He loves each of us today. There is a character who held hatred in his heart and yet he was able to show another man how to turn away from revenge to love. Later Jesus gently shows the character that he himself still has hatred for an enemy that is poisoning his own soul. It really spoke to me about how we all have choices each day in big and small ways to choose Jesus.

Every Perfect Gift by Dorothy Love

Dorothy Love is a talented writer and she grabs your interest and keeps it. However, I have mixed feelings about this book. I think I understand what she was trying to portray in this book. I also understand she was writing with the prejudices of the times in mind. But I still wish she had made a bolder statement that our skin color, our heritage, our culture - none of that matters to God or to those that love us. In some of the language and thoughts of the characters it was as if Ethan loved the heroine DESPITE her mixed heritage. I found that offensive. I would rather that he had told her he loved her as she was and embraced her WITH the mixed heritage. Throughout the book the heroine wonders if he can accept and love her if her knows what is in her mixed blood. I realize these are realistic feelings a person may have but I don't feel the book ever addressed her accepting who she was.

Another point I had mixed feelings about is that neither of the main characters really knew for sure if each other was a Christian until near the end of the book. It seems if you are a Christian it should be obvious to those around you.

I received this book free for a review from Booksneeze.com. I was not required to write a positive review.

Lovelier Than Daylight by Rosslyn Elliott

This is an excellent book sharing different views held by Christians during the 1870s regarding saloons and drinking.  The strong feelings and beliefs can be related to topics of debate today.  It was a wonderful story about what it means to stand by your beliefs and yet still treat those with whom we disagree with kindness and love.  The author touched on some hard topics honestly and courageously.  The story was rich with deep thinking characters that were believable and engaging.  The author successful created an interesting story that taught about historical times and guides readers to look at a conflicting issue from different points of views.

I received this book free from the publisher through booksneeze.com. I was not required to write a positive review.

His Love Endures Forever by Beth Wiseman

This book was written in an engaging manner. I couldn't put the book down. It had enough twists and turns to keep my interest. I also felt it was a good story about forgiveness and trusting God when things don't go the way you dreamed or wished. I have one misgiving about that book and that is the topic of being "unequally yoked". In this story it all worked out beautifully with the non-believer coming to Christ. In real like sometimes that happens but many times when people marry when one partner is not a Christian it leads to heartache. But I guess as in all novels you have to allow yourself the luxury of getting into the "fantasy" part of the story even if it means simply that there was a "happily ever after" ending. Other than that I really thought the author did an excellent job of showing how a person works through the stages of forgiveness and why forgiveness is equally important to the victim as to the aggressor.

This book was given to me free by the publishers through booksneeze. I was not required to write a positive review.

Songs of the Brokenhearted by Sheila Walsh

I believe Sheila Walsh when she writes about trusting God because I know she's been through a lot of heartbreak in her own life.  I think it is important to have interesting stories that also portray a Biblical/Spiritual truth.  This book does both.  One suggestion is I think it should have been written as a series with more than one book.  It touched on so many topics where a someone deals with heartbreak.  But I felt like it didn't give enough time to each situation before it moved on to another. 

 I thought it was very encouraging to show how Ava used ministry to others as a way of helping herself deal with heartache.  I believe that is part of the healing process whether it be grief or anger.  Reaching out to others and thinking and caring about others helps prevent a "poor me" type attitude. 

I received this book free from Booksneeze and was not required to write a positive review.