A Refuge at Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

An enlightening historical novel of WWI that focuses on those without a family.  It deals with estranged families, orphan and abandoned children, and those who don't feel as if they have a place to call home.  Highland Hall becomes a refuge in more than one way as the Ramseys and Fosters open their home and hearts to an interesting and varied group of lost souls from an injured pilot, a German internment victim, and servants that become family.  The healing that takes place at Highland Hall is much more than physical.  Breaches are crossed and healed.  New opportunities and dreams are realized through the faith each holds in God and in each other's potential and worth.  This books is an inspirational story of the intricacies of God's merciful plans for our good.

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

A Reason To Stay by Kellie Coates Gilbert

An interesting take on opposites attract!  The woman is a career aspiring journalist become anchor woman.  The man is a country boy who deep sea fishes in competitions.  But there's a lot more to the story than this.  Ideals of family, home, marriage contrast sharply for the characters of this book.  You'll read and learn about the news world and bass fishing competitions.  You will also be drawn into a love story that isn't a fairy tale at all but has some hard, often painful lessons in the day to day struggle of two people juggling their emotions, pasts and present day dramas.  This is a book that often had me on the edge of my seat and chewing my fingernails!  It brought me to tears with the real life heartache that can keep people from accepting and giving love.  But the book triumphs in the love of God to heal those who accept His balm for their souls.

Owls - Our most charming birds by Matt Sewell

I’m sure there was never a more delightful fact filled book written!  Mr. Sewell takes us through a comprehensive journey on owl data from woodland, tropical, wilderness and desert owls.  Each page gives amazing information on the individual owls.  But it’s not like a dull science book you were forced to read in school.  This book reads like a cleverly written novel.  Each fact filled page feels like you’re reading a mini story about that particular owl.  His illustrations are accurate in detail and exquisitely charming as well.  At the end of the book I wanted more and immediately googled Matt Sewell’s name to see if he had written any more books and woo hoo he has!!  This is just a darling gem of a book!

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

The Imposter by Suzanne Woods Fisher

If you think all Amish books are the same think again.  Ms Fisher writes a story of a family’s personal grief in the midst of their community’s group unrest.  The main character’s story is woven in with the members of her community, not the least of these, her own father.  As each character grapples with what it means to wade through grief, betrayal and learning to trust, significant spiritual truths are expounded on through the conversations characters have with each other.  The dialogue is deeply moving and at the same time draws you into the hearts of this family and community.  It’s a story, but it feels like you’re talking with your close friends as you encounter the characters in these pages.  I can’t wait to read book two of The Bishop Family series!

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

The Horse of My Heart by Callie Smith Grant

This is the “Guideposts” for horse lovers!  Tender, heart-warming, personal stories by a variety of Christian authors about their experiences with horses (and one stray donkey)!  This book is a collection of horse tales from all aspects of horsemanship.  Stories about retired, rescued and therapy pet horses are included.  The read will find stories of how a horse changed the course of a marriage, gave courage to a shy woman, taught a child how to stand up to bullies and more.  Each story brings spiritual insights in correlational with the horse’s personal traits or unique circumstances or events involving a horse.

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

A Jewish Baker's Pastry Secrets by George Greenstein with Elaine Greenstein, Julia Greenstein and Issace Bleicher

The cover of this recipe book made my mouth water!  Mmm! Was the thought that ran through my mind.  I have to get this book was the other thought.  I was not disappointed.  This recipe book was started by George and finished by his daughters are a loving tribute to the man who remarkable recipes grace these pages.  

This book really does have Baker’s secrets such as how to thaw chilled dough quickly without ruining the texture and how to make pastry dough thinner and wider without breaking it, etc.  These “secrets” along with the well- organized sections for various types of pastry was a hit for me.  There are also sections on correct tools to use for specific types of pastry cooking and descriptions of ingredients and why one kind works best in a certain type of pastry over another.  The recipes also come with “variation” instructions.  For example if you’re favoring apple over blueberries the recipe will tell you how to change that part of the recipe and still have a delicious finished product.  Or the variation could be from different countries how an item is made such as Belgium or French method for Puff Pastry.  The only thing that detracted from the beauty of this book was the lack of photographs of finished pastries inside the book.

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

The Story of God's Love for You by Sally Lloyd-Jones

When I say this is the best book ever, ever, ever!  I could keep on going with the "evers".  This book is the text only edition of The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones.  This edition is for appeal to older children and teens.  I understand this because I first read the illustration version as a Kindergarten teacher and thought "Everyone should have this book!"  I wanted it for myself as a devotional book.  The way the author writes is just pure genius, pure love and warmth and comfort.  Every single page pours out God's love to you in a personal way as you read the story of humanity from Creation to the Fall to all the ways God endeavors to show us His love all the way to the cross where Jesus brought God down to us in His body broken for us.  If I only had one book to give someone (besides the Bible itself) to help someone see God's unconditional and relentless love for us it would be this book.  The beauty of it is that author created an illustrated version that very young children will enjoy and this version for older children to absorb and treasure.