Enjoyable continuing story -- The Gift

Wanda Brunstetter continues her Prairie State Friends series with The Gift. She once again takes her readers to Arthur, Illinois, to re-visit friends first introduced in The Decision.

The story picks up from the first book, with several characters returning in continuing relationships.  The story has an engaging mix of hope, joy, promise and hurt, despair, and struggle.  There are twists and turns that kept me well involved in the flow of the story.  I also learned some interesting things about widely varying topics like reflexology and hummingbirds.

Fans of good Amish fiction should enjoy this read by one of the premier authors in the genre. There are enough loose ends left in the story to make me anxious to see how they work out in the final installment of the trilogy -- The Revelation, scheduled for release next February.

Thanks to Wanda and her publisher for providing a copy of The Gift in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:

Follow the heart-wrenching story of Adam Beachy, whose mother walked out on him and his family—and away from the Amish faith. Now he balks at the idea of ever marrying and having a family of his own. But when tragedy strikes, Adam is suddenly a father figure to his three nieces and finds himself needing a wife. Despite their differences over her practice of reflexology, Leah Mast seems the best option to fill that role. Can they make it work in a modern-day marriage of convenience?





About the Author:

New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter and her husband live in Washington State but take every opportunity to visit friends in  Amish settlements throughout the States.

Fascinating Story -- The Plain Choice

Before reading The Plain Choice, I had gotten to know quite a bit about Sherry Gore through social media and glimpses of her Plain life that she shared in her cookbooks.  Her faith and relentless spirit through difficulties shine through in any contact with her.  But I knew little of the detail of her life's choices until reading this fascinating telling of her story.

Sherry has successfully done what relatively few people have -- moving from life in the modern "English" world to becoming fully assimilated into an Amish life.  Her move was not motivated by some fascination or curiosity of a different lifestyle.  Rather, Sherry became convicted of the type of life she believed God intended for her to live and found that the
Amish church and community was the environment in which to life out those convictions.

As all followers of God's way for their lives find, making the right choice does not guarantee an easy life, free from problems.  What it did provide for Sherry, though, was a place of belonging and peace that comes from following God's direction.

Although most of us who read this story will not find ourselves making the same choices as Sherry's, by reading her story we can certainly be inspired to find our own place in life.

Anyone with an interest in things Amish -- as well as those who have no exposure to this way of life -- should enjoy this story and find it to be fascinating and motivational.

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers for providing a copy of The Plain Choice in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:

Raised in a broken family and emotionally overlooked, Sherry Gore grew up without a solid foundation, a prisoner of her own poor choices, and at times without hope.  A series of terrible mistakes left her feeling wrecked and alone and a sudden tragedy threw Sherry into an emotional tailspin too powerful to escape.

Sherry hangs by a thread, unable to see how she can go on living, until it happens: on a morning of no particular significance, she walks into a church and BAM the truth of Jesus’ forgiving love shatters her world and cleaves her life in two:  She goes to bed stunned; she wakes up a Christian.

Unwilling to return to the darkness of her former life, Sherry attacks her faith head on.  Soon the life Sherry Gore remakes for herself and her children as she seeks to follow the teachings of the Bible features head coverings, simple dress, and a focus on Jesus Christ.  Only then does she realize, in a fit of excitement, that there are others like her.  They are called Amish and Mennonite, and she realizes she has found her people.

The plain choice that Sherry makes is not easy – and life still brings unexpected pain and heartache - but it changes everything for her, as she becomes one of the few people on earth to have successfully joined the Amish from the outside.

She has found her place. And her story proves that one can return from the darkest depths to the purest light with the power of God.

About the Author:

Sherry Gore is the the author of two cookbooks, "Simply Delicious Amish Cooking" and "Me, Myself and Pie" and co-author of the novel "Made with Love.” She is also a weekly scribe for the national edition of the Amish newspaper, The Budget, established in 1890. The National Geographic Channel featured Sherry prominently their documentary series, Amish: Out of Order. Sherry's culinary adventures have been seen on NBC Daytime, the Today Show, Mr. Food Test Kitchen and more. Sherry is a year-round resident of beautiful, sun-kissed Sarasota, Florida, the vacation paradise of the Plain People. She has three children and is a member of a Beachy Amish Mennonite church. When not spending time with her family, writing, or eating, Sherry is a cooking show host, and an official pie contest judge.

Interesting Lessons -- It's Good to be Queen

Liz Curtis Higgs has a special knack for taking information about Biblical characters, adding her own flair to their story, and finding relevant lessons for today.  That is what she has done once again in her story of the Queen of Sheba -- It's Good to Be Queen.

There is actually very little information given in the Bible about this interesting queen.  But she has been the subject of film and print accounts, particularly those filled with speculation about any supposed relationship with King Solomon.  Liz finds nothing to suggest any intimate relationship between the two members of royalty but finds seeds for lessons to share with contemporary women.

In addition to laying out principles that could easily be applied to modern-day living, Liz shares her own stories as well as many gleaned from answers to questions she asked of her online readers.  In some places, it seems she relies heavily on those stories; in others she adds much to Biblical details of the Queen of Sheba's visit and what she learned from Solomon.  I did not find this book as enlightening as some of Liz's others.  All in all, though, she did a good job of engaging the reader with her unique teaching style.

Thanks to Blogging for Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:

Sheba Journeyed Across the Desert with a Caravan of Riches,
 Only to Find the Greatest Treasure of Them All.  So Can You.

When it comes to famous queens of the Bible, we know the good one, Queen Esther, and the bad one, Queen Jezebel. Now meet the wise one, the queen of Sheba, who traveled to Jerusalem to test the mind and heart of a king.

Her quest for wisdom will surprise you, challenge you, inspire you, change you. This wealthy royal from antiquity will show you how to live boldly, seek after truth, ask the right questions, encourage others, receive graciously, and honor the Lord above all.

Shedding new light on this ancient biblical role model, Liz Curtis Higgs unveils timeless wisdom for all who aspire to please the king of Kings. - See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781400070039#sthash.eMc1FXQf.dpuf

When it comes to famous queens of the Bible, we know the good one, Queen Esther, and the bad one, Queen Jezebel. Now meet the wise one, the queen of Sheba, who traveled to Jerusalem to test the mind and heart of a king. - See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781400070039#sthash.eMc1FXQf.dpuf

When it comes to famous queens of the Bible, we know the good one, Queen Esther, and the bad one, Queen Jezebel. Now meet the wise one, the queen of Sheba, who traveled to Jerusalem to test the mind and heart of a king.

Her quest for wisdom will surprise you, challenge you, inspire you, change you. This wealthy royal from antiquity will show you how to live boldly, seek after truth, ask the right questions, encourage others, receive graciously, and honor the Lord above all.

Shedding new light on this ancient biblical role model, Liz Curtis Higgs unveils timeless wisdom for all who aspire to please the king of Kings. - See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781400070039#sthash.eMc1FXQf.dpuf

Sheba Journeyed Across the Desert with a Caravan of Riches,
 Only to Find the Greatest Treasure of Them All.  So Can You.
When it comes to famous queens of the Bible, we know the good one, Queen Esther, and the bad one, Queen Jezebel. Now meet the wise one, the queen of Sheba, who traveled to Jerusalem to test the mind and heart of a king.

Her quest for wisdom will surprise you, challenge you, inspire you, change you. This wealthy royal from antiquity will show you how to live boldly, seek after truth, ask the right questions, encourage others, receive graciously, and honor the Lord above all.

Shedding new light on this ancient biblical role model, Liz Curtis Higgs unveils timeless wisdom for all who aspire to please the king of Kings. - See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781400070039#sthash.eMc1FXQf.dpuf

Sheba Journeyed Across the Desert with a Caravan of Riches,
 Only to Find the Greatest Treasure of Them All.  So Can You.
When it comes to famous queens of the Bible, we know the good one, Queen Esther, and the bad one, Queen Jezebel. Now meet the wise one, the queen of Sheba, who traveled to Jerusalem to test the mind and heart of a king.

Her quest for wisdom will surprise you, challenge you, inspire you, change you. This wealthy royal from antiquity will show you how to live boldly, seek after truth, ask the right questions, encourage others, receive graciously, and honor the Lord above all.

Shedding new light on this ancient biblical role model, Liz Curtis Higgs unveils timeless wisdom for all who aspire to please the king of Kings. - See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781400070039#sthash.eMc1FXQf.dpuf

Sheba Journeyed Across the Desert with a Caravan of Riches,
 Only to Find the Greatest Treasure of Them All.  So Can You.
When it comes to famous queens of the Bible, we know the good one, Queen Esther, and the bad one, Queen Jezebel. Now meet the wise one, the queen of Sheba, who traveled to Jerusalem to test the mind and heart of a king.

Her quest for wisdom will surprise you, challenge you, inspire you, change you. This wealthy royal from antiquity will show you how to live boldly, seek after truth, ask the right questions, encourage others, receive graciously, and honor the Lord above all.

Shedding new light on this ancient biblical role model, Liz Curtis Higgs unveils timeless wisdom for all who aspire to please the king of Kings. - See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781400070039#sthash.eMc1FXQf.dpuf

When it comes to famous queens of the Bible, we know the good one, Queen Esther, and the bad one, Queen Jezebel.  Now meet the wise one, the queen of Sheba, who traveled to Jerusalem to test the mind and heart of a king.

Her quest for wisdom will surprise you, challenge you, inspire you, change you.  This wealthy royal from antiquity will show you how to live boldly, seek after truth, ask the right questions, encourage others, receive graciously, and honor the Lord above all.

Shedding new light on this ancient biblical role mode, Liz Curtis Higgs unveils timeless wisdom for all who aspire to please the king of Kings.

About the Author:

Liz Curtis Higgs has been telling tales since she wrote her first novel at the tender age of ten. Careers in broadcasting, public speaking, nonfiction writing, and children's books brought her back to her first love, fiction, at the turn of the 21st century.

Liz Curtis Higgs

In her best-selling series of Bad Girls of the Bible books, workbooks, and videos, Liz breathes new life into ancient tales about the most infamous—and intriguing—women in scriptural history, from Jezebel to Mary Magdalene. Biblically sound and cutting-edge fresh, these popular titles have helped more than one million women around the world experience God’s grace anew.

Her best-selling historical novels, which transport the stories of Rebekah, Leah, Rachel, Dinah, Ruth, and Naomi to eighteenth-century Scotland, also have invited readers to view these familiar characters in a new light. Now, with The Girl’s Still Got It, Liz offers a twenty-first century take on the book of Ruth, dishing out meat and milk, substance and style, in a highly readable, always entertaining, and deeply personal journey with one of the Good Girls of the Bible.

Liz is the author of nearly 30 books, with more than 3 million copies in print. Her popular nonfiction books include Bad Girls of the Bible, Really Bad Girls of the Bible, Unveiling Mary Magdalene, Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible, Rise and Shine, and Embrace Grace.
- See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781400070039#sthash.eMc1FXQf.dpuf

When it comes to famous queens of the Bible, we know the good one, Queen Esther, and the bad one, Queen Jezebel. Now meet the wise one, the queen of Sheba, who traveled to Jerusalem to test the mind and heart of a king. - See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781400070039#sthash.eMc1FXQf.dpuf

Sheba Journeyed Across the Desert with a Caravan of Riches,
 Only to Find the Greatest Treasure of Them All.  So Can You.
When it comes to famous queens of the Bible, we know the good one, Queen Esther, and the bad one, Queen Jezebel. Now meet the wise one, the queen of Sheba, who traveled to Jerusalem to test the mind and heart of a king.

Her quest for wisdom will surprise you, challenge you, inspire you, change you. This wealthy royal from antiquity will show you how to live boldly, seek after truth, ask the right questions, encourage others, receive graciously, and honor the Lord above all.

Shedding new light on this ancient biblical role model, Liz Curtis Higgs unveils timeless wisdom for all who aspire to please the king of Kings. - See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781400070039#sthash.eMc1FXQf.dpuf