"Touching the Sky"

Hold onto your hats because I've got several more book reviews this week.  Baby nurses, nurses, nurses and Momma reads, reads, reads.

I recently read Touching the Sky by Tracie Peterson.  The description from the back of the book:

"Though their first encounter is hardly auspicious, Laura Marquardt soon discovers herself drawn to the dashing Captain Brandon Reid. As an officer over the colored troops, he eagerly supports her desire to educate blacks and seek harmony in a town where the defeat of the South is a bitter reality.

When Laura's sister marries her Confederate beau, Laura finds herself in a difficult situation after overhearing a discussion with frightening consequences. In her heart she feels she should confide in Brandon, but Laura fears to do so may endanger her sister's life. Yet as the stakes continue to rise and Brandon's motives for pursuing her come into doubt, Laura questions where to turn... and wonders if her own dreams of love may be forsaken."

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end.  Peterson uses rich language to describe every detail of the ladies' dresses, the house furnishings, even the dinner parties.  I immediately fell in love with Laura and found myself defending Brandon's integrity.  Plucky Carissa is a hard pill to swallow but through the weaving of the story I found compassion and pity for her.  And Malcolm....well, let's just say no tears were spilled over him at the end of the story.

Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this book by Bethany House publishers.  All opinions are mine.

Book Review - "A Home in Drayton Valley"

Bethany House asked me to review Kim Vogel Sawyer's A Home in Drayton Valley.  Frail and sickly Mary Burbacher dreams of a better life for her two young children.  Her husband, Joss, though a hard worker is an alcoholic who gambles away his paycheck.  Mary's dearest friend Tarsie, an immigrant from Ireland, tries to nurse Mary back to health and suggests Mary and Joss move their family to Kansas and offers to finance the trip.  When his debts are being called in Joss has no chance but to agree to Mary's request to move.  But Mary has a secret and insists that Tarsie go along with them to see to Mary's medical needs.  When tragedy strikes along the way, Tarsie makes a promise to Mary that she doesn't know if she can keep.

I really enjoyed this book, the characters were multi-dimensional, my favorite characters were Tarsie, Joss, Simon and Ruth.  This story delves into many topics, marriage, prejudice, and prohibition, just to name a few.  The best part of this book is seeing characters soften and change as you see God working in their lives.  Good reading!

Disclaimer: Bethany House provided me a copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are solely mine.

Sixteen Brides

Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson follows the saga of sixteen widows from St. Louis to Plum Grove, Nebraska.  Some of them are running from a haunting past, some are running to hunt for husbands, and still a few others are just looking for a fresh start.  The ladies have been promised the opportunity to homestead in Nebraska and though they are not quite sure what that entails, for most of them it is better than any prospect they had in St. Louis. 

After they arrive in Plum Grove they discover their group leader had an ulterior motive and has promised a cargo of war wives.  When several of the women find this out they part company with the Ladies' Emigration Society and decide to strike it on their own, no matter what befalls them.  The ladies who stay behind end up falling in love with each other and becoming fast and forever friends.  Ella, the strong, sturdy one of the bunch comes up with the idea to homestead on the intersection of four plots of land, with a main living area smack in the middle and four bedrooms that jut out, so that each lady would legally be sleeping on their own land, part of the land contract requirement.  As we witness the ladies build their house, "Four Corners", we also witness them rebuild their lives.  With lots of surprises, laughter and even a few tears, we rejoice as the ladies of Four Corners and several of the residents of Plum Grove find hope.

"Was this how it worked?  A man carried the burden of grief, and for a while it obscured everything else around him, until slowly, the burden started to shrink until it could fit inside his heart instead of blocking out everything else in the world.  And finally, it folded in on itself.  And while it still remained a part of you, and you knew it always would, it made room in your heart for hope.  You woke up one morning and there was no pain behind the enjoyment of sunshine.  Memories stopped slashing their way into your consciousness.  Instead, they floated in, welcome and comforting."  Stephanie Grace Whitson, Sixteen Brides

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers, all comments and opinions are mine.

Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr

Ellie is a 31 year old spinster who has very little options and even fewer physical attributes.  Hired as a temporary housekeeper for Jackson, a young widower, and his two young sons, she hopes only to get a good reference from him and move on with her life.  To her surprise, Jackson proposes marriage to her, a marriage of convenience because she is, after all, very plain and has little chance of ever getting married.  He needs someone to take care of his boys and she needs somewhere to live.  A curt and pointed marriage contract is drawn up and Ellie accepts her lot in life.  Ellie's faith in knowing that God has given her this gift of a family she thought she would never have is heart-warming.  As Jackson witnesses Ellie's faith and loyalty he begins to open up to her with his fears and insecurities.  Expecting her to run at every opportunity, just as all the previous women in his life, he begins to see her in an entirely new light.  This is a refreshing Historical Christian Romance novel, a very wholesome and meaningful story.  You will fall in love with each of the characters in a way you never expected and may even find yourself laughing out loud as Ellie and Jackson go toe-to-toe and try to find their way around each other.

I highly recommend Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr, a heartwarming story about seeing the beauty in people because of and not in spite of what they have been through and the way they have triumphed through it, with the grace of God.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for providing a copy of this book.  All opinions are mine.

The Thorn

Beverly Lewis, noted and beloved author of Amish series is releasing her newest book, The Thorn, today.  Bethany House publishers provided me with a copy and asked me to review the book and I was thrilled as I have long enjoyed Lewis' books.

Rose Kauffman, a spirited young woman, has a close friendship with the bishop's foster son. Nick dresses Plain and works hard but stirs up plenty of trouble too. Rose's sister cautions her against becoming too involved, but Rose is being courted by a good, Amish fellow, so dismisses the warnings. Meanwhile, Rose keeps house for an English widower but is startled when he forbids her to ever go upstairs. What is the man hiding?


Rose's older sister, Hen, knows more than she should about falling for the wrong man. Unable to abandon her Amish ways, Hen is soon separated from her very modern husband. Mattie, their young daughter, must visit her father regularly, but Hen demands she wear Amish attire--and speak Pennsylvania Dutch, despite her husband's wishes. Will Hen be able to reestablish her place among the People she abandoned? And will she be able to convince Rose to steer clear of rogue neighbor Nick?

This book had some characters not often seen in Lewis' books.  Hen truly wrestles with wordly things once she has a child and sees the destruction it is creating in her daughter's life.  And the side story with the English widower and his "secret" is very interesting as well.  Lewis' main characters often struggle between lovers and this book is no different but what is different about this one is Rose Ann doesn't realize she is struggling until it's nearly too late and you see just how naive and pure her motives are.  I also appreciated seeing the human side of the Amish bishop and getting a glimpse into his life as he confides in his friend the struggles he faces with his foster son.  This first volume of the newest trilogy had me longing for more, just as every time I read a Beverly Lewis book.

This book was provided to me by Bethany House Publishers, all opinions and comments are mine.