WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday} DYI

 

Love Inspired Princess In Peril {Reclaiming the Crown} by Rachelle McCalla

 

Book Description:  A KINGDOM DIVIDED When insurgents attack the king’s motorcade, scattering the royal family, bodyguard Levi Granaldo has one goal—to protect the princess. Even though he knows Princess Isabelle distrusts him. On the run together, they fl ee to New York, to the shelter of a sanctuary established by Levi’s father. But their safety can’t last. After a surprise attack divides the pair, Isabelle is forced to face some hard truths. The danger she’s in is getting deadlier by the day…and she’ll never be able to face it without Levi by her side. Reclaiming the Crown: Born to rule with faith, honor…and love.

My Review:  Sometimes a small book packs the most punch!  Such is the case with Princess In Peril by Rachelle McCalla.  This book begins with a motorcade of the royal family being blown to bits by insurgents but focuses on just one car-Princess Isabella's.  Unbeknowst, to Isabella her father had an "inkling" that something might be amiss so he made plans to change Isabella's body guard.  Levi is now Isabella's bodyguard.  He takes his job very seriously and he is good at it.

The mystery and challenge of trying to find out why the insurgents want the royal family dead is intriguing.  And trying to find the "who" is behind this terrible action is a mystery that Isabella and Levi must track down.

This was a most believable read and truly enjoyable.

This read is filled with action, suspense, action, romance, action and faith.  This is probably my all time favorite Love Inspired.  I can't wait for the second book in reclaiming the crown series!

An Amish Reunion: Four Stories by Amy Clipston, Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, Kelly Irvin

 

My Thoughts:  Four great Amish authors and four wonderful stories about Amish life.

The first story Their True Home by Amy Clipston has to do with the reunion of children all grown up meeting again.  When Marlene Bawell's family has to move back to Bird In Hand, it's been ten years, and she is all grown up and so is the boy, Rudy, whom she had a crush on in elementary school.  Love and a sweet relationship by one of my favorite authors.

A Reunion of Hearts by Beth Wiseman is about love lost.  Ruth and Gideon were married but when circumstances beyond their control and grief has taken a toll on their marriage.  Unable to get past their grief but, also, unable to dissolve their marriage they leave their families and Amish faith to find two different paths in life.  So, when they are each invited to a family reunion they both believe that the other will not be there.  AHA!  Can their grief be mended?

A Chance to Remember by Kathleen Fuller is a fun read.  A matchmaker in her eighties is surprised when a man from her past arrives in her small town.  Can a matchmaker take a chance on love so late in life?

Mended Hearts by Kelly Irvin pens a somewhat sad tale of a young girls who makes an unwise decision.  Even though the community all say they have forgiven her, she constantly feels the eyes of ht people are upon her as she and her daughter go throughout the community.  Can love over come obstacles?

Four great short stories in one book!  

And all such fantastic stories.  

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan 
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310352711
• ISBN-13: 978-0310352716
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.4 inches

Fabulous Friday!

 

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

 

A Plain Scandal by Amanda Flower

About the Book:  The people of Appleseed Creek in the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country are under attack. Soon after the dust has settled on a buggy accident that turned out to be murder, an unknown assailant begins cutting off the long hair of Amish women and the beards of Amish men.

New to the area, computer specialist Chloe Humphrey may not share their customs, but she is certainly alarmed over these crimes against the Amish and worries how such events will impact her growing number of friends who are more connected to that way of life.

In this small community, when Chloe discovers the body of an Amish businessman who was stabbed in the back and whose beard was cut off, she knows that finding the murderer and restoring peace to Appleseed Creek is as much her responsibility as anyone else’s.

My Thoughts:  I "found" Amanda when I read A Plain Death. When book 2, A Plain Scandal came out, I grabbed it up.  Amanda flower writes about an English young woman, Chloe, and her close relationship to two Amish young people-a brother, Timothy, and sister, Becky.

In fact, when Becky decides to leave her Amish roots (in book 1), she comes to Chloe almost begging to be her roommate.  Chloe takes her in and is ever so glad because Becky is one fab cook!  And Timothy is not so bad either!  A great carpenter and easy on the eyes.

This read, A Plain Scandal, has it all.  With a combination of humor, faith, romance and mystery this is one fantastic read!  

This fiction read is based on real life accounts of hair cutting of the Amish women and beard cutting of the Amish men.  If you know the Amish hair cutting is a sin.  Something that just isn't done!  But there seems to be two more mysteries going on, too.  A murder and the house that Chloe and Becky reside in.  Just when I thought I knew whodunit, another twist was added.  

This is a most serious mystery but Amanda is able to put great humor and wit into her writing.  

I would suggest that one read A Plain Death first simply because there is quite a bit about the Amish and the family that is mentioned in book 2.

Even though I really liked book 1, book 2 is absolutely great!  

Book 1

A March Bride by Rachel Hauck

 

Book Description:  Susanna has found her true prince, and their happily ever after is just around the corner. But when Nate asks her to give up something precious to her, Susanna can't help but wonder if it's a sign that their love is not meant to be. Susanna Truitt (Once Upon A Prince) is three weeks from royalty. She'll soon marry King Nathaniel II of Brighton Kingdom. But when the government insists she renounce her American citizenship before the wedding, coupled with the lack of involvement by family and friends, Susanna's heart begins to doubt whether this marriage is God's plan for her. Nathaniel would do anything for his bride-to-be. But he knows his position requires that she give up a lot to be with him. Her life will never be her own---right down to her very identity. When she travels home to St. Simon's Island, Georgia, right before the wedding, Nathaniel fears she won't return. Gathering his courage, he devises a plan to win his bride all over again, and together they seek out a kingdom to treasure above all.

My Thoughts:  I love weddings!  And I've had the opportunity to read three ebooks by Rachel Hauck about weddings.  YAY!

Of course, Rachel Hauck is an excellent romance writer so reading these stories is like eating my favorite chocolate with a white chocolate mocha!

Susanna is my favorite bride of the three books.  Maybe, because she is to marry and live in the Brighton Kingdom.

Susanna is in love with Nate (King Nate, that is!) and planning this royal wedding is a wonderful dream . . . and then! boom!  The Brighton Kingdom insists that she give up her American citizenship to marry the king.  

Oops!  One slight inconvenience, right!?!?  

Um, well, that went over like a lead ballon.  

So, off Susanna  flies back home to good ole Georgia but the handsome King Nate loves his bride-to-be Susanna.  He devises a plan to make sure Susanna returns to him.

This plan was quite ingenious!  Wonder if it could really happen in "real" life?  (This is why fiction books are so much fun!)

A great fun, light read!  Loved it!