WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

 Easy, make ahead taco salad for a quick lunch.

Brown hamburger with seasonings, place tomatoes, cheese and 

sour cream in individual cartons, add lettuce in a baggie.

Follow picture for put together, refrigerate and grab and go for lunch.

Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer

 

Book Description:  On his way to interview for a position at a church in the Piney Woods of Texas, Crockett Archer can scarcely believe it when he's forced off the train by a retired outlaw and presented to the man's daughter as the minister she requested for her birthday. Worried this unfortunate detour will ruin his chances of finally serving a congregation of his own, Crockett is determined to escape. But when he finally gets away, he's haunted by the memory of the young woman he left behind--a woman whose dreams now hinge on him.

For months, Joanna Robbins prayed for a preacher. A man to breathe life back into the abandoned church at the heart of her community. A man to assist her in fulfilling a promise to her dying mother. A man to help her discover answers to the questions that have been on her heart for so long. But just when it seems God has answered her prayers, it turns out the parson is there against his will and has dreams of his own calling him elsewhere. Is there any way she can convince Crockett to stay in her little backwoods community? And does the attraction between them have any chance of blossoming when Joanna's outlaw father is dead set against his daughter courting a preacher?

My Thoughts:  I love books that are set in my "area."  Since I live in the piney woods of East Texas I could just imagine all the sights and sounds that Ms. Witemeyer describes. 

But it's the story that really grabbed my attention...who would steal a preacher?!?!  Isn't that kind of contradictory?! 

Well, as odd as it sounds Joanna sends out a posse to do just exactly that!  Steal a preacher!  Crockett Archer (don't you just love that name!) is the preacher that is "captured/stolen."  

Crockett believes that all things work together for good, for God's purposes.  So, even though he struggles with being "stolen"  he goes a long.

Now, Joanna doen't want Crockett for her own gain.  No!  He is a must for her to carry out her dying mother's request.  And all that Joanna wants for her birthday is a minister to help her bring God back into their abandoned church.

A humorous read that brings life into history.

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 0764209663
ISBN-13: 9780764209666

Number of Pages: 352 Vendor: Bethany House

A Picture of Hope (Heroines of WWII) by Liz Tolsma

 Book Description:  Journalist Nellie Wilkerson has spent the bulk of the war in London, photographing mothers standing in milk lines—and she’s bored. She jumps at the chance to go to France, where the Allied forces recently landed. There she enlists Jean-Paul Breslau of the French underground to take her to the frontlines. On the journey, they stumble upon a great tragedy, leaving a girl with special needs being orphaned. 

Can Nellie and Jean-Paul see the child to a safe haven while being pursued by the Nazis, who are pressed by the advancing Allies and determined to destroy all they can before they flee? 

My Thoughts:  I find it interesting that the author, Liz Tolsma, has an adopted daughter with special needs. I would say that Mrs. Tolsma is writing from first hand experience about a girl who needs to flee from Hitler's wrath.

Journalist Nellie Wilkerson wants to go to the front lines for real news of the war.  So when the chance comes she jumps and lands in France where she asks Jean-Paul of the French underground to help her get to the frontlines.

Along the way she and Jean-Paul find a young special needs girl.  As you probably remember from history Hitler wanted to wipe out all special needs people.  So Nellie and Jean-Paul decide to risk it all and get this child to safety with the Nazis hot on their back as the Allies approach.

Such an interesting and different perspective of WWII.  I loved this story and the author has done her research and knows exactly what she's talking about.  A well written story.

*This book was provided for review by Barbour*

FUN FRIDAY

 

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

 I found this recipe on Pinterest.  

It looks delicious and I believe it's from Gooseberry Patch.

1-1/2 c. prepared coffee, cooled

1-1/2 c. chocolate ice cream, softened

1/4 c. chocolate syrup

crushed ice

1 c. frozen whipped topping, thawed

Blend coffee, ice cream and syrup together until smooth; set aside. Fill 4 glasses three-quarters full with ice; add coffee mixture. Top with a spoonful of whipped topping; serve immediately. Make 4 servings.

Gathering Shadows (Finding Sanctuary 1) by Nancy Mehl

 

Book Description:  Wynter Evans is a promising young reporter for a television station in St. Louis, but even a bright future doesn't take away her pain over the disappearance of her brother nine years ago. So when she stumbles across a photograph of a boy with an eerie resemblance to him, she can't pass up the chance to track him down. With research for work as her cover, she sets out with one of the station's photogs for the place where the picture was taken: the town of Sanctuary. 

Almost as soon as she arrives, she meets the town's handsome young mayor, Rueben King, and together they begin to uncover long held secrets that could tear the small town apart and change everything Wynter thought she knew about her life. As the truth of her family's past hides in the shadows, it's clear someone will stop at nothing to keep the answers she's searching for hidden forever--even if the cost is Wynter's very life.

My Thoughts: I absolutely love to read novels/stories by Nancy Mehl!

The Gathering Shadows (the first book in the Finding Sanctuary series) is classified as romantic suspense but, yet, Mrs. Mehl puts so much more into this story.

I love Wynter Evans . . .just love the way her name is spelled.  Wynter is strong and courageous but yet gentle and kind hearted.  Wynter struggles with her past.  And there is Rueben King {sigh!} the young mayor . . . here is the romantic part. 

Wynter's brother disappeared over nine years ago.  then Wynter comes across a picture of a big that resembles her lost brother.  She is drawn to and must go after the clues to see if this is really her brother.  

She travels to the town of Sanctuary.  Sanctuary is the town where Rueben King is mayor. 

There seems to be shadows everywhere Wynter looks.  It seems that the truth may never "show up."

This is quite a read!  The ending, the I.didn't.see.that.coming! and the suspense make for zone fantastic read!

But don't take my word for it....go read it for yourself! 

A great book for the beach or for relaxing by the grill this summer!

• Series: Finding Sanctuary (Book 1)
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers 
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764211579
• ISBN-13: 978-0764211577

Hearts in Harmony (An Amish Journey Novel) by Beth Wiseman

 

Book Description:  Musical prodigy Levi Shetler hasn’t touched a piano since he secretly played one many years ago. His strict Amish community forbids instruments or the singing of any music not in their approved songbook. Levi asks God often why music tempts him when playing an instrument isn’t allowed in his world. 

One person knows Levi’s talents: Mary Hershberger, the girl who promised years ago to keep his secret. Mary comes from a more liberal district than Levi, but she’s facing family troubles of her own. The mutual care for an aging Englischer, Adeline, reunites Mary and Levi as young adults. They realize that, despite their differences, they have a shared love of music—and a shared confusion about whether their talents are God-given gifts or temptations luring them into the Englisch world. 

The couple realizes they must compromise or part ways, but a tragic accident shakes their decision. Both Mary and Levi will need to reconcile what they love with what their hearts say is right. 

My Thoughts:  I love stories about the Amish Community and Beth Wiseman, once again, writes an inspiring story of love and music.  What a combo!

Sometimes we don't think about what makes other people happy or what their gifts are in life and we expect them to conform to one idea.  Such is the case with Levi Shelter and Mary Hershberger.

Levi is gifted with playing the piano.  Such music that comes out of the piano is heavenly.

And Mary can sing like an angel.  Unfortunately, the Amish community that Levi belong to forbids such Englisch ways.  Now Mary's community is a bit more liberal but as they grow up, they go their own ways until one day as they both meet at Adeline's home, and realize that they share a common love of music.

Such a GREAT story of "hearts in harmony."

This is one of those true to the heart reads that makes the reader happy and feeling like all is right with the world.

*This book was provided for review by the Fiction Guild*

• Series: An Amish Journey Novel (Book 1)
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (March 12, 2019)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0529105403
• ISBN-13: 978-0529105400