The Sisters of Sugarcreek by Cathy Liggett

Book Description:  Many lives were changed the day a fire burned down Faith Community Church, devastating the small town of Sugarcreek, Ohio.

Now a young Amish widow, Lydia Gruber faces an uncertain future. Her husband, a craftsman and volunteer firefighter, always took care of everything, keeping her isolated from others in their community. Without anyone or any skills, how will she survive?

With the death of her beloved aunt Rose in the fire, single mom Jessica Holtz inherits Rose’s Knit One Quilt Too cottage. Though determined to keep the shop open in her aunt’s memory, she doesn’t know the first thing about knitting and quilting and begins to see her aunt’s dream slip through her fingers.

When Liz Cannon lost her dear friend Rose, she also lost her partner in the Secret Stitches Society―the name they gave themselves while delivering gifts of hope to troubled folks in the dark of night. Liz convinces Jessica to keep the anonymous society going, despite the younger women’s inadequacy with knitting and sewing needles. But soon Liz has problems of her own as the life she has rebuilt for herself begins to crumble again.

When Liz and Jessica choose Lydia for their first mission, the three women cross paths and form an unlikely friendship in the aftermath of tragedy. As they walk together through triumph and heartbreak―through grief and new chances at love―they begin to discover that with friends by your side, a stitch of hope can be found anywhere.

My Thoughts:  Three women's paths cross after a tragedy.  They become The Sisters of Sugarcreek.

And as they walk the paths of tragedy to heartbreak, they also become each others cheerleaders as they walk from tragedy to  triumph.

Amish widow, Lydia Gruber, single mom, Rose Holtz, and Liz Cannon all have a common thread.  They all lost someone who gave them hope and love.

When the three women cross paths they, too, feel the need to bering hope to others in Sugarcreek.  

Lydia and Rose know next to nothing about quilting and knitting but when they meet Liz, Liz gives them lessons and hope as they begin to quilt and knit.  Not only does this bring hope to these ladies but it brings hope and closeness to the Sugarcreek community as the women share from their labors. I love the camaraderie these three women share.  They care for one another and for those in their community.  Their tragedy turns into a win win for all involved.

A lovely read that crosses the barriers of "blood" family showing that strangers can become sisters.

These sisters of Sugarcreek bring a whole new meaning to love, laughter, and family.

*This book was provided for review byTyndale*

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (February 1, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1496404890
• ISBN-13: 978-1496404893

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

So easy and so good for a quick muffin!

A February Bride (A Year of Weddings Novella Book 3) Kindle Edition by Betsy St. Amant

Book Description:  Allie left the love of her life at the altar - to save him from a lifetime of heartbreak. When a Valentine's Day wedding brings them back together, she struggles against her family's destructive history. Can Allie ever realize that a marriage is so much more than a wedding dress?

History repeats itself when Allie Andrews escapes the church on her wedding day - in the same dress passed down for generations and worn by all the women in her family - women with a long history of failed marriages. Allie loves Marcus but fears she's destined to repeat her family's mistakes. She can't bear to hurt Marcus worse.

Marcus Hall never stopped loving Allie and can only think of one reason she left him at the altar - him. When the two are thrown together for his sister's Valentine's Day wedding, he discovers the truth and realizes their story might be far from over. Can Allie shuck expectation and discover who she is as a bride and in the Bride of Christ? And if she ever walks down the aisle, what dress will she wear?

My Thoughts:  Another novella!  This novella was a quick read for me.  Not only did I love the story line, I loved Allie!  This novella has a bit of a mystery in it. Why did Allie leave her future husband at the alter?  Twice??  This fun read has a bit more of a twist in it.  Allie seems to have some issues that she can't get past.  Hurdles that keep her from loving any man.  And yet, she wants to love and be loved.  Sometimes it just takes that "special" man to see through the facade.  

This novella is a perfect before Valentine's Day read.  It's romantic, fun and yes, a bit over the top but that's the fun of reading a "made up story!"  A definite excuse to escape the cares of life!

• File Size: 1381 KB
• Print Length: 80 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Up to 5 simultaneous devices, per publisher limits
• Publisher: Zondervan (January 28, 2014)
• Sold by: HarperCollins Publishing
• Language: English

A Terrifying Bike Ride and a Clue to the Missing Girl #2 in the Pennawawa Series By Greta Kay

Book Description:  A story of intrigue, an unsolved mystery, a warning ignored--draws the reader into the lives of Becca Nelson and Leigh Wilcox, who stumble into the center of a dark plot.

Is Think Tank Axis #1 an undercover organization bent on controlling the minds of teens? Do the points in the survey questions start them down a path of doubting their family life? Becca Nelson surmises this as fact. She confides her suspicion to Logan who listens, but is not alarmed.

My Thoughts:  Over the holidays I was looking for an interesting book for a tween girl who was visiting us.  Since she loves to read and loves mysteries I thought that this book A Terrifying Bike Ride and a Clue to the Missing Girl  would be a good read.

I had the thought to read this story before handing my Kindle over to her to read because I thought this would be a fun mystery read. 

This is suppose to be a read on self esteem which is fine but to be honest I found this story slightly confusing.  Too much information on life just for a simple mystery.

The author, in my opinion, tries to put too many "things" into this read. I understand that preteens/teens need to understand what a testimony means, how to present one's self as a christian and how to treat their friends and family but, just maybe, each of these "issues" should be a separate book and not all in one book.

The tween ended up not wanting to read this story.  So, I'm not sure how the younger generation feels about this story.  But I found it a bit trite. 

*This ebook was provided for review by BookLook*

• File Size: 231 KB
• Print Length: 81 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: WestBow Press (June 23, 2016)
• Publication Date: June 23, 2016
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
• Language: English
• ASIN: B01HIXVLSG

In the Shadow of Denali (The Heart of Alaska) by Tracie Peterson, Kimberley Woodhouse

Book Description:  Cassidy Ivanoff and her father, John, work at the new and prestigious Curry Hotel outside Mt. McKinley. While John will be expedition and wilderness exploration guide for the wealthy tourists, Cassidy has signed on as a cook's assistant. Both are busy as the hotel prepares to welcome the president of the United States on his way to drive in the golden spike to officially complete the railroad.

Allan Brennan travels to the Curry Hotel to be an apprentice of a seasoned Alaska mountain guide. Ever since his father's death climbing Mt. McKinley, he's worked to earn enough money to make the trek to the Alaska territory himself. His father's partner blames their guide for the death of his father, but Allan wants to find the truth for himself. He finds an unlikely ally in Cassidy, and as the two begin to look into the mystery, they suddenly find that things are much less clear, and much more dangerous, than either could ever imagine.

My Thoughts:  I've always loved books authored by Tracie Petersen and now she has teamed up with Kimberley Woodhouse to write a great story set in Alaska.

Cassidy Ivanoff and her father, John, are in Alaska to work at the famous Curry Hotel which is within view of Mt. McKinley.

Cassidy is working as a cook's assistant and her father will be a guide in the wilderness for wealthy guests.

Then Allan Brennan comes along to be an apprentice as a mountain guide.

This historical romance was fascinating!  And Cassidy's cooking skills...as well as, the mountain guides adventures was a fun lesson for this reader.

There is a bit of a mystery in this read too.  Allan's father's guide blames the death of his father on their guide but Allan is there to be an apprentice so he can to find out the truth concerning his father's death.

Meeting Cassidy and finding that she is a great partner in helping him find out the truth in this somewhat dangerous mystery.

Then the president of the USA is making a stop at the hotel as he travels to drive the golden spike to complete the railroad.

A lot of history and mystery combined with some sweet romance.

*This book was provided for review by Bethany House*

• Series: The Heart of Alaska (Book 1)
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (January 3, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764219235
• ISBN-13: 978-0764219238

{Blog Tour} The Kill Fee by Fiona Veitch Smith

Book Description:  Poppy Denby, arts and entertainment editor at the Daily Globe, covers an exhibition of Russian art, hosted by White Russian refugees, including members of the surviving exiled Romanov royal family. There is an armed robbery, a guard is shot, and the largest Fabergé egg in the collection is stolen. While the egg itself is valuable, the secrets it contains within are priceless--secrets that could threaten major political powers.

Suspects are aplenty, including the former keeper of the Fabergé egg, a Russian princess named Selena Romanova Yusopova. The interim Bolshevik Russian ambassador, Vasili Safin, inserts himself into the investigation, as he believes the egg--and the other treasures--should all be restored to the Russian people.

Poppy, her editor, Rollo, press photographer Daniel, and the other staff of the Globe are delighted to be once again in the middle of a sensational story. But soon the investigation takes a dark turn when another body is found and an employee of the newspaper becomes a suspect. The race is on to find both the key and the egg--can they be found before the killer strikes again?

Fiona Veitch Smith offers up another rollicking mystery set in 1920s London, when women's emancipation, the jazz age, the consequences of the First World War, and the aftermath of the Bolshevik revolution were rearranging the cultural landscape.

My Thoughts:  Yay!  Another story about Poppy Denby. I enjoyed book one in the Poppy Denby Investigates stories and was excited to receive the second book.

This time Poppy, as the arts and entertainment editor at the Daily Globe, gets to cover the Russian exhibit. 

And while Poppy is covering the exhibit an armed robbery occurs.  The guard is shot, the largest Fabergé egg in the exhibit is stolen but all the secrets that this egg hold are priceless.  Secrets that it seems someone will kill for. 

Well, soon the newspaper staff is involved in this cover story.  But when dark secrets take a turn for the worse and another person is killed.  Which makes a member of the newspaper staff look guilty, Poppy knows this is a mystery she needs to solve. For someone wants this story to be stopped...hence the name Kill Fee (The kill fee is a negotiated payment on a magazine or newspaper article that is given to the freelancer if their assigned article is "killed" or canceled.)

A lot of action and suspense in this grand read.  A great mystery!  Actually loved this story more than book one!   

I love how Fiona Smith incorporates history from the 1920's into the story.  A mystery with history!

*This book was provided for review by Kregel Publications*

• Series: Poppy Denby Investigates (Book 2)
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Publications (November 27, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1782642188
• ISBN-13: 978-1782642183

Bible Journaling

I love Bible Journaling!  And, even though, this not a page that I created

 I wanted to share this sweet page from Tyndale House.

One can write notes for Bible journaling, draw pictures or do both.

Do you do Bible journaling?

What do you journal?