A Heart's Disguise (Journey of the Heart, Book 1) by Colleen Coble

Book Description:  In the celebratory mood of the recently-ended Civil War, Sarah discovers her betrothed has been keeping a devastating secret.

While the tiny town of Wabash, Indiana, celebrates the end of the fighting,            Sara Montgomery attends the parties, but inside she’s fighting a deep sadness. The love of Sara’s life, Rand Campbell, didn’t come back from the front.

So her brother and ailing father persuade her to pledge herself to another man—despite her misgivings. When Sarah finds out that Rand is in fact alive—and that her fiancé Ben Croftner knew it—she indignantly breaks off their engagement.

Croftner doesn’t take rejection lightly—and a single woman with a sick father makes an easy target. He abducts Sarah, his intentions anything but honorable. Then Rand comes to her aid . . . only to reveal that he has been posted at Fort Laramie, Wyoming, and asks her to go with him as his wife.

Will Sarah leave her dying father’s side for the only man she’s ever loved? And what plans are forming in the jealous heart of Ben Croftner?

My Thoughts: A Heart's Disguise is a short book, just 96 pages but it doesn't end there . . . this is book one in a series.  It was also part of a larger book and is now being made into a series.  Some people may not like a series but,  since I have not read the "larger" book, I am looking forward to the series. 

This book takes place at the end of the Civil War and Sarah Montgomery is ever so glad that the war is over but she is quite sad her love, Rand Campbell, did not return from the war.

Her father is ill.  So her ailing father and her brother "talk" her not becoming engaged to another man, Ben Croftner.  Well, soon enough, Sarah finds out that her beloved is a live and that her now fiancee, Ben, knew this all along!  Indignant! and feeling distrustful!  Sarah breaks off her engagement.  But Ben is not a good man and does not take rejection well!  

Sarah becomes an easy target and Ben abducts her!  Rand comes to save her.

But how will Ben take this turn of events and can Sarah leave her dying father to go with the love of her life?

A light historical read!  Loved this read! 

• Series: Journey of the Heart (Book 1)
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (March 10, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0529103419
• ISBN-13: 978-0529103413

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

Oh so good!  

The Paleo Chef: Quick, Flavorful Paleo Meals for Eating Well by Pete Evans

Book Description:  Acclaimed international chef and television personality Pete Evans takes a whole new approach to making gluten-free, grain-free, and dairy-free, completely Paleo recipes that are worthy of a restaurant but effortless to prepare. 

More and more people are discovering the health benefits of the Paleo lifestyle by cutting out processed, sugary foods and instead eating quality proteins and fats, fresh vegetables and fruits, and nuts and seeds. However, following this way of eating doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor or spending a long time in the kitchen. In The Paleo Chef, Evans provides more than 100 recipes for gorgeous food that is satisfying, distinctive, and good for you, including Kale Hummus, Vietnamese Chicken Wings, and Key Lime Tart.

Each and every one of Evans’s innovative recipes pops with flavor and is brought to life with stunning, full-color photography. Living—and eating—the Paleo lifestyle has never been so effortless and so delicious.

My Thoughts:  It seems that "the Paleo diet" has overtaken our world.  So, not one to be left behind....I decided to join the "paleo movement."  But didn't know where to begin.  That's when I saw this wonderful, hardback book with LOTS of great Paleo recipes.  Can you say...WOW!  Oh!Yeah!  Just the book to get started!

Since I was so excited to begin this new phase in my life,  I quickly opened the book and began to make a grocery list. Uh!oh!  Each recipe has at least one exotic ingredient.  And it seems that most (maybe all of the recipes) use coconut oil.  I live in the boonies of Texas...this may not work!

I decided that even though this is a beautiful book with wonderful pictures it just won't work for me. I've decided to eat plainly and not so vainly.

I love this book, as a book!  But decided it is probably just a tad.too.exotic for me.  

Now, if you are a cook and love making everything from scratch and have access to "exotic" ingredients, then you'll love this cookbook.

Recipe examples taken from the book and provided by the publisher:

Root Vegetable Slaw

Go here for recipe:  http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/RANDO/ASAP/Root_vegetable_slaw.pdf

Brownies

Go Here for recipe: http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/RANDO/ASAP/Chocolate_Brownies.pdf

*This book was provided for review by Waterbrook/Multnomah*

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press (December 30, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 160774743X
• ISBN-13: 978-1607747437

Deadly Echoes (Finding Sanctuary 2) by Nancy Mehl

Book Description:  After a youth filled with tragedy and upheaval, Sarah Miller's life is finally settled with all echoes of the past silent at last. She happily calls Sanctuary her home and spends her days teaching at the local school.

Sarah's joy at her recent reunion with her sister, Hannah, and meeting the niece she didn't know she had is too soon interrupted when Deputy Sheriff Paul Gleason informs Sarah her sister has been killed. 

As she learns more about Hannah's death, the circumstances are eerily similar to their parents' murder. Sarah enlists Paul's help in digging deeper into the murders the police are dismissing as burglaries gone wrong. Paul's concern encourages Sarah's growing feelings for him, but as their investigation peels back the layers of lies almost twenty years old, they get close to uncovering the truth one person will do anything to hide--even if that means coming after the last remaining members of the Miller family.

My Thoughts:  I've waited {I'm}patiently for this second book by Nancy Mehl.  I love books penned by Nancy Mehl.  And, of course, when there is a series I can hardly wait for the next book.

In the small Mennonite town of Sanctuary Sarah is a high school teacher.  Sarah and her long lost sister, Hannah, have recently found each other.  Sarah  is fond of her sister and her eight-year-old niece.  Sarah soon learns that Hannah may have found leads and why their parents were killed. 

Who doesn't want Hannah and Sarah to find out why their parent were killed and what links will they go to keep this a secret?

Quite a suspenseful read.  

Many leads and it seems that maybe, just maybe, Sarah needs to be careful of the men she associates with?  

Nice romance...good and clean.

I loved this read and hope you will too!

*This book was provided for review by Bethany House*

• Series: Finding Sanctuary (Book 2)
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (February 3, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764211587
• ISBN-13: 978-0764211584

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

O! So Good!

Lost Melody by Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith

Jill King's apartment begs to be played. For over a year, it has sat untouched, ever since a terrible accident shattered Jill's ambition of becoming a concert pianist. The ragged scar on her left hand is a cruel and constant reminder of the death of her dream. But another dream is about to come to life---an unexpected, horrifying dream that will present Jill with a responsibility she never wanted. And choices she never wanted to make. Hundreds of lives depend on Jill's willingness to warn her small, oceanside town in Nova Scotia of a nameless, looming disaster. But doing so could cost Jill her reputation, jeopardize the political career of the man she loves, and ruin their plans for a future together. The fate of an entire community hangs in the balance as Jill wrestles with the cost of heeding one still, small voice.

My Review:  Lost Melody is a simply wonderful story about not giving up or giving in AND to always believe!  Believe that God has an ultimate purpose and a plan. 

Jill feels like a washed out has been...from great concert pianist to painful nightmares and scars.  All which came in a split second.  But she still remembers the stranger who told her that God would not let the dream die.  

Jill lives with her feisty seventy-nine year old, soon to be eighty-year old, grandma.  A grandma who lives and loves life with the passion of a person who believes the best is yet to come.

It seems that her grandma, Ruth Parkins, is the ally that keeps Jill going and keeps her on track.

Jill's boyfriend, Greg, is a strong, nice guy.  Greg is the kind of guy most unmarried, single women would love to have around.  Greg is Jill's stalwart companion.

And then Jill begins to have dreams...she needs to warn the town, but it's just a dream, a small voice.  

Can one dream, a small voice make all the difference in the lives of people? And the one who chooses to obey that voice?

A very interesting and insightful read!

Meet the Authors:

The author's page

The result of that first plotting session, Lost Melody, will be available in October, 2011. Then in February, 2012, the ladies will release their second co-authored project, The Heart’s Frontier. They’re excited to introduce their readers to the writing team of Copeland and Smith. When you crack the covers of these books, be prepared to meet characters who will make you laugh and cry, grieve and love, and leave you deeply satisfied when you turn the last page.Lori and Ginny both have busy writing careers of their own, and they continue to write books independently. They invite you to visit their individual websites a t www.loricopeland.com and www.virginiasmith.org. 

Love Never Fails by Martha Rogers

Book Description:  At odds over their beliefs and separated by the war, Molly and Stefan must learn to depend of God.

In book three of the Homeward Journey series, Daniel and Sally Delaney’s daughter Molly finishes school and returns to her home to teach. When old friends of her parents come for a visit with their son, Stefan, Molly is attracted to the young man, but all he is interested in is talking about his position in the army. When he leaves to rejoin his regiment, Molly is both relieved and saddened. Can they overcome their differences and find love?

My Thoughts: Love Never Fails, by Martha Rogers is the third book in The Homeward Journey series.

I have read all three and I must admit that Martha's writing gets better with each book.  

I truly enjoyed the story of Molly, Daniel and Sally's daughter.  This is not a typical love story...love seems like a long road of many disappointments.  

Molly has a keen dislike for guns and war.  The handsome young man, Stefan, that Molly has admired for years is in the military.  Stefan thinks that his uniform and military position will make Molly admire him.

Just like real life, people are sometimes "thrown together" in a social setting and like each other.  But as life would have it, the couple has too many different opinions/thoughts to get together romantically.  Since Molly and Clarissa are good friends and Molly has liked Stefan, Clarissa's brother, Molly goes to meet Clarissa's husband, Andrew, and there is Stefan, too.  

Molly does think that Stefan is handsome in his military uniform but she feels that killing is a horrible sin!  

An interesting thought about defending one's country.  Will love ever come to these two?  How do people overcome "big" obstacles in their relationships?  This story is aptly named for Love Never Fails!

This is the last book in the series.  If you haven't read the other two then you'll need to read those, too.  

This series is a "family" series.  It begins with the grandparent's story, then the parent's story, and now the grandchild's story.

• Series: The Homeward Journey (Book 3)
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Realms (November 4, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1621366472
• ISBN-13: 978-1621366478