More Than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer

Book Description:  Many consider Evangeline Hamilton cursed. Orphaned at a young age and possessing a pair of mismatched eyes--one bright blue, the other dark brown--Eva has fought to find her way in a world that constantly rejects her. Yet the support of even one person can help overcome the world's judgments, and Eva has two--Seth and Zach, two former orphans she now counts as brothers. 

Seeking justice against the man who stole his birthright and destroyed his family, Logan Fowler arrives in 1880s Pecan Gap, Texas, to confront Zach Hamilton, the hardened criminal responsible for his father's death. Only instead of finding a solitary ruthless gambler, he discovers a man not much older than himself with an unusual family. When Zach's sister, Evangeline, insists on dousing Logan with sunshine every time their paths cross, Logan finds his quest completely derailed. Who is truly responsible for his lost legacy, and will restoring the past satisfy if it means forfeiting a future with Evangeline?

My Thoughts:  I love the title of this book because it makes a statement that is true about so many things in life:  More than Meets the Eye! But the ironic things about Evangeline Hamilton is that her eyes don't match in color...one is bright blue and one is dark brown.  So some people think she is cursed.  Some people are so, well, stupid, when it comes to accepting others even by their eyes color.

This is a great historical romance with Logan Fowler trying to find the culprit who destroyed his family only to find Zach Hamilton the man in question is rather young and Zach's sister, Eva (Evangeline) is a ray of sunshine.

Logan is rather confused about a situation he thought was a all mapped out to be just as he thought.

So his well laid plans are well, More Than Meets the Eye!

*This book was provided for review by Bethany House*

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (June 5, 2018)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764212834
• ISBN-13: 978-0764212833

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

The Wood's Edge: A Novel (The Pathfinders) by Lori Benton

Book Description:  At the wood’s edge cultures collide. Can two families survive the impact? 
 
The 1757 New York frontier is home to the Oneida tribe and to British colonists, yet their feet rarely walk the same paths. 
 
On the day Fort William Henry falls, Major Reginald Aubrey is beside himself with grief. His son, born that day, has died in the arms of his sleeping wife. When Reginald comes across an Oneida mother with newborn twins, one white, one brown, he makes a choice that will haunt the lives of all involved. He steals the white baby and leaves his own child behind. Reginald’s wife and foundling daughter, Anna, never suspect the truth about the boy they call William, but Reginald is wracked by regret that only intensifies with time, as his secret spreads its devastating ripples. 
 
When the long buried truth comes to light, can an unlikely friendship forged at the wood’s edge provide a way forward? For a father tormented by fear of judgment, another by lust for vengeance. For a mother still grieving her lost child. For a brother who feels his twin’s absence, another unaware of his twin’s existence. And for Anna, who loves them both—Two Hawks, the mysterious Oneida boy she meets in secret, and William, her brother. As paths long divided collide, how will God direct the feet of those who follow Him?

My Thoughts:  Lori Benton is a new author to me.  I was intrigued by the cover of this book and the title.  The Wood's Edge stirs up thoughts of something happening, a secret of some kind.

Well, as I began reading I was not disappointed because in this historical novel as Ms. Benton not only describes colonial life in a real life way but the story begins with a "secret."  A dead child and a stolen child!  I think it's interesting that there is one brown child and one white child...I had read how twins can be very different in appearance and this is an interesting feature of this story.

I wasn't sure how the relationship between the stolen child and the left behind child would come about.  But Ms. Benton's writing brings it all together in a most unusual way, yet true to life.

This was quite one interesting read.  Without giving away any spoilers, it is about twins and how one twin misses/feels the absence of the other. But yet, there is so much more to this read that one should really read the book for herself to get the "whole" picture.

It's a great read about God's grace and mercy and His love for mankind.

• Series: The Pathfinders
• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press (April 21, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601427328
• ISBN-13: 978-1601427328

Big Trucks: A Touch-and-Feel Book: Getting the Job Done Together (Touch-and-feel Trucks) by Thomas Nelson

My Thoughts:  Since we have a toddler/preschooler in the family I love these books that incorporate more than reading.
This book has a touch and feel part to some of the pages.  Such as on the first two pages when the strong truck is digging the child can feel the sand around the bottom of the pages.  
On the next page the child can feel the rubber tires of the truck.
And then on the next page the working vehicles have mirrors.
The next couple of pages have metallic glittery looking parts to the trucks and then back to sand on the road.
It's a great book for the child who loves trucks and working construction vehicles.

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

• Grade Level: Preschool and up
• Series: Touch-and-feel Trucks
• Board book: 12 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson; Multilingual edition (July 3, 2018)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 140031058X
• ISBN-13: 978-1400310586

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

So good and so easy!

The Discovery Series by Wands E. Brunstetter

Book Description:  A young Amish couple faces formidable challenges in this innovative 6-part serial novel. Introducing you to Meredith and Luke Stoltzfus, whose marriage is threatened, Brunstetter leads you on a compelling journey of doubt, faith, love, and hope that will keep you reading---and guessing---until the end. A heartwarming saga! 128 pages each, six slipcased softcovers from Barbour.

My Thoughts:  This is one of the best "mini series" that I have ever read!  Each book is about this sweet, young Amish couple who are newly married, Meredith and Luke.

Intrigue, mystery and romance...along with Amish traditions.

Each of the mini books is a story within itself but each until you reach the sixth book has a wonderful cliff hanger.  

Yes, each book goes with the next.  

This is one great set....A must read for all Amish fiction lovers!

Format: Paperback Number of Pages: USA Vendor: Barbour Publishing Publication Date: 2013 ISBN-13: 9781624167515

{Fiction Guild Blog Tour} Where Hope Begins by Catherine West

Book Description:  Savannah Barrington has always found solace at her parents’ lake house in the Berkshires, and it’s the place that she runs to when her husband of over twenty years leaves her. Though her world is shaken, and the future uncertain, she finds hope through an old woman’s wisdom, a little girl’s laughter, and a man who’s willing to risk his own heart to prove to Savannah that she is worthy of love.

But soon Savannah is given a challenge she can’t run away from: Forgiving the unforgivable. Amidst the ancient gardens and musty bookstores of the small town she’s sought refuge in, she must reconcile with the grief that haunts her, the God pursuing her, and the wounds of the past that might be healed after all.

My Thoughts:  So many times in our broken state of helplessness we can find mercy and grace in God's love.  Such is the case in Savannah Barrington's life.

None of us want our spouse to leave us for infidelity.  But many times those things are beyond our control.  When Savannah's husband leaves her after twenty years it hurts her to her core so she decides to go to a place where she remembers love and laughter--her parents' lake house.

At this place Savannah finds much more than she ever thought she needed but she also finds that she must learn to forgive.  Forgiveness never seems hard until we have to forgive.  

An interesting novel of hurts, healing and heart-to-heart thoughts and talks with those who know the meaning of listening.

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

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 22, 2018)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785217436
• ISBN-13: 978-0785217435