For the Record by Regina Jennings

Betsy Huckabee might be a small-town girl, but she has big-city dreams. Writing for her uncle's newspaper will never lead to independence, and the bigger newspapers don't seem interested in the Hart County news. Trying a new approach, Betsy pens a romanticized serial for the ladies' pages, and the new deputy provides the perfect inspiration for her submissions. She'd be horrified if he read her breathless descriptions of him, but these articles are for a newspaper far away. No one in Pine Gap will ever know.

Deputy Joel Puckett didn't want to leave Texas, but this job in tiny Pine Gap is his only shot at keeping his badge. With masked marauders riding every night, his skills and patience are tested, but even more challenging is the sassy journalist lady chasing him.

  Available @ Amazon

About the Author

Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English. She is the author of Sixty Acres and a Bride, Love in the Balance, Caught in the Middle, A Most Inconvenient Marriage, At Love's Bidding, and contributed a novella to both With This Ring? and A Match Made in Texas. She and her family make their home in Oklahoma City. Regina can be found online at www.reginajennings.com.

Here is what I thought........

  I really enjoyed this book.  It was my first time reading anything by Regina and I think she will be on my list of go to authors.  The story is great and I enjoyed all the characters.  The romance in this one was fabulous.  It was extremely romantic without feeling like it was mushy or fake.  Yet it didn't feel like you were reading a romance novel.  It fit perfectly into the story.  I found the wit in this story to be a wonderful element as well.  I even found myself giggling at times as I read.  I really had fun reading this book.  I would definitely recommend this one to anybody. I received this book from the author and Bethany house for free.  A positive review was not required.  All opinions are my own. 

The Adventures of Fawn: 'Til the Last Snowflake Falls by Al E. Boy

                                               

The Adventures of Fawn is a 'coming of age' series set in the magical world of Santa's North Pole! The year is 1849, and legendary reindeer Comet and Vixen have a young daughter, Fawn. In this first book, 'Til the Last Snowflake Falls' the young reindeer spends far too many days alone in the stable at Santa's Village with no friends and nothing to do. While her parents caution her she's much too young and inexperienced to go exploring outside Santa's Village by herself, Fawn disagrees. Declaring, “I want some fun and excitement! I don’t care how dangerous it is!” she begins sneaking out each day in search of friends, excitement and adventure. She'll find them all...but also find herself facing dangers like a fierce hungry wolf, a freezing North Pole blizzard, and the treachery of a sea captain capturing animals of the arctic to sell to a zoo in New York City. Along the way, she'll also learn some valuable lessons about what's really important in life. The Adventures of Fawn are filled with fun and excitement for all ages!

Dawn at Emberwilde by Sarah Ladd

Isabel Creston never dared to dream that love could be hers. Now, at the edge of a forest filled with dark secrets, she faces a fateful choice between love and duty.
For as long as she can remember, beautiful and free-spirited Isabel has strained against the rules and rigidity of the Fellsworth School in the rolling English countryside. No longer a student, Isabel set her sights on a steady role as a teacher at the school, a safe yet stifling establishment that would enable her to care for her younger sister Lizzie, who was left in her care after her father’s death.
The unexpected arrival of a stranger with news of unknown relatives turns Isabel’s small, predictable world upside down, sweeping her and her young charge into a labyrinth of intrigue and hidden motives.
At her new family’s invitation, Isabel and Lizzie relocate to Emberwilde, a sprawling estate adjacent to a vast, mysterious wood rife with rumors and ominous folklore—along with whispers of something far more sinister. Perhaps even more startling, two handsome men begin pursuing Isabel, forcing her to learn the delicate dance between attraction, the intricate rules of courtship, and the hopes of her heart.
At Emberwilde Isabel will discover that the key to unlocking the mystery of her past may also open the door to her future and security. But first she must find it—in the depths of Emberwilde Forest.

Available @ Amazon as well as other retailers

Biography

Sarah E. Ladd received the 2011 Genesis Award in historical romance for The Heiress of Winterwood. She is a graduate of Ball State University and has more than ten years of marketing experience.

Here is what I thought......

  I really wanted to enjoy this book.  I kept waiting for the moment when I would love it but that didn't happen.  I enjoyed the characters and the storyline but really felt like the book could have been about 70 pages shorter.  To be fair I am not one for overly flowery or wordy books.  I really liked the characters.  I liked how the book ended and the way it was wrapped up.  It was just hard for me to finish because I knew what was going to happen for the most part at about page 150. This wasn't my favorite book but I may try again with this author.  I received this book from the fiction guild for free. A positive review was not required.  All opinions are my own. 

How To Give Up: How Exactly To Let Go and Let God by Shannon Medisky

Looking for the easy yoke Jesus promised? Claim it by giving up. Keep reading to learn (exactly) how. We crave control. That’s been part of our nature ever since Eve first reached out for the forbidden fruit. But if we truly want to rest in God’s peace, then we must purpose to let go and let God. If you’re looking for real help on how (exactly) to find true, lasting results, keep reading. Inside this book, you’ll discover specific, step-by-step ways you can begin to let go of the control you never had in the first place. In short, you’ll learn how to let God do His job so you can do yours—rest in Him.

A Dream of Miracles by Ruth Reid

Amish widow Mattie vows never to love again . . . until a suspicious outsider with a shadowy past comes crashing into her fragile world.

Mattie Diener can barely keep it together. A young Amish widow and mother of two young children, she faces the lingering heartbreak of lost love, her son’s mysterious illness, and a torrent of accusations that threaten to undo her.

Bo Lambright is a fast-rising social services investigator whose high-society mother won’t rest until she finds his Mrs. Right. Despite Bo’s worldly success, the raw ache of a shadowy past and a series of unsettling dreams have left him reeling.

When Mattie and Bo cross paths, all signs point to disaster. Yet as they face a crucible of trials and tragedies together, longings begin to stir that seem destined only to end in more heartbreak. Is a miracle possible—not only of healing but of forbidden love? What secrets lie in Bo’s dreams? And will Mattie find the courage to face her uncertain future . . . or will she simply run away?

Available @ Amazon

Biography

Ruth Reid is a CBA and ECPA best-selling author of the Heaven on Earth series. She's a full-time pharmacist who lives in Florida with her husband and three children. When attending Ferris State University School of Pharmacy in Big Rapids, Michigan, she lived on the outskirts of an Amish community and had several occasions to visit the Amish farms. Her interest grew into love as she saw the beauty in living a simple life.

Here is what I thought...........

  I absolutely loved this book! I stayed up all night reading it.  I couldn't put it down.  It is some of the best Amish fiction i have read in a while.  This story is very realistic and believable.  I would have never thought of some of the situations taking place in this book but they are very much something that could happen to the Amish.  I loved all the characters in the book.  Each one was a perfect addition to the book.  The surprises that happen at the end were very well done.  Although, I did have somewhat of an idea what the twist was about 3/4s of the way through.  An absolutely fabulous book that is sure to please, both Amish fiction lovers and those who aren't.  I received this book from the fiction guild. A positive review wasn't required.  All opinions are my own.  

BibleMan Genesis DVD

With his new sidekick Coats, Bibleman has som5e extra help in defeating both the Shadow of Doubt and then the Master of Misery. U.N.I.C.E. the spunky computer also assists in unleashing the power of God's Word.

Available at Amazon

Here is what I thought........

I have always enjoyed the Bibleman videos.  I remember watching them when I was younger. These are great DVDs for children to learn biblical principles.  I think these would be awesome for young boys as bibleman is a super hero. This would make a great gift. What a wonderful addition to anyone's DVD library! I received this dvd from B&H bloggers.  A positive review was not required.  All opinions are my own. 

Remeber and Return by John MaCarther

31-Day Devotional from Bestselling Author and Bible Teacher John MacArthur
In the busyness and trials of life, it's easy to drift away from the Savior. We may continue to go to church and even read the Scriptures and pray, but we can still lose our first love. Christ commended the church in Ephesus for their works and for their intolerance of false doctrine yet admonished them to remember and return to their first love--him. In the same way, our outward religiosity can mask an inner lack of love for our Savior.

In this 31-day devotional, John MacArthur takes readers down a biblically prescribed path as they rediscover who Christ is, what he has done, and how they must respond. Each entry will move readers from understanding to application to reflection and prayer, with a goal of rekindling their first love for Christ. Makes a thoughtful gift for any believer.