All Saints, by Michael Spurlock and Jeanette Windle

All Saints, written by Michael Spurlock and Jeanette Windle, is the true story behind the movie. Reverend Spurlock went back to school to be a pastor later in life. The All Saints Episcopal Church in Smyrna, Tennessee was the first church he served after finishing school. The church had suffered through many of it’s members leaving. His responsibility is to take the church of just 25 members and a very large financial commitment and grow the church, make it self supporting and reach out in missions.

Just when the decision is made to sell the church, Reverend Spurlock walks the acreage the church is built on and is given the ideal to use the acreage for gardens to help feed others and sell produce. With the help of the Karen refugees from Burma and others God puts in his life, the church is not sold.

This is an inspiring story. The parts that stand out the most to me is how the people in the All Saints church and the refugees do not want to have separate services. Even though they do not all understand each other, they continue worshiping together and working together to save the church. This story also shows us that God will supply our needs, such as supplying the church with the money to start the gardens, the tractor and the irrigation supplies they needed. This is a good book to read to help get more information that just watching the movie.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishing. I have written an honest review.

207 pages

ISBN: 9780764230271

Publisher: Bethany House

Reverend Michael Spurlock served the All Saints Episcopal Church for three years. He is currently serving on clergy staff at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in New York City.

Jeanette Windle is an award-winning author, an investigative journalist and a writers mentor.

Some places this book can be purchased are:

http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/all-saints/386620

https://www.amazon.com/All-Saints-Surprising-Refugees-Brought/dp/0764230271

https://www.christianbook.com/saints-surprising-refugees-brought-dying-church/michael-spurlock/9780764230271/pd/230270

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-saints-michael-spurlock/1126894942?ean=9780764230271#/

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Hearts of Purpose, by Gail Grace Nordskog

Gail Grace Nordskog has this very inspiration book that includes the stories of ten women who have followed the calling from God in their lives and helped others in significant ways. Each chapter is written by a different woman and basically give their backgrounds and what they have done.

One of the things that I like the best about Hearts of Purpose is that it shows us that people from all walks of life get called to do God’s work and follow through on it. A couple of women that stand out in my mind are Marilyn Pulis and Nita Hanson. I really enjoyed reading Marilyn’s story of what it was like for her growing up on the farm. She married a pastor and they ministered together, not just in churches but has missionaries in different countries. Nita’s story just pulled at my heart. Her childhood was filled with insecurity. I was encouraged with her story of her Christian walk and the missions trips that she took part in and how it changed her life.

Nita writes of five steps God takes us through, giving us what we need, when we need it.

First, God sees a situation and has compassion for what those involved are going through.

Second. God, brings the situation to our attention.

Third, God tells us to to help with the situation.

Fourth, God tells us to take what we have and use it to help with the situation.

Fifth. God will give us more than we need.

This was a very encouraging book to read. Through reading these women’s stories, the reader will be reaffirmed that God does supply all our needs and that when He puts in our heart to do something, that He will supply what we need to do it. We will be the ones blessed by doing what God asks us to.

This is a hard covered book with thicker than normal pages. The pages have an artistic backgrounds and the colors of the pages change with the chapters. I really liked that this book comes with an attached book mark ribbon. This book would make a very elegant gift.

I received a copy of this book from BookFun and the author. I have written an honest review.

Series: The Call (book 1)

308 pages

ISBN: 9781946497086

Publisher: Nordskog Publishing

Gail Grace Nordskog is the co-publisher at Nordskog Publishing Inc. and has established the Gail Grace Nordskog Collection which include prayer journals and inspirational books, that help bring the reader closer to God and encourage them In their Christian walk. Gail produces and hosts the Hearts of Purpose television show, interviewing men and women in Christian ministries.

Some places you can buy this book are:
https://www.nordskogpublishing.com/product-tag/gail-grace-nordskog/

https://www.christianbook.com/hearts-of-purpose-gail-nordskog/9781946497086/pd/497081#CBD-PD-Publisher-Description

https://www.amazon.com/Hearts-Purpose-stories-ordinary-extraordinary/dp/1946497088

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hearts-of-purpose-gail-g-nordskog/1125779673?ean=9781946497086

An Amish Christmas Love – Four Novellas by Beth Wiseman, Amy Clipston, Ruth Reid and Kelly Irvin

An Amish Christmas Love is a book containing four novellas. Each of the stories is just under 90 pages long and contain the theme of love at Christmas.

Winter Kisses by Beth Wiseman is a story of a family of ladies spanning three generations. Naomi has not allowed herself to get into a relationship due to the loss her mother and grandmother had when losing their husbands. The women have rented their daadi haus to three men .

The Christmas Cat, by Amy Clipston, is a story of Emma, who lost her husband in July after 45 years of marriage. A cat has chosen her home to go to and has taken over her husband’s chair. When Emma is not able to go to a neighbor’s home for dinner, the younger members take dinner to her.

In Snow Angel, by Kelly Irvin, David and Molly have been seeing each other for a year. David has not been able to move forward with the relationship, until his Englisch ex-girlfriend comes back to town and wants him back.

And Home for Christmas, by Ruth Reid, beings Englischer Ellie back home when she inherits her aunts home. She intends to get the home sold so she can go back to her Englisch life.

These are four very good short stories. The characters are remembering past loves. The stories are the perfect length to read in an evening. I enjoyed reading them all. I think anyone who enjoys Amish stories will enjoy this book.

A couple of things that stand out to me are:

In The Christmas Cat, one of the young ladies asked Emma how she made it through their struggles. Her response was “We just kept our faith in God and believed He would get us through somehow.” Emma’s husband had a feed store that went through financial struggles. And even though they wanted children, they were not able to have them.

In Home for Christmas, Ellie is looking through her aunt’s belongings and find a letter her aunt left Ellie in her journals. Her aunt wants her to find wealth of faith and the power of God in the pages of the journal. The journal contains not only things about her aunt but also the people she was praying for.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through BookLook Bloggers. This is my honest review.

378 pages

ISBN: 9780529118707

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

To learn more about the authors and books they have written go to:

http://bethwiseman.com/

http://amyclipston.com/

https://www.fantasticfiction.com/r/ruth-reid/

http://www.kellyirvin.com/

Some places to buy this book are:

http://www.thomasnelson.com/an-amish-christmas-love

https://www.amazon.com/Amish-Christmas-Love-Four-Novellas/dp/052911870X

https://www.christianbook.com/an-amish-christmas-love-four-novellas/beth-wiseman/9780529118707/pd/9118707?product_redirect=1&Ntt=9780529118707&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCG

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-amish-christmas-love-beth-wiseman/1125150131?ean=9780529118707#/

My Heart Belongs in the Shenandoah Valley by Andrea Boeshaar

“Who can really possess land? God is supreme owner of all the earth.”

Lily and her two brothers have recently lost their father. One day after bathing in the river, Lily runs into Captain Albright, Mac, and is informed he has purchased her family’s orchards and fields. Her father’s friend, Mr. Everett is suppose to be taking care of them. He is now telling them he had to sell the property to pay for their upkeep and he has purchased their home. Mr. Everett has also made it plain that he determines to have Lily as his wife. Lily and her family have not been able to find her father’s will, but they believed they would not have to worry about money.

Mac and his partner, Mr. Blake have been invited to Lily’s home for meals. Lily and Mac both develop feeling for each other, but since they both lost significant others, neither want to get into a serious relationship. However, that is not the case for Mr. Blake and Lily’s aunt. Their friendship turns into a serious relationship very quickly.

My Heart Belongs in the Shenandoah Valley: Lily’s Dilemma is a good story that takes place in 1816. This is one of those stories that is easy to get caught up in. Andrea Boeshaar has done a good job of building the characters as well as the story. While this is a Christian romance, this story has a lot of twists and turns in it that will keep the reading wondering what will happen next. I enjoyed reading of the mischief Lily’s brothers got into. Even though Lily intended to stay on the family property, when she sees the sale contract, she admits that she will miss the property but also feels that God is the owner of all the earth. The author has shown us how it was for women at that time with not being in charge of their own family finances. I think anyone who enjoys Christian historical fiction and romance will enjoy this story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Series: My Heart Belongs

254 pages

Publisher: Barbour Publishing

You can read more about the author and books she has written at: http://www.andreaboeshaar.com/

Some place you can purchase this book are:

https://www.christianbook.com/heart-belongs-shenandoah-valley-lilys-dilemma/andrea-boeshaar/9781683222224/pd/3222224

https://www.amazon.com/My-Heart-Belongs-Shenandoah-Valley/dp/1683222229

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-heart-belongs-in-the-shenandoah-valley-andrea-boeshaar/1125461107?ean=9781683222224

A Time To Stand by Robert Whitlow

A Time to Stand by Robert Whitlow is the perfect book to curl up with and read! This contemporary fiction takes place in Georgia. Adisa Johnson, a young African-American attorney is working in Atlanta when she loses her job. At the same time her great aunt, who raised her, suffers from a stroke and needs some one to care for her. Adisa returns home to Campbellton to be near her great aunt. She takes a temporary job with a law firm under the condition she represent the white police officer that shot a black youth.

If you enjoy legal dramas you will totally enjoy this story. The story is very well written and focuses on forgiveness and doing what is right. The story feels like it could be taken from today’s newspapers, very current and very real. The things that stands out to me is Aunt Josie walking through the town praying for members of the community. I also respect the character of Thelma Armistead, having the strength to stand in front of her church and forgive those involved in the shooting of her grandson. I felt frustrated with the pastor’s position, I wished he would have had more forgiveness and less demand for justice. Overall this is a very good story, it is not so fast moving that the reader struggles to keep up with the story. The characters are very well introduced with background information so they are easy to follow.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and BookLook Bloggers. This is my honest review.

399 pages

ISBN: 9780718083038

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

To learn more about the author and books he has written go to: http://www.robertwhitlow.com/

Some places to buy this book are:

https://www.christianbook.com/a-time-to-stand/robert-whitlow/9780718083038/pd/083038

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-time-to-stand-robert-whitlow/1125138281?ean=9780718083038#/

https://www.amazon.com/Time-Stand-Robert-Whitlow/dp/0718083032

Band of Sister’s by Cathy Gohlke

Band of Sisters, but Cathy Gohlke takes place in 1910 in New York City. When their mother dies, Maureen O’Reilly’s aunt makes Maureen and her sister Katie Rose leave Ireland to travel to Ellis Island. Their father has a friend that sent a letter and money years ago for him to move there. Katie Rose is ill when they reach the USA and is hospitalized. Maureen goes to her father’s friends home to find out he has past away and his family is not honoring his debt. Maureen accepts money from a man and uses that to set up an apartment for them. She gives false recommendations to obtain a job at a local department store. Maureen quickly realizes the department store is a front for a totally different type of business.

Women began disappearing from the store and Maureen eventually tells others. She works together with a man who also traveled from Ireland and his employer to try to find the women.

This is a great adventure to read. I really enjoyed the suspense that is written in the story. I wanted to just keep reading this story to see what was going to happen next. The parts in the story that really stand out for me are what it was like for immigrants who arrived in the United States and how the women from church got together to try to help the women immigrants.

I feel anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction based on immigration will really enjoy this story.

422 pages

ISBN: 9781414353081

Publisher: Tyndale House

To learn more about the author go to: http://authorcathygohlke.com/

Some places to buy this book are:

https://www.tyndale.com/p/band-of-sisters/9781414353081

https://www.christianbook.com/band-of-sisters-cathy-gohlke/9781414353081/pd/353081

All She Left Behind by Jane Kirkpatrick

All She Left Behind is a fictional story written by Jan Kirkpatrick based Jennie Pickett Parrish, one of the first doctors in Portland working with women and children. Jennie and Charles Pickett were married in 1860 and lived with her sister’s family. They had a young son, Douglas, and Charles worked for their brother-in-law. Charles started drinking and became addicted to alcohol. They borrowed money from Josiah Parrish to start a real estate business. But Charles used the money for other things. He divorced Jennie so she and their son are not pulled in to his life. With no way to support herself and Douglas, Jennie moved home to her parents. Josiah offered Jennie a job caring her his ill wife, Elizabeth, to work of the debt. When Elizabeth passed away, Jennie stayed to help Josiah go through their home and prepare for him to move to Portland. During this time, they got to know each other and developed a relationship. They eventually married and Josiah convinced Jennie to go to school to become a doctor, a dream she pushed aside to raise her family.

This is a great story. The story focuses on the topic of addictions and how they affect the family. The story also gives historical information concerning divorce and women’s place in school and business. I really enjoyed reading this story and seeing the strength that Jennie had to move forward with her life as a single mother. The struggles Jennie went through with Charles, her son and their addictions must have been really hard. I appreciate the research the author has done to write the story as well as the additional information she includes in the book, such as who the characters are and the different types of herbs Jennie used and what she used them for. I believe anyone who enjoys reading historical stories will enjoy reading this story.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing. This is my honest review.

352 Pages

ISBN: 9780800727000

Publisher: Revell Publishing

To learn more about the author go to: http://jkbooks.com/

Some places to buy this book are:

https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/all-she-left-behind-9780800727000

https://www.christianbook.com/all-she-left-behind/jane-kirkpatrick/9780800727000/pd/72700X

https://www.amazon.com/All-Left-Behind-Jane-Kirkpatrick/dp/0800727002

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-she-left-behind-jane-kirkpatrick/1125516167?ean=9780800727000

http://www.deepershopping.com/item/kirkpatrick-jane/all-she-left-behind-sep/7043003.html

These Healing Hills by Ann H. Gabhart

The year is 1945 and the war has ended. The soldiers are now coming home and for Francine Howard that should mean having the man she loves coming home to her. But he is bringing home a girl from England. Francine is a nurse and signs up to go to the Appalachian Mountains to train to be a midwife with the Frontier Nursing Service. Her mother continues to pressure her to come home, but she now feels the Appalachian Mountains is her home.

Ben Locke is a medic returning home from the war and meets Francine. Francine visits the Locke home frequently to check up on Ben’s two sisters and his brother. Even though the Locke’s like Francine, the mother still feels she is an outsider. Despite their differences Ben and Francine develop a friendship.

These Healing Hills, by Ann H. Gabhart, is a really good book that blends history, friendship and a touch of romance. The story contains a good blend of characters and beliefs. I really enjoyed reading the beliefs that some of the mountain people had about how to cure their health issues. I enjoyed reading how Francine left the city and moved to an area where she had to learn how to grow and process the food she ate. The strength Francine displays and the love and caring ways she treats others is encouraging.

This is such a good book that I hope the author writes a sequel. I think anyone who enjoys reading books based after World War II would really enjoy this book.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing. This is my honest review.

368 Pages

ISBN: 9780800723637

Publisher: Revell Publishing

To learn more about the author and books she has written go to: http://www.annhgabhart.com/

Some places to buy this book are:

http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/these-healing-hills/350771

http://www.deepershopping.com/item/gabhart-ann/these-healing-hills-sep/7043001.html

https://www.christianbook.com/these-healing-hills-ann-gabhart/9780800723637/pd/723631

https://www.amazon.com/These-Healing-Hills-Ann-Gabhart/dp/0800723635

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/these-healing-hills-ann-h-gabhart/1125516127?ean=9780800723637

As A Shield by Danny & Wanda Pelfrey

As a Shield: A Davis Morgan Mystery is about former Pastor Davis. After the death of his wife, he no longer pastors a church but is a pastor for the local law enforcement. He often rides with officer and friend Charley. Davis’s daughter is soon to be married. She and her fiance are purchasing an old house that no one has lived in but are finding their lives threatened. Two men have been hired to stop them from buying the home. The men have kidnapped the wrong lady and shot the wrong man. A visitor in town dies of natural causes but his body is stolen from the funeral home. Tattooed on his body is a location in the area.

Davis works with Charley to try to find who is threatening his daughter and her fiance. While doing so the plane they are flying in goes down and Charley’s squad car is totaled.

This is a very enjoyable mystery to get lost in. One of the things that stands out for me with this book is the friendship of the two men. As well as how Charley feels since he is not a Christian, that God was watching out for Davis and Charley’s life was saved as well. I enjoyed the humor that is woven through the story as well. I really enjoyed this book. It kept me reading until I was done reading it and kept me guessing. I am looking forward to more in this series. I would recommend this to anyone who likes to read a good mystery.

I received a copy of this book from BookCrash and have written an honest review.

Series: Davis Morgan Mystery (book 1)

208 pages

ISBN: 9781633570917

Publisher: Crosslink Publishing

To learn more about Danny & Wanda Pelfrey go to: http://www.pelfreybooks.com/

Some places to buy this book are:

https://www.amazon.com/As-Shield-Davis-Morgan-Mystery/dp/1633570916

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/as-a-shield-danny-and-wanda-pelfrey/1125576560

http://www.deepershopping.com/item/danny-and-wanda-pelfrey/as-a-shield-davis-morgan-mystery/7069784.html

Crisis Shot by Janie Cantore

Crisis Shot, by Janice Cantore, is book one in the Line of Duty series. Tess O’Rourke is a commander with the Long Beach police department and one morning while on her way to work she responds to a call. She finds an officer down and some young men near him. When she shots one of them, the public and some of her co-workers go against her. She takes a job as chief of police in Rogue Hollow, a very small town. She has to deal with issues surrounding being the only woman on the force and having to report to a very demanding mayor.

The pastor’s wife has found out her cancer has returned again and this time it is worse. She goes away one day and does not return. While she is gone her brother turns up dead. The police force is being forced to work extra hours to find the pastor’s wife and get to the bottom of the situation. They are also reaching out to surrounding forces for help.

I really like Janice Cantore’s books and this one is her best so far! I enjoyed how Tess and her father would make rules. Much like my favorite TV show. The suspense is carried through the entire story, both with the Long Beach shooting and situations in Rogue Hollow. One of the things that stands out for me in this story is even with what the pastor is going through he still is there to encourage others. When they find his wife injured he tells Tess that he is worried and a little frightened but he trusts God. If he didn’t, nothing in this life would make sense.  I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys police stories.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and I have written an honest review.

Series: Line of Duty (book 1)

432 pages

ISBN: 9781496423702

Publisher: Tyndale Fiction

To learn more about the author visit: http://www.janicecantore.com/

Some places you can buy this book are:

https://www.christianbook.com/crisis-shot-1-janice-cantore/9781496423702/pd/423704

https://www.amazon.com/Crisis-Shot-Line-Janice-Cantore/dp/1496423704

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crisis-shot-janice-cantore/1125947658?ean=9781496423702

http://www.deepershopping.com/item/cantore-janice/crisis-shot-the-line-of-duty-series-1/7055759.html