While this book in no way is as good as some of Ms. Lewis’ earlier works, I have to say that it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. In fact, I quite enjoyed it. I’ve read several reviews that practically bashed it, saying that it’s too depressing, that there are too many characters to follow, that there are loose ends not resolved, etc. I have a few things to say about each one of those points.

First of all, yes, the book is slightly depressing, but I don’t think she meant for this particular series to start off as happy. Yes, the mother leaves her husband and her children, and none of them understand why. They are the ones left to pick up the shreds of their dignity among their community. None of that is pleasant, but that’s the story Ms. Lewis chose to write. If you really want to see Amish fiction that’s depressing, look into the Sisters of Holmes County series by Wanda Brunstetter….hands down the worst Amish series I have read to date, and I’ve read several.

Secondly, the characters. I didn’t think there were too many to follow; it seemed to be an adequate amount to keep it interesting, but not too many to keep up with. With that said, the only complaint that I have were a few characters that had names that were too similar. Martin (Puckett) and Marian (Reihl) look very similar when you’re only reading their first name, as do Adam and Andy, two other secondary characters. I think a little bit more creativity could’ve been used when deciding on the names.

Lastly, yes, there are loose ends at the end of the book, but that’s the author’s preference. Not every author is going to have a complete resolution at the end of every one of their books. There are several storylines that are going on, and they can’t all be covered in one book. Otherwise, there would be complaints that the story was too rushed. I guess you can’t please everybody all of the time, much less part of the time. Personally, I didn’t mind that the story ended the way it did. The actual “secret” of the book was revealed, but how it will play out will have to wait until books 2 & 3.

I am quite excited to read the rest of the series, mainly because the storyline is outside the norm for Amish fiction. Women just do not walk out on their families in the Amish world. I’m not expecting happy resolutions all around when it’s all said and done, but I do think it will be some great reading….I’m really looking forward to it.

Romance stories are not typically my cup of tea. When I first started reading fiction a lot, they were, but I no longer go out of my way any more to read a romance. Well…..I’m glad I decided to make an exception for Stand-in Groom! This is a romance done right!

Anne’s career choice alone really makes this book stand out. I had a brief desire at one point in my life to be a wedding planner, but now that I actually know what’s involved, plus reading how Anne practically runs herself ragged day after day…..let’s just say that I’ll leave that job to the professionals. I loved how she really cared for each one of the brides that she worked with, so much so that she would drop everything at a moment’s notice to help one of them through a crisis.

And then, there’s George…. My, my, my! He set my heart to flutterin’ from the moment he first met Anne. Initially, his part in the story was a little confusing, especially trying to distinguish between the role he was trying to play and the person he really was, but things quickly became easy to follow. Oh, and did I mention that he’s British? And such a perfect gentleman? Wow!

Parts of the story were slightly predictable, but I was genuinely surprised a couple times along the way. I also appreciated how the romance progressed slowly throughout the book and not just in one big lump; it just made the story that much more believable.

All that’s left to say is that I will definitely be reading more from Kaye Dacus! This was an impressive debut novel, and I have no doubt that the rest of this series will be just as exceptional! Bravo!

The Swiss Courier was only just released a few weeks ago, and there are already a ton of great reviews out all over the web. Based on all the reviews I’ve seen, I had really high expectations of it, and I was really anxious to read my first book by Tricia Goyer. Even though it was a really great story, there were just too many things that kept bugging me throughout the whole story, and I just can’t help but give my honest opinion.

First of all, the title alone is somewhat misleading. I look at the cover and see a woman along with the book’s title, The Swiss Courier. So, I expect that she will be the main character in the book. Well, she wasn’t. During the first half to two-thirds of the book, she appears about every 3rd chapter at best. While the rest of the story was good, there’s so much other activity going on, and her character almost gets lost in the shuffle. Because of this, I think that’s why I didn’t connect with her or any of the other characters throughout the story.

Another thing that disappointed me was a portion of Joseph Engel’s story. I really enjoyed the beginning of it when I was learning about him, and what he’s on the brink of discovering. But then, it just stops abruptly once he’s in hiding. It was like I got to meet him for 10 minutes, and then he was gone.

Lastly, I think it would’ve been a huge help if there had been some sort of glossary enclosed in the book. I don’t know the slightest bit of German, not to mention that my knowledge of WWII in general is limited, and can’t tell you how many times I was confused along the way. In addition to this, I think it would’ve helped tremendously to have a “fact or fiction” segment at the end of the story just to establish what was real and what wasn’t.

You’d think from all those criticisms that I didn’t like the book one bit, but I really did. It is quite evident that there was tons of research that was poured into this book, even down to the plane ride at the end. There were even a few twists and turns that caught me by surprise…so much so that I was practically holding my breath hoping that things would end the right way! Overall, I would have to give it 3 stars—a middle-of-the-road rating because even though it was a good story, there were a lot of things that could’ve made it better.

I have really mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I thought Stretch Marks was a really trendy book, and had I not received a copy to review, I doubt I would’ve ever picked it up at a bookstore. It’s not common to see a Christian fiction book with talk of yoga, PETA, and carbon footprints. On the other hand, the author tackled the subject of single motherhood, and I really applaud her for thinking outside the box and writing about a subject that is more common in Christian circles than most people like to admit. I did enjoy the Christian element in the book of bearing one another’s burdens (taken from Galatians 6:2). I like what one character said in the book—it’s the law of Christ, not a suggestion. With that said, this was not a preachy book; in fact, I’d consider the Christian aspects to be very mild. But out of what was there, some of the points were very hard-hitting, and definitely made me think twice. Overall, while this book isn’t for everyone, there are a few out there that will love it in its entirety.

I loved this final book in the French Twist series, and am so sad that the series is over! Lexi Stuart is a person that you want to see succeed, not only with her job, but also with the right mate. I found myself going back and forth through this book, as well as book 2 (Bon Appetit), on who I wanted her to end up with. I won’t spoil it for you, but I can definitely say that Lexi made the right choice!

On top of the dating issues, Lexi also has the responsibility of opening a new bakery back in her home town of Seattle. And bless her heart, that is not an easy task! Through it all, her intentions are right in line, but roadblocks are right there with her, too. So, she goes right to the source to get the strength she needs….the Word of God. The book of Philippians was the perfect parallel to Lexi’s story, and provided the perfect guidance that she needed for this chapter in her life.

If you have never heard of Sandra Byrd, then, you are missing out on a real treat! She’s mostly known as a YA author, but branched out with adult books with the French Twist Series, with Pièce de Résistance as the 3rd and final book. Her books have just the right mix of fun, romance, and faith. Oh, and just reading about the pastries in all three books will make your mouth water!

I love to read books about strong, confident women. Faith Westcott is definitely such a women, and strenth, confidence, and determination are all necessary traits considering the fact that she’s a pirate. Right at the beginning, she takes command of a ship, The Red Siren, and makes it her own, not realizing the disgrace that will soon befall the ship’s former captain. All that she can see is that it is up to her to provide for her sisters so that they’re aren’t all married off to horrible, greedy men. Faith father also intends to marry her off to such a man, Sir Wilhelm, and she must to everything she can to stop that from happening.

The romance in this book is packed with intensity! Some of the scenes between Faith and Dajon just made my heart start fluttering, and reminded me very much of Julie Lessman’s books which are also full of passionate scenes. I’m loving the fact that more and more of this type of writing is becoming more common in Christian fiction. It’s okay to have passionate scenes between couples without stepping over the line, and as long as it’s presented tastefully, I say bring it on!

I would highly recommend this book if you like good historical fiction with a great romance. MaryLu Tyndall is quickly becoming a favorite of mine after reading one of her other novels, The Falcon and the Sparrow. Looks like I need to pull out her first pirate series….I doubt they disappoint!

Fans of The Shack will love this new offering from Windblown Media—Bo’s Cafe. It’s crammed with just as much depth as The Shack, but just with a much better story, in my opinion.

You’d be hard-pressed not to find yourself doing a lot of self-examining after reading this. This book will step on your toes, get under your skin, and cause you to realize that not everything in life can be fixed by just putting a Band-aid on it. Some things simply take longer to understand and resolve, and after reading Bo’s Cafe, you realize that that’s okay.

The characters are fabulous, too. Each one is so real, and any one of them could easily be part of your own circle of friends. Also, the description of the cafe itself is very real. You can practically smell the aroma of fish and shrimp, and it makes you want to drive your nearest favorite seafood restaurant for a great meal.

Bo’s Cafe will leave you saying “Wow” after you finish the final page. It’s a book that should be passed around and talked about just as much as The Shack has been. No doubt about it….this is a book that everyone needs to read. It’s just that good.

This book has so many great qualities that I almost don’t know where to start! It’s got a fast-paced storyline, a good romantic element, and a mystery that will have you guessing the “who-done-it” all the way through. Not only that, but it’s a hard book to put down. I was reading it every spare minute that I could!

Lately, I’ve been on the Amish fiction bandwagon, so I really liked the fact that this book was set in Amish country. This was my first experience with an Amish story that was combined with a mystery, with the mystery being the main focus of the story instead of the Amish. With that said, the author does include the important things one needs to know to understand the Amish culture. So, if you’ve never read Amish fiction before, you’d definitely get a good knowledge of what you need to know to understand their lifestyle.

Probably the most interesting thing that I liked about this book was that the DNA testing and research that goes on in Amish communities is factual. I had no idea that there were several genetic disorders that they have to deal with, but it’s understandable since they’re all so tight-knit and marry within their community. The author did an incredible amount of research that shows when the DNA lingo starts to get really technical, but she writes it in a way that makes sense.

Mindy Starns Clark is definitely an author I’ll be on the lookout for in the future. Make no mistake—you’ll not be sorry if you read Shadows of Lancaster County. It is not a book you want to miss out on!

Okay, I confess that I am completely and hopelessly now addicted to chick-lit. I just love, love, LOVE it! Since I fully intend to read much more of it in the future, I’m definitely going to have to be on the lookout for new authors and good recommendations for existing releases that are out there. As for this author….I’ve read some of her other books in the past, and really enjoyed them, but I had no idea that she had branched out into chick-lit. Thank goodness, she’s written a whole series-not just one book-so I can get a good fill of chick-lit from an author that is already an A+ in my book. :o)

This book has several things that I just love. First of all, Andie works with diamonds and gemstones all the time. Seriously, is there any other job out there greater than that for a girl? Then, on top of that, she’s been offered an incredible opportunity in Louisville (of all places) to work for the Shop-Til-U-Drop (S.T.U.D.) Network as their jewelry host. So, she gets to be around all this jewelry AND be on tv…just too cool, in my opinion. And, just to keep it even more interesting, there’s a little mystery thrown in there and what seems like might be a developing romance. Since there’s 2 other books in the series, I expect that possible romance to play out furthur a little later on. Oh, and let me not forget to mention that this book is set in the south. Andie’s travels do take her to a couple of other places around the world, but the fact that home for her is now in Kentucky puts a whole new spin on things.

I also got a kick out of the supporting characters. Aunt Weeby, Andie’s aunt, is hilarious! She is a southern gal to the core, and has an opinion on practically everything. Her opinion doesn’t come off as know-it-all, but rather “I know just a tidbit about what you’re talking about, and I’m gonna put it my two cents.” Then, there’s Miss Mona, the owner of the S.T.U.D. Network. She’s a no-nonsense person, but sweet as she can be. Finally, there’s Max…Andie’s tv cohost, and stud extraordinaire. He also happens to be the first male hired to work at the S.T.U.D. Network…go figure. :o) The on-screen scenes between Andie and Max had me laughing out loud because Max is such a dunce about jewelry! That flusters Andie to no end, but everyone else just eats it up!

With all that said, I absolutely cannot wait to finish out this series! It also makes me want to gather up everything ever written by Ginny Aiken and just gobble it up (sorry now…we say stuff like that in the south).

I really enjoyed book 1 of this series, and had really high hopes that the next book would be just as good. Sadly, I was slightly disappointed. One of the main things that endeared me to book 1 was that much of the storyline was set in the south, which is where I’m from. I picked up on so many little nuances like sweet tea and antiques, and it was so easy to relate to. So, the fact that 2/3rds of the book was set across the globe in Kashmir just wasn’t as exciting for me.

During the time the gang was in Kashmir, I found myself struggling to read the book, and it was more than just not liking the setting. Everyone’s dialog seemed a bit disjointed, and there were times that I had trouble following along. Also, the “who-done-it” was very predictable, and I knew who it was very early on.

I do plan to read the last book in the series, A Cut Above, just to finish out the whole story. Book 3 so far picks up immediately where book 2 leaves off, and I’m just hoping that I’ll like it a lot more.