Book Review ~ The Tutor's Daughter

What a book!  The author, Julie Klassen, says she likes all things Jane...Jane Austen and Jane Eyre!  And this book shows it!  Set on the coast in Cornwall, England, Julie uses words to paint beautiful pictures of landscapes, 1800s clothing, the British aristocracy, and life for a simple, smart Tutor's daughter who thinks that love has passed her by.  The four sons of Sir Giles Weston are all mysterious in their own ways.  Henry and Phillip are grown and have gone through Emma's father's school as young lads.  Younger sons Rowan and Julian are now in need of a formal education, and Emma and her father are invited to come to their estate to tutor the 15 year old twins for the year.  Will Emma get to spend time with her old friend Phillip?  Will Henry, her antagonist from earlier years, continue to tease her and play mean jokes on her, even though he is now a man?  And what are those strange sounds she hears in the manor late at night?  Who is coming into her room?  Yes, it's a bit of Jane Eyre and Jane Austen all right!  You'll hardly be able to put it down.  And you'll feel like you've been on vacation to the shores of Cornwall in the process.  Enjoy!

Book Review ~ When Hope Blooms

This is my 2nd Kim Vogel Sawyer book, and she is now one of my favorite authors!  I so enjoyed this gentle, sweet story of a Mennonite widow with 3 children.  Amy moves to Weaverly, Ks to start a new life.  Her young teen daughter, Bekah, is questioning if she wants to remain Mennonite.  Son Parker, age 10, is 'slow' due to a head injury at age 4.  And little daughter Adri, 5 years old, is a flittering butterfly of joy and fun!

Their neighbor is a quiet man named Tim, who left the Mennonite faith 20 years ago, rebelling against his father's strictness.  But he is consistently thrown into helping Amy and her children in their new home.

Amy's sweet, gentle nature, and the grace and love of fellow Mennonites in Weaverly are a consistent witness to Tim and make him question the choices he's made in the past 20 years.

This sweet story kept me up too late at night and had me riding my exercise bike extra minutes so that I could keep reading longer!
You won't be disappointed!

Blessings,

Donna

A Home in Drayton Valley ~ A Book Review

Reading Christian fiction is my little daily vacation.  If a book is 'pretty good' then I read it just at bedtime til I get sleepy.  So some books take me more than a week to get through.  However this book not only got read at bedtime, but during the day in snippets here and there too!  It was really good!

I like stories that are a little bit different from the normal plots I have read time and again, and this one fits that bill.  Tarsie helps her sickly friend Mary, husband Joss, and their 2 wee ones to have the finances to move by wagon train from dirty, noisy downtown 1880 New York City to peaceful, rural Drayton Valley, KS.  The hope is that Mary's illnesses will lessen in a better environment.  However, Mary barely lives to see Kansas in the distance before her illness  consumes her.  Now Tarsie is left with the care of Mary's 2 little ones and the beligerent, prejudiced, ungodly Joss to finish the journey and set up a home.  What will happen?  Tarsie has promised Mary that she will love the children and even love Joss to the Lord.  But at what expense?

Kim Vogel Sawyer takes you on a wonderful journey with this unique story.  You will love it!

Blessings,

Donna

An Unlikely Suitor ~ A Book Review

I was recently given the Bethany House published book, An Unlikely Suitor, for the purpose of reviewing.  This historical Christian fiction novel by Nancy Moser, drew me in right away with the beautiful and intriguing artwork on the front cover.  Although 376 pages in length, I was never bored or in a hurry to finish the story.  It was a beautiful weaving together of the story of three young women in New York City, the summer of 1895.  They were of two different classes of society, with three very different personalities.  In the end, all three of them find the love of their lives, although not the obvious choices you would imagine!

Two of the girls are of Italian immigrant families...sisters.  They and their mother are seamstresses by trade.  I found the description of their sewing, designing hats and dresses, and fitting them on their clients to be fascinating.

I would highly recommend this captivating story, full of redeeming value.  You will be whisked away to another time and place.  And you will be encouraged and inspired in your own faith journey with Christ.

Book Review: Desiring God, Revised Edition by John Piper

I so enjoyed this book.  I've never read anything by John Piper, so this was a treat.  I had to read it slowly so that I could truly understand and think through what he said.

The basic idea that I took away from Desiring God, is that we give Him glory by enjoying Him.  Just as I feel honored and loved when my adult children enjoy me and my presence, so God is honored and loved when I enjoy Him. 

He is everything that I truly crave in life:  perfection, beauty, order, joy, love, and peace.  All of the things I long for in my earthly life and heart are found in perfection in Him alone.

I will be rereading portions of this book through the months so that I can be often reminded of where my joy truly lies.