An Amish Christmas

Book Description:  December in Paradise. A time of hope, redemption, and new life.

A Choice To Forgive by Beth Wiseman.

After Daniel disappeared that long-ago Christmas Eve, Lydia built a life with his brother. But now she's a widow and Daniel has reappeared, asking for forgiveness. But can she go back to her normal life with her long-lost love as her neighbor?

A Miracle for Miriam by Kathleen Fuller.

Seth is no longer the arrogant young man who shattered Miriam's confidence and broke her heart. But can he convince "plain" Miriam that she is truly beautiful to him?

One Child by Barbara Cameron.

The birth of one child forever changed the world two thousand years ago. On a snowy Christmas night in Lancaster County, another child changes the world for two very different couples.

My Review:  I love a book that has three stories in one.  Simply because when I finish one read I can go on to the next without looking for a new book.  I love convenience!  And I loved this book!

The first story is A Choice To Forgive by Beth Wiseman.  This is the story of  a young widow coming out of grief.   Just when Lydia thinks her heart is healing in walks her ex-love, Daniel. There is mystery surrounding why he left and why is he back.  Lydia's world is topsy-turvy.  She secretly still loves Daniel but must find out the circumstances surrounding his leaving and no woman worth her salt would let a man (Amish or not!) get away with not dealing with the past and present.  A great-tastic short story!

A Miracle For Miriam by Kathleen Fuller is about Seth who comes back to the Amish community to pick up the pieces of a "left-over" life.  Not an easy feat!  Especially when he has shattered the love of Miriam.  I love Kathleen Fuller's writings and so I was especially partial to this story.  I felt for Miriam and wished Seth had made wiser choices.  However, this read was great for reminding me about God's love and mercies! A fabulous short story!

One Child by Barbara Cameron is a new author for me and this story was quite interesting as she mixed the English couple with an Amish couple .  Having lost a child in miscarriage Sarah and her husband take in  an English couple who are about to have a child. Sarah longs and hopes for a child of her own!  A great lesson in waiting for God's best and in God's timing. Loved the story and had tears in my eyes by the end. A lovely short story!

Three stories, three authors and one 5 star fantastic read!

*I reviewed this book for Thomas Nelson Publishing/BookSneeze*

Woodland Creatures by Aunt L

Book Description:  Every child wonders about the world around them but many never get to experience the wildlife mother nature has placed on this planet. Utilizing simple rhymes, this book invites youngsters to learn about various creatures of the woodland. This book combines a child's love of rhyming with facts about animals. Each witty rhyme contains an entertaining characteristic of a woodland animal in its natural habitat. It is filled with life-like full color illustrations to fascinate and spark the imagination of any girl or boy. They'll discover how a raccoon washes its food before eating, or how an opossum pretends to lie dead when confronted. They'll ponder how a chipmunk fills its cheeks with acorns or how an owl hunts by the light of the moon. Learning about nature has never been so fun. This book is as amusing to read for adults as it is for children. It is an ideal bed-time narrative or a great primer for children just beginning to read. A perfect addition to any youth's library.

My Review:  Aunt L is a wonderful new author that has written this gorgeous book, Woodland Creatures, for young children ages 4-8.  Each page depicts a a different woodland animal. The animals in this book are the bunny, grey squirrel, bull frog, chipmunk, garter snake, butterfly, porcupine, bluejay, raccoon, white tailed deer, horned owl, beaver, woodchuck, hawk red fox, opossum, mallard duck, brown bear, badger, river otter, puma and skunk.

The book has short, rhyming poems about each animal.  Little ones are sure to love not only the poems but the absolutely beautiful illustrations.

The butterfly page shows two pretty butterflies and three caterpillars on a tree branch.  The poem says, 

"FLOAT FLOAT FLOAT

LOVELY BUTTERFLY

SHINING BRIGHT AGAINST THE SKY

FROM A CATERPILLAR YOU ARRIVE

COLORS AND SHAPES HELP YOU SURVIVE"

As you can see the poems are learning poems too.  This is an excellent book for a baby shower or as a gift for a young child.  

What I love most about this book is the attached CD.  The child can listen to Aunt L read the poem when mom or dad's voice is tired.

Preschoolers will love turning the pages of the book as Aunt L reads and soon the preschooler will have memorized each woodland animal and the related poem.  

This is a definite 5 star paperback book that will grow with your child.

*I received this beautiful book to review from Readers Favorite.com*

  

{Glass Roads Blog Tour} Finding the Light of Jesus by Cindy Tuttle

Book Description:  Face it; life is full of stress. Whether we must deal with daily mild irritations like spilled milk or traffic jams, or extreme problems like the death of a family member, divorce or job loss, each of these events-as well as those that fall in between these opposite ends of the scale-cause anxiety, worry, or even ill physical health. Finding the Light of Jesus provides reflections and revelations which allow us to step back from our problems, reflect on what is most important in the present moment, and rely on spiritual healing-the Light-to experience inner peace and calm in the midst of trouble.

My Review:  This an excellent book for someone who is going through a hard time or it would make a great get well card for someone recovering from a serious illness.  

Cindy has an encouraging word even a chapter for those who may need to "see" Jesus through words.

The chapter entitled 'Prayers and Reflections' spoke to me.  The chapter begins with a short overview of what is in this particular chapter, then there are four subtitles listed:

1.  Seven Days of Praying with Jesus When We Are Lonely

2.  Jesus Hears Our Cry

3.  Conversations With Jesus

4.  Morning Prayers

Loneliness is the first subtitle.  Cindy brings the message of comfort through written prayers.  There is a prayer for Seven days.  After each prayer is a time of Reflection...a time to thank the Lord for what He has brought and supplied into your life.

Sometimes loneliness is simply being away from loved ones for a season.  Such as, a military person serving overseas or a young adult off to college.  Whatever the reason or the season Cindy brings hope from the Word of God.

She also brings challenges to those who are angry.  Conversations With Jesus is about you conversing with your Lord and Savior.  How can we let go off things that offend us or that we hold on to unless we tell Jesus?  

Then the chapter goes right into JOY....so much to be thankful for and to be joyful for when Jesus heals our wounded heart!  JOY as the children's song goes is Jesus, Others and You!

The book is chock full of prayers, poems and words of encouragement.  There are times to Reflect and a few activities for one to do, to not only help others, but to help oneself.  Helping others somehow brings joy and contentment to the bearer of the giving!

This book is an encouragement, a healing balm and brings an Attitude of Gratitude after reading the thought provoking statements, poems and verses that Cindy writes about.

Do you have a person in your life who longs to find the Light of Jesus?  Or do you need that Light also?  Then you need to read this 4 star read!  I believe that the words will not only encourage your heart but that you will Find the Light of Jesus and be encourages in His Words!

*I reviewed this book for GlassRoads/Hamby Media*

                                                        BUY HERE!

About the Author:  For more than twenty-five years, Cindy Tuttle has worked with adults having severe mental illness. She served on the Mental Health Advisory Board in the 1980's and has twice been named as Advocate of the Year in Mental Health for Sacramento County.

Cindy has been involved in many ministries in her church and has completed four years of lay ministry courses. She facilitates spiritual retreats in dance, art and sharing.

Cindy has been interviewed several times on television and hosted a cable television show. Her articles have also been featured in a local newspaper. She has one poem published on Eternal Inc. and will have a poem published in Leaves magazine soon, which has a circulation on 50,000. Cindy has two Christian novels she is working on, two children middle readers Christian manuscripts that are completed, two non-fiction Christian manuscripts titled Finding Wisdom and Living With Hope and Courage. Cindy also has over 2,000 Christian poems that are available for publishing.

Cindy will soon appear in an HBO cable television documentary on mental health.

Cindy has a degree in Human Services and is a Certified Activities Coordinator. She has completed four years of lay ministry courses.

Cindy Tuttle

Joyful Christian Author

Latest Release: Finding the Light of Jesus

www.cindytuttletheauthor.com

The Christmas Gift by R. William Bennett

Book Description:  Every school has its legend; Ben Jackson was Maple Grove Elementary's. He has been held back five years in a row; he was exposed to nuclear radiation as a child; he was raised in the woods by bears. So went the many assessments of Ben Jackson by his sixth-grade peers. Over-sized and under-niced , Ben was the school bully. As the school year begins, new student Scott stands up to Ben, and as a result, becomes Ben s new daily target. From the annoying comments to the humiliating pranks, Ben assures a day doesn't pass without making Scott's life miserable. But in this story of forgiveness, tolerance, and unconditional love, both Scott and Ben make a remarkable transformation that will leave you with a fresh understanding of the meaning of Christmas in your life.

My Review:  Scott is one of those students who has to go to a new school every other year because his dad is transferred from job to job.  He is now at a school called Maple Grove and being the new kid in school he has a run-in with Ben, the school bully, on the first day of school.  Ben literally takes Scott's pie off of Scott's lunch tray, a piece of Boston Cream pie.  Scott is mad on the inside but lets the incident pass without making a big deal out of it.  But other incidents happen and Ben makes it known that he his the head-guy!  

Scott tries to take the high road every time by swallowing his words and walking away but one day it's just.too.much!  And he let's ben have it verbally!  Oh, the regret!  

I could relate to this story, in fact, at times I felt like it was my life not Scott's that I was reading.  I, too, had to move every year with my parents and begin a new school. Oh, the trepidation of that first week!  

However, this read isn't just about new beginnings it's about forgiveness!  The gift of forgiveness is probably the hardest to give but yet it is the most precious gift because it not only frees the giver it frees the "givee."  

This is a fast read.  Once I began this book I simply.couldn't.put.it.down.  I read it in an hour!  But just because it's a fast read don't be deceived into thinking that it's a fluffy, light read!  Oh, No!  This book packs a powerful punch of challenge to the reader.  I had tears in my eyes by the end of the book and a huge lump in my throat.  I certainly will "see" people differently from now on!  

This fantastic 20 star 

read is a must have!

( I know 5 stars is tops but every once in awhile 20 stars is really needed for a fabulous read!)  I wish I could give this book to everyone on my Christmas list and then some!  This is definitely one book that I will read to my ten year old son and even though it's titled The Christmas Gift it's really more than a Christmas read it's a wonderful book to read anytime of the year.

*Many thanks to 

Felicia Sinusas, Publicity Manager,  

Jane Wesman Public Relations, Inc.

for sending me a copy of this book to review*

About the Author:  R. William (Bill) Bennett grew up on the Jersey shore and in Connecticut. He attended Lafayette College as a Government & Law major. He spent thirty-one years in business, including many years as an executive of various companies and most recently as division president of FranklinCovey. In 2009, Bill decided to spend full time fulfilling his passion of writing, teaching and consulting. Bill has always used stories of everyday, great human character to cut through the detail and reach the hearts of those with whom he as worked. Bill is married to Loree Bascom and they are the parents of four children, ranging from twenty-nine to twelve. Most recently, they have been blessed with two grandchildren.  Bill and his family reside at the base of the Rocky Mountains in Alpine, Utah.