The Chapel Car Bride Review

                                                 The Chapel Car bride is a historical fiction book set in 1913. It centers on our two main characters Hope and Luke.  Hope Irvine is the daughter of a preacher who travels around the country in a train car converted into a chapel. Hope decides to join her father after her aunt passes away. Despite her father’s hesitation Hope feels as if God is calling her to ministry work with her father. When they finally stop in Finch, West Virginia for an extended period of time Hope becomes fast friends with local miner Luke Hughes. But when a mine manger arrives in town with less than noble intentions, Luke and Hope’s relationship is put to the test.

                I enjoyed the whole concept of the car chapel; I thought it was different and interesting to read about.  The overall plot was not the strongest, but still good. Honestly not a whole lot happened in the span of this book. It had a steady pace, but for some could be a little slow. The action/climax of this book happened towards the very end and once it happened it was resolved quickly, almost too quickly. I also felt Kirby to be a character that could have been left out. He really didn’t add anything to the story, except at the very end when everything is being resolved.

                So overall I just felt OK about this book. It wasn’t one of my favorites from Judith Miller. There were a lot other books from her i enjoyed a lot more. This just wasn’t one of them.

                I received this book from Bethany House bloggers Program for my honest review. 

To the Farthest Shores Book Review

                                                 I was really excited to read this book because I knew it was historical fiction and it was set during a war, which are one of my favorite genres to read. I read the description but wasn’t sure about the time period, I was guessing some time during World War I. But I soon found out that it was set during and after the Spanish-American War in 1898. I loved reading about this time period because it was something I wasn’t as familiar with. Elizabeth Camden did a good job of infusing a lot of historical elements which I greatly enjoyed because I love history. So not only did i enjoy a great story but i learned some things on the way.

                To the Farthest Shores centers around two main characters, Jenny Bennett, who is an army nurse, and Lieutenant Ryan Gallagher. They both meet at the beginning of the war and quickly fall in love and begin planning their future after the war. But a year later Jenny receives a letter from Ryan stating he is never returning to America. Jenny is confused and heart broken. Fast forward six years, the war has ended but a rebellion causes soldiers to stay in the Philippines. Jenny is still a nurse at the army base and all is going well until Ryan Gallagher shows up and he is not alone. She is shocked and confused that he is in San Francisco. She has so many questions and she is still hurt by what he did to her.

                I loved this book! I was intrigued from the first chapter and could not put it down. Highly recommend. Read it!

                I received this book from Bethany House Blogger review program for my honest opinion.   

Shine like the Dawn Book Review

                                                            Shine like the Dawn by Carrie Turansky is set in the early 1900s in England. It follows main character Maggie who was left raising her six year old sister because of her parent’s and older sister’s untimely death.  Four years later she and her sister live with her grandmother and work at their own millinery shop. As events unfold she has doubts that her parent’s and sister’s death was not just an accident. And if things couldn’t get any worse, the one who she suspects has something to do with their deaths is her old friend’s stepmother.

                When I read the back of this book I thought it was just going to be a romance. But I didn’t expect it to be both a romance and a mystery. Turansky wove an intriguing mystery and a sweet romance. I love how it also touched on other subjects like working conditions and strikes. It really gave you a sense of the time period, which i always enjoy.

                From the first chapter I was hooked. Once you get further along you slowly begin to see a mystery unfolding, which I didn’t expect at all. The back of the book was pretty vague in its description, which i liked in this case because the book surprised me.

                I loved both the main characters, Maggie and Nate. I felt the connection between them and loved their chemistry. Maggie and Nate found a way to reconnect even though they were going through bad times.

                Overall I really enjoyed this novel. It was a sweet romance and a great mystery. Loved it!

                I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

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An Uncommon Courtship Book Review

                                                                           Set in England during the early 1800s, An Uncommon Courtship by Kristi Ann Hunter follows our two main characters, Lord Trent Hawthorne and Lady Adelaide Bell. Trent and Adelaide are forced to marry because of an incident. And of course the only right and proper thing to do is to marry. Adelaide and Trent have to learn to love each other through the ups and downs of marriage.

                As soon as I began reading chapter one I was instantly hooked. It delved right into the action and you were submerged into their world. I loved the main characters and wanted to see their relationship flourish. I was routing for them the whole way through. I became so invested with these characters and wanted to see them happy. I loved it!

                Kristi Ann Hunter’s writing style was beautiful and made an exquisite romance that leaves your heart warm. You need to read it!

                I received this book for my honest opinion from Bethany House Blogger Review Program.   

The Women of Easter Book Review

                                                            Liz Curtis Higgs is one of my favorite non-fiction authors. I have read several of her other books and thoroughly enjoyed them. The Women of Easter was no exception. Liz Curtis Higgs does it again by writing a book about all the women Jesus encountered on the way to the cross. She breaks down each verse in an understandable way that anyone can follow.  

                Reading about Jesus’s crucifixion was an emotional ride. It was gripping and heart wrenching to read. It was a good reminder. I feel as if I don’t completely grasp the heartache and torture that Jesus went through. Even though Easter is months away, it was still a great reminder to read this. I feel as if I focus on Jesus’s death and resurrection when Easter rolls around, but I always know I think to be thinking about it more throughout the year. This book helped show the importance of remembering His death and resurrection all the time and thanking God for it.

                Whether you have previously read some of Liz Curtis Higgs books or haven’t, I think this is great read for anyone. It is clear and understandable for anyone to read. I highly recommend any of Liz Curtis Higgs books, especially this one. She does an outstanding job of walking you through the events that led up to his death and then His glorious resurrection. After reading this I was left with a newfound perspective of Jesus’s death and resurrection.  

                 I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

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For the Record Book Review

                                                     For the Record by Regina Jennings is a historical fiction book set in Missouri during the late 1800s. I’m a big fan of historical fiction. It is the majority of what I read, so I was excited to start reading this one. One of the main characters is Betsy, who wishes to write for a newspaper, other than her uncle’s. She soon gets her chance when a new deputy arrives that sparks new ideas for Betsy. Not soon after does Betsy get her stories publish to a newspaper. Joel, the other main character, tries to adjust to his new life as a deputy in Missouri.

                As I began this book I really did enjoy it. I liked both of the main characters and their relationship with each other. As I got further to the end I started losing interest and didn’t pick it up until a few days later. I don’t know what it was because technically that is when the story was reaching its climax. But that could have been just me. This was not my only problem with this book. Once the mystery was solved I thought it happened way too quickly and easily and was not that rewarding in the end. As I was reading I was expecting a little more out of the mystery being solved, but I was let down in the end.

                I'm not sure if this is a spoiler or not, but I'm going to mention it anyway. The very end I though it was unnecessary for Joel to return to Texas to clear his name.  It was already said and done and he was already moving on with his life. In my opinion, why dig up old dirt? Since this happened literally the last few pages it felt like it was almost an afterthought and I didn’t care for it too much.

                So in the end I thought I was going to enjoy this book, but it just didn’t happen for me. I was just too disappointing.

                I received a free copy of this book through the Bethany House Blogger Review Program. 

31 Verses to Write on Your Heart Book Review

                                                                                                                                                                   Every time I read a Liz Curtis Higgs book I thoroughly enjoy it and this one is no exception. 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart is a great book for anyone that is looking to memorize more verses. These verses will encourage you and lift your spirit. Each chapter breaks down one verse. So you can clearly and purposely understand what God’s Word is trying to tell you.  At the end of each chapter there is space for you to write your favorite version of the verse studied.  There are tips and tricks to help you better memorize the verse. This is a great help for those of you that find memorizing tough.

                Since this book focuses on 31 verses you could read one verse a day for a month and memorize one verse a day. Or you can you a verse a week. I read this book through once and plan on going back and memorizing one verse a week. I plan of writing the verse on an index card and putting it around the house. This will help me memorize it and I will always see it around the house so I will be constantly reminded about it. But whatever why you decide to memorize these verses it will have a lasting impact on your live and how you live your life. I know for me these verses were a great reminder of God’s love for me. Some of the verses were familiar to me whereas some were not. But nevertheless, they were all great and beneficial to my life. I highly recommend this book for anyone that wants to memorize more verses and get closer to God.

                I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

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