Rhonda's Doings !

Review of The Maker's Diet Revolution by Jordan Rubin The Maker's Diet Revolution   is the long awaited sequel to The Maker's Diet that Jordan Rubin’s fans are ready for. Jordan will share everything he has learned in the years since he wrote The Maker's Diet, including: Health and Diet Tips,Why our nation's food supply is compromised,  The importance of organic foods, Choosing the best water sources, Raising healthy children, healing chronic illnesses and much more! His Popular Health Myths and Truths, Jordan Rubin is a renowned natural health expert and NYT Best-selling author of The Maker's Diet MY REVIEW:   Jordan Rubin has taken great care to research both scriptures from the Bible as well as other health information in this book.   I find it very interesting and hope to attempt to follow the diet for health reasons as I suffer from Ulcerative Colitis.   I do wonder though what effect it will have on my system and he does offer some alternat...

Review of A Ruby Christmas by Jerusha Agen, Dianne E. Butts, Jennifer Fromke, Marji Laine, Fay Lamb, J. A. Marx, Ruth O'Neil, Phee Paradise, & Debbie Roome Ruby Joy Buckner, cowgirl, has never left the Lone Star State, but at her father’s request, she takes her faithful canine companion and travels the world in search of Nativity pieces. As Ruby collects the pieces, she also collects a few unexpected surprises, including an awareness of the beauty in other cultures, and quite a menagerie of new friends, thanks in part to Yippee Ti Yi Yo who charms everyone they meet. Ruby’s budding awareness of life outside Texas opens her eyes to a world of whimsy, and the Nativity pieces she collects are unusual. Will her father approve her eclectic collection … and the changes that travel brought to Ruby’s life? MY REVIEW:     A Ruby Christmas is a very sweet, quick read about a father who seeks to give his daughter the trip her deceased mother had planned to take with he...

Review of The Bargain (Plain City Peace, Book One) by Stephanie Reed It's 1971, and Betsie Troyer's peaceful and predictable life is about to become anything but. When their parents flee the Amish, nineteen-year-old Betsie and her seventeen-year-old sister Sadie are distraught. Under the dubious guidance of a doting aunt, the girls struggle to keep the secret, praying their parents will return before anyone learns the truth--a truth that may end all hopes of Betsie's marriage to Charley Yoder. Worse still, Betsie must learn a trade while she boards with a dysfunctional Englisher family: Sheila, a twelve-year-old desperately searching for a friend and in dire need of her mother; the free-spirited mother, who runs off to "find herself" on the stage; the angry father whose structured life crumbles; and Michael, a troubled college dropout nearly killed in the Kent State Massacre. Thrust into the English world, Betsie must grapple with the realities of war a...

Review of The Beloved Daughter  by Alana Terry In a small North Korean village, a young girl struggles to survive. But it is her father's faith, not the famine of North Hamyong Province, that most threatens Chung-Cha's well-being. Is Chung-Cha's father right to be such a vocal believer? Or is he a fool to bring danger on the head of his only daughter? Chung-Cha is only a girl of twelve and is too young to answer such questions. Yet she is not too young to face a life of imprisonment and forced labor. Her crime? Being the daughter of a political traitor. The Beloved Daughter follows Chung-Cha into one of the most notorious prison camps of the contemporary free world. Will Chung-Cha survive the horrors of Camp 22? And if she does survive, will her faith remain intact? "The Beloved Daughter" is Alana Terry's debut Christian novel and was a winner in the Women of Faith writing contest. MY REVIEW:  I am shocked to learn that this is Alana Terry's ...

In case you were wondering, this is how I spend a good part of my time when I'm not reading...... Headband & legwarmer set I crocheted for gift Baby sweater I crocheted Boot cuffs done in turqoise and hot pink (top and below)  Kitchen towel toppers and crochet dishcloths in cotton   another sweet baby set  UVA hat in orange and blue  Christmas/snow towels  diaper babies    lovey blanket for my new grandbaby to be born around 2/4/14  sweater and hat for my first grand daughter who will arrive near 2/4/14  yes, I do also decorate cakes for family and friends. I am very much an amateur but it's fun .....  Me with my lovely middle daughter who is expecting her first baby !  A finished prayer shawl...one of my favorite things to make and give.........  my baby daughter, Amanda, and I even stopped for 9/28 to make her wedding bouquets and corsages  my cute...

Review of Christmas at Pebble Creek by Vannetta Chapman This short story e-romance is an exclusive bonus from The Pebble Creek Amish Series by Vannetta Chapman. Fans of the series will enjoy this chance to briefly revisit Pebble Creek, and new readers will be introduced to an Amish community that is more deeply explored in the three full novels, A Promise for Miriam, A Home for Lydia, and A Wedding for Julia.  As a bonus, this eBook also includes Amish homestyle recipes for chicken and dumplings, green beans, and fresh bread. Heavy snow blankets the southwestern Wisconsin Amish community as nineteen-year-old Grace Miller closes the schoolhouse for Christmas break. She’s looking forward to having extra time to help the family prepare for the holiday, and she is hoping to get a few more drawings in of the beautiful, snowy Pebble Creek landscape. Her courtship with Adam Lapp is going on six months, and Grace can’t wait to give him his present: a blue-and-brown buggy blanket s...

Review of Home to Pebble Creek by Vannetta Chapman This free short story e-romance is a prequel to The Pebble Creek Amish Series by Vannetta Chapman. Fans of the series will enjoy this chance to briefly revisit Pebble Creek, and new readers will be introduced to an Amish community that is more deeply explored in the three full novels, A Promise for Miriam, A Home for Lydia, and A Wedding for Julia. When Joseph Bontrager left Pebble Creek, all of Esther Schrock’s dreams and hopes for the future went with him. Bravely picking up the pieces of her broken heart, she resumed her life teaching at the schoolhouse with Miriam King. Now, nineteen months later, Joseph has returned. Despite her initial excitement, Esther feels anger rise up instead of love. Will she be able to forgive him for leaving? Forgive him for more than a year and a half of silence without a single letter? With Miriam’s encouraging words, and despite ominous clouds on the horizon, will Esther be able to replace the ...

Review of The Divine Secrets of the Whoopie Pie Sisters (Whoopie Pie Sisters #2) by Sarah Price & Whoopie Pie Pam Jarrell A new trilogy by best-selling author of Amish Christian Romances, Sarah Price, and Helping Hands Press' own Whoopie Pie Pam Jarrell. The first book immediately hit #1 in the Amish genre as well as an Amazon Top 100 within days. In Book 2 of the series, readers will continue following the story of four Amish sisters who run Whoopie Pie Place, the best known bakery outside of Berlin, Ohio. Each sister has a secret that influences their lives and, unknowingly, impacts each other. Yet, little by little, the pressure of balancing their responsibilities of their daily lives with their individual secrets becomes harder to manage. Leah, Susan, Lydia, and Sadie need to decide whether or not to confide in each other in order to gain the support of their family. As secrets begin to be revealed, more problems ensue. Can Leah continue to hold the family toget...

Review of Green Fever Mattie & Mark Miller in Double Trouble  by Wanda Brunstetter Welcome to Holmes County, Ohio, where twins Mattie and Mark Miller get a case of  Green Fever . When their out-of-control jealousy begins to cause big trouble at every turn, will these energetic nine-year-olds learn the value of contentment before it’s too late? You’ll fall in love with the fourth release in the Double Trouble series from bestselling author, Wanda E. Brunstetter. Double Trouble Series: Book 1 - What a Pair! Book 2 - Bumpy Ride Ahead Book 3 - Bubble Troubles Book 4 - Green Fever My Review:   Mattie and Mark Miller, Amish twins are so refreshing and full of mischief and fun.  In Green Fever,  they are also filled with a large dose of jealousy and they are warned by their elders that it could lead to a "case of green fever".   They don't want that!    Join the fun as Mattie and Mark decide how to spend the money they have been savi...

Review of Christmas at Harmony Hill:  A Shaker Story by Ann H. Gabhart It is 1864 and the nation is still torn apart by civil war when Heather Worth discovers she is with child. She has been working as a laundress with her husband's army unit, but when the army gets orders to march south to Tennessee, Gideon insists Heather go home to have their child under safer conditions. Heather agrees, but returns home to another kind of devastation--deaths in the family and a father who refuses to forgive her for marrying a Yankee. With nowhere else to turn, Heather seeks refuge at the Shaker village of Harmony Hill, where her great aunt Sophrena lives. There, after many peaceful years at Harmony Hill, Sophrena is having doubts about her Shaker path. Both women are in need of love and forgiveness--whether given or received. With Christmas coming, can the miracle of new life fill their hearts with unexpected joy?  Ann H. Gabhart's many fans will be thrilled to return to Harmony H...

Review of Huckleberry Hill The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series Book 1 by Jennifer Beckstrand In her parents’ estimation, LIA SHETLER is the most unpromising girl in her Amish community. As her dat often reminds her, she is too tall for most boys, and with her mousy brown hair and grossly scarred fingers, how can she ever hope to find a husband? With her family dismissing her as an old maid before she even reaches the ripe old age of twenty-four, her most important job is watching out for younger sister, Rachel, and seeing to it that Rachel marries well. That is until Felty and Anna Helmuth introduce Lia to their grandson, Moses, and she can’t ignore her racing pulse when he is near. Will Moses awaken the heart she locked away long ago? At twenty-six, MOSES ZIMMERMAN, is a bit long in the tooth for a single Amish fellow. Three years ago, his fiancé abandoned him and left the Church, and he promised her he’d wait for her return. But, his scheming grandparents make o...

Review of Christmas Romance, Volume 2 by Sharon Kleve, Marilyn Conner Miles, Addison James, and Julie Kavanagh Four Stories from your favorite holiday authors.  Brenda’s Christmas Desire - Sharon Kleve  Christmas approaches and Brenda has to decide if she’s going to let the past hold her prisoner for another year or if she can finally enjoy what Christmas used to mean to her—love. DEA agent, John Smith knows the significance of December fifteenth to Brenda, but when the head of the Nuevo Cartel escapes federal prison he’s forced to let her face the day without him, but not quite alone.  Can Daisy, a golden Labrador puppy, a huge sale on decorations at the hardware store, and a gift from her aunt restore her love of Christmas?  MY REVIEW of Brenda's Christmas Desire :  Brenda has been without Christmas joy for too long and John Smith  and Daisy, the Labrador puppy, may be just the ticket to change all that for her.  This is a sweet Christmas roma...

Review of Danika's Journey by J. E. B. Spredemann Danika Morales is devastated when tragedy strikes close to  home. She is forced to move from her friends and beautiful home in sunny California to Amish country in rural Pennsylvania to live with her uncle. This surfer girl believes she'll never be able to adjust to a land-locked Plain lifestyle until she meets her new best friend. Still, being an outsider and of a different ethnicity, Danika faces many challenges on her journey to adulthood. Inspirational teen fiction - Approx. 100 pgs. MY REVIEW   Danika Morales has faced a great deal of loss in her young life.  Her mother passed away at birth along with the baby brother she delivered.  Her father then develops cancer and comes home to tell her that she must go to live with her mother's only brother in Pennsylvania when he  passes away.  She begs him not to die and leave her and before he even has a chance to explain more to her, he takes his la...

Review of Joanna's Struggle by J. E. B. Spredemann Joanna Fisher is a typical Amish girl. She attends a one-room schoolhouse with her siblings in Paradise, Pennsylvania. She loves riding her horse, chorin' with her family, and spending time with her best friend, Chloe. But when something unexpected happens at a nearby mud sale, Joanna finds her perfect world turned upside down. Could one event change Joanna's life forever? Approx. 110 pages Teen Fiction Joanna's Struggle, in the Amish Girls Series, is the first of several books penned by the author. The Amish Girls Series was primarily written for teen girls, but has been enjoyed by fans of all ages. Lovers of the ever-popular Amish fiction genre are sure to enjoy these books as well, even though they are geared toward a younger audience. The characters in the stories will soon become endeared to your heart, especially the mischievous Jonathan Fisher.  Join Joanna and her friends as they grow up in Paradise and...

Review of Brenda's Christmas Desire by Sharon Kleve Christmas approaches and Brenda has to decide if she’s going to let the past hold her prisoner for another year or if she can finally enjoy what Christmas used to mean to her—love. DEA agent, John Smith knows the significance of December fifteenth to Brenda, but when the head of the Nuevo Cartel escapes federal prison he's forced to let her face the day without him, but not quite alone.  Can Daisy, a golden Labrador puppy, a huge sale on decorations at the hardware store, and a gift from her aunt restore her love of Christmas? My Review: Brenda has not been allowed to celebrate Christmas with a tree and decorations since the death of her parents. Her parents loved Christmas and everything about it. Brenda's friend, Corny, can hear pets speak and her ferret, Pete, tells her that Brenda wants a dog for Christmas. John is on a mission to fulfill her every desire for Christmas this year. Can a dog bring them ...