Rhonda's Doings !

Review of An Amish Family Christmas by Murray Pura Young Micah has returned from Iraq where he felt called by God to heal wounded soldiers.  But there is one very big problem--Micah is Amish. Amish do not believe in fighting in wars and do not allow their church members to serve in the military in any capacity--even healing. Naomi's family has been killed and her surviving brother, Luke, is in a catatonic state.  Naomi and her friend and sister-in-law, Rebecca, work to restore Luke to full health and Micah returns from the war.   The church puts him under the bann when he refuses to say that he was wrong to serve in the war as a medic.  Micah and Naomi can not speak or even sleep in the same room.   They long to be together as a husband and wife are meant to be.  Can they change the Ordnung ?  Will Luke ever speak again or get up and walk?   MY REVIEW:  This is a very compelling story. I felt the agony that Micah and Naomi were exper...

Review of A Simple Song by Melody Carlson Katrina Yoder loves to sing, but her Amish parents view singing as vainglory and a sin. Katrina’s best friend, Bekka, is convinced Katrina should try out for American Star, a televised singing competition that Bekka has been secretly watching. Katrina resists the temptation until her father’s health worsens. He desperately needs a surgery the family cannot afford. Katrina decides she must go against her parents’ wishes to win the money needed to help her father. But how will she handle herself as an Amish teenager out in the world? Teen girls will be swept into the excitement as Katrina ventures out of her quiet Amish world to become a reality television star. Will she be successful? And will she be accepted back into her community when it’s over? MY REVIEW: What a wonderful book!  I love the connection to music as I also find great joy and stress-relief from singing!   Amish do not encourage singing English songs or sin...

Review of Into Magnolia by Rosemary Hines "Amber Gamble sat on the floor beside her bed. I hate them. All of them, she thought to herself." As Michelle Baron ascends the steps of Magnolia Middle School, her life is about to change forever. The dream of becoming a teacher leads her on an unexpected journey that will challenge her professionally and personally. Although 180 students file through her classroom daily, one demands her attention more than the others. Living in her third foster home in a year, Amber's bitterness and rebellion spark a challenge within Michelle to somehow make a difference in this troubled girl's life. Meanwhile, Michelle's daughter develops a series of unexplainable bruises. A stunning visit to the pediatrician reveals frightening possibilities. While Michelle tries to hold her fears at bay, Amber approaches her with a daunting crisis of her own. "Into Magnolia "reveals the internal struggles and triumphs of a dedicated...

Review of Hallee Bridgeman's Jewels Bundle: Sapphire Ice & Greater Than Rubies Jewels Bundle 1 -- Sapphire Ice & Greater Than Rubies  This is the  complete  story of Robin Bartlett, the eldest of the  three half-sisters readers around the world have come to know and love and Antonio "Ton y" Viscolli, the man she is destined to marry.  Sapphire Ice  is a story of redemption and transf ormation that ultimately leads to a love that will span all eternity. Robin's he art is as ice cold as her sapphire blue eyes. After a terrifying childhood, she trusts neither God nor men. With kindness and faith, Tony Viscolli  prays  for the opportunity to shatter the wall of ice around her heart. What is a good wife worth? IN GREATER THAN RUBIES,   Robin plans a dream-come-true wedding. Anxiety arises when she starts to realize the magnitude of change marriage will involve. Forgotten nightmares resurface reminding Robin of the h...

Review of  A Hopeful Heart by Amy Clipston In Hopeful Heart, the first novel of the new Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel series from bestselling author Amy Clipston, Hannah Glick, a recent widow, finds herself stuck at a crossroad in her life. Her community offers her love and support, but a new friend offers her the chance of a new life after unexpectedly losing her husband. Wealthy businessman Trey Peterson is surprised at his attraction for the gentle Amish woman who works as a housekeeper in the Lancaster Grand hotel where he is staying. They share a common bond of loss and are able to offer each other comfort and support as they journey through their grief. Joshua King wants nothing more than to offer his friendship and love to Hannah and her family. Not only is he her husband’s best friend and business partner in their shared horse business, he has always been in love with Hannah. Are they destined to be only business partners or will Joshua be able to convince he...

Review of Chosen:  The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther by Ginger Garrett Wrenched from a simple life for her beauty, Esther finds herself at the mercy of King Xerxes. Leaving behind her only relative, her cousin Mordecai, and her first true love, Cyrus, she is thrown headlong into the unrestrained extravagance of palace living. Quick of mind and strong in spirit, she refuses to suffer the fate of her harem sisters and boldly challenges Xerxes to give of his heart before taking his pleasure, thus sealing her place beside him a queen. While conspiracy spins its diabolical web, Esther’s mind and spirit waver, and she is forced to confront the past in order to save her future—and that of an entire nation. My Review:  I opened the cover of Chosen:  The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther and I was drawn into the story.  I love journaling and so the style of the text was very appealing to me.   I could feel Esther's emotions and thought of the the fear she experien...

Review of A Revelation in Autumn by Wanda Brunstetter   Book 5 of an exclusive 6-consecutive-month release Amish serial novel.  Join Meredith and Luke Stoltzfus, an Amish couple who are faced with the greatest challenge of their young lives.  A Revelation in Autumn  is part five of New York Times Bestselling Author, Wanda E. Brunsetter’s The Discovery--A Lancaster County Saga. My Review:  This series, A Lancaster County Saga (The Discovery) is a wonderful 6 part series.   They can be read quickly and I have fallen in love with the characters.  What is hard is that, not only do I like Miriam and Luke, I also like Susan and Anne and their grandparents.  I can not tell you much about the actual plot of the story as it would ruin this for readers who have not read this far.    I will tell you that I have a hopeful feeling as I read Wanda Brunstetter's words.   She is so descriptive with her writing that I feel as though I...

Review of Last Chance for Justice by Kathi Macias Welcome to Bloomfield, where life is simple, love is real, and stories are shared. Lynn Myers is still reeling from losing her husband of thirty-five years when word comes that her only sibling, an older brother, has also died. With no one else to settle the estate, she must return to her small hometown of Bloomfield, however briefly, to settle his affairs. Lynn’s daughter, Rachel, has just graduated from Bible college and with no other commitments comes along to sort through her uncle’s huge old home, right next to the local cemetery. It isn't long before Rachel has two men -- a handsome CPA and the youth pastor -- seriously vying for her attention. At the same time, Lynn's attention is drawn to a set of journals her brother has left behind detailing a long-standing Bloomfield mystery. As they pursue solving this mystery, Rachel must make some personal decisions about her future, while Lynn is forced to face unexpected...

Review of The Assumption of Guilt by Amanda Tru CHRISTIAN ROMANTIC SUSPENSE NOVELLA Nobody stops to think what it would be like to be arrested. That just doesn’t happen to normal people, right? When a major theft happens at a party she’s attending, Sophie James finds herself the prime suspect. Has she been framed or was she just in the wrong place at the wrong time? Now Sophie must convince the police, along with her cop boyfriend, that she’s innocent. With no record, no motive, and no evidence, that shouldn’t be difficult. Then why does no one seem to believe her? My Review: Could sweet little Sophie James, law student and intern for top-notch lawyer in town, really have stolen a huge diamond ???   Honestly, she has no record, no prior offenses, so what is going on?   This novella was such a fun and exciting read!   It kept me guessing as to who did it? why did they do it?  what on earth is going on?   I was laughing through this book and my curios...

Review of The Amish Seamstress by Mindy Starns Clark & Leslie Gould Bestselling authors Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould provide an unexpected surprise in The Amish Seamstress, Book 4 in the Women of Lancaster County series, which tells the stories of young Amish women as they explore their roots, connect with family, and discover true love. Izzy Mueller is an exceptional listener and gifted caregiver. She's also a talented seamstress. As the young woman sits with her elderly patients, she quietly sews as they share their stories. She's content with her life until circumstances reconnect her with someone she once loved. Zed Bayer, a Mennonite, is not what her family is hoping for in a spouse, and his creative interest in filmmaking is definitely at odds with her Amish upbringing. As Izzy is swept up again in Zed and renews her friendship with his sister, Ella, she begins to ask questions about her own life--her creative longings and historical interests, her rel...