Rhonda's Doings !

Review of Unforeseeable by Nancy Mehl Mystery, Romance, and Suspense Seamlessly Combined in a Mennonite Small-Town Setting  Callie Hoffman knows she has a good life in Kingdom, Kansas. She's thrilled to be engaged to Levi Housler, the new pastor of Kingdom Mennonite Church, and she spends her days working with her friend and soon-to-be sister-in-law, Lizzie Housler, at Cora's Cafe.  However, Callie's idyllic life is interrupted when a body is discovered on the road outside Kingdom and the deceased turns out to be a victim of a serial killer. As Washington County's new sheriff begins questioning Kingdom residents, Callie and the rest of the town are appalled at the prospect of a killer among them. The very reason Kingdom exists is to protect the people from the temptations and dangers of the outside world, but all the town founders' attempts to plan ahead couldn't prevent a threat like this.  Unsettled at this unforeseen danger, Callie is concerned when ...

Review of Winter in Full Bloom by Anita Higman Lily Winter's wings are folded so tightly around her daughter that when empty nest arrives, she feels she can no longer fly. But Lily's lonely, widowed life changes in a heartbeat when she goes to visit a woman who is almost a stranger to her-a woman who also happens to be her mother. During their fiery reunion, her mother reveals a dark family secret that she'd been hiding for decades-Lily has an identical twin sister who was put up for adoption when they were just babies.  Without looking back, Lily-with her fear of flying-boards a jumbo jet and embarks on a quest to find her sister which leads half way around the world to Melbourne, Australia. Befriended by imprudent Aussie, he might prove to be the key to finding her sister. But her journey becomes a circle that leads her back home to attempt a family reunion and to find the one dream she no longer imagined possible-the chance to fall in love again. MY REVIEW: I...

and the Winner is......... Shirley Blanchard!!    Congratulations!!!    An email has been sent to you, Shirley.  Please send your mailing address to me!   Thanks to all who entered. Giveaway of The Winnowing Season  (Amish Vines & Orchards #2) by Cindy Woodsmall Giveaway!!!  One print copy will be mailed to one lucky winner.   TO ENTER:  Leave A Comment w/an email to contact you if you win. For Extra Entries:  Follow my blog, Share on facebook, Share on twitter, Share on google + Tell me what you did to earn entries and one comment with all that is ok. Giveaway will close on Sat. 8/31/2013 at midnight. Winner announced after that time. I was given a copy of this book by my dear friend, Susan F., to share on my blog.  Book description: The tornado that devastated Kings’ Orchard pushed Rhoda, Samuel, and Jacob to make a new start in Maine. Are they strong enough to withstand the challen...

Review of The Divine Secrets of the Whoopie Pie Sisters--Book one--An Amish Christian Trilogy By Sarah Price and Whoopie Pie Pam Jarrell A new series by best-selling author of Amish Christian Romances, Sarah Price, and Helping Hands Press' own Whoopie Pie Pam Jarrell. Follow the story of four Amish sisters who run Whoopie Pie Place, the best known bakery outside of Berlin, located in Holmes County, 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. The Divine Secrets of the Whoopie Pie Sisters is a different type of Amish Christian story. By blending the 25 years experience of living among the Amish from Sarah Price with Pamela Jarrell's exten...

Review of What Once Was Lost by Kim Vogel Sawyer God Makes All Thing New…in Kim Vogel Sawyer’s New Novel In What Once Was Lost, award winning author, Kim Vogel Sawyer, invites readers to join a woman meant to serve, a child in the dark, and a man standing apart—as they embrace a God with new plans for them. A small Kansas farm is the setting as Christina Willems lovingly shepherds a group of poor and displaced individuals, who count on her leadership and have come to see the Brambleville Asylum for the Poor as their home. But when a fire breaks out in the kitchen leaving the house inhabitable, she must scramble to find shelter for all in her care, scattering her dear “family.” With no other options, Christina is forced to approach Levi Jonnson, a reclusive mill owner, to take in a young blind boy named Tommy Kilgore. Levi agrees with reluctance but finds himself surprised by the bond that quickly grows between he and Tommy.  Christina begins to question her leadership abil...

Review of A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear by Stanley Popovich The author through his research, including discussions with professionals in the psychology and religious fields, presents a general overview of several techniques that are effective in managing persistent fear. This book focuses on results oriented techniques and strategies that a person can use to manage every day fears and presents this material in a clear and easy-to-read format. This book has been reviewed by various professionals in the counseling fields. This book is not a substitute for the guidance of a professional. My Review: This book was well-written and had some good ideas for reducing fear/anxiety.  I do feel that this book would be overlooked  by those who are not Christians as it stresses praying and relying on God to rid oneself of fear.  I am a Christian and appreciate the points but I do feel it would be rejected by those who do not believe.  I would hate for them to miss out o...

Review of Sisters Inn by Ruth G. Zavitsanos The Sisters Inn gave Eliza Thompson an escape from her past and a promising future as co-proprietor with her dear friend, Abigail Draper. Eliza and Abby, a widow with a half-breed son, combine their strengths to run the inn located on the outskirts of Denver in 1873. When it comes time to hire a father-son team of wayward handymen, Harold and Daniel Tanner, Eliza is hesitant, noting Daniel’s undernourished appearance and odd demeanor. Within a few weeks of arriving at the inn, Daniel appears stronger and extremely handsome. His kindness and inexplicable attentiveness cause Eliza’s heart to respond with a fearful, yet enjoyable flutter.  For Daniel Tanner the freedom to do as he pleased with his pa by his side was all he wanted in life. Or, so he believed. That changed the moment he caught sight of Eliza. He’d never known a woman to take his breath away and stay locked inside his thoughts. Though attracted to one another, their pa...

Interview with Lynn Chandler-Willis I am pleased to welcome author, Lynn Chandler-Willis to my blog today.     *Tell us about yourself.   I was born, raised, and continue to live in the heart of North Carolina. I have a son and daughter, each married, who have blessed me with nine grandchildren. I share my home with Sam the cocker spaniel who barks at me when I've been at the computer too long.  *What is your favorite book from childhood?  Treasure Island *Coffee or tea?  Tea. With lots of sugar *Night owl or Morning person?  A little of both. My best writing is at night but I don't like writing too close to bedtime. I can shut down the computer, but I can't shut down my brain so although I may be dead tired and sleepy, I find myself plotting the next scene. *Mountains or beach?  Mountains, most  definitely .  *If you were not an author, what would you be doing?  Wow — you wouldn't think that would be such a...

Review of Two Are Better: Midlife Newlyweds Bicycle Coast to Coast by Tim & Debbie Bishop \ With no prior experience in either bicycle touring or marriage, 52-year-olds Tim and Debbie Bishop went from an engagement, to Tim’s “retirement” and relocation, to a cross-country trek in just ten weeks. Their adventure, which touches on midlife change, marriage, and faith, inspires its readers to cast away the old and the stale in pursuit of their dreams. MY REVIEW:  What an exciting adventure......marriage for the first time at age 51 for Tim and for Debbie and then to bicycle from the west coast to the east coast for their honeymoon.   I read this book in one afternoon and was constantly showing my husband pictures from the book and reading portions of the book to him.   I have always thought it would be fun to give up our jobs and home and live in a camper, but bicycling is an extreme undertaking.   Tim and Debbie described scenery so well that I felt lik...

Review of The Rising by Lynn Chandler Willis A dead child that isn't dead. A cop out of control. When their worlds collide, God intervenes. MY REVIEW:   Remarkable suspense-filled story of a woman's journey back to God and a little boy's journey back to life.   I love reading suspenseful books and The Rising  has kept me guessing what was coming next with every page.  I was a pastor's wife and the fact that the cop in the story is a "PK" or "preacher's kid" was  very interesting to me.   I could certainly see why she might have felt that God was turning away from her as I learned more of the circumstances of her life.   I was fascinated with her maternal side as she grew more and more protective of the precious little "Johnny Doe".  I give this a 5-star rating.   It was the first book I had read by Lynn Chandler Willis but it will not be my last.    I received a free pdf copy of this book from the author in exchange f...

Review of The Secret Keeper by Beverly Lewis  Christian ,  Literature/Fiction (Adult) Release Date:  Oct 1 2013 To Read an excerpt: http://assets.bakerpublishinggroup.com/processed/book-resources/files/Excerpt_9780764209802.pdf?1373396246   Readers Eagerly Await the Latest from Beverly Lewis, the #1 Name in Amish Fiction With her love for all things old-fashioned, Jennifer Burns has often been told she's an "old soul," but no one is prepared for the young woman's decision to set aside her modern life in favor of the Old Order Amish world. Yet Jenny does exactly that, adopting Plain dress and settling in with Samuel and Rebecca Lapp while she works as a mother's helper for the bishop's wife--a far cry from her former job as an x-ray technician. The people of Hickory Hollow are curious about the beautiful young seeker among them, one handsome Amishman in particular. But he is not the only man vying for Jenny's affections, and Jenny fac...

e Review of That Certain Summer by Irene Hannon Karen and Val are family-yet they’re anything but close. Karen has carried the burden of responsibility for her aging mother ever since her gorgeous sister left town years ago to pursue a career in theater. But Val had darker reasons for leaving town-as well as a secret to keep-and coming home has never been an option . . . until their mother suffers a stroke. Reunited in their hometown, Karen and Val must grapple with their past mistakes, their relationship with each other, and their issues with a mother who is far from ideal. When a physical therapist raising his daughter alone and a handsome but hurting musician enter the picture, the summer takes on a whole new dimension. As their lives intersect and entwine, can each learn how to forgive, how to let go, and how to move on? And strengthened by the healing power of faith, might they also find the courage to love? With her trademark compelling characters and heartwarming hope, fa...

Review of Journey to Sand Castle by Leslee Breene In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Tess Cameron, a divorced teacher, becomes the unwitting guardian of a bi-racial orphan. She is compelled to take the little girl from New Orleans to the Colorado San Luis Valley to meet her grandfather. Estranged from the child's missing mother, the grandfather is unaware of the granddaughter's existence and doesn't want her. Grant Wilder, a widowed outfitter, offers Tess temporary employment  on his ranch. But can Tess's wandering spirit find the faith to accept permanent responsibility of the child and open her heart to love again in this land of amazing beauty and haunting secrets? MY REVIEW: I have experienced hurricanes when I lived at Holden Beach, North Carolina, but I have never experienced the utter destruction, devastation, and loss that a hurricane can cause.   I could feel the hunger pains when Tess's stomach growled.   My heart broke when the...