Rhonda's Doings !

Review of The Promise by Amanda Tru The secrets to changing Hannah's past, lie in her future.  The terror of being captured by her enemy throws Hannah into the distant future. But it is a future that holds secrets.  As the closely guarded secrets unravel, so does the mystery of Hannah's life. Now her entire existence hinges on her actions.  With time on her own life running out, Hannah is driven by an obsession to travel back in time to save her husband and family, righting the wrongs fro her mistakes. But in order to so do, she must control her time traveling and then somehow save a dead man.  Hannah must face life-altering secrets, heart-breaking betrayal, shocking surprises, and a final encounter with a villain intent on destroying her. Can she save herself before time traveling takes its final toll? Though Hannah believes God has a plan for her life, can she trust that the author of time can also use her sin for her ultimate good? And in the en...

Review of The Journey Home by Hope Kessler In the eyes of the community, Birdie Miller is a loyal daughter and a church member in good standing.  Birdie knows this is a lie.  Soured to the faith by an unhappy childhood, she made the difficult decision to leave her home and not make final vows to the church. But when a terrible accident injures her mother, Birdie is forced to return home, where her father’s act of deceit results in her vowing to follow a path she’d planned to reject.  Caleb Troyer is as certain in his commitment to the Amish path as any young man can be. He’s mapped out his future, and those plans include marriage, a home and possibly church leadership.  When the woman he loves derails those plans by choosing another, he decides to start fresh in a new community, so he takes a position left vacant by the young farrier killed in the same accident that injures Birdie’s mother.  For Birdie, the arrival of a handsome single man of marriageab...

Review of House of Living Stones by Katie Schuermann In the small Illinois town of Bradbury, change doesn't come often, and it certainly doesn't come easily. So when Pastor Fletcher hires Emily Duke as the new choir director at Zion Lutheran Church, he unknowingly sets in motion a chain of events that turns the life of his congregation upside down. The crusty church secretary, Mrs. Scheinberg, must learn to adjust her curmudgeonly ways. Zion's talented but pompous organist, Evan Ebner, must recognize his shortcomings. Emily must come to terms with her past. Even Pastor Fletcher must face reality when his world is shaken by the baggage Emily brings and by the handsome Zachary Brandt who pursues her. With its host of lovable and relatable characters, House of Living Stones will find a special place on your bookshelf and in your heart. MY REVIEW:   This novel is absolutely hilarious and refreshing!!   I found myself laughing through parts and then crying!   I wa...

Review of Miriam's Secret by Jerry S. Eicher Bestselling author Jerry S. Eicher (more than 600,000 books sold) brings new characters and surprising challenges to lovers of Amish fiction in the Land of Promise series. In this first book, Miriam Yoder has a secret. Her compassionate care for Amos Bland during his last days resulted in her receiving a large inheritance. When Ivan Mast indicates his intentions at romance, Miriam suspects he's discovered her hidden wealth and has plans that aren't inspired by his love for her. Seeking a fresh start where no one knows her, Miriam accepts a teaching position in faraway Oklahoma where she meets Wayne Yutzy, a local greenhouse employee. His interest in her seems genuine and when he proposes, Miriam accepts. Happiness surely awaits the newly engaged couple....or does it? Book one in the Land of Promise series MY REVIEW:   I discovered Jerry S. Eicher's Amish fiction several years ago and his books never disappoint me...

Review of Nurturing Great Kids Devotional 365 Practical Insights for Parenting with Grace We strive to do what is best for our family, but there are many differing opinions on how to be a good parent. Truly successful parenting begins with focusing on God and making him the center of all we do. The Once-A-Day Nurturing Great Kids Devotional helps you to bring God into your parenting by providing 365 daily devotionals written specifically for parents who are seeking to build a stronger relationship with their kids and put God first in their family. These devotionals will inspire you as a parent to embrace the role that God has given you, while also equipping you with the tools you need to be a strong Christian role model for your children. MY REVIEW:  Zondervan Publishing has put together a wonderful collection of devotions for parents for an entire year.   Each day's devotion includes a Bible verse, a story to illustrate the verse, a parenting principle, and point...

Review of An April Bride by Lenora Worth War changes everything . . . even their love. Bride-to-be Stella Carson can’t wait to marry her longtime sweetheart Marshall Henderson. But Marshall has been away serving his country and after suffering a head wound and being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome, he has distanced himself from Stella by asking her not to visit him in a Washington, D.C. hospital. Marshall returns to Louisiana just four weeks before the wedding, but as the big day draws near, Stella wonders if the man she’s loved for most of her life still wants to marry her. MY REVIEW:   This is a book full of hope.   Marshall has PTSD after returning from deployment and he has lost his memory due to the head injury he received.    He and Stella have loved each other since early childhood and are to marry in one month.   Will he remember Stella?  Will he still want to marry her?   The future is highly uncertain for both of th...

Review of The Wishing Season by Denise Hunter She daydreams of whipping up sauces and souffles in her own restaurant. His heart is set on helping foster children. Both dreams are at stake. So are their hearts. With grand plans to open her own bed & breakfast in Chapel Springs, PJ McKinley can't afford the most crucial part: the brick and mortar. But when the owner of a local historic home announces a contest and promises her property to the worthiest candidate, PJ makes a fervent wish and tosses her name into the hat. Cole Evans is cool, confident, and successful, but he'll never forget his roots. He's thankful for how far he's come and knows his life could have turned out drastically different. If he can win the stately old mansion, he'll turn it into a home for children aging out of the foster system. When the eccentric house owner narrows the entries down to only two applicants, she extends the contest, giving PJ and Cole one year to prove which on...

  Interview with Author, Anita Higman and Giveaway!   Q&A for  A Question of Destiny Can you tell me a little bit about your novel,  A Question of Destiny ? I’d be happy to. It’s basically a rags-to-riches story with a few surprises along the way. Here’s a short blurb to give you a few more details. Lucy O’Brien is about to be given ten millions dollars and a chance to live a life she never imagined. Will this new found wealth be Lucy’s undoing, or can she rise above the temptations within high society and choose to become a nobler version of herself? And will the solitary Andrew Whitfield—a man who watches over Lucy as she adapts to her new lifestyle—cause her to close the door on her dreams or be the key that opens the rest of Lucy’s destiny? How did you come up with this story? I’ve always thought the rags-to-riches concept was fascinating. There’s so much ready-made conflict. Even though we’ve been told by the world that to receive a...

Review of The Beekeeper's Son by Kelly Irvin A strange, mystical place allows Deborah and Phineas to see themselves and others with new eyes. When Deborah Lantz arrives in Bee County, Texas, she expects to find a great oasis of citrus groves and olive trees. Instead, she finds a tiny Amish district struggling to make ends meet on a barren, drought-stricken land. Deborah longs to go home to the lush, green countryside of Tennessee, but she wants her mother, a widow with six children, to be happy again. Even if that means accepting Stephen as her future stepfather. She can t believe God created such an ugly place filled with strange animals, twisted, stunted trees, and not a drop of rain for months. Then she meets the beekeeper's son. Phineas King s face is disfigured by scars from an accident that killed his mother and destroyed his trust in God. Through their encounters both begin to realize the beauty in all of God s creation. Deborah walks through the strange land ...

Review of Snow Globe by Laura V. Hilton A Compassionate Young Woman Esther Beachy enjoys working for an elderly woman who is wheelchair bound. Her client, Anna Petersheim, is pleasant and tells captivating stories. Plus, her home is quiet and far more peaceful than Esther's, with so many siblings. She only dreads the day when Anna's grandson, Viktor, will return from the river to take over the farm. She and Viktor were classmates years ago, and he'd been an obnoxious flirt who paid attention to every girl but her. A Toughened Riverboat Captain A seasoned riverboat captain, Viktor Petersheim has seen his share of trials. He left the Amish after the death of his parents and siblings in a house fire for which he still feels responsible. Now, after years of working on the Mississippi River, he returns home to claim the farm he inherited from his grandparents and, hopefully, to repair some of the damaged relationships and broken hearts he left in his wake. Love off th...

Review of A Christmas of Mercy by J. E. B. Spredemann As Christmas draws near, Katrina Thompson looks forward to the birth of her first grandchild. But when the blessed event digs up the discovery of her buried criminal past, Officer Love feels obligated to report the wrongdoing. The Amish community of Paradise has long since forgiven Katrina for her past mistakes, but will she receive mercy at the hands of the law? Christian fiction romance My Review:  This Christmas story is truly one about mercy.  Katrina Thompson is in desperate need of mercy in her life.  The Amish have long since forgiven her for her crime, but now she is dating Christopher, an officer of the law, and he has come to question her about the crime.   Will he show her mercy or will Christmas be ruined?   I love reading about the Amish and how they celebrate Christmas.  They love to connect with family and friends.   The emphasis is on Christ and they celebrate with s...

Review of The Duck Commander Faith & Family Bible New King James Version by Phil & Al Robertson, executive editors The stars of the hit TV show "Duck Dynasty" are committed to upholding five core values both on and off the screen: faith, family, fellowship, forgiveness, and freedom. With new stories and testimonials told from the perspectives of Phil, the Robertson family patriarch, and his son Al, a pastor with more than 22 years of experience, "The Duck Commander Faith and Family Bible" offers fresh wisdom on these values, what the Bible says about them, and how everyday people can apply them to their lives. With relentless dedication to sharing the gospel and expanding Christ's kingdom, the Robertson family has become a driving evangelical force of the twenty-first century. "The Duck Commander Faith and Family Bible" unleashes the power of their practical insight into critical faith issues, founded on God's holy Word. Features...

Review of Wanda E. Brunstetter's The Simple Life Devotional Devotional Thoughts from Amish Country Millions visit "Amish country" each year to enjoy the relaxed family atmosphere of this unique culture. What can we as "English" (non-Amish) people learn from this lifestyle? Wanda Brunstetter,  New York Times  bestselling author of Amish-themed novels, offers sixty intriguing and encouraging lessons in her devotional  The Simple Life . Each reading features a brief story of the Amish, providing a "behind the scenes" insight into their culture; a spiritual lesson, accompanied by scripture, drawn from the story; and a "bonus" of an Amish witticism or recipe. Now readers can enjoy the peace and quiet of Amish country anytime, anywhere. MY REVIEW:   Wanda E. Brunstetter has compiled a beautiful collection of stories of life with the Amish as a devotional.   I love the sweet stories based on the simple life of the Amish that is featured...

Review of A Question of Destiny by Anita Higman Lucy O’Brien is about to be given ten millions dollars and a chance to live a life she never imagined. Will this new found wealth be Lucy’s undoing, or can she rise above the temptations within high society and choose to become a nobler version of herself? And will the solitary Andrew Whitfield—a man who watches over Lucy as she adapts to her new lifestyle—cause her to close the door on her dreams or be the key that opens the rest of Lucy’s destiny? MY REVIEW:   What a fun romance novel this is!!   Lucy is given the dream of a lifetime when Ian Chalmers gives her $ 10,000,000 when he sees her save a woman's purse from a stranger on the street.  Her life is turned upside down, but will it change her?   Will she and Andrew find love in each other's arms or will she choose to live like the "rich and famous"? It was fun to imagine that this dream was mine as I read the book and I wondered how I would react if giv...