Rhonda's Doings !

Review of Rebekah's Treasure by Sylvia Bambola  Forced to flee war-torn Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Rebekah and her husband, Ethan, each take something of value: Rebekah, the cup of the Last Supper; Ethan, a copper scroll detailing the whereabouts of a vast Temple treasure. Ahead, separation and danger face them as each tries to survive. But it's not only external forces that could keep them apart forever but internal ones as they struggle to discover where their true treasure lies. Rebekah's Treasure has won first place for adult fiction in the Florida State Association National League of American Pen Women. The novel's combination of history, love and suspense will capture and engage readers right from the start. MY REVIEW:   " ''This can't be it,' I repeat.   'It can be no other, Mama,' Aaron says.  His soft beard is caked with the dust of the road, his face blistered from the sun.  His eyes, ever on the lookout for danger, squint...

Review of Through the Deep Waters by Kim Vogel Sawyer Born to an unloving prostitute in a popular Chicago brothel, timid seventeen-year-old Dinah Hubley was raised amidst the secrets held in every dark, grimy room of her home. Anxious to escape, Dinah pursues her dream of becoming a Harvey Girl, waiting tables along the railroad in an upscale hotel. But when she finds out she isn't old enough, her only option is to accept a job as a chambermaid at the Clifton Hotel in Florence, Kansas. Eager to put everything behind her, Dinah feels more worthless than ever, based on a single horrible decision she made to survive. MY REVIEW: " After easing onto the edge of the bed, Dinah clutched her hands together and whispered, 'You.' She swallowed.  'I know you're sick, Ma.'  Tori's face pinched into a horrible grimace.  'I told her not to say nothin' to you. An'don't call me Ma.'"    Through the Deep Waters  truly touched a deep...

Review of The Tyrant's Daughter  by J. C. Carleson From a former CIA officer comes the riveting account of a royal Middle Eastern family exiled to the American suburbs .  When her father is killed in a coup, 15-year-old Laila flees from the war-torn middle east to a life of exile and anonymity in the U.S. Gradually she adjusts to a new school, new friends, and a new culture, but while Laila sees opportunity in her new life, her mother is focused on the past. She’s conspiring with CIA operatives and rebel factions to regain the throne their family lost. Laila can’t bear to stand still as an international crisis takes shape around her, but how can one girl stop a conflict that spans generations?  J.C. Carleson delivers a fascinating account of a girl—and a country—on the brink, and a rare glimpse at the personal side of international politics.  *Bonus Backmatter includes a note about the author's CIA past, and a commentary by RAND researcher and presid...

Review of Children of the Depressed by   Shoshana S Bennett Have you ever wondered,  Why am I so negative?  or  Why is my life so chaotic?  Whether or not your parent was ever formally diagnosed with depression, you’ve probably always known there was something different about your upbringing. And even though you’ve grown up and moved on, you may still feel the after-effects of living with your parent’s illness. In  Children of the Depressed , a depression expert helps adult children understand and overcome common problems that stem from growing up with a depressed parent, such as poor communication skills and negative self-talk. Using skills and practices rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), you will learn to shed the old dynamics and ways of thinking that have been weighing you down and keeping you from enjoying healthy relationships and the life you deserve. Most books on depression only focus on getting help for the depressed person. This...

Review of A Plain Love Song by Kelly Irvin Adah Knepp wants nothing more than to make music. It's all she's ever desired--to sing and play the guitar and write her own songs. That's a dream that will never come true in the confines of her strict Amish community. But then she meets Jackson Hart, and all of a sudden she finds the chance for a different kind of life. A real stage, a real guitar, and a real opportunity to sing her songs to a real audience! But pursuing her dreams means turning her back on her family and community--and saying goodbye to Matthew, the gentle Amish farmer she can't get out of her mind. Is it worth giving up the only home she's ever known to pursue her dreams? MY REVIEW:   Adah has a song in her heart and she longs to write songs, but the Amish do not allow musical instruments or secular music.   What will she do?  Will she give up everything and everyone she loves to run off with Jackson, an Englisher, and follow her heart?  Or...

Review of Th e Quilted Heart Omnibus (Quilted Hearts, #1-3) by Mona Hodgson Like a beautiful patchwork quilt, the three novellas in The Quilted Heart tell stories of lives stitched together with love and God’s unending grace.  Once a week, Elsa Brantenberg hosts the Saint Charles Quilting Circle at her farmhouse on the outskirts of the riverside town of St. Charles, Missouri. The ladies who gather there have all experienced heartache related to the intense hardships of the Civil War, and together, they are facing their painful circumstances with friendship and prayer. Can the tattered pieces of their hearts be stitched together by God’s grace?  Dandelions on the Wind When Maren Jensen took a job on Elsa Brantenberg’s St. Charles, Missouri farm, she never expected to call the place her home. As she grows to love Mrs. Brantenberg and her granddaughter, Gabi, Maren is transformed from a lonely mail-order bride-without-a-groom to a beloved member of the Brantenberg hous...

Review of Kitty's Christmas Hope by Sharon Kleve Kitty Skinner meets the perfect guy, he's kind, considerate and sexy as hell. She hopes to spend her favorite holiday with him, Christmas Eve. The only problem is, Aaron treats her like his best friend, not the girlfriend she dreams of being. To make matters worse he’s found his perfect girl and wants Kitty to help plan their first date. Aaron Tyler thinks Kitty is sweet, talented and someone he can settle down with, but believes he has to deceive her into believing he cares for someone else to win her heart. Nothing goes as planned when one mishap after another prevents them from admitting their true feelings. Can Kitty and Aaron take a leap of faith and reveal their true feelings before their friendship takes a beating and miss out on their perfect date—Christmas Eve? MY REVIEW:  "I've met this great girl and I want to ask her out.  And I want the first date to be perfect," he blurted.      She fe...

Review of Forget Me Not by Miralee Ferrell Can a Lost Love be Redeemed? Seven years ago, Julia McKenzie rejected the man she loved, wanting to experience more of life. Now, at the age of twenty-four, she regrets that decision. What will Seth think of her, when they encounter one another hundreds of miles from home? Will the man she cared for understand the direction her life has taken and love her in spite of her choices? Pastor Seth Russell has never completely forgotten the girl he once courted. When she shows up in his new home of Baker City, all those feelings return. But why is she sneaking around town late at night? Even more important, will she reject him and break his heart again? MY REVIEW:  "She hadn't come West with visions of winning souls like some missionaries she knew, nor did she hope to win any contests for high esteem among the stalwart members of the community, but her passion burned to make a difference in the lives of downtrodden people.  If s...

Review of The Here and Now by Ann Brashares An unforgettable epic romantic thriller about a girl from the future who might be able to save the world . . . if she lets go of the one thing she’s found to hold on to. Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love. This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins.  Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth.  But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves.  From Ann Brashare...

Review of Simple Faith by Anna Schmidt After losing her beloved husband and daughter and surviving Hitler’s Sobibor death camp, Quaker widow Anja Steinberg  dedicates her life to helping others and keeping her son safe. As a member of the resistance, she helps displaced Allied airmen get back to their units in England. The journey is rigorous and filled with danger and there is no time for romance. Then American Peter Trent parachutes into her life. She must face facts—her heart did not die with her late husband and true love could be hers again. But will a romance hurt Peter’s chance of escape from the Nazis—and endanger her life as well? The Peacemakers Series: Book 1 - All God's Children Book 2 - Simple Faith - Available March 2014 MY REVIEW:   This book has given me incredible insights into WWII for those on the other side of our world.   I had seen many artifacts from my late uncle:   the censored letters home, his Purple Heart, his leave papers, pi...

Review of He Who Has An Ear  Who The Seven Churches of Revelation are Today by Laura J. Davis More than two thousand years ago the Apostle John had a vision he received from the Lord. He was told to write seven letters to the churches of Asia Minor. Out of the seven churches only two received commendation from the Lord. The rest were letters of warning. The letters to the seven churches are a message for this generation during these last days. He who has an ear will know what to do and act accordingly. My Review:   This is a great resource for those who are interested in further Bible study and especially for pastors, Bible scholars, and professors.  I feel that this book would make a very nice small group study.    Laura Davis has provided in depth analysis of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation.  I really like the bulleted lists included for each of the chapters and the questions addressed for the churches:   Some of these ques...

Follow me at Bloglovin'  "Rhonda's Doings"  Rhonda Gayle Nash-Hall <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/5791577/?claim=qez985gjq7z">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a> This is the profile pic you will see to identify me and my blog on Bloglovin'

Review of A Road Unknown:  Amish Roads, Book One by Barbara Cameron Elizabeth is at a crossroad. Will rumschpringe lead her away? Or bring her home? She's been given the chance to experience life outside of her community, away from the responsibility to care for her eight younger siblings, but Elizabeth Bontrager can't decide which road to take. Goshen has its charms and pressures, but Paradise, Pennsylvania, sounds . . . well, like paradise. And it's also home to her Englisch friend, Paula. Decision made. Elizabeth is Paradise bound. But will the small town live up to its name? When Elizabeth meets Paula's friend, Bruce, she quickly learns he wants more than a friendship. And the same might be true of Saul Miller, her new boss at the country story that sells Amish products to the Englisch community. As the two compete for her attention, Elizabeth is surprised to realize she misses her family and becomes even more uncertain about where she belongs. She has ...

Diaper cover & girly hat for photoprop

Diaper cover & hat for photo prop