Rhonda's Doings !

Review of The Arrival  by J W Brazier "Beneath a cloak of  darkness and mystery,  it has arrived …  Palestine: 1948—With the winds of war fast approaching, an unscrupulous archaeologist finally finds the remains of the man he’s been searching for … unwittingly releasing an ancient evil on the world.  White River, Arkansas: 1980—In a secret lab, top-level medical scientists work together to harness the power of previously unheard of DNA manipulation. But when the project finally comes to fruition with the birth of a specially “designed” baby, it just as abruptly comes to a bloody halt, with the facilities and nearly every member of the team wiped out, silenced forever … almost.  White River, Arkansas: 2019—The small town awakens one morning to find itself ground zero of a joint UN-US terrorist training exercise. Residents face martial law, a cashless economy, and a host of ruthless leaders seemingly bent on making the maneuvers more than just a mi...

Review of A Blessing for Miriam (Land of Promise #2) by Jerry S. Eicher In the second book of bestselling author Jerry S. Eicher's new Land of Promise series, Miriam Yoder is looking forward to her wedding day with Wayne Yutzy. But when beautiful Esther Swartz arrives to care for her ailing grandmother, Miriam is wary of Wayne's past relationship with Esther. When storms rip through the small Amish community in Oklahoma, Miriam's daett arrives to help in the rebuilding efforts. Under pressure from Miriam's daett the relationship with Wayne is upended, leaving Miriam to wonder if she must now build her new life as a single Amish woman. Book two in the Land of Promise series.   MY REVIEW:  I have been a huge fan of Jerry Eicher's Amish fiction for years and this book lives up to my expectations of great literature.  This book did seem to have more sad events and happenings in it though and I will admit to feeling very sad for Miriam.   Jerry Eicher is kno...

Review of Hearts Made Whole (Beacons of Hope #2) by Jody Hedlund After her father’s death, Caroline Taylor has grown confident running the Windmill Point Lighthouse. But in 1865 Michigan, women aren’t supposed to have such roles, so it’s only a matter of time before the lighthouse inspector appoints a new keeper–even though Caroline has nowhere else to go and no other job available to her. Ryan Chambers is a Civil War veteran still haunted by the horrors of battle. He’s been given the post as lighthouse keeper, and the isolation where he can drown in drink and hide from his past is appealing. He’s not expecting the current keeper to be a feisty and beautiful woman who’s none-too-pleased to be giving up her position. They both quickly realize he’s in no shape to run the lighthouse, but Ryan’s unwilling to let anyone close, ravaged by memories and guilt. Caroline’s drawn to this wounded soul, but with both of them relying on that single position, can they look past their los...

Review of Two Roads Home by Deborah Raney Minor-but-nagging setbacks continue to sour Grant and Audrey Whitman's initiation into the world of innkeeping, but larger challenges brew when an innocent flirtation leads to big trouble for the Whitmans' son-in-law, Jesse. Jesse Pennington's friendly, outgoing personality has always served him well, especially in a career that has earned him and his wife Corinne a very comfortable lifestyle. But Corinne and Jesse are both restless and for similar reasons, if only they could share those with each other. Instead, too many business trips and trumped-up charges of harassment from a disgruntled coworker threaten their marriage and possibly put their three precious daughters at risk. With their life in disarray, God is tugging at their hearts to pursue other dreams. Can Corinne and Jesse pick up the pieces of what was once a wonderful life before it all crumbles beneath them? MY REVIEW:  Do I have an issue with this book?...

Review of Silver Spurs (Horses & Friends #2) by Miralee Ferrell Kate’s dream of owning a horse has finally happened. But now her best friend Tori has no money to buy a horse. So Kate comes up with a plan—she’ll raise money by boarding horses and hosting a show in her family’s barn. It seems the perfect solution until Melissa, the girl who disses Kate and Tori at school, shows up to board her horse, determined to compete in their show and win the silver spurs. Will their plan be ruined—or does God have something better in store for them all? Silver Spurs  is a tale of overcoming fears and trusting God with your dreams. MY REVIEW:   What a great book for young readers this one is!   Kate is thrilled to have her own horse and now she plans to teach her best friend, Tori, to ride as well.   She has a plan to fund this dream as well.  She just needs to convince her parents to board horses at their barn.   But is it worth having to put up wit...

Review of Justified (Mended Hearts #2) by Varina Denman In a small Texas town ruled by gossip, Fawn Blaylock believes others are justified in condemning her untimely pregnancy. Stifled by guilt, she yearns for grace while the local football coach treats her with gentle respect. Justified perfectly captures the rhythm and romance of life in a small town, telling the unforgettable story of a woman searching for renewal, a man looking beyond what others see, and a community torn between judgment and love. It is the unforgettable story of broken dreams, second chances, and relentless hope. MY REVIEW:    Gossip, judgment, and everyone knows your business!   That's small town life at its worst and Fawn, the little rich girl, finds herself pregnant, unmarried, and thrown out of her parents' mansion.   The whole town is talking and pointing fingers and the high school coach who taught her in the recent past is one of the few people treating her with kindness. ...

Review of The Heart of the Amish:  Life Lessons on Peacemaking and the Power of Forgiveness by Suzanne Woods Fisher Everyone has been hurt. Everyone experiences conflict, great and small. Everyone has someone to forgive. But sometimes we just can't bring ourselves to forgive someone who has wronged us or we don't take the need to forgive seriously--not like the Amish do. Forgiving others in order to live at peace is woven into the very fabric of their faith. To the Amish way of thinking, "You can't love the stream without knowing the source. " We must forgive others, they believe, because God forgave us.  "The Heart of the Amish" invites readers into the world of a people renowned for their ability to forgive. Through true stories gathered from a variety of Amish communities, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher illustrates how they are able to release their pain and desire for revenge, and live at peace with others. Her in-depth, personal re...