Rhonda's Doings !

the Blue Cloak  by Shannon McNear Book Description: Based on real events beginning in 1797 — Rachel Taylor lives a rather mundane existence at the way station her family runs along the Wilderness Road in Tennessee. She attends her friend’s wedding only to watch it dissolve in horror as the groom, Wiley Harpe, and his cousin become murderers on the run, who drag their families along. Declaring a “war on all humanity,” the Harpes won’t be stopped, and Ben Langford is on their trail to see if his own cousin was one of their latest victims. How many will die before peace can return to the frontier? MY BOOK REVIEW: 5 Stars: 5/5 Star Rating          The horrors inflicted by the Harpes are unimaginable, and yet they are based on true facts, while the account is fictionalized.  I was appalled even while compelled to continue reading.  I simply could not fathom what drew Sally to Wiley Harpe to begin with, and yet I understood the sheer terror th...

365 Gifts: A Daily Devotional for Women                         Book Review by Janice Thompson Book Description: Inspiration for your grateful heart. Rooted in the biblical truth of James 1:17: "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights. . ." This inspiring daily devotional encourages you to live every day with a grateful heart for the many blessings God provides. Each titled devotional reading will touch your heart as you encounter daily gifts from your heavenly Father, including THE GIFT OF GRACE, THE GIFT OF LOVE, THE GIFT OF LIFE, THE GIFT OF FAMILY, THE GIFT OF WORK, THE GIFT OF SALVATION, and THE GIFT OF PRAYER. Every day's reading begins with scripture and ends in prayer. MY BOOK REVIEW:  I love this devotional.  It incorporates the many times that the word "gift/gifts" is used in the Bible along with blessings and gifts that we receive from...

365 Classic Bedtime Bible Stories   inspired by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut's Story of the Bible Book Description: Story Time--The Most Important 10 Minutes in a Child's Day! Your children or grandchildren will delight in this fully-illustrated storybook that brings 365 read-aloud classic Bible stories to life for impressionable young hearts. Beginning with the creation story, "God Creates the Earth," and ending with "In Eternity with God,” your children will develop faith in an almighty God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, while journeying alongside Bible characters like Samuel, Jonah, Esther, David, John the Baptist, Mary, Joseph, and many more. 365 Classic Bedtime Bible Stories promises to make bedtime reading a delightful learning and faith-building experience for your kids 3 and up. My Book Review: I love reading to children from the day they're born.   Reading and looking at pictures in books are wonderful learning tools for...

The Knight's Bride Chivalry Lives in Six Stories from the Middle Ages by Tracie Peterson, Dianne Christner, Pamela Griffin, Yvonne Lehman, & Jill Stengl Book Description: Where Angels Camp - by Dianne Christner  A Legend of Mercy - by Pamela Griffin  The Stranger’s Kiss - by Yvonne Lehman  A Kingdom Divided - by Tracie Peterson  Alas, My Love - by Tracie Peterson  A Child of Promise by Jill Stengl Take six romantic adventures back in time to the Middle Ages along with five authors including Tracie Peterson, who tell the stories of couples challenged by the injustices of their times. Some couples are pulled apart by wars and feuds, while others have their futures determined by their oppressors. Can a faith be found to keep hope alive and give joy in all circumstances? MY REVIEW:  Take a step back in time....way back in time....with these six romantic novellas.   The five authors: Tracie Peterson (she writes two of the novellas whi...

The Seekers  Review The Amish Cooking Class Book #1 by Wanda Brunstetter Join a class of unlikely Ohioans who take cooking lessons at Lyle and Heidi Troyer’s Amish farm. A woman engaged to marry, an expectant mother estranged from her family, a widowed mom seeking to simplify, a Vietnam vet who camps on the Troyer’s farm, and an Amish widower make up the mismatched lot of students. But Heidi’s cooking lessons soon turn to life lessons as they each share the challenges they are facing. Is this what God had in mind when Heidi got the idea for cooking classes? MY REVIEW:  Can't cook? Looking for friends?  Just want to have some fun?  Bored?  Hungry?  Heidi Troyer is ready and willing to take a risk and teach some Amish meals and share a few scripture verses along the way.  Come join, she invites and several do just that.          This book was very fun to read and emotional as well.  I think readers wi...

Review of Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends Harvest Cookbook Over 240 Recipes for Using and Preserving the Bounty of the Land Overloaded with garden produce, CSA shares, or farmers’ market finds? Now you’ll know what the Amish do with these seasonal fruits and vegetables and how they preserve some of them for future use. Bring the wisdom of Amish gardeners and cooks into your own home with dozens of recipes and tips from the heart of Amish country in  Wanda E. Brunstetter’s Amish Friends Harvest Cookbook . This well-organized book is sure to become a treasured resource. MY REVIEW:   Never again will you find more delicious ways to cook, prepare, and preserve the vegetables, meats, fruits, herbs, pasta, and even weeds than in this cookbook.  Scripture verses are interspersed throughout the recipe book.   There is a section on how to use weeds, yes, weeds...for cooking, medicinal purposes, and more!   There is a section on planting according to the s...

Review of The Bible Promise Book for Hope & Healing by Karin Dahl Silver Barbour’s Bible Promise Books are perennial bestsellers, with millions of copies in print. Now,  The  Bible Promise Book  is available in a brand-new hope and healing edition. Featuring dozens of timely topics—including Addiction, Rest, Peace, Forgiveness, Eternity, God's Love, Salvation, God's Power, Prayer, Comfort, and Perseverance—you will find hundreds of verses from God's Word that will speak to your daily needs. The Bible Promise Book for Hope and Healing  is ideal for personal use and for ministries. MY REVIEW:  Looking for hope and healing? This book is a wonderful resource for those who are hurting, abused, damaged, or broken.  Looking for a good devotional. This would be a nice book for that as well.  Using appropriate scripture to fit each subject, the author speaks to them in a Biblically accurate fashion.  Topics are arranged alphabetically and ...

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 Vow for Always the Discovery (A Lancaster County Saga) Part 6  by Wanda Brunstetter Book 6 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   Vow for Always  is part six of New York Times Bestselling author, Wanda E. Brunsetter’s The Discovery--A Lancaster County Saga. MY REVIEW: Meredith and Luke have come a long way in this 6 part journey.  Luke started out to learn a new trade and was robbed and attacked and left for dead.  He developed amnesia from the injuries to his head and meanwhile, his wife, Meredith, has given birth to their first born child back in Pennsylvania.  A lovely young nurse takes Luke into her grandparents' home to recuperate until he remembers who he is.....IF he remembers who he is......and she ends up falling for him.   Meanwhile, Jonah is an o...