A Season on the Wind - by Suzanne Woods Fisher

 

About the book:

Ben Zook was as free as a bird--until a chase for a rare White-winged Tern takes him to the one place on earth he planned to never return: his Amish home in Stoney Ridge.

Desperate for photographs of the elusive tern, Ben hires local field guide Micah Weaver, planning to "bag the bird" and leave Stoney Ridge before anyone recognizes him. But he neglected to plan for Micah's sister, Penny.

Ben had become Penny's spark bird during one long-ago summer, when she had introduced him to birding, even sharing with him a hidden eagle aerie. Penny always hoped Ben would come back to Stoney Ridge. Back to his Amish roots. Back to her.

The only problem? Ben has absolutely no memory of Penny.

My review:

This story started out slow for me but I ended up liking it pretty well as there was a twist and also ended up being very emotional and touching.  I liked the varied viewpoints as we have a professional birder who's been running away for years, the woman waiting for him all of that time, his cousin whose life has fallen apart and she doesn't know what to do and the young guide who can't find the words to tell a girl he's interested in her.  They've all experienced different hurt, from family or a church or a spouse and are at various stages of healing.  Some have turned away from God or never really knew him or are actively leaning on Him and listening for Him.  There's some romance and just a peaceful feel to the whole story.  I'm not much of a bird watcher myself but it was interesting learning about them and I can see how it would be exciting finding a rare one.  Forgiveness was a major theme for the story.  I also liked seeing characters from previous books set in Stoney Ridge show up.  I would recommend this story even if you don't love Amish stories as it had much to offer.

I received this book free from Revell.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

Sweet Romance! 'Tacos for Two' - by Betsy St. Amant

 

About the book:

Two unlikely chefs. One life-changing contest. There can only be one winner . . . right?

Food truck owner Rory Perez may not be able to cook, but she's determined to keep the family business out of the red. An upcoming contest during a food truck festival seems like the best way to do it. The prize money could finally give her solid financial footing, freeing up her time to meet the man she's been talking to via an anonymous online dating site.

Jude Strong is tired of being a puppet at his manipulative father's law firm, and the food truck festival seems like the perfect opportunity to dive into his passion for cooking and finally call his life his own. If he loses the contest, he'll be back at the law firm for good, so failure is not an option.

But things are about to get . . . complicated. Rory's chef gets mono, forcing her to cook after all. And Jude discovers that his stiffest competition is the same woman he's been falling for online. Will they sacrifice the futures they've envisioned for the sake of love? Or will there only ever be tacos for one?

My review:

This was a fun, sometimes frustrating romance that made me crave tacos like you wouldn't believe!  I love food trucks and it was a funny idea to have someone own a food truck who can't cook!  I also love the plot of falling for someone online but having conflict with them in person and not realizing they're the same person.  I felt like Rory was also relatable because she loves the movie "You've Got Mail, " my favorite, and has some self-esteem and anxiety issues.  Rory definitely had more pressure and responsibilities than Jude.  I really felt for him and how he had to deal with his horrible family.  That I can't relate to and he seemed to have so much patience, both with them and with her as she really had some trust issues because of stuff in her past.  There was some references to his faith and I wished they would have discussed that more to make sure they were on the same page as I don't remember mention of hers.  There was some fun banter and sweet romance, even mention of Pride and Prejudice!  Her friends and cousin were also fun additions to the story and I liked that a girl with down syndrome was in the story as you don't see that very often.  She was also really funny!   I highly recommend this story!

I received a free ebook from Netgalley.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

About the author:

           The Author

1. 

   Emilie Hendryx © EA Creative Photography

   Betsy St. Amant

   Betsy St. Amant is the author of more than fifteen inspirational romances, including The Key to Love, and a frequent contributor to iBelieve.com. She lives in north Louisiana with her husband, two daughters, a collection of Austen novels, and an...

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Wonderful Addition to Devotions! 'The Daily Bible Project' - by Ink & Willow

 

About the book:

For anyone looking to deepen their spiritual walk by reading through the Bible in a year, this keepsake journal offers a reading schedule with daily Scripture assignments and room to record three years' worth of responses.

Derived from the popular Daily Question series, The Daily Bible Project follows the same three-year structure in this new keepsake journal. Instead of a prompt, however, each page offers a Scripture reading assignment for the day, along with brief journaling spaces to fill with your favorite verses or your own questions and revelations experienced while reading.

The daily reading plan is specially designed to keep you on track but not overwhelmed:
• The daily readings are chronological but include chapters from the Old and New Testaments.
• Each day's reading prompt assigns roughly three chapters of Scripture.
• You'll read through the entire Bible each year, for three years.
• Indicating just the Scripture reference, the journal can be used with any Bible translation or version.

With room for three years' worth of responses, The Daily Bible Project offers a unique opportunity to track your spiritual growth and progress year over year.

My review:

This book is a great idea to use in your devotion time as you read the Bible.  It helps keep you on track to read the Bible in a year and gives you room to take notes and compare what you learned each year on one page.  The binding is gorgeous with a beautiful green color and gold lettering and ivy designs.  The pages are also wider than a usual book, which makes it easier to write in and there are also pages sprinkled here and there with helpful information, such as some of the names of God, biblical measurements, the stats on the Bible or verses to focus on to give you hope, peace, joy or comfort.  There's also an alternative reading plan if you'd rather read sequentially instead of chronologically.  This would be a joy to write in and also keep to look back on down the road after using it for three years.  I highly recommend this for anyone looking to stick to a reading plan or add a little to their devotional time.

I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah and Ink & Willow.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

Fascinating! 'The Healing of Natalie Curtis' - by Jane Kirkpatrick

 

About the book:

She came to the West for rest . . . what she found was a passion.

Classically trained pianist and singer Natalie Curtis can't seem to recapture the joy that music once brought her. In 1902, her brother invites her to join him in the West to search for healing. What she finds are songs she'd never before encountered--the haunting melodies, rhythms, and stories of Native Americans.

But their music is under attack. The US government's Code of Offenses prohibits America's Indigenous people from singing, dancing, or speaking their own languages. Natalie makes it her mission not only to document these songs before they disappear but to appeal to President Teddy Roosevelt himself, who is the only man with the power to repeal the unjust law.

Award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick weaves a lyrical novel based on a true story that captivates to the very end.

My review:

This was a fascinating true story about an amazing woman and her quest to right the wrongs done to the Native Americans, specifically wanting them to be able to sing their native songs and trying to document them for future generations.  I loved how Natalie went from being a sickly, timid woman to daring to be brave and going out west with her brother to learn and ultimately becoming passionate about the people and the loss of their rights.  It was amazing seeing the transformation and how she really stepped into her own and not only helped them but also found her own healing.  I also liked seeing from their perspective.  I knew a little about what the government did to the Native Americans in trying to assimilate them by erasing their culture but this really brought it to life and made me so angry, especially how some took it even further for their own gain.  I would recommend this book if you like history!

I received a free copy of this book from Revell.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

           The Author

1. 

   Jane Kirkpatrick

   Jane Kirkpatrick is the New York Times and CBA bestselling and award-winning author or contributor to thirty-nine books, including Something Worth Doing, One More River to Cross, A Name of Her Own, All Together in One Place, A...

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Emotionally Satisfying! 'The Inn at Walker Beach' - The Barefoot Sisterhood 1 - by Lindsay Harrel

 

About the book:

A dream years in the making becomes reality with the inaugural meeting of The Barefoot Sisterhood...

Jenna Wakefield has been through a lot in her twenty-seven years—losing her mother, becoming a teen mom, and battling depression, just to name a few. And working a dead-end job, barely paying her bills, and fighting unrequited feelings for her boss aren’t exactly part of the life she always imagined.

With her six children grown and her husband constantly traveling for work, Elise Griffin finds herself utterly without purpose for the first time ever at age sixty-three. But “retirement” isn’t as wonderful as it might sound—it gives her far too much time to think about the affair her husband had a year ago ... the one she’s never told anyone about.

When both women are invited into the mysterious Barefoot Sisterhood and asked to help restore an old beachside inn for a good cause, they find themselves supported and encouraged in new and exciting ways. This inspiration leads to dream seeking ... and new romance as well.

Discover what happens when women give each other the space to finally dream—and in doing so, make the world a better place.

My review:

This was an emotionally satisfying story as we see two women in very different stages of life really come into their own and start to see their worth.  I loved the romance for Jenna, falling in love with her boss and friend but also needing to work through her fears of failing and not measuring up.  Elise's story was also good but I have a harder time reading stories about infidelity.  She really wanted to make her marriage better so started to do the work of figuring out what was at the root of their problems and it was interesting to see that unpacked.  There was a little bit of faith in the story and I loved the idea of a sisterhood who supported one another and helped each other achieve their dreams.  And the setting of Walker Beach was just gorgeous.  I'm excited for the next book in the series about the two more women from the sisterhood!

I received a kindle copy of this book from JustRead Tours.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

Fascinating Story About Three Generations! 'The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery' - by Amanda Cox

 

About the book:

Present Day. Sarah Ashby returns to her childhood home, determined to finally follow her dream of running the family business alongside her mother and grandmother. So when her mother, Rosemary, announces to her that Old Depot Grocery is closing, Sarah and her grandmother, Glory Ann, make a plan to save the store. But Rosemary has worked her entire life to make sure her daughter never follows in her footsteps. She has her reasons--but she'll certainly never reveal the real one.

1965. Glory Ann confesses to her family that she's pregnant with her deceased fiancé's baby. Pressured into a marriage of convenience with a shopkeeper to preserve her family's reputation, Glory Ann vows never to love again. But some promises are not as easily kept as she imagined.

This dual-time story from Amanda Cox deftly explores the complexity of the mother-daughter relationship, the way the secrets we keep shape our lives and the lives of others, and the healing power of telling the truth.

My review:

This was a fascinating story about three generations of women and the secrets they're keeping.  I love dual timeline stories and and I loved seeing what each of these women went through and the choices they made in earlier years and how that shaped who they are now.  Glory Ann's husband Clarence was such a sweet man and a wonderful husband and father.  He turned out to be my favorite character because of his selflessness, wisdom and love he showed his wife and daughters, even when it wasn't easy.  I really liked Glory Ann, too, as she was a spitfire and was such a strong woman after all she'd endured.  It was heartbreaking to see how Glory Ann's parents treated her and also to see later how Rosemary feels so guilty for a wrong choice she made and the situation it affected.  There was a little bit about faith and a little bit of romance.  This was a another well-written story from Amanda Cox and I highly recommend it!

I received this book free from Revell.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

           The Author

1. 

   © Emilie Haney

   Amanda Cox

   Amanda Cox is the author of The Edge of Belonging. A blogger and a curriculum developer for a national nonprofit youth leadership organization, she holds a bachelor's degree in Bible and theology and a master's degree in professional counseling, but her...

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