Book Review ** The Scent of Rain by Kristin Billerbeck

I really enjoyed reading The Scent of Rain by Kristin Billerbeck. It is light reading but keeps you in enough suspense that you want to keep reading to find out what will happen next.

What’s worse than showing up for your wedding and the groom is a no-show? How about losing your sense of smell when you’re a professional nose! Daphne Sweeten left her dream job in a Paris perfumery to get married because there were no available jobs for her fiancé, Mark Goodsmith, in Paris. After their wedding, Mark and Daphne were to start new jobs at a company in Dayton, OH. When Mark is a no-show at the wedding, Daphne’s best friend, Shopie, whisks her away in the limo and tries to comfort her. All Daphne wants is to get back the cologne samples that she created for the wedding and send one to her old boss in Paris.

Jesse Lightner, Daphne’s new boss, is a widower with a young son. His biggest regret is that he was so busy at work; he didn’t recognize the signs that his wife was going through postpartum depression and that she died from an allergic reaction to an ingredient in a sleeping pill that she took. Jesse is already struggling in his department and the last thing he wants is a professional nose on the payroll.

Daphne starts her new job and does her best to rely on her chemistry background to compensate for the loss of her sense of smell and agrees to stay on for six months. Jesse realizes that something is very wrong, when she makes no comment about the sour milk smell in his car or the smell of gas in her new house. A reminder of not being able to help his wife makes him go back to Daphne’s house just in time. He finds her unconscious from the gas fumes and gets help for her, but because she wasn’t truthful about loss of smell, he fires her. Can Jesse rebuild his trust in Daphne? What will happen when Daphne finds out that her ex-fiancé has her old job back in Paris? Will Jesse and Daphne realize that they are perfect for each other?

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson through the BookSneeze® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

This Scarlet Cord ** Book Review

This Scarlet Cord by Joan Wolf is the love story of Rahab from Joshua. Joan has taken a story contained in about five paragraphs of scripture and turned it into an 85,000 word book according to her explanation in the back of the book. She also took the liberty to use a modern translation of Salmon’s name, Sala, in her story.

This Scarlet Cord is divided into three parts. In the first section, twelve year old Rahab is kidnapped from a caravan that her family is traveling with. Sala’s father is a merchant and part of the Israeli remnant that stayed behind in Canaan when Isaac’s family went to Egypt with Joseph. Rahab and Sala meet for the first time in Gaza where she has just escaped from kidnappers who want to sell her into Egypt. Sala takes Rahab to his father for protection and get word to her family as to a meeting place to return Rahab to her family. The second part of the story takes place two years later in Jericho. Rahab is now eligible for marriage and her father wants someone more influential than just a farmer for her husband, so he takes some of his family along with Rahab to Jericho. Sala and his father are in Jericho under the guise of business, while checking out Jericho’s strengths and weaknesses to pass on to the Israeli spies that Joshua will send in. The third part of the story contains the Israelites conquering of Jericho and the saving of Rahab’s story.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I had previously read A Reluctant Queen: The Love Story of Esther and thought that this book would probably be just as good. Joan Wolf didn’t disappoint me. She keeps the reader spell bound and has thoroughly researched the time period and historical background. In this story she weaves in some of the religious customs of the Canaanites to give insight into Rahab’s background. While the author has deviated somewhat from the Biblical account of Exodus and Joshua, by placing Sala’s family still in a Israelite town in Canaan instead of with the refugees from Egypt with Joshua, she uses this to bring into the story how Rahab could have come to believe in the One True God.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson through the BookSneeze® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Book Review **Dawn Comes Early

Dawn Comes Early by Margaret Brownley is an interesting book. Kate Tenney is a disgraced Dime Novelist from Boston who has answered an ad for a professional woman to be “heiress” to a cattle ranch in Cactus Patch, Arizona Territory. When Kate steps off the train, she wonders why the town seems to be deserted and no one is there to meet her, especially when the telegram she has specifically says that a ranch hand would be there to take her to Last Chance Ranch. Kate proceeds to drag her trunk down the street looking for anyone she can ask for help. Unbeknownst to Kate, outlaw Cactus Joe had chosen this day to come to town. Kate finally gets a ride out to Last Chance Ranch from blacksmith Luke Adams. Kate meets Eleanor Walker, the ranch owner, and all the hands and begins learning the ropes of running a ranch. Eleanor Walker is looking for a woman to take over the ranch who will agree to never marry. What will happen when Kate is abducted by Cactus Joe, who demands that she write his life story? Will Kate fall in love with Luke Adams or will she end up agreeing to the stipulations that Eleanor Walker has for inheriting the ranch? Will Kate end up living her life in Boston or Arizona Territory? Pick up this book and read it to find out for yourself.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson through the BookSneeze® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Book Review** Heart of Gold

Heart of Gold by Robin Lee Hatcher, is an excellent book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. It is set in Idaho Territory during the Civil War. Shannon Adair and her father have come to Grand Coeur to pastor the church there. Matthew Dubois is a Well Fargo stagecoach driver who has taken an office position in Grand Coeur so that his widowed sister, Alice, and nine year old nephew, Todd, can come live with him. Shannon and her father have left their beloved home in Virginia and Shannon resents having to leave the nursing that she had been doing with the wounded Confederate soldiers. Alice knows that she is dying of cancer and Shannon volunteers to be a nurse and companion for her. As Alice gets to know Shannon, she begins to hint to Matthew that he needs to take a wife – someone like Shannon.

Will Shannon be able to put aside her feelings about Yankees and come to care for Alice, Matthew and Todd? Will Matthew win Shannon’s heart or will one of the Southern men in town woo her? Will Matthew decide to give up driving the stage and settle down? Read this book and find out! I think you’ll like it as much as I did.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson through the BookSneeze® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Book Review** Bittersweet Surrender

Bittersweet Surrender by Diann Hunt, is the story of Carly Westlake, owner of the Mocha Day Spa. Carly’s husband ran out on her when she needed him most, going through treatment for breast cancer. Now several years have passed and she is trying to get her life back together and scrape enough money together to get reconstructive surgery done on her breast, but all kinds of complications arise. Carly’s brother, CJ, and his wife, Rita, are having marital issues; Jake, her brother’s best friend has been emailing her and decides to move back to town; her best friend and assistant, Ivy, has recently died; and her step mother, Magnolia, moves in with her. Ivy’s husband, Scott, shares an office with Carly and does accounting for Carly’s spa. Will Scott realize that he cares for Carly before Jake makes his claim on her? Can Scott and Rita survive the emotional bombs that CJ will drop on them? What will happen when Scott discovers the secrets that Ivy kept from him?

I didn’t care for this book, basically because of the issues of divorce. I believe that marriage is for life and prefer not to knowingly purchase books where the characters are involved in divorce.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson through the BookSneeze® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Thanksgiving 2011

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Book Review** Smitten

What is the small town of Smitten, Vermont to do when its biggest employer, the saw mill, has just closed its doors? What else but do something to put itself on the map as a destination for honeymooners with the help of rising country music star Sawyer Smitten when he decides to hold his Hollywood wedding there.

Smitten by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt and Denise Hunter is a collection of four novellas that tells the stories of four friends who dream up the idea for putting Smitten, Vermont back in business. Can Natalie and Carson Smitten overcome their differences and work things out for the good of the town? Can Natalie, who is raising her niece, Mia, overcome her sister’s lies about Carson being Mia’s father? Can Julia get past her feelings and realize that Zak feels more for her than just a little sister? Can Shelby overcome her differences with her father and find her place in Nick and Willow’s lives? Can Nick get past Shelby’s past mistakes and grant forgiveness? Will Reese and Griffen realize they are more than just buddies or will Sawyer Smitten win back Reese’s heart ?

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson through the BookSneeze® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Book Review** Heroes & Villains of the Bible

Are you looking for a child friendly Bible story book? Heroes and Villains of the Bible has actual Bible text from the International Children’s Bible. Pictures are interspersed throughout the book and a number of character’s stories are told from the Old and New Testaments. Some of the heroes covered are Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Miriam, Moses, Rahab, Joshua, Gideon, Ruth, Samuel, Mordecai, Esther, Daniel, Jonah, Mary & Joseph, John the Baptist, the Good Samaritan, Nicodemas, Peter, Joseph of Arimithea, Stephen, Philip and Saul. Each hero’s story is noted by a lion. Each villain’s story is noted by a serpent. Some of the villains covered are Cain, Joseph’s Brothers, Potiphar’s wife, Pharaoh, Delilah, Goliath, Jezebel & Ahab, Haman, Herod, Herodias, Judas, and Pilate. At the end of the book is a section for Notes for Heroes.

My preference for a Bible story book using actual Bible text would be to use King James Bible text, but that is not the case for this book. The text is very readable and understandable, just not my preference.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson through the BookSneeze® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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Lonestar Angel ** Book Review

Do you enjoy reading Inspirational fiction with some mystery? If you do, then you’ll enjoy reading Lonestar Angel by Colleen Coble. It is a thrilling read that is hard to put down.

Clay and Eden Larsen met in Hawaii on vacation, had a whirlwind fling and ended up married a few short months later. When their six week old daughter, Brianna, is kidnapped, their marriage of less than a year falls apart. Clay and Eden go their separate ways and Eden is on the brink of a new relationship. Now five years later, Clay shows up and informs Eden that they are still married and has proof that Brianna is still alive and staying at Bluebird Ranch in Texas with four other girls the same age. What’s more, there is a position open for counselors for the girls’ cabin. Will Clay and Eden be able to survive the feelings they still have for each other? Will they figure out which child is their daughter? Will the ghosts of their pasts be able to be overcome? Read the book to find out.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson through the BookSneeze® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

It Couldn’t Just Happen by Lawrence O. Richards

I enjoyed reading It Couldn’t Just Happen: Knowing the Truth About God’s Awesome Creation by Lawrence O. Richard.

This is an interesting book that gives proof that the world was created by God and did not just evolve. It is divided into 5 parts. Part 1 covers the Earth in our Universe. It talks about the origin of the universe and how Earth is the only planet that can sustain life. Part 2 covers how life began and that no matter how many times that a scientist has tried to create life as the Evolutionist say it happened, they have never once been able to make it happen. Part 3 talks about the evidence from living things. Part 4 covers humanity in God’s nature and how we were created in his likeness. Part 5 talks about the Book that just didn’t happen: The Bible. This book is written for a child’s perspective and there are activities at the end of each chapter for children to do. An activity from chapter one is:

“Sit outside one night for five minutes, just looking at the stars. Then read Psalm 8. Can you understand how the psalmist felt? How did you feel?” Lawrence O. Richards. It Couldn’t Just Happen: Knowing the Truth about God’s Awesome Creation (Kindle Locations 328-329). Thomas Nelson.

Another activity example taken from chapter 17 is:

Find out how an archaeologist works. What would be most interesting about being an archaeologist in Bible lands? What would be hardest? Lawrence O. Richards. It Couldn’t Just Happen: Knowing the Truth about God’s Awesome Creation (Kindle Locations 3294-3295). Thomas Nelson.

Pick this book up for some interesting reading.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson through the BookSneeze® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Mr. & Mrs. David Heintzelman 8-27-2011

Mr. & Mrs. David Heintzelman

Chastity checks to make sure she is holidng the basket correctly

These two stole the show! Caleb was pushing Chastity away from Jenny and Chastity finally put her arm around him and made him stand still beside her.

Photo session after the ceremony

Groom's family

The next few pictures were taken at the Savannah Center

Bride's family

The Happy Couple

David & Elisabet's Wedding - Decorations

Hannah, Lavonda, Sandra & Elisabet did an awesome job with the church decorations

Front of the church

closeup of the lattice with the wreath

Ivy and candle on the pillar

Wreath holder with the cone of flowers hanging on it

David & Elisabet's Wedding Reception

David & Elisabet's Wedding Reception was held at the Savannah Center in the Villages

Gift table at the Reception Wedding cake/Cupcakes - Yummy!!!

Collage that Elisabet's mom put together

Each table centerpiece was a basket containing a cup and saucer with an arrangement of moss and flower blossoms and David & Elisabet's picture on one side and scripture verse on the other. Also in the basket were bubbles, a spray of flowers, 3 different packets to write messages on for the newlyweds and pens.

David & Elisabet feed each other a piece of cupcake

Spring For Susannah

I enjoyed reading Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond. Susannah Underhill is an only child from Detroit Michigan. When her father, a veterinarian and Sargent Major in the army, and her mother die, Susannah is left alone. With no suitors calling, she goes as a mail-order bride to her pastor’s brother, Jesse Mason, in the Dakota Territory. Married by proxy and then taking the train to Fifth Siding, Dakota Territory, Susannah begins her adventure as a mail-order bride. Susannah has been traumatized by an incident that occurred shortly before leaving Detroit and feels undeserving of her husband’s love and patience and her faith is put to the test. When Susannah miscarries during the harsh Dakota winter, she almost loses her life as well. During the following year, Jesse and Susannah’s faith is tried when they lose their crops to grasshoppers for the second year in a row. Jesse goes to find work and Susannah is left to keep the claim. Through the winter that follows, Susannah teaches the children from the nearby town, while wondering if Jesse will ever return. Then spring begins to arrive and Susannah sees more than changes in the landscape. I received this book free from Thomas Nelson through the BookSneeze® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Fairer Than Morning by Rosslynn Elliott

Do you enjoy reading historical fiction set in Early 19^th Century America? If you do, you’ll enjoy reading Fairer Than Morning by Rosslynn Elliott.

Ann Miller, of Rushville, Ohio, is the daughter of a circuit riding preacher who is also a saddler. She loves poetry and beautiful things and thinks she is in love with Eli Bowen. Eli loves poetry and beautiful things, too and has plans to leave for the city soon to become a doctor.

Will Hanby is a saddle-makers apprentice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Working under a cruel master has the tendency to make one bitter but God has different plans in Will’s life.

One day, Ann’s father got some leather from Will’s master, and Ann finds letters from Will’s mother to Will in the bottom of the barrel the leather was packed in. When Ann’s father is commissioned to make a saddle for a prominent family in Pittsburgh, Ann convinces her father to allow her and her sisters to accompany him to Pennsylvania so that she can possibly return Will’s letters to him. While in Pittsburgh Ann’s father is working closely with Will and sets an example for him of a good master. When circumstances change for Will, what will happen?

There really was a Will Hanby and an Ann Miller and Fairer Than Morning is the first book in the Saddler’s Legacy Series telling about their lives.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson through the BookSneeze® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.