My Father's House by Todd Saville

"My Father's House" by Todd Saville gets 4 stars from me. I borrowed this book on kindle from  a friend because of all the different posts about it. Some people really liked it and some posted negative things. Well that being said, I liked the story but there are 3 swear words in the book. One of the words was used 4 times and another one once, but the last one I really didn't like at all was using God's name(I think you all get the picture without me going any farther). And there was a bedroom scene but it was written without being too graphic and I think it fit well into the story. I would still recommend this story to others but with a warning about the negatives items! With all that said I loved the story!
      Cole Jansen has only time to make money not enjoy life. He gets a call from his mother that his father's has had another heart attack so he goes home to nag and complain to his dad about not taking care of himself. He meets the neighbor girl and an instant attraction is there but there is a problem, she is Amish. This book describes their relationship and how it develops. I was surprised at the ending, it has a couple of things happening that I didn't foresee. I have to say it doesn't end the way most books that I have read that have a love interest between an Amish and Englisher do. I am sad at the way it ended but it had to end that way to make the book!
I will be looking for more books by this author.

"The Moses Quilt" by Kathi Macias

About the Author

Award-winning author Kathi Macias has written nearly 35 books, including the “Extreme Devotion” series, Beyond Me, How Can I Run a Tight Ship When I’m Surrounded by Loose Cannons?, Mothers of the Bible Speak to Mothers of Today, the best-selling devotional A Moment a Day, and the popular “Matthews” mystery novels. Kathi has written commentary for Thomas Nelson’s Spirit-Filled Life Bible (Student Edition); was part of the devotional writing team for Zondervan’s New Women’s Devotional Bible; and has ghostwritten for several prominent individuals including Josh McDowell; former NFL player Rosey Grier; and the late chaplain of the United States Senate, Richard Halverson. An avid writer, Kathi has published numerous devotionals, articles, short stories, and poems in various periodicals. The readership of her weekly devotionals has grown into the hundreds of thousands, being picked up by the Christian Civic League, Black Christian News, Latino Christian News, Christians in Recovery, and crosswalk.com.

A former judge for the Christy Awards, which recognize Christian novels of excellence, Kathi has won numerous awards herself. These awards include the Angel Award from Excellence in Media, a Hollywood-based organization set up to improve the moral and ethical content of films, television shows, books, etc.; fiction awards from the San Diego Christian Writers Guild; Golden Scroll Novel of the Year (Red Ink), Carol Award finalist (Red Ink), 2011 Author of the Year from BooksandAuthors.net, and the grand prize in an international writing contest. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi now serves as a staff member for the Christian Communicator Manuscript Critique Service and spiritual advisor to the Christian Authors Network. She has also appeared on several radio and TV programs.

A popular speaker for women’s retreats, conferences, and churches, Kathi has taught creative writing and business writing in various venues; and has served on staff at a large church in Southern California, where she participated in biblical counseling, trained small-group leaders, and oversaw support/recovery ministries. With women’s ministry as her primary interest, Kathi also loves reaching out to others through various prison and homeless ministries. Passionate about praying for and aiding the persecuted church around the world, Kathi is a mother and grandmother and currently resides with her husband, Al, in California.

This book is definitely a 5 star book for me! I had heard some many great things about Kathi Macias's books and was not disappointed when I read this book. You might even be surprise at some of the things you learn about Harriet Tubman.

Mazie Hartford is in love with Edward Clayton and he is in love with her. Edward has asked Mazie to marry him but there is a problem, is Mazie ready to enter an interracial marriage? Mimi, who is Mazie great-grandmother, has a quilt that is called the Moses quilt,because it tells the life of Harriet Tubman and she uses this quilt to help Mazie make the right choice as her own health is failing.This is a quick read and you will want to keep reading to found out what Mimi tells Mazie and Edward. After reading this book I am ready to read others by Kathi Macias.

I received this book from www.bookfun.org to read and post my honest opinion.

This book is available at http://www.amazon.com/Moses-Quilt-Kathi-Macias/dp/1596693584/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364392924&sr=1-1

"Congo Dawn" by Jeanette Windle

As child of missionary parents, award-winning author and journalist Jeanette Windle grew up in the rural villages, jungles, and mountains of Colombia, now guerrilla hot zones. Her detailed research and writing is so realistic that it has prompted government agencies to question her to determine if she has received classified information. Currently based in Lancaster, PA, Jeanette has lived in six countries and traveled in more than thirty on five continents. Those experiences have birthed 16 international intrigue titles, including bestselling Tyndale House Publishers release Veiled Freedom, a 2010 ECPA Christian Book Award and Christy Award finalist and sequel Freedom's Stand, a 2012 ECPA Christian Book Award and Carol Award finalist and 2011 Golden Scroll Novel of the Year finalist. Check out author interviews, reviews, and more at Jeanette's website: www.jeanettewindle.com

"Congo Dawn" by Jeanette Windle gets 4 stars from me. It was written well but it wasn't my type of book until about half way through the book. I have to admit that I struggled with what rating to give this book but when I finished the book I liked it as a whole.
 This book is about minerals that is discovered in the Congo and betrayal. Joseph was born in the Congo and went to America to college and while he was he told his employer about the minerals in the Congo. Joseph wanted to help his fellow company men but his employer was greedy. Joseph tries to stop the thief of these minerals by blowing on the mine and the employers send in Robin and other Ares Solutions. Ares Solutions is helped by Wamba, the crooked government of the Congo. Robin is an ex Marine who is there because she believes the Ares Solutions agents are there to help get the mine running to help the Congolese people. But almost immediately Robin runs into Dr.Micheal Stewart, a man who she believed was going to ask her to marry him and  then lied to her five years ago and caused her brother to die. Robin is on this assignment to get the bonus money to help pay for an operation that will save her neice's life. Robin  is always trying to help the victims but as  learns the truth, she puts her life in danger to help the victims. Robin's learns  that God does love but that He has to let people suffer the results of their choices to make them as gold. I was surprised at some of the things that she learned from Miriam's, Micheal's sister, a victim about forgiveness. These are all messages that all Christians need to know and understand.
Will Robin be saved in time? Will Robin learn the truth about Dr.Micheal Stewart? I believe I will leave that to you to discover for yourself.
If you like mystery and suspense with a little bit of a love triangle then this is a book for you!
I received this book from www.bookfun.org to read and post my honest opinion.

This book can be brought at http://www.amazon.com/Congo-Dawn-Jeanette-Windle/dp/1414371586/ref=la_B001JRXN9I_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364302776&sr=1-1
and other book stores

"Secrets"by Robin Jones Gunn

"Secrets" by Robin Jones Gunn gets 5 stars from me.It is the 1st book in the The Glenbrooke series.This is the 2nd story of the series and i want to read all 8 books in this series.
In the opening page of this story Jennifer is running away from her past and has a car accident.Kyle,a handsome firefighter comes to her rescue. The attraction for each others starts immediately. Jennifer was hired to be the new English teacher in Glenbrooke but the principal had a stroke and didn't get new file turned into the proper hands and the new principal makes her new job hard.Jennifer becomes friends with another teacher Terri and one of her students. These new friends talk her into going on a mission trip to Mexico where after attending a worship and dedication service for the new church building and being frighted when she drives a truck to a lonely stretch of road in the rain and in the dark, the truck is robbed she surrenders herself to God.But before all this happens she has (asTerri  i calls them)pockets of God's grace. This story has a touch of mystery as both Kyle and Jennifer have secrets they are hiding.The secrets  aren't that they have done anythibg wrong or even bad just something neither one wants others to know.I believe it you take the time to read Kyle and Jennifer story you willonce again believe in the power of God's love and that love at first sight is possible and that God can supply all your needs as well as give you some wants such as Dovebars. What do I mean by the last sentence? Read the book and found out! I was given an ebook copy from Blogging for Books@WaterBrookMultnomah.com

"Redeeming Reputation by Pastor George Mcvey"

"Redeeming Reputation" by Pastor George Mcvey is another 5 star book. I am surprised that I liked this book being that is a western but that is why I like that authors give out their books so us readers can have a chance to enrich our horizon with different genres before buying a book and sometimes, these authors become a favorite. I am definitely looking forward to book 2 of this series. This book is about the old west with a twist . Nathan Ryder the 3rd is a preacher that is also the fastest gun drawn in a battle. No he doesn't want to be in a gun battle but when he is forced by the most hardened criminals he has no choice. Nathan's adventure starts when he is on the train heading to the New Mexico Territory for his first ministry assignment. Nathan has to live up to his grandfather's reputation as well as prove he isn't just given the name Preacher because of the way he dresses. Nathan witnesses to the criminals as well as defends himself . Nathan is a hero and a Christian but he has faults like the rest of us and he even has to ask forgiveness from one of the criminals. It will surprise you what he does to help the citizens of  Moberly and one of the criminals. I like the fact that whole Biblical passages are included in this book.
I received a copy of this book from the author to review for my honest opinion and was not paid in anyway.

"Heart In Hand' by Barbara Cameron

"Heart In Hand' by Barbara Cameron is another 5 stars book! I believe this 3rd book in the The Stitches  In Time series is my favorite. This book could be a stand alone but you will want to read the whole series to learn about all the characters as they are in all three.  I don't think you will be disappointed at all that you took the time to read this series, and if you are like me you will find yourself wishing for more books in this series.
This story is Anna and Gideon's love story. They are both lonely after losing their first spouses to a long and painful illness. The story starts out when Gideon and his daughter Sarah Rose comes into the Stitches in Time shop that is owned by Leah (Anna's grandmother) and where Anna and her two cousin Mary Katherine and Naomi work. Anna suggests that Gideon and Sarah Rose learn to knit together. After Gideon's and Sarah Rose leaves the shop, Anna learns that Sarah Rose has stolen something. Anna has to go to Gideon's house to retrieve the item and their love starts growing then. This story has moments that make you laugh and moments that makes you cry. It is a wonderful story of finding love the second time around. It always shows that any love worth having takes work and understanding and forgiveness and patience and most of all faith in God.  In the pages of this story there are good things that happens to Leah and Mary Katherine and Naomi also. This series of books makes  the reader feel that life is worth all the troubles that a person goes through to find their happy ever after. Yes I know these books are fiction but why read them if you can't dream!!!
I am hoping that Barbara Cameron decides to write another book about their English friend Jamie that also helps in the shop.

"The Heart"s Journey" by Barbara Cameron

"The Heart"s Journey" by Barbara Cameron gets 5 stars from Me. It is the 2nd book in the Stitches In Time Series. This book can also be a stand alone and if this is the first book of the series you read first, you will find recipes and chapter 1 of Her Restless Heart and chapter 1 of Heart in Hand at the end of the book.
This story is about a subject that I haven't read in an Amish story before.  Naomi is engaged to John, but is not really happy about it because John is an abuser. In the first chapter Anna,(Naomi's cousin ) gets upsets and storms out of the Stiches in Time shop and Leah (the three cousins's grandmother) goes after her and falls and strains her ankle. Leah is depressed and decides she is going to go to Pinecraft Florida for a vacation and Naomi is determined her go also to get away from John and sort out her feelings. Their English driver Nick decides he needs a vacation too and decides to stay in Florida also. The three had a great time. Naomi and Nick try to fight growing feelings for each other but find it impossible. There was one part in the book that  me  laughed out loud, I won't give out the reason but will say it was while they were traveling to Florida and the car on the road had a teenage boy. Oh the things the English do to make fun of the Amish.  I think you would love Naomi and Nick's love story and their adventures on the beach at Florida, and how they make their love work for both!