LitFuse Book Review~~A Lancaster County Christmas

Before we begin...don't miss out on this!!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Jamie and CJ Fitzpatrick began their married life as most couples do--in love and looking forward to a bright future together.  But four years later they've drifted apart and are almost ready to call it quits.

Mattie Riehl was hoping to give her husband Sol the Christmas gift they have both longed for--news that a baby was on the way.  But as usual, she is disappointed.  The holidays bring an acute awareness to Mattie that her dream of a big family isn't likely to become a reality.

Then a winter storm raging outside blows the Fitzpatricks into the Riehl home--and into a much slower pace of life.  Can these two couples from different worlds help each other understand the true meaning of love this Christmas?

MY THOUGHTS:

I love Amish fiction AND Christmas!!  This story is the best of both worlds for me.  From the first page I felt as if I was transported right into the story.  I could feel the cold snow hitting my face, the smell of the fresh pies being baked in Mattie's oven.  I especially love the section where Jamie is opening up to Mattie.  This is truly a heartfelt book.  This is a book you will not want to put down.  I love the way Suzanne Fisher Woods makes you feel as if you are sitting right in the middle of the characters.  I highly recommend this book.

***Thank you Litfuse for sending me this book free in exchange for my honest review.*** 

Book Review~~A Reluctant Queen

"You know the Bible story.  Now discover the love story.  Experience the intimate, profoundly stirring story of Esther, a simple Jewish girl, and Ahasuerus, the Great King of Persia, who finds in her the companion of his soul."

This book was written by Joan Wolf.  She also wrote The Road to Avonlea.  I was unaware of how many books she had wrote.  Joan was born in New York City but raised her family in Connecticut.

This book captured my attention from the first paragraph, that does not happen very often.  Joan does a great job of keeping that attention all the way through the book.  It helped that one of my favorite people of the Bible was Esther.  Her words made me the reader feel as if I was sitting in Esther's home early in the morning while she made bread.   Esther was just an ordinary woman chosen by God to make a difference and change a nation.  This book was full of love, deceit and romance.  I can not say enough good things about this book.  It will be released in July 2011.  I highly recommend this book.

LitFuse Book Tour~~Life Ready Woman

B&H Publishers, $14.99, ISBN: 9781433671128

**I have been given a copy of this book to give a way on my blog!  Just leave me a comment to enter.  It's that easy.  If you are not a follower and would like to follow me I'll give you another entry.  If you are already a follower of mine I'll give you a second entry as well.  This will be open until February 22.  I will use Random.org to draw a winner on February 23.  Please leave your email address when entering.**

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Whether a stay at home; or working mom, an airplane-hopping executive, an empty-nester caring for multiple generations or a single juggling high demands of career and personal life, today's fast-paced modern world leaves women gasping for balance. We as modern Christian women want to look to the Bible for guidance on how to manage our lives -- but because the world of women looks so different today than it did when the Bible was written, it is hard to find chapter and verse that seems to apply to our situation today.

Thankfully, God has given us exactly that timeless, unchanging guidance for how to find peace, clarity, and God's best for our lives once we know where to look! The Life Ready Woman: Thriving in a Do-It-All World, reveals a profound biblical roadmap for how each of us can find the abundant life we are longing for, rather than the stressful, torn, how-do-I-balance-it-all life we often feel like we are trying to keep up with today. Actually being a LifeReady Woman means that you are clear about your life, bold in your faith, and able to find God’s best for you, and the end result will be that you not only survive but thrive in our do-it-all world.

MY THOUGHTS:

I think we live a pretty simple life.  But so many times lately I feel like the woman on the cover of the book.  But without the smile, makeup and hair that looks that good.   I honestly do not know how women work outside the home and still manage to keep it together.  I've been struggling a lot lately to keep everything running smooth in our household.  Then the guilt sets in because I feel like I'm failing.  This book was JUST what I needed to help me put it into perspective.  Each chapter I read I found myself relating more and more to.  It was like she was writing just for me.  I highly recommend this book to every woman.  No matter where you are in your life.  A quote from the book that has really struck me is, "Each of us has to fight the tendency to trust ourselves and not trust God, especially since the areas that are hardest to trust God in are the most important for us!"

I was not aware of the site Mom Life Today.com until this book tour.  Well they are giving away a Weekend to Remember Get a Way. 

In celebration of Shaunti Feldhahn’s Life Ready Woman, MomLife Today is giving away 2 Weekend To Remember Gift Packs and much more!

Not only, is MomLife Today helping promote Life Ready Woman, but they are thrilled to announce that Shaunti will be joining MomLife Today as a regular contributor!!!

Weekend To Remember Get-Aways offer marriage-changing principles that you can take home and apply to your daily lives to strengthen your marriage. Whether you are newly engaged or have been married for 50 years, you will find value in the tools provided at the getaway.

The winner will be announced March 2.  These are great get a way weekends for couples. 

Thank you LitFuse for giving me this book for review in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review~~The Search by Suzanne Woods Fisher

About Book 3: Fifteen years ago, Lainey O'Toole made a split-second decision.   She couldn't have known how much her choice would impact so many.  Now in her mid-twenties, she is poised to go to culinary school when her car breaks down in Stoney Ridge, the very Amish town in which her long-reaching decision was made, forcing her to face the shadowed past.

Bess Reihl is less than thrilled to be spending the summer at Rose Hill Farm with her large and intimidating grandmother, Bertha. It quickly becomes clear that she is there to work the farm--and work hard. The labor is made slightly more tolerable by the time it affords Bess to spend with the handsome hired hand, Billy Lapp. But he only has eyes for a flirty and curvaceous older girl.

Lainey's and Bess's worlds are about to collide and the secrets that come to light will shock them both.

My Thoughts:  I love Amish fiction.  This book was such an easy read.  I had a hard time putting it down.  The words just flowed easily.  I felt as if I was sitting with them at the table, enjoying good food and conversation.  Suzanne did a wonderful job of making me the reader feel exactly what the characters were reading.

I have not read the other books in the series...but I intend to.  You do not need to read them before this one.  It can be a stand alone book...but why would you want to.  These books are THAT good. 

Thanks to Amy from the Litfuse group for sending me this book free to review.  All opinions are my own.

LitFuse Review---Summer Sensations Download N Go and a GIVE A WAY!

I was contacted by the Litfuse Group a while ago to review Summer Sensations Download N Go.  I was thrilled!!  I had always wanted to try out the Download N Go unit studies.  Little did I know the very next week I would be chosen to review for Download N Go so keep coming back for more great reviews of this amazing curriculum.

I have also been authorized to give a way Summer Sensations!!  But I'll get to that after the review.  As you might already know I LOVE this curriculum.  It is just what the title says...Download N Go.  All the work is done for you...videos, books, lapbooks, notebook pages....are already found for you.  Here is what the week looks like for you:

Day 1: What is Summer?

Day 2: Science Secrets of Summer

Day 3: People and Places of Summer

Day 4: Time for Tips and Treasures of Summer

Day 5: Goodies and Surprises of Summer

We started this study the first day of school for us.  My children loved it!  They actually asked to start school early so we could get back to the unit!!  OH MY!!! Is all I can say about that.  I gave my children the camera and told them to go outside and give me some pictures that said summer to them.
 

They both made "hot" faces...summer is hot to them...well I think to everyone.

Here they are watching one of the many videos...they wanted to do more and more!!  I'm telling you this is such a great curriculum...especially if your children do not like school.  Even if you are not a homeschooler!!  You can do this with your children and a fun activity to get rid of the "I'm bored" syndrome that comes during the school breaks.

Download N Go also has many packages available HERE that come with FREE items.  Go on over and check them out.  There are new studies coming out every week!!

NOW for the give a way....I have been given the opportunity to give a way ONE copy of the Summer Sensations Download N Go.  This is your chance to try out this curriculum!!

All you have to do is:

~ Leave me a comment telling me your favorite summer activity

For extra entries:

Leave me a separate comment telling me you did this.

~become a follower of my blog.

~go to Download N Go's website and tell me what unit interests you.

~follow Download N Go on facebook

This give a way is open until August 15 at which time I will draw a name from those who have entered.