"An Amish Love" - Wiseman/Fuller/Long

"An Amish Love" contains three novellas: "A Marriage of the Heart" by Kelly Long, "What the Heart Sees" by Kathleen Fuller," and "Healing Hearts" by Beth Wiseman. Each story is well researched and written from the Amish point of view. Each of these stories not only brings out the beauty of true love and commitment, but also some of the struggles the Amish face. Would you want to dress as they do, have no phone or other electronic media, and do all your own cooking? What about the shunning that takes place when someone leaves their world? While the life may seem harsh, these are hearty people who truly live their beliefs. Pick up this book and take a journey into their world, see with their eyes, and fall in love with the Amish.

I really enjoyed reading these stories. The characters are alive and vibrant and their stories captivated me. I wanted more! I felt for them as they tackled problems like lying, shunning, and blindness. These are characters I would love to meet again and hear more from. If you enjoy books that show you another slice of life and present wonderful characters, this is a book for you. It is best for individual reading, but groups could also have fun discussing it. I received this book from the Book Sneeze program, and thank them for the opportunity to read it.

"Magic Kingdom For Sale. Sold!" by Terry Brooks

What would you do if you saw a magic kingdom for sale? Would you take the chance and give up everything to find out if it is real? That is exactly what Ben Holiday does in this delightful book by Terry Brooks. Ben is a lawyer who has been dealing with the intense grief of his wife's death and this opportunity comes to him. In his desire for change, he takes the chance, pays one million dollars and embarks on the journey that will change his life. Come along and meet Willow, the Paladin, Questor, Abernathy, and the others. Come enjoy a break from the normal tension and enjoy Landover.

This is one of my favorite books by Terry Brooks. I first read it about seven years ago and love to revisit it. It is quick, fun reading.

"The Secret Adversary" by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie was such a master of suspense and mystery. In this book, Tommy and Tuppence, who have been friends for what seems like forever, meet up and find that they both in need of money. Times are hard so they hatch a scheme to get some work. After taking out an advertisement that they will “go anywhere, do anything” they find themselves embroiled in a case that challenges their skills as detectives. At points Tommy is missing and at others Tuppence is missing. Each continues to look for the other while trying to solve the case of “Mr.Brown” and the missing “Jane Finn.” As with most teams, they do their best work together. This is the first book of Ms. Christie’s series starring this detective duo. If you haven't read any of her work, why not try this one?

"Indivisible" by Kristen Heitzmann

Police Chief Jonah Westfall has a few problems on his hands. Someone is torturing and killing animals, then leaving them where they will be found. His past with Tia Manning looms over everything, and not necessarily in a good way. The owner of the coffee shop, Sarge, has a major health problem that Jonah and Piper try to help with. Then, there is “Lego” man with his interesting set of circumstances. Each of these contributes to his unsettledness, yet he is able to keep away from alcohol. But, how long will that last? Kristen Heitzmann weaves a fantastic story filled with mystery, suspense, friendship, and love. Come meet her characters and let them tell you their stories.

This is the first novel I have read by Ms. Heitzmann, but it won’t be my last! I really enjoyed the story and her characters. They kept me reading from beginning to end. I also enjoyed the thoughts at the beginning of each chapter as they gave me some foreshadowing of what that chapter contained. Now I look forward to reading more of Ms. Heitzmann’s work. This is a great book for anyone who loves suspense and works for any kind of reading time. I received this free book from the Blogging for Books program and thank them for the opportunity to read it.

"The Faith of Ronald Reagan" by Mary Beth Brown

Former President Ronald Reagan was a man of faith, not just when he was in public, but all the time. Throughout the book, Ms. Brown gives examples of how Mr. Reagan's faith got him through tests such as running for Governor of CA and for President of the United States, as well as the assassination attempt made on him. Ms. Brown sets the tone for each chapter by using Scripture verses to introduce them. Throughout the book, the powerful influence of his mother, Nelle Reagan, is shown. She was a woman who loved her family and loved her God, and passed that to her children. It is easy to see how it was passed to Mr. Reagan and why he had a strong faith. This book is not preachy, but gets its points across very well.

I enjoyed reading this book because it is well written, but also because Michael Reagan wrote the Forward, and Ronald Reagan is one of my favorite Presidents. It is a book I will share with others and give as gifts. It would make a great book for an individual reader, but reading groups could have a lot of fun with it as well. I received this book from the Book Sneeze program and thank them for the opportunity of reading it.

Welcome 2011!

Here we are at the beginning of a new year. Goals for last year may or may not have been met, but here is a chance to start again. I plan to read more than last year, not only new books and authors, but also classics. Some of my goals are: "War and Peace," "Anna Karenina," "A Tale of Two Cities," and "Great Expectations." I hope to get through these and reach the goal of 75 for the year. It is fun to watch the numbers rise and see what is learned through the year. Have you set reading goals for yourself? If not, I challenge you to set something realistic, whether simple or complex, that will challenge you this year. Write it down someplace where you can see it, and then reach for it! The path you take is yours to make.  =) Welcome, 2011!