that tuesday . . .

I can hardly believe it's February already . . . and the first *Tuesday* in February to boot, which means it's Bibliophile Files day!! That means it's the day that I share with you what I've got on my bookshelf for the coming month, yay!

Along with the devotional reading I talked about last month, which I'll be reading through all year long, I've got a good mix of fiction and non-fiction that I'm going to enjoy this month, three of which I'll also be reading to review.  The first up is The Friendships of Women by Dee Brestin.  I snapped this up from Amazon yesterday as a kindle freebie!  It's still showing as a freebie for now, so if it sounds interesting, you might want to scoot on over there by clicking HERE! As a woman who not only enjoys her friendships with other women, but is also called to women's ministry, I thought this was a no-brainer for me!

Next up is Patsy Clairmont's You Are More Than You Know.  I first learned of Patsy Clairmont at a Women of Faith conference in 1998.  She was funny and witty and spot-on in her observations, and I'm not only looking forward to reading You Are More Than You Know, but reviewing it and participating in the book's blog tour in March! (And ... hint, hint ... a giveaway!)

And now on to the fiction.  You may or may not have picked up on the fact that I adore, in particular, Amish fiction. Well, if you hadn't picked up on it, this month it's rather 'plain' (pun intended)!  These three selections are all reviewable (so look for more on each title later this month):

An Amish Cradle, a collection of four stories by Beth Wiseman, Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, and Vannetta Chapman, respectively.  

Then on to The Amish Clockmaker, by Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner.

And finally, The Beekeeper's Son, by Kelly Irvin, which I'm purposefully saving until last because it sounds *so* interesting!

So, my proverbial shelf is full . . . looking forward to reading (and sharing reviews, too) through February! Hop on over to sarah did it! to see what she's reading and to check out the Bibliophile Files linky party!

Happy reading and remember . . . “Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” ― Charles William Eliot

:)

when hope blossoms -- a review and a giveaway . . .

When Bethany House Publishers offered to send me a complimentary copy of Kim Vogel Sawyer's When Hope Blossoms,  in exchange for my honest review of the book, I jumped on the chance.  I'd never read anything by Sawyer, but had seen her name on Christian fiction before, and thought this would be a good opportunity to give her a try.

I wasn't disappointed.  When Hope Blossoms is a sweet, light romance -- perfect for those who like a little fluff with a positive message and enjoy Amish fiction. It centers around  Mennonite widow, Amy Knackstedt, and her three children. They've moved away from her family and out of her comfort zone to get a fresh start. 

Of course, in order for there to be romance, there needs to be a man ... in this case, widower Tim Roper.  He is Amy's neighbor and also an ex-Mennonite, which makes for some interesting sparks! But it's fun to watch them interact, and especially fun to see her children work their way into his heart -- they really are quite endearing!

And as if that wasn't enough to catch my interest?  Amy supports her family by a newly founded quilting business!  Yes, she's a QUILTER!  I loved reading about her love of quilting and the special "memory quilts" that she created for her customers.

Sawyer does a lovely job of 'piecing' the story, holding the reader's interest, and depicting her characters as real and believable.  I was most impressed by her portrayal of the children.  You can check out Kim Vogel Sawyer and her other publications at her website!

For me, a lover of reading, Amish fiction, and a quilter, this was a win-win-win story.  And I'd love to pass it along to someone else to enjoy!  So, if you'd like to win my copy, simply leave me a comment and let me know--and make sure I have a way of getting in touch with you.  I'll leave it open until Tuesday, November 6th, at noon, okay?  Okay!

:)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part 

of their Blogger Review 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: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

simpler things . . .

I've been a long-time fan of Amish fiction . . . having spent quite a bit of time camping with my family in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country during my childhood and see the Amish lifestyle from afar, it always intrigued me.  I was a natural-made fan of the fiction!  So it's no wonder that as an adult, I've often wondered how "plain" or a more simpler way of living would be.  In many of aspects of our life, we've accomplished that, to a degree.  Moving from our 'sticks and bricks' home to our 'home on wheels' caused me to give up most of the "stuff" that filled our closets and shelves and really make a determination on what was important. From clothes and jewelry to furniture and decorations to even food and products.  But still . . . we have electricity and technology and cars . . . not quite Amish!

My third squishy happened to be a book!  

A bloggy friend of mine had mentioned that she was a reviewer for Bethany House publishers and, being intrigued by the idea, I did a little research and signed up.  When the first list of books to chose from was e-mailed to me, this one caught my eye *right* off the bat!  Almost Amish by Kathryn Cushman?  It had to be for me!

When I got home, it was waiting for me ... and do you know, I opened it up on Sunday and stayed up Monday until I'd finished it?!  It wasn't quite what I expected ... because it's not about an Amish family ... but it was fun!

So if you're like me and you've ever come to the end of a rough/tough day--where the phone never stopped ringing, the e-mails were endless, and technology seemed to give you more to do, not less--and wondered what life might be like if you lived the simpler life of the Amish? Then this story--Almost Amish--is the perfect story for you! Main character Julie Charlton tires of her daily grind, and in an opportunity that's part "Survivor" and part Amish fiction, she and her family accept a challenge to "live simply" for the summer. It really was a fun (and funny) read - seeing how they faced their weekly challenges and watching the so-called "simple life" become both comfortable and comforting.  And most importantly, how it changed the dynamics of their family life.

Cushman does a great job of developing the story line and her characters and includes a few fun twists in the plot, as well. Definitely a happy summer read.

So . . . if this sounds interesting to YOU, and you'd like to try it for yourself, leave me a comment telling me what kind of books you most like to read.  You don't have to be a follower (though it's nice) -- just leave one comment!  I'll randomly pick a winner on Wednesday, August 15th!  (And who knows?  I may throw in some other *happies* as well!)

**Disclaimer:  Bethany House publishers did not compensate me for this review.  I did receive a free copy of the book to read and it is this copy I am giving away.**

:)