The Librarian of Boone's Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer

 Kim Vogel Sawyer's newest historical fiction novel just released!  I received an Advanced Reader's Copy a couple of weeks ago and it is an amazing book that I wanted to share with you!

The Librarian of Boone's Hollow takes place in the state of Kentucky in the 1930's during the Great Depression.  Addie Cowherd is attending college and dreaming of becoming a novelist when she finds out that her father has lost his job and she cannot pay for her education.  After searching high and low for some kind of way to support herself she finds out about a full time position in a small coal mining town as a packhorse librarian.  Addie is very eager to make friends but the townspeople are very superstitious and distrusting of newcomers.

Emmet Tharp won a scholarship to college, worked very hard, and earned his degree.  But jobs are hard to find for everyone and there are not many opportunities in the town of Boone's Hollow.  Emmet's education makes him feel out of place among those he used to be good friends with.

Addie and Emmet are trying to figure out their places in the world when someone sets out to destroy the library program.  Will the culprit succeed in chasing Addie away?

 Kim Vogel Sawyer is my favorite author.  There is something about her books that just speaks to my heart.  Ms. Sawyer does an amazing job of transporting the reader to the time and place that her books take place.  The characters are real, believable, and easy for the reader to relate to.  Her books are uplifting with elements of faith and hope throughout.

In The Librarian of Boone's Hollow, the reader is taken back to the 1930's in Kentucky during the Depression.  Your heart is touched by the struggle that Addie faces when she is unable to finish college because of her father's lost job. At the same time you feel for Emmet who, even though he was able to finish his education, cannot find a job because businesses aren't hiring and he is considered over qualified for labor positions.  You feel the loneliness and faith of Nanny Fay, worry over Bettina, and marvel at the strength and tenacity of the packhorse librarians and the challenges they face.  

I love books and loved that Ms. Sawyer wrote this story about packhorse librarians, which was something I had little knowledge of.  This quote really spoke to me," I see the delivery of these books as something deeper, more important then a mere job.  A book takes one into another person's thoughts and emotions.  Books open up worlds beyond the view from one's own window.  Stories can stir compassion, can inspire integrity, can show different lifestyles and problem solving skills.  Books, Addie, have the power to change people for the better."

I love how the story reminds us to look for the blessings in life and that the Bible tells us that all things work for good for the believer.  I loved how Addie worked so hard on her ministry and found ways to help the people of the community. The romantic element made the story that much more special and the resolution was wonderful.  Reading it one time wasn't enough, I had to go back and read it again!

I highly recommend The Librarian of Boone's Hollow and other books by Kim Vogel Sawyer!

Disclaimer: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book for review purposes.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own.

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Review: Unveiling the Past by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Kim Vogel Sawyer is my favorite author and I am always very excited to have an opportunity to review her books.  In 2017 she released an outstanding novel called Bringing Maggie Home.  I said in my review that if you enjoy Christian fiction, Bringing Maggie Home was a must read.  I also said, "Bringing Maggie Home is a stand alone novel (although I would love to see some kind of sequel featuring Meghan and Sean.)"  I received my wish!  Today (May 15th) is release day for the sequel to Bringing Maggie Home, Unveiling the Past.

Although Unveiling the Past is a sequel it will work as a stand alone novel.  The author weaves the story in such a way that you do not have to read Bringing Maggie Home to understand and appreciate the story.  The story line is independent and the characters are well developed in this story even without previous knowledge of them, but I highly recommend Bringing Maggie Home because it is such an amazing story.

In Unveiling the Past we are reintroduced to the main characters of Bringing Maggie Home; Hazel, Margaret Diane, Meghan, and Sean.  We also learn more about the detectives that Sean and Megan work with: Captain Ratzlaff, Tom Farber, and Greg Dane and are introduced to two new main characters Sheila Menke and Kevin Harrison.

Sean and Meghan are newlywed cold case detective partners in Little Rock Arkansas. A new case if brought to their unit and Meghan is the requested detective to work on the case.  Sheila Menke's father went to work when she was a little girl and never returned.  He was accused of embezzling a large amount of money from a bank and it was believed that he took it ans started a new life, but Sheila did not believe that to be true.  Meghan takes the case with a new partner at the same time she decides to try and search for her own absentee biological father.  While Sean investigates the death of two young brothers also with a new partner, he very much longs to start a family with Meghan.  But Meghan is afraid that she is not fit for motherhood.  As Meghan and Sheila learn more and more about the case, they have to choose to stumble on the road of bitterness and resentment or walk the path of forgiveness and healing.  They learn that while earthly fathers can and do fail, there is one in heaven who is a father to the fatherless.

Ms. Sawyer has an amazing writing style that draws the reader in and brings her characters to life.  I was excited to learn more about Sean and Meghan and their loves together and revisit Hazel (I love that spunky lady!) and Margaret Diane. I really loved the mystery element of this story. Following the clues to solve the cases added excitement to the story and kept me turning pages because I needed to see how it all was resolved! There were many life lessons and messages throughout the book.  Diane was very hurt (and understandably so!) when Kevin left her to raise Meghan alone.  She knew of her life and experiences but never really thought about his side.  Even then she could've have stayed bitter and resentful but through a lot of prayer and counsel from her mother is able to rise above all of that.  Kevin struggles in his relationship with Kip and doesn't understand why.  He is powerful and wealthy, a successful business man but not successful at life.  He doesn't think his son can ever change.  But Diane says, : If habits can be learned they can be unlearned."An important message for us all along with ," It's never too late to begin a relationship with God the Father though His Son, and it's never too late to fix a human relationship that's gone wrong."

I loved the relationship that developed between Meghan and Sheila.  Things that happened in their past had made them bitter and resentful, but they chose to overcome it and hold on to the happiness.  Reminding Sheila that there is a loving Father in heaven who never leaves us and never lets us down, reminded Meghan of that as well and is a good message for all who are reading.

I loved how everything was resolved in the story.  Unveiling the Past is on the list of my favorite books and is highly recommended.  I cannot wait to read what Kim Vogel Sawyer writes next!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.  All opinions are my own. I received no other compensation.

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Review: The Wedding Dress Christmas by Rachel Hauck

Have you ever read a book and when it ended wanted the story to go on?  The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck  is one the best books I have ever read.  I have read it several times.  After I finished The Wedding Dress, I had to read every book that Rachel Hauck had written and the new ones that are being released.  I loved the 2  books that were set in Hearts Bend Tennessee: The Wedding Chapel and The Wedding Shop and was excited to see the "dress" reappear in the The Wedding Shop.  But the "dress" had another story to tell and I was excited to receive a review copy of The Wedding Dress Christmas.

The Wedding Dress Christmas is a quick read at only 131 pages.  It can be purchased for $2.99 on Kindle or $7.99 as a paperback book on Amazon.  It this story, JoJo Castle tried a big city adventure but a traumatic experience sent her back home to Hearts Bebd Tennessee and she never wants to leave again. She loves everything about her town and working with her cousin Haley in The Wedding Shop even though she doesn't see romance or a wedding in her future.  JoJo was best friends with Buck Matthews back in high school, a now famous country music star who has returned home due to his mother's illness. Buck feels separated and distant from his friends and family because his focus has been on his career. Even though Buck and JoJo are drawn to each other they both want completely different things in their lives.

" Can love, especially the kind that touches hearts at Christmas, overcome her fears and his quest for greatness?

With the help of a very special wedding dress, there just might be a Christmas miracle."

I just love a good Christmas story. The Wedding Dress Christmas can be read as a stand alone book, but you really are going to want to read the others too.  Start with the Wedding Dress, then The Wedding Chapel , and The Wedding Shop and finish up with The Wedding Dress Christmas.  Since this is a novella rather then a full length novel, it is a quick read.  I finished it in one sitting.  But even though it is a novella, Ms. Hauck does an amazing job of allowing the reader to enjoy the characters and the story and completing the story without making the reader feel rushed or that the story isn't complete.  I loved the characters of Buck and JoJo and their story.  I loved having the opportunity to visit Hearts Bend again and experience how they celebrate Christmas.  I loved seeing "The Dress" work another miracle.  My favorite thing about the book was the theme of the story that love conquers fear. I loved this quote "What can fear really do to me except ruin my life?"  So important for us all to remember. 

I highly recommend The Wedding Dress Christmas and other books by Rachel Hauck.   She does an outstanding job of writing inspirational, faith based romance novels with real, believable characters.


Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance to the FTC regulations.

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Review: The Mystery of History Volume 1 3rd Edition

*this post contains affiliate links

History is my absolute favorite subject.  Over the years we have used a lot of different types of history curricula  that we have really, really liked.  But, my absolute favorite history curriculum is  The Mystery of History: I love the author's conversational style and the passion that she puts into her work.  I have learned so much by going through these lessons with my children. I was very excited when I was asked to review the brand new 3rd Edition of The Mystery of History Volume 1!

First I want to share a few reasons why I love The Mystery of History:


It is creation based and chronological. I love studying history based on the Bible but very few history courses start here. The Mystery of History starts with the creation of the world and rather than focusing on one area of the world at a time, it focuses on what is going on all over the world during a particular time period.

It is complete.  Everything you need to teach the curriculum such as the reading lesson, activities, mapping and timeline assignments, tests and quizzes are included.  There are a lot of supplemental resources such as challenge cards, notebooking pages, and coloring pages that you can add if you want to (I especially like the notebooking pages,) but if your budget is tight or you do not want to add the extras you do not have to.  You can read this post that I wrote on the different types of worksheets.

It can be used with a wide range of age ranges from K-12th grade.  One of the biggest things that drew me to The Mystery of History was that I could use it with all of my children at once.  There are age appropriate  activities listed for the different groups: younger, middle, and high school grades. The lessons are written in a very conversational way and are fun and interesting for the teacher and all ages of students. For those with high schoolers, there is more than enough work at the high school level by completing the activities to earn a full credit.  For those with younger children the lessons are short enough to hold their interest.

There are plenty of activities to pick and choose from. The main parts of the course is to read the lesson, complete memory cards, do a mapping assignment, and make a timeline.  There are also hands on activities for each of the age levels that you can pick and choose from. You don't have to do any or all of them but it is a great way to make history come alive.

Volume 1 of The Mystery of History has 108 lessons beginning with The Creation and ending with Jesus' Death and Resurrection.  The 108 lessons are split up into 36 weeks giving you 3 lessons to complete each week.  The beginning of the book has a guideline telling you how to get the most out of the curriculum.  Each week contains a What Do Know? pretest, the reading, activities, Take Another Look Review,  What Did You Miss? Exercises or What Did You Learn? Quizzes.  There are also quarterly worksheets and semester tests, and lists of additional resources.

The length of the lessons vary but are usually 2-3 pages long.  The reading difficulty of the lessons for Volume 1 is at a 4-5th grade reading level.  This doesn't mean you can only use it with these ages.  As I mentioned above it can be used for K-12.  I read the lessons in the book aloud to my family and add in the additional activities and resources depending on the age of the child.  The curriculum is very flexible and you can use it however it works best for your family. We usually spend 2 days per week on history.


So why the 3rd Edition?  What has changed?

The new edition is hard cover and much slimmer.  The old edition was paperback and very bulky.  The 3rd Edition has right around 400 pages compared to the 640 page 2nd Edition.

How can the new edition be so much smaller? Did the content change?

Earlier editions included all of the activities and printables in the book making the book much larger.  The new edition contains only the lessons.  The Digital Companion Guide contains all your activities and is included with the purchase of the 3rd Edition (you are given a code to obtain access.) Once downloaded to your computer you can easily print whatever you need.

Some screen shots of the Digital Companion Guide

Also, the newest edition is full of color photos and artwork that the earlier editions did not have.

Here are some examples of lesson 32 on David in each edition.

2nd Edition

3rd Edition

2nd Edition

3rd Edition

3rd Edition

I absolutely love the new 3rd Edition of The Mystery of History Volume 1!  My poor 2nd Edition was very hard to lug around.  It is so beat up and the spine has been damaged from scanning all of the maps, quizzes, and tests to print for the children.  It is so much easier to print what I need from the computer. Navigating the Digital Companion Guide is very easy.  You can find which lesson you are working on and choose what you would like to print.  The activity pages do not have to be printed, you can read those directly from the screen.  The hard cover text is much easier to handle and much sturdier.  We love all of the new artwork and color photos that have been included.  It makes the book absolutely beautiful and gives new life to the lessons!

I highly recommend The Mystery of History!  The Third Edition of Volume 1 took an outstanding product and made it even better!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this product in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own and I received no other compensation.  I am disclosing this in accordance to the FTC regulations.  

*there are affiliate links in this review.  I only form affiliate relationships with companies whose products I actually use and can recommend!

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Review: The Memory House by Rachel Hauck

I love to read, especially Christian Fiction and Historical Fiction.  I enjoy most of these types of books but there are a few authors whose stories I absolutely love and will read multiple times.  Rachel Hauck is one of those authors.  Her book, The Wedding Dress is one of my absolute favorite books.  Rachel Hauck is a New York Times, USA Today and Wallstreet Bestselling author.  She has won several awards and one of her books, Once Upon a Prince was made into a movie.  She is an author whose books I cannot wait to read and I was excited to have an opportunity to review her latest release, The Memory House.

The Memory House shifts back and forth in time from present day to 1953.  Two women face terrible tragedy 50 years apart, but their lives are connected.  Beck Holiday lost her father in the 9/11 attacks and also lost her memories of him.  She becomes a police officer and during a time when she is struggling to get her life together receives a letter telling her she has inherited a house in Florida.  There she reconnects with Bruno Endicott a sports agent who remembers Beck from when they were children but she does not remember him or anything about being in Florida on vacations with her family before her father died. 

More then 50 years before, Everleigh Applegate had tragedy strike her life when a tornado ripped through the town of Waco Texas and destroyed her dreams.  She lives a quiet and uneventful life with her also widowed mother.  When she reconnects with an old high school friend she desires for her life to change and wants to love again but a secret and her fears keep holding her back.


The Memory House is a great story of love and life and loss, overcoming your fears and finding your faith to move on.  Every person faces hard times in their life and even though they may not be as tragic as the characters in this book it is something we can relate to.  I love when Ms. Hauck writes a book that links two sets of characters through time.  Even though the time and characters shift back and forth she writes the story in a way that is not at all confusing, it is easy to follow.  The characters are real and well developed and the plot will keep you engrossed in the story to the end.  I was really not sure as I was reading how all of the things in the story would be resolved but it was all done very well and I loved how it all ended. 

The Memory House was another outstanding book by Rachel Hauck!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review. I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance to the FTC regulations.

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Review: A Silken Thread by Kim Vogel Sawyer

I love to read.  One of my absolute favorite authors is Kim Vogel Sawyer.  I was thrilled to have an opportunity to get an Advanced Reader Copy of her newest release (releasing April 2nd!), A Silken Thread.

A Silken Thread is a historical fiction that takes place in 1895 in Atlanta during the International Cotton Exposition.  Eighteen year old Laurel Miller has been told by her older siblings that she must stay home and be responsible for taking care of their mother in her old age.  But Laurel wants something more and gets a job at the Exposition as a silk weaver to hopefully meet a wealthy man so that she can have a family and take care of her mother too.  Langdon Rochester has been told by his father that he must settle down and get married or else he will loose his inheritance.  He goes to the Exposition to "work" at his father's booth and try to find a lady to marry that will please his mother but still allow him to live his life the way he wants to.

Willie Sharp takes a job as a security guard at the Exposition in order to pay for his father to go to a hospital to recover from a stroke.  His best friend is a black man named Quincy who also gets a job at the Exposition.  Quincy and Willie have been best friends their whole lives and never considered the differences in their races until the Exposition.  The Civil War had taken place around 30 years before, and tensions were still running high.  Trouble comes to the Women's Building at the Exposition and Willie and Quincy have to deal with issues in their friendship they've never had to before.

One of the reasons that I love Kim Vogel Sawyer's books so much is because you can tell when reading her books that she puts a lot of time and effort into her research to make it authentic.  When you are reading her books, you will feel as though you are transported back in time and a part of the story you are reading.  The characters are amazing.  Even the minor characters are real and believable and are an important part of the story.  The challenges and struggles they face are things that we can relate to.  In A Silken Thread, Ms. Sawyer tackles the difficult topic of racism, and it is done very well ,with grace and dignity.  There is a romantic element to the story that I loved and appreciate that Kim Vogel Sawyer's books are not overly romantic.  You do not have to worry about any inappropriate content.  As always Ms. Sawyer weaves elements of faith throughout the book and we learn so much about trusting in God, seeking His will, the importance of doing the right thing even when it is hard, and that anything, even a new suit bought for the wrong reason, can bring about good in someone's life.

Even though I loved the main characters in this book, one of my favorite characters was Mr. Rochester, Langdon's father.  He is a very wealthy man but he wants his son to work hard and tries to teach him the importance of good character.  Willie is just a factory worker but he knows him and trusts him and stands up for him even when others including his own son gave reason to doubt him.
He has good reason to be very angry with his son but instead forgives and tells him he is proud of the good thing he has done.  It reminded me of the love our Heavenly Father has for us.

A Silken Thread taught me many things I didn't know or really think about during this time in history.  I highly recommend this book and others by Kim Vogel Sawyer.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance to the FTC regulations.

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Review: Secrets at Cedar Cabin by Colleen Coble

 

 

Book Description

"Her mother lied about her identity and her husband wasn’t who she thought he was—can Bailey even trust herself anymore?
Running for her life in the wake of her mother’s murder, Bailey Fleming escapes to the only place she can think of—a remote, dilapidated cabin in Lavender Tides. Intending to finally get to the truth behind the lies of her past, Bailey only finds more questions when bodies are discovered near her cabin hideout along with traces of a dangerous human trafficking ring. In an unlikely partnership with FBI agent Lance Phoenix, Bailey races to understand the mystery surrounding her life and circumstances before the murderer tracks her down.
Meanwhile, Lance is determined to rescue his sister, Ava, who was abducted after running away from home as a teenager. An unexpected lead brings him to the remote cabin, and he wonders if Bailey—with her suspicious past and strange connections to his sister’s case—is really who she claims to be and if she can somehow lead him to Ava.
Filled with Colleen Coble's custom blend of suspense and romance, Secrets at Cedar Cabin takes us back to the evocative landscape of Washington's coast where nothing is quite as it seems."

Secrets of Cedar Cabin is the third and final book in Colleen Coble's Lavender Tides series.  It has all of the elements of a good story: great characters, great setting you can imagine yourself living in, plus mystery, suspense, and romance.  The plot is very complex and it's twists and turns will keep you guessing right up to the end, even after you think you have it all figured out!It is a very suspense filled story with several deaths occurring though none of them are overly gory and unlike many suspense filled novels it is not vulgar.   The element of romance is always a nice addition to the story and Ms. Coble does a great job of adding it in to her books without being overly romantic or inappropriate.   All of the different subplots are all tied up very nicely in the end of the book.  Secrets at Cedar Cabin was a great ending to the Lavender Tides series.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance to the FTC regulations.

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Review: An Amish Homecoming by Amy Clipston, Beth Wiseman, Shelley Shepard Gray, Kathleen Fuller

Description
 

No Place Like Home by Amy Clipston
Estranged daughter Eva Dienner has been staying with her in-laws, the Riehls, since her husband was killed in a fire, but now she wants her son to meet his maternal grandparents. Upon her return, Eva finds that the man her parents always intended for her is living in their daadihaus and running the dairy farm for them for free, despite her suspicions of him taking advantage of her family. Eva knows she should put the past behind her, but is she ready to move into the future?

When Love Returns by Beth Wiseman
Hurricane Harvey forces Sarah Zook to return to the home she fled six years ago when she couldn’t face her stern parents’ reaction to her unplanned pregnancy. Upon her return, Abram King can think of nothing but the pain she caused him—until he meets Sarah’s daughter and realizes that he never really stopped loving Sarah. Sarah and Abram must find a way to face the truth of their past so they can rekindle their first love.

The Courage to Love by Shelley Shepard Gray
After the death of her Englisch husband, Irene Keim seeks a fresh start by staying with her new friends Mary Ruth and Henry Wengerd in exchange for helping them around the house. But when Mary Ruth and Henry’s son Marcus comes around, he isn’t pleased with the woman they’ve taken in and is determined to push her out. Misunderstandings abound, but both Irene and Marcus learn that people aren’t always what they seem.

What Love Built by Kathleen Fuller
Independent and headstrong, Carolyn is determined to forge ahead with the opening of her bakery, a lifelong dream, in the Birch Creek home she left ten years ago. But she’s in over her head and needs help with the cleaning, shopping, and deliveries. Carpenter Atlee Shetler is visiting Birch Creek to escape the memories of his late wife. He takes a job renovating the new bakery and finds the project—and its owner—to be much more than he bargained for. Both Carolyn and Atlee must face pains of the past if they want to have the bright future God has planned for them.

I love these Amish collections of short stories. When I'm looking for a quick, easy and mostly lighthearted book to read, with happy endings that is what I look for.  In An Amish Homecoming you will find four novellas about four different sets of main characters and their homecoming.  The stories in these books are not linked in any way to the other stories in the book but if you have read other books by the writers in this series some of the characters may be familiar.  Though novellas are much shorter then a full length novel would be, each of these authors does a wonderful job building their story in a short amount of time and I enjoyed reading about each of the characters.  The message of the importance of forgiveness, letting go of the past,  and not allowing fear to rule our lives carries through to all of the stories in this book.

If you enjoy reading Amish fiction I would recommend An Amish Homecoming and other books by Amy Clipston, Beth Wiseman, Shelley Shepard Gray, and Kathleen Fuller.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance to the FTC regulations.

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Review: On Magnolia Lane by Denise Hunter

Book Description

"From the bestselling author of The Convenient Groom (now a beloved Hallmark Original movie) comes the final book in Hunter’s Blue Ridge Romance series.

Pastor Jack McReady has secretly carried a torch for Daisy for two long years. She’s a member of his congregation, after all, and she’ll never see him as more than a trusted counselor. Jack’s best friend Noah has taken every opportunity to encourage his lovesick friend, but when Noah catches wind that Daisy has joined an online dating site, he takes matters into his own hands and orchestrates a meet-cute of the most unconventional kind.

Owner of the local flower shop, Daisy Pendleton is content with her small-town life, but she’d sure like someone to share it with. After several disastrous first dates, she’s about to give up—and then she finds a seemingly wonderful man online. Daisy gets to know TJ through a series of messages but finds herself spending more time with Pastor Jack outside of the church at the same time. What she doesn’t know is that her online prospect and Jack are one and the same.

Just as Daisy’s love life starts to look promising, a mysterious woman appears in town. Daisy is faced with a revelation about her family that turns her world upside down, and she looks to both TJ and Jack for help.

Jack must find a way to reveal himself as her online suitor without breaking her heart and losing her trust. As Daisy faces Jack’s betrayal, she’ll have to learn to extend grace to herself, her family, and the man she’s grown to love."

On Magnolia Lane is the last book in the Blue Ridge Romance series.   The other books in the series are: Sweetbriar Cottage, Blue Ridge Sunrise, and Honeysuckle Dreams.  It can be read as a stand alone book, but it is much better if you have read the entire series.  I really enjoyed the other books and could not wait for this one to come out.  Then I had to wait even longer for my review copy to arrive.  On Magnolia Lane was worth the wait.

Part of the story ("meeting" someone on an online date site that you know in real life) is similar to other books I have read.  But there were many elements added to this story that made it unique.  The perspective of a pastor looking for romance is not your typical romance.  Then the mystery woman that appears in town, how that affects Daisy's life changing her ideas on how she thought her life was supposed to be and teaching her to forgive those who hurt her deeply.  The problems in town when Hope House was damaged and the way the community came together to help solve the problem was another interesting aspect of the story.  As a mom with a dyslexic child I was glad to see that written as a difficulty Daisy deals with and thought the way she helped another young girl through it was wonderful. Ms. Hunter crafts an amazing story around all of the characters while wrapping up the series and teaching the importance of grace and forgiveness.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  All opinions are my own and I have received no other compensation. I am disclosing this in accordance to the FTC regulations.

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Review: Freedom's Light by Collen Coble

 

Book Description

"USA TODAY bestselling author Colleen Coble explores the mystery and the romance of the Revolutionary War.
A young lighthouse keeper must navigate the dangerous waters of revolution and one man’s obsession with her to find safe harbor with the sea captain she loves.
Hannah Thomas believes she’s escaped Galen Wright’s evil intentions by marrying an older lighthouse keeper. Seemingly safe in faraway Massachusetts, her world is upended when John is killed in one of the first battles of the Revolutionary War. Hannah is allowed to continue the difficult task of tending the twin lighthouses in John’s place, though she faces daily disapproval from John’s family. She thinks her loneliness will subside when her younger sister arrives, but she finds Lydia’s obsession with Galen only escalates the dangerous tides swirling around her.
A stormy night brings a shipwrecked sea captain to Hannah’s door, and though he is a Tory, her heart is as traitorous as the dark-eyed captain. Even though she discovers Birch Meredith isn’t the enemy he seemed at first, Hannah isn’t sure their love will ever see the light of freedom."

In Freedom's Light by Colleen Coble is a historical fiction set during the Revolutionary War.  In this book, Ms. Coble shows some of the difficulties facing the people living in this time period standing on different sides of the war.  The book is a romance novel and also very suspenseful.  Due to some of the difficult topics covered in the book I would not recommend for younger teens.  Historical Fiction is my favorite type of book to read and I did enjoy In Freedom's Light.  It definitely kept me in suspense and reading all the way to the end to see how it all would turn out.  Hannah hold on to her faith in God no matter what difficulties and heartbreaks she faces in her life.  One of my favorite parts of the book was the relationship that evolved between Hannah and her former sister-in-law.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance in the FTC regulations.

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Review: The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble

Book Description

"The dangerous beauty of Lavender Tides is harboring secrets that reach around the world.
Ellie Blackmore is making a name for herself as a house flipper. But when her sister Mackenzie disappears, Ellie can’t focus on anything but uncovering what happened. Her only clue is the bloodstain on the deck of Mackenzie’s boat. Ellie knows her sister isn’t on the best of terms with her ex-husband, Jason, but he wouldn’t kill her—would he?

Coast Guard intelligence officer Grayson Bradshaw believes Mackenzie faked her own death after stealing a seized cocaine shipment. The problem is convincing Ellie, who seems to view him as the true enemy.

Both Ellie and Grayson want truth, but truth—and family—is often more complex than it first appears. From international terrorism to the peaceful lavender fields of Puget Sound, The House at Saltwater Point is a thrilling race to uncover the truth before it’s too late."

The House at Saltwater Point is the 2nd book in the Lavender Tides series.  Although it could be read as a stand alone novel as in most series books you get a more complete picture of the story if you read them all.  The View From Rainshadow Bay is the first book in the series.

As with all of Ms. Coble's novels there is a lot of suspense in the story.  There are many mysteries to be solved.  The story is not overly gory or graphic but several people do die. There is also a budding romance going on in the story but not overly romantic or anything inappropriate.

Another element of this series is that many years ago three siblings were separated during an earthquake.  Shauna was the only one old enough to remember and for a time believed these siblings to be dead but that was not true.  In The House at Saltwater Point she finds her long lost brother and the location of her sister.  In the final book we will get to hear more of the story of the reunification of all three siblings.  I loved that Tidewater Inn was brought into The House at Saltwater Point briefly and it looks as though Rock Harbor will be involved with the next story.

I loved The House at Saltwater Point and look forward to the next book in the series!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance to the FTC regulations.

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Review: The Love Letter by Rachel Hauck

Book Description

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Dress comes a story of long-lost love and its redemption in future generations.

Romance has never been actress Chloe Daschle’s forte—in life or on screen. But everyone knows who to call for a convincing death scene . . . and it might be killing her career.
When Chloe is given a peek at the script for an epic love story, she decides to take her destiny into her own hands and request an audition for the lead female role, Esther Kingsley. The compelling tale, inspired by family lore and a one-page letter from the colonial ancestor of scriptwriter Jesse Gates, just might break her out of this career-crippling rut. Jesse would rather write about romance than live through it after his past relationship ended in disaster. But once on-set together, the chemistry between Jesse and his leading lady is hard to deny.

Centuries earlier, in the heart of the Revolutionary War, Hamilton Lightfoot and Esther Longfellow wrote their saga off the silver screen. Esther’s Loyalist father opposes any relationship with Hamilton, but Esther must face her beloved father’s disapproval and the dangers of war in order to convince Hamilton of their future together. Hamilton has loved Esther for years, and on the eve of battle pens the love letter she’s always wanted—something straight from the heart.

Set in stunning upcountry South Carolina, The Love Letter is a beautifully-crafted story of the courage it takes to face down fear and chase after love, even in the darkest of times. And just maybe, all these generations later, love can come home in a way not even Hollywood could imagine.

The Love Letter is written from 4 different character perspectives in two time periods.  In the present day we see the story through Chole and Jesse, and in the past during the Revolutionary War, we see it through Esther and Hamilton.  Throughout the story the reader is taken back and forth through time, but this is not at all confusing, the time shifts flow easily form present to past and back again.  The characters and setting descriptions make the reader feel as though they are transported through time to the Revolutionary War.  The author does a fantastic job making the reader understand some of the difficulties that both sides of the war faced.   The historical portions of the story were my favorite, though I didn't love the direction that Esther and Hamilton's story went.  I understand why it was written that way though.

I had a harder time relating to Chloe and Jesse and I think it's because the Hollywood actor/actress lifestyle is just harder to understand.  I loved the idea of the movie being based on a letter that Jesse found from his ancestor.  I liked the growth of both Jesse and Chloe throughout the book.  I loved the direction that their story ended.

For a star rating I give The Love Letter 4 out of 5.

Rachel Hauck is one of my favorite authors.  The Wedding Dress is my favorite book of all time and I have enjoyed every book of hers that I have ever read.


Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to write a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance to the FTC regulations.

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Review: Create! A Girl's Guide to DIY, Doodles, and Design

Book Description

"Ready, set, create! Whether you’re an aspiring artist or a just-starting-out doodler, Create! A Girl’s Guide to DIY, Doodles, and Design is the perfect book to inspire your creative side. From coloring pages to quick-and-easy crafts—like photo frames and duct-tape bags—and everything in between, this full-color book from the trusted Faithgirlz brand provides step-by-step guides to more than 50 fun and easy projects. Learn how to make your own DIY projects, create one-of-a-kind jewelry, and draw like a pro. Perfect for individual use or for sleepovers, birthday parties, and more, Create! is sure to bring out your inner artist."

I requested this book to review because I have a 9 year old daughter that is very crafty.  She loves making just about anything and is always looking for new ideas.  There is quite a variety of different crafts in this book.  It is split up into 3 different categories: DIY, Doodles, and Design.  The DIY section has 28 projects such as personalized pillowcases, Upgraded Clipboard, Cross String Art, and Pocketed Pillow Runner.  The Doodles section has coloring pages and 10 different project ideas such as: How to Draw a Butterfly, Artistic Bible Journaling, and Doodle a Dress.  The last section is on design and features 15 different projects such as Tie-Dye Heart T-Shirt, Glitter Button Earrings, and Duct Tape Bag.  Each project has an easy to follow tutorial.  There are also helpful hints and  suggestions for "jazzing up" your projects.  This book would be a great resource for parties, rainy day activities, or just something to do for the crafty girl in your life.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance to the FTC regulations. 

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Review: An Amish Heirloom by Amy Clipson, Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller and Kelly Irvin

Book Description

"A Legacy of Love by Amy Clipston
Local volunteer fire fighter Leon King agrees to repair his ex-girlfriend Susie Bontrager’s grandparents’ antique rocking chairs for her future home with her fiance and is forced to acknowledge that his feelings for her have not quite gone away. As Susie spends time with Leon, she begins to recognize she is marrying the wrong man for all the wrong reasons.

The Cedar Chest by Beth Wiseman
Decades after inheriting her great grandmother’s cedar chest, Emma Fisher decides to pry it open only to discover a beautiful love story in the form of letters between her great grandparents. But as Emma immerses herself in their story, family secrets are revealed, and she must decide whether to share them to preserve family history or honor her great grandparents’ decision to leave them hidden.

The Treasured Book by Kathleen Fuller
For the past two years, Shane Broyles has felt God leading him to join the Amish. He’s staying with his friends Noah and Ivy Schlabach in Birch Creek, OH, where he is reunited with Lucy Fisher, an old friend of Noah’s family. Shane and Lucy have never revealed their feelings for each other, but when they stumble upon an antique Bible at a flea market, they feel drawn to each other and to the mystery of the contents found within.

The Midwife’s Dream by Kelly Irvin
Iris Beachy serves as a midwife in her district where she longs for a family of her own. When her friend’s brother Mahon Kurtz seeks her help in delivering the baby of two young teenagers who have sought refuge in their town, they begin to see each other in a different light. Unprepared for parenthood, the young couple leave their baby girl behind in an antique crib quilt resembling the one destined for Iris when she becomes a mother. Mahon and Iris come together to take care of the baby as they try to find her parents, and they begin to see new possibilities for their future."

An Amish Heirloom is a collection of 4 short novellas written by Amy Clipson, Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Irvin.  The characters in each of the novellas are not related to each other at all and do not live in the same town.  What ties these stories together is that all of the characters are Amish and each story is centered around a particular heirloom. In A Legacy of Love it is a set of rocking chairs, in The Cedar Chest it is an old chest, in The Treasured Book it is a Bible, and in The Midwife's Dream it is a crib quilt.  The 4 stories are all quick and easy reads with a sweet happily ever after Amish romance.  My favorite of the four stories was The Cedar Chest.  it holds a bit of a mystery of why the letters start out with mention of fleeing from the law and that Catherine's great great grandparents did not appear to be Amish.  While reading through the stories of the past, Catherine finds ways to improve her present and her future.  I enjoyed all 4 stories.  An Amish Heirloom would make great summer reading for anyone who enjoys reading Amish romance.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance to the FTC regulations.

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Review: Honeysuckle Dreams by Denise Hunter

Book Description

"After Brady Collins’ ex-wife dies, he receives devastating news—his nine-month-old son Sam isn’t his son at all. And Sam’s wealthy maternal grandparents want custody of the child. Brady knows he’s in for the fight of his life. But regardless of what any blood test says, Sam is his son, and Brady will go to any lengths to keep him.
Brady’s attorney tips him off that one major life change would virtually assure him of winning guardianship of baby Sam at the final hearing: an impending marriage. And his friend Hope is willing to step in as the loving and devoted fiance.
Local radio celebrity Hope Daniels has been driven by a solitary goal her entire life, and after a happy accident she’s finally offered her dream job. But if the truth comes out about her arrangement with Brady, she may miss the chance of a lifetime and stand in the way of a dear friend’s dreams.
As Brady and Hope make sacrifices to help each other in their times of need, they risk uncovering a truth neither of them expects to find."

Honeysuckle Dreams is the second book in the Blue Ridge series.  The first book, Blue Ridge Sunrise, was Zoe and Cruz's story.  Honeysuckle Dreams is Brady's (Zoe's brother) and Hope's (Zoe's best friend) story.  These types of books can be read as stand alone novels, but to get the whole story about all of the character it is better if you read the entire series.  Ms. Hunter does a wonderful job writing Christian romance stories.  Her stories are very romancy but not inappropriate and have many elements of faith woven in.  Her characters are well developed and believable and her stories carry an inspirational message. If you have read Denise Hunters other books, many elements of this story will seem familiar to you.  This book reminded me of a mixture of several of her other stories such as, The Convenient Groom, Dancing with Fireflies, Barefoot Summer, The Wishing House.  I enjoyed reading Brady and Hope's story and look forward to the third book, On Magnolia Lane which is expected to be released in November.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance to the FTC regulations.

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Review: The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron

Book Description "Ellie Carver arrives at her grandmother’s bedside expecting to find her silently slipping away. Instead, the beloved woman begins speaking. Of a secret past and castle ruins forgotten by time. Of a hidden chapel that served as a rendezvous for the French Resistance in World War II. Of lost love and deep regret . . . Each piece that unlocks the story seems to unlock part of Ellie too—where she came from and who she is becoming. But her grandmother is quickly disappearing into the shadows of Alzheimer’s and Ellie must act fast if she wants to uncover the truth of her family’s history. Drawn by the mystery surrounding The Sleeping Beauty—a castle so named for Charles Perrault’s beloved fairy tale—Ellie embarks on a journey to France’s Loire Valley in hopes that she can unearth its secrets before time silences them forever. Bridging the past to the present in three time periods—the French Revolution, World War II, and present day—The Lost Castle is a story of loves won and lost, of battles waged in the hearts of men, and of an enchanted castle that stood witness to it all, inspiring a legacy of faith through the generations."

The Lost Castle covers three women over three different time periods and the story goes back and forth through these time periods: Ellie in the present time, Lady Vi during WWII, and Aveline during the French Revolution.  Not only does it move through the three time periods, during each time period it also moves back and forth in time.  Some people might think that moving through the time periods would confuse the reader, but it does not.  You do have to pay attention while you are reading, but the transitioning through the different time periods made for a fascinating story that I could not stop reading!  I loved the way the author spun the tale and drew the worlds of these three women together around the Sleeping Beauty castle.  My favorite character was Aveline.  Her character's interest and compassion for the peasant class during her time had long reaching consequences. Historical Fiction is my favorite genre to read and I will definitely be looking for books by Kristy Cambron in the future.  

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own.  I am disclising this in accordance to FTC regulations.

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Homeschool Crew Review: A+ Interactive Math

A+ Interactive Math (by A+ TutorSoft Inc.) offers multi-sensory math products for homeschool families as well as public and private school teachers and students.  Over the last several weeks we have had an opportunity to use and review the  Family Math Package. 

 


The Family Math Package is a math curriculum for up to ten students.  Each registered student has access to grades 1-6th plus Pre-Algebra and Algebra.  You can change grade levels as needed.  You do not need to complete the all the topics in order, you can move around and choose to work in the areas you need.  When starting a lesson students watch a short muti-media video teaching the concept and then they go on to answer questions related to the topic.  There are also online worksheets you can complete for each lesson plus online quizzes and exams.  If you need more practice on a topic you can generate more online worksheets.  If you prefer having a hard copy workbook you have the ability to print out a PDF of the lessons to read along with the online lesson or to use instead of the online lesson.   You also have the ability to print out a worksheet for each topic if you would like extra practice and you also have the option to print out a PDF exam.  Answer keys are included for the printable worksheets and the exams.

Once you register you assign each of your students a user name and password to log in with.  Once your student logs in, they click on View/Launch my Family Package, then they have to click launch and a new window opens up.  When that windows opens they can see all of the topics on the left side of the screen.

They have to click on the + sign beside the topic and it open up the subtopics.

Next they click on the + beside the subtopic and it shows the lessons.

They click on the lesson they need and the multi-media video starts playing.

After they watch the lesson they can start the Interactive Q& A.

Immediate feedback is given to the student.  They know as soon as they hit submit if they have the answer right or wrong.  They can see a step by step solution for every problem.

Parents can view how their students are doing from the admin panel.

I have been using the Family Math Package over the last several weeks with my 5th and 6th grade boys.  They have been working on 1-2 lessons per day, 4 days a week.  I started them both at the beginning of their grade levels and we have been working our way through the topics.  The lessons are short and to the point.  There are not a ton of questions they have to answer after each lesson, but if your child needs more review you can do the online or printable worksheets.  Answers are explained if the child gets it wrong.  I like the ability to be able to print the workbook and review questions if your child works better on paper then they do on a computer.  I also like that you can switch grade levels and topics.

There are a lot of steps the student has to go through to get to their lesson.  I wish that was a bit more simplified.  They also have to mark each lesson as completed, the program does not do it automatically and it doesn't keep track of where they left off. The student has to remember which lesson they are on each time they log in. 

Members of The Crew also reviewed the Adaptive Math Curriculum Online  from A+ Interactive Math.  This program has you put your child in a target grade level and then the child takes a series of placement tests for each math area to gauge their skill level.  The program then creates a lesson plan for the student by targeting the areas they need to work on.

To see what my Crew Mates had to say, stop by the Crew Blog!

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Review: The View From Rainshadow Bay by Colleen Coble

Book Description -" After her husband, Jack, dies in a climbing incident, Shauna has only her five-year-old son and her helicopter charter business to live for. Every day is a struggle to make ends meet and she lives in constant fear of losing even more than she already has. When her business partner is murdered, his final words convince Shauna that she’s in danger too. But where can she turn? Zach Bannister was her husband’s best friend and is the person she blames for his death. She’s barely spoken to him since. But right now he seems her only hope for protecting her son. Zach is only too happy to assuage his guilt over Jack’s death by helping Shauna any way he can. But there are secrets involved dating back to Shauna’s childhood that more than one person would prefer to stay hidden. In The View from Rainshadow Bay, suspense, danger, and a longing to love again ignite amid the gorgeous lavender fields of Washington State."

The View From Rainshadow Bay is the first book in Collen Coble's brand new series, Lavender Tides that takes place in Washington State.  The book draws you in very quickly and keeps you page turning all the way to the end.  Colleen Coble crafts a very good suspense novel without the need for it to be overly gory or graphic.  Several people do die during the story.  The element of romance is always a nice addition to her stories, especially since it is not overly romantic.  I really enjoyed reading about Shauna and Zach, and especially liked Zach's character.  It is a fiction suspense story, with a lot of suspense elements, so there are many parts of the story that seem a bit unbelievable but that's why it's fiction.  There were a few loose ends that I didn't think were fully resolved but this is a series with 2 more books planned and that could be why.  I looked forward to reading the other books in this series.

 Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance to the FTC regulations.

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Review: Beneath a Prairie Moon by Kim Vogel Sawyer

About the Author "KIM VOGEL SAWYER‘s titles have garnered awards including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim lives in central Kansas with her retired military husband Don. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and a bevy of grandchildren."

About Beneath a Prairie Moon
"Abigail Brantley grew up in affluence and knows exactly how to behave in high society. But when she is cast from the social registers due to her father’s illegal dealings, she finds herself forced into a role she never imagined: tutoring rough Kansas ranchers in the subjects of manners and morals so they can “marry up” with their mail-order brides. Mack Cleveland, whose father was swindled by a mail-order bride, wants no part of the scheme to bring Eastern women to Spiveyville, Kansas, and he’s put off by the snooty airs and fastidious behavior of the “little city gal” in their midst. But as time goes by, his heart goes out to the teacher who tries so diligently to smooth the rough edges from the down-to-earth men. How can he teach her that perfection won’t bring happiness?"

Beneath a Prairie Moon is the newest book by Kim Vogel Sawyer and will be releasing on March 20th.  It is available for pre-order on Amazon.  This is a stand alone novel of around 352 pages.  The paperback is listed for $10.99 and the Kindle edition for $11.99.  It will be available in other locations as well. I make no money from Amazon, it just happens to be where I buy most of my books.

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that I love Kim Vogel Sawyer.  She is one of my favorite authors.  I have been on her team to promote her books several times but somehow missed out on the application for this book, so I was excited to see it available from another company I review for.  Ms. Sawyer writes contemporary and historical novels.  Beneath a Prairie Moon is a Historical Fiction and like many of her novels takes place in Kansas during the time period when Mail Order Brides were a common occurrence, in the late 1800's.

Beneath a Prairie Moon has all the elements of a great story.  It draws you in right from the beginning.  The descriptions of the characters and the setting are wonderful.  The story will make you laugh (there are definitely some very humorous parts), cry, and leave you in suspense.  There of course is some romance but because it is Christian fiction not anything overly romantic.  I loved the way the townspeople (most of them anyway) made Abigail feel as though she belonged and treated her like one of their own even when she felt herself above the others.  Everyone should live in a town like Spiveyville.  Beneath a Prairie Moon has a great message of hope and love and trusting in God.  It also carries a message of the importance of forgiveness.

If you enjoy historical fiction or Christian fiction, I highly recommend books by Kim Vogel Sawyer!  I loved Beneath a Prairie Moon (I've already read it twice), and cannot wait to see what her next release will be.  

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance to the FTC regulations.

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Kregel Blog Tour: Andi Lassos Trouble and Andi to the Rescue by Susan K Marlow

Andi Lassos Trouble and Andi to the Rescue are books 3 and 4 in the Circle C Stepping Stones Series by Susan K Marlow.  These books are geared for children ages 7-10 and follow the life and adventures of 9 year old Andi Carter on her ranch in California in the 1800's.  The Stepping Stones series books are chapter books that are a bot longer then the Circle C Beginnings books that follow the life of 6 year old Andi, yet easier to read then the Circle C Adventures books that follow the life of 12 year old Andi.  There is another series, Circle C Milestones that follows the life of 14-18 year old Andi.


Last spring, I had an opportunity to review the first two books in the Circle C Stepping Stones series.  My daughter, 8 year old Lily, was a big fan of the Circle C Beginnings books and was very excited that there were new Andi stories for her to read!  She loved Andi Saddles Up and Andi Under the Big Top and was even more excited when I told her she would be able to read the next two books as well!

Andi Lassos Trouble is a 112 page illustrated paperback book.  In this book,  the Circle C Ranch is having a rodeo with two other ranches and the cowboys are eager to prove who is the best.  But Andi also wants to win prizes even though Chad says it is not for little kids.

Lily's favorite parts were when Sadie's dad brought some sheep for the children to ride (cattle men don't like sheep!)

In Andi to the Rescue,  Andi's teacher is sick and Mother is the substitute.  Andi can't believe it!  What will her friends think?  But soon that is the least of her worries when Andi and her mother are kidnapped by two outlaws.  They are being held in a cabin until the man can learn to read.  Andi has to escape and find help.

Lily's favorite part was when Andi escaped out the window with a knife to cut branches for a trail.



Lily loved the stories!  The books are wonderful stories that will teach your children life lessons and history as well.  Andi has problems and difficulties that your children can relate to and makes mistakes just like in real life, but she shows the development of great character traits and trust in the Lord.  The length of the chapters and the books are perfect for the 7-9 year old age range but if you have a struggling reader they can still enjoy the story by listening to someone read it aloud.  The illustrations are adorable and the inclusion of the vocabulary words and history fun is very helpful. 


On Susan K Marlow's website, you will find some great activity pages, coloring pages and more to go with each of the books!


We love the Circle C books and Lily cannot wait until the next two books release in July! If you are looking for wonderful, wholesome, historical books for your children to read, I highly recommend any books by Susan K. Marlow!


 Disclaimer: I received complimentary copies of these books for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own or my family's.  I am disclosing this in accordance to the FTC regulations.

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