The Promise of an Angel

 Judith is turning nineteen and sure her future is set with the courting and marriage of Levi Plank. When Judith's younger brother Samuel is hurt in an accident at a barn raising, she is sure she sees an angel. In her quest to convince the Amish community of what she has seen an heard from the angel named Tobias she ends up alienating herself and turning members of family and her community against her.

Through this time her friendship with Andrew, the bishop's son becomes stronger. Andrew believes Judith and many times is her only friend. As time goes on many of the people in Judith's life show true colors and through it all Judith and Andrew stay true to their faith and each other even if it means losing their family and community.

This was my first time reading the Amish Genre and I read this book in one sitting. I was taken with the characters and I loved Judith's deep love for her family and deeper faith. Her connection and her desire to do what was right in the eyes of God was heartwarming to read. Andrew's patience, awkwardness and his ultimate love for Judith and God was so touching and as a reader I was routing for him at the turn of each page. I found the story completely transfixing,entertaining and so worth the read! I loved it and I am looking forward to the next in the series!

This book was given to me by Booksneeze in exchange for the review.

Happy Father's Day!

 Today we celebrate Father's Day and my father, Don and my husband, Bob are two amazing fathers that I get the opportunity to have in my life.  Today I HONOR them and I hope you all stop and honor all of the fathers in your life both past and present!

Plain Wisdom

Novelist Cindy Woodsmall might seem to have little in common with Miriam Flaud, a woman from the Old Order Amish. With nine children and almost 60 years of marriage  between them, Cindy and Miriam have found secrets to facing life with strength and grace.

With poignant recollections, unexpected insights and humorous tales, the women welcome the reader into their unique friendship. With glimpses of traditions and ways of the Amish, Miriam also shares her traditions and even some family recipes.Truly a celebration of God, womanhood, and the search for beauty that unites us all.

I loved reading this book, not just because of the way it was told , although I felt like I got to know each one as an individual, but also I found myself savoring each moment I had with these friends.  I wanted to sit down and write a letter or call and see how the garden was coming or the milk inspection. The tenderness and yet the strength was so vivid that I would feel completely taken care of with either one of the friends. The sense of humor was enduring as was the stories shared by each writer. Many times after a charter I would reflect on the small pieces of advice  and find I just may have a place for it in my day.

I wrote down the recipes and even the poem. I can not wait to share this book with some very special people in my life an I am lucky to have met Miriam and Cindy!

I gave this book 4 out 5 stars!

Happy Reading and enjoy a cup of tea!

Kara

I received an advance copy of this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

What Matters Most

What if you could live one time in your life over? What if you could make a different choice that would make everything right?  For Bernadette and Tom, it is to return to their roots in Ireland and a love that broke every rule and one that broke their hearts. For James and Kathleen, the bond is what enabled them to survive an orphanage and a trip across the ocean to America when one gets adopted and the other is left with their dream to be together forever. Four lives come together in a confrontation that will challenge each of them to their very core and challenge them to leave behind the past and all that was important to at last embrace what is most important.

I read this book in one day, with characters who are in love and believe that all will work out. Bernadette and Thom were a little more complicated then James and Kathleen and the relationship was a little more detailed. Sometimes it was predictable and I felt as though maybe Tom should have fought a little harder for the "love of his life."   

The end was a little too clean for me as to say it all worked out a little too perfectly, however I felt like this was a good read to help escape with for a while. Overall it is what it is...a quick read and not real deep.  

I gave it  2.5 stars out of 5

Happy Reading and enjoy a cup of tea!

Kara

Night Road

Jude Farraday's entire life revolved around her twins Mia and Zach.  In eighteen years,Jude did everything to keep them safe and on track for college. When Lexi Baill, after losing her heroin addicted mother and living in foster home after foster home, moves into the small community, she is welcomed into the Farraday family as one of their own, becoming Mia's best friend and the love of Zach's life. Life has always been easy until one decision rips the family apart and changes the Farraday family and Lexi forever.

In the years to follow, each must face the consequences of those choices and find a way to heal, forget, and live with the choices. The hardest part of that decision is finding that courage to forgive. A heartbreaking novel that captures pain of loss and the power of hope.

I was excited to read this book as I am a fan of Kristin Hannah; of course, this book did not disappoint.  A story that was full of twist and turns as it went on, I enjoyed the plot line and found myself  engaged in the story.  The character's were complex and yet I liked the relationship between Mia and Lexi.  I felt like we got to be let in on their friendship as the reader.  The family dynamic, although over the top, was also believable and as a mother I felt many of the emotions Jude felt in wanting to protect her children (although I like to think I'm not as bad as her).

I did find myself needing a box of tissue at some points in the story and I did feel many times a real connection to the characters. Overall a great book and definitely a book that will stay with me, as will the characters. Not a light read but a great read!!!!  Enjoy it!

I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars!!!!

Happy Reading, and enjoy a book and Tea!