Secrets and Love =?

Secrets abound in the second book of the Amish Vines and Orchards entitled The Winnowing Season by Cindy Woodsmall. Rhoda Byler is preparing to leave for Maine to help establish a new Old Order Amish community when she is summoned to a meeting by the district's bishop and preachers. Jacob King, her beloved, says he will stand with her but Jacob receives an unexpected phone call taking him away from the meeting and traveling with her on the train to Maine. Jacob's past is calling and continues to haunt him through most of the book until he gathers the courage to make a change. But it may be to late for he arrives home unexpected and finds his brother, Samuel, has made "a pass" at Rhoda. Now Rhoda is torn between these two brothers. Plus she continues to hear a voice and feels she must find out what message the voice is trying to telling her. Will the three be able to faithfully follow God's calling as they begin this new Amish community and business? Read this exciting book to find out.

Richard Mabry does not disappoint the reader with this latest medical thriller entitled Stress Test. The reader may feel as though he/she is under going a rigorous stress test in this fast paced, heart palpitating story.  Dr. Matt Newman is kidnapped leaving from the hospital, is bound and gagged, and thrown into the trunk of his car. He manages to escape but after eluding his kidnappers, he falls from his hiding place and suffers head injuries. He wakes up in the ICU only to learn he is being charged for murder. No one believes his story-not even his girlfriend. Someone is out to get him but why? Can his lawyer get him cleared of the charges? During this stressful time, Matt learns to trust God and lean on him. What are you waiting for-give your cardiovascular system a good work out!

"The Sky Beneath My Feet" by Lisa Samson is definitely an upside down, inside out story of one family whose lives collide in their quest for worth and love during what was to have been a month's vacation. Beth's husband must make a decision concerning a job offer and goes into seclusion during his one month sabbatical leaving his wife and sons on the outside. Beth must continue with day to day demands without her husband and as such meet a group of people called the Rent-A-Mob who make her ponder her existence. And then there is her eccentric, artistic neighbor who brings a revelation to Beth's family and others. Her brother enters the picture dragging her to the inner city to a half-way house to rescue a friend's daughter. The book has its funny moments but there are times that it is hard to follow the main character's thoughts as they seem flighty. Overall, a good book to read.
This book was received free to review for BookSneeze.  

Jane Kirkpatrick gives voice to reformer Dorothea Dix in "One Glorious Ambition: The Compassionate Crusade of Dorothea Dix." Although this is a fictional account of nineteenth century Dorothea Dix many of the events and places are based on factual accounts. Dorothea Dix aspires to fulfill God's purpose in her life but her path is not neatly laid out just as in our own lives there are numerous twists and turns. At first she believes teaching and writing are her earthly purposes. Then, an unexpected visit to a prison opens her eyes and mind to another calling as she remembers her mother. Thus her crusade becomes that of giving a voice to "those who can not speak for themselves": the mentally ill. This is an inspiring story making one stop and think what is God's purpose for my life. An author's interview and reader's guide with book discussion questions are included.  I received this book from WaterBrook Press  to review.    

Wanda E. Brunstetter's latest book in the Amish genre, Goodbye to Yesterday, is a quick read. Just as you get a feel for where the story may be going you are left hanging. Yes, this book is a cliffhanger. I hope the next one in the series comes out quickly so the suspense is short lived. Anyways, the story revolves around young newlyweds Luke and Meredith who are experiencing a crisis. Luke has lost his job but there is hope if he comes to Indiana to learn a new trade. But Meredith has a feeling that something bad is going to happen on the trip due to inclement weather. Is she right? Read the book to find out!  

A month after reading Implosion I ordered Dr. Dobson's new book called Fatherless. I am glad that I had read Implosion first since Dobson's fictional book builds a story upon some of the same thoughts expressed by Rosenberg. In Fatherless you are introduced to "transition services," the breeders, and the religious right. The year is 2042 and reporter Julia Davidson is asked to write an article about an incident at a transitional clinic that turns out to be more than she bargained for, far more ominous. Congressman Kevin Tolbert is trying to find an answer to the economic crisis and remain true to his Christian ethics. When Julia meets with her old high school friends, Angie, and her husband, Kevin, their worlds collide. Will Julia make the right choice when she finds herself at a crossroad? This is one very engrossing story with believable characters and very plausible plot!

In these tough economic times Joel C. Rosenberg writes a thought provoking book entitled Implosion. Will America survive this economic challenge? Will America survive the spiritual challenge? These are a few of the questions that Rosenberg examines with research and examples. Most compelling I found was his statement that New York was due for a natural disaster (this book was published in 2012) and here I was reading the book several weeks after Super Storm Sandy had hit New York and the eastern shoreline! Make this a top book to read in 2013. You will be glad you did.