Crazy Love by Francis Chan

I think I am one of the last people in my church to read this book! I have been hearing about it for so long and have had it on my to-read list... but that is a LONG list and it has taken forever to get here!

I can say that all the good things I have heard are true! Crazy Love is definitely a book worth reading. BUT what really made it even more wow for me was to go to the website and read about the author... Francis Chan. I am not one who is easily impressed, but I am with Chan. He is truly a man after God's own heart striving to walk it out every day.

In Crazy Love he encourages all believers to do just that.. walk out their faith... by embracing the enormity of God's love for us and letting it overflow through us onto every one we meet.

This book is drenched in Scripture, so this is not Chan's theory or original idea. He has drawn from God's Word to show us that God wants more for us than living the same ole life everyone else on the planet lives... the status quo... He has the Abundant Life waiting for us if only we will let go and live it!

Alibis in Arkansas -- by Lynxwiler, Reynolds & Gaskin

Alibis is a compilation of 3 Romance Mysteries all centered around 2 sisters, Jenna Stafford & Carly Reece, who fall into the task of solving murders. Fun fact ... the books are written by 3 real life sisters! I would classify these stories as light cozy mysteries... much in the vein of the Murder She Wrote television series or the Mystery Woman movies. Total fun to read!

It all starts with Death on a Deadline when Jenna stumbles, literally, across the murder of the local newspaper editor and then finds her nephew is the top suspect. Next comes Drop Dead Diva, where a trip away to help out a friend and relax a bit ends up with a dead Country Music Singer and more suspects that you can count on both hands. The final story is Down Home and Deadly and once again murder drops in on the sisters when Carly finds a dead body at the back door of her newly purchased diner.

The sisters relationship with each other, their families and the men in their lives runs throughout all three tales, as does there faith.

Fun reads... this would be a great book to take on Summer Vacation!

Fit to Be Tied by Robin Lee Hatcher

Book 2 of the Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series focuses on Cleopatra Arlington... Cleo to her friends. Cleo is the total opposite of her twin, Gwen. Where Gwen is refined, soft, frilly, femine, Cleo is rough and tumble... ready to ride at a moments notice.. doing the work of men daily. In fact, at most times people mistake her for a man in her pants and hat covered in dust from working the ranch. But Cleo doesn't mind, she loves her life just as it is. Or does she?

Enter Lord Sherwood Statham of England. The fourth son of a Duke and a bit of a rogue, Sherwood's father has sent him to American as a form of discipline... to teach him to straighten up and fly right. Lord Statham finds himself in a new world.. working as a ranch hand for Cleo and her father, Griff. And Cleo is not thrilled to be nursemaid to a softie from England.

They grate on each others nerves from day one and yet there is an underlying chemistry that neither can deny. So which one will tame the other? Will Cleo the cowgirl become Lady Cleopatra or will Lord Statham become Woody the cowboy? One thing's for certain, the ride is going to be a bumpy and adventurous one!

A Vote of Confidence by Robin Lee Hatcher

This is book one of Hatcher's latest series -- The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs. Gwen Arlington is a woman of breeding who knows all the social graces and she is woman who knows her mind. So it is really no surprise that she takes her sister's challenge to run for Mayor of Bethlehem Springs, Idaho. Her 2 opponents are men... a drunkard and a handsome man of means who has her all in a dither. Morgan McKinley is not what Gwen expected. He has a heart for Bethlehem Springs and sees that she does also. He is a man of means, but first and foremost a man of faith. Can Gwen hold on to her independence if she gives her heart away? And what of the election, who will be mayor of Bethlehem Springs?

A Measure of Mercy by Lauraine Snelling

I absolutely love every series Snelling has written concerning the Red River of the North. I love the families who settled or went through Blessing, MN. I miss the ones who have gone home to the Lord like Agnes. I have watched wee ones grow into adulthood and have families of their own. And even though these books are set in the late 1800s until shortly after the turn of the century, I feel as if I have been there very moment!

It was no surprise then that I was delighted to see a new Blessing series on the shelf at my local library! A Measure of Mercy is book one of the Home to Blessing series. I have savored ever word... catching up on the Bjorklund's and all their family and friends... meeting new folks... marvelling at the changes in Blessing (and those to come!)... it has been a wonderful trip and I cannot wait for future books to take me back!

Measure focuses, for the most part, on Astrid as she pursues medicine and struggles with knowing God's call on her life. Is it to return to Blessing and start a hospital with Dr. Elizabeth or to go to Africa as a medical missionary? And then there is Emmy, a precious little native American girl left in the Bjorklund's barn on a cold winter night. Who does she belong to? And Benny, a street urchin hit by a wagon who is now a double amputee at the age of 6. How will he survive with no family? Joshua Landsverk has returned to Blessing, not to farm but to find honest work, make his own way, and hopefully win the heart of that special someone he can't get out of his mind.

Life ebbs and flows in Blessing much as it does today wherever you live. There are decisions to be made... choices... that effect more than just yourself. There are lives that need someone to care for them.. those who need to be loved. There are struggles and hardships and sorrows and there are joys and happy moments to celebrate.

No doubt you can jump in with this series, but I highly recommend backing up and reading all the books connecting to Blessing. The 4 series are Red River of the North, Return to Red River, Daughters of Blessing and Home to Blessing. A complete list of books can be found at Snelling's website: http://www.laurainesnelling.com/

When the Morning Comes by Cindy Woodsmall

Book 2 of the Sisters of the Quilt series.

When the Morning Comes picks up where When the Heart Cries leaves off. Hannah Lapp is now making her way in the English world, trying to reconcile what she knows as an Old Order Amish girl and the new and exciting world around her. Making her way from Pennsylvania to Ohio, Hannah is united with her aunt, Zabeth, who was shunned many year before. Zabeth understands Hannah better than most and provides not only a place to live, but also a shoulder to cry on and words of wisdom. Hannah faces many decisions... will she return to PA and stand up to her accusers or will she move forward with the life she has created in Ohio?

Back in PA, Paul mourns the loss of Hannah and does his best to locate her but to no avail. His family persuades him to return to school and finish out his degree in hopes he will forget his lost love. Matthew and Ellie struggle with their relationship as she has one foot in the plain world and the other among the English. Luke and Mary marry, but the secret she holds could destroy everything she has worked to obtain. And Sarah, Hannah's spiteful sister, appears to be going mad. She searches for Hannah day and night, wandering the countryside muttering to herself about fire and truth.

This book leaves so many questions hanging at the end! But Praise the Lord there is a book 3! When the Soul Mends.

An excellent series!

The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber

I usually read Christmas stories during the Christmas season, but when I saw this book by one of my favorite authors sitting on the New Fiction shelf at the library I had to snatch it up! The Perfect Christmas is a fun, light-hearted tale of a girl whose biological clocking is roaring! Cassie is certain she is never going to meet THE guy. And to make matters worse most of her friends seem to have found their perfect mate. A Christmas card, complete with photo of her friend, Julie with her husband and 2 children ready for their perfect Christmas proves Cassie's point. Yes, she knows it is just a photo and while it looks perfect, it probably isn't. That doesn't matter. Cassie wants the look... the family to create that picture perfect Christmas card and she wants it now!

In steps Simon Dodson, professional matchmaker. Cassie's friend, Angie, tells her about Simon. He is very highly sought.... has a high success rate... and costs a fortune. At first the thought of a matchmaker seems ridiculous to Cassie, but then.. what does she have to loose. He does have a money back guarantee. What she doesn't expect it a gruff, rude man who asks all the questions and then gives her tasks to complete before she is able to meet Mr. Right!

So what happens if she invests all this time and energy only to find that Mr. Right is Mr. Wrong and her heart has chosen another... someone determined not to marry, ever.

This novel is full of laughter and tender moments... very much the sweet romance most women love.