EmpowerMoms

Readers are introduced to the city of Charm, Ohio and the characters in book 1 of The Charmed Amish Life series. “A Daughters Dream” is book 2, and although all the characters mentioned from book 1, it can be read as a stand alone story. I have read both of them in order and have liked the character developments and story line.

The story focuses alot on the characters wanting to find their life purpose and follow God’s will. The story mostly follows the life of Rebecca, Lilly, and Jacob.

I found it alot less “intense” than book 1, but still very enjoyable. I don’t read alot of “Amish fiction” books, but I have really enjoyed this series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media-all opinions are my own.

About the book:
A young teacher and farmer discover they have much in common, especially when it comes to healing old wounds from the past . . . and finding love in one another.

Rebecca Kinsinger has always dreamed of being a teacher. But when she’s given the opportunity she’s been waiting for at Charm Amish School, she’s dismayed to discover that teaching is hard work—work she’s afraid she’s not very good at.

That is, until Lilly Yoder joins the class. A thirteen-year old who’s just lost her parents, Lilly is in need of someone like Rebecca. For the first time since starting her new job, Rebecca feels a sense of purpose. But when she meets Lilly’s uncle, Jacob, his good looks and sweet, easy-going temperament are hard to ignore. How can she even entertain romantic thoughts of Jacob when his niece is her student?

Suddenly becoming Lily’s sole caregiver, Jacob Yoder never thought he’d be a single parent—or a farmer. Having been living in Florida as a carpenter, Jacob feels more at home wielding a hammer than a backhoe. The only bright spot in his life is Rebecca Kinsinger. As Lily and Rebecca develop a bond, Jacob’s fondness for the pretty teacher grows, too.

But when a fateful accident brings them together, Rebecca and Jacob must choose between duty and desire. Will they follow the path before them? Or set out to find true happiness . . . and true love?

Purchase a copy:

About the author:
Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

GIVEAWAY LINK: https://promosimple.com/ps/9a93

MY REVIEW OF BOOK 1:
A Son’s Vow by Shelley Shepard Gray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I don’t read alot of Amish Fiction books because I find them to be too slow of a pace and hard to relate to. However, I have really enjoyed the last several Shelley Shepard Gray’s Amish fiction books. “A Son’s Vow” is book 1 of a new series called “The Charmed Amish Life”.

In this book readers are introduced to a new town called Charm, Ohio and several characters that live there- both men and women. This particular story focuses on Darla, her brother Aaron, and her friend Lukas. All three characters experienced a major loss three months prior when a tragic fire killed five Amish men in their town.

The chapters go back and forth between the three main characters and their interpretations of events and their feelings surrounding them. It was interesting how even though Darla, Aaron and Lukas all experienced the same type of loss; they were all dealing with it differently. I was very concerned with how the direction of Aaron’s character was headed, but fortunately he started to straighten out towards the end.

The story was very well written with a steady pace and plot with many emotions surfacing like guilt, anger, forgiveness, love, and understanding. I especially liked Lukas’s character and how patient and persistent he was with Darla and her family members.

I found “A Son’s Vow” very enjoyable to read and can’t wait to read more books in this new series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media-all opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

**3 Creative, 30-Minute Calorie Burning Walks!
**Low Impact [no jumping] Cardio Interval Training
**Cardio Core Standing Abs Exercises – No Floor Work
**Build Balance, Coordination, Agility and Spatial Awareness
**Lose Inches, Build Fitness and Enjoy Exercise

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:

Let’s have a little fun by getting creative with walking-based exercise! While we mix up our moves often to avoid muscle imbalances and joint strain, walking is always our base move and something you can always return to at any time.

Mix and match these walks into your weekly workout schedule (we recommend alternating them with your favorite strength + flexibility training routines 2-4 days a week).

Don’t miss our other titles in this series, our “Walk STRONG: Boost Metabolism + Muscle” and “Walk STRONG: Build Balance + Inner Strength” for some great options! You can also use these workouts in conjunction with our “Walk STRONG: Total Transformation 6 Week System!”

Visit walkonwalkstrong.com/phase3 to download our free, printable “Phase III” calendar which includes our suggested 6 week schedule.

WALK #1: STEADY, READY, GO! – The purpose of this low impact, high intensity interval session is to improve your aerobic capacity, fitness level and even boost your metabolism. Our timed intervals are designed to help you challenge yourself without burning out for maximum results and energy.
MILEAGE EQUIVALENT: Approx. 2.5 miles

WALK #2: STRIDE AND STEP – We’ll focus on adding intensity with a bit of an incline to boost your burn while developing agility, coordination and spatial awareness. And, not to worry, you can still get a great workout without the step – watch our modifier Debbie, age 60, for options as she demonstrates the entire walk on the floor.
MILEAGE EQUIVALENT: Approx. 2 miles

WALK #3: HAVE A BALL! – This walk incorporates the use of a small playground ball to increase core muscle recruitment, improve hand-eye coordination add an extra element of fun. Don’t have a ball on hand? Keep an eye on Debbie – she’ll be using a hand towel as an alternative option.
MILEAGE EQUIVALENT: Approx. 2 miles

About Your Instructor:
Jessica Smith has over 15 years of experience as a certified trainer, instructor and wellness coach.

SNEAK PEEK VIDEO CLIP:

“Sister Eve and the Blue Nun” a “A Divine Private Detective Agency Mystery” book #3. The book description looks intriguing, and although I haven’t read the other 2 books, I decided to give it a try!

I had a hard time getting into the story line though so I wasn’t able to finish it. It has some good reviews online though, so other readers may enjoy it even though it wasn’t for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media-all opinions are my own.

About the book:
After a murder at the monastery, Sister Eve may need a miracle if she is to prove a dear friend isn’t a cold-blooded killer.

Sister Eve, a motorcycle-riding nun with a natural (or is it supernatural?) gift for solving murders returns to the enclave she once called home and quickly finds herself confronting yet another mysterious death.

Someone has poisoned Dr. Kelly Middlesworth—a researcher on the life and ministry of 17th-century’s revered “Blue Nun”—and a set of irreplaceable historic documents have disappeared before they could even be examined.

When all evidence seems to point to the victim’s brother, Sister Eve sets out to expose the killer and learn the explosive truth those missing manuscripts might contain.

Chasing a killer is dangerous work, and as her two worlds collide, Sister Eve may need some heavenly help simply to survive.

About the Author
Lynne Hinton is the New York Times bestselling author of Friendship Cake and Pie Town. A native of North Carolina, she received her undergraduate degree from the U.N.C. at Greensboro and her Masters of Divinity degree from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. She also studied at Wake Forest University and the NC School of the Arts, School of Filmmaking. She has served as a chaplain with hospice and as the pastor of Mount Hope United Church of Christ and First Congregational United Church of Christ, both in North Carolina. Lynne is a regular columnist with The Charlotte Observer . She lives with her husband, Bob Branard, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Visit her online at lynnehinton.com Facebook: Lynne-Hinton-Books

Rest. Breathe. Connect. Create.
In this hurried world, it can feel impossible to slow down and find a calm and peaceful space to deepen your relationship with God. Restore My Soul offers forty encouraging devotions paired with beautiful, intricate designs to inspire your heart. As you meditate and meet with God in every pattern, every stroke of a pencil, and every new coloring creation, you’ll find your spirit refreshed and renewed.

I’ve been enjoying some quiet time coloring and reading this particular devotion about casting my cares and anxiety on Him. I got this book from the Tyndale House blogger program called “Restore My Soul” – a devotional coloring book for adults by Ann Margret Hovsepian. .

The page that I am coloring suggests five things to do when I’m experiencing stress:
1. Don’t try to revolutionize your life in the midst of the chaos.
2. keep things in perspective.
3. Ask for help.
4. Learn to say no.
5. Don’t forget to love.

The thing that I like about this devotion book is not only is it calming coloring pages and scripture references, but also has full pages of devotions pertaining to each coloring page. The back of the book description states there are 40 devotions to this book. The pages are thicker so colored pencils or markers would work and not bleed onto the next page.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale House in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media-all opinions are my own.

The Beautiful Pretender (A Medieval Fairy Tale)

I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy this book because sometimes I have a hard time enjoying stories written in the medieval time period, but the book description looked really intriguing. I really enjoyed this book and finished it in one night! It was fast reading, and had a good steady pace with some romance and suspense.

Avelina, the maidservant of Lady Dorothea, is forced by the Earl of her land to pretend to be Lady Dorothea for 2 weeks at the Margrave of Thornbeck’s castle. She has to keep her true identity hidden and be polite to the Margrave, but not catch his eye or heart in marriage. The earl is unable to set his daughter-the true Lady-because she ran away but he doesn’t want to risk offending the Margrave of Thornbeck by not sending a lady to his castle to represent his land. The Margrave has 2 weeks to find a proper wife before the King decides for him.

I enjoyed getting to know the characters and it always surprises me how strict the division of classes and wealth versus the poor was in that time period. I highly recommend reading this well written, christian, medieval romance and suspense story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media-all opinions are my own.

Book Description:
After inheriting his title from his brother, the margrave has two weeks to find a noble bride. What will happen when he learns he has fallen for a lovely servant girl in disguise?

The Margrave of Thornbeck has to find a bride, fast. He invites ten noble born ladies who meet the king’s approval to be his guests at Thornbeck Castle for two weeks, a time to test these ladies and reveal their true character.

Avelina has only two instructions: keep her true identity a secret and make sure the margrave doesn’t select her as his bride. Since the latter seems unlikely, she concentrates on not getting caught. No one must know she is merely a maidservant, sent by the Earl of Plimmwald to stand in for his daughter, Dorothea.

Despite Avelina’s best attempts at diverting attention from herself, the margrave has taken notice. And try as she might, she can’t deny her own growing feelings. But something else is afoot in the castle. Something sinister that could have far worse—far deadlier—consequences.

About the Author
Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer’s Apprentice, a Christy Award finalist and winner of the National Reader’s Choice Award for Best First Book. Melanie earned a bachelor’s degree in special education from the University of Alabama and has been a teacher and a missionary. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Huntsville, Alabama. Visit her on line at melaniedickerson.com Facebook: MelanieDickersonBooks and Twitter @melanieauthor

Inheriting the new title of margrave means Reinhart has two weeks to find a noble bride. What will happen when he learns he has fallen for a lovely servant girl in disguise? Find out in the new medieval fairy tale, The Beautiful Pretender, by Melanie Dickerson. Despite Avelina’s best attempts at diverting attention from herself, the margrave has taken notice. And try as she might, she can’t deny her own growing feelings. But something else is afoot in the castle. Something sinister that could have far worse—far deadlier—consequences. Will Avelina be able to stop the evil plot? And at what cost?

Join Melanie in celebrating the release of The Beautiful Pretender by entering to win her Once Upon a Kindle giveaway!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of The Beautiful Pretender
• A Kindle Fire tablet
• A $25 Amazon gift card
• The choice between a Funko POP Disney Beauty or Beast doll

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on June 7th. The winner will be announced June 8th on Melanie’s blog.