The Amish Clockmaker

This was a really good look into the life of the Amish plus a side story of one dealing with a handicap and how that affected their outlook on life and how others dealt with them. It is very well written and I think that those who enjoy Amish fiction will definitely want to add this one to their bookshelves! I read this book through Netgalley. It's a great way to have access to many books when you really enjoy reading!

At Water's Edge

What a great adventure! I was intrigued by the description of this book and was hooked from the very first page. The characters are really well developed and you grow to love or hate them accordingly. I was drawn in by the drama of a trek across the ocean during WWII and how difficult that must have been and then the odd trio as they began a search for a mystical monster. It is definitely a well written story and will keep you reading just one more page until you reach the very end and wish you could read some more! I highly recommend this book! I received the free advance galley for it from NetGalley.

Wide Open World - quite the family adventure'

What would your kids do if you told them you were going to pack up and take a trip across uncharted territory and volunteer at animal reserves and other missions? You have to read this book! To learn more about their travels, visit Marshall's website at johnmarshall.com. A whole new world may fascinate you and draw you in so you want to take this sort of journey too! I was able to preview this book through Netgalley and I'm so glad it was available to me. In the midst of so many unhappy things happening in our world, this book reveals so many caring and thoughtful people working in unusual places.

The Fragile World by Paula Treick DeBoard

Just finished reading and was moved by the tragic accident that altered this family's foundation. We live our lives as if every day is a guarantee and this story showed that it just isn't so. I felt so sorry for the remaining daughter who needed her parents to help her feel worth and to get her through the big transition they faced together. This didn't happen smoothly and the suspense of what will happen keeps you reading to the very end. I highly recommend reading this! Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin for making it available to me!

The Summer Wind

What a perfect book for the Summer! I loved getting to know the characters

in this book. A family of women with different struggles brought back to the

place they knew as children as a peaceful haven with their grandmother. I had

tears at the end and was sad that it was over. I'd love to find out what the

author had planned next in each of their lives. This book was written by

Mary Alice Monroe and I received a free galley to read from NetGalley. To get

to read wonderful books for free by just giving my thoughts afterwards is a

very good thing indeed! 

A strong memoir of a life of overcoming - Hattie Kauffman

I just finished reading this book - started it yesterday and had to read it to the end. Her description on the cover "A memoir of Overcoming" is an understatement. To learn of her humble and impossible life growing up and see where her life took her is amazing. Most would not survive under such challenges. Hattie is an encouragement to all of us to take the chances that God places in our paths. She toiled hard throughout her adult years to work as a reporter. The lessons she learned along the way eventually led her to a strong faith in God despite the struggle of faith not having a place in her field of work. Her dear Aunt Teddy planted the seeds and Hattie eventually saw these seeds grow into a full blown love of the Lord. This book should be on everyone's reading list!

glitter and glue by Kelly Corrigan

I was first drawn to this book by the title because who doesn't like glitter and glue, right? When I learned that the title actually described the way her mother felt her role  in the family was vs. that of the father's, it made total sense. Kelly has a way with words and made her father come to life on the pages. On the other hand, she communicated well her mother's role and behavior in their family's life. It took her going on her big adventure and having to take a money gathering break to have time to reflect on how much she was in fact like her mother in so many ways! Growing up we spend so much time invested in our own thoughts and ideas and often it takes a life changing situation to open our eyes and help us to see life through the eyes of others. Kelly made me stop and think about my own mother and our relationship through the years. It is so true that mothers are very often the glue that holds the family together and takes care of the mundane day to day needs and is often the serious one who keeps track of who is going where and when that there's no energy left to be shiny like glitter!

There are those who have reviewed this book thinking that something was missing. I think maybe they haven't reached a point in their lives yet where they can relate to the family roles described here. I loved the book and wanted to read on and see what would happen next. That's the mark of a good book in my view!