Book Review: A Lancaster County Christmas by Suzanne Woods Fisher @suzannewfisher

A Lancaster County Christmas by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Publisher: Revell

Publish Date: September 1, 2011

Hardcover, 208 pages 
Fiction, Amish Romance, Christian
 ISBN: 978-0800719951

My Review:
My thoughts:  Isn't the cover lovely - doesn't it look like a Christmas card you would send?


A Lancaster County Christmas is a charming, lovely Christmas story that warms the heart and gets you in the right mood for Christmas.  It's a nice romance that tells the story of a couple finding that love is still there for them even when one has almost given up on it.  But even beyond that there is so much more to the story.  While predictable, the story is still a wonderful and warming tale for these fall and winter evenings coming and a must-read for lovers of Amish fiction.  Even if you haven't read Amish fiction before, I recommend this one as one to get your feet wet with. It has exposure to the Amish culture, but an English (American) couple as well.  It has suspense, romance, family and an Amish teenager deciding between the faith and the outside world.  This book really packs it in to 200 pages.

Suzanne has a true way with Amish fiction, she really has a gift for telling their stories in a real way.  I loved the look into Mattie and Sol's life as well as Jaime and C.J.'s.  I like how Mattie and Jaime had things to teach each other even though they come from different cultures.  It's really a beautiful book that I truly took something away from.  I loved each character in their own way and though the book is short I feel I got to know something about each one of them and I like that.  The action and suspense was good also.  The plot moved the book along quickly and I didn't want to put it down and I hated it when it ended.  I wanted more of these characters, even though it ended properly.  The characters just stick with you and you wish you could see a continuation of their lives and that's a good quality of a book.

So if you enjoy a good Amish story or even if you haven't dipped your toes into the water of Amish fiction, A Lancaster County Christmas is a great book to warm your heart on a cool evening.  It's a great book to curl up with a cup of hot cocoa,  hot tea or coffee and a warm blanket and escape to Lancaster County for the evening.  You won't regret it.


My Rating: 5.0/5.0


About the Book:
Jaime and C. J. Fitzpatrick began their married life as most couples do--in love and looking forward to a bright future together. But four years later they've drifted apart and are almost ready to call it quits. 


Mattie Riehl was hoping to give her husband Sol the Christmas gift they have both longed for--news that a baby was on the way. But as usual, she is disappointed. The holidays bring an acute awareness to Mattie that her dream of a big family isn't likely to become a reality.

Then a winter storm raging outside blows the Fitzpatricks into the Riehl home--and into a much slower pace of life. Can these two couples from different worlds help each other understand the true meaning of love this Christmas?

With her trademark plot twists and attention to detail, Suzanne Woods Fisher offers readers a beautiful Christmas story of love, forgiveness, and what truly matters in life.


Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

About the Author: 
Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, and The Search, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Benedict eventually became publisher of Christianity Today magazine. Suzanne is the host of a radio show called Amish Wisdom and her work has appeared in many magazines. She lives in California.

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It's Christmas in September - iPad Giveaway and Facebook Party!
Enter 9/7-9/26!

FTC Information: I received this book from the publisher for an honest review. 

Book Review: Sunset Bridge by Emilie Richards @EmilieRichards

Sunset Bridge by Emilie Richards

Publisher: Mira

Publish Date: June 21, 2011

Paperback, 512 pages 
Fiction, Women's Fiction
 ISBN: 978-0778312383
Happiness Key #3

My Review:
My thoughts:  A novel of friendship, love and perseverance, Sunset Bridge is a stunning look at how friends work together at life, love and in the face of danger and disaster.

Sunset Bridge is a long book, but it flies by.  It's also the third in the series, but I did not read the first two and although I feel I would have known the characters better in the first few pages if I had read the first two books, I feel that after those first few pages it really didn't matter.  Ms. Richards gives enough background and the characters fill themselves out enough that I never felt lost.  I got the gist of each character quickly.  From the very outspoken Wanda to her much more reserved daughter Maggie.  From the slightly addled older Alice to the not-quite-sure she's grown up Tracy.  And Janya, the Indian woman who is the pillar that seems to hold them all up, I loved her though she was only here and there in this book.  She is young but she is wise.  She is quiet but she notices everything and when she speaks she has something wise to say.  Each woman contributes something special to the group and makes the group whole.  I liked that.  I also liked that Ms. Richards stays true to females and makes it that they don't get along all the time.  They aren't cat-fighting and the book is not unpleasant, it's just real.

At the heart of this book are several things.  First Tracy is pregnant.  Second Maggie is trying to decide what to do since leaving the police force and the only love of her life behind.  Wanda has had the ultimate business proposition.  Janya and her husband have an unusual blessing fall into their laps, and Alice may have a second chance at love.  So as you can see the book is full of goings-on.  So that is why it speeds by.  But even though a lot is going on, the character building is never glossed over.  Maggie and Tracy are probably the characters that undergo the most change in this book and I really enjoyed watching it.  Ms. Richards is a master at character building and relationship building.  At it's heart, Sunset Bridge is really a relationship book.  Relationships between the women, and then romantic relationships as well.

Sunset Bridge really touched a chord in me.  It showed me the good of community.  It's something I have seen in the time after a hurricane and she demonstrates it here in this book.  I loved watching these women with each other and each woman with their private thoughts.  Sunset Bridge is a delightful novel to read on the waning days of summer and as we move into fall.  If you enjoy a good relationship story then this is just the book for you.  If you enjoy a character-driven story then this is the book for you.  As for me, I'm now going back to read the first two book and any of Ms. Richards' earlier books that I can get my hands on. I have a new auto-read author.


My Rating: 4.5/5.0


About the Book:
Former socialite Tracy Deloche has nothing to her name but five ramshackle beach cottages and the unlikely friendships she's formed with her tenants. Wanda, wise waitress turned popular pie-shop owner. Janya, the young Indian wife whose arranged marriage surprises her every day. Alice, a widow raising her complex tween-age granddaughter. And Maggie, Wanda's daughter, a former Miami cop with a love life as complicated as Tracy's own.


The new man in Tracy's life hasn't mentioned love or commitment— and Tracy has just discovered she's pregnant. Janya longs to be a mother—and suddenly has two young siblings in her care. Maggie helps out at Wanda's Wonderful Pies…but is the kitchen big enough for both Gray women? And Alice may lose her beloved granddaughter to someone no one expected….

As a tropical storm brews, the wind carries surprises and secrets over the bridge to Happiness Key. Now, more than ever, five friends will discover just how much they need one another.


About the Author: 
Emilie Richards is a USA Today bestselling author. She is a full-time writer, with over 60 published novels. Some of her novels are currently being filmed in New Zealand and will appear on German television. Though she has expanded her scope of writing to women’s fiction, Richards was awarded the RITA® Award, the Oscar® of the romance publishing world.

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FTC Information: I received this book from Eric Glover at Planned Television Arts for an honest review.

Book Review + Giveaway: Gabby, God's Little Angel by Sheila Walsh

Gabby, God's Little Angel by Sheila Walsh

Publisher: Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Publish Date: September 20, 2011

Hardcover, 32 pages 
Fiction, Children's, Christian
 ISBN: 978-1400317158

My Review:
My thoughts:  Gabby, God's Little Angel is a delightful children's book that teaches children that God is with them all of the time.  I loved the illustrations and thought the writing was just right for younger children.  I enjoyed both Gabby the little angel and Sophie the little girl.  Gabby and Sophie are the perfect match for each other, both are prone for trouble, but Gabby has a heart of gold and will try her hardest to protect Sophie.

It's very cute and will read well as a great bedtime story.  This is something I was always on the lookout for.  There are lots of great books out there, but I always wanted ones that didn't get my tongue tied up when reading to my boys.  This one doesn't get your tongue tied up as a parent.  It reads easy.  The pictures are big, colorful and eye-catching so as to keep even your busiest child occupied through story-time (I have one of those busy children).  I think Gabby, God's Little Angel is a great read for little girls (and even little boys) with a great message for them as well.


My Rating: 5.0/5.0

Check out the other blogs on the Litfuse tour.

About the Book:

This first book in a delightful new series offers a comforting message for young readers-God loves you very much and is always watching over you!

What little girl wouldn't love her very own guardian angel? Parents and children alike will be won over by this humorous tale of Gabby, a guardian angel in training who has much to learn about taking care of God's little ones. Her new assignment is to protect a young girl named Sophie, but Gabby soon realizes that watching after Sophie is a bigger challenge than she had expected! After a close call while riding her pony, Sophie learns what the Bible says about guardian angels: "He will put his angels in charge of you. They will watch over you wherever you go" (Psalm 91:11 ICB).

About the Author: 
Sheila Walsh is the creator of the award-winning Gigi, God's Little Princess® brand which has sold over 1.5 million units. Sheila is a Bible teacher, speaker, singer, and best-selling author with more than 4 million books sold. As a featured speaker with Women of Faith®, Sheila has reached more than 3.5 million women by artistically combining honesty, vulnerability, and humor with God's Word.

Author of the best-selling memoir Honestly and the Gold Medallion nominee for The Heartache No One Sees, Sheila's most recent release The Shelter of God's Promises has also been turned into a DVD curriculum and in-depth Bible study. Sheila's first series for girls, The Gigi, God's Little Princess book and video series, won the National Retailer's Choice Award twice and is the most popular Christian brand for young girls in the United States.

Sheila co-hosted The 700 Club and her own show Heart to Heart with Sheila Walsh. She is currently completing her Master's in Theology. 

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Link to buy the book: http://www.amazon.com/Gabby-Little-Angel-Sheila-Walsh/dp/1400317150/ref=sprightly-20

Giveaway:
I have generously been given an extra copy of Gabby, God's Little Angel to giveaway to one lucky reader of the blog.  This would make a great gift or a great addition to a child's library. Simply enter your name and email in the Rafflecopter below.  There are some additional things you can do to earn extra entries into the drawing.  US/Canada only, ends 9/28/2011.

Guest Blog: Sister Act: Collaborating with Sister in Fiction and In Life by Amy Lewis Faircloth

          Today I welcome sisters, Amy Lewis Faircloth and Joanne Lewis to My Reading Room.  Amy and Joanne are the authors of Wicked Good which is the story of a mother and her son with Asperger's syndrome. It's a different kind of love story. A different kind of mystery.   Today Amy will share with us what writing is like between two sisters.

 SISTER ACT: COLLABORATING WITH SISTER IN FICTION AND IN LIFE

            People frequently ask how it came to be that two sisters wrote a novel together and what it was like to work as a team.  The answers are “simple” and “great.”

            It was March. The snow was dirty brown and the sun was absent here in Bangor, Maine. I was spending a lot of time on my sofa, channel surfing and landing nowhere.

            Joanne called from her home in Florida. “Wanna write a book together?” 

            I wrapped the afghan around me tighter and yawned from lack of blood flow to my brain. “Sure,” was the best response I could muster.

             I am a lawyer by day and single mom to two teenage boys by day and night. My oldest is diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism, which has been of mixed blessings to my life. Joanne suggested a story about a mad scientist who had discovered the cure for cancer in a rare strand of DNA. The cure required the death of one specific boy, a teenage boy in Bangor, Maine with Asperger’s syndrome. My contribution was to write the parts with the boy in it.

            We ran into two significant problems with this story line. First, my actual scientist friend was quite offended. “Why do people always write about mad scientists?” She exploded at me as we rode our bicycles at Acadia National Park. “Besides, curing cancer with DNA is a stupid idea.” She said more but her words were lost to the wind as I slowed to let her pedal ahead – way ahead.

            Second, although Joanne was surprisingly good at creating criminal characters and gruesome situations, we wrote really bad chase scenes. Weeks went by as we attempted to write the scene of the mother and son being chased in a forest. Eventually – and thankfully! - we abandoned that plot idea.

            Joanne is the literary brain behind this outfit. I can only write based upon my life experiences. Without Joanne moving the plot along, we would be nowhere. She would give me the plot line and I would write. We discussed plot and character development. If we disagreed on anything, I let her win. That, of course, applies only when we write! I am four years older, but, like I said, she has the literary brains.

            On the other hand, I have the experience.  My son is now 19 years old.   Life has been a challenge for both of us.  The incidents in Wicked Good are pure fiction - made up by my sister and myself.  But many of the characteristics of the mother and son have basis in authenticity. For example, once my son gets an idea in his head, it is tough to dissuade him otherwise.  As another example, juggling his needs with my job truly does stress me out and the bathtub is a frequent refuge. However, he has never hit me and I do not have a drinking problem.    

            Collaborating on Wicked Good has taught Joanne and me a lot about ourselves and about the other. We speak and e-mail every day but we don’t always discuss writing. Last week, when my washing machine and garage doors broke in the same day, and my standard poodle broke off his dewclaw and bled all over my new couch, instead of freaking out I called my sister. Together, we put it in perspective. She also made me laugh, which always helps a stressful situation. And when Joanne e-mailed me the other day that she discovered she is allergic to gluten, together we searched the web to figure out what that means. Then, we discussed the best way to make gluten-free brownies!

            We are so excited about Wicked Good. Not only because its publication is totally cool, but because now Joanne and I get to collaborate in life and in fiction too. 

About Wicked Good

Wicked Good is a different kind of love story. Rory is not defined by his diagnoses of Aspergers Syndrome and Bipolar Disorder and lives life to the fullest. Archer, his mother, is Rory’s biggest fan. We get a peek at the challenges they face as they are on their journey. Experience the unconditional love of a mother for her child and the many different ways Rory shows his love to those around him. 

Author Bios
It was a chilly day in Maine when Amy received the call from her sister, Joanne, “Wanna write a book together?” Amy said yes and the journey began.

Amy is the older sister who loves her 2 sons and nephew, dogs, volunteering at the Bangor Humane Society, running, hiking, snowshoeing, surfing the web, her brown poodle Teddy, Lola, writing, reading, cycling, going to bed early, spending time with her friends and family, being outdoors when it’s nice outside and indoors when it’s not, and editing Joanne’s writing. She is a pescatarian and a lawyer in Maine.

Joanne is the younger sister who loves her 3 nephews, her grey poodle Frisco, writing, hiking, snowshoeing, kayaking, cooking, traveling, Florence, Italy, anything to do with the Italian Renaissance, Michelangelo, spending time with her friends and family, and being edited by Amy. She a vegetarian and a lawyer in Florida.

Two sisters, both attorneys; as sisters, Amy and Joanne have learned to play to each others strengths—an important lesson for any co-authors.

Author Websites:
Website: www.amyandjoanne.com
Blog: www.wickedgoodthebook.blogspot.com

Roryism Contest Announcement
Have you ever said something that totally stopped conversation? Maybe it was insightful. Maybe it was weird. Maybe it was the thing everyone was thinking but was afraid to say. Rory, the teenage character in Wicked Good, is the master of conversation stoppers—his family calls them “Roryisms”.

WOW! is hosting a “Roryism” contest; the winner will receive a $100 prepaid Visa card and their Roryism will be published in the next book in the Wicked series. Full details can be found on The Muffin.

Waiting on Wednesday - September 21

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Down the Darkest Road (Oak Knoll Book #3)
Publish Date: December 27, 2011

Deeper Than the Dead introduced Tami Hoag's millions of fans to Oak Knoll, a small California town that, in the mid-eighties, seemed as idyllic as any . . . until the See-No-Evil killer shattered that notion. It took FBI agent Vince Leone and a new technique called "profiling" to put an end to the trauma.

Secrets to the Grave brought Leone's teacher-turned-child- advocate wife, Anne, into a central role. Together with Vince and local sheriff 's deputy Tony Mendez, she solved an Oak Knoll murder with a particularly challenging mystery: The victim never existed.

And now Hoag returns once more to Oak Knoll for the third installment of this bestselling series. Through Leone's pioneering, science-based investigatory skills, Hoag explores the early days of forensic police work. And through the chilling case at the heart of Down the Darkest Road, she hooks ever more readers into the meticulously crafted, all-too-terrifying world of Oak Knoll, where the scariest secrets of all can be found . . . Down the Darkest Road

I'm finishing up Secrets to the Grave on audio right now and enjoying it, so I am anxious to get back to Oak Knoll.  I love that these books are set in the 1980s when all this science was just getting started and I was in my youth.  It's pretty funny to listen to and read.  Great suspense, can be gory, but they are good books with some romance as well.  Ms. Hoag is one of those auto-read authors for me.

So what are you waiting on this week?

Character This or That: Zander from The Vision by Jen Nadol

Today I am talking with Zander from The Vision by Jen Nadol and he's just answering my This or That pairings.  You can find out more about The Vision after Zander's pairings and my review of The Vision is coming in October.

Mustang or Camaro?  Mustang, I guess.  Both are hot, but sometimes subtlety is more attractive than flashiness.

Pizza or Sushi?  Either.  I’m not picky about food.

Girls with piercings or without?  Ditto.  Just kidding ;)  Girls with piercings are interesting.  So are girls without.  There are so many other things that are more important.

Watch it at home on video or at the movies?  Depends on the movie.  And who I’m with.

Beach or Mountains?  Beach.  Especially in the Mediterranean.

Wii or Xbox?  I’m not a gamer

Facebook or Twitter?  Or a networker

Call or Text?  Text

Sweet or Salty?  Salty

Spring or Summer?  Summer.  Love the sun, the hotter, the better.  I have no idea why my mom has us living in Chicago.

Before a date:  Flowers or Candy?  Whichever she prefers, though my choice would be flowers.

PDA or no PDA?  PDA, but save the heavy stuff for private

The Vision by Jen Nadol

Cassie Renfield knows the mark tells her when someone is going to die and that she can intervene and attempt to change fate. But she still doesn't understand the consequences, especially whether saving one life dooms another. With no family left to offer guidance, Cassie goes in search of others like her. But when she meets Demetria, a troubled girl who seems to have the power of the Fates, Cassie finds the truth isn't at all what she expected. And then there's her heady new romance with bad boy Zander. Dating him has much graver repercussions than she could ever have imagined, forcing Cassie to make choices that cut to the essence of who she is and what she believes.