In 1650s England, a young Puritan maiden is on a mission to save the baby of her newly widowed preacher--whether her assistance is wanted or not. Always ready to help those in need, Elizabeth ignores John's protests of her aid. She's even willing to risk her lone marriage prospect to help the little family. Yet Elizabeth's new role as nanny takes a dangerous turn when John's boldness from the pulpit makes him a target of political and religious leaders. As the preacher's enemies become desperate to silence him, they draw Elizabeth into a deadly web of deception. Finding herself in more danger than she ever bargained for, she's more determined than ever to save the child--and man--she's come to love.
My Review:
Based on its cover, my first thought was that The Preacher's Bride was yet another Amish fiction novel, but I was wrong. Instead of the often formulaic stories that are set in Ohio and Pennsylvania, The Preacher's Bride takes place in England and provides a fresh perspective of the religious persecution that the Puritans faced, and it tells the story of Elizabeth Whitbread and John Costin who face the challenge of loving and understanding one another during a tumultuous time in which members of society are at odds because of religious and political convictions.
Ultimately, this novel takes its readers on Elizabeth's journey as she makes the decision to serve a young family and grows to love her new husband. As Elizabeth protects and nurtures her new family, I found that I was riveted to the pages at times, especially during more suspenseful moments of the book. Jody Hedlund skillfully presents Elizabeth as a young woman who possesses doubts and uncertainties, but who perseveres through trials with her own deeply held convictions. I find myself drawing similarities between Elizabeth and Jane Eyre, but I am also strongly influenced by the fact that I watched Jane Eyre shortly after reading this book.
After finishing this novel, I read the "Author's Note" at the end, which provides the historical background from which Jody Hedlund created this compelling story. The end of The Preacher's Bride is even more compelling when I consider the real-life marriage after which her characters are based. I am eagerly awaiting Jody Hedlund's next novel because she won my loyal readership with this promising debut!
About a week or two ago, I was browsing through the Sunday newpaper, and I happened upon the "Books and Authors" supplemental section with book reviews provided by members of the Associated Press and other special correspondents. The cover of one of the books immediately grabbed my attention because it was almost identical to the cover of Nancy Moser's An Unlikely Suitor, a spring release that I am eagerly anticipating. But, it was not An Unlikely Suitor, and because I was preparing for work, I set the paper aside with plans to look at the review more closely later. And as things usually go, the work week was busy, more time passed... and the paper was accidentally recycled! Now, it is really bugging me because I want to figure out the title of the other book. I would assume it was historical fiction, but it may be nonfiction. I have tried searching the Internet and newpaper archives with no luck! I am fairly certain that it was the same picture of the lady climbing the stairs, but I believe the man was absent from the right-hand side. Can anyone help me solve this puzzle?
Jane Eyre, Masterpiece Theater 2006 Our Rating: 5 Stars
We have been convinced for the past few years that we would never find a movie that grasped us as strongly as Elizabeth Gaskells's North & South, but this adaptation of Jane Eyre proved us wrong. Although Jane Eyre is a classic, with several movie adaptations, we have avoided the movie, perceiving the plot as too dark and melancholy. While the story features such elements, we found the movie compelling and the characters emotions were portrayed with a raw and riveting quality that allowed us to be sympathetic to both Jane and Mr. Rochester.
Yet another adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's classic is due out in March 2011. We look forward to possibly watching it, but we doubt it will surpass the 2006 Masterpiece version, at least in our eyes.
Synopsis from www.cbd.com:Maggie lives life on the edge, seemingly unafraid of anything. But the image she so carefully constructed is coming undone.
Maggie's job as a videographer takes her around the world. She tells people's stories, especially those of impoverished children. That's when she feels most alive, like she's making the world better. But when a secret from her past resurfaces, Maggie gets a call that sends her home. Her dad desperately needs her help. Her estranged sister has run off, leaving 8-year-old Riley in his care. She returns reluctantly, hoping to help her niece. There she reconnects with Cooper--a once awkward and shy, now handsome, veterinarian. Her feelings skyrocket when she's with him, but she's afraid if she shows him her true self, he'll reject her. An honest, hilarious journey that will transform Maggie--if she just learns to trust more and fear less.
B Squared's Review: My sister and I recently discovered Jenny B. Jones' work, and she has quickly become one of our new favorite authors. Just Between You and Me whetted my appetite for reading more books by Ms. Jones, even the young adult titles that my sister mentioned in her review of Save the Date.
The cover of Just Between You and Me notes that it is "A novel of losing fear and finding God." That statement tidily sums up the main premise of the story, which teaches readers important lessons about life and faith, while maintaining a refreshing since of realism and humor. I generally gravitate to the historical Christian fiction genre because I often find modern fiction unrelatable and at times too heavy on sarcasm and too light on inspiration. Although Just Between You and Me contains sarcastic banter between the characters, I found it enjoyable and engaging. I immediately connected with the main character Maggie. Since the story is written in first person, I found it easy to understand Maggie's fears, struggles, and personality quirks.
Siri Mitchell's The Cubicle Next Door is responsible for drawing me into modern Christian fiction, and Jenny B. Jones' novels Just Between You and Me and Save the Date have just earned spots right next door in my book collection. Just Between You and Me is a novel that I highly recommend to fellow readers, and I am adding Jenny B. Jones to my favorite author list right now...
With no means to support herself, Ellie Kilmer agrees to work as a housekeeper for the young widower who lives on Dillon Island, hopeful she can obtain a proper reference. But Jackson Smith quickly realizes that Ellie's presence may solve his own problems--both the rearing of his young boys and the scandal that surrounds his first marriage. When a marriage of convenience is offered, Ellie is initially humiliated. Though she is past the age most women marry, she has more pride than to agree to his outlandish suggestion. Yet what options does she have? To marry would mean a home and stability. So despite the rumors circling Jackson and his first wife, Ellie accepts this unlikely proposal.
To enter our contest for a chance to win Hearts Awakening:
Leave a comment with your email address. Restrictions apply.*
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The winner will be announced on February 16, 2011 and notified via email.
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We are not responsible for lost or damaged items.Books are conveyed “as-is.”
Chances of winning are based on the number of entries received by the deadline.Each entry will be assigned a number based on the order in which it is received.A number will be drawn randomly at the conclusion of the contest.
What would you do if someone asked you to pose as their fiancee? Depending on the situation, that may be a tough, or an easy, question for you to answer. In Save the Date, Lucy Wiltshire is faced with that decision when she meets Alex Sinclair, a former professional football player and high school classmate. He is running for a seat in Congress and needs to present an image that proves to voters he is settling down and embracing family values. Despite Lucy's dislike of Charleston's wealthy, upper-crust society and Alex's arrogant attitude, she cannot deny that she relies on them to support the non-profit home for young women that she runs.
Facing the loss of Saving Grace, her home for girls, Lucy accepts Alex's offer, and the sparks begin to fly. Lucy and Alex belong to two separate worlds, and she is determined that she will be immune to Alex's charms. By spending so much time together, Lucy soon begins to see a different side to Alex. Will the cost of posing as a fake fiancee include her heart?
Save the Date is a fun and light-hearted read that I highly recommend! When I read contemporary inspirational fiction, I sometimes feel that I lack a connection to the main characters, but Jenny B. Jones' writing has that magical "IT" factor for me. She masterfully infuses Save the Date with just the right mixture of sarcasm, quirkiness, and serious moments that gives the story depth and keeps you turning the pages for more. The characters are like real people, with flaws and weaknesses. I could relate to some of Lucy's insecurities, and I was emotionally pulled into the story as she worked to resolve issues that she faced from her past and present. The supporting characters add life and dimension to the story, and I especially loved Clare, a matriarch of Charleston society, and her assistant Julian. Reading Save the Date was like watching a fun romantic comedy that makes you want to watch it again. In this case, Save the Date has a secure place on my shelf so I can re-visit Lucy and Alex.
I am eagerly anticipating Jenny B. Jones' next novel. I recently read Just Between You and Me, which is another five-star read, that I highly recommend as well. Although I usually do not read many young adult fiction stories, I plan to check out her Carol Award-winning young adult series in the near future (So Not Happening, I'm So Sure, and So Over My Head).
I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookSneeze through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Amish novels have become a staple in the Christian fiction marketplace during the past several years.After reading several predictable Amish fiction novels, they have not been on the top of my reading list.The synopsis of The Search by Suzanne Woods Fisher intrigued me and enticed me to give Amish fiction another try.
In the quiet Amish community of Stoney Ridge, Pennsylvania, past secrets are revealed and lives are connected in unexpected ways.Lainey O’Toole, a young English woman finds herself stranded in her hometown of Stoney Ridge on her way to culinary school. Expecting to stay just a few days, Lainey soon realizes that God has other plans for her future.Bertha Reihl is a past acquaintance of Lainey’s and a staple in the Amish community with a reputation for her stubborn streak and her sweet roses.Bertha coaxes her teenage granddaughter, Bess, to live on her rose farm for the summer.Like Lainey, Bess’s journey to Stoney Ridge is ultimately a life-changing journey. As their lives entwine, Lainey, Bess, Bertha, and their families are forced to confront consequences of their past decisions while reexamining their faith and discovering the power of love and forgiveness.
The Search is a quick and enjoyable read that offers a departure from the more formulaic Amish novels that I have read in the past.Although this book is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone novel.Characters from The Choice and The Waiting make appearances in The Search, but each novel focuses on different characters and situations.Fisher writes the novel from several different perspectives, primarily those of Lainey and Bess.As I read the novel, I found myself more drawn to Bess’s character.Over the course of the book, Bess blossoms into a compassionate and strong young woman.Her journey is heartwarming and inspiring, and I hope that her story will continue. I felt less connected to Lainey, who makes several life-changing decisions, but easily transitions into her altered lifestyle. I would have enjoyed a closer look into Lainey’s adjustment to her new life.
Suzanne Woods Fisher reintroduced me to Amish fiction, and I plan to read The Choice and The Waiting. In today’s technological world, the Amish lifestyle is often viewed as idyllic and simple.It is often hard to imagine that the Amish have faults and face daily challenges like the rest of society.Amish fiction offers readers a glimpse into the lifestyle that we find fascinating as outsiders and takes us on a journey to the picturesque farmlands, without leaving our modern comforts.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from LitFuse through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” About the Book:
Fifteen years ago, Lainey O'Toole made a split-second decision. She couldn't have known that her choice would impact so many.
Now in her mid-twenties, she is poised to go to culinary school when her car breaks down in Stoney Ridge, the very Amish town in which her long-reaching decision was made, forcing her to face the shadowed past.
Bess Reihl is less than thrilled to be spending the summer at Rose Hill Farm with her large and intimidating grandmother, Bertha. It quickly becomes clear that she is there to work the farm--and work hard. The labor is made slightly more tolerable by the time it affords Bess to spend with the handsome hired hand, Billy Lapp. But he only has eyes for a flirty and curvaceous older girl.
Lainey's and Bess's worlds are about to collide and the secrets that come to light will shock them both.
"Beautifully written, 'The Search' is a skillfully woven story that takes readers through unexpected twists and turns on the long country road toward truth. Fans both old and new will find themselves immersed in this heartwarming--and surprising--tale of young love, forgiveness, and coming to grips with the past."
About Suzanne:
In no particular order, Suzanne Woods Fisher is a wife, mother, writer, lifelong student of the Bible, raiser of puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind, a gardener and a cook...the latter two with sporadic results.
Suzanne has loved to write since she was a young teen. After college, she started to write for magazines and became a contributing editor for Christian Parenting Today magazine. Her family moved to Hong Kong for four years, just as the internet was developing, and she continued to write articles in a 44-story high-rise apartment, sending manuscripts 7,000 miles away with a click of a key.
After returning from Hong Kong, Suzanne decided to give her first novel a try. For four and a half months, she worked on an antediluvian computer in a cramped laundry room. She didn't even tell her husband what she was up to. When the novel was completed, she told her family at dinner one night that she had written a book. "That's why there's no food in this house!" said her slightly insensitive sons.
Undaunted...Suzanne found a small royalty publisher for that book and wrote three more (all earned multiple awards). With help from an agent, she now has numerous books under contract with Revell. Also look for Suzanne's Amish non-fiction, Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World, a non-fiction book of stories and examples about the Old Order Amish, as well as Amish Proverbs, and coming in Spring of 2011, look for Amish Values for Your Family. The Choice and The Waiting are the previous books in the Lancaster County Secrets Collection.
Writing, for Suzanne, is a way to express a love of God and His word. With every book or article, she hopes readers get a sense of what faith really looks like in the daily grind. She hopes they realize that life can be hard, but God is good, and never to confuse the two.
Win a Free Copy of The Search, Courtesy of B Squared!
Contest ends January 31, 2011.
To enter our contest for a chance to win The Search:
Leave a comment with your email address. Restrictions apply.*
* Entries without email addresses are not valid.
* Due to shipping costs, this contest is only valid for persons with a mailing address in the contiguous United States.
Bonus Entries:
If you are a current or new follower and indicate this in your comment, you will receive one bonus entry.
Contest Deadline:
The contest ends on January 31, 2011 at Comments left after the close of the contest will not be valid.
The winner will be announced on February 1, 2011 and notified via email.
Disclosures:
We are not responsible for lost or damaged items.Books are conveyed “as-is.”
Chances of winning are based on the number of entries received by the deadline.Each entry will be assigned a number based on the order in which it is received.A number will be drawn randomly at the conclusion of the contest.
Suzanne Woods Fisher's latest installment of the Lancaster County Secrets, The Search, is just out and to celebrate Suzanne is hosting The Search iPad Giveaway!
One Grand Prize winner will receive an iPad Prize Package worth over $500 and includes:
To enter, simply click on the icons below to fill out the entry form/s, then tell 5 or more friends about the contest. Oh, and enter soon! Winner will be announced on February 3rd at Suzanne's Everything is Coming Up Roses Facebook Party. (Did you know The Search takes place on a rose farm?)
Facebook Party:
Join Suzanne for the Everything is Coming Up Roses Facebook Party on February 3rd! She’ll be announcing the winner of the The Search iPad Giveaway, hosting a book club discussion of The Search, giving away copies of all three books and HEAPS of other readerly prizes! Including roses delivered to your door for three months for you AND a friend! Be sure to join us on Thursday, February 3rd at 5:00 PM PST (6:00 MST, 7:00 CST & 8 EST) at Suzanne’s Author Page.
The first installment of Allison Pittman’s The Sister Wife Series is a poignant introduction to Camilla Deardon’s story that will resonate with readers long after the last word is read.For Time & Eternity introduces readers to Camilla’s journey from her Christian home to life in a Mormon community.Captivated by the handsome and charming Nathan Fox, Camilla chooses to leave her strict home and embrace the love offered by Nathan and his fellow Mormons.While her marriage and family flourishes in the beginning, the less ideal aspects of the Mormon faith are soon unveiled.For Time & Eternity is a story of love, faith, and sacrifice, and Camilla must make challenging and life-changing decisions.
I have been a fan of Allison Pittman’s work since reading her first novel, Ten Thousand Charms, and I have enjoyed each of her novels.For Time & Eternity tops my 2010 reading list.Allison Pittman delves into a theological subject matter without creating novel that is too “preachy” or heavy. Camilla’s story intrigued me from the first page and kept me engrossed until the very end.I empathized with Camilla’s plight and mourned her losses.The novel lingers in my mind and I often discuss it with my sister, who also read the novel.Very rarely am I so moved by a novel, and I am anxiously awaiting the next chapter in Camilla’s life.For Time & Eternity is not a light read. In fact, it can be somewhat heartbreaking, but it is indescribably moving.This is a must-read novel that will long remain on my bookshelf and in my heart.
The most exciting event of the winter and spring t.v. season is the presentation ofperiod dramas by Masterpiece Classic. We discovered Masterpiece Theater a few years ago, and it has been satisfying our hunger for BBC productions each season. Movies such as Little Dorrit, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, Cranford, and The 39 Steps continue to captivate us with the supberb acting, riveting storylines, and stunning scenery.
Movies that we have discovered from former seasons include Daniel Deronda, Wives & Daughters,North & South, Jane Eyre, and Middlemarch. Masterpiece Classic certainly lives up to its name. These movies are timeless. We have watched several of them numerous times, and thanks to Masterpiece Classic, we have amassed quite a collection of DVDs!
The 2011 season will include Downton Abbey, Any Human Heart, and a remake of the infamous Upstairs Downstairs series. Downton Abbey, shown below, seems particularly promising.
There are only 7 days (and counting) left until the January 9th premier of Downton Abbey. Enjoy the season!
If you are a fellow Masterpiece Classic fan, we would love to hear about your favorite movies!
Susan Meissner has once again masterfully woven two stories into one with her moving and thought-provoking novel, Lady in Waiting. The novel opens with Jane Lindsay, a woman who runs an antique store in Manhattan. While trying to face marital difficulties with the recent surprise separation from her husband of twenty-two years, Jane opens a locked box that she has received from a jumble sale in Britain. The exquisite and mysterious ring that she discovers hidden within bears her name, and she begins a personal journey to discover the ring's past, while also delving into her own.
Despite feeling a deep connection with the ring and its previous recipient, only the readers discover the complete story of sixteenth-century Lady Jane Grey. Lucy Day becomes Lady Jane's dressmaker and confidant as the innocent young Jane is used as a political pawn. Lucy watches as Lady Jane yearns for true love and leads a life of privelage, but the cost of duty may be too high in an English society ruled by power and greed.
As I was reading Lady in Waiting, I was captivated by the stories of both the present-day and past Jane. Though the circumstances for each character are vastly different, at their core they are inherently the same. The life that each person leads is ultimately based on the daily decisions that they make. This is something that each of us knows to be true, but we sometimes fail to see other options. As I read this novel, I was pulled into each of the character's lives, including Lucy Day's experiences. Susan Meissner skillfully develops characters that come to life because, as a reader, I shared the realm of emotions that each person experiences. The ultimate message of the book is powerful for each of us. As it is stated on the back cover, "Love is a choice you make every day." Sometimes the choices are not easy, but we always make a choice, even if we decide to follow the path of inaction.
I strongly recommend Lady in Waiting, and the discussion questions at the end are perfect for a book study. If you have not had a chance to read Susan Meissner's other works, I especially recommend The Shape of Mercy as well. You will not be disappointed!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook Press through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
, is just out and to celebrate Suzanne is hosting The Search iPad Giveaway!
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