Blind Hope

Blind Hope by Kim Meeder and Laurie Sacher tells the story of an unwanted dog whose forlorn and broken heart and body called out to Ms. Sacher, and how, in their subsequent relationship, the dog became the agent of spiritual rescue to her owner. Together, Meeder and Sacher write about their own meeting and work at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in Oregon, where Sacher was moved to take ownership of a disabled pooch that she renamed Mia. In a completely disarming manner, Meeder relates a love story between Sacher and Mia as human and dog grew to trust one another one day, one bump, and one bruise at a time. Meeder parallels their human/canine relationship with the trust and love Sacher develops with God. With humorous and poignant asides, Meeder beautifully bridges the gap between the sad and silly, showing the lovely and forsaken aspects of the individual heart so powerfully that readers will be coaxed into revisiting their understanding of the rescue God readily offers to all.

Nice, heart warming tale that will tug at your heart. Short book (under 200 pages) that makes for a quick and compelling read.

Jody

My copy of Blind Hope was provided for review by Waterbrook Multnomah.

David and Goliath

The first book in The Guardian Angel Chronicles by Bryan Hathaway is David and Goliath.

David Liberty is an old man. He lives in a nursing home, alone and physically failing, although he is mentally still sharp.

One day he is visited by an angel named Joelle who offers him a second chance at life. David must prove to God that he loves Him and believes in Him. David will do this by helping other people to reignite their faith so they do not lose their eternity.

As a younger man, David motivated business people through powerful speeches. But now he will have to touch people through his actions, not his words, as he will make his visits without the ability to speak.

So Joelle temporarily releases David from his nursing home bed and drops him into the lives of various families. She doesn't tell him what is inhibiting their walk with God so he has to figure out what is troubling them and then help them to draw closer to God to overcome the problems.

And of course he has opposition to face - just as we all do in our daily walk.

Quite an interesting read.

Jody

My copy of this book was provided by WinePress Publishing via Glass Road PR.

Shades of Morning

Congratulations to Ann on winning the copy of this book.



Shades of Morning by Marlo Schalesky is a story of miracles.

Marnie Wittier has life just where she wants it. Quiet. Peaceful. No drama. A long way away from her past. In the privacy of her home, she fills a box with slips of paper, scribbled with her regrets, sins, and sorrows. But that’s nobody else’s business. Her bookstore/coffee shop patrons, her employees, her friends from church—they all think she’s the very model of compassion and kindness.

Then Marnie’s past creeps into her present when her estranged sister dies and makes Marnie guardian of her fifteen-year-old son—a boy Marnie never knew existed. And when Emmit arrives, she discovers he has Down syndrome—and that she’s woefully unprepared to care for him. What’s worse, she has to deal with Taylor Cole, her sister’s attorney, a man Marnie once loved—and abandoned.

As Emmit (and Taylor) work their way into her heart, Marnie begins to heal. But when pieces of her dismal past surface again, she must at last face the scripts of paper in her box, all the regrets and sorrows. Can she do it? Or will she run again?

I enjoyed this book. It's very well written with flashbacks set into the story in realistic ways. It's not the typical one chapter in the present, one in the past but more of a character being reminded of something that happened in the past and the memory is shared.

I must admit though that the ending not only took me by surprise but left me a bit unsettled. I was so looking forward to how the author would resolve the issues and to me it just didn't sit right. Unfortunately to say more would give away the ending.

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If you would like to win a copy of this book just leave a comment here with your email address by July 16.

Jody

This book was provided for my review by Multnomah Books.

Daughter of Joy

Daughter of Joy by Kathleen Morgan is the story of Abigail Stanton, a recent widow who not only lost her husband but her five-year-old son within a year. Eager to make a new start, she interviews for the position of Conor MacKay's cook/housekeeper and his daughter's teacher.

Conor is bitter over previous losses and lives his life as he sees fit without care of what others think of him.

Abigail is appalled by the man and his daughter and their lack of manners but feels that God brought her to Culdee Creek so she takes the position. Conor has one requirement - that Abigail keep her God to herself and though she sees that as a terrible challenge, she does her best.

What follows is a tender story of love and redemption. Abigail faces many challenges and even some tragedy. Can she handle everything and everyone that threatens to come between her and Conor?

A wonderful book that was very hard to put down.

Jody

No Place For A Lady

No Place For A Lady by Maggie Brendan is the first book of the Heart Of The West series.

Crystal Clark arrives in Colorado's Yampa Valley amid the splendor of a high country June in 1892. After the death of her father, Crystal is relieved to be leaving the troubles of her Georgia life behind to visit her aunt Kate's cattle ranch. Despite being raised as a proper Southern belle, Crystal is determined to hold her own in this wild land—even if a certain handsome foreman doubts her abilities.

Just when she thinks she's getting a handle on the constant male attention from the cowhands and the catty barbs from some of the local young women, tragedy strikes the ranch. Crystal will have to tap all of her resolve to save the ranch from a greedy neighboring landowner. Can she rise to the challenge? Or will she head back to Georgia defeated?

A light-hearted, captivating read. Highly recommended.

Jody

The Captain's Bride

The Captain's Bride by Lisa T. Bergren is the captivating first book in the Northern Lights Series.

On a hill overlooking the sea, in the small town of Bergen, Norway, Elsa Anders waits for her beloved sea captain, Peder Ramstad to return to take her as his bride.

After the wedding, Peder, Elsa and a number of their friends from the small town embark on a voyage to America to begin a thrilling new chapter in their lives.

We follow not only Peder and Elsa's story but also the stories of their friends and family. While we explore the lives different characters make, there are not so many stories going on that it is hard to keep up. And even though some of the group settle in Maine and some travel on to North Dakota and places inbetween, the stories are still interwoven.

Ms. Bergren paints a beautiful picture of the seas, the ships and the lands they adventure too. Her descriptions, from the land to the clothing, make you feel as if you are there. A very rich novel with a wonderful cast of characters. One of those books you can't put down once you start - and it leaves you wishing the next book in the series was sitting on your desk.

You don't want to miss this book.

Jody