"Choices of the Heart" by Laurie Alice Eakes (Review)

ISBN:  978-0-8007-1986-9
Publish date: January 2013
$14.99 Paperback

About the book: She thought she had left her old life behind . . .

Esther Cherrett comes from a proud line of midwives and was trained by her mother to take over the family calling. When a terrible scandal threatens all she holds dear, Esther flees, taking a position as a teacher in the wild western mountains of Virginia. But instead of the refuge she was seeking, Esther finds herself in the midst of a deadly family feud - and courted by two men on opposite sides of the conflict. All she wants is to run away again. Yet could it be that her past holds the key to reconciliation-and love?

In this gripping story of trust, deception, and bittersweet loss, you’ll discover the true meaning of choices of the heart.

In the third book of The Midwives series, you will be transported back to 1840’s Appalachia with a tender romance that includes closely guarded secrets and a bitter feud.

My thoughts:  I previously read Laurie Alice Eakes' book A Flight of Fancy  and reviewed it here on Chat With Vera. Click to read review.  However, reading Choices of the Heart is a totally different reading experience in my opinion.  This third book in Eakes' "midwife" series is set in the isolated mountains of Virginia in 1842.  Esther Cherrett leaves her home of affluence in coastal Virginia under cover of night to obtain a position in the mountains as teacher for the uneducated  and very isolated families.  As they travel by horseback to reach their destination, she learns that she is entering a virtual hornets nest of feuding amongst families similar to that in Scotland.  Dangerous indeed.

Esther is a midwife but wishes to keep these skills a secret and not practice this  profession she learned from her mother.  However, upon seeing injuries and illness from knives, guns, and life in general she can not withhold her tender care of folks.

The rugged terrain of Appalachia, the desire of men for her company, the feuding over longheld anomosities, and ignorance are wonderfully described by Laurie Alice Eakes as she unfolds this tender story of romance and choice.  The characters are well developed and come alive on the pages of the story, and the story plot is realistic and well chartered.

The period detail provided by Eakes  is indicative of her research and brings to mind visions of the mountain folk and their times and troubles.  You feel the poverty of the people and the emotional strife as well as the longings they experience.

Without giving a spoiler clue, I'll just say the conclusion might be a bit surprising to some of you that normally get a book figured out before you reach mid-read.

I regret that I have not yet read the first two books in the midwifes series and will look forward to "catching up" later.  Though the books most likely build on the previous story, Choices of the Heart is a well-written stand alone book and there is no problem reading it without previously reading the first two.

About the author: Laurie Alice Eakes is the author of Lady in the Mist, Heart's Safe Passage, A Necessary Deception, A Flight of Fancy, and several other novels. She won a National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency in 2007 for Family Guardian. Laurie Alice writes full-time from her home in Texas, where she lives with her husband and sundry dogs and cats.

DISCLOSURE:  I was provided a complimentary copy of choices of the Heart  by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group on behalf of the author for the purpose of rendering my honest review. No positive remarks are required. Opinions expressed are solely my own.
“Available January 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Reflecting on blessings

From one who has been through the valley of cancer:

I am grateful to have a day to reflect on my many blessings.  Here are some of the things I was thankful for today:

• The opportunity to experience the joy, pride, and even frustration of being the mother of teenage boys. 
• Healthy parents.
• Siblings who jumped on planes to attend appointments with me.
• Siblings who attended appointments with mom and dad when I couldn't. 
• Siblings who sent care packages, cards, and texts.
• A family that made sure I ate well.
• A sister who hung out with me for twelve hours of surgery and chemo.
• Siblings-in-law who spent hours on the phone and internet helping me find solutions.
• Friends who wore "Vera shirts" on Fridays.
• Answered prayers.
• Strength and peace during a trying year.
• Assurance:  "To live is Christ; to die is gain."
• Laughter.
• Hair.

One of my favorite quotes is, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery; today is a gift. That's why it's called the Present."  I am so thankful each of you!  I love you!

My thanks and appreciation for this survivor's comments.  They cause each of us to pause and reflect on how good God is to each of us.

NOTE: I originally shared this with my readers in November 2011.  It would bear sharing again for someone out there might need this word of encouragement. 

What about those New Years resolutions? "Outlast Your Resolution" opportunity brought to you by BALANCE BAR®

A live, two-hour Twitter chat with Amber and BALANCE BAR® on
January 9 at 

1:30 p.m. EST/10:30 a.m. PST will also help kick off 2013.

BALANCE BAR® will also be hosting its “Outlast Your New Year’s Resolutions” Facebook contest to win a personal coaching session with Amber along with a great prize package featuring BALANCE BAR® products and items to help consumers achieve healthy balance in the coming year. The contest runs January 1 – 18 and will include helpful tips from Amber. Click HERE

Check out what Amber has to say about Outlasting your resolutions by clicking HERE.
Watch for my product review of assorted BALANCE BAR® and giveaway coming SOON!

"Vanished" (Pursuit of Justice series) by Irene Hannon

ISBN: 978-0-8007-2123-7
Release: January 2013

New Romantic Suspense Series from Two-Time RITA Award Winner

Three PIs Who Got Burned Playing by the Rules Go Under the Radar in Pursuit of Justice

My thoughts: Consider the perplexity of your own situation if you were driving down a lonely country road at night and in the middle of a raging storm.  Suddenly you see captured in your headlights a terrified woman. Your reaction would be to avoid hitting her.  The consequences could be a crash off the road in a ditch or against a tree.

But you heard a thud. Help comes. Assists you. You drift into unconsciousness. Later real help comes and your journey into confusion begins.  The woman you "saw" vanished or simply wasn't there.

But this journey is not one of confusion to you.  It is of not knowing what you believe you really know to be true and having others know it, too.  So you pursue the vanished to see if they truly were there; and if they were, where they vanished to.

Irene Hannon spins a tale that grips you and makes you appreciate your own ability to know the real from the unreal.  The friends who believe and help and the friends who simply don't believe or understand you. Our lead female character, Moria Harrison, is an investigative reporter of renown, and she enlists the services of Cal Burke, a private investigator, to get to the root of the accident that has left her feeling that something was covered up.

Cal and Moria are romantically drawn to each other, but put their attraction on hold because of the investigation. The other private investigators in the firm are interesting characters and friends who make the story interesting and believable. They help to bring some levity into an otherwise tense situation. The characters all seem to be living Christian lives and their actions speak of their beliefs and Christianity. 

I found this another engrossing read by Irene Hannon and highly recommend it. There is no overt romance or sex which is refreshing even in the realm of Christian  fiction. I am growing more and more fond of Irene Hannon's works.  My first review of her's was Lethal Legacy (Guardians of Justice series) which you may read by clicking the link.

“Vanished - available January 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell,
a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

DISCLOSURE:  I was provided a complimentary review copy of Vanished by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, to facilitate my honest review without obligation for positive remarks. Opinions expressed are solely my own.

Irene Hannon is the author of more than 40 novels, including the bestselling Heroes of Quantico and Guardians of Justice series. Her books have been honored with two coveted RITA awards from Romance Writers of America, a Carol Award, a HOLT Medallion, a National Readers’ Choice Award, a Daphne du Maurier Award, a Retailers Choice Award and two Reviewers' Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. For more information about her and her books, visit her web site at www.irenehannon.com and follow her on Twitter at @IreneHannon.

"Bible Stories that end with a hug!" by Stephen Elkins & illustrated by Simon Taylor-Kielty

When a parent engages a young child with a book to read and a lesson to learn, the art of the book is key to making a special moment in time of the occasion.  "Bible Stories that end with a hug!" is just such a book.  The soft, delightful art is geared for the young child (and the young in heart) and will properly engage their attention for the lessons to be learned in the book.  Commendations to Simon Taylor-Kielty for this beautiful artistry.

Now let's get to the "meat' of the book.  Author Stephen Elkins has taken 75 Bible events/stories and presented a very short "thought" about each story.  There is a sweet full page picture on the left side that gently illustrates the story and includes a short Bible verse.  (Verses are from the NLT. My personal preference is KJV.)  On the right hand page the short paragraph or paraphrase of the Bible story is given.  Below that are three other sections:  1) A couple of questions such as "What did Moses do?" and 2) "Will God supply my needs too?".  Then there is an application to the idea of the story as it pertains to the child.

In the story of Daniel in the Lions' Den, the verse is "Never stop praying." I Thess 5:17.  And the questions are "Did Daniel stop praying?" and "Can I learn to pray like Daniel did?" followed by the  application - "The bible teaches that we should never stop praying."  Basic, straight-forward application and lesson.

However, in places the book deals with "decision making" of a theological nature.  The parents' responsibility is always to lead and guide their child toward a relationship with God. However, one should guard against improperly pushing a young child into decision making for which they are truly not ready - just to get that hug the  book promises.

The concept of the hug at the end of each story lesson is great.  But a child should never feel they will receive a Mommy or Daddy hug only if they are good or only if they make the right response to a story application.  So care needs to be exercised that hugs are not given as payment for such.

Again, this is a beautiful book and filled with opportunities to gently teach the young child lessons from the Bible.

About the author:  Stephen Elkins is a Grammy Award–nominated record producer and a multimillion-selling children's author and songwriter. He is owner and founder of Wonder Workshop, a multifaceted Christian media company specializing in the creation of juvenile books, audio products, and DVDs.

A complimentary copy was provided by Tyndale Blog Network on behalf of the publisher and author for the purpose of an honest review. 

"The Lesson" by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Review & Giveaway)

Welcome to the campaign launch for Suzanne Woods Fisher’s final book in the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, The Lesson! To celebrate Suzanne is giving away TWO iPads with 3G! Details coming soon. Enter via the link/image in the sidebar.

About the book:  Centered on one of Suzanne Woods Fisher’s most loved characters, this is the story fans have eagerly anticipated. The precocious M.K. is all grown up (well, almost) and ready to take on the world–with surprising results. Fisher’s trademark plot twists and turns are as unexpected and satisfying as ever in this third book in the Stoney Ridge Seasons series.

My thoughts: When you crack the spine of an "Amish" book, you expect sedate, non-nonsense characters who live lives above reproach and who have wise sayings abounding to fit each and every occasion or situation.

Well, meet M.K (Mary Kate Lapp) - or perhaps you remember her from previous Stony Ridge stories.  In The Lesson she is 19, unmarried, untethered, inquisitive, adventurous,  and simply full-speed-ahead in life.  You will find yourself laughing many times at the antics and situations in which M.K. positions herself.

She accidentally rams into her former school teacher as she scoots along on her push scooter.  Now M.K. is suddenly thrust unwillingly into the classroom of the one-room-schoolhouse of the Amish in the community as Teacher M.K. The Bishop and her parents have decreed that this is what she will do because a teacher is needed and they say she is the one to do the job.

But about this same time a newcomer to the community catches her eye and she his but they are at odds with one another. But his younger sister is a student in the classroom.  Investigative M.K. and quick to make conclusions M.K. seems to be in hot water and the past of the community catches them all in a tangled web.

In The Lesson there are various lessons being learned. Just as M.K. as Teacher M.K. learns to teach her classroom lessons to her charges she, herself, is confronted and learns many life lessons herself.

With a surprise at every turn a gentle romance, and a shocking answer to an old family mystery, The Lesson is the dramatic conclusion to the Stony Ridge Seasons series (book back cover)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ GIVEAWAY ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Begins Jan. 5 & ENDS Jan. 23 @ 12:01 a.m. EST
Open in USA addresses only
Please wait patiently while Rafflecopter loads.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/gtVkj

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary review copy of The Lesson by Litfuse Publicity Group on behalf of the author and Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group to facilitate an honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own. There was no obligation for a positive review.

Author Info: Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Lancaster County Secrets series and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of a new Amish children's series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She is the host of internet radio show Amish Wisdom and a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. For more information, please visit www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and connect with her on Twitter @suzannewfisher. Get Amish proverbs delivered right to your iphone or ipad! Download the Free App! 

Two book review & giveaway: "The Magic Word" and "Peter and the Whimper Whineys" by Sherrill S. Cannon

Everyone loves a well-behaved, sweet mannered child.  So when we encounter a rude, selfish, demanding, whining, whimpering child we get into "get-them-straightened-out, teach-them-the-right-way, let's-do-better-than-that" mode. Author Sherrill S. Cannon has given us two such wonderful teaching story tools to use to help our ill-behaved children learn better and to help the ones who are not so ill-behaved make certain they are not classified that way.  Let's see what she has in store for us in her award winning books....

The Magic Word by Sherrill S. Cannon

About the book: The Magic Word is a book emphasizing good manners which can be read to toddlers, but is especially appropriate for kindergarteners because they are going to school and learning about making friends and developing good social skills.  It is a rhyming story of a little girl who is rude, selfish and demanding – and has few friends because of her lack of consideration for others. Her mother suggests she “think more of others and less about you”, and recommends Elisabeth use "Please" and "Thank You" frequently.  When Elisabeth goes to school the next day, she finds that it is important to “try to treat others the way you would like” and discovers that she has made many new friends.  It emphasizes the importance of good manners and the use of the "golden rule". The Magic Word has won six awards: a 2011 Readers Favorite Gold Medal, a 2011 NABE Pinnacle Achievement Award, a 2011 Global eBook Finalist Award, a 2012 Reader Views Second Place Award, and was both a 2012 Next Generation Indie Finalist and a 2012 International Book Award Finalist.

My thoughts: If you have read any of my reviews of children's books, by now you realize that I am a big fan of rhyme for telling the story.  The meter (or rhythm/cadence) and the repetition of sounds and word endings impacts the learning positively so that what is being heard and read more likely stays with the child.  So let's look at our rude little girl in The Magic Word.

Elisabeth “never said thank you, excuse me or please.
She made fun of people, she’d argue and tease.
She took what she wanted whenever she could, 
Elisabeth’s manners were not very good.”

and later..... Cannon uses more of a poetic prose....

It was hard to please others, to try things their way.
But she knew she was happier now, for at last
She felt she was finally a part of her class.

------------

"That was my teacher, she said she'd come, too.
That's all of my class, and with me--twenty-two!"

So Elisabeth learned her lesson and became more pleasant to be around and made friends.

Peter and the Whimper-Whineys by Sherrill S. Cannon

About the book: Peter and the Whimper-Whineys is another teaching book, and is a fun way to help children stop whining. Read with alternating whining and normal voice, it helps children understand how annoying whining can be! It is about a small rabbit who whines all the time. His mother cautions him that if he keeps on whining and crying, he’ll have to go live with the Whimper-Whineys. One night Peter hops into the dark forest and meets some Whimper-Whineymen. He discovers that not only do the Whimper-Whineys whine all the time, but they are very ill-mannered and rude. He discovers that everything is sour in Whimper-Whineyland and decides his mother was right! If only he can get back home. Peter and the Whimper-Whineys has won a 2011 USA Best Books Finalist Award, and a 2011 Readers Favorite Bronze Medal.

My thoughts: Peter is another that needs to learn behavior skills and get-along-with-others manners.  He was not good to be around anyone!  Let's see how Ms. Cannon helps Peter learn not to whimper....

In a house in the forest all covered with vines

Lived a very small rabbit who did nothing by whine.

He'd whine and he'd cry from morning till night,

and nothing that anyone did would be right.

and later...... (after meeting a little man ....)

"I've heard all the whining and crying you do,"

Whined the strange little man with the great big red nose,

Who was dressed all in green in his strange little clothes.

"I'm a Whimper-Whiney, a Whimper-Whiney Man,

And I've come to take you to Whimper-Whineyland."

Of course the little man was his imagination or dream, but it seem to bring him around to living without whimpering and whining. 

I found these books enjoyable to read, very nicely illustrated by the Kalpart team, and educational for children as well as "fun."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ GIVEAWAY ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Just enter via the Rafflecopter links below.  (Please be patient as Rafflecopter is sometimes a bit slow to load.) This giveaway only open to USA addresses. Begins Jan. 3, 2013 - ENDS January 26 at 12:01 a.m. EST

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: The author, Sherrill S. Cannon provided a copy of each of these books for the purpose of my giving an honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own and no requirement for a positive review was made.  A copy of each book will be provided by the author and mailed by the author directly to the giveaway winner.