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A Fine Piece of Chocolate by Jacqueline R. Banks

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from BookLook in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

A Fine Piece of Chocolate by Jacqueline R. Banks was a book I had a really time getting through.  I always try and find something good about the books that I review but I didn’t like this book at all, and I was glad when it was finally over.  I couldn’t stay interested in this book and I was just wishing that it would end quickly.  I also felt like this book wasn’t well written and at times it left me confused trying to figure out what was going on in the book.  Like I said before I always try and find something good about a book that I am going to review but I can’t think of anything that I liked or enjoyed about this book.

About The Book

Showing that love doesn’t have to be a four-letter word and that redemption is possible, this novel follows three women all involved in the universal search of finding love. Instead, they find lust, betrayal, compromise, and finally, redemption. Banks sends a powerful message through these characters, encouraging readers to know their values, love themselves, and never compromise what is near and dear to them.

About The Author

Jacqueline R. Banks is a native New Yorker who enjoys reading, writing and life in general. Learn life’s lessons and become a stronger person for it, is her life philosophy. Self-described as a lifelong learner, Banks is a product of the New York City public school system and believes that education opens doors. A graduate of both Hunter College and The City College in New York, Banks became a New York City public high school teacher, enjoying a 28-year tenure.

Always having an interest in why people behave as they do encourage Banks to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Hunter College and a master’s degree in education from the City College of New York. Navigating youth at a tempestuous time in many of their lives and helping to guide them in making wise decisions has been a passion for Banks.

After a brief marriage, which produced one son, Trevor, Banks became an advocate for parents and was ministry leader for the single parent’s ministry at her church, Bethel Gospel Assembly in New York City. Believing in the importance of having a sister circle of friends as well as the male input of “brother friends” to get a complete perspective of life is a way of developing healthy intimate relationships and getting on the path of relationship victory.

 

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An Amish Home by Beth Wiseman, Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, Ruth Reid

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from BookLook in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

An Amish Home by Beth Wiseman, Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, Ruth Reid was a good book.  I have read quite a few books like this one now, and I think that they are some of the favorites because they usually have three to four short stories in them and I like being able to finish a story and move on to the next one at a fast pace.  I am going to share some thoughts that I had on each of the stories because that is the easiest way to review them.

A Cup Half Full by Beth Wiseman

It took me a few chapters to get into this book.  I felt so bad for the characters in this book because of everything that happened right before this book started.  I did find that this story is the typical story about the Amish and that isn’t a bad this because I love these types of books.

Home Sweet Home by Amy Clipston

This was my favorite story in this book.  I liked that it had an Amish family in the book, but they weren’t the main characters.  I loved that you get a different point of view in this book because the main characters are just regular people and they are helped by the Amish family.  This story just made me feel good by the end of the book because I feel in love with the characters in this story and this is one that I wished would have been a longer story because I was sad to see these characters go.

A Flicker of Hope by Ruth Reid

I had a really hard time getting into this book because I didn’t connect with these characters like I usually do.  I am not sure why I didn’t like this story, but this is one that I was glad that the story was short because I don’t know that I could force myself to finish this book if it had been any longer.

Building Faith by Kathleen Fuller

I think that this story was my second favorite because I loved that Faith wasn’t the typical Amish women and she did things that most Amish women don’t do.  I also wished that this book had been a full-length book because I was sad that it was so short.  I did think that this book was predictable, but I still loved it.

All in all, if you are looking to get into reading Amish fiction I would recommend picking up a book like this because it is an excellent way to read different stories but not be committed to an entire book if you end up not liking the book.

About The Book

A Cup Half Full by Beth Wiseman—Sarah Lantz always dreamed of the perfect home, the perfect husband, the perfect family. When she married Abram, she knew she was on her way to securing her perfect life. All of that changes in one moment when an accident leaves her unable to walk and confined to a wheelchair, dashing all of her dreams. As Abram starts to transform their home, Sarah begins a transformation in her spirit, and she begins, once again, to see her cup as half full.

Home Sweet Home by Amy Clipston—Down on their luck and desperate after they are evicted from their small apartment, Chace, and Mia O’Conner reluctantly take Chace’s Amish boss up on his offer to rent them the daadihaus located on his property. They are certain they will never feel at home in the rustic cabin without any modern conveniences, and they start to blame each other for their seemingly hopeless situation. But with the help of their new Amish friends, Chace and Mia begin to enjoy their cozy cabin and realize that home really is where the heart is.

A Flicker of Hope by Ruth Reid—Fifteen years ago, Thomas and Noreen King were blissful newlyweds. Young, naive, and in love, life was rosy . . . for a while. Then trials and tribulations rocked their foundation, shattering them emotionally, and soon, their marriage was in shards. All hope for restoring their previously unshakable union seems lost. When a fire destroys their home, Thomas and Noreen are left to sift through the rubble. As uncovered items from the remains of the house shake loose memories of the past, Thomas and Noreen begin to draw closer and a flicker of hope—and love—is re-ignited.

Building Faith by Kathleen Fuller—Faith Miller knows that carpentry is an unlikely hobby for a young Amish woman, but she loves the work, and it keeps the memory of her grandfather alive. So when her cousin asks Faith to build the cabinets in her new home, Faith is only too happy to take on the job, even if it is the most ambitious project she has ever taken on. The only catch is that she has to work with her ex-fiance, Silas. As they work to build Martha’s kitchen, can they put the past behind them and start to build faith in one another again?

About The Author’s

Beth Wiseman

“I wish I had the time to review books and chat with you here, but my writing deadlines just don’t allow it. Please like my Fans of Beth Wiseman Page on Facebook where I try to post any news and interact with readers.”
Beth is the best-selling and award-winning author of the Daughters of the Promise series – Plain Perfect, Plain Pursuit, Plain Promise, Plain Paradise, and Plain Proposal. She is contracted with HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Her other series–the Land of Canaan Novels–begins with Seek Me With All Your Heart, then The Wonder of Your Love and now, His Love Endures Forever. Seek Me With All Your Heart is the first Amish fiction book selected as a Women of Faith novel in 2011. Beth has also written three contemporary Christian fiction novels, Need You Now published in 2012 and The House That Love Built in 2013. In The Promise, (2014) Beth jumps way outside the box. This story takes readers far away from Amish Country and small Texas towns to a dangerous place on the other side of the world. Inspired by a true story, Beth believes this is the book she’s been working toward for a long time. 2015 brings Beth back to the Pennsylvania Amish with her new series, Amish Secrets. She is currently working on book #2 following much success with book #1, Her Brother’s Keeper.

You can also follow Beth on Twitter: @BethWiseman

Amy Clipston

Hi, I’m Amy Clipston. I am an author of Amish and Christian fiction with HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Most of my books focus on the Amish community, faith, and love. I also write romance novels and young adult inspirational stories

Kathleen Fuller

Kathleen is the best-selling author of over thirty books, including the Hearts of Middlefield Series and the A Middlefield Family Series. She lives with her husband and three children in Northeast Ohio. Kathleen loves to hear from readers.

Ruth Reid

Ruth Reid is a CBA and ECPA best-selling author of the Heaven on Earth series. She’s a full-time pharmacist who resides in Florida with her husband and three children.

Find out more about Ruth at:http://ruthreid.com

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A Terrifying Bike Ride and a Clue to the Missing Girl by Greta Kay

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from BookLook in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

A Terrifying Bike Ride and a Clue to the Missing Girl by Greta Kay was a super weird book that I couldn’t get into.  It is a shorter book, so it didn’t take that long to read it, but even as I sit here now I am still confused about what the hell went on during that book.  It was an okay book just not what I expected or something I would usually pick up to read.  This would be a good book for teens or tweens but not for adults.

About The Book

A story of intrigue, an unsolved mystery, a warning ignored–draws the reader into the lives of Becca Nelson and Leigh Wilcox, who stumble into the center of a dark plot.

Is Think Tank Axis #1 an undercover organization bent on controlling the minds of teens? Do the points in the survey questions start them down a path of doubting their family life? Becca Nelson surmises this as fact. She confides her suspicion to Logan who listens, but is not alarmed.

Do your parents give you choices on everyday decisions?

Is the culture of your parents old fashioned and irrelevant to teens of today?

Do you believe your parents are fair to you?

Would you like to plan your future without other’s opinions?

Do you tell your parents everything?

I have to keep myself out of trouble. I don’t have a dad to defend me, one that will always take my side. And Mom wouldn’t know what to do if she had to get me out of trouble. I can’t waste my time on trying to be popular. I discarded that goal long ago. I saw what happens to those kids whose friends didn’t know the definition of loyalty. Popularity is like a swinging door, in one day, out the next. Too many tears and heartbreaks for those once-upon-a-time popular kids.

On their bike ride, the girls capture an injured magpie and nurse him back to health, eventually releasing him back to the wild, not realizing they would meet again.

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Because You’re Mine by Colleen Coble

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from BookLook in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Because You’re Mine by Colleen Coble was a good book.  I always like books that Colleen has written, so I know I would enjoy this book but it wasn’t one of my favorites by her.  I did have a hard time staying interested in this story, and I think that has to do with the fact that I wasn’t a huge fan of any of the characters in this story.  I felt sorry for Alanna, but I didn’t really like her which makes it hard to stay interested in the book.  I just couldn’t stay interested in this story, so it is another one that once I post this review I know I will forget I ever read this book.  If you love Christian mystery books than I would for sure have you check this one out it just wasn’t the right fit for me.

About The Book

Alanna has been plagued by tragedy. So it should come as no surprise that in the beauty that surrounds Charleston, all is not as it seems.

When her husband is killed by a car bomb while their band is on tour in Charleston, Alanna doesn’t know where to turn. Her father-in-law is threatening to take custody of the baby she carries, but the one thing she knows for sure is that she can’t lose the last piece of Liam she has left.

Their manager offers her a marriage of convenience to gain her U.S. citizenship and allow her to escape her father-in-law’s control. It seems like the perfect solution . . . But her doubts begin almost as soon as she arrives at Barry’s family home, a decaying mansion surrounded by swamp.

To make matters worse, Liam’s best friend survived the car bomb. She’s never really liked Jesse, and now she can’t seem to get away from him. When he takes Liam’s place in their band, it’s almost more than she can bear.

But then things start happening. Things that could easily cost Alanna her life—or the life of her unborn child. Are they mere coincidences? Or is there something much more sinister at work?

About The Author

USAToday bestselling author Colleen Coble lives with her husband, Dave, in Indiana. She is the author of dozens of novels including the Rock Harbor Series, the Aloha Reef Series, the Mercy Falls Series, the Hope Beach Series, the Lonestar Series and two Women of Faith fiction selections, Alaska Twilight and Midnight Sea. She has more than 2 million books in print.

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Twilight at Blueberry Barren by Colleen Coble

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from BookLook in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Twilight at Blueberry Barren by Colleen Coble was a great book.  I don’t think I have ever read a book written by this author that I haven’t liked.  This is the third book in the series and the first one from this series that I have read.  You don’t read them in order to understand what is going on in this book but with that being said if it were up to me I would read them in order because I love all of her books so I know I will like the other books in this series.  I think these characters might be my favorite out of all of her books.  They seemed like the most life-like characters that I have read so far in her books.  I read this book in a couple of days because I didn’t want to put it down until I was finished with the book.  If you love Christian fiction books than I would for sure have you check out this book.

About The Book

USA TODAY Bestseller!

“I need you to keep these girls safe . . .”

Kate Mason has devoted herself to caring for her family’s blueberry barrens. But after her fields stop producing fruit, she’s forced to come up with alternative ways to make a living.

Renting out the small cottage on her property seems an obvious choice, but it won’t be enough. When entrepreneur Drake Newham shows up looking not only for a place to rent but also for a nanny for his two nieces, it’s almost too good to be true. And maybe it is—because Drake brings with him dangerous questions about who might be out to kill his family.

The more time Kate spends with Drake and the girls, the more difficult it becomes to hide her attraction to him. But a family crisis isn’t exactly the ideal time to pursue a romance.

Meanwhile, Kate learns that her uncle—in prison for murder—has escaped. Add to that a local stalker who won’t leave her alone, and Kate is looking over her shoulder at every turn. With threats swirling from multiple directions, she wonders if her blueberry fields will ever flourish again . . . or if this twilight is her last.

Set on the beautiful coast of Maine, Twilight at Blueberry Barrens brings together suspense, romance, and the hope that one day new life will come again.

About The Author

USAToday bestselling author Colleen Coble lives with her husband, Dave, in Indiana. She is the author of dozens of novels including the Rock Harbor Series, the Aloha Reef Series, the Mercy Falls Series, the Hope Beach Series, the Lonestar Series and two Women of Faith fiction selections, Alaska Twilight and Midnight Sea. She has more than 2 million books in print.

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Just A Kiss by Denise Hunter

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from BookLook in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Just A Kiss by Denise Hunter was a sweet story. This is the third book in the series and the first one I have read in this series.   With that being said you don’t have to read the other books in the series to understand what is going on in this book. I have always been a huge fan of Denise’s books because I love her style of writing and I feel like I can relate to her characters the most. She does such a great job writing contemporary romance, and I am going to go back and read the other books in this series because I enjoyed these characters. I also loved that this book had things going on in it that are happening in our country right now. I was a huge fan of Riley throughout the entire book, and I was sad when it was over because I enjoyed him and saw how things changed for him like the book when on. If you love Christian romance novels then I would for sure, recommend this book to you.

just-a-kiss-by-denise-hunter

About The Book

Riley Callahan’s plans to reveal his secret feelings for his best friend are derailed when his life is drastically altered in Afghanistan.

Watching the love of his life fall for his brother was enough to send Riley straight to boot camp. But over a year later, he’s officially a marine, and Beau and Paige are no longer an item. When Riley’s tour in Afghanistan is up, he intends to confess his feelings to Paige and win his best friend’s heart once and for all.

But all that changes when an IED takes the life of a comrade and leaves Riley an amputee. Now he’s heading home, injured and troubled. His plans to win Paige are a distant dream. She deserves so much more than the man that’s left. All he can do now is put some healthy distance between them. But upon his return he discovers his family has arranged for him to stay with Paige.

Paige is a nurturer at heart and happy to take care of her best buddy. By all appearances Riley is adjusting miraculously well to his disability. But as the days pass, Paige begins to see that the smiles and laughter are just a mask for the pain he’s hiding. To make matters worse, her job is in serious jeopardy. The animal shelter that she’s poured her heart into has lost its funding, and she has three months to come up with the money needed to save it.

As the weeks wear on, Paige’s feelings for Riley begin to shift into uncharted territory. Why is she suddenly noticing his arm muscles and the way his lips curl at the corners? Will she be able to deny her feelings for another Callahan brother? And will Riley let his heart heal so he can let Paige in?

DHunter-83

About The Author

Denise Hunter is the award-winning author of 30 novels, including The Convenient Groom and A December Bride, which have been made into Hallmark movies.

Denise writes heartwarming, small-town romances. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final pages of her books.

Denise lives in Indiana with her husband Kevin and their three sons. In 1996, Denise began her first book, a Christian romance novel, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she’s been writing ever since. Her books often contain a strong romantic element, and her husband Kevin says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

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