PERSONAL THOUGHTS

The Proposal At Siesta Key by Shelley Shepard Gray

Book Review

The Proposal At Siesta Key by Shelley Shepard Gray was a great story.  I did read the first book in this series so if you want to check out that review you can click here but you won’t be lost if this is the first book you pick up and read in the series.  I love all the books that Shelley has written about the Amish so going into this book I expected to love it as well.  I always get worried when I start reading a book and already expect the book to be amazing because I have been let down before but this book didn’t let me down at all.  I loved this book.  I instantly loved Penny from the first page right through the end.  At the start of the book I wasn’t a huge fan of Michael but after I was a few chapters in I did start to like him as well.  I loved that we got to check back in with some of the characters from the first book as well because I like to see how they are doing.  If you love Amish fiction than I would for sure recommend this book to you.

The Proposal at Siesta Key

About The Book

The Proposal at Siesta Key (Avon Inspire, May 2015)

A young Amish woman, yearning for freedom, crosses paths with a handsome Mennonite celebrity in a deeply moving tale of friendship and self-discovery—the second installment in the unforgettable New York Times bestselling author’s new Amish Brides of Pinecraft series.

Penny Troyer rarely disobeys her parents. In the years since her sister’s tragic death, they’ve wanted nothing more than to keep her safe…even if it means never leaving the house.

But tonight, she’s bending the rules because Michael Knoxx, the most famous member of The Knoxx Family Singers, a traveling Mennonite Evangelical family —is scheduled to speak. Penny has heard of Michael—how he lost part of his leg in a terrible accident and uses the experience to inspire others—and knows she must meet him. So, for the first time ever, Penny stands up to her parents and goes out on her own.

Though he speaks about living life to the fullest, Michael knows he needs to take his own advice. Life on the road is grueling and Michael wants to slow down, to rest…to perhaps meet someone who sees him as a man, not just a celebrity. So when a twist of fate allows him the chance to stay a little longer in Pinecraft, Michael knows God is showing him a new path, especially when he discovers how much he and Penny Troyer have in common.

But new friendships can’t stop time. Soon, Michael’s time in Pinecraft will be over and he’ll be back on the road. Her time with Michael has brought her happiness, but will she be able to follow her heart? Or will she be faced with the one thing she’s sure she’ll never have the courage to do?

Shelley Shepard Gray

About The Author

Shelley Shepard Gray is a two-time New York Times bestseller, a two-time USA Today bestseller, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time Holt Medallion winner. She lives in Southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2015 Margaret Margaret

Hearts Made Whole by Jody Hedlund

Book Review

Hearts Made Whole by Jody Hedlund was a great historical fiction book.  This book takes place in Michigan and I love Michigan so I knew I would at least love the setting of the book even if I didn’t end up liking the characters or the plot of the story.  From the first time you hear from Ryan I felt bad for him and had a soft spot for everything he had to have gone through.  I also really liked Caroline but at times she would get on my nerves.  I did feel bad for her and her siblings after their father died and they basically had nowhere to go when Ryan showed up to take over the lighthouse.   While I was reading this book I felt so bad for Ryan and just hoped that he would end up okay and that Caroline would be able to help him through what he was going through.  By the end of the book I ended up hoping that Ryan & Caroline would end up together but I am not going to say if they did or not.  If you love historical fiction than I would for sure check this book out.

Hearts Made Whole

About The Book

After her father’s death, Caroline Taylor has grown confident running the Windmill Point Lighthouse. But in 1865 Michigan, women aren’t supposed to have such roles, so it’s only a matter of time before the lighthouse inspector appoints a new keeper–even though Caroline has nowhere else to go and no other job available to her.

Ryan Chambers is a Civil War veteran still haunted by the horrors of battle. He’s been given the post as lighthouse keeper, and the isolation where he can drown in drink and hide from his past is appealing. He’s not expecting the current keeper to be a feisty and beautiful woman who’s none-too-pleased to be giving up her position. They both quickly realize he’s in no shape to run the lighthouse, but Ryan’s unwilling to let anyone close, ravaged by memories and guilt. Caroline’s drawn to this wounded soul, but with both of them relying on that single position, can they look past their loss to a future filled with hope…and possibly love?

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About The Author

Jody Hedlund is an award-winning and bestselling author of inspirational historical romances including books for adults and youth. She currently makes her home in central Michigan with her husband and their five busy children.

As a busy mama-writer, she has the wonderful privilege of teaching her crew of 5 children at home. In between grading math papers and giving spelling tests, she occasionally does a load of laundry and washes dishes. When she’s not busy being a mama, you can find her in front of her laptop working on another of her page-turning stories.

She loves reading almost as much as she loves writing, especially when it also involves chocolate and coffee.

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2015 Margaret Margaret

Out From The Underworld by Heather Siegel

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Out From The Underworld by Heather Siegel was an amazing book that at times shocked me that it is a true story.  It was so shocking at times that I wanted to stop reading but I also couldn’t stop reading because I had to know what happened next.  I had a rough childhood or at least I thought I did until I read this book and now I know my childhood was a piece of cake compared to Heather’s.  I have to warn you that if you had a rough childhood this may be a trigger for you but it was an amazing book.  I have been sitting here trying to figure out how to put into words how this book made me feel and I don’t have words to describe how it made me feel.  If you are looking for a great true story book to read than I know you will love this one.

Out from the Underworld

About The Book

Heather Siegel was six years old when her mother disappeared, sending her father into a tailspin that took Heather and her siblings down with him— from a comfortable suburban home to a barely habitable basement apartment, a dark world they soon found themselves fighting to return to from the exile of foster care, then fighting even harder to escape.

Forty years later, Heather Siegel tells the remarkable story of how she and her siblings, Jaz and Greg, banded together to find out what happened to their mother and fight their way Out from the Underworld with nothing but their wits, determination, unbreakable bonds and gifts for humor and compassion to sustain them. A wrenching, inspiring story filled with heartbreak, hope and love, Out from The Underworld will move you to laughter and tears.

Heather Siegel

About The Author

Heather Siegel holds an MFA in nonfiction writing from The New School. Her work has appeared on Salon.com and in The Mother Magazine and Author Magazine, as well as in various trade publications. She was a finalist for the 2010 Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Award in Nonfiction Writing, the 2011 San Francisco Writers Conference Nonfiction Writing Award, the Carolina Wren Press 2012 Doris Bakwin Award and the 2012 Kore Press First Book Award. A multi-creative person with interests in the arts, nutrition, health and beauty, she has founded several independent businesses, including a coffeehouse, a café, an organic juice bar and a natural beauty bar. She currently lives with her husband, Jon, and daughter, Julia, in the woods of Long Island in a house filled with light.

 

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2015 Margaret Margaret

Milton Berle-Quote Of The Week

Quote Of The Week

This weeks quote is by Milton Berle.

Milton Berle

I love this quote because life doesn’t always come easy and at times you just have to make your own way.  There have been times where I just had to keep pushing to get where I wanted to go and at the time it was the hardest thing to do but now that I am threw it I am glad that I keep pushing and made my own way.

What do you think of this weeks quote by Milton Berle?

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2015 Margaret Margaret

A Hearts Danger by Colleen Coble

Book Review

A Hearts Danger by Colleen Coble was another great  book in this series.  I have read and review book one and book two so you can click on them if you missed the reviews on them.  There are 6 books in this series and this is another series where you have to read the books in order so that you know what is going on.  I have to say that I am getting tired of how short theses books are because I want to know what happens and how the story ends. I really enjoyed this book because it doesn’t really leave you hanging and it does wrap up a few loose ends that have been left open in the other books.  I am now curious as to what is going to happen in the next 3 books since the series could end with this book.  I literally am so glad that I have the next book at home because I can’t wait to read it so that is going to be the book I read this coming weekend.  If you love historical romance that you need to check out this series.

A Heart's Danger

About The Book

A Heart’s Danger (Thomas Nelson, May 2015)

On the brink of war with the Sioux, Sarah risks everything to expose the betrayal threatening the man she loves.

Christmas is coming, and the air at Fort Laramie has turned cold . . . but relations with the Sioux have turned colder. As tensions between soldiers and natives approach a tipping point, a trap has been set for Rand Campbell.
Rand’s new fiancée wants to keep him from returning to Sarah Montgomery . . . for whom his heart clearly still yearns.

Sarah just wants to move on with her life at Fort Laramie, but doing so under the watchful eyes of both Campbell—the man whose love she craves—and Croftner—the man whose lies have cost her everything.

Will Rand fall victim to the conspiracy and go through with his wedding? Or will he declare his love for Sarah and make good on the promises that brought her into the rugged western territories?

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About The Author

Colleen Coble has sold over 2 million novels worldwide.Seagrass Pier, the third installment in her acclaimed Hope Beach series, marks a new highpoint for emotion and complexity in Coble’s addictive brand of romantic suspense.

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2015 Margaret Margaret

Kiss The Cowboy by Julie Jarnagin

Book Review

Kiss The Cowboy by Julie Jarnagin was a super fun story.  I read another short story by this author and so far I have loved everything that I have read from her.  Even though books like this can be predictable I still loved the story and I truly believe that is because of the author’s writing.  I was a huge fan of Dylan from the start and just liked him more and more as the story went on.  I loved the back and forth between the characters and watching them fall in love with each other as the book goes on.  This predictable or at least it was to me but like I said before I still really enjoyed this story.  If you are looking for a sweet romance novel than I would for sure recommend this one to you.

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About The Book

What if your competition for your dream job…was your dream man?

All Lucy Pickett needs to become executive chef in one of Dallas’s finest restaurants is to pull off the high-profile wedding she’s catering. So what if she’s forced to share duties with Dylan Lawson, a modern-day chuck-wagon cook? So what if he’s got rugged looks and cowboy charm? None of that is going to knock her off her game. Until she learns the restaurateur is considering Dylan for the position she wants. Game on–and it’s a winner-take-all event!

Dylan Lawson finally has the opportunity he’s been waiting for to prove he can do more than just be a ranch hand. The only thing standing in his way is the fiery chef fighting for the same position. Will the heated competition scorch any chance they have for love?

Julie Jarnagin

About The Author

I write sweet romances. I’m a small-town girl who moved to the not-so-big city. I’m mom to the sweetest little boy on the planet and wife to an amazing man who puts up with all my nerdy quirks. If we meet, you’ll know it’s me by my Oklahoma drawl.

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2015 Margaret Margaret