Book Review-Angel by Her Side by Ruth Reid

An Angel by Her Side is Ruth Reid's latest Amish novel.  It is the third book in the Heaven on Earth series.  It is the story of Katie Bender, a single Amish schoolteacher, and Seth Stultzman, an Amish man who is visiting family in crisis. A freak tornado wreaks havoc in the town of Hope Falls, and the two are thrust together during efforts to repair.  Both Katie and Seth have had their hearts broken in the past, and are reluctant to open themselves up again.

What I found interesting in this story is the focus on good versus evil, with the angel Elias and his enemy Razzen.  Also inspiring was the character of Seth's uncle Amos, who after the death of his wife has closed his heart to his faith and community.  This is a good book, and it was easy to read quickly.  If you are interested in reading the first two in the series (but you could just read An Angel by Her Side alone), they are titled The Promise of an Angel and Brush of Angel's Wings.  Also included at the end of the book is a Reading Group Guide.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Booksneeze for my review.

The Moneysmart Family System

My wife and I are always looking for ways to save money. Raising a family today is expensive, and authors Steve and Annette Economides have managed to raise five children while spending 77% less than the USDA predicted amount. In The MoneySmart Family System you will learn:

*Get the kids out the door for school with less stress
*End the battle over clothing-forever
*Teach your children to be grateful and generous
*Inspire your kids to help with chores as a member of a winning team
*Prepare your kids for their first paying job
*Help your kids pay for their own auto insurance, and even pay cash for their own cars
*Employ strategies for debt-free college educations
*Truly help your adult children when they want to move back home
*Be prepared to deal with your adult children when they ask for bailouts

This book is fantastic, full of great ideas for all different ages and stages of your children and your lives. My favorite part of the book, which I am working on implementing in our home, is the Economides time card and point system, a great alternative to an allowance.

Check out www.americascheapestfamily.com to learn more about the Economides, their books, and many other resources available. 

*Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review Arms of Love by Kelly Long

It might seem strange that a guy is reviewing this book. My wife loves everything Amish, and I enjoy history so Arms of Love looked like something we both could enjoy. From a historical standpoint, this was an interesting book, not something I've come across much when studying history. The Amish fiction books written usually don't get into the very beginnings of the Amish in America. The love story part of it was hard for me to get into, just not my thing. But I can see that someone who enjoys historical fiction with a good love story mixed in would enjoy Arms of Love. Author Kelly Long is a talented writer, and her characters were solid.


From the back cover:

The year is 1777. America is in turmoil. And Amish life is far different than today.


Pennsylvania in the late 18th century, once called William Penn’s Woods, was an assortment of different faiths living together for the first time in American history. Included in this tapestry was a small and struggling population called Amish.


Surrounding this peaceful people were unavoidable threats: both Patriots and the British were pillaging land and goods for the sake of the war, young Amishmen were leaving the faith to take up arms and defend freedom. A simple walk in the untamed forests could result in death, if not from bullet or arrow, then from an encounter with a wild animal.


Amid this time of tumult, Adam Wyse is fighting a personal battle. To possibly join the war efforts and leave his faith, which would mean walking away from the only woman he’s ever loved: Lena Yoder. But for that love he’s made a promise that may keep them apart permanently.


When Adam withdraws from Lena, she’s forced to turn to his brother, Isaac, for support. Must Lena deny her heart’s desire to save Adam’s soul? And will life in this feral and primitive New World be more than this peace-keeping people can withstand?

Book Review: Heaven is for Real

When I saw this book and learned what it was about, I was intrigued. But I was also skeptical. I read it cautiously, and discovered it was an amazing story.

Three-year-old Colton Burpo needed emergency surgery. He was a very sick little boy. He survived the surgery with a full recovery, but as the months after surgery went on he began saying unusual things to his family. He could describe exactly where they were and what they were doing while he was being operated on. He described going to heaven, and since his father, Todd Burpo, is a pastor, he questioned him frequently about the details. This little boy knew details about heaven and explained it in such a way that a young child would not know or understand. He couldn't even read yet, but gave his parents details that matched the bible. He also describes meeting deceased family members that he never knew.

There are so many parts of this story that gave me the chills. It is absolutely amazing, and this family is spreading the story of Colton going to heaven so that we would have faith and believe. I highly recommend reading Heaven is For Real.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Review: 'Thunder Dog'

I received the book 'Thunder Dog: The true story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust at Ground Zero' by Michael Hingson with Susy Flory just before the 10-year anniversary of 9/11. I was expecting an amazing survival story of a blind man and his dog emerging from the towers. I did get that story, but so much more as well. Interwoven throughout the story of Michael Hingson and his guide dog, Roselle, he describes his life as a blind person in a seeing world, and his experiences with guide dogs. I learned so much about these topics, and the intense relationship between a blind person and their guide dog. 'Thunder Dog' was about a blind man's amazing journey throughout his life, and the lessons he has learned along the way. It was spiritual, encouraging, and nearly impossible to put down. At the back of the book are some helpful extras including 'The Courtesy Rules for Blindness', 'Blindness, a Left-Handed Dissertation', Resources for Blindness, and Glossary of Terms Related to Blindness. I definitely recommend 'Thunder Dog'.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

'Money Secrets of the Amish' by Lorilee Craker

With the past several years of tough economic times, the book 'Money Secrets of the Amish' by Lorilee Craker interested me. My wife enjoys reading Amish fiction, so I knew she would be interested in information from the book as well. I already knew that the Amish live simple lives, and these days we can use all the help we can get in cutting our expenses.

I thought 'Money Secrets of the Amish' would be a dry, fact-filled book. I was very wrong about the dry part! It is full of humor, and was hard to put down. Along with money saving ideas and hints on how the Amish thrive in their simple ways, there are many humorous stories throughout the pages. Ms. Craker has a fun, flowing style to her writing that made a potentially boring subject a fun read! I have post-it notes on several pages to go back and reread-there are some great tips in this gem of a book. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Review: The Truth About Dating, Love & Just Being Friends by Chad Eastham

My daughter recently turned 16 and began dating, so I was very interested in reviewing this book when it became available. The official title is actually: 'The Truth About Dating,Love & Just Being Friends...and how not to be miserable as a teenager because life is short, and seriously, things don't magically get better after high school and lots of other important stuff, but we'll get to that later...'by Chad Eastham. I decided that I would read the book first, and then give it to my daughter. She just began reading it, and likes the idea of it being written by a guy. I liked the idea of it coming from a Christian standpoint.

Mr. Eastham does a great job at speaking directly to the teens about the basics of dating in a very relaxed, fun way. He discusses both positive and negative reasons for dating, gives many statistics, quizzes to take, and letters he has received from teens. I believe both young men and women would benefit from this book. I was looking for something deeper, but this is a good start for my daughter. This is a light, fun book about dating with some practical information in it. I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Booksneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.