Maggie Brendan's A Sweet Misfortune

I believe that this is the second book I have read by Ms. Brendan but it won't be my last.  I LOVED it and will check out every book she has written.

Her characters are so loveable and I was swiftly carried away by  this warm and wonderful family.

John and his grandmother, Estelle, share a very close bond.  He would do absolutely anything for her but get married.  Estelle wants the best for John which includes marriage.  Rachel is trying so hard to take care of herself until her brother returns but John comes to rescue her.  Little does John knows that Rachel will rescue him.

The book has a theme of acceptance that runs through it.  Rachel was accepted by the community even after they discovered she was a dancer at the saloon.  She did not judge others and remained friends with her fellow dancers at the risk of  her reputation.  Rachel loved her family with all her heart.  She only had her brother, Preston.   She couldn't bear the thought that her brother didn't return and help save the family home.  What was she going to do?  She had a difficult time to accept that her family home was lost to her.   But GOD had a plan for Rachel and John.



I didn't just read this book, I was part of the family.  I look forward to more books by Maggie Brendan.

I received this book for free to review.

Red Door Inn by Liz Johnson

I always love the opportunity to read a new author's book.  You have no idea what to expect.  This was the first book I have read by Liz Johnson.  I was ready to open the door at the Red Door Inn and get to know all who lived there.

Jack had a dream.  His dream was to fulfill his deceased wife's dream to open a bed and breakfast on Prince Edward Island.  Marie had the need to escape.  Seth had to learn to forgive and forget.  Jack had such a big heart.  He was dealing with his own grief but he saw how Marie needed to be rescued.  He already had his nephew, Seth, helping him complete Rose's dream.

Marie always was trying to win her father's approval.  She never could even if it meant she was giving up her dreams.  She found it hard to believe that Jack really meant what he said that she could stay and help him complete the inn.  Seth was burned by his past love and didn't trust Marie.  He was keeping an eye on her as it was just a matter of time she was going to rip off Jack.

Seth and Marie eventually learned to let down their guard and shared their pain.  They learned to trust again.  This is when they healed.  Jack was so busy fulfilling his deceased wife's dream that he didn't really know what he wanted until he met Aretha, the shop owner down the street.

What a delight to to be a guest at the Red Door Inn.  All were welcome.  It was a place to call home.  A place to find peace and and allow God to give you the strength and guidance to make your dreams come true.

I received this book for free.

A Worthy Heart by Susan Anne Mason

I am hooked on anything that Susan Anne Mason writes. I am ready for more! Since my family immigrated to America from England, I love anything that has to do with immigration. I read the first book in this series and was anxiously waiting for this one. It did not disappoint. I hope there will be a third book in this series. Adam and Maggie are a wonderful couple who give each other encouragement and strength during their ups and downs. Adam feels he is not worthy of Maggie's love and affection. Maggie sees who Adam really is and not how Adam sees himself. God has plans for Adam and Maggie. They both need to trust God.

I loved John, Adam's friend. He was a Godsend to Adam. He made Adam realize that he is never alone as God is with him always. He also tried to encourage Adam to let go of his anger and to forgive his father. In order for Adam to forgive his father, he had to forgive himself.

I couldn't help loving Adam and Maggie's story. I didn't want the book to end.

Hannah's Choice by Jan Drexler

I have never heard of this author but I received this book for free and was willing to give it a try.  I am so glad I did.  I took a risk on an author I have never heard from and had an enjoyable time reading this book.

To take a risk is the central theme in this book.  Hannah is the main character is this book.  She is a not sure what path to take.  Should she stay at her much loved home or go out of her comfort zone?  Could she risk everything she knows for the unknown?

Adam is the young man she has known since she was a child.  Should he risk everything to do what he thinks is right?

Josef risked everything to come to America and to trust Hannah.

Annalise is afraid to risk of letting go of her grief and to trust God.

Liesbet risked everything to love someone that no one liked or trusted.

Hannah's father risked leaving the ancestral home to save his family.  Is this the right move for them?

I am not one to take risks.  I do not go out too far from my comfort zone.  But I came from a family that took a giant leap and risked coming to America.  My mother and her family immigrated to America in the 1950's.  It couldn't have been easy but it was worth the risk to them.

I absolutely loved this book!  I am adding Jan Drexler to my must read author list.

Grace's Forgiveness by Molly Jebber

Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

I have always enjoyed Amish Christian Romance.  I love learning about their way of life and the overall message of the books I have read.  I  was not disappointed when I completed Grace's Forgiveness by Molly Jebber.

Grace was a young Amish woman who lived up to her name.  She had every reason to be angry or upset with God.  She did not allow her disfigurement define her.  She was pure in heart.  She was graceful and obedient to God.  She wanted to do the right thing.  She helped everyone in her community and was loved by all.  She wanted to follow Amish rules but had a difficult time in shunning her good friend.  

Mark King had a secret.  His brother left the Amish community.  He lost both parents and then lost his only brother.  He prayed for his brother to return to the fold.  Could he turn his brother away if he came to Mark for help? 

Mark and Grace meet and they quickly realize that they were a good match.  He looked beyond her birthmark.  He loved Grace and could see how much she loved God.  

Grace and Mark both felt the pain of losing someone they loved through death or by leaving the Amish community.  They both wanted the same things: a  family, a life together and to be accepted for whom they were.  

They both had secrets.  They were blessed that they could share their inner thoughts to each other without being judged.   

Their love story was one where they learned to trust and lean on each other through the difficult times.  They had faith in God and that he would guide them and keep them strong.  

Forgiveness is not always easy.  But to forgive others when they have made a mistake or hurt you in  some way is a gift.  We gain so much when we forgive others.  Mark, Grace, Grace's father and Mark's brother all learned that when they forgive or are forgiven that they have gained so much.  

This book was a delight to read.  I received it free to review.  I highly recommend this book to others especially to someone that is having a difficult time knowing how to forgive.

Undaunted Hope by Jody Hedlund

I had the advantage of reading her previous books in this series.  I knew before I read the first page that I would love Tessa's story.  Ms. Hedlund has a way of making her characters real.   You can't help to love Tessa and the Bjorklund brothers.  And you can't help to dislike Percival Updegraff.

This book shows how people live their lives in fear instead of trusting God.  We become prisoners of our fears and are trapped by being afraid to escape this prison.  We forget that God does have a plan for us.  It is not a plan of condemnation.  Tessa was so afraid that the citizens of Eagle Harbor would find out about her past.  She was convinced that her friends would look at her differently and not allow her to teach.    She was afraid of showing her true feelings to Alex.  She would have to give up teaching.  She was afraid of having to live in a lighthouse. It prevented her from being joyful.

Then there are people like Percival. Percival knew exactly how to prey on people's fears.  He was used to getting his own way and knew how to manipulate people.  His dear precious brother, Samuel, could not be manipulated by Percival.  He lived his life without fear until he was facing the possibility of losing Tessa and the Bjorklunds.  Others in the community feared what Percival could do to them if they refused him.

Alex was so used to protecting and helping his brother.  He had a difficult time putting his needs first.
His role was to be his brother's keeper.  He was convinced that he had to do this.

Fear can be a crippler.  Sometimes what we fear is fear itself.  Tessa and Alex each had their fears but with time they both realized they had nothing to fear.  They both forgot to put their fears before God and ask for his guidance.  When they finally did this, things turned out for them.

Excellent read.  If I see Jody's name on a book, I'm reading it!

After The Rain by Rita Gerlach

I was given this ebook to read for free.  I always start to read these books with some apprehension.  What if I don't like it?  What if I can't finish it?    Well, I didn't have that problem at all with this story.

The first chapter grabbed my attention and had me right until the last page.   I loved the main character, Louisa.  Her compassion for others even when she was up against adversity was such a joy.  Louisa saw the need and she would step right in and do what she could to help.  She was criticized for her compassion but she wouldn't let it stop her from doing her upmost to make the world a better place.  She had an inner strength that I admired.


The Title, After The Rain, signifies to me that after the rain the sun will come out and there is a new day to embrace and start over.  Louisa had her troubles.  She had her sorrow.  At times, she was hurt and confused. But she never gave up.  She kept looking to the future and knew things would be better
AFTER THE RAIN.

Five stars!  Absolutely loved it!