Dangerous Tidings by Dana Mentink

My review today is on the Love Inspired Suspense, Dangerous Tidings. This is the first book in the new series, Pacific Coast Private Eyes and I look forward to the next book. I love Dana's books and I'm always thrilled to get a book from her. This one is well written, action packed, and full of adventure. I love the way she weaves her faith throughout the story. You just have to love that.

Donna Gallagher is grieving over the loss of her father and her sister lying in a coma at the hospital. How is she to celebrate Christmas without them. She can't believe his death was an accident. Someone had to have forced them off the road. She goes to her father's office to find out about the last case he was working on. P. Mitchell was the name on the case file. She remembered Pauline because she had cared for her dog, Radar. What was her father trying to find out? The only thing in the file were three names. As she looked into the file the office is broken into and she is attacked. The man who rescues her is one of the names on the file, is he friend or foe?

Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Brent Mitchell is on medical leave but he is determined to find his missing sister before Christmas. When he learns her disappearance is somehow linked to the death of PI Bruce Gallagher, he goes to his office just in time to rescue the PI's daughter. When the police arrive, the case is taken over by the man who blames him for the death of his girl friend. He and Donna must find the answers because the police aren't going to be any help.

These two broken individuals are thrown into a dangerous investigation. They must rely on each other and their God to keep them alive and to find the answers they seek. Trust is so hard sometimes, especially during the holidays but God always has a plan for us and when we give Him control He can make a way for us that is far greater than we ever dreamed.

A Gift Forever by Diane Craver

My review today is on a very sweet story called A Gift Forever. I don't think I have read any of Diane's books before. I could be wrong about that but I really enjoyed this one very much. I don't always like books written in the first person but this one was exceptional. The story is well written, heart warming, and full of a child's faith. Jesus says we need faith like a child and so this one is scriptural. You will love  the characters.

This story is told by a seven year old, Debbie. She is the youngest of four children. Debbie gets up in the night to go to the bathroom and sees he father struggling to read her second grade book. Debbie is torn about what to do. She must tell someone. When she tells her sisters, her mother hears and admits that it is true her father cannot read. So Debbie prays for Jesus to send someone to help her dad learn to read. When her father hears what she had prayed, he tells her that Jesus already sent someone, her.

This family has many adventures throughout the book. I especially like that at the end she tells what happened to each of the characters as they grow up, I loved that about it. You really need to get a copy of this story, especially with the holidays coming up. A great read!

Perfect Alibi by Melody Carlson

My review today is on the Love Inspired Suspense, Perfect Alibi. I don't I have read any of Melody's books before but I enjoyed this one very much.  The book is well written, full of action, and faith based. I like her characters, they were complex hurting individuals but God was able to turn most of them around.

Journalist Mallory Myers returns to her apartment to find her best friend lying on the floor with her throat slit. Mallory is convinced that her former boyfriend, who is now dating her best friend, is the one who killed her but there is only one problem; he was on national TV at the time and no one believes her. She has become their number one suspect. Convinced he will come after her she runs home only to find her deputy sheriff father is on vacation. When a fire threatens to burn the house done she is rescued by the chief.

Fire Chief Logan McDaniel comes to her rescue. Logan believes Mallory's story but isn't sure how they can break his alibi. As the killer plays games with them, they become closer. He is set to protect her at all costs.

A journey to survive the terrifying attacks of a killer. They both struggle to allow God to take care of the situation. God is good and He always has a plan. It might not work the way we think it should but it's usually far greater than we imagined. 

Christmas Undercover by Hope White

My review today is on the Love Inspired Suspense, Christmas Undercover. this book is the fourth book in the Echo Mountain Series. I have really enjoyed this series and hope this isn't the last one. This book is well written, action packed, and full of faith. I love Hope's characters and issues that they are dealing with. This book deals with the issue of trust and how difficult it is for us.

FBI Agent Sara Vaughn is forced by her boss to take a vacation. She becomes so tunnel minded on her cases that she won't let go. Going rogue she hires on as a tour guide on a hike in the Cascade Mountains but as she spies on the men she suspects, she witnesses a murder. Sara runs but the men heard her and give chase. Sara falls off a cliff and is rescued by a handsome search and rescue volunteer. She suspects he is with the other men and is out to kill her.

Echo Mountain Search and Rescue Volunteer Will Rankin is a widower with two young daughters. He takes a couple days off to get with God and hopefully change the course of his life. As he communes with God he finds a young woman who had fallen off the mountain. She doesn't trust him and accuses him of trying to kill her. She attacks him and ties him up and then proceeds to fall into a river. He must save her. He had failed his wife could he save her?

A great book of two broken people; both lived with guilt and distrust. To get off the mountain and survive the attacks of the killers they must learn to trust each other and to trust in God. God always has a plan for us if we can just let Him take control. This is an awesome read.

The Marshal's Runaway Witness by Diane Burke

My review today is on the Love Inspired Suspense, The Marshal's Runaway Witness. I really enjoy Diane's books. This one is awesome, full of intrigue and suspense. This book is well written, fast paced, and faith based. I know you will love it.

Angelina Baroni witnessed her mafia kingpin father murder a man three years ago. She was scheduled to testify when Angelina saw her marshal, ( a man she had come to care about) give a note to the bailiff. That note turned out to be a death threat to Angelina so she ran. Now after living on her own for years, her best friend is shot right before her eyes and someone is trying to kill her. The marshal they send her is the same one who she felt betrayed her. How can she trust him?

US Marshal Dylan McKnight was betrayed by the woman he loved when she took off and left him. He almost lost his job and did lose his credibility. Now that a new trial was set it was his job to bring in Angelina and keep her from running again. How could he protect her and keep his heart safe?

A journey of two people, both betrayed by the other yet still very attracted. They must learn to trust each other and the God who would show them the plan He has for them. God always has a plan for us but so many times we think God is in control and yet we tie His hands. God isn't in control of the world, Adam gave that control to the devil. We must each give God control over our lives, then He can move in and help us. God has so much planned for us and yet there is nothing He can do until we make Him Lord of our lives.

Declaration of Depemdence--Upon God and His Holy Bible

My post today is not a review. I'm posting about a website that will change the United States of America. As a Christian I know a lot of us ask ourselves; "What can I do about the mess our country is in?" I am only one person and it is hard to be heard. Well, I have a way to stand up and be counted. Andrew Wommack has a website and you can take a stand with other like-minded Christians throughout the whole country. It's called the Declaration of Dependence--Upon God and His Holy Bible. The website is www.DependenceonGod.com You can sign the Declaration and be listed among great men of God like; Andrew Wommack, James Dobson, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland, and many others. You can even scrool up and see the names of thousands of other who have already  signed, including me.

DECLARATION OF DEPENDENCE

UPON GOD AND HIS HOLY BIBLE

          We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. Since our Creator gave us these rights, we declare that no government has the right to take them away. Among these rights is the right to exercise our Christian belief as put forth in God's Holy Bible.
          We therefore declare that God grants life at conception and no one has the right to take that life unless it is a direct threat to the life of the mother.
          Marriage was instituted by God between one man and one woman. The Lord gave only this family unit the responsibility to have children and raise them in the fear of Lord.
          We therefore respectfully reserve the right to refuse any mandate by the government that forces us to fund or support abortion. We also oppose same sex-marriage, polygamy, bestiality, and all other forms of sexual perversions prohibited by the Holy Scripture.
          We proclaim that Jesus has provided the cure for all sin and therefore reach out to the sinner in love, but do not embrace the sin, knowing it's destructive nature.
          Therefore, we, the undersigned--not only as Christians but also believing we have the constitutional right as Americans to follow these time honored Christian beliefs--commit to conducting our churches, ministries, businesses, and personal lives in accordance with our Christian faith and choose to obey God rather than man.

Andrew Wommack
Founder and President of Andrew Wommack Ministries and Charlis Bible College
                                                www.DependenceonGod.com

It's a Girl!

No review today, I'm going to be different. We have truly been extremely blessed this year but it has had some hard things too. This last winter my granddaughter, Kendra found out she was pregnant with their second child. The baby was to be born at the end of September but just a short time after learning she was pregnant she lost the baby. Timarree, one of my other granddaughters found out this spring that she was pregnant with their second child but at twelve weeks she watched her baby die on an ultra sound. This has been very hard for all the family especially my daughter Kellie who is the grandmother.

Schanae, Kellie's daughter is now pregnant. Wednesday Kellie and I got to go an watch her ultra sound. Schanae is now at twenty weeks, half way there. We bathed the ultra sound in prayer, we would not lose another baby.

We watched as the radiologist measured a perfect baby. All parts are there and everything is the right size for twenty weeks. I saw the baby sucking it's thumb. We learned that the baby is probably a girl. The baby is breech so it wasn't a sure thing; there is a ten percent chance it could be a boy. It is so awesome what they can do these days. When I had my first child (Kellie) they didn't have ultra sounds. I knew nothing about babies and nothing about delivery. Thank God we don't go through all that now. I had lost a child at eight weeks so I lived in constant fear through that pregnancy and my husband was in Vietnam. That is no way to live. We were all thrilled on Wednesday. God is so good! This will be my sixth great-grandchild. she will be born in February or March.

I couldn't help thinking of the Planned Parenthood videos though. I have never been an activist, that's not my calling. I am an Intercessor. Seeing what those people are doing and getting a way with it breaks my heart. Schanae is unmarried and could have gone that way but she chose life. If I found out she aborted it and then saw those tapes I don't know how I could live with that but the Holy Spirit is the comforter so I pray the women who were desperate enough to take the life of their own child will be comforted that God will forgive them. I pray those in charge of all these horrors will realize exactly what they have done. Let them see that these babies are someone child, grandchild, and great-grandchild. God forgive them.

Plain Threats by Alison Stone

My review today is on the Love Inspired Suspense, Plain Threats. I love Alison's stories; they are all full of unusual Amish situations. This book is well written, action packed, and full of faith, with a few twists and turns. Her character are not your normal Amish but are complex and compelling. I know you will enjoy it.

Rebecca Fisher was in an abusive marriage but now her world is in chaos. Her husband was accused of murder in an effort to try to protect the Amish way of life but was killed in prison. Rebecca's step son was the one that was instrumental in his father's arrest, now his best friend died in an accident under the influence of drugs and Samuel blames himself. Samuel has change and Rebecca is trying to find answers and the help her step son needs. She turns to an Englisher, a professor at the local college. Rebecca's community makes a point of letting her know that they might forgive outsiders but not one of their own. Many believed that she was aware of her husbands activities.

College professor Jake Burke is teaching a class about the Amish. He is writing a paper on the Amish youngie. In his quest to learn more of the Amish ways he often interview the young Amish men that were on rumspringa. He was surprised to see Rebecca but didn't want to tell her anything that Samuel told him in confidence. He ran to catch up with after she left and witnessed an attack on her. He drove her home only to have her attacked again.

So begins the journey of two people trying to save a young man and protect Rebecca from whoever was trying to hurt her. A great story of faith. God always has a plan and when we let go and let Him take over it will come to pass.

For Mercie's Sake by Sharon Srock

My review today is on the story, For Mercie's Sake. This is a short story by Sharon but it is well written, heart warming, and faith inspired. I'm not sure if I have read any of Sharon's books before but I enjoyed this one very much and I look forward to reading more of her work.

Scottlyn Rich was raped several months ago by the high school's star quarterback. Scottlyn refused to tell anyone until she found herself pregnant. The boy finally confessed but her father was adamant about Scottlyn either having an abortion or giving the child up for adoption. He would not have a product of rape in his home. Scottlyn was put in a home for unwed mother after her father threw her out of his home. The home managed to get her enrolled in a Christian School.

Widowed school teacher Diana Kensington is having a difficult time with her grief. It was just over sixteen months ago when her husband's plane fell out of the sky. Her life was over as far as she was concerned, grief consumed her. Every day she would ask "What now God?" Diana and her husband had been trying for years to have a child so when she received her new, obviously pregnant student she couldn't help but be judgmental. When she found out about the circumstances of the pregnancy, God began to deal with her.

A journey of two broken people in desperate need of hope and love and how God had a plan for them and it's was far better than either of them could ever imagine. A story of love, forgiveness, and hope. it will touch your heart. 

The Christmas Cradle by Charlotte Hubbard

My review today is on the Amish Novella, The Christmas Cradle. This is one of the Seasons of Heart series. I have loved this series. This book is well written, humorous, and heart warming. I have loved all the characters in this series and enjoy watching their lives change throughout the series. If you haven't read any of Charlotte's work you need to get a copy of this book.

This story is really about two couples; Miriam and Ben Hooley are married and expecting there first child a little before Christmas. Ben handcrafted a beautiful cradle for a gift for his wife. Miriam was married before and has a set of grown triplets, (They were in the previous book) but Ben is much younger and this is his first. The second couple are not married but are also expecting their first child before Christmas.  Lena Esch and her boyfriend Josiah Witmer our passing through town but get stranded by the weather. Ben rescues them and brings them home with him.

Lena Esch is only eighteen. She has ran away from her strict Amish parents feeling her baby needs it's father. She has talked Josiah into bringing her along but things are not going well. Ben commands them to stop fighting before he will take them home to his wife. He will not have anything that will upset her.

Josiah Witmer and his sister have been catering events at home. He found a new position on line and is on the way to take over the restaurant when they got lost and stranded by the storm. He is fed up with Lena, all she does is whine and complain. He has half a mind to leave her here and take off.

As Josiah shares his new job with Ben, Miriam and Ben share all the problems that this town has had with the man that would be his new boss. Josiah begins to worry about everything that seems to be going wrong.

This is a great story about how and older stable couple can minister to a young couple and the problems they are facing as their worlds begin to be turned upside down by an evil man trying to have his own way. Lena and Josiah soon learn they must lean on God. He is the only one that can see them through. God is so good and you will find that He has a plan for you and it will be far greater than anything you had hoped for.

Expert Witness by Rachel Dylan

My review today is on the Love Inspired Suspense, Expert Witness. Rachel is a new author for LIS but I really enjoy her work. This book is well written, fast paced and full of adventure. This story is filled with faith, hope and love. I know you will enjoy it.

Sydney Berry is a victim of abuse. She managed to leave her abuser and took self-defense classes to overcome her fear. Not satisfied with just the simple course she worked with an ex-military man to become an expert. Little did she know she would need these skills as her life becomes threatened. As an expert witness in a court case she testifies in a preliminary hearing but when it comes time for her to testify in court she is almost killed in a drive-by shooting. She is saved at the last moment by a marshal.

US Marshall Max Preston is a former FBI agent and had dealings with the East River Gang. Convinced that Sydney is in danger he follows her and is able to rescue her from being shot. Sydney is his first case in witness protection and he is bound to protect her even from herself when she insists on testifying. He must prove some connection between the East River Gang and the man on trial. How high up does this gang go? Clearly there is a mole somewhere in the marshal program.

This is a journey between two people that are struggling to do their jobs in the face of great trials. Both of them have been hurt and have no desire to have a relationship. Max is awed by the strength of this woman and seeks to understand that her faith in Christ is what has brought her to this place. I  think as Christian we all want to live our faith in a way that will lead others to our Lord. Most of us fall short and are overcome by the cares of this world but God has a plan for us that will enable each of us to be the overcomer. He can make a way where there is no way if you can just believe. God wants that not one shall perish but have ever lasting life.  

An Unexpected Christmas Blessing by Molly Jebber

My review today is on the last story in The Amish Christmas Sleigh Novella, An Unexpected Christmas Blessing. I love Molly's stories and the is an excellent one. I do wish it could have been longer though. The story is well written, humorous, and will touch your heart.

Charity Lantz is a widow with two kinner. This is her first Christmas as a widow and she is unsure how to help her kinner get through it. Everyone is telling her it is time to remarry and give her kinner a new dat but the only man that wants to court her is much older and has six kinner of his own. Can she do that? Then a good looking stranger moves in next door. He seems to love the kinner but does he want her?

Luke Fischer had a bad marriage that ended in a divorce. Unable to stand the pity he moves to a new community. He is welcomed by his beautiful neighbor and her wonderful gut kinner. He always wanted a child but remarrying is not an option.

 A journey of two broken hearts struggling to survive the loneliness that surrounds the holidays and the struggles of trusting God. We all have our struggles in trusting God to have a plan for us but we sometimes really mess it up when we try to help Him out. (example; Abraham and Sarah, the reason we have a Middle East Conflict today) God always has a plan and if we can let go and let God it will be far greater than we could imagine.

A Mamm for Christmas by Amy Lillard

My review today is on the second story in, The Amish Christmas Sleigh Novella, A Mamm for Christmas. I enjoy Amy's books very much and this story was excellent. A story of three kinner that turn matchmaker. It's well written, quite humorous, and heartwarming. You will love it.

Bernice Yoder is a teacher for the small Amish community. Three little girls come to school each day dirty, hair a mess, and in stained dresses. Bernice goes to the father to try to help him but he is angry at her intervention.

Jess Schmucker is a young widower with three little girls. He was really struggling trying to keep the farm going, the girls clean and well dressed, only to have the teacher come to his home and accuse him of neglect.

These two people have their own issues and as they begin to realize the children have a plan of their own they have no choice but to draw together. God also had a plan and it was much greater than any they had imagined. I hope you go out and get this book I know you'll enjoy every minute of it.