The last look at the family from Bethany.

Lazarus Awakening: Finding Your Place in the Heart of God
Joanna Weaver





Book Summary: For many of us, moving the truth of God’s love from our heads to our hearts is a lifelong process. You believe that God loves the world…
but sometimes you wonder if He truly loves you. In Lazarus Awakening, the final book in her life-changing Bethany trilogy, Joanna Weaver invites you to experience a divine shift in how you view your relationship with God. Shattering spiritual formulas for performance-driven faith, Lazarus Awakening clears a path to sweet intimacy with Jesus. You’ll encounter the story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in a fresh way as you open your heart to the truth that you are cherished—apart from anything you accomplish, apart from anything you bring. Just as He called Lazarus forth to new life, Jesus wants to free you to live fully in the light of His love, unhindered by fear, regret, or self-condemnation.
This edition includes:
• a bible study guide for both individual reflection and group discussion
• a bonus chapter on laying aside everything that hinders your life with Jesus
• tools and resources for living fully and freely as God’s beloved
No more graveclothes, no more tombs… Love is calling your name.

Review: This is a book that takes a look at the life, death and life of Lazarus. This book goes through the events of Lazarus' amazing life. His friendship with Jesus is a mystery but very real. The reaction of his sisters, the people around them and Jesus. It is immersed with personal examples, also using examples of people the author knows or has some relationship to bring out the Biblical truths the life of Lazarus reveals.
I found this book to be an interesting perspective. Although, much of the authors theology I did not agree with I understood the points and ideas expressed. The issue I found most difficult to agree with is that Lazarus in the tomb had to decide whether he wanted to come out of the tomb or remain. When the Lord of this earth calls us forth, you come. That is the reason he used Lazarus' name. It was examples like this that I differ from the author. She did bring forward thoughts that were worth pondering and the main issue is we are so far from holy that Jesus is our only hope.
 I want to thank Waterbrook Publishing and blogging for books for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.

Already looking forward to book 2 in the series

Blue Moon Promise
Colleen Coble





The basic storyline is a young woman in great need, who is raising 2 younger siblings, and a marriage prospect. Along the way there is a Hatfield & McCoy feud. Someone threatening both main characters. Mystery of many sorts. Poverty, wealth and survival. This was a quick, easy read that waited until the end to resolve the mysteries. It was a much anticipated book for me and one I was quick to pick up and difficult to put down.
The only disappointment is while there was suspense it was anticlimactic at the end. All the mysteries were tied of although it seemed as if the story ran out of steam. It was well written for the majority of the story. The lacking part was that Ms. Coble did not have her intense suspense that makes going on something that you almost want to do with your eyes closed. I would recommend this story since the pieces of the mystery fed were enticing, the rivalry was believable and the resolution to much of the story was more realistic than can be expressed.
 I want to thank Net Galley, Book Sneeze and Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.

A Suspenseful Mystery

Echos of Titanic
Mindy Starns Clark & John Campbell Clark





This is a book that goes between two events, past and present, the past is seamlessly immersed in the present story. The identity of which cousin lived through the Titanic is a major theme of the book. In the present there is also a murder that merges with the question concerning the past. The person in the present is the great granddaughter of the woman who survives the Titanic. While complex sounding this story is woven to engross the reader and does so very well.
 I was at the edge of my seat by the end. It was a story with many characters who had motive and means to commit murder. This made for a suspenseful read, even when I figured out the who the pieces of the how & why were slowly coming together. I have enjoyed all of Mindy Starns Clark books and highly recommend this to be a book that will not disappoint new readers and long time fans.
I want to thank Net Galley and Harvest House for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.

This is an enjoyable book

An Amish Wedding
Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, & Kelly Long





This is a book with interlinking stories about 3 Amish woman written by 3 authors. The first story is about a couple that has known each other their entire lives and are planning to marry. Along the way they discover some secrets about each other and that knowing things about each other is a good basis for building a relationship. The second story is about a young woman who has waited on the Lord to lead her to the man she is to marry. This man is brought into her life story takes off from there. The third story is about a couple that is engaged to marry and all the mishaps that occur on the way to the alter.
The three stories were pleasantly enjoyable. I found the first story to be my favorite of  the three. I did like the 2nd and 3rd, which were easy reads. The entire book was well written and each story was links throughout the book. The majority of the characters were in each story and was interwoven to the point that you could not tell that they were written by three authors.

A Conversation with Mr. Graham

Nearing Home: Life, Faith and Finishing Well
Billy Graham





This book was a conversation. It was a unique perspective from a man who has lived a unique life and has known a wide variety of people. This was a book that provided a wealth of history and the present that people do not think about - getting old. His discussion on never thinking about getting old whether it was himself or anyone else is how disconnected our society is from those who have limited connection to our aging relatives. He mentions people in his past that were aging he acknowledges that he never gave aging much thought. His grasp of the fear, and inability to keep up with this world is a reality that all of us will make. Even when technology was limited changes in the last 100 years are staggering. It is a comfort to remember that Jesus is all that matters. He has written about his wife in a way that was extremely personal and yet very respectful. It is a sober reminder that everyone will die one day and yet what you believe can dramatically impact how you finish. I am extremely thankful to book sneeze for the opportunity to read and review this book in exchange for a free reviewer copy.

Junior's is a real treat!

JUNIOR'S DESSERT COOKBOOK
Alan Rosen, Beth Allen



I have always considered it as fun to go to Junior's in New York. The food and cookbook are intertwined from the orange and white strips on both to the fantastic food Junior's is one of a kind. The recipes are wonderful looking and fun to read through the cookbook. I have another cookbook from 2 years earlier. The deserts are one of the best things at Juniors. Even when the dessert is not my kind of treat they are always good looking. I am grateful for the opportunity to go through this cook book. Thank you net galley for allowing me to review this treat!

An Author That Has Resurfaced

A Time of Peace
Barbara Cameron





This was a story that is third in a series. A unique concept in the fact that seldom do people convert to the Anabaptist faith.  The author does a credible job of making it work with all the things a person in the modern world would fail at. Especially defending a loved one. While reading I found the story to be big on relationships. It seemed at times that the reality of Amish life was missing: preaching, church authority (hard to believe that outside converts would not be watched closely for help and continuing to assure the brethren that they were following the Ordung and those raised in the Anabaptist faith are know to have -cousins. I understand that these were not the focus of the story. I remember Barbara Cameron from my teenage years and the moving stories she wrote, I learned from the start that books can be very real with endings that are not simplistic. I found the overall story to be enjoyable and always a reminder that the only things important in life are faith and family. I am thankful to NetGalley for this opportunity to read and review this book.