The Miner's Lady by Tracie Peterson

The Miner's Lady by Tracie Peterson is actually the 3rd in the series called Land of Shining Water. However it is a series where you can read the any book in the series and not miss anything or get confused.  This book is about a young woman named Chantel Panetta whose sister has fallen in love the youngest son of her families arch enemy family the Calarco's.  They enemies from a past wrong and are both here in America as two hard working mining families.  Chantel meets her sister's love interest's brother Dante and the sparks fly not just romance but in other ways.

This one was an ok book as I am not a romance reader but I was very impressed by the story of bravery and forgiveness.  I was also impressed that it did not do the normal Romeo and Juliet thing with the death of the couple (I am so sick of that). We see how Christ moves in the heart of both families of forgiveness one quickly and one slowly.  We also see the romance between the younger siblings of each family and the quick romance of Chantell and Dante.  The point of this book that I like the least is the side story of a murderer in the community that is cheating people and killing those who disagree with him.   I would have liked less of that side story and more from the view point of Dante's father.  Still if you like clean historical romance type stories then I would recommend this one.

I was given this book by Bethany House for my honest review.

What Once Was Lost by Kim Vogel Sawyer

What Once Was Lost by Kim Vogel Sawyer is a fiction novel that take place in Kansas in the late 1800's.  It is about a young woman named Christina who has taken over a poor farm (this is how the poor were taken care of before the advent of the modern welfare system) from her father after his death.  Its more became a home for orphans but a fire breaks out destroy the home.  So the story revolves around what happens to the orphans especially a blind boy named Tommy, Christina, and her assistant named Cora. You can read the first chapter here. A good book on the sexism, hypocrisy of some so called Christians, how disabled were treated in that era, and yes even a little romance but not enough to turn you off of the book.

I was very impressed by this book I was expecting the normal over done Christian romance book.  But that is not what I got.  I really got into the story especially about the boy Tommy and his care taker Levi.  Also I really enjoyed that the author did not hide the fact that not everyone who is high in society is doing something out of a truly good heart but actually is doing it for show.  Christina has to fight the gossip in town, and even the attitudes of others toward her and her orphans especially Tommy.  She learns how much she has to hold on to Christ and not her self in this.  Yes there is a side story of her falling in love with Tommy's rough caretaker Levi.

I really enjoyed this book it.  I really is a book of hope no matter what happens in life and how God can use what others/satan want for bad for good.  I would recommend this book and I plan on reading more of this authors book she does not over do the romance and gives a very good story.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review and not required to give a positive review.

The One Year Holy Land Moments Devotional

This is a very interesting and informative devotional for the entire year.  It has a section wrote by a Jewish rabbi which gives you a very informative lesson on a section or verse in the old testament.  Then at the bottom is gives you a lesson from a Christian scholar. It is done like that for six days and then on the seventh day it is a day of reflection of what you have learned over the last six days. 

First thing that I really enjoyed in this devotion is that the days and just numbered and not dated so I can pick this up anytime of the year and start it.  Second I have really enjoyed learning more Jewish history and traditions that went along with some parts of scripture.  My only warning though is remember that this is not the Bible and that there information in here from the Talmud and we need to remember just because its old tradition does not mean its on the same level as the Bible.   However I do recommend this devotional as a way to learn more of Jewish history and traditions.

Tyndale House Publishers sent me a free copy of this book for my honest review.