book 3 in series

"Gathering the Threads" by Cindy Woodsmall is the third book in the Amish of Summer Grove Series.  The first two are not necessary to read to follow 'Gathering' but it would be helpful.  In this series, Ariana and Skylar are two 20 year olds that have discovered that they were switched at birth.  Ariana was raised in an Amish home and Skylar was raised in a home of a single mother and a married father.  The third novel focuses mostly on Ariana and follows the storyline of her life being governed by a herd of men who seem to live to control her and every woman around them.  That is fairly standard of all women regardless of the society they are brought up in, but Ariana starts to rebel and think for herself, realizing that the threat of hell or manipulation are for the sake of the controller and not the controlee. 
I really liked this book.  The desperate need of men to control women is something that I take a personal interest in.  It has not gone unnoticed that women are held to a different standard.  A much lower standard.  I recommend this book, especially to young women who are looking to find their voice. I received this book I exchange for an honest review from www.bloggingforbooks.com

An Amish Mercies Novel

"Abiding Mercy" by Ruth Reid is An Amish Mercies Novel.  Ruth Reid has written a novel centering on Faith, an Amish girl in northern Michigan; Roslyn, a mother whose toddler has been kidnapped by the nanny and desperately searches for 15 years to find her daughter; and a red-haired angel that keeps popping up to help with God's work.
A common storyline in Amish Fiction is the "lost a baby, found a baby" saga.  This  novel falls into this category.   Though that storyline has been done to death, Reid gives it a new twist.  In this novel, the lost/found child doesn't want to leave the Amish to follow her 'blood' family.  Faith is quiet content to stay with her found family and her beliefs and upbringing.  She also tells of Faith and her sister Olivia as they scorn and rat each other out in true sisterly fashion.  I really liked this book and stayed up most of the night reading it.  I highly recommend it.  I received this novel through www.booklookbloggers". 

crooked hat

"The Man in the Crooked Hat" by Harry Dolan is a mystery about a serial killer in the Midwest.  Jack Pellum is a disgraced cop turned Private I that is only interested in one case: his wife's murder.  Shortly before his wife was killed, Jack saw a man in a crooked hat that stood out.  For the next few years Jack's only agenda is finding that man.  Soon the pieces start to come together and he is on the trail of not just one serial killer, but two.  Michael Underhill is a man with a wicked past that has found the love of a good woman and the future he feels he deserves.  It's all within reach if  his past will just stay dead and Pellum will stay out of it. 
The novel goes back and forth between the two men as they are both the hunter and the hunted.  The story is pretty good.  I like the storyline and the character development.  The body count was a little to high at the end of the book for authenticity, but I guess some serial killers are better than others.  I liked the book.  I received this book from www.firsttoread.com. 

a different book club

"Death in the Stacks" by Jenn McKinlay is the newest in the Library Lover's Mystery series.  In this novel, Lindsey's enemy Olive, a ruthless, conniving, piece of work is out to get Lindsey, the library, and anyone standing around.  While on her rampage of black mail and torture, Olive is found stabbed in the fiction section at the library.  Lindsey and her sidekick Robbie are out to prove that lead suspect and library aide, Paula, is not the killer.  The only way to do that is to find out who is.

I really liked this book. It's not a real deep book, so it can easily be enjoyed anywhere.  The characters are well written and the twist and turns keep the reader guessing.  I had no idea who the killer was until the book was wrapping up.  I recommend this delightful who done it.  I received this book form www.firsttoread.com. 

Brave Beauty

"Brave Beauty" by Lynn Cowell is a devotional written for middle school aged girls that builds ways to find a confidence in God.  The devotional has 100 mini chapters, each one consists of 'salvation forgiveness, faith' section, which is a short essay.  It also has a Becoming Brave or a Getting to know You segment which involves the reader to partake in the devotion and then ends with a Courageous Call which is a prayer or letter. 
The author is part of the Proverbs 31 Ministries.  It is a very well known and popular online ministry for women of all ages.  In this book she writes incredibly well at the level and interests of the middle school reading the devotion without ever talking down to them.  Each day has a situation that the girl can relate to and an easy way to bring oneself closer to a relationship with God.  I received this book from Handlebar Direction for Publishing. 

Liberty

"Freedom's Ring" by Heidi Chiavaroli is a historical fiction work that follows a ring at two different periods in American history.  It follows Liberty Chapwell, an American working for two British officers as a maid while her brother, James, is involved in the beginnings of the American revolution.  She falls in love with one of them only to have the other rape her resulting in pregnancy. Following the rape she takes the officers' money and a ring from the one who she fell for. The two officers are shipped out and she is left alone.  The story follows Liberty through her life as she comes in contact again and again with the ring as well as the officer. 
It also follows Anna, in 2015.  Anna is a victim of the Boston bombings and is suffering from PTSD.  A Red Sox fan helps her during the bombing, then gives her a ring, Liberty's ring.  Anna later finds her Red Sox fan and the two go on a quest to find the story of the ring.  They seek to find Liberty's story.
This is an interesting novel.  I like how the author blends the two time periods together, back and forth, building up the story of the ring.  She keeps the two female leads' characters very different while still keeping them parallel.  I would recommend this book to history buffs as well as anyone just looking for a good story.  I received this book from Tyndale Publishing. 

Cleopatra's BFF

"Egypt's Sister" by Angela Hunt is a Novel of Cleopatra: The Silent Years.  Chava is the childhood best friend of Urbi, better known to the world as Cleopatra.  The two girls are educated together, they are confidants, they are everything to each other.  Then when Urbi takes over reign of Egypt, she offers Chava, a Hebrew, the gift of citizenship.  All she has to do is worship Egyptian gods.  When she refuses, her family is imprisoned and sold into slavery.  For 15 years she lives the life of a slave, eventually  making her way back to Egypt.
This is a very good book.  It is incredibly informative as well as entertaining.  The writing is very well done.  Hunt is a  well known writer and her reputation is well earned.  I highly recommend this book, not only for history buffs, but for those that just want to read a good story.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Bethany House Publishers.