NEW BEGINNINGS?

Anytime I see Cindy Woodsmall's name on the list of books to read and review it's an easy decision. I've been a fan ever since I read the first book. My only regret this time is that this is book 2 of a series, and I've yet to read book one. 

The Winnowing Season, Amish "Vines and Orchards Book 2" series holds true to form. Cindy knows the Amish culture and ways and writes in an understanding caring way. She knows how to weave a compelling story that draws you in and captivated until the end.

In The Winnowing Season,  Rhoda Byler is a young Amish girl who receives insights she believes is from God but her people don't approve so she tries to restrain them. Rhoda has a canning business and spends most of her days alone in her garden of herbs and fruit. 

In another Amish district a few miles away is an apple orchard run by three brothers, Samuel, Jacob, and Eli King. Jacob begins to court Rhoda however he has a lot of secrets that threatens their relationship. Samuel is also in love with her but refuses to act on his feelings because of Jacob. 

I highly recommend this book and any of Cindy Woodsmalls books. 

I received this book free from WaterBrook Publishing for a fair and honest review.

Letters to Katie - A Middlefield Family Novel

Amish books are often lacking in true knowledge and understanding of their culture and beliefs. Letters to Katie by Kathleen Fuller is sort of in the middle. It's not as knowledgeable as some but definitely more than those who know little to nothing about the Amish.

Katie, or Katherine Yoder, has loved Jonny Mullet for years but he's always considered her a friend and nothing more. That is until something opened his eyes to how he really felt. He decides he has to have everything just right before he courts her, not even considering that she may move on.

Isaac is a young man who comes into Mary Yoder's, the local Amish restaurant where Katie works and she catches his eye. He pursues her and ask her to write while he is gone. 

Just as Johnny wanting to court her and Isaac enters the picture, she has a serious health issue causes her to lose her memory. Will she ever remember? Who will she choose when and if she does?

I enjoyed Letters to Katie and would recommend it.

I received this book free for a fair and honest review from Thomas Nelson Publishing.

WHEN YOUR CHARACTER IS SHREDDED

Being a veteran of the police force for twenty-two years, Janice Cantore lends authenticity and realism to her writing of AVENGED.  It was however,  part of a series, but it can stand alone if you've not read the other two.

Carly Edwards, a police officer, and her husband, Sergeant Nick Anderson get caught up in a suspected gang execution that she suspects is not what it seems. Tensions increase between two local gangs. They confiscate some weapons from a member of one of the gangs.  After further investigation they find out that the guns, along with some explosives, were stolen from a military base. 

Carly has her character shredded just as she is to testify in a major trial. She has to depend on God and remember ;"Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." 

This is a great crime and mystery book and I will be reading more of her books. She knows what she's talking about and is able to bring the characters to life.

I received this book free from Tyndale for a honest review. I do recommend this book and author to anyone who enjoys a good clean crime novel.

WHO DO YOU TRUST

A Matter of Trust is the third Lis Wiehl book I've read and I was not disappointed. Lis is a former prosecutor and she writes with expertise and knowledge of the criminal justice system.

Meg Quinn is a recent widow with two children, who has returned to work in the DA's office after her husband dies. Meg is considering a case involving a teenage boy who committed suicide. She believes it is because he was being bullied.  At the same time her son, Gabriel, just started high school and is dealing with peer pressure and some of his decisions are not the best. 

Then to complicate things Meg is assigned the case of her friend Colleen, another DA, who was murdered. Charlie Carlson is the homicide detective investigating both cases. Meg and Charlie worked a case together before that did not end well, so there is tension and distrust to work through. Another DA was murdered in a similar way five years previously. The question on every one's mind is if there is a connection. 

This is a well written intriguing who done it. It was hard to put down as I followed Meg and Charlie through their investigations. Then I wanted to take Gabe in my arms and help him navigate the path he was on.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson for an honest review.