Happy Thanksgiving from Christian Bookworm!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

I would like to wish all my readers a wonderful Thanksgiving!

This is a time when we gather with family and friends as we reflect on all that we give thanks for.

Remember to be thankful for all the little things in life as they help make our life the way it is and when we get through the bad times in life, those little things have helped make us stronger.

Also as you say your prayers remember there are homes across this country where loved ones are missing because they are sitting at a table half way around the world protecting all of us here in America by serving in the United States Military in some way, shape or fashion.

 

To all who are missing a loved one know that I am praying for you and your loved one.  My son maybe home for good but I wont forgot those who are still serving.

I will be back posting my reviews of the books I am reading on December 1st so that I can enjoy the weekend with my family and friends.  I am sure I will be reading something, so come back next week and see what books I will be reviewing then.

Again Happy Thanksgiving!!

"Heart of a Soldier" by Belle Calhoune

About the book

A Soldier's Unexpected Homecoming

Returning soldier Dylan Hart heads to Texas to finally meet pen pal Holly Lynch. When he arrives, he's shocked to discover the plucky beauty he fell in love with has kept a very big secret. Scarred emotionally by his past, Dylan is deeply hurt that Holly didn't trust him with such a vital truth about herself. When he's hired as a cowboy on her family's vast ranch, he's committed to staying in town. And as he slowly reconnects with the woman whose letters once saved him, he'll have to take a look inside his heart to discover what matters most.

 Please visit Belle Calhoune's website

Buy "Heart of a Soldier" from Amazon

 Buy "Heart of a Soldier" from Barnes&Noble

 Buy "Heart of a Soldier" from Harlequin

This book will be released in January 2015

I received this book from Ms. Calhoune in exchange 

for an honest review which I have gladly provided below

My Review

“Heart of a Soldier” by Belle Calhoune is a book that I received gracious from Ms. Calhoune in exchange for an honest review, and I really don't think I can do justice to this absolutely fantastic story that resonated with me so deeply that I am humbled to have received an early copy of this book. To be honest, the heroine Holly, is the one that I connected with unlike just about any other heroine that I have read about in a very long time. Sure there have been others that I have connected with in one way or another but this seemed to be so much deeper, and so I might be a bit bias on my thoughts because of that.

This book continues 'the roses' story, which we got a little glimpse of in “Reunited with the Sheriff” for this is Holly's story. Holly I must be honest is a character I hoped to see but frankly due to her circumstances, I really doubted that we would for it just didn't seem to match a whole lot of the romance idea of an ideal heroine for a book. Personally I thought she would have made the ideal heroine (and I was right) but maybe that is because I could understand part of her issues. I am so glad that both Ms. Calhoune and Love Inspired took that step forward with something so out of the norm for this was an absolutely beautiful story.

Holly is a woman who have faced a great of hurdles in life and while she could have turned angry, cold and bitter, she was in fact a warm and such a giving woman who seemed to understand things differently. I could understand her thinking and her fear completely and thought it was wonderful that through it all she had a sense of humor about her, even if it was cover up for other feelings. She wasn't so determined to be right that when things are pointed out to her that she wasn't willing to listen, even if she didn't like listening to the truth.

Dylan is a man with some secrets of his own who is searching for something he is not quite sure of though. His spur of the moment decision, in a manner of speaking, takes him on a path that he wasn't prepared for in the slightest. Regardless what he tells himself at first for sticking around, I have to say that I actually so enjoyed Dylan's honesty at least with himself. Here is a man who may have been making excuses in the long run but at the same time he was trying to take things easy for he didn't know what he could handle and didn't want to hurt anyone in the process. I think regardless how he reacted at first, I fell in love with him on page 43 (regular print) when he admitted to himself what the barrier to the truth for him was. How many other people would actually admit that and in my opinion and limited experience, not many would.

I have to say that through the ups and downs, the unexpected surprises, and well the predictable events, this is a book that I found myself crying through while laughing and cheering characters on. The romance is something that is not easy which made it seem so realistic on both parts. Granted letters helped a great deal in a lot of ways for the limitations that each had were not glaring in the others face, which allowed a deeper connection. I loved the old fashion snail mail letters being the connection that brought the two of them together in the first place, for it is such a lost art it seems with email now a days.

I so hope that all who read this book, enjoy it as much as I did. This is a book that I will be keeping for a long time until the pages are falling out because I have read it so much. I truly hope that we see more of 'the roses' in future books for there are still two more who need their own happy endings.

"His Small-Town Family" by Lorraine Beatty

About the Book

Healing Their Hearts

Nicki Latimer never expected to be back in her tiny Mississippi hometown—much less running a store with a baby on her hip. But when her father falls ill, Nicki will do anything to save the family business…even putting her dreams on hold. And she's found just the person to help her. Ethan Stone is strong and reliable, but also haunted by his past as a war photographer. He's convinced he could never be the man Nicki thinks he is. But with Ethan by her side, Nicki's dreams of love and family are closer than she thinks. 

Home to Dover: A small town with a big heart

Please visit Lorraine Beatty's website

Buy "His Small-Town Family" from  Amazon

Buy "His Small-Town Family" from Barnes&Noble

Buy "His Small-Town Family" from  Harlequin

This book was released in November 2014

This is a well loved library book that was reviewed.

My Review

“His Small-Town Family” by Lorraine Beatty is the second book of her 'Home to Dover' series, but it stands alone perfectly without making a person feel as if they are missing something. Though it is the second book of the 'Home to Dover' the four books that Ms. Beatty have written all are centered around the wonderful town of Dover. I don't know what it is about the town of Dover but there is something that I just love, maybe it is how the name came about (the story is told over and over in each of her books so I wont ruin it) or what the name means. I just enjoy returning to Dover over and over again.

Here is a story of two hurting souls and it is surprising how much these two souls have in common with their pain. Each one of them dealt with their pain in a different way which makes sense, since the pain they each suffer came from something different, but it was how that pain was affecting them that touched me. One was open and one kept things hidden until something totally unexpected happened. When that unexpected thing happened I was taken back and my heart broke.

Nicki is a single mom who is trying to do it all, almost to the point where is she is close to the breaking point. She also has a wonderful heart for her family and friends, even with some misunderstandings that she have lived with over the years. There are things that she has to figure out for herself and she is given the freedom to do so with some wise advice from others, but ultimately she is the ones who thinks everything through and makes her choices.

Ethan is a man who is trying to figure out what he is going to do now and with good reason. Ethan is a hard worker, not just on the job and that much is obvious but with his issues that he is aware of, for he doing what he needs to do in order to work forward. Ethan also has some pretty deep seeded fears that he needs to work through as well, and it is amazing how he does that.

I found the working through their fears and other issues was something that made a lot of sense for these might be some common issues in this day and time but frankly people deal with those things differently. Taking risks is never an easy thing and I found it frustrating at times with how timid both Ethan and Nicki were at times when things were so clear, yet they didn't take the risk they should have. And then finally the moving forward was something special when the hurdles were overcome for it was done in complete freedom.

I hope that all who read this book enjoy it and smile as they put the book down.

Other "Home to Dover" Books

Protecting the Widower's Heart

"Hannah's Courtship" by Emma Miller

About the book

Second Chance At Love  

Amish widow Hannah Yoder never intended to marry again. Yet when her friendship with veterinarian Albert Hartman begins to bloom into something more, Hannah wonders if perhaps she's finally ready for a new love. Albert waited his whole life to find the right woman, only to realize Hannah was there all along. But there's more than their friendship to consider. Albert is a Mennonite, born-and-bred, and Hannah cannot—will not—leave her Amish faith, not even for him. Does Albert have the courage to give up his modern life for Hannah…and will Hannah have the courage to let him? 

Hannah's Daughters: Seeking love, family  and faith in Amish country

 Buy "Hannah's Courtship" from Amazon

 Buy "Hannah's Courtship" from Barnes&Noble

 Buy "Hannah's Courtship" from Harlequin

This book was released in June 2014

This was a well loved library book that was reviewed

My Review

“Hannah's Courtship” by Emma Miller is her latest book in her series 'Hannah's Daughters', and I am not entirely sure if it is the last book in the series or not. I sure hope not for I still want to see Dorcas find her happy ending.

There is also a wrap up of a story that has been developing over the last several books since “Redeeming Grace” and I just loved the wrap up that is for sure. It is not always easy knowing how to let go of someone who is so precious to us, but this is something that needs to be worked out in the book. To discover that maybe one has been holding too tightly without seeing the whole picture is something so many can relate to, and here it is no different. When the discovery is made and the realization that maybe things are not as they seem to one person, something beautiful happens. I know that there may be some people who think that what happens shouldn't happen at all but I found it to be the most beautiful form of love.

To watch Hannah, who has been the mother to so many who have gotten married, fall in love with the least expected person was an interesting thing to see. Things are not easy just because Hannah is a bit older, but it seems as if she has to make even harder choices than any of her daughters had to do. She knew that there was one thing that she would never do regardless what she would have to give up, and though that caused her some pain it also made her who she is.

Albert is a man who seems to be searching for something and seems to be a bit blind to what he was needing. Well maybe saying he was a bit blind is a tad harsh since he was quite familiar with the hurdles and didn't think anything could work so he held himself back. Albert is also a man who though made up his mind was also seeking counsel from others who mattered so much to him, which showed that he was willing to listen to others. Also he is a man who is honorable for he didn't want to do anything disrespectful and when he slipped up in crossing a line by accident he felt so bad for it, even though it was just a little thing, he still felt so bad for crossing that line.

I can't wait to be taken back to Seven Poplars in the future for there is Dorcas who needs to find her own happy ending. Dorcas for all her faults is a character who has touched me several times through out the series and she deserves her happy ever after soon. There are also some interesting new characters who are introduced in this book that I see by Emma Miller's Goodreads book list, are going to continue in a new series. I will continue to wait for Dorcas' happy ending while gladly and cheerfully reading the books in between that time.

I hope all who read this book enjoys it as much as I did.

Other Books in "Hannah's Daughters" Series

Courting Ruth

Miriam's Heart

Anna's Gift

Leah's Choice

Reddeming Grace

Johanna's Bridegroom

Rebecca's Christmas Gift