Book Review // The Tutor's Daughter By Julie Klassen

I have always enjoyed books very much. However I haven't always had this passion which I now have for all things fiction. Julie Klassen, was one of the first {if not very first} historical fiction author that I ever read. After hearing about her second book The Apothecary's Daughter through Johanna's blog, I read it and really enjoyed it and from then on my love for books, especially historical fiction, grew and grew and now I am here where I am today, greatly in part, because of that first start.

I've read four of Julie's six novels: The Apothecary's Daughter, The Girl In The Gatehouse, The Maid of Fairbourne Hall and lastly her newest release, The Tutor's Daughter; my favorite by far of them all, which I'd like to share my thoughts on today! ~Bethany Ann

{For more books reviews, and to see what I'm reading check out my Good Reads page!}

 

 // T h e   T u t o r ' s   D a u g h t e r //

B y   J u l i e   K l a s s e n

{ R e v i e w   B y   B e t h a n y }

// B o o k   D e s c r i p t i o n  //

"Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father regain his spirits when his academy fails, agrees to travel with him to the distant Cornwall coast, to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But after they arrive and begin teaching the younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen and danger mounts. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte, only to find the music room empty? Who sneaks into her room at night? Who rips a page from her journal, only to return it with a chilling illustration?

The baronet's older sons, Phillip and Henry, wrestle with problems--and secrets--of their own. They both remember Emma Smallwood from their days at her father's academy. She had been an awkward, studious girl. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her.

When the suspicious acts escalate, can the clever tutor's daughter figure out which brother to blame... and which brother to trust with her heart?"

 

December Book Reviews :: The Kingdom Series by Chuck Black

For this month's book review post, I thought I'd share with you all about a unqiue series I've recently had the pleasure of reading. It is called The Kingdom Series and was written by Chuck Black who is a man who, like our family, has six children. The series was written to help his children understand and be more excited about God's Holy Word, and is basically a big allegory of the Bible set in midievil times!  The series, though labeled under teen fiction, is wonderful for any age or gender and is quite exciting! A nice thing about this series is that each book has discussion questions and answers to help you understand better the Biblical allegory.

 I hope that my reviews of the six books in the series can be helpful to you, and hopefully will encourage you to read this series if you've not already! If you do, I am sure you will be blessed and inspired by it! If you have read this series and would like to share your thoughts on the books, then please feel free to leave a comment and share! Happy reading! ~Bethany

 

The Kingdom Series

~ By Chuck Black ~

The Story Behind The Series ::

 

“When my six kids’ eyes glossed over during a reading from the Bible, I paused to explain the significance of redemption to a sin-sick soul. I was rewarded with patronizing elephant nods and more blank stares. Shortly thereafter, I awoke in the middle of the night with a medieval story enveloping my mind. I wrote it down and later read it to my children. Their waning attention transformed into complete anticipation. I was amazed and disappointed. Why did it take a fictional story, not a Bible passage, to get that response? Then I realized—that is how Jesus taught! Parables are powerful! I penned the Kingdom series to help young people get excited about the supremely significant story of Jesus Christ and His mission to save mankind.”

— Chuck Black 

September Book Reviews

Almost Amish
By Kathryn Cushman
{Review By Bethany}

Publisher :: Bethany house Publishers
Source :: Bethany House's Book Review Program
Publication Date :: 2012
ISBN :: 0764208268
Number of Pages :: 320
My Rating :: 5 out of 5 stars

Julie Charlton is at the breaking point. She's overwhelmed and burned out, and in today's unrelenting society, her kids are, too. When her sister-in-law Susan, a Martha Stewart-in-training, lands the chance to participate in a reality TV series promoting simple living, and needs another family to join her, it seems like the perfect opportunity.

The location is an idyllic farm outside an Amish community in Tennessee. Julie, with her two children, joins Susan and her teenage daughter for a summer adventure. Susan needs to succeed in order to become self-sufficient after an ugly divorce, Julie needs to slow down long enough to remember what her priorities are and regain a sense of purpose and meaning. It becomes clear from the start that "living simple" is no simple matter. With the camera watching every move, Susan's drive for perfection feels a lot like what they left behind, while Julie suddenly finds herself needing to stand up for slowing down. With each new challenge, their season of "going Amish" gets more and more complicated, as each woman learns unexpected lessons about herself and her family. {Description from ChristianBook.com}

I was very excited to be able to read this book as I'd been wanting to for a while. Although it's the first book I've read by Kathryn Cushman, it probably won't be the last! When I got this book in the mail from Bethany House to review, I could tell by the first chapter that I'd love it...and I did! I loved how inspirational it was and how it makes you think, while at the same time providing an entertaining read with a mix of both contemporary and Amish fiction.

August Book Reviews

In this month's book review post, I've got the rest of the Anne of Green Gables Series reviews for you! To read the previous book reviews on this series click HERE! Also, would you like to receive updates on book's I've read and my reviews sooner then once every month? If so then follow me on GoodReads.com were I've just set up an account! By following me you can read my books reviews that I'd normally only post here monthly sooner and you can also see what I've been reading as of that day. You can visit my page by clicking HERE! Enjoy the book reviews! ~Bethany

Anne's House of Dreams 

{Book # 5}

By L. M. Montgomery

{Review By Bethany}

 

To read the previous books in the Anne of Green Gables series reviews click HERE!

 

Publisher :: Random House, Inc.

Source :: Purchased at a garage sale :)

Publication Date :: 1983

My Rating :: 5 out of 5 stars

Age Recommendation :: For girls 8+

Anne's own true love, Gilbert Blythe, is finally a doctor, and in the sunshine of the old orchard, among their dearest friends, they are about to speak their vows. Soon the happy couple will be bound for a new life together and their own dream house, on the misty purple shores of Four Winds Harbor. A new life means fresh problems to solve, fresh surprises. Anne and Gilbert will make new friends and meet their neighbors: Captain Jim, the lighthouse attendant, with his sad stories of the sea; Miss Cornelia Bryant, the lady who speaks from the heart--and speaks her mind; and the tragically beautiful Leslie Moore, into whose dark life Anne shines a brilliant light. {Description from ChristianBook.com}

I have really enjoyed this book. I'm debating whether it's my favorite of the series, I can't decided since they are all equally good, but I can say it's one of my favorites! This book is not only the half-way done mark through the series, but it's also the first book were Anne is a married girl so I felt as if I was reading the second part of Anne's complete story. I loved how "homey" this book was. Anne was dearly enjoying married life and loved living in her little "house of dreams" and I just loved all the events that took place. She made new friends, re-connected with old ones, had both joys and sorrows, births and deaths, and more during her stay in the home. There was also a portion of the story that had me guessing what would happen next and it ended up turning different than I'd have ever thought making for a very exciting read! I'd highly recommend this book, as well as the whole series to all young ladies!

July Book Reviews

The Anne of Green Gables Series

By L. M. Montgomery

{Review by Bethany Ann}

In this month's book review and probably upcoming review posts, I will be reviewing The Anne of Green Gables Series which I've recently had the delight and pleasure of reading. Due to the large quanity of books in the series {There are 8 in all :)} I probably won't be able to review them all in one month since I more than likely won't be able to read them all in such a short time frame. :) So be looking for the continuing review in the upcoming review posts! :)
I had been wanting to read this delightful series for some time, and since we owned them all I thought I should take the time this summer to start them! Since there are so many books in the series, I won't be able to go as in-depth as far as my reviews go as I normally do, however if you have any questions that weren't answered in the review please let me know! I hope you'll enjoy the reviews!
~Bethany

Anne of Green Gables {Book #1}

Publisher :: Random House, Inc.
 Source :: Purchased at a garage sale
Publication Date :: 1986
 My Rating :: 5 out of 5 stars
Age Recommendation :: For girls 8+

Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert have decided to adopt an orphan. They want a nice sturdy boy to help Matthew with the farm chores. The orphanage sends a girl instead - a mischievous, talkative redhead who the Cuthberts are sure will be no use at all. But as soon as Anne arrives at the snug white farmhouse called Green Gables, she knows she wants to stay forever. And the longer Anne stays, the harder it is for anyone to imagine Green Gables without her. {Description Taken From ChrsitianBook.com}

This is the first book in the Anne Series. It all starts with Anne, and orphaned girl who comes to live with the Cuthberts. This book is about her first years at "Green Gables" and her adventures with friends and family. I was simply charmed from the first page and instantly fell in love with Anne. I'd previously read this book a couple years ago but never finished the series. From that first impression years ago, I first though that the book would be overly wordy with so many descriptive words, that I'd get bored with the story. :)

Book Reviews

Who Calls Me Beautiful?

By Regina Franklin

{Review by Bethany}

Publisher :: Discovery House Publishers

Number of Pages :: 142

Source :: Library

Publication Date :: 2004

My Rating :: 5 out of 5 stars
Age Recommendation :: For girls 15+

"Physical perfection is an illusion. Yet "'women long to achieve it, no matter how unattainable it is'", says author Regina Franklin. Even Christian women are being seduced by the worldly definition of beauty. But failure to distinguish between reality and illusion is costing women their true identity and even their lives. 

In Who Calls Me Beautiful? Franklin skillfully chips away at the belief that a woman's body is more important than her character. Patiently pointing to Scripture, she convincingly shows that true beauty starts inside and radiates outward. It is this proper biblical understanding of God's design for women that empowers them to move beyond the cultural standards and the worlds "ideal woman." 

Book Reviews

A Sister's Secret
{Sisters of Holmes County Book # 1}
By Wanda E. Brunstetter
{Review By Bethany}

Publisher :: Barbour

Number of Pages :: 299

Source :: Library

Publication Date :: 2007

My Rating :: 5 out of 5 stars

Putting her rumschpringe {running-around years} behind her, Grace Hostettler returns to Holmes County, Ohio; joins the Amish church; and begins a new life with a new romance. The next four years are nearly idyllic for the oldest Hostettler child-except for the hidden pain she bears from a carefully harbored secret. Her peaceful world is shattered the day she runs into Gary Walker-an Englisher who knows enough about her past to destroy her future. Gary's arrival in Holmes County coincides with a series of startling attacks against the Amish community-and the Hostettlers in particular. Is Gary at the root of this evil? Amishman Cleon Schrock plans to marry Grace but is unaware of her past. When evidence of Grace's deception arrives on her family's doorstep, will Cleon feel compelled to desert the woman he loves? {Taken From Back Cover}

I really enjoyed this book by Wanda. I read one book authored by her last year and really enjoyed it so I told myself I'd read more of her books but hadn't gotten around to it until now. :) This is the first book in a series called Sisters of Holmes County. The series consists of three books, each one is about one of the Hostettler girls who are Amish: Grace, Ruth and Martha. In this first book the main character is Grace, since she is the oldest. I will say that I loved it and it kept me wanting to read more and more! It had a wonderful way of making you feel like you just can't put the book down until you've read one more chapter... ;) 

Pros :: Even though this would be considered a romance, Wanda did a wonderful job keeping it clean. The most romantic part in the book is about holding hands and even that didn't go into details. Even though there wasn't much descriptive romance, Wanda had a way of still clearly getting the point across of the two being in love without presenting it in a way that is distracting to a single woman. Even though there is deception going on in the book, at the end Grace is truly sorry and repents of keeping her secret to herself. So even though there is deceptions and lies in the end Wanda made a great point at showing how truly sorry Grace was.

Cons :: Since Grace is keeping a dark secret deep inside her there is deception{don't worry it's nothing too serious...so if you are thinking she committed some bad crime, worthy of jail-time, then it isn't anything like that :)}. She hold the truth about her past from her parents and what makes it worse is that when evidence shows up on her door, she has to spill the beans all at once. One thing I didn't like about the book is how I felt as if Wanda wasn't putting much detail into how the Amish live personally. She made reference to using weapons when they were being attacked with pranks, but the Amish don't use guns or weapons, the Mennonites don't even do that! This is only one example of several that I found that lessened the ability to feel like you were in the book. So I felt as if she didn't put much effort into making you feel like they were Amish. Although this is something that makes a book more enjoyable to a reader, it's definitely not something to make you avoid the book altogether.

A Sister's Test

{Sisters of Holmes County Series Book # 2}

By Wanda E. Brunstetter

{Review by Bethany}

Publisher :: Barbour

Number of Pages :: 287

Source :: Library

Publication Date :: 2007

My Rating :: 5 out of 5 stars

Ruth is the second oldest sister in the Hostettler family, and she has one burning desire-to marry and fill her Amish household with children. Life seems to be falling into place when Martin Gingerich starts to court her and she befriends a motherless child. But her dreams are suddenly shattered in one horrific moment, putting Ruth's faith to the test. Finding herself spiritually adrift, Ruth's only prayer becomes a desperate "God, why?"


This was a very inspiring book and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was very nicely written and was very interesting!

Pros :: This book was very inspirational and after reading it, I found myself counting my blessings more and thanking God for my family. In this book Ruth goes through lots of trials and losses and reading about her hard times makes you realize how well off you are. I never seem to realize how blessed I am until I read or hear about someone else who has it a lot worse off than me. This was a book that really left an impression on my heart and helped me be more thankful. Since Wanda went through great detail with Ruth's trials you felt as if you are there besides the person feeling their grief and pain. Often times I found myself thinking "Oh, poor Ruth" as if I would someone in real life that recently went through a loss!


Cons :: One thing about this book is that the events that happened seemed to happen too fast. For instance, in the last book Grace and her husband Cleon are having a hard time getting along and then all the sudden after several chapters of conflict in a few pages they have made up. It just didn't seem like everything happened like it would in normal life I guess, but it is fiction after all. :D The only other con I can think of is it's a bit of a sad book, several people pass away, but the end is wonderful and it makes up with a very happy, hopeful ending!

A Sister's Hope

{Sisters of Holmes County Book #3}

By Wanda E. Brunstetter

{Review by Bethany}

Publisher :: Barbour

Number of Pages :: 297

Source :: Library

Publication Date :: 2008

My Rating :: 3 out of 5 stars

Martha is the youngest of the Hostettler sisters and the most daring. While her main focus has been on her dog breeding business, Martha has also been troubled about the continuing attacks against her family and home in an Ohio Amish community. When prime suspect turns out to be Luke Friesen-the man she loves- Martha decided to play detective. But what will the search for truth cost? Luke seems to have taken the wrong road in life. With definite motive and myriad of methods, he looks guilty as sin. Will Martha's hope in his innocence be enough to bring the real criminal to justice? Roman Hostettler disproves of the love blossoming between his daughter and Luke. In his determination to drive the couple apart, discord and dissension grown within the family. {Taken From The Back Cover}

Sadly, this was my least favorite book in the series. If it weren't for not letting you all down by not having the third book's review or for finding out who had been responsible for the attacks on the Hostettler family, then I'm afraid I wouldn't have finished this book since I'd not considered it worth my time.

Pros :: The story was fairly interesting and did great on starting were you left off in the last book. Honestly the cons outweigh the pros, so I'm not able to think of anything else that was a pro in the book.

Cons :: I'm afraid that this book had more cons than pros, and I'd like to share some of those right now. For one, the subject of direct disobedience to parents was shown. Martha deliberately went against her father's commands in several areas, one being that she was forbidden to be around or talk to Luke. At first, Martha doesn't really have feelings for Luke, but as she slowly starts to see him behind her father's back, she develops feelings for him. In the book there is also more romance than in the first two which is disapointing, and two kisses are shared against Martha's fathers commands. If honoring our parents wasn't such a big deal then it wouldn't be listed in the Ten Commandments, but it was. So obviously God thinks it's important! The fact that this book shows Martha going against her father's wishes - and knowing full well that she was doing so and did nothing to stop it, but rather encouraged it-was just a bit more than I would have liked to see. To make matters worse, in the end Martha is "justified" by disobeying since Luke proves innocent and then end up marrying. The book almost makes it seem as if disobedience was no big deal and that in the end, ultimately everything fixes itself.

For those looking for the third book review in the Rose Trilogy Series {In continuation of THIS POST review for the first and second book in the series}, please let me explain why it isn't here as promised last month. :) This book seems to be pretty popular right now, and due to that, the book has been out for the past few weeks at the library, thus I've not been able to check it out yet nor read it. However the first time I am there and it's available to check out, I'll get it and be sure and review it in a upcoming review post as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience!

Book Reviews

A Gown of Spanish Lace

By Janette Oke

{Review By Bethany}

Publisher :: Bethany House

Number of Pages :: 251

Source :: Purchased a t a garage sale for 25 cents. ;D

Publication Date :: 1995
My Rating :: 5 out of 5 stars

A heritage so very different from her own, but one profound connection - — Ariana loves her life her parents, her little town, her job as the town's schoolteacher, her students. But one evening after classes are done and she prepares to hurry home before a blizzard hits, her whole life changes in an instant. — The two rough-looking men who abduct her and take her far from home and family make no response to her frantic questions "Why me? What are you going to do? Where are you taking me?" Held hostage in a camp of bandits, Ariana's emotions swing between terror and boredom as days stretch into weeks.
And then the boss's son appears in the doorway of her cabin. Does this mean she will never see her mother and father again, the two who had so lovingly adopted her as an infant and raised her as their own? Will she ever wear the wedding dress so carefully saved for her her one link with her birth parents, now long dead?  

Pros :: One of the best things about this book is how much God is incorporated in the story. Often times people say certain books are "Christian" just because they mention God a few times. But with this book, I felt like God was the main focus of it...just like it should be! The main character Ariana, often prayed and looked for His help in her circumstances. She often memorized and meditated on Scripture and trusted in God for her every need, even when her life looked uncertain. She was a wonderful role model. I loved how much God was a part of this story. 

I also enjoyed how suspenseful it was! It if definitely a page-turner and will have you guessing wildly at what will happen next. I loved the perfect ending and I certainly didn't see it coming so it was completly unexpected the way it turned out. Anyone who enjoys suspense and interesting books will be sure to love this interesting read.

Another thing I liked was that there was a bit of romance, yet not too much. Janette did a great job balancing it out and making it interesting yet not overly-done.

Cons :: To be honest, I didn't really find anything negative in this book. I loved every bit of it! I would highly recommend it!

The Irish Healer

By Nancy Herriman

{Review By Bethany}

Publisher :: Worthy Publishing

Number of Pages :: 320

Source :: Library

Publication Date :: 2012
My Rating :: 3 out of 5 stars

During the deadly 1832 cholera epidemic in London, a heartsick Irish healer must find the strength to overcome her most fearsome obstacles.

Accused of murdering a child under her care, Irish healer Rachel Dunne flees the ensuing scandal while vowing to never sit at another sickbed. She no longer trusts in her abilities-or God's mercy. When a cholera epidemic sweeps through London, she feels compelled to nurse the dying daughter of the enigmatic physician she has come to love. James Edmunds, wearied by the deaths of too many patients, has his own doubts about God's grace. Can they face their darkest fears? Or is it too late to learn that trust and love just might heal their hearts?

Pros :: I liked how the author made you feel as if you were there. Her writing is very descriptive and flows well. It was a great story, but I found there was too much romance for my type. And while good writing, descriptive words, etc. can be good when you have a book, if you've made a high level of romance involved then the two together may be a bit much. 

Cons :: Well to start, I didn't even finish this book. I read up until the 22nd or so out of 30 chapters and decided to stop reading it for several reasons. For one the Lord's name was used in vain several times and He was sort of rejected, the characters acted as if He'd left them so they leave Him out of their life. There was also a unplanned pregnancy with the main characters employee's maid and then when she attempts to abort the baby with potions, she ends up sick and died. {And she was found to have been at a bar in pone part of the book, but other than this there is not further detail with the pregnancy, but still it's there and didn't really need to be, the book would have been fine without it.} I also didn't feel very comfortable with the level of romance. At first I though it wouldn't get any higher, but it did. I'd only recommend this book to those who are used to reading books with romance the center of the book and the main focus, but if you are trying to stay away from romantic notions, you'll probably want to ship this book.

The Thorn

{The Rose Trilogy, Book 1}

By Beverly Lewis

{Review By Bethany}

Publisher :: Bethany House Publishing

Number of Pages :: 352

Source :: Library

Publication Date :: 2010

My Rating :: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars

Rose Kauffman, a spirited young woman, has a close friendship with the bishop's foster son. Nick dresses Plain and works hard but stirs up plenty of trouble too. Rose's sister cautions her against becoming too involved, but Rose is being courted by a good, Amish fellow, so dismisses the warnings. Meanwhile, Rose keeps house for an English widower but is startled when he forbids her to ever go upstairs. What is the man hiding? Rose's older sister, Hen, knows more than she should about falling for the wrong man. Unable to abandon her Amish ways, Hen is soon separated from her very modern husband. Mattie, their young daughter, must visit her father regularly, but Hen demands she wear Amish attire--and speak Pennsylvania Dutch, despite her husband's wishes. Will Hen be able to reestablish her place among the People she abandoned? And will she be able to convince Rose to steer clear of rogue neighbor Nick? {Description From ChristianBook.com}

Pros :: I loved this book! I love all Amish fiction books, by previously I'd found most Amish fiction to have way to much romance for my standards. But I was very pleased with the level of romance in this book. Grant it, there was a bit, but it didn't go overboard so it was nice having a bit of romance without too much. I loved the story and it was very exciting and interesting. Several times events turned when I least expected it and it made it all the more enjoyable. It was a wonderful story plot and I was very interested in continue to read the series. I loved how it went back and forth between the two sisters, so it's like you get two adventures in one. In one chapter you have a bit about one sister and her current case, and the next moves to the other sister. It was fun to see how their two different lives intertwined. I was also pleased with the writing style as well. You know how sometimes when there are multiple important characters, how it can sometimes be confusion who's who and all? Well this book had many characters, but I loved how easy it was to read, and it wasn't confusing at all! Totally loved it! This series is probably my favorite Amish fiction book/s I've read so far!

Cons :: Through this series, a portion of the book is about Hen who is Rose's sister who married an Englisher and was no longer a part of the Amish community. Once she had a daughter, she and her husband don't see eye to eye on how she should be raised. For example, do we or do we not allow TV in the home due to the influence? How should we punish bad behavior? Do we punish or just let it slip? Hen went behind her husbands back and took a job that he had made clear he didn't want her to take. And eventually this makes a problem between their marriage. But I won't spoil anymore of it for you. I did, however not appreciate how she didn't honor her husband, but I did appreciate how she was trying her best to stay with him and not divorce and for that I'm glad she was trying to make it through the tough times.

The Judgment

{The Rose Trilogy, Book 2}

By Beverly Lewis

{Review By Bethany}

Publisher :: Bethany House Publishing

Number of Pages :: 352

Source :: Library

Publication Date :: 2011

My Rating :: 4 out of 5 stars

Rose Kauffman is engaged to Silas Good, a well-liked Amish fellow, so why does she still pine for Nick Franco, the former foster son of the bishop? Especially now that Nick has left the Amish community under a cloud of suspicion after the death of the bishop's biological son? Will Rose marry Silas, even while struggling with romantic feelings for Nick?

Meanwhile, Rose's older sister, Hen, has returned to live at her parents' farm with her young daughter. Hen and her modern husband, Brandon, are separated by mutual agreement, although he is threatening to sue for custody of their daughter if Hen does not return soon. Will the judge rule in Brandon's favor? Is there any way Hen can reestablish her place among the People without sacrificing her marriage? {Description from ChristianBook.com}

Pros :: I also enjoyed this book, almost as much as I enjoyed the last one. I loved how the story continued from the last book as far as making it interesting and exciting. I again was captivated by the wonderful life of the Amish and was realizing that though the Amish are often known for their simplistic lives, most Amish fiction is anything but simple when it comes to the story lines! This book was no exception, but I did like it that way with so much guessing what would happen next, and feeling as if I were besides the characters as they go through trials and joys alike.

Cons :: One thing I didn't appreciate about this book is there was a lot of marital conflict between Hen and her husband. There was never any fighting and Hen was obviously trying her best to keep calm and peaceful even though Brandon was forcing lots of uncomfortable things on her. At this point in the series they were living separated and Brandon was forcing a divorce and complete custody of their daughter. The end of this book was a bit sad but hopefully it will all turn out right in the third book. ;D

Book number 3, The Mercy by Beverly Lewis, review to come in May's book review post!

Book Reviews

Voyage on the Great Titanic

By Ellen Emerson White

{Review by Bethany Ann}

This book is a fiction novel written in journal form. It is the fiction diary of Margaret Ann Brady, a girl living in 1912 who traveled on the Great Titanic when it sank. I have enjoyed reading various "Dear america" books which are fiction diaries to help make historical events come alive. This book was very well written and had much information on the Titanic, including pictures from the actual vessel.

Margaret, a 13 year old girl is a orphan with her older brother William. After living on the streets for as long as they could with little money, William is forced to leave Maragaret at a home for girls runned by nuns, while he goes to America to find work. After a while, Margaret gets to be a companion for Mrs. Carstairs, who is traveling to America on the Titanic, and desires a companion. So Margaret takes the voyage with Mrs. Carstairs in hopes of finding William once she gets to the States. In the journal, Margaret tells of her adventures on the Titanic, including the sinking of the ship and all that went with it. For Margaret, it was a new experience going aboard a fancy ship with fancy people, when she was formerly living on the streets, eating whatever she could find. On April 15, 1912 late a night Margaret gets a knock on her door from her butler Richard, whom she is slowly coming to like. When Richard tells her to come down with her life jacket, and tells her to loose no time, Margaret starts to worry but once assuring herself that she was on board the "unsinkable ship" that it was just a drill. But as time goes on she realizes the ship is sinking and with it, many of its occupants that were not able to get on the few lifeboats which saved them. Of even greater greif, Margaret realized that Robert drowned in the sinking and once she does get to America by a boat that happened to be out and able to help, what is she to do? Will she find her brother and if so, will they be able to get off the streets?

I really enjoyed this book...reading it in a whole day. I loved how there was much history but it wasn't boring...the writer did an excellent job making the book interesting by personalizing it with a girls view. The only thing I didn't appreciate was there was one kissing scene were Margaret and Robert kiss before the Titanic sinks, and one lady who was there used the Lord's name in vain once while expressing her awe of the sinking ship. but other than this I really enjoyed the book and learned a lot! I also thought it was neat to read the book this year, being that this is the 100th year anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Roses For Mama

By Janette Oke

{Review By Bethany Ann}

This book is about Angela, a teen-aged daughter living with her older brother of a year and her three younger siblings. After their father died, their mother became ill and followed her husband to Heaven. But she leaves her five children behind and little Angela is forced to care for them and raise them in their mother's stead while her brother Thomas works to make what money he can. When things get hard Angela wonders how she can keep it up and fears that she could never raise them in the way her mother would AND do the housework at the same time...it was just too much! And on top of that she tries to minister and witness to their neighbors and their parents did, hoping to bring them to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. And then when everything seems as if it will overflow a young man comes into her life and wishes to court her. Without her fathers guidance there to help her make some tough decisions and the weight of everything on her shoulders, will she ever make it? And  should she really marry this rich man who seems to know nothing of prairie life? Find out in this book!

This was such an inspirational book for me, especially being that I'm the oldest child in our family and can relate to Angela's problems and difficulties with helping raise her siblings after her parents die. I felt so rejuvenated and fresh after finishing it and it definitely helped me review how I treat my siblings and made me think about ways I might need to inprove. I remember the story being so sweet and crisp, and it was a wonderful way for me being that this is my first Janette Oke book I've read so far {despite the fact we own most of them...I'll have to read more! :D} I loved how deeply the affection between her and her siblings was and how genuinely she cared for them and their well being. It was such a loving, family filled book and I would highly recommend it to any girl! Janette's love for the tight-knit family was evident and poured through like refreshing sunshine with each page. I loved seeing this up-close view of how real families thrived in the prairie days without the modern conveniences of our day and time. But still they found ways to connect and stay strong together. Overall I loved it! I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!

Through My Eyes: A Quarterback's Journey

By Tim Tebow

{Review By Bethany Ann}

In this young readers edition of Tim Tebow's book we learn about Tim's story of faith, and football. Tim Tebow is the quarterback for the Denver Broncos NFL football team and due to his strong unwavering faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and his perseverance to proclaim it to the nations, many have been blessed and encouraged, including our family. In this book you will learn about Tim's early life which included being the youngest of a family with 5 children who were missionaries to Philippines, playing plenty of sports, being homeschooled and learning about the Lord at an early age. It also goes through a personal account of his draft in to the NFL to play profesional football and tells about the hardships and positive sides of doing so.

My family has been very inspired by Tim Tebow's life, mainly for his diligence to display God's love even while playing football and his impact for changing the world for Christ. Maybe it started when he aired the commercial on T.V. while the Super Bowl was going that was encouraging young girls who were pregnant not to get abortions due to the fact he is a pro-life and was almost aborted as a unborn child, or maybe it was when he would kneel on the field and pray to the Lord for guidance during the game. Whenever it was, we were so inspired to see someone with such a faith and to see it showed without fear in such a way. But anyways, yes we are big Tebow fans {not just my father and brother but also us girls! We normally aren't very interested in football, but when it involved faith such as his..I was all there! :D}But anyways when my friend {who is a HUGE Tebow fan...and a female at that!} purchased the book, I asked if I might borrow it to read it. She gladly loaned it to me and lets just say I read it in a day...unable to put it down. {Yes, football can be that interesting! ;D} I was very inspired by the book and even read it with my brother to find that my other siblings gathered around to hear it too! Most of you may not be into sports or football, but for those who are familiar with Tim Tebow and would like to read his book, I'd highly recommend it! I give it 5 out of 5 stars! {Notice: I only read the young readers version since that is what my friend purchased since the adult version was sold out. He he... I've not read the adult version and am only reviewing the young reader edition, although I'm sure the adult version is good as well!}

The Daughter's Walk

By Jane Kirkpatrick

{Review By Bethany Ann}

I had seen this book various times at the library and it looked good so I looked into what it was about on the internet to find that it was based on a historical family. So I thought I'd try it out. I never finished the book, so I don't know the specifics of what it was about besides the point that there was a family living on a farm and were about to loose their home since they couldn't pay their bills. The mother of the family along with her daughter took a challenge to walk all the way across the US in the dresses they were trying to advertised. If they completed this challenge within 7 months they would be given a cash prize, enough to save their home. So the mother left her older children and disabled husband at home to watch the younger children and she and her daughter set off on this adventure. And that's were I stopped. Why  you may ask? Well with each page I read I noticed more and more feminism grinding its way into the story. The whole idea of a mother leaving her kids at home for 7 months to go walk across the US without a male guardian...well that's a bit too much feminism if you ask me. Maybe it would have been okay if they didn't make it so obvious that they were all for feminism...but I just didn't think it was worth my time, to be honest. At first it wasn't very much and I thought I might be able to keep going and that it wouldn't go any further as far a the feminism level went. But it did. finally the feminism was just so much that I decided it no worth the time it would have took to read it. I'm sure it would have been a good story but I really felt like I shouldn't drench my mind in harsh feminism ideas for nearly 400 pages. For the portion of the book I read I give it 2 1/2 out of 5 stars.

A Love That Multiplies

By Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar

{Review By Bethany Ann}

You may have heard of the Duggar family or seen them on TV on the TLC channel. but if you haven't let me share with you one of the reasons why our family loves them-they have 19 children! {Yes, 19...no typos and they are all Jim Bob and Michelle's!} In their newest book, A Love That Multiplies they share about many things including their fiery trial with their last child Josie who was born three and a half months early, weighing only 22 ounces! They also share about their difficulties such as loosing loved ones and they also share an up-close view of how they live on a day to day basis. They shared lots of helpful advice as far as child discipline, organization and they also answer frequent questions such as "Are you going to have more children?" "How do you manage such a large family?" "How does your Christian faith play out your lifestyle?" "Do the Duggar's date or court?" "Why do the Duggar women wear only skirts and the men only long jeans?" and more!

I really enjoyed this book! It was so neat to get to hear about the ins and outs of being on T.V. each week...even though they don't have cable themselves and the things they have gone through as a family...but even more importantly how they used that to honor the Lord and strengthen their faith. The Duggar family has been such a blessing to us as a family and I must truly say that without their older girls positive role model, I wouldn't be who I am today! Our family has never missed a single episode of their show, 19 Kids & Counting and when I saw the library finally had their book I quickly got it and devoured it in two days! I'm sure that anyone interested in finding help with managing their family or for those interested to know more about the Duggar's would love this book and be encouraged and blessed by it! I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!

The Jewel of Gresham Green 

By Lawana Blackwell

{Review By Bethany Ann}

Jewel Libby has no choice but to leave the only home she's ever known for the sake of her daughter. She's told that she can find refuge in the small dairy town of Gresham where she can seek shelter at the vicar's residence. Little does she realize that her woes are not over. Instead of being taken care of, Jewel quickly changes roles to that of the caregiver for the ailing Andrew and gets deeply involved in all the members of his family.


I saw this book, while browsing one Friday at the library and since the back description seemed decent, I decided to check it out. Unfortunately, this is the 4th book in the Gresham Chronicles Series, that of which I never knew until after reading the book, however I still enjoyed it and will probably read the first books in the series. :D I must note that there were 3-5 "iff-y" things that were a tid bit "questionable" but they never got series, just kind of hinted around at issues I wasn't interested in. But it was a good story without too much romance..which I liked. So often it's hard to find good fiction with very little-to no romance involved, but I loved this book. The writer has a great way of making you feel like you are there in Gresham yourself and alongside the characters as they go through life. I especially loved the happy ending. It was very strongly portraying the good side of mother-daughter relationships and sticking together, no matter what, even when it's hard or extremely difficult. For those that would like a clean fiction without a boatload of romance then this is a book you may want to look into. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. {One star less due to the slightly questionable materials, even though they were not frequent throughout the book}.

Book Reviews

Raiders From The Sea {Book 1 in the Viking Quest Series}

By Lois Walfrid Johnson

{Review by Bethany}

When I first heard about The Viking Quest series, it was in a book review in a magazine I was subscribed to. The reviewer seems to have really enjoyed the series, but I didn't know if I would like them or not being that my first interest isn't exactly focused on water, the sea, vikings, etc. :D {I am for on the feminine type ;D} But when my sweet friend, and faithful pen-pal Haley told me that I HAD to read them, and said she had read the series 5 times, well I then knew they were must reads. So that following Friday I got the series at our local library. I was very surprised to find that the first book wasn't at all boring like I though it would be. I read it in a only a day and really enjoyed it! It would be great for all ages, as well as both girls and boys and would be a great read aloud book! It was very suspenseful and kept you interested and I would highly recommend them! All the books are very spiritually grounded and show the importance of prayer and trust in the Lord.

   The story is about Briana and her brother Devin who are captured by Vikings when they came to raid their Ireland community. The books are set in the 900th century, and makes reference to monks re-writing the Bible in their language. The story starts on Briana's 13th birthday. As she is out in the woods she comes to the spring were she sees a young boy whom she at first though to be their family friend, Tully. Remembering her fathers warning against the strength and danger of the quickly rushing water, she calls out to the lad who is crossing on the rocks. When the boy turned around, Briana finds that it sin't Tully, and that she doesn't recognize this new boy. The boy, in a rush to get away, fell and hit his head against the rock and had it not been for Briana's strong swimming strength, the boy would have died. After the boy is conscious again, he questions Briana and she feels uneasy with him, knowing that they was something not right. She goes home to get food and water for the boy, but when she returns he had left and practically disappeared. A few days later Vikings came and raided the land, and Briana and Devin are captured. To Briana's disbelief she finds that the leader of the Vikings is none other than the boy whom she saved from drowning! As Briana and Devin are lead away to the Vikings land to be slaves or sold, Briana and Devin look for a way to escape and go home to their family. Will Briana and Devin ever get to go home, or will they become slaves to Mikkel, the boy whom Briana saved, the leader of the Vikings? Find out in this interesting read! I give this book 5 out of 5  stars.

Mystery of the Silver Coins {Book 2 in the Viking Quest Series}

By Lois Walfrid Johnson

{Review by Bethany}

I really enjoyed the second book in this series, again reading it in one day. In the second book they start were they left you last at the end of the first book. The Viking ship stopped for a night on their way to the Viking home and while they did, all the prisoners were allowed to get off the boat and stay on the sand, with several guards watching their every move. Devin was set free in the last book, but Briana is still captured and Mikkel has no thought of setting her free since his mother is in need of a "spirited" slave. Finally Briana sees her moment were she is able to escape with Lil, a 8 year old who was also captured. Now Briana and Lil have to learn how to stay hidden during the day, and run in the night to keep out of sight for Mikkel's men who have been order to find the girls no matter what. Briana must learn of a way to keep herself and Lil fed as well as warm and safe from all others who seek them. As Briana gets closer to the place were she will get a safe vessel to take her home, Lil becomes sick. In the mean time a bag of silver coins turns to be missing from Mikkel's belongings and Briana and Lil are accused of being the ones who took them when they ran for their life. Will Mikkel find them before it's too late? Will Lil get better? Will they get to finally be home? And who really stole the silver, and will the truth come forth? Find out in this book! I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

The Invisible Friend 

{Book 3 in The Viking Quest Series}

By Lois Walfrid Johnson

{Review by Bethany}

In this third book, the epic journey of Bree, Devin, Lil and Mikkel continues. At the beginning of the book, the Viking ship had just arrived to the Vikings home-the home of Mikkel but not that of Bree. Once they got to shore Mikkel starts to assign out the slaved captives to a home to be their slave. Bree is assigned to be Mikkel's mothers slave and when Lil goes to another home, they are separated, unsure of when they will see each other again. In this book, you will learn of Bree's troubles and triumphs with being a slave, how she deals with knowing a grave secret of Mikkel's which could hurt her, if she will get to see Devin again as well as Lil and more! Bree learns that even though she is a slave, she is really free in Jesus and that her owners are the true slaves to their foreign religion with many pagan gods. Bree learns that God had a plan in having her come to Mikkel which turned to be helping share Jesus' love with her owners. During the book, Bree finds out that Keely, her younger sister who was taken captive by Vikings six years ago, is here and she looks desperately for her when her owners are asleep. But when finding Keely requires breaking a promise with Mikkel, what will she do? Will she ever find her sister? And what about Devin and Lil? Will they ever return home as a complete family? Will Bree survive being a slave? Will Mikkel's family accept Christ? What about Mikkel's deep secret? Find out in this book. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Heart of Courage

{Book 4 in The Viking Quest Series}

By Lois Walfrid Johnson

{Review by Bethany}

In this fourth book, the journey continues with Bree, Devin and Mikkel. In this book, Mikkel promises that he will give Bree freedom if she and her brother accompany Mikkel on his next voyage to Iceland and beyond. In this book we see how that voyage turns out and whether Mikkel will really keep his promise or not. During the voyage both Bree and Mikkel learn to have a heart of courage and learn to ask God for it. In this book, during a hard time with sailing, fog, problems-when everything seems to go wrong and comes to the point of near-death, Mikkel's heard heart is softened toward the God of Bree and Devin and accepts Him to be his personal Savior. So now that Mikkel has a change of heart, will he keep his promise to Bree? Will he ever get the heart of courage he desires? And will Bree be able to continue being courageous during this hard time? Towards the end of the book, we learn more of Mikkels deep secret, and when Bree kinds out the details, what will she think of Mikkel's "change of heart"? Is it still genuine? Find out in this interesting read! I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

The Raiders Promise

{Book 5 in The Viking Quest Series}

By Lois Walfrid Johnson

{Review by Bethany}

This was probably my most favorite book in this series. In this volume, the writer takes us to the last part of this series were Bree, Mikkel and Devin are on their last voyage together. Mikkel has promised to take Bree and Devin home after one voyage, and due to his stretching "one voyage" out to a long drawn out process, Bree wonders if he will ever keep this promise. But as times goes on and Mikkel proves himself by keeping that promise...and going far beyond that to be honest and forgiving, she sees that Mikkel has changed only by the grace of God. She realized he isn't the man who captured her 5 years ago and she realized how much she, herself has changed. Once they finally arrive home, Mikkel's deep secret only known by three people starts to unfold and this secret of a long since stolen item is returned with extra to make up for the loss. Through this Bree and Devin realize that through this hard act of obedience to God, Mikkel is being formed into the man God has called him to be. Once arriving home, Bree eagerly awaits Tully, for he had been said to desired to marry her once she comes home. Once Bree and Tully meet, Bree realized that Tully no longer loves her and that he instead loves her sister who came home in her place: Keely. Though deeply hurt by this, Bree trusts in God and ends up marrying another man...one whom she never though she would ever want to look at again, much less befriend or respect...much less marry! This book had a most wonderful ending and was so exciting...at times I couldn't put it down! Overall I really enjoyed this book and would whole heartily recommend the series to you! I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.


In Overview of the Series ::
This series was such a blessing to read. I always found myself wanting to read more and was surprised that it only took 2 weeks to read the whole series. ;) Not only was it wonderfully written fiction, it was one with a meaning, a purpose behind just reading another story. It was such an encouragement and blessing to see how Bree, Devin and Mikkel changed for good through the hard trials they walked in their own way. Each character learned to rely on God and trust in Him even in the worst of circumstances. They learned to believe in God for everything...even when it didn't go their way. They acted positively despite their harsh condition's and because of it, they had grown in their faith by the time the series was finished. I would HIGHLY recommend this series to everyone-boy or girl, young or old! They are wonderful books that are very inspirational and interesting! Thanks to Haley for encouraging me to read these books! :D

Book Reviews

Soul Surfer

By Bethany Hamilton

{Review By Bethany}

Description {From Christian Book Distributors}: They say Bethany Hamilton has saltwater in her veins, and they just might be right! How else could one explain the tremendous passion that drives her to surf? Nothing, not even the loss of her arm in a horrific shark attack can come between her and the waves she loves to surf. Read the story of this courageous 13-year-old and her journey from hospital to competitive surfing once again.

Soul Surfer is the moving account of Bethany's life as a young surfer, her recovery in the wake of the attack, the adjustments she's made to her unique surfing style and her unprecedented bid for a top showing in the World Surfing Championships. But, most importantly, it's also the story of her belief in God. It's a story of girl power and spiritual grit that shows that the body is no more essential to surfing--perhaps even less so--than the soul. Recommended for ages 8 to 12.

Through this honest book you will learn about Bethany Hamilton-a professional surfer with a heart for God. You will read about her struggles, her faith and her triumphs. At the age of 13 Bethany lost her whole arm in a surfing accident to a 15-foot Tiger shark.  Learn of her journey to becoming famous and getting back on the board, as well as how her faith got her through the difficult times and kept her going. 
I give it 4 out of 5 stars. {I have seen the movie Soul Surfer and approved of it except for the poor choice of swimwear, that of which I wouldn't consider modest. For those that are considering purchasing the book I must have you know that inside the book there are a few pictures of Bethany and her friends in bikinis and if you have brothers whom you'd not want seeing the swimwear then you might just want to rent it from a library instead of purchasing it.}

It's {Not That} Complicated

By Anna Sofia & Elizabeth Botkin

{Review By Bethany}

Ever been confused about friendships with boys? How to handle crushes? How friendly is too friendly? How close is too close? What to do when a guy is being way too friendly? What guys think about all this? What it means to be a "sister, in all purity"? Guy-girl relationships have always been complicated, but perhaps never more so than today. It's (Not That) Complicated is a humorous, hopeful, and deeply thought-provoking new look at guy-girl relationships in our times. Dealing practically with such complications as online interaction, Hollywood expectations, undefined relationships, and unrequited love, the Botkin sisters offer enduring biblical principles that can make it all much simpler.

{Description Taken From It's {Not That} Complicated Website}

I was very excited when I first heard that the Botkin sisters new book would be coming out soon! I was blessed to be able to purchase it when we visited Vision Forum while on vacation and in the area. To say the least, I read it in 27 hours! :) It was one of the best books I've ever read, and I'd highly recommend it to every Christian girl! It was full of Biblical examples of good and not so good examples of how women of the Bible interacted with men-for good or for bad and it made a lot of sense! These sisters encourage girls to find the much needed balance in between the two extremes of never talking to young men, and flirting. They give helpful advice on how to interact with young men in a way that we can encourage them instead of bring them down. I really enjoyed this read and learned a lot of helpful advice through it, and would highly recommend it for girls ages 13 and up. {Although if a younger girl got her parents okay I would recommend it to them as well} I give it 5 out of 5 stars.