Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr

A well written love story that beautifully portrays one woman’s deep faith in her God. I was enchanted by the setting of this story and it was easy to get caught up in the characters lives because of it. It is a slightly new twist on the traditional love story, making this story seem fresh and exciting. The Christian themes are not as watered down as you sometimes find in this kind of fiction, and I think this is a very uplifting and encouraging book . I would recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction and romance without all the smut, and anyone who needs a spiritually uplifting, yet thoroughly entertaining book. I received this book from the publisher, Bethany House, in return for an unbiased review.

She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell

I honestly did not expect to like this book. I went into it expecting it to be predictable and “fluffy”. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The characters were three dimensional and kept my interest throughout the entire novel. The historical aspect of the book was fascinating, not at all boring as I find some historical fiction to be. The main character is likable and interesting, and I found myself really getting into her head. I very much enjoyed this book and am interested in reading more by this author! I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in return for an unbiased review.

Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson

This is a story about several widows who are given the chance to have their own land and homes in the west. Unfortunately, they were tricked. They had actually been advertised as brides and dance partners for some farmers and ranchers in the town of Coyote. When they discover the truth and share it with the others, six of the women decide to stay in the town of Plum Grove where they are welcome and where they have a chance to build new lives for themselves. As they build a place for themselves in the world, there is new love for some, and friendships for all. The overall story is inspiring and a good read. However, the author goes into great detail about the “brides” in the beginning, which was a bit too much in my opinion. I started to get bored trying to keep up with all the different woman. I think focusing in a smaller group in the beginning would have made it more enjoyable. As the story continues and the women go on to build their lives, the pace picks up and the story ends up being quite enjoyable. So, if you can push through the beginning, ultimately the book is worth it. The descriptions of the community and neighbors was uplifting and encouraging. It is a fairly easy read and if you like Historical Fiction, you will probably enjoy it. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in return for an unbiased review.

Somewhere to Belong by Judith Miller

This is the story of two girls, both living in the same colony in 1877, but with very different personalities. Life in the colony is far different than the “simple life” it is meant to be, as secrets and lies abound. I found the characters in this story to be well developed, but the story itself was lacking for me. I felt that the community of Amana described in the book encompassed everything that is wrong with Christianity. The majority of the people seemed to be incapable of giving grace and really showing God’s love. It didn’t leave me with a good feeling, but merely frustrated. I wanted to like the community, but it seemed such an unlikable group. I would be willing to give the next book in the series a try to see where it ends up going. I received this book from the publisher, Bethany House, in return for an impartial review.

Mystically Wired by Ken Wilson

I had a very hard time getting into this book. I was expecting something very profound that could be used to take ones prayer life to new levels. However, the first part of the book was very dry and focused too much on “praying brain research” for my taste. However, if you are interested in how thinking/praying effects brain function, it might be worth your time to read. Toward the end of the book there are some practical applications that I found helpful as far as approaching prayer, such as the use of prayer aids and the concept of praying at intervals. I think much of this information could be successfully used to get out of a prayer rut, or, as the author says, explore new realms of prayer. A lot of boring reading to get through for a little bit of insight. Just not my kind of book. I received this copy from Thomas Nelson in exchange for an impartial review.