wonderful books

Never Say Never - Lisa Wingate
This is a fun story told from two perspectives alternating by chapter. Donetta Bradford has lived her whole life in the small town of Daily, Texas. At the age of 70 she convinces her two best friends to take a cruise with her. She thinks she has everything figured out to monitor the weather but fails to realize that she has no wi-fi in the middle of nowhere. Donetta drives straight into the path of the hurricane. She is rescued by Kai Miller who is trying to escape the hurricane as well. Kai is young woman that has never lived in one place for more than a few months. Although Donetta and Kai have seemingly nothing in common, they develop a great relationship and both realize what they have been missing in their lives. Friends can come in ages and stages of life. I received a copy of this book free from Bethany House.

A Measure of Mercy – Lauraine Snelling
The story is set in North Dakota in the early 1900s. Astrid Bjorkland is studying medicine under her sister-in-law Dr. Elizabeth Bjorkland. Elizabeth wants her to further her studies in a medical school in Chicago. Astrid is scared to leaving her small and safe town of Blessings. This becomes an increasing hard decision when Joshua, a man she once knew returns to town, and they have feelings for each other. Astrid reluctantly leaves for Chicago. She is very unsure of the direction that God has for her life. A missionary from Africa tries to persuade her to go Africa where medical training is so desperately needed. When she doesn’t hear from Joshua except for one letter and is told by her sister that is has left town, she decides to go to Africa. The book leaves us with her heading to Africa but does she really go? Is she making the right decision or just being influenced by what other people think? I received a copy of this book free from Bethany House.

Watch Over Me – Christa Parrish
This a powerful story of two people whose lives have been broken not only by war but by their own destructive behavior. Ben who is a police officer finds an abandoned baby in a field only a couple of hours old. He and his wife Abbi become her foster parents. Little Silvia’s arrival begins a process of Ben and Abbi facing their broken marriage. Abbi befriends a deaf teenager who also needs to be rescued from his situation as much as Silvia. Ben must keep searching for the baby’s mother, even though part of him never wants to find her. Although this book was a little hard to read at times it worth reading to watch two people face their issues and decide to rebuild a life together. I received a copy of this book free from Bethany House.

Though Waters Roar - Lynn Austin
This book starts with Harriet Sherwood in jail in 1920. She reflects back on stories her Grandma Bebe had told her growing up. The story weaves back in time covering four generation of women who fought for great causes. In Bebe’s childhood she assisted her mother in hiding and transporting slaves on the underground railroad. Bebe tells of her life doing her brother’s work on the farm while they are fighting in the civil war. Bebe battles an alcoholic husband even stepping in to run his business and keep it afloat while he is on a series of drinking binges. Bebe joins the temperance movement and fights until prohibition is the law. Harriet’s mother Lucy leads an incredible pampered life but realizes she must be involved in something bigger than herself. She joins the fight for a women’s right to vote. Harriet reflects the heroines in her family and must decide what a difference she can make in society. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I received a copy of this book free from Bethany House.
The Silent Gift – Michael Landon Jr. and Cindy Kelley
This is beautiful story of the love of a mother for her son. Mary’s son, Jack, is born deaf and mute. Mary never gives up trying to communicate with her son, cherishing the moments of recognition in his eyes. Mary narrowly escapes her abusive husband and lands a job as maid for a well to do family. It’s there she discovers Jack’s gift of prophecy. It becomes unsafe for her and Jack to stay with the family. She is taken in by a new friend who promised to helps her secure a future for Jack by collecting donations for a prophecy. Unfortunately the gift causes more some unwanted publicity and she is discovered by her husband. Mary and Jack become separated, Mary spends months trying to find him. It’s a unique book that really makes you think. I received a copy of this book free from Bethany House.