Sunday, December 4, 2011

What else can happen before an Amish couple gets married?

Three best selling authors come together to produce a book about an Amish wedding. Each story is unique and yet tied to the others. By the time you have finished reading the book, you have the total picture. The basic story deals with the upcoming wedding of Priscilla and Chester. Kelly Long begins with A Perfect Secret, the engagement story of Luke and Rose. Rose is one of the bridal attendants for Priscilla’s wedding. As their courtship progresses Rose find that Luke is keeping a secret that she feels jeopardizes their marriage plans. The secret turns out to be about an English couple that he helping through some problems. Next Kathleen Fuller tells the story of Naomi and Zeke. Naomi, Priscilla’s sister, has been hurt by a previous relationship and has come to the conclusion that she is better off not married. Zeke, Chester’s visiting cousin, comes to fix a roof leak for her and as they get to know each other, he challenges her to move beyond that hurt and see what God has for her. Lastly, Beth Wiseman finishes with the story of Priscilla and Chester and the obstacles they encounter as their wedding date approaches. Rose comes down with a very bad case of poison ivy and Priscilla’s little sister used her wedding dress to make clothes and blankets for her doll. Through all of this we see three different couples move into relationships that will eventually lead to three weddings.

I recommend An Amish Wedding for anyone who enjoys these authors and the books they have written.

 
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Mercy Come Morning by Lisa Tawn Bergren


Krista, a college history teacher, has done her best to take care of her mother Charlotte who has become a victim of Alzheimers. Krista has never been close to her mother and as her mother’s last days approach, she is called to the nursing home where her mother resides. Krista has chosen the best home she could for her mother, one run by an old friend, in the town she spent part of her early life in. When she arrives she stays with an old family friend who begins to teach her to look beyond what she sees with her eyes. Dane McConnell, the nursing home director, was her first love. As Dane also encourages her to move beyond past hurts, Krista discovers the reason for her mother’s behavior, the hurts she experienced, and what drove her to be the inattentive mother she was. I don’t want to spoil the story for you by relating all Krista learns, but she comes to realize her mother has been unable to shower her with the love she craved because of a relationship that came to an abrupt end when her finance died in the war.

Previously released as Christmas Every Morning, I believe that title better fit the story. Taking place during the Christmas season, Krista begins to discover the joy of Christmas Every Morning as she better comes to understand and love her mother.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.