Unforgiven by Shelley Shepard Gray

Ex-con Seth Zimmerman has spent the last three years making amends by helping the vulnerable in his former Amish community. Lately, this mission includes calling on Tabitha Yoder, whose divorce from her abusive husband has isolated her from the community. Even though she never comes out of her house to talk to him, Seth knows she watches him from the window while he chops wood, clears her driveway, and drops off food.  

An uneasy friendship is just starting to take hold between them when small gifts begin to appear at Tabitha's home--gifts that can only be from her ex-husband. Seth might be Tabitha's only hope at maintaining her hard-won freedom from the man whose violent outbursts had almost cost her life. But coming to her rescue might mean he ends up behind bars once again.   

Get swept up in this emotional story of two outcasts who may be each other's only hope for happiness and redemption from New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray.

Cafe Lily's Review:

This was much more intense than the "usual" Amish fiction you might be used to. I found the story very interesting and it held my interest all the way through. I liked that there wasn't an overuse of the Amish Pennsylvania Dutch language, this was well written, easy to read and from a much different perspective. This has more suspense than romance, which made it very believable. Overall, I would recommend this one.

The Song of Sourwood Mountain by Ann H. Gabhart

While the century began with such promise, it is 1910 when Mira Dean's hopes of being a wife and mother are dashed to pieces. Her fiancé dead from tuberculosis, Mira resigns herself to being a spinster schoolteacher--until Gordon Covington shows up. No longer the boy she knew from school, Gordon is now a preacher who is full of surprises. First, he asks Mira to come to Sourwood in eastern Kentucky to teach at his mission school. Second, he asks her to marry him. Just like that. And all at once the doors that had seemed firmly shut begin to open, just a crack. 

With much trepidation, Mira steps out in faith into a life she never imagined, in a place filled with its own special challenges, to serve a people who will end up becoming the family she always dreamed of. 

From the pen of bestselling author Ann H. Gabhart comes a heartwarming story of the unexpected blessings that can come when we dare to follow the Lord's leading.

REVIEW:

I am a long-time reader of Ann's books and she is one of my favorite authors. I enjoy her gift of being able to bring her characters to life with her words. Ann has the ability to take events from history and then flesh out the story with interesting characters. This story unfolded very naturally and I enjoyed it. This is a sweet story about a "preacher and a teacher" - if you enjoy fiction and clean Christian romance, this is a great book to read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the Revell Reads blogger program. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

On Moonberry Lake by Holly Varni

Cora Matthews has long wondered why her mother stopped taking her to visit her grandparents' lodge in the small Northwoods Minnesota town of Moonberry Lake. Now, after burying her mother and breaking off her engagement just two weeks before her wedding, Cora has a chance to find out. Once there, she is stunned to learn that the old lodge is her inheritance--with a surprising condition attached. Maybe some time to regroup on the shores of a beautiful lake is just what Cora needs to figure out what's next for her.

But Cora's days on the lake are anything but relaxing. The only thing that's a bigger mess than her own life is the dilapidated building she's living in. Add a cantankerous handywoman, an angry neighbor, and an elderly woman who spends all her time talking to the "residents" in the cemetery and Cora's not sure she can stick it out. But if she can, she may find a love she never expected--from the most unexpected people imaginable. This homespun tale of new friendships, sweet romance, and ordinary miracles will have you wishing you could spend a summer (or a lifetime) on Moonberry Lake.

CAFE LILY'S REVIEW:

I've always heard it said that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but I did this time. The cover of this book grabbed my attention immediately and I loved it. While I loved the cover, I did not love this book. First, the print is very tiny and hard to read. I found it very taxing on my eyes. More importantly, though, I was disappointed with the New Age references and dialogue in this story. The "Christian" elements of this book are anemic and not what I expect from Revell. The characters were a bit much and a little out there for me. I just had a really hard time connecting to this one.

He Should Have Told the Bees by Amanda Cox

Beekeeper Beckett Walsh is living her dream, working alongside her father in their apiary until his untimely death sends her world into a tailspin. She suddenly finds she must deal with a new part owner of the family business--one who is looking to sell the property. Beck cannot fathom why her father would put her into the position to lose everything they built together.

When Callie Peterson is named in the trust of a man she's never heard of, she's not sure what to do. Her fledgling business has just taken wing and her mother has reentered her life asking for help getting into rehab for her lifelong substance abuse issues, making Callie's financial situation rather . . . precarious. She's sure she has no right to someone else's farm, but the money from the sale could solve her problems and give her the stability she's always craved.

As these two women navigate their present conundrum, they will discover a complex and entangled past full of secrets--and the potential for a brighter future for both of them.

Cafe Lily's Review:

The main themes of this book revolve around change, loss, grief, trust, grace, and so much more. And of course, the information readers learn about beekeeping and the habits of bees is interesting as well and nicely woven into the story. There's a hint of romance too but I like that it wasn't made the main focus of the storyline. I wanted to love this book but the print is very very small, which made it difficult for me to read. It took me much longer than normal, due to the print size. If you need larger print, this is very tiny and taxing to read. I was surprised to see such an unusually small font. 

With Every Memory Janine Rosche

With Every Memory Book Trailer

After a tragic accident robs her of the last nine years of memories, Lori Mendenhall comes home to a family completely different than she remembers. As her memory returns and past secrets resurface, it will take all of them to repair what's been broken and find a new future together.

Cafe Lily's Review:

The topic of this book was very intriguing to me which is why I agreed to review it. I wanted to see where the author would take me as I followed Lori Mendenhall on her journey. I started to get into the story at the very beginning but slowly lost interest as the pages turned. There suddenly became a bit too much going on all at once.  

I didn't like most of the characters, to be honest. I did connect most with Lori, but I found Xander and Avery to be annoying. I think it was the back-and-forth style in which this is written from various points of view that made it feel very disconnected to me at times and I grew bored. And while there are no overly descriptive parts or profanity, it does get a bit edgy so you need to be aware of that. More conservative readers will probably want to avoid this one.

Make sure you read the author's note at the beginning. To her list of topics, I would add high school bullying, sexual innuendos, and the car accident.

This was the very first book of Janine's that I've read. I have mixed emotions about whether or not I will seek out her other books. I was disappointed that God and faith were not a more vital/central part of this story. I don't think a book has to "preach" but I honestly didn't see much redemption in this story other than what the characters worked out for themselves. 

It was more about what they discovered on their own (regarding themselves), rather than turning to God in the midst of the tragedy.

I really believe this could have been made into a more meaningful story reflecting God's mercy, grace, and forgiveness in the lives of these characters. It just wasn't quite what I expected. 

Daughter of Eden by Jill Eileen Smith

Daughter of Eden

Eve's Story

When the greatest joys she has ever known are stripped away, the first woman must find the courage to face an unknown future

The first time she opens her eyes, Eve gazes on one whose beauty nearly blinds her, whose breath is in her lungs. Her Creator takes her hand and gives her to another like her and yet different. Together, she and Adam experience pure joy as they explore Eden. Her favorite moments are when the Creator comes to walk with them, day after day.

Then everything changes.

Through one act of disobedience, Eve finds that her world is no longer a friendly place. With remorse in her heart, she must face the unknown future--the births, the deaths, the sacrifices, the loss of the only home she has ever known. Perhaps worst of all is the loss of trust, not only with her Creator but also with the man who shares her life. How will they ever survive out of Eden?

Bestselling biblical fiction author Jill Eileen Smith imagines the life of the first woman to ever live, unspooling an epic story of love, loss, and the promise of redemption.

Cafe Lily's Review:

This was book was very interesting and well done, though it's hard to give a detailed review of it without spoiling the story. Biblical fiction is one of my favorite genres because it really does make you think about what people in biblical times might have experienced. Overall, this story gives some thought-provoking insight as to what Adam and Eve may have faced before and after the fall. They were the only humans in history to know perfection and then the harshness of sin after they fell. 

This story brings them to life and makes readers understand just how vulnerable they were after sin forced them from their home. They literally start from scratch with nothing after being banned from the garden. They have to figure out shelter, clothing, food, fire, and even childbirth.  Most of this story revolves around their survival after the fall.  

The overall message throughout the story is the redemption and grace offered to us by a gracious and loving God. However, keep in mind this is fiction and the author does take some liberties with the story which is expected in this genre. This is not to say that the story isn't interesting to read, as long as you keep in mind that it's not 100% scripturally accurate. 

Anything But Plain by Suzanne Woods Fisher

It's not easy being the bishop's daughter, especially for Lydie Stoltzfus. She's not like other Amish girls, as much as she wishes she were. The only thing she does well is disappoint others. Leaving her family and church seems unbearable, but staying might be worse.

Knowing Lydie is "between" jobs, the local doctor asks her to fill in at the front desk for a few months. To Lydie, this is a boon. It gives her time to figure out how she's going to say goodbye to her neighbor, Nathan Yoder--the main reason she needs to leave Stoney Ridge. Nathan claims he's in love with her, but she knows she's not good enough for him. If in doubt, Nathan's father reminds her frequently.

As Dok spends time with Lydie, she recognizes symptoms of a disorder rare among the Amish. She offers treatment for Lydie. But will it be enough to make her stay? Or has help come too late?

Bestselling and award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to Stoney Ridge, a small town that feels like an old friend.

Cafe Lily's Review:

I have read a lot of Amish fiction and if you prefer this genre, I recommend this book. It was interesting that the author included ADHD as part of her storyline. This was an unusual twist and made the story more intriguing for me. It was obvious that the author did her research and made this book more relevant since so many readers will be able to relate to this family and community.