Wolfsbane by Ronie Kendig

I tried to read this book but could not get into it.  There were far too many characters, the stroy line made little to no sense and I got so lost I had to give up.  I made it through about 60 pages but could not convince myself to go back to this book that gave me a headache trying to understand all the intricacies. 

Naomi's Gift - Amy Clipston

Amy does not disappoint in her small Christmas novella - she continues to allow us the join theKaufman  family and friends in Bird in a Hand, Pennsylvania. We were lucky enough to visit them in the Kaufmann bakery series: A Promise of Hope, A Gift of Grace and a Place of Peace.
 In this one Naomi, who has had trouble in love in the other books finally thinks God has brought her a husband. This is her story. Amy throws in a little Christmas cheer and an enjoyable read for all.

Bobby Flay's Bar Americain Cookbook

This was an enjoyable cookbook, one with recipes I would like to make when I entertain. The pictures were pretty, the recipes easy to follow.
Well done.

Learning - Karen Kingsbury

Karen is a great story teller. She has done another great job of sharing Bailey's life and struggles as she moves to New York to dance in Hair Spray. She touches on all our favorites from books past but makes sure if this is your very first KK book that you aren't lost. (not something to be taken lightly)
Bailey is struggling with life, love and growing up - haven't we all been there. She is lucky to be blessed with her mom being her best friend (not all are so lucky) and surrounded by Godly people that she can learn from.
I look forward to the next and hope that Bailey finds what we all want - belief that we are following God's path for our lives.
Thanks for another great book Karen.

Along Wooded Paths – Tricia Goyer

This book picked up where the last one, Besides Still Waters, ended. Marianna decided not to go back to Indiana and stay in Montana with her English / Amish friends.  This continues to be her story with other minor story lines interwoven.  She is confused about the difference between the English and the Amish and these shows throughout the book. Aaron Zook, the boy she loved back in Indiana, decided to travel to Montana to see Marianna.  Aaron has an accident on his way and ends up with a broken leg and having to spend many weeks at Marianna’s house, sleeping in her room while she moves upstairs.  Ben, who is Marianna English friend, decided to pursue his music career and we only get a small glimpse of that in this book., I believe there is more to come with this as more of Ben’s past is presented in this book.  There are so many people to care about in this / these books.  And it wouldn’t be a great book without a twist in the end that leaves you wondering and hoping the next book is already on the shelf.

Beside Still Waters– Tricia Goyer

Marianna and her family move from Amish Indiana to a small town in Montana where the English and the Amish work together to make it work.  This causes a lot of questions for Marinna, who knew what her end result would be if she stayed in Indiana. She was going to get baptized and marry Aaron Zook and live happily ever after.  Being of age she has the option of going with her family or staying,  her father asked her to go for 6 months, Aaron asked her to stay, with her mother pregnant she decided to go help.  In these 6 months she starts to question if Amish is the only way. She meets many English folks who show her how to have a relationship with God during the week not just every other Sunday. They show her the English Bible vs the German Bible. She meets a man and is attracted to him, although she is English.  There are a lot of unanswered questions at the end of this book but the second one, Along Wooded Path is ready to pick up with this one ended.

I believe this is Tricia’s first book on the Amish and I love how she is writing it. She is doing a great job of keeping me interested and started to revisit my relationship with God.

http://jnut1-ilovebooks.blogspot.com

On The Way to the Wedding- Julia Quinn

After I got this book I discovered it was the 8th book in a long running series.  Well as with most romance novels, you do not have to read them in order.  It's written in Julia's normal, funny prose.  I enjoyed this book, it takes a different route than most romance novels for the couple to get their happily ever after but it was well worth my time.  I am now hooked and am planning to read the 1st 7 as soon as I can get my hands on them (which probably means they will not be in order yet again).

My One and Only- By Kriten Higgins

This book was long, and by long I mean long with small print. 

From the synopsis on the back of the book I knew what to expect.  Two people who were once married reunite at a wedding, crazy antics ensue and they end up back together.  That is exactly what happened, except not as many crazy antics as I would have liked. 

There is way too much time spent going back in the past and reliving those scenes so you have no idea what is going on in the present.  Some of it drags on for a little too long.  The ending is predictable and somewhat bland.  Overall, it was an alright read but I would not read it again.

One Summer - David Baldacci

This was my first book by David Baldacci, although it was an easy read it didn't thrill me or excite me but it did keep me interested enough to finish it.

Already Home - Susan Mallery

Really Really liked this book.
Jenna moved back to her hometown from LA after her marriage didn't work out.

This is the story of her, her employee, her parents both biological and adpoted and how it all comes together.

I love how it brought in the chacter, Robyn from her other books. I am hoping  for more about both these stores and these people in future book.
A great read for sitting on the beach this summer.

Always the Wedding Planner, Never the Bride - Sandra D. Bricker

This is the second book in this series, the first being Always the Baker, Never the Bride.

Sherilyn moves from Chicago to Atlanta to work as a wedding planner at Tangelewood (see book 1), it just so happens that her finance is from there and willing to move back 'home'.

As she settles in things start going south as her wedding dress(es) go missing, her allergy to her fiance, old flames on both sides.

This is a fun read. A little Christian thrown in, a few surprises that you don't see coming, a few things that probably were not needed to make this book good but over all a very enjoyable read.

Looking forward to the next one.
http://jnut1-ilovebooks.blogspot.com

Falling to Pieces - Vannetta Chapman

This is the first book in a new 3 book series.

It connects the English with the Amish.

Callie comes to town from Houston to see to her aunt's affairs. Her aunt Daisy owned a quilt shop in town before she died and Callie having suffered some heartache thinks a chance of scenery for a little bit might be healing. She is not interested in making friends – she is just there to sell the shop and move on – although she is not sure where she is moving on to. Life has hurt her deeply and she is trying to deal with is all – without God.

Deborah, an Amish wife and mother, asks Callie, to sell some quilts on EBay (which she pronounces wrong) to help out her friends. This story is really the story of friendship, acceptance, small towns and how they come together and there is even a mystery thrown in.  Deborah doesn’t seem to be looking for friends – she is looking help her friends, who have minor rolls.

Then there is Max, who doesn't love a story with a dog who takes on a large role.

 I enjoyed this book - there are some things that I am not so fond of, a few loose ends that I am still shaking my head about but liked it enough to want to read the second book in the series.