Paradise Valley by Dale CramerPublished by Bethany House
Publishers
This is the first book I've read by Dale Cramer, and I decided
to buy it because of a recommendation on the front by Beverly Lewis. I am a huge
fan of Beverly Lewis' books, so if she said he's a good Amish fiction author, I
had give the book a try. I was not disappointed! I will definitely be buying all
the books in this series!
Paradise Valley is the first in a new series
called The Daughters of Caleb Bender. It is based on on a true story of an Amish
community that moved to Mexico in order to escape religious persecution in
Ohio.
As the story opens, we meet the family of Caleb Bender, who after a
run in with the police who are convinced that the Amish children are being
negatively affected by their "truancy" from school, decide on a whim to buy
5,000 acres in a remote, mountain oasis in Paradise Valley,
Mexico.
Caleb's family is the original settling family there, hoping to
be joined by others from their Ohio community in a year, after the Benders have
gotten established. But the move is a hard one for the family, especially the
girls. Rachel has fallen head over heals for Jacob, and cannot dream of living
apart from him, possibly forever. And Emma, secretly engaged to Levi, mourns the
fact that they, too, may be torn apart. Then there's Miriam, their older sister,
who has never been courted, and who knows her chances of finding an Amish beau
in Mexico are slim to none.
The trip is a long one by train, and then by
horse and buggy the rest of the way into the mountains. The closest town of any
size is a full day's ride away. But the land is so fertile, it seems worth the
ride!
In stark contrast to the beauty and fertility of Paradise Valley is
the danger posed by local bandits intent on taking what the Benders have worked
so hard for. The Benders had been warned of this danger, but had decided the
pros outweighed the cons.
As time moves on, and the Benders continue
getting the settlement ready, will there still be a place for the new families
to come to? Or will the bandits steal it all away? What will happen to the
girls?
Read the book to find out. ;)
Monday, April 16, 2012
Sunday, April 1, 2012
This is Your Brain in Love by Dr. Earl Henslin
This is Your Brain in Love by Dr. Earl Henslin
Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers
This book was provided to me free of charge from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my review. I am so thankful for that.
This is Your Brain in Love is a book that I could not finish. It didn't seem applicable to me, since it's mostly based on brain scans and their results. These scans are supposed to show exactly what parts of the brain is damaged (if I understand it correctly) and the resulting emotions they affect. I feel that the brain scan is a very expensive way to figure out how to stay in love with your mate. I have no idea what type of doctor to go to even if I wanted one of those scans.
I hate giving bad reviews, because I love books so much, and am thankful for being allowed to review the books for free. So I tried off and on for months to read it. I was too proud to say I couldn't get through it. I finally gave up.
Guess I won't be reading any more of his books.
Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers
This book was provided to me free of charge from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my review. I am so thankful for that.
This is Your Brain in Love is a book that I could not finish. It didn't seem applicable to me, since it's mostly based on brain scans and their results. These scans are supposed to show exactly what parts of the brain is damaged (if I understand it correctly) and the resulting emotions they affect. I feel that the brain scan is a very expensive way to figure out how to stay in love with your mate. I have no idea what type of doctor to go to even if I wanted one of those scans.
I hate giving bad reviews, because I love books so much, and am thankful for being allowed to review the books for free. So I tried off and on for months to read it. I was too proud to say I couldn't get through it. I finally gave up.
Guess I won't be reading any more of his books.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)