Dear to Me
Wanda E. Brunstetter
Barbour Books
PO Box 719 Ulrichsville, OH 44683
www.barbourbooks.com
ISBN:978-1-59789-611-5, 2008, $14.95
Reviewed for Reader Views.
When faced with a major decision and desiring for God's will in your life, don't you wish that the correct decision would come to you like a bolt of lightning? Melinda Andrews has everything that a young Amish girl would want. She has been baptized in the Amish faith, and is being courted by her longtime good friend, Gabe Swartz. She has learned all she has to learn in order to be an Amish wife and mother. That is all that young Amish girls are supposed to be able to do with their life anyway.
Melinda has a job working with the local veterinarian. She is able to put her love of caring for animals and make additional income for her family until she and Gabe are ready to be married. Everyone in Webster County realizes that Melinda has a heart for wounded animals. She often has injured animals delivered to her farm for medical attention. She is also known to bring animals (tame and wild ones) home from the veterinary clinic for personalized attention. Her parents and brother do not understand her caring spirit and why she is so fascinated with caring for animals rather than attending to her family's needs as expected.
Gabe sees her caring spirit as a valuable trait as it means she will be an excellent mother to their children. The vet, Dr Franklin, sees additional traits in Melinda which would make her an excellent vet assistant or even a veterinarian. But she will need additional education which is contrary to Amish beliefs.
Melinda is so focused on her dream of becoming a vet a reality. She insists that if Gabe really does love her he will follow her into the English world. Being outside the Old Order Amish world is not foreign to young Melinda as she lived her first 6 years in Branson, Missouri while her mother was chasing stardom. Why is Gabe being so stubborn, doesn't he love her at all? Does loving someone require you to give up all your hopes, dreams and all that you have ever known? What will it take for Melinda to realize what God's plan is for her life?
Wanda Brunstetter is a wonderful story teller. She uses her experience in visiting Amish settlements throughout the United States to add realism to her stories."Dear to Me" is the third book in her "The Brides of Webster County" series. "Dear to Me" will have you seeing what is really dear to Melinda's heart and how God can work in your hearts and show how you can utilize your talents to His glory!
Showing posts with label animals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animals. Show all posts
Friday, March 28, 2008
Blessings
Blessings
Kim Vogel Sawyer
Barbour Publishing
P.O. Box 719, Ulrichsville, OH 44683
www.barbourbooks.com
97801059789-406-7, $14.95,. 2008.
Reviewed for Reader Views, 03/08.
Sometimes blessings come in the most unexpected places. We never know just how and when God will decide to bless us. Trina Muller can't understand why she feels compelled to be a veterinarian. She has always loved animals, surely God could use her love of animals and talents to God's glory. If she was just an ordinary girl, her dreams of college and a career wouldn't be such a big deal. However, she belongs to an Old Order Mennonite group. Women are not to have any education beyond grade school, much less a career. She is supposed to be content in just being a wife and mother.
She has a strong Christian Mennonite man who wants nothing more than to be her husband. Graham and Trina have known each other for years and courting for quite some time now. Surely an engagement and traditional wedding ceremony is right around the corner. Graham sees Trina's tender heart and encourages her to follow her dream even if the other members of the fellowship don't understand why she isn't content to live the life she has to. The only one in Sommerfeld who truly wants to help Trina achieve her goals is the young newly married stained glass artist. She has an internet connection and wants to help in any way possible.
Just as things look like they might be able to do both, their marriage and her impending career, disaster strikes and it looks like God isn't blessing them in any way but isn't He?
"Blessings" is the the third book in the Sommerfeld triliogy. Kim Vogel Sawyer doesn't disappoint in this final book and we leave Sommerfeld. There are moments where you will laugh, cry and find yourself cheering on the young couple every step of the way. I was sorry to see the book end and am anxious to read more books by Ms Vogel Sawyer. Take a trip to Sommerfeld today, you will certainly fall in love with the characters and simplified way of life!
Kim Vogel Sawyer
Barbour Publishing
P.O. Box 719, Ulrichsville, OH 44683
www.barbourbooks.com
97801059789-406-7, $14.95,. 2008.
Reviewed for Reader Views, 03/08.
Sometimes blessings come in the most unexpected places. We never know just how and when God will decide to bless us. Trina Muller can't understand why she feels compelled to be a veterinarian. She has always loved animals, surely God could use her love of animals and talents to God's glory. If she was just an ordinary girl, her dreams of college and a career wouldn't be such a big deal. However, she belongs to an Old Order Mennonite group. Women are not to have any education beyond grade school, much less a career. She is supposed to be content in just being a wife and mother.
She has a strong Christian Mennonite man who wants nothing more than to be her husband. Graham and Trina have known each other for years and courting for quite some time now. Surely an engagement and traditional wedding ceremony is right around the corner. Graham sees Trina's tender heart and encourages her to follow her dream even if the other members of the fellowship don't understand why she isn't content to live the life she has to. The only one in Sommerfeld who truly wants to help Trina achieve her goals is the young newly married stained glass artist. She has an internet connection and wants to help in any way possible.
Just as things look like they might be able to do both, their marriage and her impending career, disaster strikes and it looks like God isn't blessing them in any way but isn't He?
"Blessings" is the the third book in the Sommerfeld triliogy. Kim Vogel Sawyer doesn't disappoint in this final book and we leave Sommerfeld. There are moments where you will laugh, cry and find yourself cheering on the young couple every step of the way. I was sorry to see the book end and am anxious to read more books by Ms Vogel Sawyer. Take a trip to Sommerfeld today, you will certainly fall in love with the characters and simplified way of life!
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
The Horse with the Golden Mane
Title: The Horse With the Golden Mane
Author: Russell A Vassallo
Published by Krazy Duck, 2997
ISBN: 978-0-9776739-1-9
Are you looking for a book with adventure, mystery and romance all in one volume? If that is what you are looking for, your search is over. "The Horse With the Golden Mane" has it all. There are 3 short stories in this book which encompass all three of them: adventure, mystery and romance. This is a very delightful read by a great story teller. Russell A Vassallo brings his love of animals and being a gifted storyteller to life in this book. Even you don't initially favor horses, there is a dog as a major character in the first story.
The story "Eric" deals with a man who was freed from a Nazi death camp and exiled to America. He develops an unusual friendship between him and a Doberman pinscher. It is very exciting to see how this story comes to an end as there are many twists and turns throughout. I had a difficulty laying this book down while engaged in this story.
The next is the story of "Taj." Taj is a horse who hasn't lived up to his full potential as a race horse. Grant Larsen feels a connection between him and the horse and saves his life. Perhaps the real reason for Taj's existence isn't really racing but a different purpose. He chases all over looking for where this horse could have been taken. He is amazed and surprised when he sees what Taj's purpose really is. It's a heartwarming story with a tear-jerking ending.
The title story "The Horse with the Golden Mane," is a wonderful story of undying love of a man named Pierce Bernard. He frantically searches for his wife with a self-sacrificing love. Pierce develops a bond with an abused horse. The lack of trust in humans that this animal after abuse is very well brought out. Pierce finds himself talking with the horse and it becomes evident that the horse ends up being a very close friend to Pierce. In the process of getting the horse to trust him, Pierce learns very much about himself. Will Pierce ever find his wife Maya?
I would highly recommend this book to animal lovers and short story lovers. The stories are very engaging and addictive. My wish is that Russell A Vassallo writes more books like this one. "The Horse With the Golden Mane" is an awesome book that I will long remember reading.
Written for Readerview 4/07
Author: Russell A Vassallo
Published by Krazy Duck, 2997
ISBN: 978-0-9776739-1-9
Are you looking for a book with adventure, mystery and romance all in one volume? If that is what you are looking for, your search is over. "The Horse With the Golden Mane" has it all. There are 3 short stories in this book which encompass all three of them: adventure, mystery and romance. This is a very delightful read by a great story teller. Russell A Vassallo brings his love of animals and being a gifted storyteller to life in this book. Even you don't initially favor horses, there is a dog as a major character in the first story.
The story "Eric" deals with a man who was freed from a Nazi death camp and exiled to America. He develops an unusual friendship between him and a Doberman pinscher. It is very exciting to see how this story comes to an end as there are many twists and turns throughout. I had a difficulty laying this book down while engaged in this story.
The next is the story of "Taj." Taj is a horse who hasn't lived up to his full potential as a race horse. Grant Larsen feels a connection between him and the horse and saves his life. Perhaps the real reason for Taj's existence isn't really racing but a different purpose. He chases all over looking for where this horse could have been taken. He is amazed and surprised when he sees what Taj's purpose really is. It's a heartwarming story with a tear-jerking ending.
The title story "The Horse with the Golden Mane," is a wonderful story of undying love of a man named Pierce Bernard. He frantically searches for his wife with a self-sacrificing love. Pierce develops a bond with an abused horse. The lack of trust in humans that this animal after abuse is very well brought out. Pierce finds himself talking with the horse and it becomes evident that the horse ends up being a very close friend to Pierce. In the process of getting the horse to trust him, Pierce learns very much about himself. Will Pierce ever find his wife Maya?
I would highly recommend this book to animal lovers and short story lovers. The stories are very engaging and addictive. My wish is that Russell A Vassallo writes more books like this one. "The Horse With the Golden Mane" is an awesome book that I will long remember reading.
Written for Readerview 4/07
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