Loved Lowland of Heaven
596358
The author has a captivating style that brings you in to the story.  I found myself thinking I will read just a few pages tonight and then found myself saying just one more page. The characters came to life and I enjoyed following their trials and passions. What an enchanting love story.
2907716
This was a beautifully written vivid book.  It was a joy to read.  On a deeper level, it was so thought provoking.  It has really been a platform for me to ponder Eve and her life.  It leads the reader on a tragic story of love, life, mother hood, expectations, desires and regret.  I could not put it down.  I especially loved that the author used unpopular names for the well known characters of Genesis.  I gave me the opportunity to experience the story in a new and fresh light.  It was a real joy.
739119
This book covers everything I want to read in a novel.  People who love the Lord but are thankfully very real and human.  I loved the town of Abington, VA. and Norah's house, just felt like it could be by home.  The story I believe, is about all the journey's we face in life and how we cope with them.  Finding our way in this world, using our God given talents, community with other people,sorrow, joy, fun, laughter, friendship, can't forget great food, and of course romance.  Finding the one God has intended for you.  I could not put this book down, consequently I was up way too late until I finished it.  Now I'm sorry I don't have more to read roday.  Probably one of my all time favorite books, and I read almost every day.  My only criticism (hardly worth mentioning), I thought the book could have been not quite so long.  That being said, thanks to Liz Curtis Higgs for a great read.  Also fun to learn all about radio and how it works.  If you like a good story with a lot of content, great ambiance, heartwarming characters, people who live and love counting on God's "amazing grace", you will love this book, I guarantee it.
4368669
This book was so very beautiful. I love Steven Curtis Chapman's music and I find his heart for the Lord uplifting. I knew I wanted to read this as soon as I heard about it.

He writes with honesty and vulnerability. He takes you through his high points and doesn't gloss over his struggles. I have cried while reading books before, but it felt like a faucet was turned on with this book. I even knew what was coming, but it still flooded me.

While this story is heart-wrenching, I still walked away feel closer to God and believing in Him more than ever. That said, I would recommend this book for anyone who cares about the plight of orphans or who has struggled with tragedy even if they are not believers.

* Thank you to Steven Curtis Chapman, the publisher and Netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
2423133
Nan Rossiter has done it again. She wrote a wonderful multi-generational story that will resonate with many readers. It certainly did with me.  I related most with Laney. She really has her hands full as she balances a job, motherhood and being wife of a minister. She even agrees to host a wedding at their home after her husband volunteers. As most mothers do, she quietly deals with other issues at the same time.

A side note:  when my kids were growing up one of our favorite TV shows to watch together was Seventh Heaven. If you're unfamiliar with the show it was about the life of a minister, his wife and kids. This novel gave me the same feel as that show  which I think is high praise! We loved it and I enjoyed Under a Summer Sky just as much.

Noah, Laneys husband, delivered a sermon that struck an emotional chord with me. It was about appreciating and being present in every moment  especially the small moments. You never know when the last time you do something will be the last time. Anyway, when I finished that chapter I had to stop and wipe my eyes.

Under a Summer Sky celebrates family connections and the truly important things in life. Ill be sharing this novel with my sisters and close friends.
*I was given a review copy in exchange for my opinion*
3959169
I started reading this book earlier in the month.  I usually read quickly, and a mere 200 pages doesn't take long for me to consume, but this book was different.  I savored this book.  I lingered over the pages, rereading many.  I read passages aloud to my husband,  both to share with him but also just to hear the words aloud.  The author writes so lyrically, and her story is both deeply personal and universal.  She deftly combines the ordinary with the divine in a way that is both inspiring and profound.  I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

In structure, the book is set up in the four seasons, beginning with autumn.  That may seem like a strange place to begin the seasons, but it really is fitting, and not just because that was the season the author and her family moved into Maplehurst.  Each chapter is grounded in a month and a bible verse.  The sacred and the mundane weave together to form a tapestry, and the writer leaves the reader with a beautiful scene of heaven and earth.  If someone were to read all of the reviews I've written and pick only one book to read, this is the one.

I received this book from the publisher, Revell, for the purpose of writing a review, but all opinions are my own.
3681795
Loved it!  This bookexceeded my expectations and showed the true beauty and purity of Gods love. Really enjoyed it and sad that its the end.
4013414
I adored every page of LAKE OF DESTINY. Beautifully written, (as with all of Martina Boone's novels), I fell into this sweet romance set in Scotland and didn't want to come out! Anna is a strong leading lady and I rooted for her and her romance with Connal from the very first page. Perfectly paced, with traces of magical realism, I highly recommend LAKE OF DESTINY!
2784313
I read The Girls and Somebody's Baby by Elaine Kagan before I picked this book.  Those two were really great, but Blue Heaven was terrific.  Kagan has a magical way with words and how to express feelings through  generations.  The love stories in this book are so very touching that I  could not put the book down.  The only disappointment was the relationship  with Gilliana and her husband, Christopher.  Also, the title doesn't exactly fit with anything in the book, but this doesn't  really matter since you are too wrapped up in the magnificent story to  notice.  It is a shame the book is currently out of print, a big mistake by  the publishers, so go to the library.  Can't wait to read another book by  Elaine Kagan.
717447
Then Came Love unfolds in a beautiful setting, beautifully conveyed by Ingram. Her locate and characters are flawlessly brought to life by a writing style that is unobtrusive and lucid. I felt I was on the shore of that lake, listening to the call of the loons and was quickly drawn into the story of Amanda and Jackson. I liked both of them immensely and was invested in seeing these two decent people overcome the obstacles in the path to their romance. Pacing was perfect; the author never let scenes drag on too long. One of the secondary characters really caught my attention: Agnes. Would love to read her story some time.
2682378
Absolutely loved this book! Having lost loved ones, it reminded me in a sweet way that they will be in heaven to greet me. It was a lovely VERY REAL BOOK OF HOPE & promise. I have NO fear of dying!
3951605
One of the best books that I have read about heaven. So much to look forward to.
960
The tempo of this book was perfect, it laid out a rich, beautiful story with historical information in a touching manner. I felt very attached to the characters and felt that this was a meaningful example of undying love. I can't say enough about this, loved the characters, loved the poignance, everything. Haven't read a book like this in quite some time
3449846
Loved the beauty of this story. It took me to a winter wonderland, into a forest of wild animals, the wildness of Gods creation, a land that can defeat you if you let it or one who can make you whole and alive. The story of theft snow child took me back to fairy land, to a place or a people that you could imagine, that didn't have to be real and a proven package, but one you could imagine, sort of out of this world, one you could fly with. Great story.
2544735
I am not usually a fan of romance fiction, but I enjoyed this book. It took me a while to get into it, but it got so good that I had a hard time putting it down.

I loved the imagery of baptism - the whole dying under the water and being brought back to life - wonderful imagery of the dying in Christ and rising with Him that baptism represents.

Also, LOVED the imagery surrounding Tayte visits to the King - sitting in his lap, Him stroking her hair, comforting her like a father comforts a child. Beautiful. Makes me want to crawl into God's lap for comfort.

Love the representation of free will and how God allows us to make our own choices. Had Tayte made her own choice, rather than what the King wanted her to do, she would have missed out without even knowing it, which is what happens to us too, but we just don't realize it.

Love that the characters are real, flawed people who find redemption, not a bunch of goody two-shoes, holier than thou Christians.
857321
After a few recent disappointments, it was so refreshing to read a book like this. The language was so lovely and I adore how new words are constructed. Listen to this  when they had found flipper-footing they began to gallop toward me, as sheep hurry over their snowy field to a fresh-dropped hay bale, or pigs cross a sty at the clink of a slop bucket. Flipper-footing. I have a new favourite word.

I had before never ventured into the realm of selkie fantasy fiction, but Im glad to start here. Lanagan really captured the silent heartbreak of tearing these seal-women from the sea, the injustice and the cruelty of it. Although frankly, by the end of this book, I wouldve quite happy to stand around with Miskaella and Trudle and watch the men stay miserable. Having stolen wives for at least two generations (my math is probably not up to snuff), I thought they deserved all the misery they got. (But maybe Im just being very uncharitable.)

The book certainly did a good job of illustrating what an unhealthy love looks like, because none of these marriages, save that of Dominicks mam and dad, were healthy. Misskaella enchanted the men and trapped the women; the men could not look beyond themselves enough to set their wives free; the seal-women loved their husbands but loved the sea more.

The seal-wives were extremely docile for much of the book; stealing their skins seemed to sap them of the spirit to protest their circumstances. That was frustrating, especially since only Daniel seemed to have the guts to release them. However, the seal-women found strength enough to do what was needed to escape and protect their children.

I also appreciate the glimmer of hope there at the end, with Lory and Daniel's second meeting, him smiling. While slightly contrived, it was refreshing, like two souls breaking out of the shadows of the last generation. And Trudle I didn't expect to ever like her, but the final chapter from her perspective was so moving. I was happy that she was content as the island revived around her, that she discovered the last of Misskaellas secrets.

All in all, a lovely read and one Im proud to have on my bookshelf.
1695445
For Only a Season

This might be one of the better books that Ive had the opportunity to read in the recent past. I was expecting it to be a love story, but was pleasantly surprised that it was so much more. At the time that I read it, my mother was receiving hospice services. She has had a difficult time accepting that the end is near, but this book helped to comfort me with glimpses into the afterlife.

Scooter returns home to his family homestead after time away to mourn the death of his wife and unborn baby. He lives in the main house with his grandmother and uncle, who are quite up in years. Instead of only the story of Scooter finding love again, the book unfolds a beautiful story of family history and respect for ones tree (roots) which run deep for this family. There are so many unique and loving angles to Scooters journey and that of his beloved elders. If a sequel were to appear, I would love to read it. I found myself missing the characters in this book when it ended for me.