The Little Amish Matchmaker

Linda Byler

Good Books (Good Enterprises, LTD)

3513 Old Philadelphia Pike

Intercourse, PA 17534-7007

www.Goodbooks.com

978-1-56148-776-9

$13.45

187 Pages

Sandra Heptinstall

Reviewer

What a fun and delight it was reading this book. It was not your normal fictional book about the Amish. We find a younger brother named Isaac, who decides to get his older brother Simon to go out with his new school teacher. Simon tells him she was out of his league. No one as beautiful as her would go out with someone like him.

That just added fuel to the fire. Isaac tried in every way possible to get Simon to ask her out.  But all to no avail. Then in school the girl who sat across from Isaac would lift her desk top up and put her head in her desk and was always be blowing her noise. Isaac thought he would go crazy as he knew she did it just to irritate him most of the time. No one made the kinds of sounds like she did when she blew her noise.    

Then there was another girl who Isaac liked a lot who had problems with talking. She stuttered when she talked. Isaac tried in every way to help her but nothing helped. Poor Isaac did not know what to do. He had given up on his brother asking his teacher out. In fact he gave up on girls also.

This is just to give you a sample of what is in store for you when you read this book. I will be reading it more than just once. I have laughed and smiled a lot while reading this book.

Rated G

WINDS OF REDEMPTION

Winds of Redemption


Harvey Goodman

Jupiter Sky Publishing, LLC

2689 County Road 318

Suite 100

Westcliffe, Colo. 81252

978-1-617507-29-8

$14.95

337 pages

Sandra Heptinstall, Reviewer

I really liked the cover of this book. It brought back memories of my family sitting in front of the TV watching a good western. We also had a big bowl of Jiffy Popcorn to munch on and soda to drink. Soda came in glass bottles then.

This book is well written and the characters are engaging. This was my first time reading a western since I was about 11 years old. This book really delivers to all that like Western books.

In a Van by the River and Other Adventures of a Bor Again Aspie

In A Van by the River and Other Adventures of a Born Again Aspie


Dana Longpre’

Publisher: PCG Legacy

www.thepushinghub.com

ISBN: 978-1-936417-69-8

$11.76

191 pages

Sandra Heptinstall

Dana Longpre’ grew up knowing she was “different”, but could not figure out what it was. Her home life was terrible and Dana and her sister were taken away from her mom and dad. Then it was a life from one foster home to another. She had been moved eleven different times in three and a half years that included two hospitals and a group home.

Then she heard about Jesus and His saving Grace. She learned it was so much better to live the way He wanted. To give Him all the love that she had, knowing He loved her deeper in ways we can’t even begin to imagine. God gave her courage to keep going.

Dana married a special man named Joe. Joe helped her with her unknown problems. He could help her to calm down when something threw her day off. She had a list that involved times for everything. If things on the list were not met she would begin to have a melt-down.

Then they had a beautiful baby boy they named him Nathan. It is because of Nathan that they learned why Dana was different, and discover Nathan had the same thing. It is called Asperger’s Syndrome.

This book is special to me as I have a grandson who is nine-teen and also has Asperger’s. I believe that God sends us special angels who can help so many people. To me, Dana is one of those sent from above. If she had not gone through so much we might of never known about it. You are my angel Dana.

I also like the songs that you have written. My love and prayers go out to you. Thank you for sharing with us.

ASLEEP WITHOUT DREAMING

Asleep Without Dreaming


Barbara Forte Abate

Publisher: Halcyon Moon Books Publisher address: Amazon

ISBN: 978-061568549 (Trade Paper) BOO98SZUEG (eBook)

Price $12.99 (Trade paper) $3.99 (eBook)

Where authors get their ideas for writing a book has always amazed me. Do they come from the author’s soul? Or just kind of floats around until the author begins to put thoughts to paper? Ms. Abate is one of the best in character development and story line. I wonder at times if there is an older spirit that is trying to cleanse itself of old hurts and feelings in a young woman’s mind.

Willa is a young teenager who has parents who are terrible self- centered people. They don’t care about her. Willa calls them Martin and Stella. One day Martin hits it big at the race tracks and Stella was over joyed. But that night he runs off and leaves them with only a thousand dollars. Not long after that Stella wakes Willa and tells her they are leaving so get packed but do not turn on the lights. They put their bags in their car and then roll the car it until no one could hear the engine started. Willa asked Stella where they are going and Stella said to California. That there were all types of chances of making their life better there.

The broken down car takes them only so far and then it just dies. A man in a truck stops and gives them a lift to Omega Pearl Bodie who owns, “The Moonglow”, and rents out cottages she has. The man said he would have someone take a look at her car, and let her know the condition. When Stella got the news that the car could not be fixed she stayed in their cottage and was always planning a way to leave. She did get a job cleaning rooms, but it was mainly Willa who did the majority of the work at Moonglow.

Omega was the town’s gossip. She told them they had an escape prisoner who ran around setting fires to thing and they should be careful until he is caught. One day Willa saw a teenage boy working at the moonglow also. His name was Jesse Truman and he did odd jobs for Omega. As time goes on Jesse and Willa begin to talk. Eventually they fall in love. It is the first time anyone has loved Willa and she loves Jesse. It is also the last time Willa will ever love anyone.

This book shows the darker side of life. It will not make you smile or feel like laughing. You will read things that could happen in real life. We don’t live in the perfect world. Everyone who reads this book will come to their own conclusion as to why this book ended the way it did. To me the ending is sad, but it is the only way this story could end. Rated PG

Raising Wild Ginger

Sometimes I don’t think authors realize how profound their story can be to readers. This is a book of fiction, but also one that can make you cry. I had the pleasure of reading the first book of this series and really enjoyed it. This is an extension of two men from the first book.

Edward and Sam are two gay men who love each other with all of their hearts. Yet Sam feels there is one thing missing in their relationship that would cement them as a family. That is to adopt a child.

Edward was against it at first. It would change their world as they knew it. A child needed a lot of attention and Edward was not sure if he had it in him to give to a child. It was not about the cost of raising a child as Edward was a multi-millionaire. Sam was a professor and made good money himself.

So what was the biggest problem Edward faced? It was the fact that they were both damaged men. While the world was changing and more accepting of gay people…some family members were not. Edward at one time had been an alcoholic and drug user. He still went to meetings even thought it had been years since he used or drank. He still had his sponsor to turn to in case he felt like he may slip.

One night Sam asked Edward again about having a baby. Then out of the blue Edward surprised them both by saying yes. What happens is the baby came, but she is twelve years old and has been through hell numerous times. Her name is Ginger.

This book has the potential of reaching some readers who think gay people are scum bags. Of understanding also that there are kids who go through what Ginger has. I had to take a deep breath and dry my eyes at times.

Three damage souls who become a loving family. The perfect ending, it does not get any better than that.

Rated PG

Trading Christmas

Trading Christmas


Debbie Macomber

Mira Book, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada

978-0-7783-1334-2

$15.95

362 pages

Sandra Heptinstall

Reviewer

When I first received this book, I thought it was going to be like the movie, “The Holiday”. Much to my delight the only thing that was the same is that two people trade homes for the holiday. This book is a warm, feel good read. It has the happy ending that one comes to expect from this author.

Then I discovered the author had put another book at the end of the first story. I have to tell you that if a book built around Christmas does not make me cry, then it is not good. Both of the stories did, and I was ready and had a box of Kleenex next to me.

The Christmas Note

The Christmas Note


Donna VanLiere

St Martins, Press……..175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 100l0

www.stmartins.com

978-0-312-65896-0

$14.99

208 pages

Rated G

Sandra Heptinstall

Reviewer

This story is different than any other Christmas book I have read. While this story brings all the warmth and joy that comes with Christmas; it is also filled with one surprise after another. Mystery abounds in this book.

I love the way the author ties up the ending except for one thing, and I can’t even tell you what it is without spoiling the book for you. I can only tell you to read the book for yourself.

I enjoyed this book and hope you will also.