Hidden - Shelley Shepard Gray

Rating: 4 Tell a Friend over a Derby pie (ääää)

Pages: 272

Challenges: Pub Challenge, 1st in a series (Sisters of the Heart), Summer Thing

Synopsis (from BN.com)
When Anna decides it's time to leave her abusive boyfriend, she doesn't know where to turn. Rob has completely won over her parents, and the entire community, with his good looks and smooth charm. Only Anna has seen his dark side.
Desperate, she runs to the only place she's ever felt completely safe—the Amish Brenneman Bed and Breakfast, where Anna met life-long friend Katie Brenneman. The family welcomes her in, and with few questions asked allows her to stay, dressed in Plain clothing, and help around the inn.
Katie's older brother Henry is the only one who doesn't take too kindly to the intrusion. He tries to ignore Anna, knowing no good would ever come from caring for an Englisher like her. But as he gets to know Anna, he discovers her good heart and is surprised with her readiness to accept their lifestyle.
The more time Anna spends with the Amish, the more she feels she's found a true home. But how can she deny the life she left behind? And will her chance for happiness be stolen away by the man from her past?

Review

Fabulous! I really enjoyed this and it was a great book to read during the Read-a-thon. I liked that a majority of the characters were Christians when the book started, so it wasn't the Christian formula that someone finds God - they have God from the beginning. It was entertaining and kept me turning the pages. I even gave this to my friend who was doing the read-a-thon with me and she read it in one sitting too! I can't wait to the other books of the series come out!

Quilters Apprentice - Jennifer Chiaverini

Rating: 4
Pages: 272
Challenges: 1st in a Series, Spring Thing, A-Z Challenge: Q title

Synopsis (from BN.com)
Tangled, anxious thoughts relaxed when she felt the fabric beneath her fingers and remembered that she was creating something beautiful enough to delight the eyes as well as the heart, something strong enough to defeat the cold of a Pennsylvania winter night. She could do these things. She, Sarah, had the power to do these things.

From debut novelist Jennifer Chiaverini comes The Quilter's Apprentice, a delightful, timeless story of loyalty and friendship.
When Sarah McClure and her husband, Matt, move to the small town of Waterford, Pennsylvania, to get a fresh start, Sarah struggles to find a fulfilling job. Disheartened by failed interviews, she reluctantly accepts a temporary position at Elm Creek Manor helping seventy-five-year-old Sylvia Compson prepare her family estate for sale after the recent death of Sylvia's estranged sister. As part of her compensation, Sarah is taught how to quilt by this reclusive, cantankerous master quilter.

During their lessons, Mrs. Compson slowly opens up to Sarah, sharing powerful, devastating stories of her life as a young woman on the World War II home front. Hearing tales of how Mrs. Compson's family was torn apart by tragedy, jealousy, and betrayal, Sarah is forced to confront uncomfortable truths about her own family -- truths that she has denied for far too long. As the friendship between the two women deepens, Mrs. Compson confides that although she would love to remain at her beloved family estate, Elm Creek Manor exists as a constant, unbearable reminder of her role in her family's misfortune. For Sarah, there can be no greater reward than teaching Mrs. Compson to forgive herself for her past mistakes, restoringlife and joy to her cherished home.

Heartfelt and inspiring, The Quilter's Apprentice teaches deep lessons about family, friendship, and sisterhood -- and about creating a life as you would a quilt: with time, love, and patience, piecing the miscellaneous and mismatched scraps into a harmonious, beautiful whole.

Review
I really enjoyed this book and plan on reading the series. My Mother and Grandmother are quilters and I have gone to the Paducah, Kentucky quilt show that is mentioned in the book with my Mother. Mom has taught me how to quilt but I rarely have time to try! I am lucky to have many handmade quilts from my Mom, Grandmother, and Aunt Teresa. I would love to go to Elm Creek to a Quilt retreat - and I think my Mom would too! I really enjoyed the history of the quilts and am looking forward to more of the series.

This was my initial concern joining the 1st in a Series Challenge...I would have to read ALL the books in the series!! Ha! I have started a Series List here. It's a good way for me to track what books are left.

Love Comes Softly - Janette Oke

Rating: 5 Better than a new Derby Hat and the winning horse (¨¨¨¨¨)
Pages: 240
Challenges: Novella Challenge, 1st in a Series, A-Z Challenge L: Title

I read this book because I love the Hallmark movie and the book didn't disappoint! It is about Marty who looses her husband as soon as they get to the west. All she has to her name is a covered wagon with a broken wheel. A man proposes that he marries her, because he needs a mother for his young daughter (his wife died also) and she needs a house. Clark promises her that if she stays through the winter he will pay her fare to go back to the East. This story is about Marty and Clark's relationship and how Marty learns to be a homestead wife and mother. Also, Marty is pregnant with her husband, Clem's baby.
If you have seen the movie the book is different, but with the same story line. For example, in the movie Missy - Clark's daughter is 6 or 7 years old, in the book she is 2. In the movie, Marty learns to cook from some books she bought in the book one of the neighbors teaches her to cook and shares her recipes with her. Also in the book you learn a lot more about the neighbors and the ending is different than the movie. The ending has the same result, but it is a different climatic end. I would recommend this book and can't wait to read the rest of the series!!

1st In a Series

I decided to join Thoughts of Joy's First in a Series Challenge. Here are the rules:

• Read 12 books that are the first in any series (new authors not required)


• You may read your chosen books any time during the year; however, most plan to read one a month

A lot of people selected mysteries...these aren't my favorite books so I have searched Amazon for 1sts and here is what I came up with.

1. Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke (Love Comes Softly Series)
2. The Quilter's Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini (Elm Creek Series)
3. The Negotiator by Dee Henderson (O’Malley Series)
4. Dakota Born by Debbie Macomber (Dakota Series)
5. High Country Bride - Linda Lael Miller (The McKettrick Series)
6. Land of my Heart by Tracie Peterson (Heirs of Montana)
7. Cape Refuge by Terri Blackstock (Cape Refuge Series)
8. The Texan's Touch by Jodi Thomas (Texas Brothers Trilogy)
9. To Love and to Cherish by Patricia Gaffney (Wyckerley Trilogy)
10. For the Roses by Julie Garwood (Clayborne Series)
11. Shameless by Karen Robards (Banning Sisters Trilogy)
12. A Great and Terrible Beauty – Libba Bray (book 1) (YA)

I am looking forward to reading these and have started the Negoitator!