Book Review and GIVEAWAY! The Bride Wore Blue by Mona Hodgson

Vivian Sinclair hates being the baby of the family. No one thinks of her as an adult, and she is tired of not being able to make her own way in this world. Unable to forgive herself for past transgressions, and finding herself unlovable, she sets out to find a job where she can provide for herself. After numerous times failing at her job, she finally agree to take a job as a "hostess" at the local brothel. While she agreed only to serve food and drinks, she fears telling her sisters will earn her a sharp rebuke. When she is asked to do more than her job specified, she has to decide whether she should tell all to her sisters, or be scarred as a "working woman" for life.
I liked:

• The plot. Absolutely fantastic. I don't think that I could've thought of a better plot for the third book in this series.
• The history. This is the third book of Mona's that I have read, and I love how many historical facts she includes in her books.
• The characters. You can really get into the lives of the characters, especially because each book has had mentions of all of them.

I disliked:

• Nada, it really was a great book!

Content inappropriate for ages 13 and under:

• There is a lot of talk about prostitutes, and she does work in a brothel. I will put it this way; if you are comfortable watching Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman then you will more than love this book. It was never graphic at all, just implied.

Overall:
This was a fantastic read. I LOVED it. I wouldn't have changed anything, and I can't wait to read the next book!
This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Surprise! The publisher graciously gave me an extra copy to give away!

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Libbi H.

P.S. Check out this awesome book trailer! 

Almost Amish by Kathryn Cushman

Julie hates her life. She finally admits it. All the other mothers have it together, and they are not half as stressed out as she is. She is just trying to be the best wife and mother she can, but when her best is not good enough, she hopes and prays for a simpler life.

Susan is perfect. Unlike her unkempt sister-in-law Julie, Susan has her life together. Despite the fact that her husband left her for a younger woman and her daughter is pulling farther and farther away.

When the opportunity arises for Julie and Susan to become “almost Amish” for a tv show, they both say yes, and pack their families up to live a simpler life. As time goes on, however, they realize that a simple life is not as simple as it was thought to be.

I liked:

The way the book was written. It jumped from Susan to Julie perfectly, without a hint of a rift.

The prologue/epilogue. They fit together SO well. I absolutely adored it.

The dialogue. It was realistic, and the way the author wrote is was seamless.

I disliked:

I really liked the entire book, although it was not too much of a cliffhanger.  

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever thought it might be fun to live like the Amish for a period of time. It is definitely worth your time to read this book!

Thanks to the publisher for letting me review this book for free in exchange for this honest review.

Book Review: Call of a Coward by Marcia Moston

When you say that you will do anything for God’s glory, do you really mean it? That is the question Marcia Moston had to answer when her husband came and told her they were moving to Guatemala for a year. She has to endure a new way of life; nothing is the same. A different way of traveling, eating, and even laundering clothes. She meets many new people, and begins to fall in love with her small village. In this heartwarming story, Marcia shares how she responded to her call, the Call of a Coward.

I liked:

• Her writing style. It was very endearing. She wrote very clearly, but did not seem stuffy. She made me want to keep reading. It felt like she was speaking at my church about missions work.
• Her humorous tales. There were a few sections where I laughed really hard. She definitely had some funny stories.
• Her memories. I loved how she wrote very reminiscently, and yet seemed in the present.

I disliked:

• I did think the book seemed to end quickly, but there wasn’t much more she could’ve added, so I won’t fault her for it ;)

Overall, I enjoyed the story thoroughly and would recommend it to anyone interested in travel, biographies, missions work, or just a good story. It is perfect for all ages (given they can read :) because it is so pure. I liked this book very well!

This book was given to me for free in exchange for an honest review.