The Right Kind of Fool by Sarah Loudin Thomas

 

                                    The Right Kind of Fool

by 

Sarah Loudin Thomas

Thirteen-year-old Loyal Raines is supposed to stay close to home on a hot summer day in 1934. When he slips away for a quick swim in the river and finds a dead body, he wishes he'd obeyed his mother. The ripples caused by his discovery will impact the town of Beverly, West Virginia, in ways no one could have imagined.

The first person those ripples disturb is Loyal's absentee father. When Creed Raines realized his infant son was deaf, he headed for the hills, returning only to help meet his family's basic needs. But when Loyal, now a young teen, stumbles upon a murder it's his father he runs to tell--shaping the words with his hands. As Creed is pulled into the investigation he discovers that what sets his son apart isn't his inability to hear but rather his courage. Longing to reclaim the life he abandoned, Creed will have to do more than help solve a murder if he wants to win his family's hearts again.

My Thoughts:

The Right Kind of Fool is a compelling novel that will capture your heart as you turn the pages. This book kept me reading until I was finished. I love the character of Loyal. As a young man who is deaf, struggling into a world of hearing, with an absent father, this book speaks to the reader. 

I am a huge fan of Loyal. The author did a tremendous job of writing his character. As a reader, I felt as though I know him. This book addressed fear in a way that the reader can relate with, especially in our pandemic world right now. I also loved the Christian undertones of this novel. Overall, a great novel that I highly encourage you to read this year!

About the Author:

I’m a Christian, wife, fundraiser and writer living near Asheville, NC. I grew up on a 100-acre farm in French Creek, WV. I used to say “rural WV,” but realized that’s largely redundant. I LOVE my home state and the fact that I’m the seventh generation to grow up on the family farm. My love of the Appalachian Mountains informs my writing. I want you to be as wild about these hazy, blue mountains and the wonderful people who live in them as I am.

I’ve been married for nearly 25 years and I not only love my husband, I really, really like him. We started our journey together with three big dogs–Crockett, Precious and Sammy. We now have one small dog that requires more energy than the first three did together.

The Anne of Green Gables Devotional by Rachel Dodge

The Anne of Green Gables Devotional: A Chapter-by-Chapter Companion for Kindred Spirits

by Rachel Dodge 

About:

Devotional Inspiration Especially for Kindred Spirits
 
The Anne of Green Gables Devotional offers lovely inspiration that explores the theme of God’s love and faithfulness through the pages of the classic L. M. Montgomery novel, cherished by generations of readers. Each reading corresponds with a chapter from the book and invites you to embrace God’s redemptive plans for your life as His very own adopted daughter in Christ.

This beautiful 40-day devotional includes original artwork throughout, and each reading includes examples from the novel, scripture, life application, prayers, and discussion questions perfect for groups, book clubs, or personal reflection. It’s perfect as a personal read or gift for a bosom friend!

My Thoughts:

I had never heard of Anne of Green Gables until the Netflix series came out a short while ago. This little devotional is so cute and perfect. 

The devotional has gorgeous pictures and is small in size. You could put it in your purse or laptop bag for work. It contains 40 days of readings and starts off with a Bible verse and small devotional. The book contains scenes from the movies and or books that has an "apply" section for your life. 

This little devotional would be the perfect Christmas gift for any fan of Anne. I loved the color and smallness of this devotional. Pick up a copy today! 

About the Author:

Rachel Dodge is the author of Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen (Bethany House 2018) and the Anne of Green Gables Devotional: A Chapter-By-Chapter Companion for Kindred Spirits (Barbour 2020). Rachel teaches college English classes, gives talks at libraries, teas, and book clubs, and is a writer for the popular Jane Austen's World blog and Jane Austen's Regency World Magazine. She is passionate about encouraging and equipping families to grow closer to Jesus through prayer and the study of God's Word. A kindred spirit at heart, Rachel enjoys books, bonnets, and ball gowns. She makes her home in California with her husband and their two children.

 Mom Vs. Dad by Lucy and Tom Riles

About:

The not so serious guide to the stuff we're all fighting about.

While a husband and wife's parenting styles may be worlds apart, they both have the same goal: to raise happy kids who feel unconditionally loved. Mom vs. Dad is packed with sidesplitting and vulnerable personal essays from the trenches of parenthood. In this book, Lucy and Tom Riles tackle relatable topics such as:

Is bringing a toaster oven to a 5-star resort tacky or genius?

Is it appropriate to lick your plate clean at a restaurant?

Does the expiration date on food really matter?

Illustrations of family life will also be included in this intimate and inspiring narrative about the challenges and triumphs of raising children. Mom vs. Dad is the perfect gift for anyone who needs a relatable couple to guide them through some of the toughest (and funniest) issues parents face today.

My Thoughts:

Mom Vs. Dad by Lucy and Tom Riles is a book about the things that couples fight over in marriage with raising a family. Most of the time, it isn't the big things, but rather the smaller ones such as paying for a babysitter, sharing food, how should the toilet paper hang, etc. This book actually makes those things seem very light and comical when you read it. 

Mom Vs. Dad is a book that I believe is meant to be light hearted, while looking at the things that really bother couples in marriage. This book engages the reader in how they can communicate with their spouse in a kind, unattacking way. It may also help the reader to see that the issues that had been bothering them about their spouse isn't a big deal. Either way, this book is perfect for any married couple with a family working through life together.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions in this review are mine. #sponsoredbyfaithwords

The Blended Quilt by Wanda E. Brunstetter , Jean Brunstetter

 The Blended Quilt

by 

Wanda E. Brunstetter,

 

Jean Brunstetter

About:

Will pursuing Sadie’s dreams mean leaving a romance behind?
 
Sadie Kuhns has a lot happening in her life. She is creating a unique quilt by blending a traditional Amish pattern with a Hawaiian pattern as a tribute to her time spent in the islands, and she is working on a self-published book. But her relationship with Wyman Kauffman has stagnated after six months of courtship. He can’t seem to commit to a profession that would secure a future, and he is jealous of the time Sadie gives to her own pursuits. Is there really any reason to drag this courtship out? Only time will tell in this new novel from New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter, writing with her daughter-in-law Jean Brunstetter.

My Thoughts:

The Blended Quilt is another favorite of mine from Wanda Brunstetter. This book is different than other Amish books I have read from her, but in a positive way. I love the main character Sadie and her tenacity for being willing to try and go after difficult things despite obstacles. Sadie creates a unique quilt, while enduring hardship from family and friends due to something she received from her aunt. 

I continue to be a huge fan of Wanda and her daughter in law, Jean. Their writing keeps me reading and interested in the Amish community. I was captured by the story and could not put this book down. The level of character development and plot in this story was wonderful! I really enjoyed this book and will continue to purchase books by Wanda! Don't miss out on this amazing story! Pick up a copy today.

About the Author:

Wanda Brunstetter is an award-winning romance novelist who has led millions of readers to lose their heart in the Amish life. She is the author of almost 90 books with more than 10 million copies sold. Many of her books have landed on the top bestseller lists, including the New York Times, USA Today, Publisher's Weekly, CBA, ECPA, and CBD. Wanda is considered one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre, and her work has been covered by national publications, including Time Magazine and USA Today.

Wanda's fascination with the Amish culture developed when she met her husband, Richard, who grew up in a Mennonite church, and whose family has a Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. Meeting her new Mennonite sister-in-laws caused Wanda to yearn for the simpler life. In their travels, she and her husband have become close friends with many Amish people across America. Wanda's desire to explore their culture increased when she discovered that her great-great grandparents were part of the Anabaptist faith.

All of Wanda's novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Many of her books are well-read and trusted by the Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.

Wanda's primary attraction to the Amish is their desire to live a devout Christian life that strives to honor God, work hard, and maintain close family ties. Whenever she visits her Amish friends, Wanda finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties, which is in stark contrast to the chaos and busyness that plagues so many modern "Englishers." Time and time again, Wanda loses her heart in the Amish life, and she hopes her readers will, too. For more information, visit: www.WandaBrunstetter.com

Clouds: A Memoir by Laura Sobiech

Clouds: A Memoir by Laura Sobiech

 

About:

Originally published as Fly a Little Higher and now updated and revised to coincide with the film release of Clouds, Laura Sobiech tells the amazing, true story behind the song and the movie.

“Okay, Lord, you can have him. But if he must die, I want it to be for something big. I want someone’s life to be changed forever.” This is what Laura Sobiech prayed when she found out her seventeen-year-old son had only one year to live. With this desperate prayer, she released her son to God’s will.

At that point, Zach Sobiech was just another teenager battling cancer. When his mother told him to think about writing goodbye letters to family and friends, he decided instead to write songs. One of them, “Clouds,” captured hearts and changed lives, making him an international sensation.

This story is a testament to what can happen when you live as if each day might be your last. It’s a story about the human spirit. It shows how God used a dying boy from a small town in Minnesota to touch the hearts of millions—including top executives in the entertainment industry, major music artists, news anchors, talk show hosts, actors, priests and pastors, and schoolchildren across the globe. And above all, it’s an example of the amazing things that happen when someone shares the most precious thing he has—himself.  

My Thoughts:

This book by far has been one of my favorite summer reads. I laughed through this book, I cried on several occasions. In my opinion, it is WAY better than The Fault in our Stars. This book is the real deal. "You Don't have to find out you're Dying to Start Living" which is exactly the way Zach lived. Clouds, by Laura Sobiech marks the story of her son Zach battling Osteosarcoma, cancer. Initially, the outlook was good for Zach, but it came back attacking his pelvis, lungs and his hip, which is where it originated. His family knew they had been given a gift of a year or less for him to live and they need to live in each day, doing things that really mattered, being intentional about life and the things they participated in. Zach's mom wanted him to write letters to those who mattered, but instead he wrote songs. I never knew of Zach, until I read the book, but his song "Clouds" was a number one on Itunes. This book is a book that I will read over and over to gain perspective when life seems to get in the way. We often get caught up in our own worlds, in the busyness of life, in the mundane things that don't matter, but Zach teaches us to not waste a breath of time on those things. I need to be reminded of that. I loved this book and highly recommend it as one of your summer reads... It will make you laugh, cry and just make you feel human again.