A Woodland Miracle by Ruth Reid

Overview: Grace feels like she can't measure up to those around her, and Ben could use a good dose of humility.

In their small northern Michigan district, where women outnumber men three to one, Grace doesn't believe she will ever attract a husband, especially with her limp. Tired of struggling both emotionally and physically, Grace is ready to see the specialist in Ohio, even if it means going against everything she's heard about God's grace being sufficient.

Ben Eicher is a young man from Pinecraft, Florida, whose carefree ways have caused him to lose his father's respect-again. According to Ben, though, life shouldn't be so serious that it suffocates all the fun. When he is sent to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to get his life back on track, he never thought it would mean working alongside a woman-especially a hardworking one like Grace. The last thing Grace wants is another friendship with a man who pities her.

Meanwhile, the Amish community becomes entangled with two potentially dangerous men on the run. When Ben discovers Grace has been kidnapped, he sets out to find the woman who has captured his heart and risks his own life when he attempts to lure the captors away.

Grace must learn that God's love is sufficient, and Ben is left to ponder whether he belongs back in Florida, or in the northern woods-with Grace.

ISBN-13: 9781401688301
Publisher: Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date: 1/6/2015
Series: Amish Wonders Series, #2
Pages: 352

Buy It: B&N | Amazon | CBD

My Review: I can't even describe how fantastic this book was! Ruth Reid has a knack for pulling you in to a story and not letting you go until the very end. The plot was engaging, thrilling, and so good! The trouble that comes to the small community at Badger Creek is completely unexpected. Even though the action starts at the halfway point, the plot is still engaging up to that point. It gives you a better hint into the lives of the main characters.

Speaking of the characters... I LOVED Ben! I think that's how the author intended him to be. He was funny, kind, caring, and completely human. His view of himself, especially after all the mischief he'd made, was natural. His attraction to Grace didn't feel forced. Grace is hardworking, caring, and terrified of her future. Her view of herself, because of her limp, is disheartening. I think Ben is exactly the type of guy she needed to pull her out of her insecurities.

The message of the story, as stated on the back cover, is learning that God's love is sufficient. The verse used over and over in the story drives this point home: "And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness..." 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV). Anyone who has ever experienced any kind of weak moment or illness or disease can understand and cling to this verse. As my preacher said on Sunday, God doesn't always choose the strongest, most handsome person to use for His glory because He can see what's on the inside, not outward appearances that man sees. How comforting!

Overall, I loved this story and I certainly look forward to more from this amazing author.

**Thank you, BookLook, for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.**

Learn more about Ruth Reid
Connect with Ruth: Facebook | Twitter

An Amish Second Christmas: Four Christmas Novellas

Overview: Second Christmas is a time of family, fun, and tradition in Amish communities. Come celebrate this special time with four heartwarming Amish romances.
 

When Christmas Comes Again, by Beth Wiseman:
Katherine knows the first Christmas without Elias will be hard for her and the children. But when a mysterious Englischer appears with photographs of her late husband, Katherine begins to wonder what other blessings Christmas could have in store.

A Gift for Anne Marie, by Kathleen Fuller:
Anne Marie and Nathaniel have been best friends since they were kids. Now things are evolving . . . in ways everyone else predicted long ago. But when her mother suddenly decides to remarry in another state, Anne Marie’s new chapter with Nathaniel looks doomed to end before it begins.

Her Christmas Pen Pal, by Ruth Reid:
Joy was expecting a wedding proposal from Henry — what she got instead was news of another woman. But when her heartfelt letter to a cousin ends up in the hands of a young cabinetmaker, an unexpected correspondence between two strangers gets interesting fast.

The Christmas Aprons, by Tricia Goyer:
Vanilla crumb pie has been Esther’s mem’s calling card for decades. But when Esther finally gets her hands on the secret recipe, she discovers that vanilla crumb pie is more than just dessert . . . it’s bachelor bait.

ISBN-13: 9781401689810
Publisher: Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date: 10/14/2014
Pages: 423

Buy It: B&N | Amazon | CBD

My Review: When Christmas Comes Again by Beth Wiseman - Understanding that the author's intentions for this novella were to show the blessings of family, this story is wonderful. It also does a wonderful job of showing that everyone grieves differently. Each member in Katherine's family is struggling with the loss of their loved one, but God's grace and love flow over them in the form of the "mysterious Englischer" that shows up in their lives.

Her Christmas Pen Pal by Ruth Reid - What a beautiful story! I absolutely LOVED the letters between Joy and her pen pal. That element added a special touch to the overall story. It also helped develop the relationship between Joy and Noah, before either character realized it.The message of the story, in my opinion, was about learning to trust the Lord with our future. Both characters had to learn to trust the Lord to overcome their fears.

A Gift for Anne Marie by Kathleen Fuller -  I love this kind of story (I won't say what kind it is because it might be considered a spoiler!). The relationship between Nathaniel and Anne Marie evolves and changes in ways neither one of them understand, so it was fun to watch them trying to figure it out. The message of the story is learning to trust in God's plan for your life, even when you don't think things are going the way they should. God knows what He's doing, and learning to "let go" and "let God" is sometimes hard.

The Christmas Aprons by Tricia Goyer - This was a fantastic story. The character development was well thought out and presented. The story line was sweet and swift moving. My favorite part, though, was the message. Esther has to learn to overcome her self-doubt, her fear of what others might think, in order to embrace the plans that God has for her. How many of us are doing the same thing??

Overall, this collection of Christmas novellas was sweet and the messages were well written and thought out. I thoroughly enjoyed them.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the BookLook blogging program in exchange for my honest review.*

About the Author:

Award-winning, bestselling author Beth Wiseman is best known for her Amish novels, but she has also written several successful contemporary novels, set primarily in her beloved Texas, inlcuding Need You Now and The House that Love Built. Both have received glowing reviews. Beth's The Promise is inspired by a true story. Website: www.bethwiseman.com

Kathleen Fuller is the author of several bestselling novels, including A Man of His Word and Treasuring Emma, as well as a middle-grade Amish series, The Mysteries of Middlefield. Website: www.kathleenfuller.com

Ruth Reid is a CBA and ECPA best-selling author of the Heaven on Earth series. She's a full-time pharmacist who resides in Florida with her husband and three children.

USA Today best-selling author Tricia Goyer is the author of 35 books, including the three-book Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series. She has written over 500 articles for national publications and blogs for high traffic sites like TheBetterMom.com and MomLifeToday.com. Tricia and her husband John live in Little Rock, Arkansas where John works for FamilyLife. They have six children.

A Miracle of Hope by Ruth Reid

Overview: She’s heard about forgiveness all her life, but how far does God’s mercy truly reach?

Lindie Wyse thinks an arranged marriage is the only way to preserve a future for herself and her unborn child. Josiah Plank is certain he’ll never love again, but he needs someone to care for his deaf eight-year-old daughter, Hannah. The two take on their arrangement tentatively at first but soon realize they are each in for more than they imagined. After a short time, Lindie experiences a breakthrough with Hannah when she recognizes the child’s special gifts, but a risky pregnancy and serious health issues threaten to demolish the foundation Josiah and
Lindie are building—and the love that is growing between them.

Will their marriage survive their struggles, or will their hearts become as cold as the northern winter?

My Review: I have never read a book by Ruth Reid before, so I had no expectations about this book. The description aptly sums up the book. There is romance, mystery, and a good dose of a Christian message. Lindie's pregnancy is not as cut and dry as one might think. What really happened that night? Josiah and Lindie's romance is the biggest focus of the book. It progressed naturally. Hannah, Josiah's daughter, is deaf but has a wonderful gift from God. What will happen if Josiah doesn't do what his sweet daughter instructs him to do? Will Josiah and Lindie's fledgling love survive?

I loved Lindie and Josiah's characters. I love how compassionate and caring Josiah is, even though he's vowed to keep his heart to himself. Never once does he treat Lindie like an outsider for her circumstances. Josiah's character was a bit hard-headed and I really wanted to shake him when he wouldn't tell Lindie he was sick. Lindie's emotional struggle felt so real. I wanted to cry with her and laugh with her. I wanted to shake her and hug her all at the same time. Both characters were very well developed.

The message, focused especially on Lindie, is accepting the things God allows to happen in your life. He has a greater purpose for you that you realize. When trials come, don't run from them. Turn to God for support and He will help you through. The message is delivered in the form of Josiah's daughter's remarkable gift. She helps heal the families broken hearts. This was just a sweet, sweet story.

**Thank you, BookSneeze/BookLook, for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.**

• Learn more about Ruth Reid
• Connect with Ruth: Facebook | Twitter
• Buy A Miracle of Hope: B&N | Amazon | CBD