Prayers That Changed History: From Christopher Columbus to Helen Keller, How God Used 25 People To Change The World by Tricia Goyer {Children's Book Review}

Prayers That Changed History

From Christopher Columbus to

Helen Keller, How God Used 25

People to Change the World

Tricia Goyer

Juvenile Nonfiction (ages 8+)

One Prayer - Your Prayer - Can Change Everything

Martin Luther, Sojourner Truth, Helen Keller, St. Patrick.

You've read their stories in history books, and you've heard about the amazing thngs they did to change the world. But one part of the story is often left out; each one of them wouldn't have accomplished what they did without prayer.

In this book from bestselling author Tricia Goyer, the stories of twenty-five notable people are presented along with the major prayer that changed their lives, and changed history. Following each historical example is a biblical story that ties to that person's life and actions, as well as ways you can use the power of prayer in your life. Because God isn't done changing the world yet, and he would love to use you to make history.

My Thoughts

In Prayers That Changed History Tricia Goyer uses her exceptional talent as a historical fiction writer to take you and your children on a journey through time allowing you to see through personal prayers how historical events were changed.

She begins with Polycarp and shares a bit of background surrounding the eventful prayer and then shares the prayer itself. Knowing about the events that are going to lead to Polycarp's ultimate death and then reading the prayer that he spoke just before the event is powerful. Following the story of Polycarp are twenty-four more testimonies of people throughout history that turned to prayer during a turning point. 

While I liked the information and prayer by the person I really appreciated the other applications that were made about each person. Tricia includes a section that talks about how the prayer changed history and then she concludes with a section that draws a parallel to a segment in the Bible.

This book would make a great addition to a family devotional time on the importance of prayer. Of course if you are a homeschooling family this would be a great add in as you study each of these figures throughout history. I think that your family will find the book interesting while they are learning facts that aren't always covered in common textbooks. 

I would note however that some of the subject matter is a little graphic (some are put to death and other more mature subject matter is discussed) but it is all presented in a very tasteful way. I agree with the age recommendation of eight and above. 

I look forward to using this book over and over again in our studies and family devotional times. If you are looking to enhance the practice of prayer in your family I recommend this book highly.

Connect With The Author

www.TriciaGoyer.com

Twitter  -  Facebook  -  Pinterest

YouTube  -  Goodreads  -  Instagram

Where Treetops Glisten by Tricia Goyer, Cara Putman & Sarah Sundin ~ Christmas Gift Guide for Book Lovers

Where Treetops Glisten

Tricia Goyer, Cara Putman & Sarah Sundin

Historical Romance / Christmas

The crunch of newly fallen snow, the weight of wartime.

Siblings forging new paths and finding love in three stories, 

filled with the wonder of Christmas.

Turn back the clock to a different time, listen to Bing Crosby sing of sleigh bells in the snow, as the realities of America’s involvement in the Second World War change the lives of the Turner family in Lafayette, Indiana.

In Cara Putman’s White Christmas, Abigail Turner is holding down the Home Front as a college student and a part-time employee at a one-of-a-kind candy shop. Loss of a beau to the war has Abigail skittish about romantic entanglements—until a hard-working young man with a serious problem needs her help.

Abigail’s brother Pete is a fighter pilot hero returned from the European Theater in Sarah Sundin’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas, trying to recapture the hope and peace his time at war has eroded. But when he encounters a precocious little girl in need of Pete’s friendship, can he convince her widowed mother that he’s no longer the bully she once knew?

In Tricia Goyer’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Meredith Turner, “Merry” to those who know her best, is using her skills as a combat nurse on the frontline in the Netherlands. Halfway around the world from home, Merry never expects to face her deepest betrayal head on, but that’s precisely what God has in mind to redeem her broken heart.

The Turner family believes in God’s providence during such a tumultuous time. Can they absorb the miracle of Christ’s birth and His plan for a future?

My Thoughts

If you have an historical romance lover on your Christmas list, get them this book! It is three novellas that weave together the story of the Turner siblings during World War II. Sarah Sundin sets the stage for the whole book in her prologue entitled Winter Wonderland. You are introduced to Abigail, Pete and Meredith and given a bit of background on the whole family. I fell in love with them right from the start!

As you progress through each of the stories you not only experience what was going on during the war effort overseas, but what was going on in America in everyday lives. The story line takes place over a couple of different years and Christmas seasons so by the time you reach Tricia Goyer's portion you have a nice little wrap-up of what the rest of Abigail's story is.

These three authors did a marvelous job of carrying the characters' particular traits and nuances throughout the book. Each author of course has a distinct voice in their particular section but it blended well together, making the book feel whole and complete rather than jumbled. By the time you reach Cara Putman's Epilogue entitled Let It Snow, Let It Snow you will feel as if the Turner family is just a branch of yours.

To cap off the delightful story, the authors have included delicious sounding recipes for a yummy cookie exchange from some of the characters featured in the story. There is also a reader's guide in the back which would make this an awesome selection for your book club.

Connect With The Authors

Photo by Jessica McCollam

www.TriciaGoyer.com

Facebook  I  Twitter  I  Pinterest  

YouTube  I  Instagram  I  Goodreads

Photo by Emilie Hendrix

www.CaraPutman.com

Facebook  I  Twitter  I  Pinterest

Instagram  I  Goodreads

Photo by Linda Johnson

www.SarahSundin.com

Facebook  I  Twitter  I  Pinterest  I  Goodreads

 

Moms' Night Out by Tricia Goyer ~ A Movie Novelization Book Review and Giveaway

Moms' Night Out

Tricia Goyer

Contemporary Fiction

About the book:

Mom’s Night Out is a novelization of the hilarious family comedy that celebrates real family life—where everything can go wrong and still turn out all right.

All Allyson and her friends want is a peaceful, grown-up evening of dinner and conversation . . . a long-needed moms’ night out. But in order to enjoy high heels, adult conversation and food not served in a bag, they need their husbands to watch the kids for a few hours—what could go wrong?

Chronicling one night out gone awry, three harried moms, their husbands, a sister-in-law with a misplaced baby, a tattoo parlor owner, a motorcycle gang, and a bewildered cabbie all learn to embrace the beautiful mess called parenting. This book spotlights the unfulfilled expectations and serial self-doubts many moms feel . . . then reassures us that the key is raising kids in a loving home.Mom’s Night Out is an endearing, true-to-life comedy.

My thoughts:

I have a very sneaky suspicion that this book is going to read more like an autobiography than fiction for most mothers. From the opening lines it captures the crazy chaos we call motherhood to a tee. The character of Allyson embodies most of us as she struggles through the wash, rinse, repeat cycle of raising children.

At one point in the story Allyson reveals that her dream when she grew up was to be a wife and mother. Now that the dream has come true, reality has inched in to upset the fairy tale. It seems that no matter what direction she turns she is surrounded by her short comings. The house is a mess, the kids are a mess, and above all else she's a mess. She spends a lot of time wondering how "they" do it. You know who "they" are . . . those "other" mothers. The ones that have the perfect house, perfect kids, and the always put-together perfect look.

Through a divinely inspired and desperately needed moms' night out, Allyson's eyes are slowly opened to the fact that her life and all that it encompasses may be a mess but it is a truly beautiful mess.

I must admit that I'm a little hesitant to read a book after seeing the movie. I'm usually disappointed in one or the other. I'm pleased to say in this instance that isn't the case at all. I loved them both equally and came away from the reading with the same feeling of gratitude that I did from the movie. I'm humbled, honored and grateful that God chose me to mother.

If you are looking for a funny, uplifting, and inspiring story to read for yourself or to give to a friend, you can't go wrong with Moms' Night Out. I think you'll be pleased that you took the time to revel in the beautiful mess we call motherhood.

Connect with the author:

www.TriciaGoyer.com

Facebook

Twitter ~ @TriciaGoyer

Pinterest

YouTube

The Giveaway:

We have partnered with B&H Publishers to offer one of our readers a copy of Moms' Night Out and Moms' Night Out And Other Things I Miss . . .

If you would like a chance at winning a copy just use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. The giveaway is open to US residents ages 18 and older.

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Book Review ~ The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer @triciagoyer

The Memory Jar

Tricia Goyer

Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors, Book 1

Fiction/Christian/Amish

Buy it on Amazon! 

Back of the book:

For five years, love has passed her up. For one moment, can she put down her guard?

Every year, a number of young Amish men descend on the cozy mountain town of West Kootenai, Montana, arriving in the spring to live there for six months and receive “resident” status for the hunting season in the fall. They arrive as bachelors, but some go home with brides.

Sarah Shelter has live in West Kootenai for the last ten years and wonders if she will ever fall in love. Since the tragic death of her best friend, she saves her memories in a jar along with the small items connected to them. For just as long, she’s also been carrying around her emotions instead of allowing them to penetrate deep into her heart. Until she meets Jathan Schrock.

Can this kind and gentle man break down her walls, and can Sarah risk her heart to finally achieve her dreams?

About the author:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authortriciagoyer

Twitter: @triciagoyer

Website: www.triciagoyer.com

Blog: www.notquiteamishliving.com

Author Tricia Goyer has written 17 novels and 8 nonfiction books, and has published more than 400 articles for national publications such as Today’s Christian Woman, Focus on the Family and HomeLife. She also is the coauthor of Mealtime Moments (Focus on the Family). She is a former teen mom and the founder and former director of Hope Pregnancy Center in Kalispell, Montana. Tricia and her husband, John live in Little Rock, Arkansas where John works for FamilyLife. They have four children, including a newly adopted daughter.

My thoughts:

I was enamored with this book from the start. Can you just imagine the commotion that these bachelors raise every spring when they arrive in this tiny community? I can just picture all those sweet young girls whispering and giggling together as they check out this year’s new crop of eligible men. It just makes me smile thinking about it.

Since this is a Tricia Goyer book there are a couple of different things going on that she has masterfully woven together to create a satisfying story. Both of our main characters have back stories that affect the budding relationship between the two of them. Sarah can’t seem to move past the loss of her best friend and Jathan has family obligations that he just can’t find peace about. 

One of my favorite aspects of this story is when the two of them have conflict they actually talk about what is bothering them. Many authors use misunderstandings to push the story along. I prefer Tricia’s approach to deepening the storyline and the characters themselves. By the end of the novel both Jathan and Sarah have matured in their walk of faith and in their relationships with others.

Let me give you a little warning . . . this book is going to make you hungry! Hungry for the delicious sounding cupcakes that Sarah is famous for and hungry for the next book in the series. The Promise Box is the title of book two and is scheduled to come out in May 2013. I will definitely be looking forward to it.

Ideas:

After reading The Memory Jar you may want to consider making your own memory jar. It could be as simple as obtaining a large jar like one pickles come in. (Just a tip . . . after washing it out, let a little baking soda sit in it to absorb the odors. Otherwise your memories may have a vinegar smell forever attached to them.) Use Mod Podge to apply some of your favorite photos to the outside of the jar. You can also pick up some glass paint at the craft store and try your hand at that. Spray paint the lid in your favorite color and add a drawer knob for decoration. The possibilities are only limited to your imagination. Check out Pinterest for some added inspiration!

So you’re not the crafty type. Well, have I got the perfect iPad/Pod/Touch app for you. Just follow this link and download the appto your device and enjoy!

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

Services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

With the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Wordless Wednesday with Author Tricia Goyer @triciagoyer

This past weekend I was able to meet the fabulous author Tricia Goyer! Let me tell you she is the real deal. I have wanted to meet her for a while and as luck would have it worked out.  Not only does she write well but she is also a people person dripping with wisdom. I hope to cross paths with her again someday!

Connect with Author Tricia Goyer:

Tricia Goyer’s Facebook Page

On Twitter as @triciagoyer

Tricia Goyer's Blog

On Tricia Goyer’s website

Tricia Goyer on YouTube

All of Tricia Goyer's books can be bought on Amazon!

Blog Tour for Light of the Silvery Moon by Tricia Goyer @triciagoyer

By The Light of The Silvery Moon

Tricia Goyer
Historical Fiction
Buy the book: Here

Back of the book:

Amelia Gladstone’s mind is filled with promise as she gazes at the marvelous new ship, ready for its maiden voyage. The Titanic holds the promise of a reunited family. . .and of possible love waiting on American shores. Nothing could mar Amelia’s joy, until she sees a ragged stowaway being escorted down the gangplank.

Down-and-out after squandering his fortune, Quentin Walpole thought his voyage to America ended on the Southampton pier. Then a sweet lady—his angel of mercy named Amelia—secured his passage with a spare ticket. Now he’s headed to America, eager for a second chance.

But once the voyage begins, the past confronts Quentin when he discovers that his wealthy railroad tycoon father and older brother Damien are also on board. As Amelia tries to bring about reconciliation between father and son, she suddenly finds herself the center of both brothers’ attention with a choice to make. Who can she trust with her heart?

Then the fateful night arrives, and one brother faces a greater choice.

About the Author:

Tricia Goyer is the award winning author of thirty-two books including Beside Still Waters, Remembering You, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences and is the host of Living Inspired. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

More info: Living Inspired and www.triciagoyer.com.

My thoughts:

With 2012 being the 100^th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, this book is sure to be devoured by many. From the first page I was drawn to Quentin. He is a character that just pulls at your heart strings. If anyone is ever in need of and deserving of a second chance, it would be Quentin.

In the first chapter we are introduced to Amelia. What a lovely and caring person she is! Everything about her is in tune with the needs of others. It was a sheer delight to experience the Titanic with her. From her first sight of this glorious vessel until it started to sink, her perspective was enchanting.

We are eventually introduced to the rest of the cast of characters. The family dynamics are intense, but as with most of her novels, Tricia Goyer is a master at portraying families in a very real context. As they say, with warts and all.

Tricia Goyer is definitely a wordsmith. She does a great job of describing the setting without losing the reader in tedious details. I enjoyed reading about all of the contrasts between the people on the different decks. When the fateful day comes, it is described in detail that left me crying yet not repulsed. Kudos to Tricia for striking a sensitive balance without losing important details.

I happen to live in an area that has a Titanic museum and I look forward to revisiting it with this story in the back of my head. If you happen to live near Branson, Missouri (or even if you don’t) be sure to take time this year to visit this informative location!

Follow the Blog Tour

Celebrate the release of By the Light of the Silvery Moon with Tricia by entering her giveaway and RSVPing to her Titanic party.

One "unsinkable" winner will receive:

• Flip HD video Camera (Make your own dramatic saga!)
• Titanic movies from the ages {Titanic (1953) Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964), Titanic (1997)}
• Secrets of the Titanic (Get the facts from National Geographic.)
• And the Band Played On (Music Played on the Titanic.)
• By the Light of the Silvery Moon by Tricia Goyer (Be swept away in this tale of love and courage.)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 9th. Winner will be announced at "Silvery Moon" Titanic Facebook Party on 4/10. Tricia will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from her website) and giving away books, gift certificates and a book club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club). During the live chat Tricia will have a *special guest* join her. More details coming soon!

So grab your copy of By the Light of the Silvery Moon and join Tricia on the evening of the April 10th for a fun chat, trivia contest (How much do you know about the Titanic?) and lots of giveaways. 

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 10th!

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

Services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it
on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally
and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance
With the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides concerning the
Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Blog Tour for Chasing Mona Lisa by @TriciaGoyer & @MikeYorkey

Chasing Mona Lisa

Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey
Book 2
Historical Fiction
Publisher: Revell (January 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800720466
ISBN-13: 978-0800720469
Buy it on Amazon

Back of the book:

August 1944. Paris is on the cusp of liberation. As the soldiers of the Third Reich flee the Allied advance, they ravage the country and steal countless pieces of irreplaceable art. In fact, Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring will stop at nothing to claim the most valuable one of all—the Mona Lisa—as a postwar bargaining chip.

But the woman with the mysterious smile has some very determined protectors. Can Swiss OSS agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler rescue Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece before it falls into German hands?

With nonstop action and intrigue, Chasing Mona Lisa is sure to get your adrenaline pumping as you join the chase to save the most famous painting in the world. From war-ravaged Paris to a posh Swiss chateau, the race is on—and the runners are playing for keeps.

About the Authors:

Tricia Goyer is the coauthor of The Swiss Courier as well as the author of many other books, including Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights, both past winners of the ACFW's Book of the Year Award for Long Historical Romance. Goyer lives with her family in Arkansas. For more about Tricia and her other books TriciaGoyer.com

 

Mike Yorkey is the author or coauthor of dozens of books, including The Swiss Courier and the bestselling Every Man's Battle series. Married to a Swiss native, Yorkey lived in Switzerland for 18 months. He and his family currently reside in California. For more about Mike and his other books visit MikeYorkey.com

My thoughts:

Chasing Mona Lisa is the second book in this series by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey. Their first endeavor together was The Swiss Courier. I did not read The Swiss Courier before reading Chasing Mona Lisa and I was able to follow the story just fine. Of course now I want to go back and read the first installment to catch all of the elements that I did not even know I was missing out on.

The story is full of intrigue and a bit of romance, but my favorite parts where more about what was going on in the country as a whole. The story opens in the midst of Paris just before the Allies swoop in and liberate the city. We are reminded that Charles de Gaulle and his troops will eventually take leadership in France, but there was another faction that was seeking to take control. Had they prevailed France would have become a communist country. Just think of all the changes that would have meant in our world.

Think about all of the priceless art that we have in our museums. Think about the devastating destruction that wars do to countries. It is completely amazing that we have so much that was preserved. To lose the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory at Samothrace would have been a tragedy, not only for France but for the world.

I really enjoyed that this story had accurate historical elements and that it was told from a French perspective. So much of what we read comes from an American perspective. It was interesting to step into the lives of the French and see it from their vantage point. I think anyone that enjoys a historical story set around World War II will appreciate this piece of work.

Follow the Blog Tour: Here

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or
Services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it
on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally
and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance
With the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides concerning the
Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Win an iTouch SPY Pack in the Chasing Mona Lisa Giveaway from @triciagoyer @mikeyorkey!

Chasing Mona Lisa is the continuing tale of Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler (first introduced in The Swiss Courier). This time the due are on a relentless quest to save the most famous painting in the world  - the Mona Lisa. You can help Gabi and Eric with your very own spy pack when you enter The Chasing Mona Lisa Giveaway!

One passionate protector will receive:

• iTouch (The must-have device for any spy. Camera, Maps & Music.)
• Starbucks Gift Card (For all those late nights.)
• Moleskin Notebook (For those important notes.)
• Invisible Ink Pen (Don’t want anyone reading those important notes.)
• Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey (Great handbook and intriguing tale for any spy-in-training!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on January 31st. The winner will be announced at the Chasing Mona Lisa Facebook Party on 1/31. Tricia and Mike will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from Tricia's website) and giving away their books and a Book Club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club AND a LIVE Author Chat for your group with Tricia and Mike.)


So grab your copy of Chasing Mona Lisa and join Tricia and Mike on the evening of the 31st for an author chat, spy training (do you know how to pick a lock?) and lots of giveaways. 

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 31st!

Family Traditions: A Glimpse into Christmas Future by Tricia Goyer

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas!



Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom" from some of today's most beloved writer's (Tricia Goyer, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, Sibella Giorello and more)! Please follow the series through Christmas day as each contributor shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year.


AND just for fun ... there's also a giveaway! Fill out this simple {form} and enter for a chance to win a beautiful pearl necklace and earring set ($450 value). Contest runs 12/14 - 12/25 and the winner will on 1/1. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents. You may enter once per day.


If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

***

Family Traditions: A Glimpse into Christmas Future

by Tricia Goyer

Have you ever thought about family traditions? As I helped my 1-year-old place ornaments on the Christmas tree this year I imagined her doing the same thing with her children—and maybe even grandchildren—one day. Traditions are beliefs and customs handed down through generations. By sharing meaningful moments with your kids you're sending yourself into the future. How amazing is that?


Sharing family traditions cause us to slow down from the busy, adult world for a while. We ignore the laundry to set out the nativity set with our kids. We set aside time in our schedules to drive around and look at Christmas lights.


Holiday traditions aren't only fun, they also help strength family bonds. Through traditions kids trust in the security of family unit. They think, “This is our family and this is what I do.” Of course, the most important thing to share isn't just what we do ... but why. Why do we put out a nativity? To remind us the real meaning of the season—Jesus coming to earth. What do the Christmas lights represent displayed on homes and on trees? They represent the Light of the World, Jesus.


Using traditions to bond our families and share our faith isn't new. I love these two Scriptures that talk about that very thing.

Exodus 12:25 says, “When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony.”

Psalm 78:4 says, “We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.”


What are you're traditions? Here are a few of ours:

Baking a Birthday cake for Jesus

Buying a new ornament every year for each child

Acting out the Christmas story (with props!)

Praying together before opening presents


What are your traditions? Write a list and appreciate them in a new way this year. Then ask, “If I could add one new tradition this holiday season, what would it be?” I'd love to hear what you choose! It also makes me smile to think of your children's grandchildren doing the same.

***

Tricia Goyer is a CBA best-selling author and the winner of two American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Awards (Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights). She co-wrote 3:16 Teen Edition with Max Lucado and contributed to the Women of Faith Study Bible. Also a noted marriage and parenting writer, she lives with her husband and children in Arkansas. www.triciagoyer.com

Remembering You by Tricia Goyer

From the back of the book:

Television producer Ava Ellington cannot refuse her grandfather’s last wish—that she accompany him to Europe on a tour of World War II battle sites, Ava has little interest in historical battles, but this may be her last chance to break down the barriers that have grown up between them, and she sets off, camera in hand, ready to record and report on their journey. She and Grandpa Jack are greeted in Paris by Paul, her grandpa’s best friend, and his grandson Dennis. The Dennis who just happens to be Ava’s first love.

History comes alive as the group travels across Europe—from the romantic sights of Paris to the bleak battlefields of Belgium to the Austrian labor camp these men liberated so many years before—and Ava sees a side of her grandfather she’s never known before. As he shares his memories of those bitter days on the battlefield, she begins to understand how his experiences in the war made him the man he is today.

Throughout the journey, Ava and Dennis are drawn together in ways neither of them expected. Can their memories of the past lead to a bright new future?

My thoughts:

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I loved the story of Grandpa Jack and Ava and Grand-Paul and Dennis. It was delightful to journey with the four of them through Europe and relive the experiences that the two grandfathers had during World War II while they were fighting in the 41^st Cavalry Recon Squadron, Eleventh Armored Division, Patton’s Third US Army. The author’s ability to make you feel as if you are touring with them is amazing. Her descriptions of the Parisian people were spot on.

I thought that Ms. Goyer did a great job of portraying what happens in a friendship that moves on. Most of us have experienced having a great friend that we thought we would always be close to. Then life happens and you wind up on different paths. The awkwardness of this is depicted well in the relationship between Ava and Tana.  

The relationship between Ava and Grandpa Jack is rocky because of past misunderstandings. I enjoyed watching them work through that and realize how important they are to each other. Grandparents are such an amazing part of our lives. Once Ava understood how much her grandfather and his buddies sacrificed, the story really took off.

What I did not like was the relationship between Ava and Dennis. Their romance just fell flat for me. I do not want to say too much and ruin the ending, but I just thought that they had several issues to work through. I did not like the way that Dennis always seemed to assume the worst of Ava.

If you are looking for a moving romance, this probably is not the book. But if you are looking for a book about a time in history that changed our world, pick this one up.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

Services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it
on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally
and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance
With the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides concerning the
Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Along Wooded Paths by Tricia Goyer

All she wanted was a simple Amish life . . . But now Marianna Sommer finds herself depending on Englisch neighbors. Although proud of living apart from the world, she and her newly relocated Amish family have discovered that life in the remote mountains of Montana requires working together.

As Marianna begins helping those different from herself—and receiving their help—her heart contemplates two directions. She’s torn between the Amish man from Indiana whom she has long planned on marrying and the friendly Englischer who models a closer walk with God than she’s ever seen before.

Who should have young Marianna’s heart? What is God asking her to sacrifice? Her traditions? Her community? The answer is found along the wooded paths.

My Thoughts

This was my first book to read by author Tricia Goyer even though this is book two in the Big Sky series. I have to say that I really enjoyed this story and not having read the first book did not seem to matter. Something that I really loved that may not matter to many was that the main character was named Marianna, you see I read a lot of Amish fiction and they tend to blend together when the main characters names are similar to other Amish stories.

One of the other things I enjoyed about this story was the author’s ability to write in such detail. I felt as though all the characters had such a unique complexity to them. I also loved the honest emotions expressed by all involved in this story.  It was really refreshing to read an Amish fiction that dealt with the choices of growing up and choosing who you want to be as an adult. I feel like everyone has this decision to make as to whether they are going to live the life they were razed  or choose a different path and it was nice to see this written from  the Amish point of view. This story kept me guessing to the very end. Then of course I had to read the excerpt from book three and now I cannot wait to read that as well. I give this book 4 out 5 stars.

* I received a copy of this book from Litfuse for my participation in this blog tour. All thoughts are my own and my differ from others.