Simba's book review

"When a deep injury is done to us, we never recover until we forgive."  Alan Paton It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  Now that Halloween is past, we are officially entering the Thanksgiving/Christmas season.  Starbucks will soon have their Christmas or holiday seasonal drinks, the Christmas trees will soon go up, and plans for a special, memorable Christmas will be under way for many.  There are those who for many reasons, however, just strive to get through the next few months.  They may have past hurt or trauma from their childhood, painful memories associated with Christmas.  Even the Grinch and Ebeneezer Scrooge had a past that led them the point in their stories where they had no Christmas cheer.  Melody Carlson, in her new Christmas novella, gives readers a glimpse into how or why this can happen, but with the hope of how a little bit of love, family, and forgiveness can melt even the hardest of hearts. In Once Upon a Christmas readers...

  "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right or to the left."  Isaiah 30:21 Life is a journey, and our path is filled with many hills and valleys.  For believers, we hold onto the promises of the Lord in scripture that our Sovereign Lord is leading us and directing our paths.  As David promises in Psalm 23,  "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me."  We are not promised easy, just that the Lord, our Good Shepherd will never leave or forsake us.  Even when we get lost along the journey, our Heavenly Father will guide us gently back through those he puts in our lives and the places he leads us.   In those unexpected places, sometimes, is where you will find the healing and peace that you have been searching for. The Noel Bridge  by Jenny Hale, is a beautifully written Christmas romance, that like many of th...

  "Home is Where your heart is" Home,  has many definitions and meanings for us all.  For some of us it is the place that we grew up, for others it is where we live.  Once we can truly realize that home is not just about the four walls or the physical place we live, and open our hearts to those we love, we really find our true home and a inner joy and happiness that truly allows us to reach for all our dreams.   In The Lighthouse at the Cove freelance travel writer Kaiah Ross is looking for that place.  Growing up in the middle of her sisters, Kaiah has felt lost and alone since her mom died and her dad abruptly remarried a woman with a houseful of boys.  Kaiah his closest to her sister Kam, but finds herself running around writing travel articles.   We meet up with Kaiah on her journey from Maryland to Florida hitting small coastal towns for an article she is writing.  When her beloved range Rover, Daisy, over heats in the charming...

  "There is real beauty in the flaws and normalcy of family that maybe other people take for granted."  Sophia to Mason in 'A Little Paris Christmas' Want a holiday rom-com sprinkled with a some Christmas magic?  Look no farther than Jennifer Shirk's newest release A Little Paris Christmas A Delightfully Festive Holiday Escape .   Set in the charming small town of Paris, Pennsylvania (a town that richly embraces it's French history and all things Christmas), this delightful story will invite readers in.  The characters will become like friends, and you will feel wrapped in a warm holiday hug.  From ice skating,  hot chocolate with whipped cream, and Festive holiday decor, readers will feel like they are in their own Winter wonderland (the perfect Hallmark Christmas movie). Sophie Dubois, Chamber of Commerce Director, is all things Christmas.  From her life-sized Rudolph yard display to her two amazingly decorated trees cheerful, and extrovert...

  "When one door closes another opens.  Expect that new door to reveal even greater wonders and glories and surprises.  Feel yourself grow with every experience.  And look for the reason for it."  Eileen Caddy The Christmas Coin  is that book will stay with me long after I have finished reading it.  Readers will come to love the quaint, pictersque New England town of White Bridge, Connecticut.   Not just the town, but the characters will touch your heart in such a way that you will consider them friends.  Gibson writes this book with such emotional depth and poignancy that you will want to stay up all night finishing it.   It is so much more than just the love story of Amelia and Ben: it is the story of family, small town living, and opening one's heart to new season of life.  It is giving us permission to take the time to grieve when we move to a different season of life, but then to embrace that new season and all the ho...

  "If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you  do not forgive others their trespasses, neighter will your Father forgive you your trespasses."  Matthew 6:14-15 Fans of Kathleen Fuller, Suzanne Woods Fischer, and Shelley Shephards Gray do not want to miss this cozy Amish romance/mystery by Amy Clipston.  I fell in love with Amy Clipston years ago, with her famous Kauffman Amish bakery series.  Clipston writes with depth, compassion, and brings her characters to life in the peaceful Amish country of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.   Learn a bit more about the Amish faith, and living the more simple life where faith, family, and community are central to life.  A place, where life looks a bit like the early church from Acts.   In A Heart Set Free, Renee Mast is surprised when she receives a registered letter from her late mammi's (Amish for grandma) lawyer.   Now, Renee must convince her...