Let's Get Social Sunday (Blog Hop)

What is Let’s Get Social?

Let’s Get Social is a weekly link-up hosted by a fabulous group of four bloggers which includes Jennifer of Sweep Tight, Bridget of Guide to Smart Shopping, Tree of Mother of Pearl It Is, and Brandi of Life with Five Monkies. They created Let’s Get Social as a means to socialize with other bloggers as well as help you gain more followers!

You can follow via any social method you like. You can also follow with more than one method and are encouraged to do so! Please be sure to leave a comment letting the person know how you followed so they can follow you back.

To Participate:

-Follow all hosts in the first four spots. Please leave a comment on our Let’s Get Social post letting us know how you follow and we will follow you back. Please be patient with us as it might take us a couple days to get through everybody.

-Add your link to the linky and visit as many sites as you want. Please be curious and follow back those that follow you. The more connections you make the more followers and back links you will have!

-Spread the Word! Help get the word out about the hop by posting the button on your site, posting about the hop, adding the hop to directories, and posting on forums. The more people that know about the hop the more connections we can make.

-The hop opens at 9 PM ET on Saturday night and runs through Sunday. Direct links to your site only please; links to your blog hop or giveaways will be deleted.

Please Stop Laughing at Me....

Please Stop Laughing at Me: One Woman's Inspirational True Story by Jodee Blanco is a very moving book that took me back to feelings and memories that I had of when I was in high school. Although I was never bullied, I remember seeing kids being bullied and it is such a tragic thing for young ones to have to endure.

Jodee tells of her experiences of trying to fit in, yet never quite being good enough for the popular crowd because she was one of those people that liked to stand up for what is right. I felt her pain and confusion as she told stories of the abuse, both emotionally and physically. She described in great detail of the traumatic childhood she experienced. Changing schools changed nothing for her. Its almost as if these kids that bully can single out the ones that have already been bullied and just continue the cycle.


I did question whether she brought some of this on her own doing. She continuously talks of wanting to be part of the popular crowd. There are plenty of children that she could have chosen to be friends with but she kept going back to the ones that treated her badly. It was a good book but I did feel as if she was trying to make you feel sorry for her in some way.


I do have to say that I was not very happy with the end of the story....even as an adult she has let these people have control of her happiness. I strongly believe in choosing your own path to happiness, as a nurse I have witnessed horrible things and many of deaths. But I don't dwell on this, it's part of life. You have to choose to pick up the pieces and move on with your life, something that Jodee Blanco has not done.

This book did bring fear to my mind as I think of my children growing up now and I pray that nothing like this happens to them or any other child for that matter. Kids can be so cruel and as parents we want to protect our children but Jodee's parents did go about everything the wrong way. The schools failed to recognize it. There needs to be serious consequences for bullies. I am very thankful that she has shared her story and is educating schools and others on how to handle bullying and how to get help, but I also feel that she needs to help herself get over her past. She needs to let go and quit playing the victim, and this book may be her way of doing so, but she will never be able to be completely satisfied in her life until moves on to the next chapter in her life.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

Judgement Day Review

Judgement Day by Wanda L. Dyson....this book will keep you on edge, excited to see what is going to happen next. I could not put this one down. The suspense is wonderful. Wanda L. Dyson knows how to keep a reader intrigued!

Judgement Day is about Suzanne Kidwell, a woman that hosts a show named Judgement Day with Suzanne Kidwell. This show is about exposing others that are prominent in society. Suzanne does not use the best tactics to get her information on stories. She has reported things about others without fully investigating the facts, which has got many people upset at her.

One night when she returns home, there is a man dead in her living room. She had been out drinking and can't remember all of the details...only that she has blood on her hands and she knows that she did not do it. Because her reputation is questionable, she becomes a suspect. Her boyfriend drives her car and ends up in a crash that kills him, an act that was meant for Suzanne. She is suspected in this also.

She has to hire an investigator and turns to the best, a man that she once dated and treated horribly. She has to inform him of all of the people she was investigating for stories and of all of the people that may be mad at her. He and his partner are very reluctant in helping Suzanne but they soon find out many things going on that would have been reason for Suzanne to be in danger.

This was a great book! I highly recommend it as a good read. Suzanne Kidwell gets her Judgement Day with twists and turns in the story that you are not expecting. I really enjoyed reading this one and hope to read more from this author!



I was provided this book free of charge through Blogging for Books blogger program. The opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

~iShine Bible Review~

I love this precious iShine Bible! My daughter does too! Not only is it in the New Living Translation which makes it easy for her to read, it is cute and fashionable-which means alot to a 10 year old girl. The iShine Bible has all of the stories of any other bible, but there are sections in this bible that go in to detail and explain more about what the Bible is and means. Readers can learn how to trust in Jesus right from the start. Then there is a chapter named "The Bible Talks About....." I really like this because it has different feelings or scenarios that young people experience and it gives a verse to refer to and explains why this verse is relevant.

There are three sections that are found inside the books of the bible. These are to explain that you have value, you have a unique identity in Christ, and you have a purpose to fulfill. These are easily found because the pages are colored. These are wonderful references to help learn you you are and what your purpose is. I really enjoyed exploring this bible. It is very encouraging to a person reading it. To know that you have value with God is a wonderful feeling.

After Revelations, there are references to Great stories in the bible and great verses to memorize. These verses are verses that have a message such as joy, thankfulness, giving, temptation, comfort, anger, and many, many more. I love that you can look right there in the back and have a reference to what you may be going through at any time. There are also links that you can go to that show videos and other messages to the reader.This is a great bible. Much thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for sending me these.

I was provided with this book free of charge from Tyndale House Publishers. The opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Another Dawn by Kathryn Cushman

Another Dawn tells a wonderful, heartbreaking story of a woman, Grace, that has always ran when things get tough. She is afraid to love for fear of getting hurt. She left her home and moved away to California to raise her son, Dylan. After her mother died, she blamed her father and never looked back on returning home. An unexpected call from her sister gives her the ultimatum of coming home to help take care of her father or never come back. Grace has a chance to make things right and decides to go.

This book explores the controversial topics of Autism and whether vaccinations are the route of the cause. Grace works for a woman that has a son with Autism and swears that once he had his vaccines that he went from being a normal child to a completely different child. Grace witnesses the child's behaviors first hand and decided not to vaccinate her son.

Upon returning home, Grace starts making amends until something very serious happens. Her son becomes deathly sick and puts the lives of other children in the town at risk. She has to decide to run away again or stay home and face the consequences of her actions. This book brought me to tears at times, thinking about how the decisions that you make at one point in time can affect your life and many others for years to come.

I was very intrigued by the topics discussed in Another Dawn. These are controversial topics that people need to know more about. The link between Autism and Vaccines can affect a parents decision against vaccination. I have opted to vaccinate my children but I can understand where others that don't have great concern. This book does a good job of exploring the topic and showing a possible outcome if you choose not to vaccinate. But the main focus of Another Dawn is about the decisions that Grace has made in her life and if she can face those decisions or choose to ignore them and go about her life as if nothing happened.

I did enjoy reading this book. It got me thinking about what I would have done had I witnessed a child with Autism first-hand. I do know many people with Autistic children and pray for a cure or a better understanding as to why this occurs. There were facts stated in the book that gave me more insight on Autism. I would recommend this book as a good read.  

Another Dawn was provided to me free of charge by Bethany House Publishers for review purposes. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner

When I saw the chance to review a book for free by Susan Meissner, I was quick to sign up! Not long ago, I had read Why the Sky Is Blue by this wonderful author and can honestly say that it is one of my favorite books. I highly anticipated getting Lady in Waiting because I had already experienced Meissner's beautiful writing.

Lady in Waiting blends the lives of two Jane's, one from the present day and one from the sixteenth century. The story is wonderfully written and the two time periods are woven together in a fluidity that captures your attention from the start. Both women learn about their choices in life despite the hardships that they are faced with.

Present day Jane Lindsay had been with her husband of 22 years only to have him walk out of their marriage unexpectedly, leaving her many questions about the decisions she has made in her life. He moves to another town and asks her for time. Jane manages an antique shop and comes across an old ring in a box of relics from a British jumble sale. The ring has a Latin inscription inside the band and one recognizable word ~ Jane. Jane instantly feels a connection to the ring and goes on a journey to learn more about the ring and in return learns more about herself.

Sixteenth-century Lady Jane Grey is a young woman that is going to be betrothed hopefully to the man that she truly loves. In a twist of fate, everything changes in her life. She has always had decisions made for her but realizes that she does have a choice. Political and religious scandal comes into her new life as a married woman and the life that she knows comes to an end. Her trusted friend and dressmaker of many years, Lucy Day, is the only person that she can confide in and trust with her beloved ring.

I would highly recommend this book and any other book by Susan Meissner. I look forward to reading her other work because I have been greatly impressed with the two books that I have read. She knows how to tell a heartbreakingly, beautiful story!



This book was provided to me free of charge from Waterbrook Press for review purposes through their Blogging for Books program. The opinions in this review are my own and were not influenced.

Thank You God for Mommy Review!

Thank You God for Mommy was a precious book suitable for young children. My 2 year old loved looking and pointing at the beautiful artwork featuring Little Panda. My 6 year old loved the way that the pages were written in a poem style, with the words rhyming, making it easy for her to remember them. I loved the way that that this book is so simple, yet shows how special a mommy is...from kissing boo-boo's, to reading lullabies, and to trusting that God will see you through. This would make a wonderful gift to any mommy or child. I will be reading this to my children often. Thank you Booksneeze!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

The Velveteen Bible Review-A Gift of Gods Word for Years to Come!

When I saw that this Bible was available for review, I was so excited to get it. My daughter Madison is 5 years old and I have been planning on buying her a new bible for church but haven't found one that I wanted to get yet. This beautiful Bible is well suited for her first Bible. I love the keepsake treasure box that she can store it in. She loves the pictures with the bible verses that are geared towards children, they are easy enough for her to remember and she can read most of them. This bible is in the NKJV. I prefer the KJV, but with her learning to read, it helps that the words are a bit easier for her to understand. This is one of my favorite reviews that I have done because not only did it brighten my daughters day, but it is going to be providing God's word to her for years to come! 

About The Velveteen Bible:

Inspired by Baby's First Bible with the adorable fuzzy duck cover, this new bible for little ones, The Velveteen Bible features soft fur and a fuzzy tail! Inside, the New King James Version scripture is accompanied by whimsical images of bunnies and other baby animals, colorful borders, and lovely sentiments from the scriptures. The Bible is packaged in a keepsake treasure box.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

10 Free Ebooks for Kindle or Personal Computer!!!

Free Kindle ebooks!!!! Below are 10 free ebooks available from Amazon!!! Read Kindle ebooks on your PC if you don't have a Kindle by clicking here!!! These books are available for a limitted amount of time so hurry and get them if you are interested! The charge for these at this time are $0.00!!! Hope you enjoy!


 

If you are interested in buying a Kindle, check out this deal!

Free “Adopted for Life” Christian Audio Book Download

Christianaudio.com is offering a FREE audio book download of “Adopted for Life” by Russell Moore. This download is available internationally for the month of February. Click here to get your free download!

 From the Publisher: A stirring call to Christian families and churches to be a people who care for orphans, not just in word, but in deed. The gospel of Jesus Christ-the good news that through Jesus we have been adopted as sons and daughters into God's family-means that Christians ought to be at the forefront of the adoption of orphans in North America and around the world.

Possession-Pay Now or Lose Everything!!!

I love great mystery novels! Possession is a great mystery novel by Rene Gutteridge, an author that I had never heard of but has quickly became one of my favorites! The book is about Vance Graegan, a retired detective that was an investigator in the D.C. Sniper case. The case has affected him badly and put a great strain on his marriage. He and his wife decide to move to California to open up a deli, his wife Lindy's dream. They hire movers to take their possessions to the new home and that is when everything falls apart.

The Graegan's were looking to start a new life but are torn apart by these movers that have their "Possessions". The movers start demanding money from them first of all because the home they move to is too far away from the curve. Vance signed a contract without reading the fine print which stated that if the house was over a certain distance there would be an additional fee. The Graegan's know that they got scammed but are lost in how to handle the situation. And just when you blink your eyes something else happens to keep you intrigued. Their little boy Conner never loses faith that things will work out...a lesson that the Graegan's will learn also.

I was so captivated by this book that I could not sleep! It made me think twice about just signing along the dotted line...I will definitely be reading the fine print from now on. I would highly recommend it, along with any other books by Rene Gutteridge as I am sure they are just as great! I can't wait to read more by her.

This book was provided to me by Tyndale Publishers free of charge. The opinions in this review are my own and have not been influenced.

The Power Based Life Book Review

I was recently given the opportunity to review a book called The Power Based Life written by Mike Flynt. Mike Flynt was a football player that the movie Friday Night Lights was based on. This book, however is not about his football career. This book is about realizing what you are born to do. The author uses his personal accounts of how he got through his challenges by giving accounts from his personal life. I love the quote used in this book - "The two greatest days in our lives are the day we're born and the day we realize what we are born for." It is about discovering what you truly love and getting out of a job that causes you nothing but frustration.

Mike Flynt offers twelve strategies on how to tap into your personal strengths. These twelve life strategies teach you to strengthen your body, mind, and spirit as you become the person God created—and then find the work that you were designed to do. He helps give you the confidence to go after your goals and your dreams. I think that the strategy that I found most interesting is for the body: Sow in Health, Reap a Longer Life. This section of the book was intriguing to me because of my medical background. I realized how much truth really came from this...that if you take care of your body you can have a longer life. Our nation is becoming less and less active everyday. It gave me the encouragement to get out and play with my children more.

This book is about defying the skeptics and reaching your goals. I thought about my dreams and the decisions I have made in life and how I could start working towards my passions in life. I would rate this book 5 stars and recommend it to everyone who is not passionate about their life, that is just content and going with the motions of life.

This book was provided to me from Thomas Nelson Publisher as part of their Booksneeze blogger program. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced.

Hatteras Girl by Alice J. Wisler

Hatteras Girl by Alice J. Wisler

I am one of those lovers of a mystery. Hatteras Girl by Alice J. Wisler kept me guessing what what going to happen in this wonderful book about a girl named Jackie who is near 30 and has been unlucky in love. She dreams of marrying a wonderful, honest man and of owning The Bailey House, a bread and breakfast that she grew up visiting as a young girl. The Bailey House holds many special memories for her but has been closed for some time and she desperately wants to get more information on purchasing it.

Jackie has been set up on numerous blind dates to which she has never had a second date with. She works for Lighthouse Views, writing articles about local business owners. She happens to do an interview with Davis Erikson, whom has knowledge of The Bailey House owners and whom she is instantly attracted to. The attraction seems mutual, the couple start dating. Jackie thinks that she has finally found the answer to all of her prayers, a good man and an opportunity to get the bread and breakfast, but there are mysteries surrounding The Bailey House that Jackie has trouble finding answers to. Davis doesn't appear to be the man that she thought he was. Jackie is on the verge of losing her dreams. Yet, this author throws in a wonderful twist that I was very pleased with.

This is one of those books that I didn't want to put down until I finished it. One of those books you sit up all night reading. I would recommend this as a great read and will be sure to pass this one along to my friends!

This book was provided to me free of charge from Bethany House Publishers for review purposes only. The opinions in this review are my own and have not been influenced. Thank you Bethany House for providing me with a great book! 

Amy Inspired by Bethany Pierce

Amy Inspired by Bethany Pierce

I have to say that it’s rare that I find a book that I don’t care to finish reading the end, but this is one of those books. I put it down for a few weeks and forced myself to finish it. I thought that I would be able to relate to the main character, Amy, whom is an aspiring writer who has tried repeatedly to get her work published only to see everyone around her achieving their dreams. She has recently come out of a relationship and finds herself full of doubts about anything in her life. She shares a place with her friend whom invites a stranger, a man named Eli, to live with them for a short time which turns out to be longer. Amy finds that she has an attraction to Eli.

The writer, Bethany Pierce, is apparently a very educated woman with the large words that she uses. However, the words don’t flow very well and I found myself getting lost and losing interest in the book almost immediately upon starting it. The book is also considered a Christian book, which I had trouble getting the connection also. Yes, there were references to Christianity yet the characters didn’t seem fit the Christian profile that I was expecting. I was very disappointed in reading this book. I don’t really recommend it as a good read. Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for providing this book to me free of charge because I would have been upset had I actually went out and bought it.

This book was provided to me by Bethany House Publishers free of charge for review purposes. The opinions are my own and were not influenced.

Unto The Hills-A Daily Devotional by Billy Graham

Unto The Hills-A Daily Devotional by Billy Graham

I have never read any of Billy Graham’s published writings and was anxious to get this Daily Devotional. This book offers a day by day scripture, thought, and prayer that are truly a blessing for any Christian. While reading the thought for the day, I was able to reflect on my life and find guidance in God’s word. The words are easy to understand and give you a peace that God will always be there for you though any circumstances you face in this world. This is a wonderful book to look to each day for an inspiration.

Billy Graham has a true blessing in teaching about God’s word. He puts the words together beautifully in this devotional. I will have this on my nightstand with my bible for a daily read. The prayer at the end of each day is a nice thing to have. Some people tend to not know what to say when they are praying and these prayers are of things that we wouldn’t normally think of as something we need to pray for. For instance, a prayer thanking God for providing you with possessions but asking him to guide you in how you use them and not worship them. This is just an example of the wonderful prayers Billy Graham provides. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, Christian or Non-Christian!

This book was provided to me free of charge from Thomas Nelson Publishers for review purposes. The opinions are my own and have not been influenced.

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul

What a wonderful book to read during the holidays! Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul was a nice mixture of romance, mystery, and magic. I loved this book and couldn't put it down until I was finished reading it!

Cora Crowder is out looking for the perfect Christmas gift when she runs into her co-worker Simon Derrick at an odd little bookstore. They both buy books and that is when the magic starts. In the books that they bought from the store, there are invitations to a Christmas Ball. When Simon discovers his ticket, his sister who has Down syndrome, wants to go to the ball with him and live out a fairy tale. Cora tries to throw her ticket away but the ticket keeps mysteriously reappearing. There is no information available on how to purchase another ticket so Cora decides that she is not going to go. Simon attempts to go back to the bookshop to buy another ticket but somehow he can’t find the street, it’s as if the street disappeared.

While discussing the findings, Cora offers to give her ticket to Simon so that he can take his sister. He gets Cora to go with him and his sister to go to the mysterious little street to buy attire for the ball. It is then that the matchmakers learn of Cora not having her ticket…the ticket was meant for Cora, not the sister. So they arrange for Cora to get another ticket. Many things keep interfering with Cora’s plans yet everything keeps leading her back to Simon Derrick. This was a wonderful book that I would highly recommend. It is set at Christmas time but this book would be a pleasure to read at anytime.

This book was provided to me free of charge from Waterbrook Press for review purposes. The opinions in this review are my own and were not influenced.

Within My Heart by Tamara Alexander

Within My Heart by Tamara Alexander captured my heart from the start. Rachel Boyd is a widowed woman who has two young sons she is trying to raise on her own. Her late husband had dreams of raising them on the ranch and she is struggling to fulfill his wishes. With cattle dying due to the winter months, she finds herself losing more and more money. She finds herself wondering if it is worth it to work so hard to honor her husbands wishes, a wish that was completely different from her own.

Dr. Rand Brookston is new to town. Rand doesn't have a proper building for a medical clinic and makes many house calls with dreams of opening a clinic in the future. Rand and Rachel's paths cross when Rand starts taking care of someone very close to Rachel. The town of Timber Ridge is behind times on technology and Rand has to decide to perform a new surgery on this patient. If he succeeds, he would gain the trust of the town, but he fails....

This was a great, intriguing book. The mystery and love story kept me up all night reading to find out what was going to happen. Being in the medical field as I am, I was impressed that Tamara Alexander did her research and was accurate in her writing. This was the first book I have read by her and I can't wait to read more! I would highly recommend this book. If you are interested purchasing this book, please check out this link: Within My Heart (Timber Ridge Reflections, Book 3)

I was provided this book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions are my own and have not been influenced.

The Devil in Pew Number Seven by Rebecca Nichols Alonzo with Bob DeMoss-Book Review

The Devil in Pew Number Seven is a horribly true story that started in 1969 for the Nichols family. Rebecca’s father was a pastor that felt he was lead by God to move his family to Sellerstown, North Carolina to pastor a church there. Sellerstown was a small town that welcomed the new pastor and his family. There was however one person that was not happy with the changes taking place, a man that was determined to get rid of this family by any means. Rebecca tells of the pure terror she and her family experienced from this man.
It started with harassing phone calls. Robert Nichols was threatened to leave or else he would be leaving “crawling or walking….dead or alive.” These phone calls escalated to much more that put the family through years of pure torment. Pastor Nichols refused to be scared of this man whom was a pure devil. He stood his ground and said that when it was his time to go, God would lead him. The Nichols has so much faith in God that they stayed and allowed this man to terrorize their family. They would refer to verses in the Bible that would give them peace and ease their worries.

Rebecca’s life was changed forever when an armed man walked into her home one night. She witnessed things that a child should never have to see. I found myself getting mad at her mother and father for continuing to live in this town and subject her and her brother to the evils that they experienced, yet I also found admiration for a family that was so full of faith that they had the courage to stay.

Rebecca tells the story of the years her family spent in torment. She learned the power of forgiveness from her parents and has been able to continue her life because of it. She has chosen the path of life that God intended, even though the trials of her life were unimaginable and started at such a young age. This book has a wonderful message about forgiveness and faith in God. I hate that Rebecca had to experience these things to be able to spread the word, but she does a wonderful job of telling how a person of any upbringing can choose the right path in life.

The Devil in Pew Number Seven was provided to me by Tyndale House Publishers free of charge for review purposes only. The opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced.

Masquerade by Nancy Moser

Charlotte Gleason is a woman that has lived the life of luxury in England with her family. Her father announces that she will be sent to New York to marry one the richest heirs whom she has never met and knows nothing about. Charlotte rebukes and tries to get out of the planned wedding but her father will have nothing of it. Little does she know, her family is in danger of losing their high status in society and this is why her father is so anxious to send her away and get her married to someone that can continue to give her the life that she is accustomed to living.

Charlotte is not one those women that want her life planned out for her. She wants to marry for love and she wants to learn about life on her own, something that she has not been able to do while living at home with her parents. Dora is Charlotte’s maid. She goes along with Charlotte on her journey to America. On the way, Charlotte comes up with a grand plan to switch identities with Dora so that she can go and discover herself and get the experiences in life that she would never be able to do if she marries this man. Dora has the opportunity to live a life that she has always been around but never got to experience. She is dressed in the beautiful gowns and feels like a true princess.

Life for Charlotte doesn’t turn out quite like she expected. Immediately upon getting to New York and separating from Dora, her whole plan is changed before her very eyes. She gets new experiences, but not the ones she had hoped for. Charlotte struggles with whether she should she go and claim her spot as the true Charlotte Gleason or should she continue on, not knowing what may happen to her life as she knows it.

This is a wonderfully told story that took me back to an era of time that is completely different to the life I am use to. I could not put this book down. Nancy Moser did a wonderful job of creating these characters and putting together a story that you could actually imagine the lives of these women in their struggles and journeys into two completely new lives. I would definitely recommend this book as a great read.

Masquerade was provided to me by Bethany House Publishers free of charge for review purposes only. The opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced.

Loves First Bloom by Delia Parr Book Review

Ruth Livingston is a preacher’s daughter that has her life turned upside down when her father is accused of murdering one of the women that he devoted his life to rescuing out of the life of prostitution. He would get these women to families out of town that would help them rebuild their lives and gain stability again. Father Livingston is bound to protect his daughter from the negativity of the case and sends her away one night with a small child to claim as her own.

Ruth assumes the role of mother to this child. They are sent to a family and she also takes on the role of one of the very women that her father has saved. This family takes in Ruth and the child not knowing that she actually is the preacher’s daughter. Life is very hard to for Ruth to adjust. Not only is she pretending to be a woman of a completely different demeanor of life, she has to learn to take care of this little girl whom the only thing she knows is that she belongs to the woman that was murdered.

When news that the preachers daughter is missing, the newspapers start making claims that the preacher may have murdered his own daughter. They send out reporters to find out about Ruth’s whereabouts and to see if she actually has evidence that would convict her father that she is hiding. Jake Spencer is one of the guys looking to find Ruth but he’s comes into town as someone different also. He pretends to have just had back surgery and is looking for some peace and quiet from the world. Ruth seeks tranquility and peace in a garden that just happens to be where Jake is living. These two do not like each other at all but as the story goes along, things start to change. He is desperately trying to find out the truth about Ruth and she is doing everything in her power to protect her identity.

The book has some twists that I never seen coming, which was a nice surprise. I was held in suspense throughout and found myself intrigued in seeing that Ruth and the child were protected. Delia Parr has officially become one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more from this wonderfully talented writer. Loves First Bloom is one of those books that you don’t want to put down once you start reading it. I would give this a good four and a half stars, possibly a five. I am definitely passing this one along to my friends to enjoy also.

Loves First Bloom was provided to me by Bethany House Publishers free of charge for review purposes only. The opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced.