Softly Blows the Bugle by Jan Drexler

This is the third book in the Amish of Weaver's Creek series. It is a good stand-alone book, but I read the first in the series and recommend doing that.

The main characters in this book are Elizabeth and Aaron. Both are very well developed and believable. The minor characters are also well done and the sub-stories going on make for an interesting, if not mostly predictable read. I did feel that at least one aspect of the story wasn't completely resolved but it was not a major issue.

This is a good, clean book. It is a Christian fiction book genre. 

I received a copy of this book from Revell, the publisher, in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. My review is freely given and fully my own opinion.

I give this book a 3 out of 5-star review and I would recommend it to my friends.

The Shepherd's Wife by Angela Hunt

 This is the second book in the Jerusalem Road series by Angela Hunt. I have enjoyed every book she has written and this is no exception BUT, I was a bit disappointed in this one. It was a very slow start for me and I almost gave up. I'm glad I didn't as it turned out to be a good book. It was written from the viewpoint of Jesus' 2 sisters. The narrative switched back and forth between them but not in equal shares. 

The book, of course, is a Christian book and the main theme was forgiveness. The shepherd's wife is one of the sisters and the book is mostly from her view. The rest of the family is involved, but only as supporting characters.

The plot didn't seem to be as important and the theme and I guess that was one of the things I didn't care for. 

Overall, I did enjoy the book once I got past the first chapter or so. It is not my favorite, but I did enjoy it. I think anyone that enjoys Biblical fiction will enjoy this book also. I give it a 3 out of 5 star rating.

Point of Danger by Irene Hannon

 I requested to read and review this book through Revell Reads. I am thankful to be chosen and this review is totally my own opinion and freely given.

I have read one other book by Irene Hannon in a very genre. So much so, that I thought it was a new author. This book is just as good as the other book and I am happy to have read it. This book is a suspense/mystery genre and is very well written. The characters are all believable and the story flows well. I was hooked from the very beginning. There are a lot of twists and turns and it keeps you guessing as to "who done it". 

The only editing errors I really noticed was the misuse of the word I instead of me. Otherwise, the editing was very well done. This is important to me as a poorly edited book can ruin a very good story.

I give this a 4 out of 5 star rating and would recommend this book to my friends.

Alexandra's Appeal: A Christian Romance (Dixon Brothers Book 3) by Hallee Bridgeman

 I was very excited to be part of the launch team for this book. I have never been disappointed in any book I've read by Hallee Bridgeman. This book was no exception.

It is the 3rd book in the series. I have only read the second book before reading this one, but that really doesn't matter as this can be a stand-alone book also.

The characters were very well developed and the story flowed well. You met characters from the previous books but they only add to the story, not make you depend on reading any of the previous books, though you would enjoy reading them also.

The story flowed well and had a unique twist in a Christian book. It is a good, clean story showing belief in God but not preachy.

The book I read was an advanced copy so I will not comment on the editing, it was still going through one more and that should fix the few problems I saw.

I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a contemporary romance that is well written and clean.

I give this book a 4 our of 5-star rating.

Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar

 I requested and was granted a copy of this book through Netgalley.  This review is not required and is my own, unbiased opinion.

When I started reading this book, I kept thinking I had already read it. I then realized I had and that this is a revised version of the original book. I had read the original so many years ago I cannot tell you what the revisions are but, I did truly enjoy the book. I have always enjoyed anything by Tessa Afshar.

The book is a fictionalization of the Biblical account of Rahab, the harlot. Since she was from Jericho and married an Israelite we can assume she converted. She is also in the lineage of Jesus.

The story was very well written and all the characters were very well developed.  It was a believable account of how it might have happened. 

The editing of the book was very well done as well. That makes reading more enjoyable.

I would recommend this book to my friends.

Otherwise Engaged by Joanna Barker

 This was a light-hearted Christian romance, light on the Christian. It was entertaining and I enjoyed reading it very much. 

It was a good, clean read and not at all preachy. It flowed well, and the characters were pleasingly developed and mostly realistic.

I had not read anything by Joanna Barker previously and look forward to her next book.

I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for my own, honest review. 

Something Worth Doing by Jane Kirkpatrick

This book is a fictionalized biography of the suffragist Abigail (Jenny) Scott Duniway. She was on a wagon train from Illinois to Oregon in the 1800s. Her mother died and she had a great influence on Abigail. 

I enjoyed the first half to three-quarters of the book, but after that, it just seemed to run on and on. It didn't seem to change very much and I felt that a lot of the book could have easily been eliminated. A lot of it felt more like a history book of details and not truly a story.

The main character, Jenny, seemed like a very self-centered person. Her whole goal in life was to make women equal to men. This isn't a bad goal, but it seemed like it was put above everything, including her family.

The characters, in general, were not deeply developed. Abigail/Jenny was more developed than the others but even her character seemed shallow.

I thought this was going to be a Christian book since Revell is the publisher. I would not call it a Christian book at all. In fact, I was totally offended by Abigail continually saying "Holy cow chips". Only God is holy. Pray or church was rarely mentioned and I would not consider Abigail to be a Christian by the way she was developed in the story. This is my opinion and others may not feel this way at all.

Overall I would give this a 3 out of 5-star rating. I probably would not recommend it to anyone unless they were wanting to learn more of the Northwest's suffragist movement.

I was given this book to read and review through the Revell Reads Blog program. This opinion is fully my own opinion.