Lady in the Mist by Laurie Alice Eakes

I have been a nurse for 30 years now and loved my time as a labor and delivery nurse. I've only known of one other midwife novel which is sad, very sad. Another reason I had to try out Laurie Alice Eakes' wares is that I love historical romances....Tabitha Eckles comes from a long line of midwives so, I had to read this book, just had to.

I was not dissappointed either. One of my most favorite eras in history is Early American which absolutely forced me to read this book....in one day. There is much goings on in Tabitha's port town and in this story as well. Spiritual struggle, murder, spies, just to name a few. But don't let me lead you astray, this is a great book for teens!

The main educational method for history for thousands of years is the telling of stories and the research that went into this book is what made it so good for me. This book does not disappoint. Enjoy!

The Choice (Lancaster County Secrets #1) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Choice is the first book of the Lancaster County Secrets (#2 is The Waiting, #3 is The Search-yeah I know out of order again, seems like I can't go in order, can I? Well, that's 'how I roll' apparantly. heehee)

Our lovestruck heroine Carrie Weaver, has plans to basically run away with her amour, charismatic Solomon but, as Providence would have it, there is a death in the family just before they are to leave. Carrie is faced with many life choices, as we all are, and the consequences of them are weighty, as in our own.

This is a great teen read, simply because the teen years are such an critical time for life choices. Do I go to college or a trade school? Do I stay at home or move out? What do I believe about God? My family needs this but I need that.....What seems like an unassuming choice can have devastating or fantastic consequences and life has many of those same unassuming choices to deal with.

As a nurse, I liked the subplot of Carrie's hemophiliac little bruder Andy. As a descendant of German immigrants, I'll always enjoy the Amish language inserts.

Surrender the Heart by MaryLu Tyndall

OK, any book that makes me stay up til 0500 is a good book.

I. Am. NOT. A. Night. Owl. This point cannot be overstated.

This story is full of twists and turns, a hint of a spiritual attack, just when you think it's all over for Marianne, another chapter (maddeningly) takes you off to another adventure- one with Noah. He could be my new hero--so...wow, what adjective to put here?

I love American history, Errol Flynn (Captain Blood), and you, too MaryLu Tyndall!

I have a confession to make. With the holidays, a sick child, and working extra shifts, I'd forgotten to post my review. I realized it when I sat down to review Surrender the Heart's sequel, Surrender the Night, which is also and amazing account of our forefather's courage during the War of 1812. So I picked it up thinking I'll skim through to refresh my memory-no chance- I ended up reading it cover to cover again--and so will you.This book had me crying, giggling, and heart thump-th-thumping. If I were to add anything to this book, it would've been more romance, without giving out a spoiler, at the end.

If the real battles of our War of Independence or War of 1812 were anything like the battles in this book then, I am in even more awe of our awesome country's founders .....and I am always in awe of their courage and what they sacrificed. We all have a reason for being on this planet, our only charge is to allow God to tell us what that is and then have the courage to carry it out...'for such a time as this.'

Thanks to NetGalley for my ecopy but remember, this review is mine alone.

The Blue Enchantress by MaryLu Tyndall

This was a fun read about an impulsive naive flirt who encounter pirates and missionaries. A strange combo to be sure...that's why I liked it. Hope Westcott finds herself on the auction block--literally, to be sold as a wife or slave, it made no difference in her eyes because she had no business being here. Things weren't supposed to be going this way. Why had God so obviously abandoned her?

Nathaniel Mason, a Christian self made shipping merchant, saw Hope on the auction block and remembered her as a conceited rich girl. Her future is dependent in his benevolence or rather God's. Nathan prays before he bids his last coin. Can he prevent her from ending up as a slave-wife? He can and does but loses half his fleet in the process. I used to say that I was born in the wrong time period but after reading this book, I am so grateful that God chose to put me in this century, where there's air conditioning, indoor plumbing, no corsets, etc. lol

I also loved the supporting cast of characters of Abigail, a grieving missionary and Captain Poole, the pirate who's seen miracles and has questions about....... this God.

I love seeing each of thevcharacters grow toward understanding of the other, how their choices are often the causes of their circumstances, and mostly, how God can intervene and make it all work for His good. There is a bits of spiritual warfare throughout, so 'heads up ' if that bothers you but it made the story more real for me.