An Easy Mystery

I was given a copy of A Summer Secret by Kathleen Fuller to review for Thomas Nelson Publishing.  It is about a thirteen year old Amish girl that would like some privacy from her three brothers that are always pestering her. So she decides to create her own little world inside an old barn, she has a journal some food and no brothers in her secret place.  But then she runs into some problems. First off,  her Father has forbidden her to go to the barn anymore, plus she realizes that someone else has found her secret hideaway and therefore she's not as alone as she thought she was.

One day Mary's twin brother followers her to the barn and that is when they discover that someone else is hiding there also.  Now this creates a problem for the two of them as how to handle this situation.  Should they tell their Father about this ?  If they do will they get into trouble because they were doing something he had forbidden them to do?

This book is written for young readers but I think many adults would enjoy it, I know I did.  It is a clean Christian story and although there isn't much of a mystery going on, it is still very much worth reading.  Ms. Fuller really helps the reader by giving an insight into the Amish lifestyle that perhaps otherwise you would not have access to.  This is a easy read for those times when you just want to read something simple, or when you are looking for one of those Happy Ever After sort of things.  But simple as it was, I enjoyed it.  It reminds me of the Little House On The Prairie Days.

Giveaway---Giveaway---Giveaway!!!!

I was sent the book The Heart Mender by Andy Andrews, a story of second chances, by the Thomas Nelson Company to review for them and they also sent me a second copy to do with as I choose.  Naturally my first thought was  GIVEAWAY!  But first let me tell you a little bit about the book just to get you so very interested, which trust me this is an interesting book.

This book is about a lady whose name is Helen that is now a widow after losing her husband to the Germans.  Her faith and everything she believes in is tested when an officer from a German U-boat washes up on the shore near her home.  She now realizes that his life depends on her and she can't stop thinking about her own husband.  Now can she overcome her anger and help this person whose life actually is in her hands?  Helen Mason can barely exist in her life in 1942, she lives in Alabama, but is constantly living with anger and resentment that her husband was killed by Germans during this awful war.  She has no way of knowing that the man that has just washed up on her shore is also living a broken life.  He was on a German U-boat that was in the Gulf of Mexico, and yet he so wanted to be home with his wife and daughter.

The photographs that are in this book of the artifacts that were found in the author's backyard let you know that this is factual, and yet while you are reading it you think that this must be fiction because of the way things turn out or rather are turned around.

When I finished this book I was stunned.  I wanted to so believe that it was true, and yet Mr. Andrews says "it is mostly fact."   First you have a wounded German found by a woman in Alabama, she cannot tolerate Germans, or does she find it in her heart to just help another human being.  You then discover that each has a past that will require them to make choices.

I will not say much more but will add this one bit.  You know how when you finish a book you think to yourself, "I wonder what happened after that?"  Mr. Andrews tells us what happened to Helen and Josef, and you find yourself thinking that you have finally come to the end of the story.  But guess what, I found myself thinking about going into my back yard and digging a hole to see what I might find.  I didn't mention that part did I?  I can't tell everything I know.


Now, on to the Giveaway from May 8, 2010 until May 31, 2010
1. Leave a comment on this blog equals one chance
2.  Being a Follower equals one chance
3.  List my giveaway on your blog with a link back here to me equals one chance.
4.  Drawing will be done on May 31 and the winner posted on June 1.
5.  Make sure I have a way to email you or else you will have to come back to see if you've won.
6.  If I'm not contacted with 48 hours another name will be drawn.
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