Keys of Heaven by Adina Senft

Genre: Adult, Amish Romance
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Although this is the second book in this series, it reads like a stand-alone.  I had not read the first book, Herb of Grace, before I read this one.  I will definitely go back and read it.  In this book Sarah Yoder, a widow and mother of two boys is making her way in the world by treating other people with herbs.  She is friends and has a fond heart for Henry Byler, with whom she share a fence.  Raised Amish, Henry Byler never joined the church and considers himself an Englisher.  He is a potter by trade. No matter how Sarah feels about Henry, she keeps her distance.

Sarah doesn't just help heal people. She offers advice in the hope of healing their heart and life.  The problem is that sometimes it becomes pure meddling and is offensive to many of her friends.  Sarah makes some comments that offends those that are closest to her and finds she must apologize to them.

The author did an excellent job of creating characters that have flaws we can all relate to.  We can see the dilemma Sarah gets herself into and may even be able to relate to some of the things she does.  I loved  when she talked about the plant from which the books title comes.  It is a hardy plant that grows in some of the harshest places.  It brightens up the spot where it grows.  It is a lesson for us that wherever God plants us we need to bloom and grow. Sometimes those tough spots we find ourself in is the exact place God needs us to help us grow to our full potential.

I've read some of this author's other books and have really enjoyed them.  I am sure you will enjoy this one as much as I have.  This book is one of two that will be given away to a lucky winner, along with an artisan bar of chocolate from Oliver and Sinclair. If you would like an opportunity to win these two books and the chocolate bar then please go here to read my post and leave a comment along with your email address.  That is all it takes to be entered to win the two books and chocolate.  I will choose a winner at 10 AM EST on Valentine's day.  Please visit that post and leave a message.

Avra's God by Ann Lee Miller

Genre: Young Adult, Adult Realistic Fiction

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions I expressed are my own.

Author Ann Miller has created a story that could be happening to you and your friends.  Avra has a very close walk with God.  This doesn’t mean she isn’t vulnerable.  It means she has to rely on her to keep her on the right path. She especially needs his help when she finds herself attracted to Cisco.  Cisco has some major issues.  He is attracted to Avra.  He wants what she has, yet like so many it is easier to live the life he has. Those quick fixes like drugs and sex make it easy to make excuses.  Then we meet Jessie and Kallie.  Kallie doesn’t trust men because her father ran out one them.  If she can take control of the situation then she won’t get hurt. That’s what she tells herself.  Jessie is a preacher’s kid.  He is in a band and loves the attention he gets from all of the girls.  I could relate to so many of these characters.  I was raised in a very strict Christian home.  When the doors of the church were open we were there.  When I rebelled I made sure my mom knew what I was doing.  I wanted to show her I could be bad, yet God constantly pulled me back to him.

I believe anyone and everyone who reads this book will see themselves in one of the characters.  That is hard to admit because it means we look back at a part of our past that we may not be proud of.  At the same time it means we look back at the way God directed our past.

Like Avra, we want our faith to lead our friends to, or closer to a walk with God.  This is one of the best books I have read this year and I am glad to recommend it to others.

Student Saturday: The Kill Order by James Dashner

Student Reviewer: Elizabeth B.

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction

When I first started this, this was nothing like the other books in the series. I was disappointed – and intrigued. So, I read on. I found out about a whole lot of the story just from reading chapter 10.  I read that there was one girl in the book named Trina. I immediately thought of Trina from “Steps to Courage”, and funny thing, the main character/ Trina’s best friend is named Mark. Again, I thought of that same book. Just a connection.