Three Cups by Tony Townsley and Mark St. Germain

What a neat idea to write a book which deals with finances-for kids! While that concept might seem boring or "over their heads," it's really not if done the right way. And Three Cups does it wonderfully!

The illustrations are very nicely done, naturally drawing the eye toward them, and the story flows right off the page into the readers mind without being too wordy or complicated. As this book shows, using three cups to set aside savings, giving, and spending money is something anyone can do, whether young or old. Everyone has cups laying around their house and, if you or the kids want to be ambitious, decorating them could even be a fun craft as well as further investment into the project. Being able to see their own funds/allowance each day in a tangible way, should encourage your child toward good habits which will last a lifetime; and what better time to start then now? You're never too young to begin learning valuable lessons and, for parents, this book is a great tool to get them started. I wish I'd had this growing up, as I'm sure it would serve me well as an adult. I look forward to sharing Three Cups with my own daughter and going through the experience of money management together in a fun, approachable, way. Start planning for your child's future by investing in the Three Cups philosophy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Lilly's Wedding Quilt by Kelly Long

 
Can I just say...I loved loved loved this book! Having read other Amish fiction titles, I tended to be disappointed in the romance department. Usually these novels are very sweet but a bit dull when it comes to the relationships between the main characters. This story was definitely sweet but also edgier and I found it so refreshing to see the author not shy away from Lilly and Jacob's attraction for each other. Don't most young people have these feelings of excitement, longing and passion in a relationship? Just because these ones happen to be Amish doesn't mean they don't share the same emotions any "Englisher" does. I thought Kelly Long captured the wonder of first, or even second time, love really well making it very relate able to anyone who's ever experienced it before themselves.

This is the first book I've had the chance to read by Kelly Long and it definitely won't be the last. I'm planning on checking out Sarah's Garden, the first book in the Patch of Heaven series, and hopefully the following one when it comes out. I'd love to find out more about Seth, Jacob's warm hearted brother, and can't wait to see where romance leads him. Lilly's Wedding Quilt is a very engaging story and I found myself picking it up every spare chance I got. I'm always excited when I find a new favorite author and Kelly has definitely been added to that list. Thanks for a great read and I look forward to the next one!

Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist

Love on the Line is a fitting title for the story of our two main characters. It both literally and figuratively describes their relationship, along with the various other circumstances which have also put their lives on the line.

In Texas, bird lover/activist Georgie Gail, telephone operator for the small town of Brenham, whiles away her days fielding multiple phone calls, local gossip, and admiring her beloved feathered friends. Lucious (otherwise known as "Luscious") Landrom spends his time hunting down criminals Texas Ranger style, and along with the help of his trusted pistols Odysseus and Penelope, manages to bag outlaws left and right; all except for Frank Comer, the one who got away. Or rather gets away; repeatedly. To his chagrin, Lucious realizes the only way he stands a chance of catching the elusive criminal is by going undercover as an unsuspecting telephone repair man. Disguising himself, and ditching his fancy duds for faded overalls, Lucious changes his name to Luke Palmer, while trying to ingratiate himself with the town locals in hopes of discovering the Comer gangs whereabouts.

Upon meeting for the first time, Luke and Georgie initially have a clash of wills, but attraction quickly gives way to a softening of hearts; despite the fact the Texas Ranger openly admits to hunting birds for sport. Much as this admission galls Georgie, what will her reaction be should she find out Luke's true identity is Lucious Landrom, the man who's very name she has mocked on more than one occasion? And can Luke capture his intended targets without arousing suspicion, while still continuing to romance Georgie? With secrets abounding, can they nurture their growing love or will it be disconnected just as surely as the snap of a telephone wire?

This was an enjoyable read for me and I looked forward to spending time in the world Ms. Gist created. Having penned several other historical western novels, she proves herself very capable of handling the subject matter here competently and rather seemlessly. There are interesting details about various winged creatures, along with the crafts of marksmanship, hat making, telephone operating, etc. Small town life is depicted in all its pleasantness yet the underlying hardship is not glossed over but rather the reader feels for Georgie as a single young woman living in a man's world. She wants her independence while also retaining a sense of femininity, despite her strong viewpoint on women's rights. This was well portrayed and relateable.

I've usually found the romance in this author's books to have a nice sizzle but for some reason this one was more of a fizzle for me. I can't exactly pinpoint why, because the characters are likeable enough, but it just didn't leap off the page and grab me as I thought it would. Perhaps, it was missing more elements of the unexpected. While well written, the plot turns all went in the basic direction I expected them to and the "spoiler" toward the end wasn't a surprise as I had already figured out who the main villain really was long before his reveal. Or maybe that was intentional?

Either way, I don't want to be overly nitpicky as I did enjoy the story and have no qualms about saying Deeanne Gist is a very talented writer who does this sort of fiction with an engaging flair. I know she spends a lot of time researching each project ahead of time and it shows in the little attentions to detail, which I appreciate. They give an authenticity which can't be duplicated and the reader can feel when an author has done their homework. I'll look forward to Ms. Gist's next book, and in the meantime, probably re-read some of her "oldies but goodies."

Thanks to Bethany House Publisher for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.