The Sheepish Scribe

Second Chance Ranch by Leann Harris

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Leann Harris presents us with a good story of hope and struggle against the odds. Both main characters have their hurdles to climb and working together, they overcome them. It's a good, wholesome story, suitable for any age. Nothing surprising or unexpected, just a good "lawn chair" read for summer. It includes horses and cowboys... what else does one need?

Lydia's Charm by Wanda E. Brunstetter

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This Amish book takes on more weighty issues than most I have read. It's a melancholy read. Lydia faces so much loss and family angst at such a young age. Even though it has a good ending, it leaves the reader with a bittersweet aftertaste. It harbors a lot of real life within it's pages. I recommend it, it's a good book and carries a good message of hope even amid devastating loss.

I was pulled up short several times by the actions of the children in the story. The level of disobedience tolerated is not something that rang true for me. Living in an Amish community, I can't imagine any of my neighbors allowing their children to behave that way. The children in my neighborhood are incredibly polite and respectful.

Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Wow. The world Robert Jordan created has been further blessed by the talents of Brandon Sanderson. I marvel at the incredible job Mr. Sanderson is doing of continuing this series after Mr. Jordan's death. The characters are true. The storyline is consistent. The twists and turns are fascinating. And the pace and intensity are much improved.

This one doesn't wrap up the story - there will be a book fourteen - but it does wrap up several loose ends in a very satisfying way. I don't want to put out any spoilers for those who haven't read it yet, all 843 pages. I "saved" this one until I had a week off from work. I've had it on my bookshelf these past four and a half months. There are some books that require sufficient time to truly delve into. This is one of them.

My only disappointment is the amount of grammatical errors and typos in this book. I don't remember any of the previous Wheel of Time books having this many. Perhaps in the rush to get this book into print... someone cut a corner or two too many. The folks at Tor should know better!

Legendary Space Pilgrims by Grace Bridges

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book was very different from any I have read in a long time. I haven't delved into a true sci-fi book in ages. It's an interesting idea of taking "Pilgrims Progress" into outer space. That's a tall order, to be sure, but Grace Bridges does a nice job of making it all believable. The reader follows the pilgrims from their life of slavery toward what we assume will end in salvation. However, the book ends abruptly - leaving one unsatisfied and with the need to look for the sequel to find the answers. Sometimes I find cliffhangers exciting, but because we know what the outcome should be (if we've read "Pilgrims Progress" anyway), this ending seems to drag out the inevitable.

I had a little trouble getting into the characters in the beginning of the book. They are slaves on a planet that attempts to wipe out all emotion. Since emotion is generally what I connect to with a character, be it good or bad, I struggled to work up much empathy or interest in what was happening to Mario and Caitlin. But I'm glad I stuck with it. The emergence of emotions is slow but steady as this pair breaks free of their emotionless bondage and learns to accept and deal with their feelings.

Simple Deceit by Nancy Mehl

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Nancy Mehl did a wonderful job of pulling the reader back into Harmony in this sequel to "Simple Secrets". With numerous plot twists and turns, she keeps the story moving and the reader guessing. In this sequel, Gracie cuts her ties to the city and moves back to Harmony, only to find an abandoned baby on the church steps, some skulking around her back yard, another dead body, and an arsonist. All of these events unveil more of Sam's background and how that might impact their future together. This one is worth reading! Now I need to find "Simple Choices" to find out how this series ends.

Simple Secrets by Nancy Mehl

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I didn't know what to expect of a romantic suspense book set in a Mennonite community. What I found was a tale with plenty of twists and turns to keep me happily turning the pages. The characters are interesting and believable. The setting is a quaint little town in Kansas. The heart of the story revolves around a mystery that has gone unanswered for most of a generation. The romance is big city girl meets down-to-earth farm boy. It all comes together in a book I can highly recommend for older teens and adults. I would not recommend this one for younger teens due to some non-offensive but mature content.

Give the Lady a Ride by Linda Yezak

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


If you want a fun read with snappy dialog and spunky relationships, this is the book for you! Linda Yezak does a great job of combining a love story with a realistic portrayal of life on the ranch. Patricia is a big city girl who inherits a working ranch in Texas. Add her best friend and two good looking cowboys, toss in a few bulls, and you have a lighthearted romp to read through. Woven through the story is Patricia's reawaken faith and trust in God. I highly recommend this one!