Book Review of A Plain Disappearance: An Appleseed Creek Mystery by Amanda Flower

I recently finished reading A Plain Disappearance: An Appleseed Creek Mystery by Amanda Flower.   In this book, it is almost Christmas when Chloe and her Amish boyfriend, Timothy, are on their first date and find the dead body of Katie Lambright near a barn.  There is evidence in the barn that seems to imply that Timothy's friend and auto mechanic, Billy Thorpe, may have had something to do with Katie's death. Timothy and Chloe work with the police to find the killer hoping to prove that Billy is innocent.

I was drawn in by the story line and the characters.  I loved all of the characters--especially Grandfather Zook and the main character, Chloe Humphrey.  She reminds me of a modern day Nancy Drew--always needing to investigate whether it can be dangerous or not.  There are many twists and turns in this book, and Flower does a good job of keeping the reader guessing who killed Katie until the very end of the book.  I didn't want to put it down!

*I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Book Review of Lead Me Home by Stacy Hawkins Adams

I recently read Lead Me Home by Stacy Hawkins Adams.  Lead Me Home is second book in the Winds of Change Series. The reader is introduced to Shiloh Griffin, who feels that she doesn't have an identity of her own outside of being a pastor's wife and a mom.  Although she loves being a pastor's wife and mom, when the opportunity to help out at a local high school teaching music comes about she jumps at the chance (once her husband is on board).  At the high school, she meets Monica, a fifteen year old girl, who is an extremely talented musician.  Shiloh takes on mentoring Monica for an upcoming music event, and she eventually has to face her past when Monica becomes pregnant.  We also see Shiloh's relationship with Jade Smith, the assistant pastor's wife, develop into an unexpected friendship.

I enjoyed reading this book.  While it may not be completely accurate, it gives us a glimpse into the home life of a pastor's family, focusing on the pastor's wife.  As a pastor's wife, Shiloh feels like she needs to hide the things that she did in her past that she wasn't proud of.  However, God has a plan, and He shows her that she can help others by being open about things that happened in her past.  I think it was a good lesson for me as a reader, but it didn't feel like one because it was an interesting story line.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”