Okay, I promise. This is a fiction book and something a little more my style. Maybe yours too? :)
*About The Author(s)*
Judi Ann Ehresman:
As I sit here pondering what to write about me, I wonder what in the world anyone would want to know. I, personally, am no one interesting or exciting, but by the grace of God I’ve been married to a wonderful man for over 39 years and have been blessed with two wonderful sons who have given me two wonderful daughters (in-law) and four of the most adorable grandchildren anyone could wish to have!
I have had a number of careers, but motherhood has been my favorite of all. I was born wanting to be a mother. Our children were truly gifts from God and arrived against all odds, but blessed my heart from the very first moment and have brought more joy than I could have imagined. I have heard all my life that being a grandmother is even better than being a mother, but in my estimation it is not. I love my grandchildren dearly—don’t get me wrong, but I don’t love being a GRANDMOTHER because I have to go home and leave those precious babies behind with their parents! There is nothing in the world as wondrous as watching a child learn and helping to shape a young mind. That is the greatest blessing of all.
One of my hobbies is gardening. I love flowers and I love growing them. I love growing vegetables and herbs, but nothing compares with the beauty of flowers. I love to create gardens that are full of perennials that begin blooming in the early spring with the crocuses and keep something blooming until the last of the mums at frost. I love creating beautiful settings surrounded by gardens. How close I feel to God as I work the soil and care for my flowers!
My other great hobby is writing. I love putting my thoughts onto paper and I love giving vent to my imagination by writing fiction as well. I’ve always enjoyed a good story, and I love creating them also. And I enjoy writing my thoughts and feelings as well. But most of all, I love to write down my worship.
So…who am I? My name is Judi Ann Ehresman and I’m a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a gardener, a writer, but most of all, by the grace of God I’m a child of the King! No, not Elvis, but God Almighty. But you can call me Judi…
Naomi Mitchum:
I live in Houston, Texas with my geologist and bird-watching husband, Bob, and we work together with the Circle of Friends students each week at Chapelwood United Methodist, where I just retired as volunteer director of special needs ministry, but continue to help out. Their philosophy is that every meeting of persons is a gift exchange, and gifts are exchanged in our many programs designed to meet the needs of students with disabilities and their parents. I am also a Houston Symphony buff and would go without food just to hear a good string quartet at Chamber Music Houston.
With a degree in Christian education, I set out to do something important with my life. I’m still working on it. The trip has been fun and the future exciting. I worked as director of Christian education in Coffeyville, Kansas then Director of youth work at Boston Avenue Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Along the way I wrote curriculum for the United Methodist Church and other works and served as chair of the Texas Conference Committee on Disability Concerns of the United Methodist Church. I like starting new things from a youth choir, conference committee to the Circle of Friends programs. I recently founded Ramps’nthings Press, a not for profit DBA publisher doing disability books and materials.
*Book Description*
Story One:
Ethan and Mandy Evanston have been happy in their marriage. At least Mandy thought so until Ethan told her he planned to work for the railroad for a few months. Not expecting Ethan to bring her out here into the middle of nowhere to leave her alone, especially not with her secret...Now alone in the wilderness, she discovers new friends that help her wait for her dear husband...but when something happens...
Ethan feels trapped. With what he's done, he can't go back to his wife Mandy so he makes something up. Knowing it will be devastating to her, he just can't see her face again...and Bess...
Will they ever find the true reason for living? And will they ever be reunited?
Story Two:
Bess wants nothing more then to be know as who she is. Bess. Not a prostitute who grew up in a brothel and has no morals. She wants to be held and loved by a man who cares about her for who she is. She thought she'd found that person but now...he's gone. Just like everyone else. Will she ever find the one person that will see to the person inside?
Story Three:
Deidre still can't believe the blessing she has found in being able to stay with Mandy and just can't stop thanking God for everything. Even though she loves her son, God, and has a warm home and food, something's missing. Her beloved husband who was torn away from her. She still believes she can find him but with each passing day hope fades. Will she ever see him again?
Story Four:
The last thing Fredrika wants to do is leave her beloved Germany for what the Americans call "Texas". She just wants to stay right where she is and go to Music school. Outnumbered, they leave for America and 'Rika' needs to see her sister and mother through things she never expected. Will she let her frustrations consume her? Or will she get over leaving Germany and find love in the process?
*What I liked*
The first thing I LOVE about this book is...the book. The cover is gorgeous and glossy and the pages are torn and antique looking on the edges that gives it a really cool texture. The writing was sweet...I loved the first 3 stories from Judi Ann...I loved the story from Naomi as well, don't get me wrong, especially since I am part German, but I really liked Judi's stories and that she tied them all together. They both had wonderful characters and since this is a novellas collection, it was quick to read. The main thing I loved is the Christian values. Judi Ann especially had some really good Christian witness material in her books and made her characters live it out.
*What I didn't like*
*What I didn't like*
I really feel this should have been 2 separate books.Not because one reader is better then the other or anything like that, just that the first three books don't fit with the last at all. They should have been published like what they are: A trilogy and a novella. At the least they should really tell the readers that they don't go together. This is a great book if you want some quick reading but not if you aren't good about finishing a book. I'm one of those people that has to finish a book right away. So if you hand me four different novellas it is hard for me to keep my focus.
*My Rating*
I give The Long Road Home Romance Collection...
4 stars!
*Why my rating is what it is*
My rating is four stars because of the books being in the same collection and also because sometimes it is a bit hard for it to hold your attention. Other then that, this book is great!! You should read it!
*I received this book from Barbour publishing and Bookfun.org in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts were my own and I was not compensated in any other way.
*Where to buy it*
Thanks for visiting me again!! I am currently trying to get my followers up so I can review for more places like Zondervan and Thomas Nelson but unfortunately I can't do so until I hit at least 30 followers...I am almost halfway there!
Blessings,
Nicki
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