"The King of the Trees" by William D. Burt

About this book:

  “What do an old wooden box, a jeweled pendant and some mysterious, green-garbed strangers share in common? When Rolin son of Gannon sets out to solve this riddle, his adventures take him worlds beyond the walls of his little log cabin. With the help of some grumpy griffins and a long-lost prophecy, Rolin and his newfound friends battle an ancient enemy and his underworld army; deadly snake-trees; batwolves, dragons and other mythical creatures. On their perilous quest for the blessed Isle of Luralin, they must trust the King with their very lives. In the end, they learn that “The greatest help oft comes in harm's disguise to those with trusting hearts and open eyes.””


Series: Book #1 in “The King of the Trees” series.

Spiritual Content- This story is an Allegory; Revelations 22:1-2 at the beginning; Many Scriptures are mentioned, quoted, sung & talked about (not technically referred to as Scriptures, but the God figure in the allegory says them mostly); A few prayers to & thanking Gaelathane [God]; Praises & Singing about/to [God]; Witnessing to others about [God]; Talks about [God], His call & being remade; ‘H’s are capital when referring to [God]; Many mentions of Gaelathane [God]; Many mentions of a Prophecy; Mentions of Heaven (referred to as Gaelathane’s Country); Mentions of blessings & being blessed; A few mentions of faiths; A couple mentions of praying;

*Note: Good vs Evil, Light vs Dark storyline; Many mentions of a sorcerer (not magic, just evil), Gundul [Hell] & its fire; A few mentions of a non-magic concoction from a woman who’s not a witch; A few mentions of unholy noises; A couple mentions of stories of fairies & wood-sprites; A mention of superstitious people; A mention of a ghost.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: two ‘blasted’s; A few mentions of curses (said, not written); A couple mentions of eye rolling; Dangerous & Strange creatures, also fighting and killing them (up to semi-detailed, many mentions of them as well); Many mentions of threats (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of blood, bleeding & pain (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of battles, wounds & deaths (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of skeletons, bones & deaths (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of kidnappings & slaves; Mentions of bad dreams & cruel taunts; Mentions of fires & smoke; Mentions of knives & blades; Mentions of sheep being carried off by winged animals (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of dead animals’ heads displayed (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of wine & drunks; Mentions of screams; A few mentions of being kicked in the head & slapped; A couple mentions of trying to find a body & the possibility of being eaten by a bear; A mention of a hanging.

Sexual Content- a not-detailed kiss; A few hand touches that causes tingles (barley-above-not-detailed); A tiny bit of noticing a girl’s beauty & blushes; Mentions of crushes; A few mentions of Rolin saying he doesn’t understand girls; A few mentions of Rolin’s parents falling in love; A mention of taking only one mate in marriage.

-Rolin, age 14/15
                                      P.O.V. of Rolin

                                            Fantasy
                                                 236 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

This was a really different read! All the singing made this fantasy feel like a musical with all the times the characters (or animals or plants) would burst out in song, praising Gaelathane [God]. I didn’t have a super difficult time following along the allegory, and found that I enjoyed it. This was a quite cute and other worldly plot, I can see many ages, girls and boys, enjoying this book. :)  {Also, a fun note is that there is a pronunciation guide at the end, which is quite helpful! ;) }

See y’all on Friday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.

"An Amish Harvest" by Beth Wiseman, Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller & Vannetta Chapman

About this book:

   “Faith, hope, and love remain forever in season in this collection of four richly absorbing novellas set amidst the wonder of an Amish autumn.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Under the Harvest Moon” by Beth Wiseman

About this book:

  “When Naomi Dienner is suddenly widowed, she never expects to find love again . . . until she meets Brock Mulligan, an English family friend hired at harvest time. As a sinister presence begins to threaten Naomi, Brock seeks to prove himself trustworthy while struggling with growing feelings for Naomi and her children. Will God open Naomi’s heart—and give Brock his own second chance at love?”

Spiritual Content- Prayers; Talks about God & His will; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God, His will & forgiving; Mentions of prayers & blessings over food; Mentions of Heaven & Jesus; Mentions of church & the Lord’s day; Mentions of faiths & peace; Mentions of Amish beliefs & a bishop; Mentions blessings; A couple mentions of Christmas; A mention of a patience of a saint;

            *Note: Many mentions of moon superstitions, protection rocks, & powwowing (Naomi doesn’t believe in them, but buys them anyway); A mention of Santa Claus.  

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’ and two forms of ‘stupid’; Talks about & mentions of Naomi’s husband hitting her, and the bruises & injuries (Naomi thinks it’s her fault that her husband would hit her, up to semi-detailed); Mentions of buggy accidents & deaths (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of spankings; A few mentions of throwing up; A mention of addictions; A mention of manure; A mention of World War II.

Sexual Content- two forehead kisses; Embraces & Touches (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing; Mentions of flirting, winks & blushes; Mentions of dating; Mentions of a little girl thinking that when a couple kisses, that makes a baby; Mentions of a miscarriage (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of hanky-panky; A couple mentions of kisses; A mention of infidelity; A mention of a wife leaving her husband; Love, falling in love, and the emotions.

-Naomi Dienner, age 26/27

-Brock Mulligan, age 41
                                         P.O.V. switches between them

                                                        100(-ish) pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Love and Buggy Rides” by Amy Clipston

About this book:

  “Janie Lantz is a cashier at Lancaster Souvenirs and Buggy Rides, where Jonathan Stoltfuz is a buggy driver. A frightening accident brings Janie and Jonathan together in a blossoming friendship, yet daunting obstacles stand between them and something deeper. Can love kindle into flames that burn away fear and regret—and lead them to a life together?”

Spiritual Content- A couple Prayers; Talks about God & His will; A couple mentions of Scripture verses; Mentions of prayers, blessings over food & thanking God; Mentions of church & services; A few mentions of Amish beliefs; A couple mentions of faiths; A couple mentions of blessings; A couple mentions of sins; A couple mentions of youth groups; A mention of a miracle; A mention of a devotional.  

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’; A buggy accident & remembering it (up to semi-detailed); An attempted robbery & a gun is aimed; Mentions of blood & injuries (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of Halloween.

Sexual Content- a not-detailed kiss and a semi-detailed kiss; Touches, Embraces & Nearness (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to kiss & touch; Noticing & Smelling; Mentions of a romantic buggy ride; Mentions of dating, heartbreak & relationships; A couple mentions of jealousy; Love, falling in love & the emotions.

-Janie Lantz, age 20

-Jonathan Stoltfuz, age 29
                                         P.O.V. switches between them

                                                        100(-ish) pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“A Quiet Love” by Kathleen Fuller

About this book:

  “Dinah Hochstetler, quiet and bookish, longs for marriage but hides in her shyness. Amos Mullett, a simple farmer, knows he’s different but aches for a loving wife. As Dinah and Amos navigate a budding romance, will the power of love—and the blessing of God—be enough to overcome their doubters?”

Spiritual Content- Prayers & Thanking God; A Scripture is mentioned; Talks about God; ‘H’s are not capital when referring to God; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers, blessings over food, thanking God & talking to God; Mentions of churches, services & a pastor; Mentions of the Amish faith & leaving; A couple mentions of blessings.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’ and five forms of ‘stupid’; Mentions of pain, blood, stitches & injuries (up to semi-detailed); A few mentions of throwing up; A few mentions of a mother who left her family.

Sexual Content- a barely-above-not-detailed kiss and three semi-detailed kisses; Touches, Embraces & Nearness (up to semi-detailed); Noticing, Staring & Smelling (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of blushes & staring; Mentions of liking someone; A few mentions of kissing; A few mentions of romantic moments & romantic love; A couple mentions of what happens after a wedding & how children come into the world (no details); Love, falling in love & the emotions.

-Dinah Hochstetler, age 25

-Amos Mullet, age 28
                                         P.O.V. switches between them
                                                        100(-ish) pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Mischief in the Autumn Air” by Vannetta Chapman

About this book:

  “When items start going above market value at his auction house, Eli Wittmer is first thrilled, and then puzzled. But when the house is broken into, Eli and his new bookkeeper, Martha Beiler track down a trail of clues. Will they solve the mystery before the fall festival ends—and discover an unexpected new love?”

Spiritual Content- Psalm 85:12 & a Hymn at the beginning; Scriptures are quoted, mentioned & lightly talked about; Talks about God, His will & plan; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God & His will; Mentions of Church, sermons, bishops & the Sabbath; Mentions of prayers; Mentions of blessings; A few mentions of Amish beliefs & the Ordnung; A few mentions of Christian mystery authors (Julianne Deering, Lorena McCoutney & Mary Ellis); A couple mentions of Mennonites; A couple mentions of Bibles; A couple of Scriptures are referenced in the Discussion Questions.

Negative Content- N/A

Sexual Content- Touches (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of touches & wanting to touch (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of crushes; A bit of Love, falling in love & the emotions.

-Martha Beiler, age 40(?)

-Eli Wittmer, age 50
                                         P.O.V. switches between them
                                                        100(-ish) pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

Starting with the first one by Beth Wiseman, I wasn’t personally a fan of it, it just really wasn’t my cup of tea due to topics explored in the hundred-and-twelve pages.

Amy Clipston’s (connected to her Amish Heirlooms series) was definitely my favorite one of this collection. It was such a sweet and fluffy read (like cotton candy!) and so cute.

Third was Kathleen Fuller’s novella, that I found very sweet as well, a little kissy, but very sweet and touching.

Lastly is a light romance and mystery novella by Vannetta Chapman that was quite fun and clean.

Overall, this was a sweet novella collection that I mainly enjoyed.   

See y’all on Wednesday with a new review! :)

 

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

*I received this book for free from the publisher (Thomas Nelson) for this honest review.