Beyond Hope's Valley: Last in an Inspiring Amish Trilogy

Beyond Hope's Valley is an honest and thought-provoking look at Amish life which takes place in Indiana, not far from my own hometown.  The simplicity of the Amish has always captivated me and I've read enough books about them to understand how they differ from Protestant Christians.  This book is the final in the Big Sky trilogy by Tricia Goyer.  It was my favorite of the 3 books and it isn't necessary to read the first 2 to enjoy this one thoroughly (I did read the 2nd book, but not the 1st one).

In Beyond Hope's Valley, Marianna has recently come to saving faith--she now knows Jesus as her Father, her Savior, and her confidant.  She has just returned from Montana, where she had lived for the last year, and hopes to be able to share her new found faith with her old friends.  At the same time, she is living out a love story as she tries to decide between 2 men, one of which has helped her to realize what a close relationship with God can be like.  I have to admit, both of Marianna's guys were very likeable but there was one I liked more than the other... and I was happy when she chose him. 


You can read the beginning of Beyond Hope's Valley at Amazon.  Please do--I think you'll be captivated with the story and the characters.  The book has a wonderful message, is written beautifully, and I highly recommend it!

WIN IT!
Celebrate with Tricia and enter to win a custom-made Amish Wall hanging in the colors of your choice ... and much more! 

Enter Today - 5/2-5/20!

One fortunate winner will receive:

• Custom Amish Wall Hanging {You choose the colors!}
• An Amish Doll {Sweet.}
• Amish-made basket {It’s picnic season!}
• Doilies, potholder and an Amish cookbook {All items form Bird-in-Hand, PA!}
• Three book Big Sky Amish series {Be swept away by this captivating series.}

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 20th. Winner will be announced at "All Things Amish" Author Chat Facebook Party on 5/21. Tricia will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from her website) and giving away books, gift certificates and more!

Also, check out these lovely videos about Marianna's continuing story:





This book was provided for me by the awesome people at Litfuse in exchange for a thoughtful and honest review.

The Founders Key: Every American Should Read!

Maybe you've read the title and you're wondering "What is the founders key?" From the book:

The genius of the United States of America may be found in the cooperation of all the causes that bring government into being.  There is a set of principles that locate man in his place in nature, above the beasts and below God. There is a people, living upon a vast land, responding to the call of those principles to form the first self-governing nation in history.  There were some statesmen, aware how unusual were their capacities, determined to use them for the rights of all.  They wrote a Constitution that the people adopted to become the most enduring and successful in history.  Because all these causes must cooperate to produce freedom and justice that we have enjoyed for so long, all of them must be preserved or all of them will be lost. 


Because the principles that our country serves , and the institution by which is serves them, have a beauty hardly matched in all history, they sound a call that all can answer.  In their attraction and in our response is the hope for a free people.  That is the Founders' key.

The Founders Key, the book, is a short, important read on "the divine and natural connection between the Declaration and the Constitution and what we risk by losing it."  The book itself is only 123 pages and goes into depth about:

• Man's proper place in nature, above beasts and below God
• Explains (better than I've ever read it explained before!) what "all men are created equal" really means.
• Provides a definition of "rights" and their origin.
• Recognizes that the Declaration and Constitution are born of the same principle, and why we need them both together.
• Reveals the origins of the Progressive intellectual movement and how it actually threatens our liberty

Part II of the book includes foundational documents every American should read: The Constitution, The Declaration, and a selection of The Federalist Papers.  Definite must read!

Special thanks to the wonderful people at Thomas Nelson for providing me with this book to review!