Three Reasons to Read: Promise to Cherish by Elizabeth Byler Younts

Buy this book now at CBD, B&N, or Amazon. Promise to Cherish is published by Howard Books, 2014, and is part of The Promise of Sunrise series.

Three Reasons to Read Promise to Cherish by Elizabeth Byler Younts:
1) This book made my list of Top 10 Books for 2014.
2) Runner up for Bibliotherapy of the Year because of the many strong therapeutic elements.
3) The author is adorable! (I had to just throw that in!) She's also very talented!!!

Elizabeth Byler Younts and Carrie Fancett Pagels ACFW 2013

Elizabeth Byler Younts is proving herself as a story teller extraordinaire. I loved her last novel, also an Amish story. Elizabeth's extended family is Amish so she has a unique and genuine perspective. As far as this novel goes, the reader should be sure to read the blurb about the book because the book includes a somewhat detailed sexual assault. However, one can infer this fact from the blurb, plus it is necessary to understand the heroine's motivations and the struggles she faces. The way the scene is written it is done well and integral to the plot.

Because my father worked in a state hospital near my home (and I spent a fair amount of time on those grounds), I was interested in Elizabeth's descriptions of the setting and the treatment in a New York state asylum just after WWII. Very disturbing. I would like to think that the mental institutions in Michigan were much better than this, at that time. Shocking.

Lovely story about forgiveness, mercy, and redemption. Beautiful love story. Just when you think you know what will happen there is a hairpin turn. Highly recommend!


Bibliotherapy: Date rape, PTSD, pregnancy, rejection, forgiveness, mental illness, and God's provision.

Giveaway: A copy of Promise to Cherish, which made my top 10 list of favorite books for 2014 and was runner up for bibliotherapy for the year.

Caryl McAdoo's Hearts Stolen - Reviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Hearts Stolen by Caryl McAdoo

Spunky 15-year-old newlywed, "Sassy" Nightengale,  finds herself stolen by Comanche Indians and forced to become the wife of the chief. But her friend's brother, a Texas Ranger, has never given up looking for the young woman. When the US government makes a treaty, five years later, returning captives to their homes, she and her young son are taken back, facing immense dangers as they journey home.

Levi Baylor has won himself a reputation bigger than life and is a wonderful hero in this story. Very nice secondary romance between his sidekick and another young woman who'd been adducted.

Although it is problematic to think of a married woman falling in love with another man, Caryl does a great job of addressing the reasons why and provides a satisfying resolution to the problem. I knew she would, wondered how she did it, and she delivered a great HEA (happily ever after!) for the couple.

We're reintroduced to some stellar characters from the first book in this series, published by Howard Books in 2014.


SPOILER ALERT!!!  Stop here if you don't like spoilers!

I was disappointed by the death of a very special character. My advice: When you are finished reading about the nice ending for the hero and heroine, stop reading. Then before you read Caryl's next book, read that section! However, I'm pretty much a big wimp when it comes to things like this because I get so attached to special characters.

Caryl McAdoo's first book "A Vow Unbroken" in the series is on my Best of 2014 list! If you haven't already read it, I suggest you pick this novel up first before you read book two because it will help you understand the previous storyline. I do think this could be read as a standalone but it would be best to read them in order.


Giveaway: We're giving away a copy of either of the books in this series this week! Leave a comment.

Carrie Fancett Pagels Interviews Tracie Peterson

Author Tracie Peterson

Tracie Peterson is the author of over 99 books including MINER’S LADY.

Tracie, welcome to Overcoming With God.  We appreciate your willingness to share your testimony of overcoming with our readers. Tracie, your Minnesota series will be on my 2013 Favorites list, next week, here on OWG! 

Would you tell us about the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help?

Answer:  Wow, there have been so many truly life changing difficulties and in each case God has deepened my faith.  When I was expecting my third child, the doctors told me that the baby would be hopelessly deformed and would most likely die shortly after birth.  The doctor’s tried to pressure me to abort, but as a Christian woman, I didn’t believe this was the answer. My husband and I prayed a great deal and though the situation didn’t change – encouragement wasn’t offered and the doctors continue their desire for me to abort.  It was just before Christmas when I got this bad news and I was participating in a Christmas choir program.  As I sat praying in the church and waiting to practice a portion of the program, I felt overwhelmed about this unborn child.  I begged God to give me peace and He did.  The choir began to sing, “For unto us a child is born…unto us a son is given.”  I felt God’s comfort pour over me and knew that not only would everything be all right – no matter the outcome – and that we would have a son. The next year on Mother’s Day I delivered a healthy son.  It had a most difficult time of trusting God and waiting.  The doctors couldn’t give me exact answers and it seemed that everywhere I turned – folks discouraged me about the pregnancy, but God was stronger and able to pull my focus to Him.  I couldn’t resist praising God as I showed my perfect son off to the doctors who’d wanted him to die.

The Miner's Lady by Tracie Peterson

Disability friendliness:

Most of my books are available on audio and large print.  Miner’s Lady is definitely available in both formats as well as ebook.

(CFP: I will be reviewing 3 audiobooks in this series, this week!)

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?

Answer:  the therapeutic influence is mostly spiritual.  I have two families who bear each other a long term grudge and through God’s intercession and the love of two young couples there comes healing for the hearts of those involved.  All of my books have themes of forgiveness, mainly because I’ve had much forgiven me and I’ve been called to forgive much.

Thank you, Tracie, for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!

Giveaway: This week we will be giving away three giveaways this week. We have reader's choice of a  copy of any of Tracie’s books new books—audiobook, ebook, or paperback. We'll have another giveaway on the two reviews, and we'll have a birthday party for Diana Flowers on Friday with another giveaway, so come on by!

“Like” Tracie’s Amazon page (click here) and put L after your comment to have your entry count 3 times. Answer this question—Did you ever have a doctor recommend a test that would threaten your unborn child’s life or recommend that you terminate a pregnancy and you did not? What was your outcome?

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