When Grace Sings: A Novel (The Zimmerman Restoration Trilogy) Kim Vogel Sawyer

Grace, according to Webster's Dictionary:

1

a  :unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification 

b  :a virtue coming from God 

c  :a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace 

2

a  :approval, favor <stayed in his good graces>

b  archaic  :mercy, pardon

c  :a special favor :privilege <each in his place, by right, not grace, shall rule his heritage — Rudyard Kipling>

d  :disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency 

e  :a temporary exemption :reprieve

These definitions certainly ring true for Kim Vogel Sawyer's new book Whe Grace Sings. Alexa Zimmerman is doing her best to try to fit in with those she feels she does not belong. She has worked hard to get the bed-and-breakfast going. One of her first guests is an obnoxious reporter from Chicago. What she does not know is that the reporter has other motives for staying at the bed-and-breakfast.

Alexa later hosts her cousin, Anna-Grace, at the bed-and-breakfast while Anna-Grace and her fiancé, Steven, work on the house given to them. During this time, some of the hidden secrets of the lives of of those in the family as well as those close to them come to the surface. 

So, who receives this unmerited favor or grace? You will need to read the book to find out. 

The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen

I found the upstairs/downstairs aspect of this book interesting. Emma is a transparent, learned, and witty young women looking to improve her father's spirit after the loss of her mother two years ago and the final student leaving their academy. The receive a letter that invites them out to the Weston's home to teach the two younger of four boys. They accept and are soon on their way. When they arrive, it seemed more of a shock and inconvenience. Lady Weston has a very cold, indifferent attitude toward Emma and her father. They are shown their living quarters but told to stay away from a certain area.

Lessons begin, but there are some odd things happening, specifically to Emma. Lady Weston is hiding something.

The older two brothers had already spent time at the Smallwood's academy years ago. Emma is reacquainted with them.

Trouble mounts and Emma is taught what it means to trust God.

Adventures in Odyssey: Imagination Station # 1

The first in a great series! This series is brought to you by Focus on the Family and Adventures in Odyssey both well beloved in the Christian community. The series of early readers for roughly ages seven and up not only teaches history but also a biblical lesson in each book. 

  These books, starting with this one, take your two main characters of Patrick and Beth, who are characters created solely for the series and not found within the Odyssey canon, but readers are taken on a journey with them as if they have been with us all these 28+ years. However as of this writing, the only character to come over from the audio adventures is John Avery Whittaker, the patriarch of the series and lovable soda jerk and ice cream aficionado extraordinaire. 

   The really fun thing for the children who read these books is a free audio adventure from Odyssey for the ones who can solve the secret puzzle in the back of each book. As of this writing, there are 16 books in the series with more to come and there will be more reviews of the others in the series soon. 

In this first adventure, the two cousins learn about the Vikings and the country of Norway.

Pick up a copy and hop in the Imagination Station for a world of fun and educational enjoyment.

- Cameron, The Hubs