~Running Around (and Such) By Linda Byler~ Review

Running Around (and Such)

Lizzie Searches for Love, Book 1

By Linda Byler

Published by Good Books

May 2010;$13.99US; 978-1-56148-688-5

"Lizzie Glick longs to fit into her quiet Amish community. Her sisters, Emma and Mandy, are ready to get married and settle into the traditional rhythm of having children and keeping house. But Lizzie isn't sure that's what she wants for her future. It isn't that Lizzie doesn't want to stay Amish. It's just that there's so much to figure out!

Stephen, her quiet, gentle friend, hints that he might be interested in a relationship deeper than friendship, but Lizzie is also drawn to the charming Amos who seems to have eyes for everyone but her.

She has certainly attracted the attention of the egg-truck driver. A thrill runs through her every time the worldly man comes to pick up an order, each time extending his stay a little longer. How long will she keep this a secret from Emma -- and Mam and Datt?

What will become of Lizzie? She has too hot a temper. She hates housework and dislikes babies. She loves driving fast horses but is petrified of going away from home for a week to work as a maud (maid). Is she too spirited, too innocent, and almost too uninhibited for a young Amish woman? "

Lizzie is a spirited young Amish girl, that thinks she quite doesn't fit in. She hates to do chores and thinks that no one likes her. Lizzie is also quite the drama queen in that she likes to make a big fuss over things. Lizzie is somewhat over weight and is a very emotional eater. I sometimes felt I used to feel the same way she did, back also in my teenage years. It can be hard being a teenager and not thinking that people do love you for who you are. Lizzie just has this wonderful innocence about her, but yet when it comes to a situation that may be dangerous she really seems to come to her scenes.

This book really reminded me of a friend that I had growing up. She was the middle child and so totally different than her older and younger sister and she sometimes felt like Lizzie felt, the outcast of the family. If you don't know a lot about the Amish, being a teenager can be a very difficult time in life. At the age of 16 they are allowed to "Run Around" meaning they can go with fellow youths their age and just hang out together. It is also a time where they can start dating.

I have to say I could not put this book down! All of the chapters are fairly short, so I would just keep on reading. The flow of the book is wonderful. I was also thrilled that in the back of the book there are a few recipes that are talked about through out the book. At some points in the book my mouth was just watering at all the wonderful food that was described.

This is a wonderful book that will be staying on my book shelf for many years to come. I do believe that I will have my daughters both read this book as they enter into their teenage years. It is a great book for a teenager to read and really relate to.

Author Bio

Linda Byler grew up Amish and is an active member of the Amish church today. Growing up, Linda loved to read and write. In fact, she still does. She is well known within the Amish community as a columnist for a weekly Amish newspaper. Linda and her husband, their children, and grandchildren live in central Pennsylvania.

Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for this post. These are my own and honest opinions and thoughts

Montana Destiny by R.C. Ryan

They're the McCords...three rugged, sexy cowboy cousins who'll inherit the family range--if they seek the treasure hidden on it. But even more precious are the women who can tame their wild hearts...

Emergency medic Marilee Trainor likes her freedom and lives for trouble. But when she stumbles upon a clue to the legendary McCord gold, she 's suddenly in a mysterious killer's sights--and the arms of irresistible playboy Wyatt McCord. This McCord cousin has been everywhere, yet the ranch is the only place he feels at home. Now Marilee's courage and independence make him want to protect her, win her heart, and finally settle down. But trust is the one thing Wyatt and Marilee can't easily give. And their survival and everything they cherish depends on whether they can surrender to each other--to fight for their...

This is the second book in the Montana series by R.C. Ryan. I also reviewed Montana Legacy awhile ago.

Montana Destiny follows the "irresistible playboy" Wyatt McCord in another adventure on the Lost Nugget Ranch. Wyatt, being the dare devil risk taker that he is shows off to the towns emergency medic Marilee. While not very impressed with his actions Marilee starts falling for his humor and not to mention his amazing looks.

Soon Wyatt and Marilee become quite the couple with a few spats here and there. Marilee has always fought for her independence, but now with Wyatt in her life she is torn between the two.

Not soon after the pair become known to the town of their relationship, things mysteriously start to happen to Marilee. At fist they crack it up to just little flukes, but soon they realize that someone is out for them.

My thoughts.....

Ok, I had a very hard time trying to finish reading this one. The first book was an ok book, but not quite up my alley. It has almost the same story line as in the first book, but with different main characters. After the first few chapters I knew "who done it" and had a really hard time finishing it.

On the plus side it had a really good morale to the hole love story part of it.
"If you love someone let them go, if they come back to you their yours and if they don't they never were .. "

I was given the opportunity to review this product because of my membership at The Product Review Place. I received this book Hachette Book Group and was not compensated in any way.

Montana Legacy By R.C. Ryan

They're the McCords...three rugged, sexy cowboy cousins who'll inherit the family range--if they seek the treasure hidden on it. But even more precious are the women who can tame their wild hearts...

The McCord ranch is set in the majesty of beautiful Montana with great detail. Jesse McCord is following in his grandfathers and past grandfathers foot steps, to find the buried treasure on the Lost Nugget ranch. Jesse's grandfather "Coot" whom the towns people name a "crazy old coot" for searching for the lost treasure falls prey to the supposed legendary curse of the McCord treasure.

Jesse is reunited with his long lost cousins Zane and Wyatt whom were all as close as brothers when they were younger, but not returning to the ranch after years has left Jesse resentful towards them. All the while Jesse has spent many years working hard to maintain the few hundred thousand acres on the Lost Nugget.

Being reunited with his cousins isn't the only one Jesse is reunited with.... Amy Parrish, Jesse's long ago girlfriend that left in the middle of a night without a word to him and suddenly shows up at his grandfathers funeral. Amy's father has a long and deep hatred for the McCord family and unfortunately he is fallen ill with sickness, that I assume is cancer, but is never really said what he is sick with. Also after years of being away Amy is now home for awhile to help her father and take care of their ranch.

Old Coot's will reads that all the land is to be split equally between the three cousins, only if they all assume the ranch life and continue the search for the lost treasure. If they decide that ranch life isn't for them they would receive half a million dollars. This makes Jesse furious knowing that his cousins didn't even have the courtesy to come back and visit.

Jesse and Amy slowly work their way back to each other, just as mysterious things start to happen to Amy. The three cousins also slowly sort things out between them and they band together to help find out what is going on at the Parrish ranch.

It's not one of my total favorites, but it is a good one and a fast read. One thing that kind of got to me about the book was that Amy's father is sick and that author doesn't tell you what he is sick with. R.C. Ryan did have me wondering who was behind what was happening to Amy though. Despite all the little flaws I did enjoy this book and it really kept me interested in it. Soon I will be posting a review on the story of Wyatt, next in the Montana Destiny series.