Saturday, April 25, 2015

Courting Miriam by Ruth Price


As Miriam's Rumspringa experiences leave her expecting and alone, she returns home to her Amish community to sort out her life.  As her situation becomes known, it is clear that she needs to marry and a widower from the community steps in with the intentions of courting her.  Yet, her heart remains with Samuel, the Amish man who gave her a ride home that she just met.  He knows her situation, but he has also left his home and has to deal with some things also.  He plans to stay in her community, but first needs to find a job, only to find their is only one job available.  One that he was warned not to accept.  But his plan is to court Miriam and as he comes to call, he is told by her mother not to come back till he can support Miriam and the child.

Miriam believes that he has also deserted her and feels perhaps her only choice is the older widower and his kids.  

It's a good story and I enjoyed it.  I recommend it to those who enjoy Amish books.  I read the other reviews written and they pointed out some errors, which I hadn't noticed because I listened to the Kindle as I drive and missed them, apparently.  However, it didn't seem to affect anything for me.  Liked it and will read more from this author.

Knitting Circle Parts 1 & 2 by Karen Anna Vogel

These are the first books I have read from this author.  Nice stories, engaging.  They are short episodes and entertaining to "listen" to on my Kindle Fire.  Sorry these are short reviews, but spring has sprung and there is lots to do these days!

Jacob's Daughter by Samantha Jillian Bayarr

This is a book that I really enjoyed reading.  As I was reading the reviews of this book and some said it was unbelievable that the prodigal daughter, Lizzie, was welcomed both by her parents and also by her church elders and officials.  I kind of agree, but yet not.  I know if I had a straying child that returned, I would be unbelievably happy.  Although I would feel the need to work through the past, I know that I would be so grateful that the child returned and for whatever reasons, would welcome that child.

So for me, it was a good read, and I liked that fact that the daughter, Lizzie was doing what she felt best for herself and most of all, her child, as well.

This was one of those books that kept me reading.  You can still get a great deal on Amazon of this book here.


Amish Valentine by Kristina Ludwig

This is another Amish writing of Kristina Ludwig's that I have read.  I enjoyed it and it was a quick read.  I have been reading these shorter books on my Kindle as I drive to work.  I let my Kindle Fire "read to me" while I travel.

Mercy is trying to win back Samuel who caught her with another young man, an Englischer.  Mercy is also trying to straighten out her life of trying to follow the Englisch party ways.  Her sister, Rebecca has already left the Amish so that she could go to school.
Despite this Mercy is still trying to show Samuel that she has changed and is willing to conform to the rules of the Amish.

The ending is nice and what I had "hoped" for.  I enjoyed the book, short read but nicely written.

Amish Snowflakes - Winter Letters by Sicily Yoder

I think it was a shock to many readers of Amish fiction at the news of the sudden and unexpected passing of Sicily Yoder.  However, as sad as that is, her writings continue her legacy.

This book was another very short story and I would have been happier if it was an all-in-one volume.  It's always disappointing when it suddenly ends and you don't know what will happen.  I suspect that is so you will buy the next one and the next one.

It was a nice story, but ended to fast.  Not sure if I will get the next one or not, but I give it a 3 1/2 star rating.  

J.E.B.Spredemann Meme Contest! I won!

So recently we were asked on the J.E.B. Spredemann street team to find a favorite quote and that the team would be voting to see their fave and the winner would get a book and an Amish framed picture.  Well, I won!  Am I am sharing my meme here with you on my blog.  Here it is:

I liked the quote a lot.  A little good advice for all.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Chasing Heaven by Becca Fisher

This Amish novella was also a freebie at the time I got it.  Some things didn't seem really Amish to me and it lacked depth for the characters.

It's a an Amish family with a sister getting married, another leaving the "nest" for the English world, and others still at home hoping to find the place in life with an Amish young man.

Found a few typos in it.  It was alright but I think it could have been better if perhaps some more Amish life and culture were in the book.

3 stars.

The Divine Secrets of the Whoopie Pie Sisters. The Complete Trilogy, Pam Jarrell and Sarah Price

This was another Kindle Book that I was lucky enough to get while it was a freebie.  This book about family relationships, especially four sisters that don't always see eye to eye, seemed to me to be an honest representation of Amish life.  It didn't make everything seem perfect and without disagreement.  That was what made the book come to life for me.

These four sisters run a bakery together and don't always agree.  They have problems, real life problems that they sometimes find are hard to discuss even with one another.  Sometimes they jump to false conclusions and sometimes they have secrets that they have a difficult time sharing with even their closest family members.  

You will undoubtedly enjoy this trilogy, which is more of a novella than a full length book.  But it has a nice story and is engaging from the start.  5 stars!

A Home in The West by Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith

I just finished reading a Home in the West and was starting to really enjoy it when it suddenly was over.  I was driving home from work letting my Kindle "read to me" and it was over before the ride home was over.  The characters were just starting to develop and then it was done.  I would have liked a little more depth I think.  I was kind of disappointed, but it is a free read so I guess I can't complain too much.  I give it 3 stars.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

The Lumberjacks' Ball by Carrie Fancett Pagels

This is the second book of the Christy Lumber Camp Series.  Carrie Fancett Pagels is quite the writer and she has created another hit!

Rebecca, at age 17, had experienced a life-threatening encounter with a very despicable sort.  This harrowing experience has left her a different woman, I suspect trying to get past the experience has left emotional scars that are hard to overcome causing her to withdraw from others.

As Garrett comes to look for work, her past experience resurfaces as realization of the fact that the event that changed her life 10 years earlier was shared by the two of them.

Garrett wants to court her, ask her to the upcoming Lumberjacks' Ball, but she seems not open to this or at least not ready to accept his attentions, despite inner feelings telling her otherwise.

This is a sweet romance and a most interesting read.  I know you will enjoy it as I did!  I hope to see a third book for this series!

An ebook copy was given to me from the author for my honest review, which I have given.

 Thanks Carrie, this is a great book!

Author Carrie Fancett Pagels
You can purchase her book at this link.

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Amish Scholar: Samuel's Book by Kristina Ludwig

I am always a fan of almost all Amish books.  Although this is book #3 in the series, it is the first that I have read.  Also the first of any books by this author.

Samuel finds an opportunity for college and he has worked hard for this.  He leaves behind the family on the farm, and his love interest, Mercy.  Mercy is quite a character and not happy about the time away from Samuel, including that he is so busy with schooling and studying that he has forgotten Mercy's birthday.  He hopes the education he is receiving will fulfill his dreams of making a better farming income as they grow organic and some crops in the past had been very bad.

He also gets a taste of the life outside his community.  Will this bring him further or closer to his Amish roots.

It is a good story, kept my interest.

Patchwork A Story of 'The Plain People" by Anna Balmer Myers

I purchased this book at Amazon quite a while ago.  I say "purchased", how ever it was free and is still free yet today. Here is the link to the free book dowload.

I was surprised when I read about the author who wrote this book in the 1920's.  It is a sweet, wholesome story of Phoebe, a plain person, who finds that she wants to not be so plain.  When a schoolteacher appears in her town from Philadelphia, she sees a more modern, "fancier" woman that she wants to model her life after.

Her childhood friends, David and Phares are both interested in her as more than just a "friend".  Yet as she grows up she wants to stretch her wings a bit and take singing lessons in Philadelphia.

Having been raised by her father and her father's sister as a plain person, they would be much happier to have her stay on the farm and live out her days in the manner of the plain people.  Yet she finds a way to make her dream come true.  She leaves behind her friends and family to seek out a new way.

As times change in the world and war breaks out, she finds that caring about others is a very important part of her life.  She finds the true meaning of where and how her life should be lived.

This is a very sweet and descriptive book on the Plain People, in this case, of the Brethren Church.  It was an enjoyable read and because the author lived in the time period of the book, probably quite accurate as to the circumstances.  This is a very nice historical fiction, and for free, how could you go wrong?

You can read about this author at this link.

Friday, April 3, 2015

Amish by Accident by J.E.B. Spredemann

I just really enjoyed J.E.B. Spredemann's book Amish by Accident.  The characters of Brianna and Elizabeth were wonderful and it made for a very nice read.

Brianna and Elizabeth are two different women, from two different worlds, until their worlds literally collide and they find themselves living in one another's worlds.  They look alike and an accident causes some very interesting events to occur.

This book was fresh and imaginative.  I am very glad that I read it and will be reading more from this author.  This book is a good example of family love and unity and forgiveness.

I highly recommend this book.

An Amish Courtship by Samantha Jillian Bayarr

I didn't realize it when I started reading this Kindle version that it would take about 20 minutes to read.  I had thought it was a book.  There are several parts to this, but I really think it should have just been one small novella, instead of several short stories.  I thought the story was alright and the conflict which develops quickly was interesting, but I kind of knew all along what was happening, so I wasn't surprised as the story developed as I expected.

It was alright, wish it had been a complete 1 part book, however.

I will probably want to read the next part.

Amish Pen Pals by Karen Anna Vogel

This was the first novella/or book that I had read that was from this author.  I enjoyed it.  It was about a young woman, Rachael who made a mistake in her life and was having a difficult time finding forgiveness, from herself, her God and her community..

She felt unworthy of the attentions of Samuel.  Although she knows what she must do, it is difficult and she blames herself for things that happened to Kate.

After Rachael comes to accept herself and learns to accept her repentance process, will the man she loves be able to forgive her past?

This story was very enjoyable.  It was short and a quick read.  I would probably enjoy other books from this author.




Author Karen Anna Vogel

Chat with Vera: Jesus Loves Me (Traditional) illustrated by Laura Logan

Chat with Vera: Jesus Loves Me (Traditional) illustrated by Laura Logan

Children's Book Give Away at "Chat With Vera"

Vera Godley's site has always got some nice give aways.  Here is one you won't want to miss!
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Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Levi's Will by Dale Cramer

This is the fourth book of Dale Cramer's that I have read.  I can only say this was absolutely awesome!  The other books were the Caleb Bender series, a fabulous series which I recommend to all lover's of Amish historical fiction.

This book kept me wanting to read every chance I got.  I was lucky as it was a free Kindle book when I bought it, but now I spotted it for around $10.00.  But either way it would be worth the price.  It was that good.  I think his books have so much meaning in them and are so well written.  This books takes you to different time periods in the life of Amish man Will Mullet (McGruder), whose experiences in life caused him to leave the Amish along with his younger brother.  It shows how the lives we lead affect others in such a big way that it is sometimes very hard to return home, to make amends and even harder to forgive oneself.  This book has so much insight into the lives of the Amish.  You can see the good and the not-so-good as the family grows in time and through several generations.  It's an honest, sometimes heart wrenching book as you read the trials and how the longing for home never really leaves us.

You will not want to miss reading this book.

Author Dale Cramer.  You can read more about him at this link.