Sunday, January 26, 2020

A Long Bridge Home by Kelly Irvin (Amish of Big Sky Country Book 2)

This is an excellent author of Amish fiction.  I enjoyed this timely book of the ravages of fire in Montana.  I say this due to the many wildfires in the US and abroad recently.

The book deals with the evacuation of an Amish village in Montana and the decisions that needed to be made as a result. Christine has decided not to move back to Kansas with her family and finds herself with a native group of people, the Kootenai.

It was a very interesting book.  I was glad to read it and be able to learn some new things about this cultural group.  Great book.

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley.  All thoughts are my own.

Friday, January 24, 2020

Converted by Alonzo L. Gaskill

This book was given to me by my daughter who was given a few copies from one of the people featured in this book, a man who is an electrician and former Amish.

This book contains 15 stories of conversion from various religious beliefs, Amish, Buddhist, Judaism and even Atheist.  Each story is the story of how the featured person was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, also previously called "Mormons". 

The book was very interesting to me and to see the hand of God work in their lives.  I found it to be a touching book  was very interesting to see their experiences, their feelings and struggles as they leave a religious belief and background and literally a culture that was their's for decades.  Very inspiring.


Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Loving Jenna by Amy Lillard

This was the first book of this kind that I have read.  A different type of Amish romance, but definitely very sweet, touching and definitely GOOD!  Jenna, her mom and grandmother start a new life in Wells Landing.  Jenna is a "special" young woman caused by a childhood accident that left her different than before.  In the new home town, Jenna is noticed by another special person, Buddy.  Their friendship blossoms and despite concerns of family and friends, they are determined to be together.

This book is so good.  You will be very emotionally moved by the characters, their obstacles that hinder their personal growth and their determination to succeed.  I loved it.

I received an ebook copy from the author.  All thoughts are my own.

Sweet Talk by Judith Keim The Hartwell Women Book 2 Audible Version

It starts with tragedy.  Christen's death.  How can Allison now raise an 8 year old?  How will she support Daisy?  Will she accept her as a mother?

This was the first book that I have had from this author.  I liked the book and the story as well as the narrator were very good.

It was nice to be able to "read" or "listen", actually while driving, and running errands.  So I enjoyed the Audible aspect of this as well.

It was a book of overcoming things in life and dealing with difficult children.  And loving them.

I received an Audible version from the author.  All thoughts are my own.

Monday, January 20, 2020

A Kiss is Just a Kiss (The Kissing Test Book 1) by Melinda Curtis

This is such a fun read. In the prologue we meet Dotty, not your everyday grandma. And as we meet Kitty, we find she has been caring for her sisters and making sure they make no mistakes in their relationships.  Grandmother Dotty was hilarious.  Was she for real???  It's anyone's guess.

There's a road trip and all kinds of humor and romance happening in this story. 

The book was a great read and very engaging and enjoyable.  And there are more books after this.  So fun!  Great author and a great read.  You will love it!

I received an ebook copy from the author.  All thoughts are my own.

Friday, January 17, 2020

His Unexpected Amish Twins by Rachel J. Good

Such a sweet and wonderful book!  This was a very well written book about a tragic event in the lives of two Amish twins, Chloe and Jabin, whose parents were in a horrific accident.  Their first responder was a wonderful young Amish woman, Hope, who selflessly remained at the side of the children through the aftermath of the accident, their hospitalization and times of need.

Their unmarried uncle is now their caretaker and sees the care and tenderness that Hope shows the children.

Such a good read.  It is a very touching story and a story of faith, love, and understanding.  I loved the tender moments in this story very much.

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley.  All thoughts are my own.

Monday, January 13, 2020

The Blizzard Bride by Susanne Dietze The Daughters of the Mayflower Series

Another wonderful book to add to this great series. Abigail comes to Nevada to teach school and to help find a dangerous counterfeiter.  Her former love interest who left her without a word, also appears in the same town.  He doesn't want Abigail to be hurt by this counterfeiter/murderer.  He plans to protect her.  But she is not happy that he left without a word and wants to be involved with her again.

The story is wonderful and I loved it.  The characters are likeable and I kind of wished that Abby had not hardened her heart so much but that added to the story and she learns and grows and works towards changing.

A really touching story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Two Steps Forward by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The conclusion to the The Deacon's Family Series was a wonderful conglomeration of the previous books with characters that were in previous writings by this author.  I loved how they reappeared and meshed so well with this book.

Sylvie needs help.  She's a widow with a large farm in very run down condition and unpaid back taxes.  She hires her neighbors son, Jimmy, who has been away from home for quite a period of time.  The situation between Jimmy's mother and Sylvie is not a good one and her hiring of Jimmy does not sit well with his mother.  But Jimmy has a special way with horses and Sylvie has a beautiful Arabian stallion.

I love how this book revolves around a beautiful Arabian horse and horse breeding which is a new and refreshing angle.  Love new ideas in an Amish series.  I have read the earlier books of this series, and therefore recognized the names and personalities that appear in this book.  But I still think that it can easily be a stand alone book.

All in all, I loved the book, the series and the amazing writing style of this wonderful author.

I received a copy from Revell Publishing.  All thoughts are my own.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Christmas by Accident by Camron Wright

This was a shorter length book and didn't quite engage me at the beginning.  Took me a while to start to enjoy the characters and then I started to enjoy the read.  The main characters, Carter and Abby were interesting and fun as a couple for the Christmas romance part of the story.  There was a good Christmas message in the story which you will enjoy.There's some miracles, surprises and a bit of the unexpected.  All in all an interesting book.

There are some tasty sounding recipes at the end of the book.  They sound pretty good.

Monday, January 6, 2020

The Innkeeper's Bride by Kathleen Fuller

Book three of the Amish Bride's of Birch Creek Series was very impressive to me as it dealed with issues that happen to real people.  Sometimes these issues are difficult to talk about to others as was the case for Selah as she tries to deal with and overcome her fears and her past.  It's a realistic view of real life for many people.  I like that the book was not all sugar-coated as they showed their individual struggles in life. 

Although this was book three, it clearly can be read as a stand-alone.  I have read book two, although not book one.

The cover is also so nice.  I really liked it!  Had to say something about that, too!  All in all, I loved it.  No dull reading time in between, totally engaging and realistic in every way.  Levi and Selah's characters were so believable.  Great book, great author!

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley.  All thoughts are my own.

Sunday, January 5, 2020

The Trespasser by Jennifer Spredemann

This was an excellent example of God's love for His people regardless of their past.  He loves and watches for them.

The characters, Kayla and Bailey Johnson are mother and little daughter, who find themselves in a raging storm in Indiana as they travel to Pennsylvania.  Looking for a place to stop and rest from the elements brings them to an empty Amish house.  The door is unlocked and in their desperation, they enter and decide to spend the night.  All is well, until Amish caretaker, Silas, comes to check on the property during the storm.

The storyline was really engaging.  I absolutely loved it.  I wanted the book to go on and on, yet at the same time, I wanted to find out what happens so wasn't able to stop till I had finished reading it!

The Christian values that are written into the book are heartwarming and shared real-life experiences that could happen to anyone.  This story of second chances was a great example of growth, repentance and moving on past sorrows and trials.

I received an ebook copy of this book from the author.  All thoughts are my own.

Saturday, January 4, 2020

An Unlikely Amish Match by Vannetta Chapman

Book #5 of the Indiana Amish Brides was a fun and engaging book.  Susannah Beiler has decided to protect the other young Amish women from Micah Fisher.  He is definitely not your model Amish man and Susanna decides that the other women won't seek after him if she decides to date him herself.

This was a really good book and has lots of touching and tender moments in it.  And there was humor as well. It was one of those reads that you decide to read in one sitting because you don't want to stop reading.  Micah was a lovable character even though he doesn't always abide by the strict Amish rules and regulations. There are some surprising twists in the story and the characters grow and learn about themselves and others.  Kind of like we do!  I enjoyed this story very much.

I received a copy of this book from the author.  All thoughts are my own.


Friday, January 3, 2020

Guest Post With Linda Weaver Clarke


Guest Post With Linda Weaver Clarke

Today I am happy to host Linda Weaver Clarke on my blog.  This is a really wonderful author and her books are all sweet, clean and very captivating.  I know you will love her books!  She is going to share a little about her latest historical romance!
Welcome Linda!

A Willow Valley Rivalry


This new Historical Romance series is set in the 1800s. Each story has a mystery to solve and each book is family friendly. I have released a new book in this series, which takes place in 1839 in the United States. This was a time of turmoil for many, especially for those who supported the abolitionist movement.

In A Pleasant Rivalry, Angelica Davis is surprised when she finds out that an old school chum has returned to Willow Valley to take over his grandfather’s business. Since she writes articles for the Chronicle and Simon Morgan owns the Willow Valley News, they just happen to be rivals. The competition is on. Who will be the first to discover the identity of the jewel thief or the arsonist? Will it be Angelica or Simon? Gradually the feelings she once had for him return as they both search for the same stories. To her surprise, Angelica realizes she is losing her heart to her rival.

“I loved this book!  It was a great historical read and full of surprises.  I totally didn't expect what happened… to happen.  The time period was an interesting one and I love how the author intertwines historical events into the story.  It was a new and refreshing tale.” –Sunnie Reviews

You will learn about the Trail of Tears, the abolitionist movement that began in Illinois, the refugees that were kicked out of Missouri, and you will fall in love all over again as you see two classmates bond in a pleasant rivalry.

It has been thirteen years since Angelica saw her classmate. He left at the age of seventeen to join the Navy. Now he’s back to run his grandfather’s newspaper business. With Simon running the Willow Valley News and Angelica writing articles for the Chronicle, the competition is on. Who will get the story first? Angelica or her rival?

Watching the rivalry between these two will have you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see what happens next. I would give this book a higher rating than a five star review if I could. Linda Weaver Clarke is an amazing author.” – Debbie Jamieson, Reviewer

Since this is book three in the series, you will meet a few of those from previous stories. You will see Nicholas and Felicity from book one and Emmeline and Lucas from book two. They were beloved characters that snuck back into this story and are even more enchanting. They add a bit of spice to this story.

The first book in the Willow Valley series is One Last Dance. Felicity Brooks is an artist but her career is cut short when her father passes away. When Felicity meets their new neighbor, a fine-looking bachelor, she soon discovers that he is hiding his true identity. Nicholas Adams is on a quest. But that is not all. When she finds out that someone is after a valuable heirloom…a precious treasure that her father had discovered in his attic, her life takes a new turn.

One Last Dance is a historical romance with a mystery to add to the tale. Felicity has always been a strong and independent woman. Amongst mystery, loss, paintings, and a career, she is going to have to decide if love has a place in her heart.” --Author Anna Del C Dye

The second book in the Willow Valley series is Angel’s Serenade. Emmeline Scott is raising her sister’s two children and is surprised when she finds out the new doctor in town is helping her nephew adapt to his surroundings. It is not easy to be uprooted and have to start a new life. As Emmeline gets to know the charming doctor, Lucas Golden, they become intrigued by her neighbor’s mysterious behavior. Will they discover his secret? And who is the leader of the River Pirates, who is causing so much havoc?

Clarke has created a sweet romance that will warm the heart, and it’s wrapped up in fascinating yesteryear details of courting, medical practice and river pirates. I highly recommend the book to those who enjoy sweet romance with a bit of mystery.” –Author Gail Pallotta

Here is a video link for you to dance to with One Last Dance:

Linda’s Website: www.lindaweaverclarke.com


A Pleasant Rivalry is available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z49N2LJ

Angel’s Serenade is available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RV79LDN

One Last Dance is available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GVNWSP9




About the Author:

Linda Weaver Clarke was raised among the Rocky Mountains of southern Idaho and now lives among the red hills of southern Utah. She is the author of Historical Romance, Cozy Mysteries, Swashbuckling Romance, a Children’s Book, and Nonfiction. Linda teaches a class about writing your family history that is free to the public at the Family Search Center in Southern Utah. She is also a missionary at the Family Search Center where she helps people find their ancestors and learn about their heritage.

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Rosanna's Gift by Susan Lantz Simpson

Rosanna's Gift was a sweet, wonderful and heartfelt book!  I loved the story and the development of the characters was well paced.  Rosanna and her midwife mother help Amish women deliver their children and Rosanna finds herself helping a non-Amish woman as she delivers a baby and leaves it with Rosanna with the intention that Rosanna will adopt her child.

Her friend Paul loves both Rosanna and the child in her care.  The story is a wonderful romance with caring and loving characters.  Rosanna's family is supportive of her decisions despite some community member's feelings.

I enjoyed the book.  It was a good read.

I received a ebook copy from NetGalley.  All thoughts are my own.