Montana Wishes by Amy Vastine The Blackwell Sisters

Such an interesting and fun read!  I really enjoyed the characters and they and the story quickly drew me in.I was hooked from the very start of the book.  It was a sweet love story and although the main characters, Amanda and Blake, were best friends, did they truly know each other and what the other wanted? 

The book brought back other familiar people from previous stories and I loved that continuity and feeling of knowing them.The story was set in Montana at the Blackwell Ranch with lots of family members to add to the excitement of babies and weddings.  Yet, life isn't always perfect and Amanda has a situation that causes her so much concern. 

This was a very enjoyable read and I highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All thoughts are my own.

My Breakfast With Jesus by Tina Cho Illustrated by Guy Wolek

This is a beautiful and charming book for younger readers.   It has stories and illustrations of children from different countries and cultures and how they have breakfast and give thanks and having the breakfast which might be customarily made in their family homes combined with the Spirit of Jesus in their homes as they start their days.

It's a very nice way to combine learning about others and understanding that Jesus is with all that invite him to their homes.

Very nice!

I received a copy of this book as a gift for a grandson.  All thoughts are my own.

Light in the Mountain Sky by Misty M. Beller

This is another book totally full of adventure and action by Misty M. Beller.  There is NEVER a dull moment in any of her books.  This book was so interesting.  There must have been quite a bit of research to get the details "just right"!  The author's knowledge regarding the situation, the time period and the Native American people is amazing. 

You will love this book.  It's got a little of everything, action, drama, some romance, everything that makes for an excellent read.  Their journeys through treacherous landscape and through freezing conditions are full of adventure and are faith promoting and so descriptive that you feel everything that is happening.  The author is clearly very talented and a great story-teller.

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

Amish Christmas Twins by Shelley Shepard Gray, Rachel J. Good and Loree Lough

I really enjoyed the Amish Christmas Twins, 3 novellas in a "twin" theme.  I am very familiar with two of the author's works, but was new to Loree Lough.  I enjoyed all three.  It was fun to read about twins and all that surrounds them, especially the mischief!

The stories deal with loss, Christmas Spirit and are all heartwarming and enjoyable.  Christmas is a joyful time, and these stories all included happy endings.  I love Amish fiction and these stories were definitely good examples of this. I especially liked the second story.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley.  All thoughts are my own.

Well, Girl by Jami Amerine

I think many of us have experienced some sort of body-shaming.  Too big, too small, or other.  This book addresses these feelings. The author gives many ways to overcome these feelings of inadequacy and this books helps give a way to face these struggles and free your mind, body and soul of some of the desperation we sometimes find ourselves in while facing life in these times.

This is a very Christian approach to healing of our own feelings about what we feel are our imperfect physical attributes.  She reminds us to rely on Jesus to help us with our self-esteem feelings and that Christ is there to help us through the difficult trials we face.

The book is very enlightening and can certainly be a strength to those women struggling with these issues.  Knowing that our spiritual health is also important for our well-being gives us strength to continue to face whatever comes our way.

A good resource for all women.

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

The Drifter by Jennifer Spredemann Amish Country Brides Series Book 4

I just finished reading The Drifter, the next book in the Amish Country Brides Series.  The whole series has been really engaging and interesting to read.  In this book we see Josiah, who has left the Amish life behind as he has sought the Englischer life style.  After many years pass, he receives a letter that leads his life into directions he probably never dreamed of.

Josiah has a kind and endearing personality and this comes through clearly in the book and you really enjoy the journey with Josiah.  He has stuff to overcome, to deal with and take responsibility for.  This is sometimes very hard in life and does he have the faith he needs to do those things that he faces?

Just as with the previous stories, I was delighted to read this one.  And they are all so good.  You won't want to miss any of them!  This is a great Christian-themed book, well worth your time to read.  I wasn't able to put it down, till I knew exactly what happened!

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

The Amish Author's Christmas by Ashley Emma

I was lucky enough to get a third story from this series entitles An Amish Christmas Miracles Story.  These are great stories.  This one was so engaging that I had to read it fast to see what happened.  Loved it.  I think this was the first time I have read anything from this author, but I hope to read more.  Really enjoyed the characters, their interactions, forgiveness, kindness, everything.  A very happy, feel-good story.  And a great addition to the other stories that I have read.

I think you will love this compilation.  Just so enjoyable.

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

A Very Merry Match by Melinda Curtis

Doesn't the cover of this book just grab your attention?  So cute and fun and sooo Christmasy! This was a very enjoyable read.  I loved the characters and how Mary Margaret has a rather unusual 2nd job to take care of "issues" she found herself stuck with.  Her 2nd job is not considered one that a school teacher would expect to have and so she must be careful in relationships, etc.  But! The local matchmakers have different ideas.

You will become engaged in the story!  A great Christmas read!

I received a complimentary ebook copy of this book.  All thoughts are my own.

The Amish Christmas Secret by Vannetta Chapman

This is a sweet Amish romance written by one of my favorite Amish authors. I loved the two strong personalities that appear in both Daniel and Becca as they get to know each in their own way.  Daniel is holding back, while Becca is open and caring.  I even loved the appearances of "Cola".

I got a kick out of Becca's "projects" and her sweet personality.  The characters were such that you could really enjoy them as they interacted with one another.  I love how the community was caring and helpful.  That is something special that would be great asset to all communities coming together.

This was a very enjoyable book and a definite feel-good story, which is a great thing for Christmas and this year of 2020!

I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All thoughts are my own.

Morning Star Virtual Book Tour

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Charlotte Hubbard will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

When four maidels join forces to turn an abandoned barn into an Amish marketplace, the unmarried women have community in mind. But their fledgling enterprise promises to reap surprising rewards for each in turn, including the gift of unexpected love . . .

For Regina Miller, the new Morning Star Marketplace is a chance to share her secret work with the world—without revealing herself. Old Order Amish forbid the creation of art without purpose, but without a husband, Regina has been free to explore the joy of painting in her attic. Yet when Gabe Flaud’s curiosity leads him to speculate that Regina herself is the painter, the full weight of their community’s judgement falls on her shoulders. When Gabe stands up to defend Regina, questioning the Order’s restrictions, he reveals his own guilty secret and is shunned along with her. Forced to turn to each other for companionship, the young couple must learn to balance their own needs with their deep faith … and a love that will show them all things are possible.

Read an Excerpt

Regina entered her bedroom, stepped onto her large wooden trunk, and then opened the short, narrow door in the wall so she could climb the wooden stairs to the attic.

What if nobody wants my paintings, or worse yet, ridicules them? And what if folks figure out that I’m the artist—and that I’ve been living a lie for years? Best to nip this in the bud before I have to tell any more whoppers and get caught in them.

And yet, as Regina stood in the center of her secret studio, something deep inside her longed to display the work that so satisfied her soul. Nearly every evening, after a day of staining furniture, she spent a few hours in her hideaway, painting nature scenes.

Regina needed to paint the way most folks needed to eat and breathe. Her schoolteacher had complimented her artwork when she’d been young—and her parents had allowed her to take a short watercolor class at Koenig’s Krafts when she’d entered rumspringa. Dat’s brother Clarence was a preacher, however, so he’d been adamant about Regina joining the church at an early age. She’d secured her salvation at seventeen by being baptized, but she’d forfeited her innermost soul: in the Morning Star district, members were forbidden to create art for art’s sake because it was considered worldly and it called attention to the artist.

Regina had obediently tucked her paints and brushes into her wooden trunk, but she’d felt the loss of her art acutely. After her parents had died when a train collided with the bus they were all riding home from a wedding, Regina had kept herself sane by taking up her paints again, setting up her easel in the attic—out of sight when anyone came to visit. At twenty-two, she’d been rather young to live alone on her family’s small acreage but moving in with Uncle Clarence, Aunt Clara, and their young daughters would’ve killed her spirit forever.

Bishop Jeremiah had taken her side and had dropped in on her often until she’d gotten a little older. Martin Flaud had hired her because her father had been one of his finest craftsmen—and because Regina had proven herself to be more meticulous at staining and finishing than any of his male employees. She’d survived the rough, lonely times by working hard at the factory, and by surrounding herself with the quilts and curtains Mamm had made and the furniture Dat had built for their cozy home.

And so the last ten years had passed . . .

Regina had willingly given up any chance for marriage—because she couldn’t reveal her sinful pastime to a husband.

Gazing at the nature paintings that surrounded her on that Sunday afternoon, Regina felt torn. Why had God given her a keen eye and the talent to render woodland scenes, flowers, and wild creatures on paper if He wouldn’t allow her to paint pictures of His creation openly and without guilt?

About the Author:

In 1983, Charlotte Hubbard sold her first story to True Story. She wrote around 70 of those confession stories, and she’s sold more than 50 books to traditional or online publishers. A longtime resident of Missouri, she’s currently writing Amish romances set in imaginary Missouri towns for Kensington. She now lives in Omaha, NE with her husband of 40+ years and their Border collie, Vera.

Website http://www.charlottehubbard.com
Facebook http://www.Facebook.com/Charlotte.Hubbard1

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Zebra Books
July 28, 2020
ISBN-13: 9781420145120
ISBN-10: 1420145126

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Amish Christmas Miracles Collection by Multiple Authors

I have read an early copy of Jennifer Spredemann's story 'An Unexpected Christmas Gift', one of the stories included in the Amish Christmas Miracles Collection' releasing November 10, 2020. This book is a compilation/anthology of 14 different stories by 14 authors.  Some are new to me and some are old faves! I am now anxious to read the rest of the stories! 

This was such a sweet story of an older Amish woman who thought perhaps she was beyond the normal marriageable age.  Through a mysterious gift she finds that God's mercy and His hand have a most incredible way of guiding her in the direction her life should take.  Without giving away the story, I will say that this book was a sweet reminder of God's attention to our personal lives and that His hand is in all things.  

I really enjoyed the message that was shared in this book and the story was fresh and new.   I really loved the story. 

I had the pleasure of reading another story in this book written by Jennifer Beckstrand.  This story was entitled Peanut Butter Christmas.

It was featuring the 8 year old Petersheim brothers, Alfie and Benji, a delightful set of twins that have been wonderful matchmakers.  They are full of fun, mischief and all about adventures!  The author is known for her wit and humorous reads that are very enjoyable, as was the case with this story.  This story is very enjoyable and filled with Christmas Spirit.

I also read the story Christmas to Treasure by Rachel J. Good.  I loved this story of a marriage of convenience.  It seemed like a story that would actually happen as people try to help one another in different life situations.  I enjoyed that there were conflicts and life was certainly not perfect as Rose might have hoped for as she was married to the man she had loved and lost to another woman and the memories of her seemed to linger.  This was a very heartwarming story and was sweet and left you with good feelings!

I think you will love this compilation.  Just so enjoyable.

I am sure this collection of stories will delight any readers of Amish fiction.  The stories are very fun to read!

I received this from the authors.  All thoughts are my own.

Amish Christmas Miracles Collection

I had the pleasure of reading another story in this book written by Jennifer Beckstrand.  This story was entitled Peanut Butter Christmas.

It was featuring the 8 year old Petersheim brothers, Alfie and Benji, a delightful set of twins that have been wonderful matchmakers.  They are full of fun, mischief and all about adventures!  The author is known for her wit and humorous reads that are very enjoyable, as was the case with this story.  This story is very enjoyable and filled with Christmas Spirit.

I am sure this collection of stories will delight any readers of Amish fiction.  The stories are very fun to read!

I received this from the author.  All thoughts are my own.

Love's Pure Light A Christmas Novella Collection by Deborah Raney, Susanne Dietze, Shannon McNear, Janine Rosche

These four stories are sweet Christmas novellas written by four very talented authors.  It is just perfect to bring you back in time to a peaceful time of years past and how Christmases might have been back then and then up to the present as well.   I loved the historical aspect and it how it continues through four generations of the Shepherd family which connects a family together over time with a special heirloom nativity.  The stories included scripture from the Christmas story.  So definitely a book for the Christian readers.  I loved the continuity in the family generations.  Really a lovely book and has sweet romance as well.

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

Amish Christmas Miracles Collection - An Unexpected Christmas Gift By Jennifer Spredemann

 I have read an early copy of Jennifer Spredemann's story 'An Unexpected Christmas Gift', one of the stories included in the Amish Christmas Miracles Collection' releasing November 10, 2020. This book is a compilation/anthology of 14 different stories by 14 authors.  Some are new to me and some are old faves! I am now anxious to read the rest of the stories! 

This was such a sweet story of an older Amish woman who thought perhaps she was beyond the normal marriageable age.  Through a mysterious gift she finds that God's mercy and His hand have a most incredible way of guiding her in the direction her life should take.  Without giving away the story, I will say that this book was a sweet reminder of God's attention to our personal lives and that His hand is in all things.  

I really enjoyed the message that was shared in this book and the story was fresh and new.   I really loved the story. 

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

Jennifer Spredemann

An Amish Husband For Tillie by Amy Lillard Amish of Pontotoc Book 4

This is book 4 of The Amish of Pontotoc Series.  Amy is such a great author and touches on real-life problems, which also touch the lives of  the Amish people.  Tillie finds herself going home to her Amish town and family.  She has much to think about as she realizes what her future may hold for her as she heads home.  Pregnant and single, she returns to her family.  But how will she be accepted by  family, friends and Amish community?  Uncertain as to how the father of her child with respond, she realizes that she does want to be Amish, but in her condition, things may not go well.

Levi, a young Amish man, who recently became widowed is so unhappy and full of grief and finding a pregnant woman during a sudden storm is not something he expects or wants to become involved with.

The story is very touching, and full of tender moments.  As Christmas quickly approaches, the bishop of her community tells her she must make life determining decisions very soon thereafter.  What will the future bring?

Such a good book..   It's very enjoyable to read and a feel good book you will love!

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

A Dazzle of Diamonds by Liz Johnson Georgia Coast Romance Series

This author was totally new to me and although this is not the first of the series, I really enjoyed it. 

Best friends, Penelope and Tucker scheme to help each other in their various situations, by starting up a fake romance which turns into more as they work together in helping his political campaign and her self esteem as her ex-fiance and his new fiance appear at her business in order to have her plan their wedding.

There are interesting subplots as they hunt for Civil War Treasure to clear up Tucker's family's past and they study diaries of Tucker's ancestor in an effort to find this treasure.  That brought out the genealogy interest in me, yet again.  Love books like that!  So the story line takes you back to the 1860's in a split time presentation, making the storyline very captivating as their adventures continue and I think that held my attention throughout!

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