A Patchwork Past by Leslie Gould Plain Patterns Series book 2

 I really loved this book.  I enjoyed the present and past scenarios that were portrayed as Jane, the quilt shop owner tells Sophie the story of an ancestor who helped many during the time of the Chicago fire.  I loved the story and the historical aspects were a highlight for me.  I loved Sophie as she also has the goal to help the migrant workers she comes to know.  It's a very good book and there are some surprises at the ending.  It was a great book and I am so happy that I read it.

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

What The Heart Wants by Virginia Wise

 I really enjoyed this book, and I am really fond of historical Amish books.  The characters were fun and Christina was definitely outgoing and a little bit of a schemer.  Loved that.  

I loved the frontier type adventure that these Pennsylvanian settlers experienced.  I loved their simple life styles, work and ways of survival.  

It was an enjoyable book and I hope to read more from this author and this time period.  Really fun and entertaining.

I received this book from NetGalley and Zebra Publishing and was not required to give a positive review.  

Softly Blows the Bugle by Jan Drexler

Every now and then I read a book that just takes my breath away.  This book was one of those.  Oh my, this was a late night reading book because I absolutely could not put it down.  And as much as I wanted to find what happens, at the same time I never wanted it to end!  It was THAT GOOD!   

I am not going to "re-write" the book in this review, because you can read the book blurb.  I am going to say it was excellent. This author has moved right up the ranks of my favorite writers!  It was a historical suspense and romance with twists and turns that just surprised me.  There was not a dull moment in this exciting historical Amish fiction.

The characters were captivating, including the bad guy!  The writing was believable and held my interest throughout.  I could easily picture myself in the settings of the book and the time period.  The excellent writing would make a great movie!  

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

When Love Finds You by Virginia Wise

This was the first book that I have read from this author.  She is very good.  This was a historical Amish book of a new settlement and about a young Amish woman, who left her previous home to escape her past.  Yet her past seems to follow her in her travels.  She meets an Amish man that she loves and who loves her, but his sister seems to despise her and tries to matchmake Eli with other women, anything to keep Catrina away from her brother.

This is a wonderful book of redemption, forgivesness, and faith.  It was really good, and I had a hard time putting it down.  I will be watching for additions to this new series!

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

A Quilt For Jenna by Patrick E. Craig

Heartbroken and alone, Jerusha finishes her quilt and prepares it's sale.  As she and her driver head out on a soon to be tragic evening, a story enfolds which shares the hurt and heartache that she has experienced.

This is book 1 in the Apple Creek Dreams series.  I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting.  There was lots of drama and heartfelt expression in this book.  The author set the book in the time period of WWII and thereafter.  Jerusha blames her husband for the loss of her child, something she can't get past.  She has lost her faith.

The story shows the importance of friendship through different cultures, love of family, and the need for a trust in God to help soften the sting of the hardships that life can bring.

If I could give this 10 stars, I would definitely do so.  It was that good.

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

Amish Brides by Jennifer Beckstrand, Molly Jebber and Amy Lillard

These are three of my favorite Amish  authors!  The stories were each different and unique.  All very entertaining and such that you didn't want to stop reading till the end.

I love Jennifer Beckstrand's humor in her story, using the wonderful matchmaker characters of her Huckleberry Hill series.
I enjoyed Molly Jebber's contribution, Joshua's Bride, which brought in a historical Amish story from the 1880's which gives a more earlier time period with it's views and feelings.  I loved how this story had a great theme of healing and forgiving and learning to accept people for themselves and not those who surround their lives.

Amy Lillard's  A Summer in Paradise, starts out with a bang, literally as Reba finds herself in a bad way after nearly being hit by a passing buggy. And finding herself the subject of a match-making plan which is definitely not wanted.

Loved these three in a nicely combined book.  Great stories for any Amish reader.  You will love these.

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley for my honest review, which I have given.  All thoughts are my own.

You can get your copy here.

The Newcomer by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Book Blurb: 

In 1737, Anna Konig and her fellow church members stagger off a small wooden ship after ten weeks at sea, eager to start a new life in the vibrant but raw Pennsylvania frontier. On the docks of Port Philadelphia waits bishop Jacob Bauer, founder of the settlement and father to ship carpenter Bairn. It's a time of new beginnings for the reunited Bauer family, and for Anna and Bairn's shipboard romance to blossom.

But this perfect moment cannot last. As Bairn grasps the reality of what it means to be Amish in the New World--isolated, rigid with expectations, under the thumb of his domineering father--his enthusiasm evaporates. When a sea captain offers the chance to cross the ocean one more time, Bairn grabs it. Just one more crossing, he promises Anna. But will she wait for him?

When Henrik Newman joins the church just as it makes its way to the frontier, Anna is torn. He seems to be everything Bairn is not--bold, devoted, and delighted to vie for her heart. And the most dramatic difference? He is here; Bairn is not.

Far from the frontier, an unexpected turn of events weaves together the lives of Bairn, Anna, and Henrik. When a secret is revealed, which true love will emerge?

My Thoughts:

I loved it!  It was so good.  I had already read book 1 and this is book 2 in the Amish Beginning series.  It was all I had hoped for and more!  The blurb says all that should be said about the book itself.  I loved the characters in the story and having been an immigrant myself, although in much better times, I could really find myself in their situations.  The book was wonderful!  

Suzanne Woods Fisher has clearly done some very good and thorough research on this book, what with the dialects, customs and details of the time period and the culture of this group of immigrant people.

I can see that it can still continue and that there is a book 3.  I will definitely be reading it.  I know any reader of Amish books will love this book.  I highly recommend it!

I received an ebook copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.  All thoughts are my own.

The Amish Princess by Patrick E. Craig

Powerful. Captivating. Tragic. Emotion-filled. Awesome.

I can't find enough words to completely describe this book.  From the very beginning it grabs you and never lets you go.  I started last night, then had to work today so I couldn't read, then I finished it tonight.  Every spare minute, it totally consumed me.

It was such an interesting, emotionally packed historical account of life in the early 1700s.  You almost felt as though you were there totally experiencing what was going on.  The Indian raids and battles, the times when God's hand intervened.  It was all there.  

The characters were so well portrayed and each personality was strong in its own way.  They were people that experienced many heartaches and trials.  

There were some very heartbreaking tragic scenes which were well written but sometimes graphic in detail.  However, I really enjoyed this book and these scenes were necessary to bring across the message of what was occuring and the historical trials that were being endured.

Looks like lots of research went into the book, including the sail ship Charming Nancy, the passenger list of which I, myself, have studied while doing genealogical work for a client.

I highly recommend this very amazing book.  

I also did a little checking and found an interview with Patrick on a blog by Liz Tolsma.  You can find the interview here.  It will give you more insight on how this amazing book came to be.

An Angel for Mistletoe by Teresa Ives Lilly

This was the second story in the O'Little Town of Christmas Collection.  The other was the story called The Substitute Bride by Carrie Fancett Pagels. This was a really sweet historical romance and you will enjoy it very much.  It is the first I have read from this author, but I enjoy her sweet style and the fact that the book makes you feel good and you can see God's hand in how our lives should be.

Angelica Cartwright finds herself on a stagecoach heading to a new job as school teacher in Somerset, Kentucky and has a bad fall and finds herself being cared for by a stranger and his sweet daughter.  Her plans just do not go as they should as she realizes that she won't be able to teach to the broken leg heals. You will need to read the story to see what happens, no spoilers here.  This was a very nice story and I enjoyed it very much.

Here is the link to get your copy!

The Waiting (Lancaster County Secrets Book #2) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Suzanne Woods Fisher is definitely one of my good-to authors for Amish fiction.

This story was so good.  Cal is recently widowed and falls for his believed to be dead brother's girlfriend.  Ben was thought deceased while in serving in the Vietnam War, only to return to find Cal with Jorie.  Ben is haunted by his time in the service which was not at all fitting for an Amish man, who believe in not bearing arms.

This story has many plots and lots of  sub plots to keep you reading to find out how the story goes.  It was very well written and you will enjoy it very much.

I purchased the Kindle version of this book.  I was then able to listen to the book as well.  I hope to read as many of this author's books as possible.

Anna's Crossing by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Several times I have written to author's when they had story line requests and mentioned that I think it would be so interesting to do an Amish historical fiction, thinking of an Amish going back to search for roots, or visiting the homeland.  I had never thought about the crossing, although I have done a Powerpoint presentation about immigration and the circumstances of that crossing.  Of course, I had to do a lot of research to make the presentation, and I can honestly say that Suzanne Woods Fisher did her homework well.

In this story Anna König finds herself preparing for a trip to the new land.  The year is 1737 and the ship is the Charming Nancy.  This is not a trip that Anna is looking forward to and she knows upon leaving she will never see her grandparents again.  Anna is a young woman with faith, courage and determination.  She meets Bairn, the ship's carpenter and although the initial meeting is not what she would have preferred, she eventually finds him to be very supportive to her and the other "Peculiars" as they are called.

 Among the immigrants is a young boy, Felix Bauer, who wants to experience everything and anything and that includes watching what happens on deck, although this was never to occur.  But Felix definitely finds a "work-around" for that rule.

The descriptions of the sailing conditions, the trip, the waiting, the storms, the many interesting events that occur are certainly brought to life as the author describes them all so well, you can almost feel and smell the air they breathe.

The supporting "cast of characters" are very well developed and very essential to the book.  Each page is filled with history and the daily dealings of those on this ship.

I greatly enjoyed this book, maybe because I am a genealogist and delve daily into old records and historical events.  I give it 5 Stars!  I highly recommend this wonderful book.