Month: November 2017

Book Club Babies (Cherry Cola Book Club #6) by Ashton Lee

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book club babies

Pages: 272

Publisher: Kensington

Published: November 28, 2017

How can I start my final review on one of my favorite fiction series? Perhaps with the idea that Mr. Lee may revisit Cherico, MS in the future through the eyes of the second generation. I like to believe that as I am not ready to say goodbye. Each installment of the Cherry Cola Book Club has brought me comfort and joy as I read them. I became friends with Maura Beth, Periwinkle, Voncile and etc.

Book Club Babies takes us through the pregnancies of Maura Beth, Periwinkle and Elise. Each pregnancy has its own ups and downs with outside influences but each finds a way to overcome with the love and support of one another. I don’t want to go into too much detail because I would like you to pick up this series and be as surprised, sadden and happy as I was through each chapter. The ending is a sweet way to introduce the second generation of the book club. It gives one hope that brick and mortar libraries and reading is not becoming lost in this world of technology.

I love the fact that Mr. Lee put the recipes from all the books at the end of Book Club Babies instead of creating a separate book. It made me think he gifted us readers with a treat for reading his series and talking about it to all our friends. I cannot wait to try a few at my next family gathering.

If you have not read this series I suggest you do as soon as you can. You will not be disappointed. To help you get started let me give you the books in order:

1. The Cherry Cola Book Club
2. The Reading Circle
3. The Wedding Circle
4. A Cherry Cola Christmas
5. Queen of the Cookbook
6. Book Club Babies

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for an advanced copy to read and review in my own honest words.

Christmas in Homestead by Kara Tate

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christmas in homestead

Pages: 169

Publisher: Hallmark Publishing

Published: October 24, 2017

A sweet Christmas tale with a predictable ending but that is what we love about Hallmark. The love story with a happy ending.

When I read this book I had not watched the movie yet so I loved being surprised as I was reading. You will fall in love with little Sophie as she is a doll. She adds such character and excitement to the book. She became my favorite character.

This is the perfect book to read as you wind down from a busy day of shopping and visiting. Grab a cup of cocoa and turn on your tree and lose yourself in Christmas In Homestead.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing for a copy to read in exchange for my honest review in my own words.

A Plain Leaving (The Sisters of Lancaster County #1) by Leslie Gould

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a plain leaving

Pages: 352

Publisher: Bethany House

Published: October 3, 2017

A fresh new approach to Amish fiction. Leslie Gould has taken Amish fiction to a new level and has excelled.

Jessica left her family for the English world three years ago and family tragedy has brought her back. Her older brother, Arden, is dead set against her returning to the farm. The brother and sister have never agreed on how the farm should run. Arden wants to allow fracking and Jessica is against as she knows the dangers. Will Arden be able to see past Jessica’s shunning to listen to her or will Jessica need to convince her Mamm that Arden is going against their Dat’s wishes?

Yes, this novel has the common themes of Amish novels such as shunnings, farming, distrust of the English world but it tackles new subjects of fracking and wanting to get the law involved to help others.

If you like a little more to your stories than just a complicated romance this is a book for you. You will be left hungering for more. I know I was. I am anxious to learn what the second book tackles and which characters will become the main characters. I am also interested to go back and look at her other works and start reading.

A refreshing, new approach to one of my favorite genres. I hope you take a chance and read A Plain Leaving by Leslie Gould.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House for a copy of the book to read and review in exchange for a review based on my own honest opinion and in my own words.

A Place at our Table (An Amish Homestead Novel #1) by Amy Clipston

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a place at our table

Pages: 352

Publisher: Zondervan

Published: November 14, 2017

An emotional read that will have you going for the tissues.

Kayla Dienner is still healing from losing her older brother, Simeon, to a house fire when a barn fire at her home puts her little brother’s life in danger. James Riehl, an Amish volunteer firefighter, responds to the fire and one look into Kayla’s eyes lights a fire inside of him. Will he flame that fire or will a personal tragedy extinguish it before it has a chance to burn?

Amy Clipston writes so beautifully that the love between her characters jumps off the page into your heart. I’ll be the first to admit I can become attached to characters quickly but no other Amish characters have touched my soul as Kayla and James. I did not think that my heart could take any more and Clipston would throw another heart twinging moment at me. I heavily suggest in a box of tissues and several hours of quiet time when you read A Place at our Table. You will not want to put the book down as the story will keep grabbing at you even when you are not reading.

I hope there are more books involving the Riehls and Dienners as it would be a shame to not visit them again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zondervan for an advance copy in exchange for a review based on my own thoughts and in my own words.

Journey Back to Christmas by Leigh Duncan

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journey back to christmas

Pages: 154

Publisher: Crown Media Holdings

Published: October 17, 2017

I loved this Christmas movie when it debuted last year on the Hallmark Channel so I was very excited to learn of the ebook based on the movie. If you enjoyed the movie you will enjoy the book. It will leave you feeling warm and happy.

The book does expand in some areas more than the book but the book stays true to the movie (words I have never uttered before). You love the characters even more after reading the book. Hanna is a nurse in 1945 mourning the loss of her husband Chet. A blizzard is starting to hit the town on December 22 which is the same night as a comet is to cross the sky. As Hanna is settling in for the night a lost dog wonders up to her house and sets off a chain of events that sends her the year of 2016. As Hanna is trying to figure out if she will ever return to her life she learns how her life of caring has affected others in ways she never dreamed.

As always I suggest reading the book then watch the movie. You will be in the Christmas spirit at the end of both.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Media Holdings for a copy to read in exchange for a review based on my own thoughts and put into my own words.