At nineteen years old could you single handily decide to raise three young boys after the death of their parents?

This is the decision that Amelia has agreed to do after her sister and brother-in-law die in an unexpected accident. She moves into their house and sets to being a mom. The Amish community she belongs to decides she needs help and to accomplish that feat she needs to marry soon. The Amish are strong believers that children should be raised by two parents. The man the community hopes takes on the challenge is Owen, her now deceased brother-in-law’s brother. Besides not really knowing each other he lives 400 miles away in another Amish community. As they work out a plan to satisfy everyone a higher power has plans of His own.

If you want a book to grab your heart immediately this book is for you. You cannot help but feel the angst Amelia goes through. So young but so strong. Owen didn’t grab me as quick but once you got to know his story from childhood you just wanted to hug him.

My favorite part of the book was Amelia finding the green tin of recipes. I have a green tin of recipes that was my mama’s. I thought it was lost and while cleaning out my parents home for sale I found it! It was the best present from heaven my mama could have sent. Mindy has included a recipe for Hummingbird Cake.

I received a complimentary copy from the author with no requirement to leave a positive review. The above review is in my own words. I was not paid in any way for this review.

4.5 stars

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I have become a huge fan of this series and was excited to learn that there is a spinoff series focusing on Jazzi.

Murder with Darjeeling Tea brings excitement, hope, and happiness. Daisy is planning a surprise birthday party for her love, Jonas (remember I didn’t like him at first) and stops by Mr. Rumple’s concrete statuary business for a present. Jonas knows of Rumple as they both volunteer at the local animal shelter. Unfortunately, Rumple’s life ends at the shelter. The more Daisy tries to stay out of the investigation the more she becomes entangled.

We get to see more of Jazzi, Daisy’s youngest daughter, growing up into a well rounded young lady. Daisy and Jonas are moving their relationship right along and even Daisy’s aunt has a major change in her life.

The ending will leave you smiling which is surprising since I’ve not always been a fan of Jonas. I thought he was controlling and rude but he has since changed his ways. I’m kind of perturbed I have two other books I must read before diving into the next in this series. But promises must be kept.

Included are recipes for Chicken Chili, Cheese biscuits, and peach salsa. I’m thinking of a main dish so I can make the biscuits. Yum yum in my tum.

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Do not let the pretty colors fool you in thinking this book is all fun and games. It was heavy. My mind I’d still spinning thinking how I would have handled certain things.

Matriarch Esther has been one of the beloved “funeral ladies” who makes sure grieving families are fed. (Why did we ever let this tradition cease?) Her husband has passed away and she finds herself falling for a sob story on Twitter and ends up $30,000 in debt.

Cooper finds himself in the north woods of Wisconsin for his stepmother’s funeral. His famous chef father and him have had many differences over the years and Cooper is suffering from PTSD and is scared of every loud noise. They only come together for Cricket, Cooper’s thirteen year old sister. Who honestly seems the most grownup of this family of three.

Cooper finds himself falling for Esther’s granddaughter, Iris, and agrees to help Iris with her plan to save her grandmother’s home.

There is so much heaviness to this story. Without giving too much away you have PTSD, secrets, aging grandparents, verbal and emotional abuse, and lingering death.

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the characters being read by different narrators. It pulled you in.

There are no sex scenes but cursing is used freely. Especially the “F” word. I would be hesitant to listen to the audiobook with young children around.

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What is the last book that occupied your thoughts 24/7?

Answer: Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

This book is written mostly in letters between Evie and others during World War One. It is set in London and France. Evie’s brother, Will, and his childhood friend, Thomas, go to war and Evie writes them both to keep them connected to home and to encourage them as the war drags on for several years. Through these letters Evie comes to grow fond of Thomas. The more they write the braver she becomes and finds her as a telephone operator. They aren’t near each other but letters still find a way to each.

I don’t want to say too much of the plot because I believe it will take away from how you are to feel while reading. You need to experience all the ups and downs without being warned.

Let’s just say I’m so glad I walk on a treadmill at home. The amount of tears this treadmill has seen since August. The last 23% of the book was anguishing.

Definitely a 5 star read for me.

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A clean friends to enemies to friends romance.

Sloane and Max became friends during college, started a very successful business together, and during a rough time he dropped Sloane like a hot potato. Fast forward four years and she is back in Maine to stay with her niece for several months. What Sloane didn’t realize is that the apartment she is staying in is owned by Max. What follows is a push and pull relationship that brings to light how a conversation here and there could have prevented the distance in their relationship.

Uneasy Street is book three of the Sons of Scandal series and I was perfectly fine starting with this book. The relationship between Sloane and Max is not the only story. You have adoption, a missing tiara, and estranged family.

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For February my Bookends book club picked the autobiography of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. I chose to listen to the audiobook that was narrated by Ketanji herself.

Lovely One was very interesting. Ketanji has lived a full life. Some chapters of her life were easier than others. We follow her life from childhood in Miami to her current status of Supreme Court Justice. She is the first black woman to serve and only the second woman to serve.

I really enjoyed when she talked about her grandmother singing hymns and she sang a line or two. She has a beautiful singing voice.

My main complaint which is what I have regarding most autobiography/biography reads is it could have been shorter. We as readers do not need to know every single detail of every single day of their life. That is my opinion only.

The audiobook is a little over 18 hours.

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Kentucky Y’all is our March pick for my Bookends book club. I learned so much about my home state and why certain festivals have certain names.

My favorite chapters were the authors from KY (Silas House, Wendell Berry, Barbara Kingsolver) and KY sayings like fair to middling (doing so-so) and what in transition (what in the world?).

Imagine my surprise when I received this from eBay and it was AUTOGRAPHED. I don’t know who Julie and Jeff are but thanks!

If you have ever wondered what to do while visiting my home state of Kentucky pick this book up. At the end of each chutney provide a bucket list of places to visit and/or things to do.

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A rom-com with a bit of seriousness that will leave you warm with happiness.

Evie trains service dogs for a living. A job she enjoys since she is a recipient of a service dog due to her epilepsy. Her parents refuse to believe she would give up her plush life to live in a one room apartment and make a measly salary.

Jake is blindsided when his newly diagnosed epileptic daughter emails Evie requesting a service dog. A meeting that goes sideways from the beginning is that start of their tug-and-pull relationship.

This is my first Sarah Adams book and I’m in love. She gave me all the feels like Abby Jimenez did. By the end of the book I was wiggling my toes in happiness.

A no spice rom-com that’s perfect for all romance readers.

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Have you ever looked at a book and thought to yourself, “didn’t I read this?” Dying to Sell was such a book for me. I remember plain as day downloading, opening it up, and starting but I never finished it. I have no explanation why because I really enjoy this series.

Valentines season is perfect to read this book. The ending is perfectly dreamy.

Cooper and her Bible study group are pulled into a murder investigation when Cooper’s Grammy Lee is involved. Talk about a spritely Grammy. She rules everyone around her. A friend of Grammy Lee’s, Esme, finds her granddaughter’s fiancé dead. He wasn’t the most liked individual and Esme is prime suspect number one. Can the Sunshine Bible Study group find out who did the deed?

Yes, you can read the series starting with any book but to get the dreamy feeling at the end start with book one. Spend the weekend with Cooper and friends. You can thank me later.

This would be a perfect series to read with the young mystery lover in your life.

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I’m so excited to have made @mindyesteele ‘s launch team for 2026.

I’ve scaled back some and her’s and @authorpatjohns were two of the three I had my hopes set on!

Excuse me while I go read…

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