Romance

A Simple Vow (Simple Gifts #1) by Charlotte Hubbard

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a simple vow.jpg

Pages: 315

Publisher: Zebra

Published: May 31, 2016

Could you see yourself taking in twin babies that are no relation to you and to care for them with limited questions asked? Edith Riehl does that very thing when she interrupts two Amish men arguing over who is the father. As Asa and Will determine to find the real father, an accident delays Asa’s leaving of Willow Ridge. During his stay he finds himself falling head over heels in love with Edith and day dreaming of being a family with her and the babies. Can Asa make his dream come true or will a deep dark secret ruin his dreams?

I am enjoying seeing writers of Amish fiction stepping outside of the box and writing more about real life problems we all face no matter if we are Amish or “Englishers”. At the beginning of this book we learn that the babies mother had relations before marriage and tricked her husband into marriage. We all know how common this story is to the “English” world but rarely hear or read about it in the Amish world. Hubbard does an excellent job of tackling this difficult story line while maintaining the strong Christian values of Amish life.

Even with the sensitive subject Hubbard is able to tell the story without explicit scenes or language. If you are a fan of Amish fiction but want more meat to the story line pick up a copy of A Simple Vow today. I think you will enjoy.

The second book in the series, A Simple Wish, comes out on September 26, 2017. I’m looking forward to seeing how this series progresses.

Side note: If you have read The Seasons of the Heart series, the Simple Gifts series is a spin-off taking place in the same town of Willow Ridge.

The Proving by Beverly Lewis

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the proving

Pages: 354

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Published: September 5, 2017

Imagine a quaint little Amish B&B surrounded by beautiful butterflies and you have pictured Butterfly Meadows. Amanda Sue, Mandy as her family and friends call her, has been called back to her former Amish life to run the B&B after her mother suffered a stroke and died. The stipulation is that she must run the B&B for twelve months successfully. Mandy finds it hard to be so close to her twin sister and husband, the man Mandy thought she was going to marry. Can Mandy succeed? Will Mandy forgive her sister for the wrong she thought was done to her?

I know whenever I pick up a Beverly Lewis book I will have a sense of calm and peace as I am reading and The Proving was no exception. I enjoyed seeing Mandy grow as an adult and watching her learn the ways of her mom. Learning to pray over the guests and help them find the comfort of a quiet life to ease their troubled lives.

I think we could all learn to pray more and pray quietly. Lewis shows us where a prayerful life could lead us. It could lead us to the most unexpected but perfect place in our life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for an ARC in exchange for a review based on my own honest opinion.

An Amish Christmas Love by Beth Wiseman, Amy Clipston, Kelly Irvin and Ruth Reid

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an amish christmas love

Pages: 385

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Published: September 12, 2017

An Amish Christmas Love is a book of 4 Amish novellas that center around love after death.

In Winter Kisses, Naomi lives with her mom, Barbara, and grandmother, Ruth. They have rented the daddi house to 3 Amish carpenters for the month of December. Will one or all of the ladies find love with the carpenters?

The Christmas Cat is a little funny with sadness as a strong undertone. It is Christmas Eve and Emma is settling in to weather the snowstorm and her first Christmas Eve without the love of her life. Two young Amish couples on the brink of forever love have surprised her with Christmas Eve dinner and a chance to share her love.

Snow Angels takes us back to Bee County, Texas where a surprise rare snowstorm has allowed broken hearts to heal.

Home for Christmas brings Ellie back to her childhood home and into the path of Ezra and his daughter, Allison. Will Ellie’s dog, LuLu hold the answer to Allison’s illness? Can Ezra’s heart thaw after the death of his wife? Will Ellie revert back to the Amish way of life of her early childhood?

This would be the perfect book to pull out and read in the middle of winter with snow falling. You will find yourself warm and cozy and cheering for love to win.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an ARC to read in exchange for my honest review in my own words.

When the Bishop Need an Alibi (The Amish Bishop Mysteries #2) by Vannetta Chapman

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when bishop needs alibi

Pages: 354

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Published: August 22, 2017/September 1, 2017

I am a fan of Amish fiction and mysteries and when a writer puts them together it is a homerun. I loved the first book, What the Bishop Saw, but the second is even better. I adore the bishop, Henry. I want someone like him in my life. Kind, caring, a great listener and thinks outside the box. He and Emma make the perfect team solving mysteries and as a romantic couple.

As with most of Vannetta Chapman’s works, you will not be able to put this down. I was able to read this book in a little under 24 hours as I was still reading at 2 am. I just had to know what was going to happen next. Every time the hubby woke up last night he was asking, “are you still reading?” Yes, yes I am dear.

Henry is your typical bachelor, Amish or English, in that he does like to eat at home very often so he goes to Maggie’s Diner in town. He has befriended a waitress, Sophia, and decides one day to draw her helping an elderly couple. That drawing spooks Sophia and raises flags for Henry that she may be in trouble. Unfortunately, he finds her body in the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge while watching a family of cranes. Discovering her body lands him in jail and sets the community on edge. Will Henry’s friends be able to use the drawings to prove his innocence? Hunker down with a good cup of tea because you are in for one wild buggy ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for an ARC to read in exchange for my own honest review.

A Plain and Sweet Christmas by Various Authors

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plain and sweet xmas

Pages: 448

Publisher: Barbour Publishing

Published: August 18, 2017

A great introduction to the world of Quakers, Amish, Mennonite and Amana fiction novels. If you have never read this genre but are interested this is a great book to get your feet wet.

I enjoyed the book but it helped me realize I am not a fan of stories involving the Quakers. Those stories do not grab my attention like the Amish and Mennonite stories. I really enjoyed the Amana story and wish I could find more.

The stories are short enough that it makes it the perfect book for the busy reader who only gets to read before bed or the reader who needs a book for the bus or subway ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review in my own words.

 

The Beloved Christmas Quilt by Wanda Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter and Richelle Brunstetter

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beloved xmas quilt.jpg

Pages: 400

Publisher: Barbour Publishing

Published: September 1, 2017

Three beautiful Amish stories intertwined through a Christmas quilt passed down through three generations. Each story shows how to overcome death to love again, martial strife and fear of new love.

I was very impressed with debut author, Richelle Brunstetter. She has her grandmother’s storytelling gift. I’m excited to see how she progresses.

This is the perfect book to give as a present for fans of Amish romance. The stories are short enough to read one story in a sitting. The progression from story to story is seamless. Your heart will be light and airy when you finish the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for an ARC to read and provide a review based on my own honest opinion.

Seeing Red by Sandra Brown

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seeing red

Pages: 432

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Published: August 15, 2017

What a story. I am still flying from all the plot twists. It has been a few years since I have read a romantic suspense from Sandra Brown and what a book to start reading her again. Excellent plot, lots of good suspense and perfect romance.

Kerra was one of the survivors of a hotel bombing when she was five years old and in the years since she has become a respected, top-notch TV reporter. On the twenty fifth anniversary of the bombing she wants to interview the Major, the guy who saved her and let the world know she is the little girl in the infamous photograph. In doing so, she unknowingly upsets the person behind the bombing and his “posse”. Will the Major’s son, Trapper, be able to overcome the rift between him and his dad in order to save the Major and Kerra before it is too late?

The passion between Trapper and Kerra is burn up the sheets hot from the beginning. If you are not a fan of graphic sex scenes in a books then this may not be the book for you. People will be “Seeing Red” as you read, red as in the blush of your cheeks.

Hold on to your hats ladies and gentlemen as you are in for a fast paced roller coaster. Once you start you will not want it to end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for my own honest review.

Any Dream Will Do by Debbie Macomber

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any dream will do

Pages: 336

Publisher: Random House

Published: August 8, 2017

Could you find it in yourself to give someone a second chance? What if that someone embezzled money to help a family member? What if that someone left you to face the consequences by yourself?

Debbie Macomber’s, Any Dream Will Do, follows Shay from her moment she embezzled money to “save” her brother to trying to get her life back together after a 3 year stint in prison. Macomber does a terrific job in showing all sides of what someone faces when they reenter society after time in prison. The ups and downs of trusting, making friends and learning to love.

One of my favorite aspects of this novel is the voice Macomber used. As I was reading, it almost felt as if I was reading a true story. The novel is told from both Shay’s and Drew’s first person point of view. You feel as if you are sitting in a cozy living room face to face with the characters and listening to them telling you the story.

Macomber makes the reader think how they approach similar situations in their life. Her use of faith is great. Mainstream fiction tries to shy away from having to much faith talk in it but I find myself as a reader looking for it more. Any Dream Will Do has a faith based plot but it is not overwhelming. I would recommend this novel to everyone I see. This book will be with me for some time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my own honest review.

Mary’s Home (#3 The Peace in the Valley) by Jerry S. Eicher

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marys home

Pages: 352

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Published: August 1, 2017

After enjoying the first two books in The Peace in the Valley series I was disappointed with this book. The idea behind the story is good but the delivery was lacking. There was too much going on with both Mary and Betsy’ s story. Though at the same time there slow, drawn out sections. The story ended very abruptly as if the author was tired of writing.

I would recommend the first two books but not the third.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for a free ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

 

Silvia’s Rose by Jerry S. Eicher (Peace in the Valley #1)

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silvias rose

Pages: 352

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Published: August 1, 2017

Do you trust God enough to direct you toward your soul mate? Do you trust God enough to lead you to another great love after you’ve been widowed? These are the great questions that Arlene, Joseph, Isaiah and Esther must answer.

Esther and her daughter move to the Amish district where Isaiah is a minister. Esther must trust that Isaiah is the husband she longs for and the dad that her daughter needs. Will a disagreement over flowers derail their love?

Joseph moves to the district with his son after his wife died from cancer. Arlene has her heart on saving him and his son from starvation and a dirty house by making Joseph fall in love with her. Can their love bloom through the harshness of Arlene’s words about his love of roses?

I’ve not read much of Jerry S. Eicher so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I enjoyed this book. The writing is easy to read and the plot moves between the two romances seamlessly. This is a clean romance for any teen or adult.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for a free ARC copy for my own honest review.