Twelve Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost

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twelve slays of xmas

Pages: 320

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Published: October 10, 2017

Christmas is supposed to be filled with love and magic no matter your age but Holly has returned home to Mistletoe as a jilted bride and a murder to solve. On the eve of the Reindeer Games Holly finds the local historical society grouch dead in a sleigh on her parents Christmas tree farm which also hosts the twelve days of the Reindeer Games. Can Holly solve the murder and save the Reindeer Games all before Christmas?

Holly is a very likeable and realistic character. She has spunk when it comes to searching for clues to solve the murder and is cautious with her heart after realizing her fiancé did her a favor when he called off the wedding two weeks prior to the big day. She doesn’t let that get her down and out. She throws herself into helping around the Christmas tree farm and making the Reindeer Games as successful as ever.

In interested in learning more about the Sheriff as the series goes on. He sounds like a catch but will the local newspaper photographer sometimes reporter nose his way in on the possible romance between Holly and the Sheriff?

Grab a mug of cocoa and curl up in front of the fire and let the Christmas spirit envelope you as you read the first in a new series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC in exchange for a review based on my own honest opinion.

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.

Assaulted Caramel by Amanda Flower

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assaulted caramel.jpg

Pages: 352

Publisher: Kensington

Published: August 29,2017

Grab your favorite box of chocolates and curl up in your most comfy chair. You will be craving the most ooey gooey confections you can dream of while you read about Bailey’s adventures in Holmes County, Ohio.

Bailey has fled NYC at the most critical point in her career to check on her Daadi (grandfather) after a phone call from her Maami (grandmother) stating he was not doing well. As Bailey arrives she sees her Daadi and another man exchanging words and her Daadi collapsing on the sidewalk. She learns that the other man is Tyson Colton and he wants to buy her Daadi’s building where he owns and runs Swissmen Sweets. Later that night Bailey finds Tyson dead in the kitchen of Swissmen’s with her Daadi’s prized fudge knife through his chest. Can Bailey clear her and her grandparents of the murder before she has to return NYC and claim her job as head chocolatier for JP Chocolates?

I am so excited for this new series by one of my favorite cozy authors. Her knowledge and love of the Amish shine through her writing. I can always guarantee when I read one of her books I will gain new friends. Bailey and her grandparents warm their way into your heart by the end of chapter one. You want to jump into the story and help Bailey find the killer.

I an idea of the killer’s identity but was completely taken by surprise when the killer was revealed. That right there makes it a great cozy. I will put this warning out there: grab some tissues as you will need them. I was not expecting to bawl like a baby.

The second book, Lethal Licorice, comes out on February 27,2018 and you can bet I will be reading at 12:01am when it downloads to my kindle.

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.

The Space Between Words by Michèle Phoenix

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the space betwwen words

Pages: 336

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Published: September 5, 2017

It takes a lot for a book to set me back on my heels and go speechless. This book did exactly that in a way that I’m still finding it hard to put my thoughts into words.

Jessica has flown from Denver to France to visit her roommate Patrick. Their plan is to tour the countryside looking for antiques. A change in plans and a snap decision alter their lives forever. When Jessica finds an old wooden box with a secret compartment filled with a mysterious letter she finds herself exploring memories she would rather forget.

Knowing the story has true events told in a fictional manner makes the story resonate more with you as the reader. You find yourself cringing with fright and wiping away salty tears of anguish as Jessica navigates her way back to a sense of normalcy.

Take a moment and read The Space Between Words and see if you don’t fall in love with Jessica like I did. You may just find your new heroine.

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

If the Creek Don’t Rise by Leah Weiss

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if the creek dont rise

Pages: 322

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Published: August 22, 2017

It’s the 1970s in Appalachia, specifically Baines Creek, and Sadie Blue is coming into young adulthood the hard way. At seventeen she is pregnant and married to a no good drunk. Through the local healer, Birdie, and the new teacher will Sadie be able to learn how to save herself?

I thoroughly enjoyed this new voice in fiction. Leah Weiss writes with a beauty of a culture that is misunderstood but one that we all could learn from if we opened our hearts and eyes. She writes with a first person voice from several characters point of view. The main character being Sadie Blue who you cheer on as she struggles. Weiss uses the Appalachian vernacular that without would not make the story as moving and powerful.

A part of me would like to see a sequel letting us know how Sadie Blue’s fate plays out but at the same time I like the idea of the author leaving it up to my imagination.

I would recommend this book to any fan of fiction. If you like to read Silas House then you will like debut author, Leah Weiss.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review in my own words.