A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn

I was so excited to get this book that I immediately sat down and began reading it. Pinecraft, Florida is definitely on my Bucket List, because each time I read one of Shelley Shepard Gray's novels using that as a setting, it makes me not only want to visit, but possibly live there. The characters she has breathed life into makes you want to see for yourself how hospitable, warm and loving this community of Amish truly is. While the place is real, we know that the characters are just the ones we have fallen in love with from the moment we began our journey in the Amish Brides of Pinecraft Series. A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn is the third book in this series. Welcome back my dearest friends!

Beverly Overholt, part owner now of the Orange Blossom Inn finds that her niece Tricia who has made Pinecraft her home for now, has begun a friendship with Ben Hilty, the oldest son of the Hilty family who was staying at the Inn, until the farm they purchased was ready for them to begin moving into. Now it seems she is hoping that Tricia doesn't fall to hard too soon for Ben as she is still dealing with her past that caused her to wind up with Beverly to begin with. Meanwhile Beverly is trying to sort of her own feelings with the new owner of the Inn, Eric Wagler, an English man who is attempting to sell his home so he can manage the Inn on a more permanent basis. For now, Beverly is in charge of manning it full time. How can she possibly have feelings for her new boss?

Emma Keim, a widow with three young girls is about to run into God's true destiny for her life, when a wayward beagle named Frankie, with an appetite for all kinds of food, but especially pizza, lands himself in a backyard pizza feast of the Hilty family. Her she meets Jay Hilty and his three boys who is also a widower and she finds that making a friend might not be such a bad thing after all. However when circumstances keep bringing the two families together, both of them feel a pull towards more than friendship as time wears on, especially since they witness the growing affections between Ben and Tricia. Is love once again in the air at the Orange Blossom Inn?

I received A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn by Shelley Shepard Gray compliments of Avon Inspire Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review, aside for a free copy of this novel, and the opinions expressed here are my personal honest ones. It will be hard to watch this series end because I feel like I have gotten to know each of these residents in a personal way through the sharing of their story in Pinecraft and their place in the community. Here is to hoping that not only Beverly and Eric fall in love as those daily phone calls seem to hint at, but also the love growing between Emma and Jay. Just like an Amish Brady Bunch as Shelley like's to refer to them as. For me, this is like a true homecoming each time I open these novels and thus the reason for my 5 out of 5 rating. I love savoring each story and this one was exceptional!

For more information about A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn, Shelley Shepard Gray or where you can pick up a copy of this one today, please click on the links below:

A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn by Shelley Shepard Gray

You can find Shelley Shepard Gray on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour page.

Balm of Gilead

What a wonderful world of plants and herbs God has so graciously given to us and how little we truly know how they can be used to cure and help a lot of what ails us today. Sarah Yoder has found this wisdom to help create ointments, salves and teas to help those in her community that need it and can benefit from it. If only she could find something to help keep her from the pain of the love she feels for Henry who has announced his marriage to a English woman, Ginny who runs the Inn. Since Henry never formally joined the Amish church, he is free to make whatever choices he believes is best for him even if it goes against everything he was raised to believe.

Now Sarah must find a way to keep her heart protected when Henry comes to her for help after having his hand affected by all the clay he works with as a potter. Beyond the normal dryness, they are beginning to bleed and nothing he has tried is helping. If Sarah can't help him, the career he had hoped to build by selling his pottery will come crashing down around him. Sarah is just beginning to sense a bit of healing as her own son has returned from a long trip to help on a ranch in Colorado. She is hoping he might now settle down and join the Amish faith, but this will be a season in Sarah's life in which she must learn that some choices are out of her hands and everyone must deal with the choices they make in life. It doesn't have any bearing on how well she has raised her son, but that a life is given to each of us to live as we see fit. Until that time, she can only pray and continue to search for ways to heal what is broken inside them all.

I received Balm of Gilead by Adina Senft compliments of Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. This is the third book in the Healing Grace Series, and one I have enjoyed because of my own love for herbal and natural remedies. I believe there is true power in their ability to heal what ails us and love that Sarah gets the opportunity not only to practice them but also to continue to learn more about what cures are available even as they encounter such things as latex allergies, something an Amish person wouldn't likely deal with on a daily basis. There is even a great discussion guide included at the conclusion of this novel. I give this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Balm of Gilead, Adina Senft or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Balm of Gilead by Adina Senft

You can find Adina Senft on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Balm of Gilead, please check out Faith Word's website. 

A Simple Prayer

For some prodigal children who walk away from their family, the desire to return home can be overwhelming. They want to believe that simply going home will be all that is needed, but fear can hold them back. What if they aren't received well? What if they aren't wanted? And sometimes all those "What if's" can hold us back from the truth we need to seek by making an effort in the right direction.

For Aaron Ebersol, that came when he received word that his mother had suffered a stroke. He knew he should have returned much sooner after walking away from his family seventeen years ago. But after not receiving any response to all the letters he wrote, he believed his family had moved on without him. Why else would they not attempt to contact him after all this time? But he knows it's something he must do, since his mother could use the help and he has missed his family more than he cares to admit. Why is going home so hard to do?

In order to make the transition easier to manage, Aaron plans to stay at the Paradise Bed and Breakfast, where he runs into Linda Zook, a girl he knew in school. She was just as shy then as she is now, and he wonders what has been happening in town since he has left. Linda reminds him that she and his mother worked together at the Lancaster Grand Hotel before the stroke, and she never stopped praying for the day when Aaron might come home. She is able to share with Aaron some of the unknowns about the feelings of his mother before he makes that dreaded trip home to see if his fears are valid or simply something that has kept him away for too long, dwelling on all those what if's! But there is no time like the present.

I received A Simple Prayer compliments of Zondervan Publishing for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. This is such a wonderful story that reminds me quite a bit of an Amish prodigal son. I can imagine how difficult it would be for Aaron to return home and not have the entire family happy to see him. There is definitely bound to be some animosity between family members and I love that a friendship develops between Linda and Aaron as they both come to terms with the cards they have been dealt in life. It is a story of redemption and hope as well as unconditional love between parents and their children and the true power of forgiveness. This is the 4th book in the Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel Series and well worth every 5 out of 5 stars. There is even a discussion guide at the conclusion of this novel that makes it a perfect choice for book clubs.

For more information about A Simple Prayer, Amy Clipston or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Simple Prayer by Amy Clipston

You can find Amy Clipston on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews about A Simple Prayer, please visit Zondervan Publishing's website. 

The Promise of Palm Grove

I love the simplicity of reading a great Amish romance and Shelley Shepard is quite the expert at writing not only exceptional Amish Romance's but making us feel like we are part of the story, not just reading a book. In her latest series, Amish Brides of Pinecraft, her first novel, The Promise of Palm Grove takes us back to Pinecraft, Florida. Here we find a small Amish/Mennonite community that spends time hosting guests from other parts of the country looking for an escape from the winter in sunny Pinecraft. Here everyone pretty much knows one another like in any Amish community.

When Leona Weaver arrives in Pinecraft along with her two best friends Mattie and Sara, she is hoping to put some distance between her and her future husband Edmond. She is hoping to figure out if she can be married to such a controlling man who believes that her opinions and her desires are not something to be considered when marrying him. She's been struggling with her emotions that tell her that Edmond is not the man for her and that this is not a normal part of Amish marriages. But to Edmond, there is no argument. He knows what he wants and tries to tell Leona she will conform to his way of thinking once they are married. Leona isn't so sure.

So when she meets Zack Kauffman, a man completely the opposite of Edmond, she soon realizes that she can't go through with her marriage to Edmond. She just has to manage to convince Mattie, not only her friend but Edmond's sister that she is about to call Edmond and let him know she has changed her mind. One thing for sure is that Zack is exactly the kind of man she had hoped might be out there for her, now the only problem is that she lives in Ohio and he lives in Pinecraft. How will they make a long distance relationship work? Find out in The Promise of Palm Grove.

I received The Promise of Palm Grove by Shelley Shepard Gray compliments of Avon Inspired, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are my own. I was thrilled to be invited to review this new series, because not only do I love Shelley's writing style but I also adored her attention to detail and she breathes life into these characters that you believe they honestly exist somewhere. I can't wait for the opportunity to visit Pinecraft one day and eat at Yoder's Restaurant even if the line is over 30 minutes long. Shelley includes photos and a list of the top 5 things to see while in Pinecraft in this novel. I'd rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and love that it includes a Reader's Discussion Guide as well as a recipe for Orange Pie at the conclusion of this novel.

For more information about The Promise of Palm Grove, Shelley Shepard Gray or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Promise of Palm Grove by Shelley Shepard Gray

You can find Shelley Shepard Gray on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Promise of Palm Grove please visit Avon Inspired's website. 

Becoming Bea

For Beatrice Zook it has always been about who will have the last W-O-R-D. To stay that her and Ben Rupp are competitive would be a sheer understatement. For as long as they were in school, the annual spelling bee determined who was the winner. At first it was all about studying definitions, spellings, and root meanings, but for as long as either of them could remember it was about so much more. Until the Amish district decided that there was too much pride in winning the spelling bees, and they were banned.

Last time Bea could remember, she was the final winner, but after all those competitions between her and Ben, it was tied. Since the Amish graduate at the 8th grade, that was where it ended. In a tie. Bea at one time had hoped for something more between her and Ben, but an argument between them ended things before they ever got started. And now, every time, they see one another, it's a contest of wits, words and emotions.

Bea believes her life is content keeping people at arms length and sees no reason to step outside her comfort zone to make friends, find a suitable husband or even venture outside her home. Between her books and taking care of her Mamm who survived surgery to remove a brain tumor, she believes her life is complete. Until her sister Molly arrives home from church and announces they are all planning a trip to Montana to visit her husband's family and to give the family a much needed vacation. That is the last thing Bea wants and the only way out of it, is to find a job before the start of the trip.

Lucky for her, Nan and Bob Miller have been looking for someone to help with the care of triplet preemies, as well as taking care of the house, cooking and anything else Bea can help with. Nan is still recovering from their birth and to say that taking care of three infants is more than a handful, would be an understatement. Not only that but Bob's business in cabinet making is taking on more business than he can handle and he's hired a few of the local boys to help out. One of them just happens to be Ben Rupp. But will Bea have the last word this T-I-M-E?

I received Becoming Bea by Leslie Gould compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. I absolutely LOVED this novel. I'd read Courting Cate quite some time ago and was anxious to get back to Lancaster County to see how things were going. I love that Bea and Ben still have that competitive edge and I found myself relating quite a bit to Bea because all through high school, I was what some would call a loner. So to see her trying to find her way in the world, while her sister believes she has Bea's best interests in mind was something I could relate to. It's a great reminder of just how the Amish community works together to help one another out when they truly have a need and families are always looked after. This one easily rates a 5 out of 5 stars in my O-P-I-N-I-O-N! This is the fourth novel in the Courtships of Lancaster County Series.

For more information about Becoming Bea, Leslie Gould or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Becoming Bea by Leslie Gould

You can also find Leslie Gould on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To see more reviews on Becoming Bea, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page. 

Leslie Gould is back with the latest book, Becoming Bea, in her Shakespeare-inspired series, The Courtships of Lancaster County. Don't miss the other books in the series, Courting Cate (retelling of The Taming of the Shrew), Adoring Addie (inspired by Romeo and Juliet), and Minding Molly (inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream).

Leslie is celebrating the series with a Kindle giveaway and a Facebook party on November 11th.

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• One copy each of the entire The Courtships of Lancaster County series: Courting Cate, Adoring Addie, Minding Molly, and Becoming Bea.

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 11/11. Winner will be announced at Leslie's 11/11 Becoming Bea Facebook author chat party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Leslie and Amish fiction fans, as well as for a chance to win some great prizes!

{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 11th!

The Revealing

Things are finally coming to a close for the characters at Stoney Ridge in the Inn at Eagle Hill series, in Suzanne Woods Fisher's latest novel The Revealing. An appropriate title since so many of our questions,  for readers who have been faithfully following the series, will finally have answers and closure. At the heart of the entire series has been the investment scandal of Schrock Investments, a company created and ran by Rose Schrock's former husband Dean. When Dean died due to a believed drowning, embezzlement charges rose to the service that those who worked for the firm were stealing money from the investors.

Since Dean is dead, it leaves behind Jake Hertzler and Tobe Schrock. Jake has left and gone into hiding while Tobe is still serving a prison sentence. All believe that Jake knows more, but since no one can locate him, the questions remain. As we pick up in the Revealing, Rose is still struggling to make ends meet by running the Inn at Eagle Hill. Business has been picking up since people believe miracles happen to those that stay so she is thankful for that. Galen King has his heart set on convincing Rose to marry him, but she feels it's simply too soon with so many unknowns, wondering what will become of Tobe when he is released and how she will get out of the debt the scandal has cost her.

Galen's sister Naomi is hiding her own secrets, with secretly visiting Tobe in prison. She can't let anyone know especially her overprotective brother, because according to Tobe, once he is released from prison, he will be revealing more than anyone knows. He promises that he will right all the wrongs that he believes Jake is responsible for. The mystery still continues with why Jake has been so bent on finding the ledger books that are missing that shows someone was responsible for faking the account totals while skimming money. When two unexpected visitors arrive at the Inn, things will never be the same and more will be revealed than anyone thought that will involve both the King and Schrock families.

I received The Revealing by Suzanne Woods Fisher compliments of Revell Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. I love the way Suzanne didn't rush to fill in all the missing pieces of the puzzle that has been surrounding this scandal and in the end, we get the closure and endings we had hoped for. I can only hope this is not the end of my favorite characters from Stoney Ridge and that they will resurface in others series in the future. I would love to know how things work between some of the couples that eventually find happiness in the end in their own novels. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars and includes a delicious recipe for lemon blueberry squares along with a discussion guide for readers at the end.

For more information about The Revealing, Suzanne Woods Fisher or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Revealing by Suzanne Woods Fisher

You can also find Suzanne Woods Fisher on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews from The Revealing, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.


In The Revealing, the riveting conclusion to the Inn at Eagle Hill series, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher pulls out all the stops with a fast-paced tale of deception, revelation, and just the right dose of romance.

Suzanne is celebrating by giving away THREE iPads!

  THREE grand prize winners will receive:

• An iPad
• PickPocket Tablet Accessory Pouch (A stylish storage pouch designed to hold all your tablet accessories. Info.)
• The Inn at Eagle Hill series (The Letters, The Calling, and The Revealing)

Five second place winners will receive:

• The Inn at Eagle Hill series (The Letters, The Calling, and The Revealing) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 20th. All winners will be announced July 21st at Suzanne's blog. AND ... if you're looking for more in the Inn at Eagle Hill series, be sure to pick up the ebook novella, The Rescue, for just $1.99!

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!
Suzanne is also giving away two 10-book mystery prize packs! 
One of the major themes of The Revealing is learning to trust your intuition and instincts. These are God-given qualities that we sometimes are too timid or unsure of to act on. For a chance to win one of the 10-book prize packs, leave a comment on this blog and share about a time when your intuition or instinct saved the day—or a time you ignored it and missed an opportunity. 

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Suzanne's blog on the 21st to see if you won one of the great prizes! (Or better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)

A Mother's Secret

Even in the Amish world, things aren't easy when it comes to decisions that we regret but can't change. Such is the case for Carolyn Lapp, who at 16 got pregnant and had a son, Benjamin. Now thirty one years later, there are those in her family that refuse to let her forget that the decision she made back then was one that was not only shameful but that she continue to allow her family to suffer for. But her mother and sister-in-law both understand the meaning of God's forgiveness and the fact that she hadn't been baptized in the faith yet, so no kneeling confession is required.

Yet her brother Amos insists that Carolyn needs help to find a husband and father so they can stop depending on their family for support, even though Carolyn earns a living working part time at the Grand Hotel as a maid. But the man Amos has in mind lost his wife six years ago and he desperately needs a wife and mother for his daughter Emma. But Carolyn always dreamed she would fall in love much like her own parents and have a marriage much like theirs. She never dreamed that love would be possible for someone like her especially if they knew her secret and that Benjamin is her son and not her nephew as most people think.

Joshua Glick never considered finding a wife. Not since he tried to do the honorable thing when his brother Gideon died leaving behind a wife and three children, and offered to marry her. Instead she left one of her daughters, Lillian behind and moved away to join the Englisch along with the twins Andrew and Amanda. She did find an Englisch husband and is now living not to far away from his family. Unfortunately since that day, Joshua's mother, Barbie has taken it upon herself to find Joshua a suitable and controllable Amish woman to marry and have children with. But Joshua isn't the slightest bit interested in dating or marriage. Running his horse farm takes all the time he has to spare. What he didn't expect to find was love where he wasn't looking. An unfortunate accident with his horse, left Joshua blaming Benjamin for the stitches his horse would require after believing he was the boy who throw a rock. He believes teaching Benjamin a lesson by working off his debt at his horse farm, but Carolyn knows that Benjamin is innocent, if only someone would believe he really is a good boy at heart!

I received A Mother's Secret by Amy Clipston compliments of Zondervan Publishing and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. I love the premise behind the story of finding forgiveness not so much from others but for yourself. There is freedom in doing that and letting go of the guilt we can carry without realizing the heavy load we bear. I can understand the frustration that Carolyn faces with trying to please everyone for a mistake she made when she was a teenager and in trying to find a suitable father for Benjamin. It would provide a sense of freedom for both of them to not have to face the condemnation from her brother Amos anymore and to give her a sense of self worth in the eyes of those in the Amish community. Well worth every single one of the 5 out of 5 stars. I can't wait to see what happens next in the third book due out in the fall of this year, A Dream of Home.

For more information about A Mother's Secret, Amy Clipston or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Mother's Secret by Amy Clipston

You can also find Amy Clipston on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Mother's Secret, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.


Don't miss the newest offering in the Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel series from Amy Clipston, A Mother's Secret. An unwed Amish woman yearns for real love and a family. The only thing in her way is the shame she’s been carrying for half of her life. The novel received 4-1/2 stars from Romantic Times and was chosen as a Top Pick.

Amy is celebrating with a Kindle Fire giveaway.

 One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Books 1 and 2 in the Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel series, A Hopeful Heart and A Mother's Secret.

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 6th. Winner will be announced July 7th on Amy's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Amy's blog on July 7th to see if you won.

Seasons of Tomorrow

The divine gift on intuition and insight that Rhoda Byler has been given to her by God, have many in the Amish community Orchard Bend, Maine questioning its validity. Most of the Old Order Amish believe that she is practicing witchcraft when the visions she has come true without any knowledge of just how she knows these things before they happen. Even Rhoda herself can't explain them, just that she does. Most of the times, she keeps these visions to herself because of the accusations being waged against her by her own people, most vocal by Samuel and Jacob King's father. They have moved from Pennsylvania to begin a new community and to establish Orchard Bend Farms, an apple orchard and canning business and have partnered with Rhoda Byler in part to her knowledge and experience in organic growing and tending the orchards. She was also in love with Jacob at one point believing they would be married.

But over time, secrets have caused a great divide between them. Jacob has a past that he has kept secret which involves another woman, Sandra and her daughter Casey and placed them all in legal hot water. When Rhoda herself wound up dealing with her own set of legal issues, instead of standing by her, Jacob left in an attempt to keep his secrets from hampering her investigation. Yet what they did was to cause Rhoda to gain support from Samuel, his brother, and over time, they both began to develop feelings for one another. Even though they tried to deny their feelings, eventually all three realized that the relationship between Jacob and Rhoda would never amount to what a marriage should be based on and Jacob called it off. Instead of resolving his bitterness against Samuel and Rhoda, Jacob moved away to give them all time to heal.

Now that the orchard is in full swing getting read for spring, an unforeseen tragedy will test everyone involved in unprecedented ways. Samuel's sister Leah is struggling with her own romantic feelings for Landon, an Englischer that was hired by Rhoda as her assistant to help build the business. Even though he understands the complications facing Leah by their love, he can't help but wonder if God has bigger plans in store for them. If they don't keep their feelings out of the public eye, Leah could face shunning by her community as well as bring down the orchard business for Rhoda and the King family if they get rid of Landon. They too could face shunning from their community for letting an Englischer causing one of their own to fall astray. But Leah is starting to come to an understanding of God's love through her faith by attending Landon's church and believes God might be calling her in a different direction. Once again if she walks away from her Amish faith, and leaves with Landon it will jeopardize more than just Orchard Bend Farms but isolate herself from her support system as well.

I received Seasons of Tomorrow by Cindy Woodsmall compliments Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers for my honest review and did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable one. This is the fourth book in the Amish Vines and Orchards Series. I've loved this series from the first novel and have been wanting more of it with each additional novel that Cindy writes. The best part of this one, is the recap of the entire series up to this point at the beginning. It provides a brief look at what has been happening to all the major characters through the first three novels so you can jump right in. I love when authors do this, not so much because new readers might pick this one up without realizing there are more in the series and might be lost, but for those of us that patiently wait until the next novel comes out, the time that has passed makes us forget where we left off without having to go back and reread the previous books. The best part of this series for me, is the gift of foresight that Rhoda is given by God. It isn't something she can control or make happen when she needs it, but when it happens like a day dream, she has to make sense of what is happening by the clues she is given, like looking through a photo album and seeing pictures of her friends and then minutes later someone in those pictures is now missing. She isn't sure why that is, will they die, are they going to leave, or are they being removed for some other reason. Trust me, this series has been may favorite so far and can't wait for more. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Seasons of Tomorrow, Cindy Woodsmall, or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Seasons of Tomorrow by Cindy Woodsmall

You can find Cindy Woodsmall on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Seasons of Tomorrow, please visit WaterBrook Multnomah's website. 

Breath of Spring

 Spring is a time of renewal and for new beginnings and that is just what's in store for Annie Mae Knepp. After standing up to her father, the ex-bishop of Willow Ridge, a small Amish community nestled in the heartland of Missouri. When her father conned most of the towns residents with less than reputable dealings and left to create another community called Higher Ground, he had expected Annie Mae and her sister Naomi to join him. It simply is the Amish way to honor and obey your parents, but that is not what she did. She stood her ground and refused to go. Now faced with the challenges of supporting her and her sister, she gets a job as a waitress at the Sweet Seasons Cafe.

It's something she did naturally, caring for people and seeing to their needs. In fact, the entire town is supporting her efforts and has vowed to make sure that Annie Mae and Naomi are cared for in whatever they need. Annie Mae just never figured she would find love, but God has other plans. Adam Wagler is the one person who notices more about Annie Mae than simply what's on the menu and how she caters to those who dine at the cafe. It's the little things, like how she squints when looking at the menu or trying to see small print on things and offers her a spare pair of glasses. At first Annie is offended because she thinks that they make her look worse than they do. In fact she seems to have a low self esteem since her overbearing father drove most of the eligible young men away from courting her when he was around. But that is not the case anymore and most of the young men seem to take notice of this as well. But the last thing Adam has on his mind is courting Annie but everyone else can see what he apparently can't. That he can't take his eyes off of her whenever she is around.

I received Breath of Spring from Charlotte Hubbard compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours and Kensington Books for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions are strictly my own. This is the fourth book in the Seasons of the Heart Series and truly is a breath of fresh spring air. I love going back to the lives of the people in Willow Ridge, the one's I've come to know as friends from Charlotte's previous novels, Summer of Secrets, Autumn Winds and Winter of Wishes. The best part of her novels is that she keeps the characters real. They aren't perfect even if their lives are simple. They deal with the same issues we all do, but they have their faith as their foundation to support them. They deal with family problems, financial challenges and problems of the heart much like we all do. That is what I believe makes you fall in love with each book in this captivating and heart warming series. For me, it was like coming  home and well deserving of 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Breath of Spring, Charlotte Hubbard or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Breath of Spring by Charlotte Hubbard

You can also find Charlotte Hubbard on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Breath of Spring, please visit Pump Up Your Book Tour's page.

Forever Amish

The last thing Sally Bingham expected was to have her entire life as she had known it to be a complete lie. She knew that her mother had abandoned her when she was too little to remember her, leaving her to be raised by her father Ed. But someplace deep inside, she wanted to know more about her mother and why she left. Only her father doesn't want to tell her any more than he already has, which amounts to almost nothing.

Receiving numerous emails from an Amish woman named Lizzie who is interested in the Pembroke Welsh Corgi's she breeds, she heads to Lancaster County not only in response to a possible dog adoption, but to give her some breathing room from her pending engagement to Donald. She wasn't sure why but something was nagging at the back of her mind, telling her that Donald might not be all she had thought he was. He didn't care for her ailing father like he should and seemed to distance himself from her as much as possible. If she followed through with her upcoming marriage, she would need to give up her breeding, and move to Donald's home town to be close to his family. After their recent argument, Sally believes some time spent away from Donald might give her the perspective she needs and is missing.

What she doesn't expect to find when she arrives in Intercourse, Pennsylvania is that her reservation at the Bed and Breakfast is cancelled due to rain damage to her room leaving her with no options. Thankfully she runs into an Amish driver who tells her that his family often takes in English tourists. Little did she know that it was also the home of Lizzie, the woman behind all the numerous emails about the dog. But is that really what she wants to know? Why does an Amish woman want a pure breed dog like a Welsh Corgi? Did she even realize how much these dogs cost? Or is there something more behind the request to get Sally to come to Lancaster County? Would that have anything to do with the handsome Amish man, Armin staying on the family's farm? Life is about to get so much more interesting than she ever imagined.

I received Forever Amish by Kate Lloyd compliments of David C. Cook Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions are strictly my own. This is the third and final book in the Lancaster of Legacy trilogy but I believe there are still more questions that need to be answered by the time you get to the end. Hopefully Kate will address these in a future novel. I love when you get a blend of the two cultures of Amish and English in one novel. It shows the similarities as well as differences between the two and shows that English can become Amish if they are willing to endure the hard work. It conveys that the things that one must give up isn't necessarily as hard as you would think. In fact, I love the simplicity that the Amish living brings over the English life of living for wealthy and material things. I love that by the end Sally gets a sense of what belonging really means as well as being a part of something more than just a family! I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about Forever Amish, Kate Lloyd, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Forever Amish by Kate Lloyd

You can also find Kate Lloyd on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Forever Amish, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page. 


The latest book in Kate Lloyd's Legacy of Lancaster trilogy, Forever Amish, introduces us to a young woman about to uncover a shocking secret and find an invitation to a new way of living. This is a story of forgiveness, legacies, and the ties that bind through generations.

Kate is celebrating by giving away an Amish-made prize pack!

  One winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle Fire
• A Qillow (A pillow with a lovely surprise inside! It opens to a 40” X 60” quilt ideal for traveling, sports events, and home.)
•  A Center Diamond wall hanging (Hand-stitched by Old Order Amish quilter Emma Stoltzfus of E.S. Quilts in Lancaster, PA. It measures 42” x 42” and is a traditional Old Order Amish design.)
• Darling Amish-made faceless dolls (Hand-crafted in Lancaster County, PA. Each measures 12 inches and is individually named. Meet Martha and Henry!)
• Forever Amish and the rest of the Legacy of Lancaster trilogy by Kate Lloyd

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 29th. Winner will be announced at Kate's blog on July 1st.

Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning and be sure to stop by Kate's blog on July 1st to see if you won!

A Season of Change

Hard to believe you might find a common ground with the life of a circus performer and an Amish family in the latest novel from author Lynette Sowell. Yet that is what you will find as the basic premise in A Season of Change in the first novel in the Seasons of Pinecraft series. Both of the main characters are going through their own "seasons of change" with being in Pinecraft, Florida, a place where the Amish generally come in the winter months from their towns up North.

Jacob Miller had only planned on being in Pinecraft for two weeks to celebrate Christmas with his grandparents and in hoping to distance himself from the painful memories of losing his wife Hannah. Now it seems as if everyone expects him to move on and find a new wife, hopefully a young Amish girl like Betsy Yoder who has expressed more than a passing interest in Jacob. But when an unexpected accident he didn't plan or see coming lands his daughter in the hospital, it looks as if his stay in Pinecraft is going to be extended for quite some time.

Miss Bubbles, the clown always loves to spend her free time visiting children that are stuck in the hospital during Christmas and this time is certainly no exception. What she doesn't plan on is finding an Amish family dealing with the miracle recovery of Rebecca Miller. She is confined to a hospital bed just grateful to be alive after being hit by a car she didn't see coming. Now it seems that happiness has found its way into her room, Natalie Bennett is utilizing her skills coming from the circus to dress up as a clown and bring smiles to the faces of children like Rebecca who are confined in the hospital. She is more than happy to make her smile and offers a small juggling lesson of oranges to both Rebecca and her brother Zeke who is beyond fascinated by Natalie. What she didn't plan on is falling head over heels for their father Jacob whose blue eyes can captivate and steal your heart.

I received A Season of Change by Lynette Sowell compliments of Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I love how Natalie is provided with an outlet of finding out more about her family roots when her father mails her mother's belongings to her and she realizes she has an Amish history. It creates hope for both the characters of Natalie and Jacob that even though they are vastly different in respects to how they have grown up, there exists a possibility that they can make things work between them in time. I love the aspect of using a tie of with Natalie having a circus background which makes the story all the more interesting and not something I have encountered in Amish fiction before. I easily give this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars and look forward to the next book in the series due this fall. A Reading Discussion Guide is included in this novel.

For more information about A Season of Change, Lynette Sowell or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Season of Change by Lynette Sowell

You can also find Lynette Sowell on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Season of Change, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page.


In A Season of Change, book one of Lynette Sowell's new series, Seasons of Pinecraft, readers will discover a different side of the Amish community. A Season of Change follows Natalie and Amish widower Jacob Miller as they each discover the mysterious ways God works. Inspired by the image of a Plain woman sitting on a three-wheeled bicycle by the Pinecraft (an Amish community in Florida) post office, Sowell’s latest is a new take on the popular trend in fiction.

Lynette is celebrating with a Kindle Fire HDX giveaway and a Facebook author chat party on June 12th.

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• A Season of Change by Lynette Sowell

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 12th. Winner will be announced at the A Season of Change Facebook author chat party on June 12th. Connect with Lynette for an evening of fun book chat, Amish-themed trivia, and prizes. Lynette will also be answering audience questions and giving an exclusive look at the next book in the Seasons of Pinecraft series!

So grab your copy of A Season of Change and join Lynette on the evening of June 12th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 12th!

The Miting

The one thing I believe most people never consider when reading Amish fiction, is that it is based on the true facts regarding the Amish way of life. While it can certainly be different in the aspects of learning to deal without the modern conveniences like electricity, cars, and technology. However, even in Amish communities there are those drastic differences that separate the Old Amish Order from the New Amish Order, with the former being more strict in their rules governing the people who were born Amish. From the restrictions on color choices for Amish dresses for women, to the rigid obedience to their religious rules pertaining to who can read the Bible, what version and who can interpret the scriptures is often why so many Amish leave during their rumspringen, or running around period before they make a permanent choice to stay in the community and abide by all the Amish Ordnung, or rules for the church.

In the novel The Miting by author Dee Yoder, we get an inside look at just how rigid and non conforming some of the Old Order Amish can be. When seventeen-year-old Leah Raber begins to question the validity of her faith and the rules of the Old Order Amish, her parents harshly warn her against such thinking. Coupled with the recent troubles surrounding her best friend Martha, who left the Amish community along with her boyfriend Abe, the community believes Leah has been influenced to also follow in the same ways. However Martha has taken the path towards drinking, drugs and a life of promiscuity whereas Leah is just questioning the rules governing her faith and wonders if there is more to the Bible than what her church teaches.

She finds allies in Matthew and Naomi Schrock, who have also left the Old Order Amish faith behind and now live as Englishers running a home for those looking to make the transition to the English world as well as teach a Bible Study class. When Leah makes arrangements by lying to her parents to attend the Bible Study, she learns about Jesus and what the Bible really states. However, just making that choice will have grave consequences for Leah when she returns home and finds her family is taking drastic measures to bring her back into the Amish fold and break the evil influences they believe Leah has fallen under. While they claim it's for her own good, the "miting" is a form of shunning that is supposed to alienate the person to realize the mistakes they have made and promise to give up all their ways and conform once again to the church. But can Leah leave the new found faith she has discovered in Jesus in order to have the love of her family and possibly the love of the man she had hoped to marry to renounce her actions? You'll definitely want to pick this one up and see how it all turns out in the end.

I received The Miting from Dee Yoder compliments of Kregel Publications for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I can easily give this novel a full 5 out of 5 stars because the story is one I have often thought about. What would happen if an Amish person discovered Jesus Christ from the Bible, could they retain their faith and still live in the Amish community especially if it was the strict Old Order community or would they face horrible repercussions for their faith? Without a doubt an exceptional story of persecution, hope and redemption against the love of family and friends and one you won't want to miss.

For more information about The Miting, Dee Yoder, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Miting by Dee Yoder 

You can also find Dee Yoder on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.
 
To read more reviews on The Miting, stop by Kregel Publication's website. 

The Amish Groom

After six long years, it's time for Tyler Anderson to come to some hard decisions about his future. He's thankful that Rachel Hoeck hasn't decided to find someone else to marry, after all she's been baptized into the Amish faith and has waited patiently for Tyler to finally propose to her now that he is twenty three but he can't just yet. He doesn't know what is keeping him from moving forward. Is it the fact that he was left with his Amish grandparents when he was six after losing his mother unexpectedly and watched his father walk away to continue his military career? Or is it because he wonders what made his Amish mother walk away from her faith at eighteen and marry an English man?

It seems Tyler is at a crossroads and no matter how much he prays for God's guidance, he senses that God is quiet on what he should do. All he knows for certain is that Rachel deserves more from him. She is everything he could ever imagine in a future wife. He has a strong stable job working for his grandparents Buggy shop, he has developed a long standing relationship within the Amish community and it seems like his English dad, has moved forward in his new life with his wife and son. But there is just something nagging at the back of Tyler's mind that keeps him from moving forward in either life.

After careful consideration, he mentions his feelings to Rachel who wonders if Tyler will ever commit to her and wonders if she has been wasting her time waiting for him. If he heads back to the English world, he may never come back. But if she doesn't give him this time to discover what has been holding him back he will always wonder if he did the right thing in marrying her. She wants to marry Tyler for all the right reasons and pressuring him to commit won't make either of them happy in the long run.

So Tyler heads to Southern California to take his father up on the offer to housesit and watch over his 14-year-old brother Brady who sits on the cusp of being the next NFL hopeful and his dad believes Brady isn't taking his potential opportunity seriously enough. Without some guidance, he fears Brady will simply quit and later have regrets on the future he gave up. Tyler agrees to spending the time in Southern California hoping that time in the English world will give him the time and perspective he needs to know which path he should choose, Amish or English for his future.

I received The Amish Groom by Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Harvest House Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions are strictly my own. I love combined genre's and in this case it's contemporary romance coupled with Amish fiction. I love that Mindy and Susan decided to complicate a typical Amish romance with the fact that Tyler is struggling to come to terms with his English roots and the unresolved questions he has about his mother leaving the Amish faith. I think it's a valid question for Tyler to consider and I applaud how it all came together in the end. Thank you for answering Tyler's questions in the manner you did. Now I can't wait to see what happens in the next book! I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars and this is the first novel in the Men of Lancaster County Series. You have me as a fan now!

For more information about The Amish Groom, Mindy Starns Clark, Susan Meissner or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Amish Groom by Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner

You can find Mindy Starns Clark on her website to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

You can find Susan Meissner on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Amish Groom please visit Christian Fiction Blog Alliance's Book Tour Page. 

Winter of Wishes

"You're interested in the position?"

There was a hopeful upturn in Andy Leitner's voice as it came through the phone. "I was wondering if the store owners had taken my note down."

Rhoda's heart raced. "Jah, I'd like to talk to you about it, " she gushed. "But ya should understand right out that I don't have a car, on account of how we Amish don't believe in ownin'-I mean, I'm not preachin' at ya, or-"
She winced. "This is comin' out all wrong. Sorry," she rasped. "My name's Rhoda Lantz, and I'm in Willow Ridge. I sure hope you don't think I'm too ferhoodled to even be considered for the job."

"Ferhoodled?" The word rolled melodiously from the receiver and teased her.

"Crazy mixed-up," she explained. "Confused, and - well, I'm keepin' ya from whatever ya need to be doin', so,-"

"Ah, but you're a solution to my problem. The answer to a prayer..."

Just like that Rhoda Lantz life would be forever changed when she answered the ad she found posted in the Zook's Market in town. With her mother Miriam now just a month from being married to Ben Hooley, she knew she was missing something in her life. Call it a need perhaps, but something to validate her life, and taking care of Andy's children as well as his mother just recovering from a stroke, may be just the calling she feels on her life.

But just how would Andy feel about her Amish ways? Being a busy single father while attending school for nursing, he faced challenging obstacles both at work and at home. It seems like he never can find peace between trying to stay organized, raising his two young children, and helping his mother recover. It seems just when his wife walked away, Andy's life had fallen apart. Is it possible that Rhoda can bring life back to his unhappy family or will this be too much for even a seasoned Amish woman to handle?

Once again, Charlotte Hubbard takes her readers back to Willow Ridge in the third novel in the Seasons of the Heart Series, with Winter of Wishes. Rhoda Lantz has found that working with her family in the Sweet Seasons Bakery Cafè just isn't enough for her now that everyone is moving forward in their lives with the exception of Rhoda. But God has bigger plans for this Amish woman and the English family she is about to assume care of. Will He be able to seamlessly blend two different cultures into one perfect family? You'll definitely want to pick this one up and find out.

I received Winter of Wishes by Charlotte Hubbard compliments of Kensington Books and Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. I have fallen in love with their characters as well as the recipes that the women working at the Sweet Seasons Bakery whip up. I felt the change of the season in this book as Thanksgiving approached as well as the coming winter for the entire town of Willow Ridge. I love how with the advancement of time even some of the strictest religious beliefs are challenge by Miriam when her daughter is threatened by a bittered Bishop Hiram Knepp who's been under the Amish ban for keeping a car in his barn and driving it. Seems like Hiram is hiding more than his emotions under his harsh exterior while he lashes out to those around him, biding his time til he is returned back to overseeing the town and its residents again. Miriam has what I would call gumption and she isn't afraid to use it! I would easily rate this a 5 out of 5 stars and love all the recipes that are included in this book as well. Makes it twice as sweet to enjoy!

For more information about Winter of Wishes, Charlotte Hubbard or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Winter of Wishes by Charlotte Hubbard

You can follow Charlotte Hubbard on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Winter of Wishes from the Pump Up Your Book Tour, please click here.

• Series: Seasons of the Heart (Zebra)
• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Zebra (September 3, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420121715
• ISBN-13: 978-1420121711
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 0.9 inches

Katie's Choice

Highly recommend seems hardly the word to describe my feelings after reading Katie's Choice by author Amy Lillard. This is one of the best books I've read this year and desperately needs to be added to anyone who loves Amish fiction! I would most definitely add this to your summer reading list even if your simply a fan of romance stories and have never read an Amish fiction novel before.

Picking up on the heels of its predecessor, Saving Gideon, the reader is once more back at the Fisher family farm in Oklahoma. This time it's to help with the financial worries facing the community in dealing with Ruth Fisher's cancer treatments. Asking an English reporter, Zane Carson to spend three months in their home learning about what the Amish life is all about, they are hoping since the English are so interested in the Amish way of life, this might be a way to help contribute to the ongoing cancer treatments Ruth has been facing since learning she has breast cancer.

Zane Carson is less than thrilled with his latest assignment in Oklahoma preferring to be in the midst of some war in a third world country at war. Yet still recovering from his last story in which he was shot, his editor Jo, promises if he can cover this story for three months, she send his to Juarez, Mexico to deal with the ongoing drug cartels. For Zane it's a no brainer to do this. Until he discovers that living life as an Amish person is a whole lot more challenging than he ever dreamed. Not just dealing with no electricity, but men are working from before sun up to sun down, plowing, planting and caring for the farm. Something this Chicago based city boy is about to get a rude awakening on. What he didn't plan on, was falling for Katie Rose Fisher, a plain and simple Amish girl dealing with her own heartbreak.

Katie Rose Fisher has been waiting for the man she dreamed of marrying, Samuel Beachy. She's been waiting for six long years and has resolved her fate in life, that Samuel will never return from living among the English and instead cares for her brother and his only child, while teaching the children in the one room Amish schoolhouse. She truly believed that after Samuel experienced his time during rumspringa, that he would return to the church and they would marry, but Samuel didn't want to return to the church. He wanted to remain English instead and never looked back. Katie now believes it's long past time to find someone else to marry and it's certainly not going to be the man moving into her parents home, no matter how good looking he is.

I received Katie's Choice by Amy Lillard compliments of B and H Publishing Group and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable one. Now I can say I thought Saving Gideon was my favorite but after reading Katie's Choice, I am stuck in the middle. Amy Lillard seamlessly weaves two beautiful genre's together in writing her latest novels in the Clover Ridge Series, Amish Fiction and Contemporary Romance, and for me and my book lover's heart, I am in LOVE! Hands down this one is a 5 out of 5 stars, which in my world means it's a permanent keeper on my library shelf, one that I will read more than once and will talk about long after reading it. I especially loved the relationship that Zane develops with John Paul, Katie's brother who himself is in the midst of rumspringa and the lessons they teach one another about growing up and practical jokes. There's even a discussion guide included to make this one a great novel for a book club along with a glossary of Amish words you'll found throughout the novel. Trust me, get this one! While you're at it, better pick up Saving Gideon too because it shares the story of Annie whom you will meet in this one!

For more information about Katie's Choice, Amy Lillard or where to pick up a copy of this novel, please click on the links below:

Katie's Choice by Amy Lillard

You can also follow Amy Lillard on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Katie's Choice on the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tour, please click here. 

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: B&H Books (May 1, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433677539
• ISBN-13: 978-1433677533
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.9 x 8.3 inches 

Available in paperback and eBook formats wherever fine books are sold!

The Wings of Morning

If you live in the Amish world you must learn to give up certain conveniences of the world, electricity, cars and modern technology. However in the small Amish town of Paradise, the subject of flight is still up for debate. So while it is not yet banned, Jude Whetstone continues to pilot his Curtis JN-4, the Jenny as he affectionately refers to it to the amazement of the residents below. But his heart belongs to more than the sky, it belongs to Lyyndaya Kurtz.

"If God had meant for us to fly, Master Whetstone, wouldn't he have given us wings?" asked the ever curious Bishop Zook.

"Bishop Zook,"  he responded, "if God had meant us to ride a buggy he would have given us wheels and four legs."

"Ah ha!" shouted the bishop, slapping his huge hand against his leg and making most of the people jump, including Lyyndaya. "You have it, Master Whetstone, you have it." He clapped his hands lightly in appreciation and a smattering of relieved laughter came from the small crowd. "So now take me up."

It's the year 1917 and while the war in Europe is brewing, the Amish are exempt from the draft because of their religious beliefs and their unwillingness to take the life of any man. However when a British pilot sees the remarkable ability that Jude exhibits being self taught, he feels he could be just the edge his squadron could use to prevent so many deaths on the front lines.

Soon the army shows up and proceeds to take the young men from the Amish community believing that they pose a threat to the war, speaking German and refusing to fight in the war. After countless months in prison and on the verge of watching some of his friends facing death, Jude learns there is a way to save them. If he is willing to enlist, his friends will be released and sent back home. It may be the greatest sacrifice of his life, for if Jude does this, he will lose the life he knew back in Paradise. He will be shunned and the love of his life, Lyyndaya will never be allowed to write or wait for him. It is the greatest punishment of the Amish community, but for the sake of his friends it may be worth the cost!

In the novel, The Wings of Morning by Murray Pura, the men in the Amish community must face extreme persecution for a crime they didn't commit. However in the eyes of the government, they treat them like spies and they undergo the worst treatment imaginable for people who don't understand their way of life. Once again Murray Pura blends the perfect genres of historical fiction along with Amish romance to create another unforgettable story. I would have never considered what the implications would have been for the Amish young men when faced with this difficult decision and applaud Murray Pura's portrayal of this storyline in his Snapshots of History series. This is the second book in the series and one I had been waiting to review after reading, The Face of Heaven, dealing with the Civil War. I was not disappointed and literally took my time reading this one. The richness of the details he manages to capture are unforgettable as well as the tenderness of love and romance appeal to the hopeful romantic in all of us.

I received The Wings of Morning by Murray Pura compliments of the author himself as a gift during a Christmas giveaway!!! While I was not required to review this book, I just knew I had to share it with fans of Historical Fiction and Amish Romance. I absolutely love this one because I am a huge fan of World War 1 and 2 fictional books and this took my favorite genre's to an entirely new level of delight!!! I would rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait for his next book in this wonderful series! Trust me, this author will be on your must read list!!!

For more information about The Wings of Morning, Murray Pura and where to pick up this book today, please click on the links below:

The Wings of Morning by Murray Pura

You can also find Murray Pura on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest books!

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (February 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736948775
• ISBN-13: 978-0736948777
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches

Courting Cate

"An ultimatum has been issued by Bob Miller, father to Cate and Betsy, "That beginning tonight, that Betsy doesn't go to the singings if Cate doesn't go, Betsy doesn't court unless Cate courts, and Betsy doesn't marry unless Cate marries first. Understood?"

Betsy burst into tears - something she'd perfected through the years. When she was little she had been known to put her finger in her eye to make herself cry.

I fell back against my chair.

Dat boomed, "That's the final word, I'll not budge an inch."

Dat sat back in his chair and opened his Bible, holding it like a shield between him and me. "I finished Revelation this morning."

It seemed as if it had been a lifetime ago.

"So tonight, Genesis one," he proclaimed.

Betsy whimpered. I stared straight ahead. Dat ignored us both. "In the beginning," he read, "God created..."

The only other words I heard were "Be fruitful and multiply." (pg18-19).


In the novel, Courting Cate, the first book in the Courtships of Lancaster County by Leslie Gould, we find a challenge has been issued by Cate's father to find her a suitable husband so she can experience the love and happiness he had once shared with his now deceased wife. But it seems as if no Amish boy ever has wanted to genuinely court Cate and instead has only been interested in Betsy, her younger sister. Cate has been fine with the arrangement of keeping the books for her father's growing business and resisting the efforts of the single men in her community who insist on giving her a hard time.

Now fearing resentment from Betsy, now 17 and with more suitors than she can count, Cate feels pressured to find a husband otherwise Betsy will never marry. But the only love Cate truly has is being an avid book reader since she was caught by her Dat reading under the covers by candlelight, now Bob Miller fears it is the love of books that have captured Cate's interest and kept all prospects of finding a suitable husband away at the old age of 23. It seems that Cate could spend some time brushing up on her culinary skills as well as she burns most anything she attempts to cook, while her sister Betsy is the dream of what an Amish young woman should be. They're as different as night and day, but unless Cate marries, she will doom all of their lives and pass up any hope of finding true happiness.

Betsy wants to settle down and raise a family that she didn't even participate in Rumschpringe, a running around time and immediately joined the church. It seemed as every Amish boy who had met her dreamed of courting her, and now she can't move forward in search of her own future unless she helps her sister, Cate find a husband. But who will she be able to find to court Cate, that she hasn't already rejected? I mean there has to be an eligible bachelor somewhere considering her Dat's money. But Cate isn't willing to accept just 'someone.' She had already experience that 'someone' who was only interested in her Dat's money before and she won't do that again. But when Betsy puts the word out to find a suitable husband for Cate, it seems that fate will bring Pete Treger to town just in time, but is his interest in Cate or is there a scheme at play? 

I received Courting Cate by Leslie Gould, compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Bethany House Publishers for my honest review and could easily see the dilemma facing Cate. Her father truly only wants what he believes is best for Cate and Betsy, but when faced with the fact that Cate might never make the move on her own, he does what he thinks might motivate them both and issues a plan to find a husband for Cate. For those of you looking for something a bit different in your Amish Romance books, you might have found a true treasure in Courting Cate, the first book in The Courtships of Lancaster County and I can't wait for the next one. This one hands down rates a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Courting Cate, Leslie Gould or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Courting Cate by Leslie Gould

You can also find Leslie Gould on Facebook by clicking here. 

To read more reviews from the Courting Cate Book Tour, click here.

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (November 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764210319
• ISBN-13: 978-0764210310
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches

Courting Cate

"An ultimatum has been issued by Bob Miller, father to Cate and Betsy, "That beginning tonight, that Betsy doesn't go to the singings if Cate doesn't go, Betsy doesn't court unless Cate courts, and Betsy doesn't marry unless Cate marries first. Understood?"

Betsy burst into tears - something she'd perfected through the years. When she was little she had been known to put her finger in her eye to make herself cry.

I fell back against my chair.

Dat boomed, "That's the final word, I'll not budge an inch."

Dat sat back in his chair and opened his Bible, holding it like a shield between him and me. "I finished Revelation this morning."

It seemed as if it had been a lifetime ago.

"So tonight, Genesis one," he proclaimed.

Betsy whimpered. I stared straight ahead. Dat ignored us both. "In the beginning," he read, "God created..."

The only other words I heard were "Be fruitful and multiply." (pg18-19).


In the novel, Courting Cate, the first book in the Courtships of Lancaster County by Leslie Gould, we find a challenge has been issued by Cate's father to find her a suitable husband so she can experience the love and happiness he had once shared with his now deceased wife. But it seems as if no Amish boy ever has wanted to genuinely court Cate and instead has only been interested in Betsy, her younger sister. Cate has been fine with the arrangement of keeping the books for her father's growing business and resisting the efforts of the single men in her community who insist on giving her a hard time.

Now fearing resentment from Betsy, now 17 and with more suitors than she can count, Cate feels pressured to find a husband otherwise Betsy will never marry. But the only love Cate truly has is being an avid book reader since she was caught by her Dat reading under the covers by candlelight, now Bob Miller fears it is the love of books that have captured Cate's interest and kept all prospects of finding a suitable husband away at the old age of 23. It seems that Cate could spend some time brushing up on her culinary skills as well as she burns most anything she attempts to cook, while her sister Betsy is the dream of what an Amish young woman should be. They're as different as night and day, but unless Cate marries, she will doom all of their lives and pass up any hope of finding true happiness.

Betsy wants to settle down and raise a family that she didn't even participate in Rumschpringe, a running around time and immediately joined the church. It seemed as every Amish boy who had met her dreamed of courting her, and now she can't move forward in search of her own future unless she helps her sister, Cate find a husband. But who will she be able to find to court Cate, that she hasn't already rejected? I mean there has to be an eligible bachelor somewhere considering her Dat's money. But Cate isn't willing to accept just 'someone.' She had already experience that 'someone' who was only interested in her Dat's money before and she won't do that again. But when Betsy puts the word out to find a suitable husband for Cate, it seems that fate will bring Pete Treger to town just in time, but is his interest in Cate or is there a scheme at play? 

I received Courting Cate by Leslie Gould, compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and could easily see the dilemma facing Cate. Her father truly only wants what he believes is best for Cate and Betsy, but when faced with the fact that Cate might never make the move on her own, he does what he thinks might motivate them both and issues a plan to find a husband for Cate. For those of you looking for something a bit different in your Amish Romance books, you might have found a true treasure in Courting Cate, the first book in The Courtships of Lancaster County and I can't wait for the next one. This one hands down rates a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Courting Cate, Leslie Gould or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Courting Cate by Leslie Gould

You can also find Leslie Gould on Facebook by clicking here. 

To read more reviews from the Courting Cate Book Tour, click here.

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (November 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764210319
• ISBN-13: 978-0764210310
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches

The Bridesmaid

Joanna Kurtz isn't getting any younger and it seems like her only request lately is to be a bridesmaid for someone else's wedding. Now that she's 24, she feels like that's all she will ever be. It doesn't help that all her friends are getting married or that they are currently seeing someone that more than likely they will marry in the future, but not Joanna. She doesn't even have any one who seems to be interested.

So she finds enjoyment in the only thing that she can, and that's writing in her journal. Whether she is using it as a diary or adding to her collection of fictional stories, she finds it gives her an outlet of something to keep her mind occupied until God changes that. When she meets a young Amish man, Eben Troyer during a trip to the beach, they immediately connect. He has a love for photography and hers is writing. However they are both from different states and it means courting for both of them could pose an issue. Eben is the only remaining male son in his family, after his brother left to follow after some English pursuits. While they await his hopeful return someday, Eben's father is relying on him to help out around the farm in Indiana.

Joanna lives in Hickory Hollow, Pennsylvania and has always longed to marry and raise a family here. For now, her only consolation is to spend time writing letters to Eben until God either answers their prayers to send the prodigal son home to Indiana to help out with the family farm or shows them another path for their future.



In the latest novel in the Home to Hickory Hollow series by Beverly Lewis, The Bridesmaid is the second addition to this delightful community of Amish residents. You can feel the pain and loneliness of Joanna when even her younger sister Cora Jane seems to mock her as always being a bridesmaid and never a bride. Will she always remain single or will God make a path known for her? Why does it seem like Cora Jane can't seem to be happy for her even when she announces that Eben is coming for a visit? You'll have to pick up a copy of The Bridesmaid by Beverly Lewis and find out.

I received a copy of the Bridesmaid compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. I've been a huge fan of Beverly Lewis' Amish novels and I couldn't wait to read this one. As someone who sees others around her getting married and then being labeled as an Old Maid, you can sympathize with Joanna when all her prospects seem to be empty until she meets Eben. Not only is he interested but he can relate to her artistic talents as well, despite what others may think. The only issue is how they can get together when faced with seemingly impossible odds that seem to constantly keep pushing them apart. That's the beauty of Beverly's stories is she makes her characters so likeable, you find yourself rooting for them all the way. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait for the next novel in this series!

For more information about The Bridesmaid, Beverly Lewis, and where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Bridesmaid by Beverly Lewis

You can also find more reviews on The Bridesmaid by visiting Christian Fiction Blog Alliance's tour page.

You can stay up with the latest from Beverly Lewis through her Facebook page.

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (September 11, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764209787
• ISBN-13: 978-0764209789