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

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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

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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

Autumn Winds

He blew in with the storm.

Miriam Lantz scurried inside and grabbed s sturdy chair from the nearest table. Part of her wanted to call the Brenneman boys - her Rachel's finace', Micah, would be here in two shakes of a tail - yet she craved some time alone with this stranger. She told herself she was giving him a chance to recover before anyone else saw him in this sorry state -

"If ya don't mind my drippin' on your floor, I'll just rest here for a few."

Miriaim jumped. Why wasn't she surprised that the man had already stood himself up and come in without her help? He eased into the chair she'd pulled up.

"I'd ask what ya were doin' here at this crazy hour, in the pitch dark," he murmured as he looked around, "but I guess that's none of my business. I've got to tell ya, though, it smells so gut I must've passed through the pearly gate and into heaven."

Miriam laughed again in spire of her agitated state, "I'm bakin' pies and decoratin' cakes for the bishop's surprise party tomorrow. Gettin' the day's breakfast and lunch started too," she replied. "Welcome to the Sweet Seasons Bakery Cafe'..."

And that's how quickly Miriam Lantz life had changed with the latest storm. Was God perhaps giving her a sign that He had plans for her. Plans to include something other than being the object of Bishop Hiram Knepps design for a future wife and mother of his children? Was God perhaps bringing her hope in the form of Ben Hooley, a traveling blacksmith in search of a place to call home and set up shop?

In the latest novel by Charlotte Hubbard, Autumn Winds is the second book in the Seasons of the Heart Series and picks up right where the Summer of Secrets left off. We see that Miriam is still running the bakery while her daughter Rachel is making plans to marrying Micah. Her remaining daughter Rhoda has plans set on making the newcomer her husband. Even though he is a few years older than her, Rhoda vows to go to any lengths to make sure that Ben Hooley feels right at home, offering to make him his favorite foods as he sets up his blacksmith operation where Miriam's husband, Jesse used to work. Now that she is widowed, she offers the operation to Ben in hopes he might stay, but not to make a future wife for Rhoda, because sparks are already flying between Miriam and Ben.

Bishop Hiram Knepp will go to great lengths to ensure that Miriam becomes his wife, even announcing it in front of the whole community during his birthday celebration as his wish. Will Miriam be forced into a marriage of convenience with Bishop Knepp or will Miriam find happiness in the Autumn Winds with Ben?

I received Autumn Winds compliments of Kensington Books and Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review. Charlotte once again delights her readers with some unusual circumstances of being involved in the middle of two men who want to marry her, one for all the wrong reasons and the other for all the right ones. Miriam's biggest obstacle is doing what is right according to her faith while struggling with what her heart wants. She is always putting others needs before her own and at some point she has to realize that happiness and love is waiting for her to simply be willing to take a chance. How will she find a way to keep everyone happy while she searches for her own happiness at the same time? You'll have to read this one to see how it all turns out. There is a sweet surprise at the ending, lots of delicious recipes straight from Miriam's Sweet Seasons Bakery and Cafe. I can't wait to try these myself. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information on Autumn Winds, Charlotte Hubbard and where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Autumn Winds by Charlotte Hubbard

You can also find Charlotte Hubbard on Facebook by clicking here. 

To read more reviews on Autumn Winds from the Pump Up Your Book Tours, click here. 

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Zebra; Original edition (September 4, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420121707
• ISBN-13: 978-1420121704
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches

 Don't forget to turn in tomorrow to see what Charlotte Hubbard has to say about how this book came together in my guest post with her!!!