25 Book Reviews

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Back With My Old Friends On Huckleberry Hill!! Enter the Author's Giveaway!!


"Return to Huckleberry Hill"
     By Jennifer Beckstrand

About the Book: 
Genre: Inspirational Amish Romance
Release Date: May 30, 2017
When it comes to matchmaking, Huckleberry Hill, Wisconsin’s unstoppable octogenarians Anna and Felty Helmuth never seem to run out of opportunities—or grandchildren…
Reuben Helmuth is plenty bitter. John King, his best friend—or so he thought—is engaged to the girl Reuben loved. Humiliated, Reuben flees from Ohio to his grandparents’ home on Huckleberry Hill, where he knows he’ll find comfort. He’s enjoying wallowing in his misery—until John’s sister, Fern, shows up. She won’t stop pestering Reuben about forgiveness—or trying to help him find love again. Yet Fern’s efforts only reawaken Reuben’s long-buried feelings—for her…
With her brother too ashamed to face Reuben, it’s fallen to Fern to help mend fences. But as she and the Helmuths do all they can—even organizing a knitting club event filled with eligible girls—it may take one more challenge to inspire Reuben to forget his heartache, recognize his own blunders, and embrace the true love that’s right in front of him…

My Thoughts:

 Jennifer Beckstrand has written another sweet story in "The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hills". This is the seventh in the series and I have thoroughly enjoyed every one! 

 As I opened this new novel, I was excited to be back with my old friends Felty and Anna. They are just the most comical, quirky,  loving old couple, who want everyone to have as wonderful a marriage as they do. Anna is a true matchmake and will do anything in her power to find a true love for those she loves! Even in very strange ways!! Yes, that is Anna! She had me in stitches as she continued her matchmaking skills with her grandson, Reuben. All of the characters in the story seem to have special little quirks and are described in such a realistic way that you have to smile at their constant antics.f

 The plot is rather slow moving, however, I found that it allowed me to relax and enjoy the humor in some rather serious situations. It is certainly not a cliff hanger but I did enjoy every moment of my read. 

 If you love Amish fiction , don't miss this book. It uses a style of writing unique to Jennifer and is delightful.  If you have never read Amish fiction, try this one.You will find yourself falling in love with Felty and Anna. 

 This book was received as a gift. The opinions and thoughts expressed are honest and my own.
Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author: 
Jennifer Beckstrand is the award winning Amish romance author of The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hillseries and The Honeybee Sisters series for Kensington Books. Jennifer has always been drawn to the strong faith and the enduring family ties of the Plain people and loves writing about the antics of Anna and Felty Helmuth and the Honeybee sisters’ aendi Bitsy. Jennifer has a degree in mathematics and a passion for Jane Austen and Shakespeare. She and her husband have been married for thirty-two years, and she has four daughters, two sons, and soon-to-be six adorable grandchildren, whom she spoils rotten.

Guest post from Jennifer Beckstrand

Anna Helmuth is starting a knitting club, but that’s not all she’s got up her sleeve.
In Return to Huckleberry Hill, Anna Helmuth and Fern King decide to start a knitting club in order to introduce Anna’s grandson Reuben to some girls from Bonduel, Wisconsin. Anna is a very good knitter, with years of practice making baby blankets, scarves, mittens, and potholders. One of Anna’s scarves actually saved someone’s life, and her potholders have helped her make many a match.
When I was a young teenager, I learned how to knit and crochet. My mom taught me how to sew and quilt, and I made several of my own dresses in high school. I never learned to love sewing, but it was an invaluable skill that I am so grateful to have. Now that I’m a little older, I love putting together simple quilts for baby gifts and making quilts for the local children’s hospital. There is nothing like a homemade gift to say, “I care about you.”
I have a friend who is a wonderful cook. Making a delicious, beautiful meal is how she tells her family she loves them. I don’t consider myself a great cook, but I still take pride in putting something nutritious and satisfying on the table for my family.
It seems to me that some of the “home arts” that our mothers and grandmothers practiced are dying out. Who knows how to tat anymore? Or embroider? Some of these arts have died because of expediency. Who doesn’t think today’s stocking choices are more comfortable and practical than knitted wool ones? Others have died out because so few people want to learn.
What about you? Do you still practice any of the home arts that your grandmother did? What do you want to pass on to the next generation?

Blog Stops

May 23: cherylbbookblog
May 24: A Greater Yes
May 25: Just Commonly
May 30: Quiet Quilter
May 31: Bigreadersite
June 2: Pause for Tales

Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away a $15 Amazon gift card to three lucky winners!! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/b3b2

at 3 comments:

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

A Fantastic Book by Amy Clipston!! Be sure to enter the giveaway!!

"The Beloved Hope Chest" 
      By Amy Clipston

 About the Book:
Genre: Amish
Release Date: May 9, 2017
In the final instalment of the Amish Heirloom series, the Fisher sisters learn the mystery behind their parents’ marriage—and about the sibling who has never been spoken of.
Mattie Fisher’s three daughters know that she’s been keeping a secret from them. With each item pulled from the beloved family hope chest, they’ve discovered a new clue about their mother’s past.
But there’s a reason Mattie has been keeping her history hidden, and she’s not sure she’s ready to reopen old wounds. Will dredging up the past change the way her children view her? Or her marriage to their father? And can she handle the pain of revisiting the memories that preceded the last few happy decades?
Mattie’s story is one of grief and learning to love again. But like the best things preserved in a hope chest, it’s a story of love and redemption born out of heartache—and it’s past time to share it.
My Thoughts:  
Warning! Before reading this book, place a box of tissues by your side!! They will definitely be needed!!!
As the last book in the "Amish Heirloom" Series, it leaves us wanting MORE from this excellent author!! Amy writes in her unique style that definitely appeals to our inner souls. I was left with some very deep thoughts, tomorrows are NEVER promised , we should appreciate each day for what it is, loving those around us.  You just never know what the future will bring. 

 This is Mattie's story. If you have read the previous books in this series, you will know of whom I speak. She is a dear Christian, caring and loving. However, she has secrets that have remained hidden in the hope chest for a very long time. The characters in this novel are near and dear to my heart. They are described in a detailed, realistic manner that has the reader walking alongside them in the rocky path of life. I easily identified with them as I felt their every heartache, challenge, fear and joy! My heart ached for Mattie as her secrets were made known. 

 The plot moves quickly with the perfect number of twists and turns, keeping the reader engaged from the first to the last page. My emotions were running amok as I travelled this difficult journey of grief, redemption and the desire and ability to once again love . Not an easy path!! As I stumbled my way through this plot of hidden secrets, revealed in love for Mattie's daughters, I felt her deep pain at having this secrets come to the surface. However, as a mother, I also could understand her willingness to do ANYTHING for her daughters! As painful as it was, what a sacrifice this mother made!!

 I am upset that this series has ended! But, I am impatiently waiting to see what the author comes up with next!!  Amy Clipston's books just keep getting better and better. 

 This book was received as a gift. The opinions and thoughts expressed are honest and my own.

About the Author  

AMY CLIPSTON is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery series. She has sold more than 1 million books, and her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan College and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and three spoiled rotten cats. Visit her online at amyclipston.comFacebook: AmyClipstonBooks and Twitter: @AmyClipston

Guest post from Amy Clipston

I am thrilled to share the The Beloved Hope Chest, which is the final installment of my Amish Home series.
In The Beloved Hope Chest, the Fisher sisters learn the mystery behind their parents’ marriage—and about the sibling who has never been spoken of. Mattie Fisher’s three daughters know that she’s been keeping a secret from them. With each item pulled from the beloved family hope chest, they’ve discovered a new clue about their mother’s past. But there’s a reason Mattie has been keeping her history hidden, and she’s not sure she’s ready to reopen old wounds. Will dredging up the past change the way her children view her? Or her marriage to their father? And can she handle the pain of revisiting the memories that preceded the last few happy decades? Mattie’s story is one of grief and learning to love again. But like the best things preserved in a hope chest, it’s a story of love and redemption born out of heartache—and it’s past time to share it.
This book is very close to my heart since it is the last in my Amish Heirloom series. I’ve grown to love the Fisher family, and writing Mattie and Leroy’s story was bittersweet. This is a very emotional story, and I poured my heart and soul into it. I hope you enjoy this book since it reveals all of the mysteries that have been placed throughout the series.

Blog Stops

May 13: Just Commonly
May 16: A Greater Yes
May 17: Quiet Quilter
May 18: Splashes of Joy
May 19: Pause for Tales
May 19: Book by Book
May 21: Bigreadersite
Make sure that you enter the author' Giveaway!


To celebrate her tour, Amy is giving away a copy of An Amish Home and a handpicked Amish goodie chosen by Amy to two winners! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/b3b3
at 1 comment:

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Everyone Deserves a Second Chance, Don't they??? Be sure to enter the author's giveaway!!



"A Second Chance"
By Alexis A. Goring

Book: A Second Chance
Author: Alexis A. Goring
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: Jan 25, 2017
Synopsis: 
Newly single food critic and newspaper reporter Traci Hightower is done with dating. After the man of her dreams left her at the altar on their wedding day and ran off with the woman she thought was her best friend, Traci resolves to focus on work and resigns herself to being a bachelorette for life.
Marc Roberts is a political reporter who is known as Mr. Nice Guy, the one who always finishes last. However, Marc’s compassion and kindness are of invaluable help to his newly widowed sister Gina Braxton who is trying to raise her two kids in the wake of her firefighter husband’s death.
Traci and Marc may be the perfect match, but they don’t know it yet. With God’s guidance and the help of Gina’s matchmaking skills honed by her career as a bestselling romance novelist, there is hope for a happily ever after for these two broken hearts.

My Thoughts:

As Alexis is a new author to me, I was looking forward to  getting a look at one of her creations.  "A Second Chance" is a sweet romantic story. It is an easy to read story, slow paced  but overall,  enjoyable . The overall theme of the book was how God provides us with a second chance, even when we feel at our lowest and aren't satisfied with what has taken place in the past.  God has the one ability that no one else has.... He can turn something that we believe is a horrible situation into something rewarding and valuable. Traci  , the main character dealt with this, making her easy with whom to identify. We all need to put our trust in God, not just in good times. Marc sounds like a great guy, one who I would like to know. What woman doesn' t love a kind, handsome guy who is trustworthy and thoughtful?? 
The plot moves slowly causing me to be a bit impatient to find out what this book was all about, however, I did enjoy the romantic tale. I would have preferred a bit more action and some additional twists and turns. As I say this, it is also a novel worth reading, reminding us of our need to let go of past mistakes and trust God enough to know that He can and WILL make a happier future for us, if we allow Him free rein with our lives. 

This book was received as a gift. The thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.
About the Author:
Alexis A. Goring is a passionate writer with a degree in Print Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing. She loves the art of storytelling and hopes that her stories will connect readers with the enduring, forever love of Jesus Christ.

Guest Post from Alexis Goring

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
~Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

God has good plans for every single person living here on Earth. It’s important to remember to trust Him because no matter how bleak a situation looks, hope is always on the horizon when God’s in the picture…and the good news is that no matter what God is always in the picture.
I thought that it would be a good idea to explore the theme of Jeremiah 29:11 through a fictional story about characters who are in need of a second chance in life and love. So I create Traci and Marc and wrote their story, A Second Chance.
Traci and Marc are entry-level journalists therefore they struggle with the industry’s tough system of paying your dues and they know the conflicts firsthand about struggling to pay your bills because of that system.
But it’s not just the bills that weigh heavily on their hearts. Traci and Marc are facing battles that are unique to their individual life stories but common to people in the real world.
When the reader meets Traci, they see that she is bitter and cynical because she was left at the altar. Her fiancé ran off with her Maid of Honor and left Traci with a mile-high stack of bills to pay for their wedding that never happened. So when Traci’s Mom shows up on her doorstep with an inheritance letter that stipulates Traci must be married before receiving her inheritance from her late grandfather, Traci is closer to destroying the letter and being a bachelorette for life than she is about husband hunting.
When the reader meets Marc, they see that he is smitten with Traci at first sight. But they soon learn that he has trust issues because of his previous romantic relationships with women who would dump him because he was “too nice.” However, his niceness is of invaluable help to his newly widowed sister Gina who is struggling to raise her children in the wake of her firefighter husband’s death. Naturally, Marc wants to help his sister. So he volunteers to babysit her kids and take them out of the house so that she can meet her book deadlines. Gina is a bestselling romance novelist.
All of these main characters go on their own faith journey with God. Some resist His love at first (like Traci), some draw back because of broken trust (like Marc) and some heal slowly from pain (like Gina) but they all realize how much they need God in their life.
Faith elements are a woven lightly throughout this story but also go deep as the characters work toward wholeness and restoration.
If anything, this is a story about how the Creator of the Universe (God) loves humankind and desires to restore broken hearts, homes and lives.
I hope that you will enjoy reading this book!
God bless your heart.
Sincerely,
Alexis A. Goring


Blog Stops

May 9: A Greater Yes
May 10: Quiet Quilter
May 11: Remembrancy
May 14: Carpe Diem

Giveaway




To celebrate her tour, Alexis is giving away four eBook copies of her book – A Second Chance!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/b54b
at 1 comment:

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Another Fantastic Short Story by Popular Author , Beth Wiseman!!

"The Shell Collector's Daughter"

         By Beth Wiseman

 Synopsis:

 From bestselling and award-winning author Beth Wiseman comes the latest addition to her popular Surf's Up series. Each Surf’s Up novella takes the reader to a beach locale, weaving romance and adventure into a soul-soothing journey of hope. Carianna's story is a heartwarming tale which follows one woman's journey as she navigates the many types of love God gifts to us. “People tell me that I’m special. I don’t see it that way. I’m just different.” ~ Carianna Marie Sparks Carianna isn’t like other twenty-six-year-old women. She’s never been on a date, never experienced the euphoria of a first kiss, and certainly never been in love. Can a man’s heart speak to hers in a way that she can understand? And if so, will any man believe that she sings with the angels and has tea with God? Will they see the star dust twinkling in her eyes or hear the secret whispers of the ocean in a sea shell? Dominic is grieving the death of his mother, so he welcomes a job opportunity that takes him to a beach community near the Texas coast. But what begins as a distraction and change of scenery shifts into a healing journey filled with discovery. Amidst his heartache, Dominic finds love in a beautiful and unexpected way when he meets Carianna—the shell collector’s daughter. But can Dominic convince Carianna’s father to lift his protective wings and allow Carianna to soar into the life that God meant for her? And will Carianna hear Dominic’s heart speaking to hers in a way that she understands? Other books in this series: A Tide Worth Turning, Message In A Bottle, and Christmas by the Sea.

 My Thoughts:

 Everyone who knows me well, realises that Beth Wiseman is one of my all time favorite authors!! Her unique talent of drawing the reader into the story and becoming part of it, is evident in every one of her creations, this one being no exception. This novella is number four in the "Surfs Up" Series. Each of these novellas carry a special message that lives on in your thoughts, long after completing the book.

 The description of the setting, a beautiful beach, drew me immediately. It is not  a place that I go often but when I do, I always think of the majesty of God. His ability to create this little bit of heaven is amazing! As I read the story, I was able to sit on the beach with the main character, Carianna, studying the seashells and finding unique and valuable treasures on her doorstep. The realistic and detailed description of the characters had me involved in the plot from beginning to end. Carianna's ablility to talk to God and hear that still, quiet voice had me deep in thought about my own life. Do I take the time I need, to hear Him when He speaks?? Do I see the good in others as she did??  What a great example of Christian, she is!
Domenic was such a fine, young man, who quickly appealed to my sense of romance. 

 The plot was very different from most stories. It was one of a sweet romance as well as showing us how one can grow one's faith. This delightful romance develops , as Domenic embraces the faith of Carianna. 

 What a marvellous and different read!! Light, however, thought provoking!!! 

 Ok, Beth!! I dare you to outdo this creation!! This was outstanding!!

 This ebook was received as a gift. The opinions and thoughts expressed are honest and my own.




at 1 comment:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Another Fantastic Read by One of My Favorite Authors, Vannetta Chapman!

An Amish Proposal for Christmas  By Vannetta Chapman Synopsis: Her deepest Christmas wish will bring more than she imagined…in this novel by...