25 Book Reviews

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

What a great collection of Amish Novellas!! Don't miss entering the giveaway!


                                    "Love's Truest Hope"
                                    By:  Laura V. Hilton
                                           Rachel J. Good
                                           Mary Alford


 About the Book:
Genre: Christian Fiction, Amish                               
Release date: May 28, 2019

Mission of Love blurb
A nontraditional Amish man called to minister to the inner-city youth. An overwhelmed Amish woman terrified of the idea. When lies and manipulators threaten to destroy her life, she’s forced outside her comfort zone. Will she learn that God’s love spreads to more than just her people?
Plain Redemption
Spring is a long way in coming to the Big Sky country of Montana, and Lyddie Hershberger is still living in the winter of her life. First her husband died a little more than a year earlier, then Lyddie lost their unborn child. Now, an accident sends her father-in-law to the hospital clinging to his life. Will the gloom of winter ever leave their West Kootenai community?
When word of his daed’s accident reaches Thomas Hershberger in Colorado, he rushes home to find all his old sins waiting for him there, along with the woman who destroyed his heart. His brother’s widow, Lyddie Hershberger.
After someone breaks into the family home while Thomas and Lyddie are at the hospital, it soon becomes apparent that his father’s accident is anything but.
As Lyddie and Thomas struggle to understand why someone wishes their family harm, old feelings of love resurface. Is it possible for Thomas to overcome the guilt he feels for his part in his brother’s death and convince Lyddie that their love can melt any heartache standing in their way?
Bid for Love
The top bidder in the Amish silent auction wins a day of yardwork from Marty and two of his friends. But why did this wealthy Englischer pay so much money when she has a professional lawn service? Marty is shocked to when she offers him money to turn her granddaughter Amish. He refuses, but when Olivia and her grandmother both end up missing, Marty is fingered for the crime. How can he ever prove his innocence when all the clues the police find point to his guilt?

Grab your copy here.

My Thoughts:

 I feel fortunate that I was able to read and review this new collection of Amish novellas. Each was written in the author's unique style which gave variety to each mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that the  tales took place in different states, each with their own Amish community, with slightly differing beliefs and ways of life.

 The characters all came alive within my mind as I read each story. I easily identified with each and every one of them, loving some, while being irritated by others. Being able to travel alongside a character, experiencing their life journey is definitely what makes a book a true winner. The reader feels each challenge, worry, fear and hope.  All  of the characters keep God as a focus in their lives and try to live their faith to the best of their ability. The goodness and promises of the Lord shine through each novella in a strong way. 

 The plots move at a steady pace and keep one engaged from beginning to end of the story. There are the perfect number of unexpected twists and turns to make each tale unique and one that keeps you glued to the page. This book is one that I could not put down until I finished. 

 It was a privilege and honor to read and review this collection. Thank you, dear authors for providing this unique book!! I LOVED it!!!



The opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are honest and my own. I was not required to write a positive review. 

About the Authors

Laura V. Hilton’s Bio 
Laura V. Hilton is an award-winning, sought-after author with thirty Amish, contemporary, and historical romances. When she’s not writing, she reviews books for her blogs. Her most recent series is set in Mackinac County, Michigan, and includes Firestorm, The Amish Candymaker, and Married to a Stranger (July 2019).
Laura and her pastor-husband have five children and a hyper dog named Skye. They currently live in Arkansas. One son is in the U.S. Coast Guard. She is a pastor’s wife, and homeschools her two youngest children.
When she’s not writing, Laura enjoys reading, and visiting lighthouses and waterfalls. Her favorite season is winter, her favorite holiday is Christmas.
Rachel J. Good  
Inspirational author Rachel J. Good writes life-changing, heart-tugging novels of faith, hope, and forgiveness. The bestselling author of several Amish romance series, she grew up near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the setting for many of her stories. Striving to be as authentic as possible, she spends time with her Amish friends, doing chores on their farms and attending family events. Rachel has more than 40 books in print or forthcoming for both children and adults under several pen names.
Mary Alford’s Bio  
Mary Alford is a bestselling author of over fifteen novels who loves giving her readers the unexpected. Combining unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots that test their faith and result in novels the reader doesn’t want to put down.

Blog Stops

Quiet Quilter, June 12
The Avid Reader, June 13
Bigreadersite, June 14
Emily Yager, June 14
Mary Hake, June 16
Splashes of Joy, June 17
Quiet Workings, June 20

janicesbookreviews, June 23

Giveaway

To celebrate the tour, Celebrate Lit is giving away a grand prize of an eBook copy of Love’s Truest Hope and a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/e574/love-s-truest-hope-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Friday, June 7, 2019

A Great Summer Romance by Denise Hunter! Enter the giveaway!!

  
                     "Summer by the Tides"
                         By Denise Hunter

 About the Book:
  Genre: Christian Fiction, Contemporary Romance
  Release Date: May 21, 2019
From the bestselling author of The Convenient Groom (now a beloved Hallmark Original movie) comes a heartfelt story of family secrets, forgiveness, and unexpected romance.
Following a painful betrayal, Maddy Monroe’s love life is a wreck, and her restaurant career is in shambles. When her grandmother goes missing, she and her estranged sisters converge at the family beach house in Sea Haven, North Carolina. Being with uptight Nora and free-spirited Emma at the place where their family broke apart is a struggle, and undercurrents of jealousy and resentment threaten to pull the sisters under. In the midst of the storm, sparks begin to fly between Maddy and Gram’s maddening neighbor, Connor Murphy.
As the sisters pack up the family belongings, memories of idyllic, slow-paced summers are resurrected. But long-buried secrets also come to light as Maddy discovers that all was not as it appeared that last summer in Sea Haven—nor today in the seemingly perfect lives of her sisters.
As family tensions rise and Connor causes tumult in Maddy’s heart, the sisters must find a way to accept each other for the women they’ve become before the bitterness of the past destroys their hope for a future.
Click here to purchase your copy.

My Thoughts:

 Denise Hunter is an author who writes in a smooth, appealing, easy going style that immediately grabs the reader's attention and keeps it from beginning to end of her tale. 

 The characters are realistically and so well described that they become your friend as you walk alongside them in their rocky road of life. A seemingly simple romance develops between Connor and Maddy even though challenged by distrust and fears. Both of them have a lot to overcome before they achieve happiness with one another. As in life, the path is not easy, without stumbling blocks. 

 The problems of betrayal and damaged family relationships are evident throughout the plot. There has to be forgiveness before anyone can once again be happy. There are just enough unexpected twists and turns to keep the reader glued to the page. I let the world pass me by as I experienced this family's challenges and successes. 

This is a five star book!!  A sweet romance with many deep valleys along the way. Don't miss this tale!!! A great summer beach read!


This book was received from CelebrateLit. The thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.

 About the Author:
Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 25 books, including A December Bride and The Convenient Groom, which have been adapted into original Hallmark Channel movies. She has won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Carol Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist. When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking green tea, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband are rapidly approaching an empty nest. To learn more about Denise, visit her website DeniseHunterBooks.com; Facebook: AuthorDeniseHunter; Twitter: @DeniseAHunter; Instagram: deniseahunter.

Read an Excerpt from Summer by the Tides

MADDY MONROE WAS COWERING behind a ficus tree near the hostess station when her cell phone rang. Her hands shook as she silenced the phone before it drew the attention of the staff.
She jabbed the elevator button for the third time. “Come on, come on.” A star could be born in interstellar space, a polar valley carved by a glacier in the time it took the elevator to reach this floor. Stairs were not an option, as she was on the twentieth floor of the Waterford building and sporting heels.
She sniffled. Drat. She seemed to be crying. She swiped a hand under her eyes, heedless of her makeup.
She heard voices, Nick’s boisterous laugh. Maddy shrank deeper into the ficus and finally, finally, the elevator dinged its arrival.
“Maddy?” Noelle’s concerned voice tunneled down the hall. “Maddy, wait.”
“Oh, come on,” she muttered, tapping her fingers against her leg until the gold doors crept open. As soon as she could fit, she squeezed inside and punched the ground-floor button.
She didn’t draw a breath until the doors sealed and the elevator began to drop. She placed a palm over a heart that was threatening to beat its way out of her chest. Her white blouse clung to her back, and her skin prickled beneath her arms.
She closed her eyes, the scene that had just transpired playing out in fast-forward in her mind. And then, as if that montage weren’t painful enough, the image of Nick’s face appeared. The look on his face just before he’d kissed her good-bye last night.
Nick. She clamped her teeth together until her jaw ached.
There had been signs. Many of them, really, she was realizing now. They ranged from whisper-subtle to neon-sign obvious. But like so many other walking clichés before her, she was only seeing them in retrospect.
Maddy opened her eyes to the buttery sunlight streaming through her blinds. She scrambled for her iPhone to check the time. But as she did so, the events of yesterday washed over her like a tsunami. She didn’t have to get up at all, because she didn’t have a job anymore.
Her cell buzzed with an incoming call, and she squinted bleary-eyed at the unfamiliar number on the screen before declining it.
She drooped against her pillow, only now aware of how fat and swollen her eyes felt. Of the persistent achy lump pushing at the back of her throat. Her heartbeat made the bed quake. Her eyes burned with tears. Yesterday’s anger had faded, and something worse had filled its spot.
Yesterday she’d come home, changed into yoga pants, and worked in her little garden until she was too exhausted to do anything but flop on the sofa. She hadn’t fallen asleep until after three o’clock in the morning.
She didn’t want to talk to anyone, didn’t want to see anyone. She didn’t even want to be awake today. She pulled the covers over her head and prayed for oblivion.

Required text: Taken from “Summer by the Tides” by Denise Hunter. Copyright © 2019 by Denise Hunter. Used by permission of http://www.thomasnelson.com/.


Blog Stops

Worthy2Read, June 5
Genesis 5020, June 6
Quiet Quilter, June 7
Moments, June 9
amandainpa, June 10
EmpowerMoms, June 11
Pause for Tales, June 11
Hallie Reads, June 13
2014 and Beyond, June 14
Vicky Sluiter, June 15
Lukewarm Tea, June 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Denise is giving away a finished copy of Summer by the Tides!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/e541/summer-by-the-tides-celebration-tour-giveaway
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Sunday, June 2, 2019

Another Winning Novel From Popular Author, Suzanne Woods Fisher!! Make sure that you enter the giveaway!


                                     
              "On a Summer Tide"
            By Suzanne Woods Fisher

 About this book: 
Genre: Christian Fiction Romance
Release Date: April 30, 2019
Sometimes love hurts—and sometimes it can heal in the most unexpected way.
Camden Grayson loves her challenging career, but the rest of her life could use some improvement. “Moving on” is Cam’s mantra. But there’s a difference, her two sisters insist, between one who moves on . . . and one who keeps moving.
Cam’s full-throttle life skids to a stop when her father buys a remote island off the coast of Maine. Paul Grayson has a dream to breathe new life into the island—a dream that includes reuniting his estranged daughters. Certain Dad has lost his mind, the three sisters rush to the island. To Cam’s surprise, the slow pace of island life appeals to her, along with the locals—and one in particular. Seth Walker, the scruffy island schoolteacher harbors more than a few surprises.
With On a Summer Tide, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher begins a brand-new contemporary romance series that is sure to delight her fans and draw new ones.
 Click here to purchase your copy.
My Thoughts:

 Suzanne Woods Fisher is an author who truly amazes me with her creative talents and ability to write such a variety of genres!!  Every one of her books has captivated me from start to finish. This book is the first in a new series entitled "The Three Sisters Island". What a great start!!

 The general theme throughout the novel was that of forgiveness , love and their importance within a family. The characters were so realistically described that I was able to identify with each and every one. This , to me, makes a super read!  I found each person to be somewhat quirky, having their own unique personality, requiring the others to be understanding and full of family love. Each of these characters grew and changed as the plot progressed. Faith is what keeps them all intertwined, finding answers when they least expect it. Suzanne dealt with some delicate issues in this rather dysfunctional family with understanding and grace. Yes, this family was just like any other!! Far from perfect.

 The plot progressed at a good pace with just enough unexpected twists and turns to keep the reader glued to the page. I was especially caught off guard at one particular point, but I must refrain from giving spoilers! LOL 

 A couple particular quotes have stuck with me! The are  so true and meaningful!

 "Life presents you with important choices. You can lash out, become bitter. Or draw closer to God, become better."
"It's never too late to learn to listen"

 This book is definitely five stars!! Eagerly awaiting Book Two in this series!! Suzanne Woods Fisher, you have honestly written the BEST book yet!!
This book was received from CelebrateLit. The thoughts and  opinions expressed are honest and my own.
About the Author:
Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than thirty books, including Mending Fences, as well as the Nantucket Legacy, Amish Beginnings, The Bishop’s Family, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, among other novels. She is also the author of several nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and The Heart of the Amish. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Facebook @SuzanneWoodsFisherAuthor and Twitter @suzannewfisher.

More from Suzanne

Oh-So-Maine Blueberry Buckle

Summer in Maine means plump, tart blueberries are everywhere. Here’s a family recipe that is nearly fool-proof….and so delicious! Especially with a scoop or two with vanilla ice cream.

Ever wonder how it got the name Blueberry Buckle? While the batter rises as it bakes, but the blueberries and crumb topping weigh it down. This causes the surface of the cake to buckle…hence the name.


Batter:
¾ cup sugar
¼ cup soft butter
1 egg
½ cup milk
2 cups sifted flour
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups drained blueberries

Crumb Topping:
½ cup sugar
½ cup flour
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ cup softened butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix sugar and butter with egg. Stir in milk Sift together and stir in flour, baking powder and salt. Carefully blend in blueberries. Put on topping before baking. Pour in a greased and floured 9” square pan.


Bake 45-50 minutes.









Blog Stops

Carpe Diem, May 24
Mary Hake, May 25
C Jane Read, May 26
Empower Moms, May 27
Remembrancy, May 27
Hallie Reads, May 29
Quiet Quilter, June 3
By The Book, June 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away a grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/e540/on-a-summer-tide-celebration-tour-giveaway


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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...