by admin | Sep 19, 2014 | Amish, Books, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“Joyful” is a fairly short and quick to read Amish novel set in everyone’s favorite town of Sugarcreek. Familiar characters from earlier Sugarcreek novels make appearances but this third installment of the Return to Sugarcreek series features Randall Beiler and Elizabeth Nolt. In addition to their story, at least two other subplots are woven through the book. The characters are well-defined and the story is homey and charming. “Joyful” is sure to be a favorite of fans of both Amish fiction and Shelley Shepard Gray.
After their courtship ended for all the wrong reasons, Randall and Elizabeth have found their lives to be less than joyful. When Randall’s brother Levi takes it upon himself to hire Elizabeth to help cook and clean house for their family, Randall and Elizabeth are forced to spend time together. Although both of them continue to have feelings for the other, the awkwardness of the situation causes such miscommunication that their getting back together seems hopeless. Will the time spent together change their circumstances for the better or will it prove that it is time for them to move on with their lives?
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A young Amish couple gets a second chance at love in New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray’s final book in her Return to Sugarcreek series.
Randall Beiler is doing his best to put his family and the farm’s needs first, even forsaking love. But though he tries, Randall knows he needs help caring for his younger siblings and keeping the house together.
When his brother offers pretty Elizabeth Nolt a job taking care of the house and cooking for the family, Randall is furious—and guilty about the way he once broke Elizabeth’s heart. But when he learns that Elizabeth and her grandmother are struggling to make ends meet, he knows the offer, no matter how painful, is the right thing for everyone.
Elizabeth wants to refuse—to stay far away from the man who hurt her—but she needs the money. Though she vows to protect her heart, spending time in the Beiler household makes Elizabeth realize that, while she’s older and wiser, her love for Randall still burns strong.
Randal, too, seems to want something more. But does he want Elizabeth because he truly loves her—or because he needs a housekeeper? If Randall sincerely wants something more, he must find a way to show Elizabeth—or risk losing his chance at love forever.
Learn more and purchase a copy at Shelley’s website.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shelley Shepard Gray is a two-time New York Times bestseller, a two-time USA Today bestseller, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time Holt Medallion winner. She lives in Southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.
Shelley Shepard Gray is heading back to Sugarcreek in JOYFUL! {Book giveaway.}
Don’t miss Shelley Shepard Gray‘s newest book in the Return to Sugarcreek series, Joyful. USA Today raved: “A sweet, straightforward story about how love can be tested by family, faith, and personal insecurity. Enjoyable and heartwarming.”
Click the banner for a chance to win books 1-3 in Shelley’s Return to Sugarcreek series!
by admin | Sep 10, 2014 | Amish, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Mennonite, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I actually hesitated to accept “A Season of Change” for review. I may be one of the few readers of Christian fiction who has grown a bit weary of Amish fiction and sometimes wonder how long this trend can last. I was pleasantly surprised by a unique tale featuring an unlikely romance between an old order Amish widower and a young woman whose career in the circus has come to an end.
“A Season of Change” is a heart-warming story set in Pinecraft, an actual Amish/Mennonite community near Sarasota, Florida. It was interesting to read about the relaxed atmosphere of the community that is is such contrast to the Amish lifestyle I usually read about. The characters are well developed and the narrative held my interest quite well. I loved how Jacob’s children played an integral role. I also liked the fact that Jacob and Natalie were able to find a compromise for their differences. I usually find it difficult to believe when an Englisher converts to the Amish faith – even if it is for love.
A good story with a surprise or two, “A Season of Change” is sure to please those who enjoy Amish fiction and possibly even a few readers such as myself.
This book was provided for review by the Amazon Vine program.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Amish widower Jacob Miller believes it was a mistake to visit the Amish village of Pinecraft for winter vacation, especially after his daughter is struck by a car. Stranded in Sarasota until his daughter recovers, Jacob grows increasingly wary of events that unfold in his unfamiliar surroundings—including the strange curiosity of Englischer Natalie Bennett.
Natalie never thought her circus career as an aerial silks artist would end with a blown-out knee at the age of 25. She also never knew her late mother had a secret—that she was once Amish.
When Natalie meets the Millers at the Sarasota hospital, she is attracted to their warm hospitality and simple ways—and soon wonders if they can help her find her mother’s family. As Jacob and Natalie fall in love, their worlds collide. Will their differences tear them apart? Or will their love be strong enough to blend their clashing cultures?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lynette Sowell is the award-winning author of over 15 titles for Barbour Publishing, Harlequin, and Abingdon Press. Lynette was born in Western Massachusetts in the shadow of the Berkshire Mountains, raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, but makes her home on the doorstep of the Texas hill country. She loves reading, cooking, watching movies, and is always up for a Texas road trip. When she’s not writing fiction, she works as a reporter for her city newspaper and has a weekly column called My Front Porch.
by admin | Jul 11, 2014 | Amish, Books, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“The Revealing” was a fine conclusion to an excellent Amish series. It has been fun following members of the Schrock family and their friends and neighbors through good times and bad. The story continues with characters from the previous books. Several relationships seem to be in jeopardy due to misunderstandings and continued stress from the aftermath of the Schrock Investments failure. Naomi King has a big secret she’s keeping to herself and the guilt has her eating antacids like candy. An unexpected visitor to the Schrock home threatens to turn her world upside down. A distant relative staying with the “sisters” is supposedly looking into his genealogical background but could he be up to no good? And what about the new guest at the Inn at Eagle Hill? How will she figure into the story?
I enjoyed reading this last book in the series and thought that the author tied up all the loose ends admirably. I loved visiting with Rose and Galen, Bethany and Jimmy again. And Mim as Mrs. Miracle is so much fun. So many questions were answered with a few surprises along the way. Justice was served and once again it was evident that God is in charge.
I do hope that Suzanne will feature Mim in a book of her own sometime soon. I’d love to read about her as she discovers a love of her own.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The Revealing | Inn at Eagle Hill series
Naomi King, soft spoken, loyal, and easily overlooked, has a gift. She sees what others can’t see. Intuition, she calls it. Others in Stoney Ridge don’t know what to make of it and dismiss her hunches and inklings altogether.
When a young woman arrives at the Inn at Eagle Hill with a shocking secret about Tobe Schrock, Naomi fears the worst. She can’t ignore the feeling that something sinister is at work– something more than a threat to the tenuous love begun between her and Tobe.
As signs mount, they begin to point to Jake Hertzler, the elusive mastermind behind Schrock Investments’ downfall. Soon, events spiral hopelessly out of control and Naomi must decide whether to listen to her head or her heart.
Learn more and purchase a copy at Suzanne’s website.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Inn at Eagle Hill series, Lancaster County Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including “Amish Peace.” She is also the coauthor of an Amish children’s series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She is a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. For more information, please visit suzannewoodsfisher.com and connect with her on Twitter @suzannewfisher. Get Amish proverbs delivered right to your mobile device! Download the Free App! http://bit.ly/10TygyiFind out more about Suzanne at
http://suzannewoodsfisher.com/.
The Revealing by @SuzanneWFisher | Enter to win 1 of 3 iPads and LOTS of books!
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!)
by admin | Jul 1, 2014 | Amish, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“The Revealing” was a fine conclusion to an excellent Amish series. It has been fun following members of the Schrock family and their friends and neighbors through good times and bad. The story continues with characters from the previous books. Several relationships seem to be in jeopardy due to misunderstandings and continued stress from the aftermath of the Schrock Investments failure. Naomi King has a big secret she’s keeping to herself and the guilt has her eating antacids like candy. An unexpected visitor to the Schrock home threatens to turn her world upside down. A distant relative staying with the “sisters” is supposedly looking into his genealogical background but could he be up to no good? And what about the new guest at the Inn at Eagle Hill? How will she figure into the story?
I enjoyed reading this last book in the series and thought that the author tied up all the loose ends admirably. I loved visiting with Rose and Galen, Bethany and Jimmy again. And Mim as Mrs. Miracle is so much fun. So many questions were answered with a few surprises along the way. Justice was served and once again it was evident that God is in charge.
I do hope that Suzanne will feature Mim in a book of her own sometime soon. I’d love to read about her as she discovers a love of her own.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Love does extraordinary things to people . . .
In a single, impulsive act, Naomi King chooses to follow her heart into unfamiliar territory, jeopardizing all that she holds dear. If anyone finds out what she’s up to, she’s in for trouble. But when it comes to Tobe Schrock, Naomi believes it’s worth it.
But it all comes crashing down when a young woman arrives at the Inn at Eagle Hill with an unexpected delivery for Tobe. Add a guest at the inn with a curious talent and a genealogist who is more interested in modern-day Schrocks than in old family trees, and evidence starts to mount that points to something sinister at work. Or someone.
In this 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 romance.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Letters, The Calling, the Lancaster County Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of an Amish children’s series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner for The Search, a Carol Award finalist for The Choice, and a Christy Award finalist for The Waiting. She is also a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and connect with Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.
by admin | Jun 9, 2014 | Amish, Books, Giveaways
Don’t miss the first book, Rumspringa’s Hope, in Beth Shriver‘s new Spirit of the Amish series.
Beth is celebrating the series launch with a Kindle Fire Giveaway!
One winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire
- Rumspringa’s Hope by Beth Shriver
Enter today, but hurry! The giveaway ends on June 22nd. Winner will be announced June 23rd on Beth’s blog.
Don’t miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Beth’s blog on June 23rd to see if you won.
by admin | May 16, 2014 | Amish, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Although “Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio” has an Amish community setting and features several Amish characters, the story itself it not what one find in most Amish fiction. Primary characters are Rachel Troyer, a policewoman in Sugarcreek, and Joe Matthews, a stranger in town who finds shelter at the inn belonging to Rachel’s Amish aunts. With her skeptical nature, Rachel quickly suspects that Joe has secrets and she fears for the safety of her aunts. Despite her best intentions, Rachel is drawn to Joe as she gets to know him better.
“Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio” is a fascinating story with plenty of secrets, drama, action, romance, humor, and even danger to hold the interest of even the most discriminating reader. Rather than focus on the rules and regulations of the Amish faith, this novel features the kindness, generosity, and love of family that is common among these people. The renewal of both Rachel and Joe’s faith was special and I liked watching them grow to depend on the Lord.
Although Amish fiction is not my favorite genre, “Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio” was so good that I will definitely have my DVR set to record the movie based on it when it premieres in June.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Guideposts Books is excited to announce the premiere of a new film based on the book Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio (Summerside Press) by Serena Miller.
A mysterious outsider casts a long shadow on Ohio’s Amish country. Policewoman Rachel Troyer has always looked after her three elderly Amish aunts, proprietors of a farmhouse inn near Sugarcreek, Ohio. The idyllic town is popular with tourists, who come to sample its famous Amish goods. But one thing is clear to Rachel – Joe Matthews is no tourist. When the bearded stranger lands on her aunts’ doorstep, begging shelter for himself and his young son, Rachel is suspicious.
Will she be able to uncover Joe’s secrets despite her aunts’ – and her own – growing affection for him?
| ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Prior to writing novels, Serena Miller wrote for many periodicals, including Woman’s World, Guideposts, Billy Graham’s Decision Magazine, Reader’s Digest, Focus on the Family, Christian Woman, and The Detroit Free Press Magazine. She has spent many years partnering with her husband in full-time ministry and lives on a farm in southern Ohio near a thriving Amish community. |
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Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio – THE MOVIE!
Guideposts Books is excited to announce the premiere of a new film based on the book Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio (Summerside Press) by Serena Miller. The movie, produced by Mission Pictures International and filmed last fall in the actual town of Sugarcreek, will premiere on Sunday, June 1, 2014, at 7:00 PM EDT on Up TV (formerly the Gospel Music Channel).Visit the movie website for more information.
Serena and Guideposts will be celebrating with a Facebook viewing party!
Join Serena and readers on Facebook while you tune in to watch Love Finds You in Sugarcreek to share your thoughts about the movie, chat with other viewers, and win fun prizes. Just use hashtag #LFYSugarcreek to join the discussion on June 1st.
Check your local listing for UpTV (http://up.viewerlink.tv) to find out when it airs in your timezone.
Excited? Help me spread the word! Just share this link and information on your social media along with the hashtag #LFYSugarcreek! Plus, we’ll be tracking the hashtag and giving away Amazon & Starbucks cards to people at random who help to promote all throughout the month of May. Winners announced at the Love Finds You in Sugarcreek viewing party on June 1st.
“This is so exciting for Serena Miller and Guideposts! We are thrilled that Up TV has chosen Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio to make into a movie,” said Lenore Lelah Person, vice president and editorial director of Guideposts Books and Inspirational Media. “With Serena’s wonderful story and a beautiful backdrop in Ohio Amish country, fans of the story and the series will enjoy seeing it on screen. For more information read the media release.
For those who are not familiar with the Love Finds You™ series, this will be a great opportunity to introduce them to these uplifting and engaging romances.” Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio is one of more than 50 releases in the popular Love Finds You™ series uniquely titled after actual American towns with unusual but intriguing names and combines travel, romance and faith in one package. The series includes both historical and contemporary releases, and each fictional story draws on compelling history or the unique character of a real place. Stories center on romances kindled in small towns, old loves lost and found again on the high plains, and new loves discovered at exciting vacation getaways. Mission Pictures has purchased the movie rights to the entire series and plans to produce additional films based on the series in the future.
