by admin | Aug 27, 2012 | Amish, Books, Romance
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingLiving in HarmonyHarvest House Publishers (August 1, 2012)byMary EllisABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Mary Ellis is the author of many books, including A Widow’s Hope, Sarah’s Christmas Miracle, and A Marriage for Meghan. She and her husband live in central Ohio, where they try to live a simpler style of life.
She was a finalist in the ACFW Carol Awards for A Widow’s Hope in 2010, and the 3inner of the Award of Merit in the Holt Medallion Awards for A Widow’s Hope in 2010.
Learn more about Mary and her books on her Website.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Living in Harmony is the first book in bestselling author Mary Ellis’s New Beginnings series. It’s about fresh starts and love…and how faith in God and His perfect plan for our lives provides us with the peace and joy we desire.
Amy King–young, engaged, and Amish–faces difficult challenges in her life when she suddenly loses both of her parents in a house fire. Her fiancé, John Detweiler, persuades her and her sister Nora to leave Lancaster County and make a new beginning with him in Harmony, Maine, where he has relatives who can help the women in their time of need.
John’s brother Thomas and sister-in-law Sally readily open their home to the three newcomers. Wise beyond his years, Thomas, a minister in the district, refuses to marry Amy and John upon their arrival, suggesting instead a period of adjustment and counseling.
During this time Amy discovers an aunt who was shunned. She wishes to reconnect with her, but this puts a strain on her relationship with John.
Can John and Amy find a way to live in happily in Harmony before making a lifetime commitment to one another?
Watch the book trailer for Living in Harmony:
If you would like to read the first chapter of Living in Harmony, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Living in Harmony is one of those Amish novels that leaves me frustrated. On the one hand, it is very well written and enjoyable. I am sure that the narrative gives a realistic look into the lives of some Old Order Amish communities and is informative in that way.
On the other hand, I found that my sympathies were more with Elam and Nora who were portrayed as rebellious. I do agree that Elam’s behavior was less than appropriate most of the time and Nora’s actions were not always rational. However, although I have always tended to be a mostly compliant person, I am afraid that my rebellious nature would rise up quickly if subjected to the kind of legalism practiced in Harmony. I did not care for John very much at all and was secretly rooting for Amy to break her engagement and leave Harmony.
All that being said, there were still some lessons to be learned through Living in Harmony and John’s brother Thomas and Amy’s Aunt were usually the source. Regardless of how I felt about the Harmony lifestyle, the King sisters and the Detweiler family had a profoundly positive overall effect on each other and their community.
Living in Harmony was not exactly my cup of tea but true fans of Amish fiction should love it.
by admin | Aug 27, 2012 | Amish, Books
MY REVIEW:
I have enjoyed all the Stoney Ridge Season books thus far, especially “The Keeper”. “The Haven” features Sadie Lapp and takes place several months following the end of “The Keeper”. Although not the first book in the series, “The Haven” can stand quite well on its own as far as the story goes. Your reading pleasure would however be greatly enhanced by reading the series in order.
Sadie’s surprise return home turned out to be a bit more of a surprise than she had planned. Her innocent surprise and her family’s decision to keep it caused Sadie all kinds of problems, especially to her reputation as the tongues of Stoney Ridge began to wag. Even Gideon, the young man she expected to possibly marry questioned her innocence. The only person outside her family who didn’t treat her with disdain was the Englisher who was staying on the Lapp farm to watch over the pair of Peregrine falcons nesting there. As the friendship between Sadie and Will grew, so did Gideon’s jealousy. It is anyone’s guess how this romantic triangle will be resolved.
It was great to return to Stoney Ridge and renew my acquaintance with some of its residents. As always, each of the characters was well developed and could easily be someone you would like to know. Filled with a few surprises, plenty of chuckles, and a little romance, “The Haven” is a fun read. Fisher has woven more than one lesson into this wonderful novel with a primary one about judging others without having all the facts. A story of faith and reconciliation, the novel was satisfactory in every way.
If you enjoy Amish fiction (and even if you don’t) I would highly recommend anything by Suzanne Woods Fisher. If you haven’t read any of her novels yet, “The Haven” and the previous installments of the Stoney Ridge Season series would be a good place to begin.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When Sadie Lapp steps off the bus in Stoney Ridge after being in Ohio for the winter, she is faced with a decision–one that goes against her very essence. Yet it’s the only way she can think of to protect a loved one.
Schoolteacher Gideon Smucker has been crazy about Sadie since boyhood. But his response to her surprising decision undermines his own reputation–and his relationship with Sadie.
College student Will Stoltz is spending the spring at the Lapp farm as a guard for a pair of nesting Peregrine Falcons–courtesy of the Lancaster County Game Warden. Will needs to get his life back on track, but his growing friendship with Sadie threatens his plans.
The lives of these three individuals intertwine, and then unravel as unexpected twists create ripples through the town of Stoney Ridge . . . and through Sadie’s heart.
Once again, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher intrigues and delights with a story that explores the bonds of friendship, family, and true love. Readers will enjoy every surprise in Sadie’s story as they search for the truth hidden within these pages.
Read an excerpt HERE!
Read what other bloggers are saying about “The Haven” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Suzanne Woods Fisher’s interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, W.D. Benedict, who was raised Plain. Suzanne has a great admiration for the Plain people and believes they provide wonderful examples to the world. In both her fiction and non-fiction books, she has an underlying theme: You don’t have to “go Amish” to incorporate many of their principles–simplicity, living with less, appreciating nature, forgiving others more readily– into your life.
When Suzanne isn’t writing or bragging to her friends about her first new grandbaby (!), she is raising puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind.
To Suzanne’s way of thinking, you just can’t take life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone’s underwear in its mouth. Suzanne can be found on-line at: www.suzannewoodsfisher.com.
by admin | Aug 20, 2012 | Amish, Civil War, Historical, Romance
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe Face of HeavenHarvest House Publishers (August 1, 2012)byMurray PuraABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Murray Pura was born and raised in Manitoba, just north of Minnesota and the Dakotas. He has published several novels and short story collections in Canada, and has been short-listed for a number of awards. His first books to be published in the United States are the inspirational works Rooted and Streams (both by Zondervan in 2010). His first novel to debut in the USA is A Bride’s Flight from Virginia City, Montana (Barbour), which was released January 2012. The second, The Wings of Morning, will be published by Harvest House on February 1. Both of these novels center around the Amish of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Learn more about Murray and his books on his Website.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In April 1861, Lyndel Keim discovers two runaway slaves in her family’s barn. When the men are captured and returned to their plantation, Lyndel and her young Amish beau, Nathaniel King, find themselves at odds with their pacifist Amish colony
Nathaniel enlists in what will become the famous Iron Brigade of the Union Army. Lyndel enters the fray as a Brigade nurse on the battlefield, sticking close to Nathaniel as they both witness the horrors of war–including the battles at Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, and Antietam. Despite the pair’s heroic sacrifices, the Amish only see that Lyndel and Nathaniel have become part of the war effort, and both are banished.
And a severe battle wound at Gettysburg threatens Nathaniel’s life. Lyndel must call upon her faith in God to endure the savage conflict and to face its painful aftermath, not knowing if Nathaniel is alive or dead. Will the momentous battle change her life forever, just as it will change the course of the war and the history of her country?
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Face of Heaven, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
To be totally truthful, I am still reading The Face of Heaven. There are frequent moments when I want to put it down and not pick it back up because I would really rather bury my head and not face the grim and painful realities of the war that tore our nation apart. However, the author has made me care about his characters and I must continue reading to find out how their story ends.
I have read many Amish novels but The Face of Heaven is so totally different than any I have run across. The primary characters are a young Amish man and woman who have just decided to court when a shared experience compels them to defy the Amish pacifist stance and do whatever they can so that all Americans can be free. They both find themselves totally unprepared for the horrors of war and the toll it will take on them but their faith and convictions give them the strength to persevere.
A fictional account that was obviously well researched for historical accuracy, The Face of Heaven is a fascinating story that goes far beyond the facts into the very human experiences and emotions of Nathaniel and Lyndel. I believe that most history buffs will find this novel to be worth their while.
by admin | Jul 16, 2012 | Amish, Books, Contemporary Fiction
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingAlmost AmishBethany House Publishers (July 1, 2012)byKathryn CushmanABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kathryn Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy, but all her life she knew that she wanted to write a novel “some day”. For her, “some day” came in 2003, when she started writing and never looked back.
Her first two manuscripts remain firmly ensconced in the back of her closet (the dust bunnies tell her they really are terrific!). Her third attempt became her first published novel.
A Promise to Remember and Leaving Yesterday were both finalists for the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award, and Waiting for Daybreak was a finalist in Women’s Fiction for the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award.
On the homefront, she has been married to the wonderful and handsome Lee for nearly twenty-five years now, and their two daughters are currently braving the worlds of high school and college.
They’ve lived in Santa Barbara for over twenty years. It’s a beautiful place and Kathryn feel blessed to be there (although a seventy degree Christmas still leaves her dreaming of a white one—or at least a colder one!)
When she’s not writing or reading or braving seventy degree holidays, you’ll find her trying her best to keep up with her daughters in their various theater, softball, dance, and filled-with-activity lives.
Learn more about Kathryn and her books on her Website .
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Proving the Simple Life Isn’t So Simple After All
Over committed and overwhelmed, Julie Charlton is at the breaking point. She knows she should feel blessed as a mother and wife–but she just feels exhausted. And then, the miraculous happens. Her sister-in-law Susan, a Martha Stewart-in-training, lands the chance to participate in a reality TV series about trying to live like the Amish and needs another family to join her. It’s just the break Julie needs.
But the summer adventure in simple living soon proves anything but simple. With the camera watching every move, Susan’s drive for perfection feels a lot like what they left behind, while Julie suddenly finds herself needing to stand up for slowing down. Whether it’s cooking, cleaning, or dressing differently, each new Amish challenge raises new complications…and soon each woman learns unexpected lessons about herself and her family.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Almost Amish, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Almost Amish is an absolutely perfect concept for a novel at this time with the proliferation of Amish fiction and reality TV programs. When Julie Charlton agrees to join her sister-in-law Susan and their families for a three month reality show that challenges them to live like the Amish, neither of them realize quite what they have agreed to do. Julie just knows that she needs a break and Susan believes that if she plays her cards right, the future of her daughter and herself will be assured. Reality strikes quickly when they find that all the rules are up for change at a moment’s notice and there is nothing they can do about it.
Almost Amish is a book that both adults and teens can enjoy. With three teen characters as well as the two primary characters, lots of humor and drama, plus a bit of romance, the story has a bit of something for everyone. The plot moves at a brisk pace with excellent dialogue and well developed characters. More than one surprise along the way helps keep those pages turning with anticipation.
I liked reading about each of the characters as they allowed their new environment and experiences to shape and change them, albeit some sooner than others. The essential theme of the story is about finding and using the unique gifts that the Lord has given you rather than comparing yourself to others. Almost Amish is a fun and entertaining book that I highly recommend.
by admin | Jun 27, 2012 | Amish, Books, Mystery, Romance
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe SearchAvon Inspire; Original edition (June 19, 2012)byShelley Shepard GrayABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Since 2000, Shelley Sabga has sold over thirty novels to numerous publishers, including HarperCollins, Harlequin, Abingdon Press, and Avon Inspire. She has been interviewed by NPR, and her books have been highlighted in numerous publications, including USA Today and The Wall Street Journal.
Under the name Shelley Shepard Gray, Shelley writes Amish romances for HarperCollins’ inspirational line, Avon Inspire. Her recent novel, The Protector, the final book in her “Families of Honor” series, hit the New York Times List, and her previous novel in the same series, The Survivor, appeared on the USA Today bestseller list. Shelley has won the prestigious Holt Medallion for her books, Forgiven and Grace, and her novels have been chosen as Alternate Selections for the Doubleday/Literary Guild Book Club. Her first novel with Avon Inspire, Hidden, was an Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.
Before writing romances, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. She now lives in southern Ohio and writes full time. Shelley is married, the mother of two children in college, and is an active member of her church. She serves on committees, volunteers in the church office, and currently leads a Bible study group, and she looks forward to the opportunity to continue to write novels that showcase her Christian ideals.
When she’s not writing, Shelley often attends conferences and reader retreats in order to give workshops and publicize her work. She’s attended RWA’s national conference six times, the ACFW conference and Romantic Times Magazine’s annual conference as well as traveled to New Jersey, Birmingham, and Tennessee to attend local conferences.
Check out Shelley’s Facebook Fan page
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In the second book in her Secrets of Crittenden County series, New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray delivers another page-turning romance set in Amish country
The serenity of the quiet Amish community of Crittenden, Kentucky is disrupted when Abby Anderson discovers the body of Perry Borntrager in an abandoned well. Perry had been missing for months. Everyone figured he had left the order during his rumspringa. As friends and family reel from this news, and are faced with the first death by mysterious circumstance to occur in their small town in over 20 years, a homicide detective arrives to help solve the crime
Before Perry disappeared, Frannie Eicher and Perry had been secretly courting. Now that it’s common knowledge that he was murdered, it’s up to Fannie to decide whether or not to tell everyone about the secrets he told her.
After much deliberation, she decides to tell Luke Reynolds, the visiting police officer, what she knows. At first, the two meet only on the context of discussing Perry’s death. Then, Luke begins to feel more and more at home, both with Frannie, and in Marion. The only problem is that he feels a romantic pull toward Frannie. Frannie feels that same attraction toward Luke, but is afraid to give her heart to him. After all, she doesn’t want to leave her faith.
As Luke uncovers more secrets about Perry and the case draws out, his time in Marion runs out. He has to decide whether to go back to his job with the Cincinnati Police Department…or stay in Marion.
If you would like to read the Prologue of The Search, go HERE.
by admin | May 21, 2012 | Amish, Books
MY REVIEW:
“Beyond Hope’s Valley”, the third installment of Tricia Goyer’s Big Sky series takes Marianna back to her home in Indiana to help her brother prepare for his wedding and to make plans for her own wedding to Aaron. Although everything she had dreamed of was working out for her, Marianna finds that everything and everyone in her old home seem to have changed. Or is it that Marianna herself has changed. She finds herself missing Montana and the family and friends she left behind. Then there are the whispers behind her back and the secrets that no one wants to tell her. She is even beginning to wonder if she is supposed to marry Aaron after all.
“Beyond Hope’s Valley” clearly contrasts the more legalistic group of Amish in Indiana to the Montana Amish who mix more readily with the Englisch. Marianna’s quest for a true relationship with the Lord is well written and helps the reader understand the difference between relationship and following a set of rules.
I very much enjoyed “Beyond Hope’s Valley” as I did the first two books in this series. I was quite happy with Marianna’s final decision and the overall conclusion of the book. The Big Sky series is not the usual Amish fiction I have become used to and I found it to be a refreshing change.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Beyond Hope’s Valley – Book Three in the Big Sky series
After an extended stay in Montana, where Amish traditions are different than in her home state, Marianna Sommer returns to Indiana for two reasons, first to help her brother and his girlfriend prepare for a baby and their wedding. Second, to plan her own wedding to Aaron Zook — a marriage she’s been dreaming about ever since childhood. And yet, although she had missed the idyllic farms and families of her upbringing, Marianna is surprised that Indiana is somehow making her long now for Montana.
As months pass, secrets that were hidden in winter’s frozen grasp thaw and take on a life of their own. The truths about a child, about a past relationship, and about God’s plans are being revealed. Walking through a valley of questions, Marianna must hold on to hope as she decides where and with whom her heart truly belongs.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tricia Goyer is the award winning author of thirty-two books including Beside Still Waters, Remembering You, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences and is the host of Living Inspired. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.
More info: Living Inspired and www.triciagoyer.com.
Purchase a copy of Beyond Hope’s Valley HERE.
Read what other reviewers are saying about Beyond Hope’s Valley HERE.
Win a Custom Amish Prize Pack from @TriciaGoyer in her Beyond Hope’s Valley Giveaway! RSVP for All Things Amish Party {5/21}!
Celebrate with Tricia and enter to win a custom-made Amish Wall hanging in the colors of your choice … and much more!
One fortunate winner will receive:
- Custom Amish Wall Hanging {You choose the colors!}
- An Amish Doll {Sweet.}
- Amish-made basket {It’s picnic season!}
- Doilies, potholder and an Amish cookbook {All items form Bird-in-Hand, PA!}
- Three book Big Sky Amish series {Be swept away by this captivating series.}
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 20th. Winner will be announced at “All Things Amish” Author Chat Facebook Party on 5/21. Tricia will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from her website) and giving away books, gift certificates and more!
So grab your copy of Beyond Hope’s Valley and join Tricia on the evening of the May 21st for a fun chat, trivia contest (How much do you know about the Amish?) and lots of giveaways. (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 and tell your friends via
FACEBOOK or
TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 21st!
