by admin | Aug 27, 2015 | Amish, Books, Historical
MY REVIEW:
Although there are certainly elements of romance within the pages of “Brightest and Best”, two of them in fact, the real story is about what happens within the Amish community during the early twentieth century when the state of Ohio attempts to “consolidate” the Amish children into the public school system.
Based loosely on true historical events, the author does a marvelous job of helping her readers understand a bit more about the Amish and why they believe as they do about the need to educate their children within their own community. She also illustrated how prejudice is not always fueled by race but by difference in religion or culture. Excellent character development and a plot laced with conflict, a bit of mystery, romance, and a touch of humor work together to make “Brightest and Best” a very enjoyable book. Even if neither romance turns out quite as expected, I believe that makes this story even more believable.
This book was provided for review by the Barbour Review Crew.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The collapse of a schoolhouse puts pressure on Amish families and their long-held educational values. Ella Hilty anticipates marrying Gideon Wittner and becoming a mother to his children. In a whirling clash of values, Ella seeks the solid ground that seems to have slipped away. Margaret Simpson, an English schoolteacher, wonders if she is losing her last chance at love. As the local authorities draw lines in the sand, Margaret puts romance at risk one final time. All eyes turn to Ella to make a sacrifice and accept a challenge that can bring unity to the Amish and understanding to the English.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Olivia Newport is the author of The Pursuit of Lucy Banning and The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow. Her husband and two twentysomething children provide welcome distraction from the people stomping through her head on their way into her books. She chases joy in stunning Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where daylilies grow as tall as she is. Find out more at www.OliviaNewport.com.
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by admin | Aug 25, 2015 | Amish, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“The Postcard” may be one of the best Amish novels I’ve read in awhile. With a somewhat different plot than usual, the story points the reader in the direction of true faith in Christ rather than dwelling on the much belabored lifestyle of the Amish. I also liked the way the honest portrayal of many of the characters that included anger, violence, confusion, and even a little passion (nothing objectionable). I appreciate that she showed how the Amish have the same emotions as the rest of us instead of trying to idealize their culture.
The story of a young Amish man who moves to another town to meet the young woman who has been his pen-pal for awhile. He has fallen in love with her through her letters and feels that the Lord has led him to meet her even if she is engaged to another fellow. There are plenty of complications including Rachel’s resistance but their comfortable friendship is difficult for her to resist. The question remains – “Is Rachel meant to be more to David than a friend?”
I really enjoyed this book and will be looking forward to more by this author even if Amish fiction is not my preferred genre.
This book was provided for review by the Book Club Network.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
David Lapp (from Promised to Another) survived a “code blue” when he was in a buggy/semi truck accident in Seymour, Missouri. Now after extensive therapy he has lingering mobility problems and is still struggling to find his place in the world. Lured away from Webster County by thoughts of closed buggies and a postcard friendship he’s developed with an Amish girl in Jamesport, he moves north, hoping for a fresh start. He finds temporary work in the area teaching school, and also makes fishing flies and weaves baskets. He sells his products in the Amish markets in the Jamesport area. Rachel Miller dreams of travel, but feels tied to her Amish life. She is being courted by Mark Graber, but wonders if there’s more to life. When she sees David’s name mentioned in The Budget, she strikes up a pen pal friendship with David while he’s in the hospital and in therapy, consoling him when he and his girlfriend part ways. She never dreams that David will come north and move into her community. David is still fearful in the buggy, especially in high traffic areas. Feeling he’s called by God to preach, David spends hours in the Bible, but the Amish discourage him, believing their ministers should be drawn by lot. Will David follow his call, even if it takes him out of the Amish church? Will Rachel realize her dream to travel?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and their five children make their home in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools three of her children. Her two oldest children are homeschool graduates and are in college. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor. Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts, and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love. Surrendered Love and Awakened Love. A nonAmish book Swept Away will release November 2014 from Abingdon Press. She is contracted for another three book Amish series with Whitaker House, The Amish of Jamesport, releasing in November 2014 (The Snow Globe), June 2015 (The Postcard), and November 2015 (The Birdhouse). A Christmas Amish book, A White Christmas in Webster County, will release in September 2014. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Laura is a professional book reviewer for the Christian market, with over a thousand book reviews published at various online review sites.
by admin | May 29, 2015 | Amish, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Florida
MY REVIEW:
I have read two or three Amish books lately with a setting in Pinecraft, Florida. It has been both eye-opening and refreshing to read about Amish and Mennonite life there. I can just see the young people in their traditional attire walking around in flip-flops! Shelley Shepard Gray takes the freedom of the beach a step further by featuring a character who is somewhat of a Mennonite celebrity. I can honestly say that is not something I would have ever imagined.
Both Penny and Michael have experienced tragedy in their lives so when they become acquainted, they immediately sense a bond. Michael is especially attracted to Penny’s innocence and caring personality. At an age when most people their age are already married with children, Michael and Penny have not had a chance for courtship or love because of family expectations. They meet at a time when each of them has grown dissatisfied with their lives and are yearning for independence.
“The Proposal at Siesta Key” is a sweet love story that is not without a few hurdles. The characters are all quite likeable and natural. I liked the way Penny and Michael honored their parents while working to break the apron strings. Their quiet faith was an important part of their story but did not come across as preachy.
I highly recommend this novel as well as all of Gray’s books. Lovers of Amish fiction will certainly enjoy it.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A young Amish woman, yearning for freedom, crosses paths with a handsome Mennonite celebrity in a deeply moving tale of friendship and self-discovery—the second installment in the unforgettable New York Times bestselling author’s new Amish Brides of Pinecraft series.
Penny Troyer rarely disobeys her parents. In the years since her sister’s tragic death, they’ve wanted nothing more than to keep her safe…even if it means never leaving the house.
But tonight, she’s bending the rules because Michael Knoxx, the most famous member of The Knoxx Family Singers, a traveling Mennonite Evangelical family —is scheduled to speak. Penny has heard of Michael—how he lost part of his leg in a terrible accident and uses the experience to inspire others—and knows she must meet him. So, for the first time ever, Penny stands up to her parents and goes out on her own.
Though he speaks about living life to the fullest, Michael knows he needs to take his own advice. Life on the road is grueling and Michael wants to slow down, to rest…to perhaps meet someone who sees him as a man, not just a celebrity. So when a twist of fate allows him the chance to stay a little longer in Pinecraft, Michael knows God is showing him a new path, especially when he discovers how much he and Penny Troyer have in common.
But new friendships can’t stop time. Soon, Michael’s time in Pinecraft will be over and he’ll be back on the road. Her time with Michael has brought her happiness, but will she be able to follow her heart? Or will she be faced with the one thing she’s sure she’ll never have the courage to do?
Learn more and purchase a copy.
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.
Find out more about Shelley at http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com.
by admin | May 20, 2015 | Amish, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Mennonite
MY REVIEW:
“When Grace Sings” continues the story that began in “When Mercy Rains”, the first volume of Kim Vogel Sawyer’s Zimmerman Restoration Trilogy. Alexa has opened her bed and breakfast in her grandmother’s home and her very first long-term guest is big-city reporter Briley Forrester whose intentions are not what they seem. Anna-Grace and Steven are making plans for their upcoming wedding and are working hard making repairs on the family farm he has inherited. The only problem is that his dream is to be a teacher – NOT a farmer! To further complicate matters, Anna-Grace has been made aware that members of her birth family (she is adopted) live in Arborville although she does not know their identities. Alexa, who does know the truth, is uncomfortable around Anna-Grace due to her own insecurities about how she became a part of the family.
Needless to say, “When Grace Sings” contains a twisted thread of confusing relationships with a monkey wrench or two thrown into the mix for good measure. But the author is talented in taking puzzles and putting them together to form a beautiful picture. As the characters in this novel interact, each of them is changed as God’s grace becomes apparent to them. Even Briley, who is very difficult to like, charmer that he is, undergoes profound changes by the conclusion.
I thoroughly enjoyed “When Grace Sings” but I was happy that I had read “When Mercy Rains” first. It was so much easier to understand the whole story that way. I highly recommend this series as well as most anything by Kim Vogel Sawyer.
This book was provided for review by Waterbrook Multnomah and Blogging for Books.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When trouble roars into quiet Arborville, Alexa and Anna-Grace find themselves the target for discord and exposed secrets. Can they continue to seek the God of all grace amidst the fog of confusion?
Alexa Zimmerman wonders if the Old Order Mennonite community in Arborville, Kansas will ever fully accept her. Her family roots here aren’t what anyone thought when she first arrived, but she is hopeful that her culinary and hospitality skills will win the skeptics over. The bed-and-breakfast she’s operating needs to succeed so Alexa agrees to allow Briley Forrester, the hotshot reporter from Chicago, to stay as a long-term boarder not knowing his real motives for being amongst the Plain folk.
But when Alexa agrees to host her cousin Anna-Grace Braun, the presence of extended family brings out Alexa’s insecurities and sets Briley on the trail to uncovering a web of hidden truths.
Plans for a secure future and the sweetness of young romance hang in the balance when Alexa and Anna-Grace have to face that their secrets are interconnected, binding the two in ways they could not have imagined. They must trust in a loving, heavenly Father and His plan for their futures.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kim Vogel Sawyer is a best-selling author highly acclaimed for her gentle stories of hope. More than one million copies of her books are currently in print and have garnered awards including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim lives in central Kansas, with husband Don and their four feline companions. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and ten grandchildren.
Connect with Kim Vogel Sawyer
by admin | Mar 19, 2015 | Amish, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“A Path Made Plain” is the second novel in Sowell’s Seasons in Pinecraft series which offers an entirely different look at the Amish than is usually presented. Some might even think “What happens in Pinecraft stays in Pinecraft!” That would not be quite in the vein of what happens in Vegas but for the Amish, the more casual lifestyle that includes cell phones, flip flops, and three-wheel bicycles is certainly a change.
This novel features Betsy Yoder who was a somewhat irritating character in the first installment of the series. As the story begins, Betsy must adjust to the fact that Jacob, the man she wanted, has married another and she must make other plans for her life. What she really wants is to open her own bakery in Pinecraft rather than return home to Ohio.
Thaddeus Zook, who has left the Amish to work as a frowned upon pastry chef, shows up in Pinecraft after the death of his boss in the midwest. He is obviously not Amish anymore with his Englisch clothing, tattoos, and a motorcycle, but there is something about him that appeals to Betsy. Determined that he has left the Amish life behind, Thaddeus attempts to deny his obvious attraction to Betsy.
With a bit of suspense, other drama, some humor, jealousy, gossip, and of course romance, “A Path Made Plain” was fun to read. I enjoyed the change in pace from the usual Amish fiction offerings.
This book was provided for review by the Amazon Vine Program.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Will the warm sun of Pinecraft thaw Betsy Yoder’s heart or lead her to greater heartache and danger?
Betsy Yoder lives with her great aunt in Sarasota’s Pinecraft neighborhood, far from her family in Ohio. Heartbroken by a man who left her—and the Order—to marry someone else, Betsy instead pours her time and energy into her bakery, offering the village of Pinecraft delicious desserts from her Amish heritage, and is content in her hard-working yet peaceful life.
Enter the formerly Amish Thaddeus Zook, a pastry chef who has moved to Pinecraft after working in restaurants among the Englisch. While Betsy nurses a hesitant heart, Thaddeus shows a similar hesitancy about rejoining an Amish community. Though neither can deny the attraction between them, Thaddeus is hiding a past that could threaten their future together. Betsy has lost one love already; dare she risk loving another who has adopt Englisch ways? Or will Thad listen to the call of the open road and move on again . . . without the love of his life?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lynette Sowell is the Carol Award-winning and ECPA best-selling author of more than twenty titles. When she’s not crafting stories, she works as a freelance news reporter and columnist for her local newspaper. She makes her home in Copperas Cove on the doorstep of the Texas hill country. She hangs out on Facebook at facebook.com/lynettesowellauthor and blogs at lynettesowell.blogspot.com.
by admin | Mar 9, 2015 | Amish, Books, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“Anna’s Crossing” is entirely different from any other Amish novel I have encountered while reviewing many of them over the past several years. As a lover of historical fiction, I found it to fit easily into that genre rather than the typical Amish romance I expected.
A narrative describing the voyage of a group of Amish and Mennonite settlers who hope for a better life without persecution in the New World, the novel features Anna König, a young Amish woman who has reluctantly agreed to accompany her fellow believers on the voyage and Bairn, the ship’s carpenter. Despite their vast differences in lifestyle and beliefs, Anna and Bairn’s encounters lead to a friendship that could lead to an even stronger attachment.
This book is filled with excellent historical details that I believe accurately illustrate the conditions experienced by the people on board the Charming Nancy as well as their reactions to their circumstances. Complete with drama, danger, romance, and even some humor courtesy of young Felix, “Anna’s Crossing” held my attention throughout. I especially enjoyed the revelation of a surprise or two that are in store for the reader.
If you are a lover of Amish fiction, “Anna’s Crossing” is a must read to learn some of the early history of these believers but even those who do not normally enjoy Amish fiction may find it captivating. I enthusiastically recommend this novel.
This book was provided for review by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Some endings are really beginnings . . .
On a hot day in 1737 in Rotterdam, Anna König reluctantly sets foot on the Charming Nancy, a merchant ship that will carry her and her fellow Amish believers across the Atlantic to start a new life. As the only one in her community who can speak English, she feels compelled to go. But Anna is determined to complete this journey and return home–assuming she survives. She’s heard horrific tales of ocean crossings and worse ones of what lay ahead in the New World. But fearfulness is something Anna has never known.
Ship’s carpenter Bairn resents the somber people–dubbed Peculiars by the deckhands–who fill the lower deck of the Charming Nancy. All Bairn wants to do is to put his lonely past behind him, but that irksome and lovely lass Anna and her people keep intruding on him.
Delays, storms, illness, and diminishing provisions test the mettle and patience of everyone on board. When Anna is caught in a life-threatening situation, Bairn makes a discovery that shakes his entire foundation. But has the revelation come too late?
Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to the beginning of Amish life in America with this fascinating glimpse into the first ocean crossing–and the lives of two intrepid people who braved it.
Read an excerpt from “Anna’s Crossing” HERE.
Endorsements:
“I found Anna’s Crossing to be everything I love in a novel, especially in a historical novel! Fast paced, character driven, filled with rich descriptions and enjoyable dialogue. It was a pleasure to read, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to endorse it.”–Shelley Shepard Gray, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author
“This novel is a winner.”–Publishers Weekly
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.
