by admin | Nov 26, 2014 | Amish, Books, Christmas, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“An Amish Second Christmas” is a compilation of four novellas by authors known for their Amish fiction. Each of the novellas stands alone with different settings and characters. The common thread is that each one highlights a way the Amish of that community celebrates the day after Christmas which they call “Second Christmas”.
“When Christmas Comes Again” by Beth Wiseman is somewhat different than the usual Amish novel. The story is a bit mysterious with a bit of humor and a touch of romance. It is also a touching example of family reconciliation and healing that might just bring the reader to tears.
“Her Christmas Pen Pal” by Ruth Reid is also a bit unexpected. A story that begins with an expected engagement gone wrong, a misdirected package and letter, and a correspondence that develops as a result, this novella is thoroughly delightful and entertaining in its entirety.
“A Gift for Anne Marie” by Kathleen Fuller tells the story of lifelong best friends Anne Marie and Nathaniel who are soon to be separated when Anne Marie’s widowed mother remarries and moves the family to another state. Anne Marie cannot imagine her life without Nathaniel and both of them realize possibly too late that their friendship has developed into much more.
“The Christmas Aprons” by Tricia Goyer is another story set in Kootenai, a place Goyer’s readers have come to love. Esther is a shy young woman who has always lived in the shadow of her more outgoing twin and has developed a pretty good case of low self esteem as a result. When her mother finally shares her famous pie recipe for Esther to bake for an auction, the young man who buys her pie discovers just how special Esther is.
All four novellas are quickly read and each is special in its own way. I enjoyed all of them and would find it difficult to choose a favorite. “An Amish Second Christmas” is just the right book for those who love Amish fiction and Christmas novels. 
This book was provided for review by the BookLook Blogger Program of Harper Collins Christian Publishing..
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Celebrate Second Christmas, a treasured, lighthearted time of community, with four Amish romances.
“When Christmas Comes Again” by Beth Wiseman
Katherine knows the first Christmas without Elias will be hard for her and the children. But when a mysterious Englischer appears with photographs of her late husband, Katherine begins to wonder what other blessings Christmas could have in store.
Read a preview from When Christmas Comes Again HERE.
“Her Christmas Pen Pal” by Ruth Reid
Joy was expecting a wedding proposal from Henry; what she got instead was news of another woman. But when her heartfelt letter to a cousin ends up in the hands of a young cabinetmaker, an unexpected correspondence between two strangers gets interesting fast.
“A Gift for Anne Marie” by Kathleen Fuller
Anne Marie and Nathaniel have been best friends since they were kids. Now things are evolving . . . in ways everyone else predicted long ago. But when her mother suddenly decides to remarry in another state, Anne Marie’s new chapter with Nathaniel looks doomed to end before it begins.
“The Christmas Aprons” by Tricia Goyer
Vanilla crumb pie has been Esther’s mem’s calling card for decades. But when Esther finally gets her hands on the secret recipe, she discovers that vanilla crumb pie is more than just dessert . . . it’s bachelor bait.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
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Beth WisemanAward-winning, bestselling author Beth Wiseman is best known for her Amish novels, but she has also written several successful contemporary novels, set primarily in her beloved Texas, including Need You Now and The House that Love Built. Both have received glowing reviews. Beth’s The Promise is inspired by a true story. |
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Kathleen FullerKathleen Fuller is the author of several bestselling novels, including *A Man of His Word and Treasuring Emma, as well as a middle-grade Amish series, The Mysteries of Middlefield. |
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Ruth ReidRuth Reid is a CBA and ECPA best-selling author of the Heaven on Earth series. She’s a full-time pharmacist who resides in Florida with her husband and three children. |
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Tricia GoyerUSA Today best-selling author Tricia Goyer is the author of 35 books, including the three-book Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series. She has written over 500 articles for national publications and blogs for high traffic sites like TheBetterMom.com and MomLifeToday.com. Tricia and her husband John live in Little Rock, Arkansas where John works for FamilyLife. They have six children. |
by admin | Nov 22, 2014 | Amish, Books, Contemporary Fiction
MY REVIEW:
Melody Carlson has a gift of taking the ordinary and giving it an entirely new twist. She has managed to do this once again in her latest YA novel, “Trading Secrets”, a story about penpals, one Amish and one Englisch who finally have a chance to meet after corresponding for several years.
There is only one catch, Micah’s Amish penpal Zach believes she is a guy and she has not found a way to tell him the truth. A trip to his family home exposes her secret and the response is not exactly positive. Every attempt to return home early meets with a problem and she is forced to spend more than one extra day with Zach’s family and his mother is less than welcoming.
I enjoyed Micah’s visit to “Amishland” as well as getting an intimate look into Zach’s life from his own point of view. The story is fresh and honest with ample drama, emotion, and humor with just a tiny touch of potential romance. I am uncertain whether a sequel is planned for “Trading Secrets” but its ending leaves it wide open for one. I would love to find out if a more serious relationship develops between Micah and Zach in the future.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The truth may set you free–but it might also land you in some uncomfortably hot water.
Over the years, Micah Knight has exchanged many letters–and many secrets–with her longtime Amish pen pal, Zach. But Micah’s kept quiet on the biggest secret of all–the fact that despite her name, she’s a girl.
Now Micah finally has the chance to meet her pen pal face-to-face. She wants nothing more than to experience life on Zach’s Amish farm, but she’s more than a little anxious. Will he be angry at her for deceiving him all these years? And will she risk losing his friendship to find something more?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than two hundred books, including the Dating Games series, the Life at Kingston High series, Double Take, A Simple Song, and My Amish Boyfriend. She has received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice. Melody and her husband live in Oregon. Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com.
by admin | Nov 18, 2014 | Amish, Books, Historical, Romance, WWII
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingPromises to CherishHoward Books (October 7, 2014)byElizabeth YountABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Elizabeth Byler Younts is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers. She is an Air Force officer’s wife and a homeschooling mom with two young daughters. She makes her home wherever her family is stationed. Elizabeth was Amish as a child and after her parents left the church she still grew up among her Amish family and continues to speak Pennsylvania Dutch.
Learn more about Elizabeth and her books on her Website .
ABOUT THE BOOK:
As World War II draws to a close, nurse Christine falls in love with roguish Amish boy Eli and must choose between a new, uncertain life in the Amish faith or face the judgment of a conservative postwar American society for her past mistakes.
It’s 1945, and Christine Freeman is a nurse at Hudson River State Hospital, where she works alongside members of a Civilian Public Service unit. Eli is one of the conscies—conscientious objectors to the war—and he is doing his best to become a man of character instead of the immature heartbreaker he used to be back home in his Amish community.
Christine and Eli are friendly, but when an old acquaintance, Jack, returns home from the war, Christine’s world is violently turned upside down. Eli, heartbroken to see his friend so hurt, offers her an escape within his Amish community. Despite her misgivings, Christine is fully embraced by Eli’s community. She slowly begins to feel valued and loved as she learns the Amish way of life.
Christine finds herself falling for Eli. But soon, the abusive Jack discovers Christine in her Amish hideaway and starts causing trouble for the quiet community. Christine can’t see herself becoming Amish, and she knows that if Eli leaves the church to be with her, he will be shunned. Will she escape Jack and possibly have to give up the one thing she holds most dear, or will she follow her heart and promise to cherish the Amish man who loves her?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Promises to Cherish , go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
“Promise to Cherish” is much more than the typical Amish fiction. Much of the story takes place in the Hudson River State Hospital during World War 2 where Christine Freeman is a nurse for patients with various mental problems. Eli, an Amish conscientious objector is assigned to her unit where he has a positive influence on many of the patients. The author’s vivid descriptions of hospital conditions and attitudes toward both the mentally ill and the conscientious objectors are eye-opening and disturbing.
The realistic plot covers some tough subjects without pulling any punches, yet manages to do so without unwelcome details. The Amish were not placed on a pedestal but were portrayed with a fresh honesty that revealed that deep down we are really not all that different. Well-developed characters who grew in their faith and managed to overcome despite their serious challenges were central to the story. I especially liked Aunt Annie whose acceptance, compassion, and wisdom made such a difference to Christine’s life.
I enjoyed “Promise to Cherish” and would recommend it to all who enjoy Amish fiction.
by admin | Nov 14, 2014 | Amish, Books, Christmas, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Just when I have decided that I absolutely cannot read another Amish romance, I am offered one that is also a Christmas novel. At this time of year, I have difficulty resisting Christmas books so I opted in for the blog tour for “Christmas at Rose Hill Farm”, knowing that I couldn’t go wrong with a novel by Suzanne Woods Fisher. I am so glad I did because I found it to be a charming and satisfying read.
I particularly enjoyed reading about growing roses and the details about rose rustlers. I had never heard of such a person but the background information was fascinating. The rest of the story was also quite enjoyable as I soon found myself wanting to know how the dilemma Bess faced would be resolved. With a quickly approaching wedding to Amos, what will Bess do when Billy Lapp, the man she has always loved suddenly makes an appearance back in her life?
“Christmas at Rose Hill Farm” set just the right tone for the approaching holiday season and its ending was perfect.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Bess Riehl is preparing Rose Hill Farm for her Christmas wedding, but her groom isn’t who she thought it would be. Billy Lapp is far away from his Amish roots working as a rose rustler for Penn State and wants nothing to do with Stoney Ridge, his family, or Bess. And that suits Bess just fine. Why should she think twice about a man who left without a word, without any explanation? It’s time she moved on with her life, and that meant saying yes to Amos Lapp, Billy’s cousin and best friend. But as Bess and Amos’s wedding day draws near, her emotions tangle into a tight knot. She loves Amos. Yet she can’t forget Billy.
When a “lost” rose is discovered at Rose Hill Farm, Billy is sent to track down its origins. Get in, identify the rose, and get out. That’s his plan. The only catch is that he’s having a hard time narrowing down the identity of the lost rose, and he can’t get those tropical blue eyes of Bess Riehl out of his mind.
As the history of the lost rose is pieced together, it reminds Bess and Billy–and Amos, too–that Christmas truly is the season of miracles.
“Filled with heart-twisting moments amid the sweet anticipation of love, this story will charm readers into the holiday spirit.”
Read an excerpt HERE.
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/.
by admin | Oct 11, 2014 | Amish, Books, Romance
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingA Love UndoneWaterBrook Press (September 9, 2014)byCindy WoodsmallABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times and CBA best-selling author who has written fifteen (and counting!) works of fiction and one of nonfiction. She and her dearest Old Order Amish friend, Miriam Flaud, coauthored the nonfiction, Plain Wisdom: An Invitation into an Amish Home and the Hearts of Two Women. Cindy’s been featured on ABC Nightline and the front page of the Wall Street Journal, and has worked with National Geographic on a documentary concerning Amish life. In June of 2013, the Wall Street Journal listed Cindy as one of the top three Amish fiction writers.
She’s won Fiction Book of the Year, Reviewer’s Choice Awards, Inspirational Reader’s Choice Contest, as well as one of Crossings’ Best Books of the Year. She’s been a finalist for the prestigious Christy, Rita, and Carol Awards, Christian Book of the Year, and Christian Retailers Choice Awards.
Cindy and her husband reside near the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains in their now empty nest.
(Since that last line sounds sad and bare, I thought I’d add an “epilogue” of sorts. Our two oldest sons are married and live only a couple of miles from my empty nest, and below are my three adorable grandchildren! ?)
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A husband and son abandoned to forge a path alone.
A young woman who sacrificed her dreams.
How will the God of grace and hope help them find their way?
At nineteen years old, Old Order Amish Jolene Keim was on the brink of happily-ever-after when everything changed, stealing the future she expected and burdening her with an unbearable decision. For the next ten years, Jolene throws herself into family life—and then she meets Andy Fisher. The horse trainer and father to a sweet nine year-old challenges her and holds up a mirror to issues Jolene has been unwilling to face.
Andy is cautious about his deepening friendship with Jolene, but he believes she knows the truth about him – that he is a grass widower. As a man whose wife has abandoned him six years past, he is unable to divorce or remarry according to the Amish ways. Andy has wrestled with God concerning his reality, and he had found peace with the solitary future facing him…until he met Jolene.
As Andy and Jolene find themselves confronted by difficult choices, will they trust in God’s guidance—or will the allure of their deepening friendship only lead to further temptation?
If you would like to read the first chapter of A Love Undone, go HERE.
by admin | Oct 6, 2014 | Amish, Books, Romance, WWII
MY REVIEW:
“Promise to Cherish” is much more than the typical Amish fiction. Much of the story takes place in the Hudson River State Hospital during World War 2 where Christine Freeman is a nurse for patients with various mental problems. Eli, an Amish conscientious objector is assigned to her unit where he has a positive influence on many of the patients. The author’s vivid descriptions of hospital conditions and attitudes toward both the mentally ill and the conscientious objectors are eye-opening and disturbing.
The realistic plot covers some tough subjects without pulling any punches, yet manages to do so without unwelcome details. The Amish were not placed on a pedestal but were portrayed with a fresh honesty that revealed that deep down we are really not all that different. Well-developed characters who grew in their faith and managed to overcome despite their serious challenges were central to the story. I especially liked Aunt Annie whose acceptance, compassion, and wisdom made such a difference to Christine’s life.
I enjoyed “Promise to Cherish” and would recommend it to all who enjoy Amish fiction.
This book was provided for review by Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
It’s 1945, and Christine Freeman is a nurse at Hudson River State Hospital, where she works alongside members of a Civilian Public Service unit. Eli is one of the conscies—conscientious objectors to the war—and he is doing his best to become a man of character instead of the immature heartbreaker he used to be back home in his Amish community.
Christine and Eli are friendly, but when an old acquaintance, Jack, returns home from the war, Christine’s world is violently turned upside down. Eli, heartbroken to see his friend so hurt, offers her an escape within his Amish community. Despite her misgivings, Christine is fully embraced by Eli’s community. She slowly begins to feel valued and loved as she learns the Amish way of life.
Christine finds herself falling for Eli. But soon, the abusive Jack discovers Christine in her Amish hideaway and starts causing trouble for the quiet community. Christine can’t see herself becoming Amish, and she knows that if Eli leaves the church to be with her, he will be shunned. Will she escape Jack and possibly have to give up the one thing she holds most dear, or will she follow her heart and promise to cherish the Amish man who loves her?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Elizabeth Byler Younts is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers. She is an Air Force officer’s wife and a homeschooling mom with two young daughters. She makes her home wherever her family is stationed. Elizabeth was Amish as a child and after her parents left the church she still grew up among her Amish family and continues to speak Pennsylvania Dutch.
Connect with Elizabeth:
Twitter: Elizabeth Byler Younts
Facebook: Author Elizabeth Byler Younts
Author’s Website: Elizabeth Byler Younts
Not Quite Amish
