by admin | Sep 22, 2011 | Amish, Books, Christmas, Romance
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingNaomi’s GiftZondervan (September 12, 2011)byAmy ClipstonABOUT THE AUTHOR:
From Amy:
A native of New Jersey, I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I often joke that my fiction writing “career” began in elementary school as I wrote and shared silly stories with a close friend.
In 1991, I graduated from high school, and my parents and I moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia. My father retired, and my mother went to work full-time. I attended Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk, and I graduated with a degree in communications. I met my husband, Joe, during my senior year in college, a few days after my father had a massive stroke. Joe and I clicked instantly, and after a couple of months we started dating. We married four years later.
After graduating from VWC, I took a summer job with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, which turned into an eleven-year career. I worked in the Public Affairs Office for four years and then moved into Planning as a writer/editor.
One day while surfing the Internet for a professional editor’s group, I accidentally found a local fiction writing group, Chesapeake Romance Writers. I attended a meeting and I met writers in all stages of their careers. The group helped me realize that I did want to be an author, and it was my dream to see my name on the cover of one of my novels. Through Chesapeake Romance Writers, I learned how to plot, write, and edit a novel, and I also learned how to pursue an agent. I signed with Mary Sue Seymour at the Seymour Agency in 2006, shortly before Joe and I moved my parents and our sons to North Carolina.
My dream came true when I sold my first book in 2007. Holding my first book, A Gift of Grace, in my hands was exhilarating and surreal.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Take a trip to Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, where you’ll meet the women of the Kauffman Amish Bakery in Lancaster County. As each woman’s story unfolds, you will share in her heartaches, trials, joys, dreams … and secrets. You’ll discover how the simplicity of the Amish lifestyle can clash with the ‘English’ way of life—and the decisions and consequences that follow. Most importantly, you will be encouraged by the hope and faith of these women, and the importance they place on their families. Naomi’s Gift re-introduces twenty-four-year-old Naomi King, who has been burned twice by love and has all but given up on marriage and children. As Christmas approaches—a time of family, faith, and hope for many others—Naomi is more certain than ever her life will be spent as an old maid, helping with the family’s quilting business and taking care of her eight siblings. Then she meets Caleb, a young widower with a 7-year-old daughter, and her world is once again turned upside-down. Naomi’s story of romantic trial and error and youthful insecurities has universal appeal. Author Amy Clipston artfully paints a panorama of simple lives full of complex relationships, and she carefully explores cultural differences and human similarities, with inspirational results. Naomi’s Gift includes all the details of Amish life that Clipston’s fans enjoy, while delivering the compelling stories and strong characters that continue to draw legions of new readers.
If you’d like to read the first chapter of Naomi’s Gift, go HERE.
Learn more about Amy and her books on her Website.
MY REVIEW:
Naomi’s Gift is a quick to read novella that gives the reader a glimpse of life among the Amish as the Christmas season approaches. Although the Amish may seem quaint and certainly different from the world known by those of the English persuasion, Clipson’s narrative reveals that in many respects they are much like people everywhere. One of the characters of Naomi’s Gift is even a busybody/gossip which totally blows the perception of Amish perfection out of the water.
Because of two past failed relationships, Naomi King has resigned herself to a life caring for her younger brothers and sisters. She is certain that the Lord must not have a husband and children in his plans for her. As Christmas draws near, time spent with a young girl and her widowed father reopens her heart and makes her hope once again for love. Caleb Schmucker’s grief over his wife’s death two years previous has kept him just going through the motions of living and taking care of his daughter Susie. Each encounter with Naomi has touched his heart and caused him to reconsider plans for his future. However, detractors are at work to keep them apart. Caleb’s sister has other plans for him and goes to great lengths to implement them. Naomi’s own mother discourages her interest in Caleb and she hears and sees things that tend to support the fact that Caleb could not be the man for her.
Naomi’s Gift is a sweet story that would be perfect for a relaxing break during the hectic days leading up to Christmas.
by admin | Sep 20, 2011 | Amish, Books, Christmas, Contemporary Fiction
MY REVIEW:
A Lancaster County Christmas is an Amish Christmas novella that could be read in one sitting on a lazy afternoon. The reader will quickly find herself immersed in the deftly crafted story filled with well-defined characters. The author has not wasted her time on nonessentials but has made every sentence count.
Although Jaime Fitzpatrick and Mattie Riehl are from widely divergent backgrounds, each carries her own personal pain that influences every aspect of her life including her relationship with the Lord. Jaime’s grief after her mother’s death has resulted in a dependence on sleep medication and a desperate need to reconnect with the father who abandoned her as an infant. Mattie’s failure to have another child has sent her into a depression and the need to overprotect her one son. Little could either of them imagine that one small whistle left behind at the doctor’s office and a huge snowstorm could change their lives forever.
When the Fitzpatricks are forced to spend several days at the home of the Amish family of Sol and Mattie Riehl, each person in the home is touched by their encounter. Several plot twists keep the story moving along. A Lancaster County Christmas may not be the typical story about a Christmas celebration but the intended message of “Emmanuel, God With Us” comes across very clearly.
A tender and touching story, A Lancaster County Christmas is one book that could be enjoyed each year during the holiday season. I would highly recommend it.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Jaime and C. J. Fitzpatrick began their married life as most couples do–in love and looking forward to a bright future together. But four years later they’ve drifted apart and are almost ready to call it quits.
Mattie Riehl was hoping to give her husband Sol the Christmas gift they have both longed for–news that a baby was on the way. But as usual, she is disappointed. The holidays bring an acute awareness to Mattie that her dream of a big family isn’t likely to become a reality.
Then a winter storm raging outside blows the Fitzpatricks into the Riehl home–and into a much slower pace of life. Can these two couples from different worlds help each other understand the true meaning of love this Christmas?
With her trademark plot twists and attention to detail, Suzanne Woods Fisher offers readers a beautiful Christmas story of love, forgiveness, and what truly matters in life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Her interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, W.D. Benedict, who was raised Plain. She has many, many Plain relatives living in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and travels back to Pennsylvania, as well as to Ohio, a couple of times each year for research.
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.
iPad Giveaway:
To celebrate the release of her first Christmas book, Suzanne Woods Fisher has teamed up with her publisher, Revell, to bring you the “Christmas in September” iPad Giveaway! The winner will be announced on 9/27 at the A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party! Details below. Tell your friends and join in the fun (9/7-9/27).
Oh and be sure to follow the blog tour HERE – many of the bloggers have copies of the book to giveaway!
Suzanne and Revell will be presenting one merry winner with a Christmas Prize Pack (valued at over $600):
A Brand New iPad 2 with Wi-Fi
$25 gift certificate to iTunes
A copy of A Lancaster County Christmas
To enter, click HERE. But, hurry the giveaway ends on 9/26.
But, wait! There’s more! The winner will be announced at the A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party on 9/27 at Suzanne’s author page. During the party she’ll be revealing something *BIG* – you won’t want to miss it. She’ll also be hosting a book chat, trivia contest and giving away a few early Christmas presents! Hope to see you there.
by admin | Sep 20, 2011 | Books, Contemporary Fiction
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingHere’s to FriendsDavid C. Cook (September 1, 2011)byMelody CarlsonABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Over the years, Melody Carlson has worn many hats, from pre-school teacher to youth counselor to political activist to senior editor. But most of all, she loves to write! Currently she freelances from her home. In the past eight years, she has published over ninety books for children, teens, and adults–with sales totaling more than two million and many titles appearing on the ECPA Bestsellers List. Several of her books have been finalists for, and winners of, various writing awards. And her “Diary of a Teenage Girl” series has received great reviews and a large box of fan mail.
She has two grown sons and lives in Central Oregon with her husband and chocolate lab retriever. They enjoy skiing, hiking, gardening, camping and biking in the beautiful Cascade Mountains.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Once upon a time in a little town on the Oregon coast lived four Lindas—all in the same first-grade classroom. So they decided to go by their middle names. And form a club. And be friends forever.
Decades later, they’re all back home in Clifden and reinventing their lives, but the holidays bring a whole new set of challenges. Abby’s new B&B is getting bad reviews and husband Paul is acting strange. Still grieving for her mom, Caroline is remodeling the family home, but boyfriend Mitch keeps pressuring her to go away with him. Artist Marley, distracted by a friend’s family drama (and a touch of jealousy), can’t find her creative groove. And Janie’s drug-addicted daughter has just appeared up on her doorstep! When a long-planned New Year’s cruise turns into a bumpy ride, they learn once again that, in your fifties, friends aren’t just for fun—they’re a necessity!
If you would like to read the first chapter of Here’s to Friends, go HERE.
Learn more about Melody and her books on her Website.
MY REVIEW:
Although I somehow missed the second and third installments of The Four Lindas series, I had very little trouble following the story. I did feel that I missed some important events of the women’s lives but Here’s to Friends pretty much brought me up-to-date as I read.
Here’s to Friends documents the ups and downs in the daily lives of Abby, Caroline, Marley, and Janie. As they deal with such issues as low self-esteem, marital problems, financial set-backs, business difficulties, uncertain romantic relationships, career challenges, etc., the one thing each lady can count on is the support of her three closest friends. Their longstanding friendship is based on mutual trust which allows each of them to speak into the others’ lives with openness and honesty.
Here’s to Friends is not a particularly exciting book nor is it filled with romantic scenes, drama, or suspense. However it is a beautiful illustration of friendship that will make the reader thankful for her own friends or leave her wishing for deeper relationships of her own.
by admin | Sep 20, 2011 | Books, Revell
by admin | Sep 16, 2011 | Amish, Books, Christmas, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Christmas in Sugarcreek is an easily read, sweet Amish romance that is just right for a lazy afternoon by the fire with a warm beverage. In this story, the reader returns to the small town of Sugarcreek where Judith Graber might just receive a Christmas surprise she never expected.
Judith is the quintessential “good girl”. In her opinion, everyone in her family depends on her way too much and seem to take her for granted. But being the good girl that she is, she stuffs her dissatisfaction and continues to help where needed without complaint. Just when she thinks she cannot handle another extra responsibility, her father hires a temporary employee to help her in the family store. Unfortunately that helper turns out to be Ben Knox, the former “bad boy” of Sugarcreek before he left town. Although they have both matured, Judith is not sure she can trust Ben because of everything she has heard about him. But as the two are forced to spend many hours working together, Judith slowly begins to realize that Ben is not the person she thought he was.
Yes, this is one of those “good girl” falls in love with the “bad boy” romances but it is one with a difference. Christmas in Sugarcreek teaches a valuable lesson about judging people by appearances or actions without looking to see the true inner person. Although the outcome of the story is obvious from the beginning, it is a charming and delightful read.
This book was provided for review by the Amazon Vine™ Program.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Judith Graber has always been the obedient daughter. When her older brother Josh struggled with his love life, she offered wise counsel. When her younger brother Caleb flirted with the idea of leaving their order, she firmly told him he was wrong. Over the years, she’s watched her younger siblings, helped around the house, and worked in her family’s store during her spare time. Judith feels overworked, overlooked, and underappreciated this holiday season.
But everything changes when her father hires Ben Knox.
Ben Knox is the “bad boy” of Sugarcreek. Though he’s never considered jumping the fence, he’s certainly never tried to be anything close to dutiful. Two years ago he left Sugarcreek under a cloud of shame. Rumors circulated that his rumspringa had been filled with more than the usual harmless explorations.
Now he’s back and working side by side with Judith.
As the chaos of the holiday season threatens to sap all joy, sparks fly between Ben and Judith. But Judith steels herself to ignore her infatuation. The last thing she wants to be is just one more girl who falls under Ben’s spell. Ben, on the other hand, wants Judith to realize there’s more to him than his bad reputation. When he fled Sugarcreek, he was running from a disruptive home life. Now that he’s back, he wants a fresh beginning.
Could this Christmas season bring love and a new life for the unlikeliest pair in Sugarcreek?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shelley Shepard Gray is the beloved author of the Sisters of the Heart series, including Hidden, Wanted, and Forgiven. Before writing, she was a teacher in both Texas and Colorado. She now writes full time and lives in southern Ohio with her husband and two children. When not writing, Shelley volunteers at church, reads, and enjoys walking her miniature dachshund on her town’s scenic bike trail.
