Sunday, January 26, 2020

The Farmer's Bride by Kathleen Fuller - Review of the second book in the Amish Brides of Birch Creek series




BACK  OF  THE  BOOK  BLURB
They promised to keep each other's secrets . . .
not realizing they were about to make some of their own.


Martha Detweiler has a problem many Amish women her age would envy: she's the only single woman in a community of young men, and they're all competing for her favor. Overwhelmed by the unwanted attention, Martha finds herself constantly fleeing from her would-be suitors, dismayed at what her life has come to.

Birch Creek's resident matchmaker, Cevilla Schlabach, suggests a solution: Martha and the bishop's son, Seth Yoder, should pretend they are dating. What better way to keep the other young men away?

But Seth is the only man around not interested in Martha. He has a secret hobby that keeps him away from social gatherings: woodcarving. Having grown up in poverty,he's determined to keep his father's farm successful, even if it means he has no time for dating. Then Delilah Stoll, a new resident of Birch Creek, eyes Seth as the perfect man for her granddaughter. Suddenly Cevilla's proposition doesn't seem all that ludicrous. Can Seth and Martha convince their family and friends to leave them alone?

The second book in bestselling author Kathleen Fuller's Amish Brides of Birch Creek series, The Farmer's Bride celebrates the unexpected power of love and the joy of discovering God's calling.


MY  REVIEW
Yet another great story by Kathleen Fuller, I really enjoy her books and this one was no different. I am looking forward to the next one in the series, "The Innkeeper's Bride" which was just recently released. Grab a copy of "The Farmer's Bride" and enjoy!

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Abraham by Jennifer Beckstrand - Review of the second book in The Petersheim Brothers series



BACK  OF  THE  BOOK BLURB
Knows as "The Peanut Butter Brothers" for their Wisconsin
family business, hardworking Andres, Abraham, and Austin
Petersheim have their plates too full for romance---until their
little siblings decide to play matchmaker . . .

With their house full to bursting since Mammi and Dawdi moved back in, the Petersheim twins know the only to get their bedroom back is to get their older brothers married off. But Abraham is so shy, he'll barely speak to girls. Still, they've noticed how he looks at Emma Wengerd at church. Emma is so talkative, Abraham's quiet ways wouldn't matter a bit. Soon, the boys have hatched a scheme that sends Abraham right to Emma's door---and her chicken coop . . .

Abraham doubts that pretty, popular Emma would be interested in him. Yet when he finds himself by her side, having to straighten out the twins' mischief---more than once---he can't help imagining a future with her. And the more time they spend together, the more Abraham realizes that perhaps no matter how many boys buzz around Emma, with faith, it's only the right one that counts . . .


MY  REVIEW
Oh my, poor Abraham, just when he thinks he's making progress it all goes backwards and he becomes even more determined to become a bachelor. You have to read to find out if the twins can work their way out of the cellar Now the long wait until June for the next book in the series, "Austin"! Yes, another great story by this author, you can't go wrong with her books.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Andrew by Jennifer Beckstrand - Review of the first book in The Petersheim Brothers series



BACK  OF  THE  BOOK BLURB
Andrew, Abraham, and Austin Petersheim's family business
has earned them the nickname The Peanut Butter Brothers.
But if their matchmaking younger siblings have their way, all
three may soon bear another title: husband . . .

Handsome, hardworking, and godly, Andrew Petersheim has always been sure of his place in his Wisconsin Amish community. He'll be a welcome catch for the local girl show finally captures his heart. Mary Coblenz certainly isn't that girl. Two years after "jumping the fence" for the Englischer world, she's returned, unmarried and pregnant, Yet instead of hiding in shame as others in the community expect, she's working at the Honeybee Farm, ignoring the gossips--and winning over Andrew's eight-year-old twin brothers . . .

For all Andrew's certainty about right and wrong, it seems he has a lot to learn from Mary's courage, grace, and resilience. She's changing his notions about forgiveness and love, but will she in turn accept the challenge of starting over and choose to stay---with him?


MY  REVIEW
The twins in this series have picked up where, in antics not the storyline, Grandma Annie left off in the Huckleberry Hill series, I'm already hooked on this series! This author is one of the BEST, she pulls you in, makes you giggle, touches your heart and keeps you wanting more. I thought I'd read every one of her books but I found one I missed so will have to get it to finish that series.

I am quickly moving on to read "Abraham" as I got the first two books in this series for Christmas. "Andrew" will not be out until June, JUNE, I have to wait until JUNE to finish the series!!

Very highly recommended and a must read!

Thursday, January 2, 2020

The Refuge by Ann H Gabhart - Review




BACK  OF  THE  BOOK  BLURB

Can the power of love and the bond of family
triumph in a community that cannot accept either?

With the threat of a cholera epidemic at their heels, Darcie and Walter Goodwin join the Shakers, whose villages seem immune to the disease. It's meant to be temporary, but when Walter is killed in a riverboat accident, destitute Darcie has little choice but to stay with the Shakers. To complicate matters, she is expecting a baby conceived before she and her husband came to the Shaker village. Marital relationships are considered sinful in this celibate community, putting Darcie in a unique--and lonely-- position. Can the arrival of widower Flynn Keller and his headstrong daughter offer Darcie the hope of happiness?

MY  REVIEW
The Shakers lead interesting lives, not sure I could do it. The author does a great job of explaining their ways and telling the story that I really enjoy reading about the Shakers. This story is has you pulling for Darcie to find a way to be able to be a mother to her baby and not just a sister. Will seeing the birth of a child and what the mother goes through change any of their minds and let her keep the baby in her room? I can recommend this book as a good read so grab a copy and enjoy.