Category: Conversations with Kav

What is a flood book, you might be wondering? If you assumed books with a flood theme like Dana Mentink’s ‘Raging Waters’ you’d be wrong. (Though that is a wonderful read and worthy of being somebody’s flood book.)

So, what exactly is a Flood Book?

I first heard the term waaaayyy back in my school librarian days when I was reading books on storytelling and kid’s lit collections by children’s librarian extraordinaire, Caroline Feller Bauer. I think she might have coined the phrase with the help of her daughter.

Basically, a flood book is an extra book you bring with you in case you are out and about and – horrors – finish the book you are currently reading before you can get home to grab another one. Like what happens if you find yourself confronted by an unexpected delay – trapped in an elevator, stuck in traffic, on the wrong side of a flood that blocks you from your home? A serious bibliophile will always be prepared with at least one (though not limited to only one) extra ‘flood book’ to ensure they will not fall short of reading material.

Clearly this idea started before ebooks (or audiobooks, for that matter) were a thing but the concept is dear to my heart and, frankly, I am feeling quite antsy without a single physical book available to me right now because of the move. Mind you, I do this with my audiobooks, making sure I have two books downloaded at all times, so that when one is finished I can immediately start the next one no matter where I am or what I’m doing.

The Conversation:

Anyway, since I’m an insatiably curious bibliophile I thought it would be fun to share what we are reading right now and then, for the giveaway, what book that you don’t own, would you like to add as your flood book. If your name is drawn, you’ll win your flood book title.

Here’s a glimpse into my current reading (listening) life:

Just starting the Manuscripts, Meows and Murder by Kathy Manors Penn. This is the 11th book in a super cute cozy mystery series ‘Dickens and Christie Mysteries’. Totally clean, Closed Door Romance (and quite romantical at times) about a fifty something American who moves to the Cotswolds with her loyal cat (Christie) and dog (Dickens). New friendships, found family and romance ensue over the course of the books as well as an alarming number of murders. Bwahahaha!

My flood book is A Very Merry Matchup by Becca Kinzer – getting a start on my Christmas in July reading…listening. 🙂

The Giveaway Details:

In a comment (or in an email to me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca) let me know the title and author of the book you are reading and any thoughts you’d like to share about it

AND THEN *IMPORTANT*

add the title and author (Christian Fiction, Closed Door only please) of a book you would like to win as your ‘flood book’. Book must already be released.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Wednesday afternoon June 24 2026

Just a fun little Q&A about bookish quirks to spark a conversation or two because my brain is fried from heat, humidity and packing up my kitchen! (And why is it that when you pack something you are sure you won’t need it until after you move, the very next day you absolutely do need it… desperately?!)

Going into a book Blind

Do you read the book burb before you start reading or do you like to jump into a book blind? I am in the ‘must read the synopsis first’ camp. I have only gone in blind once and it was excruciating! An interesting experiment but I think I got hives from anxiety. 🙂 Of course, the flip side of not going into a read blind is that sometimes the book blurb gives away too many details to the point of being spoilery. I find that happens most often with indie books so I’ve learned to read only so far when a book blurb is especially wordy.

Read the ending first (or when things get too exciting not to)

I was shocked and appalled to discover that a favourite author always reads the last page first! I just…can’t…even…breathe…thinking about that. Oh, the disillusionment! I’m am most assuredly not in the ‘read the ending before I start the book’ camp. I mean, really, talk about spoilers! And once you know the ending, why do you need to read the book? I have a friend who does this too – she says it’s because she doesn’t have to worry about how things will turn out so she can enjoy the rest of the story but…but…but….I mean, isn’t part of the joy of reading being able to experience the journey right along with the characters? Yes, sometimes a story can nearly push you over the edge of anticipation into anxiety but that’s what reading faster is for, to get you over the gnarly bumps along the way to the happily ever after at break neck speed or, in the case of an audio book listener…see next point:

Speed up the audio to get through an action packed scene (and then listen to it again on your normal listening speed)

I have been known to do this a time or two especially with anxiety inducing romantical angst or frantic suspenseful action scenes but I never jump all the way to the end! Scandalous. I’ll listen to a part of the story at 3x the speed just so I can stop hyperventilating over the characters’ predicament, but then I always backtrack and listen again at my usual speed before continuing on with the story. I have audio standards, people! 🙂

Dog ear pages (gasp!)

I don’t want to hear anything but “No, of course not, I would never deface a book that way!” lol I want to weep when I check out a book from the library and notice the edges all askew, like the pages are ruffled up in indignation over their harsh treatment. Then I have to painstakingly unfold every corner and carefully set the book under a pile of other books (big, thick, heavy ones) to try and press the creases out. It’s an arduous experience for both the book and myself.

Care to share an opinion or two (or more?) Can you think of other bookish quirks? Maybe ones that belong to you? Or those you abhor? Do tell! Share in a comment and you’ll be entered in a draw for:

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 20 2026

I never thought this day would come – my bookshelves are empty, I only have ONE book checked out from the library and all my holds are paused. GASP! Understandable, of course, since I’m moving in three weeks (double gasp!) but I sure am missing my evening ritual of curling up with a good book. So, I’ve turned to some of my favourite British series and movies based on books: Father Brown, Shetland, Vera etc. (Hooray for my BritBox and Acorn subscriptions!)

And then, coincidentally, movies started popping up in my Youtube feed, a lot of them based on Christian Fiction! Whhhhaaatttt? How did that happen? I had no idea so many books had been made into movies! A lot of the ones I’ve come across have been based on books published by Guidepost! Who Knew?! Oh, and I discovered Christy Barritt’s ‘Squeaky Clean’ murder mystery series, well the first one, anyway, ‘Hazardous Duty’. And quite a few Amish ones. I’m gobsmacked that these movies are available on Youtube for free.

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to talk about our favourite book to movie adaptations and I’m eagerly looking forward to any book related movie recommendations you might have.

Classics

Dare I admit that I’m so over Austen adaptations?! There are just so many and after years of dutifully watching each new offering and having read the books a couple of times as well I’m just…well, kinda over all things Austenish. (I know, I’ve horrified so many of you!) I still enjoy fictional retellings, I’m just not sure I could sit through another film adaptation of ‘Emma’ or ‘Pride and Prejudice’ etc.

I much prefer the movie and television series inspired by Elizabeth Gaskell’s novels. ‘North and South’, ‘Cranford’ and ‘Larkrise to Candleford.’ In fact I had just finished binge-watching a couple of Gaskell series when Julie Klassen published ‘The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill’ and was thrilled to discover that the author mentioned the same shows as a source of inspiration for the book! And I could totally see it — had the same sense of community and village life, including all the tension and drama that goes with it. Not to mention the strong women who make a place for themselves in a male dominated society during the industrial revolution. Love the way those books written in the 1800s continue to inspire today, whether in film arts or fresh storytelling!

British vs American Adaptations

One of the perils of book to movie adaptations is the worry that the parts I loved about the book will be left out in the movie. Or, the production company might be too liberal in their interpretation of the book to the point that the story is barely recognizable in the movie. That irks me so much! And, honestly, I find that the British tend to stay true to the original story more than the Americans do. Hence my commitment to Brit Box and Acorn TV. 🙂

Christian Fiction Inspired Movies

Here’s what I have found on Youtube so far. Have you watched any of them? Any others you can add to my list?

• Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio (book by Annalisa Daughety)
• Sugar Creek Amish Mysteries (multiple authors, Guidepost)
• Love Finds You in Valentine, (book by Irene Brand, Guidepost)
• Martha Vineyard’s Mystery series (books by Philip R. Craig)
• Someone Like You (book by Karen Kingsbury)

So now I have questions (of course I do!) What’s your favourite book to screen adaptation? Are you a classics fan, or do you prefer contemporary novel adaptations? And — PLEASE — I’m looking for recommendations to get me through my reading ‘dry spell’, so any titles you can share will be greatly appreciated. Share your thoughts and opinions in a comment to be entered in a giveaway draw for:

Draw will be held and winner announced on June 13 2026.

It’s been a while since we’ve done a book tag and I was in the mood. 🙂 Of course, as I looked for inspiration to answer the questions I kept trying to browse my bookshelves only they are all empty because I’ve packed my books already! Bwahahaha! So this was a bit more challenging than I thought it would be.

Feel free to jump into the conversation in the comment section by answering one (or more) of the questions and you’ll be entered in today’s giveaway (US and Canadian readers or International if you have a US Kindle account.)

Summer Escape Book Tag!

The Questions: (bonus points if you can pick books with a summer setting!)

1. Slushie – a refreshing book
2. Cotton Candy – fluffy and sweet book
3. Popsicle – short and sweet (melted away far too quickly!)
4. Sunshine – yellow on the cover
5. Sunset – memorable happily ever after
6. Sunglasses – a dark book
7. Sunscreen – a book that protects you from an impending reading slump
8. Sunburn – a sizzling romance
9. Fireworks – an explosive plot
10. Fireflies – a book that lit up your life during a difficult time

My Answers:

An engaging debut with a fresh storytelling approach.

The Golden Girls meets Love Boat vibes offset the angst / drama in the romance/mystery.

A Beauty and the Beast retelling – such a sweet, timeless story!

Happy sigh! I think it has more of an impact because the romance develops over the course of the series.

Sooooooooooo Dark!!!!!! Not for the faint of heart!

Anything Meg Langslow (there are 39 books in the series to choose from!) Also my comfort read!

I can always count on Pepper Basham for sizzle and toe-curls!

Fraught with danger, taut with emotion. Set my heart racing at breakneck speed!

And every single Hope Harbor book!!!!!

Now it’s your turn! Join the conversation and share an answer (or two or three or….) to be entered in the giveaway. I’m excited to see what books we end up chatting about.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 6, 2026

Did you know that May 17th is National Little Free Library Day? I just found out and knew this would make a great Conversations With Kav topic…especially since it falls on the actual day. Woohoo, how fun is that?!

I made a collage of Little Free Libraries in my area – these images were captured from the official Little Free Library website. They have a map of all the registered Little Free Libraries so you can check out if there are any in your area. According to their stats there are LFLs in all 50 states plus 120 countries and over 300 million books have been shared worldwide! How cool is that? (Plus there are loads more that aren’t registered – 3 are in my immediate neighbourhood – so that means even more books shared!)

Important sidenote: the Little Free Library in the bottom left hand corner of the collage is at a church I’ll likely attend after I move. Eeeeepppp, they look like my kind of people!

Here’s a little blurb from the official website that explains the concept of Little Free Libraries:

“Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Our mission is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Library book-exchange boxes.

Our vision is a Little Free Library in every community and a book for every reader. We believe all people are empowered when the opportunity to discover a personally relevant book to read is not limited by time, space, or privilege.“

Sounds like it was originally organized for the benefit of young readers but I know all the Little Free Libraries in my area do a rip-roaring adult business as well. I’ve donated some of my gently read books and I’m always tickled to find them gone when I check in at the Little Free Library days later. My subtle way of getting Christian Fiction out into the world one book at a time 🙂

So, I have questions (of course I do!) Are you a regular Little Free Library visitor? Or, eeeeppp, are you a steward of your very own Little Free Library?

And here’s the all important GIVEAWAY question:

What is the title of a book (Christian Fiction/ Closed Door) you would love to spy in a Little Free Library you frequent? The kind of book that would turn you giddy and set you to happy dancing in the street out of sheer bibliophile glee?! Share the title and author in a comment and if your name is drawn, that is the book you will win. Best Reads will become a virtual Little Free Library for the day! Awesomesauce!

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday May 23 2026.

If you’ve been around Best Reads for any length of time, you’ve likely surmised that I am a romance reader first and foremost. Contemporary, Historical, Amish, Suspense – I enjoy all the genres, as long as there’s a love story front and centre. But sometimes, I’ve been coerced (er encouraged) to step away from all things romantical and into the emotional realms of Women’s Fiction.

True confession: I really, really, really like it when there’s at least a bit of romance included in the story. 🙂 Ahem, having said that, I’ve enjoyed some stellar Women’s Fiction over the years, even though it isn’t the first type of book I reach for.

So, I thought it would be fun to chat about Women’s Fiction today. Are you a fan? Or not? And what do you like about this genre? What kind of plots / storytelling are you looking for?

What I Enjoy In Women’s Fiction :

• exploring intergenerational relationships
• makes an emotional impact
• women mentoring women
• social justice themes
• World War II settings
• healing in dysfunctional families

A Few Women’s Fiction Recommendations:

Emotional impact, Intergenerational relationships, Healing in dysfunctional families.

From my review: “And, oh my, these sisters and their stories! Deep layers of personal and family drama culminating in divine healing. I was an emotional wreck by the end. (Gentle warning: don’t listen to or read this book in public, especially if you are an ugly crier like I am. Don’t ask me how I know.)

Exploring intergenerational relationships, Emotional impact, Women mentoring women

From my review: “Mrs. Kip starts out as a means to an end, a menial task to do penance for messing up in the newsroom, but the unassuming, terminally ill woman, has a lot of life yet to live and wisdom to impart. Aidyn finds herself roped into her shenanigans, learning important life (and faith) lessons along the way. Who knew Mrs. Kip was so full of surprises?!”

World War II, Social Justice, Emotional Impact

From my review: “I’m emotionally wrung out after this kind of read, but filled with hope too. Because people like Elsa and Hattie actually lived and risked their own lives to stand up against the horrors of Hitler’s regime. I always come away humbled after reading about ordinary people doing extraordinary things for the greater good.”

Time for some conversation and a giveaway!

I’d love to get more recommendations for Women’s Fiction authors and titles, so do share any favourites of yours, if you would be so kind! And any other thoughts you might have on all things Women’s Fiction.

Share your thoughts in a comment and you’ll be entered in a draw for:

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday May 9 2026

Okay, I have to give you my BIG news first and I have mixed feelings about it. Scared but excited too because I don’t do change gracefully. 🙂 I’M MOVING! Just got approved for an apartment downtown in a lovely historical neighbourhood. Close to a farmer’s market, two bookstores, the best vegan bakery in town, multiple parks within walking distance and a lake close by! Oh…and twenty minutes to a library. Do I have my priorities straight or what?

The downside is that I’m leaving the wee little house that has been my home for 22 years…and my garden.SOB! My new apartment does have a balcony but it’s north facing so I’ll have to educate myself about shade gardening. No more veggie gardening for me unless I can find an allotment garden close by. I thought I’d pot up a few perennials and see how they do – a hosta, coral bells and wild geranium so I have a little piece of my gardening heart with me when I go. 😦

My move in date is July 1 which couldn’t be worse because that’s Canada Day and the busiest and most expensive day of the year to move in Canada apparently. So the next two months will be spent packing and…gasp…weeding through my physical books because they all can’t go with me. The apartment is much smaller than my house. Unless I get creative and I have my thinking cap on.

Anyway, all this to say that there will likely be some bumps in the road as far as blogging goes. Partly because I’ll be busy getting the garden into shape for the last time (sob) and packing and cleaning and all that fun stuff so I won’t be able to physically read as many books as I usually do. I’ll likely listen more so it’s a good thing I went wild during that audible sale! 🙂 And then, when we get closer to my move date I’ll likely have to stop blogging for a week or two until I get internet connected at the new place. I’m playing all that by ear so stay tuned for more announcements to come.

Okay, now for some Bookish Conversation!

Since I’m concentrating on reading more Independently published books this year and you all have helped me so much by introducing me to indie authors in recent months, I decided to proclaim every fourth Sunday:

Indie Author Day!

We will celebrate by sharing indie books we’ve read, highlight new indie books coming out and wrestle with the conundrum of how to discover new-to-me indie authors and how to tell if a book is independently published in the first place.

Here’s my definition of indie publishing:

• the author pays all production costs
• the author hires and pays for his/her own editor
• the author hires and pays for cover art to be made
• or, the author creates his/her own cover art
• the author performs the technical magic I don’t understand to make the book appear on Amazon as an ebook or a print book (surprise, that costs too)
• the author pays for a voice performer if they decide to add an audio edition
• Basically, the author writes the book and then does the work of a legion of professionals in order to get it out into the world all at their own cost
• Oh, and the author does all the marketing too.

Personally, I think these hard working Independently published authors deserve their very own day every month. So we’re going to give it to them. Celebrate their dedication to their craft and help sell some books!

How to tell if a book is independently published by the author:

You think this would be the easy part, but it’s not. It used to be. Ten years ago you could look at the copyright info and it would list the author’s name under publisher, or CreateSpace Amazon (or something like that) so, easy peasy. No publisher listed meant independently published.

But then authors started getting creative (poor things can’t help it, it’s in their DNA) and they started making up cutesy little publisher names to use instead of their own. So Mabel Bowser who publishes cozy dog mysteries might decide to use ‘Barking Up the Wrong Tree Press’ and unsuspecting readers looking for an indie book might skim right on by once they see the book was published by a press. Only it wasn’t really. So confusing!

So what’s a reader to do? I have no idea, other than to google search the ‘publisher’ to see if it’s legit. I might find nothing listed under ‘Barking Up the Wrong Tree Press’ and therefore can correctly assume the book is independently published. Or, I might find a link to ‘Barking Up the Wrong Tree Press’ but notice that it only lists the author’s books. That’s another indie clue. Clear as mud, right?!

If you have any suggestions on how to recognize indie published books, do share in the comments. And that brings us to today’s Giveaway…drum roll, please, because it’s time to share the book love with our Christian Fiction Independently Published Authors:

Giveaway Opportunity:

US – paperback or ebook (check to make sure the book you choose has the edition you want, some seem to only be in ebook format.)

Canada – paperback, ebook or audible (if available) and also confirm that the book comes int he format you want

International – ebook if you have a US kindle account

You suggest an independently published Christian Fiction (or Clean Romance) already in print and leave the title and author in a comment and you will be entered in the giveaway. If your name comes up, then that’s the book you will win

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday May 2 2026

I first heard about TSTL in the context of my cozy mystery reading but I’m sure it can be applied to other genres as well. If you are unfamiliar with this intialism it stands for: Too Stupid To Live and refers to those characters who do something so foolish that it’s surprising they are alive by the end of the story.

Examples:

The classic horror film heroine who is being stalked by the serial basement hatchet killer and then one dark and stormy night she hears a thud in the basement and thinks, “Oh, I wonder what could be making that noise? I guess I should go downstairs into the dark and creepy basement and check it out.”

Or a cozy mystery heroine who finds an obviously important, pertinent clue and thinks, “I wonder if I should take this to the police? Maybe I’ll keep it for awhile instead just because (no valid reason)” And, of course, not handing it over to the police stalls the investigation, leaving the heroine with ample time to rush headlong into danger.

Or how about a contemporary romance where the hero and heroine break up in the third act over some ridiculous misunderstanding that could easily be resolved if only one of them started a conversation. Instead they both decide what the other is thinking/feeling and react to those misconceptions even though they have been toe-curling and swoony all the way up to that point.

And then there’s the stubborn suspense heroine who will make no concession in her regular schedule even though a pyschopath is gunning for her, putting everyone around her in danger, including the law enforcement/body guards who are trying to keep her alive.

Anyway, you get the idea. I find it so frustrating to be totally engaged in a really good story when it’s suddenly ruined by a TSTL moment. It feels like a contrived plot device to drive the narrative forward and I feel let down, sometimes to the point of DNFing. Which sounds harsh but it depends on my mood and how committed I have become to the characters in the book.

Realistically, I know that TSTL moments happen to all of us so I really shouldn’t be criticizing fictional characters (though I would never go down into the basement on a dark and stormy night with a serial killer on the loose…like, never! Duh!) However, TSTL moments can sneak up on a girl and here’s one of my epic ones:

Twenty years ago (yes, I’m that old.) I’d just moved into my wee little house and had dreams of creating a wild cottage garden. I read books, I haunted flower shops and nurseries and one day I discovered a hydroponics store in a rather run down building right where the ‘good’ neighbourhood starting easing into the ‘bad’. I was curious, excited to expand my ever growing gardening knowledge so I didn’t think twice about climbing the crumbling cement steps to check it out.

The place smelled funny and didn’t look like any kind of plant store I’d be in before. Pretty grimy, unorganized and there wasn’t a customer or sales clerk in sight though I was surprised to be greeted enthusiastically by two Rottweilers. I loved on the dogs until a guy showed up, as disheveled as the store. He was shocked to find me on the floor playing with the dogs.

“Whoa, those are guard dogs, lady.” He said that with a straight face as the two dogs were both trying to crawl into my lap, their stubby tails wagging. I laughed and asked him what they were supposed to be guarding. He got all flustered and called to someone in the back. This huge biker dude comes stomping up the stairs, chains jangling on his leather jacket, stops dead when he sees me and the dogs. “Ah, they’re not supposed to do that. They’re guard dogs.”

Long story short, we chatted a bit, played with the dogs, I asked them questions about the store which they were cagey about, but they did sell me a tub of bat guano which I swear by to this day as a gardening elixir. I visited the store pretty regularly, mostly to visit the dogs, always hoping they had added to the store inventory but the place always seemed in the setting up stages and there were never any other customers. Lots of noise going on in the basement though. Got to know the spaced out clerk a bit. Even gave him my name and number for when he got some gardening thing in, can’t remember what it was but he was enthusiastic.

And then one day there came a pounding on my door and two police officers were on my doorstep. Apparently they were part of a drug task force and had just busted up a Hell’s Angel’s grow op and were checking all known ties of which, apparently, I was one. Yep, that ‘store’ was a cover for a big drug operation (not just mariuana) and they found my name and number. I might have blathered on a bit too long about bat guano and they might have done a cursory check of my house and asked some pointed questions about my drug use (not!) and if I was involved in distribution!!!! They could tell pretty quickly that I was, well, TSTL but harmless enough.

Sigh. I’ve never found bat guano anywhere else. And I don’t know what happened to the dogs, though, apparently they were guard dogs after all under the ‘right’ circumstances.

Time for Conversation and a Giveaway!

Do you have TSTL triggers in your fiction? Situations or actions that make you roll your eyes and want to chuck the book across the room in frustration? Like me, do you have a true life TSTL moment you’d care to share?

Share your thoughts in a comment and you’ll be entered in a draw for:

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 25 2026

Did you know that this is Amish in April month? It’s an annual booktube challenge that encourages readers to explore the many facets of Amish fiction. From prim and proper sweet romances to edgier general market thrillers, there’s something for everyone. You’ll notice more Amish fiction on the blog this month as I celebrate the genre with some well-loved re-reads as well as new-to-me stories.

I used to read a lot more Amish Fiction though my consumption has unintentionally tapered off over the last few years. I’ve been trying to figure out why and this is what I’ve come up with so far:

• Repetitive plot lines, especially in the romance category. Which is strange, because the same could be said of contemporary romance or historical romance. Maybe it’s because Amish fiction is limited somewhat because of the nature of the culture and lifestyle?
• There seems to be fewer Amish novels being released by Christian publishers so choices are limited and/or they don’t seem to get a huge online presence (at least not in my sphere of the internet) so I’m missing them.
• I’ve noticed more general market publishers picking up Amish fiction BUT it feels like they don’t give the same research and care with authenticity and that really irks me. I’ve picked up many an Amish paperback from the library only to be disappointed with all the major errors I come across. It’s like the authors are just playing dress up with regular contemporary heroes and heroines. Slap on an apron or suspenders and call them Amish. Seriously, I read an Amish romance where wedding plans were being made and the bride to be was deciding on bridesmaids dresses, flower arrangements, decorating the chapel (she was Old Order Amish!) etc. Oh, and getting the bridal party’s nails done professionally! Whhhhhaaaaattttt???? I was so disillusioned and I think those ‘surface’ Amish books put me off the genre.

The kind of Amish Fiction I like to read has:

• Humour. I think of Suzanne Woods Fisher’s Stoney Ridge series and all the spinoffs! Some of those characters are a hoot and the situations her younger characters get into are so much fun!
• Mystery. I really love a mix of Amish and Mystery especially cozy mysteries.And the Amish adjacent ones are really intriguing. That’s where the main characters aren’t Amish but the story is set in an Amish community and there are lots of Amish secondary characters. Amanda Flowers, Isabelle Alan, Emma Miller and Laura Bradford have written some great series.
• History. There aren’t many historical Amish novels out there but I have been intrigued by the ones I have read. Jan Drexler has written two fantastic historical series.
• Dysfunction. Complicated family dynamics and the way issues are dealt with (or not dealt with) in a community. Tons of storytelling fodder there! Instead of the cliche ‘perfect’ Amish family all the time. Shelley Shepard Gray is an author who excels at this kind of story.

And now I have questions!

• Are you a fan of Amish fiction?
• Why or why not?
• If your interest has waned, why?
• What kind of themes do you like to see in your Amish Fiction?
• Favourite authors of Amish Fiction?

Important Bonus Question:

Do you have any recommendations for independently published Amish fiction authors? Please and thank you!

Giveaway Opportunity:

Share your thoughts/answer a question or two in the comments and you will be entered in a draw for:

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 18 2026