Tag: Amish

An Amish Cinderella

Now that her friends are all marrying or moving away, Heart Beachy has started feeling lonely. Worse, everyone keeps asking when she’s going to find a man of her own. Don’t they realize Heart has her hands full at home with her widowed dad, too many chores, and a menagerie of needy, small animals? Besides, she doesn’t understand the fuss about marriage. It’s enough to make her consider finally becoming a pet-sitter, or moving to an English community, where she won’t be an oddity . . .

Newcomer Clayton Glick is utterly charmed by Heart—and completely confounded. He can’t figure out why this beautiful woman is as awkward as a teenager whenever he’s around, which is often now that he’s an apprentice to her blacksmith father. So Clayton starts assisting with Heart’s never-ending tasks, even helping her corral her unruly pets. How else can he court an adorably flustered woman who doesn’t know the first thing about courtship? Because courting is exactly what he intends . . .

Heart doesn’t know why her pulse hammers every time she sees Clayton. She only knows yielding to such emotions will mean trouble. . . But maybe with a little faith—and the loss of a shoe—Clayton can convince her to join him on the road to happily ever after.

My Review:

First off — this really isn’t a Cinderella retelling — not unless you want to call every book with a motherless heroine who feels overworked and under appreciated a Cinderella tale as well. So, that was disappointing, especially since I specifically picked up this book for a fairy tale retelling challenge I was participating in.

BUT

It is a really good story, told to Shelley Shepard Gray’s exacting storytelling standards. She expertly blends humour and drama as she leads likeable characters through personal challenges towards their happily ever afters. And we get two love stories here which was all kinds of fun.

Have to admit that Heart’s father, Levi, kinda stole the spotlight for me. An oversized blacksmith with a reputation for being intimidating but really, he’s more gruff than grump and I enjoyed his story very much.

Clayton made for an intriguing hero with a back story that tugged at my heart and made his personal musings all the more emotionally charged for me. And Heart was a delightfully cheery, forthright foil to his wary reserve.

A fun, quick read — just don’t go in expecting a fairy tale retelling.

Dating Can Be Deadly + Giveaway

Between her quilting circle and tending to her mischievous goats, widowed matchmaker Millie Fisher is never at a loss for things to do in her small-town Ohio community–especially when she’s solving the odd murder or two . . .

It’s August in Holmes County, and that means it’s time for the Holmes County Fair. It’s the county’s biggest annual event, drawing tourists and locals alike to see livestock, eat too much fried food, and watch the rodeo and speed racing contests. This year, Millie has entered the quilting competition–while her very not Amish best friend, Lois Henry, is distracted by her new dating app and her search for husband number five. In a place where quilting is a way of life, the competition is fierce–especially this year, when an anonymous donor doubles the winning cash prize. Amish and English women are up against each other, and some will do anything to win–even murder . . .

When someone attacks the quilt barn by slashing the quilt display, it’s unsettling enough. But when a quilting judge is found murdered, Millie knows it’s time to for Lois to get off her app and help her hunt for a killer instead–before the competition is wiped out for good . .

My Review:

I can’t wipe the Cheshire grin off my face…or should I say Peter and Phillip grin? Those naughty goats are such a hoot! And they shine in this fifth instalment of the Amish Matchmaker Mystery series. Plus, there’s an added bonus — woot! — Jethro the pig stops by to add his unique porky flair to Dating Can Be Deadly (as if there wasn’t enough going on at the fair!) For those who aren’t familiar with Jethro, he’s a star in the author’s Amish Candy Shop Mystery series and has quite the following. Some might say he’s THE star, but you’ll need to read those books to find out if that’s true. 🙂

So, Millie and Lois are back at it — stumbling over a dead body at a fair full of mysteries. Love this Amish/English senior crime fighting duo. 🙂 The story is all told from Millie’s perspective but that doesn’t stop Lois’s larger than life personality from taking over now and again, much to my delight! And while Millie might be the Amish matchmaker, Lois has decided technology is the key to her next love match. Cue the eye rolls as you picture Lois on a dating app!

The mystery is fantastic with some clever twists that had me scrambling to keep up. Once again, the author deftly weaves Amish tradition and faith throughout the story which adds a heartwarming touch in the midst of all the murder and mayhem. 🙂 And the country fair setting was cozy perfection.

Oh — and the ending?! Jumping up and down with bookish delight. Did not see that coming either!!!! More grinning and some happy dancing.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Since this is the fifth book in the Amish Matchmaker Mystery Series and I think it’s best read in order — this giveaway is for any one of the books, so you can pick up where you left off, or start with number one if the series is new to you. I’ll list the titles below and please mention which book you would like to win in your comment.

#1 Matchmaking Can Be Murder

#2. Courting Can Be Killer

#3. Marriage Can Be Mischief

#4 Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous

#5 Dating Can Be Deadly

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the Amish Matchmaker Mystery books , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 24 2024.

REMEMBER TO MENTION WHICH BOOK IN THE SERIES YOU WOULD LIKE TO WIN IN YOUR COMMENT!!!

The Flower Quilter

Barbara Breaks from Amish Tradition to Express Her Artistry

Full of faith, hope, and romance, this new series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.

Barbara Schwartz was born into a family of quilters, but she would rather eat dirt than partake in another quilting frolic or sew on another binding. When her parents send her to Indiana to help her grandmother in her quilting shop, she finds herself amongst a very different community. It’s only one summer and then she will be back in Kentucky where she belongs.

Melvin Bontrager’s world stopped six years ago when his parents died. Now when his only means of providing for his widowed sister and niece is threatened, Melvin finds his landscaping business disappearing too. When spring delivers a newcomer who is immune to his salty moods, Melvin does something he has never done before, accepts help. 

What blooms is the last thing Barbara ever expected, and everything Melvin could ever want. 

My Review:

Hooray for a glasses-wearing heroine on the cover! And yes, that’s what drew me to this particular Amish story among all the others waiting to be read. Mind you, I enjoy Mindy Steele’s storytelling as well, but the glasses were definitely the deciding factor. :-)

Poor Melvin doesn’t make a good first impression. Or second. Or third. Or…let’s just say it took a while for Barbara to warm up to him much to this reader’s delight. Not quite frenemies to more…but almost. The way they butt heads is both amusing and frustrating and always highly entertaining!

Barbara has left her Kentucky home to spend the summer helping out her grandmother in Indiana…at least that’s supposed to be the plan. But since Barbara “would rather eat dirt than partake in another quilting frolic” (bwahahaha!) plans change and she’s suddenly around Melvin way more than she’d like which might not sound like fun to Barbara, but it sure was for me!

I could relate to both hero and heroine – their individual histories brought depth to the story and explained the difficulties they had with connecting and committing. Duty to family pulls at individual desires and leaves both Barbara and Melvin with a conundrum that doesn’t seem easily solved…unless God has a plan.

Loved the way the author describes the Amish and the intricacies of relationships within the community. And she has cleverly highlighted differences between Barbara’s stricter Kentucky Amish community and the more liberal Indiana one which made for an interesting read.

Great blend of humour and angst add just the right sizzle to this heartwarming romance.

The Heart’s Shelter

Kira has no interest in dating and putting down roots in Pennsylvania—that is, until she finds a kindred spirit in Jayden Bontrager.

Kira Detweiler doesn’t plan to be in Lancaster County for long. She’s left her family in Indiana to help her aunt after the birth of her fourth boppli. Or at least that’s what she tells people. Deep down, she’s trying to escape the heartache of a broken engagement and has no plans to date again anytime soon.

Jayden Bontrager watches his older brothers with admiration, and he prays that someday he’ll have the kind of life they do. Even so, he’s only twenty-three and not in a hurry to marry and start a family. He’s content to watch from the sidelines and is happy to see his brothers enjoying a close relationship once again.

When Jayden and Kira strike up a friendship, they are each drawn to the other’s gentle and humble demeanor, and they feel things for one another unlike anything they’ve felt before. But Kira is torn between her heart and her home. She sees no point in pursuing a relationship with Jayden when she doesn’t plan to put down roots in Pennsylvania. The last thing she needs is another heartbreak.

Will Jayden and Kira be able to overcome the obstacles in their path to find the future they both dream of?

In this fourth and final book of the Amish Legacy Series, readers will find out if the youngest Bontrager brother will get his happily ever after.

My Review:

A lovely slice of Amish family life with a sweet friends to more romance trope.

The strength of this story is in the rich details of the Amish community. I loved reading about the day to day goings on in both Jayden’s and Kira’s extended families. And the way they are drawn together and slowly open themselves up to love made for a rich, satisfying read.

Of course it doesn’t all go smoothly. Clipston captures both the anxiety and thrill of starting a relationship and I was unaccountably nervous off and on through the whole read. I mean, I knew there’d be a happily ever after, but still the emotional twists and turns kept me angsting…as did one very annoying maidel. ‘Nuf said.

Of Note: This is the fourth book in the author’s Amish Legacy series but reads perfectly fine as a standalone. If you are familiar with the Bontrager men, you’ll be thrilled to catch up with them and their Frauen. This was my introduction to the series and I had no problem using this story as my starting point. You can bet I’ll be backtracking to catch up with this series sometime soon.

I listened to the audio edition of this novel and Lauren Berst’s narration brought an extra level of enjoyment. It was fun to actually hear various Pensylvania Dutch words spoken (as opposed to the mangled pronunciations rattling around in my head!) And she did a fantastic job of giving the characters distinctive tones and inflections which helped to flesh out the characters in my mind.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of The Heart’s Shelter.

Murder of an Amish Bridegroom

Petunia Yoder is Blueberry, Pennsylvania’s youngest old maid, at twenty-two years of age, and completely unmarriageable. But she’s determined to celebrate her friends’ weddings with joy and a full heart. Unfortunately, Petunia’s best friend, Eden Beiler, is playing a dangerous game with a man who is ruining her reputation.

Ike Smoker is the community’s ice man—the one who cuts, stores, and sells the ice—and when Petunia discovers him dead with an ice pick in his chest, Eden is found on the scene with blood on her hands. Homicide detective Asher Nate is new to the area, and he has a challenge on his hands. The Amish community sticks close together, and he doesn’t understand the subtleties and nuances of the clues he uncovers. He needs an Amish interpreter, and he asks Petunia if she’ll help. In a bid to keep her best friend out of prison, she agrees.

The community is filled with people who had good reason to hate Ike Smoker, especially as Petunia and Asher begin to uncover his secrets. Was someone trying to protect their family’s reputation? Or to exact revenge for a sin buried deep in the past?

There’s a litany of damning clues that litters the ground—and if Petunia and Asher can’t come up with the truth, they could end up as the next ones on the killer’s list.

My Review:

Absolutely love this debut cozy mystery! It’s so well done from plot to characters and the intriguing whodunnit that kept me guessing close to the very last second!

Love the way the author includes tidbits of Amish culture and tradition in a very natural way, even if our heroine, Petunia, isn’t quite the typical maidel. The forthright way she has of speaking her mind has kept suitors at bay has earned her the reputation as ‘the youngest old maid.’ 🙂

When murder strikes their peaceful little village, Petunia becomes enmeshed in the investigation as she attempts to clear her friend from murder charges. Love the clever way the author justifies her involvement and it leaves things open for more murder and mayhem to come in future books.

Satisfying blend of cozy and mystery with dashes of humour and characters it’s easy to care about. Looking forward to a (hopefully) long-running series!

Writing About the Amish + Giveaway

Why does every Beth Wiseman book include a red suitcase?

This is one of the many questions answered by an author who has sold over two million books. Beth has penned more than forty books about the Plain People in Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Indiana. In this collection of essays, Beth gives readers a glimpse into her personal life and shares experiences she’s had while writing about the Amish.

Includes photos, Amish recipes, and a ‘bonus’ short story.

My Review:

I have Lucy to thank for recommending this little gem — love, love, love bookish friend reading referrals!

‘Writing About the Amish’ is a short but highly informative glimpse into the author’s research of various Amish communities. If you want to read realistic Amish fiction by an author who does her homework, Beth Wiseman’s book are definitely for you.

Bottom line: Each Amish community is unique with variations that make it hard to say, “The Amish would never…” The author includes actual ‘critiques’ of elements in her stories (even one from an Amish couple) and cover art and she answers them all with grace and humour. Interesting to note that the objection the Amish couple made was actually allowed in the community the book in question was set in, which totally stunned them! So even the Amish can get confused about what is and what isn’t allowed. 🙂

There are photos and recipes and some nifty insights into a writer’s life which I so appreciated as well. And the short story packs an emotional wallop: two childless couples, one Amish, one English and an orphaned child who needs a home. ‘Nuf said…but have a hanky handy when you read this one.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Writing About the Amish , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday January 13 2024.

Lost and Found + Giveaway

Trudy Yoder shares a passion for birding with Micah Weaver–and she has an even greater passion for Micah. Their friendship is finally turning romantic when Micah abruptly grows cold. Worse still, he wants to leave Stoney Ridge.

Micah Weaver thought he was over Trudy’s older sister. A year and a half ago, Shelley had broken his heart when she ran away from Stoney Ridge to pursue a singing career in Nashville. Then, out of the blue, she’s started to leave distressing phone messages for him.

When the bishop asks for volunteers to scout out a possible church relocation in Tennessee, Micah is the first to raise his hand. Despite scant details, he’s confident he can find Shelley. After all, his reputation as a field guide is based on finding birds that don’t want to be found.

What Micah doesn’t know is that what you’re looking for isn’t always what you find.

My Review:

It was so much fun to journey back to Stoney Ridge! One of my favourite fictional places inhabited by the bestest in bookish friends! In fact, I’m inspired now to revisit the earlier Stoney Ridge books after reading ‘Lost and Found’ because Suzanne Woods Fisher knows how to create the kind of lasting memories a reader savours and I know I’m in store for a real homecoming.

You absolutely don’t have to be familiar with previous books that feature this setting in order to enjoy this one. There are some overlapping characters but it’s easy to get to know them so you won’t feel lost in any way. I especially adore David Stolzfus, long-suffering Old Order Amish Bishop. His compassion as well as his humility make him the kind of church leader you want in your corner.

Fisher’s combination of wit and wisdom make this an emotionally satisfying read. I laughed and winced and stewed and fretted my way to the exquisitely satisfying conclusion. Complexities of relationships, light romance and the all too intriguing glimpse at three types of Amish churches (ultra-conservative Swartzentruber, Old Order and Beachy) kept me glued to the page.

Not to mention Trudy’s enlightening (and humorous) bird-watching log entries. There are a lot of birding references which I also found fascinating as it is a popular pastime for many Amish. But it’s the subtle parallels Trudy draws between bird and human habits that is alternately amusing and thought-provoking and adds an extra bit of charm.

A heartwarming and satisfying read that still has me smiling.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy and open to any reader, anywhere in the world — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Lost and Found, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easier for me to spot. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday December 9 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Amish Christmas Twins + Giveaway

In these heartwarming, faith-affirming stories, three Amish families face the joys, and challenges, of the holidays—with fruitful results . . .
 
THE CHRISTMAS NOT-WISH
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Shelley Shepard Gray
When the foster parents they’ve cautiously grown to love discover they’re expecting, orphaned Roy and Jemima Fisher, ages six and seven, are secretly devastated by the certainty they’ll be given up. With Christmas around the corner, their only wish is for new foster parents as nice as Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz. Meanwhile, the Kurtzes have wishes of their own—and with faith, they all may be gifted with twice the blessings . . .
 
NEW BEGINNINGS * Rachel J. Good
Still grieving the loss of her husband in an accident a year ago, Elizabeth Yoder is oblivious to her neighbor Luke Bontrager’s deepening affection for her. But while she bleakly faces Christmas alone, it’s Luke who reminds her it’s the season for giving. And when Elizabeth follows his advice, she soon finds her gifts repaid beyond measure, which leads to new beginnings . . .
 
TWINS TIMES TWO * Loree Lough
What happens when two secretive, stubborn people find themselves thrown together to help four rascally youngsters—twins times two!—create a Christmas surprise for their parents? Mischief and mayhem, and just maybe . . . love!

My Review:

What’s really interesting about this novella collection is the different way each author approached the ‘twin’ theme and that results in three unique and entertaining stories.

Shelley Shepard Gray’s ‘The Christmas Not-Wish’ features a pair of foster children longing for a place to belong. Emotional on so many levels, from both the kid’s perspective and their foster parents’. If you’re a Gray fan you might recognize Elizabeth Anne and Will Kurtz from ‘The Protective One‘ (Walnut Creek series.) This story is a peek into their happily ever after, which hasn’t gone exactly as they planned.

Dealing with loss is difficult any time of year, but especially so at Christmas. That’s the challenge Rachel J. Good tackles in ‘New Beginnings’ as heroine Elizabeth struggles to find a balance between her need to deal with things on her own and the good intentions of family and friends who want to ease her way. Add in an unexpected friendship with neighbour Luke, some sacrificial giving and suddenly Elizabeth’s world opens up to all kinds of new possibilities.

The twins in Loree Lough’s ‘Twins Times Two’ are adolescent trouble makers who turn into unlikely matchmakers when Abigail and Jubal are thrown together in their bid to help four troublesome boys discover the spirit of giving at Christmas.

A lovely collection of heartwarming stories.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com (US) Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Amish Christmas Twins, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 25 2023

Christmas in Sugarcreek + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

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?

My Review:

published in 2011

Shelley Shephard Gray is exceptional at developing relationships.. The way she builds attraction and tension and then shatters it with conflict. Over and over and over again. 🙂 But her angst is never for naught. She delves deep insider her characters and brings their fears to light…and sets them free. In Christmas in Sugarcreek, that results in a story that turns despair into hope during one of the most sacred seasons of the year. A beautiful book that will bless your Christmas season.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read hardcover copy — open to any reader, anywhere in the world so…yay…another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Christmas in Sugarcreek, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 3, 2023

Naomi’s Christmas + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

Christmas is a time for new beginnings. But when a dutiful Amish woman’s life is turned upside down, she may have to risk her heart to get everything she’s always wanted in this charming Pleasant Valley novel.

Since her mother’s death, Naomi Esch has been devoted to caring for her father and siblings, sacrificing any hope of finding love or having a home of her own. Still, working at the local bakery and expanding her beekeeping business give Naomi a satisfying sense of purpose. Then, in the weeks before Christmas, her father announces his plans to remarry. He and his new wife need the house for themselves, leaving Naomi in need of a plan.

But opportunities soon come her way. A friend finds Naomi a place to stay, and widower Nathan King offers his sprawling farmland to Naomi to continue her business–on the condition that she helps take care of his children. The setup is so perfect that the community assumes a wedding will inevitably follow. But Naomi has vowed never to marry without love. And to Nathan she’s merely convenient help. Now, for those in Pleasant Valley, uniting these two stubborn souls may take a Christmas miracle.

My Review:

(published in 2012)

This one gave me all the feels. It’s an emotional blend of angst and heartwarming mixed up with the tender reverence of Christmas in an Amish community.

The seventh, and last, book in the Pleasant Valley series, Naomi’s Christmas can be read as a standalone. We do get lots of quality time visiting familiar friends from other books in the series — a great reconnect for PV fans and a lovely introduction for the newbies.

A gentle love story springs out of necessity and circumstance and not without a load of trouble thrown in. There were characters/situations that made my blood boil and I wanted to throw my book against the wall a time or two. (Rest assured, no books, pages or spines were harmed in the reading of this novel.) Happily, those scenes were countered by achingly sweet ones involving Nathan’s children. And then something seems to spark between our hero and heroine and that just stirs things up all the more.

A holiday tale centred around finding hope in second chances.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com (US) Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Naomi’s Christmas, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 28, 2023