Her Amish Springtime Miracle (Hope's Haven Book 2) by Winnie Griggs

Book Details:

Title:  Her Amish Springtime Miracle

Series:  Hope's Haven Book 2

Author:  Winnie Griggs

Publisher:  Forever

Pages:  353

Release Date:  May 24, 2022 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Description:

In this delightful and heartwarming novel, an orphaned baby brings together an unlikely couple who learn the true meaning of family.

When Hannah Eicher discovered sweet baby Grace in her barn last spring, the adorable infant seemed like the answer to her prayers. The young Amish baker has always wanted a familye of her own and now that she’s fostered Grace for nearly a year, her adoption application is almost certain to be approved. But an unexpected visitor to Hope’s Haven could change everything…

Englischer paramedic Mike Colder is only returning to his childhood hometown to locate and adopt his late sister’s baby. But when the trail leads to Hannah and Grace, Mike’s determination falters. With Hannah, the simple life he left behind suddenly seems appealing. Despite their wildly different worlds, can Mike and Hannah give each other—and Grace—the greatest gift of all: a life together?

About the Author:  Winnie Griggs

Winnie Griggs grew up in south Louisiana in an undeveloped area her schoolmates considered the very back of beyond. With her two younger siblings and another family of three siblings for playmates, she spent many an hour exploring the overgrown land around her home, cutting jungle trails, building forts and frontier camps, and looking for pirate ships on the nearby bayou.

Once she 'grew up' she found other outlets for dealing with all those wonderful, adventurous, imaginary friends by filling notebooks with their stories. And somewhere along the way, those scribblings gave way to full length books.

Eventually she found her own Prince Charming, a rancher whose white steed takes the form of a tractor and whose kingdom is situated in a small rural community that she loves to call home, and together they've built their own storybook happily-ever-after. Their lives together expanded to include four now grown children who share Winnie's vivid imagination and her husband's steadier influences and are now out in the world pursuing their own adventures.

You can learn more about Winnie and her books, past and future, at www.winniegriggs.com

My Thoughts: A Charming and Enjoyable Read

This was such a charming and enjoyable read. The way the story evolved had me completely connecting with the characters, especially Hannah. The way God answered her prayer in the form of baby Grace and Hannah's love for her was so endearing. Author Winnie Griggs did a wonderful job of developing the characters and the relationships. It had me on an emotional roller coaster when one minute I'd feel Mike's frustrations and heartache while the in the next minute his ways had me frustrated to no end.

What made the story so charming and endearing was how love and commitment, as well as faith and trust in God prevailed over all of the situations that Hannah and Mike were faced with. It is definitely well worth the read.

**I received a complimentary copy of the book via NetGalley. All opinions and comments are completely my own.

The Sweet Life (Cape Cod Creamery Book #1) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

 Book Details:

Title:  The Sweet Life

Series:  Cape Cod Creamery Book 1

Author:  Suzanne Woods Fisher

Publisher:  Revell

Pages:  312

Release Date:  May 3, 2022 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Description:

Dawn Dixon can hardly believe she's on a groomless honeymoon on beautiful Cape Cod . . . with her mother. Sure, Marnie Dixon is good company, but Dawn was supposed to be here with Kevin, the love of her life (or so she thought).

Marnie Dixon needs some time away from the absolute realness of life as much as her jilted daughter does, and she's not about to let her only child suffer alone--even if Marnie herself had been doing precisely that for the past month.

Given the circumstances, maybe it was inevitable that Marnie would do something as rash as buy a run-down ice-cream shop in the town's tightly regulated historic district. After all, everything's better with ice cream.

Her exasperated daughter knows that she's the one who will have to clean up this mess. Even when her mother's impulsive real estate purchase brings Kevin back into her life, Dawn doesn't get her hopes up. Everyone knows that broken romances stay broken . . . don't they?

Welcome to a summer of sweet surprises on Cape Cod--a place where dreams just might come true.

About the Author:  Suzanne Woods Fisher

Suzanne Woods Fisher loves stories worth telling about people worth remembering. With over a million copies of her book sold worldwide, this bestselling, award-winning author of more than 30 books is always on the lookout for the unsung hero with an untold story.

Readers are invited to stop by Suzanne's website at: www.suzannewoodsfisher.com

My Thoughts:  A Sweet Story

Dawn Dixon is a planner.  Her favorite quote is, "I adore spontaneity, providing it is carefully planned." She thought she knew what lay ahead in her well planned life. However, it all fell apart when her fiancé, Kevin Collins, called off their engagement. Now she's heading to her would be honeymoon spot in Cape Cod with her mother, Marnie, instead of Kevin.  

Dawn and Marnie are like night and day. While Dawn is a planner, Marnie is a spontaneous risk taker.  Unfortunately she doesn't look ahead to the big picture of her risk taking and spontaneous decisions. Consequently, she often ends up overwhelmed with her spontaneous decisions, the latest one being to open an ice cream shop in Cape Cod. 

The Sweet Life is a very sweet (pun intended) story. It is a story of self-reflection, healing, love, and faith. Some of the healing and self-reflection occurred between Dawn and Marnie, and some occurred between Dawn and Kevin. In each relationship, both parties went through a lot of self-reflection that resulted in a new understanding of themselves as well as a new understanding of the other person.  Watching Dawn, Marnie and Kevin going through this process had me reflecting as well.  It brought to mind that while we see things from our perspective and point of view, we need to also see it from the other person's perspective. Doing so will help us gain a better understanding of ourselves and them, which can bring our relationships to another level. Such was the case with Dawn, Marnie and Kevin, and watching them go through this process is what made this a wonderful and sweet story that I highly recommend. 

****I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Love in Plain Sight (An Amish Mail-Order Bride Novel Book 3) by Kathleen Fuller

Book Details:

Title:  Love in Plain Sight

Series:  An Amish Mail-Order Bride Novel Book 3

Author:  Kathleen Fuller

Publisher:  Zondervan

Pages:  320

Release Date:  May 3, 2022 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Description:

In the town of Birch Creek where the only danger is getting swept off your feet, Katharine Miller hides the secrets of her past . . . until she meets Ezra Bontrager and is forced to face the greatest risk of all—opening her heart to true love.

After fleeing her hometown, Katharine finds peace and anonymity while working at Stoll’s Inn and keeping to herself. As long as her guard is up, she can protect herself and others from her past, with the hope that one day her family will forgive her for leaving.

Ezra Bontrager has never shared a love of farming with his brothers and father, and when he takes a job at Stoll’s Inn, he quickly finds even more reason to come to work every day. Although he has no intention of marrying anytime soon, Ezra can’t help but want to learn more about the quiet and mysterious newcomer who doesn’t appear to have come to Birch Creek looking for a husband, as so many have done after the want ad that advertised Birch Creek’s many bachelors.

As Katharine and Ezra continue to cross paths, Katharine feels her defenses lower, and Ezra no longer scoffs at the idea of marriage. Just as they start to hope for the future, the past comes roaring back—not just for Katharine and Ezra but for the entire community of Birch Creek. Confronting that past won’t be easy, but it brings the opportunity for love and grace to abound.

About the Author:  Kathleen Fuller

With over a million copies sold, Kathleen Fuller is the USA TODAY bestselling author of several bestselling novels, including the Hearts of Middlefield novels, the Middlefield Family novels, the Amish of Birch Creek series, and the Amish Letters series as well as a middle-grade Amish series, the Mysteries of Middlefield. Visit her online at https://kathleenfuller.com/; 

Instagram: @https://www.instagram.com/kf_booksandhooks/; 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WriterKathleenFuller; 

My Thoughts:  Loved It!

Love in Plain Sight takes us once again to Birch Creek, an Amish community with the dilemma of too many bachelors and not enough wife candidates. It's also where someone has taken the issue into their own hands by sending out an advertisement in search of young women looking for husbands.  The advertisement has been working just fine so far. However, when Katharine Miller arrives in Birch Creek, although others think she's on a husband search, that is actually the furthest thing from her mind.  All she wants is peace and quiet and to be left alone which just might be a bit of a challenge if Ezra Bontrager has anything to say about it.

Ezra is just like Katharine in his thoughts about marriage.  Unfortunately that idea is bit of a challenge with the single women, one in particular, that are greatly interested in having him take the marriage plunge.  However, Ezra also just wants to be left alone. That is all good and well until he realizes that Katharine is one single woman that has absolutely no interest in him. Although that should make him happy, it actually piques his interest to where he finds himself wanting to spend more time with her. 

I was captivated from the very start of the story and absolutely loved it! Katherine Fuller has done a fantastic job of weaving some very sensitive topics into the story. She did so in a way that made me vividly see things through the characters' eyes and feel what the characters were feeling. My heart went out to Katharine, and I loved how she grew and was able to move forward with God's help and the love of those around her. As for Ezra, it was such a joy to watch him and his determination of trying to get to know Katherine better and figure her out.  I loved watching their relationship evolve from strangers, to friends, and how it developed into such a special bond between them. Seeing how some well-meaning matchmakers threw in a helping hand to make it happen had me smiling more than once.

Katharine and Ezra's story is a very beautiful one. It is a combination of romance, humor, faith, forgiveness, trust, God's will, and overcoming the past. All of these characteristics made this a truly inspirational story that I highly recommend.

****I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Amish Twins Next Door: An Uplifting Inspirational Romance (Indiana Amish Brides Book 9) by Vannetta Chapman

 Book Details: 

Title:  The Amish Twins Next Door 

Series:  Indiana Amish Brides Book 9

Author:  Vannetta Chapman

Publisher:  Love Inspired

Pages:  231

Release Date:  April 26, 2022

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Description:

Two little matchmakers could change everything…in this novel by USA TODAY bestselling author Vannetta Chapman.

Falling for a pretend suitor

could cause real complications… 

Amish single mom Deborah Mast is determined to raise her seven-year-old twin sons her way. But when neighbor Nicholas Stoltzfus takes the rambunctious boys on as apprentices on his farm, she’ll learn the value of his help with more than just the children. And when the two little matchmakers hatch a plan of their own, Deborah could also discover how to reopen her heart…

About the Author:  Vannetta Chapman

Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She is the author of over twenty novels, including the Pebble Creek Amish series, Shipshewana Amish Mystery Series, and Plain and Simple Miracle series. Vannetta is a Carol award winner, a Christy finalist, and she also received more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She currently writes Christian suspense, Amish romance, and Amish mystery. She was a teacher for 15 years and resides in the Texas hill country. For more information, visit her at: 

webpage -- www.VannettaChapman.com 

blog -- http://vannettachapman.com/blog

facebook -- www.facebook.com/VannettaChapmanBooks

pinterest -- http://pinterest.com/vannettachapman

instagram -- https://instagram.com/vannettachapman

twitter -- https://twitter.com/VannettaChapman

My Thoughts:  A Wonderful and Endearing Story

Deborah Mast's twin boys are the center of her world, and there isn't anything she wouldn't do for them.  Yes, the almost seven year olds can be a little active and curious, but Deborah has her way of raising them and no one can tell her otherwise. However, Nicholas (Nick) Stolzfus did not get that memo.  He thrives on structure and planning both of which go out the window when he finds out that working with his neighbor will include Deborah and her energetic twins.  However, Nick comes up with a plan which involves a structured way of keeping the twins under control while helping them funnel their energy.  Nick is convinced that Deborah will agree with his plan, which she does, but not until he agrees to a surprising plan of her own. And that is the beginning of a series of events which will take Deborah and Nick on an unexpected and interesting journey. 

There is so much that makes this such a wonderful and endearing story. It piqued my curiosity and drew me in right from the start kept me there all the way to the end. The characters were absolutely delightful and charming. Their interactions kept me laughing and smiling, especially the banter between Deborah and Nick and the well-meaning antics of the twins. The story pacing was perfect and was key in Deborah and Nick getting to know each other which included how their pasts played a part in their growing relationship.  I also enjoyed how the elements of humor, romance, faith and trust flowed flawlessly throughout the story and kept me completely connected to the characters.  

The Amish Twins Next Door is an awesome fun and endearing story. It is a definite must read that you will want to check out for yourself. And although it's a standalone in Chapman's Indiana Amish Brides series, I highly recommend you read the rest of the series as well.  You won't be disappointed.

****I received a complimentary copy of the book.  All comments in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.

The Amish Farmer's Proposal by Barbara Cameron

Book Details: 

Title:  The Amish Farmer's Proposal 

Author:  Barbara Cameron

Publisher:  Forever (Grand Central Publishing)

Pages:  352

Release Date:  April 26, 2022

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Description:

A sweet and heartwarming Amish romance where no disaster can conquer true love. 

Dairy farmer Abe Stoltzfus wants to propose to Lavinia Fisher, the beautiful young woman he’s been dating, but being a traditional Amish man, he worries about how he can provide for her. Farming can be uncertain enough with weather conditions, crops not doing well, all manner of uncertainties. And after a bad summer storm and a serious injury from a rooftop tumble, Abe wants to wait until both he and his farm are back on their feet.

Lavinia is relieved when Abe survives the fall, yet it seems like it’s only the start of events that threaten their future together. But Lavinia is not only a talented Amish crafter, she’s also the daughter of a farmer. She knows what the life of a farm wife is like and remains optimistic things will turn around. And when Abe continues to drag his feet, Lavinia makes him an interesting proposal. Will Abe be able to resist it—and her?

About the Author:  Barbara Cameron

Barbara Cameron has a heart for writing about the spiritual values and simple

joys of the Amish. She is the best-selling author of more than 40 fiction and

nonfiction books, three nationally televised movies, and the winner of the first

Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award. Her books have been

nominated for Carol Awards and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award from

RWA's Faith, Hope, and Love chapter. Barbara resides in Jacksonville, Florida.

https://www.facebook.com/barbara.cameron1

My Thoughts:  A Lovely and Moving Story

Abe Stolzfus wants to ask Lavinia Fisher to marry him, but with all of the challenges that can affect farming, Abe worries about being able to provide for her. The situation is further complicated when Abe suffers a fall which puts him in the hospital and severely limits his mobility and ability to care for himself or the farm.  This convinces him even more that he and Lavinia won't be able to marry for quite some time.  Sticking to that plan will be easier said than done if Lavinia has any say in the matter.  

I was deeply moved by the story right from the start. Part of that was due to Abe's feelings and frustrations associated with his limited mobility. (I know someone that suffered a similar situation and saw first hand how this can affect a person.) Although his stubbornness of resisting marriage to Lavinia frustrated me more than once, his pain and challenges drew my heart to him and helped me understand him more. 

Lavinia's deep devotion and love for Abe was the other element that drew me into the story right from the start.  From the moment Abe suffered his accident and throughout the story, she demonstrated how deeply she cared for him. Even when Abe had his down times, difficulties, and wasn't exactly the nicest person, Lavinia didn't waver.  But, would this be enough for Abe to change his mind about Lavinia and marriage? 

Abe and Lavinia's relationship isn't without its challenges, and they most surely have their work cut out for them. Their path had some bumps in the road that caused me to hold my breath as I waited and wondered how it would all turn out. However, following them as they faced the good along with their ups and downs is exactly what I loved about this lovely and moving story.  In order for you to see just how their story unfolds, you'll have to read it for yourself.  And I highly recommend you do just that.

***I received a copy of the book from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley.  All opinions and comments are completely my own.

The Gift of Joy (Unexpected Gifts Book 2) by Kristen McKanagh

 Book Details:

Title:  The Gift of Joy

Series:  Unexpected Gifts Book 2

Author:  Kristen McKanagh

Publisher:  Berkley

Pages:  302

Release Date:  April 26, 2022

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Description:

Life is full of joy when it's least expected in this sweet Amish romance from the author of The Gift of Hope.

Joshua Kanagy’s older brother has left the family gift shop business, which is wonderful gute for Aaron, but not for Joshua. Horses are his talent—raising and training them. But how can Joshua step away from the shop when his parents have already had to give up the dream of leaving their legacy to all three of their sons?

Enter Joy Yoder, a determined, if sometimes misguided, helper who always manages to drag Joshua into her schemes and promises. Only now her focus turns to finding a solution to his problem, partly to distract from her own. Her mamm has her heart set on Joy marrying the minister’s son, and she’s not sure she wants to.

Joy gets the grand idea to propose to Joshua, offering a partnership of convenience rather than love. But as the wedding approaches, Joy starts to develop feelings for Joshua. Is it possible Gotte’s plan for Joy includes faith, friendship, and love?

About the Author:  Kristen McKanagh

Romance author Kristen McKanagh writes sweet contemporary romance & Amish romance. She loves plots that warm the soul, feisty heroines with sass, heroes with heart, a dash of snark, and oodles of HEAs! Other titles include wife, mother, Star Wars geek, ex-competitive skydiver, spreadsheet lover, eMBA, organizational guru, Texan, Aggie, and chocoholic.

Kristen attempted to find a practical career related to her favorite pastime by earning a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing) and an MBA. However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it.

Kristen currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own swoon-worthy hero, their amazing kids, who are growing up way too fast, and 2 adorable fur babies.

kristenmckanagh.com

My Thoughts:  A True Gift of Joy

Joy Yoder's childhood friend, Joshua Kanagy, loves working with horses and helping out at her father's horse business. While that arrangement has been working out just fine, it runs into a snag when Joshua's family needs him to work at their shop.  This poses a challenge for Joshua, because he wants to keep working with horses, but he also knows his family is depending on him.  Meanwhile, Joy is facing challenges of her own. She's trying to find a way to do more with her quilting while doing her best to keep her mother's attempts of marrying her off to the minister's son from becoming a reality.  

Through the years, Joshua has been pulled into being an unwilling, and sometimes willing,  participant in Joy's well-meaning schemes. Joy knows how much Joshua would love to continue working with horses rather than work at his family's shop, and she knows that he needs a solution for his dilemma. Joy also knows that she needs a solution for her own situations, which of course gives Joy a grand idea that she's sure will solve everything for Joshua and and for her. However, what she doesn't know is that her plan may just turn out in a way she never would have imagined.

The Gift of Joy is a wonderful story!  I was completely drawn in from the first page, and I didn't put it down until I had read the entire book. It was fun, entertaining, heartwarming and just simply delightful. Joy truly is a joy.  She has such a huge heart and really just genuinely wants to help people and her grand schemes, which can be somewhat impulsive at times, are just her way of helping. Even though Joshua is a little grounded, Joy manages to pull him into her schemes one way or another.  And that is just part of what makes this story such a joy, pun intended, to read.  Joy and Joshua's interactions, as well as the interactions with the other characters, had me smiling, sighing, hold my breath, laughing out loud, and even pushed me to frustration a time or two. Yes, it was a bit of an emotional roller coaster ride for me, but those elements combined are what made this such a wonderful and delightful story that in the end left me smiling and saying, "That story was a true gift of joy!"

***I received a copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.  All comments and opinions are strictly my own.

The Bookseller’s Promise (The Amish Bookstore Novels Book 1) by Beth Wiseman

Book Details:

Title:  The Bookseller's Promise

Series:  An Amish Bookstore Novels Book 1

Author:  Beth Wiseman

Publisher:  Zondervan

Pages:  336

Release Date:  April 19, 2022

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Description:

An unrequited romance and a rare book . . .

Yvonne Wilson makes the trek from Texas to Indiana with just one goal in mind: to convince Amishman Jake Lantz to sell her client a rare book from his collection. But Jake is as strong-willed as Yvonne. On the eve of his grandfather’s death, Jake vowed never to sell the book, and he intends to keep that promise. But he can’t say more than that, having never read it and not knowing why it was so dear to his grossdaadi.

Eva Graber has loved Jake since he hired her to work in his bookstore years ago, but he doesn’t seem to notice she’s blossomed into a beautiful woman. When Yvonne shows up and seems like she might turn Jake’s eye, Eva suggests she and Jake should read the book together.

What happens after that surprises them all, and the book leads the trio deep into mysterious questions about life and death, love and loss, and the impenetrable purposes of God.

About the Author:  Beth Wiseman

Bestselling and award-winning author Beth Wiseman has sold over two million books. She is the recipient of the coveted Holt Medallion, a two-time Carol Award winner, and has won the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award three times. Her books have been on various bestseller lists, including CBD, CBA, ECPA, and Publishers Weekly. Beth and her husband are empty nesters enjoying country life in south central Texas. Visit her online at: https://bethwiseman.com/; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBethWiseman; 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bethwiseman; 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethwisemanauthor

My Thoughts:  An unrequited romance and a rare book . . .

That phrase is a perfectly fitting description of The Bookseller's Promise.  But if you think that description sums up the whole story, I'm here to tell you that it's not even close.  

Yvonne Wilson is on a mission to acquire an extremely rare book, and she finds out that an Amish bookstore actually has the book. However, when Yvonne contacts Jake Lantz, the bookstore owner, she is shocked when he informs  her that the book is not for sale.  Because Yvonne is not one to give up, especially where a large payout is involved, she decides to travel to Indiana so that she can speak directly to Jake and get him to change his mind.  

Jake owns the bookstore that had been his grandfather's, and Eva Graber has worked with him ever since she was fifteen years old.  While Eva would like Jake to see her as more than just his employee, he seems a tad bit slow in the romance department and doesn't quite get the message.  And that is where a story about an unrequited romance and a rare book begins.  It's also the beginning of how Yvonne, Jake and Eva's paths cross and merge together, which create a beautiful story.

While I loved Jake and Eva right from the start, I struggled with feeling the same way about Yvonne. However, as I got to know the three of them better, I completely changed my mind about Yvonne.   Then when a curve ball was thrown into the story, the three characters took over my heart completely.

The Bookseller's Promise is a true gem of a story.  Once I started reading it, I couldn't stop.  I wanted Jake and Eva to find each other, but I really wanted to know what was in that special book.  Author Beth Wiseman flawlessly blended the themes of romance, intrigue, and faith throughout the story, and she did so in a way where the themes perfectly complement each other and do not overshadowed one another.  It was a perfect combination as is, but it became even more perfect with some unexpected events that added so much more depth to the story and made me say, "Wow! I did not see that coming!"  I highly recommend you read it for yourself and when you do, you'll understand why.

****I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.