A Widow's Hope (Indiana Amish Brides) by Vannetta Chapman

Book Description:

His scars are visible.

Hers are hidden…

An Indiana Amish Brides match

After tragedy claimed her husband’s life and her son’s ability to walk, Hannah King doesn’t want a new man. She has her family, a home and mounting debts. Scarred Amish bachelor Jacob Schrock offers Hannah the job she desperately needs. But while Hannah helps Jacob resolve his accounting issues, can she and her little boy also heal his wounded heart?

About the Author:

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:

Two souls, each shouldering the weight of pain from their pasts, are connected by one special little boy.  That is where the story begins.  Where it goes from their is at times sad.  Other times it’s painful.  Then there are times that make you smile, laugh, or hold your breath.  But through it all, the message of God’s love, grace, and forgiveness shine through.  

Those are just a few of the qualities that make this such a great story.  But there is one more thing that stood out for me, and that was the story of that special little boy.  I don’t recall any of the books I’ve read ever dealing with the issue of a special needs child.  However, the author very skillfully weaves and blends the topic into the story.  She does so in a way that gives the reader insight into the love, dedication, challenges, and sometimes pain that all go along with having a special needs child, along with allowing you to see things from the viewpoint of the child.  The child’s innocence and determination added an entirely different and refreshing dimension to the story.

A Widow’s Hope is a story of grace, letting go of the past, forgiveness, hope, trust, healing, and finding love. I absolutely loved this beautiful story and its endearing characters, and I think anyone who reads it will come away feeling the same way.  

Home At Last (The Bradshaws Book 3) by Shirlee McCoy

Book Description:

Returning to their hometown isn’t something the Bradshaw brothers ever thought they’d do. But a family tragedy has reunited them in Benevolence, Washington—where second chances, reignited dreams, and real love are never far away . . .

Texas rancher Flynn Bradshaw has his work cut out for him. His sister-in-law, Sunday, is finally home after the car crash that killed her husband and left her critically injured. But Flynn still has to get her failing ancestral farm up and running while looking after his six nieces and nephews. He prefers wide open spaces and working solo. Yet as he tries to get the grieving Sunday to care about her life again, he’s finding a chance for love that’s closer than he ever expected . . . 

Even before the accident, Sunday struggled to keep the farm afloat as her once-happy marriage crumbled. Now with her body still recovering, she can't seem to get back the hope she once had. But as she reconnects with her children, Flynn’s dedication, love for the land, and caring slowly inspire her to dream again. Is their growing affection enough to help them through unresolved pain—and risk trying for a future together?

https://amzn.to/2Eef0FW

About the Author:

New York Times best-selling author Shirlee McCoy loves books. She loves reading them. She loves writing them. She loves sharing them with family, with friends, and with total strangers on airplanes and in doctor's offices. It's no surprise that she loves being an author. Her first book was published in 2004. Since then, she's written more than 45 novels. Her books have appeared on the New York Times, Publisher's Weekly, and USA Today bestsellers lists. 

Of course, her love for books pales in comparison with her love for family. When she's not writing, she's homeschooling her two youngest children and spending time with the people she cares about most. Her books are a reflection of her passion for relationships and community. An advocate for adoption and a firm believer in the power of faith, love, and compassion, Shirlee writes books that explore the dynamics between siblings, parents, children, and friends. 

She enjoys hearing from readers and writers. You can email her at http://bit.ly/2BF0i9n or catch up with her life and writing at http://bit.ly/2N9ewDL.

My Thoughts:

In this third book from The Bradshaws, the story of Sunday and Flynn (the oldest Bradshaw brother) unfolds.  As the story begins, you learn of the accident that killed Matt, Sunday’s husband, and left Sunday completely different from the person she had been before.  Along with Sunday’s physical changes come changes in her memory.  The accident has left Sunday with little memory of even the most basic of things.  As she battles the physical and mental challenges, she is also dealing with being a single mom of six children and trying to take care of the family farm that has seen it’s better days.  All the while she is remembering bits and pieces of a love story that had seemed perfect, but wasn’t.

Flynn Bradshaw is the oldest of the Bradshaw brothers.  His brother, Matt, had been Sunday’s husband.  Flynn left home years ago, but would come occasionally to visit.  He’s now returned to help Sunday with the farm while giving his brothers a little break.

During his stay on the farm, Flynn attempts to help Sunday with her challenges.

But, unlike Sunday, Flynn has no problems with his memory.  His vividly remembers the family difficulties that occurred when he was growing up.  His memories about Matt included some that made him question a few things about his brother.

This was an absolutely beautiful story.  The author’s skillful way with words just cut right to my core.  The way she writes about Sunday’s challenges, what she’s feeling, how things that were so easy at one time had now become so difficult to do, was just heart wrenching.  I could feel Sunday’s pain and frustration, and she was trying with such determination to do things that were now a challenge, I found myself cheering her on. The family dynamics, the amusing behavior of her children, and the sweetness of their care for her had me laughing and smiling.  As Sunday and Flynn’s friendship blossomed and grew, I held my breath wondering how it would all end.

I cannot say enough about what a lovely story this is.  Although it is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone.  And while I haven’t read the rest of the series, I am definitely looking forward to doing so.  

Disclaimer:  I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Welcome at Our Door (An Amish Homestead Novel Book 4) by Amy Clipston

Book Description:

After a devastating loss, Cindy Riehl is still searching for peace. Will she find it in the community she calls home—or will love send her down a new path?

Over the last few years, Cindy Riehl—the youngest of the Riehl siblings—has watched her brothers and sister find love and happiness in Lancaster County. But as her family has settled down and grown, Cindy has continued to grieve her mother, whose death left an enormous hole in her heart. Since that haunting day, Cindy has struggled to find peace and wonders if the community is the place for her—and if her faith in God will ever feel the same as it once did.

When a handsome and kind Englisher named Drew crosses Cindy’s path one surprising day, the two of them become fast and easy friends. Drew dreams of starting a family after some losses of his own, and before long, he and Cindy discover that their feelings for each other are romantic. As they spend more time together—often in secret—Cindy is drawn further and further away from the Amish community and the family she loves. In time, she is faced with a difficult choice that threatens to upend her world.

Will Cindy find contentment and love, and will she ever find restored comfort in God and her beloved community? In this final installment of the Amish Homestead series, we return to the charming town of Bird-in-Hand for a story of healing, family, and God’s perfect provision.

https://amzn.to/2G9BjyL

About the Author:

Amy Clipston has been writing for as long as she can remember. Her fiction writing "career" began in elementary school when she and a close friend wrote and shared silly stories. She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan College and is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. She is the author of the bestselling Kauffman Amish Bakery series with Zondervan, which is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. An advocate for organ and blood donation, Amy donated a kidney in 2011 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Through her donation, her husband received a second kidney transplant. Amy and her husband matched another couple and swapped kidneys with them. Amy's memoir, A Gift of Love, will be available in early 2014. She hopes her story inspires others to become organ and blood donors. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, mother, and four spoiled rotten cats. You can find her on the web at https://amyclipston.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AmyClipstonBooks.

https://amzn.to/2HOjLKb

My Thoughts:

One of the many things I like about this author is that she has a somewhat different style of writing Amish fiction.  One of the things she includes in her stories is a viewpoint that this culture, as with all groups, is not 100% perfect. Although this is a work of fiction, including this gives the story a sense of realism.  

The reality in A Welcome at Our Door has to do with the the Riehl family’s convictions.  The family members are loving and caring.  They are also friendly and hospitable to their neighbor, Drew Collins, an Englisher.  Or rather, they are friendly and hospitable towards him until something occurs that goes against their convictions.

Although the Riehls are a loving and caring family, Cindy, the youngest of the Riehl children, just doesn’t feel like she fits in.  Since her mother’s passing, she feels like no one understands her.  That all changes when she meets Drew.  And that’s also when the Riehls’ friendship and hospitality toward Drew changes, all in the name of their convictions.

The story takes you through the friendship, a budding romance, hurts, hard choices, and finally, forgiveness.  It had me laughing in some parts, crying in others, frustrated in many, and left me with a feeling of peace seeing that no matter what the situation, God’s love and forgiveness make all of the difference.  Add to that a surprise twist that I didn’t see coming and you have a lovely story that is well worth the read.

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