Tag Archives: Amish Fiction

#BookReview: Mending Fences by Suzanne Woods Fisher

20 Feb

Mending Fences is a heartwarming tale! Suzanne Woods Fisher never fails to delight me with her endearing characters and unique storylines, and this latest story is no exception. Luke’s and Izzy’s journeys are complex and emotional, and I reveled in the wisdom they shared and the lessons they learned. I thoroughly enjoyed this first Deacon’s Family novel and look forward to continuing the series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

Luke Schrock is a new and improved man after a stint in rehab, though everyone in Stoney Ridge only remembers the old Luke. They might have forgiven him, but nobody trusts him.

Amos and Fern Lapp allow Luke to live at Windmill Farm under two conditions. First, Luke must make a sincere apology to each person he’s hurt–a four-page, single-spaced list. Second, he must ask each victim of mischief to describe the damage he caused.

Simple, Luke thinks. Offering apologies is easy. But discovering the lasting effects his careless actions have caused . . . that isn’t so simple. It’s gut-wrenching.

And his list keeps growing. Izzy Miller, beautiful and frustratingly aloof, also boards at Windmill Farm. Luke’s clumsy efforts to befriend Izzy only insult and annoy her. Eager to impress, Luke sets out to prove himself to her by locating her mother. When he does, her identity sends shock waves through Stoney Ridge.

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#BookReview: A Widow’s Hope by Vannetta Chapman

3 Aug

I thoroughly enjoyed A Widow’s Hope! Hannah and Jacob are strong characters made vulnerable by the tragedies they have experienced. Each bearing their own scars, Hannah and Jacob struggle with fear and doubt. Their journey is heartfelt and emotional, and I delighted in the hope and healing they found. Vannetta Chapman is a gifted storyteller, and I am eager to read more of her wonderful stories!

 

About the book:

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?

Learn more about the book and author.

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#BookReview: Gathering the Threads by Cindy Woodsmall

22 Sep

Gathering the Threads is a compelling conclusion of The Amish of Summer Grove series! Woodsmall delights readers with another heart-stirring story, as she deftly intertwines the Old Order Amish world with the Englisch. Ariana and her family have endured much, and their emotional and spiritual journeys are both engaging and thought-provoking. I enjoyed Gathering the Threads and highly recommend reading this trilogy in order. However, if you haven’t read the preceding stories, a story line summary is given at the beginning of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

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About the book:

After three months of draus in da Welt, Ariana has returned to Summer Grove, the Old Order Amish community where she was raised for twenty years, and life with her Brenneman family. Skylar Nash, the Englisch-raised young woman is working in Ariana s cafe while getting to know her birth family and their Plain way of life. Skylar’s time in Summer Grove has changed her outlook, just as Ariana has grown to see her personal faith in God in a different light than the manner she was taught while growing up. Both women will have to make decisions about their paths and Ariana must decide what role her childhood friend, ex-Amish Quill Schlabach, will play in her life.

Gathering the Threads is the third and final novel in The Amish of Summer Grove series.

Learn more, read an excerpt, and purchase a copy.

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#BookReview: The Return by Suzanne Woods Fisher

20 Aug

Fisher’s wonderful storytelling brings history to life in The Return! Betsy Zook and Tessa Bauer are two young women who experience tumultuous journeys. Inspired by true events, the details of their stories are affecting and emotional. I was fascinated by this glimpse into the past and enjoyed the intertwining of historical and Amish fiction in this compelling tale. Although The Return revisits characters found throughout the Amish Beginnings series, this novel takes place many years later and can also be read as a stand-alone story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

Beautiful and winsome, Betsy Zook never questioned her family’s rigid expectations, nor those of devoted Hans, but then she never had to. Not until the night when she’s taken captive in a surprise Indian raid. During her captivity, Betsy faces brutality and hardship, but also unexpected kindness. She draws strength from native Caleb, who encourages her to find God in all circumstances. She finds herself torn between her pious upbringing and the intense new feelings this compelling man awakens within her.

Handsome and complex, Hans is greatly anguished by Betsy’s captivity and turns to Tessa Bauer for comfort. Eagerly, Tessa responds, overlooking troubling signs of Hans’s hunger for revenge. When Betsy is finally restored to the Amish, have things gone too far between Hans and Tessa?

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#BookReview: His Guilt by Shelley Shepard Gray | 5 Book #Giveaway

6 Jul

Not your typical Amish fiction, His Guilt is sure to keep readers guessing! Shelley Shepard Gray is a wonderful storyteller, and she creates an ominous ambiance in this second Amish of Hart County story. Mark Fisher is an intriguing character, and I was eager to discover how his relationship with Waneta Cain would unfold. I thoroughly enjoyed their dramatic story and am eager to continue this compelling series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

Enter to win a copy of His Guilt. Five winners will be chosen! Click the image below to enter to win. The winners will be announced July 25th on the Litfuse blog!

 

About the book:

Mark Fisher has returned home to Hart County, determined to put the past behind him. Two years ago, after being wrongly accused of assault, he left the Amish community, though never forgot his home. When the one person who had helped him through his rough times asks for help, Mark returns. But it is pretty Waneta Cain who makes him want to stay…
Neeta is one of the few people in Hart County who doesn’t believe Mark is guilty of hurting anyone. However, his worldliness and tough exterior do make her uneasy. As she begins to see the real man behind all the gossip and prejudice, she wonders if he is the man for her.

Just when Mark starts to believe a new life is possible, a close friend of Neeta’s is attacked. Once again, everyone in the community seems to believe he is guilty. But what hurts most is Neeta’s sudden wariness around him. When another woman is hurt, a woman who is close to both Neeta and himself, Mark fears he knows the real culprit. And time is running out. Will Mark be able to find him before Neeta becomes his next victim?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

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#BookReview: Her Secret by Shelley Shepard Gray | 5 Book #Giveaway

15 Mar

Her Secret is a tale that will keep you turning the pages! Shelley Shepard Gray is an engaging storyteller, and the atmosphere of this story and the emotions of its characters are palpable. Each member of the Hilty family has been affected by the events that drove them to make a fresh start, and their reactions vary as secrets are revealed and danger threatens. A great blend of compelling suspense and charming romance, I thoroughly enjoyed Her Secret and look forward to revisiting The Amish of Hart County!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the book:

After a stalker went too far, Hannah Hilty and her family had no choice but to leave the bustling Amish community where she grew up. Now she’s getting a fresh start in Hart County, Kentucky…if only she wasn’t too scared to take it. Hannah has become afraid to trust anyone-even Isaac, the friendly Amish man who lives next door. She wonders if she’ll ever return to the trusting, easy-going woman she once was.

For Isaac Troyer, the beautiful girl he teasingly called “The Recluse” confuses him like no other. When he learns of her past, he knows he’s misjudged her. However, he also understands the importance of being grateful for God’s gifts, and wonders if they will ever have anything in common. But as Hannah and Isaac slowly grow closer, they realize that there’s always more to someone than meets the eye.

Just as Hannah is finally settling into her new life, and perhaps finding a new love, more secrets are revealed and tragedy strikes. Now Hannah must decide if she should run again or dare to fight for the future she has found in Hart County.

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Enter to win a copy of Her Secret!  Five winners will be chosen and announced April 3rd on the Litfuse blog!   Click the image below to enter to win.

 

About the author:

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

Visit the author’s website.

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#BookReview: The Newcomer by Suzanne Woods Fisher

20 Feb

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The Newcomer is the second installment in the Amish Beginnings series. Although I have not read Book 1, Anna’s Crossing, I was able to follow the story line and enjoy this book as a stand-alone story. As Anna Konig and the other Amish settlers enter the New World, unexpected happenings abound. I enjoyed the wealth of history woven through their story, as well as the threads of mystery and romance. Anna and Bairn share a dramatic journey, one I look forward to following as this series continues.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

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About the book:

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In 1737, Anna Konig and her fellow church members stagger off a small wooden ship after ten weeks at sea, eager to start a new life in the vibrant but raw Pennsylvania frontier. On the docks of Port Philadelphia waits bishop Jacob Bauer, founder of the settlement and father to ship carpenter Bairn. It’s a time of new beginnings for the reunited Bauer family, and for Anna and Bairn’s shipboard romance to blossom.

But this perfect moment cannot last. As Bairn grasps the reality of what it means to be Amish in the New World–isolated, rigid with expectations, under the thumb of his domineering father–his enthusiasm evaporates. When a sea captain offers the chance to cross the ocean one more time, Bairn grabs it. Just one more crossing, he promises Anna. But will she wait for him?

When Henrik Newman joins the church just as it makes its way to the frontier, Anna is torn. He seems to be everything Bairn is not–bold, devoted, and delighted to vie for her heart. And the most dramatic difference? He is here; Bairn is not.

Far from the frontier, an unexpected turn of events weaves together the lives of Bairn, Anna, and Henrik. When a secret is revealed, which true love will emerge?

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2kQUTRa

Visit the author: http://suzannewoodsfisher.com/

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#BookReview: The Cherished Quilt by Amy Clipston

28 Dec

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The Cherished Quilt is a lovely, heartfelt story! With imagery and emotion, Amy Clipston skillfully brings her characters and their community to life, and I loved spending time in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania.

Themes of guilt and grief are finely woven through Emily and Christopher’s story, but their journey is also filled with hope and healing. It was such a pleasure to watch their relationship grow and blossom! I thoroughly enjoyed The Cherished Quilt and look forward to continuing the Amish Heirloom series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

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Emily Fisher is eager to meet the new employee at her father’s shop in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania. But when Christopher Hochstetler arrives, his cold demeanor freezes her attempts at building a friendship.

Longing for a fresh start, Christopher travels from Ohio to Bird-in-Hand to work at his uncle’s shop. Christopher’s heart is still wounded from memories of home, and making new friends is the last thing on his mind—he knows the pain that comes with losing those you love. When Emily is kind to him, he tries to remain distant, but he soon finds himself stealing glances at her throughout the day.

When Christopher shares his tragic reasons for leaving home, Emily decides to make a quilt for him as a gesture of their friendship. Even though he is not a member of the church, she’s found someone with whom she can imagine a future. The two are quickly falling in love when a family emergency calls Christopher back to Ohio without warning.

Emily finishes the quilt, in spite of her pain. But when Christopher receives it, will he have the courage to follow his heart?

Purchase a copy: http://amzn.to/2ii9700

Visit the author: amyclipston.com

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#BookReview: The Devoted | iPad Mini #Giveaway

27 Oct

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The Devoted by Suzanne Woods Fisher 

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2eVPOpw

Bright, curious, and restless, Ruthie Stoltzfus loves her family but is stuck in a sea of indecision about her future: Should she stay Amish? Or should she leave? She’s done all she can to prepare to go–passed the GED, saved her money–but she can’t quite set her journey into motion.

Patrick Kelly is a young man on a journey of his own. He’s come to Stoney Ridge to convert to the Amish and has given himself thirty days to learn the language, drive a buggy, and adapt to “everything Plain.” Time, to Patrick, is of the essence. Every moment is to be cherished, especially the hours he spends with Ruthie, his Penn Dutch tutor.

Ruthie’s next-door neighbor and cunning ex-boyfriend, Luke Schrock, is drawn to trouble like a moth to a flame. Rebellious, headstrong, defiant, Luke will do anything to win Ruthie back–“anything”–and Patrick Kelly is getting in his way.

 

My thoughts:

The Devoted is a wonderful story! In this third and final installment of The Bishop’s Family series, Suzanne Woods Fisher welcomes readers back to the quaint community of Stoney Ridge with Ruthie Stoltzfus contemplating her life and her love interests. Revisiting beloved characters, as well as introducing new ones, this heartwarming tale is rife with drama and emotion and brimming with words of wisdom.  One of my favorite quotes- “Every single spoke is needed to keep the buggy balanced.  Each one matters.”

Although The Devoted continues story lines that began in earlier books, it can easily be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel. However, fans of Amish fiction won’t want to miss a single story!

 

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Suzanne is celebrating the release of The Devoted with a special giveaway!

One winner will receive:

  • A copy of The Devoted
  • An iPad Mini 2 16GB

Enter today, but hurry! The giveaway ends on November 2. The winner will be announced November 3 on Suzanne’s blog.  Enter to win by filling out the form when you click here, or click the graphic above to enter to win.

 

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I received a complimentary copy of this book.  No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

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#BookReviews: A Sister’s Wish + An Amish Family Christmas | Book Pack #Giveaway

20 Oct

Don’t miss books three (A Sister’s Wish) and four (An Amish Family Christmas) in Shelley Shepard Gray’s Charmed Amish Life series. In A Sister’s Wish, when Amelia gets hurt, it sets off a chain of events that forces them to consider their future together—and face their past mistakes. There’s a chance for love… but only if Simon dares to trust Amelia with the secrets of his past. In An Amish Family Christmas, Christmas is a time for family, and as the holiday draws closer, Julia and Levi will have to face their pasts together . . . in order to find the healing, support and love they so desperately desire.

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Enter to win a book pack (a copy of A Sister’s Wish and a copy of An Amish Family Christmas) from Shelley. Five winners will be chosen! The winners will be announced November 7th on Shelley’s blog!

 

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A Sister’s Wish

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2e2XBTQ

In Shelley Shepard Gray’s third book in her Charmed Amish Life series, a respectable young woman finds herself falling for an Amish man from the wrong side of the tracks.

Amelia Kinsinger is the perfect Amish woman—at least according to her neighbors. And while Amelia takes pride in her role as homemaker, she’s also harboring a secret: She’s been in love with bad boy Simon Hochstetler for as long as she can remember. Too bad he’s about as far from “perfect” as an Amish man could get . . . but that’s exactly why she’s so drawn to him.

Life hasn’t been kind to Simon. He ran away from an abusive home at fifteen and things went downhill from there. Eventually, Simon landed in prison. But the experience changed him. Now back in Charm as a grown man, he’s determined to make a new life for himself and not think too much about his wild past . . . unless it pertains to Amelia.

He’s loved Amelia for years. To him, she represents everything good and kind in the world. When he realizes that she returns his affections, he starts calling on her in secret, even though her older brother Lukas—who just happens to be Simon’s best friend—has made it perfectly clear that Amelia deserves better. Simon disagrees and believes he’s the only one who can truly make her happy.

But when Amelia gets hurt, it sets off a chain of events that forces them to consider their future together—and face their past mistakes. There’s a chance for love . . . but only if Simon dares to trust Amelia with the secrets of his past.

My thoughts:

I have really enjoyed The Charmed Amish Life stories, and A Sister’s Wish is my favorite of the series! Shelley Shepard Gray is a wonderful storyteller who brings Charm, Ohio, and its residents to life with vivid details and descriptions and excellent characterization.

From the moment I began reading A Sister’s Wish, I was completely captivated by Amelia and Simon’s story! I loved the complexities of the Kinsinger and Hochstetler families and their dramatic and emotional journeys. Beautifully told, this poignant story is sure to tug at your heartstrings!

For those who have not read Books 1 and 2, A Sister’s Wish can be enjoyed independently. However, I encourage you to read the series in order for a greater understanding and appreciation of the characters and their stories.

 

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An Amish Family Christmas

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2dYRwqr

In Shelley Shepard Gray’s fourth book in her Charmed Amish Life series, an unlikely Amish romance reveals that Christmas is a time for family, miracles—and love.

Ever since his father died in a tragic fire, Levi Kinsinger has felt adrift. Newly returned to Charm, Ohio, Levi is trying to fit into his old life, only to discover he seems to have outgrown it.

But when Julia, his young widowed neighbor, asks for his help with a Christmas project, Levi finds a sense of purpose for the first time in months. She and her daughter are new to Charm and could use a friend, a job Levi takes personally. Soon enough, friendship grows into attraction, but Levi can’t help having doubts. There’s something about Julia that doesn’t ring quite true . . .

Like Levi, Julia Kemps has survived her fair share of hardships—but only by hiding the truth of her past. Being an unmarried mother in an Amish community was unthinkable. Feeling hopeless, Julia did the only thing she could do: she moved to a new town and pretended to be a widow. But meeting Levi, she’s hopeful for the first time. Little by little, she begins to imagine telling him her darkest secret, and eventually . . . perhaps even sharing her life with him.

Christmas is a time for family, and as the holiday draws closer, Julia and Levi will have to face their pasts together . . . in order to find the healing, support and love they so desperately desire.

My thoughts:

An Amish Family Christmas is a wonderful culmination of a wonderful series! I have loved visiting the special community of Charm, Ohio and eagerly anticipated Levi Kinsinger’s story. When Levi returns to Charm, he meets a young woman, Julia, who needs his help. But with secrets to keep, will Julia let herself trust her neighbor and the help he offers?

I really enjoyed Levi and Julia’s dramatic story and their coming to terms with the pain and hardships of their pasts. I also delighted in revisiting the other members of the Kinsinger family as they gathered together in love and support of each other.

An Amish Family Christmas is the fourth and final book in The Charmed Amish Life series. If you enjoy Amish fiction and have not read this series, I encourage you to do so from beginning to end!

 

Shelley Gray

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

 

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I received a complimentary copy of A Sister’s Wish and An Amish Family Christmas. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.  Click here to read what other bloggers are saying about these books.

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