Review: The Courtship Plan by Kathleen Fuller

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Finding a husband is serious business. And serious business requires serious planning.

Charity Raber is one of many single women who came to Birch Creek, Ohio, with one goal in mind: secure a husband from among the desperate bachelors a newspaper advertisement claimed inhabited the town. Even though that claim proved to be nothing more than a cruel prank, Charity is still hopeful that her happy ending might be within reach when she’s set up on a date with Jesse Bontrager. That is until Jesse not-so-gently shares that he has no interest in a relationship with anyone—and especially not with her.

One year later, Charity is working as a caretaker for a kind, elderly English woman in the nearby town of Marigold. She’s also working hard on a brand-new courtship plan. A plan that absolutely does not involve Jesse Bontrager. But when he moves next door and is made aware of her scheming, Charity vows to prove that her plan is foolproof. Meanwhile, Jesse is sure she’ll make a fool of herself. And for some reason he’s not willing to let that happen.

This stubborn bachelor and determined bachelorette will soon learn that their plans rarely work out as expected—but God’s plans always will.

My Review

I think it's hilarious that the author paired up Jesse, the troublemaker who placed the newspaper ad bringing all the marriage-minded women to Birch Creek, with Charity, one of those young women with the prickliest of attitudes. They both have grown up and matured a bit, and even though they can't stand each other, their connection provides ample opportunities to "help" each other and go through more refining. I really liked Shirley, the woman Charity cares for, and her oft-escaping dog, who both play an important role in bringing Jesse and Charity together. I appreciated the life lessons they learned during their time in Marigold, especially Jesse coming to terms with the impact of his prank.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Review: An Amish Harvest by Beth Wiseman, Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, Vannetta Chapman

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Faith, hope, and love remain forever in season in this collection of four richly absorbing novellas set amidst the wonder of an Amish autumn.

Under the Harvest Moon by Beth Wiseman
When Naomi Dienner is suddenly widowed, she never expects to find love again . . . until she meets Brock Mulligan, an English family friend hired at harvest time. As a sinister presence begins to threaten Naomi, Brock seeks to prove himself trustworthy while struggling with growing feelings for Naomi and her children. Will God open Naomi’s heart—and give Brock his own second chance at love?

Love and Buggy Rides by Amy Clipston
Janie Lantz is a cashier at Lancaster Souvenirs and Buggy Rides, where Jonathan Stoltfuz is a buggy driver. A frightening accident brings Janie and Jonathan together in a blossoming friendship, yet daunting obstacles stand between them and something deeper. Can love kindle into flames that burn away fear and regret—and lead them to a life together?

A Quiet Love by Kathleen Fuller 

Dinah Hochstetler, quiet and bookish, longs for marriage but hides in her shyness. Amos Mullett, a simple farmer, knows he’s different but aches for a loving wife. As Dinah and Amos navigate a budding romance, will the power of love—and the blessing of God—be enough to overcome their doubters?

 

Mischief in the Autumn Air by Vannetta Chapman 

When items start going above market value at his auction house, Eli Wittmer is first thrilled, and then puzzled. But when the pieces are linked to an elderly couple in their district, Eli and his new bookkeeper, Martha Beiler track down a trail of clues. Will they solve the mystery before the fall festival ends—and discover an unexpected new love?

My Review

Under the Harvest Moon by Beth Wiseman- 4 stars

I was interested in seeing how a non-Amish man and Amish woman would strike up a friendship and be able to have a future together. Naomi suffered domestic abuse in silence, and Brock was a good contrast for her to experience after her husband died. Without expecting anything in return, he provides support and validation when she trusts him with her secret. I enjoyed how their relationship progressed in a natural manner.

 

Love and Buggy Rides by Amy Clipston- 2 stars

This author is hit and miss with me. I liked the characters at first, but then grew impatient with the cliché angst and drama. Skimmed until I could find out how the plot wrapped up.

A Quiet Love by Kathleen Fuller- 5 stars

My favorite of the collection! Dinah and Amos are so incredibly genuine and sweet together. I loved how the author made me care about them right away, and being in the head of Amos who has some degree of autism was eye-opening. Dinah is a true friend and has confidence in him, defending him against those in his family who have known him so much longer but not seeing how much he has grown. There is some lovely romantic tension as their attraction blossoms along with their friendship.

Mischief in the Autumn Air by Vannetta Chapman- 3 stars

The romance in this story took a backseat to the mystery of the furniture that auctioned at a much higher price than they were valued. Martha's relationship with her irritable aunt is also part of the story as she seeks to have more patience and love for her. Interesting plot, but would have been more compelling with greater chemistry between the leads.  

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Review: Love in Plain Sight by Kathleen Fuller

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

She has a secret she’s determined to keep. He’s just as determined to get to know her. These two strong wills clash in beautiful romantic sparks in this Amish rom-com.

Katherine Miller arrives in Birch Creek under the guise of looking for a husband, but really she is hiding a secret she can’t reveal. The small Amish town becomes the perfect place to wait until she can figure out her next move. But when Ezra Bontrager is hired as the Stoll Inn’s new handyman, she at first finds his interest in her annoying. The one time she needs men to ignore her, she can’t seem to shake this one—and try as she might, she eventually can’t help but find his persistence endearing.

Ezra has never been shy when it comes to making friends, and he’s determined to get to know the elusive Katherine a little better. What he doesn’t count on is falling for her or discovering the real reason she’s hiding in Birch Creek.

My Review

I love getting to know this author's characters- they come to life with personality and I'm always drawn into their story. I loved Ezra's steadfastness in befriending Katherine! She definitely needed someone who wouldn't give up when she put up walls, and she needed a true friend more than anyone. The town matchmakers add humor to the story with their antics as they "help" Ezra and Katherine's relationship. The emotion of the story is real as both Katherine and Rhoda are healing from abusive relationships, growing stronger and finding new perspective. Rhoda and Loren's situation has been a subplot through the series, and it was nice to see the unexpected resolution of their troubles. A wonderful story of healing with a good dose of sweet romance! Loved it!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Don't miss the previous books in An Amish Mail-Order Bride series . . .

Review: This Time Around by Denise Hunter, Melissa Ferguson, Kathleen Fuller

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

For lovers of happily ever afters—this collection of three light and sweet romance stories will sweep you off your feet.

In A Summer Detour by Denise Hunter, you’ll meet free-spirited Allie Adams, who undertakes a road trip to deliver her grandparents’ newly restored ’57 Chevy in time for their fiftieth anniversary party . . . along with Luke Fletcher, the former boy-next-door who callously crushed her heart.

Pining for You by Melissa Ferguson invites you to a cozy Virginia mountain town where Christmas tree farm owner Theo Watkins III has the opportunity to drop everything for one weekend to play farmer and potentially win back the heart of his childhood best friend, Skye Fuller. Only problem? He’s the kind of man who drives a Tesla, not a tractor. 

Last but not least, He Loves Me; He Loves Me Not by Kathleen Fuller will transport you to a small town in Arkansas where thirty-five-year-old Sophie Morgan has spent years making her flower shop a success. But when this workaholic decides she’s ready to make time for dating again, she finds herself with two handsome men vying for her attention.

Whether your perfect romance involves rows and rows of Fraser firs and white pines glinting in the moonlight, childhood love that never ends, or a second chance at a happily ever after, you’re sure to find a story within this collection to warm your heart any day of the year.

My Review

This is a sweet collection of engaging stories. The first two were enjoyable, but my favorite of them all was He Loves Me; He Loves Me Not. It's set in the small town of Maple Falls and is connected to her Maple Falls series which each feature a character from a group of friends who have businesses that are working to revitalize their community. In this novella, Sophie runs the flower shop (which is my fantasy job) and is looking to date one of the slim pickings of single men in the area. She has a rocky history with Joe, which makes her write him off at first, but I loved the way he persevered and proved himself to her. Overall, the stories in this collection are a well-balanced blend of relationship angst, gentle humor, and sweet romance.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Series Review: A Maple Falls Romance series by Kathleen Fuller

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

When her grandmother injures herself sliding into third base, Riley McAllister must return to her small hometown to help run the family yarn store in this sweet, lighthearted romantic comedy.

Riley McAllister left the small Arkansas town of Maple Falls after graduating high school, hoping to make it big in New York as a mixed media artist. She’s still pursuing her dream when her grandmother begs her to come home and help her manage the store while she recovers from a broken leg she got after sliding into third base during a church softball game (she was safe, by the way). Riley agrees, planning to convince her grandmother to sell the old shop and retire so Riley can get back to the big city. New York is where she belongs, not some hick town that doesn’t even have a decent coffee shop.

Hayden Price’s life hasn’t turned out as he expected either. He still works in the hardware store his family has owned for several generations after his chance to make it out of Maple Falls ended when he blew out his pitching arm during a minor league game. Stuck with debt from college and a broken engagement, he decides to make the best of things when he comes back to Maple Falls and puts together the town’s first church softball team--with him as coach, of course.

Riley and Hayden went to high school together but ran in totally different circles. In fact, it’s safe to say they hated each other. Will that change when the softball team unexpectedly brings them together? Or will the pain and disappointment of their past failures keep them from discovering love in Maple Falls?

My Review

Kathleen Fuller is one of my favorite authors of Amish romance, so I was so excited to read a contemporary romance series from her. She's skilled at bringing depth to her characters- making them come alive with their strengths and flaws, struggles and triumphs. Riley and Hayden don’t hate each other- they actually have been interested in each other surreptitiously since high school, but life got in the way of them becoming more than acquaintances. Riley copes with her traumatic past and dysfunctional childhood by closing herself off from people, which is incredibly frustrating to Hayden. He has overcome personal disappointments and injuries, and I loved how that put him in a unique position to understand Riley and support her. Boy, they do not have an easy road as Riley begins to recognize how her coping mechanisms are no longer helping her, but preventing her from pursuing the happiness that is just within reach. I enjoyed the sense of community and we are introduced to friends and neighbors that I looked forward to get to know more in the coming books. 

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

 

 

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

She’s loved him for years, but now he’s her biggest competition. Is this town big enough for two coffee shops?

The Sunshine Diner has been Tanner Castillo’s home away from home for years, and his place behind the counter is a fixture in the small town of Maple Falls. After years of working there and saving every penny, he is able to purchase the diner and make the necessary renovations to bring it into the 21st century. Growing up poor, Tanner's always felt like he’s needed something to his name before he could ask out Anita Bedford.

Due to some savvy business investments, Anita’s parents have been able to provide her and her siblings with everything they’ve ever needed or wanted. But Anita doesn’t have the same ambitions as her doctor brother and lawyer sister. She’s always been happy to work as a waitress at the diner, especially since it kept her close to Tanner, whom she’s been crushing on since middle school.

When her father decides to open a coffee shop and bakery, he puts Anita in charge, making her the direct competition to Tanner’s Sunshine Diner. After working side-by-side for years, can working against each other finally be the thing that brings these two lovebirds together?

My Review

Unrequited love can be brutal! Anita has it bad for Tanner, and has for a long time, but never pursued a relationship with him. It was awesome to see both Anita and Tanner following their dreams and putting in the hard work to make them happen. Unfortunately, while they are friendly coworkers at the diner, they are not close enough to confide their palms with each other, which creates the conflict when they become unexpected competitors. It was a fun dynamic as Anita fights her attraction to Tanner while Tanner wakes up to the chemistry he finds with her. He can be a bit of an idiot, so he’s lucky that Anita is forgiving ;) A subplot with Tanner’s mother experiencing health problems broke up the momentum when it turned to her point of view. I appreciated that the story was more well rounded with multi-generational perspectives in their cozy community, but I found myself skimming her chapters to get back to Tanner and Anita. The theme of accepting the help of her support group when Anita found herself in over her head was especially touching. I loved the ending and the solution they found for their future together in Maple Falls. 

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

 

 

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

She’s a high-fashion realtor; he’s a low-maintenance mechanic. What on earth could they have in common?

Dressed in designer labels and cruising around town in her red Mercedes, workaholic realtor Harper Wilson presents the picture of success in charming Maple Falls. But Harper’s carefully cultivated image is resting on a shaky foundation. With a sudden drought in sales, she’s starting to see her professional dreams—along with her posh lifestyle—slipping away.

Car trouble brings her to mechanic Rusty Jenkins, and their unlikely friendship is taken to the next level when the laid-back Rusty allows her to give him a makeover for a charity bachelor auction. Harper soon discovers that beneath the town mechanic’s wild beard and grease-stained clothing lies a true Southern gentleman—someone with a kind heart and dreams of his own. Their chemistry is undeniable, but as they get closer, past fears and relationships start to creep in, reminding them of just how much is at stake when carefully constructed facades fall apart.

Maybe their worlds aren’t so separate after all. And maybe covering up who you really are keeps you from discovering what was always meant to be.

My Review

Opposites attract can be such a fun dynamic, and Harper and Rusty are definitely lifestyle opposites! I think what makes them work is the values they have in common. It was a pleasure watching them get to know each other on a deeper level and the respect they developed for each other. It can be a bit tricky when a makeover is involved- but because Harper didn’t judge Rusty before he got a haircut and new clothes, it didn’t make her seem shallow when she also appreciated him after. I liked that we learn why maintaining her image has been important to her, and see her progression as she allows herself to relax, slow down, and take time to accept herself when she’s not top of the game. I thought the author handled the topic rather well. Harper’s lessons also involve letting herself lean on her friends, confide in them, and make time for relationships, rather than getting caught up in the rat race. We get to know more Maple Falls residents in this third book and I love how they give the story more depth. The subplot with Harper’s parents added to the story, but I felt like the chapters with her mother’s perspective were a little angsty and long for my taste and stalled the main story with Rusty and Harper. I hope we get a book or novella telling the story of the fourth member of this group of friends, especially since there were hints of foreshadowing woven in.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Review: An Amish Quilting Bee by Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, Shelley Shepard Gray

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Three charming stories of cozy quilting circles and budding romance
 

Patchwork Promises  by Amy Clipston 
When Colin Zook and his beloved grandmother lose everything in a fire, their greatest loss is a beloved family heirloom quilt that helped keep her dementia at bay. When Joanne Lapp hears about the loss, she decides to re-create the quilt. Colin soon feels himself developing feelings for her, but he’s held back by the knowledge that a future with him would involve care of his grandmother and his farm. Will Joanne look past his list of responsibilities and see him for who he truly is?

A Common Thread  by Kathleen Fuller 
Susie Glick returns from a shopping trip laden with beautiful fabric for her quilting group. On the bus ride, Alex Lehman—her crush from three years ago—sits next to her. Alex left Middlefield to explore the country, and now he’s back and ready to join the church. Susie was just a kid when he left, but now she’s a woman—and she definitely has his interest. The women in her quilting circle aren’t as excited about Alex’s return, assuming that he’ll leave again in search of adventure. Susie is convinced they’re wrong, but just as they start dating, Alex tells Susie he has to leave. He says he’ll return, but Susie must decide whether or not she can trust the man she fears has captured her heart.

Stitched Together by Shelley Shepard Gray 
Rosie’s joy is her yearly project for the Pinecraft Mennonite Quilt Sale, and she dreams of being the top earner. But she’s worried that she’s bitten off more than she can chew with her latest entry. To make things even more confusing, after coming to terms with her single state, she’s recently formed a friendship with Tim Christner. He’s only in town for a month, but he has Rosie wondering if she’s found love at last. Now all she has to do is figure out how to get the quilt done so she can concentrate on him. But with her once very organized life in total disarray, everything comes to a head just before the sale. Rosie is forced to reexamine her priorities before she loses not only her place in the quilt show but everything else she’s ever wanted.

My Review

I love these Amish novella collections! They are perfect for the end of a busy day, when I'd like to read and finish a story quickly before falling asleep. I grew up tying quilts with my grandma, and I've loved admiring Amish quilts when visiting Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. 

 

In the first story Patchwork Promises, Joanne helps Colin by recreating his grandmothers beloved quilt, a sweet gesture of service. It took her a long time to do by herself, and I didn't understand why she didn't enlist the help of others during a quilting bee (especially since it's the theme of the collection) in order to get it done as soon as possible so the grandmother didn't have to suffer anguished nights any longer. It seemed like she wanted all the credit, and it didn't even occur to her to allow others the opportunity to serve with her.

 

The second story by Kathleen Fuller was my favorite. She excels at bringing depth and emotion to her stories and characters. Susie and Alex are sweet together, with an immediate attraction when they are reunited, yet both uncertain of the others' feelings. The conflict comes from Susie's mother, who has abandonment issues from when her husband left their family, and she tries to influence Susie against Alex because of his past as a wandering traveler. An unforeseen separation, letters back and forth, an intervention from the quilting ladies, and a providential reunion bring Susie and Alex together as well as heal the relationship between Susie and her mother.

 

The final story tests the patience of Rosie as she takes pride in her quilt entry and the admiration of others, yet learns humility through several experiences and mishaps out of her control. It was nice to see her able to let go of her expectations of perfection of herself, and learn to find joy in her relationships.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.