Review: A Double Dose of Love by Kathleen Fuller

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Prepare for a double dose of romance and fun when two sets of Amish twins find love.

Identical brothers Zeb and Zeke Bontrager aren’t looking for love. They have their hands full with a new horse farm, a half-finished ranch house, and a wild colt, thanks to Zeke’s hasty business dealings. Now Zeb must contend with Zeke’s bad decisions, hidden debts, and tendency to avoid responsibility, which threaten their good standing in the Birch Creek Amish community.

When a newspaper ad prompts Darla King to travel to Birch Creek in search of a husband, her identical twin, Amanda, promises their parents she’ll convince Darla to come home. After all, Amanda is the responsible and reliable one. She has always protected Darla, who acts on impulse and trusts people too easily. The sisters’ close relationship is strained as Darla asserts her independence and Amanda grapples with regrets of her past and the longings of her own heart.

When Zeb and Amanda join forces to protect Darla and Zeke from each other, none of them can possibly predict the outcome as all four come face-to-face with their highest hopes and deepest insecurities in the first installment of the Amish Mail-Order Bride series.

My Review

A romance between two sets of twins is a fun story, and thankfully there was no assuming each other's identities as a plot device ;) The characters are so well fleshed-out, it was easy to get to know them quickly and understand their personalities, vulnerabilities and strengths. It's interesting to see the similarities between Zeb and Amanda as the responsible siblings, and their struggle with resenting their twin, yet loving and supporting them as well. A new business, a new town, a new relationship, a new friendship- it all weaves together while in the background, one set of parents tries to support, while the other set discourages. Since the story is divided equally between all four twins, I felt like my interest was as well- I believe I prefer one main couple to focus on, with the others as a subplot. Overall I love this author's writing style that brings depth and emotion to a sweet story.

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 other books in the Amish Mail-Order Bride series . . .

Review: Amish Generations: Four Stories by Kathleen Fuller

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Four sweet and funny Amish love stories, spanning four different generations. Love comes at all times and for all ages!

Young Love—When Fern was diagnosed with a chronic illness in her early twenties, she knew it would limit her abilities to be a good Amish wife. And with Dan, the object of her affection, in a serious relationship, there didn't seem much point in dating. But Dan is now single, and he seems to be taking notice of Fern. She'll need a strong dose of courage to talk down the fear her illness has brought on if she ever wants to pursue her dreams.

Long-Awaited Love—When Everett left ten years ago, Jemima's love quickly turned to hate. But when they arrive back home at the same bus station on the same day, they discover some old flames aren't put out so easily. Can they move past the forces that pulled them apart ten years ago, or are some hurts too much to overcome?

Second-Chance Love—Benjamin and Lora Beth know what it's like to experience loss. They both lost spouses not long into their young marriages and connect over that through letters, exchanging recipes and commiseration as their now-grown children try to coddle them. They're only in their forties, for heaven's sake! The letters quickly reveal a deep friendship . . . or could it be more? When you've already had a great love, how do you learn to fall in love again?

Never Too Late—Jerald is a committed old bachelor. He loves nothing more than good Amish food and giving his best friend's wife a hard time. When people have asked—and believe him, people have asked—he's always said he'll marry when he finds the right woman. It's just never happened in his seventy years. Until he tastes the best blueberry pie and discovers the woman behind it: his best friend's wife's best friend, Elva.

My Review

Unrequited love, second chance love, second love, and late love. It was great to read a variety of stories which also spanned a range of ages. I didn't feel like the "young love" story was too young since Fern is considered a spinster, but compared to the other stories they are! I loved the friendship and affection that quickly bloomed in the last story, especially with Elva's unhappy marriage. It was heartwarming to see her be appreciated for her skills as a cook and as a lovely person inside and out. Jerald is such a fun guy, and it was such a sweet match. I love when books make me feel so happy when things turn out perfectly for characters that deserve 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.

Review: An Amish Christmas Wedding: Four Stories by Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, Kelly Irvin, Vannetta Chapman

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

From bestselling authors of Amish fiction come four delightful stories perfect for celebrating love, joy, and the everyday miracles Christmas brings.

Evergreen Love by Amy Clipston
Ryan Lapp had promised to marry Lorene Bontrager as soon as he was able to build them a house, but the day never came. Ryan moved away. Five years later, Lorene has settled in to her old maid role, and she’s shocked when her younger sister announces her quick engagement to Ryan’s younger brother. As they rush to plan the wedding, Lorene is constantly around the family she almost joined. Worse, she’s forced to face Ryan himself, who has returned to town. As both Ryan and Lorene examine their own feelings, they must decide if they can find grace with each other—and the young people they once were—this Christmas season. There just might still be love in their future.

Holiday of Hope by Kelly Irvin
Henry Lufkin is one of four bachelors who lived in the West Kootenai, Montana, cabins that were destroyed by wildfires. He’s the only one of them who hasn’t since married, but he likes his solitude. Then an old friend asks him to care for his son, and Henry has to share his small cabin and his life with bewildered and rebellious ten-year-old Tommy. When the child encounters trouble at school, Henry reaches out to Tommy's teacher. Leesa Yoder never expected to find herself single and teaching sixteen young scholars, and she certainly didn’t anticipate an inexperienced bachelor telling her how to do her job. Amid the flying sparks, can Henry and Leesa see that there might be hope and love in this unexpected situation?

Wreathed in Joy by Kathleen Fuller
Mary Wengerd and Jakob Mullet have been best friends since childhood. Pressured by friends and family, they decided to date—with disastrous results. When they break up, their friendship is ruined. A year later, Mary is baking her Englisch friend’s wedding and groom cakes for a Christmas Eve wedding. Mary loves the Christmas season, and had always dreamed of marrying during that time. Now she wonders if she’ll ever marry. After she and Jakob form a tenuous new friendship, Mary breaks her arm. As he steps in to help her with the cakes, Mary is inexplicably and suddenly falling for him. But they've already dated, and that ended so horribly. Could it be better this time?

A Christmas Prayer by Vannetta Chapman
Widower Micah Miller runs the Amish Tour Company, offering Englischers a glimpse of a simpler life as well as tea at Rachel King’s. Rachel has never married and has recently lost her parents. When Micah comes across an abandoned and injured dog, he gives it to Rachel for company. As Rachel is charmed by the dog and shocked by news of the existence of family she never expected, her heart and mind bend toward the possibilities of change in her life—even toward the possibility of love.

My Review

What a sweet collection of second chance at love and love later in life! It's always wonderful when I enjoy each story, and just can't stop reading. I was impressed by the vivid personalities, romantic chemistry, individual plots, and cozy Christmastime setting. The two that stood out to me are Holiday of Hope by Kelly Irvin and Wreathed in Joy by Kathleen Fuller. I admire when characters can make the best of a difficult situation and recognize the blessings that come because of their efforts.

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 Barn Raising: Three Stories by Amy Clipston, Kelly Irvin, Kathleen Fuller

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

From bestselling authors in the Amish genre come three sweet stories centered around Amish traditions and the possibility of romance. 

Building a Dream by Amy Clipston
Though they’ve known each other a long time, Kathryn and Anthony have finally decided to try becoming more than friends—but they are devastated when Kathryn’s father won’t allow them to date. He wants his daughter to marry a man with a more respectable job than building gazebos for Englishers. But when Kathryn’s father’s dairy barn burns down during a thunderstorm, Anthony is the one to arrange a barn raising. Will Kathryn’s father realize he has misjudged Anthony?

To Raise a Home by Kelly Irvin
A year after the wildfires, life has returned to normal for the West Kootenai Amish community. Evan Eicher, son of Deacon Tobias Eicher, has done his best to move on too. Helping his neighbors and friends rebuild has helped soothe a heart broken when Delilah Mast—the woman he loves but never had the courage to approach—moved with her family back to Kansas. At his father’s urging he courts Anna Burkholder, a sweet woman who adores him. But when Delilah moves back to teach school, Evan must wrestle with feelings he’s tried so hard to put in the past. And an accident at a barn raising will force Anna, Delilah, and Evan to face the truth about their hearts.

Love’s Solid Foundation by Kathleen Fuller
Devon Bontrager only returned to his old hometown to make good on a past misdeed. He hadn’t counted on reconnecting with Nettie Yoder, especially since she strung along his younger twin brothers some years ago. Nettie knows she’s made some mistakes in the past, but she’s determined to be an asset to her community from now on. But just as she’s making headway, her family’s barn burns to the ground. Why does it seem like God is punishing her family when she’s finally starting to turn her life around? Can she convince Devon that she has changed? Can Devon trust the woman who broke his brothers’ hearts?

My Review

I love the unity and service that is shown when a community comes together for a barn raising! What a great theme for a collection. There is often a tragedy that occurs in order for there to be a need for a new barn, and the outpouring of love and support is reflected in the gathering. The first story was a bit melodramatic with Kathryn and Anthony's forbidden love, and I found it surprising that her father would hold to such an attitude about non-farming Amish. It makes me wonder if that is based on reality. I liked the second story even though there is a love triangle, and was able to connect to the emotions of the characters. The stand-out story for me was the third by Kathleen Fuller, since I recently read the full-length book that serves as a prequel to this novella. Nettie's 180 degree change in attitude and perspective was surprising, and I enjoyed the way Devon gave her another chance even though he knew about her past. Great chemistry!

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 Picnic: Four Stories by Amy Clipston, Kelly Irvin, Kathleen Fuller, Vannetta Chapman

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

From bestselling authors in the Amish genre come four sweet stories about picnics and romance.

Baskets of Sunshine by Amy Clipston
Kevin Weaver has lived with his brother’s family since his parents passed away when he was young, but he craves a home and family to call his own. Freeman Kurtz owns a successful brick mason business, and Kevin takes the job as Freeman’s apprentice to pursue his own financial freedom. 
Phoebe Kurtz is helping her sister with her booth at the marketplace when she notices Kevin, her father’s employee. Their friendship grows, but Kevin is convinced that the difference in their ages makes a relationship between them impossible. Amidst summer outings, Kevin and Phoebe must decide if taking a chance on love is worth the risk.

Candlelight Sweethearts by Kelly Irvin
Esther Marie Shrock loves her job at Valley Grocery Store where she’s worked for four years. Despite a stutter that has plagued her since childhood, she thrives filling orders from a steady stream of customers. Still, at 25, she and her family wonder if romance is in her future.
Jasper Cotter isn’t good with people, but he’s found himself obligated to take over day-to-day operations of the family owned grocery store—a store he doesn’t have the first clue how to run. Thrown together, Esther Marie and Jasper don’t exactly see eye to eye. One night, the store loses power, and the candles aren’t the only things shooting off sparks. Esther Marie and Jasper are suddenly forced to discover common ground when it matters most, and they might be surprised with love along the way.

Reeling in Love by Kathleen Fuller
Nina Stoll and Ira Yoder are just friends. Just friends and fishing buddies. Every Saturday afternoon, they have a picnic at their favorite fishing hole and see who can out fish the other. Until Nina starts to wonder if there’s more.
Her plans to share her feelings go awry, and circumstances seem destined to keep Nina and Ira apart. With both Nina and Ira confused and hurting, it’s going to take courage, some help from the community matchmakers, and a little bit of divine intervention for Nina and Ira to realize they’re each other's perfect catch.

Picnics and Prospects by Vannetta Chapman
Faith Troyer is claustrophobic, and David Lapp builds tiny houses. They went on a date years ago with disastrous results. Now that they’re in their late twenties, their families and friends are beginning to wonder if either will ever find that special someone. When a picnic outing is diverted by the discovery of a package of letters dating back to the 1970s, they take it upon themselves to find answers to a mystery that causes them to rethink their past and consider their future. 

My Review

This is a collection where I equally enjoyed every story! I loved the way picnics were incorporated into such different plots. Some involved mishaps, some were the perfect setting for a declaration of love, and some were a simple way to get to know each other. I thought all the authors did an exceptional job of creating vibrant characters that really came to life as I read. I especially loved Reeling in Love since friends-to-more is one of my favorite tropes. In Picnics and Prospects it was so sweet how David and Faith reconciled the date that went wrong and started anew with each other. A must-read collection for fans of Amish 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.

Review: Letters to Katie by Kathleen Fuller

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

Everything changed between them the first time he called her Katie.

Katherine Yoder has loved Johnny Mullet since the two were children, but he’s never returned her affections.

Now Johnny is trying to forge a new life for himself by purchasing a farm and building a business of his own. But times are tough, and he soon learns that he can’t take anything for granted—especially Katherine.

Before Johnny has the opportunity to tell Katherine his true feelings, she’s struck by a serious illness. While Katherine struggles to recall recent memories of Johnny, a surprise visitor comes back into her life, claiming that his letters speak of a history and a future for the two of them.

With the two men vying for her attention and her memory still elusive, Katherine has never felt so torn. But will the solutions to both Johnny’s and Katherine’s problems lie in places neither one has ever considered?

My Review

It seems like there was a lot of history between these two that we don't read about in the book. The narrative referred to a few instances, but there were awfully strong feelings for not much interaction. Johnny and Katherine both had a lot of growing up to do, and I was about to give up on them when they finally made some progress. I didn't expect some of the twists, and by the end of the book I was glad for the journey they went on and the important lessons they learned along the way. I didn't read the first two books in the series and a large part was taken up by a continuing story from the previous book, so I didn't feel as much of a connection to those characters. There are also points of view from several characters, which I didn't care for- I think my limit is three or four, and this one had at least six. I recommend reading the series in order for sure!

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.

Check out the previous books in the Middlefield Family series . . . 

 

 

 

 

Review: Matched and Married by Kathleen Fuller

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Margaret Yoder is a free spirit, to the worry of her mother. When her mother sees an advertisement encouraging want-to-be brides to visit the Amish community of Birch Creek, she forces Margaret to make another visit to her cousins, the Yoders. 

When Margaret arrives, she discovers everyone has marriage on their mind, except for Ezra Bontrager, who has problems of his own to deal with, and the last thing he needs is to be pressured into getting married. Since the advertisement was first placed, several women have arrived in Birch Creek, and Ezra sees that the tables have turned for the bachelors in his community. He finds Margaret refreshing, since she’s the one single woman who isn’t trying to pin him down as a husband. But that doesn’t mean he’s attracted to her . . . or does it?

My Review

It's always fun when the main character has some quirks, and Ezra is definitely unique. He's a workaholic on his father's farm, so much so that his family forces him to take a vacation from chores. He and Margaret meet while he is practicing foraging in the woods like his grandfather did, and an unlikely friendship blossoms... somewhat awkwardly. I enjoyed their mishaps, banter, and growing feelings as they continue to meet during Ezra's sabbatical. The concept of someone with a wonderful personality growing more attractive as you get to know them is one that Margaret discovers, and helps her realize what she really wants in her life. I really enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to the next in the series!

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 other books in An Amish Mail-Order Bride series . . .

 

 

 

 

 

Blog Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: Hooked On You by Kathleen Fuller

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Hooked On You by Kathleen Fuller, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Hooked On You
Series: Maple Falls Romance #1
Author: Kathleen Fuller
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: May 11, 2021
Genre: Contemporary Romance (clean/sweet)

She never wanted to come back. He never wants to leave. The town of Maple Falls has plans for them both. 

Riley McAllister is living the dream in New York City . . . if the dream means being a struggling mixed-media artist, part-time food delivery driver, and having a carefully curated social media to hide all of the above. She refuses to admit defeat and move back to small-town Maple Falls, but when her grandmother breaks her leg sliding into third base during a softball game (she was safe, by the way), Riley reluctantly agrees to go home and help the woman who raised her—while secretly hoping she can convince Mimi to sell her house and yarn shop and move in with a good friend. Then Riley can return to her new life in NYC, on her own and for good. 

But Mimi has her own plans, which include setting Riley up with local baseball star Hayden Price, who returned to Maple Falls after an injury ended his major league career. Now he works at his father’s hardware store, coaches the church softball team, and worries about the declining town. It’s not the life he dreamed of having. 

With a little meddling and a lot of kindness from the town, Hayden and Riley find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other as they discover the true meaning of home. 

Welcome to Maple Falls, where everyone knows your name and your business.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub

GUEST POST FROM AUTHOR KATHLEEN FULLER

I’ve always loved to crochet. I learned how to crochet from my grandmother and mother when I was young but didn’t pick up the craft seriously until four years ago. Since then, I’ve made tons of crochet projects—scarfs and afghans of course, plus doilies and mandalas (my favorite), baskets, jewelry, kitchen items, socks, flowers—too many to name! My latest project is a cross body purse I made a few weeks ago.

 

 

I crocheted a rectangle using a skein of bright pink yarn and a skein of coral. Then I lined the bag with a tea towel I picked up years ago from Dollar Tree for a different craft project I never got around to making.

 

Then I made the closure, which is a plastic clear button with slits that I sewed the yarn through. Then I sewed on the button and made a loop.

 

 

Finally, I made the strap—or remade the strap, more accurately. I had this wallet purse, but it was too small for my phone.

I unfastened the strap, then crocheted around it. I made a loop on either side of the purse and connected the straps. That finished the purse, and I love it. It’s sturdy and holds a lot of stuff without sagging or unraveling. I plan on writing up the pattern at some point. When I do, you can get the pattern through my newsletter. You can sign up for the newsletter here.

 

Hooked on You: When I got the idea for writing a story featuring a yarn shop, I was, um, hooked. Knots and Tangles, Erma and Riley’s yarn store in Maple Falls, is inspired by Arkansas Yarn Co. in Malvern, AR. In a unique collaboration with Lorri Ann Helberg (yarn designer), Tamara Kelly (crochet designer) and Cheryl Ham (knitwear designer), the Riley Hat, created with Hooked on You yarn, was born.

The yarn: Hooked on You

The Riley Hat: Crochet Version

 

 The Riley Hat: Knit Version

Kits containing an autographed copy of Hooked on You, a skein of Hooked on You yarn, plus the crochet and knit patterns are now available for pre-order from Arkansas Yarn Co. You can also find out more information about the patterns on my website. Just click on the Hooked on You yarn page on the top menu bar.

I hope you enjoyed a little peek into my crochet world. Be sure to pick up Hooked on You. If you crochet or knit the Riley Hat, post it on Instagram and tag me! @kf_booksandhooks. I’d love to see your creations. :)

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

With over a million copies sold, USA Today Bestselling author Kathleen Fuller is the 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 KathleenFuller.com

CONNECT WITH KATHLEEN: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(3) winners will receive a print copy of Hooked On You by Kathleen Fuller!

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 17, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 24, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.