Review: A Perfect Amish Match by Vannetta Chapman

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Every courting disaster has led him to her.

After three failed relationships, Amish bachelor Noah Graber would rather disappoint his parents than try again. But when matchmaker Olivia Mae Miller agrees to provide courting lessons, Noah's perfect match becomes clear--it's Olivia Mae herself! With ailing grandparents at home, she hadn't planned on love or marriage. Might a future with Noah be everything she's been missing?

My Review

These characters really came to life and were full of depth and individual personality. Noah is stubborn, but Olivia Mae has worked with worse as a matchmaker. I loved how their romance took them both by surprise as their feelings deepened. There was plenty of romantic tension and anticipation while they grew together despite Olivia Mae's reticence as she dealt with being the sole caregiver of her grandparents with declining health. I loved their banter and friendship, as well as the relationship between Olivia and her grandparents. This is a book I plan to re-read in the future!

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 Indiana Amish Brides series . . .

 

 

 

 

Review: The Amish Christmas Gift by Laura V. Hilton

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Past relationships and close quarters stir up old emotions, making Christmas the perfect time for a magical connection in this heartwarming second chance Amish romance.

Elsie Miller has witnessed -- and experienced -- Levi Wyse's forgetfulness too many times to count. But even after they broke things off, Elsie never forgot the handsome Amish toymaker or her love for him. So when Levi's sister asks her to help keep him organized for the busy Christmas season, Elsie agrees. But she didn't expect working alongside Levi to reignite those old feelings.

Secretly, Levi's heart will always belong to Elsie. But she deserves a better man, one who isn't so absentminded . . . or responsible for a terrible tragedy. Now, she's at his workshop every day and as Christmas draws near, his reasons for staying away become harder and harder to remember. Will the spirit of Christmas heal past hurts and give Elsie and Levi the greatest gift of all: a future together?

My Review

This is a fun second chance romance, with Elsie and Levi both still in love with each other after their impetuous breakup a year and a half earlier. Their flaws keep them apart- Elsie doesn't let Levi explain, and Levi just gives up. They are both kind of a hot mess as they keep getting thrown together, but they begin to learn from their mistakes and realize they are stronger together. They share an intense physical attraction as well, which makes it difficult to keep their hands off each other, to the chagrin of their elderly chaperone George. Humor, drama, chemistry, and angst kept me turning the pages to see how these two stubborn young adults would finally get back together.

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 other books in the Hidden Springs series . . .

Review: The Amish Spinster's Courtship by Emma Miller

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

It was an Amish courtship no one expected…but is he too good to be true?

To prove she has a fun side, ultra-serious Lovey Stutzman accepts her sister’s dare: a buggy ride with Hickory Grove’s most handsome Amish bachelor. But what Lovey can’t accept is Marshall Byler’s claim that he fell in love with her at first sight. Now Marshall must defy everyone’s expectations— including his family’s—to prove his intentions once and for all.

My Review

This book was a pleasure to read. Longer than a novella but shorter than a full-length novel, it was perfect for finishing in one night. I fell in love with Lovage's big family and her sisters named for a variety of spices. Lovage struggles with self-confidence in the shadow of her younger sister, so it was nice to see her perspective shift as Marshall falls head over heels for her. His sunny personality is a perfect match for bringing Loveage out of her shell, and even though they have their struggles, they develop a strong relationship based on friendship as they get to know each other. A super sweet 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.

Check out the other books in the Hickory Grove series . . .

 

 

 

 

 

Book Tour & Giveaway: The Walnut Creek Wish by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Welcome to the Takeover Tour for The Walnut Creek Wish by Wanda E. Brunstetter, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

 

Title: The Walnut Creek Wish 

Series: Creekside Discoveries #1 

Author: Wanda E. Brunstetter 

Publisher: Barbour Fiction 

Release Date: August 1, 2021 

Genre: Amish fiction 

An Antique Store Becomes a Place of Healing for Broken Hearts 

Welcome to Walnut Creek, Ohio, where Orley and Lois Troyer own an antique store they call “Memory Keepers.” Though knowledgeable in antiques and their repair, their real talent is in mentoring folks who are hurting and don’t even know it. Enter Jeff, a restaurateur, and Rhonda, a hotel manager, who recently moved to Amish country for the slow pace, but the change of scenery puts even more stress on their already strained marriage. Will an antique sled be the last straw, or will it lead to unexpected revelations and the fulfillment of dreams? 

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

ALSO AVAILABLE

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter and her husband live in Washington State but take every opportunity to visit friends in Amish settlements throughout the States. Visit her website at www.wandabrunstetter.com.

CONNECT WITH WANDA: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a print copy of The Walnut Creek Wish and a $15 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight August 2, 2021 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on August 9, 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.

Review: Amish Celebrations by Beth Wiseman

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

From bestselling author Beth Wiseman come four sweet stories centered around celebrations in the Amish community: rumschpringe, baptism, weddings, and Christmas. 

The Gift of Sisters
Hannah and Rachel are fraternal twins approaching their sixteenth birthday—a time when they will be allowed to spread their wings and enjoy their rumschpringe. The sisters couldn’t be more different: Hannah is outgoing and beautiful, while Rachel is shy and withdrawn. And when newcomer Abraham Stoltzfus arrives in Lancaster County, both women fall head over heels for him, each fighting for his affections in their own ways and driving the sisters to turn on each other. Who will Abraham choose? And will Hannah and Rachel reunite after a devastating heartbreak?

A New Beginning
Rebecca and Noah are in love and about to be baptized. But when Noah decides to enjoy one last night of his rumschpringe a few weeks before the ceremony, he does something that causes Rebecca to reconsider his proposal. As Rebecca and Noah navigate the turn in their relationship, Rebecca must learn to forgive Noah or abandon her dreams of marrying him. If Noah won’t forgive himself in time for the baptism, his guilt could cause him to run from his love for Rebecca and leave his community behind.

A Perfect Plan  (previously published in An Amish Wedding)
Priscilla King has been planning to marry Chester Lapp since she was sixteen years old, and when Chester pops the question on Priscilla’s nineteenth birthday, wedding plans begin immediately. But everything begins to fall apart as Chester works to build a house for his new bride, only to have one disaster after another occur. Can true love take this couple through the challenges that threaten their union, or will they begin to doubt that they are on the right path, the one God has chosen for them?

A Christmas Miracle
Mary is twenty-seven years old and already has five young children. Married to her husband at age eighteen, she wasn’t quite prepared for motherhood, and exhaustion and frustration are sending her into a downhill spiral as the holidays approach. Too proud and ashamed to ask for help, Mary’s situation begins to take a toll on her marriage. But when an elderly man in a red suit and his sidekick elf befriend Mary, showering her with wisdom and advice, she must choose to accept help, learn to cope with her situation, and ultimately find the true meaning of Christmas. 

My Review

I like the idea of a collection of stories based around different celebrations! It can be a wonderful time of coming together with family and friends, and often the special feelings bring an extra dose of happiness. In these stories however, like real life, they come with an extra dose of drama. The characters are entertaining but also a bit exhausting. I had mixed feelings as I read this collection. I think I was in the mood for something a bit more gentle and humorous. The author does a good job of incorporating struggles, flaws, and the efforts it takes to turn things around to make it right again.

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: The Paper Daughters of Chinatown by Heather B. Moore

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

A powerful story based on true events surrounding Donaldina Cameron and other brave women who fought to help Chinese-American women escape discrimination and slavery in the late 19th century in California.

When Donaldina Cameron arrives at the Occidental Mission Home for Girls in 1895, she intends to teach sewing skills to young Chinese women immigrants, but, within days, she discovers that the job is much more complicated than perfect stitches and even hems. San Francisco has a dark side, one where a powerful underground organization--the criminal tong--brings Chinese young women to America to sell them as slaves. With the help of Chinese interpreters and the Chinatown police squad, Donaldina becomes a tireless social reformer to stop the abominable slave and prostitution trade.

Mei Lien believes she is sailing to the "Gold Mountain" in America to become the wife of a rich Chinese man. Instead she finds herself sold into prostitution--beaten, starved, and forced into an opium addiction. It is only after a narrow escape that she hears of the mission home and dares to think there might be hope for a new life.

My Review

This is a review I should have written ages ago, but it's been intimidating to find the words to encompass how I felt while reading the book. I'm filled with admiration for Donaldina Cameron and those she worked with. The impact of the book was even greater for me because she was a real person and this account is meticulously researched, while still reading as easily as a novel. The author explores beyond the heroism of Donaldina- we see the humanity and reality and struggles and flaws and choices. The evil she confronts and fights against is unimaginable, but was all too real in our history- and sadly continues to this day. Through the trials and difficulties of the home and the girls in it, the overarching feeling of hope brought light and reassurance that they were making a significant and priceless difference. It was so heartwarming to read and think about the influence Donaldina had on generations to follow. This book is perfect for fans of both historical fiction and real historical accounts, and would make a wonderful book club featured book. I can't recommend it highly enough. It stayed with me for weeks after finishing 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: Faith's Mountain Home by Misty M. Beller

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

Nate Long has always watched over his identical twin brother, Aaron, even when it put him on the wrong side of the law. When Aaron is wounded in a shootout, the brothers are taken to Settler's Fort to recover. As Nate works to make reparations for their past, he marvels at the nursing Aaron receives under the care of a woman with all the reason in the world to resent him.

Laura Hannon knows what it is to start over, and she knows Nate's newfound faith is real. What she can't look past is how far he allowed himself to be led astray by his brother's weaknesses.

My Review

This story revolves around admirable characters who are striving to overcome their circumstances that seem to keep kicking them while they're down. Nate and Laura each have faith to rely on for strength through their frustrations, and it gives them something in common as their friendship deepens, as well as the fascinating cave in the mountains and its hidden occupants. The pace of the story moved a bit too slowly for me, and kept referencing Laura and Nate's experiences from the previous book, so I don't think it should be read as a stand alone. Overall the book provided the author's trademark storytelling style of the harsh wilderness and frontier living with a hefty dose of faith-filled themes.

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 Hearts of Montana series . . .