Sunday, October 8, 2017

Review: Love Bears All Things by Beth Wiseman


Book Two in the Amish Secrets series

Heidi Reads... Love Bears All Things by Beth Wiseman

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.bookdepository.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Could God be o­ffering Charlotte a second chance at true love?

Charlo­tte Dolinsky needs time to recover after breaking up with her boyfriend, Ryan. But when a surprise visitor shows up on her doorstep in Texas, she’s forced to put aside her own worries to help her Amish friends in Lancaster County. Soon she is entangled in a web of deception—and this time, she isn’t the only one keeping secrets.

Daniel Byler struggles each day in his Amish community to heal from his fiancée’s betrayal. When he discovers that a member of his family is in danger of being shunned, his pain turns to fear. His only way to help is by partnering with Charlo­tte, a woman he barely knows who has already deceived them all before.

Charlo­tte begins building a friendship with Daniel that she’ll need to lean on when more surprises surface from her past and she once again finds herself torn between two worlds. Will Charlotte’s friends in the Amish community be able to show her the power of redemption and lead her home? And can she help young Jacob realize that God offers second chances at happiness when she isn’t even sure herself?


My Review

The saga continues as Charlotte returns to the Amish community in Lancaster county and has a second chance with her surrogate family to learn from them, continue to search for healing from her past, and provide support for the Kings as they face new struggles. This second book has more romance than the first book, and I like seeing the progression of Charlotte and Daniel's relationship from acquaintances to friends to more. They find that they can open up to each other in ways that they don't with anyone else, and as they work through the trials with each of their families, turn to each other for support and caring. We see some of the story from Annie's perspective, Daniel's sister and Jacob's fiancé, and also meet their Aunt Faye who is quite a character. More secrets from Charlotte's past come to light and her new faith provides the strength she needs to meet the demands of the obstacles she faces. This book can be read on its own but I recommend reading the series in order for the best experience.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)



Book One in the Amish Secrets series

Heidi Reads... Her Brother's Keeper by Beth Wiseman


http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.bookdepository.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Charlotte’s heart has been hardened by personal tragedy, but now she has the chance to find peace in a place she didn’t expect.

Charlotte Dolinsky arrives in Lancaster County with brand new Amish digs and a renewed purpose. It doesn’t take her long to fit into the close Amish community. She might not know how to cook, sew, tend a garden, or milk a cow, but she knows how to lie. And she is a woman on a mission—to wreak havoc on the Plain people and seek revenge for the death of her only brother. But a quiet stranger throws a kink in her plan not long after she arrives. As she delves deeper and deeper into what makes this handsome Amish man tick, she begins to wonder about her intentions and the direction her life is taking.

At twenty-four, Isaac Miller is still unmarried and doesn’t see his status changing anytime soon. The Lord has blessed him with above-average physical attributes, but his awkward shyness keeps him from pursuing a relationship with anyone. When Charlotte—or "Charlie" as she calls herself—arrives in Paradise, she steals his heart, and he longs to be a different man.

Can Charlie get past the resentment she feels and open her heart? What happens when Isaac comes out of his shell, drawing attention from all the available women in the area? Will Charlie be able to hold onto him? And will he still want her when he learns the truth?

Book Three in the Amish Secrets series


http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.bookdepository.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Charlotte has made a home for herself in Amish Country with Daniel. But unforeseen events rock their fragile world and may move them even further away from the life they long for.

Charlotte, an Englisher, is living in Amish Country, and she has formed strong and lasting bonds with the people in her new community. She has even fallen in love with an Amish man. But just when she is considering a permanent conversion to the Amish way of life, her world crashes around her. An unexpected death and a mysterious visitor unsettle Charlotte, and she begins to question her faith and her choices.

Daniel loves Charlotte and wants to share his life with her, even it if means leaving the only world he’s ever known. But as he walks alongside of her through her struggles, his own world is turned upside down when a loved one receives a grim medical diagnosis and a prodigal relative returns home. Will Charlotte and Daniel’s relationship succumb to the many pressures around them, or will their faith and the strong community around them allow them to weather the storms of their own lives in order to build a life together?


Review: Her Brother's Keeper by Beth Wiseman


Book One in the Amish Secrets series

Heidi Reads... Her Brother's Keeper by Beth Wiseman

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.bookdepository.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Charlotte’s heart has been hardened by personal tragedy, but now she has the chance to find peace in a place she didn’t expect.

Charlotte Dolinsky arrives in Lancaster County with brand new Amish digs and a renewed purpose. It doesn’t take her long to fit into the close Amish community. She might not know how to cook, sew, tend a garden, or milk a cow, but she knows how to lie. And she is a woman on a mission—to wreak havoc on the Plain people and seek revenge for the death of her only brother. But a quiet stranger throws a kink in her plan not long after she arrives. As she delves deeper and deeper into what makes this handsome Amish man tick, she begins to wonder about her intentions and the direction her life is taking.

At twenty-four, Isaac Miller is still unmarried and doesn’t see his status changing anytime soon. The Lord has blessed him with above-average physical attributes, but his awkward shyness keeps him from pursuing a relationship with anyone. When Charlotte—or "Charlie" as she calls herself—arrives in Paradise, she steals his heart, and he longs to be a different man.

Can Charlie get past the resentment she feels and open her heart? What happens when Isaac comes out of his shell, drawing attention from all the available women in the area? Will Charlie be able to hold onto him? And will he still want her when he learns the truth?


My Review

This is not your average Amish romance. I was surprised by the serious issues tackled by the author and appreciated that it was done in an authentic way without shying away from the difficult emotions and providing insight into various perspectives. At the beginning Charlotte almost seems like the villain since she is deceptive and has an agenda. What she doesn't expect is the journey her heart will go on as she uncovers the truth behind her brother's relationships with members of the Amish community and how her own struggles with her dysfunctional past will surface and have to be dealt with. I grew to love the King family as she did with their sweetness and way of looking at situations that differed from how she was raised. The connection to God that she felt in their presence and the stirrings of faith began her long progress toward healing. I just have to point out that the book description is a bit misleading when it comes to the romantic connections that are and are not made, and I felt like the book went much deeper than I anticipated, with less focus on romance and more on the struggles Charlotte and her "cousin" Hannah are facing. An outstanding start to a series that is perfect for fans of Amish fiction and women's fiction.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)



Book Two in the Amish Secrets series

Heidi Reads... Love Bears All Things by Beth Wiseman


http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.bookdepository.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Could God be o­ffering Charlotte a second chance at true love?

Charlo­tte Dolinsky needs time to recover after breaking up with her boyfriend, Ryan. But when a surprise visitor shows up on her doorstep in Texas, she’s forced to put aside her own worries to help her Amish friends in Lancaster County. Soon she is entangled in a web of deception—and this time, she isn’t the only one keeping secrets.

Daniel Byler struggles each day in his Amish community to heal from his fiancée’s betrayal. When he discovers that a member of his family is in danger of being shunned, his pain turns to fear. His only way to help is by partnering with Charlo­tte, a woman he barely knows who has already deceived them all before.

Charlo­tte begins building a friendship with Daniel that she’ll need to lean on when more surprises surface from her past and she once again finds herself torn between two worlds. Will Charlotte’s friends in the Amish community be able to show her the power of redemption and lead her home? And can she help young Jacob realize that God offers second chances at happiness when she isn’t even sure herself?


Book Three in the Amish Secrets series


http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.bookdepository.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Charlotte has made a home for herself in Amish Country with Daniel. But unforeseen events rock their fragile world and may move them even further away from the life they long for.

Charlotte, an Englisher, is living in Amish Country, and she has formed strong and lasting bonds with the people in her new community. She has even fallen in love with an Amish man. But just when she is considering a permanent conversion to the Amish way of life, her world crashes around her. An unexpected death and a mysterious visitor unsettle Charlotte, and she begins to question her faith and her choices.

Daniel loves Charlotte and wants to share his life with her, even it if means leaving the only world he’s ever known. But as he walks alongside of her through her struggles, his own world is turned upside down when a loved one receives a grim medical diagnosis and a prodigal relative returns home. Will Charlotte and Daniel’s relationship succumb to the many pressures around them, or will their faith and the strong community around them allow them to weather the storms of their own lives in order to build a life together?

Saturday, October 7, 2017

Review: A Noble Masquerade by Kristi Ann Hunter


Book One in the Hawthorne House series

 Heidi Reads... A Noble Masquerade by Kristi Ann Hunter

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.bookdepository.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Lady Miranda Hawthorne acts every inch the lady, but inside she longs to be bold and carefree. Entering her fourth Season and approaching spinsterhood in the eyes of society, she pours her innermost feelings out not in a diary but in letters to her brother's old school friend, a duke--with no intention of ever sending these private thoughts to a man she's heard stories about but never met. Meanwhile, she also finds herself intrigued by Marlow, her brother's new valet, and although she may wish to break free of the strictures that bind her, falling in love with a servant is more of a rebellion than she planned.

When Marlow accidentally discovers and mails one of the letters to her unwitting confidant, Miranda is beyond mortified. And even more shocked when the duke returns her note with one of his own that initiates a courtship-by-mail. Insecurity about her lack of suitors shifts into confusion at her growing feelings for two men--one she's never met but whose words deeply resonate with her heart, and one she has come to depend on but whose behavior is more and more suspicious. When it becomes apparent state secrets are at risk and Marlow is right in the thick of the conflict, one thing is certain: Miranda's heart is far from all that's at risk for the Hawthornes and those they love.


My Review

I loved Miranda's enthusiasm and spirit! She reminds me of my own four year old- busting full of life and feelings. I could relate to Miranda's mother who is trying her best to teach her daughters the proper behavior for ladies... but I'm just hoping for good manners ;) I liked the angle that the letters brought to the story, where even though Miranda felt compelled to suppress her emotions as a lady, she found an outlet to release them. It was good to see part of the story through Marlow's eyes and the intrigue and mystery he was caught up in. I thought it was interesting that Miranda's discovery of hidden secrets made her fight all the more against what would have seemed like her dreams coming true. There is plenty of action in between the drawing room scenes that made the pace of the book swift, and I was surprised at how much the author was able to fit into one book! There is great chemistry between Miranda and Marlow, and complex family dynamics also come into play with Miranda's relationship with her vain sister and corrective mother, both whom she loves but are wearing on her. It was great to have Amelia from the prequel novella present as her friend and staunch supporter. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in this Regency series!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Check out the previous books in the Hawthorne House series . . .

Prequel Novella (FREE e-book!)
http://amzn.to/2yfly1Y

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Miss Amelia Stalwood may live in London at her absent guardian's townhouse, but she's never actually met any nobility, and instead of aristocrats, her closest friends are servants. Quite by happenstance, she's introduced to the Hawthorne family and their close family friend, Anthony, the reformed marquis of Raeburn. They welcome her into their world, but just as she's beginning to gain some confidence and even suspect she may have caught Anthony's eye, she's blindsided by an unexpected twist in her situation accompanied by nasty rumors. Will she lose her reputation when the world that has only just accepted her turns its back on her, or will she rest in the support of the friends who've become like family and the man who's shared his faith and captured her heart?

Book Two
http://amzn.to/2yfjve9

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.bookdepository.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Lady Georgina Hawthorne has worked tirelessly to seal her place as the Incomparable for her debut season. At her first London ball, she hopes to snag the attention of an earl.
 
With money and business connections, but without impeccable bloodlines, Colin McCrae is invited everywhere but accepted nowhere. When he first encounters the fashionable Lady Georgina, he's irritated by his attraction to a woman who concerns herself only with status and appearance.
 
What Colin doesn't know is that Georgina's desperate social aspirations are driven by the shameful secret she harbors. Association with Colin McCrae is not part of Georgina's plan, but as their paths continue to cross, they both must decide if the realization of their dreams is worth the sacrifices they must make.

Book Three
http://amzn.to/2fboHLB

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.bookdepository.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

 Life for Lady Adelaide Bell was easier if she hid in her older sister's shadow--which worked until her sister got married. Even with the pressure of her socially ambitious mother, the last thing she expected was a marriage of convenience to save her previously spotless reputation.

Lord Trent Hawthorne couldn't be happier that he is not the duke in the family. He's free to manage his small estate and take his time discovering the life he wants to lead, which includes grand plans of wooing and falling in love with the woman of his choice. When he finds himself honor bound to marry a woman he doesn't know, his dream of a marriage like his parents' seems lost forever.

Already starting their marriage on shaky ground, can Adelaide and Trent's relationship survive the pressures of London society?


Book Four
Heidi Reads... An Inconvenient Beauty by Kristi Ann Hunter

My rating: 

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.bookdepository.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Griffith, Duke of Riverton, likes order, logic, and control, and he naturally applies this rational approach to his search for a bride. He's certain Miss Frederica St. Claire is the perfect wife for him, but while Frederica is strangely elusive, he can't seem to stop running into her stunningly beautiful cousin, Miss Isabella Breckenridge.

Isabella should be enjoying her society debut, but with her family in difficult circumstances, her uncle will only help them if she'll use her beauty to assist him in his political aims. Already uncomfortable with this agreement, the more she comes to know Griffith, the more she wishes to be free of her unfortunate obligation.

Will Griffith and Isabella be able to set aside their pride and face their fears in time to find their own happily-ever-after?