A Dream Of Home

 

About The Book:  When she moves to Amish country to find peace and healing, Madeleine finds a special community—and a special man—who pull her out of her solitude into a new life.
Moving to Pennsylvania wasn’t in Madeleine’s original plans. She should still be in California and should have married her pilot fiancé a year ago—but death has a way of changing everything. Now the former Air Force flight nurse is living alone in Paradise, Pennsylvania, and working as a maid at the Lancaster Grand Hotel. She isn’t exactly a widow . . . but she sure feels like one.  Saul Beiler isn’t exactly a widower . . . but his wife is long gone. His eleven-year-old daughter, Emma, doesn’t know that her mother fled the Amish community—and married another man—but she does know that her dat is lonely, and that a pretty young maedel just moved in next door. Madeline’s numb heart begins to thaw as she spends more time with the innocent and ever optimistic Emma. The stronger her friendship grows with the young girl, the more intrigued Madeline grows about the humble, strong, man raising her on his own.  But even as a strange attraction pulls Saul and Madeleine across a stark cultural divide, they—and everybody else—have to wonder: What could they possibly have in common besides heartache? Will love allow Madeleine to finally find the home she’s been dreaming of all along?
About The Author:  Amy Clipston is the award-winning and best-selling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery series. Her novels have hit multiple best-seller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan College and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and four spoiled rotten cats. Visit her online at www.amyclipston.com Facebook: AmyClipstonBooks Twitter: @AmyClipston
My Thoughts On The Book:  I have read all the books in this series and have to admit this one was my favorite by far.  Amy Clipston really has a knack for developing her characters, her scene, and her plots and making the reader feel as if they are part of the story.  I could not put the book down!  It was an easy read.  It was a new twist on an Amish story of love, faith, and romance. I cannot wait to get my hands on the fourth book in the series.  
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from BookLook Bloggers  as part of their Book Review Blogger Programs. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you! 

A Season Of Change

About The Book: An Amish widower finds love in unexpected places.Amish widower Jacob Miller believes it was a mistake to visit the Amish village of Pinecraft for winter vacation, especially after his daughter is struck by a car. Stranded in Sarasota until his daughter recovers, Jacob grows increasingly wary of events that unfold in his unfamiliar surroundings---including the strange curiosity of Englischer Natalie Bennett.Natalie never thought her circus career as an aerial silks artist would end with a blown-out knee at the age of 25. She also never knew her late mother had a secret---that she was once Amish.  When Natalie meets the Millers at the Sarasota hospital, she is attracted to their warm hospitality and simple ways---and soon wonders if they can help her find her mother's family. As Jacob and Natalie fall in love, their worlds collide. Will their differences tear them apart? Or will their love be strong enough to blend their clashing cultures?

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/x6Wsl

About The Author: Lynette Sowell is the Carol Award-winning and ECPA best-selling author of more than 15 titles, including A Season of Change and Tempest's Course. When Lynette is not writing, she works as a medical editor and part-time newspaper reporter. She makes her home in Copperas Cove on the doorstep of the Texas hill country. 

Lynette can be found at: website, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest

My Thoughts About The Book:  I have a love of Amish fiction, especially good Amish fiction, and am delighted that so many Amish fiction authors are out there right now.  I was taken aback because A Season of Change is so very different from any other Amish stories I have read to date. The story opens with  Jacob Miller, an Amish widower who meets an Englisher, Natalie(a clown), while she is visiting the children's wing of the hospital where his daughter is.  I would never have placed circus people and Amish together so this made the story a bit far fetched in the beginning.  Reading this was a first because I have never read any Amish books that take place in Florida.  Most Amish books are set in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana.  The Florida Order has very relaxed rules and so I did some research on this community and found that one like it really does exist.  As a Floridian who grew up with "snow birds" visiting in the winter I became more comfortable with the location of the story once I had some background information.  Even with the setting and the relaxing of the rules I still found the familiar Amish themes, emotions and dilemmas faced by the various personalities were well portrayed and the end result is quite unexpected.  I could not put it down and it was a most enjoyable read.  Sowell is quite the wordsmith and tells the story in a genuine manner and I loved it. A Season of Change is the first in a series, and I cannot wait to read more by this author.  If you are a fan of Amish fiction this is a must read.  Be prepared though because it is off the beat and path of regular Amish romances.

Disclaimer:  I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Groups blogging review program in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”  Thanks guys for allowing me this opportunity.

Love Finds You In Sugarcreek, Ohio

About The Book:  Guideposts Books is excited to announce the premiere of a new film based on the book Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio (Summerside Press) by Serena Miller. A mysterious outsider casts a long shadow on Ohio’s Amish country. Policewoman Rachel Troyer has always looked after her three elderly Amish aunts, proprietors of a farmhouse inn near Sugarcreek, Ohio. The idyllic town is popular with tourists, who come to sample its famous Amish goods. But one thing is clear to Rachel – Joe Matthews is no tourist. When the bearded stranger lands on her aunts’ doorstep, begging shelter for himself and his young son, Rachel is suspicious. Will she be able to uncover Joe’s secrets despite her aunts’ – and her own – growing affection for him?


About The Author:  Prior to writing novels, Serena Miller wrote for many periodicals, including Woman’s World, Guideposts, Billy Graham’s Decision Magazine, Reader’s Digest, Focus on the Family, Christian Woman, and The Detroit Free Press Magazine. She has spent many years partnering with her husband in full-time ministry and lives on a farm in southern Ohio near a thriving Amish community.


My Thoughts About The Book:  I am a huge fan of Amish life stories.  This one was a wonderful, if not a bit unusual read. It was definitely different from other Amish fiction I've read because it was more focused on the Old Order Amish and many of the main characters were "Englischers." It had an interesting mystery subplot threaded into the main plot that really held the reader's attention.  This story was well written and very realistic.   As the grandmother of two Downs Syndrome grandchildren I loved the introduction of this subject into the Amish world.  I did see several characteristics that I felt would be way to difficult for someone with Anna's mental capabilities. Overall the story was very good. I read the book in one sitting from front to back.  I just could not put this sweet romance down.  In this book the themes of pride, restoration, and forgiveness were dealt with expertly.  I would recommend this book to anyone who love Amish stories.


Disclaimer:  I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group and Guidepost Books. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”  Thanks guys for allowing me this opportunity.

A Hopeful Heart

About The Book:  In A Hopeful Heart, the first novel of the new Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel series from best-selling author Amy Clipston, Hannah finds herself at a crossroads in her life. Her community offers her love and support after the untimely death of her husband, but an Englisher offers her the chance of a new life after her unexpected tragedy. Wealthy businessman Trey Peterson is surprised by his attraction to the gentle Amish woman who works as a housekeeper in the Lancaster Grand Hotel. They share a common bond of loss and are able to offer each other comfort and support as they journey through their grief.  Joshua Glick wants nothing more than to offer his friendship and love to Hannah and her family. Not only is he her late husband’s brother and business partner, he has always been in love with Hannah.  A Hopeful Heart is filled with surprising twists as Hannah tries to balance her life in the Amish community and her growing love for an outsider.

About The Author:  Amy Clipston is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. She works full-time for the City of Charlotte. Her home includes husband, Joe; two sons, Zac and Matt; mother, Lola; and four spoiled rotten cats, Molly, Rico, Jet, and Lilly.  She is an advocate for organ and blood donation. She donated a kidney on June 14, 2011, at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Through her donation, her husband received a second kidney transplant. Her husband and Clipston herself matched another couple and they swapped kidneys with them. She gave a kidney to her husband's donor's wife. Feel free to check out her website: http://amyclipston.com.

My Thoughts About The Book:  I love Amish fiction and was thrilled to have the opportunity to review this book for Thomas Nelson's Book Sneeze Blogging Program.  Because it was an Amish story I devoured the book and read this book all the way through in one day.  Once I started it I could not put it down.  The resolution was a bit hard to swallow.  Trey and Hannah fell in love too quickly, after just one brief conversation.   I haven't read an Amish fiction book where things were resolved in that way, but it doesn't mean that it doesn't happen.  Clifton does not  portray the Amish as perfect people like most  Amish fiction does.  This particular Order of Amish seemed to be terribly judgmental and gossipy.  Although many of them were kind and gentle, they were human and things around her were not perfect.   Personally I don't believe this would happen where two people – one Amish and one Englisher would act on feelings of this magnitude so fast. I knew from the moment they met that Hannah would end up leaving her Order and marrying Trey.  I also knew that her decision would eventually affect her whole family. I was very frustrated with Hannah, Trey, Barbie, and Josh because of their actions yet the characters and the storyline and characters came across as real. This could really happen today.  I believe the story was one that portrayed the struggles that Amish widows face.  It was a good story about the Amish way of life and the struggles Amish women may face. I would love to read a follow up of the main characters. I really liked Hannah; her character was really likeable. I really thought Trey, and two of Hannah's children were likeable too. I can understand the struggles the other child was probably going through though. I felt all the characters were well-rounded and very thought out. This book was a gem.  Even though I was not entirely sold on the book I would still like to read the entire set of stories from the Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel Series.

Disclaimer:  I received this book to review from Thomas Nelson Publishing Group's Book Sneeze Blogging Program  and Zondervan for an honest review.