You’ll be swept away by the endearing characters created by award-winning author Anna Schmidt. On the heels of a horrific hurricane, Hester Detlef, field director for the Mennonite Disaster Service, blows into the life of self-made, shunned Amish man John Hafner. Will she find a way through his shield and into his heart? Although the hurricane has left John homeless and badly injured, the last thing he wants is some do-gooder Mennonite woman intruding in his life. Will his impatience with her intention of restoring his faith and property keep him from accepting this beguiling stranger’s kindness?

My Comments: Interesting journey of a young man trying to pay penance and a young woman who puts others first through the Mennonite Disaster Service.  This book combines Amish and Mennonite fiction.  I find the romance in this book a little more believable because it isn’t instant.  It develops throughout the book.  The characters are colorful.  I especially like Olive – one of the crabby spinsters.  I found appealing the desire of John to live a life as described in “Walden.”  Nobody would let him, however, and the weather completely ruined it for him.  The book is satisfying, the end is great and I am looking forward to more books in this series.

I received this book from NetGalley.

My Comments: This is a quick sweet read.  The premise of the book is a little hard to swallow – making a town famous for love – but my husband and I honeymooned in Vermont and it IS a romantic state overall!  Snow, skiing, cold biting weather (and we went in April!), and quaint little towns.  Four women from the town of Smitten share their love stories.  Each is different according to the personality of the author.  They share other aspects of their lives as well such as making a go of a new business, and fighting people who don’t agree with their idea of making Smitten a town for love (because of it’s name).  This book would be great to read for Valentine’s Day!  I would overall give it a 3.5 out of 5.

Thank you NetGalley!  This book is already pubished and ready to order.

As many of you, I have been very busy with the holidays.  However, I read several books and now it is time to write posts about them!  One book I really enjoyed was A Life of Joy by Amy Clipston.    Here is a little synopsis of the story:  Take a trip to Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, where you’ll meet the women of the Kauffman Amish Bakery in Lancaster County. As each woman’s story unfolds, you will share in her heartaches, trials, joys, dreams . and secrets. You’ll discover how the simplicity of the Amish lifestyle can clash with the “English” way of life-and the decisions and consequences that follow. Most importantly, you will be encouraged by the hope and faith of these women, and the importance they place on their families. In A Life of Joy, the fourth installment in the series, eighteen-year-old Lindsay Bedford has reached a crossroads. Should she stay in the small Amish community she’s known and loved for four years or return to the English life in her hometown in Virginia where her older sister is a college student? An extended visit to Virginia might just tip the scales as Lindsay reconnects with friends, joins a new church, works on her GED, and is pressured by her sister to stay and “make something of herself.”

My comments: This was a great story, although I still wonder how many “English” would switch over to the Amish lifestyle and embrace it wholeheartedly.  If you know of any real person who has done this, please let me know.  I can see the appeal, believe me.  I cannot, however, see the work – the washing, the sewing, the cooking, etc.  I also have some problems with the legalism.  Other than that, the close family ties, the simpler (in some ways) lifestyle, and the work ethic appeals to me.  The Amish seem to have a great faith in God and His will in their lives and believing that all things that happen are His will.  I just question shunning, and their extreme separation from the rest of the world – even other believers.  Also limiting themselves to an eighth grade education doesn’t appeal to me at all.

I actually found myself pulling for Lindsey to go back to her roots – the English roots.  She had some great support systems in both the English and Amish worlds.  Maybe I was hoping for the English lifestyle because I know the English world and seems to be what her parents wanted for her.  I am anxious to see what happens in the next book.  Clipston does a great job leaving you off with a great cliff-hanger.  I enjoy her books and her writing and will continue to keep reading them!

English and Amish worlds collide for a few days to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas!

About the Author

Eden’s hope is rekindled when Clay delivers astounding news: their daughter has been found.

Five years ago Eden and Clay Larson’s baby was stolen and never found. Eden blamed herself, Clay lost himself in work. Their young and rocky marriage ended. Or so Eden thought.

Now  Eden’s moved to a new town. She’s found faith and is trying to rebuild her life. She’s even dating again-a sweet guy who plans to marry her someday. But then Clay arrives out of the blue and delivers shocking news: they’re still married. What’s more, Clay has been searching for Brianna all this time. And he believes he’s found her: their daughter is in Bluebird, Texas, at a youth ranch.

To uncover the truth, Eden and Clay sign on as counselors at Bluebird Ranch. Working together, they rediscover their love for each other. But danger is closing in-Eden, Clay, and their young charges are in jeopardy. As they fight to save their family, Eden realizes that God has been fighting for them all along. And His plans are for a more abundant life than they’ve dared to hope.

My Comments:

I always enjoy Colleen Coble’s novels and this one is no exception.  I read it in just a couple of days and was very curious about the outcome.  The story was engaging, the characters interesting and likeable.  The story had both romance and mystery, so it met all of my criteria of great women’s fiction.  The Christian elements were believable without being preachy.  I think someone who was not of the Christian faith would also enjoy reading this book.  I wonder if a sequel will be coming…

Listen to part of the book now.

Click on the above to view information about the Amish Holiday Book Tour coming up soon.

We will be giving away the following in honor of the book tour which will be NOVEMBER 11-19 a wunderbar collection of Amish goodies:

2 autographed books – one from each author on tour (Amy Clipston, Vannetta Chapman and Shelley Shepard Gray)

2 tour t-shirts, AND

2 tour bags

The pictures of each are below.  In order to win one set of each, put in one sentence what you love about Amish fiction.  The prizes will go out the week of November 7.  We will have a random drawing on November 4 and let you know who the winners are. You must be a resident of the United States to enter and leave a valid email address so we can contact you.

Best of luck, and happy reading!

My Comments:

Great book to get you started into the holiday season.  Amy has an engaging writing style and although Amish Christmas books don’t always “feel” Christmasy to me, this one does more so.  This book is part of the series the Kauffman Amish Bakery, but can definitely be read on it’s own because I haven’t read all of the books in that series, yet I enjoyed it.  This is a great book if you believe in love at first sight, and second and/or third chances.  I feel these Amish books must be somewhat idealized, but that is some of the appeal to me – a great escape that is clean and sweet!   As you can see from my last several posts, I’m on a roll! You might want to wait until the weather cools down a tad bit to read it, but I would definitely recommend reading it!