An Amish Harvest

Thank you for stopping by!  I hope all of you are having a nice, relaxing Sunday.  I have a roast chicken in the oven for dinner (we do a family dinner on Sunday's).  I will be making an apple crisp to go with it (my mother loves dessert).  Does you family have any Sunday traditions?  Did you know that authors frequently have contests when they release a new book?  They will post information on their blog, Twitter, and Facebook. You should take the time to "like" your favorite author on Facebook so you will be notified when there is a contest.  I recently won a Deanna Chase novel this way.  I also won meat thermometers (to use when grilling) and a picnic package (had the cutest napkins) from Daryl Wood Gerber. It is worth the investment in time (sometimes you can win gift cards to Amazon too)!

An Amish Harvest contains four stories by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, Vannetta Chapman, and Amy Clipston.  Under the Harvest Moon (Beth Wiseman) is set in Paradise, Pennsylvania.  Naomi Dienner is a widow with two children.  Her husband recently passed away and Naomi is not exactly sad.  Stephen, her husband, was abusive to her, but Naomi did not tell anyone.  Brock Mulligan was hired by Gideon, Naomi’s father to harvest her fields.  Brock and Naomi get to know each other, but Naomi is not sure she can ever trust another man.  Will Naomi be able to get over Stephen’s abuse and have a happy future?

Love and Buggy Rides (Amy Clipston) is set in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania.  Janie Lantz has a new job as cashier at Lancaster Buggy Rides and Souvenirs.  On her first day Janie witnesses an accident between a car and one of the buggy drivers.  Janie is not questioned by the police at the time.  Later on, Janie hears that the car driver is blaming Jonathan Stoltzfus, the buggy driver, for the accident.  Janie wants to come forward to clear his name, but her father forbids it.  Will Janie listen to her conscience or her father?

A Quiet Love (Kathleen Fuller) takes place in Middlefield, Ohio.  Dinah Keim has a bad stutter and prefers to be alone (to read book, write poetry, and not be judged).  Her mother is sending her to help her Aunt Judith in Ohio.  Dinah meets Amos who is different.  These two form a bond.  But are they meant to be?

Mischief in the Autumn Air by Vannetta Chapman is the final story.  Martha Beiler is a widow in Sugar Creek, Ohio.  Martha has just received a letter from Aunt Irene who is offering her a place to live in Shipshewana (there are a few rules though).  Martha has no choice but to accept.  Aunt Irene is not the most pleasant person in the world and Martha is thankful for the job she gets at a local auction barn (Bishop arranged it for her).  Eli Wittmer owns the auction barn and is having trouble adjusting to Martha’s sunny disposition (and many suggestions).  During the Fall Festival (they are very busy), Martha notices some unusual bidders.  She tries to warn Eli but he ignores her.  Three items went for an unusually high price and they were sold to the strange bidders.  Upon further examination, they discover parts of a map on the three pieces.  The furniture belonged to Jacob and Charity Weaver who just moved into a retirement home.  Eli and Martha set off to get answers and unravel the mystery.

An Amish Harvest was a pleasure to read.  Each story was well-written, had likeable and engaging characters, and a moral lesson (that apply to all readers).  An example is relying on God and his plan for each of our lives.  The stories are short (the last one is the longest), but they are packed with charm.  I enjoyed the fall time period.  It is my favorite time of year and the one thing I miss by living in Florida (we never really have a fall).  My favorite story was Mischief in the Autumn Air.  I liked the unique mystery, the setting, and the characters (Martha had a good outlook on life and personality).  I give An Amish Harvest 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it).  You can purchase the book whole or you can buy the stories individually (if you just wanted one or two of them).  I will definitely read books by each of these authors in the future. 

You can follow Beth Wiseman, Vannetta Chapman, Kathleen Fuller, and Amy Clipston on Amazon.  I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

I am off to make my apple crisp.  I am currently reading Pumpkin Picking with Murder by Auralee Wallace (it is trying to hard to be humorous).  May all of you be blessed with a very special day.  I will be back soon with another review.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader