Amish Midwives by Amy Clipston, Shelley Shepard Gray, and Kelly Long

 

Amish Midwives

Bundles of Blessings by Amy Clipston has Kristina Byler busy as a midwife in her community after the death of her husband.  She is surprised to learn that Aidan Smoker has returned.  They dated in their teens and Kristina thought Aidan was the man she would marry until she found a letter on her porch.  Kristina finds herself still attracted to Aidan, but she is afraid that he will break her heart once again.  She could not handle that pain a second time.  Kristina loves her job as a midwife, but she does want a family of her own.  A new revelation may be just the ticket to bring Aidan and Kristina together.  

A Midwife for Susie by Shelley Shepard Gray has Joanna Zimmerman determined to not continue as a midwife.  She had a tragic experience with a mother in Sugar Creek, Ohio.  Joanna has kept what happened to herself since returning home, but her best friend Dwight Eicher knows something is wrong since she has not been acting like herself.  Dwight’s sister, Susie is pregnant with her first child and she wants Joanna to deliver it.  When Joanna refuses, Dwight sets out to find out what is bothering his best friend.  Dwight’s feelings for Joanna have begun to change into something deeper and he does not like to see her hurting.  Joanna is afraid of what Dwight will think of her when he learns the truth.  Dwight will have to tread softly with Joanna to help her overcome her fears and return to the profession she loves.  

Christmas Cradles by Kelly Long has Anna Stolis filling in her for aunt, the local midwife, while she goes out of town for Christmas.  Asa Lapp’s father agreed to drive Anna if there were any deliveries, but he has come down with the flu.  Asa has agreed to fulfill his father’s promise.  On a snowy Christmas night, Asa and Anna end up helping three women welcome new life into their homes.  Anna is surprised at how helpful Asa is during the long night and the attraction she feels towards him.  Unexpected Christmas blessings are in store for Anna and Asa.

My Thoughts

Amish Midwives by Amy Clipston, Shelley Shepard Gray, and Kelly Long contains three heartwarming Amish tales.  I enjoyed reading these sweet Amish novellas.  I thought they were well-written with charming characters.  Each story has a midwife who is considered past her prime (two unmarried and one widow).  I liked the midwife theme and the unique way each author presented it.  We get to see the role of a midwife in an Amish community.  A midwife needs to be knowledgeable about her craft as well as compassionate, organized, and professional.  I could not imagine going through a home birth (I needed pain killers).  There is humor is each of the stories, but it is especially prevalent in A Midwife for Susie.  I laughed at Joanna’s ineptness in the kitchen and the messes she created.  Christmas Cradles is a sweet tale that has snow, Christmas, and beautiful handmade quilts.  Bundles of Blessings has two people who once loved each other getting a second chance.  I was quickly drawn into Amy Clipston’s appealing Amish story.  Her characters and storyline are appealing.  I was happy there was an epilogue that nicely wrapped up the novella.  There are discussion questions for each short story.  Amish Midwives is one of those books that provides a delightful break from real life.  Amish Midwives contains three inspiring and emotional tales that will touch your heart.  

Amish Midwives is available from Amazon*.  Amy Clipston has An Amish Barn Raising releasing April 6.  You can find Amy Clipston's other novels here.  You will find Shelley Shepard Gray's books here and Kelly Long's here.  Thank you for stopping by and reading my review.  I will be sharing my thoughts on Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah next time.  It is the first novel in A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series.  I hope that you will have a kind day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Double or Muffin by Victoria Hamilton: Review & Giveaway!

  

Double or Muffin

A Merry Muffin Mystery 

by Victoria Hamilton

About Double or Muffin

 

Double or Muffin (A Merry Muffin Mystery) 

 

In the new Merry Muffin Mystery, baker Merry Wynter must solve a disturbing crime among opera singers before the culprit decides it’s curtains for her . . .

When a reality TV show for aspiring opera singers descends on Wynter Castle, Merry’s got her hands full catering to the endless demands of the distinguished judges and ambitious contestants. Then mysterious rumors about the cast and crew begin to surface, suggesting that some of their performances may be filled with false notes. When a dogged reporter with an eye for scandal who’s been covering the competition is attacked and left for dead, Merry’s determined to discover who orchestrated the heinous deed.

Her long list of suspects is filled with eccentric personalities, including a promiscuous tenor known for making unwanted overtures, a pampered young prodigy and her meddlesome mother, and a quiet up-and-comer whose shadowy uncle may have ties to the underworld. As the musical contest and Merry’s investigation near their finale, she’ll have to act fast to keep a conniving contestant from plotting out her final act . . .

About Victoria Hamilton

Victoria Hamilton is the bestselling author of several mystery series including the national bestselling Vintage Kitchen Mysteries and Merry Muffin Mysteries. She does, indeed, collect vintage kitchenware and bake muffins. She drinks tea and coffee on writing days, and wine other times. It doesn’t do to confuse days. She crochets (a little), paints (a little) and reads (a lot). A solitary being, she can be coaxed out of her writing cave for brownies and cat videos.

She started her writing life as Donna Lea Simpson, bestselling author of Regency Romances, paranormal historical novels, and historical mysteries, and still has a soft spot for the Regency period.

If you Google ‘Victoria Hamilton’, you will find listed first a famous actress who starred as the Queen Mother in the series The Crown and as Charlotte Brontë in ‘In Search of the Brontës’. That’s not the Victoria who writes mysteries.

No, really, it’s not!

You can find her buried in a good book, (entombed in a good tome?) or online at: 

Website: http://www.VictoriaHamiltonMysteries.com (Sign up for her annoyingly infrequent newsletter for all the latest!) 

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorVictoriaHamilton 

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/MysteryVictoria 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mysteryauthorvictoriahamilton/ 

Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/victoriahamilton 

Goodreads Author Profile: Victoria Hamilton 

My Thoughts

Double or Muffin by Victoria Hamilton has Merry Wynter welcoming the cast and crew of a reality competition for aspiring opera singers to Wynter Castle.  Merry is kept hopping with baking meals, cleaning rooms, catering the food services tables, and handling the requests of the guests.  It is a mystery as to why the group was asked to leave their last hotel.  Merry also has the windows of the castle being washed for the next group to descend on the stately home.  As if Merry does not have enough on her plate, items begin to disappear around the castle and from the window washers’ van.  Before Merry can look into the matter, the industrious reporter writing an article on the competition disappears.  A search party is organized, and the reporter is found wounded in the woods.  She was stabbed and left for dead in the cold.  Merry is determined to discover who harmed the woman and begins working through the lengthy suspect list.  Can Merry find the guilty party before they fly the coop?  Double or Muffin is the 7^th A Merry Muffin Mystery.  It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series.  I thought Double or Muffin was well-written with developed characters.  There is an interesting cast of characters.  It appears that everyone with the show has a secret.  The story has a good flow, but I did find the pacing a little slow in the first half.  The mystery was well-plotted, but it does not occur until halfway through the book.  There are a number of suspects for Merry to consider.  The singers in the competition all seem to be hiding something and it is up to Merry to ferret out the information.  There are clues to aid readers in solving the crime before the solution is revealed.  I thought one detail was particularly clever.  I enjoyed Becket’s antics and his participation in the mystery.  It was great to catch up with Merry, Pish, Virgil, and their friends.  Double or Muffin ends on a sweet note.  Double or Muffin is a lively cozy mystery with problematic prima donnas, mouthwatering muffins, a cunning cat, missing materials, a prying reporter, and attractive operatic arias.  

Double or Muffin can be purchased at Amazon, B&N, Kobo, and Google Play.  You can find the other novels in A Merry Muffin Mystery series here.  You can find Victoria Hamilton's other books here.  As part of the tour, Victoria Hamilton is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card (open to those in U.S. and Canada).  You can enter here or enter via the Rafflecopter form below.  Good Luck!  Thank you for visiting today.  I will return tomorrow to feature Amish Midwives by Amy Clipston, Shelley Shepard Gray, and Kelly Long.  I hope  that you have a calming day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Tour Participants

March 1 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author Blog – SPOTLIGHT 

March 1 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST 

March 1 – This Is My Truth Now – REVIEW 

March 2 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST 

March 2 – Maureen's Musings - SPOTLIGHT 

March 2 – ebook addicts – SPOTLIGHT 

March 3 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT 

March 3 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW 

March 3 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT 

March 4 – Christy's Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST 

March 4 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 

March 4 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 

March 5 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW 

March 5 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW 

arch 5 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW 

March 6 – I Read What You Write – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 

March 6 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLGHT 

March 7 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – RECIPE POST 

March 7 – Baroness Book Trove – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 

March 7 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews - SPOTLIGHT 

March 8 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 

March 8 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 

March 8 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST 

March 9 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 

March 9 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW 

March 9 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – REVIEW 

arch 9 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT 

March 10 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT 

March 10 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews - REVIEW 

March 10 – Christa Reads and Writes – SPOTLIGHT 

March 10 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Coming Home to the Four Streets by Nadine Dorries

 

My Thoughts

Coming Home to the Four Streets by Nadine Dorries is the 4^th book in The Four Streets series.  Eric, the local milkman, looks forward to having a morning cuppa with Maggie Trott each day.  It gives them a chance to be close and flirt.  After all, Eric is married to the acerbic Gladys.  Eric just hopes that word never gets back to Gladys.  Peggy Nolan is not doing well since Maura Doherty departed for Ireland.  Maura kept Peggy on a schedule and made sure that Peggy and her family had food to eat.  Paddy Nolan rarely heads to the docks to pick up work preferring to spend his time at the local pub spending what little money he has earned.  Maura and Tommy miss the Four Streets.  Life is Ireland is not what they expected.  It is a hard life running Talk of the Town with little profit.  Maura misses her friends, and she is worried about her son, Harry who is being ill-treated by the local schoolteacher.  Callum is staying out of trouble, but his twin is getting out of jail soon.  His mother, Annie sees only the best in Jimmy, but Callum worries that Jimmy will cause more trouble upon his release.  Some people are betting that Jimmy will be back in jail before a week is out. The neighborhood looks forward to the carnival each year which is in a few weeks, and they rely on Captain Conor’s ship to supply some needed items.  Unfortunately, there has been no word on the ship and supplies are running low.  I found this historical novel easy to read with a cast of realistic characters.  I thought the author captured the time-period and the locale.  We get to see the hardscrabble life the dock workers and their families experience.  They may not have many physical luxuries, but the people in Four Streets have each other.  They help each other out when in need.  The book does contain foul language and intimate situations. The Four Streets series does need to be read in order because information that is needed is not included in Coming Home to the Four Streets. Coming Home to the Four Streets has a good ending that will make readers of the series smile. If you enjoy dramatic historical sagas, then you will like reading Coming Home to the Four Streets.  

Coming Home to the Four Streets can be obtained from Amazon*.  The Four Streets series includes The Four Streets, Hide Her Name, and The Ballymara Road.   You can find Nadine Dorries other novels here.  Thank you for reading my review today.  Tomorrow I am a stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Double or Muffin by Victoria Hamilton.  It is the 7th A Merry Muffin Mystery. I am off to move things off my carpet.  We are still in the process of doing repairs to our new place.  We are storing excess items at the back of the carport.  Because of the rules of the community, we were very careful.  We have them under a large tarp and hidden with sun sunshades at front and side (looks very nice especially compared to other people's carports where I have seen a shower curtain hiding items, an extra fridge, storage containers, etc.).  The only way you know there is anything hidden back there is if you go back there and life up the tarp.  The manager of the complex is doing her yearly inspections.  Evidently, our items are an eyesore and must be moved.  Evidently she is not aware that it takes weeks to get flooring because of the pandemic (of course, the walls still need to be painted).  Wish me luck in my endeavor.  I hope that you have a cheerful day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Haunted Hibiscus by Laura Childs

  

Haunted Hibiscus

A Tea Shop Mystery

by Laura Childs

About Haunted Hibiscus

 

Haunted Hibiscus (A Tea Shop Mystery) 

 

Tea maven Theodosia Browning brews up trouble in the latest Tea Shop Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs.

It is the week before Halloween and Theodosia Browning, proprietor of the Indigo Tea Shop, and her tea sommelier, Drayton, are ghosting through the dusk of a cool Charleston evening on their way to the old Bouchard Mansion. Known as the Gray Ghost, this dilapidated place was recently bequeathed to the Heritage Society, and tonight heralds the grand opening of their literary and historical themed haunted house.

Though Timothy Neville, the patriarch of the Heritage Society, is not thrilled with the fund-raising idea, it is the perfect venue for his grandniece, Willow French, to sign copies of her new book, Carolina Crimes & Creepers.

But amid a parade of characters dressed as Edgar Allan Poe, Lady Macbeth, and the Headless Horseman, Willow's body is suddenly tossed from the third-floor tower room and left to dangle at the end of a rope. Police come screaming in and Theodosia's boyfriend, Detective Pete Riley, is sent to Willow's apartment to investigate. But minutes later, he is shot and wounded by a shadowy intruder.

Timothy begs Theodosia to investigate, and shaken by Riley's assault, she readily agrees. Now, she questions members of the Heritage Society and a man who claims the mansion is rightfully his, as well as Willow's book publisher and her fiancé, all while hosting a Sherlock Holmes tea and catering several others.

But the Gray Ghost holds many secrets, as do several other key suspects, while this murder mystery plays out on the eve of Halloween.

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!

About Laura Childs

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fundraising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:

The Tea Shop Mysteries – set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.

The Scrapbooking Mysteries – a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries – set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.

Laura's Links

Website – http://www.laurachilds.com/ 

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/laura.childs.31 

My Thoughts

Haunted Hibiscus by Laura Childs is the 13^th A Tea Sop Mystery.  It can be read as a standalone for those who are new to the series or have missed a book or two.  I look forward to reading the latest Tea Shop Mystery each year.  This first cozy mystery that I read was Death by Darjeeling and I have been hooked on cozy mysteries since then.  Theodosia Browning is back with Drayton and Haley for a new adventure.  The Heritage Society inherited the Bouchard house and has turned it into a literary-and-history inspired haunted house.  Theodosia and Drayton are attending the opening night when a scream rings out.  Willow French, author and Timothy Neville’s niece, is hanging from a rope out of third story window.  Theodosia quickly calls Detective Pete Riley who arrives with Detective Tidwell.  Pete gets dispatched to the victim’s apartment where he is shot.  Theodosia is determined to uncover the identity of the guilty party.  I thought Haunted Hibiscus was well-written with developed, engaging characters and a beautiful setting. I look forward to catching up with Theodosia, Drayton, Haley, and Earl Grey with each new book.  The author captures Charleston, South Carolina with her vivid descriptions.  I was drawn into Haunted Hibiscus from the very first page.  The mystery was intriguing. There are several viable suspects.  Any one of them could have committed the crime.  I enjoyed the subtle clues.  You must pay close attention if you are going to catch them and see how they relate to the whodunit (if you want to solve the crime).  There is action that keeps things suspenseful plus helps propel the book forward toward the delightful conclusion.  There were some fascinating revelations as well as a little twist (or two).  There is humor mixed into the story as well.  There are mouthwatering food descriptions as well as tasty teas.  I liked learning more about the tea blends that Drayton serves and unique information about tea trays.  I did not want Haunted Hibiscus to end.  I am looking forward to reading Twisted Tea Christmas in October.  Haunted Hibiscus is a charming Southern cozy mystery with tasty teas, haunted happenings, an energetic Earl Grey, a wounded detective, a tenacious Tidwell, curious clues, and a haunted house.

Haunted Hisbicus is available from Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Google Play,  and IndieBound.  You can find the other Tea Shop Mysteries here.  The next A Tea Shop Mystery is Twisted Tea Christmas which publishes October 5 (we are getting two A Tea Shop Mysteries in one year!).  Would you like to win a copy of Haunted Hibiscus?  Laura Childs is giving away two (2) copies (sorry, but US only).  You can click here to enter or use the Rafflecopter form below.  Good Luck!  Thank you for visiting today.  I will return tomorrow with Coming Home to the Four Streets by Nadine Dories.  It is the 4th book in The Four Streets series.  I hope all of you have a jolly good day.  Do not forget to leave a comment for an extra entry.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Participants

March 1 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT 

March 1 – The Editing Pen – REVIEW 

March 1 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog - SPOTLIGHT 

March 2 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW 

March 2 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT 

March 3 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW 

March 3 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW 

 March 3 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 

March 3 – Island Confidential - SPOTLIGHT 

March 4 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 

March 4 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT 

March 5 – Author Elena Taylor's Blog – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 

March 5 – I Read What You Write – GUEST POST 

March 5 – The Book's the Thing – REVIEW 

March 6 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT 

March 6 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 

March 7 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW 

March 7 – Brooke Blogs - SPOTLIGHT 

March 8 – Baroness' Book Trove – REVIEW 

March 8 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 

March 8 – Christy's Cozy Corners – REVIEW 

March 9 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT 

March 9 – Brianne's Book Reviews – REVIEW 

March 10 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW 

March 10 – Reading Authors Network – SPOTLIGHT 

March 11 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT 

March 11 – ebook addicts – SPOTLIGHT 

March 11 – MJB Reviewers - SPOTLIGHT 

March 12 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW 

March 12 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT 

March 12 – Novels Alive – REVIEW 

March 13 – Here's How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT 

March 13 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 

March 14 – The Book Diva's Reads – GUEST POST 

March 14 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Affair by Danielle Steel

 

Book Summary

The Affair by Danielle Steel has Rose McCarthy as editor-in-chief of Mode Magazine facing a dilemma.  Her staff wishes to feature Pascale Solon, an up-and-coming actress on the September cover.  Pascale has been in the press because her affair with Nicolas Bateau, a bestselling French author, was exposed at Cannes Film Festival.  Rose is hesitating because Nicolas is her son-in-law and she does not wish to hurt her daughter, Nadia.  Nadia is devastated by her husband’s public affair.  She does not wish the news to get back to her two daughters.  Nadia’s three sisters love her and dislike seeing her in distress.  They are there for Nadia and support whatever choices she makes regarding her marriage.  The McCarthy ladies come together for the Fourth of July at the Bateau chateau.  The four sisters are strong, smart, and talented.  Athena is a well-known television chef, Venetia is a high-end fashion designer, and Olivia is a superior court judge.  The family offers helpful advice along with their love, but Nadia is the one who needs to decide what is best for her and her girls.  Then the news breaks that Pascale is pregnant.  Nicolas is torn between the wife he loves and the woman who stimulates him in other ways.  Nadia is at a turning point in her life.  What choices will Nadia make?

My Thoughts

The Affair is the latest novel by Danielle Steel.  I found it easy to read with Danielle Steel’s trademark writing style.  I have been reading this author’s novels since I was twelve (I borrowed them from my mother and then the library).  Despite the subject matter, it is an easy breezy type of book.  A husband has an affair, and we see how it affects his wife and children. The situation is further complicated because the mistress is an actress, and he is a bestselling novelist.  The point-of-view switches between Nadia, Nicolas, and Rose.  We get to see each person’s point-of-view on the affair and how it affects them.  We go from Paris to LA and to New York as well as the French countryside.  The author provides good descriptions of each character which allowed me to visualize them.  I liked seeing Nadia develop into a stronger more confident woman. We also get to the see the four sisters strengthen their bond.  This story did not play out as I expected which was great.  I like that the women are smart and driven.  It is wonderful that the author gave us strong female characters.   There is plenty of glamour as well in the story (it would not be a Danielle Steel novel without a little glitz).  There is some mild foul language in the book plus a repetition of information.  I do not need a character’s backstory repeated to me several times nor the details of the affair.  The Affair was a wonderfully distracting novel.  I enjoy books that takes your mind of your own worries.  The Affair is a poignant novel with a frustrating affair, sensitive sisters, a compassionate mother, a self-absorbed thespian, a sinister secret, a problematic pregnancy, and a reckless spouse.

The Affair is available from Amazon*.  You can find Danielle Steel's other novels here.  Danielle Steel's next release is Finding Ashley on April 27.  She has Nine Lives publishing on July 6.  Thank you for reading my review today.  Tomorrow I am a stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Haunted Hibiscus.  It is the 13th A Tea Shop Mystery.   I hope that you have a fun day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Robin's Greeting by Wanda E. Brunstetter

 

Book Summary

The Robin’s Greeting by Wanda E. Brunstetter has Belinda King enjoying a cool November day and thinking about her family.  It has been a rough two years since the death of her husband, son, and son-in-law.  They have been trying to keep the greenhouse going despite a rival business opening nearby as well as the vandalism and threats.  Her daughter, Amy is happily married along with her son, Ezekiel.  Sylvia is being courted by Dennis and Belinda expects a wedding announcement is imminent.  Belinda likes seeing her children happy and moving on with their lives.  She hopes that her youngest son, Henry will find his life’s calling and that his anger over his father’s death will dissipate.  It now appears that Belinda has two suitors vying for attention.  Monroe Esh, a man Belinda has known since her teenage years, and new acquaintance, Herschel Fisher.  Belinda worries, though, about Henry’s attitude toward the men plus the threats have begun once again.  Which man will Belinda pick and can they find the saboteur?

My Thoughts

The Robin’s Greeting by Wanda E. Brunstetter is the third and final Amish Greenhouse Mystery.  It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series.  The Robin’s Greetings continues the story of the Belinda King and her four children along with their families (Ezekiel, Amy, Sylvia, and Henry).  They miss their loved ones who died two years prior in a terrible accident, but they are ready to move forward.  Amy and Jared are happily married while Sylvia is courting Dennis.  Belinda misses Ezekiel and his family, but she knows they are doing well in Clymer, New York where Ezekiel is now a minister.  I thought The Robin’s Greeting was well-written with developed characters and steady pacing.  I have enjoyed getting to know the King family and I have been dying to find out if I have correctly identified the guilty party.  It is nice to see Sylvia finding love once again.  There were some unexpected revelations near the end of the book (many of you will go “Oh, that’s right” like I did).  I did find the ending a little rushed, but that did not hinder my enjoyment.  I found it to be touching and uplifting.  I also liked how the robin theme was prevalent through the whole story (a robin symbolizes happiness, hope, and new beginnings).  The Robin’s Greeting was a sweet book and a charming series.  Wanda E. Brunstetter did not disappoint with this heartwarming tale.  

The Robin's Greeting is available from Amazon*.  The other two novels in the Amish Greenhouse Mystery series are The Crow's Call and The Mockingbird's Song.  You can get an extended free preview of The Robin's Greetings here.  Wanda Brunstetter's next release is The Return to the Big Valley which publishes June 1.  Thank you for joining me.  Tomorrow I am featuring The Affair by Danielle Steel.    I hope that you have a joyful day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.