The Ties that Bind by Linda Byler

The Ties That Bind

Book Summary

In this heartfelt sequel to New Beginnings, Linda Byler returns to the Beiler family, whose struggles and hopes will resonate with anyone who has ever longed for belonging and healing.

Amos Beiler, once an outcast in his Amish community, has found acceptance and purpose in the “English” world, thanks to the kindness of Joseph and Lila Smith. Yet, the scars of his past and the ache of loneliness linger. Back home, the Beiler family is in turmoil: Raymond, the gentle father, tries to keep peace as Lydia’s anxieties and controlling ways threaten to tear the family apart. Lavina is caught between her own dreams and her family’s needs, while Cathy’s rebellious choices push the limits of Amish tradition.

As Amos faces a crossroads—torn between a budding romance with Anna Riehl, the enigmatic Sarah Yoder, and the daunting responsibilities of his new life—the Beilers must confront painful truths about love, forgiveness, and the cost of letting go.

Ties That Bind is a moving portrait of faith, family, and identity, exploring how the strongest bonds are forged through compassion, courage, and the willingness to seek redemption. 

My Thoughts

The Ties that Bind by Linda Byler is a heartfelt and inspiring story. I felt deeply for Amos and his sister, Lavina, and understood their desire to escape a difficult and unhealthy home life. Byler’s detail-oriented writing brings the setting and characters to life, creating a thoughtful, immersive reading experience. While the story begins at a gentle pace, the realistic characters and relatable family struggles quickly drew me in. The personal challenges explored throughout the book are ones many readers will recognize and connect with. The ending left me eager to read the next installment in the series. Since The Ties that Bind is the second book in the Seekers series, I think readers may benefit from starting with New Beginnings. Overall, The Ties that Bind is an uplifting and memorable tale about resilience, hope, and the strength it takes to seek a better life.

The Ties that Bind is available from Amazon.  The first book in the Seekers series is New Beginnings.  If you enjoy Amish novels, you should check out Linda Byler's other books. On Thursday, July 25, I will be sharing my review of D is for Daisy by Shelley Shepard Gray which will be available on July 30. It is the fifth book in the Amish ABCs series.  I am going to spray paint an outdoor bench this afternoon.  Florida does a number on outdoor furniture, and it needs refreshing every couple of years.  My mother and I have decided it paint it red to match our rocking chairs. What plans do you have for your day? Hope today treat you kindly. Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Shortbread in the Highlands by Robin Jones Gunn

 Shortbread in the Highlands

Book Summary

"When friends meet, hearts warm."

Scottish saying

Cousins Nora and Allie are bound by a friendship that feels more like sisterhood, so when their Gran asks them to travel to Scotland on her behalf to claim an unexpected inheritance and unearth her old diary, they jump at this chance for the trip of a lifetime together.

When they arrive in Gran's childhood village, they run into roadblocks but use the delayed schedule to experience the beauty of Scotland. Over shortbread from the local bakery and a boat ride on Loch Lomond, through exploration of ancestral castles and autumn highlands, they wonder what God wants to teach them in this land of mist and heather.

Though they revel in their time together abroad, they find they've brought more baggage than just their suitcases. While Allie fears she may have to leave early to deal with issues back home, Nora struggles to understand all the unknowns before her. What is it about Scotland that keeps drawing her to this unfamiliar place?

As the truth of Gran's past comes to light, Allie and Nora must make weighty decisions. Will they learn to rely on the creative purposes of God, even if it means their lives will never be the same?

On this armchair trek to Scotland, Robin Jones Gunn takes readers on a journey of faith, friendship, and family. Themes of European travel, midlife adventures, and unexpected secrets make this inspirational women's fiction a perfect selection for Christian book clubs.

My Thoughts

Shortbread in the Highlands by Robin Jones Gunn completely swept me away to Scotland! I felt like I was right there enjoying the adventure with Nora and Allie. I love the author’s descriptive writing style because it makes the setting and characters come alive so easily. The story is filled with wonderful life lessons, and my favorite reminder was that secrets always have a way of coming to light. I also loved the faith message woven throughout the book. The mystery kept me interested, and I really enjoyed following the journey as everything unfolded. This third book in the Suitcase Sisters series is entertaining, heartfelt, and easy to enjoy even as a standalone. And as a fun bonus, there are recipes for mouthwatering shortbread at the end! This was a delightful, heartwarming escape that left me smiling—and craving shortbread!

Shortbread in the Highlands can be obtained from Amazon. The first two books in the Suitcase Sisters series are Tea with Elephants and Gelato at the Villa.  If you follow Robin Jones Gunn on Amazon, they will send you an email when she has a new book release. 

I will return on Wednesday, June 24 with The Ties that Bind by Linda Byler.  It is the second book in the Seekers series. I will be working in my garden this afternoon. My doctor wants me to spend fifteen to thirty in the sun each day to soak in natural Vitamin D. I will be sprinkling seeds for flowers to bloom in August and September.  I have cosmos, vinca, salvia, sunflowers, and different varieites of marigolds (one has green flowers).  I also have Mexican sunflowers (they are a small orange flower).  What do you have planned for the rest of the day?  May your day be filled with laughter and love.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Silver Linings for the Seaside Girls by Tracy Baines

 Silver Linings for the Seaside Girls

Book Summary

Cleethorpes, 1941

Singer Jessie Delaney is back home after narrowly escaping the London Blitz with her life. Her confidence in tatters, she’s playing it safe; performing at the Café Dansant - hardly the future she dreamed of.

With husband Johnny Randolph serving overseas, Frances Randolph is busy juggling the business, motherhood and keeping West End star Ruby Randolph out of trouble. Much to Frances’s relief, the arrival of a handsome naval officer full of attractive and exciting ideas provides an earnest and timely distraction for Ruby. Could this spur Ruby on to new beginnings?

Young, talented amateur entertainer, Peggy Marshall has been left in the care of her feckless stepmother while her father serves on the dangerous Atlantic convoys. Performing is her escape, but as her star rises, danger lurks, and Peggy has nowhere to turn.

With everyone doing their bit, the Seaside Girls pool their talents to support the community and also their men at war. Will heartbreak and danger scupper their efforts – or will the show go on, no matter what…

My Thoughts

Silver Linings for the Seaside Girls by Tracy Baines is a wonderfully heartwarming historical tale that I truly enjoyed. It is beautifully written, with relatable characters who quickly drew me into their world, and it is clear that the author put a great deal of research and care into the story. Everyone did their “bit” during the war, even the children, and the novel does a lovely job of showing just how brave, resourceful, and resilient women were during such a difficult time. I especially enjoyed the way the community came together to make sure no one went without. During wartime, holding on to hope and looking for the silver linings is so important, and this story captures that message beautifully. Silver Linings for the Seaside Girls is a touching, uplifting story that stays with you long after you turn the last page.

Silver Linings for the Seaside Girls can be obtained from Amazon. You can find the first four books in The Seaside Girls series here.  If you follow Tracy Baines on Amazon, they will email you when she has a new book release.  

I will return on June 23 with Shortbread in the Highlands by Robin Jones Gunn. I am almost done with my list of outdoor chores.  Our screened porch looks good (two rocking chairs and one side table assembled) and the storage shed is organized (all my inflatables are rolled, stored neatly in totes by holiday).  I have a bench to update with cherry red paint (it will match the house trim color) and a cat house to put together (will keep the outdoor cats warm this winter).  Once those tasks are complete, I can move indoors to begin working on my lengthy indoor to do list (imagine a legal pad--8.5" x 14"--with several pages full of tasks).  I will be kept busy this summer. I hope today treats you kindly.  Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Maggie's May Song by Diane Craver

 Maggie's May Song

Book Summary

She thought she’d found her forever… until the shadow of her sister’s love threatened to take it all away.

Maggie Kauffman is thrilled to marry Simon Wittmer until doubts creep in. Simon was once engaged to Maggie’s older sister, Elizabeth, who’s now unhappily betrothed to someone else. Does Elizabeth still love Simon? And worse—does he still love her?

Maggie tries to ignore her fears, but it’s hard when Simon’s mother, Esther, openly favors Elizabeth. Winning over her critical future mother-in-law feels impossible, especially since Maggie and Simon are expected to live with her after the wedding. The tension grows when Maggie hears rumors that Simon and Elizabeth recently met for coffee.

Torn between confronting them and pretending she didn’t hear, Maggie begins to question everything. Is she truly Simon’s choice—or just a replacement for the woman he really wanted?

In the warmth of the family bakery and the uncertainty of her own heart, Maggie must decide whether to trust her love—or walk away before she’s hurt even more.

My Thoughts

Maggie’s May Song by Diane Craver is a delightful, heartwarming story about relationships, second chances, and the courage it takes to open one’s heart. The story is beautifully written with steady pacing that keeps the pages turning. Maggie and Simon are multifaceted, realistic, and easy to root for, and the true-to-life situations they face make their journey especially engaging. For them to build a happy future together, they must find a way to overcome fear, misunderstandings, and past hurts. This uplifting Amish romance is filled with forgiveness, trust, family, love, and faith. The descriptions of the baked goods are so vivid they will have your mouth watering. Maggie’s May Song is the fifth book in An Amish Romance Birthday series, but it can easily be enjoyed as a standalone. Engaging, sweet, and full of warmth, Maggie’s May Song is a charming Amish story that will leave readers smiling.

Maggie's May Song can be obtained from Amazon.  The sixth book in An Amish Romance Birthday series is Jolen's June Prayer.  The seventh book, Rose's July Surprise, will be out on July 1.  You can find the other books in An Amish Romance Birthday series here.  If you follow Diane Craver on Amazon, they will email you when she has a new book release.  

On Thursday, June 18, I will be featuring Silver Linings for the Seaside Girls by Tracy Baines.  I am going to work in my garden this afternoon.  I have deadheading to do and seeds to collect (I will dry the marigold and four o'clock seeds to use in my garden next year).  I am planting zinnia, cosmos, different varieties of marigolds, and sunflower seeds (they should bloom in August).  I like to plant seeds each month, so my garden is always in bloom. Have a day filled with sunshine and good books.  Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Zero Hour by Cara Putman, Sami Abrams, & Lily Hann

 Zero Hour

Book Summary

Three exciting stories of military-themed Christian Romantic Suspense!

Breaking Protocol - Cara Putman

When rule-bending investigator Todd Westmont discovers an unconscious thirteen-year-old girl, his spontaneous methods clash with strictly by-the-book caseworker Paige Newman. Exhausted by burnout and caring for her veteran brother, Paige uses rigid protocols to guard her fragile heart against Todd’s charm.  But the Jane Doe has leukemia and desperately needs a bone marrow donor—prompting reporter Dani Richards to agonizingly hope the girl is her long-lost daughter. Forced into an uneasy partnership, Todd and Paige trace a military challenge coin to a wounded veteran. To orchestrate a medical miracle, they must risk their own guarded hearts before time runs out.

Alaskan Hero's Return - Lily Hann
FBI agent and cyber expert Taylor Ertz has sworn off love. Three years ago, her fiancé vanished during a covert mission, presumed dead—but Taylor’s heart refuses to believe it. Now, she’s thrust undercover in Senator Schulz’s PR team, posing as a web designer to unmask a mole feeding secrets to the Russians.  Kambre “Kam” King should have died three years ago. The CIA declared him dead, along with the rest of his team. Now, as Spartak’s deadly network resurfaces, Kam is sent deep undercover to stop them—only to discover that Taylor is in their crosshairs.

Charlie ONE - Sami A. Abrams
Jade “Raven” Mitchell never steps into the field. She fights from behind a screen. Until someone decides her mind is the weapon they need. After uncovering proof that experimental military tech was hijacked to expose elite U.S. soldiers, her reports vanish. Six months later, she’s abducted from a Mexican resort.  BlackKnight Security owner and leader Liam “Charlie One” McKnight has trusted Raven’s voice on his comms for years. So, when he’s hired to find a missing contractor’s daughter and discovers Raven bruised and bound in a jungle hut, the mission turns personal.

But rescuing her is only the beginning.

My Thoughts

Zero Hour contains three captivating novellas by Sami A. Abrams, Cara Putman, and Lily Hann, and I truly enjoyed every one of them. Charlie ONE by Sami A. Abrams especially held my attention from beginning to end with its fast-paced plot, suspense, action, well-developed characters, and plenty of twists and turns. Alaskan’s Hero by Lily Hann and Breaking Protocol by Cara Putman were equally engaging, filled with danger, suspense, and nonstop momentum. Cara Putman’s story is a real page-turner, while Lily Hann’s novella surprised me with unexpected twists. This collection was an exciting and thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish.

Zero Hour can be purchased from Amazon.  The next book in the Honor Bound Hearts series is Critical Threat by Virginia Vaughan, Elle E. Kay, and Sarah Hamaker.  Critical Threat comes out June 26 and it will be available through Kindle Unlimited. I am looking forward to reading Critical Threat. I am thankful that I am feeling better this week after my fibro flare up last week.  The fibromyalgia flare up was the worst one that I have ever had.  It kept me in bed for five days with the severe pain and migraines (which means no reading). 

I will return on Wednesday, June 17 with Maggie's May Song by Diane Craver.  It is the fifth book in An Amish Romance Birthday series.  Enjoy the rest of your day and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Closed for Sickness

 

Hello!  Unfortunately, I will not be feature Whose Body in the Library by Eva Gates today.  I started experiening a fibromyalgia flare up on Friday morning, and by Friday afternoon it was terrible.  My cats were not happy when their feeding schedule was disrupted (neither is my mother).  I have been sick all weekend. I hope to feel better soon.  Thank you for understanding.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Sconed to Death by Betty Hechtman

 Sconed to Death

Book Summary

The perfect ingredients for murder . . .

Annie Hart has transformed the yarn shop she inherited into a thriving business and tea shop. Now she needs to sell it so she can move back to LA. She just has to ensure that young Toby Swanson is kept on as the supplier of their famous scones.

Annie decides to secretly enter Toby in a new reality TV cooking show. But his application video takes a deadly twist when Annie and her business partner, Gray, discover a body on the beach while filming. Even worse, it looks like the young woman had been enjoying Toby’s cherry scones and the shop’s rose tea before her death.

With the help of her misfit group of local yarn artists, can Annie find a killer and save her reputation?

My Thoughts

This one had all the ingredients for a charming cozy mystery, but the final result fell a little flat for me. On paper, Sconed to Death by Betty Hechtman sounded like a book I would really enjoy, especially with its yarn shop and tea shop set in an old schoolhouse. Unfortunately, the story didn’t quite work for me. The writing felt repetitive, the dialogue was awkward at times, and the mystery was far too easy to solve. 

I kept wanting more emotion, more charm, and a stronger connection to the characters. I was also hoping for more real investigating, but the whodunit felt underdeveloped. I noticed the Hoosier jabs as well, though they weren’t quite as heavy-handed here as they were in Death Among the Stitches. More than anything, I wanted this book to deliver the cozy, engaging escape I look for in this kind of mystery, but it never quite got there. In the end, Sconed to Death just wasn’t the cozy, charming escape I had been hoping for.

 

Sconed to Death can be purchased from Amazon.  The first book in A Crochet and Crumpets Mysteries is Death Among the Stitches.  While A Crochet and Crumpets Mysteries are not my cup of tea, I did enjoy Betty Hechtman's A Crochet Mystery series. 

I will return on Tuesday, June 9 with Whose Body in the Library by Eva Gates.  It is the thirteenth A Lighthouse Library Mystery. The author switched things up in this book.  Hope you have a relaxing weekend.  I have a bookcase to put together this weekend if I can convince my cat, Dickens to sleep elsewhere. Anytime a new item enters the house, Dickens claims it for herself (she even plays in the grocery bags).  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Silent Witness by Tracy Fredrychowski

Silent Witness

Book Summary

A deadly fire. A silent witness. And one woman’s mission to expose the truth buried in the ashes.

Rosie Weaver has always relied on logic, discipline, and a strong cup of peppermint tea. But when her neighbor’s barn burns down, and a body is discovered inside, something about the scene feels wrong. The fire is ruled an accident, but the victim had more enemies than friends, and Rosie knows someone is hiding the truth.

The only witness? A kindhearted but non-verbal man whom the entire town has overlooked. And Rosie refuses to let his silence bury what he saw.

Pushed by instinct and the latest book club mystery, Rosie and her book club friends start asking questions no one else will. As resistance builds from her neighbors, outsiders, and even the sheriff, Rose realizes this fire may not be the last.

Can Rosie stop what’s smoldering beneath the silence before it ignites something far worse?

Silent Witness is the third mystery in the An Amish Book Club Mystery series. If you enjoy Amish cozy mystery series with strong women sleuths, buried secrets, and an undercurrent of faith, this book delivers it all.

My Thoughts

A charming Amish mystery with heart and plenty of intrigue, Silent Witness by Tracy Fredrychowski returns readers to Sweet Briar, where Lovina, Rosie, and Irma investigate a string of barn burnings in their community. I enjoyed the author’s engaging writing style, realistic dialogue, and steady pacing, along with the appealing mix of Amish and Englisch characters. It is clear Fredrychowski has done her research on Amish beliefs and the Ordnung, which adds authenticity to the story. 

Lovina, Rosie, and Irma are kind, patient, and perceptive, and they work wonderfully together as they uncover clues others have missed. With past secrets, missing phones, mysterious drawings, and a man in a baseball cap, the mystery kept me interested throughout. Although this is the third book in the An Amish Book Club Mystery series, it can easily be read as a standalone.  A delightful mystery that will leave series fans eager for the next visit to Sweet Briar.

Silent Witness is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookbub.  The first two books in An Amish Book Club Mystery series are Buried Secrets and Hidden Poison.  All three book in An Amish Book Club Mystery series can be read for free if you are a member of Kindle Unlimited. Deadly Bloom is a prequel to An Amish Book Club Mystery series.  You can find Tracy Fredrychowski's other novels here.  If you follow Tracy on Amazon, they will send you an email when she has a new book release.  

Join me on Thursday, June 4 for Sconed to Death by Betty Hechtman.  It is the second A Crochet and Crumpets Mystery.  I will be searching for a new cordless vacuum today.  I went to sweep yesterday and I noticed the vacuum was not picking up.  I discovered a clog at the beginning of the pipe which I cleaned out and then began sweeping once again.  Unfortunately, it clogged again.  I was only sweeping up cat hair and dust (its not like I have months of dust built up on the floor--it has only been a couple of days). The vacuum is over three years old, so I believe it is time for a new one (with better features). May your day be sprinkled with happiness.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.