Andrew by Jennifer Beckstrand: Review, Recipe, and Giveaway!

About the Book

Andrew, Abraham, and Austin Petersheim’s family business has earned them the nickname The Peanut Butter Brothers. But if their matchmaking younger siblings have their way, all three may soon bear another title: husband . . .

Handsome, hardworking, and godly, Andrew Petersheim has always been sure of his place in his Wisconsin Amish community. He’ll be a welcome catch for the local girl who finally captures his heart. Mary Coblenz certainly isn’t that girl. Two years after “jumping the fence” for the Englischer world, she’s returned, unmarried and pregnant. Yet instead of hiding in shame as others in the community expect, she’s working at the Honeybee Farm, ignoring the gossips—and winning over Andrew’s eight-year-old twin brothers . . .

For all Andrew’s certainty about right and wrong, it seems he has a lot to learn from Mary’s courage, grace, and resilience. She’s changing his notions about forgiveness and love, but will she in turn accept the challenge of starting over and choose to stay—with him?

Click here to grab your copy!

About the Author

Jennifer Beckstrand is the two-time RITA-nominated, #1 Amazon bestselling Amish romance author of The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hillseries, The Honeybee Sistersseries, and The Petersheim Brothersseries for Kensington Books. Huckleberry Summer and Home on Huckleberry Hill were both nominated for the coveted RITA® Award from Romance Writers of America. Jennifer has written twenty-one Amish romances, a historical Western, Jessie and James, and the nonfiction book, Big Ideas. She and her husband have been married for thirty-four years, and she has six children and seven adorable grandchildren, whom she spoils rotten.

More From Jennifer

If you enjoyed The Honeybee Sisters, you’re going to love The Petersheim Brothers, or the Peanut Butter Brothers as they’re known in their small Amish community of Bienenstock, Wisconsin. The Petersheim brothers work their small farm and make peanut butter. The idea for The Petersheim Brothers series came when two of my friends and I were creating The Honeybee Sisters Cookbook. My friend Alicia suggested I write a book about Peanut Butter Brothers, and the idea stuck.

One of my favorite characters in my Amish romances is Aunt Bitsy, the irrepressible, unconventional woman who raised the Honeybee Sisters, tried to chase off all their suitors, and then lit fireworks at their triple wedding. In Andrew, the first book in the Petersheim Brothers series, Aunt Bitsy takes in a girl who has jumped the fence and wants to come back to the Amish community to have her baby. Aunt Bitsy is still protecting her dandelions and her bees, still dyeing her hair all sorts of bright colors, and still praying to Gotte right out loud.

Andrew is about forgiveness, second chances, and learning to love. It will have you laughing and crying, and you might just fall in love with two of the most mischievous little boys in Wisconsin. Enjoy.

In honor of the Peanut Butter Brothers, I want to share one of our favorite family recipes. These bars are perfect for picnics, parties, and potlucks. They’re easy and delicious!

Peanut Butter Bars

Cream together:

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup sugar

 Blend In:

2 unbeaten eggs

1 tsp. baking soda

2/3 cup peanut butter

½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

Stir In:

2 cups flour

2 cups quick oats

Spread mixture in greased jelly-roll pan or large cookie sheet.  Bake: 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Do not overbake. Remove from oven.

Sprinkle on:

1 ¼ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips.  Let stand five minutes.

For peanut butter mixture on top, combine:

½ cup sifted powdered sugar

¼ cup peanut butter

2 to 4 Tbs. evaporated milk

Mix well. The chocolate chips will melt on the bars. Spread melted chocolate evenly. Drizzle peanut butter mixture on top. Cool completely. Cut into bars.

My Thoughts

Andrew by Jennifer Beckstrand is the beginning of The Petersheim Brothers series.  Alfie and Benji Petersheim are eight year old twins and their bedroom has been moved into the cellar.  Their grandfather suffered a stroke and is in need of extra assistance.  The twins parents gave up their room and took over the twins bedroom.  Alfie finds the cellar dark, bug ridden, inhabited by a ghost and the air mattress has popped a leak thanks to the fork Benji had in his back pocket (for a midnight snack).  They believe the solution is marrying off their three older brothers:  Andrew, Austin, and Abraham.  They were going to settle for Andrew, but then they overheard their mother say she wanted his bedroom for her sewing room.  Since none of the local woman have appealed to Andrew, Alfie suggests Mary Coblentz who jumped the fence, but who has returned to town.  The fact that she is pregnant, they feel is a bonus for Andrew (instant family).  The resourceful boys just need a few supplies to put their plan into motion. 

Andrew is a delightful Amish romance novel.  This story had me chuckling from beginning to end.  We get to return to The Honeybee Farm owned by Bitsy Kiem Weaver who still changes the color of her hair regularly, has her shotgun at the ready and talks out loud to God.  She willingly takes in Mary Coblentz when she returns to town unwed and pregnant.  Bitsy is a wonderful character who I wished lived was my neighbor (minus the bees).  I loved it when Mary said, “Bitsy isn’t afraid to love people who don’t fit in”.  Mary is a nineteen year old who left the community and regrets her decision.  She is a brave young woman who is not going to be bullied or hide inside just so other people will be satisfied.  Andrew is taken with Mary until he sees that she is pregnant.  But, thanks to the twins, he keeps encountering Mary.  Andrew’s idea of right and wrong are going to be put to the test.  Alfie and Benji were hilarious with their antics.  I loved their simplistic outlook of situations.  There are judgmental members of the Amish community who need to learn Christian charity.  I like the Christian values and life lessons presented in Andrew (faith, forgiveness, redemption, grace, patience, second chances, honesty).  We are all sinners and make mistakes.  Everyone deserves forgiveness and a second chance.  I thought the book was well-written and it proceeded at a steady pace.  It seems like I barely began the book when I finished it (with many smiles and giggles along the way).  It was interesting to learn more about creating homemade peanut butter.  It is cute that the Petersheim brothers are called The Peanut Butter Brothers by locals.  I cannot wait to read the next two books in The Petersheim Brothers series.  If you have not read The Honeybee Sisters (though you really should), you will not be at a disadvantage.   Andrew is a heartwarming story with the colorful, shotgun toting Bitsy, yummy honey, impish twins, homemade peanut butter, and merry mishaps.

To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away a grand prize of a $20 Amazon gift card.  Be sure to comment on the blog stops (schedule below) for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link here to enter.  Good Luck!  Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you will visit tomorrow when I review Strangled Eggs and Ham by Maddie Day.  I hope you have a blessed day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

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