Monday, January 6, 2020

Abraham by Jennifer Beckstrand: Excerpt, Review and a Giveaway!



About the Book

Book:  Abraham

Author: Jennifer Beckstrand

Genre: Inspirational Amish Romance

Release Date: November 26, 2019

Things at the Petersheim house are getting too crowded for eight-year-old twins Alfie and Benji. As if things weren’t bad enough with three older brothers hogging all the bacon at breakfast and using more than their fair share of toilet paper, Mammi and Dawdi Petersheim have to move in because of Dawdi’s stroke. If Alfie and Benji have any hope of getting their own bedrooms, they have to get rid of their annoying brothers, and the only way to convince their brothers to move out is to make each of them fall in love. What could be so hard about that?

Abraham Petersheim is known as a man of few words. He’s painfully shy and doesn’t see the need to prattle on like other boys in the community do. That’s why he can’t understand his unexpected attraction to Emma Wengerd. For sure and certain she’s pretty, but she also has five or six boys buzzing around her all the time, and she seems to be constantly annoyed with Abraham and his little brothers. Emma would never be interested in someone as boring as Abraham, and he could never set his sights on someone as wunderbarr as Emma.

Click here to get your copy.

About the Author

Jennifer Beckstrand is the two-time RITA-nominated, #1 Amazon bestselling Amish romance author of The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series, The Honeybee Sisters series, and The Petersheim Brothers series 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, and the nonfiction book, Big Ideas. She and her husband have been married for thirty-five years, and she has six children and eight adorable grandchildren, whom she spoils rotten.

More from Jennifer


Alfie and Benji Petersheim will do just about anything to get their brother Abraham to fall in love with Emma Wengerd, even adopt a stray dog. But to catch that dog, they’re going to need Aunt Bitsy’ help. Alfie and Benji are about to get in a lot of trouble.

I hope you enjoy this excerpt from Abraham.
"The Amish Buggy" by Monte Morton | Redbubble
Excerpt from Abraham
Benji pushed his coffee cake around his plate with his finger. “Maybe we could keep that stray dog.”

Maybe they could keep the dog. Alfie’s heart started pounding. A dog could find them if they ever got lost in the woods. A dog could fetch sticks and bring Dat his slippers. A dog would eat crumbs off the floor. Mamm would never have to mop again.

Bitsy shrugged. “That’s up to your mamm.” 
Alfie’s heart sank to his toes. “Mamm would never let us have a dog. She won’t even let me have a goldfish.”
“I have a pet spider,” Benji said.
Alfie popped a small bite of coffee cake into his mouth. “He’s not your pet. He just lives in the corner of the cellar and kills other spiders.”

“You tried to spray him,” Benji said, “and I saved his life. He’s my pet now.”

Bitsy nodded. “Spiders are gute pets. They feed themselves and don’t poop on the carpet.”

Benji sat very still before wrinkling his forehead like he did when he was upset. “We need to help that dog.”
Chocolate Lab Puppy... If you love Labradors visit our blog! #Labrador #LabradorRetriever #Labradorcentral #retrievers 📸 credits: unknown
Alfie wanted a dog as much as anybody, but they had to be sensible. They’d been asking Mamm for a dog ever since they could talk. “Mamm won’t let us.”

Benji started crying. “But he’s going to get gassed.”

Bitsy reached over and patted Benji’s arm. “He might not get gassed. The pound might find a nice family that wants to adopt him. People like chocolate labs. I’m told they’re cute.”
Chocolate Lab Pup - I don't understand why Santa hasn't brought me one yet. I've been asking for years! #labradorretriever
Benji caught his breath and suddenly stopped crying, as if someone had turned off a faucet. “Do girls like chocolate labs?”

“Chocolate labs?” Bitsy folded her arms. “Well, I’m a girl and I don’t think he’s cute, but most girls love dogs. Do you remember Vernon Schmucker? Poor fellow had a face like a potato, and the girls ignored him. One night he brought a puppy to the gathering, and he was surrounded by girls all night. That’s how he met his wife.”

Benji jumped from his chair and threw his arms around Alfie, making Alfie spill milk down his new shirt. “Hey. Watch it.”

“Alfie, girls like dogs!”
Adorable Chocolate Lab Puppy  #lab #puppy #chocolatelab #labrador #puppy
Benji was a good partner, but sometimes he made no sense. “So?”

“If Emma Wengerd saw us walking our chocolate lab down the street, she’d run out of her house to pet him.”

Alfie’s heart started pounding. Benji was the best bruder in the world. “We could bring Abraham with us.”

Benji got more and more excited with each word. “And they could talk about dogs and chickens and maybe start kissing.”

Alfie set his milk on the table. “We’ve got to catch that dog.”
Silkie Chickens
My Thoughts

Abraham by Jennifer Beckstrand is the second novel in The Petersheim Brothers series.  Alfie and Benji Petersheim are eight year old twin brothers who are tired of sleeping in the cellar.  They were excited when their plan to marry off their brother, Andrew worked.  Unfortunately, their mother turned Andrew’s bedroom into her sewing room so she could have a place to escape from Mammi (I don’t blame her).  So, the twins have turned their attention to Abraham.  Abraham seems smitten with Emma Wengerd so the twins come up with a plan to get the pair together.  Abraham is a delightful story.  Alfie and Benji manage to get themselves into numerous scrapes.  Of course, it falls onto big brother, Abraham to assist these mischievous twins.  I thought the characters were developed and realistic.  They each had insecurities like Abraham’s shyness and how he would put himself down.  He had such a kind heart and is a thoughtful man.  The twins are going to have their work cut out for them matching their shy brother with the lovely and outgoing Emma.   It is going to be a bumpy ride especially with Perry in the picture.  Jennifer Beckstrand’s descriptions allowed me to envision the story and characters.  I could just see the twin’s grandfather being pushed into the woods in his wheelchair.  I could tell that he was having the time of his life.  I believe the twins are what is helping the grandfather recover from his stroke.   I love the inclusion of Bitsy Weaver.  She is my favorite character (I wish I had half her gumption).  I was tickled that the author included her in this series.  It was interesting to learn about some unique variety of chickens (Emma loves her chickens) like the Silke and their colorful eggs.  Abraham is well-written with steady pacing.  I did not want to put down this engaging story.  I laughed so often while reading this charming tale.  Abraham can be read on its own, but I highly recommend Andrew.  I cannot wait to read Austin.  I have a feeling that the twins are still without their much wanted bedroom and will have to find Austin a mate next.  Abraham is an enchanting story with exotic chickens, wily lads, meddling Mammi, a bothersome boy, a skinflint store owner, and peanut butter problems. 

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving a $10 Amazon gift card to three winners.  Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click here to enter.  Good Luck!  You can pick up your copy of Abraham on Amazon*.  The first novel in The Petersheim Brothers series is Andrew (available through Kindle Unlimited).  Austin is the third novel and it will be out on June 30, 2020.  I cannot wait to find out what mischief Alfie and Benji get up to in order to obtain a bedroom.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I will be back tomorrow with The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin.  I hope that you have a fulfilling day.  Take care and Happy Reading!


Kris

The Avid Reader

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, December 28
She Lives to Read, December 29
Older & Smarter?, December 30
Jeanette’s Thoughts, December 31
SPLASHES of Joy, January 1
Book of Ruth Ann, January 2
Mary Hake, January 2
janicesbookreviews, January 3
Vicky Sluiter, January 3
Pause for Tales, January 4
Quiet Quilter, January 5
The Avid Reader, January 6
Batya’s Bits, January 10
Trace Monotype: Florence Winter (and a new monotype tutorial video)

*This post contains affiliate links.

6 comments:

  1. I liked the review. It sounds like a great series with lots of action.

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  2. I love a book that can make me laugh!

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  3. Good Morning! Thank you for the book description.These tours are great and we have found some terrific books so thanks so  much.

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  4. I love the idea of the younger brothers finding wives for the older brothers. Sounds like a cute story

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