Tuesday, July 27, 2021

An Amish Flower Farm by Mindy Steele

 An Amish Flower Farm
Book Summary

She grows flowers.
He raises bees for honey.
They help each other out,
because that’s what neighbors do…

Belinda Graber loves growing flowers for her family to sell at the Amish marketplace. Venturing beyond the farm to sell them in town, though, is out of the question. People would stare at the birthmark on her cheek, and she’s dealt with enough teasing in her life.

As a beekeeper, Adam Fisher knows how blessed he is to live next door to the Grabers’ greenhouses and fields. But when his father is injured, Adam has to take a job at the local mill. How will he manage the honey harvest?

Adam and Belinda make a deal: if she tends his hives, he’ll sell her flowers in town.

Belinda’s sure that her growing feelings for Adam could never be returned. Meanwhile, Adam can’t help but notice how his shy neighbor charms the bees…or is he the one being charmed? Because his last courtship ended badly, Adam tells himself this arrangement is strictly business, even if Belinda is sweet as honey.
My Thoughts

An Amish Flower Farm by Mindy Steele is a sweet Amish tale.  I was quickly drawn into the story, and I was up late finishing this heartwarming novel.  I thought An Amish Flower Farm was well-written with engaging, developed characters.  Belinda Graber is a beautiful woman inside and out.  She is a caring woman who is shy after being bullied as a child because of a port wine birthmark on her check.  Belinda wants to sell the flowers she grows, but she is unable to approach people to accomplish her goal.  Adam Hostetler has been working extra jobs since his father had a work accident.  It leaves him little time to harvest his honey.  Adam learns that Belinda helped her grandfather with his honey harvest in Kentucky.  He approaches Belinda who suggests they help each other.  Belinda will help Adam with his honey harvest if Adam finds buyers for her flowers.  Adam has been attracted to Belinda since they were in school.  He still finds her lovely, but, after a recent disastrous courtship, Adams is determined that they will just have a business relationship.  I liked seeing the characters grow over the course of the novel.  Mindy Steele created some great characters.  My favorite was Belinda’s maternal grandmother, Mollie Bender.  She is a hoot.  I love the way she talks with God.  Adam’s father, Atlee is another good character.  Despite being laid up with a severe injury, he has an upbeat attitude.  

I like that the story is told from Belinda and Adam’s point-of-view.  We get to see things from each of their perspectives (it is amazing how different their view can be on the same situation).  There is humor scattered throughout the story.  I love it when a book makes me laugh.  The authors word imagery brings the scenes alive for me.  I could visualize Belinda working among her flowers and charming the bees.  There are some good life lessons in this charming story about fear, perceptions, wasting time, helping others, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  I like how the people in this community help each other out.  They are there for each other in times of need.  My favorite line in An Amish Flower Farm is, “Don’t ever compare yourself to others.  There is only one you, and you were made special by Gott.”  In An Amish Flower Garden, we see that bees and flowers are a great combination in more ways than one.  I am looking forward to reading more books by this up-and-coming author.  An Amish Flower Garden is a delightful Amish novel with fragrant flowers, busy bees, a meddling Mammi, mocking mates, shielding siblings, and a caring community.

An Amish Flower Farm is available from Amazon*.  You can follow Mindy Steele here on Amazon to receive updates on her latest releases.   You can find her website here.  Ms. Steele has His Amish Wife's Hidden Past publishing September 28 and Christmas Grace on October 26.  To Catch A Hummingbird by Mindy Steele is the first book in the Miller's Creek series and it can be borrowed through Kindle Unlimited.  I am eager to read each one of them.   Thank you for joining me today.  I hope that you enjoy An Amish Flower Garden as much as I did.  Some of the other books out today are:  Murder, She Edited by Kaitlyn Dunnett, Two Wicked Desserts by Lynn Cahoon, Courting His Amish Wife by Emma Miller, The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen, The Cider Shop Rules by Julie Anne Lindsey, Knot Ready for Murder by Mary Marks, A Vineyard Crossing by Jean Stone, Murder in a Teacup by Vicki Delany, and Much Ado about Nauticaling by Gabby Allan.  So many wonderful new books!  I will be featuring The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen tomorrow.  It is the debut of An Ice Cream Shop Mystery series.  I hope that you have an uplifting 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.

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