About the Book

Ruth Defies Authority to Hold on to her Family Farm

Full of faith, hope, and romance, this new series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.

Ruth Helmuth has never been rude in her life; trust her to choose the bishop of her Amish community for her first time!

Ruth has worked hard to keep body and soul together since her husband, Levi’s, death. She tends her herd of goats, making her living from the milk and fiber she gets from them, all while running a farm and household by herself—and very competently, thank you! How could she imagine the bishop suggesting she should give it all up to another family, who will “make better use of the space”?

Enter widower Jonas Hershberger, owner of a pair of adorable dimples and father of a charming 4-year-old daughter. Jonas is in need of a larger place to house his growing business. Ruth’s big red barn may be just the ticket. Little Abigail is in need of a new mother. Ruth might be just the ticket there, too!

Can two independent souls learn to work together for their mutual good? And will they be willing to explore what grows between them? Or will Ruth’s fear over her “big secret” and Jonas’s caution about allowing someone new to get close to his young daughter, kill their love before it has a chance to grow?

Luckily for both of them, God’s plan involves the stubborn pair getting a little help in the form of a wise, elderly friend; a quirky orange kitten; and a smart little girl who takes one look at Ruth and decides she would make her the perfect new mother!

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About the Author

Anne Blackburne lives and works in Southeast Ohio as a newspaper editor and writer. She is the mother of five grown children, has one wonderful grandchild, and a spoiled poodle named Millie. For fun, when she isn’t working on Amish romance or sweet mysteries, Anne directs and acts in community theater productions and writes and directs original plays. She also enjoys reading, kayaking, swimming, searching for beach glass, and just sitting with a cup of coffee looking at large bodies of water. Her idea of the perfect vacation is cruising and seeing amazing new places with people she loves.

More from Anne

I’m so excited that my debut novel, Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise, will release soon from Barbour Publishing! This is the realization of a long-held dream; 30 years long!

About 30 years ago I wrote my first book, a middle reader about a group of tweens who wanted to start a pet sitting business. I found an agent who worked hard to sell my series. Unfortunately, someone else came up with the same basic idea and beat me to the bookshelves!

Of course, I was crushed – I’d been so close!

I wondered if it was a sign that I wasn’t meant to become a published author. Maybe I just wasn’t good enough?

Being the tenacious sort, I rejected that idea and buckled down. I looked at each subsequent rejection as proof that I’d been hard at work practicing my craft, and would inevitably, eventually, succeed.

I read somewhere that it takes 10,000 hours of toiling away at the computer before a new author sells a book. That would be about right!

Of course, it isn’t the same for everyone. Some authors are lucky – or just that good – and hit a home run their first at bat. Others simply can’t seem to break in.

For me, the big break came nearly two years ago. I’d been working and polishing my Amish romance for a couple years. I also had a couple of other projects in the works, but I didn’t want to give up on Ruth and Jonas’ story. I queried many agents, being very careful to follow their individual guidelines. And finally – finally! – I got that phone call new authors dream about, offering representation. I’m proud to be represented by the wonderful Tamela Hancock Murray from the Steve Laube Agency. And Tamela quickly sold my story to Barbour Publishing, Inc.

What a blessing! All those years of work and hope and yes, faith, had finally paid off. I was going to be a published author. I still have to pinch myself from time to time.

And here I am. I hope you love Ruth and Jonas – and of course, Ginger Snap! – as much as I do. I have another book from their make-believe town of Willow Creek coming out next summer, also from Barbour. Both books are part of a new series called “Heart of the Amish”, and feature three authors. The other two, Mindy Steele and Lisa Jones Baker, are both seasoned veterans with a number of Amish and other Christian books under their belts. It’s such an honor to be included with them in this project!

Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise is available now for pre-order on Amazon. And my second book, tentatively titled Mary’s Calico Hope, will be available late this winter.

Be sure to look for Mindy Steele’s wonderful book, The Flower Quilter, which kicks off the series. It is also available on Amazon. I read an early release and boy, was I impressed. I can’t wait to read Lisa Jones Baker’s story!

My Thoughts

Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise by Anne Blackburne is a sweet story. I thought the book was well-written with realistic, developed characters. I enjoyed getting to know Ruth Helmuth, Jonas Hershberger, and little Abigail Hershberger. I could not believe that Ruth’s bishop, Abram Troyer suggested that she sell her family farm, which held many memories for her, because she lived alone. The bishop felt a family could make better use of the large house and property. Ruth is a good businesswoman. She has her herd of wily goats. Ruth uses their milk and fiber. She comes up with other ways to utilize the property and earn money. I liked learning about Jonas and his sister’s basket business. Their baskets sounded lovely, especially the Christmas baskets. You can feel that faith is a part of the character’s daily lives. They pray to God for guidance and assistance. They know that He will provide in His own time. I enjoyed the humor sprinkled through the story. The kitten that Ruth receives from her dear friend, Lydia Coblentz, provides many lighthearted moments. Lydia knew what she was doing when she gifted the ginger kitten to Ruth. A couple of Ruth’s friends also received kittens. Lydia is an insightful woman. Ruth's Ginger Snap Surprise may be the second book in The Heart of the Amish series, but it can be read as a standalone. I especially enjoyed the heartwarming ending. I finished Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise with a smile on my face.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Anne is giving away the grand prize package of a print copy of the book and a $25 Amazon eGift card! Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click here to enter. Good Luck!

Ruth's Ginger Snap Surprise is available from Amazon*. The first book in The Heart of the Amish series is The Flower Quilter by Mindy Steele. The third book in The Heart of the Amish series is The Quilt Room Secret by Lisa Jones Baker and it comes out on January 15, 2024. Courting the Amish Bishop by Mindy Steele (Book Four) will be out on April 1, 2024 and Mary's Calico Hope by Anne Blackburne (Book Five) is set publish on May 15, 2024 (ebook version). Do not forget to enter the giveaway and leave a comment for an extra entry. Good Luck! Thank you for stopping by today. Tomorrow I am featuring Trust the Stars by Tricia Goyer. I hope that you have a merry day. Take care and Happy Reading!