The Great Amish Baking Battle by Debra Torres

 The Great Amish Baking Battle

Book Summary

Juggling four jobs and a teetering homelife, Sadie Beiler, Amish baking columnist for the Buggy Crossing newspaper, already lives at breakneck speed.

But the pressure intensifies when her boss and owner of the Apple Blossom Inn shares a blockbuster announcement with the press before consulting Sadie.

"It's going to be big!" announces Mrs. Eloise Sorensen to the Mountain Laurel Star news team.

But "big" means even more crushing anxiety for Sadie, who secretly struggles to keep her panic attacks at bay.

Jubal King, maintenance man at the Apple Blossom Inn, knows how to fix broken-down appliances and assist with a leaking septic system, but when it comes to Sadie Beiler, he finds himself scratching his head more times than not. What is it about her that keeps him working at a job that he desperately wants to leave?

Can Sadie rise above her fears and step into something as exciting as it is fearsome? And will a budding romance with Jubal King help or hinder her harrowing journey to self-discovery?

Love “can’t put it down” Amish books? Book Two in the Amish of Newspapers of Mercer County series will have you reading till morning!

My Thoughts

The Great Amish Baking Battle by Debra Torres is a sweet story with an inspiring message.  Sadie finds herself overwhelmed with her various jobs as well as helping her family.  When her boss at the Apple Blossom Inn adds a baking competition to her load, it becomes too much for the eighteen-year-old especially with the anniversary of her mother’s death fast approaching.  I felt for Sadie who has so much on her young shoulders.  I recognized the factors contributing to her anxiety and recurrent panic attacks and found the author's depiction of these experiences to be thorough and accurate. 

However, I did experience some frustration with Sadie’s reluctance to accept assistance from those offering support.  Sadie will need to lean on God when she becomes anxious, overwhelmed, or full of grief, and He will help her through the difficult moments. The dessert descriptions will have your mouth watering for a bite.  There is a touch of romance as well.  I hope Sadie gets her happily ever after in the future.  The Great Amish Baking Battle a tasty tale with a crowded household, columns to create, nerve racking videos, a cousin’s contract, a baking battle, helpful hikes, and finding a way forward.

The Great Amish Baking Battle is available from Amazon* (digital and paperback). The first book in Amish Newspapers of Mercer County series is Amish Home Remedy for the Heart.  Debra Torres has Hannah’s December Gift coming out on November 24. It is the twelfth book in An Amish Romance Birthday Series.  You can find Debra Torres' other novels here. 

Thank you for stopping by today.  I will return tomorrow, February 4 with Katie's Amish Journey of Hope by Tracey Fredrychowski.  It was such a cold weekend (I slept with three blankets plus my electric blanket).  We will have one semi-warm day this week before the next cold front rolls in (brrrrr).  May warm days be in our future! I hope that you have an uplifting day.  Take care, stay warm, 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.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Amish Home Remedy for the Heart by Debra Torres

Amish Home Remedy for the Heart

Book Summary

Blindsided by a heart-wrenching pain she didn't see coming, Leanna King, home remedy columnist for the Amish View newspaper, is thrust into a life that's suddenly shattered.

When her husband of fifteen years leaves and says he's never coming back, Leanna is left alone with seven young children looking to her for answers. Leanna must find a way to fight through her grief or lose all that remains precious to her.

Swept off into the fast pace of the Englischer world, Milo King is finally living the dream. With no fields to plow, no Amish bishop to answer to, and free from a wife he says he never loved, Milo is finally in a place where he feels he can become his true self. But when the unthinkable happens, Milo is set on a path spiraling out of control, making him wonder if anything will ever be right again.

Desperate to fix their shattered lives, Leanna searches for an Amish home remedy for the heart, only to discover her answer lies along a path she'd promised herself she'd never go.

My Thoughts

Amish Home Remedy for the Heart by Debra Torres is a story that will touch your heart.  I thought the story was well written with developed characters.  I liked that the characters were not perfect, and the family was not portrayed as a happy group.  I felt for Leanna who is left to take care of the house, farm, and seven children after her husband takes off. Leanna must deal with her grief, and she sets out to find a remedy for a hurting heart. Of course, I understood how Milo felt as well.  He had never planned to become baptized in the Amish faith and he felt he was forced into it.  We get to see Milo navigate the Englisher world.  He will have to discover for himself that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.  The one thing that both Leanna and Milo discover is that they do not know God despite their upbringing.  I enjoyed the scripture in the story (I marked several verses).   I enjoyed this special story about forgiveness, second chances, and that Jesus is always there for us. 

I liked reading about Leann’s home remedies.  I will be adding some new plants to my garden this year.  Amish Home Remedy for the Heart is a poignant tale with a hampered husband, a weeping wife, a compassionate sister, seven offspring, finding God, a heart remedy, and an unexpected future for the family.

Amish Home Remedy for the Heart is available from Amazon.  The book can be read for free if you are a member of Kindle Unlimited. The next book in Amish Newspapers of Mercer County series is The Great Amish Baking Battle which comes out February 6t, 2026.  You can follow Debra Torres on Amazon, and they will send you an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for joining me today.  I will return on Tuesday, March 11 with Propaganda Girls by Lisa Rogak.  I hope that you have a relaxing weekend. I know that I could use a nap (actually, I could use a vacation--does anyone want to volunteer to watch my mother for a few days?😁).  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.

An Amish Christmas at the Apple Blossom Inn by Tracy Fredrychowski & Debra Torres

 An Amish Christmas at the Apple Blossom Inn

Book Summary

Two sisters. Two stories. One great Amish Christmas read.

Orphaned just weeks before Christmas, the Beiler sisters suddenly discover they could lose their home and what’s worse—each other. To make ends meet, sisters Sadie and Katie are plunged into working at Willow Spring's Apple Blossom Inn.

But will their efforts be enough?

Sadie -Struggling with pride, Sadie yearns to bake scrumptious treats in the inn’s kitchen instead of cleaning floors and toilets. But when she makes the mistake of her life, can Sadie and the inn’s handsome maintenance worker Jubal King create a plan to help save her family and maybe even the Apple Blossom Inn?

Katie – On the cusp of a family tragedy, Katie must put her trust in the Lord and step into a mostly English world. When Jeremiah Hershberger returns to Willow Springs looking for answers, Katie sets out on a journey to help him discover secrets of his past.

Can these young women find a way to bring the joy of Christmas back to their family and to Willow Springs?

German Christmas Stollen

My Thoughts

An Amish Christmas at the Apple Blossom Inn by Tracy Fredrychowski and Debra Torres contains two sweet stories.  The Beiler sisters have just lost their mother who was their last remaining parent.  Amanda, the eldest sister, must now stay home to take care of the home and the younger siblings.  It has been decided that Sadie and Katie will split their sister’s former job at the Apple Blossom Inn.  Their salary will help pay for the mortgage on the house. We get to see the period following the mother’s funeral from Sadie and Katie’s point of view.   I found both stories to be easy to read.  I liked meeting the Beiler sisters.  The stories focus on the Apple Blossom Inn, faith, a touch of romance, and Christmas.  Thanks to her best friend Sadie faith is deepening plus she is getting a better understanding of the scriptures.  Sadie is learning the power of prayer and giving her worries to God.  

Katie’s faith is strong.  She knows that God will direct her where she should go.  Katie has learned the importance of slowing down and allowing for quiet so she can hear God’s voice.  I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of the Apple Blossom Inn decorated for Christmas.  Jeremiah’s story was especially touching.  I like how it turned out plus we get to learn the reason behind Mrs. Sorenson’s attitude (the owner of the Apple Blossom Inn).  Miracles do happen at Christmas as we see in Katie’s story.  With faith, family, and love we see that anything is possible.  An Amish Christmas at the Apple Blossom Inn contains two heartwarming tales with distressed sisters, a bitter boss, a recipe catastrophe, a special keepsake, a nagging neighbor, and God’s guidance.  

Clementine Cake

An Amish Christmas at the Apple Blossom Inn is available from Amazon*.  If you are a member of Kindle Unlimited, you can read it for free.  You can find Tracy Fredrychowski's other novels here.  You can locate Debra Torres' other books here on Amazon.  Thank you for dropping by today.  It is hard to believe that there are only two months left in 2022.  The year has gone by so quickly.   Tomorrow I am featuring A Book Club to Die For by Dorothy St. James.  It is the third A Beloved  Bookroom Mystery.  I hope that you have an uplifting day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.