Showing posts with label Heart of the Amish. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Serenity's Secret by Lisa Jones Baker

Serenity's Secret

About the Book

Serenity Holds Her Secrets Close

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

Serenity Miller has much to love about life as the owner of The Pink Petal in Arthur, Illinois, and enjoys trying natural remedies and exploring garage sales. Then comes the day her neighbor, Stephen Lantz, saves her from trespassers on her property and their friendship deepens into an attraction Serenity knows can never lead to marriage. She holds secrets she can never divulge, despite Stephen’s way of wooing her. But how can Serenity return to her life of contentment after a taste of love? And when danger returns, will it steal her last hope for a bright future?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Lisa Jones Baker writes Amish Inspirational fiction. She grew up near Arthur, Illinois, and became acquainted with the Plain Faith at an early age when they custom-made and installed her family’s kitchen cabinets. On weekends, she and her parents frequented the quaint Amish town, often the setting of her stories, where they purchased meat, cheese, and home-made baking spices. Now, decades later, she still loves visiting; the town and the people yet intrigue her, and she so appreciates the talent of quilt-making almost as much as she loves horse and buggy rides. But there is much more to this perplexing group than meets the eye; they are extremely disciplined, hard-working, and honest…and they don’t all think alike. For these reasons, writing about them is her passion.

Lisa was fortunate to have been raised in a loving, Christian home by two wonderful parents: a reading specialist mother who plays the piano, and a retired Junior High Principal father who’s also an avid fox hunter. She has a B.A. in French Education and is a former school teacher who loves gardening, cooking, reading, positive thinkers, and every dog she meets. Although a homebody, travel has played a large part of her life. Over three decades of working with the airline industry has landed her on five out of seven continents.

More from Lisa

Do you know a secret? Serenity Miller harbors something she can never reveal, not even to her two dearest friends. Her private knowledge has never interfered with her calm, steady life as owner of The Pink Petal in Arthur, Illinois until the day it impedes her from having what she truly yearns for, Stephen Lantz.

Serenity’s Secret is my utmost favorite of the books I’ve penned. I write to entertain myself, and as I created the very complex life of a simple, Gott-loving Amish woman, I wasn’t sure how I would eventually resolve the tough issues Serenity faces: falling victim to a crime and completely unaware of why her assailant chose her, at the same time yearning for a future with true love Stephen Lantz, when their destiny together is blocked by a secret.

Stephen’s late aendi Margaret used to say that there’s nothing that love can’t overcome. But will the denouement concur with Margaret’s strong belief? Enjoy the twists and the turns that will eventually reveal Serenity’s Secret!

My Thoughts

Serenity’s Secret by Lisa Jones Baker is the sixth book in The Heart of the Amish series. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series, but I recommend reading the series in order (it will allow you to get to know the characters and their stories). Serenity’s Secret is well-written and engaging. I like that the character’s are realistic with strengths and flaws. It is nice that the relationship between Serenity and Stephen began as a friendship and slowly developed into something more. Of course, if the pair are to have a future, Serenity must reveal her secret. I liked Serenity’s relationship with her rescue horse, Angel.

Angel is a horse who knows who he likes and, more importantly, whom he does not like. Serenity’s family and friends have learned to steer clear of Angel, especially the men. I enjoyed catching up with Trini, Abby, and their families. Abby needs to be less pushy and slow her roll if she plans to push Gabriel into courting her. The story is told from Serenity and Stephen’s point-of-view. This does lead to some repetitive details. There is one scene near the end that had me laughing out loud (it cracked me up). I enjoyed learning about the meaning of the different flowers. It is amazing what you can say with a bouquet of flowers. The story has a sweet ending that left me smiling. I like how Serenity’s Secret combines romance, mystery, hope, suspense, forgiveness, and faith into one pleasing story. Serenity’s Secret is a touching tale with intruders on the farm, a secret shame, the Pink Petal, a rescue horse, a thoughtful family, and facing the future.

Giveaway

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

Serenity's Secret is available from Amazon*. The next book in The Heart of the Amish series is A Stolen Kiss by Mindy Steele and it will be out on December 1. You can find the other books in The Heart of the Amish series here. Thank you for stopping by today. I will return on Tuesday, November 12 with Guilt and Ginataan by Mia P. Manansala. It is the fifth book in A Tita Rosei's Kitchen Mysteries. I had a little accident over the weekend (involving a runaway cat and a slippery driveway) and I need a few days to recover. Don't forget to enter the giveaway before you depart. I hope that you have a satisfying day. Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Blog Stops

Batya’s Bits, November 1

Vicky Sluiter, November 2

Texas Book-aholic, November 3

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 4

The Avid Reader, November 5

Lighthouse Academy Blog, November 6 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 7

lakesidelivingsite, November 8

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 8

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 9

For Him and My Family, November 10

Devoted To Hope, November 10

Cover Lover Book Review, November 11

Stories By Gina, November 12 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, November 12

Arthur, Illinois

Holly’s Book Corner, November 13

Bizwings Book Blog, November 14

*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. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Mary's Calico Hope by Anne Blackburne

About the Book

Book: Mary’s Calico Hope (The Heart of the Amish: Book 5)

Author: Anne Blackburne

Genre: Amish/Christian Fiction

Release date: June, 2024

Mary Yoder Is Content Despite Challenges Thrown Her Way

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

If God wills it, Mary Yoder will do it, even if that means using crutches for the rest of her life. She was badly injured in a buggy accident as a child. Still, she is content living in the Dawdi Haus connected to her parents’ farmhouse and with her work weaving baskets and raising specialty roosters whose feathers she uses to make excellent trout lures. She is truly happy at twenty-nine, but. . .she wouldn’t mind finding a husband—if the Lord wills it. Along comes Reuben King, a Mennonite doctor. They are attracted to one another, but how could they ever be together? She’s a baptized Amish woman, so it seems impossible. Also, he wants her to have surgery to improve her mobility and lessen her day-to-day pain. She’s sick and tired of surgeries! But if God wills it, she’ll do it. And just maybe there will be a way for these two unlikely souls to connect.

Click here to get your copy!

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

Hello from Southeastern Ohio, where the sun is shining and it’s good to be alive!

Less than a year ago I wrote a kick-off post for the launch of my debut novel, Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise, which was also featured in a Celebrate Lit Book Tour in December 2023.

As a green newbie, I didn’t really understand what this meant, but I was (and am!) very happy for any help with my writing career. Well, the amazing bloggers who work with Celebrate Lit did a bang-up job promoting my book, and it is doing very well. So thanks to all of them, and to all who have read Ruth’s story!

Now, here I am again! I can hardly believe that my second book, Mary’s Calico Hope, is published and available to readers, and that once again I’m blessed to have the help of the Celebrate Lit folks in launching my book.

Mary Yoder will be familiar to anyone who read my first book. She appears several times in that story; you may remember her as the quiet young woman with a great attitude despite the fact that she has been using crutches to get around since a childhood accident injured her spine and legs.

Mary is the heroine of my second book, Mary’s Calico Hope. In fact, Mary is something of a heroine to me. I love her joy in living and her faith that God will get her through any challenge, even if she can’t begin to see how He’s going to do it.

We all face challenges, and would all benefit from a little more faith, and not just when times get tough, am I right?

I am so happy to bring you Mary’s story and can’t wait for you to experience her happy-ever-after. (Which of course is guaranteed, since we’re talking about a romance novel!) But how will she get there? Ah, that’s the question!

Thank you for taking the time to learn about Mary’s story! This book is my second in Barbour Publishing’s new series, “The Heart of the Amish”. It’s actually the fifth book in that series, which also contains great reads from authors Mindy Steele and Lisa Baker Jones.

I’m currently writing my third book in the series, which will feature a young woman you met in both Ruth and Mary’s stories, Elizabeth Miller. Look for Lizzie’s Little Mouse next winter.

Oh! I forgot to mention, each of my heroine’s received a tiny kitten from an elderly friend, Lydia Coblentz. Ruth had Ginger Snap. Mary has her calico kitten, Hope. And Lizzie’s kitten is a little gray one that reminds her of—you guessed it! A mouse!

I hope you’re having as much fun reading about these remarkable young women—and their kitties! —as I’m having writing about them. Thanks for being part of our journey! Without you, it wouldn’t be possible.

As for me and mine, we are all well and enjoying spring in southeast Ohio. In other words, enjoying the sunshine, but carrying a sweater and an umbrella, just in case!

God bless you and yours!

Joyfully,

Anne Blackburne

My Thoughts

Mary’s Calico Hope by Anne Blackburne is a warm-hearted tale. Mary Yoder is a special woman. She creates lovely baskets as well raising specialty roosters whose feathers she uses to make unique fishing lures (which fetch a pretty penny). Reuben King is well meaning and determined. He manages to put his foot in his mouth up past his ankle with Mary. It will take fancy footwork to get back on Mary’s good side. I enjoyed reading Mary’s Calico Hope. I liked most of the characters. Mary has caring, loving parents (their fussing may aggravate Mary at times, but they do it out of love). There was a busybody who loved to stick her nose in where it did not belong, spread gossip, and tattle to the bishop. I liked how it was a close community. Faith is beautifully woven throughout the story. The power of prayer, God’s guidance, faith, and trusting in God are a few of the main themes. I know from experience that it is hard to turn our worries over to God and surrender to His plan. I liked catching up with Lydia. Mary’s Calico Hope is the fifth book in The Heart of the Amish series. It can be read as a standalone for those who are new to the series or who may have missed a book. The ending was heartwarming and left me smiling. Mary’s Calico Hope is a special Amish story about resilience, love, faith, and community.

A chicken with curly feathers!

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!

Mary's Calico Hope is available from Amazon*. The other books in The Heart of the Amish series can be found here. The next book in The Heart of the Amish series is Serenity's Secret which will be out on September 15. You can find Anne Blackburne's other novels here. I could not resist adding the fun pictures of fancy chickens and roosters today. Mary, in Mary's Calico Hope, made fishing lures from specialty roosters, so I thought I would share pictures of some unique chickens and roosters. Thank you for stopping by today. I will return tomorrow with my thoughts on The Burning by Linda Castillo. It is the 16th book in the Kate Burkholder series. I hope that you stay cool today. It was certainly a hot holiday weekend. Don't forget to enter the giveaway before you depart. Good Luck, take care, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Blog Stops

Vicky Sluiter, June 27

Jeanette’s Thoughts, June 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 28

Lighthouse Academy Blog, June 29 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Texas Book-aholic, June 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 1

Lakesidelivingsite, July 2

Splashes of Joy, July 2

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 3

For Him and My Family, July 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 5

The Lofty Pages, July 5

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, July 6

Stories By Gina, July 7 (Author Interview)

Devoted To Hope, July 7

Bigreadersite, July 8

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, July 8

The Avid Reader, July 9

Life on Chickadee Lane, July 10

Holly’s Book Corner, July 10

*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. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Courting an Amish Bishop by Mindy Steele

Courting an Amish Bishop

Book Summary

No One Is Ever Too Old to Love Again

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

Simon Graber became a widower and a bishop early in life. His focus is solely on his very close-knit Old Order Amish community—not entertaining the idea of marriage, despite what many of the elders think. When sickness comes to Cherry Grove, Kentucky, Simon reaches out into the next community for help. But help is beginning to look a lot like a second chance when Stella Schmucker agrees to offer her vast herbal knowledge to the sick. Can it be that these two, who have been too busy serving others to entertain the idea of love, have met at just the perfect time for an unlikely courtship?

My Thoughts

Courting an Amish Bishop by Mindy Steele is a sweet story. My attention was captured right away. I enjoyed getting to know Stella Schmucker and Bishop Simon Graber. Bishop Graber’s son, Michael added humor to the story. It was interesting learning about the various herbs and their uses. I can tell that the author did her research. Those struck down with this virulent strain of flu in Cherry Grove, Kentucky certainly needed Stella and her knowledge. I liked the fact that Stella and Simon were middle-aged (instead of a man and woman in their early twenties). There are life and faith lessons throughout the story. Courting an Amish Bishop is the fourth book in The Heart of the Amish series, but it can be read as a standalone. This was an enjoyable story to read. Courting an Amish Bishop is a heartwarming Amish tale with benevolent bishop, a pervasive sickness, healing herbs, a cliffside house, a nasty storm, and a close-knit community.

Courting an Amish Bishop is availabe from Amazon*. The next book in The Heart of the Amish series is Mary's Calico Hope by Anne Blackburne which comes out May 15, 2024. You can find the other novels in The Heart of the Amish series here. Thank you for joining me today. I will sharing my thoughts on A Book Club's Guide to Murder and Mayhem by Bethany Barker tomorrow. I hope that you have idyllic day. 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.

Thursday, February 29, 2024

The Quilt Room Secret by Lisa Jones Baker

The Quilt Room Secret

About the Book

Trini Holds Secret Dreams for Her Future

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

As they took turns pushing each other on the swing that hung from a large tree, the mature—for a five-year-old—Jacob Lantz asked Trini Sutter to marry him. The nine-year-old thoughtfully responded that she’d consider his proposal when they were older.

Nearly two decades later, the Amish farmer returns to the beautiful countryside of Arthur, Illinois, to take the independent owner of The Quilt Room up on her promise. Quiet, handsome Jacob is truly in love with the spirited list maker, and Trini finds herself falling in love with Jacob, but the youngest of eleven has big plans of her own.

Jacob’s long-held aspirations are put to the test when he learns that Trini has been holding a secret. He prays for a turnaround of events; however, when Trini moves away from her tight-knit community, he begins to realize that his dream of them being Mr. and Mrs. most likely won’t happen.

Will Trini forfeit her own well-laid plan for the man of her dreams?

Click here to get your cohttps://amzn.to/3vTttEEpy!

About the Author

Lisa Jones Baker writes Amish Inspirational fiction. She grew up near Arthur, Illinois, and became acquainted with the Plain Faith at an early age when they custom-made and installed her family’s kitchen cabinets. On weekends, she and her parents frequented the quaint Amish town, often the setting of her stories, where they purchased meat, cheese, and home-made baking spices. Now, decades later, she still loves visiting; the town and the people yet intrigue her, and she so appreciate the talent of quilt-making almost as much as she loves horse and buggy rides. But there is much more to this perplexing group than meets the eye; they are extremely disciplined, hard-working, and honest…and they don’t all think alike. For these reasons, writing about them is her passion.

More from Lisa

Secrets fascinate me. They always have. From experience, I know that they’re difficult to keep confidential. And when the wrong person gets hold of what you don’t want out. . .There’s no telling what will happen!

List maker Trini Sutter has decided her future, even though what’s ahead comes with great risk. The owner of The Quilt Room in Arthur, Illinois, relishes being in control of her life. But what she doesn’t expect is for someone to get wind of her deep, dark secret and to leak it to her tight-knit Amish community! Now that the quilter’s confidential plan has become public, will she be able to pull it off? Or will Gott override her “list” with the destiny He has planned for her? Find out in The Quilt Room Secret.

Short Excerpt

“Trini, look at me.”

She hesitated. Did she dare? She didn’t know what it was about Jacob that stole her voice. Her breath. Her entire being.

With one gentle motion, he placed his finger underneath her chin. He was so close, the light cinnamon on his breath lingered in the small distance between them. His clothes smelled like outdoors. She could see tiny lines around his eyes. They made him take on an even more manly appearance. His voice was barely more than a whisper. “You feel it too, don’t you?”

The last thing she wanted was any romantic complications that would interfere with her plans to leave. I must not lead Jacob on. I must not lead myself on. What I’m feeling…it’s wrong.

My Thoughts

The Quilt Room Secret by Lisa Jones Baker is the third book in The Heart of the Amish series, but it can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed the descriptions of the beautiful quilts Trini Sutter created. I would love to own one of her creations. The Quilt Room Secret is a sweet story, but I found the pacing to be on the slow side. The overly detailed descriptions and repetitious details led to the lethargic tempo. Trini’s two friends, Serenity and Abby, were certainly taken with the other two Lantz brothers, Gabriel and Stephen. I liked that the book did not solely focus on Trini and Jacob. I did find Trini to be a conundrum. She is having a crisis of faith and identity. She feels the rules of the Amish community to be restricting yet she is not baptized. I do not know how Trini kept track of all her lists. I thought the ending was rushed. I liked the wisdom that had been handed down by the Lantz brother’s Aunt Margaret. She touched many lives. The Quilt Room Secret is a sweetly stitched story with a heaven-sent bequest, lengthy lists, peaceful countryside, quality quilts, and an old love note.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lisa is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon e-Gift Card & print copy of the book. Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click here to enter.

The Quilt Room Secret is available from Amazon*. You can find the first two novels in The Heart of the Amish series here. The fourth through sixth books in The Heart of the Amish series are Courting an Amish Bishop by Mindy Steele (coming out April 1), Mary's Calico Hope by Anne Blackburne (releasing on May 15), and Serenity's Secret by Lisa Jones Baker (they are making us wait until October 1). Thank you for stopping by today. On March 5, I will feature Allie's Amish Family Miracle by Tracy Fredrychowski. It is the fifth book in The Amish Women of Lawrence County series. Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon e-gift card and a print copy of the book. Leave a comment for nine extra entries. Good Luck! I hope that you have an inspiring day and a relaxing weekend. Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader