A Lancaster Family Christmas by Kate Lloyd

 A Lancaster Family Christmas

Book Summary

What starts as a getaway to Amish Country could turn into the Christmas that changes Diana’s life forever, if only she opens her heart.

Diana can’t face another lonely Christmas in her Manhattan apartment. When a coworker invites her on a last-minute trip to visit her Mennonite family in Lancaster County, Diana jumps at the chance.

Arriving in Amish Country in the middle of a snowstorm, Diana discovers a world that couldn’t be more different from her life on the Upper East Side. She is fascinated by the sprawling farms and buggies on the roads, but what she really notices are the welcoming families, cozy kitchens filled with home-cooked meals…and the two handsome men who may or may not be vying for her attention.

But every community has its secrets. Jesse, the rakish young Amish farmer, is hiding more than just a forbidden cell phone. And then there’s handsome Brett, the guarded Mennonite craftsman who harbors a dark secret of his own.

My Thoughts

A Lancaster Family Christmas by Kate Lloyd takes readers from New York City to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in December.  Diana Manzella is invited by her co-worker, Betsy Yoder to spend a few days with her Mennonite family.  Diana feels welcomed by Betsy’s warm family and loves spending time with their horses.  She is introduced to Betsy’s brother, Brett who she finds handsome and their neighbor, Jesse whom Betsy has harbored a crush on for many years.  Diana ends up spending Christmas with the family learning more about the family and the community.  A Lancaster Family Christmas is a sweet Christmas tale with some good life lessons along with a heaping dose of Christmas cheer.  The story contains good writing and it moved along at a good pace.  The characters are relatable, but I felt that they were not developed.  I felt like I barely knew Diana, Betsy, Jesse, and Brett.  I wanted to know more about Diana besides she comes from a well-to-do family, lives in a fancy apartment at a good address with a doorman, has a sweet dog named Piper, has a dead-end job, and parents who have been bickering which has them heading for divorce.  Forgiveness, grace, mercy, and community are some of the lessons in the story. There is a scene that is tense and heartbreaking.   I felt, though, that the story was a little higgledy piggledy.  It is a sweet story, but I wanted more depth. I did enjoy the feeling of Christmas and the swirling snow.  I would enjoy spending time in front of the Yoder’s fireplace or snuggling under a homemade quilt in their guestroom.  A Lancaster Family Christmas is a lighthearted Christmas tale that will get you in the mood for the holidays.  

A Lancaster Family Christmas is available from Amazon*.  The digital version is currently $1.99. You can download a sample to see if this Christmas story is for you.  You can find Kate Lloyd's other novels here.  Thank you for taking the time to read my review today.  I will return on Monday with Slashing Through the Snow by Jacqueline Frost.  It is the 3rd A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery.  I hope that you have a safe and Happy Halloween.  I have chocolates and caramels to indulge in.  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.

Stage Fright by Kate Lloyd

 Stage Fright

Book Summary

Stage Fright by Kate Lloyd has Jessica Nash blowing a community theater audition when stage fright takes hold.  Jessica is determined to put it behind her and enjoy the trip to England with her church choir.  The trip gets off to a rocky start when she is seated next to Martin Spear, a famous tenor, who has joined their choir for the tour.  Jessica is taken aback by his attitude toward women.  Jessica is looking forward to sharing a room with her best friend, Roxanne Miller.  Unfortunately, Jessica ends up with the entitled Clare Van Arsdale who thinks only about herself.  Jessica’s luck takes a turn when their dashing tour guide, Nick Toscano takes an interest in her. When Nick takes over for their driver, Jessica will have the whole tour to get to know him.  Fate, though, seems to keep putting Martin and Jessica together.  Jessica will find herself challenged during her week in England in unanticipated ways.  What does the future hold for Jessica?

My Thoughts

Stage Fright by Kate Lloyd is a sweet story.  I thought it was well-written with a diverse cast of interesting characters.  The story moves along at a good pace as we follow Jessica Nash on her journey.  Jessica Nash is a schoolteacher, single mother, and a member of her church choir.  She also takes singing lessons.  Jessica’s son, Cooper is becoming a teen and his behavior reflects it (angsty).  Her church choir is going on a weeklong tour in England and Jessica is looking forward to it.  This is her one chance to travel the country of her favorite authors.  Jessica did not expect to find romance along the way.  There is a mystery in the story along with some secrets.  I enjoyed the descriptions of the sights as the choir made its way through England as well as the music they sang.  We get to see Jessica challenged to go beyond her comfort zone.  I could certainly understand Jessica’s stage fright.  I have a fear of public speaking that haunts me to this day.  Stage fright is not something that is not easy to overcome.  I liked the humor is the story that kept it lighthearted.  The ending will leave you smiling.  Stage Fright is an encouraging tale with a rotten roommate, a tricky tenor, an eye-catching Italian, a dedicated director, a tremendous tour, and a frightening fear.  

Stage Fright is available from Amazon*.  If you enjoy Stage Fright, then you should check out From Rome with Love.  You can find Kate Lloyd's other novels here.  Thank you for visiting today.  The East End Girl in Blue by Fenella J. Miller is on deck for tomorrow.  It is the 2nd book in The Girls in Blue series.  I hope that you have a relaxing 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.

From Rome with Love by Kate Lloyd

From Rome with Love

Book Summary

From Rome with Love by Kate Lloyd has Lucy Goff working as an au pair to fifteen-year-old Tabatha Williams.  She learns the week before Christmas that she will be heading to Rome with the family.  Lucy is looking forward to exploring the city, but that those hopes are quickly dashed.  Her employers spend their time as business meetings while her charge has fluctuating mood swings and disappears frequently.  The one bright spot of the trip is the dashing Mario Russo who has offered to escort them around Rome.  Things are looking up until Brad Helstrom, Lucy’s ex-boyfriend (maybe) arrives in Rome.  Brad is unhappy that Tabatha is constantly with Lucy since the Williamses have disappeared.  Lucy finally receives a phone call from her errant employers sending Lucy and her charge back to Seattle for Christmas.  When Lucy arrives home and opens her suitcase, she finds a valuable painting that disappeared during World War II.  Lucy has more questions than answers.  One bright note is that Mario has returned to Seattle as well.  Lucy is in for an unexpected Christmas.

My Thoughts

From Rome with Love by Kate Lloyd is a unique novel.  There is a cast of diverse characters.  Lucy who went from teacher to au pair and is a recovering addict.  Her employers give her short notice that they are heading to Rome for Christmas.  They warn Lucy to keep a close eye on their daughter who behaves erratically.  There is the suave Italian, Mario Russo plus Brad Helstrom who has decided he still wishes to date Lucy.  Gretchen and Stan Williams are Lucy’s employers who own an art gallery.  They behave mysteriously in Rome before disappearing.  I like Lucy’s kind and welcoming mother who has a new beau.  There is also Lucy’s aunt, Anna and her cousin, Maureen who can be spiteful, conniving, and jealous.  I did feel that the story was disjointed, and I was left with unanswered questions at the end.  I liked the epilogue that resolved a couple of items.  I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of Rome.  I felt like I was enjoying the sights with Lucy.  It was interesting learning about the paintings that were stolen and disappeared during World War II.  So many works of art are still missing or have disappeared into private collections which means the original owners will never get them back.  From Rome with Love is an inimitable story with romantic Rome, a prized painting, a brash boyfriend, enigmatic employers, a striking Italian, hurtful relatives, and a frustrating teen.

From Rome with Love is available from Amazon*.  You can find Kate Lloyd's other novels here.  Check out Stage Fright and Legacy of Lancaster Trilogy.  Thank you for stopping by today and reading my book review.  I will return tomorrow with Mint Condition Murder by Ellery Adams and Parker Riggs.  It is the 9th An Antiques & Collectibles Mystery.   I hope that you are having a relaxing Sunday.  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.

An Amish Christmas Kitchen by Kate Lloyd, Jan Drexler, and Leslie Gould

Welcome! The Orphan Daughter by Sheila Riley will be out tomorrow, September 5.  We'll Meet Again by Rosie Archer about the Bluebird Girls in 1941 is now available and Power of the Witch by Deanna Chase is out today.  The Girl Who Loved Ghosts by K.C. Tansley is out September 16 and it is the third novel in The Unbelievables series.   There are so many great new books coming out this month.

An Amish Christmas Kitchen by Kate Lloyd, Jan Drexler and Leslie Gould contains three novellas celebrating the warmth of the season.  An Amish Family Christmas by Leslie Gould takes us to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania where Noelle Schrock is grieving the loss of her beloved mother and moving into a new home.  She lives with her father and does the baking for the business her mother started many years ago.  It is time for the Christmas Market and her older sister, Salome is laid up unable to handle their stall.  Noelle is afraid she will see Jesse who broke her heart and recently returned to town.  Being forced out of her comfort zone turns out to be a blessing in disguise because Noelle meets Holly, a Mennonite woman, who is also a Christmas Eve baby and sells delectable chocolates.  Noelle will be faced with some unexpected challenges and she will need her new friend along with her faith to help her navigate the difficult roads ahead.

An Amish Christmas Recipe Box by Jan Drexler takes us to the Heritage Amish Furniture shop where Ada Weaver works for her father, Leroy.  Ada bakes up the cookies and pastries they sell in the shop in addition to the beautifully handcrafted furniture.  Matthias Yoder is the newest hire and a talented craftsman.  He finds Ada to be lovely, but she only has eyes for Amos Hertzler.  Ada’s sister, Rose helps her concoct the Great Cookie Campaign to capture Amos’ attention.  Ada needs to learn that what we long for but not be what is best for us or what God has planned. 

An Unexpected Christmas Gift by Kate Lloyd has Maria Romano searching for her birth mother during the holiday season.  After her mother recently passed away, Maria learned that she was adopted.  Maria had taken a DNA test which turned up a relation.  That is how Maria ended up stranded outside Miller’s Quilts & Gifts during the holiday season.  The Miller family takes her in, and Maria gets an unexpected Christmas gift.  

An Amish Christmas Kitchen contains three heartwarming holiday stories.  I thought all three novellas were well-written and engaging.  I started reading An Amish Family Christmas one evening and just kept reading until I finished all three (it was a late night).  The novellas contain great characters and lovely settings.  We see how the Amish focus on family and the true reason for the holiday season.  I like the life lessons featured in each story with my favorite being a person’s heart is more important than their appearance.  The romance plays out softly in each story which I appreciated.  The stories are realistic with feel good endings.  One of my favorite phrases is, “Life is only as short and hard as we make it.”  It is important to remember the true meaning of Christmas and that only He can bring us the peace and joy we desire.  There is a recipe for one of the mouthwatering baked goods featured in the story at the end of each novella.  An Amish Christmas Kitchen will have you wanting to drag out your Christmas decorations and start baking your favorite Christmas cookies. 

 

An Amish Family Kitchen is available here (Amazon UK).  Thank you for joining me today.  I will return tomorrow with Who Shot the Serif? by Jessa Archer.  It is the first book in A Hand Lettering Mystery series.    I hope you have an uplifting day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Starting From Scratch: Lancaster Discoveries

Happy Sunday!  Did you know that many authors hold contests for readers on Facebook and Twitter?  Follow your favorite authors and watch for a chance to win prizes (books for example).  It also gives you a chance to connect with the authors (ask questions about their writing process or when a new book will be coming out).  Here are a couple to get you started:  Kate Lloyd on Facebook, Wanda Brunstetter on Twitter, Ellery Adams on Facebook, Kate Carlisle on Facebook, or Diane Vallere on Twitter.

Starting from Scratch by Kate Lloyd is the second book in Lancaster Discoveries series.  Eva Lapp has just been ousted from her family home by her sister-in-law, Marta.  Eva’s father has retired, and her parents are moving into the Dawdi house while Rueben and Marta along with their children are moving into the main house.  Eva has accepted a job at Yoder’s Nursery which comes with a cottage.  She is surprised to discover that her new job is not in the nursery but as the manager of Yoder’s Nursery Café.  Eva wishes that she had paid more attention when her mother was cooking.  At twenty-nine, Eva is unmarried and has yet to join the church.  She longs to marry and have children, but she is still pining for Jake Miller who left the community many years ago under a dark cloud.  Stephen Troyer is the manager of the nursery and Eva discovers that he is friends with Jake.  With the Yoder family out of town, Beatrice Valenti, their Italian housekeeper, is at loose ends.  She winds up at the café “assisting” Eva with the cooking and providing some guidance along the way.  Eva was hoping she would meet some eligible men at her new position and she is fortunate to have three men interested in her.  But then Jake returns to town and all her old feelings for him resurface.  For them to have a future together, several issues need to be resolved including the reason Jake left Lancaster County.  Is there a chance at a happily ever after for Jake and Eva?  Or will one of the other men capture her heart?

Starting from Scratch is well-written and has gentle pacing.  It can be enjoyed without having read A Letter from Lancaster County (first book in Lancaster Discoveries series).  I was not a fan of Eva.  I found her to be contradictory.  She is twenty-nine, but she acts like someone who is sixteen.  I fond her immature in many respects.  Eva takes a job and has no clue what she will be doing.  She has never inspected the cottage where she will be living and is not prepared to move out on her own.  Eva does not bring sheets, towels, or kitchenware with her.  If Marta had not packed her clothing, I have a feeling she would have been without that as well.  Eva left a job at a quilt shop that she loved to work at the nursery in the hopes that she will meet some eligible men.  I wondered if no men lived in her town or went to her church.  I did not feel that Eva is ready to be married.  Eva is a woman who needs to be comfortable with herself (become independent) before she embarks on a relationship.  Beatrice Valenti starts out gruff in the beginning and as a little pushy.  I like how she softens over the course of the novel as her story is revealed.  The Christian theme is prevalent throughout the book.  Forgiveness, grace, acceptance of others, in God’s timing, and following the path God has planned for you are some of the Christian elements.  In Starting from Scratch there is a homeless man, a barn fire, a past mystery that needs to be resolved, and someone is breaking into the café.  I liked the way the author tied the various events together in the story.  I was, though, disappointed in the ending.  I would have liked to see Eva make a different choice where she is truly starting from scratch.  The story is told strictly from Eva’s point-of-view (first person).  It would have helped to know what some of the other characters were thinking and feeling.  It would have added more depth.  I am giving Starting from Scratch 3 out of 5 stars.  Starting from Scratch felt like it was missing something (not sure what) and there were unresolved issues at the end of the book.

I will be featuring Alice's Notions by Tamera Lynn Kraft on Monday.  I hope you have a blessed Sunday.  I am off to the grocery store to pick up some necessities (we are out of ice cream).  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

A Letter from Lancaster County: Lancaster Discoveries

I hope each of you are having a good week.  Kate Lloyd is an Amish author who has written Legacy of Lancaster trilogy (I enjoyed the three novels in the series). Ms. Lloyd writes a blog and is also on Pinterest (@KateLloydAuthor), Facebook, and Twitter (@KateLloydAuthor).  

A Letter from Lancaster County by Kate Lloyd is the first book in the Lancaster Discoveries series.  Aunt Silvia writes a letter to her two nieces inviting them to visit her in Lancaster County.  Angela and Rose take Aunt Silvia up on her invitation and leave their homes in Seattle.  Angela is married to Frederick, an attorney, who spends most of his time working.  Her two children are focused on their friends, cell phones, and video games.  They are overly indulged by their parents.  Angela feels a void in her life and envies Rose who is single.  Rose owns a mail order business that sends out handmade bird houses, wind chimes, etc. out to customers.  She is jealous of Angela with her husband and children.  Both ladies are unhappy with their lives.  The two sisters are very different and have never been close.  This could be the perfect opportunity for the sisters to bond and grow closer.  Aunt Silvia lives in the old family homestead and, upon exploration of the attic, the two sisters uncover secrets.  This discovery further divides Rose and Angela.  Will these two sisters find a way to come together?  Why did Aunt Silvia invite Rose and Angela for a visit?    Join Rose and Angela on their journey of discovery in A Letter from Lancaster County.

The writing in A Letter from Lancaster County is different from the books in Kate Lloyd’s Legacy of Lancaster trilogy.  Reading this Amish novel is akin to slogging through a giant pool of mud.  The pace was lethargic.  I did not think I would ever finish the tome.  The chapters alternate between Rose and Angela’s POV (first person).  It was hard to tell which one was talking.  The first 80% of the book is the two sisters whining, complaining, criticizing, insulting, blaming (reminds me of two bickering teenagers) and thinking.  I did like the last 20% of the book, but I do not see many people making it that far in the book.  There is a nice epilogue at the end of the book (best part of the book).  I am rating A Letter from Lancaster County 2 out of 5 stars.  While I disliked the sisters, I was a fan of Aunt Silvia.  She had a good outlook on life.  I really liked it when Aunt Silvia said, “accept our losses, make the best of them, and trust the Lord to guide us.”  The Christian element is very light (almost nonexistent).  The cover, though, for A Letter from Lancaster County is beautiful.  There is a preview for Simply Delicious at the end of the book.  It is the second book in the Lancaster Discoveries series.  I did like the sample provided.  It has me intrigued.  I wish A Letter from Lancaster County had been as appealing.

I appreciate you taking the time to visit today.  I will be reviewing Death Plays a Part by Vivian Conroy (A Cornish Castle Mystery) on Friday.  I hope you each of a lovely day.  Take care and Happy Reading.

Kris

The Avid Reader