The Reimagined Life of Jade Morrow by Vannetta Chapman

The Reimagined Life of Jade Morrow

Book Summary

She’s spent her career rewriting the lives of famous women. Now she must find the courage to rewrite her own.

Bestselling author Jade Morrow has built a career reimagining history’s most iconic women and the single choices that changed their lives. But at forty-six, Jade’s own carefully constructed world is unraveling.

Crippling panic attacks force her to leave New York City behind and start over in Shelby, Texas, the small town her parents once called home. Determined to rebuild her life in solitude, Jade keeps everyone at a distance—until a devastating accident leaves her stranded and utterly alone.

As the people of Shelby slowly break through the walls she’s built around herself, Jade discovers that healing may require more courage than reinvention. And for the first time, she wonders if the life she truly wants is still waiting for her.

The Reimagined Life of Jade Morrow is an emotional and uplifting novel about grief, friendship, second chances, and learning that it’s never too late to choose a different future.

My Thoughts

The Reimagined Life of Jade Morrow is a delightful departure from Vannetta Chapman’s other novels. I easily related to Jade Morrow, a thoughtful introvert who is slowly drawn into the warm and welcoming community of Shelby, Texas. The residents are a friendly, caring group, and before long Jade finds herself surrounded by a close circle of friends. As she gets to know her librarian neighbor and the local pastor, the story gently explores the beauty of friendship, personal growth, and meaningful connections across ages and backgrounds. 

The characters are well developed, with room to grow in ways that feel natural and hopeful. One of the recurring themes asks an intriguing question: if you could change one pivotal decision from your past, would you—and how might that change shape the rest of your life? Jade’s novels, which reimagine the lives of iconic women, add a unique touch through excerpts included after each chapter. Along the way, Jade learns important life lessons that are both heartfelt and inspiring. The Reimagined Life of Jade Morrow is an uplifting, feel-good story that left me smiling.

The Reimagined Life of Jade Morrow is available now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BAM, Kobo, and Indigo.  If you’d like to explore more of Vannetta Chapman’s books, you can find them here.  Mark your calendar for Tuesday, July 28, when I’ll be back with Rodeo Witness Protector by Sami Abrams. 

Dickens decided to take a little break from the cat house yesterday and settled in for a nap on my mother’s oversized Snoopy. As you can see in the picture, Dickens fits quite nicely on Snoopy’s head—though my mother was not nearly as charmed by the arrangement as I was. May your day be filled with joy, laughter, and a book you can’t wait to return to. 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.

Murder Unshelved by Vannetta Chapman

Murder Unshelved

Book Summary

A fresh start was supposed to be simple.

Open the doors. Welcome customers. Build a new life.

Fox Hollow, Texas, has other plans.

Sisters Emma Dawson and Sydney Givens arrive in town ready to launch their dream business—Stitches, Perks & Pages, a quilt shop and bookstore under one roof. But before they can even begin unpacking, they find a dead body sprawled across their delivery entrance. Welcome to Fox Hollow.

The victim, Evan Pritchard, had secrets—and someone is still searching for whatever he was hiding. With danger edging closer and another murder looming, Emma and Sydney realize they can’t just shelve the problem and hope it goes away.

Luckily, Fox Hollow has a way of turning strangers into allies. With the help of a sharp-witted retired nurse, a determined Amish teen, an overachieving high school valedictorian, and steady-eyed Detective Noble Beck, the sisters may have a chance to catch a killer before their new beginning becomes their last.

My Thoughts

Murder Unshelved by Vannetta Chapman is a cute cozy mystery.  The author's approachable style makes the story both engaging and accessible.  Sydney and Emma remind me of my sister and myself.  We are complete opposites just like Sydney and Emma.  It will be interesting to see how well they get along at home and work (I see conflict in the future).  I cannot imagine walking through the building you just closed on and finding a dead man blocking the back door (is it too late to change your mind).  A bonus is the handsome Detective Noble (romance ahead for one of the sisters). Emma, Sydney, and their new staff ask questions and unravel clues.  They stitch the clues in order to identify the guilty party.  I enjoyed solving the whodunit along with the Stitches & Pages crew. 

I liked the quaint town of Fox Hollow, Texas with its quirky locals.  It is a town where gossip flows faster than maple syrup on a stack of hot flapjacks.  I liked the ending where Emma and Sydney’s sister helped the pair decide what to do with the open space between the two shops.  I am looking forward to the next installment in A Stitches, Perks & Pages Cozy Mystery series.  Murder Unshelved is a merry mystery with a disturbing start, a dashing detective, brisk rumors, sleuthing sisters, and an unsuspected surprise. 

Murder Unshelved can be obtained from Amazon*.  You can find Vannetta Chapman's other novels here.  If you follow the author on Amazon, they will notify you when she has a new book release. 

Thank you for stopping by today.  There are a number of great books coming out on March 31.  Here are just a few of the upcoming book releases: Truffle Trouble by Amanda Flower, The Barn Identity by Diane Kelly, Feuding with the Amish Farmer by Anne Blackburne, A Courtship for the Amich Nanny by Laurel Blount, and Unsolved Amish Abduction by Mary Alford .  I will be featuring The Rancher's Stolen Past by Tabitha Bouldin on Tuesday, March 31. Are you enjoying spring weather in your area?  It is been in the 70s in the Tampa Bay area of Florida and I am loving it.  I hope it is lovely in your area as well.  It is wonderful weather for working in the garden. I sprinkled seeds about two weeks ago and they have begun sprouting.  I also have poppies and salvia taking over my raised flower beds.  I will take some pictures, so I can show you. Wishing you a brilliant and enjoyable weekend.  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.

*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.

An Amish Widow's New Love by Vannetta Chapman

 An Amish Widow's New Love

Book Summary

She thinks she’s done with romance

But love has other ideas…

When newly widowed Hope Lambright moves to Indiana with her three sons, the last thing on her mind is romance. And much like his new neighbor, widower Amos Yoder thought love was part of his past. But when Hope boldly asks Amos for a job at his Amish outdoor market, he finds he can’t say no, and soon their professional relationship blossoms into something more. They’ve both loved and lost once. Will they be brave enough to risk their hearts for a second time? 

My Thoughts

An Amish Widow’s New Love by Vannetta Chapman is a darling story.  Amos Yoder’s has an empty nest now that his five daughters have married, but it may not be that way for long.  I like Vannetta Chapman’s writing style.  It is friendly and engaging.  The characters are friendly and relatable.  I felt for Hope whose middle son, Lucas, is struggling since the death of his father, and she is hoping that a new town will be good for all of them. I enjoyed visiting the market again.  It is a large operation which gets busier each year.  I like how faith was woven into the story.  An Amish Widow’s New Love is the sixth book in the Indiana Amish Market series.  It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading each book in this delightful series.  It was great to catch up with Amos’s daughters and their families. The Yoder clan continues to expand, and the market is a family affair.  I was happy and sad to reach the end.  I liked the ending, but I am sad that it is the last book in the series.  An Amish Widow’s New Love is a heartwarming tale with a new town, a lemon of a home, a troubled teen, a caring community, piles of paperwork, and a fresh start.

Indiana Amish Market Series

Book 1: An Amish Proposal for Christmas

Book 2: Her Amish Adversary

Book 3: An Unusual Amish Winter Match

Book 4: The Mysterious Amish Bachelor

Book 5: A Courtship for the Amish Spinster

Book 6: An Amish Widow's New Love

An Amish Widow's New Love is available from Amazon.  You can find the other books in the Indiana Amish Market series here.  You can follow Vannetta Chapman on Amazon, and they will send you an email when she releases a new book. Thank you for popping by today.  I will return on Tuesday, April 15 with Another Fine Mess by Lindy Ryan.  I am off to continue my hunt for someone to install insulation and a vapor barrier under my home.  I know that I will find someone eventually (they either make appointments and do not show up or they show up and never send the estimate).  I hope that you have a jolly good day (I was watching British shows last night).  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.

A Courtship for the Amish Spinster by Vannetta Chapman

 A Courtship for the Amish Spinster

Book Summary

A courtship of convenience

Brings her more than she ever imagined

As the last unmarried girl in her family, Eunice Yoder is given an ultimatum—find a husband or full-time job, or move out. Too independent for a suitor and with no one willing to hire such an unconventional Amish woman, Eunice’s future seems set. Until widower and best friend Zeb Mast offers her a deal. He’ll pretend to court her if she will help care for his young son. Both believe they are done with romance, but as they begin their arrangement, their pretend courtship starts to feel a little too real…

Indiana Amish Market Series

Book 1:  An Amish Proposal for Christmas

Book 2:  Her Amish Adversary

Book 3:  An Unusual Amish Winter Match

Book 4:  The Mysterious Amish Bachelor

Book 5:  A Courtship for the Amish Spinster

My Thoughts

We finally get Eunice Yoder’s story in A Courtship for the Amish Spinster by Vannetta Chapman.  This story as well as the other books in the series have great characters.  I admit that Eunice is my favorite Yoder sister.  I like that she is quirky (but she has a big heart).  Zeb Mast and Eunice are realistic characters with strengths and flaws.  Zeb has been grieving the loss of his wife.  He has a new job, but he needs someone to watch his son. It is an emotional story that will touch your heart.  I liked that there were plenty of humorous moments as well.  Zeb’s son, Josh, is sweet as well as precocious.  He is struggling with the loss of his mother.  It was great to catch up with the rest of the Yoder clan and see what was happening at the ever expanding market. 

I loved reading about Eunice’s knitting tribulations which had me chuckling (I can relate). While A Courtship for the Amish Spinster is the fifth book in Indiana Amish Market series, it can be read as a standalone (you will end up wanting to read the whole series).  A Courtship for the Amish Spinster is a story that reminds you that there is hope for the future (which is a message that I needed).  I am looking forward to Amos’ story (it should be entertaining).  A Courtship for the Amish Spinster is a heartwarming tale with an unwelcome ultimatum, knitting troubles, an overprotective father, financial difficulties, a wise child, market tours, and a hopeful future.

A Courtship for the Amish Spinster is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other  books in the Indiana Amish Market series here.  An Amish Widow’s New Love is Amos Yoder's story (the father) and it will be out on April 1, 2025 (I cannot wait to read it). You can find Vannetta Chapman's other novels here.  Thank you for stopping by today.  Tomorrow I am a stop ont he Great Escapes Virtural Book Tours for Hunted for the Holidays by Deena Alexander.  There will be a giveaway!  They say that Milton is the most devestating hurricane to hit Florida in over a hundred years (I wish it had waited another hundred).  It is wonderful the way people are helping those in need.  I am grateful to live in a community where neighbors help neighbors.  All the aluminum from my carport and walkway were taken away this weekend. It turns out it is worth money (who knew).  The money raised will help the local cat rescue. I am off to fill out forms and make phone calls.  Don't forget to stop by tomorrow!  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.

*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.

The Mysterious Amish Bachelor by Vannetta Chapman

 The Mysterious Amish Bachelor

Book Summary

He has a secret.

She’s set on discovering it.

After paying the price for a crime he committed ten years ago, Noah Beiler wants a fresh start—which means hiding where he’s been for the last decade from his Amish community. But Sarah Yoder is determined to uncover his past. As Noah and Sarah work together and grow close, Noah’s history is the only thing standing in their way. Will revealing the truth set them free, or are some secrets best kept buried?

My Thoughts

The Mysterious Amish Bachelor by Vannetta Chapman is the fourth delightful story in the Indiana Amish Market series.  I have enjoyed getting to know the quirky Yoder sisters and their father.  Sarah is the oldest of the sisters.  She helped raise her sisters and run the household after the death of her mother.  Sarah loves her family, home, and community. She is pretty much an open book.  Noah Beiler returns after ten years, and he is looking to keep his past where it belongs—behind him.   It is easy to empathize with both characters.  Sarah wants to learn more about Noah.  Noah is afraid if Sarah learns about his past, she will not want anything to do with him.  

There are great characters in this series.  Ada adds humor to the story with her unique expressions.  I bet the author had fun coming up with ways to change common phrases.  Faith is woven throughout the story (it is not preachy which I appreciate).    I like Vannetta Chapman friendly writing style.  The story is told from Sarah and Noah’s point of view, which allows readers to know what they are feeling and thinking. We get to see the importance of communication.  Patience, prayer, community, family, secrets, and love are the focus in The Mysterious Amish Bachelor.  I am looking forward to Eunice’s story.  It will take a special man to appreciate the mechanically minded Eunice.  

The Mysterious Amish Bachelor can be ordered from Amazon*.  Eunice's story is A Courtship for the Amish Spinster which will be out on October 22.  The other novels in the Indiana Amish Market series are An Amish Proposal for Christmas, Her Amish Adversary, and An Unusual Amish Winter Match.  You can find Vannetta Chapman's other books here.  Thank you for stopping by today.  Tomorrow I featuring Yukon Wilderness Evidence by Darlene L. Turner as part of the JustRead Publicity Tours.  It is the fifth book in the Crisis Rescue Team series.  I hope that you have a stellar 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.

Her Amish Adversary by Vannetta Chapman

 Her Amish Adversary

Book Summary

Joining forces with her rival…

Means risking everything.  

Running the RV park at her father’s Amish market makes Bethany Yoder happy—until he hires her childhood nemesis, Aaron King. Soon Bethany’s quaint ideas clash with Aaron’s Englisch-style upgrades. But they must work together to turn a profit…or else. When their unlikely alliance turns into something more, will Aaron’s secrets break them—and the business—apart forever?

My Thoughts

Her Amish Adversary by Vannetta Chapman is an entertaining story.  It is the second book in the Indiana Amish Market series.  It can be read as a standalone, but you will be missing out on a cute story (An Amish Proposal for Christmas).   I like Vannetta Chapman’s writing style.  Her stories draw me right in.  There is humor throughout.  I laughed often while reading this book.  The Yoder girls are delightful.  I cannot wait for Eunice’s story (I bet it will be a hoot).  Eunice comes up with some creative mechanical devices.  Bethany Yoder and Aaron King were at odds especially in the beginning (I had to laugh when he tracked mud into her office).  

Bethany is not happy to see Aaron.  He teased her relentlessly at school (I know how Bethany felt).  The teaser might enjoy it, but the one being teased does not.  The author addressed the subject of mental illness.  She handled the subject with sensitivity.  We get to see how one family members mental illness affects the whole family.  We return to the Shipshewana Outdoor Market, which is run by Amos Yoder, Bethany’s father.   The focus is on the RV park where Bethany is the RV park manager.  I can imagine spending the whole day at this large market (the food sounds scrumptious).  I like that we get to catch up with Becca Yoder and Gideon Fisher as well as the rest of the Yoder clan.  The ending left me smiling.  I am eager for the next Indiana Amish Market novel.  Her Amish Adversary is a tender tale with a massive market, a grubby rug, a sensitive secret, wedding planning, an old adversary, and a meeting of the minds.

Her Amish Adversary is available from Amazon* and Harlequin.  The first book in the Indiana Amish Market series is An Amish Proposal for Christmas.  You can find Vannetta Chapman's other novels here.  I am always eager to read Vannetta Chapman's latest novel.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I will return on Tuesday, January 31 with my thoughts on Four Leaf Cleaver by Maddie Day. It is the eleventh A Country Store Mystery. I am heading out to our storage shed to clear out the clutter.  I have discovered that I own more ceiling fans than I need.  I only need six (the ceiling fans currently in our home are from the 80s and one light is from the 1970s).  I wonder what else is tucked into the storage shed (I know there are dozens of inflatables).  I hope that you have an enjoyable weekend.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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

An Amish Proposal for Christmas by Vannetta Chapman

An Amish Proposal for Christmas 

Book Summary

Her deepest Christmas wish will bring more than she imagined…in this novel by USA TODAY bestselling author Vannetta Chapman.

The only way she’ll find home

is by leaving it…

The one thing Becca Yoder loves more than Christmas is her dream of leaving her Amish community and traveling the world. Becca has her father’s reluctant permission to leave—if she trains Gideon Fisher to run the family’s enormous outdoor market. But Gideon is homesick for Texas. Can Becca make him fall in love with her hometown…without falling for the handsome bachelor herself?

About the Author

I was born in Los Angeles, lived in Connecticut for a few years, and finally moved to Texas. After living in the Dallas area most of my adult life, my husband retired, and we relocated 80 miles northwest of Austin. Now that we’ve enjoyed small-town life for a dozen years, we can’t imagine living anywhere else. Our adult children are close enough to visit, our yard is often filled with white-tailed deer, neighbors' wave when they drive by, and everyone knows our dogs.

I received my associate's degree directly after high school but didn’t finish my college work until I was a single mom in my 30s. I earned both my BA and MA degrees in English from the University of Texas at Arlington. Though I had always been an avid reader, it was while pursuing those degrees that I discovered a love of language and began pursuing publication. While teaching at the middle school, high school, and collegiate levels, I began to write part time. I published over 100 articles in Christian family magazines and received over two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups before I published my first novel in 2010. I’m now represented by Steve Laube of the Steve Laube Agency, and in 2020 I published my 33rd novel.

Author Links

Twitter:  @vannettachapman 

Facebook: Vannetta Chapman, author (@vannettachapmanbooks)

Instagram:  @vannettachapman 

Website:  https://vannettachapman.com/

Pumpkinvine Nature Trail in Indiana

My Thoughts

An Amish Proposal for Christmas by Vannetta Chapman is a sweet story.  I thought the story was well-written with steady pacing.  I liked the characters in the story.  I enjoyed getting to know Becca, Gideon, Amos, and the other four Yoder sisters.  Becca’s sisters are quite a bunch.  I am looking forward to Eunice’s story (she is a unique Amish woman).  I loved the descriptions of the Shipshewana Outdoor Market ran by Becca’s father, Amos.  It sounds like a great place to shop especially at Christmastime.  I like that Gideon and Becca became friends before a romance developed between them.  There are good life lessons in the story.  It is important to pray about a decision before making it.  Being homesick is not just for children.  It can happen to anyone at any age.  

One of my favorite lines from An Amish Proposal for Christmas is from Nathan, “Give love when you can, respect when you should, and always—always—put first things first.”  Love, respect, and priorities is what Nathan means. I enjoyed learning a little about the Mennonite Disaster Services (MDS).   An Amish Proposal for Christmas is the first book in the Indiana Amish Market series.  I am looking forward to the next installment which features Becca’s sister, Bethany (she loves to knit).  An Amish Proposal for Christmas is an uplifting tale with bouncy buggy races, an amazing Amish market, scrumptious pretzels, travel zeal, singular sisters, and a charming Christmas market.

An Amish Proposal for Christmas is available from Amazon*.  An Amish Proposal for Christmas is the first book in the Indiana Amish Market series.  The second book in the series is Her Amish Adversary which will be out on January 24, 2023.  You can follow Vannetta Chapman on Amazon and they will notify you when she has a new book release.  Thank you so much for joining me today.  Tomorrow I am a stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Kill Them with Canvas by Bailee Abbott.  It is the second A Paint by Murder Mystery.  I hope that you have a happy day.  Joy is good for the soul.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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