My Heart Will Find You by Jude Deveraux

 My Heart Will Find You

Book Summary

Their love refused to stay quiet, echoing across time…

When the world is brought to a standstill in the early days of a global pandemic, Etta Wilmont finds herself suddenly stranded in Kansas City. Desperate to secure a roof over her head, Etta crosses paths with Henry Logan, a lonely older man in need of a caretaker. His invitation for Etta to stay with him seems to be the solution to both their problems—and maybe the spontaneous adventure Etta’s life has been missing.

As Etta and Henry settle into a companionable living arrangement, Etta indulges in Henry’s library. The compelling historical accounts of life in the Midwest soon inspire vivid dreams of Kansas City in the 1870s, dreams in which she’s a mail-order bride, married to a handsome but guarded rancher named Maxwell Lawton.

Haunted by the story unfolding in her mind, Etta realizes her dreams of the past and the familiar faces featured within are starting to have an impact on the present, altering her current reality. Perhaps these dreams are Etta’s chance to finally claim something for herself after so much time spent caring for others. More than anything, Etta wonders if the captivating man she’s falling for while she sleeps might be real, might be out there—true love waiting to be found and which would change both their lives forever.

My Thoughts

My Heart Will Find You by Jude Deveraux is a fun time-travel romance.  Etta Wilmott is traveling to visit her sister.  She is in a layover in Kansas City when travel is halted at the beginning of the pandemic.  Etta is looking for a place to stay when she encounters Henry Logan.  Henry welcomes Etta into his home.  Henry is elderly and can use a companion.  Etta needs a place to stay, and she is an excellent cook.  The two get along famously.  Etta soon finds herself having vivid dreams of being a mail order bride for rancher Maxwell Lawton in Garrett, Kansas in the 1870s.  Those she meets in the present day, Etta encounters in the past.  Henry is a writer who weaves Etta’s dreams into his latest tale.  I loved the characters Jude Deveraux created for this story.  I enjoyed getting to know Etta and Henry.  The characters are developed.  It is a little challenging in the beginning to keep them all straight.  It did not take long to get them sorted out.    I can tell the author did her research for her story.  She captured the Old West (even the smell).  I enjoyed both storylines and I like how the present day and the past tied together.  I do feel that the story needed an epilogue because the ending felt incomplete.  I enjoyed the story, but I did not feel it was on par with my favorite time travel book by this author (A Knight in Shining Armor).  My Heart Will Find You is an entertaining time travel tale with a stranded traveler, a wily writer, vivid dreams, a bruised body, a rich rancher, enthusiastic matchmaking, and a lost love.

My Heart Will Find You is available from Amazon* along with other major retailers.  You can find A Knight in Shining Armor here.  You can find Jude Deveraux's other novels here.  I especially enjoy her Montgomery/Taggert series.  Thank you for joining me today.  I have been busy dismantling my Easter display (it was big) and putting the inflatables away until next year.  I am putting up my Cinco De Mayo display.  I have searched for Mother's Day inflatables, and I have not been able to find any.  Tomorrow I am sharing my thoughts on Hopefully Ever After by Beth Wiseman which will be out on Tuesday, April 18.  It is the third An Amish Bookstore Novel.   I hope that you have a joyful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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

Breaking New Ground by Amy Clipston

 Breaking New Ground

Book Summary

Korey Bontrager and Savannah Zook are just pretending to date—but could their feelings turn into something more?

Korey Bontrager knows he’s been an immature dummkopp. When his widowed dad remarried, Korey was unwelcoming to his kindhearted stepmother. Then he became estranged from his older brother. But after fourteen months in Ohio, God called Korey back to Pennsylvania.

Easier said than done. Back home, Korey feels left behind by his family and friends, who want to see him happily married. Instead of looking for a new relationship, he finds himself spending time with Savannah Zook: the most outspoken maedel he’s ever met. She’s also confident and brave, having raised her younger brother from a young age. And she’s a natural beauty. But, hard as her friends try to convince her otherwise, she has no interest in dating. Her priority is looking out for her bullied brother.

So when Savannah suggests they pretend to date as a way to get her friends—and his family—off their backs, Korey readily agrees. Soon, he can’t imagine life without her. But could Savannah ever truly be part of his future?

Set in the faithful Amish community of Lancaster County, Breaking New Ground gives the most stubborn Bontrager a chance to redeem his story.

My Thoughts

Breaking New Ground by Amy Clipston has Korey Bontrager returning home to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  I am glad that Korey is returning home and it seems his time away has matured him.  Korey’s attitude toward his stepmother has also changed.  He is still struggling with how he feels toward his brother, Tyler who is now married to Korey’s former girlfriend.  Korey needs to find a way to heal the rift between him and his brother.  He needs to find a way to forgive.  Savannah Zook is the only one of her girlfriend’s who does not have a boyfriend.  Her friends are determined to find Savannah a beau.  Korey is having a similar problem.  His family believes it is time for him to start dating.  Savannah and Korey can help each other by having a pretend relationship.  Breaking New Ground is a heartfelt tale.  I enjoyed getting to know Savannah and her family.  I admit that I was not a fan of Korey in the earlier books.  I was happy to see that he is not the same angry, bitter fellow who departed for Ohio.  I like the mature Korey.  He still has some things to work out, but we are all works in progress.  I can understand Korey’s struggle with forgiveness.  It can be hard to forgive someone who has wronged you especially when it is a family member.   Savannah finds herself going through an emotional time when someone from her past returns.  She must make a tough decision.  Savannah also finds herself grappling with forgiveness.  She knows that she is supposed to forgive, but Savannah anger are getting in the way.  

I like that we get to catch up with the characters from Foundation of Love and Building a Future.  There is some predictability to the story as well as repetitive details.  However, those aspects are overshadowed by great characters, the touching moments, the humor, the close friendships, and the loving family members.  I like how the author worked the title into the story.  My favorite line from Breaking New Ground is, “We’re all different.  I’m different from mei bruders, but God gives us all our own gifts.”  I am looking forward to Jayden’s story in The Heart’s Shelter.  It will be interesting to see who ends up being Jayden’s romantic partner.  I find Jayden to be a mature and insightful young man.  Breaking New Ground is a poignant tale that will tug at your heartstrings (keep the box of tissues nearby).  While Breaking New Ground can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading An Amish Legacy Novels in order.  It will allow you to get to know the characters along with their struggles and the community.  Breaking New Ground is an uplifting tale with a returning brother, matchmaking chums, finding a friend, a dissatisfied sibling, an uninvited visitor, a difficult decision, and finding forgiveness. 

Breaking New Ground is available from Amazon*. Click here to read Chapter One. The first two An Amish Legacy Novels are Foundation of Love and Building a Future.  The Heart's Shelter (book four) will be out in the winter of 2024.  Amy Clipston has Starstruck, a contemporary Christian romance, coming out November 14. You can follow Amy Clipston on Amazon and they will send you an email when she has a new book release.   Thank you for stopping by today. Here are three other books that came out today: My Heart Will Find You by Jude Deveraux, Bowled Over Americano by Carolyn Arnold, and The Seaside Library by Brenda Novak.  Tomorrow I am featuring My Heart Will Find You by Jude Deveraux.  I hope that you have an inspiring day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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

Happy Easter!

 Happy Easter

Did the Easter Bunny leave you some tasty treats?  I received my favorite caramels and some fun character socks (Scooby Doo and Winnie the Pooh).  This is how I decorated my yard for Easter.  

I hope that you have a very Happy Easter!  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

An American in Scotland by Lucy Connelley

 An American in Scotland

Book Summary

The small idyllic town of Sea Isle, Scotland, harbors some dark secrets, and Dr. Emilia McRoy is determined to uncover all of them—no matter what the diagnosis in this charming cozy, sure to enchant fans of Sheila Connolly and Charlene O’Connor.

Sea Isle was supposed to be the fresh start Dr. Emilia McRoy dreamed of. Far from the busy emergency room across the Atlantic in Seattle, she hoped to settle down and begin this new chapter as a small-town doctor to the quirky residents who immediately welcomed her. When she stumbles across a dead body, she starts to think that she may not be as Scot free of the drama and intrigue as she initially thought.

Emilia soon learns she has bigger issues at hand. It starts with realizing she'll work closely with the less than helpful local constable, Laird Ewan Campbell. Her luck continues when she discovers that part of her new responsibilities includes being the coroner for the very body she found. Finally, when the body goes missing before she can even begin the autopsy, Emilia must convince the townspeople that a crime did, in fact, occur. The deeper she digs into the picturesque town, the more suspicious she becomes. And then there are her sleep issues. It may be due to the ever-growing list of suspects, a number of threatening letters, or the surprise visitor who breaks into her house at night. But she’s never backed down before, and she doesn’t intend to start now.

Someone doesn’t want this doctor to treat the ailments of Sea Isle, but Emilia McRoy is determined to find the murderer before they kilt again.

A Bothy

My Thoughts

An American in Scotland by Lucy Connelly is an entertaining story.  I enjoyed getting to know Dr. Emilia McRoy.  She is burnt out from working in a busy Seattle emergency room.  Emilia decided to take a leap and accept the position as the town doctor in the charming Sea Isle, Scotland.  The residents are happy to have her.  Her position comes with some great perks.  You can tell that Emilia failed to read her contract thoroughly (she should know never to sign a document without reading it). There are some quirky residents which add to the charm.  I love Mara.  You could tell right away that Mara and Dr. Em would be the best of friends.  I enjoyed meeting Laird Ewan Campbell who wears many hats.  He happens to be the local constable.  Ewan may be gruff on the outside, but he has a heart of gold.  You can tell that he cares about the town and its residents.  I enjoyed the picturesque descriptions of the village (I want to live there).  I love the converted church where Emilia works and lives.  There are some areas of the home that are unbelievable (reminds of the TARDIS).  It is certainly a unique place.  

Emilia’s new beginning starts off with her finding Smithy dead in a bothy.  Emilia soon learns that she is not only the local doctor.  She is also the coroner.  Emilia knows that Smithy was murdered, but she needs to convince Ewan and the village.  It is a good thing that Dr. Em is a strong, stubborn woman.  In her new role as coroner, Emilia goes around asking questions and searching for clues.  There is plenty of activity to keep the story quickly moving toward the conclusion.  Dr. Em needs to watch her step or she could end up being the next victim.  It is a fun mystery to solve.  Emilia also hopes to learn more about her heritage.  Her ancestors came from the area.  I bet she will be in for some surprises.  There is humor sprinkled throughout the story that had me chuckling.  The author managed to combine caring, quirky characters, a quaint setting, and an intriguing whodunit into one engaging story.  I am looking forward to the next A Scottish Isle Mystery.   An American in Scotland is a distracting story with a converted church, slippery slopes, a slain Smithy, quirky residents, pub grub, and a curious coroner.

An American in Scotland is available from Amazon*.  You can follow Lucy Connelley on Amazon.  They will send you an email when the author has a new book release.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I will return on April 11 with Breaking New Ground by Amy Clipston.  It is the third An Amish Legacy Novel.  I hope that you have a very Happy Easter!  Hopefully, the Easter bunny will fill your basket with new books (or an Amazon gift card).  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris 

The Avid Reader 

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

Fateful Words by Paige Shelton

 Fateful Words

Book Summary

In Fateful Words, the eighth Scottish Bookshop Mystery from beloved author Paige Shelton, bookseller Delaney Nichols stakes her reputation—and her life—when a literary tour turns deadly...

When Edwin, Delaney’s boss at the Cracked Spine bookstore, leaves town on secret business, Delaney is called upon to guide his yearly literary tour around Edinburgh. But on the first night of the tour, at the inn where the tour group is staying, the inn manager falls—or is pushed—off the roof of the inn, and killed. Then, one of the tour members disappears, leaving a trail of puzzles in her wake.

In a race against the clock, Delaney sets out on the expedition of her life, following clues around Edinburgh to get to the bottom of this mystery. Exploring sights from Greyfriars Bobby to the Royal Mile to the Sir Walter Scott Monument, she'll have to put the pieces together quickly, or the bookstore's survival could be on the line...as well as her own.

My Thoughts

Fateful Words by Paige Shelton takes us back to Edinburgh, Scotland where Delaney Nichols finds herself with an unexpected assignment.  I thought Fateful Words was well-written with realistic, developed characters.  The main cast is comprised of friendly characters that you enjoy getting to know.  We get to learn more about Delaney in each book.    I appreciated the descriptions of The Cracked Spine and Edinburgh.  The author really brings the city and its rich history alive.  The mystery was multifaceted which I loved.  There is plenty going on to keep things lively especially in the second half.  Delaney asks questions and searches for clues.  She slowly starts putting the pieces together.  The whodunit ramps up for an eventful reveal.  I like that Delaney keeps Inspector Winters updated.  You have to wonder how Inspector Winters feels about Delaney’s texts and phone calls (it has to get annoying). This was a fun mystery to solve.   We get to catch up with Rosie, Tom, Edwin, Hamlet, and Hector (such a sweetie).   

Fateful Words is the eighth A Scottish Bookshop Mystery.  It can be read as a standalone for those who are new to the series.  I have read the series in order which has allowed me to get to know Delaney and her friends.   I enjoyed the literary references as well as the folklore, historical tidbits, and the historical sites referenced.  I felt like I was touring Edinburgh with Delaney and the tour group.  Delaney’s intuition or her bookish voices were a little silent this time around.  They can be a touch obscure.  Delaney has to figure out what they mean and how they fit into the puzzle.  Fateful Words is my favorite A Scottish Bookshop Mystery thanks to its complex mystery with its intriguing twists.  Travel to Edinburgh in Fateful Words with a beautiful boon, a missing superior, tour troubles, a book excursion, an odd death, and an enigmatic mystery. 

Fateful Words is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other A Scottish Bookshop Mysteries here.  Check out Paige Shelton's other novels.   Thank you for stopping by today.  I have been busy putting all my St. Patrick's decorations away.  I keep tweaking my Easter decorations.  I have a cute Eater arch with a bunny train coming out of it.  I have other bunnies with Easter eggs throughout the yard.  For my side yard, I went with chicks.  I will share pictures with you on Easter.  Do you have Easter plans?  I am going to give Easter baskets to my neighbors (bunny baskets).  My mother and I are still trying to decide what to have for our Easter dinner.  We ruled the traditional ham. Any ideas for this very picky eater? Tomorrow I am sharing my thoughts on An American in Scotland by Lucy Connelly.  It is the debut of A Scottish Isle Mysteries.  I hope that you have contented day. Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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

Digging Up Daisy by Sherry Lynn

 Digging Up Daisy

Digging Up Daisy (A Mainely Murder Mystery) by Sherry Lynn

About Digging Up Daisy

 

Digging Up Daisy (A Mainely Murder Mystery) 

Cozy Mystery 

1st in Series 

Setting - Maine Berkley (April 4, 2023) 

Paperback: ‎ 304 pages 

 

In a fresh new Maine-set cozy from author Sherry Lynn, Kinsley Clark must root out a killer before the killer roots out her.

  At twenty-nine, Kinsley Clark is living the dream life she always envisioned for herself. She’s the proud owner of SeaScapes, a thriving landscaping company in wealthy Harborside, set on the rugged coast of southern Maine. Kinsley’s veins are filled with salty air, a myriad of colors, and the fragrance of fresh blooms. But one afternoon, while working at her aunt Tilly’s bed-and-breakfast, the Salty Breeze Inn, Kinsley digs up more than she bargained for—a high-heeled shoe. The once sparkly shoe, now caked in mud, is linked to a case the police had appropriately dubbed the "Cinderella Murder."

 

Kinsley panics. Does this mean that her aunt and the inn are somehow connected to this murder? Will it scare away potential guests? Will it subject the inn to a rush of bad press? With Aunt Tilly’s reputation, and possibly her safety, on the line, Kinsley digs deeper into the crime to find out what the shoe was doing on her aunt’s property and who murdered Cinderella, whose real name is Daisy. As she investigates, more suspects rise to the surface, and eventually, Kinsley has to weed out a killer.

About Sherry Lynn

Sherry Lynn spent countless summers on the coast of Maine, knowing she’d one day return to write about the magical location from her youth. Curious by nature, sleuthing became the perfect fit for her, and she has written multiple cozy mystery series under several pseudonyms. Currently, Sherry lives in the Midwest with her husband, but she dreams about one day retiring oceanside with a good book in her hand.

Author Links

Penguin Random House https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/708881/digging-up-daisy-by-sherry-lynn/ 

Website https://www.sherrylynnbooks.com/ 

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sherrylynnbooks 

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23043674.Sherry_Lynn 

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sherrylynnmysteries/ 

My Thoughts

Digging Up Daisy by Sherry Lynn takes us to Harborside, Maine.  I enjoyed the descriptions of the coastal town of Harborside, Aunt Tilly’s bed and breakfast and the grounds of the Salty Breeze Inn, and the lovely plantings created by Kinsley.  The author brought the cliffs and sea to life.  We get to know Kinsley, Kinsley’s bestie, and Aunt Tilly.  Aunt Tilly is a sweet, hardworking woman.  I can understand why Aunt Tilly and Kinsley enjoy living on that property.  The views sound amazing.  I could envision living in Kinsley’s cozy cottage with the ocean breeze and the sound of the ocean lulling me to sleep (it would be a peaceful place to read). 

The mystery started off in a unique way with Kinsley finding a recently murdered woman’s shoe under a plant while sprucing up the landscaping on the grounds of the Salty Breeze Inn.  The last thing Kinsley wants is to bring unwanted publicity to her aunt’s bed and breakfast with the annual parade of homes, The Walk Inn fast approaching.  Kinsley is also worried that her aunt will be a suspect in what has been dubbed the Cinderella Murder.  Kinsley, with help from her best friend, Becca begins investigating.  I like that Kinsley shares information with Detective Rachel Hayes.  There are several suspects in the crime.  There are clues to help readers solve the whodunit.  Digging Up Daisy is the first of A Mainely Murder Mysteries.  This gives the author an opportunity to make changes.  Digging Up Daisy is a floral fiesta with an unearthed shoe, sea breezes, plant problems, an amazing aunt, a planted threat, and a lurking killer. 

Digging Up Daisy is available from Amazon, B&N, and Kobo.  The next A Mainely Murder Mystery is Murder Under the Mistletoe which will be out on November 7.  As part of the tour, the author is hosting a giveaway.  The prize is a print copy of Digging Up Daisy (sorry, US Only).  You can click here to enter or use the Rafflecopter form below.  Leave a comment for an extra entry.  Good Luck!  Thank you for joining me today.  I will return tomorrow with Fateful Words by Paige Shelton.  It is the eighth A Scottish Bookshop Mystery.  I hope that you have a joyful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Participants

April 3 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT 

April 3 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews - SPOTLIGHT

April 4 – I'm Into Books – SPOTLIGHT

April 4 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

April 5 – Christy's Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

April 5 – ebook addicts – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

April 5 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

April 6 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

April 6 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

April 6 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

April 7 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

April 7 – Baroness Book Trove - REVIEW

April 7 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

April 8 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT WITH RECIPE

April 8 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

April 9 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

April 9 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT WITH RECIPE

April 10 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 10 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW

April 11 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST

April 11 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

April 12 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW

April 12 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT

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

Barbara's Amish Truth Exposed by Tracy Fredrychowski

 Barbara's Amish Truth Exposed

Book Summary

Will this shame-filled believer ever allow God to heal her broken heart? Or will she carry the burden of her lie alone, permitting history to repeat itself?

Barbara Wagler is filled with shame over dishonoring her husband’s memory. While the young Amish woman is devastated after her husband of five years dies in a farming accident, she is left to raise their sons alone. When her first love, Joseph Wagler, returns to Willow Springs, can they bury the past, or will widower Roy Mullet from Sugarcreek stir up trouble in Barbara and her sister Susan’s life?

Still struggling to allow herself happiness, Barbara sets out on a journey to reveal the truth of her mistakes. But her honesty leads her to question God’s ultimate promises and her father’s sordid past.

Can this woman continue to lie to herself, or will she find the courage to boldly go to God and allow him to lead her on a path of deliverance?

My Thoughts

Barbara’s Amish Truth Exposed by Tracy Fredrychowski is a touching Amish tale.  There are a variety of characters in the story.  I liked some of them and others I did not (which was the point).  I felt for Barbara and her sister, Susan.  Neither one had a pleasant childhood.  Their father is a controlling, mean spirited man who did his best to make his family members lives miserable.  I thought the characters were realistic and developed.  As the story progressed, secrets and deceits are revealed.  I was able to anticipate a couple of them, but others were unexpected.  In this story, we can see how sin and deception can invade any family and community.  We get to see how the characters deal with their past hurts.  With love, understanding, forgiveness, and faith, a person can move forward to have a fulfilling life.  Barbara’s Amish Truth Exposed is the fourth novel in The Women of Lawrence County series.  Each book can be read as a standalone, but I have enjoyed reading each book in this heartfelt series.  Faith and forgiveness are at the forefront of the story.  I appreciated the scripture references.  Barbara’s Amish Truth Exposed is an expressive tale with a worried widow, a lost love, a selling savvy sister, distressing reminisces, shameful secrets, and finding forgiveness. 

Barbara's Amish Truth Exposed is available from Amazon*.  If you belong to Kindle Unlimited, you can read it for free.  The other novels in The Amish Women of Lawrence County series are Emma's Amish Faith Tested, Rebecca's Amish Heart Restored, and Anna's Amish Fears Revealed.  All three books are available through Kindle Unlimited.  You can find Tracy Fredrychowski's other novels here.  Thank you for joining me today.  I will return on April 4 with Digging Up Daisy by Sherry Lynn.  It is the first A Mainely Murder Mystery.  I hope you enjoy the last of March and I hope you avoid any April Fool's Day pranks (my least favorite day of the year).  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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

One More Time for Joy by Amy Lillard

 One More Time for Joy

Book Summary

In this uplifting inspirational romance series, award-winning author Amy Lillard unites a “Widows Club” of women who share solace, friendship, faith—and mouthwatering Whoopie Pies—in the Amish community of Paradise Valley, Missouri. Will appeal to fans of Charlotte Hubbard, Molly Jebber, Susan Lantz Simpson, and Kelly Long.

At the heart of a Missouri Amish community, a circle of caring friends—the Widows’ Club of Paradise Valley—sees each other through life’s storms, in this uplifting series from award-winning author Amy Lillard . . .
 
Joy Lehman has pressed on faithfully since losing her husband, raising their children and running a thriving bakery alone. Even caring for her oldest son, Johnny—seriously injured after a fall—has not shaken her fierce independence. Johnny will walk again, she’s sure. Until then, a meeting of the Widows’ Club at her home makes it clear that Joy must consider some costly renovations. Her brother-in-law, Uriah, is happy to provide the lumber and the labor—if Joy will accept his help.
 

Uriah understands family challenges—he’s a widower himself, and father to four daughters. Yet he can see that Joy’s struggle lies deeper than house repairs, in learning to accept an altered future for her son. As Uriah’s daughters begin helping in the bakery, and Joy and Uriah’s bond grows deeper, a new possibility glows bright—the unexpected happiness that lies in embracing one strong, united family, filled with support and love . . .

My Thoughts

One More Time for Joy by Amy Lillard is a sweet story. One More Time for Joy is the third book in the Paradise Valley series.  It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series.   I have enjoyed each book in this charming series.  We get to catch up with the characters from the first two stories.   I like the characters in this story.  They are kind, hardworking individuals. Joy is doing her best to raise her children on her own since the death of her husband.  Joy’s oldest son, Johnny, was injured in an accident.  He is confined to a wheelchair.  Unfortunately, Joy’s house is not set up for someone in a wheelchair.  Joy’s brother-in-law, Uriah wishes to help.  It will make life easier for Johnny and Joy.  Uriah just needs to convince Joy.  The story centers on family and faith.  Joy and Uriah are both hardworking individuals who love their kids.  Uriah is a widower with four daughters.  There is some repetition of key details especially Joy’s hope that her son will walk again.  I like that the author addresses the challenges handicapped individuals face in a home.  Uriah is a kind and patient individual.  He is going to need that patience when dealing with Joy.  The romance is sweet, and it progressed at the right pace.   I enjoyed the humor sprinkled throughout the story.  Joy learns the importance of trusting God and following His path.  One More Time for Joy is an uplifting tale with constricted doorways, delectable bread, an obliging brother-in-law, troubled daughters, an optimistic mother, and a giving God.

One More Time for Joy is available from Amazon*.  The first two books in the Paradise Valley series are Marry Me, Millie and The Amish Matchmaker (both books can be read for free if you belong to Kindle Unlimited).  The next book in the Paradise Valley series When Hattie Finds Love which will be out November 28. It looks like it will be an entertaining tale. Amy Lillard has Murder of Aspic Proportions publishing on June 27.  It is the second A Sunflower Cafe Mystery.  You can find Amy Lillard's other novels here.  Thank you for stopping by today.  Tomorrow I am featuring Barbara's Amish Truth Exposed by Tracy Fredrychowski.  It is the fourth novel in The Amish Women of Lawrence County.  I hope that you have a happy day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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