Categories
Uncategorized

This Is Where It Ends by Cindy K. Sproles, Award-Winning Author Pens a Unique Southern Tale

274 pages Publish date June 27, 2023 Revell publisher

About The Book

When Minerva Jane Jenkins was just 14 years old, she married a man who moved her to the mountains. He carried with him a small box, which he told her was filled with gold. And when he died 50 years later, he made her promise to keep his secret. She is to tell no one about the box or the treasure it contains.

Now 94, Minerva is nearing the end of what has sometimes been a lonely life. But she’s kept that secret. Even so, rumors of hidden gold have a way of spreading, and Minerva is visited by a reporter, Del Rankin, who wants to know more of her story. His friend who joins him only wants to find the location of the gold. Neither of them knows quite who they’re up against when it comes to the old woman on the mountain.

As an unlikely friendship develops, Minerva is tempted to reveal her secret to Del. After all, how long is one bound by a promise? But the truth of what’s really buried in the box may be hidden even from her.

mountain wisteria vines

My Thoughts

This Is Where It Ends is an exceptionally amazing book. Told through the eyes of our main character Minerva Jane Jenkins at 94 years of age. Living in the hills of Appalachia Kentucky she married a man at 14 years old, he was only 17. Married for about fifty years as her husband lays dying, he makes her promise to keep his secret and also never share with anyone the contents of a box he carries around with him, she does. In my opinion Minverva doesn’t get a fair shake in life, high up on a hill she is lonely for friends and neighbors and her marriage isn’t how she would have planned it to be.
She lives a simple life living off the fruits of the land. She is a simple woman and knew this going in she just never expected her life to be quite like this.
So lonely after her husband dies. she manages with the occasional visit from a neighbor when they bring some type of food, she’s unable to grow.
There’s been a rumor that her husband years ago had gold hidden away on their homestead but looking at her little run down falling apart cabin it would make you wonder,
When a reporter gets word of this gold he goes to visit and she thinks he’s there because of the rumor of the gold. She’s hesitant to trust him, as most hill people are apt not to trust outsiders.
The more they talk and get to know each other the more she lets her guard down and begins to trust him. She’s been so lonely is this God’s way of bringing help and a friend into her life?
Days turn into weeks that turn into months as he stays and helps her with repairs that have needed done for years. It really warmed my heart to see such a bond forming between the two characters.
I really felt authenticity with the dialect, setting, foods and descriptions of the character’s actions.
I really felt as though I have gotten to know Minerva through this book. She was a unique and quite special person. This book is a real treasure. Get to know the elderly and form a bond with them.
This book will stay with me for quite some time!

Pub Date 27 Jun 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Grab A Copy Here

About the Author

Cindy K. Sproles is an author and speaker. Raised and living in the mountains of East Tennessee, she spins tales of life in the deep crevices of the Appalachian mountains. Cindy is proud of her mountain heritage and her desire is to see this culture live on in history. “Children aren’t taught in school about the innovation and determination of the mountain people or about the heritage that is richly embedded in them. These are the people who helped forge America and these are the people who have the brawn and guts to stand by their families, heritage, and beliefs.” Cindy’s desire is to continue to weave the stories, despite their hardships, that show the resilience of the Appalachian culture. Being raised in these mountains and having family who practiced the old ways, Cindy writes from a deep love and experience of the mountains of East Tennessee. Who better to pen the stories of the people, than someone who knows it first hand.?

Aside from her writing, Cindy co-founded ChristianDevotions.us and served as managing editor for SonRise Books and Straight Street Books, imprints of Iron Stream Media. She teaches at Christian Writers Conferences and ladies retreats and ladies conferences across the country. Her devotions are heartfelt and honest. Edgy and inviting. Cindy serves as the executive editor of ChristianDevotions.us, a writing mentor, and life coach. She shares mentoring with Lori Marett at Writing Right Author Mentoring Service. Author of four non-fiction books, Cindy’s fiction debut novel, Mercy’s Rain(Kregel Publishing), won book of the year and her second novel, Liar’s Winter has won numerous awards. Cindy’s 3rd Appalachian Novel, Revell Publishing, What Momma Left Behind, also received a gold medal in the national Illumination Awards and was named Christian Market Novel of the Year. She has contributed to CBN.com and InspireaFire.com and serves as the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Visit her at http://www.cindysproles.com or contact her at cindyksproles@gmail.com

Cindy is available for speaking events by contacting her at cindyksproles@gmail.com.

Have a beautiful day and thanks for stopping in.

Categories
Uncategorized

Blog Blitz for The Llama Farm on New Moon Lane by Laura Briggs

About The Book

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/newmoonlane

Young and quiet, Lucy Granger leads an introverted life in Reading, living in a flat and working in design at a graphics company—until it is upended when she both sells her idea for a mobile game and suffers an unexpected medical diagnosis shortly afterwards.

Facing a mandated medical rest period, she decides to use her windfall earnings to take a year’s holiday, renting a farm on New Moon Lane in a country village in Yorkshire. As Lucy settles into her holiday home for some tranquility, she soon learns that she is not the only tenant, when a llama named Llarry strolls out of the farm’s supposedly-derelict barn. He is shortly followed by others in a menagerie of abandoned animals left behind—from a sickly donkey who likes eating crisps to a flirtatious cockerel sleeping in the back garden.

To Lucy’s consternation, no one is willing or able to take them on, leaving her with a strange mix of furry and feathered friends to find homes for. Reluctantly adapting to her circumstances in order to deal with this problem, Lucy will discover other surprises about the animals in her care, and the place she is temporarily calling home. About herself, as well.

Will her ordinary life ever be the same after her experience on New Moon Lane? More importantly, should she really want it to be?

My Thoughts

Lucy Granger creates video games for cell phones. She’s really good at her job but under pressure to design faster. She needs a break and finds the perfect summer rental in the country. Yes, it needs some work but what bargain basement place doesn’t? Several days after moving into her new country rental she notices several animals on the farm, to the tune of a sickly donkey, a curious llama and a cranky rooster. What is going on? Turns out the caretaker has quit and there is no one to take care of the animals that were originally used as animals that special needs children would visit and help groom and feed. It worked out beautifully, the animals and children both loved it. Now Lucy is a city girl and has no idea how to take care of animals such as dogs or cats let alone farm animals. The vet gives her medicine for the donkey who makes a quick recovery along with the help of eating his favorite food, crisps. She gets a quick education on the care of the animals and meets quite a few of the people living in the surrounding area. She’s not used to everyone knowing everyone else’s business but adapts. This sort of reminds me of a James Herriot story with the funny tales of the endearing animals. No romance in the book either which is a welcome change. The story focuses on her, and the animals and I absolutely loved it. There is another book releasing in November and I can’t wait to read it.

The author

Laura Briggs is the author of several feel-good romance reads, including the Top 100 Amazon UK seller ‘A Wedding in Cornwall’. She has a fondness for vintage style dresses (especially ones with polka dots), and reads everything from Jane Austen to modern day mysteries. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, caring for her pets, gardening, and seeing the occasional movie or play.

Sign up for her newsletter at http://bit.ly/1TUcI1A

Find Laura on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/1JjeMoI

Follow her on Twitter at http://bit.ly/1ME9ivJ

Next book in the series

Lucy Granger is settling into her new life as a permanent tenant on New Moon Lane. Her picture book about Llarry and the other animals has been published, and she has even maintained the unusual friendships she has formed.

The unexpected is still prone to happen, however. Lucy receives a series of unusual greeting cards addressed to the llamas, revealing another unusual part of the farm’s story. It also introduces her to the precocious and persistent Princess Hannah, who wants to change Lucy’s way of thinking about the animals’ former purpose.

Meanwhile, Lucy’s attempts to find Kenny the cockerel a companion only creates troubles for herself, whilst also bringing three more troublemakers under her metaphorical wing. And the young vet Arthur Elliot makes a medical observation regarding Philly’s health, which requires a Christmas miracle.

Preorder Here on sale date November 28,2023

Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping in.

Categories
Uncategorized

Holiday novella collection, An Amish Christmas Star by Shelley Shepard Gray; Charlotte Hubbard; Rosalind Lauer

336 pages September 27,2022 publication date Kensington publisher

Grab A Copy Here

About The Book

The crisp fragrance of pine trees and the warm spice of fresh cookies aren’t the only blessings that Christmas brings, and no one knows more about happy homecomings than three couples who are celebrating the greatest gift of all . . .

BUGGIES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES * Shelley Shepard Gray
Called home by family, John Miller and Ellie Coblentz are each looking for a way north from Pinecraft, Florida. With few options, they decide sharing the burden of travel must be the Lord’s plan for them. But can this bumpy, bad-weather journey home help them find their way into each other’s hearts, too?
 
STAR OF WONDER * Charlotte Hubbard
When Raymond Overholt comes to Promise Lodge, hoping to sell the barnboard signs he’s painted with stars and Christmas messages, spirited young Mennonite Lizzie Zehr is intrigued. But any courtship between them will face fierce opposition from the bishop of Raymond’s Old Order community—unless someone can convince him that at the heart of faith lies love . . .
 
STARLIGHT EVERLASTING * Rosalind Lauer
Newlyweds Rachel and Luke Coblentz can’t wait to celebrate their first Christmas together after years of courtship. But when Luke’s factory job threatens to keep them apart—from each other and their dream of a family—it will take faith to believe in the gift of a truly joyful ending . . .

My Thoughts

Such beautiful writing here. Seasonal stories covering Thanksgiving and Christmas. The common theme in each story is a star, whether it may be a decoration, Christmas star cookies, stars in the sky or a lit-up star in a Christmas play. I have read books by all of the authors and enjoyed them.


Charlotte Hubbard’s collection piece is part of the Promise Lodge series which I enjoy very much. Each story has Amish couples going through some troubles but in the end it’s sorted. These couples are trying to go home for the holidays, but we end up seeing home is wherever you are with family and friends.

Filled with hope, love, faith and encouragement, the perfect book for whenever you need a pick me up no matter the time of year.

Pub Date 27 Sep 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

The Authors

About the Author

Shelley Shepard Gray is the two-time Holt Medallion Award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over one hundred novels. Her novels have been translated into multiple languages and highlighted in the Philadelphia Enquirer, The Washington Post, Time Magazine, NPR and USA Today, among othera. An active member of her church and the mother of two young adults, Shelley lives with her husband in Colorado and writes full time. Please visit her online at ShelleyShepardGray.com.
 
Charlotte Hubbard is the highly acclaimed author of Amish romances celebrating simpler times and a faith-based lifestyle. A longtime Missourian, she draws upon her experiences in Jamesport, the largest Old Order Amish community west of the  Mississippi, to create strong, inspiring characters and uplifting stories. Faith and family, farming and food preservation are hallmarks of her lifestyle, and the foundation of all her Amish romance series. She’s a deacon, a dedicated church musician and choir member, and when she’s not writing, she loves to try new recipes, crochet, and sew. Charlotte now lives in Nebraska with her husband and their border collie. You can learn more about Charlotte and her novels at CharlotteHubbard.com.

Rosalind Lauer
 is the author of the Joyful River Series, Lancaster Crossing series, and Seasons of Lancaster series. She grew up in a large family in Maryland and began visiting Lancaster County’s Amish community as a child. Lauer attended Wagner College in New York City and worked as an editor for Simon & Schuster and Harlequin Books. She now lives with her family in Oregon, where she writes in the shade of some towering two-hundred-year-old Douglas fir trees. Readers can find her on Facebook at facebook.com/GoodOldFashionedBooks. –This text refers to the paperback edition.

May your day be blessed with goodness. Thank you for stopping in today.

Categories
Uncategorized

Hot Pot Murder (L.A. Night Market Book 2) A foodie Asian American cozy mystery by Jennifer J. Chow

284 pages June 6, 2023 publication date Berkley publisher

About The Book

Trouble is brewing for cousins Yale and Celine Yee after a hot pot dinner gets overheated and ends in murder in this second novel of the L.A. Night Market series by Jennifer J. Chow.

Yale and Celine Yee’s food stall business is going so well that they’ve been invited to join an exclusive dinner with the local restaurant owners association. The members gather together for a relaxing hot pot feast…until Jeffery Vue, president of the group, receives a literal shock to his system and dies. 

Everyone at the meal is a suspect, but the authorities are homing in on family friend Ai Ho, owner of the restaurant where Jeffery was killed—and Yale’s dad is a close second on their list. Yale and Celine step up to the plate and investigate the dinner attendees: the association’s ambitious VP, a familiar frenemy, a ramen king, a snacks shopkeeper, and a second-generation restaurateur. It’s up to the detecting duo to figure out what really happened before their friends and family have to close their businesses for good.

Grab A Copy Here

My Thoughts

I was so excited to see another book in the L.A. Night Market series. I adored the first book and this one is a charmer as well. Who better to write a culturally diverse book than an Asian American writer? As I was reading, I loved the genuine feel of the book from its setting to its delicious foods. There were so many foods mentioned at the Night Market and restaurants.


Cousins Yale and Celine Yee, one runs a food stall business and the other is from Hong Kong and an influencer. She is always snapping the most appealing food shots, and everyone loves them.


The cousins don’t always agree on everything, but they know they had better agree one thing. They’re about to become a detective duo after an exclusive dinner invite, they attend ends up with the president of the local restaurant owner’s association dead. It seems as though the pool of suspects is wide. Will they be able to sort through all the dinner attendees and find who did it before their friend’s restaurant gets closed down?


This book will leave you hungry and there are some very tasting sounding recipes in the back of the book. I am looking forward to reading more foodie cozies involving the cousins and the night market.

Pub Date 06 Jun 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

Agatha, Anthony, and Lefty Award-nominated author. Jennifer J. Chow writes cozy mysteries filled with hope and heritage. Current President of Sisters in Crime. She lives in Los Angeles, where she hunts for all things matcha.

Her most recent series is the L.A. Night Market Mysteries (Berkley/Penguin Random House). Learn more about her other books at http://www.jenniferjchow.com.

Connect on Instagram and Facebook: @jenjchow

Enjoy your day and keep smiling

Categories
Uncategorized

Bookouture Blog Tour for My Only Daughter by Ann O’Loughlin

About The Book

My Only Daughter: A gripping and emotional tale of a mother’s love by Ann O’Loughlin

I love you, and you are my daughter, no matter what anyone says. Nobody can take you from me.’

In beautiful Rathmoney House nestled by the wild Irish Sea, Margo sits in her black suit, three strings of pearls at her neck, nodding at those offering their condolences. She never thought she would be here without her beloved husband. All she has left is their beautiful daughter Elsa and a house full of memories. Then, she receives a letter that turns everything she thought she knew on its head…

When Margo learns that her daughter was accidentally switched at birth with an American child and Elsa is not in fact her biological daughter, her world shatters. American Cassie and her daughter Tilly are equally shocked to learn about this tragic mistake, and both parents are terrified about the prospect of their daughters being taken away.

Margo and Cassie know that together they must protect their daughters, both biological and not. Cassie and Tilly fly to Ireland, and with the help of the local community they must learn to support each other through the most difficult times.

Will they be able to find a new version of family, or will the shocking revelation force them apart forever?

Previously published as My Mother’s Daughter

An absolutely glorious and emotional read that celebrates the power of female friendship. Perfect for fans of Susanne O’Leary, Cathy Kelly and Kathleen McGurl.

Buy link: https://geni.us/B0C28M5QWLsocial

My Thoughts

Two women, Margo and Cassie living in different countries, the US and the UK don’t know each other or have any reason to, but they soon will. See these women raised each other’s biological daughter but don’t know this yet.

One is newly widowed, the other divorced with a husband that didn’t have time for his daughter. Both girls were born on the same day in the same hospital but one of the couples moves out of the country shortly after their daughter’s birth.

When a letter is delivered one day it changes the life of the woman who receives it when a dna test proves that not only is her ex-husband not the father, but she is not the mother.

This story follows the lives of the women, their daughters, family and friends as the women meet to save one of the girls’ lives.

There are so many ups and downs, my emotions could not keep up. I needed the Kleenex multiple times. I don’t want to give anything more away, but this is so heartwarming you’ll not want to put it down. Celebrating such strong female bonds that will last a lifetime. An absolute must read!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.

All opinions expressed are my own.

Visit other blogs on the tour

Author bio:

Ann is the Irish author of five novels and has been translated into eleven languages. Her first novel The Ballroom Cafe was also an ebook bestseller and in the top 20 bestselling books of 2015 on Amazon UK. Ann loves to write and often gets up at 5am to get the words down, before starting her other job of writing as a news reporter. A leading journalist in Ireland, Ann has covered all major news events in a long career with Independent Newspapers, Ireland. She is now a senior journalist with the Irish Examiner specialising in legal issues. Ann has also lived in India. Originally from the west of Ireland she now lives on the east coast with her husband and family.

Author social media:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/annolwriter

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

Newsletter: https://www.bookouture.com/ann-oloughlin

Have a beautiful day. Thank you for stopping in.

Categories
Uncategorized

First Christmas on Huckleberry Hill (The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill Book 10)Amish Romance by Jennifer Beckstrand

289 pages September 28,2021 publish date Zebra publisher

About The Book

Before irrepressible eighty-somethings Anna and Felty Helmuth became Huckleberry Hill, Wisconsin’s most-beloved matchmakers, they were mismatched young lovers facing seemingly impossible obstacles . . .
 
She can’t cook, sew, sing, or clean. And no matter how hard young Anna Yoder tries, she’d much rather help people in trouble than be a well-behaved pretty face and properly perfect Amish maidel. So she instantly reaches out to her old schoolmate, Felty Helmuth, when their Amish town ostracizes him for his Korean War army service. He’s still the only one who’s ever understood Anna—and liked everything from her green Jello carrot salads to her love of books. And this holiday season, she can’t help hoping that somehow she and Felty can find a way to be the perfect match . . .
 
Felty sensed he was called by Gotte to serve his country, though it went against his community’s peaceful ways. Troubled by his wartime experiences, he is resigned to being an outsider avoided by most eligible Amish girls. But lively, intelligent Anna has grown into a warm-hearted generous woman who accepts Felty for who he is. And in the face of family and community opposition, he and Anna will take a leap of faith to prove they are made for each other—and a lifetime of happiness.

Grab A Copy Here

My Thoughts

I have read every book in the Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series. I will admit I absolutely love Anna and Felty, they are my favorite older Amish couple to read about.
They are just the cutest couple ever! You just can’t help but love them. Anna and Felty are older, in their eighties but spunky and have so much living to do as well.


They have lots of grandchildren and under the pretense of needing some work done around the house or some other nonsense they get their grandchildren to come visit them one by one and they match make for each of them. Everyone in their family knows how meddling they are but they don’t do it in a bossy way and all of their family adores them. When their latest conquest, er grandchild comes to visit the matchmaking once again starts up.


But instead of the story revolving around the grandchild’s story it takes us back in time to Anna and Felty’s own courting story when they were much younger. Though Amish Felty feels led by God as a young man to enlist, he did some things while enlisted that he’s not proud of and won’t talk about it as an older man.

Returning home after his time serving, the Amish don’t welcome him home as they are a peaceful people and don’t condone violence. When he becomes an instant hero after a near tragedy, he is heartily welcomed home. Anna and Felty had feeling for each other before he left but neither knew it at the time. I love that Felty loves Anna for who she is despite her being a terrible cook and seamstress.

He has a chance to have the prettiest girl in their community and she’s the bishop’s daughter, but he just wants his Annie. This is what I call genuine love. At the end of the book, it does switch back to modern times where the grandparents are older. Such devotion to each other, this couple has it for sure. Loving this series. This is a long running series that I will continue to read as long as she keeps writing them.

Pub Date 28 Sep 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

Jennifer Beckstrand is the USA Today Bestselling author of The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series, The Honeybee Sisters series, The Petersheim Brothers series, and The Amish Quiltmaker series for Kensington Books. Two of Jennifer’s books were nominated for the RWA RITA® Award, and she is a #1 Amazon bestselling author. Jennifer has written twenty-eight Amish romances and the nonfiction book, Big Ideas. She has also written two Western historical and two contemporary romances as Jen Spencer. She and her husband have been married for thirty-seven years, and she has six children and eight adorable grandchildren, whom she spoils rotten.

Homepage

https://www.facebook.com/jenniferbeckstrandfans

Instagram: j.beckstrand

Hope your weekend is going great. Thanks for stopping in.

Categories
Uncategorized

Her Only Wish (A Season in Pinecraft Book #2) an Amish Romance by Shelley Shepard Gray

284 pages June 6, 2023 publish date Revell publisher

About The Book

Return to Pinecraft, Florida, for a Sweet Amish Romance

Sheltered yet adventurous, Betsy Detweiler is on a mission to get out of Kentucky and experience new things in life. She’s got a list–a life list. What better place to start than with her friends in beautiful Pinecraft, Florida?

From the moment Betsy walks into the Snow Bird Golf Course to sign up for lessons, August Troyer is mesmerized. Betsy is a mass of contradictions–beautiful yet awkward, outgoing yet unsure, joyful yet hesitant. She’s like no one he’s ever met before, and as the only child of missionary parents, he’s met a lot of people.

As Betsy and August embark on a month of enjoying life to the fullest, they’ll encounter several reasons to back off and play it safe. But playing it safe has its own consequences. This tender romance reminds us that life–and love–requires a fair amount of risk.

My Thoughts

I have read just about every book this author has out. Shelley Shepard’s books are automatic reads for me. I have never read one I haven’t enjoyed. Her books are so realistic you can see all the scenarios happening.

Her Only Wish is an Amish book that is the second book in the, A Season in Pinecraft series. This is Betsy Detweiler and August Troyer’s story.

In the first book, Betsy comes down to Pinecraft, Florida, on a bus with three other Amish women. The four women did not know each other before the bus trip. Before the bus could make it to Florida, the bus was delayed by an ice storm, and the women had to stay in a hotel room for the night, talking and giggling and sharing life stories. Before they left the room, they had become best friends. This story focuses on one of these women, Betsy.

Now that she has left Kentucky, Betsy is determined to leave her old life behind and her old attitude behind as well. Betsy is a shy, conservative girl, but with a new start in a new area, she also makes a “life-list,” as she calls it. She is determined to become more outgoing and try new things not all Amish women may know how to do, such as learning to play golf, ride a horse, and swim.

On the golf course, she meets outgoing August, who happens to be the owner’s nephew, and he offers to give her golf lessons. She is staying with one of the Amish women she met on the bus, who is now married.
Betsy has asthma and had a bad flare-up one evening, requiring medical attention. I know how scary this is, as we have a daughter with asthma.

The book is sweet and charming. I really liked August’s character. He is so encouraging with Betsy, not once making her feel bad for being a terrible golf player and helping her to come out of her shell. He’s there for her whenever she needs him, including during her medical emergency.

I just loved this book and look forward to reading the next one in this series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through Interviews & Reviews. All opinions expressed are my own.

Grab A Copy Here

About The Author

Shelley Shepard Gray is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author. She’s published over a hundred novels and has over a million books in print. She currently lives in northern Ohio and writes full time.

Shelley lives just an hour from Holmes County, where many of her Amish-themed novels are set. She currently writes contemporary romance and Amish fiction for a variety of publishers. When not spending time with her family or writing, she can usually be found walking her two dachshunds on one of the many trails in the Cleveland area.

She also bakes a lot, loves coconut cream pie, and will hardly ever pull weeds, mow the yard, or drive in the snow.

Shelley also spends a lot of time on line! Please visit her website, http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com to find out her latest news or to sign up for her newsletter. Shelley can also be found on FaceBook, Instagram @shelley.s.gray, or on Twitter @ShelleySGray.

Thank you for stopping in today and have a great weekend.

Categories
Uncategorized

A Season of Change (The Amish Inn Novels Book 3) by Beth Wiseman

336 pages October 05,2021 publication date Zondervan publisher

About The Book

Two sisters have their hands full with matchmaking for their new employee, Rose, and the handsome handyman who just moved to town—all while trying to get to the bottom of who could be one of their own secret admirers.

Sisters Esther and Lizzie have a new employee, Rose Petersheim, to help them tend to The Peony Inn. But their old matchmaking ways have stayed the same. The sisters focus their efforts on the lovely twenty-five-year-old Rose. Though Rose is witty and outspoken, her nervous chattering makes her the best match for someone calm and good at listening. Someone like Benjamin—the handsome handyman who recently moved to town.

But when Esther receives an anonymous love letter and flowers, Rose’s love life is no longer the only one capturing the sisters’ attention. As they sleuth around searching for Esther’s secret admirer, they uncover that their grumpy renter, Gus, has a secret of his own that could bring about a difficult change in all their lives. And their continued meddling in Rose’s affairs reveals she, too, is hiding something—an old wound that could threaten her future happiness.

As Rose, Lizzie, Esther, and Gus struggle to release the weight of their pasts, they discover that although people are complicated, love doesn’t need to be.

This charming third installment of the Amish Inn series from bestselling author Beth Wiseman is a picture of loss and healing in which forgiveness will prove to be the greatest act of love.

  • Charming and uplifting Amish romance
  • The third installment of The Amish Inn Novels
    • Book 1: A Picture of Love
    • Book 2: An Unlikely Match
    • Book 3: A Season of Change
  • Book length: 85,000 words
  • Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Amish woman posing with hen

My Thoughts

A Season of Change is the third book in the Amish Inn series but the first in the series I’ve read. My husband has read all of them though and loved them, recommending I read the first two, which I hope to make time for soon. With that being said I do feel as if I could easily read the other books in the series to quickly catch up in this series as there are many repeat characters especially the main characters.


This is such an emotional book with so much going on. I just loved all the characters especially the two older 70+ ages sisters who run the Amish Inn. One is outgoing and a bit pushy the other compliments her perfectly, she is reserved and not as apt to try new things or circumstances.


At the inn they have a cook/housekeeper named Rose, now this sweet Amish girl has a beautiful personality, is bubbly and outgoing and if you let her she’ll talk your ear off. The inn’s guests love her for it. When Rose overhears the sister’s talking about her saying maybe the reason she can’t get another date with the men she goes out with is because she talks too much, she takes it to heart.


She is so excited to go on a date with handsome Benjamin and knows she’ll put into practice her “quiet” self. Benjamin is quiet himself and needs a mate that is a bit more talkative to balance him out . Benjamin is so disappointed that Rose is so quiet and though he can’t stop thinking about her he can’t go on another date with her because she is so quiet.


I did like the character Gus as well, a man living in one of the cottages on the property. Gus has a secret he’s keeping. Rose, Gus, and innkeeper sisters Lizzie and Esther all have things in their past holding them back that they need to work through.
Keep the box of Kleenex nearby you’re going to need it multiple times in this emotional and compassionate love story.
I greatly look forward to the next book in this Amish series.

Pub Date 05 Oct 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Grab A Copy Here

About The Author

Beth Wiseman is the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. Having sold two million books, her novels have held spots on the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) Bestseller List and the CBA (Christian Book Association) Bestseller List. She was the recipient of the prestigious Carol Award in 2011 and 2013. She is a three-time winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and an INSPY Award winner. In 2013 she took home the coveted Holt Medallion. Her first book in the Land of Canaan series—Seek Me With All Your Heart—was selected as the 2011 Women of Faith Book of the Year. Beth is contracted with HarperCollins Christian Publishing into the year 2018, and she has published thirteen novels and thirteen novellas to date.

As a former newspaper reporter, Beth was honored by her peers with eleven journalism awards, including first place news writing for The Texas Press Association. She has been a humor columnist for The 1960 Sun in Houston and published articles in various publications. However, writing novels is where her heart is. She left her job as a journalist in 2008 to write novels fulltime.

Beth has a deep affection for the Amish and their simpler way of life, and while she plans to continue writing Amish love stories, she is also branching out into other areas. Her first non-Amish, contemporary—Need You Now—released in April 2012 and landed on the CBA Bestseller List. She enjoyed writing the story based in a town near where she lives, and she chose another small Texas town for her next non-Amish contemporary—The House that Love Built—which is based in Smithville, the same quaint town where movies such as Hope Floats and Tree of Life were filmed. Beth continued to spread her wings when she released The Promise in October 2014. Inspired by actual events, The Promise follows Beth’s characters all the way to Pakistan. Beth was involved in the real-life rescue when her friend was held captive in Pakistan. Beth is currently working on book #2 in her new Amish Secrets series, tentatively titled Jacob’s Ladder. Book #1—Her Brother’s Keeper—recently released and was chosen as a Top Pick by RT Reviews Magazine.

Beth and her husband are empty nesters enjoying the country life in Texas. When she’s not writing, she loves to travel, paint, and enjoy time with friends and family. You can find Beth at Fans of Beth Wiseman on Facebook where she interacts with readers and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/bethwiseman.

Beth Wiseman is the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. Having sold two million books, her novels have held spots on the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) Bestseller List and the CBA (Christian Book Association) Bestseller List. She was the recipient of the prestigious Carol Award in 2011 and 2013. She is a three-time winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and an INSPY Award winner. In 2013 she took home the coveted Holt Medallion. Her first book in the Land of Canaan series—Seek Me With All Your Heart—was selected as the 2011 Women of Faith Book of the Year. Beth is contracted with HarperCollins Christian Publishing into the year 2018, and she has published thirteen novels and thirteen novellas to date.

As a former newspaper reporter, Beth was honored by her peers with eleven journalism awards, including first place news writing for The Texas Press Association. She has been a humor columnist for The 1960 Sun in Houston and published articles in various publications. However, writing novels is where her heart is. She left her job as a journalist in 2008 to write novels fulltime.

Beth has a deep affection for the Amish and their simpler way of life, and while she plans to continue writing Amish love stories, she is also branching out into other areas. Her first non-Amish, contemporary—Need You Now—released in April 2012 and landed on the CBA Bestseller List. She enjoyed writing the story based in a town near where she lives, and she chose another small Texas town for her next non-Amish contemporary—The House that Love Built—which is based in Smithville, the same quaint town where movies such as Hope Floats and Tree of Life were filmed. Beth continued to spread her wings when she released The Promise in October 2014. Inspired by actual events, The Promise follows Beth’s characters all the way to Pakistan. Beth was involved in the real-life rescue when her friend was held captive in Pakistan. Beth is currently working on book #2 in her new Amish Secrets series, tentatively titled Jacob’s Ladder. Book #1—Her Brother’s Keeper—recently released and was chosen as a Top Pick by RT Reviews Magazine.

May your day be filled with joy. Thank you for stopping in today.

Categories
Uncategorized

All the Days of Summer by Nancy Thayer. A Truly unputdownable emotional read

336 pages May 02,2023 publication date Ballantine Books publisher

About The Book

Heather Willette has a good life in Concord, Massachusetts. But when her marriage has fizzles out, Heather has to decide what sort of life to live next. Ready to seek out her own happiness and discover herself again, Heather decides to leave her husband and rent a cottage on Nantucket. And her plan is going perfectly—until her son, Ross, announces he’s moving to Nantucket to work at his girlfriend’s family’s construction business instead of going back home to work with his own father, like he’d promised. Worst of all for Heather, this means having to get along with her.

Kailee Essex is thrilled that Ross is willing to move to her hometown. She has big hopes for their happily ever after, especially now that her parents are finally showing interest in her career. She’s less thrilled, however, about his mother living nearby. Kailee has clashed with Heather since the day they met. But anything is possible in the summer sun and sea breezes of Nantucket—even reconciliation. And when change comes sooner than either Heather or Kailee expect, they must learn to overcome their differences to fight for the future they want.

With All the Days of Summer, beloved storyteller Nancy Thayer delivers a moving novel that explores the complexity of family and the unexpected ways fate can guide you forward.

My Thoughts

Heather Willette lives in Massachusetts with her husband and in his twenties son. Her son will take over their hardware store when his father retires, it’s all been planned out.
That is until Kailee Essex comes into their lives, or rather her son Ross’s life.


This thin, young blond beauty from a wealthy Nantucket family has stolen his heart and refuses to give it back. In what seems like an instant all his plans change, he no longer will take over his paren’t hardware store but will move in with Kailee’s family for now and rise in the ranks in her father’s business while he’s treated like a son by her family.


Heather knows the run was good but good isn’t good enough and what seals the deal is her husband would rather watch a ball game than have a serious talk with her. It’s time for that divorce and for her to do some living, do some things that make her happy.
When a friend of hers finds her an in need of work cottage to rent for the summer in Nantucket she snaps it up. After all what will a 3-month Nantucket vacation hurt while the divorce is processing?


Heather and Kailee, these two women seem to be at each other’s throats all the time especially when Kailee finds out Heather has moved to the town she lives in. Has she followed Ross here, not able to cut the mother-adult son ties?


Many times poor Ross feels as though he has to choose between his mother or his girlfriend and having to defend his actions. I wasn’t too sure if I liked Kailee’s character. She is highly driven like her mother and wants a high ranking, important job in her family’s business.


Some family dramatics made me feel bad for Heather as there are many misunderstandings between the two women and at one point, I was convinced Ross would call it off with Kailee after their engagement. The book is beautifully emotional and you will really enjoy the family dynamics. This book is so realistic, once you start, you’re not going to be able to put it down. Fabulous! Such a perfect summer read.

May 2,2023 pub date
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

I grew up in Kansas, surrounded by prairie, but thirty-five years ago I came to Nantucket to visit a friend who introduced me to the love of my life. Charley and I have now lived on Nantucket for 33 years–year-round, as we say, so I have a special feeling for this island and for the people who come here. I love the island most in the winter when the waves crash dramatically on the shore.

I have a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English literature from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, and I still go to KC often to visit my darling baby sister, who inspires many of the characters in my book. Yes, she is blond, and yes, she is 9 years younger than I am. I still love her.

For a few years, I taught freshman English in several states, and had short stories published in literary reviews. My first novel, Stepping, was published by Doubleday in 1980, and started me off on the career I’ve always wanted. I was a Fellow at the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference in 1980 and in 2015, I received the RT Career Achievement Award.

I’ve published 30 novels–all available on Amazon–including Secrets in Summer, The Island House, The Guest Cottage, Nantucket Sisters, and Island Girls. A Nantucket Wedding was my 30th. The upcoming Surfside Sisters will be out July, 2019! Champagne for everyone!

When I’m not writing novels–all 30 are available on Amazon–I’m walking the beach with my husband or entertaining our 4 grandchildren & their parents & our friends. All my novels are about family and friendships, which I believe are the foundation of a happy, if complicated, life.

Have a most blessed day and thank you for visiting today.

Categories
Uncategorized

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune, a Most Anticipated Summer Read

334 pages May 02,2023 publication date Berkley publisher

About The Book

THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

A Most Anticipated Book by Today ∙ Oprah Daily ∙ Katie Couric Media ∙ BuzzFeed ∙ SheReads ∙ Zibby Mag ∙ PopSugar ∙ BookRiot ∙ Culturess ∙ Her Campus ∙ The Everygirl ∙ and more!

A random connection sends two strangers on a daylong adventure where they make a promise one keeps and the other breaks, with life-changing effects, in this breathtaking new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After.

Fern Brookbanks has wasted far too much of her adult life thinking about Will Baxter. She spent just twenty-four hours in her early twenties with the aggravatingly attractive, idealistic artist, a chance encounter that spiraled into a daylong adventure in the city. The timing was wrong, but their connection was undeniable: they shared every secret, every dream, and made a pact to meet one year later. Fern showed up. Will didn’t.

At thirty-two, Fern’s life doesn’t look at all how she once imagined it would. Instead of living in the city, Fern’s back home, running her mother’s lakeside resort—something she vowed never to do. The place is in disarray, her ex-boyfriend’s the manager, and Fern doesn’t know where to begin.

She needs a plan—a lifeline. To her surprise, it comes in the form of Will, who arrives nine years too late, with a suitcase in tow and an offer to help on his lips. Will may be the only person who understands what Fern’s going through. But how could she possibly trust this expensive-suit wearing mirage who seems nothing like the young man she met all those years ago. Will is hiding something, and Fern’s not sure she wants to know what it is. 

But ten years ago, Will Baxter rescued Fern. Can she do the same for him?

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed the author’s debut book and props to her for once again making my heart fill with such emotion while reading this.


Our main character Fern Brookbanks has met Wil Baxter ten years ago when he was hired to do some painting at her coffee shop. She is convinced he is her soul mate after spending just 24 hours with him and not seeing again for ten years. A chance meeting at her mother’s lodge has him checking in there to do some work for her mother.

Fern is shocked to see him there and the past ten years she has spent entirely too many hours dreaming about him. The author has my emotions ever changing in this one. At first I was mad at Wil and going away all those years ago with no explanation.

As we find out slowly, Wil’s backstory he does have a reason, but I still think he should have told her at the time.
I think we all love second chance romances.

They both have a lot of baggage they’re carrying; her mother has recently passed, and she is trying to run the lodge living up to her mother’s high standards. He also has had a lot of family complications and obligations he’s trying to fulfill. The summer is young, the lake is cool, and this heartbreaking emotional book may be just what you need for your next lakeside read.

Pub Date 02 May 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

Carley Fortune is the New York Times and #1 Globe and Mail bestselling author of EVERY SUMMER AFTER. Her second book, MEET ME AT THE LAKE, comes out May 2, 2023. Carley is an award-winning journalist and worked as an editor at some of Canada’s top publications, including The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, Toronto Life, and The Grid. She was most recently the Executive Editor of Refinery29 Canada. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons. Follow her on Instagram @carleyfortune.

Have a splendid day and thanks for stopping in.