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.
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.
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.
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.
354 pages Revell publisher April 4, 2023 publish date
About the Book
Buying a haunted house was never in Ashley Scott’s plans, but when an intriguing opportunity drops into her lap after a major setback, she finds herself trekking cross-country to Hope Harbor on the Oregon coast to launch a new life.
Wounded warrior Jonathan Gray isn’t sure what to make of the attractive woman on his reclusive older neighbor’s isolated property, but her presence is none of his business–until she enlists his help with an ambitious project. When Jonathan finds his interest in the new arrival becoming more personal than professional, however, his defenses go up. There’s no room in his life–or his heart–for romance.
Yet, as these three hurting people join forces to restore life, laughter, and love to a historic estate that has known too much sadness, they may also find healing, hope, and happiness for themselves.
Bestselling author Irene Hannon invites you back to Hope Harbor, where hearts heal and love blooms.
I am so glad the author has decided to continue this series. It is one of my favorites. A perfect women's fiction book that has all you need compassion, romance, a new start in life, and a beautiful lesson all while being inspirational but not preachy. I have read so many in this series and I love meeting up with the new characters and the familiarity of the same characters throughout the series.
I especially enjoy Taco guy Tony. He's full of compassion and a philosopher at heart. The seagulls too, though I can't remember their names. They are in the books too and I enjoy them. Rose is thought of as a reclusive character, but she is smart as a whip and very talented as well. She has a heart of gold. I fell in love with the descriptions of her "haunted house."
Jonathan Gray is a character that has his defenses' up after a battlefield injury left him physically scared. He doesn't feel worthy of love but when an attractive woman asks for his help managing some items on the property, he deals with his defense's start to crumble. Such a beautiful and poignant writing. An overlooking of the outer and seeing the beauty within story.
Highly recommended.
Pub Date 04 Apr 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
The Author
Irene Hannon is the best-selling author of more than 35 novels. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, the HOLT Medallion, the Reviewer’s Choice Award from Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine and the Daphne du Maurier Award for mystery/suspense. Irene and her husband make their home in Missouri, USA. Irene invites you to visit her at her website, http://www.irenehannon.com
386 pages April 7,2021 publication date Bookouture Buy Link
About The Book
Corbello, Italy, 1947. A woman and a little boy stagger into the ruins of an old house deep in the forest, wild roses overwhelming the crumbling terracotta walls. Since the war, nowhere has been safe. But they both freeze in shock when a voice calls out from the shadows…
For young mother Fosca Sentino, accepting refuge from reluctant British war hero Richard – in Tuscany to escape his tragic past – is the only way to keep her little family safe. She once risked everything to spy on Nazi commanders and pass secret information to the resistenza. But after a heartbreaking betrayal, Fosca’s best friend Simonetta disappeared without trace. The whole community was torn apart, and now Fosca and her son are outcasts.
Wary of this handsome stranger at first, Fosca slowly starts to feel safe as she watches him play with her son in the overgrown orchard. But her fragile peace is shattered the moment a silver brooch is found in the garden, and she recognises it as Simonetta’s…
Fosca has always suspected that another member of the resistenza betrayed her. With Richard by her side, she must find out if Simonetta is still alive, and clear her own name. But how did the brooch end up at the house? And with a traitor hiding in the village, willing to do anything to keep this secret buried, has Fosca put herself and her young son in terrible danger?
An absolutely gripping and heartbreaking standalone historical read that explores the incredible courage of ordinary people in extraordinary times. Perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen, The Nightingale, and anyone longing to lose themselves in the mountain landscapes and olive groves of rural Tuscany.
My Thoughts
This is my first read by this author. I have always enjoyed reading historical fiction and this one was no exception. If you like a well-researched and very descriptive book, then this one is for you. The book goes back and forth between time periods explaining things happening now were caused by things happening in the past. The characters, you could really feel their emotions coming through strongly. The book is mesmerizing, emotional and uplifting as well. A compelling read you won’t soon forget about once you are done with it. Though this is my first read in this series I feel the need to go back to read more of this series.
Pub Date 07 Apr 2021 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Author
Welcome to my author page – “benvenuti”!
I live in the beautiful Italian Apennines for several months each year. Such an inspiring location.
My love affair with Italy was born at the age of seven when I moved with my family to Rome where we lived for six years. My father worked for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and he made sure we learned Italian and visited many places during that time.
Later on I studied Italian at the University of Kent at Canterbury and afterwards worked in Sicily, where I met my husband. His Italian mother and British father met in Urbino in 1944 and married after a war-time romance.
I wanted to write “The Tuscan Secret” not only for my amazing mother-in-law, Giuseppina, but also to make people aware of the courage of the resistance fighters and the generous hospitality shown by the poorest of families, including relatives of our Italian neighbours in our corner of war-torn Tuscany.
This is my first novel and is a story about ordinary people who lived through extraordinary times. (Please note it is a revised version of “Never Forget” and “Tuscan Roots”). I was signed by wonderful BOOKOUTURE for a two-book deal and one of these was a slight re-write of “Tuscan Roots”. The new title is “The Tuscan Secret” and has more tension and intrigue to the story. I am so proud to be a part of this publishing “family”, as they describe themselves, who have patiently helped me to polish the original. It is available on Amazon and has reached the bestseller slots.
A sequel to this original book was self-published way back, at the end of April 2017. “Now and then in Tuscany” features the same family that appeared in “The Tuscan Secret”. The background is the transhumance, a practice that started in Etruscan times and continued right up until the 1950’s. STOP PRESS: This has a new title: A TUSCAN MEMORY, re-published by BOOKOUTURE SEPTEMBER 7TH 2020.
Watch out for another Tuscan, war novel. “The Tuscan Girl” was published on February 25th 2020, inspired by the many ruins I see on my walks in the Apennines. Each dilapidated house holds a story for me, whether true or invented. I’m delighted to announce that my publisher, Bookouture, has commissioned another two Italian novels from me for 2021 and 2022. Watch this space, as they say.
How many of you have read an Angela Petch book? What were your thoughts? I really have enjoyed my first read by her and have several more in my files of hers to read.
Young Man Jumps In to Help Elderly Woman Struggling On Ice
On December 8, Isaiah McIntyre helped the elderly woman so that she could get into Katahdin General Store in Millinocket. It all started after he saw the woman slipping and struggling on a patch of ice with her cane in one hand and her purse in another.
He got out of his car and asked her if she needed any help and helped her to the dry sidewalk, the lady thanked him, and he carried on not thinking it was a big deal. But there was a woman bystander who caught the moments on camera which ended up on Facebook.
Users identified the good Samaritan and the woman in the photo as 93-year-old Marjorie Moore who said her children questioned why she went out on a cold day, but she assured them that it wasn’t so cold and there was only a little ice on the sidewalk.
“He was just a young fellow…I thanked him and told him he was a very nice gentleman,” recalls Moore who will turn 94 in January and still lives alone in an apartment at an assisted living community. The picture has been shared more than 2,600 times in Maine and as far as Italy with messages and comments from common people.
“It’s not every day that you see people react positively towards other people,” says Mcintrye who has been surprised by all the compliments. “There is a lot of people who is very nice. Even over at the shopping center, they will see me and say you need help getting into the car or with your groceries. There is a lot of people out there that is very kind,” says Moore.
Ken, 9, has grown up dreaming about someday having a shelter to help the stray animals that live near his home, but he never dreamed he could reach his goal so soon.
Ken and his father were also able to build a temporary shelter for the three dogs, named Blackie, Brownie and White Puppy, in their garage. Ken named it The Happy Animals Club.
Thanks to the donations, earlier this month Ken was able to sign a one-year lease for a space where he can continue to create a nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter for street animals. He hopes to have it up and running soon.
This is one of the photos that went viral, inspiring people all over the world to send donations to Ken.
White Puppy suffered from Mange. This is him before the Happy Animals Club stepped in to help.
“Here’s how they look after two months of care at Happy Animals Club. Their names are Blackie, Brownie, and White Puppy and they will be ready for adoption very soon!”
The heart-tugging true story of an abandoned puppy named Teddy and the devoted animal rescuer who took him in, showed him love, and—against all odds—found him a home. . . . He was delivered on her doorstep like a present: a frightened, straggly-haired puppy inside a large cardboard box. As owner of an animal shelter, Barby Keel had seen plenty of abandoned animals. But there was something extra special about this one. With his oversized paws, long legs, and awkward gait, he was bigger than most puppies but a big softie at heart. He was so sweet and cuddly, Barby named him Teddy, like a Teddy bear. But finding this Teddy a home would be no picnic . . . The first family that adopted Teddy returned him 24 hours later. They said he chewed up everything and cried all night long. The second family returned him after a month. Why? Teddy refused to be housebroken. Over the next few weeks, Barby devoted herself to the unruly pup. Soon, he was settling into the sanctuary, playing with the other animals, even rescuing a baby chick. But every night, Teddy reverted back to being a scared little puppy. With Barby’s loving care—and a lot of patience—he slowly began to overcome his fears. And as the two grew closer, Barby began to wonder if Teddy had already found his forever home—with her . . . Filled with beautiful life lessons in unconditional love, mutual trust, and unshakable devotion, Teddy’s story is sure to find a special place in every animal lover’s heart.
My Thoughts
I put off reading this book because I knew it would make me cry and it did, more than once. I am such a softy when it comes to animals, I even cried when I read Charlotte’s Web when I was a child. I had no idea the spider would die. As such an animal lover it was hard to read this book in places especially when it detailed the abuse the puppy received before it was unceremoniously dumped in a cardboard box outside of the gates of Barb Keely’s pet rescue center. The Barby Keely Animal Sanctuary in the beautiful Sussex countryside was never meant to be. Barby’s father brought home animals needing rescued and this is she got her passionate love for animals. Built from the ground up, it is still one of the remaining private sanctuaries in Britan. I loved seeing how Barby has such a true passion for animals and devotes her whole life to them. Though the book does get into the some of the other animals that were there at the time of the writing, many cats, several dogs, a rescue horse, chickens, ducks, goats, and more animals. Most of the book focuses on Teddy though, a gorgeous Wolfhound/ Briard mix who just wanted love and affection but just got abuse in his former home. The puppy was huge, gangly and prone to chewing and knocking things over because of his size. Well, we all know puppies chew, they need to supervised, shown love and understanding and given toys which was done when he arrived at the sanctuary. Teddy is what we call a foster fail. Now if you don’t know what that is, it is when a dog goes to a new home to be adopted but is returned because they are not compatible with their new home. This happened with Teddy multiple times. I think the author was more than happy about this as her heart had already fallen in love with this dog. Like many dogs, Teddy has behavioral issues that Barby works with a dog behavioralist to help get them straightened out. She shows a lot of compassion for her animals, and it just makes my heart sing to read about someone so devoted to animals such as this woman. I would really love to meet her and visit her animal sanctuary one day. I am a better person for having read this book. Please if you have a little extra consider donating to your local animal shelter, their vet bills and feeding cost are so expensive. Also, won’t you please consider donating some of your time to volunteering at these animal shelters. They always appreciate all you can do for them. Here is the link to her animal sanctuary if you’d like more information on it https://barbykeelanimalsanctuary.org/
June 29,2021 publish date. I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Author
Hello, My name is Barby Keel and I have run the Barby Keel Animal Sanctuary in the lush Sussex countryside since 1971, with plenty of help along the way.
We are a non-profit making charity rehoming or providing permanent refuge for abused, abandoned and unwanted animals. We operate a no destruction policy.
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