Book Review with featured author: An Amish Holiday Family by Jo Ann Brown

An Amish Holiday Family by Jo Ann Brown

 

 

Publisher & Release: Love Inspired, November 1, 2020

Time and setting:  Present Day, Vermont

Genre: Amish fiction

Length: 194 Pages

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

A Christmas she never expected…

Becoming a guardian to three children

wasn’t part of her plan…

When Mennonite midwife Beth Ann Overholt went to Evergreen Corners to help rebuild after a flood, she didn’t expect to be taking in three abandoned children. But the bigger surprise is having Amish bachelor Robert Yoder by her side. Soon she can’t help but wish this temporary Christmas arrangement could turn into the loving family she never thought she’d have…

From Harlequin Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

Green Mountain Blessings

Book 1: An Amish Christmas Promise

Book 2: An Amish Easter Wish

Book 3: An Amish Mother’s Secret Past

Book 4: An Amish Holiday Family

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Amish-Holiday-Family-Mountain-Blessings-ebook/dp/B086XDSCRV/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=an+amish+holiday+family&qid=1603404398&s=books&sr=1-3

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-amish-holiday-family-jo-ann-brown/1136826755?ean=9781488060502

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/an-amish-holiday-family

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54479159-an-amish-holiday-family

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/an-amish-holiday-family-by-jo-ann-brown

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of An Amish Holiday Family by Jo Ann Brown for the purpose of reading and reviewing prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and no one had influenced them.

 

An Amish Holiday Family is a lovely, heartwarming Christmas tale with endearing characters and a touching plot. I always love stories with children, and there are three delightful little ones who stole my heart.

 

Beth Ann Overholt’s character has all the traits I most admire. She kind, loving and loyal. She takes in the three young children without hesitation, offering them her love and support. I loved her patience with our reluctant hero.

 

Robert Yoder is such an amazing hero. His background has convinced him he can never have a family, but there’s no way he can turn his back on the heroine and the three youngsters. His growing love for Beth Ann and the children scares him witless since he’s inherited his father’s violent temper. He worries that he would strike out in anger as his parent had done with him and his siblings. My heart ached for his great fears.

 

As with Amish fiction, the romance is sweet between Beth Ann and Robert, centered on God’s love and the nurturing of family. I loved how Beth Ann shows her love without shouting it to the roof tops. Her gentle, guiding way is very touching. I really wanted them to find their happy ending.

 

If you enjoy Amish fiction with a great message and that shows strong family values, then you will love An Amish Holiday Family as much as I did. I will be looking into the other books in this series. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

Jo Ann Brown has been creating characters and stories for as long as she can remember. Her first stories were populated with her friends and sisters. She wrote her first novel in high school, and it happily resides in the forgotten depths of her file cabinet. Fast forward through college, serving in the US Army as a quartermaster officer, getting married, and increasing her blessings with three children...and Jo Ann sold her first book in 1987. Since it was published in 1988, she has sold over 100 titles and has become a best-selling and award-winning author. Romantic Times called her “a truly talented author.” She writes romance, mystery, and YA under a variety of pen names. Now she is writing Amish romances for Love Inspired and Annie’s Fiction as Jo Ann Brown.

Her books have been translated into nearly a dozen languages and are sold on every continent except Antarctica. A sought-after speaker, she has been teaching creative writing for over 20 years, and she established several popular fiction courses at Brown University. She resides in Florida with her husband and about a zillion little lizards in her yard.

 

Social Media:

Website: http://joannbrownbooks.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100023928423266

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jo-ann-brown

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1056491.Jo_Ann_Brown

 

 

Book Review with featured author: Looking for a Cowboy by Donna Grant

Looking for a Cowboy by Donna Grant

 

 

Publisher & Release: St. Martin’s Paperbacks, October 27, 2020

Time and setting:  Present Day, Clearview, Texas

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Length: 368 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

A cowboy finds love in the most unlikely place in New York Times bestseller Donna Grant's newest Heart of Texas novel, Looking for a Cowboy.

A beautiful stranger has come to Clearview, asking questions that are nobody’s business. Cooper Owens also wasn’t born yesterday. He knows that this out-of-towner is hiding a dark secret of her own. Much as he knows he should head in the other direction, he can’t make himself turn away. . .

P.I. Marlee Frampton always wanted to lead a nice quiet life, working as a cop in her local police department. But that dream came to an end when her sister was murdered—and her baby kidnapped. Now Marlee’s come to Texas to investigate the Harpers, who may be linked to shady adoption agencies. Cooper can’t believe that his friends could be involved in anything so sinister...and soon he makes it his mission to help Marlee discover the truth—and keep her safe in his arms.

 

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Looking-Cowboy-Heart-Texas-Book-ebook/dp/B08472KSLY

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/looking-for-a-cowboy-donna-grant

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/looking-for-a-cowboy

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49127458-looking-for-a-cowboy?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=qWQJqArTWN&rank=1

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/looking-for-a-cowboy-by-donna-grant

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of Looking for a Cowboy by Donna Grant for the purpose of reading and reviewing prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and no one has influenced them.

Looking for a Cowboy is book 5 in Donna Grant’s Heart of Texas, and it’s an exciting addition to this series. The writing pulled me in from the start and kept me enmeshed until the end. This book has plenty of action-packed scenes that had me biting my nails, wondering how the hero and heroine will get out alive!

 

 

Marlee Frampton’s character is endearing, and I became vested from the start. Her pain at losing her twin is truly heartbreaking. I could understand her drive to find the culprits who are killing women nearing their due date and stealing their babies. Her determination drives this suspenseful novel.

 

Cooper Owens is an easy-going cowboy who loves playing the hero. Although he wants to help Marlee, he knows she has big secrets, but I loved his willingness to accept her when he learns that she believes his friend’s recently adopted son may be a stolen infant. His loyalty to his friends and Marlee impressed me.

 

If you enjoy hot cowboys with a hero complex, and a great cast of supporting characters, along with plenty of suspense, then you will love Looking for a Cowboy as much as I did. I’ve enjoyed this fantastic series and look forward to book 6. Happy reading!

 

 

Author Bio:

 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her "totally addictive" and "unique and sensual" stories. Her latest acclaimed series, Dark Kings, features a thrilling combination of dragons, Fae, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her two children and an assortment of animals in Texas. 

 

Social Media:

Website: https://donnagrant.com/

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

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/donnagrant1/_created/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donna-grant

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1141209.Donna_Grant

 

Book Review with featured author: An Amish Cookie Club Courtship by Sarah Price

An Amish Cookie Club Courtship by Sarah Price

 

 

Publisher & Release: Zebra Books, October 27, 2020

Time and setting:  Present Day, Pennsylvania Amish Country

Genre: Amish Fiction

Length: 400 Pages

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

With tourist season about to start, Edna Esh is busier than ever, baking with her Amish Cookie Club friends and running her business serving meals to Englische tourists. You wouldn’t think she’d have time for matchmaking . . .
 
Edna couldn’t be happier that her new daughter-in-law, Bethany, is pregnant. But Bethany is also her best helper, and morning sickness has her out of commission. Desperate for more hands, Edna accepts a friend’s offer for her twin daughters, Rachel and Ella Mae, to step in. Trouble is, the young women are constantly bickering—except when Edna’s sons, Jeremiah and Jonas, are around . . .
 
It's soon clear that Rachel has taken a shine to Jeremiah, while Jonas is smitten with Ella Mae. It’s also clear the feelings aren’t reciprocated. But after confiding in the Cookie Club, Edna devises a plan for the pairs to spend more time together. The only problem is it seems to be failing. Yet it appears there’s a grander plan at work—and as nature takes its course, and the MayFest arrives, there’s reason to look forward to the bountiful sweetness of a double wedding come autumn . . .

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Amish-Cookie-Club-Courtship-Book-ebook/dp/B085LTK7GX

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-amish-cookie-club-courtship-sarah-price

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/an-amish-cookie-club-courtship

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51161303-an-amish-cookie-club-courtship?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=FVJbWDM5TO&rank=1

BoobBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/an-amish-cookie-club-courtship-the-amish-cookie-club-book-3-by-sarah-price

 

Vikki’s Musings

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of An Amish Cookie Club Courtshipby Sarah Price for the purpose of reading and reviewing prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and no one has influenced them.

 

An Amish Cookie Club Courtship is a lovely Amish romance with engaging characters and an enjoyable plot.  A pair of twins and two Amish brothers who start out at odds with each other, but love finds its way into their hearts in a most unexpected way.

 

There are two heroines in this tale. Rachel and Ella Mae, although twin sisters, their personalities are vastly different. Where one is quiet, the other is outspoken. Edna, the brothers’ maam, is determined to match her sons to the twins. Lots of twists and turns going on in this book.

 

The Brothers also have different personalities. Jonas is a jokester and irritates Rachel in the beginning, but that changes as Edna devises ways for them to spend time with each other. Ella Mae spends time with Jeremiah and discovers he’s much more to her tastes than Jonas.

 

The mother added a delightful twist to this tale, and I enjoyed the banter between her and the other ladies in their cookie club. There are several humorous moments that had me chuckling. In the end, Edna’s instincts proved right!

 

If you enjoy Amish romance with a great cast of characters, and a plot that will have you chuckling, then you will find An Amish Cookie Club Courtship a delightful reading experience. Sarah Price has a masterful ability to give her novels an authentic view of Amish life and community. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

Born into a Mennonite family with roots in Pennsylvania dating back to the early 1700s, Sarah Price has written over 50 novels, most of them set in the bucolic Amish countryside of Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Ohio. She bases her novels on her own authentic experience with the Amish, which dates back to 1978 and includes living on multiple farms and with different Amish families. 

Her novels have won her numerous best-seller rankings throughout the years, although the achievement she is most proud of is hitting #8 on all of Amazon with her novel, An Empty Cup. 

Today, Ms. Price writes full-time from Branded, her thirty-acre ranch in North-Central Florida where wild mustangs are rescued, retrained, and rehomed. 

During the early 1700s, the Preiss family arrived in America aboard an old sailing vessel called the Patience. The family left Europe, escaping Catholic persecution for their Anabaptist beliefs. Sarah Price comes from a long line of devout Mennonites, including numerous church leaders and ministers throughout the years. Her involvement with the Amish dates back to 1978 when her Mennonite grandparents took her to Lancaster County. Her writing reflect accurate and authentic stories based upon her own experiences with several Amish communities. 

Ms. Price holds advanced degrees in Communication (MA), Marketing (MBA), and Educational Leadership (PhD). She is also an ordained minister.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://sarahpriceauthor.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahPriceAuthr

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sarahpriceauthr/_created/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sarah-price

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/456750.Sarah_Price

 

 

Book Review with author feature: The Amish Christmas Gift by Linda V. Hilton

The Amish Christmas Gift by Linda V. Hilton

 

Publisher & Release: Forever, October 27,2020

Time and setting:  Present Day, Amish Country

Genre: Amish Fiction

Length: 320 Pages

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Past relationships and close quarters stir up old emotions, making Christmas the perfect time for a magical connection in this heartwarming second chance Amish romance.

Elsie Miller has witnessed -- and experienced -- Levi Wyse's forgetfulness too many times to count. But even after they broke things off, Elsie never forgot the handsome Amish toymaker or her love for him. So when Levi's sister asks her to help keep him organized for the busy Christmas season, Elsie agrees. But she didn't expect working alongside Levi to reignite those old feelings. 

Secretly, Levi's heart will always belong to Elsie. But she deserves a better man, one who isn't so absentminded . . . or responsible for a terrible tragedy. Now, she's at his workshop every day and as Christmas draws near, his reasons for staying away become harder and harder to remember. Will the spirit of Christmas heal past hurts and give Elsie and Levi the greatest gift of all: a future together?

 

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Amish-Christmas-Gift-Hidden-Springs-ebook/dp/B084FY1WRT

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-amish-christmas-gift-laura-v-hilton

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-amish-christmas-gift

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53740543-the-amish-christmas-gift

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-amish-christmas-gift-by-laura-v-hilton

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of The Amish Christmas Gift by Linda V. Hilton for the purpose of reading and reviewing prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and no one has influenced.

 

The Amish Christmas Gift is a charming Amish romance with characters that will touch your heart and make you sigh with joy. Ms. Hilton give the reader an authentic view of Amish life and community.

 

Elsie Miller’s character is sweet natured and has the qualities I most admire in Amish fiction. She hard working and loves her family. When she gives her word, she doesn’t go back on it, even if it is no longer the best decision for her.

 

 Levi Wyse is a great hero, if a forgetful one who struggles expressing himself. Many times what he says doesn’t match what he means. I liked him from the start. His dedication to his sister is admirable.

 

The romance between Elsie and Levi is a second chance at love, getting it right this time. Both of them made mistakes in their previous courtship and both still love each other, but are held apart by guilt and regret. I truly wanted them to find a way to make it work this time.

 

If you enjoy Amish fiction with endearing character and a plot that will touch your heart, then you will love The Amish Christmas Gift as much as I did. While this is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Hilton, it will not be the last. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and their five children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor's wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor.

Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as the Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Birdhouse. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press' Quilts of Love series. Laura is contracted for another three book Amish series set in the Jamesport area, with the first book, The Amish Firefighter, planned for April 2016.

 

Social Media:

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/laura-v-hilton

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1030516.Laura_V_Hilton

 

 

 

Book Review with featured author: Birch Bay Bridesmaid by Kim Law

Birch Bay Bridesmaid by Kim Law

 

 

Publisher & Release: J-Ko Publishing, September 29, 2020

Time and setting:  Christmas, Birch Bay, Washington

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 91 Pages

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

It’s her best friend’s wedding. How can she not be a part of it? But when standing up for her friend means standing across the aisle from her ex, Jade doesn’t know whether to turn and run or stay and ask for a second chance.

 

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Birch-Bridesmaid-Ticket-True-Love-ebook/dp/B085YFRLN13

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/birch-bay-bridesmaid-kim-law

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/birch-bay-bridesmaid

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the author for the complimentary copy of Birch Bay Bridesmaid by Kim Law for the purpose of reading and reviewing prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and no one has influenced them.

 

Birch Bay Bridesmaid is a spin-off from Kim Law’s fabulous series, The Wildes of Birch Bay, and friends and family are gathering for a wedding. Jade Britton has been Maggie Crowder’s friend since childhood, and she dated her friend’s brother, Mason, during college. 

 

When he’s the first to show up at Maggie’s house, his cryptic phrase before he leaves shocked her. Then, Maggie explained that he’d been in love with her when she left Birch Bay for LA after graduation. Jade had not realized the depth of his feelings.

 

As Jade and Mason work together over the days leading to the wedding between Maggie and Cord Wilde, the long-ago feelings and attraction blazes to life. Will Jade let those emotions develop, or will she push them away? Can she trust Mason will follow her anywhere?

 

Jade Britton’s career is the driving force behind her character, along with the life she has in LA. While she loves Mason, she sees no way for them to be together, so she fights her feelings. I enjoyed her internal struggle and prayed she would see they had a chance.

 

Mason Crowder is an amazing hero with the characteristic I love most. He’s in love with Jade and accepts she never understood he would have followed her anywhere. My heart ached for him when he believes Jade will never understand.

 

The romance between them is fierce and bursts to life right away. They both fight it, but they cannot ignore it, even though both believe they must. I enjoyed getting to know both characters, and while this novella wasn’t long, Ms. Law does an amazing job in developing their personalities. I wanted them to find a way to make their relationship work. 

 

If you enjoy contemporary romances with intriguing characters and want a chance to spend time with the Wilde family again, then you will love Birch Bay Bridesmaid as much as I did. This is a quick read and will help you pass a lazy afternoon or evening with a great escape from our everyday lives during a time when it’s much needed. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

As a child, award-winning author Kim Law cultivated a love for chocolate, anything purple, and creative writing. She penned her debut work, "The Gigantic Talking Raisin," in the sixth grade and got hooked on the delights of creating stories. 

 

Before settling into the writing life, however, she earned a college degree in mathematics and worked as a computer programmer. Now she's pursuing her lifelong dream of writing romance novels. She has won the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart Award, has been a finalist for the prestigious RWA RITA Award, and has served in varied positions for her local RWA chapter. A native of Kentucky, Kim lives with her husband and an assortment of animals in Middle Tennessee.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://www.kimlaw.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kim_law/

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kimlawauthor/boards/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kim-law

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6473776.Kim_Law

 

Book Review with featured author: Turning Home by Janice Kay Johnson

Turning Home by Janice Kay Johnson

 

Publisher & Release: Berkley, September 29, 2020

Time and setting:  Present Day, Amish Country

Genre: Amish Fiction

Length: 320 Pages

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

In this tender Amish romance, an Amish man who is returning to his community and faith is drawn to a young woman who is still reeling from past wounds.

When Luke Bowman returns to the Amish faith after years of being away from home, he does so with absolute conviction. Those feelings are shaken when he meets Julia Durant, a non-Amish woman who works at his family's furniture-making business. Despite his instincts, Luke is drawn to Julia, and although Julia is still recovering from a brutal assault when she was a college student, she is drawn to Luke as well.

As Luke and Julia grow closer, and their fragile friendship grows stronger, Luke wants to be with Julia, but the reason he came home--his faith--is now the thing keeping them apart. Luke and Julia will have to decide whether their relationship can survive this divide, and whether the home Luke has made in the Amish faith is one that's fit for two.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Turning-Home-Tompkins-Mill-Novel-ebook/dp/B0838JJXSY

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/turning-home-janice-kay-johnson

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/turning-home-3

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50347159-turning-home?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=2AawQf2bHg&rank=1

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/turning-home-by-janice-kay-johnson

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for a complimentary copy of Turning Home by Janice Kay Johnson for the purpose of reading and reviewing prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and no one has influenced them.

 

Turning Home is a lovely romance between a broken Englischer and an Amish man who has returned to his roots. They meet when she comes to work for his family’s furniture making business as the bookkeeper. This is the first book I have read by Ms. Johnson, and I enjoyed her writing style. It’s clear she has researched the Amish faith and their lifestyle.

 

Julia Durant’s character has dark secrets in her past that have her searching for security, and she longed for the safety and acceptance of the Amish community. When she meets the hero, she feels safe with him. As their friendship grows into more, she believes she can never be in a romantic relationship because of her violent assault, so Luke is safe. An Amish man newly returned to the fold, he would never turn to her.

 

Luke Bowman is our hero, and he has a great many characteristics that make him a great one. He’s experienced the Englischer life and knows he wants what his Amish upbringing offers. When he begins to have strong feeling for Julia, he cannot allow those emotions to grow. He would never leave his family again.

 

The romance between Julia and Luke blossoms from their daily contact at work. They both feel the powerful connection, and both must do much soul-searching. Julia is drawn to the Amish faith, but isn’t sure if she can commit to such a vastly different way of life, and Luke has vowed he can never leave his faith again. I truly wanted this pair to find a way to be together.

 

If you enjoy Amish fiction with compelling characters and a moving plot, then you will love Turning Home as much as I did. I look forward to the next book in this series, and other books by Ms. Johnson. Happy reading!

 

 

Author Bio:

 

Janice Kay Johnson is the author of sixty-plus books for children and adults. Her first four published romance novels were coauthored with her mother Norma Tadlock Johnson, also a writer who has since published mysteries and children's books on her own. These were "sweet" romance novels, the author hastens to add; she isn't sure they'd have felt comfortable coauthoring passionate love scenes! 

Janice graduated from Whitman College with a B.A. in history and then received a master's degree in library science from the University of Washington. She was a branch librarian for a public library system until she began selling her own writing. 

 

Social Media:

Website: http://www.janicekayjohnson.com/

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/janice-kay-johnson?list=author_books

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/70697.Janice_Kay_Johnson?from_search=true