Colors of Chirstmas by Olivia Newport

This book was supplied to me to read and give a review by Barbour Publishing.

 Description of Story

 Christmas in Blue

In the wake of a personal loss deeper than anyone realizes, Angela plans to bypass as much of the season as possible and get through her duties as the church organist by going on autopilot. Instead, she finds herself in charge of the town’s celebration. After a mysterious young man arrives, townspeople suspect he is the reason that one set of plans after another disintegrate until little is left of their traditions. Yet Angela warms to Gabe because she suspects they share a secret—his real reason for coming to town. Even when all they have to work with is a garish supply of blue Christmas decorations, Gabe helps Angela discover the hidden beauty of hope.

Christmas in Gold

After eighty years, change is nothing new for Astrid. By the time she was twenty, she survived the destructive Nazi regime, caring for her family under brutal circumstances, moving to America, and losing her husband. At forty she was widowed again and left to build a new life with her children. Now, when she faces a move into an assisted living community and meets a young woman on the brink of despair, she resolves to stir up hope through tragedy one more time.

My Review

I have never read a book by Olivia Newport.  I really expected these stories to be sentimental since it is a Christmas book, but I just couldn’t get into these books.

I did like the first book, “Christmas in Gold” the best.  I loved how Astrid would tell her story about the Nazi and what she had to endure.  I thought it was the best one so I would give this one a very good mark.

The second book, was just not what I expected.  Now, I just didn’t care for the book at all.  I’m sorry, just couldn’t get into it.  I won’t say anything else so I would not ruin it for other people.

Thank you for giving me a chance to read and review this book.

I am not going to say anything else about this book or I will spoil it for you.  I would not suggest this book to my friends and family.

A Plain Leaving by Leslie Gould

This Book was supplied to me by Bethany House Publishers for a review in return.

Book Description

At age twenty, Jessica Bachman left her two beloved sisters and her Amish community after clashing with the new bishop about her role in the family and the future of their farm. She tried to convince Silas Kemp, who’d been courting her for two years, to join her, but when he said no, she fled anyway.

Three years later, she returns home for the first time since leaving Lancaster to attend her father’s funeral. Her arrival back revives all sorts of emotions–yearnings and sorrows alike. Jessica knows things will never return to how they were. But in seeing Silas again, she can’t help but wonder what might have been.

Struggling to decide where her next step should take her, she learns the story of a Revolutionary War-era ancestor that echoes her own choices. Will Jessica leave her family and community forever, or is there peace and healing and love yet to come?

My Review

This book is one of the best books I have read by Leslie Gould.  I love reading about the Amish and this book was so good that I would suggest people who love Amish as much as I do should read it.

This book is the first book in The Sisters of Lancaster County.  The book is about Jessica Bachmann and other characters in the book as well.  This book is a GREAT book in my opinion.  Jessica leaves her Amish life for the Englisch world and to me I don’t know why, but that is just me.  She goes back to Lancaster County when she hears about her Dat’s passing away.  When she arrives, she is treated really bad except for Silas who was her beau before she left.  The only one in her immediate family that doesn’t treat her bad is her sister Leisel.  She kinda reminds me of my sister.  The other one who is super kind to her is her Aunty Suz who lives in the Dawdi Haus.

Aunty Suz tells Jessica the story of Ruby Bachmann and her life was GREAT.  She loses her mamm and that hurts her but it relates to Jessica’s life and I loved this part.

Then, after Jessica’s Dat’s funeral, she leaves to go back to Englisch life but it just isn’t her, so the Lord is really working on her to return to the Amish.

I am not going to say anything else about the book or I will ruin it for you.  I would suggest this book to my family and friends.  Thank you, Leslie Gould for giving us such a GREAT book to read and give a review.  Thank you Bethany House for giving me the opportunity to read this book and give a review.

The Proving by Beverly Lewis

This Book was supplied to me by Harvest House Publishers for a review in return.

Book Description

Amanda Dienner hasn’t seen her Old Order family in five years when she receives word that her mother has passed away and left her Lancaster County’s most popular Amish bed-and-breakfast. Now an Englisher, Mandy is shocked: Her twin sister should have been the obvious choice! What’s more, the inheritance comes with a catch: The farmhouse inn will only truly be hers if she is able to successfully run it for twelve consecutive months.

Mandy accepts the challenge even though it means returning to Gordonville and the painful memories she left behind at eighteen. Still, she’s determined to prove she is more than capable of running the bed-and-breakfast, no matter that its loyal clientele are expecting an Amish hostess!

The inn isn’t Mandy’s sole test, however. Rubbing shoulders with her married twin sister reopens wounds that Mandy isn’t ready to forgive. And an Englisher guest with a difficult past of her own just complicates matters.

Can Mandy fulfill the terms of her inheritance? Or will this year in Amish country prove a dreadful mistake?

My Review

This book is one of the best books I have read by Beverly Lewis.  I love reading about the Amish and this book was so good that I would suggest people who love Amish as much as I do should read it.

The book is about Mandy Dienner and her family.  It starts out that Mandy Dienner has been gone from being an Amish for 5 years.  She is in Kansas when she receives word that her mother has passed away.  She has left the Bed and Breakfast Inn in Gordonville, Pennsylvania.  The inn is hers with stipulations.  So, she loads up and heads for Gordonville.  But, when she arrives and takes over the Inn, the Amish People have doubts.  She fires her sister right off and some of the other people don’t want to work for her.  She does it all herself until she has some of her tenants decide to help her out.

As the book goes on, Mandy falls for one of the hands that her mother hires, Karl.  He has the cutest little boy.  I say that because I bet he is a doll.  As the book goes on, she hires Trina as a cook and Trina falls for on of the guests and she eventually leaves to go to Maryland.

I am not going to say anything else about the book or I will ruin it for you.  I would suggest this book to my family and friends.  Thank you, Beverly Lewis for giving us such a GREAT book to read and give a review.  I just wish it would go on and on.  Thank you Harvest House for giving us such a GREAT book.

 

Lily’s Dilemma by Andrea Boeshaar

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Description of Story

 With Very Little Left of the Family Farm, Lily May be Forced into a Loveless Marriage.

Captain McAlister “Mac” Albright has purchased land in the Shenandoah Valley. However, the land belongs to Lillyanna Laughlin—or so she erroneously thinks. Mac sets her straight and despite a poor start, the two become friends. . .if only he were financially stable to offer her more.

When Lily’s life is threatened and his whole future goes up in flames, Mac truly becomes a man without means, and Lily is forced to make the impossible choice between a loveless marriage with a man twice her age or the man who has shown her what true love could be. How can she choose between love and economic security? Her family is depending on her. Is her heart destined to break?

 My Review

This is the first book by Andrea Boeshaar and believe you me it will not be the last one either.

This book is about Lily, her aunt and her 2 brothers. Lily and her brothers are getting over the death of their father.  His friend tries to manipulate them and so Lily thinks she will have to marry Everett and he is just a bully to everyone of their family.  Then there is Captain Mac and Mr. Blake who have purchased some of their property from Everette, the swindler, in my opinion.  Lily and Mac have a bond and then they both have feelings for each other.  But, Lily swears she will never marry again and Mac feels the same way.

Then there is a fire and Mac loses everything. I am not going to say anything more or I will ruin this book for  you.  This book is so good, I could not hardly put it down.  I loved this book so much and I know you will also.  I fell in love with Lily, she seemed like a GREAT person.

I would suggest this book to my friends and family.  Wonderful story.  Thank you Andrea Hoeshaar for giving us such a GREAT book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck

Description of Story

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Dress comes a new captivating novel of secrets, romance, and two women bound together across time by a shared dream.

Tenley Roth’s first book was a runaway bestseller. Now that her second book is due, she’s locked in fear. Can she repeat her earlier success or is she a fraud who has run out of inspiration?

With pressure mounting from her publisher, Tenley is weighted with writer’s block. But when her estranged mother calls asking Tenley to help her through chemotherapy, she packs up for Florida where she meets handsome furniture designer Jonas Sullivan and discovers the story her heart’s been missing.

A century earlier, another woman wrote at the same desk with hopes and fears of her own. Born during the Gilded Age, Birdie Shehorn is the daughter of the old money Knickerbockers. Under the strict control of her mother, her every move is decided ahead of time, even whom she’ll marry. But Birdie has dreams she doesn’t know how to realize. She wants to tell stories, write novels, make an impact on the world. When she discovers her mother has taken extreme measures to manipulate her future, she must choose between submission and security or forging a brand new way all on her own.

Tenley and Birdie are from two very different worlds, but fate has bound them together in a way time cannot erase.

My Review

This is the one of several books I have ever read by Rachel Hauck and it won’t be the last, she was GREAT.  In fact, I loved this book so much I couldn’t hardly put it down.

This book deals with 2 completely different people from different worlds.  Birdie wants to write and she uses a desk and she writes her books but never gets the acclaim that she would love to have.  She has to deal with her mother and what her mother wants her to do (marrying into money marriage, not love) but Birdie only wants one person and he is forbidden to her.

Tenley Roth, who is the granddaughter to the acclaimed author William Roth and she wants to be as good as he is.  She has one book that is really good but then she has a problem getting ideas in her head.  On the way to the awards, her boyfriend, Holt proposes to her but she just can’t say YES.  Then she gets word that her mother who lives in Florida has cancer and she needs Tenley to help her and Tenley goes to her for a while.  In the meantime she meets Jason and sparks start to fly.

There are also things relating to a Writing Desk which was used in 1903 by Birdie and also in 2017 by Tenley.  Amazing that things happen the way that they do.  GREAT story.

I am not going to say anything else about this book or I will spoil it for you.  I would suggest this book to my friends and family.  Again, it is just GREAT, I couldn’t hardly put this book down.  Wonderful story.  Thank you Rachel Hauck for giving us such a GREAT book.

 

The Farmer’s Market Mishap by Wanda and Jean Brunstetter

This Book was supplied to me by Barbour Publishers for a review in return.

Book Description

New York Times Bestselling Author Wanda E. Brunstetter and Daughter-in-Law, Jean, Weave a Lighthearted Romance from Indiana’s Amish Country

Living alone for the first time in her life is lonely for Elma Hochstetler, whose twin sister Thelma recently married. Though they share the running of a general store, more and more of Thelma’s time is taken up by her growing family. Elma has dated some, but she wonders if she is just too picky to find love.

Through a mishap at the farmers’ market, Elma meets Ben Wagler and instantly likes him. But there is a problem. He lives in Grabill—50 miles away! But Elma has tried long-distance dating before, and it won’t work for her.  Besides the store needs her. Her sister needs her. Elma feels love will forever remain beyond her grasp.

Elma has a habit of putting others before her own needs. Can she learn to take a risk at following the desires of her heart?

My Review

This book is the Sequel to “The Lopsided Christmas Cake” by Wanda Brunstetter and her daughter in law Jean Brunstetter.  I love Wanda’s books and if you like her as well as I do, you will not be disappointed.

This book is about Elma Hochstetler along with her twin who is married now and expecting a baby.  Elma feels lonely without having Thelma with her all the time, but it is ok since Thelma is expecting a baby.  Elma is running a store without her twin and she has to hire a helper in the store, Lizzie.  Everyone calls her “Dizzy Lizzy”.  All she wants to do is talk to customers and not do her work but Elma manages.

Elma goes to the Farmer’s Market and then meets Ben Wagler from another town, Grabill, Illinois.  Elma starts seeing Ben a lot but her sister is afraid that Elma will move away and Elma doesn’t want to move away either.  So, Elma breaks up with Ben and hates to do it, but she has to.

This is such a GREAT book, I know that you will want to read this.  I loved it and thank you Wanda and Jean for giving us all such a GREAT book to read.

I won’t say anything else, I don’t want to spoil the book for you.  I really would suggest this book to read, it is a GREAT one.  I couldn’t’ hardly put it down.  I would definitely suggest this book to my family and friends.

Thank you Barbour Publishing, for giving me the opportunity to read this book and give this review.

What The Bishop Saw by Vannetta Chapman

Book Description

A fire blazes out of control in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, leaving an elderly Amish bachelor dead. Bishop Henry Lapp rushes to the scene, and he learns the fire was no accident. Someone intended to kill Vernon Frey. But who would want to kill Vernon? Well, practically everyone—Amish and Englisch alike.

When the police point the finger at a suspect Henry knows is innocent, the bishop must decide whether or not to use his mysterious, God-given gift—one he’s tried desperately to ignore all these years—to try and set the record straight. His close friend and neighbor, Emma, encourages Henry to follow God’s leading.

Could the clue to solving the case be locked somewhere deep in his memory? Will Henry find the courage to move forward in faith and put the right person behind bars? Is his friendship with Emma becoming something more?

What the Bishop Saw is a story of extraordinary talents, the bonds of love and friendship, and the unfailing grace of God.

My Review

This book is the 1st book in the Amish Bishop Mysteries.  Vannetta is one of the GREATEST authors who write about the Amish.

This book is about the Amish who relocate to Colorado.  Then all of a sudden, there are so many fires going on and affecting the Amish.  The police show up to the Bishop and want his help in solving the crimes of Arson.  Then the people of the Amish know that the Bishop has this gift of drawing what he sees and he doesn’t even realize what he is drawing.  So, the Bishop draws what she sees when Vernon is killed in his home.  That helps them out but they are not so sure about it.

This book is really good. I could hardly put it down and I would recommend this book for everyone to read it.  I am not going to say anything else so I won’t ruin the story for you all who love Amish.  I love this book.  She is GREAT.  I would definitely suggest this book to my friends and family.  Thank you Vannetta for giving us such a GREAT book to read.

Behind the Scenes by Jen Turano

This book was supplied to me by Bethany House Publishing in exchange for a Review.

Description of Story

Miss Permilia Griswold may have been given the opportunity of a debut into New York high society, but no one warned her she wasn’t guaranteed to “take.” After spending the last six years banished to the wallflower section of the ballroom, she’s finally putting her status on the fringes of society to good use by penning anonymous society gossip columns under the pseudonym “Miss Quill.”

Mr. Asher Rutherford has managed to maintain his status as a reputable gentleman of society despite opening his own department store. While pretending it’s simply a lark to fill his time, he has quite legitimate reasons for needing to make his store the most successful in the country.

Then Permilia overhears a threat against the estimable Mr. Rutherford, she’s determined to find and warn the man. Disgruntled at a first meeting that goes quite poorly and results in Asher not believing her, she decides to take matters into her own hands, never realizing she’ll end up at risk as well.

As Asher and Permilia are forced to work together and spend time away from the spotlight of society, perhaps there’s more going on behind the scenes than they ever could have anticipated. . . .

My Review

 This book is the 1^st book in Apart From The Crowd Series by Jen Turano.  This is the first book I have ever read by Jen Turano and it won’t be the last, she was GREAT.  In fact, I loved this book so much I couldn’t hardly put it down.  I laughed so much in this book and I have never read a book where I laughed so hard.

This is the first book in the series and can’t wait until Jen Turano comes out with the next one.  The book starts out as Permilia Griswold attends the Ball of the Town at the Vandermilt Mansion.  She carries a secret of what she does in private and then she comes across Asher Rutherford, who owns a very well known department store in New York City.  They get to know each other better as the story goes and Permilia just doesn’t know if that is good or not.  Then Permilia overhears some bad things are said about Asher and she lets Asher know this.

After the ball is over with, Permilia and her friend, Gertrude, start following Asher to protect him so to speak.  Then everyone finds out Permilia carries a gun, to me she is so funny.  Then Permilia moves into a very nice hotel and Asher hires Pinkerton guards to protect her.  This is all I am going to say about this book or I will ruin it for you.  This is a GREAT book and one that you will enjoy especially if you like Jen Turano as much as I do.

I would suggest this book and this series to my friends and family.  Again, it is just GREAT, I couldn’t hardly put this book down.  Wonderful story.  Thank you Jen Turano for giving us such a GREAT book.  Thank you Bethany House for giving me an opportunity to read this book and give my review.

 

 

Treasured Grace by Tracie Peterson

This book was supplied to me by Bethany House Publishing in exchange for a Review.

 Description of Story

 Tracie Peterson Begins Compelling New Series Set on the 1840s Frontier.

Grace Martindale has known more than her share of hardship. After her parents died, raising her two younger sisters became her responsibility. A hasty marriage to a minister who is heading to the untamed West seemed like an opportunity for a fresh start, but a cholera outbreak along the wagon trail has left Grace a widow in a very precarious position.

Having learned natural remedies and midwifery from her mother, Grace seeks an opportunity to use her skills for the benefit of others. So when she and her sisters arrive at the Whitman mission in “Oregon Country,” she decides to stay rather than push on.

With the help of Alex Armistead, a French-American fur trapper, Grace begins to provide care for her neighbors, including some of the native populace. But not everyone welcomes her skills–or her presence–and soon Grace finds herself and those she loves in more danger than she imagined possible.

My Review

This book is the 1^st book in Heart of the Frontier Series by Tracie Peterson.  This book is one of the greatest books I have read by Tracie Peterson.  The one thing I loved about this book was the sisters names.

The story starts with Grace Martindale and her 2 sisters, Hope and Mercy Martindale heading west on a wagon train so to speak.  They are on their way from Back East to Oregon to meet up with their uncle in Oregon City, Oregon.  As the story starts out, Grace loses her husband and she helps other people on the trail.  Then they all make it to Dr. Whitman’s mission and Grace and her sisters decide to stay at the mission.  The doctor doesn’t like some of the things that Grace does with medicinal issues she has picked up from her deceased mother.

As the story goes, her and her 2 sisters stay at the mission and come to find out, their uncle is not in Oregon City so they decide to stay there.  As the story goes, Grace meets up with Alex Armistead, a trapper and sparks begin to fly.  This is all I am going to say about this book or I will ruin it for you.  This is a GREAT book and one that you will enjoy especially if you like Tracie Peterson as much as I do.

I would suggest this book and this series to my friends and family.  Again, it is just GREAT, I couldn’t hardly put this book down.  Wonderful story.  Thank you Tracie Peterson for giving us such a GREAT book.  Thank you Bethany House for giving me an opportunity to read this book and give my review.

 

Love of The Summerfields by Nancy Moser

Description of Story

If you like Downton Abbey, you’ll enjoy “Love of the Summerfields”

1880 England: the lives and loves of manor and village intertwine. Earl and shopkeeper, countess and clerk—all will be stunned and transformed by a secret that begs to be revealed.

When the Weston family returns to Summerfield Manor at the close of the London social season, both village and manor relax into their normal existence. But for four women, turmoil awaits. Each must battle the restrictions of her position as her faith and character are tested.

ADELAIDE WESTON, the feisty and domineering dowager countess, is thrust out of her carefully structured life of duty by the reappearance of her first love.

RUTH WESTON, the manor’s reclusive, guilt-ridden countess, struggles to emerge from self-imposed exile to embrace her marriage, her family, and the duties of her position.

Ruth’s loyal lady’s maid, MOLLY WALLACE, juggles the demands of her job, the needs of her own tumultuous family, and a secret romance.

And LILA HAYWARD, a shopkeeper’s daughter, finds herself in love with a viscount’s son who’s engaged to Ruth’s spoiled daughter. Lila is sorely tested when she is obliged to act as liaison between the two, putting her in constant contact with the man she loves but can never hope to win.

None of these women expect a decades-old secret to unsettle the balance of her life—and the lives of everyone in Summerfield. Each will have a choice to make between her own happiness and a truth that will turn their carefully-ordered world upside down.

BOOK ONE of the MANOR HOUSE SERIES. Continue the story with Book 2: “Bride of the Summerfields” and Book 3: “Rise of the Summerfields”.

My Review

This book is the first book in The Manor House Series.  This book is one of the greatest books I have read by Nancy Moser.  I love to read books about life in England being royalty and all.  I loved this book so much it was GREAT.

This story is all about the wealth of Summerfield Manor and the lives of the Earl, Countess and just everything.  The story starts out with Molly who is a maid at the manor and I just loved her character.  She loves Morgan Hayward and he asks her to marry him 2 times and she finally says YES and then things happen.  I won’t tell you what goes on, you will have to find out about it when you read it.

Then there are a lot of secrets going on and when they come full circle, you will be totally surprised.  Lady Clarissa Weston and Joseph Kidd plan on marrying until another secret is revealed.

This book is such a good book and I am not going to say anything else about the book or I will spoil the book for you.  You are going to have to pick this book up and read it.

Thank you Nancy Moser for giving us such a GREAT book to read, it was GREAT.  Keep this up so we can read more about this type of books.