Litfuse Blog Tour and Review: A Miracle of Hope

A Miracle of Hope (The Amish Wonders Series)

About the Book:

Lindie Wyse thinks an arranged marriage is the only way to preserve a future for herself and her unborn child. Josiah Plank is certain he’ll never love again, but he needs someone to care for his deaf eight-year-old daughter, Hannah. The two take on their arrangement tentatively at first but soon realize they are each in for more than they imagined. After a short time, Lindie experiences a breakthrough with Hannah when she recognizes the child’s special gifts, but a risky pregnancy and serious health issues threaten to demolish the foundation Josiah and Lindie are building—and the love that is growing between them.

Will their marriage survive their struggles, or will their hearts become as cold as the northern winter?

My Comments:

Sometimes it is tempting to idealize the life of the Amish.  It is easy to see them as a community focused on each other and on God.  What could be more perfect here on earth?  Unfortunately for them, they are as human as we are.  While Jesus welcomed repentant sinners, this book shows that Amish (and face it, many other observant Christians) do not, particularly when there is permanent evidence of that sin (such as an illegitimate child).  

Lindie needed a new start, Josiah needed wife, though he didn't want one.  They agree to marry, and, not surprisingly, fall in love.  

I enjoyed the story and enjoyed seeing Lindie and Josiah develop a relationship despite themselves.  

I don't know where I got the impression that Ruth Reid's "niche" in the Amish fiction world is stories with a supernatural element, but it is something I knew when I selected this book and Hannah in this book has a gift that isn't normal.  It is presented as having come from God and is used for good, but it definitely isn't the usual answer to a prayer.  

In short, this is an enjoyable Amish romance.  Grade:  B. 

I'd like to thank the folks at Litfuse for providing a review copy of this book.  You can see the links of other reviewers here.  You can see Ruth Reid's website here.

A Miracle of Hope is the first book in Ruth Reid's new series, Amish Wonders, and she is celebrating the release with a Kindle HDX Giveaway and an Author Chat Facebook Party!

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• A Miracle of Hope by Ruth Reid

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 11th. Winner will be announced at the A Miracle of Hope Facebook Party on February 11th. Connect with Ruth for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, prizes, and more!

So grab your copy of A Miracle of Hope and join Ruth and friends on the evening of February 11th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 11th!

Blog Tour: The Promise Box

The Promise Box (Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors)

About the Book:

Every year, young Amish men descend on the cozy little town of West Kootenai, Montana, arriving in the spring to live there for six months and receive 'resident' status for the hunting season in the fall. They arrive as bachelors, but go home with brides! In The Promise Box, the second book of best-selling author Tricia Goyer's Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series, Lydia Wyse, a book editor from Seattle who grew up Amish, returns to the small community of West Kootenai to give comfort to her father after her mother's death. She is drawn back to the familiar Amish ways after finding her mother's most precious possession, a Promise Box of prayers and scripture. What her publisher sees, though, is an opportunity for a sensational 'tell-all' book about the Amish. Lydia soon finds herself falling in love with Amish bachelor Gideon Hooley. She wants nothing more than to forget her past and look forward to a future as an Amish bride. But will the pain of her childhood---and her potential betrayal of her community---keep her from committing her whole heart?

My Comments:

This book was definitely on the religious side, even for Amish fiction.  We join Lydia as she reads the scripture promises her mother loved so much.  We follow her as she decides to return to the Amish and to give her heart to Gideon.  Both she and Gideon have old hurts that need to be healed.  In the end of course they realize that God keeps His promises to us.  Grade:  B-

Tricia Goyer is celebrating the release of her lastest novel, The Promise Box (Zondervan), by hosting an Amish Baking Box giveaway and connecting with readers during her June 12th Book Chat Party!

One "promising" winner will receive:

• Apron, hot mitts, and kitchen towels
• Amish baking items (rolling pin, pie plate, etc...)
• Sherry Gore's Simply Delicious Amish Cooking
• The Memory Jar and The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer 

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 11th. Winner will be announced at the "The Promise Box" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 12th. Connect with Tricia for an evening of Amish fun - book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Tricia will also share an exclusive look at the next book book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Promise Box and join Tricia on the evening of June 12th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 12th!

Blog Tour: Ray of Light

Ray of Light: The Days of Redemption Series, Book Two

About the Book:

Bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray brings inspirational romance to life in this sweet tale of love in the Amish community, Ray of Light, the second installment of her Days of Redemption series.

Roman Keim just wants a break from the family drama at his snowy Ohio home when he heads to an Amish snowbird community in Florida. There he meets Amanda Yoder and her daughter Regina who soon are warming his heart. But will Roman return to Ohio or will he stay and help the young widow embrace a second chance at love?

The author of the series Sisters of the Heart and Seasons of Sugarcreek, Shelley Shepard Gray delivers an honest, tender love story in Ray of Light, featuring the challenges of faith, family, and romance.

My Comments:

This book gave a different perspective on Amish life than what I've usually seen.  The families in this book are New Order Amish.  Amanda wears a peach colored dress; her daughter wears pink and they have a phone in the house.  I don't know what other differences exist between these New Order Amish and the Old Order Amish about whom many books are written. Also, instead of a farm in Ohio or Pennsylvania, much of this story is set in Florida.  

I enjoyed watching these two young (though not so young) people learn to love again.  Shelley Shepard Gray  brought forth how hard it must be to lose an only child in a culture that is very family-oriented (not that losing a child is ever easy).  Her in-laws are supportive of her--except when she starts to want to move on with her life.

The book is the second in a series and I have not read the first.  The  main couple makes a cameo appearance--he is a missionary to Belize and while they are engaged, she goes to visit him.  I never knew that the Amish had missionaries.  There are references to some backstory that those of us who have not read the first book wonder why are included as they add nothing to this story.  

In short, this was a relatively short interesting read about two charming people from a slightly different Amish community.

Thanks to the folks at Litfuse for providing a complimentary review copy.  Grade:  B.

Meet Shelley:

Shelley Shepard Gray is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the "Sisters of the Heart", "Seasons of Sugarcreek", "Secrets of Crittenden County", and Families of Honor series. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.

Learn more at http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com.

Review: Hidden Mercies

Hidden Mercies: A Novel

About the Book:

At seventeen, Tom Miller smashed his car into a tree, killing his brother only four hours before he was scheduled to marry Claire Shetler. Unable to live with his father’s bottomless grief and anger, Tom left the Amish church, ran away, and joined the Marines. Twenty-seven years later, Tom returns to Mt. Hope, Ohio, a wounded, decorated Marine helicopter pilot, and rents an apartment over Claire's workshop. A widowed Amish midwife, Claire is struggling to support her family, and despite her unresolved anger toward Tom, she sees the money as a Godsend. She never dreams that she will end up falling in love with a battle-scarred soldier.

As Claire and Tom fight their way through the traumas of the past, they discover the tender mercies God has hidden along the way—one of which is a loving father who has been praying for his prodigal son to come home.

My Comments:

I enjoyed this novel that brings together the wounded combat vet and the Amish midwife.  I'm not sure how realistic it is as most of my knowledge of the Amish comes from books like these but I have a hard time seeing such an insular society taking in strangers as happens in this book.  

In some ways though this story reaches beyond the Amish/English world and shows the universality of the struggles between spouses, the struggles between parents and children and the struggles of aging.  It shows how forgiveness brings people together and how not forgiving hurts both the one who should forgive and the one who needs pardon.  

All in all, this was a quick, easy sweet read that I thoroughly enjoyed.  Grade:  B+

Thanks to the publisher for providing a complimentary review copy.

The Memory Jar: Blog Tour

The Memory Jar (Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors)

Celebrate with Tricia by entering her Amish Kindle Gift Pack Giveaway and RSVPing to her Facebook party on November 7th. (And be sure to catch the fun video trailer or try your hand at one of the simple, keepsake crafts Tricia has put together on her website.)

One fortunate winners will receive:

• A brand new Kindle Fire
• Custom-made Memory Jar Kindle Cover
• Amish-made decorative items {Wall hanging, horse/buggy and Amish houses}
• The Memory Jar {Be swept away by this captivating series.}

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 6th. Winner will be announced at the "Memory Jar Author Chat Party on 11/7. Connect with Tricia for an evening of book chat, Amish trivia, and a live video chat! There will also be a chance to win gift certificates, books, and other fun prizes!

So grab your copy of The Memory Jar and join Tricia on the evening of the November 7th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 7th!

About the Book:

Every year, 30--40 young Amish men descend on the cozy little town of West Kootenai, Montana, arriving in the spring to live there for six months and receive 'resident' status for the hunting season in the fall. They arrive as bachelors, but go home with brides! Sarah Shelter has lived in West Kootenai for the last ten years and wonders if she will ever fall in love. Since the tragic death of her best friend, she carries her memories in a jar along with the small items connected to them. For just as long, she's also been carrying around her emotions instead of allowing them to penetrate deep into her heart. Now she's met a kind and gentle man who may be able to break down the wall. But can Sarah risk her heart to finally achieve her dreams?

My Comments:

Fans of Amish fiction will enjoy Trisha Goyer's newest addition to the genre.  Sarah is a little older than the average Amish single woman--an accident deprived her not only of her best friend but also of the guy she assumed she'd marry.  She has poured her heart into baking since then and is a valuable employee at a local eatery.  When the year's batch of Amish bachelors arrive, one catches her eye, but things don't always go as expected.  

One thing I like better about Christian romance when compared to many of the general market versions is that the Christian romances concentrate more on the relationship, and less on the physical attraction.  Sarah learns about Jathan's good qualities over time, particularly when faced with a crisis situation.  

Goyer's characters have to deal with the non-Amish world and I like the way she deals with that tension--not all characters handle it in the same way, things aren't black and white.

In short, The Memory Jar is an enjoyable piece of Amish fiction and those who enjoy these types of stories will probably enjoy it.  Grade:  B.

First Wildcard: The Amish Family Cookbook

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card authors are:

Jerry and Tina Eicher

and the book:

The Amish Family Cookbook

Harvest House Publishers; Spi edition (October 1, 2012)

***Special thanks to Ginger Chen for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Jerry Eicher’s bestselling Amish fiction (more than 210,000 in combined sales) includes The Adams County Trilogy, the Hannah’s Heart books, and the Little Valley Series. After a traditional Amish childhood, Jerry taught for two terms in Amish and Mennonite schools in Ohio and Illinois. Since then he’s been involved in church renewal, preaching, and teaching Bible studies. Jerry lives with his wife, Tina, and their four children in Virginia.

Tina Eicher was born and married in the Amish faith, surrounded by a mother and sisters who were great Amish cooks. At fellowship meals and family gatherings, Tina’s dishes receive high praise and usually return empty. She and her husband, Jerry Eicher, author of several bestselling Amish fiction titles, are the parents of four children and live in Virginia.


Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

From bestselling author Jerry Eicher (more than 350,000 books sold) and his wife, Tina, comes this warm and inviting peek into an Amish kitchen, complete with recipes, Amish proverbs, and a dash of Amish humor. Readers will laugh, pray, and eat robustly with The Amish Family Cookbook at their side.

Product Details:
List Price: $ 14.99
Spiral-bound: 272 pages

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers; Spi edition (October 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736943773
ISBN-13: 978-0736943772

My Comments:

I didn't try any of the recipes below, but I did try one for a blueberry crisp.  I went to get my camera but the batteries were dead and I didn't feel like going out for more.  In any case, the pages you see above are representative of the appearance of the book.  The recipes in general are simple, made with things most cooks will have or can easily obtain, and they don't take lots of work to make.  They seem pretty kid-friendly too.  However, there are no photos in the book.  On the plus side, I like the spiral binding.  Grade:  B.

AND NOW...A FEW RECIPES FOR YOU TO TRY (CLICK ON PICTURES TO SEE THEM LARGER):

Blog Tour and Review: The Keeper

Keeper, The: A Novel (Stoney Ridge Seasons)

About the Book:
Julia Lapp has planned on marrying Paul Fisher since she was a girl. Now twenty-one, she looks forward to their wedding with giddy anticipation. When Paul tells her he wants to postpone the wedding--again--she knows who is to blame. Perpetual bachelor and spreader of cold feet, Roman Troyer, the Bee Man.

Roamin' Roman travels through the Amish communities of Ohio and Pennsylvania with his hives full of bees, renting them out to farmers in need of pollinators. He relishes his nomadic life, which keeps him from thinking about all he has lost. He especially enjoys bringing his bees to Stoney Ridge each year. But with Julia on a mission to punish him for inspiring Paul's cold feet, the Lapp farm is looking decidedly less pleasant.

Can Julia secure the future she's always dreamed of? Or does God have something else in mind?

Full of the plot twists and surprises her fans love, The Keeper is the first in a new series by bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher. Through touching family relationships and trials of the heart, Fisher's vivid characters grapple with yielding to God's will when it doesn't match their own.

My Comments:

Ever read one of those books that just didn't speak to you?  A book that you knew as well written with interesting characters, a book that you by no means hated or could say bad things about, but a book that you just didn't really like?  That was this one for me.  Usually I like Suzanne Woods Fischer's books, and I didn't hate this one, but it was not a favorite by any means.  I'm sure you'll see a lot of positive reviews if you check out the other folks touring this book.  Here are links to the blogs that have already posted reviews or who should have them today:

1/3

Charlene at Quintessentially Quilly 

Mocha with Linda 

Holly at 2 Kids and Tired Books 

Wendy at wall-to-wall books 

Mary's Cup of Tea 

Patricia at It's Time to Read Meemaw 

1/4

Crystal Created for Home 

Jennifer at Where the green grass grows 

Debra at Footprints in the Butter

Holly at Everything and Anything 

Abi at 4 the LOVE of BOOKS 

Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer 

Beckie at By The Book 

1/5

Valentina at Carabosse's Library 

Renee at Black'n Gold Girl's Book Spot

Anne at Mommy Has to Work 

April's at Lifestyle Show 

Lena at A Christian Writer's World

Lori at Morning Glories and Moonflowers

Giveaway!

It’s a “Honey of a Giveaway” from Suzanne Woods Fisher! Suzanne is hosting a "honey of a giveaway"during the blog tour for The Keeper! During 1/3-1/17 you can enter to win an iPad2 from Suzanne and connect with her on January 17th at The Keeper Facebook Party!

During the giveaway one Grand Prize winner will receive a Prize Pack valued at $600:

• A brand new 16 KB iPad 2 with Wi-Fi
• A $25 gift certificate to iTunes
• A copy of The Keeper

But wait there's more! Just click one of the icons below to enter, then on 1/17 join Suzanne for The Keeper Facebook Party! During the party Suzanne will announce the winner of the "Honey" of an iPad Giveaway and host a fun book chat and give away some fun "honey" inspired prizes - It'll be 'sweet"!

RSVP early and tell your friends!

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 17th!

A Stranger's Gift: My Review

A Stranger's Gift (Women of Pinecraft)

About the Book:

You’ll be swept away by the endearing characters created by award-winning author Anna Schmidt. On the heels of a horrific hurricane, Hester Detweiler, field director for the Mennonite Disaster Service, blows into the life of self-made, shunned Amish man John Steiner. Will she find a way through his shield and into his heart? Although the hurricane has left John homeless and badly injured, the last thing he wants is some do-gooder Mennonite woman intruding in his life. Will his impatience with her intention of restoring his faith and property keep him from accepting this beguiling stranger’s kindness?

My Comments:

Even though you are reading this in late October, I read the book the weekend of Tropical Storm Lee, which also happened to be close to the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, so it fit right in with what was happening.  We watch Hester prepare for the Hurricane and then help people get back on their feet afterwards.  We see politicians come in, including John's aunt, who is in Congress.  I liked it when she said that coming in for photo  ops is what politicians do "when the media pushes our buttons and we don't know what else to do" (remember this is a galley and the final wording may be different).  

Hester is an Mennonite who dresses much like the Amish but lives in a house with electricity and has a college education. Her people worship in churches, whereas the Amish worship in homes.  Hester is an anomaly among her closely-knit people--a woman in leadership, a woman with a position outside the home (even though she is a volunteer and not paid).  She is an old maid more due to circumstances than choice.  John was raised Amish but went his own way.  He is determined to show that he can live without other people.

In a lot of ways, the book is a study in contrasts.  John has two books he saves during the Hurricane--Walden Pond and The Bible.  John rejects people; Hester is always trying to help.  Neither of them really fit in.  Both need to heal.  

I thought the characters in the book were well done as were the descriptions of life after a major storm.  It's a romance novel so I figured out pretty quickly where it was going, but you read books like this for the ride, not the destination.  Grade:  B.

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  I was not obligated to write a positive review (or any review at all).  

The Way to a Man's Heart by Mary Ellis

The Way to a Man's Heart (The Miller Family Series) is a sweet predictable, rather religious  Amish romance.  Leah is eighteen years old and loves to bake.  One day she sees that an abandoned rail car being renovated into a diner.  She meets the owner who offers her a job as a cook/waitress.  It isn't long before the owner offers her the chance to invest in the business and she does.  The results are predictable.

In a lot of ways this is more of a coming of age book than a romance.  Yes, there is a romance, but the book is as much about Leah learning (the hard way) what it means to be an adult.  

While most Amish novels are classified as Christian fiction, they vary in how much religion they portray.  This one is on the heavy side with scripture quotes and a character who has lost his faith.  

Overall, I'd classify the book as mediocre, not terribly bad, but not all that great either.  Grade:  C+

I'd like to thank Christian Review of Books for my review copy.  Check out their website for reviews of all sorts of Christian books.