The Bachelor Book 2 of Plain City Peace series by Stephanie Reed

Photo from barnesandnoble.com

My Review:  The Bachelor Book Two of Plain City Peace Series by Stephanie Reed
Kregel Publications
ISBN 9780825442162
Amish, Christian Fiction

  The Bachelor is set in 1970’s around the Vietnam war and draft. Bestie Troyer lives in Plain City where she is raising her two younger siblings and taking care of a English girl. Her biggest prayer is for her parents and aunt to return to Amish life. They left the Amish life to live out their new-found faith in Jesus. Bestie is promised to Charley but has a intense friendship with Englisher Michael.  Among much confusion she has to decide who to give her heart to and which faith she will follow.
  The author Stephanie Reed did a great job explaining salvation in this story. I really enjoyed learning how the Amish and English view faith and salvation. It was an eye opening experience to see the contrast of faith between Bestie who is Amish and Englisher Sheila. They both had such strong beliefs. The Bachelor is book 2 in Plain City Peace series but it stands alone. I have not read the first book The Bargain but after enjoying this one so much I will.
  I loved this fast paced Amish novel. It was thought provoking, well written and filled with faith. I give The Bachelor 5 stars. And a high-five to the author Stephanie Reed and publisher Kregel Publications for bringing compelling Christian books that are entertaining and give hope to the reader with stories of faith. The Book Club Network Inc. provided me with this book in exchange for my honest review and I am so grateful for their, the authors and publishers generosity.  

Christmas at Rose Hill Farm, A Amish Love Story by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Photo & Overview from Barnes and Noble

Overview of book: Bess found herself remembering what Billy had looked like as a young man of eighteen. He was still every bit as gloriously handsome as he had always been--but the roguish twinkle in his eyes was gone. His face was drawn tighter than the lids of Mammi's rose petal jam jars. It seemed as if he could barely tolerate being here, as if she and all of Stoney Ridge were nothing but a great inconvenience to him.

Then why was he here?

The rose, of course, which gave her a small measure of comfort. The Billy Lapp she once knew would go to any length for a rose.

My Review:  Christmas at Rose Hill Farm, An Amish Love Story by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Revell
Christian Fiction, Amish, Christmas, Romance
ISBN 9780800721930
  Years ago Billy Lapp fled town, hurting and wondering if anyone truly loved or believed in him. Bess Riehl for years has carried the torch for him but has accepted he is not returning. Newly engaged and questioning her choice she prepares for her wedding. When a old rose is found at Rose Hill Farm’s she and her father turn to Penn State University for answers to it’s identity. Billy is the rose expert sent by the college. As they research and wait for the rose to bloom love is in the air.
   I feel a little in love with the character George. The author kept me guessing to the very end about this hobo. Was he a hobo, a drifter or someone much, more important?  He brought the element of faith alive. I enjoyed how he made the scriptures come alive with a new deeper understanding. Overall there was a feeling of that God is faithful even when we are not.
   Quote: “ The rose. This elusive, mysterious rose. With a practiced eye, Bess gathered every detail about the rose, confidant that the same thoughts were being cataloged in Billy’s mind: class of Gallicas; a large, dramatic bloom of pink-mauve color, packed with petals; deeply fragrant. What couldn’t be described was why it was the most important rose in the world. This rose had brought Billy Lapp home.”
  By far Christmas at Rose Hill Farm is my favorite novel by Suzanne Woods Fisher. It turned out to be so much more than a Christmas story. I highly recommend this 5 star book. The characters were well developed and thought out. There’s no way not to fill their pain and joy.
   I want to give a high-five to the author Suzanne Woods Fisher and publisher Revell for bringing compelling Christian books that are entertaining and give hope to the reader with stories of faith. I was provided with this book in exchange for my honest review and I am so grateful for the authors and publishers generosity.  

Suzanne Woods Fisher

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The Revealing by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Revealing

Book 3 - The Inn at Eagle Hill

By Suzanne Woods Fisher

Book Description:

Naomi King, soft spoken, loyal, and easily overlooked, has a gift. She sees what others can’t see. Intuition, she calls it. Others in Stoney Ridge don’t know what to make of it and dismiss her hunches and inklings altogether.
When a young woman arrives at the Inn at Eagle Hill with a shocking secret about Tobe Schrock, Naomi fears the worst. She can’t ignore the feeling that something sinister is at work– something more than a threat to the tenuous love begun between her and Tobe.
As signs mount, they begin to point to Jake Hertzler, the elusive mastermind behind Schrock Investments’ downfall. Soon, events spiral hopelessly out of control and Naomi must decide whether to listen to her head or her heart.
In this riveting conclusion to The Inn at Eagle Hill series, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher pulls out all the stops with a fast-paced tale of deception, revelation, and just the right dose of romance.

My Review:
The Revealing is Amish fiction, with deception, mystery and a little romance. I give this wonderful book 4 stars. It was a very good read, the characters are well developed and thought out. Naomi King secretly marries Tobe Schrock right before he is due to report to prison. Everything is on the line, if her secret is revealed because he is not baptized and thought to be a bad egg. Her world crashes around her when a mystery guest shows up at The Inn at Eagle Hill claiming to be pregnant for Tobe. The Revealing brings to a close The Inn at Eagle Hill Series. The author Suzanne Woods Fisher did a great job closing out this wonderful series.

I want to thank the author Suzanne Woods Fisher and publisher Revell for bringing good clean Christian books like this one to readers like me. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
About author Suzanne Woods Fisher:

Photo from www.suzannewoodsfisher.com

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a bestselling author of Amish fiction and non-fiction, and a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazine. Her fiction books include: The Inn at Eagle Hill Series, The Stoney Ridge Series, and The Lancaster County Secrets Series.
She has also written a few children's book, The Adventures of Lily Lapp Series, and non fiction books that include a favorite of mine Amish Proverbs.

You can find her at suzannewoodsfisher.com, on Facebook, and Amazon

 

 

Sesons of Tomorrow, Amish Vines and Orchards, Book 4

Fourth and final book of Amish Vines and Orchards Series

 

 

 

Book Descripution: As love restores Rhoda, a sudden tragedy is the test of faith she never saw coming.

 

More settled in her heart than ever before, Rhoda Byler feels a newfound confidence living in the Old Order Amish settlement she helped establish in Orchard Bend, Maine. Time has helped to heal the wounds of Rhoda’s recent severed relationship, and she finds that even her unusual gift of profound intuition is less of a burden as she continues to seek God’s wisdom for her future. She is happy to be working alongside the King family and the love of her life as they tend and nurture the settlement’s orchard.

Yet when Leah King’s involvement with Englischer Landon Olson becomes known outside of the Maine community, her disregard of the Ordnung could threaten all the Orchard Bend Amish are building. In the midst of addressing the discord, a shocking tragedy challenges the young settlement like never before, threatening to uproot Rhoda’s peace and the future of everything she holds dear.

When several members of Orchard Bend Farms are displaced, the estranged King brother is called upon to return. Can those who founded the new Amish community in Maine unite Or will the lingering pain of past hurts and present struggles result in the end of their dreams?

My Review:
Seasons of Tomorrow is a great tale of an newly established Amish community . You read about the lives of four couples living at Orchard Bend Farms in Maine. They are working the canning season and harvest while struggling to make a go of the community. Rhonda Byler finds herself part of a new Old Order Amish settlement, where she is a horticulturist. She has recently broken up with her boyfriend Jacob and has started dating his brother Samuel King. Jacob has to return to the Orchard to help out when Phoebe and Steven Byler’s lives meet tragic circumstances. In the mean time Leah Byler falls in love with Englischer Landon Olson. This book is action packed, fast paced and full of drama. The couples of this community deal with the challenges of living in a strict Amish community while facing the temptations of the world the live in. The struggles they face are similar to those faced by new Christians wanting to live a life that is pleasing to God.

I am a big fan of Amish Fiction but this is the first I have read by author Cindy Woodsmall. I found this book to be well written, with characters that pull you in. Seasons of Tomorrow is book four of a series but it can be read by itself but would be much better read as part of the hold series. The author intertwined the stories of the three other books in this one so it was easy to know what was happening. I have not read the other three but plan on reading them as soon as I can my hands on them. I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest option. I recommend this book to all that love Amish Fiction and Christian Fiction, I give it 4 stars.

I want to give a high-five to the author Cindy Woodsmall and publisher for bringing compelling Christian books that are entertaining and give hope to the reader with stories of faith. Blogging for Books provided me with this book in exchange for my honest review and I am so grateful for their, the authors and publishers generosity.

http://www.cindywoodsmall.com/books/amish-vines-and-orchards-series/seasons-of-tomorrow/

 

                  



My Amish Boyfriend by Melody Carson

My Amish Boyfriend By Melody Carlson

 

 

Overview:

Shannon's summer just got a whole lot more . . . Amish?
Shannon McNamara has exciting plans for the summer—getting her driver's license, a job, and more—and she can't wait to dive in. But her ill mother has plans of her own: to relocate them both to the heart of Amish country in Ohio where she has relatives who can help her.

Turns out a "simple" life is actually a lot of hard work. But when a hot young Amish guy named Ezra enters the picture, Shannon's ready to get an Amish makeover and even consider making it a permanent change. Will these plans come crashing down around her too? Or can she really make the jump into a whole new way of life?

Teen favorite Melody Carlson brings fans another surprising story of worlds—and families—colliding.



My Review:

When 16 year old Shannon McNamara’s mother becomes ill her summer plans take a drastic turn. Shannon is a born and breed city girl but circumstances force her to spend the summer with her Amish grandparents she didn‘t know she had. Too her surprise Shannon takes to the simple life of the Amish. Life gets even better when she meets Ezra the handsome boy next door. He was raised Amish and is trying to figure out if he will be baptized or move on as an Englisher. Read this great book to see if Shannon and Ezra can make a go out of it. I enjoyed watching her grow and mature as she worked hard at being Amish and feel in love. I highly recommend this book and promise you will not be disappointed by it.

I did not realize when I got this book it was Teen Fiction. Although this book can be found in the teen section it can be read and enjoyed by all lovers of Amish Fiction, by teens and adults alike. I found it very well written and really enjoyed My Amish Boyfriend. I give this book 4 stars. It is full of twists and turns, faith and family dynamics.

I want to thank the author Melody Carlson and publisher Revell for bringing good clean Christian books like this one to readers like me. I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

About the Author: 

  Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than two hundred books, including the Life at Kingston High series, The Dating Games series, Double Take, and A Simple Song. She has received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice. Melody and her husband live in Oregon. Find out more at www.melodycarlson.com.

The Calling, The Inn at Eagle Hill By Suzanne Woods Fisher

Book Description: Twenty-year-old Bethany Schrock is restless. Her love life has derailed, her faith hangs by a thread, and she is spending the incredibly hot summer days wading through a lifetime's accumulation of junk at the home of five ancient Amish sisters. About the only thing that holds her interest is the spirited and dangerously handsome Jimmy Fisher--and he seems bent on irritating her to no end.

When the sly old sisters and a guest at the Inn get Bethany involved in running the local soup kitchen and starting a community garden, she suddenly finds herself wondering, Shootfire! How did that happen? Despite her newfound purposefulness, a gnawing emptiness about a childhood mystery continues to plague her. Encouraged by Jimmy Fisher, she will seek out the answers she craves--and uncover a shocking secret that will break her heart, heal it, and point her to love.

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher delivers her trademark twists, turns, and tender romance in this delightful and exciting visit to the deceptively quiet community of Stoney Ridge.

My Review:The Calling was a remarkable Amish book. Bethany Schrock a young Amish woman is living on edge after a bad break up. She is being harassed by Jake Hertzler. And has just discovered her mother she thought abandoned her is really living in a home for the mental ill. Her days and nights are lived in fear of becoming mentally ill. Jimmy Fisher has his eyes on Bethany. She has doubts about his sincerity and does not trust her own feelings. She is able to find guidance and relief with the antics of the 5 sisters of the Sisters House and out of work English pastor Geena Spencer.

I loved the dynamics of the characters. The author Suzanne Woods Fisher handled the arduous subject of mental illness with integrity and respect. I found her facts to be right on. This book had a little of everything, mystery, romance, humor and to top it off was full of a strong faith. I give The Calling 4 stars.

I want to give a high-five to the author and publisher for bringing compelling Christian books that are entertaining and give hope to the reader with stories of faith. Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group provided me with this book in exchange for my honest review and I am so grateful for their, the authors and publishers generosity.

Author:  Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of "The Letters," the Lancaster County Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including "Amish Peace." She is also the coauthor of an Amish children's series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Suzanne is a Christy Award finalist and a Carol Award finalist. She is the host of internet radio show "Amish Wisdom" and a columnist for "Christian Post" and "Cooking & Such" magazines. She lives in California. For more information, please visit www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and connect with her on Twitter @suzannewfisher.

UNFORESEEABLE: BOOK THREE IN THE ROAD TO KINGDOM SERIES,

by Nancy Mehl 

Callie Hoffman knows she has a good life in Kingdom, Kansas. She's thrilled to be engaged to Levi Housler, the new pastor of Kingdom Mennonite Church, and she spends her days working with her friend and soon-to-be sister-in-law, Lizzie Housler, at Cora's Cafe.


However, Callie's idyllic life is interrupted when a body is discovered on the road outside Kingdom and the deceased turns out to be a victim of a serial killer. As Washington County's new sheriff begins questioning Kingdom residents, Callie and the rest of the town are appalled at the prospect of a killer among them. The very reason Kingdom exists is to protect the people from the temptations and dangers of the outside world, but all the town founders' attempts to plan ahead couldn't prevent a threat like this.
Unsettled at this unforeseen danger, Callie is concerned when it appears Levi knows more than he's telling. Desperate to find answers for herself, Callie never expected that she'd have to face some of her own past's skeletons.

As Callie and the residents of Kingdom fear this danger for which they never planned, they must learn anew that only God knows the future and their trust must always lie in Him.
My review of Unforseeable: Unforeseeable, Road to Kingdom Series by Nancy Mehl
Callie Hoffman has loved Levi Housler since grade school but thought he had never noticed her. She is now newly engaged to him. Levi is the newly appointed Mennonite pastor, some parishioners think he is to young to be pastor. It seems a serial killer has targeted their secluded community. "Murder and meatloaf just don't go together," Lizzie grumbled in the restaurant Callie was employed at. Can the newly appointed Sherriff protect the people of Kingdom? It seems not when the killer gets too close. Now they are pointing fingers at Levi. Callie has noticed some changes in Levi and she is questioning his love. Will they survive this test? The author Nancy Mehl has done a magnificent job keeping me guessing as to who has done it. She has interweaved faith among the action and suspense of this Christian Romantic Suspense Fiction. This is the third book in her Road to Kingdom series, I know if you pick it up you will enjoy it as much as I have.  


Nancy Mehl has been a writer for over twenty years. The author of fourteen books, with two scheduled to be released in 2013. She was first published in 2001. You will find a little something extra special in Nancy’s books, she shares a little of her faith. Her and hubby Norman call Wichita, Kansas home but hope to join their son and his family in Missouri soon. Every good author needs a muse to inspire and help with all their writing and work that goes on behind the scenes. Nancy is no different her muse just happens to have four legs and a tail, her puggle Watson. I had to know more about her furry friend,Watson, so I asked if she could share a little about him. Her reply was, "Watson, Oh, my. He's a special little boy. There are things he absolutely hates: Plastic bags, tin foil and flies. I don't understand the first two, but I'm with him on the last one. He doesn't like anyone to touch ANYTHING that belongs to him. His toys, his crate or his leash. He LOVES going for walks, doggie treats and his people. That's what we are, you know. The truth is, we don't own him. He owns us."

Nancy Mehl is a fairly new author to me. I stumbled upon one of her books about a year or so ago. Although I have not had the pleasure of reading all her books, the ones I have read gave me courage to grow, inspired greater faith and gave the feeling of walking with the characters. I have really enjoyed getting to read her books and getting to know her. I am lucky to call Nancy a friend and sister in Christ.

 I was able to ask Nancy what her favorite scripture was and she said "I love all scripture, but one of my favorites is Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I love this because so many people don't realize that they are special to God. God has a plan for all of us as individuals, and NO ONE can fill our role the way we can. I use my writing to encourage people to seek God's will for their lives. His plans are always exciting and fulfilling!" When asked how God has worked in her life lately, she said, "God works in my life every day. He's amazing! One example: Even though I wanted our house to sell earlier this year, he made us wait. Although it was frustrating, now I see why He did that. The timing is perfect in so many ways. He is so good!"

God uses each of us everyday in some way or somehow, but I was cuourious as to how he uses her as a writer and author. She told me, "I think God uses me to encourage people - to let them know they're not wandering generalities. They are unique, special, and loved."

If you have not had the oppertunity to read one of Nancy Mehl's books you are really missing out. You need to check out the first two in The Road to Kingdom series, Inescapable and Unbreakable.  She also has some other great books available.

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