An Amish Christams Love - Four Novellas to Get Your Christmas Spirit Roaring!

Take a reading break from all your Christmas preparations.  An Amish Christmas Love is a collection of four Amish novellas written for us by Beth Wiseman, Amy Clipston, Kelly Irvin and Ruth Reid. 

Winter Kisses by Beth Wiseman

I enjoyed this story of the three Stoltzfus women who all happen to be single living together on the family farm. Grandmother Ruth is a lonely widow, Barbara, also widowed is the mother to Naomi, who has never been married.  As luck or a Christmas wish would have it, three single men, working on a construction project have rented the Daadi house. What follows is a heartfelt, sometimes humorous story of love for all the ages. 

The Christmas Cat by Amy Clipston

 A big yellow barn cat adopted Emma Bontrager on Christmas Eve, her first Christmas without her beloved Henry, who passed away last July. Not one to allow cats in her home, the cat is persistent and undeterred as Emma tries to shoo it away.  A group of young people stop to visit and bring Emma a gift.  During the course of their visit, they are interested in hearing Emma’s story of her courtship with Henry.  A simple snowstorm turns quickly into a visit and all are snowbound at Emma’s, along with the big yellow cat.  What follows is a delightful story of how kind gestures can develop into lasting friendships.

  Snow Angels by Kelly Irvin

This is the story to test one’s faith. An Amish man falling in love with an Englischer during his Rumspringa.  Molly Shrock loves David Byler but he has yet to commit.  Could it be he hasn’t settled down yet?  David is content to be back among his family and is about ready to propose to Molly when his other love returns to add enough confusion to turn his head.  Will he choose Molly or Bobbi McGregor?  Can he be happy living as an Amish man with Molly after the thrill of the other lifestyle in Bobbie’s world?

Home for Christmas by Ruth Reid.

Ellie Whetstone parked her motorhome near the farmhouse she inherited from her aenti.  Short on cash she is bent on selling the home quickly and getting back to her profession as a trainer for competitive dog shows.  Ezra mistook the quirky Englisch woman for a burgler when he found her in his kitchen.  After directing her to her aenti’s home on the same property, he thought he was rid of her.  However, the beautiful English woman and the handsome young widower continually ran into each other.  Just when one thinks they are going to be rid of the other, the good Lord shows His hand and what follows is a wonderful story.

Four stories written by the masterful hands of award winning authors.  I recommend this collection as one to read and one to keep to re-read for seasons to come.

Ginger Snapped - A Spicy Read By Gail Oust

Piper Prescott is the owner of Spice It Up, Brandywine Creek's delectable hub for the latest in small town news. Spices of the highest quality line the shelves and are a backdrop for lingering chats of the tell-tale goings on of a small southern town.

When Shirley Randolph's body is found floating in Police Chief Wyatt McBride's fishing hole, Piper and her friend Reba Mae begin the hunt for the real killer.  After being seen a time or two sharing a meal, rumor has it that Shirley and McBride were lovers.  Sometimes, what you see is not the whole story and Piper is determined that McBride is innocent.

This is my first foray into a book by Gail Oust.  I was provided a copy of Ginger Snapped for my Kindle by the publisher through NetGalley.com for my honest review.   The characters are just what you expect in a small town.  They care for each other enough to keep tabs on what is going on around town.  Piper and Reba Mae are the best friends anyone would like to have.  If you enjoy a bit of cliches in your conversation, this book abounds with them.  The underlying romance between Piper and Wyatt simmers in the background, keeping the story interesting.  As mysteries go, the killer was a surprise and Piper had a whole lot more gumption than a cat has nine lives.

My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate Utah by Angie Dicken

This is the story of forbidden love in a time when Greek mine workers were thought of as less than scum. It is all about two lonely widowed souls caught in the web misunderstanding and class distinction. Leanna McKee is a widowed schoolteacher in the mining town of Castle Gate Utah.  Her husband, Jack McKee, wooed her away from her life of privilege in Boston.  They thought they would make a difference for others.  The difference was Jack's gambling addiction and his lack of making Leanna happy. 

Alex Pappas is a Greek immigrant who lived and worked in America for many years.  He saved enough to send for his entire family to emigrate to the land of opportunity.  They are the proud owners of a successful Greek restaurant in town. He has been passed over for promotions because of his Greek heritage.  He was Jack McKee's friend.

Leanna's life after Jack's death was filled with teaching the town's children and trying to survive without Jack. It was when Alex's sister-in-law Penelope's pregnancy kept her on bed rest that he knocked on Leanna's door for help.  He needed to hire her to escort his niece and nephew to school.  Accepting the extra job allowed her to turn her grief into purpose.  It didn't take long for her to become attached to the children and in turn the family.  What neither she nor Alex counted on was the undeniable attraction to each other.

The times dictate many of the customs of society and just like other towns with growing industry and immigrant workers, the long time citizens resented the newcomers.  Mining in 1910 was hard and dangerous and not exactly with the benefits Greek workers were lured to from their homeland and families.

It was inevitable that Leanna and Alex would receive backlash from the mainstream community. It was through their faith, perseverance and tragedy that things began to change for them. 

Many areas of our country were settled by people willing to farm, build railroads and mining for a vast array of ore. Many immigrants came legally to work these jobs.  It wasn't easy for them but they learned English and became American citizens and they raised their families.  But, it took a lot of hard work and effort to make the American dream come true.

I received this book from Barber Publishing Group through NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Love's Thankful Heart A Collection of Romantic Novellas for Thanksgiving.

If you don't have a Thanksgiving reading collection now is the time to start one.  I am excited to take part in this blog tour & GIVEAWAY for Love's Thankful Heart,  a timely collection of novellas to get you started.  Thanksgiving is often overlooked when people leave Halloween treats behind to start scouting Black Friday sales. Yet Thanksgiving should give us pause to relax, reflect and remember.  

About the Book  

Author: Laura V. Hilton, Rachel J. Good, Thomas Nye

Genre: Amish Thanksgiving Collection

Publisher: Celebrate Lit Publishing

Release Date: November 1, 2017

Gingerbread Wishes 

As Thanksgiving approaches, Becca Troyer finds herself overwhelmed with an abundance of winter squash and pumpkins that she isn’t a bit thankful for. Desperately trying to sell them at a farmer’s market so she won’t have mountains to can, she’s surprised when a mime drops to his knee in front of her and proposes marriage.

Yost Miller is helping the volunteer firefighter raise funds at the city park when he notices his long-time crush Becca selling vegetables. Drawn across the grass, he spontaneously proposes marriage. But afterward, Yost isn’t sure how to proceed to show her that his feelings are real.

Just as he begins to find solid footing, confidence is yanked away, leaving him floundering. Will he lose Becca to another man? Or will this Thanksgiving be a season of blessings and wishes come true?

Thanksgiving Strangers

Faithe Beiler believes God wants her to feed the poor at her family’s restaurant, but when she mistakes Crist Petersheim for a homeless man and gives him a free breakfast, he’s offended. Yet he can’t help being intrigued by this pretty waitress with a giving heart.

Crist blames God for the tragedies in his life, so the last thing he wants is to get involved with an Amish girl, who trusts God in all circumstances. He fears for Faithe’s safety, though, when she invites every homeless person in the neighborhood, including drug dealers and criminals, to a free Thanksgiving dinner. Street savvy, Crist risks his life to protect her from danger.

As Crist’s heart softens toward God, Faithe finds herself falling him. Then she discovers his deception, and her world is shattered. Can she ever trust him again?

The Thanksgiving Frolic

Monroe has the prettiest girl and the fastest horse— but pride goes before a fall.

Monroe’s girlfriend, Rosemary, and her family organize the Thanksgiving Frolic, a service project to help Amish folks who have fallen on hard times. Monroe wants to go along but his dad won’t let him. Furthermore, Monroe’s dad thinks Rosemary’s family should clean up their own messy farm before they try to help others. Will the contrast between Monroe’s and Rosemary’s families end their relationship for good? Rosemary’s grandpa tries to offer words of wisdom, but people don’t take him seriously. The Thanksgiving Frolic heats up to a fever pitch, before a moment of silence changes everything.

About the Authors

Laura V. Hilton is an award-winning, sought-after author with almost twenty Amish, contemporary, and historical romances. When she’s not writing, she reviews books for her blogs, and writes devotionals for blog posts for Seriously Write and Putting on the New.

Laura and her pastor-husband have five children and a hyper dog named Skye. They currently live in Arkansas. One son is in the U.S. Coast Guard. She is a pastor’s wife, and homeschools her two youngest children.

When she’s not writing, Laura enjoys reading, and visiting lighthouses and waterfalls. Her favorite season is winter, her favorite holiday is Christmas.

Rachel J. Good grew up near Lancaster, PA, the setting for many of her Amish novels. Striving to be as authentic as possible, she spends special time with her Amish friends, doing chores on their farm and attending family events. Rachel is the author of several Amish series, including Sisters & Friends (Charisma), Love & Promises (Grand Central), and two books in the Hearts of Amish Country series (Annie’s Book Club). In addition, she has two Amish Quilts Coloring Books as well as stories in several anthologies, including Springs of Love (CelebrateLit).

Thomas Nye writes novels about horses and Amish life, with a touch of romance, and a foundation of faith in Christ. He and his wife, Shari, live on her family farm where they raised five children. Their six grandchildren love to visit Karma and Karla, a team of draft horses which Thomas purchased from an Amish friend. Walking a mail route for the U.S. Postal Service keeps Thomas close to nature and affords him many quiet hours which he uses to dream up novels. Over three decades of friendships with Amish neighbors has revealed a simple wisdom that he weaves into his writing. To find out more, visit: amishhorses.blogspot.com

My thoughts....

Gingerbread Wishes is a sweet romance, giving the reader another look at characters introduced in The Christmas Admirer, 
a book I recently read. Becca Troyer and Yost Miller are a younger couple, silently admiring each other. the previous Christmas, Becca tried the popular Gingerbread love potion on Yost to get his attention but it didn't seem to work. Shy Yost couldn't seem to get his courage up to ask her out but wearing a disguise he was able to pluck up the courage to let his feelings be known.  I enjoyed this story.  It is hard to let others see us as we truly are.  It takes courage to know that they do want to know us as we are instead of how we think they do.  

Thanksgiving Strangers is a story of hidden identity, unconditional love and forgiveness.  I enjoyed this story for the depth of character displayed of the characters in a novella.  Faithe Beiler and Crist Petersheim both had inner struggles yet the masks they wore were effective costumes. She was always positive and it was her unwavering faith in God that she could be so accepting and generous to others.  Crist's outward appearance allowed him to keep others at bay.  While this was effective for his work, it also hid the hurt he kept buried in his heart.  The author uncovered many layers to get to the heart of these characters.  I will be looking for more of Rachel J. Good's books for my reader.

The Thanksgiving Frolic by Thomas Nye is a story of pride, humility and the wisdom to be quiet and listen.  While this story is about a young courting couple, I was intrigued by Monroe's father. He was a difficult man who was hard to please yet his son loved him enough to help him when he needed it the most.  It was his change of heart that inspired me the most in this well written story.  

Gratitude and love for fellow man are wonderful ingredients for Thanksgiving.  I recommend this heartwarming novella collection for anyone who enjoys Amish fiction. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Click here to purchase your copy

Blog Stops

Blossoms and Blessings, November 4

Quiet Quilter, November 4

Avid Reader Book Reviews, November 5

Carpe Diem, November 5

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, November 6

Karen Sue Hadley, November 6

Pursuing Stacie, November 7

Mommynificent, November 8

The Fizzy Pop Collection, November 9

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 10

Blogging With Carol, November 10

Bibliophile Reviews, November 11

Splashes of Joy, November 11

proud to be an autism mom, November 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 12

A Baker’s Perspective, November 13

Jeanette’s Thoughts, November 13

Texas Book-aholic, November 14

Mary Hake, November 14

Bigreadersite, November 15

A Greater Yes, November 15

Vicky Sluiter, November 16

Pink Granny’s Journey, November 16

Janices book reviews, November 17

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 17

Giveaway!

To celebrate the tour, Celebrate Lit Publishing is giving away a Kindle Unlimited 6 month Subscription!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c403

Intrigue & Suspense Await In Dangerous Illusions by Irene Hannon

We all have favorite authors and Irene Hannon is one of mine.  Whether she is writing one of her famous thrillers or a romantic story on the Oregon Coast, she just doesn't disappoint me.  A case in point, I read Dangerous Illusions over the weekend!  In fact, I couldn't put this suspense filled novel down. 

The story is set in St. Louis, Missouri and our heroine is a quiet, uassuming teacher.  Trish Bailey moved back home three years ago to care for her invalid mother following the death of her husband and father.  Both died in an automobile accident that left her mother with life threatening injuries.  Their life was settling into a semblance of routine when her mother's untimely death rocked Trish's world once again.

Eileen Coulter's death didn't seem out of the ordinary. Or was it?  Detective Colin Flynn is ready to report the death as a heart attack until some things just don't add up.  Is it possible Trish accidentally mixed up some of her mother's medications? There is a sizable charitable foundation her parents left for her, an only child, to manage.  Or is she just an innocent woman succumbing to a build up of stress after dealing with three years of unimaginable pain and loss. 

Satisfied the death was an accident, Colin was ready to put the case to rest. In a perfect world, Trish could just go about her life without her beloved mother.  Between the pages of this book, however, more and more things pop up in her world to make life one sinister event after another.  There is also an undeniable attraction between Colin and Trish that keep the pulse of the story going.

The plot is filled with intrigue that can only be written by a master story teller.  As I turned each page, new facts came to life that kept my mind wondering how this story could possibly be tied up neatly in the end.  The illusions painted in this story by a masterful criminal add up to one good mystery. My curiosity kept me up until the wee hours of the night to finish.  It was well worth it.

Dangerous Illusions is book one in Irene Hannon's new Code of Honor series.  I give this book five stars and look forward to the second book in this series. 

Nobody Can Be More Mysterious Than the Christmas Admirer

About the Book

Name of book: The Christmas Admirer

Author: Laura V Hilton

Genre: Amish Romance

Release Date: September 5, 2017

Amish romance fans will love this heartwarming holiday story, perfect for gift-giving.

Benaiah Troyer has loved Susanna King for as long as he can remember, but when his parents died in an accident a year ago, he broke up with her—for her own good. After all, he was now the sole caregiver for his three younger sisters. What woman would want to put up with that? Still, against his better judgment, he can’t help leaving her a gift now and then, anonymously addressing her name in big block print, just to catch a smile. Roses one month, maple syrup candy another; and maybe this time, something special for Christmas.


Susanna has never gotten over losing Benaiah, but now the clock is ticking. Her father is selling his glass-blowing business, remarrying in January, and moving to Iowa with his bossy wife-to-be. Angry and frustrated, Susanna realizes she’s left with three options: one, go with Daed to his new home with a new mom; two, stay in Jamesport, Missouri, as an old maid; or, three, the best yet, flush out her mysterious secret admirer. But how could she be with anyone else when her heart is still with Benaiah?

Click here to purchase your copy.

My thoughts: This is my first book by Laura V. Hilton.  I enjoy Amish fiction and this seasonal story didn't disappoint me.  We collect unique pieces from our favorite glass blowing studio on the Oregon Coast.  It's no wonder I found this story of an Amish man with a glass blowing studio intriguing!

Susanna King has had one blow after another.  The love of her life broke things off ten long months ago.  As Thanksgiving approaches, her heart can't help remembering how happy she had been. Assured her love for Benaiah was true, she dreamt that this year, they would be spending their first Thanksgiving as a married couple.  Now facing her father's upcoming nuptials, she is determined not to leave with him when he starts his new life. Who is this secret admirer? She wishes with all her heart that Benaiah is her secret admirer who left those wonderful notes written in block letters such as "I have loved thee with an everlasting love." (Jeremiah 31:3)  

Benaiah Troyer loved Susanna with all his heart. He couldn't ask her to marry him and share his responsibility for three sisters and aging grandparents. Seeing her every day when he came to work and sharing meals with her and Peter made it harder to hide his feelings. If he could buy her father's business he would have a good life to offer her.  The way things stood, Benaiah would lose his job and his girl.  It seemed as if nothing good would  happen again.  Faith, love and more faith sprinkled with a little gingerbread is what is needed to see this through!

If you are looking for a good story to get you into the mood for Christmas, pick up a copy of The Christmas Admirer.  One for you and one for a gift.

About the Author

Amish fiction lovers responded positively and immediately to Laura V. Hilton’s debut novel, Patchwork Dreams, when she burst on the scene in 2009 with her unique series, The Amish of Seymour, set in the tiny town of Seymour, in Webster County, Missouri. Fans of the genre immediately recognized Hilton’s insider knowledge, not only of the Webster County community, but Amish culture in general. Her natural speech and writing patterns, she says, are uniquely “Amish,” acquired from her Amish maternal grandparents. The Amish of Seymour, includes Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts, and Promised to Another. Her second series, The Amish of Webster County, is comprised of Healing Love, Surrendered Love, and Awakened Love. A stand-alone title, A White Christmas in Webster County, was released in September 2014. The Amish of Jamesport includes The Snow Globe, The Postcard and The Birdhouse. In spring 2016 she released The Amish Firefighter with the setting in Jamesport, MO, the same as for The Amish Wanderer.

Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer. Laura and her husband, Steve, have five children, whom Laura homeschools. The family makes their home in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas.

Guest Post from Laura V. Hilton

Glass Blowing and The Christmas Admirer

Right before my youngest son joined the Coast Guard we went on a short mini-vacation to Springfield, Missouri, actually going farther north almost to Kansas City to see another Amish community near there in Osceola. There is a cheese factory there and my son wanted to try some of their cheeses – such as a ghost pepper cheese. Too spicy for me.

But upon the return to Springfield, Steve read about a glass blowers shop in the downtown area. We found the address and went to visit it. It is owned by an older gentleman and his son. They had a display area set up where people could see their wares and buy them and then a work area where the son mostly worked, and talked about how the fire needed to be so hot, and showed us how he worked and made things. As we watched, he made a lovely flower, a lily, in different colors of glass, green, white, pinks.

It was fascinating.
And I got to thinking what if…

So I did some more research. Asked questions. Probably drove them nuts. But when Whitaker House indicated they’d be interested in a Christmas novel, I proposed one about a glass blower.

The story is set in Jamesport, Missouri, and while completely stand alone, it does have some continuing characters from other books I’ve written set in Jamesport. If you are interested, the books set there are:

Amish Books set in Jamesport, Missouri

The Snow Globe
The Postcard
The Birdhouse
The Amish Firefighter
The Amish Wanderer
The Kissing Bridge (part of Springs of Love collection)
The Christmas Admirer
Gingerbread Wishes (part of A Plain Thanksgiving collection–November 2017)
Love by the Numbers (February 2018)

I haven’t read any books about an Amish glass blower, but that’s not to say they aren’t out there. I haven’t read all the Amish books available. Jamesport is an area that is more tourist-oriented than the books set in Seymour / Webster County Missouri. They give buggy tours, have bed and breakfasts, open their homes for visitors to eat supper with them, and have businesses.

All Amish districts are different and the rules vary depending on the bishop and preachers. Some are more liberal and some more conservative. Some keep themselves distant and don’t welcome attention from non-Amish and some embrace it. While Jamesport is not as touristy as some districts in Lancaster Pennsylvania or in Ohio, it is much more so than others.

Susanna’s Cranberry Salad

Ingredients

• 3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (thawed), chopped


• 1 can (20 ounces) unsweetened crushed pineapple, drained


• 2 cups miniature marshmallows


• 1 medium apple, chopped


• 2/3 cup sugar


• 1/8 teaspoon salt


• 2 cups heavy whipping cream


• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix the first six ingredients until blended. Refrigerate, covered, overnight.


2. In a large bowl, beat cream until stiff peaks form. Just before serving, fold cream and walnuts into cranberry mixture.Makes 16 servings.

Susanna’s Cranberry Sauce

For on top of turkey sandwiches as Becca requested Ingredients

• 4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (thawed), chopped


• 1 cup sugar


• 1 cup water or orange juice

Directions

In colander, rinse cranberries. In sauce pan, add water or orange juice and sugar, boil until sugar is dissolved. Add cranberries and return to a boil. Lower to simmer and cook about 10 minutes or until most of the cranberries had burst. Let cool.

Susanna’s “Love Portion” Gingerbread

Ingredients

• 6 cups all-purpose flour


• 1 T baking powder


• 1 T ground ginger


• 1 t ground nutmeg


• 1 t ground cloves


• 1 t ground cinnamon


• 1 cup shortening, melted slightly


• 1 cup molasses


• 1 cup brown sugar


• ½ c water


• 1 egg

• 1 t vanilla

Directions

Shift together flour, baking powder, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon. Set aside.

In mixing bowl, mix shortening, molasses, brown sugar, water, egg and vanilla until smooth. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients until they are absorbed. Divide dough into three pieces, pat down until about 1 ½ inch thickness, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for three hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. On lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to ¼ inch thickness. Cut in desired shapes. Place cookies about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 – 12 minutes in preheated oven. Cool on wire racks. When cool, decorate as desired.

Blog Stops

ASC Book Reviews, November 9

Books n Baubles, November 9

Janices book review, November 9

Avid Reader Book Reviews, November 10

Have A Wonderful Day, November 10

A Greater Yes, November 10

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 11

God’s Little Bookworm, November 11

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, November 11

Eat, Read, Teach, Blog, November 12

A Holland Reads, November 12

Simple Harvest Reads, November 12

Reading Is My SuperPower, November 13

Beck To Basics, November 13

Carpe Diem, November 13

Christian Bookaholic, November 14

Blossoms and Blessings, November 14

Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner, November 15

Reader’s cozy corner, November 15

Christian Author, J.E.Grace, November 15

Baker Kella, November 16

Quiet Quilter, November 16

Karen Sue Hadley, November 16

Pause for Tales, November 17

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, November 17

Pursuing Stacie, November 17

For The Love of Books, November 18

Blogging With Carol, November 18

Pink Granny’s Journey, November 18

Bigreadersite, November 19

Vicky Sluiter, November 19

SusanLovesBooks, November 19

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 20

Moments Dipped in Ink, November 20

New Horizon Reviews, November 20

The Fizzy Pop Collection, November 21

A Simply Enchanted Life, November 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 21

Jeanette’s Thoughts, November 22

Daysong Reflections, November 22

Splashes of Joy, November 22

Giveaway

In honor of her tour, Laura is giving away

Grand Prize Package: The Christmas Admirer, “Unto Us a Child is Born” painting on decorative serving plate by Donna White, The Hearthside Collection, Inc., and commemorative Whitaker House/Anchor Distributors coloring book (not in photo).

1st Place Package: The Christmas Admirer and The Very First Christmas by Juliet David with interactive illustrations by Pauline Siewert (children’s book).

2nd Place Package: The Christmas Admirer and “The Woman Who Honors The Lord Shall Be Praised” myrrh-scented candle from abba Jerusalem!

Click the link to enter! https://promosimple.com/ps/c16f