Another Success: Minding the Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Suzanne Woods Fisher's Minding the Light will capture your imagination from page one onward.  The characters are lively and not what you might expect from the black and white pages of your history books about Quakers.

A coveted journal from one of the first white settlers on Nantucket Island makes its way into book two of the Nantucket legacy series.  Written by Mary Coffin Starbuck, who wrote about her life in the 17th century, her days seemed to parallel the life of her forbears.

Captain Reynold Macy had much to look forward to when he returned home after a six year voyage. What waited for him on arrival was more than he bargained for.  The story unfolds it is certain that the life he dreamed of with his young wife Jane was never going to be what he imagined. The ship's hold was full and should turn a profit. His cousin and business partner Tristram Macy, had looked after his business affairs so all would be well.

His young sister-in-law, Daphne, was about to become engaged to Tristram. She had been helping Jane manage the large house on Orange Street where all fine captains lived.  Her heart was with her family, and although her mother was pushing her engagement, she was reluctant to set her heart fully on the match. 

I meant to read only a few pages as the hour was late when I began, but soon found the time had moved along until I was well into the third chapter before I had to put it down.  I was looking forward to this book since I read the sneak peek in Phoebe's Light.  The Quaker faith in this series is inspiring as it relates to bringing forth the light.  Jane, and her sister Daphne have a strong faith and live their lives accordingly. However, while the Quakers considered themselves "Friends"  they also do not welcome the native population or blacks into the polite society of their meetings.  This is very evident with their own mother, Lillian Coffin, whose standards are so different than her daughters. 

I recommend Minding the Light with 5 stars for those who love historical fiction.  The characters are engaging and the plot well written. 

Celebrate Lit Blogging Tour for Firestorm by Laura Hilton Plus Giveaway

About the Book

Title: Firestorm

Author: Laura Hilton

Genre: Christian Amish

Release Date: July, 2018

Bridget Behr and her family migrate from the bustling Amish community where she grew up in Ohio to the mostly unpopulated Upper Peninsula of Michigan after a stalker breaks into their home. While her father and brother try to find work in the area, the family is forced to reside in a borrowed RV until the house and barn are rebuilt. While Bridget is hoping for a fresh start, she’s afraid to trust anyone—even Gabriel, the overly-friendly Amish man who lives nearby. Bridget thinks he’s a flirt who serial dates and doesn’t even remember the girls’ names.

Due to not enough construction work in his Florida community to keep him out of trouble, Gabriel Lapp has been sent to Michigan to work. His father is desperate for his son to settle down. When the family walks into Gabe’s home in the middle of a thunderstorm and he discovers their circumstances, he offers to help with construction. For Gabe, the beautiful girl he teasingly calls “the recluse” once he discovers she doesn’t attend youth events, confuses him like none other.

As Gabriel and Bridget grow closer, they realize there is more to a person than meets the eye. Just as Bridget is finally settling into her new life, and perhaps finding love, tragedy strikes. Now Bridget and her family must decide if they should move to another Amish community, or dare to fight for the future they’d hoped for in Mackinac County.

...my thoughts...

Laura Hilton hooked me into this story immediately.  From the moment the Behr family arrived at their new home to meeting Gabe Lapp I knew I was in for an entertaining ride.  I am tempted to tell all but no spoilers here. However, I will share that as this summer is heating up, this is one book Amish Fiction fans do not want to miss.

The characters are complex and the novel has a few side stories that keeps the reader's interest.  Bridget, who has been burned before is not going to let the handsome Gabriel Lapp into her life.  She does not date.  Period.  

Gabe, who is freezing in Michigan after growing up in Florida is the guy you  hope to introduce to your younger sister.  He is nice, funny and will help you in any way he can.  He is popular with the young ladies but nobody sparks his interest until he meets "Green eyes" aka Bridget, who does not date.  

Hosea Behr's strict no nonsense approach is such a sharp contrast to Gabe that one can feel their tension nearly leap from the page.  It is interesting to see how these two men try to work together in the face of consequences that both face for their actions.  

I enjoyed this book for the story but also because the characters are well written and believable.  The struggles they face are not what you expect in an Amish story.  Life can be a struggle and what you do with what you are handed is what makes or breaks a spirit.  Laura Hilton manages to keep all together with a surprising solution for all. 

                     

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

  Laura V. Hilton is an award-winning, sought-after author with over 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.

 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.

Guest Post from Laura Hilton

I read a series of books a year or so ago by another Amish author who had set her books in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. As a Michigan native, I was curious, and I researched, but found nothing about Upper Peninsula Amish except a notation that one had tried and failed. So I contacted the author. She told me that she’d never been there, and her research had all been hearsay, so with that lack of firsthand knowledge and no trip to the Upper Peninsula planned, no trip to see for myself would be possible. At least at that time.

Then God intervened. My son who is in the United States Coast Guard was stationed in the Upper Peninsula this past summer (2017.) He saw the Amish driving around in their buggies. And he felt like a stalker as he followed one to see where he went and drove through the area. He even sent pictures. (Shhhh.)

Yes, there are Amish in the Upper Peninsula – at least at the time this book was written.

Okay, as a Michigan native, I used some terms that may not be familiar to non-Michiganders. A Yooper is someone who lives in the Upper Peninsula. A Troll is someone from the Lower Peninsula. A pastie is kind of like a Hot Pocket, except it’s a meat pie made with root vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, and rutabagas. They are so good. And the straits are the area of the Great Lakes connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

As for the wildfire, the earliest wildfire I could find any documentation on in the Upper Peninsula was in April. It is generally a snowy area — trust me. I lived near the Muskegon area and saw snow drifts in May. We sometimes had over six feet of snow on the ground at one time. So, to get the wildfire when I wanted/needed the wildfire I used artistic license. Yes, fires really happened in Michigan’s history. Just not in the month mentioned in the book.

I am attaching a meme about Michigan seasons. We’ll call the fire set in “fool’s spring.” My son got married during the “third winter” this year. April 21 and there’s snow on the ground. He and his beautiful bride got married at a water fall (Tahquomenon Falls) very near where the story is set.

Thanks for reading Firestorm!!

Blog Stops

Carpe Diem, July 10

Blogging With Carol, July 10

Reading Is My SuperPower, July 11

Moments Dipped in Ink, July 11

The Avid Reader, July 12

Blossoms and Blessings, July 12

Texas Book-aholic, July 12

God’s Little Bookworm, July 13

Inklings and notions, July 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 13

Among the Reads, July 14

Because I said so- adventures in parenting, July 14

Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner, July 15

Random Thoughts From a Bookworm, July 15

A Reader’s Brain, July 16

Luv’N Lambert Life, July 16

Daysong Reflections, July 17

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

Janices book reviews, July 17

Inspiration Clothesline, July 18

lady ansel book blog, July 18

Jeanette’s Thoughts, July 18

cherylbbookblog, July 19

Two Points of Interest, July 19

A Baker’s Perspective, July 19

Pause for Tales, July 20

Ashley’s bookshelf, July 20

amandainpa, July 21

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, July 21

Bigreadersite, July 21

proud to be an autism mom, July 22

Bibliophile Reviews, July 22

For The Love of Books, July 23

Pink Granny’s Journey, July 23

           Little Homeschool on the Praire, July 23tops 

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Laura is giving away

Grand prize: Firefighter Puppet 9 (Melissa & Doug), Copies of Amish Firefighter and Firestorm by Laura Hilton.

First place prize of “I Love You to the Cross & Back” Mug (Gardenfire) & Firestorm by Laura Hilton!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!  https://promosimple.com/ps/cf87/firestorm-celebration-tour-giveaway

Firestorm

uncertain of new home sight unseen
hasty judgements
doubt of others
reasons behind doubt
dedication to service/fighting fires
proving oneself to extent of own endangerment

Plain Everyday Heroes Celebrate Lit Blog Tour Review & Giveaway!

About the Book

Title: Plain Everyday Heroes

Authors: Laura V. Hilton, 

Rachel J. Good, Thomas Nye

Genre: Christian Amish

Release Date: July 4, 2018

Playing with Fire

Arie Zimmerman has been in love with Noah Behr from almost the moment they met, but after a devastating wildfire destroys the community, everything changes. Noah questions how a loving Gott could allow such things to happen. As Arie and her family struggle to rebuild their home and lives, Noah escapes to California to fight another off-season wildfire—and maybe find Gott in the process.

When Noah returns, he promises Arie the prize money if she will help him with a chili cook-off to fund the fire department. Of course, in order to spend more time with the girl he loves, he’s also willing to pitch in unloading the new furniture and animals her daed bought at an auction. He’ll even help Arie slice and dice vegetables if he can taste test the recipes.

More than just the kitchen heats up as they spend time together. But will Noah find a still missing Gott in the process and discover there’s more to life than what he initially believed?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

...my thoughts....

I enjoyed reading Playing With Fire and learning what became of Noah Behr, who first appeared Laura's book Firestorm.  Arie and Noah sincerely care for each other but before they can move ahead in their relationship he needs to come to grips with his faith.  Arie's  family lost everything in the firestorm, yet her faith is stronger than ever.  Noah is refreshing as he searches to find God and he is determined to keep searching.  The resilience in this story could only be written by master story teller Laura V Hilton.  If you have not read her work  yet, I recommend you start now.  

An Unlikely Hero

Mysteries intrigue secondhand shop owner Benuel Miller. Although strangers may think a blind man would be easy to cheat, those who know Benuel realize he’s honed his other senses to pick up clues his eyes don’t see, making him a savvy business owner. When a stranger enters Benuel’s secondhand shop, the man is shocked by Benuel’s accurate assessment and unsolicited advice. Wary, he hopes Benuel won’t find out his true intentions, but the shopkeeper is already on the case.

Later, Mari and her twin sister, Frannie, stop in Benuel’s shop with Frannie’s three-year-old son, and Benuel senses trouble. His hunches have never led him astray, but is he misreading something here? He can’t help being drawn to Mari, yet is she as sweet and loving as she seems? Or is she hiding a deep, dark secret?

One explosive night when tragedy strikes, Benuel risks his life to find out the truth. Can he unmask the stranger from his shop to foil a sinister plot? And will what he discovers destroy his only chance for love?
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
...my thoughts on Unlikely Hero...

This is an intriguing mystery that kept me turning pages one night until I came to the end!  Benuel  Miller is  blind but bears a special insight that enables him to read a lot into the characters of customers who enter his store. While he is not your every day hero, he quickly sizes up the situation between Mari and Frannie and knows things just don't add up.  I enjoyed this novella by Rachel j Good, an author who finds the most intriguing real life subjects for her books.

 Racing the Slow Girls
A recipe for fast-paced, comical, Amish adventure— Ingredients: Three fun-loving teenage boys on bicycles. Mix in an adorable little girl on a pony, a few spunky teenage girls, and a hint of romance. Directions: Place the characters in a beautiful setting, such as Holmes Co. Ohio. Roll in the boys on bikes. Stir up a few harsh words spoken carelessly. Add plenty of retaliation by the girls. Place in the heat of a family emergency until everyone is completely undone. Sit back and enjoy an Amish adventure with a cup of coffee.

...my thoughts  on Racing the Slow Girls...

I enjoyed reading about  Daniel and Libby, an unlikely friendship developed through his simple acts of kindness toward her.  Libby was an engaging child who seemed to make him late when he was meeting friends for fun and games.  Daniel had two identities and when the truth comes out in an all important event to help out his young friend, the results are a nice finish to a game of mistaken identity.

Click here to purchase your copy!

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 is the author of several Amish series in print or forthcoming—Sisters & Friends, Love & Promises, and two books in theHearts of Amish Country series—as well as the Amish Quilts Coloring Books and the contemporary novella, Angels Unaware, part of the Hope Chapel series. Visit Rachel at her website: www.racheljgood.com.

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.

Arie’s habanero chili

1 lb stew meat: venison, or beef

1/4 cup bacon bits

1/2 Onion, diced

Green pepper, diced

2 cans of habanero Rotel

1 can tomato sauce

1 can kidney beans

1 can pinto beans

1/2 cup sliced jalapenos

1 TSP cayenne pepper

3 TB chili powder

2 TB beef bouillon

1 TSP paprika

1 TSP pepper

2 TB garlic

salt to taste

Saute onion and pepper, set aside. Sear stew meat in hot pan until brown. Do not over cook. Add meat and other ingredients to pot and simmer until done. Add water if necessary. Serve with cornbread. Approximately 7 servings

Recipe compliments of Michael Hilton (Laura’s son)

Blog Stops

The Avid Reader, July 7

Among the Reads, July 7

Bibliophile Reviews, July 8

Random Thoughts From a Bookworm, July 8

Texas Book-aholic, July 9

Cherylbbookblog, July 9

proud to be an autism mom, July 10

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, July 10

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 11

Mary Hake, July 11

Janices book reviews, July 12

Blogging With Carol, July 12

Because I said so – Adventures in Parenting , July 13

Quiet Quilter, July 13

Reading Is My SuperPower, July 14

Jeanette’s Thoughts, July 15

Carpe Diem, July 16

A Baker’s Perspective, July 17

Maureen’s Musings, July 18

Splashes of Joy, July 18

Bigreadersite , July 19

Luv’N Lambert Life, July 19

Pink Granny’s Journey, July 20

Blossoms and Blessings, July 20

Giveaway

To celebrate the tour, Celebrate Lit is giving away

Grand prize: a $25 Visa gift card

1st – 4th place: eBook copy of Plain Everyday Heroes!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/d19d/plain-everyday-heroes-celebration-tour-giveaway

Mary Bennet's Untold Story Now Written by Katherine J Chen in Mary B

As an avid fan of Jane Austen's books, I was eager to read this untold story of Mary Bennett by Katherine J. Chen.

In Pride and Prejudice we see Mary as that difficult middle daughter who possesses none of the beauty of her elder sisters. Nor is there the spunk found in her excitable younger sisters who seem to find nothing but mischief and the desire to be courted by anyone sporting regimental reds.

This story brings a new twist to Mary's personality as the men we've come to admire in the original seem to look past her plain looks and personality to see the real Mary and her potential.  Even Mr. Collins' plight has had a new light shed upon his toady personality as the author digs deeper into his background and odious behavior in seeking a wife.

Jane Austin's Mary, a well read young woman who seeks no dance partners nor special ribbons to adorn her plain looks is the same Mary Bennet in Mary B. The difference is that in Mary B, we get more than a superficial glimpse into this young woman's life.  If you find you haven't had your fill of the Bennet family, you will probably enjoy adding this book to your collection.  It is written in the style faithful to Pride and Prejudice.