Reviewing: Stgrength in the Storm by Laurel Blount

...from the publisher...

 In this touching Amish romance, a brokenhearted woman and a steadfast man discover that the safest place to weather tragedy is in each other’s arms.

After the murder of both her parents, Emma Hochstedler returns to the small community of Johns Mill, hoping to resume her quiet existence. Reclaiming her place proves harder than expected—especially now that a movie is being made about her family’s loss. But then, an old friend offers her a lifeline that gives her new purpose.
 
Amish builder Samuel Christner is the biggest—and the strongest—man in town. In fact, the gentle giant has only one weakness—Emma. Even though she broke his heart, he won’t let his childhood sweetheart face her troubles alone. He hires Emma as a nurse for his elderly aunt…and finds himself falling for her all over again.
 
But while romance blooms, storm clouds gather. And when darkness falls, it will take all Sam’s strength—and all their love—to see them through.

 ...my thoughts...

I didn't know what to expect when I picked up this book; it is a new to me author and it started slow for me.  Once I picked the book up again, I found the story very compelling.  I really felt for Samuel, who lost his heart to Emma long before most boys begin looking at Emma. Not only was he strong, he was a force to be reckoned with.  As the story unfolded, he seemed to be everywhere he needed to be. 

Emma was such a timid young woman and understandably so after the tragic deaths of her parents.  She came into her own, however, once she became the full time caregiver for Samuel's difficult, spinster aunt. Emma's beauty, coupled with her unspoiled nature allows her to move into her new role, overcoming a past that has held her back since her parents' deaths.  She believed she too would become the spinster aunt  over time but God had plans for her that she least expected.

I enjoyed this wonderful book by Laurel Blount.  I didn't realize it was book 2 in a series but it was definitely easy to read as a standalone story.

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

Nothing is Easy in A Plain Leaving

When Jessica Bachmann left her home in Lancaster County three years ago.  She left behind her family, the man she loved and her Amish way of life.  Starting over in the Englisch world, she worked her way up in her job at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.  Things in her life were settled until she received word that her beloved father had passed away from lung cancer.

I wasn't surprised to get hooked right away into Leslie Gould's latest offering, A Plain Leaving.  This happens every time I pick up one of her books to read and like the others, I had a hard time putting it down.  I am excited to share that this is book one in her new The Sisters of Lancaster County series. 

Traveling home was almost harder than the day she left.  Her relationship with her mother had been distant. Her brother Arden and sister Marie were only to happy to show her a less than welcome homecoming. Baptized into the faith before she had left, she was shunned and felt the sting from her family especially at mealtimes.  All were content to leave it that way except Silas, her former boyfriend and her dear Aenti Suz.

Her Aenti Suz was a welcome relief in her grief and as Jessica sought her comfort, a parallel story unfolded about Ruby.  The Bachmann family had farmed their land for over 240 years and Ruby was the only daughter of the first Bachmanns to settle in America.  Aenti Suz shared enough of Ruby to keep Jessica eagerly coming back for the whole story.  I must admit that I, too eagerly waited for more of that story.

Jessica loved her family's land and worked  hard to assist with all the chores to help make their load lighter under difficult circumstances. They didn't appreciate her help although they accepted it.  She quickly got back into the routine.  However, she soon learned that her brother had plans for the land that her father would never have agreed to had he lived.  Her job at the Department of Agriculture uncovered information about oil fracking on several farms in the area. It seemed like a good alternative to farming if one didn't like that line of work.  It seemed her brother would willingly give up their livelihood to turn a profit. Jessica had to stop Arden from destroying the land and the family's legacy.  Could she truly leave her home once more after all that she has learned?

I liked this story for many reasons.  The author has a gift for creating characters the reader can identify with.  Forgiveness, unconditional love, loyalty, deceit, perfection and jealousy are just a few things that are woven into the story.  So too is hope and courage.  I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good story that will leave you looking for more.  Many thanks to Bethany House for the opportunity to read this wonderful book and to the author for beginning a new series that promises to be a good one.