An Amish Home by Beth Wiseman, Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, Ruth Reid

March 28, 2017

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from BookLook in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

An Amish Home by Beth Wiseman, Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, Ruth Reid was a good book. I have read quite a few books like this one now, and I think that they are some of the favorites because they usually have three to four short stories in them and I like being able to finish a story and move on to the next one at a fast pace. I am going to share some thoughts that I had on each of the stories because that is the easiest way to review them.

A Cup Half Full by Beth Wiseman

It took me a few chapters to get into this book. I felt so bad for the characters in this book because of everything that happened right before this book started. I did find that this story is the typical story about the Amish and that isn’t a bad this because I love these types of books.

Home Sweet Home by Amy Clipston

This was my favorite story in this book. I liked that it had an Amish family in the book, but they weren’t the main characters. I loved that you get a different point of view in this book because the main characters are just regular people and they are helped by the Amish family. This story just made me feel good by the end of the book because I feel in love with the characters in this story and this is one that I wished would have been a longer story because I was sad to see these characters go.

A Flicker of Hope by Ruth Reid

I had a really hard time getting into this book because I didn’t connect with these characters like I usually do. I am not sure why I didn’t like this story, but this is one that I was glad that the story was short because I don’t know that I could force myself to finish this book if it had been any longer.

Building Faith by Kathleen Fuller

I think that this story was my second favorite because I loved that Faith wasn’t the typical Amish women and she did things that most Amish women don’t do. I also wished that this book had been a full-length book because I was sad that it was so short. I did think that this book was predictable, but I still loved it.

All in all, if you are looking to get into reading Amish fiction I would recommend picking up a book like this because it is an excellent way to read different stories but not be committed to an entire book if you end up not liking the book.

About The Book

A Cup Half Full by Beth Wiseman—Sarah Lantz always dreamed of the perfect home, the perfect husband, the perfect family. When she married Abram, she knew she was on her way to securing her perfect life. All of that changes in one moment when an accident leaves her unable to walk and confined to a wheelchair, dashing all of her dreams. As Abram starts to transform their home, Sarah begins a transformation in her spirit, and she begins, once again, to see her cup as half full.

Home Sweet Home by Amy Clipston—Down on their luck and desperate after they are evicted from their small apartment, Chace, and Mia O’Conner reluctantly take Chace’s Amish boss up on his offer to rent them the daadihaus located on his property. They are certain they will never feel at home in the rustic cabin without any modern conveniences, and they start to blame each other for their seemingly hopeless situation. But with the help of their new Amish friends, Chace and Mia begin to enjoy their cozy cabin and realize that home really is where the heart is.

A Flicker of Hope by Ruth Reid—Fifteen years ago, Thomas and Noreen King were blissful newlyweds. Young, naive, and in love, life was rosy . . . for a while. Then trials and tribulations rocked their foundation, shattering them emotionally, and soon, their marriage was in shards. All hope for restoring their previously unshakable union seems lost. When a fire destroys their home, Thomas and Noreen are left to sift through the rubble. As uncovered items from the remains of the house shake loose memories of the past, Thomas and Noreen begin to draw closer and a flicker of hope—and love—is re-ignited.

Building Faith by Kathleen Fuller—Faith Miller knows that carpentry is an unlikely hobby for a young Amish woman, but she loves the work, and it keeps the memory of her grandfather alive. So when her cousin asks Faith to build the cabinets in her new home, Faith is only too happy to take on the job, even if it is the most ambitious project she has ever taken on. The only catch is that she has to work with her ex-fiance, Silas. As they work to build Martha’s kitchen, can they put the past behind them and start to build faith in one another again?

About The Author’s

Beth Wiseman

“I wish I had the time to review books and chat with you here, but my writing deadlines just don’t allow it. Please like my Fans of Beth Wiseman Page on Facebook where I try to post any news and interact with readers.”
Beth is the best-selling and award-winning author of the Daughters of the Promise series – Plain Perfect, Plain Pursuit, Plain Promise, Plain Paradise, and Plain Proposal. She is contracted with HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Her other series–the Land of Canaan Novels–begins with Seek Me With All Your Heart, then The Wonder of Your Love and now, His Love Endures Forever. Seek Me With All Your Heart is the first Amish fiction book selected as a Women of Faith novel in 2011. Beth has also written three contemporary Christian fiction novels, Need You Now published in 2012 and The House That Love Built in 2013. In The Promise, (2014) Beth jumps way outside the box. This story takes readers far away from Amish Country and small Texas towns to a dangerous place on the other side of the world. Inspired by a true story, Beth believes this is the book she’s been working toward for a long time. 2015 brings Beth back to the Pennsylvania Amish with her new series, Amish Secrets. She is currently working on book #2 following much success with book #1, Her Brother’s Keeper.

You can also follow Beth on Twitter: @BethWiseman

Amy Clipston

Hi, I’m Amy Clipston. I am an author of Amish and Christian fiction with HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Most of my books focus on the Amish community, faith, and love. I also write romance novels and young adult inspirational stories

Kathleen Fuller

Kathleen is the best-selling author of over thirty books, including the Hearts of Middlefield Series and the A Middlefield Family Series. She lives with her husband and three children in Northeast Ohio. Kathleen loves to hear from readers.

Ruth Reid

Ruth Reid is a CBA and ECPA best-selling author of the Heaven on Earth series. She’s a full-time pharmacist who resides in Florida with her husband and three children.

Find out more about Ruth at:http://ruthreid.com

Buy A Copy

Add-On Goodreads

Let’s Be Friends

Helen Keller – Quote Of The Month

March 27, 2017

This week’s quote is by Helen Keller.

I really liked this quote because to me it makes me realize that if you focus on only negative things then everything in your life will always be bad. I know quite a few people who only look at all the bad things that happen in their life and in the world. They can’t figure out why they have so much negative energy in their lives. I always tell them that nothing good will happen to them if all they ever put out into the world is negativity. I have learned that when I put out more positive thoughts and actions into the world I get back positivity.

What do you think of this week’s quote by Helen Keller?

A Fine Year for Murder by Lauren Carr

March 23, 2017

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from iRead Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

A Fine Year for Murder by Lauren Carr was an okay book. I don’t think I have ever mentioned in any of the reviews that I have written about Lauren Carr’s books but I love that she puts a list of characters at the start of the book so that if you haven’t read other books by her you will still know how each of the characters are related. I also loved that in this book I got to see a little bit of Gnarly because he is my favorite character in every one of the books that he shows up in. This wasn’t my favorite book that she has written, but it wasn’t so bad that it would make me not want to read the next book that she writes. If you love mystery books that aren’t over graphic and that are pretty fast paced than I would recommend any of her books to you. You can click here to see the reviews on the other books by Lauren Carr that I have read and reviewed.

About The Book

After months of marital bliss, Jessica Faraday and Murphy Thornton are still discovering and adjusting to their life together. Settled in their new home, everything appears to be perfect … except in the middle of the night when, in darkest shadows of her subconscious, a deep secret from Jessica’s past creeps to the surface to make her strike out at Murphy.

When investigative journalist Dallas Walker tells the couple about her latest case, known as the Pine Bridge Massacre, they realize Jessica may have witnessed the murder of a family living near a winery owned by distant relatives she was visiting and suppressed the memory.

Determined to uncover the truth and find justice for the murder victims, Jessica and Murphy return to the scene of the crime with Dallas Walker, a spunky bull-headed Texan. Can this family reunion bring closure for a community touched by tragedy or will this prickly get-together bring an end to the Thorny Rose couple?

About The Author

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, romance, and humor.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, son, and four dogs (including the real Gnarly) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Connect with Lauren: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Buy A Copy

Amazon

Add-On Goodreads

Let’s Be Friends

Book Trailer

Enter To Win

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Cutaway by Christina Kovac

March 21, 2017

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

The Cutaway by Christina Kovac was a good book. I knew that I was probably going to enjoy this book because let’s be honest this is the typical book that I love. It took me about a chapter to get into the book because it was a slower start for me. I liked the characters in this book, and I loved that the characters aren’t the typical characters that you see in books within this genre. I found that because the characters are the usual characters that you see that I was more engaged because I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending but when you read as many books as I do that happens from time to time. If you love mystery books and are looking for something different within the genre, then I think you should check this book out. If you have read it what did you think of it?

About The Book

The Cutaway draws you into the tangled world of corruption and cover-up as a young television producer investigates the disappearance of a beautiful Georgetown lawyer in this stunning psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn.

When brilliant TV news producer Virginia Knightly receives a disturbing “MISSING” notice on her desk related to the disappearance of a beautiful young attorney, she can’t seem to shake the image from her head. Despite skepticism from her colleagues, Knightly suspects this ambitious young lawyer may be at the heart of something far more sinister, especially since she was last seen leaving an upscale restaurant after a domestic dispute. Yet, as the only woman of power at her station, Knightly quickly finds herself investigating on her own.

Risking her career, her life, and perhaps even her own sanity, Knightly dives deep into the dark underbelly of Washington, DC business and politics in an investigation that will drag her mercilessly through the inextricable webs of corruption that bind the press, the police, and politics in our nation’s capital.

Harkening to dark thrillers such as Gone Girl, Luckiest Girl Alive, and Big Little Lies, The Cutaway is a striking debut that will haunt you long after you reach the last page.

About The Author

Christina Kovac managed newsrooms and produced crime and political stories in the District. Her career as a television journalist began with Fox 5’s Ten O’Clock News, followed by the ABC affiliate in Washington, D.C. For the last nine years, she worked at the Washington Bureau of NBC News. She lives with her family outside of Washington D.C.

Buy A Copy

Add-On Goodreads

Let’s Be Friends

Martha Beck – Quote Of The Week

March 20, 2017

This week’s quote is by Martha Beck.

What do you think of this week’s quote by Martha Beck?

Her Secret by Shelley Shepard Gray

March 15, 2017

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Her Secret by Shelley Shepard Gray is one author that I am almost guaranteed that I will like whatever book she puts out. This is the first book in the “The Amish of Hart County” series, and I can’t wait to read other books in this series because I feel in love with the characters in this book. This book was more of a slow starter for me but once I was a few chapters in I was once again hooked and didn’t want to put the book down. I loved that this book took on a subject that I haven’t ever read before when it comes to Amish fiction books. I know that is why I enjoyed this book as much as I did. I have read just about every book of Amish fiction that has been written, and I enjoyed that this book put me in a different place than all of the others ones that I have read. I really did enjoy the characters in this book, and I was sad when I finished it because I hate saying goodbye to characters that I fall in love with. If you love Amish fiction, I would for sure recommend this book to you, but I would also recommend any book written by this author because I don’t think I have ever read one that I didn’t like.

About The Book

A suspenseful tale of a young Amish woman who is forced to move to a new town to escape a threatening stalker
After a stalker went too far, Hannah Hilty and her family had no choice but to leave the bustling Amish community where she grew up. Now she’s getting a fresh start in Hart County, Kentucky…if only she wasn’t too scared to take it. Hannah has become afraid to trust anyone-even Isaac, the friendly Amish man who lives next door. She wonders if she’ll ever return to the trusting, easy-going woman she once was.
For Isaac Troyer, the beautiful girl he teasingly called “The Recluse” confuses him like no other. When he learns of her past, he knows he’s misjudged her. However, he also understands the importance of being grateful for God’s gifts, and wonders if they will ever have anything in common. But as Hannah and Isaac slowly grow closer, they realize that there’s always more to someone than meets the eye.
Just as Hannah is finally settling into her new life, and perhaps finding a new love, more secrets are revealed, and tragedy strikes. Now Hannah must decide if she should run again or dare to fight for the future she has found in Hart County.

About The Author

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. 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.