Harlequin Recommended Reads for November

Title: THE ITALIAN'S CHRISTMAS HOUSEKEEPER

Author: Sharon Kendrick

Genre: Romance

Harlequin Imprint: Presents

Hosted by: Lady Amber’s Reviews & PR

Blurb:

From making the billionaire’s bed… To Christmas between his sheets!

Shy housekeeper Molly Millar always tries her best. She’s anxious to impress outrageously wealthy houseguest Salvio de Gennaro, but instead is unfairly criticized by her employer! When she’s found sobbing by Salvio, he comforts her…with the most amazing experience of her life. But when that incredible encounter costs Molly her job, Salvio rescues her with an irresistible proposition: become his temporary housekeeper—just in time for Christmas!

Buy Links:

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To the horror of my parents, I left school at sixteen and held a bewildering variety of jobs: I was a London DJ (in the now-trendy Primrose Hill), a decorator and a singer. After that I became a cook, a photographer and, eventually, a nurse. I waitressed in the south of France, drove an ambulance in Australia, saw lots of beautiful sights but could never settle down. Everywhere I went I felt like a square peg--until one day I started writing again and then everything just fell into place. I felt like Cinderella must have when the glass slipper fit!

Today, I have the best job in the world, writing passionate romances for Harlequin. I like writing stories which are sexy and fast-paced, yet packed full of emotion--stories that readers will identify with, laugh and cry along with.

My interests are many and varied--chocolate and music, fresh flowers and bubble baths, films, cooking and trying to keep my home from looking burglarized! Simple pleasures--you can't beat them!

I live in Winchester, one of the most stunning cities in the world, but don't take my word for it--come see for yourself! I regularly visit London and Paris. Oh, and I love hearing from my readers all over the world...so I think it's over to you!

Author Links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Oy8SLB

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/181368.Sharon_Kendrick

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sharon_Kendrick

Web: http://www.sharonkendrick.com/

Title: WANT ME, COWBOY

Author: Maisey Yates

Genre: Romance

Harlequin Imprint: Desire

Hosted by: Lady Amber’s Reviews & PR

Blurb:

Her rancher boss is looking for the perfect wife… and she wants the job!

Poppy Sinclair kept her feelings for Isaiah Grayson secret for a decade. When her infuriatingly gorgeous Stetson-wearing boss enlists her help in finding him a convenient wife, she threatens to quit. Until Isaiah counters with an interesting proposal: Why doesn’t she marry him? Can she say yes to sharing his life and his bed, but not his heart?

Buy Links

Universal Link

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book. Since then it's been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn't have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard. She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.

Author Links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2H2NLOa

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3430431.Maisey_Yates

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaiseyYates.Author/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/maiseyyates

Website: http://www.maiseyyates.com/

Title: AN AMISH WIFE FOR CHRISTMAS

Author: Patricia Davids

Genre: Romance

Harlequin Imprint: Love Inspired

Hosted by: Lady Amber’s Reviews & PR

Blurb:

Will marriage save her family? Christmas with the North Country Amish.

Bethany Martin has until Christmas to prove to the Amish community that she can raise her siblings—including her mischievous brother—without a husband. Then handsome newcomer Michael Shetler arrives, winning over Bethany’s siblings. He might be the answer to their prayers, but Michael has a troubled past. Can Bethany love a man with secrets…even if it’s the only thing keeping her family together?

Buy Links:

Universal Link 

USA Today Bestselling author Patricia Davids grew up on a Kansas farm with four brothers. After college she began a wonderful career as a nurse. In 1973 Pat wrote a letter to a lonely sailor. Little did she know her talent with words would bring her love, marriage and motherhood.

An avid reader, Pat longed to write a book, but put her dream on hold as she raised a family and worked in an NICU. It wasn't until 1996 that she began writing seriously. Today, Pat enjoys crafting emotionally satisfying romances where love and faith bring two people together forever.

Author Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/175873.Patricia_Davids

Web: http://patriciadavids.com/index.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PatriciaDavidsAuthor/

Amish Widow's Hope (Expectant Amish Widows Book 1) by Samantha Price

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Clean Romance

Expectant Amish Widows, Book 1

Published: February 2016

Newly widowed Amish woman, Anita Graber, has returned to live with her brother and his family in Lancaster County.

As an expectant widow, she is quite surprised when everyone from the bishop's wife to her brother decides that her baby needs a father. Anita endures many embarrassing moments as she's forced into one awkward situation after another.

Even though another man is the last thing on her mind, she finds a friend in her sister-in-law's brother, Simon. Anita wonders why everyone has rejected Simon as a suitable match for her.

Will Anita finally convince everyone that she and her baby are happy on their own?

Could the man that no one sees her with, be the very man who eventually captures her heart?

Purchase Links 

On Sale for $0.99

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BookLaunch

About the Author

Samantha Price is a best selling author who knew she wanted to become a writer at the age of seven, while her grandmother read to her Peter Rabbit in the sun room. Though the adventures of Peter and his sisters Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail started Samantha on her creative journey, it is now her love of Amish culture that inspires her to write. Her writing is clean and wholesome, with more than a dash of sweetness. Though she has penned over one hundred and twenty Amish Romance and Amish Mystery books, Samantha is just as in love today with exploring the spiritual and emotional journeys of her characters as she was the day she first put pen to paper. Samantha lives in a quaint Victorian cottage with three rambunctious dogs.

Contact Links

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'Sanctuary (#Amish Romance)' by Sandy Goodridge

Blurb: 

When her two best friends are falling for Luke, the same man who stole her heart, can Olivia somehow manage to find happiness without losing her friends?

Olivia, Suzie and Sarah were the best of friends since they were
babies. They not only shared their most intimate thoughts and
feelings, they literally shared their dreams.

It seemed liked nothing could keep them apart from each other, until one day, a new Amish family moved into their community. And then they met Luke.

Will Luke choose Olivia and will they manage to get create a happy life together?

Or will Luke break her heart and tear the best friends apart?

As tensions are rising between Olivia and her friends, the looming
specter of Death and the Englischer world threatens a swift and
unfortunate conclusion. Can Olivia find enough light within her heart to cast away this darkness?

Come spend some time with the Amish in this story of friendship, love, loss and redemption.

Available on Amazon

'The Courtship of Waneta Zook (Paradise Valley Amish Romance Short Story 1)' by Julia Kappel

Blurb:

Waneta Zook has bigger responsibilities than many of the other Amish girls her age. Her mother has passed away, leaving Waneta to look after her three younger siblings... and now her father is in failing health. So, Waneta has humbly resigned herself to the fact that she will probably never marry because she knows that her father will need to be taken care of even after her sisters and brother are grown.

However, the Lord has other plans for Waneta!

THE COURTSHIP OF WANETA ZOOK is a clean, uplifting and complete Amish short story from Julia Kappel, author of the popular Amish Romance novel, THE ENGLISCH GUEST.

Read an excerpt:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
 Matthew 6:33





+ + + 


Waneta Zook had bigger responsibilities than many of the other girls her age. At sixteen, she had to look after her three younger siblings: Katie, Sarah and Jacob while her dat tended to the farm. However, her dat was in failing health and that meant much of the farm work also fell to Waneta, except when they were able to get in some hired help. The Zook shtamm didn’t have much money, so it was hard to pay someone to help. In spite of that, Waneta believed her village in Paradise Valley was a good place to live. It was a giving, caring community that took care of its own. 
 

Waneta’s maemm had passed away when she was eleven and her youngest sibling was four, so Waneta had had no choice but to stop going to school and stay home to look after her bruder. Thankfully, at that time her two younger shveshtahs were able to help her with chores in the morning and when they got home from school. Jacob was a spirited child and keeping an eye on him had taken up much of Waneta’s time. When he went to school two years later, Waneta found it much easier to get everything done. 
 

Because of her added responsibilities, Waneta didn’t have the benefit of a rumspsringa, which would have given her the opportunity to meet boys in the community and, hopefully, to pick her future husband. She had resigned herself to the fact that she would probably end up never marrying, because she knew that her dat would need to be taken care of even after her shveshtahs and bruder were grown. Instead of being upset, however, she humbly prayed to Gott that he would give her peace and help her younger siblings find good love matches. So, Waneta was surprised when her dat approached her about the situation.
 

“Dochtah,” he said, “you know that I’m not getting any younger and that my health isn’t getting any better either. Usually, a farm goes to a mann’s son, but your bruder is only nine years old, and I do not know if I will be here when he is grown.”
 

“Please, Dat, don’t say that,” said Waneta, “you could live for a long time yet.”
 

“Jah, I could,” said Issac Zook, “but only if I do not work too hard. Our community is gut to us, but everyone has their own schaffe to do. I think it is time that you found your love match, and when you get married, I will give you this farm as a wedding present.”
 

“But, Dat,” said Waneta, “I don’t really know the boys in our community, just the ones who have helped us out... and I don’t even know them well.”
 

“I will put out the word,” said Isaac, “that I welcome men to court you... men who also want to help on our farm, so that when the time comes for them to marry you, they will also know that the land will be theirs.”
 

“What if they only want to come to court me because they want the farm?” said Waneta.
 

“Our farm is gut,” said Isaac, “but it is in need of much schaffe; there are other, more prosperous farms in the community with dochtahs that are ready to pick a love match too. I hope only men who are interested in you come around, but if others come, you will be able to tell if they care about you. You are a smart dochtah and I owe a lot to the schaffe that you have done here. Your maemm would want you to have a good love match, and if I should die before it is time, I will know that this farm and my kinner are looked after.”
 

“Jah,” said Waneta, “I understand. I will try to make a good love match for me and for our shtamm.”

“This is gut,” said Isaac, “I will go to town now. We need seed, and I will pass the word.”

“OK, Dat, you know best,” answered Waneta calmly. Inwardly, however, she felt less sanguine. Although she was looking forward to courting, Waneta was worried that she might say or do the wrong thing because she had been at home so much instead of out in the community, except for when she went to church or to the occasional quilting bee.


+ + +

Three days later, when Waneta and Katie were doing the dishes, Waneta’s first gentleman caller came to the hause. Waneta’s dat met him at the door and permitted Waneta to go for a walk with him.
 

“I’ll just be a minute,” said Waneta when her father came to tell her, “I need to wash up a bit.” She took off her apron and made sure that her work dress looked okay. She brushed her teeth, put on her kapp and went outside. She was met by John Miller. She knew him from church and the grocer’s shop where he worked part-time. She also knew that he was the youngest of four boys in his family and that his family’s farm would probably never be passed on to him.
 

“Evening, Miss Waneta,” said John.
 

“Hello, Mr. Miller” answered Waneta.
 

“Your dat has given me permission to court you,” said John. “May I take you for a walk?”
 

Waneta smiled shyly. “Yes, you may.”

John and Waneta stepped onto a moonlit path that led around the barn and a small field. The stars shone brightly in the early summer sky and the air smelled of honeysuckle and freshly cut hay...


Available on Amazon

AUTHOR BIO: 

Julia Kappel grew up in southern Pennsylvania near an Amish community in Lancaster County. Now she lives in North Carolina where she enjoys camping and hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains and singing in the choir at her church. She is an avid reader and a devoted fan of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and CS Lewis.

As a Christian, Julia deeply respects the commitment Amish people have to their faith and to each other. The kindness and gentle humor she experienced among the Amish has inspired her to write about these humble, persevering people.

If you love Julia's clean, enchanting Amish romance stories, visit her blog for the latest news on her upcoming books -- http://juliakappel.com.

Also, check out her page at facebook.com/JuliaKappelBooks where she shares many things related to Amish and Christian romance and would love to hear from you. 

'Love in Harmony: Lydia's Story (Harmony Sisters #1)' by Cassie Belden

Blurb:

When disaster strikes the small town of Harmony, Minnesota, it leaves behind tragedy, broken hearts, and dreams not yet fulfilled. As the eldest, Lydia is left to care for her younger sisters and maintain the family business. In a courtship for almost a year, Lydia’s future had already been decided. With a fall wedding planned, everything was seemingly perfect before tragedy struck. But now her future seems unclear. Sweet and inspirational, this Amish romance is a journey of Lydia's struggles with loss, grief, healing, and love.

Available on Amazon

Find more Amish stories by Cassie Belden here.

Biography

Cassie Belden lives near the twin cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul in Minnesota with her husband and beloved pets. Though raised in the city, she now lives in the country where she feels more connected to God's creation and the natural beauty of the land in every season.

As a Christian, she respects the Amish people's commitment to their faith and community and admires their ability to be self-sustaining. After visiting the town of Harmony and its surrounding areas in southern Minnesota, Cassie was inspired to write about these humble and tenacious people, and she was able to incorporate some true stories into her books.

Harmony, Minnesota is the largest Amish settlement in the state, and what a perfect name for a town filled with people who demonstrate what it means to live in harmony with others.

Connect with Cassie at www.facebook.com/AmishChristianReads.

'Whispers From the Dead (Serenity's Plain Secrets #2)' by Karen Ann Hopkins

Whispers From the Dead

Some Amish communities aren't so cozy.

Whispers From The Dead is the powerful and thrilling sequel to Lamb to the Slaughter, in the Amish mystery series, Serenity’s Plain Secrets.

Sheriff Serenity Adams and Daniel Bachman are once again partnered up in a criminal investigation, when they travel to a northern Amish settlement that has been riddled by arsons for the past two decades. Serenity quickly discovers that there is much more going on than just barns being set on fire in the touristy community, and that the new group of Amish has their own secrets to hide. She begins to unravel an extensive criminal underworld that threatens to destroy everything that the simple people of Poplar Springs hold dear and once again puts her own life in jeopardy.

And even though Serenity tries desperately to avoid it, things begin heating up between her and Daniel, making her wonder if true love and happiness are really within her grasp.

**My thoughts**

Karen Ann Hopkins has a knack for creating atypical worlds in Amish literature. While most of us who read Amish literature are used to the worlds created by the originals, such as Beverly Lewis, Beth Wiseman, etc., with more innocent romance and intrigue, Hopkins shows us another side to this quiet community. We already know that people are not perfect and that secrets can rule, especially in small towns. But murder and arson? This series takes it to a whole new level.

Serenity is a sharp detective, capable of putting together pieces that others have not yet found. She is still sorting out a lot in her personal life, figuring out her own beliefs and feelings, while also still healing from her past. She tends to be pretty good at not letting her past interfere in her investigative duties, though she is fully aware of its influence at all times. You can see some growth in her from the first book and can easily expect to see some more as this series progresses. 

Daniel is still beneficial to her investigations, thanks to his own past. He also packs some intense heat in his affections. While you still see glimpses of his past, sometimes it is hard to believe he grew up Plain.

I found this book to be quite the page-turner. The only thing preventing me from reading it all in one sitting was that work thing that tends to get in the way of my book time. It flowed well, chapters broken up in such a way that you immediately wanted to move on to the next one to find out what was going to happen next. 

A lot of the twists leading up to the solution do provide plenty of clues to help you quite possibly figure out whodunit ahead of time, if not at the same time as Serenity, et. al. It's the details of the final reveals that are not as easy to deduce ahead of time.

I do feel that this book could stand on its own, as there are plenty of references to the first book for clarification, but I would recommend reading Lamb, first. That way you truly understand from where Serenity is coming, and how she got to where she is today.

The only thing with this book that throws me off, as do all of Hopkins books, is that I don't get the same genuine Amish feel from those characters that I do in books by those aforementioned authors. Hopkins doesn't resort to using the authentic Pennsylvania Dutch verbiage, but I know she has done a lot of research into the communities she has created. This is not a bad thing. It's simply a different style of writing, but I point it out to those who are seeking those traditional Amish books. These simply are not those traditional ones. But, if you are also a big fan of mystery and suspense, give this series a shot. I truly love reading it and am now anxious for the third book to come out!

Whispers from the Dead links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Lamb to the Slaughter (Book #1)

Lamb to the Slaughter is a story about the intertwining lives of three unlikely people in an Indiana Amish Community and the devastating results when a rebellious teenage girl is found shot to death in a corn field during the harvest.

Serenity Adams is the newly elected young sheriff in the country town of Blood Rock and besides dealing with the threatening behavior of her predecessor, she now has a dead Amish girl on her plate. At first glance, the case seems obvious. The poor girl was probably accidently shot during hunting season, but when the elders of the Amish community and even the girl’s parents react with uncaring subdued behavior, Serenity becomes suspicious. As she delves deeper into the secretive community that she grew up beside, she discovers a gruesome crime from the past that may very well be related to the Amish girl’s shooting.

Serenity enlists the help of the handsome bad-boy building contractor, Daniel Bachman, who left the Amish when he was nineteen and has his own dark reasons to help the spunky sheriff solve the crime that the family and friends who shunned him are trying desperately to cover up. Serenity’s persistence leads her to a stunning discovery that not only threatens to destroy her blossoming romance with Daniel, but may even take her life in the end.

Lamb to the Slaughter links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Find Karen Ann Hopkins

A native of New York State, Karen Ann Hopkins now lives with her family on a farm in northern Kentucky, where her neighbors in all directions are members of a strict Amish community. Her unique perspective became the inspiration forthe story of star-crossed lovers Rose and Noah. When she’s not homeschooling her kids, giving riding lessons or tendingto a menagerie of horses, goats, peacocks, chickens, ducks, rabbits, dogs and cats, she is dreaming up her next romantic novel.

• Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

We have a really exciting prize package for this tour, so make sure to follow along for more chances to win every day! What’s up for grabs:

• 5 e-copies of Lamb to the Slaughter, Book 1 of Serenity’s Plain Secrets
• 5 e-copies of Whispers from the Dead, Book 2 of Serenity’s Plain Secrets
• A traditional Amish style hand stitched wall hanging/lap quilt


Please enter via the Rafflecopter form. Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY.

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Tour Schedule

Monday, Januray 19th - Her Book Thoughts
Tuesday, Janaury 20th - Curling Up With A Good Book
Wedneday, January 21st - So Bookalicious
Thursday, Janaury 22nd - Bewitched Bookworms
Friday, Janaury 23rd - Lose Time Reading & Books i View

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Monday, Januray 26th - Unabridged Bookshelf
Tuesday, Janaury 27h - Andi's Book Reviews
Wedneday, January 28th - Little Miss Drama Queen
Thursday, Janaury 29th - Tien's Blurb
Friday, Janaury 30th Christy Howell Books

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Monday, February 2nd - Actin' Up with Books & Page Turners Blog
Tuesday, February 3rd - Once Upon A Twilight
Wednesday, Feburary 4th - JeanzBookReadNReview
Thursday, February 5th Bittersweet Enchantment
Friday, February 6th Books i View

Review of 'Lamb to the Slaughter (Serenity's Plain Secrets #1)' by Karen Ann Hopkins

Lamb to the Slaughter by Karen Ann Hopkins

An adult mystery from the author of the young adult romantic Temptation Series!

Publication: March 2014

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Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Some Amish communities aren't so cozy.

Lamb to the Slaughter is a story about the intertwining lives of three unlikely people in an Indiana Amish Community and the devastating results when a rebellious teenage girl is found shot to death in a corn field during the harvest.

Serenity Adams is the newly elected young sheriff in the country town of Blood Rock and besides dealing with the threatening behavior of her predecessor, she now has a dead Amish girl on her plate. At first glance, the case seems obvious. The poor girl was probably accidently shot during hunting season, but when the elders of the Amish community and even the girl’s parents react with uncaring subdued behavior, Serenity becomes suspicious. As she delves deeper into the secretive community that she grew up beside, she discovers a gruesome crime from the past that may very well be related to the Amish girl’s shooting.

Serenity enlists the help of the handsome bad-boy building contractor, Daniel Bachman, who left the Amish when he was nineteen and has his own dark reasons to help the spunky sheriff solve the crime that the family and friends who shunned him are trying desperately to cover up. Serenity’s persistence leads her to a stunning discovery that not only threatens to destroy her blossoming romance with Daniel, but may even take her life in the end.

*Lamb to the Slaughter is book one of Serenity’s Plain Secrets.

**My thoughts**

I read the Temptation series by Karen Ann Hopkins, which was a different type of Amish book for me. I was eager to check out this one as soon as I heard it was available. This one is also different from so many that I tend to read, as it brings out the uglier side of the Amish community. As far as I know, this ugly side isn't the norm, which made it a little weird to read. At the same time, I was completely drawn in by the prologue and had a hard time putting down the book in order to do anything else. Others are not going to appreciate this view of the Amish and therefore shouldn't read it.

This book was so much more intriguing than the Temptation series for me. Yes, a good murder mystery will often trump a romance in my book, though there is some romance thrown in. Little plot twists creep up on you. Some I had figured out ahead of time; some were unexpected. My suspicions as to the guilty party tended to shift slightly throughout, because I was trying to figure out if Hopkins was going for the obvious culprit or would throw another curveball.

We get to know Serenity pretty well through her perspective in some of the chapters. She has a lot to prove, being the first female sheriff in the area, and has her own personal demons. She also has a hard time understanding the Amish culture, even though she grew up in the area. Her need to prove herself gets in her way, especially in regards to Daniel. Her wishy-washiness toward him made me crazy, but I wasn't the only one. I actually kept picturing the sheriff from Under the Dome while I was reading this.

Daniel also takes a turn telling the story in some chapters. We get to know him as the former Amish man who is happier living with the English, but truly misses his family. He has his own little secrets and demons, but is inherently kind. I feel like there is more to him and his story that we just haven't yet uncovered.

We also get to know the deceased as the chapters alternate between telling her past story and following the present events. The entire picture is slowly uncovered between these three perspectives, which works quite well here. It builds up the anticipation without being confusing and keeps the pages turning.

This case does wrap up nicely, but another one opens up at the end of this. I will be eagerly anticipating the second book in the series! Overall, 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Find Karen Ann Hopkins

A native of New York State, Karen Ann Hopkins now lives with her family on a farm in northern Kentucky, where her neighbors in all directions are members of a strict Amish community. Her unique perspective became the inspiration forthe story of star-crossed lovers Rose and Noah. When she’s not homeschooling her kids, giving riding lessons or tendingto a menagerie of horses, goats, peacocks, chickens, ducks, rabbits, dogs and cats, she is dreaming up her next romantic novel.

• Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Follow the tour!

We have a really exciting prize package for this tour, so make sure to follow along for more chances to win every day! What’s up for grabs: 

• A $100 Amazon Gift Card
• An autographed set of Karen’s YA Temptation series
• A traditional Amish style hand stitched wall hanging/lap quilt with the lone star pattern in country colors

Please enter via the Rafflecopter form. Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review of 'Almost Amish' by Kathryn Cushman

Susan is a Martha Stewart in-training. She is classic Type A personality and a helicopter parent. Her husband recently left her and she is trying to figure out her life. She is given a chance to be on a reality TV series in which a family tries to live like the Amish. This would bode well for her career, so she agrees to do it.

She needs another family, so she asks her brother's wife Julie to join her with their two kids. Julie is a stay-at-home mom who is completely dissatisfied with her life. She is always on the go, she never sees her kids, and she always feels like a failure. Somehow, a summer of simple living sounds like a great idea to her.

The two families aren't going to actually live as Amish. They will have electricity and indoor plumbing. They will have to learn how to wash their clothes by hand, cook on a wood stove, plant a garden, care for farm animals, etc. Every week there is a new challenge they must face, that they hope will draw in viewers.

Susan is determined to be perfect. She is so focused on what the American audience is going to see, that she continues to neglect her daughter. Julie is also afraid of looking like a fool in front of the TV audience, but she finds herself quickly getting more in tune with herself and her own kids. She realizes that simple living isn't as easy as you would think, but it is definitely more purposeful.

The attitude of the producer, Kendra, and her production crew make you cringe. For example, when they are visiting the nearby town and later Walmart, they are explicitly told to *NOT* film the Amish people and their businesses. They go ahead and do it anyway, which is so disrespectful. Some of their tasks and other things they film are also highly disrespectful. Isn't that the name of the game in reality TV anymore? Julie notices, though, and develops a strength inside her to stand up for what is right.

This book is an excellent reminder to stop and smell the roses from time to time. Everything you do in life should have some kind of a purpose. Remember to listen to your kids and to each other. You are probably missing something very important. Life is not about jumping on Facebook every five minutes to update your status, nor texting your friends nonstop about trivial matters. It is about embracing what you have and giving of yourself to others. Twists in the plot also remind you to not take people at face value. Sometimes there is more going on that what you see on the surface. First impressions are not always the correct ones. I hope that the readers of this book are able to learn this lesson as well as, if not better than, the characters in this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House, in exchange for my honest review.

Purchase in paperback


Purchase for Kindle

Review of 'The Fiddler' by Beverly Lewis

Amelia Devries is an extremely talented violinist, whose father's dream for her has been to travel the world's stages. Music is what gives her life; however, she doesn't only like to play the classics. She also loves to fiddle. Her alter ego is Amy Lee, star fiddler, who just opened up for Tim McGraw. No one else in her life knows about her other side, which at times is more appealing than being a concert violinist.

On her way home from the Tim McGraw show, she takes a wrong turn in a horrible rainstorm. She seeks shelter at a nearby cabin, in which an Amishman, Michael Hostetler, lives. Michael was born in the Amish faith, but has recently found himself drawn to the English ways of life as he seeks his higher education.

The two of them are instantly drawn to each other. Michael is amazed at Amelia's talents and beauty. Amelia is drawn to a simpler way of life. Both of them seem to straddle both worlds, though one foot definitely lies more heavily in one than in the other.

As you are reading this book, you realize that one or both of them is going to have to give up their current way of life, in order to make anything work out. Dreams may be fulfilled, but some may have to be given up in order to create new ones. You're torn between how you want them to work this out. If Amelia goes Amish, she will have to give up her music. If Michael becomes English, he faces the disappointment of his community. Both of them fear upsetting their fathers, who have alternative ideas about what their children should do with their lives. You want them to find a way to work it out, to achieve their life's dreams, and to not lose their families in the process.

While I was reading this, I kept envisioning Amelia as a sort of Alison Krauss. I had no celebrity in mind for Michael, but I could still picture him just as clearly in my mind. You could really feel the emotions of the characters as they grew and developed. You rode their roller coaster of hopes and dreams, disappointments and desires. It was a very touching reminder to stay true to yourself. I loved it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Purchase in paperback


Purchase for Kindle