Amish Widow's Hope by Samantha Price (Amish fiction, Christian fiction, Romance, 10/10E)

 

February 2016, 176 pages, Ebook, Personal copy

Book summary

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?

Nayu's thoughts

I haven't yet reviewed many Amish themed novels, but trust me when I say I've read quite a few! It's one of my favourite genres of fiction.  Amish Widow's Hope has what love about the genre, some humour, strong family values based on religious values, a bit of sweet clean romance, and an ending that makes me feel happy and uplifted. I am planning on reviewing more in time because I do want to share the series I love. 

Speaking of series Amish Widow's Hope is part of a large series which I hope to read in time: I think this one was free on Kindle, which is why I got it, and it's the first book I've ever read by Samantha.

What drew me to Anita's tale was the fact she was single, which as a mother isn't common in the Amish community. The lengths the well meaning neighbours went to to try and set her up with suitable bachelors was absolutely hilarious, despite the trouble it caused Anita. Even she found it funny, thankfully she has Simon who understands her situation, and treats her well in a considerate manner. Anita's brother in particular gets a bit upset with Anita spending time with Simon, which Anita doesn't understand for a long time, because Simon is kind and friendly, and a good man. 

Of course being a romance novel he is the one she falls in love with, which is a joy to watch alongside the failed matchmaking attempts. In some ways you'd expect Amish characters to be respectful and not that forceful about what they want in life for someone, but the bishop's wife is an example that that simply isn't true at all. It's a testament to Anita's inner strength and her faith in God which helps her stick with her convictions and not keep the peace and do what her family wants her to do. Forging a new path isn't easy, but it's most definitely worth it, especially when her happiness is at stake. 

I enjoy learning about the Amish culture which differs between communities through Anita's tale. Their devotion to God is admirable, the way they incorporate God into every part of their life is something I can relate to and despite being a different religion I feel at home with Amish fiction. Their traditional ways is appealing in a world full of technology, and while I love my video games too much to give them up, the simpler Amish way of life is inspiring in subtle ways. This is placed firmly on my reread shelf, and I look forward to reading the rest in the series. 

Find out more about the series on Samantha's website. 

Suggested read

Other Amish fiction titles include An Amish Year by Beth Wiseman (Amish Fiction, Christian fiction, 10E/10E, NetGalley, short 'n' sweet review)

An Amish Year by Beth Wiseman (Amish Fiction, Christian fiction, 10E/10E, NetGalley, short 'n' sweet review)

December 2015, Thomas Nelson, 393 pages, Ebook, Review copy from NetGalley

Content: clean romance
 

Book Summary

Rooted in Love (previously published in An Amish Garden

Rosemary Lantz is doing her best to run her family’s household. She excels at all her tasks except one: gardening. Saul Petersheim has pursued Rosemary for years, but Rosemary keeps turning him down. What Saul doesn’t know is that she has good reason—something no one can know—especially not him.

A Love for Irma Rose

The year is 1957, and young Irma Rose has a choice to make. Date the man who is “right” for her? Or give Jonas a chance, the wild and reckless suitor who refuses to take no for an answer?  Irma Rose steps onto the path she believes God has planned for her, but when she loses her footing, she is forced to rethink her choice.   

Patchwork Perfect

Eli Byler has been a widower for two years when he chooses to make a fresh start in Paradise, Pennsylvania. As Eli juggles the admiration of two women, he meets Miriam Fisher—the most unconventional Amish woman he’s ever met. She doesn’t fit the mold for what Eli is looking for, but it isn’t long before Eli realizes that Miriam is everything he wants. But Miriam has no plans to get married—ever.  Will Eli be able to change her mind?

When Christmas Comes Again (previously published in An Amish Second Christmas)

Katherine knows the first Christmas without Elias will be hard for her and the children. But when a mysterious Englischer appears with photographs of her late husband, Katherine begins to wonder what other blessings Christmas could have in store.

Nayu's thoughts

At the end of each story of my ARC it lists books related to the story, which made me happy because I can explore the worlds touched upon further. You will need tissues! I cried heaps at the final novella, very bittersweet with a full range of emotions explored. Just because a story is short doesn't mean it can't pack a punch! 

I fell in love with all the characters, some who are in a more liberal Amish community than I've previously read, but that in itself was fascinating. A lot of the troubles characters faced were due to misunderstandings and incorrect beliefs which is what makes us human, and thus the books are easy to relate to.  As usual the Amish really love their food, sweet and savoury ^o^ All 4 novellas had a glossary of Amish words at the start so you didn't have to struggle with them if you aren't familiar with Pennsylvanian Dutch. They are pretty much the same for each story, so I barely glanced at them since I knew most of the phrases. 

Rooted in Love

My heart wept for Rosemary, because she was so wrong about her secret which took forever to come out. I must note I have the audiobook for the compilation An Amish Garden, which this story is also from, and looking forward to rereading it, knowing the happy ending!  

 A Love for Irma Rose

 A tiny part of me was annoyed with Irma for being indecisive, but the rest of me understood the pressure she had to do the 'right' thing for her family and community. In the past I lacked confidence in being bold enough to make a decision and stick with it, and worried about what others thought. These days I just do what I feel like, and was cheering when Irma finally made the right choice in every way. 

Patchwork Perfect

This was an extremely fun read, because Miriam was so stubborn! I loved watching how Eli coped with his children, which wasn't always the best, but he did what he could. It was interesting to find out it's what's inside a person that counts, who they are to everyone: few ever know what happens in someone's home, something Eli discovers to his horror with another potential wife candidate. 

When Christmas Comes Again

This story in particular made me think a lot because a lot of Amish don't like  photos, which is the same for a lot of Muslims too. I'm not against photos as I believe they capture moments in time, although I prefer landscapes and photos of objects/creatures, not humans, as experiences are captured in the heart. The photos in the story really helped Katherine deal with her grief, and helped bring about a positive change in her life.

Find out more on Beth's website.

Review Policy Update 2016

One book is never enough!

Since a few things have changed since the last time I updated my review policy (over 2 years ago), here's the revised version which can be permanently found here. 

Hi everyone! Welcome to Nayu's Reading Corner where I, Nayu, as well as a few other book addicts review books! 

Now seeing as the last post for this was July, I thought I'd better update it. Although all essential info is in the side bar, here are the extra details which I don't have room for there.

General info

I'm trying to read more Children's books under 9 years +,  Cozy Mysteries, and Contemporary Fiction.

I check emails daily, but sometimes due to ill health I may not be able to do this - thank you for your patience if I'm delayed in replying.

I can't always tweet links to reviews on the same day - this is for health reasons. I do tweet links as soon as I am able. 

I now do post my reviews on Amazon UK, US, and GoodReads.


I accept books from publishers, self-published books, Paperbacks, Hardbacks, eBooks (I have an ereader). Everything is subject to whether I like the sound of the book. Occasionally I'll accept a book but for whatever reason if I don't get on with it I will stop reading it. Mostly I do finish books I receive and give honest reviews - sometimes this is a low review - it happens.

Genres I review 

I love reading Children's books from 0-11 years, mostly fiction but non-fiction welcome too.

I'm reading a few Romance, Young Adult, New Adult, and Contemporary fiction

I'm actively seeking Cozy Mysteries, Amish fiction, clean reads

For all genres I prefer having a female protagonist, although will read male protagonist books too. 

Here's a list of topics I'm interested in: 

School stories - they never get old
Magic/magical creatures - there's fun to be had with magic around
Fairies/princesses - never fail to make me smile
Animal stories - somehow that's an area that I've never lost a passion for
Mysteries and quests - because I love adventureBooks that will make me laugh - I'm on a mission to keep in good spirits, and books play a vital role in that.
Anything samurai/ninja/Japanese related - such an awesome topic


I do not review the following

Horror - occasionally I will read books with mild horror in them, but this is at my discretion
Books which are of an extremely adult nature - obviously some of the Paranormal Romance, Romance, New Adult and Contemporary fiction have romance in, but I don't read anything explicit. 

Blog Tours, Author Interviews etc

I do still take part in blog tours, so if you think I'd like to read your book then please do enquire about them. I prefer giving competitions and guest blog posts to author interviews, but will do them occasionally.

Reading Challenges

These are currently dormant and will remain so for the forseeable future. 

Memes

What Are You Reading Meme? happens every Monday, with help from Gina R of the book review blog Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Nayu's News posts

These are continuing as and when I'm able to write them - I aim for at least one a week. They are often but not exclusively about what I've recently been up to, what I'll be doing over the next week, updates on my current health, and anything else I want to chat about! 

I think that's everything - if not I'll simply add to this post! As always, thanks for reading NRC. I hope you enjoy the posts here, and keep an eye out for the fun competitions which are usually international!

Naturally cute anime pics continue to feature regularly on this blog!

The Amish Bride by Emma Miller, Amish fiction, Romance, 10/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

 August 2015, Love Inspired, 256 pages, Ebook, Review copy from NetGalley

Content: mild romance, drama, laughs and tears

Summary from Harlequin

Ellen Beachey's dreams of being a devoted Amish wife and mother are finally within her reach. But she didn't expect she'd have to choose between two brothers. Golden-haired Micah has a heart filled with adventure and a ready smile. Serious but gentle elder brother Neziah is a devoted and caring father of two. But Ellen and Neziah share a heartbreaking past that might prevent any hope of a future. Ellen never imagined an arranged union as a way to find true love. She wants to be loyal to her family, but she needs to follow her heart…if only she can figure out what it wants.

Nayu's thoughts

Yay- another Amish read! They always make me smile as I learn more about the Amish customs through Ellen's life. I like how she is being given a choice on who to marry, rather than being dictated to. There are positives and negatives for both brothers, making it a hard choice for her, a choice which had to happen though. She cares a lot for her family who aren't in the best of health – this compassionate quality made me like her more. I also liked that she was working in a craft shop – that is so cool! My love for shop fiction (especially craft) made me smile whenever she did work there. I felt sorry for Ellen when she was cornered into doing certain activities, although she is independent and forged her own path where she could. She knew the pressure which both her family and society placed on her with the need to marry, but she didn't break.

I could relate to a lot of the expectations and hopes people had about Ellen, as well as her caring for the homeless outsider Gail, who Ellen helped out and prayed a lot for as best she could. Ellen spent time worrying about the issues in her life, but she does hand her worries over to God. I love Amish reads because I agree with most of their values, their plain living is refreshing and puts more of a focus on community rather than the individual, although the individual is important too as Ellen's story shows. Looking forward to reading the rest in this series!  

The Gift by Wanda E. Brunstetter (Amish fiction, Romance, Christian fiction, 10E/10E)

 July 2015, Shiloh Run Press, 320 pages, Ebook, Review copy from NetGalley 

Content: family, faith, humour

Summary from Wanda's website

Follow the heart-wrenching story of Adam Beachy, whose mother walked out on him and his family—and away from the Amish faith. Now he balks at the idea of ever marrying and having a family of his own. But when tragedy strikes, Adam is suddenly a father figure to his three nieces and finds himself needing a wife. Despite their differences over her practice of reflexology, Leah Mast seems the best option to fill that role. Can they make it work in a modern-day marriage of convenience?

Nayu's thoughts  

I've yet to find an Amish book which I don't like! While the exact end was a bit obvious (happily ever after), this never detracts from my enjoyment – if anything it heightens because as Adam and Leah kept clashing I wondered how they would ever figure out how to live in harmony. Leah is strong hearted, she knows what she wants, she doesn't understand why Adam is so against her reflexology work. 

As the story unfolds and Adam's past is revealed it sort of makes sense why he holds the views he has, although they are narrowminded and don't take into account Leah's true nature, how much she loves her Amish faith and wants to serve God. The children provide some mayhem, Leah provides something called a chocolate chip cheeseball which I'd never heard of but is basically a cheesecake ball – a recipe is provided so rest assured I'll be trying it out! 

Available from bookstores including NRC affiliate Foyles.

Suggested read 

If like me you enjoy Amish fiction (& even if you don't) check out Lorie's Heart by Amy Lillard (Amish fiction, Romance, Christian fiction, 10E/10E) 

 

Made with Love by Tricia Goyer & Sherry Gore (Amish fiction, Romance, Christian fiction, 10E/10E)

 

A Dash of Love, a Pinch of Hope, and a Whole Lot of Good Cooking

Lovina Miller should be thrilled. Pinecraft, Florida, has everything a young Amish woman could ask for: sun, sand, volleyball games, and evening singings in the park. But Pinecraft lacks the one thing Lovina desperately wants—a pie shop of her own. She longs for a place to gather with the community and serve the treat she loves.
A young carpenter named Noah Yoder strolls into her life and offers a way to make her dream come true. But before Noah and Lovina can build a shop—and a life—together, they must each face heartaches from the past. Is their new love stronger than their regrets?
- See more at: https://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/books/made-with-love#sthash.Pwy0UIMu.dpuf

1st August 2015, Harvest House, 352 pages, Paperback, Review copy 

Content: Amish life, baking, setting up a bakery/shop, family life, community spirit, gossip, lots of humour, tissues needed

Summary from Harvest House

A Dash of Love, a Pinch of Hope, and a Whole Lot of Good Cooking
Lovina Miller should be thrilled. Pinecraft, Florida, has everything a young Amish woman could ask for: sun, sand, volleyball games, and evening singings in the park. But Pinecraft lacks the one thing Lovina desperately wants—a pie shop of her own. She longs for a place to gather with the community and serve the treat she loves.
A young carpenter named Noah Yoder strolls into her life and offers a way to make her dream come true. But before Noah and Lovina can build a shop—and a life—together, they must each face heartaches from the past. Is their new love stronger than their regrets?
- See more at: https://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/books/made-with-love#sthash.Pwy0UIMu.dpuf

A Dash of Love, a Pinch of Hope, and a Whole Lot of Good Cooking

Lovina Miller should be thrilled. Pinecraft, Florida, has everything a young Amish woman could ask for: sun, sand, volleyball games, and evening singings in the park. But Pinecraft lacks the one thing Lovina desperately wants—a pie shop of her own. She longs for a place to gather with the community and serve the treat she loves.

A young carpenter named Noah Yoder strolls into her life and offers a way to make her dream come true. But before Noah and Lovina can build a shop—and a life—together, they must each face heartaches from the past. Is their new love stronger than their regrets?

Nayu's thoughts 

This book appealed to me because I adore food based shops/cafes which the protagonist manages to set up and run despite a whole load of trouble. In this case the trouble is the town gossip,which Lovina's mother worries about, as well as some actual troublemakers as well as a catastrophe near the end which had me worried how on earth Lovina's dreams could be realised. 

She is a sweet girl, hard working, who tries to be respectful even when her own family seem to be against her dreams. The way her sisters eventually rally round – and the rest – made me cry, I love the family dynamics Lovina has, and it's frustrating how people are quick to judge and slow to give others a second chance. Definitely one for the reread pile! 

Find out more on Tricia's website and Sherry's website.

Suggested read

Another food related Amish read is Murder Freshly Brewed by Vannetta Chapman (Amish fiction, Christian fiction, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

Nayu's News #196 NetGalley Tips & Mayhem

You can be this too!

Despite joining NetGalley several years ago, for some reason I've been afraid of going on there. I think that I thought it would be complicated to a) choose books & b) get said books onto reading device. 

I stuck with 'normal' hardback/paperback review books, as well as some pdfs.

I'm pleased to say that both those assumptions are false! I investigated further this year (or at the start of the year) to see what NetGalley was about, since I was starting to accept mobi/other ebook formats directly from publishers/authors so figured NetGalley wouldn't be much different, and it's not. I'm not a NetGalley affiliate (although by the amount of reviews I'll be doing this year I'd like to be if they did such a thing, which I'm not sure of), I just really like it.

For those of you who don't know what I'm going on about, NetGalley is in essence a gateway for book reviewers of all types - including bloggers  - to access digital proofs prior to books coming out. Once downloaded you can keep them. For more info be sure to hop over to NetGalley for details which I'm not going over. 

Tip time!

There are probably lots of NetGalley Tips online but I'm writing my own just because you might learn from my mistake which isn't really a mistake more like a giant oopsie. 

1) Fill in all your details - this goes without saying, put up all your links, fill in your bio, tick all the metaphorical boxes so publishers know more about you. 

2) Browse through the books, and pick a realistic amount that you can review in a timely fashion. 

#2 is precisely why this post is being written. I've done this thing I'm about to tell you once before although to a lesser degree, and I know I'll do it again in the future, but this is a case of do what I say rather do what I do. 

What did you do?

So the thing is I got very mouse click happy (touch-pad happy since my laptop doesn't have an actual mouse) and clicked an awful lot of books which I liked the sound of the other night. Amish books, cosy mysteries, family drama, thrillers, a craft book, a few children's books. I clicked a lot which were looking for US/Australian/Canadian reviewers, on the off chance that they might say yes and let me review their books. I truly thought most of them would say no, or else I might not have chosen so many. (Doubtful)

First there was 1 book...

...then a few more. Initially I had 20 new books, which is about normal for me. Then the number kept climbing. Around 50 ebooks later, I can safely say - as a friend kindly pointed out after I'd gone on my book spree - to not be put off by region specific requests because publishers may very well say yes to you reviewing the book.  Rather than being daunted by the ever increasing number of books dropping onto my virtual shelf (I did keep checking back every few hours), I laughed with every increase and thoroughly looked forward to all the reading material. 

Books are so AWESOME!

It's a good thing I read a lot, with a little over 50 NetGalley books ready for me to read! I might be less click-happy in future, but knowing me I probably won't ever learn my lesson. The books do get read & reviewed in a timely fashion so I'm smiling at the tall stack of virtual books awaiting me. I hope my cautionery tale has helped you learn a little bit more about NetGalley - enter at your peril!!!

While I love physical books, virtual ones do save on shelf space!

Lorie's Heart by Amy Lillard (Amish fiction, Romance, Christian Fiction, 10E/10E)

July 2015, Kensington Books, 352 pages, Ebook, Review copy from NetGalley

Content: mild romance, humour, tissues needed

Summary from Kensington Books

Welcome back to Wells Landing, Oklahoma, the tranquil Amish community where still waters run deep and a brave young woman sets out to discover her faith, her family, and herself. . .

Lorie Kauffman is grief-stricken when her father passes away unexpectedly. But her heartache quickly turns to bewilderment when she discovers he'd been leading two lives--one of simplicity and hard work in Wells Landing, and one fraught with painful ordeals in Tulsa. As she starts digging into her family's past, Lorie finds herself torn between the Amish world and the Englisch world--and she's no longer certain where she belongs. . .

Lorie knows that if she leaves Wells Landing, she may never be able to return. But what if her destiny lies in the outside world--the world her father knew so well? Change is never easy, but with a bit of courage and the help of a handsome and kind-hearted Englischer, she just may find the peace, acceptance, and love she's been longing for. . .

Nayu's thoughts

Regular readers know how much I love Amish fiction, and this is a particularly touching read. Lorie's new life circumstances provide her with a great deal of struggle, but her relationship with God sees her through. Her community aren't always understanding of her desire to find out what really happened, but she carries on anyway because she doesn't want to live with regret. There's plenty of Amish customs in the story to keep me happy – they still seem to eat a lot of cake and pie! 

I cheered when Lorie made progress in discovering who she is (which is heavily tied up with the truth about her father), and by doing that she is able to finally find love. I held my breath in several places, such is the level of emotions which Lorie goes through, and honestly had no idea how it would end. This is part of a series, and I'm going to be seeking out the other books which I thik get to know some of the other characters better. I will reread Lorie's tale for sure! 

Find out more on Amy's website.    

Suggested read

Another wonderful romance Amish story is Brightest and Best by Olivia Newport (Amish Fiction, 10E/10E) 

 

Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman (Amish fiction, Christian fiction, 10E/10E)

You might not want to eat this pie...

June 2015, Zondervan, 352 pages, Ebook, Review copy 

Content: murder, humour, tense moments, mild romance, tissue needed 

Summary from Zondervan 

When delicious baked goods become lethal, a trail of poetry leads to a sweet-toothed killer.

Don’t taste it / Don’t share it /Just throw it away / If you try my bakery pie / You won’t live to see another day.

The Amish Artisan Village of Middlebury, Indiana, might be the last place you would ever expect to find a murderer. But Amber has been managing the Village for decades and there’s nothing she hasn’t seen. Or so she thought.

When poetic notes begin appearing around the bakery, warning that some of the pies have been poisoned, Amber is as confused as she is concerned. Who poisons pies? And more to the point, who leaves poems of warning after they’ve done it? When Amber decides to help the police track down the sweet-toothed saboteur, she enlists Hannah Troyer for another round of Amish-style detective work.

Can Amber and Hannah help the police before the Poison Poet strikes? Both women will need to draw on their faith to preserve the peaceful community they’ve built in Middlebury . . . and to protect the girls who work in the Amish Artisan Village.

Nayu's thoughts

I love all of Vannetta's Amish stories, and am rather fond of Middlebury. In some ways this is more fun a storyline that the previous two books (which I've listened to the audiobooks but not yet reviewed). The summary leaves out an important question - why would anyone want to warn people of the poisoned pies? I won't spoil any details but my personal view is that it's far more fun for the culprit to see those who may eat the pies be scared and on edge by the notes than simply poison them without warning. 

Amber and Hannah make the perfect duo, with Amber knowing some 'English' ways, and Hannah knowing how to get information and help from those in the Amish community without scaring them away. This third adventure is the creepiest yet, giving me lots of shivers waiting in anticipation for the next note to arrive. There's more to be learnt about the Amish, the story involves a lot of baking which, from other Amish fiction I've read, is a key focal point for the Amish. That & I like cakes and bread, although thankfully I don't eat too many pies - I'll certainly be looking at the next one carefully, even though I should be safe as I'm on a different continent and this is fiction! I say that but Vannetta sets the scenes and characters so well that this could easily be real life. I've visited an Amish market once when I visited Maryland, so it is easy to picture all the Amish stores and dress. Yet another wonderful addition to my happily growing pile of Amish themed reads!

Suggested read 

Check out other books by Vannetta, including the first book in the series involving Middlebury, Murder Simply Brewed (Amish Fiction, Christian Fiction, 10E/10E)

Brightest and Best by Olivia Newport (Amish fiction, Christian fiction, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

  August 2015, Barbour Publishing, 320 pages, Ebook, Review copy

Summary from Barbour Publishing

The collapse of a schoolhouse puts pressure on Amish families and their long-held educational values. Ella Hilty anticipates marrying Gideon Wittner and becoming a mother to his children. In a whirling clash of values, Ella seeks the solid ground that seems to have slipped away. Margaret Simpson, an English schoolteacher, wonders if she is losing her last chance at love. As the local authorities draw lines in the sand, Margaret puts romance at risk one final time. All eyes turn to Ella to make a sacrifice and accept a challenge that can bring unity to the Amish and understanding to the English.

Nayu's thoughts  

I'm still enamoured with Amish fiction, and was intrigued when I realised that this story dealt with an issue in American history which brought Americans in conflict with the Amish. The Amish want to avoid conflict, but despite the slowly becoming spunkier teacher Margaret and Ella's determination to help her community's chidren get the education they deserve, the English in authority are stubborn, narrowminded so and sos. I liked how Amish values are explored and how being Amish affects a child's entire day, just as being a practising Muslim/Christian/Jew does, so of course education is an issue. 

I was rooting for Margaret despite the fact that her new found spunk threatened her potential fiancee, and Ella who faces a heart-wrenching decision near the end of the book. I smiled with delight at little Gertie's innocence, how she doesn't realise that she is a highly gifted young (6 year old, I think) artist in a community who need to be shown that art can be woven into Amish life and isn't all about encouraging idol worship, and I loathed all of those pompous so and sos who couldn't see and didn't care for how important the Amish having their own school was. I was impressed at the lengths the Amish teen David went to further his education despite the fact it went against his step-father's wishes, and was highly creeped out by the mysterious goings thefts Lindy had to endure. Don't worry, the culprit is found by the end.  

Beautiful and Best reinforces my view gained through fiction that the Amish really do eat pie and cookies every day, and their community spirit is strong in the face of danger to their values. I'm glad that the law changed for them and others in the US – and here in Europe too, since I thought that the Amish had always taught their own children. The concept of them going to English school never crossed my mind. The end manages to be a happy one thanks to a series of unexpected events. Apparently this is 3^rd in a series of books, but I didn't feel like I was at a disadvantage for this being the first book which I'd read. 

Find out more on Olivia's website. 

Murder Simply Brewed by Vannetta Chapman (Amish fiction, Christian fiction, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

March 2015, Zondervan, 358 pages, ebook & Audiobook, Personal copy

Content: murder, Amish life, humour, mild romance, tissues needed

Summary from Vanetta's website

When the coffee shop manager is murdered in Middlebury’s Amish Artisan Village, two women from different walks of life must join together to solve the mystery.

Spring has arrived in Middlebury, Indiana, and Amber Wright is optimistic about the growing profit from her collection of Amish shops—until she receives a call that Ethan Gray is dead. Hurrying over to A Simple Blend, she finds a solitary hole in the front window and the store manager lying next to the espresso machine, dead from an apparent heart attack. All the money is still in his register.
 

When Amber hires a young Amish woman, Hannah Troyer, to take over the shop’s duties, the two women become fast friends—as well as amateur sleuths. The police believe Gray’s death is a by-product of vandalism, but Amber and Hannah aren’t convinced.

Clues that don’t add up, a neighbor who is pulled into the midst of the investigation, a town with secrets to hide, and a blossoming romance—all will combine to push Amber and Hannah into unfamiliar roles in order to solve a mystery that will once again reveal the depth of God’s grace.

Nayu's thoughts 

Vannetta seems to me to be a big name in Amish/Christian fiction. I've started reading another trilogy of hers, which starts with Falling to Pieces, which startled me when Murder Simply Brewed mentioned it as a nearby town where murders happen regularly. Ha! I laughed out loud because I knew from the title alone that MSB would have murder in. I didn't realise just how twisty the plot twists would be, or how truly terrified I'd be at the snake incident. I have a snake phobia and I needed no imagination to feel the terror when SPOILER happened, and Amber's fear of the snake. Even thinking back on it gives me the heebie jeebies. It is a large part of the story, but thankfully not all.

I love Hannah. She cares about doing her best and not letting others down, especially when she has to take over the cafe. Although out of her comfort zone of a quilt shop, she soon makes the cafe her own, adding touches which her boss/overseer both appreciates and encourages. I like her enquiring mind and how she thinks things through. I enjoyed how her co-main characters equally stood out strongly, how they wound up in others' lives, their strengths and weaknesses all making a difference to Hannah's life and the outcome of the investigation.

Like Vanetta's other books I feel as though I'm right there among the Amish, seeing the now familiar customs and hearing familiar Pensylvanian Dutch phrases. It's a style of life which has similar ideals to the ones I have. I did read the book which I received for review as well as hop across to the audiobook version which I bought because it meant I could 'read' the story while doing craft work. I loved it so much I've bought book 2! 

Find out more on Vannetta's website.

 

A Simple Prayer by Amy Clipston (Amish Fiction, Romance, Christian Romance, 10/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

I love Amish books!

 4^th June, Zondervan, 336 pages, Ebook, Review copy from NetGalley

 

Content: family life, Amish life, humour, tissue needed

Summary from Zondervan

Linda is no stranger to hardship. Now she dares to hope for a chance at love and a new beginning.

As the sole survivor of a buggy accident that left her orphaned at age four, Linda Zook was reluctantly raised by her Uncle Reuben. She longs to be worthy of someone, but the lasting trauma of her injuries and embittered upbringing have destroyed her self-worth. When Hannah Peterson asks her to work at the Heart of Paradise Bed & Breakfast, she’s finally able to realize some confidence.

Aaron Ebersol left the Amish community seventeen years ago when he could no longer bear the restrictions or the constant tension with his father. Despite years of unanswered letters to his parents, and the roots he’s put down in Missouri, Aaron rushes back to the Amish community of Paradise, Pennsylvania, after receiving word of his mother’s stroke. Hesitant to get too close to the family he was once a part of, he decides to stay at the Heart of Paradise Bed & Breakfast. Talking with Linda allows him to explore his feelings about his family and his position in the Amish community.

As Linda and Aaron open up to each other, their feelings for one another turn into more than friendship, and Aaron must make a decision about his future as an Amish man.

Can Linda and Aaron forgive the family members who have deceived and forsaken them? And will Aaron be able to convince Linda that she is worthy of his love?

Nayu's thoughts

My reviews for Amy's book are all along the same lines of this book is amazing! And it is. I didn't realise how powerful the title is until I reached the part in the story where the title's meaning is made clear, an incident that had me going 'wow' a lot after reading it. It's in the same enjoyable style of Amy's other Amish books, with emphasis on family and personal growth as well as many details about Amish life. 

I have to say that despite this being the final book in a series which I haven't yet read, I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything major. I quickly got to both love and hate various characters, who it turns out had reasons for being so nasty. The almost perfect grade is because I really do prefer female protagonists (I just don't get guy thoughts), but after a while of me being unnecessarily annoyed Aaron (it's not his fault he's male), I did enjoy watching him figure out how to overcome the hostility from certain family members. He was gentle, and kept showing them his best side, trying to show that he had changed as a person since he ran away from home. 

Linda's situation broke my heart because she is such a sweet girl, yet her uncle is a right so-and-so who doesn't deserve her. There are many shocking twists in store for both her and Aaron, and even I was rooting for them both at the end. I'm definitely adding the previous books in the series to my wish list!