The Bachelor - a Kregel review

The Bachelor: A Novel; Plain City Peace #2

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Publications (October 1, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825442168

Book Description

In this sequel to The Bargain, Betsie Troyer is back home in her Amish community where she knows she belongs, free from the confusing Englisher way of life. She and Charley Yoder have made promises to each other, and her life is back on track--until Gerald Sullivan shows up with his young daughter, asking for Betsie's help. He's on his way to find his estranged wife, and begs Betsie to take young Sheila in.

 

When she agrees, Betsie's carefully planned life is shaken up again. Sheila's newfound faith is troubling to Charley--and his attraction to another girl is beginning to be a problem. But how can Betsie confront him when she is still trying to confront her own feelings about Sheila's brother, Michael? Keeping the peace between the Amish man she's always loved, a twelve-year-old Englisher girl, and a draft-dodging hippie is more than she ever thought she'd have to deal with in her simple, orderly life. Still, Betsie is convinced she can keep things from falling apart completely.

 

Then during her best friend's wedding, tragedy strikes and her world is upended. She has to make a decision: does she love Charley or Michael . . . or is she craving a deeper love that only God can give?

 

The compelling second novel of the Plain City Peace series,The Bachelor deftly weaves together the strands of a solid, simpler time with the turmoil of an era of change, revealing the strengths of both in its powerful narrative.

My Thoughts

A few years ago, I was given the opportunity to read Stephanie's Reed's novel Across the Wide River. I had never read anything written by her before, and I was moved by her writing. I've been a reader of Amish fiction since my teen years when my grandmother introduced me to Beverly Lewis' books, and for many years it was a genre that was my favorite. I don't read a lot of it at this point, due to burn-out, but when I saw that Stephanie's newest novel was available for review, I snagged the opportunity to read some well-written story!

What I love about Stephanie's writing of Amish fiction is that she writes about the Amish people's beliefs accurately, at least in my opinion. That is one of my pet peeves with Amish fiction, and a big reason why I no longer read it like I used to. But that's another story for another day.

Stephanie has a knack for capturing your attention with detail and characters that feel real. She made me feel some real feelings regarding the characters Charley (frustration, anger, appreciation--his character traits ... and flaws ... were evident) and Betsie (frustration, frustration, admiration ... did I mention frustration? lol She just seemed a good bit naive, but I can see how that would be realistic for an Amish young lady.)

Taking place during the 1970s, the story revolves around Betsie Troyer and how she struggles with her mother and father (as well as family members) leaving the Amish faith for mainstream Christianity and moving away. Left as a young adult with her seventeen year old sister Sadie, Betsie is left to fend for herself. Along the way, she struggles with her own standing in the Amish faith and finding a happy medium with an English family in her life. Between Amish fiance Charley and English friend Michael, Betsie has a hard time knowing what's right. Life challenges present themselves and Betsie finds herself at a crossroad, and she has to make a decision.

I highly recommend The Bachelor to anyone who enjoys reading Amish fiction. Stephanie Reed is definitely a name to remember in the Amish fiction world! Check her out!

Stephanie Reed - Facebook

I received The Bachelor as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Kregel Blog Tours.
My comments and opinions are my own.

His Love Endures Forever - a BookSneeze review

His Love Endures Forever, is the third novel in the Land of Canaan series by Beth Wiseman. This is an Amish novel.

Danielle Kent is an English woman who falls in love with an Amish man, and soon is carrying his child. With hopes of his leaving the Amish faith like he promised and starting a life with her, Danielle is soon disappointed to learn that not only does the father of her child plan on most assuredly leaving the Amish faith, but he plans on leaving her and his child high and dry as well.

Amish friend Levi brings her comfort during the interim, and he strives to show her his faith in the hope that she'll grasp that faith as well.

This novel will show you Danielle's hurt, her frustration, her fears, and her struggle with faith in God. Beth does a nice job in portraying the characters' feelings. If you love Amish fiction, this is another novel (as well as series) that I believe you will enjoy adding to your repertoire!

I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous program through Thomas Nelson. BookSneeze sends members free books to read and keep in exchange for written reviews on a blog and on a major retailer's website (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

The Promise Box - a Launch Teammate review & a chance to win!

Tricia Goyer is celebrating the release of her lastest novel, The Promise Box (Zondervan), by hosting an Amish Baking Box giveaway and connecting with readers during her June 12th Book Chat Party!

One "promising" winner will receive:

• Apron, hot mitts, and kitchen towels
• Amish baking items (rolling pin, pie plate, etc...)
• Sherry Gore's Simply Delicious Amish Cooking
• The Memory Jar and The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer 

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 11th. Winner will be announced at the "The Promise Box" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 12th. Connect with Tricia for an evening of Amish fun - book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Tricia will also share an exclusive look at the next book book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Promise Box and join Tricia on the evening of June 12th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 12th!

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Book Description and My Thoughts

I am on Tricia Goyer's 2013 Launch Team. This means that I've been provided an opportunity to review her novels for this year in exchange for a free novel(s). I last reviewed Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska, and now I'm reviewing The Promise Box (a Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series).

 

The Promise Box is the story of Lydia Wyse, an adopted Englisch child into an Amish home. Lydia has left her Amish community of West Kootenai to move to Seattle to edit books. While she is gone, her Amish mother passes away, leading to her return to the Amish community.

 

While visiting the community again, she finds herself falling for bachelor Gideon Hooley. The problem is that she can't forget where she came from--the dark history of her birth haunts her. Gideon himself has his own secrets that plague him.

 

I've been reading Amish novels since I was a teenager. I love them! Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting involved with this one. It didn't capture me like some of Tricia's books have in the past. I'd read a few pages, then set it down and do something else. That bothered me, and I wondered what was wrong with me! It took me several weeks to finish the book, because it just didn't draw me in.

 

The story was sweet in itself and had proper development, but I didn't feel a lot of emotion (i.e. love or interest) between the two characters. It almost felt like they were being drawn together by sheer force by the author. I enjoyed the progression of the story about Lydia. Tricia did a good job about making me wonder about what actually happened to Lydia and where she'd come from. However, I felt that Gideon's history seemed unrealistic and trivial in comparison.

 

There was some slang used in this story, but it wasn't overwhelming. This is a problem many others struggle with. Being an Appalachian, the overuse of slang in a story bugs me--it seems forced and unrealistic. The Amish also have their own slang, and sometimes that can get a bit overwhelming in an Amish novel. Thankfully, this wasn't a big issue for me. There was one spot in the story where I thought slang should have been left out. It was in Chapter Seven in the letter from Lydia's adoptive mother. The going back and forth from using "yer" to "your" felt unrealistic. I know "yer" is often used in conversation among the Amish in novels (the same as Ja or ach), but in a letter, the fact that she used "your" equally to "yer" made me feel like the character wouldn't have thrown in "yer" as well. Otherwise, the character's spelling was correct, so the misspelling of your didn't make sense.

 

Overall, this story was a nice read. If you enjoy Amish fiction, I think that you will enjoy this one, too. 

 

I don't like to write reviews that aren't full of positive response, especially when I've been asked by the author to review it. My intent is not to be harsh or judgmental but to provide my honest responses while I read.

I've been given a copy of The Promise Box, in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

Courting Cate - a Bethany House Review

It isn't too often that I want to bang my head against a wall from the stubbornness and unmoving character qualities of a heroine. But that's what I desperately wanted to do while I read Courting Cate by Leslie Gould.

Cate Miller, a self-proclaimed spinster at age twenty-three, has tried her best to be happy with her life as her father's store secretary. Her father was considered wealthy, and any time that Cate thought a man might make a move on her, she and her fiery attitude cut him down. He was only after her father's money, right? Cate believed that she wanted to stay unmarried--let her younger sister Betsy have the husband and kids!

But when her father Bob decides that Cate has to get married before Betsy can, things get ugly. Cate, in her stubbornness, attempts to refuse. Betsy, flirty and friendly (unlike Cate), is already being courted. Knowing that her father has made this declaration, Betsy is driven to grief and hatches a plot to get Cate hitched.

When drifter Pete Treger comes to town looking for a job and a wife, Cate's family gets some bright ideas. (Or not so bright.) But Pete arrives in town with his own issues to deal with, and, like Cate, is about as stubborn as they come. When he gets a job working for Bob Miller in his store, he soon proves his worth to Bob. And Bob's decision for Cate to marry first is just all the more solid in his mind.

I found a few things in this novel that irritated me, and it's all about the character development. SPOILER ALERT!!

First was the feeling that the author was trying too hard to make these two butt heads. Their behaviors were very annoying to me. Second, Cate had no homemaking skills. This didn't add up for someone who had decided to be a spinster--she'd still need to take care of herself, right? Third, Cate raised her sister Betsy after their mother died, and Betsy ended up being a bit spoiled and conniving. Although I will say at the beginning of the story, Betsy didn't seem that way. The fact that Cate made a decision that would benefit Betsy so much seemed a bit too unreal to me. Fourth, Pete started out as this nice, friendly guy who doted on Cate, and then in the middle of the book he became this hard, uncaring person who paid her no attention. Shoot, he even made her hitch-hike to another state in the pouring rain!! For a guy who seemed to really really like her at first, this just felt unbalanced. Fifth, at the end of the story, Cate comes to an epiphany about Pete's family that was too rushed. When I read it, I turned back a page to see if I'd missed something--it was that shocking to me. Sixth, it was devoid of feeling between the two main characters until the very end, and even then it wasn't a "Wow, they are SO in LOVE!" moment for me.

I liked this story, though, because I think that Leslie genuinely had a nice story line. The plot was very much more developed than the characters were. Her description was very good, and the writing was very nice. There were bits of unpredictability thrown in that was refreshing. The story is written in First Person POV, and it read smoothly.

All in all, I liked this book and look forward to the next book in the series.

I received Courting Cate as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Bethany House Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

Faithful to Laura - a BookSneeze Review

Faithful to Laura, an Amish fiction novel by Kathleen Fuller, is a well-paced novel with solid characters and an intriguing story.

Laura Stutzman, whose face is forever scarred after an attempt on her life by a man who also stole her family's life savings, has decided to pay back her family. Taking on a job away from home for another Amish family, Laura is determined to no only repay her debt but to find some answers and put the man who nearly killed her behind bars.

Sawyer Thompson was adopted by an Amish family when he was an adolescent. Now as an adult, he rides the fence on whether to remain Amish or to go back to his Yankee roots. When Laura Stutzman works in his parents' shop, his head turns. In spite of the scars on her face, he finds himself drawn to her. But when his rich grandmother from New York finds him and demands that he return with her, he finds himself at a crossroads that he doesn't like.

This is a story that I found myself wanting to finish once I started. A touching story! If you enjoy Amish fiction, this one is a keeper!

I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous program through Thomas Nelson. BookSneeze sends members free books to read and keep in exchange for written reviews on a blog and on a major retailer's website (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

The Scent of Cherry Blossoms - a Multnomah review

The Scent of Cherry Blossoms, an Amish fiction novella written by Cindy Woodsmall, is a book that has been on my to-read list for a while. When I finally got to reading it, it didn't disappoint!

This story is written during the Spring, when the cherry blossoms are in bloom (hence the title). Annie Martin is a Plain Mennonite whose family has gone through tough times in recent years. With the separation of her parents' in past years, Annie has a hard time relating to her mother at times. As the result of an argument, Annie and her mother decide it would be best for Annie to spend a few months with her grandfather in Apple Ridge.

Aden Zook is a young Amish man whose family has had their share of heartaches, too. Aden's twin brother Roman and their father were both involved in a horrible accident, leaving Roman confined to a wheelchair. Aden has a stuttering problem, and he lacks the confidence to date.

When Annie comes back to Apple Ridge and helps in the Zook diner, Aden finds himself remembering his feelings for her. But one major thing stands in their way: Annie is Mennonite, and Aden is Amish.

The characters in this story are so endearing. The powerful story of the Zook brothers' past and Annie's own heartbreak will melt your heart. Their troubles seem impossible to overcome, and Cindy does a good job weaving the storyline into a way that the story finds resolution quite well.

Cindy has an excerpt of this story on her website if you would like to read it. Click {here} to go to that page.


I received The Scent of Cherry Blossoms as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

Brush of Angel's Wings - a BookSneeze review

Brush of Angel's Wings is the first book I've read by Ruth Reid. Ruth did a wonderful job in capturing the qualities of the characters in this novel, and at times had me chuckling, feeling frustrated, and even in tears. This is a novel that will evoke emotion, and that tells me that the writing is good--and unique!

Rachel Hartzler is a 20-year old Amish girl who has decided that she will be an old  maid. She's never selected at the Amish youth singings, and so she's decided that she will never be a wife. She's content with that idea and, as a result, is a regular farm hand for her father (and, as a result, gives her less time to learn to cook, sew, etc.). Her only brother had died, and so Rachel felt needed by her father.

But when Jordan Engles, son of a shunned woman, showed up in the Amish community needing work, Micah Hartzler gratefully accepts him as an extra set of strong farm hands. Rachel becomes jealous of her father's relationship with Jordan and resentment rears its ugly head, leading to cruel treatment of Jordan. Jordan and Rachel eventually learn to work together, and its through learning of their losses that they determine to work together.

Interspersed into the story is a battle between two angels--Nathaniel and fallen angel Tangus. While the battle between good and evil does indeed exist, the writing of these two left me disappointed. It felt as if Nathaniel was acting as the Holy Spirit, whispering into Jordan's and Rachel's consciences, and that I didn't like. Parts also felt unreal, and honestly the angel parts could have been left completely out and the story wouldn't have been harmed in anyway. I just felt like the angels were thrown in there for a bonus that really wasn't needed. The storyline had enough excitement in it that the angels weren't necessary, in my opinion.

Overall, the story was very well written and gripping. I was very pleased with the way Ruth Reid weaved the characters' personalities and made everything come together.


I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous program through Thomas Nelson. BookSneeze sends members free books to read and keep in exchange for written reviews on a blog and on a major retailer's website (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

The Harvest of Grace - a Waterbrook Multnomah review

Harvest of Grace by Cindy Woodsmall is the third book in the Ada's House series. This Amish fiction book was a pleasant read, and even at 354 pages, it doesn't feel like a long read. It is full of action, but I'll warn you that you'll probably want to read the first two books in this series before you try to read Harvest of Grace, because there are a lot of characters in this one whose stories are told in the first two books.

Sylvia Fisher and Aaron Blank are the two main characters in this story. You will also find a continuation of the stories of Cara Moore and Ephraim Mast as well as Lena Kauffman and Grey Graber.

Sylvia Fisher has left her home where her sister has betrayed her and married the man that Sylvia had promised to marry. Knowing that she needs to remove herself from Elam's gaze so that her feelings will fade for him, she moves to a dairy farm where she works tirelessly from dawn till nearly dusk.

Aaron Blank returns home after he's become sober, and the reception that he'd hoped he would get from his parents was not there. Hoping to gain his parents' merit and get them to sell the dairy farm so that he can open a store, Aaron finds that his task will not be easy when he lays eyes on the hard-working Sylvia Fisher.

The characters in this story are developed so beautifully. I truly enjoy a book whose characters I can see differing personalities. It's hard to peg characters, and sometimes they all seem to have the same type of personality, but Cindy does a good job with the individual character qualities of these characters.

Once I finished reading the book, I was sad to find out that this is the final book in the series. Too much was left open to me. I like an ending--a flat-out "that's-it-and-they-lived-happily-ever-after" story. What happens to Grey and Lennie? Are they able to have children? I'd like to see more of Cara and Ephraim as well. So sad that these folks' stories are through!


I received The Harvest of Grace as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

The Christmas Singing - a WaterbrookMultnomah Review

I loved this book. The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall is an Amish novel set in Amish towns in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The main character Mattie Eash moved to Ohio after her childhood love broke off their relationship. Determined to make a new start, she opens her own cake shop and her creativity flourishes. With a successful business, Mattie has it all--even a promising beau, safe and loyal.

But when her shop goes up in flames and she's forced to return to Pennsylvania at her elderly parents' request, she dreads what she knows will happen--seeing her ex-boyfriend Gideon.

Gideon Beiler has his reasons for breaking up with Mattie. In spite of her suggestion that he cheated on her, Gideon did not do that. But for him, it was easier to allow her to think that way instead of telling her the truth. Gideon's Mattie Lane, as he always called her, lived in Ohio but it didn't keep him from making visits every now and then to check up on her, in secret. When Gideon hears that Mattie Lane has returned to Ohio for a few weeks, he can't help but feel those old feelings stir up so strongly. But he must hold them to himself, because he knows she can't find out the truth.

This book was incredible. Cindy did a great job writing the story, and Gideon's secret kept me on the edge of my seat! This is a great story for the Amish enthusiast. I highly recommend this one! It's a keeper!

If you're interested in reading an excerpt, go to Cindy's website.





I received The Christmas Singing as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

When the Soul Mends - a WaterbrookMultnomah Review

Hannah Lapp had begun a new life in the "Englischer" world with her fiance Martin Palmer and his nephew and niece that he was raising. Fulfilling her dream of becoming a nurse has almost been brought to fruition when she gets the call to go back home to help with her sister. What Hannah was not prepared for was to have to work with her former fiance, Paul Waddell, in order to help her sister Sarah.

After having left her Amish community two and a half years prior with her heart broken, Hannah returns to her Old Order Amish community in Owl's Perch, Pennsylvania. When she returns to find that the community has had a terrible loss and that her sister's mental health is shaky, Hannah has to also deal with the reason for her departure.

Thrust back and forth between her Amish community and her life with Martin, Hannah struggles between where her heart wants to be.

I absolutely loved When the Soul Mends! If you're not familiar with Cindy Woodsmall's books, I encourage you to read them. If you enjoy Amish fiction, this one will easily be a favorite. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this novel--they were portrayed very well. From Hannah's stubborn streak to Paul's annoyingly (LOL!) calm demeanor, Cindy has painted these characters very well.

The only bone that I have to pick (and it's not a big bone) is that I'd be more interested in knowing about Sarah's mental issues--what brought this about? Maybe Cindy has it in mind to write the next book in the series about Sarah (hint :P).

When the Soul Mends is third installment of the Sisters of the Quilt Series. You can go to Cindy's page and read an excerpt of the book if you're interested.



I received When the Soul Mends as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

The Wonder of Your Love - a BookSneeze review

Beth Wiseman, author of The Wonder of Your Love, has done it again! This newest novel is the second novel of the Land of Canaan series. (The first in the series is titled Seek Me With All Your Heart, which I also recommend!)

You'll follow the story of Katie Ann from Colorado, an Amish widow whose husband had left her for another woman then tragically died in a car accident. Katie Ann, after twenty years of infertility, has carried her deceased husband's child and has given birth. Her struggle with being a single parent is portrayed beautifully and so is Katie Ann's personality.

When she meets Amish widower Eli Detweiler from Ohio, she and Eli both secretly harbor feelings for each other and struggle with the long distance relationship. Holding back because of the distance and ties holding them to their individual states, Eli and Katie Ann both face the reality that it may not be in God's plan for them to be together.

In this story, you will also read about other characters' struggles (namely Martha who you would've been introduced to in Book 1). Beth does a fabulous job with weaving these characters' personalities. Martha is a hoot!

If you enjoy Amish fiction, check out Beth's newest novel today. You won't regret it!

I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous program through Thomas Nelson. BookSneeze sends members free books to read and keep in exchange for written reviews on a blog and on a major retailer's website (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

Treasuring Emma - a BookSneeze review

Treasuring Emma, by Kathleen Fuller, was a nice Amish story. There were bits of romance and suspense laced throughout.

Main character, Emma, was an Amish woman who was unmarried at age 25. The young man that Emma had loved as a young girl had left the faith and gone to another state. When Adam left, Emma's heart went with him.

Having recently lost both of her parents, Emma and her grandmother Leona were forced to take care of the farm on their own. When Emma's sister Clara begins to make problems for Emma, heartache begins to ensue.

Shortly thereafter, Adam returns because of an illness that his mother seems to have, and Peter, Clara's husband, has a cousin show up at his and Clara's door. While Adam returns for a good reason, Mark King--Peter's cousin--arrives to wreak havoc.

I enjoyed this story, but there were a few things that left me a little perplexed. Mark's part in the story felt a little forced, as if the author felt like some action needed to be added to the story. His part seemed a bit jumbled to me, and I'd have been just as satisfied with his not being a part of the story at all.

Also, Clara and Emma had some issues that I felt needed to be fleshed out a bit more. There were problems between the two of them, and then the issues were resolved after Mark's situation was wrapped up. The mending of Clara's and Emma's relationship felt a little disjointed to me.

Otherwise, this is a great story to read, and if you like Amish stories, I'm sure this one will be a pleaser.

If you'd like to read other reviews I've done for Kathleen Fuller's books, check here and here.

I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous program through Thomas Nelson. BookSneeze sends members free books to read and keep in exchange for written reviews on a blog and on a major retailer's website (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

Seek Me with all your Heart - a BookSneeze review

Seek Me with all your Heart, written by Beth Wiseman, was a fantastic book! I've had the privilege of reading and reviewing several of Beth's books, and I have to say they're just fabulous reads. Beth never lets her readers down!

Seek Me with all your Heart is book one in the Land of Canaan series. Emily Detweiler, the heroine, and her Amish family had recently uprooted from their Ohio community and settled in Canaan, Colorado, where they had hoped to start anew. Emily had faced unbelievable circumstances in Ohio, which caused her faith to be battered.

David Stoltzfus's family moved to Colorado due to financial reasons. Because of a health condition that David had suffered, his medications would be costly for the rest of his life. However, David's parents hadn't told him this, so he wasn't aware of the real reason for moving to Colorado. David was determined to save his money and eventually move back home to Paradise, Pennsylvania. David had his own burdens and reasons for remaining single. But then he met Emily and things began to change.

If you're an avid reader of Amish fiction, you'll love this book! I highly recommend it and I have to say that this is definitely:

Beth has available a sample of the first few pages of this book that you can listen to on her website.

Please visit Beth today!
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I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous program through Thomas Nelson. BookSneeze sends members free books to read and keep in exchange for written reviews on a blog and on a major retailer's website (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

An Amish Love - BookSneeze Review

An Amish Love is a series of three novellas written by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Long. The book is 400 pages in length, only divided into three stories.

The stories' main characters are linked in all of the stories, which is nice. This is a nice book for individuals who love Amish romance.

In the first story, "A Marriage of the Heart," Abigail Kauffman finds herself suddenly married to Joseph Lambert (as a result of a bit of deceit on her part), a man who had recently come back to his Amish faith after spending time in the Englisch world. They struggle to make their marriage into a lasting one as they both battle their own skeletons in the closet.

In "What the Heart Sees," Ellie Chupp is on her own, as a result of a tragic car accident that left her best friend dead and left Ellie blind. When Christopher Miller returns to the Amish community, he's torn with his own anxiety over his fiancee's death in that car accident but finds Ellie intriguing. He admires her drive for independence, and he wants to capture her heart.

In "Healing Hearts," Naaman Lapp has been away from his family for nearly a year, as a result of his desire to be alone. However, Levina, his wife of 31 years, finds it difficult to forgive and forget. When a lawman comes looking for Naaman, his family and the community wonders what exactly Naaman did during the eleven months that he was gone from their community.


I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous program through Thomas Nelson. BookSneeze sends members free books to read and keep in exchange for written reviews on a blog and on a major retailer's website (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

The Secrets Beneath - a BookSneeze Review

The Secrets Beneath, written by Kathleen Fuller, is the second book in The Mysteries of Middlefield series. At 271 pages, this YA novel is a good read. The setting is in the town of Middlefield, and young Amish girl Rebekah Yoder finds herself plunged into a mystery that would rival the stories from her Nancy Drew books that she enjoys. When Bekah discovers an old man mysteriously searching on the property of an empty home, her curiosity is piqued.

Bekah's family has their own mystery to solve when Bekah's cousin Amanda moves in. Amanda's father brought her to the Yoder house, but no one had told Bekah why. All she knew was that Amanda was going to live in her house for a year. Just like in her Nancy Drew books, Bekah is determined to solve the mysteries!

This is a delightful book that I would highly recommend for a YA or for anyone who loves Amish-related fiction.

Here's the run-down of what I think of the book:

Ease of reading ..................... 5/5
Supporting Details ................ 5/5
Sufficient Length ................... 5/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 5/5
Overall Impression ........ 5/5

I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous program through Thomas Nelson. BookSneeze sends members free books to read and keep in exchange for written reviews on a blog and on a major retailer's website (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

When you see this image, it represents books that I highly recommend!

BookSneeze Book Review - Plain Paradise

(This is copied from my old blog for posterity.)

I've recently had the opportunity to read a book that I've really enjoyed. The title is Plain Paradise by Beth Wiseman.


This is a fiction book about the Amish. The heroine in the story finds out that she's been adopted by her Amish family after an English woman she doesn't know comes knocking on their door. Her birth mother has only a short time to live, so she wants to know the daughter she'd given away when she was two weeks old. Meanwhile, the Amish folks who'd raised this young lady struggle with fear that the English woman will take away their daughter.
The entire story kept me wondering how the end would turn out. It was a great story, drew me to tears a few times. The characters seemed very real. I hope to find the rest of Beth Wiseman's books--I'm hooked now!

Basically, here's the run-down of what I think of the book:
Ease of reading ................ 5/5
Supporting Details ............. 5/5
Sufficient Length .............. 5/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 5/5
Overall Impression ............. 5/5

I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous website where you can read free books and keep them if you write a review for your blog and for a major retailer (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).