MARRYING JONAH BY AMY LILLARD

ABOUT THE BOOK

Life isn t always as simple as it seems for the Amish community of Wells Landing, Oklahoma. Neither is love. . . 
"Everyone in town knows that Sarah Yoder is enamored with Jonah Miller, even though he s been with his girlfriend, Lorie, for years. But all that changes when Lorie runs off with another man. Inconsolable, his faith in love shattered, Jonah resists everyone s attempts to ease his pain until the unexpected happens one night. 
Jonah is filled with confusion. Sarah is not the woman he yearns for, yet he asks for her hand in marriage, if only out of honor. Still, he worries, can they live in harmony if their vows are built on a lie? As Sarah seeks spiritual advice, Jonah tries to look toward the future and finally begins to see her for who she really is: A beautiful, strong-willed woman whose heart is pure and belief is true. But will it be too late for him to prove that he wants to be her husband?

LORI'S TRAVELS

Oh my!!! What a beautiful story!!!!
And most of this I can definitely relate to!!
I was heartbroken for Sarah. Sarah truly thought the world had come to an end. She is stubborn and can't see past the end of her nose. If she can't have her way then as far as she's concerned, neither can anyone else. (A little like me). Sarah is like most of us.
Jonah is blinded by his love for Lorie and can't understand why everyone else has moved on but him. It seems as though time has stood still for Jonah until Sarah comes along.
Suddenly, it seems as through it has meant for them to be together for life.
Sometimes in life we have to learn our lessons the hard way. Whether it's not the right or wrong way.
I sometimes wish the English world was like the Amish. Divorce isn't allowed among the Amish. I think I'm in a way, that's a good thing. It makes us want to stop and take a good look at ourselves and is this the right person for me?
But in this case, that question didn't matter. I think God had a reason for these too people to be together.
Time. That's what that word men's in this story.
Time is of the essence, Time has no meaning in grief or anything else for that matter.
I have been where Sarah has gone. It's no easy thing because it will always make you wonder.
I am where Sarah is now when it comes to in laws. In laws are no fun and hard to get along with.
I didn't realize that I had a friend in my father in law had passed away.
God has a way of working things out.
Sometimes it takes certain things for us to see what we have right in front of us and then it hits us and sometimes hard too.
I loved this story because there were too many things that actually hit home for me.
Amy has a wonderful talent and it shows in her writing. That's why I was excited for this book to come out. I wasn't disappointed!
I strongly recommend this book for people who love reading Amish stories.
I received a complimentary copy and was in no way required to review this book.
All words are expressed as my own 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I'm a wife, mother, and bona fide Southern belle. Published author, expert corn bread maker, and Squirrel Princess.

I live in Tulsa, though I was born in Mississippi. I moved to the Sooner State when I was seventeen and met my soul mate and best friend not long after. I've retained a little of my Mississippi accent though most people think I'm from Texas. (?) Rob and I have been married for over twenty years and have a son--a mom proclaimed prodigy, of course!

I love homemade tacos, nail polish, and romance novels--not necessarily in that order. I'm a big fan of country music, a staunch proponent of saving the Oxford comma, and I'm shamefully obsessed with all things Harry Potter.

I believe that God is love. I guess that's why I adore romances. 

I have always been intrigued with the Amish culture, their gentle ways and slower-paced lifestyle. (And I love, love, love the fact that they stay married for their lifetime.) But until recently I never thought to blend this interest with my penchant for romance. Okay, okay, I'm a bit old-fashioned and even enjoy the gender roles that are present in this culture. I love to cook and take care of my family. Yes, that's me June Cleaver with a laptop.

I dislike people trying to convince me to read the Twlight series (I'll get to it or I won't, either way I'm good with it), gratuitous violence, and strawberry ice cream. (I know I'm alone on this last one, and again, I'm good with it.)

Favorite movies--(besides HP) French Kiss, Maid of Honor, A Lot Like Love, Just Married, and Sweet Home Alabama. Oh, and Miss Congeniality, Sabrina (both versions) and a 1940's movie called Dear Ruth. If you haven't seen it, you should! A-dorable. Anything with Doris Day and most all of Marilyn's and Audrey's.

THE AMISH WANDERER BY LAURA V HILTON

ABOUT THE BOOK

Desperate for a Ticket Out

Bethany Weiss is ready to leave town. Tongues haven't stopped clacking in Jamesport, MO, since her daed, the bishop, was admitted to a mental hospital after hurting their small Amish community. But her sharpest wounds Bethany hides from prying eyes, quietly biding her time until she can take a chance at a new life away from Jamesport and away from God.

Searching for a Home

Silas Beiler was kicked out of his own family's home. Dogged by a rough childhood and a family who blames him for each new disaster, he begins hitchhiking across the country, sleeping in barns where he can, working for food when possible; headed for Pennsylvania, in the hope of some stability. 

A Memory of Lemonade

When Bethany spies a man asleep in the hayloft, she first fears the return of an unwelcome suitor. But when it is Silas who turns and speaks, the memories flood back: a happy summer six years ago full of lemonade, long walks, and budding courtship. Now, however, those months of bliss seem naive and idyllic. Will their old love overcome new pain? Or will hurt and rejection continue to haunt their path? 

LORI'S TRAVELS

What a fantastic story!!! Laura sure knows how to make my mouth fall open and my emotions come to a head.

Have u ever heard this saying that sticks and stones may break me but words will never hurt me? So not true!!! Words do hurt! It's called verbal abuse and is sometimes worse than physical abuse. 

I strongly related to Bethany in this regard. When someone says a hurtful word it stays with us the rest of our lives and it is hard to forgive.

Even when parents say hurtful words to us it hurts us as it has me.

My dad was the world's worst about doing this. I don't think I have ever forgiven him to this day. Oh I try I really try but it's so very hard!!!

Bethany is a really sweet girl who tries to hard and wants someone to loved her like I do.

I loved Bethany from the start and I believe she still has a story to tell. It's not finished yet.

As far as angels being around I believe in them whole heartedly. 

Angels guard us day in and day out even when we lose our way. 

I saw an angel after my mom passed away that same night.

Silas is my hero! He's a rock for Bethany in their times of trouble 

He's strong and has a lot to get through before he and Bethany can really love each other like they're supposed to.

I love how the Amish support each other in any event no matter what it is. 

To me, this is a pretty special story. It will bring you to tears in some places and in others it made me snicker.

I am with Bethany. Chocolate is wonderful!!! It's a balm to sooth the broken heart and hard feelings no matter what the case may be!

Chocolate is wonderful no matter what and guess what? Fudge is my favorite!!!

I loved this story in more ways than one. 

Laura has a way with her writing that will keep you turning pages until the last one turned.

Laura, i love reading your books. 

Will Bethany and Silas have their own story to share in the near future? 

I really strongly recommend this book for people who love reading Amish stories 

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all word are my own

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and their five children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor.

Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as the Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Birdhouse. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press’ Quilts of Love series. Laura is contracted for another three book Amish series set in the Jamesport area, with the first book, The Amish Firefighter, planned for April 2016.

She has self-published a Christmas novella, Christmas Mittens. 

Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer and blogs for Putting on the New and Seriously Write. 

What the Bishop Saw by Vannetta Chapman

ABOUT THE BOOK

A fire blazes out of control in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, leaving an elderly Amish bachelor dead. Bishop Henry Lapp rushes to the scene, and he learns the fire was no accident. Someone intended to kill Vernon Frey. But who would want to kill Vernon? Well, practically everyone—Amish and Englisch alike.

When the police point the finger at a suspect Henry knows is innocent, the bishop must decide whether or not to use his mysterious, God-given gift—one he's tried desperately to ignore all these years—to try and set the record straight. His close friend and neighbor, Emma, encourages Henry to follow God's leading.

Could the clue to solving the case be locked somewhere deep in his memory? Will Henry find the courage to move forward in faith and put the right person behind bars? Is his friendship with Emma becoming something more?

What the Bishop Saw is a story of extraordinary talents, the bonds of love and friendship, and the unfailing grace of God. 


LORI'S TRAVELS

I was really looking forward to reading this one and I was definitely not disappointed! 
A suspenful novel waiting to keep you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what would happen next!
This a darker Amish novel and I felt I could connect with the characters much better. 
I like that the author shows us that Amish people are much the same as us. Only difference is they don't believe in striking back.
Emma is a wonderful lady whom In can definitely relate to because she has migraines.(I suffer from migraines too but unlike Emma usually take something for mine. Sometimes it helps and sometimes it doesn't and I'd have to go lie down in a dark corner).
Emma is a woman full of wisdom and has a quiet peace about her that I sort of have somewhat myself.
I admire Emma in more ways than one. Too me, she is what I'd like my own mother to be.
Henry is pretty awesome himself.
He is another of my favorites. I love his ability that he can draw and it seems such a shame that he felt it wasn't a talent to be used unless something bad happens.
(I too love to draw only drawings consist of horses and other animals. 
I definitely can't draw people).
I enjoyed this book very much! I even burned some midnight oil too!!!
Most often bullying starts from how a person is raised. I can relate to that also as I too have been made fun of and I can't make friends very easily and when I do they usually end up stabbing me in the back. It's why I'm a loner but I'd never ever stoop as low as this person did.
I have my Jesus to thank for that as He is the one true friend I'll ever have.
But, even bullies and make mistakes and more often than not they will catch up with you
It is a cry for help. 
I'm so glad Henry is the bishop and the man he's supposed to be and for the I admire the Amish greatly! We Englishers can learn a thing or too from them like planting our gardens because there may come a time when we might have to!!!
Thank God for wonderful authors that entertain me through their books! Books are a woman's bestest friend ever!!!!
Vannetta Chapman you have outdone yourself in this book! Will
Henry and Emma get married in the future? I don't understand how theyare both blind to each other after all these years!
Love is a funny thing I guess. It can sneak up on you or hit you hard between the eyeballs. Who knows?
Guess we'll just have to wait and see!
This is definitely a must read novel by Vannetta Chapman and I strongly recommend this book for people who love reading Amish stories 
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and was in no way required to review this book


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She is the author of many novels, including the Pebble Creek Amish series, Shipshewana Amish Mystery Series, and Plain and Simple Miracle series. Vannetta is a Carol award winner and also received more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She currently writes Christian suspense, Amish romance, and Amish mystery. She was a teacher for 15 years and currently resides in the Texas hill country. For more information, visit her at www.VannettaChapman.com. 

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Long time Gone by Mary Conneally

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Boden clan thought their troubles were over with the death of a dangerous enemy. But with new evidence on Cole's shooting, Justin can't deny that the plot to take their ranch was bigger than one man. While the doctor and his distractingly pretty assistant help Cole, Justin has to uncover the trail of a decades-old secret as danger closes in.

LORI'S TRAVEL'S

I generally love Mary's books as she always adds some humor to them in all the right places. 
This time around, I couldn't really get into this book and I too couldn't connect with the characters. 
It didn't really start to get interesting until the middle part of the book when the action started taking place. 
I really thought that some of this story should've taken place in the first book but to me it seemed long, drawn out focusing on the character's problems instead of being of being about what it is they're really trying to do. 
I did however; like the fact that it was a western mystery and a who done it thing, which I sort of figured it out pretty quickly and I wasn't disappointed. 
I'm like the others that have done reviews on this book before me. You should really read the Boeden Birthright and from there it pretty much goes into the why's and how's and how everything should fall into place. 
I'm going to say that Sadie is my favorite character because she's sneaky, stubborn like her brothers and she made me laugh. I really think that she likes making her brother's mad at her. She also is quirky and very outgoing( which I wish i was). 
Cole made me laugh in some places as well. He's just as bad as his sister Sadie. Probably just as stubborn. 
Then there's Justin. Who is extremely bossy. When he doesn't get his way, he pouts like most men do. Justin generally follows orders unless it's against what he thinks is right. Justin is a good man. 
He doesn't judge or get mad or puts a woman down. I know that there are big, strong, men out there just like him. But, they are few and far between. 
Angie I think is a very special lady. I was glad when she got out of her current situation but, I wished it weren't the hard way. 
Love is a very sneaky thing or sometimes it just hits you hard over heels. Love is kind. Love is gentle 1 Corinthians 13.
I think the author did very well with this. She snuck love in where it should've been. Like I've said before I love the humor and she did do a great job with that. 
There's just some people that you just can't trust in this world and I think Mary did a nice job overall with that too. 
I recommend this book to people who like this sort of story. It's in a Western setting and I liked that as well. 
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and not expected to write a review. All opinions are my own words. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys always with a strong suspense thread. She is a two time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader's Choice finalist. 
She is the bestselling author of 48 books and novellas. 
Her most recent three book series are: Cimarron Legacy, Wild at Heart, Trouble in Texas, Kincaid Bride for Bethany House Publishing. She’s also written four other series for Barbour Publishing and many novellas and several stand-alone books for multiple publishers. 
Mary will be a published author for ten years in 2017 with nearly a million books in print. She has a degree in broadcast communications with an emphasis in journalism and has worked at her local newspaper.

Abiding Mercy by Ruth Reid

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sixteen-year-old Faith has worked full time in her parents’ Amish restaurant since she finished eighth grade. She loves her Amish community—and the recent romantic attentions of her longtime friend, Gideon. When her sister seems to be getting too friendly with Englischers, and her parents are in a buggy accident, Faith only wants to escape into her dream of joining the church and getting married.

But then a local newspaper runs a story about a child named Adriana who was kidnapped fifteen years earlier, and everything Faith has held true comes into question.

Suddenly the community Faith has known her whole life seems unreal. Can she even trust her own family? And how will she ever find home again if she no longer belongs in the world she knows best?

LORI'S TRAVEL'S

Another great read by Ruth Reid.
A different type of Amish story in my opinion.
There's mystery, love and lessons learned in this book.
Folks I'm going to start off by saying that are Angels in this world. We may not see them but we do know by Faith they're around us. His protects us daily. That being said,
I can go on with my review.
My thoughts and feelings were somewhat mixed emotions because I can relate with Faith in most of the events that happens throughout this story.
I can holiday that I admired her quality and her upbringing. She's a very determined young lady no matter what life throws at her.
I also liked some of the bible verses that the author uses. "Be of strong and have good courage" and a few others.
I think I would have to go with this Amish family through their heartbreak because what happened to them wasn't their fault. It was thrust upon them. God was with them.
Gideon is the most patient person and caring too!!! (Sometimes I'd love for my husband to be just like him)!!!
I think poor Gideon got the raw end of the deal.
All in all, I thought it was a fantastic story. It kept me turning the pages. I had to read some of this in between orders at work lol! It was so good!!!!
I think Abiding Mercy is a story of God's grace given because he loves us.
I strongly recommend this book for people who love reading Amish stories and who love Ruth Reid
A copy of this book was provided by Netgalley with in no way required to review this book 

Shine Like the Dawn by Carrie Turansky

ABOUT THE BOOK

Lounsbury diligently works in her grandmother's millinery shop, making hats and caring for her young sister. Several years earlier, a terrible event shattered their idyllic family life and their future prospects. Maggie is resilient and will do what she must to protect her sister Violet. Still, the loss of her parents weighs heavily on her heart as she begins to wonder if what happened that day on the lake...might not have been an accident. 

When wealthy inventor and industrialist William Harcourt dies, his son and Maggie's estranged childhood friend, Nathaniel, returns from his time in the Royal Navy and inherits his father's vast estate, Morningside Manor. He also assumes partial control of his father's engineering company and

 the duty of repaying an old debt to the Lounsbury family. But years of separation between Nate and Maggie have taken a toll, and Maggie struggles to trust her old friend. 

Can Maggie let go of the resentment that keeps her from forgiving Nate--and reconciling with God? Will the search for the truth about her parents' death draw the two friends closer or leave them both with broken hearts?

LORI'S TRAVELS

One of Carrie's most finest novels written yet and my most favorite so far.

Not being sure I'd like Recency novels Carrie has laid that to rest as well as Roseanna White. 

I now will read anything by these two wonderful writers. 

I felt immediately drawn into this book from page 1 and usually that is not the case even with Contemporary fiction.

I generally try to advance my reading habits from historical and Amish to several different types of reading. 

Again so far, I am not disappointed! 

This book tends to have a little mystery in it and it also has romance.

Nate is definitely my hero. I love his outgoing personality and wanting to make things right with the villagers that His father had done wrong.

He seems to me that he believes in God as well. 

I would describe him as dark haired and of about medium height. With a wonderful personality as I've said before. 

Maggie and Violet have gone through some hard times. 

Maggie is a Thomas the doubter. She's skeptical about everything her grandmother does and says. 

I admire her grandmother Mrs.Hays. She has a devout faith that I would sincerely love to have. 

I've definitely fallen of the wagon wheel so I know about where Maggie comes from. Right now, I too am a Thomas the doubter. 

I love the time period and I am truly fascinated with the early 1900's. 

Their clothing was fabulous! The hats and dresses were amazing and I admire the people who could design these outfits. (I think that if time were reversed there would be some people today including myself that would be lost as they don't know how to see or grow their own gardens).

A lot of workers were at unrest with their long working hours and pay. I believe there were many strikes do to unsafe conditions. 

I did not however like Mrs. Harcourt. 

She is one who doesn't like change and cannot except it very easily. 

I hate to admit it, but I am not fond of change either. Even though sometimes change is for the good. So I can relate to Mrs.Harcourt in that area.

I love the openness that Nate and Maggie seem to have. I believe in telling the truth so no skeletons will jump out in a relationship later on. 

I thought they were perfect for each other. 

I strongly recommend this book. 

I received this complimentary copy from Blogging for Books. I was in no way required to review this book and all 

is in my own words

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carrie Turansky is the award-winning author of more than a dozen inspirational romance novels and novellas. She has won the ACFW Carol Award, the International Digital Award, and the Crystal Globe Award. Her most recent releases are A Refuge at Highland Hall, Moonlight Over Manhattan, and Mountain Christmas Brides. Shine Like the Dawn releases 2/21/17. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, Scott, who is a pastor, author, speaker and counselor. They have five adult children and four grandchildren. Carrie leads women’s ministry at her church, and when she is not writing she enjoys gardening, flower arranging, and cooking healthy meals for friends and Family. Connect with Carrie on her website: www.carrieturansky.com, GoodReads, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.