This book is a collection of three stories with a connection to baking and the love that goes into the recipes.
I am reviewing The Christmas Bakery on Huckleberry Hill by Jennifer Beckstrand.

I've read a few books by Ms. Beckstrand so I knew I was in for a treat.

This story is about Titus and his wonderful grandparents - Anna and Felty.  His grandmother wanted Titus to find a wife and to be happy as she was in her marriage.

Katie Rose is being sent to stay with Anna and Felty during the Christmas season.  Her parents are hoping that an old neighbor, Adam, will propose after he samples some of Katie's cooking.  Anna knows he is not a match for Katie but her grandson, Titus, is perfect for her.

Katie knows how important it is for Adam to propose.  If he doesn't she'll be an old maid.  But he is so critical and doesn't appreciate her baking.  Titus realizes Adam doesn't deserve Katie and he is on a mission to win her hand.

Titus and Katie are very caring people.  They are very respectful and always try to make others happy.  You can't help to cheer for Titus in his quest to win Katie's affection.  It doesn't hurt that he has a Christmas goat to help him.

Great story.  I enjoyed reading this.

Giveaway: https://promosimple.com/ps/acec

The Christmas Bakery at Huckleberry Hill

When shy Katie Rose Gingerich’s dat sends her to Huckleberry Hill to secure a marriage proposal, she never expects to long for carefree Titus Helmuth—or to hope that he might want to spend every Christmas with her . . .


About the Author
Jennifer Beckstrand is the bestselling Amish romance author of The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series for Kensington Books. Huckleberry Summer was nominated for the RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award and the 2015 RITA® Award, and Huckleberry Hill won the 2014 LIME Award for Inspirational fiction. Both Huckleberry Hill and Huckleberry Christmas appeared in Examiner.com list of top ten inspirational books for 2014.

Jennifer has always been drawn to the strong faith and the enduring family ties of the Plain people and loves writing about the antics of Anna and Felty Helmuth. Jennifer has a degree in mathematics and a background in editing. She and her husband have been married for thirty years, and she has four daughters, two sons, and four adorable grandchildren, whom she spoils rotten.

Sweet On You- Meddlin' Madeline by Chautona Havig

Madeline just wanted what was best for her friend.  If that makes you meddling- so be it.

Madeline is going to discover the truth at all costs.  It is a joyful ride on Madeline's quest for the truth.  Southwest her friend's brother, Russell, goes along trying to keep her out of trouble.

Madeline is unconventional and it is easy to like her.  She is not shy and a lot of fun to be with.  She depends on Russell and would be lost without his friendship.  Russell attempts to see Madeline as his little sister but he realizes he is starting to have feelings for her that are not sisterly.

Madeline is a great friend.  It would be a lot of fun hanging with her.  She is not worried about how others think of her but more how it impacts the ones she loves.

Yeah!!! This is Book One of a series.  I'm hoping that Madeline and Russell show a little affection towards each other.  I guess I'll have to wait to the next book to see!

I enjoyed this book while on a cruise. It was a great vacation read.  It was delightful.

https://promosimple.com/ps/aa59

Healing of the Heart by Loree Lough

New authors excite as I don't know what to expect.  Will I want to finish the book?  Will I be sad when I turn to the last page?  This book was the first book I ever read by this author.  I saw it was Book 3 and was prepared to be confused and bewildered for awhile.  But I was able to catch on pretty quick and could figure out what Ruby McCoy was all about. 

Ruby felt responsible for her father's actions.  She was trying to pay back to all the people who were harmed by her father.  She travelled from city to city to accomplish this goal.  She was afraid to let anyone know who she was as she knew that she would be shunned and thrown out of town.  She kept her identity a secret. 

She arrived in Fairplay to try to erase her guilt.  She sensed that Fairplay was different.  She felt like she belonged there.  It didn't hurt that she was attracted and interested in the town's sheriff, Rex Truett.

Rex took care of his aunt and two orphan children.  He wanted to protect them from any harm.  He wanted to adopt the children but he had two strikes against him.  He was single and he had a dangerous job.  He was the sheriff.  He became the sheriff of Fairplay after his father was killed by a villain. He felt guilty that his father was at the bank (the scene of the crime) because of him.  It was his fault that his father was there in the first place.

Ruby and Rex made life decisions on their feelings of guilt.  Neither were guilty of anything but took it upon themselves anyway.  This guilt dictated their decisions.

Rex and Ruby fell in love but also learned that no matter what they did the feeling of being responsible of something they had no control over could never go away.  They had to learn to allow themselves to feel God's love and understand what they can and can not control. 

With this new understanding, they were to able to turn to each other and grab on to the happiness they both deserved. 

Great book.  I received this book free to review.  I highly recommend the book as well as the series Secrets on Sterling Street.
 
Link to contest: https://promosimple.com/ps/a81c

The Blue Ribbon Brides Collection

Story collections are great to read.  They are quick, enjoyable and to the point.  I am always excited when a new collection comes out.  This collection is about young women who aim for the Blue Ribbon prize as a way to fulfil their dreams.

Altered Hearts by Gina Welborn is the story of Reba and her dreams to live in the city and open a millinery shop.  She visited the city when she was a child and she decided that there is where she wanted to go.  Reba loved designing hats.  Winning the Blue Ribbon gave Reba the courage to leave Parker, South Dakota for the big city. 

Levi had a plan but didn't discuss it with Reba and he assumed she was agreeable.  He was going to marry Reba and live with his family at the dairy farm. 

Reba felt she was a failure and that the success of her shop would reveal  God's will for her life.  She opened her shop but realized she didn't have the business sense to keep it going. 

Levi realized that he never properly courted Reba.  Reba looked at him as a friend.  Well, he wasn't going to sit by and lose her.  He was going to Sioux Falls and persuade Reba to marry him.

Levi's dream was to study horticulture but he put his dream aside to assist his family's dairy farm in accounting and paperwork.   Reba's dream was for her shop to be successful as she loved designing hats.  The more successful her shop, the less time she had to design hats.

Both were praying to God asking for guidance.  How can they come together and agree on their future? 

This book is about compromise, prayer and God's will for our future.  

I received this book free to review.  The stories were delightful. 

Five stars

To celebrate their tour, The Blue Ribbon Brides authors are giving away an award winning themed basket that included a quilt and an Amazon Kindle Fire!

Link to giveaway: https://promosimple.com/ps/a7ea
Link to purchase book: http://amzn.to/2f9xBIR

The Devoted by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Devoted by Suzanne Woods Fisher

I have had the privilege to read the three books of the The Bishop’s Family Series.  This is book three.  The characters in The Devoted have become like a family to me.  It is an honor to be a part of David Stoltzfus’ family. 

Ruthie Stoltzfus is trying to decide what to do in her life and what direction to turn.  She is at the crossroads.  Her Aunt Ruth doesn’t want Ruthie to regret her decision. 

Aunt Ruth is known as Dok as she left the Amish to become a doctor in the big city.  She realizes that she wants more and moves back to Stoney Ridge to give back to the community that she loves.  She has a journey of her own but will she be open to what the future has in store for her?

Patrick wants to be Amish.  He comes to Stoney Ridge to learn but he didn’t plan on meeting someone like Ruthie. 

David Stoltzfus is the bishop to the church in Stoney Ridge.  He feels that something is wrong in his community and is trying to make it right even though the congregation disagrees.

Luke Schrock is causing trouble for Ruthie.  She isn’t the only one that is fed up with his antics.  Luke is out of control.  What will it take to get Luke the help that he needs?

The title of the book is The Devoted.  Everyone is devoted to their family, friends and the community in this book.  They remain true to the words of God even if at times it can be difficult to stay on that path.  

I enjoyed this book as well as the series.  I hope that there will be another in this series as the story still has some story lines that it can explore.  What will happen with Patrick and Ruthie?  Birdy and David?  Dok and Matt?  Luke?

Newton & Polly by Jody Hedlund

Jody Hedlund hit it out of the park with this new book called Newton & Polly.  This book is about John Newton who wrote the beautiful song - AMAZING GRACE.

John just had a glimpse of Polly and fell in love with her immediately.  She was beautiful.  He later discovered that she was as beautiful in the inside as well.  Polly felt something towards John but John made it difficult for anything to develop between them.  To John's despair, Polly's father forbid him to see her.  He felt that all he needed was to obtain wealth and her father would allow him to court Polly.

John was his own worse enemy.  He was in turmoil.  He had difficulty with every one.  He hurt his father, his friends and his family. He didn't know what way to turn until that one night where he finally got down on his knees and prayed to the Almighty Father.  With that one simple act, John saw what God has been willing to offer him all along.  John found forgiveness, redemption and grace.
Polly never gave up that John could be the man that we born to be. 

This was a very hard book to read at times as it hurt to see John in so much pain.  He was his own worst enemy.

Thank you, Ms. Hedlund, for putting this story down on paper for all of us to read and learn from.

I highly recommend this to all my friends and family.

Five Stars!!!!!

A Lady Unrivaled by Roseanna M. White

A Lady Unrivaled by Roseanna M. White

Can a person really change?  Or are you destined to continue making the same mistakes over and over?  These are the questions Cayton asks himself.  He was unsure if he could risk a chance to love again after all the pain he created.  He believed that if he dared to open his heart, he would harm someone so very precious to him.  But he couldn’t get her off of his mind….and she slowly made him believe that love just might be possible.

Ella heard the rumors about Cayton.  But she was drawn to him and to his daughter, Addie.

A Lady Unrivaled is the third book of the series – Ladies of the Manor.  I didn’t read the first two books.  It did create a disadvantage as it took me awhile to figure who was who and what this book was about.  But after a few chapters I was okay.  I quickly connected to Ella and her zest for life.  She was brave and determined to protect all who were in possession or connected to the Fire Eye Diamonds.  Even if it might cause her death….

I enjoyed reading this book that was a love story and a mystery.  It was never dull.  There were bad guys, spies, twists and turns and enough excitement to the very last page.

I received this book free to review.  I rate it five stars.  Now I need to pick up the first two books to find out what started this drama.