Sunday, June 25, 2023

A Chance For Love




You never know what will happen next with Wilma and her family.  This story continues with Wilma meeting a long lost love.  Could he be husband # 3?

Ada, Wilma's closest friend, continues to bud into everyone's business. She has no filter and can be quite funny or annoying.  I guess it's how you look at it.  

I see trouble brewing with Cherish and her husband over money.

What is Favor and her husband going to do now after unexpected guests arrive at their doorstep?

This is book 36 of a series called The Amish Bonnet Sisters.  I haven't read all but I was able to catch on and get to know this wonderful family.


I received this book from the author to review.





Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Scotlander




My grandfather and stepfather were from Scotland.  I have always wanted to go. Never been but will be going this summer.  The title is similar to the television show OUTLANDER for a reason.  Like Willa, I never seen more than one or two episodes of it. I knew the premise but not much more.  

Willa's best friend recently died.  She gave Willa a ticket for Scotland for a week. Willa was in for an Scotlander adventure.  She had no idea what she was in for.

Finn sounds just what you envision a man in kilts from Scotland to be.  Strong. Muscular. A hunk.  How could Willa resist this man even if he was just her "fake" husband?  

A cute story of finding our destiny.  Where do we belong? What's holding us back?  I wanted Willa to allow herself to be vulnerable.  I routed for her. 

I received this book from Boldwood Books to review.




About Sheila McClure

Sheila McClure lives in the English countryside with her Scottish husband, their dogs, Harris and Skye, and a small herd of delightfully striped Belted Galloway cattle. Prior to rural life in the UK, she was a camerawoman and news producer for Associated Press Television. As she’s originally from Seattle, she began her working life as a barista. She has also written books as Annie O’Neil and Daisy Tate. She will never refuse a quality dill pickle.

#RachelsRandombooktour

#BoldwoodBooks

#rararesources


Scotlander

When the Big C takes her best friend too soon, Willa Jenkins struggles to recapture the joy in her life, and all she wants is to get away from LA’s glitzy party circuit. But superfan Valentina had other plans. 

For her final, wickedly funny act, she’s packing her bestie off on a two-week Outlander-themed experience at Balcraigie Castle, Scotland.

Expecting a couple of weeks with Valentina’s hot brother Gabe, Willa gets more than she bargained for when she’s put to work doing actual, real-life farm work. Not only that, but to get the ‘full’ experience, she’s paired up with the irritating—and irritatingly sexy—Finn, with whom she will pose as fake husband and wife for the next two weeks.

Willa despairs of Valentina’s terrible trick. But then she makes a discovery. Finn’s family might just lose the castle if they can’t make the experience worthwhile for the other attendees. The stakes are high, but as the days pass and the fake marriage she signed up for starts to feel all too real, could Willa be in for a prize of a different kind…love?

Purchase Links

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scotlander-Sheila-McClure-ebook/dp/B0BBXQ9RP9

https://www.amazon.com/Scotlander-Sheila-McClure-ebook/dp/B0BBXQ9RP9

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/scotlander-sheila-

mcclure/1142119516?ean=9781662505324

Author Bio – Sheila McClure lives in the English countryside with her Scottish husband, their dogs, 

Harris and Skye, and a small herd of delightfully striped Belted Galloway cattle. Prior to rural life in the UK, she was a camerawoman and news producer for Associated Press Television. As she’s originally from Seattle, she began her working life as a barista. She has also written books as Annie O’Neil and Daisy Tate. She will never refuse a quality dill pickle.

Social Media Links –

Twitter: https://twitter.com/McBookieMonster @McBookieMonster

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcbookiemonster/ @mcbookiemonster

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheilaMcClureMcBookieMonster or just search Sheila McClure.

Amish Friends One-Pan Wonders Cookbook


What a fantastic cookbook!  I am known not to be a cook. I don't usually enjoy cooking.  But the recipes are so easy.  

I made Amish Beef Stroganoff and my husband absolutely loved it.  It made me feel somewhat accomplished.  Of course, I don't think I'm ready for the Best Chef Contest just yet.  But after trying a few more of these recipes I'll  be able to surprise family and friends with some delicious meals.



Thank you Wanda Brunstetter and Barbour Publishers for this wonderful cookbook.




Meet Wanda

Wanda Brunstetter is an award-winning author of over 100 books with more than 12 million copies sold. Many of her books have landed on the top bestseller lists, including the New York TimesPublisher’s WeeklyUSA TodayCBAECPA, and Christianbook. Wanda is considered one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre, and her work has been covered by national publications, including Time MagazineUSA TodayNewsweekGood Housekeeping, and Country Woman. Some of Wanda’s books have been translated into four foreign languages.

Wanda’s fascination with the Amish culture developed when she met her husband, Richard, who grew up in a Mennonite church, and whose family has a Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. Meeting her new Mennonite sisters-in-law caused Wanda to yearn for the simpler life. In their travels, she and her husband have become close friends with many Amish people across America. All of Wanda’s novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Many of her books are well-read and trusted by the Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.

Wanda’s primary attraction to the Amish is their desire to live a devout Christian life that strives to honor God, work hard, and maintain close family ties. Whenever she visits her Amish friends, Wanda finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties, which is in stark contrast to the chaos and busyness that plagues so many modern “English” people.



Saturday, June 17, 2023

Trouble For the Boat Girl


Sweet Beth.  Tough Abigail.  Two women doing what they need to do to survive.  

Beth found herself trapped in a bad marriage.  She longed to be free.  Free to read and start a school for the boat children.  Abigail did what she could to not gain her father's attention.  But that came at a cost.  Both trying to hide from something or someone.

Beth and Abigail both had an interest in Anthony. This led to dangerous circumstances.

An interesting story.  I wasn't sure how it would end.  My favorite character was Beth.  I could feel her pain and frustration.  I so wanted her to be able to escape her situation.

I received this from Boldwood Books to review.

#rararesources
#BoldwoodBooks


Trouble for the Boat Girl

A gritty story of two girls, from opposite backgrounds and their search for freedom and happiness.

1925 - The Midland Canals

Born on the canals, feisty Beth Dawson, knows danger lurks in the shadows.

When she falls victim to a vicious attack and knowing she might be pregnant, she quickly marries a fellow boatman.

Her mundane existence is interrupted by the arrival of Anthony Wesley whose mission is to organise the impoverished boatmen for strike action.

Anthony makes her feel valued and she wants to help the cause in any way she can.

Along the way she makes friends with rebellious Abigail Gatehouse, daughter of the owner of the company. She too is in love with Anthony and sensing the attraction between them, Abigail is overcome with jealousy.

Both young women are soon caught up in events that spiral out of control.

Only time will tell where the future lies for either of them.

In the meantime, it’s all about survival...

Previously published as Where the Wild Thyme Blows by Jeannie Johnson**

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/boatgirlsocial




Author Bio –

Lizzie Lane is the author of over 50 books, a number of which have been bestsellers. She was born 

and bred in Bristol where many of her family worked in the cigarette and cigar factories. This has inspired her saga series for Boldwood The Tobacco Girls.

Social Media Links –

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/baywriterallat1

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lizzielane40/

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/LizzieLaneNews

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lizzie-lane

 

Friday, June 16, 2023

Emma's Marshal

 



One thing about blogging is the ability to read new books and new authors.  I was given the chance to read this book by Samantha Thomas .

You run the risk of not liking the book.  I had no problem with this one at all.  I never heard of the author or read anything by her before.

I'm very happy to say that I enjoyed the book very much.  Emma reminded me of my daughter.  Emma was fiesty.  She needed to be to keep up with her brothers.  She held her own.  And because of this she got herself out of some sticky situations.

Emma never expected to meet anyone in Autumn Springs.  But by chance, Marshall Weston Hayes was in town. They both were smitten at first glance.  

The story is about the love of family.  It's about loss.  It's about conquering fears.  It's about the love between a man and a woman.

Thanks, Samanta Thomas for giving me the opportunity to meet the Hart Family.

I'm excited to see that this is Book One of Four.  

Samantha Thomas is a Canadian writer based in the province of Alberta. When she's not crafting her next story, she enjoys losing herself in the pages of a good book, whipping up delicious treats in the kitchen, and exploring the breathtaking scenery of the Canadian Rockies.


Sunday, June 11, 2023

With Every Memory


Losing your child is the worst thing that could ever happen to you.  Losing your memory leaves you searching for the truth and questioning everything.  Who am I?  Why did I do that?  What happened?

Reality is what Lori  is searching for.  But can she handle the truth? Was she ready for the truth?

I couldn't put this book down.  I read it in one day.  There were many twists and turns to the story.  I would never have guessed the outcome.  Be prepared.  I recommend this book.   

I received this from Revell to review.



With Every Memory

Is the Life She Can’t Remember One She’d Rather Forget?

One year after her family was in a tragic car accident that killed her teenage son, Lori Mendenhall returns home with a traumatic brain injury that has stolen the last eight years of memories from her. She is shocked to find that the life she was leading before the accident is unrecognizable. Her once-loving husband, Michael, is a distant workaholic she isn’t sure she can trust and her once-bubbly daughter, Avery, has spent the last year hidden away in her room.

For Avery, life stopped when she lost her twin. Now, if she wants to graduate high school, she’ll have to accept help from Xander Dixon, her brother’s best friend and the boy who relentlessly teased her for years. And if Lori wants to reconnect with her husband, she’ll have to grapple with information her brain is trying to keep secret. With every memory that returns, she can’t help but wonder if the life she can’t remember is one she’d rather forget.


Short Bio

Prone to wander, Janine Rosche finds as much comfort on the open road as she does at home. This longing to chase adventure, behold splendor, and experience redemption is woven into her Madison River Romance series. When she isn’t writing or traveling, she teaches family life education courses to college students, takes too many pictures of her sleeping dogs, and embarrasses her four children and husband with boy band serenades.

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Sunday, June 4, 2023

The Waterfront Lass




Meg struggled to make a good life for her family.  But how long could she do it all?  Her father is missing.  Her mother very ill.  Overdue Rent. Not enough food to feed her family.  But through it all she remained as strong as she can be.

As time goes on, her hope was fading.  Then she meets a man from a different station than hers.  Can it be possible that they could have a future together?

I loved the story.  But I was ever so upset with how some people treated Meg due to her circumstances especially Christian's family. Meg handled the situation with grace and dignity. She may be a waterfront lass but she was quite a lady.

#rararesources

#boldwoodbooks


The Waterfront Lass

Wakefield 1870

On the banks of the River Calder, Meg Taylor struggles to care for her younger siblings and sick mother whilst her father is away working as a boatman on the canals. The slums where they live are rife with disease, and Meg longs for a different life, away from the grinding poverty, but she'll never leave her family.

But with the canals slowly dying as trade moves to the railways, and with Meg’s father stubbornly holding onto the past, Meg fears her family’s future is going to get even bleaker. If only there was a way she could save them….

Christian Henderson is tired of the greed of his wealthy family. He sees the poverty around him and wishes he could do more to help the proud working-class people he meets. People like Meg Taylor, whose courage he so admires.

From the moment he meets Meg, Christian is captivated – Meg might be poor, but she is proud and spirited

Meg’s dreams of being with a man like Christian are fantasy. How can a lass from the waterfront be with a wealthy man such as he?

And worse, if she follows her heart to be with him, what will happen to the family she loves?

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/waterfrontlasssocial




Author Bio – 

AnneMarie Brear is the bestselling historical fiction writer of over twenty novels. She lives in the Southern Highlands in NSW, and has spent many years visiting and working in the UK. Her books are mainly set in Yorkshire, from where her family hails, and Australia, between the nineteenth century and WWI. Her first title for Boldwood was published in January 2022.

Social Media Links – 

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/annemariebrear

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemariebrear/

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/AnneMarieBrearNews

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/annemarie-brear


Her Only Wish

 

Do you have a bucket list?  Betsy had a must do list.  She was determined to fulfill her list.  Number one on her list was to learn how to play golf. This might sound easy but nothing is really easy for Betsy.

Betsy met August at the golf course. There was an attraction right away. They both had misunderstandings with their parents.  Could Betsy and August come to terms with their parents' expectations?

This lovely story shows how strangers can have a major impact on your life.  Betsy came to Florida as a stranger but gained an extended family.  

I enjoyed the book.  Her Only Wish was touching.  

I received this book from Revell Reads to review.

AUTHOR:
Shelley Shepard Gray writes Amish romances for Harper Collins inspirational line, Avon Inspire and historical romances for Zondervan as Shelley Gray. Her novels have been Holt Medallion winners and Inspirational Readers Choice and Carol finalists. Shelleys novels have appeared on both the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists.

To date, Shelleys novels have been highlighted in the Philadelphia Enquirer, Time Magazine, and USA Today. Shes also been interviewed on NPR as well as numerous regional radio stations.

Before writing romances, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned both her bachelors degree in English literature and elementary education and later obtained her masters degrees in educational administration. She now lives in southern Ohio and writes full time. Shelley is married, the mother of two college students, and is an active member of her church. Shelley is active on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.


Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Managing Millie

 


The conclusion to this wonderful series did not disappoint.  Millie was hard to manage but she was wise beyond her years.  She knew what she wanted and it was Troy.

It is hard to fathom how life was like then.  Susan Pope Sloan did a fantastic job describing the chaos and pain that so many suffered from during this period of time.

A great story that kept me entertained to the very last page.  I highly recommend reading all three books of this series.








Susan Pope Sloan

 

Susan is a Christian, wife, mother, grandmother, writer and speaker. She calls herself a history junkie, grammar umpire, critical reader, and sporadic singer. Although retired, Susan stays busy with her local Toastmasters clubs and Word Weavers Columbus. Her writing includes non-fiction, children’s stories, and historical fiction. Susan hopes her writing will engage and inspire others to live well.

After retiring from a career in technical writing, Susan turned to Christian fiction to combine her love of history and language. She and her husband live in Georgia. Her current project is a historical novel series, but she enjoys writing children’s stories for her grandchildren.

Friday, May 26, 2023

The Unwanted Amish Twin

 


Emma and Isobel were twins that were separated when they were only a few days old.  They lived so very different lives.  Emma was Amish and Isobel was an Englisher.  

One morning Emma answered the door and standing in front of her was her twin.  At that moment, their lives changed forever.

I did not expect the book to end the way it did.  I was surprised.  I won't give it away. But hold on to your chair!!

I enjoy reading Samantha Price' books.  This was a stand alone book.  I liked this one but there were times where I wanted to shake the daylights out of...I promised I won't give away the story.

I received to ebook from the author herself, Samantha Price.  Thank you.



Samantha Price is a USA Today bestselling author of Amish romance books and cozy mysteries. She was raised Brethren and has a deep affinity for the Amish way of life, which she has explored extensively with over a decade of research.

All her books are clean and wholesome reads. 

Samantha is mother to two pampered rescue cats, and a very spoiled staffy with separation issues.

One Pan Wonders Cookbook

 





I'm not a cook.  I will admit that.  But Wanda's cookbooks are wonderful and the recipes are easy to make.  

I just made Amish Beef Stroganoff.  It was delicious.  My husband loved it and it was not that difficult to make.  That's a big win.  I will make this again.


What a great gift for a bridal shower gift.

https://www.amazon.com/Brunstetters-Friends-One-Pan-Wonders-Cookbook/dp/1636095259/ref=asc_df_1636095259/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=598358766416&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12424533336196822677&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016850&hvtargid=pla-1821683917386&psc=1


Samantha Price- SECRET

Trust finds herself once again risking everything. One false step she'll be in jail again. This book was more exciting to me than the ot...