Amish Cooking Class Cookbook by Wanda E. Brunstetter

About the book:

Amish Cooking Basic Enough for Beginners
 
Fans of New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter’s Amish romance novels are invited to go back to cooking basics with characters from the bestselling Amish Cooking Class series. Heidi Troyer, her students, and other contributors share over 200 practical recipes for use in any kitchen, along with tips to keep things running smoothly. From learning how to boil eggs and knead biscuits to building a German Pizza and an Amish Haystack feast, The Amish Cooking Class Cookbook includes something beneficial for every age and skill set. Divided into traditional cookbook categories, there is a recipe everyone will find to love.

My thoughts:

I love this authors cookbooks.  They are always filled with beautiful photographs and helpful tips. This one is no exception but it also features characters from her three book series, The Amish Cooking Class and their favorite foods.

There are recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner but she doesn't forget about desserts and snacks.  If you have read the series than you'll know that children are just as important to the stories as is the food.  So, of course there are recipes for little ones, too.

If you are a person who likes to cook or a cookbook collector or perhaps both you will surely want to add this one to your collection.

Fallinfg for the Cowboy by Tina Radcliffe

About the book:

She won the job…

Can he win her heart?Hiring Amanda “AJ” McAlester as his assistant at the Big Heart Ranch isn’t foreman Travis Maxwell’s first choice—but his sisters insist she’s perfect for the job. And AJ’s determined to prove she’s just as qualified as any man. But with money on the line, AJ and her innovative ideas could put him at risk of losing everything…including his heart.

My thoughts:

Falling for the Cowgirl is a sweet and fun read with characters that grabbed my attention from the first page.  I love a family centered story and Ms. Radcliffe certainly crafted a family that I genuinely liked.  The Maxwell family is made up of caring siblings who are hard workers, loyal, loving and highly entertaining.

I loved the Big Heart Ranch and their staff.  I can't say that I had a favorite character in this book because each one had a uniqueness to them that I enjoyed.  

There is plenty of humor mixed in with the wranglers, ranchers and rustlers with the perfect blend of romance.

Speaking of romance, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the attraction between Travis Maxwell and AJ Rowe which of course they fight tooth and nail to ignore and that makes for some really good reading, right?!   The only thing sweeter than their storyline is quite possibly AJ's homemade pies that cause quite a stir on the ranch.

Overall, this is a book that will warm your heart and make you feel like you are a part of the daily activities on Big Heart Ranch in this fast paced and well written novel.

I received a copy from the author and was under no obligation to write a review.  All opinions are my own.

Seasons of An Amish Garden by Amy Clipston

About the book:

Enjoy a year of beautiful seasons in this new story collection, as young Amish couples manage a community garden and harvest friendships and love along the way.

Spring Is in the Air

As the young people of Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, plant a garden in memory of their friend, Katie Ann begins to worry that her older brother, Ephraim, is dating her best friend. What if she somehow loses them both? But Christian, a new boy in the community, also works in the garden—and falling for him may be exactly the distraction, and lesson, that Katie Ann needs.

Home by Summer

Clara Hertzler is surprised when Jerry Petersheim, her old friend, comes to the garden to drop off his younger sister—especially because Jerry has been gone for years, and now seems to be living as an Englisher. As the friends get to know each other again, Clara pushes Jerry to examine why he abandoned his Amish beliefs. Will Clara help Jerry renew his faith in God, and will they find love beneath the summer sun?

The Fruits of Fall

Tena Speicher has come to live in Bird-in-Hand after her fiancé left her for an English woman. When a homeless veteran comes to the fruit stand one day and asks for food, Tena is not sure how to respond—but Wayne intervenes and offers to let him stay in the barn. Afraid to trust Englishers, Tena must learn, with Wayne’s help, that everyone is a child of God and deserving of kindness.

Winter Blessings

Ephraim and Mandy have dated for some time and now have plans to marry. But after a series of unexpected events and misunderstandings, they wonder if they should go their separate ways. What will happen when their friends at the Amish garden conspire to bring them back together? 

My thoughts:

I enjoyed the four novellas in this collection by Amy Clipston.  The continuity of the theme was refreshing as the reader gets acquainted and in some cases reacquainted the characters throughout the seasons.. I liked following the friends stories as they come together to help their widowed neighbor and their community by growing and managing a garden.

It occurred to me that just as seasons change so do people and that relationships are much like a garden  because they both require patience, hard work, commitment and a lot of TLC.  The characters learn that along the way as they spend more time with each other.   As usual, the author manages to pack a full story into each of the novellas which I don't always find so I felt I got to know each and every character.  The genuine fondness they have for each other coupled with their love for their community is evident throughout.

If you are looking for a sweet and fun read then this book is one you should add to your collection.

I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley and was under no obligation to write a positive review.  All opinions are my own.

The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright

About the book:

Left at an orphanage as a child, Thea Reed vowed to find her mother someday. Now grown, her search takes her to Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin, in 1908. When clues lead her to a mental asylum, Thea uses her experience as a post-mortem photographer to gain access and assist groundskeeper Simeon Coyle in photographing the patients and uncovering the secrets within. However, she never expected her personal quest would reawaken the legend of Misty Wayfair, a murdered woman who allegedly haunts the area and whose appearance portends death.

A century later, Heidi Lane receives a troubling letter from her mother--who is battling dementia--compelling her to travel to Pleasant Valley for answers to her own questions of identity. When she catches sight of a ghostly woman who haunts the asylum ruins in the woods, the long-standing story of Misty Wayfair returns--and with it, Heidi's fear for her own life.

As two women across time seek answers about their identities and heritage, can they overcome the threat of the mysterious curse that has them inextricably intertwined?

My thoughts:

It took awhile for me to gather my thoughts after reading this amazing dual timeline mystery by Ms. Wright.

Thea Reed and Heidi Lane are two characters separated by a century but we see a close connection as the story unfolds. Thea was a traveling postmortem photographer in 1908 in Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin. An occupation that I have never given any thought to but found it weirdly wonderful. I loved Thea and my heart ached for her as she tried to find why her mother abandoned her.

Heidi has returned to Pleasant Valley where she experiences some of the same things that Thea had so many years before. I loved the relationship that Heidi had with Emma a young woman with autism. My heart went out to Heidi, too as she deals with family issues of her own.

The author tackles heavy topics including mental illness and anxiety disorders and does so quite well. The characters are well crafted and the writing is top-notch making me a very happy reader. The Curse of Misty Wayfair had my undivided attention from beginning to end which is why I highly recommend it.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Who I Am With You by Robin Lee Hatcher

About the book:

For these two broken hearts, the first step toward love will be a huge leap of faith. 

Jessica Mason isn’t looking for love when she meets Ridley Chesterfield. Instead she is still reeling from the tragic, unexpected loss of her husband and daughter—and awaiting the arrival of her unborn child. Harboring the secret of her husband’s betrayal, her pain is deeper than anyone knows.

Ridley Chesterfield is hiding out in Hope Springs, Idaho, avoiding a political scandal and the barrage of false media headlines that have tarnished his good name. The last thing Ridley wants is a relationship—but when fate leads Ridley to form a friendship with his reclusive and pregnant neighbor, he wonders if this small-town hideout might be more of a long-term destination. 

When Jessica begins to read her great-grandfather’s Bible, she finds a connection with a man she never knew. Somehow the verses he marked and the words he wrote in the margins open her heart to healing. And as Ridley and Jessica help each other forgive the people who have wronged them, they must decide if the past will define them or if they will choose to love again. 

Who I Am With You weaves together a modern-day romance with Jessica’s great-grandfather’s story from the 1930s, reminding us that some truths can cross generations and that faith has the power to transform families forever.

My thoughts:

This is my favorite book penned by Ms. Hatcher! There is not one single thing that I didn’t love about this first book in her new series, A Legacy of Faith. I am a huge fan of a dual time lines and the author certainly did justice to this one by bringing all of her characters to life on each and every page.

Normally, I have a favorite time period or a favorite character or two but not in this book. I loved the present day storyline of Jessica Mason and Ridley Chesterfield just as much as I loved the storyline of Jessica’s great-grandfather, Andrew in the 1930’s. I have to admit that the struggles that Andrew faced during the Great Depression both financially and personally really got to me and I teared up quite a few times while reading what he and others went through during that time. It took me awhile to warm up to Helen, Andrew’s wife but once I did I genuinely liked her. Jessica will tug at your heartstrings, too as she faces life after the loss of her husband and daughter which of course made me get a little weepy. Ridley is the kind of neighbor and friend everyone needs in their lives but very few of us will be fortunate enough to have.

The characters experience unimaginable loss throughout both stories but with faith and forgiveness they leave their hurt and disappointment behind while looking forward to happy and brighter futures. I will remember these characters for a very long time and look forward to the next book in the series. I think that anyone who reads this book will be glad they did.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.