Hidden Away at Promise Lodge (Promise Lodge #7) by Charlotte Hubbard

Returning to the fan-favorite world of the closeknit Amish community of Promise Lodge, the small-town Missouri setting of her beloved Amish inspirational romance novels, the author continues to delight readers with uplifting tales of faith, family, and the blessings and happiness of true love and caring partnership. For fans of Shelley Shepard Gray and Beth Wiseman.

When Karen Mercer and Andi Swann come to Promise Lodge for a week’s stay, the Kuhn sisters quickly detect the guests are not Plain folk, despite their kapps and homemade dresses. Entranced by the idyllic Amish lifestyle they’ve read about in romance novels, the visitors have gone undercover to revisit the place that was once the church camp where they spent happy summers. They mean no harm—but when the truth is uncovered, their deception has an intriguing impact on the faithful, hard-working
community . . .
 
Meanwhile, amid bustling preparations for a spring wedding, a shy horse trainer is encouraged to share his colorful world with a newcomer awaiting a miracle . . . while the widowed baker of luscious Promise Lodge Pies sees a long-time friendship in a romantic new light. And in the wake of a destructive storm, Karen and Andi’s insider knowledge of the grounds may offer the safe passage they all need to renew and rebuild—stronger than ever . . .
 

My thoughts:

From the moment Karen Mercer and Andi Swann came to Promise Lodge for a week-long vacation, the laughter started for me.  Two very non- Amish girls who decided to dress and act in what they thought passed for Amish behavior and clothing was a clever way to put them in the storyline.

Of course, we reconnect with beloved characters in addition to meeting new ones.  The Kuhn sisters are just as delightful as ever, Mose finally is living up to his true potential and Sylvia may just finally have a chance to live a happy, fulfilling life.  I have loved this community since reading the first book, Mennonite, and Amish living peacefully and harmoniously.  That’s not to imply they don’t have their share of problems, because they certainly do, especially in this book when a destructive storm rips through the lodge.  Luckily, Karen and Andi are there to help.

I sincerely hope this series continues for a very long time; it is one of the best.

I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley.  Opinions are my own.

The Heirloom: Prequel to The Shunning by Beverly Lewis

 This heartwarming prequel to The Shunning is a tender story of love, belonging, and the courage to move forward.

After her widowed father remarries, nineteen-year-old Clara Bender is no longer needed to help run his household. Marriage seems like her best hope of moving out, but there are few young men in her tiny Indiana Amish community. When she comes across letters from her mother's aunt Ella Mae Zook, she sets off to visit Lancaster County's Hickory Hollow to decide where her future lies.

Ella Mae is not quite ready to move from the farmhouse where she and her recently deceased husband spent over fifty happy years, but her children are eager to resettle her, making Clara's visit seem like an answer to prayer. The two women form a warm bond while restoring an heirloom wedding quilt and sharing their lives, with Ella Mae confiding about a tragedy from her courting years. Eventually, Ella Mae suggests Clara stay for the summer, allowing Ella Mae more time with her and giving Clara an opportunity to meet the area's eligible young men. But when the unexpected happens, will Clara find where her heart truly belongs?

My thoughts:

The prequel to The Shunning was even better than I expected it to be. Nineteen-year-old Clara Bender felt unneeded when her widowed father remarries and with few prospects for herself in her small Amish community, she feels lost and hopeless.  Until she finds letters her mother had kept which piqued her curiosity and gave her hope.

Clara showed bravery as she traveled to meet great Aunt Ella Mae who had written the letters to her mother, something I admired her for.  The relationship they formed was sweet, heartwarming and what they both needed in their lives. If you like Amish fiction, I suggest you get a copy of this book as soon as you can.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

Hearts of Gold: A Historical Romance Novella Collection by Grace Hitchcock

The Bridal Shop

Alice Turner, the owner of one of Charleston’s finest bridal shops, is determined never to be dependent on a man for anything after the disgrace of her father’s prison time. When her best friend requests Alice to be her maid of honor, she reluctantly sets aside her feelings on marriage and dons a stylish bridesmaid’s gown, never intending to catch the eye of the handsome groomsman. Will he be able to convince Alice to open her heart again?

Miss Beaumont’s Companion

When Italian lady’s companion Aria St. Angelo is coerced into posing as her political employer’s absent daughter for the evening at the Louisiana Governor’s masquerade ball, she wasn’t planning on falling for Byron Roderick—the most eligible bachelor in the capitol. But, when he pays call at the Beaumont’s home, Aria is quickly shuffled into the shadows once more, forced to watch him fall in love with another woman.

The Becoming of Miss Blanche

Content to remain a Harvey Girl forever, fiery Tacy Blanche has worked in nearly every Harvey House down the Santa Fe line. But, when she accepts the position of second waitress at the new Montezuma resort, Tacy isn’t expecting her former fiancé’s brother to return to her life—

Pinkerton Jasper Caffery had long abandoned hope of ever finding Tacy again, but while on holiday in New Mexico, Jasper collides with the woman who had never noticed him before. He decides to take his chances and attempt to woo her. However, when Tacy’s past catches up with her, more than Jasper’s heart is at stake.

My thoughts:

This Historical Romance novella collection is delightful.  Each of the stories is filled with charming characters so I did not have a favorite because I felt like I knew each of them personally. Each of the women are strong and fearless as they make their way in life which is admiral, especially given the time period.

I came to admire and care for all the characters as I truly wanted the best for them.  Ms. Hitchcock writes some of the best historical fiction I have ever read, and she has done so once again in this must-read collection.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions are my own.

 

A Bakery in Paris by Aimie K. Runyan

 From the author of The School for German Brides, this captivating historical novel set in nineteenth-century and post-World War II Paris follows two fierce women of the same family, generations apart, who find that their futures lie in the four walls of a simple bakery in a tiny corner of Montmartre.

1870: The Prussians are at the city gates, intent to starve Paris into submission. Lisette Vigneau--headstrong, willful, and often ignored by her wealthy parents--awaits the outcome of the war from her parents' grand home in the Place Royale in the very heart of the city. When an excursion throws her into the path of a revolutionary National Guardsman, Th�odore Fournier, her destiny is forever changed. She gives up her life of luxury to join in the fight for a Paris of the People. She opens a small bakery with the hopes of being a vital boon to the impoverished neighborhood in its hour of need. When the city falls into famine, and then rebellion, her resolve to give up the comforts of her past life is sorely tested.

1946: Nineteen-year-old Micheline Chartier is coping with the loss of her father and the disappearance of her mother during the war. In their absence, she is charged with the raising of her two younger sisters. At the hand of a well-meaning neighbor, Micheline finds herself enrolled in a prestigious baking academy with her entire life mapped out for her. Feeling trapped and desperately unequal to the task of raising two young girls, she becomes obsessed with finding her mother. Her classmate at the academy, Laurent Tanet, may be the only one capable of helping Micheline move on from the past and begin creating a future for herself.

Both women must grapple with loss, learn to accept love, and face impossible choices armed with little more than their courage and a belief that a bit of flour, yeast, sugar, and love can bring about a revolution of their own.

My thoughts:

This is an interesting, beautifully written novel. We meet Lisette in 1870, a strong young woman who leaves the comfort and wealth of her family behind for the man she loves. Later in we meet Micheline in 1946 who is left to take care of her siblings after the loss of her father and the disappearance of her mother. Two strong women, generations apart but both part of a family bakery that is their saving grace.

They both face many obstacles and challenges in life and yet both are filled with determination to make lives better for themselves and their loved ones. I loved the storyline, characters and the recipes that were included.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary of this book.  Opinions are my own.