Secrets of Willow Springs -Book2 by Tracy Fredrychowski

Book Synopsis

After spending sixteen years in prison, Marie Cooper is forced to return to Sugarcreek, deep in Amish Country. Forced to take the only job available to her, she finds herself working for wealthy Nathan Bouteright. As her late husband’s memory continues to follow her, who will hold the key to unlock so many unanswered questions about her past? Will she be able to help Emma and Daniel come to terms with who they are, and can they forgive the one person who played God with their lives?

When Marie struggles to get Nathan to trust her, will it be his four-year-old son Amos who shows them there is more to a person than what is on the outside? Or, will a letter from her deceased mother help her find her way back to her faith and the exact place she dropped her thread of obedience?

My thoughts:

Tracy Fredrychowski is a new to me author and I couldn't be more pleased to have read this book.  I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Marie Cooper and her estranged children. It's certainly different than some other Amish fiction that I have read which is why I enjoyed it so much.

The author gave her characters real challenges in their lives, a mother who is released from prison after 16 years, who is forced to live and find work in an Amish community all the while tying to reconcile with her children.

What I loved about this book is the grittier storyline, the thought that all of us lived charmed , perfect lives with no problems is silly so I was happy to see this Amish community reactions to Marie's presence.  Nathan had an especially difficult time having her in his home and caring for his family which seemed to ring true to me.  I know that I would share his feelings at first until I became more comfortable with the situation.

I was surprised by the twists but that's the purpose of them, right? I was not surprised by how much I enjoyed this well-paced, well-written novel and look forward to more of this authors work.  I loved the characters, the storyline and the lovely setting.
I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions are my own.

The Wedding Dress Christmas by Rachel Hauck

Book Description

December comes to quaint Hearts Bend, Tennessee, with a blanket of white and the glitter of Christmas lights.

For JoJo Castle there is no place like home. Her onetime love of adventure ended when her life in the big city came crashing down. Now that she’s home, she never wants to leave again.

Country music sensation Buck Mathews has charmed the world with his smile and his music. However, news of his mother’s illness brought him home to Hearts Bend for the holiday season.

Working with her cousin Haley in The Wedding Shop, JoJo has no aspirations of love. But when her high school crush returns to town, her buried feelings surface.

Busy with his career, Buck hasn’t had time for family and friends, much less love. Seeing JoJo in The Wedding Shop reminds him there are things more important than his career.

But JoJo and Buck have opposing life goals, and there’s no middle ground. Can love, especially the kind that touches hearts at Christmas, overcome her fears and his quest for greatness?

With the help of a very special wedding dress, there just might a Christmas miracle.

My thoughts:

This is a charming novella that I read in one afternoon.  If you have read the previous books, you will be familiar with the dress, the old battered trunk and the brides from different eras.  This time the bride is JoJo Castle, a young lady who definitely is in no hurry to walk down the aisle.  

My favorite character in this book is Buck Matthews, he is career oriented until he realizes there are more important things in life, then he became family oriented and that's when I truly liked him. I loved the Christmas spirit in the town more than any one characters because that made the story more interesting and believable. 

Overall, a relaxing read and fun way to spend an afternoon.

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

December comes to quaint Hearts Bend, Tennessee, with a blanket of white and the glitter of Christmas lights.

For JoJo Castle there is no place like home. Her onetime love of adventure ended when her life in the big city came crashing down. Now that she’s home, she never wants to leave again.

Country music sensation Buck Mathews has charmed the world with his smile and his music. However, news of his mother’s illness brought him home to Hearts Bend for the holiday season.

Working with her cousin Haley in The Wedding Shop, JoJo has no aspirations of love. But when her high school crush returns to town, her buried feelings surface.

Busy with his career, Buck hasn’t had time for family and friends, much less love. Seeing JoJo in The Wedding Shop reminds him there are things more important than his career.

But JoJo and Buck have opposing life goals, and there’s no middle ground. Can love, especially the kind that touches hearts at Christmas, overcome her fears and his quest for greatness?

With the help of a very special wedding dress, there just might a Christmas miracle.

The More the Merrier by Merrier: An Amish Christmas Romance by Linda Byler

Book Description

From beloved Amish writer Linda Byler, comes a heartwarming Christmas romance set during the Great Depression.

It’s 1931, and times are tough for the Miller family, who are raising eight children in the midst of the Great Depression. When Eli Miller passes away unexpectedly, and then a fire destroys their barn, Annie has no idea how she’ll make ends meet. The Amish community rallies around her and the children, as is their custom, but as days turn into weeks and then into months, Annie’s friends and neighbors return to their own routines and seem to expect Annie to do the same. Annie knows she needs to stay strong for the children and figure out a way to keep everyone warm and clothed and fed, but she is heartbroken and exhausted. She reminds herself that God will provide, but every day feels like an uphill battle.

When Annie receives a letter from a widower with six children of his own, she tries to put it out of her mind. Her critical mother reminds her that it's too soon to start a new friendship with a man, and warns her that blending a family will be complicated. In the weeks and months to follow, Annie must learn to make her own decisions—and accept the consequences, good and bad—face her past, and embark on a new journey that will transform her and her large, complicated family. When life seems especially complicated one summer, she finds herself saying that by Christmas everything will start to come together, but she has no idea the challenges—and ultimately blessings—headed her way.

My thoughts:

Set during the Great Depression this is the heartbreaking story of Annie Miller and her 8 children who are trying to survive on their meager food supply which isn't an unusual storyline for that time in history but this story really made me sad.  Maybe it was reading it before Christmas that made me feel for the widow and her daily struggles to provide enough food for her family.

Then she meets widower Eli who is raising 6 children of his own and who thinks it would be a good idea to blend their families.  They have their work cut out for them after they marry and all live together. Of course there are some cute, sweet moments but there are bouts of jealousy, misunderstandings  but with love, patience and a lot of prayer, they can  be come the family they have needed.

What starts out to be heartbreaking ended up to be very heartwarming.  I enjoyed this quick read.

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

NIV Beautiful World Coloring Bible for Girls Review +Giveaway

Created especially for girls ages 8 to 12, this beautiful Bible provides ample space for young artists to express themselves through coloring and journaling. Girls can get creative with the detailed, ready-to-color line art surrounding the hundreds of inspiring verses in the NIV Beautiful Word™ Coloring Bible for Girls. This Bible is a perfect gift for a special young girl in your life and will become a cherished keepsake full of personalized creative expressions of faith. Features include: Hundreds of verses illustrated in ready-to-color line art Thicker white paper for enduring note-taking Lined, wide margins for notes, reflections and art Complete text of the accurate, readable and clear New International Version (NIV) Easy-to-read black letter text in single-column format Lays flat in your hand or on your desk Ribbon marker Beautifully designed Leathersoft-over-board cover featuring screen-printing and other cover embellishments 8-point type size Using the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version (NIV) text makes the Bible accessible and easy-to-read for kids. The NIV is the result of over 50 years of work by the Committee on Bible Translation, who oversee the efforts of many contributing scholars. Representing the spectrum of evangelicalism, the translators come from a wide range of denominations and various countries and continually review new research to ensure the NIV remains at the forefront of accessibility, relevance, and authority. Every NIV Bible that is purchased helps Biblica translate and give Bibles to people in need around the world. My thoughts: I have been curious about a coloring Bible after seeing photos shared on social media but I never considered just how wonderful and beautiful it can truly be.  This Bible proved just how wrong I was and how perfect it is for a young girl to not only read the word but to color as she studies the Bible either on her own or sharing her creativity and knowledge with her family and friends. This is one of the most beautiful Bibles I have ever seen. If you or a loved one happen to be looking for a special gift for a special young lady, this is just perfect for a meaningful and thoughtful gift. I received a copy of the NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Girls from Zondervan (HarperCollins Christian Publishing) for this review. This post is sponsored by Zondervan Download Free Coloring Pages CLICK HERE TO ENTER GIVEAWAY

The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson

On tour with Prism Book Tours

The Dating Charade

 by Melissa Ferguson

Contemporary Romance, Fiction

Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 316 pages

December 3,2019 by Thomas Nelson

Just when you think you’ve met your match . . . the charade begins

Cassie Everson is an expert at escaping bad first dates. And, after years of meeting, greeting, and running from the men who try to woo her, Cassie is almost ready to retire her hopes for a husband—and children—altogether.

But fate has other plans, and Cassie’s online dating profile catches the eye of firefighter Jett Bentley. In Jett’s memory, Cassie Everson is the unreachable girl-of-legend from their high school days. Nervously, he messages her, setting off a chain of events that forces a reluctant Cassie back into the dating game

No one is more surprised than Cassie when her first date with Jett is a knockout. But when they both go home and find three children dropped in their laps—each—they independently decide to do the right and mature thing: hide the kids from each other while sorting it all out. What could go wrong?

Melissa Ferguson’s hilarious and warmhearted debut reminds us that love can come in very small packages—and that sometimes our best-laid plans aren’t nearly as rewarding and fun as the surprises that come our way.

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My thoughts:

The Dating Charade is a super cute, fast paced and fun read. I knew that this was a debut novel when I started reading it but it certainly doesn't seem like a debut novel at all, it reads as a novel penned by a more experienced author, so kudos to Ms. Ferguson for that. 

Cassie and Jett are both sweet, caring and selfless characters, as evidenced throughout the story. Yes, there are some funny moments mixed in with online dating, escape plans and  the advice of some well meaning characters but what really got to me was the children and how they became an important part of the story and ultimately to Cassie and Jett.  It's heartbreaking while being heartwarming at the same time.  I commend the author for her sensitivity in the telling of this story. I loved all of the characters from the youngest to the eldest.  I chuckled, got a little choked up but feeling different emotions is what I love when reading a novel.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.  Opinions expressed are completely my own.

About the Author

Melissa Ferguson is an adjunct professor for Bible and religion at King University. She lives in the charming town of Bristol, Tennessee, with her husband, twin toddlers, and baby girl.

She used to have hobbies like running and backpacking the Appalachian Trail outside her door. Now her hobbies include admiring the Appalachian Trail out her minivan window while singing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" en route to the library

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Abraham (The Petersheim Brothers #2) by Jennifer Beckstrand

About the book

Known as "The Peanut Butter Brothers" for their Wisconsin family business, hardworking Andrew, Abraham, and Austin Petersheim have their plates too full for romance--until their little siblings decide to play matchmaker . . .

With their house full to bursting since Mammi and Dawdi moved back in, the Petersheim twins know the only way to get their bedroom back is to get their older brothers married off. But Abraham is so shy, he'll barely speak to girls. Still, they've noticed how he looks at Emma Wengerd at church. Emma is so talkative, Abraham's quiet ways wouldn't matter a bit. Soon, the boys have hatched a scheme that sends Abraham right to Emma's
door--and her chicken coop . . .

Abraham doubts that pretty, popular Emma would be interested in him. Yet when he finds himself by her side, having to straighten out the twins' mischief--more than once--he can't help imagining a future with her. And the more time they spend together, the more Abraham realizes that perhaps no matter how many boys buzz around Emma, with faith, it's only the right one that counts . . .

My thoughts:

My favorite twins are at again in the second book in The Petersheim Brothers series by Jennifer Beckstrand. The twins are livid about having to sleep in the cellar and slightly afraid down there but when your home is filled with family and limited bedrooms, they have no choice.  They have reached the conclusion if there are fewer people needing a room, they will eventually  get theirs back, so the plans begin to marry off their older brothers.

The hilarity begins again when the boys decide to find Abraham a wife, it worked with Andrew so why not try again?  So, Alfie and Benjie  spring into action and try their  hands at matchmaking once more by setting up the shy Abraham with the popular Emma.  The twins plans always seem to go awry and so far have included their funny neighbor Bitsy, animals and their unwitting Dawdi.

The adventure the twins go on to help their brother find true love and getting themselves out of their cellar bedroom is quite entertaining with several laugh out loud moments. 

I cannot wait to see what the author has in store for her readers next and if the twins will finally get out of that scary old cellar.  Ms. Beckstrand has quickly become one of my must read authors because I love her humorous writing, lovable characters and her books are always suitable for readers of all ages. 

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

Misleading Miss Verity(Regency Brides: Daughters of Aynsley #3) by Carolyn Miller

Book Synopsis

Verity Hatherleigh has a mind of her own—but her actions do not impress her viscount papa. When she gets into one scrape too many, he sends her off to the wilds of Scotland to rethink her headstrong ways.

Anthony Jardine relished his role as curate, but his new duties as laird of Dungally aren’t always to his liking. Though he thought his new inheritance would be a blessing, somehow he’s finding nothing but trouble on these estates. And the intelligent, compassionate, feisty lass who was sent to rusticate in his territory is one of the biggest problems. He’s falling in love with her, but she doesn’t share the faith that’s his foundation—not to mention he’s been lying to her about who he really is. For the truth-loving Verity, that may be unforgivable.

The tangled web these two have woven may spell disaster for their happiness—and for the tenants of Dungally.Verity Hatherleigh has a mind of her own—but her actions do not impress her viscount papa. When she gets into one scrape too many, he sends her off to the wilds of Scotland to rethink her headstrong ways.

Anthony Jardine relished his role as curate, but his new duties as laird of Dungally aren’t always to his liking. Though he thought his new inheritance would be a blessing, somehow he’s finding nothing but trouble on these estates. And the intelligent, compassionate, feisty lass who was sent to rusticate in his territory is one of the biggest problems. He’s falling in love with her, but she doesn’t share the faith that’s his foundation—not to mention he’s been lying to her about who he really is. For the truth-loving Verity, that may be unforgivable.

The tangled web these two have woven may spell disaster for their happiness—and for the tenants of Dungally.

My thoughts:


I absolutely loved Misleading Miss Verity.  From start to finish this book held my interest throughout.  There’s never a dull moment when Verity Hatherleigh is around much to the chagrin of her father who sends her off to Scotland.


Verity is my favorite character in this novel because she’s a bundle of fun and energy which is an interesting contrast to Anthony Jardine.  He has responsibilities far greater than Verity realizes and I loved seeing him accept and grow into his role.   As a reader I love seeing the growth and maturity of characters which I got in this novel.

Everything about this well written and well-paced novel made it a joy to read.
I have loved this series and am sorry to say goodbye to the Daughters of Aynsley but I know that I will revisit them when I reread the three books so artfully crafted by Ms. Miller.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.