A Gift of Grace
Kauffman Amish Bakery Series Book 1
by Amy Clipston

Reviewed by Cindy Loven

Two nieces, all of sudden Rebecca and Daniel Kauffman find themselves raising two nieces, Rebecca’s sister Grace, who left the Amish community when she was young and married and English man, has died in a tragic accident and left her sister as guardian over her two daughters. Rebecca and Daniel, married fifteen years and childless, now have two teenage ‘daughters’ who have totally different values and ideals than they do to deal with.

Teenage attitudes abound, and Amish values are stretched beyond the limit as this family tries to learn to live together. Follow along as Jessica and Lindsay, learn about Amish life, and as Daniel and Rebecca learn that there is a big difference in raising children who were born into your Amish family than bringing English children into your home. Cry with the family as they go through hard times, laugh as they laugh.

Amy Clipston, has brought us a wonderful book, with her first published book. This book, was well written, a beautiful story and I look forward to more books from this author. Interspersed between each chapter are wonderful Amish recipes for you to try out. A book worth sharing and recommending to others. 323 pages $10.99 US

Related Posts

1. BOOK REVIEW | A Sister’s Secret
2. BOOK REVIEW | Every Good and Perfect Gift
3. BOOK REVIEW | Faking Grace

THE LONGING
by Beverly Lewis

Nellie Mae Fisher is going on with life after her breakup with beau, Caleb Yoder. She doesn’t feel that she is able to date yet, since she still loves Caleb, but when Mennonite Chris Yoder starts showing interest in her, she is intrigued.  The whole family is still reeling from Suzy’s untimely death, and Rhoda subsequently leaving the family home to date an Englischer.

Caleb Yoder is trying to be an obedient son to his father but it is hard when he is stripped of his inheritance and kicked out. Still, when his father has a bad accident, Caleb is quick to answer  his summons and work the farm that he no longer has any claim to, while try to reconcile his differences with his father. But when Caleb’s father starts changing—Caleb is worried. Is it the medicine, or has he discovered some truth?

Rosanna and Elias King are still hurting from being forced to give up their adopted twins. Rosanna is shocked when three Amish families step up and offer to give her their unborn babies. Forced to make a decision, Rosanna must decide if she’s even willing to trust virtual strangers for a baby, or to continue waiting on God.

THE LONGING is the highly anticipated conclusion to The Courtship of Nellie Fisher series. Readers will want to read the first two books in the series first, since all three of them are tightly woven together and you must read them in order to make any sense of it. I enjoyed reconnecting with Nellie Mae and her family and watching them heal from all the trials and tribulations they went through in The Parting and The Forbidden.

THE LONGING is a satisfactory conclusion, neatly tying up all the loose ends from the previous books.  I’ve anxiously awaited this book and couldn’t wait for it to land at the top of my to-be-read pile. This is a beautifully written book, full of well-developed characters, and so vividly described that you can picture the Amish country-side. $19.99 hardcover. 347 pages.

Related Posts

1. BOOK REVIEW | The Forbidden
2. The Longing Season
3. BOOK REVIEW | White Christmas Pie

THE SECRET
by Beverly Lewis

Grace Byler has come of age and is hoping that her beau, Henry, will speak for her so they can marry in the fall, like most Amish couples do. Henry is quiet and soft-spoken, like Grace’s father, a man of few words.

Grace’s mother is suffering from depression, which seems to hit every year around the time of Grace’s birthday, and the anniversary of her aunt’s death. But this year, Graces mother, Lettie, is acting stranger than usual, going off for long walks, at night, alone, and sometimes crying for no apparent reason.

On the evening of Grace’s birthday, Lettie warns Grace that marriage to a reserved man is mighty difficult, seemingly warning Grace away from possibly marrying Henry. And the next morning, Grace wakes up and catches her mother leaving—a thing unheard of in the Amish community.

The family is shocked and dismayed over Lettie’s disappearance and can’t even begin to guess why she felt unhappy enough to walk out. Will they be able to find her and bring her home? Will they understand Lettie’s great secret that she’s carried all these years?

THE SECRET is the first book in Ms. Lewis’s newest series, Seasons of Grace. It is, as usually, an amazingly well-written story that completely engrossed me into the characters’ lives, and made me care for them completely from the beginning of the book. 

Set in Pennsylvania Amish country, the book completely brings in the Amish heritage, and mind-set, while keeping in mind the differences between different Amish communities and cultures. Fans of Beverly Lewis will not want to miss THE SECRET. If you haven’t read any of Ms. Lewis’s books, or if you prefer to know the series is finished before starting a book, then perhaps you might want to wait for the next book in the series to come out before starting THE SECRET because you will be forced to wait another six to nine months before the second book in this series comes out.

It was really fun to read this book while in Pennsylvania on vacation, and as a result I could hear the differences in the speech patterns in this area, than the Midwestern dialect I am most familiar with. Don’t miss THE SECRET. It is a fantastic read. Highly recommended. $13.99. 364 pages.

Reviewed by Laura Hilton

Related Posts

1. BOOK REVIEW | A Sister’s Secret
2. BOOK REVIEW | Every Secret Thing
3. BOOK REVIEW | Plain and Fancy

A Cousin’s Promise
Indiana Cousins Book 1
by Wanda E. Brunstetter

A Cousin’s Promise opens with a group of 8 Amish friends and cousins headed for a day out at an amusement park, a day that started out with promise of hope and fun ends in a terrible tragedy. A car crash kills 3 of the friends and injures 3 of the survivors.

The story is centered around Wayne and Loraine, a young couple who are engaged to be married soon, they both survive the crash, but he looses a leg, and must come to terms with that loss. In his journey to come to terms, he becomes depressed, and tries to drive away his fiancée Loraine. She is determined they are meant to be together.

Follow along on this journey as Wayne and Loraine find their way in love, and find their way with all the pressures coming on them from their family, as the family and friends try to convince them they know what is best for them. Also throw in a former boyfriend and girlfriend returning back to their community, and two mamms who think they are helping their children and you have the setting of this book.

As the book unfolds we see the way that each character of the book, deals with the grief and the sorrow they are dealt with this unfortunate accident. From parents to siblings, cousins and friends, each person handles their grief differently and the author does a beautiful job of showing that.

A happy ending is to be expected in this book, along with the promise that this story will continue on, since it is Book 1 on the Indiana Cousins.

Wanda Brunstetter once again presents us with a lovely story of the Amish, and this story is captivating, easy to read and enjoyable. I read this book in one sitting. I give it a 4 star rating.

Reviewed by Cindy Loven

Related Posts

1. BOOK REVIEW | A Promise to Remember
2. BOOK REVIEW | A Sister’s Secret
3. BOOK REVIEW | White Christmas Pie

WANTED
by Shelley Shepard Gray

Katie Brenneman has always liked Jonathan Lundy, but Jonathan has never noticed her. Instead her married Sarah, had two children, and now, years after Sarah died, he’s still in love with her. When Jonathan’s sister, Winnie needs to go to Indiana, the only person they can think of to help with Jonathan’s daughters is Katie, but Katie’s parents refuse to even consider letting Katie live with Jonathan and help out.

Katie and Winnie both push for their way, and eventually, Katie’s parents reluctantly agree. Katie is thrilled with the opportunity to get to know Jonathan better. But even as she’s preparing to move, Katie receives a letter. She knows as soon as she sees it that her past has caught up with her. A past she’s ashamed of. And a past that could destroy all Katie’s chances for love.

WANTED is the second book in Ms. Gray’s Sisters of the Heart series, but it easily stands alone. Set in an Amish community, WANTED is sure to appeal to fans of Amish series, such as Beverly Lewis, Cindy Woodsmall, and Wanda Brunslettler, though Ms. Gray’s writing style is much different than any of the above authors.

I enjoyed getting to know Katie, Jonathan, and the secondary characters. At the beginning of the book, I didn’t care much for Katie, as she seemed a bit selfish, and unsympathetic to others, but as the story progresses, Katie grows and changes, becoming likeable. The story is gentle, a great book to read to escape life for awhile. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book, and a preview of Ms. Gray’s third book in this series, Forgiven. Don’t miss WANTED. It is a book sure to please those who like to read gentle romances. $12.99. 260 pages.

Related Posts

1. BOOK REVIEW | A Sister’s Secret
2. BOOK REVIEW | The Redemption of Sarah Cain
3. BOOK REVIEW | The Englisher

WHITE CHRISTMAS PIE
by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Will Henderson’s father abandoned him when he was six years old. Even though Will is raised by a loving, childless Amish couple, he still suffers from abandonment issues. Now Will has joined the Amish church and is about to marry Karen Yoder.

Karen Yoder can’t seem to break down the barrier Will has constructed. An old boyfriend is beginning to seek her out, and Will is suddenly acting extremely immature. There’s a chance their wedding won’t happen. Especially since someone is targeting Will.

Frank Henderson never meant to abandon his son. He just wanted help with raising him after his wife dies, because he can’t take a small boy with him on a over-the-road truck. At least until Frank finds a new job. But when he settled down and tries to find his son, he discovers the family he left them with is long gone. Sixteen years have gone by. Will Frank even recognize his son if he sees him again?

WHITE CHRISTMAS PIE is a sweet Amish romance by popular author Wanda Brunstetter. Sweet and hopeful, the whole book is a delicious read to while away a few hours.

I enjoyed getting to know Karen and some of the secondary characters, but I found Will extremely immature at times. I wanted to tell him to grow up. I sympathized with Frank wanting to find his son, and regretting the choices he made that caused him to lose the boy, and hoped he’d find him. A delicious sounding recipe for WHITE CHRISTMAS PIE is included at the end of the book.

Reviewed by Laura V. Hilton

Related Posts

1. BOOK REVIEW | Plain and Fancy
2. BOOK REVIEW | Merry Heart
3. BOOK REVIEW | A Sister’s Secret

A SISTER’S TEST
by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Ruth Hostettler is planning on marrying Martin Gingerich, and her one desire is to fill their house with children. But while she waits for her dreams to come true, she has plenty to occupy her time. Her sister, Grace, is having a baby soon, and another Amish family has lost their mother.

Someone is also continuing their attacks on the Hostettler family. A stink bomb is thrown threw a barn window, the house and a buggy are toilet papered, a garden is destroyed and threatening notes left on the barn, and clothes drying on the line are shredded. But the worst attack of all leaves Ruth reeling. Her faith put to the test, Ruth finds herself spiritually adrift. Will Ruth find the courage to keep living?

A SISTER’S TEST is the second book in the Sisters of Holmes County series. Readers will want to read the first book A Sisters Secret first so they will know what is going on in the second book, though I think enough backstory is covered so most readers won’t be confused.

The book covers the life of each of the sisters and the parents, so we know what happens with Grace since her marriage, and Martha, and the others. The main character in this book was Ruth though. I enjoyed getting to know her better, and the rest of the family, and sympathized with them with each and every attack on the family. Don’t miss A SISTERS TEST. $14.95. 287 pages.

Reviewed by Laura V. Hilton

Related Posts

1. BOOK REVIEW | A Sister’s Secret
2. Just A Sister Away
3. Mozart’s Sister

THE FORBIDDEN
by Beverly Lewis

Nellie Mae Fisher and her love, Caleb Yoder, are separated by a church split. Caleb’s father is not allowing Caleb to see Nellie Mae anymore since her father has left the Old Order Amish Church and started attending a New Order one. Nellie Mae assures Caleb she intends to stay Old Order, but she can’t deny the pull she has toward the New Order church her parents attend.

Caleb can risk everything if he disobeys his father and continues seeing Nellie Mae. Nellie is worth it to Caleb, but he doesn’t know how he can support a family if his father takes his inheritance away. He promises Nellie Mae that he will find a way for them to be together, but it is getting more difficult. How can Caleb and Nellie remain true to each other, yet satisfy the expectations of the People?

THE FORBIDDEN is the second book in The Courtship of Nellie Fisher series, and readers will want to read these books in order, starting with The Parting. The final book in the series will be available in September 2008.

I love this series, and enjoyed reconnecting with Caleb, Nellie Mae, and the other characters. It has been a while since I read The Parting so it took me a few pages to remember what happened with Nellie and Caleb so I could get back into the story. The secondary story involving Roseanna and her cousin Kate, took me a little longer to remember. But once I could recall the previous story line, I thoroughly enjoyed THE FORBIDDEN.

Ms. Lewis is a wonderful storyteller, and her writing just keeps getting better. I couldn’t wait to read this book, and now that it’s finished I’m disappointed as it will still be several months before I can read the next book in the series. The faith message is an important part of this story, and the struggle between two different cultures. Beverly Lewis is one of my favorite authors, her stories as detailed as some of the Amish quilts I’ve seen. You’ll not want to miss THE FORBIDDEN or any of the books in this series. $13.99. 350 pages.

Reviewed by Laura Hilton

Related Posts

1. BOOK REVIEW | The Longing
2. BOOK REVIEW | The Preacher’s Daughter
3. BOOK REVIEW | Beloved Captive

THE REDEMPTION OF SARAH CAIN (movie edition)
by Beverly Lewis

Sarah Cain and her sister Ivy have never gotten along. Ivy and Sarah were complete opposites growing up, so it’s no big surprise when they don’t have a good relationship as adults. Sarah has become a successful business woman, living in Oregon, as far from her Connecticut roots as she can get. Ivy married, converted to the Amish faith, and has five children.

When Sarah gets the news that Ivy has died of heart failure, she’s stunned. She refuses to go to the funeral, hoping instead that she’ll be able to move on, keep her busy lifestyle and forget she ever had a sister. She never expects to find that Ivy has left her five children to Sarah.

What is Ivy supposed to do with a ready-made Amish family? She flies out to Pennsylvania to dispose of the kids as quickly as she can to another Amish family. After all, she can’t sacrifice her successful career for five children she doesn’t even know. Can she?

As a reviewer, it is rare that I have the time to reread a book anymore. So it was a pleasure to sit down with this book, originally published in 2000, and read it for review. Reissued with the debut of the movie by the same name, THE REDEMPTION OF SARAH CAIN held my interest just as much the second time around, even though I knew what would happen next. I can’t wait to see the movie they made, available on DVD in mid-January 2008.

At first Sarah is a prickly character, selfish and unkind, but she does grow and change considerably as the book progresses. And one can’t help but lose their hearts to the five orphans, losing both their mother and father so young, and facing an uncertain future with their mother’s choice of Sarah for a guardian. I highly recommend THE REDEMPTION OF SARAH CAIN whether you read it the first time in 2000 or if this is your first time to pick it up. Pictures of the movie set and a letter from Beverly Lewis are included. $13.99. 313 pages.

Reviewed by Laura V. Hilton

Related Posts

1. BOOK REVIEW | Wanted
2. BOOK REVIEW | The Forbidden
3. BOOK REVIEW | The Preacher’s Daughter