Pink Granny's Journey...

Reviewing: Wooing The Competition Rival by Melissa Jagears

2026-10-04T16:21:55.828-07:00

Everyone has a special talent yet Raven Owens had yet to discover hers. She can't cook, can't sew and has yet to prove herself to her parents as a reliable clerk in their mercantile. This was enough to get a girl down but she was willing to try anything to find her strengths. When a temporary positon as the town teacher came up, she applied. The town council doubled she was up to the task, yet nobody else came forth to apply. It became apparent that what she lacked in domestic talents she made up for with good ideas to improve her school and encourage her students. Spurred on by her students, she decided to throw her hat into the mayoral election. Wyoming was a forward thinking territory and in 1885, women could vote and there was even a territory with a woman mayor!

The town council wasn't having Raven for mayor. The town had been without a mayor since Mayor McGill was run out of office for his lawless ways. They tried everything to discourage her campaign but she was determined to run, albeit with little support from her parents or other townsfolk.

Bo McGill, handsome and good at just about everything he put his hand to, was back in town and quickly unsettled Raven at nearly every turn. He seemed to be everywhere. He was the son of the late, disgraced former mayor. He worked hard to right his father's bad deeds and establish his own good name and integrity far from that of his father. The town council decided he was the best candidate to beat Raven. He wanted no part of being mayor after his father's disgrace and assurance from the council it would be a job in name only. He could just rubber stamp their decisions. Undeterred by his willingness to run, the council still put his name on the ballot.

Raven and Bo went way back to their school days when he cheated her out of a win at the school spelling bee. Imagine her chagrin when he showed up to teach math and did so quite well. Everywhere she turned, he showed up. Even as a rival in the campaign for mayor.

Rivals can often be on the opposite spectrum of feelings. Along the way, they both faced issues that determined their outcome. She found courage and strength. He too found a new type of courage and the realization that he was very unlike his father. I enjoyed this book, a book about resilience and love. When we look beyond our feelings, we often find some of the best parts of our lives. Melissa captured the Raven and Bo many people can identify with. To find oneself, it is good to reach out and learn about the world and its wonder.

Reviewing: All Booked Up by Melody Carlson

2026-04-11T13:00:00.000-07:00

...from the publisher....Empty nester and widow Riva Owen lives in the Victorian house that's been in her family for three generations, but finances have become a challenge she can no longer ignore. Her daughter is pushing her to move, and after considering all her options, Riva knows selling would be the smartest course. But she just can't bring herself to leave years of memories--and her cherished library filled with hundreds of books.

When she pursues an alternative--opening her home to women like her who have been forced to make lifestyle changes and need a room to rent--Riva is unprepared for the mix of personalities and peculiarities of her new housemates. She is even more unprepared for Marcus, the handsome and handy older brother of one of her new tenants. The possibility of finding love again feels overwhelming, even as her tenants seem to have romantic schemes of their own.

Warm your heart with a contemporary romance story of found family, booklovers, new beginnings, and an unexpected second chance at love in Melody Carlson's delightful signature style.

...my thoughts...This is a wonderful story for those readers like myself who enjoy a good story written by Melody Carlson. She has a way with creating believable characters who resonate with her readers. All Booked Up begins with Riva, surrounded by the wonderful books in her family library. Her daughter is heading out to begin her career.

Lonely and overwhelmed at the prospect of packing up a home that has been in her family for generations, she is hit with an idea to combat not only her loneliness but a way to keep her home in a surprising way. Challenged to attend a grief support group, she encounters her first tenant. One thing leads to another and soon she has three tenants, all women of a certain age, who will meld together four unique personalities into one charming victiorian home. Indeed, what starts out as a solution to remaining in her own home turns into a sometimes fun, sometimes daunting situation.

Reaching onto the shelves of her beloved library, she has a book for each woman to read, that has incidental similarities of the reader in mind. There always seems to be one troublemaker in a crowd and Jane Austen emerges to rescue a situation that threatens to disrupt the household for good.

All Booked up is a character study that enlightens us all about our friendships, expectations, unexpected romance and a little empathy. I laughed a lot, got misty eyed and was glad I read this book.

Reviewing: The Beginner's Quilt by Wanda Brunstetter

2026-02-09T14:03:00.000-08:00

The Beginner's Quilt is a prequel to Wanda Brunstetters's popular Half-Stitched Amish Quilters Club series. Fans of this series will enjoy meeting Emma as a young woman who funbled to find any talents suitable for any young woman preparing for her future. She'd much rather pursue fishing or hiking to sewing or cooking. To help Emma along, her mother sent her to Arthur, Illinois to spend the summer with her granparents. Hopefully, in addition to building her skills for homemaking, she could also overcome the painful shyness that prevented her from making friends or enjoying the singings the Amish young people in her community enjoyed attending.

While choosing fabric for a new dress to begin sewing lessons with her grandmother, she fell in love with the lovely quilts adorning the walls of the fabric store. Lucky for her, her grandmother's friend Ida Mae Yoder, was working at the store that day and invited Emma to take quilting lessons from her. Emma's love for the quilting process was a turning point for this young woman and gave her the lifelong gift of making beautiful quilts.

Ivan Yoder, a friendly young man took no time to notice Emma and learn how much they had in common. Spending time with Ivan brought Emma out of her shell and allow her to spend time enjoying so many things she avoided doing at home. It was by chance that Ivan, Ida Mae's son, came to be such a part of that summer visit to her grandparents. Were they who God destined for them to be together as husband and wife?

Time and nature seem to give us tests in life, and this young couple was not exception. A lost memory of a misadventure threatens to drive a wedge between Ivan and Emma. What we take for granted will happen doesn't always occur even under the best circumstances. Love, forgiveness and faith provide the answers to most situations in life.

This is a sweet love story and written especially for fans of Wanda Brustetter and the wholesome Amish fiction so many of us enjoy.

The Instant Kitchen Meal Prep Cookbook

2026-01-02T15:44:00.000-08:00

The Instant Kitchen Cookbook lives up to its name! Fast, easy recipes with a lot of variety for today's busy cook. With great information on stocking your pantry with reasonable staple items, you can cook anything in this book, becaue Coco shows you how to simply do some meal prep for fast weekday nights. I enjoyed the mixes for seasoning blends for Jo-jo potatoes, Taco seasoning, without a foil packet and a lovely recipe for tartar sauce to name just a few. With these recipes you can definitely eat out less, and enjoy home cooked meals, three times a day, seven days a week. Check this book out at your favorite bookseller and give your meal prep a new spin for a new year.

Reviewing: Once Upon A Christmas Carol: A Christmas Novella

2025-09-02T12:44:00.000-07:00

...from the publisher...

Carol Langstrom hates Christmas. Growing up in a dysfunctional home, with a birthday on December 25 and too many dashed childhood expectations, the holiday season is something she would rather avoid. And working in the design industry where she manages seasonal decor for wealthy, entitled clients certainly hasn't helped!   

So, this year her goal is to flee to the Bahamas--by herself--bah humbug! But bad weather and God's radically different plan redirect her flight to blustery Michigan, where she gets stuck on her aunt's farm and discovers a different kind of Christmas--one wrapped in love, family, and holiday spirit.

...my thoughts...

I started reading Once Upon a Christmas Carol in 90-plus weather while lounging on the deck with a nice tall glass of iced tea. The cover of this book is enough to cool down the temperature a bit. It is when you open to the first pages that you realize the cozy scene with the lovely old red truck is in direct contrast to the perils of being stuck in an airport with no end in sight to escape to the intended vacation spot.

Carol Langstrom definitely is not a fan of the festive holiday season. Is it any wonder she feels this way when all is revealed to the reader about her lifelong haphazard experiences with both Christmas as a holiday and her birthday to boot? She cannot wait to escape to the tropics. Except, she can't escape the endless storm that has closed the airport! With a lot of time on her hands, she remembers that her mother's estranged sister lives in the area.

Determined to get out of the miserable airport, Carol decides to take her chances, heads to her aunt's farm and is amazed at all that is before her. This charming story is one that will stick with you. Life and family stories are not always as painted to be. Sometimes, it is just so much more. Perceptions, open hearts, and a lot of forgiveness can change hearts and lives that on the surface seem impossible. Melody Carlson's novella, Once Upon a Christmas Carol is a gift to read. One cannot read this and put it down with a smile. It is witty, it is heartwarming and a story you will want to share with others.

2025-07-10T16:25:00.000-07:00

...from the publisher...

Two years since Rosa Petersheim mysteriously disappeared from her Amish home, there has been no word from her. Her family and friends have suffered in the silence, though they have tried to move on with life.

Then one day Rosa just as suddenly reappears at her parent’s home. . .with a husband in tow.

Rosa is ashamed of the choices she made that caused her to leave home. And now that she is back, her father is not welcoming and her siblings and friends want explanations that she can’t give.

Will Rosa’s family accept her and Anthony? Can the Big Valley ever be home again?

...my thoughts...

The Pretender is the third and final book in the Miflin County Mystery series. I have not read the first two books in this series so I can say without reservation that this book can be read as a standalone novel.

I enjoyed this story by Wanda E Brunstetter for several reasons. The characters are believable and not without the foibles of life that can make or break your day. Rosa, the young Amish woman who is the main focus of this story convinces Anthony to drive her to the family home she left two years before. There begins the ruse of this story as the two of them begin more than a journey from New York City to an Amish farmhouse to Anthony's greatest surprise. It is the first of mny times that he wonders if she is the same woman he believed her to be.

What follows is a serious, yet comical story of life change, forgiveness and new beginnings. I recommend this book for the reader looking for inspirational entertainment. You'll find it all inside, including a strong dose of sibling rivalry, a strict Amish bishop and a young man who is open to supporting his friend as she mends the hole in the heart of her family once she had left their community. There is much more to this story than meets the eye.

Reviewing: To Capture a Mountain Man by Robin Lee Hatcher

2025-02-08T13:54:00.000-08:00

...from the publisher...

Lady Amanda Whitcombe dreamed of the untamed beauty of the American West from the moment Buffalo Bill’s Wild West dazzled her during the Queen’s Jubilee. But nothing could prepare her for the rugged wilderness of Yellowstone—or the man who would change her life forever.

When Amanda is swept into the icy currents of a park river, game scout Isaiah Coltrane rescues her. Used to solitude and determined to avoid entanglements—especially with a woman as refined as Amanda—he’s eager to return her to civilization. Yet her courage and quick wit soon prove there’s more to her than the polished exterior of an English lady.

Bound by circumstance and danger, Amanda and Isaiah must navigate the perils of poachers, rustlers, and a growing affection he is not ready to admit. Isaiah believes Amanda belongs in the world of fine society, not the remote mountains he calls home. But Amanda’s heart has already chosen him—and she’s willing to fight for the man who believes he’s unworthy of her love.

...my thoughts...

To Capture A Mountain Man is one of those books that hooks you from the first paragraph. Imagine a young, beautiful English Lady being rescuted by a ruggedly handsome mountain man! Lady Amanda is an impressionable young woman who wanted to experience the wild west after seeing a sensationalized show in England. Life isn't like the rootin' tootin' shows when it gets down to it, but sometimes, it is even better.

This book, like so many by Robin Lee Hatcher are honest to goodness nice stories set with a backdrop of some of the most beautiful areas of our country. A little history is added to bring to life the people who settled on the land and worked hard. Unlike the Show Amanda saw with Wild Bill Cody, she experienced life on the ranch and fell in love with not only the ruggedly handsome mountain man but also this new life offered in America.

I liked this story about Amanda and Isaiah and recommend this book to anyone looking for a good alternative to cookie cutter movies. Their story is like a fairy tale, but instead of a castle, it is set in the rugged country in around Montana and Idaho.Isaiah is a true gentleman who rescues the girl, and that is where the story begins. There are inner struggles, a dose of cultural challenges, and of course,danger. Isaiah may be an isolated mountain man but there is so much more beyond that first glance.

This book is a stand alone nove, but Amanda and Isaiah's story was so enjoyable, I wanted to read To Marry An English Lord to learn more about Amanda and her journey.

Wishing for Mistletoe by Robin Lee Hatcher

2024-10-27T14:41:00.000-07:00

...from the publisher...

On Sanctuary Island, Ariel Highbridge seeks refuge from crippling writer's block and a disillusioned heart. As a writer of Regency romances who's been betrayed by love herself, Ariel struggles to weave tales of romance when her own faith in it has frayed.

Tom Fuller is a devoted schoolteacher and a widower, whose life orbits around his daughter Shauna. He has sworn off the possibility of new love. Yet, the arrival of their enchanting neighbor stirs an unexpected warmth in both father and daughter's lives.

As the island's Yuletide enchantments weave their spell, Tom and Ariel find themselves drawn to each other. Ariel's burgeoning belief in love and Tom's tentative steps towards healing suggest that perhaps, this Christmas, they could write a love story of their own.

But their fledgling romance will soon face its ultimate test, and it will take the magic of the season and the island's charm for their love story to prove the most enchanting tales don't end—they simply transform into new beginnings.

...my thoughts...

Sanctuary Island, with all its crisp icy weather, sounds like just the place to kick back and let the quiet respond like a muse, escaping to inspire a bestselling book for a weary writer. It is remote, with little of the noisy, everyday intrusions that Ariel faced at home. It was with pleasure, then, that this woman who sought solace found just the opposite. Sanctuary Island, after all, is not the place for the fainthearted. Once the ice hits, you are simply there for the duration of winter. Cabin fever, a very real thing, can creep up on the least suspecting person.

Ariel was not that person. She couldn't hope to get so lost and bored on that island because her life was anything but dull, quiet or lonely. Living right next door was a dog who loved to dig under the fence, belonging to an adorable little girl who happened to have a very handsome dad, who was also a widower. Wow, a lot to take in for a Regency romance author who was very short on romance.

Tom and Shauna quickly entered Ariel's daily life as she began to navigate this small community. He was a school teacher, busy raising his daughter alone. As neighbors go, they had a lot to offer Ariel as she balanced writers block, providing inspiration to Shauna with a school writing project all while working to overcome the betrayal of her former love. It takes courage to put oneself in a new location that is as different as night and day from home, not only move on, but pick up your career where your life left off.

Robin Lee Hatcher is a masterful writer who adds just the right touch of magic while making a story believable. Often, we see movies or read books where there are a lot of cookie cutter stories where one piece is cut off the dough, so to speak and added someplace else to cobble together what may look like a plausible story. She has written many books, as I know, since I have read most of them. All exceptionally good. This book, coming at this special time of year, is very special. It is a time of hope and faith that life can change for the better. New beginnings are often so difficult, even for the very young. This story is about three people, all looking forward to life with both faith and hope. I could share a lot more, but why give it all away and spoil the story. The characters are wonderful in their own right, but they come together just right for this story.

Reviewing: The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne

2024-09-28T22:07:00.000-07:00

...from the publisher... Amanda Taylor isn’t a fan of Christmas, but as the owner of a local soap shop, ignoring the holiday season isn’t an option. To forget the pain of Christmases past, Amanda focuses on making the season bright for her customers at the Shelter Springs Holiday Giving Market. But when her beloved grandmother, Birdie, starts dating the dashing new resident of the Shelter Inn retirement community, Amanda smells trouble. Fortunately, Rafe Arredondo, the grandson of Birdie’s charming suitor, is equally dubious of the match. Unfortunately, he's just as fiery as his grandfather—and Amanda has zero interest in getting burned.

As a single father, paramedic and assistant fire chief, Rafe has more than enough on his plate. Sure, he and Amanda share a common goal in keeping their grandparents apart. Still, that doesn’t mean he should allow himself to feel as drawn to her as he does. Even if she is great with his young son. Even if she does help the burden of his own painful past feel a little lighter… But when their paths keep crossing at the holiday market, it starts to feel like fate, prompting them both to wonder if taking a chance on love might gift them everything they’ve been wishing for.

...my thoughts... I was hooked from the moment Amanda met young Isaac after a mishap with a radio controlled sports car and five bags of groceries. After working all day, shopping for grocieries for Thanksgiving, the last thing she needed was to find herself reaching for the hand of Isaac's father, one handsome Rafe Arrendondo. She was just walking down the halls to her grandmother Birdie's apartment at the Shelter Inn retirement community minding her own business, after all!

In the coming days she finds herself faced with the handsome assistant fire chief as if that one encounter was meant to keep them in mind of each other. Both Amanda and Rafe have had past hurts and are definitely ready for nothing more than a passing friendship, at the very least. Fate, however, had other ideas.

Amanda has dealt with her painful past by pouring herself into every civic volunteer role possible. This year, once again, she is managing the Giving Market and pulling together a large community event in addition to running her own successful business. Rafe, after an on the job injury, is manning the first aid booth and observing the beautiful Amanda. Isaac has his own designs on Amanda and isn't the least bit shy about wanting to spend time with her. He seeks as many ways for his father to spend time with them. As Amanda warms up to Issac and Rafe, she is alarmed that her grandmother has found romance with Rafe's grandfather. The conflicting emotions she has for Rafe and his son, and observing the budidng relationship with the grandparents, she struggles to deal with the situations. It is only when something happens to threaten Birdie's new happiness that Amanda realizes the true meaning of love.

I was touched by this story of love, forgiveness and second chances. Set in the Christmas season makes it all the more magical. After all, how many times have wee heard that miracles do come true at Christmas? I recommend this book for those who enjoy snuggling with a good book, warm afghan and cup of hot tea.

Reviewing: Under the Starry Skies by Tracie Peterson Love on the Santa Fe

2024-08-05T23:32:00.000-07:00

from the publisher:Sensible and independent, Cassie Barton never anticipated being on her own at thirty-two. But after the death of her father and the marriage of her sister, she's found joy in her work as a seamstress. When a minor accident leaves her unable to sew, she decides to use her time to compile a book of stories about the men working on the Santa Fe Railroad. But worry begins to grow in San Marcial as Mexican revolutionaries set out to destroy the railroad--and put many lives in danger.

With Europe at war and his longtime friend Cassie injured, railroad worker Brandon DuBarko is burdened by his troubles. He promised Cassie's father he would watch over her, but as their comfortable friendship slowly transforms into something deeper, he feels trapped by a secret from his youth. When a vengeful man reappears in Brandon's life, intent on causing conflict, Brandon must face his past before he can move forward.

As the danger intensifies, Cassie and Brandon must rely on God to overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of a brighter future.

my thoughts: In true Tracie Peterson fashion, our heroine, Cassie overcomes great trials when she is injured and can't perform her job as a seamstress. In this heartbreaking story, she overcomes her struggles compiling stories of the men working on the Santa Fe Railroad. Compelling and once again, Ms. Peterson has researched her work with results to entertain, enrich and give the reader a front row seat into the shaping of our country.

Cassie's friend, Brandon Dubarko has also found troubles along the way in a vengeful man who re-enters his life. Strong faith give Cassie and Brandon the strenghth and courage to face their trials. Truly a wonderfully inspirational book.

Reviewing: The Christmas Inn by Pamela Kelley

2024-08-05T23:07:00.000-07:00

from the publisher:

Explore this delightfully cozy and joyful novel of second chances at the most wonderful time of the year, from USA Today bestselling author Pamela Kelley.

A feel-good novel as delightful and comforting as a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night, The Christmas Inn is bestselling author Pamela Kelley’s most heartwarming and magical book yet.

Riley Sanders didn’t plan on losing her job as a content marketing manager right before Christmas. When she calls her sister Amy to vent, she learns that their mother has broken her leg and could really use some help at the inn. Riley decides to head home to the inn, nestled along the shores of Cape Cod, in time for the Christmas rush. She is happy to help and needs something to distract her as mistletoe is hung and snowflakes begin to fall.

When she gets there, she not only finds delicious cookies and a crackling fire to lift her spirits, but also the sense of family she’s been missing all along. There’s Franny, a woman who has just lost her sister and has four unopened letters from her that she plans to use to open her up to new experiences on the Cape. And there’s Aidan, her high school sweetheart, now a widower, who is staying at the inn with his nine year-old son, Luke. What begins as a quick stay over the holidays to help her mom turns into something that means much more—a second chance at romance, a deeper sense of found family, and all the joy and wonder that comes with Christmas time on Cape Cod.

my thoughts:

The Christmas Inn is my first foray into Christmas reading this season. I enjoyed the story from the beginning. I felt the cold chill of winter when Riley's position as a contente editor is replaced by artificial intelligence just before Christmas as makes her way alone to her apartment. Her boyfriend, who is on track to make partner at his law firm, cancels their date, making the day that much colder.

If this were a made for television Christmas movie, I could almost cast the characters with todays favorite actors. It is not, however, because it is a book and a book is always better. Pamela Kelley has developed likable characters that come alive on the Cape at Christmas.

Life doesn't just happen in the big city. After losing her job, Riley returns ho
me to help her mother recover from a broken leg. As she sends out resumes for a new job, she learns more about herself than she could possibly dream of. Her life is in New York, her boyfriend is in New York. As the story grows, so does Riley. Just as others before her, she has some decisions to make and soon.

The story is a little predictable, it is a Christmas romance story after all but there is always one little thing that keeps you interested because the story twists are just enough to keep you reaching for this heartwarming story. So, grab that hot chocolate, or pretend you are visiting the local wine and cheese shop for that glass of Cabernet. It is time to start reading your Christmas to-be-read pile and The Christmas Inn is just the book begin. It has all the charm and elements to make you smile.

Reviewing A Royal Christmas by Melody Carlson

2023-09-29T22:40:00.006-07:00

...from the publisher...

Adelaide Smith is too busy for fairy tales.
She’s been working hard to put herself through law school, and she’s determined to stay focused on her goals.

Then she receives a letter notifying her that she is a direct descendant of King Maximillian Konig V, the ruler of a small European principality called Montovia.
What? No. That’s the stuff of cheesy made-for-TV movies, not real life.
Still, curiosity gets the best of her, leading to a Christmas break trip chock-full of surprises, including a charming village, an opulent palace, family mysteries, royal jealousies, a handsome young member of Parliament, and the chance at a real-life fairy tale romance.

...my thoughts...

Every year, Melody Carlson has a knack for writing a wonderful story to put us in the Christmas spirit. This year is no exception. A Royal Christmas is just such a story. Meet Adelaide Smith, struggling law student, so close to finally finishing her degree she is leaving her barista job for good. As fate would have it, she receives the letter that changes her life forever.

This novella is heartwarming and yes, a bit enchanting but still contains a bit of intrigue and mystery. All in time for the Christmas holiday season. I enjoyed this story and recommend this to all who enjoy a modern Cinderella story. This book, like all the other Christmas books I have by Melody Carlson will be read again and again.

Revisitng a Classic! Miracles on Maple Hill.

2023-08-13T12:14:00.005-07:00

My 4th grade teacher read this book aloud to us many years ago. I eagerly waited every day after lunch recess when she would read us just one chapter. I enjoyed it then and was happy to find this book again. The family in the story is adjusting to the return of their father, who had been a Prisoner of War, likely the Korean War, based on the publication date of this book in the 1950's. As fate would have it, they went to Maple Hill, the home where Lee, the mother spent many happy days as a child in the home of her late grandmother. The family is transformed as father stays behind, fixing up the place and working with a kindly neighbor, Mr. Chris. They work hard together on the maple sugar harvest, which heals father and brings the family closer.

This is a wonderful story of family values. This family inspired me then as it does today because when we work hard together, the rewards are great. I like the old fashioned notion of strong families sticking together through tough times. It reminds me of my own large family growing up in that era, working in the garden, preserving our food and each of us having a job to do in the process, no matter our age. It was worth it and the memories are savored.

Some would say that some of the traditional adjectives are outmoded but frankly, the words as written are as defined in the true sense of the word.

The cover of this book was illustrated by Beth and Joe Kush, a husband and wife team who illustrated many children's books including the five United States editions of the Borrowers series by Mary Norton

Publishers Summary

Marly and her family are moving out to the country, back to her mother's grandmother's house, back to where she would say: "Now scoot, you two, for goodness' sakes! Up here, there's all outdoors!"

Moving so her father can start recovering from his time spent as a prisoner of war, as Marly and her family learn about the country life from their neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Chris, they do start adjusting and becoming happier. When Mr. Chris suffers a heart attack during "sugaring time," Marly's family helps to repay the kindness shown them by pitching in to keep the fires going, keep the sap moving, and bring in that year's harvest of maple syrup...even getting the whole school to join in their efforts.

Miracles on Maple Hill won the 1957 Newbery Medal.

Reviewing: The Orchard by Beverly Lewis

2023-06-06T22:09:00.005-07:00

...from the publishers...

For generations, Ellie Hostetler's family has tended their Lancaster County orchard, a tradition her twin brother, Evan, will someday continue. Yet when Evan's draft number is called up in the lottery for the Vietnam War, the family is shocked to learn he has not sought conscientious objector status, despite their Old Order Amish belief in non-resistance. The faraway war that has caused so much turmoil and grief among their Englisher neighbors threatens too close to home.

As Evan departs for boot camp, Ellie confides her disappointment to Sol Bontrager, the brother of her best friend and cousin to her new beau, Menno. In contrast to Evan, Sol is a conscientious objector. Despite Ellie's attraction to Menno, she finds herself drawn to Sol's steady presence as they work together in the orchard. Suddenly, it feels as if everything in Ellie's world is shifting, and the plans she held so dear seem increasingly uncertain. Can she and her family find the courage to face a future unlike any they could have imagined?

...my thoughts...

This book touched my my heart in a unique way. I was a young teenager during the time this book was set and I had two brothers who served in this war, as did neighbors and friends. I remember when the lottery was implemented. I felt for Ellie's brother Evan who had probably the worst shock of his life when he landed in the barber's chair at boot camp! I have read other works of Amish fiction where Amish men who served, but as orderlies assisting medics in field hospitals, not in combat. It was a terrible time for all of us but for an Amish family who wouldn't have a phone or a daily paper, they were very out of touch with what was going on.

I enjoyed reading Ellie's story and her love for the family orchard. Her love for the orchard was personal. She would have loved taking over the orchard when her father retired, yet as a woman, that would have been unrealistic in her culture. Throughout the story she grows into a wonderful young woman who changed from a young woman with dreams. She dreams of the orchard and dreams of her beau, Menno. Her feelings are as natural today as they would have been for any young woman in the 1960s. As a reader, it is satisfying when the story wraps up neatly just as we think it should go. Beverly Lewis, has, time and again written beloved characters whose situation we can identify with, even though we are not Amish. I recommend this book to all who enjoy immersing themselves into a good story.

It's True....Everything Tastes Better from Scratch!

2023-05-08T15:11:00.022-07:00

Everything Tastes Better from Scratch and this cook book reminds the reader and cooks nearby that this is just what we need to get the family back around the table. I loved this book and recommend it to all who want to cook better food for themselves and their families. A treat for all. Applesauce Oat muffins, Taco Pie, Breakfast Casserole, yum!

2023-04-21T13:10:00.025-07:00

A Quilt for Christmas is a heartwarming story that will melt the heart of any Ebenezer who has turned their back on life. Melody Carlson has a tradition of writing Christmas stories that put me into the spirit of the season. This story has been added to my "To be read each Christmas:" list. Melody has the gift of finding just the right characters we love and although they are fictional, if you look around you, there will be that special child or mother who needs you.

Enjoy

Reviewing: Remember Me by Tracie Peterson

2023-04-03T08:47:00.004-07:00

from the publisher:

From the Yukon to Seattle, the hope of a new beginning waits just around the corner.

Addie Bryant is haunted by her past of heartbreak and betrayal. After her beau, Isaac Hanson, left the Yukon, she made a vow to wait for him. When she's sold to a brothel owner after the death of her father, Addie manages to escape with the hope that she can forever hide her past and the belief that she will never have the future she's always dreamed of.

Years later, Addie has found peace in her new life as a photographer, training Camera Girls to operate and sell the Brownie camera. During the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Expo in Seattle, Addie is reunited with Isaac, but after the path her life has taken, she's afraid to expose the ugliness of her former life and to move toward the future they had pledged to each other.

When her past catches up with her, Addie must decide whether to run or to stay and face her wounds in order to embrace her life, her future, and her hope in God.

my thoughts:

Once again Tracie Peterson delivers a story of a golden era in the history of our west. This time, the story begins in her beloved Alaska, introducing us to Addie Bryant. Addie endures a hardship life in Alaska with her brutal brothers and a father who looks on her as a disposable piece of goods. She overcomes the unthinkable brutality of her brothers after the death of her father, becoming a strong woman. Her character, developed after years of abuse was not that of a cowering woman afraid of shadows but that of a woman who is driven by a vow to never be abused again.

This is a book that gives the flavor of Alaska when the gold rush brought ruthless men into the wild, chasing after the riches gold fever promises. Some are smart, and know when to quit and go home. Isaac Hanson left Alaska with his family after satisfying their successful run. He left behind Addie, who remains in his heart.

Addie, a beautiful woman determined to be successful in her own right, escapes her brothers, leaving Alaska for Seattle and a new life. In that life, she uses her initiative to become the top photographer at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Expo in Seattle. Addie embodies the successful woman who creates a life using all her talents and gifts. In her heart, though, there is Isaac, who was her long ago love.

I liked this book for the glimpses of Alaska and Seattle, areas of our country the author has researched and written about extensively. The scenery and events are so well written, her books entice the reader, perhaps, for a visit. I have never been to Alaska, but it comes alive in this book, as does the Seattle in days gone by. But most of all, the people in this book emerge as vibrant and alive. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys rich characters and beautiful scenery. I had a hart time putting it down.

Sold On Love by Kathleen Fuller

2023-01-21T15:06:00.002-08:00

Cute story for a dose of light fiction. Believable characters with struggles and joys. Friendships are valuable and sorting through true friendships can be a tough road. Kathleen Fuller has another entertaining book with a dose of reality on life's lessons. I enjoyed Harper and Rusty and their path through several hurdles to see each other for who they are. The blessings are that when the polish is wiped away, the person inside is even better than you originally wished them to be.

This is the third book in the series and this one leaves one more young friend in the C.C.'s group, and I hope Kathleen writes about her next. I am curious who will be the lucky young man in Maple Falls to discover her.

Beyond the Desert Sands by Tracie Peterson

2022-10-29T23:08:00.000-07:00

...from the publisher...

Accustomed to an opulent life with her aunt, the last thing twenty-five-year-old Isabella Garcia wants is to celebrate Christmas in her parents' small silver-mining desert town, leaving her handsome beau, Diego Morales, behind in California. Adding insult to injury, she must bear the company of Aaron Bailey, the

disapproving Santa Fe Railroad businessman her father has sent to escort her home, who clearly finds her spoiled.

But she is surprised to see how much the town of Silver Veil has grown and how fragile her father's health has become. Then a surprise visitor shows up with news that entirely upends the comfortable life she's been leading.

Faced with all these changes, Isabella struggles to sort through her future and who she wants to be. But trouble is brewing, and there are those who hope she stays just as she is, even if it costs her everything.

...my thoughts...

Beyond the Desert Sands, by Tracie Peterson, is book two in her Love on the Santa Fe series. Fans of Tracie will enjoy this book. The story focuses on a young lady who I had a difficult time liking at first. She was deceived by romantic notions that overshadowed reality of a life that truly blessed her.

From the start, when she reluctantly left California to join her parents, she was resentful, spoiled and deceived by romantic notions of love. Her deceptions clouded her judgment about her parents and a young man who would be there through thick and thin for her and her family. This young woman had so much to learn that I had hoped that she would come to see Diego for the person he was and that she would see how much her parents truly loved her.

I recommend this book to all fans of Tracie Peterson and to all the new readers who may have heard of Tracie but have yet to pick up a copy of her books.

Reviewing: Sea Glass Cottage by Irene Hannon

2022-07-26T12:39:00.000-07:00

...from the publisher...

Christi Reece is desperate. The one-time golden girl's life has tarnished, and a cascade of setbacks has left her reeling. She needs help, and she's certain Jack Colby is in a position to provide it.

When she shows up in Hope Harbor, however, Jack wants nothing to do with the woman who betrayed him. He's built a new life on the Oregon coast--and there's no room in it for Christi, even after she takes refuge in a charming but mysterious cottage nearby. Yet it soon becomes apparent his opinion of her may need revising . . . especially when he ends up needing her help.

Can these two hurting souls make peace with their past and open their hearts to a new beginning?

Come home to Hope Harbor--where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.

Bestselling and award-winning author Irene Hannon delivers another heartwarming and romantic story set in the enchanting seaside community of Hope Harbor that is loved by readers the world over. Once you visit, you'll never want to leave.

...my thoughts...

Hope Harbor is one of those places you want to visit over and over again. You can feel the sand in your toes and feel the breeze from the moment you arrive. Once again, Irene Hannon has captured the heart of the healing power of being on the Oregon Coast.

Christi is a compelling character who, when she arrives, arouses a few suspicions for her motives. You are kept guessing for a while and soon, you have become her champion. Life has its twists and turns and what you do to recapture your life depends on the choices you make. This is a story of forgiveness and second chances for Christi.

I couldn't help but feel for Jack. He was a man who overcame poverty and loss only to have his heart ache for long ago hurts he thought he put aside. His life is overturned and it is Christi who comes to his aid. He risked a lot to allow her to help him. In the end, it all works out and once life in Hope Harbor settles in for the calm after personal storms. I recommend this for all who long to be at the ocean and love to read about endearing characters.

Reviewing: Stgrength in the Storm by Laurel Blount

2022-03-22T20:35:00.000-07:00

...from the publisher...

In this touching Amish romance, a brokenhearted woman and a steadfast man discover that the safest place to weather tragedy is in each other’s arms.

After the murder of both her parents, Emma Hochstedler returns to the small community of Johns Mill, hoping to resume her quiet existence. Reclaiming her place proves harder than expected—especially now that a movie is being made about her family’s loss. But then, an old friend offers her a lifeline that gives her new purpose.

Amish builder Samuel Christner is the biggest—and the strongest—man in town. In fact, the gentle giant has only one weakness—Emma. Even though she broke his heart, he won’t let his childhood sweetheart face her troubles alone. He hires Emma as a nurse for his elderly aunt…and finds himself falling for her all over again.

But while romance blooms, storm clouds gather. And when darkness falls, it will take all Sam’s strength—and all their love—to see them through.

...my thoughts...

I didn't know what to expect when I picked up this book; it is a new to me author and it started slow for me. Once I picked the book up again, I found the story very compelling. I really felt for Samuel, who lost his heart to Emma long before most boys begin looking at Emma. Not only was he strong, he was a force to be reckoned with. As the story unfolded, he seemed to be everywhere he needed to be.

Emma was such a timid young woman and understandably so after the tragic deaths of her parents. She came into her own, however, once she became the full time caregiver for Samuel's difficult, spinster aunt. Emma's beauty, coupled with her unspoiled nature allows her to move into her new role, overcoming a past that has held her back since her parents' deaths. She believed she too would become the spinster aunt over time but God had plans for her that she least expected.

I enjoyed this wonderful book by Laurel Blount. I didn't realize it was book 2 in a series but it was definitely easy to read as a standalone story.

Reviewing: Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin

2022-02-23T19:02:00.001-08:00

...from the publisher...

As the Nazis march toward Paris in 1940, American ballerina Lucie Girard buys her favorite English-language bookstore to allow the Jewish owners to escape. Lucie struggles to run Green Leaf Books due to oppressive German laws and harsh conditions, but she finds a way to aid the resistance by passing secret messages between the pages of her books.

Widower Paul Aubrey wants nothing more than to return to the States with his little girl, but the US Army convinces him to keep his factory running and obtain military information from his German customers. As the war rages on, Paul offers his own resistance by sabotaging his product and hiding British airmen in his factory. After they meet in the bookstore, Paul and Lucie are drawn to each other, but she rejects him when she discovers he sells to the Germans. And for Paul to win her trust would mean betraying his mission.

...my thoughts...

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a heart wrenching, suspenseful novel of such a time when the world was so uncertain. Times when worlds collided, and people were praying that the war would end and somehow the world could return to peace once more.

Until Leaves Fall in Paris, by Sarah Sundin is a compelling read, especially today. Full of wonderfully complex characters, once again Sarah has done impeccable research. Lucie did her best to keep Green Leaf Books open until she had to return home to the states. But until that time, she was creative in her ways to keep customers coming back to her little haven among the shelves. It was just that spirit of creativity that captured Paul's attention when he took his young daughter Josie to the story hour. Filled with puppets regaling children’s tales, Paul took notice in how Josie came to life at the bookshop and resolved to return each week to give her some joy.

It was amazing how Paul and Lucie found each other under trying circumstances as the situation became ever so dangerous in wartime Paris. To the outside world, they led double lives in order to survive. Their courage and love are captured by an author who can keep you in suspense while making you keep turning those pages until the very end.

I recommend Until Leaves Fall in Paris, a story as timely today as it was close to eighty years ago. A time when so many lives were changed forever by a world that was out of control.

Reviewing: Marrying Mr. Wrong (Frontiers Vows Book 4) by Melissa Jagears

2022-01-23T14:52:00.030-08:00

...my thoughts...

You’ve got to read this book because there truly are diamonds in the rough in this world. Sometimes they are shiny on the surface, and you need to scratch below the surface to find the true person. More often, though, we see the rough side, and these are the people we often pass by without taking time to notice the pure goodness hiding beneath the surface. When you take the time to look, you will reap the rewards.

Marrying Mr. Wrong, book four in the Frontier Vows series finds an unlikely match between Gwendolyn McGill and Timothy O'Conner. Imagine the town mayor's daughter hooking up with a boy from the wrong side of the tracks, so to speak. Except that this first daughter of this small western town was knocked down a few pegs. When her father was brought to justice for numerous crimes he thought enough money and ill-gotten land deals could put him out of reach, his children were left behind to face what no child needs to face. Scandal and shame.

Once Spoiled and naive, Gwen is urged by her brother Bo, to forgo the empty trappings of a Denver Dandy and consider Timothy O'Connor. After accepting his bargain, she sets out to try in 30 days what she believes would be an easy attempt at wooing Mr. O'Conner. What she soon learns is that she can't win everyone with her smiles and flirtatious act.

Timothy, for his part, is a bit perplexed when Gwen shows up at Nolan's ranch, w here he is employed, under the pretext to help out Corinne, who has been feeling poorly. (Newlyweds, whose story is quite a fun read: Pretending to Wed )You can practically see him scratch his head every time Gwen leaves because, she was not raised to cook, clean or any other work a rancher would expect of his wife. Yet he does admire her pluck in coming back again and again.

Try as you may, she doesn't seem to fit in. Or does she? Sometimes, a woman shows her true strength and spirit when she is put to the test.

p.s. I have enjoyed reading the Frontier Vows series and hate to see it end, unless Melissa Jagears can find an honest woman for Gwen's brother Bo to wed!

...from the publisher...

Gwendolyn McGill wants to be loved and accepted for who she is, but that’s hard to do in a small town where everyone judges her by the scandal her father caused. Unfortunately, the man she hoped would sweep her away from all the wagging tongues is no longer interested in marrying her. Unable to leave town, she’s determined to prove she’s more than just a pretty face who knows how to bat her eyelashes.

For years, Timothy O’Conner has loved Gwen from a distance, knowing someone like her would never be attracted to a lowly ranch hand with a blemished face like him. When Gwen unexpectedly shows up at the ranch, asking him to help her learn how to attract a man of quality, Tim’s feelings become even harder to suppress.

When danger pushes them together, they discover there’s more to each other than either of them imagined. Though God is no respecter of persons, is the desire of their hearts strong enough to defy society’s expectations?

Marrying Mr. Wrong is the fourth book in the Frontier Vows Series by award-winning Christian romance author Melissa Jagears. If you like to read about unexpected characters falling in love, you’ll enjoy this tender love story that has the perfect mix of romance and adventure.

Reviewing: Behind Love's Wall (Doors to the Past) by Carrie Fancett Pagels

2021-12-14T22:39:00.003-08:00

...from the publisher...

Two successful women, a hundred-and-twenty-years apart, build walls to protect their hearts. Modern-day Willa, a successful interior decorator, is chosen to go to Mackinac Island and consult for the Grand Hotel’s possible redesign. During work on a room, she discovers a journal detailing the struggles of a young woman, Lily—which reveals dark secrets. The renowned singer wasn’t who she pretended to be.

As Willa reaches out to Lily’s descendant, a charismatic and prominent landscape artist, she lets down her guard. Should she share the journal with him—revealing hidden history—or once again erect a wall as she struggles to redesign both the Grand and her life?

...my thoughts...

Behind Love' Wall is a book where the past comes alive because of Lily's journal and the curiosity of modern day Willa, who unwittingly found her diary. The very woman who is the subject of a recent newspaper article Willa casually picked up on a ferry ride to the island. There are some parallels between the two women, each searching for clarity in their lives. I liked the mystery both women bring to the story. This is more than a romantic story that brings readers of Carrie's books back to Mackinac. It is a true mystery and it is not until that end that the answers truly unfold.

I also like how the author weaves in characters from earlier books with their descendants in this time split story. I have read several of Carrie's books and it was interesting to see how she wove these characters and their talents to span generations. It is like looking at genealogy and learning of talents shared with a great grandparent. The setting at the Grand Hotel, rich with history is an invitation to travel across on the ferry and enjoy the sights of this well researched book.

I hope there will be more stories coming up set in this area of our country that is so rich with stories to be shared.

Reviewing: The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews

2021-12-14T22:01:00.002-08:00

...from the publisher...

When newly-divorced Ivy Perkins buys an old farmhouse sight unseen, she is definitely looking for a change in her life. The Four Roses, as the farmhouse is called, is a labor of love—but Ivy didn't bargain on just how much labor. The previous family left so much furniture and so much junk, that it's a full-time job sorting through all of it.

At the top of a closet, Ivy finds an old Santa suit—beautifully made and decades old. In the pocket of a suit she finds a note written in a childish hand: it's from a little girl who has one Christmas wish, and that is for her father to return home from the war. This discovery sets Ivy off on a mission. Who wrote the note? Did the man ever come home? What mysteries did the Rose family hold?

Ivy's quest brings her into the community, at a time when all she wanted to do was be left alone and nurse her wounds. But the magic of Christmas makes miracles happen, and Ivy just might find more than she ever thought possible: a welcoming town, a family reunited, a mystery solved, and a second chance at love.

...my thoughts...

The Santa Suit is one of those books that you enjoy from the moment you hit page one. From Ivy's arrival that the farmhouse to finding all the forgotten treasures left behind, I found I couldn't wait to see how the story unfolded. The journey Ivy found herself on led her to a treasure beyond her imagination. This is one book that will remain in your heart all season long.

Well written, with wonderful characters, this is one more book to add to your Christmas reading pile.