Review of:  A Double Dose of Love

Kathleen Fuller

Fans of Amish romance won't be disappointed with this adorable story!!  I'm excited to see it is the first in a new series by Kathleen Fuller.  Identical twins Amanda and Darla venture to a new community to experience life away from home for the first time.  Darla is intent on finding a husband, while Amanda is intent on keeping on eye on her impetuous sister until she can convince her to return back home to their parents.  The sisters' relationship rings very true to life, as they get into various quibbles and quarrels but their underlying love and care for the other always wins out in the end.  While exploring Birch Creek, the girls met identical twins Zeke & Zeb - who certainly have their own sibling rivalries.  I found the brothers' characters to be a little more three-dimensional and relatable than the sisters, who were so vastly different in personality traits that Darla seemed to be almost more like Amanda's child instead of an identical twin.  The relationships between the four were beautifully developed throughout the course of the book, and I loved seeing how the characters matured as a result, finding forgiveness as well as love.  I especially enjoyed the matchmaking elderly ladies Delilah & Cevilla, who added a special flair to the story and town of Birch Creek!  I can't wait to read the next book. 

Review of:  An Amish Homecoming

Rosalind Lauer  

Zebra, $8.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-4201-5211-1

The first in this new series set in the fictional Amish community of Joyful River is sure to capture the hearts of fans of Christian romance.  As 18-year-old Essie and her beau, Harlan, prepare for engagement and marriage, their plans are interrupted when Essie’s three wayward English cousins come to live with her family following their mother’s death [p. 1-27].  Lauer’s tale centers on Essie and her cousin Serena, also 18, but the polar opposite of Essie’s steady, unassuming personality [p. 28-40 ff].  Serena’s spirited, prideful ways are quick to get under Essie’s skin [p. 40 ff], though the cousins discover that their values are far more similar than they’d first assumed after Harlan’s mother and sister are injured in a buggy accident [p. 158 ff].  The girls come to trust and rely on each other as they each navigate romances complicated by familial and financial concerns [p. 163-164 ff].  Lauer’s world-building is skillful as the characters and situations are so true to life they nearly walk off the page.  Biblical themes of faith and love echo throughout the work as the young adults learn to appreciate the things that matter most to them [p. 276-277 ff].  Readers will be satisfied with the happy endings and eagerly await the next tale about the community of Joyful River.  [March 2021]

Dreams Rekindled

Amanda Cabot.  Revell, $15.99 (352p) ISBN 978-0-8007-3536-4

Anne Kemerer Jones

Dreams Rekindled

Amanda Cabot.  Revell, $15.99 (352p) ISBN 978-0-8007-3536-4

Cabot continues her Mesquite Springs historical romance series with the engrossing story of Wyatt Clark’s younger sister, Dorothy, who longs for a career as a writer despite the lack of such opportunities for women in the mid-19th century. Dorothy’s prayers appear to be answered when newspaper editor Brandon Holloway arrives in town. Brandon hires Dorothy to write for the newspaper but avoids taking a stance on the issue of slavery even though Dorothy wants to publish an editorial opinion.  Brandon’s unwillingness to take a stand stems from his guilt over his father’s tragic death in a town riot that occurred as a result of Brandon’s public support for the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin and his denouncement of the idea of human ownership.  Through his relationship with Dorothy, Brandon rediscovers his courage to champion the values he holds dear. Dorothy, afraid to love as a result of losing her own father at young age, learns that love is worth the risk.  While Cabot does a fine job of world-building, her characters’ motivations don’t quite jive and several threads to this tale are left disappointingly unresolved. [March 2021]

Review of:  The Key to Love

Betsy St. Amant

Bri Duvall works in the same bakery store, The Pastry Puff, where her beloved mother was renowned for her French-inspired desserts.  The store’s owners, elderly sisters Agnes and Mabel, have developed a reputation for their matchmaking abilities; however they are in danger of losing the business to developers – something Bri couldn’t stand to see happen since she lost both her parents in a car accident when she was 18.  Now that she is in her late 20’s, she has fallen in love with the “idea” of love – and waits for a fairy tale-like romance to happen to her like the one that she believes her parents once had (but which, she discovers, they never really did).  She meets Gerard, a jaded reporter who avoids commitment at all cost due to his own tragic past.  He has been assigned (against his wishes) to cover the story of the matchmaking bakery sisters for a newspaper feature.  Neither Bri or Gerard are very relatable at the beginning of the book due to their extremely immature attitudes; however, they gradually softened and matured over the course of the story.  I wish the author had focused more on showing each person’s spiritual journey and how that led to changes in their hearts and relationships, rather than engaging in so much snark and stereotypes.  Was this a rom-com or a faith-based romance?  It seemed the author couldn’t decide and the book lacked focus somewhat despite the good premise.

Review of:  Endless Mercy

Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse

Bethany House Publishers, $15.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0-7642-3250-3

Peterson and Woodhouse continue their Treasures of Nome series with the story of the youngest sister, Madysen.  While Madysen and Daniel’s romance take center stage, the authors continue to weave the ongoing tales of each of the Powell family members into the overarching study in family and faith.  Maddy is grieving the recent loss of her mother when her presumed-dead father shows up in Nome, complete with a second family [p. 17 ff].  As she and her sisters struggle to process this information and sift through their conflicting feelings towards their father, Maddy is tempted to run away from the home she loved and abandon her new sheep farm to become a star performer in a traveling circus [p. 48 ff].  She enjoys the attention and lavish gifts showed upon her by Buddy Merrick, the circus owner [p. 82 ff].  But is he sincere or just a trickster looking to use her for money?  Maddy’s feelings are further conflicted when she meets Daniel, the grandson of her wise mentor, Granny Beaufort, who has returned to Nome after fruitless years searching for gold in the Yukon [p. 31 ff].  Daniel befriends Madysen but has turned his back on God after experiencing life’s suffering [p. p. 43 ff].  Through their friendship, both learn to trust God and his Word to guide them and discover both peace and love result [p. 196 ff]  Peterson and Woodhouse do an excellent job of creating a believable cast of characters with plenty of heroes and heroines to root for, as well as evil conmen and criminals waiting for justice to be served.  Readers are advised to begin with the first book in the series to familiarize themselves with the many characters and backstory before continuing with subsequent installments.  [January 2021]

Review of:  A Sugar Maple Valentine (A Sugar Maple Romance Book 3)

Belle Bailey

Reviewed:  October 17, 2020

This Valentine’s Day romance is absolutely charming!!  The story follows Rose, who is a matchmaker, as she hosts a special weekend getaway for clients at the Sugar Maple Bed & Breakfast.  Rose is definitely easy to like as a protagonist – she is kind and generous, and very dedicated to making sure her guests feel welcomed and comfortable.  The activities she plans are fabulously romantic and creative!  Taylor is a botanist and professor of biology who planted the herb and flower gardens and built the gazebo on the B&B’s grounds.  His aunt used to be the owner before she passed.  She left the estate to Taylor hoping he would continue her legacy by running the inn.  That was never in Taylor’s plans, however, and he puts the estate up for sale.  Rose begs him to wait until her event is over, and he agrees to help her make it a success since she hadn’t been informed of his aunt’s passing.  They get to know each other as they work together side by side.  Rose falls in love with the town and the home, and Taylor rediscovers his love of cooking and the beauty of what he left behind.  Their romance is beautifully written and the small-town setting at wintertime serves as the perfect backdrop.  A wonderful Valentine’s Day romance!

Review of: Christmas at Fireside Cabins

Jenny Hale

Reviewed:  October 13, 2020

This is feel-good romance, set in a quaint little town at Christmas.  Lila and her three best friends plan to spend a week in December together on a girls' getaway vacation, which may be their last as their lives are going in different directions.  However, once they arrive at their resort destination, they find it is vastly different than the brochures had led them to believe - the cabins are run-down, the landscaping neglected, and in fact the whole town and people it in feel anything but cheerful or festive.  However, the friends decide to make the best of it and celebrate their time together.  In so doing, they meet Theo, the grumpy owner of the coffee bar, and Eleanor, the grieving widow and owner of the resort.  The ladies soon take Eleanor and everyone else under their wing, determined to help the community and spread some Christmas cheer.  While the premise of the story is wonderful, I didn't quite believe that four women with such incredibly different backgrounds and personalities would be friends, much less live in the same apartment complex.  The characters were a little too stereotyped for my taste.  I found Theo's backstory to be much too unbelievable as well.  However, it was a charming story featuring characters with good hearts and a happy ending. Hence, I'd still recommend this book for a feel-good holiday romance read.

Review of:  Love at the Christmas Festival (A Sugar Maple Romance Book 2)

Belle Bailey

Reviewed:  October 12, 2020

This is a sweet and clean Christmas romance set in the beautiful little town of Sugar Maple, Tennessee, home of the Oakleaf Manor estate and accompanying farm.  The farm is hosting its first winter holiday festival where local artisans and craftsman will sell their wares and children can come visit “Santa” at his special cottage.  Holly is a graduate student looking to make ends meet by accepting a part-time job as an elf.  She meets Nick, the young man playing the role of Santa, as well as peers Tonya and Dylan.  The four soon become entangled in a love quadrangle – who will end up with whom?  Readers will be charmed by Nick, who has a heart of gold much like the jolly old elf himself, root for Holly and her family, and love to hate the conniving Tonya!  Fans of the series will especially enjoy appearances of regular characters and the community coming together to make a positive difference in the lives of many.  The only thing that would have pushed this into a 5-star ranking would have been a good editor to take care of some minor inconsistencies.  A great choice for a sweet holiday romance.

Review of:  A Perfect Amish Romance

Shelley Shepard Gray

Gallery Books, $16.00 (320p) ISBN 978-1-9821-4839-3

From the author of the beloved Walnut Creek novels comes the first in the “The Berlin Bookmobile” series featuring Sarah Anne, a 60-something widow who accepts a part-time position delivering library books to the Amish community [pp. 1-6 ff]. Sarah Anne tries to live up to her own expectations of the “perfect” librarian and keeps a journal of her activities and interactions to learn from [p. 5 ff]. As she forms personal relationships with the readers she serves, she becomes a trusted and compassionate confidante [p. 17 ff]. However, Sarah Anne has difficulty treating herself with the same grace [p. 19]. Through sharing her love of books and hearing people’s own stories she learns to let go of rigid standards and embraces the opportunity to give and receive kindness and mercy [p. 292-294]. Readers will be delighted with Sarah Anne’s gentle matchmaking between Aaron, a young Old Order Amish man secretly seeking to obtain his GED, and Kayla, a New Order woman in her 20’s who agrees to tutor Aaron as she mourns her mother’s early passing and father’s descent into depression [p. 16]. The romance between Aaron’s younger sister, Tiny, and her childhood friend, Joel, is similarly fraught with themes of perfectionism and hidden struggles which subtly run throughout the work [p. 57 ff]. Gray’s characters feel like intimate friends who deal with loss and longing and are shaped by transformative powers of love, hope, and faith. A set of discussion questions is included as an appendix. Book clubs will find this work a treat and readers will eagerly await future installments in this imaginative and tenderly written series.  [Jan]

Review of:  Christmas Charms

Teri Wilson

Reviewed:  October 6, 2020

I don't know what I was expecting when I picked up this book (I'm always game for a clean romance with a cute cover), but it FAR exceeded my expectations.  The storyline was a stroke of genius on the part of the author - so imaginative, fun, and perfect for the holidays!  The main character, Ashley, left her tiny home town to chase big dreams in the Big City.....only to find herself working round-the-clock and with a boyfriend who tells her he has no intention of proposing.  She copes with her heartbreak and unplanned time off by going home to visit her parents.  On the train ride, she meets a mysterious woman who gifts her - what turns out to be - a magical charm bracelet.  Charms keep coming to life as Ashley reconnects with the home in her heart and the people she left behind but never stopped loving.  The 2nd chance romance between her and Aidan is swoon-worthy.   Without question, should be made into a movie.  I may even have to buy a hard copy of this book to look at on my shelf and re-read at every Christmas season!

Review of:  Feels Like Easy (Willow Glen Book 1)

Caroline Hollis

Reviewed:  October 4, 2020

This clean romance features Laura, a woman in her late 30’s who takes a vacation to her idyllic home town of Willow Glen, CA, escaping from her non-stop career as a producer in San Francisco.  There, she meets up with her older sister, Maggie, a successful attorney, and both reflect on their childhood and consider making major changes in their lives.  Laura has never been married, realizing she has never truly considered her own happiness a priority.  Maggie has a college-age daughter and is in the process of finalizing her divorce, only to realize she is pregnant.  The author focuses mainly on Laura’s romance in Book 1 of this series – her love interest in David, a musician and widower, although we see hints of a romance between Maggie and their family friend Rick.  I enjoyed this book as the writing is excellent and the settings are described beautifully with much attention to detail.  However, there are a lot of similar  characters or similar storylines (several women finalizing divorces, several college-age daughters, several nice single men about the same age, etc).  Also everyone in the book is single and has a dog (or 2), which I found pretty funny.  I’d like to see Maggie redeem herself in the next book, as her choices at the end were extremely selfish which I felt went against her character as she was painted as having excellent values.  This being said, I think this is a great start to the series and I’d definitely be interested to find out what happens in the next book!  Fans of Suzanne Woods Fisher (like me) would definitely enjoy this book, which is a true compliment to the author.  Enjoy! 

Review of:  Rescued by the Hero: A Christian Firefighter Christmas Romance (Heroes of Freedom Ridge Book 1)

Mandi Blake

Reviewed:  September 29, 2020

This is a sweet and clean, faith-filled romance set in the charming setting of Freedom Ridge, CO at Christmastime.  The descriptions of the decorations and festivities made me want to be there myself!  The main characters, Joanna and Aiden, were immediately relatable and likeable.  I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop.  What I liked most about this book was how Joanna wasn’t afraid to talk about her faith and how Aiden grew in his own relationship with God.  This book is based on wonderful values and the messages really shine through the characters. I feel it is true treat to read encouraging stories like this one!

Review of:  My Dilemma

Pixie Perkins

I think this book will most definitely appeal to kids ages 13 and up!  It's a clean YA romance featuring 17-year-old Megan whose middle-school crush moves in next door after his family returns to the city following a brief move out of state.  The two didn't part on good terms and now things are complicated by mutual attraction and all the pitfalls of the high school social scene!  The dialogue was totally on-point for this age group (I could just hear my own preteen daughter through the voice of Megan's younger sister, Hailee)!  I laughed out loud each time Megan tried to "hide" from Brayden out of embarrassment - I remember doing that at that age myself, lol!  The characters were fleshed out beautifully, especially Megan's family members and friends Lora and Holt.  It was wonderful to see Megan and her siblings having real talks with their mom and sitting together over meals as a family.  While I do wish Megan had experienced more personal growth and maturation over the course of the novel, I'd still give it a thumbs up as good choice for a sweet & clean romance geared for the YA age group.

Review of:  Charmed by the Cowboy (Blackwater Ranch Book 2)

Mandi Blake

Reviewed:  September 17, 2020

I absolutely loved this book!  I’d never read this author before, but was intrigued by the setting since I grew in Texas ranching country.  It felt like going home –the author’s descriptions were perfect and the Southern dialogue even brought out my own accent, lol!  I’d love to know where I can get those t-shirts Maddie was wearing with all the cute sayings!  The relationship between her and Lucas was tenderly written and completely believable.  I loved watching them learn that love takes a leap of faith.  What I loved most about this book was the Christian message and the examples of the characters’ strong relationships with God.  If you enjoy sweet and clean romances emphasizing the values of family and faith, you will definitely love this book!

Review of:  Love at the Fall Festival (A Sugar Maple Romance Book 1)

Belle Bailey

Reviewed:  September 14, 2020

If this book has not already been picked up for a Hallmark movie, somebody should give them a call!  Readers are guaranteed to fall in love with the picturesque setting of Sugar Maple, TN – the descriptions are so beautifully and tenderly written that I might just have to visit the area myself someday! The seasonal fall ambience lends itself perfectly to this heartwarming romance between a young woman seeking to find her true home, and a man who wants nothing more than to make up for past mistakes.  Brynn was enticed to venture beyond her small-town rural upbringing by the bright lights of a big city, only too quick to discover that big dreams come with a hefty price.  When she accepts a position as an event planner at Oakleaf Manor to help with the town’s fall festival, she is willing to do what it takes to save the family’s farm and main source of income for the local farmers and artisans. She adapts easily to farming life and befriends the townsfolk, including the Oakley family’s handsome, yet brooding, oldest son, Jack.  Jack made a terrible mistake once, but can he forgive himself enough to accept Brynn’s help and trust her hopeful instincts?  As they fall for each other, can they let go of the past and learn to trust again?  Grab a steaming mug of apple cider and cozy up by the fireplace as the town of Sugar Maple and its quirky residents will be sure to charm you this holiday season!  The only thing that would have pushed this into a 5-star ranking would have been a good editor/ beta reader – some typo’s and minor inconsistencies (see 1^st chapter) would be easily corrected and worth the bit of extra effort for future series installments.

Review of:  The Amish Cookie Club Courtship

Sarah Price.  Zebra, $8.99 (400p) ISBN 978-1-4201-4919-7

Readers of Amish fiction are in for a treat with the third in Price’s Amish Cookie Club series featuring four best friends and their families in the community of Shipshewana [p. 1].  In this installment, Wilma suggests that Edna hire her 19-year-old unmarried twin daughters Rachel and Ella Mae to assist with her cooking and baking business [p. 3]. However, the members of the Cookie Club figure out that Wilma’s true intention is to set them up with Edna’s bachelor sons, Jonah and Jeremiah [p. 7].  Edna reluctantly agrees to hire the girls as she needs the assistance, but frets as they have a reputation for bickering and lack of work ethic [p. 7]. As she gets to know the twins, she realizes that behind their similar appearances are two very different personalities, each with their own gifts [p. 139]. She realizes that they have never been allowed to develop separate identities and encourages the two to engage in activities apart from each other, which helps them mature and softens their competitiveness [p. 96 ff]. Despite her initial misgivings Edna realizes that the girls would in fact be excellent love matches for her boys and plays matchmaker as she finds ways to set Jeremiah up with Ella Mae and Jonas with Rachel [p. 97 ff]. However, when Rachel develops an interest in Jeremiah rather than Jonas, things quickly go awry with Edna’s best-laid plans [p. 111]. Price’s coming-of-age tale will charm fans with good-intentioned characters and a community filled with faith and friendship. [Nov]

Review of:  Thinking About Love, Part 1 (A Stonehaven High Series Book 2)

Audrey Rich

Great for Teenage Girls!

Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2017

I'm too old for this book, LOL!! ;-) I definitely think young pre-teen girls would enjoy it as it focuses on the nature of friendships, first loves, and the anticipation of college and changes that come with that transition. At first, I had a difficult time keeping all of the characters straight, and I think our protagonist could definitely gain some more maturity in future books! As a Christian, I wished I would have learned more about what her faith meant to her, how it had changed her or helped her in her life. I also wish that she would have been more true to her inner self and less focused on material things/ external appearances/ fitting in with the crowd. However, I know that these are all challenges that high school teens struggle with. I also wish that she wouldn't treat the object of her affection with so much idolization before she really knows who he is and whether he will ever become a Christian. I think future books in the series may answer this question for us as we learn more about Stuart's choices and Trina's relationship with him! All in all, I think it would be a great book for teenage girls to read and then discuss with them afterward and talk about the issues and topics the book raises. The author definitely is in touch with her inner teen girl!

Review of:  Amish Christmas Twins

Shelly Shepard Gray, Rachel J. Good, Loree Lough

Kensington

Publication Date:  9/29/20

I just finished reading an advanced copy of Amish Christmas Twins, a collection of 3 absolutely heart-warming stories by 3 of my favorite authors:  Shelley Shepard Gray, Rachel J. Good, and Loree Lough!!  I couldn't recommend this collection more, especially as we await the holidays in the hope of Christ. I loved that each of these inspirational romances features children, reminding readers of the true meaning of Christmas and the miracle of the birth of our Savior. 

The first story, "The Christmas Not-Wish" by Ms. Gray, finds orphaned siblings Jemima and Roy being placed into yet another foster home.  Fans of Ms. Gray's "Walnut Creek" series will be excited to see Elizabeth Anne (E.A.) and Will Kurtz take on the role of foster parents!  4/5 stars

The second tale, "New Beginnings" by Ms. Good, features Elizabeth, a young widow working at a year-round Christmas shop whose grief and anger with God over her losses nearly keeps her locked in the past.  Thankfully, her new-found friendship with Luke, her late husband's best friend, helps them both rediscover their faith in God and the miracles that come of trusting the Lord.  I actually cried at the beautiful ending!!  This was my favorite of the collection!  5+/5 stars

The third story, "Twins Times Two" by Ms. Lough also features crossover characters from her series "A Little Child Shall Lead Them." I loved that I recognized Emily, Willa, Max, and Frannie!  This story was absolutely adorable as twin cousins not only discover the value of responsibility and hard work, but also develop generous and giving hearts, including uniting estranged neighbors Jubal and Abigail right in time for Christmas!  4+/5 stars

Review of:  To Steal a Heart

Jen Turano.  Bethany House Publishers, $15.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0-7642-3531-3

The queen of historical romance is back with the first in her new “Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency” series set in late 1800’s New York. Turano brings the Gilded Age to life in this lavishly imagined tale replete with unforgettable characters and layers of intrigue. No one is who they seem in this upstairs-downstairs story featuring Gabriella, an outspoken seamstress who comes to live at Miss Eunice Holbrooke’s Bleeker Street boardinghouse after aging out of the orphanage [p. 16]. When fellow boarding house resident Jennette Moore is wrongfully accused of stealing jewels from the Linwood family estate, Gabriella and the other young ladies of the residence agree to join forces to try to catch the real culprit and clear their friend’s name [p. 9]. After brainstorming means to gather information on the suspects, including donning various disguises and sneaking into ballrooms, readers will enjoy every hilarious detail when their best-laid plans go outrageously awry [p. 14 ff]. During her sleuthing, Gabriella runs into her old friend from the streets, Nicholas Quinn, now a distinguished member of the New York City elite and most sought-after bachelor of the Season [p. 18]. Old friendships are rediscovered and secrets from the past revealed, leading Gabriella and Nicholas to recognize the defenses each had built around their own heart [p. 143 ff]. Readers will laugh out loud at the witty dialogue and cheer when justice gets smartly served and true relationships are tenderly formed. A hands-down award-winner. [Nov]

Review of:  Don’t Give Up on Me

Jodi Artzberger.  Self-published, $3.99 (228p) EAN/ASIN B07WZ2R8X7

Best marketed for Young Adults.

When business operations manager Amanda Cragge regains consciousness after a vicious attack at her workplace, she looks into the face of Ryker, the man she’d loved who left her eight years ago [p.10]. Why had he, now a police detective, returned to Otter Bay, Maine? [p. 12] She doesn’t want to see him, much less talk about their past. However, she has no choice but to cooperate as they work together to find her assailant and his identity [p. 17]. Ryker works to face his fear of rejection and rely on his faith as he seeks to forgive himself for having destroyed his relationship with Amanda [p. 19]. As more attempts are made on her life, his determination to protect her and catch the culprit lead him to realize that life is too precious to waste in selfish fears [p. 79]. As he opens up to her and shares his journey to accepting Christ as his Savior, Amanda’s heart is finally softened and she is able to forgive his past mistakes [p. 166, 204, 208-209]. Their love is rekindled in their recognition of God’s love. When the identity of Amanda’s attacker is revealed, healing begins to take place in the community [p. 205 ff]. Artzberger is adept at crafting the contemporary romance storyline, and the work is replete with biblical quotes and references [p. vii, 1, 170, 178, etc.]. However, the slow pacing results in a loss of any real sense of suspense, and suspension of disbelief will be required to buy into the contrived plot.