Murder Tightly Knit by Vannetta Chapman

 

Kindle Edition, 352 pages

Published December 6th 2014 by HarperCollins Publishing

more details...

ASIN

B00IWW52H4   

From Goodreads:

"In a town where Amish and Englisch mingle every day, a grisly murder leads to mutual suspicion. Can Amber and Hannah find the killer before fear unravels the community . . . or he strikes again?

Even before she heard of Owen Esch’s death, Hannah Troyer knew something was amiss at The Cat’s Meow yarn shop. The store has been closing at odd times, the ever-dependable Mary isn’t always at her post . . . and an Englisch man h as been seen loitering around back.

Now, as leaves of brown, gold, and orange blanket Middlebury, Indiana, Owen lies dead on the Pumpkinvine Trail. The only clues to the murderer’s identity point in two very different directions—one of them leading right to The Cat’s Meow.

The police call in a federal investigator, but Hannah and Village manager Amber Bowman are in no mood to wait for them to figure out what they already know—that no one from the Amish Village could have killed Owen Esch.

Amber and Hannah will need to work quickly to solve the murder mystery and bring harmony back to the Amish community."    

My thoughts: Even though my first love in reading is a good mystery, in the last few years I have become very enamored of Amish fiction. Mix the two together and you have a winner! One of the best writers of this genre is Vannetta Chapman. She does both equally well.


One mark of a good mystery writer is the inclusion of several viable suspects and Chapman is quite adept at this. Of her six mysteries I have read, all of them have enough red herrings and suspects to keep the reader guessing. Isn't this the fun of reading a whodunit?


Murder Tightly Knit is the second book in the series. Readers do not need to have read the first, although I would recommend it as it was a solid read. Either book can stand alone. A very enjoyable read earning the 4**** rating from me.


Vannetta Chapman is the author of numerous works of Christian fiction featuring members of the Amish community. For more information, visit her at www.VannettaChapman.com or blog with her at http://vannettachapman.wordpress.com/. She can also be found at http://www.facebook.com/VannettaChapmanBooks...

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by HarperCollins/NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Simple Faith by Anna Schmidt

Paperback, 320 pages

Published March 1st 2014 by Shiloh Run Press

ISBN: 162029141X (ISBN13: 9781620291412)

series: Peacemakers #2


From Goodreads:



After losing her beloved husband and daughter and surviving Hitler’s Sobibor death camp, Quaker widow Anja Steinberg dedicates her life to helping others and keeping her son safe. As a member of the resistance, she helps displaced Allied airmen get back to their units in England. The journey is rigorous and filled with danger and there is no time for romance. Anja knows that Mikel, her fellow resistance worker, loves her. He would make a good husband and father for her son, but she doesn’t share his feelings. Is friendship enough? Then American Peter Trent parachutes into her life. She must face facts—her heart did not die with her late husband and true love could be hers again. But marrying Mikel may be the only way she can save Peter.

My thoughts: Combine a love for WWII fiction, Christian fiction, and  stories of courageous people, Simple Faith ticked all the boxes perfectly. What a wonderful story this is! I was engaged immediately with the characters. I could feel my heart rate speed up at the very beginning and just knew this story would really grab me by the heart and not let go.


Schmidt was at the top of her game with this book;  her sense of place was done to perfection and  it was as if I were right there with these very likeable characters. Never once did the narrative lag nor did it ever disappoint me.  Even though this is the second book in a trilogy, it read as a stand-alone. I loved it!  5*****

Anna Schmidt, the author of numerous books, can be found on her Goodreads page and on her website.


Highly recommended for fans of romance, Christian fiction, WWII stories, ordinary people doing extraordinary deeds and tales of courageous women.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Barbour Publishing  in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Breath of Spring by Charlotte Hubbard

Paperback, 352 pages

Published May 6th 2014 by Zebra

more details...

ISBN: 1420133071 (ISBN13: 9781420133073)

edition language : English

series: Seasons of the Heart #4

From Goodreads:

As a bright season brings a fresh start to Willow Ridge, Annie Mae Knepp feels she can never make peace with the past. Her disgraced ex-bishop father is furious she has taken her five siblings to live with her. She's never been truly at home in her faith. . .or believing in herself. And Annie Mae fears no man will want to take on the responsibilities she's gladly shouldered. True, her quiet neighbor Adam Wagler has been steadfast and unshakeable helping her through her trials, but he surely couldn't think of someone so lost as more than a friend. Believing she is unworthy because of her doubts, Annie Mae will find in a moment of surprising revelation that God can work impossible miracles--and that love makes all things new.


My thoughts:

 Not too sure what it is about Amish fiction that draws me in so quickly but maybe it is the seeming simplicity of their lives. The Amish seem to know what is expected of them and generally they do that. I've read the other three in the series and enjoyed them tremendously, although this one seemed a little more "preachy" than the previous three. Even so, the first three in the series captivated me with the varied characters and situations.

 Miriam has her own story going on as well as her three daughters. I really liked Miriam, the mother of the triplets, and her dedication to her faith, family, and her cafe business. In this fourth book, Hubbard branches out to another Willow Ridge family member, Annie Mae Knepp. We had met her father, Hiram, in the first book. Hubbard did a terrific job of bringing Hiram, as well as all the other characters,  to life. There's not usually a villain as nefarious as Hiram Knepp but this character, Annie Mae's father, definitely filled the bill as villain. I think it added to the reality of the series that not all people are perfect and some people are just downright deplorable despite their religious title.

Recommended for fans of family sagas, romance, Christian fiction. 3.5***

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Kensington/Netgalley  in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin

Series: Quilts of Love (Book 16)
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Abingdon Press (March 18, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426752806
ISBN-13: 978-1426752803








My thoughts:

 Maybelle in Stitches was interesting in several ways: the historical aspect of WWII and the part women played in the war effort combined with Maybelle's personal story. Maybelle, a new bride, has become a welderette at the local shipyard while her husband, Holden, is  fighting in Europe. Magnin  pens a heartwarming story of Maybelle , her best friend, Doris, and several other women who do the best they can while their husbands are fighting the war. To keep themselves occupied after work, they begin to jointly work on a quilt that Maybelle's late mother started. At first it is just a "keep-busy" project but then it becomes a symbol for hope; hope that the war will end soon and that their husbands will come home safely.



I've read quite a few of Joyce Magnin's books and enjoyed them all.  She has a way of  getting the reader totally immersed in the characters and plot. It was easy to empathize with all the women in the story. Magnin uses the theme of strong women who are still vulnerable and have some obstacle to overcome and she does it very successfully.



Even though this is listed as Christian fiction, it is not "in-your-face" kind of writing. I like good fiction but I don't want to be preached to. 4****



Joyce can be found on  Goodreads and Facebook.



Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Netgalley/Abingdon Press

 in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review & Giveaway: Abby Finds Her Calling by Naomi King

Paperback, 272 pages

Expected publication: March 6th 2012 by Penguin Group (USA)

ISBN: 0451235738 (ISBN13: 9780451235732)

It's a busy day in the Amish community of Cedar Creek, Missouri  as close to four hundred family members and friends gather at the Lambright's for the wedding of Zanna Lambright and James Graber. James, a thirty year old buggy maker, is excited to marry his seventeen year old neighbor, Zanna. Unfortunately, Zanna proves not to have the same feelings.

No one can find her but they do find her wedding dress slashed to ribbons on her bedroom floor. Her older sister, Abby, and her Mamm are beside themselves with worry but her older brother Sam, now head of the household, is extremely angry that Zanna has put them through such expense and work bringing humiliation and shame on the family. When Abby does find Zanna, it doesn't take too much to find out why Zanna acted as she did but now she has to figure out how to break the news to James and her family and where to go from there.

In an Amish community, this is not just the immediate family's problem but it is the entire church's concern. Abby takes it upon herself to look out for Zanna, make James, Sam and the rest of her family understand and do what is right, not what is expected. It takes some doing but eventually the church and the Bishop agree to the best course for Zanna even though it is not easy.

It takes a near tragedy in the community to put Zanna's concerns to the side and focus on what is really important for the whole community; their deep abiding faith in God, their love of family and the invincible power of forgiveness.

This is Naomi King's first Amish novel; I think she's written a real winner with these characters. Most of the females are strong women, Abby in particular. Being a single maidel, she runs her own sewing business along with helping her brother in the local mercantile. Abby  is also tender-hearted and totally selfless. She seems to be the community peacemaker when emotions  run high at times, faith can be sorely tested and tempers get out of hand. Ms. King has developed her characters so well, it's as if the reader can see into their hearts and minds. I just fell in love with the whole community and can't wait for the sequel, Rosemary Opens Her Heart, coming in October of this year. 4****

 If you'd like more info about Naomi and her background, please visit her website.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Penguin Group USA  in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thanks to the generosity of Penguin Group, I am allowed to host a giveaway for 2 copies of this delightful new book to US residents only. Deadline to enter is 03/14/12 at 5 PM (est)

To enter please leave your e mail address in a comment. If no e mail address, I will assume you do not want to be part of the giveaway.

Bonus entries are as follows:

+4 for following on Networked blogs. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.

+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.

If you cannot comment you can still enter by sending me an e mail with Abby Finds her Calling in the subject line. Include your name and e mail and send to florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Good luck!

Blog Tour: Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur

Summary:

"Pastor Jason Faircloth knows what he believes. His clear faith, in fact, is why he is one of the most prominent pastors in Atlanta . He relies on it to discipline his daughter, his wife, his church. He prays daily that others would come to see God’s ways as he does.
And it is about to cost him everything.
Groping for answers in the face of tragedy, Jason begins a search for the only family he has left: the granddaughter kept hidden from him. Soon he finds himself on an international adventure that will take him straight into the depths of his soul. He is determined not to fail again.
A fast-paced suspense novel rich in spiritual depth, Wisdom Hunter explores what it means to break free of Christian legalism—and discover why grace can mean the difference between life and death.

My thoughts: This book started out well with the introduction to Hannah, Pastor Faircloth's young runaway daughter. We find her in Miami, a newly married young woman with her first baby on the way. Life is good for Hannah and her veterinarian husband, Cody. There are enough hints that Hannah's life was none too happy at home with her parents and she had good cause to run away. This scenario made me curious to find out what happened previously and what would ensue.

Then we meet Jason Faircloth; an overly conservative and pompously arrogant pastor of the ultra - conservative North Metro church in Atlanta. He's so staunch in his beliefs and convictions that it is easy to see it was always his way or the highway for anyone in his family.Unfortunately, as his daughter, Hannah felt the highway was her only recourse. When tragedy strikes the Faircloth family, Jason rails against God demanding to know why he let these things happen. Consequently, the result of his crisis of faith compels Jason to leave the church and go on a quest that will take him to Miami first and then eventually to Europe four years later.

I found his behavior in Miami to be almost manic and to me it was over done melodrama that was completely out of character. It's hard to connect with a character when you can't believe in them. Cody, Hannah's husband, also fell into the same abyss of unbelievability when this formerly wonderful persona took on a cruel self -destructive nature. The actions by Faircloth and Cody were just too unbelievable to me and I could not continue. At page 178 I had to admit defeat. At some point I may try to finish the book but for the near future it's not happening. This is just my opinion. Readers have to decide for themselves if this book is a fit for them. It's billed as a Christian thriller so please make your own choice.

Author Bio: Randall Arthur is the bestselling author of Jordan’s Crossing and Brotherhood of Betrayal. He and his wife have served as missionaries to Europe for over thirty years. From 1976 till 1998, he lived in Norway and Germany as a church planter. Since 2000, he has taken numerous missions teams from the United States on trips all over Europe . Arthur is also the founder of the AOK (Acts of Kindness) Bikers’ Fellowship, a group of men who enjoy the sport of motorcycling. He and his family live in Atlanta , Georgia .

This book was provided for review by The Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group. For more info on Wisdom Hunter or to purchase online please visit Random House.

Blog Tour: The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall

Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (October 6, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307446530
ISBN-13: 978-0307446534
Publisher's synopsis:

"Beth Hertzler works alongside her beloved Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store, and serving as contact of sorts between Amish craftsmen and Englischers who want to sell the Plain people’s wares. But remorse and loneliness still echo in her heart everyday as she still wears the dark garb, indicating mourning of her fiancé. When she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds and she wants to help the unknown artist find homes for his work–including Lizzy’s dry goods store. But she doesn’t know if her bishop will approve of the gorgeous carving or deem it idolatry. Lizzy sees the changes in her niece when Beth shows her the woodworking, and after Lizzy hunts down Jonah, the artist, she is all the more determined that Beth meets this man with the hands that create healing art. But it’s not that simple–will Lizzy’s elaborate plan to reintroduce her niece to love work? Will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love–or just more heartbreak? "

My Thoughts: When Beth and Jonah began exchanging letters, each thinking the other person was someone else, they both were not afaid to show their vulnerable side. Beth and Jonah both shared such deeply personal thoughts which helped the other person to see who they really were inside. But when Beth finds out about Lizzy's manipulations after Jonah shows up at a social given by Lizzy, she becomes very angry and wants nothing more to do with Jonah. Will Beth be able to let go of her pain and anger and see that Aunt Lizzy has her best interests at heart or will Lizzy's deception ruin her original matchmaking scheme?

This book touched me in ways that at times I actually had tears in my eyes. The characters in this story came to life for me and I was immersed in their lives from the very beginning. Woodsmall can get right into her characters' hearts and souls with the ability to easily convey those feelings to the reader.Woodsmall has the knack to engage the reader very early on with her little hints of mystery behind Beth's heartache. I couldn't wait to find out what happened and so read the book in two sittings. Even though the story is reasonably short ( just 194 pages of actual story) it packs an emotional wallop. I cried and I rejoiced at this simple but wonderful story. The Amish aspect of the book was not only educational but extremely interesting to me. The book has a Christian theme to it; but it is handled like pleasant low background music, not blaring in-your-face noise. A thoroughly enjoyable read that I would highly recommend to fans of Christian fiction, romance and family stories.
4****

Author Bio: Cindy Woodsmall is the author of When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and The New York Times Best-Seller When the Soul Mends. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. A mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of thirty-one years. Cindy has a wonderful website with chances to win one of her books and/or a handmade quilt.

A big thank you to Elizabeth from Multnomah/Random House for inviting me to take part in the tour and for the review copy. For more info on The Sound of Sleigh Bells and options for purchasing on line, please visit Random House.

Book Tour: Tomorrow's Treasure by Linda Lee Chaikin & The Captain's Bride by Lisa Tawn Bergren

From the back cover:

"Raised by her aunt and uncle at the rectory in the small English village of Grimston Way, lovely Evy Varley remembers little of her parents and nothing of South Africa, the land where she was orphaned during the Zulu war of 1878. But when Sir Roger Chantry, the arrogant and handsome son of the local squire, accuses Evy's mother of stealing the infamous Kimberly Black Diamond, Evy sets out to prove the rogue wrong and clear her mother's name.

Secrets abound, however, from the diamond mines of South Africa to the halls of her own beloved rectory. A stunned Evy finds her own aunt and uncle may have concealed disturbing truths about her family, and the rakish Sir Rogan has his own reasons to seek the Black Diamond. Now, faced with a dangerous past and an uncertain future, Evy must draw upon her wits and her faith to pursue Tomorrow's Treasure."

My thoughts: This story has a lot going for it: from adventures in Capetown to a rural village in the Victorian era, luxurious living at the squire's manse to penurious rectory life, family secrets and a black sheep, stolen diamonds and a captivating love story. Phew, what more could you want for a perfect literary escape! I really enjoyed this book and want to extend a thank you to Staci at Waterbrook Press for a copy. 4****

About the author: Linda Lee Chaiken has written numerous top-selling books and series, including The Silk House series and For Whom The Stars Shine, a finalist for the prestigious christy Award. Two of her novels have been awarded the Silver Angel Angel Award for excellence. Linda is a graduate of Multnamah Biblical Seminary and taught neighborhood Bible classes for many years. She and her husband live in California.

Captain's Bride


My Thoughts: The story opens in Bergen, Norway in 1880 as we are introduced to the main characters: Elsa Anders and her fiance Peder Ramstadt, Elsa's younger sister Tora and Peder's best friend Karl. Along with these characters are newlyweds Kaatje and Soren. Elsa's and Peder's wedding occurs in Norway and then they are off to build a new life in Camden-by-the-Sea, Maine. Several others from Bergen are to sail with them. Peder is the Captain of the ship and he and his friend Karl will be building a new shipyard in Maine but Karl is harboring a secret that could destroy their life long friendship.

After settling in their new home, Elsa becomes distraught that Peder does not want her to sail with him as he thinks it is too dangerous. This becomes a bone of contention in their marriage. You can just feel Elsa's frustration and Peder's obstinacy. Even though they have differences of opinons, their deep Christian beliefs keeps their love intact and helps them to overcome many problems. Bergren does such a wonderful job with these characters that they really come to life on the page. It is so easy to feel their anguish at leaving their families but also the excitement and sense of adventure in emigrating to America.

Some of the other Bergensers, including Kaatje and Soren travelled on to North Dakota to make a living out of farming. Unfortunately, Soren has an eye for other women. Despite his promises to Kaatje to be faithful only to her, Soren can not help dallying with others, even turning to the teenaged Tora while sailing to America. These actions are to have dire consequences to their young marriage.

Tora, despite her young age of 16, is a woman who knows what she wants and will use any means to get it. Aspiring to marriage and family is definitely not on her agenda. She has set her sights to high society and wealth. After finally leaving Camden-by-the-Sea, she moves to Duluth to begin a career and a search for the perfect man who will keep her in style. All of the characters start out with big dreams for a new life in a new country where the possibilities seem endless.

This book is the first in The Northern Lights trilogy. I got so engrossed in this wonderful saga that I finished it in two sittings. I had a really hard time coming out of the time frame and putting this one down. Bergren is a skilled writer who fleshes out her characters to perfection. Every nuance of the characters' emotions is clearly expressed leaving the reader to feel as if these characters are real. There are also plenty of adventures in this epic story. I liked the first one so much, I read the next two books in the series: Deep Harbor and Midnight Sun where the story continued. If you are a fan of romance, Christian fiction, adventure or family sagas, this is one story you will savor. Highly recommended. 4.5****

About the author: Lisa Tawn Bergren has authored more than thrity books, including Breathe and The Begotten. Visit her online here.

A huge thank you to Staci at Waterbrook/Random House for a copy of this riveting novel.

Book Tour : Sister Chicks in Wooden Shoes by Robin Jones Gunn

Summary: When a mammogram result comes back abnormal, midlife mama Summer Finley makes a snap decision to relegate fear to the back burner and fulfill a lifelong dream. Summer heads for Holland where she meets up with tulips, wooden shoes, and her best friend, Noelle.

Pen pals since fourth grade, Summer and Noelle have never met face-to-face. Through decades of heart-level correspondence, they have sustained a deep friendship. A week of adventure helps both women trade anxiety for a renewed and deeper trust in God. When Summer confides in Noelle about the abnormal medical report, Noelle finds the freedom to share a long-held heartache, and both women discover they needed each other more than they realized.

Women ages 35 and up, readers of Christian Boomer Lit, and fans of books such as The Yada Yada Prayer Group will enjoy Robin Jones Gunn’s humorous and uplifting style. True-to-life characters and moments of poignancy bring a deeper understanding of the value of life and the gift of true friends. Readers guide and bonus material included.

My Thoughts:

I wanted to like this book, I really did, but I have to say honestly this book was a bit of a disappointment. The characters felt flat to me and the dialogue came across as stilted. Also, I think the absence of other minor plot lines is one of the reasons I found the book lacking. The Christian themed element in this story felt overly "preachy" to me. I would have liked to have seen more character depth.

I had hoped for more descriptive passages about the country as this was a first visit to Holland for Summer. But, alas, that too was sparse. Although when the two friends visited the Rijksmuseum, the art descriptions really made me want to visit. This was the first real emotion I felt from Summer as the art work truly touched her. Unfortunately, this was close to the end of the book. I am not rating the book because I don't think that would be fair to the author for this one. I feel this is probably more of just a matter of personal taste as the book and I were not a perfect fit but it might just be the book for someone looking for a simple Christian themed light read.

Be sure to visit the Random House website for more info on the Sisterchicks books.

https://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601420091&ref=externallink_mlt_sisterchicksinwoodenshoes_sec_0423_01

Author Bio: Robin Jones Gunn is the best-selling and award-winning author of over seventy books, including the Glenbrooke, Christy Miller, Sierra Jensen, Katie Weldon, and Christy and Todd: The College Years teen series. The Sisterchicks® series has sold more than 300,000 units, bringing her total sales to more than 3.5 million books worldwide. A Christy Award winner, Robin is a popular speaker, both at home and abroad, and is frequently interviewed on radio and on television.

http://www.robingunn.com/ is the author's website
http://www.sisterchicks.com/

Review: In the Shadow of the Sun King by Golden Keyes Parsons

France in the seventeenth century was comprised of Catholics and Huguenots, with Catholicism being the favored religion. Even though the Edict of Nantes had granted protection to the Huguenots, King Louis XIV and his dragoons sought to convert the Huguenots to Catholicism or suffer the consequences. Many were persecuted and when they did not convert, they were mercilessly executed. Their children were kidnapped and put into monasteries or nunneries to be educated as Catholics. It’s hard to believe what cruel atrocities people commit in the name of religion.

When Francois Clavell returns home and tells his wife dragoons are on their way and they must send their sons to a hidden cave for protection, she fears greatly for their family. After several days of the dragoons quarteded in their home, Madeleine has had enough. She tells her mother and husband she plans on prevailing upon her friendship with King Louis to protect her family. She is gambling on his youthful promise to love only her for always to spare their family from harm. What she doesn’t foresee is that King Louis is no longer willing to do anything out of just love. He makes her a proposition where her family will be spared if she agrees to his terms. Madeline, being a staunch protestant and firmly committed to her marriage vows, will not agree to any such terms. The price is way too high, a decision that has far reaching and dire consequences.


I was pulled into this story immediately by the way Parsons writes. The dialogue gives the reader a deep sense of the hearts and minds of the characters and makes the reader care about them. Putting them into this historical context just makes the story come to life. The Clavell’s devout love of God and family is one of the prevalent themes throughout this wonderfully touching story. I had a hard time putting this book down . 4****

Note: This would be a good book for clubs as there are questions at the end and many aspects for discussion. Fans of either Christian or historical fiction will appreciate and enjoy this book.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishing for a copy of this book.