A Time for Peace by Barbara Cameron

A Time for Peace

by Barbara Cameron

Book Blurb
After Years of Hardship, Jenny’s Life Appears Perfect. So Why Does Something Seem to Be Missing?

Jenny Bontrager is finally at a place of love and belonging with her husband, Matthew, and his children. Life seems golden with both her family and career as a writer.
But everything Jenny now believes in is thrown into question with the discovery of a long-lost letter from her father. Her sense of peace and contentment destroyed by betrayal, Jenny struggles with her renewed faith–and the love of everyone around her.

Praise for Barbara Cameron
“Barbara Cameron has written another wonderful, sweet story that tugs at the emotions. Amish fiction fans will definitely want to add A Time for Peace to their library.” –Kathleen Fuller, best-selling author of A Summer Secret, A Hand to Hold, and The Secrets Beneath

“A Time for Peace, Barbara Cameron’s newest heartwarming story in the Quilts of Lancaster County series, invites readers to come on in, sit down around the table for a cup of tea while getting to know this Amish family where love is happening. When troubles and doubts come for Jenny, you’ll be living her story with her and hoping she won’t lose sight of that ribbon of love that so strongly binds these people together.” Ann H. Gabhart, author of The Outsider, Summer of Joy, and Angel Sister
“A Time for Peace is an inspirational story of working through some of the tough questions and situations life throws at us. Barbara Cameron gives us another endearing Amish tale in this Quilts of Lancaster County series.” – FreshFiction.com

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK!
Time for Peace by Barbara Cameron
I enjoyed that this book picks up the characters from the first book, Jenny and Matthew. These two young people were given a second chance at love after Matthew’s first wife passed away leaving him with three children to raise on his own. Coming home to get well after being serve injured while overseas with her job, Jenny and Matthew meet again, fall in love all over again and marry.
In this book we follow Jenny as others in the Amish community have babies, but it seems that all fails with Jenny and Matthew when trying to have a child of their own. Jenny loves Matthew’s three children as though they were her own, but she so wants a little one of her own with her new husband.
A lot of this story was Jenny being upset about a letter she found from her dad to her grandmother years earlier. She didn’t understand why her grandmother was on her dad’s side and not Jenny’s years back when they spent summers in the Amish community. I did think Jenny took this a little bit overboard, and it went on just a little too much throughout the book, but I guess it was needed for the story ending.
Overall, this was a great book and I thoroughly it. Actually this is a wonderful series to read and enjoy. The entire series deals with issues that people face today. And I appreciate that throughout the book the author stresses the need for trusting God with their struggles and difficulties in their life.
I encourage you to grab a copy of the three books in this series to read and enjoy for yourself. This is just a good, clean, enjoyable series of books to read.
A copy of this book was provided by Abingdon Press for me to read and review. I was not required or expected to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are mine only

For more information or to read the first chapter go HERE

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Barbara Cameron is the author of 21 fiction and nonfiction books, three nationally televised movies (HBO-Cinemax), and the winner of the first Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award. When a relative took her to visit the Amish community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, she felt led to write about the spiritual values and simple joys she witnessed there. She currently resides in Edgewater, FL. Find out more about Barbara at www.barbaracameron.com, www.amishhearts.com and www.amishliving.com.

A Texas Promise by Shelley Gray

A Texan’s Promise

By: Shelley Gray

Book #1 in The Heart of a Hero Series

Book Blurb

Past promises will be tested as new ones are given…When Clayton Proffitt, foreman of the Circle Z Ranch in Texas, discovers Vanessa Grant is the victim of her stepfather’s advances, Clayton knows he must protect her honor and move her far away from the ranch—and from the man she fears.
As they make their way West, an unexpected, deep bond develops between Vanessa and Clayton—far more powerful than a mere friendship or his sense of duty to her. But Vanessa’s stepfather won’t let her go so easily. As Clayton and Vanessa place their faith in God and their trust in each other, will they find healing and hope for the future together?

Praise for the book!

Shelley Gray is a wonderful storyteller, and A Texan’s Promise captured me from the first page. This endearing love story is so rich with detail, I felt like I was traveling alongside Vanessa and Clayton throughout their incredible journey. Clayton is the hero every woman dreams of, and I loved watching Vanessa grow from a scared girl into a strong woman. This is a wonderful start to this new series. Highly recommended.” – Beth Wiseman Best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series

“Shelley Gray’s fans will enjoy riding along with her characters down a new trail of romance in A Texan’s Promise, the first in The Heart of a Hero series. Readers will be rooting for Clayton and Vanessa to find their way to a true and lasting love.” – Ann H. Gabhart, author of The Outsider, Summer of Joy, and Angel Sister

For more information and to read the first chapter…go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK

Being a fan of Shelley Gray’s I was excited about review this first book in her new historical western series. And this one did not disappoint. I was captured very early in the story of Vanessa and Clayton. Things were not going exactly right after Vanessa’s father passed away and her new stepfather had taken over the ranch.

Clayton had always watched out for Vanessa since being hired as forman of the ranch and when she comes crying for his help, she confides in him that her stepfather had injured her. But was she really telling all? Clayton decides that the safest thing for Vanessa was to leave the ranch with her and keeping her whereabouts a secret. This causes more problems though because a single man and woman traveling together could cause more problems that was desired. Not to mention mean and ugly stepfather Price could claim his stepdauther and make her obey him. Oh what a tangled web we weave! Things are sure to get worse before the get better. And Vanessa’s brother Miles doesn’t have backbone enough to speak up against his th stepfather so he’s no help at all!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The unique characters were creative and well developed, and I enjoyed getting to know most of them. Price needed extreme punishment for what he did to Vanessa, and the rest of her family. It was always good to see him defeated. On the other hand, the attraction between Clayton and Vanessa was heartwarming. I didn’t understand Clayton needing to get away to spend time away from Vanessa, but it made the story even more interesting.

I highly recommend this and any other book Shelley Shepard Gray writes! She is an awesome author and I love, love her books. She never disappoints. Go out and grab a copy of this one and see for yourself!

I appreciate Abingdon Press for sending me a copy of this book to read and review. I was not required or expected to write a postitve review. The opinions in this review are mine only.

About the Author Shelley Gray

Shelley Gray’s first Amish novel, Hidden, was nominated for the Inspirational Readers Choice award. Her book Simple Gifts won the Reviewers Choice Award. Shelley’s novel, The Protector, recently made the New York Times bestseller list. A native of Texas, she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Colorado, and taught school for ten years. She lives in southern Ohio where she writes full time.

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A Stranger’s Gift.....by: Anna Schmidt

 

A Stranger’s Gift

by: Anna Schmidt  

Women of Pinecraft (Book 1)

Book Blurb

You’ll be swept away by the endearing characters created by award-winning author Anna Schmidt. On the heels of a horrific hurricane, Hester Detlef, field director for the Mennonite Disaster Service, blows into the life of self-made, shunned Amish man John Hafner. Will she find a way through his shield and into his heart? Although the hurricane has left John homeless and badly injured, the last thing he wants is some do-gooder Mennonite woman intruding in his life. Will his impatience with her intention of restoring his faith and property keep him from accepting this beguiling stranger’s kindness?
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
John Steiner left his home and Amish faith after his mother passed away and is now living in Sarasota, Florida. He likes being alone and wishes everyone would respect his wishes. Even with an evacquation??? because of a hurricane coming through, John doesn’t listen to warnings and says in his home, finding out the hard way that hard way he should have listened. The house he has been working on for the past two years was severly???? damaged by the hurricane.
Hester enjoys her work with the local MCC in the Mennonite community in Sarasota, Florida that was started by her father. Being the lead person in her area, she spends many hours helping people in need. John Steiner was though, he just wouldn’t accept help from anyone. As irritated??? as Hester was at John, she still wanted to help him because for some reason she was intrigued by him. This could turn out to be an interesting task, since he flatly refused to leave his home during the horrible hurricane that swipped through the area.
This is an awesome Amish story with many unique twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seats and keep the pages turning until the very end. The characters were well created and developed and easily grow on you. John seemed stubborn but he felt alone and determined to make his way through life on his own. But Hester and those working with MCC were determined as well that he needed help.
This is a story of love and forgiveness though learning to accept God’s will for life. His will is not always what we want, but it is always what is best, as John finds out in the end.
I found this a wonderful story that I enjoyed very much. If you are an Amish fiction fan, I highly recommend this wonderful book for your to read and enjoy.
I appreciate Barbour Publishing for providing a copy of this book for me to read and review. I was not expected or required to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are mine only.

Meet Anna Schmidt

Anna Schmidt is the author of over twenty works of fiction. Among her many honors, Anna is the recipient of Romantic Times’ Reviewer’s Choice Award and a finalist for the RITA award for romantic fiction. She enjoys gardening and collecting seashells at her winter home in Florida.
Visit Anna’s website at www.booksbyanna.com

Something Old…by Dianne Christner

Something Old…by Dianne Christner

Book Blurb

Travel to Plain City, Ohio, to witness the Mennonite and English culture clash. As Katy Yoder accepts a new job and struggles to define her place in the world, childhood friends and a past romance get in the way. Even when her friends try to help her change her judgmental attitude, Katy is certain that seeing things as black and white is the only way to please God. But as love softens her heart, slowly shades of gray seep into her world, and she discovers the right answer isn’t always the easiest one.

My Thoughts on Something Old
Katy Yoder is 19 and doesn’t date anyone because of the heartbreak she experienced with Jake Byler joined the Englisch world, meeting worldly girls and doing things she doesn’t approve of. Their last time together, Jake was drunk and pushed himself on her, so she has hated his since. But she still just can’t get over him enough to date anyone else. But what a surprise she gets when Jake shows back up in town, and it seems like everywhere she goes, he is there. Not only that, everything she is involved in, Jake is involved in it too. She just can’t shake loose of him. All she was interested in now was moving in with her childhood friends for a while.
Jake Byler’s life changed while he was away and he wants to come back to the church and try to win his only love Katy back. But this will be a challenge because of her hatred and bitterness over him leaving her.
I enjoyed this Mennonite story as I met Katy and her best friends Megan and Lil, and was in on the excitement of their moving in with each other. The author created a cast of characters that played their parts so well in the story and it was fun getting to know them, even though at times some of them were irritating.
The main character Katy sometimes acted like goodie-two-shoes because she was always judging others. And Lil really got on my nerves when she was trying to nose into Katy’s life, pushing her to go back with Jake. I wanted to scream at her sometimes and tell her to tend to her own business. At first I didn’t like Jake, but as I got to know him, I really liked him because he was real. He had accepted the Lord and his life had definitely changed for the better. And David, well I couldn’t figure out if he really liked Katy or he was just being a jerk because Katy’s dad kinda forced her to go on three dates with David. And then he was so jealous of Jake, but that could have just been a male thing, right? I was proud of Jake for finally speaking up to Katy about her attitude, she really had that coming.
Over all this was an enjoyable read and I hope there is a second book to follow these characters further in their lives. Though I do think this could be a YA book too, it just seems like something younger people would enjoy reading. Which is a good thing, we need more YA books! I encourage you to grab a copy of this book, read and enjoy it. You will not be disappointed.

About the Author
Dianne Christner’s first book was published in 1994, and she now writes full time. She has written several historical fiction titles and has started writing contemporary fiction from her experience of being raised in the Mennonite church. Dianne lives in Phoenix, Arizona, where she enjoys the beauty of her desert surroundings and life sizzles in the summer when temperatures soar above 100 degrees. Dianne and her husband have two married children and five grandchildren.
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