Archive for the ‘Amish’ Category
A Home for Lydia – Vannetta Chapman
About this book
A Home for Lydia, the second book in a new romantic series from popular author Vannetta Chapman, centers again on the Plain community of Pebble Creek and the kind, caring people there. As they face challenges to their community from the English world, they come together to reach out to their non-Amish neighbors while still preserving their cherished Plain ways.
Aaron Troyer simply wants to farm like his father and grandfather before him. But instead he finds himself overseeing the family’s small group of guest cabins nestled along the banks of Pebble Creek. That also means he must work with the cabins’ housekeeper, Lydia Fisher.
Lydia is the most outspoken Amish woman Aaron has ever met, and she has strong opinions about how the guest cabins are to be run. She also desperately needs this job. Though sparks fly between boss and employee at first, when the cabins are robbed, nothing is more important to Aaron than making sure Lydia is safe.
Together they work to make the vacation property profitable, but can they find out the identity of the culprit before more damage is done? And is Lydia’s dream of a home of her own more than just a wish and a prayer?
My Review
This was a surprisingly enjoyable read for me. I don’t consider myself a “fan” of Amish fiction, so I was surprised when I received this book. However, I tried to read it with an open mind and found I it was worthwhile. Here’s why?
The characters were strong and interesting. Lydia was a hard working and faithful to provide for her family. The spoke her mind and backed up her words with actions. Aaron was cranky early on because he didn’t want to be Wisconsin helping family he didn’t know when his fields needed to be planted. Over the course of the story it was a joy to watch him change. My favorite character was Gabe Miller, although not a primary character in this story his quick wit and humor added a great deal to the story.
The story itself was good. I think the thing I liked the most about the story is the reminder that sometimes God puts in situations and places that are outside our comfort zone. He does it for a reason bigger than ourselves.
This is a book two in a series. I didn’t read book one but I didn’t feel lost with book two. There are references to things that happened to Gabe’s daughter from the first book that made me wonder, but didn’t impact this story.
DisclaimerI did receive this book from the publisher, but was under no obligation other than to give my honest opinion.
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Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Publish Date: February 1, 2013
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736946144
ISBN-13: 978-0736946148
Author’s Website: http://vannettachapman.com/
The Give Away
I have a copy of this book that I will give away on April 30 to one randomly drawn name. So leave a comment and thanks for stopping by!
A Plain Scandal – Amanda Flower Review and Interview
About this Book
The people of Appleseed Creek in the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country are under attack. Soon after the dust has settled on a buggy accident that turned out to be murder, an unknown assailant begins cutting off the long hair of Amish women and the beards of Amish men.
New to the area, computer specialist Chloe Humphrey may not share their customs, but she is certainly alarmed over these crimes against the Amish and worries how such events will impact her growing number of friends who are more connected to that way of life.
In this small community, when Chloe discovers the body of an Amish businessman who was stabbed in the back and whose beard was cut off, she knows that finding the murderer and restoring peace to Appleseed Creek is as much her responsibility as anyone else’s.
The Interview
It’s my pleasure to have Amanda Flower visiting here at FCB.
FCB: When you reach heaven, other than Jesus, what Biblical character are you most looking forward to meeting and why?
Amanda: The Apostle Peter. He was always my favorite disciple. I’m a pretty quiet person and am fascinated by people with loud boisterous personalities like Peter had.
FCB: What would be the first question you would like to ask him/her?
Amanda: It would be “Can you tell me a story?” I would love to hear his first person account of Christ’s life on Earth.
FCB: When you were a little girl what did you want to be when you grew up?
Amanda: As a child, I loved to draw and paint, so I wanted to be an artist. I still love to do those things but just for fun.
FCB: What prompted you to write Amish stories?
Amanda: When I was twenty-four, which is the same age as Chloe in the series, I moved to Ohio’s Amish Country to take a job at a small rural college. I live and worked in that town for three years and saw Amish on a daily basis. Years later, I realized that it would be great basis for a mystery series.
FCB: We see a lot of advice out there for writers, but what advice would you give someone like me, who enjoys reading and writing reviews on a book? What makes a good review?
Amanda: Reviews and reviewers are essential to success of any author or book. Without them, readers wouldn’t know what’s available to read, so I have I great appreciation for reviewers, such as yourself, who spend so much time and energy reading and reviewing books. My only advice would be to be fair and honest. Fair and honest reviews are always the best.
Thank you so much Amanda. I’m so glad you spent time in the Amish Country.
To learn more about Amanda you can visit her on website at: http://www.amandaflower.com/
My Review
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I enjoyed it so much I went back and read book 1, A Plain Death.
I loved the characters in this story, especially the contrast between Chloe and Becky. Chloe, the tech savvy director of computer services at the local college, and Becky, the former Amish girl, currently on probation for driving without a license. I loved watching them as they grew as friends and understanding each other’s worlds.
This story includes a mystery that the reader is allowed to solve alongside Chloe that was interesting and different. There is romance as well as in the developing relationship between Chloe and Timothy. You also see the return of characters from the first book and some interesting developments with them.
The author’s style is easy to follow and it was a fast easy to follow storyline. Although this is a book two I didn’t feel lost from not reading the first one. In this case, book two made me want to go back and read book one. I’ve not read a lot of Amish fiction and the ones I have generally show the Amish as a forgiving and open community. This series shows a more closed, judgmental Amish community with controlling leadership.
I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a nice mystery with romance in the setting of Amish community.
Disclosure
I did receive this book through the netgalley.com program, but was under no obligation other than to give my honest opinion.
Plain Doesn’t Mean Boring – A Plain Death – Amanda Flower
About this Book
Welcome to Appleseed Creek, the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country, where life is not as serene as it seems.
While her Cleveland friends relocated to Southern California and Italy, 24-year-old computer whiz Chloe Humphrey moves with some uncertainty to Appleseed Creek to direct technology services at a nearby college. Her first acquaintance is Becky, an ex-Amish teenager looking for a new home.
While driving Chloe’s car, Becky collides with a buggy, killing an Amish elder. But what looks like an accident is soon labeled murder when police discover the car’s cut brake line.
Now, Chloe must take on the role of amateur sleuth to discover who the real intended victim was before the murderer makes a second attempt. Becky’s handsome Amish-turned-Mennonite brother, Timothy, a local carpenter, comes in handy along the way. With God’s help, they’ll solve the mystery that’s rocking this small community.
My Review
This is the second book I’ve read by this author, the first is Book 2 of this series, A Plain Scandal, which releases in mid-February 2013. I enjoyed that story so much I got the first book. And I’m very glad I did!
I love the contrast of the main characters in this story. Chloe is a computer geek with no real family and Becky is a wayward Amish girl with an extremely loving family. At times I found myself smiling at the differences between these two girls, especially Becky’s naive nature. I also loved the mystery aspect in this story. I thoroughly enjoy trying to figure out “who done it” along with the characters. I thought I had it figured out, but was pleasantly surprised at the twist the author gave us.
The only negative thing I could say about this story is the portrayal of the Amish. I’ve only read a handful of Amish based stories, but in most of them the Amish are shown as very forgiving and docile people. This author shows a darker and angrier side in the Amish of Appleseed Creek.
I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys Amish based stories as well as those that are checking Amish stories. It is a good mystery as well and just a dash of romance in the story.
Disclaimer
I did receive this copy from the publisher through netgalley.com however I was under no obligation other than to give my honest opinion.
