Archive for the ‘Romance’ Category
Wishing on Willow – Katie Ganshert Review and Give Away
About this Book
Does a second chance at life and love always involve surrender?
A three-year old son, a struggling café, and fading memories are all Robin Price has left of her late husband. As the proud owner of Willow Tree Café in small town Peaks, Iowa, she pours her heart into every muffin she bakes and espresso she pulls, thankful for the sense of purpose and community the work provides.
So when developer Ian McKay shows up in Peaks with plans to build condos where her café and a vital town ministry are located, she isn’t about to let go without a fight.
As stubborn as he is handsome, Ian won’t give up easily. His family’s business depends on his success in Peaks. But as Ian pushes to seal the deal, he wonders if he has met his match. Robin’s gracious spirit threatens to undo his resolve, especially when he discovers the beautiful widow harbors a grief that resonates with his own.
With polarized opinions forming all over town, business becomes unavoidably personal and Robin and Ian must decide whether to cling to the familiar or surrender their plans to the God of Second Chances.
My Review
Review Summary: Characters in this story are believable and enjoyable to follow. Robin is strong and independent and has a passionate love for her Heavenly Father, but maybe doesn’t trust Him as much as she things. Ian McKay comes across as confident and in control of every situation, but he too has secrets and fears. The chemistry between them is fun to watch development. The story is predictable but still is enjoyable to read. The author does a great job telling this story and I look forward to reading more about the people of Peaks.
Digging Deeper: This author does a great job telling a story that touches the heart. We met Robin Price in the first book, Wildflowers from Winter. In book one she is pregnant and a widow and struggles to get through her days. In this story it’s three years later and she has a healthy, happy three year old and she’s the owner of Willow Tree Cafe. Robin is a wonderful character. But your heart still goes out to her as she struggles to be a single mom and business owner in a tough economy in a small town. Ian McKay has his own problems and struggles in living up to expectations and responsibilities. He comes across as cocky especially early in the story. I didn’t find myself feeling for him early in the story, but he grew on me as the story progressed.
As in most romance books like this, you can predict how the story will ultimately end. However, the author does an excellent job of telling a beautiful story about breaking down walls and learning to trust. I loved watching how both Robin and Ian grew during the story. I recommend this story for those enjoy reading about life, the good and the bad. I finished this book feeling encouraged.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher, but was under no obligation to give anything but my honest opinion.
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Product Details
- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: WaterBrook Press (March 19, 2013)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0307730409
- ISBN-13: 978-0307730404
- Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.1 inches
- Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Author Details
Website: http://katieganshert.com/
Give Away
I’m giving away a copy of this book. Please feel out the Google Form below. I will only use your address if you win. I’ll pick a winner on June 30th.
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.
About the Book
Geraldine Jordan’s lived all her life with an unpleasant disability. She learns the meaning of painful rejection early. Any probability of obtaining a respectable suitor one day to someone like Alistair McKenna the man of her lifetime dreams is slim to none.
When Geraldine is passed off to live with controlling-zealot Uncle Henry, she grows weary of waiting for that impossible dream — until a treasured aunt arranges a potential marriage with esteemed Chicago banker, in search of a wife and mother for his young ward. The disgruntled Uncle Henry whose always believed his niece unsuitable for any man of status, quickly sets out to block the betrothal by demoting Geraldine to status of a common servant, hiring her off to a family in need of a governess.
Will the shattered Geraldine be forced to abandon all hope when she learns her prospective groom-to-be was none other than her life-long love, Alistair McKenna?
My Review
I adored Geraldine and her story. This was a wonderful story of dreams coming true and the importance of seeking wise counsel.
This story begins about 10 years after the first book and Geraldine has grown into a fine young woman. She is saddened by the death of her beloved Great-Aunt. Yet hopeful for the future as her Great-Aunt had arranged a marriage for her, but her Uncle Henry quickly destroys her hopes by informing her that she’s not fit for marriage and he’s arranged for her to be a nanny.
The Geraldine of book one has grown up but she did not grow away from her faith in God. She believes in trusting him and following through with her commitments. She also teaches us about forgiveness. She reminds me of how we should all live, with a childlike faith in God.
Although the ending was predictable, this was a quick read with some interesting incidents and characters along the way that made the story enjoyable.
I’m looking forward to book 3 in this series.
Disclaimer
I would like to thank the author for the opportunity to read and review this book and was under no obligation other than my honest opinion.
