Category Archives: Zondervan

April 25, 2022 · 12:01 am

Review: The Bookseller’s Promise by Beth Wiseman

Title: The Bookseller’s Promise by Beth Wiseman
The Amish Bookstore Novels Book One
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Contemporary, Amish, Romance
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

In the first novel of Beth Wiseman’s new Amish Bookstore series, a rare, old book may hold answers to a present-day romance.

Yvonne Wilson arrives in Montgomery, Indiana, determined to purchase a rare book on behalf of a client willing to pay her an absurd amount of money for her efforts. Engaged to be married in a few months, Yvonne is thrown off guard when she finds herself attracted to the handsome bookstore owner, Jake Lantz—and now she’s asking herself unexpected questions about her future.

Jake Lantz made a promise to his grandfather to never sell the book Yvonne wants to buy, and it’s a promise he plans to keep. Jake begins to read the book with Eva, one of his employees, and Eva sees this time together as a way to get Jake to see her in a new light. Eva’s loved him for years but senses Yvonne’s attraction to Jake right away—and she wonders how Jake feels about Yvonne, an attractive English woman determined to stay in Montgomery until she convinces Jake to sell the rare book.

As Yvonne’s, Jake’s, and Eva’s individual paths merge into something more than they could have imagined, each must face decisions they never anticipated. Will Jake ultimately break his promise to his grandfather? Will Yvonne leave the quaint life she’s been living in Amish Country to go back to her fiancé? And will Eva be able to get Jake to see her as more than a friend? The answers just might be buried within the pages of a rare book.

Review:

The Bookseller’s Promise by Beth Wiseman is a heartwarming Amish Romance.

Thirty-two-year-old Yvonne Wilson is a book broker whose search for a rare book leads her to an Amish Bookstore in Montgomery, IL. Although twenty-five-year-old Jake Lantz has already told her the book is not for sale, she decides to visit him in person to try to change his mind. Yvonne’s fiancé Trevor Adams has to go elsewhere on business, so she travels to Indiana on her own. When meeting with Jake for the first time, he again informs her the book is not for sale. Undaunted, Yvonne remains in town where she gets to know Jake and his employee, nineteen-year-old Eva Graber.  Acting completely out of character, she makes an impetuous decision that initially unnerves her.

Although she loves Trevor, Yvonne is a little leery of losing her independence. She does not want to lose herself after their wedding so she is relying on getting Jake to sell the book her buyer is looking for. Yvonne is surprised by how much she likes him and Eva but she worries she might lose her client if she fails to make the acquisition for him.  Deciding to see if time will change Jake’s mind, she instead enjoys sightseeing and giving Eva advice for letting Jake know she is interested in him.

Jake knows that his friend John Yoder is interested in Eva so he ignores any feelings for her other than friendship. He is not looking forward to hiring someone to replace her if things work out for her and John.  Jake is less than happy when Yvonne shows up at the bookstore, but he refuses to consider breaking his promise to his grandfather to never sell the book. He has not read the book so he surprised by Yvonne’s reaction to it.

Eva’s longtime crush on Jake has deepened over the years and she is frustrated he does not seem to notice she is now grown up. She is at first jealous of Yvonne, but the two soon become fast friends. Finally deciding it is time to stop waiting on Jake, Eva accepts a date with John. But is the man for her?

The Bookseller’s Promise is a poignant inspirational romance. Yvonne is a wonderful woman who eventually comes to question her long-held views on faith. Jake has always liked Eva but he worries that it might be too late for a chance to take their relationship beyond friendship. Eva is an appealing young woman whose dream of a future with Jake might be out of reach. Beth Wiseman weaves the different story arcs into a compelling and captivating novel that will resonate with readers. This first installment in The Amish Bookstore Novels series is off to a marvelous beginning that will leave fans eagerly awaiting the next installment.

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Filed under Amish, Beth Wiseman, Contemporary, Rated B+, Review, Romance, The Amish Bookstore Novels Series, The Booksellers Promise, Zondervan

March 25, 2022 · 12:02 am

Review: Foundation of Love by Amy Clipston

Title: Foundation of Love by Amy Clipston
An Amish Legacy Novel Book One
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Contemporary, Amish, Romance
Length: 341 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Get swept away in the first installment of Amy Clipston’s Amish Legacy series.

They were “only friends” . . . but they wanted so much more.

Crystal Glick is grateful to live with her brother’s family since her father died and her fiancé, Owen, broke their engagement. Crystal loves her bruderskinner and cheerfully helps her sister-in-law through a difficult pregnancy with babies number seven and eight, but she yearns for a husband and children of her own.

Duane Bontrager is mourning the recent death of his wife, Connie, after twenty-four years of marriage. He and his grown sons have a thriving roofing business but can’t get used to life without her. As the young men prepare to launch out on their own, Duane can’t imagine life alone—nor with anyone but Connie.

When a roofing job at the Glicks introduces Duane and Crystal, they’re attracted in spite of their fourteen-year age difference. But their bishop thinks Duane is better suited for the sweet widow Tricia, and Duane’s sons object to his interest in any woman. Crystal’s family fears losing her indispensable help. If she must go, they’d rather she be reunited with Owen in spite of his betrayal.

They’re the only two who believe they’re a match made in heaven, can Duane and Crystal overcome the obstacles to love?

Review:

Foundation of Love by Amy Clipston is a charming Amish romance.

Thirty-three-year-old Crystal Glick is unmarried and lives with her brother Kane and her sister-in-law Leona.  Crystal takes care of her nieces and nephews as Leona takes it easy due to her current pregnancy. Crystal would like a family of her own, but without any prospects on the horizon, she tries to remain content with caring for her brother’s children. With six kids to care for and endless chores, she rarely has time for herself. When her brother hires Duane Bontrager and his three adult sons to replace their roof, Crystal is drawn to the friendly widower. Once she realizes her feelings are running deeper than friendship, she wrestles with other people’s objections to the age difference between them.  Will Crystal allow this chance for love and happiness slip away?

Ever since Duane’s beloved wife Connie passed way, he and his sons, Jayden, Tyler and Korey, have muddled their way through cooking, household chores and running their roofing business. Duane still deeply misses Connie and he is not looking for a new wife. But he greatly enjoys spending time with Crystal and as he gets to know her, his feelings turn romantic. But Duane is a little conflicted about their age difference, having more children and his sons’ reactions to his announcement he is dating are troubling. He is also being pressured to marry a widow in his community.

Foundation of Love is a touching romance with a wonderful setting and appealing characters. Crystal and Duane are vibrantly developed characters whose faith guides them through their obstacle strewn journey to happily ever after. Crystal is self-less and caring but she often puts other people’s needs ahead of her own. Duane is evenly tempered as he struggles to work through his son’s resistance to his fledgling relationship with Crystal. The romance is heartwarming but their future is far from assured. With one final conflict to resolve, Amy Clipston brings this first An Amish Legacy novel to an uplifting, smile-inducing conclusion.

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Filed under Amish, Amy Clipston, An Amish Legacy Novel, Contemporary, Foundation of Love, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Zondervan

October 25, 2021 · 12:02 am

Review: A Season of Change by Beth Wiseman

Title: A Season of Change by Beth Wiseman
The Amish Inn Novels Book Three
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Contemporary, Amish, Romance
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: A

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Finding peace means letting go of the past—and embracing the change that is to come.

Sisters Esther and Lizzie have a new employee, Rose Petersheim, to help them tend to The Peony Inn. But their old matchmaking ways have stayed the same. The sisters focus their efforts on the lovely twenty-five-year-old Rose. Though Rose is witty and outspoken, her nervous chattering makes her the best match for someone calm and good at listening. Someone like Benjamin—the handsome handyman who recently moved to town.

But when Esther receives an anonymous love letter and flowers, Rose’s love life is no longer the only one capturing the sisters’ attention. As they sleuth around searching for Esther’s secret admirer, they uncover that their grumpy renter, Gus, has a secret of his own that could bring about a difficult change in all their lives. And their continued meddling in Rose’s affairs reveals she, too, is hiding something—an old wound that could threaten her future happiness.

As Rose, Lizzie, Esther, and Gus struggle to release the weight of their pasts, they discover that although people are complicated, love doesn’t need to be.

This charming third installment of the Amish Inn series from bestselling author Beth Wiseman is a picture of loss and healing in which forgiveness will prove to be the greatest act of love.

Review:

A Season of Change by Beth Wiseman is a poignant yet uplifting Amish romance. While this newest release is the third book in The Amish Inn Novels series, it can be read as a standalone. However, I highly recommend reading the first two novels as well.

Lizzie Glick and Esther Zook are widowed sisters who turned their home into a bed and breakfast. Since the summer has been unusually hot, The Peony Inn does not have many visitors. This turns out to be a good thing as Lizzie and Esther continue their matchmaking and learn their longtime boarder Gus Owens’ secret.  Esther also seems to have a secret admirer whose identity Lizzie is determined to uncover. Neither sister is looking for romance but they are curious who about who sent Esther a beautiful bouquet of flowers with a very unexpected message.

Twenty-five-year-old Rose Petersheim is a hard worker whose endless chatter sometimes wars on Lizzie and Esther’s nerves. They have counseled her to listen more and talk less but Rose finds it difficult to keep her thoughts to herself. When newcomer Benjamin King asks her out for a date, she is determined to follow their advice. But since he is very shy, their evening out is rather awkward.

Ben is frustrated with his inability to turn his sometimes tangled thoughts into words . He is tired of blind dates but he would like to marry and start a family. Ben is willing to give Rose a chance, but if their evening out does not go well, he is done with dating. Which is why he is very disappointed his dinner with Rose is so uncomfortable.

Ben remains intrigued by Rose, so he is delighted when she inadvertently reveals her true self to him after their disastrous date. Rose agrees to go out with him again and their romance begins in earnest. But the closer they become, she grows increasingly troubled by memories of her past.  As she tries to come to terms her fears, will Rose decide a future with Ben is not possible?

A Season of Change is an emotionally compelling novel with a heartfelt storyline and appealing characters. Rose is a spirited young woman who must decide whether or not to forgive the people who have hurt her. Ben is a charming man who is transformed by his relationship with Rose. Esther patiently continues her lessons of forgiveness and grace. Lizzie’s outspokenness leads to trouble when her well-intentioned interference backfires. With touching life lessons, Beth Wiseman brings this final installment in The Amish Inn Novels series to a bittersweet conclusion.

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Filed under A Season of Change, Amish, Beth Wiseman, Contemporary, Rated A, Review, Romance, The Amish Inn Novels, Zondervan

October 3, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: Matched and Married by Kathleen Fuller

Title: Matched and Married by Kathleen Fuller
An Amish Mail-Order Bride Series Book Two
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Contemporary, Amish, Romance
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Neither Margaret nor Owen has any interest in getting married. But in the small Amish town of Birch Creek, where marriage is on everyone’s mind, their plans don’t stand a chance.

Margaret Yoder can’t seem to catch a break. Even though she’s dedicated to her Amish faith, her wild rumspringa won’t stay in the past, and her mother keeps pressuring her to get married. To placate her mother and get away from former “friends”, she decides to return to Birch Creek to visit family—and pretend to find a husband.

Like Margaret, Owen Bontrager isn’t looking for a spouse, something that’s hard to avoid in Birch Creek, where an ad for brides in the local paper has brought a swarm of single women to the thriving town. When he meets Margaret in an unexpected way, they discover they have more in common than they ever expected. In some ways, they are a perfect match.

Margaret struggles to keep her goal of avoiding romance in order to focus on being a faithful member of the Amish church, and it doesn’t help that she finds Owen intriguing. Knowing they don’t have a future together; she returns home and gives in to her mother’s insistence that she get married.

Can Margaret betray her feelings for Owen and become a dutiful daughter and wife to the man of her mother’s choosing? Or will Owen find a way to free Margaret of her past by giving her the future they both are surprised to find they desire?

Review:

Matched and Married by Kathleen Fuller is a sweet Amish romance with charming characters. Although this newest release is the second book in the Amish Mail-Order Bride series, it can be read as a standalone.

Margaret Yoder continues to be tempted by the Englisch friends she made during her Rumspringa. She also continues to be at loggerheads with her mother who thinks her youngest daughter can do nothing right. Margaret is spirited and unable to conform to her mother’s rigid need to control everything. She has no desire to marry but when ordered to begin looking for a husband, Margaret returns to Birch Creek, OH to stay with her beloved Aenti Mary and Onkle Freemont and help them with their harvest. She is a hard worker but she also has plenty of free time. Margaret spends time exploring the nearby woods where she searches for flowers. She has renewed interest in herbal treatments after crossing paths with Owen Bontrager who is on a forced vacation. The two become good friends after agreeing neither is planning to marry but will love find them when they’re not looking?

After her Rumspringa, Margaret decided to fully commit to being Amish. But she discovered that leaving behind parts of Englisch life is easier said than done. She is determined to live up to her decision, but the strife between her and her mother is hurtful and troubling. Margaret is nothing like her mother or her sisters so she always feels like a failure. The opportunity to visit her Aenti Mary is just what she needs to escape from her mother’s disappointment.

Owen works on his family’s farm and he puts in long hours ensuring they are successful. He works longer than anyone and he has exacting standards for how things are to be done. Owen is very frustrated by his father’s edict to take a week off from work. When boredom sets in, he begins reading his grandfather’s books.

Owen and Margaret’s friendship is based on their mutual interests but it does not take long for their feelings for each other to deepen. However, neither of them wants to break their agreement to be friends only. What will they do when Margaret acquiesces to her mother’s unexpected demand?

Matched and Married is a heartwarming romance with a delightful cast of characters. Owen and Margaret have strong personalities and they a perfect match, but will they give in to their growing feelings for each other? In addition to their romance, another member of their community is trying to move on from her husband’s desertion but not knowing if he will ever return complicates her life. With an engaging storyline, relatable characters and realistic issues to overcome, Kathleen Fuller’s latest addition to the Amish Mail-Order Bride series is sure to be a hit with readers.

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Filed under Amish, Amish Mail-Order Bride Series, Contemporary, Kathleen Fuller, Matched and Married, Rated B, Review, Romance, Zondervan

July 13, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: Love’s Dwelling by Kelly Irvin

Title: Love’s Dwelling by Kelly Irvin+*
Amish Blessings Series Book One
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Contemporary, Amish, Romance
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

God always had a plan. But how could falling in love with an Englischer be God’s plan for one young Amish woman?

Young Cassie Weaver only wants what is expected of an Amish woman: a good Amish husband and a large family. But she’s happy as Job and Dinah Keim’s housekeeper, helping Dinah, who is losing her sight due to diabetes. For two decades the Keims have prayed for the salvation of their two children who left the community in a cloud of shame and mystery.

Mason knew there was more to his mother’s past than she let on, but nothing could have prepared him for learning about his Amish roots upon his mother’s sudden death. Even more surprising, his mother named her Amish parents, Job and Dinah, as guardians to her five children. Now Mason has to trust that this couple, and their pretty housekeeper, can take care of his younger siblings, even when all he wants is to take care of them himself.

As the children adjust to this new lifestyle, Mason finds himself pulled back to the Keims’ home. Yes, he wants to see his siblings, but it’s the conversations with Cassie that keep him coming back for more. Is there more to this Amish faith and how does it play into his own past? Cassie guards against her growing feelings for Mason, because there can be no happy ending for a Plain girl in love with an Englisch man . . . right?

Bestselling and award-winning Amish romance novelist Kelly Irvin is back with a heartwarming tale of the power of love to heal all wounds.

Review:

Love’s Dwelling by Kelly Irvin is a heartfelt Amish novel of family, healing and love.

Twenty-two-year-old Cassie Weaver is a housekeeper for Job and Dinah Keim. Despite his advanced years, Job is still hard-working and takes care of his farm work on his own. Dinah’s diabetes has worsened over the years and while she has lost her sight, she remains thankful for her blessings.  When their grandchildren unexpectedly arrive, their happiness is mixed with sorrow because their estranged daughter has passed away. With grandchildren ranging in age from four-year-old Jennie to twenty-two-year-old Mason, they open their hearts and their home to the grieving children. Cassie moves in full-time to assist with the care of the younger kids while Mason continues living and working in the city. With his visits to his grandparents’ farm filling a void within him, Mason considers converting to the Amish faith. He is also beginning to fall in love with Cassie who also falls for him, but until he has decided what life he wants, she knows they have no future together.

Cassie is an absolutely delightful young woman who years for a family of her own. She easily settles into helping with the younger children.  She is charmed by young Jennie who thrives in her new home and basks in her grandmother’s care. Eight-year-old Kathy is very responsible for her age and she loves life on the farm. The two youngest boys enjoy working the farm with Job but sixteen-year-old Bobby chafes at the new rules and expectations. Cassie tries her best to assist the kids as they transition from their old way of life to their new one.

Mason has been raising  his younger siblings for so long it is difficult for him to relinquish them into their grandparents’ care. With bills to pay, he keeps his old job but he is exhausted from driving back and forth to see his brothers and sisters. Mason soon grows to appreciate the slower pace and simpler life he enjoys at his grandparents’ farm. But does he want to become Amish?

With a lovely undercurrent of faith, Love’s Dwelling is a truly captivating novel with a serene setting and multi-dimensional characters. Dinah and Job are loving grandparents whose pain over their daughter’s death and their son’s continued absence is palpable.  Cassie’s joy is contagious as she cares for the children and gently assists Dinah with daily tasks. Mason is a wonderful young man whose confusion about his future is easy to relate to. The storyline is engaging and Kelly Irvin brings this charming Amish novel to an uplifting conclusion. This first novel in the Amish Blessings series will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment.

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Filed under Amish Blessings Series, Contemporary, Kelly Irvin, Love's Dwelling, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Zondervan

June 10, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: An Unlikely Match by Beth Wiseman

Title: An Unlikely Match by Beth Wiseman
The Amish Inn Novels Book Two
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Contemporary, Amish, Romance
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

When sparks fly between a good Amish girl and a hunky member of the Hollywood elite, even matchmaking innkeepers Esther and Lizzie know better than to fan the flames.

Evelyn Schrock has dismissed the attempts of every young man in her small Amish community to court her. She’s willing to wait for a suitor who shares her curiosities about life and faith.

The only reason Jayce Clarkson is in Amish country hefting equipment for his famous father’s movie production company is for the paycheck. The homestyle cooking at the Peony Inn is a perk though, as is his friendship with Evelyn Schrock. If Jayce can endure his dad’s put-downs for a month, he’ll finally be in a position to make a fresh start—somewhere away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles and the shadow of his checkered past.

To matchmakers Esther and Lizzie, the widowed sisters who operate the inn, Jayce seems like a good man stuck in a life he doesn’t want. But the boy isn’t Amish, and that leaves far too much room for broken hearts. Despite that, Jayce and Evelyn start to realize that they can’t deny their growing attraction. Any path forward seems impossible, and they will have to learn what the future will look like when they leave their fate in Gott’s hands.

Review:

An Unlikely Match by Beth Wiseman is a very charming Amish romance. Although this newest release is the second installment in The Amish Inn Novels series, it can be read as a standalone.

Lizzie and Esther’s latest guests at The Peony Inn are from Hollywood. The large group  includes the producer, Brandon Clarkson, and his adult son, Jayce. Their relationship is tense due to Brandon’s constant berating of his son. Jayce has been in and out of trouble, but he no longer wants anything to do with the Hollywood lifestyle. He has a strong faith but he is struggling to find a church that feels like the right fit.  After the movie is finished, his father will pay him enough money for him to begin his life from underneath Brandon’s thumb. After meeting Evelyn Schrock, Jayce is beginning to envision a future that is very different from the life he currently lives. But Evelyn is Amish and has no intention of leaving the area or her Amish life. Will Jayce leave behind the worldly trappings and become Amish?

Evelyn is an upbeat young woman with an inquisitive mind. She has dated some but she has not yet fallen in love. Although he is not Amish, Evelyn is quite drawn to Jayce. They grow close as they enjoy chaste dates and their feelings continue to grow. Evelyn is surprised when their discussions turn to God and she is pleased to discover Jayce’s faith. Both are heartbroken when it is time for Jayce to return to California. Is their budding romance strong enough to weather their separation?

Lizzie and Esther have yet to replace their previous employee and they are exhausted caring for their guests. They are also both shocked when their testy tenant, Gus Owens, is offered a role in the movie. They are also taken aback to learn that Gus and Jayce share a friendship of sorts. The sisters have long wondered why their mamm insisted that Gus could live on the property as long he wishes. Does the answer to this question lie within a startling discovery? Will the changes in Gus continue once the guests have returned home?

An Unlikely Match is a wonderful Amish romance of faith, love and new beginnings. Evelyn and Jayce are marvelous characters who are a very cute couple.  The romance between Evelyn and Jayce is an absolute joy to watch unfold. Despite their divergent backgrounds, their faith draws them together. With an unanticipated plot twist, Beth Wiseman brings this beautiful romance to a touching conclusion. Old and new fans are going to love this latest addition to The Amish Inn Novels series.

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Filed under Amish, An Unlikely Match, Beth Wiseman, Contemporary, Rated B+, Review, Romance, The Amish Inn Novels, Zondervan