Wednesday, October 18, 2017

A BOOK REVIEW OF A SIMPLE WISH BY CHARLOTTE HUBBARD



I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of A Simple Wish (Zebra) by Charlotte Hubbard.  This is book two in the Simple Gifts series.  Many of Charlotte’s favorite characters are included in this novel. It’s fun to see these characters continue and grow book after book. They become like old family friends.

A Simple Wish is the story of Loretta, her two sisters and their joyless, cantankerous, widower dad who is hiding several secrets from his daughters and the Amish community. Loretta takes up with somewhat of a scoundrel who is trying to rehabilitate himself. I guess even sweet Amish girls love bad boys.

Charlotte has packed plenty of romance between the pages of this novel. Besides Loretta and her bad boy, Drew, there is also an Englisher couple heating things up as well.

The book is full of delicious descriptions of events, crafts, romance, food, dress, and characters which will make you feel as if you too are a part of the story.  What a gift Charlotte Hubbard has!  This story has it all!

I would highly recommend that you read the first book in the series, A Simple Vow prior to reading A Simple Wish.  It will greatly increase your enjoyment knowing the back story of these characters.  A Simple Wish was published September 26, 2017.

Charlotte Hubbard is allowing me to include an excerpt from A Simple Wish to show you the exciting nature of this book:

Grinning, Drew dropped down from the buggy. As he clasped Loretta’s hand and escorted her to the other side of his open vehicle, she wondered if he was leading her down a path riskier than Will’s and far more dangerous. A path more daring . . . and passionate. When Drew placed his hands on either side of her waist, he paused before lifting her up.

Loretta’s heart went wild. Drew’s sapphire eyes held secrets and intentions she couldn’t decipher, and he brought to mind a fox in the henhouse cornering his tasty prey. Effortlessly he lifted her into his buggy and then hopped in on the other side. “Hope I wasn’t interrupting anything important,” he said as he took up the lines. “If I’m not mistaken, Gingerich looked like a man come courting.”

Feeling downright wicked—yet too flummoxed to look over at Will on the porch—Loretta let out the breath she’d been holding. “You saved me from a really embarrassing scene,” she murmured as the buggy lurched into motion. “Once upon a time I loved Will with all my heart, but after Dat broke us up and he latched onto Molly so fast—well, I had second thoughts about his . . . sincerity. His true feelings for me. And now, well—”

Loretta faltered. The man beside her had lied to Molly about who he was when he’d gotten her in the family way, before poor deluded Will had married her. Everyone in town had officially forgiven Drew for deceiving Molly, and also for drugging his brother Asa with sleeping pills before he’d tried to marry Edith, but Drew was still a mysterious newcomer who played his cards close to his vest.

If Dat saw whom you were riding off with, he’d be even more upset than when he made you break up with Will.

It was true, yet Loretta didn’t regret what she was doing. For the first in a long time, she felt breathlessly alive.






~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Charlotte Hubbard is the acclaimed author of Amish romance and fiction that evokes simpler times and draws upon her experiences in Jamesport, the largest Old Order Amish community west of the Mississippi. Faith and family, farming, and food preservation are hallmarks of her lifestyle—and the foundation of all her novels. A deacon, dedicated church musician and choir member, she loves to travel, read, try new recipes, and crochet. A longtime Missourian, Charlotte now lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her husband and their border collie, Vera. Please visit Charlotte online at www.CharlotteHubbard.com.
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/Charlotte.Hubbard1

Monday, September 18, 2017

A BOOK REVIEW OF LOVE BY THE NUMBERS BY LAURA V. HILTON



If you are looking for a sweet and sassy fun read in the Amish genre I have a great one for you to read, Love by the Numbers (Thomas Nelson, Inc.) written by Laura V. Hilton.  What a wonderful romantic story Laura has crafted!  She literally had me hooked from the first sentence, “He was gorgeous.”

In Love by the Numbers, Lydia and Caleb, two imperfect Amish twenty something year old’s, meet and each has a secret shameful past.  Laura V. Hilton writing is realistic as she still remembers being young and infatuated with someone special.  And that is what makes this novel so extraordinary and entertaining.

I love the skill Laura uses to seamlessly blend bible verses into her stories.  One of the main themes in this book comes from 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”  We need to believe that everything will be okay. Fortunately, our heavenly Father freely offers us grace and forgiveness.

Laura V. Hilton also writes with humor.  I can’t count the number of times I laughed out loud while reading.  This charming romance will be available February 6, 2018.



Sunday, May 28, 2017

Amish Baskets has a Spring Clearance Sale!

Large Heart Basket $32.95


Can you believe it?  Right after I post about www.AmishBaskets.com they decide to have a Spring clearance sale!

Jelly Basket with Partition $14.95

If you are looking to buy a beautiful, useful, handmade genuine Amish basket, here is your chance.  And shipping is free.

Silverware & Utensil Organization Basket $19.95

Click on this link Spring Sale Baskets so you can see for yourself the incredible pricing and quality of these baskets.

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

REVEALING THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GENUINE AMISH BASKETS








Oh, my goodness!  I have discovered a genuine Amish basket weaving company that produces some of the most beautiful works of art, yet honestly useful pieces.  Three Old Order Amish families are lovingly creating these handwoven baskets and selling them through a website, www.AmishBaskets.com.  The basket I have is a Double Pie Basket crafted by the Troyer family, specifically, Eli and Caroline Troyer plus Ada, age 18.  I know this because they have signed the bottom of my Double Pie Basket.

This basket is beautifully designed, weaved, stained, and finished.  It includes a wooden pie stand to separate two pies securely and has a lovely maroon fabric liner.  Additionally, it has dark maroon leather straps to carry it comfortable as well as a sturdy wooden lid with leather handle to easily remove the lid.  This is a first class, scrupulously woven basket that will hold up for many, many years to come.  I could envision handing this down to my daughter, and her handing it down to a future child.  A real heirloom for generations to come.


Now here's the unbelievable part - free shipping and incredible pricing.  For a basket of this quality, I would have expected to pay over $100.  This large handmade basket without the fabric lining, but including the lid and pie stand is only $49.95.

The three Amish families of www.AmishBaskets.com weave dozens of distinct types of baskets in varied color combinations.  Look over their website at all the many kinds of baskets they have.  I saw a small egg collector basket for $14.95 - and shipping is FREE!
  

The pictures on their internet site do not do the baskets justice.  Please read their online reviews from previous customers.  Fine handmade Amish quality at a truly decent price is rare these days but www.AmishBaskets.com can fill all your basket and gift needs.  I am proud to recommend them to all AmishReader fans.