Titus Returns by Amy Lillard (Wells Landing book 5)

What's better than a good book?  It's a good book in a series that you get to go back to and visit again!  I just can't get enough of Wells Landing.  I love a good series and Amy Lillard knocks another one out of the park with book five.

From the back: In Wells Landing, Oklahoma’s warm and welcoming Amish community, there’s always hope for a new beginning—and a second chance…

Five tumultuous years have changed Titus Lambert in every way. Back then, Titus was preparing to marry his longtime sweetheart, Mandy Yoder. Then came the unthinkable—a tragic car wreck that left Titus serving time for vehicular manslaughter.

Titus isn’t sure he belongs in this peaceful place anymore, but he must make amends. When he goes to visit the Kings, whose son, Alvin, died that terrible night, he’s shocked to see that their farm has fallen into disrepair. Alvin’s sister, Abbie, resents Titus’s reappearance, but there’s no denying she needs his help. Honest toil—and their evolving friendship—slowly help his soul to heal. But with his feelings for Mandy still strong, Titus must choose between two very different futures, and find the strength and faith to claim the surprising gift of a fresh start.

Wow.  Just wow.  This series gets better and better with every book.  Amy brings her characters to life and you become immersed in the story.  Titus is a really strong personality and even though he's Amish Amy shows that even the Amish have to grapple with the same issues we face.  He feels as though he doesn't belong in either world and can't forgive himself for the damage that was done.  

From despair to hope and the promise of a fresh beginning, this is a great coming home novel.  It will grab you by the heart and engage you from the start.  So pick up your copy and find out if Titus can give himself the fresh start he desperately needs!  Happy Reading! 

The Amish Christmas Kitchen by Kelly Long, Jennifer Beckstrand, and Lisa Jones Baker

To purchase your copy click here.

Merry Christmas everyone!!  I hope that you are enjoying a wonderful day.  We have been up since before dawn and the kids and dog have wrapping paper everywhere and we will be sitting down to a nice big turkey dinner if we aren't too full from eating cookies and candy.  I love to cook and the kitchen really is the heart of our home (and the reason I will never be a size two). 

This Celebrate Lit tour takes us on some yummy stops!  While there are three really "gut" Christmas stories in this book and you will want to take some time to read Baking Love on Ice Mountain and The Special Christmas Cookie this tour focuses on The Christmas Bakery on Huckleberry Hill by Jennifer Beckstrand.  Like the yummy center in my cookies this gem is sandwiched in the middle. 

From the back: When shy Katie Rose Gingerich’s dat sends her to Huckleberry Hill to secure a marriage proposal, she never expects to long for carefree Titus Helmuth—or to hope that he might want to spend every Christmas with her . . .

This is my first Jennifer Beckstrand book and it won't be my last.  This story sparkled with humor! Anna and Felty were wonderful and kept me in stitches wondering what they would be up to next. From matchmaking to Christmas goats (yes goats) you never knew what they would do next. Titus and Katie were beautiful characters and I loved to watch the way their relationship developed through the story.  Adam..... well, he was a jerk.  But he was the reason Katie was sent to Huckleberry Hill away from her family.  So who will win Katie's heart and hand?  Will Christmas goats become a new tradition?  Pull up a chair in your kitchen and maybe have a piece of Chocolate Wonder as you dive into this humorous and endearing story. 

Pick up your copy of The Amish Christmas Kitchen and make sure you enter the giveaway to win a copy of Huckleberry Christmas!   Merry Christmas and Happy Reading from our family to yours!  

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away three copies of Huckleberry Christmas. Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post to earn 9 extra entries in the giveaway! Enter here.

About the Author

Jennifer Beckstrand is the bestselling Amish romance author of The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series for Kensington Books. Huckleberry Summer was nominated for the RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award and the 2015 RITA® Award, and Huckleberry Hill won the 2014 LIME Award for Inspirational fiction. Both Huckleberry Hill and Huckleberry Christmas appeared in Examiner.com list of top ten inspirational books for 2014.

Jennifer has always been drawn to the strong faith and the enduring family ties of the Plain people and loves writing about the antics of Anna and Felty Helmuth. Jennifer has a degree in mathematics and a background in editing. She and her husband have been married for thirty years, and she has four daughters, two sons, and four adorable grandchildren, whom she spoils rotten.

Guest Post from Jennifer Beckstrand

What do you get when you combine Anna and Felty’s earnest grandson, Titus, with a pretty girl who’s practically engaged to someone else, a sleigh full of Christmas bakery orders, and two mischievous Christmas goats?

A wild, wacky, and wunderbarr Christmas, that’s what.

Anna and Felty Helmuth are determined to make this the most romantic Christmas ever on Huckleberry Hill, but have they bitten off more than they can chew trying to match their slightly scatterbrained grandson Titus with timid Katie Rose Gingerich? Titus tends to be a little thick in the head when it comes to love, and Katie Rose is too shy to open her mouth. It might take every potholder Anna can knit plus a determined goat and a little Christmas magic to bring Titus and Katie Rose together.

Titus would do anything for his Mammi Anna, even eat her very bad cooking and learn how to knit, but why does he have to be the one to care for Mammi’s new goat? Goats give him the willies. But when Titus meets the pretty girl staying with his grandparents for Christmas, he doesn’t mind the goat so much. The more he sees of Katie Rose’s gentle ways and loving spirit, the more he wishes he were the kind of boy she would bake a pie for. Can he convince her to love him without offending her boyfriend? And will Mammi notice if he gets rid of her goat?

After I wrote Huckleberry Hearts, I just knew there had to be someone special out there for Titus Helmuth, Anna and Felty’s lovable grandson. Christmas is the perfect setting for “A Christmas Bakery on Huckleberry Hill” because Titus is one character who seems to have the spirit of Christmas in his heart all year long. When Katie Rose is homesick, Titus does his best to make her feel welcome and comfortable on Huckleberry Hill. He delivers her Christmas goodies, writes poetry for her, and sings Christmas songs. When he finally realizes he loves her, he’s going to have to use both Christmas goats and every trick in the book to convince her to marry him. It’s a fun, heartwarming, wonderful-gute Christmas romance.

“A Christmas Bakery on Huckleberry Hill” is in The Amish Christmas Kitchen novella collection, and it will definitely get you in the Christmas spirit. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

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December 15: Daysong Reflections

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December 16: Karen Sue Hadley

December 16: Jeanette’s Thoughts

December 17: Quiet Quilter

December 17: Moments Dipped in Ink

December 18: The Power of Words

December 18:  A Greater Yes

December 19: Christian Bookaholic

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December 24: A Baker’s Perspective

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An Amish Family Christmas: A Charmed Amish Life Christmas Novel (Book 4) by Shelley Shepard Gray

It's getting to be my favorite season in Virginia, winter!  The temperatures are dropping, Jack Frost makes patterns on my car, baking goes into full gear over here, and I wait for the first snowfall of the season.

I have to abandon my front porch swing but I just cozy up to my fireplace in my favorite armchair with a hot cup of tea and grab a book or two (or more).  My stack was growing so I had plenty to choose from.

My son gifted me a bunch of lovely books for my birthday and I was excited to see this beauty in the pile!

My son picked it out because he know I liked snow and "those people who have horses and buggies". He did a pretty good job.  This is book four in the Charmed Life Amish Series and the first book I've read in it.  

From the back: In Shelley Shepard Gray’s fourth book in her Charmed Amish Life series, an unlikely Amish romance reveals that Christmas is a time for family, miracles—and love. 

Ever since his father died in a tragic fire, Levi Kinsinger has felt adrift. Newly returned to Charm, Ohio, Levi is trying to fit into his old life, only to discover he seems to have outgrown it.

But when Julia, his young widowed neighbor, asks for his help with a Christmas project, Levi finds a sense of purpose for the first time in months. She and her daughter are new to Charm and could use a friend, a job Levi takes personally. Soon enough, friendship grows into attraction, but Levi can’t help having doubts. There’s something about Julia that doesn’t ring quite true…

Like Levi, Julia Kemps has survived her fair share of hardships—but only by hiding the truth of her past. Being an unmarried mother in an Amish community was unthinkable. Feeling hopeless, Julia did the only thing she could do: she moved to a new town and pretended to be a widow. But meeting Levi, she’s hopeful for the first time. Little by little, she begins to imagine telling him her darkest secret, and eventually…perhaps even sharing her life with him.

Christmas is a time for family, and as the holiday draws closer, Julia and Levi will have to face their pasts together…in order to find the healing, support and love they so desperately desire.

This was a "gut" read!  I was a little leery about starting out with book four but this was a fantastic stand alone.  It also takes a different path than your traditional Amish book, something that I really appreciate.  

Levi is overcome with grief and hides a part of himself away.  You can feel his pain in the story.  Julia is on the run from a real creep.  She's changed her identity to protect herself and her little girl Penny. Like Levi, she has a great deal of pain inside of her.  Will Julia and Levi be able to leave the past behind and focus on what God wants for their future?  

This was a very emotional read.  The characters were really well written and Shelly Shepard Gray showed that even the Amish face problems.  It's a truly lovely story that has a fantastic ending that you don't want to miss (I'm not telling;) ).  The only regret I had was that I didn't read the other books first, but I plan on correcting that problem.  

So pick up your copy of An Amish Family Christmas and enjoy a wonderful Christmas story!  Happy Reading!  

The Cherished Quilt by Amy Clipston

Do you ever have a really great series?  One whose characters you come to love and just can't wait for the next installment?

This has been that series for me.  I have enjoyed every book more than the last one.  Amy Clipston does a fantastic job and every book gets better.  From the back: Tragedy tore Christopher’s world apart. But Emily believes there are enough pieces left behind to stitch together a beautiful new beginning.

Emily Fisher is eager to meet the new employee at her father’s shop in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania. But when Christopher Hochstetler arrives, his cold demeanor freezes her attempts at building a friendship.

Longing for a fresh start, Christopher travels from Ohio to Bird-in-Hand to work at his uncle’s shop. Christopher’s heart is still wounded from memories of home, and making new friends is the last thing on his mind—he knows the pain that comes with losing those you love. When Emily is kind to him, he tries to remain distant, but he soon finds himself stealing glances at her throughout the day.

When Christopher shares his tragic reasons for leaving home, Emily decides to make a quilt for him as a gesture of their friendship. Even though he is not a member of the church, she’s found someone with whom she can imagine a future. The two are quickly falling in love when a family emergency calls Christopher back to Ohio without warning.

Emily finishes the quilt, in spite of her pain. But when Christopher receives it, will he have the courage to follow his heart? 

Amy Clipston's books get better and better.  She is really coming into her element as a writer and I enjoy each new book that she comes out with.  This book was filled with intense emotions and great characters. Emily and Chris are my favorite couple that Amy has done.  Their relationship starts out awkward and develops so beautifully as the story unfolds.  

The other supporting characters in the book were wonderful as well and we got to still keep up with the other sisters in the series but Emily was the shining star.  This was a hard book to put down and of course I STILL have NO IDEA what is in the chest so I'm just going to be left hanging until the last book!  

So if you are looking for a fantastic read pick up The Cherished Quilt and slip into a great story! Happy Reading!  

The Blue Ribbon Brides Collection by Cynthia Hickey, Gina Welborn, Jennifer AILee, Angela Breidenbach, Darlene Franklin, Carrie Fancett Pagels, Amber Stockton, Niki Turner, Becca Whitham

I really love stepping back in time to take a peep into a different era.  I recently had a chance to go back in time and visit one of my favorite spots, the fair!  With the help of nine great authors there was so much to see and learn!

The Blue Ribbon Brides is another fantastic collection of great stories from Barbour.  From the back: 

Meet nine men and women whose competitive goals take them to state and county fairs between 1889 and 1930. From baking pie to polishing pigs, from sculpting butter to stitching quilts, everyone has something to prove to themselves and their communities. But in going for the blue ribbon, will nine women miss the greatest prize of all—the devoted heart of a godly man?

First, the book is just gorgeous!  You know sometimes you get a book that you just want to have out on display because it's just beautiful to look at?  This is one of those books!  The cover artwork is lovely, inside the cover is this stunning picture of a pie that makes you hungry to look at, and the pages look like they are individually hand torn for a fancy touch instead of a straight cut.  I just thought it was fantastic to look at.  

There are also nine really great stories in the book and every author brought their unique spin to fairs. From quilting to butter sculpting, ballooning to auto polo, farming and food you can find it all at the fair!  Each story had a great cast of characters and really nice story lines but a couple stood out for me and I wanted to give them a special shout. 

In Requilted With Love by Carrie Fancett Pagels:  Michigan State Fair, 1889.  Mistaken identity leads Grant Bentley to help Sarah Richmond with her quilt display at the state fair.  But when he learns that she lost two fiances to accidents, can he dare tell her of his job of a balloonist, or will the revelation of danger cause her to flee from the developing romance? 

From a really good history behind the story to wonderful characters this is the work I've come to expect from Carrie Fancett Pagels.  Sarah's spirit and courage shine through.  Will she trust in God and His rich promises for his children?  Grant was a bit bossy but it was an endearing flaw and added to the depth of his character.  Then you throw in some quirky characters and a surprise ending and you have a fantastic read.  

In Seven Medals and a Bride by Angela Breidenbach: Chicago World Fair, 1893.  With the shortage of women in Montana, Luke Edwards agrees to go to Chicago and manage the mining exhibition all summer with hopes of finding a wife.  But a pretty botanist, who despises the way most mining ruins land, keeps getting in the way of his pursuits. 

This story was just plain fun.  I had a smile on my face through most of the book.  Once again, we have an author who is able to weave history and fiction together so well.  The tension between Luke and Bettina was tangible and you wondered if they would either get together or ring each other's necks!  The matchmaking was sweet and the story had a great ending!  

There are lots of other great stories in the book and each one had their own unique takes yet managed to fit well in this great collection!  So pick up your copy today and come to the fair!  Happy Reading! 

The Enchanting Rose Teacup and Mug Exchange

So I do a lot of book reviews and while I am enjoying a good book, chances are I'm enjoying a cup of tea right along side of it.  Having lived in New England for many years it's almost a requirement to enjoy a proper cup of tea.

So while I was enjoying my teatime one afternoon a little blurb from an author I enjoy caught me eye.  She participates in a tea cup and mug exchange.  I was so excited, I had to go check it out!

The Enchanting Rose started this fun tradition back in 2013.  It was a huge hit and she now does it twice a year.  I was excited to participate this time around!  It's super easy, you sign up for one or both exchanges (I did teacup only), you can even choose to ship overseas (I stuck to local, but next time I think I'm going to try overseas for something new!).  You fill out some preferences and voila! You are matched to a "tea buddy".  You can also be a coffee drinker (I can't have it, but I know not everyone loves tea).

This was fun.  I had a blast packing special gifts for my pal.  The lovely woman who got my name, Teri Schultz, went above and beyond in finding special gifts.

These items were all beautiful and she included a personal story with why she chose each one, which made them all the more special.  I loved all the them.  I collect teacups and teapots so this was a super special gift.  Plus tea tastes better in beautiful cups!  

So if you would love something fun to do and would like to be a part of the next exchange (March or April 2017) follow this link to The Enchanting Rose blog.  While you are there take time to look around.  It's a beautiful blog.  Happy tea drinking!  

The Cautious Maiden by Dawn Crandall and Giveaway

I am a big fan of series books and when they are by one of my favorite writers and you throw in some serious heart thumping scenes with a swoon worthy hero.  So when I had a chance to be a part of the blog tour I jumped on it!

Dawn Crandall brings another amazing story to life in the Everstone Chronicles.  From the back: Violet Hawthorne is beyond mortified when her brother Ezra turns their deceased parents' New England country inn into a brothel to accommodate the nearby lumberjacks but when Violet's own reputation is compromised, the inn becomes the least of her worries. In an effort to salvage her good name, Violet is forced into an engagement with a taciturn acquaintance&, Vance Everstone.

As she prepares for a society wedding, Violet learns that her brother had staked her hand in marriage in a heated poker game with the unsavory Rowen Steele, and Ezra had lost. Now Rowen is determined to cash in on his IOU.

With danger stalking her and a new fiancé who hides both his emotion and his past, Violet must decide who to trust, and who to leave behind.

A mark of a good writer is when you think they are going to path a but then surprise you and you are suddenly on path b.  Dawn Crandall leads me on a merry chase every time in her stories.  The only thing I can predict is that I will be wrong, ha! 

Every book of hers gets better and better.  I find myself burning dinner, forgetting laundry, and when my daughter's developmental ped walked in the room I asked her to just let me finish "this last paragraph". Luckily, she has a good sense of humor (and is also a fan of the books)!  

With a beautiful and rich message of God's redeeming love and forgiveness, lifelike characters that jump off the page, kissing scenes that were amazing while still keeping it clean, and a dash of mystery you will find yourself enjoying this fourth installment.  

To make things even better we have a giveaway going on!  Enter here!

Pick up your copy of The Cautious Maiden and get ready for a wonderful read!  Happy Reading!

Dawn Crandall is an ACFW Carol Award-nominated author of the award winning series The Everstone Chronicles, which currently consists of: The Hesitant Heiress, The Bound Heart and The Captive Imposter. The Cautious Maiden is her fourth book. 

Apart from writing, Dawn is also a mom of two little ones and serves with her husband in a premarital mentorship program at their local church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn't begin writing until 2010 when her husband found out about her long-buried dream. It didn't take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do. 

Dawn is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the secretary for the Indiana ACFW Chapter (Hoosier Ink), and an associate member of the Great Lakes ACFW Chapter. She is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary Agency.