Showing posts with label mennonite. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mennonite. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

PENNSYLVANIA PATCHWORK by KATE LLOYD ~ Litfuse Tour & Amish Quilt Giveaway

About Book

Seattle native Holly Fisher is smitten by Lancaster County, its simplicity and her long lost relatives. In the sequel to bestselling Leaving Lancaster, Holly embraces the Amish culture, learning to slow down to see what --- and who --- really matters.

Meeting the family that her mother had kept hidden from her, Holly comes face to face with her real life and blood legacy. She also falls for the charming Zach, a handsome Mennonite veterinarian who is everything she's ever wanted in a husband: confident, kind, successful, and authentic. And Zach proposes marriage. Is this too soon? Is this the right choice? Mother and Amish grandmother think she's rushing into too much of a lifestyle change. Holly is in love with Zach and that precludes everything. Until she meets an attractive Amish man. And an old suitor shows up.


Pennyslvania Patchwork is the moving, richly told story of one woman's heart, her faith and trust, and the choices she makes. Never easy, but one choice can change your destiny.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/lG7GU

Landing page: 

  
Meet Kate: 

Author Kate Lloyd is a passionate observer of human relationships. A native of Baltimore, Kate spends time with family and friends in Lancaster County, PA, the inspiration for her novels. She is a member of the Lancaster County Mennonite Historical Society. Kate and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest. Kate studied painting and sculpture in college. She's worked a variety of jobs, including car salesman and restaurateur.

Learn more about Kate at http://www.katelloyd.net


Kate Lloyd is celebrating the release of book two in her Legacy of Lancaster Trilogy, Pennsylvania Patchwork, by giving away an authentic Amish-made quilt!


PennsylvaniaPatchwork
 
One "grand" winner receive:
  • An authentic Amish-made Quilt
  • Pennsylvania Patchwork and Leaving Lancaster by Kate Lloyd
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 29th. Winner will be announced on July 1st at Kate's blog.


Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.


My Thoughts

Holly Fisher lives under the same roof with her mother who is soon to be baptized Amish and her grandmother whom she was just recently united with due to the fact Holly was told her   grandmother was not alive. 

In their home the drama level is at a very high level.

Holly is trying to decide if she still wants to marry a Zach, the Mennonite veterinarian or convert to Amish and marry an Amish man.  But wait!  There is also an Englischer friend that has decided he wants to be more than friends with Holly and presents with a proposition he thinks she will not resist.  

It appears Holly has enough drama just by herself but then her mother, Esther was suppose to be getting married to Nathaniel and now the Bishop has come up with a very good reason why she may not get to marry Nathaniel.

Holly's grandmother, Anna is having health problems and showing signs of dementia needing more care than a toddler.  Her cooking and dropping off to sleep at any given time is proof her memory and health are failing.  

I was under the impression that life among the Amish was plain and peaceful.  Evidently not! The author's imagination must have been working on triple time.  Having raised several daughters I know how drama can build.

I tried to think of who was my favorite character in this story and I have to say Anna the feisty grandmother.  She may have been in bad health but the author gave her a big personality.  Anna was one sneaky, persistent and sometime sweet old lady.  

What really got on my nerves was the constant friction between Holly's so called suitors.  They bickered so much I wanted to bop them upside their head.  The story could have done with less of their bickering.

I suggest you read book one to really appreciate book two. All said, I do recommend this book. 

Considering the positive over the negative of this story I have rated the book a 4 out of 5.

Disclosure:  I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity Group/David C. Cook for review.  I was in no way compensated for this review.  This review is my honest opinion.

If you found this review helpful vote yes or no here.




Monday, April 2, 2012

Review: Hope of Refuge (Ada's House series #1) by Cindy Woodsmall

About Cindy

Cindy Woodsmall is a veteran homeschool mom. As her children progressed in age, her desire to write grew stronger. After working through reservations whether this desire was something she should pursue, she began her writing journey. Her husband was her staunchest supporter as she aimed for what seemed impossible.

Her first novel released in 2006 to much acclaim and became a Christian Book Association best seller. Cindy was a 2007 ECPA Christian Book Award finalist, along with Karen Kingsbury, Angela Hunt, and Charles Martin.

Her lastest book, When the Morning Comes, hit the New York Times best-sellers extended list and the Christian Book Association best-sellers list.

Cindy’s real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families enrich her novels with authenticity.




The Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall (Chapter 1)




About Book

Published August 11th 2009 by WaterBrook Press
ISBN 1400073960 (ISBN13: 9781400073962)
series Ada's House #1
literary awards Christy Award Nominee for Contemporary Series, Sequels, and Novellas (2010)

Raised in foster care and now the widowed mother of a little girl, Cara Moore struggles against poverty, fear, and a relentless stalker. When a trail of memories leads Cara and Lori out of New York City toward an Amish community, she follows every lead, eager for answers and a fresh start. She discovers that long-held secrets about her family history ripple beneath the surface of Dry Lake, Pennsylvania, and it’s no place for an outsider. But one Amish man, Ephraim Mast, dares to fulfill the command he believes that he received from God–“Be me to her”– despite how it threatens his way of life.

Completely opposite of the hard, untrusting Cara, Ephraim’s sister Deborah also finds her dreams crumbling when the man she has pledged to build a life with begins withdrawing from Deborah and his community, including his mother, Ada Stoltzfus. Can the run-down house that Ada envisions transforming unite them toward a common purpose–or push Mahlon away forever? While Ephraim is trying to do what he believes is right, will he be shunned and lose everything–including the guarded single mother who simply longs for a better life?




My Thoughts

This is the second time I have read this book.  I am sharing my review from the first time I read the book.

This is book one of three from the Ada's House Series about an Amish community.


Cara was abandoned as a child after the death of her mother and ended up in foster care. She never stopped searching for answers to her past. She blamed God as so many people do when her prayers are not answered according to their wishes. God has a plan and it is sometimes hard to reason with the path He chooses for us. When Cara was a little girl she decided there must not be a God because He didn't seem to here her prayers.


Cara is a young widow with a little girl named Lori. Cara has had to jumped from one place to another to get away from a stalker of her youth. She is forced by fear to find a safe place for her child and takes off, with nothing but the clothes on their backs and a backpack, to search for her a place she only remembers in bits and pieces. It is a happy safe place from her early childhood memories and of playing with a sweet young boy. She tends to wonder if it isn't just a figment of her imagination. She finds this place which is an Amish community and she is not wanted there. One person, Ephraim, stands up for her and helps her to find her answers only to jeopardize his standing in the Amish community.


It touched my heart reading about this pour young woman trying to find a safe place for her and her child. If you believe in God's will, for your life and following the path He sets before us, you will enjoy this book.


I highly recommend this book


I give this book a 5 out of 5.


Disclosure:
I purchased this book for my personal reading pleasure. In no way was I compensated for this review. This review is my own opinion.