About Me I am a retired librarian and I now support books and authors through my reviews.

I have always loved to read and I was able to share that love through my work as a public librarian for 22 1/2 years. I now promote literacy by reading, and then writing reviews. I love to support authors by sharing my reviews with others!

Saturday, April 19, 2025

Lizzie's Little Mouse (The Heart of the Amish, #8) by Anne Blackburne

Lizzie's Little Mouse (The Heart of the Amish, #8)
ABOUT THE BOOK

Lizzie Has Dreams That Won’t Be Deterred
 
Full of faith, hope, and romance, this series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.
 
Lizzie Miller has wanted to own a New Orleans-style French bakery since she attended a wedding in New Orleans at age fifteen. So with her parents’ and the bishop’s permission, she did a two-year internship in a French bakery in New Orleans. Then she came home and worked for several years in the local Amish bakery, buying the business when it became available. And now someone wants her out. 

A string of unsettling events is surely meant to scare her away. But with the help of her friends, she will get to the bottom of why someone wishes her to fail in the bakery business. And along the way, she just may realize that sometimes dreams can be fulfilled unexpectedly—with the help of someone who was just waiting to be noticed. 

Maybe all Lizzie needs is a little faith and a lot of love.




MY THOUGHTS.....

Amish cooking is certainly some of the best, but Lizzie Miller longed to offer some French recipes to the people in Willow Creek, Ohio. Her dream of having a bakery was answered until strange happenings threatened to destroy all she'd been working for. Why was her bakery vandalized on its opening day, and who continued to target The Plain Beignet?

This newest addition to the Heart of the Amish series is a pleasing mix of romance, mystery, and the Amish lifestyle. Likable characters, an interesting hundred-year-old murder, and a surprising villain make this an intriguing cozy mystery!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


When she isn't writing or working at her day job as the managing editor of a weekly newspaper in Southeast Ohio, Anne enjoys traveling to exciting new and beloved old places; visiting with friends, preferably on her front deck on a warm summer afternoon; swimming, kayaking, reading (she admits to three hours a day), and participating in community theater. She sings in her church choir and loves coffee and donut time after services, when she gets to see people she only sees at church. If Anne could live anywhere at all, it would be by water, where she would spend a lot of time walking in the sand, communing with God, through the wonder of His nature, and searching for sea glass.

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Friday, April 18, 2025

Whatever It Takes(Sisters in Arms #3) by Sarah Hanks

Whatever It Takes (Sisters in Arms #3)
ABOUT THE BOOK

At the brink of the Civil War, Henrietta Frontenac is a fierce protector of her five younger sisters. As poverty and despair threaten their survival, Henrietta takes a bold step to protect her family. She disguises herself as a man to find work at the docks and is soon swept into the ranks of the Confederate army. Facing unimaginable risks, will she maintain her secret identity, or will unexpected love unravel all she’s worked for?

In the present, Everly Moore, a former wild spirit turned compassionate chiropractor, has spent fifteen years trying to redeem her past. When her beloved sister Ivy faces the heart-wrenching challenge of infertility, Everly finds herself at a crossroads, unsure if she can confront her own trauma and step up as Ivy’s surrogate. After Everly and Ivy stumble upon the story of their brave relative Henrietta, they are inspired to confront their own fears. But will they make the difficult choices that could change their lives forever?

Dive deep into this intertwined narrative where past and present collide, showcasing the unyielding strength of sisterhood. A story of love, resilience, and the battles that unite us across generations.







MY THOUGHTS.....

I loved this split-time story that explores the special bond existing between sisters! I enjoy historical fiction, so I was especially drawn to Henrietta's story, which takes place during the Civil War. I was immediately captivated by her efforts to help her family by posing as a male soldier during the Civil War, and the faith and strength that would become a guiding beacon for present-day sisters, Ivy and Everly. As they grapple with life-altering decisions, they are encouraged by Henrietta's diary entries! A perfect example of our need to preserve the past!

Whatever It Takes is a well-written story with amazing characters, a mesmerizing plotline, and a wonderful message of faith. Henrietta's bravery during the Civil War is inspiring, and the issues of infertility and surrogacy are so relevant in today's society. Hanks kept me turning the pages to see how Henrietta influenced Ivy and Everly. This was my introduction to her writing, but it won't be my last! I recommend Whatever It Takes to all who enjoy riveting Christian fiction!

I received a complimentary copy from the author. There was no obligation for a positive review.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah Hanks is an award-winning author of Christian fiction in both the contemporary and historical genres. After spending over a decade mostly writing and teaching Sunday school curricula for churches in her community, she jumped into writing fiction full-time with her split-time novel Mercy Will Follow Me. She and her husband have nine children, a couple of whom seem to have inherited their mother’s love for playing with words and crafting stories. Though Sarah dreams of a cabin by the beach, the family lives jammed together in beautiful chaos near St. Louis, Missouri. She buys earplugs in bulk.

You can follow her on Facebook or Instagram


SISTERS IN ARMS

A Battle Worth Fighting
Fall Back and Find Me
Whatever It Takes

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