Review: Adoring Addie

Adoring Addie by Leslie Gould

Everyone believes Addie Cramer and Phillip Eicher will court and be married. Addie isn't so sure that she should be married to Phillip. When Jonathan arrives in town, he takes her breath away, but being a Mosier causes trouble.

Gould's second Amish tale with a Shakespearean twist is a great read! Addie Cramer and Jonathan Mosier replay a new version of Romeo and Juliet with a family feud between the Cramers and the Mosiers. I loved that Addie gave all her brothers nicknames to describe their personalities. I was intrigued on how the death scene would play out and it was slightly cheesy, but appropriate for this story. Adoring Addie is book two in the The Courtships of Lancaster County series.  Adoring Addie can be read as a stand alone, but it's better after reading book one in the series, Courting Cate. The third title in the series, Minding Molly, is scheduled to come out next year. I look forward to reading it!

Reviewed from a NetGalley copy. Thank you, Bethany House!

Review: Stealing the Preacher

Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer

The Archer brothers were legendary in their town. The previous title by Witemeyer, Short-Straw Bride, featured the eldest Archer and his brothers. Stealing the Preacher shares the story of Crockett, the Archer with a heart for God and hands for healing. He's on his way to begin his first post as a preacher, but suddenly is stolen off the train as a birthday gift!

A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. Proverbs 16:9

I loved Short-Straw Bride and the story of the crazy Archers. I wanted more stories about how the Archers grew up after realizing they could live outside their land when I finished Short-Straw Bride. I never realized Stealing the Preacher was following Short-Straw Bride. I picked it up because I loved Witemeyer's stories (and her cover art was fun). It was such a joy to read Crockett's name! I quickly read the story and enjoyed the comedy and faith journeys of the characters in Crockett's tale. You can read Stealing the Preacher on it's own, but it would be better to read Short-Straw Bride beforehand to understand the background story of Crockett.

Time Period: Western, 1885
Location: Burleson County, Texas, United States

Reviewed from a NetGalley copy. Thank you, Bethany House!

Karen Witemeyer's Website
The First Chapter of Stealing the Preacher

Review: Highland Crossings

Highland Crossings by Pamela Griffin


Four novellas combine to tell the stories of four ladies who are connected by the family's keepsake: a priceless brooch. Each generation sees it as a blessing and a curse.

Healer of My Heart by Pamela Griffin
Printed on My Heart by Laurie Alice Eakes
Sugarplum Hearts by Gina Welborn
Heart's Inheritance by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

If you like a nice quick read, Barbour creates fantastic 4-in-1 books like this one. If you enjoy stories set around the early years of the United States or if you enjoy stories with a highland twist, this collection is for you! I loved the occupations that the authors highlighted in their stories. Griffin's themes included healing and witches, Easkes shares printing, Welborn offers candy, and Taylor highlights weaving and preserving a town's history. The characters were also from all over the Highlands, not just one location which it fantastic. Beyond occupations, each story combines family, friendship, and faith.

Time Period: 1700's
Location: Highlands and North Carolina, USA

Reviewed from a NetGalley copy. Thank you, Barbour Publishing!

Review: Dog-Gone School

Dog-Gone School by Amy Schmidt


Go "bark" to school with adorable dogs and poetry!

Amy and Ron Schmidt combined their talents for an adorable and creative poetry, picture book. The poems are short, sweet, and humorous about dogs at school. The photos are crisp and whimsical in a school setting. The photo setting could be considered generic and "Photoshopped," but that's looking at it with critical adult eyes. It's a very sweet book that children will enjoy if they like poetry, puppies, or school.

Wonderful additions for teachers and the curious include a brief "Note about the Poems" in the beginning and Class Superlatives at the end. The beginning note shares the poetry forms used in the book. The Class Superlatives lists the dogs' names and breeds used in the photos.

Reviewed from an Edelweiss copy. Thank you, Random House!



Once I Ate a Pie by Patricia MacLachlan, Emily MacLachlan Charest, Katy Schneider would be a fun companion book to Dog-Gone School.

Review: A Noble Groom

A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund


Families are just trying to look out for each other in Hedlund's newest release.

Annalisa Werner lost her husband by accident or murder. She needs to run the farm as well as care for her daughter and unborn child. Nobleman Carl von Reichert of Germany needs to run from his homeland. He's a wanted man and law is coming for him though he is innocent. Annalisa's father sends off for a husband from Germany. Carl's father (with the help from Carl's manservant, who felt like a father to Carl) sends him to the States to save his life.

A Noble Groom is a great story full of family, self-discovery, and faith. I loved the German heritage as well as the rags to riches storyline. It is a standalone piece, so readers will not have to bite their nails for the next installment. Yay!

Hedlund's next book, " Rebellious Heart " is set to come out in the Fall of 2013.  This book is set in the 1700's instead of the 1800's. I'm looking forward to reading it!

Time Period: 1880's
Location: Forestville, Michigan, United States and Essen, Germany

Reviewed from a NetGalley copy. Thank you, Bethany House!

Review: The Quarryman's Bride

The Quarryman's Bride by Tracie Peterson


The Knox family and the MacLachlan family were very close. Emmalyne Knox and Tavin MacLachlan were ready to be married, but tragedy, family tradition, anger, and distance tore them a part. Years later the Knox and MacLachlans return to be neighbors, but it's a hard friendship with so many years of silence and distance between them.

Emmalyne's and Tavin's story is the second book in the Land of Shining Water series. The books in this series are standalone titles, so reading them out of order will not hinder any of the tales. The binding ties are the stories' location (Minnesota) and the time period (1800's). Two of my favorite themes!

Peterson explores the heritage of Scottish and Welsh families in this book. The family tradition plays well with the Icecutter's family promise of caring for the daughter's family. Instead of digging up ice, the families work in a quarry and blast through rock. The families work through their tragedies and overcome their anger and heartache.

Time Period: 1890's
Loction: , Minnesota, USA

Reviewed from a NetGalley copy. Thank you, Bethany House!