Books

  • Books

    Time to Read Christmas Stories!

    Your Perfect Christmas Read is Just a Click Away!

    Get ready to cozy up this holiday season with Christmas Roundup—a heartwarming collection of wintry sweet romances from some of your favorite Amish and Sweet Romance authors. Whether you’re looking for tales of second chances, unexpected love, or the magic of Christmas miracles, these enchanting stories will whisk you away to charming towns and snow-dusted Amish communities, where love, faith, and the spirit of the season fill the air. Grab a cup of hot cocoa, settle in by the fire, and let these festive tales warm your heart!

    NEW THIS YEAR!

    Amish Christmas Table
    A Stolen Kiss
    Unlikely Suitor
    Meddling in Mistletoe

    An Amish Christmas Table: Four Amish Christmas Sweet Romance Stories
    Mindy Steele, Rachel J. Good, Jennifer Beckstrand, Tracy Fredrychowski

    Escape to the peaceful charm of Amish country this Christmas with An Amish Christmas Table, a heartwarming collection of four sweet romance stories filled with love, faith, and family. From unexpected holiday surprises to the beauty of forgiveness and second chances, these enchanting tales by Mindy Steele, Rachel J. Good, Jennifer Beckstrand, and Tracy Fredrychowski are sure to fill your heart with warmth this holiday season.

    A Stolen Kiss: Volume 7 (The Heart of the Amish)
    Mindy Steele

    In A Stolen Kiss, LeEtta Miller’s impulsive kiss with a stranger leads to an unexpected marriage, turning both their lives upside down. Benuel Ropp, determined to restore his reputation, finds himself tied to a bold woman he barely knows—sparking a journey of faith, forgiveness, and unexpected love in the heart of Amish country.

    Unlikely Suitor: An Amish Christmas Story
    Jennifer Spredemann

    In Unlikely Suitor, Jaycee Parker, now determined to be seen as “Jace,” is ready to step into manhood when he meets Lauren, a woman with a past she’s trying to heal. As they grow closer, Christmas brings them unexpected love, and they soon discover that the greatest miracle of all might just be finding each other.

    Meddling with Mistletoe
    Liz Johnson

    In Meddling with Mistletoe, aspiring chef Whitney Garrett juggles baking pies and running the kitchen at the Red Door Inn in exchange for using their oven—but things heat up when she’s roped into a holiday matchmaking scheme for Daniel, the innkeeper’s charming nephew. As Whitney navigates her culinary dreams and unexpected romance, she might just discover that she’s the perfect recipe for Daniel’s heart.


    The Christmas Gathering
    A Lancaster Amish Christmas
    Mistletoe Season
    A Christmas Gift of Grace

    The Christmas Gathering
    Shelley Shepard Gray, Rachel J. Good, Lenora Worth

    The Christmas Gathering brings together three heartwarming Amish tales of love, forgiveness, and second chances. In Shelley Shepard Gray’s A Christmas Reunion, sparks fly when Tricia Troyer reconnects with an English friend at her family’s holiday gathering. In Lenora Worth’s We Gather Together, a long-standing family feud threatens to keep two hearts apart, but forgiveness may lead to a Christmas miracle. And in Rachel J. Good’s Hitting All the Right Notes, a musician finds unexpected love and healing just in time for the holidays.

    A Lancaster Amish Christmas: 4 Romance Novellas
    Anne Blackburne, Amy Clipston, Amy Lillard, Mindy Steele

    In A Lancaster Amish Christmas, enjoy the simple beauty of an Amish Christmas in Lancaster County, where second chances and faith-filled romances take center stage. From rekindled love to unexpected holiday miracles, these heartwarming stories will remind you that Christmas is a time for hope, love, and new beginnings.

    Mistletoe Season: Three Christmas Stories
    Kathleen Fuller, Sheila Roberts, Pepper Basham

    In Say No to Mistletoe, Return to Mistletoe, and The Mistletoe Prince, three charming holiday stories unfold as Hailey, Emmy, and Prince Arran navigate romance, second chances, and self-discovery under the magic of mistletoe. From love gone wrong to love rekindled, this heartwarming collection reminds us that Christmas miracles can happen when we least expect them.

    A Christmas Gift of Grace: An Amish Holiday Romance
    Sylvia Price

    In A Christmas Gift of Grace, Isaac and Mary Fisher, grieving the loss of their daughter, find their once-happy home clouded by sorrow as Christmas approaches. But with the arrival of Levi Miller, a young man seeking refuge, and Hannah Weaver, a spirited baker, hope begins to flicker in their lives. Against the backdrop of twinkling lights and holiday traditions, this heartwarming tale of love, healing, and second chances reminds us that even in the darkest moments, the spirit of Christmas can restore joy and bring new beginnings.


    Heart of Faith
    The Christmas Tree Farm
    Snowbound on Skye
    Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor

    Heart of Faith – Hearts of the West
    Tracey J. Lyons

    In Heart of Faith, bake shop owner Amy Montgomery is determined to give two orphaned boys left behind by the Orphan Train a family for Christmas. To do so, she must convince former Pinkerton agent John Oliver to marry her—but with danger looming, John realizes that helping Amy may be the only way to save the boys and grant her Christmas wish for a true family.

    The Christmas Tree Farm: A Sweet Second-Chance Holiday Romance
    Melody Carlson

    In The Christmas Tree Farm, Madison McDowell is determined to save her family’s Christmas tree farm from being sold, but standing in her way is her old boyfriend, who owns the neighboring farms and has plans of his own. As the holidays approach, Madison must fight for the farm—and perhaps for a second chance at love.

    Snowbound on Skye
    Kate Lloyd

    In Snowbound on Skye, Denny Campbell’s world is unraveling, but a reluctant trip to the breathtaking Isle of Skye with her celebrity chef sister offers her an unexpected chance at love and renewal. Trapped by a snowstorm in a remote hotel, Denny must confront her past and embrace the possibility of a new beginning amidst Scotland’s enchanting landscape.

    Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor: An Inspirational Historical Holiday Romance
    Roseanna M. White

    In Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor, Lady Mariah’s estranged childhood friend returns as the heir to her family estate, rekindling their old bond just in time for the holidays. As the Christmas season unfolds, Mariah finds herself caught between her growing feelings for him and the attentions of a charming Danish lord, sparking hope for a festive romance.


    The Christmas Catch
    An Amish Christmas at Apple Blossom Inn
    Home for an Amish Christmas
    Shelter in the Storm

    The Christmas Catch: A Sweet Holiday Novella
    Toni Shiloh

    In The Christmas Catch, former NFL star Jahleel Walker returns home for the holidays and reconnects with his high school sweetheart, Bebe Gordon. With their chemistry still undeniable, they must decide whether to risk their hearts once more or let love slip away this Christmas.

    CHRISTMAS CLASSICS

    An Amish Christmas at the Apple Blossom Inn: An Amish Christmas Novel
    Debra Torres, Tracy Fredrychowski

    In An Amish Christmas at Apple Blossom Inn, orphaned sisters Sadie and Katie Beiler face the heartbreaking possibility of losing their home—and each other—just before Christmas. As they work at the Apple Blossom Inn to make ends meet, Sadie teams up with a kind maintenance worker to save the family, while Katie embarks on a journey to uncover secrets from the past. Can they bring the joy of Christmas back to their family and to Willow Springs?

    Home for an Amish Christmas: Amish Dreams on Prince Edward Island, Book 4
    Amy Grochowski

    In Home for an Amish Christmas, Mark Beller returns to his Amish roots on Prince Edward Island after seven years in the Royal Canadian Air Force, seeking peace and redemption. But when he encounters the love he left behind, he must confront his past and embrace a second chance at a “beauty from ashes” love story filled with faith, hope, and family.

    Shelter in the Storm: (A Johns Mill Amish Romance)
    Laurel Blount

    In Shelter in the Storm, tragedy strikes the Amish community of Johns Mill, leaving Joseph Hochstedler struggling to keep his family together. Amidst the heartache, childhood friend Naomi Schrock offers her unwavering support, but as they lean on each other for comfort, Naomi dares to hope that their friendship might blossom into love—if they can find the courage to trust again.


    First Christmas on Huckleberry Hill
    A Christmas Collection
    Christmas at the Amish Bakeshop
    Snowbound Amish Christmas

    First Christmas on Huckleberry Hill
    Jennifer Beckstrand

    In First Christmas on Huckleberry Hill, USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Beckstrand takes readers back to 1952 for Anna and Felty Helmuth’s heartwarming love story. Before they became the beloved matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill, young Anna and Felty faced seemingly impossible odds—but with faith, humor, and a little Christmas magic, they discovered they were the perfect match all along.

    The Men of Amish Fiction Present A Christmas Collection
    Willard Carpenter, Patrick E, Craig, Jerry Eicher, Thomas Nye, Murray Pura, Amos Wyse

    A Christmas Collection is a heartwarming collection of stories about Amish men and women navigating both the challenges and joys of the holiday season. Each tale, as unique as the authors who wrote them, offers hope, renewed faith, and the light of Christmas to inspire and uplift every reader.

    Christmas at the Amish Bakeshop
    Loree Lough, Rachel J. Good, Shelley Shepard Gray

    In Christmas at the Amish Bakeshop, USA Today bestselling authors Shelley Shepard Gray, Rachel J. Good, and Loree Lough whisk readers into the heart of a charming Amish bakeshop, where faith, hope, and the magic of the season bring unexpected love. As Christmas approaches, three couples discover that the sweetest blessings often come from the most heartfelt traditions.

    Snowbound Amish Christmas
    Jo Ann Brown

    In Snowbound Amish Christmas, Kirsten Petersheim, determined to focus on her new cleaning business after being left at the altar, is caught off guard when her handsome client, Mark Yutzy, asks for her help with his troubled brother. As the holidays bring them closer, Kirsten must decide if she’s ready to risk her heart and embrace love again.


    Amish Cowboy's Christmas
    The Amish Gift of the Magi
    The Forgiveness Quilt
    The Orphan's Amish Christmas

    The Amish Cowboy’s Christmas: An Amish Girl Next Door Romance
    Adina Senft

    In The Amish Cowboy’s Christmas, Reuben Miller hopes to court his childhood friend Naomi Glick, but with another suitor in the picture and a trip to Lancaster County looming, time is running out. As a harsh Montana winter sets in, Reuben must find the courage to win Naomi’s heart—hoping for a Christmas miracle to make her see he’s the right man for her.

    The Amish Gift of the Magi: A Christmas Novella
    Ashley Emma

    In The Amish Gift of the Magi, newlyweds Clara and Willis face financial struggles as they secretly plan to surprise each other with the perfect Christmas gift. With both dreaming of meaningful presents they can barely afford, they’ll need more than love to make this holiday special—it just might take a Christmas miracle.

    The Forgiveness Quilt: An Amish Christmas Carol
    J. Willis Sanders

    In The Forgiveness Quilt, elderly Amish woman Ruth Raber is haunted by memories of lost love and missed chances every Christmas. But when she’s invited to a community gathering on Christmas Eve, a lesson from her late mother and the kindness woven into her quilts might just help her find healing and forgiveness, echoing the timeless themes of A Christmas Carol.

    The Orphans’ Amish Christmas: A Willow Springs Amish Mystery Novella
    Tracy Fredrychowski

    In The Orphans’ Amish Christmas, Lydia Troyer and Aaron Shetler team up with Detective Lewis Powers to solve the mystery of stolen presents and a missing Amish businessman just before the holidays. With the town’s Christmas spirit on the line, they must race against time—along with a special dog named Yankee—to bring hope and joy back to the Willow Springs Children’s Home.

    Wishing you a season filled with sweet moments and heartwarming stories from some of your favorite Amish and Sweet Romance authors!

  • Books

    A Lancaster Amish Christmas is a Best Seller!

    Yesterday I heard the thrilling news that my newest story, “Lucy’s Christmas Sunbeam”, is part of a BEST SELLING collection of cozy Amish Christmas romances!

    The story is part of the book, “A Lancaster Amish Christmas”, which released from Barbour Publishing September 1, and yesterday it was named #16 on the ECPA Christian Fiction Best Seller list for October!

    I’m going to be straight with you; my story is really fun, and I loved writing about Lucy and her baby sister, Millie, whom she is determined to raise despite the fact that she’s single and only 18 when the baby is born.

    BUT . . . I figure that the success of the book is due to the fact that the other three authors, Amy Clipston, Mindy Steel and Amy Lillard, are all very popular and well-known authors. I won the lottery when I was offered the chance to have my story included with theirs!

    Woo hoo! I’ll take it! Whatever the reason the book made the best seller list, I’m simply thrilled – like, dancing around the room thrilled!

    It’s such a good feeling to have all that hard work affirmed. People like my story! I’m still new enough, not quite a year into this writing journey, to need to know that. Heck, that may always be the case.

    Even though I write fiction, there is a part of me in each story, and in each character.

    So it’s nice to know my efforts are appreciated! Each of the four novellas in the book are 25,000 words long, so the readers are getting a bang for their buck!

    If you haven’t yet read this book, and my story, let me know what you think when you do! And please leave a review anywhere and everywhere you like if you have a few minutes. It doesn’t have to be much . . . a five star rating and the words – I couldn’t put it down! – will do! Lol.

  • Books

    Releasing Tomorrow, September 1!”A Lancaster Amish Christmas”

    My very first novella is part of this fun collection!

    About the Book:

    Enjoy a simple Amish Christmas in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, that is sweetened by second chances, trimmed in love, and wrapped in faith.
    Four Novellas set in Pennsylvania Amish Country from four of your Favorite Authors of Amish Romance!

    When her parents suddenly died, Lucy stepped into the mother role for her infant sister with Down’s Syndrome. But Lucy’s boyfriend wasn’t interested in a readymade family. Living in the dawdi house on her brother’s farm, Lucy is happy with life–until she literally runs into the hardware store owner and desire for romance returns.

    After learning her boyfriend Wyatt was seeing someone else, Makayla moved across state and married. Recently widowed, she visits her parents for Christmas, only to find that Wyatt is still single and working for her father. When her five-year-old son instantly bonds with Wyatt, Makayla starts to hope for a second chance at love.

    Seven-year-old Jacob Bontrager is working hard to help his lonely widower father find love again. He believes his pretty new teacher who has just moved to the community is perfect, but none of his matchmaking works until a snowstorm strands Lily Kate Troyer at the Bontrager farm. Could God and nature be on Jacob’s side?

    The Wicky sisters didn’t expect their father to sell their thriving deer farm with plans to move them to the deep woods of Kentucky. Always obedient Louise fears for her growing jam business. Beth cannot wait to start a new adventure in a new place, while her twin, Leah, is running out of time for her own happy-ever-after.

    They have only one Christmas left in Lancaster. Can three sisters forge the perfect plan to ensure Leah gets the Christmas wish she has longed for or will God deliver a Christmas miracle for all three?

    Available tomorrow in digital and print wherever you buy fine books! Available now for Kindle on Amazon.com. I can’t wait for you to read these wonderful, feel-good stories! Enjoy!

  • Books

    Up Next! Lucy’s Christmas Sunbeam!

    Part of the “Lancaster Amish Christmas” collection of four novellas by four authors, coming in September!

    Something I’ve discovered on my ever-evolving writing journey is that when I finish a project, there’s no time to rest on my laurels; the next project is standing in the wings, peeking around the curtain, calling out in a very loud stage whisper, “Hey! My turn!”

    Less than a week ago, “Mary’s Calico Hope”, my second book in Barbour’s “Heart of the Amish” series, released in print. I can only describe the feeling as being akin to having a baby. The excitement is there. The pride is there. And like a new baby, a new book release needs a lot of attention!

    I’ve got to promote it alongside the efforts being made by Barbour. That’s a lot! Fortunately, it’s the kind of thing I enjoy doing.

    But maybe two days after the euphoria of the release of “Mary’s Calico Hope” I received an email from the folks at Barbour with the galley of my novella, “Lucy’s Christmas Sunbeam”, which releases in print on September 1 as part of a four novella collection called “A Lancaster Amish Christmas“.

    The stories are all from authors you know and love, including Amy Clipston, Amy Lillard, Mindy Steele and me!

    I’ve got a week to read through the story and report back with any errors I find. This is not the time for me to decide on big changes to the story; that ship has sailed. Rather, this is where I discover missing prepositions and commas that have slipped by me, (and I read that story 10 times), my beta readers, my copy editor and the proofreader. And I found several! It’s amazing.

    I need to decide on a dedication, and return it all in the next day or two. Then the marketing for that book will begin in earnest! It never ends, and I love it!

    Currently I’m writing my next book in the “Heart of the Amish” series, “Lizzie’s Little Mouse”, which comes out next winter after releases by Mindy Steele and Lisa Jones Baker. I’m adding an element of cozy mystery to that one, and I’m having a ball!

    So that’s what’s next for me. I thank God every day for this journey. And I thank you, my readers, without whom there would be little point to continuing.

    God Bless You All!

  • Books

    It’s Book Release Month!

    I can hardly believe that my second book releases in mere days!

    It seems like yesterday that I was jumping up and down with excitement about the December 1 release of my debut novel, “Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise”, and now I’m just days away from the release date for my second book!

    Mary’s Calico Hope” comes out in e-edition on May 15, and in print on June 1.

    This all seems a bit surreal, to be honest. In the blink of an eye, I’ve transitioned from a writer sending out optimistic queries to literary agents, looking for representation, hoping and praying for my first book deal, to a published author looking at my second and third books being published this year, with a fourth under contract.

    How did this happen?

    Okay, the fair answer is that it happened through a lot of effort and a stubborn refusal to give up.

    But it feels like my fairy godmother waved her wand and transported me to some dazzling world where my dreams are coming true.

    I’m here to tell you dreams can and do come true, but it takes work and perseverance. Fairy godmothers are a little thin on the ground, so you have to make your own magic.

    And the prize just may be the realization of a dream!

    Here’s a little peek into “Mary’s Calico Hope”, to get you thinking about stoking my dream machine by buying my book. It’s available for pre-order now at Amazon.com, and online at Books-a-Million, Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart, and many Christian bookstores. Happy reading!


    Mary’s Calico Hope

    Chapter One

    “Careful, Hope, I’ll squish you if you don’t watch out.” Mary Yoder was careful not to set one of her crutches down on the half-grown calico kitten presently making a nuisance of itself by winding around her legs. 

    Ach! That cat is going to make you fall, Mary!” 

    Maem, don’t worry. I’m fine.” The petite blond woman smiled fondly at her mother as she did her best to avoid the adolescent feline. 

    “You know I can’t help worrying about you, Mary. I’m sure Hope is a very gut cat, but a fall could really hurt you.”

    Mary kissed her mudder on the cheek. “Ja, I know. Which is why I’m very careful. I like having Hope around. She’s gut company.”

    Mary reached down and stroked the pretty cat, a gift from her old friend Lydia Coblentz, who had given a kitten from her cat’s final litter to several unmarried Amish women in Mary’s community. Lydia’s only stipulation was that the cats must be indoor pets. 

    “If you need more company, you could move back into the main house, Mary. I worry about you living by yourself in the Dawdi Haus. How would I know if you fell and needed help?” Edie’s well-meant nagging brought Mary back to the present, and she hid a smile as she leaned one crutch against the wall by the table, pulled out a chair, sat down, and laid the second crutch next to the first. It was true she wasn’t light on her feet, nor could she change direction quickly to avoid an unexpected obstacle. But all things considered, she thought she did pretty well. 

    “I guess I could be like that television commercial Englischers talk about, and yell, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”

    “Mary Yoder, this is not a joking matter.”

    “Come on, Maem. I have to joke about some things because laughter is better than tears, ja? And I love knowing you miss me, but I’m not moving back. It’s nice and quiet in my little house, unlike the main house when my brieder are here. And honestly, Maem, I’m more likely to be knocked down by them than tripped by Hope. ”

    “Ach, I can’t argue with you there,” Edie laughed. “They are very energetic.”

    “Ja, that’s one way of putting it.”

    Mary had four younger brothers – much younger, as they were the children of her mother and her step-father. The boys were six, eight, ten and twelve. Mary’s mother had been widowed at a young age when her husband was killed in the same buggy accident that injured Mary’s legs and back. Mary had been fortunate to have been thrown clear of the vehicle when it was rear-ended by a big pick-up truck being driven by a drunk Englischer. She was only three-years-old at the time of the accident, and had no memory of the trauma or the pain she’d endured during several surgeries to save her life, and her legs. 

    To her regret, she could barely remember her father, either. She only had vague recollections of a large, strong man with a soft, brown beard and laughing eyes. 

    Edie Yoder set two steaming mugs of kaffi down on the table, then filled a plate with half a dozen cookies from the cookie jar on the counter, and placed them on the table. She sat down and sighed, then patted Mary’s hand and smiled wryly. “I’m sorry, liebchen. I don’t mean to mother you to death.”

    “I am nearly 30, Maem,” Mary reminded her mother with a small grin. “You’re going to have to cut the apron strings at some point, you know.”

    Hope jumped lightly to Mary’s lap and settled down, purring as Mary stroked her soft fur. 

    “Ja, ja, I know you’re a woman grown, daughter. But you’ll always be my boppli.

    Mary rolled her eyes, but leaned over to give her mother a kiss on the cheek, causing the cat to let out an indigent squawk. Both women chuckled at the tiny animal’s ire, and Mary petted her in apology. “Fortunately for me, you have four young ones to lavish your attention on. Otherwise, I doubt you’d let me out of the house.”

    Edie chuckled. “You’re probably right. But Mary, I don’t want you to think I don’t trust you, or understand that you’re a capable adult. I’m sorry if I made you feel that way.”

    “Aw, Maem, I understand. You worry. It’s what a mudder does.”

    “Ja! But I’ll try harder not to.” The women smiled at each other in understanding, and sipped their hot coffee. 

    “So, did you hear about Ruth Helmuth and Jonas Hershberger?” Mary wiggled her eyebrows at her mother.

    “I know they’ve been courting,” Edie responded, raising her own eyebrows questioningly.

    “What? I actually know something before you do? You’re slipping, Maem.” Mary grinned and took another sip of coffee just to draw out the pleasure of being the bearer of gut news.

      “Mary Yoder! Tell me what you know before I burst!”

    Mary laughed, but relented. “All right! Ruth stopped in to see us at work today, and she told me she and Jonas are getting married this fall! But you can’t tell anyone, as it’s a secret. She told me I could tell you.”

    Edie clapped her hands together and grinned at her daughter. “Oh, wunderbar! I can’t think of a better matched couple, for I know she’s always wanted kinner, and he has that adorable little daughter who needs a mudder! Speaking of which, I doubt this will remain a secret for long, what with that chatty little girl doubtless in on the secret.”

    “Probably so. I know Abigail is happy about the situation. She and Ruth already love each other. They’re very sweet together. And they both got kittens from Lydia Coblentz, from the same litter as my Hope!” At the sound of her name, the cat let out a contented chirp, and Mary scratched her under the chin. 

    “I heard Lydia is moving into Ruth’s Dawdi Haus. Is that true?” Edie asked as she broke a cookie in half, nibbling around the edges until both halves disappeared and she picked up another and repeated the process.

    “Ja, and Ruth couldn’t be happier. She’s been lonely, I expect, since she lost Levi a couple years ago, and her grossmammi before that. Having Lydia in the house will be like having her grossmammi back again.” Mary picked up a cookie and bit into the soft, gingery goodness. “Mmmmm. I love your ginger snaps, Maem.”

    Edie glowed with pleasure, but gestured for Mary to continue with her story. “And Jonas doesn’t mind?”

    “Ach, no! He’s a gut man, Maem. He encouraged Ruth to ask Lydia to move in after Lydia’s house burned down during the blizzard this winter.”

    Edie opened her mouth to reply, but a firm knock on the kitchen door interrupted her, and caused Hope to leap to the floor to investigate. 

    Edie set her cup down on the table and pushed to her feet. “Now who could that be? I’m not expecting anyone, are you?”

    Mary shook her head, and Hope wound around Edie’s ankles and then strolled over to the door and stood looking up at it expectantly.

    “Would you look at that? She wants to see who’s here!” Edie exclaimed. 

    “So do I, Maem,” Mary said with a smile. “Why don’t you open the door?” She could make out the shape of a broad-shouldered man through the cream curtains hanging over the window in the door, but that was all. 

    “I will, I will. It’s probably Germaine Stoltzfus come to talk about the pies we’re going to bake for the fundraiser next weekend.” 

    “I don’t think it’s Mrs. Stoltzfus,” Mary said as Edie wiped her hands on her apron and opened the kitchen door. Instead of her mother’s stout and matronly friend, a strange man stood at the door. As soon as he saw Edie, he smiled reassuringly. 

    “Good morning, Ma’am. I’m sorry to intrude, but I seem to have gotten turned around, and I’m lost. Can you please tell me where the Hostetler farm is?”

    Mary peered around her mother. The stranger was tall and slim, with the broad shoulders hinted at through the window curtains on the kitchen doorway. He was dressed like a working man in denim jeans rather than homemade pants – so probably not Amish, though possibly Mennonite – and a blue chambray work shirt. His lack of a beard told her he wasn’t married, though that wasn’t a reliable indicator if he wasn’t Amish, and the thought caused a warmth to spread throughout her body. Confused, she stared at the floor. How could a stranger have this effect on her? Especially one who probably didn’t share her faith?

    “Sure, you’re not far,” Edie said, stepping outside to join the man on the stoop, and pulling the screen door closed behind her to keep the curious kitten inside. She pointed down the road to the south. 

    “See, you go about half-a-mile and turn at the big, white barn with the huge oak. The Hostetler place is just a ways along on the left. It won’t take you five minutes in your truck.”

    Mary felt a surge of disappointment. If he was driving a truck, he definitely wasn’t Amish. So no beard didn’t necessarily mean no wife. Although how that should affect her, she couldn’t imagine, she scolded herself silently.

    “Thanks. Oh, and my name is Reuben King. Please excuse me for not mentioning it before.”

    Edie looked closely at the clean-cut young man. “King, you say? You wouldn’t be the new dokder, would you? Took over from old Doc Smith over in Willow Creek?”

    “Yep, that’s me, Mrs . . . ?”

    “Ach! My manners. I’m Edie Yoder, and this is my daughter, Mary,” she said, standing aside and gesturing into the kitchen. 

    Mary felt the stranger’s keen gaze on her, and slowly lifted her eyes to meet his. Her breath caught in her chest, and she felt light-headed. “How do you do?” she murmured.

    He grinned at her, his teeth flashing white in his tanned face. Little crinkles were revealed at the corners of his eyes, which Mary saw were an unusual shade of brown; almost amber. He wasn’t a very young man, she mused, nor was he much older than her own 29 years. He looked fit and healthy, and must spend a good deal of time outdoors to have that natural tanned look to his face.

    “It’s nice to meet you, Mary, Mrs. Yoder,” he said. His voice was smooth and somehow reassuring. You just felt like trusting the guy, Mary reflected. Handy thing in a doctor.

    “Well, you may as well come in and have a glass of lemonade,” Edie invited, snapping Mary out of her reverie. She stood back to let him enter. “Mary made it a little while ago. It should be gut and cold by now.”

    “I wouldn’t want to interrupt your work,” he protested.

    “No problem, we just finished putting the laundry up, and we haven’t started supper yet. As you can see, we are enjoying a short break. We have time to be neighborly to a new member of the community. Sit yourself down!”

    She shooed him in like a mother hen with an errant chick, and he smiled again before taking a seat at the table next to Mary. She saw his glance at her crutches, and thought his eyes widened slightly, he didn’t intrude with questions.

    Edie showed no such compunction.

    “What takes you out to the Hostetler’s place this afternoon, Dokder?”

    “Maem!” Mary said. “That’s not our concern.”

    “Ach! I know you’re right, Mary. I just want to make sure our neighbors are all right.”

    “I don’t imagine Dr. King would be sitting here drinking lemonade if they weren’t, though, ain’t so?” Mary pointed out.

    “True, true, I don’t suppose he would,” Edie laughed. “Would you rather have some hot tea?”

    “Um, no, lemonade actually sounds perfect.”

    “Gut, gut, and as I thought, it’s just right!” She pulled the pitcher from the fridge, and poured a generous glass of sweet, icy lemonade. “There you go! Drink your mouth empty!”

    Denki!” he said, savoring a sip of lemonade. A look of surprised pleasure passed over his face. He looked at Mary. “This is truly excellent lemonade.” 

    She felt herself blushing again. “Denki. It’s probably the mint. It adds a nice zip.” Hope, who had disappeared from the room when the doctor entered, chose that moment to zoom back in, clattering down the back stairs and whipping around the corner to disappear again into the living room.

    Reuben looked surprised. “Was that a tiny tornado?”

    Mary snorted, much to her dismay, but felt better when Reuben turned and grinned appreciatively at her. “Nee, it was my kitten, Hope.”

    “She behaves like a tornado sometimes, though, so it’s not a bad description, you have to admit,” Edie said. She ignored Mary’s eye roll, and continued. “So, Dokder,” she twinkled at the younger man as she pushed the plate of ginger snaps in his direction. “Did your wife come to Willow Creek with you, or are you giving us a try before you decide to move your family here?”

    Mary cringed. Her mother was a wonderful woman, but subtle she was not. 

    “Please, call me Reuben,” he said, obligingly selecting a fragrant cookie from the plate. “And I’m not married, Mrs. Yoder.” He bit into the cookie, and made a low hum of pleasure before devouring the rest. Then he tipped up his glass to get the last drops of lemonade, making Edie beam with pleasure at his obvious enjoyment.

    “I’m Edie. Would you like another glass?”

    “No, but thank you very much! I’ve never tasted its equal.” He stood and held out his hand first to Edie, and then to Mary. “I’d better be getting on over to the Hostetler’s. They invited me to supper tonight as a welcome to the community. Denki for the hospitality!”

    “You’re welcome,” Mary said softly. 

    Her mother accompanied the doctor to the door, opening it for him. “You’re welcome to stop in any time you’re in the neighborhood, Reuben,” she invited. “Mary also bakes excellent cookies to go with her wunderbar lemonade!”

    He looked over at Mary and smiled. “I might just do that.” He nodded at them both, then trotted down the steps and over to his truck. He fired up the engine, glanced back at the house and, seeing Edie still standing there, saluted her before heading down the driveway and turning toward the Hostetler farm. 

    “Maem! Come inside, what are you doing?”

    “I’m just waving the nice young man on his way, Mary. What’s wrong with that?”

    Mary sighed. “Nothing, Maem. But there’s little point in informing our new town doctor of my talent as a baker. He’d hardly be interested in me. Also, you baked these cookies. It wasn’t quite honest leading him to believe they’re mine.”

    Edie waved away that small detail. “Pfft. Yours are even better.”

    “Still . . . “

    “Still what? There’s no harm done. Next time we’ll be sure to give him your cookies. In fact we should invite him to dinner here, to welcome him to the community! He could see what a gut cook you are! I wish I’d thought of it before he left for the Hostetlers.”

    “Oh, Maem the poor man was just here to ask directions, and we bushwhacked him. Besides, he’s not Amish. And as I said, if he were, he wouldn’t be looking at me for his fraa.

    Edie turned sharply toward her oldest child. “Now, Mary, don’t you talk like that! You’re a lovely woman with a lot to offer any man smart enough to look past your slight disadvantage. My goodness, child, being able to walk quickly isn’t the be all and end all of human existence, you know! And as for his faith, well, I hear he’s Mennonite, and that’s not so different. He might even convert!” With that, she picked up the basket of folded laundry and marched up the back stairs, muttering under her breath about her silly daughter. Mary sighed and shook her head. She’d been called worse, though not often by her mother, who had always been very supportive of her eldest child’s challenges. At the same time, she’d refused to allow Mary to grow up thinking of herself as helpless or as less than other people. Consequently, Mary held down a good job making functional, yet beautiful baskets for Jonas Hershberger. And she held her own when it came to household chores as well. She couldn’t do everything, but then, who could?

    “I don’t suppose there’s really any reason I couldn’t marry and make some man a gut fraa, if I wanted to,” she mused. The new doctor’s odd amber eyes popped into her head, which she shook impatiently. “Enough. Maem! I’m going to start supper!”

    Pushing up from the table, Mary grabbed her crutches and made her determined way toward the propane-powered fridge to get out the ingredients for that night’s meal. 


    Later that evening, Reuben steered his old black

    Chevy pickup out of the Hostetler’s driveway and toward town and the combination house and office he was renting from Doc Smith. He’d enjoyed his supper, and had found the Hostetlers, a Mennonite family, to be quite hospitable and welcoming. Of course, the fact that they had four unmarried daughters in their late teens and early 20s may have had something to do with their welcome of the young, single doctor.

    “Careful, Reuben, you’re becoming a cynic”,

    he told himself. “They were a perfectly nice family, even if their conversation did tend toward cattle.” He smiled as he recalled the heated debate between Mr. Hostetler – Paul – and his widowed brother, George Hostetler, about the relative merits of Angus versus Hereford beef cattle. It seemed Paul’s family grew Angus beef cattle, while George’s cattle were Herefords. 

    “I like them both, as far as a good steak goes,” Reuben mused. “And that’s about all I know about either breed!”

    Still, the dinner and the company had been very nice. And only the most recent such invitation he’d received since moving to town. He was slowly getting to know the various members of his new community. He’d only been in town about a month, but many people, English, Amish and Mennonite, had gone out of their way to stop in and say hello, drop off some fresh butter or eggs, and invite him to dinner, church services, even a barn raising. He felt welcomed here.

    As he passed the Yoder place he smiled, remembering the shameless questioning of Mrs. Yoder, and her pretty daughter’s obvious discomfort, especially when the older woman dropped a couple hints about Mary’s suitability as a potential wife for him. He shook his head. Mothers were all the same, he supposed. His own mother, back in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, had tossed up her hands and given up hope of ever having grandchildren. “My son, the dokder!” she’d said. “You know I’m sinfully proud of you, but I still want to cuddle some babies before I die!”

    Now that all the years of college, medical school and residency were behind him, he felt ready to take a deep breath and slow down a little, maybe start to think about establishing his own home and family. Plenty of people got married during medical training, but he’d felt the need to concentrate all his efforts on becoming a physician, and didn’t think it would be fair to a woman to place her second in his priorities. 

    His thoughts drifted to Mary Yoder, who apparently needed two crutches to get around. But when Reuben thought of her, it was her gentle smile and lovely eyes that came to mind, not her physical challenges. 

    “She’s a lot like Lucy,” he mused, thinking of his younger sister with a smile. Ever the doctor, he couldn’t help being curious about Mary. “I wonder what’s been done to rehab her injuries,” he murmured as he pulled into Willow Creek, driving down Main Street and parking in front of his new digs. 

    Carrying the bag of fresh sweet corn he’d been given by the Hostetlers, he climbed his porch steps and unlocked the glass front door of what had once been a gracious, single family home, but now held his clinic on the first floor, and his living quarters on the second. The place was owned by the previous doctor, Dr. Smith, who had retired and moved with his wife of 45 years to Florida. 

    “Don’t worry, Son,” he’d told Reuben when he handed over the keys to the building. “You’ll do fine. And when you decide to stay, I’ll sell you the place for a fair price, like old Doc Schwartz did me back in 1980.”

    “If I decide to stay,” Reuben had reminded the older man, who had chuckled and said something about the Hotel California as he climbed into his car, making his wife laugh as they pulled away.

    Along with the office space and two-bedroom apartment came a long list of patients, many of whom were none-too-keen on trusting their health to some young upstart from out-of-state.

    “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave,” he murmured the lyrics to the old song to himself as he checked the first floor before heading upstairs. “Doesn’t seem like a month has passed already,” he mused, putting the corn into the refrigerator and pouring himself a glass of iced tea to take into the living room. He plopped down onto the couch, which, like all the furniture, had come with the place, and turned on the television to see what sports he could find. 

    As it was early May, he was hoping for a baseball game, but he seemed to be out of luck there. He found harness racing, and settled back with his feet up on the sagging leather ottoman. He reflected that many Standardbreds, once retired from racing, ended up being purchased by Amish folk to pull their buggies. And that led his thoughts back to Mary Yoder. “I wonder when she last got checked out? Maybe there’s still something that could be done.”

    The Hostetlers had filled him in on the terrible buggy accident that had claimed Mary’s father’s life and taken much of the use of her legs from her. She’d been, what? Three? Four?

    “A lot of time has passed. Could be too late.”

    He grabbed his laptop and began researching developments in the treatment of spine, leg and hip injuries over the last 25 years or so. Soon he was deeply engrossed, the television forgotten. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him and he sat up straight. Had Mary been one of old Doc Smith’s patients? If so, her records were very likely right downstairs, and he could find out exactly what was wrong with her legs. Jumping up, he hurried downstairs. He’d worry about the question of whether it was ethical to poke into the old medical records of a grown woman who wasn’t currently his patient later, he decided. Right now, he was seized with an urgent need to see if he could help her. He didn’t question these occasional obsessions that grabbed him by the throat from time to time. This was part of the personality that had led him to become a doctor against tall odds, so that he could help people like Mary live better lives.

    With that shaky justification in his mind, he began to search through old files lining the walls of his office. He’d see what he’d see, and worry about how to approach the Yoders with it later.

    (Did you love it? Then please go pre-order it in e-edition or print. Happy reading!)

  • Books

    Courting an Amish Bishop Releases Monday!

    No fooling: Mindy Steele’s new book from Barbour’s “Heart of the Amish” series comes out on Monday, April 1!

    I just ordered my copy, and am eagerly waiting for it to arrive in the mail. This is another wonderful story from popular author Mindy Steele; her second in the Heart of the Amish series.

    Brief synopsis: Meet Stella Schmucker who faithfully uses her herbal knowledge to help her Amish community while neglecting her own desire for romance—until she meets the bishop.

    The cover is so sweet! I can’t wait to read my copy, and then I’ll go review it, because good book reviews help authors, and I know from Mindy’s previous stories that the review will be good! Mindy doesn’t disappoint.

    The other books in this series include: The Flower Quilter, by Mindy Steele (September, 2023); Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise, by Anne Blackburne (December, 2023); The Quilt Room Secret, by Lisa Jones Baker (February, 2024); and coming June 1 by Anne Blackburne, Mary’s Calico Hope! And September 1, Serenity’s Secret, by Lisa Jones Baker.

  • Books

    Friday is THE Day!

    My debut novel, Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise, launches this Friday, December 1!

    What am I doing about it? Well, to be honest, Friday I’ll be going to work at the newspaper I manage. Hey, gotta keep the lights on, right?

    But Saturday is another thing! On Saturday, I have an author event at Kerns Home & Garden Christian Bookstore Christmas Open House & Book Signing! My book will be available for sale, and I’ll be signing copies. (This seems very strange; I haven’t been asked for an autograph since I played Ursula the Sea Witch in The Little Mermaid!)

    Kern’s is located at 2438 Canton Rd., Akron, Ohio. I’ll be there from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., so if you’re in the area, please stop by and say hello! There will be five other terrific Christian authors signing their books as well! We’d all love to meet you.

    I’m not entirely sure what to expect this first time, but I’m feeling optimistic!

    And for an extra measure of fun, I’ll be holding a drawing for a tiny painting of the sweet orange kitty from my book, Ginger Snap! All you have to do is sign my notebook and leave me your email. Eventually, I plan to launch a newsletter, and the folks who give me their emails will be the first to get that.

    Just remember, I’m a writer, not a painter, Jim! (Extra points if you get the Star Trek reference!)

    Here is the painting I’ll be giving away at Saturday’s event! I hope to see you Saturday at Kern’s in Akron! And if you can’t make it, please consider going to Amazon.com, or Books a Million.com, or Barnes & Noble.com, or Barbour.com (possibly the best deal!), and purchasing Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise. And if you love it, please leave me a review at Amazon.com, or Good Reads.com.

    Thanks! Hope to meet you Saturday!

  • Books,  My Writing Journey

    Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise Releases Three Weeks from Friday!

    Ruth's Ginger Snap Surprise

    From the “Heart of the Amish” series, published by Barbour Publishing, comes Book Two of the series, which launched in September with Mindy Steele’s wonderful book, “The Flower Quilter”, which is set in Shipshewana, Indiana.

    “Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise” is the second book in the series, and takes place in the fictional town of Willow Creek, in the real Holmes County, Ohio.

    This is my first published book, and I couldn’t be more excited. It seems as if every day I get more thrilling information from my publisher about this amazing journey.

    Most recently, I learned that my book will be part of a blog tour in a partnership between Barbour Publishing and Celebrate Lit!

    “Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise” will be featured by a different Celebrate Lit blogger every day from December 9 to December 22!

    I’ll post the blog post from the previous day each day during that period here, on my blog.

    I’m so honored that all these people are going to read my book, and then take the time to post about it. Hopefully, they’ll all like it!

    Here is a list of the bloggers who will feature my book on their popular blogs for a day:

    You can read more about this very cool, online book tour, at https://www.celebratelit.com/ruths-ginger-snap-surprise-celebration-tour/

    Ouch! (That was just me, pinching myself again to make sure this is all real!)

    Have you pre-ordered your copy of “Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise” yet? It’s available from a number of places, including Amazon.com, Barbour Publishing, Books-a-Million.com, Walmart.com, Target.com, Barnes & Noble.com, and in Christian bookstores! And I just discovered that my second book in the series, “Mary’s Calico Hope”, is ALSO available for pre-order. I’d be honored if you picked up a copy.

    I’m doing a happy dance! 🙂

  • Books

    New Amish Romance, “Ruth’s Gingersnap Surprise”, Releases December 1 from Barbour Publishing!

    Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise, book two in the new Heart of the Amish series from Barbour Publishing, Releases Digitally Nov. 15; and in Print December 1!

    Countdown to Book Release Day Has Begun!

    As a brand new author looking forward to the release of my debut novel, “Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise”, everything is new to me! I keep hearing other authors, my agent, my editors and the wonderful folks I’ve met on various reading sites talk about terms that are unfamiliar to me.

    Getting a book published involves a steep learning curve.

    One of the things I recently learned about was the author’s street team.

    Don’t know what that is? Neither did I until recently! An author’s street team is a group of lovely people willing to take the risk of reading a book by an author – in this case, a totally unknown author, me! – and then going online to various sites and reviewing the book.

    It’s one thing if you’re reviewing the latest from your favorite author; but in this case, for all these folks know, it could be terrible! (I promise, it’s NOT!)

    Exciting developments! The wonderful Connie Spradling Lynch from the Keeping Up With The Amish group on Facebook, has helped me put together my very first “street team”.

    To these brave, selfless souls, I say THANK YOU! Because getting reviews (hopefully positive) out into the world as a book releases is essential to the success of that book.

    It motivates Amazon and other such sites to keep that book in front of the public eye. It may influence readers who have never, ever heard of an author to take a risk on their book.

    The Street Team doesn’t pay for the book; and when they review it, they say so clearly – that they’ve been given a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

    That being said, if you are someone who, despite never having read anything I’ve ever written before, decides to purchase my book, and you love it? Please go leave a nice review at Amazon.com, and maybe a few other places.

    If you hate it – say nothing! (Hee hee!)

    Hopefully the fact that my agent and editors liked my book means most of you will, too. But you never know! Right?

    Do you think I may have a case of first-time-author jitters? I really think I do!

    Only nine more weeks until my book releases online, and 11 until it releases in print!

    Oh boy oh boy! The Countdown has BEGUN!