Reviews by Anne Blackburne
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Mindy Steele’s New Book Releases in 3 Weeks!
New Release Christian Amish Romance from Barbour Publishing April 1!
I recently got to read an author copy of Mindy Steele’s next Heart of the Amish book, “A Heart on Consignment”, which releases from Barbour on April 1.
It’s simply a wonderful story about Salina and Seth, two people who risked their hearts and got burned, and are afraid to try again . . . until they meet one another!
Another winner for best-selling author Mindy Steele!
Available for pre-order now on Amazon.com.
Watch for a Criss-Cross Giveaway of Mindy’s book and my May release from Barbour, “Miriam’s Little Gentleman”! More on that soon.
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The Latest Heart of the Amish Book
Hunting for a Husband
by Mindy Steele
Mindy Steele has penned another engaging entry in Barbour’s “Heart of the Amish” series in her July, 2025 release, “Hunting for a Husband.” I really enjoyed this book, and especially seeing the hero and heroine from Steele’s last book, “Courting an Amish Bishop”. Since I use the same story world in all my Heart of the Amish books, and enjoy showing my readers what their favorite characters are up to, I always like it when other authors do the same. It’s like visiting old friends!
The Story: Amish woman Leah Wicky and her family recently moved from Lancaster, Pennsylvania to Kentucky where they set up a deer farm full of valuable white tail deer. This generates a great deal of curiosity in the vicinity, as people are more accustomed to seeing cows and horses farmed than deer. Leah has recently been disappointed in love, as the man she thought was her future husband turned out to just be using her until he could figure out how to leave his Amish community and to live in the English world.
Her best friend and her sisters are happily married, and one of her brothers is close to becoming engaged. Love is all around her, and Leah longs for it for herself.
Joe Shelter, proprietor of Shelter Outdoors where he sells archery and other equipment and teaches archery, has been in a wheelchair since an accident in his teens. He doesn’t expect love to find him, but he longs for it all the same.
The local herbal healer, Stella, whom fans of Steele’s will recall from her book “Courting an Amish Bishop”, thinks Joe might walk again if he can find the courage to take a leap of faith.
When Joe and Leah unexpectedly find themselves in a position to help one another out of a difficult situation, a friendship begins to bloom. And each sees in the other all the good things they want in a spouse.
Will they have the courage to pursue their attraction?
When poachers attack the Wicky deer farm, injuring Leah, Joe is determined to protect her and find the guilty parties, whom he suspects may not be total strangers.
Read the book for all the thrilling twists and turns that lead Joe and Leah along the road of a forever love.
Filled with Swiss Amish sayings and words, and with Steele’s clever storytelling, this book is a must read for fans of Steele, the Heart of the Amish series, and Amish romance.
Fun Fact: Did you know that Mindy Steele lives in Kentucky’s Amish Country? She is good friends with a number of Swiss Amish families, and that’s where she gets her knowledge of their language and customs, which differ somewhat from other Amish groups.
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Enjoy a Second Chance at the Sunshine Inn is Coming in July!
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“Second Chance at the Sunshine Inn”, by Amy Clipston, offers the satisfaction of a rainy-day man/sunshiny woman mashup set on the sparkling North Carolina coast, combined with a deep look into complex familial relationships, touching on feelings involved in discovering an unexpected sibling, sibling rivalry, the unknown secrets of parental relationships and trust issues common to us all.
What was free-spirited Alana thinking when she took it into her head to leave half of her inn to her beloved goddaughter and niece, Everleigh, a traveling NICU nurse; and half to her grumpy, Johnny-come-lately bad-boy handyman Cade?
Both Cade and Everleigh loved Alana – this can’t be denied. But each has ideas of what to do with their windfall; ideas that absolutely do not mesh up.
Their mutual attraction complicates the situation, but both are stubborn and proud, and maybe afraid to take a chance at exposing the vulnerable underbelly of their feelings.
And each has ghosts to exercise. Will they be able to help one another during this pivitol period in their lives? Or will they allow misunderstandings and hurts to push them apart?
You can trust Amy Clipston to bring everything together in a satisfactory way that will leave you sighing with happiness, and looking up what else you might read by this best-selling author of sweet, Christian and Amish romance.
Releasing from Harper Collins on July 8, and available now for pre-order wherever you purchase Christian fiction.
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Book Review: Caring for the Amish Family
I give this book five stars. I really enjoyed it. No foolish misunderstandings. No cringworthy moments. Just good writing and good reading!
Caring for the Amish Family
By Amy ClipstonI loved this Older Adult Hero/Heroine Romance from Amy Clipston!
Regina Weaver is in danger of losing her house, but she doesn’t want anyone to know. She hasn’t even told her twins.
Everett Zook has a secret, too, about his daughter-in-law’s whereabouts. He has promised his son to keep the secret, against his better judgement.
Regina and Everett were attracted to one another as teens, but never knew the feelings were mutual. Each married happily and each was widowed. Both are doing well, though in truth, both are lonely for that special connection they lost with the deaths of their spouses. An adorable baby and a suave farm cat add to the appeal of this engaging love story.
Can Regina and Everett help solve each other’s problems even as love blooms anew? Well, it IS a love story. Just saying!
I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but my stated opinions are true and honest.
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Engaging Tale of Love and Hope overcoming Fear and Dread!
I recently had the pleasure of meeting an author I’ve been chatting with via email for a while, Joanne Lehman, when I went to her book launch party in Kidron, Ohio, near Sugarcreek a few weeks ago. Joanne has previously published a novel and several award-winning books of her poetry, but “Leah’s Faith” is her first Amish romance.
Joanne’s publisher sent me a copy to review, and I was captivated from the beginning.
Leah, inflicted with serious and progressing scoliosis since childhood, has accepted the fact that as a young Amish woman facing a physical disability that makes it hard for her to carry a ‘normal’ workload, it is unlikely that she will marry and have a family. Her family loves her, but treats her differently from their other children, out of fear for her health. Her Amish faith lets her see the situation as being God’s will; but while she accepts her fate, she secretly wishes she could live a ‘normal’ life, with normal goals and dreams. Then hope arises unexpectedly in the form of spine surgeon who offers to help her at a huge discount. Has God sent her a way to achieve her dreams? Will she seize this opportunity? Will her family be able to afford the cost? When she is offered a summer position as a nanny to the doctor’s two adorable children, she finds the courage to take the first step, moving to Cleveland where she can more conveniently undergo the medical tests necessary to determine whether she is a good candidate for corrective surgery. And then she begins a correspondence with a boy she has been friends with since her school days, giving rise to a different kind of hope. With God’s help, and the love and support of family and friends, old and new, Leah faces her fears and embraces hope. Joanne Lehman’s new book, the first in a trilogy, was very engaging and well-researched. I look forward to the next installment in the series! (I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My opinions are my own, and uncoerced.)
If you’d like to meet Joanne in person and purchase a signed copy of her book, she’ll be at Kern’s Garden Center and Christian Bookstore’s spring open house and book signing from 10-4 on Saturday, April 12. Kerns is located near Akron. The address is 2438 Canton Rd, Akron, OH 44312. I’ll be there, too, with my new book, “Lizzie’s Little Mouse“, which releases officially Tuesday, April 1 – but I hear pre-orders are already arriving at peoples’ homes.
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A Stolen Kiss is Coming From Barbour December 1!
Mindy Steele has penned the next release from Barbour’s “Heart of the Amish” series, “A Stolen Kiss“.
My review was too long, and I had to cut it considerably for it to be used as a book endorsement. But it’s the perfect length to be a book review! Here’s what I thought:
Another Wonderful Story of Love and Faith from Mindy Steele!
What happens when you kiss a boy you barely know, just so your friends can’t say you never have? And what happens if another boy, one who has a crush on you that you do not return, happens to witness that kiss?
That’s what LeEtta Miller finds out the hard way in Mindy Steele’s wonderful new Amish romance from Barbour’s Heart of the Amish series, “A Stolen Kiss”.
I was honored to be asked to read it early and give Mindy an endorsement. It was my very first time being asked by a fellow author to endorse her book!
And what if you’re the unwitting – but not unwilling! – recipient of that stolen kiss? You knew better, but her sweet, freely offered lips were right there! And what if you happen to have arrived in this new community, determined to prove yourself to be an honorable, trustworthy fellow, only to be caught in the gossamer web of a stolen kiss? That’s what Ben Ropp finds out the hard way after enjoying a lovely, innocent few moments in the sunshine with LeEtta Miller one fine day.
But what if all of these lessons learned were really opportunities offered up by a loving God, and led to a happy ever after for all concerned?
That’s what you’ll have to find out by reading this five-star romance from one of the most beloved authors in the genre, Mindy Steele.
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An Amish Christmas Table
New, from Four Beloved Authors of Amish Romance:
“An Amish Christmas Table”
Releasing October 14:
An Ideal Christmas by Mindy Steele
Gathered Around Love’s Table by Rachel J. Good
Trouble at the Christmas Table by Jennifer Beckstrand
Love Beneath the Pine by Tracy FredrychowskiStep into the cozy, snow-kissed world of Amish country with a collection of heartwarming Christmas stories by four of your favorite Amish storytellers. This holiday season, let the spirit of love, family, and faith fill your heart with these enchanting tales:
An Ideal Christmas by Mindy Steele
Ina Graber has decided on the perfect Christmas gift for her sister, Lavina, and she knows exactly who needs to build it. Now if she can only convince her childhood crush to help her when he doesn’t even know she exists.
Orders are piling up on local furniture maker and widower, Abner Fisher, but when a young woman from by a nearby community asks him to do the impossible, Abner discovers anything is possible this Christmas.
Gathered Around Love’s Table by Rachel J. Good
Miriam Lapp can’t bear to face a lonely Christmas table, which once held her large family, who’ve all gone to Pinecraft to care for her ill grandparents. Miriam has stayed behind to keep her rebellious seventeen-year-old brother, Abraham, out of trouble during Rumspringa. She decides to fill the seats at her holiday table with lonely and homeless people. Little does she know that this simple act of giving will lead her on a journey to warm her aching heart and provide healing for her brother.
One of her guests, Jerry Gingerich, has been struggling since he left the Amish. Reluctantly, he accepts her invitation, but the welcoming atmosphere and kindness he finds at the Lapp home begins to break through his walls. Miriam’s generosity becomes a beacon of hope to him as well as to the others she asks to share her table. But can Jerry open his heart completely, not just to the spirit of Christmas, but to the greatest gift of all – God’s love and forgiveness – so he can find healing, redemption, and love?
Trouble at the Christmas Table by Jennifer Beckstrand
Eleven-year-old twins Alfie and Benji Petersheim are in big trouble. They’re stuck in the cellar because intruder Zeke Hostetler is sleeping in their bedroom. Worse than that, Zeke is in love with their schoolteacher Sarah Zimmerman. But the worst part is Alfie and Benji accidentally put a long scratch in Mamm’s new kitchen table, and Mamm is going to be very angry when she sees it. Zeke Hostetler comes to the rescue and agrees to secretly fix the table if Alfie and Benji will help him woo Sarah Zimmerman. Unfortunately, if they help Zeke, they’ll lose their favoritest teacher in the world. But if Mamm sees that scratch, she’ll probably put them up for adoption or, worse, give them the spatula.
Alfie and Benji are going to need binoculars, walkie-talkies, three chickens, an unruly dog named Tintin, and a lot of luck to get themselves out of this mess.
Love Beneath the Pine by Tracy Fredrychowski
In the heart of Amish County, among the enchanting snow-covered landscape of Willow Springs, Hannah Schrock’s kitchen buzzes with activity and delightful aromas as Christmas approaches. Overwhelmed by her baking orders and devotion to her ailing grandmother, Hannah finds an unexpected ally in Isaac Kauffman, a gentle soul whose silent love for her has endured for years.
Isaac discovers an antique table in the barn. Even amidst Hannah’s refusal to help him, Isaac embarks on a journey to restore it, uncovering hidden secrets and heartwarming tales of its past owners along the way.
As the holiday season unfolds, Hannah and Isaac navigate a delicate balance between duty and desire, discovering that sometimes the sweetest surprises often emerge from the most unexpected places.
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Book Review: Serenity’s Secret
“Serenity’s Secret” is the next book coming from Barbour Publishing in “The Heart of the Amish” series!
Exactly what I’d expect from Lisa Jones Baker, one of my ‘sister authors’ in this wonderful new series from Barbour.
Serenity Miller is back, and this time she’s here to tell us her story!
Popular Amish romance author Lisa Jones Baker has penned another gripping tale from Barbour’s “Heart of the Amish” series, “Serenity’s Secret”.
We first met Serenity Miller in Lisa’s previous “Heart of the Amish” book, “The Quilt Room Secret”, as a secondary character. But now it’s time for this lovely young woman to shine in her own story!
The owner of The Pink Petal flower shop in Arthur, Illinois, Serenity’s life is just the way she likes it – almost.
She does have one big secret – a heartbreaking secret that will prevent her from ever marrying and having a family of her own; or so she believes. She’s convinced herself she doesn’t mind so much – that is until her feelings for her helpful neighbor, Stephen Lantz, start to grow and change.
Then he saves her from serious harm after she is attacked by trespassers on her property, and she finds herself moving him from the ‘interesting neighbor’ category into the ‘handsome hero’ category.
That’s when her secret becomes a whole lot harder to stomach, and to hide from Stephen. But what can she do?
On one hand, how can Serenity lead her handsome and likable neighbor on, knowing they can have no future together, especially when she learns of Stephan’s long-held dreams for the his future life?
On the other hand, how can she let him walk away when her heart is telling her to hold on tight!
Sis yuscht! What a dilemma!
When her attackers return for another attempt at what they’re seeking, Serenity’s very life will be at stake. Will Stephen show up again to save the day?
Read “Serenity’s Secret”, releasing October 1 from Barbour Publishing, to find out!
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Courting an Amish Bishop
Mindy Steele’s latest book, “Courting an Amish Bishop“, which is book number four in Barbour Publishing’s “Heart of the Amish” series, released April 1. I got my copy in the mail shortly thereafter, and gobbled it up in just a couple reading sessions!
It was that good!
The book features Stella, an herbal healer living her independent life on a hillside in the woods with her silver lab. She’s doing very well, treating the people in her Amish community and delivering the occasional baby.
Then influenza hits the nearby Amish community, and her help is needed there. She goes without hesitation to do what she can.
That’s when she meets Simon, a very attractive widower with a teenage son Stella falls for right away. In fact, she falls for Simon’s whole family — and maybe for Simon, too. Then she finds out he’s the bishop.
Why is that a problem? Read on to find out!
I highly recommend this book.
If you’ve missed the other books in The Heart of the Amish series, they are: “The Flower Quilter”, by Mindy Steele; “Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise”, by Anne Blackburne; “The Quilt Room Secret” by Lisa Jones Baker; and coming soon, “Mary’s Calico Hope” by Anne Blackburne, and “Serenity’s Secret”, by Lisa Jones Baker.
I’m having so much fun being part of this wonderful series of stand-alone stories. I hope you’re enjoying them, too.
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Book Review “An Amish Second Christmas”
With stories by Shelley Shepard Gray, Patricia Johns and Virginia Wise
Time for a report on the book I read on my recent cruise! My friend, Linda, found “An Amish Second Christmas” at a store in SE Ohio in February, and after she read it, I grabbed it because it has three stories from three of my favorite authors of Amish romance!
The authors are Shelley Shepard Gray, Patricia Johns, Author, and Virginia Wise.
All three stories were, as expected, wonderful. Are you surprised by this??
Shelley’s story, “Their Second Chance”, focused on Amish nanny Hannah Eicher, her sweet pup, Daisy, and a handsome, English fireman named Rob Prince. Hannah and Rob have to work hard to make their relationship work – and to convince her family that he’s the man for her. I loved this story and it’s unexpected, but satisfying, ending.
Patricia’s story, “His Amish Angel”, is all about Maggie Lapp, a fierce young Amish woman who has decided she is unmarriageable! Why? Because she’s too outspoken. (I can relate to this, I’m afraid!) So she finds satisfaction and a place of belonging by secretly writing a weekly newspaper advice column called ‘Miss Amish’. Enter Maggie’s former fiancé, the very traditional-minded Atley, who accidentally ruins everything by revealing her secret . . . and the sparks fly! But a second chance at love is also taking flight.
Finally, Virginia’s story, “An Heirloom Christmas”, focuses on Rachel Miller, another independent young Amish woman who is recovering from a bout with cancer, and is determined to prove she can make it on her own by selling heirloom plants she cultivates in her greenhouse. Enter Joseph Webber, who needs a job to pay for a new buggy after irresponsibly wrecking the one his father gave him. Rachel remembers Joseph as a cheeky lad from her school days. She longed for his attention then – and is NOT interested in it now. Or . . . is she?
Thank you all for your wonderful stories! I laughed and cried as I read them under a palm tree on a Caribbean island; and in my cabin any chance I had during my week-long adventure.
The book itself may be a bit the worse from wear (sorry, Linda!) after my sister accidentally sat on it in a wet bathing suit. Ha ha! But it’s still readable!
I recommend this book, and basically anything from these three wonderful women. And if you’re looking for something new, I’d be honored if you’d read my debut novel, “Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise”, available on Amazon.com. My second book, (with characters you’ll remember from Ruth’s story), is “Mary’s Calico Hope”, and it is releasing very soon – in e-book on May 15, and in print on June 1.
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