Reviews
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Only Two More Days of the CelebrateLit Tour:
Have you entered every day for chances to win a print copy of my book and a $25 Amazon gift card?
My CelebrateLit Virtual Tour is almost over; only two more days. Have you gone to the various blog posts and entered to win a print copy of “Plain Jane’s Secret Admirer” plus a $25 Amazon gift card? Not too late!
Here are a few recent blog posts from my tour:
From For him and my family
Here is what the reviewer thought about my story: “You’ll love the antics as the two (Jane and Sam) flirt around, liking each other and how they finally are able to overcome their shyness and let the other know. Plus, there’s plenty of kitties in the book to make you long for a purring one of your own.”
Go to her blog, For Him and My Family, link above, to read more and enter to win!
From Jeanette’s Thoughts:
Here is an excerpt from Jeanette’s blog post: “I love these type of stories. Great to read anytime. I read most at night. A perfect way to end the day. I wish I had a cup of tea and one of their delicious cinnamon rolls.”
From Holly at Holly’s Book Corner:
“I liked how the author showed that these characters weren’t perfect and made mistakes but were able to overcome them. I thought it was a good story and enjoyed it.”
See more and enter to win a book and gift card at the above link!
From Renee at Little Homeschool on the Prairie:
“A heartfelt story that will warm your heart and keep you turning the pages. It’s full of humor, mystery, faith, friendship, and a bit of romance. I love the tails of the purring cats in this story and all the other books in this series.”
Read more at the link above, and remember to enter through the link for a chance to win a copy of my book and a gift card!
I just took a peek, and so far there are nearly 5,000 entries to win! You can have a chance yourself with each blog post…click through each one to enter. Good luck! I hope you win!
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CelebrateLit Tour continues for Plain Jane!
Guest Reviews from the amazing bloggers at Celebrate Lit!
The amazing bloggers at CelebrateLit have been reviewing “Plain Jane’s Secret Admirer” this past week. Here are a few (really nice!!) comments from some of them.
From Marilyn at Simple Harvest Reads:
“This a is wonderful Amish tale involving two individuals that had personal struggles from their childhood. Jane never discovered who nicknamed her in school but it had affected her dating life. Samuel felt guilt for the past and decided to be a secret admirer from afar. Eliza, Ben and the cats along with the older couple Abram and Lydia, that Blackburne has in her books in this series, were a great addition. With all these amazing characters there was plenty of humor, emotions, tears, smiles, a sneaky new resident interwoven into the tale that kept the story moving at a nice pace. Blackburne included faith, hope, peace, new beginnings and love into the story that made it a heartwarming read. It was nice catching up with her earlier characters and their beloved cats that add so much to the stories and covers. I received an early copy of this book from Barbour Publishing without any obligation to write a positive review. I have expressed my own thoughts.
From the folks at Lakesidelivingsite:
“Plain Jane’s Secret Admirer, by Anne Blackburne, is the eleventh book in the Heart of the Amish Series by Barbour Publishing. This is a nicely written story that is easy to read and imagine. Jane and her friends are taking care of Lizzie’s bakery while she is on her honeymoon trip. Interesting things happen that keep the story moving along nicely and add mystery to the story.”
From Patti Pierce at Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy
If you love gentle romance wrapped in faith, hope, and the quiet beauty of Amish country, Plain Jane’s Secret Admirer by Anne Blackburne offers a tender story that feels like a warm breeze through a sunlit field.
Plain Jane’s Secret Admirer … is a gentle, soul-soothing read—perfect for a cozy afternoon with a cup of tea and a heart ready for hope. It reminds us that even the shyest voices deserve to be heard and that love, when guided by faith, can quietly transform everything.
From Nyla at Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess
Characters are relatable and lovable. The cats in the story are mischievous and provide some chuckles. The bakery scenes are authentic and extremely well written. I could almost smell the Amish Cinnamon Rolls and fresh coffee.
There are some twists and turns, mystery, danger, and Christian lessons. I love the way the Amish help each other and forgive. Those are lessons for everyone. I highly recommend this lovely book. It gets a 5 star rating from me.
From Julie Grace at Bizwings Book Blog:
“Another good book in the Heart of the Amish series. I really enjoyed reading this one. There is a lot going on that will keep you interested…The setting of the Amish community came alive as I read and the characters have plenty of layers. I loved the ending which wrapped everything up nicely. Highly recommended.”
From Kris at The Avid Reader:
“Plain Jane’s Secret Admirer is a sweet story with tasty pastries, a water disaster, cats gone astray, special gifts, a nervy newcomer, and returning honeymooners.”
Remember to go to each blog and enter for a chance to win a print copy of “Plain Jane’s Secret Admirer” as well as a $25 Amazon gift card!
The CelebrateLit tour continues through February 11. Every day you can scroll down to the bottom of that day’s post to see what’s next!
Thanks to the wonderful bloggers who had overwhelmingly positive things to say about my book! It never ceases to feel wonderful to read insightful, complimentary things about my writing. And the occasional helpful suggestion, kindly meant, do help me develop as a writer.
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Publishers Weekly Loves my new Book!
In the sweepstakes of reviews in the publishing world, getting a good review from Publishers Weekly is right up there with winning a nice 50/50 raffle! And to get three great reviews from this prestigious industry trend-setter is simply smashing.
Well, that’s what has happened to me! I’m so excited to announce that the folks at Publishers Weekly love my next Heart of the Amish release, “Plain Jane’s Secret Admirer!“
They gave terrific reviews to my first two books, “Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise” and “Mary’s Calico Hope“, and to have a third review from them is just breathtaking.
Why does this matter? Because everyone pays attention to what Publishers Weekly thinks about a book, from the media to librarians to literary agents to book sellers to publishers! Publishers Weekly is the gold standard of literary reviewers.
Here’s what they have to say:
Plain Jane’s Secret Admirer
Anne Blackburne. Barbour, $14.99 trade paper (256p) ISBN 979-8-89151-257-3
The sweet latest in Blackburne’s the Heart of the Amish series … stars an unassuming young baker with an unfortunate nickname. Jane Bontrager has been pining over Samuel Mast for years, unaware he’s behind her hated childhood nickname “Plain Jane,” a byproduct of his effort to hide his childhood crush on her. When Jane starts receiving letters and gifts from a secret admirer, the last person she suspects is Sam. His best friend encourages him to stop sending anonymous gifts, own up to his past behavior, and declare his feelings, but Sam’s reluctant, especially when he and Jane forge a tenuous bond after spending time together at her bakery. But when a second secret admirer starts pursuing Jane, the stakes rise and Sam worries he’s missed his chance to set the record straight. Blackburne’s central romance is enriched with plenty of small-town charm and comic relief, including a few mischievous cats (one of which is named Little Mouse). Series fans and newcomers alike will be charmed by this cheerful trip back to Ohio Amish country.
Can you see why I’m so pleased? And did you catch the mention of Little Mouse, from my last book, “Lizzie’s Little Mouse?” What fun! I hope you’ll read Jane’s story, and let me know what you think about her adventures with her kitty and her friends Sam Mast, Eliza King and Benuel Lapp as they try to figure out what has happened to a very important, and very missing kitty!
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What did Celebrate Lit bloggers have to say about Lizzie’s story this week?
The Celebrate Lit tour for my new Heart of the Amish release, “Lizzie’s Little Mouse,” continues with several blog posts in the last couple of days. I’m a little behind, because I’m enjoying a few rainy days up on Kelley’s Island, in Lake Erie, working on my next book, “Plain Jane’s Secret Admirer”.
First on May 1, Debbie Curto from Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations said,
“I think this book would appeal to readers of mysteries even if they aren’t readers of Amish literature.”
Also on May 1, Carla from Carla’s Book Crush blogged about Lizzie’s story! Here’s what she has to say:
“This is definitely for readers who prefer a cozy, sweet read that’s well-paced but not overly emotional or suspenseful. Even though it’s Amish fiction, I think people who don’t typically read Amish fiction could still enjoy this…”
On May 2, two more Christian bloggers offered their opinions, along with chances for readers to win prizes.
First, Life on Chickadee Lane had lovely things to say about Lizzie’s story.
Don’t forget to click through for another chance to win prizes!
Also on May 2, Vickie Sluiter had some nice things to say about Lizzie’s story. Here’s an example that made me feel great!
“Lizzie’s Little Mouse is different than is typical for an Amish story, as it really is a cozy mystery. I enjoyed that aspect of it. While Blackburn kept me guessing, it wasn’t a nerve-wracking edge of the seat book.
Well developed characters make this story enjoyable. Lizzie is trying to make her dream come true. John is trying to help during all the mysterious trouble, without getting his heart involved. But can he? Will they remain friends, or ruin a life-long friendship? The secondary characters are equally as good and I would love to go have coffee and pastries with them all.”
So would I, Vicky!
Remember to visit all the blog posts through May 13 for a greater chance to win that Amazon gift card and a free print copy of my book!
See you soon with more from Celebrate Lit!
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“Lizzie’s Little Mouse” is on Tour with Celebrate Lit!
Now through May 13, you can see what Christian book bloggers think about my new release, “Lizzie’s Little Mouse,” the third of my Willow Creek Amish romances, part of The Heart of the Amish series from Barbour. And be sure to click on each blogger’s post for a chance to win prizes, including an Amazon gift card and a free copy of my book! Good luck!
Today’s post is from The Avid Reader: bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com
My thanks to this blogger for a lovely review!
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Are You Checking in Daily?
The CelebrateLit tour for Mary’s Calico Hope continues through July 10
Every time you like one of the bloggers’ pages, and click through to the entry, you’re entered for a chance to win a print copy of the book and a nice $25 Amazon.com gift card!
Here’s a small excerpt from today’s blogger, Patty Pierce from Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy:
“The author does an amazing job building the characters and storyline. One of my favorite character is the Bishop who plays an integral part in the story.
Truly, this clean, sweet Amish/Mennonite story will keep you reading.”
Thanks for the nice words, Patty!
Blog Stops
Here is the schedule for the rest of the CelebrateLit blog tour/review. Remember to check in daily to increase your chance to win. And feel free to share my blog tour with your friends who enjoy reading sweet Amish romance.
June
27
June
28
June
29
(Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)
June
30
July
2
July
4
July
7
July
9
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Celebrate Lit Tour Continues Today!
Today’s Blogger promoting my brand new release, Mary’s Calico Hope, is Debbie from Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations.
Thanks for your review, Debbie! Check it out for a chance to win a print copy of the book and a $25 Amazon.com gift card!
Blog Stops
Here’s the rest of the tour schedule. You can click on past days to see what was said about the book by those bloggers!
June
27
June
28
June
29
(Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)
June
30
July
2
July
4
July
7
July
9
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Mary’s Calico Hope is featured in a Celebrate Lit Blog Tour now through July 10!
Each day from now until July 10, Mary’s Calico Hope will be featured by one or more bloggers through Celebrate Lit online! I’ll post all the bloggers below. If you go to their pages and like them, you’ll be entered to win a print copy of the book and an Amazon gift card.
Here’s one of today’s posts, from blogger Jeannette at Jeannette’s Thoughts:
“I adore kittens. And Mary has one called Hope. This is so appropriate because Mary needs hope. She has been crippled since she was a young child. She has given up hope for a better future.
Dr. Rueben King couldn’t help noticing Mary. And it wasn’t because of her handicap.
Mary deserves all the happiness. She gives so much to others in her community. Mary has the opportunity to live her life with less pain and fulfilling her dream of having a family of her own.
I received this book to review from Celebrate lit.”
Blog Stops
Here’s the rest of the tour schedule. You can click on past days to see what was said about the book by those bloggers!
June
27
June
28
June
29
(Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)
June
30
July
2
July
4
July
7
July
9
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Publisher’s Weekly Lauds “Mary’s Calico Hope”
When my first book, “Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise”, was released, it received a very favorable review from the industry’s leading reviewer of new releases, Publishers Weekly. I was over the moon!
With my second book releasing on June 1, again from Barbour, and in the same “Heart of the Amish” series as my first book, I asked my publisher whether I was likely to get another review from the industry giant, whose opinion is sought and valued by all sorts of industry pros, including booksellers looking for likely titles to sell.
She warned me that it was possible, but unlikely that I’d be reviewed twice in row.
Well, bless me, they reviewed “Mary’s Calico Hope“, and they loved it! I’m beyond thrilled.
Here is the review from Publishers Weekly:
Mary’s Calico Hope
Anne Blackburne. Barbour, $14.99 trade paper (256p) ISBN 978-1-63609-855-5
“Blackburne’s latest Heart of the Amish romance (after Ruth’s Gingersnap Surprise) unspools a tender love story between an injured Amish woman and the Mennonite doctor who wants to help her heal. Since a buggy accident more than 25 years ago killed her father and left her badly hurt, Mary Yoder has spent her days in near-constant pain, though she keeps busy breeding chickens, weaving and selling baskets, and caring for her younger brothers. When Reuben King, the handsome new doctor for the nearby Willow Creek community, takes an informal interest in Mary’s case and suggests she undergo a surgical procedure (performed by another doctor) that might improve her mobility, Mary’s resistant. Eventually, she warms to the idea as she spends more time with Reuben, sparking an attraction that’s forbidden by her community. Mary turns to prayer to sort out her thoughts about her health and love life, but when advice arrives from an unlikely source, she’ll have to trust herself to follow it, and to take a few risks along the way. The chemistry between the two leads is palpable, and it’s easy to root for the spunky, independent, and dauntless Mary as she fights to carve out a life of her own choosing. Blackburne’s fans and series newcomers alike will delight in this sweet and energetic tale. (June)DETAILSshare”
Isn’t that wonderful? I wish I could personally tell the reviewer how much I appreciate his or her take on my book! Publishers Weekly reviewers are anonymous, though, to encourage honesty, so that’s not possible. But if he or she happens to read this . . . thank you thank you thank you! You made my day!
Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise (which was just named a best seller for March by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) in new releases for March) also received an excellent Publishers Weekly review. It’s available for purchase wherever fine books are sold online and in book stores nationwide. If your book store doesn’t have it, please request it. They shouldn’t have any trouble ordering it for you!
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All Things Come to an End: Celebrate Lit Virtual tour of Amish Romance, “Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise” Final Day!
Today we say so long, farewell! to the wonderful people at CelebrateLit, who have worked hard to promote my debut novel this month. There are two remaining blog posts for you to read, and be sure to click on the links below for your final chance to enter to win a print copy of the book and a $25 Amazon e-gift card!
Check back soon to see who won!
First today is Wendy from the blog, “Life on Chickadee Lane”.
My Review: by Wendy from Life on Chickadee Lane:
“This is such a sweet, enjoyable story. Of course, any story including a cat is my kind of story. (My daughter would agree!) I enjoyed reading how Ruth and Jonas prayed about any decision which needed to be made. I look forward to reading Anne’s next book!
If you enjoy sweet stories set in an Amish community, you will want to read this one.
I received a complimentary copy through Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.“
Thanks, Wendy! (By the way, Wendy has a cool list of all the birds she has spotted on her blog. I love this!)
Next is Renee from the blog, “Little Home School on the Prairie.”
Here’s what Renee had to say!
My Review:
“Anne Blackburne is a new author who did an amazing job with her debut novel.
The main characters Ruth and Jonas have both lost their spouses. Jonas has a young daughter. Ruth isn’t able to have children.
It’s been only a year since Ruth lost her husband and she is trying her hardest to keep up with the farm by herself. The farm is dear to her as it has been in her family for generations. Life is about to get complicated for Ruth. Bishop Troyer visits her concerning her farm. He gives her two options. One is to sell the farm to one of the men in the community. Her farm has a lot of amenities that would be good for a family. The second option is to marry Bishop Troyer. The Bishop recognizes that he is much older than her and that it would be a marriage of convenience as they are both lonely. Ruth isn’t interested in selling or marrying for convenience. She wants to expand her business with her goat’s milk products.
Jonas has a four-year-old daughter. He starts helping Ruth with chores around her farm. He loves Ruth’s interaction with his daughter. Ruth is getting fond of both Jonas and his daughter.
The story is fun with the mischievous goats, a guard dog, and a kitten named Ginger Snap. The characters are well-developed and realistic. You can’t help to not find yourself immersed in their lives. The plot is well-developed and kept my attention to the last page. I look forward to more books from Anne Blackburne.
Disclosure: I received this complimentary product through Celebrate Lit Bloggers in exchange for my honest thoughts.“
Thanks, Renee!
Well, that’s it for this part of my writing journey. I sure appreciate all the help from the amazing folks at Celebrate Lit! Did you find a new blogger to follow? I know I did!
Merry Christmas, and thank you all for supporting my writing!
