• Reviews by Anne Blackburne

    Book Review: Serenity’s Secret

    “Serenity’s Secret” is the next book coming from Barbour Publishing in “The Heart of the Amish” series!

    Serenity's Secret by Lisa Jones Baker

    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!

  • Reviews by Anne Blackburne

    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.

  • 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.