The Beginner's Quilt By: Wanda E. Brunstetter

 Book Description:  Tomboy Emma, despite her mother's best efforts, isn't at all prepared to be an Amish wife. But when Emma visits her grandmother in Illinois, she learns how to sew a Tree of Life quilt and meets a nice young man. When rumors begin to swirl around his character, will Emma return home to Indiana broken-hearted? 

My Thoughts:  I always enjoy Wanda Brunstetter's books especially the books that include Amish quilt making.  This is about a quilting a Tree of Life quilt.  An interesting quilt for an interesting story.

This story did not disappoint.  I truly enjoyed reading about Emma Bontrager, Ivan yoder and quilting.

Emma's mother is at her wit's end and sends her tomboy daughter, Emma, to Arthur, IL. Emma is a true tomboy.  Emma has no interest in marriage or household keeping and especially not quilting.  What is an Amish mother dot do with such a daughter?!?

Off Emma goes.  While at her grandmother's house she takes up quilting.  what else is there to do at grandma's house?  To Emma's surprise and delight she is quite good at quilting.  And actually enjoys it.

Then she mets Ivan Yoder.  Ohhh LAAA LAAA!

This is where the story gets interesting BUT can Ivan's reputation undo a romance that has just begun?  Even though Ivan and Emma enjoy doing outdoor activities together Ivan tells Emma about his reputation.  Can Emma enjoy being with a man with such a reputation?  She remembers how her Amish parents raised her.  What will she choose?

A grand read, for sure!

*This book was provided by Barbour*

The Hawaiian Quilt by Wanda E. Brunstetter & Jean Brunstetter

 My Thoughts: I love books authored by Wanda Brunstetter! And now her daughter-in-law, Jean, co-authors this wonderful novel, the Hawaiian Quilt.

This is not your "regular" Amish story.  In this lovely story about four Amish friends  who take a cruise to the Hawaiian Islands.  

The cruise is nice but the beds not.so.much to the four friends disappointment.  Love the real descriptions of the ship and the "funny.to.me" reason Mandy and her three friends decide to take a cruise because their Amish parents wouldn't approve of flying in an airplane.  

When Mandy and her friends decide to split up in to two groups of two to see more Hawaii and then share their experiences later at supper, Mandy loses her phone and this incident causes she and Ellen to miss the ship.

I love the Hawaiian Christian couple, Luana and Mikaio,  who take them in at the bed and breakfast and whose Hawaiian quilts fascinate Mandy.  

This is not your "regular" Amish read!  It's about stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing life and God's people.

Loved, loved this fantabulous read!  

         

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Shiloh Run Press 
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1634092244
• ISBN-13: 978-1634092241

Convergence by Ginny Yttrup

 Book Description:  Psychology professor Dr. Denilyn Rossi contends that the past is either a shadow that haunts us or a force that propels us. The choice is ours, she tells her students. What she doesn’t tell them is that her own past is a shadow she can’t seem to shake. Fear has immobilized her and is taking a costly toll.

Adelia Sanchez, however, has embraced Dr. Rossi’s teaching. She is ready to confront fear and render it powerless—using the trauma of her past to propel her to entrap the man who stalked and brutally attacked her.

As Denilyn’s past and Adelia’s present converge at the Kaweah River, a dangerous man bent on destruction threatens them both. Will he uncover the secret Deni and Adelia have fought so hard to protect?

My Thoughts:  I was SO excited to see that another book was written by Ginny Yttrup.

I love her stories!  

And this story did not disappoint.

There are two women with pasts that include alot of fear.  Two women trying to get over their past.  And both women have a secret.

Oh.my!  The twists and turns in this suspenseful read had me at chapter three.  It took two chapters for me to get into the story and "see" what was going on.  But I know how Mrs. Yttrup writes so I was willing to wade into the story.

Once the reader gets into the story there is no going back.  Kind of like the two women in the story...once they were in ..... in for a penny, in for a pound.

The reader is taken on a trip of sorts.  It's a thrill of suspense and a pondering of mystery.  

Loved, loved this read so much so that I read it all cover to cover in one afternoon.

Paperback: 320 pages

Publisher: Shiloh Run Press 

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1683227883

Suspense by Mary Alford

 These are FANTASTIC stories by Author Mary Alford:

🌾 UNSOLVED AMISH ABDUCTION...coming soon!
An Amish woman forced back to the life she fled.
A child caught in the crosshairs.
A police officer who doesn’t know the whole truth.
Three stories.
Three battles for justice.
One mission: Seek the truth—no matter the cost.
What’s more dangerous — a killer hunting in the shadows… or a secret someone you love is keeping?

FUN FRIDAY!

 

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday]

  

Coca-Cola Cake

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup butter
1 cup Coca-Cola
3/4 cup miniature marshmallows
1 square (1 ounce size) semi sweet baking chocolate
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup cocoa powder
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 cups sugar
2 1/3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

***Frosting***
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup Coca Cola (plus 2-3 Tbsp. additional if needed)
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup chocolate syrup

PREPARATION:

Place in a sauce pan butter, cola, semi sweet baking square and bring to a boil remove from heat and add marshmallows and stir until all is blended and the marshmallows are disappear. Set aside to cool enough to tepid or room temperature. 

In mixing bowl blend the shortening, oil, vanilla and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and buttermilk and beat until smooth. Mix flour with baking soda, cocoa, baking powder and salt, add half of flour mixture to shortening, egg mixture, and beat. Scrape bowl time to time to clean the sides off so ingredients are blended in batter. Add cooled coca cola mixture and beat. Add remainder of flour and beat until completely smooth about 3 - 4 minutes. Batter will be thick. Place batter into a 13" x 9" x " 2 oiled and floured baking pan. Set pan on top shelf in a preheated 350* F oven for 35 - 40 minutes. Check for completed baking time with a toothpick. If the toothpick comes out clean by sticking in the middle of the cake it is time to come out of the oven and cool. For Frosting: Cream butter, add cocoa, vanilla, Hershey's Syrup, and coca cola, beat until smooth. Add powder sugar a little at a time and beat constantly. Scrape the sides of bowl time to time to get all ingredients into the frosting. If the frosting seams a little dry add a little more coca cola and beat well. Frost warm cake. Serve with natural vanilla bean ice cream and enjoy.

Happy Book Birthday to Mary Alford!

 BUY HERE