Fun Friday

 

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

 

Smitten by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, & Denise Hunter

 

Book Description: Four friends devise a plan to turn Smitten, Vermont, into the country's premier romantic getaway-and each finds her own true love along the way. 

With Smitten Lumber closing, residents wonder if their town can stay afloat. Then four friends and local business owners-Natalie, Julia, Shelby, and Reese--decide the town is worth saving. How will they do it? They'll turn Smitten into a honeymoon destination!As Natalie, Julia, Shelby, and Reese work to save the town, each discovers romance in her own life. Meanwhile, the faith of a little child reminds the whole town what it means to have real faith in the God who is the always and forever Love.

My Review:  The lumber town of Smitten has been smitten with a case of bad luck; no lumber mill, no town?

But four friends decide the town is worth saving and come up with a plan! A honeymoon destination for those who are smitten by the love bug. 

"Natalie" by Colleen Coble is all about Natalie and Joe Smitten, the town leader.  Natalie finds that the heart of a person goes deeper than their words.  

"Julia" by Kristin Billerbeck how Julia must come to grips with Jake without letting him burn up all her plans.

"Shelby" by Diann Hunt is about Shelby and mountain man, Nick.  Shelby loves tea and Nick loves trees, ummm...quite a mix!

"Reese" by Denise Hunter finds Reese smitten by her long time friend, Griffen.  Reese's plan to get Griffen's attention is humorous and quite original.

This is a fun, light read!  A great book for sitting by the fire with a cup of hot tea or cocoa.  

Fun Friday

 

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

 

A Plain Disappearance, Appleseed Creek Mystery Series #3 By: Amanda Flower

 

Book Description:  It's Christmastime in Amish Country, and Chloe Humphrey has begun settling into her life in Appleseed Creek excited to see where her new relationship with Timothy Troyer will lead. Unfortunately it leads to murder when the couple discovers the body of Amish teenager Katie Lambright while on their first date.

Near the scene there is evidence that Timothy's friend and auto mechanic Billy Thorpe is involved with the crime. The police reveal Billy is not really who he said he was and has been living the last decade in Knox County under a stolen alias. Now, Chloe and Timothy must find Billy, bring him to justice, or prove his innocence.

My Thoughts:  The Christmas reads are beginning to make a bookshelf appearance!  Oh! Yes!  I don't have time during the Christmas season to read so reading all about it before the season is fine with me!

A Plain Disappearance is the third book in the Appleseed Creek Mystery Series.

I've read the first two books and throughly enjoyed them so I was anxiously awaiting the third!

Chloe is SO funny and entertaining.  I love the characters that Amanda has created for they are so true to life and feel like the neighbors next door.

Now, Timothy and Chloe are in a relationship.  And on their very first "real" date Timothy's sweet dog, Mabel, finds a body (dead in the cold snow) in the corner of an old barn.  Not the best of first dates!  But it only grows more intense from here . . . because all the evidence points to Timothy's friend, Billy, who also happens to be the local mechanic. 

The plot grows thicker when the police find out that Billy is actually an assumed alias.

There is a side line of Chloe's forgiveness of her father and trying to forge a new relationship with him and her step-mother.

Many things aren't as they seem...or people as they present themselves. 

I loved this read!  Such a great mystery! Truly a hard mystery to figure out!

The romance is fun and filled with all things Christmasy!

The first two books in the Appleseed Creek Mystery Series:

Format: Paperback Number of Pages: 336 Vendor: B & H Publishing Group

ISBN: 1433676990
ISBN-13: 9781433676994

Amish Christmas at North Star: Four Stories of Love and Family (Four Authors)

 

Book Description:  One night four lives entered the world by the hands of an Amish midwife, just outside North Star, Pennsylvania. 

Rebekah’s babies, as they are called, are now grown adults and in four heartwarming novellas each young person experiences a journey of discovery, love, and the wonder of Christmas.

Guiding Star by Katie Ganshert

Curiosity gets the best of Englisher Chase Wellington when he investigates the twenty-five-year-old disappearance of an Amish baby. When he finds adventurous Elle McAllister in Iowa will his discoveries upend her world? 

Mourning Star by Amanda Flower

Eden Hochstetler slips from her parents’ fudge shop to investigate the death of her friend Isaac Yoder.  Who is guilty? Isaac’s handsome great nephew Jacob, an angry Englisher, or someone else?

In the Stars by Cindy Woodsmall

Kore Detweiler has nursed his broken heart, avoiding North Star after Savilla Beiler suddenly rejected his love.  But when he is called to return home, he and Savilla must join forces to keep a family together.

Star of Grace by Mindy Starns Clark and Emily Clark

Andy Danner left North Star to work in construction in a new Amish settlement in Louisiana. His little brother devises a scheme to bring Andy home for Christmas, and unwittingly unleashes the power of forgiveness in an old widower’s life.

My Thoughts:  Amish Christmas at North Star features some of my favorite authors.  It was a happy day when this book came in the mail!  

North Star, Pennsylvania is a busy place with four babies being born.  These are the stories of Rebekah's Babies:

Guiding Star was the first story I had read by Katie Ganshert.  This short story is actually a mini mystery.  An Amish baby went missing twenty-five years ago and Englisher Chase Wellington decides to cure his curiosity and find out where this baby has "gone to".  An interesting little mystery.

The second mini mystery is by one of my favorite Amish mystery authors, Amanda Flower.  In Mourning Star, Eden decides she will investigate the death of her friend Issac.  I loved this mystery!

Cindy Woodsmall writes about Kore and Savilla In the Stars.  This was a nice short romance.  

Lastly, Mindy Starns Clark and Emily Clark penn a sweet story about love and forgiveness in Star of Grace.

Amish Christmas Star at North Star is a wonderful Christmas read for Amish fans!  A not.to.be.missed read!