Rhonda's Doings !

A Simple Singing  (The Sisters of Lancaster County #2) by Leslie Gould Book Description:  For years Marie Bachmann thought of herself as the "good" daughter. She was the most loving to their mother, the most dedicated to their Amish way of life. But when a Mennonite farmhand, Gordon Martin, shows interest in her she can't help but be flattered--until her mother sends her off to Florida. While there, Marie begins spending time with bad-boy Eli Jacob, the bishop's son from back home. When Gordon shows up in Florida to volunteer in a homeless shelter, her life becomes even more complicated. At the same time her aunt begins telling her of a Civil War-era ancestor and the woman's uncommon bravery . . . a story that begins to work at Marie's heart. Marie hopes returning home may simplify life, but Eli soon follows. As Marie grapples with whether she should court Eli or leave the church for Gordon, the story of Annie Bachmann shines a light...

A Plain & Sweet Christmas Romance Collection by  Jerry S. Eicher, Lauralee Bliss , Ramona K. Cecil,  Dianne Christner,  Melanie Dobson, Olivia Newport, Claire Sanders, Anna Schmidt ,  & Rachael O. Phillips   Enjoy a simple Christmas, sweetened by love, in historical communities of plain faith people. Four romances develop among the Ohio River Valley Quakers of the mid-1800s. Two Mennonite couples face influences from outside their old traditions. Two Amish couples from the early 1900s are affected by world events. And in an Amana community, childhood sweethearts are reunited. Each story also includes a recipe for a sweet traditional treat. MY REVIEW:  Christmas traditions are so important and while the various plain religious sects celebrate in a different way, they are equally interesting.  This novella collection explores the Christmas traditions of the Amana, Quakers, Amish and Mennonites.  Add a bit of romance,...

Review of Covered Bridge Charm by Dianne Christner Carly Blosser may not match the typical description of a conservative Mennonite woman—unmarried at 27, living alone, and careening around her Oregon neighborhood on a pink bicycle—but she has a soft heart for the elderly Mennonite residents at Sweet Life Assisted Living Facility, where she works as a caregiver. When Carly’s plans for a new volunteer program go awry, she shifts her focus to one lonely resident named Martha. Adam Lapp, a wood shop instructor at Sweet Life, joins with Carly to reunite Martha with an old flame before her 85th birthday. Carly and Adam’s hunt involves carved initials on covered bridges, digging up the past, and the appearance of a newcomer, who hinders the budding romance between the two. Soon, new clues sweep them all in a harried race to the finish line where love is sure to be the ultimate prize. MY REVIEW:   This is such a fun story.....so many of the characters are so lovable and amusin...

Review of Mennonite on the Edge: An Unlikely Romance by Cynthia Yoder She's a newlywed...twenty-four...and desperate to know why she's so unhappy.  Though a country-girl at heart, MaryJo wants to ditch her identity as a Mennonite in marrying Adam and living a life of adventure in Manhattan. But news from home kicks up memories she’d tried to forget. While she begins to question her choices, Adam lands a high-profile job, making a move seem impossible. MaryJo must make peace with her past and her current situation so that she can live the life of her dreams with Adam. But can she reconcile her craving for serenity in the City that Never Sleeps?  MY REVIEW:   This is not your average Amish/Mennonite fiction.  In fact, MaryJo wants to leave behind her Mennonite roots and discover adventure.  While she does discover quite a bit of adventure, she is not happy.             This book was well-written but it just di...

Review of Made With Love by Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore How many Amish women does it take to open a bakery in Pinecraft, Florida? Four...plus a construction crew made up of troublesome rumspringa teenagers and a handsome Amish bachelor. Serving up traditional Amish food to Florida-sun-kissed tourists provides plenty of surprising situations for the three sisters and their mother--not to mention love and good cooking--in this series from popular Amish writers Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore. In the first installment of the The Pinecraft Pie Shop series, Lovina Miller has two things on her mind: to open her own pie shop...and mem to find husbands for her daughters! As the head of the construction crew steps forward to help fulfill her dream, mem wonders if he might also be the one who ruins it. Readers who enjoy Amish novels will love this authentic series by bestselling novelist Tricia Goyer and Amish-Mennonite author Sherry Gore. MY Review:  yummy! delicious!  pies, p...

Review of Deadly Echoes by Nancy Mehl After a youth filled with tragedy and upheaval, Sarah Miller's life is finally settled with all echoes of the past silent at last.  She happily calls Sanctuary her home and spends her days teaching at the local school.          Sarah's joy at her recent reunion with her sister, Hannah, and meeting the niece she didn't know she had is too soon interrupted when Deputy Sheriff Paul Gleason informs Sarah her sister has been killed.          As she learns more about Hannah's death, the circumstances are eerily similar to their parents' murder.  Sarah enlists Paul's help in digging deeper into the murders the police are dismissing as burglaries gone wrong.  Paul's concern encourages Sarah's growing feelings for him, but as their investigation peels back the layers of lies almost twenty years old, they get close to uncovering the truth one person will do anything to hide--even ...

Review of Unbreakable by Nancy Mehl Gentle and unassuming, Hope Kauffman has never been one to question the traditions of her Mennonite upbringing.  She quietly helps her father run Kingdom Quilts and has agreed to the betrothal he arranged for her with the devout but shy Ebbie Miller. Despite the attempts of Hope and other Kingdom residents to maintain the status quo, changes have already begun to stir in the small Mennonite town.   The handsome and charismatic Jonathan Weise is the leader of the move to reform, while Ebbie insists Kingdom must remain true to its foundation.  When Hope's safety is threatened by a mysterious outsider, she can't help but question what she's always been taught about the Mennonite tradition of nonviolence.  With tensions high and their lives endangered by an unknown enemy, will Hope and the people of Kingdom allow fear and division to break them or will they draw on the strength of the God they serve? MY REVIEW: I was...