Rhonda's Doings !

Review of Plain Peace (Daughters of the Promise #6) by Beth Wiseman Anna’s grandfather seems determined to ruin her Rumspringa . . . and any hopes she has of finding a husband. Anna Byler should be enjoying her Rumspringa as allowed by her faith. But because of the strict rules enforced by her grandfather—the bishop—the available suitors in town are afraid to court her. Even Anna’s grandmother is keeping a big secret from Anna’s grandfather in an effort to keep the peace. Under her grandfather’s oppressive watch, Anna begins to feel her faith slipping and wonders if God has forsaken her. Jacob Hostetler and his family have relocated to Lancaster County following a family tragedy in Ohio. As his family struggles to rebuild their lives, Jacob is forced to act as head of the household when his father is unable to cope with recent events. It’s been a long time since Jacob has felt any joy. Until he meets Anna Byler. But will Anna’s grandfather succeed at keeping them apart? And ...

Review of The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer Every year, young Amish men descend on the cozy little town of West Kootenai, Montana, arriving in the spring to live there for six months and receive “resident” status for the hunting season in the fall. They arrive as bachelors, but go home with brides! In The Promise Box, the second book of best-selling author Tricia Goyer’s Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series, Lydia Wyse, a book editor from Seattle who grew up Amish, returns to the small community of West Kootenai to give comfort to her father after her mother’s death. She is drawn back to the familiar Amish ways after finding her mother’s most precious possession, a Promise Box of prayers and scripture. What her publisher sees, though, is an opportunity for a sensational “tell-all” book about the Amish. Lydia soon finds herself falling in love with Amish bachelor Gideon Hooley. She wants nothing more than to forget her past and look forward to a future as an Amish bride. But...

Review of A Christmas Gift for Rose by Tricia Goyer   Born in the midst of the hardships of The Great Depression, Rose grew up in Berlin, Ohio, in the arms of a loving Amish family. But as sh e prepares to marry, she's thrown into confusion when she learns the truth of her birth. She was born Englisch and abandoned when the family moved on in search of work. Was she meant to be Amish or would she have been better off growing up with her own kind---Englischers? And was her intended's gift of discovering her birth family given out of love or fear? MY REVIEW:   Tricia Goyer has written the sweetest Christmas story I have had the pleasure to read!    I love the parallels she draws to Heidi , as Rose volunteers at the local Amish school once a week and reads a chapter to the class.  I won't spoil it though and tell you how it relates to Rose's special story.   I have always thought of adoption as the most precious way to tell I child:  "We CHOS...

Review of  A Hopeful Heart by Amy Clipston In Hopeful Heart, the first novel of the new Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel series from bestselling author Amy Clipston, Hannah Glick, a recent widow, finds herself stuck at a crossroad in her life. Her community offers her love and support, but a new friend offers her the chance of a new life after unexpectedly losing her husband. Wealthy businessman Trey Peterson is surprised at his attraction for the gentle Amish woman who works as a housekeeper in the Lancaster Grand hotel where he is staying. They share a common bond of loss and are able to offer each other comfort and support as they journey through their grief. Joshua King wants nothing more than to offer his friendship and love to Hannah and her family. Not only is he her husband’s best friend and business partner in their shared horse business, he has always been in love with Hannah. Are they destined to be only business partners or will Joshua be able to convince he...

Review of Letters to Katie by Kathleen Fuller Everything changed between them the first time he called her Katie. Katherine Yoder has loved Johnny Mullet since they were children, but he never actively returned her affections. Like so many things in their world, he assumes Katherine will always be there. Once his horse farm is a success, then he will court her in earnest. For several weeks, Katherine has been plagued by severe headaches and dizziness. While resting at home, Johnny unexpectedly visits, but when dizziness strikes, she loses consciousness. She awakens hours later in a hospital bed, unable to remember how she got there. Seeing Katherine injured and vulnerable stirs something in Johnny, and his guilt compels him to spend time with her while she heals. Soon his heart begins to stir with questions: Does she even remember why he’d come to her house that day? As Katherine struggles to recall recent memories of Johnny, a surprise visitor arrives in her already unstead...

Review of The House That Love Built  by Beth Wiseman Brooke has only loved one man. Owen's heart is filled with bitterness. Can a mysterious house bring them together for a second chance at love? In the small town of Smithville, Texas, Brooke Holloway is raising six-year-old Meghan and ten-year-old Spencer on her own two years after her husband's death. Being a single-mom and running the family's local hardware store keep her busy. While Meghan longs for a daddy, Spencer has threatened to run away if Brooke even goes out on a date. But the last thing on Brooke's mind is falling in love. When a stranger moves to town and buys a house with a mysterious past, Brooke can't contain her curiosity. As she spends time with the new owner, she wonders if maybe God is giving her another chance at happiness. Owen Saunders fled the big city to start over in a small, rural town famous for baking the world's largest gingerbread man. Then he bought an old house to restor...

Review of Threads of Grace by Kelly Long Grace's autistic son needs a life that is safe and consistent. Seth wants to leave his flirting days behind him and settle down. Deep in the heart of the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania, the beautiful and weary Amish widow, Grace Beiler, is not looking for a husband—especially one so much younger than her. But handsome and smitten Seth Wyse stumbles upon a way to help her and they marry to keep Grace’s autistic son safe from his ill-intentioned uncle. Grace soon discovers that she is far from immune to her young husband’s experienced charm and realizes that her first marriage has not destroyed her capacity for love. Seth Wyse seeks counsel from his older brother, Jacob, when playing the  game of  pursuing his wife becomes more dangerous to both his heart and life than he ever imagined. Yet God can give Grace and Seth a passion for family and each other that teaches them the ways of the Master  Quilter  ...

Review of An Amish Kitchen by Kelly Long, Beth Wiseman, and Amy Clipston The Amish Kitchen is the Heart of the Home - and the Ideal Setting for Stories of Love and Hope. Fall in Paradise, Pennsylvania, always brings a brisk change in the weather. This season also ushers in unexpected visitors, new love, and renewed hope for three women. Fern has a green thumb for growing healing herbs, but longs for love to bloom in her life. Then the next-door neighbor's oldest son, Abram, comes running into Fern's kitchen seeking help for his little sister. The crisis soon leads to a promise of romance--until mistrust threatens to end the growing attraction. Nearby, Hannah runs her parents' bed and breakfast, Paradise Inn--but her life feels nothing like Paradise. She longs for a man of integrity to enter her life, but never expected him to knock on the front door looking for a room. Will she be able trust Stephen with her future once she discovers his mysterious past? Wh...

Review of An Angel by Her Side by Ruth Reid Katie has lived through tragedy and heartache. But with the angel Elias by her side, the best years of her life are just ahead. A Heaven on Earth Novel, #3 When Katie Bender's fiance died in a tragic accident, so did her hope of finding love. Though heartbroken, Katie is also practical. In the years since the accident she has discovered her gift for teaching. But when a tornado destroys her small Amish settlement, including the schoolhouse, Katie doesn't know how she will provide for herself. Seth Stutzman arrived in Hope Falls days before the storm. And when he helps usher Katie and the children to safety, sparks fly. But Seth is only in town to help his brother, Amos, get back on his feet following the death of his wife. He can't afford to have feelings for Katie. Rebuilding the community is a huge task, and soon, Katie and Seth are working side by side. As they privately wrestle with their feelings for each other, an...

Review of A Marriage of the Heart  by Kelly Long Three Kelly Long Amish novellas—available for the first time in one collection. Christmas Cradles—When Anna takes over for her aunt, the local midwife, Christmas night heats up with multiple deliveries, three strangers' quilts, and unexpected help from the handsome, brooding Asa Lapp. A Marriage of the Heart—Since her mother’s death, Abigail Kauffman has lived alone with her father. She longs to escape the emptiness of the farmhouse that has never felt like home. Joseph Lambert is a newcomer in their close-knit community. Only after suddenly marrying do they begin to understand the tender truths of life-long love. A Perfect Secret—Rose’s betrothed, Luke, is safe and dependable—maybe a little too safe. Or so she thought, until she ran into him into the woods one night and learned there was more to him than she ever suspected. Now his secret haunts her. She wasn’t sure about marrying a man she knew too well. But should she marr...

Review of The River                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       ...

From the Heart of a Woman  Love Letters to My Lord by Sylvia Hensel book review  So many times when author Sylvia Hensel bows in prayer, she finds herself transported to another place. She feels herself being lifted up on arms of love to a realm of oneness with her Lord. She feels as though she is the bride in the Song of Solomon. He comes to her in the midnight hours and calls her to Himself. Every nerve of her spiritual being is in tune with Him as He whispers words of love in her ear. He takes her in His arms, and they dance across the heavens while He sings over her. She is enraptured by His exquisite love for her. In those moments they share their intimate thoughts with one another. It is when His presence is lifted that she finds she has written much of what was said, and she is awestruck at the beauty that had transpired during the time they shared. These are her personal love letters to Jesus. For many years He would not allow her to share them, but...