... to set the beginning to the stories in the wonderful Wildflowers series
344573
This book is a must read to set the beginning to the stories in the wonderful Wildflowers series, which is a wonderful read!!!!  I have read it more than once and will read it again at some point I am sure.  Loved it!
3938643
A great beginning to a nice story.  I tend to skim the first chapter or two of a new book b/c it tends to drag on and on, but this beginning was wonderful.  A tiny bit too much sex, for my liking, but I liked the way the author kind of kept it clean, but did not like the ending as the ending was too abrupt so as to make you need to get the rest of the series.  I usually do end up getting the rest of series after I have read the first book, but I may not get this one.  I prefer to have a story end nicely for the characters so I look forward to what happens next, but not with this.  I don't want the ending of such a nice love story to end badly.  It's a love story and should end lovely.  That's why I read them.
3983595
I truly enjoy the books that Lori Copeland writes.  The Brides of the West are a joy to read.  I read the first three: Faith; June and Hope.  Each book takes you into a wonderful story of how these young women find their husbands.  Last I checked I have to read three more to finish the series.  Each woman portrayed keeps you wanting to read faster to see what is going to happen next.  Delightful stories and the kind of books that make you feel good.
3435465
Almost two years ago I read Paradise Valley, the first book in Dale Cramer's The Daughters of Caleb Bender series.  In the past couple of weeks I've had the pleasure of completing that journey with books 2 and 3, The Captive Heart and Though Mountains Fall.

These books form a fictional series, based on actual events, of a handful of Amish families who in the 1920s fled from Ohio to the mountains of Mexico after being punished for refusing to send their children to public schools.  The first book set the stage for the move and told about the Bender family's first year of living in a strange land.  Books 2 and 3 continue their story over the next few years.  Dale Cramer is the great-grandson of one of the leaders of a group of Amish who made a similar trek from Ohio to Mexico.

These stories are not your typical Amish fiction.  They are not light, easy reads, as some Amish novels are.  They do not show all the loose ends tied up with everyone living "happily ever after."

Cramer tells of a group of American Amish people, strong in their faith, who make very difficult choices in extremely trying situations.  Their beliefs, livelihoods, and lives are tested in a strange, new world, where many of the rules they have known before simply do not apply.  With no church leaders present for most of those years, they find themselves faced with making decisions on their own and are sometimes forced to make choices between traditional beliefs and survival.  Love, loss, forgiveness, and family are put to the test over and over in the hearts of individual characters, as well as the whole community.  There are many joys and high points along the way in the midst of the gritty struggles these families endure.

I would highly recommend this entire series to fellow Amish fiction fans, as well as to anyone interested in reading about different cultures in various historical settings. (This is definitely a series to be read in order.) Five stars to Dale Cramer's The Daughters of Caleb Bender.
2918797
Home to Pebble Creek is a very enjoyable short story by Vannetta Chapman. This sweet little story is told as a first person account by Esther. It was as if Esther was speaking directly to me and explaining the pain she felt as her love left the Amish community and the anger she experienced as he returned home.

I was able to read this short story in a few minutes. I must admit that I would have loved this short story to be even longer! However, I think it is a great introduction to the Pebble Creek series as is. The full length stories in this series are so wonderful. In each one, the characters touched my heart and they felt like real people to me.

If I had not read the series already, I feel that this little window into the lives of Esther, Miriam and Joseph would spur me on to read the rest of the series.
4107602
These are four sweet, inspiring stories about young Amish girls and boys, who learn about themselves and others.  In Letting Go Hannah and her sister are at odds with each other because Sarah doesnt act like Hannah thinks she should.  Sarah learns what is most important to her, while Hannah learns to stop pushing others and let go so Gods will can be done.  In Rebekahs Quilt an accident brings Levi and Rebekah together.  Through their combined efforts, Levi discovers he is able to do more than he thought possible and Rebekah is able to get her quilt to an auction as planned.  In Unexpected Romance Rebekah is part of a very strict Amish family, while Jacoba newcomer to the communityworks for an English company.  They have an instant connection, but their parents forbid them to associate.  However, they are able to work through these and other issues, to finally have a chance at love.  In Abigails First Love Abigail wants a husband and family, but is unsure if anyone will want her.  Therefore, she takes advantage of rumspringa to see what its like being around English teens.  Then she notices an Amish young man she knows, who secretly likes her, which is the beginning of their love story.  I would recommend these stories to everyone.  I received a free copy of this anthology and this is my honest opinion of these stories.
2591107
Just finished The Amish Garden and found it very refreshing.  It consists of several romantic short stories.  All the stories take place in Amish communities in various parts of the country.  While these stories are all religion based I enjoyed that they weren't heavy.  The heartfelt situations that these characters find themselves involved in endeared them to me almost immediately.
3043596
I enjoyed these stories very much except the first one. It had a lot of concepts that seemed to embrace superstitions rather than spirituality. But then I read the second, which hit me to the core. And they continued. All of the rest were just beautiful. The idea of these stories is that each one is centered around one of the sabbats of the year. The first is Yule, the second Imbolc, and so on. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review, but I recommend you buy this if you want to read some lovely stories, simple stories about life and how people deal with it, with a nature spirituality flavor.
2240810
Although I read this series in reverse, it worked out well, as the stories were all superb. I liked all the characters as portrayed in each book and the author is very good.  I will be keeping these to read again in the future. I recommend them to those who like to read a historical novel and not have to wade through the mundane foul language of many of today's authors. Donna Mabry paints portraits of her characters in words fit for any lady or gentleman. Self discovery lends itself to the development of our society.
642458
The Americana series is about a town called Homestead, Idaho. The creation of the town beginning with just few families in small farm houses, one main street and only few stores to it's booming times with railroads and big hotels. I have only read three of the series but so far, it makes me feel like I am in the town itselft. There are many characters aside from the two primary couples. It contains love stories as well as family and neighborly love scenes. People helping one another is heart warming. Like every small town, everyone knows everybody's business and gossips cannot be avoided. Though I find that flaw amusing in many ways. My favorite aside from the romance story is that each book contains many updates of the characters from the previous book. I also enjoy reading books about children and their growing up years especially if they become the couple or the main characters in the next book. It is like keeping track of a mini series in T.V.. This is what makes the series so interesting from the beginning to the end.
This is the last book of the Americana Series.  It's the story of Benjamin Rafferty (son of Michael & Rose in book 2 "Forever, Rose") and Katie Jones (daughter of Lark & Yancy in book 2 "Forever, Rose").  After reading the book synopsis, I was doubtful as to whether I will enjoy this book or not.  I thought this book would somehow be a bit boring or too serious considering Katie's involvement in suffrage movement & her firm belief of the woman's rights.  I hate to waste my entire time reading about the woman's rights in the the early 1900's.  However, I made myself read it because it was part of the Americana Series, which I have started, and "Forever, Rose" is my favorite of all the series.  I was excited to read updates of Rose & Lark as well as the rest of the people in Homestead, Idaho.  I am glad I wasn't disappointed.  As it turned out, the book was very interesting.  Robin Lee Hatcher blended the facts with lots of romance & humor.  I am happy to say that there was no dull moment. The heart warming love story of Katie & Ben wasn't overpowered by the facts or stories of the suffrage movement either.  Everything was just blended perfectly!
Since the... Editorial Reviews pretty much cover the basics or the summary of this book, there is no need for me to carry on...
However, here's the series in sequence: 1st: WHERE THE HEART IS ------> 2nd: FOREVER,ROSE --------> 3rd: REMEMBER WHEN ------------> 4th: Kiss me, Katie.
If you started the series, which I highly recommend...  finish it with "Kiss Me, Katie".  It's a wonderful end to the Americana Series.
2205528
As the title describes, this is a set of novellas that take place in lovely coastal towns of Oregon.  The author of the Prologue, Angela Ruth Strong, sets the pace of the novellas. We are introduced to  Christina, a bride to be , her bridesmaids and the maid of honor. They have been friends since college. The wedding is cancelled when the bride realizes that if her fiance is not going to be a man of faith, she feels she would not have a happy marriage.
I especially liked Finding Love in Lincoln City , by Heather Woodhaven. Liz (the maid of the cancelled wedding ) meets up again with the guy she has loved since college. But he might cost her job in a local magazine, and she is afraid of being hurt.
In general , each story is one of faith in God,  in belief in oneself and in the possibility of love. Is it worth the risk and will these women take a chance of loving and being loved.
A nice book for a summer reading.
I was gifted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
1153999
I loved these books as a child and now I love reading them to my students. This is a great beginning to any child's book collection.
696726
Sophie Dawson writes as a modern day Jane Austen might. Though set during the western frontier days, these are not shoot 'em up westerns. Rather, the stories present wonderful characters, delve into their hearts, their secrets, their responses and their relationships. In this 3rd book of the wonderful Cottonwood Series, two people who have faced terrible tragedy learn to help each other, and so to recover, and finally to love again.  The assortment of colorful characters making up friends, local children, the townspeople and a villain or two are wonderfully developed and enrich the stories. This is a vey enjoyable read!
4144927
Thornton W. Burgess' Old Mother West Wind books were standard in my family of origin.  I remember my Daddy reading them to me, and I read them to my own son.  Now I have the supreme pleasure of reading them to his daughter.  I believe that my love of animals and all things natural was born and nurtured through these stories, and now it's just wonderful to see my granddaughter's awakening love of the same through the same medium.  These stories are timeless, and if I live long enough, I hope to read them to my great grandchildren!
3965554
This is a great set of three Christmas novellas.  Each novella is connected by a beautiful quilt.  The first story is Luellas Promise.  Luella helps to care for her friends family while her friend is dying and after.  The second is  Karens Gift.  Karen is Luellas child.  She has moved to a new town and is not sure if she and her family shouldn't move  back to be near family.  The third story is called Roseannas Groom.  Roseanna is Luellas grandchild.  Roseanna has to decide if she should marry the man who left her at the alter or the new guy that she has met.  Each story has the quilt in the story.  These are wonderful Christmas stories.  I received this book from Barbour Publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
2268851
I really, really enjoyed both the stories and the formatting of the stories themselves. I think these are perfect for those of us who don't have the time to dedicate to reading a huge book, because it is broken up into the four novellas. The storyline for each is captivating and the characters are easy to get to know and to identify with. I highly recommend these novellas for anyone who likes Amish stories (or just enjoys reading stories with young characters trying to figure out life). I really enjoyed the ending of each story, how they neatly wrapped up what happens after the story.
2759365
Happily Ever After Collection is the newest release from A Timeless Romance Anthology series. This collection includes the following:
Mail-Order Princess by Jessica Day George
The Millers Daughter by Julie Wright
The Pebbled Path by Sarah M. Eden
Black Fern by Julie Daines
Scarlet by Heather B. Moore
So Rare a Power by Annette Lyon
I enjoyed every one of these stories. My favorite is hard to choose between Sarah M Eden's The Pebbled Path and Heather B Moore's Scarlet. I, also, found some new authors to me to read in the near future.
I give this collections 4 stars.
I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.