Amish Promises by Leslie Gould

I really enjoyed this book. It grabbed my attention right from the beginning and didn't let go. At times I was frustrated with the characters because they just wouldn't bend but in the end everything seemed to work out.

There were several characters in this book between two families living side by side, one Amish and one English. Things really heat up when the children in both families become friends and the two fathers have issues of their own which prevent things from running smoothly. There is a lot of conflict, anger, animosity, fear going on but there is also a lot of forgiveness, love and new beginnings too. Some of those new beginnings come from the most unexpected places.

I really enjoy reading this authors books and this one is another winner for her. This is book 1 in the Neighbors of Lancaster County series. I cannot wait for the next one! I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Midwife's Tale by Delia Parr

It took me a while to get into this book. I like books with more dialogue than paragraph description but once I got used to the way the book was being written I was able to get into the story. It seemed the story jumped from one thing to another very quickly but in reality it didn't. There were several things going on at the same time all related to the main character Martha.

Martha is a very complex woman. Having survived losing her husband and now issues with her daughter make Martha really take a look at herself and everything she has done. Her career as a midwife is very important to her as she feels it is her legacy, having been handed down for generations. How she deals with her emotions and the discoveries she makes about herself make this a very interesting story. By the time I got to the last chapters of the book I was wanting more and was happy to discover this was book 1 in the At Home In Trinity series. I honestly cannot wait for book 2 as I am curious to see how so many things are resolved. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good first book in a series that will make you come back for more. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Hearts Made Whole by Jody Hedlund

This book is another winner for Ms. Hedlund! From the first page the story took hold and never let go until the last page. I love this series. Not only is the subject of lighthouses interesting, the way the lighthouse becomes part of the story only makes the story better. I really enjoyed the characters in this book - well, except for a couple. But in the end the truth won out and so did the ways of the heart. I had my doubts. It looked like things were not going to go the way I thought they would but as the story weaved it's way to a conclusion everything worked itself out.

This is book 2 in the Beacons of Hope series but it stands on it's own just fine. I always know when I pick up a book by this author I am going to be finding excuses to read. I highly recommend this book.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Postcard by Laura V. Hilton

Let me start by saying I love this authors books but this one just didn't grab me. By that I mean it didn't make me want to find excuses to read to find out what happens next. David's attraction to Rachel, a young woman he has only corresponded with via pen pal letters, is a constant theme through the book as is her attraction to him. It took me a while to figure out where the title fit into the book. It seemed like other sub stories were quickly resolved without issue and the only drama in the book was Rachel's brothers dislike of David.

It was a good read but not one of my favorite books by this author. I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.