1 to 17 of 17
Review Date: 8/14/2023
A very interesting book with a unique writing style and a lot of wisdom. It's fascinating how reading something you already know in different words can make it have a much more profound effect on you.
Review Date: 12/17/2023
Cute stories for the Christmas season!
Review Date: 10/12/2023
Amy Clipston always delivers with sweet, clean romances! At some points I found this story to be a little cheesy, but it was still very enjoyable.
This book is the first in a series that follows a group of cousins who work at a local market. At first, I found it a little difficult to keep up with all cousins/characters, but I'm sure that will get easier as I continue the series.
This novel focuses on Christiana, her love of baking, and her complicated relationship with a young man she meets at the market. I found their interactions at little immature at points, but it was nice to see the male lead struggling with some very human emotions, like self-confidence issues.
This book does a great job of showing how life can be messy, unpredictable, and downright confusing, but it's all part of God's plan, and if we have faith, everything will work out. I really appreciated that message!
This book is the first in a series that follows a group of cousins who work at a local market. At first, I found it a little difficult to keep up with all cousins/characters, but I'm sure that will get easier as I continue the series.
This novel focuses on Christiana, her love of baking, and her complicated relationship with a young man she meets at the market. I found their interactions at little immature at points, but it was nice to see the male lead struggling with some very human emotions, like self-confidence issues.
This book does a great job of showing how life can be messy, unpredictable, and downright confusing, but it's all part of God's plan, and if we have faith, everything will work out. I really appreciated that message!
Review Date: 2/14/2024
A fun, light read!
Review Date: 9/14/2023
A very enjoyable read! The plot is a little dark but the book is interspersed with plenty of humor to keep it from being too heavy. The writing style is excellent - I felt like I could picture everything right as it was happening.
I guessed the twist, but that didn't bother me. I liked the entire cast of characters and wanted to see how everything ended for each of them, even when I was no longer trying to figure out who the villain was.
My favorite part of the book was the relationship between the sisters. It was very well-written, so realistic and believable. This also added much needed levity to the story.
I guessed the twist, but that didn't bother me. I liked the entire cast of characters and wanted to see how everything ended for each of them, even when I was no longer trying to figure out who the villain was.
My favorite part of the book was the relationship between the sisters. It was very well-written, so realistic and believable. This also added much needed levity to the story.
Review Date: 10/19/2023
So far, this book was my favorite in the series! It was much easier to keep up with all the characters and I found Salina and Will's story much more interesting than Christiana and Jeff's. Their Amish/Mennonite relationship was unique and not something I see a lot of in this type of fiction.
Throughout this book the author emphasized how you can use different ways to feel close to God. Salina mentioned praying and talking to The Lord while gardening, and Will mentioned feeling close to God while he follows his passion for cooking. It's so true that when we follow God's plan for our lives by using the talents and passions He gave us, we will feel closer to Him! I loved that message!
I also enjoyed the overall theme of following your heart. It was difficult at times to wait for the characters to make up their minds, but just like in real life, relationships aren't always easy!
One thing I noticed was that both this book and the first in the series had a domineering father that refuses to listen to his daughter until the last moment. I don't enjoy that trope and hope it is left out of the next book!
Throughout this book the author emphasized how you can use different ways to feel close to God. Salina mentioned praying and talking to The Lord while gardening, and Will mentioned feeling close to God while he follows his passion for cooking. It's so true that when we follow God's plan for our lives by using the talents and passions He gave us, we will feel closer to Him! I loved that message!
I also enjoyed the overall theme of following your heart. It was difficult at times to wait for the characters to make up their minds, but just like in real life, relationships aren't always easy!
One thing I noticed was that both this book and the first in the series had a domineering father that refuses to listen to his daughter until the last moment. I don't enjoy that trope and hope it is left out of the next book!
Review Date: 2/14/2024
Great book, although I don't think I'm the intended target audience for it. Definitely changed (improved) my view on God's will.
Review Date: 8/28/2023
A beautiful little book!
Review Date: 12/4/2023
I was pleasantly surprised by this little book. First of all, I felt it had way less filler than most Amish novels, which tend to be 300+ pages, with at least 100 of those pages being completely unnecessary. This book did have a few filler sections (i.e. the rodents) but nothing too bad.
Being a twin myself, I'm always skeptical reading about twins because so many stereotypes often used in writing are just downright ridiculous. I loved how in this book Elma and Thelma's separate personalities were continually emphasized (although I really wish that didn't have rhyming names...). The only thing that really bothered me in this book was the childish promise Thelma made concerning her twin and felt obliged to keep. It just seemed immature and hard to believe that she'd been holding on to it for all these years, despite her own desires and interests.
This book is described on the back as a lighthearted Christmas romance, but most of the book takes place in late fall to early December, so there aren't a lot of Christmas vibes. If you enjoy Amish romance, this would be a book you could read really at any time of the year.
Being a twin myself, I'm always skeptical reading about twins because so many stereotypes often used in writing are just downright ridiculous. I loved how in this book Elma and Thelma's separate personalities were continually emphasized (although I really wish that didn't have rhyming names...). The only thing that really bothered me in this book was the childish promise Thelma made concerning her twin and felt obliged to keep. It just seemed immature and hard to believe that she'd been holding on to it for all these years, despite her own desires and interests.
This book is described on the back as a lighthearted Christmas romance, but most of the book takes place in late fall to early December, so there aren't a lot of Christmas vibes. If you enjoy Amish romance, this would be a book you could read really at any time of the year.
Review Date: 7/26/2023
This was by far one of the best Amish books I've ever read! The characters were unique and the story was fast-paced and exciting. Highly recommend!
Review Date: 7/17/2023
This was a pleasant surprise. Amish romance novels can often by cliche or overly sappy, but this book was the exact opposite. The characters were refreshingly real and the relationship was not only believable but supportable (as in, I was actually invested in the characters and their feelings for one another). I also enjoyed the reminders of God's faithfulness throughout the book.
Review Date: 3/12/2024
Doesn't seem possible that I could care so much about a fictional rat ð¥²
Review Date: 1/8/2024
I don't think I've ever been so touched by characters in a book before.
Graham is a true wordsmith. His writing is excellent, at times even stunningly beautiful, but what really sets his work apart is the elegant humanity of the characters. They make mistakes, they do immoral things, they change, they do saintly things, they love each other, they fight, they grow, they seem to live and breathe from the pageâ¦
The story draws you in before you realize it and holds you there. Never would I have believed that 18th century Cornwall could feel so real to me. I'm half homesick for Nampara.
Now the only question is, how to choose a favorite? Verity, Ross, Demelza, even Francis, Jud, and Prudie have their odd charmsâ¦
Graham is a true wordsmith. His writing is excellent, at times even stunningly beautiful, but what really sets his work apart is the elegant humanity of the characters. They make mistakes, they do immoral things, they change, they do saintly things, they love each other, they fight, they grow, they seem to live and breathe from the pageâ¦
The story draws you in before you realize it and holds you there. Never would I have believed that 18th century Cornwall could feel so real to me. I'm half homesick for Nampara.
Now the only question is, how to choose a favorite? Verity, Ross, Demelza, even Francis, Jud, and Prudie have their odd charmsâ¦
Review Date: 1/8/2024
I don't think I've ever been so touched by characters in a book before.
Graham is a true wordsmith. His writing is excellent, at times even stunningly beautiful, but what really sets his work apart is the elegant humanity of the characters. They make mistakes, they do immoral things, they change, they do saintly things, they love each other, they fight, they grow, they seem to live and breathe from the pageâ¦
The story draws you in before you realize it and holds you there. Never would I have believed that 18th century Cornwall could feel so real to me. I'm half homesick for Nampara.
Now the only question is, how to choose a favorite? Verity, Ross, Demelza, even Francis, Jud, and Prudie have their odd charmsâ¦
Graham is a true wordsmith. His writing is excellent, at times even stunningly beautiful, but what really sets his work apart is the elegant humanity of the characters. They make mistakes, they do immoral things, they change, they do saintly things, they love each other, they fight, they grow, they seem to live and breathe from the pageâ¦
The story draws you in before you realize it and holds you there. Never would I have believed that 18th century Cornwall could feel so real to me. I'm half homesick for Nampara.
Now the only question is, how to choose a favorite? Verity, Ross, Demelza, even Francis, Jud, and Prudie have their odd charmsâ¦
Review Date: 9/5/2023
Such an adorable book! Although it's for a younger audience, it didn't feel juvenile at all. The characters were easy to connect to, and this was a fun, fast-paced read.
The author created a charming little village full of delightful creatures who all interact in ways that are both true to their animal nature but also befitting to a place where all animals, big and small, live next door to one another. It was very Breatrix Potter-esque, which I, being a big fan of Peter Rabbit, enjoyed very much.
This wasn't the most unique or inventive cozy mystery I've ever read (the whole 'angry mistress killing the man who won't run away with her' trope has definitely been done before'), but I didn't pick this up thinking it was going to be the next Sherlock Holmes. I just wanted a well-written cozy mystery featuring cute animals in a quaint small town - and this definitely delivered!
I will be picking up the rest of the series!
The author created a charming little village full of delightful creatures who all interact in ways that are both true to their animal nature but also befitting to a place where all animals, big and small, live next door to one another. It was very Breatrix Potter-esque, which I, being a big fan of Peter Rabbit, enjoyed very much.
This wasn't the most unique or inventive cozy mystery I've ever read (the whole 'angry mistress killing the man who won't run away with her' trope has definitely been done before'), but I didn't pick this up thinking it was going to be the next Sherlock Holmes. I just wanted a well-written cozy mystery featuring cute animals in a quaint small town - and this definitely delivered!
I will be picking up the rest of the series!
Review Date: 3/12/2024
I almost think I enjoyed this one more than the first (or at least the first half of this novel seemed more interesting to me).
Review Date: 2/14/2024
It's so nice to find a clean regency romance! This was a quick, enjoyable read with more action than you normally find in this genre. A nice change of pace! I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
1 to 17 of 17
