Grace's Forgiveness by Molly Jebber {A Book Review}

Christian Amish Fiction is still a fairly new genre within my reading realm, but it is one that continues to grow on me. My first experience with Christian Amish Fiction came this past fall when I read and reviewed The Amish Christmas Sleigh, which is made up of three novella's by three separate authors (you can see my review for An Amish Christmas Sleigh here). Of the three novella's, An Unexpected Christmas Blessing by Molly Jebber was my favorite. So when I had the chance to read & review her novel Grace's Forgiveness, I signed up immediately!

Grace's Forgiveness is the 2nd in Jebber's A Keepsake Pocket Quilt Novel series, but it definitely stands on its own! I have only read this second book, and it is a very detailed and well-rounded novel. The novel centers around Grace, who is both a midwife & a businesswoman as she runs a quilt store with her friend, Sarah. Both girls are Amish and live within a tight-knit, protective Amish community. The community is open to outsiders from a business standpoint, but members of the community are to refrain from any communication and contact with "the outside world" that isn't business related. This exclusion is the main source of conflict between Grace and Sarah, as Grace's best friend Becca married a man who isn't Amish, so Becca is to be shunned. Grace still loves and cares for Becca and breaks the rules a bit to remain in touch with her.

As the reader begins to see the complexities within Grace & Sarah's friendship, a newcomer arrives. He is Mark King, and has just moved from the Amish town of Lancaster and desires to become part of Berlin's Amish community. Mark is single and will be opening a store nextdoor to Grace and Sarah's quiltstore. Sarah, who is married, makes it clear to Mark that Grace is single and available. While the two seem a little embarrassed, they are both intrigued. And Grace is very impressed by the gentleman who seems oblivious to the birthmark on her face that causes so many others to stare at her.  While Grace and Mark get to know one another better, the reader finds out that Mark has a brother Abel who left the Amish church and is the source of much chaos and heartache. And the reader begins to wonder: Will Abel bring turmoil to Mark's new life in Berlin? Will Grace and Mark discover they both have a secret connection with someone shunned from the Amish community? Will that knowledge bring them together or end their relationship?

Grace's Forgiveness provides interesting insight to life within the Amish community. From the Bishop having to approve Mark's acceptance, to a barn raising, to the rituals for funerals and engagements, to interacting with local police, and to family dynamics, Jebber is able to bring both depth to her characters and awareness to her readers in a seamless manner. It's not "just" a romance novel, as it contains some mystery and suspense. Adding Grace's parents as minor characters brings another layer of depth and tension to the novel. Grace is an independent and confident woman, and seeing her navigate falling in love while using her skills as a midwife and remaining a successful business woman makes the novel a must-read.

**I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.**

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Grace’s Forgiveness by Molly Jebber is a 320 page novel in the Christian Amish genre. It is published by Kinsignton Publishing Corp and was released on Jan 26, 2016. To purchase your copy, click here.

About the Book

A handsome newcomer with secrets shows a yearning Amish woman a chance at happiness—but their love will need all their courage to keep . . . Grace Blauch is skilled at midwifery—and crafting quilts that help others pass on messages of enduring family love. But a disfiguring birthmark keeps the young Amish woman from a husband and home of her own—until Mark King arrives from another community. His helpfulness and independent nature earn Grace’s respect. And he finds her outspoken ways and determination to do right irresistibly appealing. Soon Grace is planning a wedding quilt of her very own . . . until her father discovers that Mark’s shunned brother is hiding somewhere in town . . . Grace can well understand why Mark took such a risk once she hears his wrenching reasons. But she fears even prayer will not convince her father to restore his blessing on their union. She wills herself to face the end of her dreams, but sudden danger and an impossible act of generosity will show her that abiding hope can inspire the most precious of miracles . . .

About the Author

Molly Jebber is an educational, motivational, and Women’s Christian Connection speaker. She was raised in a small town in the Midwest, and insists if you had blinked twice, you would’ve missed it. She loves God, her family and friends, sunshine, swimming and traveling to the Amish communities. Creating historical Amish characters and throwing them into difficult situations and joyous times has been challenging and fun for her. The greatest reward she’s experienced in becoming an author is meeting wonderful people from all over the world who’ve been encouraging and supportive.

copyright 2016 LeAnne Klopfenstein

"You're a Good Mom" {Perception & Misconception}

"You're a good mom."

I hear those words very often, and nearly everywhere I go--Costco, Target, church, the grocery store, the doctor's office...you get the idea. And I suppose the strangers' words come out naturally when they see a gal with a 16 month-old on one hip, a 21 month-old on the other, a three-year old tagging alongside.

But while I hear the words, they aren't being said to me.

The words are being said to my 15 year-old daughter, Kaitlin.

Kaitlin, my oldest child who--along with younger siblings Connor & Kylie--has spent 5 years sharing her home & life with foster siblings. She was 10 when our journey as a foster family began....and 13 when someone first called 'mom' as she snuggled tiny baby Charlie--who is now officially & forever her brother--at church.

Church, where her dad is one of the pastors.

Fostering is not a parent journey...it's a family journey. One that has affected my kids in ways I did not expect. Could I have possibly dreamed my 13 year-old daughter would be assumed to be a mother? Or that by the time Kaitlin was 15 that she would be the one assuming everyone thinks she is a mom? Never. Many things crossed my mind when we began this journey, but pushing my young teen into the "mom spotlight" was never on my radar and definitely not my intention.

I know that many families have children that fall within a wide age-range, and I'm sure the older children are often considered to be a parent rather than the sibling. So even though we didn't birth all of our kids, we have now created an interesting lineup within our home as we have kids ages 15, 14, 12, 3, 21 months & 16 months. The lineup causes many double-takes, questions, and assumptions that affect each of us in various ways. And for Kaitlin, it means many people will assume one of the little girls is her own child.

Last night, I asked Kaitlin, "What do you think when when people tell you you're a good mom?" And she told me she really doesn't think much about it because it's "kinda weird" . Then, with a wink and a smile, she said, "But I really am a good mom."

She is indeed.

copyright 2016 LeAnne Klopfenstein

Whispers in the Reading Room {A Fantastic Mystery Novel}

About the book: 

Whispers in the Reading Room (Zondervan, November 2015)

Lydia's job at the library is her world---until a mysterious patron catches her eye . . . and perhaps her heart.

Just months after the closure of the Chicago World's Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.

Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.

Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn't merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.

Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks-the man so many people fear-is actually everything her heart believes him to be.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1lujxr6

About the author: 

Shelley Gray is the author of The Heart of a Hero series. Her Amish novel (written as Shelley Shepard Gray), The Protector, recently made the New York Times best seller list. A native of Texas, she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Colorado and taught school for ten years. She and her husband have two children and live in Southern Ohio.

Connect with Shelley: website, Twitter, Facebook

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MY REVIEW:

If you enjoy mystery, suspense, and period pieces, Whispers in the Reading Room is a must read. I had not read any books by Shelley Gray prior to this one, and haven't read the other two books in her 'A Chicago World's Fair Mystery' series; I enjoyed the novel very much and plan to read the other books in this series simply based on how much I enjoyed this 3rd novel. The character development is excellent as first impressions and assumptions give way to hidden strengths, secret lives and complex personalities.

The novel revolves around the relationship between Lydia Bancroft and Sebastian Marks. Lydia is a librarian, and Sebastian is an avid reader who spends much time at the library. Even though they don't even talk to each other, a camaraderie between them is clearly apparent in the way they appreciate each other's intellect and routines. As they novel progresses, the reader discovers (long before Lydia) that Sebastian lives a dark life. He is a formidable owner of a saloon & gambling club in the gritty, crime-ridden area of Chicago. Lydia and her mother are revealed to be poor, yet Lydia's desire to remain strong and independent have her struggling with looking forward to life with her fiancé. These two separate worlds collide very literally in the Hartman Hotel, and Sebastian finds himself coming to Lydia's rescue. Connecting outside the library creates a wonderful "Thru the Looking Glass" storyline as they try to right themselves and move on--yet nothing with ever be the same as Lydia & Sebastian and other characters' lives criss-cross, shift, and are disrupted. Humor, anger, sadness, murder, scandal, fear & longing all stay intertwined until the last sentence on the final page brings true resolution. It is rare for an author to be able to maintain such a level of dimension throughout a novel, but Gray does it with excellence. I have no desire to tell you any more info about the plot or the minor characters--because it's so worth your time to discover it all on your own.

*I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review*

copyright 2015 LeAnne Klopfenstein

Book Review for The Amish Christmas Sleigh

The Amish Christmas Sleigh by Molly Jebber, Amy Lillard, and Kelly Long is a 384 page book in the Christian Amish fiction genre.  It is published by Kensignton and was released on September 29, 2015. To purchase your copy, click here.

Book Information:

 A SLEIGH RIDE ON ICE MOUNTAIN 
Kelly Long
For solitary toy-maker Sebastian Christner, hiring Kate Zook as his new housekeeper is simply the right thing to do. Now she can support her special-needs brother. But one taste of her independent spirit is showing him undreamed-of holiday joy—and making him long to give her a home for always.

A MAMM FOR CHRISTMAS
Amy Lillard
Bernice Yoder has far too much to do to entertain holiday dreams. Even if she can help Jess Schmucker outwit his three mischievous young daughters, it’s impossible to imagine the handsome widower can see her as anything but a scolding schoolteacher. He never guesses how a magical Christmas Eve will open his eyes to love or how Der Herr will awaken their faith and hope.  

AN UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS BLESSING
Molly Jebber
As much as Charity Lantz’s children need a father, the young widow isn’t sure her new neighbor Luke Fisher can ever be the right choice. They’re having more disagreements than snowflakes in December. Besides, he’s never given a sign he wants to be more than friends. Can Gott show them a way past their misunderstandings to a forever love?

About the Authors

Molly Jebber is an educational, motivational, and Women’s Christian Connection speaker. She was raised in a small town in the Midwest, and insists if you had blinked twice, you would’ve missed it. She loves God, her family and friends, sunshine, swimming and traveling to the Amish communities.  Creating historical Amish characters and throwing them into difficult situations and joyous times has been challenging and fun for her. The greatest reward she’s experienced in becoming an author is meeting wonderful people from all over the world who’ve been encouraging and supportive.

Kelly Long is the author of the acclaimed Amish Patch of Heaven series and has been a finalist for the coveted Carol Award from the American Christian Fiction Writers. Her novel Lily’s Wedding Quilt was a 2011 Goodreads Favorite Book of the Year.  Born and raised in the mountains of Northern Pennsylvania, she’s been married for nearly twenty-five years and has five children. Please visit her at kellylongbooks.com.  

Amy Lillard won the 2013 Carol Award for her first Amish romance Saving Gideon. She was also a Maggie Awards finalist. Born and bred in Mississippi, she now lives with her husband and son in Oklahoma. Visit her at amywritesromance.com.

Giveaway

Click here for a giveaway via rafflecopter!! One copy of The Amish Christmas Sleigh, One copy of Change of Heart, One Amish doll, One tote bag, One Barnes & Noble Gift card, One ink pen.

My Thoughts about the Book:

The Amish Christmas Sleigh is a very delightful book in that it consists of three independent novellas, which I found to be a neat way to experience three authors whose works I haven't read before! I also hadn't read Amish fiction before, so having the chance to expand my awareness of more variety within the Christian fiction genre was a great opportunity.

The first novella I read was A Sleigh Ride on Ice Mountain by Kelly Long. Unfortunately, my review of this novella is pretty mixed, as sexual content kept getting in the way of the piece having a rich storyline. So, while I enjoyed the main plot of the book, the various times that sexual desire interrupted the plot make this first novella a little difficult for me to recommend. The main storyline is clever--Kait, who cares for her disabled brother & becomes the housekeeper for Sebastian, a toymaker--is a good one as the reader waits to see if Kate and Sebastian will fall in love; I just wish the sexual content hadn't detracted from the novella's potential.

The next novella, A Mamm for Christmas by Amy Lillard is a very sweet & tender story, and I very much recommend reading it! Jess is a widower who is struggling to raise three young girls while caring for the family farm, all while still grieving the loss of his wife the year before. His daughters are precious in a very spunky way, and is the character development area of author Amy Lillard's that I enjoyed the most. While I began the novella feeling sad that Constance, Hope, & Lily Ruth don't have a mother, the girls' relationship with their dad, the way they say what's on their minds in a truthful (sometimes frank) manner, and the scheme they put together to try and have their school teacher come to their house and color and depth to the book. When Bernice Yoder, the girls' school teacher, makes her entrance into the book--by confronting Jess no less--the novella becomes even more well-rounded. It's clear immediately that Jess and Bernice are the "will they get together or won't they?" couple within the book, but Lillard adds other characters and situations that make the novella extremely enjoyable.

The final novella, An Unexpected Christmas Blessing by Molly Jebber is another wonderful read. The story begins by the reader meeting Charity Lantz, who became a widow a year prior. Charity has two children, Josiah & Beth, and her mother lives next door. It is clear that her family means a lot to her, and Charity has a very neat relationship with her children. When she gains a new neighbor, Luke Fisher, on the other side of her, Josiah & Beth take to him immediately. The relationship between Charity and Luke is genuine, pure, and comes very naturally--it is a solid friendship with no hidden agendas. The main thing they have in common is how much they each love the children. Several events occur that cause Luke & Charity to rely on one another, which deepens their friendship while making them each find it harder to not fall in love with the other person. But a secret in Luke's past has potential to disrupt the relationship between Luke & Charity. The weaving of the "will they marry or won't they?" storyline is an excellent one, and makes An Unexpected Christmas Blessing a must-read!

*I received a complementary copy in exchange for my honest review.

copyright 2015 LeAnne Klopfenstein

A Most Delightful Holiday Read! {An Endless Christmas}

I have officially added a name to my favorite author list:  Cynthia Ruchti. I didn't expect it to occur by reading a 'novella'. An Endless Christmas is the second work of Ruchti's I have read; the first, Tattered and Mended, is the absolute opposite of wistful, Christian fiction (for that book review, click here). Ruchti clearly excels at both fiction & nonfiction, and provides light-hearted reads as well as soul-searching, dig-in-deep nonfiction. One word sums up both and will keep me as part of Ruchti's audience for a very long time: therapy.

An Endless Christmas is therapy for the mind & heart. It's the equivalent of sitting by a fire, sipping hot chocolate, and having your entire schedule completely open and quiet for three hours. This sweet little work of fiction draws you in and desires your attention. So, if you have the book, hot chocolate, a fire and three hours, I know you will have the most perfect afternoon!

The novella's main storyline hits immediately and leaves the reader saying, "Oh wow". Katie has gone to Minnesota with her boyfriend Micah and says no to his wedding proposal. A wedding proposal done in front of his large extended family. A proposal done the moment they walked in the door. At Christmas time. In a small house that Katie will be sharing with the Binder family for an entire week. If I expected a sleepy beginning, those thoughts disappeared the moment I read the first sentence of the novel--what a hook!

It's interesting the way Ruchti weaves the main storyline (the rejected proposal and the relationship of Katie and Micah) with other storylines and characters within the book. From grandparents Wilson & Dodie Binder, to Micah's parents, to hilarious aunts and uncles, to young cousins, Katie begins to see the many layers of this seemingly happy-go-lucky clan. Katie is convinced she is not worthy of Micah or his perfect family, but as Ruchti adds depth to the other characters, both the reader and Katie get a better sense of what it means to live a life of joy even in the midst (or even as a result of) tough times.

I'll be honest--I hate to give too many details within a book review, because why would a potential reader want to grab a copy and dive in when the review has told the whole story? So here is my final insight--I read An Endless Christmas as I traveled to my parents house for Thanksgiving. Shy of having to turn around and pass out snacks to my kids, answer their questions of how much longer to grandma's, and a couple other 'mom' duties, the book had my full attention. I consumed it in one sitting, loved the entire thing, and am certain additional readers will enjoy it and desire more tales of Katie and the Binder family, too.

*I received a complimentary copy from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest review*

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An Endless Christmas (Worthy Inspired, October 2015)

Too many people, too much snow, and too little room should be a recipe for disaster.

Christmas takes a very different turn when the guests of honor break up instead of announcing their engagement. Trapped with his family, they learn that love looks different than either imagined. Both in their eighties, Dodie and Wilson Binder celebrate every Christmas as if it were their last. This year, their grandson Micah is planning to ask his girlfriend, Katie, to marry him so they can celebrate with the whole family. But things go very wrong when she says, “no.” Now they are stuck. Too many people, too much snow, and too little room should be a recipe for disaster. But sometimes too much is just enough. Especially when it’s Christmas.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

Drawing from 33 years of on-air radio ministry, Cynthia Ruchti tells stories of hope-that-glows-in-the-dark

through her novels and novellas, nonfiction books and devotionals, and speaking for women's and writers' events. Her books have been recognized by Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards, Selah Awards, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Christian Retailing's BEST Awards, and Carol Award nominations, among other honors, including a Family Fiction Readers' Choice Award. She and her plot-tweaking husband live in Pittsville, Wisconsin, not far from their three children and five grandchildren.

copyright 2015 LeAnne Klopfenstein

Another Way Home {Third in a Series by Deborah Raney}

I did something unintentional when I received my copy of Another Way Home by Deborah Raney--I gave it to my friend Tiffany to read before I read it. Tiffany is a very fast reader, returns books promptly, and has needed something to do a night before going to sleep. She and I had both read the first two books in The Chicory Inn series, so we've both been looking forward to the release of this third book! What I had forgotten about--until Tiffany reminded me when she returned it--was that Another Way Home focuses on Whitman daughter Danae and her struggles with infertility. The reader witnesses Danae's frustration over not getting pregnant while continuing to pay for fertility treatments, the stress it puts on her marriage with Dallas, and the tension it creates among the Whitman family clan when they don't know how to ask Danae if she's gotten pregnant yet. The family then walk on eggshells when her oldest sister, Corinne, discovers she is pregnant with her fourth child.

My friend Tiffany experienced 10 years of infertility. She and her husband have longed for a baby of their own, be it naturally, through foster care, or through private adoption. They've continually desired to wait and rest in God's plan and timing, even though things haven't always been easy in the waiting. Tiffany is an amazing aunt, a wonderful friend to her friends' children, and she was a fabulous foster mom. But, I know within those times there has been a deep longing to be a mom herself. As much as I enjoyed reading Another Way Home, Tiffany expressing that it was a very relatable novel and captured the emotions accurately was a huge endorsement for me! And just like God leading Danae down a path to His plan and His timing, God has done the same in sweet Tiffany's life--she gives birth to her first child TOMORROW!!!! I'm so excited, and I'm glad she and I have been reading The Chicory Inn series together.

Another Way Home is my favorite novel in the series! When I read the first two novels, I felt you could read Two Roads Home (the second book) without having read the very first book, Home to Chicory Lane. While Another Way Home does indeed stand on its own, I do not recommend reading it without reading the other two novels, because the reader will miss out on the rich background stories of the Whitman family that is revealed in books 1 and 2.

The emotions shared regarding Danae's infertility are extremely realistic, as are her husband Dallas' lack of interest in adopting, the stress put upon a couple who is struggling to have a baby, and the way that family approaches conversations with the couple. Most amazing in the book though, is how Danae puts her hope in Christ--not totally in that He will give her a child, but in the actions she takes as she moves her focus off of herself, looks outward, and begins to help battered women. Danae matures in her faith, matures in serving others, and draws closer to Dallas. As the novel progresses, God brings His plan for Danae and Dallas together in an incredible way that does not disappoint.

*I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review*

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About the book: 
Another Way Home (Abingdon Press, October 2015)

Sometimes God's ways are not at all what we expect . . . and exactly what we need.

Grant and Audrey are adding grandchildren to their family left and right, but middle daughter, Danae, and her husband, Dallas Brooks, have been trying for years with no baby in sight.

Though Danae is ready to consider adoption, Dallas will not even discuss it. Despairing of ever having a family of her own, Danae decides to pour her passion and energies into volunteer work with a newly opened women's shelter in town. Looking for a good cause to fill her lonely days, she never expects to give her heart to the hurting women she meets there. She's finally learning to live her life with gratitude, but then heart-wrenching events on Thanksgiving weekend threaten to pull the entire Whitman clan into turmoil-and leave them all forever changed.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1NQhjf8

 About the author: 

Deborah Raney's books have won numerous awards, including the RITA, National Readers Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, and the Carol Award, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. She and her husband, Ken, recently traded small-town life in Kansas-the setting of many of Deborah's novels---for life in the (relatively) big city of Wichita, where they enjoy gardening, antiquing, movies, and traveling to visit four children and a growing brood of grandchildren who all live much too far away.

Find Deborah online: website, Twitter, Facebook

Get Your Story Straight {A Devotional for Teens}

Get Your Story Straight by Kristen Hatton is a 52 week devotional for teens that is designed to help walk them through the entire Bible. It provides opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the Word and also grasp the importance of Christ. The stories provided along with the devotion are very relevant to teen readers. And, the breakdown of the study questions causes teens to stop, read the passage again, and see how it applies to their lives. My freshman in high school is going through Get Your Story Straight. Overall, she enjoys it, but she has said that sometimes the questions are 'hard'. While she is going through this book alone, I think she would benefit from having a friend or her small group reading it, too. I do not recommend this book to preteens or teens not yet in high school, just based on my personal thoughts about some of the relevant topics. But, those subjects (often found in "The Word Applied" section) are good for high school teens to stop and think about and then connect it back to the Bible lesson for the week. And Day Three("Straight to my Heart') is great for teens to stop, reread the passage, and then answer questions. I really do appreciate how the 52 week study is separated into five days of lessons to do weekly. The layout gets the teen into a good rhythm of reading the Word, applying the Word to her life, answering questions that have her look at how it affects her heart, going back and reading the Word again, and ending on Day 5 with Journaling and Prayer. The focus on our teen's story intertwining with Christ's story is definitely what I desire for her to truly grasp, and Get Your Story Straight is a good start & resource as she grows her own faith. **I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ About the book:  Get Your Story Straight (New Growth Press, October 2015) What's your story? We all tell stories to each other---stories about what happened when we were kids, stories about last night, and stories where we dream about the future. Some stories are funny, some are amazing, others are sad, but they all have something in common---each of us is the hero of our own story. Our thoughts, feelings, hopes, and dreams take center stage. But when it's all about you, it's also all up to you. You have to make life work, find meaning, and hope for the best even when you mess up or things go badly wrong. But what if we were made for something different? What if the main character in our life story isn't us, but it is the God who became like us and is now with us? What if being fully human means knowing him and growing to be like him? What if the way to be fully alive is to be caught up in Jesus's story? This 52-week devotional book and small group resource is designed to help you live with Jesus in his gospel story---the good news that your sins are forgiven, your future is assured, and following him is the only meaningful way to live. No matter your age, where you live, who your family is, or what your past, God wants you to experience the freedom that comes in being secure in his love. Divided into three parts, starting with creation, each section progressively explores the idea that the whole Bible is the unfolding story of Jesus. Through this grid, who Jesus is and why we need him will shape your understanding of freedom and grace and how you grow to be like him. This yearlong study for teenagers and young adults is designed for individual devotional times, but a small group discussion guided by a mentor would help participants to absorb and live out the truths of each week's teaching. Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1i9Ccq4 About the author:  Kristen Hatton is a native Texan now putting roots down in Edmond, OK with her church-planter/pastor husband and their three children. With a public relations background from Southern Methodist University, Kristen has a wide array of professional experiences, none of which she counts as important as the job of being a "present" mom. Through leading a small group Bible study of teenagers, she has discovered her passion for teaching and writing about God's grace. Find Kristen online: website, Twitter, Facebook