AN AMISH CHRISTMAS KITCHEN, by Leslie Gould, Jan Drexler, Kate Lloyd

The three delightful novellas in this collection are must-reads for lovers of Amish fiction--or of fiction in general. Each plot is different, but they all offer the warmth of kitchens and Christmas baking.
    Leslie Gould's story focuses on misunderstandings, loss, and friendship.
    Jan Drexler has created a delectable story about a shy Amish girl who believes all she has to offer is her skill at baking.
    Kate Lloyd shares a tale about an "Englischer" woman who goes to Lancaster County seeking answers to questions about her life.
    I loved each of these novellas, and can't pick a favorite. As a bonus, at the end of each novella you'll find a Christmas recipe.
    I recommend this book for holiday reading and holiday gifting! The readers in your life will thank you.

My thanks to Bethany House and the authors for my review copy.

 A FAITHFUL GATHERING, by Leslie Gould

    Leisel Bachmann has her life all planned. She's completed her nurse's training with only the state boards still waiting for her. She and her English boyfriend, Nick, are dreaming of a happy future together.
    Then, in seemingly no time at all, the pieces of Leisel's plans lay scattered at her feet. If anything can possibly go wrong, it will. Her confidence is shattered, as are her dreams with Nick. As she struggles to get her bearings and make new plans, her aunt shares with her the story of Leisel's grandfather's experiences during World War II. At first Leisel is interested only in the account as a story, then she begins to see what her aunt is trying to tell her about the choices she faces.
    A Faithful Gathering is a fascinating novel. I enjoyed both the contemporary sections and the World War II story. Medical details and military history added an enlightening layer to Leisel's life.
    Leslie Gould is a wonderful writer. I felt I was right there with the characters' aspirations and struggles. I highly recommend this book!
    A Faithful Gathering is Book Three in the Sisters of Lancaster County series, but it isn't necessary to have read the earlier two books--although I recommend A Plain Leaving and A Simple Singing as well.    My thanks to the author and Bethany House for my review copy.

AMISH SWEETHEARTS, by Leslie Gould

Lila Lehman's father wants her to marry the bishop's son. Zane Beck, her neighbor, joined the Army impulsively as a reaction to Lila's news. They each buried their feelings for the other, but sometimes feelings just won't stay buried. When Zane is deployed to Afghanistan, Lila is torn between her father's wishes and her fears for Zane's welfare. 
    The story gains momentum with every chapter. I especially enjoyed (if that's the right word) the scenes that took place in Afghanistan. Leslie Gould provided valuable insights into our country's initial hopes for the Afghan people. This quote from page 264 resonated with me: “The true cost of war was beyond his comprehension. Soldiers and families and civilians all paid for it their entire lives.”
    Amish Sweethearts is the second book in Gould's Neighbors of Lancaster County series, and is a worthy follow-up to the series' first novel, Amish Promises. It's not necessary to have read the first book to enjoy this one, but knowing some of the background to the characters is helpful for people like me who like to know why people do what they do.
    I recommend Amish Sweethearts highly. Don't be misled by the gentle title--the story will have you holding your breath in countless suspenseful scenes.
    My thanks to the author and Bethany House for my review copy.

AMISH PROMISES, by Leslie Gould

    The back cover copy of Amish Promises begins, "Journey down a quiet lane in Lancaster County . . ." Let me just say, this story is far from a 'quiet lane' journey.
    Joel and Shani Beck have decided that the best place for Joel to recuperate from the injuries he received in Iraq is in the farmhouse left to Shani when her grandfather died. Their neighbors are Amish, as are many of the families in the area. This could be peaceful, except that the nearest household is headed by Tim Lehman, a stern patriarch who is opposed to having an Englisch family next door. He does all he can to keep his children and his sister away from the Becks.
    When Joel, who suffers from PTSD, compounds his war injuries in an accident, his Army friend Charlie comes to help the family. From this point on, the Becks' and the Lehmans' lives spin into a web of complications.
    Once I started reading Amish Promises I could hardly put the book down. I've heard it said that Amish novels are always the same. If that’s true, then Amish Promises breaks the mold.
     Leslie Gould is a talented storyteller. The concept of putting an Amish family and an Englisch family side by side is a refreshing change in the world of Amish fiction. The characters in Amish Promises are real people with the same flaws we all possess.
    I give this book an enthusiastic two thumbs up!

My thanks to the author and Bethany House for providing my review copy.

My review: BECOMING BEA, by Leslie Gould

  Bea Zook is a homebody who has few friends. Although she's of marriageable age, she's decided she'll never marry, which is an anomaly in her Amish community.

When near neighbors are overwhelmed by the birth of triplets, Bea decides to step out of her comfort zone to answer their call for help in dealing with the new babies.
 
After Bea goes to stay with the family, her confidence grows to the point where she begins to make friends with the other young people in her community. One person she can't stand, however, is Ben Rupp. They've been rivals ever since their school days. Ben knows all the ways to rile Bea, and she responds accordingly. Yet, they have more in common than they realize.

    Becoming Bea is an appealing story on many levels. The way the birth of the triplets impacted the family is a fascinating segment of the plot, as are Bea's own family issues.

   Readers of Leslie Gould's previous novels in The Courtship of Lancaster County series will enjoy updates on characters from Courting Cate, Adoring Addie, and Minding Molly. However, it’s not necessary to have read the previous books to enjoy Becoming Bea. I loved Bea--and Ben! This novel is one you don't want to miss.

My thanks to the author and Bethany House for my review copy.

 (As an aside, Bopplis is the Amish term used for babies. I think it's a darling name for little ones!)

MINDING MOLLY, by Leslie Gould

To say Molly Zook is a controlling woman is an understatement. Her days consist of making lists and plans, not only for herself but for her sister and for Mervin Mosier, a neighbor who helps on their family farm. In the Biblical story of Mary and Martha, Molly identifies with Martha. Somebody's got to do the work, right?
 With her father recently deceased, and her mother ailing, Molly's not far off the mark. If she can't keep their farm profitable, her mother wants her to marry Mervin Mosier to solve their financial problems. Then Molly meets handsome horse trainer Leon Fisher, who has come from Montana to Pennsylvania to work with a horse breeder--and not incidentally to find a bride.
 Molly jumps into full "control" mode to arrange things so that Mervin will fall in love with someone else, and Leon won't want to go home to Montana. But the harder she tries to manipulate the lives around her, the more her plans fail. Readers will find the book hard to put down. Will Molly ever give up control and wait to see what God has planned for her? Or will she control herself into a lonely spinsterhood?
  On a personal note, reading Minding Molly was a bit of a nudge for me, since I, too, have always identified with Martha in the Mary and Martha story in the Bible. Minding Molly is a novel that will keep readers entertained as they follow Molly while she learns that "the course of true love never did run smooth."

 My thanks to the author and Bethany House Publishers for my review copy of Minding Molly.

COURTING CATE, by Leslie Gould

Cate Miller's younger sister Betsy has attracted the attention of most of the eligible men in Paradise, Pennsylvania. The only attention Cate attracts is teasing and avoidance, due to her sharp tongue and quick temper.
When Betsy settles on one beau and wants to marry him, their father makes a new rule: Cate, the older sister, must marry first. Unfortunately, most of the local bachelors have been scorched by Cate's tongue and want nothing to do with her.
When newcomer Pete Treger arrives in town, he's attracted to Cate's beauty and intelligence and seeks out her company. Things look rosy for Betsy and her beau until Cate begins to suspect Pete is more interested in her father's money than in her.
From this point on, the story gets better and better (not to say it wasn't terrific in the first place). The choices Cate and Betsy make had me chuckling through much of Courting Cate.
I loved Courting Cate and recommend this novel highly.
My thanks to the author and Bethany House for my review copy.

THE HAVEN, by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Sadie Lapp plans a surprise return to Stoney Ridge after a visit to Ohio. Little does she know that part of the surprise will be on her. Although her family is delighted to see her, little sister M.K. starts a rumor fire with unthinking remarks about Sadie's baggage.
Shy Gideon Smucker is delighted to know Sadie is back in Stoney Ridge, but every move he makes around her only seems to upset her. He suspects her chilly attitude toward him has something to do with the wildlife intern living on the Lapps’ farm.
Will Stoltz, the intern, discovers Sadie to be refreshingly different from the girls he’s known, and before long he finds himself looking for excuses to spend time with her. However, he’s hiding a secret that will endanger his position on the Lapp farm, as well as betray the trust Sadie’s family has placed in him.
The Haven is a delightful story of a family who lives by their faith and love for one another. In these days of ever more graphic fiction in the general market, I found The Haven to be just that—a haven of gentleness. I wish I could sit down at the supper table with the Lapps and absorb some of the peace that fills their lives.
I give The Haven two thumbs up, and recommend it for family reading.

My thanks to Revell for providing my review copy.

THE AMISH MIDWIFE, by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould

Nurse-midwife Lexie Jaeger has always known she was adopted, but her world rocks when on his deathbed her father gives her a carved box containing fragments of her history before her adoption.
With both of her adoptive parents dead, Lexie is spurred to seek her birth family. She leaves her Oregon home to travel to Amish country in Pennsylvania. What follows in The Amish Midwife is a gripping drama about intertwined secrets between generations. Lexie's stubborn quest for the truth puts her at odds with the very people who hold the keys to her past.
The Amish Midwife is a compelling read, written with authenticity by the collaboration of Clark and Gould. I appreciated the geographical details each author contributed to the story.
I couldn't put this book down until I'd read every page. I know you'll feel the same way.