Book Review: The Shop Down the Lane by Leslie Gould

 

The Shop Down the Lane (Letters from Lancaster County): (A Sweet Contemporary Amish Letter Writing Enemies to Lovers Romance) 

                               by Leslie Gould

Lois Yoder has always found solace in the quiet life of Paradise, Pennsylvania, where she manages a gift shop that reflects her Amish community's simple values. Her tranquil world is upended when Moses Lantz, a former Amishman turned Mennonite and the man who broke her heart, buys the shop with ambitious plans to transform it into a tourist hub--a move that Lois fiercely opposes.

Seeking a distraction, Lois joins a bird watchers' circle letter under an alias. But unknown to her, Moses does the same at the urging of a friend. While their correspondence blossoms into a tender romance, the enmity between Lois and Moses in real life only intensifies. Can they overcome their animosity and embrace the love they've found through their letters, or will their stubborn hearts keep them apart forever?

My Review:

The Shop Down the Lane was one I would have delighted to walk into and been able to talk to Louis.  I could imagine the bird houses that filled the shop and the woods in the back of the shop filled with different birds.  Always a lover of birds, I now want to bird watch even more.

The twists and turns of different romances were there, with Lois and Moses failed one from years ago at the forefront. A good lesson in the book for me was that no one really knows what the other is going through and for that matter has been through. It's amazing what we can assume of each other.

I curled up on the couch one morning to read this book and stayed that way most of the day. I didn't stop till the last page was read.  Wonderful wonderful read!  

**Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden! As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  

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Thanksgiving Dinner So Far and Borrowing books

 

My Thanksgiving has always been a mixture of homemade and store bought.  I'm not ashamed of buying Hawaiin Rolls for the grandson, Cool Whip for the Pumpkin Pie, or even gravy packets because I'm terrible at making gravy but I want to buy it on sale.  So, I wait for a deal.   Some of the deals I'll buy more than just for the Thanksgiving Meal, I'll buy enough to last us awhile.  Fill up my pantry for a great price!  

Now that's not to say -that I'm not proud of those green beans from out in the garden or wow I made a pumpkin pie out of that pumpkin out there but I'm not against buying what I need (or want).  

Thanksgiving dinner so far:

I bought my turkey this week at Meijer for 33 cents a pound- it ended costing me $5.10.  You can buy one with MPerks -No coupon needed.

I also bought McCormick dry turkey gravy packets for $1.49 each.

I made my pumpkin pie with the one pumpkin I got out of the garden and then froze it. From what I've read you can freeze pumpkin pies for up to month.

Green beans are the ones I canned this past summer.

I plan on getting my sweet potatoes, Hawaiin rolls, cool whip etc. when they come on sale next week (they will). 

A couple of dishes are coming from our daughter and the pop has been covered by another guest.

Books for Free from the library:

I finally dowloaded hoopla from my library.  I wanted to download a book that I saw on Facebook.  You know Facebook can make some books sound so wonderful and sometimes they are not a good fit for me. Glad I found the book on hoopla.

I also requested a book from the library and they sent it to the library by my home.  It's a book on propagation,The Plant Propagator's Bible: A Step-by-Step Guide to Propagating Every Plant in Your Garden.  

This is a very informational book that I can read in sections. I'm really interested in propagating blueberries.  Can't wait for Spring!  

It seems like I have a problem reading long novels again.  This has happened to me before, it was during Covid. and I think now my concentration has broken by stress from all those tests.  Everything will be alright again soon as I'm already reading more for longer periods but right now Jean Kuhnke can not write fast enough.   

Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden**As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here). 

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Book Review: Into the Starlight (Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing Book #3) by Amanda Cabot

 

Into the Starlight (Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing Book #3): (Three Sisters Facing Mystery and Romance in the 1880s Texas Hill Country) 

                                              by Amanda Cabot

After more than a year in Europe, Joanna Vaughn returns to Sweetwater Crossing, her dreams of becoming a concert pianist shattered. As if that weren't enough, her husband, whom she married after a whirlwind courtship, has died. The only thing sustaining her on the journey back to Texas was the thought of her childhood home. But to Joanna's dismay, she's changed so much that the place she once loved no longer feels like home.

After his fiancée married his partner and both blamed him for a patient's death, 

Dr. Burke Finley believes it's time for a change. A quick trip with his almost-aunt

Della Samuels to Sweetwater Crossing turns into an extended stay to 

discover what happened to his uncle and her would-be husband.

But the beautiful and musical Joanna makes it more than bearable.

 
As the two join forces to help Della, there is no denying the attraction felt on 

both sides. But ghosts from the past are coming to call--

and threatening to destroy any chance at happily-ever-after.

 
Get swept away by this emotional tale of family, friendship,and the kind of love that overcomes  every obstacle.

My Review:

This third installment of the Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing is the last of the series but this is the first one I've read.  It's a story all on its own and I was able to pick right up on the charactors. Of course now I want to back up and read the first two books in the series.

I loved the suspense, the love, the forgiveness, and the description of the surroundings that kept me wanting to read more.  I felt as though I was right there in their midst. Second chances in life are present and it gives hope for a new start in life no matter the circumstance.

Just when you think they will just go on and give up finding the answer to the mystery, it is revealed.  I had no idea and I love that.

What a great story.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

 Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, Free Kindle books, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.

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Book Review of Ambush in the Mountain by Mary Alford Plus a Giveaway!

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Ambush in the Mountains by Mary Alford, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Ambush in the Mountains
Author: Mary Alford
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: July 23, 2024
Genre: Romantic Suspense

Innocent lives at stake… 

Can a former soldier and his canine save them? 

Helping a pregnant woman he comes across in a mountain storm puts Axel Sterling right into the path of ruthless human traffickers. Now it’s up to the ex-soldier and his dog to keep Summer and her unborn baby safe from the abductors she’s finally escaped. But between the icy wilderness and the armed gunmen following them at every turn, one wrong move could cost Axel and Summer their lives.  

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

My thoughts:

Terrible things can happen and they did to Summer when she believed what a evil man had to say.  This fast paced suspenseful book follows her as she runs as fast as she could away from human traffickers.  Summer finally found the courage to run but it took faith to put her trust in Axel and his dog who only wanted to help.

The descriptions made me feel as though I was there with Summer and Axel as they tried to get to safety in blizzard conditions.  I could feel the cold of the blinding snow as they almost went off a cliff and I felt how scared they were as they seen lights from the enemy  approaching.  The danger was always around the corner as they tried to get to safety. 

The suspense kept me turning the pages and I never wanted to put the book down even for a minute.  What a great book!  

About the Author

Mary Alford is a USA Today bestselling author who loves giving her readers the unexpected, combining unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots that result in stories the reader can't put down. Her titles have been finalists for several awards, including the Daphne Du Maurier, the Beverly, the Maggie, and the Selah. She and her husband live in the heart of Texas in the middle of 70 acres with two cats and one dog.

Connect with Mary at maryalford.net to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a $50 Amazon gift card and a print copy of Ambush in the Mountains!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 22, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 29, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion

Book Review: Unforgiven by Shelly Shepard Gray

 

 Unforgiven: (Amish Romantic Suspense Story with Forgiveness and Second Chances) 

by Shelly Shepard Gray

Ex-con Seth Zimmerman has spent the last three years making amends by helping the vulnerable in his former Amish community. Lately, this mission includes calling on Tabitha Yoder, whose divorce from her abusive husband has isolated her from the community. Even though she never comes out of her house to talk to him, Seth knows she watches him from the window while he chops wood, clears her driveway, and drops off food.  

 

An uneasy friendship is just starting to take hold between them when small gifts begin to appear at Tabitha's home--gifts that can only be from her ex-husband. Seth might be Tabitha's only hope at maintaining her hard-won freedom from the man whose violent outbursts had almost cost her life. But coming to her rescue might mean he ends up behind bars once again. 

My Review:

Unforgiven by Shelly Shepard Gray, gives a different view of Amish family life.  It's not a simple, perfect life that we might think as we drive by and look at the clothes on the line or the buggy's going down the street. Their private lives can be more like ours then we imagine.

Both main charactors (Seth and Tabitha) have done the unthinkable in the Amish community.  Of course many of the community have strong opionions about what has happened and are not so easy to forgive. Even Seth and Tabitha have to learn to forgive...themselves.

This book kept me captivated from beginning to end.  
What a great read!  

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

 Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, Free Kindle books, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.

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Book Review: The Song of Sourwood Mountain by Ann H Gabhart

 The Song of Sourwood Mountain: (Southern Historical Romance Set in the 1910 Appalachian Mountains) 

                                           By Ann H. Gabhart

While the century began with such promise, it is 1910 when Mira Dean's hopes of being a wife and mother are dashed to pieces. Her fiancé dead from tuberculosis, Mira resigns herself to being a spinster schoolteacher--until Gordon Covington shows up.
 
No longer the boy she knew from school, Gordon is now a preacher who is full of surprises. First, he asks Mira to come to Sourwood in eastern Kentucky to teach at his mission school. Second, he asks her to marry him. Just like that. And all at once the doors that had seemed firmly shut begin to open, just a crack.
 
With much trepidation, Mira steps out in faith into a life she never imagined, in a place filled with its own special challenges, to serve a people who will end up becoming the family she always dreamed of.
 
From the pen of bestselling author Ann H. Gabhart comes a heartwarming story of the unexpected blessings that can come when we dare to follow the Lord's leading.

My Review:

Ann Gabhart has given us a true glimpse into Kentucky's Applachian life with her book, The Song of Sourwood.  With her accurate descriptions and her spot on mountain talk, you can imagine how it was being a city girl in Kentucky traveling back in to mountains.  

I was so impressed with Gordon with his boldness to follow through on  the Lord's calling.  His desire to bring the word of  God and education to the mountain people was impressive.  He needed a helpmate to do that but even I had my doubts he would get that after his outlandish proposal to Mira.

What a great book that kept me turning the pages with the many adventures and happenings in the mountains.  

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

 Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, Free Kindle books, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.

**As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden

Virtual Book Tour and Review for Two Polar Bears by Crystal Beach and a $10 Amazon/BN Giveaway!

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.  Crystal Beach will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. 

                          Two Polar Bears

                                         by Crystal Beach

What could possibly be better than One Polar Bear? Two Polar Bears! Join this charming polar bear couple as they try to have a peaceful soak in the tub only to be interrupted by four very dirty cubs! This delightful rhyming story chronicles a lovable polar bear family as they go through their nightly bedtime routine. Celebrating individuals with a variety of abilities and disabilities, readers are introduced to early learning skills such as bedtime routines and grooming. With fun and humour, this book also helps children establish healthy sleep habits. Two Polar Bears is an entertaining story and a beautiful addition to your child's own bedtime routine.If you can be anything, be inclusive.

My Review:  

What a cute story..family time in the bath tub.  I can just hear the little ones asking for this book over and over.  The illustrations are perfect.

Author Bio:

Crystal Beach is an adoptive mother and caregiver of two adoptive children who have complex medical needs and disabilities. Her children are often represented in her work as strong, caring individuals with special gifts and powers. Her writing projects are intended to ensure financial support for her children's future.

 

Crystal has a B.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Her focus is in children's literature, publishing, and journalism. She has had many careers including ten years as a MedA with the Canadian Naval Reserve, advertising with a daily newspaper, communications and marketing, training as an EMT, and continued studies in developmental psychology.

 

She and her family live in Regina, Saskatchewan in a simple little house with two giant support dogs.

 

For more information visit www.crystalbeachauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crystalbeachauthor

 

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Giveaway!  

Crystal Beach will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Many thanks to Goddess Fish Promotions for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden**As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here). 

Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, Free Kindle books, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog