Peasreads: The Heirloom

If there were a title for Queen of Amish Fiction, Beverly Lewis would be the reigning monarch. She has written many lovely books that depict Amish life. My favorite of hers would be The Daughters of Abram. When I got the opportunity to read Mrs. Lewis' latest book. I was excited. The Heirloom is the prequel to The Shunning. We finally get more of Ella Mae Hook, the amazing, strong, woman of conviction that is known as the "wise woman". We get more of her history and we meet her grandniece Clara Bender. 

The story revolves around these two women who are grieving for a loved one. Ella Mae, her husband. Clara Bender, her mother. Ella Mae's family is pressuring her to move out of her house and Ella Mae is not quite ready. Clara has come to visit Ella Mae after her father remarried not long after her mother had passed away. Her father is concerned that she will be visiting a more strict Amish church and he doesn't want Clara to forget that by grace we have been saved, that relationship with Christ is important. Eventually, Clara wants to stay with Ella Mae in Lancaster County, but her father forbids it. Can she trust God and be obedient to her father's wishes, even though her heart is leading her elsewhere?

Peasread: A Name Unknown

A Name Unknown

Shadows Over England #1

Roseanna M. White

 434 pages

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (July 4, 2017)

ISBN-10: 0764230417

ISBN-13: 978-0764230417

 Book description from publisher:

Edwardian Romance and History Gains a Twist of Suspense 

Rosemary Gresham has no family beyond the band of former urchins that helped her survive as a girl in the mean streets of London. Grown now, they concentrate on stealing high-value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. But when Rosemary must determine whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany, she is in for the challenge of a lifetime. How does one steal a family's history, their very name?
Peter Holstein, given his family's German blood, writes his popular series of adventure novels under a pen name. With European politics boiling and his own neighbors suspicious of him, Peter debates whether it might be best to change his name for good. When Rosemary shows up at his door pretending to be a historian and offering to help him trace his family history, his question might be answered.
But as the two work together and Rosemary sees his gracious reaction to his neighbors' scornful attacks, she wonders if her assignment is going down the wrong path. Is it too late to help him prove that he's more than his name?

Peasread: Plain Retribution

Plain Retribution is a book a Christian romance with suspense. It's set in both a small town and Amish country. Ten years ago Rebecca Miller, a deaf Amish girl was kidnapped along with three other girls, after being rescued their testimony helps put the man in jail. After surviving that ordeal she has tried to move on with her life in the "English" world where she feels more at ease with the deaf community. Now Rebecca and the other girls who were abducted are being targeted.

Peasread: The Second Chance Brides Collection

This sweet collection of short stories about second chances for nine women set in history from 1776-1944 was a fun pool side read. Each story moves quickly and at first I felt rushed to get to know the characters and didn't like that things moved so unrealistically fast. Do people really fall in love so quickly? Is that real love or just initial attraction? But I supposed that's the nature of short stories. Once I put that into consideration I enjoyed each story more. I really liked that I could start a story and not feel like I had to devote whole night to it. I could read just one and get to bed, or read a few pool side while the kids swam. I like that the stories were about love and second chances, but also about faith. Both the hope and strength it gives people. Each of these stories is a clean read. Death is mentioned in some of the stories, there is some kissing.

Admittedly I liked some more than others. My favorites were The Widow of St. Charles Street, Fanned Embers, and From a Distance. You can see the summaries from authors below.

Peasread: Peace In The Valley

The last in the Double S Ranch series by Ruth Logan Herne follows Trey Walker Stafford, the youngest of the Stafford boys. Trey was orphaned at a young age when is parents overdosed on drugs. He was adopted by his uncle Sam Stafford, patriarch of the family and owner of the Double S Ranch. Trey is a successful country music star returning home to help his dad, Sam, during a time of illness. 

All his life Trey has been a straight shooter, trying to prove to the world, himself, Sam, and his deceased parents that you can be in the spotlight and not succumb to drugs and alcohol. While Trey never struggled with addiction, his late wife did and she died from an overdose. Trey carries this guilt with him. He hates what drugs and alcohol do to people so much so that he has a hard time trusting anyone with a history of drug use. There is too much pain in his past from the effects of it. 

Peasread: Home On The Range

Another Double S Ranch book by Ruth Logan Herne. This one is called Home on the Range, in it we get to know more about Nick Stafford. Middle son to Sam Stafford. Nick is a single father trying to raise two little girls Cheyenne and Dakota. Along with the challenges of being a single father he has to deal with his past rejections, a father who was too busy on the ranch, and memories of a mother who walked out on him. Nick had always wanted to be a better man than his father in so many ways, but when his wife walks out on him he realizes that he is going down the same parenting path as Sam Stafford. Cheyenne is an 8 year old who is struggling to hold on to hope that her mother will return, she is defiant and angry at the world.

Peasread: Back In The Saddle

Back in the Saddle is a book I almost didn't want to read. It's the title, the cover. It's a beautiful cover. It's just cliche in some ways. Handsome cowboy with his horse. Back in the Saddle. Prodigal son. Just sounded so predictable. However we had a lovely cold rainy day recently and I snuggled in by the fire and finished this book, in two days. I really enjoyed it! A great romance with some mystery and action.