Romance Is In The Air Blog Hop February 4th - 14th

Romance is in the air, and a great gift for me wold be my favorite book. I have up for grabs a $10 Amazon Gift Card to help! All you have to do is fill out the rafflecopter.


&a Rafflecopter giveaway


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I Am A Reader, Not A Writer Presents: Painting Rain by Annette K. Larsen

Painting Rain by Annette K. Larsen

How do you heal your heart after tragedy leaves you broken? When the person you loved didn’t deserve it and they can’t earn your forgiveness because they’re already dead? How do you move on, and heal, and love?

If you’re Princess Lorraina, you paint. A year ago Lorraina watched Tobias die, and she still doesn't know how she's supposed to heal—or forgive. How can she when she’s still running away? In an attempt to reinvent herself, she steps outside her comfortable life as princess and seeks the tutelage of a master painter—a man who is not at all impressed by her pedigree, and demands not just talent, but emotional honesty. Struggling to learn what’s being taught, she finds herself drawn to someone who not only knows her secrets, but who she once considered far below her notice. Now she is compelled to seek him out despite knowing their relationship would be forbidden if discovered. Staying away from him doesn’t seem possible when discovering him may be the key to healing her heart and rediscovering herself.







 

Author Annette K. Larsen

 I was born in Utah, but grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona and St. Louis, Missouri, the fifth of seven children. I attended Southern Virginia University and Brigham Young University, where I studied English and Theater. I now live in Idaho with my husband and four children. I have Charlotte Brontë to thank for the courage to write novels. After being bombarded with assigned reading about women who justified abandoning either their families or their principles in the name of love, I had the great fortune of reading Jane Eyre. And that was it: finally, a heroine who understood that being moral and making the right choice was hard, and sometimes it hurt, but it was still worth it. After rereading it several years later, I realized that if I wanted more books to exist with the kinds of heroines I admired, then I might as well write a few myself. My books are about women who face hard choices, who face pain and rejection and often have to face the reality of sacrificing what they want for what is right. The consequences are often difficult or unpleasant, but in the end, doing what’s right will always be worth it. I believe there is no substitute for good writing or good chocolate. Fortunately, one often leads to the other.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Cover Reveal Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Code or Paypal Cash Ends 2/22/16 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Amish Sweethearts (Neighbors of Lancaster County #2) by Leslie Gould

Can These Two Friends from Opposite Worlds Find Love?

They've been best friends for years, but as high school ends, Zane Beck can't help but look at his Amish neighbor, Lila Lehman, with different eyes. Her controlling father sees only one future for Lila, though, and arranges for her to be courted by an upstanding young Amish man. When Zane sees the two together, his plans for the future crumble, and he impulsively enlists in the Army, following in his father's footsteps.

However, the passing of years and the distance between them isn't enough to halt their now hidden feelings for each other. If being together used to be difficult, it's now impossible, especially with the Amish opposed to war. Zane's service takes a dramatic turn when he's sent to Afghanistan. Being on the front line and the reality of taking a life has him questioning whether he can continue to serve or not. But all choices have consequences--both his and hers. With Lila preparing to marry another, will these one-time sweethearts ever find the life together that they both still long for?

http://www.lesliegould.com/

Amazon


About The Author

Some of my strongest memories from childhood include stories—and how those stories connected me to my family and friends. As a preschooler, I remember playing Island of the Blue Dolphin with my three siblings and the neighbor kids, my father reading A Street of Flower Boxes to us before bed, and my mother reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn on long car trips. I also soaked up Bible stories and accounts of grace and redemption during Sunday school and Good News Club. Along with my love of stories, my love of writing began in those early years with my very first written word—S-K-Y.
Even though I knew I wanted to write fiction by the time I was in the sixth grade, as I grew older I pursued other things instead, such as majoring in history and communications, and then working as a museum curator, then a public relations specialist, and finally as a magazine editor. Once I finally started writing fiction, it was another ten years until I sold my first novel. By that time I’d been married for nearly 20 years and had four children of my own to read to.
In the decade and a half since my first contract I’ve written twenty-one novels, from Beyond the Blue, a story about international adoption set in Vietnam, to Courting Cate, a retelling of Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew” set in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. No matter what I write, I aim to reveal truths about God’s love, beauty, and redemptive work in our lives. My goal is to connect more deeply to God, family, and friends through my writing. My hope is that my stories encourage readers to deepen their own connections too.


My Review

Amish sweethearts brings to mind two, probably baptized members of the Amish church, and maybe a courting buggy, and going to singings, That would be the furthest from the truth of this young couple.
Lila and her family, her mom is deceased, are Amish, and her neighbor, childhood friend, and man she cares about are English. What is even more startling is the fact that said friend Zane is in the military and ends up in Afghanistan.
Lila knows that she can not leave the Amish faith and has an Amish boyfriend, for over three years, he has wanted to move forward and marry her, but Lila knows something is missing, and you will immediately think of Zane.
This story takes us through a lot of happenings in this small community, we stay with Lila’s Mennonite grandmother, and what a sweetie she is along with her grandfather. We get close and personal with Zane’s family, and how much they are accepted by their pacifist neighbors, even though both Zane and his dad are or were military. We spend time in Lila’s home, and meet her siblings and as usual we find the squabbling that goes on in all homes, but there is respect and love in this house.
There are a lot of struggles along the way and we meet them head on, but wonder how this is all going to resolve itself. God places the right people in the right place and at the right time, and we feel his presence here.
I really enjoyed this story, and loved my visit in Lancaster County.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House and was not required to give a positive review.


 

The Restoration (Prairie State Friends, #3) by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Dive into an Amish country love triangle in this third book of the Prairie State Friends series. Priscilla Herschberger finds herself pursued by Elam, a childhood friend from her community, and David, an outsider raised in the modern world. Elam would do almost anything to convince Priscilla that David would never fit into the Amish way. Will flames of jealousy rage out of control and ruin lives? Can forgiveness allow love and trust to grow? 


About The Author

Wanda Brunstetter is an award-winning romance novelist who has led millions of readers to lose their heart in the Amish life. She is the author of over 60 books with more than 7 million copies sold. Many of her books have landed on the top bestseller lists, including the New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, CBA, ECPA, and CBD. Wanda is considered one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre, and her work has been covered by national publications, including Time Magazine and USA Today. Wanda’s books have been translated into four foreign languages.
Wanda’s fascination with the Amish culture developed when she met her husband, Richard, who grew up in a Mennonite church, and whose family has a Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. Meeting her new Mennonite sister-in-laws caused Wanda to yearn for the simpler life. In their travels, she and her husband have become close friends with many Amish people across America. Wanda’s desire to explore their culture increased when she discovered that her great-great grandparents were part of the Anabaptist faith.

My Review 

The Restoration is the final book in the Prairie State Friends series and I am sad to leave these dear friends behind, but I love getting to the end of stories, even if it isn’t the way I wanted it to end.
Our three friends are back, Priscilla, Leah, and Elaine, and yes they always seem to be there for each other. Leah is now married to Adam and you will love their relationship with the girls, but there is now a new person in their lives, and we don’t know how this is going to end with so much bitterness.
Elaine is in a new relationship with Ben, and he has proposed, will she accept and fulfill her dreams of having a family of her own. The same with Priscilla will Elam ever ask her to marry him? Or will the new guy in town fulfill his dreams and win Priscilla, this is going to be a rock road, and you wonder who will get hurt, and you are surly going to be surprised in the end.
Such a good and fast read, almost two fast, but I had to find out, but then the final page was turned and of course, I wanted more. Enjoy!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Shiloh Run Press and was not required to give a positive review

An Amish Market by Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, Kelly Irvin, Vannetta Chapman

All the color and variety of a quaint Amish shoping a charming collection of novellas by four of your favorite authors.Feel free to come in and browse!

Love Birds by Amy Clipston

While Ellie Lapp and her mother are still mourning the loss of her brother, Seth, Ellie starts working at one of the gift shops in town. Seth s friend Lloyd is talented at carving wooden birds, but his father disapproves and expects him to take over the family farm someday. Ellie sees the beauty in Lloyd s creations and insists Lloyd sell the birds in the gift shop where she works. As Ellie and Lloyd spend more time together, they begin to develop feelings for one another, but she accidentally betrays his trust. Will she lose any hope of a future with him?

A Bid for Love
by Kathleen Fuller

Every week, Hannah Lynne brings her home-churned butter to the local market. And every week Ezra stops by to purchase some. Hannah Lynne knows not to read too much into it Ezra is a confirmed bachelor and barely even glances her way, despite any hope to the contrary. But when Ezra bids an exorbitant amount to win the quilt she had her heart set on, Hannah Lynne can t stop her heart from taking over her mind. Could Ezra finally be in the market for love?

Sweeter Than Honey
by Kelly Irvin

Shattering a jar of pickled beets wasn t the impression Isabella hoped to make on her first trip to the local Combination Store of Bee County, Texas. But as embarrassed as she was by the accident, she didn t think it warranted the frosty reaction from the handsome manager of the store, Will Glick. As she soon learns, though, Will s heart has been broken one too many times. And now, for some reason, Isabella finds herself determined to be the one to repair that broken heart and renew his faith in love.

Love in Store
by Vannetta Chapman

Stella Schrock works at the Old Mill in Nappanee, Indiana, with new employee David Stoltzfus, a recent widower. When strange happenings begin occurring around town, it appears as if someone wants to close the mill. Stella and David have to work together to solve the mystery of what is happening at the Old Amish Mill, and in the process they might just find that God has more in store for their future than they would ever have dreamed possible."

Authors



Amy Clipston – website, Twitter, Facebook

Kathleen Fuller – website, Twitter, Facebook

Kelly Irvin – website, Facebook

Vannetta Chapman –  website, blog, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Goodreads

My Review

Love Birds…..my thoughts

Sharing the grief of loosing her brother and he losing his best friend, Ellie and Lloyd are brought together. They have known each other all of their lives and sharing their thoughts and memories spark a relationship between them.
When Ellie betrays Lloyd, or so he thinks, they both are devastated and you wonder if either of there lives will ever be the same? Will there be forgiveness as their religion teaches, or will each go there own way? The market in this story is a gift store.

A Bid For Love
Two shy people that can’t seem to express their desires are put together each week at the local market. Just how much homemade butter can a bachelor use?
What becomes the catalyst for these two is a quilt. His Mom is donating one, and he gives the lady in charge when she comes for it the closest quilt. Then he sees his hearts desire looking at the quilt that his Mom donated.
Will this be the reason these two open up to each other, or will it be the end to any relationship?

Sweeter Than Honey

In this story Will has felt like his heart has been shattered to many times to try again. Enter a new neighbor to bee country Isabella; she is just trying to fit in. These two meet in the Bee Store.
When she is befriended by an English girl, and decides to go out to a pool hall, Will is sure she isn’t for him. Things are not always as they appear, and this story will have you wondering how everything is going to work out.

Love In Story
This is the final story in this book, and mostly takes place at the Old Mill, in Nappanee, Indiana. This is the story of a widower who has moved her to help his recently widowed daughter.
Stella has never been able to have children and feels she has never been worthy to have a husband of her own.
When pranks and then more dangerous things begin to happen at the mill Will and Stella spend more time together trying to figure out whom is committing these acts. Through out the story Stella is a brisk and rather outspoken person, and you wonder how hurt she is because of her problem.
Now these are not twenty year olds they are in there fifties, but both come with their own problems and you wonder if there is even a chance for a relationship here.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.

Always Watching (Elite Guardians, #1) by Lynette Eason

The bodyguards of Elite Guardians Agency have more than just skill and prowess in common--they're also all women. When it becomes clear that popular psychiatrist and radio personality Wade Savage has a stalker, his father secretly hires Elite Guardians in order to protect his son.

But when Wade's bodyguard is attacked and nearly killed, agency owner Olivia Edwards must step in and fill the gap. Olivia's skills are about to be tested to the limit as Wade's stalker moves from leaving innocent gifts at his door to threatening those closest to him. Olivia has the feeling that she's next on the list. And to complicate things even further, she realizes that her heart may be in as much danger as her client.

Amazon

About The Author

Lynette Eason

Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Women of Justice series and the Deadly Reunions series, as well as No One to Trust, Nowhere to Turn, and No Place to Hide in the Hidden Identity series. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. She has a master's degree in education from Converse College and she lives in South Carolina. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.


Coming In August!!!

My Review

Always Watching is a heart stopper of a story, and action starts on the first page and doesn’t stop until the end. You won’t be able to put it down, and if you have to, you will be picking it right back up as fast as you can, it’s a I have to know what is happening type of story.
Who would want to hurt a generous man with a young daughter, whom has lost her mother, and a woman she loved that was going to marry her dad? Wade Savage’s father has hired Olivia Edwards Elite Guardians to protect his son, he has a stalker, with people being attacked, and suspicious deaths, and you never know what is going to happen next.
If you love suspense this is the book for you, it gives and give right to the end. You will make up your mind, and I was sure I knew whom was responsible, but guess what, I was very wrong, and very surprised to whom was the culprit.
This is as fast pace as you can get, and still have an even flowing story, picking this one up might keep you up at night, but you will not be disappointed.
I received this book through Revell Reads Blogger Program, and was not required to give a positive review.

Joshua's Mission (Plain and Simple Miracles #2) by Vannetta Chapman

Joshua's Mission is a new standalone novel in the Plain and Simple Miracles collection from popular author Vannetta Chapman. These stories of love and family and Amish community in Oklahoma tell of the miracles that can happen when lives are lived in service to God and to one another.

Joshua Kline travels from his farm in Oklahoma to offer aid to an Englisch town on the gulf coast of Texas after a category 4 hurricane has ravaged the area. He brings his brother with him, who needs a change of environment. The last thing he wants for Alton is another brush with the law. He is pleasantly surprised when he hears that Becca Troyer, the bishop's granddaughter, plans on joining their team.

What will Joshua find when he arrives in Texas? A lack of electricity, certainly, which poses little problem for the Amish volunteers as they help restore order from destruction. But a budding romance? A call from God? And a possible healing of his relationship with Alton?

Joshua's Mission is a story of love, forgiveness, and the grace of God that carries us through even the worst situations.


About The Author

Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She has published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania.

Her novel, Falling to Pieces, was a 2012 ACFW Carol Award winner for best mystery. All of her books have been Christian Book Distributor bestsellers. She currently writes Amish fiction for Abingdon Press, Zondervan, and Harvest House. Chapman lives in the Texas hill country with her husband.

For more information, visit her at www.VannettaChapman.com or blog with her at http://vannettachapman.wordpress.com/. 

She can also be found at http://www.facebook.com/VannettaChapman


My Review

Joshua’s Mission is really a couple of missions and we are about to experience a wonderful book as we learn about them.
Alton Kline is experiencing his rumspringa, and seems to be having quite a good time with it, including seeing the inside of English jail. All his life Joshua has felt responsible for his brother, and takes a lot to heart, including arguing with Alton about his behavior.
This story has it all with the devastation of hurricane Orion hitting Port Aransas Texas, with its death and destruction. We meet Charlie Everman and his beloved dog Quitz, and Alice and her grandchildren, that Charlie considers family and follow them in this story.
The Mennonite Disaster Service working at the scene needs volunteers and part of Joshua’s community goes to help. What a time we are about to spend helping this area, Joshua, Alton, Becca, Sarah, along with Aunt Nancy head there.
This book will bring tears to your eyes and joy at what is happening, there is a bit of romance, and again jail for some, along with some very scary incidents. We come to know these people personally and see that life for all have the same ups and downs, and we really don’t know what is going on in another person’s house.
I really enjoyed this book, and hope that there are more in this series.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harvest House, and was not required to give a positive review.