Gladden the Heart By Olivia Newport

When you have experienced the Holy Ghost as I have, you would see that it is difficult to turn back.” 
When the lively fervor of nineteenth century revivalism endangers the staid customs of the Amish community in the lush but rugged Kishacoquillas Valley of central Pennsylvania in 1847, the Amish church must deal with a divisive question: What is a genuine spiritual experience?

The question turns personal when Susanna’s beloved cousin Noah begins preaching while under trances and even though he is not a minister he gives long sermons that attract increasing attention. Curious, she helps to keep Noah safe during his trances. At the same time Adam, Susanna's intended, feels pressure from the bishop to speak out against the ways of revivalism.

Susanna and Adam are pushed to opposite sides of a controversy that threatens their traditional Amish faith..  Now they must grapple with whether love is possible...even if they come to different conclusions.
           
When Noah goes missing at a time of day when he often preaches while asleep, circumstances thrust community members with divergent opinions into a crisis that demands they recognize the humanity they share regardless of beliefs.  But can strong-held opinions be softened by the truths that shape their lives? 

More in the Amish Turns of Time Series:
Wonderful Lonesome
Meek and MildBrightest and Best
Hope in the Land

Pick up your copy here..

https://www.amazon.com/Gladden-Heart-Amish-Turns-Time/dp/1683221109/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499559543&sr=8-1&keywords=gladden+the+heart

Olivia Newport's novels twist through time to find where faith and passions meet. She chases joy in Colorado, where daylilies grow as tall as she is. Her husband and two twenty-something children provide welcome distraction from the people stomping through her head on their way into her books.

My Thoughts...

This is book 5 in the Amish Turns of Time series. This is a bit different then what I am use to reading. It felt different to me then the first four books in the series.  I can't put my finger on it.

I did like the story of the "sleeping preachers" this is a big thing in the Amish community it seems. I love learning about new things within the church.

Newport has written  a book telling of God's grace to others. I felt her heart on the pages of this book.

I gave this book 4 stars. I suggest reading the whole series so you won't be lost.

The Mary Reader received this book from the Author for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

His Guilt By Shelley Shepard Gray

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray delivers the next novel in her Amish of Hart County series—a suspenseful tale of an Amish man who will risk all to protect the woman he loves.

Mark Fisher has returned home to Hart County, determined to put the past behind him. Two years ago, after being wrongly accused of assault, he left the Amish community, though never forgot his home. When the one person who had helped him through his rough times asks for help, Mark returns. But it is pretty Waneta Cain who makes him want to stay...

Neeta is one of the few people in Hart County who doesn’t believe Mark is guilty of hurting anyone. However, his worldliness and tough exterior do make her uneasy. As she begins to see the real man behind all the gossip and prejudice, she wonders if he is the man for her. 

Just when Mark starts to believe a new life is possible, a close friend of Neeta’s is attacked. Once again, everyone in the community seems to believe he is guilty.  But what hurts most is Neeta’s sudden wariness around him. When another woman is hurt, a woman who is close to both Neeta and himself, Mark fears he knows the real culprit. And time is running out. Will Mark be able to find him before Neeta becomes his next victim?

Pick up your copy here...

https://www.amazon.com/His-Guilt-Amish-Hart-County/dp/0062469134/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499481868&sr=8-1&keywords=his+guilt+shelley+shepard+gray 

Shelley Shepard Gray lives in southern Ohio and writes full time. A busy wife and mother of two, she spends her days writing and keeping track of her two teenagers. Her two dogs keep her company when she writes in her basement.

Shelley enjoys writing about the Amish and visits Amish communities in Adams and Holmes counties several times a year. When not spending time with her family or writing, she serves on several committees in her church.

She also bakes a lot, loves coconut cream pie, and will hardly ever pull weeds, mow the yard, or drive in the snow.

Shelley also spends a lot of time on line! Please visit her website, www.shelleyshepardgray.com to find out her latest news...or become her friend on FaceBook.

My thoughts...

This is book number two in the Amish of Hart County series. It is not your typical Amish read. It was more a suspense, more than what you normally read in an Amish book.  This is a  really good romantic suspense and it can be read as a stand alone but I really liked the first book Her Guilt as well.

Great characters and good storyline make this one a winner and  one not to be missed.

I gave this book 4 stars and I hope that you will pick up a copy.

The Mary Reader received this book from the Author for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

A Letter From Lancaster County By Kate Lloyd

Two Sisters Get a Second Chance at Life and Love

Angela
Her mother's untimely death, a struggling marriage, a strained relationship with her sister, Rose, and regrets over what might have been haunt her. Despite being a wife and mother, she feels she has little to show for her life.

Rose
Still single, she longs for a husband and children. But Angela has all that and still isn't happy. Rose wants to be closer to her older sister, but she and Angela couldn't be more different. Both strong women, will their sibling rivalry ever end?

* * *

When a letter arrives from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Angela and Rose decide to visit Aunt Silvia, their mother's Mennonite sister, in the heart of Amish country. This vacation could provide the opportunity both sisters need to sort out their issues. And yet instead of finding a new way of connecting with each other, Angela and Rose discover surprising family secrets that add to their strife and threaten Rose's romance with a new beau.

Through it all, the two sisters must find the faith necessary to face their personal problems and allow God to restore hope and healing to their hearts and relationship as only He can.

Pick up your copy here...

https://www.amazon.com/Letter-Lancaster-County-Discoveries/dp/0736970215/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499280877&sr=8-1&keywords=A+love+letter+from+lancaster

Author Kate Lloyd is a passionate observer of human relationships. A native of Baltimore, Kate spends time with family and friends in Lancaster County, PA, the inspiration for her best selling novels Leaving Lancaster, Pennsylvania Patchwork, and Forever Amish, the third book in the Legacy of Lancaster Trilogy. Her newest novel, A Letter from Lancaster County, releases July 1, 2017, and is available for pre-order in paperback.

Kate is a member of the Lancaster County Mennonite Historical Society. She and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest, the setting for Kate's first novel, A Portrait of Marguerite. Kate studied art, art history, photography, and Italian in college. She's worked a variety of jobs, including car salesman and restaurateur.

For relaxation and fun, Kate enjoys walking with her camera in hand, beachcombing, and playing with her two young grandchildren.

Find out more about Kate Lloyd at her
Website: www.katelloyd.com
Blog: http://katelloyd.com/blog/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/katelloydbooks
Twitter: @KateLloydAuthor
Pinterest: @KateLloydAuthor

Kate loves hearing from readers!

My Thoughts...

Was the letter a love letter? Who could it have been from? This is not your normal Kate Lloyd Amish book. It is a contemporary read not an Amish read. The characters are great and the story flows so well that you will have it read in one sitting and be left wanting more.

I loved Aunt Sylvia and wanted to live with her so bad.  Rose is another favorite of mine, you are going to love her as well.

There is some Amish in the book but it not your typical Amish story this is more about the two English sisters. So all of you who are tired of Amish books don't pass this one up because it is not an Amish book.

I loved this book from page one. It is a 5 star book and one not to be missed. I can't wait for book two Starting from Scratch.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

On Love's Gentle Shore By Liz Johnson

Fifteen years after she left Prince Edward Island, Natalie O'Ryan had no plans to return. But when her fiancé, music producer Russell Jacobs, books their wedding in her hometown and schedules a summer at Rose's Red Door Inn, she sets out to put the finishing touches on the perfect wedding. But she can't possibly prepare for a run-in with Justin Kane--the best friend she left behind all those years ago after promising to stay.

Justin's never forgotten Natalie or the music career he always dreamed of pursuing. He'd been prepared to follow her off the island until his dad died and he was left to run the family dairy farm. He's done the best he can with the life that was thrust upon him--but with Natalie back in the picture, he begins to realize just how much joy he's been missing.

Pick up your copy here...

https://www.amazon.com/Loves-Gentle-Shore-Prince-Edward/dp/0800724518/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1498496974&sr=8-1-fkmr0

By day Liz Johnson is the marketing director for a radio network. She finds time to write late at night and is a two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. Liz makes her home in Tucson, AZ, where she enjoys theater, exploring local history, and doting on her nieces and nephews. She loves stories of true love with happy endings. Find out more about Liz at www.LizJohnsonBooks.com.

My Thoughts...

I absolutely adored this series. The whole Prince Edwards Island Dreams series was one you will not soon forget. The love story and the setting alone are worth the read.  But Natalie's story was one of the best romances you will read this year.

One thing that I found great was getting to get together with  some of characters from the first two books. 

You are going to want to fall into Justin and Natalie's story, be careful you might just be like me and never want to leave PEI.

This is a 5 star book and I highly recommend it.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Interview with Mary Kenyon Author of Mary & Me

Mary and Me: A Lasting Link Through Ink explores a thirty-year friendship between two women: one who had never learned to cultivate female friendships, and the other who had managed to gather and maintain a large group of friends throughout her adult life. The fact that thousands of handwritten letters between them linked these two together is just part of the intriguing story. Mary Potter Kenyon, the author of "Refined by Fire," "Coupon Crazy," and "Chemo-Therapist," and her co-writer Mary Jedlicka Humston share an unforgettable friendship that will inspire you to pick up your pen and begin writing "Dear . . . "

"For thirty years, the Marys have maintained their correspondence, their connection empowered by sheets of paper. Through their letters, these two friends have been able to get through extremely difficult moments and grow as mothers, friends, and community members. Their commitment to each other is apparent within these pages. One cannot help but smile when reading how Mary Kenyon and Mary Humston have flourished through their friendship with each other."-  from the Foreword by Kathy Zadrozny & Donovan Beeson Yothers, Founders of the Letter Writers Alliance

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Me-Lasting-Link-Through/dp/1942934025/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1499221675&sr=8-1

Mary can you give my blog readers your best advice on how to be a good friend?

I might be the wrong person to ask about friendship. It is only in the last six years I have learned what it is to have close relationships outside of family. For most of my adult life, I had few friends outside of my husband, sisters. Whether it was due to a lack of time, a distrust of females in general, or a combination of both, I wasn't sure how to make or maintain friendships. I'd been bullied as a child, and the worst offenders in the parochial grade school I attended were female. While I did enjoy some female friendships in high school, I got married a year after graduation, and once the babies started coming, I immersed myself in motherhood, and later, homeschooling. Who had time or energy for friends? I met Mary Jedlicka Humston (co-author of "Mary & Me: A Lasting Link Through Ink") in 1996, when I was pregnant with my third child. When we moved away from her after a year, Mary and I maintained our friendship via handwritten letters, and a few face-to-face visits. It wasn't until 2011, when I attended a Christian Writer's conference, that I formed other fledgling female relationships, friendships that sustained me during the following year, when my husband unexpectedly died. Now I collect friends, male and female, cherishing relationships that have enriched my life immeasurably. If I were to give advice on friendship, it would be to take the time to reach out regularly to let your friends know they are important in your life. It's too easy to take someone for granted. Our friends need to know we are there for them when they need us. 

Why did you decide to write this memoir with Mary?

Mary and I had such different experiences in regards to female friendship. She was a social butterfly; had always had friends, and was actively involved in many organizations and groups. And while we had much in common, there were glaring differences in our lifestyles, not the least of which was that I had eight children to her three. We knew our letter-writing relationship was unusual; we'd write 3-4 letters a week, not waiting for a return letter to arrive before writing another. We figured we'd sent more than 8000 letters between us in 30 years. 

But after my husband's death in March 2012, our relationship changed dramatically. Despite not having lost a close family member, Mary somehow knew to visit me once a month and take me out to lunch. She was one of the few people who asked the difficult questions, and then took the time to listen. I'd had four books published by that time and the idea of co-writing one suddenly appealed to me. It wasn't a new idea; we'd discussed it before, but the timing seemed right. The outline was easy; I already knew what the book would look like; alternating chapters on topics I wanted to explore anyway, topics like faith, early mothering, and envy.     

Do you still hand write letters to friends? Not only do Mary and I continue to write letters, I've adopted a Tuesday morning ritual since David's death, of reaching out to someone every week with a card or letter. David died on a Tuesday, and for a long time, I dreaded Tuesdays, marking yet another week without him. When I decided to do something positive on Tuesdays, instead, it made all the difference. Now, I look forward to Tuesdays. I never write a letter or send a card expecting one in return. That's not the point.

What are your hobbies other than writing? I'm a voracious reader;non-fiction when I'm working on a writing project, but fiction when I need an escape. I love riding my bicycle and teaching beginning writing classes. But writing and public speaking are my passions.

Tell us about your family. I was married to David for nearly 33 years. He was a five-year cancer survivor when he died of heart failure. I have eight children, and until this summer, all of them lived within an hour of me, two on the same block! Son Dan and his wife, Lydia, live across the street. Daughter Elizabeth and her husband Ben live a block away with their three children, 13-year-old Becca, 9-year-old Joe, and 4-year-old Amy. Jacob, who lives in Heaven with his grandpa, would have turned 12 this summer. My son Michael and daughter Rachel live ten minutes away, in the small town where I grew up. Michael purchased my parent's house, and Rachel lives with her two dogs in a house three blocks from him. My son, Matthew, lives an hour away. Emily, who married Hugh last year, now lives in Virginia, where he is serving in the Marines. Katie, age 17, and Abby, age 14 live with me. I work as a Senior Services librarian and teach writing classes for community colleges, workshops for libraries, and I'm also a public speaker.

What is one accomplishment you are most proud of? Surviving since the death of my husband five years ago, and obtaining certification for grief counseling this year. While David would have been extremely pleased and proud of my writing and public speaking (he always believed in me), those accomplishments aren't of my own making. I have felt God leading me all along, and I credit Him. 

What are you working on now? I have a grief journal coming out in May 2018, and I'm working on a book on utilizing your creativity in your everyday life. I'm also planning a grief retreat for October and will be facilitating a GriefShare support group at a Methodist church here in town. 

What is your favorite Bible verse and why? Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."   Because I felt that all along, even during those darkest of days during early mourning. I knew he had gone before me to prepare me, bringing the right people into my life, and guiding me in my writing and my work.

Tell readers how to keep up with you?

www.marypotterkenyon.com

marypotterkenyon@gmail.com

Linked In: Mary Potter Kenyon

Twitter: mommytrack

Facebook Author Page: Mary Potter Kenyon

An Amish Summer By Shelley Shepard Gray, Kelly Irvin, Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller GIVEAWAY!

A Reunion in Pinecraft by Shelley Shepard Gray

When sisters Sharon and Sherilyn Kramer attend a wedding in Shipshewana, one of them returns with a new penpal while the other returns to her job at the bakery. After sending weekly letters back and forth, Sherry and Graham Holland arrange a reunion in Pinecraft. Upon Graham’s arrival, however, he realizes he’s been writing to the wrong sister. He decides to use the reunion as a way to get to know both sisters, but can he sort through the confusion in time to turn the worst vacation ever into something truly wonderful?

Summer Storms by Amy Clipston

Ariana is counting down the days until her wedding to Jesse. They have been friends longer than Arianna can remember, and that friendship turned into love over the past couple of years. But when Arianna’s brother Tobias, who happens to be Jesse’s best friend, gets them both into trouble, Arianna’s father puts an end to her engagement to Jesse. Some summer storms pass quickly, but Arianna is afraid the damage from this one may be too much to repair.

Lakeside Love by Kathleen Fuller

Esther has always lived in the shadow of her beautiful younger sister Sarah. Even the boy she has known—and loved—her entire life, Judah, only has eyes for Sarah. But when a handsome young Englischer comes to live with the family for a summer, everything begins to change.

One Sweet Kiss by Kelly Irvin

Everybody in little Bee County, Texas, can see the obvious: Jacob King and Martha Byler are meant to be together. Everyone, that is, but Martha. Ever since her mother died when Martha was a young girl, she has taken over the role of caregiver to her large family. And reckless Jacob, who has had a little too much fun on his rumspringa, only seems to add to the list of people to manage. But one summer changes everything, and these two may just find a way to meet in the middle and share one sweet kiss.

Pick up your copy here...

https://www.amazon.com/Amish-Summer-Four-Novellas/dp/0718078845/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499135115&sr=8-1&keywords=an+amish+summer

Kelly Irvin is the author of the Amish of Bee County series, which includes The Beekeeper’s Son, which received a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly, calling it “a delicately woven masterpiece.” She is also the author of the Bliss Creek Amish series and the New Hope Amish series. Kelly’s novella, A Christmas Visitor, appears in the anthology The Amish Christmas Gift. Her novella, Sweeter than Honey, is included in the anthology The Amish Market. 

She wrote two romantic suspense novels, A Deadly Wilderness and No Child of Mine. 

A former newspaper reporter and retired public relations professional, Kelly lives in Texas with her husband, photographer Tim Irvin. They have two children, two grandchildren, and two cats. In her spare time, she likes to read books by her favorite authors.

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.  Find Shelley on her website, www.shelleyshepardgray.com, on Facebook: ShelleyShepardGray, and on Twitter @ShelleySGray.

Amy Clipston is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery series. Her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan College and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and three spoiled rotten cats. Visit her online at amyclipston.com Facebook: AmyClipstonBooks Twitter: @AmyClipston

Kathleen Fuller is the author of several bestselling novels, including the Hearts of Middlefield novels, the Middlefield Family novels, and the Amish of Birch Creek series, as well as a middle-grade Amish series, the Mysteries of Middlefield. Visit her online at www.kathleenfuller.com, Twitter: @TheKatJam, and Facebook: Kathleen Fuller.

My Thoughts...

Four romances by four different Amish fiction authors. Shelly Shepard Gray can't write a bad book. The settings and the characters are very well written and who doesn't want to go to Pinecraft. Kelly Irvin writes like no other and you fall right into her books and you never want to let go. These short novellas are great for beach reads.  All four novellas teach a lesson.

I gave An Amish Summer 4 stars. If you are a fan of Kelly and Shelly and Amish books like I am you are going to want to read these short stories this summer.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Dragon Seed By Marty Machowski

An angry teen, a desperate mother, a missing father, and a shadow lurking in the background. Things were going from bad to worse for Nick and his family. Tempted to run away after yet another argument with his mom, Nick receives a handwritten, leather-bound copy of an old book a family legend passed down to him from his great grandfather. The book, called Dragon Seed, leads Nick deep into his family s history and introduces him to another angry young man who lived in the shadows (the shadows of the tombs). Like Nick, you ll be shocked to discover where he fits in this story of epic proportions! This page-turning, young adult fiction story invites older children and teens into the real-life struggles of Nick. But it also ushers them into an imaginative exploration of the life of the young man Jesus saved as he wandered through the tombs. Best-selling author Marty Machowski uses both stories to introduce the reality of spiritual warfare and how its shadows affect and change us. Machowski, a trusted teacher for children of all ages, presents a thoroughly biblical view of spiritual warfare that emphasizes the importance of humility and dangers of pride. Teens will be drawn to the story of Nick and his struggles and will learn, as they read, to also identify the shadows in their own life and turn from them. While the biblical teaching is evident throughout the narrative of Dragon Seed, Machowski also includes a twelve-lesson Bible study at the end of the book to help teens ground their understanding of spiritual warfare on biblical principles. Youth pastors, leaders, and parents will also want to explore with teens the small group study at the end of the book with its unique take on spiritual warfare that emphasizes the biblical theme of humility. This is a perfect book to read with a group and discuss together the implications of Nick s struggles for their lives.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Seed-Marty-Machowski/dp/1945270004/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1498923187&sr=8-2&keywords=dragon+seed

Marty Machowski is the Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, where he has served on the pastoral staff for over 25 years. Marty leads Promise Kingdom, the children's ministry of Covenant Fellowship. He is the author of a systematic theology for children entitled The Ology, Long Story Short, Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God, The Gospel Story Sunday School Curriculum and the companion Gospel Story Children's Bible. He and his wife Lois and their six children reside in West Chester Pennsylvania area.

This book was reviewed by Willard Jackson for The Mary Reader.

Willards thoughts...

At first I didn't know if I would enjoy reading Dragon Seed. I must say I was a little surprised. The Story and characters are introduced and relationships develop very well. I did find myself wanting to know more about the side story more than I did the main plot. Although there are two stories being told at one time it doesn't confuse the reader. Machowski  seamlessly switches from one story to the next. 

 I must say that even though the book is for young adults I wouldn't give it to a reader that is to young. The main story is a fictional story around the Bible. A younger reader may confuse the two.

After the story there is a 12 week Bible study with topics like how to overcome pride. There are also questions at the end of the bible study chapters. 

I gave this book 4 stars.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.