Book Review: Who the Bishop Knows by Vannetta Chapman

Who the Bishop Knows by Vannetta Chapman is a stellar end to a superb series.

In the final installment of Chapman's Amish Bishop Mysteries series, Henry Lapp and Emma Fisher are attending the rodeo when Jeremiah Schwartz is fatally injured. In the past, Henry's special gift has helped the local authorities solve mysteries. This time, however, he wasn't in the arena when Jeremiah was killed, so drawing what he saw won't work. When other members of his community are threatened, Henry will need to rely on his keen sense of human character and observation to crack the case.

I'm sorry to see this series end; but if it must end, I am so glad it went out in such a spectacular way. Beloved characters blend with new characters and a plot filled with twists and turns to create an engaging mystery. Chapman has always been talented in creating that vital sense of community that is indicative of the genre. Her books highlight the challenges and blessings of working alongside the Englisch members living nearby. This series has been as much about building bridges between the two worlds as it is in solving the mysteries.

Though this is a stand alone novel, I highly recommend starting with the first book, What the Bishop Saw. It's nice to watch the relationships evolve throughout the three books. Faith, friendship, and learning to accept our talents are recurrent themes. If you like Amish fiction and enjoy mysteries, you won't want to miss Who the Bishop Knows by Vannetta Chapman.


Series: The Amish Bishop Mysteries (Book 3)

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (March 6, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 073696651X
ISBN-13: 978-0736966511


I purchased a copy of this book from Amazon. This review contains my honest opinion, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - May 28

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Before anything else, I would like to thank all the brave men and women who have or are currently serving our country here and abroad. I would especially like to remember those who have sacrificed it all to protect freedom around the world.

Arizona Memorial, Feb 2018

I'm am currently about halfway through the final book in Vannetta Chapman's Amish Bishop Mystery series. As expected, I am loving it. 

Every year, residents of the small Amish community in Monte Vista, Colorado, look forward to the Ski Hi Stampede, the state's oldest professional rodeo. The rodeo is always good, clean entertainment for the hardworking farmers of the San Luis Valley. But this year, the Stampede turns deadly for one Amish man. Did rodeo fans see an unfortunate accident? Or something more sinister?

Amish bishop Henry Lapp is known far and wide for his uncanny ability to draw and remember the smallest details of anything he's seen, skills that have served him well in past investigations. He was at the rodeo that day. The problem? He didn't see Jason Scott's death.

With a murderer on the loose and members of his community being threatened, Henry must act fast. But can he solve a crime he didn't see? This time around, Henry will have to rely on his keen sense of human character and observation, skills he's honed in his role as bishop, if he hopes to crack the case.

What the Bishop Knows is a story of accepting our talents, putting one another first, and trusting that God will care for His children.

Not sure which book I'll be picking up next. In addition to the ones I owe reviews for, I would really like to at least skim through this one. I picked it up for research purposes.

The mother of a bullied first grader, popular blogger Carrie Goldman's inspiring true story triggered an outpouring of support from online communities around the world. In Bullied, she gives us a guide to the crucial lessons and actionable guidance she's learned about how to stop bullying before it starts. It is a book born from Goldman's post about the ridicule her daughter suffered for bringing a Star Wars thermos to school--a story that went viral on Facebook and Twitter before exploding everywhere, from CNN.com and Yahoo.com to sites all around the world. Written in Goldman's warm, engaging style, Bullied is an important and very necessary read for parents, educators, self-professed "Girl Geeks," or anyone who has ever felt victimized by a bully, online or in person.

What's your reading plan for the week?

Musing Monday - November 20

Musing Monday is hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker.  It is a weekly meme that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

I’m currently reading…
Up next I think I’ll read…
I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
I can’t wait to get a copy of…
I wish I could read ___, but…
I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK'S RANDOM QUESTION:   Do you like or dislike series books?


Happy Thanksgiving week, everyone! I hope your preparations are going well. Mine are very slow. Trying not to work, but I am working like a dog. House still isn't clean for me to host on Thursday and I can't even think about baking.

Enough of that stress. Let's talk books. If you visited lately you'll see I've been blogging more thanks to a little break in the real estate business. Not much of a break, but I'll take it. Be sure to read my review of When the Bishop Needs an Alibi by Vannetta Chapman. Love, love, love this series.

Speaking of series, I do like them. That said, I hate when life gets hectic and I can't keep up with a series. I've missed books by Karen White, Kathi Macias, Marilyn Meredith, C. W. Gortner and more that write books I absolutely adore. Even harder is when I come into a series in the middle and have to back track. That never seems to work out. That's why I've been so vigilant about Charlotte Hubbard's books. I know if I miss any one in a series I'll regret it and never catch up.

How about you? Do you prefer stand alone novels or series? Is there a series you're still trying to catch up on?

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving.

Book Review: When the Bishop Needs an Alibi

Bishop Henry Lapp, Emma Fisher, and more familiar faces return in When the Bishop Needs an Alibi, the second book in Vannetta Chapman's Amish Bishop Mystery series.

Henry and Emma find themselves in the middle of another mystery when he discovers the body of a young woman while visiting the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge to witness the annual arrival of 20,000 sandhill cranes to the San Luis Valley of Colorado.

When Henry quickly becomes the primary murder suspect, it seems like God is calling him to use his special talent to help in the investigation. He realizes his involvement in discovering the truth could put those he cares about in the path of a dangerous killer who will stop at nothing to make sure Henry is framed for murder.

As much as I enjoyed the first book in this series, What the Bishop Saw, I loved this one more. Faith, friendship, and courage blend together to create an engaging story that pulls you in immediately. It's wonderful to watch Henry and Emma's relationship evolve in the second novel. In addition, the strong ties that bind this community together add a meaningful dynamic to the story. Chapman continues to fascinate me with her ability to weave an amazing story that keeps you riveted and also touches your heart.

I can't wait for Who the Bishop Knows, which is due out this spring. I highly recommend this series to lovers of Amish fiction and cozy mysteries.

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (September 1, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736966498
ISBN-13: 978-0736966498

I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Musing Monday - Nov 6

Musing Monday is hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker.  It is a weekly meme that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

I’m currently reading…
Up next I think I’ll read…
I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
I can’t wait to get a copy of…
I wish I could read ___, but…
I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK'S RANDOM QUESTION:   What do you think of ghostwriters?

What a whirlwind of a week it has been: sold a house, listed a house and will be listing another one today, two birthdays, and even cleaned the house a bit. Need to get ready before Thanksgiving is here--which reminds me, I need to order Christmas cards.

In my reading world, I finished this one. Look for my review this week.

Writing for Bliss is most fundamentally about reflection, truth, and freedom. With techniques and prompts for both the seasoned and novice writer, it will lead you to tap into your creativity through storytelling and poetry, examine how life-changing experiences can inspire writing, pursue self-examination and self-discovery through the written word, and, understand how published writers have been transformed by writing.

I am currently reading....

Amish bishop Henry Lapp eagerly awaits the annual arrival of 20,000 sandhill cranes to the San Luis Valley of Colorado. But his visit to the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge reveals more than just a miracle of God's creation. Hidden among the bulrushes and cattails is the deceased body of a young woman.

As the local authorities attempt to unravel the mystery, Henry feels God's calling to use his extraordinary talent to aid in the investigation. His ability to draw from memory in photographic detail could help solve this puzzling case.

Henry's closest friend, Emma Fisher, has always urged him to embrace his gift. As their relationship deepens, Henry realizes his involvement could put him and those he loves in the direct path of a killer, one who is willing to do anything to cover up a brutal crime, including framing the bishop.

When the Bishop Needs an Alibi is a compelling story of faith, friendship, and finding courage only God can provide.

As for this week's question, my answer is that I don't mind ghostwriting. I am a ghostwriter. Honestly, some people have great ideas and simply can't get them down on paper in a marketable way. Why shouldn't they hire the services of someone who can? It's the same thing as a musical artist using a songwriter. It's not always easy to remove your personal style when writing for someone else, but after a few drafts you can mold it the right way.

How was your week? Read any good books?

Musing Monday - Oct 30

Musing Monday is hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker.  It is a weekly meme that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

I’m currently reading…
Up next I think I’ll read…
I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
I can’t wait to get a copy of…
I wish I could read ___, but…
I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK'S RANDOM QUESTION:   Have you ever met someone who really REALLY likes to talk about all the classic books they have read? If so what did you think?

Well, it's still Monday for about 50 more minutes. A powerful storm ripped through here Sunday and most of our town was without power and internet until about 9:15 pm tonight. Guess it is a good thing this didn't happen in the middle of summer or in the dead of winter.

Blog posts should hopefully become more regular as real estate slows down a bit. Since I couldn't accomplish much work today I decided to switch over my wardrobe to the fall and winter stuff and clean our bedroom. The church's annual tag sale is coming up and I find this is a good time to de-clutter.

Finished reading, A Simple Wish by Charlotte Hubbard. Hope you caught my review on Friday. I haven't started anything new yet. I'm thinking next up will be The Rancher's Mistletoe Bride by Jill Kemerer or When the Bishop Needs an Alibi by Vannetta Chapman. 

As far as this week's question goes, I haven't run into anyone who likes to talk about all the classic books they have read. I'm glad of that because I haven't read nearly enough. To each his own.

Hope you have a great week.

Book Review: What the Bishop Saw by Vannetta Chapman

If you like Amish mysteries, you need to grab a copy of What the Bishop Saw by Vannetta Chapman. This first book in a new series features a bishop with an extraordinary talent that could be the key to finding a murderer.

Bishop Henry Lapp rushes to the scene of an out of control fire in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. He soon learns the fire was no accident and that Vernon Frey was killed. Considering Vernon's reputation in the Amish and Englisch communities there is no end to potential suspects.

When police suspect someone Henry knows is innocent, he must decide if he will use his mysterious, God-given gift to set the record straight.

When I heard Chapman was releasing a new series that blended two of my favorite genres--Amish fiction and mystery--there was no doubt I would read it. What the Bishop Saw hooked me right from the Prologue and didn't let go until the Epilogue was done. I'm already planning to beg to review the next book in the series when it comes out.

Her trademark of "Christian Fiction Full of Grace" is front and center throughout this exciting story, while the romance between Henry and Emma percolates slowly like a good cup of coffee. The ending is superb and I loved the Epilogue. The novel is filled with characters I hope we will see again in the next book.

I have enjoyed everything I've ever read by Vannetta Chapman, but What the Bishop Saw is my new favorite. I can't wait to see what happens next in The Amish Bishop Mysteries series.


Series: The Amish Bishop Mysteries (Book 1)
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (May 1, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736966471
ISBN-13: 978-0736966474

I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Musing Monday - June 12

Musing Monday is hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker.  It is a weekly meme that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

I’m currently reading…
Up next I think I’ll read…
I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
I can’t wait to get a copy of…
I wish I could read ___, but…
I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK'S RANDOM QUESTION:   Which would you rather live without? Books or chocolate.

Happy Monday! It's a sunny and hot one here today...about time the nice weather arrived.

I'll be posting a review of Annie's Recipe by Lisa Jones Baker this week and I just finished reading What the Bishop Saw by Vannetta Chapman. If you like Amish fiction you'll want to check out both of these.

We are getting ready for our annual vacation and I have packed up my reading material--five books are overdue reviews and two are upcoming reviews. The rest are Kindle freebies I might get into if I have time.

As for this week's question, without a doubt I could give up chocolate much easier than giving up books.

Hope you have a great week!

Musing Monday - June 5

Musing Monday is hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker.  It is a weekly meme that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

I’m currently reading…
Up next I think I’ll read…
I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
I can’t wait to get a copy of…
I wish I could read ___, but…
I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK'S RANDOM QUESTION:   Have you ever read a book where you needed more answers to the story? Where maybe the ending was just way to open ended and you wanted to yell at the author about it? What book was it?

It's Monday again--a rainy one here in Western Mass. Thankfully we have a bit of a break in the wet weather and the landscaper was able to come cut the grass. Our mower is in the shop and our yard was beginning to look like one of those through which you walk toward an abandoned house in a horror movie.

I've been reading What the Bishop Saw by Vannetta Chapman. It's a new Amish mystery series. I'm loving it so far and I might have figured out who the culprit it...though I am often wrong.

This elementary age graphic novel was shipped to me directly from the publisher. Didn't request it, but it's too cute not to talk about.

As for this week's question, I'm sure there are more instances but I can clearly recall two where the open ending of a book really ticked me off; granted they were both books in a series. I truly prefer series novels where you could read it as a stand alone if you wanted. One was a young adult fantasy novel and the other was a murder mystery. Both were excellent books regardless of their endings.

What is going on in your reading world this week? Hope you have some sun and happiness where you are.

Pre-order What the Bishop Saw by Vannetta Chapman

Somewhere in the Embers Lies the Truth

A fire blazes out of control in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, leaving an elderly Amish bachelor dead. Bishop Henry Lapp rushes to the scene, and he learns the fire was no accident. Someone intended to kill Vernon Frey. But who would want to kill Vernon? Well, practically everyone—Amish and Englisch alike.

When the police point the finger at a suspect Henry knows is innocent, the bishop must decide whether or not to use his mysterious, God-given gift—one he's tried desperately to ignore all these years—to try and set the record straight. His close friend and neighbor, Emma, encourages Henry to follow God's leading.

Could the clue to solving the case be locked somewhere deep in his memory? Will Henry find the courage to move forward in faith and put the right person behind bars? Is his friendship with Emma becoming something more?


What the Bishop Saw is a story of extraordinary talents, the bonds of love and friendship, and the unfailing grace of God.

Series: The Amish Bishop Mysteries (Book 1)
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (May 1, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736966471
ISBN-13: 978-0736966474

Pre-order here!

Musing Monday - Jan 30

Musing Monday is now hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker.  It is a weekly meme that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

I’m currently reading…
Up next I think I’ll read…
I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
I can’t wait to get a copy of…
I wish I could read ___, but…
I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK'S RANDOM QUESTION: Are there any books you are really eagerly waiting for in 2017?

How is it the end of the month already? Things have been so crazy around here I have accomplished barely anything...well, I sold a house and had a closing, but pretty much I feel like I've been running in circles.

My father-in-law came home two Mondays ago and I had to call the ambulance the next day to bring him to the hospital. We almost lost him. After days of antibiotics and fluids, he finally checked out of the hospital and into rehab for some physical and occupational therapy. We hope he will be home soon.

As a result, not a lot of reading going on. I am working my way through Little House in the Hollywood Hills, a memoir by actress Charlotte Stewart. I can't say I really knew much about the actress except that she played Miss Beadle on Little House on the Prairie and that she was in Tremors. Definitely gives me a glimpse into Hollywood's crazy hippie days.

Now on to this week's question. I'm always eager for new books. Charlotte Hubbard has a couple of new books coming out that I want to read:

Vannetta Chapman also has a couple of books coming out.

Tandem Demise is the third book in Duffy Brown's Cycle Path Mystery series slated for release this year. I would love to read that one.

This upcoming release from Debbie Macomber sounds good.

So does this late June upcoming release from Diana Gabaldon.

What are you looking forward to in 2017?

Teaser Tuesday - November 1

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teasers:

"No, the difference between now and before was that she gave the impression of being barely present. To Sarah it seemed that she drifted a little further from them each day."

~ From page 11 of Sarah's Orphans by Vannetta Chapman

Interview with Vannetta Chapman, Author of Sarah's Orphans

Orphaned…But Never Abandoned by God

Sarah Yoder belongs to a Plain community in Oklahoma, but her days are far from simple. Life suddenly gets complicated when a series of tragic events unfold, leaving her in charge of the household.  

Alone with her younger siblings, Sarah is exhausted but finally at peace. Then she nearly runs over a small Hispanic boy with her buggy…and somehow finds herself sheltering two more orphans.

Paul Byler moved to Cody’s Creek to help his brother in a time of need. But now that Joseph has recovered from his heart attack, Paul’s ready for a quiet place of his own. The only problem? His new property lands him next door to the orphaned Yoder family—and a calling from God he can’t seem to ignore.

A story of extraordinary grace and love in the face of desperate need, Sarah’s Orphans is the third standalone novel in the Plain and Simple Miracles collection by Vannetta Chapman. 

Links

Amazon http://buff.ly/2bcIl2Q 

B&N http://buff.ly/2bcIJP5

CBD http://buff.ly/2bcIDH6

I've been a fan of Chapman's work for years. Here are a few answers to some questions I asked about her Plain and Simple Miracles series. I reviewed the first two books in the series: Anna's Healing and Joshua's Mission. 

Where did you come up with the idea for this series?

Actually my husband challenged me to come up with some story lines that dealt with our faith in depth. Anna’s Healing explores whether we still believe in miracles. Joshua’s Mission focuses on the role of missions in our world today, and then of course Sarah’s Orphans centers around those in our community who are in need.

Why do you think people either believe or are skeptical about miracles?

I think a lot of that has to do with our own personal experience. If you’ve had a gravely ill loved one and you prayed for a miracle but they still died, then it might be hard for you to believe. That said, a lot of people wrote me and said, “We prayed for a miracle and didn’t get one, but I still believe God is in the business of miracles.”

How do you keep the books fresh for readers as the series proceeds?

For me, it has to be a different story line. If you think of a community--whether it’s a small town or a neighborhood in a large city--there are a lot of stories to be told within a group of people. So I try to imagine what those stories are. None of them exist in isolation. We effect one another in large and small ways. How the stories and community fit together, that’s the essence of a series for me.

Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace, including romantic suspense and Amish romance novels. She is the author of seventeen novels, including the Pebble Creek Amish series, The Shipshewana Amish Mystery series and Anna’s Healing, a 2016 Christy Award finalist. Vannetta is a Carol award winner and also received more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She was a teacher for 15 years and currently resides in the Texas hill country. For more information, visit her at www.VannettaChapman.com.

http://vannettachapman.com

https://twitter.com/VannettaChapman

https://www.facebook.com/VannettaChapmanBooks

https://www.instagram.com/vannettachapman/ 

Musing Mondays - Oct 3

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme now hosted at Jenn's blog Books And A Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: What is your worst habit as a reader?


It is Monday again. It's going to be a cloudy and rainy day here in Massachusetts. We are still recovering from our drought, so we can't complain.

Last week was so hectic that I didn't get to blog much. This week I am heading out of town for a two-day conference on Wednesday, so not sure how much I'll be online.

I reviewed Joshua's Mission by Vannetta Chapman over the weekend. 

I'm also participating in The General's Wife by Sara R. Turnquist VBT. They are offering a $50 Amazon of Barnes and Noble gift card as a prize. You can enter here. 

I'm not sure what my worst habit is as a reader. 

Is it that I keep buying books even though I have hundreds of unread ones here?

Is it that I keep filling up my Kindle with freebies that I rarely read?

Maybe it's that I take all my paperbacks into the tub with me and risk drowning them. 

What is your worst habit as a reader? 

Book Review: Joshua's Mission by Vannetta Chapman

If you're looking for a book about family, love, overcoming hardships, forgiveness and grace, you need to pick up a copy of Joshua's Mission by Vannetta Chapman.

Joshua Kline travels from the family farm in Oklahoma to an Englisch town on the gulf coast of Texas that has been ravaged by Hurricane Orion. He brings his younger brother with him. Perhaps the change will keep Alton out of trouble.

Two young women from the Amish community of Cody's Creek will be joining them, the bishop's daughter, Becca Troyer, and her friend Sarah.

This mission trip just might teach all of them about the gifts of love and friendship and the powerful grace of God.

This is the second book in Chapman's Plain and Simple Miracles series. I reviewed the first book, Anna's Healing, here. Joshua's Mission is a stand alone novel, so you don't have to read the first book. I feel comfortable, however, recommending both of them highly.

What I truly enjoyed about this novel is how Chapman stayed focused on the purpose of the entire series, yet delivered a total fresh plot with a story told in a very different way. Anna's Healing focused on a family impacted by tragedy and how a miracle affects their lives. In Joshua's Mission, the miracle unfolds gently like a new flower unfurling its petals. The miracle is in how the mission trip changes these four young people instead of being a healing miracle or something that draws attention.

While the story starts in Cody's Creek, the majority of it takes place in Texas, making readers of the series eager to return to this Plain community in Oklahoma for the third novel, which was released in September. This also allowed for many new characters to be introduced.

There is so much to love in this novel. If I had time I would definitely read it again. This book is a keeper.

Series: Plain and Simple Miracles (Book 2)
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (February 1, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736956050
ISBN-13: 978-0736956055

I received a free copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.


I read this book for the following challenge:

Musing Mondays - Sep 5

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme now hosted at Jenn's blog Books And A Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Name your best-loved character from a fiction book.

Happy Labor Day, everyone! Hope you have some nice weather to enjoy it. It's breezy here, the result of Post-Tropical Cyclone Hermine. But the sky is blue and it's a lovely late summer day.

The girls started school on Wednesday. so we are all getting back into our regular schedules. Hopefully that means more blogging here.

I'm currently reading Joshua's Mission by Vannetta Chapman. It's the second book in her Plain And Simple Miracles series. Coincidentally--considering we've been watching the path of Hermine this past week--a storm plays a pivotal role in this book.

As for my best-loved character from a fiction book, I'll have to give you two: for children's literature it would need to be Anne Shirley from the Anne of Green Gables series and for adult literature it is Gordon Butler from F.M. Meredith's Rocky Bluff P.D. series. 

Young Anne is impulsive, out-spoken, and usually finds herself in a spot of trouble. Thanks to her imagination and her ability to string words together she can get herself out of most jams. 

Gordon finds himself the butt of jokes because strange things happen to him, but he's got a heart of gold. He is usually in the wrong place at the wrong time, but he is as dependable as the day is long. 

I like characters that I can root for; characters who make me care about them and have me wishing they succeed simply because, despite their tiny flaws or quirks, they are good people. Anne and Gordon fit that bill. 

Who are some of your favorite fictional characters?

An Amish Market Novella Collection on Sale This Weekend

Graphic from Vannetta Chapman's Facebook page

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.

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Book Review: Anna's Healing by Vannetta Chapman

Anna's Healing by Vannetta Chapman is a story of love, faith, and miracles.

Anna Schwartz has moved to her aunt and uncle's farm in the Amish community of Cody's Creek in Oklahoma. Once a vibrant young woman, when a tornado leaves her a paraplegic, she struggles to adjust to her new life.

Thankfully, she has friends, Chloe--an Englischer who writes for the local paper--and Jacob--a newcomer to town, along with her grandmother to help.

One day, Anna finds herself healed. How did it happen? And why? Soon everyone wants to know about this young Amish woman who has experienced the inexplicable.

What a fantastic, emotional novel. Chapman has filled Anna's Healing with a host of engaging characters whose stories beg to be told. An uncertain young Amish woman, a reporter who befriends her, a young Amish man who has been traveling and has no immediate plans to call any place home, a distant aunt and uncle, and a grandmother whose faith never waivers.

While the story truly revolves around these characters, the author does justice to the secondary characters in the story as well. She creates a community of people who become as real as your next door neighbors.

This is a book that will have you thinking about the amazing love God has for us. It might make you reconsider how you feel about the miracles that take place around us every day. For me, it was a reminder of being steadfast in my faith and of not taking life for granted.

You'll be moved by Anna's story. I know I was. I'm certainly eager to read the next book in this series.

Series: Plain and Simple Miracles (Book 1)
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (October 1, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736956034
ISBN-13: 978-0736956031

I received a free copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

I read this book for the following challenge:

Musing Mondays - June 27

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme now hosted at Jenn's new blog Books And A Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: What is/are your favorite book cover(s)?

It's been a while since I've done one of these and it's about high time I got back to it. I've missed blogging now that work has taken over my life.

I'm currently reading:

My review was due weeks ago, but I haven't been reading much lately. Our annual trip to North Carolina is coming up, so I will be reading it then. What I have read so far is really good.

Here's the line up of paperback books I am taking on vacation with me. I'm also taking both of my Kindles. 

• Deep Shadows by Vannetta Chapman
• Anna's Healing by Vannetta Chapman
• Joshua's Mission by Vannetta Chapman
• A Loaded Gun by Jerome Charyn
• The Strangers on Montague Street by Karen White
• When Butterflies Came by Kimberley Griffiths Little
• Iced Chiffon by Duffy Brown
• While We Were Watching Downton Abbey by Wendy Wax

What books are you looking forward to reading this summer?

Musing Mondays - February 29

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme now hosted at Jenn's new blog Books And A Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: What was the last book you didn’t finish? Why?

Happy Leap Day! I hope February has been kind to you. I'm excited to participate in the first Musing Mondays held at Jenn's new blog, Books And A Beat. I hope you'll pay her a visit.

I can't answer this week's question because it has been so long since I haven't finished a book I can't tell you what it is.

What I can tell you is that I just finished reading Vannetta Chapman's delightful story, "Love in Store" that is featured in An Amish Market. Two unlikely people are drawn together when mysterious happenings threaten the Old Amish Mill.

David Stoltzfus is a happy, peaceful man who always seems to have a smile on his face. This aggravates his co-worker, Stella Schrock, who has become lonely and bitter over how her life has turned out. When strange occurrences at the Old Amish Mill cause a stir that might lead to its closing, Stella and David team up to get to the bottom of the mystery. The more time they spend together, Stella begins to imagine a life for herself she was certain she left behind long ago. Perhaps God has more in store for the both of them.

This is a wonderful story from beginning to end. It combines two of my favorite things: engaging characters and a mystery to solve. This is just another fine example of why Chapman is such a popular author. She knows her genre well and continues to deliver superb stories for her fans. I look forward to reading the rest of the novellas in this collection to see if I find other authors in this genre to enjoy.

What are you musing about this week?