The Christmas Gathering by Shelley Shepard Gray, Rachel J. Good, Lenora Worth

Be sure to preorder your copy of this!  

The Christmas Gathering

September 24, 2024

by Shelley Shepard Gray (Author), Rachel J. Good (Author), Lenora Worth (Author)

Filled with faith, family, and a whole lot of heart, New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray joins Lenora Worth and Rachel J. Good for three all-new, faith-affirming holiday stories celebrating the spirit of the season, the warmth of simple Amish traditions, and the joyful gathering of loved ones for Christmas.

A CHRISTMAS REUNION by Shelley Shepard Gray
Tricia Troyer is thrilled when Brandt Massey, her cousin’s English friend, joins the Troyers’ holiday gathering for the second year in a row. The sparks between them are clear to everyone. When Brandt asks Tricia to be his girlfriend, they both know she’ll have important choices to make about her future. But the two aren’t as different as some believe—and with open hearts and understanding, their very own Christmas miracle just might be
possible . . .

WE GATHER TOGETHER by Lenora Worth
When Lucas Myer meets Kayla Hollinger on the shores of Lake Erie, he’s smitten. Their families are even staying at the same inn, for different gatherings. The two plan to meet again—but soon enough they discover a problem: their relatives are locked in a longtime feud and forbid them to socialize. Fortunately, Lucas and Kayla are old enough to make their own decisions—and they decide to create a Christmas miracle of forgiveness and love . . .

HITTING ALL THE RIGHT NOTES by Rachel J. Good
Years ago, Andrew was banished by his Amish family when he chose a career in music. It still hurts, especially during the holidays. And now, just before Christmas, he and his band find themselves stranded after their manager absconds with their money. Desperate, Andrew is offered a job teaching piano—but that’s just the first miracle. His work will not only bless others in need, but a longtime fan might just capture his heart—and even lead him home . . .

Marilyn's thoughts:  The Christmas Gathering is truly a unique novella collection of Amish romance set around Christmas. Each tale is different with their gathering, situations to find answers to and romance.

 

Shelley Shepard Gray’s read A Christmas Reunion finds an Amish and Englischer being attracted to one another after meeting the prior year. What a reunion the Amish family created with friends and family with a scavenger hunt of unusual items for team members to find plus the usual Christmas celebration. Will the young couple make their choice known and be accepted when they know there will be struggles and hurts?

 

Lenore Worth tale We Gather Together is set at a lovely inn on Lake Erie with two large events happening. Some of the guests for each event has had a family feud for years, which did not go will at their first encounter in the dining area. Will the fun competitive events the young couple requested to bring the family together make a difference? Who’s going to take the lead in bringing the feud to an end?

 

Rachel J. Good’s novella Hitting All the Right Notes brought about laughs as some Amish youth with a gift for music formed a band. An unpleasant event brought their band low, but maybe in disguise it truly was God’s plan to bring true happiness and new beginnings at the Star Center, a place for displaced youth to gather. This novella had the best faith message.

 

I received an ARC of this book from one of the author without any obligation to write a review. I have expressed my own thoughts.  

What Matters Most by Courtney Walsh

 

What Matters Most 

April 5, 2022

by Courtney Walsh (Author)

“Courtney Walsh’s books always capture my heart!” ―Becky Wade, author of Let It Be Me

Emma Woodson is hoping the cobblestone streets of Nantucket and the charm of her late husband’s family cottage will be the fresh start she and her young son, CJ, need. Securing a dream job at an art gallery is one more step along the path to a new life . . . and away from a piece of her history she hopes will never be revealed. Falling in love with the kind and handsome guy she hires to clean out the rental apartment above the garage wasn’t part of the plan.

Jameson Shaw came to Nantucket for one reason: deliver his letter to Emma and never return. But when he sees an opportunity to help her, he takes a chance, desperate to atone for his past. He never planned to keep his connection to her husband a secret or to fall in love with her. After all, he knows that their new relationship might not survive the discovery of who he really is.

My thoughts: What Matters Most by Courtney Walsh is a romance set in Nantucket. I enjoyed reading and learning about art as two artists connect over a shared incident that affected them both. There are some misunderstandings and drama, and you can see the black moment coming from miles away.  I also got upset with Emma because she was bossy, mean and unforgiving in parts, but all in all this was a good romance and I enjoyed reading it and getting to know the characters. Ms Walsh is one of my favorite romance writers. 3.5 stars rounded up.  I enjoyed this book and recommend it. Grab your copy today. I was given a copy free and all opinions on my own.

Here With Me (Home to Heritage) by Mandy Boerma, Susan May Warren, Tari Faris

 

Here With Me 

(Home to Heritage)

September 10, 2024

by Mandy Boerma (Author), Susan May Warren (Author), Tari Faris (Author)

He’s helping her stay. She’s making sure he can leave. This second chance at love in a small town will tug at your heart and make you believe in love all over again.

"Sadie and David’s journey to salvage love and a family legacy will steal your breath and reaffirm your belief in second chances. A must-read for anyone who cherishes a heart-pounding romance as much as a heartwarming happy-ever-after." USA Today best-selling author Susan May Warren

Love ignites in a last-chance hardware store, but will their hearts, like the failing family business, require a rescue?

She just wants a fresh start…

Inheriting her best friend’s daughter and a store on the brink of collapse, Sadie Hoover is determined to provide Lottie a stable life and keep the family business afloat. But her resolve is tested when the past walks in, wearing a tool belt and a smile that still weakens her knees.

Is he back to break her heart?

David Williams, once the love of Sadie’s life, returns to Heritage not as the missionary he was, but as a man in search of healing and purpose. Tasked with community service, he’s thrown into the daily grind of nuts and bolts, unaware that the hardware store’s troubles—and Sadie’s struggles—are more than just loose hinges and unpaid bills.

What will it cost her to fall for him again?

As they grapple with financial peril and the echoes of a love once lost, David and Sadie are forced to confront what they truly want. The store’s impending foreclosure looms over them, a testament to their joint past and the future they must shape.
If the store fails, they lose not just a legacy, but the second chance life has offered them. Can they rekindle their love while saving the heart of Heritage, or will their dreams rust away like forgotten tools?

Can love be rebuilt from the ruins of their shared history, or will the fight for survival drive the final wedge between them?

HOME TO HERITAGE
You’re the Reason
Here With Me
Christmas With You

RESTORING HERITAGE
P.S. Goodbye (prequel novella)
You Belong With Me
Until I Met You
While It Was Snowing (novella)
Since You’ve Been Gone
Upon a Midnight Snow (Christmas novella)

My thoughts: Here With Me is a contemporary romance this set in Michigan between Muskegon and Ludington. I love seeing some of the continuing characters in this stand-alone series and getting to know David and Sadie. I cared about them and their different than the normal struggles and I was fascinated by the old clock they found in a storage shed. And, of course, the hippo that manages to somehow change locale when something interesting happens was very present in the story. This couple  has a lot of work to do and things to work out due to failure to communicate. If you like contemporary romance this is a book to consider. I was given a copy free and all opinions are my own.

 

A Sunny Sweetheart for the Cowboy: a grumpy-sunshine, forced-proximity Montana Ranches Christian Romance (Sweet River Ranch Romance Book 3)

Author: Valerie Comer

He's grouchy through blessings. She's happy through turmoil. What now?
Weston Kline might know horses, but being the stable manager is not a plum position like his newfound cousins have on the ranch resort their grandfather is revitalizing to meld Weston and his brother into the Sullivan clan. Unsure of where he fits, Weston hides behind an aloof nature.

Paisley Teele is the ranch’s activity coordinator, and she’s not about to let rude, surly Weston withdraw. When they’re thrown together on a two-night trail ride with a group of tweens, she’s determined to get a genuine smile on that cowboy’s face, one way or another.

Neither planned to fall in love, but the attraction sizzles before it fizzles. No grumpy cowboy wants to be coaxed into fake happiness, and this ray of sunshine might be losing her grip in the light of her family situation. Trusting the source of true joy may take an act of God for them both.

About the Sweet River Ranch Romance series:

Walter Sullivan is frustrated with the soft lives his entitled sons and grandsons lead. Yes, it’s because he’s given them an education and money, but now he’s just frustrated with the namby-pamby city kids. Working together to revive a failing guest ranch in Montana will give those young men a chance to prove their worth. And if they settle into the cowboy life and find romance in the bargain, it will be well worth the risk.
1. A Surprise Wedding for the Cowboy
2. A Jilted Bride for the Cowboy
3. A Sunny Sweetheart for the Cowboy
4. A Marriage Pact for the Cowboy

Other Montana Ranches Christian Romance series to buy or borrow from USA Today bestselling author Valerie Comer:

Cavanagh Cowboys Romance (complete in 2022)
1. Marry Me for Real, Cowboy
2. Give Me Another Chance, Cowboy
3. Let Me Off Easy, Cowboy
4. Kiss Me Like You Mean It, Cowboy
5. Choose Me for Always, Cowboy
6. Trust Me With Your Heart, Cowboy

Saddle Springs Romance (complete in 2019)
1. The Cowboy’s Christmas Reunion
2. The Cowboy’s Mixed-Up Matchmaker
3. The Cowboy's Romantic Dreamer
4. The Cowboy’s Convenient Marriage
5. The Cowboy’s Belated Discovery
6. The Cowboy’s Reluctant Bride

Or check out Valerie's other Christian romance series:

• Farm Fresh Market Romances, ongoing series, starting with A Wide and Pleasant Place
• Urban Farm Fresh Romances, complete 12-book series, starting with Secrets of Sunbeams
• Pot of Gold Geocaching Romances, complete 4-book series, starting with Topaz Treasure
• Garden Grown Romances, complete 4-book series, starting with Sown in Love
• Farm Fresh Romances, complete 6-book series, starting with Raspberries and Vinegar
• Christmas at the Miss Snowflake Pageant Romances, complete 3-book series, starting with More Than a Tiara
• Riverbend Romances, complete 5-novella series, starting with Secretly Yours

If you love Christian contemporary romance series that focus on engaging characters, strong communities, and deep faith — clean, wholesome, sweet, and inspirational romances — you’ve come to the right place! This is Christian western romance at its finest.

My thoughts: A Sunny Sweetheart for the Cowboy is a sweet romance with a what seems like an impossible match. She is usually happy, talkative, bouncy, and can't stand to see anybody unhappy. He is moody, grumpy, and doesn't talk much. But then things change. While paired together on overnight camping trip with a bunch of homeschooled kids he finds his footing. The tables are turned and they are both forced out of their comfort zones as they deal with difficulties they never imagined.  The book includes a strong faith message which I  enjoyed. I am a verified buyer and no review was required.

Before We Were Us by Denise Hunter

 

Before We Were Us

September 10, 2024

by Denise Hunter (Author)

She can’t remember. He can’t forget.

When Lauren Wentworth wakes up in the hospital after falling from a ladder, she has more questions than answers. Way more. She knows where she is—the wilds of New Hampshire. But she’s apparently lost the last four months of her life. Is she really contemplating forfeiting her big-city dream job for a position at a rustic resort? And how did her number one nemesis become her adoring boyfriend?

Jonah Landry is crushed to learn Lauren has forgotten their entire summer together. Terrified of losing her for good, he determines to help her remember their deep connection as she finishes her obligation to the resort. But soon it becomes apparent Lauren doesn’t want to remember falling in love with him or rethinking the entire course of her career. She wants to pretend the summer never happened and move on with her life. Without him.

As Lauren falls back into the steady routines of resort work with Jonah, she’s relieved her memories haven’t returned and remains resolute about her big-city future. But as autumn leads into winter, she begins to see glimpses of the Jonah she’s forgotten. Will she be able to resist the steady love of this patient man? Or Is her heart destined for its own freefall?

My thoughts:  Before We Were Us is Ms. Hunter's latest release and as per usual, we have a winner.  Laurel has her plans for the future mapped out in advance and nothing is going to stop her.  Not even a handsome man in the middle of nowhere.  Jonah knows what he wants to, but he feels it all slipping away....   This is a great romance and would make a great Hallmark movie.   If you love romance grab your copy while its on preorder.... Highly recommended.   I was given a copy free and all opinions are my own.

  

This Passing Hour: (A Dual-Time Amish Christian Fiction Book Set in WWII and Present-Day Lancaster County) (Amish Memories) by Leslie Gould

 

This Passing Hour: 

(A Dual-Time Amish Christian Fiction Book Set in WWII and Present-Day Lancaster County) 

(Amish Memories) 

November 28, 2023

by Leslie Gould (Author)

After the death of her parents, Mennonite Brenna Zimmerman relocates to the Lancaster County farm of her Old Order Amish grandparents. There, she befriends Rylan Sanders, a disabled veteran, and commits to rising above her own grief to help him as much as she can. But when things take a turn for the worse, Brenna finds herself at a loss for what to do.

As Brenna struggles, her Mennonite friend Johann Mazur, a soldier in the Ukrainian Army, encourages her to distance herself from Rylan. But when she discovers that Rylan's army buddies are withholding secrets that could help with his psychological healing, Brenna is torn between her feelings for Johann and her commitment to help Rylan.

Inspired by the story of her distant relative who served with the Red Cross and supervised German POWs during World War II, Brenna considers her own future and must decide whether she has the courage to give up the comforts she craves for the life she truly wants.

Marilyn's thoughts:    This Passing Hour is Brenna Zimmerman’s story in Leslie Gould Amish Memories series. Brenna is overcoming the death of her parents, discovering who she really is and how she can serve others. The split timeline story with Rosene telling of the past history during WWII with the Zimmerman family gave insight and encouragement to Brenna.

The wounded soldier Brenna met is suffering from war injuries and other losses. His behavior was frustrating at times with Brenna and others as he was so self centered. Gould created this tale with emotions, discovering God’s purpose and reaching out to others to lend a hand never knowing how God might use you. It was nice to catch up with the characters from book one to see how their lives had changed since the Zimmerman sisters lost their parents in a tragic accident and went to leave with their maternal grandparents on an Amish farm, plus the history of the Zimmerman family from previous times of wars that impacted Americans.

I borrowed this book from our library thus a review was not required.

Committing Action By Sharon Musgrove #Devotional

 Committing Action

By Sharon Musgrove

“Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.”         Proverbs 16:3 NLT

Fall is approaching in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The change of seasons brings many pleasant things like crisp temperatures, colorful leaves, and relieving rains.  But the shifts to wet weather create a need for some of my neighbors, tiny sugar ants, to find refuge in drier locations. If you have had the opportunity to meet these fellow dwellers, you know how tenacious they can be!

The ants have a plan to keep themselves comfortable, fed and safe from harm. I admit, much of my time is spent in that same intention! They are not dangerous to humans, but they feed on sweets and if they find what they want in your home, they move their nest right into the source. I thought my sweet tooth was bad! However, what is most noteworthy in the actions of these tiny creatures is their persistence in pursuance of their goal. Their work is for the Queendom, working their entire lives, whatever the job, unified, for betterment of the Queen and her colony. They are committed!

It’s not coincidental that I was working against this annual infestation as the Holy Spirit highlighted Proverbs 16:3. Over the past couple of weeks I had been marching through the book of Proverbs a chapter at a time. The wisdom of this book is offered in small steps that are easy to miss if not reading with intention. I stalled when I saw the order of this particular Proverb.  

“Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.”

God was shining light on the fact that I had been committing my plans to the Lord rather than my actions.  I’d been giving Him my great ideas and goals with the expectation that He would bless them. By blessing them, I mean make the path easy…like following behind someone that had already scouted the terrain or moved the blockades. But these plans were my plans. Hey God, I have this great idea….

Praying for a specific outcome was an obvious example of a tendency to give the Lord my plans. And when results do not follow the outline of request, the assumption is He isn’t answering or listening or even loving.... What a horrible downward spiral of thoughts!  Isn't giving up the opposite of commitment?

Meanwhile, those sugar ants have been tenaciously working-working-working.  A scout or two has become a chain of hundreds or thousands following the paths of those trailblazers. They are focused on their actions. It’s not that the scouts don’t have a plan, but their plan is not determined by them. Their work is. If one route is a dead end, backtrack and begin again. The goal is so important that the work is worth it. This colony and their queen are so valuable the workers are committed unto death.  

The outcome of perseverance is achieving the goal. James 1:4 states it this way, 

“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (NIV)

Any grand plan I’ve offered the Lord may not have included maturing my character.  And plans to further my “Sharon-dom” are rarely something others are willing to get behind.  It serves me but does it serve the community or God?  

The long line of sugar ants is proof of their willingness to “get behind” in serving.  In doing so, their unified strength increases, and territory is gained.  

The wisdom of Proverbs 16:3 is understanding that God’s plan for me is the best plan. It’s in believing that He is for me, not against me. It's in trusting that the work is worth the commitment and having faith in His Kingdom.  

Fall is the perfect time to lay down a personal agenda and surrender to a new season. Am I willing to commit my actions and “get behind” on the path that Jesus blazed? Can I earnestly pray Thy will be done? 

Friends, I pray for all of us, a willingness to commit ourselves and all we do to the Kingdom plan that God has set in motion. May we be committed to Him and to the well-being of others. And may we be as tenacious as ants in the work He has laid out for us to do individually.  

Author Bio:

 

Sharon has been writing and teaching biblically based curriculum, Bible studies, and devotionals since 2007.    

 

She has had the unique position of writing curriculum and teaching for two private, Christ-based, residential recovery programs. Both programs primarily served women in the homeless community.

 

Sharon has traveled multiple times to Kenya, serving on medical teams and teaching in the rural Maasai communities. She’s been privileged to speak in Leadership camps intended on encouraging and empowering the impoverished, underprivileged, and often abused young women.

 

Within these ministries, Sharon has witnessed the transformative power of loving words spoken to the broken-hearted. Sharing God’s love and witnessing its transformative power has become her passion.

 

Sharon and her husband, divide their time between Oregon and Hawaii. They have two grown children. 

 

Currently, Sharon is encouraging others via her inspirational blog, but prefers sharing face to face. Additionally, she is working towards a degree in Ministry. 

 

~*~

Connect with Sharon:

Website: Sharonmusgrove.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sharon-Musgrove-Untethered-102208978041060

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonmusgrove_untethered/