Sixteen-year-old Eden Hale doesn’t want to be defined by her circumstances. When she arrives in Montgomery Indiana to stay with her Amish cousins, where no one knows her checkered background, she is determined not to let her past follow her. But as challenges and judgment threaten this opportunity for change, Eden begins to doubt her faith in herself.

Samuel Byler is a well-respected Amish man who falls hard for Eden, despite his parents’ disapproval. It would have been easy to have him ‘save’ Eden when fear and doubt begin to plague her.

But I decided to flip the plot in this story and have Eden save Samuel when his faith begins to slip.

With both their futures hanging in the balance, Eden and Samuel must decide who they are as individuals and what a life together—or apart—looks like.

This story percolated for a while and morphed and changed as I was writing. I often get to know my characters and motivations along the way. I wasn’t sure who was going to save who when I started the book. Eden wants an opportunity to explore the person she longs to be. And as badly as Samuel wants to walk beside her on the journey, he has faith issues that cause their paths to crisscross. Until they learn who they really are and what they truly want, they can’t be good for each other.

I think that readers will root for both characters as they fall in love, struggle with their faith, and face challenges from family members who think spending time together is dangerous for both of them.

But I don’t write what I consider strictly romance novels. I like to explore the relationships between other characters in the story, whether it’s parent and child, siblings, friendships, or unexpected unions that push the story forward. Readers will get their HEA, but not without meeting a host of interesting characters along the way. Those relationships become intricate to the romance plot, which makes my books fall into a women’s fiction category as much as romance.

God puts every story in my mind. I’m sure of it. If this book helps one young woman or man realize that they can be anyone that they choose—despite a troubled past, circumstances out of their control, or a family history that challenges their objectives—then I’ve done my job for Him.

That’s not to say that the journey isn’t reliant on choices that we make along the way, but I believe God is always on the path beside us. When we wander off, he gently nudges us onward toward the journey He has set forth for us, but we must recognize and listen to the voice of God. Fear and worry have a way of blocking that relationship if we allow those emotions to creep into our minds.
Eden and Samuel must defy expectations and presumptions, truly listen to the voice of God, and drown out well-meaning outsiders to find themselves—a prerequisite to deciding if they can move forward on the same path.

I hope readers new to the series will consider reading books #1 and #2—The Bookseller’s Promise and The Story of Love, respectively. Even though Hopefully Ever After can be read as a stand-alone, it’s fun to know the characters from the first two books, many of whom carry over into Hopefully Ever After.

I have loved creating this community and can visualize the main landmark—the bookstore, of course—in my mind as clearly as if it really exists. I feel the same way about my characters, and since this is the conclusion to this series, I have to say . . . I will miss them all.

Thanks to my readers for following me on my own amazing journey, and special thanks to Destination Amish for having me.

Blessings to all of you.

To become who they’re meant to be, Eden and Samuel must find the courage to defy expectations.

Sixteen-year-old Eden Hale doesn’t want to be defined by her current circumstances. With absent parents and a troubled past, Eden refuses to become what people expect. When she is sent to live with an Amish cousin she’s never met in Montgomery, Indiana, she welcomes the chance to become the person she wants to be without the burden of anyone’s judgment. Her hopes are confirmed when she meets Samuel, a young Amish man who seems to like her for who she really is.

Samuel Byler has grown up with strict Amish parents, and they aren’t happy that their only son is choosing to spend his free time with an outsider. As Eden and Samuel grow closer, disapproval swirls around the young couple. It isn’t long before Eden starts to doubt herself and wonders if she is doomed to repeat the mistakes of her own past, whether she wants to or not. Meanwhile, Samuel finds himself slipping further and further from his faith—to Eden’s dismay.

Both Eden’s and Samuel’s futures hang in the balance as they face decisions about who they are meant to be—both as individuals and together.

Bestselling and award-winning author Beth Wiseman has sold over two million books. She is the recipient of the coveted Holt Medallion, a two-time Carol Award winner, and has won the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award three times. Her books have been on various bestseller lists, including CBD, CBA, ECPA, and Publishers Weekly. Beth and her husband are empty nesters enjoying country life in south central Texas. Visit her online at BethWiseman.com; Facebook: @AuthorBethWiseman; Twitter: @BethWiseman; Instagram: @bethwisemanauthor.

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As Promise Glen prepares for the Easter season, one woman discovers that forgiveness is freedom—and maybe forever after.

The sound of a horse and buggy approaching the barn made Simon glance toward the door.

“That’ll be Anna, coming home from school. You know she’s the teacher at Orchard Hill now?”

“Yah, Aunt Ella told me.” He shook his head. “Seems like little Anna can’t be old enough to be the teacher.”

“Don’t let her hear you say that,” Simon said. “She’s a fine teacher, though I do say it myself, and she certain sure loves it.”

Grossdaadi nodded in agreement. “How could the scholars help but learn when she gives them that sweet smile of hers? Like her grossmammi, she is.”

The clink of harness told Matt that Anna was unharnessing her horse. He lifted the full bucket, and Simon grasped it. “I’ll do this. Go and greet Anna. It’s been a long time.”

Nodding, Matt stepped out of the barn and moved toward the buggy and the slim figure who was walking a bay mare from between the shafts.

“Anna?”

He watched her stiffen, spin, and fix an incredulous gaze on his face. She clearly couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

And then she realized he was real, and he saw her heart-shaped face become rigid, as if carved out of ice. Only her deep blue eyes were alive.

Alive? They were on fire with fury at the sight of him. Now he’d found the reaction he’d expected all along. Anna didn’t know how long she’d been standing there, staring, until Daisy nudged her with that heavy head of hers, impatient to get into the pasture. Anna fought with the evidence of her own senses. Matthew King, here, in the place she’d thought he’d never have the nerve to come.

How could he show up here, of all the places in the world?

The mare shoved her again, harder, pushing her forward a step. Once started, Anna kept on moving, aware only that the movement was taking her away from Matt.

As she fumbled with the gate into the pasture, he spoke, close behind her. “Sorry if I shocked you, Anna.”

His familiar voice made the past rush in, flooding her mind with images. She could hear him and James laughing, teasing, sometimes fighting, but always together. Always together until that last night, when Matt wasn’t where James needed him.

Why? the cry demanded. Why didn’t you save him?

Her anger and grief welled, and she fought to contain her feelings, knowing what Daad’s reaction would be if she burst out with all the anger and blame that filled her.

Daad didn’t preach. He just lived his faith and expected his children to do the same. She struggled to say something that wouldn’t offend.

“I didn’t expect you to come back.” She muttered the words, feeling as if pain crushed her chest. She stared at him, hardly seeing him for the haze of anger in front of her eyes. “Why? Why did you? Why are you here?”

Matt’s face twisted. It was different from the face she remembered . . . leaner, with hollows under the cheekbones and a harsher look to the lines of his mouth and jaw.

“I had to.” He seemed to force the words between firm lips.

Before she could repeat the question, Grossdaadi came out of the barn, gripping the door for a moment as he looked at them. His face broke into a wide smile.

“See, Anna. Isn’t it wonderful gut that Matthew is back with his own people at last?”

She shouldn’t say anything to upset her grandfather, but before Anna knew it, the words spilled out. “He doesn’t have any people here anymore.”

Her grandfather’s expression showed disappointment as he moved toward them. “His parents may have moved away, but there’s still his aunt Ella, don’t forget. And more than a few cousins scattered around the county, I expect.” He put one hand on her shoulder, and the other on Matt’s, as if connecting them. “Besides, he’s always been part of our family, ain’t so?”

Anna stiffened. She glanced away with a gesture that might have meant anything. Grossdaadi’s attitude didn’t really surprise her. A devout man, he’d always put a high value on forgiveness, just as Daadi did.

They had never blamed Matt for what happened to James, but she did. Probably a lot of other people in the community felt the same way. Matt had better enjoy this welcome. He wouldn’t get much from anyone else.

Daadi came out, wiping his feet as he always did when he left the animals, and smiled at them.

“You must be surprised at our Anna, yah, Matt? She’s all grown up. How she makes boys bigger than her behave is more than I can say, but she does.”

Relieved at the change of subject, Anna answered at random, trying to think of something that would make Matthew go away. “Ach, I don’t have any problem kids at Orchard Hill School. That would be silly. I know their parents too well.” She took a step back, determined to end this conversation with Matt, even if she had to run for the house.

“Aunt Ella says there’s a new family that bought the farm where we used to live,” Matthew said, acting as if he had no plans except to stand here talking. “I guess you have their young ones, ain’t so?”

She hadn’t thought about the fact that the Burkhardt family lived next door to Ella. “Yah, two of them.” Grudging the words, she added, “The boy is in eighth grade, and the little girl is our Micah’s age.” She hesitated. They were such recent arrivals that she hadn’t gotten to know them yet. “They’re just settling down,” she said at last.

She turned toward the house. “I’d best help Mammi with supper. Goodbye, Matt.” Go away and stay away.

Daadi spoke before she’d gotten more than three steps away. “Komm along in, Matthew. Miriam will be eager to see you, and supper will be ready in a few minutes.”

Anna’s throat tightened. So Matthew was going to be welcomed right into the house, despite the fact that just knowing he was breathing the same air made her feel sick. She bit her lip to keep from speaking and hurried inside.

Excerpted from The Promise of Easter by Marta Perry Copyright © 2023 by Marta Perry. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Anna Stoltzfus lives a quiet but fulfilling life in Promise Glen. Though she lost her beloved brother in a tragic accident, her family is supportive and close-knit, and her job as a cherished teacher at the Orchard Hill Amish School fills her heart with joy each day. Anna knows one day she’ll find someone she can love and marry, but she’s perfectly happy with the life she created. Anna’s comfort is quickly dashed, however, when the man Anna deemed responsible for James’s death returns to the Amish community—Matthew King.

Forgiveness is at the heart of being Amish, and no one else blames Matthew; his grief and pain over losing his dear friend are obvious. Still, no matter how she tries, Anna can’t let go of the reckless night that ended her brother’s life so soon. The ache had been more tolerable after Matthew left Promise Glen, but now, not only has he returned, Anna’s father accepts his offer to work on their farm.

As the preparation for Easter begins, Anna’s regular contact with Matthew introduces her to a man far different than the boy she knew before. Perhaps the season of solemn reflection and joyous remembrance might be exactly what they both need to find forgiveness for the past for a hopeful future…

Marta Perry is the author of more than seventy inspirational romance novels, including the Promise Glen series, the Pleasant Valley series, and the Keepers of the Promise trilogy. Learn more online at martaperry.com.

The post The Promise of Easter by Marta Perry appeared first on Destination Amish.

Here’s a bit more about the movie:

Blue Gate Musicals, UpTV Entertainment, and Fathom Events are honored to bring THE CONFESSION MUSICAL MOVIE to theaters. Based on the best-selling book series “The Heritage of Lancaster County” by New York Times Bestselling author Beverly Lewis, the stage play boasts over 200,000 ticket sales since its premiere. Now, one-night-only, on February 20, audiences across the country can share this inspiring and entertaining story of two worlds colliding as a young Amish woman seeks to find her birth mother.

THE CONFESSION MUSICAL was adapted for the stage by Emmy-Nominated screenwriter Martha Bolton. The musical follows the story of Katie Lapp, a young Amish girl who discovers that her parents have been keeping a deep secret…that she is adopted. Katie decides to find her birth mother, defying the rules of her Amish village and risking a shunning. Meanwhile, Laura Mayfield, her wealthy birth mother who is battling an illness that might take her life, began searching for her long-lost daughter. Secretly plotting against Laura is her gold-digging husband Dylan (John Schneider). Dylan knows that if Katie is found, he will no longer inherit Laura’s fortune. With the help and prayers of her Christian housekeeper (Chonda Pierce), Laura hopes to foil Dylan’s plan and be reunited with her daughter.

THE CONFESSION MUSICAL stars John Schneider (Dukes of Hazzard, Smallville), Emmy® -nominated and best-selling comedian/actress Chonda Pierce (“All Saints”, “Selfie Dad”, “Chonda Pierce: Laughing in the Dark”), Caroline Clay (“Doubt”, “The Little Foxes”), Colin Alexander (“Elf the Musical”, “Prince of Egypt”), Kristina Miranda Stone (“Sound of Music,” “Showboat”), Geoffrey Davin (“How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical”, “Death of a Salesman”), and Caitlin Borek (“Pirates of Penzance”, “The Mikado”). Music is under the direction of multi-Grammy nominated and Dove-award winning Dan Posthuma and songwriter Wally Nason.

Blue Gate Musicals is leading the way in its creation of a unique genre of musicals set in Amish Country America. Seven of eight of their musicals intertwine the Amish and English worlds, creating intriguing dilemmas and soul-searching journeys full of laughter and captivating music. Producer Dan Posthuma, “For the past decade, Blue Gate Musicals has been committed to bringing entertaining and enriching musicals to the stage. We are now thrilled to partner with UpTV and Fathom to bring these stories to screens as well.”

For a complete list of theater locations, visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change). Tickets are available today at www.FathomEvents.com and participating theater box offices.

Giveaway starts today, Monday, February 6th and ends Friday, February 10th and is only open to US residents (sorry!). Winners will be selected at random and announced in the comment section of this blog post. Void where prohibited.

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The post The Confession Musical Movie Ticket Giveaway appeared first on Destination Amish.

Joshua’s by no means perfect—totally the opposite. He’s a flawed man who’s stuck in the past. He doesn’t like to talk, he’s in danger of becoming a hermit, and he refuses to be baptized. He thinks he has a good reason not to commit to his community’s faith. He’s mad at God.

Doesn’t sound like Joshua’s much of a hero, does it? But Joshua is also a kind man with a good, fierce heart. From the moment he stumbles over Maisy Glick’s bag in a crowded train station in Hutchinson, Kansas, he feels responsible for her. He tries to ignore his feelings, but his innate goodness refuses to allow him to look away. Even when she vomits on his boots when he drops her off at her cousin’s house in Haven, Kansas, he doesn’t judge her.

When others shun Maisy because she’s made a terrible mistake, Joshua befriends her. He teaches her about tools so she can get a job in Yoder’s hardware store. He eats lunch with her at the store’s picnic table every day. When she has to make a difficult decision that will have consequences for the rest of her life, Joshua supports her.

Maisy can’t imagine how or why Joshua can even bear to be around her. The results of her sin are there for everyone to see. But Joshua is an outcast too. A tragedy in his past keeps him from growing in his faith. His anger and grief, stoked for years, stands in the way of a future with a wife and children. Yet, he does something no man in his situation—especially a Plain man—would ever be expected to do.

Joshua may be uncommunicative, but he’s never morose or rude. He’s always kind. He has a good sense of humor. He’s good with children. He’ll make a great dad someday. Maisy has that realization when baby Bonnie decides she’d rather play with her food than eat it at the breakfast table one morning. Take a peek at this excerpt from Every Good Gift:

Until Bonnie decided to toss a handful of eggs across the table at Joshua. A direct hit on his deeply tanned cheek. From there they dropped into his lap. Another handful followed a second later, this one splattered on his shirt. It left a greasy spot the size of a half-dollar.

“Dochder.” Amos’s face reddened. The muscle in his jaw twitched. “No more of that.”

With a half-stifled snort, Joshua scooped up the eggs and dumped them on his napkin. “I’ve had worse on my clothes. No harm done.”

Was he talking about the contents of Maisy’s stomach? Amusement flickered in his face, as if he was reading her mind. “Manure stains and it smells worse.”

Maisy breathed.

Bonnie let a piece of bacon fly. This time it landed in Joshua’s dark-brown hair. He laughed outright, the sound bright in the somber air. “She’s bent on sharing her food, isn’t she?”

“Dochder, stop that.” Ruth grabbed Bonnie’s plate and moved it out of her reach. Despite her attempt at sounding stern, her grin slipped out. “We don’t waste food, and we don’t throw food.”

“Maybe she’s trying to tell you she’s not hungry.” The skin around his blue eyes crinkled with laugh lines, Joshua raised his coffee cup and toasted the little girl. “Or maybe she’d rather have ice cream for breakfast. I know I would. No offense, Ruth, your cooking is mighty gut.”

Something about a two-year-old’s antics had slain his reticence. For a minute he bordered on downright loquacious. Maisy liked these words. Loquacious. Slain. Reticence. She’d found them in her western stories and added it to her notebook of interesting words. Amos, on the other hand, would be laconic. Another good word.

“No offense taken.” Ruth grinned. “Myself, I’d like a big piece of pecan pie with whipped cream.”

They stared at Maisy expectantly. She groped for the first food to come to mind. “Pizza.”

“Cold?”

Of course. Not that Mother ever let them eat it for breakfast. When she had her own home, her own family—if that ever happened now—she would serve it once a month. “Jah. Pepperoni, mushrooms, black olives, bell peppers, onions, extra cheese.”

For the first time in months, her stomach didn’t rebel at the thought of food.

Ruth and Joshua laughed.

You can see why Joshua makes my top ten hero list. He’s just the man Maisy needs to find her way to redemption. Perhaps she’s the woman who can help him find his way to reconciliation with his past. Maybe God knew exactly what He was doing when He put that bag in Joshua’s way at the train station.

Kelly Irvin is a bestselling, award-winning author of over twenty novels and stories. A retired public relations professional, Kelly lives with her husband, Tim, in San Antonio. They have two children, four grandchildren, and two ornery cats. Visit her online at KellyIrvin.com; Instagram: @kelly_irvin; Facebook: @Kelly.Irvin.Author; Twitter: @Kelly_S_Irvin.

The post Joshua Lapp: A Man After My Own Heart by Kelly Irvin appeared first on Destination Amish.

Mary Margaret Miller needs an escape from her small Amish community. She boards a bus, all alone, for a vacation in Pinecraft, Florida. Meeting Betsy and Lilly on the way, she’s amazed to find two kindred spirits. They become fast friends and determine to have the best two weeks of their lives. For Mary, it starts when she meets Jayson Raber. The handsome and charming carpenter is taken by Mary from the get-go, but he has responsibilities back home in Kentucky–including a girl he’s supposed to marry.

When someone from Mary’s past shows up in Pinecraft, it seems like her perfect vacation is ruined. But that’s nothing compared to what’s coming when she realizes what Jayson has been hiding.

Take a vacation with New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray as she explores what happens when we allow our pasts to define our futures in this story of friendship, romance, and new beginnings.

Can you please provide a brief summary of your new novel?

When Mary Margaret Miller heads south on a Pioneer Trails bus for a two-weeks’ break in Pinecraft, her only goal is to see the beach, read a few books, and plan her future. The last thing she expects to do is find three best friends, fall in love with a man from Kentucky, or reunite with someone from her past. Along the way, Mary Margaret learns that while the Lord’s plans are greater than she has ever imagined, they also aren’t very easy to accomplish. It takes time, patience, and the realization that even the greatest desires can be obtained, if one believes that it’s possible.

Her Heart’s Desire is the first book in the A Season in Pinecraft series. How many books will be part of your new series?

There are three books in this series. Her Heart’s Desire, Her Only Wish, and Her Secret Hope.

What is the connecting element for all of the books in this series?

There are two connecting elements for this series. The first is the most obvious, all three novels take place during vacations in Pinecraft! The second connection is how I developed the series from the very start—a series about three “wallflowers” who meet on a bus trip, become fast friends, and learn to love themselves while they also fall in love with three special heroes.

What was the inspiration for the A Season in Pinecraft series and what makes this series stand out from the other books you’ve written?

While I’ve written many Amish series, I feel this series is special because each heroine isn’t just looking for love and romance, she’s also learning to accept her own special gifts. I love that the heroine of each book doesn’t set out looking for a husband. She’s hoping to do something for herself. I’m extremely fond of these three wallflowers.

When readers hear about the Amish, they often think of the communities based in Pennsylvania or Indiana. Why did you set your new series in Pinecraft, Florida, and when was the first community established in this area?

One thing I love to do in my novels is show just how varied the Amish community really is. There are a great number of Amish in the United States, and several more communities in other parts of the world. In addition, there are several different types of Amish—from the very conservative Swartzentruber Amish to the far more progressive Beachy Amish. There is even a large Amish group in southern Kentucky called the Electric Amish. My favorite thing about setting novels in Pinecraft is that all of these different, varied groups converge in one place. It’s the only place in the world where this happens. As a writer, the possibilities for stories set here are endless.

You recently visited Pinecraft, Florida. Did you learn anything new about the area and the Amish community that you included in your new novel?

My most recent trip to Pinecraft was my sixth or seventh time to visit the area. I noticed that the area has gotten bigger and that more and more people are visiting Pinecraft with their children or even stopping in Pinecraft before heading on a cruise ship!

Your female protagonist, Mary Margaret Miller, considers herself a wallflower in her community and longs to escape for a change of scene. Can you please tell readers a little more about Mary and her background?

I loosely based Mary Margaret on something one of my daughter’s friends said back when they were in high school. She said that it was impossible to ever have a fresh start, because many of the kids who graduated high school had first met each other in kindergarten or first grade. So, Mary Margaret has an embarrassing moment in her past that seems to follow her around in her hometown. She goes to Pinecraft to escape it. Of course, what Mary Margaret eventually learns is that she not only has to accept her past but make peace with it before she can find happiness. I love to write novels featuring characters who just happen to be Amish. I feel Mary Margaret’s insecurities—and some of the problems she had living in a small town—might be something readers of any type of background could relate to.

Her Heart’s Desire has an underlying theme of not allowing our pasts to define our futures. Can you tell us a little more about how this theme comes into play in the lives of your protagonists?

All of the protagonists learn to make peace with themselves and their pasts in order to be able to move on and find love.

Are there any other lessons you hope readers will gain from reading Her Heart’s Desire?

I simply hope readers will enjoy the novel, root for Mary Margaret and Jayson, and feel a little like they’re on a vacation in Florida themselves.

What do you love most about writing Amish fiction?

Since I live so close to Holmes County, the largest population of Amish in the world, I love to show my love for the Amish communities in my writing. I also enjoy incorporating the Amish sense of community and deep faith in my books.

How can readers connect with you?

I’m currently active on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. I have a private Facebook group (Shelley Shepard Gray’s Buggy Bunch) where I post book information about five days a week. I have a website that gives more information about myself and my books. I send out an electronic newsletter several times a year. However, my favorite way to connect with readers is to travel as much as I can and meet them in person. I love to visit libraries, chat with the patrons, and get to know readers face to face. You can often find me planning my next library visit!

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The post Her Heart’s Desire: Interview with Shelley Shepard Gray appeared first on Destination Amish.

Do you ever get your hands on a novel and know, before you’ve ever read a single page, that it’s going to be a fantastic read? That’s what happened to me when Suzanne Woods Fisher’s latest release, Anything But Plain, arrived. I knew it would be wonderful and I was not disappointed!

Fisher takes her readers back to the lovely locale of Stoney Ridge and digs deep into the inner workings of Lydie Stoltzfus, daughter of kind, caring, affable Bishop David Stoltzfus. At 19, Lydie is a constant screw-up who is easily distracted (and definitely does not act like the perfect bishop’s daughter!) How can she fit in? Will she fit in? Should she leave Stoney Ridge altogether. Perhaps that’s best…or is it?

Anything But Plain also tackles two topics that I’ve yet to read about in the Amish genre (which is getting more difficult!): organic farming and developmental disorders. Fischer expertly tells a titillating tale without superfluous dialogue or descriptions. She also give her readers a peak into past characters – like hilarious LOUD Hank, no-nonsense Birdy – and introduces overbearing grossmammi Tillie (oh my, she IS a handful!)

While Anything But Plain can be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading anything related to Stoney Ridge. Reading the other novels in the series will give this latest release further richness. Snag your copy and be swept away to Stoney Ridge. I was given this novel in exchange for my honest review.

It’s not easy being the bishop’s daughter, especially for Lydie Stoltzfus. She’s not like other Amish girls, as much as she wishes she were. The only thing she does well is disappoint others. Leaving her family and church seems unbearable, but staying might be worse.

Knowing Lydie is “between” jobs, the local doctor asks her to fill in at the front desk for a few months. To Lydie, this is a boon. It gives her time to figure out how she’s going to say goodbye to her neighbor, Nathan Yoder–the main reason she needs to leave Stoney Ridge. Nathan claims he’s in love with her, but she knows she’s not good enough for him. If in doubt, Nathan’s father reminds her frequently.

As Dok spends time with Lydie, she recognizes symptoms of a disorder rare among the Amish. She offers treatment for Lydie. But will it be enough to make her stay? Or has help come too late?

Bestselling and award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to Stoney Ridge, a small town that feels like an old friend.

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The post Anything But Plain: Review by Susan Scott Ferrell appeared first on Destination Amish.

In the stifling heat of a Manhattan summer, a fresh-faced woman huddled in a garret, awaiting the opportunity that would change her life. Brushing aside unruly red curls, she peeked between fire escape bars, longing for more than a sliver of sky. She’d fled the tiny town of her youth, abandoning lush fields for towering skyscrapers. As days dragged on, she feared she was treading water, barely keeping afloat as a murky eddy of shattered hopes threatened to drag her under…

If my journey to writing a romance novel was, indeed, a romance novel, it might begin something like that. The time was the early 2000’s, and the place was a sixth-floor studio apartment on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. I’d just finished my Master of Fine Arts in Acting, and I was ready for my Broadway debut. Though aspiring actors often hear that the odds of making a living in the theater are slim, thousands follow their dreams. Progress is slow and hard won, and for many artists, the urge to keep telling stories tugs at our insides until we branch out into other disciplines.

Lounging on the sofa that sat a mere six inches from my bed and a foot from the dining table, I watched Oprah Winfrey interview romance writers who found success and happiness weaving heartwarming tales of love. “I could do that,” I thought, every bit as naïve as I was to imagine a starring role on Broadway would arrive on my doorstep, tied up with a satin bow. Still, I cracked open a blank notebook and began. Encouraged by Oprah’s guests to “write what I know,” I came up with a simple premise: what if a girl returned to her hometown in central Pennsylvania and fell in love with an Amish guy? With the pent-up fervor of a frustrated actress, I researched, brainstormed, and revised, until my heroine finally achieved her happily ever after.

Hometown sat on my hard drive as my acting career took off. I performed at theaters around the country and in New York City. I dipped a toe in commercial acting, film, and television. I narrated over twenty audiobooks and taught Shakespeare to high school students. I had a child. Then one day I thought…what about Hometown? Could now be its time to shine? Nervous and hopeful, I approached small romance publishers, hoping the story of a red-haired girl trying to find her place in the world, would, finally, find its place in the world.

Much to my delight, it did. Hometown was published in August of 2021, and the second book in the series, Heartsong Hills, released October 19th of this year.

Oh, and, Oprah? Thanks.

How about a giveaway? To enter to win a copy of Heartsong Hills, leave a comment below. Easy peasy! Giveaway starts today, Friday, November 4th and ends Friday, November 11th and is only open to US residents (sorry!). One winner will be selected at random and announced in the comment section of this blog post.

Amish girls don’t dance. Dancing is against the rules, and Nora Beiler always follows the rules…until a runaway logging truck shatters her world forever. Desperate to heal from the accident, she enrolls in Shuffle off to Fitness, an exercise class at the local senior center. She never dreamed it involved tap-dancing…or just how much she’d love to dance.

Exiled from Nashville, country music star Tucker McClure has no one to blame but himself. Weekly gigs at the local farmers’ market keep the demons at bay. The last thing he expects is to find himself in an old folks’ fitness class…dancing with a girl who makes him question everything he ever thought he wanted.

Will the past drive Nora and Tucker apart? Or can love bridge the gap between hearts and worlds?

A city girl with a hometown heart, Wendy Rich Stetson grew up road tripping in a 1979 VW camper van, and she keeps a running list of favorite roadside attractions from coast to coast.  Now an award-winning author of sweet, small-town romance, Wendy is no stranger to storytelling.  She’s a Broadway and television actress, an audiobook narrator, and a mom who likes nothing more than collaborating on children’s stories with her artistic teenage daughter.  Wendy lives in Upper Manhattan with her family of three and rambunctious Maine Coon kitty.  Follow Wendy’s journey at www.wendyrichstetson.com

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The post Guest Post and Giveaway by Wendy Rich Stetson appeared first on Destination Amish.

Do you want to be swept away to Big Sky country? Do you long for a change of pace – maybe a bit of adventure? While Jane Kirkpatrick is a new-to-me author, I can see why she has so many accolades! Kirkpatrick’s latest release, Beneath the Bending Skies, takes her readers to school in this historical fiction novel sent in 1860s Montana.

Beneath the Bending Skies follows the life – the peril, the joys, the disappointments – of one Mollie Sheehan. Mollie has had the commandment of “Honor Thy Mother and Father” firmly drilled into her head from an early age. When Mollie falls in love with a much-older Peter Ronan (a friend of her father’s), how will she be able to both and honor her father and her intended? It’s harder than she ever realized or imagined.

Jane Kirkpatrick is an amazing story teller. Based on the true story of Mollie Sheehan, Kirkpatrick expertly weaves this true story into a modern-day adventure. The author makes her reader long to see the beautiful skies and vast, blue lakes of Montana. Beneath the Bending Skies also gave this reader pause for reflection as the author told of the inner workings of diplomatic relations between the Native Americans and the White settlers. Kirkpatrick was also extraordinarily thorough in her descriptions of the novel’s characters. However, for all of it’s beauty and grandeur, this 300-plus page tome moved a bit slow in sections and I kept waiting for there to be more of an exciting climax to the various plot lines. This novel is a stand-alone and not part of a series. I would recommend Beneath the Bending Skies to lovers of history, other cultures, Montana, and/or prairie life. Definitely pick up a copy, but know ahead of time that it goes at a slow, steady pace. I was given this book in exchange for my honest review.

Mollie Sheehan has spent much of her life striving to be a dutiful daughter and honor her father’s wishes, even when doing so has led to one heartbreak after another. After all, what options does she truly have in 1860s Montana? But providing for her stepfamily during her father’s long absences doesn’t keep her from wishing for more.

When romance blooms between her and Peter Ronan, Mollie finally allows herself to hope for a brighter future–until her father voices his disapproval of the match and moves her to California to ensure the breakup. Still, time and providence are at work, even when circumstances are at their bleakest. Mollie may soon find that someone far greater than her father is in control of the course of her life–and that even the command to “honor thy father” has its limits.

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The post Beneath the Bending Skies: Review by Susan Scott Ferrell appeared first on Destination Amish.

It’s been ages since I’ve read a new release from Beverly Lewis. If you are unaware, Lewis is the “founding grandmother” to most for the Amish fiction genre. Her early writings are what lead me to a love of reading! Unfortunately, I did not have the same zeal when starting her latest release, The Orchard. While the last one-third of the book was quite interesting, the rest of the book felt laborious to the this reader.

Set in the 1970s, The Orchard follows the lives of the Hostetler family and their careful tending to their vast orchard. Twins Ellie and Evan have always known that the orchard would one day be passed down to the next generation. But when Evan is drafted in to the Vietnam War, his family is horrified that he does not want to be a conscientious objector. How will the family cope? What will Ellie do without her twin by her side in all things, especially in the orchard?

I was given The Orchard in exchange for my honest review. As I mentioned earlier, Lewis is one of the reasons I even read to this day. So it pains me to not be able to give her a five-star review. The first two-thirds of the novel were paced achingly slow. Just about every meal consumed was mentioned in the greatest of detail. The plot lines and relationships were not complex, nor did they draw the reader in. It was all very predictable. The last portion of the book did finally pick up in pace, but that too left me wanting more detail. I would’ve preferred that Evan’s character be more fully fleshed out. The premise was GREAT, but I think a more solid story might have been in told in fewer pages. I’m still a Lewis fan, but The Orchard never really blossomed for me.

“She realized there was peace right here in the midst of this heavenly sort of place, despite the unpredictable storm churning around her family.”

For generations, Ellie Hostetler’s family has tended their Lancaster County orchard, a tradition her twin brother, Evan, will someday continue. Yet when Evan’s draft number is called up in the lottery for the Vietnam War, the family is shocked to learn he has not sought conscientious objector status, despite their Old Order Amish belief in non-resistance. The faraway war that has caused so much turmoil and grief among their Englisher neighbors threatens too close to home.

As Evan departs for boot camp, Ellie confides her disappointment toSol Bontrager, the brother of her best friend and cousin to her new beau, Menno. In contrast to Evan, Sol is a conscientious objector. Despite Ellie’s attraction to Menno, she finds herself drawn to Sol’s steady presence as they work together in the orchard. Suddenly, it feels as if everything in Ellie’s world is shifting, and the plans she held so dear seem increasingly uncertain. Can she and her family find the courage to face a future unlike any they could have imagined?

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The post The Orchard: Review by Susan Scott Ferrell appeared first on Destination Amish.

I met my Amish friend in 2007 when I was working on my very first Amish book, A Gift of Grace. I’m grateful that she and I have kept in touch and become very close. I’m looking forward to seeing her again this September.

I remember the first time I ate supper at her house. She served her incredible barbecued meatloaf. It was so scrumptious that I asked her for the recipe, which you can find below. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

My Amish Friend’s Barbecued Meatloaf

1 ½ lb. ground beef

Mix the following ingredients well and then add to ground beef and mix thoroughly:
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup milk
1 cup oatmeal
1 egg
1 ½ tsp. seasoned salt
1 ½ tsp. chili powder
¾ tsp. pepper

Topping:

1 cup ketchup
½ cup brown sugar
1 ½ tsp. dry mustard
1 ½ tsp. vinegar
Mix topping ingredients and spread over meatloaf. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Today is release day for Building A Future! Click HERE to get your copy.

They both had different plans for their futures . . . until their hearts led them to each other.

Michelle Lantz dreams of marrying and starting a family, and now that she’s been dating Korey for over a year, she thought it was only a matter of time before he proposed. But lately, Korey has seemed distant and is far from the attentive boyfriend she once knew. They’ve spent so much time together that she feels she can’t give up on their relationship, but she begins to question her own feelings as his seem to cool.

Tyler Bontrager is focused on expanding his father’s roofing company so he can take over one day. He throws himself into his work and thinks he’s too busy to worry about finding a wife. He and his brother Korey find themselves continually arguing: Tyler doesn’t approve of how Korey treats Michelle and Korey thinks Tyler is out to take anything that’s his. When Tyler happens to be around when Michelle needs a listening ear, he is startled to realize that he has feelings for Michelle, so he denies them because his relationship with his brother is too important.

But when there’s an accident and lives are at stake, true feelings come to the surface. Is it possible for Michelle and Tyler to put aside their feelings for the sake of their relationships with Korey, or will they find a new foundation on which to build their future?

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The post My Amish Friend’s Barbecued Meatloaf Recipe by Amy Clipston appeared first on Destination Amish.