Marta PerryBesprekingen

A fantastic book! I love the setting of Promise Glen so much! It's so homey! The story is unique and engaging. The characters are fabulous! Leah is my favorite! She's working on trust issues and letting go of the past. The Christmas season is the perfect time to let go of pain and embrace love! A definite must read!

A fantastic book! The story is unique and engaging! The characters are wonderful and relatable! The setting of Easter time is perfect! Easter is my favorite holiday! Anna is a strong woman. She's fulfilled but struggling with unforgiveness. Matthew is holding onto pain from the past. They each must move forward so that love can be found! A story of forgiveness, love and the importance of faith! A definite must read!

Thanksgiving Blessing is the endearing story of Rebecca “Becca” Knight, a Promise Glen native for life, and Nathan Mueller, a recent arrival, as they both heal from a devastating loss with the loving compassion of the Amish community and the encouragement of family.

Becca's twins were my favorite since they resembled my granddaughter so much, but with one exception: unlike my granddaughter, who is never still, even while napping or at night, the twins were!

After their mother remarried and left him with his brother Peter, Nathan finds himself overburdened in caring for his younger brother. I could relate to Nathan; raising teenagers can prove challenging, even when they don't have the same sense of abandonment as Peter experienced.

Despite her anxiety that her mother doesn't trust her, Becca only wants to make her parents proud of her achievements.

Admittedly, there were moments when I wanted to shake both of them. But I understood that I was privy to information that they were not. Thought-provoking, Thanksgiving Blessing reveals that most of the time it is preferable to let someone sort things out on their own rather than having someone else step in and "fix" them.

Thanksgiving Blessing is a sweet and delightful story about the Thanksgiving season. It's a great way to celebrate the occasion and a wonderful way to begin experiencing gratitude during the holiday season.

I received an advanced review copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions are my own, and I am voluntarily leaving this review.

P.S. There's a little bit of a mystery to figure out, too!

Thanksgiving Blessing by Marta Perry takes up back to Promise Glen where Rebecca King, a widow, is raising her twins, managing her farm, and selling produce at her roadside fruit and vegetable stand. Halloween is approaching and vandalism is occurring in the area. Nathan Mueller and his teenage brother move into the neighboring farm that Nathan inherited from his ne’er-do-well uncle. Nathan has no intention of getting involved with the pretty widow next door, but his protective instincts kick in. Plus, Rebecca’s family has a way of drawing people into their circle. I enjoyed returning to Promise Glen. While Thanksgiving Blessing is the third An Amish Holiday Novel, it can be read on its own. I like Marta Perry’s writing style. The story is told from a dual third person protagonist point of view. It allows us to see issues from Nathan and Rebecca’s point of view. I thought the characters were developed and realistic. We get to know Rebecca and Nathan as well as Peter (Nathan’s teenage brother), Miriam, Abel, and the twins (Joanna and James). I like that each character has their own storyline. The twins keep Rebecca hopping. They provide some cute and amusing moments. I like that a mystery was included in the story. Someone is creating havoc, and it seems to be more than the normal Halloween hijinks. I like how Amish traditions are included in the story. I like learning about the Amish culture and their traditions. Thanksgiving Blessing is a story about family, grief, love, friendship, and faith. Being supportive of family and friends was another element. I like how Amos introduced Nathan to the men he would be doing business within the community. He made sure to include him in family meals and gatherings. This is a story that is great to read on a rainy day or one of those rare, chilly days we have in Florida (because then I can lounge in a cozy chair with a warm blanket and read all afternoon). Thanksgiving Blessing is a wholesome, heartwarming story that left me smiling.

This Christian romantic suspense title stars Andrea Hampton who has left Amish country behind to try to find security in her job in Philadelphia and Calvin Burke who has given up city life and his law practice to find his faith and make furniture in Amish country.

When Andrea learns that her younger sister was hurt in a hit-and-run accident and rushes to be by her side, she is drawn back into the life she thought she had left behind forever. Her grandmother and the injured Rachel are in the beginning of setting up their family home as a B&B which Andrea thinks is a bad idea.

Andrea isn't alone in her thinking. Her grandfather's partner is his real estate agency thinks it is a bad idea. So does the owner of the other local B&B who is trying to sabotage the startup. There have been attempts at theft and various acts of vandalism. Worst of all for Andrea is that her grandmother's financial situation is much less robust than she had believed.

Andrea is torn between the needs of her family and her own need for financial security after an unstable childhood. Her determination to return to her life in Philadelphia hampers any hope of romance with Calvin who is just as adamant about not returning to a life that hurt his soul. The attraction between the two of them is strong though and grows stronger as they investigate to determine who wants to harm her grandmother's new business.

Fans of Christian romantic suspense will enjoy this story.

This was a quick, clean read. It had a little romance, a little suspense, and was overall not a bad read.

We have to appreciate our military who leave family behind in the states to serve in dangerous territory and sometimes don't come back or come back wounded. I think this book made me feel more for our soldiers, both men and women, and what they sacrifice. All in all, it wasn't a bad story, but I wasn't as into the romance as much as I would expect for a book labeled as such.½

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The book was rather dull. I couldn't connect with any of the characters, even those I liked from the first book in the trilogy. Many of the main characters were new so I had a hard time figuring out why this is part of a series. There was no drama or suspense, even though the trilogy is advertised as Amish suspense. I just couldn't get interested in this one.

Murder in Plain Sight is the first book in the Brotherhood of the Raven trilogy that takes place in Amish country. It is different from the usual Amish fiction as this one is a murder mystery. Author Marta Perry has published 118 novels! All of them are Amish fiction. I enjoyed this book so I think I will be very busy reading some of her novels this year.

The publisher's summary:
Did a sweet-faced Amish teenager brutally murder a young woman? To save her career, big-city lawyer Jessica Langdon is determined to defend him—against the community's bitter and even violent outrage. Yet without an understanding of Amish culture, Jessica must rely on arrogant businessman Trey Morgan, who has ties to the Amish community… and believes in the boy's guilt. Jessica has threats coming from all sides: a local fanatic, stirred up by the biased publicity of the case; the dead girl's boyfriend; even from the person she's learned to trust the most, Trey Morgan. But just when Jessica fears she's placed her trust in the wrong man, Trey saves her life. And now they must both reach into a dangerous past to protect everyone's future—including their own.

The mystery concerning who killed Cherry Wilson was expertly plotted. However, our protagonist Jessica Langdon is a lousy attorney. No, this is not stated in the story but it is obvious that she is incompetent because she was sharing confidential information about the case with most of the characters in the story. She let herself be guided by them.

Jessica's character is the only character I didn't like much. She is not plausible as an attorney. Trey is interesting in that he is an Englischer who is fully trusted by his Amish neighbors. His mother Geneva is a sweet, wise woman and I would love to read more stories that include them both. The Amish Bishop was portrayed as a kindly old soul. He was not the usual ornery, stay away from the English, boss that I am accustomed to read about. All of these characters would make awesome series characters. Jessica needs work though. The budding romance between Jessica and Trey was hard for me to accept. While opposites attract, I felt that the author was telling the reader and not showing the reader how their relationship developed.

Despite the negatives I described above, the solving of the crime was suspenseful and kept me reading.

I couldn't put this book down. I read it in 1 day. It really held my attention. I would definitely read others by this author.

I couldn't put this book down. I read it in 1 day. It really held my attention. I would definitely read others by this author.

Title: The Second Christmas
Author: Marta Perry
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
Series: The Promise Glen # 4
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"The Second Christmas" by Marta Perry

My Assessment:

Leah Beiler had left home in Promise Glen to live with her Aunt Miriam from Upstate New York, working in her herb business. However, after being accused of being a thief, she returns home to open up her herb business. Being back home, will she be able to pick up her life of an old boyfriend, Josiah Burkhalter, a childhood sweetheart, during this Christmas season and clear up this mess with her aunt, who had accused her of stealing? Will Josiah be able to get a second chance while he is helping her work on her shop, and how with this 'Second Christmas, December 26, come into play during this time? Will there be 'magic for Leah to confront her fears and reach for the love that she so deserves, and will Josiah be able to grow up and get what he wants finally?' To find out, pick up "The Second Christmas' and see how this story will all come together, giving the reader a beautiful read.

The Second Christmas by Marta Perry is a heartwarming story. It is the first An Amish Holiday Novel which is set in Promise Glen. I like Marta Perry’s writing style. It is engaging and friendly. The story has a good flow as we go between Leah and Josiah’s point-of-view. It allowed me to see things from each person’s perspective. Leah is busy getting items ready for her new business and helping the family get ready for Christmas. Leah has a secret that she has not shared with her parents. She is hoping to keep it to herself, but she soon learns there is no escaping the Amish grapevine. Josiah is doing the carpentry work on Leah’s little shop. Josiah feels he does not have his father’s trust and he worries about this younger brother who loves to play pranks. I enjoyed getting a glimpse of how the Amish prepare and celebrate Christmas plus Second Christmas. I like how all the storylines came together to make a sweet story. There are good life lessons that include forgiveness, trust, and leaving your worries with God. Unburdening yourself to Him will always lighten your load. The Second Christmas is a story that will tug at your heartstrings. I look forward to the next An Amish Holiday Novel. The Second Christmas is a touching tale with a shameful secret, ex-beau troubles, crafting Christmas gifts, a prank predicament, colorful Christmas cookies, a difficult letter, and curative clemency.

Forgiveness is so prevalent in this read, and one of the cornerstones of Amish faith. Leah Beiler left her family with her heart in pieces and hoping to begin a new life and hopes of taking over her aunts herbal tea business, but as this book opens Leah is back home and now her Dad has recruited her old friend and former boyfriend to help repair and build her own shop.

The journey to forgiveness is not easy, but sometimes it is so very hard that it takes awhile to come to terms in your own mind.

I loved how the author dealt with this tough topic, and we get to see, or read, how this all works out! Will it be as you hoped?

Now I'm looking for more reads by Marta Perry!

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

The story line held my interest. I loved the characters. One thing I truly appreciated was the way Marta brought both communities together. In a lot of Amish based stories the community tends to be broken between the Amish and the Englisch. Marta acknowledges that but also weaves them together in a very believable way.The romance between Katie and Caleb had a rocky start. Katie was jilted by a man who married her best friend. Caleb was working through having the woman he was to marry leave the community, pregnant, many believed, with his baby. Marta wrote of their feelings and matched it to their actions. It flowed very well. Marta does a wonderful job of weaving all the plots together. None of the plots interfere with the main plot. They are blended in to keep the story moving at a brisk pace. I found I did not want to stop reading this book once I started. It moved along fast enough and held my interest so I was able to read it in one afternoon.
*Full review is on my blog.*
**I was given a copy of this book for review. The opinions expressed are my true feelings. No compensation for this review was received. This review is part of Virtual Tours**

Miriam Stoltzfus returns home after caring for a patient in Ohio and is looking forward to spending time with her mother. Miriam needs a break after taking care of her last patient and the incident. But then Miriam is approached by Abel King asking for her assistance with his son, Matthew. Matthew was in a devastating accident that has cost him his ability to walk and his brother. He has spent the time since the accident in bed and only doing minimal rehabilitation. Miriam will need patience as well as tenacity. As Miriam works with Matthew to get him on the road to recovery. The more time she spends with him, the more Miriam begins to care. Will Matthew consider a future with Miriam? Nursing Her Amish Neighbor by Marta Perry is the sixth book in the Brides of Lost Creek series. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed this engaging Amish novel. I thought it was well-written and the story moved along at a good pace. There are good, developed characters in this story. I enjoyed getting to know Miriam, Matthew, and their families. Miriam’s household is lively thanks to her siblings. She has a thoughtful and caring mother who dispenses wise advice. Nursing Her Amish Neighbor is a character driven story. The author captured the Amish culture with their rules and traditions. I appreciated that this was not a story where everything is rosy. We get a realistic view of life among the Amish. Matthew’s family lost one son and the other son is angry (bitter). The King family needs Miriam to come in and help not only Matthew, but the whole family. The themes in this story are forgiveness, healing, family, and hope. While the story does have some predictability, it did not diminish my reading pleasure. The ending will leave readers smiling. I can always count on Marta Perry to provide me with a diverting and satisfying tale. Nursing Her Amish Neighbor is an inspiring Amish story that will ensure you have a messy house because you will become immersed in this story and completely forget about your household tasks.

Bodine Family Christmas - 3.5 stars
The Gingerbread Season - 3 stars

Mathew King is suffering both bodily and physically from being hit by a drunk driver. He is angry and hurting, and when Miriam Stolzfus shows up to help with his therapy, he doesn't want to cooperate.

Miriam is a neighbor, but had been away and is suffering from an incident that happened, and trying to deal with her own pain. Then we meet more of the King family and all that has happened as a result of the accident, Matt being hurt and David dying.

This is a story of hope and recovery, each in their own way, and there is a bit of light at the end of a very long tunnel, but will they be able to really move on with their lives? We are there is walk in their shoes for a short time, and be thankful, we are not in the same situation.

The author did a good job with this read, and will be looking for more by her.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Love Inspired, and was not required to give a positive review.

A Harvest of Love by Marta Perry is the 3rd book in The Promise Glen series. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. I thought A Harvest of Love was well-written with developed, realistic characters. I like Dinah Herberger, a widow who runs the local bakery. She had a rough marriage, but Dinah has not shared the details with anyone. Unbeknownst to Dinah, Jacob heard conversations, so he suspects that the marriage was not rosy. She was unable to provide her husband with a child which still bothers Dinah. She is afraid to marry again and subject another man to a childless marriage. Jacob is a good man with a heart of gold. He is torn up that his sister has left the Amish. Jacob feels that it is his fault, and he is determined to bring her back. I loved the secondary characters that includes Dinah’s loving family. Dinah and Jacob work to take care of Anna’s child and keep him safe. As they take care of the baby, romance blooms between them. I enjoyed watching Dinah and Jacob fall in love. I did feel that the story was a touch long and the pacing was a little slow in places. I appreciated the tension which happened when someone came after the baby. It added suspense to the story. I liked that we get to catch up with the characters (Sarah, Noah, Dorcas, and Thomas) from the first two books in the series. A Harvest of Love is a sweet story that I enjoyed. It was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. It was a lovely ending to the series. My favorite line from A Harvest of Love is, “Let the present trouble be enough for now, she told herself. Trust the good Lord for the rest.” A Harvest of Love is a heartwarming story with a bouncing baby boy, delectable jelly donuts, a handsome harness maker, an affectionate family, and a benevolent baker.

Catherine Morley (an attorney from the city) is summoned to a small, remote Georgia island as executor of the will of her late great-aunt Henny. It seems Henny had recently written a second will, and it is now missing. Did someone take it, where could it be? Catherine meets some family members and an old acquaintance (islander Nathan Corwin) who tries to help her locate the missing will.

This was a very short mystery-suspense. There seemed to be a lot going on for such a short story and it was an enjoyable read.

My first Amish Christian fiction read, predictable in the romance and mystery story. Much too sugary for me.