Getting to Know Amy Clipston + 2-book GIVEAWAY

It is an honor to come alongside other Bakery Bunch team members in support of Amy Clipston – and also downright fun! We’ve put together a “Getting to Know Amy” tour this month and all the tour stops are listed at the end of this post.

Amy has also graciously offered a double giveaway that includes her latest release, The Courtship Basket, and also the upcoming collection, An Amish Harvest – plus swag!!

Amy and I hope that you enjoy this interview and maybe learn some things you didn’t already know about her.


Q:  A few of Amy’s favorites . . .

Favorite way to relax or unwind . . . Watch movies with my family
A recent movie that I loved . . . “Captain America: Civil War” (We’re huge Avengers fans at my house!)
Favorite family vacation . . . Walt Disney World
A great book that I read recently . . . The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Favorite snack . . . Popcorn and Diet Coke
Favorite hymn . . . “Beautiful Savior”
Favorite holiday . . . Halloween

Q:  You and I have a love for cats in common, Amy. Please share an incident or something about one of your kitties that has touched you.

I have four cats, and my most outgoing is Lily, our little tabby. She’s approximately 7 years old, and she “talks.” You can have a conversation with her because she will answer your questions and comments with a very loud “meow.” Lily loves to sit in my son Matthew’s window while he plays video games. The other day, my husband walked outside and found Lily asleep on her back in the window. It’s rare for Lily to be quiet, and the sight was so funny that he took a photo and texted to me. Here’s the photo. Lily is a hoot!  The house would be too quiet without her!

Q:  I enjoyed your latest book, The Courtship Basket, book #2 in the Amish Heirloom series. Please tell us a little about this story and why it is so personal for you.

The Courtship Basket is a book that’s very close to my heart. The story touches the topic of kidney disease, and my husband, Joe, has had two kidney transplants. Joe received his second transplant through a swap, where I donated to someone and Joe received a kidney in exchange. In The Courtship Basket, Raymond Lantz suffers with kidney disease and is on dialysis. This is the first time I used kidney disease in one of my books, and I hope the book helps to bring the topic to the forefront.

I dedicated this book to Nyeisha and Eric, who were part of our kidney donation swap. Both Joe and Nyeisha struggled with kidney disease similar to how Raymond Lantz does in the story.

Q:  What stories can we look forward to in the months ahead?

My next release is a novella called “Love and Buggy Rides,” which is part of An Amish Harvest, a new anthology featuring four Amish novellas set in the fall. My story features Janie Lantz, who is a character in The Courtship Basket. I had fun telling her story, and I hope readers enjoy learning more about Janie. This book release Aug. 16.

My next Amish Heirloom book, The Cherished Quilt, will release on Nov. 29, and readers will get to read Emily Fisher’s story.  Book #4, The Beloved Hope Chest, will follow in May 2017, and readers will find out how Mattie and Leroy Fisher met and came to marry.


Q:  How can we pray for you, Amy?

I’m currently researching and plotting a new series. I can’t share too much at this time, but this series will take place in Bird-in-Hand, PA. I would appreciate prayers of inspiration and confidence as I begin working on book #1. I always worry my next book won’t be as good as the last.

Thank you for having me on your blog!

* * *

Amy, it has been an honor to host you and I hope you’ll come back soon. And because of the love for cats that we share, I couldn’t resist sharing this drawing . . .

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GIVEAWAY

To enter the drawing, please click on this link and share my Facebook post, then leave a comment here. If you’ve read Amy’s books before, do you have a favorite story or series?

BE SURE to leave your name and your email address in a safe format - [at] and [dot] - for the drawing. E-mail required for entry. Contest ends at midnight PST on Monday, August 29. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by e-mail.

Eligibility: US residents

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“Getting to Know Amy” Tour Stops . . .

8/6 Lane Hill House
8/8 Eat, Read, Teach, Blog
8/12 A Baker's Perspective
8/14 Cheryl's Book Blog
8/15 The Power of Words
8/18 Ida's Books
8/19 Stamping, Books, and Amish Country Ramblings
Later in August - Buy, Borrow, Skip

Review: Anna's Healing

Anna’s Healing
By Vannetta Chapman
Plain and Simple Miracles, #1
Harvest House, 2015


Summary

Anna's Healing is the first book in a brand-new collection from popular author Vannetta Chapman. These stories of love and family and Amish community in Oklahoma tell of the miracles that can happen when lives are lived in service to God and to one another.

When a tornado strikes the farms surrounding Cody's Creek, Anna Schwartz's life is changed forever. She suffers a spinal cord injury and suddenly finds herself learning to live as a paraplegic.

Three people--Chloe Roberts, Jacob Graber, and Ruth Schwartz--join forces to help Anna through her darkest days. Chloe is an Englischer who writes for the local paper. Jacob has recently arrived in town and stays on as a hired hand at her uncle's. And Ruth is her grandmother, a woman of deep faith and a compassionate spirit.

Then one morning Anna wakes and finds herself healed. How did it happen? Why did it happen? And what is she to do now? Her life is again turned upside down as the world's attention is drawn to this young Amish girl who has experienced the unexplainable.


My thoughts

If awards were based on personal impact, Anna’s Healing would win a gold medal. This story pulled me in from Chloe’s question in the very first sentence – “Was Anna healed?” – and touched me over and over, page after page. I read it slowly, with tears in my eyes more than once. This won’t be a typical review because Anna’s Healing isn’t a typical book.

Chloe, a reporter and close friend to Anna, came to realize “that writing was more than a job, it was a calling” – and I think that’s exactly the way Vannetta Chapman approaches her writing. No matter the genre, Vannetta writes in a lyrical style, her storylines entertain, and she has a way with characters, making them feel so real that they could be your neighbors.  But in this Plain and Simple Miracles series, she delves into what it really means to be a Christian in a way that is life-changing for the reader.

Here are the main characters . . .

• Anna had a restless spirit, felt smothered by her large family, and moved to Cody’s Creek in northeast Oklahoma to “find the answers to how she was supposed to live her life, and where, and with whom.”

• Jacob was also restless and had a need to travel, until Anna and her family’s needs gave him a reason to stay. On a romantic level, Jacob represents the kind of love we all long for … a love that sees with the heart, that sees beyond outside appearance, that puts the other’s needs before his own.

• Chloe reported for a local newspaper, developed a deep friendship with Anna, and her articles beautifully convey the stories of Anna and the community. She learns how precious life and relationships are.

Anna’s paralyzation as the result of a freak accident during a tornado becomes the pivotal point of the story. Bishop Levi quotes an Amish proverb to Jacob that has an application to all of us: “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” Questions are asked, questions for which there are no easy answers: Why did this happen? Why hasn’t God answered my prayer for healing? Why me? Anna experienced all that anyone would – depression, a feeling that life no longer had meaning – but what makes this story so eye opening is watching the positive ways in which the community and those closest to Anna responded.

There was so much that resonated with me in Anna’s Healing . . . the importance of asking what God wants us to learn in difficult times . . . that life is precious and should be lived to the fullest . . . and a believing faith most of all. My favorite character was Ruth, Anna’s grandmother, for her prayers literally bathed Anna in the Psalms as she continuously prayed and believed in Anna’s healing. I want to be more like Ruth.

We always think of healing as physical, but I think the real healing in this story, as in life, is of the heart. To a certain extent, the characters take secondary roles – for there is only one main character, and that is God. Anna’s dreams or visions play a moving part, and the one where all of her loved ones were together celebrating drew many tears of happiness from me: “The scene at the table, in the center of the harvest, was a promise of another reunion – one that would last for all eternity. A holy gathering of those she loved – both those present and those who had gone ahead.”

Anna’s Healing was a 2016 Christy Award finalist, and deservedly so. Read it even if you don’t particularly enjoy Amish fiction, for it is so much more.

Very highly recommended.

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Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She has published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania.

Her novel, Falling to Pieces, was a 2012 ACFW Carol Award winner for best mystery. All of her books have been Christian Book Distributor bestsellers. She currently writes Amish fiction for Abingdon Press, Zondervan, and Harvest House. Chapman lives in the Texas hill country with her husband.

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Thank you to Vannetta Chapman and Harvest House Publishers for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Honor Redeemed

Honor Redeemed
By Christine Johnson
Keys of Promise, #2
Revell, 2016


Summary

Her future--and her heart--hang in the balance.

Two years ago, Prosperity Jones waved farewell to her beloved David as the army sent him to faraway Key West. Now with her parents gone, she has but one prospect for the future: make the dangerous journey from Nantucket to Key West to reunite with David and secure a happier life.

But when Prosperity arrives penniless in the South, she is dismayed to find David has not been eagerly awaiting their reunion. In fact, he is married to someone else. Scrambling to survive and nursing a broken heart, Prosperity gains the friendship--and the affection--of a kind doctor. Could he be the answer to her loneliness? Or will her life be upended by circumstance yet again?

With a deft hand, Christine Johnson fills the senses with the sights, sounds, and smells of Key West in this heartwarming story of honor lost, honor redeemed, and a love forged in adversity.


My thoughts

Honor Redeemed is a very enjoyable story, somewhat different from a lot of historical romances that I’ve read. The 1850s Key West setting gives it a distinct tropical vibe, the love triangle creates a lot of romantic tension – and whenever I began to get comfortable with the way things were going, Christine brings in something totally unexpected. I was totally hooked and eager to see how everything would work out. It was great seeing Elizabeth and Rourke from Love’s Rescue, and I recommend reading the series in order, but this story can stand alone.

Because of the serious life issues involved, I never felt that Honor Redeemed was your typical historical romance. Themes of racial prejudice, deceit and betrayal contrast with that of duty, honor and forgiveness. Both David and Prosperity are believers, but they reflect honorableness in different ways. There’s a realness to these flawed characters and I was never sure how the romance would work out until close to the end. I wish they hadn’t been at odds with each other through so much of the book, but when I stopped to put myself in Prosperity’s place, I don’t know that I would have reacted any differently.

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“Great monuments can be lost in a day, Lieutenant,

but it takes time to rebuild. So too with relationships.”

- Elizabeth

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As for Elizabeth and Rourke – and what an example of kindness, friendship and hospitality they set! I loved seeing the friendship between Prosperity and Elizabeth grow. Elizabeth also offered wisdom and encouragement, for she was “all too aware of the cruelties society inflicts on those who do not fit their narrow qualifications for acceptance.” Honor Redeemed quietly reminds that even the strongest of Christians can fall, but that none of us are beyond God’s grace.

Recommended.

Please click on the title, Love's Rescue, to see my review of book #1.

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Christine Johnson is the author of Love's Rescue, as well as several books for Steeple Hill and Love Inspired. She was twice named a finalist for Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart Award. When not writing, she loves to hike and explore God's majestic creation. These days, she and her husband, a Great Lakes ship pilot, split their time between northern Michigan and the Florida Keys.

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Thank you to Christine Johnson and Revell for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review: The Bluebonnet Betrayal

The Bluebonnet Betrayal
By Marty Wingate
Potting Shed Mystery #5
Random House/Alibi, 2016


Summary

Pru’s life in England is coming full circle. A Texas transplant, she’s married to the love of her life, thriving in the plum gardening position she shares with her long-lost brother, and prepping a Chelsea Flower Show exhibit featuring the beloved bluebonnets of the Texas hill country. Technically, Twyla Woodford, the president of a gardening club in the Lone Star State, is in charge of the London event, but Pru seems to be the one getting her hands dirty. When they finally do meet, Pru senses a kindred spirit—until Twyla turns up dead.

Although Twyla’s body was half buried under a wall in their display, Pru remains determined to mount a spectacular show. Twyla would have insisted. So Pru recruits her husband, former Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Pearse, to go undercover and do a bit of unofficial digging into Twyla’s final hours. If Pru has anything to say about it, this killer is going to learn the hard way not to mess with Texas.

Purchase at Amazon and other ebook retailers.

My thoughts

The Bluebonnet Betrayal by Marty Wingate reminds me of why I read cozy mysteries. It’s not a fast-paced, tension-filled story that could keep me awake at night, just a good comfortable read with characters that I like to spend time with. The writing is excellent, characters somewhat quirky, and the mystery is very well plotted. Rarely do I try to solve the murder, but rather sit back and enjoy the read – and that’s exactly what I did here.

Fifty-something Pru is married for the first time to Christopher, a former DCI, and they are deeply in love. Their relationship rings true and I adore this couple! An English transplant from Texas, you can tell that Pru feels right at home in her new country, and it was fun to experience English culture through her eyes. Although I don’t have a passion for gardening like Pru, I do have a passion for beautiful flowers and found that aspect of this series fun.

I have been a fan of British drama for over 50 years, but had never heard of this story’s backdrop, the Chelsea Garden Show – apparently famous internationally and quite prestigious. It’s great when a book pushes me to explore further, and I was fascinated by pictures I found online (see collage). This show’s preparation is amazing and Marty did a great job showcasing all that through Pru’s involvement – bringing a little of the Texas hill country to England.

The Bluebonnet Betrayal is the first book in the Potting Shed series that I’ve read and it can stand alone, although I would recommend reading the series in order for a better sense of character development. I definitely want to read the previous books and hope there are many more to come.

Recommended.

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Marty Wingate is a Seattle-based writer and speaker about gardens and travel. She is the author of the Potting Shed mysteries from Random House/Alibi, about Pru Parke, middle-aged American gardener who moves to England and digs up more than weeds.

The first two in the series are The Garden Plot and The Red Book of Primrose House, followed by the third in late summer 2015. Her new cozy mystery series, Birds of a Feather, begins in June 2015 with The Rhyme of the Magpie.

You can hear Marty on the podcast A Dry Rain, free from iTunes and always available at adryrain.net. She leads garden tours to European and North American destinations.

Website │ Facebook │ Goodreads │ Twitter │ Pinterest

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review + GIVEAWAY: A Beauty Refined

A Beauty Refined
By Tracie Peterson
Sapphire Brides #2
Bethany House, 2016


Summary

What does it take to reveal the true beauty of a hidden gem?

Phoebe Von Bergen, the daughter of a German count, is excited to visit America for the first time while her father purchases sapphires in Helena, Montana. Little does she know, however, that her father's intentions---both for her and the gemstones---are not what she thinks.

Ian Harper, a lapidary working in Helena, finds the dignified young woman staying at the Broadwater Hotel more than a little intriguing. Yet the more he gets to know her, the more he realizes that her family story is based on a lie---a lie she has no knowledge of. And Ian believes he knows the only path that will lead her to freedom.

Meeting Ian has changed everything for Phoebe, and she begins to consider staying in America, regardless of her father's plans. But she may not be prepared for the unexpected danger that results when her family's deception begins to unravel.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/29Sh70o


My thoughts

Helena, Montana - 1907

A Beauty Refined by Tracie Peterson is an intriguing blend of history, romance, and relational drama, with spiritual depth throughout. Don’t expect this to be a “fluffy” romance, for Tracie has infused it with a richness of characterization and themes dealing with difficult life issues. The characters and setting captivated me from the first page and I never wanted to put it down. A Beauty Refined is book #2 in the Sapphire Bride series, continuing the story of the Montana’s Yogo sapphire mines, but stands alone.

Tracie Peterson always impresses me with her gift for blending captivating storylines with not-so-familiar historical detail, and A Beauty Refined continues that trend. Even more impressive to me is that, in all the years she’s been writing, Tracie never veers from clearly presenting the gospel message of hope and grace.  The bottom line is that, along with the characters, you will see Jesus in this book.

Ian and Phoebe are two characters that I loved. I admired Phoebe’s way of accepting that reality was completely different from all that she had known. Ian has a strong, trusting faith in God, and it was fascinating to learn about sapphires through his vocation as a lapidary – the cutting, polishing, and removal of flaws. There’s a beautiful analogy to the refining process we go through as Christians in order to better reflect the beauty of Jesus.

There’s also a reality to this story, brought through themes of domestic abuse, greed, anger, and lying. Something that really spoke to me was Tracie’s confronting the perceived need to lie vs. total trust in God. My mind went back to the phrase that was so popular many years ago, situation ethics, which basically said that a sinful action can be okay if there’s no other way out of a bad situation. I thought the way Tracie dealt with this issue was compelling. I appreciate what she said in an interview, that “we are all works in progress, but we have to yield to the Master’s hand in order to fulfill all that He wants us to be.”

These words from Psalms, quoted by Pastor Clearwater to Phoebe’s mom, convey the essence of A Beauty Refined:

In God have I put my trust: I will not

be afraid what man can do unto me.

- Psalm 56:11

Recommended.

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Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than one hundred books. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana.

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Thank you to Litfuse Publicity and Bethany House for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Litfuse landing page:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/tpeterson

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GIVEAWAY

To enter the drawing, please click on this link and share my Facebook post, then leave a comment here. Do you have a favorite Tracie Peterson book or series that you would recommend?

BE SURE to leave your name and your email address in a safe format - [at] and [dot] - for the drawing. E-mail required for entry. Contest ends at midnight PST on Friday, August 12. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by e-mail.

Eligibility: US residents

Congratulations to our winner, Anne Rightler! Thanks to all of you who entered. Be sure to watch for more reviews and giveaways that are coming soon.

Review: If My Husband Would Change, I'd Be Happy

If My Husband Would Change, I’d Be Happy
By Rhonda Stoppe
Harvest House, 2015


Summary

Like most brides on their wedding day, you no doubt were filled with love for your husband and the hope of a happy life together.

But perhaps today, as the realities of life together have settled in, those happy expectations are going unfulfilled. And it's tempting to think, "If only my husband would change, I'd be happy."

That myth is but one of many that Rhonda Stoppe dispels in her easy-to-read exploration of what it takes to experience a truly happy marriage. In the process, she addresses such important topics as . . .

-understanding your husband's need for your unconditional respect
-rekindling the love that drew you to your husband in the first place
-refusing to believe the lie that you'd be happier married to someone else
-learning to be content in the midst of financial struggles
-thinking about sex from a biblical worldview

If you desire to rekindle the love and hope you felt on your wedding day, this book will go a long way toward making that dream come true.

Contains discussion questions and personal reflections at the end of each chapter.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2a9Izc6


My thoughts

After the honeymoon, when the wedding gifts are in their proper place and life begins to happen, often the glorious experiences fade into the endless routines of to-do lists, juggling finances, and learning to serve one another.

In an engaging, conversational and often humorous style, Rhonda Stoppe speaks straight from her heart into the reader’s heart. It’s just like she was sitting across the table, the two of us enjoying our morning coffee. If My Husband Would Change, I’d Be Happy is relevant, convicting – and entertaining. It’s a lifesaver if you’re hurting in your marriage, and an extremely helpful resource if you’re not. Bottom line … this book can be helpful to wives in all stages of marriage.

The book’s subtitle is key here – “and Other Myths Wives Believe.” I’m always amazed at how society’s ways subtly creep into our marriages, pulling us away from God’s ideal. Rhonda addresses twelve myths, drawing from personal experience and Scripture. In addition to the title myth, here is a sampling of others . . .

I Will Respect Him When He Earns My Respect

I Would Be Happier Married to Someone Else

All He Wants Is Sex

Happily-Ever-After Is a Fairy Tale

Each chapter/myth ends with a “thinking it through” and “living it out” section. Also, a special touch that I loved was the inclusion of her husband’s insights throughout.

Some women might not buy into the “husband as head of the family” concept, but I found it to be solidly based on Scripture – and the fact that being head of the family does not equate dictatorship. Rhonda doesn’t really hold anything back and her godly wisdom shines through. I especially appreciated her encouragement to extend grace and even found it pretty convicting: “Settle in your mind how you plan to respond with forgiveness before an infraction occurs. And be ready to offer the same grace to you husband that you would want from him in the times that you disappoint him.”

I also thought Rhonda hit the nail on the head with the reminder that we have to love God more than our husbands. This is a great quote to take to heart . . .

God made you to long for intimacy with Him – to delight in Him. So any other relationship that you pursue to fill the void only God can fill will always come up short.

If My Husband Would Change, I’d Be Happy is an exceptional book that would work well for personal or small group study – and I plan on giving it as wedding gifts.

Highly recommended.

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Rhonda Stoppe is the No Regrets Woman. She is an author and speaker dedicated to helping women live life with no regrets.

With more than 20 years' experience as a mom, mentor, and pastor's wife, Rhonda's wisdom and experience helps women discover significance in God and His specific purpose for their lives, connect biblical principles to everyday decisions, develop a loving marriage that others dream about, and influence the next generation by raising children with integrity.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Litfuse Landing page:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/rstoppe