Happy Tuesday! Today TTT bloggers are sharing books that have nationalities in the title. I had more books than I expected to choose from my shelves, but I did a bit of googling to round out my list. Asterisks denote books that I don’t own. Let me know if I should add them!
She finds sisterhood in the Amish Widows Club–but will she risk loving again?
Leanna Mast never imagined she’d be a widow at forty-one, but it seems God had other plans. After mourning her husband for a year, she realizes it’s time to start living again. But her community expects her to remarry, and after living on her own, she’s not eager to start cooking and cleaning in another man’s home.
When she’s invited to join the Amish Widows Club, she discovers a place of belonging she didn’t even know she needed. In this group of women who support each other through sharing books, stories, and companionship, Leanna immediately feels welcome. She’s sure her life as a widow will bring her the fulfillment she craves . . . until handsome, kind Evan Keim comes calling. As their relationship deepens, her heart becomes involved. But how could she possibly leave the widows club for a dream that might be too good to be true?
New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray skillfully draws readers into an endearing and delightful Amish community of friendship during widowhood and a second chance at love.
Excerpt
She was so tired of being nice. No, that wasn’t true, Leanna Mast decided. She liked being nice. She was a nice person. She was just tired of being nice to the string of men who had started calling on her on Sunday afternoons. Most of them she’d known all her life. Some were old enough to be her father. None of them were husband material.
Though, if she was being honest, the fault was probably hers.
The problem was that she’d already been married once and had no desire to be married again. Ever. So this constant parade of suitors was neither desired nor asked for. They’d just started appearing at her doorstep one year and one month after Willis died.
When the first one had shown up, she’d been so surprised, her good manners had taken over her personal preferences. Instead of politely sending the man home, she offered him kaffi and a slice of the almond cream- cheese bread she’d made that morning. When he asked for a second slice, she gave it grudgingly. She really hadn’t wanted to give him any of her favorite afternoon treat in the first place.
“This is mighty gut bread,” he’d said with his mouth full.
“Danke.” She’d said the word while staring at her hands clenched in her lap.
“You are a modest woman. Not only can you cook and clean, but you are shy too.”
When she lifted her chin to meet his gaze, she’d seen true appreciation there.
She’d bitten the inside of her lip so she wouldn’t ask him to leave.
Unfortunately, that little decision with her first caller had created quite a stir among the single men in the area. Next thing she knew, men started coming around all the time. She’d had to start baking cookies, pies, and bread every morning just to keep up with their hearty appetites.
It was annoying. And exhausting.
Because she was ninety-nine percent sure that she didn’t want to be another man’s wife. The only reason to consider such a thing would be to have a baby. At long last. Even though the doctor had promised that there was nothing wrong with her, she and Willis had never been blessed with a child in their nineteen years of marriage.
However, if she ever did decide to get married again, it would not be to the man currently sitting on her couch. Zeke Detweiler was too brash and too bossy. Plus, he stared at her chest too much. Did he think she wouldn’t notice?
Then, to make matters worse, he’d been her husband’s boss. Leanna hadn’t liked Zeke when Willis was alive and she liked him even less now. Unfortunately, that didn’t mean she could ask him to leave before his hour was up.
She’d learned that a widow, no matter what her age, was expected to be kind and proper. And demure.
Since she still had eighteen minutes to go, she gestured to his empty coffee cup. “Would you care for some more kaffi, Zeke?”
“I would.” His gaze drifted over her again when she started to bend down to pick up his cup and saucer. “You are over forty now, jah?”
“I am forty- one.”
“That’s a gut age, I think. Not too young. Not too old.” He crossed his legs. “You could still have a babe.” His eyes narrowed. “You could, jah?”
“I suppose so.”
“Hmm,” said Zeke.
Gritting her teeth, Leanna forced her expression to remain calm.
“I’ll be right back,” she murmured.
“Don’t forget that I like two teaspoons of sugar,” he said.
“I would never forget that, Zeke.” He needed all the sweetness he could get.
Only when she reached the privacy of her kitchen did Leanna press her hands to her eyes. Tears were threatening. She needed to fight them back before Zeke noticed. She’d learned that most of these later-in-life suitors looked for weaknesses. Flaws. They could be used as ammunition to make her feel like she shouldn’t be alone anymore.
Or, perhaps, simply to make themselves feel better.
Shelley Shepard Gray is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 100 books. Two-time winner of the HOLT Medallion and finalist for both the Christy and the Carol Awards, Gray lives in Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail. Learn more at ShelleyShepardGray.com.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 6, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 13, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Welcome to the Blog Tour for When They Met Again by Leslie Gould, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title:When They Met Again Series: Letters from Lancaster County Author:Leslie Gould Publisher: Bethany House Release Date: March 17, 2026 Genre: Fiction / Romance / Amish / Contemporary
A gently humorous just friends romance from Leslie Gould, threaded with heart-deep characters and the timeless traditions of simple Amish life.
It’s love at first sight for Adam Slaybaugh, yet while Joanna Grebel finds him attractive and is intrigued when he declares his interest, she’s less certain of the potential for a romantic future together. Instead, she proposes they be “just friends,” but Adam’s not willing to settle for anything less than a romantic relationship. In response, he leaves Lancaster County for Florida, and soon after, Joanna begins courting Jacob Byer–someone she deems a much more suitable match.
When Adam returns to Lancaster County years later to pursue a career in his grandparents’ successful home renovation business, he finds Joanna suffering from a broken heart. Misunderstandings and matchmaking schemes begin a tender journey of healing and romance–but is Adam’s love enough to finally win Joanna over?
For readers of Beverly Lewis, Wanda E. Brunstetter, and Shelley Shepard Gray, a sweet Amish romance with matchmaking grandmas and themes of enemies to lovers, he falls first, and love at first sight versus “just friends.”
Excerpt
Mandy and Miriam’s grandfather, Daniel, was the bishop of their district, and he and Elaine were hosting the ice cream social.
Joanna noticed a stranger—a man— who was tall, muscular, and handsome with sandy hair and deep brown eyes.
She didn’t recognize him, and she tried not to stare.
After the singing, the guys took turns cranking the ice cream freezer and showing off their muscles. The stranger had a five o’clock shadow and appeared a few years older than most of the Youngie. As they all stood around in groups eating the ice cream, Caleb introduced him to Joanna and Mandy. “This is Jacob Byer,” he said. Miriam stepped into the circle. Caleb continued. “Jacob is new to our—”
“Hallo!” Miriam said, interrupting Caleb. “Welcome to Strasburg Township.”
Jacob took a step backward but then smiled. “Denki. And who are you?”
“Miriam.” She grinned and then swept her hand toward Mandy. “This is my twin.” She nodded toward Joanna. “And our friend Joanna.”
Forcing herself to be outgoing, Joanna asked Jacob, “Where are you from?”
“Ohio. Holmes County.” Jacob took a step closer to Joanna. He towered over her, even though she was five eight. “I have an uncle who lives here. Enoch Byer.”
Joanna spoke as confidently as she could. “Are you visiting
Lancaster County or do you plan to stay?”
Jacob’s eyes twinkled as his gaze met hers. “I’m staying.”
Someone called out, “Joanna!” She turned. Adam sauntered toward them. “Are you ready to leave?” She wasn’t.
“I hope I’ll see you soon.” Jacob gave her a charming smile that left her feeling flustered. Miriam was now standing beside him.
Joanna gave Jacob, and everyone, a wave and turned around slowly. She didn’t want to hurry and make Jacob think she was courting Adam. Nor did she want to go too slowly and risk having Adam say something embarrassing in front of Jacob. Her heart beat faster. Perhaps she hadn’t met the right person yet—u ntil now.
On the way home as Adam chatted away about the ice cream, about Mandy and Caleb, and about his grandparents’ business that he was excited to learn, Joanna thought about Jacob. About how tall he was. And how handsome with his square jaw and deep brown eyes. And his charming smile. Compared to Adam, who seemed to be an open book, Jacob was quiet and mysterious. She couldn’t stop thinking about him.
When they reached Mammi Lu’s, Joanna thanked Adam for the ride and started to open the buggy door.
“Wait!” Adam set the brake and jumped to the ground. “I need to do that for you.”
Joanna waited, a little impatiently. When Adam appeared at her door he extended his hand to her as he grinned.
She took his hand and jumped down. “Denki.” She started toward the back door. Mammi Lu had left a battery- operated lantern hanging to light her way.
“Wait,” he said again but not as enthusiastically as before. “Aren’t you going to ask me to stay? Lemonade on the porch? Maybe a cookie.”
Joanna turned toward him at the bottom of the steps. “I’m tired. From the trip and everything.”
“Oh.” He took off his hat and ran his hand through his dark hair. “I wanted to talk about the trip. About sitting in the back of the van together. Don’t tell me you didn’t feel something.”
Annoyed, Joanna said, “I didn’t feel anything.” But she had. Although it paled when compared with what she was feeling for Jacob.
His face fell. “Well, I’ll see you tomorrow. At the office, right? You’re coming by to talk to Mammi about a job.”
“Jah.” Joanna momentarily regretted not asking him to stay. But not enough to change her mind. “See you tomorrow.” If she got the job, she and Adam would have a chance to get to know each other. Perhaps she’d want to court him eventually— unless Jacob Byer asked her out first.
Leslie Gould is a Christy Award-winning and #1 bestselling author of more than fifty novels, including multiple Amish fiction series. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history and an MFA in creative writing. She enjoys church history, research trips, and hiking in the Pacific Northwest. She and her husband live in Portland, Oregon, and have four adult children and two grandchildren. Learn more at LeslieGould.com.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a $25 B&N gift card plus a copy of The Shop Down the Lane and When They Met Again!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 16, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 23, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
We don’t get a lot of snow where I live. We did have a freak snowstorm in late January that left 6 inches on the ground. Needless to say, it threw everyone for a loop! Even the Waffle Houses in town were closed. 😉 So I usually get my snow-fix from books. I grew up outside of Orlando, so snow is always a treat for me. Today’s TTT topic is BooksWith A Snowy Setting. I could just rinse and repeat last week’s Freebie post, but I’ll come up with a few more books for you to cuddle with. Bonus: all have snow on the cover! There are quite a few with Christmas settings as well (it’s an eclectic list), so you can keep your holiday reading going. I hope you love my list!
Welcome to the Blog Tour for Hunting the Amish Witness by Dana R. Lynn, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title: Hunting The Amish Witness Series:Amish Country Justice #20 Author: Dana R. Lynn Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense Release Date: July 29, 2025 Genre: Romantic Suspense
A witness in hiding.
An enemy with a vendetta.
After discovering her best friend’s dead body, Miriam Troyer knows two things: the killer is the same man who murdered her husband…and he wants her dead. With the culprit in pursuit, Miriam goes on the run with her baby and seeks refuge in the Amish community she left behind. However, after an attack leaves Miriam with no memory, Caleb Schultz, a man from her past, must step in to protect her and her daughter. But the criminal is determined to silence Miriam for good and will stop at nothing to get his revenge.
Excerpt
As the sliding door whooshed closed behind her, she heard her name. Spinning, she saw Caleb sprinting toward her. He was halfway across the parking lot.
He hadn’t been greeting her but had screamed a warning. Too late, she saw the green truck on the street. When the window rolled down, Miriam bolted to the side.
Crack!
The first bullet went wide and hit the potted plant beside her, smashing the clay pot to smithereens.
The second bullet caught Miriam in the side, burning a path along her rib cage.
Dana R. Lynn is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author who believes in the power of God to touch people through stories. She met her husband at a wedding in Pennsylvania and told her parents she had met her future husband. Nineteen months later, they were married. Today, they live in rural Pennsylvania and are entering the world of empty nesters. She is a teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing by day and writes stories of romance and danger at night. Dana is an avid reader, loves cats and thinks chocolate should be a food group. She’s a recipient of the Daphne Du Maurier Award, the Maggie Award, the Selah Award, and the New England Reader’s Choice Award. In addition to these awards, she’s finaled in both the Carol Awards and the Holt Medallion.
Connect with Dana by visiting danarlynn.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
Tour Giveaway
(2) winners will each receive a book of their choice by the author, a mug, a pen, and a $10 Amazon gift card!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight August 4, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 11, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Happy May! Today bloggers are sharing books with flowers in book titles or on book covers, etc. I am going with flowers on the cover, since I shared flowers in titles in February. My list features books from a variety of genres — I hope you find one to love!
The Orchard by Beverly Lewis is an Amish novel set during the Vietnam War. This turbulent time affected not only the English, but the Amish community. In order for Amish men to stay faithful to their faith and avoid the draft, they had to register as conscientious objectors. But for Evan Hostetler, the choice is not an easy one. He and his twin sister, Ellie, have an idyllic life living on the farm their family has managed for generations. In Ellie’s eyes the choice is simple, but her simple world becomes more and more difficult to navigate with Evan’s decision. The message of the book seemed to be that the Amish way of life was simple and good and that any other way of living was wrong. Ellie’s character is naive and her world small. There is conflict and tragedy, but in the end the author seemed to be saying that if Evan had just followed the teachings of his church, all would have been well. Perhaps. But the Amish church is not perfect, nor is it without problems — as are all churches. I felt that the book presented a one-sided, simplistic view of the world. Beverly Lewis is a much beloved and successful author, so check this book out for yourself and decide whether to read it.
Audience: Adults.
(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
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?
Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, has more than 17 million books in print. Her stories have been published in 12 languages and have regularly appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today. Beverly and her husband, David, live in Colorado, where they enjoy hiking, biking, making music, and spending time with their family.
Happy Tuesday! My husband and I have a beef with weather TV — it all has to be so dramatic! Over the weekend one cable weather channel titled the falling temps across our area as October Gloom. LOL. The forecast for today is sunny and a high of 69 degrees. If that’s gloom, I’ll take it. 🙂 Today’s TTT topic could take a dramatic turn as well, and some of the titles I’m sharing do sound ominous. But I wanted to have books that run the spectrum of weather events, so there are a few pleasant weather days too. I hope you find a book to love.
Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Under the Blue Skies by Elly Gilbert & Tricia Goyer hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title: Under the Blue Skies Series: Big Sky Amish #3 Authors: Elly Gilbert & Tricia Goyer Publisher: Sunrise Publishing Release Date: August 8, 2023 Genre: Contemporary Amish Romance
Thomas Smucker moved to West Kootenai for a fresh start—one where he could make his own decisions and build a life away from his deceased father’s harsh reputation. But when a tragedy occurs, he finds his five-year-old niece in his care. Now, he has to build a life he didn’t want and face a past that he longed to escape.
Lovina Graber dreams of a husband and family of her own, but a lifelong limp and disfigured face have her doubting it will ever happen. Instead, she’s content working as a scribe for The Budget and spending her days helping her parents and the less fortunate in her community. Well, mostly content. And then there’s that secret anonymous column she’s been writing too …
When a newly arrived bachelor becomes an instant father, Lovina feels compelled to come to the rescue, helping Thomas care for his Englisch niece as he works toward gaining custody. Although Thomas and his niece clash at every turn, Lovina finds herself building a bond with the girl. Could this be the family she’s longed for?
Afraid he’s too much like his anger-driven father, Thomas has no plans to ever marry or have children, despite the sparks between him and Lovina, and his growing fondness for his niece. When he finds out Lovina’s secret—and believes she’s perhaps not the person he thought—he strikes out in caring for Emily on his own.
But when his custody is threatened, he must do what’s best for his niece. The only problem is he’s not sure what that is. Can he and Lovina work together to fight the lies they’ve believed all their lives—and fight the system to get back their girl?
Find out in this third installment of the Big Sky Amish Collection.
Excerpt
Chapter 1
Monday, July 24
A steady torrent of rain wet Lovina Graber’s eyelashes and fell like tears as she hobbled to the waiting SUV caked with mud and grime. While she loved the smell of rain in Montana, she wished it would have lightened up until she was safely in the car. With her uneven gait she struggled on the slick ground. Slowly. Just a few more steps.
One foot slid, and Lovina released the tote bag she’d been holding as she reached for the side of the car to catch herself.
“Ach, no!” The contents of her bag spilled all over the wet pavement. As gingerly as possible, she bent over to scoop up the assorted books, craft supplies, and papers, including a large manilla envelope, that had tumbled out.
Her Englisch driver, Wyatt, an older fellow who looked every bit the stereotypical Montana mountain man, hurriedly approached as she stuffed her bag with damp skeins of yarn and rain-slicked magazines. “Let me help you with that, Miss Graber,” he offered, his deep, gruff voice and scraggly gray beard concealing his kind nature.
She clutched the envelope to her chest, then peeked inside her bag to inventory the contents and forced a wide smile in appreciation of his offer of help. “Danke anyway, Wyatt. I think I’ve got everything now.”
Wyatt mopped his brow on the arm of his tattered flannel shirt before opening the beat-up SUV’s back passenger door and offering a hand. She accepted and awkwardly situated herself in the seat. While buckling herself in, she noticed an Amish man she didn’t recognize sitting in the front passenger seat. Immediately her cheeks heated as she realized he’d just witnessed her near fall, but she quickly pushed the thoughts away. Not that it matters none anyway.
The Amish man looked older than most of the new bachelors coming to the area, and the sharp cut of his jaw made him appear handsome. Her heartbeat quickened.
Lovina pulled in a breath and released it just as quickly, reminding herself of the truth she knew. No matter how many bachelors came into West Kootenai, it was useless to get her hopes up. Even if she caught a bachelor glancing her way, one rarely gave her a second look. Although it had pained her for years, Lovina had worked hard to move past it. She could live a happy life without becoming a wife and mother . . . couldn’t she?
Elly Gilbert lives in central Kentucky with her husband, daughter, and twin sons. A lifelong bookworm, she finds joy in reading and writing inspirational fiction and devotions for adults and teens. When she’s away from her desk, you can find her scoping out the nearest nacho joint with her family or snuggled up with her rescue dogs, Gus and Bella. She adores leopard print, never turns down dessert, and believes that when it comes to earrings, bigger is always better.
Connect with Elly by visiting ellygilbert.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Tricia Goyer writes out of her passion for God and her love for family and others. The author of more than 70 books, she writes both historical fiction and nonfiction related to family and parenting.
This USA Today best-selling author has won a two Carol Awards and a Retailer’s Best Award. She was also an ECPA Gold-Medallion Nominee and a Christy Award Nominee and won Writer of the Year from the Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference.
Tricia’s contemporary and historical novels feature strong women overcoming great challenges. She is a beloved author of Amish fiction, having written the Big Sky and Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series.
Whether for fiction or nonfiction, Tricia’s writing style is vivid and heartwarming, allowing readers to take home more than engaging stories, but also messages that inspire faith and hope. Her goal is to write stories that matter.
Connect with Tricia by visiting triciagoyer.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a print copy of Under the Blue Skies and a $10 Sunrise Shop gift voucher!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight August 16, 2023 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on August 23, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is Backlist Love. So what’s a backlist? Older books still in print are considered part of an author’s backlist. I thought about going way back and listing the author’s debut novels (and some of those on the list are), but some authors wrote for the general market back in the day or the books are no longer available (unless you want to pay an Amazon seller several hundred dollars 😉 ). I’ve listed books that I still need to read from the backlists of favorite authors. In some cases, it’s the only book I haven’t read by an author! There are lots of genres to pick from — hope you find one to love too!
Many of the books I review are provided to me free of charge from publishers, authors, or other groups in return for a review. The opinions expressed in the reviews are mine and mine alone. No monetary consideration is given. This disclaimer is in accordance with FTC rules.
I am an Amazon.com affiliate, which means that I earn a small percentage of the sales from products purchased through links on my site. I NEVER recommend a book in order to receive a profit. Proceeds from affiliate sales help to defray operating costs of the blog.
Giveaways are open to persons 18 years or older. All winners are picked randomly. No purchases are necessary to enter a giveaway. All giveaways are for US entries only and are void where prohibited.
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