About the Book
Book: Andrew
Author: Jennifer Beckstrand
Genre: Amish Romance
Release Date: June 25, 2019
Andrew, Abraham, and Austin Petersheim’s family business has earned them the nickname The Peanut Butter Brothers. But if their matchmaking younger siblings have their way, all three may soon bear another title: husband . . .
Handsome, hardworking, and godly, Andrew Petersheim has always been sure of his place in his Wisconsin Amish community. He’ll be a welcome catch for the local girl who finally captures his heart. Mary Coblenz certainly isn’t that girl. Two years after “jumping the fence” for the Englischer world, she’s returned, unmarried and pregnant. Yet instead of hiding in shame as others in the community expect, she’s working at the Honeybee Farm, ignoring the gossips—and winning over Andrew’s eight-year-old twin brothers . . .
For all Andrew’s certainty about right and wrong, it seems he has a lot to learn from Mary’s courage, grace, and resilience. She’s changing his notions about forgiveness and love, but will she in turn accept the challenge of starting over and choose to stay—with him?
Click here to grab your copy!
What have I come to expect when I open a book with the name "Jennifer Beckstrand" on the front? I expect a fun story with some unpredictable yet lovable characters, tender moments, important life lessons, with a healthy dose of mischief mixed in for good measure. Probably there will be times that make me laugh and others that bring a few tears to my eyes. Well, that is exactly what I found in Andrew, the first book in Jennifer's Petersheim Brothers series.
If you have read the Honeybee Sisters series, you will enjoy finding Aunt Bitsy playing a big part in Andrew's and Mary's story. If you have read the Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series, you may wonder if the 8-year-old twin Petersheim brothers, Alfie and Benji, didn't somehow get some match-making training from Felty and Anna Helmuth (even though those grandparents don't show up anywhere in the story).
Andrew is a lovely story that is a delight to read for all the reasons I've mentioned. In the midst of all the fun, though, the heart of the story has to do with forgiveness, grace, second chances and love. Those themes are gently woven in through the challenges of judgmental attitudes, hurtful gossip, and difficult consequences of personal choices. The characters are skillfully developed, and following their journeys is a real joy.
I highly recommend this awesome story to fans of Amish fiction or anyone else who enjoys a great read. Thanks to Celebrate Lit for providing a copy of the book. I am happy to share my thoughts in this review.
Genre: Amish Romance
Release Date: June 25, 2019
Andrew, Abraham, and Austin Petersheim’s family business has earned them the nickname The Peanut Butter Brothers. But if their matchmaking younger siblings have their way, all three may soon bear another title: husband . . .
Handsome, hardworking, and godly, Andrew Petersheim has always been sure of his place in his Wisconsin Amish community. He’ll be a welcome catch for the local girl who finally captures his heart. Mary Coblenz certainly isn’t that girl. Two years after “jumping the fence” for the Englischer world, she’s returned, unmarried and pregnant. Yet instead of hiding in shame as others in the community expect, she’s working at the Honeybee Farm, ignoring the gossips—and winning over Andrew’s eight-year-old twin brothers . . .
For all Andrew’s certainty about right and wrong, it seems he has a lot to learn from Mary’s courage, grace, and resilience. She’s changing his notions about forgiveness and love, but will she in turn accept the challenge of starting over and choose to stay—with him?
Click here to grab your copy!
My Thoughts
What have I come to expect when I open a book with the name "Jennifer Beckstrand" on the front? I expect a fun story with some unpredictable yet lovable characters, tender moments, important life lessons, with a healthy dose of mischief mixed in for good measure. Probably there will be times that make me laugh and others that bring a few tears to my eyes. Well, that is exactly what I found in Andrew, the first book in Jennifer's Petersheim Brothers series.
If you have read the Honeybee Sisters series, you will enjoy finding Aunt Bitsy playing a big part in Andrew's and Mary's story. If you have read the Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series, you may wonder if the 8-year-old twin Petersheim brothers, Alfie and Benji, didn't somehow get some match-making training from Felty and Anna Helmuth (even though those grandparents don't show up anywhere in the story).
Andrew is a lovely story that is a delight to read for all the reasons I've mentioned. In the midst of all the fun, though, the heart of the story has to do with forgiveness, grace, second chances and love. Those themes are gently woven in through the challenges of judgmental attitudes, hurtful gossip, and difficult consequences of personal choices. The characters are skillfully developed, and following their journeys is a real joy.
I highly recommend this awesome story to fans of Amish fiction or anyone else who enjoys a great read. Thanks to Celebrate Lit for providing a copy of the book. I am happy to share my thoughts in this review.
About the Author
Jennifer Beckstrand is the two-time RITA-nominated, #1 Amazon bestselling Amish romance author of The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hillseries, The Honeybee Sisters series, and The Petersheim Brothers series for Kensington Books. Huckleberry Summer and Home on Huckleberry Hill were both nominated for the coveted RITA® Award from Romance Writers of America. Jennifer has written twenty-one Amish romances, a historical Western, Jessie and James, and the nonfiction book, Big Ideas. She and her husband have been married for thirty-four years, and she has six children and seven adorable grandchildren, whom she spoils rotten.More from Jennifer
If you enjoyed The Honeybee Sisters, you’re going to love The Petersheim Brothers, or the Peanut Butter Brothers as they’re known in their small Amish community of Bienenstock, Wisconsin. The Petersheim brothers work their small farm and make peanut butter. The idea for The Petersheim Brothers series came when two of my friends and I were creating The Honeybee Sisters Cookbook. My friend Alicia suggested I write a book about Peanut Butter Brothers, and the idea stuck.
One of my favorite characters in my Amish romances is Aunt Bitsy, the irrepressible, unconventional woman who raised the Honeybee Sisters, tried to chase off all their suitors, and then lit fireworks at their triple wedding. In Andrew, the first book in the Petersheim Brothers series, Aunt Bitsy takes in a girl who has jumped the fence and wants to come back to the Amish community to have her baby. Aunt Bitsy is still protecting her dandelions and her bees, still dyeing her hair all sorts of bright colors, and still praying to Gotte right out loud.
Andrew is about forgiveness, second chances, and learning to love. It will have you laughing and crying, and you might just fall in love with two of the most mischievous little boys in Wisconsin. Enjoy.
In honor of the Peanut Butter Brothers, I want to share one of our favorite family recipes. These bars are perfect for picnics, parties, and potlucks. They’re easy and delicious!
Peanut Butter Bars
Cream together:
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
Blend In:
2 unbeaten eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
2/3 cup peanut butter
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
2 unbeaten eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
2/3 cup peanut butter
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
Stir In:
2 cups flour
2 cups quick oats
Spread mixture in greased jelly-roll pan or large cookie sheet.
Bake: 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Do not overbake. Remove from oven.
2 cups flour
2 cups quick oats
Spread mixture in greased jelly-roll pan or large cookie sheet.
Bake: 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Do not overbake. Remove from oven.
Sprinkle on:
1 ¼ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Let stand five minutes.
For peanut butter mixture on top, combine:
½ cup sifted powdered sugar
¼ cup peanut butter
2 to 4 Tbs. evaporated milk
Mix well. The chocolate chips will melt on the bars. Spread melted chocolate evenly. Drizzle peanut butter mixture on top. Cool completely. Cut into bars.
1 ¼ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Let stand five minutes.
For peanut butter mixture on top, combine:
½ cup sifted powdered sugar
¼ cup peanut butter
2 to 4 Tbs. evaporated milk
Mix well. The chocolate chips will melt on the bars. Spread melted chocolate evenly. Drizzle peanut butter mixture on top. Cool completely. Cut into bars.
Blog Stops
The Power of Words, June 26
The Avid
Reader, June 26
Moments, June 26
Lighthouse
Academy, June 27
D’S QUILTS
& BOOKS, June 27
Blossoms and
Blessings, June 28
Christian
Author, J.E. Grace, June 28
Reading Is My
SuperPower, June 29
Bigreadersite, June
29
Abba’s Prayer
Warrior Princess, June 30
Truth and Grace
Homeschool Academy, June 30
Genesis
5020, July 1
Inklings and
notions , July 1
Maureen’s
Musings, July 2
Locks, Hooks and
Books, July 2
Christian
Bookaholic, July 3
Pause for
Tales, July 3
Southern Gal
Loves to Read, July 4
For Him and my
family, July 4
A Reader’s
Brain, July 4
Mary Hake,
July 5
Splashesofjoy, July 5
Vicky
Sluiter, July 5
Texas
Book-aholic, July 6
Debbie’s Dusty
Deliberations, July 7
janicesbookreviews, July
7
Little
Homeschool on the Prairie, July 8
Older &
Smarter?, July 8
Quiet
Quilter, July 9
Giveaway
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/e57a/andrew-celebration-tour-giveaway
Congratulations on this great review This sounds like a wonderful read.
ReplyDeleteSounds good.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your enticing post! I would love this inspiring read full of heart, love, laughter, forgiveness and it just plum sounds good! betsypz@yahoo.com, Betsy
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your very nice review! I love writing stories about second chances because we all need them. :)
ReplyDeleteMy family loves reading so hearing about another great book I appreciate. Thanks for sharing and also for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds like a fascinating read.
ReplyDelete