Monday, October 20, 2025

A Little Amish, A Little Mennonite, A Little English -- A Hidden Hope


About the Book

Book: A Hidden Hope
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Genre: Amish Fiction
Release Date: October 7, 2025

Supervising two newly minted medical residents might be the toughest challenge Ruth “Dok” Stoltzfus has ever faced. Wren Baker, sharp and ambitious, graduated at the top of medical school with a hidden agenda in tow. Charlie King, at the bottom of the class, is determined to succeed–though Dok isn’t convinced he’s got what it takes. Then there’s traveling nurse Evie Miller, whose quiet love for Charlie doesn’t go unnoticed, especially by Wren.

Boarding at Windmill Farm, the trio struggles to balance modern medicine with plain living. Between medical emergencies, cultural misunderstandings, and brewing romantic tensions, Dok finds herself juggling far more than she bargained for. Soon the stage is set in the small Amish community of Stoney Ridge for plenty of professional and personal complications.

Click here to get your copy.

My Thoughts

Suzanne Woods Fisher is an Amish author whose books I have enjoyed reading for many years now. Her stories are great, her characters are fun to know and usually have quite a story to tell. If you are familiar with her Amish books, you probably won't be surprised to find yourself in the familiar setting of Stoney Ridge with "friends" you have gotten to know as you have visited that location before.

A Hidden Hope has more than one story line going with a variety of characters, but they all fit together as varied pieces off the same puzzle. There are those, of course, who are Amish or who have backgrounds in that culture. There are those with Mennonite connections. And there are those who find themselves in an Amish community with no previous knowledge at all of Plain lifestyles. Each of them has their own personal and/or professional challenges to work out and lots of lessons -- with some surprises -- to learn along the way. There are even some twists that you may or may not pick up on until the story nears its end!

I highly recommend A Hidden Hope to fans of great Amish fiction. Thanks to Celebrate Lit for providing a copy of the book. I am happy to share my own thoughts in this review.

About the Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a Christy finalist, a Carol and Selah winner, a two-time ECPA Book of the Year finalist, and Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestselling author of more than forty books. Her genres include contemporary and historical romances and Amish fiction. Suzanne and her husband live in a small town in northern California. Most friends act a little nervous around her because they usually wind up in one of her novels. She has four grown children and enough grandchildren to keep her young.

More from Suzanne

The Kitchen Garden by Suzanne Woods Fisher

“Gardening is a way of showing that you believe in tomorrow.” Amish proverb

Whenever I visit my Amish friends, I always make a point of wandering out 
to their vegetable gardens to see what’s growing. Their gardens, usually not far from the kitchen, are bigger than most people’s backyards. Gardens, for the Amish, are a family affair. Husbands help their wives ready the soil and add the homebrewed fertilizer (ahem, manure), children help their moms plant, weed, and harvest.

Like so many parts of the Plain life, their value of the home
garden—for the sake of nutrition, for sustenance, for well-being—is a wonderful example to those of us who weren’t farm-raised. They’ve been living a sustainable life filled with fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables for over four hundred years. The rest of us are just catching on.

One Amish mom told me a story about her daughter, the youngest of seven. “This girl was a born worrier. Whenever she started on her worry loop, I would send her out to weed in the garden. When she came back in, her worries were gone. There’s just something about weeding that helps a soul settle down.”

I could expand that thought a little further. There’s just something about gardening that helps a soul settle down.

So, it’s late on Saturday and I just wrapped up a very long week. I spoke at three book events and finished the first draft (the drafty-draft) of a novel. I can’t stop thinking about the novel. Is it a mess? As tired as I am, tonight I don’t think I’ve got one more word in me—not to speak, not to write. I’m spent! Done. My husband is out for the evening, so I had a few hours alone at home to relax.

What did I do?

I planted in my garden: lettuce and radishes and carrots. As I dug in the spongy soil, I could feel my soul settle. Worry and exhaustion slipped away as I scattered seeds into furrows. Little by little, that wonderful God-given sense of re-creation returned. Tomorrow, I would write again. Time spent in my little garden does that for me. It renews me and gives me a hope for the future.

Or, at the very least, a good salad.

Overnight Blueberry French Toast

On a sunny July morning, we were served this breakfast dish at an Amish friend’s home and my husband couldn’t stop talking about it. You might be shocked at the amount of eggs, but don’t skimp! It’s worth every bite.

12 slices bread cut in 1” cubes
8 oz. cream cheese cut in ¾” cubes
1 ½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries
12 eggs
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 cups milk

Place half the bread cubes in a 9×13 baking dish. Top with cream cheese blueberries and the remaining bread. Beat eggs, syrup and milk and pour evenly over bread. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until well done.

Blog Stops


The Avid Reader, October 7



Simple Harvest Reads, October 9 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)


Devoted To Hope, October 10

lakesidelivingsite, October 11




Mary Hake, October 13

She Lives To Read, October 14


Empowermoms, October 15

Texas Book-aholic, October 16


Vicky Sluiter, October 17







Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!! 
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! 
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Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Fascinating Romantic Adventure in a National Park -- Capture the Moment


About the Book

Book: Capture the Moment

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release date: May 6, 2025

Kate Cunningham is facing the opportunity of a lifetime. As a zoo photographer, she’s spent years photographing animals in carefully controlled environments, but now National Geographic has dangled an irresistible prize: If Kate can snag a unique photo of a legendary bear in Grand Teton National Park, they just might publish it. It’s the kind of challenge Kate has been waiting for, and she’s eager to prove herself in the wild.

With more enthusiasm than experience, Kate soon realizes that capturing an image of this bear isn’t as simple as she hoped. Fortunately, she crosses paths with Grant Cooper, a seasonal park ranger who knows the terrain–and the bears–better than anyone. His tracking skills could be exactly what Kate needs to succeed, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes. But they’re not the only ones with an interest in the park’s most famous bear. And his motives are far from innocent.

My Thoughts

I first "met" Suzanne Woods Fisher through her Amish books, which I really enjoyed. But she has proven to be every bit as skilled in writing other genres as well. Capture the Moment is a very well-written and engaging story with a fresh plot line and setting and an interesting cast of characters.

The main thread of the story features Kate's attempts and adventures as she tries to get the perfect photo of a famous bear in Grand Teton National Park. But there are lots of twists and turns -- some pretty big twists, in fact -- as she encounters park rangers, eager and not-so-eager teenagers, and other folks who both help and stand in her way of reaching her goal. Those characters add questions and challenges, as well as interesting surprises to her endeavors. They all play compelling roles in the story and keep interest level high from page to page. It is obvious that the author has done her research on the national park, which also helps the reader feel very much present in the setting.

I highgly recommend Capture the Moment to fans of contemporary Christian romance. As this is the beginning of a new series, I look forward to seeing what other national parks Suzanne will take us to visit with her compelling story telling.

Thanks to Celebrate Lit for providing a copy of the book. I am happy to share my own thoughts in this review.

About the Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a Christy finalist, a Carol and Selah winner, a two-time ECPA Book of the Year finalist, and Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestselling author of more than forty books. Her genres include contemporary and historical romances, Amish romance, and women’s fiction. She and her husband live in a small town in California. Most friends act a little nervous around Suzanne because they usually wind up in one of her novels. She has four grown children and enough grandchildren to keep her young.

More from Suzanne

A Spark that Lit a Story -- By Suzanne Woods Fisher

Inspiration can strike in the most unexpected places—like a gift shop in Grand Teton National Park. While browsing, I struck up a conversation with a college student who had never set foot outside Alabama until her mom dropped her off for a summer job in the park. One minute, she was home in the Deep South; the next, she was surrounded by towering peaks and moose crossings. Talk about a culture shock.

That conversation lit a spark that eventually became my National Parks Summers series. I couldn’t stop thinking about the fascinating mix of people who work seasonally in national parks. You’ve got fresh-faced college kids on their first big adventure, retirees finally living their bucket-list dreams, and everyone in between. These parks aren’t just natural wonders—they’re crossroads for people from all walks of life, all chasing something unique.

In Capture the Moment, I wanted to explore what happens when people and landscapes collide. Kate Cunningham, a determined zoo photographer, swaps enclosures for the wilds of Grand Teton, chasing an elusive bear and her own sense of purpose. Along the way, Kate meets Grant Cooper, a rugged park ranger with a knack for tracking and a talent for keeping her on her toes.

National parks are more than just beautiful backdrops—they’re places where people find themselves, lose themselves, and sometimes stumble into something extraordinary.

Maybe even love.

Blog Stops




By the Book, May 23













Stories By Gina, May 29 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 29














Giveaway


Click on the link for your chance to win the gift card and book!







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Thursday, April 24, 2025

Fast-Paced Romantic Suspense -- Two Seconds Too Late


About the Book

Book: Two Seconds Too Late (Jeopardy Falls Series: Book Two)   

Author: Dani Pettrey

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release date: April 29, 2025

A missing woman. Two hit men. When every second counts, who will survive?

In the stark but beautiful wilds of northern New Mexico, a couples’ retreat at a luxury resort turns into a chilling nightmare when a woman vanishes. Skip tracer Riley MacLeod and private investigator Greyson Chadwick pose as a couple to hunt for clues that might reveal the missing woman’s location. Those leads uncover a harrowing truth: They’re not the only ones looking for her. What begins as a normal tracking case turns into a deadly chase when they, too, become the hunted.

As Riley and Greyson work together, their partnership ignites a tumultuous attraction, but Greyson’s secrets prevent him from acting on his feelings for her, and Riley can’t bring herself to fully trust him. Delving deeper into the case, they find themselves fighting not only for justice and the chance ata loving relationship . . . but also for their very survival.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts

Dani Pettrey has given us another captivating, fast-paced romantic suspense story in Two Seconds Too Late, the second book in her Jeopardy Falls series. The action takes off full force on the first page and just keeps growing.

The story has a very engaging plot. The development of the mystery, the growing romance element, and the revealing of the characters' backstories all work together to keep you, the reader, on the edge of your seat and guessing about who did what and why they did it. And there is a faith element that flows in a very natural, unforced way. 

Keeping up with all the characters and their connections gets a little tricky at times. There are a few places that feel a little repetitious and slow-moving in providing character details. But all in all this is a high-energy, intriguing story.

Characters and events carry over from the first book in the series, One Wrong Move. While the familiarity of that story lends some background benefit, this second book could easily be read as a standalone. And there are a couple of major cliffhangers at the end of Two Seconds Too Late that definitely have me looking forward to the next installment in this series.

I highly recommend Two Seconds Too Late to fans of great romantic suspense. Thanks to Celebrate Lit for providing a copy of the book. I am happy to share my own thoughts in this review.

About the Author

Publishers Weekly and #1 Amazon bestselling author, Dani Pettrey has sold nearly one million copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance.

Her novels stand out for their “wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters” (Publishers Weekly), “gripping storyline[s],” (RT Book Reviews), and “sizzling undercurrent of romance” (USA Today).

Dani loves to mentor aspiring and newly-published authors. Seeing them grow and spread their wings is so rewarding. She recently was awarded ACFW’s Mentor of the Year. She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Florida, where she lives with her husband.

More from Dani

Hi friends! Thanks so much for taking time out of your day to stop by and say hi. I deeply appreciate it. I have loved writing Riley and Greyson’s story. They are my favorite couple since Landon and Piper in my Alaskan Courage series. She’s fiery and independent and he is smitten by her, but also fears for her safety and after you read Two Seconds Too Late, you’ll understand why. Taking them out of their regular environment and placing them as a couple at a high-end spa and resort brings on the opportunity to test out their feelings for one another under the guise of playing along. It’s a close proximity, opposites attract, and fake relationship story that tugged at my heart and I hope it’ll tug at yours too.

Every time I release a new book, I get a bunch of questions, which I love. I love sharing more about the story and digging into my hope for it, so I’m sharing several of the questions I get asked most and I wanted to share the answers to them with you. Please feel free to ask any other questions in the comment section below and I’ll respond within a day. Thanks again for stopping by! I hope you enjoy reading Riley and Greyson’s adventure as much as I enjoyed writing it.

1) What do you hope readers will take away from this book?

That despite a strong, complexed and nuanced antagonist, that light can come from the darkest places and bring peace or, at the very least, closure to not only the families of the victims but to the hero and/or heroine as well. It might not be perfect, and it certainly doesn’t fix anything, but I still believe in the hero/heroine triumphing over the villain.

2) What authors or books have influenced your career as a writer, and why?

So many. I would say my top three influencers were Sue Grafton and are Lisa Gardner and Dee Henderson. The three write very different style of stories. Sue perfects the mystery with some edgy suspense scenes. Lisa creates the best or worst, I suppose. They are a force to be reckoned with and I love her twists and surprises. And Dee’s books are paced so well and laid out so methodically. I’ve learned something different, and continue to do so, from these three, excellent authors.

3) Which took shape first: plot, character, or setting?

To me it’s a combination of knowing the hero and heroine’s jobs. I like to think about what kind of person would do that job and how it will affect them and the story itself. I also know the setting as it’s a character in  its own right and adds to and affects the story overall. I also know the crime, but I don’t know who did it. I like to leave my options open to see the direction the story goes, and where the investigation leads.

4) What was the biggest challenge this book presented? What about the biggest opportunity?

The balance between what was occurring on the surface in contrast to what was simmering beneath the surface and rising up in subtext. Creating that balance and keeping things on track was interesting, but It provided the perfect opportunity to delve into the deepest part of the characters. Overall, it was tricky to strike the right balance and have the subtly rise to the surface in a natural and authentic way.

Homemade Butterscotch Recipe:

Butterscotch is Riley’s favorite candy & the bane of Greyson’s existence (you’ll see why in the book).

Ingredients:
2 ½ cup sugar
1 cup unsalted butter
1/3 tsp. salt
¾ cup water
½ cup molasses
¼ cup honey
1 tsp. vanilla extract
And a little sea salt for an added touch.

Directions:
Put ingredients in pan. Cook mixture to 250 degrees.
Pour into a lined pan with parchment paper and leave it alone.
Sprinkle some sea salt if you’d like.
Let it sit overnight.
Cut it up into squares (a pizza cutter works great) and store in fridge.

Blog Stops



The Sacred Line, April 24




Wishful Endings, April 25









Betti Mace, April 30






Stories By Gina, May 3 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 3








Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Dani is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card, a copy of the book in winner’s choice of eBook or paperback, and a $20 Starbucks gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54203

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Monday, April 14, 2025

Love, War, Secrets, Memories -- Just Once

If you are a fan of Karen Kingsbury's books, then you are most likely familiar with her Baxter family books. Tucked away inside the first series, Ashley Baxter meets an elderly woman named Irvel, who becomes a special friend for Ashley. Just Once is Irvel's story, and it is a beautiful one. 

Irvel's story includes love, war, secrets, memories . . . all told in the heart-warming style that you can expect from Karen Kingsbury's Life-Changing Fiction. The characters come alive, and you find yourself in the middle of the joys and the challenges in some very complicated situations.

This book is a stand alone. It is not necessary for you to have read the earlier books. The only thing missed would just be the feeling that you are learning the history of a character you already.

I highly recommend Just Once to fans of great inspirational fiction -- both historical and contemporary.

About the Book

In 1941, beautiful Irvel Holland is too focused on her secret to take much notice of the war raging overseas. She’s dating Sam but in love with his younger brother, Hank—her longtime best friend—and Irvel has no idea how to break the news. Then the unthinkable happens—Pearl Harbor is attacked. With their lives turned upside down overnight, Sam is drafted and convinces Hank to remain in Indiana, where he and Irvel take up the battle on the home front.

While Sam fights in Europe, an undeniable chemistry builds between Irvel and Hank but neither would dare cross that line. Then, two military leaders pay Irvel a visit at the classroom where she teaches. The men have plans for her, a proposition to join a new spy network. One catch: She can tell no one.

With Irvel caught between two brothers thousands of miles apart, can love find a way, even from the ashes of the greatest heartbreak?

About the Author

Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development as major motion pictures. Karen recently opened her own film company called Kingsbury Productions. The company’s first theatrical movie, Someone Like You, was considered one of the most anticipated movies of the year. Also, the first three seasons of Karen’s Baxter Family books are now an original series called The Baxters on Prime Video.

Karen is also an adjunct professor of writing at Liberty University. In 2001 she and her husband, Don, adopted three boys from Haiti, doubling their family in a matter of months. Today the couple has joined the ranks of empty-nesters, living in Tennessee near five of their adult children.

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Tuesday, March 11, 2025

A Gentle Story of Hope -- Hope's Enduring Echo

I have finally found a way to describe one of the things that makes Kim Vogel Sawyer's books some of my very favorite stories to read.

Have you ever met someone and after just a short time of interaction felt like you have been friends forever? That's it! Kim immediately, ever so gently, pulls you in to her characters' lives and you want to know more about what is going on with them and what makes them tick. And the further you get into their story, the more friends you meet and the more you are invested in all of them.

I just had the opportunity to read an early copy of Hope's Enduring Echo and found that it fits perfectly the formula I described above. Jennie and her parents come to life with both the good and the bad they are experiencing. Despair and hope war in their lives, and how those will be resolved keeps the story moving. Leo brings a whole new dimension to their secluded valley with his hope and drive.

The story is full of reminders of different ways God works out the questions that don't seem to have answers. And the pace and details are just right. As I was nearing the end of the book, I began to wonder how things would work out with many unanswered questions and such few pages left. But, not surprisingly, that resolution happened in just the right way and at just the right pace. Another gentle story of hope from the pen of Kim Vogel Sawyer.

Thanks to the author and her publisher for providing a copy of Hope's Enduring Echo. I am happy to share my own thoughts in this review.

About the Book

Since an accident left her father unable to work, Jennie Ward has taken on the demanding task of inspecting the isolated seven-mile wooden pipeline that supplies water to Cañon City, Colorado. Despite her responsibilities, Jennie harbors dreams of going back to school and longs for something even simpler: a friend. One day, in a moment of impulsive and seemingly hopeless prayer, she asks God for companionship.

Her prayer is answered almost immediately with the arrival of Leo Day, a paleontology student searching for ancient bones buried along the ridges of the wild Arkansas River. Despite her long workdays, Jennie agrees to guide Leo in his quest.

As Jennie navigates her burgeoning friendship with Leo and her unwavering loyalty to her father, she finds herself torn. Leo, who longs for his own father’s approval, could change all Jennie knows. It’s undeniable that God has intertwined their paths, but to what end? With so much at stake, what does He truly intend for the preacher's son and the linewalker's daughter to uncover?

About the Author

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a highly acclaimed, bestselling author with more than 1.5 million books in print in seven different languages. Her titles have earned numerous accolades including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim lives in central Kansas with her retired military husband, Don, where she continues to write gentle stories of hope. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find her petting cats, packing Operation Christmas Child boxes, or spending time with her daughters and grandchildren.

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