Gentle Stories of Hope -- Mountain Lake Minnesota Trilogy

I can't remember when I first ran across the name Kim Vogel Sawyer -- but I'm so glad I did!

I can't remember the first book written by Kim Vogel Sawyer that I read -- but I know I enjoyed it because . . . how could you not!

I can't remember when I discovered the Mountain Lake Minnesota trilogy -- but I added those three books to my collection, and at some point found out they were the first novels she published. I hate to say this, but they somehow got pushed behind other newer books on my shelves, and I never got around to reading them.

Just recently I corrected that big mistake, pulled the books out and read the ones that started it all. Just as I expected, even if Kim was new to the game, she knew all those years ago how to write gentle stories of hope -- something she is still doing today and just getting better and better at! 

These stories follow the lives of a set of characters and will be best enjoyed by being read in order. Along the way, there are difficulties and challenges to be faced, but love, faith, and hope pave the way to great blessings! So I would recommend that as you are looking for great reading material, picking up this series from one of the best -- Kim Vogel Sawyer -- is definitely a good move! 

A Seeking Heart

Part 1 in the Mountain Lake Series

It’s 1917, and Samantha O’Brien, seventeen years old, runs away from Wisconsin to Minnesota to escape a drunkard father and broken home. She is accepted with open arms into the Klaassen family, German-Mennonites who show both love and patience to this lonely and defensive girl. Samantha’s fractured childhood and its devastating losses make it difficult for her to accept the Klaassen’s genuine care and concern, because she’s sure nobody can love the likes of her. But with prayer, time and love, the family—including the young and handsome Adam Klaassen—begins to break through Samantha’s walls.

A Heart Surrenders

Part 2 in the Mountain Lake Series

All David has ever wanted was love and security. He believes he can attain his desire by winning the heart of Josie Klassen. But Josie’s love for someone else casts a shadow on David’s dream, making him question if love is possible for someone like him. Can David set aside his own ideas and fears and open his heart to the one God has planned for him?

When a Heart Cries

Part 3 in the Mountain Lake Series

Their beloved little home was full of love . . . but it still felt empty.              Samantha and Adam Klassen started married life in the cozy little home built into the hill at the back of the Klaassen family farm. When they began looking forward to their own family, they knew they would need a real house with more room.                                                                                                But now the silent bedrooms in the farmhouse built with such love and hopefulness by her husband haunt Samantha’s days and nights. Why does God not see her yearnings for a child and answer the nearly constant prayers? And watching her sisters-in-law joyfully welcoming new little ones into their homes while her own arms lay empty nearly does her in. Does God even listen when a heart cries so fervently and long?

A Heartfelt WWII Novel -- This Promise Remains

About the Book

An unfinished story, souls shaped by war, and a legacy that binds them all.

Hugh and Madelyn Lenning have been married just two days when Hugh is drafted into World War II. While her husband fights overseas, Madelyn dares to pursue her long-buried dream of attending art school and creating something meaningful with her life.

But when Hugh returns home, the war has followed him. Haunted by invisible scars and a bloodstained journal he refuses to open, he struggles to keep the past at bay. As Madelyn tries to understand the man her husband has become, the future they once imagined begins to slip through her fingers.

Decades later, a beloved children’s story finds its way into the hands of a woman consumed by grief, regret, and years of careful self-protection. Drawn by its quiet power, she begins to question the life she’s spent years hiding from—and the promise she failed to keep.

As past and present begin to intertwine, they must decide whether some stories are meant to stay hidden or be carried forward with courage.                                                                                        

My Thoughts

This Promise Remains is Darcy Schock's debut novel but is written with the touch of a well-experienced writer.          

Darcy's story is built around events that happened during WWII and the impact they made on several people during that time period -- and even moreso for decades following the war. She  seamlessly moves back and forth through those years as she tells of hurt, trauma, disillusionment, and misunderstandings but also of hope, faith, light, growth, and restoration. The skill she uses in telling their stories draws you into the characters' lives, not simply as an outside observer but to the point of finding yourself sharing their feelings as well. The problems are raw, tough, not easily dealt with, and the solutions echo real life rather than made-up fairy-tale endings.   

I highly recommend This Promise Remains to anyone looking for a well-written inspirational story sure to warm your heart.                                                                                                                                                              

About the Author

Darcy Schock writes heartfelt fiction shaped by faith, grace, and the honest complexities of life. A small-town girl at heart, she loves coffee, the smell of new books, and quiet moments where stories take root. She lives with her husband and daughters in rural Illinois, nestled among the trees.

A Story of Love and Family -- Where We Belong

About the Book

The life of Hester Haak, a widow with no children of her own, takes an unexpected turn when she opens her Kansas home to children from the bustling streets of New York City. The orphan asylum has entrusted her with two sisters and a young boy, and Hester is determined to provide a safe and loving environment for them. Despite the looming uncertainty of their stay, she rises to the challenge, embracing the opportunity to make a difference in their lives.

Meanwhile, Callum Holbrook is grappling with the loss of his wife and the despair that followed. Unable to provide for his family, he made the heart-wrenching decision to place his daughters in an orphanage, promising it was only temporary. Now, with a stable job and a renewed sense of purpose, Callum is horrified to learn that his daughters have been sent halfway across the country. Fueled by determination and love, he embarks on the difficult journey to bring them back.

Through their struggles and triumphs, Hester and Callum discover that family and love can be found in the most surprising places—and that the journey home is paved with hope.

My Thoughts

Where We Belong is another touching story of hope from Kim Vogel Sawyer. As is always true in her books, her characters come alive and draw you into their lives -- the joy, the love, the loss, the fear. Her storytelling abilities capture the readers immediately and make it hard to put the book down.

The orphan train setting and the difficult choices connected with it definitely helped drive my feelings and emotions as I read the story, causing me to care about the characters and want the best for all of them -- whatever that best might turn out to be. Hester is a woman of strong faith and has a large dose of love to share. Callum has suffered great loss and pretty much lost the faith he had enjoyed in the past. The children are victims of difficult circumstances and not sure what their futures hold. Somehow, though, there was always hope, and I couldn't wait to see how that hope could be realized for everyone concerned. Watching the individual characters develop and grow toward that end made for a very engaging story.

I highly recommend Where We Belong to fans of great Christian historical fiction. I was gifted an early copy of the book and am happy to share my thoughts.

About the Author

Kim Vogel Sawyer is an award-winning, bestselling author with more than 1.5 million books in print in seven languages. Her work has received numerous awards, including the ACFW Carol Award and the Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award. She lives in central Kansas with her husband, Don, and enjoys writing stories of hope, petting cats, and spending time with her family.

Sweet Story of Love and Healing -- Harbor Pointe

 

About the Book

When life throws you off pointe, love helps you find your balance.

As a principal dancer with a prestigious New York ballet company, Devyn Lee is far from her hometown of Hope Harbor on the Oregon coast. But when a family emergency compels her to return, her visit turns into an extended stay after complications arise.

Widowed mill worker Aaron Steele pays no attention to the buzz in Hope Harbor about the famous dancer in town. Until his grieving nine-year-old daughter takes a fancy to Devyn after she agrees to help with a fundraising show for a local charity in which the young girl is performing. As the show--and Devyn--begin to lift his daughter's spirits, his own life is brightened by the beautiful ballerina as she slowly but surely captures his heart.

But what are the odds that such an accomplished, polished woman from the city could ever fall for a small-town lumberman with two left feet?

Come home to Hope Harbor--where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.

My Thoughts

If I've said it once, I've said it at least a dozen times (and that's because there are now 12 books in the series), there is something very special about a trip to Hope Harbor.

Irene Hannon has created a special little town on the Oregon coast where the characters and their stories are so real that you feel at home when you open the next book. As is always the case in Hope Harbor, you will find Charley, the taco maker and town fountain of wisdom, a seagull couple named Floyd and Gladys who always manage to appear at just the right time, the friendly banter between a couple of clergymen who help keep townspeople and each other in line, as well as many other residents and visitors of the community.

In Harbor Pointe, Devyn, a professional ballerina with a fabulous career in New York, has come home to Hope Harbor temporarily to help her sister who is recovering from a serious accident. Aaron is a widowed lumberman concentrating on his work and raising his young daughter. Both find themselves dealing with loss and hurts from difficult family dynamics but not necessarily looking for any new relationships. Martin, Diane, and their son Lucas are suffering from long-time relational and business issues that have torn their family apart. 

As she does so masterfully, Irene brings all these characters -- and more -- to life and draws readers into their lives and stories. Through beautifully engaging storytelling, she crafts a series of personal and community happenings that provide a setting where "hearts heal and love blooms."

I highly recommend Harbor Pointe to anyone who enjoys contemporary sweet romance. Like all the other books in the series, this can be read as a standalone, so if you are a first-time reader in the series, you won't be lost. But I would expect that after reading this story, you will want to go back and read the previous 11 books and learn to love Hope Harbor even more.

(And in case you are interested, here are a couple of my favorite lines in the book:  "Yes, more stories are coming -- by popular demand!" and "Hope Harbor #13 will release in April 2027.")

I was very excited to be a member of the launch team for this book and am happy to share my own thoughts in this review.

About the Author

Irene Hannon is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than 65 contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. In addition to her many other honors, she is a three-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of RWA's elite Hall of Fame and has received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. Learn more at IreneHannon.com.

Love at First Sight . . . or Second Sight . . . or whenever? -- When They Met Again

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."  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Baker Publishing Group | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

More in This Series

---

My Review

Leslie Gould ‘s When They Met Again was another delightful Amish story from an author whose work I have enjoyed several times. The book is written around an ongoing love story -- or maybe several -- worked into the pages, but at some points figuring out how things will work out is anyone’s guess. Joanna and Adam both have so many directions to go and decisions to make, and finding the right ones certainly makes their lives complicated. Family and friend connections add important and challenging pieces to the puzzle. 

There are places where it seems parts of the story are a little disjointed, and the jumping from one element to another can be a little hard to follow. But that causes very little distraction to the story and keeps the many characters and situations moving along to the resolution.

I would recommend When They Met Again to true fans of Amish fiction. I have not had an opportunity to read the other books in this series but would love to enjoy those in the future.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are my own opinion.

---

About the Author

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.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

---

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!