In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren, and is a way for everyone to show their new books for the week, including those bought, swapped, won, or received for review.
for review:
"Between the Sea and Sky" by Jaclyn Dolamore
I can't resist a mermaid book!
"Family Storms" by V.C. Andrews
"Cloudburst" by V.C. Andrews
Two new books by VC Andrews, just in time for Halloween!
"Valley of Dreams" by Lauraine Snelling
A fantastic author and a book about a Wild West show! Sounds awesome!!
"Too Wicked to Wed" by Cara Elliott
I loved the first two books by this author, so I can't wait to give this one a try!
I also won an autographed booklet about Elizabeth Hoyt's Maiden Lane series from Forever Romance on twitter! So excited to have an autograph from one of my favorite authors!
Hopefully I'll be able to find more new blogs to read this week!
If it's your first time here, please leave a comment and I'll come check out your blog too!
Short and Sweet Answer:
"Ruined" by Paula Morris is one of my fave Halloween reads! I was really hoping to read "Dark Souls" by her this year but I am quickly running out of time to buy it and read it!
Priscilla White knows
she'll never be a wife or mother and feels God's call to the mission
field in India. Dr. Eli Ernest is back from Oregon Country only long
enough to raise awareness of missions to the natives before heading out
West once more. But then Priscilla and Eli both receive news from the
mission board: No longer will they send unmarried men and women into the
field.
Left scrambling for options, the two realize the other
might be the answer to their needs. Priscilla and Eli agree to a
partnership, a marriage in name only that will allow them to follow
God's leading into the mission field. But as they journey west, this
decision will be tested by the hardships of the trip and by the
unexpected turnings of their hearts.
My Review:
I really loved the beginning half of the novel, but towards the end it really slowed down for me. I didn't feel like the romance was developing enough. And so much happened, it seemed to hop from event to even really quickly.
I enjoyed the start of the book very much, before they started their journey west. Priscilla was downright unlikeable, but I really liked the author's choice to portray her this way. She was so sheltered and close-minded at the beginning, we were really able to appreciate her growth so much more.
I really appreciated the fact that the story was based on the true story of a real life heroine. I was glad the author showed us a little of the real doctor's wife's story in the author's note at the end. Ironically, some of the stranger plots from the story were ones based on true events!
The Irregulars return
home to 1803 England safely, but their worldview has changed. Not only
have their heroic efforts at Dunkirk given them pride and confidence
but their dangerous mission has increased their magical powers.
Tory
delights in the ever deepening bond she shares with Allarde until she
discovers how powerfully he is connected to his ancient family
estate—the lands he will not inherit unless he denies his magical powers
and chooses a nonmagical mate. If Tory really loves him, she must walk
away—but does she have the strength to leave the love of her life?
Cynthia’s
heroic efforts at Dunkirk have won her the respect of the Irregulars,
but her sharp tongue keeps everyone at a distance. Isolated and very
alone at Lackland Abbey over the Christmas holidays, she reluctantly
agrees to join Jack Rainford and his family for their celebration even
though they’re commoners, far below her own noble rank. The warm welcome
of the Rainfords makes her feel happier and more accepted than she has
ever been. But she can’t possibly be falling in love with flirtatious
Jack! Can she?
Then the Irregulars are drawn into a dangerous
attempt to rescue a vitally important French scientist from
Nazi-occupied France. Tory and Allarde must work together because
countless lives are at stake. Disaster strikes and not only is their
mission threatened, but their very lives. Can magic and their loyalty to
each other help them survive to return home?
My Review:
This book had a little bit of everything that I like. It was historical, YA, and had magic. And it had a lot of something that I love-romance! You can really tell the author was a romance writer first because she really knows how to do romance!
Tory and Allarde were a great lead couple. Allarde, especially, was so noble, but yet never seemed too good to be true. His love for Tory was above everything else for him, and he wasn't afraid to show it.
But I have to admit that I liked the gorgeously flawed Cynthia more than the too perfect Tory. Cynthia was so prickly on the outside, but the author always let us in on how she was really feeling on the inside. She was so vulnerable, and afraid of being hurt again, like she was when her family wouldn't accept her magic. Cynthia's friendship with the adorable Jack and the slow growth of their relationship was just so good!
My favorite part of the book was the Christmas holiday that Cynthia spent with Jack and his family. She finally fit in somewhere and felt accepted and loved. Plus, it's a Christmas party with lots of mistletoe, what's not to love!
Bottom Line:I loved this book and I especially enjoyed the two very different
romances. I'd recommend this to anyone who loves historical romances
with a lot of magic too.
Libby Kelting had
always felt herself born out of time. No wonder the historical
romance-reading, Jane Austen-adaptation-watching, all-around history
nerd jumped at the chance to intern at Camden Harbor, Maine’s Oldest
Living History Museum. But at Camden Harbor Libby’s just plain out of
place, no matter how cute she looks in a corset. Her cat-loving coworker
wants her dead, the too-smart-for-his-own-good local reporter keeps
pushing her buttons, her gorgeous sailor may be more shipwreck than
dreamboat — plus Camden Harbor’s haunted. Over the course of one
unforgettable summer, Libby learns that boys, like ghosts, aren’t always
what they seem.
This looks just too cute! I love that it's set in a historical village! The setting sounds so fun and I've already read great reviews!
I'm passing my copy of the ARC on to one of my readers!
GIVEAWAY RULES:
The winner will receive an ARC of "Tempest Rising" by Tracy Deebs
All you have to do is follow my blog publicly and leave a comment on this post with your email address! Please follow publicly or I can't tell that you are
following :) Also, if you aren't comfortable leaving your email
here, go ahead and leave a comment and then send me an email with
your email addy. There are no extra entries for this one, I know you all are wanting to get to each giveaway quickly! All you have to do is be a GFC follower!
Rules:
US only
Must be a follower to enter
Must be 18 to enter
Leave a comment with your email address
Books will be mailed out by me
Ends Oct 31 at midnight
Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!
While you're here, check out my two other contests!
In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren, and is a way for everyone to show their new books for the week, including those bought, swapped, won, or received for review.
for review:
"The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
I received a special edition ARC from the publisher! So nice!
"Scandalous Desires" by Elizabeth Hoyt
I absolutely can't wait to read this!
"Shadow Horse" by Alison Hart
"Whirlwind" by Alison Hart
I received both books from the author and will be having a contest soon!
I also received a movie this week, but it's based on a book by Beverly Lewis:)
Having survived her
perilous childhood as a royal captive of Rome, Selene pledged her
loyalty to Augustus and swore she would become his very own Cleopatra.
Now the young queen faces an uncertain destiny in a foreign land.
The magic of Isis flowing through her veins is what makes her
indispensable to the emperor. Against a backdrop of imperial politics
and religious persecution, Cleopatra's daughter beguiles her way to the
very precipice of power. She has never forgotten her birthright, but
will the price of her mother's throne be more than she's willing to pay?
My Review:
I love reading about Cleopatra, so I already knew a little about her daughter, Cleopatra Selene. Maybe I had too many preconceived notions to really enjoy this version of the story, plus a lot of the elements really took me out of my comfort zone. I think I would have liked the story more if it had been a YA book or historical romance. The Historical Fiction genre is often too gritty and dark for me, which was true of this book. I just didn't like reading detailed rape scenes or the main character having sex with her twin brother. If you are ok with reading these types of things, this may be the book for you.
I'm not sure about the magic in the book. While I understand that the magic and goddesses theme ties in with the beliefs of that time period, it's hard to read a book based on real people and really believe that they had magical powers.
There was a lot of action and lot of drama here so the book was very fast paced. It's almost like an R-rated soap opera set in ancient times. This book has been getting many amazing reviews, so I encourage you to try it if you think you will be okay with the difficult themes.
Leave a comment on this post with your email address and let me know which way you follow Stephanie Dray. For each additional way you follow Ms. Dray you will receive an additional entry.
Please follow publicly or I can't tell that you are
following :)
Extra Entries: +1 for each additional way you follow Ms. Dray
+1 Tweet this contest (leave link in comment) +1 Post link in sidebar of your blog (leave link in comment)
Rules:
US and Canada only
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Extra entries are optional and can all be left in the same comment
Leave a comment with your email address
Books will be mailed out by the publicist, In the Hammock is not responsible for lost or missing books, or the amount of time taken to ship the books
Straight from the heart
of influential romance blogger Sarah Wendell, this inventive gift book
provides the best wisdom about love that the romance genre has to offer.
Laced with signature witty commentary and peppered with thoughts from
bestselling romance authors and avid readers, these pages will reveal
what every romance reader already knows: while romances are certainly
steamy, they have more to offer than just a sexy hero. In fact, they
might have more to say about love than we give them credit for.
My Review:
Don't you love it when a book reinforces what you already believe? Over and over during this book, I found myself saying "That's what I always tell people!" and "See, I knew what I was talking about!" Many of you may know Sarah Wendell from her blog Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, and her new book is a must read for romance novel addicts like me.
This book is all about all of the positive things about romance novels, including contemporaries, paranormals, and my romance of choice-historicals. There are two main points that really stand out in my head that are reasons why I love the genre, too. First, the books focus on women, women are important, and women are worth it. This is a huge reason why I read romances. The other main point I agree with is that romances are overall positive and hopeful. Even when there are tough issues in the book, the main message about hope and the books stay positive.
It's also interesting to me that the romances that I have really just not enjoyed have broken some of the 'rules' that are talked about in the book. One example that the author gave was that we don't want to read about how fat the main character thinks she is. Another deal breaker in romances is when the heroine is repeatedly beaten down in her self esteem-yes even by the 'hero'. She also makes the point that sexual fidelity is a main component of romances. If the hero cheats on the heroine, you can count me out for the rest of the story.
If you know someone who doesn't 'get' why we read romances, maybe they could page through this book and see all of the real and positive aspects about the genre.
Bottom Line: Let's celebrate romance novels! And in doing so, we celebrate women, love and hope.
When Finley travels
to Ireland as a foreign exchange student, she hopes to create a new
identity and get some answers from the God who took her brother away and
seems to have left her high and dry.
But from the moment she
boards the plane and sits by Beckett Rush, teen star of the hottest
vampire flicks, nothing goes according to Finley's plan.
When she
gets too close to Beckett, a classmate goes on a mission to make sure
Finley packs her bags, departs Ireland-and leaves Beckett alone.
Finley
feels the pressure all around. As things start to fall apart, she
begins to rely on a not-so-healthy method of taking control of her life.
Finley
tries to balance it all-disasters on the set of Beckett's new movie,
the demands of school, and her growing romance with one actor who is not
what he seems. Yet Finley is also not who she portrays to Beckett and
her friends.
For the first time in her life, Finley must get honest with herself to get right with God.
My Review:
What an intense book! There is so much going on in this story. Sometimes, I felt like there were too many different aspects of the story, but then everything really ties together in the end.
The romance between Finley and Becket was absolutely swoon-worthy. Who wouldn't want the most gorgeous movie star to also be such an amazing guy on the inside too? It's interesting how this most ultimate of romantic fantasies is in the book along with such traumatic issues and experiences that make up the rest of the book.
The cover blurb says that Finley picks up a "dangerous vice" so I suppose it would be a spoiler to explain what the vice is. It's strange because I picked up on the warning signs early on but I was wondering if the problem was every going to be addressed. But since the tale was told in first person, I guess we had to wait until Finley figured it out for herself.
The story is so well told and the characters are so finely crafted, you will certainly need a box of tissues by the end of the book.
Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5
Setting: 5/5
Romance: 5/5 Uniqueness: 4/5 Cover: 5/5 (pretty much in love with the cover)
Writing: 4/5
Bottom Line:I think fans of contemporary YA with a strong message and great romance will really take this book to heart. I don't think you need to be a fan of Christian Fiction to enjoy it.
"A girl named Fer who
travels to a magical land where she has to discover who she truly is
while putting right a terrible wrong. She’s helped by a tricksy puck-boy
named Rook and a wild horse named Phouka."
"What a wonderful, imaginative alternate world Prineas has created
for this book!" --Kristin Cashore, author of the New York Times
bestsellers Graceling and Fire.
"Filled with wonder and with characters both devious and charming, Winterling is a mischievous delight!" --Ingrid Law, New York Times bestselling author of Scumble and the Newbery honor book Savvy.
There's not too much of a summary yet, but the wild horse sounds awesome and how can you say no to that cover!!?
A prehistoric
adventure, this is the third of the Zan-Gah young adult books. When
Dael, guilty and tormented, came to live with the tribe of the painted
people, he longed for peace and restoration; but without knowing it, he
made a powerful enemy. Luckily, Dael had friends-including a troop of
crows-and his own mystical powers. The disturbed and violent hero learns
from the Children of the Earth, and from his submissive wife, a new way
of life that is peaceful and generous. Dael and the Painted People is a
story of conflict, healing, hate, and love by the winner of the Eric
Hoffer Award, a finalist for the ForeWord magazine Book of the Year
Award, and the Mom's Choice Gold Seal for Excellence in a
family-friendly book series.
My Review:
The Zan Gah series is so well done and this book is a welcome addition to the series. This is the first book where Zan Gah's twin, Dael, is the lead instead of Zan Gah. I have to admit that I missed Zan Gah in this one, but I did like being able to see Dael finally grow and be happy.
The second book in the series is still my favorite, because I loved meeting all of the fantastic characters. Most of my favorite characters are back in this story, but it seemed like not as much time was devoted to characters other than Dael and his wife, Sparrow. I was so glad that Rydl was back, he was one of my favorite characters, and after all, we had to see how he and Sparrow would interact after what happened between them.
The thing I liked the best about this series is that you see it doesn't matter whether it's the 21st century, or prehistoric times, people are pretty much the same. We still want and need the same things. We still have the same types of social relationships. This is a series that I never would have picked up based on the summary, but I am so glad I did. Now, I'm totally immersed in this prehistoric world and anxiously awaiting the next installment.
Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5 (I just wanted to see them more!)
Setting: 5/5
Romance: 4/5 Uniqueness: 5/5 Cover: 3/5 (it is straight from the story though)
Writing: 5/5
Bottom Line:A nice addition to the Zan Gah books, this time focusing on Zan's
troubled twin brother, Dael. It's an
adventure filled trip back to Zan Gah's prehistoric world, full of
lessons we can learn from today.
Ten years ago, Emma
Malloy fled Dublin for Boston as a battered woman, escaping the husband
who scarred her beautiful face. The physical and emotional wounds have
faded with time, and her life is finally full of purpose and free from
the pain of her past. But when she falls for her friend Charity's
handsome and charming brother, Sean O'Connor, fear and shame threaten to
destroy her. Could Sean and Emma ever have a future together? Or is
Emma doomed to live out the rest of her life denying the only true love
she's ever known?
Filled with intense passion and longing,
deception and revelation, A Heart Revealed will hold readers in its grip
until the very last page.
My Review:
This book was very different from what I had anticipated. It's part of a series, and I'm not really sure that it can be read as a standalone novel. There were a lot of characters to keep straight right from the very beginning. It was a struggle to keep up with all of the different couples and become invested in all of them at the same time. I had thought the book would focus on Emma and Sean, but there was just as much time and pages devoted to the other two couples as well. I'm sure this contributes to the hefty 500 page count.
I wasn't fully able to become immersed in Emma and Sean's romance for a few reasons, including the fact that she was still married to an abusive husband who didn't even live in the same country. But another reason I couldn't embrace their love story was because of Rose. I really squirmed every time I had to read about the "hero" kissing another woman and how much he liked it. Plus this doesn't make sense based on the other views on cheating in the book.
One thing I enjoyed reading about immensely was the time period in American history. I love to read about how different things were, but mostly what has stayed the same. I loved all the 1920s/30s name dropping. Their little shop sells Brooks Brothers? Way to go! And Charity wore an Elsa Schiaparelli dress? Wow! High roller! This was by far the most fun of the book for me.
Bottom Line:This would probably be a welcome addition to fans of the series just
because there is so much continuation of the other characters' stories.
But I just couldn't get on board with the main romance in the book.
“Available September 2011 at your favorite
bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
Readers
will enjoy being drawn into this world of elegance and intrigue, balls
and masquerades. Author Laurie Alice Eakes whisks readers through the
drawing rooms of London amid the sound of rustling gowns on this
exciting quest to let the past stay in the past and let love guide the
future.
My Review:
This is a nice regency spy/double agent type of mystery. The romance and lead characters could have been developed a little more but all in all, it was a fun, relaxing read. The book was almost fluffy, nothing too heavy here, which makes for a nice, cozy read.
In my opinion, Lydia's two sisters outshone her. I was much more interested in Cassandra's and Honore's lives and romances than in Lydia's. They both seemed to have more spunk and backbone than Lydia and they weren't quite so goody-goody.
Cassandra and Honore were much more real to me than Lydia was. i couldn't wait to see what would happen next with Cassandra and Wittaker. Their relationship was so tumultuous! Perhaps they will get an entire book in the series too. Also, Honore's starry-eyed love for a forbidden gentleman was so unexpected and I didn't know what would happen next.
Christien did have some heart-stoppingly romantic moments. Who wouldn't like sweet nothings whispered in her ear in French?
The Christian message of the story was very relaxed, which I did like. I think it would appeal to those who don't normally read the genre but who like a cozy Regency mystery.
In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren, and is a way for everyone to show their new books for the week, including those bought, swapped, won, or received for review.
Winner was chosen via random.org random number generator. Congrats to the winner!!I
have emailed the winner for her mailing address.
Winner has 3 days to respond :) Please allow at least 8 weeks for
delivery, delivery time is determined by the publisher. Book is mailed by the publisher, In the Hammock Blog is not responsible for lost or missing books or the length of time that it takes to receive the book. A huge thank you goes out to everyone who entered and
huge thanks to Faithwords for sponsoring the contest!! Congrats!!
Hannah's parents are
glamorous Hollywood royalty, and sometimes she feels like the ugly
duckling in a family of swans. After her mother's tragic death, Hannah's
grief is compounded by her desperate need to live up to her mother's
image. She tries to control her weight through Bulimia, and her
devastated father is too distracted to notice. The secret of her eating
disorder weighs heavily on Hannah, but the new eighth grade Beverly
Hills clique she's befriended only reinforces her desire to be
beautiful. The only one who seems to notice, or care, that something is
wrong is Jasper, the quirky mistfit.
My Review:
I usually consider it a spoiler to reveal too much more than what the back cover of a book delivers, but this book is about bulimia. I thought I knew what bulimia was before I read this book, but I realize now I barely knew anything. The author paints a gruesome look at all of the dirty, embarrassing details of the eating disorder, without sugar coating anything. She creates an honest, and still very compassionate, view of a young girl with bulimia.
I think this book could be really helpful if you know someone with this eating disorder. It really helps to understand what the disease is and what the person is going through.
Hannah's relationship with her dad is so honest, especially since he is going through a disease that has many similar qualities. In the end when you can tell he finally understands, it is really bittersweet.
When Hannah goes to Ghana with her aunt, it really puts her decisions into perspective for both Hannah and the reader. I thought this was a really interesting perspective on the disease.
Jasper was too adorable as a love interest. He was much more mature and accepting than most 8th grade boys in my opinion (and probably more mature than most adults for that matter). Sometimes, I felt like Hannah was a little older than 8th grade as well. The book felt more mature than a middle grade book, so I think I would classify it as YA instead of MG.
Bottom Line: There's so much to mention about this book and not enough space. But overall, it is an honest, compassionate look at the effects of bulimia.
Seraphina’s first love
made her immortal…her second might get her killed. Incarnation is a new
series that introduces a fresh mythology perfect for fans of bestselling
series like The Immortals by Alyson Noel and Beautiful Creatures by
Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.
After spending six hundred years on earth, Seraphina Ames has seen
it all. Eternal life provides her with the world’s riches, but at a very
high price: innocent lives. Centuries ago, her boyfriend, Cyrus,
discovered a method of alchemy that allows them to swap bodies with
other humans, jumping from one vessel to the next, taking the human’s
life in the process. No longer able to bear the guilt of what she’s
done, Sera escapes from Cyrus and vows to never kill again.
Then sixteen-year-old Kailey Morgan gets into a horrific car
accident right in front of her, and Sera accidentally takes over her
body. For the first time, Sera finds herself enjoying the life of the
person she’s inhabiting—and falls for the human boy who lives next door.
But Cyrus will stop at nothing until she’s his again, and every moment
she stays, she’s putting herself and the people she’s grown to care for
in great danger. Will Sera have to give up the one thing that’s eluded
her for centuries: true love?
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Harvest House Publishers; 1st ptg thus edition (September 1, 2011)
***Special thanks to Karri James | Marketing Assistant, Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jerry Eicher’s bestselling Amish fiction (more than 210,000 in combined sales) includes The Adams County Trilogy, the Hannah’s Heart books, and the Little Valley Series. After a traditional Amish childhood, Jerry taught for two terms in Amish and Mennonite schools in Ohio and Illinois. Since then he’s been involved in church renewal, preaching, and teaching Bible studies. Jerry lives with his wife, Tina, and their four children in Virginia.
Bestselling author Jerry Eicher concludes the Little Valley Series with one more glimpse into young Ella’s Amish world. She loves the widower Ivan Stutzman’s children and enjoys caring for them. Although she is genuinely devoted to Preacher Stutzman and keenly aware of his desire to propose, her feelings for him stop short of romantic love. Yet Ella yearns for marriage and wonders if what she and Ivan have is enough.
When the handsome Englisha stops by and asks about converting to the Amish faith, Ella is intrigued and warily agrees to meet with him. Soon Ella realizes she’s torn between her devotion to Ivan and his children and her growing feelings for the Englisha. With dire consequences at stake, Ella must determine what the truth is, if her feelings are dependable, and how to stay faithful to the will of God.
List Price: $11.99
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers; 1st ptg thus edition (September 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736928065
ISBN-13: 978-0736928069
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
The light snow swirled around Ella Yoder’s buggy, the drifts along the ditch already high for this early in winter. Ella pulled the waterproof buggy blanket higher over her legs. Oh, to be home at Seager Hill, sitting near the warmth of the old woodstove, the whole family gathered at the supper table under the hiss of a gas lantern. There to experience the long evening with the dishes done and nothing to do but enjoy reading a good book.
“I have to try!” Ella said, the words echoing in the empty buggy. “I have to make a real home for us. The girls deserve that much.” Her thoughts wandered back to Aden and his untimely death. I have to forget him and our dreams and hopes. I must move on. Ella slapped the lines. And yet I have no feelings for Ivan Stutzman. How can I marry him?
Snowflakes drifted into the open storm front. They perched like white crystal gems on her black shawl—fragile, breakable…breathless beauty sent from heaven. She shook her blanket and sent the snowflakes flying off her lap. The horse jerked his head with the movement on the lines, as if to tell her he was going as fast as he could in this weather. At least the wind was coming from behind. The return journey would be another matter, driving straight into the teeth of what was turning out to be a fierce winter storm.
How like her life. The time since Aden’s death had flown like the wind at her back, pushing her along with its force and fury—and by men who proclaimed their love for her—Wayne Miller, the bishop, and Preacher Stutzman…Ivan.
Now the time had come to leave behind the memories of the past, to turn her heart toward love. And that journey looked to be as fierce as this trip home after supper at Ivan’s house. She could have said no to the invitation…but the girls…It was always about the girls, really. They needed a mother and a home. They needed her, and she could make the decision that would make her their mother. She would surely marry Ivan.
“You can love him, and the feelings will come later,” Ella’s mamm had said, her voice firm. “He’s a gut man of God. He loves you. And Aden’s gone forever. You can make a home for Ivan’s girls. They need that from you, and you do love them.”
From behind her she heard the sound of an Englisha vehicle approaching even though the engine was muffled by the snowdrifts on either side and the heavy cloud cover. The noise was approaching much too swiftly. She tensed. Headlights reflected off the snowbanks. Her horse turned its head sideways and his blinder slipped, leaving him blinded on that side. Ella tightened the reins to keep him away from the ditch.
The vehicle behind her sounded like it was accelerating, the motor much louder now. Ella checked her lights outside the buggy with a quick sideways glance. Were they working? The intensity of the headlights behind her drowned the feeble glow her buggy lights were putting out. Surely the driver could see her. The road behind her was a straight stretch—no curves to hide the buggy’s profile.
Ella pulled right, her horse protesting with an arch of his neck, hesitating to follow her directions. She held him to the side of the road with the sheer force of her hands on the lines.
“Slow boy,” she hollered, hoping he could hear her above the roar of the motor. “It’s safe. Come on over—just a little more, Moonbeam. Give that driver plenty of room.”
Surely it was a man in the Englisha vehicle behind her. There were women who drove as they pleased, even among the Amish. Yet it was hard to imagine that anyone but a man would drive so recklessly on slippery, snow-covered roads.
The headlights wavered and then moved away from the buggy. Ella drew in a deep breath and willed the pounding of her heart to slow down. Surely she had been spotted, and the driver was turning out in time.
She waited for the crunch of tires beside her and the swirl of snow as the vehicle passed her. Instead, it slowed as it drew alongside her, keeping pace with the horse’s slow gait. She glanced out the small buggy window. The pickup truck window was rolled down, but no faces were visible in the darkness inside the cab. Was she about to be waylaid on this lonely stretch of road during this cold winter night? Ivan’s place was still at least a mile ahead, and she would never be able to outrun a truck.
“Are you by yourself ?” the question came.
The voice was female, and Ella opened the buggy door, pushing it aside. Not that it would have done much good, but if it had been a man’s voice, she would have let out on the lines, whipping the horse with her cries and at least made a dash for Ivan’s place.
“I don’t have far to go,” she said, hoping her weak voice carried to the speaker.
“There’s a big storm comin’,” a male voice said from the other side of the truck. “Straight off the lake, the radio said. It’s supposed to dump the worst in a few hours. You’d best get off the road. It’s bound to be dangerous weather…especially for you Amish folks.”
“Ach, thanks,” Ella said. “I’m just goin’ another mile or so.”
“You’re not driving back tonight?” the man asked.
“I had thought I would, but I imagine I can stay over if things look too bad.”
“We’d best be getting inside ourselves,” the woman said. The motor roared again. Quickly the red taillights bounced and faded in the falling snow before disappearing into the blinding whiteness.
So the approaching storm was a bad one. She’d been suspecting as much the last fifteen minutes or so. Her initial hopes had gotten the best of her. She didn’t want to stay with Susanna, Ivan’s sister, but surely she could if she must. Certainly, she couldn’t stay at the main house. Should she turn back now? Yet going back was farther than moving ahead, and Ivan would worry. He would think she had gotten stuck in some ditch and would set out to find her.
She slapped the reins. There was no choice but to go on. Perhaps Moonbeam could increase his pace. He shook his head, but lifted his feet faster, his hoofbeats all but soundless on the snowy road.
In the heavy darkness, Ella stayed in the center of the road. Already the drifts were sending tentative feelers out from the edges of the banks. She kept the lines tight, glad to see a house come up ahead. The soft shine of a gas lantern glowed from the window and across the sparkling snow.
It looked Amish, the familiarity a gut thing. Like the feeling of a warm blanket at night, making the darkness beyond the glow seem less deep, the distance yet to travel closer. Inside the house would be people like her, who saw the world as she did, who experienced life in a way she could understand. Surely the Englisha felt the same about their people.
Ella drove on. No other headlights appeared, the darkness of the woods deepening on either side of her, the snow increasing by the minute. This invitation to supper from Ivan had seemed such a wise idea at the time. If only they had put the occasion off until next week. She opened the buggy door again, glancing out. There was no doubt the Englisha man had been correct—she would not be returning tonight. She would surely be spending the night at Susanna’s place. But perhaps it wouldn’t be too bad. Maybe it was Da Hah’s way to expose her to Ivan’s extended family.
Her mamm often said, “Da Hah makes use of all things for His own good.”
Since Mamm was usually right, she would simply accept tonight’s change of plans. The snowstorm was none of her doing.
Ella peered into the falling snow, recognizing the turn toward Ivan’s farm. She dodged a long stringy snowdrift, pulling sharply left, before turning into Ivan’s lane. Before her rose the familiar outlines of his white, paint-peeling home and the brown barn, both of them standing like ghostly forms in the falling snow. A light was still on in the barn, and Ella drove toward its door, pulling past the hitching post, which sat closer to the house. Moonbeam would need to be taken inside on a night like this, and since Ivan wasn’t likely to notice her arrival, Ella pulled the buggy to a stop and climbed out, preparing to unhitch by herself.
One tug was off, the leather frozen under her gloves, when the barn door swung open. Ivan rushed out, leaving the door swinging in the wind, the warm glow of the barn lantern flooding the yard and reaching the buggy. Ella blinked, her head bent against the sting of the snow.
“Ach, I didn’t hear you drive in,” Ivan said, quickly unhitching the other side of the horse. “I’m sorry about that. I half expected you to turn back.”
“The storm came up faster than I thought it would,” Ella said. “Someone did stop to warn me on the road, but I was closer here than home.”
“I’d hoped to have a better welcome for you,” Ivan said, smiling through the snowflakes that were settling on his eyebrows and beard.
“It is awful tonight,” Ella said, forcing a laugh.
Ivan grabbed the horse’s bridle, and Ella shut the buggy doors against the force and howl of the wind. She paused, opening her mouth on impulse, feeling the cold snowflakes against her tongue. How strange this evening was—so cold and yet joy stirred within from the snow. She felt young again, perhaps even ready to move on with life.
“Makes me feel like a child again,” Ella said into the wind, repeating the gesture, her mouth open longer this time. Ivan would surely think her silly, would he not?
But Ivan laughed easily with her as he led the horse forward, the shafts dropping softly onto the ground. He had paused while watching her. “Da Hah gives pleasure even in snow, doesn’t He? I just don’t look forward to all the shovelin’ tomorrow morning.”
“If it even stops by tomorrow. The Englisha couple said the storm was a bad one.”
“I think they’re right. The barometer is falling fast. I don’t think you’ll be able to get back home tonight, Ella.”
“No, I don’t suppose I can,” she said as they entered the barn. She shut the door behind them. “Can I keep Moonbeam in here for the night? And perhaps Susanna can put me up?”
Ivan turned to look at her over the horse’s mane. “I see my invitation put you in a pickle. I’m sorry about that. Susanna has room for you. I guess we could have called supper off if the storm hadn’t come so suddenly.”
“It’s not a problem,” Ella said with a nervous smile. “I really wanted to come—snowstorm or not. And this will give me more time to spend with the girls…and you. And perhaps get used to the place.”
Thankfully Ivan seemed to understand. He nodded his head. The horse bumped him, reaching its head toward the stall and the wisps of hay hanging in the manger.
Ella waited for Ivan, standing under the lantern as he led the horse forward and into the stall. He came out and shut the latch on the stall before pulling more hay down into the manger with a pitchfork.
“There!” he said. “That should keep him satisfied for the night.”
Ella rubbed her gloved hands together, the little warmth from the gas lantern on the ceiling not reaching her.
Ivan walked toward her, his face fully visible now. The snow melted from his beard, leaving wet spots that glittered in the glare of the lantern light. He seemed burdened, worried, the lines on his face longer than usual.
My Review:
3 Stars
This story is very well written and the author has a vast knowledge of the day to day life of the Amish people. However, the story didn't hold my interest as much as I had expected.
I thought that the romance would be more of a love triangle/square, when actually it was very obvious from the start whom Ella would choose.
If you enjoy reading about taking care of small children, I think you will really like this book. The meatiest story line seemed to be Ella's role as caretaker of Ivan's small girls. I enjoy kids in books very much, but it seemed to go overboard here for me. The kids weren't so much individual characters as much as they were an obligation, which was sad for me.
Overall, a sweet, well-written story that fans of Amish fiction will embrace.
