Christmas on Harmony Hill

Christmas on Harmony Hill
Ann H. Gabhart
Revell Publisher 
Fiction, Romance

It is 1864 and the nation is still torn apart by civil war when Heather Worth discovers she is with child. She has been working as a laundress with her husband's army unit, but when the army gets orders to march south to Tennessee, Gideon insists Heather go home to have their child under safer conditions. Heather agrees, but returns home to another kind of devastation--deaths in the family and a father who refuses to forgive her for marrying a Yankee. With nowhere else to turn, Heather seeks refuge at the Shaker village of Harmony Hill, where her great aunt Sophrena lives. There, after many peaceful years at Harmony Hill, Sophrena is having doubts about her Shaker path. Both women are in need of love and forgiveness--whether given or received. With Christmas coming, can the miracle of new life fill their hearts with unexpected joy? 

Ann H. Gabhart's many fans will be thrilled to return to Harmony Hill at Christmastime for this stirring story of healing and hope.

I've read a number of Gabhart's books and she is an excellent author. The problem with that is high expectations, this book did not even come close to meeting my expectations. I kept hoping it would improve, it never did. The plot left a lot to work with and I was looking forward to the storyline. It was, sadly, a big yawn fest. There never was a crux, in fact, the story unraveled after chapter 2 and it never got back together again. I am a fan of this author so I will for sure be picking up more of her books. I will not, however, be keeping this book to read again. 

My thanks to Revell Publishers for providing me witha  free copy of this book in exchange for my real and honest review. 

Christmas Roses

Christmas Roses
Amanda Cabot
Revell Publishing
2012
Fiction, Historical, Romance

Celia Anderson doesn't need anything for Christmas except a few more boarders, which are hard to come by in this small mining town. She certainly doesn't have a husband on her Christmas wish list. But when a wandering carpenter finds lodging at her boarding house, she admits that she might remarry if she found the right man--the kind of man who would bring her roses for Christmas. It would take a miracle to get roses during a harsh Wyoming winter. But Christmas, after all, is the time for miracles . . .

This is a light easy read that is perfect for the holiday season. It's a quick read that I promise you'll enjoy. There are no great cliff hanging moments or massive amounts of angst, it is a simple story. The characters are believable and surprisingly developed for such a short book. I recommend making some peppermint hot chocolate, wrapping up in a cozy blanket, and sitting down for a nice winter's read. You'll be glad you did!

You can find more information at the author’s site. Published by Revell. My thanks to Revell Publishing for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

The Christmas Singing

Gideon broke Maddie's heart 3 years ago but just maybe the Christmas season will bring understanding and warmth to Maddie's heart. A part of the Ada House novels by Woodsmall this one is a true little gem. It can be read as a stand alone and enjoyed just as much. After Gideon breaks Maddie's heart Maddie moves away. When circumstances force her to return Gideon is determined to reveal the truth behind his decision of three years ago. Lies, romance, secrets, and fun are all apart of this book. It's a light read that is perfect for the Christmas/winter season.

I believe I have established here on my blog that I am not an overwhelming fan of this rampant Amish theme in Christian literature. However, if I'm going to read one and enjoy it I will always turn to Cindy Woodsmall. She writes with depth and honesty that makes the Amish craze almost, not quite, worth diving into :)

WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group provided this book to me for free in exchange for this honest review as part of their Blogging for Books program.