Author: Amy Lillard
Series: Paradise Valley #1
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Inspirational Romance
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of pages: 352
Date of Publication: December 28, 2021
Date of Publication: December 28, 2021
Rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Award-winning, USA Today bestselling author Amy Lillard's uplifting new series unites a "Widows Club" of women who share solace, friendship, and faith in the Amish community of Paradise Valley, Missouri. In this series starter, a young pregnant widow running a B&B meets a handsome outsider who begins to make her believe in love again.
When her young husband died unexpectedly, Millie Bauman thought her life was over too--until she learned she was carrying his child. Now, as she awaits the baby's arrival, Millie's sure her future will revolve around motherhood, the B&B she runs with her Aunt Sylvie, and the beloved Whoopie Pies her Widows Club whips up each week. But when a handsome newcomer arrives in town, Millie is intrigued, and the club wonders if Millie might find a second chance at love...
Henry King plans to stay in Paradise Valley long enough to take care of some family business, and hopefully mend the heartache of his own lost love. As Henry and Millie cross paths, it's clear their neighbors are gently trying to play matchmaker. Not wanting to disappoint, the two pretend to play along--but life gets complicated when a true and tender affection grows. As Millie gets ready to welcome her baby, they must rely on faith and fate to decide if they should risk their hearts on love again...
MY THOUGHTS:
Millie Bauman is a young widow who is soon to have a child. While belief that everything that happens is due to God's plan, Millie is still very sad and alone. Then there is Henry King. He is in Paradise Valley temporarily, and is nursing his own loss and is plagued with sadness and anger. In fact, his heart has become hardened.
Millie intends on staying on with her aunt Sylvie at her bed and breakfast after she has her baby, thinking that another love is not in the cards for her. However, if things really do go according to God's plan, she just might get a second chance at love when it comes to Henry.
Millie and Henry might not have a chance to look away with each other, especially when well-meaning matchmakers get involved in these young people's lives. What a wonderfully sweet romance by Amy Lillard and a great start to a new, heartwarming series.
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Author: Amy Lillard
Series: Paradise Valley #2
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Inspirational Romance
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of pages: 352
Date of Publication: September 27, 20922
Date of Publication: September 27, 20922
Rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
While most women her age are searching for husbands, Astrid Kauffman has chosen a different path—writing romance novels and donating her profits to her beloved Amish community. But when Astrid struggles with writer’s block, she agrees to play matchmaker for Imogene Yoder, a widowed mother of rambunctious twin boys. Perhaps the diversion—and the entrée it gives Astrid to the stories among the Widows’ Club—will spark her creativity . . .
Fortunately, Astrid has just the match for Imogene: a widower she believes is the finest, most handsome man in town. In fact, Astrid realizes he’s perfect . . . for herself! Soon, the plot thickens as Imogene questions what kind of marriage she really wants, and Astrid wonders what kind of matchmaker falls for someone else’s match. But by letting faith guide the way, all involved may discover true love has written a far better next chapter than any of them expected . . .
MY THOUGHTS:
Astrid Kauffman is suffering from writer's block. An Amish author of successful Amish romances and she is stumped on her next story. When she is asked by Imogene Yoder, mother to busy ten-year-old twins to find her a marriage mate, Astrid realizes she has just found content for her next book. She has just the man in mind for Imogen, and that is local hardware store owner Elam. He is older than Imogen but Astrid thinks he is the perfect candidate.
Elam is the father to a grown children and he is past the age of thinking that he has the energy for Imogen's rambunctious twin boys, but he does what he can to make Astrid's job easier. However, as Astrid is not really a matchmaker, she falls short of her mark.
In fact, this sweet Amish romance has two love stories. There is Astrid's fraternal twin brother Jesse and the connection he develops with Imogen's sons. He is the better candidate for a romance, but it just might take time to see who best belongs with whom. I can't say who I loved more in this story when it came to finding that forever love, but let's just say that everything worked out wonderfully for all involved.
Many thanks to Kensington and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
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Author: Amy Lillard
Series: Paradise Valley #3
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Inspirational Romance
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of pages: 352
Date of Publication: March 28, 2023
Date of Publication: March 28, 2023
Rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Joy Lehman has pressed on faithfully since losing her husband, raising their children and running a thriving bakery alone. Even caring for her oldest son, Johnny—seriously injured after a fall—has not shaken her fierce independence. Johnny will walk again, she’s sure. Until then, a meeting of the Widows’ Club at her home makes it clear that Joy must consider some costly renovations. Her brother-in-law, Uriah, is happy to provide the lumber and the labor—if Joy will accept his help.
Uriah understands family challenges—he’s a widower himself, and father to four daughters. Yet he can see that Joy’s struggle lies deeper than house repairs, in learning to accept an altered future for her son. As Uriah’s daughters begin helping in the bakery, and Joy and Uriah’s bond grows deeper, a new possibility glows bright—the unexpected happiness that lies in embracing one strong, united family, filled with support and love . . .
MY THOUGHTS:
Joy and Uriah have each lost their marriage mates and have several children each. In fact, Uriah is Joy's brother-in-law, and had been instrumental in helping Joy and her family after she lost her husband. He got on with his life and at some point became a widower. Currently, Joy's oldest son had an accident and is facing life permanently in a wheelchair. When Uriah offers to make Joy's family home more wheelchair friendly for Joy's son Johnny, especially as Joy is very busy with her bakery, both Joy and Uriah begin to make a connection that neither of them expected.
With a bond forming between Joy and Uriah, there are the children to think about. I loved this story of what would eventually become a blended family, especially since Joy and Uriah are in-laws and their children are cousins. Amy Lillard did a remarkable job with the connections and emotions with all of the children, and Joy and Uriah and their sensitivities with the possibility of becoming a family.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I live in Tulsa, though I was born in Mississippi. I moved to the Sooner State when I was seventeen and met my soul mate and best friend not long after. I’ve retained a little of my Mississippi accent though most people think I’m from Texas. (?) Rob and I have been married for over twenty-five years and have a son–a mom proclaimed prodigy, of course!
I love homemade tacos, nail polish, and romance novels–not necessarily in that order. I’m a big fan of country music, a staunch proponent of saving the Oxford comma, and I’m shamefully obsessed with all things Harry Potter.
I dislike people trying to convince me to read the Twlight series (I’ll get to it or I won’t, either way I’m good with it), gratuitous violence, and strawberry ice cream. (I know I’m alone on this last one, and again, I’m good with it.)
Favorite movies–(besides HP) French Kiss, Maid of Honor, A Lot Like Love, Just Married, and Sweet Home Alabama. Oh, and Miss Congeniality, Sabrina (both versions) and a 1940’s movie called Dear Ruth. If you haven’t seen it, you should! A-dorable. Anything with Doris Day and most all of Marilyn’s and Audrey’s.
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