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Monday, November 30, 2015

Amish Christmas At North Star by Cindy Woodsmall, Mindy Starns Clark with Emily Clark, Amanda Flower and Katie Ganshert

One night four lives entered the world by the hands of an Amish midwife, just outside North Star, Pennsylvania. Rebekah’s Babies, as they are called, are now grown adults and in four heartwarming novellas each young person experiences a journey of discovery, a possibility of love, and the wonder of Christmas.
Guiding Star
by Katie Ganshert

Curiosity gets the best of Englischer Chase Wellington when he investigates the twenty-five-year-old disappearance of an Amish baby. When he finds adventurous Elle McAllister in Iowa will his discoveries upend her world?
Mourning Star
by Amanda Flower

Eden Hochstetler slips from her parents’ fudge shop to investigate the death of her friend Isaac.  Who is guilty? Isaac’s handsome great nephew Jesse, an angry Englischer, or someone else?
In the Stars
by Cindy Woodsmall

Heartbroken Kore Detweiler avoids North Star after Savilla Beiler rejects his love.  But when he is unexpectedly called to return home, he and Savilla must join forces to keep a family together.
Star of Grace
by Mindy Starns Clark and Emily Clark

Andy Danner left North Star to join a new Amish settlement in Mississippi. His little brother devises a scheme to bring Andy home for Christmas and unwittingly unleashes the power of forgiveness in a reclusive widower’s life.


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Katie Ganshert
Award-winning author, Katie Ganshert, graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a degree in education, and worked as a fifth grade teacher for several years before staying home to write full-time. She was born and raised in the Midwest, where she lives with her family. When she’s not busy penning novels or spending time with her people, she enjoys drinking coffee with friends, reading great literature, and eating copious amounts of dark chocolate. You can learn more about Katie and her books by visiting her website or author Facebook page.

Mindy Starns Clark











Mindy Starns Clark is the bestselling author of the inspirational Million Dollar Mysteries, the Smart Chick Mysteries, and three standalone mysteries, as well as the nonfiction books The House That Cleans Itself and A Pocket Guide to Amish Life. Her novels include A Penny for Your Thoughts, Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels , A Dime a Dozen, A Quarter for a Kiss, The Buck Stops Here, The Trouble with Tulip, Blind Dates Can Be Murder, Elementary, My Dear Watkins, Whispers of the Bayou, Shadows of Lancaster County, and Under the Cajun Moon, and other books!

Mindy is also the author of
numerous plays and musicals which have been performed all over the United States. She has written textbooks, articles, short stories, and more than 75 computer software manuals. Other writings appear in the anthologies What the Wind Picked Up (Inspirational Fiction), Death Knell V (Mystery Fiction), Divine Secrets of the Yahweh Sisterhood (Inspirational Anthology), and A Novel Idea (Inspirational Nonfiction).


A former singer and stand-up comedian, Mindy lives with her husband and two teenage daughters near Valley Forge, PA. She enjoys speaking to churches, civic groups, and libraries across the country. Her unique blend of humor and insight make her an audience favorite. 


Amanda Flower, a three-time Agatha Award-nominated mystery author, started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of making people laugh with her words. She also writes mysteries as national bestselling  author Isabella Alan. In addition to being an author, Amanda is librarian in Northeast Ohio.

Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times and CBA best-selling author who has written seventeen (and counting!) works of fiction and one of nonfiction. She and her dearest Old Order Amish friend, Miriam Flaud, coauthored the nonfiction, Plain Wisdom: An Invitation into an Amish Home and the Hearts of Two Women. Cindy’s been featured on ABC Nightline and the front page of the Wall Street Journal, and has worked with National Geographic on a documentary concerning Amish life. In June of 2013, the Wall Street Journal listed Cindy as one of the top three Amish fiction writers. - See more at: http://www.cindywoodsmall.com/about-cindy/biography/#sthash.z3sEAmUj.dpuf




My Thoughts
Guiding Star by Katie Ganshert-- I absolutely love Katie Ganshert! She is one of my all time favorite authors. This story is great, just like her other books. Chase Wellington is helping his mom move when he finds an interesting article in an old Amish newspaper. The story of "Rebekah's babies" intrigues him so much that he decides to find out the story for himself. When he finds out that one of the babies went missing after the birth, he sets out to find out the truth. Will he find it?
This is a great read. As always, novellas are short sweet and to the point. This one is no exception. A great storyline with a good ending. It was so much fun going on the journey to search with Chase. I thought Katie did a great job with the Amish storyline and she would do great to write more in that genre.

Mourning Star by Amanda Flower-- This was also a great story. I had never read anything by Amanda before so this was a great experience for my first read. The story of Eden starts out sad as we read about the passing of her friend Isaac. The story soon gets interesting however, when we find out some of the details of his death. Is foul play involved? If so, who is to blame? A fast paced story, that keeps the pages turning. I enjoyed the friendship between Eden and her English friend, Gina. This story kept me guessing and I couldn't stop reading until I knew the answers to the questions.

In The Stars by Cindy Woodsmall-- Another first time author for me. Again I say, a great read! I was pleased with this book also. This story was more about tugging at your heartstrings than mystery or suspense. Kore Detweiler refuses to return home to North Star, because his heart was broken by the love of his life, Savilla Beiler. But when an accident happens that causes him to have to return home, how will he deal with seeing Savilla again. Also, Savilla has a secret. How will Kore react. This story was very sweet and fun with heart tugging moments, but you will always be rooting for Savilla and Kore to be together.

Star Of Grace by Mindy Starns Clark and Emily Clark-- First time authors for me again. This story is a great story of the power of kindness and forgiveness. Andy Danner went to Mississippi for a job and didn't return to North Star because of a broken heart. He sweet 12 year old brother devises a plan to get Andy to come home for Christmas. In the process of trying to get Andy home, Sam actually ends up helping others have forgiveness in their heart. Such a sweet story on what forgiveness can do.

This is a great collection of novellas that will not disappoint. Wonderful stories of love, forgiveness, mystery and surprise. A great gift idea or a cozy up under a blanket kind of read.
I was blessed with a copy of this book by the Blogging For Books review program in exchange for my review. A positive review was not required.

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