The Amish Candymaker

GIVEAWAY

HILTON, LAURA V.
THE AMISH CANDYMAKER

Agnes Zook finds herself on her own in a small Amish community in Mackinac County after a tragedy kills her family. Most of the Amish call her "off in den Kopf" (strange) since she's starting her own business and forging her own way in the community instead of relying on the bishop to take care of her. Since she's viewed as non-submissive and too-forward for as Amish woman, she's not courted by young men in the area.] Isaac Mast is on the verge of leaving the Amish church. He's become a sought-after auctioneer and has a thriving business, but he feels confined by the strict rules. When his brother is severely injured in a wild fire, Isaac receives a letter from his sister-in-law, begging him to come to Mackinac County to help out while his brother is hospitalized. Isaac agrees but is unsure how to manage their young children when he has weekend auctions he's expected to attend.

Agnes may be the answer to a prayer. Sparks fly when she and Isaac meet. But could their differences help them form a deeper connection to their faith...and each other?

My Reveiw:

I've come to really enjoy Laura V. Hilton's Amish novels because she always puts such an interesting spin on them. You might say she writes outside the box and I love the challenges that fresh perspective bring to her characters and her readers.

Agnes wasn't my favourite character in Firestorm (the first book in this series -- The Amish of Mackinac County) so I wasn't sure what to expect within these pages. Might have put off reading it for a bit because of my trepidation but I needn't have worried. Of course Hilton delivers! With depth and compassion and a whole lot of heart. Because Agnes was...well annoying...in the first book. And I loved getting the chance to see beyond the facade into the fragile heart of a woman who just wants to be loved and appreciated.

She's an individualist living in a conforming society and always seems to be just a bit out of step. Talks to plants, has a penchant for pink, is endearingly awkward and..."wears her heart on her sleeve, and she tends to talk without filtering her words." (p 78)  As Isaac says, "I've known a lot of Amish women, Agnes, but none of them has been as know-it-all and bossy as you." (p 101) You might say Agnes is a paradox.

Which is definitely appealing to Isaac. As a traveling auctioneer, he's experienced a vast number of Amish communities and has a tendency to pick and choose the rules he's willing to live by. He's a flirt and has way too much fun flustering Agnes. Always popular with the women, he's had a carefree bachelorhood with plenty of female companionship until Agnes stirs up the longing for something more. Love the banter and playfulness, sharp retorts and teasing. Definitely an unorthodox un-courtship!

And Bishop Miah is back and just as beguiling. One of my all-time favourite secondary characters. Equal parts wisdom, compassion and stealthy spy! Which makes The Amish Candymaker that much more of a delectable read. Ohhhh -- and there are candy recipes in the back! Might have to issue a Sweet-tooth Warning because there's a lot of droolworthy candymaking and eating going on here!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Amish Candymaker, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday July 27 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!