Finding Hope

GIVEAWAY

JOHNSON, JANICE KAY

FINDING HOPE

In this heartwarming and affecting Amish romance, a young woman has the chance to begin a new life in the Amish community after old betrayals come to light.

Hannah Prescott was used to the transitory life -- her mother had always been a wild child, and throughout her life, Hannah became used to taking care of someone who never settled down. But everything changes when Hannah receives the startling news that her mother stole her away from her biological father and the Amish community at a young age.

Although heartbroken and confused, Hannah decides that in order to find out who she is, she needs to find out who she could have been. This includes not only a relationship with her father, but also the chance to make a connection with a young widower who recently moved to the settlement with his children. While her mother still disdains the Amish, and her new community is wary of outsiders, only Hannah can know if she is brave enough to commit to a fresh start and a real home.

My Review:

This has been an amazing series (Tompkins Mill) with each book focusing on the theme of homecomings. In this third book, Hannah's world is shaken when she discovers that not only does she have Amish roots, but a father and extended family she never knew about. 

Richly layered, characters with depth and an emotional plot line made Hannah's unexpected homecoming an attention-grabbing read. She's on a journey that has her struggling with all the 'coulda, shoulda bes' and wrestling with forgiveness. Her story just tore me up inside and her mother made me furious! Gah!

Then there's Gideon and his adorable children who further complicate Hannah's tumultuous homecoming. The way their attraction simmers beneath the surface brings a thrilling charge to an impossible romance. Gideon is quiet and contemplative and diligently devoted to his faith and family. Hannah's whole life has been derailed and she's struggling to figure out who she is and what her future holds.

The author has done an amazing job of creating a community full of interesting secondary characters (including some cameo appearances of former H/hs) while weaving fascinating Amish facts throughout the story.

Janice Kay Johnson is now one of my top Amish Fiction authors and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from her...hopefully that will include another visit to Tompkins Mill!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ecopy -- winner's choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Finding Hope, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a 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 September 18 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Mending Hearts

GIVEAWAY

JOHNSON, JANICE KAY

MENDING HEARTS

In this emotional Amish romance, a young couple will discover that healing from heartbreak takes two.

Miriam Bowman was devastated when her fiance was killed in a logging incident. In the years since the tragedy, she has found it impossible to enter into a new relationship for fear of it coming to a disastrous end. So she works at the quilt shop in town and stays away from anything that would risk her heart. At least until David Miller comes back home to take a second chance at the Amish way of life.

David feels responsible for the logging incident that killed his friend and Miriam's betrothed, and his life has been corrupted by guilt. That guilt only worsens when he and Miriam begin to spend time together after his return, and they start developing feelings for each other. David might just be the man Miriam has been afraid of finding, one with whom she could fall in love. And Miriam has been is the only one who can truly forgive David for his perceived misdeeds. In order to find the love they've been missing, David and Miriam will have to risk their hearts and open them to each other.

My Review:

Miriam captured my interest in Turning Home, the first book in Janice Kay Johnson's Tompkins Hill series, so I was crazy excited to get my hands on a copy of her story! (Thank you, public library, for your committment to keeping current with Amish fiction!) Now, though this is the second book in a series, it can easily be read as a standalone. Mind you, book one is so amazing you'll want to read it too. :-)

The theme of this series seems to be homecomings and I love the layered depths that brings in both faith and personal relationships, In Mending Hearts, it's David who has returned to his Amish roots after sojourning among the Englisch in an attempt to run away from his grief and guilt. Of course, that worked about as well as you'd expect and his aching heart has led him home again. His is a beautiful redemptive story and I felt every emotional nuance.

Miriam and David are connected by tragedy but there is so much more in store for them if they can only put the past behind them. That's particularly difficult for David but Miriam's loving, giving nature is up to the challenge. Sweet romance with a sizzling dose of toe-curls ensue. 

Love the community Johnson has created and the way she deftly weaves interesting Amish facts throughout the story. And I adore the stellar cast of supporting characters -- like Bishop Amos who I'd love to have on speed dial for all my life crisis moments! :-)

Thankfully, there are more Tomkin's Mill novels to come and -- eeeeeppppp! -- Finding Hope is coming out in June and it looks absolutely amazing! Can't wait!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Mending Hearts, 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 winners announced on Saturday April 17  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Turning Home

 

GIVEAWAY

JOHNSON, JANICE KAY

TURNING HOME

In this tender Amish romance, an Amish man who is returning to his community and faith is drawn to a young woman who is still reeling from past wounds.

When Luke Bowman returns to the Amish faith after years of being away from home, he does so with absolute conviction. Those feelings are shaken when he meets Julia Durant, a non-Amish woman who works at his family's furniture-making business. Despite his instincts, Luke is drawn to Julia, and although Julia is still recovering from a brutal assault when she was a college student, she is drawn to Luke as well.

As Luke and Julia grow closer, and their fragile friendship grows stronger, Luke wants to be with Julia, but the reason he came home -- his faith -- is now the thing keeping them apart. Luke and Julia will have to decided whether their relationship can survive this divide, and whether the home Luke has made in the Amish faith is one that's fit for two.

My Review:

Janice Kay Johnson is an award winning author with well over 100 published books but this is her first venture into inspirational fiction. First Amish book too. And a new-to-me author as well! Turning Home caught my eye in a library display and I was intrigued enough to give this new-to-the-genre author a chance. And I am so glad I did 'cause I have a new favourite Amish author now!

A bit edgy, definitely angsty, but also layered with hope. Love the way the author includes details of Amish life -- both from the perspective of the prodigal hero and the wide-eyed-with-wonder Englischer heroine. And there's such depth in both characterization and plot. Johnson has built a captivating community full of intriguing secondary characters as well. So much story fodder for future books in the series. (This is the first Tompkins Mill story.)

Sqqquuueeeaaaallll...I'm in a twitterpated tilt-a-whirl over this discovery. Like finding buried treasure in book form. :-)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Turning Home, 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 Sunday October 17 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!