Twice Blessed by Barbara Cameron

Title: Twice Blessed
Author: Barbara Cameron
Genre: Inspirational Amish Romance
Length: 288 pages
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Release Date: September 15, 2015
Source: Amazon Vine
Rating: 4/1
Heat Rating: 1
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

About Her Sister’s Shadow
Katie and Rosie Stoltzfus work part-time in an Amish store and part-time in Two Peas in a Pod, their own business raising vegetables and fruits and canning them for sale. Although they are identical twins, their personalities are very different: while Katie has always been more outgoing and attractive to boys, Rosie has always felt in her sister’s shadow. It will take an unexpected business opportunity and one very special man to help Rosie see that she’s a unique woman of her own.

About His Brother’s Keeper
Ever since they were boys, Ben Fisher has trailed after his brother, Mark. Ben has always envied Mark because he’s always been more adventurous, but he's even more jealous now that Mark is engaged to Rachel, a woman they both love. When a terrible accident on Christmas Eve results in their mistaken identity, Ben suddenly has an opportunity to create the life he’s always wanted. While everyone believes he is his brother, who’s still in a coma, Ben finally has a chance with Rachel. But how can he realize an opportunity for real happiness if it means deceiving his kin?

These were a bit of a mixed bag for me. I loved Her Sister's Shadow, but wasn't a thrilled with His Brother's Keeper.

Her Sister's Shadow is all about the shy twin finding her way to happiness and love. There was a lot of really great story in this one. Katie and Rosie were both fun personalities, but completely different. Katie is outgoing and flirty - loves to be in the middle of everything. But Rosie prefers to be at home, working in the garden or kitchen. But they both find a way to find love and happiness in Her Sister's Shadow. They also both get a look at tragedy and people aren't always what they seem - but it works out great in the end. This was my favorite of the two stories.

His Brother's Keeper just didn't have the best trope for me. A twin pretending to be the other one is all fun - when you're kids. But when your twin is in the hospital in a coma, pretending to be him so you can spend time with his fiance is just creepy. Now it starts as a genuine case of mistaken identity, but he doesn't bother to correct anyone. The ending....well it just confused me. Some people knew and they talked about telling other people, and I'm not entirely sure the whole thing came out?

I highly recommend the first story, Her Sister's Shadow, but you can skip His Brother's Keeper.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Winter of Wishes by Charlotte Hubbard - Review

Title: Winter of Wishes (Seasons of the Heart #1)

Author: Charlotte Hubbard
Genre: Amish Romance, Contemporary Romance, Christmas
Length: 352 pages
Publisher: Zebra
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Source: Self-Purchased
Rating: 3
Heat Rating: 1
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

As another year draws to a close in Willow Ridge, life seems to be changing for everyone but Rhoda Lantz. Her widowed mother is about to remarry, her sister is a busy newlywed, and soon Rhoda will be alone in her cozy apartment above the blacksmith's shop. An ad posted by an Englischer looking for someone to help with his mother and children may offer just the companionship she's looking for, but if she falls for the caring single father, she may risk being shunned by her community. Certain she can only wish for things she cannot have, Rhoda must remember that all things are possible with God, and nothing is stronger than the power of love.

 This was a really different Amish romance and nothing like what I expected. Rhoda is discontent with her life. She feels like the odd one out as both her sister and mother are getting married and moving on with a new life with new families. She feels a change in the air and jumps into a new job without looking back. I have to say, I admire her bravery for taking that leap.

That leap leads to more than just a great job that she loves. It leads to a family that deparately needs her - and even if she doesn't realize it just yet - that she desparately needs as well. But there's one really big problem. This family isn't Amish - so they are strictly off limits in the romantic sort of way.

Rhoda tackles this problem by trusting God, her Englischer friend tackles the problem in a way that I thought was postively brilliant. If I hadn't loved him already - I definitely would have fallen right then and there. The romance was amazing, the people in the story were amazing. I loved this part soooo much.

Again, and I've mentioned this before in other books by Charolotte Hubbard, the accent was just a bit too much for me. It was toned down in this one since a good portion of the book takes place outside of the Amish community. I understand the concept of drawing the reader in with accents and realistic language, but it just doesn't do it for me in this case.

Goodreads - Amazon - B&N - iTunes

An Amish County Christmas by Charlotte Hubbard and Naomi King - Review

Title: An Amish County Christmas

Author: Charlotte Hubbard and Naomi King
Genre: Inspirational Romance, Amish
Length: 352 pages
Publisher: Indie
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Source: Contest Win
Rating: 2
Heat Rating: 1
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

In Willow Ridge, Missouri, the Christmas season is a time when faith brings peace, family brings warmth and new romance brings sparkling joy. . .Twins For Christmas

For spirited Martha Coblentz and her twin Mary, the snow has delivered the perfect holiday and birthday present to their door--handsome brothers Nate and Bram Kanagy. But when unforeseen trouble interrupts their season's good cheer, it will take unexpected intervention--and sudden understanding--to give all four the blessing of a lifetime. . .

Kissing The Bishop

As the year's first snow settles, Nazareth Hooley and her sister are given a heaven-sent chance to help newly widowed Tom Hostetler tend his home. But when her hope that she and Tom can build on the caring between them seems a dream forever out of reach, Nazareth discovers that faith and love can make any miracle possible. . .

I normally enjoy inspirational and Amish romances. They are a step away from what I generally read, and the sweet aspect of it all is just a lot of fun. These two however, fell very flat. They were so sweet that it gave me a stomachache and much of the time I felt like I was reading a parody of their behavior and way of speaking. It was just way too over the top for me.

In Twins for Christmas two brothers fall in love (at first sight) with twin sisters. This seemed a bit fast and a little ridiculous. The antics the girls pull while trying to figure out which brother they want were childish and I can't imagine grown women doing them, or grown men still wanting to "date" the girls that did it.

Kissing the Bishop took a step in the right direction though. Again we have two romances, but they have a bit more time to develop. I also liked the fact that our couples were older than what you traditionally see in romance novels. It added a very different conflict aspect to the story that was a lot of fun. This was by far the better of the two stories.

Goodreads - Amazon - B&N