Review Extravaganza: Patricia Davids

Patricia Davids is one of my “auto-read” authors and made my Top Ten Tuesday list of authors I’ve read the most. She writes the kind of books that my husband calls my “snacks” – short, sweet, easy to gobble up in one sitting. She publishes under Harlequin’s Love Inspired label, but don’t let the diminutive size of the books fool you – there’s a lot of great story in that small package! I love the realness and warmth of her characters, her humor, and the breathlessness of her romance.

One of the problems that occurs when you maintain an active book blog is that, thanks to review schedules and deadlines, you don’t always have time to read the books you normally would have read by now. As such, I found myself woefully behind when it came to Patricia Davids’ books and made some time this past week to play catch-up.  Rather than inundate y’all with numerous posts, I decided to just do mini-reviews of each one at once.

Amish Redemption (Brides of Amish Country #13)

Joshua Bowman is ready to go home. After spending time in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, he’s putting everything behind him and reconciling with his fractured family. When a devastating tornado throws him unexpectedly into the path of Mary Kaufman and her daughter, Hannah, he feels the first spark of life after months. But Mary’s adoptive dad is the Englisch sheriff—and he’d never trust her care to a man with Joshua’s past. Plus the lovely single mom has a secret of her own, one that she’s spent years running from. Together they survived the storm, but are they strong enough to shed the shadows of their past?

While I am so sad to say goodbye to Hope Springs and the Brides of Amish Country series, I couldn’t have asked for a more fitting finale.  Focusing on characters that fans grew to love in book 6 – A Home for Hannah – this book also introduced the family of brothers that provide the foundation for Davids’ new The Amish Bachelors series.  Amish Redemption is an example of what Patricia Davids does best – building a sweet love story around winsome characters and a message of faith.  I was so glad to see Mary get her story, and adorable Hannah too of course. And I love the Bowman brothers who kick off the new series! Lots of depth and personality and heart already evident.

My Rating: 4 stars / Loved it!

KissingBook Level: 2 / Warm, rosy internal glow of sweetness

(I purchased this book from my local library.  As always, this is only my honest review.)

An Amish Harvest (The Amish Bachelors #1)

When Amish carpenter Samuel Bowman is injured in an accident, he fears he’ll never see again. He’s always provided for his family—and now that it’s harvest season, the Bowmans are needed in the fields, not at his bedside. So when a young Amish widow becomes his nurse, Samuel expects Rebecca Miller to make his life easier. But his caregiver is bossy, outspoken and challenges him to move on with his life. Though Samuel’s sight is in question, he can plainly see the woman he’s come to care for won’t let herself love again. Now it’s Samuel’s turn to heal her heart.

I. LOVED. this. book. Rebecca is hysterical! I adored her sense of humor and how well her character played off of Samuel’s grumpiness.  On many occasions I laughed out loud, and I’m pretty sure I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading An Amish Harvest. The romance was breathless, the Bowman family a delight, and Samuel and Rebecca became one of my favorite couples I’ve read about this year.  Fantastic start to a new series! I (almost) didn’t miss Hope Springs at all!

My Rating: 5 stars / In a class by itself

KissingBook Level: 3 / May forget to breathe on occasion

(I won a copy of this book in a giveaway with no expectation of a review.)

An Amish Noel (The Amish Bachelors #2)

Luke Bowman’s homecoming is turning Emma Swartzentruber’s carefully ordered world upside down. Gone is her rebellious girlhood crush, and in his place is a handsome man who seems committed to serving the community. Luke’s even agreed to work for Emma’s ill father, whose last wish is to see his daughter wedded to a stable, loving man. But Luke – a man who flirted with the outside world with disastrous consequences – is hardly marriage material for a good Amish woman. Yet this Christmas, when her family is flung into crisis, Emma finds that he may just be the one to capture her heart for good.

First – isn’t that cover pretty? I love Christmasy covers 🙂  I continue to enjoy the Bowman family. And anytime I get to spend some more time with Hannah, I’m a happy camper!  Luke and Emma have a profound story, appropriate for one of the most profound holidays of the year.  Luke isn’t sure he can be trusted with redemption. Emma isn’t sure he can either. The journey that Davids walks them down is one that more people need to take.  Maybe not literally… HOPEFULLY not literally.  But in spirit. In the heart. To have faith that we have been forgiven, set free. To have faith to extend that same forgiveness to others. This was a beautiful and heartwarming story for Christmas.

My Rating: 4 stars / Loved it!

KissingBook Level: 2 / Warm, rosy internal glow of sweetness

(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)

The Amish Midwife (Lancaster Courtships #3)

Amish midwife Anne Stoltzfus is used to late-night visitors – but she’s shocked to find reclusive bachelor Joseph Lapp on her doorstep with a baby in his arms. Their neighborly quarrels are pushed aside when Joseph explains that his sister has left her daughter in his care – and Joseph needs Anne to be her nanny. Soon they’re bonding over baby Leah, and the love they feel for her is healing them both. When Joseph makes an offer of marriage, Anne’s painful past resurfaces and she’s unsure of what to do. But taking a chance could mean love – and family – are waiting just across the fence.

(This is the third book in a Love Inspired series that includes books by Emma Miller and Rebecca Kertz.)

Oh this was a fun book! Joseph and Anne’s relationship reminded me a little of Samuel and Rebecca’s from An Amish Harvest.  Their banter and (mostly) friendly bickering over Joseph’s goats was hysterical and earned many chuckles as I read.  Also humorous – the way their (at first) perfectly innocent friendship kept being misconstrued by the community gossips through very little fault of their own.  And woven through the humor was a thread of exquisite sweetness.  A grumpy goat farmer falling head over heels for his baby niece in his care and perhaps with his feisty neighbor. A spunky midwife whose irritation with Joseph melts into fond affection – and more – as she helps him care for baby Leah.  Both trusting each other with the painful parts of their past … and maybe the uncertain parts of their future.  Overall, just a delightfully entertaining and uplifting story!

My Rating: 5 stars / In a class by itself

KissingBook Level: 3 stars / May forget to breathe on occasion

(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)

About the Author:

Patricia Davids is an award winning author of more than 20 Inspirational and Amish romance novels. Her book, A Home for Hannah, won the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Love Inspired Novel of 2012. She was a finalist in the Reviewer’s Choice Awards and the National Reader’s Choice Awards in 2011. She has sold nearly 2,000,000 books world-wide since her debut novel in 2006.

Born and raised in central Kansas, Patricia has found a way to combine her Midwest values and sense of humor into emotionally rich novels that deal with contemporary subjects. Her Amish novels have become increasingly popular with readers who are looking for stories with a bit of nostalgia, a sweet romance, and a measure of faith in our turbulent world. Patricia currently resides with her family and her dog in Wichita, Kansas.

Patricia is a popular speaker for many kinds of groups. Drop her an email if you would like to find out more about having her speak to your group.