It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (Reads) GIVEAWAY: Amish Beauty and the Beast (+ guest post)

today’s book: Amish Beauty and the Beast

Welcome to another post in my annual blog series spotlighting new and recently-released Christmas reads! (Over 50 this year – And I’m SO EXCITED about it!)

Christmas is only 17 days away (Hooray!!!) and I think we all could benefit from some extra Christmas cheer this year, right? Continuing through just before Christmas, I’m going to spotlight several new/recent Christmasy releases. So… snuggle in, grab your fave hot beverage and comfiest blanket, turn on some Christmas tunes and start your bookish Christmas list! Oh… and did I mention there are GIVEAWAYS with EACH POST in this series??!! (Because authors are awesome!)

Today’s first book is a contemporary romance Amish fiction retelling of a fave fairy tale (set around Christmas) – and author Ashley Emma recounts her experiences staying with Amish families for research!

AMISH BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
SERIES: The Amish Fairytale #2
GENRE: Inspirational Contemporary Romance / Amish / Retelling
PUBLISHER: Fearless Publishing House
RELEASE DATE: December 30, 2020

She’s an Amish beauty with a love of reading and writing.
He’s a reclusive, scarred military hero who won’t let anyone in.
Can true love really be enough?

On her way home from the bookstore, Belle’s buggy crashes in front of the old mansion that everyone else avoids, of all places.

Though she just moved to Unity, Maine, she’s already heard the rumors of the vicious beast of a man who lives there, tormented by tragedies of his past.

But Belle’s not afraid of monsters.

What she finds inside the mansion is not a monster, but a man. Scarred both physiologically and physically by the horrors of military combat, Cole’s burned and disfigured face tells the story of all he lost to the war in a devastating explosion.

He’s been hiding from the world ever since.

After Cole ends up hiring her as his housekeeper and caretaker for his firecracker of a grandmother, Belle can’t help her curiosity as she wonders what exactly Cole does in his office all day.

Why is Cole’s office so off-limits to Belle? What is he hiding in there?

An old and mysterious hand-written letter, a sweet dog named Rose, buried regrets, and their mutual love of books will either bring them closer or tear them apart, but only if Cole can lower his guard and let someone in again.

affiliate links used

Also available to read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

by Ashley Emma, author of Amish Beauty and the Beast

When I stayed with Amish families for my research for my Amish novels, I got to do so many fun things with them. I owe my entire author career to the Amish of Unity, Maine. At that time, I had no idea how big the market is for Amish novels or that I’d become a USA Today Bestselling author of Amish novels.

It was nine years ago when I first went to stay with an Amish family in Unity, Maine. This short stay caused a series of other stays in the community, and I got the privilege of knowing so many wonderful Amish people. They became the inspiration for the stories and characters in my Amish novels which now provide me a full-time income.

I owe so much to the Amish families in Unity, Maine. I had no idea how successful my novels would be or that they’d allow me to quit my salon job so I can stay home with my kids. I haven’t seen them in a few years but I do plan on going back one day once things settle down with the virus, at least just to thank them. I’d also love to bring my oldest daughter with me to show her their way of life.

When I first showed up in Unity, Maine, with my mom nine years ago, we didn’t have a clue what to expect, so we brought our own toilet paper. We were so embarrassed! Come to find out they had indoor plumbing and even a shower. We didn’t know what to wear, so we wore long dresses to blend in. I wanted the most authentic experience I could get just so I could get a glimpse of the Amish lifestyle.

They let me teach art and dance in the school, which was surprising. They didn’t know what jumping jacks were, and I remember how much the children laughed.

We canned 100 quarts of applesauce in one day at a work frolic.

I got to attend a few church services and I was invited to attend an Amish wedding. Instead of hosting in Amish homes, they had built their own church which doubled as a school.

We played many board games and also a game we made up which is similar to Pictionary.

They let me draw portraits of them, which surprised me, since they don’t allow photographs.

I got to go to a Singing where we sang hymns and ate popcorn.

All this and more is in my book Amish For a Week, which is all about the fun times I had while doing research in the Amish community of Unity, Maine.

Staying in Unity was so different than what I expected, but the ten days I spent there provided me with the knowledge and inspiration to write several Amish novels that completely changed my life. I think people love to read Amish novels because it lets the reader escape to a simpler way of life where people slow down enough to enjoy the little moments.

Even though I wasn’t there very long, it changed my entire perspective on life, and I haven’t been the same since.

Ashley Emma is the USA Today Bestselling author of several Amish novels including Undercover Amish, Amish Alias, Amish Assassin, Amish Snow White, Amish Beauty and the Beast, and Princess and the Amish Pauper. She’s also one of the authors featured in the new Amish Christmas Miracles Collection which hit the USA Today Bestseller list November, 2020. She lives in Maine with her husband and three (soon to be four) children. She is passionate about helping her clients self-publish their own books so they can build their businesses or achieve their dream of becoming an author.

website | Facebook

Ashley Emma is offering a print (or ebook) copy of Amish Snow White & Amish Assassin to TWO of my readers! (US only for print. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What about you? What makes you want to read Amish Beauty and the Beast by Ashley Emma?