The Shop Down the Lane (Letters from Lancaster County, #1) by Leslie Gould

ABOUT THE BOOK

Lois Yoder has always found solace in the quiet life of Paradise, Pennsylvania, where she manages a gift shop that reflects her Amish community's simple values. Her tranquil world is upended when Moses Lantz, former Amish man turned Mennonite and the man who broke her heart, buys the shop with ambitious plans to transform it into a tourist hub--a move that Lois fiercely opposes.

Seeking a distraction, Lois joins a birdwatchers' circle letter under an alias--but unknown to her, Moses does the same at the urging of a friend. While their correspondence blossoms into a tender romance, the enmity between Lois and Moses in real life only intensifies. Can they overcome their animosity and embrace the love they've found through their letters, or will their stubborn hearts keep them apart forever?

Leslie Gould delights in this sweet and gently humorous Amish romance reminiscent of The Shop around the Corner and You've Got Mail.

AMAZON

MY THOUGHTS.....

Reading this book was a wonderful trip down memory lane, as I recalled my years as a pen pal! Author Leslie Gould shares the sweet romance that blossoms between two former classmates who become pen pals through a circle letter devoted to bird watching. They both use aliases and are unaware that their new pen pal is also their adversary!

I loved that Gould weaves the Amish lifestyle into this clever nod to the popular movies You've Got Mail and The Shop Around the Corner. Lois, using the pseudonym Jane, becomes Menno's pen pal, or is Menno actually Moses? As they explore a joint passion for bird watching, a wonderful relationship develops between Jane and Menno, and ironically, the dynamics between the real Lois and Moses appear to be changing, too. As I read the letters between Menno and Jane, I was reminded that it's sometimes easier to write your thoughts in a sealed letter than to share them face to face!

This engaging story has wonderful characters, an enjoyable "friends-to-enemies-to-something-else?" trope, and many special letters filled with inspiration and wisdom! Not to mention, a captivating aha moment that's deliciously swoon-worthy! I look forward to more books in the Letters from Lancaster County series.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and publisher. There was no expectation for a positive review.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Leslie Gould is the #1 bestselling and award-winning author of forty-eight novels, including the Amish Memories series and the Plain Patterns series. She’s sold 800,000 books over the last two decades. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history and communications and an MFA in creative writing. Leslie enjoys research trips, church history, and hiking, especially in the beautiful state of Oregon where she lives. She and her husband, Peter, have four adult children and two grandchildren.

Learn more by visiting Leslie's    Website  

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The Angel of Second Street (Enduring Hope, #1) by Barbara Tifft Blakey

ABOUT THE BOOK

How Can Compassion be Considered Wrong?
 
When life is weighed down by challenges, pillars of enduring hope and love are always waiting to be discovered.
 
Ida Dempsey has grown up in a privileged life of luxury thanks to her aunt and uncle. Although Second Street—where women of ill repute ply their wares—is off limits to respectable citizens, her heart of compassion compels her to frequent the area, hoping to make a difference in their lives. Ida has also befriended Qui Shau, a Chinese woman who keeps house for her family, but friendships between the whites and Chinese are taboo in Eureka. Ida tries to keep secret her forbidden compassion, but someone is watching and will use it against her.
 
When Blaine Prescott meets Ida at a church picnic, his parents warn him away from any relationship with the young lady who has been seen on Second Street in the company of a Chinese woman. But how could such a kindhearted, lovely young woman be anything but good? But when riots break out in Chinatown and Ida disappears, Blaine will do anything to find out where and why she has gone.

MY THOUGHTS.....

The Angel of Second Street is set in Eureka, California, in 1884, when influential people often had Chinese servants, and social class distinction was very real! Ida Dempsey was determined to share friendship with her uncle's Chinese maid and also change the lives of the 'ladies of the night' who worked on Second Street. Could a seventeen-year-old girl hope to make a difference? What would people think when they saw her frequenting this area?

I enjoyed this novel by a 'new-to-me' author, Barbara Tifft Blakey. The Angel of Second Street has suspense, adventure, and some clean romance, but I was especially drawn to the faith thread and the historical details woven into the plot. In her author's note, Blakey reveals fact versus fiction surrounding the Second Street brothels and the efforts of a committee chosen to rid Eureka and Humboldt County of its Chinese residents. These were unknown facts until I read this book! I recommend this book to all who enjoy historical Christian fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Barbara Blakey is a freelance writer and the author of the award-winning literature-based language arts program Total Language Plus. Barbara is also a nationally recognized speaker, conducting workshops and seminars for Christian women's groups and homeschooling conventions for more than fifteen years. She lives in Olympia, Washington, with her husband, Terry.

Learn more by visiting her Website

ENDURING HOPE

The Angel of Second Street by Barbara Tifft Blakey

The Undercover Heiress of Brockton by Kelly Goshorn

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