Murder Simply Brewed, book #69

 

It's been awhile since we've read an Amish book and this was a fun one to read.  The only thing tricky was trying to remember who was Amish and who wasn't, as there were both Englischers and Amish working together.  But it comes highly recommended ~ I can't wait to read the rest in the series!

Spring has arrived in Middlebury, Indiana, and Amber Wright is optimistic about the growing profit from her collection of Amish shops—until she receives a call that Ethan Gray is dead. Hurrying over to A Simple Blend, she finds a solitary hole in the front window and the store manager lying next to the espresso machine, dead from an apparent heart attack. All the money is still in his register.  When Amber hires a young Amish woman, Hannah Troyer, to take over the shop’s duties, the two women become fast friends—as well as amateur sleuths. The police believe Gray’s death is a by-product of vandalism, but Amber and Hannah aren't convinced.  Clues that don't add up, a neighbor who is pulled into the midst of the investigation, a town with secrets to hide, and a blossoming romance—all will combine to push Amber and Hannah into unfamiliar roles in order to reveal answers to the mysteries around them. (picture and description from Amazon)

I am sure I also read some more books of the Bible, but that will have to wait for next time to update.

Keep Reading!

Melissa

Bless Your Heart, Rae Sutton and more Bible Books, books #62-68

 

Many years ago I found a funny mama on Facebook called Whoa Susannah and I followed her for a very long time (I still do!)  After some life events she changed her Facebook page to just Susannah B. Lewis, but her website still has the throwback charm of Whoa Susannah.

I knew she was a very talented writer and that she had written several books, but for some reason I had never gotten around to reading them.  But now I have, and all I have to say is how sorry I have not started reading them sooner!  They are absolutely amazing and I highly recommend them.  

What I especially love about this book is that it hearkens back to what GOOD Christian fiction should be.  Of late, we are have great difficulty finding good Christian fiction books to read in our book club, even from our usual authors that we love.  It was so refreshing to see humor, tears, growth and Jesus just naturally mixed in.

When Rae Sutton's mama passes away and leaves her the house where she grew up, Rae can't imagine how the little old place might restore her broken life. Mourning the recent loss of her marriage, she takes the house and settles back into her tiny hometown with her fourteen-year-old daughter, Molly Margaret, and their overweight dog.  There she’s embraced by her mother's close-knit circle of friends, the Third Thursday ladies. Though almost half their age and far less confident of positive outcomes, Rae joins their ministry-slash-book-club-slash-gossip circle and allows the women to speak wry honesty and witty humor into her tired heart. As a new career and a new romance bring their own complications, Rae relies on the unlikely family she's found and begins to wonder if her future holds more hope than she ever could have imagined. (picture and description from Amazon)

There were so many amazing quotes in this book ~ funny and serious ~ I wish I could share them all, but this one really struck with me, as I see my aunts and uncles and parents and in-laws age:

"It's just sad to watch, isn't it? To watch our parents grow old and feeble? To watch their hands wrinkle and their eyesight fade and their steps slow? They're no longer young and vibrant and energetic.  No longer those young adults picking us up from elementary school with long, beautiful hair and bright eyes and stylish clothes.   And then they're gone.  Too soon.  And it means we're pushed right to the head of the line."

I am very anxious to now dig into her other books, but they will have to wait for later, as I just realized Book Club is next week and I need to hurry and read THAT book 😃

It has been hard to keep up with my Bible reading plan now that school has started, but I was able to knock out a few more books: Jonah, Ephesians, 1 & 2 TImothy, Titus and 2 Chronicles.

As always, keep reading!

Melissa