Everyone. Always Never. These are the kinds of words that can get you in trouble. They are the words of stereotypes and everyone who uses them is never always correct.
I work in the IT field and started doing so over 20 years ago, back when very few women were in the industry. Back when there were even more stereotypes about the nerdy, socially awkward techs than there are today. I still remember one day on the elevator at the office with one of the men from a different department. I am quite outgoing and most of the people I worked with knew me. As we were traveling down to the first floor, the man looked at me and said, “You don’t seem like an IT person.”
Thanks, I think. . .
Plain Everyday Heroes: An Amish Summer Collection
by Laura V. Hilton, Rachel J. Good, Thomas Nye
Published by Celebrate Lit Publishing
Publication Date July 4, 2018
Genres: Amish Fiction, Mystery
Setting: Michigan, Ohio Contemporary
Main Character Ages: 15-18, 18-24, 25-34
Written for: Adults
Pages: 197
Synopsis:
Playing With Fire Arie Zimmerman has been in love with Noah Behr from almost the moment they met, but after a devastating wildfire destroys the community, everything changes. Noah questions how a loving Gott could allow such things to happen. As Arie and her family struggle to rebuild their home and lives, Noah escapes to California to fight another off-season wildfire—and maybe find Gott in the process. When Noah returns, he promises Arie the prize money if she will help him with a chili cook-off to fund the fire department. Of course, in order to spend more time with the girl he loves, he’s also willing to pitch in unloading the new furniture and animals her daed bought at an auction. He’ll even help Arie slice and dice vegetables if he can taste test the recipes. More than just the kitchen heats up as they spend time together. But will Noah find a still missing Gott in the process and discover there’s more to life than what he initially believed?
An Unlikely Hero Mysteries intrigue secondhand shop owner Benuel Miller. Although strangers may think a blind man would be easy to cheat, those who know Benuel realize he’s honed his other senses to pick up clues his eyes don’t see, making him a savvy business owner. When a stranger enters Benuel’s secondhand shop, the man is shocked by Benuel’s accurate assessment and unsolicited advice. Wary, he hopes Benuel won’t find out his true intentions, but the shopkeeper is already on the case.
Later, Mari and her twin sister, Frannie, stop in Benuel’s shop with Frannie’s three-year-old son, and Benuel senses trouble. His hunches have never led him astray, but is he misreading something here? He can’t help being drawn to Mari, yet is she as sweet and loving as she seems? Or is she hiding a deep, dark secret?
One explosive night when tragedy strikes, Benuel risks his life to find out the truth. Can he unmask the stranger from his shop to foil a sinister plot? And will what he discovers destroy his only chance for love?
Racing the Slow Girls Racing the Slow Girls— a recipe for fast-paced, comical, Amish adventure— Ingredients: Three fun-loving teenage boys on bicycles. Mix in an adorable little girl on a pony, a few spunky teenage girls, and a hint of romance. Directions: Place the characters in a beautiful setting, such as Holmes Co. Ohio. Roll in the boys on bikes. Stir up a few harsh words spoken carelessly. Add plenty of retaliation by the girls. Place in the heat of a family emergency until everyone is completely undone. Sit back and enjoy an Amish adventure with a cup of coffee.
I would like to thank Celebrate Lit for giving me a copy of this book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.
Purchase Links
These three stories all showed a different side of Amish life than I’m used to reading about. I loved being able to see even more differences in the lifestyles of the various Amish communities.
Playing with Fire by Laura V. Hilton – 5 stars
This was a lovely story. I loved Arie’s faith and the way she helped Noah draw near to God again. Her dad was wonderful – just the sort of godly father every girl could wish for.
An Unlikely Hero by Rachel J. Good – 4 1/2 stars
I loved Benuel! The fact he was blind had very little impact on him and his life. In fact, because he had to rely on his other senses, he learned to see better than most people around him.
One complaint about this story is that I didn’t really understand the motivation behind Mari’s sister’s actions. I can’t say more without giving things away. I do wish the “why” was explained.
Racing the Slow Girls by Thomas Nye – 4 1/2 stars
This was a fun story about teenagers being teenagers. I enjoyed the mental image of them flying all over the roads on their bicycles.
Daniel melted my heart by his sweetness to little Libby and the way he cared enough to help her with her horse. The way he and his friends went from being the boys who antagonized the “slow girls” to becoming the heroes was great.
Preview of Plain Everyday Heroes
Pinterest Board for Playing with Fire
(click here to go directly to the board on Pinterest)
Arie’s habanero chili
1 lb stew meat: venison, or beef- 1/4 cup bacon bits
- 1/2 Onion, diced
- Green pepper, diced
- 2 cans of habanero Rotel
- 1 can tomato sauce
- 1 can kidney beans
- 1 can pinto beans
- 1/2 cup sliced jalapenos
- 1 TSP cayenne pepper
- 3 TB chili powder
- 2 TB beef bouillon
- 1 TSP paprika
- 1 TSP pepper
- 2 TB garlic
- salt to taste
Saute onion and pepper, set aside. Sear stew meat in hot pan until brown. Do not over cook. Add meat and other ingredients to pot and simmer until done. Add water if necessary. Serve with cornbread. Approximately 7 servings
Recipe compliments of Michael Hilton (Laura’s son)
Blog Stops
The Avid Reader, July 7
Among the Reads, July 7
Bibliophile Reviews, July 8
Random Thoughts From a Bookworm, July 8
Texas Book-aholic, July 9
Cherylbbookblog, July 9
proud to be an autism mom, July 10
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, July 10
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 11
Mary Hake, July 11
Janices book reviews, July 12
Blogging With Carol, July 12
Because I said so – Adventures in Parenting , July 13
Quiet Quilter, July 13
Reading Is My SuperPower, July 14
Jeanette’s Thoughts, July 15
Carpe Diem, July 16
A Baker’s Perspective, July 17
Maureen’s Musings, July 18
Splashes of Joy, July 18
Bigreadersite , July 19
Luv’N Lambert Life, July 19
Pink Granny’s Journey, July 20
Blossoms and Blessings, July 20
Giveaway
To celebrate the tour, Celebrate Lit is giving away
- Grand prize: a $25 Amazon gift card
- 1st – 4th place: eBook copy of Plain Everyday Heroes!!
Click here to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
About Laura V. Hilton
LAURA V. HILTON is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and is a professional book reviewer for the Christian market, with more than a thousand reviews published on the web. Her first series with Whitaker was The Amish of Seymour, including A Harvest of Hearts (2012 Laurel Award winner, first place in the Amish Genre Clash); and her second was The Amish of Webster County. Her most recent series was The Amish of Jamesport, featuring The Post Card, The Snow Globe, and The Birdhouse. Laura and her husband, Steve, live in Arkansas with their five children, whom Laura homeschools.
About Rachel J. Good
USA Today bestselling author RACHEL J. GOOD writes life-changing, heart-tugging novels of faith, hope, and forgiveness. She grew up near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the setting for her Amish novels. Striving to be as authentic as possible, she spends time with her Amish friends, doing chores on their farm and attending family events.
Rachel is the author of several Amish series in print or forthcoming – the bestselling Love & Promises, Sisters & Friends, Unexpected Amish Blessings, Surprised by Love (2021), and two books in Hearts of Amish Country – as well as the Amish Quilts Coloring Books. In addition, she has stories in many anthologies, including Love’s Thankful Heart, Love’s Christmas Blessings, Plain Everyday Heroes, Love’s Truest Hope, and the forthcoming Amish Christmas Twins (September 2020) with Shelley Shepard Gray and Loree Lough. She is also the coauthor of the Prayerful Author Journey: Inspirational Yearly Planner.
About Thomas Nye
Thomas Nye writes novels about horses and Amish life, with a touch of romance, and a foundation of faith in Christ. He and his wife, Shari, live on her family farm where they raised five children. Their six grandchildren love to visit Karma and Karla, a team of draft horses which Thomas purchased from an Amish friend.
thanks for the lovely review! And the meme quotes! Love them.
Sounds interesting!
Thanks so much for the review, Phyllis! Glad you enjoyed the book. Many blessings! BTW, you might find out more about Frannie’s motives in some of the forthcoming Benuel stories. 😉
Thanks, Arlene! Glad you stopped by.
Thanks for the chance at this giveaway! It looks like I need to find a few books by Laura now! 🙂
These sound like good stories!
Living close to Amish country, I am a frequent visitor. I would be interested in reading these stories.
Love Amish fiction and this story sounds great…I have read books from Rachel , Laura but not Tom…would love a chance
Lovely story line. I think these are n ice book
Can always use the card.
Thanks so much for this awesome giveaway! The books sound great:)
I’ve been looking for a new book to read, sounds great!
sounds like a fun one
Thanks for the chili recipe. The book sounds interesting.
We can all use some inspiration in our lives. This looks like an excellent read!
It looks like I just found a new author to follow. The review is great.
Thank you, Betty. I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.
I love stories about the Amish. I would like to read this one!
Thank you for offering the chance to win!
That recipe looks to be quite spicy!
Thank you so much for the giveaway!