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Let prayer be the key to the day and the bolt to the nacht.

Bishop Miah

The Amish Candymaker by Laura V. Hilton

For some, prayer is an act of desperation, the last resort. For others, prayer is an ongoing conversation with a dear friend, their loving Father. While I know that God wants us to have a close relationship with Him, bringing all our thoughts and cares and requests, I believe it also pleases Him when we do finally call out to Him. But how much more peace we can experience when we seek Him always and not only when we are in need!

The Amish Candymaker
by Laura V. Hilton

Publication Date February 5, 2019
Genres: Amish Fiction, Christian Fiction, Clean Romance, Action/Adventure
Setting: Michigan Contemporary
Main Character Ages: 18-24, 25-34
Written for: Adults
Pages: 256

Synopsis:

A letter brings him to Mackinac County. Can one woman make him stay?   Agnes Zook has found herself on her own after in small Amish community in Mackinac County after a tragedy took the life of her parents and siblings. Most of the Amish call her “off in den Kopf” (strange) since she’s starting her own business and forging her own way in the community instead of relying on the bishop to take care of her. Since she’s viewed as non-submissive and too-forward for an Amish woman she’s not courted by other young men in the area.   Isaac Mast is on the verge of leaving the Amish church. He’s become a sought-after Auctioneer and has a thriving business, but he feels confined by the strict rules. When his brother is severely injured in a wild fire, Isaac receives a letter from his sister-in-law, begging him to come to Mackinac County to help out while his brother is hospitalized for skin grafts and his wife is with him. They have young children that can’t be left alone. Isaac agrees but is unsure how to manage the children when he has weekend auctions he’s expected to attend. Agnes may be an answer to prayer.   When Isaac and Agnes meet, sparks fly, but everything changes. While neither of them fit within the structures of the Amish faith, could their differences be the one thing that helps them form a deeper connection to their faith...and each other?  

I would like to thank Celebrate Lit for giving me this copy of the book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.

Agnes struggled so much with the concept that Gott could love her. She felt that her prayers were not heard, especially after her family died in a fire. Not only that, she felt she was unlovable. Her very own father, a preacher, had told her that no man would want her – she was too independent and outspoken.

I loved Agnes’ endearing habit of talking to inanimate objects, such a plants and dishes. You get the idea. Maybe I thought it was so fun because I’ve been known to do exactly that.

I wasn’t a fan of Issac at first. He was a bit brash and overconfident. His smooth-talking ways that made him a much-demanded auctioneer also had him popular with the Amish women in the communities he visited. Not that anything ever happened beyond perhaps a few kisses, but still. . . He had no intention of making any commitments or settling down.

Yet as time went by, Isaac became more lovable. The way he embraced taking care of his nephew and nieces despite being so incompetent was very sweet. And the way he really did honor and respect Agnes; being able to see past her quirks to appreciate the wonderful woman she is.

Yet a Laura V. Hilton novel wouldn’t be complete with “just” a romance. Her stories are much deeper than that! Issac carried deep guilt over an event that occurred several years earlier, separating him from his only remaining family – his twin brother. The grief and guilt he experienced caused him to live the life of a nomad and made him feel he wasn’t worthy of the love he craved.

There was also a mystery surrounding the drug addict who had attempted to rob Agnes’ candy store. While it was not a prominent theme of the story, it carried an undercurrent that added a little more drama.

Yes, this is part of a series and has characters returning from other stories, and yet it does stand alone quite well. Then again, Laura V. Hilton’s books are all so good you should treat yourself and read them all!

Laura 's The Amish Candymaker Pinterest Board

(click here to go directly to the board on Pinterest)

From Laura

RECIPE FOR FUDGE À LA AGNES ZOOK

 

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Fudge

Courtesy of Laura V. Hilton

 

1 bag (12 ounces) milk chocolate chips

1 bag (10 ounces) peanut butter chips

2 cans sweetened condensed milk, divided

6 tablespoons butter, divided

20 to 30 miniature Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups or six regular-size ones broken into four or five pieces each

For the chocolate layer: Line a greased 8-by-11.5-inch baking dish with parchment paper.

In a double boiler or metal bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, combine milk chocolate chips, 1 can sweetened condensed milk, and 4 tablespoons butter. Stir until melted and smooth.

Pour into prepared baking dish and allow to cool to room temperature, then move to the refrigerator while preparing next layer.

For the peanut butter layer: In a double boiler or metal bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, combine peanut butter chips, 1 can sweetened condensed milk, and 2 tablespoons butter. Stir until melted and smooth.

Pour on to the milk chocolate fudge layer and press pieces of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups into the surface. If desired, group candy pieces in a grid-like fashion for easier cutting later.

Allow to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate overnight or until set.

Remove from refrigerator, lift out of the pan by the edges of the parchment paper, and cut into squares, with roughly one miniature peanut butter cup or piece of a cup per square.

Store in the refrigerator.

 

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