Thursday, June 16, 2011

A Harvest of Hearts by Laura V. Hilton

A Harvest of Hearts
by Laura V. Hilton
Book Two in The Amish of Seymour Series

Ready to make a fresh start and leave Lancaster County and its dearth of farmland behind, Matthew Yoder moves to Seymour, Missouri, as part of a swap of Amish men. He is placed with the Stoltzfus family until he finds a place of his own.

Shanna Stoltzfus always dreamed of becoming a nurse, despite her father’s threats to shun her. Determined to
follow her heart, Shanna ran away and enrolled in college. But when her classmates embark on a medical mission trip that Shanna can’t afford, she must turn to the last place she wants to go: home.

Matthew is fascinated by the Stoltzfuses’ prodigal daughter, and a fast friendship blossoms between them, even though Shanna still flirts with the people and practices of her Englisch life. When the tension escalates between her and her father to the point where his health is in jeopardy, Shanna is forced to face some tough issues, including the question of where her true home is.

FICTION
Whitaker House Frontlist – September 2011 Release
ISBN: 978-1-60374-256-6;
Trade $9.99; 240 pages


About the Author
Laura V. Hilton is a pastor’s wife, mother of five, author and book lover. Although for her formal education she studied marketplace issues -- she holds a degree in business -- reading is Laura’s lifelong passion, and writing a gift she’s developed to the delight of her growing fan base and to the glory of God. Prior to The Amish of Seymour Series for Whitaker House, Laura published two novels for Treble Heart Books: Shadows of the Past and Hot Chocolate. She’s also a contributor to the Zondervan’s It’s The Year Life Verse Devotional.

While she did not grow up in an Amish community, Laura has become an expert in Amish customs and traditions, learning from her Pennsylvania Amish grandparents. She’s a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) for whom she reviews primarily Amish fiction for the ezine, Afictionado, Laura is also on staff at the Christian Suspense Zone and a professional reviewer for the Christian book market. She’s written for a wide variety of Internet sites including Dancing Word, Faith Webbin, A Romance Review, and Christian Review of Books. At last count she’d published over 1,000 reviews.

A stay-at-home mom who home schools her children, Laura, her husband Steve, and their children live in Arkansas. To read her daily book reviews go to: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com. For other Laura V. Hilton news: http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com.

MY REVIEW
Another winning book by Laura V. Hilton. I really like her fresh new look at the Amish. In her Amish stories it tells about some Amish that have went over to being English/thinking about it or have had babies out of wedlock {that was in book one of the Amish of Seymour series}.
In book two A Harvest of Hearts you read the story of Shannah {fantastic name by the way} how she ran away from the Amish to become a nurse and also about Matthew a very strict Amish man. How they meet and what becomes of their being together. I like how Laura doesn’t hold to such strict standards that some writers do when they are writing Amish stories. I believe she really tells it like it is. Even through the Amish live with very strict rules they are still human.
I enjoyed this book because Shannah and Matthew had some very tough decisions to make and how they had many obstacles in the way. In A Harvest of Hearts you will see that the decisions you make affect everyone around you, not just yourself.
A Harvest of Hearts has much adventure, romance and best of all people who love the Lord and follow Him. I recommend this book for all of you Amish lovers out there, but also for everyone who truly loves a fantastic story. Laura V. Hilton has out done herself again. This book doesn’t come out until September so put it on your to read list and you’ll be extremely happy you did.



Thank you to Whitaker House for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

RELEASE DATE September 2011

1 comment:

CatiLou said...

I could be wrong -- it's a big Internet -- but this is the first review I've seen for A Harvest of Hearts. Nice job! I agree, Laura Hilton has an uncanny ability to inject unique characters and situations into her plots and characters without straying far from genre norms. Thanks for the nice review and congratulations on a good-looking blog.