EXCERPT:
As he ambled along the outside edge of the dining room,
where the tables had been placed end-to-end and covered with long white
tablecloths, Luke bit into a perfectly seasoned chicken thigh with a groan of
satisfaction. When he spotted his wife, with her auburn hair tucked up under
her kapp and her freckled face alight with a smile, he let his gaze linger on
her. Last spring at this time he’d been footloose and determined to remain
uncommitted—a bachelor of thirty determined to live in a state of never-ending
rumspringa—yet now he craved the company of his unconventional wife,
contentedly immersed in the Mennonite faith they shared.
As though sensing his attention, Nora turned and smiled at
him. Luke’s heart fluttered. The crowd ceased to exist for a few moments as her
green eyes made him hold his breath. When he saluted her with a chicken leg,
they both laughed and went on about their visiting. As he glanced at Millie, so
like her mother, and at his younger brother Ira while the newlyweds accepted
plates of pie from Naomi Brenneman, Luke sent up a prayer. Let them find the
same happiness You’ve granted me with Nora, Lord.
“Quite a party you’re puttin’ on for the happy couple,” a
familiar voice behind him said.
Luke turned as his older brother Ben clapped him on the
back. “It’s the least I can do, considering how you’ve helped pay for their new
home.”
“Oh, let’s not forget that the aunts kicked in on that, as
well as Ira.” Ben smiled mischievously. “I felt sorry for you and Nora, what
with bein’ newlyweds yourselves—maybe lettin’ Ira and Millie move into your
place rather than expectin’ them to bunk in the apartment above the mill.”
“Aunt Nazareth and Aunt Jerusalem are so glad to see both of
us younger bucks belonging to a church—and married—they said their house money
was a thank offering to God,” Luke remarked with a chuckle. “Ira and I did keep
them on pins and needles for a long time.”
Ben, who’d preached the main sermon at the wedding today,
shrugged. “I was older than you boys—thirty-five—before I found my Miriam,” he
said with a nostalgic smile. “Who knew we’d all meet our matches and set up
businesses when we came to Willow Ridge? It’s a gut thing God knew what we
needed and got us to the right place at the right time, jah?”
BLURB:
Housed in a rustic red barn, the
Simple Gifts crafts shop celebrates the talents of the Amish of Willow
Ridge—and the faith that inspires them. For the acceptance of simplicity opens
the path to love.
As far as Edith Riehl is concerned, the baby twins thrust suddenly into her arms are a heaven-sent gift. Unable to conceive, she longs to be a mother with a home of her own. She’s going to abide by her promise to handsome Asa Detweiler to take care of them while he looks for their real father. And even if her domineering dat Cornelius refuses to countenance Asa’s suit, she can only pray the bachelor’s honesty and persistence will uncover the truth—even as he’s kindled an impossible hope for a love of her own…
Asa can’t understand why anyone would think he would be so dishonorable as to father babies and then abandon them. He’s determined to clear his name—but Edith’s caring ways also inspire him to help heal her wounded spirit and earn her trust. In the face of heartbreaking deception, he and Edith must find the strength to understand, forgive…and claim their own hearts’ joy.
As far as Edith Riehl is concerned, the baby twins thrust suddenly into her arms are a heaven-sent gift. Unable to conceive, she longs to be a mother with a home of her own. She’s going to abide by her promise to handsome Asa Detweiler to take care of them while he looks for their real father. And even if her domineering dat Cornelius refuses to countenance Asa’s suit, she can only pray the bachelor’s honesty and persistence will uncover the truth—even as he’s kindled an impossible hope for a love of her own…
Asa can’t understand why anyone would think he would be so dishonorable as to father babies and then abandon them. He’s determined to clear his name—but Edith’s caring ways also inspire him to help heal her wounded spirit and earn her trust. In the face of heartbreaking deception, he and Edith must find the strength to understand, forgive…and claim their own hearts’ joy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Many moons ago—like, in 1983 while she was still
a school librarian—Charlotte Hubbard sold her first story to True Story. This
launched her into writing around seventy of those “true confessions” stories
over the years, and she’s been a slave to her overactive imagination ever
since. Over the course of her writing career, she has sold nearly 50 books—most
recently, Amish romance series she’s written as Charlotte Hubbard or Naomi
King.
Charlotte lived in Missouri for most of her
life, so her Amish stories are set in imaginary Missouri towns. These days she
lives in St. Paul, MN with her husband of 40+ years and their Border collie,
Ramona.
WEBSITE www.CharlotteHubbard.com
Facebook
www.Facebook.com/Charlotte.Hubbard1
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