Today we welcome Charlotte Hubbard back to Uplifting Reads with a look at the fourth book in her Maidels of Morning Star series. Read an excerpt and my review of Love Blooms in Morning Star. Follow the tour for even more! And best of luck entering the giveaway!
As Jo Fussner keeps the Marketplace humming, her heart dances with a joyous secret. Jo and Michael Wengerd, a shy nursery owner from a nearby town, have fallen hopelessly in love. When Michael buys a courting buggy, Jo is sure a proposal will follow. But she’ll have to work hard to gain her mother’s approval—because the widowed Drusilla Fussner is convinced that marriage will bring her daughter nothing but heartache.
To win Jo’s hand, Michael enlists his father’s help in convincing Drusilla to give the marriage her blessing—and perhaps even open her heart to new happiness of her own. . . . But just as Jo and Michael’s hope for their future grows, an even bigger obstacle looms. The Amish elders vote to forbid any maidel from working once she marries. Now Jo must choose between the beloved store she’s put her heart into, and the man she can’t live without. Conflicted, Jo will have to trust that anything is possible when true faith guides the way.
Read an excerpt:
Jo was soon pulled out of the ceremonial spell the bishop wove with his words, however, meeting Michael’s gaze again. It had been such a blessing when she’d spotted him earlier this morning, striding toward her. As he’d done in her fondest dreams over the winter, he’d held out his hands and she’d grabbed them as though she’d never let them go.
“I have a surprise for you, Josie-girl,” he’d whispered. “Right after the wedding, you’ll see it.”
Josie-girl. The sound of Michael’s unique endearment had made her eager heart turn somersaults. How was she supposed to pay attention to the wedding ceremony while she wondered about the surprise he’d promised?
But one thing Jo knew, as surely as she could bake cinnamon rolls: Michael had returned to Morning Star loving her even more than when Mamm had sent him and his dat away at Christmas. Michael and Nelson weren’t renting the Fussners’ dawdi haus anymore, but the Wengerds were back in her life, and they intended to move forward with the plans they’d made during her visit to their home in Queen City last December.
Life simply didn’t get any more exciting than that.
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Zebra Books
July 26, 2022
ISBN-13: 9781420151848
ISBN-10: 1420151843
**My thoughts**
I am often picky about my Amish romance authors, but Charlotte Hubbard is one who consistently delivers a good story. I fell in love with the Maidels of Morning Star in the very first book of the series. It's a little bittersweet to be coming to the end, but I still greatly enjoyed it.
This one focuses on Jo, the fifth of the maidels to find a prospective match, as well as her mother Drusilla. Her mamm is difficult to swallow in the one, but it is slowly revealed why she is so miserable. The disagreements and her awful mood swings actually started in the previous book. So while they are briefly described in this one, I really do think you're better off reading that one first to better understand this situation. This series doesn't lend itself as well to being all standalones. (But they're all worth reading!)
One aspect I found interesting in this book is how this particular order is trying to find the balance between their old cherished and traditional ways while also recognizing the need for new, more progressive ideas in order to continue to survive. It's definitely some food for thought.
But most important are the ideas of keeping the faith in difficult times, finding forgiveness in love and friendship, and staying true to oneself while still helping your community. There's also a sense of rebirth, which is appropriate as this one takes place in the spring near the Easter holiday.
I have loved visiting Morning Star and will miss it!
I received a requested review copy via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
www.charlottehubbard.com
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Charlotte Hubbard will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
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Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteAndi, thanks so much for featuring my book on your blog today, and THANKS for your thorough, insightful review, too!
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing today. ohhhh I love it when a man calls his woman by a nick name. it is something special between the two
ReplyDeleteReally nice cover and excerpt.
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