Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Goddess Fish Book Promotions Book Review: Emma Blooms At Last with guest post



Naomi King is stopping by today to talk about her dream home, and I'm reviewing her latest book Emma Blooms at Last.

Can you describe your dream home?

            I live in it! When we moved to Minnesota a few years ago, we bought a town home that needed a total update, so I had the rare opportunity to have a place stripped down to the bare walls and subflooring and to create the kind of haven where our family antiques look their best and where we enjoy spending our time.

            We did a major makeover in the kitchen: new cherry cabinets, granite countertops, and we replaced a worn-out dishwasher and cooktop. We kept the original Subzero fridge, however, because even though it’s 30 years old, the repair guy thought we could get another 10 or 15 years out of it. The contractor covered its dated beige exterior with a wooden facade that matches the cabinets. He also ditched the corner cabinet lazy susan for full extension drawers that make much better use of that space.

            In the rest of the house, we got rid of all the wallpaper and three entire walls of smoked glass mirrors (one of those was in the hall bathroom. Imagine watching yourself go!). Now most of the walls are shades of adobe and copper pot, with a few deep red accent walls. This past spring our contractor came back and redid the main bathrooms, so we now have ceramic tile partway up the walls, and tile floors that match new tile in the entryway.

            We chose a town home with a yard out the back door for our dog, only 10 minutes from the airport and about 15 minutes from downtown where Neal works. From my office window I can watch the guys who mow our yard, shovel our snow, and blow the leaves. That alone makes our wonderful new home ideal!



Emma Blooms at Last
by Naomi King

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BLURB:

Romance is in the air during the fall wedding season in the Amish community of Cedar Creek. But while one loving couple prepares to tie the knot, Amanda and Wyman Brubaker’s large family faces a threat from outside their happy circle…and must learn to pull together.

Recently wed Amanda and Wyman Brubaker are thrilled that their children from previous marriages have blended together to form a strong family. But when the construction of Wyman’s new grain elevator is delayed, making the project more expensive than anticipated, Amanda’s determination to rally the kids into taking on work to improve the family’s finances comes into conflict with Wyman’s sense of responsibility as head of the household….

Meanwhile, as James Graber and Abby Lambright prepare for their long-awaited nuptials, folks gather from far and wide. Amanda’s nephew Jerome has long been smitten with James’s sister Emma and wants to seize this chance to woo her. But Emma’s been burned once and is twice shy of trusting the fun-loving, never-serious Jerome. As Emma and Jerome struggle to understand each other, and find the courage to make a leap of faith, the Brubakers face a bigger challenge than they first anticipated and begin to discover just what it means to fight…the Amish way.


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Excerpt:

“It’s been way too long since I hitched up a sleigh,” Jerome said as he lightly clapped the reins on Sparky’s back. “I don’t think this one’s seen the snow since Uncle Atlee passed, and that’s a shame. Are you warm enough?”
           
Emma burrowed deeper beneath the quilts Jerome had draped over them. Now that she was settled on the plush old seat, leaning into Jerome as the sleigh tilted slightly on the downhill lane, she felt happier than she had in a long time. The full moon was beaming down from a blue velvet sky dotted with diamond stars, making the snow-blanketed pastures glimmer all around them.
           
“I’m cozy. And I’m having a really gut time,” Emma replied with a contented sigh. “Night rides are the prettiest, especially now that the wind has died down.”
           
“Jah, it’s a perfect evening,” Jerome replied softly. “I’ve been hoping for more time alone with you, well—since the day we went shopping, Emma.”
           
As she thought back to that day she’d spent trying to escape Jerome’s attentions, Emma let herself relax . . . allowed the breeze from the accelerating sleigh blow away her former objections to the handsome man who was driving it. The clip-clop of Sparky’s hooves on the snow-packed road settled her heartbeat into its rhythm while the warmth they shared beneath the quilts soothed her after a day of surprising guests and revelations. “Denki for giving me another chance, Jerome,” she murmured. “You were right at the wedding. I’ve missed out on a lot of opportunities to go out and have fun.”



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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Drawing upon her experiences in Jamesport, the largest Old Order Amish community west of the Mississippi, longtime Missourian Naomi King writes of simpler times and a faith-based lifestyle in her Home at Cedar Creek/One Big Happy Family series. Like her series heroine, Abby Lambright, Naomi considers it her personal mission to be a listener—to heal broken hearts and wounded souls—and to share her hearth and home. Faith and family, farming and frugality are hallmarks of her lifestyle: like Abby, she made her wedding dress and the one her mom wore, too! She’s a deacon, a dedicated church musician and choir member, and when she’s not writing, Naomi loves to travel, try new recipes, crochet, and sew. Naomi, whose real name is Charlotte Hubbard, now lives in Minnesota with her husband and their border collie, Ramona.


www.NaomiKingAuthor.com

https://www.facebook.com/NaomiC.King


One Big Happy Family, Book 2
NAL Trade (November 4, 2014)
ISBN-13: 9780451417886 •• ISBN-10: 0451417887

Buy Links:









Ebook






 Review: First, let me say I love Amish fiction and Amish romance even more. This is the second book in the One Big Happy Family series. It is part of a series, but not to worry, this book can be read as a stand alone novel.

I have to say that Naomi is now one of my favorite writers in this genre. She brings the many characters to life in such a way that you feel you are watching through the window.

Its a novel of family, big family, and the hardships they face as well as their faith.  Amanda and Wyatt face some financial hardships, while Emma's family are dealing with a heartbreaking loss, while she is discovering love for the first time.

I was really drawn to the characters, all of them! I especially loved Emma's father Merle. He was a sweetie and he made me think of my own father quite a bit.

Jerome was lovable too and his courtship with Emma was sweet and heartwarming. (And not at all easy)

Through the two families, you see growth through change. Jerome and Emma brought out good things in each other and Amanda and Wyatt's family proved that a family that can work together can pull through just about anything.

This is the type of book that you curl up with on a lazy afternoon and you don't move until the last page is turned.

Rating: 5 stars



5 comments:

Goddess Fish Promotions said...

Thanks for hosting!

CharlotteHubbard said...

Thanks so much for featuring my book on your blog today, and for your wonderful review!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the excerpt!

Trix, vitajex(at)Aol(Dot)com

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed reading about your remodeling project after you moved to your dream home. This sounds beauitful inside and out.
As for the book I know I want to read it . What a fun family Emma has.

Unknown said...

I liked the book blurb and author bio best.