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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
