About the Book

Title: The Amish Candy Maker
Author: Laura V. Hilton
Genre: Amish Christian Fiction
Release date: February 5, 2019
Publisher: WhitakerHouse

Agnes Zook finds herself on her own in a small Amish community in Mackinac County after a tragedy kills her family. Most of the Amish call her “off in den Kopf” (strange) since she’s starting her own business and forging her own way in the community instead of relying on the bishop to take care of her.

Since she’s viewed as non-submissive and too-forward for an Amish woman, she’s not courted by young men in the area.

Isaac Mast is on the verge of leaving the Amish church. He’s become a sought-after auctioneer and has a thriving business, but he feels confined by the strict rules. When his brother is severely injured in a wild fire, Isaac receives a letter from his sister-in-law, begging him to come to Mackinac County to help out while his brother is hospitalized. Isaac agrees but is unsure how to manage their young children when he has weekend auctions he’s expected to attend. Agnes may be the answer to a prayer.

Sparks fly when she and Isaac meet. But could their differences help them form a deeper connection to their faith…and each other?

Click here to purchase your copy.

My Review:

This is the story of Agnes Zook. She has lived through the tragedy of losing her whole family due to a wildfire, the man she thought she was going to marry married someone else, and yet here she is; trying to make a life for herself and to support herself by her candy shop.

Into her shop steps Isaac Mast who has come back to help his twin brother and sister-in-law with their three children as his brother had been badly burned by the wildfire and is undergoing treatments away from home. Agnes and Isaac’s first encounter is quite memorable, as pretty much all of their time is together.

Agnes has accepted her fate at ending up a spinster until Isaac suggests out of his need for help with the children that they marry. Less than romantic as that proposal is, Agnes hope is kindled. Isaac was, as he describes himself Amish but on the outside. Agnes was already looked at as a spinster so I was glad to see these two very loving, passionate souls come together and get to know each other through all the obstacles that were in their way. Theirs was an interesting and fun courtship to watch grow.

There are some very sad topics in this story. This town has been through a lot and so has Agnes and Isaac’s family. Agnes faced with a life alone and still grieving has many questions that to her it does not seem like God is listening. Isaac’s family past is not free from tragedy either, so these two hurting, broken souls connect and help put the pieces back together and help each other grow stronger in their faith.

The secondary characters of the kids and Bishop Miah and all his spying made this read all the more delightful. This is my favorite book yet by author Hilton.

If you like chocolate and kissing books, you will like this one.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Laura Hilton is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and is a professional book reviewer for the Christian market, with more than a thousand reviews published on the web. Her first series with Whitaker was The Amish of Seymour, comprising Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (2012 Laurel Award winner, first place in the Amish Genre Clash), and Promised to Another; and her second was The Amish of Webster County, comprising Healing Love, Awakened Love, and Surrendered Love. Her next series was The Amish of Jamesport, featuring The Post Card, Snow Globe, and The Birdhouse. Her latest books include The Amish Firefighter, The Amish Wanderer, and Love By the Numbers. Laura and her husband, Steve, live in Arkansas with their five children, whom Laura homeschools.

Guest Post from Laura

RECIPE FOR FUDGE À LA

AGNES ZOOK Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Fudge

Courtesy of Laura V. Hilton

1 bag (12 ounces) milk chocolate chips

1 bag (10 ounces) peanut butter chips

2 cans sweetened condensed milk, divided

6 tablespoons butter, divided

20 to 30 miniature Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups or six regular-size ones broken into four or five pieces each

For the chocolate layer: Line a greased 8-by-11.5-inch baking dish with parchment paper.

In a double boiler or metal bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, combine milk chocolate chips, 1 can sweetened condensed milk, and 4 tablespoons butter.

Stir until melted and smooth. Pour into prepared baking dish and allow to cool to room temperature, then move to the refrigerator while preparing next layer.

For the peanut butter layer: In a double boiler or metal bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, combine peanut butter chips, 1 can sweetened condensed milk, and 2 tablespoons butter.

Stir until melted and smooth.

Pour on to the milk chocolate fudge layer and press pieces of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups into the surface.

If desired, group candy pieces in a grid-like fashion for easier cutting later.

Allow to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate overnight or until set.

Remove from refrigerator, lift out of the pan by the edges of the parchment paper, and cut into squares, with roughly one miniature peanut butter cup or piece of a cup per square.

Store in the refrigerator.