Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway: Maryann's Hope by Molly Jebber

About the Book

Book: Maryann’s Hope

Author: Molly Jebber

Genre: Amish Historical Romance

Release Date: January 26, 2021

The pleasing warmth of fresh-baked maple cookies…the sweet, buttery flakiness of a raspberry jam pastry. In 1913 Ohio, the Amish Charm Bakery is beloved by locals and visiting Englischer alike. And its understanding community always provides help, healing–and new chances for love…even for a widow faced with an impossible choice between her head and her heart.

Secrets devastated Maryanne Harding’s marriage to an Englischer–and took away her untrustworthy husband. Now the young Amish widow has found contentment cooking up treats at the bakery, raising her little girl, and comforting her ailing mother. And when Andrew Wittmer asks her to marry him, Maryanne is over the moon with happiness that she and the kind furniture maker will put down roots in her hometown…

Until Andrew’s uncle becomes ill, and Andrew must permanently take over his store in a town hours away. Though she would go anywhere to be Andrew’s fraa, Maryanne can’t abandon her mother–or the family that depends on her so much. And when she discovers Andrew harbors secrets of his own, Maryanne’s hard-won trust is shaken. Now, can she risk difficult choices and take a leap of faith into the loving, joyful future she longs for most?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Maryann is still reeling from the heartbreak of her husband's murder and his lies that are suspect in his murder. She decides to leave the Englisher world and return home, back to her roots, with her little girl in tow. She is not only dealing with the fall out of her marriage, but also with the mental illness of her mother, who is quite suffocating towards her. Her own father and brother want her to stick around as well due to the nature of her mother. Needless to say Maryann has a lot she is dealing with, so hope of true love and happiness in Andrew Wittmer makes her both happy and wary.

Andrew really likes Maryann and wants to maker her his wife. She is open and honest and he already loves her young daughter and hopes to have many more children of his own as well. But even though Maryann has been very open with him, Andrew has not told her everything. In fact he has kept some pretty big things a secret. And now that she is back home, she really doesn't want to leave again even though Andrew must.

These two have a lot to conquer and overcome as many distressing things come to light. Do they just quit and say it is not worth it, or with forgiveness and love and understanding do they move on? The Amish lifestyle almost seems timeless as this book is set in 1913 right at the brink of the Great War. Their lifestyles never seem to change no matter what the outside world is doing.

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

About the Author

Molly Jebber is a best-selling & award-winning Amish Historical Romance author whose books have made the Publisher’s Weekly Best Ten List, media worldwide, and in USA Today. She’s a national speaker for Women’s Christian Connection, and keynote and guest lecturer for many groups on writing, publishing, & marketing. She loves God, family, friends she is grateful for her readers.

More from Molly

Hi Readers!

You are the reason I write. Your inspiration and encouragement on social media posts brighten my mood and on those hard days of writing, keeps me going. Thank you!

I’ve been fortunate to have a close family. I hear so often, you can choose your friends but not your family. Maryann in MARYANN’S HOPE loves her mother, but finds her a challenge with her unpredictable moods. When she meets Andrew, they both must make difficult decisions throughout their courtship relating to family and seeking God’s will for their lives. Maryann’s toddler, Betsy, will make you laugh, as well as other children of her friends in the story. The bakery desserts will make your mouth water, and you’ll imagine the aroma of cinnamon, sugar, and warm bread.

The Amish Charm Bakery is where friends come to enjoy a break, share secrets, solve problems, and laugh and cry.

On a personal note, this year has been an exciting one for our family in spite of COVID-19. My daughter, Misty, is getting married, and we love our future son-in-law, Kevin. They are having a small wedding due to the virus, but it hasn’t dampened any of our enthusiasm for this special day. God has blessed all of us with making all the plans go smoothly, and they’ve enjoyed their marriage counseling with Pastor Roger.

Pastor Roger asked them to put their first name in the verses in Corinthians Chapter 13 of the Bible, as an example of how they should feel about each other. Such as Misty is patient, and Misty is kind. I thought about that in my marriage to Ed. He is all those wonderful things to me. But I need to be more patient! So I’m learning along with Misty and Kevin! LOL

I pray that MARYANN’S HOPE will bring you a fun escape into the small Amish town of Charm, Ohio during the period of 1913-1914!