- Shopping Bag ( 0 items )
Want a NOOK? Explore Now
Summer Of Secrets
Summer has come to Willow Ridge, but Rachel Lantz is looking forward to a whole new season in her life--marriage to strapping carpenter Micah Brenneman, her childhood sweetheart. When a strange Englischer arrives in the café claiming to be the long-lost sister of Rachel and her twin Rhoda, Rachel feels the sturdy foundation of her future crumbling--including Micah's steadfast love. As the days heat up and tempers flare, Rachel and Micah will learn that even when God's plan isn't clear, it will always lead them back to each other. . .
"A heartwarming new voice for fans of Beverly Lewis." --Emma Miller
sunshineJB
Posted April 11, 2012
Willow Ridge, Missouri is the setting for this great read. This story is centered around the Sweet Seasons Bakery Cafe’ owned and operated by Miriam Lantz with the help of her daughters Rachel and Rhoda and also her best friend Naomi Brenneman. Miriam opened the cafe’ after her husband Jesse died. This is her main income for her and her daughters. The cafe’ is a popular spot and Miriam has a good steady income from it. Rachel Lantz hopes to marry Micah Brenneman some day. Will this union be compromised when a mysterious Englischer enters the café one day, claiming to be the lost daughter of Miriam’s, who was washed down the Missouri River in the 93 flood? Rachel is shocked by the girl’s appearance. She is all decked out in black with spiked hair, black rimmed eyes, a piercing in her eyebrow and two tattoos on her back. On top of that she is rude. Rachel can’t imagine the likes of her being her sister. Plus, it seems Micah is paying too much attention to her in the way he is staring at her. There are other characters in this book that I came to love and one character in particular that I didn’t care for at all. I know once you read this book you will know the character that I speak of! There are many secrets inside the pages of this book and one by one they are revealed. This is the first book that I have read from this author. Her characters came to life for me. I really got wrapped up in this story line and hated when I had to put the book aside to do other things. One of the things I liked about this book was it is God centered. It is based on Faith, Trust, Forgiveness and Hope for a bright future. I must not forget to mention the yummy recipes that the author has included in the back of this book. This is a wonderful bonus in my opinion. I plan on copying them down so I can wow my family and friends. I am looking forward to reading “Autumn Winds”, the next Sweet Seasons novel. I wish to thank you Charlotte Hubbard for a delightful read. I am truly a fan of yours! I want to thank Kensington Publishing for sending me a copy of Summer of Secrets to read and review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 27, 2012
Hell yeah!
2 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Charlotte Hubbard provides a heartwarming peek at the simple life in an Amish community in her Secrets of the Heart series first installment; Summer of Secrets. The Lantz family has a secret, a secret so old most people do not even remember the incident that happened so long ago. This small, quaint Amish town in Missouri called Willow Ridge is home to the Sweet Seasons Bakery Café run by the widowed Miriam Lantz along with her twin daughters Rachel and Rhoda. Willow Ridge, a town along the highway that provides many a curious tourist with a chance to stop and sample the best food and bakery items anywhere while affording them with a quick glance at the simple life. Miriam Lantz is used to the outright puzzled looks and strange Englischer manners of her temporary customers but takes it all in stride, as the Café is her pride and joy, a trait not to be indulged in by the teachings of their Ordnung which preaches obedience, submission and patience but considers cooking her own version of therapy. With her heart in her throat, Miriam soon discovers pride is the least of her problems as during the lunch crush she takes in the sight of an austere young woman walking through her front door and knows her long buried secret will no longer remain hidden.
2 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 29, 2012
Enjoyed this book - if you are interested in learning about different facets of Amish life this is another must read
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Fayetta
Posted November 2, 2012
I'm waiting for the third book in the series!! That says it all. I felt a part of the family and couldn't put the book down. I'm eagerly awaiting the next book.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I felt like the book was trying to hard to be realistic, which made it seem less realistic in my mind. I guess this just wasn't my type of book.
1 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Sometimes you could live your whole life thinking things are just the way they are, until one day someone shows up from your past to remind you life isn't what had thought after all.
In the novel, Summer of Secrets by Charlotte Hubbard, we are immediately introduced into the engagement of Rachel Lantz and Micah Breeneman, a young Amish couple that have yet to announce their formal engagement as is customary among the Amish. So for now, they are happily enjoying the time just being together and riding in Micah's courting buggy. Rachel works with her mother, Miriam and sister, Rhoda at Sweet Season's, their bakery cafe in the heart of Willow Ridge, Missouri.
Just as the lunch rush is getting started, they notice an English girl dressed in Gothic attire and with multiple piercings and tattoos. What they didn't expect that day was to learn that her name is Tiffany, who used to be referred to by the name Rebecca who was lost in a river at the age of three. She is the missing sister of Rachel and Rhoda and Miriam's missing daughter who they all believed to be dead.
Yet Tiffany herself is having a difficult time accepting what her father had told her, being adopted at a young age and had to travel to Willow Ridge to meet her supposed mother, Miriam. She wasn't expecting them to be Amish and leaves before Miriam can have a change to speak with her. Rachel on the other hand is more than happy to see her leave. She believes no good can come of trying to make amends with Tiffany, especially since Micah has seemed to taken notice of her.
The Summer of Secrets is a timeless Amish novel that will educate readers of the Amish lifestyle while immersing the reader in the struggle to find a way to mend the rift between the family. Miriam has long believed that she alone was ultimately responsible for what she believed was the death of Rebecca/Tiffany thanks to her husband Jessie, who has now passed away. Will Miriam find a way to reach out to Tiffany and find a way to heal their relationship or will their differences in lifestyle be too much to heal the brokenness in both their lives?
I received Summer of Secrets compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours and Charlotte Hubbard, herself for my honest review. Being a huge fan of the Amish fiction, this one is just another perfect companion to my growing collection. It's easy to relate to Miriam who just wants to welcome Rebecca back into the family, especially now that Rachel is getting married. This is a heart-warming story that I know my readers will love and I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars. The best part too, are the recipes that follow at the end that I know you will love to try! This is the first book in the Seasons of The Heart series and I can't wait to follow this one to the very end.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 5, 2012
The Lantz family goes through many twists and turns. Their faith in GOD see them through. This is a story of trusting even when it just doesn't appear to make sense.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 25, 2012
Summer of Secrets was an awesome book! It shows that the power of prayer works! The bishop in the book is a control freak! Going to start reading Autumn Winds now! The third book does not come out until fall of 2013! :(
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.SAM50SH
Posted September 22, 2012
Very interesting insight in the ways of the Amish.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 14, 2012
This is a sweet story of love, faith, hard work & dedication. The author writes in a similar style to that of Beverly Lewis (whose works I adore!), but goes into more depth with explaining the feelings of her characters as they face situations that rock the very foundations of their lives. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a lover of Amish fiction. I am getting ready to delve into the 2nd book in the series, "Autumn Winds", and am looking forward to another wonderful-gut read! ;-)
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 11, 2012
I really liked this book. Is there one that follows this one? I really want to read it!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 27, 2012
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.ruthhill74
Posted April 7, 2012
I have not read a lot of Amish fiction, but every time I do, I can just about guarantee that it will be good. And this new book did not disappoint. It was what one would expect from an Amish fiction story with a couple little twists that may not be expected.
Since it was Amish, it had the elements one would expect: strong family, good morals, and solid faith. These are central to the story. Also, of course, no profanity. These elements make this book quite refreshing. It is also quite nice to see the characters relying on God and his guidance throughout the book. The Christian message does not slap you in the face nor feel contrived. It is integral to the story, and it is woven masterfully into the story.
What distinguishes this from a lot of Amish fiction (I think) is that there are some very strong women in this book. When I think of the Amish people, I think about women that do not stand up for themselves and are almost "doormat" submissive to the men. I was pleasantly surprised to see this book filled with strong women who were either widowed or not married yet. They stood up to the male leaders in the community when needed, and I always appreciate that in books. More so in an Amish book. In fact, I was glad to see the people questioning and challenging some of the beliefs that were held dear in Amish communities. I don't want to give away the story, so I'll let you read it for yourself. It was also interesting to see one of the male leaders acting with hypocrisy. I wouldn't have expected that, and I was glad to see people stand up to him.
The only reason I did not give this five stars is that I found some of the parts of the book a little slow at times. I was intrigued with the story--there are quite some plot twists at times. I could not complain about the style of writing--it was fantastic. But I sometimes found my interest wane. This was mainly in the first third of the book. Once I got past that portion, I found myself more and more interested in the characters and the story. I definitely would love to read the sequel to this when it is out later this year!
One other portion I really enjoyed were the recipes at the back of the book! I may just have to try some of those!
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated in any way, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.MoRWAReviewsSTL
Posted March 30, 2012
In the cozy Amish town of Willow Ridge, Rachel Lantz and her family is looking forward to a summer of courting and pie making. Rachel's mother's restaurant is a roaring success, allowing the widow to provide for her family while she sorts out her grief over her husband's passing. Rachel's longtime beau, Micah, is finally secure in his woodworking business and the pair are beginning to plan for their future together.
Then Rachel's long-lost sister, wearing the gothic black of a wild Midwestern youth, comes into the restaurant seeking answers to her own past. Soon it seems that everyone in Willow Ridge is harboring secrets. Micah is secretively visiting to the new-found family member. Rachel's mother is struggling with her long-ago decision not to search for her lost daughter. Even the church elders seem to have their own motives for questioning Rachel's mother's faith and commitment to God and to their Amish ways. Will the summer of secrets be the end of the Lantz family and Rachel and Micah's future? Or will their tribulations only strengthen the bonds of family and love and faith in the Lord?
Charlotte Hubbard's story of the Lantz family's many tests of faith is a rich and comforting read, full of heartbreak and joy and mouthwatering recipes for the Lantz family's homemade fare.
Anonymous
Posted March 10, 2012
Excellent story, I would recomend it Highly.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 23, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted September 4, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted February 29, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted August 29, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
Summer Of Secrets
Summer has come to Willow Ridge, but Rachel Lantz is looking forward to a whole new season in her life--marriage to strapping carpenter Micah Brenneman, her childhood sweetheart. When a strange Englischer arrives in the café claiming ...